Reducing plate waste in hotels - which interventions are most effective? This project aims to quantify the comparative effectiveness of belief-based and choice-architecture-based interventions in reducing food waste generated by tourists at hotel buffets. Expected outcomes include: new insights into effective triggers of pro-environmental tourist behaviour; the first empirical data on carbon emissions caused by plate waste in tourism; an automatic plate waste measurement system and benchmarking ....Reducing plate waste in hotels - which interventions are most effective? This project aims to quantify the comparative effectiveness of belief-based and choice-architecture-based interventions in reducing food waste generated by tourists at hotel buffets. Expected outcomes include: new insights into effective triggers of pro-environmental tourist behaviour; the first empirical data on carbon emissions caused by plate waste in tourism; an automatic plate waste measurement system and benchmarking app for monitoring and comparison; and effective practical measures to reduce avoidable food leftovers generated by tourists. This should provide significant benefits by: lowering food cost for the struggling tourism industry, reducing carbon emissions, and contributing to Australia’s aim of halving food waste by 2030.Read moreRead less
Analysis of the impact and regulation of harmful financial products. Analysis of the impact and regulation of harmful financial products. This project will investigate financial products that can harm disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers. It will use empirical research (surveys, interviews and focus groups) to explore how these products perpetuate financial hardship, poor health and social disadvantage. In doing so, it expects to contribute to consumer law scholarship and studies of financial ....Analysis of the impact and regulation of harmful financial products. Analysis of the impact and regulation of harmful financial products. This project will investigate financial products that can harm disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers. It will use empirical research (surveys, interviews and focus groups) to explore how these products perpetuate financial hardship, poor health and social disadvantage. In doing so, it expects to contribute to consumer law scholarship and studies of financial exclusion, and provide practical assistance to policymakers, regulators and the partner organisations. The project will also assess the need for law reform, and, if appropriate, recommend detailed law reforms. The research is expected to help policymakers address damage caused by harmful and predatory financial products and promote the financial and social wellbeing of vulnerable, disadvantaged consumers.Read moreRead less
Social Impact and Connection Outcomes Associated with Community Sport. Outcomes of social connection from community sport are widely touted and supported to exist. However, we know little about how social infrastructure actually delivers these benefits. It is difficult to understand and develop practices that organisations can use to maximise the outcomes of sport participation. This research aims to investigate how social infrastructure delivers social connection outcomes associated with commun ....Social Impact and Connection Outcomes Associated with Community Sport. Outcomes of social connection from community sport are widely touted and supported to exist. However, we know little about how social infrastructure actually delivers these benefits. It is difficult to understand and develop practices that organisations can use to maximise the outcomes of sport participation. This research aims to investigate how social infrastructure delivers social connection outcomes associated with community sport. Expected outcomes include novel practice based tools and guidance for community groups to enhance social connection outcomes and new understanding about the role of social infrastructure in enhancing community connection. Improved social connection is expected to improve resilience and community wellbeing.
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High quality and robust energy conversion systems for distribution networks. This project aims to protect distribution networks by reducing harmonics and electromagnetic Interference generated by modern power electronics equipment. Due to global demand for energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the utilisation of renewable energy sources and efficient loads using power electronics technology in distribution networks is increasing. Aspects of this technology are highly complex ....High quality and robust energy conversion systems for distribution networks. This project aims to protect distribution networks by reducing harmonics and electromagnetic Interference generated by modern power electronics equipment. Due to global demand for energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the utilisation of renewable energy sources and efficient loads using power electronics technology in distribution networks is increasing. Aspects of this technology are highly complex and not well understood and the robustness of existing and future power grids will be affected. The project will minimise risk factors associated with high frequency noise and resonances in low voltage grids both of which are very important for power electronics manufacturers and utility companies in Australia.Read moreRead less
Evaluating the impact of Indigenous preferential procurement programs. This project aims to conduct a multi-disciplinary, multi-method evaluation of the implementation and impacts of Indigenous preferential procurement programs (IPPPs) on Indigenous businesses, Indigenous communities, procurers’ operations and outcomes. Bringing together researchers in partnership with corporate and government procurers, Indigenous data custodians and the Australian Bureau of Statistics we aim to produce a signi ....Evaluating the impact of Indigenous preferential procurement programs. This project aims to conduct a multi-disciplinary, multi-method evaluation of the implementation and impacts of Indigenous preferential procurement programs (IPPPs) on Indigenous businesses, Indigenous communities, procurers’ operations and outcomes. Bringing together researchers in partnership with corporate and government procurers, Indigenous data custodians and the Australian Bureau of Statistics we aim to produce a significant national program evaluation of IPPPs and the impact at the community level. The project aims to highlight ways in which IPPPs can be [re]designed to reduce implementation friction, facilitate access and participation among Indigenous businesses and help guarantee positive effects on Indigenous communities.Read moreRead less
Exploring Wellbeing Outcomes in the Aquatic and Recreation Industry. This project aims to investigate the impact on individual wellbeing through use of public aquatic and recreation centres in Australia. Through the use of mixed methods across multiple locations, the project expects to generate new knowledge on the effect on users of different management and service models for the provision of aquatic and recreational infrastructure. Expected outcomes include a quantifiable measure of social and ....Exploring Wellbeing Outcomes in the Aquatic and Recreation Industry. This project aims to investigate the impact on individual wellbeing through use of public aquatic and recreation centres in Australia. Through the use of mixed methods across multiple locations, the project expects to generate new knowledge on the effect on users of different management and service models for the provision of aquatic and recreational infrastructure. Expected outcomes include a quantifiable measure of social and emotional wellbeing that can be utilised by centre management and government. This will help assessment of best practice for maximising community wellbeing, and can guide investment decisions by state and local government.Read moreRead less
High Efficiency Electrochemical Cells. This project will study a recently developed, energy efficient ‘capillary-fed’ electrochemical cell architecture in the facilitation of various electro-energy and electro-synthetic transformations. The new cell architecture will be examined as a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell and as a cell for extracting pure hydrogen from a 5-10% mixture of hydrogen in methane (natural gas), amongst others. The work seeks to improve upon the electrochemical performance of the b ....High Efficiency Electrochemical Cells. This project will study a recently developed, energy efficient ‘capillary-fed’ electrochemical cell architecture in the facilitation of various electro-energy and electro-synthetic transformations. The new cell architecture will be examined as a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell and as a cell for extracting pure hydrogen from a 5-10% mixture of hydrogen in methane (natural gas), amongst others. The work seeks to improve upon the electrochemical performance of the best commercial and academic cells of such types, if possible. In increasing the efficiency with which renewable electricity can be converted into renewable hydrogen and back, this project will support the national priority of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.Read moreRead less
Developing a transformative tourism model for the South Pacific. In a South Pacific context, this project aims to develop and disseminate a model of tourism that balances economic, social and environmental objectives. In so doing, this project expects to create new knowledge in tourism and sustainable development, while advancing methods of research applicable to diverse stakeholders and settings. Expected outcomes include an enduring community of practice, and a suite of tools, guides and polic ....Developing a transformative tourism model for the South Pacific. In a South Pacific context, this project aims to develop and disseminate a model of tourism that balances economic, social and environmental objectives. In so doing, this project expects to create new knowledge in tourism and sustainable development, while advancing methods of research applicable to diverse stakeholders and settings. Expected outcomes include an enduring community of practice, and a suite of tools, guides and policy briefs for those seeking to promote tourism that enables genuine sustainable development. In addition to improving outcomes for people and places in a region where tourism is a vital industry, this project should support Australia’s engagement with the Pacific, while promoting peace and prosperity in the region.Read moreRead less
Making Australia resilient to airborne infection transmission. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that basic questions regarding how to minimise the risk of airborne infection transmission for any respiratory viruses remain unanswered, despite their frequency and huge social and economic costs. Therefore, this project aims to expand scientific knowledge and develop practical tools to improve the resilience of Australian indoor environments against airborne transmission of respiratory viruses. T ....Making Australia resilient to airborne infection transmission. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that basic questions regarding how to minimise the risk of airborne infection transmission for any respiratory viruses remain unanswered, despite their frequency and huge social and economic costs. Therefore, this project aims to expand scientific knowledge and develop practical tools to improve the resilience of Australian indoor environments against airborne transmission of respiratory viruses. The outcomes of the project conducted by a multidisciplinary international team of collaborators will include: (i) quantitative knowledge on virus-laden aerosols from human expiration; and (ii) exposure and infection risk models and their application to typical indoor building and transport scenarios.Read moreRead less
Chemicals in compostable food contact paper packaging materials. The aim of this project is to understand the presence of persistent chemicals in recyclable and compostable food contact materials (FCMs). These types of products are destined for recycling or biowaste streams that bridge the gap from take-make-dispose and into a circular economy. Currently, the knowledge of the chemicals in these products is limited but we need to ensure that they are safe and do not unnecessarily contaminate reso ....Chemicals in compostable food contact paper packaging materials. The aim of this project is to understand the presence of persistent chemicals in recyclable and compostable food contact materials (FCMs). These types of products are destined for recycling or biowaste streams that bridge the gap from take-make-dispose and into a circular economy. Currently, the knowledge of the chemicals in these products is limited but we need to ensure that they are safe and do not unnecessarily contaminate resource recovery streams. It is expected that this project will develop a framework that could be used by industry and government to prevent chemicals of concern persisting in a circular economy, providing environmental and economic benefits through reduced risk of chemical exposure and unnecessary remediation costs.Read moreRead less