A changing climate for calcification on the Great Barrier Reef: past, present and future. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a national and international icon, recognised through its inscription as a World Heritage Area and economic and social value to Australians. Maintenance of the GBR as we know it is now compromised by a rapidly changing climate. Ocean acidification, warming water temperatures and increased freshwater will progressively be detrimental to the fundamental reef-building process ....A changing climate for calcification on the Great Barrier Reef: past, present and future. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a national and international icon, recognised through its inscription as a World Heritage Area and economic and social value to Australians. Maintenance of the GBR as we know it is now compromised by a rapidly changing climate. Ocean acidification, warming water temperatures and increased freshwater will progressively be detrimental to the fundamental reef-building process of calcification. Informed policy and management strategies in a rapidly changing physical environment require determination, for short and long time frames, of the regional consequences and impacts of changing reef-building capacity.Read moreRead less
Indian Ocean Climate Change: Ningaloo Reef, a litmus test for the survival of coral reefs. Coral reefs are at the frontline from the effects of rapidly rising levels of carbon dioxide that is causing both global warming and oceans to become more acid-like. Our research program will determine how the survival of one of the World’s most pristine and best preserved coral reefs, Ningaloo Reef, is linked to the response of Australia’s Indian Ocean to climate change. For the first time, we will simula ....Indian Ocean Climate Change: Ningaloo Reef, a litmus test for the survival of coral reefs. Coral reefs are at the frontline from the effects of rapidly rising levels of carbon dioxide that is causing both global warming and oceans to become more acid-like. Our research program will determine how the survival of one of the World’s most pristine and best preserved coral reefs, Ningaloo Reef, is linked to the response of Australia’s Indian Ocean to climate change. For the first time, we will simulate realistic ‘future’ conditions and see how actual coral reef systems respond. This will provide a ‘yardstick’ against which the best-case survival potential of the world’s coral reefs can be assessed, critical for underpinning the urgently needed action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if we are to ensure the survival of coral reefs.Read moreRead less
Disruptive approaches to biological sensing. Optical fibre-based biosensors have the potential to transform our ability to monitor our environment, protect our nation's assets and safeguard our citizens, and to offer improved clinical diagnostics and food quality control by creating tools that can detect biomolecules in real-time within complex samples. To fulfil this mission, we propose to develop new fibre-based sensing architectures for sensing biomolecules that have the potential to be sensi ....Disruptive approaches to biological sensing. Optical fibre-based biosensors have the potential to transform our ability to monitor our environment, protect our nation's assets and safeguard our citizens, and to offer improved clinical diagnostics and food quality control by creating tools that can detect biomolecules in real-time within complex samples. To fulfil this mission, we propose to develop new fibre-based sensing architectures for sensing biomolecules that have the potential to be sensitive, selective, fast and compact.Read moreRead less
Nanoengineered Polymeric Materials for Environmental and Biological Applications. The development of advanced materials with nanoengineered properties promises to revolutionise future industries, including the energy and healthcare sectors. This research program will involve the design, synthesis and assembly of tailored polymers to prepare next-generation, engineered materials. The research will deliver advanced polymeric membranes, tissue engineering scaffolds and vaccine delivery systems. The ....Nanoengineered Polymeric Materials for Environmental and Biological Applications. The development of advanced materials with nanoengineered properties promises to revolutionise future industries, including the energy and healthcare sectors. This research program will involve the design, synthesis and assembly of tailored polymers to prepare next-generation, engineered materials. The research will deliver advanced polymeric membranes, tissue engineering scaffolds and vaccine delivery systems. These materials are expected to provide benefits for Australian citizens in the energy and health sectors and contribute to the development of a robust Australian nanotechnology industry. The projects will also provide opportunities for the development of outstanding young scientists and will foster multidisciplinary collaborations.Read moreRead less
Three dimensional polymer structures for bionic applications. The polymer based three dimensional (3D) structures targeted for production in this project will bring unique capabilities to the field of bionics research. A multi-modal 3D scaffold capable of delivering biofactors, supporting cell growth and providing power for stimulation will significantly advance the efforts being made in bionic research. This will have profound effects on the quality of life for those suffering from a range of m ....Three dimensional polymer structures for bionic applications. The polymer based three dimensional (3D) structures targeted for production in this project will bring unique capabilities to the field of bionics research. A multi-modal 3D scaffold capable of delivering biofactors, supporting cell growth and providing power for stimulation will significantly advance the efforts being made in bionic research. This will have profound effects on the quality of life for those suffering from a range of medical conditions, from spinal cord injury through to epilepsy. Here we will demonstrate the capabilities of these novel polymer structures both in-vitro and in-vivo.Read moreRead less