Regions undergoing transition: the roles of unions and their peak bodies. The project aims to investigate how unions and their peak bodies can act in beneficial ways to promote regional socio-economic development. This project expects to generate knowledge of the processes of regional renewal, including the ways unions and their peak bodies may be involved. Expected outcomes include theory development and explanations of these processes of regional engagement to enhance regional transition. It w ....Regions undergoing transition: the roles of unions and their peak bodies. The project aims to investigate how unions and their peak bodies can act in beneficial ways to promote regional socio-economic development. This project expects to generate knowledge of the processes of regional renewal, including the ways unions and their peak bodies may be involved. Expected outcomes include theory development and explanations of these processes of regional engagement to enhance regional transition. It will also provide a comprehensive refinement of research methodologies for labour and regional studies. This should provide significant benefits enabling the development of engaged and inclusive transition policies at a regional level. It will benefit workers, their households and communities. Read moreRead less
Synthetic phenazines for enhanced biogas production from renewable and non-renewable resources. Methane (biogas) has a large role to play in meeting the energy needs of the human race globally whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Microbial communities are responsible for biogas production from non-renewable (coal) and renewable (food waste) resources. This project seeks to: increase biogas yields by redirecting electron flow towards biogas producing microbes using electrochemically active p ....Synthetic phenazines for enhanced biogas production from renewable and non-renewable resources. Methane (biogas) has a large role to play in meeting the energy needs of the human race globally whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Microbial communities are responsible for biogas production from non-renewable (coal) and renewable (food waste) resources. This project seeks to: increase biogas yields by redirecting electron flow towards biogas producing microbes using electrochemically active phenazines; understand the molecular mechanism by which phenazines increase biogas yields; and, assess the environmental consequence of phenazine application to coal seam gas production and anaerobic digestion of food waste. Phenazines are likely to emerge as a safe and cost-effective technology for improved biogas generation.Read moreRead less
High Oxidation State and Related Chemistry of Organic Compounds of Palladium. Palladium is able to form compounds containing palladium-carbon bonds, and compounds of this type occur in applications such as synthesis of organic compounds. The fundamental chemistry of this class of palladium compound is to be explored, in particular for the oxidation state +IV for palladium and with a focus on reactions that are relevant to processes occurring in organic synthesis applications. Particular emphas ....High Oxidation State and Related Chemistry of Organic Compounds of Palladium. Palladium is able to form compounds containing palladium-carbon bonds, and compounds of this type occur in applications such as synthesis of organic compounds. The fundamental chemistry of this class of palladium compound is to be explored, in particular for the oxidation state +IV for palladium and with a focus on reactions that are relevant to processes occurring in organic synthesis applications. Particular emphasis is placed on chemistry involving phosphorus compounds and unsaturated organic groups bonded to palladium, and on compounds containing groups that are able to join together to depart from palladium as organic compounds containing carbon-oxygen bonds.Read moreRead less
New Directions in Alkynylpalladium and Platinum Chemistry. Reactions involving palladium or platinum compounds with organic reagents are important for the synthesis of new materials and organic molecules, including pharmaceuticals. This research program will provide a better understanding of applications involving these metals, together with advances in fundamental chemistry of wide general interest at an international level, and high quality research training in an area essential for the conti ....New Directions in Alkynylpalladium and Platinum Chemistry. Reactions involving palladium or platinum compounds with organic reagents are important for the synthesis of new materials and organic molecules, including pharmaceuticals. This research program will provide a better understanding of applications involving these metals, together with advances in fundamental chemistry of wide general interest at an international level, and high quality research training in an area essential for the continued development of modern chemical and related industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
Geographies of house and contents under-insurance. This project aims to analyse house and contents insurance to advance strategic disaster management. When natural disasters strike, house and contents insurance provides a safety net, but many households are under-insured or not insured at all. Governments and communities tend to bear the costs, but the geographies of inadequate insurance, including any crucial post-disaster effects, are unknown. This research is expected to strategically improve ....Geographies of house and contents under-insurance. This project aims to analyse house and contents insurance to advance strategic disaster management. When natural disasters strike, house and contents insurance provides a safety net, but many households are under-insured or not insured at all. Governments and communities tend to bear the costs, but the geographies of inadequate insurance, including any crucial post-disaster effects, are unknown. This research is expected to strategically improve disaster policy and practice, and reduce the financial and social costs of disasters to governments, communities and householders.Read moreRead less
A new route to linear alpha olefins - catalytic isomerisation of internal olefins. Linear alpha olefins are an extremely important class of chemical building blocks used for everyday consumer products, such as plastics, detergents and lubricants. This research aims to develop a new platform technology for the production of these materials from low cost precursors.
Landscapes of production and punishment: The Tasman Peninsula 1830-77. This project aims to explore the physical effect of convict labour on landscape and convict bodies. It focuses on convict labour at Port Arthur and on the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania, 1830-77. The Tasman Peninsula presents a rare opportunity to develop and test methodology for examining convict labour management and control, and the systems of production in which they were engaged. This project will study the punitive, economi ....Landscapes of production and punishment: The Tasman Peninsula 1830-77. This project aims to explore the physical effect of convict labour on landscape and convict bodies. It focuses on convict labour at Port Arthur and on the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania, 1830-77. The Tasman Peninsula presents a rare opportunity to develop and test methodology for examining convict labour management and control, and the systems of production in which they were engaged. This project will study the punitive, economic, technological, organisational, legal and social forces that shaped convict labour and where they laboured. This should deepen the management, interpretation, public outreach and education tools of these sites.Read moreRead less
The development of homogeneous catalytic processes for the manufacture of new chemical products derivable from Australia's resources. The research proposed is deliberately aimed at exploiting opportunities that will arise as a result of changes that are taking place in the global petrochemical industry. It is almost certain that Australia will take part in these changes through the utilisation of its gas and coal reserves and abundant biomass. Early advances in the processes that are presented a ....The development of homogeneous catalytic processes for the manufacture of new chemical products derivable from Australia's resources. The research proposed is deliberately aimed at exploiting opportunities that will arise as a result of changes that are taking place in the global petrochemical industry. It is almost certain that Australia will take part in these changes through the utilisation of its gas and coal reserves and abundant biomass. Early advances in the processes that are presented above will allow Australian industries to benefit from these changes, and will allow significant value-adding to Australia's resources.Read moreRead less
Biomimetic templating radical polymerisation in nanoreactors. The aim is to develop methodology for synthesis of polymer with hitherto inaccessible control of the microstructure by free radical means, that is the molecular weight distribution and monomer sequences. This will be achieved by combining the two concepts of biomimetic templated radical polymerisation and polymerisation in nanoreactors in the form of submicron-sized micelles or droplets. Scale-up of the methodology will be developed b ....Biomimetic templating radical polymerisation in nanoreactors. The aim is to develop methodology for synthesis of polymer with hitherto inaccessible control of the microstructure by free radical means, that is the molecular weight distribution and monomer sequences. This will be achieved by combining the two concepts of biomimetic templated radical polymerisation and polymerisation in nanoreactors in the form of submicron-sized micelles or droplets. Scale-up of the methodology will be developed based on an environmentally friendly approach whereby miniemulsions are generated using carbon dioxide. Increased ability to control the polymer microstructure will enable advanced design of functional polymers with far-reaching applications in materials science, nanotechnology and nanomedicine. Read moreRead less
New Look N-Heterocyclic Metallocenes of the Lanthanides Based on 4-Azapentalenyl Anions. Since there are abundant, but under utilised, reserves of lanthanide minerals in Australia, it is in Australia's best interest that their chemistry is developed into commercial applications in industrial catalysis. This project addresses this situation through the detailed study of carefully chosen organolanthanide compounds (specifically, comprising hetero-substituted metallocenes). The research strategy ....New Look N-Heterocyclic Metallocenes of the Lanthanides Based on 4-Azapentalenyl Anions. Since there are abundant, but under utilised, reserves of lanthanide minerals in Australia, it is in Australia's best interest that their chemistry is developed into commercial applications in industrial catalysis. This project addresses this situation through the detailed study of carefully chosen organolanthanide compounds (specifically, comprising hetero-substituted metallocenes). The research strategy will be directed towards advancing our knowledge in relation to fundamental chemical processes that are directly relevant to the industrial production of important commodity chemicals and polymers from often under utilised petroleum industry waste stocks.Read moreRead less