Checking the validity of photographic identification documents: Enhancing the performance of security personnel through increased understanding of unfamiliar face processing. The ability to accurately establish the identity of an individual is central to the national security of Australia. Identity checking often relies on facial photographs contained on passports and other documents. Despite the introduction of automated systems, the decision whether a photograph is of a person rests with human ....Checking the validity of photographic identification documents: Enhancing the performance of security personnel through increased understanding of unfamiliar face processing. The ability to accurately establish the identity of an individual is central to the national security of Australia. Identity checking often relies on facial photographs contained on passports and other documents. Despite the introduction of automated systems, the decision whether a photograph is of a person rests with human operators. Research by CI has demonstrated that this task is difficult and error prone. The proposed research seeks to improve performance by developing a fuller understanding of the nature of the task and the limits of the operators' abilities and by testing possible training and selection procedures.Read moreRead less
Belief singular versus beliefs plural. Research on the brain and how it represents the environment has the potential to reconfigure our ordinary conceptions of belief and rationality. This project explores the impact of the changes and their implications.
Mathematics, the science of real structure: an Australian realist philosophy of mathematics. The project will strengthen the already strong Australian philosophical tradition of realism, extending it into philosophy of mathematics. It will develop a robust alternative to the nominalism, Platonism and idealism that dominate northern-hemisphere philosophizing about mathematics, an alternative that is in tune with how mathematicians really apply mathematics. Australian philosophy will thus be stren ....Mathematics, the science of real structure: an Australian realist philosophy of mathematics. The project will strengthen the already strong Australian philosophical tradition of realism, extending it into philosophy of mathematics. It will develop a robust alternative to the nominalism, Platonism and idealism that dominate northern-hemisphere philosophizing about mathematics, an alternative that is in tune with how mathematicians really apply mathematics. Australian philosophy will thus be strengthened in general, giving it a greater attractiveness to the many overseas visitors and students who already appreciate its unique strengths. The nature of the project will also lead to closer ties and interdisciplinary work between philosophers and mathematicians.
Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882787
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
An Integrated Raman Microscope and in Situ STM-TEM Analysis System. The imaging and analytical capabilities of SEM and chemical and structural characterisation afforded by Raman spectroscopy will be unique, allowing both rapid morphological observation and elemental analysis at the macro and nanoscale. The in-situ TEM holder will further assist through in-situ characterization of advanced materials at the nano-scale level. In combination, these instruments will underpin groundbreaking research i ....An Integrated Raman Microscope and in Situ STM-TEM Analysis System. The imaging and analytical capabilities of SEM and chemical and structural characterisation afforded by Raman spectroscopy will be unique, allowing both rapid morphological observation and elemental analysis at the macro and nanoscale. The in-situ TEM holder will further assist through in-situ characterization of advanced materials at the nano-scale level. In combination, these instruments will underpin groundbreaking research in diverse research fields developing new advanced nanomaterials and bio-nanomaterials with significant impact on many industries with great economical and environmental benefits. Read moreRead less
What controls the shift from a hot house climate to a cold house climate: the Eocene/ Oligocene climate transition and greenhouse warming. This study contributes to putting Australia on the map as a centre of excellence in the study of past climates as well as in global warming research. It aims at a greater understanding of the dynamics of past warm climate states. This could ultimately lead to a better knowledge of the formation of the ancient deposits that we mine in Australia today. Furtherm ....What controls the shift from a hot house climate to a cold house climate: the Eocene/ Oligocene climate transition and greenhouse warming. This study contributes to putting Australia on the map as a centre of excellence in the study of past climates as well as in global warming research. It aims at a greater understanding of the dynamics of past warm climate states. This could ultimately lead to a better knowledge of the formation of the ancient deposits that we mine in Australia today. Furthermore, the study of these past warm climates tells us something about current global warming as both involve increased levels of carbon in the atmosphere. The impact of climate change on Australia is likely to be large. Our study of past warm climates helps to gain an understanding of the mechanisms behind climate change and help quantify the risks of climate change posed to Australia.Read moreRead less
The equable climate conundrum: the role of the global ocean in multiple climate regimes. This study will enhance Australia's global engagement in the research of past climates and global warming, and lead to a better understanding of the dynamics and modelling of warm climate states. This will contribute significantly to climate research in Australia and could lead to a better knowledge of the formation of the ancient deposits that we mine today. Furthermore, the study of past warm climates tel ....The equable climate conundrum: the role of the global ocean in multiple climate regimes. This study will enhance Australia's global engagement in the research of past climates and global warming, and lead to a better understanding of the dynamics and modelling of warm climate states. This will contribute significantly to climate research in Australia and could lead to a better knowledge of the formation of the ancient deposits that we mine today. Furthermore, the study of past warm climates tells us something about current global warming, as both involve increased levels of carbon in the atmosphere. The impact of climate change on Australia is likely to be large. This study of past warm climates will improve our understanding of climate change physics and help quantify the risks of climate change posed to Australia.Read moreRead less
Polar Cap Region Boundary Dynamics. Geomagnetic storms have the potential to severely impair critical technology infrastructure. Consequences of strong geomagnetic activity can include power failures, pipeline corrosion, satellite failures, inaccurate GPS positioning and radio navigation. Knowledge of how, where and under which conditions this activity occurs is therefore crucial. The primary aim of this project is to extend our knowledge of the mechanisms by which this activity occurs. This wor ....Polar Cap Region Boundary Dynamics. Geomagnetic storms have the potential to severely impair critical technology infrastructure. Consequences of strong geomagnetic activity can include power failures, pipeline corrosion, satellite failures, inaccurate GPS positioning and radio navigation. Knowledge of how, where and under which conditions this activity occurs is therefore crucial. The primary aim of this project is to extend our knowledge of the mechanisms by which this activity occurs. This work will consolidate Australia's international space profile and provide excellent training in this field, helping Australia's future technology development.Read moreRead less
Physics of High Power Pulsed Plasmas for Materials Synthesis. The new science produced will have a direct benefit on the synthesis of a new generation of materials for many applications, such as transparent conductive oxides, multilayer structures, and heat mirror materials for glazings. Many of these materials will help reduce energy consumption in the built environment and hence Australia's emission of greenhouse gases. Furthermore, it will help to develop environmentally clean production met ....Physics of High Power Pulsed Plasmas for Materials Synthesis. The new science produced will have a direct benefit on the synthesis of a new generation of materials for many applications, such as transparent conductive oxides, multilayer structures, and heat mirror materials for glazings. Many of these materials will help reduce energy consumption in the built environment and hence Australia's emission of greenhouse gases. Furthermore, it will help to develop environmentally clean production methods for many existing as well as new applications by replacing liquid based production techniques such as electroplating which generate toxic liquid wastes. Read moreRead less
Concepts and Conceptual Change. Aim: To develop a new theory of conceptual change that explains how a concept can change considerably, while still remaining in a crucial sense the very same concept.
Significance: All areas of philosophy need to solve this problem so as to distinguish between real and merely verbal disputes. There is no adequate solution to this long standing problem.
Outcomes: A general solution to the problem, with applications to areas including ethics, philosophy of con ....Concepts and Conceptual Change. Aim: To develop a new theory of conceptual change that explains how a concept can change considerably, while still remaining in a crucial sense the very same concept.
Significance: All areas of philosophy need to solve this problem so as to distinguish between real and merely verbal disputes. There is no adequate solution to this long standing problem.
Outcomes: A general solution to the problem, with applications to areas including ethics, philosophy of consciousness, metaphysics and political theory.
Read moreRead less
Idealism, Pragmatism, and the Historical Norms of Rationality. This project engages critically with the remarkable "normative pragmatics" of Robert Brandom, essentially the first analytic philosopher in a century to defend Hegel's "logic" from a modern logical perspective. It develops Brandom's suggested "inferentialist" interpretation of Hegel, but shows how a presupposition distorts both Brandom's reading of Hegel and his substantive account of the norms of reason. A corrective is developed on ....Idealism, Pragmatism, and the Historical Norms of Rationality. This project engages critically with the remarkable "normative pragmatics" of Robert Brandom, essentially the first analytic philosopher in a century to defend Hegel's "logic" from a modern logical perspective. It develops Brandom's suggested "inferentialist" interpretation of Hegel, but shows how a presupposition distorts both Brandom's reading of Hegel and his substantive account of the norms of reason. A corrective is developed on the basis of the later work of Brandom's mentor, Wilfrid Sellars. The corrected account shows how the norms of thought need not be eternal to be rational, but rather, are rational because of the way they are historical.Read moreRead less