The origins of electroreception and nocturnality in the earliest known jawed vertebrates and their bearing on vertebrate diversification. This project aims to discover primary new data to pinpoint the timing, anatomical origins and phylogenetic significance when two key sensory systems first appeared in modern vertebrates: electroreception and specialised nocturnal vision. Such abilities today allow high diversity of vertebrates to co-exist within the same geographical range, for example on trop ....The origins of electroreception and nocturnality in the earliest known jawed vertebrates and their bearing on vertebrate diversification. This project aims to discover primary new data to pinpoint the timing, anatomical origins and phylogenetic significance when two key sensory systems first appeared in modern vertebrates: electroreception and specialised nocturnal vision. Such abilities today allow high diversity of vertebrates to co-exist within the same geographical range, for example on tropical reefs or rainforest communities, through careful temporal niche partitioning where reliance on other sensory systems takes over from vision and olfaction as the principal method of prey detection. This project aims to elucidate how the modern fish diversity was shaped by such significant early evolutionary events.Read moreRead less
Integrated photo and thermal catalysis for economic carbon dioxide conversion to fuels. The project aims to develop an integrated process for simultaneously photo- and thermal-catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapour to hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals using solar light and waste heat from flue gas. This project will design and make multi-functional catalysts based on zirconium metal organic frameworks, incorporating quantum dots and metal nanoclusters. This project is expected to ....Integrated photo and thermal catalysis for economic carbon dioxide conversion to fuels. The project aims to develop an integrated process for simultaneously photo- and thermal-catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapour to hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals using solar light and waste heat from flue gas. This project will design and make multi-functional catalysts based on zirconium metal organic frameworks, incorporating quantum dots and metal nanoclusters. This project is expected to develop an advanced materials system, reduce carbon dioxide and use it to produce fuel, and harness solar energy. The project should advance Australia’s leading role in reducing carbon emission, and producing clean energy and nanotechnology.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
Adaptation of carbon free fuels to high temperature industrial processes. This project aims to deepen our understanding of the underpinning scientific and engineering solutions required to adapt carbon free renewable fuels to high temperature industrial processes. The project will advance the knowledge base of innovative strategies, such as fuel blending and oxidant stream vitiation needed to replace fossil based fuels with alternatives such as hydrogen, or ammonia. Advance experimental and comp ....Adaptation of carbon free fuels to high temperature industrial processes. This project aims to deepen our understanding of the underpinning scientific and engineering solutions required to adapt carbon free renewable fuels to high temperature industrial processes. The project will advance the knowledge base of innovative strategies, such as fuel blending and oxidant stream vitiation needed to replace fossil based fuels with alternatives such as hydrogen, or ammonia. Advance experimental and computational tools will be used to investigate the controlling parameters to facilitate adaptation including burning characteristics, modes of heat transfer and pollutant emissions. The project will generate deeper understanding of the proposed approaches, detailed and unique high fidelity data, and suitable predictive models.Read moreRead less
Resilience in biogeochemical pathways along a catchment-to-coast continuum. Aquatic systems have degraded more in the past 50 years than any other time in history. Global pressures are further threatening their sustainability, but their complexity makes it difficult to understand how they are responding. This project will combine numerous state-of-the-art approaches to unravel pathways that shape their response.