Neural mechanisms of motor learning. The cerebellum is the part of the brain responsible for smooth body movements, but many details of how it works are still unclear. This project is aimed at learning how the cerebellum communicates with the rest of the brain, and what parts of this communication are necessary for coordinated movement.
‘Super-human’ colour vision: how does it improve animal visual performance? Colour vision enables animals to find food, attract mates and avoid predators. Many animals, including fish, birds and insects, have ‘super-human’ colour vision systems and process colour using 4 or 5 spectral channels, instead of our 3. Yet we do not know how information is combined across these different channels to achieve colour vision. This project will develop new technology to measure UV vision in a range of anima ....‘Super-human’ colour vision: how does it improve animal visual performance? Colour vision enables animals to find food, attract mates and avoid predators. Many animals, including fish, birds and insects, have ‘super-human’ colour vision systems and process colour using 4 or 5 spectral channels, instead of our 3. Yet we do not know how information is combined across these different channels to achieve colour vision. This project will develop new technology to measure UV vision in a range of animal taxa, and show how animals with 4 or 5 spectral channels integrate or partition visual information to perceive colour. The Fellowship will provide new biological models for the development of next-generation multispectral cameras used in medical, military, security and remote sensing applications.Read moreRead less
Ethical frameworks for responsible innovation of neurotechnology. This project aims to ensure the ethical and efficient innovation of emerging neurotechnologies, including implantable brain devices, synthetic drugs and direct-to-consumer brain devices. This project expects to generate Australian’s first responsible innovation framework through extensive community engagement. Expected outcomes of this project include: guidelines for the development of neurotechnologies; a national framework for r ....Ethical frameworks for responsible innovation of neurotechnology. This project aims to ensure the ethical and efficient innovation of emerging neurotechnologies, including implantable brain devices, synthetic drugs and direct-to-consumer brain devices. This project expects to generate Australian’s first responsible innovation framework through extensive community engagement. Expected outcomes of this project include: guidelines for the development of neurotechnologies; a national framework for responsible innovation; partnerships with international brain initiatives; and enhanced interdisciplinary capacity. The proposed research should provide significant benefits: innovation of technologies that meet Australians' needs, reduced misuse and harm, and greater social support for innovation in neuroscience.Read moreRead less
Social insects as model systems in complexity science. Many optimisation algorithms are based on the behaviour of social insects. These algorithms function well under static conditions, when there is only one optimal solution. This project will determine how individual insect behaviour affects collective behaviour. Outcomes will allow the development of better algorithms.
Information processing at its limits: from the dimmest habitats to the smallest sizes. Ensuring optimal information processing at the limits of size and ambient light is a challenge for technical systems, but has been elegantly solved by animals. The challenge of navigation is similar for animals of all sizes and in both day and night. This project aims to conduct a comparative analysis to identify the consequence of size and light on the information processing capacities for visual navigation. ....Information processing at its limits: from the dimmest habitats to the smallest sizes. Ensuring optimal information processing at the limits of size and ambient light is a challenge for technical systems, but has been elegantly solved by animals. The challenge of navigation is similar for animals of all sizes and in both day and night. This project aims to conduct a comparative analysis to identify the consequence of size and light on the information processing capacities for visual navigation. Outcomes of this project will reveal the behavioural and physiological adaptations needed and the costs associated with navigating in the dimmest of habitats and at the smallest of sizes. Identifying such optimal biological solutions for robust navigation will be relevant for image processing, computer vision and robotics.Read moreRead less
Predicting the movement speeds of animals. The project seeks to reveal how marsupials modify their movement patterns and speeds as they navigate risky environments, and show how movement contributes to vulnerability and resilience. Movement is central to animal behaviour and the survival of species, because it underlies feeding, mating and the ability to escape from predators. However, we lack a framework for predicting how fast animals should move through their habitats given their needs to con ....Predicting the movement speeds of animals. The project seeks to reveal how marsupials modify their movement patterns and speeds as they navigate risky environments, and show how movement contributes to vulnerability and resilience. Movement is central to animal behaviour and the survival of species, because it underlies feeding, mating and the ability to escape from predators. However, we lack a framework for predicting how fast animals should move through their habitats given their needs to conserve energy, avoid detection by predators and minimise risks of injury or death. This project aims to develop mathematical models to predict how fast animals should move and then test these predictions using native species of conservation concern. This is expected to extend the field of performance ecology as well as inform management strategies for vulnerable marsupials.Read moreRead less
How to make other people happy. The contribution individuals can make to the happiness of others. The field of wellbeing has burgeoned in the last two decades. Economists have joined psychologists, health professionals and other social scientists to address the question of how society can be made happier. The literature to date has largely focused on how individuals can attain happiness by addressing personal psychological and health issues. This project offers a different perspective by asking ....How to make other people happy. The contribution individuals can make to the happiness of others. The field of wellbeing has burgeoned in the last two decades. Economists have joined psychologists, health professionals and other social scientists to address the question of how society can be made happier. The literature to date has largely focused on how individuals can attain happiness by addressing personal psychological and health issues. This project offers a different perspective by asking the question: What can be done to make others happy? In particular, this project focuses on: the effect we have on the happiness of our partners and children; how we optimally handle information as individuals and as a society, to make other people happy; how we can make our neighbourhoods happy; and how we can make other countries happy.Read moreRead less
A community-based approach to the problem of underage drinking. This project will aim to reduce the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption, and alcohol-related harms, among young people aged 12-17 years by addressing social norms regarding underage alcohol consumption. Using a multi-component intervention it will engage the Illawarra community in strategies to encourage and empower young people not to drink.
Dietary patterns across the life-course: implications for the prevention of obesity, cardiometabolic disease and public health. This research will focus on dietary patterns in population health across the life-course. We know little about how dietary patterns and their determinants vary across life and the impact of life-stage transitions on diet and health. This research will provide insights into dietary patterns of infants, children, young adults and older adults.
Improving the quality of life of children born very premature. This research program is in line with the national research priority to promote good health and well being, and more specifically to provide a healthy start to life for high-risk infants. This research program is attempting to improve the quality of life of infants born very preterm by improving our understanding of the nature of the problems faced by these high-risk children. This knowledge will inform future preventative care and ....Improving the quality of life of children born very premature. This research program is in line with the national research priority to promote good health and well being, and more specifically to provide a healthy start to life for high-risk infants. This research program is attempting to improve the quality of life of infants born very preterm by improving our understanding of the nature of the problems faced by these high-risk children. This knowledge will inform future preventative care and early intervention strategies. More directly, this research program incorporates a series of randomised controlled trials which are all attempting to improve the health and well being of these vulnerable infants.Read moreRead less