Resolving multi-sensory conflict as we age: audio-visual integration and the role of normal and abnormal sensory decline. Australia has an ageing population. Even the healthiest older individuals undergo some deterioration of vision and hearing, however, these senses are almost invariably studied in isolation. The real world is multisensory. This project will enhance our knowledge of how ageing impacts on the interpretation of visual and auditory information regarding the timing and location of ....Resolving multi-sensory conflict as we age: audio-visual integration and the role of normal and abnormal sensory decline. Australia has an ageing population. Even the healthiest older individuals undergo some deterioration of vision and hearing, however, these senses are almost invariably studied in isolation. The real world is multisensory. This project will enhance our knowledge of how ageing impacts on the interpretation of visual and auditory information regarding the timing and location of objects; essential precursors to many real world tasks, for example: driving, interpreting speech, and hazard avoidance. This knowledge is essential for the optimisation of audio-visual environments for the elderly, and for the development of tools to improve performance in the presence of sensory decline due to age-related eye disease.Read moreRead less
Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying non-visual photoreception and their implications in the treatment of human neurological disease. The ability of organisms to detect light is fundamental for survival and has been a major driver in evolution. The project will investigate the genetic origins of the various visual and non-visual systems and will explore its implications for the bioengineering of therapeutics for the treatment of neurological disease in humans.
Complex dynamical systems: inferring form and function of interacting biological systems. Often in biology a large number of simple parts interacting according to simple rules can result in behaviour that is rich and varied. This project aims to develop the mathematics of complex systems theory to describe how such collections of simple interacting parts can form large complicated structures, and to deduce what dynamical behaviour can result.
A geometric theory for modern optimisation problems in control and estimation. Linear-quadratic and spectral factorisation problems play a crucial role in system and control theory as well as many important application areas. The success of the project will represent a significant advancement of state-of-the-art in these broad areas.
Optimal Control of Multi-Object System. Better understanding of multi-object systems developed from this research, in particular, optimal control algorithms for multi-object systems have several significant socio-economic benefits. Application areas that benefits from our research include aerospace applications such as radar, sonar, guidance, navigation, and air traffic control and non-aerospace areas such as image processing, oceanography autonomous vehicles and robotics, remote sensing, and bi ....Optimal Control of Multi-Object System. Better understanding of multi-object systems developed from this research, in particular, optimal control algorithms for multi-object systems have several significant socio-economic benefits. Application areas that benefits from our research include aerospace applications such as radar, sonar, guidance, navigation, and air traffic control and non-aerospace areas such as image processing, oceanography autonomous vehicles and robotics, remote sensing, and biomedical research. The sensor network discipline also stand to benefit from the understanding of multi-object system and control framework. Read moreRead less
State, Class and Islamic Populism: Indonesia in Comparative Perspective. This study will provide a different basis for the assessment of Australian policy responses to Islamic radicalism in Indonesia. It will expose the social foundations of Islamic populism as a particular expression of political Islam and in so doing allow the Australian public and policymakers to understand the complex networks and relationships that generate and sustain Islamic populism, including its radical streams. It wil ....State, Class and Islamic Populism: Indonesia in Comparative Perspective. This study will provide a different basis for the assessment of Australian policy responses to Islamic radicalism in Indonesia. It will expose the social foundations of Islamic populism as a particular expression of political Islam and in so doing allow the Australian public and policymakers to understand the complex networks and relationships that generate and sustain Islamic populism, including its radical streams. It will enable an identification and differentiation of the social forces resisting or advancing democratic governance reforms in Indonesia. With this knowledge, programmes intended to help develop domestic pro-democratic coalitions to stem the rise of radical Islamic groups have a sounder social scientific base.Read moreRead less
Addressing Challenges for the Future Grids – Harmonics Standardization. The main aim of this project is to deliver appropriate frequency standardisation to protect electricity grids and support the use of renewable energy sources. Globally, there is no harmonic standardisation within the frequency range of 2–150 kHz, which can significantly affect the reliability of electricity networks and smart grids. Electricity networks are increasingly using renewable energy sources and an efficient loads a ....Addressing Challenges for the Future Grids – Harmonics Standardization. The main aim of this project is to deliver appropriate frequency standardisation to protect electricity grids and support the use of renewable energy sources. Globally, there is no harmonic standardisation within the frequency range of 2–150 kHz, which can significantly affect the reliability of electricity networks and smart grids. Electricity networks are increasingly using renewable energy sources and an efficient loads approach based on power electronics technology. However, this can affect grid reliability and robustness. The project aims to develop advanced tools to better understand the power quality issues of Australian residential, commercial and industrial distribution networks. It also aims to develop novel techniques to improve power quality and reliability of the grids, and to develop harmonics emission and immunity levels to modify the Australian standards accordingly.Read moreRead less
Masterminding Reproduction: Kisspeptin and RFamide-Related Peptide. There are a number of concerning trends in reproductive health. Women are reporting difficulty conceiving and maintaining pregnancies; while sperm count and quality are declining in men. More concerning is the increase in reproductive cancers. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist and agonist have been used for decades to treat reproductive cancers (such as breast cancer and prostate cancer), infertility and precociou ....Masterminding Reproduction: Kisspeptin and RFamide-Related Peptide. There are a number of concerning trends in reproductive health. Women are reporting difficulty conceiving and maintaining pregnancies; while sperm count and quality are declining in men. More concerning is the increase in reproductive cancers. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist and agonist have been used for decades to treat reproductive cancers (such as breast cancer and prostate cancer), infertility and precocious puberty. Kisspeptin and RF-related peptide may offer more physiological alternatives to GnRH, without detrimental side effects. We will fully explore these two newly defined and major players in reproduction and provide a physiological framework for their progression to clinical use.Read moreRead less
Unraveling the geology of Mars. This project aims to use a suite of innovative conceptual and technical tools that target specific weaknesses in existing Mars exploration programs – where comparatively modest investment could deliver transformative change in one of the largest global research efforts, on which current expenditure is in billions of dollars. The project expects to provide context for the geologic processes that affected Mars. Expected outcomes include a better understanding of the ....Unraveling the geology of Mars. This project aims to use a suite of innovative conceptual and technical tools that target specific weaknesses in existing Mars exploration programs – where comparatively modest investment could deliver transformative change in one of the largest global research efforts, on which current expenditure is in billions of dollars. The project expects to provide context for the geologic processes that affected Mars. Expected outcomes include a better understanding of the habitability and geological history of Mars as well as facilitating both future mission landing site selection and providing context for comparison to the early history of Earth.Read moreRead less
Establishing Vibrio natriegens as Ultra-Rapid Host for Synthetic Biology. This project aims to harness Vibrio natriegens, the world’s fastest-growing bacterium, as a microbial cell factory for synthetic biology and biotechnology. The project expects to develop new genetic tools and genetically-engineered microbes that can rapidly transform cheap feedstocks, such as plastic waste, into valuable chemicals and bioplastics. Expected outcomes include new knowledge on the mechanisms driving V. natrieg ....Establishing Vibrio natriegens as Ultra-Rapid Host for Synthetic Biology. This project aims to harness Vibrio natriegens, the world’s fastest-growing bacterium, as a microbial cell factory for synthetic biology and biotechnology. The project expects to develop new genetic tools and genetically-engineered microbes that can rapidly transform cheap feedstocks, such as plastic waste, into valuable chemicals and bioplastics. Expected outcomes include new knowledge on the mechanisms driving V. natriegens’ rapid growth, as well as building Australian multidisciplinary research capacity in synthetic biology that can translate this potential into bio-manufacturing processes. Significant benefits include the means to cut plastic pollution in our environment and to provide the basis for a carbon-negative chemical industry.Read moreRead less