Pathways to agri-food supply chains that co-benefit people and nature. This project aims to improve biodiversity outcomes of agricultural food production and consumption, and expects to generate new knowledge about impacts of interventions and shocks on the environment, human health and livelihoods in agri-food systems. This will be achieved using an interdisciplinary approach that accounts for uncertainties in links between farmers, suppliers, consumers and supply-chain outcomes. The expected o ....Pathways to agri-food supply chains that co-benefit people and nature. This project aims to improve biodiversity outcomes of agricultural food production and consumption, and expects to generate new knowledge about impacts of interventions and shocks on the environment, human health and livelihoods in agri-food systems. This will be achieved using an interdisciplinary approach that accounts for uncertainties in links between farmers, suppliers, consumers and supply-chain outcomes. The expected outcome is a value of information framework for identifying nature-friendly policies and actions with co-benefits for human well-being. Benefits include sustainability pathways with win-win outcomes for people and nature, and improved ways of meeting international commitments such as Sustainable Development Goals.Read moreRead less
Lithium-air battery: a green energy source for the sustainable future. Electrification of vehicles and the implementation of smart electric grids can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and realise sustainable development. Lithium-air batteries have the highest energy density among all battery systems and are therefore a promising power source for electric vehicles and stationary energy storage.
Hierarchically structured carbon nanotube catalysts for the conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals. Australia has significant biomass resources, which can be used to produce industrial chemicals and transport fuels. This project will develop a new family of carbon-nanotube-supported catalysts that will lead to improvements in process efficiency and performance for biofuels production.
Financial Innovation and Sustainable Solutions for Electricity Markets. This project aims to investigate financial innovation for electricity markets that are transforming from fossil-fuel fired power generation to a higher share of renewable energy. The project will create new knowledge on impacts of the decarbonisation of power markets, utilising cutting-edge econometric models, innovative financial products and new measures for market performance and financial risk. Expected outcomes of the p ....Financial Innovation and Sustainable Solutions for Electricity Markets. This project aims to investigate financial innovation for electricity markets that are transforming from fossil-fuel fired power generation to a higher share of renewable energy. The project will create new knowledge on impacts of the decarbonisation of power markets, utilising cutting-edge econometric models, innovative financial products and new measures for market performance and financial risk. Expected outcomes of the project include recommendations for facilitating investment into renewable energy, pricing intermittent generation, guidelines for stress tests and sustainable energy policy. This will help regulators and market participants to better ensure the long-term economic sustainability and financial resilience of the sector.Read moreRead less
Antimony geochemistry and Earth's dynamic near-surface iron cycle. This project aims to advance our fundamental understanding on the geochemistry of antimony – a critical mineral resource and environmental pollutant of growing concern. This will be achieved by pioneering an innovative combination of advanced synchrotron-based tools and sophisticated isotopic approaches to unravel important interactions between antimony geochemistry and the iron cycle in soils, sediments and aquatic systems. The ....Antimony geochemistry and Earth's dynamic near-surface iron cycle. This project aims to advance our fundamental understanding on the geochemistry of antimony – a critical mineral resource and environmental pollutant of growing concern. This will be achieved by pioneering an innovative combination of advanced synchrotron-based tools and sophisticated isotopic approaches to unravel important interactions between antimony geochemistry and the iron cycle in soils, sediments and aquatic systems. The expected outcomes will provide novel insights into refined strategies to manipulate coupling between antimony mobility and iron cycling for improved rehabilitation of degraded landscapes, safe disposal of hazardous wastes and sustainable exploitation of Australia’s valuable antimony reserves.Read moreRead less
Optical fibre nanophotonics for sensing. This project will develop a new generation of chemical and biological optical waveguide sensors for monitoring energy consumption and the environment, including water and health, that are compatible with SmartGrids. This will be done through an understanding of the evanescent field and its control on the nanoscale, together with advanced material research.
School retention and second chance schooling. This project is concerned with ensuring that students who experience systemic disadvantage are not excluded from the benefits of a formal education. It provides an account and critique of the growth of second chance schooling options catering to such students in both Australia and the UK.
Clarifying transparency: Chinese aid and trade in Latin America. Consensual understandings of transparency and good governance are crucial to the international accommodation of China's economic rise. Through a quantitative survey and qualitative case studies, this project aims to clarify how these terms generate misunderstandings and hinder potential for dialogue between key U.S., Latin American and Chinese actors.
Nano-engineering of hierarchical catalysts for renewable chemicals. Producing high-value chemicals based on renewable alternatives -biomass resources is vital for the climate and a sustainable economy. This project will develop a unique nano-engineering approach to design hierarchical catalysts for the selective conversion of biomass into tailor-made products. Advanced in situ spectroscopic techniques will be employed to establish the structure-reactivity relationship of working catalysts and th ....Nano-engineering of hierarchical catalysts for renewable chemicals. Producing high-value chemicals based on renewable alternatives -biomass resources is vital for the climate and a sustainable economy. This project will develop a unique nano-engineering approach to design hierarchical catalysts for the selective conversion of biomass into tailor-made products. Advanced in situ spectroscopic techniques will be employed to establish the structure-reactivity relationship of working catalysts and thereby manipulate the key factors governing the activity/selectivity. Such cutting-edge knowledge gained is crucial for optimising process efficiency and resource utilisation, which is essential for the success of the biorefining industry and a more environmentally-friendly chemical economy in Australia.Read moreRead less
Single-molecule optofluidics: streamlining high-throughput engineering and analysis of proteins and protein assemblies. This project aims at creating novel technologies for high-throughput engineering and analysis of proteins with single-molecule sensitivity. The platform will considerably accelerate the generation of protein-based diagnostics, new vaccines and therapeutics; it will foster collaborations with industry putting Australia at the forefront of protein research.