Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100136
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
Mobile weather radar system for advanced environmental monitoring and modelling. High spatial and temporal resolution weather radar data on wind and precipitation will translate to significant environmental model advances. Australian researchers will undertake model validation studies on precipitation, dust storm, and flood prediction under a wider range of environmental conditions and in greater detail than currently possible.
Evolutionary origins of sexual parasitism in an Australian freshwater fish. Carp gudgeons are the most abundant, widespread and biodiverse freshwater fishes in southeastern Australia. The unacknowledged presence of many cryptic species and sexually-parasitic lineages severely taints all research on this cornerstone group. This project aims to provide unrivalled evolutionary, genomic, and taxonomic insights into this new instance of vertebrate sexual parasitism, which offers a unique mix of resea ....Evolutionary origins of sexual parasitism in an Australian freshwater fish. Carp gudgeons are the most abundant, widespread and biodiverse freshwater fishes in southeastern Australia. The unacknowledged presence of many cryptic species and sexually-parasitic lineages severely taints all research on this cornerstone group. This project aims to provide unrivalled evolutionary, genomic, and taxonomic insights into this new instance of vertebrate sexual parasitism, which offers a unique mix of research advantages not displayed by any other sexual/unisexual complex. The knowledge gained could impact many research fields, including evolutionary theory addressing the unexplainable prevalence of sex, native fish ecology, and environmental monitoring of the Murray-Darling Basin, an ecosystem of world significance.Read moreRead less
LIPID AND LIPOPROTEIN ADSORPTION AT BIOMATERIALS AND BIO-DIAGNOSTICS INTERFACES. This project aims to investigate molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of undesired biological deposits on synthetic materials and thereby help establish the scientific basis for the rational design of materials with improved compatibility with biological fluids and the engineering of a new generation of biomedical implant devices and bio-diagnostic devices. It is well known that proteins accumulate on synt ....LIPID AND LIPOPROTEIN ADSORPTION AT BIOMATERIALS AND BIO-DIAGNOSTICS INTERFACES. This project aims to investigate molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of undesired biological deposits on synthetic materials and thereby help establish the scientific basis for the rational design of materials with improved compatibility with biological fluids and the engineering of a new generation of biomedical implant devices and bio-diagnostic devices. It is well known that proteins accumulate on synthetic solid surfaces. This project proposes to investigate whether lipids and lipoproteins also play key roles in the initiation of biological adsorption processes. Combined with the study of the interfacial forces responsible, this information will guide the design of preventative strategies.Read moreRead less
Enhanced pigment weathering resistance by coating with high dielectric ceramic. The partner company, Tiwest, based in Western Australia, is a major contributor to the economy, and earns more than $A400m annually in exports. It is the only company in the world that mines, separates, refines and manufactures titania products, including pigments, in one region. The current post-titania particle formation wet-coating process, however, presents a major capital and recurrent cost and necessitates a pi ....Enhanced pigment weathering resistance by coating with high dielectric ceramic. The partner company, Tiwest, based in Western Australia, is a major contributor to the economy, and earns more than $A400m annually in exports. It is the only company in the world that mines, separates, refines and manufactures titania products, including pigments, in one region. The current post-titania particle formation wet-coating process, however, presents a major capital and recurrent cost and necessitates a pigment regrind stage. The research will investigate the development of a highly durable dry-coated pigment utilising a novel high dielectric coating. This development has the potential to ensure the partner company's future competitiveness through reduced processing costs and improved product performance.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of Coal Flotation Performance. The aim of this project is to improve the cleaning of coal by flotation across the whole particle size range with maximum rejection of mineral matter and decreased reagent consumption. The factors that influence coal flotation will be identified and used to predict coal flotation performance. In particular the ultimate separability of coal will be addressed through a unique combination of in- and ex- situ pulp chemical and physical measurements, embedd ....Optimisation of Coal Flotation Performance. The aim of this project is to improve the cleaning of coal by flotation across the whole particle size range with maximum rejection of mineral matter and decreased reagent consumption. The factors that influence coal flotation will be identified and used to predict coal flotation performance. In particular the ultimate separability of coal will be addressed through a unique combination of in- and ex- situ pulp chemical and physical measurements, embedded in a comprehensive model of coal flotation.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of pigment coating surface treatments. Control and optimisation of surface coatings in pigment processing will lead to improved production efficiency and quality. In pigment processing, technology developed in this project may not only save millions of dollars in increased production efficiency but also lead to improved pigment optical performance in pigment applications such as paints, plastics and pharmaceuticals.
Hydrogeological drivers and fate of spring flow in a semi-arid setting. In arid and semi-arid climates, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems often rely on groundwater springs. Spring hydrology depends on complex relationships between underlying aquifers and surface conditions, leading to high uncertainties in understanding aquifer-spring-wetland hydrology, which is critical for spring ecosystem protection and to inform management of relevant groundwater-affecting activities. This project will appl ....Hydrogeological drivers and fate of spring flow in a semi-arid setting. In arid and semi-arid climates, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems often rely on groundwater springs. Spring hydrology depends on complex relationships between underlying aquifers and surface conditions, leading to high uncertainties in understanding aquifer-spring-wetland hydrology, which is critical for spring ecosystem protection and to inform management of relevant groundwater-affecting activities. This project will apply novel hydrogeophysical and hydrochemical methods, and computer modelling, to investigate the source aquifer of, and fate of discharge from the Doongmabulla Springs Complex (DSC), located in an area of future development. Project results will inform spring vulnerability to development pressures and climate effects.Read moreRead less
NEUTRALISING MINERAL REACTIONS IN ACID MINE DRAINAGE CONTROL. The project addresses the serious environmental problem of acid and toxic element release from iron sulfides in waste rock dumps and tailings storage in the mining industry. Long-term neutralising capacity, currently not tested in laboratory assessments, is available from the reaction of some silicate and aluminosilicate minerals. This potential has not been systematically tested or modelled. The research project aims to understand th ....NEUTRALISING MINERAL REACTIONS IN ACID MINE DRAINAGE CONTROL. The project addresses the serious environmental problem of acid and toxic element release from iron sulfides in waste rock dumps and tailings storage in the mining industry. Long-term neutralising capacity, currently not tested in laboratory assessments, is available from the reaction of some silicate and aluminosilicate minerals. This potential has not been systematically tested or modelled. The research project aims to understand the relative mechanisms and rates for long-term alleviation of acid production with mineral layered and blended combinations. Improved understanding will provide methodology for assessment and control of acid mine drainage.Read moreRead less