The Impact of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence on the Dynamics of Conflict. This project aims to understand the impact of sexual and gender-based violence on the dynamics of conflict. With an innovative mixed method design it will study all reported incidences of sexual and gender-based violence in 41 conflict-affected countries between 1998 and 2018. It will generate new knowledge establishing how and when crimes of sexual and gender-based violence affect the onset and intensity of conflict. Th ....The Impact of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence on the Dynamics of Conflict. This project aims to understand the impact of sexual and gender-based violence on the dynamics of conflict. With an innovative mixed method design it will study all reported incidences of sexual and gender-based violence in 41 conflict-affected countries between 1998 and 2018. It will generate new knowledge establishing how and when crimes of sexual and gender-based violence affect the onset and intensity of conflict. The expected outcomes of this project include the identification of the most high-risk situations, the phases of violence, and the improvement of risk assessments for such violence. The project will significantly benefit the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict-affected situations globally.Read moreRead less
Preventing Mass Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Conflict and Non-Conflict Affected Countries. Widespread and systematic Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) has been recognised by the United Nations Security Council since 2000 as a matter of international peace and security. Under the 1998 Rome Statute it is a crime against humanity, a war crime and an act of genocide. There are two explanations for mass SGBV: the presence of armed conflict and the existence of extreme gender inequality a ....Preventing Mass Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Conflict and Non-Conflict Affected Countries. Widespread and systematic Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) has been recognised by the United Nations Security Council since 2000 as a matter of international peace and security. Under the 1998 Rome Statute it is a crime against humanity, a war crime and an act of genocide. There are two explanations for mass SGBV: the presence of armed conflict and the existence of extreme gender inequality and oppression prior to onset of conflict. Yet, to date, there is little knowledge of how variations in the type of conflict and gender inequality contribute to SGBV crimes. This project will test and refine the two dominant and competing explanations for SGBV crimes to inform strategies for the prevention of SGBV where risk is high.Read moreRead less
Domestic Politics, States & the Guiding Principles: Insights from Indonesia. States have moved slowly and inconsistently to adopt and implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We know little about why, or how to ensure states do more. This project aims to shed light on these issues by examining how domestic politics has shaped the state’s response to the Guiding Principles in Indonesia. Expected outcomes include an analysis of the Indonesian case, a conceptual ....Domestic Politics, States & the Guiding Principles: Insights from Indonesia. States have moved slowly and inconsistently to adopt and implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We know little about why, or how to ensure states do more. This project aims to shed light on these issues by examining how domestic politics has shaped the state’s response to the Guiding Principles in Indonesia. Expected outcomes include an analysis of the Indonesian case, a conceptual framework for explaining state responses to the Guiding Principles, policy-related advice for promoting the Guiding Principles, and enhanced understanding of solutions to global governance gaps. Benefits include these outcomes plus enhanced capacity in Australia and elsewhere to address corporate abuses of human rights.Read moreRead less
Advanced Nanocomposites for Enhanced Containment of Hyper-Saline Leachate. This research project seeks to apply nanotechnology approaches to develop tailored materials that are green and cost-effective, which minimise groundwater contamination by hyper-saline industrial leachates and process waters. Australian industries will benefit from lower costs associated with storage, processing and reclamation of process waters, as well as from reduced environmental fines levied by the Environmental Prot ....Advanced Nanocomposites for Enhanced Containment of Hyper-Saline Leachate. This research project seeks to apply nanotechnology approaches to develop tailored materials that are green and cost-effective, which minimise groundwater contamination by hyper-saline industrial leachates and process waters. Australian industries will benefit from lower costs associated with storage, processing and reclamation of process waters, as well as from reduced environmental fines levied by the Environmental Protection Agency due to significantly reduced barrier failure and groundwater contaminations. Australian businesses involved in manufacture, design and construction of environmental barrier systems will have access to new materials and improved technology.Read moreRead less
The development of novel geopolymers incorporating calcium and cellulosic material. Geopolymer technology transforms waste aluminosilicate materials into commercially viable products, which possess superior physical and chemical properties compared to ordinary concrete. These high-tech materials have novel acid and fire resistance applications, e.g. in construction and for the coating of optical fibres. Understanding the chemical relationship between geopolymers and other cementitious materials ....The development of novel geopolymers incorporating calcium and cellulosic material. Geopolymer technology transforms waste aluminosilicate materials into commercially viable products, which possess superior physical and chemical properties compared to ordinary concrete. These high-tech materials have novel acid and fire resistance applications, e.g. in construction and for the coating of optical fibres. Understanding the chemical relationship between geopolymers and other cementitious materials is pivotal to further advances in inorganic polymers. This project uses surface reactivity, spectroscopy, electronmicroscopy and electron diffraction to determine the role of calcium and cellulosic additives in the phase composition, microstructure and properties of geopolymers. Therefore, the factors distinguishing geopolymers from alkali-activated cement and ordinary concrete are identified.Read moreRead less
Gender after conflict: a gendered analysis of the international community's engagement in post-conflict zones. Efforts by the international community to transition post-conflict societies into peaceful democracies can be fraught with complex politics. This project seeks to examine the role that the international community's ideas and policies about gender have on the failures and successes of this transition.
A fundamental study of the simultaneous gold dissolution during the alkaline oxidation of sulfide containing refractory gold ores and concentrates. The gold industry is Australia's second largest export earner and therefore is immensely important to the Australian economy. The proposed project aims to develop an environmentally acceptable process for treating gold containing sulfidic ores and concentrates that are not amenable to conventional cyanidation. This would provide an enormous benefit t ....A fundamental study of the simultaneous gold dissolution during the alkaline oxidation of sulfide containing refractory gold ores and concentrates. The gold industry is Australia's second largest export earner and therefore is immensely important to the Australian economy. The proposed project aims to develop an environmentally acceptable process for treating gold containing sulfidic ores and concentrates that are not amenable to conventional cyanidation. This would provide an enormous benefit to both the Australian gold industry and the Australian environment. A successful outcome in the research project would also lead to export earnings emanating from technology transfer and enhance Australia's reputation for high quality research and academic endeavours.Read moreRead less
Optimising gold recovery whilst minimising cyanide and copper discharges during the processing of gold ores containing copper. The presence of copper is a major problem in Australia's gold industry. We have proposed an innovative method for treating copper containing ores which eliminates discharge of copper and cyanide to the tailings dam. The copper is recovered, and the cyanide is either recycled or destroyed within the plant. Another advantage of the process is a reduction in the cyanide req ....Optimising gold recovery whilst minimising cyanide and copper discharges during the processing of gold ores containing copper. The presence of copper is a major problem in Australia's gold industry. We have proposed an innovative method for treating copper containing ores which eliminates discharge of copper and cyanide to the tailings dam. The copper is recovered, and the cyanide is either recycled or destroyed within the plant. Another advantage of the process is a reduction in the cyanide requirement, hence reducing the risk associated with cyanide transport and storage. Thus the proposed project has the potential to substantially improve the gold recovery process, particularly in an era where environmental and public concerns exist over the use of cyanide.Read moreRead less
Testing Court Reform Projects in Cambodia and Vietnam. Financial assistance for court reform projects in ASEAN countries is among Australia's foreign aid priorities, consuming highly sought-after aid dollars. This research will make recommendations aimed at increasing the efficacy of aid-assisted court reform projects. By paying particular attention to indigenous perspectives of successes and failures of such projects, the research will contribute to Australia's understanding of the legal and ju ....Testing Court Reform Projects in Cambodia and Vietnam. Financial assistance for court reform projects in ASEAN countries is among Australia's foreign aid priorities, consuming highly sought-after aid dollars. This research will make recommendations aimed at increasing the efficacy of aid-assisted court reform projects. By paying particular attention to indigenous perspectives of successes and failures of such projects, the research will contribute to Australia's understanding of the legal and judicial contexts in two of its Southeast Asian neighbours. The research will inform Australia's aid investments in Cambodia and Vietnam, the region and internationally. It will enhance Australia's ability to achieve more effective design, implementation and evaluation of court-related aid interventions. Read moreRead less
Building global political legitimacy: how can we make global institutions more stable, effective, and justified? Weak political legitimacy in global institutions impairs their capacity to tackle problems like violence, economic and social instability, poverty, and environmental damage. This project will investigate how appropriate reform of global institutions may enhance legitimacy, leading to more stable, effective and justified global governance.