Engineering Nanostructured Bio-inspired Products. New nanostructured products that draw on biology promise to revolutionise our lives and economy. Designer emulsions and self-assembling particles inspired by viruses are two such products that form the focus for this research programme. The constitutive behaviour of bio-molecular films that control emulsion performance will be characterised and linked to molecular properties and manufacturing conditions. A broad-based technology platform for t ....Engineering Nanostructured Bio-inspired Products. New nanostructured products that draw on biology promise to revolutionise our lives and economy. Designer emulsions and self-assembling particles inspired by viruses are two such products that form the focus for this research programme. The constitutive behaviour of bio-molecular films that control emulsion performance will be characterised and linked to molecular properties and manufacturing conditions. A broad-based technology platform for the in vitro creation of self-assembling biological nanoparticles will also be developed. Key outcomes will be valuable IPR and fundamental engineering science knowledge to ensure that the value chain for this class of products can deliver commercial outcomes.Read moreRead less
Advanced products through multiscale microstructure engineering. The metals manufacturing industry is one of the most important in Australia. Future growth and sustainability of the sector is critically dependent on the development of innovative metal products and materials.. In this program Australia's leading research group in metal manufacturing will develop new products and processes through the controlled manipulation of the microstructure at a number of levels: from nano scale to macro s ....Advanced products through multiscale microstructure engineering. The metals manufacturing industry is one of the most important in Australia. Future growth and sustainability of the sector is critically dependent on the development of innovative metal products and materials.. In this program Australia's leading research group in metal manufacturing will develop new products and processes through the controlled manipulation of the microstructure at a number of levels: from nano scale to macro scale. The areas of application include the automotive industry, biomaterials, surface engineering and the emerging area of microforming technologiesRead moreRead less
Information Fusion in Autonomous systems. The aim of this fellowship is to explore and develop a family of powerful new Bayesian representations of sensory information and to demonstrate their application in perception and navigation of advanced robotic systems. These representations have the potential to revolutionize the field of intelligent autonomous systems and realize a whole new level of capapbilites and applications for advanced robotics in complex and unstructured environments such as s ....Information Fusion in Autonomous systems. The aim of this fellowship is to explore and develop a family of powerful new Bayesian representations of sensory information and to demonstrate their application in perception and navigation of advanced robotic systems. These representations have the potential to revolutionize the field of intelligent autonomous systems and realize a whole new level of capapbilites and applications for advanced robotics in complex and unstructured environments such as sub-sea exploration, mining, fire fighting and defence.Read moreRead less
Data Fusion and Perception in Autonomous Networks. Australia has developed a leading international position in robotics driven by strong national needs in field applications such as mining and agriculture. The proposed research will significantly strengthen and extend this lead by enabling the design and development of a new generation of robotic systems able to work cooperatively in the most challenging applications. The project will realise a new level of capabilities for advanced robotics in ....Data Fusion and Perception in Autonomous Networks. Australia has developed a leading international position in robotics driven by strong national needs in field applications such as mining and agriculture. The proposed research will significantly strengthen and extend this lead by enabling the design and development of a new generation of robotic systems able to work cooperatively in the most challenging applications. The project will realise a new level of capabilities for advanced robotics in applications such as integrated autonomous mining systems, environment monitoring, and networked security and defence systems. The fellowship will build new research capacity by developing and applying new knowledge in allied fields of large-scale sensor networks, environment and resource management.Read moreRead less
Fault-tolerant operation and scale-up of a silicon quantum computer beyond laboratory prototypes. The Centre for Quantum Computer Technology's mission is the construction of a prototype few-qubit silicon quantum processor to demonstrate the feasibility of this breakthrough technology for massively parallel computation. This application will initiate a new strategic research program within the Centre to address the key issue of interfacing laboratory with silicon CMOS microelectronics. The Hybrid ....Fault-tolerant operation and scale-up of a silicon quantum computer beyond laboratory prototypes. The Centre for Quantum Computer Technology's mission is the construction of a prototype few-qubit silicon quantum processor to demonstrate the feasibility of this breakthrough technology for massively parallel computation. This application will initiate a new strategic research program within the Centre to address the key issue of interfacing laboratory with silicon CMOS microelectronics. The Hybrid Quantum- Conventional Processor will provide calibrated gate control and readout of individual buried atom quantum bits,to run logic operations with quantum error correction. This program will require a deep understanding of physics issues to develop fault tolerant coherent control of qubit arrays for real applications.Read moreRead less
Creation of novel photonic and nanostructured materials by ablation of solids with ultra-fast lasers. This project will study of the production of technologically important thin film materials and nanostructured materials using our patented ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition process. Thin film materials required for future applications in photonics will be a priority. In addition ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition can be used to create nanopartilces and mechanisms affecting the growth of these ....Creation of novel photonic and nanostructured materials by ablation of solids with ultra-fast lasers. This project will study of the production of technologically important thin film materials and nanostructured materials using our patented ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition process. Thin film materials required for future applications in photonics will be a priority. In addition ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition can be used to create nanopartilces and mechanisms affecting the growth of these materials will be studied. The project therefore falls into two priority areas: photon science and nanotechnology. Outcomes in addition to new knowledge will include materials and processes with commercial potential.Read moreRead less
Optimism, Pessimism and Confidence - Their economic impacts. When modelling uncertainty, economists typically assume people utilise well-behaved and precise probabilities. As most people have only the vaguest conception of chances of terrorist acts, of contracting SARS, or of extreme market volatility, this limits usefulness of the standard model in predicting or guiding choice. This project aims to incorporate a richer set of attitudes about uncertainty into economic theory, including impreci ....Optimism, Pessimism and Confidence - Their economic impacts. When modelling uncertainty, economists typically assume people utilise well-behaved and precise probabilities. As most people have only the vaguest conception of chances of terrorist acts, of contracting SARS, or of extreme market volatility, this limits usefulness of the standard model in predicting or guiding choice. This project aims to incorporate a richer set of attitudes about uncertainty into economic theory, including imprecise estimates of chance, optimistic (or pessimistic) bias, and relative confidence. This will enable more rigorous analysis of topics like irrational exuberance (panic), consumer stampedes, and (in)tolerance of risk, thereby improving the measurement of benefits and costs of related actions or policies.Read moreRead less
Structural neurobiology - developing a new capability in Australia to treat mental illness. Mental illness encompasses a multitude of devastating conditions that present a major burden to the Australian economy. In this project powerful tools for determining the three-dimensional shapes and functions of proteins will be utilised to gain new knowledge about the molecular bases of various mental illnesses. The project will involve extensive use of the Australian Synchrotron Facility that is due to ....Structural neurobiology - developing a new capability in Australia to treat mental illness. Mental illness encompasses a multitude of devastating conditions that present a major burden to the Australian economy. In this project powerful tools for determining the three-dimensional shapes and functions of proteins will be utilised to gain new knowledge about the molecular bases of various mental illnesses. The project will involve extensive use of the Australian Synchrotron Facility that is due to open in 2007. This knowledge gained from the project will be used to develop new therapeutic drugs to ameliorate or combat mental diseases in partnership with the Australian Biotechnology Industry.Read moreRead less
Rethinking Mental Health Laws: An Integrated Approach. Mental health is one of the Commonwealth Government's national health priority areas. This research program will ensure the best possible outcomes for the Government's five-year action plan for better mental health services by developing model legal frameworks that will help shape the way in which individuals with mental illnesses can access the highest attainable standard of mental health care. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and th ....Rethinking Mental Health Laws: An Integrated Approach. Mental health is one of the Commonwealth Government's national health priority areas. This research program will ensure the best possible outcomes for the Government's five-year action plan for better mental health services by developing model legal frameworks that will help shape the way in which individuals with mental illnesses can access the highest attainable standard of mental health care. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and through developing model frameworks for both civil commitment and sentencing laws, this program will enable Australia to set the international agenda as to how countries can best respond to the mental health needs of their citizens.Read moreRead less
Deformation and Fracture Studies on Polymer Nano-Composites. Polymer nano-composites are a class of emerging materials consisting of nano-meter scale inorganic fillers dispersed in an organic polymer matrix. THey have superior specific strengh and stiffness, good fire retardant and barrier properties. AS such, they have found many potential applications in the automotive and packagingindustries. However, one major limitation is their low fracture toughness. This project aims to study the ori ....Deformation and Fracture Studies on Polymer Nano-Composites. Polymer nano-composites are a class of emerging materials consisting of nano-meter scale inorganic fillers dispersed in an organic polymer matrix. THey have superior specific strengh and stiffness, good fire retardant and barrier properties. AS such, they have found many potential applications in the automotive and packagingindustries. However, one major limitation is their low fracture toughness. This project aims to study the origin of brittleness and improve the toughness. THe anticipated outcomes are: (a) new methods of toughening, and (b) design tools to tailor processing-microstructure-mechanical properties of these nano-composites.Read moreRead less