Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989675
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,000.00
Summary
Interface-specific facility for quantifying adsorption and structures at particulate interfaces. The facility will be used by the collaborating universities to investigate adsorption and interface properties with great precision, and to develop new and improved technologies for coal and mineral processing, saline water utilisation, water desalination, energy production and environment protection. In particular, the project will investigate innovative ways of using ion-interface interactions in ....Interface-specific facility for quantifying adsorption and structures at particulate interfaces. The facility will be used by the collaborating universities to investigate adsorption and interface properties with great precision, and to develop new and improved technologies for coal and mineral processing, saline water utilisation, water desalination, energy production and environment protection. In particular, the project will investigate innovative ways of using ion-interface interactions in saline water for cleaning coal and recovering value minerals by flotation, and for improving dissolved air flotation used in water treatment and desalination to produce drinking water. The project will further investigate novel ways of capturing CO2, storing natural gases and hydrogen, and tailoring nutrient nano-crystals for foliar delivery.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH210100048
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,980,000.00
Summary
ARC Industry Transformation Research Hub for Resilient and Intelligent Infrastructure Systems (RIIS) in Urban, Resources and Energy Sectors. RIIS will deliver transformational technologies to address Australia’s critical infrastructure needs. It will integrate advances in sensor technology, connectivity, data analytics, machine learning, robotics, smart materials, and reliable models to deliver resilient and adaptive infrastructure systems in urban, energy and resources sectors. All three sector ....ARC Industry Transformation Research Hub for Resilient and Intelligent Infrastructure Systems (RIIS) in Urban, Resources and Energy Sectors. RIIS will deliver transformational technologies to address Australia’s critical infrastructure needs. It will integrate advances in sensor technology, connectivity, data analytics, machine learning, robotics, smart materials, and reliable models to deliver resilient and adaptive infrastructure systems in urban, energy and resources sectors. All three sectors are critical to Australia's prosperity and well-being. It will engage with industry, government, and community to unlock scientific roadblock, deliver foundational skills, and translate research and development to commercial opportunities. Benefits include: improved productivity, competitiveness, resiliency, safety; growth, job creation; technological leadership, and export potential.Read moreRead less
The effects of home-based couple relationship education on couple relationships, mental health and work performance. Marital distress and separations cause great suffering and cost the Australian community at least $5 billion annually. This research evaluates an innovative relationship education program that couples can complete at home. The research tests whether the education enhances couples' relationship satisfaction, which couples benefit, how the program achieves its effects, and whether i ....The effects of home-based couple relationship education on couple relationships, mental health and work performance. Marital distress and separations cause great suffering and cost the Australian community at least $5 billion annually. This research evaluates an innovative relationship education program that couples can complete at home. The research tests whether the education enhances couples' relationship satisfaction, which couples benefit, how the program achieves its effects, and whether improved couple relationships enhances partners' mental health and work performance. The program might provide national benefit in reducing the enormous personal and social costs of marital problems, as well as providing a potentially important new product with significant export potential.Read moreRead less
Epidemiology of pathogens in wildlife populations: significance for conservation, human health and livestock. Recent research shows that pathogens may play a central role in wildlife population dynamics. Emergent disease problems in humans and livestock may result from reservoir infections in wildlife. However, methods to determine the impact of pathogens on populations, as distinct from individuals within populations, are poorly developed, as are models necessary to evaluate alternative control ....Epidemiology of pathogens in wildlife populations: significance for conservation, human health and livestock. Recent research shows that pathogens may play a central role in wildlife population dynamics. Emergent disease problems in humans and livestock may result from reservoir infections in wildlife. However, methods to determine the impact of pathogens on populations, as distinct from individuals within populations, are poorly developed, as are models necessary to evaluate alternative control strategies for pathogens, particularly where reservoir hosts are involved. This project will develop these methods using four case studies: chyridiomycosis in frogs, Hendra virus in bats, Newcastle disease in wild birds and arboviruses in kangaroos and other macropods.Read moreRead less
The genomics of adaptation in Wolbachia pipientis, an emerging biocontrol agent. Australians are increasingly exposed to insect-transmitted diseases such as dengue fever. Novel biocontrol methods using the bacterium Wolbachia aim to control insect populations to reduce disease transmission. Our research will be the first to investigate genomic variation and the process of adaptation to new insect hosts in Wolbachia. The novel data and understanding of evolutionary processes we generate will be c ....The genomics of adaptation in Wolbachia pipientis, an emerging biocontrol agent. Australians are increasingly exposed to insect-transmitted diseases such as dengue fever. Novel biocontrol methods using the bacterium Wolbachia aim to control insect populations to reduce disease transmission. Our research will be the first to investigate genomic variation and the process of adaptation to new insect hosts in Wolbachia. The novel data and understanding of evolutionary processes we generate will be critical for screening bacterial biocontrol candidates and designing biocontrol release strategies. It will also strengthen the position of Australian research as a world-leader in the fusion of post-genomics and applied microbiology. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100220
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
A study of the bulk and surface responses of ores to high voltage pulses applied using a selFrag Lab. Minerals account for 40% of Australia's exports and mining is a major Australian employer. The health of the industry is integral to Australia's prosperity. Recent events have shown that mining cannot rely on high commodity prices but must continually seek efficiency improvements. This will be even more critical as production depends increasingly on low-grade ore deposits. Using selFrag Lab, ....A study of the bulk and surface responses of ores to high voltage pulses applied using a selFrag Lab. Minerals account for 40% of Australia's exports and mining is a major Australian employer. The health of the industry is integral to Australia's prosperity. Recent events have shown that mining cannot rely on high commodity prices but must continually seek efficiency improvements. This will be even more critical as production depends increasingly on low-grade ore deposits. Using selFrag Lab, the response of different ores to high voltage pulses will be studied to identify processes that liberate a greater percentage of valuable minerals while using less energy and less water and keeping toxic elements bound in larger waste particles. SelFrag-based research will therefore deliver major economic and environmental benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH130200031
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,273,780.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Advanced Technologies for Australian Iron Ore. ARC Research Hub for Advanced Technologies for Australian Iron Ore. This Research Hub aims to bring together three world-class groups covering fine particle beneficiation, raw materials handling, and iron ore characterisation to address the complex issues that arise from the different ore types that have emerged in recent years. This Research Hub will focus on the development and adoption of advanced beneficiation and handling t ....ARC Research Hub for Advanced Technologies for Australian Iron Ore. ARC Research Hub for Advanced Technologies for Australian Iron Ore. This Research Hub aims to bring together three world-class groups covering fine particle beneficiation, raw materials handling, and iron ore characterisation to address the complex issues that arise from the different ore types that have emerged in recent years. This Research Hub will focus on the development and adoption of advanced beneficiation and handling technologies into iron ore mining operations, and new knowledge for informing producers and end-users, while providing the training for a new generation of research leaders.Read moreRead less
A comparative genomics approach to understanding host-endosymbiont interactions. Australia's unique ecosystems are vulnerable to invasion by exotic pests that threaten agriculture and human health. The bacterial symbiont Wolbachia is found in many major pests of agricultural and medical importance. Our results will give insights into how Wolbachia spreads into host populations and improve its use as a tool to impair insect transmission of disease, e.g. as an agent to carry genes into an insect p ....A comparative genomics approach to understanding host-endosymbiont interactions. Australia's unique ecosystems are vulnerable to invasion by exotic pests that threaten agriculture and human health. The bacterial symbiont Wolbachia is found in many major pests of agricultural and medical importance. Our results will give insights into how Wolbachia spreads into host populations and improve its use as a tool to impair insect transmission of disease, e.g. as an agent to carry genes into an insect population that limit disease transmission. Our results will also make fundamental contributions to understanding host-parasite evolution, host-parasite communication, and insect developmental processes, and will be of interest to a large international community of researchers in this field. Read moreRead less
From shape to function: how structured RNA defines insect flaviviruses. The goal of this project is to obtain an understanding of how insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) utilise viral noncoding RNAs to enable their replication in mosquitoes. These viruses only replicate in mosquitoes, and not in humans or animals. They can be employed as the biocontrol agents for mosquito-borne diseases as they make mosquitoes incapable of disease transmission. However, it is currently unknown how exactly insect ....From shape to function: how structured RNA defines insect flaviviruses. The goal of this project is to obtain an understanding of how insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) utilise viral noncoding RNAs to enable their replication in mosquitoes. These viruses only replicate in mosquitoes, and not in humans or animals. They can be employed as the biocontrol agents for mosquito-borne diseases as they make mosquitoes incapable of disease transmission. However, it is currently unknown how exactly insect-specific flaviviruses affect mosquitoes and this information is vital for informed design of ISF-based interventions. The project will generate new knowledge on functions of noncoding RNAs in ISFs that are hypothesised to have immunomodulatory role in mosquitoes. It will also train students and ECRs.Read moreRead less
NANO-SCALE CATALYST SYSTEMS FOR HYDROGEN GENERATION FOR FUEL CELLS. The project aims to develop nano-scale catalyst materials for micro-channel fuel processing systems. Micro-channel reactors have the benefits over conventional technology of being more compact and potential for much lower costs. This will assist in the development of hydrogen generation systems for fuel cells, as well as other chemical processing applications such as gas-to-liquids technology. The technology has the potential t ....NANO-SCALE CATALYST SYSTEMS FOR HYDROGEN GENERATION FOR FUEL CELLS. The project aims to develop nano-scale catalyst materials for micro-channel fuel processing systems. Micro-channel reactors have the benefits over conventional technology of being more compact and potential for much lower costs. This will assist in the development of hydrogen generation systems for fuel cells, as well as other chemical processing applications such as gas-to-liquids technology. The technology has the potential to generate significant IP in an evolving multi-billion dollar fuel cell industry. Support from Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd. and the Gas Technology Institute will ensure that the work has an international as well as national perspective, and a route to exploitation.Read moreRead less