Strategic assessment of research performance indicators. The use of quantitative measures of research performance in higher education sends powerful messages to those being evaluated, because the choice of measures signals what is considered most important. However, little critical assessment has been undertaken on the use of performance indicators or their impact on research practice. This project will create a knowledge base on performance measures - their validity, fairness, transparency and ....Strategic assessment of research performance indicators. The use of quantitative measures of research performance in higher education sends powerful messages to those being evaluated, because the choice of measures signals what is considered most important. However, little critical assessment has been undertaken on the use of performance indicators or their impact on research practice. This project will create a knowledge base on performance measures - their validity, fairness, transparency and impact on research, and the cost of implementation. By assessing an extensive range of measures, it will provide Australian science management and science policy makers with rigorous information on which to base informed judgements on their utilisation.Read moreRead less
Protein biosensors for detecting smoke exposure of grapes. Bush fires and controlled burns that take place in the vicinity of vineyards can lead to grape contamination with tasteless phenolic glucosides. Their hydrolysis during wine making leads to “smoke taint” – an unpleasant medicinal taste that can render wine undrinkable. We will apply a combination of organic synthesis, protein engineering and directed evolution to develop protein-based biosensors of phenolic glucosides. These biosensors w ....Protein biosensors for detecting smoke exposure of grapes. Bush fires and controlled burns that take place in the vicinity of vineyards can lead to grape contamination with tasteless phenolic glucosides. Their hydrolysis during wine making leads to “smoke taint” – an unpleasant medicinal taste that can render wine undrinkable. We will apply a combination of organic synthesis, protein engineering and directed evolution to develop protein-based biosensors of phenolic glucosides. These biosensors will be used to devise a simple portable colorimetric test that can be performed in the vineyard or the winery. The ability to rapidly determine the level of grape contamination with phenolic glucosides would give Australian wine growers and wine makers a powerful tool to mitigate the effects of bushfires.Read moreRead less
Socially Responsible Insurance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. This project aims to discover the social costs and benefits of using Artificial Intelligence in insurance, and to design practical interventions—responsible design workshops, practical guidance, regulatory proposals, new algorithmic tools—that realise the benefits while mitigating the costs. It expects to generate new knowledge drawing on philosophy, law and sociology, working closely with practitioners at the forefront of dep ....Socially Responsible Insurance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. This project aims to discover the social costs and benefits of using Artificial Intelligence in insurance, and to design practical interventions—responsible design workshops, practical guidance, regulatory proposals, new algorithmic tools—that realise the benefits while mitigating the costs. It expects to generate new knowledge drawing on philosophy, law and sociology, working closely with practitioners at the forefront of deploying AI in insurance. Expected outcomes include novel ethical AI-based approaches to product design, pricing and claims administration. This should benefit insurers and consumers, realising efficiency gains made possible by AI, without unacceptable costs to privacy, fairness, and the unaccountable exercise of power. Read moreRead less
The role of location on the effectiveness of smoke alarms. Smoke alarms in buildings are required by the Building Code of Australia (BCA), but the current requirements are less than optimal. This project will provide the basis for optimisation of smoke alarms and the number, interconnection and positioning of smoke alarms in residential buildings. This is expected to lead to reductions in fire fatalities, injuries and property loss.
The Identification and Development of Strategies for Increasing Engineering Enrolments. There is a continuing nation-wide decline in high school student enrolment in higher level mathematics and science. This is already leading to a reduction in the number of students undertaking university engineering programs in Australia and the situation is expected to worsen. This project is directed toward a better understanding of the reasons for the trend and the development of strategies to reverse it. ....The Identification and Development of Strategies for Increasing Engineering Enrolments. There is a continuing nation-wide decline in high school student enrolment in higher level mathematics and science. This is already leading to a reduction in the number of students undertaking university engineering programs in Australia and the situation is expected to worsen. This project is directed toward a better understanding of the reasons for the trend and the development of strategies to reverse it. It aims to 1. Evaluate the most effective strategies that increase student's interests and understanding of engineering and increase participation in engineering studies. 2. Develop an optimised national communication strategy for promoting engineering studies to secondary students.Read moreRead less
Net Zero Precincts: an interdisciplinary approach to decarbonising cities. This project aims to help cities and urban regions reach net zero emissions by taking the precinct as an optimal scale for urban transition. This project expects to co-create a new approach grounded in transition management and design anthropology. This will be tested in an action-oriented case study in the Monash Technology Precinct through three Living Lab experiments across energy, mobility and buildings. Expected outc ....Net Zero Precincts: an interdisciplinary approach to decarbonising cities. This project aims to help cities and urban regions reach net zero emissions by taking the precinct as an optimal scale for urban transition. This project expects to co-create a new approach grounded in transition management and design anthropology. This will be tested in an action-oriented case study in the Monash Technology Precinct through three Living Lab experiments across energy, mobility and buildings. Expected outcomes include a validated approach for net zero transitions that delivers to the real-life experiences of the precinct community of business, government, knowledge institutes and civil society. This should provide significant benefits to industry seeking to enhance community engagement for accelerating urban transitions.
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Data-driven monitoring of raceway dynamics in ironmaking blast furnaces. Raceway dynamics in ironmaking blast furnaces affect operational stability and cost considerably, yet their dynamic behaviour has not been well monitored online. The project aims to develop a data-driven model for monitoring the internal state of gas-solid-powder reacting flow in the raceway and predicting raceway anomalies online. It will be achieved by combining particle-fluid numerical simulations with data processing an ....Data-driven monitoring of raceway dynamics in ironmaking blast furnaces. Raceway dynamics in ironmaking blast furnaces affect operational stability and cost considerably, yet their dynamic behaviour has not been well monitored online. The project aims to develop a data-driven model for monitoring the internal state of gas-solid-powder reacting flow in the raceway and predicting raceway anomalies online. It will be achieved by combining particle-fluid numerical simulations with data processing and reduced-order state observer, supported by lab/plant experiments, and collaborating with two industry partners from coal and steel industries. The project outcomes including codes, models and raceway control strategies can help promote Australian metallurgical coal's global markets and ultimately the Australian economy.Read moreRead less
Identifying and controlling the source of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Australia. This project will identify the source of foodborne illnesses due to Salmonella and Campylobacter in order to inform food regulatory policy. The ultimate aim is to reduce the amount of foodborne disease in Australia.
Developing key vision technology for automation of aquaculture factory. This project aims to investigate structural, coloured textural, and hyperspectral analysis approaches to achieve automated lobster molt-cycle staging and classification to the level required for commercial production. High labour cost, water contamination, and disease transmission are major barriers in Australian bay lobster aquaculture inhibiting its large scale production. Automation of the production process and reducing ....Developing key vision technology for automation of aquaculture factory. This project aims to investigate structural, coloured textural, and hyperspectral analysis approaches to achieve automated lobster molt-cycle staging and classification to the level required for commercial production. High labour cost, water contamination, and disease transmission are major barriers in Australian bay lobster aquaculture inhibiting its large scale production. Automation of the production process and reducing the human contact with animals are of high priority in the development of this Australian-led emerging industry. The project aims to develop technology to bring this world- first aquaculture factory to large scale production, and create new export opportunities for lobsters and production systems.Read moreRead less
High performance metal oxide inks for printable memory arrays . This project aims to develop next generation printable memory devices with low cost and excellent stability. The goal will be achieved by developing a new class of metal oxide nanomaterials based inks and large scale printing technology, through optimizing the synthesis, printing process and electrode configuration. The expected outcomes will be new electronic materials for a wide range of end uses in flexible electronics, significa ....High performance metal oxide inks for printable memory arrays . This project aims to develop next generation printable memory devices with low cost and excellent stability. The goal will be achieved by developing a new class of metal oxide nanomaterials based inks and large scale printing technology, through optimizing the synthesis, printing process and electrode configuration. The expected outcomes will be new electronic materials for a wide range of end uses in flexible electronics, significant advances in energy efficient data storage devices, and commercialisation of the technology to Australian industries.Read moreRead less