Primary classroom teacher-student interactions, cultural learning environments and their relationships with students' attitudes and understanding of science concepts. This project examines associations between teacher-student interactions and primary students' perceptions of cultural factors of learning environments with students' attitudes towards science and their understanding of science concepts. In the tradition of classroom environment research, the study will use interviews and questionna ....Primary classroom teacher-student interactions, cultural learning environments and their relationships with students' attitudes and understanding of science concepts. This project examines associations between teacher-student interactions and primary students' perceptions of cultural factors of learning environments with students' attitudes towards science and their understanding of science concepts. In the tradition of classroom environment research, the study will use interviews and questionnaires to obtain students' perceptions of their primary classrooms. In-depth studies will then be made of particular classrooms with the aim of enhancing the description of primary school science teaching. The project will lead to a systematic understanding of what is happening in primary school science and a direction for teachers to implement desirable changes in their teaching.Read moreRead less
Self-reinforced biopolymer composites. This project will pioneer high performance and biodegradable composites using self-reinforced biopolymer composites. Composites can have poor properties due to interfacial issues, and this reduces their performance. By producing a fully self-reinforced (where the fibre and the polymer are the same type of polymer) polymer composites, the project will develop a way to improve properties, increase the use of biobased materials, and improve recyclability and b ....Self-reinforced biopolymer composites. This project will pioneer high performance and biodegradable composites using self-reinforced biopolymer composites. Composites can have poor properties due to interfacial issues, and this reduces their performance. By producing a fully self-reinforced (where the fibre and the polymer are the same type of polymer) polymer composites, the project will develop a way to improve properties, increase the use of biobased materials, and improve recyclability and biodegradability. Outcomes include greater understanding of design of self-reinforced biopolymer composites structure, processing and properties. This will produce opportunities for high performance biobased composite manufacturing and a growing circular plastics economy for Australia.Read moreRead less
Development of an efficient oxygen-thiosulfate process for the recovery of gold from ores. Gold is currently recovered from the ore by a cyanide leaching process. This high risk procedure is used because there is currently no safe alternative. The research we propose to undertake will investigate a novel thiosulfate-oxygen process to dissolve gold. Successful completion of the project will identify the mechanism of the process and could lead to the replacement of the highly toxic cyanide with th ....Development of an efficient oxygen-thiosulfate process for the recovery of gold from ores. Gold is currently recovered from the ore by a cyanide leaching process. This high risk procedure is used because there is currently no safe alternative. The research we propose to undertake will investigate a novel thiosulfate-oxygen process to dissolve gold. Successful completion of the project will identify the mechanism of the process and could lead to the replacement of the highly toxic cyanide with the non toxic thiosulfate. Thus the proposed project has the potential to substantially alter the gold recovery process, particularly in an era where environmental and public concerns exist over the use of cyanide.Read moreRead less
A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability. Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian ....A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability. Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian agriculture and protection of our natural resources. The current reliance for disease control on chemicals that damage the environment will be reduced and our research will contribute directly to the provision of cheaper, simpler and more effective methods of control.
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Nanoporous Epoxy Thermosets via Microphase Separation of Block Copolymers. This project has many expected outcomes and benefits to Australia: (1) Development of the first technology to produce nanoporous epoxy thermosets (i.e. epoxy nanofoams) that may have many applications in microelectronics, optical waveguides and biological separations; (2) Providing impetus for an advanced materials synthesis and manufacturing industry for Australia and contributing to the Frontier Technologies National Re ....Nanoporous Epoxy Thermosets via Microphase Separation of Block Copolymers. This project has many expected outcomes and benefits to Australia: (1) Development of the first technology to produce nanoporous epoxy thermosets (i.e. epoxy nanofoams) that may have many applications in microelectronics, optical waveguides and biological separations; (2) Providing impetus for an advanced materials synthesis and manufacturing industry for Australia and contributing to the Frontier Technologies National Research Priority-Advanced Materials Priority Goals; (3) The development of new niche markets with these new materials and the new technologies, which is an excellent vehicle for Australia to move to a high-value added industrial portfolio that maximises return and promotes job growth.Read moreRead less
Targeting TGF-beta proteins to control animal reproduction. This project aims to develop a suite of novel biologics to control fertility in female mammals. This project expects to demonstrate that targeting a single class of ovarian proteins will enhance or inhibit egg production. The expected outcomes of this project are to (1) transform the breeding of livestock animals, which should provide significant benefits to the agricultural industry, through increased herd/flock sizes, and (2) provide ....Targeting TGF-beta proteins to control animal reproduction. This project aims to develop a suite of novel biologics to control fertility in female mammals. This project expects to demonstrate that targeting a single class of ovarian proteins will enhance or inhibit egg production. The expected outcomes of this project are to (1) transform the breeding of livestock animals, which should provide significant benefits to the agricultural industry, through increased herd/flock sizes, and (2) provide a non-surgical method of contraception in companion/feral species, which should address the large unmet need for fertility control in these animals.
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Australia's native sorghums: a model for testing plant adaptation theories. This proposal tests an emerging theory that allocation of resources by plants to growth or defence are interrelated, not alternatives as currently assumed. Like many crops, sorghum produces toxic cyanide, especially during droughts but its wild relatives make much less. This project aims to discover why cyanide is so common in domesticated plants and why levels increase with stress. This has important implications for de ....Australia's native sorghums: a model for testing plant adaptation theories. This proposal tests an emerging theory that allocation of resources by plants to growth or defence are interrelated, not alternatives as currently assumed. Like many crops, sorghum produces toxic cyanide, especially during droughts but its wild relatives make much less. This project aims to discover why cyanide is so common in domesticated plants and why levels increase with stress. This has important implications for developing crops that are high yielding and also climate resilient. Expected outcomes include full genome sequences for all of Australia’s unique native sorghums, confirmation of new theories on the interrelationships between defence and growth and identification of new traits vital for developing the crops of the future. Read moreRead less
Global childhoods: Life-worlds and educational success in Australia and Asia. This project aims to investigate how everyday life-worlds of year four students (nine-ten years of age) in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore shape children’s orientations to educational success. Situated in the global cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore, the study explores connections between policy contexts, school experiences and everyday activities of children growing up in the Asian Century. Findi ....Global childhoods: Life-worlds and educational success in Australia and Asia. This project aims to investigate how everyday life-worlds of year four students (nine-ten years of age) in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore shape children’s orientations to educational success. Situated in the global cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore, the study explores connections between policy contexts, school experiences and everyday activities of children growing up in the Asian Century. Findings will advance knowledge of factors that contribute to children’s understandings of how their experiences in and out of school prepare them for futures in a global world. This will enable policy-makers, educators and parents to provide improved learning opportunities in children’s lives.Read moreRead less
Nature's mechanisms for leaching and remobilising metals. This project aims to understand the chemical and physical processes that govern reactive transport and metal scavenging in rocky environments. Much of Australia's mineral wealth is the result of the interaction of warm fluids with rocks deep in the Earth over geological timescales. The formation of ore deposits is governed by the physical chemistry of mineral dissolution and crystallisation, and by fluid flow through porous rocks and frac ....Nature's mechanisms for leaching and remobilising metals. This project aims to understand the chemical and physical processes that govern reactive transport and metal scavenging in rocky environments. Much of Australia's mineral wealth is the result of the interaction of warm fluids with rocks deep in the Earth over geological timescales. The formation of ore deposits is governed by the physical chemistry of mineral dissolution and crystallisation, and by fluid flow through porous rocks and fractures. This project integrates innovation in geology, chemistry, and mineral engineering, and will deliver mineral-scale reaction models that will increase efficiency of in-situ mining and leaching technologies. Knowledge generated can be applied to improve mineral exploration, mining, and processing, contributing to unlocking billions of dollars’ worth of resources tied up in low grade, mineralogically complex ores.Read moreRead less
High performance sustainable carbon fibres from Australian spinifex grass. Spinifex grasses cover approximately 30 per cent of our Australian continent, in the driest regions. It has been found that, presumably because of this harsh environment, they are uniquely easy to break down into ultra-long, thin cellulose nanofibrils. Through the use of novel catalysts and advanced processing techniques, this project aims to take advantage of this trait to deliver the cost-effective production of high st ....High performance sustainable carbon fibres from Australian spinifex grass. Spinifex grasses cover approximately 30 per cent of our Australian continent, in the driest regions. It has been found that, presumably because of this harsh environment, they are uniquely easy to break down into ultra-long, thin cellulose nanofibrils. Through the use of novel catalysts and advanced processing techniques, this project aims to take advantage of this trait to deliver the cost-effective production of high strength, sustainable carbon fibres from nanocellulose. It is expected that the use of the world's first university based research facility capable of producing high quality carbon fibre (CarbonNexus) will ensure the product is industrially relevant, with real potential to capture a share of the $14 billion carbon-fibre-composite market.Read moreRead less