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
Disgust as a psychosocial defence against infectious disease. Globally, around 1 in 4 deaths result from infectious disease. Humans have evolved two basic means to combat this - an immune system and behaviours to avoid getting sick. This project examines one such behaviour, disgust, and aims to determine its role in disease avoidance. Studying disgust can lead to novel insights into behaviours as diverse as risky sexual decision-making and illness-related stigmatisation (e.g. of people with AID ....Disgust as a psychosocial defence against infectious disease. Globally, around 1 in 4 deaths result from infectious disease. Humans have evolved two basic means to combat this - an immune system and behaviours to avoid getting sick. This project examines one such behaviour, disgust, and aims to determine its role in disease avoidance. Studying disgust can lead to novel insights into behaviours as diverse as risky sexual decision-making and illness-related stigmatisation (e.g. of people with AIDS or cancer). Disgust can also be used to directly improve human health. For example, it can be exploited to boost hand hygiene. If widely applied, this simple measure could annually save an estimated 1.5 million children's lives, reduce rates of flu, colds, food poisoning and hospital acquired infections.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
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
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
Beyond oceanography: behavior as a tool to uncover ocean complexity. It is crucial that Australia remains a world leader in marine biology and ecology and continues to preserve the uniqueness of its marine environment through the development of integrated inter-disciplinary research projects. This project will open a new area of research at both the national and international levels through the first integrated approach of the behavioural mechanisms that rule the base of the ocean food web struc ....Beyond oceanography: behavior as a tool to uncover ocean complexity. It is crucial that Australia remains a world leader in marine biology and ecology and continues to preserve the uniqueness of its marine environment through the development of integrated inter-disciplinary research projects. This project will open a new area of research at both the national and international levels through the first integrated approach of the behavioural mechanisms that rule the base of the ocean food web structures and functions. The present work is also expected to open new perspectives in fields such as biological oceanography, microbial ecology, plankton ecology, behavioural ecology through the exploration of previously untapped areas of research.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775715
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
Advanced facility for ultra high-speed visualisation and real-time diagnostics of particles and droplets. The proposed research facility will offer new tools for advanced manufacturing in Melbourne and provide support for research at the leading universities involved in engineering and science. Testing and characterization equipment can support activities by researchers across different faculties including those of Federation fellows working in the area of nanotechnology and advanced materials. ....Advanced facility for ultra high-speed visualisation and real-time diagnostics of particles and droplets. The proposed research facility will offer new tools for advanced manufacturing in Melbourne and provide support for research at the leading universities involved in engineering and science. Testing and characterization equipment can support activities by researchers across different faculties including those of Federation fellows working in the area of nanotechnology and advanced materials. It fills a desperate need in a niche area. The research is directly aligned to the National Research Priority of Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries: Advanced Materials.Read moreRead less
IMPACTS OF RIVER NUTRIENTS ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF LAGOON. While salinity was one of the first properties of the ocean to be studied, it is one of the last to be measured by remote sensing. A prototype air borne salinity mapper will be used in this project along with an airborne multi-spectral sampler to develop a new approach to the study of river plumes. The salinity and nutrient densities will be traced to determine the destination of river runoff. Outcomes will assist the management of ....IMPACTS OF RIVER NUTRIENTS ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF LAGOON. While salinity was one of the first properties of the ocean to be studied, it is one of the last to be measured by remote sensing. A prototype air borne salinity mapper will be used in this project along with an airborne multi-spectral sampler to develop a new approach to the study of river plumes. The salinity and nutrient densities will be traced to determine the destination of river runoff. Outcomes will assist the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and land management near the coast, and will improve our understanding of the carbon sink in coastal waters.Read moreRead less
Extraction of gold from thiosulfate leach liquors using selective magnetic ion exchange (MIEX) resins. Cyanide processes used for gold leaching can cause severe environmental problems. This proposal studies the use of thiosulfate as an alternative, concentrating on the design and synthesis of new functionalised magnetic ion-exchange resins, which will act as selective adsorbents for the gold thiosulfate complex and thereby facilitate the implementation of this efficient, low environmental impact ....Extraction of gold from thiosulfate leach liquors using selective magnetic ion exchange (MIEX) resins. Cyanide processes used for gold leaching can cause severe environmental problems. This proposal studies the use of thiosulfate as an alternative, concentrating on the design and synthesis of new functionalised magnetic ion-exchange resins, which will act as selective adsorbents for the gold thiosulfate complex and thereby facilitate the implementation of this efficient, low environmental impact process. Since the leaching is typically applied to ores rich in copper, resins for the recovery of copper will also be designed. Laboratory proving trials will be conducted and successful candidates will be considered for future commercialisation of a Resin-in-Pulp leaching and recovery process.Read moreRead less
The dynamics and predictability of fire weather over southern Australia. As illustrated by the recent Victorian bushfires, Australia has one of the most severe fire climates in the world. Fires play a major role in modifying our landscape, affecting native flora and fauna, and damaging infrastructure and property. Effective fire fighting and fire management relies heavily on the prediction of fire weather and the impact of atmospheric conditions on fire behaviour. This project investigates some ....The dynamics and predictability of fire weather over southern Australia. As illustrated by the recent Victorian bushfires, Australia has one of the most severe fire climates in the world. Fires play a major role in modifying our landscape, affecting native flora and fauna, and damaging infrastructure and property. Effective fire fighting and fire management relies heavily on the prediction of fire weather and the impact of atmospheric conditions on fire behaviour. This project investigates some of the key processes that cause local enhancements in fire weather in regions of complex terrain like southern Australia.Read moreRead less