An evaluation of novel aluminosilicate materials based on modified kaolins for environmental applications. We have shown that simple and inexpensive modification of kaolin produces materials that adsorb large amounts of ammonium (N) and phosphate (P). We intend to evaluate and develop these materials for water treatment, so as to reduce N, P inputs into rivers and wetlands. The materials can then be used as fertilisers. Similarly addition of the materials to sandy soils to reduce leaching losses ....An evaluation of novel aluminosilicate materials based on modified kaolins for environmental applications. We have shown that simple and inexpensive modification of kaolin produces materials that adsorb large amounts of ammonium (N) and phosphate (P). We intend to evaluate and develop these materials for water treatment, so as to reduce N, P inputs into rivers and wetlands. The materials can then be used as fertilisers. Similarly addition of the materials to sandy soils to reduce leaching losses of N, P from fertilisers will be investigated. The major outcome of this research will be effective and inexpensive procedures for reducing eutrophication due to N, P from waste water and fertilisers.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668100
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
High Resolution Simultaneous DSC/DTA-TGA-FTIR System. National Research Priorities including 'New Materials' 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries' and 'Developing Deep Earth Resources' will all be addressed and the benefits will include new materials such as carbon nanotubes and layered silicate composites. It will also contribute economically through technological development, supporting existing Australian companies in the development of more effective pro ....High Resolution Simultaneous DSC/DTA-TGA-FTIR System. National Research Priorities including 'New Materials' 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries' and 'Developing Deep Earth Resources' will all be addressed and the benefits will include new materials such as carbon nanotubes and layered silicate composites. It will also contribute economically through technological development, supporting existing Australian companies in the development of more effective products and help keep pace with new and innovative advances in technology and to bring in vitality to strategic alliances with industry already launched by the University through a Sustainable Regions Program grant titled 'Building nanotechnology business potential in the Campbelltown-Camden region'.Read moreRead less
Mathematical Methods for Next Generation Sequencing. The emergence of a new generation of high throughput genomic sequencing technologies is providing unprecedented opportunities for biological research. Hidden within the huge amounts of data generated by this technology is information about the expression and regulation of genes, and the complex functional purpose of non-coding, so called 'junk', DNA. Development of mathematical and statistical tools is essential to interpreting these data. The ....Mathematical Methods for Next Generation Sequencing. The emergence of a new generation of high throughput genomic sequencing technologies is providing unprecedented opportunities for biological research. Hidden within the huge amounts of data generated by this technology is information about the expression and regulation of genes, and the complex functional purpose of non-coding, so called 'junk', DNA. Development of mathematical and statistical tools is essential to interpreting these data. The proposed research will enhance Australia's reputation for developing novel quantitative techniques at the cutting edge of modern biology. The proposed project has a broad range of potential applications in biotechnology, particularly in the medical and agricultural industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454166
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,305,029.00
Summary
Nanoscale Materials Characterization Facility. We request a transmission and a scanning electron microscope, each with specialist electron probes smaller than a nanometre, which can selectively analyse the atomic structure and chemistry of sub-nanometre regions of material.
These capabilities are essential to advance a large range of research projects at the cutting-edge of materials science and engineering, undertaken by Victoria's leading research institutions: five Victorian universities, ....Nanoscale Materials Characterization Facility. We request a transmission and a scanning electron microscope, each with specialist electron probes smaller than a nanometre, which can selectively analyse the atomic structure and chemistry of sub-nanometre regions of material.
These capabilities are essential to advance a large range of research projects at the cutting-edge of materials science and engineering, undertaken by Victoria's leading research institutions: five Victorian universities, the CSIRO, Nanotechnology Victoria Ltd, the Victorian Centre for Advanced Materials Manufacturing and the CRC for Microtechnology. Together they have contributed $2.58 million to this project.
This state-of-the-art facility will include the highest spatial resolution microscope in Australia.
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Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354605
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
The Earth System Dynamics Network for a Sustainable Australia. Earth comprises systems of enormous complexity that sustain all life and control the distribution of mineral, energy and water resources. Thus understanding these dynamic systems provides the key to sustainable resource usage. The aim of The Earth System Dynamics Network is to facilitate scientific interactions through establishment of an earth and environmental sciences grid that links national and regional data assets with high per ....The Earth System Dynamics Network for a Sustainable Australia. Earth comprises systems of enormous complexity that sustain all life and control the distribution of mineral, energy and water resources. Thus understanding these dynamic systems provides the key to sustainable resource usage. The aim of The Earth System Dynamics Network is to facilitate scientific interactions through establishment of an earth and environmental sciences grid that links national and regional data assets with high performance computing through open sourced middleware. The result will be an unparalleled predictive capacity for complex Earth systems. The outcome will be confidence in the knowledge that underpins our decisions as stakeholders to keep Australia sustainable.Read moreRead less
TOWARDS A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF HOW ENZYMES WORK: development of simulation methods and protocols, blind test predictions, and experimental validation. Enzymes catalyze quite fantastic chemistry under mild physiological conditions. Many special chemical concepts (such as "transition-state stabilization" and "entropy-enthalpy compensation") proposed to explain these powers are unnecessary. Uniquely for a catalyst, these powers are integral to the structure, properties and dynamics of the protei ....TOWARDS A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF HOW ENZYMES WORK: development of simulation methods and protocols, blind test predictions, and experimental validation. Enzymes catalyze quite fantastic chemistry under mild physiological conditions. Many special chemical concepts (such as "transition-state stabilization" and "entropy-enthalpy compensation") proposed to explain these powers are unnecessary. Uniquely for a catalyst, these powers are integral to the structure, properties and dynamics of the protein, as constrained and selected by evolution. The question is how do they work? Answering this requires energetic and thermodynamic analysis beyond current experimental techniques, but accessible by computer simulation. We aim to develop a robust toolkit of simulation methods and protocols, blind test them by predicting the mechanism of a new enzyme, with followup experimental validation.
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Importance of conformational and electrostatic contributions in simulations of enzyme reaction mechanisms. The research will contribute to the development of biomolecular simulation in Australia by demonstrating its potential to complement experiment, and also promote the effective use of APAC (Australian national supercomputer facilities) resources by providing advanced programs and computational protocols for other researchers. It will assist the diffusion of computational biology technology i ....Importance of conformational and electrostatic contributions in simulations of enzyme reaction mechanisms. The research will contribute to the development of biomolecular simulation in Australia by demonstrating its potential to complement experiment, and also promote the effective use of APAC (Australian national supercomputer facilities) resources by providing advanced programs and computational protocols for other researchers. It will assist the diffusion of computational biology technology into industrial applications such as rational drug design and protein engineering, as, for example, in our associated Linkage project grant, and provide novel insights into protein engineering and other sorts of design, which transcend concepts currently used in biomimetic chemistry.Read moreRead less
The Objects of Probabilities. Probabilities impact almost every aspect of our lives. Actuaries calculate probabilities of property loss due to bushfires, while climatologists warn that such probabilities will increase alarmingly. Probabilities abound in engineering, medicine, the law, the sciences and social sciences, and much philosophy. Yet we lack a proper understanding of the kinds of things that receive probabilities: the objects of probabilities. This project will provide such understandin ....The Objects of Probabilities. Probabilities impact almost every aspect of our lives. Actuaries calculate probabilities of property loss due to bushfires, while climatologists warn that such probabilities will increase alarmingly. Probabilities abound in engineering, medicine, the law, the sciences and social sciences, and much philosophy. Yet we lack a proper understanding of the kinds of things that receive probabilities: the objects of probabilities. This project will provide such understanding. It will rethink the foundations of probability and decision theory, with potential ramifications for the philosophy, science, and public policy that are based on these theories. It thus aims to strengthen Australia's research profile and international standing in these areas.Read moreRead less
Structure of Exotic Neutron-Rich Nuclei Populated Using Novel Reaction Mechanisms. Over half of the nuclei believed to be stable to particle decay have not been studied due to the lack of available nuclear reactions. We have played a leading role in developing innovative techniques using incomplete-fusion and deep-inelastic reactions to access neutron-rich nuclei that were inaccessible prior to this work. This project aims to study new phenomena in exotic, neutron-rich nuclei, building on Aust ....Structure of Exotic Neutron-Rich Nuclei Populated Using Novel Reaction Mechanisms. Over half of the nuclei believed to be stable to particle decay have not been studied due to the lack of available nuclear reactions. We have played a leading role in developing innovative techniques using incomplete-fusion and deep-inelastic reactions to access neutron-rich nuclei that were inaccessible prior to this work. This project aims to study new phenomena in exotic, neutron-rich nuclei, building on Australia's existing investment in this area, and, through international scientific leadership, facilitating the access of Australian researchers to highly competitive overseas facilities.Read moreRead less
Understanding, prediction and control of polymorphism in pharmaceuticals. The proposed research will lead, through a better understanding of polymorphism, to more efficient production of pharmaceuticals and will enhance the establishment and protection of patents. The work will have flow-on in other areas such as the manufacture of pigments, dyes and explosives. The project uses methodology for the elucidation of local structure and function at the atomic to nanoscale level in which Australia is ....Understanding, prediction and control of polymorphism in pharmaceuticals. The proposed research will lead, through a better understanding of polymorphism, to more efficient production of pharmaceuticals and will enhance the establishment and protection of patents. The work will have flow-on in other areas such as the manufacture of pigments, dyes and explosives. The project uses methodology for the elucidation of local structure and function at the atomic to nanoscale level in which Australia is a world leader. The project will further enhance our standing in this field and will provide excellent research training opportunities in areas particularly pertinent to future exploitation of the Australian Synchrotron and the new Research Reactor OPAL, which open in 2007. Read moreRead less