Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100080
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$195,000.00
Summary
Detector system for the First Australian Experiment on Dark Matter. Detector system for the first Australian experiment on dark matter:
This project involves the installation of equipment for an experiment to detect our galaxy's dark matter via nuclear recoil. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, we have a crucial advantage in the search for dark matter via direct detection, which will allow us to independently test the most persistent and enigmatic signal in the worldwide dark matter detection eff ....Detector system for the First Australian Experiment on Dark Matter. Detector system for the first Australian experiment on dark matter:
This project involves the installation of equipment for an experiment to detect our galaxy's dark matter via nuclear recoil. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, we have a crucial advantage in the search for dark matter via direct detection, which will allow us to independently test the most persistent and enigmatic signal in the worldwide dark matter detection effort. The detector system, called SABRE South, is designed to be paired with a matching one in the Northern Hemisphere. The research program is addressing one of the most important unsolved problems of contemporary science.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100162
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,000.00
Summary
Full scale detector system for dark matter. This project aims to complete a detector system to detect dark matter via nuclear recoil in the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL). The Southern Hemisphere location and the ultra-pure crystals are a crucial advantage in the search for dark matter via direct detection. The detector system will provide the sensitivity needed to test the most persistent and enigmatic signal in the world-wide dark matter direct detection search and ensure Austra ....Full scale detector system for dark matter. This project aims to complete a detector system to detect dark matter via nuclear recoil in the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL). The Southern Hemisphere location and the ultra-pure crystals are a crucial advantage in the search for dark matter via direct detection. The detector system will provide the sensitivity needed to test the most persistent and enigmatic signal in the world-wide dark matter direct detection search and ensure Australian leadership in this field. The discovery of dark matter is expected to be as important as that of the Higgs boson and gravitational waves.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100041
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$680,320.00
Summary
National laser-based non-destructive evaluation system. This project aims to establish the first Australian national facility for non-destructive evaluation, consisting of a three-dimensional scanning laser vibrometer, laser shearography, and an optical de-rotator, to enable full-field characterisation of the deformation and damage state of materials and structures. This solution is expected to perform rapid, broad-area scans, characterise dynamic response and wave propagation in human-engineere ....National laser-based non-destructive evaluation system. This project aims to establish the first Australian national facility for non-destructive evaluation, consisting of a three-dimensional scanning laser vibrometer, laser shearography, and an optical de-rotator, to enable full-field characterisation of the deformation and damage state of materials and structures. This solution is expected to perform rapid, broad-area scans, characterise dynamic response and wave propagation in human-engineered or natural structures, and diagnose rotating systems. This will enhance experimental capabilities, with uses spanning many industry sectors including aerospace, naval, automotive and medical.Read moreRead less
Applying search theory for eradicating invasive species. Invasive species have major economic and environmental impacts in Australia and are a major cause of extinctions worldwide. Monitoring is crucial for the timely control of invasive species in sensitive environments. Early detection increases the probability of eradication and increased accuracy in detection reduces the impact of control programs on non-target species. Efficient monitoring also is crucial in determining whether eradication ....Applying search theory for eradicating invasive species. Invasive species have major economic and environmental impacts in Australia and are a major cause of extinctions worldwide. Monitoring is crucial for the timely control of invasive species in sensitive environments. Early detection increases the probability of eradication and increased accuracy in detection reduces the impact of control programs on non-target species. Efficient monitoring also is crucial in determining whether eradication has succeeded. Search Theory has been applied for over 60 years in a wide range of non-biological monitoring problems, resulting in large increases in target detection rates. Gains of a similar magnitude in invasive species detection would greatly enhance Australia's capacity to manage these threats.Read moreRead less
Making Green Guard® greener: enhancing the efficacy of a biopesticide. The project aims to identify naturally occurring micro-organisms to increase the effectiveness of Green Guard ®, which is a biopesticide used against the Australian plague locust. The project will use next-generation sequencing and other molecular techniques to potentially identify candidate microbes or combinations of microbes that can be added to Green Guard to enhance locust susceptibility. The project also aims to quantif ....Making Green Guard® greener: enhancing the efficacy of a biopesticide. The project aims to identify naturally occurring micro-organisms to increase the effectiveness of Green Guard ®, which is a biopesticide used against the Australian plague locust. The project will use next-generation sequencing and other molecular techniques to potentially identify candidate microbes or combinations of microbes that can be added to Green Guard to enhance locust susceptibility. The project also aims to quantify the interactive impact of temperature and nutrition on immune function, disease resistance and host-plant quality of plague locusts; and to explore the combined effects of temperature, habitat and Green Guard, in combination with candidate microbes or pathogens, on the behaviour and collective movement of locusts. It is anticipated that this will have implications for management and control strategies.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882493
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
High-accuracy spectroscopy under extreme conditions: combining novel synchrotron and laboratory-based spectroscopy. This project aims at maintaining the leading position of Australia in nationally important fields such as ore and environmental geology, ore processing and metallurgy, nano- and bio-technology. This project aims to establish an integrated set of state-of-the-art, often unique and revolutionary new tools, taking in particular advantage of local innovation in instrumentation and spec ....High-accuracy spectroscopy under extreme conditions: combining novel synchrotron and laboratory-based spectroscopy. This project aims at maintaining the leading position of Australia in nationally important fields such as ore and environmental geology, ore processing and metallurgy, nano- and bio-technology. This project aims to establish an integrated set of state-of-the-art, often unique and revolutionary new tools, taking in particular advantage of local innovation in instrumentation and spectroscopy theory, of the investment in major facilities (Australian Synchrotron). By improving cross-disciplinary links among research groups interested in in-situ spectroscopy (Earth Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Biomedicine, Engineering), this application will results in major scientific and industrial advances.Read moreRead less
Modelling and control of mosquito-borne diseases in Darwin using long-term monitoring. Management of mosquito populations is a high public health priority because these insects can spread diseases such as malaria, dengue, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Murray Valley encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis and Kunjin/West Nile virus. Our research into the effectiveness of mosquito control programs in Darwin is of immediate national relevance and priority given the need to Safeguard Australia ....Modelling and control of mosquito-borne diseases in Darwin using long-term monitoring. Management of mosquito populations is a high public health priority because these insects can spread diseases such as malaria, dengue, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Murray Valley encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis and Kunjin/West Nile virus. Our research into the effectiveness of mosquito control programs in Darwin is of immediate national relevance and priority given the need to Safeguard Australia from invasive diseases. There is an urgency to undertake our research because global environmental change and increasing movements of people (particularly military personnel) from overseas regions where these diseases are endemic is increasing the vulnerability of northern Australia to the (re)establishment of mosquito borne diseases.Read moreRead less
Impacts of locust control pesticides on arid-zone fauna. Impacts of locust control pesticides on arid-zone fauna. This project aims to understand how different animals encounter pesticide in the landscape through quantifying residue deposition in arid grasslands and investigating how pesticides used to control locust plagues affect fauna. This project will investigate fenitrothion and fipronil, the main pesticides used in Australia for locust control. It will develop a deposition model for aeria ....Impacts of locust control pesticides on arid-zone fauna. Impacts of locust control pesticides on arid-zone fauna. This project aims to understand how different animals encounter pesticide in the landscape through quantifying residue deposition in arid grasslands and investigating how pesticides used to control locust plagues affect fauna. This project will investigate fenitrothion and fipronil, the main pesticides used in Australia for locust control. It will develop a deposition model for aerial pesticide spraying, determine the short-term effect of sprayed pesticides on the behaviour and condition of free-ranging target fauna that use the environment differently, and quantify the relative importance of dietary and non-dietary exposure routes to gauge the importance of animal behaviour on pesticide exposure. Anticipated outcomes are improved baseline assessments for locusticides.Read moreRead less
Psyllids as biosecurity threats to plantation and native eucalypts in Australia and internationally. Psyllids are tiny cicada-like insects that are economic pests of forestry and horticulture because the saliva injected when feeding causes leaf death and some vector plant diseases. Advanced technologies and procedures will be used to determine what makes plants susceptible to psyllids and to improve Australian preparedness ahead of an incursion.