ARC Research Network for Advanced Materials. Materials science/engineering is decidedly interdisciplinary, covering all science and impacting on all manufacturing industry. This network will promote interactions that do not usually occur between materials researchers and students across Australia and internationally from diverse disciplines. The scope is broadly based on advanced materials production, processing and properties but focused in four areas, involving: i) innovative structural/functi ....ARC Research Network for Advanced Materials. Materials science/engineering is decidedly interdisciplinary, covering all science and impacting on all manufacturing industry. This network will promote interactions that do not usually occur between materials researchers and students across Australia and internationally from diverse disciplines. The scope is broadly based on advanced materials production, processing and properties but focused in four areas, involving: i) innovative structural/functional materials, ii) high-tech IT/communications/sensing materials, iii) materials solutions for manufacturing, iv) materials for a sustainable Australia, and v) emerging materials technologies. Key programs will promote interdisciplinary workshops and early career researcher interactions.Read moreRead less
ARC Nanotechnology Research Network. The field of nano scale science, engineering and technology (in short nanotechnology) is just emerging and it is predicted to make a major impact in all technologies and areas of society. Australian Nanotechnology Network intends to harness the combined Australian capability to enable Australia to take a leading role in this rapidly growing field.
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354623
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Network for Australian security technologies integration. The frontline of community safety is security technologies which include sensors to track movements and conversations of suspects; signal processing techniques for extracting information; intelligent search/audit techniques to track financial transactions; analysis techniques for predicting the spread of epidemic; and above all human factors in security operations. The aim of this initiative is to establish a network for "safeguarding Aus ....Network for Australian security technologies integration. The frontline of community safety is security technologies which include sensors to track movements and conversations of suspects; signal processing techniques for extracting information; intelligent search/audit techniques to track financial transactions; analysis techniques for predicting the spread of epidemic; and above all human factors in security operations. The aim of this initiative is to establish a network for "safeguarding Australia". This network, built on the concept of "network of networks", draws on the expertise of researchers and practitioners from diverse fields to provide an integrated approach towards development and use of security technologies for the safety of the community.Read moreRead less
Role of Reactive Particles in Explosive Emulsions. Concentrated water-in oil explosive emulsions are widely used in the minerals industry because they are cheap, easily detonated and relatively safe to handle. Their explosive energy can be significantly increased when reactive particles are introduced into the emulsion matrix. To do this, the interaction between the solid, oil, and water phases needs to be optimised. This investigation will increase our basic understanding of the physical and ch ....Role of Reactive Particles in Explosive Emulsions. Concentrated water-in oil explosive emulsions are widely used in the minerals industry because they are cheap, easily detonated and relatively safe to handle. Their explosive energy can be significantly increased when reactive particles are introduced into the emulsion matrix. To do this, the interaction between the solid, oil, and water phases needs to be optimised. This investigation will increase our basic understanding of the physical and chemical interactions that occur between the particle and the oil-water interface, and develop a more efficient explosive that can be produced continuously on a commercial scale.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100001
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
An advanced thermogravimetric analysis system for world-leading research in clean energy, catalysis, material science and nanotechnology. Many chemical reactions occurring in solid materials during heating significantly affect the materials' stability, and subsequently affects the processes of production of clean energy, material synthesis, catalyst preparation, and nanotechnology. No equipment currently exists in Australia that will mitigate the wide range of conditions in such reactions in ma ....An advanced thermogravimetric analysis system for world-leading research in clean energy, catalysis, material science and nanotechnology. Many chemical reactions occurring in solid materials during heating significantly affect the materials' stability, and subsequently affects the processes of production of clean energy, material synthesis, catalyst preparation, and nanotechnology. No equipment currently exists in Australia that will mitigate the wide range of conditions in such reactions in materials processing. This situation impedes research progress in Australia, disadvantages Australian research students, and ultimately makes our research less competitive internationally. The establishment of the proposed apparatus will increase the competitiveness of Australian science and engineering, and contribute to the development of new Australian technologies that are important to the Australian economy and to environmental sustainability.Read moreRead less
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
Benign fabrication of microfluidic hydrogel for improved artificial vasculature in bone implants. We will create a benign technology for synthesising microfluidic hydrogels to generate artificial vascultures in bone implants. It is a critical step to enable the use of tissue-engineered vital organs, such as bone, heart and kidney in patients with end-stage organ failure. Thicker scaffolds will be possible, as the vasculature will provide nutrients and oxygen for cells to grow into 3D scaffolds. ....Benign fabrication of microfluidic hydrogel for improved artificial vasculature in bone implants. We will create a benign technology for synthesising microfluidic hydrogels to generate artificial vascultures in bone implants. It is a critical step to enable the use of tissue-engineered vital organs, such as bone, heart and kidney in patients with end-stage organ failure. Thicker scaffolds will be possible, as the vasculature will provide nutrients and oxygen for cells to grow into 3D scaffolds. It will promote capacity of Australia for manufacturing global biomaterial products for tissue engineering. We will also develop in-situ imaging analytical protocols for the rapid analysis of broad arrays of functional molecules, with significant bearing on BioMEMS design to develop methods for diagnosis of fatal diseases.Read moreRead less
Development of nano-structured thermoelectric materials for power generation from heat. To make thermoelectric technology attractive for practical power generation purposes, new high efficiency materials have to be developed. Our fabricated nanostructured thermoelectric materials will have improved performance due to the peculiarities in electrical and thermal transport. The novel thermoelectric materials and constructed prototype devices with high thermoelectric performance will be practically ....Development of nano-structured thermoelectric materials for power generation from heat. To make thermoelectric technology attractive for practical power generation purposes, new high efficiency materials have to be developed. Our fabricated nanostructured thermoelectric materials will have improved performance due to the peculiarities in electrical and thermal transport. The novel thermoelectric materials and constructed prototype devices with high thermoelectric performance will be practically used for various power generation purposes. This offers a long-term solution to the global warming threat through decreasing amounts of waste heat presently generated. It will also strengthen Australia's position in world-wide research on thermoelectricity.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237427
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$269,000.00
Summary
Equipment for Fluorescence-Based Cellular Analysis. The requested equipment is needed by a large grouping of highly productive researchers to carry out work across a very broad range of fields that is otherwise difficult or impossible to perform. The new equipment will facilitate obtaining many exciting and important outcomes, including identification of: (i) mechanisms controlling cell death, (ii) natural biological products that may have commercial applications (eg anti-fouling agents), (iii) ....Equipment for Fluorescence-Based Cellular Analysis. The requested equipment is needed by a large grouping of highly productive researchers to carry out work across a very broad range of fields that is otherwise difficult or impossible to perform. The new equipment will facilitate obtaining many exciting and important outcomes, including identification of: (i) mechanisms controlling cell death, (ii) natural biological products that may have commercial applications (eg anti-fouling agents), (iii) "probiotic" bacteria and vaccines that may be used to protect animals from disease, and (iv) mechanisms by which changes in human lens proteins contribute to the development of cataract.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454172
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,127.00
Summary
Facility for Analysis of Thermal Decomposition of Solid Materials at High Pressures. This submission aims to establish an integrated facility for studying the kinetics of solid and gas-solid reactions at elevated temperatures and high pressures; a piece of infrastructure that is urgently needed in Australia. The facility will consist of a high-pressure thermal gravimetric analyser (TGA) able to operate at up to 5 MPa, which will be coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS) for identification and quan ....Facility for Analysis of Thermal Decomposition of Solid Materials at High Pressures. This submission aims to establish an integrated facility for studying the kinetics of solid and gas-solid reactions at elevated temperatures and high pressures; a piece of infrastructure that is urgently needed in Australia. The facility will consist of a high-pressure thermal gravimetric analyser (TGA) able to operate at up to 5 MPa, which will be coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS) for identification and quantification of gaseous reaction products. The facility constitutes unique and significant national research infrastructure for the simultaneous acquisition of mass loss kinetic measurements together with characterisation and quantification of emission rates of gaseous fragments generated in the reaction. As a major outcome, the facility will provide a means for consistent investigation of kinetics of elemental reactions occurring in solids, or on solid surfaces during pyrolysis and gasification processes at high pressure.Read moreRead less