Strategic assessment of research performance indicators. The use of quantitative measures of research performance in higher education sends powerful messages to those being evaluated, because the choice of measures signals what is considered most important. However, little critical assessment has been undertaken on the use of performance indicators or their impact on research practice. This project will create a knowledge base on performance measures - their validity, fairness, transparency and ....Strategic assessment of research performance indicators. The use of quantitative measures of research performance in higher education sends powerful messages to those being evaluated, because the choice of measures signals what is considered most important. However, little critical assessment has been undertaken on the use of performance indicators or their impact on research practice. This project will create a knowledge base on performance measures - their validity, fairness, transparency and impact on research, and the cost of implementation. By assessing an extensive range of measures, it will provide Australian science management and science policy makers with rigorous information on which to base informed judgements on their utilisation.Read moreRead less
The role of location on the effectiveness of smoke alarms. Smoke alarms in buildings are required by the Building Code of Australia (BCA), but the current requirements are less than optimal. This project will provide the basis for optimisation of smoke alarms and the number, interconnection and positioning of smoke alarms in residential buildings. This is expected to lead to reductions in fire fatalities, injuries and property loss.
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
The Market for Technology in Australia. Over the last 5 years, formalised markets for technology have accelerated in the US. However, there is no recognised formal market in Australia. Results from our primary data collection and analysis will highlight whether deficiencies in the market for technology are creating obstacles for the commercialisation of Australian technology. This is a particularly important issue for Australia given our relative isolation arising from geographical distance and ....The Market for Technology in Australia. Over the last 5 years, formalised markets for technology have accelerated in the US. However, there is no recognised formal market in Australia. Results from our primary data collection and analysis will highlight whether deficiencies in the market for technology are creating obstacles for the commercialisation of Australian technology. This is a particularly important issue for Australia given our relative isolation arising from geographical distance and lack of attachment to a major trading bloc such as the EU or NAFTA.Read moreRead less
Meta-optics systems for driver-fatigue monitoring. The project aims to develop novel miniaturised optical systems for driver fatigue monitoring, which provide increased sensitivity, eliminate reflections from eyeglasses and enable accurate depth measurements of facial features. The unique performance of our optical systems is derived from the concept of optical nanostructured surfaces to allow for efficient control of light wavefront and polarisation. The project aims to apply this concept to de ....Meta-optics systems for driver-fatigue monitoring. The project aims to develop novel miniaturised optical systems for driver fatigue monitoring, which provide increased sensitivity, eliminate reflections from eyeglasses and enable accurate depth measurements of facial features. The unique performance of our optical systems is derived from the concept of optical nanostructured surfaces to allow for efficient control of light wavefront and polarisation. The project aims to apply this concept to develop six different optical elements with new functionalities and performance well beyond what is possible with conventional components. This development will enable the construction of high-performance driver monitoring systems, thus facilitating a safer driving experience for all.Read moreRead less
Innovation in Australia: Measurement, performance, systems, dynamics and change. This project will produce a comprehensive, integrated analysis of Australia's national innovation system. Through a combination of recent theoretical and conceptual insights and robust empirical analysis the partners will address one of the most pressing issues confronting Australian industrial and research policy. The project will analyze the changes occurring in Australia's innovation system and the drivers beh ....Innovation in Australia: Measurement, performance, systems, dynamics and change. This project will produce a comprehensive, integrated analysis of Australia's national innovation system. Through a combination of recent theoretical and conceptual insights and robust empirical analysis the partners will address one of the most pressing issues confronting Australian industrial and research policy. The project will analyze the changes occurring in Australia's innovation system and the drivers behind them. It will examine the inter-relationships in the development of the innovation system and particular important industrial clusters within it. It will study the impact of globalization, and will compare Australia's innovation system and performance with that of Finland and Canada.Read moreRead less
Regulating Autologous Stem Cell Therapies in Australia. This project aims to develop an ethical and regulatory framework for the use of autologous adult stem cell therapies in Australia. These therapies are increasingly being offered to patients for diseases and conditions that lack scientific evidence of safety and efficacy. This study aims to address this problem using a mixed methods approach to generate empirical data and theoretical, ethical and legal insights that will guide the responsibl ....Regulating Autologous Stem Cell Therapies in Australia. This project aims to develop an ethical and regulatory framework for the use of autologous adult stem cell therapies in Australia. These therapies are increasingly being offered to patients for diseases and conditions that lack scientific evidence of safety and efficacy. This study aims to address this problem using a mixed methods approach to generate empirical data and theoretical, ethical and legal insights that will guide the responsible development, translation and regulation of innovative stem cell therapies in Australia and internationally. Anticipated outcomes will improve patient advocacy and public knowledge about adult stem cell therapies, and facilitate better relationships between patients, researchers and clinicians.Read moreRead less
Innovative platforms for further enhancing security and durability of the Australian Polymer Banknote and other security documents. The polymer banknote is a symbol of world-leading Australian innovation and prosperity. The utility, durability and security of our banknotes underpins consumer confidence, economic stability and national security. Events of recent years, and opportunities and threats from rapid global information flow heighten the need to enhance and renew the many security feature ....Innovative platforms for further enhancing security and durability of the Australian Polymer Banknote and other security documents. The polymer banknote is a symbol of world-leading Australian innovation and prosperity. The utility, durability and security of our banknotes underpins consumer confidence, economic stability and national security. Events of recent years, and opportunities and threats from rapid global information flow heighten the need to enhance and renew the many security features incorporated in our currency. The novel, cost-effective security-feature technologies to be developed in this project will also contribute to increasing the substantial polymer banknote export market, enable further expansion into other, even more demanding, security documents such as passports, and provide a needed boost to our domestic manufacturing industries.Read moreRead less
Residential Air Conditioning, Comfort and Demand Response in Australia. Rapid growth in residential air conditioning (AC) ownership will potentially undermine national energy efficiency and greenhouse reduction targets. Furthermore, residential AC is placing a strain on the national electricity system, especially during heat waves when electricity demand peaks. These AC-driven peak loads occur occasionally each summer, but increasing grid capacity to meet them represents a grossly inefficient in ....Residential Air Conditioning, Comfort and Demand Response in Australia. Rapid growth in residential air conditioning (AC) ownership will potentially undermine national energy efficiency and greenhouse reduction targets. Furthermore, residential AC is placing a strain on the national electricity system, especially during heat waves when electricity demand peaks. These AC-driven peak loads occur occasionally each summer, but increasing grid capacity to meet them represents a grossly inefficient infrastructure investment. This project will generate Australia's most comprehensive data set on exactly how, when, where, and why residential AC systems are being used. The outcomes will provide a solid platform on which national electricity demand management and AC greenhouse-gas mitigation strategies can be designed.Read moreRead less
Beam steering by Huygens metasurfaces for sensing applications. Beam steering by Huygens metasurfaces for sensing applications. This project aims to develop steerable radar systems for navigation sensors and surround monitoring in vehicles, using antennas operating in the millimetre-wave range, which have improved resolution and maintain long sensing distances. The boom in radar sensing technologies used for safety and comfort in cars has stimulated the need for cost-effective directional antenn ....Beam steering by Huygens metasurfaces for sensing applications. Beam steering by Huygens metasurfaces for sensing applications. This project aims to develop steerable radar systems for navigation sensors and surround monitoring in vehicles, using antennas operating in the millimetre-wave range, which have improved resolution and maintain long sensing distances. The boom in radar sensing technologies used for safety and comfort in cars has stimulated the need for cost-effective directional antennas for beam steering in sensing applications. This project will use the recently discovered concept of Huygens metasurfaces, which enable cost-effective devices with low transmission losses and strong tuning of beam-steering angle. The wider availability of such radars is expected to enhance collision prevention systems, adaptive cruise control and ultimately help create self-navigating cars.Read moreRead less