PDF Format - Australian Research Council

Summary of Discovery Projects Applications for Funding to Commence in 2006 

New South Wales 

Australian Catholic University 2 

Charles Sturt University 2 

CSIRO - Australia Telescope National Facility 1 

Macquarie University 31 

Southern Cross University 3 

The University of New England 6 

The University of New South Wales 91 

The University of Newcastle 26 

The University of Sydney 115 

University of Technology, Sydney 15 

University of Western Sydney 8 

University of Wollongong 25 

New South Wales 325 

Victoria 

CSIRO - Molecular Science 2 

Deakin University 9 

La Trobe University 11 

Monash University 70 

RMIT University 14 

Swinburne University of Technology 11 

The University of Melbourne 91 

University of Ballarat 2 

Victoria University of Technology 1 

Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research 1 

Victoria 212 

Queensland 

Central Queensland University 1 

Griffith University 17 

James Cook University 5 

Queensland University of Technology 20 

The University of Queensland 83 

University of Southern Queensland 2 

Queensland 128 

South Australia 

The Flinders University of South Australia 15 

The University of Adelaide 33 

University of South Australia 5 

South Australia 53 

Western Australia 

Curtin University of Technology 15 

Murdoch University 9 

Museum of Western Australia 1 

The University of Western Australia 41 

Western Australia 66 

Tasmania 

University of Tasmania 16 

Tasmania 16 

Northern Territory 

Charles Darwin University 2 

Northern Territory 2 

Page 1


Australian Capital Territory 

The Australian National University 113 

University of Canberra 2 

Australian Capital Territory 115 

Total Number of Grants 917 

Page 2


New South Wales 

Australian Catholic University 

DP0662942 Prof P Allen; Dr WE Mayer; Dr BJ Neil 

Approved Poverty and Welfare in Late Antiquity 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $105,000 

2008 : $105,000 

Primary RFCD 4402 RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS 

Administering Institution Australian Catholic University 

Project Summary 

Poverty and the provision of welfare are key concerns in Australia today. Many of the problems we face - refugee influxes, 

inflated housing costs, increased competition between charities for limited resources - are paralleled in late antiquity. This is a 

critical time in history that has unique things to say to Australian society today. A focussed study of this turning-point in 

history provides a novel perspective from which to assess the implications of current Australian trends, in which welfare is 

increasingly being devolved upon non-government organisations. It also enlarges the foundation for a dialogue on these 

issues, assisting in creating better solutions at both a government and non-government level. 

DP0663985 A/Prof SL Swain; A/Prof ML Hillel 

Approved Child, Nation, Race and Empire: a critical analysis of child rescue narratives in Britain, Australia and 

Project Title Canada 1850-1915 

2006 : $60,594 

2007 : $77,608 

2008 : $58,343 

Primary RFCD 4301 HISTORICAL STUDIES 

Administering Institution Australian Catholic University 


The aftermath of past child welfare practices has generated pain and anger across Australia. Through an analysis of the 

literature which informed such practices the project will strengthen Australia's social fabric by providing a much-needed 

historical context for the individuals, voluntary and government organizations seeking to understand how actions cast as 

benevolent could cause such harm. Such an understanding will also be cautionary for those engaged in the promotion of 

intercountry aid and adoption programs, which make similarly emotional appeals thus enhancing Australia's capacity to 

interpret and engage with its regional and global environment. 

Charles Sturt University 

DP0663901 Mr MP Anstey 

Approved The Grammar of Biblical Hebrew: Functional and Corpus Analyses 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $75,000 

2009 : $75,000 

Primary RFCD 3802 LINGUISTICS 

APD Mr MP Anstey 

Administering Institution Charles Sturt University 


The project promotes original, innovative research in Australia into Biblical Hebrew linguistics. Advancement in the 

knowledge of linguistics increases our understanding of language and its central role in cognition, social interaction, and 

culture. Biblical Hebrew is the language of the Hebrew Bible, a text sacred to Judaism and Christianity, and of interest to the 

wider Australian public. The Hebrew Bible is inextricably bound to these two religious traditions that continue to influence 

substantially Australian society and societies across the world. This project furthers Australia's capacity to contribute to the 

vital task of interpreting the Hebrew Bible in contemporary, responsible ways and translating it into the world's languages. 

Page 3


DP0666699 Dr KJ Horton 

Approved Collective Obligations and Partial Compliance 

Project Title 

2006 : $74,340 

2007 : $74,340 

2008 : $74,340 

Primary RFCD 4401 PHILOSOPHY 

APD Dr KJ Horton 

Administering Institution Charles Sturt University 


The research I would conduct is likely to have considerable impact at both the national and international level. Despite the 

lack of systematic work on the issues my projects tackles, the importance of those issues is now widely recognized, and so 

work on them is likely to be widely noted and discussed. In addition, the research will have important implications for a 

number of the most prominent issues in contemporary life in Australia, such as issues concerning refugees, relations with the 

aboriginal community, and international aid. 

CSIRO - Australia Telescope National Facility 

DP0666822 Dr RN Manchester; Dr M Kesteven; Dr S Johnston 

Approved Defeating Radio Frequency Interference 

Project Title 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $40,000 

Primary RFCD 2401 ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCES 

Administering Institution CSIRO - Australia Telescope National Facility 


The radio spectrum is a valuable resource. Development of techniques which minimize the impact of various users on one 

another, allowing this resource to be shared, will benefit the entire community. For astronomy in particular, shared use is 

essential because of the very wide bandwidths needed to obtain sufficient sensitivity. Usage of the radio spectrum is 

increasing rapidly and radio telescopes are becoming more and more sensitive, compounding the problems. The digital 

signal processing techniques developed under this project will be widely applicable, not only to future radio astronomy 

facilities such as the Square Kilometer Array, but also to the communications industry generally. 

Macquarie University 

DP0665680 Dr M Choat 

Approved Religious authority and linguistic change in late antique Egypt: non-elite perspectives on the rise of 

Project Title monasticism in contemporary documents 

2006 : $35,000 

2007 : $35,000 

2008 : $35,000 


Administering Institution Macquarie University 


This will enhance Australia's hard-earned profile in the fields which contribute to its approach, promoting internationally the 

quality of local research. It poses questions which multilingual societies drawn from different migratory strands and strong 

indigenous traditions must face. Its answers will contribute to the debates Australia continues to have on these issues. It 

directly contributes to the preservation of the culture of Australia's own Coptic community, facilitating access to its own 

traditions, and providing a research focus to complement Macquarie's new commitment to the teaching of the Coptic 

language and history. The resulting monograph will transform international scholarship on a key development of world 

civilisation. 

Page 4


DP0665723 A/Prof A Cranny-Francis 

Approved Skin Jobs: Biopolitics, Embodiment and Haptic Technologies 

Project Title 

2006 : $46,000 

2007 : $23,000 

2008 : $35,000 

Primary RFCD 4203 CULTURAL STUDIES 



Haptic technologies use a combination of mechanical pressure and electrical impulses to simulate human touch, and have 

potential applications in a wide variety of fields including medicine, education, disability services, and entertainment. This 

project will contribute to the development of this technology, by locating the cultural meanings associated with touch and so 

enabling applications to be developed for specific audiences and users. The project thereby contributes to the development 

of smart technologies and, in its combination of resources from science and the arts, promotes a culture of innovation - both 

of which are essential to Australia's economic future. 

DP0663373 Dr NR Daczko; Dr JA Dickinson 

Approved Spreading ridge sedimentation processes: a novel approach using Macquarie Island as a natural 

Project Title laboratory. 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $65,000 

Primary RFCD 2601 GEOLOGY 



This research will examine the south eastern tectonic plate boundary of Australia, providing analogues for seafloor spreading 

related crustal processes that relate to present plate boundaries and ancient examples now joined to the Australian continent. 

The scientific innovation represented by this project will help Australian scientists to better understand an important part of 

the plate tectonic cycle. This project will be of direct relevance to the Australian minerals exploration industry and will provide 

better constraints on rift-related metallogenesis. 

DP0663431 A/Prof X Duong 

Approved A new approach in Harmonic Analysis: Function spaces associated with operators and their 

Project Title applications 

2006 : $92,000 

2007 : $82,000 

2008 : $84,000 

Primary RFCD 2301 MATHEMATICS 



Harmonic analysis is an important part of modern mathematics which has extensive applications in the theory of partial 

differential equations. The type of mathematics in this project is closely related to theoretical work of applied technology such 

as signal processing and medical research. Australia is known as a world leader of harmonic analysis and this project 

ensures that we can keep the leading edge in research in this field. 

DP0664714 A/Prof CS Evans; Dr PW Taylor 

Approved Multi-modal signals: an experimental analysis 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $72,000 

2008 : $72,000 

Primary RFCD 2707 ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION 

Page 5




This project is built upon innovations that permit the first exploration of an important, but previously-inaccessible, problem. 

We will continue to develop techniques with wide applicability for the analysis of movement, and will make them available to 

other research groups. The proposed work addresses a hot topic that is generating international attention; it will hence make 

a distinctive Australian contribution to a rapidly expanding research area. Results will be communicated through the WWW 

and science documentaries. Animal Behaviour is of great interest to the general public. This can be engaged to attract more 

young people to careers in science. We will continue to train postgraduates in a well-resourced and stimulating environment. 

DP0666232 Prof PR Hayward; Mr DC Crowdy 

Approved Melanesian Popular Music, Local Recording Industries and Copyright 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $97,000 

2008 : $26,000 

2009 : $24,000 

Primary RFCD 4101 PERFORMING ARTS 



Australia has recently begun to express heightened concern for the social and economic sustainability of its Melanesian 

regional neighbours. Along with providing aid and peace-keeping forces, we are now exploring the distinctive forms of local 

socio-economic practices. These practices resist easy incorporation into Australian or broader Western norms. The project 

aims for informed dialogue and debate to better understand local cultural and industrial practices. It will be of significant 

benefit to Australia in its engagement with the cultures of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji. 

DP0662884 Dr A Henderson-Sellers 

Approved Stable water isotopic simulation and analysis to improve Earth System models and deliver better 

Project Title predictions of Australian water resource vulnerability 

2006 : $210,000 

2007 : $165,000 

2008 : $170,000 

2009 : $180,000 

2010 : $180,000 

Primary RFCD 2606 ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES 

APF Dr A Henderson-Sellers 



As Australia's challenges in environmental sustainability rival those anywhere on Earth, we must be clever in our diagnosis of 

susceptibility and insightful in proposed remedies. Climate change and variability have impacts on people and society that 

must be managed effectively whatever their causes. Of importance to Australia is the availability of water for drinking and 

agriculture. The new, interdisciplinary ARC network for Earth System Science provides models for novel and synergistic 

research such as naturally occurring water isotopes as a tool for improving predictive skill and confidence. We exploit these 

and leverage international programs to improve regional hydro-climate and water resource understanding in Australia. 

DP0662873 Dr ME Herberstein; Dr T Tregenza 

Approved The evolution of insect genitalia: phallic reversal in Australian praying mantids 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




This project will enhance our knowledge of the evolutionary processes that drive biodiversity within species and speciation 

itself. These issues are fundamental to evolutionary biology, and are of great interest for the general public. We have been 

extraordinarily successful in communicating our research to the public via natural history articles and films. We will continue 

to generate high impact publications from this research that will increase the international research profile of Australia in the 

scientific community. This project will establish international collaborations between Australia and the University of Exeter in 

Cornwall (UK) and provide employment and high quality training to a research associate and a research assistant. 

Page 6


DP0665761 Dr LA Hughes; Prof AJ Beattie; Dr DP Faith; Prof RL Kitching 

Approved A new phylogenetic framework for estimating local, regional, and global biodiversity 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $127,000 

2008 : $127,000 




Australia is one of the 12 megadiverse countries that together account for 75% of global biodiversity. Invertebrates comprise 

the single largest component of biodiversity. The Australian invertebrate fauna is poorly known and therefore most 

conservation planning takes place in the absence of knowledge about the group that contributes most to biodiversity. This 

project will provide novel methods for estimating invertebrate species richness for conservation planning as well as 

contributing to the important debate about the magnitude and distribution of global biodiversity. 

DP0663874 Prof JM Joss; Ms ZM Johanson; Dr PE Ahlberg; Dr P Sordino; Prof GP Wagner 

Approved Lungfish Paired Fins and the Origin of Limbs as an Evolutionary Novelty. 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 

Primary RFCD 2702 GENETICS 



This project will utilise a uniquely Australian animal, the lungfish, to address a hitherto unresolved problem of considerable 

scientific significance - how a fish fin evolved into a tetrapod (four-legged animal) limb. The Australian lungfish is the most 

primitive of the four surviving genera of lobe-finned fish and is recognised as the closest living ancestor to the tetrapods. It is 

listed as 'vulnerable' in its native habitat. Macquarie University, however, has the only captive breeding population of lungfish 

in the world. We are thus uniquely placed to address critically important questions concerning the evolution of fish into 

tetrapods. 

DP0664551 Dr M Kangas 

Approved Expressive Writing: An Investigation of How Writing About Stressful Experiences Can Be Used to 

Project Title Enhance Psychological and Physical Health Benefits 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $68,000 

Primary RFCD 3212 PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES 



An experimental writing technique that involves writing about one's personal stressful experiences by using emotive 

descriptive words has been found to be helpful in improving mental health and physical functioning in various populations. 

This study will test how this expressive writing task leads to health benefits in two distinct samples; cancer survivors and 

healthy individuals. By identifying the methods by which this writing task can improve health functioning, this project will 

assist in adapting this task for use as a therapeutic technique in clinical settings to enhance the well-being of Australians. This 

will place less demands on health services, reduce absenteeism, and improve productivity. 

DP0665068 Dr F Liu; Dr MP Molloy 

Approved Natural Product-derived Proteomics Probes for Specific Detection of Protein Kinase C Activities 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 

Primary RFCD 2503 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 

Page 7




Better health care depends on how well diseases are understood and how accurately disease analysis and diagnosis can be 

carried out. This is not only important to disease treatment but also prevention. This project will first generate new 

compounds that could have improved therapeutic value in cancer treatment. In addition, these compounds will be further 

engineered to provide a new technology of tracing the molecular signature of diseases such as cancer for early detection and 

better preventative care and treatment. This will create new economic advantage and contributes to the transformation of 

Australian health care industry. 

DP0665969 A/Prof CA Mackenzie 

Approved Autonomy and Identity: A Relational Theory 

Project Title 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $20,000 




Autonomy is widely regarded as an important value in liberal democratic societies and underpins many of the basic rights and 

legal protections enjoyed by citizens. The principle of respect for autonomy is a guiding ethical principle in a range of areas, 

including in medical and legal contexts, for example in requirements regarding informed consent, and in ethical guidelines 

governing protocols for research involving human subjects. A better understanding of autonomy and its relationship to the 

social context has the potential to produce indirect socio-economic benefits by informing theory and practice in these and 

other areas. 

DP0663974 A/Prof BP Mans; Dr P Jacquet 

Approved Algorithmics for Extremely Mobile Wireless Networks 

Project Title 

2006 : $108,000 

2007 : $86,000 

2008 : $88,000 

Primary RFCD 2917 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES 



Existing wireless network protocols need stringent conditions to be effective. These conditions are rarely met for concrete 

applications such as Defence, Disaster-Relief, Search-and-Rescue. All these cannot rely on existing infrastructure, and often 

require high mobility. This is crucial in the case of Australia which cannot rely on complete network coverage of its lands and 

seas. This project will develop new wireless protocols for applications requiring extreme mobility. It will increase Australia's 

control of this, now ubiquitous, technology thus rendering Australia a key player in this field. 

DP0665528 Dr JA Mathews 

Approved Cyclical industrial dynamics in high-technology industry: The case of Flat Panel Displays 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $90,000 

Primary RFCD 3502 BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT 



Australian high-technology industry policy is strongly focused on securing entry by Australian firms into such industries as 

semiconductors and flat panel displays (which utilize ICT and photonics technologies). Success to date has been modest. 

One of the prime barriers to entry is the cyclical character of the industries - in the sense that firms in East Asia appear to 

have secured entry only during downturns. A deeper understanding of the cyclical industrial dynamics of such industries 

promises to enhance the prospects for successful entry by Australian firms, and thereby contribute to fulfilling the goals of 

public policy in this area. 

Page 8


DP0664108 A/Prof PC Menzies 

Approved Mental Causation in a Physical World 

Project Title 

2006 : $35,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $25,000 




The issues concerning mental causation are not just philosophical issues. They are discussed in the fields of psychology, 

cognitive science, and psychiatry as questions about whether mental phenomena, eg mental illnesses, are best understood 

at the cognitive level or the neurophysiological level of causation. The project will result in a research monograph aimed at 

practitioners from these fields among others. By introducing these practitioners to recent philosophical thinking about 

causation and reduction, the present project may lead to more subtle ways of conceptualising and treating mental illnesses, 

and so contribute indirectly to the socio-economic benefits accruing from more reflective psychological and psychiatric 

practice. 

DP0663629 Dr MP Molloy 

Approved Differential Isotope Proteome Mapping of Transforming Growth Factor Beta Cell Signalling 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $45,000 

Primary RFCD 2504 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 



Our research will capitalise on Australia's expertise and prior infrastructure investments in frontier, proteomic technologies to 

elucidate novel intracellular signalling pathways that contribute to the development of cancer. New approaches will be 

developed using isotopes to provide sensitive and accurate measurements of changes in protein expression levels. This 

technology will allow us to define complex intracellular signalling networks. This is an important step towards identifying new 

drug targets that are responsible for tumour growth. Australian science will benefit from the training of new scientists in 

modern, post-genome technologies where there is currently a world shortage of experienced personnel. 

DP0663054 A/Prof MH Morley; Mr CJ McGillion 

Approved Brokering Democracy: United States Policy toward Chile from Nixon to Bush Sr. (September 

Project Title 1973-December 1989) 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $20,000 

Primary RFCD 3601 POLITICAL SCIENCE 



Australia's capacity to interpret and engage its regional and global environment is more dependent on thorough anaysis of 

American foreign policy than ever before. Distinguishing between US and Ausralian national interests is vital to avoid making 

commitments that prove harmful to Australia's best interests and its international standing. The way in which the US resolved 

the tensions been national interest and democracy promotion in Chile provides a key reference point for subsequent US 

interventions in the Third World up to the present. Public discussion about contemporary US foreign policy will be 

encouraged via newspaper articles, media interviews, and a companion website to the monograph 

DP0665038 Mr SG Nielsen 

Approved Thallium isotopes: a novel geochemical tracer to map recycling in Earth's mantle 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $85,000 


APD Mr SG Nielsen 

Page 9




This project will transfer to Australia an advanced new methodology: the characterisation of thallium isotopic signatures in the 

mantle system introduced during recycling of crustal material. This will allow the tracking of fluid processes in the mantle 

system in a completely new way and will provide significant new information about the fluids that can percolate up from 

subduction zones. The source of most economically interesting elements in the crust is from mantle-derived fluids, so their 

characterisation is critical to an understanding of the whole ore-forming process. Hence, this study will provide unique new 

information to apply to this important large-scale Earth problem. 

DP0663452 Prof JP Pieprzyk; Dr C Charnes; Dr S McCallum 

Approved Algebraic Properties of Cryptographic Components and their Cryptanalysis 

Project Title 

2006 : $123,000 

2007 : $113,000 

2008 : $115,000 

Primary RFCD 2805 DATA FORMAT 



The outcomes will enhance information and communication security, which is absolutely crucial for the rapidly growing 

e-commerce and e-government services in Australia. International collaboration will be strengthened by reciprocal exchange 

of researchers and postgraduate students leading to more attractive and productive research environment. Our project will 

help to maintain a high profile of Australian researchers, to increase the capacity for consultancy and contract work, and 

provide a cutting-edge information technology for the Australian telecommunications industry, business and government. 

DP0662887 Prof AJ Pitman; Dr Y Wang; Dr JL McGregor 

Approved Do terrestrial processes intensify Australian droughts ? 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




Australia's agricultural productivity is strongly affected by climate, climate variability and climate change. Recent climate 

changes in Western Australia forced adaptation strategies costing $500 million while the anomalously intense 2002 

Murray-Darling Basin drought significantly affected agriculture. Any further intensification of droughts would affect Australia's 

rural economy. This proposal will assess the role of terrestrial processes, linked to increasing CO2, in causing the drought 

intensification and declines in rainfall. This will provide knowledge that will guide the development of future environmental 

management strategies. 

DP0665817 Dr SR Scalmer 

Approved The Circulation of Nonviolence: Gandhi and the History of Global Politics 

Project Title 

2006 : $45,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $20,000 

Primary RFCD 3701 SOCIOLOGY 



Global protest movements have become a feature of recent campaigns against war and corporate power. The diffusion of 

protest across national boundaries disrupts official routine, threatens state power, and raises new questions about global 

citizenship. However, the history, dynamics and novelty of transnational diffusion is still only dimly understood. This project 

will address such absences. It focuses on the circulation of Gandhian nonviolence, and it offers the first comparative, 

long-term study of the diffusion of collective action. This will greatly enhance our understanding of the processes currently 

reshaping politics and society and should enrich the practice of contemporary democratic participation. 

Page 10


DP0665009 Dr NH Smith; Dr J Deranty 

Approved Applying the Ethics of Recognition: Work and the Social Bond 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $50,000 




Work matters to most Australians. It is not just of instrumental value, worth it just for the money: a good, fulfilling job is 

integral to a fulfilled life. Our sense of well-being is inseparably bound up with how things are going at work. But how is this 

well-being sustained? What moral expectations do we bring to work and what happens when they are not met? This project 

will develop new answers to these questions by focusing on claims for recognition arising out of work. Experiences of 

misrecognition at work, we propose, seriously damage one's capacity to lead a fulfilling life. By identifying ways in which 

recognition can be given or denied at work, the project will be of great community benefit. 

DP0665301 Dr DJ Spence 

Approved Direct deep-ultraviolet tunable laser sources generating continuous and ultra-short-pulse radiation 

Project Title for photonics applications. 

2006 : $165,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 

Primary RFCD 2404 OPTICAL PHYSICS 

APD Dr DJ Spence 



This project will develop two versatile and efficient sources of tunable deep-ultraviolet laser radiation. These sources are an 

enabling photonics technology that will have impact in the applied fields of precision spectroscopy and flow cytometry for 

detection of biological agents. The proposed ultrafast laser source will enable new fundamental research probing high-energy 

processes, such as ultrafast chemical reactions, on the femtosecond timescale. 

Training through an APD fellowship in the national priority area of Frontier technologies: photonics will enhance Australia's 

expertise in this important area. 

DP0663154 Dr RJ Stevenson; Dr TI Case 

Approved Testing a disease avoidance account of disgust 

Project Title 

2006 : $43,206 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $75,000 

2009 : $60,000 

Primary RFCD 3801 PSYCHOLOGY 



Inadequate hand-washing is responsible for some of the yearly 2 million deaths from diarrhoea (WHO), for an estimated 40% 

of the 80 million cases of foodborne illness in the US (CDC) and for approximately 20% of the 20,000 US deaths from 

hospital acquired infections (CDC). Although the value of hand-washing as a disease avoidance strategy is well understood 

by many, even healthcare professionals do not follow hand-washing guidelines. This project examines why the emotion of 

disgust engenders such potent avoidance of certain disease vectors (e.g. faeces). The project should lead to an 

understanding of how we can get inadequate hand-washing to also evoke disgust and thus to new and powerful strategies to 

improve hand-washing compliance. 

DP0663514 Prof RH Street 

Approved Categorical structures in string theory 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $82,000 

2008 : $84,000 


Page 11




The proposal is a contribution to the mathematics of fundamental laws of nature. Developments in string theory are unfolding 

internationally from top physicists and mathematicians. Basic research by our expert group of category theorists will reach 

out into the Australian community to varying degrees through our own teaching, vacation scholars, media interviews, and 

links with our academic colleagues in other disciplines. Such basic research underpins the capacity of the private sector by 

providing skilled graduates and enhancing the capabilities of the economy. Australia must maintain expertise in basic 

science and technology to be ready for uncertain future demands. 

DP0663691 Dr PW Taylor; Prof R Jackson 

Approved How Stenolemus Assassin Bugs Crack Spider Codes 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $70,000 




This unique study of sophisticated behavioural flexibility and dynamic sensory exploitation in an insect will provide novel 

insights into how simple cognitive architecture can be used to solve complex problems. These insights are important for the 

development of artificial intelligence systems. This will be the first study of flexible aggressive mimicry in an insect and will 

attract considerable international attention, raise the profile of Australian science and support numerous students. We will 

make the first use in Australia of state-of-the-art vibration recording and interactive playback techniques. Making these 

powerful experimental tools available in Australia will enable other many additional innovative lines of research. 

DP0662967 Dr S Velayutham; Dr AY Wise 

Approved Transnational Affect and the Moral Economies of Temporary Skilled Migration of South Indians to 

Project Title Australia 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $95,000 


APD Dr S Velayutham 



India is expected to surpass China soon as Australia's third largest migration source after New Zealand and the United 

Kingdom. A majority of Indian migrants to Australia work in highly skilled occupations, a large proportion of whom arrive on a 

temporary skilled migration visa (457). There is intense international competition for these highly educated and skilled 

migrant workers and this migration category represents a major new direction in Australia's migration policy. The proposed 

study will provide significant insights for policy makers into the impacts of the new temporary skilled migration scheme on 

both the temporary migrants and the wider Australian community. 

DP0663847 Prof MR Walter; Prof AH Knoll 

Approved A revolution in Earth History: Life and Environment in the Neoarchaean (2.5-2.8 Ga) 

Project Title 

2006 : $50,000 

2007 : $45,000 

2008 : $40,000 




This research will keep Australian scientists in the forefront of studies of early life on Earth. At a time when there is a great 

deal of interest in this topic because of the search for similar life elsewhere in the Solar System, this work will take a 

prominant place in international research. It will attract leading researchers from elsewhere, with consequent intellectual 

benefits, and will inspire students to careers in science. 

Page 12


DP0665035 Dr H Wang; Prof JR Seberry; A/Prof C Xing; Prof Y Desmedt 

Approved Secure Multi-Party Computation 

Project Title 

2006 : $165,000 

2007 : $114,000 

2008 : $111,000 




The outcomes of this project will enhance information protection which is crucial fore rapidly growing e-commerce service 

and strengthen national safeguard capability of our digital systems and infrastructure. It will contribute to maintain Australia's 

leading position in the telecommunication and information industries. It will contribute to the quality of our culture by 

protecting individual's privacy and providing security for sensitive data. 

DP0664537 Prof B Wood; Prof D Rubie; Dr SP Kelley; Prof R Hervig 

Approved The behaviour of geochemical tracers during differentiation of the Earth 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 




This project is aimed at providing fundamental data which Earth Scientists will use to understand the processes by which the 

Earth separated into its chemically-distinct layers (core, mantle, crust, atmosphere, oceans) and to determine the nature of 

the continuing interactions between the surface environment in which we live and the deep interior. It will provide training in 

modern high temperature-high pressure materials-science techniques for Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers. This 

will provide Australia with Earth Scientists who have both traditional skills and the ability to work with Materials Scientists on 

the synthesis of novel materials under extreme conditions. 

Southern Cross University 

DP0666334 Dr RT Bush; A/Prof LA Sullivan 

Approved Schwertmannite in acid sulfate soil landscapes: iron cycling induced acidification 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 

2009 : $70,000 

2010 : $70,000 

Primary RFCD 3008 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES 

ARF Dr RT Bush 

Administering Institution Southern Cross University 


Acid sulfate soils impact over 24 million ha of land throughout the world, 4 million ha of valuable coastal land in Australia 

alone. Their oxidation and acidification are the cause of catastrophic declines in water quality, aquatic habitat, agricultural 

productivity and urban infrastructure. The practical benefits of this project arise from an improved understanding of the 

processes controlling acidification and water quality in these areas. Intellectual benefits include the development and 

application of novel geochemical concepts involving iron minerals relevant to acidity impacted coastal rivers, wetlands and 

estuaries; this project will enhance Australia's capacity for sustainable environmental management. 

DP0663159 Dr BD Eyre; Dr P Cook; Prof Dr JJ Middelburg 

Approved Unraveling Pathways of Nitrogen Cycling in the Sediments of Shallow Coastal Systems using 

Project Title Biomarkers, Stable Isotope Tracer Experiments and Modeling 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 

Primary RFCD 2599 OTHER CHEMICAL SCIENCES 

APD Dr P Cook 

Page 13




Many 100's of millions of dollars are likely to be spent over the next ten years on the management of nitrogen enrichment, 

and protection of biodiversity, in Australia's coastal waters. This project will significantly advance our understanding of how 

organisms from bacteria to macrofauna affect the functioning of our coastal systems. Understanding the role that organisms 

at all levels play in the functioning of coastal ecosystems is the first step towards protecting this biodiversity. As such the 

findings from this research will have direct implications to the management, rehabilitation and protection of waterways 

(including biodiversity) in Australia. 

DP0663145 Prof P Thom; Dr JA Marenbon; Dr S Ebbesen; Dr AD Street 

Approved Aristotle's Categories in the Byzantine, Arabic and Latin Traditions 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




High quality pure research is of national benefit because it adds to the depth of national culture and because it enhances our 

national profile overseas. When it involves collaboration with leading scholars at leading international universities, the 

enhancement is even greater. To understand the great religions that form part of our national identity, and their influence on 

philosophical thought, is of national benefit because it helps understand our place in today's world. 

The University of New England 

DP0663498 Prof BJ Byrne; Prof RK Olson; Dr SJ Wadsworth; Dr E Willcutt; Prof SS Samuelsson 

Approved Longitudinal twin study of literacy, language and attention 

Project Title 

2006 : $208,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $75,000 

2009 : $55,000 


Administering Institution The University of New England 


The primary practical national benefit will be in the unrivalled picture that emerges about how genetic factors interact with 

aspects of the familial and educational environment to determine the course of children's development in literacy and 

language. Policy makers in preschool and school education will be able to use the information to guide curriculum refinement 

and to develop policies for the early identification of children at developmental risk in these domains. As an international 

project, the research will also promote scientific cooperation between Australia, the USA, and Scandinavia in a cutting-edge 

branch of human psychology, the interaction of genes and environment in psychological development. 

DP0666015 Prof A Kaur 

Approved Managing the Border: Migration, Security, and State Policy Responses to Global Governance in 

Project Title Southeast Asia 

2006 : $49,864 

2007 : $45,244 

2008 : $44,614 

2009 : $44,614 

2010 : $39,864 

Primary RFCD 3705 DEMOGRAPHY 



This project, which aims to inform public discussion and policy development on two important areas, population and migration 

and security and governance, in Southeast Asia, will contribute to the process of safeguarding Australia through improved 

understanding of our neighbours' state policies. The scholarly outcomes will also support teaching in refugee and migration 

studies. An enhanced understanding of, and cooperation on population regulation and the movement of people across and 

within borders in the region is central to the maintenance of effective bilateral and multilateral relations between Australia and 

its neighbours. 

Page 14


DP0665079 Mr M Moore 

Approved How Do Stone Tools Reflect Cognition Among the First Australians and their Precursors? 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $78,000 

2008 : $78,000 

Primary RFCD 4302 ARCHAEOLOGY AND PREHISTORY 

APD Mr M Moore 



The popularity of the Indonesian 'hobbit' (Homo floresiensis) discovery provides an ideal platform for interpreting Australasian 

prehistory to a wider community. This project explores the arrival of modern humans in Indonesia, their interaction with 

'hobbits', and the colonisation of Australia by comparing the different ways these hominins made stone tools. Although 

research indicates a significant level of behavioural unity in our genus, 'hobbits' were not like us. 'Us' refers, of course, to 

modern humans, and hence this research is of global relevance. By applying a 'design space' model to toolmaking in the 

past, this project will demonstrate that the earliest trends in technology apply equally to human groups throughout the world. 

DP0662961 Dr SJ Pearson (nee Smith) 

Approved Synchrotrons, wavelet analysis and novel imaging techniques - applying physics tools to the war 

Project Title against breast cancer 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $50,000 

Primary RFCD 2499 OTHER PHYSICAL SCIENCES 



Breast cancer leads to the second highest number of person-years of life lost due to cancer in Australia, with little known 

about its transport around the body. Current screening methods for breast cancer are neither 100% sensitive or specific and 

are heavily dependent upon expert training. This project will contribute by yielding valuable information on the transport of 

breast cancer and contribute to the development of an automated diagnostic method, with the possibility of its application to 

other diseases. The project will also involve members of the regional community, train regional scientists and provide 

synchrotron experience for Australian scientists in time for Australia's first synchrotron. 

DP0663798 A/Prof M Somerville; Prof BD Davies; Dr K Power; Dr SM Gannon 

Approved Enabling place pedagogies in rural and urban Australia 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 

Primary RFCD 3302 CURRICULUM STUDIES 



This project will tell us how children and adults learn about place in the local areas where they live and work. The findings will 

be applied in action research with teachers in early childhood, school, and adult education settings, and in the preparation of 

teachers. It will address two Research Priority areas, 1: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia and 2. Strengthening 

AustraliaÍs economic and social fabric, which we argue are inseparable. Incorporating the findings into the curricula of 

teacher education will ensure that the project will have sustained long term benefits as well as the immediate application built 

into the study. 

DP0666376 A/Prof M Somerville 

Approved Bubbles on the surface: a place pedagogy of the Narran Lakes 

Project Title 

2006 : $74,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $44,000 


Page 15




The project will provide Aboriginal, ecological humanities, and pedagogical input into the problem of environmental 

sustainability in the Murray-Darling Basin, complementing current physical science initiatives. It will have immediate national 

benefit in the production of educational resources based on alternative and previously invisible stories of water in the Narran 

Lakes area, an icon site in the Murray-Darling Basin. The findings will have longer term national benefit by identifying the 

elements of a general pedagogy of place, drawn from the specific local case study of the Narran Lakes, which will be applied 

in adult and community education. 

The University of New South Wales 

DP0665553 Prof R Amal; A/Prof G Peng 

Approved Advanced Particles and Systems for Photoinduced Processes 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 

Primary RFCD 2911 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 

Administering Institution The University of New South Wales 


One of the most crucial challenges facing chemical scientists is the need for ecologically clean chemical processes and 

technology. Solar induced processes, such as photocatalysis, are adept at utilising more of our natural energy resources. 

However, these processes currently suffer from low efficiencies. The proposed research aims to address these issues. 

Successful implementation of this technology will help place Australian research at the forefront of sustainable methods for 

water treatment and material synthesis for functional applications. This will provide economic and social benefits due to 

improvements in processes with higher efficiencies and greater use of clean, natural resources. 

DP0667123 Dr MG Barlow; Dr HA Abbass 

Approved Defence and Security Risk Assessment using Agent Based Distillations 

Project Title 

2006 : $108,000 

2007 : $98,000 

2008 : $100,000 

Primary RFCD 2801 INFORMATION SYSTEMS 



Today's society continues to be occupied with the idea of risk. The recent events of September 11th, the Bali bombing, 

SARS, the bush fires in Canberra, and the Tsunami are examples of human-made and natural disasters. These events had 

dramatic consequences on the social, economic, and political environment and numerous industries. This project offers an 

innovative methodological paradigm for assessing risk through the transfer of technologies drawn from defence simulations 

to the safety and security areas. The success of this project will mark a paradigm shift in the area of risk assessment and 

management. 

DP0662808 Prof MA Bradford; Prof RI Gilbert 

Approved Nonlinear Analysis And Behaviour Of Thin Concrete Axisymmeric Shells 

Project Title 

2006 : $170,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $130,000 

Primary RFCD 2908 CIVIL ENGINEERING 



This project concerns the highly complex behaviour of thin concrete shells and domes. These structures were in vogue in 

Australia in the 1970's because their construction is highly efficient, but their use ceased following several collapses. The 

reason was an inability at the time to predict their behaviour, which requires challenging theoretical methodologies and 

computer software. The project will develop sophisticated mathematical tools, that include concrete shrinkage, creep, 

cracking and thermal effects, to enable the design of safe concrete shells and domes, and it is underpinned by and builds on 

support awarded recently by the ARC to the investigators. 

Page 16


DP0665967 Dr RC Brooks; Dr R Bonduriansky 

Approved Why do good males die young? The relationship between ageing and sexual selection. 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $98,000 

2008 : $98,000 




A biological understanding of ageing is directly relevant to human welfare. We will use lab and field studies to explore the 

evolutionary genetics of ageing in an Australian cricket, with particular emphasis on how diet and the timing of reproduction 

influence the rate at which crickets deteriorate with age. We will also test whether biological differences between males and 

females generate genetic conflicts over ageing rates. Our results will not only complement an evolutionary study of ageing, 

but may ultimately suggest interventions that may prolong human life or improve the quality of life in an ageing population. 

DP0663052 Prof PR Brown; Dr AC Ferguson 

Approved Tax Loss Selling: Implications for investor share trading behaviour and industry effects 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $55,000 

Primary RFCD 3501 ACCOUNTING, AUDITING AND ACCOUNTABILITY 



We will contribute to the national interest in several ways. First, we will provide up-to-date evidence on Tax Loss Selling 

(TLS), addressing an acute lack of research in this area. Second, a predictive model of TLS is being developed, which is 

important in understanding when and where significant TLS will arise. Third, we will examine whether the mineral exploration 

industry has been particularly disadvantaged by the Capital Gains Tax. As recognised in the Prosser Report, current tax 

policy is a potentially important cause of the decline in exploration expenditure. Its role needs to be understood, because the 

exploration industry contributes substantially to exports and national income, and is critical to the national interest. 

DP0665838 Prof RA Bryant; Prof KM McConkey 

Approved An Integrative Theory of Flashback Memories 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $110,000 

2009 : $130,000 

2010 : $130,000 


APF Prof RA Bryant 



Flashback memories are a core phenomenon in a range of psychological disorders. People who have suffered trauma, for 

example, experience a sense of reliving the past. This project will conduct the first comprehensive analysis of flashbacks by 

building on existing theories of autobiographical memory and applying convergent methodologies to study flashbacks. The 

project will assess the content, retrieval mode, and the brain mechanisms underpinning flashbacks. These data will lead to 

the first empirically-driven model of flashbacks that encompasses the psychological and neural bases of flashbacks. This 

model will advance our understanding of cognitive processes underpinning many psychological disorders. 

DP0664805 Dr V Bulmus; Dr M Kavallaris 

Approved Development of Acid Degradable Polymeric Nanoparticles for Intracellular and Tumour Site 

Project Title Selective Delivery of Drugs 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 

Primary RFCD 2915 BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 

Page 17




There is an enormous need to develop effective anticancer drug delivery systems to reduce the social and economic impact 

of cancer. One of the most critical problems in tumour treatment is the lack of selective toxicity of anticancer drugs against 

tumour tissues. Our multidisciplinary team will aim to develop a novel polymer based system for tumour site-selective delivery 

of anticancer drugs. Development of such advanced drug delivery systems will significantly enhance Australia`s power in 

biotechnology. Development and/or formation of strategies to improve the health quality of Australians, is an important 

anticipated outcome of this innovative project. 

DP0662962 Dr BP Burns; Prof MR Walter 

Approved Functional complexity of modern marine stromatolites 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $103,000 

2008 : $103,000 

2009 : $103,000 

2010 : $103,000 

Primary RFCD 2703 MICROBIOLOGY 

ARF Dr BP Burns 



This research has the potential for providing the most detailed data regarding these ancient ecosystems, and will provide 

information for the environmental management of the famous modern stromatolites of Western Australia. Australia needs 

scientists applying their research to interactions of microorganisms with earth materials, and the synergy between biology 

and geology undertaken here has the potential to solve many outstanding problems in the interpretation of stromatolites. In 

addition, this project has the potential for contributing to improvements in water quality, Australia's growing salinity problem, 

and in the development of new pharmaceuticals. 

DP0662883 A/Prof R Cavicchioli; Dr NF Saunders; A/Prof M Guilhaus 

Approved The molecular basis of cold adaptation: an integrated genomic and proteomic study of Antarctic 

Project Title archaea. 

2006 : $93,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 




The project enables Australia to remain a world leader in extremophiles, cold adaptation and Antarctic biology, strengthening 

the reputation Australian scientists have in scientific programs of global significance and fostering the interests of the 

international community in sciences ranging from bioprospecting to the search for extraterrestrial life. National benefit is 

directly derived from technological innovation and training local scientists in modern biology of environmental 

microorganisms. The Antarctic microorganisms provide unique compounds, enzymes and molecules for biotechnology and 

industry. Insight will be gained into the critical role that methanogens play in the global carbon cycle and global warming. 

DP0666103 Dr MM Chakravarty; Dr G Keller 

Approved Micro Compilers: An Extensible Compiler Architecture for Increased Flexibility and Safety 

Project Title 

2006 : $108,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $102,000 

Primary RFCD 2803 COMPUTER SOFTWARE 

Page 18




Programming languages specialised to a particular application domain can cut software development costs and reduce 

programming errors. Unfortunately, most application domains cannot sustain the costly development and maintenance of the 

specialised compilers required to implement specialised languages. We address this problem by introducing a novel 

customisable compiler architecture that can be adapted to specialised languages and other special-purpose compiler 

requirements. Customisable compilers are especially important to a country like Australia that has only limited resources for 

special purpose developments. Moreover, we will train students at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the area of 

programming languages and compilers. 

DP0665515 Dr S Chang; Prof TD Waite 

Approved Membrane Fouling in Submerged Hollow Fibre Membrane Bioreactor Systems: Theory, Modelling 

Project Title and Fouling Control 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $95,000 

Primary RFCD 2906 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 



The outcomes of this project will provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms of fouling in submerged hollow fibre 

membrane bioreactors (SHFMBR) and will provide a sound base for optimization of design and operation of SHFMBR 

systems. Given the crucial role of the SHFMBR in wastewater treatment and water reuse, this project will significantly 

contribute to the national priority area of 'an environmentally sustainable Australia (water-a critical resource)'. In addition, the 

outcomes of this project on quantitative simulation of the gel/cake structure and resulting transport phenomena will promote 

Australia's reputation for high quality fundamental and applied research in the area of membrane filtration. 

DP0667009 Ms MM Cheng; Prof KT Trotman 

Approved Multi-person judgement in management accounting 

Project Title 

2006 : $55,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $55,000 




Improved managerial judgements can facilitate more efficient/effective resource allocation within organizations, significantly 

increasing Australian companies' competitiveness. Our project therefore benefits a range of stakeholder groups such as 

shareholders and employees. Also, by drawing on theories from different disciplines (accounting, social psychology), this 

project increases our understanding of how accounting information can encourage managers to behave in a socially 

desirable manner, such as adopting a conciliatory approach during negotiation. Other benefits include the training of future 

researchers and raising Australia's profile in accounting research. 

DP0663716 Dr C Choe; Dr X Yin 

Approved A Synthesis of Agency and Managerial Power Theories and Its Applications to Corporate 

Project Title Governance, Management Compensation, and Firm Performance 

2006 : $24,724 

2007 : $70,000 

Primary RFCD 3401 ECONOMIC THEORY 



The existing models of corporate governance in economics and finance based on agency theory do not successfully portray 

all modern corporations. Thus the importance of a new and rigorous way to study corporate governance can be hardly 

exaggerated. This project will provide a synthesized theory of corporate governance and is expected to produce 

highest-quality research publishable in top-tier journals. This will, among others, enhance Australia's standing as a 

knowledge nation. This project is also expected to contribute to the discussions on how to improve corporate governance 

and regulation of management compensation both in Australia and abroad. 

Page 19


DP0664577 Dr C Choe; Dr S Ishiguro; Mr I Park 

Approved Multi-tier economic hierarchies: existence, structure, and optimal incentives 

Project Title 

2006 : $48,000 

2007 : $26,000 

2008 : $36,000 




There exists a considerable gap between real-world economic organizations and the economic theory of the firm. This project 

provides formal theories of multi-tier hierarchies, thereby contributing to fill the gap. The project is expected to produce 

highest-quality research publishable in top-tier journals. This will, among others, enhance Australia's standing as a 

knowledge nation. Additional benefit comes from international collaboration with high-calibre theorists such as the two 

partner investigators. The project would provide opportunities for communication between Australian economists and the 

partner investigators, as well as a launch pad for further collaboration in the future. 

DP0666600 Prof EW Coiera; A/Prof JI Westbrook 

Approved An knowledge-based approach to multi-document text summarisation for automated meta-analysis 

Project Title of the scientific literature 

2006 : $118,000 

2007 : $108,000 

2008 : $110,000 

Primary RFCD 2802 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SIGNAL AND IMAGE PROCESSING 



The biomedical sciences produce literature at an exponential rate, and the size of this knowledge base far exceeds the 

capacity of humans to keep up with the growth in new knowledge. This project will develop computational text summarisation 

methods to abstract the content of scientific journal articles reporting clinical trials, and develop multi-document 

summarisation methods to synthesise these abstracts using automated statistical meta-analysis methods. These methods 

have broad potential to improve text-summarisation technologies in general, to profoundly enhance our ability to integrate 

published knowledge, and to make a highly significant and specific contribution to improving the quality of evidence used in 

health decision-making. 

DP0664550 Prof MG Cowling; Mr BT Warhurst 

Approved Geometry on Nilpotent Groups 

Project Title 

2006 : $93,000 

2007 : $81,000 

2008 : $81,000 


APD Mr BT Warhurst 



Nilpotent Lie groups turn up in mechanics, robotics, biology, physical chemistry and electrical engineering, to deal with 

real-world configurations in which it is not possible to move in all directions. This project will develop the mathematical 

foundations of the theory in order to underpin the many and varied applications. Development of the foundations also allows 

techniques developed to deal with one application to be transferred to deal with another application. The project will also 

raise the profile of Australian Mathematics internationally and train the researchers of the future. 

DP0665337 Ms JP Craig 

Approved If men did more housework, would women have more babies? Cross-national fertility rates and the 

Project Title gender division of labour 

2006 : $105,176 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $95,000 


APD Ms JP Craig 

Page 20




This project could contribute to the future well being of Australian society and its citizens by addressing the increasingly 

pressing social issue of fertility decline, and its consequence, population aging. The Treasury Intergenerational Report 

2002-3 has identified structural aging of the population as a major social challenge because it threatens labour supply, social 

stability and economic growth. The taxes of a shrinking work force may have to support a mounting number of dependent 

elderly. The proposed research could identify practical social interventions to facilitate higher birth rates, which would slow 

population aging by increasing the ratio of young people to elderly. 

DP0666495 Dr RJ Danneau 

Approved Electronics with spin: Investigating spin-dependent electrical properties of semiconductor 

Project Title nano-devices 

2006 : $155,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $95,000 

Primary RFCD 2402 THEORETICAL AND CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS 

APD Dr RJ Danneau 



Devices such as the integrated circuit and semiconductor lasers are products of basic research, and form the basis of new 

industries that have revolutionised society. Quantum physics was the science of the 20th century and is likely to become a 

key technology of the 21st century. This project will keep Australia at the forefront of the search for new and potentially 

commercially useful applications of quantum physics. The project will also provide training for Australian students to work in a 

cutting-edge semiconductor research facility, and involves linkages with leading international laboratories including Massey 

University (NZ), the University of Cambridge (UK), and NTT Basic Research Labs (Japan). 

DP0667106 Dr S Dokos; A/Prof NH Lovell 

Approved Computational Reconstruction of Cardiac Pacemaker Activation and Atrial Propagation 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




This study seeks to develop accurate computer models of electrical activity in pacemaker and atrial cells of the heart, in order 

to understand how the heartbeat originates and propagates across the atria during normal and abnormal rhythms. In 

Australia, atrial fibrillation represents the most common form of chronic cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, as 

well as being a major risk factor in stroke. Accurate computer modelling of normal and abnormal heart rhythms will provide 

greater insights into the development of antiarrythmic drugs as well as advancing knowledge of key electrical phenomena in 

the heart. 

DP0664990 Prof J Donald 

Approved The impact of Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson on European modernism and cultural life 

Project Title 

2006 : $51,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $40,000 




The story of how the Black American entertainers Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson became stars in Jazz-Age Europe is 

the stuff of legend. Lionised by artists and intellectuals and idolised by popular audiences, they embodied the spirit of the 

age. As an allegory for those times, their story reveals a secret history of cultural intermixing at the heart of European 

modernism. It also holds up a mirror to our times. By demonstrating the cosmopolitanism and ingenuity of popular culture, 

the research will simultaneously discomfort multicultural and anti-racist assumptions and deflate the myth of a pure or 

unchanging cultural identity. 

Page 21


DP0662833 Prof PM Doran 

Approved Engineering of cartilage-based biomaterials under dynamic culture conditions 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




This work contributes to the development of advanced technologies in the area of biomaterials. The cartilage biomaterials 

generated in this work will lead to new medical applications in tissue reconstruction and replacement, which is of direct 

benefit to society by improving the methods used to treat joint disease and injury. As there is a significant commercial market 

for tissue-engineered cartilage products, this research also has implications for enhancing the scope and profitability of the 

Australian biotechnology industry. The project will be a vehicle for research training in a broad range of interdisciplinary 

areas. Students involved in the work will be equipped with a versatile and valuable combination of skills. 

DP0665124 Dr J Du 

Approved Algebras with Frobenius morphisms and quantum groups 

Project Title 

2006 : $78,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $67,000 




In this digitalized world, our life relies on mathematics more than ever. Counting and numbers are just one example of this. 

Another is the public key codes for online payments and transactions. Mathematics is of enormous importance in this 

technology dominated age. This proposal is to carry out high level mathematical research in Australia. Basic research on 

quantum groups underpins applied research and certain areas such as quantum mechanics and string theory. Some 

structure of quantum groups is too complicated to be seen by even a professional mathematician. A possible interpretation by 

using representations over a finite field would make it more usable and accessible by computer. 

DP0666448 Prof PR Eggert; Prof EA Webby 

Approved The transition from print to electronic textuality in the scholarly editing of Australian literature: 

Project Title practice and theory 

2006 : $111,211 

2007 : $94,000 

2008 : $129,000 

Primary RFCD 4202 LITERATURE STUDIES 



Scholarly editions of Henry Lawson's While the Billy Boils and colonial poet Charles Harpur's Complete Poems will afford 

access to authenticated texts of classic works of Australian literature. The editions complete the Academy Editions of 

Australian Literature series, a long-term project of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. The analysis of versions will 

allow a newly informed study of the works. The Academy Editions series makes a staged transition to electronic delivery with 

these editions. The new methodology will lay the groundwork for future projects, and the text-authentication method may 

have further application. The State Library of New South Wales website will make fruits of the scholarship available to a wider 

public. 

DP0665062 Prof M Eisenbruch; Prof MN Humphrey; Prof A Galla; Prof B Kapferer 

Approved Cultural competence in supporting Cambodians recovering from conflict 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $35,000 

Primary RFCD 3703 ANTHROPOLOGY 

Page 22




This project will (1) reduce the impact of conflict for the next generation, a key to a healthy start to life and ageing well (2) 

guide interventions in regional settings (3) inform guidelines for refugee programs in Australia (4) highlight culture as 

redressing weakened traditional support structures of survivors of war in Australia and the region, supporting the 

Government's welfare reform and participation agendas (5) equip Australia to understand insecurities of globalisation and 

what survivors of war can be driven to do - unless their culture is used as an asset rather than a source of terror (6) enhance 

Australia's capacity to engage with its cultural environment (7) enhance capacity for AusAID to interpret itself to the rest of the 

world. 

DP0667075 A/Prof MH England; Dr A Müller 

Approved Abrupt Southern Hemisphere Climate Change: The Role Of The Southern Ocean Thermohaline 

Project Title Circulation 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $95,000 




Australia's climate is extreme, with harsh droughts, severe bushfire seasons, climate change, soil loss, and salinity all posing 

potentially enormous socio-economic challenges over the next ten-fifty years. Research into climate change and climate 

variability is thus highly significant for Australia, and will underpin efforts to protect our biodiversity and ensure the nation's 

environmental sustainability. We propose to launch a major new study of the stability of the Southern Ocean's thermohaline 

circulation and its role in global climate. This work could have significant long-term benefits for those sectors of society 

sensitive to shifts in climate; including agriculture, energy, freshwater supply, health, and tourism. 

DP0664970 Dr Y Fan; Dr SA Sisson 

Approved Trans-dimensional and Approximate Bayesian Computation 

Project Title 

2006 : $69,657 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 

Primary RFCD 2302 STATISTICS 



Many applied scientists in Australia, particularly those in the biological, medical and environmental sciences are now 

interested in incorporating Bayesian statistical methodologies into their research. 

The development of more generic and efficient Bayesian statistical methods will not only benefit applied statisticians but also 

the more occasional users of statistics in other disciplinary areas. The success of this project will enhance Australia's 

reputation as a strong contributor to the development of Bayesian methodologies. Two PhD students will also be provided 

training in computational Bayesian statistics. 

DP0665945 Dr AC Ferguson; Prof SL Taylor 

Approved Corporate Governance and the Market for Audit Services 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $42,000 




Corporate governance is essential for the development of efficient and transparent capital markets, which in turn are critical 

to economic growth and development. The alleged role of auditors in recent corporate collapses brings into focus the 

question of how auditing contributes to effective corporate governance. More broadly, the way in which the market for audit 

services functions is critical, especially given the increasingly concentrated nature of this market. This project will provide 

evidence on whether auditors have a broader contribution than merely 'checking' the financial statements, as well as the 

extent to which the market for audit services may have become less competitive as the number of large audit firms has 

declined. 

Page 23


DP0666351 Prof DG Fiebig; Mr EJ Cripps 

Approved Bayesian choice modelling 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $85,000 

Primary RFCD 3404 ECONOMETRICS 

APD Mr EJ Cripps 



Discrete choice models are important as they provide tools to help understand choice processes of decision makers. It 

remains a challenge to specify models with covariance structures flexible enough to capture complex patterns of 

cross-substitution between choices while being able to capture heterogeneity present in individual behaviour. We will develop 

a Bayesian approach to choice modelling that uses covariance selection to overcome these problems. This will train 

researchers and raise the profile of Australia in an active research area that is important in the social sciences; substantive 

applications will be in health economics, but developments will also be relevant to cognate areas of biostatistics, 

epidemiology, and ecology. 

DP0663811 Prof NR Foster 

Approved Development of a Novel Process for the Formation of Polymer Vesicles 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




The project would provide an increased understanding of polymer structures, polymer-drug interactions and dense gas 

processing of polymers. The novel process developed would be beneficial on a manufacturing level since it dramatically 

reduces processing time and minimises energy requirements. The research to be conducted is leading-edge technology that 

will attract business from international polymer, drug and biotechnology companies. The development of world-class research 

provides Australia with recognition as a world leader in the field and strengthens and broadens the knowledge base of 

Australian scientists and engineers. 

DP0665514 Prof NR Foster; Dr F Dehghani 

Approved Carbon Dioxide: Solvent, Carrier and Reagent, for novel polymer networks with controlled 

Project Title nano-architectures 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 

Primary RFCD 3205 PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 



The proposed environmentally friendly technology has broad applications for improving properties of various polymeric 

matrices used for biomedical applications. The process developed would value-add for manufacturing biomedical polymeric 

devices in Australia with licensing of existing fabrication methods as a best option. Moreover, the leading-edge polymer 

technology developed would minimise the organic solvent consumption and will attract business from international polymer 

and biotechnology companies for production of implant and drug delivery devices. The development of world-class research 

provides Australia with recognition as a world leader in the field and broadens the knowledge based of Australian scientist 

and engineers. 

DP0664017 Dr J Franklin; Dr CW Legg 

Approved Restraint: Recovering the Virtue of Self-Control or Temperance to Strengthen the Australian Social 

Project Title Fabric 

2006 : $31,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $60,000 


Page 24




The work will provide a focus and an information resource for discussion of policies for educational campaigns on drugs, 

sexual behaviour and general life skills in normal communities, and of intervention policies in distressed communities afflicted 

by high levels of violence and addiction. The work will provide a complement and unification to the excessively narrow though 

partially correct medical, legal, sociological and political discourses that occupy the field in discussions of what to do about 

dangerous and unhealthy behaviour, and deliver more control and responsibility, where appropriate, back to the actors who 

must have primary care of the problem, those who will or will not act badly. 

DP0666941 A/Prof SL Gai; Dr AJ Neely; Dr RR Boyce; A/Prof AF Houwing; Dr SB O'Byrne; Dr HH Kleine 

Approved Physics of Base Flows of Planetary Entry Configurations 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 

Primary RFCD 2902 AEROSPACE ENGINEERING 



Continued investment by Australia in the AHI will help to maintain Australia's leading role in the exciting fields of space 

research and hypersonics and to encourage future international collaboration. The research will use the unique existing 

experimental infrastructure (largely ARC funded) for space related research, which will enable Australia to make a valuable 

contribution to the design of future planetary missions. The project will provide a stimulating, exciting and supportive 

environment for the training of postgraduate and postdoctoral personnel as well as students at the undergraduate level. It will 

help to motivate young Australians to pursue their interest in science and engineering. 

DP0663077 Dr KP Gelber 

Approved Securing Freedom. Political Speech in Australia. 

Project Title 

2006 : $25,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $30,000 




This project will strengthen Australians' ability to secure their own freedom through enhancing and maintaining a stronger 

civic culture. Political speech is vital to the health of Australian democracy. By considering political speech in practice, this 

project will show the wide extent of political freedoms and thus democratic practice in Australia today. It will also outline some 

areas where the freedom may be at risk. In an era where political freedoms can be perceived to be at risk due to the need to 

ensure national security, this project will harmonise and reconcile national security needs with the democratic values of 

Australian society. 

DP0663153 Dr B Goldys; Prof Dr MG Roeckner 

Approved Large Time Behavior of Solutions to Stochastic Partial Differential Equations 

Project Title 

2006 : $93,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $85,000 




We will study equilibria of complex systems described by stochastic partial differential equations. The rates of convergence to 

equilibrium will be obtained for the equations driven by Gaussian and general Levy noises under physically relevant 

assumptions. The benefits of this project to the nation include enhancing its scientific standing in the international community, 

the training of Australian researchers in forefront methods of mathematical analysis of complex systems and development of 

close ties with the world leaders in this area of research. The project will advance our understanding of complex systems 

arising in Phyiscs, Engineering, Social and Life Sciences, hence fits into the Priority Goal: Breakthrough Science. 

Page 25


DP0665422 Prof RM Graham 

Approved Allosteric regulation, molecular structure and function of transglutaminase 2 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 

Primary RFCD 2501 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY (INCL. STRUCTURAL) 



With Australia's ageing population, we can expect to see increasing prevalence of pathologies such as cancer, Alzheimer's 

disease, and cataracts. The ubiquitous enzyme transglutaminase 2 (TG2) has been implicated in all of these age-related 

diseases, as well as in chronic disorders such as coeliac disease and diabetes, and may contribute in a positive way to 

wound healing. Understanding how TG2 is activated and inactivated, and how it selects its targets, will be a critical addition 

to current knowledge of this enzyme, and will be an essential prerequisite for the development of TG2-targetted drugs and 

other TG2-related therapies. 

DP0666646 Prof GW Greenleaf; Dr PA Roth; Dr LA Bygrave 

Approved Creating more consistent privacy principles through better interpretation and law reform: an 

Project Title Australasian initiative to resolve an international problem 

2006 : $107,000 

2007 : $82,000 

2008 : $102,000 

Primary RFCD 3901 LAW 



More consistent information privacy principles at the core of Australia's privacy laws, and more consistency in interpretation, 

will result in greater efficiency for business and government, and better protection of human rights and consumer interests. In 

the health sector, consistency of privacy laws will facilitate better health through the development of national online health 

infrastructure. Australasian privacy scholarship will obtain enhanced international recognition through a pioneering study of 

the comparative use of privacy case law for cross-national interpretation. 'Model IPPs' will aid the harmonisation of global 

privacy laws. 

DP0665884 Dr RA Hall 

Approved Understanding Low-Intensity Conflict 

Project Title 

2006 : $178,000 

2007 : $150,000 

2008 : $116,000 

2009 : $128,000 

2010 : $128,000 


QEII Dr RA Hall 



Since 1945, Low-Intensity Conflict (LIC) has become the dominant form of warfare. Conventional armies have a poor record 

of success in fighting LIC. This project uses the records of the Australian Army's operations in the Vietnam War to better 

understand it's operational performance there and to unearth insights into the conduct of LIC. The project has the potential to 

reduce casualties, both military and civilian, and assist the Army in selecting new war-fighting technologies, designing training 

and developing doctrine for future LIC. The project will raise Australia's profile in theorising about this troubling but 

increasingly common form of warfare. 

DP0663963 Dr BK Hayes; Dr E Heit 

Approved The development of causal induction 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 

2009 : $60,000 


Page 26




An ability to reason inductively is an essential prerequisite for effective learning and decision-making. Inductive thinking is 

also closely related to creativity and innovation. By acquiring a better understanding of how such reasoning develops we will 

contribute to the enhancement of techniques that help children to learn and refine inductive reasoning skills, and will provide 

a foundation for the development of programs to assist children who have particular problems in inductive reasoning and 

generalisation (i.e. those with autism or an intellectual disability). 

DP0665482 A/Prof BI Henry; Dr SL Wearne 

Approved Mathematical measurement and modelling of neuronal degeneration 

Project Title 

2006 : $103,000 

2007 : $93,000 

2008 : $95,000 




Currently about 150,000 Australian's suffer from cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease or dementia and this 

number is expected to double over the next few decades. By combining newly developed mathematical methods in complex 

systems with sophisticated neural imaging we will develop new techniques to advance the diagnosis and treatment of 

cognitive decline in normal ageing and neurodegenerative disease. 

This project will also maintain the collaborative link between researchers in Biomathematics at Mount Sinai School of 

Medicine, New York and researchers in Applied Mathematics at UNSW that enables training of Australian scientists in the 

vital area of mathematical bio-complexity. 

DP0663182 Dr JD Henry; Dr S McDonald 

Approved Towards a model of emotional control: Assessment of patients with focal cortical injuries. 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $65,000 




This project will produce vital information about a potential mechanism that may underlie the observed association between 

frontal brain damage and deficits in emotional control. The proposed research will therefore have significant clinical and 

theoretical implications; it will enable better prediction of emotional dysregulation following brain injury, generation of more 

accurate models of emotional regulation, as well as informing the provision and delivery of evidence-based treatments for 

emotional dysregulation. It will also contribute to our understanding of emotional functioning in other disorders characterized 

by frontal dysfunction, such as schizophrenia, depression and traumatic brain injury. 

DP0667062 Prof DB Hibbert 

Approved Multivariate approaches to matching spectra for environmental and forensic purposes 

Project Title 

2006 : $94,000 

2007 : $84,000 

2008 : $89,000 




Apart from an increased understanding of these commonly-used analytical methods, and their extension to current problems, 

the outcome of the project will be programs that can be used by the Environmental Protection Agency to give the probability 

that an oil spill comes from an alleged source. This evidence may be laid before a court, and is more objective than present 

methods. The identification of illegal drugs will also be made possible, including information about the country or region of 

origin, and the place and processes used to refine the drug. 

Page 27


DP0666798 A/Prof RJ Hill; Dr HJ Bateman 

Approved The Theory and Measurement of Stock-Market Indices 

Project Title 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $70,000 

Primary RFCD 3402 APPLIED ECONOMICS 



This project should promote an innovation culture in Australia by designing new benchmark indices for evaluating the 

performance of fund managers (and other uses), thus encouraging the allocation of funds to their most productive uses. It will 

produce a better measure of asset price inflation than any currently in existence which will be of use to the Reserve Bank in 

the setting of monetary policy. This project will also enhance the reputation of Australian universities as centres of 

cutting-edge academic research, provide a thesis topic for a PhD student, and help build links between the academic and 

private sectors. 

DP0667209 A/Prof RJ Hill 

Approved House Prices in Australia: A Hedonic Analysis 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $68,000 




House prices are an important input to monetary policy since they impact directly on inflation and may be a source of 

speculative bubbles. The Governor of the Reserve Bank, however, recently described housing as the ``weakest link in all the 

price data.'' This project will attempt to resolve this problem. The resulting indexes should be of considerable interest to the 

Reserve Bank, the media, home owners, the real estate industry, and enhance the reputation of Australian universities. They 

will also quantify the extent of the burden imposed on young people by rising house prices, and its consequent strain on 

society. 

DP0664791 A/Prof SK JHA; Dr CT Chou; Dr A Misra; Prof CJ Sreenan 

Approved Efficient Distribution of Content in Multi-Rate Multi-channel Wireless Mesh Networks 

Project Title 

2006 : $93,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $85,000 




The current wireless broadband access is one of the fastest growing markets in communications area. A study by market 

research firms such as BWCS (England) and SFC (US) estimates the US market itself to be over $3.7 billion by year 2009. 

The current Wireless Mesh Network has limited capability to support for a multitude of current, emerging and future services . 

The mechanisms developed in this project will allow service providers to raise additional revenue and differentiate 

themselves by offering a wide range of enhanced services. Our research will help efficient sharing of network resources 

(such as bandwidth) between multiple users of multimedia communications using broadcasting and multicasting protocols. 

DP0665146 Dr P Jones; Prof MR Pusey 

Approved Political Communication and Media Regulation in Australia 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $45,000 

2008 : $45,000 

Primary RFCD 3602 POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION 

Page 28




This research joins the study of the Australian media with a new body of international research on political communication. It 

shows how the Australian experience with the electronic and print media compares with that of other comparable countries. It 

gives evidence on what standards and expectations Australians apply to the media in the communication of political 

information. The research indicates what new regulatory principles will be needed to bring media regulation in Australia to 

international best standards. It will inform applications of the High Court of Australia's discovery of a new freedom of political 

communication. 

DP0666970 Dr M Jormakka 

Approved Structural determination of respiratory membrane protein complexes by X-ray crystallography 

Project Title 

2006 : $182,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 


APD Dr M Jormakka 



Membrane proteins form only 0.3% of the available protein structures in the protein data bank (PDB), yet 30% of the proteins 

in the human genome and 50% of human drug targets are membrane proteins. We have managed to increase the success 

rate through rational screening and development of new crystallization screens, with downstream implications for basic and 

medical research. Results from this proposal will receive international recognition and will encourage more research in this 

field, attracting international funding, and create new research opportunities. 

DP0663378 Prof LM Khachigian 

Approved PKC-zeta-dependent Sp1 Phosphorylation: Regulatory Insights using Novel Phospho-Specific Sp1 

Project Title Antibodies and Peptide Decoys 

2006 : $94,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 

Primary RFCD 2701 BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY 



This project will demonstrate the value of novel phospho-specific Sp1 antibodies and phospho-Sp1 peptide decoys as new 

molecular tools to provide invaluable insights into the regulatory roles of phosphorylated Sp1 in the control of gene 

expression, an area poorly defined at the present time. These agents will be used to increase our fundamental understanding 

of Sp1 activity by identifying physiologic agonists of the PKC-zeta-phospho-Sp1 axis and FasL-dependent apoptosis, 

interactions of phospho-Sp1 with the authentic FasL promoter and its recruitment of collaborative factors. The commercial 

exploitation of phospho-specific Sp1 antibodies and phospho-Sp1 peptide decoys will generate economic returns to Australia. 

DP0667260 A/Prof N Khalili; Em/Prof S Valliappan; Prof BL Loret; Dr AR Russell 

Approved Determination of unsaturated soil properties using cone penetrometer data 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Unsaturated soils account for almost 40 percent of earth's land surface. Over 70 percent of Australia's land surface consists 

of unsaturated soils. The research proposed aims at providing a methodology for a realistic characterisation of unsaturated 

soils in the field. The developments in this research will be immediately applicable to many engineering problems of national 

interest including dams, embankments, foundations, highways and airfields. The work will also benefit Australia and the 

Australian research community through the development of a new expertise within Australia, which is likely to receive wide 

spread attention in both scientific and engineering communities. 

Page 29


DP0663639 Dr VC Kirby 

Approved The Life of Language and the Language of Life: reconsidering the division between the sciences 

Project Title and the humanities 

2006 : $45,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $55,000 




This innovative theoretical approach will enable a close analysis of the common foundational concepts that connect the 

empirical and interpretive sciences. It will: 

i) contribute to the knowledge base of the sociology and philosophy of science and social theory so that Australia is a leading 

expert in this field of inquiry. 

ii) further the unique contribution of Australian 'feminisms of the body' to the ethical and political questions that surround the 

foundations of biological life. 

iii) initiate different styles of dialogue between social and scientific researchers that will encourage more informed debate 

about the direction of Australian technological innovation. 

DP0667069 Prof RJ Kohn; Dr DJ Nott 

Approved Efficient Estimation of Statistical Models with Many Parameters. 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $106,000 




Statistical models are used extensively in business, engineering and the sciences to describe the behavior of systems 

subject to uncertainty. There are often many unknowns in such models and relatively little data to estimate them. The object 

of the research is to develop methods that make these statistical models practical to use. The research team will apply the 

methodology to solve problems in economics, finance, marketing and the analysis of gene expression data. The project will 

also train doctoral and postdoctoral students and enhance Australia's reputation for research excellence in the Statistical and 

Mathematical Sciences. 

DP0666812 A/Prof CY Kwok; Prof PL Chu 

Approved MEMS Based Chip-to-Chip Optical Interconnect for Future Generation of Systems In a Package 

Project Title 

2006 : $128,000 

2007 : $116,000 

2008 : $89,000 

2009 : $83,000 

2010 : $135,000 

Primary RFCD 2909 ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING 



The project will bring Australian technical known-how into the forefront of the information and communication technology 

revolution. The technology developed in this project will enable computers to operate at very high speeds. More information 

can be communicated than ever before. This has significant impact on Australian society where speed of information is 

increasingly important. The technical knowledge of how to make computers operate faster has great commercial value and 

would be very much sought after. Hence, its impact on the national economy. 

DP0666991 Prof RN Lamb; Dr NH Tran 

Approved Thin Films of Oxide Ceramics 

Project Title 

2006 : $91,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $102,000 


Page 30




Aluminium oxide films are used extensively in the Australian industries of Protective & Decorative Coatings (examples 

include door-knobs and cutting-tools). The industry will be offered a remarkably simple process for preparation of high quality 

films. In the microelectronic industry, the uses of aluminium oxide films as a dielectric alternative to silicon dioxide has just 

started to emerge world - wide and this new process would make a dramatic impact with commercial benefits for Australia. 

DP0665539 Dr SS Li; Dr D Yu; Dr WT Klooster 

Approved Development of Advanced Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors for Spin Transistors 

Project Title 

2006 : $76,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $55,000 

Primary RFCD 2918 INTERDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING 



Recent advances in diluted magnetic semiconductors hold the promise of surmounting the fundamental limits of silicon 

technology by exploiting the spin degree of freedom in semiconductors to realize spin-transistors with enhanced functionality, 

higher speeds and integration densities, and lower power consumption in future. Current transistors are electronic circuits 

that make up most semiconductors, an international market worth US$200bn in 2003 and this market will grow to 

US$1000bn per year in next 12 years. In 8 years time, the spin transistor will be on par with electronics. Therefore, success 

of this program will facilitate the development of spintronic materials and technologies, which have enormous international 

market, in Australia. 

DP0666412 Dr SS Li; Dr TM Silver; Dr D Yu 

Approved Separating Subtle Interplay between Competing/Cooperating Superconductivity and Magnetism in 

Project Title YBa2Cu3O7-x with Nanotechnology 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $40,000 




Superconducting cables can carry 100 to 200 times more electric current than conventional cables. The innovations in this 

program could enable the widespread commercialization of more efficient types of power generation, transmission, and 

electrical equipment and devices, offering tremendous energy savings and emissions reductions. It is estimated that ~A$400 

million per year can be saved if high-Tc superconducting wires and cables were to replace conventional metallic conductors. 

The success of this program will greatly increase scientific understanding of hig-Tc superconductivity and expand Australia's 

knowledge in the research on high-Tc superconductors. The training will also provide scientific talents to the country. 

DP0666428 A/Prof X Lin; Prof X Zhou; A/Prof JX Yu 

Approved Computing Order Statistcs over Data Streams 

Project Title 

2006 : $131,000 

2007 : $89,000 

2008 : $95,000 




While data stream computation currently is one of the most challenging areas in IT research community, order statistics 

computation is a very important topic in data stream computation. 

This project aims to deliver advanced techniques that promise a great impact on data stream technology. The success of 

this project will give another competitive edge for Australia to continue her leading role in the development of core IT 

technology. Moreover, the research outcome of the project will provide generic solutions to many Australia based 

industries, including e-finance, telecommunication, network management, sensor network technology 

development, and environment monitoring. 

Page 31


DP0666147 Dr DJ Marshall 

Approved Does mate choice play a role in the fertilization ecology of free-spawners? 

Project Title 

2006 : $135,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 


APD Dr DJ Marshall 



Botanists have long recognised the consequences of differential compatibility between mates for breeding programs and 

agriculture. In important aquaculture species such as abalone and sea-urchins, similar variation in mate compatibility has 

been observed but current theory struggles to explain this variation and its consequences. I have identified a new explanation 

for this variation and will test this explanation using a marine invertebrate that is a model system for study around the world. 

A positive result offers promise of explaining how females 'select' mates in free-spawning species and explaining the 

consequence of this mate selection. 

DP0664031 Dr DP Miller 

Approved The Eureka! Myth: Discourses of Discovery and Invention in Modern Societies 

Project Title 

2006 : $57,295 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $40,000 

Primary RFCD 3706 HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE 



The advances in understanding made through this project will assist in reinterpreting the value of different institutional forms 

of provision for scientific work, will illuminate the process of commercialisation of research, and will help in assessing many 

unspoken assumptions behind intellectual property and patent law. 

DP0663342 Dr H Morita 

Approved Human-capital acquisition, technological improvement and product-market competition: theory and 

Project Title evidence 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $40,000 




Japan has achieved its economic growth at a remarkable pace in the postwar period, and has become one of Australia's 

most important trade partners. This project is expected to benefit the Australian business community and governmental 

institutions by offering systematic investigations, both theoretically and empirically, on the recent transition taking place in the 

Japanese economy from previously unexplored perspectives by capturing interconnections among employment/labour 

market practices, product-market competition, and government-business relationships. It is envisaged that Australian 

industries and government could gain useful information from this project for effective formulation of their international trade 

strategies and policies. 

DP0664117 Dr S Nooshabadi; Prof MM Lee 

Approved Reliable Truly Deep Sub-micron VLSI Computational Systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $138,000 

2007 : $128,000 

2008 : $130,000 


Page 32




The phenomenal growth of the digital integrated circuits is founded on the fundamental assumption of reliable operation of 

logic gates on silicon chip. In the Deep Sub-Micron domain this fundamental assumption can no longer be guaranteed. This 

project, in association with with Dongshin University, Korea with strong links to the semiconductor industry, will develop 

design techniques for the reliable computational hardware, in the presence of unreliable circuit fabric. This significant 

research, with potential for generation of IP, will raise the profile of Australian research in integrated circuits design in the 

global community and will result in significant publicity for the research team and, through them, for Australian industry. 

DP0663998 Prof O Ostrovski; Dr G Zhang 

Approved Low temperature carbothermal reduction of alumina 

Project Title 

2006 : $115,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 

Primary RFCD 2913 METALLURGY 



Australia is the world's largest producer of alumina and bauxite; and the aluminium industry is our second largest commodity 

exporter. This project targets the development of fundamentals of an advanced technology for aluminium production with 

advantages of low energy consumption, low production costs and being more environment-friendly. This frontier technology 

will enhance the competitiveness of the Australian aluminium industry and contribute to making an environmentally 

sustainable Australia. The project will also provide high quality education to final year undergraduate students. The project 

will contribute to the theory of metallurgical processes, particularly to the gas-solid reactions in the reduction and carburisation 

processes. 

DP0666618 Prof G Paxinos; Prof CR Watson; Prof L Puelles 

Approved Rhombomeric Topography of Structures in the Adult Mouse: Evidence from Avian Homologies and 

Project Title Transgenic Mice 

2006 : $67,000 

2007 : $54,000 

Primary RFCD 3207 NEUROSCIENCES 



The brainstem of birds has been shown to be formed by a line of segments, like carriages of a train. The same arrangement 

exists in the embryos of mammals, but is hidden in the adult mammalian brain. We will transfer our detailed knowledge of 

bird brains to make a maps of the brainstem segments in adult mice. We will then test this map with special gene markers 

which will reveal the occult segmental pattern in adult mice. This work will give us a new way of understanding the 

organisation of brainstem centres that control breathing, cardiovascular functions and emotional states. 

DP0664956 Prof IR Petersen; Prof MR James 

Approved Robust Feedback Control in Quantum Technology 

Project Title 

2006 : $155,000 

2007 : $152,000 

2008 : $150,000 

2009 : $105,000 

2010 : $105,000 




Australia has considerable strengths in quantum technology research. As these technologies advance, the issue of control 

and in particular feedback control becomes a critical one. This research project will strengthen Australia's position in quantum 

technology by developing new methodologies for designing high performance robust feedback controllers for quantum 

systems. The project will also add to Australia's strength in quantum technology by contributing to the research training of 

young researchers with expertise both in control systems engineering and quantum technology. This project will help 

Australia reap the maximum possible benefit from the new industries to emerge from the field of quantum technology. 

Page 33


DP0667074 Dr MR Pickering; A/Prof MR Frater; Prof JF Arnold 

Approved Object-based Video Compression for Delay-Insensitive Services 

Project Title 

2006 : $98,000 

2007 : $91,000 

2008 : $93,000 




Digital television is now big business worldwide. Techniques that can lead to improved compression of audiovisual services 

will always be of interest both to international standards bodies and to industry. The development of more efficient 

transmission techniques for audiovisual services will be of considerable benefit to all regions of Australia and in particular to 

remote regions. It can be expected that the development of this technology will significantly improve service quality in these 

areas without the need for upgrading the existing telecommunications infrastructure. This will allow, for example, pay and 

free-to-air operators to provide additional services within their current bandwidth limitations. 

DP0665991 Dr RG Prior 

Approved The Myths of 1940 

Project Title 

2006 : $30,690 

2007 : $30,806 




This study will investigate Britain in 1940, but many issues faced by that country then - the relationship between the political, 

military and intelligence leadership, public opinion and its influence on policy, political leadership and its influence on public 

opinion, war planning and fighting - remain as relevant to Australia today as they were to Britain during the Second World 

War. The role of the military in a democracy and the benefits of military experience to political leaders are issues still much 

discussed today. 

DP0667039 A/Prof MF Rahman 

Approved A Segmented Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor for Wide Field Weakening Range and 

Project Title its Sensorless Control using Improved Flux Estimators 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $66,000 

2008 : $67,000 




Australia has the world's second largest reserve (after China) of high energy-density permanent magnet 

(neodymium-iron-boron) material for the IPM motor. The present limitation of the machine to be driven sensorless over a 

wide speed range with field weakening is believed to be holding back its widespread use in applications other than servo-type 

which requires high-resolution mechanical sensors. Extension of the motor speed range by a combination of magnetic 

system design (for large field weakening range), and sensorless position and flux estimation with sufficient accuracy for fast 

dynamic control should lead to large scale adoption of this motor, and hence to significant improvement in energy efficiency 

and market share for Australia. 

DP0664518 Dr R Ramer; Dr R Mansour 

Approved Radio Frequency Microelectromechanical Systems for Wireless Communications 

Project Title 

2006 : $113,000 

2007 : $103,000 

2008 : $120,000 


Page 34




Current and future Wireless appliances require increased functionality, frequency of operation, and component integration 

along with reduced manufacturing costs, size, weight, and power consumption. Micro electro mechanical systems for radio 

frequency with versatility to integrate both electronic (2-D) and microelectro-mechanical (3-D) devices represent the 

technology that can offer wide operational bandwidths, on-chip passive components, negligible interconnections, almost ideal 

switches and resonators, in a planar fabrication process, compatible with existing integrated circuits and monolithic 

microwave integrated circuits. The outcomes of this project will be of significant benefit to the Australian Telecommunication 

industry. 

DP0667136 Adj/Prof JA Reizes; Prof E Leonardi; A/Prof F Stella; A/Prof CY Kwok 

Approved The Enhancement of Heat Transfer in Micro-Chips by MEMS actuator: Parametric Study 

Project Title 

2006 : $180,000 

2007 : $160,000 

2008 : $180,000 




This challenging project has the potential of introducing a new technology for cooling micro-devices. Since the computer 

industry is sensitive to innovation it is necessary to develop the theoretical and practical skill for manufacturing the cooling 

devices. This will help Australian industry to greatly enhance its capabilities in this very important area of economy. The 

present project is a rare combination of multi-disciplinary studies and will result in a better understanding of the complex 

thermal and fluid flow phenomena in micro channels, and the design and fabrication techniques for the next generation of 

micro-chips. 

DP0666953 A/Prof R Richardson 

Approved The Effects of Early Experiences: A Developmental Analysis of Learning and Memory 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $85,000 




The aim of this project is to increase our understanding of fear and anxiety. Anxiety disorders, which are characterised by the 

inability to appropriately regulate fear, are among the most prevalent psychological disturbances in industrialized countries, 

with between 10-30% of the population suffering from one at some point in their life. Because of this, there has been a 

long-standing interest in the experimental study of learned fear. The present project takes a developmental approach 

because many theories of anxiety disorders emphasise the role of early experience. From this perspective, it is imperative 

that we have an understanding of developmental differences in the processes involved in the emotion of fear. 

DP0663422 Dr K Salmon; Dr M Pipe 

Approved Knowing in advance: Effective strategies for preparing young children for novel experiences 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $60,000 


Page 35




To optimise cognitive and emotional development, it is critical to identify the influences on children's lives. How parent-child 

conversations about the past shape development is well understood, but scant research has examined how adult-child 

preparatory discussions influence children's experience and memory of future events. Our research addresses this gap. It 

has important implications in medical, educational, and other contexts in which it is vital to ensure that information given in 

advance increases children's understanding of an experience. More generally, in specifying optimal parent-child interactions, 

the findings are also relevant to interventions aiming to enhance psychological and emotional resilience in the early years. 

DP0667261 Dr EA Scheer 

Approved Nineteenth Century Precursors Of New Media Art. On Time and Performance in Early Experiments 

Project Title in Art and Science. 

2006 : $35,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $20,000 

Primary RFCD 4103 CINEMA, ELECTRONIC ARTS AND MULTIMEDIA 



The research outcomes will enhance the profile of new media arts and performance studies in Australia by providing a model 

for other research in emergent and cross-disciplinary artforms. This project addresses the relative absence of scholarship on 

the meaning and significance of time and performance in the history of media art. It will attempt to clarify and provide a model 

of analysis for debates surrounding the nature of time based art. It will provide a basis for understanding both the temporal 

and performative nature of new media art and the place of media in live performance. 

DP0664652 Dr A Sharma; Dr B Sivakumar; A/Prof JE Ball 

Approved Stochastic rainfall generation for design flow estimation 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $65,000 

Primary RFCD 2605 HYDROLOGY 



Floods cause one third of all natural disasters worldwide, more than half the fatalities and one-third the economic loss. 

Accurate design flood estimation can help alleviate this impact. The estimation procedure currently used assumes that a 

given rainfall leads to a corresponding design flood, negating the influence variations in pre-existing soil moisture conditions 

may have. An alternative that overcomes the above limitation is to use stochastically generated rainfall series to simulate 

flows from which the design flood can be estimated. This study aims to develop a generic framework for stochastic 

generation of rainfall for design flood estimation in Australia. 

DP0663090 Prof M Sherris; Dr J Van Der Hoek 

Approved Innovations in Enterprise Risk Management: Risk Aggregation, Dependence, and Efficiency 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




Enterprise risk management is of critical importance to the successful management of business corporations. The savings 

from the integrated measurement and management of risk at the enterprise level allowing for diversification in business 

activities is massive. The Australian insurance and actuarial science profession is highly regarded internationally. Innovative 

contributions to the rapidly developing area of enterprise risk management will benefit Australia by maintaining its high profile 

at an international level in this newly emerging area. This will lead to increased demand at an international level for Australian 

graduate students and international research students wishing to study at Australian universities in these disciplines. 

Page 36


DP0666372 Prof MY Simmons; Dr G Scappucci; Asst Prof F Rosei 

Approved Fundamental conduction mechanisms in atomic-scale silicon devices 

Project Title 

2006 : $320,000 

2007 : $300,000 

2008 : $270,000 




This proposal will ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of worldwide research into atomic-scale electronics. It links 

leading nanotechnologists from Canada and Italy to a dynamic and growing Australian team, which already has strong 

collaborations with researchers in the UK, the US, Japan, and Taiwan. In the long-run, Australia stands to benefit indirectly 

from the research as it is a significant user of semiconductors across all major industries. More importantly, by anticipating 

the problems that electronic device manufacturers will face over their long-term horizons, the proposed research also seeks 

to provide Australia with a chance to lift its involvement in the multi-trillion dollar global semiconductor industry. 

DP0665275 Prof CC Sorrell; Prof A Fujishima; Prof J Nowotny; Dr T Bak 

Approved P-Type Titanium Dioxide for Hydrogen Generation from Water using Solar Energy 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 




This project aims to develop a completely new processing technology for photo-sensitive oxide materials based on titanium 

dioxide for the conversion of renewable energy (solar energy) into chemical energy (hydrogen) or electrical energy 

(photovoltaic). When commercialised, the resultant technology will allow Australia to achieve the following: a) reduction in air 

pollution, b) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, c) reduction in reliance on foreign energy sources, d) development of a 

range of ancillary technologies and infrastructure, and e) export of solar energy in the form of solar-hydrogen. This project 

addresses National Priorities #1 and #3. 

DP0666441 Dr B Spehar; Dr Z Kourtzi 

Approved Segmentation and completion in visual object perception: Behavioural and neural perspective 

Project Title 

2006 : $73,000 

2007 : $62,000 

2008 : $56,000 




The problem of perceptual completion and unit formation is among hardest in vision and central to our understanding of how 

visual perception works. Using novel approaches this research will provide insights of theoretical significance to the cognitive 

and neural bases of perceptual completion. This issue is also relevant to image interpretation in medicine, surveillance and 

virtual reality. The research proposed here will enhance international collaboration and strengthen Australia's strong 

reputation in vision research and cognitive neuroscience. It also contributes to national research training by offering honours 

and PhD students an outstanding research training and international exposure. 

DP0667033 Prof PD Steinberg; Prof SL Kjelleberg; Dr JS Webb 

Approved Dispersal and colonisation in eukaryotes and prokaryotes 

Project Title 

2006 : $93,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 


Page 37




The problem of pest or disease organisms for humanity is fundamentally a problem of unwanted colonisation. For example, 

colonisation of the surfaces of human tissues by bacterial biofilms is responsible for up to 70% of bacterial infections; 

colonisation of the surfaces of boat hulls by marine organisms costs the marine shipping industry > $5 billion per year. This 

proposal will generate fundamental information on the ability of both bacteria and higher organisms to disperse and colonise 

surfaces, allowing for the development of novel technologies for the prevention of unwanted colonisation of surfaces. 

DP0665910 Prof PL Swan; Prof D Feldman; Dr PJ Westerholm 

Approved Fragmentation, globalization and the architecture of stock markets: How should the ASX be 

Project Title redesigned to ensure its long-term survival? 

2006 : $145,000 

2007 : $135,000 

2008 : $145,000 

Primary RFCD 3503 BANKING, FINANCE AND INVESTMENT 



The ASX is only at 10% of its potential relative to world best practice in architectural design. Reforms that we investigate, 

such as a massive reduction in the minimum tick and greater transparency to reduce asymmetric information, could lift traded 

value by several fold and by billions of dollars to efficiency levels achieved by South Korea and reduce trading costs by 

hundreds of millions pa. For each dollar of actual trading costs saved there is a further saving of 12 dollars in trades currently 

forgone. The ASX can be preserved from the threat of annihilation by a new global exchange and set up common trading 

platforms like Euronext in our region. The result will be more successful stocks to replace NewsCorp. 

DP0664505 A/Prof GJ Twite; Prof SD Titman; Prof J Fan 

Approved An International Comparison of Corporate Financial Policy 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $65,000 




Our research contributes to the finance discipline, corporate decision making and public policy. Existing empirical literature 

provides managers with insights on the impact of firm characteristics on corporate financial decisions. However, beyond 

suggesting that well-functioning banks, equity and bond markets are an integral part of corporate financing, no insight is 

provided as to the role played by the public policy, legal structures and the suppliers of capital. In a market such as Australia, 

where superannuation is a large and increasing part of corporate funding, this is a glaring omission. This study seeks to 

examine the impact of public policy, legal and institutional structures on these financial choices. 

DP0666231 Dr N Valanoor; Dr H Zheng; Dr J Junquera 

Approved Phase transitions in ultra-thin epitaxial polar oxide films. 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 

2009 : $75,000 

2010 : $75,000 

Primary RFCD 2914 MATERIALS ENGINEERING 

ARF Dr N Valanoor 



In this project we will utilize sophisticated thin film fabrication and characterization techniques( such as in-situ x-ray 

diffraction) and the most advanced computational materials science tools. Therefore this project will provide postgraduates 

and young researchers to cutting edge research, boosting the enormous potential of Australia in basic materials science. It 

brings together early career researchers with complimentary expertise areas to interact with each other. It emphasizes 

cross-disciplinary research and exchange of research ideas across three continents; thus providing the ideal training ground 

for young researchers who are expected to make a major contribution to both, fundamental and applied research in the 

future. 

Page 38


DP0667127 Dr Z Vrcelj; Dr G Ranzi 

Approved Long Term Behaviour Of Composite Steel-Concrete Beams And Its Effect On Composite Dynamic 

Project Title Response 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Composite steel-concrete construction has proven to be a most prolific area of research over the last few decades with 

Australian researchers at the forefront in the field internationally. Despite this and the great significance of the problem to the 

Australian building industry (in 2000-2001 alone Australia spent 17.5 billion dollars on heavy engineering infrastructure 

development), there appears to be no systematic study of time effects, such as creep and shrinkage, on the static and 

dynamic response of composite beams. This project will explore these phenomena, both theoretically and experimentally, 

leading to development of valuable theoretical models and design aids for practicing engineers. 

DP0665826 Prof TS Walter; Dr CA Comerton-Forde; A/Prof DR Gallagher 

Approved An Examination of the Structure, Performance, Trading Activity and Portfolio Compositions of 

Project Title Small-Cap Equity Managers 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $70,000 




Australian investment managers currently manage $A904 billion in assets. Given that Australians compulsorily commit 9% of 

their salaries this figure is set to rise rapidly. Developing a better understanding of the performance and trading activities of 

these managers offers significant benefit to all Australians. The growth in assets under management has forced managers 

to invest in alternative assets such as small cap stocks. Small companies have been described as the engine room of 

economic growth, promoting employment, national prosperity, and innovation and entrepreneurship. Our research considers 

a significant and growing part of Australia's national economy. 

DP0663479 Dr J Wang 

Approved Modelling the jet characteristics and process performance for abrasive waterjet micro-machining 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 

Primary RFCD 2903 MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING 



This project will develop a new manufacturing science and technology for micro-machining using a micro-abrasive waterjet. 

The new technology will provide an effective means for micro-cutting, etching and super-finish polishing on various 

micro-parts, particularly for advanced materials such as ceramics and glasses that are being increasingly used by industry 

while other technologies either experience difficulties or result in defects in processing them. This technology will increase the 

capacity of the Australian manufacturing industry to exploit new leading technologies and products. 

DP0667305 Prof JK Webb; Prof MJ Irwin 

Approved A transit search for extrasolar planets 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $92,000 

2008 : $86,000 


Page 39




One of the most exciting astronomical research areas to emerge recently is the discovery of planets outside our solar system. 

Whether other Earths exist, and whether they possess life, remains unanswered for now, but important technological 

advances, including new Australian innovations, move us steadily towards answering potentially the most important scientific 

question of all time. Significant progress is possible at relatively low cost. This project will use a dedicated, automated, 

ultra-precise telescope in NSW to find a large number of extra-solar planets eclipsing their host stars. During transit, detailed 

observations can reveal fundamental planetary properties, including atmosphericic signatures for life. 

DP0663368 Prof MD Willcox; Dr N Kumar; Dr N Cole; A/Prof RS Armstrong 

Approved Novel Antimicrobial Biomaterials 

Project Title 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $140,000 

2008 : $140,000 




There is a clear need for new materials that repel bacteria. Infections associated with biomaterials incur a high cost in terms 

of human health and well being, but such infections also increase the burden on the health care system by extending hospital 

stays and significantly elevating costs. The cost of a catheter-related blood stream infection is around $50,000 for patients in 

intensive care units. If all medical devices are considered, the cost of related infections is then approximately $20 billion. The 

technology proposed here has the potential to reduce biomaterial related infection rates, improve health care and reduce 

health care costs. 

DP0664572 Prof JA Wolfe; Dr JR Smith; A/Prof GE McPherson; Em/Prof NH Fletcher 

Approved Understanding and overcoming technical difficulties in woodwind musical instruments. 

Project Title 

2006 : $94,000 

2007 : $76,000 

2008 : $110,000 




A large minority of Australians play musical instruments, and even more enjoy listening. Wind instruments predominate in 

school bands. This project will provide knowledge and resources that will improve teaching and playing techniques. It will also 

provide understanding and information useful to instrument makers, of which Australia has several. The information will be 

made available in both technical and non-technical forms via our widely used web site. 

The quality of this research, its useful application to practical problems, and the rapid and easy communication to a wide and 

very interested subset of the public will enhance Australia's reputation for research and music. 

DP0666374 Dr SW Wroe 

Approved Australia's mammalian carnivore diversity in space and time 

Project Title 

2006 : $200,000 

2007 : $150,000 

2008 : $150,000 

2009 : $125,000 

2010 : $125,000 


QEII Dr SW Wroe 

Page 40




To more effectively address the current extinction crisis we need to understand past diversity. This research program will 

comprehensively investigate the diversity of mammalian carnivores on three continents over geological time. Results will 

provide insight into whether the evolution of Australia's mammal carnivores differs fundamentally from those of other 

continents, as has often been suggested but not quantitatively demonstrated. Studies focused in the present are important, 

but often miss critical factors that can only be clarified through analyses with deep time perspectives. The findings will 

translate into an improved understanding of what makes Australia unique and better-informed decisions regarding wildlife 

management. 

DP0665581 A/Prof J Xue; A/Prof J Potter 

Approved Analysis and Optimisation of Incomplete Object-Oriented Programs 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $87,000 

2008 : $94,000 




This project will push Australia to the forefront of OO technologies and will increase the profile of advanced programming 

language design and implementation research in Australia. The completed framework will 

likely be commercially viable as Australia industries such as banks and 

insurance companies and government organisations hosting large 

OO software systems may benefit (in terms of performance and 

code security) from the technology developed as a result of this research. The completed framework will also provide an 

excellent platform for researchers in Australia and elsewhere to do research in OO technologies, helping in producing quality 

students for the Australian IT industry. 

DP0665786 Prof DJ Young; Dr J Zhang; Dr D McGrouther 

Approved "Metal dusting" of austenitic alloys: mechanisms and interventions 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $145,000 

2009 : $145,000 

2010 : $145,000 


ARF Dr J Zhang 



"Metal dusting" is a catastrophic form of metal corrosion which we do not yet understand. It affects industries important to 

Australia: reforming of natural gas and (potentially) ceramic oxide fuel cells. This project aims to understand the process of 

austenitic alloy dusting, and thereby design materials to resist this form of attack. This will allow new natural gas processing 

industries in Australia to be internationally competitive. 

DP0667030 Dr J Yuan 

Approved Design of MIMO Spatial Division Multiple Access Techniques for Multi-User Wireless Data Services 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $78,000 

2008 : $80,000 


Page 41




The project aims at developing novel wireless techniques to enable a breakthrough in multi-user multimedia services in the 

ICT industry sector. The Australian research community will benefit from the new theoretical techniques, design and 

deployment of next-generation wireless systems, while wireless users will benefit from improved quality, high data rates and 

low cost of services. Other benefits include training researchers and industrial innovators, generation of valuable intellectual 

property and patent outcomes, which may help Australian telecommunication and information industry to become a leader in 

wireless ICT based technologies, ensure Australian ICT companies to gain commercial advantages, and contribute to 

national economy. 

DP0665276 Dr RP Zou; Prof AB Yu 

Approved Fundamental Studies of the Packing of Cohesive Particles 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 

Primary RFCD 2907 RESOURCES ENGINEERING 



Particle/powder technology is of paramount importance to Australia in view of its heavy dependence on the handling and 

processing of raw materials. Particle packing is here a most basic operation. This project will examine the underpinning 

physics of the packing of cohesive particles and develop novel generic theories and mathematical models for solving packing 

problems. Its outcomes can lead to better process or product control, a decrease in energy consumption and an 

improvement in productivity in many processes/operations in mineral/material and relevant industries, which, together with 

the research training offered, will help strengthen and maintain Australia's leading position in particulate science and 

technology. 

DP0666661 Prof AB Zwi; Prof D Silove; A/Prof JE Ritchie; Ms A Bunde-Birouste 

Approved Psychosocial and mental health policy in countries emerging from conflict and natural disaster: 

Project Title analysis of policy and program responses 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $130,000 




International donor involvement in psychosocial and mental health policy and programming in complex emergencies has 

been plagued with controversy. With this project, Australian researchers will help build a much needed evidence base for 

psychosocial and mental health policy formulation and implementation. It will specifically enhance programming responses in 

conflict- and disaster-affected countries of the Asia-Pacific region, where Australia is devoting considerable resources and 

attention. Better insights into policy processes and the transferability of experience will maximise Australia's response and 

operational effectiveness, and will have immediate relevance in Tsunami affected areas. 

The University of Newcastle 

DP0665254 Ms LA de Beuzeville; A/Prof TA Johnston 

Approved The linguistic use of space in Auslan (Australian Sign Language): semantic roles and grammatical 

Project Title relations in three dimensions 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $79,000 

2008 : $80,000 


APD Ms LA de Beuzeville 

Administering Institution The University of Newcastle 


Research into the structure of Auslan provides information for the production of assessment and teaching tools for 

practitioners to use in adult education settings (for second language learners of Auslan and Auslan interpreters) and in 

special education for signing deaf children. It will also serve as a basis for further research into the acquisition of grammatical 

use of space by native signing deaf children. These outcomes will further benefit the deaf community, improving deaf 

people's access to education, health, government services and the employment sector. 

Page 42


DP0667265 Prof BZ Dlugogorski 

Approved Self-heating of porous lignocellulosic and coal particles 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 

Primary RFCD 2999 OTHER ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY 



This project develops models for spontaneous heating of materials, which have substantial value to Australian economy, and 

whose self-heating behaviour have led to loss of life and significant material losses in industries processing these materials. 

The results will be immediately applicable to evaluate risks of spontaneous ignition in process plants in a more rigorous 

manner than performed presently. Furthermore, findings of this investigation will allow considerable improvement in 

estimating green house gas emissions as a consequence of spontaneous combustion. 

DP0666620 Dr AJ Fleming 

Approved Analysis, Optimization, and Control of Scanning Atomic Force Microscope Micro-Cantilever Probes 

Project Title 

2006 : $128,996 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $80,000 


APD Dr AJ Fleming 



Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM's) are widely used for the examination of samples smaller than can be observed with an 

optical microscope. A tiny 'finger', only a few atoms wide at its sharpest point, is used to 'feel' the surface of a sample. This 

project aims to increase the resolution of AFM images by actively controlling the sensor probe dynamics. 

Better quality AFM images would allow scientists to further investigate the atomic and molecular structure of such samples 

as: metals, polymers, cells, and proteins. 

This research will contribute to the design of an Australian made Scanning Probe Microscope. Development of local expertise 

will provide a valuable resource for Australian scientific and industrial research. 

DP0665656 Prof M Fu; Dr P Schreier 

Approved The Interplay of Feedback Control and Digital Communications 

Project Title 

2006 : $118,000 

2007 : $108,000 

2008 : $110,000 




This project deals with two research topics in digital communications and control. The first is concerned with feedback 

communications for control systems, aiming to develop new design methods for network-based automation and control. The 

second studies new decoding and detection algorithms for digital communications. Applications of the proposed research 

work include network-based industrial control, wireless communication devices, and high density digital storage media. The 

cross-fertilisation of control systems and digital communications will help strengthen Australia's research expertise in the 

National Research Priority area "Information and Communications Technology" (ICT). 

DP0664921 Dr L Gan 

Approved New Signal Transforms for Multimedia Applications 

Project Title 

2006 : $62,000 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 


Page 43




This project targets at important yet challenging problems for reliable transmission and efficient processing of digital 

multimedia. The solutions to these problems will not only contribute to our fundamental understanding of digital visual 

information, but also lead to new commercial opportunities. Hence, the project is clearly within the ARC priority research area 

3: Frontier Technologies Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries. Also, as multimedia 

market is one of the highest growth segments within the information technology industry, the project is directly in the 

information and communication technologies (ICT), whose national importance was recognized by the Federal Government. 

DP0663082 Prof GC Goodwin 

Approved Parsimonious Quantization in Signal Processing and Control 

Project Title 

2006 : $178,945 

2007 : $115,000 

2008 : $112,000 

2009 : $131,000 

2010 : $133,000 




In today's society there is an abundance of data. Indeed, it could be argued that we suffer from data 'overload'. Thus to turn 

'data' into actions, the need for parsimony in signal processing and control arises. For that purpose, the data must be 

sampled (in time) and quantized (in space). Within this context, the current project is aimed at understanding aspects of 

sampled parsimonious quantization. The results have widespread practical uses including digital cameras, video 

compression, audio quantization, control over communication networks, switching of electronic devices and many others. 

DP0664149 Prof GJ Jameson; A/Prof AV Nguyen; Dr S Ata 

Approved Extending the range of the flotation process for particle separation 

Project Title 

2006 : $250,000 

2007 : $180,000 

2008 : $200,000 

2009 : $170,000 

2010 : $150,000 




The minerals industry is a significant contributor to Australia's prosperity. Flotation is an important process for upgrading 

low-grade ores to high-grade concentrates, and for recovering fine coal from tailings. This project is aimed at solving a 

long-term problem in current flotation practice, the difficulty in recovering ultrafine and coarse particles, currently lost from 

production. We will pursue two new discoveries recently made by us, relating to the recovery of ultrafines and coarse 

particles. Benefits to Australia are of the order of $500 million a year in increased exports, education of high-quality 

graduates, export income from license fees and equipment. 

DP0665742 Dr SJ Johnson 

Approved Construction methods and analysis tools for repeat-accumulate error correction codes 

Project Title 

2006 : $50,128 

2007 : $32,000 

2008 : $30,000 




Error correction codes play an integral role in digital communications systems, enabling technologies such as compact-disk 

players, hard-disk drives, high-speed modems, digital audio broadcasting and deep-space communications. This project 

develops the techniques which underlie the success of next-generation error correction technologies and thus addresses an 

important and fundamental problem in the area of information and communications technology (ICT). The nature of the 

project presents significant potential for project outcomes to be beneficial to the Australian telecommunications industry in a 

wide range of application areas including wireless networks, mobile communications, and data storage. 

Page 44


DP0665059 Dr M Kibby 

Approved Exploring Internet Induced Changes in Youth Music Consumption 

Project Title 

2006 : $53,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $20,000 




Music consumption is the basis of both a key Australian industry with wide reaching economic impact, and a social practice 

closely tied to identity formation, relationship development and mood management. This project has significant community 

and national benefit, in that it will further our understanding of contemporary popular music consumption. In documenting the 

range of online music products, young consumers' attitudes towards them, and their personal music acquisition habits, the 

project will lead to an understanding of how having access to almost unlimited, personalised music-file collections will affect 

the role music plays in their lives and the follow-on impact in social, cultural and economic terms. 

DP0666166 A/Prof EH Kisi; Dr JS Forrester; Dr CJ Howard 

Approved Structural Origins of the Giant Piezoelectric Effect in Relaxor Ferroelectrics 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




This project addresses fundamental questions about the origins of the Giant Piezoelectric Effect. The solution of these 

questions will be will raise the profile of Australian science in this area as well as allowing new directions to be explored both 

in modifying existing materials and seeking new ones. It will expand the pool of personnel with experience in the synthesis 

and diffraction based study of these materials which are slated for inclusion in large numbers of 'Smart' technologies. The 

training of personnel in advanced diffraction methods is important in the lead up to the new Australian research reactor OPAL 

in 2006 and the new Australian synchrotron in 2007. 

DP0663410 Prof GA Lawrance; A/Prof M Maeder 

Approved Assembly and Interactions of Helical Supramolecular Structures 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 

Primary RFCD 2502 INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 



The project in advanced materials is significant in probing an exciting topology in nanostructural assemblies - helicates - the 

understanding of the interactions of which will assist the development of optically pure molecules that are the key to 

high-value drugs, thus contributing to enhanced development in the specialty chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry. The 

research may result in economic benefits for Australia, since it will develop synthetic materials with the potential to perform 

tasks in high optical purity essential drug synthesis. Further, it will enhance the knowledge and skills base within the country 

through training of highly applicable scientists for a growing national priority area. 

DP0664370 Dr PJ Lewis; Dr R Griffith; Dr RJ Lewis 

Approved Structural analysis and functional inactivation of bacterial transcription complexes 

Project Title 

2006 : $103,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 


Page 45




RNA polymerase is an essential enzyme in all living cells. Its role is to convert the genetic information stored in genes into a 

message that can be converted into protein. As such, the bacterial RNA polymerase represents an ideal target for the 

development of new antibiotics which will be important in maintaining the health of the Australian community and also in 

protecting the community from the very real threat of bioterrorism organisms such as anthrax. This project is designed to 

identify molecules for development as new antibiotics that are effective against RNA polymerase. 

DP0664992 Mr C Ling 

Approved Fast Decoding for Multi-Input Multi-Output Wireless Communications 

Project Title 

2006 : $83,040 

2007 : $77,000 

2008 : $77,000 


APD Mr C Ling 



This project focuses on the core technology on the physical layer of broadband wireless telecommunications. The outcomes 

of the research have the potential to influence the design and implementation of new generation wireless systems, thereby 

stimulating the growth of the Australian telecommunications industry. The research of this project is of fundamental 

importance to telecommunications engineering. It contributes to the maintenance of Australia's international research profile. 

This project falls within the Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries. It 

addresses the goals of Breakthrough Science and Frontier Technologies. 

DP0666551 Dr AV Lyamin; Dr K Krabbenhoft 

Approved Optimization Based Finite Element Procedures for Geotechnical Applications 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Although this project is predominantly a fundamental study it is expected to lead to a class of new methods for accurate and 

efficient modelling of complex geotechnical applications. Ultimately, this will result in cheaper and safer designs of both 

standard and non-standard geotechnical structures. The project builds on and extends the tradition which has been 

established in Australia over the past 15-20 years of applying mathematical programming methods to geomechanical 

problems. This work has received world wide recognition and the numerical methods developed in Newcastle are currently 

being commercialized for the benefit of practising engineers and geotechnical researchers. 

DP0663454 Dr GR MacFarlane 

Approved Biomarkers of Heavy Metal Stress in Mangrove Ecosystems 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




Australia has the third largest area of mangroves internationally and these systems are highly productive as primary 

producers, habitat and nursery area for many juvenile commercial fish species. The consequences of local destruction of 

mangroves through human impacts are lower fish productivity and loss of water quality. The validation of predictive early 

warning biomarkers of heavy metal stress in mangroves would provide a powerful management tool that would enable 

evidence of pollutant exposure and accurate 'early-warning' indication of biological/environmental effects, allowing effective 

remedial action and protection of estuarine waters and resources both nationally and internationally. 

Page 46


DP0666130 Dr BP McGrath 

Approved Improved Capacitor Voltage Balance for Multicell Power Electronic Converters Controlled by 

Project Title Spectrally Optimal Modulation 

2006 : $45,922 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 




There is a growing demand for high power and medium voltage energy conversion systems in a wide range of applications, 

including Rail, Renewable Energy, Defence and Electricity Distribution. Multicell-type multilevel converters are a very 

attractive means of satisfying this demand, but only if the cell voltages can be precisely regulated so as to ensure protection 

of the converter while simultaneously ensuring the synthesis of switched waveforms with the required spectral quality. This 

project offers the potential to eliminate this barrier to the use of Multicell converter technology. In addition this project 

emphasises the development and training of people skilled in the design and development of this technology. 

DP0666255 A/Prof SO Moheimani 

Approved Advanced Control of Dual-Stage Hard Disk Drives 

Project Title 

2006 : $148,000 

2007 : $123,000 

2008 : $125,000 




The project is of significant scientific merit, resulting in solutions to open problems in control of dual-stage hard disk drive 

systems. This will contribute to the maintenance of Australia's international research profile, help maintain its internal 

research vitality and also enhance the advanced engineering base of the country. An important benefit of this research is the 

direct application of developed ideas to the next generation data storage systems. The completion of this project will directly 

benefit Australia's developing high-tech industries. 

DP0663643 Dr SK Morley 

Approved Polar Cap Region Boundary Dynamics 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $77,000 

2008 : $77,000 


APD Dr SK Morley 



Geomagnetic storms have the potential to severely impair critical technology infrastructure. Consequences of strong 

geomagnetic activity can include power failures, pipeline corrosion, satellite failures, inaccurate GPS positioning and radio 

navigation. Knowledge of how, where and under which conditions this activity occurs is therefore crucial. The primary aim of 

this project is to extend our knowledge of the mechanisms by which this activity occurs. This work will consolidate Australia's 

international space profile and provide excellent training in this field, helping Australia's future technology development. 

DP0663688 A/Prof AV Nguyen; Prof GM Evans 

Approved Effect of Saline Water on Flotation Processes 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $175,000 

2008 : $175,000 

2009 : $155,000 

2010 : $155,000 


Page 47




The Australian mineral and coal industry is valued at $40 billion in export income per year. This significant component of the 

Australian economy will benefit from this research into the increased use of highly saline water to improve coal and mineral 

flotation recovery. The project will keep Australia at the leading edge of flotation research, research training and development 

for the coal and mineral industry. With direct relevance to the National Research Priorities: Water - a Critical Resource, this 

project will make contributions to the development of a more environmentally sustainable coal and mineral processing 

industry. 

DP0666955 A/Prof BM Ninness 

Approved New Approaches for the Estimation of Complex Dynamic System Models 

Project Title 

2006 : $118,000 

2007 : $108,000 

2008 : $110,000 




This project lies within an ARC defined Research Priority Area. Namely, "Frontier Technologies". It is directed towards taking 

available data records from physical and other processes, ranging from petrochemical plant outputs to share market values, 

and using them to determine equations that allow for the prediction, diagnosis, and control of the underlying determining 

systems. As such, it lies within the ARC identified area of "Smart Information Use", but has further potential to foster new 

approaches and new technologies, by way of the improved system modelling, prediction and diagnosis capabilities it will 

provide. 

DP0665131 Dr DA Pask; Dr AD Sims 

Approved Pictures for Operator Algebras: higher rank graphs 

Project Title 

2006 : $101,000 

2007 : $88,000 

2008 : $90,000 




The runaway success of graph C*-algebras pioneered at the University of Newcastle places Australia at the forefront of an 

exciting new research field. Higher-dimensional graphs and their algebras are a promising new direction, and this project will 

keep Australian researchers at its cutting edge. 

This project will involve and train talented young researchers who will contribute to the Mathematical outcomes of the current 

project. Their involvement will train them in the techniques of modern Mathematics and furnish them with important 

international research connections. In doing so we shall be laying a strong foundation for the future of Australian 

Mathematical research. 

DP0664626 Prof JW Patrick; Dr DW McCurdy; A/Prof CE Offler 

Approved Induction of Plant Transfer Cells - Discovering Regulatory Networks 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $96,000 

2008 : $96,000 

Primary RFCD 2704 BOTANY 



This project seeks molecular understanding of regulatory mechanisms responsible for inducing formation of specialized plant 

cells that are of central importance in controlling nutrient transport. These so-called "transfer cells" play pivotal roles in 

determining crop nutrition and hence yield under normal and stressful environments such as soil nutrient deficiencies and 

salinity. Discovering regulatory mechanisms that control formation of these specialized cells will maintain Australia's 

international reputation in this field of research. In addition, the information platform generated may provide technological 

opportunities to optimise nutrient flows in healthy plants, combat certain environmental stresses and control pathogen attack. 

Page 48


DP0664365 Dr P Schreier 

Approved Space-time and time-frequency applications of improper complex processes 

Project Title 

2006 : $99,515 

2007 : $72,000 

2008 : $79,000 




This project addresses an issue of fundamental importance to many areas in science and engineering. It is thus expected 

that the results will be disseminated in high-quality journals and receive widespread attention and recognition. This will 

advance Australia's research profile in the world. 

The project can also be expected to have an immediate impact on the design of next generation communications 

technologies, thus aiding Australian industries in the development of frontier technologies. 

Australia will also benefit economically and socially by the specialised engineers and researchers in signal processing and 

communications that will be trained in the course of this project. 

DP0666828 Dr JS Welsh 

Approved New System Identification Techniques Utilising Misspecified Models 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,388 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 




National benefits of the proposed research project will result from improvements in control due to a better, more complete 

understanding of the models obtained by the newly proposed system identification technique. The resulting effect on 

industrial practice will be an increase in efficiency, by reduced waste, lower pollution levels and increased throughput. Also, 

the techniques developed will be directly applicable to current research in the areas of complex systems, such as smart 

structures and biological studies of the dynamic effects of drugs and hormones on genes. 

DP0667093 Prof GR Willgoose; A/Prof PJ Binning; Dr ST Lancaster; Em/Prof MJ Kirkby; Prof PM Bishop 

Approved TERRESIM: A simulation system for understanding and managing the interactions between runoff, 

Project Title vegetation, soils and climate in a changing environment 

2006 : $250,000 

2007 : $200,000 

2008 : $200,000 

2009 : $200,000 

2010 : $170,000 


APF Prof GR Willgoose 



The landforms around us evolve in response to the processes of hydrology, erosion, climate and vegetation that develops on 

them. Likewise, the past behaviour of these processes (thus historical climatic fluctuations) in written in the deposited 

sediment. To study these interactions will be develop a state-of-the-art landform simulator (TerreSim). We will use it to 

explore the evolution, development and sustainability of soils, vegetation, and hydrology (e.g. water supply) so as to better 

understand their response to climatic changes. We will also study rates of cliff retreat and debris flow in steep landscapes to 

better understand cliff stability. 

DP0665550 Dr NE Wright; Dr TV Davis; Dr B Collins-Gearing 

Approved Working Together: Indigenous and Non-indigenous Collaboration in Australian Film and Literature 

Project Title 

2006 : $112,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $67,000 


Page 49




As the first, comprehensive study of Indigenous and non-indigenous collaboration in film and literature this project will make 

an important contribution to Australian cultural history. It will provide filmmakers, educators and publishers with expanded 

theoretical findings about the nature of collaboration. In the most general sense, this critical analysis of one of the ways in 

which Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians have and continue to 'work together' will contribute to the national project 

of Reconciliation. 

The University of Sydney 

DP0666778 A/Prof DW Airey; Prof JP Carter 

Approved Mechanics of dynamic loading and rapid penetration of soils 

Project Title 

2006 : $208,000 

2007 : $160,000 

2008 : $180,000 

2009 : $140,000 

2010 : $100,000 


Administering Institution The University of Sydney 


The project will produce improved understanding and new numerical tools that will permit cost effective simulation and 

modelling of rapid penetration of objects into the ground, and of the compaction processes used on the majority of 

construction sites. The free fall penetrometer will be developed to enable soil strength to be determined at remote sites, e.g. 

ocean seabed, jungles, swamps. The project will also assist in the selection of compaction equipment and procedures. 

DP0666148 A/Prof R Aldrich 

Approved Province, Nation, Empire: France, 1871-1940 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $40,000 




This project will deepen understanding of structures of political, strategic and economic power by providing insight into the 

dynamics of regionalist, nationalist and internationalist ideologies through study of the world's second largest overseas 

empire. It examines the role of non-state initiatives and pressures, while also investigating the colonial origins of 

contemporary globalisation. It will shed light, in particular, on the post-colonial heritage of actions in countries of the 

Asia-Pacific region that were French colonies or that remain French overseas outposts. 

DP0666692 Prof SM Andrews 

Approved Lexical expertise and reading skill: An experimental analysis of individual differences in written 

Project Title language proficiency 

2006 : $62,500 

2007 : $67,400 

2008 : $72,600 




The Federal Government's current National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy highlights the importance of an 

evidence-based approach to teaching and assessing literacy. Considerable research and policy effort has been directed 

towards early reading programs. Much less attention has been paid to evaluating children's later development of reading 

comprehension and spelling proficiency, but there is wide diversity in these skills within the adult population that influence 

educational and vocational opportunity. This investigation of the factors underlying expertise in reading and spelling will 

provide evidence that can contribute to developing educational policy and curricula for the later stages of schooling. 

Page 50


DP0664524 A/Prof SW Armfield; Prof JC Patterson 

Approved Stability, transition and heat transfer in thermally coupled natural convection boundary layers 

Project Title 

2006 : $220,000 

2007 : $170,000 

2008 : $180,000 




Thermally coupled natural convection systems occur when a conducting vertical wall separates two fluids at different 

temperatures. Such configurations occur, for example, at a window separating the interior of a room from the outside or when 

a container of fluid is placed in a refrigerator. Improved building heating/cooling and ventilation, and more efficient 

refrigeration systems, require a thorough understanding and predictive capability for these flows. This project will develop 

experimental, numerical and analytic tools to predict these flows and provide simple scaling relations for bulk flow parameters 

such as the heat transfer across the wall, which will be of immediate use in the associated industries. 

DP0663351 Dr DH Arnold; Prof A Johnston 

Approved Motion and Spatial Coding in Vision 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 


APD Dr DH Arnold 



The results of this project will have implications for the design and implementation of artificial visual systems. Completion of 

this project will depend upon international collaboration - forging links between a young Australian investigator and 

outstanding overseas scientists as well as providing excellent training opportunities. Subsequent publication of the research 

in top-ranking international journals will further promote Australian science abroad. 

DP0664618 Prof HE Astor 

Approved Managing Conflict in Higher Education 

Project Title 

2006 : $42,000 

2007 : $20,000 

Primary RFCD 3903 JUSTICE AND LEGAL STUDIES 



Disputes in Australian universities attract extensive publicity that damages the national and international reputation of 

Australian universities in the local and global marketplace. Litigation and other costs amount to millions of dollars. This 

money could be better spent on universities' core business of teaching and research. This project will use new developments 

in alternative dispute resolution to help Australian universities resolve disputes more effectively. It will focus on methods of 

resolving disputes that save costs but are also appropriate for disputes involving important issues such as academic 

freedom. 

DP0663046 Mr F Aubret 

Approved Does adaptive plasticity play a significant role in the initial colonisation of novel habitats? 

Project Title 

2006 : $145,000 

2007 : $115,000 

2008 : $115,000 


APD Mr F Aubret 

Page 51




An increased understanding of the evolutionary and ecological processes responsible for generating Australian biodiversity 

can facilitate effective management and conservation of this unique resource. Islands are especially significant in this 

context because they host many kinds of distinctive fauna and flora that have vanished from mainland habitats. It is therefore 

crucial to understand the biology of these small isolated systems, as a way to preserve those unique systems as well as the 

distinctive evolutionary processes that occur within them. 

DP0664663 Dr GR Barnes; Prof MB Clunies Ross 

Approved Writing from the edge of the world: medieval Icelandic literature and the quest for social identity 

Project Title 

2006 : $94,092 

2007 : $72,923 

2008 : $91,157 




This project has special significance for Australians. Iceland and Australia are both geographically isolated communities, both 

originally colonies of larger political powers (Norway and Britain), both asserting a social identity different from that of the 

motherland. Many themes of medieval Icelandic literature have parallels in Australian culture; slogans like 'the cultural 

cringe', 

'the lucky country', 'home and away' can be readily paralleled in Old Icelandic literature. Our study will be of considerable 

social benefit to Australia and will show how another ex-colony, remote in time and place, constructed its own social identity. 

DP0664374 Dr S Belmessous 

Approved Assimilation and Empire 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $90,000 


APD Dr S Belmessous 



There are growing calls internationally for the integration of immigrant communities as a long-term means of combating 

terrorism. Through an understanding of the history of assimilation, this project provokes considerable scepticism concerning 

the current resurgence of assimilationist sentiment. The politics of culturally diverse societies are profound but they are not 

going to be solved by simplistic diagnosis. The politics of assimilation is not the solution to contemporary terrorism but part of 

the problem. Thus at the heart of this project lie concerns which directly address the National Research Priority, 

Safeguarding Australia. 

DP0665687 Dr K Belov; Dr M Eldridge; Dr S Beck 

Approved Characterization of the tammar wallaby MHC 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




We will be able to determine the immunological fitness of marsupial populations which will help us to conserve our native 

fauna and protect our eco-tourism industry. 

We will work in the international arena of large scale genomics and bring new technologies to Australia. 

Page 52


DP0666279 A/Prof BJ Bennett; A/Prof WA Rogers; Dr IA Karpin 

Approved Gender Inequities in Health Research: Towards a New Regulatory Framework 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $150,000 

2008 : $50,000 




This project will benefit Australian women by identifying better and fairer ways for the legal system to ensure that health 

research performed in Australia provides meaningful information about the significance of new health treatments for 

Australian women. The research undertaken in this project will make recommendations for the development of Australian 

laws and policies that will promote and maintain good health by encouraging equal participation of men and women in health 

research and analysis by gender of research results. This is particularly important given the ageing of the Australian 

population and the greater longevity of women compared to men. 

DP0665689 Prof MR Bennett; A/Prof WG Gibson 

Approved Mechanism of transmission of calcium waves by glial cells 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $82,000 

2008 : $82,000 

Primary RFCD 2705 ZOOLOGY 



This research concerns determining the fundamental properties of cells that occupy about 70% of the brain, the glial cells. 

Two very important discoveries on glial cells have recently been made, namely that they can convey information in the form 

of patterns of waves and that they possess molecules on their surface membranes that have been implicated in psychotic 

disorders. One such molecule is called the D2 receptor and its malfunctioning has been implicated in schizophrenia. Our 

research will determine the way in which information is propagated in the glial system of the brain and also illuminate the 

function of several of the molecules found on the surface of the glial cells. 

DP0666883 Prof MM Bilek; Dr SH Lim; Dr A Anders; A/Prof I Yarovsky 

Approved Design and synthesis of transparent conducting metal oxides 

Project Title 

2006 : $200,000 

2007 : $160,000 

2008 : $160,000 

2009 : $160,000 


APD Dr SH Lim 



With advances in solar cell and flexible display technologies the demand and performance requirements for transparent 

conductors used as electrodes in these devices will increase dramatically. This research program is focused on developing 

new materials to meet the demand and the challenges of new, more advanced technologies. The project has the potential to 

generate valuable intellectual property in the form of new generation transparent conducting oxide materials for a rapidly 

growing set of applications. The new devices will directly improve our standard of living and additional economic benefits will 

come from commercialisation of the technology both here and overseas. 

DP0663776 Dr D Braddon-Mitchell; Dr AL Roskies; Dr U Kriegel; Dr C West 

Approved Personal Identity, Consciousness and Agency 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 


APD Dr AL Roskies 

Page 53




If I lose my memory, am I the same person I used to be? If much of my body or brain is replaced, do I remain the same 

person? What if my beliefs and attitudes are altered: does this affect who I am? These are questions of personal identity, and 

they have enormous bearing on questions of public ethics, especially in the light of biomedical changes. Our inter-disciplinary 

solutions will add both nuance and insight to the difficult decisions the community will face in this area. The project brings to 

Australia two leading young researchers from the United States, thus substantially enhancing Australia's skill base and 

international profile. 

DP0665330 Dr MS Byron 

Approved Textual Ontogeny and the Understanding of Modernist Texts: A Case Study of Samuel Beckett's 

Project Title Novel, Watt 

2006 : $59,557 

2007 : $63,936 

2008 : $61,147 

2009 : $55,755 


APD Dr MS Byron 



This research develops smart technology use: by creating a new method of literary editing that is best able to extend the 

capabilities of electronic text, this project enhances the understanding of modernist literature and the ability to use technology 

in innovative ways in the humanities. New ways to organise and edit complex networks of data and documentation (in this 

case extensive archival and published material) will be transferable to a wide variety of non-literary applications. 

DP0665743 Dr MG Chapman 

Approved Identifying and creating essential habitat for rare Australian intertidal molluscs 

Project Title 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $39,000 




Coastal development in Australia causes major changes to natural habitats. Obligations to conserve biodiversity are 

impossible without reliable information about how animals respond to habitat and how best to restore damaged habitat. 

Current management treats habitats as large-scale units and ignores fine-scale use of habitat by animals. This project will 

provide essential understanding to guide policy about coastal conservation, by providing ecologically realistic understanding 

of associations between rare invertebrates and habitat. New protocols to measure these associations and success of 

restoration, will be applicable to any rare species in any complex habitat, increasing present capabilities for conservation. 

DP0666848 Prof R Charteris 

Approved Transformations from Renaissance to Baroque: The Cultural and Musical Significance of Giovanni 

Project Title Gabrieli 

2006 : $43,626 

2007 : $46,779 

2008 : $48,074 

2009 : $49,697 

2010 : $51,400 




The Western European tradition forms a significant part of Australia's culture, and it is important that Australians are 

contributors to the extension of this tradition as well as being consumers. This project will discover new music and materials 

that will be of immense interest to many Australians, and it will make its discoveries known in an accessible way that meets 

the demand in Australian society. My leadership in Renaissance music studies, especially Gabrieli, is contributing to 

Australia's involvement in the dynamic, international revival of early music, as well as facilitating telecasts, broadcasts, 

concerts and recordings. 

Page 54


DP0665169 Dr M Chen; Dr TS Bibby; Prof AW Larkum; Prof RE Blankenship 

Approved Novel Chlorophylls and New Directions in Photosynthesis 

Project Title 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $130,000 


APD Dr TS Bibby 



Understanding how solar energy is used in photosynthesis is of global importance and will contribute to cutting-edge 

photosynthetic research by Australian scientists. We aim to discover how and why the key photosynthetic pigments, 

chlorophylls, are synthesised and used; this will provide new opportunities for breakthroughs in frontier technologies, such as 

photoelectric cells based on carbon rather than silicon. We aim to understand how novel chlorophylls are used in a variety of 

important organisms in a range of ecological niches. The results will aid understanding of the effects of global climate change 

on coral reefs, in open-ocean systems and in other important biological communities. 

DP0664922 Dr SJ Cordwell 

Approved Characterising post-translational modifications in bacterial proteins 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




This project represents the first global attempt to characterize post-translational modifications in bacterial proteins using the 

tools of proteomics. Modifications to proteins are key elements in altering their function. In bacteria, modifications are 

important in cell-cell adhesion, signalling and triggering of the immune response. Characterisation of modified proteins and 

their sites of modification represents an opportunity to understand how bacterial cell populations communicate in the 

environment, as well as aid in understanding pathogenesis in medical, veterinary and food-borne pathogens. Therefore, 

improved vaccine targets and therapeutics, as well as method-based products, may be generated by this project. 

DP0666615 Dr SM Croom 

Approved Quasar Cosmology 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $145,000 

2008 : $145,000 

2009 : $145,000 

2010 : $120,000 


QEII Dr SM Croom 



This project will address fundamental issues regarding the formation and evolution of galaxies and super-massive black 

holes. It will build on Australia's international reputation as a centre of excellence in astronomy. The project will capitalize on 

new instrumentation technology being developed in Australia as well as opening the door for Australian access to 

international facilities. We will train a number of students who will be enabled with a powerful set of analytical and 

information technology skills. We will publicize our work to inspire young Australians towards studies in the areas of science 

and technology. 

DP0665973 Dr JR Curran; Dr T Murphy 

Approved Exploring Scientific Information with Advanced New Search Tools 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 

2009 : $60,000 

Page 55



APD Dr T Murphy 



The rapidly growth of scientific literature in many fields makes finding information a challenge. For example, biologists 

produce over 1 million articles each year. Existing search tools have only limited success satisfying the demands of scientists' 

queries. This project will deliver intelligent e-research assistants capable of answering scientists' questions directly rather 

than returning a list of documents. This will allow scientists to more efficiently exploit the literature enabling them to be more 

innovative and productive. This technology is applicable where ever finding facts in large volumes of text is critical, e.g. 

analysing surveillance material. Advanced search tools will have considerable academic and industrial impact. 

DP0665402 Prof IS Curthoys; Dr HG MacDougall; Dr ST Moore 

Approved Functional Assessment of Head-eye Coordination during Driving 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $80,000 


APD Dr HG MacDougall 



238 people per 100,000 population were hospitalized and 9 people per 100,000 died as a result of road-transport related 

injury in Australia in 2002. We will address this issue by assessing the head eye coordination strategies for young drivers, for 

proficient drivers and for aged drivers to determine those behaviors and strategies that are associated with various levels of 

performance. This insight could be affectively communicated to others and would provide the basis for educational material 

and methods that would improve operator skill, safety, and performance. These individual improvements would provide 

overall benefits such as improved transport efficiency, reduced accident rates, saved lives and a reduction in related social 

costs. 

DP0666110 Dr K da Costa 

Approved Drawing the line: the archaeology of Roman provincial borders in Late Antique Palaestina and 

Project Title Arabia (AD250 - 650) 

2006 : $109,000 

2007 : $74,000 

2008 : $84,000 

2009 : $66,000 


APD Dr K da Costa 



This project, using archaeological evidence from Jordan, will for the first time accurately establish the boundaries of 

provinces in the Roman Empire. By linking Australia and the Middle East in international scholarly research dealing with our 

common cultural heritage, it will increase our mutual understanding. The examination of very long-term trends in an ancient 

system which dealt with a complex, multi-cultural population will provide much needed comparative illustrations for the 

current national debate on the nature and security of Australian borders. It will also provide evidence of long-term economic 

change and its political consequences. 

DP0667031 Prof RA Dampney; A/Prof RM McAllen 

Approved Central command neurons integrating cardiorespiratory drive in exercise 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $65,000 

Primary RFCD 2706 PHYSIOLOGY 

Page 56




The ability to perform exercise is fundamental to human health and welfare. This ability depends upon the co-ordination by 

the brain of respiratory and cardiovascular function, such that the delivery of oxygen to exercising muscles is maximised. 

This project will test the idea that there is a specific group of neurons in the brain that drive both the respiratory and 

cardiovascular changes that occur during exercise, and will determine the location and functions of such neurons. Such new 

knowledge will help us understand how the brain optimises the ability of the body to perform exercise. This is of fundamental 

importance in sports science, a field in which Australia excels. 

DP0663967 Prof MJ Davies; Prof PJ Barter; Dr MD Rees 

Approved Mechanisms and consequences of oxidation of glycosaminoglycans, proteins and proteoglycans 

Project Title by myeloperoxidase-derived oxidants 

2006 : $132,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 


APD Dr MD Rees 



Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is responsible for the death of 40% of the population of developed, and 

developing, countries including Australia. Rupture of the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic lesions is responsible for most sudden 

deaths from heart disease and stokes, but is a poorly understood process. Evidence has been presented for a role for 

oxidation reactions in weakening the structure of lesions and making them prone to rupture. Little is known about the 

fundamental chemistry of such damage; this will be addressed in the proposed program. The data obtained will underpin the 

development of new preventative and protective strategies to minimise lesion rupture and deaths from this major disease. 

DP0665627 Prof BJ Eggleton; Prof CM de Sterke 

Approved Efficient and tailored supercontinuum generation using dispersion management 

Project Title 

2006 : $254,684 

2007 : $193,766 

2008 : $192,778 

2009 : $201,516 




Imagine a laser beam, but not with just one colour, but containing all colours. The light beam thus looks white, somewhat like 

a search light, except that it is much brighter. We now know how to generate such bright white beams of light, but it is 

expensive, requiring a small specialized laboratory full of equipment. Through a better understanding, we will make it easier 

and cheaper to generate these light beams. All kinds of applications that have been known for years, such as medical 

imaging and chemical analysis, then suddenly become practical. We anticipate that in the future these bright white light 

beams will be used on a routine basis in Australian hospitals and industry. 

DP0664830 Prof D Feng; Dr S Eberl; A/Prof M Fulham 

Approved Information Technology Aided Diagnosis of Dementia with PET-CT Imaging 

Project Title 

2006 : $141,000 

2007 : $111,473 

2008 : $115,473 

2009 : $132,000 

2010 : $135,000 


Page 57




Dementia is a significant health problem and approximately 162,000 Australians currently suffer from this disease, with costs 

estimated at $6 billion annually in Australia and a profound effect on the lives of carers and family members. With the ageing 

of the Australian population, the patient number is expected to rise to 500,000 by 2040.This research will apply innovative IT 

approaches to develop computer assisted diagnosis of early dementia, when treatment is possible, from combined functional 

and anatomical imaging modalities (PET-CT). This will not only add considerable value to Australia's medical imaging 

infrastructure and smart use of information, but will ultimately also deliver substantial benefits to our nation and community. 

DP0663477 A/Prof TC Fisher; Prof K Sengupta 

Approved An Economic Analysis of Bankruptcy and Financial Reorganization in Australia 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $32,000 

2008 : $20,248 




We examine the question of whether the new Australian bankruptcy law is too lenient on firms in financial trouble. We will 

assemble detailed economic data on a large number of bankrupt firms and use the data to measure the performance of the 

Australian bankruptcy system. The outcome will be a more complete understanding of how bankruptcy law saves viable firms 

and eliminates inefficient firms. The project will assist policy-makers designing bankruptcy law. The national benefit will be a 

bankruptcy system that balances the need to give innovating entrepreneurs a second chance against the danger of 

encouraging too many unprofitable firms to limp on and waste 

resources. 

DP0666484 Prof SC Fleming 

Approved Low energy all-optical logic gates with improved cascadability and fan-out for future optical 

Project Title communications and signal processing systems 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $105,000 




All-optical logic processing is the key to overcoming electronic bottlenecks in high-speed communication networks as 

single-channel speeds exceed electronic capabilities. This research will build off and extend Australia's world leading 

specialty fibre and fibre device capabilities and place Australia at the forefront in the international all-optical digital 

information-processing race. High quality research publications will enhance Australia's strong research reputation in 

photonics and advanced materials and promote international collaboration. New optical processing capabilities will benefit 

other application areas such as sensing and security. 

DP0663519 A/Prof RR Fulton; A/Prof SR Meikle; Prof RB Banati 

Approved Enabling Technologies for Motion Corrected Positron Emission Tomography (PET) of 

Project Title Unanaesthetized Laboratory Animals 

2006 : $163,000 

2007 : $121,000 

2008 : $124,000 




Small animal molecular imaging is a powerful tool in biological research and drug discovery. Anaesthesia is routinely used to 

avoid motion distortion, but can profoundly alter the biological process studied. This research will enable quantitative imaging 

of neurobiological phenomena in awake laboratory animals. It will create new opportunities for Australian basic researchers 

to use innovative technology with expected high economic potential, and benefit small biotech companies by facilitating 

pre-clinical and clinical development of new pharmaceuticals. The new motion tracking and image reconstruction 

technologies developed will strengthen Australia's leading position in engineering and biomedical systems development. 

Page 58


DP0664046 Dr O Gal 

Approved The imperfection of the Universe: Music, Mathematics, Technology and the (dis-)Order of Nature in 

Project Title Baroque Science 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $90,000 




This research will offer new insight into the birth of modern science, and will thus provide an important contribution towards 

informed public discussion concerning science education, the relations between science and industry and between science 

and general culture. This discussion is incumbent on us in our quest for knowledge-based economy and a proper place in an 

increasingly competitive world of science-led industry and commerce. Australia enjoys a prime international position in history 

and philosophy of science scholarship, and in the field of seventeenth century science in particular. This project will maintain 

and enhance this position. 

DP0665045 Prof MJ Gatens 

Approved George Eliot: Literature as Experimental Philosophy 

Project Title 

2006 : $115,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 

2009 : $100,000 

2010 : $100,000 


APF Prof MJ Gatens 



This project aims to make significant and innovative contributions to research excellence in philosophy, history of ideas and 

literary studies. In addition it aims to provide a new conceptual framework and concepts necessary for constructive debate on 

current moral and social issues, many of which are complex legacies from Victorian thinkers, such as Eliot and her 

contemporaries. The overarching aim of rendering philosophy more inclusive and relevant is vital to the maintenance of a 

healthy, free and democratic public culture in contemporary Australia. 

DP0665360 Prof RG Gilbert 

Approved Molecular archaeology: new knowledge from molecular weight distributions of synthetic and 

Project Title natural polymers 

2006 : $194,000 

2007 : $124,000 

2008 : $124,000 

Primary RFCD 2505 MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY 



This project will lead to new understanding of how natural and synthetic polymers are formed. Examples are the enzymatic 

processes that produce the subtle architecture of rice grains, and the processes that pose problems for developing new 

techniques for making novel polymer-based materials. The fundamental scientific knowledge from this project will provide a 

platform for the future development of improved materials, and for superior grain varieties for food and industrial use. These 

advances will be of significant benefit to Australian industry and consumers. 

DP0663764 Prof GJ Gill 

Approved Rites of Power: Symbolism, Ritual and Politics in the Soviet Union and Russia 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $148,000 

2008 : $148,000 

2009 : $141,000 

2010 : $120,000 


APF Prof GJ Gill 

Page 59




In the last fifteen years, Russia has undergone major political change associated with the collapse of the USSR. One of the 

most important tasks of the new regime is to establish a sense of its legitimacy, which should in turn help to shape its future. 

As a major player in global politics and a significant power in the Asia-Pacific region, Russia's internal development has 

important consequences for Australia and the world. Only by understanding Russia and what is happening inside it can 

Australia adequately deal with and interact with it. This project will substantially further such understanding. 

DP0667065 Dr G Gottwald; Dr MJ Breakspear 

Approved Nonlinear Time Series Analysis in Cardiac Physiology 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $67,000 

2008 : $69,000 




We will develop innovative mathematically-based diagnostics with potentially significant savings in mortality and quality of life 

for affected individuals and health care costs to the community. 

Cardiac diseases kill more Australians than any other disease group. According to the National Heart Foundation the 

prevalence to heart conditions increased by 18% over the last decade. 

Medical practitioners are in need of reliable diagnostic tools to decide whether a person in front of them is at high risk from 

developing sudden cardiac death, and whether they should be fitted with an implant that could save their life. 

DP0666642 Prof SJ Gray; Dr RD Morris 

Approved Global convergence to International Financial Reporting Standards : factors explaining compliance 

Project Title with and impact of changing standards 

2006 : $55,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $50,000 




The major benefit of this research is that it assesses the extent to which Australia's epoch-making switch to International 

Financial Reporting Standards in 2005 has been successful in practice relative to similar developments in the EU and 

elsewhere. Further, the research measures the actual quantitative impact of the change in accounting standards to assess 

whether or not the change has been significant from the standpoint of making international comparisons of Australian 

corporate performance. Thus important evidence is provided about the outcomes of Australia's global convergence initiative, 

how we compare with our major trading partners, and the key change factors involved. 

DP0665867 A/Prof AJ Green; Prof EM Sadler 

Approved Neutral hydrogen and galaxy assembly in the distant Universe 

Project Title 

2006 : $178,000 

2007 : $168,000 

2008 : $120,000 




This research will produce a snapshot of hydrogen gas in the Universe 6-7 billion years ago. These results, together with 

galaxy formation models, will tell us how galaxies are assembled to make the beautiful spirals we see today. This project is 

only possible because of rapid advances in programmable chip technology, part of the massive increase in the speed and 

complexity of integrated circuit devices. 

Page 60


DP0665282 Dr JM Guss; Dr MJ Maher 

Approved The structure and function of dihydroorotase - an enzyme essential for pyrimidine biosynthesis 

Project Title 

2006 : $86,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Malaria has recently re-emerged as one of the major life threatening diseases worldwide. With increasing travel and climate 

change, malaria is increasingly endangering Australians at home and abroad. Our work aims to provide the basis for the 

rational design of a new class of anti-malarial drugs by the systematic and thorough analysis of an essential enzyme in the 

malarial parasite. 

DP0666241 A/Prof GJ Hage 

Approved The Western Nation-State, Cultural Pluralism and the Transnational Circulation of Political 

Project Title Emotions in the Shi'a Lebanese Diaspora 

2006 : $93,000 

2007 : $51,000 

2008 : $52,000 




At its most general level, this research aims to expose and explain the importance of emotions in the formation of all cultures. 

In so doing it opens the way for a more complex understanding of some of the invisible but important forces that shape 

intercultural relations within culturally plural nations. It will thus open the possibilities for ameliorating and refining government 

policies concerned with the management of pluralism. At a more particular level, the research hopes to produce critical 

knowledge about diasporic Arab Muslim cultures that will ameliorate the thorny relations these cultures have today with 

western governments. 

DP0665794 Prof TW Hambley; A/Prof M Kassiou 

Approved Functionalised MMP Inhibitors as Radiodiagnostic, Radiotherapeutic, and Radiation-Sensitising 

Project Title Agents for Metastatic Cancer 

2006 : $92,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $120,000 




Identifying and treating malignant cancers is one of the major challenges facing the scientific and medical communities. In 

order to minimise side effects that accompany most treatments of cancer it is necessary to find ways of targeting the therapy 

to tumours and away from healthy organs. A difference between tumours and healthy tissues is the amount of the proteins 

(called MMPs) that tumours use to break out of their surroundings, to break into and out of the blood system, and to establish 

new colonies of cancer cells or metastases. This difference also distinguishes the most aggressive cancers. The purpose of 

this project is to develop means of identifying and targeting cancers using molecules that bind to these MMP proteins. 

DP0664053 Prof MM Harding 

Approved Synthesis and Applications of Antifreeze Proteins and Glycoproteins 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $130,000 


Page 61




Many cells are damaged when they are chilled below body temperatures thus limiting shelf-life for applications. For example, 

storage of human blood platelets is limited to 5 days at 22 degrees. This research will produce molecules that can be used in 

the fields of agriculture (in vitro fertilization techniques, development of improved blood lines), aquaculture and human 

reproductive technologies, where ice crystal growth and freezing are damaging. This outcome will be achieved by the 

synthesis of molecules that mimic natural products that allow fish to survive in the icy Arctic and Arctic Oceans and study how 

they are able to protect cells and tissues from damage in these extreme environments. 

DP0666488 Dr AT Harris 

Approved Selective generation of hydrogen from biomass and waste fuels 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Biomass fuels account for 14% of global energy supply. This is likely to increase in future as the population increases, energy 

demand rises, cheap oil and coal reserves are depleted, and the effects of global warming become more readily visible. In 

Australia the development of a sustainable hydrogen economy is a national priority. The hydrogen economy could bring 

about improved energy security, substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved energy efficiency and improved 

air quality. This proposal directly addresses this challenge by investigating the science underpinning a large-scale sustainable 

hydrogen synthesis process using biomass and waste fuels. 

DP0663086 Dr J Harris; Dr CW Clifford 

Approved Interactions between vision and touch 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $110,000 




This project will investigate in detail how sensory information is integrated across different modalities in constructing our 

perceptual experiences. This has the potential to be incorporated into the development of virtual reality-type computer-based 

technologies. The project will link the research activities of two successful Australian researchers, further developing their 

new and promising collaboration. The research programme will attract high quality local and international students for training 

in basic psychology research in Australia. The publication of this research in top ranking international journals will promote 

Australian science abroad. 

DP0665739 Dr BR Henderson 

Approved Characterisation of APC intracellular trafficking pathways 

Project Title 

2006 : $91,000 

2007 : $84,000 

2008 : $84,000 




This is a fundamental research project aimed at addressing the cell biology of the APC tumour suppressor protein. APC gene 

mutations are directly linked to the development of colorectal cancer, a serious healthcare issue in Australia with 

approximately 12,400 new cases diagnosed each year and around 4,700 deaths. The severity of cases in men and women 

who develop colorectal cancer makes this a socio-economically serious health issue, and our project falls within the 

Research Priority 2: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health. If successful our project will identify localisation patterns and 

pathways of movement of APC within cells, which could ultimately help in development of treatments. 

Page 62


DP0665461 Prof JG Hill; Prof RS Thomas; Prof RW Masulis 

Approved The Subversion of Contemporary Performance-Based Pay - A Comparative Australian-US Study 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $65,000 




The key national benefit from the project will be the development of a more informed basis for analysing, and making policy 

and regulatory decisions about executive remuneration, which is a matter of great community concern in Australia. The 

project will assess key provisions in Australian and US executive contracts, providing important comparative information 

about the structure and operation of performance-based pay schemes. The project will also examine whether systemic 

problems exist in executive remuneration, The results will assist policy analysts in identifying directions for legal reform, to 

address problems of non-alignment of interests in executive remuneration, thereby achieving fairer outcomes. 

DP0664098 Dr SD Jackson 

Approved The creation and opimisation of new optical fibres and novel diode-pumped fibre lasers for 

Project Title applications in medicine, defence and the environment 

2006 : $113,000 

2007 : $101,000 

2008 : $121,000 




The project will widen Australian laser research and contains the important steps required to progress beyond the recent 

demonstrations of super high power and ultra-compact mode-locked operation. The proposed fibre lasers are internationally 

significant, will address many applications and will keep Australia at the leading edge of laser and optical fibre research. The 

array of new technologies necessary for the development of the proposed lasers will be vitally important to Australia's high 

technology industries. 

DP0663330 Dr CT Jin; Dr FA van Schaik 

Approved Broadcasting 3D Audio: Recording, Transmission, and Playback 

Project Title 

2006 : $208,000 

2007 : $106,000 

2008 : $86,000 

2009 : $90,000 

2010 : $90,000 


QEII Dr CT Jin 



With the current state of the art, a performance at the Sydney Opera House cannot be recorded and broadcast such that you 

can listen to it as if you are in the best seat of the house. The goal of our project is to develop the ultimate form of 

multi-channel audio broadcasting to create this experience. We will develop and implement effective systems for recording, 

broadcasting and playback of 3D audio in three different scenarios: individual headphone reproduction; small loudspeaker 

array reproduction; and large loudspeaker array reproduction. We will create optimal recording techniques and broadcasting 

software for each of these playback techniques. 

DP0667314 Dr IN Johnston 

Approved Central nervous system cytokines and morphine analgesia 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 


Page 63




Morphine remains the drug of choice for the management of moderate-to-severe pain, however its clinical effectiveness is 

compromised by the fact that morphine's analgesic (pain reducing) efficacy becomes less effective the more it is 

administered.. This project will examine how analgesic tolerance develops from a completely new approach: Namely, how 

stimulation of the immune system within the central nervous system is a crucial factor in the development of tolerance. 

Modulation of analgesia by the immune system has not been systematically studied and provides a potentially fertile ground 

for the development of new techniques in the management of clinical pain. 

DP0665065 Dr MJ Jordan; Prof MA Collins; Prof MS Gordon 

Approved The First Chemically Accurate Tools in Theoretical Materials Research 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $125,000 

2008 : $125,000 

2009 : $125,000 

2010 : $125,000 

Primary RFCD 2506 THEORETICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY 

ARF Dr MJ Jordan 



Non-metallic materials are widely used in catalytic, separation and sensing applications. This project will create a new, 

accurate, general and systematic approach to the computational study of non-metallic materials and will provide an 

enormous step forward in our ability to design these materials for specific applications. With ever increasing demand, growing 

world population and shrinking natural resources, the benefits of such rational materials design impact on the development of 

new, safer, more efficient, reusable materials in chemical, engineering, electronic and biological applications. 

DP0664624 Prof N Joshi 

Approved New Directions in Non-linear Mathematical Asymptotics 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $78,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Major challenges such as predicting epidemics or modelling cancer rely on our understanding of simple mathematical models 

with extremely complicated solutions. The first and only model in the literature to reproduce the three-phase cycle of immune 

response in HIV/AIDS was based on cellular automata. Its results are extremely sensitive to infinitesimally small changes in 

parameters. Yet, no technique exists to study such variation in cellular automata. This research will provide new methods for 

prediction and analysis of such models. 

DP0665599 A/Prof DT Kenny; Dr CW Thorpe 

Approved Providing a theoretical and empirical foundation for the role of technical practice in the acquisition 

Project Title of musical mastery 

2006 : $55,000 

2007 : $45,000 

2008 : $45,000 




Cecilia Bartoli, world-renowned mezzo-soprano, credits her phenomenal vocal technique to daily individual attention from her 

teacher. Such intensive individualised attention is financially impossible for most musicians so the value of teacher contact 

hours must be maximised through evidence-based, self-directed technical practice (TP). This multidisciplinary project will 

apply world-leading technology to discover the principles of TP required for vocal mastery. By using these principles, 

teachers and performing arts institutions can maximise the effectiveness of musical instruction in a financially cost effective 

way, thereby consolidating our place as a world leader in musical performance and in performing arts research. 

Page 64


DP0664834 A/Prof CJ Kepert 

Approved Molecular Framework Materials: Nanoporosity and Anomalous Thermal Expansion 

Project Title 

2006 : $148,000 

2007 : $123,000 

2008 : $130,000 




The design and construction of advanced nanomaterials represents both a key area of fundamental research and a critical 

step in the push towards smarter and more efficient high-level technologies. Here we explore the strategic assembly of 

molecular materials that have entirely new and highly useful properties, namely, nanoporosity and anomalous thermal 

expansion. This innovative work will lead to important fundamental advances in nanoscience and will forge deep 

understandings of how materials properties relate to nanoscale structure. These advances will spur a wide range of 

important new technologies, with application of the materials in molecular separations and sensing, clean energy storage, 

electronics and photonics. 

DP0666152 Dr AM Kesson; Prof NJ King 

Approved Regulation of MHC-I and ICAM-1 by flavivirus, West Nile 

Project Title 

2006 : $94,000 

2007 : $84,000 

2008 : $84,000 




This project investigates the intracellular signalling pathway responsible for the expression of genes which are critical to our 

immune response. We have demonstrated in a mouse model that high levels of expression of two of these genes in flavivirus 

encephalitis are associated with a survival advantage. We would expect this project to provide basic new information about 

the mechanisms of expression of these genes as well as information about the interaction of this family of viruses, flavivirus 

with the host. 

DP0665032 Dr B Kuhlmey 

Approved ARROW - the route to better Photonic Crystal Fibres 

Project Title 

2006 : $74,340 

2007 : $74,340 

2008 : $74,340 


APD Dr B Kuhlmey 



The Frontier Technology based on Photonic crystal fibres (PCFs) will be a vital component of next generation photonic 

networks and devices. Australia is among the 5 leading nations in PCF research. However we are now at a pivotal stage in 

the development of PCFs: their production is close to maturity, and it is now up to PCF designers to make the difference. The 

proposed project will provide the Australian scientific community as well as Australian photonics companies with advanced 

PCF designing capabilities, giving Australia an opportunity to take a leading position in PCF development and 

commercialisation. 

DP0665446 Dr AH Kwan 

Approved Zinc finger domains as scaffolds for protein engineering 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $89,000 

2008 : $89,000 

Primary RFCD 3203 MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY AND CLINICAL CHEMISTRY 

APD Dr AH Kwan 

Page 65




While great advances have been made in pharmaceutical design and discovery, it is clear that new types of drugs are 

needed for the better management of a wide range of diseases (e.g. cancers, autoimmune diseases, viral infections). Many 

of these diseases arise from inappropriate interactions between intracellular biological macromolecules. My aim is to develop 

a range of novel therapeutic proteins based on naturally existing zinc-binding protein domains with the goal of selectively 

blocking these inappropriate interactions. Additionally, these engineered proteins have potential uses as biochemical tools 

such as to help delineate the functions of natural proteins with no known functions. 

DP0662876 Prof RD Lansbury; Dr J Kitay; Dr NR Wailes; Prof HC Katz 

Approved Globalisation, Varieties of Capitalism and Employment Relations: A Study of the Automobile 

Project Title Assembly and Retail Banking Industries in Seven Countries 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $50,000 




There are three national benefits associated with this project which examines the impact of globalisation on ER in two 

industries, across seven countries. Provides better understanding of an issue which has consequences for the 

competitiveness of Australian enterprises and the well-being of its employees. Enhances our understanding of issues central 

to economic performance of many of our major trading partners. gives insight into the social and political consequences of 

globalisation which impact both the stability of our region and international agreements between countries. 

DP0664706 Prof PA Lay; Dr HH Harris; Dr AP Stampfl 

Approved Nanoprobe and Microprobe Structural and Spectroscopic Studies in Biomedical Research 

Project Title 

2006 : $125,000 

2007 : $114,000 

2008 : $103,000 




Breakthrough microprobe and nanoprobe technologies, involving X-ray, visible and infrared light can focus into different 

components of mammalian cells in order to interrogate the biochemistry that is occurring therein. Each of the different 

wavelengths of light provides complementary biochemical information that enables multi-layered information on changes in 

cells that occur as a function of drug treatments and disease processes. This will provide unprecedented information as to 

where drugs go and how they are transformed inside cells that, in turn, may revolutionalise the way in which new drugs are 

designed that have higher specificity and lower side effects. 

DP0666574 Dr MI Letnic 

Approved Do dingoes regulate the structure of arid ecosystems? 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $100,000 


APD Dr MI Letnic 



Predation by the red fox and land degradation due to overgrazing have been identified as major factors contributing to the 

loss of biodiversity in arid Australia. I hypothesise that dingoes by regulating populations of foxes and herbivores may have 

positive effects on biodiversity. If this hypothesis is supported, this project will have great significance for biodiversity 

conservation and is likely to irrevocably change land and wildlife management practices in Australia. The recommendations 

arising from this research will influence policy on land management and contribute to achieving an environmentally 

sustainable Australia. 

Page 66


DP0666446 Dr W Li; Prof MV Swain 

Approved Effects of prosthesis design on bone remodelling and longevity of dental restorations 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 


APD Dr W Li 



The project targets both the 'Promoting and Maintaining Good Health' and 'Advanced Materials' designated research priority 

areas. The research will underpin Australia's leading role on some emerging interdisciplinary frontiers of biomechanics, 

biomaterials, health sciences and biomedical software. The development of computer aided clinical plan will help optimise 

dental restorations for 'long-term success'. The benefit will be to improve the ongoing performance and longevity of dental 

restoration, which complies with the highly demanding national goal of 'ageing well'. The study will also provide a new means 

to improve the therapy effect for many young Australians' effort towards a 'healthy start to their life'. 

DP0665488 Prof LF Lindoy; A/Prof GV Meehan 

Approved Metal Directed Assembly of New Supramolecular Systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $95,000 




An important aspect of this project is the development of strategies for assembling molecules and metals into larger units - 

leading to novel compounds and materials for which unusual and potentially useful properties can be anticipated. These may 

include materials that act as catalysts for chemical reactions or absorb and store gases (such as hydrogen for use as a fuel). 

More generally, the area is one that will underpin the 'bottom-up' approach (building tiny components from individual 

molecules and ions) in the rapidly expanding field of nanotechnology. Clearly, if Australia is to remain internationally 

competitive in such new technologies then an understanding of processes of the type outlined in this proposal will be 

essential. 

DP0666465 Dr CD Ling 

Approved Platinum-group Metal Oxides with Modulated Crystal Structures: Flexible Frameworks Designed for 

Project Title Geometrically Frustrated Magnetism 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $45,000 

2008 : $50,000 




Magnetic materials are of huge importance to modern society because of the key roles they play in devices such as hard 

disks, sensors, switches and permanent magnets. This project will focus on the chemical design and synthesis of novel, 

flexible and unconventional magnetic materials. Their study will lead to improved theories of magnetism and 

superconductivity, and ultimately to technologies such as new data-storage media. The project will also help introduce 

Australian scientists to their new research reactor and synchrotron, which will play critical roles by allowing exceptionally 

thorough and systematic studies to be carried out. 

DP0667170 A/Prof CA Lumby; Prof EC Probyn; Dr JA O'Dea; Ms KM Albury 

Approved The Well-Rounded Person: The Role of Sport in Shaping Physical, Emotional and Social 

Project Title Development. 

2006 : $88,396 

2007 : $105,000 

2008 : $120,000 

2009 : $105,578 

2010 : $41,714 


Page 67




Young Australians who play sport have better physical health, higher levels of self-esteem and are less likely to be obese.Yet 

sports participation rates among young Australians remain low and there are growing concerns that participation in some 

sports is associated with antisocial off-field behaviours. This project investigates the real impact playing sport has on young 

Australians' physical, emotional and social development. It will identify barriers to participation in sport and suggest solutions 

to concerns about antisocial behaviours. Ultimately, this project will assist public and private sector organisations involved 

with sport to increase participation and tackle negative attitudes or behaviours associated with that participation. 

DP0666656 Dr KJ Lyytikäinen 

Approved Complex Dopant Diffusivity in Photonic Crystal Fibres and Applications 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $125,000 

2008 : $120,000 


APD Dr KJ Lyytikäinen 



The outcomes of this research in the area of doped photonic crystal fibres will enable Australia to commercialise the 

technology and provide an opportunity for leading commercial ventures using novel doped PCF. These opportunities will 

eventually become large-scale industrial activities developed from the research in fields such as sensing, biophotonics, 

medical and defence and will result in significant economic benefit for Australia. Fundamental research outcomes in glass 

and dopants that can boost devices and introduce novel devices resulting from this project will contribute to all National 

Research Priorities. 

DP0666261 Dr J Ma 

Approved The development of super-toughened epoxies using a novel nanomaterial 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $95,000 


APD Dr J Ma 



Epoxy resins are widely used as structural adhesives and coatings in engineering structures. This project will address the 

problem of the intrinsic brittleness of epoxy by making it significantly tougher with superior performance and 

cost-effectiveness. Our technology for producing super-toughened epoxy will lead to a wide range of applications for new and 

existing products in the construction, automotive, aerospace, adhesive and microelectronics industries. 

DP0664941 Dr JP Mackay; Prof M Crossley 

Approved Structure and function of a new class of multi-zinc finger (MZF) transcriptional regulators 

Project Title 

2006 : $200,000 

2007 : $165,000 

2008 : $165,000 




An understanding of how genes are switched on and off during the development and lifetime of an organism is central to 

developing the ability to fight many diseases in a rational way. This project will advance our knowledge in this area at a 

fundamental molecular level by examining the mechanisms through which a specific set of proteins controls gene expression. 

Page 68


DP0667271 Dr RS Magnusson 

Approved Lifestyle wars: law's role in responding to the challenges of non-communicable diseases 

Project Title 

2006 : $47,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $54,000 




In economic, social and personal terms, non-communicable diseases impose a massive health burden upon Australian 

society. Law is a potent tool that could influence the economic, environmental and social structures, as well as the personal 

choices, that generate poor health outcomes. Very little work has been carried out on law's relationship with 

non-communicable diseases, either in Australia or internationally. By exploring and promoting the contribution that public 

health law can make to health policy on non-communicable diseases, this project will contribute to the promotion and 

maintenance of good health in Australia. 

DP0666584 Prof M Maher 

Approved Curious Places: Agent-Mediated Self-Aware Worlds 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 

Primary RFCD 3102 BUILDING 



This project develops and demonstrates a model of curious places: physical and digital environments that adapt their 

behaviour based on their experiences. This means that we can implement new kinds of places, rooms, public spaces, that 

respond to human activity and new technology by creating their own goals and behaviours. This is a benefit to Australia by 

expanding its capability in home automation and leading developments in novel human-computer interfaces. This benefit can 

provide economic gain to Australia through the development of frontier technologies. 

DP0663123 Dr N Mai-Duy 

Approved Meshless, numerical modelling for polymer processing 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 


APD Dr N Mai-Duy 



The new modelling technology will significantly improve Australian polymer producers' competitiveness and their ability to 

respond to international market forces. The technology will lead to new opportunities for Australian companies that develop 

simulation software. Our consumers will benefit from improvements in the design of polymer products. Our researchers in 

rheology and computational mechanics will gain further opportunities to extend the advances this project will make. 

DP0665849 Prof I Marsh 

Approved Neo-liberalism and the Decline of Democratic Governance: A Problem of Institutional Design? 

Project Title 

2006 : $76,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 


Page 69




How well Australia's democracy is working is critical both for national policy making and for citizenship. Many scholars argue 

that populism is in the ascendant, political parties have weakened and that public confidence in political leaders has 

diminished. This project will provide an authoritative test of these propositions. If they are established, it will identify the ways 

democratic governance can be renewed. 

DP0664915 Prof Dr T Maschmeyer; A/Prof AF Masters 

Approved Molecular Recognition in Chiral Ionic Liquids as Basis for the Design and Synthesis of New 

Project Title Enantioselective Heterogeneous Catalysts and Membranes 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $105,000 

2008 : $115,000 




Molecules that can exist as mirror images, each with different, e.g., beneficial vs. toxic properties, underpin the 

pharmaceutical industry and increasingly new highly selective pesticides, and flavours/fragrances. 

Current commercial pathways often make mixtures of the mirror images that then need to be separated laboriously. These 

routes are inefficient, creating waste and use resources poorly. 

We aim to create solutions for these problems, using supported thin films of special, new types of salts that are liquid at room 

temperature, and which have other unusual chemical properties that make them ideally suited to enable efficient conversions. 

DP0665944 Dr A Mathas; Dr RB Howlett; Dr DI Cartwright; Prof J Shi 

Approved Affine buildings and Hecke algebras 

Project Title 

2006 : $101,000 

2007 : $91,000 

2008 : $93,000 




This project is breakthrough science. Affine buildings, Ramanujan complexes and the representation theory of affine Hecke 

algebras are on the cutting edge of research in mathematics, as evidenced by recent special programs at Cambridge and 

Princeton. The outcomes from this project will be published in first class journals and they will be implemented in computer 

algebra systems for world wide application. The project is likely to have flow-on effects in other disciplines, notably 

communication networks, mathematical physics and computer science. 

DP0663289 Dr JM Matthews 

Approved LIM-homeodomain interactions in neuronal development 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $106,000 

2008 : $106,000 




The loss of central nervous system function, through accident or disease, is devastating for affected individuals and their 

families. Our current inability to stimulate the regeneration of nervous tissue is a result of the lack of detailed knowledge of 

the complex processes that must take place, at the molecular and cellular levels, during neuronal development. We are 

determining how a group of cellular proteins that have key roles in motor neuron development interact with each other and 

with DNA. With this information we are developing reagents that can be used to further probe central nervous system 

function and may ultimately be used to regenerate damaged nerves. 

Page 70


DP0666847 Prof JW McAvoy; A/Prof RJ Truscott; Dr JA Aquilina 

Approved Understanding lens aging: the molecular basis of presbyopia 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 

Primary RFCD 3210 CLINICAL SCIENCES 



Ageing has major consequences in the deterioration of vision, notably, the inability to focus on near objects. The 

understanding gained through this study of age-related lens changes may allow us to prescribe drugs or diets that alter lens 

properties and thus delay the need for glasses. This would have great benefits not just in decreased inconvenience of users, 

but also in cost to the middle-aged and elderly. In addition, data will be used to underpin the development of a flexible 

intraocular lens (IOL). Hard IOLs are routinely inserted into human eyes following cataract surgery. In the future, flexible 

IOLs based on the properties of young lenses will be used, rather than reading glasses. This new industry could be based in 

Australia. 

DP0667221 Dr IS McGregor 

Approved Learning about threats: the neural and behavioural response to predator-related cues in rodents 

Project Title 

2006 : $50,000 

2007 : $45,000 

2008 : $52,000 




This project will investigate the anxiety displayed by rats when confronted with the odours of predators such as cats. This 

anxiety may be very similar to that experienced by humans who suffer from anxiety disorders such as phobias. By 

investigating the nature of this anxiety, the nature of the stimuli that produce it, and the learning and neural processes that 

underlie it we may better understand human anxiety. The project also aims to identify novel chemicals in the fur of cats that 

have rodent repellent properties. Such chemicals may be of great use in domestic and agricultural contexts where rodents 

are pests. 

DP0666866 Prof DR McKenzie; A/Prof DG McCulloch 

Approved Novel Carbon Coatings for Exceptional Performance 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 




Carbon coatings are technologically important and have many applications in automotive and biomedical industries 

worldwide. An example automotive application is as a coating for high performance fuel injectors. Carbon coatings have 

significant unrealised potential for applications in hostile environments such as those encountered in high performance 

engineering components and in the human body. This project will develop new types of carbon coatings with properties and 

performance tailored to applications in biomedical engineering, energy conversion, automotive engineering, manufacturing 

and microelectronics. The result will be a range of new carbon coatings with exceptional properties and cost-effective 

synthesis methods. 

DP0663006 Dr MD McLeod; Dr M Collins (Chebib) 

Approved Elucidating the Mode of Action of Nicotinic Receptor Ligands 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 


Page 71




Changes in brain function can cause human diseases such as epilepsy, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. To develop 

new medicines to treat these conditions we need to study how drugs act in the brain. This project will use new methods of 

chemistry to make drugs, which will then be tested for biological activity at important brain receptors. This will tell us which 

compounds are most effective as potential drugs and also exactly where they act in the brain. 

DP0665923 Prof RC McPhedran 

Approved Optical Nano-plasmonics 

Project Title 

2006 : $153,000 

2007 : $160,000 

2008 : $160,000 

2009 : $160,000 

2010 : $160,000 


APF Prof RC McPhedran 



There is much current interest and excitement in nano-optics, where light interacts with features on its own scale or finer than 

it. One way of achieving strong interactions between light and finely structured systems is to incorporate metallic elements, 

and use the resonances called surface plasmons which arise due to electric currents flowing on the metal. We will develop 

accurate ways of calculating the properties of these plasmons for a range of metal-dielectric systems, in order to design 

highly miniaturized structures which can manipulate light for applications in optical sensors and related devices. 

DP0666239 A/Prof SR Meikle; A/Prof DL Bailey; Prof RB Banati 

Approved New Imaging Instrumentation and Algorithms for the Simultaneous Measurement of Multiple 

Project Title Radio-labelled Probes in vivo 

2006 : $172,889 

2007 : $169,926 

2008 : $183,938 




Medical imaging plays an increasingly important role in basic biological research and health care. This project will lead to new 

imaging technologies that allow the simultaneous measurement of more than one biological process at a time in living 

subjects, providing new insights into disabling diseases, such as cancer and mental illness. An immediate benefit will be to 

strengthen the expertise in biomedical engineering and instrumentation development in Australia, where we have 

international leadership. The technologies developed will provide advanced tools for making fundamental biological 

discoveries and translating them into biotechnological or clinical applications. 

DP0665717 Dr M Melatos 

Approved An Economic Analysis of Migration Patterns in a Regionally Integrated World 

Project Title 

2006 : $26,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $25,000 




Australia, among other countries, is pursuing a discriminatory free trade (i.e. RTA) agenda. The slow progress of WTO 

multilateral talks will exacerbate this trend. At the same time, the level of migration to developed countries, like Australia, has 

been growing. What are the implications of RTAs for immigration policy in Australia? How will RTAs, whether they include or 

exclude Australia, influence migration flows to and from this country? Among other things, this project helps clarify the 

relationship between Australia's discriminatory trade liberalisation strategy and migration patterns. The underlying theme of 

this research is that trade policy should be designed so that it is consistent with the aims of migration policy. 

Page 72


DP0665318 Ms RM Millar 

Approved GST and the global economy: identifying the underlying causes of consumption tax conflicts 

Project Title affecting cross-border trade 

2006 : $55,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $45,000 




This project will provide an independent analysis of the desirability of particular types of destination based jurisdictional rule in 

a GST/VAT in light of their effects on global trade and revenue collection. Focussing on basic principles, the project will 

assess the relationship between the ideal subject of the tax (consumption) and the practical effects of existing laws (which tax 

their own peculiar concept of consumption). The inclusion of comparative research on developing and transition countries will 

enable Australia to assess the outcomes of the concurrent OECD and EC work in this area from a broader perspective and to 

evaluate the effects of its own laws on both global trade and the revenue of Australia and its trading partners. 

DP0663767 A/Prof J Millbank; Dr CD Dauvergne 

Approved An International Comparative Analysis of Refugee Decision-Making 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $100,000 




Surprisingly little information is available about the actual practice of refugee decision-making and the results of different 

kinds of claims (which are only recorded by the country of the claimant, not the basis of the claim). This project focuses upon 

practice "on the ground" to look at what is really happening. Currently, almost nothing is known about asylum seekers by 

category of claim (ie race, religion). This research will examine in detail many hundreds of cases made over a 10 year period. 

This data will contribute to a consistent and just decision-making process nationally and internationally. This in turn will 

ultimately reduce the burgeoning trend of costly and lengthy litigation. 

DP0667131 Prof RA Minasian 

Approved Novel coherence-free photonic microwave signal processors 

Project Title 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $160,000 

2008 : $155,000 




With the increasing bandwidth requirements of information signals, there is an unprecedented challenge to provide 

high-speed and high resolution systems for signal processing. The new photonic signal processors in this project will herald 

in a new epoch in the ability to optimally condition wideband signals, with important applications for science, business and 

security services. These processors will have particular impact in transcending exisiting electronic processor limitations and 

in enhancing fibre-fed distributed antenna systems, with benefits to Australia in the fields of radioastronomy and radar 

systems in defence. 

DP0664650 Prof BJ Morris 

Approved Function of a new splicing factor, RBM4 

Project Title 

2006 : $104,000 

2007 : $94,000 

2008 : $94,000 


Page 73




New genomic knowledge is revolutionizing our world. However our understanding of the basic mechanisms of RNA 

maturation, especially regulation of splicing lags significantly behind our understanding of related genomic processes. This 

project is a genetic approach to help elucidate the function of new splicing factors and characterize the way in which specific 

RNA sequences are recognized. It should promote the better understanding of regulatory events involved in controlling gene 

expression during development and differentiation. Results from this project will also provide new insights into the 

'multifunctionality' of cellular proteins and will illustrate the importance of RNA studies in molecular medicine. 

DP0663987 Dr C Mountford 

Approved Development of Novel Two-dimensional Techniques for Magnetic Resonance In-vivo Spectroscopy 

Project Title 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $140,000 




Body chemistry alters with functionality, pain, ageing and disease. These changes can be recorded by magnetic resonance 

(MR) spectroscopy (MRS) in vivo in a whole body MR scanner. When changes in chemistry can be recorded rapidly, and the 

individual species assigned, it will be possible to make a definitive diagnosis and in some cases allow the tailoring of 

treatment on an individual basis. This is currently hampered by our inability to separate the composite resonances in a one 

dimensional MR spectrum. Research will allow two dimensional MRS to be implemented and provide detailed chemical 

information on human organs in vivo. 

DP0666236 Dr BK Nauta 

Approved Helium droplets: a nanoscale laboratory for studying intermolecular bonding and chemical 

Project Title reactivity. 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $130,000 

2009 : $103,000 

2010 : $103,000 


ARF Dr BK Nauta 



This type of research requires a rather complicated apparatus capable of creating a stream of helium droplets, embedding 

molecules and interrogating their properties using laser spectroscopy. The apparatus built in Sydney is the only one capable 

of this in Australia and using this new apparatus we will create many novel, bizarre and intriguing aggregates of molecules 

and atoms. The project involves cutting-edge scientific methods and will shift the boundaries of can-do science in the laser 

laboratory at the University of Sydney and in Australia in general. 

DP0664629 A/Prof BP Oldroyd 

Approved Solving Darwin's dilemma: Molecular analysis of worker sterility in social insects 

Project Title 

2006 : $182,000 

2007 : $147,000 

2008 : $147,000 




One of Darwin's greatest puzzles was how natural selection resulted in worker sterility in social insects. We now know from 

mathematical modelling that a gene that causes sterility in workers can be at a selective advantage if it increases the 

reproductive success of queens. This project will take the only known gene that causes sterility, 'Anarchy' from honey bees, 

and determine how this gene evolved. We will determine if Anarchy is the same gene that causes sterility in all social insects, 

or only in honey bees. The project will be at the forefront of international research by providing a molecular perspective to 

Darwin's greatest dilemma. 

Page 74


DP0666284 Prof M Onslow; A/Prof RG Menzies; Dr MA Lincoln 

Approved Establishing the relationship between anxiety and stuttering 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $70,000 




The present project will establish basic knowledge about the disorder of stuttering, which will contribute to offsetting the 

personal and community costs of the disorder by guiding empirical investigations into its nature and the development of 

future treatments. Further benefits at the population level will occur by provision to the public of basic information about the 

disorder assembled from this project. By conveying information from the present project to clinicians who treat stuttering 

patients, the project will benefit Australians who stutter. 

DP0665676 Prof PN Parkinson; A/Prof JA Cashmore; Hon Prof RC Chisholm 

Approved Relocation after parental separation and the best interests of children 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 




The project is of importance not only for Australia, but internationally, because relocation disputes are a pressing issue 

around the world in family law. These disputes have become numerous as laws have changed in recent years to reflect the 

ideal that parents should share responsibility after separation and that children should have regular contact with both of them. 

This ideal clashes with the promise of divorce that individuals should be able to live their own lives without being unduly 

bound by ties to the other parent.This will be the world's first such prospective longitudinal study of the outcomes of relocation 

decisions. The national benefits will include better information for courts in making relocation decisions. 

DP0667036 Prof R Pitchford 

Approved Strategic Contracting with Complementary Assets under Assymetric Information 

Project Title 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $36,000 

2008 : $39,000 




With the recent tendency for companies to patent any feasible innovations they might make, public policy must focus on the 

disincentive effects this may have for producers who must combine multiple patents. The project seeks to understand the 

'holdout problem' that stems from such situations, and evaluate policy solutions for Australia and Internationally. Expected 

outcomes include publication in leading Australian and International journals, and inputs to the policy debate. 

DP0665164 Dr WN Pritchard; Prof J Connell 

Approved Indian agriculture in the 21st century: The political economy of market reforms 

Project Title 

2006 : $20,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $55,000 


Page 75




India has emerged to be a key player in the 21st century global economy, with the fortunes of its agricultural sector central to 

its economic and social transformations. These issues have great relevance beyond India itself, and are of vital interest to 

Australia. India's prominent role in WTO agricultural negotiations means that its stance on market agriculture will shape the 

future global politics of food. Using case studies of strategic sites of market reforms, this project will analyse their social and 

economic outcomes, with the aim to generate an internationally significant assessment of the political economy of Indian 

agrarian reform. 

DP0665064 Prof P Reimann; A/Prof BR Paltridge; Dr RA Calvo 

Approved Using machine learning and automated document analysis methods to support English 

Project Title composition training 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $55,000 

Primary RFCD 3301 EDUCATION STUDIES 



The project has the potential to further strengthen Australia's Higher Education industry by providing scalable solutions for 

teaching academic writing, a core competence for students in the tertiary sector. It is also a contribution to the E-learning 

industry in general. Innovating with these respective technologies will have a significant impact on the quality of online 

training. Australian organizations will be able to reap the benefits of a well-tested platform, with the exclusive added 

capabilities that this project will develop. One of the software systems to be used in this project is an open source Learning 

Management System that is available to every Australian institution without any licensing cost. 

DP0666378 Dr JR Reimers 

Approved Molecular Electronics Principles and Applications 

Project Title 

2006 : $231,000 

2007 : $240,000 

2008 : $250,000 

2009 : $256,000 

2010 : $254,000 


APF Dr JR Reimers 



This project will establish basic conceptual models and computational methods to understand the nature of conduction, 

memory storage, and solar to electrical energy conversion processes in molecular devices on the 1-nanometer scale. 

Fundamental research of chemical processes, device interfaces, characterization techniques, and natural photosynthesis will 

result in widely applicable advances in nanotechnology. Additionally, novel architectures will be developed for disruptive new 

technologies in molecular memory and logic design, as well as in the design of biomimetic solar cells. These developments 

could lead to new Australian electronics industries and an order of magnitude reduction in the production cost of solar 

electricity. 

DP0665963 Dr A Salih; Dr MV Matz; Dr J Wiedenmann; Prof R Hoffman 

Approved Development of novel fluorescent proteins from marine organisms for in vivo fluorescence imaging 

Project Title technologies and cancer research. 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $65,000 


Page 76




The Australian Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a national treasure and the development of fluorescent proteins (FPs) from reef 

organisms for in vivo imaging and biotechnology will enhance the appreciation of this resource. Nowadays, imaging of 

biochemical processes in living cells is essential for knowing the roles of various genes and proteins in health and diseases. 

The global market for fluorescence-based products is estimated in billions of dollars p.a. The discovery of natural FPs from 

GBR with superior molecular, biophysical and optical characteristics to those of commercially available FPs offers a unique 

opportunity to develop advanced tools to study cellular processes and develop diagnostic assays for diseases such as 

cancer. 

DP0665824 Dr T Schmidt 

Approved Laser Spectroscopy of Molecular Electronic Components 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $100,000 




Electronic devices such as computer memory have been getting smaller and smaller for decades, yet soon devices will need 

to be constructed from single molecules. Single molecules behave very differently to copper conductors and silicon chips. To 

understand the behaviour of molecular electronic devices such as molecular wires, switches and diodes, one needs to isolate 

them under rigorously reproducable conditions. We will study molecular electronic devices in this way, providing rigorous 

support to Australia's growing expertise in this field. 

DP0665831 Dr T Schmidt; A/Prof SH Kable; Dr BK Nauta 

Approved Optical Spectroscopy of Extraterrestrial Molecules 

Project Title 

2006 : $134,000 

2007 : $91,000 

2008 : $98,000 




Space is not empty. In the vast regions between stars is a complex soup of molecules. Some of these molecules get 

incorporated into meteorites and find their way to Earth where they can be identified. Analysis has yielded amino acids; the 

building blocks of life, but these molecules do not match what we know about the interstellar regions. Interstellar molecules 

are identified by their spectra, but many features in these spectra are unknown. Could they be caused by the missing 

molecules? In this project we combine the skills of three spectroscopists, each expert in different areas, in an attempt to 

make these molecules in the laboratory, measure their spectra and thereby identify these unknown molecules that are in 

space. 

DP0666004 Dr HT See; Dr N Mai-Duy; Dr P Bacchin 

Approved Development of constitutive models for concentrated suspensions via particle-level simulations 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




The outcome of this work will be a comprehensive theoretical framework by which accurate microstructural information is 

distilled into a macro-scale constitutive model of particulate suspensions, readily useable for modelling of practical industrial 

applications. This work will have a direct impact on the design capability and performance of a wide range of mechanisms 

and industrial processes involving suspensions. The development of better models for industrially useful suspensions offers a 

competitive advantage for a diverse range of Australia industry, from the food preparation sector, to mineral slurry transport, 

and water filtration and recycling. 

Page 77


DP0664782 Dr S Selvadurai; Dr U Roehm; Dr BF Scholz; Dr A Viglas 

Approved Distributed Data Processing for Wireless Sensor Networks 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 




This project falls within the national research priorities of Frontier Technologies for building and transforming Australian 

Industries, and will provide Australian companies with state-of-the-art technology in wireless sensor networks (WSN). 

Australia's priorities are mainly in sustainable environment, health maintenance, and home-land security. Any application in 

these priority areas that uses our system will have less maintenance costs and a significantly longer lifetime. 

This project will generate numerous articles in first-class journals and conferences and will contribute to the strength of 

Australian Research in sensor technologies and ICT. 

DP0662857 Dr LE Semler 

Approved Women's Poetry and Classicism in Early Modern England, 1500-1700 

Project Title 

2006 : $55,059 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $31,620 




The primary national/community benefit of the project is the charting of how women pursued sophisticated education and 

imaginative literary expression despite the gender-biased structures of exclusion prevalent in early modern England. The 

period from Isabella Whitney's first published book (1567) to Margaret Cavendish's (1653) sees nothing less than the first 

emergence of Englishwomen as publishing authors. It is of great importance that this historical emergence be interrogated 

because it will help us understand how women rose from domestic silence to public voice, how they turned masculine 

classical resources to 'feminist' ends, and how the idea of the woman writer developed in England in the age of print. 

DP0664709 Prof SJ Simpson; Dr M Beekman 

Approved On the move: the study of self-organised movement of animal groups with and without leadership 

Project Title 

2006 : $190,000 

2007 : $155,000 

2008 : $155,000 




This project will uncover the common principles that control the movement of large groups of organisms. We will focus on 

swarming honey bees, hopping bands of billions of locusts and millions of crickets marching in unison. The outcomes of our 

research will be broadly applicable to other collective phenomena, even to traffic and crowd control in humans. 

DP0665439 Dr S Sukkarieh 

Approved Data Fusion for Self-Localisation and Team Situational Awareness in Unknown Structured 

Project Title Environments 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 


Page 78




This research is directed towards improving the operational effectiveness of our defence and civilian first-response-groups, 

which include the Special Forces, law-enforcement, fire fighting and special emergency services. These groups are highly 

specialised and have very focused operations which require innovative responses and adaptability. The technologies 

developed in the course of this project will transform the way these agencies conduct their operations and will have a 

beneficial impact on our quality of life and social order. 

The research will also advance the knowledge base in the practical implementation of human localisation systems and 

provide the enabling mechanism for its adoption into industry. 

DP0666307 Prof RI Tanner; Dr A Jabbarzadeh 

Approved Nano-Rheology and Nano-Tribology: Atomistic Simulation of Boundary Lubrication 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 




Manufacturing in atomic level is going to transform the efficiency level in many important applications. As molecular biology 

transformed medical and biological sciences,so molecular level material design and the techniques involved are going to 

significantly affect the engineering applications and manufacturing in coming decades. We have no doubt the benefits will 

flow from the project to many disciplines that are critical in manufacturing and commercialisation of nano-devices. The results 

will position Australia in the forefront of one of the most important leading edge technologies in the world. This not only will 

improve Australia's research profile in the world but also will enable it to capitalize on any future commercial outcomes 

DP0665229 Dr RS Thompson; Dr TL Poepping; Dr WB Fraser; A/Prof C Macaskill 

Approved Material boundaries in ultrasonics: New methods and in vitro studies in biomedical phantoms 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Ultrasound is an indispensable part of healthcare worldwide. The next wave of applications will see ultrasound pulses used to 

closely probe suspected disease sites and to directly manipulate bioactive agents. For safe and effective use of such 

techniques it is essential to know the ultrasound field at the disease site. This project will develop simulation methods to 

achieve the fast, accurate and case-specific results required. Community healthcare will benefit, through better diagnostic 

capabilities and customized treatment. Australia is well placed to profit further from this research, in view of the growing 

worldwide demand for more sophisticated, knowledge-based techniques in medicine. 

DP0666325 Dr P Thordarson 

Approved Light-activated Bioconjugates for Applications in Synthesis and Biosensing 

Project Title 

2006 : $240,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $120,000 

2009 : $120,000 

2010 : $150,000 


ARF Dr P Thordarson 

Page 79




This project will allow the Australian biotechnology industry to develop better diagnostic biosensors that are controlled using 

light, making them cheaper and faster than the current generation of electronically controlled biosensors. Improvements in 

the response time of biosensors can be a matter of life and death, for instance, during a surgical operation. The project will 

benefit the pharmaceutical industry as it will allow the making of so-called chiral drugs cheaper and safer but problems with 

the purity of chiral drugs have in the past caused serious side-effects such as in the tragic case of thalidomide. 

DP0665310 A/Prof RE Tiffen 

Approved Media Change. Political Change - Developments in Australian Newspapers' Political Reporting in 

Project Title the Age of Television 

2006 : $108,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $96,000 

2009 : $78,000 

2010 : $40,000 

Primary RFCD 4001 JOURNALISM, COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA 



It is frequently asserted that the role of the press has changed since the advent of television, but there is a curious lack of 

data documenting the changes. This project will provide extensive, systematic and analytically-informed information about 

trends in newspapers' political coverage. Through an innovative combination of quantitative and qualitative research 

designs, it will chart the extent and timing of changes, and illuminate the external and internal forces driving them. The press 

remains central to the quality of Australian democracy and public discourse, and so there is a strong public interest in making 

debates about its changing performance more empirically grounded and analytically penetrating. 

DP0666683 Prof L Tong; Dr P Tan 

Approved Shape adaptive structures with built-in compact smart material based actuators 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 




Primary Australian aerospace manufacturers are sub-contractors and constantly compete in the global market. Their 

products are primarily control surfaces, e.g., Boeing 757 and 777 rudders, 737 Krueger flaps. In light of the development of 

the hingeless control surfaces (HCS) in the smart aircraft wing program in the USA, the economic benefits of this project are 

very high because (a) it will address the key technological issue identified in the HCS program; and (b) it will enhance 

Australian manufacturers¡¯ technological standing and input in the design and manufacturing of next generation HCS by 

providing highly trained people with world-leading niche technology. 

DP0665818 Prof AJ Underwood 

Approved Connecting ecological processes controlling variation across spatial scales 

Project Title 

2006 : $249,237 

2007 : $234,000 

2008 : $234,000 

2009 : $234,000 

2010 : $234,000 


APF Prof AJ Underwood 

Page 80




Large variability in numbers and types of animals from place to place and time to time characterizes many ecological 

systems, particularly on the rocky shores along our coasts. It confuses interpretation and hampers predictions about 

conservation, impacts and climatic change. This programme is a systematic experimental analysis of the major causes of 

variance (availability of suitable habitat and food, influences of weather) on the animals and indirectly on their food. The 

research will unravel the interacting influences that operate over several spatial scales to cause variability in local diversity. 

This will radically increase our capacity to sustain our coastal fauna. 

DP0664742 Dr MA van Eijkelenborg; A/Prof GW Barton 

Approved Tailoring the functionality of microstructured polymer optical fibres 

Project Title 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $120,000 




Australia leads the world in microstructured polymer optical fibre (mPOF) research that has attracted serious commercial 

interest from multinational companies. A series of ATSE funded workshops in Europe during 2004 strongly indicated that the 

incorporation of a range of additional functionalities within novel fibres is the right path to follow to maintain research 

momentum and leadership. This interdisciplinary project offers a clear route to expanded collaboration in both Australia and 

overseas thus ensuring that the OFTC retains its research and technological edge into the future whilst helping to satisfy the 

demand for students trained in leading-edge photonics. 

DP0664993 A/Prof RM van Krieken 

Approved Civilizing Divorce: Social Change, Law and the Transformation of Parenthood 

Project Title 

2006 : $35,000 

2007 : $35,000 

2008 : $70,000 




The project will leave policy-makers, professionals, law reformers, and parents and their children themselves, better 

equipped to navigate their way through a major process of transformation in the way our intimate lives are structured. It will 

help take some of the 'heat' out of the child custody debate, to see current changes as an integral part of a broader process 

of change in our emotional relationships, and to broaden the conceptual resources available to policy-making and law reform 

concerning post-separation child custody. 

DP0666002 Dr SV Vladimirov 

Approved Complex plasmas: self-organized dusty matter from nanotechnology to astrophysics 

Project Title 

2006 : $235,000 

2007 : $235,000 

2008 : $235,000 

2009 : $235,000 

2010 : $235,000 

Primary RFCD 2403 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS; PLASMA 

PHYSICS 

APF Dr SV Vladimirov 

Page 81




The importance of complex plasmas is based on their intricate self-organized behaviour, on their rich variety in nature and 

extensive use in the laboratory and advanced technologies. This project aims at breakthrough results advancing the 

fundamental knowledge and contributing to frontier technologies such as nanoelectronics and nanotechnology as well as 

reliability of space technological systems and communications. The project will boost fundamental and applied aspects of the 

Australian science as well as international collaborative links of Australian research and technology by allowing access and 

involvement to advanced multi-national programs and high-profile experiments such as those on board the International 

Space Station. 

DP0665856 Dr B Wang; Prof Y Mai 

Approved Some Outstanding Mechanics Problems in Layered Ferroelectromagnetic Composites with 

Project Title Enhanced Magnetoelectric Effect 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $130,000 

2009 : $100,000 




The proposed research has high impact on both science and technology of ferroelectromagnetic materials. The outcomes will 

expand Australia's knowledge base and research capability in this emerging field. Relevant industries, such as smart 

materials and devices, can benefit from the results of this project. The theoretical, experimental and numerical results can be 

directly transformed to design and application guidelines for the materials engineers and scientists to develop innovative and 

structurally/functionally reliable ferroelectromagnetic composites and their various devices and products. 

DP0666074 Mr RP White 

Approved A cultural history of Australian motor travel overseas 

Project Title 

2006 : $74,000 

2007 : $81,000 

2008 : $88,000 




This project will add to our understanding of Australians' changing perceptions of the world, the way that Australian identity 

has been performed when overseas and the practice of motor touring. 

It will be of direct benefit to the tourist industry and in contributing to our knowledge of Australia's relationship to the world and 

our region. 

DP0667002 Prof S White 

Approved The Making of Black Manhattan 

Project Title 

2006 : $137,000 

2007 : $143,000 

2008 : $121,000 

2009 : $133,000 

2010 : $135,000 


APF Prof S White 



This application stakes a claim for the importance of Australian scholarship in understanding the world's leading nation and 

our most important ally. It is vital that Australian perspectives shape the way we understand other cultures. This project will 

ensure that Australian scholars are at the cutting edge of the discipline, contributing to developments in the writing of history, 

demonstrating new and exciting ways of engaging with the past, rather than merely being passive consumers of American 

scholarship. 

Page 82


DP0666929 Dr L Zadro; Dr ML Moulds 

Approved Developing strategies to ameliorate the aversive effects of ostracism 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $65,000 




By investigating and identifying strategies to ameliorate the aversive effects of ostracism, this research will permit exciting 

advances that will extend existing conceptual models in the ostracism literature. Further, given the prevalence of ostracism 

across societal, occupational and community domains, these studies will yield outcomes with significant and far-reaching 

practical implications. By applying rigorous experimental methodologies to answer theoretically driven questions about the 

impact of ostracism, these studies represent the interface of empirically sound and clinically and socially-oriented 

experimental research. 

DP0665927 Dr R Zhang; Dr AI Molev 

Approved Infinite Dimensional Unitarizable Representations of Lie Superalgebras 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




The project addresses major outstanding mathematical problems, which are of fundamental importance to the development 

of a unified theory of all four interactions in quantum physics. Mathematics is essential for the understanding of our own 

rationality. Advances in the field promised by this project are of intrinsic value. Physics is the foundation of modern 

technology. Success of the project will help to create a scientific environment in Australia that fosters technological creativity 

and innovation. Results of the project will greatly enhance the scientific reputation of Australia internationally, attracting 

foreign researchers and Ph.D students to Australian shores. 

DP0667266 Prof AY Zomaya; Dr B Zhou; Dr M Charleston; Dr A Viglas 

Approved A Grid-Enabled Meta-Server for Protein Threading 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $117,000 

2008 : $119,000 

Primary RFCD 2804 COMPUTATION THEORY AND MATHEMATICS 



Grid Computing is a driver for many e-Science research projects around the world today. The project investigates the use of 

grid technology in building a meta-server architecture for protein threading. Protein technology problems are important for the 

field of bioinformatics and they also influence many industries, such as, agriculture, drug design, food science, and many 

more. The proposed framework can be extended to other problems in the life sciences such as bio- and health-informatics. 

Projects of this nature are significant and will enable Australia to maintain its pioneering position and international reputation 

among other nations as leaders in Information Technology. 

University of Technology, Sydney 

DP0664013 Dr SI Belli; A/Prof NC Smith 

Approved The biosynthesis of structural proteins in parasites 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 

Primary RFCD 3005 VETERINARY SCIENCES 

Page 83


Administering Institution University of Technology, Sydney 


The socio-economic impact of parasitic diseases, in Australia and throughout the world, is enormous- they kill 2-3 million 

people per year and cost livestock industries billions of dollars per annum. Some are serious food and waterborne threats, 

such as the coccidia, because they are transmitted from person-to-person via the faecal-oral route, or via ingestion of 

contaminated water or food, or through the ingestion of cysts in raw or undercooked meat. They cause diarrhoea, which in 

some cases, can be life-threatening. We will understand how the coccidia protect themselves as they move from host to host 

and, through that understanding, develop new ways to control them and eliminate the suffering caused by parasitic diseases. 

DP0666786 Prof SK Blay; A/Prof PD Keyzer; Ms JM Burn 

Approved The Admission and Exclusion of Asylum Seekers: The Search for Legitimate Parameters 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $30,000 




The admission of asylum seekers into Australia is a burning political, legal and human rights issue. While Australia has 

dramatically reduced the inflow of asylum seekers through the Pacific Solution and other administrative and legal 

mechanisms, there are serious national and international concerns as to whether the strategies are consistent with 

international standards and principles of social justice. This project investigates Australia's exclusionary policies towards 

asylum-seekers and establishes a definitive framework for developing Australian asylum law consistent with international 

standards. 

DP0666815 Prof DJ Boud; A/Prof CH Rhodes; A/Prof N Solomon; A/Prof C Chappell; Dr HB Scheeres 

Approved Beyond training and learning: integrated development practices in organisations 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $85,000 




It is necessary for Australian businesses to maintain and enhance their productivity in the competitive global marketplace. As 

enterprises anticipate and face the challenges of the contemporary economy, a central concern is ensuring that employees 

learn what is needed to engage successfully with these challenges. Rapid growth in unstructured training in organisations 

demonstrates the importance of focusing on learning that is integrated into work processes. The outcomes of this project will 

help organisations exploit the productive potential of these different forms of learning. It will do this by identifying the links 

between organisational imperatives and the development of personnel. 

DP0666689 Prof MB Cortie; A/Prof MJ Ford; Dr S Valenzuela; Dr M Zareie; Mr X Xu; Prof GB Smith 

Approved Self-assembled surface arrays of mesoscale plasmonic devices for switchable control of coloured 

Project Title surfaces 

2006 : $129,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 




This project has a well-defined outcome with potentially significant commercial interest. The proposed device is novel and the 

development of it will enhance the science and technology infrastructure within Australia, taking it into original and exciting 

directions. A successful demonstration of it will enhance Australia's competitive position in the field of nanotechnology and 

could conceivably lead to a manufacturing activity either located in Australia or in which Australian entities have an interest. 

Envisaged applications include optical circuitry, 'smart' windows and display surfaces on consumer devices. 

Page 84


DP0663575 Prof GK Cowlishaw 

Approved 

Project Title 

Social Relations Among Urban Aborigines in Sydney's Western Suburbs. 

2006 : $138,631 

2007 : $136,633 

2008 : $132,925 

2009 : $129,352 

2010 : $128,520 


APF Prof GK Cowlishaw 



The forces that generate the horrific health and welfare problems in Indigenous communities will be elucidated and tools will 

be offered to enhance the work of policy makers and improve communications between Aborigines and providers of services. 

My research will rely on Indigenous people to expose the normalised and internalised forms of racial inequality they 

experience and to offer strategies to combat them. Intellectual outcomes will include new directions for social science's 

engagement with Indigenous issues, a more innovative contemporary anthropology and better informed practices in 

organisations. It will contribute to capacity building by enhancing the skills and experience of participants and improving 

self-esteem. 

DP0666128 Prof JP Dalton; Dr DL Gardiner; Dr KR Trenholme; Dr J Grembecka 

Approved Aminopeptidases involved in regulating the amino acid pool in malaria parasites 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $88,000 

2008 : $88,000 

Primary RFCD 3204 MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY 



Aminopeptidases are pivotal to the normal functions of all cells. Abnormalities in their function and/or structure results in 

tissue damage in many pathological processes in humans such as cancer, neuronal diseases and hormonal action. They are 

also critical to viral, bacterial and parasitic infections as they are employed to remove amino acids from the host for use in 

building their own proteins. This project brings national and international expertise together to define the structure and 

biological properties of these essential enzymes so that in the future we can employ rational approaches to develop new 

drugs that can combat these diseases and ailments. 

DP0664081 Prof TS Dillon; Prof E Chang; A/Prof L Feng 

Approved A Commercially Viable, Innovative XML - Enabled Association Rule Framework 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $92,000 




The pervasive nature of the Web has raised two important issues, namely (1) how to exchange data between isolated 

information systems within two different companies with their own data formats and (2) how to store information particularly 

documents, so that they can be accessed through the internet based on their meaning. The Extended Markup Language 

XML has emerged as the favoured means of addressing these issues and this is leading to an explosive growth in the 

information stored in this way. This project addresses the issue of determination of patterns and knowledge in information 

stored in XML through datamining. 

DP0665537 Prof SJ Donald; Dr Y Zheng 

Approved The Cultivation of Middle-Class Taste: Reading, Tourism and Education Choices in Urban China 

Project Title 

2006 : $125,000 

2007 : $135,000 

2008 : $130,000 

Page 85





In urban China, high-income professionals and consumers have enormous influence on the development of élite education, 

travel, and cultural pursuits, but also on the stability of the Party-State. Their choices will materially affect Australian 

economic strategy, and will impact the socio-political character of the entire region. This project works to support Australian 

understanding of the tastes, aspirations and national priorities of this new formation: the Chinese middle class. The approach 

and outcomes of the research will enhance Australia's global position in innovative, relevant Asian scholarship, support good 

economic strategy, and provide an accurate socio-cultural lens through which to engage with Chinese and regional futures. 

DP0666670 Dr EJ Harry 

Approved Establishing how bacterial cells position the division site 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 




Cell division is essential for life. It is required for bacterial infections and, if uncontrolled, causes diseases such as cancer. We 

will establish how bacterial cells position the division site precisely to ensure faithful production of newborn cells. We will use 

the latest technology in bacterial cell biology to provide novel, clear-cut information to maintain Australia at the leading edge 

of this important area of research. There is an alarming increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria and an imminent threat of 

bioterrorism. This research allows the opportunity for the development of new antibiotics to protect Australia protected from 

these dangerous bacteria. 

DP0665463 Dr ML Huang 

Approved Efficient and Effective Interactive Visualization of Large Graphical Information Spaces 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,329 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 




The expected outcome will change ways of interacting with and thinking about information processing for all information 

systems. As Australian companies became larger and more global, the ability to view and analyse the growing amount of 

company information becomes crucial to aspects as varied as trouble shooting or new ventures and eventually to the very 

viability of the organization itself. The expected outcome will enhance this ability by providing an optimised global view and 

an effective navigation scheme of large graphical information spaces. This will attract leading international IT companies to 

use it for developing cutting-age tools, and will enhance significantly the capacity and international standing of Australian IT 

industry. 

DP0666942 Prof HT Nguyen; Prof A Craig; Dr JW Middleton; Dr Y Tran 

Approved Innovative hands-free technology to give the severely disabled greater mobility control 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




Half of the serious neurological injuries in Australia result in tetraplegia. Combined with other disabilities that involve severe 

mobility impairments the cost to the community economically, psychologically and socially is huge. This new Australian 

technology will facilitate effective sharing of control between a disabled person and a computer control system, taking 

advantage of their unique strengths and enabling each to aid the other in areas of weakness. The social and personal 

benefits are potentially very large. Scope also exists to significantly reduce healthcare costs and to develop a new industry in 

hands-free technology. 

Page 86


DP0666515 A/Prof NC Smith; Prof JS Wiley 

Approved Parasite virulence: the role of activation and suppression of P2X7 receptors 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




Toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis pose a threat to the health and well-being of the Australian human and animal populations. 

Around 6-8 million Australians are infected with Toxoplasma, a parasite that can cause severe problems in 

immunosuppressed individuals and birth defects and miscarriage in pregnant women with a primary infection. Toxoplasmosis 

is also the main cause of abortion and stillbirth in Australian sheep. Leishmaniasis, recently found in Australia, is a risk for 

overseas travellers, livestock and wildlife. This research will provide an understanding of what makes these parasites 

successful, paving the way for development of novel drugs to combat these chronic diseases. 

DP0666257 Prof S Vigneswaran; Dr HH Ngo; Prof HJ Kim 

Approved A New Photocatalysis Hybrid System in Wastewater Treatment for Reuse 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




This project would particularly be useful to unreticulated sewage systems and small sewage treatment plants are prevalent in 

the coastal areas of NSW and Queensland and the interior parts of Northern Territory with small and isolated communities. 

Opportunities for demonstrating the successful application of this cost effective method of waste water treatment to 

appropriate stakeholders through participation in workshops, seminars and events will be explored. The study can also be 

extended to small and medium sized industries in their wastewater treatment. The technology is of direct benefit within the 

Nation and also has significant export potential. 

DP0667060 Prof C Zhang; Dr S Zhang 

Approved Efficient Techniques for Mining Exceptional Patterns 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $78,000 

2008 : $80,000 




This research will develop totally new techniques for exceptional pattern discovery that are useful for deeper understanding 

data mining and capturing the hidden interactions (class-bridge rules and out-expectation patterns) within data. This will 

enable Australian data marketers to access valuable implicit information that is contained in their data, but not currently 

accessible. The outcomes will keep Australia in the international leading edge and preserve its competitive status in 

preemptively defining the information market of tomorrow. To 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian 

Industries', discovering new exceptional patterns within data will lead to increased efficiency in Australian Industries. 

DP0667139 Prof JG Zhu 

Approved Characterisation and Modelling of Nanostructured Soft Magnetic Materials for Advanced 

Project Title Electromagnetic Applications 

2006 : $72,000 

2007 : $73,000 

2008 : $74,000 


Page 87




This project bridges the gap between nanomagnetic materials and practical applications. The knowledge generated and the 

international collaborations with world class scientists established through this cutting-edge research project will strengthen 

the leading status of Australia in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The research outcomes will stimulate the 

growth of world class Australian industries and hence the national economy through the commercial manufacturing of hi-tech 

nanomagnetic materials and innovative smart devices and systems. High quality PhD and honours project students will be 

trained. 

University of Western Sydney 

DP0666981 Dr T Kuratate 

Approved Building a Talking Head via Dynamic & 3D-Static, and Age- & Ethnically-Varied Databases: 

Project Title Perceptibility and Acceptability 

2006 : $125,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 


APD Dr T Kuratate 

Administering Institution University of Western Sydney 


This project will provide cutting edge realistic, perceptible talking head animation. Based on rich 3D face motion and static 

face databases, it will allow the study of the facial structure of specific groups of people, and the creation of a lasting cultural 

heritage of faces. Information in these databases will be useful for research in high-quality 3D face reconstruction, with 

applications as wide as multimodal Biometric Identification, finding lost children, and security systems. The novel methods in 

this project will also advance auditory-visual speech and emotion research with particular commercial applications in 

telecommunications, human-machine interfaces, foreign language teaching, humanoid development, animation, and film. 

DP0662865 Prof DM McInerney; Prof Dr TE Cook; A/Prof JE Tuovinen; Dr D Viri 

Approved Securing the future: Optimising the success of remote Indigenous students at post-secondary 

Project Title education. A cross-cultural study 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $105,000 




Supporting remote Indigenous students to complete post-secondary education is a national and international imperative. 

Remote Indigenous student success in VET and University education is a key to the success of Indigenous families, 

communities and the nation as a whole. Post-secondary education provides students with 'capstone' skills, abilities and 

understandings that enable them to function at a high-level both socially and economically. Effective Indigenous participation 

in post-secondary education enhances economic and social self-sufficiency, reduces the likelihood of dependency on 

welfare, and provides powerful role-models for younger Indigenous students to be successful at school, and beyond 

compulsory school education 

DP0666886 A/Prof VA Nightingale; Dr A Gibbs 

Approved The Power of the Image: affect, audience and disturbing imagery 

Project Title 

2006 : $124,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




In a period of fear and uncertainty about terrorism and war there is a pressing need to examine the specific contemporary 

modes of teenagers' engagements with media violence and the ways it contributes to their understanding of violence in the 

world around them. This project will identify the links young people make between affective and emotional reactions to media 

imagery, their own values and attitudes about the violence in everyday life (e.g. sexual harassment, bullying, fights at school), 

and their assessment of their own power and agency. It adds much needed Australian research to a field lacking a distinctive 

Australian perspective. 

Page 88


DP0666770 Dr C Rocha 

Approved A study of the Brazilian community in Australia and Australian-Brazilian bilateral exchange 

Project Title 

2006 : $81,000 

2007 : $78,000 

2008 : $74,340 


APD Dr C Rocha 



This study provides knowledge of a recent and growing migrant group in Australia of which there is little information beyond 

the bare demographics. It contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of class differences in shaping migrant identities, 

by exploring the way the immense socio-economic gap in Brazilian society is transplanted from homeland to destination 

country. By investigating the as yet uncharted 'South-South' cultural pathways between Australia and Brazil, this project 

offers a critique of theories of power relations and globalisation. It will inform and enhance the growing bilateral relations 

between Australia and Brazil in the areas of tourism, investment, cultural promotion and education 

DP0664862 Dr MW Wiggins; Dr M Childs; Prof GJ Fogarty 

Approved Cognitive Features of Decision Support System Interfaces 

Project Title 

2006 : $67,000 

2007 : $53,000 

2008 : $54,000 




The complex and time-constrained nature of the contemporary workplace is such that there is an increasing dependence on 

technology to assist operators in formulating accurate and timely decisions. This project is designed to ensure that the 

process through which this information is presented to operators is as efficient and effective as possible under the 

circumstances. Using an innovative approach to the development of such decision support systems, the outcomes of this 

project will direct the development of this type of technology in the future and, ultimately, lead to more effective and more 

efficient decision-making under uncertainty. 

DP0666463 A/Prof Y Xiang 

Approved Development of a Local Spectral Method for the Computations of Thin-Walled Structures 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




This project will benefit Aust. society by providing a powerful tool for improving the safe and cost effective design of 

structures under extreme conditions (high frequency vibration, complicating supporting conditions). The method has the 

potential to be further developed to provide solutions to unsolved problems in acoustic wave transport, short electromagnetic 

wave propagation etc. The research training of the project will help to keep Australia to be at the forefront in this research 

field and the published research findings will promote the reputation of Australian researchers in the field of computational 

engineering. The international collaboration will be strengthened between the Investigator's team and his colleagues in US. 

DP0666540 A/Prof Y Zhang; Dr AC Nayak; Dr K Wang; A/Prof F Lin 

Approved Foundations of Nonmonotonic Logic Programming for Complex Knowledge Systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $84,000 

2007 : $74,000 

2008 : $76,000 


Page 89




This project will fundamentally provide a new paradigm of nonmonotonic logic programming. As such, it will significantly 

contribute towards Australia's leading role in the cutting edge research of intelligent systems development. The new 

nonmonotonic logic programming can be used as an effecive platform by many Australian computer companies for building 

complex knowledge systems in real world domains. Hence this project has potential economic and social benefits for 

Australia. With a very strong research team across different universities and a collaborative research training environment, 

this project will further enhance Australia's international reputation as a leader in computing & IT research. 

DP0666780 A/Prof WX Zheng; Prof J Chen 

Approved An Investigation into Performance Limitation of Wireless Networked Feedback Systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $87,000 

2007 : $74,000 

2008 : $76,000 




Recent technological advances in information technology have begun to drive controls research in a direction that seeks to 

merge communication networks, control design, and computing power. Investigation of the constraints, limitations, and 

tradeoffs in design of wireless networked control systems is of intrinsic scientific interest and broad engineering impact. The 

success of this project will enrich Australia's leading role in the international control community. The training of the 

postdoctoral research associates will generate the expertise needed to maintain the coming generation involved in 

cutting-edge technological advancement. The project will strengthen research activities in Australia through strong 

international collaborations. 

University of Wollongong 

DP0666700 Prof DJ Ayre; Prof RJ Whelan 

Approved Why conserve genetic variation? Is this misdirected effort or a crucial concern? 

Project Title 

2006 : $106,000 

2007 : $96,000 

2008 : $96,000 


Administering Institution University of Wollongong 


In attempting to conserve populations of threatened plants, ecosystem managers must prioritise allocation of resources to 

both immediate and long-term threats, including loss of genetic variation. This study will determine the importance of 

maintaining existing genetic variation within populations of several species in a major Australian plant group. As well as 

advancing theory in the area of plant ecological genetics and evolutionary biology, our results will provide a stronger scientific 

basis for the development of conservation policy and management decisions for conserving threatened plant species. 

DP0666787 Prof DJ Ayre; Dr TE Minchinton 

Approved Setting the limits: Ecological and genetic tests of the status of marine populations at species 

Project Title borders. 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




The wide dispersion of Australia's population along our coastal fringe combined with global climate change poses severe 

threats to marine biodiversity and necessitates urgent conservation measures. Our study will use ecological and genetic 

approaches to contribute to our understanding of the roles of reproduction and dispersal in maintaining biodiversity. We will 

determine whether some locations are highly productive sources of larval colonists, whereas others are unproductive and 

dependent on other sources of recruits, and we will inform management practices such as the creation of marine protected 

areas. 

Page 90


DP0665531 Prof RJ Barry; Dr AR Clarke; Dr SJ Johnstone 

Approved Exploring the brain mechanisms underlying hyperactivity in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $60,000 




Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is the most common psychiatric disorder affecting children, resulting in 

substantial costs (both human and financial) to the child, their family and Australian society. The outcomes of this project will 

provide a better foundation for understanding dysfunctional brain mechanisms in AD/HD, which is expected to lead to better 

diagnosis, treatment, and community support. Ultimately this will contribute to a healthy start to life for these children. This 

project will also demonstrate how an integrated Australian approach can lead the research agenda in both basic 

neuroscience, at the interface of psychology and physiology, and its applications in health. 

DP0666628 Dr JL Beck; Prof MM Sheil 

Approved Gas Phase Dynamics of a Biological Molecular Machine: Fundamentals, Stoichiometries and 

Project Title Stabilities 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Over the last twenty years advanced molecular measurement techniques have enabled the characterization of individual 

biological molecules (proteins and DNA) within different types of cells and diseased tissues. This project uses a new 

technique that literally "weighs" groups of proteins and/or DNA to help us understand how such large molecules fit together 

and function within cells (sometimes referred to as molecular machinery). More detailed knowledge of processes such as 

those involved in copying DNA when new cells are produced will, in the long term, improve our understanding and treatment 

of conditions or diseases that result from errors in molecular machinery. 

DP0665932 Prof LM Head 

Approved Beyond dualisms in the conceptualisation and management of Australian landscapes and species 

Project Title 

2006 : $58,000 

2007 : $94,000 

2008 : $94,000 

2009 : $53,000 

Primary RFCD 3704 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY 



It is increasingly recognised that the major barriers to the urgent challenges of environmental sustainability are social, cultural 

and organisational rather than scientific. This project will help Australia imagine and implement environmental strategies that 

come to terms with the reality of a peopled landscape and thus better manage landscapes and species. It will place Australia 

at the forefront of international intellectual debates about relationships between the human and non-human worlds, and 

contribute to our continued international leadership in biodiversity conservation and heritage management. It will foster 

linkages with Sweden and build a node of innovative interdisciplinary postgraduate research training. 

DP0664199 Prof BN Indraratna; Prof FA DARVE 

Approved Assessment and Prediction of Particle Breakage under Cyclic Loading 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $55,000 


Page 91




Every year, transport industries spend millions of dollars to maintain existing tracks suffering excessive settlement due to 

heavy traffic. In railways, differential settlement and track fouling are mostly due to ballast breakage. Frequent maintenance 

requires large amounts of quarried ballast causing environmental degradation. Simulation of particle breakage subject to 

cyclic loading is pioneering fundamental research that will have significant impact on the design and maintenance of future 

rail and road networks. A full understanding of the breakage mechanisms of aggregates will lead to innovative techniques in 

design and construction, including faster trains carrying heavier loads with reduced maintenance costs. 

DP0666707 Dr PC Innis; Prof DL Officer; Prof RN Warrener 

Approved Self-Assembled Porphyrin-Fullerene Photovoltaic Electrodes: Towards Nanostructured Organic 

Project Title Solar Cells 

2006 : $153,000 

2007 : $138,000 

2008 : $138,000 




Energy is arguably the single most important problem facing humanity today. The development of cheap, efficient 

photovoltaic technology could dramatically change this, providing humanity with renewable, environmentally acceptable 

energy resources. The need to replace present electrical energy generation, largely based on fossil fuel, is without argument 

given the detrimental effects of global warming from increasing carbon dioxide production. The development and 

implementation of cheap, efficient photovoltaic technologies in Australia will not only ensure its sustainable economic growth 

but also contribute in a major way to the improved use of land, water, mineral and other energy resources in Australia. 

DP0665652 A/Prof SC Jones 

Approved Evidence-based community standards for ethics in advertising 

Project Title 

2006 : $50,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $40,000 




The primary social benefit of this project is the development of evidence-based standards representing community views on 

acceptable practices in advertising, providing a basis on which to lobby for improvements in regulation. Such improvements 

will contribute to the ability of consumers to make informed choices about product purchase and behaviour change. This 

project also has economic benefit for commercial and social advertisers in Australia, enabling them to: pre-test potential 

advertisements to ensure that they comply with community standards; develop advertisements which are better suited to their 

target audience(s); better forecast the effects of appeals on advertising outcomes; and reduce complaints to the ASB and 

other bodies. 

DP0665292 A/Prof RA Lewis 

Approved High Efficiency Terahertz Emitters 

Project Title 

2006 : $123,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $112,000 




Between microwaves and visible light lies the terahertz gap - the least explored region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Yet 

the THz region is precisely where many materials exhibit characteristic signatures that allow them to be detected and 

identified. For example, anthrax, explosives, water, DNA, plastics, and carcinomas all have distinctive THz signatures. THz 

methods are revolutionizing medicine, agriculture, industry, and national security. Wider application is hampered by the lack 

of powerful sources of THz radiation. We aim to develop more efficient emitters of THz radiation. The national economy, 

security, and well-being will benefit. 

Page 92


DP0664386 Dr D Li 

Approved Electronically Conducting Nanofibres and Assemblies 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,880 

2007 : $110,880 

2008 : $110,880 

2009 : $110,880 

2010 : $110,880 


QEII Dr D Li 



With the use of new techniques that have just emerged in the last two years and are receiving rapidly growing interest 

throughout the world, this project will bring to Australia a new nanofabrication platform for making a variety of complex 

nanostructures. Fundamental researches on these complex nanostructures will greatly advance nanoscience. New 

nanotechnologies will be developed to address some world-wide challenging problems, e.g. energy conversion and storage, 

chemical/biological sensing and other micro- and nanoelectronic devices. This project will bring both breakthrough science 

and frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries and help place Australia at the forefront of 

nanotechnology. 

DP0667182 Prof GC Nanson; A/Prof BG Jones 

Approved Palaeoclimatic and environmental significance of major Late Quaternary drainage contributions and 

Project Title disruptions in the Lake Eyre basin. 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




This study will advance our knowledge of the most remarkable floods ever known to have occurred in Australia. They were 

associated with a vast aquatic ecosystem in what today is the barren northern end of the Flinders Ranges, a region of desert 

dunes and salt lakes. Remarkably, such wet conditions appear to have coincided with episodes of megafaunal extinction and 

with the human occupation of Australia. The results will provide valuable information with which to better understand the the 

main global drivers of episodes of profound wetness and dryness in Australian climate. 

DP0665752 Prof SG Pyne 

Approved Asymmetric Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Bioactive Alkaloids and their Analogues 

Project Title 

2006 : $135,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $130,000 




We propose to develop innovative methods for preparing bioactive natural products and their analogues with potential 

applications as new and safer therapeutic drugs and agricultural chemicals. This project would make important scientific 

contributions to the advancement of the fundamentals of synthetic organic chemistry and contribute to Australia's 

development as a knowledge-based economy. The methodology and products developed may have potential 

pharmaceutical and agricultural applications from which the country could benefit from in the future. This project would help 

developed skilled people that may develop innovative outcomes in the future, especially in the developing pharmaceutical 

and biotechnology industries in Australia. 

Page 93


DP0666084 Prof RG Roberts; Prof Dr R Grun; Dr Z Jacobs; Dr GA Duller 

Approved Out of Africa and into Australia: robust chronologies for turning points in modern human evolution 

Project Title and dispersal 

2006 : $86,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $60,000 

2009 : $70,000 

2010 : $70,000 

Primary RFCD 2603 GEOCHEMISTRY 



This project will yield important new data on the timing of major turning points in human evolution and the human colonisation 

of Australia. This will improve our knowledge of Aboriginal cultural heritage and provide a long-term perspective on 

human/environment interactions to help forecast future impacts of human disruption of the Australian ecosystem 

(Environmentally Sustainable Australia NRP). Modern dating techniques underpin many archaeological and environmental 

projects, so the advances made in this study will benefit researchers worldwide, increase capacity for commercial services, 

and enhance Australia's international standing in geochronology. We will also generate high-quality research students and 

new collaborative initiatives. 

DP0663642 Dr S Roodenrys; Prof C Hulme 

Approved Phonological neighbourhood effects in short-term memory and speech production: Towards a 

Project Title unified account. 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $24,650 




This research will help to define the interaction between speech production processes and verbal short-term memory. As 

short-term memory is important in learning language a greater understanding of this interaction will help in the development 

of better educational and remedial language instruction practices. Children with developmental language problems, and 

adults who have suffered a stroke or other form of brain damage, benefit from remedial language training. The more we 

understand about the relationship between speech processes and short-term memory, the manner in which they interact, and 

the degree to which language acquisition depends on short-term memory the better able we will be to develop effective 

language programs. 

DP0663785 Prof AB Rozenfeld; Dr IM Cornelius; Prof AS Dzurak; Dr GJ Takacs; Prof M Zaider; Dr MI Reinhard 

Approved Radiation protection for space, aviation, and terrestrial applications: the development of novel 

Project Title radiation detectors and computational techniques 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $140,000 

2008 : $140,000 


PHYSICS 

APD Dr IM Cornelius 



Personnel in space, aviation, and terrestrial applications may be exposed to potentially harmful levels of densely ionising 

radiation. This project will produce improved radiation detectors and computational techniques, addressing needs in the 

prediction and assessment of equivalent dose in these applications. The "preventative healthcare" priority goal of the 

National Research Priority "Promoting and Maintaining Good Health" will be addressed, serving to reduce the risk to 

personnel involved in such activities. This research will also enhance Australia's international reputation in this field, stimulate 

local expertise, and create a critical mass of researchers in this field. 

Page 94


DP0663423 A/Prof KG Russell; Prof JA Eccleston; Prof SM Lewis; Dr DC Woods 

Approved Efficient Design for Generalized Linear Models 

Project Title 

2006 : $58,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $56,000 




In industrial, commercial and social research, we collect data in order to predict the outcome of a process based on the 

inputs to that process. We want to maximize the information that is gained from the data. Good planning is crucially important 

to achieve this. This project will determine how best to select the inputs to the process for many situations that occur in 

research. A computer package to answer these questions will be written. The nation will benefit from a fundamental increase 

in efficiency of research and, therefore, in efficient use of research dollars. 

DP0666163 Prof R Safavi-Naini; Mr VD To; Dr P Nickolas 

Approved Approximate authentication systems for digital information 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 


APD Mr VD To 



Assurance about the origin and integrity of digital content is crucial not only in high security applications but also in everyday 

life scenarios such as providing proof that an X-ray image presented as part of an insurance claim is authentic, or a news 

clip is not tampered with. The outcomes of this project will significantly enhance trustworthiness of multimedia information 

systems which are increasingly used in areas such as surveillance (traffic control), health, digital content production and 

distribution, tourism and journalism. It will also result in the development of secure biometric authentication systems which 

are critical in securing cyber space. 

DP0666273 Dr CH Schofield; Prof SB Kaye; Prof BM Tsamenyi 

Approved Maritime Legal Practice and Policy in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific: Synergies and 

Project Title Challenges for Australian Trade and Security 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $147,000 

2008 : $141,000 

2009 : $132,000 

2010 : $120,970 


QEII Dr CH Schofield 



Analysis of maritime legal practice in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific will bolster Australia's national maritime 

policy-making and regional capacity to address key maritime concerns, leading to enhanced sustainable management of the 

ocean environment and its resources, economic security, maritime enforcement and security for trade and shipping. This will 

deliver profound political, economic and security benefits to the countries concerned. The research will help to safeguard 

Australia's vital maritime interests as well as those of our maritime neighbours and therefore impact directly on Australia's 

economic security and prosperity, the protection and preservation of the marine environment and thus the well being of its 

society. 

DP0666771 Dr D Shi 

Approved Development of conductive buffer layers for RABiTS-based coated conductors 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 


Page 95




YBCO coated conductor has already been identified and developed as far as second generation HTS wire in power 

applications. Major advances have been made in the last 10 years in coated conductor development mainly in all aspects: 

substrate, buffer layer and YBCO layer. The research on conductive buffers layer will improve and expand the R&D on 

coated conductor in Australia. On the economic side, dramatic advantages and savings could be achieved if the coated 

conductors can be put to use. Superconductivity can have a significant role in deregulated electricity markets and in 

lessening CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts. 

DP0663306 Dr W Susilo; Ms KT Win; Dr F Zhang 

Approved Credential Systems and Their Applications in Securing Electronic Health Records 

Project Title 

2006 : $98,608 

2007 : $62,000 

2008 : $69,000 




The expected result of this project will be frontier technologies that are essential in applications and services, whose 

acceptance and take-up will depend on users' assurance of their security in the cyber world. In particular, a service such as 

the EHR system, which is known to be a complex system, requires the use of new and innovative credential-based systems. 

The result will also contribute to maintaining Australia's leading position in the telecommunication and information technology 

industries, which has been recognised by increased government funding levels. The resulting applications of this project will 

place Australia as the first country able to design and implement a secure EHR system. 

DP0664898 Dr CS Turney; Dr SG Haberle 

Approved Testing the hypothesis of synchronous inter-hemispheric climatic change during the Last 

Project Title Termination (20,000-10,000 years ago) 

2006 : $169,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $100,000 




The results generated in this project will provide a greater understanding of the sensitivity of the Australasian region to a 

range of different climatic conditions (far beyond that recorded in historical datasets). Focussing on climate at the end of the 

last ice age (20,000-10,000 years ago) we will investigate the timing, rate and magnitude of change in the Australasian region 

and test whether the variability was in phase with other records from the mid- and high-latitudes of the Southern and Northern 

Hemisphere. The results will provide a considerably improved context for understanding present and future climate change in 

Australia. 

DP0664403 Dr T Uller 

Approved Evolution of maternal effects: a life-history perspective 

Project Title 

2006 : $83,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $48,000 




The community benefits from the present project are two-fold. Firstly, it strengthens Australia's competititve position in 

evolutionary biology research, and its applications in conservation and medicine. The projects focus on long-term 

consequences of early developmental conditions is considered to be a priority in both medical and evolutionary research. 

Secondly, understanding variation in phenotypic traits in relation to environmental factors, such as prenatal stress, is 

important for designing conservation and animal breeding programs to minimize the risk of population decline and to ensure 

uncompromised husbandry conditions to avoid animal suffering. 

Page 96


DP0665873 Dr X Wang; Dr Z Cheng; Prof T Shrout; Prof W Wen; Dr K Yamaura; Dr K Liss; Dr RO Piltz 

Approved Development of novel ferroelectric magnetic materials for multi-functional applications 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 




Ferroelectric magnets having simultaneous ferroeletricity and ferromagnetism is an area of emerging scientific interest. This 

project is to develop novel ferroelectric magnetic materials for multifunctional applications and falls into National Research 

Priority, Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries. This project will provide trainings for 

postgraduate students and develop patentable science and technologies. The scope for use of the novel multifunctional 

materials will be enormous with great markets in the fields of magnetoelectronics, magnetic electromechanical industrial 

devices. It will benefit Australian manufacturing industry in the long term. 

DP0664313 A/Prof CD Woodroffe 

Approved Variability in El Niño frequency and intensity over the past 4000 years 

Project Title 

2006 : $45,000 

2007 : $35,000 

2008 : $35,000 




Fossil corals contain a rich archive of past climate variability for tropical oceans which can extend the limited instrumental 

data and increase our understanding of climate sensitivity. El Niño variations in the Pacific have far-reaching impacts on 

Australian climate, and this project will reconstruct variations in the past in order to better forecast climate sensitivity in the 

future. It focuses on Christmas Island which is the optimal site to capture El Niño variability at several different time scales, 

and will lead to a better understanding of atmospheric and oceanic factors that have caused climate variability. 

DP0666853 Mr Y Zhao; Dr M Ionescu; Dr J Du; Prof EW Collings 

Approved Superconducting MgB2 thin films and structures for electronic devices and telecommunication 


2006 : $125,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 


APD Mr Y Zhao 



Two important directions of electronic application for MgB2 films are superconducting Josephson junction (JJ) technology 

and passive microwave devices. Superconducting JJ technology will have a small but important niche in high-performance 

digital signal and data processing applications for civilian, commercial, and military terrestrial, as well as space deployment. 

With superconducting passive microwave devices, the potentially largest market in this segment are filter systems for groundor 

satellite based wireless communication systems. The research outcome could support Australian companies to develop 

corresponding products, as well as broaden Australia's knowledge of the physics of the new MgB2 superconductor. 

Victoria 

CSIRO - Molecular Science 

DP0666961 Prof CJ Drummond 

Approved Protic Ionic Liquids: Design, Creation, Characterisation and Application 

Project Title 

2006 : $195,000 

2007 : $104,000 

2008 : $104,000 


Page 97


Administering Institution CSIRO - Molecular Science 


The project activities fall within National Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian 

Industries. To remain internationally competitive in the future many Australian manufacturing enterprises will need to make 

significant advancements in the design and processing of products at multiple length scales, including at molecular and 

atomic levels. The plan is to translate this project's anticipated cutting edge research results into new high technology 

products that can be manufactured in Australia. Australian post-graduate students and post-doctoral fellows will be trained 

in the design, creation, characterisation and application of advanced materials. 

DP0667189 Prof CJ Drummond; Dr BJ Boyd; Dr AJ Hill 

Approved Determining the Nano-Structure of Ordered Amphiphile Self-Assembly Materials with Positron 

Project Title Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $110,000 


Administering Institution CSIRO - Molecular Science 


To remain internationally competitive in the future many Australian manufacturing enterprises will need to exploit nano-space. 

These manufacturers of advanced products containing nano-structured materials will be reliant on sophisticated 

characterisation techniques in order to maintain a competitive edge. This project will place Australia at the forefront of the 

application of one such technique, Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS), to ordered nano-structured 

amphiphile self-assembly materials. Australian post-graduate students and post-doctoral fellows will also be trained in the 

creation and characterisation of molecular self-assembly materials which underpin the bottom-up approach in 

nanotechnology. 

Deakin University 

DP0664167 Dr JP Arnould; Dr D Costa; Prof MA Fedak 

Approved The cost of a meal: life-history consequences of foraging mode in fur seals and sea lions 

Project Title 

2006 : $79,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 


Administering Institution Deakin University 


Australia's two fur seal species are currently experiencing population increases throughout their range as they recover from 

the over-exploitation of the commercial sealing era (18-19th centuries) whereas the Australian sea lion population is 

decreasing (or stable but low) throughout its range and is considered vulnerable. Understanding the mechanisms which 

determine foraging efficiency in fur seals and sea lions will have implications for the management of these species, which are 

likely to experience increasing interactions with fisheries activities. The results of this research will assist in the development 

of policies to ensure the environmentally sustainable use of marine resources. 

DP0665242 Dr K Ball 

Approved Understanding environmental drivers of socioeconomic inequalities in food consumption 

Project Title 

2006 : $104,515 

2007 : $65,000 




The health, economic and social costs of poor nutrition are substantial. The national partnership, the Strategic 

Inter-governmental Nutrition Alliance, has proposed a strategy, Eat Well Australia, which aims to improve the well-being of 

Australians through better nutrition. Improving Australians' diet will cut health care costs, improve quality of life, and promote 

physical, mental and social functioning. In order to improve diet, particularly among those who are disadvantaged, a better 

understanding of the environmental drivers of inequalities in food consumption is required. Findings will inform the 

development of policies to increase the availability and accessibility of foodstuffs to supply an adequate and affordable diet 

for all. 

Page 98


DP0663845 A/Prof DM Cahill; Prof BA Kunz; Dr PM Schenk; Dr DF Klessig 

Approved A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability 

Project Title 

2006 : $124,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 




Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the 

economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by 

disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease 

resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian agriculture and protection of our natural resources. The current 

reliance for disease control on chemicals that damage the environment will be reduced and our research will contribute 

directly to the provision of cheaper, simpler and more effective methods of control. 

DP0665047 Dr S Datta; Dr DJ Beynon 

Approved The influence of Indian Antecedents on the geometry of Southeast Asian temples 

Project Title 

2006 : $45,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $35,000 

Primary RFCD 3101 ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN ENVIRONMENT 



Australia is an emerging player in the field of heritage and conservation in the Asia-Pacific region. This project will greatly 

improve the ability of Australian cultural heritage institutions to address the preservation and conservation initiatives in the 

region.A successful Australian heritage export industry will foster improved diplomatic relations with Asia. It will provide 

momentum to a vital and expanding national industry, broadening the scope of Australian trade in cultural heritage and allied 

professional services and enhancing the nation's image in Asia. This corresponds with the key objectives of the Australian 

government's foreign affairs and trade portfolios. 

DP0662950 Prof TD Evans; Ms M Pearson; Dr PD Macauley 

Approved Research capacity-building: the development of Australian PhD programs in national and emerging 

Project Title global contexts. 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $70,000 

Primary RFCD 3399 OTHER EDUCATION 



PhD programs in universities are the principal means by which new researchers are prepared for work in the knowledge 

economy. This project develops a comprehensive coded database of every PhD awarded in Australia since the first programs 

in the 1940s. It the will study fourteen different PhD programs that have developed during this period in four universities. The 

project focuses on how these programs develop research capacity within disciplines and how these are related to the 

changing social, cultural and economic needs of Australia. The project will assist in planning future PhD programs and 

research capacity development. 

DP0665517 Mr JS Gillespie; Dr PK Taylor 

Approved Understanding regulatory networks: Assessing the relevance of the 'rule of law' to business 

Project Title regulation in Vietnam 

2006 : $52,000 

2007 : $47,000 

2008 : $43,000 


Page 99




Consistent with Research Priority 4, the project will assist Australian policy makers and business investors/exporters to 

understand why market laws frequently produce fragmentation and instability in developing East Asia. It will also inform 

important theoretical debates about the relative influence of law, social norms, ethno-religious orientations and sentiment in 

forming regulatory networks that augment and rival state power. The project will strengthen linkages between Australian and 

Asian universities and research institutions and improve post-graduate research and teaching programs. 

DP0666276 Prof WS Logan; Dr CD Long; Dr F Qian; Mr KJ Reeves 

Approved Remembering Places of Pain and Shame: Conservation of the Asia-Pacific Region's 'Difficult' 

Project Title Heritage of Imprisonment Sites 

2006 : $79,000 

2007 : $59,000 

2008 : $62,000 

2009 : $55,755 

Primary RFCD 3101 ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN ENVIRONMENT 

APD Dr F Qian 



This project will contribute to theoretical and practical discourses relevant to Australia's cultural heritage industry. Its findings 

will have implications for the work of national and state industry bodies (Australian Heritage Council, Australian Dept of 

Environment and Heritage, Heritage Victoria) and professional organisations (Australia ICOMOS). The project findings may 

lead to concrete results such as the addition of new places to international, national and state heritage registers and their 

protection for the benefit of the community at large. The project will also provide Early Career Researcher training and 

enhance possibilities for future research collaboration with heritage and tourism industry partners. 

DP0667181 Dr PN Pathirana; Dr BF Rolfe; Dr A Wong 

Approved Nodal Power Saving for Disconnected Ad Hoc Sensor Networks 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 




Bushfire, age care and farming is Australia's today and tomorrow. 

A key aspect in bushfire control is early detection of ignitions by spreading miniature low power sensors in a large potential 

area in an ad hoc fashion and localizing. Response to panic alarm buttons by retirees in a retirement village where they are 

free to walk around while their location is monitored in real time using a wireless tag they carry to transmit data relating to 

their physical health(i.e blood pressure, ECG etc). Locating live stocks roaming around in the dairy industry using sensory 

transmission used for monitoring their statues is vitals for the farmer for improving efficiency. 

DP0664206 Dr AF Timperio; Prof DA Crawford; Dr K Ball; Dr J Salmon 

Approved Understanding children's risk of obesity: contextual influences on changes in eating, physical 

Project Title activity and weight status 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $74,000 

2008 : $100,000 

2009 : $30,000 




Overweight and obesity are significant public health issues in Australia. After tobacco, physical inactivity and obesity are 

leading modifiable contributors to the burden of disease. The economic cost of obesity was recently estimated at $1.3 

billion/year. Preventing further increases in childhood obesity is an urgent national priority, however there currently exists 

insufficient information to guide effective obesity prevention strategies. The findings of this study will inform efforts to prevent 

obesity at the population level by enhancing knowledge of contextual influences on obesity-risk behaviours and the selection 

of specific targets for intervention. As such, this study will help create a healthier generation of children. 

Page 100


La Trobe University 

DP0662909 Dr BA Cardak; Prof BJ Chapman; Prof VL Martin 

Approved Why poorer students are less likely to go to university: Theoretical and empirical evidence for 

Project Title Australia with implications for policy 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $70,000 


Administering Institution La Trobe University 


This project will improve our understanding of the factors that lead to the under-representation of low income students in 

universities in Australia and other countries. The focus of the analysis will be the impact of a student's family and household 

environment and innate ability on their school performance, an essential pre-requisite for university admission, together with 

the costs of university education. Identifying the relative importance of these factors in determining educational success will 

enable families, schools, universities and educational policy-makers to improve opportunities for high ability students from all 

socioeconomic backgrounds. This will in turn enhance economic growth and productivity, benefiting all Australians. 

DP0662929 Dr FJ Collins; Dr SE Turnbull; Dr SL Bye 

Approved Australian Screen Comedy 

Project Title 

2006 : $147,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,350 


APD Dr SL Bye 



This project will analyse the different types of screen comedy produced in Australia in order to understand how comedy has 

shaped a sense of who we are as Australians. It will provide an understanding of why some Australian comedies and 

comedians succeed at home but not abroad and whether comedy can claim to be representative of an Australian way of life. 

It will make a contribution to a network of current research projects into the history and aesthetics of Australian television and 

film, producing synergies in national media research. 

DP0664126 Dr M Connors 

Approved The role of development agencies in shaping national identity in Thailand 

Project Title 

2006 : $45,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $20,000 




The study will provide much needed research on a country that has an important bilateral relationship with Australia. More 

specifically, the role of development agencies in the shaping of national identity is little understood. Given the increased role 

that such agencies play in the reconstruction of nations, this is a timely study. My study, based on intense fieldwork and 

extensive use of Thai language documents, will offer an analysis of this role. Understanding how Thai national identity has 

adapted to change is an important component of Australian cross-cultural literacy, and important in understanding the future 

direction of Thai politics. 

DP0665250 Dr RF Cosgrove; Dr C Shen; Dr H Lu; Dr S Wang 

Approved Chinese Middle to Late Pleistocene hominid behaviour: exploring cultural variability through time 

Project Title and space 

2006 : $156,000 

2007 : $82,000 

2008 : $125,000 


APD Dr S Wang 

Page 101




This research will contribute to the understanding of the spread of our species out of Africa 2 million years ago into East Asia. 

It examines the range of hominid behaviours and ecological circumstances that led to the successful colonisation of China by 

Homo erectus. It also addresses the vexed question of the relationship between H. erectus and H. sapiens. Did the latter 

evolve in situ from their antecedents as some suggest, or did H. sapiens replace H. erectus, in the great diaspora from Africa 

120,000 years ago? 

DP0663969 Prof SF Crowe 

Approved Remembering that things have changed: A behavioural, pharmacological and biochemical 

Project Title examination of the differences between consolidation and re-consolidation in the day-old chick. 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 




This project has five national benefits. 1) It addresses a fundamental scientific and practical problem: to determine whether 

re-consolidation is actually a repetition of consolidation or in fact a distinct process; 2) it will provide a comprehensive account 

of how the two processes compare at a biochemical level; 3) it may ultimately provide a pharmacological and behavioural 

approach to modifying troubling or unwanted memories such as the concerns which may result in post-traumatic stress 

disorder; 4) it will contribute to Australia's international reputation in behavioural neuroscience and 5) it will provide 

outstanding training opportunities for Australian undergraduate and postgraduate research students in behavioural 

neuroscience. 

DP0664424 Prof PL Dyson; A/Prof FW Menk; Dr CL Waters 

Approved Dual Radar Studies of Sub-Auroral Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling 

Project Title 

2006 : $143,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $120,000 




Benefits include: 

- improved ability to observe, understand and predict space weather impacts on Australia's communications, navigation, and 

surveillance capabilities; 

- support for specific Australian programs such as: the JORN the over-the-horizon radar coastal surveillance system; IPS 

Radio and Space Services space weather monitoring activities (TIGER is a key component of the Australian Space Weather 

Plan - Strategic Planning to 2010 and Beyond); 

- continue to provide Australia with a central role in the multi-nation SuperDARN project that continues to pioneer new 

initiatives in successful network operations for scientific studies and for the development of space weather data products for 

monitoring agencies and other scientists. 

DP0664973 Dr RM Ford 

Approved Working the Land: Women's Rural Labour and the Making of a Nation, Australia, 1901-1945 

Project Title 

2006 : $39,000 

2007 : $39,000 

2008 : $42,000 




Dr Ford's research delivers social, cultural and economic benefits to Australia, particularly for rural Australia, for women and 

for aging Australians. Her work will increase community understanding about working life in rural Australia; the relationship 

between land, agriculture, gender and national identity; and the ways women combined family responsibilities with farm work 

- issues central to debates about the role of rural Australia and work/life balance. Her project will contribute to rural 

communities' sense of identity, as well as promote heritage tourism, important to regional economic development. It will also 

develop partnerships between universities and rural communities and improve the global visibility of Australian research. 

Page 102


DP0663027 Dr TJ Minchin; Prof JA Salmond 

Approved Still Fighting for Our Rights: The Ongoing Struggle for Civil Rights in the USA, 1965-1980 

Project Title 

2006 : $48,000 

2007 : $49,000 

2008 : $31,070 




The American civil rights struggle has close parallels with Australia's, since both countries are new and culturally-diverse 

societies where race has played a central role in defining the national character. Our study will help to further strengthen the 

close links between Australia and the U.S., and will raise the profile of Australian higher education in the U.S, since both 

Minchin and Salmond have published widely in the U.S, especially in this field. Much of the recent upsurge in scholarship on 

U.S. civil rights has been carried out by scholars based outside the U.S., especially in Europe, and it is vital to have 

Australian-based scholars and institutions at the heart of this vibrant and relevant field. 

DP0664059 Dr JM Santini 

Approved Arsenite oxidation by a novel bacterium that is a candidate for arsenic bioremediation 

Project Title 

2006 : $109,000 

2007 : $44,000 

2008 : $44,000 




The arsenic munching microbe NT-26 could help in the fight to clean up arsenic-contaminated mining waste and drinking 

water. Arsenic poses an environmental problem in countries such as Australia, USA and Canada owing primarily to mining 

activities. The problem in countries such as Bangladesh and West Bengal are even more serious as these people are dying 

of arsenic-related diseases as they rely on water containing arsenic as their primary source of drinking water. The outcomes 

of this research should provide the necessary information for removing arsenic from all types of waters. 

DP0663825 Dr M Tabain 

Approved The effects of sentence structure on consonant and vowel articulations 

Project Title 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $45,000 

2008 : $30,000 




Whilst machine-generated speech is generally of good quality at the level of the single word, it is noticeably less 

natural-sounding at the level of the sentence. This project examines an important aspect of the naturalness of human 

speech, namely, the effect that sentence structure has on individual consonants and vowels. A break-down of this 

naturalness is seen in some speakers who have suffered traumatic brain injury: such speakers perform well when asked to 

utter a short word, but struggle when asked to produce a longer string of sounds. A better understanding of the interaction 

between speech sounds and sentence structure will lead to improvements in the treatment of speech disorders, and in the 

quality of human-machine communication. 

DP0664177 Prof MR Thornton 

Approved EEO in a Culture of Uncertainty 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $115,000 

2009 : $86,500 

2010 : $89,500 


Page 103


APF Prof MR Thornton 



Australia appears to be losing its commitment to equal opportunity as work becomes increasingly insecure. Deference to 

employers, including transnational corporations, is already exercising a disproportionate effect on women, racial minorities 

and people with disabilities. The impact of the market, globalisation and free trade agreements is resulting in the increasing 

marginalisation of EEO and anti-discrimination measures. As a turning away from social justice in favour of the market and 

profit-making can only impoverish a democratic society, this timely study will examine the nature of the retreat in the hope 

that something might be done about it. 

Monash University 

DP0665836 Dr PC Andrews; Prof GB Deacon; Dr ML Cole; Dr K Ruhlandt-Senge 

Approved Advancing the Metal-Organic Chemistry of the Heavy Alkaline Earth Elements 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 


Administering Institution Monash University 


The project will open up a new area in Australian metal based chemical research, deriving high value added products from 

the already existing exploitation of Australia's substantial alkaline earth metal mineral resources. Internationally recognised 

expertise in the design and manipulation of highly reactive chemical tools will contribute breakthrough science and innovation 

to the growing pharmaceutical, fine chemicals and smart materials industry, with the potential to provide nascent and 

established Australian companies a competitive edge in new product development. Students will be trained in the necessary 

skills to succeed in and expand such technically demanding area of metal based chemistry. 

DP0665223 Dr U Bach 

Approved DNA Directed Nanofabrication - A novel, universal, highly parallel bottom-up assembly approach 

Project Title 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $160,000 

2008 : $150,000 

2009 : $150,000 

2010 : $150,000 


ARF Dr U Bach 



This proposal aims to provide a nanofabrication method that has the potential to strongly impact every aspect of science - 

from fundamental research to commercial applications by providing a universal, simple low-cost tool to build nanostructures 

to order. The basic properties of these structures will be studied prior to their integration into new applications. We will be 

providing a solution to a bottleneck that currently limits the scientific advancement and commercial exploitation of 

nanotechnology. Our proposal describes a 'Nanoassembly' technique, considered by the ARC as Frontier Technologies for 

Building and Transforming Australian Industries (ARC priority area 3). 

DP0664368 Dr B Balachandran; Prof RW Faff; Prof MF Theobald 

Approved Asset Pricing, Signal Type and Overconfident Investors 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $64,000 

2008 : $68,000 


Page 104




Recent bubbles in financial markets and other anxieties with regard to whether financial assets are correctly valued have led 

to a reduction in the confidence in financial markets. This study, by focussing upon potential biases in the price formation 

process, will provide strong insights into this important topic. In covering three major equity markets, the project will provide 

important guidance for the design of regulatory policies on corporate disclosure by both Governments and Stock Exchanges. 

Given the increased need for funded superannuation/pension schemes, an increase in the confidence in capital market 

processes will benefit the development of successful funded schemes. 

DP0664665 Dr M Burd; Dr A Dussutour 

Approved Individual behaviour and collective order: the traffic dynamics of ants 

Project Title 

2006 : $92,000 

2007 : $77,000 

2008 : $75,000 


APD Dr A Dussutour 



We are investigating the properties of traffic flow in ant colonies. Ants seem to meet their transportation needs without traffic 

congestion or complex centralised control. By discovering how ants accomplish this, we increase our understanding of social 

behaviour in the natural world, and also provide the basic research on which applied solutions to human traffic problems can 

be based. 

DP0665353 A/Prof F Burstein; A/Prof JR Warren; Prof SM McKemmish; A/Prof J Fisher 

Approved Smart Information Portals: Meeting knowledge and decision support needs of health care 

Project Title consumers for quality online information 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $62,000 

2008 : $64,000 




Smart information portals, tailored to the communities needs, will contribute to emerging national information infrastructure 

for consumer focused information provision. They will support government initiatives promoting the role of online access to 

reliable, quality information in achieving good health, patient empowerment, participation in informed decision making, 

self-management, and greater treatment compliance. Through the National Research Priority 3 goal of smart information use, 

the project addresses Priority 2 goals relating to ageing well; ageing productively; preventive health care; and strengthening 

the social and economic fabric to enable Australians to make choices that lead to healthy, productive and fulfilling lives. 

DP0663560 Prof RA Cas; Prof KV Cashman; Prof S de Silva; Dr G Giordano; Dr O Roche; Prof Dr JG Viramonte 

Approved The eruption, emplacement and characteristics of extremely large volume pyroclastic flow deposits 

Project Title (ignimbrites). 

2006 : $132,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 

2009 : $60,000 




Pyroclastic flows are hot, turbulent, flows of volcanic gas, pumice, rock debris and fine ash often produced during major 

explosive volcanic eruptions. Most historic and researched events have been mostly small volume examples. In this research 

we propose to investigate the characteristics of 3 extremely large volume (>1,000 km3) pyroclastic flow deposits in the Andes 

of South America, to understand the eruption origins and the flow dynamics of such large volume and potentially far flowing 

(up to 200 km from the vent) pyroclastic flows. These are potentially more destructive than the Indian Ocean tsunami event, 

and eruptions of this magnitude could occur in Indonesia, PNG and New Zealand. 

Page 105


DP0664451 Dr EL Christopher 

Approved Australia's Black Past: the shared history of transatlantic slave trading and convict transportation 

Project Title to Africa and Australia 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $63,000 

2008 : $62,000 

2009 : $62,000 


APD Dr EL Christopher 



Every nation needs an understanding of its past-the significance of this project is that it examines a part of Australia's history 

that is very little understood. European settlement of the continent was implemented at a time that ideas of race, and the 

relationship of skin colour to freedom, were altering significantly. These changes had a fundamental effect on the convict 

colony and the relationship of the early colonists with the aboriginal people. Only by gaining knowledge of how early racial 

interpretations were influenced by global events can Australia interpret her ever controversial racial history. 

DP0663255 Prof IJ Clarke; A/Prof C Chen 

Approved Estrogen signalling in gonadotropes 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $116,000 

2008 : $116,000 

Primary RFCD 3206 MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY 



Estrogen action is a normal prerequisite for cyclic function of reproduction in the female, but little is known about how this 

important hormone acts in the relevant cells of the pituitary gland (gonadotropes). In order to gain information on normal 

function, we will conduct studies on gonadotropes treated with estrogen in a range of paradigms. The information will be 

valuable in understanding normal reproduction, but will also form the basis of further studies to investigate the effects of 

drugs that affect estrogen action and environmental estrogens. 

DP0664022 Dr TJ Cole; A/Prof MJ Morris 

Approved Regulation of Stress Hormone Receptors in the Brain 

Project Title 

2006 : $76,000 

2007 : $66,000 

2008 : $66,000 




Our research will provide information on how the brain controls our response to stress and will allow the development of 

targeted strategies to reduce the possibility during chronic stress of the development of conditions such as anxiety and 

depression. This will improve mental health outcomes in Australia and add to Australia's economic and social stability. 

DP0666524 Dr TP Denham 

Approved Unearthing the roots of agriculture: multi-disciplinary investigations of Pleistocene and Holocene 

Project Title plant exploitation in Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $145,000 

2008 : $145,000 


APD Dr TP Denham 



The Project will foster greater communication, public understanding and research links between Australia and Papua New 

Guinea. The Project will also provide archaeological training for students at Australian universities and students and 

practitioners in Papua New Guinea. The research seeks to understand the development of societies and subsistence 

Page 106


practices, particularly plant exploitation and agriculture, in New Guinea from the Pleistocene to the present. The research will 

chart long-term human-environment relations in New Guinea, which are central to understanding the sustainability of food 

production and the maintenance of biodiversity in the Australasian region. 

DP0663573 Dr JS Forsythe; A/Prof DI Finkelstein; Dr W Shen; Prof MK Horne 

Approved Manipulating nano-fibres to control nerve regeneration 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




Diseases of the brain and mind are the most common diseases in the western world; being even more prevalent than cardiac 

or malignant disease. With Australia's aging demographic, diseases of the brain and mind will continue to impact on our 

productivity in the workplace, our quality of life, and the ability of the medicare and private health care systems to keep up 

with the ever-increasing demand for older Australians. 

The research proposed here will enable us to find solutions to this serious problem by building on Australia's strong track 

record in nanotechnology and biotechnology research, and help towards new and effective treatments. 

DP0663834 A/Prof RH Grzebieta; Dr M Bambach; Dr AS McIntosh; Dr G Rechnitzer; Mr R Judd 

Approved Protecting Occupants in Vehicle Rollover Crashes 

Project Title 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $130,000 

Primary RFCD 2904 AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING 



This project addresses a public health issue involving rollover crashes. It will help prevent 340 deaths, 6000 injuries and save 

$3.6 billion annually in Australia and many fold this number internationally. A dynamic rollover crashworthiness test protocol, 

that ensures efficient and economical vehicle rollover protection systems are designed and manufactured, will be provided to 

consumer and regulatory bodies to consider and implement. In addition, much needed Occupational Health & Safety 

information regarding vehicle rollover crashworthiness, which provide a safe work place environment for professional drivers 

and employees using vehicles, will be supplied to industry fleet managers, defence and emergency services. 

DP0663276 Dr T Handfield; Dr SJ Barker 

Approved Probability and necessity in the physical sciences 

Project Title 

2006 : $55,755 

2007 : $55,755 

2008 : $55,755 

2009 : $55,755 


APD Dr T Handfield 



This is a philosophical study of concepts that are vital to the conduct of science: namely, dispositional concepts such as force 

in physics, solubility in chemistry, biological fitness, and psychological traits. By offering a radical and novel interpretation of 

such concepts, this project has the potential to influence the future development of Australian science. Moreover, dispositions 

are crucial to understanding our distinctively human perspective on the world. The abilities to predict, reason, communicate 

meanings, and to act intentionally all involve dispositional states. This project addresses the fundamental nature of such 

states, and will thus be of significance to anyone who hopes to understand these distinctively human phenomena. 

Page 107


DP0664729 A/Prof MP Hedger; Prof PJ Hertzog 

Approved Investigation of Macrophage Function in an Immunologically Privileged Site 

Project Title 

2006 : $94,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 




The unique phenotype of the testicular macrophage demands understanding, and this project has the potential to open up an 

entirely new direction of research. The basic information so generated could facilitate development of strategies to alter either 

host or donor tissue macrophage functions in order to prevent rejection responses in humans, and be used in the 

development of new anti-inflammatory drugs. Such technologies will have application in development of novel therapeutics 

for transplantation and the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. 

DP0666176 A/Prof DG Holmes 

Approved Optimal Control of Modular Multilevel Power Electronic Converter Systems for Electrical 

Project Title Distribution Networks 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $95,000 




This project will improve the national capability to use multilevel power electronic converter systems to help operate and 

maintain more efficient electrical distribution networks. The outcomes of the project will also contribute to the implementation 

into electrical distribution systems of renewable and distributed energy generation systems, and hence will help to reduce 

greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, it is anticipated that the control strategies to be investigated could lead to subsequent 

commercial developments with local industries. Finally, the project will foster and develop international links in power 

electronics between Monash University, and leading-edge international research groups in the area around the world. 

DP0663904 Dr SP Jackson 

Approved Examination of the Calcium Signalling Dynamics Linked to Integrin Adhesion Utilising a Novel 

Project Title Micro-imaging System 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $87,000 

2008 : $87,000 




This study aims at increasing our understanding of the fundamental cell processes that allow cells to adhere to surfaces. The 

proposed study will lead to a greater understanding of the calcium signalling mechanisms that are fundamental to diverse 

biological phenomena such as, tissue regeneration and repair, blood clotting, cancer metastasis, and neuronal cell function. 

From a preventative health perspective, the investigation of platelet calcium signalling will greatly accelerate the development 

of new pharmaceuticals to tackle acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke, heart attack and 

artherosclerosis. 

DP0665138 Dr TA Jacobsen 

Approved Sexual contracts in Burma and Cambodia: Intersections of Desire, Duty and Debt 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 


APD Dr TA Jacobsen 

Page 108




Prostitution, sex trafficking, and violence against women are global concerns. A better understanding of the underlying 

context that permits women and children to be abused in this manner in other cultures will allow Australia to assist in 

addressing these problems - in our own multicultural society and abroad - in a culturally appropriate manner that will prove far 

more effective than current approaches. Australia has long been regarded as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region, especially 

regarding crime prevention and protecting the rights of marginalised groups. The research outcomes of this project have 

practical applications that can only enhance our reputation. 

DP0664277 Dr CP James 

Approved Dynastic Marriage, Courtly Politics and the State in Renaissance Italy 

Project Title 

2006 : $43,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $50,000 




The search for an understanding of the processes by which political ideas and cultural assumptions about masculinity and 

femininity change, and new genres of written expression emerge, is directly relevant to contemporary Australia. To study 

these themes in a period at once remote from one's own and yet, as the Italian Renaissance is, perennially fascinating to the 

public imagination, is to make an important contribution to our understanding of the historical roots of significant on-going 

debates. 

DP0663042 Prof DE Jesson; Dr PF Barker 

Approved Imaging Light and Gases with Low Energy Electrons 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




The imaging of light and atoms trapped in the potential minima of optical lattices will be a world first, positioning Australia at 

the forefront of the merging fields of electron microscopy and atom optics, leading to important international recognition and 

publicity. This project, relevant to the frontier technologies of photonics, atom optics and quantum information processing, will 

also develop a skills base in surface electron microscopy and laser science by providing high level training for post-graduate 

and honours students. In addition, the utilisation of optical lattices as micro-environmental cells in electron microscopy will be 

an important development for in situ studies of the gas phase including chemical reactions. 

DP0665057 Prof C Jones 

Approved Modern Low Oxidation State/Low Coordination Main Group Chemistry: A New Domain for 

Project Title Australian Science 

2006 : $330,000 

2007 : $200,000 

2008 : $230,000 

2009 : $240,000 

2010 : $240,000 


APF Prof C Jones 



The proposed research will benefit Australia by creating a knowledge base in an internationally important area of chemistry. 

This will be aided by the return to Australia of an international leader in the field. Through an integrated and interdisciplinary 

approach, the exploitation of technologies arising from the research program will be explored. In addition to the academic 

community, these technologies will benefit hi-tech industries including pharmaceutical and fine chemicals concerns which will 

gain from the use of the proposed group 13 heterocycles in organic synthesis. Moreover, industries reliant on polymer 

supports in catalytic process or opto-electronic polymers will profit from the various polymers derived from phosphaalkynes. 

Page 109


DP0663228 Prof R Jones; Dr G Clark; Dr DR Jones; Dr G Glinka 

Approved A Multi-Scale Approach To Reliability And Durability Of Engineering Structures And Sensors 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




The Longford explosion is an example where a major failure was due to a very small defect. It is estimated to have cost 

Australia in excess of $1.5 Billion. The acquisition costs of aircraft mean that keeping a fleet operational for a year can 

produce savings of ~$100,000,000.The automotive industry is designing lighter vehicles. GM Australia has realised that 

ensuring the durability of these new designs is essential. By our participation in the GM PACE program we ensure that the 

developments are available to the broader Australian Industry. Indeed, to design durable MEM's structures would give 

Australia a commercial edge. 

DP0665523 Dr NC Karmakar; Dr GF Swiegers 

Approved Chipless RFID for Barcode Replacement 

Project Title 

2006 : $198,000 

2007 : $96,000 

2008 : $98,000 




This project will investigate inexpensive radio-frequency transponders that enjoy all of the advantages of, and, indeed, 

operate in a manner somewhat similar to barcodes. Transponders of this type may potentially replace barcode technology, 

thereby allowing automated identification of individual items at multiple points in supply- and distribution chains. The 

resulting efficiencies in a host of logistic and other applications will generate a significant economic benefit for Australia. 

Additionally, the development of state-of-the-art transponders based on fundamental microwave- and antenna engineering 

prospectively gives Australia a cutting-edge advantage as a leading player in the fast-growing RFID market. 

DP0663242 Prof MJ Kartomi 

Approved From Muslim devotions to global niveau: the art of body percussion music as expression of 

Project Title cultural memory in Aceh and the diasporas 

2006 : $69,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $68,000 




After Aceh's tsunami tragedy, Australia/ns pledged large amounts of money and effort to collaborate in rebuilding the 

devastated province. Results of this project can help us approach reconstruction in a more culturally sensitive way. 

Challenging stereotypes of Acehnese as fanatical and potentially hostile, the project can help explain Aceh's strong 

commitment to Islam, pride in its great cultural achievements, and the continuing war. Improved bilateral and 

people-to-people relations between Australians and Acehnese/Indonesians can facilitate a more confident and sympathetic 

interpretation of the needs of our national security. In addition, material results of the project will augment two National 

Collections. 

DP0663473 Prof JE Kenway 

Approved Moving Ideas: Mobile Policies, Researchers and Connections in the Social Sciences and 

Project Title Humanities - Australia in the global context 

2006 : $77,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $80,000 

2009 : $90,000 


Page 110




Leading Australian researchers who study culture, politics, society and human behaviour are increasingly on the move across 

national borders, taking their ideas in new directions and making new international connections. This is now seen less as a 

national brain drain and more as a chance for Australia to benefit from what researchers learn and the new relationships they 

develop as they travel. But what exactly are these benefits and what can Australia do to make sure that what looks like a loss 

becomes a gain? This research answers these questions. 

DP0666100 Dr S Khatab 

Approved The Theological and Ideological Bases of al-Qa'ida's Political Tactics 

Project Title 

2006 : $81,180 

2007 : $75,160 

2008 : $75,160 


APD Dr S Khatab 



This research moves beyond the conventional view of Islam and generates new understandings of the many complexities of 

political Islam, and the role of violence and terrorism; explores the theological and ideological foundations of al-Qa'ida's 

political tactics; the long-term objectives beyond al-Qa'ida's terrorist activity. It conceptualizes Islamic activism within time and 

space and, by implication, facilitates the formulation of relevant policy responses. As a result, this project contributes to 

security and counter terrorism works and falls squarely within the National Research Priority, Safeguarding Australia 

(Terrorism and Transnational Crime). 

DP0664926 Prof ML King; Dr X ZHANG 

Approved New Procedures for Multiple Testing of Econometric Models 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $85,000 




In discipline areas ranging from biological and medicine sciences to economics and commerce, very important decisions are 

made on the basis of statistical or econometric models. There is usually a high degree of uncertainty about the exact form the 

model should take and the data available to help decide on the best form of the model is often limited. The new procedures 

developed in this project will help statisticians and econometricians make better decisions about the best form of their 

models. Our approach gives a new method of validating an estimated model before it is put to use to make critical decisions. 

DP0666023 A/Prof SY Kneebone 

Approved The Asylum Seeker in the Legal System: A Comparative and Theoretical Study 

Project Title 

2006 : $55,000 

2007 : $20,000 




Issues about asylum seekers and the legal system in Australia will be brought more prominently before an international 

audience of lawyers and political scientists. This should generate further collaborative work between scholars in Australia 

and overseas. The nation will benefit from the publication of a more fully developed theory about the 'rule of law' which 

tackles fundamental questions of political morality, and the importance of judicial decision-making. It will clarify the important 

issues, and stimulate discussion of further and better solutions to the issue. 

Page 111


DP0666131 Dr CA Kull; Dr H Rangan 

Approved Australian transplants: the political ecology of Acacia exchanges across the Indian Ocean 

Project Title 

2006 : $50,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $60,000 




The case studies and conclusions arising out of this project will help environmental practitioners and policymakers make 

informed decisions about exotic plant introductions, balancing needs to 'safeguard' Australia on the one hand with interests in 

'improving' Australia on the other. The project's innovative focus on the comings and goings of a single plant genus also 

makes a significant contribution to Australian environmental studies, by generating richer public discussion of the question of 

native versus introduced plants. Finally, it will produce new knowledge about our iconic wattles (made accessible through a 

book), increase international collaboration across the Indian Ocean, and train two postgraduate students. 

DP0663447 Dr JC Lattanzio; Dr PR Wood; Prof DL Lambert; Prof S Woosley; Prof EK Zinner 

Approved Nucleosynthesis today and tomorrow 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $85,000 




Australia is a recognised world leader in understanding the interiors of stars and how they make the elements seen all around 

us, from Carbon to Gold and beyond. This project combines Australian theoreticians with the world's largest telescopes and 

computers, as well as the latest laboratory instruments and techniques, to further our understanding of where all the 

elements originated. 

DP0666300 Dr M Leblanc; A/Prof I Cartwright; Prof F Stagnitti; Prof JP Cull; Dr PJ Van Oevelen; Dr C Leduc; Dr GE 

Favreau 

Approved Efffective Management of Water Resources in Semiarid Regions Using Remote Sensing 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 

Primary RFCD 2910 GEOMATIC ENGINEERING 



Due to the vast expense and difficulties to access many areas from the ground, there is currently no effective system for 

assessing and managing water resources over many large semi-arid regions of the world. Through the study of two 

complementary Basins - The Murray and Lake Chad Basins - we propose a new approach based on satellite imagery to 

provide regular and detailed information on the state of our water resources in these areas. These innovative techniques will 

yield new information on critical water issues: water availability, salinity, groundwater/surface water interactions, climate and 

land use change impact. This project provides the basis for sustainable water use in regional Australia. 

DP0664664 Prof RA Lewis; A/Prof MJ Morgan; A/Prof SB Hooper 

Approved Phase Contrast X-ray Imaging of the Lung 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 


Page 112




Lung diseases are a major cause of death in adults, children and newborn infants. Currently, the diagnosis of lung disease is 

based on clinical symptoms, which usually do not manifest until the disease is well advanced. This project will develop a 

novel X-ray imaging technique, known as phase contrast imaging, to study the lung, and to potentially detect changes in lung 

tissue before symptoms arise. This may lead to improved strategies for managing newborn infants, as well as improving the 

management of lung diseases in adults. 

DP0664192 A/Prof J Liu; Prof BH Toh; Prof C McLean 

Approved Characterisation of a novel neural-specific ATPase in cholesterol transport 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $73,000 

2008 : $73,000 




Ageing is determined by both genetic and metabolic factors. To a large part, the detailed mechanisms of ageing remain to be 

unexplored. Genetically, the timing of cell ageing entails the loss of telomeres (tips of chromosomes). However, the buildup of 

metabolic wastes resets the timing prematurely. Metabolic products accumulate from excess production or a shortfall of 

removal activity, which occurs in the various parts of ageing cells in tissues such as brain. Traffic jams of cholesterol 

transport in the secretory pathway induce early ageing of the nerve cells. We investigate a novel mechanism controlling 

cholesterol transport in nerve cell ageing. 

DP0664065 A/Prof RC Mac Nally; Prof S Lake; Dr AC Taylor 

Approved Aquatic biodiversity: consequences of massive modification of agricultural landscapes 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $108,000 

2008 : $108,000 




Agricultural landscapes have undergone great change. Significant shifts in land-use may sustain agricultural productivity, but 

nationally we risk the loss of our natural wealth - native plants and animals. This project develops a new vision for assessing 

conservation values of rural landscapes that will help land managers to plan for present and future land-use of both terrestrial 

and aquatic organisms. It will help managers to understand the biodiversity value of different landscapes, the types of 

species that may persist or be at risk of loss, and the landscape components that influence these outcomes. This knowledge 

will enhance our national capacity to jointly integrate nature conservation and agricultural productivity 

DP0664121 Dr G Martin; Dr DC Harris 

Approved New Statistical Procedures for Analysing Dependence in Non-Gaussian Time Series Data 

Project Title 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $75,000 




In the economic, finance and business spheres, statistical data is often discrete, binary, strictly positive, or characterized by 

an uneven distribution of values above and below the average. Prominent examples are the high frequency financial data 

that have become accessible with the computerization of financial markets, including the number of trades in successive time 

intervals, the direction of price changes, the time between trades and the return on a financial asset over short periods. This 

project develops a range of new statistical tools that will enable both researchers and practitioners to analyze the dynamic 

behaviour in such data and thereby validate and implement a range of financial models. 

Page 113


DP0662816 Dr LL Martin; Dr AI Mechler 

Approved In-situ Scanning Probe Microscopy of biological redox processes: nanoscale structure and 

Project Title morphology 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




The science behind this project underpins the development of nanobiotechnology. Immediate applications foreseen, are the 

development of biosensors and diagnostic devices based on our intimate knowledge of the nature of the protein attachment 

to a surface. Use of synthetic membranes to create biomimetic surfaces will impact significantly on our understanding of the 

role and contribution membranes have on protein structure, function hence disease. 

DP0664676 Prof BM McSherry; Prof JR Ogloff; Dr J Crichton; Prof T Hadjistavropoulos; Dr LD Thomson 

Approved Confidentiality in Therapeutic Relationships: Developing Guidelines for Mental Health Professionals 

Project Title 

2006 : $59,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $63,000 




The outcome of this project will be a document on ethical standards that will contribute to a conceptual framework for 

resolving ethical, legal and professional issues that need to be addressed with regard to confidentiality in therapeutic 

relationships. By assisting with the establishment of guidelines necessary to promote clarity and confidence, the project will 

make a substantial contribution to the effective implementation of a way of working which improves the delivery and quality of 

mental health care for patients and goes some way to ensuring greater safety for the public. 

DP0663290 Dr AI Mechler 

Approved Advanced high resolution atomic force microscopy of biomolecules in physiological environments 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $60,000 




The proposed research is intended to explain high resolution bioimaging problems addressed only phenomenologically 

before. A correct physical model would help the scientific community to optimise imaging of dynamic biological systems, 

extending our knowledge about the way living organisms function. With dynamic bioimaging, the mechanism of certain 

diseases such as Alzheimer's - where biomolecule fiber formation plays a key role - can also be addressed, thus the project 

has even therapeutical relevance. Furthermore, adequate description of liquid phase imaging can help engineers in the 

design of better hardware and software solutions, for the benefit of the bio-nanotechnological industry. 

DP0663923 Prof CA Mitchell 

Approved The role of PtdIns(4,5)P2 in cellular responses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 


Page 114




This grant application falls under the criteria of frontier technologies in genomics/phenomics and complex systems. We are 

characterizing a highly conserved network of signaling molecules regulated by complex large families of enzymes that 

regulate the bending of membranes, and cellular events including cell division in plants, yeast and mammalian cells. We have 

developed cutting edge novel technologies to localize signaling on specific intracellular membranes and visualise the role 

cellular lipids play in forming tubules in cells. This project will result in the presentation of Australian research at international 

forums and support the training of PhD students. 

DP0663258 A/Prof LN Moresi; Prof HB Muhlhaus 

Approved Plate kinematics to plate dynamics: understanding plate boundary processes at the global scale 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $150,000 

2008 : $150,000 

Primary RFCD 2602 GEOPHYSICS 



This proposal aims to create geodynamic models which can be used a basis for a new, smart resource exploration and 

extraction industry which uses simulation to help characterize regions where traditional geophysical imaging alone is not able 

to penetrate. It provides essential scientific underpinnings for 

The Australian Computational Earth System Simulator Major National Research Facility (ACcESS). 

DP0665667 A/Prof V Mui; Prof T Cason 

Approved Social Interactions, Group Dynamics, and the Political Economy of Sovereign Transgression: A 

Project Title Laboratory Investigation 

2006 : $49,372 

2007 : $48,844 

Primary RFCD 3499 OTHER ECONOMICS 



Sovereign transgression-for example, confiscation of citizens' wealth by the state--can have a significant negative effect on 

economic performance. This project will study the under-explored issues of how social interactions and group dynamics can 

affect the incidence of sovereign transgression and citizen resistance in a controlled laboratory environment. The substantive 

and methodological innovations can increase the Australian knowledge base. The project will facilitate collaboration between 

Australian researchers and international experts. It will also expose Australian undergraduate students to experimental 

economics, and provide graduate students with hands-on training in using the laboratory method to study economic 

behaviour. 

DP0666456 Dr MM Murshed 

Approved Pattern-Based Video Coding Techniques for Real-Time Low Bit-Rate and Low Complexity Encoding 

Project Title Applications 

2006 : $118,000 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 




This project will benefit the National Research Priority on Frontier Technology with applications in video surveillance, smart 

home design, and patient monitoring. It will enable Australia to lead the world in setting up coding standards and thus impact 

directly on the manufacturing initiatives of the multimedia communication and entertainment industries. Telecommunication 

industries will be the immediate beneficiary by enabling quality live video transmissions at low bit rates in a cost-effective 

manner. This project will improve the ability of large organisations to operate virtually across huge distances in Australia with 

the aid of reliable multimedia communications using distributed devices of limited power and processing capacity. 

Page 115


DP0664188 A/Prof PA Nestor 

Approved Portrait of a Lady: Victorian Women's Novels and the Construction of Female Subjectivity 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,670 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $35,457 




This country enjoys an excellent reputation in the areas of feminism and Victorian Studies. This project will help keep 

Australia at the forefront of international scholarship in these fields by making a significant original contribution and by 

achieving the high level of visibility provided by a monograph with a major international publisher. More generally, 19th 

century England was a crucible for modern conceptions of the self, and by examining the contribution of women writers to 

theories of identity and self-construction, the project will help us to learn more about ourselves. 

DP0663310 Dr SP O'Hanlon; Prof AE Dingle 

Approved De-industrialising and reinventing the inner city: A tale of two cities, Melbourne and Geelong, 

Project Title c1970-2000 

2006 : $79,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $102,000 




As a major study of the recent past, this project illuminates many aspects of Australia's contemporary urban experience. It 

investigates a number of current urban issues, previously the preserve of geographers, planners and economists and opens 

them to historical inquiry and insight. Utilising a number of previously untapped sources, the project expands our knowledge 

of the history of our cities, and of the history of urban youth cultures. 

The project enhances the international reputation of Australian scholars for producing innovative studies of the urban past. By 

training a PhD student in urban history, the project transmits this reputation to a new generation of scholars. 

DP0666019 Prof BJ Oldfield; Dr MJ McKinley; Dr GF Egan 

Approved The cortical location of hunger and thirst: a multifunctional study in sheep 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $61,000 

2008 : $61,000 




The escalating problems associated with obesity are immense. These effects contribute to a global epidemic that now 

eclipses both infectious diseases and (ironically) undernutrition in its proportions. The effects of disorders of thirst are less 

apparent but potentially devastating albeit on a smaller scale. The elderly and psychotic in the community have impaired 

thirst mechanisms which impacts on their life in a dramatic way particularly during prolonged hot weather. The aims of these 

experiments are to understand the basic brain mechanisms that underpin these drives. This understanding will have far 

reaching repercussions for the community both in terms of promoting good health and in preventative health care. 

DP0663930 Dr GR Oppy 

Approved A History of Australasian Philosophy 

Project Title 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $100,000 

2009 : $140,000 


Page 116




This project will significantly advance our understanding of the history and present state of philosophy in Australia. In 

addition, the project will showcase the diverse and innovative contributions made by Australia's philosophers, thus bringing 

the current flourishing of Australian philosophy to the attention of the academic and wider community, both here and 

overseas. This, in turn, will strengthen Australia's standing as a leading player in the philosophical world, and as an attractive 

destination for graduate students and distinguished visiting academics alike. 

DP0667101 Mr SJ Pas 

Approved Understanding, Control, and Optimisation of Free Volume Mediated Transport in Technologically 

Project Title Important Materials. 

2006 : $74,340 

2007 : $74,340 

2008 : $74,340 


APD Mr SJ Pas 



The understanding gained by this work will enable Australian scientists to outpace their competitors in rational materials 

design for transport of atoms and molecules in materials while reducing the costly trial and error stage of research. Specific 

examples studied and new materials investigated have important technological significance from use in flat panel TV 

screens, to solid state electrolytes for application in a wide range of electrochemical devices. The understanding gained by 

this work can be applied to a wide range of important materials e.g. separation membranes, nanofilters and catalysts which 

help address a number of National Research Priorities. 

DP0663511 A/Prof E Pereloma; A/Prof CH Davies; Prof JJ Jonas; Prof O Ivasishin 

Approved Intelligent Materials Processing: Microstructure And Texture Control In Bcc Metals 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $90,000 

Primary RFCD 2913 METALLURGY 



In Australia, steel companies are continuing to search for cost effective steel compositions and processing routes. 

Concurrently, applications for Ti alloys in chemical, medical and aerospace industries are continuing to widen. As an outcome 

of this project, the basis for the optimisation of processing routes in order to achieve enhanced product properties at lower 

cost will be established. In the course of this work, a new model for the prediction of microstructure and texture evolution 

during recrystallisation will be developed and new process routes will be designed. 

DP0665200 Dr AJ Pirola-Merlo 

Approved Determinants of Researcher Productivity and Impact Over Career Lifespan 

Project Title 

2006 : $76,923 

2007 : $30,000 




As Australia's population is ageing at one of the fastest rates among OECD countries, it is imperative to understand the 

relationship between age and worker productivity. This project will develop our understanding of how age relates to 

productivity not only in terms of quantity but also quality of innovations produced. It will also identify personal and contextual 

influences on productivity. This will help identify ways of supporting productivity and participation among older workers. 

Additionally, this project will provide a sophisticated framework for developing cultures and work environments that are 

supportive of innovation, by modelling the dynamic interplay between individuals and their environments across several 

years. 

Page 117


DP0664069 A/Prof CJ Porter; Dr MJ Scanlon 

Approved Drug binding to human fatty acid binding proteins: a mechanism of cellular transport for poorly 

Project Title water soluble drugs 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 




Considerable recent effort has been directed towards the development of Australia as a focal point for biotechnology and 

drug discovery. The principle operational focus of this effort has been the identification of potent and active new chemical 

entities. In order for these new molecules to be most useful in the community, however, they must be active after oral 

administration. This project will examine the fundamental mechanisms by which drugs are absorbed across the cells lining 

the intestine and will provide insight critical to the design and development of new drugs that are both potent and orally 

active. 

DP0663320 Dr T Prosic 

Approved The King of Terrors: Death and its Meaning in the Israelite/Early Jewish Culture 

Project Title 

2006 : $20,000 




The study will deepen our understanding of Judeo-Christian traditions and advance our knowledge of ancient cultures. It will 

also be important for debates about interethnic relations and tolerance in Australia by elucidating the underlying culturally 

conditioned attitudes towards death and the influence they have on the conduct of different ethnic communities. The 

undertaking of this important research will continue to establish Australia's growing reputation as the internationally important 

location for innovative cultural and religious studies. 

DP0665270 Dr MM Rahim; Prof G Shanks; Dr RB Johnston 

Approved Organisational Motivation as a Predictor of Benefits from the Adoption of Information Technology 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $82,000 

2008 : $79,000 




IOS are becoming increasingly important for organisations to remain competitive in a global marketplace. By using 

organisational motivations to better understand how to design and structure the processes for IOS implementation and set 

more realistic expectation, Australian organisations will be able to develop more effective, evidence-based methods for IOS 

implementation. The theory being tested is an original contribution in a growing area of information technology research. The 

data and rigorously tested research protocols developed will enhance Australia'a research standing, contribute to university 

teaching and researcher training, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Australian information technology 

industry. 

DP0666122 Prof MJ Reeder 

Approved Coupled Atmosphere-Bushfire Modelling with Application to Canberra 2003 

Project Title 

2006 : $115,000 

2007 : $97,000 

2008 : $97,000 

Primary RFCD 3006 FORESTRY SCIENCES 

Page 118




Large bushfires are by far the largest contributor to property losses in Australia. Prescribed fire is an important land 

management tool for farmers, foresters and park managers among others. There is a need to develop practical and accurate 

tools for predicting the behaviour and spread of both prescribed and uncontrolled fires. Australian bushfire research and land 

management would benefit greatly from the application of modern, advanced computational methods. The time is ripe for the 

huge advances in computer technology and numerical modelling to be applied directly to fire problems, benefiting public 

safety and the safety of fire-fighting volunteers. 

DP0666253 Dr PW Richardson; Dr HM Watt; Prof J Eccles 

Approved Motivations for choosing teaching as a career and development in the profession: A multicohort 

Project Title longitudinal study of beginning teachers 

2006 : $20,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $55,000 

2009 : $55,000 




Schooling contributes significantly to the preparation of young people for citizenship so it is essential for the social 

infrastructure of the country that State Governments, employing authorities, teacher educators, the Federal Government and 

recruitment bodies better understanding the different motivational profiles of those entering teacher education now and why 

people are not retained in the profession, suffer burnout or become disgruntled less effective teachers. It is also critical that 

we better understand the link between motivations, self-efficacies and the support networks and strategies needed to sustain 

teachers in the profession, particularly in difficult to staff regions, districts and schools. 

DP0666539 Dr J Rossjohn; Prof J McCluskey 

Approved A Structural Investigation Into Events Within The Immunological Synapse 

Project Title 

2006 : $360,000 

2007 : $343,000 

2008 : $343,000 

2009 : $343,000 

2010 : $343,000 


APF Dr J Rossjohn 



The proposed research program, using laboratory-based and synchrotron-based radiation, will provide significant 

fundamental insight into the processes that control infection. Investigating processes central to immunity is important, as it 

will further our understanding of these critically-important events. Such knowledge will increase Australia's international 

research standing, as well as having the potential to generate novel therapies, such as immunosuppressants. 

DP0665430 Ms S Sadedin 

Approved Simulation studies of gene flow and genetic diversity in heterogeneous landscapes 

Project Title 

2006 : $92,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 


APD Ms S Sadedin 



Conserving genetic diversity is essential for sustaining healthy animal and plant populations. The project findings will aid in 

development of efficient strategies to minimise genetic diversity loss and facilitate its recovery, thereby assisting in restoration 

of endangered species, conserving natural ecosystems, and sustainable resource use. Genetic engineering offers the 

potential for enormous social and economic benefits, but raises strong public concerns about genetic pollution. The project 

will improve our understanding of this risk, helping Australians to benefit from the opportunities offered by the genetic 

revolution without fearing their impact on natural systems. 

Page 119


DP0664309 A/Prof JG Sanjayan; Prof VB Rangan 

Approved Investigation of Geopolymer based Concretes for the Construction of High Fire Risk Infrastructures 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 




Geopolymer concretes are emerging new materials promising superior fire resistance and durability and potentially cheaper 

than the widely used high strength concretes, which also consume high levels of Portland cements. Production of 1 ton of 

Portland cement releases 1 ton of green house gases. Further, the 6.5 million tons/year of cement currently produced in 

Australia is insufficient to meet the industry demand. This project investigates the use of fly ash to make geopolymer 

concrete, without using any Portland cement, to find usage for part of the 11 million tons/year of fly ash produced as a waste 

from coal power stations in Australia. 

DP0662989 Prof PJ Scammells; Prof CH Schiesser 

Approved Synthesis of Novel Dual Acting, Selenium Containing Antioxidants 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Ischemic heart disease and chronic inflammation afflict a large segment of the Australian population, especially the ageing. 

These states are associated with free-radicals and other reactive oxygen species and can be controlled to some extent by 

the application of adenosine therapy. This project will combine the activity of adenosine agonists and enhancers with 

selenium-containing antioxidants, used to quench reactive oxygen species, to provide a powerful new class of 

pharmaceutical products designed to enhance the quality of life of Australians afflicted by diseases propagated by 

free-radicals. 

DP0667150 Prof H Schmidt; Dr PM Schmidt; Dr BK Kemp-Harper; Dr K Beuerlein; Dr J Stasch 

Approved A redox sensor and triple receptor function for guanylyl cyclase 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $89,000 

2008 : $89,000 

Primary RFCD 3205 PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 



Nitric oxide (NO) protects from blood vessel spasms and clot formation. Conversely, insufficient NO occurs in cardiovascular 

disease. Life-saving drugs like glycerol trinitrate supply more NO to blood vessels, however these drugs are limited in their 

action when their target protein (NOGC) is decreased or defective, eg. in hypertension or arteriosclerosis. We have 

elucidated the reason for this defect and simultaneously discovered an entirely novel group of drugs which activate NOGC 

without NO. Impressively, these drugs are most effective in diseased blood vessels. The aim is the development of novel 

blood pressure lowering/anti-anginal drugs with higher effectiveness and less side-effects because they work in an entirely 

new way. 

DP0665456 Prof G Shanks; Dr L Churilov; Dr RJ Price 

Approved The Impact of Information about Data Quality on Decision Making 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $81,000 


APD Dr RJ Price 

Page 120




Data quality problems are widespread in practice and have significant economic impacts. The development of theoretically 

sound data quality tags and understanding how they impact decision outcomes and processes will lead to improved data 

quality management within Australian organisations and more efficient and effective decision making. These issues constitute 

an important area of information technology research. Outcomes from the project will enhance Australia's research standing 

and contribute to university teaching and researcher training. 

DP0665736 Dr GJ Sheard; Ms J Carberry; Dr K Ryan 

Approved Supersonic flow past micro-scale particles: Industrial applications 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $90,000 

2009 : $85,000 

Primary RFCD 2405 CLASSICAL PHYSICS 

APD Dr K Ryan 



Droplet based materials processing has developed significantly over the last decade, with applications in a wide range of 

industries where high-strength, light-weight materials are critical. Our research will allow for continued progress of this 

method, by developing accurate models to predict the cooling rate throughout the process and hence the physical properties 

of the finished product. Development of this knowledge will allow for higher precision products to be produced and allow for 

new techniques to be developed. This information will allow for material processing in Australia to be maintained at world 

class levels, and for Australian industry to continue to lead the way in the production of technologically advanced materials. 

DP0666366 A/Prof B Shirinzadeh; Prof JA Smith 

Approved Haptic exploration and manipulation of micro/nano scale environment 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




The proposed research is novel and innovative in character and it has potential benefits in many frontier areas utilising 

micro/nano manipulation systems. These include micromanufacturing and instrumentation, microbiology, microsurgery and 

nanotechnology. The outcomes of this project will add to the growth of world-class Australian engineering science, and 

consolidate Australia's position in innovative technologies and international R&D. This highly challenging project will provide 

training for postdoctorate researchers, postgraduate and honours students. These researchers will gain expertise in many 

areas including micro/nano manipulation, sensing and control, system design and analysis, virtual reality and experimental 

techniques. 

DP0665710 A/Prof P Silvapulle; Prof MJ Silvapulle; Prof HM Anderson 

Approved New approaches for testing in nonlinear models 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $42,000 

2008 : $60,000 




The outcome of this project is a new econometric methodology that will be particularly useful for developing our 

understanding of Australian (and global) financial markets. Specific benefits are that (i) our value-at-risk models will enhance 

national and international awareness of issues relating to financial risk management; (ii) our exchange rate pass through 

model will aid the development of Australian trade and pricing policies and (iii) our duration models for trade in Australian 

stocks will lead to a better understanding of the microstructure of the Australian stock market. 

Page 121


DP0665112 Dr R Singh; Prof R Newman; Prof B Murty; Prof V Desai 

Approved Corrosion Resistance of Nanocrystalline Materials 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Novel structure and the associated unique properties of nanostructured materials confer potentials for their exciting industrial 

applications, such as drug delivery to specified locations for cancer treatment, exceptionally high sensitivity sensors, 

miniaturisation in computers/electronic/communication industry, nano electro-mechanical systems, catalytic applications and 

exceptionally high strength materials. In most of the applications, the nanomaterials have to demonstrate acceptable 

corrosion resistance in the operation environment. However, corrosion resistance of nanostructured materials has not been 

investigated. The proposal will investigate the mechanistic aspect of localized corrosion and cracking of nanostructured 

materials. 

DP0665636 Prof T Sridhar; Dr RP Jagadeeshan; Prof M Pasquali; Prof ES Shaqfeh 

Approved Understanding the Behavior of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Liquids 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




The imminent manufacture of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) at prices comparable to those of high-performance 

polymers such as Kevlar, will open up potential applications of SWNTs as high-performance fibres and coatings. A major 

challenge is the development of scalable processes for producing large objects made of SWNTs. This project, in 

collaboration with researchers at Rice and Stanford Universities, aims to understand the principles that underlie the 

successful liquid state processing of SWNTs. The novel strategies that arise will cement Australia's position as a leading 

country for research in nanotechnology, and place it at the forefront of this field, with great potential for economic advantage. 

DP0666472 Dr DR Stegman; Prof TH Torsvik; Prof MA Richards 

Approved Planetary Pulsations: Exploring Links between Superplumes, Supercontinents, and Superchrons 

Project Title with 3-D Spherical Mantle Convection Models 

2006 : $125,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 


APD Dr DR Stegman 



This project advances the tools and knowledge base regarding historic motions of tectonic plates (including the Australian 

continent). This furthers understanding of the current and past state of stress in the Earth's surface, ultimately improving 

ways of characterizing earthquake hazard and mineral exploration. This project also benefits researchers interpreting the 

climate record as two processes which effected the ancient climate are investigated: major outbursts of greenhouse gases 

during periods of major volcanism and the reorientation of the planet with respect to its spin axis. The results are obtained 

with these computer simulations highlight Australia's emerging strength in supercomputing on the international scene. 

DP0665938 Dr DR Turner; Dr SR Batten 

Approved Heterobimetallic Coordination Complexes Containing Rare Earth and d-Block Ions 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $86,000 

2008 : $86,000 


APD Dr DR Turner 

Page 122




Rare earth compounds have major industrial applications such as MRI contrast agents and as catalysts within the rubber and 

petroleum industries. The fundamental knowledge ensuing from this project has the potential to produce new and advanced 

magnetic materials. Nanotechnological industries are being developed in Australia and this research will provide materials 

with the capacity to act as optical or electrical switches, magnetic storage devices or molecular sensors. This pioneering 

work will ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of chemical research within the rapidly advancing field of 

magnetochemistry. 

DP0663860 Dr JC Whisstock; Dr RN Pike; A/Prof PI Bird 

Approved Structural and functional studies on prokaryote serpins 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $87,000 

2008 : $87,000 




Proteins are the machines of life, many of which undergo complex movements to achieve function. The basic research 

described in this proposal will result in major outcomes in understanding how proteins fold, undergo complex changes in 

conformation, and misfold to dysfunctional states. As a result, the study will contribute fundamental knowledge that will 

underpin research in the fields of structural biology, protein design and protein folding. Through providing insight into protein 

misfolding, the work will will contribute to our understanding of degenerative misfolding pathologies that affect the ageing 

population and thus targets the 'ageing well ageing productively' priority goal. 

DP0664012 Dr BR Wood; Dr D McNaughton; Prof Y Ozaki; A/Prof BD Tait; Dr EG Robertson 

Approved Raman and synchrotron spectroscopy of nano-scale drug interactions and molecular processes in 

Project Title single living cells 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $90,000 




The need for potent low-cost drugs is ever increasing, yet effective ways to screen for new drugs remain elusive. A 

spectroscopic approach to screening drugs in living cells would seem a logical alternative to chemically based and 

morphological methods that are the status quo. In this context we are developing methodology to analyse molecular target 

sites in single living cells for two of the most devastating diseases to afflict human kind, namely malaria and cancer. New 

ways of rapidly screening drugs in living cells prior to clinical trials will save an enormous amount of time, money and 

ultimately lives. 

DP0666549 Dr LY Yeo 

Approved Characterisation and Stability of Thin Electrowetting Films 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $30,000 




Electrowetting is of importance to numerous industrial, biomedical and daily life settings such as microfluidic 

biopharmaceutical applications, coating technology, electronic displays, optical focusing devices, miniaturised chemical 

analysis systems for homeland security, etc. The work, aimed at generating an understanding of the complex hydrodynamic 

and physicochemical processes involved, is fundamental research having generic benefits to researchers in interfacial 

science, electrokinetics and microfluidics. The results will also be beneficial to industrial workers in providing engineering 

protocols for the development of these devices by identifying optimal conditions for fluid manipulation without prone-to-wear 

mechanical components. 

Page 123


DP0666660 Dr LY Yeo; Dr AJ Ruys 

Approved Feasibility Studies of Using AC Electrospraying for Biomaterials Synthesis 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




The proposed interdisciplinary research is anticipated to benefit workers in academia and industry as well as clinicians and 

patients. Given the demand for point-of-care drug delivery, micro/nano-encapsulation and biomaterials synthesis, the 

research will be beneficial to the pharmaceutical industry and spin-off/start-up microfluidic businesses interested in 

commercially developing these devices. It is intended that the work will improve quality of life by advancing biomaterials 

technology and by making medical treatment more readily accessable, portable and more efficient. For patients, the 

proposed drug delivery device can help prevent sudden initial bursts of dose during administration, which could potentially 

have fatal consequences. 

RMIT University 

DP0665744 Prof MC Burry; A/Prof L Padgham; Prof Y Xie; Mr AL Burrow 

Approved Acts of electronic negotiation: Overcoming communication barriers to transdisciplinary innovation 

Project Title in design 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $145,000 

2008 : $140,000 

Primary RFCD 4104 DESIGN STUDIES 

APD Mr AL Burrow 

Administering Institution RMIT University 


Improved collaboration between the diverse contributors to design in the construction industry is urgently needed to reduce 

waste, streamline production and improve performance. It is also a key to better and more advanced design. The quality of 

human to human interaction in computer mediated environments is critical to the occurrence of innovation between design 

disciplines. This project will create a pool of highly qualified personnel in this area in Australia, including participating 

designers introduced to novel empowering approaches to network communication. It will develop and apply knowledge from 

other disciplines to developing tools for the design community. 

DP0664423 A/Prof AC Eberhard; Dr S Schreider; Prof J Crouzeix; Dr D Ralph 

Approved Construction of utility functions from observations of consumer behaviour with application to 

Project Title resource modelling and water management strategies. 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 




The optimisation techniques developed will be on the forefront of applied mathematical sciences and will increase the 

prestige of the Australian mathematical community. The expected results will also be of value because they can be used to 

improve the CGE modelling technique. The implementation of the CGE model of one of Victoria's agricultural regions will be 

used to improve the accuracy of regional economic models and will contribute to efficient regional resource management. 

This has the potential to positively affect the economic growth and employment in the region. The expected outcomes of the 

project are especially important taking into account the need for predicting the socio-economic consequences of the 1994 

COAG water reforms. 

DP0665590 Prof JF Fien; Prof JC Bessant; Dr OJ Jolliet 

Approved Enhancing Capacity for Change: Promoting Leadership in Sustainable Consumption amongst 

Project Title Australian Youth 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $60,000 

Primary RFCD 3009 LAND, PARKS AND AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT 

Page 124




Building societal capacity for sustainable consumption is vital if the destructive impacts of current patterns of development 

and lifestyle choices are to be reversed. Directly relevant to the 'Sustainability' and 'Good Health' National Research 

Priorities, this research will develop the change-agent potential of a significant, high spending consumer class - youth and 

young adults. The research will result in practical guidelines and program materials for youth organizations to use in capacity 

building for change leadership. The resultant modelling and encouragement of sustainable consumption through 'purchasing 

differently' will help stimulate the growth of sustainable products and services in Australia. 

DP0662751 Prof TR Fry; Dr L Farrell; Dr CK Aitken 

Approved An investigation of illicit tobacco use - its prevalence, economic impact and the motivations and 

Project Title perceptions of consumers. 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $25,000 




Black market tobacco costs the Australian government at least $450 million in lost taxes per annum. Little is known about 

the prevalence and economics of illicit tobacco use, or the motivations, attitudes and perceptions of consumers. Using a 

national telephone survey of licit and illicit tobacco consumers, we will investigate their economic thresholds, decision-making 

processes, and perceptions of health effects. Our work will lead to improved supply and demand reduction measures for 

illicit tobacco, and enable development of appropriately targeted health promotion strategies, generating enduring benefit to 

Australia's economy and public health. 

DP0664279 Mr LJ Harvey; A/Prof PJ Downton; Dr GK Missingham; Mr A Selenitsch; Mr MD Fowler 

Approved Teimu (The Garden of Dreams): aural and aesthetic attributes of Japanese gardens as models for 

Project Title spatial environments 

2006 : $125,036 

2007 : $80,558 

2008 : $93,027 

Primary RFCD 4104 DESIGN STUDIES 

APD Mr MD Fowler 



Traditional Japanese garden design has greatly influenced both 20C Western landscape designers and composers of 

Western art music. By investigating the aural and aesthetic attributes of five renowned Japanese gardens, RMIT and 

University of Melbourne researchers will seek out spatial sound designs that could enhance sound quality in urban 

environments and provide a pioneering approach to architectural modeling and the built environment. This project has 

long-term cross-disciplinary implications. The results and methods contained in this project may assist in innovative sound 

design for new media applications, better listening environments in urban areas, unique approaches for data modeling, and a 

catalyst for future design strategies. 

DP0663862 Prof JA Hawley; Prof CR Triggle; Prof JR Zierath 

Approved Reducing the fat burden: Identification of novel cellular and molecular targets for alleviating 

Project Title skeletal muscle insulin resistance 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 




Insulin resistance and the associated consequences are a major public health problem in Australia and cost the healthcare 

system >$1.1 billion/year. Exercise training and thiaziolidinedione (TZD) treatment are therapies that partially ameliorate 

insulin resistance through distinct and independent mechanisms. However, neither intervention represents a viable long-term 

strategy: exercise training has low compliance, while chronic TZD use is associated with several adverse side effects 

(edema, weight gain etc.). We will investigate the metabolic, cellular and molecular mechanisms by which these therapies 

each exert their positive effect on insulin action with the aim of identifying novel targets for future drug interventions. 

Page 125


DP0665618 Prof M Kalantzis; Dr W Cope 

Approved Literacy Teaching in the Changing Communications Environment: Reading and Writing Multimodal 

Project Title and Digital Texts 

2006 : $58,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 




This project will make a contribution to the updating of literacy pedagogy to meet the needs of learners in a communications 

environment where digital and multimodal texts are of ever greater significance. It will attempt to develop a 'metalanguage', or 

educationally accessible way of talking about contemporary texts in the classroom context, which supplements and extends 

traditional grammatical and literary understandings of the written word. The purpose of this research will be to create a model 

of literacy teaching which is more relevant to the contemporary communications environment and which students find more 

engaging. 

DP0663017 Dr SM Murray 

Approved Australian domestic violence public policy: history, discourse and impact, 1985-2005 

Project Title 

2006 : $30,000 

2007 : $33,000 

2008 : $20,000 




The outcomes of the research will be of critical importance to policy makers and practitioners. Domestic violence has 

significant costs to the community and this project will have national benefits by identifying effective policy directions. The 

project will provide better understandings of the ways in which domestic violence policy has developed over time and, in 

doing so, provide assistance to state, territory and federal governments in formulating future policy in this area. 

DP0663147 A/Prof L Padgham; Dr MD Winikoff; A/Prof JA Harland; Dr QB Vo 

Approved Service-oriented negotiation and coordination in multi-agent systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $55,755 

2007 : $59,000 

2008 : $59,000 

2009 : $59,000 


APD Dr QB Vo 



Australia has a strong competitive advantage in the area of agent software. The outcomes of this project will provide an 

improved platform for services in application areas such as finance, e-commerce, tourism, and multi-platform media. More 

broadly, the work proposed here will enable the IT industry in Australia, and Melbourne specifically, to adopt and utilise 

agent-technology in developing the complex software that is increasingly required to meet the needs of the software-driven 

knowledge economy of the 21st century. 

DP0663443 Dr MJ Watt; Dr GI Lancaster; Dr IA Darby; A/Prof MA Febbraio 

Approved Molecular basis of skeletal muscle lipoapoptosis 

Project Title 

2006 : $115,000 

2007 : $72,000 

2008 : $72,000 


Page 126




High levels of fat in cells are associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, medical conditions that have increased dramatically 

in prevalence in Australia. High fat levels in cells also causes cell death. This research will determine the mechanisms by 

which excessive fat storage leads to cell death and whether this leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. By 

understanding this relationship, effective pharmaceutical treatments will be developed that will ultimately reduce the 

incidence of type 2 diabetes, and ease the associated financial burden on the community and healthcare system. 

DP0665572 Prof Dr HR Wu 

Approved Adaptation of Vision Model to Perceptual Digital Picture Compression 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $79,000 

2008 : $81,000 




This project spearheads research in the next generation digital picture compression technology, placing Australia an 

undisputed leader in this area of frontier technology. It will generate intellectual property and software prototype systems, 

which can be readily transferred into a vast number of visual communication and service applications, feeding into and 

rejuvenating national high-tech industries. These applications include digital photography for fine art, medical imaging, picture 

archive and communication systems for telemedicine and rural health care systems, high quality digital picture, video and 

cinematic experience, crime prevention, border control, security and surveillance systems. 

DP0663184 Prof Y Xie; Prof G Lu; Dr X Huang 

Approved Optimal Topological Design of 3D Continuum Structures for Crashworthiness 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 

Primary RFCD 2905 MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING 

APD Dr X Huang 



There is a widespread need throughout the Australian transport, defence and construction industries for high performance 

energy absorption devices. Data from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau show that in 2002 there were 1,715 people 

killed in 1,525 crashes in Australia. The proposed research will develop advanced techniques for improving crashworthiness 

of vehicles, roadside barriers and other energy absorption devices. This will lead to significant reductions in injury to people 

and damage to structures caused by impact; and thus substantial savings for the nation from the enormous costs associated 

with the fatalities, injuries and structural damages. 

DP0663321 A/Prof I Yarovsky; Prof A Tachibana 

Approved Fundamental Theoretical Study of Hydrogen Interactions with Novel Nanostructures 

Project Title 

2006 : $78,000 

2007 : $78,000 

2008 : $78,000 




While governments around the world are planning to implement a hydrogen-based energy economy in the next several 

decades, the delivery of practical hydrogen energy technology has proven elusive to date, with major developments required 

in the production, storage and transport of hydrogen. This research will undertake to provide one key step in the 

development of safe and efficient hydrogen storage, namely a fundamental study delivering basic knowledge of hydrogen 

interactions with nano-structured materials constructed from inexpensive light metals such as Aluminium. 

Page 127


DP0666154 Prof J Zobel; Dr SM Tahaghoghi; Dr MA Sanderson 

Approved Development and Application of Techniques for Detecting Equivalent Documents 

Project Title 

2006 : $83,000 

2007 : $73,000 

2008 : $71,000 




The web is a vast collection of data, such as text and images, but contains large numbers of duplicates - the same document 

or picture may be present many times. Even personal collections of information, such as the documents and digital photos 

people keep on their home computers, often have many versions of the same item. However, detecting such duplicates is not 

straightforward, as they may have been edited, or may, for example, be shown in different forms; for example, the quality of a 

photo may be reduced for display on a mobile phone. In this project we plan to detect such duplicates, and use the results to 

improve search and management of data. 

Swinburne University of Technology 

DP0665401 Mr Z Bomzon 

Approved A biophotonics-based approach to the study of cell-mechanics 

Project Title 

2006 : $92,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 


APD Mr Z Bomzon 

Administering Institution Swinburne University of Technology 


This study will help to promote and maintain good health. There is a connection between diseases such as arthritis and 

osteoporosis and cell mechanics. Our study will provide insight into cell mechanics, thereby helping to understand the 

pathophysiology of these diseases. The study is relevant to tissue engineering. There is ongoing research on mechanical 

conditioning of tissue substitutes. Understanding cell mechanics will help to optimise conditioning protocols, thereby 

improving the properties of engineered tissue. 

During this study we will develop optical tools that have applications in the life sciences, in the development of advanced 

materials and in nanotechnology. Our project will promote Australian research in these fields. 

DP0665574 Prof BK Gibson; Prof Sir MJ Rees; Prof G Efstathiou; Prof J Silk; Dr GF Lewis; Dr RS Sutherland; Dr D 

Kawata; Dr CJ Fluke 

Approved The Commonwealth Cosmology Initiative: From the First Objects to the Cosmic Web 

Project Title 

2006 : $174,000 

2007 : $176,000 

2008 : $182,000 

2009 : $91,000 

2010 : $117,000 




The Commonwealth Cosmology Initiative (CCI) is an exciting development for Australian astronomy's gifted young High 

Performance Computational (HPC) Astrophysics community. The CCI links the efforts of Australia's next-generation of HPC 

and theoretical cosmologists with those of the leading scientists in the world. The CCI will provide unparalleled opportunities 

to Australia's postgraduate and Early Career Researcher community to take part in a program of research designed to 

answer several of the fundamental mysteries of modern astronomy - the formation of galaxies, their relationship with Cosmic 

Web in which they are embedded, and the nature of dark matter. 

Page 128


DP0664412 Dr R Hassan 

Approved Speed, Time and the Political Process in Australia 

Project Title 

2006 : $93,240 

2007 : $93,240 

2008 : $93,240 

2009 : $93,240 

2010 : $93,240 


ARF Dr R Hassan 



The project represents the first empirically-based study to research the traditional processes of political decision-making from 

the perspective of time and speed in the context of economic globalisation and the networked society. A clearer 

understanding of how political processes function in a globally-networked setting will provide valuable insight into how well 

the fundamental, politically grounded, aspects of Australian life and culture are functioning. This unique perspective will form 

the basis of an incisive method of applying 'time-awareness' not only to the political process, but to the many 

national/community sectors across Australian society that depend upon responsible and effective decision-making practices. 

DP0664105 Dr AI Karakas 

Approved Nucleosynthesis of low and intermediate mass stars: A study into the origin of the elements 

Project Title 

2006 : $84,000 

2007 : $74,340 

2008 : $74,340 


APD Dr AI Karakas 



Everything in our Solar System, including the Sun and all life on Earth, were created out of material forged long ago in fiery 

stellar furnaces. In the hot dense cores of long dead stars the material most vital to life was created. However, the stellar 

origin of many elements is unknown although we can make guesses, from observations of stars and by bringing together 

ideas from different scientific fields including astrophysics, nuclear physics and geochemistry. Using the latest theoretical 

techniques together with the most recent experimental data, it is possible to piece together the clues 

to unravel the mystery of the origin of the elements. 

DP0663076 Dr K Neumann 

Approved Australian Public Policy Responses to Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Comparativist and Historical 

Project Title Perspectives 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $35,000 




Furnishing the first comprehensive history of Australia's response to refugees and asylum seekers, the project will enhance 

our understanding of the genealogy of current Australian policy and inform debate in an area of intense concern to policy 

makers and the general public. The project will put the Australian response into context by comparing it with that of New 

Zealand and by analysing it against the backdrop of the evolution of the international refugee regime. 

DP0666288 Prof DV Nicolau; Dr PD Sawant; Dr IL Medintz 

Approved Biomolecular activity modulated by interaction with nanostructures 

Project Title 

2006 : $200,000 

2007 : $150,000 

2008 : $150,000 


Page 129




Nanotechnological methods are able to reliably fabricate artificial nanostructures with dimensions similar to those of large 

biomolecules (a few to tens of nanometers). This study focuses on the interaction of artificial nanostructures with 

biomolecules such as proteins and DNA, and will enable scientists to better understand biomolecular recognition and binding 

events, which are central to all biological processes. The understanding gained can then be used to design biomimetic 

surfaces for use in health monitoring and medical diagnostic devices with improved sensitivity, robustness and portability, 

thereby providing significant benefits to the health sector. 

DP0663152 Dr J Serbin 

Approved Fabrication of complete photonic band gap structures by two-photon polymerization and 

Project Title subsequent infiltration with high refractive index materials 

2006 : $74,340 

2007 : $74,340 

2008 : $74,340 


APD Dr J Serbin 



The ability to shrink photonic circuits by orders of magnitudes by the integration of photonic crystals offers many stimulating 

possibilities for novel device designs. A speculative view is that this miniaturisation can have a similar impact to that 

experienced in electronic components in the 1960s. However, the fabrication of 3D photonic crystals remains a major 

challenge and the development of new, flexible, and fast nano-fabrication techniques is vital. The realization of an innovative 

technique for the fabrication of 3D complete photonic band gap structures as it is suggested will make an essential 

contribution to the emerging field of all-optical tele- and data-communications and will deliver major economic benefit to 

Australia. 

DP0663722 Dr SJ Tingay; Dr A Tzioumis; Dr K Haines; Prof S Gulyaev; Dr TJ Cornwell; Dr DL Jauncey 

Approved A deep survey for compact structure in the nearby universe: key science for the upgraded 

Project Title Australian Long Baseline Array 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $87,000 

2008 : $91,000 




This project uses advances in ICT to build a national and international network of facilities that includes existing telescopes 

primarily on the east coast of Australia, as well as planned facilities in Western Australia and New Zealand. One of these 

facilities, the New Technology Demonstrator, is a crucial part of Australia's roadmap to the Square Kilometre Array. The 

SKA-related science and technology demonstrations we will undertake as part of this project will contribute to Australia's bid 

to host this $US1b instrument. This project cements a significant Trans-Tasman collaboration and brings together 

researchers in astrophysics and ICT to give Australia a leading position in the field of eVLBI. 

DP0663759 A/Prof BD Todd; A/Prof PJ Daivis 

Approved Computational Nanofluidics 

Project Title 

2006 : $79,564 

2007 : $85,006 

2008 : $95,000 




This project will generate an increased level of skill and expertise in Australia in the emerging science of nanotechnology. To 

realise the promise of nanotechnology, a means of controlled propulsion on the nano scale is vital. A deeper understanding 

of nanofluidics that allows greater predictive capacities can greatly aid this realisation. It is highly likely that computational 

nanofluidics will play as important a role in nanotechnology based industries as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) currently 

plays in today's manufacturing, automotive and aerospace industries. The skills and knowledge gained from this project will 

enhance our international competitiveness in this area. 

Page 130


DP0663841 Prof Y Yang; Prof R Kowalczyk; Dr J Yan 

Approved Agent-based coordination and negotiation technologies for decentralised service workflow 

Project Title management 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $74,340 

2008 : $74,340 


APD Dr J Yan 



This project will enhance the nation's expertise in ICT in general and smart information use in particular. In the real world, 

process management is a key issue in any workplace organisation which needs to be supported by workflow systems, 

particularly in this Internet and Web services era. This project will develop an innovative framework and the corresponding 

technologies for service workflow management. The research will assist many organisations to effectively develop and 

deliver more efficient, reliable, flexible and adaptive business applications. Consequently, this will enhance the ability of many 

Australian organisations to run more productively and more competitively. 

DP0665868 Dr G Zhou 

Approved Nonlinear photonic crystal fabrication in a high refractive index lithium niobate crystal 

Project Title 

2006 : $74,340 

2007 : $74,340 

2008 : $74,340 


APD Dr G Zhou 



The method proposed in this project is a very promising and versatile method to achieve 3D nonlinear PhCs in a high 

refractive index material. This project will expand the national knowledge in the area of nonlinear PhCs. The successful 

compensation of the spherical aberration will advance the optical microfabrication technique. It is expected that the project 

will provide many chances for postgraduate students to become involved. Some newly developed devices based on 

nonlinear PhCs may find their commercial applications and we have a chance of securing the intellectual property related to 

these applications. In a long term, nonlinear PCs may be widely used in daily life and provide some opportunities to the 

industries. 

The University of Melbourne 

DP0663938 Dr KA Adelaar; Dr MC Ewing 

Approved Dialect variation in Javanese: an integrated historical-linguistic and typological analysis 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $60,000 


Administering Institution The University of Melbourne 


Australia has the highest concentration outside Indonesia of researchers engaged in the study of Java and this project will 

strengthen Australia's position as the premier Anglophone centre of Javanese Studies world wide. This project will also 

enhance Australia's position as a leader of academic research in Australasia by highlighting Australia's positive contribution 

to the study of Indonesia's cultural history. International links will be strengthened through cooperation between scholars in 

Australia and Indonesia. Research results will feed into the teaching programs in Indonesian Studies at the University of 

Melbourne and will strengthen Indonesian Studies across Australia. 

DP0663915 Dr AJ Anderson; Dr RH Carpenter 

Approved Using eye movements to study how past experiences shape expectations 

Project Title 

2006 : $45,000 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $30,000 

Page 131


Primary RFCD 3803 COGNITIVE SCIENCE 



We intend to examine how the brain decides where to look next with our eyes, a decision made approximately three times 

every second. Understanding how the normal brain makes decisions will in turn help us to understand what happens when 

things go wrong in diseases like dementia and Parkinson's disease, with the hope of better - and earlier - diagnosis, and 

improved monitoring of treatment. In addition, our research will establish an important research link with The University of 

Cambridge, and allow Australia to be competitive with laboratories in North America and Europe that are currently studying 

how the brain makes decisions about where to look. 

DP0663374 Prof A Bacic; Dr CJ Schultz 

Approved Assembly and function of arabinogalactan-proteins: a class of proteoglycans involved in plant 

Project Title growth and development 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $95,000 

Primary RFCD 3002 CROP AND PASTURE PRODUCTION 



Achievements of the Objectives will specifically address National Research Priority 3 by developing breakthrough science 

and utilising frontier technologies with application to Australia's agri-biotechnology industries. In addition to contributing to 

world class research outcomes, we will train highly skilled graduates and postdoctoral fellows in functional genomics 

technologies, thereby contributing to the "knowledge nation". 

DP0663879 Dr TJ Baldwin 

Approved Information Delivery from Segmented Textual Data Streams 

Project Title 

2006 : $62,744 

2007 : $48,000 

2008 : $50,000 




This project will contribute to the advancement of ICT innovation in Australia by developing a robust, reusable language 

understanding engine. The technology will be tailored to web applications, in the form of a conceptually-aware web search 

engine capable of tracking cross-document dialogues and identifying the core semantic thread of the dialogue. It will place 

Australia at the forefront of next-generation language technology development, with applications in areas including 

concept-based multi-document summarisation and email surveillance. 

DP0663299 Dr E Barberio 

Approved Origin of the Mass 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 


PHYSICS 



A hundred metres below ground, under the French-Swiss border, scientists are preparing to travel back in time to study 

matter as it was in the first fractions of a second after the beginning of the Universe. They are building the world's largest 

scientific instrument to help reveal how this primordial matter developed into the building blocks that form the great diversity 

of today. Australian physicists are preparing to extract the few fundamental particles that will explain the origin of the mass 

from the debris of billions of proton collisions. While solving the major issue confronting particle physics today, we will train 

students who will subsequently apply their skills in fields as diverse as science, medicine, industry and finance. 

Page 132


DP0664976 A/Prof JM Boldero; A/Prof RC Bell; Dr E Rafaeli; A/Prof JY Shah 

Approved The structure and content of self-knowledge: When and how are implicit and explicit measures 

Project Title related and what do they tell us? 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Research has found clear links between individuals' beliefs about themselves and emotion, motivation, and behaviour. These 

beliefs also play a role in the development of and recovery from psychological illness. However, understanding has been 

limited by the use of explicit measures, which rely on our ability to 'know' everything about ourselves, and our willingness to 

disclose. We investigate how explicitly and implicitly measured self-knowledge affect emotion, motivation, and behaviour. As 

a result, we redress a major criticism of this research, and facilitate a greater understanding of the role of self-knowledge, 

including aspects that we are not able to articulate, in psychological well-being. 

DP0664271 Dr AN Burkitt 

Approved Gain modulation and stability in biological neural systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $68,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $72,000 




This project is relevant to the National Research Priority area of Frontier Technologies and addresses fundamental 

cross-disciplinary issues of control and information processing in large, distributed neural systems that are at the cutting edge 

of intelligent processing systems. Applications are in rapidly growing fields of robotics, machine learning, adaptive control and 

intelligent systems, all with applications in diverse areas of economic importance. Applications to cochlear implant speech 

processing will provide benefit for the hearing impaired. The project will provide students with training at an international level 

within Australia, thus helping ensure Australia maintains and extends its science and technology base into the future 

DP0664068 Prof AI Bush; Dr R Cherny; Prof JF Mercer 

Approved The Role of Amyloid Protein Precursor in Mammalian Copper Transport 

Project Title 

2006 : $185,000 

2007 : $140,000 

2008 : $140,000 




The knowledge gained from this investigation will help us to develop new medicines for the treatment of debilitating and ever 

more prevalent age-related neurodegenerative diseases and will help us to illuminate the role of metals in the ageing process 

itself. Apart from the obvious economic and social benefits in extending the productive lifetime of its citizens, the outcomes 

of this project have clear commercial applications. We anticipate that there will be patents that will ensue from the 

programme, which will be licensed to Australian interests, and contribute to the national revenue in the biotechnology and 

pharmaceutical sector. 

DP0664789 Dr MW Cantoni 

Approved Modelling, Analysis and Synthesis Tools for Multi-Dimensional Signal Processing Systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $93,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $85,000 


Page 133




Multi-dimensional signal processing plays a role in a variety of application areas, ranging from remote sensing for 

environmental monitoring and geological mapping, to medical imaging and the automatic control of industrial processes. The 

success of this project will provide mathematical tools for the advancement of the state-of-the-art in these broad areas. 

DP0666305 Dr R Cappai 

Approved Delineating the role of the GxxxG motif in transmembrane protein metabolism 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




This study will define how a well defined motif involved in transmembrane interactions affects the metabolism of proteins. 

Since this motif is present in proteins involved in Alzheimer's disease it has potential benefits for community health and 

combating ageing. 

DP0665518 Prof PH Carter; Dr EC Potter 

Approved Recreating Public Space: Poetics in the Production of Public Space 

Project Title 

2006 : $108,000 

2007 : $103,230 

2008 : $104,500 


APD Dr EC Potter 



Community health and environmental sustainability are two national goals. 'Recreating Place' proposes that they are 

interlinked. First, it focuses on the neglected cultural heritage of local communities. Second, it investigates a graphic 

technique for translating these collective traces and associations into the design of the place. Developing a creative research 

model, 'Recreating Place' acts locally but thinks globally. Showing that the well-being that springs from poetic repossession of 

the place through its stories provides the collective motivation to ensure that place's environmental sustainability, it 

demonstrates how national goals can be met through the poetic re-enchantment of particular locales. 

DP0664112 Dr RA Caruso; Dr Y Cheng 

Approved Chemical and morphological engineering of semiconductor electrodes for high efficiency solar cells 

Project Title 

2006 : $200,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $120,000 




The expected outcomes of the project are the preparation and development of sophisticated electrodes for solar cells, the 

main advantage of which resides in their designed chemical and morphological properties. The resulting electrodes have the 

potential to improve the efficiency of the solar cells over current industrially used materials. The products and mechanisms 

developed are envisaged to be amenable to large scale-up in industry. Hence, at a future date, there is the potential to 

fabricate the electrodes in Australia and then export the materials or technology internationally. This will benefit the Australian 

economy through employment of Australians and income generated through exports. 

Page 134


DP0664372 A/Prof AE Castles; A/Prof GW Stuart 

Approved Reconciling perceptual and cognitive accounts of dyslexia: The neural rate deficit hypothesis 

Project Title 

2006 : $55,000 

2007 : $45,000 

2008 : $55,000 




The proposed research will form part of a co-ordinated program to understand the causes of dyslexia, a disorder that affects 

a large number of children and often persists into adulthood. It complements parallel efforts to elucidate the genetic basis of 

dyslexia, the heterogeneity and subtypes of dyslexia, and the developmental precursors to the disorder. This research will 

inform early intervention and remediation efforts and will also assist in the understanding of the normal process of reading 

acquisition in children. 

DP0663499 Prof MS Chong; Prof J Soria; Prof I Marusic; Dr TB Nickels 

Approved The structure of turbulent boundary layers 

Project Title 

2006 : $180,000 

2007 : $160,000 

2008 : $180,000 




This research has an enormous impact in many fields of engineering - for example, in aeronautical, mechanical, chemical, 

meteorological and biomedical engineering. The resulting energy and economic savings and the reduction in atmospheric 

pollution and greenhouse gasses will ultimately impact on areas such as global climatic change and the energy sustainability 

of our urban environment, thus influencing the well-being of all people living on this planet. This research project will result in 

technological advancement and provide important training for future generations of researchers. This will entrench the 

Australian engineering and scientific community as world leaders in this area of scientific research. 

DP0666803 Prof AF Christie; Ms KG Weatherall 

Approved ...and by opposing, end them: A Comparative Examination of Opposition Processes in Patent Law 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $59,967 




Patent law is central to the key Australian economic aim of encouraging an innovative culture. One aspect of patent law, the 

opposition process, is directly linked to two important issues currently facing our patent system: improving patent quality, and 

minimising predatory behaviour by powerful firms. This project will assess the operation of the opposition process here, and 

the practice of equivalent international procedures in other jurisdictions, in order to inform Australian policy in current and 

ongoing negotiations towards global harmonisation. Material from this project will lead directly to proposals for improving the 

Australian patent system, and ensuring that it promotes, and does not retard, innovation. 

DP0663939 Prof J Damousi 

Approved Elocution Lessons: A History of Elocution, Speech and the Auditory Self in Australian Cultural Life. 

Project Title 

2006 : $45,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $60,000 


Page 135




This project makes a contribution to the national and community benefit by showing that speech and voice has played a 

central role in how Australians have come to define and understand their national identity. 

A study of the aural dimension of Australian culture will also shed light on how Australians have heard themselves as well. By 

understanding the influence of sound and listening, this project will open up a new understandings of cultural life. Finally, an 

analysis of the shifting sonic environment through technological discoveries will highlight the ways in which the experience of 

listening has changed over time. 

DP0665898 A/Prof MR Davidson; Dr DJ Harvie 

Approved Electro-viscous effects on pressure-driven liquid flow in microchannels 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




Australian biotechnology, information technology and food technology industries will benefit from the development of new 

tailored micro- and nano-fluidic devices for processing of non-Newtonian fluids. The efficiency of functional elements such as 

valves, pumps, mixers, reactors, heat exchangers can be optimised for specific fluids by understanding the coupling between 

the fluid properties, the device geometry, surface charge, and the numerical predictions. This understanding will complement 

development in related projects on non-Newtonian drop and particle formation in microfluidic flows which envisage 

continuous particle manufacture for novel materials possessing programmable, enhanced functional properties. 

DP0666857 Dr CW Davis; Dr J Kim; Prof ME Sams 

Approved Establishing how head and face movement properties contribute to the perception of speech and 

Project Title identity 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $132,000 

2008 : $130,000 

2009 : $132,000 

2010 : $125,000 


QEII Dr J Kim 



The proposed studies provide an extensive research program into audio-visual speech processing and person identification: 

key components of face-to-face communication. The likely impact and benefits of the project concern its contribution to 

perceptual theory (linking signal, brain and behaviour) and its practical implications: For determining the viability of 

multimodal biometric identification procedures by assessing the distinctiveness and permanence of AV speech 

characteristics. In the development of a visual dubbing technique that has potential for communication in noisy environments 

(and for the deaf) and for the development of a morphable model for AV presentation that has application for both first and 

second language learning. 

DP0663500 A/Prof LM Delbridge; A/Prof RE Widdop 

Approved Shaping the heart in early development - new insights into cellular modelling processes 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $65,000 


Page 136




Heart health is an important contributor to quality of life and longevity. This research will provide new insights into the way 

hormonal influences early in development shape a healthy heart. The project builds on the application of recently patented, 

sophisticated cell imaging techniques. Research students and trainees recruited to this project will benefit from their 

involvement with this leading edge technology. These studies are important in providing a basis for developing optimal 

management strategies for congenital heart conditions and preterm infants. Improved knowledge of the cardiac effects of 

fetal and neonatal exposure to steroids (to assist with lung maturation in prematurity or to control maternal asthma) will be 

gained. 

DP0664317 A/Prof S Dey; A/Prof JS Evans; Dr GN Nair 

Approved Distributed Estimation and Control under Communication Constraints 

Project Title 

2006 : $118,000 

2007 : $108,000 

2008 : $110,000 




Sensor networks will be an important technology for Australia's future. Applications range from monitoring water quality to 

controlling complex defence systems. This project will lead to a better understanding of the fundamental limits of wireless 

sensor networks. Above and beyond the creation of new theory and algorithms, the national and community benefits will 

include: (i) enhancement of Australia's reputation for innovative Engineering research through quality publications and 

international collaborations; and (ii) improvement of the research and development capability in the information and 

communications technology sector through high level training of postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows in this 

important technology. 

DP0663365 Dr NM Dragomir 

Approved Quantitative polarisation phase microscopy: A new tool for advances in structural analysis and 

Project Title biophotonics 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 


APD Dr NM Dragomir 



Innovation in biomedical research is driven by technology in optical imaging. Optical imaging methods including polarisation 

microscopy are widely accepted and are at the forefront of biomedical scientific discoveries. This project undertakes 

fundamental and applied research innovatively combining polarisation imaging and quantitative phase imaging microscopy to 

uniquely quantify the physical thickness and morphology of birefringent specimens such as the cardiac muscle cell. This 

project, while of substantial intellectual merit in its own right, could also have the potential to lead to the detection of the 

mechanisms related to heart failure. 

DP0664051 Prof WA Ducker; A/Prof KE Van Cott; A/Prof RM Davis 

Approved Artificial Proteins for the Control of Colloid and Surface Properties 

Project Title 

2006 : $250,000 

2007 : $220,000 

2008 : $220,000 


Page 137




A large amount of Australia's wealth arises from mining and the processing of small (colloidal) particles. This project will 

develop new coatings for particles, which will allow better control of the properties of particle suspensions. Control of surface 

properties is also important in the preparation of ceramics and in the preparation of implants and biosensors. The 

development of new coatings will also offer opportunities for improved performance in these areas. 

Many existing coating technologies rely on procedures using organic solvents, which are hazardous to human health and the 

environment. The proposed research will develop coatings that are made and used in solutions of water only, thereby 

minimizing pollution production. 

DP0662906 Dr MR Duckham 

Approved Automatic fusion of geoinformation: The intelligent geo-mediator architecture (iGMA) 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 




The efficient integration of geographic information from different sources (termed geoinformation fusion) is recognized 

internationally as a major problem for projects that rely on geographic information. Conventional geoinformation fusion 

procedures require manual assistance from human experts. This project will lead to increased speed, reliability, and economy 

for this task, by automating the process of geoinformation fusion. Many different application domains will benefit from these 

improvements to geoinformation fusion procedures, including emergency response systems (for example, helping to combine 

different data about the structural characteristics of buildings as part of a housing damage assessment following an 

earthquake). 

DP0664037 Dr AM Finnane 

Approved Consumption in Late Imperial China: an Early Modern Phenomenon? 

Project Title 

2006 : $21,939 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $40,000 




China's present economic growth and consumer activity are of immediate interest to Australia. This study of consumer 

activities in earlier centuries will shed light on changes as well as continuities in Chinese consumption in a long era of 

globalization. The project will contribute to the corpus of Australian scholarship on Chinese and world history, enhancing local 

and global understandings of China's past, and enriching ways in which it is imagined. 

DP0665098 Mr AG Fowler 

Approved Implementing large-scale solid-state quantum computation 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $57,000 

2008 : $60,000 

2009 : $57,000 


APD Mr AG Fowler 



The goal of quantum computing research is to harness the properties of quantum mechanics to build computers that are 

exponentially more powerful than the computers of today. Along the way, many spin-off technologies for conventional 

computing and nanotechnology are expected. Realising the quantum computing dream is a daunting experimental challenge 

requiring both theoretical assurance that it is possible in principle, and theoretical guidance as to the best method. We seek 

to provide this theoretical support for solid-state systems, and broaden the range of problems that such systems are 

demonstrably suited to tackle. 

Page 138


DP0665971 Dr BG Fry 

Approved Modern reptiles with ancient toxins: the molecular origin and evolution of novel bioactive proteins 

Project Title from squamate dental glands. 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $30,000 




Animal venoms provide a rich source of novel bioactive proteins, some of which have demonstrated therapeutically useful 

activities. Through this researcher's unique approach of investigating previously unmapped squamate venom systems, there 

is potential for the identification of divergent, bioactive proteins. Those already identified by the applicant in the dental glands 

of Australian monitor lizard species represent a tremendous opportunity for biodiscovery. Further knowledge in this area will 

increase medical understandings of bites and aid conservation measures informed by the natural history of these animals. 

DP0664951 Dr L Gangadharan; Dr N Erkal; A/Prof LA Cameron; Dr A Chaudhuri 

Approved The Economics of Corruption and Institutional Change: Theory and Experiments 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $65,000 




The economic and social wellbeing of its neighbours is important for Australia. It results in a more prosperous and safe 

region. Australia's interest in the wellbeing of its neighbours is often expressed through financial aid and the sharing of 

expertise. This research will contribute to this expertise by investigating the ways in which changes in political and legal 

institutions can help reduce corruption and result in economic development. Moreover, the cross-country nature of this 

research project will help increase the level of academic interactions between Australian and foreign universities. 

DP0665230 A/Prof RB Gasser; Dr AC Loukas 

Approved Discovery of early developmental events in the transition to parasitism in the hookworm 

Project Title Ancylostoma caninum using genomic technologies 

2006 : $97,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $75,000 




The national/community benefits are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing 

to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific 

concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic and applied 

research; (3) to develop excellence in research by promoting collaborative research, resulting in a more efficient use of 

resources in a national and international context; (4) to enhance the skills-base in biology and biotechnology; (5) to 

substantially increase global visibility through quality research, leading to an increased investment in Australian science. 

DP0665082 Dr AL Genovese 

Approved Has Feminism Failed the Family? A History of Equality, Law and Reform 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $74,340 

2008 : $74,340 

Primary RFCD 3999 OTHER LAW, JUSTICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT 

APD Dr AL Genovese 

Page 139




The research will examine the history of legal reform since the introduction of the Family Law Act. As such, it will provide a 

broader perspective to feminist and conservative criticisms of gender bias and legal unfairness in the operation of a family 

law system understood to be based on equality principles. The project's outcomes will be of immediate significance therefore 

to policy makers, as well as to the divergent groups who currently research legal and government regulation of families and 

family breakdown. Further, the project will enhance national knowledge by contributing to the historical understanding of 

Australia's immediate past. 

DP0664163 Prof KP Ghiggino; Dr TD Bell; Prof FC De Schryver 

Approved Single molecule spectroscopy of functional luminescent materials. 

Project Title 

2006 : $170,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 




This project will provide new insights into the light induced processes occurring in individual molecules of potentially useful 

luminescent materials. The molecules to be studied include new fluorescent probes of biological and polymer systems and 

single light harvesting nanoparticles with applications in solar energy collection and conversion. The program of work 

proposed will increase our understanding of light induced chemical processes and assist the design of advanced materials 

for photomolecular devices. 

DP0665127 Prof AJ Gleadow; A/Prof BP Kohn; Prof RW Brown; Dr JM Fletcher; Prof F Chemale Jr. 

Approved Reconstructing the morphotectonic evolution of rifted continental margins from low-temperature 

Project Title thermochronology 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $103,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Knowledge of how continental rifting occurs will improve our ability to predict the locations of important oil and gas resources 

on the margins of Australia and elsewhere, which is directly relevant to the National Research Priority goal of 'Developing 

Deep Earth Resources'. The project will enhance our national scientific standing by developing and maintaining key expertise 

and facilities that can sustain a world-leading research capability in Australia. The project will also forge strong international 

links with researchers outside Australia, build our research profile in an area of significant worldwide scientific interest at the 

present time, and provide a training ground for a new generation of younger scientists in Australia. 

DP0663972 Dr DC Goodman 

Approved A History of Public Conversation in the USA 

Project Title 

2006 : $37,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $70,000 




The quality of public conversation is a subject of continuing concern in Australia as in the US. This study of the history of 

public conversation in the US will offer a longer historical perspective on current political and social concerns about declining 

social capital and civility in public discourse. Americans have always sought more and better public discussion, but for quite 

different reasons at different times. The research will illuminate the very rich history of public conversation in the US and shed 

some comparative light on Australian conditions. 

Page 140


DP0663494 Dr MN Guillemin; Dr LH Gillam; Prof DA Rosenthal 

Approved Hamstrung by ethics creep? Investigating human research ethics in practice 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $55,000 

Primary RFCD 3799 OTHER STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY 



This project will benefit national ethics review processes and ethical research practice. It will provide the community, funding 

bodies, researchers, participants and ethics committee members with confidence in both the ethics review process and 

day-to-day practice of health research. As health research becomes increasingly complex, it is vital that the conceptual bases 

used in ethical deliberations and their relationship to research practice are made explicit. By making known the ways that 

ethics committee members and health researchers make decisions about research ethics and how this influences the 

conduct of their practice, we can be assured that health research in the future is being conducted in the most effective and 

ethical way. 

DP0665701 Dr CA Hartley; Dr JR Gilkerson; Prof GF Browning; Dr F Li 

Approved Blocking immune responses: a critical factor in herpesvirus virulence? 

Project Title 

2006 : $98,000 

2007 : $88,000 

2008 : $88,000 




The horse and poultry industries are two large, primarily rural based livestock production industries that are major 

contributors to the national economy. The research proposed in this project will improve our understanding of the 

pathogenesis of two important viral pathogens that are each a significant cost to their respective industry, and thus will 

ultimately reduce the cost of these two viruses to industry. In addition, the technology developed during this project would 

have a global market and may be transferable to other viral pathogens of other domestic species. 

DP0664286 A/Prof OT Henry; A/Prof MD McKenzie; A/Prof N Olekalns; Dr K Shields; Dr S Suardi 

Approved Measuring the Effects of Interest Rate Volatility 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $60,000 




Interest rate changes have important implications for highly influential macroeconomic variables and, for the investor, have 

direct implications for asset prices, net worth and future wealth. By considering unresearched areas concerning the behaviour 

and influence of interest rates our research will be of interest to an academic audience, government, regulators and market 

practitioners. Attention to Australia, the US and Asia means that the research will be directly relevant to Australian 

decision-makers. Further, the project will yield papers for publication in top international journals, reinforcing Australia's 

reputation as a leading centre for financial research and enhance it's reputation for cutting-edge work. 

DP0666120 Prof G Hjorth 

Approved Equivalence Relations, Group Actions, and Descriptive Set Theory 

Project Title 

2006 : $151,060 

2007 : $151,060 

2008 : $151,060 

2009 : $151,060 

2010 : $151,060 


APF Prof G Hjorth 

Page 141




This project is a contribution to basic and foundational research in the area of Pure Mathematics generally and Mathematical 

Logic specifically. Logic in particular appears in disciplines as diverse as Computer Science,Linguistics, and Philosophy, and 

the development of logic in these fields has been profoundly influenced by the foundational work of mathematical logicians. 

The innovative techniques introduced in this proposal will enable Australia to maintain a position at the forefront of Pure 

Mathematics, and by recruiting a recent winner of the highly prestigious Karp prize the country will be instantly established as 

one of the leading centers of Mathematical Logic. 

DP0663399 A/Prof CD Hodgson 

Approved Three-dimensional geometry and topology 

Project Title 

2006 : $82,000 

2007 : $72,000 

2008 : $74,000 




This project will carry out important fundamental research into the geometry and topology of 3-dimensional manifolds, an 

area of intense activity over the last 30 years. 

The work has direct applications to physics, for example recent work in cosmology aimed at determining the global structure 

of our universe. Our work on knotting and symmetries of molecular graphs will also be of considerable interest in chemistry 

and biology. 

The project will also provide high quality training of undergraduate and graduate students in geometry and topology, and will 

increase international cooperation by developing closer links with colleagues and institutions overseas. 

DP0663108 Dr OD Jones; Dr DN Veitch 

Approved Multifractal models in finance via the crossing tree 

Project Title 

2006 : $86,000 

2007 : $76,000 

2008 : $78,000 




High level mathematical modelling is an established part of the modern finance industry, in particular the Black-Scholes 

option pricing formula is now an indispensable financial tool. 

To remain competitive the Australian financial sector needs to keep up with developments in mathematical finance, which is 

only possible if the Australian academic community remains active in the field. 

The work on multifractal modelling proposed here is innovative both in its theoretical aspects and its applied methodology, 

and will ensure that Australian research remains at the cutting edge of this highly competitive and fast moving field. 

DP0664225 Dr C Kao; Dr MW Cantoni; A/Prof U Jonsson 

Approved Robustness Analysis and Control Design of Distributed and Networked Systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $82,000 




The theory and computational tools to be developed in this project have impact on a broad range of areas, including various 

engineering disciplines, biology, and medical and environmental sciences. In terms of practical interests, this project will 

create cutting edge technologies which are applicable to important infrastructures of the modern society such as 

communication networks, transportation systems, electrical power grids, collaborative intelligent machines, and water 

distribution networks. 

Page 142


DP0662844 Dr AT Kenyon; A/Prof TC Lindsey; Dr T Marjoribanks; Ms AJ Whiting 

Approved The Media and ASEAN Transitions: Defamation Law, Journalism and Public Debate in Indonesia, 

Project Title Malaysia and Singapore 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 

2009 : $75,000 




This project will examine defamation law, journalism and public debate in three core members of the Association of 

Southeast Asian Nations: Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. It will focus on a legal issue, defamation, which is central to 

the Australian and regional media's potential for improving public and private sector governance, and promoting domestic and 

regional understanding, at a time when independent media speech has great value in relation to trade, security and 

development. When risks of transnational defamation liability are increasing, it will assist the Australian media's coverage of 

three pivotal countries in the region and substantially develop the academic understanding of defamation law's effects on 

media content. 

DP0664674 Dr MG Kirley 

Approved Evolutionary multi-objective algorithms for Global Grids 

Project Title 

2006 : $75,027 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 




This research investigates alternative software technologies for Grid-based evolutionary multi-objective decision algorithms. 

By employing the latest adaptive techniques and taking advantage of the low cost Grid infrastructure, new parallel 

evolutionary systems will be developed that can rapidly supply robust solutions to complex problems. This project will further 

develop an understanding of scaling issues in parallel evolutionary systems and pave the way for even more widespread 

application of evolutionary techniques for large scale, data-intensive applications in science and industry. 

DP0664752 Prof C Kulik; Dr C Cregan; Dr M Brown; Dr MI Metz 

Approved The psychological contract: Bridging human resource management practices and organisational 

Project Title effectiveness 

2006 : $30,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $30,000 




Many managers believe that recent changes in management practice are responsible for Australia's high labour productivity 

but very little is known about the mechanisms through which such effects are transmitted. Will HRM enable Australian 

organisations to generate and maintain a competitive advantage in the global context? In this project we draw on theoretical 

frameworks established in the behavioural sciences to understand how HRM practices influence employee reactions and 

impact organisational effectiveness, such as labour productivity. The results will be of direct benefit to Australian 

organisations designing, evaluating, or reconfiguring their HRM practices in line with their competitive strategy. 

DP0664342 Dr S Kurnia 

Approved Adoption of electronic commerce-enabled supply chain management: a trans-national comparison 

Project Title study 

2006 : $75,440 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 



Page 143



The framework developed will allow practitioners to identify an appropriate strategy to promote the adoption of EC-enabled 

SCM in developing countries. By including Indonesia and China as two of Australia's large trading partners in this study, the 

relationships can be further enhanced, leading to an increase in Australia's export market and improvement in national 

productivity and growth. Through wider adoption of EC-enabled SCM by Australia's trading partners, Australia can trade with 

them more efficiently. The empirical data and the research instruments developed will also enhance Australia's research 

standing and contribute to university teaching and research training. 

DP0662804 A/Prof KA Landman; A/Prof BD Hughes; Dr MJ Simpson 

Approved Multi-scale modelling of cell migration in developmental biology 

Project Title 

2006 : $94,000 

2007 : $82,000 

2008 : $82,000 

2009 : $60,000 

Primary RFCD 2399 OTHER MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES 

APD Dr MJ Simpson 



Interpretative and predictive tools are needed for the comprehensive understanding of directed cell migration in the medical 

sciences. Mathematical models and modelling methodologies developed in this project will make a significant contribution to 

the investigation of cell migration and the testing and generation of hypotheses. Such models are needed to understand 

observed cellular patterns. This project will contribute to knowledge of normal and abnormal developmental processes, 

especially in embryonic growth. Understanding these processes should lead to prediction and treatment of congenital 

disorders and contribute to a healthy start to life. 

DP0663196 Dr C Leckie; Prof J Bezdek 

Approved Data Mining by Clustering in Very Large Relational Databases 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $67,000 

2008 : $69,000 




Many commercial and governmental entities possess very large relational data that cannot be feasibly analyzed by today's 

computers, e.g., gene expression data, product usage databases and telecommunication call records. The clustering tools 

developed in this project will have a significant benefit on many business processes that involve clustering this type of data, 

such as fraud detection and market segmentation. 

DP0663788 Dr H Lewi; Prof K Darian-Smith; Prof PJ Goad; Dr JL Willis; A/Prof JF Murphy 

Approved Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Designing Everyday Modernism for Australian Communities 

Project Title 1920-1970 

2006 : $68,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 




This cross-disciplinary project will construct an historical account of the interconnections between the network of 

governmental policies and initiatives promoting a healthy and educated citizenry, and the design and use of modern, 

municipal architecture in mid-century Australia. Detailed analysis of modern building types, from around the nation, including 

kindergartens, sporting facilities, swimming pools, child health clinics, libraries and community centres will constitute an 

original and important resource for historians, conservationists and architects. Historical findings will inform directions and 

lessons for future practice in the design, planning and conservation of community infrastructure. 

Page 144


DP0665417 Dr SA Lovegrove; A/Prof JA Lawrence; Dr AC Sutton; Dr CS Ross; Ms R Holder 

Approved Fairness and equity for victims of crime: what do victims want, and why don't they get it? 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $55,000 




The goal of the research is to assist justice and crime victims services agencies to understand their role in relation to crime 

victims and to develop more effective and responsive ways to meet this important social and justice challenge. The research 

will contribute to a better understanding how traditional legal and justice processes can be made consistent with victims' 

needs for procedural fairness and equity of outcomes. The project will establish a strong theoretical and policy framework for 

a principled, fair and responsive justice system that is informed by the diverse interests of its constituents and consumers. 

This research has the support of Victims Support Australasia and in-principle agreement from four member services. 

DP0665071 A/Prof GS Lynch; Dr DR Plant 

Approved Modulating the molecular and cellular physiology of ageing skeletal muscle 

Project Title 

2006 : $93,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 

Primary RFCD 3206 MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY 



Understanding the underlying mechanisms of how ageing affects muscle is of increasing importance to the community as the 

number of older persons in the population continues to escalate and the age of retirement increases. Old muscles are slower 

and weaker than young muscles, and are more easily injured. This proposal is focussed on developing safe therapies to 

prevent or reverse these age-related effects. Making old muscles young again, is a research strategy that will promote 

healthy ageing and enable older Australians to enjoy a better quality of life. 

DP0663857 A/Prof GM MacNaughton; Dr P Hughes 

Approved Negotiating Staff-Parent Relations in Culturally Diverse Early Education Settings 

Project Title 

2006 : $39,000 

2007 : $35,000 

2008 : $23,000 

Primary RFCD 3399 OTHER EDUCATION 



The Australian federal government invests nearly $A1.25 billion annually in childcare and more than 1.6 million children 

attend some form of childcare. There is an international consensus that parental involvement in early childhood programs 

enhances their economic and social benefits, including improved educational outcomes, enhanced employment opportunities 

and increased social participation. This project increases the likelihood that an increasingly culturally diverse Australia wil.l 

attain those benefits by offering a radical approach to improving staff-parent relations in culturally diverse settings and 

helping to reduce the occupational stress often linked with those relations 

DP0664097 Prof GI McFadden; Dr RF Waller 

Approved Infrakingdom Alveolata: searching for a defining structural feature 

Project Title 

2006 : $99,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 

Primary RFCD 2799 OTHER BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 

Page 145




This project will establish the first molecular nexus between a cellular structure currently used to define an Infrakingdom of 

life. It will aid in the higher order systematics of our microscopic diversity and allow us to interpret how important parasites 

learned to penetrate host cells to establish infection. We will train excellent graduate and Honours students in cellular and 

molecular biology. 

DP0666735 Dr KL McFerran 

Approved Tipping the Scales: Fostering a healthy adolescence through musical participation 

Project Title 

2006 : $33,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $20,000 




The prevention of mental illness is a priority for the Australian community. The death of a parent or sibling during childhood 

or adolescence is a significant risk factor for mental illness because of the multiple losses that stem from the original 

bereavement. Early intervention programs with a focus on enhancing resilience have been identified as the most appropriate 

strategy for promoting mental health. This project investigates and evaluates the potential of creative expression to function 

as a protective factor in fostering resilience and effective coping with bereavement during adolescence. Innovative models of 

analysis will provide multiple perspectives on this benefit. 

DP0664589 Prof W Moran; Dr SD Howard; Prof AR Calderbank 

Approved Towards an Information Theory of Radar 

Project Title 

2006 : $83,000 

2007 : $73,000 

2008 : $75,000 




Radar is a key sensing technology for the defence of Australia. It is also used in several civilian applications. Recent 

advances in engineering and science have led to significantly increased inherent capabilities for radar hardware. 

Nonetheless, radars in service and planned are unable to counter many current threats. To a large extent these new 

capabilities have yet to be fully exploited, and in large part this is because of the lack of an information theory for radar that 

corresponds to the highly successful theory of this kind for telecommunications. Our work, though pitched at fundamental 

ideas in the theory of radar, will lead to the production of improved radar capability that will permit improved threat detection 

and tracking. 

DP0663055 Dr M Murphy; Dr EL Fletcher 

Approved Histamine and non-visual regulation of retinal signalling 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 




This project is internationally competitive, asking basic biological questions about the brain and vision. Of direct national 

benefit, the new knowledge generated may alter the way we understand how vision works. Ultimately this knowledge may 

give insight into particular health issues, such as the persistence of visual memory in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and 

age related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Further this new knowledge will flow directly into the reputation of our 

major institutes of higher education and strengthen their place on the world stage. Through both CIs, this research will 

contribute to the education of both undergraduate and postgraduate science students at The University of Melbourne. 

Page 146


DP0664501 A/Prof D Nesic; Dr Y Tan 

Approved Finite-dimensional Sampled-data Control of Nonlinear Spatially Distributed Parameter Systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $113,000 

2007 : $101,000 

2008 : $101,000 


APD Dr Y Tan 



Optical communication networks, smart materials and fluid flows, are all examples of systems whose behaviour can be 

significantly improved by automatic control. These are identified as some of the key technologies that will shape our future. 

This project will contribute to the fundamental science and engineering design of such diverse systems. Two postdoctoral 

fellows and one graduate student will be trained in this important emerging field. 

DP0664723 Prof RS Norton 

Approved Malarial parasite surface proteins: structure and interactions of key merozoite antigens 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $94,000 

2008 : $94,000 




Malaria remains one the most lethal infectious diseases in the world today, being directly responsible for around 2 million 

deaths annually, many in children under 5 years of age. Related parasitic diseases affect livestock in malaria-endemic 

regions and more broadly. There is an urgent need for an improved understanding of how these parasites invade target red 

blood cells. Knowing the structures of key proteins on the parasite cell surface will provide a deeper understanding of 

host-parasite interactions, as well as a basis for the design of vaccines or drugs that interfere with parasite invasion of host 

red blood cells. 

DP0663264 Dr CE Parker; Dr VL Nielsen 

Approved The Impact of ACCC Enforcement Action: Evaluating the explanatory and normative power of 

Project Title responsive regulation and responsive law 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 

2009 : $70,000 

2010 : $70,000 


ARF Dr CE Parker 



The project will enhance the capacity of the ACCC and other business regulators to ethically and effectively regulate to 

achieve the goals of regulatory policy such as a fair, competitive economy, occupational health and safety, and 

environmental integrity. Australia is already well recognised as a leader in ambitious empirical and policy-oriented social 

science research on regulatory compliance (through the ARC funded Governance Network including RegNet at ANU). This 

project will enhance that reputation with the most comprehensive data set on the corporate compliance impact of 

enforcement action and fundamental re-thinking of foundational theoretical questions about the nature and capacities of 

regulation. 

DP0665261 Prof PE Pattison; Dr GL Robins; Prof TA Snijders 

Approved Statistical models for social networks, network-based social processes and complex social systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $150,000 

2008 : $150,000 

2009 : $140,000 

2010 : $130,000 

Page 147





Our methodological advances (flexible, theoretically defensible and empirically testable quantitative models for a wide range 

of interactive social processes) will add significantly to national capacity in modelling complex social systems. Existing 

collaborations will result in practical scientific outcomes relating to: the impact of social contact and needle-sharing networks 

on HIV transmission; the social epidemiology of mental health; health policy and local government networks; governance 

arrangements in environmental management; intra-organizational networks; labour market dynamics; and acculturation 

processes for international students. A major emphasis will be the training of a new group of quantitative social science 

graduates. 

DP0663005 A/Prof PA Pearce; Prof MD Gould 

Approved Quantum Spectra 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $78,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Fundamental quantum processes will play a key role in emerging technologies in the twenty-first century across diverse 

industries including quantum information technology, quantum computers and electronics, quantum optics, nanoscale 

quantum microscopes and superconductor technology. Australia has a strong base of expertise in the underpinning quantum 

disciplines. This project in strategic basic research within mathematical physics will develop a comprehensive and consistent 

mathematical description of quantum processes. This research will lead to a deeper understanding of quantum processes, 

keep Australia at the leading edge of international developments and increase Australia's capacity to develop and implement 

these new technologies. 

DP0663724 Prof S Prawer; Prof DN Jamieson; Dr P Olivero; Dr P Reichart; Dr J Wrachtrup; Dr F Jelezko; Dr DF Moore; 

Prof A Briggs; Prof IA Walmsley; Prof J Salzman 

Approved Diamond Based Quantum Information Processing 

Project Title 

2006 : $148,680 

2007 : $148,680 

2008 : $148,680 


APD Dr P Olivero 

APD Dr P Reichart 



The explosive growth in ideas for applications of quantum mechanics to practical devices for information processing has 

been a worldwide phenomenon of the past 4 years. A leading material which promises many of the desirable quantum 

properties is diamond. We aim to build on our extensive expertise in fundamental diamond research to design, fabricate and 

analyse novel quantum devices made from diamond. We will seek to attain the glittering prize of constructing diamond 

devices that will absorb, store and re-emit single light-photons with revolutionary applications to information storage and 

processing. 

DP0665027 Prof IM Ramsay; Prof C Rider; A/Prof AM O'Connell; Prof RJ Mitchell 

Approved Employee Share Ownership Plans: Current Practice and Regulatory Reform 

Project Title 

2006 : $147,000 

2007 : $86,000 

2008 : $90,000 


Page 148




National Priority Research Goal: Fostering and Innovative Culture and Economy. Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOPs) 

are important to the development of an economic culture of enterprise and innovation and the building of national wealth and 

savings in response to long-term demands of intergenerational equity. ESOPs require development through appropriate 

regulatory frameworks. This project will subject the existing regime of tax, corporate and labour law to technical and empirical 

scrutiny. This will enahnce the capacity of policy makers to evaluate and identify appropriate regulatory techniques to ensure 

the growth of efficiency of ESOPs at the national and enterprise level. 

DP0665513 Dr R Reed 

Approved Housing affordability: the use and misuse of reverse mortgages by older households 

Project Title 

2006 : $27,000 

2007 : $28,000 

2008 : $27,000 




Many retirees are without compulsory superannuation although daily living costs have risen substantially. As additional 

workers in the 'baby boom' generation retire and less tax will be paid to the government, it appears there will be increasing 

pressure placed on the pension system. A large proportion of the population may struggle to enjoy a fulfilling retirement and 

be drawn towards a reverse mortgage, which in turn may be misunderstood. With an increasing proportion of older residents 

leaving the workforce, the community would be adversely affected if this cohort required government financial assistance due 

to the misuse of home equity loans. 

DP0663872 Prof R Robson; Dr BF Abrahams 

Approved Coordination Polymers and Oligomers and Labyrinthine Molecular Solids as Materials for the 

Project Title Sorption of Gases/Vapours, with Emphasis on Hydrogen 

2006 : $143,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 

Primary RFCD 2599 OTHER CHEMICAL SCIENCES 



The work will afford new types of gas sorbing solids, which may find practical uses in the separation and storage of gases 

and in catalysis. Hydrogen is almost the perfect, pollution-free fuel; Australia's abundant sunlight potentially makes it cheap 

and readily available here. The lack of a safe and economic means of storing hydrogen at easily achieved and maintained 

pressures remains the chief obstacle to the viability of numerous hydrogen-powered devices of the future such as cell 

phones, laptop computers, cordless tools and vehicles. The work proposed will contribute to the development of safe, 

efficient, and portable hydrogen storage systems. 

DP0664832 Dr G Rosenbaum 

Approved Geodynamic evolution of the Banda Arc 

Project Title 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 


APD Dr G Rosenbaum 



The project will contribute to a better understanding of plate tectonic processes and will provide insights into the dynamics of 

the Indo-Australian plate. This information is fundamentally important for estimating seismic hazards and the potential for 

generating large magnitude earthquakes in Australia. Outcomes of this project will facilitate to unravel analogue tectonic 

systems that were active during the geological evolution of Australia (e.g. the Lachlan fold belt in eastern Australia), thus 

providing a new insight into the Australian environment. The project will also elucidate the nature of tectonic processes that 

are known to generate major ore deposits and is therefore likely to have important economic implications. 

Page 149


DP0664276 Prof JH Rubinstein; Dr PT Norbury 

Approved Minimal surfaces 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $78,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Recent stunning progress in topology, in particular a possible solution to one of the Clay Institute million dollar problems, 

using techniques from partial differential equations and minimal surfaces has made this area a hot topic. To attract 

researchers in this field to visit Australia and to train students in this area is a major part of this project. 

DP0663084 Dr JY Scheerlinck 

Approved Regulation of local lymphocyte trafficking and its role during infection 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 




The study of early immune responses will contribute to the development of better vaccination strategies. In particular it will 

contribute by helping to understand the essential differences between reactogenicity and immunogenicity and how this 

relates to adjuvants. Using this understanding it will be possible to develop novel adjuvants that induce appropriate immunity 

with minimal side effects. 

DP0665409 Prof FB Sear; Mr AE Hutson; Dr HM Goldsworthy 

Approved Technological Advances in Large-scale Roman Concrete Buildings during the 2nd and 1st centuries 

Project Title BC 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $40,000 




How were the Romans able to build monuments which are still standing after 2,000 years? Skills to achieve this were clearly 

not developed overnight. A multidisciplinary team from the University of Melbourne has identified the 1st century BC as a 

time of tremendous technological change in Roman architecture. Was it that the Romans used a technologically advanced 

type of concrete? Was it that they had perfected the structural design of vaults and domes? Was it simply their 

organisational ability or the enormous wealth which flowed from their vast Empire? A team of experienced 

archaeologists, architects and engineers seeks to answer these questions by survey and material analysis of a number of key 

Roman monuments. 

DP0664601 A/Prof F Separovic; Dr GD Ciccotosto; A/Prof JD Wade 

Approved Membrane interactions and neurotoxicity of Amyloid Abeta peptides from Alzheimer's disease. 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $105,000 

2008 : $105,000 


Page 150




A consequence of the increase in human life span is that age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's 

disease (AD) are more prevalent. Currently there are limited therapeutic treatments and no cure for AD. The key protein 

causing AD is Abeta and characterization of the toxic species of this peptide is critical towards identifying potential 

therapeutic targets. This proposal aims to study mutant peptides made synthetically and to identify a membrane-binding site. 

By establishing which lipid is critically involved in membrane binding of Abeta and mediating subsequent cell death, drugs 

may be developed to prevent the binding of Abeta to membranes resulting in neuronal survival and prevention of memory 

loss in AD patients. 

DP0666313 Dr JA Siapno 

Approved Dance, Movements and Visual Symbolism in East Timor 

Project Title 

2006 : $25,900 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $30,975 




By understanding traditional dance and indigenous belief systems which are often marginalized in the modern hierarchical 

ordering that privileges western-style "capacity building" based on modern scientific and managerial values, we will have a 

nuanced understanding of East Timorese cosmologies and practices on care of the self, resilience, power and agency. 

Development aid which is often defined exclusively in terms of infrastructure and economic growth, may pay attention to 

culture and creating space for emotional, social and spiritual creativity. Dance practices may provide alternative models of 

generative processes and therapy that actively produce feelings of joy and peace in the bodies, hearts, minds and souls of 

East Timorese. 

DP0663886 Prof IH Simmonds; Dr JA Bye; Prof Dr K Fraedrich; Dr JC Fyfe 

Approved Global objective identification and tracking of atmospheric fronts and the role of fronts in climate 

Project Title change 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 




Fronts, particularly those in the Indian and Southern Oceans, have a very strong impact on day-to-day weather over a vast 

proportion of Australia. Frontal systems are associated with a broad range of weather and climate parameters which affect 

people directly. These include precipitation, temperature, wind and a variety of extremes. The quality global climatology of 

fronts to be compiled in this project will allow reliable assessments of how frontal systems have changed, and may be 

expected to change in the next century. Great community benefit will derive from understanding how these are linked with 

changes in Australian weather and climate extremes, and to decreases in rainfall over southern Australia in recent decades. 

DP0663981 Dr CA Smith; A/Prof AH Sinclair 

Approved A bird's eye view of sex: the chicken embryo as a model for gonadal development 

Project Title 

2006 : $87,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 




The development of an embryo as either male or female (sex determination) is a fundamental biological process that 

fascinates both scientific and lay communities alike. This project will use the chicken embryo as a unique model organism to 

study how genes control sex determination. We will bring a novel method to our field of study; the use of avian viruses to 

deliver genes into embryos. This project will enhance our understanding of a basic biological process. It will have application 

to the poultry industry, in terms of sex ratio manipulation. It will also aid in the diagnosis of humans born with sexual 

abnormalities. The project will consolidate Australia's standing as a world leader in the area of reproduction and 

development. 

Page 151


DP0663889 Dr TA Smith; A/Prof DE Dunstan; A/Prof JE Sader; Dr EK Hill; Prof DJ Birch; Dr P Burn 

Approved Towards Nano-Assembled Light Emitting Polymer Films 

Project Title 

2006 : $165,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 




Advanced materials constructed with molecular level architecture through controlled nano-assembly will benefit medical 

science, biotechnology and nanotechnology, communications and the electronics fields. The national research priorities of 

nanotechnology and advanced materials through nano-assembly will be promoted by this work. This research will assist 

Australian industries to further advance these processes and devices leading to better quality, cheaper, more efficient 

products. The Australian community will benefit through economic and technological advances. These advanced materials 

will promote health and environmental wellbeing. 

DP0662936 A/Prof LF Stirling 

Approved Autism and written narrative: discourse analysis and the characterisation of higher level language 

Project Title disorder phenotypes 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $55,000 




This work contributes to the national research priority goal 'A healthy start to life', in advancing our understanding of the 

language disorder of autism. It is expected to benefit the children, their families and the community in furthering the basic 

research necessary for the development of new measures of performance, of use in the better assessment of children with 

language disorders and in the design and targeting of intervention programs. This work is cutting edge internationally in the 

approach it takes to the naturalistic language of children with autism. Hence it will raise the profile of Australia in this research 

domain. 

DP0664883 A/Prof MK Stivens 

Approved Imagining the Asian Child: Towards an Anthropology of New Asian Childhoods 

Project Title 

2006 : $46,000 

2007 : $22,000 




This innovative study will be of both popular and scholarly interest. The future of childhoods is a key concern in Australia and 

globally, with growing anxieties about a number of related issues: declining birthrates, ageing populations and allegedly rising 

welfare burdens, youth crime, and children's experiences in families. Asian and family studies are both acknowledged 

scholarly strengths in Australia: the project, drawing on the principal investigator's expertise in both fields, will place regional 

developments in a global context, and will appeal to a range of social scientists and cultural theorists interested in 

comparative studies of family and childhoods. 

DP0664448 Dr RT Taylor 

Approved From Race to the Genome: the Tasmanian Aboriginal People in the Scientific Imagination 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $75,000 


APD Dr RT Taylor 

Page 152




This project addresses the nationally significant issue of contested Aboriginality in Tasmania. It offers a broader 

understanding of complex scientific ideas and deeper insights into the 'History Wars' debate that goes to the heart of shaping 

Australian national identity. It provides a comprehensive historical and legal context to the current national definition of an 

Aboriginal, of direct relevance to the collection of national census data, the allocation of welfare funding and the 

Government's current restructuring of ATSIC. It will place Tasmania and Australia within an international context and make 

accessible new sources of Tasmanian culture and history to scholarly, indigenous and regional communities. 

DP0663371 A/Prof JW Toumbourou; Prof RF Catalano 

Approved What factors influence the development of antisocial behaviour in Australian adolescents? 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $150,000 




Antisocial behaviour is prevalent in Australia and imposes large social and economic costs on our communities. Once 

entrenched, antisocial behaviour and related problems often continue throughout life. Currently, much of the research in this 

area has been conducted overseas. The findings of this study will provide important insights into the development of 

antisocial behaviour from childhood to adolescence in the Australian context. By better understanding how antisocial 

behaviour develops, prevention and early intervention programs can be developed to target specific subgroups. In this way 

spending on juvenile and adult criminal justice systems can be reduced and a safer, more harmonious community can be 

fostered. 

DP0663726 A/Prof JW Toumbourou; A/Prof AV Sanson 

Approved Pathways to positive personal and social adjustment in early adulthood: a follow-up of the 

Project Title Australian Temperament Project longitudinal cohort 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $60,000 




Young adulthood today is characterised by delayed independence and family formation, extended attachment to peer culture, 

and relatively high levels of alcohol and drug use and mental health problems. Concerns are voiced about the capacity of this 

generation to become healthy and productive members of society. Examining the development of healthy young adulthood 

within this large longitudinal cohort will enable pathways and predictors of positive development from infancy through 

adolescence to be identified. It will hence allow identification of potential targets for policies and interventions to enhance the 

development of productive personal capacity, responsible social participation, compassion and trust. 

DP0663444 Dr CQ Tran 

Approved Advancing x-ray imaging into new dimensions using interferometry and phase-space tomography 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $170,000 

2009 : $100,000 

2010 : $100,000 


ARF Dr CQ Tran 



Synchrotron science and nanofabrication technologies are priority investment areas for most industrial countries including 

Australia. This research program takes advantages of recent progress in these fields and aims to advance x-ray imaging 

techniques of high sensitivity and low radiation dose and retrieve all extractable information of an object encoded in a 

wavefield. The development of these techniques is critical to future opportunities of frontier discoveries of the biological, nano 

and atomic world. Its application includes structural biology, medical diagnosis, biomedicine, material sciences and many 

other fields. 

Page 153


DP0664120 Dr J Van Buskirk 

Approved Population genetic structure and habitat specialisation in amphibians 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




This will be the first study to uncover the initial stages of ecological speciation in a fully natural setting, which will solidify 

Australia's leading position in evolutionary biology. The project promotes active international collaboration and bolsters the 

vibrant intellectual community here at home. Many Australian undergraduate and PhD students will participate in cutting-edge 

science and develop connections with overseas colleagues, helping Australia maintain its prominent international reputation 

in the future. The work also advances knowledge and appreciation of the natural world - a more urgent objective now than 

ever before. Ecological information is especially critical for amphibians, many of which are declining in Australia. 

DP0662959 A/Prof IR van Driel; A/Prof A Giraud; Dr LM Judd 

Approved Reg growth factors in gastric regeneration and disease 

Project Title 

2006 : $98,000 

2007 : $88,000 

2008 : $88,000 




This project will obtain a more detailed knowledge of the role that growth factors play in helping the lining of the stomach 

repair itself after damage caused by disease. Growth factors may also play a role in causing stomach cancer. To do this we 

will examine the expression of growth factors in number of stomach diseases and cancer and assay the ability of growth 

factors to promote the growth of stomach cells. 

This work is that it will contribute to our knowledge of how cell growth in the stomach is controlled under normal 

circumstances and in the very common pathological conditions of tissue damage, inflammation and cancer. It may also help 

us understand how inflammation can in some circumstances lead to cancer. 

DP0664130 Prof RR Volkas 

Approved Cosmology and astrophysics with neutrinos and other elementary particles 

Project Title 

2006 : $74,000 

2007 : $77,000 

2008 : $79,000 


PHYSICS 



Particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics provide a major contribution to the scientific and intellectual culture of the 

nation, as they address some of the most important questions in physical science. The nation's international standing will 

benefit greatly from participation in these quintessentially Big Science activities. High achieving students are very excited by 

the research questions addressed in this proposal, so it will add significantly to the pool of highly-trained young Australians. 

They emerge as general problem solvers and flexible thinkers of high calibre in addition to becoming experts in particular 

areas. The big fundamental questions to be considered are also of great fascination to the general public. 

DP0665775 Prof RR Volkas; Prof BH McKellar; Dr GC Joshi 

Approved Frontiers of Theoretical Particle Physics 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 


PHYSICS 

Page 154




This project will involve PhD and other students, who will work at the frontiers of theoretical particle physics, which provides 

excellent training in model building and problem solving. They will serve the nation as physicists, but also as teachers, in the 

finance industry, in the public service and in think tanks, as our former students have done. The quest to understand the 

ultimate structure of matter has been a part of western culture for the last 2000 years or more. Media stories on this subject 

are popular, and our work will enable authoritative public outreach as the subject develops, and we find that our present 

understanding is not the complete story. 

DP0663590 Dr RF Waller 

Approved Molecular-genetic organization and evolution of dinoflagellate mitochondria 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $77,000 

2008 : $77,000 




Dinoflagellates are unicellular organisms that are important parts of the biota as significant primary producers of the oceans. 

Certain dinoflagellates form essential symbionts of reef-forming corals and loss of the symbiont causes coral bleaching and 

death, a phenomenon linked to global warming. Dinoflagellate blooms are also notorious for causing fish kills and human 

illnesses such as paralytic shellfish poisoning. My studies of the mitochondrion will address a major aspect of the biology of 

this poorly understood group. Mitochondrial function is often a target for drugs and other controlling agents, and therefore 

these studies could offer scope to better interpret and manage dinoflagellates in our environment. 

DP0663525 Dr SO Warnaar; Prof PJ Forrester; Prof AJ Guttmann 

Approved Theory and Applications of Hypergeometric Series 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $78,000 

2008 : $80,000 

Primary RFCD 2399 OTHER MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES 



Techniques based on hypergeometric series lie at the heart of an exciting and rapidly developing class of mathematical 

methods, with applications to many areas of science and engineering, such as computer science, statistics, physics, 

chemistry and biology. 

In the past decades Australia has been at the forefront of important developments in the field, and this proposal serves to 

further strengthen the country's leading reputation. 

Many of the modern methods in the theory require expertise in mathematics as well as a high level of programming skills. 

This combination provides a unique training ground for higher degree students aiming at careers in financial mathematics, 

weather/climate forecasting and internet security. 

DP0662752 Dr CR Warren 

Approved How do plants cope with temporal variability in water and nutrients? 

Project Title 

2006 : $200,000 

2007 : $155,000 

2008 : $155,000 

2009 : $155,000 

2010 : $155,000 


QEII Dr CR Warren 

Page 155




Australia's climate and weather are temporally variable, yet we know little of how Australia's flora is affected by temporally 

variable vs constant supplies of water and nutrients. In addition, climate change will affect our flora by, among other things, 

increasing temporal variability in water and nutrient availability. This program of research will provide basic data on growth 

responses to variable vs. constant water and nutrient availability. Hence, results will be directly applicable to predicting the 

effects of climate change on growth, species' distribution and community composition. This research will also improve our 

basic understanding of limitations to photosynthesis, transpiration and nutrient uptake/assimilation. 

DP0663287 Dr SJ Wills 

Approved Hostels, Hosts and Hospitality: A Social and Cultural History of Migrant Temporary Accommodation 

Project Title in Australia Since the Second World War 

2006 : $36,200 

2007 : $63,000 

2008 : $55,775 




Because it promotes a deeper understanding of migrant experience, the social relations and outcomes that derive from that 

experience, on-arrival settlement services, the role of the nation as 'host', and the complexity of national and immigrant 

identities, this project strengthens Australia's social fabric and capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global 

environment. The experience of regional and global migration, often entailing processes of acute disjuncture, enjoins both an 

urgent need for, and specific difficulties in, the creation of a coherent identity. This study contributes to an understanding of 

anxieties about place and belonging and how we might interpret and engage such challenges today. 

DP0665494 Dr SJ Wilson; Dr NM McLachlan; Dr CA Falk 

Approved A Study of Acoustical, Psycho-acoustical and Musicological Factors in Tuned Percussion Ensemble 

Project Title Design 

2006 : $148,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 

2009 : $100,000 

2010 : $100,000 




This research will generate the following nationally benefits: 1) The World's first new, widely available, acoustical musical 

instruments in almost a Century, and the creation of a uniquely Australian musical form, 2) The creation of a major new 

teaching resource for classroom music and a new export industry for Australia, 3) New knowledge and techniques for the 

application of psycho-acoustic theory to industrial design processes, and their evaluation with respect to musical instrument 

acoustics and performance practices, and 4) New knowledge of the human auditory system; thereby contributing to 

Australia's international standing as a leader in auditory research and promoting Australia's cultural and scientific capabilities. 

DP0663979 Dr AI Wirth 

Approved Fast, practical and effective algorithms for clustering with advice 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,857 

2007 : $45,000 

2008 : $47,000 


Page 156




To maintain a safe and healthy society, government and industry need high quality immunization and national security 

databases. Since we cannot afford to have duplicate, incomplete and conflicting records that refer to the same person, we 

unify them by identifying clusters of related records. 

In the emerging field of functional genomics, diagnosis of certain diseases is enhanced by determining which genes act 

together. Different experimental runs might result in different clusterings of genes: we need one consensus clustering that 

summarizes the experimental outcomes. 

Cleaning databases and combining clusterings by hand would require vast amounts of time. This project will result in faster 

and more accurate computational procedures. 

DP0663362 Prof MP Wooden; Prof JI Borland; Dr K Mavromaras 

Approved Labour market transitions and dynamics in Australia: An analysis of the Household, Income and 

Project Title Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey 

2006 : $250,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 




As stated in the National Research Priorities, 'in the decade ahead, it will be vital to understand and support the drivers for 

workforce participation and the broader social and economic trends influencing Australian families and communities'. 

Improving our understanding of these drivers is the main objective of this project. Specifically, the outcomes from this project 

will result in a richer comprehension of the interaction between the social safety net and economic participation, and 

especially labour force participation. This research will thus directly support the Government's welfare reform and 

participation agendas, and thus should feed into improved policy decision-making, especially in the areas of employment and 

income support. 

DP0664621 Dr JD Woodhead; Prof PW Williams; Dr F McDermott 

Approved Of caves, bones, and climate change: new insights from old speleothems 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Australia has an enviable reputation as a leading innovator in geochronological studies and this research will reinforce that 

standing. The outcomes will have an immediate and significant impact on studies of global climate change, and provide new 

insights into the evolution of Australia's unique fossil mammal fauna. In these ways, and as described in more detail 

elsewhere in the application, this project addresses directly our current national research priorities 'responding to climate 

change and variability' and 'the sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity'. 

DP0663208 Dr S Young 

Approved Political reporting of Australian election campaigns 

Project Title 

2006 : $134,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $75,000 




Up to 40% of Australian voters decide their vote during an election campaign but most never have any direct contact with 

candidates and rely instead on information from newspapers, radio, television and the Internet. According to democratic 

theory, these media should act as a site for political information and debate to enable voters to make an informed choice. If 

they are not performing this role well, then as a community, Australians are missing out. This project assesses the quality of 

election reporting to find out how well or badly we are served by those who report and comment on politics. 

Page 157


DP0663812 Prof CF Zika 

Approved The Living Dead: witchcraft and apparition in European culture (3rd to 18th century) 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $80,000 

2009 : $27,000 




By providing a major monograph, an edited collection of papers by national and international scholars, and an electronic 

pictorial catalogue, the project will be of immense benefit to this rich new field of international research, and also help 

maintain the high reputation Australian scholarship enjoys in the field of medieval and early modern studies. But the 

relationship of societies to their dead continues to evoke keen interest in contemporary Australia outside the bounds of the 

academy. A fully researched history of Europe's changing views towards the dead will contribute to this topical discussion, 

made more urgent by our aging population and changes to traditional religious and cultural responses to death. 

University of Ballarat 

DP0666061 Dr A Bagirov 

Approved Derivative free algorithms for large scale nonsmooth and global optimization and their applications 

Project Title 

2006 : $93,240 

2007 : $93,240 

2008 : $93,240 

2009 : $93,240 

2010 : $93,240 


ARF Dr A Bagirov 

Administering Institution University of Ballarat 


The outcomes expected from this research fall broadly into two categories: 1) the development of a new class of effective 

readily implementable derivative free techniques for large scale non-smooth and global optimisation and 2) the development 

of new algorithms based on derivative free optimization techniques for solving data mining, resource allocation problems and 

some problems in bioinformatics. In particular, the application of these techniques to molecular biology and cluster analysis 

will be very important for the development of competitive technologies for Australia. 

DP0665569 Prof J Smyth; Prof LB Angus 

Approved Individual, Institutional and Community 'Capacity Building' in a Cluster of Disadvantaged Schools 

Project Title and their Community 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $70,000 


Administering Institution University of Ballarat 


It is no longer ethically, socially or economically acceptable to have significant and growing proportions of the school 

population that are alienated, marginalised and excluded from a satisfying and rewarding educational experience. The 

national and community benefits for Australia expected from this research will be a better understanding of, and possibly 

alleviation of, the structural educational impediments that operate on disadvantaged individuals, institutions and communities. 

It is in the national interest to have a society in which all its members, not just the privileged, gain lifelong benefit from a 

rewarding schooling experience. 

Page 158


Victoria University of Technology 

DP0666405 Prof JD McLaren 

Approved Faith into Words: the entanglement of religion, politics and poetry in the work of Vincent Buckley. 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $35,000 

2008 : $35,000 


Administering Institution Victoria University of Technology 


This project will explore poetry of Vincent Buckley, which is grounded in a conception of a God incarnate in the world and its 

people that impacted directly on Australia's secular culture and politics, and continues to offer to both secular and religious 

readers a way towards an inclusive human community. 

Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research 

DP0666603 Dr G Dewson 

Approved Elucidating the regulation of cell death by random mutagenesis of key apoptotic proteins 

Project Title 

2006 : $74,340 

2007 : $74,340 

2008 : $74,340 


APD Dr G Dewson 

Administering Institution Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research 


All organisms need to remove damaged or excessive cells. This cell death process is called apoptosis. Defects in apoptosis 

result in numerous diseases including cancer, and neurodegenerative and immune disorders. Determining how this process 

is regulated is of crucial importance for therapeutic intervention. We will utilise a powerful strategy to mutate proteins required 

for apoptosis so that they no longer work, which will allow the identification of protein regions essential for cell death activity . 

This will lead to identification of potential drug targets to control apoptosis. Elucidating the mechanism of cell death will lead 

to the development of novel and improved therapies for diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disease. 

Queensland 

Central Queensland University 

DP0664599 A/Prof SD Lockie 

Approved The production and regulation of agricultural biodiversity 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $66,000 

2008 : $60,000 


Administering Institution Central Queensland University 


Protecting biodiversity is critical for long-term sustainability of agriculture and rural communities. In the shorter-term, products 

with demonstrable ecological attributes such as organic foods enjoy distinct market advantages, and access to export 

markets in the US, EU and Japan is increasingly dependent on satisfying minimum environmental and food safety standards. 

By evaluating how people throughout the entire food chain may be mobilised to preserve biodiversity this research will make 

a significant contribution to policy and other strategies oriented towards enhancing the social and economic welfare of rural 

Australia. 

Page 159


Griffith University 

DP0664555 Prof GJ Bamber; Prof RD Lansbury; Prof TA Kochan 

Approved The Role of Employment Relations in the Competitive Strategies of Low Cost Airlines in Australia 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $70,000 


Administering Institution Griffith University 


Employment-relations issues are key determinants of an airline's performance. Air transport is important for Australia. 

Australia has experienced failing airlines (e.g. Ansett, Compass); its most successful airline, Qantas, charges high fares and 

one of its priorities is improving its employment relations. This project will investigate airlines' critical success factors with 

special attention to the links between corporate strategies and employment relations. Besides investigating Qantas, it will link 

with MIT's Global Airline Industry Program to consider the transformation of Australia's aviation industry and, in particular, the 

innovations pioneered by low-cost airlines: JetStar and Virgin Blue. 

DP0666833 Dr AJ Brown; Dr A Kay; A/Prof I Gray; Dr D Giorgas; Prof DJ Brunckhorst; Prof CA Saunders 

Approved Towards Sustainable Regional Institutions: The Nature, Role and Governance Implications of 

Project Title Contemporary Australian Regionalism 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $130,000 




This project is the first-ever national description of Australian regionalism, using insights from political and social science, 

constitutional theory and public administration. Built on successful pilots, this research will equip government, civil society, 

development agencies and regional policymakers with a region-by-region picture of the links between spatial variations in 

political culture, civic trust, social capital and challenges of regional institutional design. This new picture of Australian 

regional attitudes, expectations and possibilities will contribute directly to national environmental sustainability, sustainable 

urban and regional development, revitalised regional communities and a stronger social and economic fabric. 

DP0667073 Dr RA Brown; Prof PD Renshaw 

Approved Researching Collective Argumentation in Mathematics and Science Classrooms 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $50,000 




The project will provide evidence-based pedagogical strategies for the reform of classroom teaching and learning in the 

crucial areas of mathematics and science. We will develop a form of pedagogy (Collective Argumentation) that enables 

students to be confident in deploying mathematical and scientific knowledge and skills in relation to the economic and social 

choices that they make in everyday contexts. Collective Argumentation can induct students into 'habits of mind and social 

practices' necessary for building an innovative learning community. This project will enable us to extend this innovative 

approach and to further develop its effectiveness. 

DP0666861 Dr M Fabbro 

Approved Preventing genetic damage with BIX - a novel player in the DNA damage response pathway 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 


Page 160




Defects in the DNA damage-response pathway underpin many human genetic disorders and diseases, including cancer. A 

detailed understanding of this process has enormous implications for future medicine. Our characterization of a novel protein 

involved in DNA damage signalling will help in screening inhibitors of this pathway that could be applied in chemo-and/or 

radiotherapy. This proposal will place Australia among the leaders in this internationally significant and highly competitive 

area of research leading to the creation of new compounds. Capture of this technology will create the opportunity for IP 

income, novel exports and new enterprises for Australia. 

DP0663401 Prof JM Giddings; A/Prof MK Robertson 

Approved Access to Justice Without Lawyers: Understanding Legal Self-Help in Australia 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $35,000 

2008 : $80,000 




While legal self-help is extensively practised, it is not well understood. Some people choose to do their own legal work while 

others have no option. The project will use case studies to identify the circumstances (in terms of context, user 

characteristics and available support) in which self-help is most likely to benefit the user as well as where such self-help 

should not be promoted. The project will benefit governments, courts, private companies, legal aid commissions, community 

legal centres and other agencies, all of which provide information services designed to assist people to handle law-related 

work themselves. 

DP0665326 Dr MA Heazle 

Approved Global Warming, Iraq, and the Washington Consensus: Three Case Studies on the Role of 

Project Title Specialist Advice in Policy Making 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 


APD Dr MA Heazle 



This project will provide a deeper understanding of critical global policy debates and Australia's role in such debates. Its 

analytical framework will suggest ways in which Australian engagement in this discourse can become more effective by 

focusing on the role of specialist advice in policymaking and the question of how the political process influences its 

interpretation and use by policy makers. The successful completion of this project ultimately will contribute to the 

development of more consistent and better quality policy outcomes. 

DP0663837 A/Prof LH Liew; A/Prof PA Creed; Prof CM Chu 

Approved Risk and Heterogeneity: AIDS and SARS Policymaking in China 

Project Title 

2006 : $53,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $60,000 




This research will provide significant new knowledge on AIDS and SARS policymaking and implementation in China, which 

will help Australian policymakers and international agencies engage China on the very important issue of controlling the 

global spread of communicable diseases. Successfully engaging China is critical for the enhancement of global health 

security, because of China's enormous and increasingly internationally mobile population. 

Page 161


DP0667066 Dr AJ Moran 

Approved The Culture of International TV Format Flows: Two studies in its development and genesis 

Project Title 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $45,000 

2008 : $40,000 

2009 : $40,000 




Global movements of cultural knowhow affect all creative industries, especially TV. As 'recipes' for making programs, 

formats have reorganized this trade along lines familiar in service industries. What though are the institutions, atmosphere, 

rituals, presuppositions and so on that organise it worldwide? Little is actually known about how the format market works, 

how it was innovated and how it has developed. This pioneering investigation will clarify understanding of the complex 

patterns of commercial and cultural linkage operating in the business. Its major outcome will be to suggest how Australia can 

take greater future advantage of this development. 

DP0664691 Prof AR Nesdale; Prof MJ Lawson; Prof B Mullen; Prof K Durkin 

Approved Children's Intergroup Prejudice: The Roles of Cognitive Representations and Self-presentation. 

Project Title 

2006 : $55,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $60,000 




Research indicates that intergroup prejudice remains a problem in most Australian schools. For example, children as young 

as 5-6 years assign negative attributes to indigenous Australians and Pacific Islander children, they prefer not to play with 

these children, and they do not even want them living nearby. The proposed research will examine the possible basis of age 

effects in these attitudes. It will have a substantial national benefit because it will increase our understanding of this insidious 

social phenomenon and provide a basis for developing an intervention that will minimise a problem that has the potential to 

devastate community relations. 

DP0667162 Dr J Neuzil 

Approved Novel vitamin E analogues disrupt autocrine signalling and angiogenesis: Mechanistic studies and 

Project Title relevance to cancer management 

2006 : $86,000 

2007 : $76,000 

2008 : $76,000 




Breast and mesothelioma cancers present a severe problem in Australia and many patients succumb due to lack of 

appropriate treatment. We believe that vitamin E analogues, selective drugs efficient against cancer cells, hold a promise as 

future drugs against these two pathologies. Vitamin E analogues act by several mechanisms, including toxic effect on the 

cancer cells and also on cells that are necessary for efficient progression of tumours, such as cells of the malignant blood 

vessels. Results of this project will be used to prepare clinical testing of these highly promising drugs. 

DP0667042 Prof PD Renshaw; Dr RA Brown; Dr EW Hirst; Prof Dr E Elbers; Dr M De Haan; Prof RN Saljo 

Approved Researching teachers' funds of knowledge and teaching repertoires in relation to student diversity. 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $45,000 

2008 : $50,000 


Page 162




Diversity in the Australian community has been recognised as a valuable national asset. This project will provide insight into 

how classrooms can be formed to value diversity among students and provide learning opportunities for all students whatever 

their background or needs. Students' experiences within schools provide them with a blueprint of the way communities 

operate, particularly in terms of how inclusion and exclusion are decided, how conflicts are dealt with, and how consensus 

between members of a group can be built. This project will help clarify how inclusive communities for students and teachers 

are formed and managed over time. 

DP0666107 Dr K Wang; Prof R Topor; Prof G Antoniou 

Approved Towards automated and intelligent processing of web-based information 

Project Title 

2006 : $73,000 

2007 : $63,000 

2008 : $65,000 




The successful outcome of this project will enhance Australia's research reputation in an important, practical area of ICT, will 

contribute to emerging Web standards, will produce frontier technology that will eventually be of benefit to Australian industry, 

and will train several postgraduate students. 

DP0665078 Dr CA Wells 

Approved A Genomic analysis of macrophage differentiation: Epigenetic factors that determine transcriptional 

Project Title choices in a lineage dependant manner. 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $77,000 

2008 : $77,000 




Our genetic information is fundamental to who we are, how we develop, & how we age. This project will build the research 

capacity of Australia's genome sciences, providing an analytical framework to describe & study the many products expressed 

from any single gene and to assess the function of genetic variation & test genome regulatory events. An immediate outcome 

is a better understanding of the regulation of our immune system. This approach will fuel the discovery of new signalling 

molecules & their effects on a population of cells, & likewise provides a novel approach to study the dysregulation of cell 

signalling pathways. 

DP0666516 Prof MS Wesley; Prof WT Tow; Dr BM O'Connor 

Approved The Politics of Alliance Affinity 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $102,000 

2008 : $72,600 




There is bipartisan consensus in Australia that the alliance with the US is the 'cornerstone' of Australia's security. However, 

many of the United States' alliances are increasingly being placed under strain by demographic and attitudinal changes, 

changing US force postures, and a shift in US policy on coalition military activities. Managing the alliance relationship with 

Washington will be a serious challenge for Australia's security policy makers. Australia also has significant security 

relationships with New Zealand and the UK. Understanding the domestic politics of their security policies will provide a much 

firmer basis for managing these aspects of Australia's international security. 

Page 163


DP0664154 Prof Z Xu; Prof S Linder; Prof R Oren; Prof JW Cairney; Dr C CHEN; Dr SE Boyd 

Approved Fingerprints of global climate change and forest management on rhizosphere carbon and nutrient 

Project Title cycling 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 




Using a series of innovative techniques, this project seeks to capture the excellent, exciting opportunities for studying impacts 

of global climate change (GCC) and forest management on plant-soil-microbe interactions in rhizosphere carbon and nutrient 

cycling, with two of the world's best GCC forest experiments in Sweden and USA and three long-term forest management 

experiments in Australia. The successful conduct of this multidisciplinary collaborative research will result in: improved 

understanding and management of forest ecosystems in response to GCC and effective biodiversity conservation in 

managed forests; and enhanced international reputation and expertise of the Australian scientists in the relevant research 

fields. 

DP0667184 Prof Z Xu; Dr C CHEN; Prof T Nasholm; Prof Dr HE Knicker 

Approved The nature and ecological functions of soil soluble organic nitrogen in contrasting forest 

Project Title ecosystems 

2006 : $125,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $95,000 

Primary RFCD 3001 SOIL AND WATER SCIENCES 



This project employs a series of innovative techniques to investigate the dynamic nature and ecological significance of soil 

soluble organic nitrogen - one of the important nutrient pools, in contrasting tropical, subtropical and temperate forest 

ecosystems. The successful conduct of this project will lead to: a) better fertilization recommendation schemes, reduced 

ecosystem N losses, improved forest productivity and sustainability, minimised environmental pollution and improved water 

quality in forested watersheds; b) effective conservation of biodiversity in both managed and natural forests; and c) enhanced 

international cooperation and reputation of the Australian scientists in the relevant research fields. 

DP0666561 Dr S Zhang 

Approved Development of Nanostructured TiO2 Electrodes for Photoelectrocatalytic Degradation of Organic 

Project Title and Microbial Pollutants in Wastewater 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 




Australia is one of the driest continents and re-use of water/wastewater has been an urgent issue. Photoelectrocatalytic 

oxidation processes based on nanostructured TiO2 electrode are able to mineralize common aquatic organic and microbial 

pollutants. The proposed technology has the advantages of strong oxidation power and cheap production cost, and it is 

chemically stable, robust under UV illumination, and most importantly, environmentally friendly. The success of the project 

can place Australia in a leading position of developing cutting-edge TiO2 nano-material-based photoelectrochemical 

technologies for environmental wastewater treatment and drinking water disinfection. 

James Cook University 

DP0665890 Prof RH Crozier; Prof P Schmid-Hempel 

Approved Evolutionary immunology of social insects. 

Project Title 

2006 : $255,000 

2007 : $190,000 

2008 : $190,000 

2009 : $190,000 

2010 : $190,000 

Page 164



APF Prof RH Crozier 

Administering Institution James Cook University 


Social insects are particularly abundant in Australia. They live in a wide range of habitats with social systems differing greatly 

in size and structure. They are both ecologically and economically important because they form a large part of terrestrial 

ecosystems and control much of the energy flow. Their immune system resembles the immune system of humans. Finding 

how the social insect immune system evolves will have the potential to help us manage them better, and yield functional 

insights into the human innate immune system. Placing the observed patterns in context also involves study of the 

associated microbes, finds how social insects interact with this important part of the environment, and may assist in land 

management. 

DP0662907 A/Prof GP Jones; Dr S Planes; Dr SR Thorrold; A/Prof GR Russ 

Approved Larval Dispersal And The Design Of Marine Reserve Networks: Benefits Within And Beyond 

Project Title Boundaries 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Most marine organisms produce tiny offspring that are dispersed unknown distances by oceanic currents. Our present 

strategies to manage marine resources lack this vital piece of information. This study will apply two revolutionary techniques 

that finally enable us to determine how far marine larvae travel. Using the team that developed these techniques, field studies 

will for the first time measure both retention of fish larvae within marine protected areas and dispersal of larvae to adjacent 

fished areas on coral reefs. This information can be directly applied to optimize the size of reserves and their spacing in 

marine protected area networks. 

DP0662910 A/Prof GP Jones; Dr PL Munday; Prof SJ Holbrook; Dr RJ Schmitt 

Approved Coral Reef Fishes And The Global Decline In Reef Health: Is Biodiversity At Risk Or Resilient? 

Project Title 

2006 : $92,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Successful management and protection of marine species depends on understanding the processes that control the 

biodiversity of marine communities at both local and regional scales. This study will develop a general model to predict the 

response of reef fish communities to declining habitat structure and diversity across the tropical Pacific Ocean. Using 

expertise and ecological tools developed in Australia, and in collaboration with scientists working on the other side of the 

Pacific, this project will develop a broad-scale understanding of the threats to coral reefs and play a leading role in the 

development of marine-biodiversity management plans for Australia and neighbouring regions. 

DP0665598 A/Prof TD Pham; A/Prof DI Crane; Prof H Yan 

Approved An Automated Bioimaging System for High-Content Cell-Cycle Screening 

Project Title 

2006 : $68,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $57,000 


Page 165




1) Providing a better understanding of the biological complexities 

that will advance knowledge in life science research and facilitate the development of new anti-cancer drugs. 

2) Supporting Australian academic institutions in a challenging field of innovative research through international, 

interdisciplinary collaborations, and publications in journals of high quality scientific research. 

3) Providing research training in a research venture that requires expertise and collaboration in the disciplines of biology, 

engineering, computer science, and mathematics. 

4) Bringing economic and social benefits for Australia by enhancing important industries and existing technologies in 

medicine, and biotechnology. 

DP0664840 A/Prof BL Willis; Dr KR Anthony; Dr SR Connolly; Dr MJ van Oppen 

Approved The role of algal endosymbionts in acclimation and adaptation of reef corals to climate change 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $108,000 

2008 : $108,000 




Understanding the potential of symbiotic zooxanthellae to enhance the thermal tolerance of reef corals addresses our first 

national Research Priority Goal aimed at the sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity. Given current trends in global 

warming, such knowledge is critical to underpinning the long-term management of the Great Barrier Reef, which has 

significant political and socio-economic importance on local, state, national and global scales for services ranging from 

fisheries to ecotourism. Understanding the potential for corals to form associations with different genetic types of 

zooxanthellae will significantly advance current knowledge of the likelihood that animals can adapt to climate change. 

Queensland University of Technology 

DP0663774 Dr DP Arnold; Dr J McMurtrie 

Approved New vistas in porphyrin chemistry via metal-catalyzed couplings with hydrazine derivatives 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $57,000 

2008 : $56,000 


Administering Institution Queensland University of Technology 


This project will address basic scientific questions and develop new substances for use in molecular electronics and cancer 

therapy. We will make and study entirely new molecules derived from porphyrins, which in Nature have vital roles in 

photosynthesis, oxygen transport and enzyme catalysis. This breakthrough research will reveal knowledge vital to the 

advancement of fundamental chemical science and also offer excellent training in cutting edge research for young Australian 

scientists. In addition, porphyrin-like substances are used in cancer diagnosis and treatment and have properties essential for 

the next generation of nanoelectronic devices, and this project is aimed at these eventual outcomes. 

DP0665697 Prof B Boashash; Prof PB Colditz 

Approved Multi-Channel Time-Frequency Analysis for EEG Neonatal Seizure Characterization 

Project Title 

2006 : $78,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $82,000 


Page 166




This project researches new signal processing methodologies for a multi-channel characterization of seizures for use in 

diagnosing newborn brain dysfunctions. The outcomes will result in important immediate clinical benefits for sick newborn 

babies and will fundamentally facilitate research progress in the development of neuroprotectants and anticonvulsants. The 

success of this project will contribute in minimizing the social financial costs by diagnosing brain disorders in the initial stage 

of life and preventing further damage. This has the potential to result in a standard diagnostic equipment in neonatal intensive 

care units and medical research centres. 

DP0666065 A/Prof CA Boyd; Dr JM Gonzalez Nieto; Prof K Paterson 

Approved Cryptographic Protocols from Pairings: Proofs and Designs 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $63,000 

2008 : $65,000 




Modern society has become critically dependent on information and communications infrastructures. At the same time, the 

development of e-commerce is being slowed by lack of confidence in its security. By providing increased assurance and 

enhanced cryptographic security protocols this research will improve the dependability of the nation's information and 

communications infrastructure, as well as encourage the growth of e-commerce. Through the expertise and experience 

gained with this project, Australia's excellence in information security research will be reinforced. The training of PhD and 

Honours students will provide a much needed source of highly trained information security professionals. 

DP0664191 Dr J Brownlee; Dr D Berthelsen; Prof GM Boulton-Lewis 

Approved Enhancing quality in long day care: Investigating professional beliefes and practices of child care 

Project Title workers 

2006 : $69,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $67,000 

Primary RFCD 3303 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS 



The Commonwealth Government's National Agenda for Early Childhood recognises the importance of quality of staff in 

children's services to ensure overall program quality. This research focuses on the vocational training for child care workers. 

It advances knowledge about how contextual and personal factors contribute to the development of epistemological beliefs 

about teaching in early education that enables child care workers to become more critical and reflective practitioners. The 

research recognises the directions of the National Strategy for Vocational Education and Training, 2004 -2010 which 

emphasise that vocational education needs to provide skills and knowledge which enhance employability and lifelong 

learning. 

DP0664847 Prof D Butler; A/Prof MA Farrell; Dr B Mathews; Dr K Walsh 

Approved Teachers Reporting Child Sexual Abuse: Towards Evidence-based Reform of Law, Policy and 

Project Title Practice 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Every year, thousands of Australian children are sexually abused. This causes lifelong psychological, social and economic 

cost to victims. It also undermines Australia's social fabric, and costs the nation hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Early 

intervention promotes enhanced health and life outcomes for abused children, and teachers are well-placed to contribute to 

early reporting of child sexual abuse. This research promotes children's healthy start to life by being the first inquiry to identify 

the most effective legal and practical strategies for requiring and enabling teachers to accurately report child sexual abuse. It 

adds further economic and social benefit by finding ways to reduce inaccurate reports of child sexual abuse. 

Page 167


DP0666521 Prof WJ Caelli; Prof SG Corones; Dr AJ McCullagh 

Approved The Use of Information and Cryptographic Technology to Restrict Competition 

Project Title 

2006 : $84,846 

2007 : $84,846 




This project will deliver the following benefits: 

- Improve the understanding of how security technologies can be misapplied to restrict competition; 

- Development of an early warning mechanism to assist regulators in determining when anti-competitive behaviour is 

occurring thorough the use of security technologies; 

- provide assistance to the Australian Government, and thus the Australian economy, by developing an international 

framework that can be promoted to Australia's major trading partners to achieve a harmonisation of complimentary 

competitive regulation. 

- The provision of criteria for consideration by Australian industry in developing new products that may incorporate security 

technologies 

DP0666616 Prof P Davidsson; A/Prof PR Steffens; Prof PD Reynolds; A/Prof SD Sarasvathy 

Approved Comprehensive Australian Study of Entrepreneurial Emergence (CAUSEE) 

Project Title 

2006 : $165,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $100,000 

2009 : $100,000 




New business creation is a major source of new jobs and an important component of our nation's innovation system. The 

project will permanently transform the understanding of business creation in Australia. In contribution to NRP 3, 

high-technology new ventures will be over-sampled and given particular attention. The research is part of a strategy to create 

a world class research centre in entrepreneurship (as CI 1 previously had a key role in doing in Sweden). Frontier knowledge 

in this area contributes to 'promoting an innovation culture and economy' and facilitates 'maximizing Australia's benefits from 

investments in research, particularly related to commercialisation of 'Breakthrough science' and 'Frontier technologies'. 

DP0665546 Dr PM Giffard; Dr M Turner; Dr TP Walsh 

Approved Cystine flux and hydrogen peroxide breakdown in reuteri group lactobacilli 

Project Title 

2006 : $97,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 




We have discovered, and aim to fully dissect a novel function of reuteri group lactobacilli. These microbes inhabit the 

surfaces of the gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts of humans and are also used as probiotics, and in the dairy industry. 

This function mediates the production and breakdown of large amounts of hydrogen peroxide, cystine and thiols. These are 

highly bioactive and affect human cells and other bacteria at the surfaces of the gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts, and 

thiols are also flavourants in dairy products. Our research will inform the rational development of probiotics, the management 

and treatment of unpleasant conditions such as Crohn's disease and bacterial vaginosis, and innovation in dairy 

fermentations. 

DP0663854 Prof GN Hearn; Prof Dr S Lehmann; Dr B Adkins; Mr M Foth 

Approved New Media in the Urban Village: Mapping Communicative Ecologies and Socio-Economic 

Project Title Innovation in Emerging Inner-City Residential Developments 

2006 : $112,000 

2007 : $84,000 

2008 : $90,000 


Page 168


APD Mr M Foth 



This study will deliver a better understanding of the factors that stimulate an innovation culture in local communities. It will 

develop knowledge of how social, cultural, educational, economic capital can be of service in encouraging public 

consultation, civic engagement and debate, and assist Australians to be creative and innovative in everyday life. 

Understanding the opportunities of social networks will help Australians negotiate the complex web of daily choices, access a 

greater social safety net, participate in the socio-cultural and socio-economic life in their city. This will lead to greater social 

inclusion, fair access to and smart use of local information and services, urban sustainability and healthier local economies. 

DP0665633 A/Prof KM Mallan; A/Prof P Singh 

Approved Growing up in networked spaces: Tech-savvy youth constructing identities and forming social 

Project Title relations in online and offline worlds 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 




This study's focus on online and offline worlds raises significant issues that relate directly to youth's participation in Australia's 

global knowledge-based economy, particularly youth's engagement with online technologies, and their experiences as 

consumers and producers of cultural materials and practices. The project's concern with significant aspects of youth growing 

up in a world characterised by change is highly relevant for its impact on their social wellbeing and identity formation. 

Schools, tertiary institutions and national youth agencies will benefit from the results of this study in terms of how they 

understand youth's changing identities in these new times and new spaces. 

DP0667168 Prof KL Mengersen 

Approved Doing Bayesian Statistics Better: an Inter-Disciplinary Perspective for Improving Models, Priors, 

Project Title Design and Applications 

2006 : $94,000 

2007 : $84,000 

2008 : $87,000 




Through improving methods for data analysis and design, this project increases the capability of individuals, communities 

and governments to make correct decisions based on data, leading to immeasurable human, social and financial benefits. It 

will also directly enhance Australia's international research reputation, promote inter-disciplinary links, promote research by 

women in a non-traditional area, keep intellectual property within Australia, train quality undergraduates and postgraduates, 

and contribute to public good through its focus on applications in key national priorities: health, environment and genetics. 

DP0663282 Prof MJ Pearcy; Dr CJ Adam; Adj/Prof JH Evans; Dr GN Askin 

Approved Patient-specific biomechanical modelling for improved treatment of spinal deformity 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 




Spinal deformities negatively affect social acceptance, physical and mental wellbeing in children and adolescents. The direct 

costs of spinal deformity surgery are approximately $30 million per year in Australia, yet poor treatment outcomes due to 

post-operative complications incur a much higher cost as patients with persistent pain and disability face a lifetime of 

dependency and reduced ability to work. The patient-specific biomechanical modelling techniques developed in this project 

will reduce complications and improve correction for Australian children who undergo spinal deformity surgery. Better 

treatment outcomes will ensure quality of life, health and productivity for spinal deformity patients throughout their entire lives. 

Page 169


DP0666578 Dr B Pini 

Approved Farm Women, Networks and ICTs 

Project Title 

2006 : $62,740 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $68,188 




Considerable national funds have been spent on brining rural Australians online. In the previous year over half of those living 

in non-metropolitan Australian accessed the internet. However, little is known about how new technologies are being 

integrated into the daily lives of rural people. This research moves from quantifying technology take-up in rural Australia and 

describing the possibilities of what new technologies may offer rural people, to analysing and critiquing the extent to which 

these possibilities are being realised. It will inform policy on rural and regional technology access and use. 

DP0665480 Prof Dr M Rosemann; A/Prof AH ter Hofstede; Dr M Dumas-Menjivar; Prof Dr WM van der Aalst; Asst Prof 

M zur Muehlen 

Approved Next-Generation Reference Process Models 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $87,000 




Business process modelling is a key tool for organisations striving to create efficiencies by leveraging their IT infrastructure. 

This project will develop techniques for increasing the productivity of business process analysts by allowing them to reuse as 

much as possible existing models rather than systematically desigining new ones from scratch. Specifically, the project will 

develop and validate a language for designing highly configurable process models. This language will enable superior 

approaches to business process modelling and hence smarter use of information. This will place Australia at the forefront of 

developments in business process management: a crucial technology in today's global, dynamic and heterogeneous 

environments. 

DP0666910 Dr TA Steinberg; Dr T Tesfamichael; Dr WN Martens; Dr H Zhou 

Approved Experimental and theoretical study of the formation of nanomaterials under reduced gravity 

Project Title conditions 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $40,000 




This work will investigate the formation of nanomaterials and model this process to provide the skills to develop better 

nanocomposite materials. A better understanding of the process and the effect gravity has on it provides better control of this 

industrially significant process allowing enhanced process optimisation and product design. The results are directly relevant 

to many organisations currently studying nanomaterials. The work provides important results in a frontier technologies which 

will help the building and transforming of Australian industries with applications in energy conversion, water purification, 

quantum semi-conductors, optical materials, films for material separation and fuel cells. 

DP0666254 A/Prof K Thorpe; Dr SJ Danby; Prof DA Hay; Dr EA Stewart 

Approved Compromised or competent? A longitudinal study of twin children's social competencies 

Project Title friendships and behavioural adjustment 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $85,000 




Page 170


Twins are a significant and increasing proportion of the school population. This study of twins, transition to school and 

friendship will advance knowledge in young children's social and emotional health, the national priority area Promoting and 

maintaining good health. It informs the early childhood education community (particularly policy makers, educators and 

parents) about twin children's transition to school with a particular focus on social competence. It will address many key 

outcomes, identified by Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services, as priorities for the Early Years. The 

findings will have direct relevance for parents, educators, health professionals and policy-makers. 

DP0662802 Dr K Unsworth; Dr CM Mason; Dr O Epitropaki 

Approved Self-Leadership towards Innovation & Well-Being 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,941 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $25,000 




Innovation and well-being in the workplace are of paramount importance in maintaining Australia's social and economic 

environment. Self-leadership training provides employees with strategies to build confidence and resilience, identify 

opportunities in the environment, deriving greater meaning and enjoyment from work. Self-leadership training has already 

been shown to improve performance; this project extends self-leadership research by testing the effects of self-leadership 

training on employee innovation and well-being. It also elucidates the psychological processes underlying improvements in 

innovation and well-being. The project addresses ARC Research Priorities 2 and 3 and contributes to Australia's social and 

economic advancement. 

DP0663312 Dr GE Webb; Dr R Bolhar; Dr M Preda; Dr K Grey 

Approved Trace element geochemistry of microbialites: towards an independent record of biogenicity, 

Project Title microbial communities, and seawater chemistry 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $32,000 




A vast amount of Australia's mineral wealth is held in rocks of Precambrian age, yet those rocks are notoriously difficult to 

date and correlate owing to the rarity of fossils. Successful discrimination of different microbialites using biochemically 

sensitive trace elements will provide a firm basis and rationale for stromatolite biostratigraphy and greatly increase our ability 

to understand the geological evolution and distribution of Precambrian rocks and resources. Additionally, a better 

understanding of the information content of stromatolites will yield considerable insight into the origin of life on Earth and its 

relationship to Earth's evolving chemistry and environment. 

DP0666266 A/Prof RC Wolff; Prof AS Hurn; Prof Dr W Härdle; Prof AJ Lawrance; Prof WK Li; Dr KA Lindsay 

Approved Understanding and Modelling Weather Derivatives in Australia for the Purpose of their Accurate 

Project Title Pricing: a Statistical and Econometric Investigation 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $70,000 




Australia suffers some of the most adverse and extreme weather globally. Its government and industries, especially 

agriculture and electricity, stand to benefit from improved understanding of weather derivatives and capability to price them 

accurately. Tailored to Australian weather scenarios, weather derivatives will be tools to manage local risk factors, and 

increase global competitiveness by hedging against competitors' good weather-related advantage. The US weather 

derivative market, capitalised at over US$7.5b, began just 7 years ago; there is no organised Australian market. This project's 

smart techniques for improving pricing accuracy will support the development and vigorous growth of a local market. 

Page 171


DP0663207 A/Prof JM Wood; A/Prof LM Hickson; A/Prof A Chaparro 

Approved Sensory impairments and driving: can older drivers cope with distracters? 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 

Primary RFCD 3209 OPTOMETRY 



This research adopts a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate the problems of older drivers, and drivers in general. The 

research will provide a clear understanding of how visual and auditory distracters impact upon the driving behaviour and 

safety of individuals with vision and hearing impairment and those experiencing age-related declines in cognitive skills. The 

research is highly significant in terms of improving our understanding of how sensory impairment and age-related changes 

impact upon driving performance, the impact of an increasingly complex driving and in-vehicle environment and will provide 

tangible benefits for the road safety of the wider community. 

The University of Queensland 

DP0667070 Dr MA Adamska 

Approved Origin of multicellularity in animals: identification and analysis of intercellular signalling pathways 

Project Title in a basal metazoan, the demosponge Reniera 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $65,000 


Administering Institution The University of Queensland 


The Reniera genome project is a multi-million dollar collaboration between JGI (US-DOE) and Australian scientists that will 

see the sequencing of the first Australian marine animal by 2006. This project will significantly advance our understanding of 

the origins of animals and contribute to the reconstruction of creatures that lived over 600 million years ago. A major 

outcome of this reconstruction will be a fundamental understanding of how cells communicate with each other during the 

process of development to give rise to the diversity of cell types within multicellular animals. This study will also shed light on 

what happens when cell communication goes astray, as observed in a range of human malignancies, including cancer. 

DP0663809 Dr M Alauddin; Prof DP Rao; Prof TJ Coelli 

Approved The Sustainability of Agricultural Productivity Growth in a Changing Environment: An International 

Project Title Perspective 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $68,000 




The project could provide significant benefits to Australia. Australia is a dry continent with fragile natural resources, and a 

significant exporter of agricultural products. A sound knowledge of the factors that affect agricultural sustainability is crucial. 

Perhaps more importantly, identifying economic, environmental, social, institutional and political factors that influence 

agricultural sustainability in other countries, especially our Asian neighbours, will provide valuable information to relevant 

agencies in designing strategies aimed at ensuring that these countries are stable and well fed. This is of particular 

importance in the current climate, with growing influences of terrorist organisations in places where poverty exists. 

DP0664045 Prof PC Almond 

Approved Protestant Apocalypticism, the Book of Revelation, and History in English Thought, 1550-1800 

Project Title 

2006 : $51,070 

2007 : $31,070 

2008 : $50,000 


Page 172




This project will make a further significant contribution to Australia's strong international reputation in Early Modern Thought. 

It is crucial to Australians' understanding of our contemporary world in which Apocalyptic dualism, particularly the 

demonisation of the other by both Western conservative elites and Christian and Muslim fundamentalists,is a central feature 

of modern discourse. With conservative religious movements which treat the Bible literally significantly on the increase in 

Australia, it is crucial to the national interest to be aware of the socially divisive elements in both Biblical fundamentalism and 

contemporary Protestant sectarian Apocalypticism. 

DP0664320 Dr AJ Bellamy; Dr PD Williams 

Approved The Regionalisation of Peace Operations: Legitimacy, Effectiveness and Stable Peace 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $45,000 

2008 : $60,000 




Through its deployments in East Timor, the Solomon Islands, PNG and elsewhere, Australia has led the world in thinking 

about innovative ways of conducting peace operations. It is well-understood that peace operations in failed states can help to 

prevent terrorism by removing the conditions in which they prosper. To date, however, there has been no rigorous 

conceptually informed historical and contemporary research on precisely which types of actors are most effective. This 

project will add significantly to global understandings of peace operations and make an important contribution to Australian 

policy decisions about how best to maximise effectiveness. 

DP0666891 Miss SM Bengtson Nash; Prof MR Moore; Prof Dr W Vetter; Prof MA Lang; Dr S Kawaguchi 

Approved Assessment of the Risks Posed to an Antarctic Keystone Species, Antarctic krill (Euphausia 

Project Title superba), Through Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants 

2006 : $240,000 

2007 : $180,000 

2008 : $180,000 


APD Miss SM Bengtson Nash 



POPs are subject to a global treaty seeking to reduce and eventually eliminate these chemicals from the environment. 

Inhibiting the development of effective intervention strategies is a lack of knowledge regarding biological dose-response and 

cause-effect relationships. The proposed study will develop multiple endpoint assays to investigate these species-specific 

relationships and undertake a multidisciplinary risk assessment of increasing POP levels to E. superba. The research will 

fulfil national treaty requirements and represents an excellent opportunity to advance the field of polar and marine POP 

ecotoxicology. Outcomes will be critical for the sustainable management of a commercial resource and a pressured keystone 

species. 

DP0666369 Dr AI Bishop 

Approved Development of a neutral helium beam microscope 

Project Title 

2006 : $165,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 


PHYSICS 

APD Dr AI Bishop 

Page 173




This project would demonstrate Australia's capability in developing leading edge technologies applicable to the growing 

nanotechnology industry. The development of a neutral helium beam microscope brings into Australia expertise in the 

emerging field of molecular optics, and would place Australia as one of the first countries to make a commitment to this field. 

The project will develop a prototype instrument which is aimed at becoming a commercially viable product - the neutral 

helium beam microscope. The possibilities of using the microscope system as a nanofabrication device would also give 

researchers in Australia the ability to fabricate structures that could not be manufactured anywhere else in the world. 

DP0663485 Prof RJ Capon; Dr R Lewis; Dr MD Norman 

Approved Novel Sodium Ion Channel Modulators From Australian Cephalopods. 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Many Australian cephalopods (octopuses, squids, cuttlefishes and nautiluses) use potent toxins to rapidly paralyse diverse 

prey and defend against predators. These toxins act by the efficient blocking of ion channels critical to the transmission of 

nerve impulses. Knowledge of these toxins can lead to safer and better drugs for the relief of chronic pain. 

DP0665821 Prof RG Carson; Asst Prof AG Cresswell 

Approved An inverse control approach to resolving the neural basis of spatial and muscular dependencies in 

Project Title coordinated multi-limb movements 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $70,000 




Each year 48,000 Australians suffer from stroke with many survivors left with problems that limit limb function. With reduced 

duration of hospital care, the opportunities for retraining in the period immediate following stroke are rapidly diminishing. 

Effective and efficient strategies of rehabilitation that will maximise the level of recovery following stroke will result in benefits 

expressed in terms of enhanced quality of life and functional life-span, as well as significantly reduced costs of health care. In 

understanding the fundamental principles underlying the stability and adaptability of movement coordination, this research is 

likely to make a significant contribution to the design of programs for movement rehabilitation. 

DP0663144 Dr KL Cheney 

Approved The function and maintenance of aggressive mimics: the cleaner fish - fangblenny system 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $118,000 

2008 : $118,000 


APD Dr KL Cheney 



Mimicry is an important biological phenomenon, which is studied extensively by scientists. However, only 5% of papers that 

were published on mimicry systems in the last five years were from Australian institutes, yet mimicry is ubiquitous in 

Australia. 

Therefore, this study will enhance the recognition of Australian research on the international stage in mimicry studies, animal 

communication systems and behavioural ecology. This work will aid communication of biology to the general public, as 

mimicry is a celebrated example of Darwinian adaptation and stories about coral reefs are interesting and intuitive. This study 

will also provide empirical data to support theoretical development of mimicry theory. 

Page 174


DP0664869 Dr SF Chenoweth 

Approved A Genomic Dissection of Natural Adaptation in Mate Recognition 

Project Title 

2006 : $180,000 

2007 : $125,000 

2008 : $125,000 

2009 : $125,000 

2010 : $125,000 


ARF Dr SF Chenoweth 



Adaptation is a fundamental area of evolutionary biology but we know surprisingly little about its underlying genetic basis. As 

a process, adaptation poses several challenges for Australian society including bacterial evolution of resistance to antibiotics, 

HIV resistance to antiviral medications and the evolution of pesticide resistance in agricultural pests. This study will use a 

model system and genomic tools to test theoretical models of the genetic basis of adaptation. This integrative approach will 

enhance Australia's research profile in genomics and evolutionary biology. The project will provide emerging scientists with 

skills in areas including genomics, molecular biology, evolutionary biology and agricultural genetics. 

DP0664092 Dr BM Collins 

Approved The molecular mechanism of retromer and sorting nexin function in endosomal membrane 

Project Title trafficking 

2006 : $71,000 

2007 : $71,000 

2008 : $71,000 




The proposed research represents breakthrough science that will lead to a fundamental understanding at the molecular level 

of the structure and assembly of the retromer complex and how it regulates sorting of receptors in the endosomal system. It 

will provide excellent research training for top graduate students and post-doctoral scientists in multidisciplinary methods that 

constitute state-of the-art structural and molecular cell biology research. By addressing an area of great interest 

internationally the project will have the capacity to increase Australia's knowledge base and strengthen it's reputation for 

research excellence. 

DP0666020 Prof M Colyvan; Dr DG Hyde 

Approved A Paraconsistent Approach to Vagueness 

Project Title 

2006 : $77,801 

2007 : $80,446 

2008 : $75,641 




This project will utilise logical techniques that have been developed largely by Australian logicians. This techniques will be 

brought to bear on the problem of vagueness, one of the most important problems in the philosophy of logic. The project will 

thus greatly enhance Australia's already strong international reputation in logic and philosophical logic. 

DP0662820 Dr HM Creese 

Approved Sketches of Bali in 1830: The unpublished letters and papers of Pierre Dubois, Dutch agent at Kuta, 

Project Title 1828-1831 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $41,000 


Page 175




The primary benefit of this work is its scholarly contribution to knowledge of Indonesian history in the nineteenth century. 

Perceptions of Bali forged in the colonial period provide the foundation on which contemporary ideas of identity are 

constructed. These images, notably those pertaining to Bali's Hindu religion and unique culture, remain important to 

contemporary Indonesian regional identities. They also point to some of the complex interconnections across Western and 

Indonesian cultures. As Australia-Indonesia relationships enter a more optimistic phase, this historical research thus has the 

potential to broaden our understandings of cultural differences to enhance Australia's capacity to interpret regional issues. 

DP0664103 A/Prof FB D'Agostino 

Approved Using empirical materials to inform normative thinking about the organization of groups for the 

Project Title production of knowledge 

2006 : $48,776 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $48,776 




It is increasingly apparent that knowledge is produced by organized groups-e.g. research or management teams. The idea of 

heroic individual creators is still presented in popular media, but has little credence in hard-headed organizational contexts, 

where, e.g., Wenger's idea of the community of practice plays an important role in steering policy and institutional 

development. Finding out how we can organize collectives so that they can function WELL as producers of knowledge is the 

aim of this project in social epistemology. Its success will contribute directly to theoretical discourse about innovation in 

organizations and promises to contribute indirectly to the improvement of the institutional bases of our cultural and economic 

capital. 

DP0662882 A/Prof RG Duggleby; Prof Z Li 

Approved Development of new herbicides targeting enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of branched-chain 

Project Title amino acids 

2006 : $94,000 

2007 : $89,000 

2008 : $89,000 




Modern agriculture is heavily reliant on the use of herbicides. An inevitable consequence of herbicide usage is that resistant 

weeds will develop. Therefore, there is a continuing need to develop new herbicides to kill these resistant species. Herbicides 

interact with vulnerable molecular targets in plants, such as photosynthesis or the biosynthesis of certain amino acids. This 

project will attempt to develop new herbicides that act upon two molecular targets that are not exploited by herbicides that are 

used currently. We will design, synthesize and test a variety of new compounds as potential environmentally-benign 

herbicides. 

DP0662927 Prof RE Elson 

Approved The origins and trajectory of secularism in modern Indonesian politics 

Project Title 

2006 : $47,000 

2007 : $44,000 

2008 : $36,000 




This reseach will provide both historical perspective and contemporary analysis of the vexed problem of secularism in 

Indonesian politics. It will provide a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of the secularist bent in Indonesian 

political history and thinking, and will assist commentators, scholars and policy makers better to appreciate Indonesia's 

continuing struggle to create, construct and maintain a secularist polity. 

Page 176


DP0664486 Dr DS Ferber 

Approved Medicine and Culture: Bioethics in Historical Perspective, 1850 to the present 

Project Title 

2006 : $62,000 

2007 : $20,000 




Australia has long been looked to as an example for legislative and community responses to new medical technologies and 

as a leader in debates about medical ethics. The project will contribute to the international profile of Australia as a leader in 

health policy issues, as well as sustaining a focus on informed community debate. 

DP0663718 Dr Z Ficek 

Approved Entanglement Processing in N-Atom Systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $74,000 

2007 : $74,000 

2008 : $74,000 




An essential part of modern technological society is an understanding the scientific explanation of the world around us, and a 

realization that these explanations must be critically tested in the light of technological advances. The study of multi-atom 

entanglement is closely related to questions of fundamental physics. A breakthrough in stimulating this problem could have 

applications in other areas of physics and in technology, such as information processing and cryptography. 

DP0666256 Prof CE Franklin 

Approved The inhibition of muscle disuse atrophy in burrowing frogs 

Project Title 

2006 : $184,000 

2007 : $165,000 

2008 : $165,000 

2009 : $165,000 

2010 : $165,000 


APF Prof CE Franklin 



Prolonged muscle disuse, as a consequence of limb immobilisation, extended bed-rest or space travel, can lead to 

pathological changes resulting in muscle wasting. By examining a unique Australian frog that burrows underground and 

remains immobile for 9-12 months, and which shows no muscle wasting, we will significantly advance our understanding of 

the physiological mechanisms that inhibit muscle atrophy. 

Benefits of conducting this research will include: 

- understanding the role of antioxidants and endogenous opioids in reducing muscle wasting 

- training of postgraduate students 

- stimulating collaboration between The University of Queensland and CSIRO Livestock Industries. 

DP0663300 Prof PR Freebody; Dr CA Christensen; Dr NM Bahr; Dr AH Wright 

Approved Disciplinarity and classroom practice: Epistemological issues in the analysis and improvement of 

Project Title teaching and learning. 

2006 : $94,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $92,000 


Page 177




Demands on levels of content and technical knowledge are accelerating from many employment sectors in Australia and 

elsewhere. In addition, there is an increasing need to apply knowledge to complex problems in innovative and flexible ways 

and in authentic settings not readily simulable in traditional schooling. The proposed project addresses fundamental 

questions about epistemology, curriculum, and everyday classroom practice. It offers novel and evidence-based approaches 

to the building of discipline-based knowledge, and thus has powerful implications for the revitalising of Australian education to 

meet the urgent requirements of new economic, technological, and cultural times put pressures on education. 

DP0665316 Dr C Gaus; Dr R Weber; Dr B Kuch 

Approved Formation, degradation and migration of a yet unidentified POP source 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Australia has recently ratified the Stockholm Convention, targeting persistent organic pollutants (POPs) for global reduction 

and elimination. A significant gap exists, however, in understanding sources and pathways of POPs in Australia, and 

subtropical/tropical environments. Previous research has shown an extensive POP contamination in coastal Australia, and 

exposure of biota to elevated levels. The present study will evaluate the formation, degradation and migration of POPs, and 

their significance to Australia's past, present and future emissions. The outcomes will allow identification of sources, their 

prioritization for elimination and exposure prevention, and ultimately serve to protect the environment and human health in 

Australia. 

DP0665426 A/Prof IR Gentle; Prof GJ Ashwell; Dr GJ Foran 

Approved Greatly improved rectification by molecular diodes 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $88,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Society has already seen dramatic benefits from microtechnology, which has made possible most of the devices that we take 

for granted. The limits of miniaturisation using current technology are rapidly being reached, and the next stage is in the 

realm of nanotechnology. The goal of the field known as molecular electronics is to reach the point where electronic 

components are composed of single molecules or single molecular layers. In this field the smallest active component is the 

molecular diode, and this project is focussed on achieving practical performance from molecular diodes, as a crucial first step 

in achieving miniaturisation far beyond anything now possible. 

DP0662750 Prof TJ Gonda; Dr S Ishii 

Approved Function and regulation of the Schlafen gene family: novel regulators of blood cell proliferation 

Project Title and function. 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $88,000 

2008 : $88,000 




The immediate outcomes of the proposed research will be in fundamental knowledge and understanding of important cellular 

and biological processes in which the Schlafen genes are involved. In particular, Schlafen genes are likely to play a role in 

inflammatory responses and in blood cell growth. These process clearly have relevance to a range of major human (and 

animal) diseases including infectious disease, auto-immune disease and leukaemia, and thus a long-term outcome may be 

improved treatments for such disease. 

Page 178


DP0666126 Dr GJ Goodhill 

Approved Wiring up the nervous system: how do axons detect molecular gradients? 

Project Title 

2006 : $125,000 

2007 : $108,000 

2008 : $108,000 




This project will improve our understanding of how the nervous system becomes wired up during development. This will 

ultimately allow better therapies for some types of developmental disorders, and for repairing damaged connections for 

instance in the spinal cord. The theoretical models developed will improve our understanding of the computations 

necessary to generate appropriate wiring of the nervous system, which may facilitate the development of self-organizing 

computing devices. The project will also provide unique research training at the interface of biology and computation, building 

capacity for such interdisciplinary research throughout Australia. 

DP0664415 A/Prof ME Goos 

Approved Designing technology-enriched pedagogy in secondary mathematics education 

Project Title 

2006 : $45,683 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $30,000 

Primary RFCD 3303 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS 



The Australian Government's "Agenda for Action" emphasises the need to foster innovation in mathematics teaching and 

teacher education, and encourages teachers to embrace technologies that enhance student learning. Yet international 

research shows that successful innovation in teaching with technology has been elusive. This project will develop new 

theoretical understanding of why technology-related innovation in secondary school mathematics teaching takes hold in 

some educational settings but not others. The findings will lead to practical recommendations for design of teacher 

professional development programs, and shed light on reasons why teachers may embrace or reject educational change. 

DP0663048 Prof SF Gray; A/Prof P Gray; Mr JT Alcock 

Approved Capital Management in a Stochastic Earnings Framework 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Many large Australian firms have on-going capital management programs. These programs are aimed at ensuring that the 

firm maintains an optimal capital structure. This is often done according to rules of thumb or benchmarked against a few 

financial ratios. To the extent that more rigor can be introduced into the analysis of optimal capital structure, there is a clear 

benefit to Australian firms. Of course, the reason firms engage in capital management initiatives in the first place is to lower 

their cost of capital and to increase value. Any initiative that lowers the cost of capital of Australian firms will result in 

increased productivity and economic growth. 

DP0663668 Prof WD Hall; Prof HP Bartlett; Prof SP Myers 

Approved Knowledge and attitudes about life extension technology: public and stakeholder perspectives 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 

Primary RFCD 3299 OTHER MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES 

Page 179




This comprehensive investigation will contribute new knowledge that will help Australians to better cope with the social and 

economic consequences of an ageing population. New developments in the biosciences promise the possibility of extending 

human life past 120 years. This study will assist government, healthcare providers and researchers to understand the public 

reaction to such developments and enable them to plan for the future. The study will contribute to future strategic research 

and train a future researcher in the priority health goal of ageing well, ageing productively. 

DP0666577 A/Prof I Hay; Dr R Fielding-Barnsley; Dr AF Ashman 

Approved Comparative effectiveness of three literacy teaching approaches for young children with reading 

Project Title difficulties 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $30,000 




This project addresses concerns expressed by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, and the Australian Senate in 

regard to the relative poor performance of Australian children in national reading tests. Specifically, the project seeks to 

identify the most effective early literacy instructional method or methods to redress the growing concern that Australian 

children are dropping behind in international competitiveness in reading and literacy achievement. The study concentrates on 

early reading development and to inform on teacher education and classroom teaching practices. 

DP0665959 Prof PW Hodges; Dr MW Coppieters; Prof Dr J Van Dieen; Dr A Kaigle 

Approved Competing demands on the axial muscles: Effects, consequences, compensations and 

Project Title mechanisms 

2006 : $78,000 

2007 : $68,000 

2008 : $68,000 

Primary RFCD 3214 HUMAN MOVEMENT AND SPORTS SCIENCE 



Back and neck pain are major health issues and are associated with considerable cost to society and an individual's quality of 

life. A major issue is to identify factors that increase the chance of developing pain. This project will investigate a novel and 

innovative possibility; that competition between the many functions of the trunk muscles may increase the possibility for 

injury. We will study how the nervous system coordinates functions as diverse and movement of the spine, breathing, and 

control of head and eye movement. A key issue will be to identify whether situations arise in which control of the spine is 

compromised, potentially leading to increased risk of pain and injury. Such data can aid prevention and rehabilitation. 

DP0665174 Prof MS Humphreys 

Approved The Control of Memory Access 

Project Title 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $65,000 




The topic of control processes in memory access is central to most of the big questions about human memory such as; why 

we forget, what produces spectacular and tragic memory failures (e.g.,lighting a match to check the level of petrol in a tank) 

and the role of context in familiarity and recollection. Because of the centrality of the problems addressed there will be many 

applications for the results. The long term results will include better models for human operators which can be used in both 

civilian (e.g., air traffic control) and military applications. Other areas of application will include how we measure memory 

impairment, why we make errors in industrial settings, and the nature of memory deficits as we age. 

Page 180


DP0664608 Dr OG Jepps 

Approved Modelling of transdermal transport using computational molecular simulation 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 


APD Dr OG Jepps 



Through molecular simulation, we aim to model the transport of a variety of molecules through lipid bilayers typical of human 

skin, identifying key transport mechanisms and properties. We anticipate that this work will provide insight into existing 

transdermal delivery data, helping to identify relations between the physicochemical properties of a molecule and its transport 

properties. Ultimately, such knowledge can facilitate the development of more efficient transdermal drug delivery, which 

offers significant advantages over oral delivery (which leads to high waste and variability due to drug loss in the stomach and 

liver) and intravenous delivery (which raises compliance issues due to the adverse psychological response of patients). 

DP0666927 Prof J Keller; Dr Z Yuan; Prof W Verstraete 

Approved Novel Concept for Wastewater Treatment with Integrated Power Production based on Microbial Fuel 

Project Title Cells 

2006 : $300,000 

2007 : $270,000 

2008 : $270,000 

2009 : $230,000 

2010 : $230,000 


APF Prof J Keller 



Microbial fuel cells are a novel process concept that enables organics, such as sugars, to be converted directly to electricity 

with the help of naturally occurring microorganisms. This technology has particularly exciting applications in the 

environmental field, namely in wastewater treatment. It offers significant benefits over current processes, particularly reduced 

energy consumption or even electricity generation and lower sludge production. This project will demonstrate the 

performance and application of such microbial fuel cells for the removal of organic and nitrogen-based pollutants from 

wastewater. If successful, this technology offers major advances in both water treatment and renewable energy aspects. 

DP0665814 Prof B Key 

Approved Assessing gene function in the developing brain using zebrafish as a model system 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




As the average life expectancy in western countries increases there is an increasing incidence of mental health problems in 

the general population. Therapeutic approaches to Alzhemier's and Parkinson's disease as well as to brain injury arising from 

stroke rely on a thorough understanding of the molecular and physiological mechanisms of normal growth of this tissue. 

These are the very processes that need to be reactivated in these diseases for recovery of function. This project seeks to 

understand normal development of the brain and in doing so it will expose novel targets for therapy in the aged. 

DP0666329 Dr AY Klimenko 

Approved New approach to turbulent combustion modelling based on Multiple Mapping Conditioning 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 


Page 181




The project ensures that Australia remains at the front line of international development of new tools and approaches 

designed to model turbulent combustion. Improvements in modelling techniques will have a direct effect on optimisation of 

the industrial energy production from conventional sources and will assist in resolving the associated ecological issues. The 

project will also train several researches to be qualified to work at the frontiers of modern combustion modelling in gaseous 

flows. 

DP0666572 Prof MF Lavin; Prof PJ Robinson 

Approved Identification of functionally important autophosphorylation site(s) on ataxia telangiectasia and Rad 

Project Title 3 - related (ATR) protein kinase. 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




The integrity of our genetic material must be maintained so that it can be passed on from one generation to the next and also 

to minimize the risk of cancer and other pathologies in an individual. There are multiple proteins involved in protecting our 

DNA including several enzymes that detect and signal DNA damage to a series of pathways involved in halting the passage 

of cells through the cell cycle so that repair can occur. This project studies the mechanism of action of one of these enzymes 

which will be of benefit in designing new compounds to fight disease. 

DP0663937 Dr WR Louis 

Approved Understanding decision-making in conflict: Group power, norms and cost-benefit analyses 

Project Title 

2006 : $58,571 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $40,000 




Conflict is common and costly. Racial, religious, and political groups waste time, money, energy, and even lives when 

conflicts stagnate or escalate. But researchers still can't predict when groups will cooperate and solve problems quickly, or 

when others with similar grievances will avoid the issues, allow them to escalate, or erupt into violence. This research looks 

at the psychological processes that shape so-called 'irrational' conflict behaviour. It tests the idea that group-level factors, 

such as identity, power, and norms, can explain the logic of 'senseless' apathy, grumbling, and violence. The results will 

improve our ability both to predict conflict dynamics and to manage them. 

DP0664967 Dr AJ Lowe; Dr AR Clarke; Dr PM Schenk; Prof Dr LH Rieseberg; Prof RJ Abbott 

Approved Why do only some exotics become invasive? Combining ecological and genomic approaches to 

Project Title address alternative hypotheses in a recent Australian weed 

2006 : $217,000 

2007 : $172,000 

2008 : $172,000 




This project will specifically test alternative hypotheses about how weeds become invasive. As invasive weeds affect both 

agricultural and native ecosystems equally, research on understanding the mechanisms of weed invasion is critical. 

Outcomes will benefit Australia by allowing better prioritisation of management against exotic plants already in the country by 

providing predictive tools to estimate likelihood of spread. For formal Pest Risk Analysis by regulators (eg Biosecurity 

Australia), our project will provide genomic tools by which the potential weediness of a regulated plant can be assessed 

through genetic screening, and forms part of an international effort to identify 'weedy genes'. 

Page 182


DP0665859 Dr AJ Lowe; Dr M Rossetto; Dr DM Crayn; Dr MS Pole; Prof D Lambert; Dr PM Hollingsworth 

Approved Developing biogeographic know-how: Improving species divergence and dispersal estimations to 

Project Title examine geological and climatic evolutionary drivers 

2006 : $115,000 

2007 : $87,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Anthropogenic activity over the last 150 years is now dramatically changing our global climate and ecosystems. The impact 

on biodiversity is already evident, and large-scale floral and faunal extinctions are predicted. This study unites a cohort of 

international experts in an interdisciplinary team to develop new molecular and mathematical methods to expand our 

fundamental knowledge on how geological and global climate change have affected our world's species components and 

ecosystems in the past. This research is of environmental significance and global importance as it will improve our ability to 

predict how species behave under future predicted climate scenarios. 

DP0666345 Prof GM Lu; Dr L Wang; Dr J Zou; Prof S Kaliaguine 

Approved Charge-driven self-assembly of nanocomposites of ionic polymers and oxide nanoparticles 

Project Title 

2006 : $230,000 

2007 : $200,000 

2008 : $200,000 

2009 : $175,000 

2010 : $175,000 


QEII Dr L Wang 



This project addresses the materials needs in platform technologies for more efficient and cleaner means of generating 

energy and utilising energy. It also aims at better catalysts for cleaner chemical processes. The novel nanocomposites with 

significantly increased active ionic sites and higher ionic conductivity, and better activity in catalysis will lead to possible new 

breakthroughs in technologies for energy, environmental and self-cleaning materials. The fabrication approach developed are 

also applicable to other functional nanomaterials, providing new opportunities for innovative nanotechnology to clearer and 

greener chemical and energy industries. 

DP0664564 A/Prof JL Martin; A/Prof JC Bardwell; Prof GL Grunewald; Dr MJ McLeish 

Approved Innovative Approaches to Membrane Protein Crystallography & Drug Discovery 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 

Primary RFCD 2708 BIOTECHNOLOGY 



Membrane proteins make up around 30% of the predicted products from our human genome, are critical for life, and 

represent the targets of biological agents like hormones and toxins as well as most drugs. Yet these proteins have 

persistently defied our best efforts to study them: we know very little about what they do or what they look like. This project is 

aimed at cracking the problem of membrane proteins, while at the same time developing screening methods that can be 

used to design drugs against them. The long-term benefits to the community will include fundamental new knowledge and the 

development of new technologies and pharmaceuticals. 

DP0664638 Prof NG Martin; Dr MJ Wright; Prof GM Geffen; Dr M Luciano 

Approved Locating genes for cognitive traits using linkage and association analyses 

Project Title 

2006 : $180,000 

2007 : $165,000 

2008 : $165,000 


Page 183




Our study is the 1st in the world to find significant linkage for IQ.The dataset is one of only 2 such in the world (based on 

sample size, range & type of measures).Identifying genes for cognitive ability using healthy subjects is important in 

understanding individual differences in normal cognitive functioning, but it may also provide clues into the underlying 

mechanisms of impaired cognitive ability. Diverging conditions like reading disorder, schizophrenia, depression, alcoholism, 

and dementia all share deficits in cognitive ability.Downstream practical applications of identifying 'genes for cognition' 

include better educational, behavioural and biomedical management of learning and memory disorders, and other intellectual 

disabilities. 

DP0665056 Dr MG Mason; A/Prof GE Schaller 

Approved Regulation of ion homeostasis by two-component signalling elements 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $87,000 

2008 : $87,000 


APD Dr MG Mason 



Dryland salinity is continuously claiming Australian lands and is a serious threat to our agricultural industry, native flora and 

fauna, and infrastructure. Attempting to feed an increasing population whilst agricultural land is disappearing, places an 

ever-increasing burden on our remaining land. While there is no simple solution to this problem, understanding how plants 

regulate cellular ion concentrations will help to generate plants that are suitable for restoration of damaged lands or crop 

plants that are more tolerant to saline soils. Furthermore, knowledge acquired from the proposed project will also be useful 

for generating healthier crop plants with enhanced levels of ions essential for the human diet. 

DP0667246 Prof JS Mattick 

Approved Intron encoded RNA regulatory networks in yeast 

Project Title 

2006 : $165,000 

2007 : $145,000 

2008 : $145,000 




This project has the capacity to transform our understanding of the evolution, development and genetic variation of complex 

organisms, as well as the self-organization of complex systems in general. The national and community benefits of the 

project will be to maintain Australian leadership in advanced genetics and genome-phenome informatics. It will provide a 

platform for many applications in biology and biotechnology, including new genetic diagnostics and an informed basis for the 

engineering of complex traits in agriculture. The project will also provide insights into the structure of biological 

communication and control systems with applications in information science and the programming of integrated complex 

systems in other domains. 

DP0667029 Dr CA McAlpine; A/Prof SR Phinn; Dr DV Pullar; Dr JA Ludwig 

Approved Beyond discrete landscape metrics: spatial analysis tools and surface textural measures for 

Project Title quantifying gradients in landscape structure. 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 


Page 184




The project will make an important contribution to an Environmental Sustainable Australia, especially the sustainable use and 

management of Australia's biodiversity. The focus is Australia's biodiversity hotspots in northern Australia, where fauna 

species are threatened as a result of habitat modification and biological invasions. The landscape analysis tools and 

supporting knowledge will allow for more effective landscape-level conservation strategies to be developed in northern 

regions by assisting researchers and managers to answer key questions about how to manage the structure of native 

vegetation for the long-term conservation of fauna populations. The project will also deliver benefits for conserving marine 

biodiversity. 

DP0664410 Prof JR McColl-Kennedy; Prof P Patterson; A/Prof AK Smith 

Approved Customer Rage Spectrum Emotions in Service Failure Encounters: Linking Experience, Expression, 

Project Title Behaviour and Organisational Responses 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Customer rage has recently received considerable attention in the press. Yet, organisations are ill-equipped to deal with this 

disturbing phenomenon. This ground-breaking research will help business and government service organisations better 

understand and respond to customer rage in order to avoid economic, social and emotional losses, and minimise damage to 

property and persons. Such practices should result in stress reduction among consumers and front-line employees, thereby 

lowering society's healthcare costs and improving citizens' overall quality of life. Since the research examines how customer 

rage varies across East-West cultures, the results will also have significant international impact. 

DP0665016 A/Prof DJ Mee; Em/Prof RJ Stalker 

Approved Enhancing scramjet performance by boundary layer combustion 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Australia has developed a strong international reputation over the past 20 years for excellence in research into hypersonic 

flight technologies. This helps to reinforce the fact that this is a country in which advanced technologies can be conceived 

and developed. Australian companies and agencies are already collaborating with and are being supported by international 

organizations to develop further hypersonic flight technologies. Achieving another significant advance in this area by 

demonstrating significant reductions in frictional drag on hypersonic vehicles will keep us at the forefront of this field and lead 

to continued international support and collaboration. 

DP0663047 A/Prof PC Memmott; Dr SG Ulm; A/Prof IA Lilley; A/Prof ND Evans; Dr EC Stock; A/Prof NG White; Dr SM 

van Holst Pellekaan; Prof DS Trigger; Dr RP Robins 

Approved Isolation, Insularity and Change in Island Populations - an Interdisciplinary Study of Aboriginal 

Project Title Cultural Patterns in the Gulf of Carpentaria 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 

2009 : $55,000 

2010 : $40,000 




The project's national benefits centre on its contribution to safeguarding Australia and to an environmentally sustainable 

Australia. The participation of northern Indigenous people is critical to border protection policies and procedures. This project 

will help revitalise the Carpentaria Land Council's Aboriginal Rangers scheme, which has a potential role in safeguarding the 

nation's northern approaches, including combating feral plant and animal importation, Coastwatch surveillance and marine 

habitat protection. The geological research on sea level and climatic history in the Gulf of Carpentaria and associated coastal 

geomorphological impacts will contribute to predictive models on global warming and its consequences (sea-level rise). 

Page 185


DP0665467 Dr NW Menzies; Mr G Kerven; Mr JV Hanna; Prof Dr WJ Horst 

Approved Plant cell wall - aluminium interactions: a role in aluminium stress 

Project Title 

2006 : $145,000 

2007 : $135,000 

2008 : $135,000 




Soil acidity, resulting in Al toxicity, affects production on circa 50% of Australia's intensively used agricultural land, resulting in 

8.5 times more foregone agricultural income than dryland salinity (National Land and Water Resources Audit, 2001). Often, 

remediation with lime is not possible or affordable. By understanding Al reactions with cell wall components, we aim to 

identify root parameters related to Al resistance by plants. These parameters will be useful as selection markers to identify 

and breed Al-tolerant crop genotypes. This, in turn, will improve yields and farm profitability, allowing farmers to use lime to 

prevent further acidification. This increases sustainability of cropping operations on the 50 Mha with acid soils. 

DP0663936 Ms K Miller 

Approved A unified theory of the individual - a central problem in analytical philosophy 

Project Title 

2006 : $74,340 

2007 : $74,340 

2008 : $74,340 


APD Ms K Miller 



This project will further increase Australia's already high profile in analytic philosophy. This will foster an intellectual 

environment within Australia that will attract highly skilled overseas academics who bring knowledge and funding to Australia, 

benefiting both Australian researchers and students. This will in turn attract overseas fee-paying students who bring 

economic and cultural benefits to Australia. 

DP0664888 Dr MJ Monteiro; Dr JT Blanchfield; Prof V Percec 

Approved Next generation polymer nanostructures 

Project Title 

2006 : $240,000 

2007 : $180,000 

2008 : $200,000 




The project will significantly advance the knowledge base of polymer science and related fields through the preparation of 

previously unavailable novel and well-defined nanostructures. These structures will be suitable for use in drug and gene 

delivery and high strength coatings providing Australian products with advanced features and capabilities, significantly 

improving product performance. A direct application of this project will be to develop the structures for use within a synthetic 

GAS vaccine. The knowledge obtained through this application will advance the development of synthetic vaccines by 

providing an understanding of how these structures function in the body. 

DP0666203 Prof PR Mora; Dr H Xing 

Approved Supercomputer Simulation and Risk Evaluation of Tsunami Generation Induced by Earthquakes 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 


Page 186




New hotspot forecasts show that great earthquakes are likely to occur during the next decade in the Western Pacific north of 

New Zealand which potentially poses a tsunami risk to Australia. The project will enable this risk to be reliably assessed 

thereby providing the information needed to properly manage this risk thus addressing the national research priority: 

Safeguarding Australia. Building on extensive geo-data and Australia's forefront position in solid earth simulation via 

investment in the ACcESS Major National Research Facility, the project provides an opportunity for Australia to play a key 

role in constructing next generation real-time tsunami warning systems. 

DP0666275 Prof JM Najman; Prof GM Williams; Dr W Bor; Asst Prof MJ O'Callaghan; Dr AM Clavarino 

Approved Parental marital conflict and marital change: effects on child, adolescent and young adult 

Project Title developmental outcomes 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $100,000 




Aggressive and/or delinquent behaviour, poor school performance and learning, an inability to develop social relationships or 

successfully join the workforce have all been related to family structure and family functioning. Unfortunately, current policy 

is poorly informed as previous studies largely involve clinical samples or small population sub-groups. This study is the only 

Australian 21 year prospective assessment of the way changes in marriage are impacting on the development of children and 

adolescents and on the longer term outcomes for young adults. 

DP0665365 Prof TP Oei; Dr MJ Hornsey 

Approved Exploring the link between group processes and outcomes of group psychotherapy 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $80,000 




In Australia an estimated 20% of people suffer from mental disorders for which group psychotherapy is a treatment of choice. 

This project has the potential to deliver direct benefits to these patients by optimizing the way group psychotherapy is 

structured and delivered, thus reducing emotional suffering as well as reducing the cost of treatment. As a result, it would 

have tremendous implications for the treatment of mental health problems nationally and internationally. 

DP0662761 Prof RG Parton; Dr BJ Marsh 

Approved High Resolution EM Tomography of Specialised Plasma Membrane Domains 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 




This project will provide National benefits in two major areas. Firstly, these studies will greatly increase our understanding of 

the cellular structures which are crucial to the functioning of cells in the body. Understanding the structure of the components 

of animal cells in three dimensions will provide long-term benefits in the quest to understand how a cell works in health and 

what goes wrong in disease. Secondly, this project will allow us to develop the new method of electron microscope 

tomography and apply it to a crucial question in biology. This will be a vital technique for Australian investigators in the 

coming years and this project will allow scientists and students to be trained in these state-of-the-art techniques. 

Page 187


DP0663001 Prof CC Peterson; Dr VP Slaughter; Prof HM Wellman 

Approved Social Influences on Five Key Steps in Understanding Mind for Children with Autism, Deafness or 

Project Title Typical Development 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $65,000 




Via new knowledge on five crucial steps in the growth of social understanding, our findings will serve the ARC's Research 

Priority #2 to promote good health and a healthy start in life. We will discover what kinds of parenting, social interaction and 

conversation foster optimal progress through the steps for typical children, and how the delays discovered in our earlier 

research among those with autism or deafness can be offset or overcome. Also, Australia's position as a world leader in 

scientific studies of child social cognition will be further strengthened by our methodological and theoretical contributions. 

DP0663893 A/Prof SR Phinn; Dr PJ Mumby; Dr EF LeDrew; Dr AG Dekker 

Approved Coral Reefs - Innovative Satellite Image Mapping Techniques 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Two primary outcomes are expected from this project, the first is aimed at solving a fundamental challenge to understanding 

and managing coral reefs in Australia and worldwide. The optimal reef mapping method(s) will enable coral reef monitoring 

and management programs in Australia and internationally to make full use of satellite and airborne image data sets. 

Secondly, the project will significantly advance the capabilities of remote sensing applications in coral reefs, by providing a 

unique international test of current state of the art algorithms.In combination, these outcomes will enable Australia to continue 

to play a role as the world's leading developer and provider of solutions for coral reef monitoring and management. 

DP0663867 Prof HP Possingham; Dr RL Pressey 

Approved Integrating multiple conservation values for protection and restoration of native vegetation 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $130,000 




The project will underpin Australia's ability to enhance its competitive advantages in an environmentally sustainable fashion. 

We will develop better methods for integrating conservation goals related to biodiversity, soil conservation, water quality, 

salinity mitigation and carbon sequestration to identify areas where multiple benefits can be obtained and funding can be 

spent more effectively. Our results and techniques will be of immediate use to national, state and local governments, 

catchment authorities, and community groups. The project will maintain Australian scientists at the international forefront of 

environmental management and provide high-quality training for young scientists. 

DP0663935 A/Prof TC Ralph 

Approved Optical Quantum Computation 

Project Title 

2006 : $148,680 

2007 : $148,680 

2008 : $148,680 

2009 : $148,680 

2010 : $148,680 


APF A/Prof TC Ralph 

Page 188




The study of the storage, communication and processing of information stored in quantum systems - quantum information 

science - is recognized as key underpinning knowledge for future technologies. Technologies of current fundamental and 

popular interest such as quantum computation and teleportation are likely to form the basis of future communication and 

computation systems with far greater power and versatility than those of today. Having a stakehold in the development of 

these technologies will be of significant national benefit for Australia. 

DP0666772 Dr RW Remington 

Approved A Scalable Theory of Behavior Composition for Practical Engineering Models of Human 

Project Title Performance 

2006 : $210,000 

2007 : $150,000 

2008 : $180,000 

2009 : $180,000 

2010 : $180,000 


APF Dr RW Remington 



Minimizing human error and maximizing human performance is a major design goal in safety critical systems. The 

development of methods for affordable human performance modeling has widespread applicability for evaluating 

user-system interfaces. The compositional method explored here has been shown to make accurate predictions reduce 

model development time by an order of magnitude. Large safety critical applications, such as military or air traffic control 

systems, would benefit greatly. The proposed work tests whether the compositional methods will scale to more complex 

domains. The work will be coordinated with Australian industry, academia, and government research efforts. 

DP0666359 Prof V Rudolph; Dr P Massarotto 

Approved Multicomponent gas counter-diffusion in coal 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




Coalbed methane resources in Australia surpass $20billion at present gas prices. Using CO2 as an enhancement fluid, 

recovery of methane can potentially be improved by 50% adding a further $10b value, simultaneously permanently and safely 

sequestering the CO2, with possible carbon credits of up to $15b. The nature of the simultaneous exchange of CO2, 

methane and other gases within the coal dictates many of the engineering requirements for optimal exploitation. It underlies 

the development of coal gas reservoir simulators, which currently do not incorporate this critical feature. This project is 

directed at understanding that counterflow and exchange. 

DP0665997 Prof TK Saha; Dr ZY Dong; Prof GF Ledwich; Prof KP Wong; Prof YV Makarov 

Approved Advanced Planning Tools for the Prevention of System-wide Blackouts of Large Power Systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $58,000 

2007 : $84,000 

2008 : $84,000 




In 2003 there had been major power blackouts in US/Canada, Italy and in Scandinavia leading to billions of dollars of lost 

production and had raised concern about national security. Prevention of blackout should be one of the highest priorities of 

the electricity industry. National security for any critical infrastructure of any country is more vulnerable for a prolonged 

blackout. This project will provide comprehensive planning tools to prevent blackouts in the Australian National Electricity 

grid. Any benefit to electricity industry will finally result in further benefits to the national economy and security as a whole. 

Page 189


DP0665587 Prof MR Sanders; A/Prof A Ralph 

Approved The evaluation of a parenting intervention to prevent adverse developmental outcomes for children 

Project Title following family breakdown 

2006 : $115,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $73,000 




This project will be a major step forward in providing an evidence-base for interventions with divorced parents in Australia. 

Family Transitions Triple P - Positive Parenting Program is a theoretically based intervention that addresses the Australian 

Government's emphasised need of providing families with strategies to resolve relationship disputes and reduce the 

emotional costs to families experiencing divorce. Once evaluated for effectiveness, the collaboration of this project with 

Relationships Australia will enable the program to be readily accessible to the divorced parents in Australia. 

DP0666852 Dr MA Schembri; Prof AG McEwan 

Approved Safety in numbers: Bacterial aggregation and adaptation to oxidative stress 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 




This project is a new collaboration which links two molecular microbiologists with the complementary skills required to make 

new insights into the molecular processes that underpin bacterial aggregation and biofilm formation. Biofilms are of immense 

significance in medical, industrial and environmental settings and so the fundamental information gained from this project will 

have wider relevance to the field of microbiology. An outcome of this proposal will be fundamental knowledge about the 

production of surface adhesins that will form the basis for rational treatment of disease in the future. Prevention of 

aggregation and biofilm formation would make bacterial populations more susceptible to conventional antibiotic treatment. 

DP0665118 Dr KD Scott; Prof MP Zalucki 

Approved Does the origin of Helicoverpa punctigera populations explain their susceptibility to agricultural 

Project Title insecticides? 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




By establishing the geographic origin, and migration pattens of H. punctigera populations (by gene-flow), and directly relating 

it to the occurrence and persistence of insecticide resistance in Australia (by describing the movement of insects with known 

insecticide susceptible/resistant status), this research will greatly advance our understanding of how insecticide resistance 

develops and how it spreads. This knowledge will enable the agricultural industry to use insecticides so as to reduce the 

frequency of insecticide spray failures, and reduce crop losses caused by insecticide resistant pest outbreaks. 

DP0662755 Dr R Shao 

Approved Recombination of mitochondrial genomes: what can we learn from chigger mites? 

Project Title 

2006 : $87,870 

2007 : $84,155 

2008 : $88,032 


APD Dr R Shao 

Page 190




This project will bring three benefits to Australia. First, it will enhance Australia's research capacity in the fields of organelle 

genomics and evolutionary biology. Second, it will yield highly skilled young researchers: a postdoctoral fellow (Shao), a PhD 

student and two BSc Honours students. Third, it will generate new knowledge about genome recombination in animal 

mitochondria. Recombination is a fundamental, yet poorly understood issue in mitochondrial genomics and evolutionary 

biology. Knowledge from this project will also improve our understanding of other important issues that are associated with 

animal mitochondria; like the mechanisms of mitochondrial disease and ageing, and the evolution of modern humans and 

other animals. 

DP0664925 Dr GA Skilleter; Prof AJ Underwood 

Approved Ecological consequences of global warming: predicting effects on biodiversity on intertidal 

Project Title assemblages on the east coast of Australia 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $116,000 

2008 : $116,000 




Understanding what conserves biodiversity is a crucial challenge for Australian science. This research will provide critical 

information on the consequences of global climatic change: southerly shifts in distributions of animals due to rising 

temperatures; vertical shifts due to rising sea level and changes in amounts of food for grazing species. This information will 

underpin the future management of conservation and will improve understanding on issues such as how and why species are 

able to invade new areas, the effects on the resident species and how species change distribution in relation to the 

availability of specific needs for habitat. 

DP0664405 Dr VP Slaughter 

Approved Objects or agents: Early development of knowledge about human hands 

Project Title 

2006 : $52,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $50,000 




It has long been known that human faces are especially interesting to infants, and our recent ARC-funded work demonstrated 

that infants' knowledge about human faces emerges long before knowledge of the whole human body shape. Like faces, 

hands are often the focus of action and communication between infants and their peers or caregivers. The purpose of the 

proposed studies is therefore to investigate whether human hands are similar to faces in being highly salient and subject to 

precocious learning in infancy. The proposed studies will test this hypothesis, and will lay the foundation for new techniques 

that could foster improved social understanding in young children whose developmental disorders make face-to-face 

interaction aversive. 

DP0666627 A/Prof ML Smythe; A/Prof P Adams 

Approved Common recognition elements in protein active sites: Improving the efficiencies of drug discovery 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




The three key contributions of biotechnology to the pharmaceutical industry are the identification of novel therapeutic targets, 

the creation of libraries of chemical diversity, and the high throughput screening of the libraries against the targets to create 

new leads. Australian research institutes and biotechnology companies are strong in the identification of novel targets, but 

weaker in the other two areas. The research outlined in this proposal has the potential to lead to efficient drug discovery. 

Success in this project will support the Australian pharmaceutical sector, lead to job creation and will have social impact 

through the generation of better medicines. 

Page 191


DP0664838 Dr TM Stace 

Approved Decoherence and Quantum Simulations of Spin-Environment systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $75,000 


APD Dr TM Stace 



The effort to develop quantum technologies relies on our ability to understand and manipulate quantum mechanical objects 

with great precision. In order to do this, we need to study how such systems interact with their surroundings. Solid-state 

quantum systems connected to an environment show a rich range of phenomena, such as quantum phase transitions, which 

are interesting in their own right. This work will better enable experimentalists to develop the techniques required for the 

future of quantum technology. 

DP0664030 Prof AP Street; Dr C Ramsay; A/Prof DM Donovan 

Approved Security Applications of Combinatorial Puzzles 

Project Title 

2006 : $92,000 

2007 : $79,000 

2008 : $81,000 




This project provides a basis for improving the implementation and maintenance of key management systems. The 

application of discrete mathematics to information security will help safeguard Australia, will provide opportunities for 

Australians to take a leading role in an important area and will develop a research network, bridging both theoretical and 

practical aspects of mathematics and computer science. The project will enhance Australia's international reputation by 

establishing collaborations with well-respected international mathematicians and computer scientists. The proposal contains 

topics suitable for the training of new graduates, allowing them to make high quality original research contributions in a novel 

and important area. 

DP0666925 Dr PM Vasconcelos; Prof K Farley 

Approved Weathering on Mars and Australian Analogues: Developing Suitable Chronological Tools and 

Project Title Theoretical Approaches 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $50,000 




The research outlined in this proposal will place Australia at the forefront of Mars exploration research. It will lead to the 

development of new approaches for the analysis of minerals formed by low temperature water-rock interaction and for the 

interpretation of geochronological results obtained from supergene minerals. The new analytical approaches developed in 

this project will have direct application in the study of the paleoclimatological and environmental evolution of Earth and Mars. 

It will also result in improved understanding of environmental and landscape evolution in Australia, helping to reach the 

objectives of an Environmentally Sustainable Australia, a national research priority. 

DP0663407 Dr GM Wallis; Dr JR Tresilian 

Approved The initiation and control of action in motor vehicle driving 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $65,000 


Page 192




Every time we pull up to a traffic light or overtake another vehicle our brain is making a whole series of critical decisions 

about when and how to carry out the manoeuvre accurately and safely. This project seeks to better understand the processes 

involved. Using the latest, high fidelity GPS and accelerometer technology, highly accurate measurements of driver 

behaviour and vehicle dynamics will be made in a real vehicle. Understanding when and how we carry out these types of 

basic tasks will play a central role in future brake, suspension and steering system design; will help guide the specifications of 

road and road sign design; and will help motivate additions or alterations to current driver training programmes. 

DP0663787 Prof GL Whitlock 

Approved Autobiographical Avatars: testimony and emerging technologies of life narrative 

Project Title 

2006 : $29,450 

2007 : $35,650 

2008 : $45,250 




Australian research has led to new ways of thinking about the ethical, social and political work of these autobiographical 

genres. This project builds on a national reputation for excellence in this scholarly field, and it promotes writing across the 

fields of literary studies, and creative and professional writing which are areas of particular strength at the institutional 

location of this project. Some case studies selected for this project involve people, nations and polities with which the 

Australian government is engaged in long-term diplomatic, political and military engagements - Iraq and Afghanistan, for 

example. 

DP0663635 Dr SD Wilde 

Approved Trust and the Changing Moral Economy of Australian Medicine 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 


APD Dr SD Wilde 



There is strong evidence that patients sue their doctors because of inadequate doctor/patient communication, and this has 

been directly linked to low levels of trust. But unless doctors have become worse communicators over time, poor 

communication fails to explain recent rises in litigation rates. This historical study will examine the multiple factors affecting 

changing doctor/patient relationships. It will offer new insights into the circumstances that fostered trust in medicine in the 

past, which will assist in understanding the current dynamics of changes in trust. This will help policy makers seeking to 

promote and maintain good health by strengthening the values of trust and reciprocity within Australia's healthcare system. 

DP0666855 Dr CM Williams 

Approved Neurotrophic Active Natural Products: Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Neovibsanins A 

Project Title and B, and Analogues 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 




New chemical entities (drug candidates) that promote neurite outgrowth have significant ramifications to mankind as they 

have real potential to repair damaged, or grow replacement, nerve cells affected by neuro and central nervous system (CNS) 

degenerative disease (e.g. Alzhiemer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's etc). This scientific endeavour will reveal new drug like 

molecules for potential biological and clinical application, thereby assisting a substantial proportion of Australians suffering 

from these debilitating diseases. 

Page 193


DP0666024 A/Prof JE Wilson; Dr CF Tilse; Prof L Rosenman 

Approved The individual, the family and the state: expectations, intergenerational obligations and constraints 

Project Title in providing for old age 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $57,000 

2008 : $90,000 

Primary RFCD 3702 SOCIAL WORK 



Intergenerational equity is a principle underpinning policy debates around financing retirement and care in older age. 

Enhanced understanding of this cohort's expectations and obligations will assist in policy development around financing 

retirement and paying for care that takes account of this cohort's expectations and obligations. Further, exploring the 

expectations underpinning intergenerational exchanges from this cohort's perspective will assist in understanding the 

dynamics around these exchanges and lay the ground work for future research into factors that facilitate cross-generation 

family functioning. 

DP0664395 Dr AS Yap 

Approved Balancing cadherin-actin cooperation: the key regulatory role of Ena/VASP proteins 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 




This project analyses a fundamental mechanism of how cells work together in tissues. Understanding the fundamental 

mechanisms of how cells work will provide important basic scientific information to enrich the scientific expertise in Australia 

and its part in the international community, generate insights relevant for understanding human disease and physical 

degeneration, and support the training of young scientists in Australia. 

DP0666762 Dr Z Yuan; Dr PA Lant; Prof J Keller 

Approved A Fundamental Understanding of Methane Driven Denitrification 

Project Title 

2006 : $210,000 

2007 : $170,000 

2008 : $180,000 




Eutrophication in waterways due to the presence of nutrients including nitrogen is a well-recognised environmental problem. 

Moreton Bay, for example, used to receive 3,300 tons of nitrogen each year from point sources. Stringent nitrogen discharge 

limits have therefore been imposed on most wastewater treatment systems across Australia. Nitrogen removal from 

wastewater is commonly accomplished in a biological way involving the use of bacteria. The project aims to investigate a 

particular bacterial community, which is able to perform nitrogen removal from wastewater with methane as a renewable 

carbon source. The project will therefore lead to more sustainable wastewater treatment systems. 

DP0666109 Prof MP Zalucki; Dr BW Cribb; Dr JS Hanan; Prof P Prusinkiewicz; Dr SD Eigenbrode 

Approved Traversing a treacherous landscape: Modelling caterpillar movement and behaviour on whole 

Project Title plants at multiple scales. 

2006 : $128,000 

2007 : $118,000 

2008 : $120,000 


Page 194




How caterpillars move on plants and where they feed is central to developing plants resistant to these insect pests. Our 

research program will generate computer models of caterpillar behaviour on virtual plants that interact in realistic ways with 

the changing structure of the plant as it grows, its micro-architecture and environment. We provide a set of tools that will form 

the cornerstone of important future research agendas in the ecology of foraging caterpillars, optimisation of insecticide spray 

application, and the development of novel genetically transformed plants for insect control central to the future of Australian 

agriculture. 

DP0663083 Dr Y Zhang; Prof R Sasaki; Prof AA Belavin; Dr W Yang 

Approved Quantum Integrable Systems and Applications: From Condensed Matter to Quantum Information 

Project Title 

2006 : $106,000 

2007 : $96,000 

2008 : $98,000 




Quantum integrable systems have produced exciting results and techniques vital in the efforts to achieve the ultimate goal of 

understanding quantum science beyond perturbation. The proposal gathers four world experts from Australia, Japan and 

Russia to work on highly interdisciplinary projects designed to resolve fundamental problems in the field, which will underpin 

the development of emerging technologies. As a result, Australian science will be seen to be at the forefront internationally, 

and the leading status of Australia in the field will be greatly strengthened. Early career researchers and PhD students will be 

trained as part of the project, important in enhancing Australia's capability to develop and retain scientific talent. 

DP0663272 Prof X Zhou; Dr HT Shen; Dr D Song; Prof PD Bruza 

Approved Efficient Similarity Query Processing in High Dimensional Databases 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




This project studies a fundamental problem common to a wide range of applications. It contributes to smart use of 

information, which is vital to the modern knowledge-based economy, by providing an enabling technology to capitalise 

Australia's huge investment in data collection. Our research is right in the forefront of ICT research, leading the international 

effort of extending database technologies to support data management and query processing for very large and highly 

complex data. 

DP0666387 Dr J Zhu; Dr DN Jurcakova 

Approved Novel Graphitic Mesoporous Carbon Materials for Next Generation Carbon Catalyst Supports and 

Project Title Carbon Electrodes 

2006 : $125,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 




This project will bring about direct application benefits in terms of disclosing novel graphitic mesoporous carbons with high 

accessible surface area and graphitic framework as catalyst supports and electrode materials. This would lead to advanced 

processes important to the Australian energy and environmental industries, such as electrical double layer capacitors, 

greenhouse reduction by hydrogen fuel, and hydrodesulfurization of diesel fuels. The techniques and synthesis strategies 

developed in this project are also applicable to creating other graphitic mesoporsous carbons important to advanced sensors, 

fuel cells and optoelectronic applications. 

Page 195


DP0663304 Dr J Zou; Prof Z Jiang; Prof KL Wang 

Approved Controllable growth of semiconductor quantum dots for future nanoelectronic and optoelectronic 

Project Title devices 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




This project addresses specific National Research Priorities in the areas of breakthrough science, frontier technology and 

advanced materials. Outcomes will significantly advance the understanding of the self-assembly of semiconductor 

nanostructures. This project will provide informative guidelines for designing, developing and manufacturing semiconductor 

nanostructures for future nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices, which is strategically important to Australia's emerging 

electronic industry. This project will also enhance the international reputation and impact of Australian research in the 

internationally focused field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. 

University of Southern Queensland 

DP0663414 Dr H Wang 

Approved Protect information sharing within distributed collaborative environment 

Project Title 

2006 : $47,254 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 


Administering Institution University of Southern Queensland 


Industries require secure information accessing and communication. This project continues development of new delegation 

frameworks and information assurance requirements in Internet-based collaborative environments. The frameworks will be 

systematically upon policy-based models to set up a reliable, secure information sharing and communication medium. We 

also aim to develop techniques for setting up secure group communication and providing accesses to group members for 

many database systems. The approach leads to a great understanding of advocating selective information sharing in 

role-based systems. The project develops fundamental enabling methodologies for the information and communication 

industry. 

DP0665216 Dr P Wen; Dr Y Li 

Approved Inhomogeneous tissue conductivity influence on the forward and inverse electroencephalogram 

Project Title problems in realistic head models 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $30,000 


Administering Institution University of Southern Queensland 


The brain dysfunction indicators have been extremely difficult to obtain, largely because many disorders of higher brain 

function reflect abnormalities of brain function rather than apparent brain structure. The neuronal generator localization and 

identification in this project will provide complementary information about source and timing of neural activities sub-serving 

higher brain function and form sequences of spatial-temporal brain activity image. That will enable the information from MRI, 

which has a good spatial but poor temporal resolution, and the information from EEG, which has a high temporal resolution 

on the scalp, to be combined to provide clinical psychologists and brain researchers a more efficient diagnostic tool. 

Page 196


South Australia 

The Flinders University of South Australia 

DP0664408 Prof CM Bull; A/Prof HI McCallum; Dr RI Menz; Prof PJ Hudson; Prof C Daugherty 

Approved Ecological dynamics of parasite infections in reptiles 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 


Administering Institution The Flinders University of South Australia 


Australian ecosystems are threatened by new epidemics of diseases and parasites, some local, others from overseas. 

Examples include the facial tumours of Tasmanian devils and the fungus that threatens many native frog species. To 

manage these epidemics effectively, we must understand how they spread through animal populations. With better 

knowledge of how diseases of wildlife spread, we can develop more effective control of those diseases thereby protecting 

wildlife species, animal populations and, ultimately, Australian ecology. This project will help to protect our fauna from 

invasive diseases and contribute to sustaining the biodiversity of the country. 

DP0664158 Prof J Condon; Prof G Andrews; Prof MA Luszcz; Dr M Clark; Dr G Ochiltree 

Approved A prospective study of the transition to grandparenthood: psychosocial adjustment, well-being and 

Project Title productive ageing 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Given the increasingly common childcare role that grandparents are required to play in Australian society, and the increasing 

demands of grandparenting, potential benefits arising from this study adhere to the requirements of the National Research 

Priority Area "Promoting and Maintaining Good Health." They include: identifying the characteristics of the group of 

grandparents for whom the change of role and lifestyle produces negative effects; providing increased awareness in health 

professionals and the lay community about this subgroup, enabling appropriate early identification and intervention; supplying 

evidence-based data to inform strategies to reduce stress in the grandparents and improve the quality of childcare they 

provide. 

DP0664939 Prof NT Feather 

Approved Deservingness and emotions 

Project Title 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $75,000 




The project will address a key neglected area in the psychology of emotion, namely on how different emotions relate to 

perceptions that outcomes such as success or failure are deserved or undeserved. It will add to leadership on this issue and 

contribute to Australia's worldwide reputation for research on social justice and deservingness. The project will have 

implications for applied areas of national significance that include health-related issues and issues concerned with national 

safety, given the fact that emotions like sympathy can determine helping behaviour, and emotions like resentment can trigger 

revenge and conflict. 

Page 197


DP0665563 Dr V Haskins 

Approved Domestic Subversions: maternalism and cross-cultural histories 

Project Title 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $35,000 

2008 : $25,000 




This project will assist in the processes of reconciliation, by fostering a sense of a shared history, and increasing public 

awareness of the complexity of race relations histories in Australia. It will redress a significant gap in Australian knowledge 

and literature. Very little is known about the history of Aboriginal domestic workers and their relationships with their white 

employers in Australia, despite growing awareness of the significance of domestic service in Aboriginal child removal 

policies. 

The project will also assist in establishing Australian historical scholarship at the forefront of leading international research 

initiatives in gender, race and colonialism studies. 

DP0664435 Dr EB Kemps; Prof M Tiggemann 

Approved 'Images of desire': An experimental cognitive approach to understanding and reducing food 

Project Title cravings 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $60,000 




Food cravings are an important precursor to binge eating, a risk factor for both obesity and bulimia nervosa. Like many other 

Western countries, Australia has recently seen an alarming rise in these disorders. This project aims to investigate the 

imagery basis of food craving and develop effective techniques for its reduction. It has clear potential benefit for Australian 

national health and well-being, consistent with National Research Priority No. 2, "Promoting and Maintaining Good Health." 

The research will clearly contribute to the international profile of Australian social science and provide valuable research 

training for undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

DP0666420 Dr JG Mitchell; Dr L Seuront 

Approved Physical and Ecological Structure at the Base of Ocean Food Webs 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 

Primary RFCD 2604 OCEANOGRAPHY 



The coastal ocean is a crucial resource to Australia. In founding a research area on coastal food web function we provide 

international scientific leadership, train scientists in a cutting edge area, and lay the foundation for improved management of 

fisheries, aquaculture and species invasions. This work boosts Australia's participation in the International Polar Year, and 

knowledge about Antarctic Territorial waters. Infrastructure benefit comes from the French government paying for an 

outstanding French scientist to come to Australia 6 months/yr for 5 yrs. This grant acts as the base for larger projects that 

import EU and American funds. 

DP0666174 Prof AW Parkin 

Approved Regulatory Federalism and Public Policy: The Transformation of Australian Intergovernmental 

Project Title Relations 

2006 : $50,088 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $113,463 

2009 : $66,144 


Page 198




Intergovernmental relations impinge upon most aspects of Australia's public sector, from public finance to policy 

development, from economic investment to public service delivery. They shape the capacity of government to produce good 

policies and services- from childcare to aged care, from schools to power stations, from business regulation to environmental 

management, from workplace safety to highway maintenance. A better understanding of the changing federal system is 

essential for improving the benefits - better policies, more efficient programs and more responsive decisions - that 

Australians expect from their governments. 

DP0666360 Dr FB Regan 

Approved Safeguarding human rights in China: A study of the role of legal aid policy 

Project Title 

2006 : $50,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $40,000 




While China is a well-known Australia n trading partner its efforts to safeguard human rights are not well known. China's legal 

aid, the focus of this study, promotes human rights in China by assisting women, children, the elderly and disabled with legal 

advice and education, and representation in court cases. This project describes the innovative Chinese policy, assesses its 

role in promoting human rights, and proposes practical reforms to further improve legal aid. By improving human rights and 

the legal system it will also promote the stable conditions in China needed for Sino/Australian trade. 

DP0663271 A/Prof KJ Reynolds; A/Prof NL Fazzalari; Dr MJ Bottema; Prof TC Hearn; Dr TM Cleek 

Approved Three-dimensional Simulation of Trabecular Bone Remodelling 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Nearly 2 million Australians currently suffer from osteoporosis. Statistics indicate that 25% of Australian women and 17% of 

men will develop an osteoporotic fracture. The cost of osteoporosis is $7.4 billion per annum; the numbers of affected 

individuals and costs are expected to continue increasing. Clearly, improvements to osteoporosis diagnosis, fracture risk 

assessment, and effective treatments are still urgently needed. The proposed project aims to create a tool for understanding 

the mechanisms of bone loss and predicting the effects of osteoporosis therapies. It represents a solid contribution to the 

knowledge base necessary for advancing osteoporosis research and ultimately reducing the incidence of osteoporotic 

fracture. 

DP0665198 Prof SL Roach Anleu; Prof K Mack 

Approved The Australian Judiciary: A National Socio-Legal Analysis 

Project Title 

2006 : $195,000 

2007 : $150,000 

2008 : $160,000 




Courts and judges constitute a key social and legal institution, with a distinctive obligation to maintain the rule of law. The 

knowledge produced by this research will benefit the judiciary, the courts, government and the public they serve. Research 

findings will be used by courts and government to shape policy in recruitment, selection and professional development. It will 

assist individual judicial officers to manage their workloads and provide valuable information for courts in managing 

independent professionals. This research will improve public and scholarly understanding of Australia's courts and will help 

sustain an institution essential for safeguarding Australia. 

Page 199


DP0665782 A/Prof SB Schech; A/Prof J Haggis 

Approved From Stranger to Citizen: Migration, Modernisation and Racialisation in the Making of the New 

Project Title Australian 

2006 : $30,000 

2007 : $30,000 




The project addresses an important question: How can Australians continue to reap the benefits of cultural diversity while 

building a strong sense of national cohesion with which to engage productively with the rest of the world? Refugees from 

developing countries appear to pose a particular challenge to integration into Australian society. A close examination of the 

contact zone where newcomers interact with service providers will result in a better understanding of citizen-making 

processes and facilitate the improvement of policies and their implementation to facilitate faster and deeper integration of 

migrants and refugees from developing countries into Australian society. 

DP0664891 A/Prof MP Schwarz; Dr SJ Cooper 

Approved Origins of invertebrate fauna in Australia since the Cretaceous: a molecular approach using bees as 

Project Title a model taxon 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $97,000 

2008 : $70,000 




Australia's unique biota is vital for ecological, recreational, and economic reasons, and is a major resource that we need to 

understand and manage. This project is aimed at understanding the genesis of this biota, and will help us anticipate what lies 

ahead, in terms of the impact of exotic species and climate change. Benefits also include developing world class scientific 

profiles with consequent flow-on effects, including international collaboration, and enhanced teaching and awareness of 

native biota. The project will maintain our already strong track record for training a large number of postgraduate and 

honours students in benchmark evolutionary research techniques. 

DP0664903 A/Prof MP Schwarz 

Approved Origin of social parasites via sympatric speciation: testing the theory using allodapine bees as a 

Project Title model system 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $20,000 




This project addresses a contentious evolutionary conjecture regarding the origin of some species and will help maintain 

Australia's position in the forefront of evolutionary biology and behavioural ecology. Benefits derive from developing and 

maintaining world class research excellence, with consequences for scientific competitiveness and training the next 

generation of young researchers in cutting-edge techniques. The project fosters international collaboration, important for 

maintaining links with the broader scientific community and fostering breadth in postgraduate training. The project will also 

train 3 PhD students and 1-2 honours students per year, with strong expertise in evolutionary, genetic and ecological 

research techniques. 

DP0664763 Prof SM Sheridan 

Approved Lost Generation: Women Writers and Postwar Modernity 

Project Title 

2006 : $25,733 

2007 : $28,790 

2008 : $30,039 


Page 200




This project will restore a 'lost generation' of Australian women writers to, and reconfigure the meanings of, literary culture in 

the post-World War 2 years. 1945-65 is a key period of Australian cultural development that is under-researched but 

over-laden with stereotypes, which still frame and restrict our understanding of it. A fuller and more complex picture of 

Australian modernity and modernism will be gained by placing women centrally in the picture, and by placing the Australian 

case within the international field. Such an enhanced understanding of the past is essential for us to have a more productive 

and harmonious future, and to play a significant role internationally. 

DP0664681 Dr RL Waters; Dr L Seuront 

Approved Three-dimensional mapping and bio-physical coupling in the plankton microenvironment 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $71,000 




The fate of carbon in the marine environment, and potential modification of global climate, is driven by organisms ranging in 

size from 0.1 to 100 µm interacting at mm to cm scales. This research will provide the first high-resolution 3D measurements 

of distributions, diversity and dynamics of these key organisms. Australia provides the unique opportunity to study these 

microscale patterns and processes in archetypical examples of environments representative of the world's most significant 

marine ecosystems. These results will maintain Australia at the cutting-edge of marine environmental science, and provide 

the first application of novel sampling, analysis and modelling techiques to environments of the Australian economic 

exclusion zone. 

The University of Adelaide 

DP0662822 Dr S Akkach 

Approved Islam, Modernity and the Enlightenment: A New Perspective 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $46,000 


Administering Institution The University of Adelaide 


Australia's encounters with Islam have never been as politically, militarily and emotionally demanding as the events of the last 

few years have revealed. In the current climate of tension and conflict a deeper understanding of Islam - its socio-religious 

and intellectual history, its systems of thought, and its attitude towards modernity and the modern world - is vital to enhance 

Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global environment. This project contributes to enhancing 

Australia's ability to engage and interact in constructive and enabling ways with the Muslim communities locally, regionally 

and internationally. 

DP0666189 Prof M Augoustinos; Dr PH Delfabbro; Mr D Riggs 

Approved Understanding Foster Carers' Motivations: Personal, Political & Historical Perspectives on Care 

Project Title Provision in Australia 

2006 : $79,895 

2007 : $79,690 

2008 : $74,940 


APD Mr D Riggs 

Page 201




Due to the increasing number of children in care nationally, and the declining number of available foster care placements, 

there is current considerable interest in understanding the most appropriate means to recruit and retain foster carers. This 

project involves a national interview study of carers from several Australian States to understand the factors that most 

strongly motivate people to become carers. Based on interviews with carers and other important stakeholders, the results will 

help us to understand the nature of the foster-carer role within the current political and social climate and help inform future 

national recruitment strategies. 

DP0663345 Mr M Baumert 

Approved Towards early detection of upper airway obstruction in children: investigation of autonomic control 

Project Title 

2006 : $78,340 

2007 : $78,340 

2008 : $78,340 


APD Mr M Baumert 



This project focuses on the investigation of new indicators for early detection of upper airway obstruction (UAO)-which is a 

common sleep disorder in children. Failure to treat UAO can result in serious adverse outcomes including failure to thrive, 

neurocognitive deficits, developmental delay, behavioural disorders and cardiovascular disease. Thus, early treatment of 

UAO will significantly improve quality of life for the child. Direct benefits to community health via reduced costs for medical 

treatment will also be a key outcome. The establishment of new diagnostic indicators will form the basis of new tools for 

identifying child sleep disorders and contribute to advancing Australia's international leading position in health technology. 

DP0662900 Prof JH Bowie; A/Prof F Separovic 

Approved Structure and activity of host-defence peptides from Australian anurans: anticancer agents, 

Project Title neuropeptides and nNOS inhibitors. 

2006 : $122,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $120,000 




We have discovered peptides that may have clinical applications. This is significant as these molecules may have one or 

more of the following properties. They may have anti-cancer effects; they may increase the effectiveness of the immune 

system by enhancing lymphocyte formation; and, they may act to reduce inflammation, stroke or cardiac conditions by 

controlling nitric oxide formation. Another national benefit is that personnel involved in this project are trained to the highest 

international standards in peptide chemistry/mass spectrometry/nuclear magnetic resonance: currently, there are not enough 

trained scientists in this area to meet demand. 

DP0663579 Prof MC Bulbeck 

Approved The limited promise of 'equality biographies': Young Australians negotiate modern gendered 

Project Title identities, family and citizenship engagements in a divided society. 

2006 : $30,000 

2007 : $34,000 

2008 : $35,000 




Apart from its contribution to the international sociological debate concerning the individualization thesis, the project will 

contribute to pressing policy issues, ie. declining fertility, accessibility of abortion, appropriate childcare, humane immigration 

policies in a world with millions of refugees and reconciliation. Based on an empirically grounded analysis in a rich qualitative 

data set revealing how young Australians see themselves negotiating family, work and citizenship, the project will construct 

the vocabularies by which young people locate themselves in the community. The results will make contributions to policy 

debates by suggesting changes that are responsive to the needs and aspirations of the citizens of the future. 

Page 202


DP0665037 Prof JA Carver 

Approved Small heat-shock molecular chaperone proteins and amyloid fibrils 

Project Title 

2006 : $97,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




This proposal addresses the fundamental mechanisms of protein aggregation associated with debilitating age-related 

diseases, e.g. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cataract, and the prevention of aggregation via the action of a group of molecular 

chaperone proteins known as small heat-shock proteins. With the ageing population, the prevalence of these diseases will 

increase significantly over the next 20 years. Understanding and treating these diseases will therefore have significant 

long-term health benefits. Furthermore, the highly structured protein aggregates that form as hallmarks of many of these 

diseases have potential wide ranging applications in the emerging field of bionanotechnology, e.g. as nanowires and biofilms. 

DP0663550 Dr MA Coleman 

Approved Dispersal and gene flow in habitat-forming algae 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $65,000 

2009 : $65,000 


APD Dr MA Coleman 



The temperate coast of Australia has a unique and diverse algal flora. Many of these algae play a central role in subtidal 

ecology by providing habitat to an astonishing diversity of taxa. Despite this, we have no understanding of levels of gene flow 

within and among populations of habitat forming algae or how such populations persist in nature. By addressing this lack of 

knowledge, my research will contribute information that is critical for the conservation and management of algal habitats. This 

is particularly pertinent because anthropogentic stressors are beginning to precipitate significant changes in algal forests 

along Australia's coastline. 

DP0664562 Prof A Cooper; Prof TF Flannery 

Approved Using ancient DNA to investigate the environmental impacts of climate change and humans 

Project Title through time 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $155,000 

2008 : $155,000 




This project will provide important information about how climate change and human impact have effected our environment 

over the past 50,000 years, removing many of the large mammals and altering the landscape. It is critical that the 

background to our current environment is properly understood if we are to predict the effects of on-going changes such as 

global warming. The research will concentrate on the effects of climate change on large mammals in North and South 

America, New Zealand, Australia and Africa over this time period, and will examine the additional impact of humans in each 

location. 

DP0663675 Dr SJ Cooper; Dr WF Humphreys 

Approved Modes of speciation in subterranean diving beetles from calcrete aquifers of central Western 

Project Title Australia 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 


Page 203




Understanding speciation is a fundamental biological problem and our analyses of the diving beetles will broaden our 

understanding of modes of speciation and how an extraordinary biodiversity of subterranean animals (stygofauna) evolved in 

the limestone aquifers of central WA. The aquifers are an important source of water for pastoralists and mining companies 

and the limestone is also a valuable resource, so there is a need for further research on the impacts of these uses. We will 

generate further knowledge of the diversity and biological significance of the stygofauna, information that is critical for the 

environmentally sustainable management of the aquifers and their ecosystems. 

DP0666086 A/Prof CB Daniels; Prof JS Torday; Dr WW Burggren; Prof JA Whitsett 

Approved Environmental Control of Developmental Plasticity of Vertebrate Cardio-Pulmonary Systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $95,000 




Our research will generate the first comprehensive picture of how environmental conditions are transduced to control the 

development of the vertebrate respiratory and cardiovascular systems over the perinatal period. The research will 

demonstrate how physiological systems are modified and hence evolve. Moreover, understanding the developmental 

pathology in embryos induced by changing environmental conditions (especially exposure to steroid-like pollutants) is crucial 

to support breeding programs of endangered species and may improve veterinary and medicinal treatment of premature 

animals and humans. This multi-disciplinary, international collaboration provides an international training ground and two-way 

exchange of students and postdocs. 

DP0664339 Prof MG Eastwood 

Approved Symmetry in Differential Geometry 

Project Title 

2006 : $168,000 

2007 : $156,000 

2008 : $156,000 

2009 : $160,000 

2010 : $160,000 


APF Prof MG Eastwood 



Differential geometry is a major branch of mathematics studying shape by using calculus and differential equations. This is a 

fundamental research project in this area, especially concerned with the interaction between geometry, differential equations, 

and symmetry. The mathematical notion of symmetry was already formalised early last century and nowadays lies at the very 

heart of mathematics and physics. Advances in this area provide essential tools in basic science and unexpected 

technological benefits can easily arise (for example, in medical imaging). Fundamental mathematical research is absolutely 

necessary if Australia is to maintain a presence on the international scientific stage. 

DP0665185 Adj/Prof JB Egan 

Approved Defining New Building Blocks for the Construction of Artificial Genetic Circuits 

Project Title 

2006 : $134,000 

2007 : $121,000 

2008 : $121,000 


Page 204




By characterising the components of a natural genetic switch, we will make available a set of well defined genetic building 

blocks for construction of rationally designed biological circuits. The ability to build such circuits would have significant 

economic benefit in areas such as metabolic engineering, to improve the efficiency of production of natural compounds from 

micro-organisms, and in biomedicine, for the controlled release of therapeutic compounds. The involvement of Honours and 

Ph.D students in this project will expose the next generation of Australian scientists to this emerging discipline. International 

collaboration leading to publications in high impact scientific journals will enhance Australia's scientific reputation. 

DP0665303 Mr TS Elsdon 

Approved Bottom-up effects of nutrients on estuarine fish related ecosystems 

Project Title 

2006 : $115,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 


APD Mr TS Elsdon 



Over 84% of Australians live within 50 km of the coast, and have large impacts on coastal ecosystems, such as increasing 

nutrients in estuaries. Nutrients have strong bottom-up effects on fish ecosystems, especially during critical juvenile life 

history stages. Elevated nutrients can alter fish productivity and sustainability, having ecosystem and social implications. This 

project will combine experimental evidence with novel approaches of fatty acid tracers in food-webs and fish otolith (earbone) 

chemistry, to determine how nutrients affect fish ecosystems, recruitment, and survivorship. This project will provide 

information needed to create sustainable fisheries, to safeguard Australia's fisheries resources for future generations. 

DP0664479 Dr DG Hemer 

Approved Early detection of component incompatibility in time-dependent computer architectures 

Project Title 

2006 : $107,029 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 




Complex real-time systems are increasingly being built by integrating off-the-shelf components. There are obvious benefits to 

this approach, but the hidden costs associated with integration are still a major problem. Our proposed approach will enable 

early detection of integration problems, and thus provide potential for large cost savings. This brings with it clear benefits to 

industry. One industry that would benefit by such technology is the Australian Navy, which is increasingly being confronted 

with the challenge of integrating off-the-shelf components in large Naval Combat Systems. 

DP0665560 Dr MA Keller; Prof O Schmidt 

Approved Nutritional ecology of predatory arthropods: molecular analysis of gut contents to elucidate prey 

Project Title choice and diet breadth 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




The evolution of genetic resistance in insect pest populations against synthetic and biological pesticides requires new 

integrated pest management strategies with increasingly large biological control components. This is the only sustainable 

approach to pest management in agricultural production and natural ecosystems. Biological control of insect pests can 

potentially be achieved with indigenous generalist predators, thereby reducing the risks associated with importing exotic 

natural enemies. This project provides new opportunities for enhancing biological control by examining the diets of generalist 

predators using new diagnostic technologies. This is crucial for the effective and reliable use of predators in biological control. 

Page 205


DP0665094 Dr DE Kelsey 

Approved Tectonic links between the Musgrave Province and the North Australian Craton: correlations, event 

Project Title chronology, and tectonothermal regimes. 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $70,000 

2009 : $70,000 


APD Dr DE Kelsey 



Developing effective mineral exploration strategies relies on data-rich tectonic models that seek to explain the full history of a 

terrain. In the Australian context the tectonic evolution of the Musgrave Province is a key focus of the minerals industry due to 

its widely recognised potential for base-metal mineralisation. This project will develop tectonic models that encompass the 

evolution of the Musgrave Province and the adjacent North Australia Craton. The outcomes of the project will reduce risk to 

mineral explorers and make an important contribution to the broader question Australia's Proterozoic evolution. 

DP0666129 A/Prof DB Leinweber 

Approved The Essence of QCD Vacuum Structure 

Project Title 

2006 : $82,000 

2007 : $78,000 

2008 : $72,000 


PHYSICS 



This first-principles study of quantum field theory will elucidate an outstanding mystery of modern particle physics. 

Understanding confinement is recognized as one of the top 10 Physics Questions to Ponder for a Millennium or Two. In 

support of the National Research Priorities, new scientific data visualization techniques will be transferred to industry, 

facilitating smart information use. Further economic benefits are realized through the training and development of expertise in 

high-performance parallel computing, promoting an innovation culture and economy. The opportunity for young Australian 

Honours and Postgraduate students to work at the forefront of nuclear and particle theory is an obvious social benefit. 

DP0662824 Dr JT Makeham 

Approved The Formation and Development of Chinese Philosophy as an Academic Discipline in Twentieth 

Project Title Century China 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $30,000 




It is in Australia's national interest to pay close attention to the orientation of intellectual and political currents in China and to 

how these currents are increasingly merging and interacting. This project will enhance our capacity to interpret and engage 

with our regional environment by contributing to a clearer understanding of the changing relationship between Chinese 

intellectual traditions and cultural identity. A commitment to understanding what Chinese philosophy means to China's 

educated elite also demonstrates a willingness to foster dialogue and communication that is sensitive to the intellectual and 

cultural traditions which are a source of pride and identity for several of our major regional partners. 

DP0662978 Dr P Marschner; Dr RJ Smernik; Dr JA Baldock 

Approved Understanding plant residue decomposition by linking organic matter chemistry and soil 

Project Title microbiology 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 

Primary RFCD 3001 SOIL AND WATER SCIENCES 

Page 206




Soils are an important source or sink for CO2. Currently we lack a fundamental understanding of plant residue decomposition 

and their transformation into various soil organic carbon (SOC) pools. Since these different pools of soil C are recycled back 

to atmosphere at different rates, a better understanding of the process is crucial for our ability to manage soil C and to predict 

the impact of management on SOC. For the first time we will combine detailed chemical analyses of soil organic matter 

fractions with determination of decomposition rates and microbial community structure; thereby also increasing the 

knowledge of how Australia's biodiversity is modulated. 

DP0665486 Prof TM Monro; Dr H Ebendorff-Heidepriem 

Approved New materials and structures for next generation optical fibres 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




A soft glass optical fibre capability of critical importance to Australia's industrial and scientific capability will be established. 

This facility addresses a range of the National Research Priorities, most notably Defence, and brings fundamentally important 

technology to Australia. The proposed research capability strategically complements existing Australian silica-based fibre 

expertise and infrastructure. The aim is to develop soft glass fibres for defence applications, and to develop fibre-based 

solutions for emerging applications in bionanophotonics. A key attraction of the platform technology proposed is its 

adaptability for testing concepts without requiring the support of large-scale fabrication and production industries. 

DP0664943 Prof PG Quester; Dr FJ Farrelly; Dr MB Beverland; Prof SM Kates 

Approved Sharing values and the co-creation of brands: Towards a new consumer driven branding paradigm. 

Project Title 

2006 : $48,500 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $32,000 




The project proposes a paradigm shift from traditional image building towards a full understanding and integration of 

consumer values into a deliberate process of co-created brand meanings. Brands thus managed can become iconic and 

symbolic of consumers' existing subcultures or may even define micro-cultures of consumption of their own (as in the case of 

Harley Davidson). Should managers understand the process by which such co-created brands develop, more Australian 

brand success stories (eg. Rip Curl, Penfold's Grange) would evolve and be better placed to tap the increasingly diversified 

sub-cultural landscape that characterises the Australian marketplace and many of our major trading partners. 

DP0665427 Dr M Roughan 

Approved Characterisation of Internet Traffic Matrices 

Project Title 

2006 : $88,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $77,000 




The benefits to the community of characterisation of Internet traffic matrices arise because this information is used in the 

design of efficient and reliable networks. This is a genuine example of using the data we have more cleverly, rather than 

throwing money at a problem. Better information will result in the Internet becoming more efficient, and therefore cheaper, 

and at the same time more reliable. 

Page 207


DP0662810 Dr GP Rowell 

Approved Very high energy gamma-ray astronomy in Australia and the development of future gamma-ray 

Project Title detectors 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $140,000 

2008 : $140,000 

2009 : $140,000 

2010 : $117,000 


QEII Dr GP Rowell 



Australia contributes to the burgeoning field of ground-based gamma-ray astronomy via its involvement in the 

CANGAROO-III project. I will continue the development of CANGAROO-III and establish links with the other collaborations in 

this field, in particular H.E.S.S., also in the southern hemisphere. Studies with CANGAROO-III of high energy gamma-ray 

sources such as supernova remnants and active galaxies will finally reveal the type of particles that are accelerated in such 

violent regions of our universe. The development of future ground-based gamma-ray detectors beyond CANGAROO-III is 

also a project aim, and will expand the energy coverage of gamma-ray detectors into uncharted territory. 

DP0663740 Dr R Seracino; A/Prof DJ Oehlers 

Approved Development of innovative fibre reinforced polymer plating techniques to retrofit existing reinforced 

Project Title concrete structures 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




The demand for retrofitting reinforced concrete structures in Australia is estimated at $500 million per annum. However, with 

improved understanding of emerging retrofitting techniques the cost of retrofitting may be reduced. The innovative retrofitting 

techniques investigated in this project will address the shortcomings of existing techniques with particular emphasis on the 

ductility of the system which is a particularly important characteristic when retrofitting for earthquake or explosive loads. It 

also reinforces Australia's high international standing in developing innovative retrofitting alternatives using advanced 

materials in this rapidly developing area. 

DP0663757 Dr PF Slade 

Approved Saddlepoint approximation, likelihood analysis and ancestral graphs for strong and weak natural 

Project Title selection, genetic drift and population subdivision. 

2006 : $22,728 

2007 : $20,000 




Building new research strength in theoretical population genetics and related statistical techniques will enhance Australia's 

capability in harnessing the power of post-genomic information. Sophisticated statistical techniques that make smart use of 

genetic data are being developed in this project. The extent to which natural selection and migration affect current genetic 

polymorphism on a population level can be quantified using these new methods. New modeling provides a rigorous 

foundation with which to construct inference techniques currently beyond computational approaches to the data. Assessing 

selective effects on genetic mutations associated with human disease will be a consequence of this new statistical 

methodology. 

DP0663239 Prof FA Smith; Prof SE Smith 

Approved Roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in plant competition: revealing underlying 

Project Title physiological and molecular mechanisms 

2006 : $155,000 

2007 : $129,000 

2008 : $129,000 


Page 208




This project will increase understanding of physiological and molecular mechanisms that enable widespread beneficial 

symbiotic soil fungi to influence plant productivity and biodiversity of natural and managed plant ecosystems. It will also aid 

biotechnological and agronomic goals of maximizing use of scarce soil nutrients, especially phosphate. Results will be 

important for agro-industry and Government groups focusing on 'healthy soil'. The project adds considerably to investment in 

research, infrastructure and international collaboration in this priority area. It will enhance Australia's reputation for research 

in soil biology and provide high standards in research education and training in an internationally recognised environment. 

DP0662916 Prof SE Smith; Prof FA Smith 

Approved Mechanisms of arsenic tolerance in plants: how do symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi 

Project Title reduce uptake? 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $140,000 




Arsenic contamination of soil is a major problem caused by irrigation with contaminated ground-water, mining and application 

of pesticides. Plant uptake leads to entry into food chains, with severe consequences for crop growth and human health. This 

project will aid the search for mechanisms to reduce plant arsenic accumulation by exploring roles of beneficial plant-fungus 

symbioses in reducing uptake. Results will be relevant to most crop plants, because of the widespread occurrence of the 

symbioses. The project will enhance collaboration with China where arsenic toxicity is prevalent, provide education and 

training in an internationally recognised laboratory and enhance Australia's reputation for tackling soil contamination. 

DP0667006 A/Prof JN Timmis; Dr J da Silva; Dr MA Ayliffe 

Approved Analysis of interorganellar transposition of DNA 

Project Title 

2006 : $93,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 




The movement of DNA between organelles is a major driving force in the eukaryotic evolution. In yeast about 75% of all 

nuclear genes may derive from protomitochondria. Though DNA transfer per se continues in all higher cells, including 

mammals, in most species the functional transfer of genes has stopped. It continues at a high rate in plants, giving them 

unique potential in evolutionary studies of the genome. We established experimentally that DNA moves frequently from the 

plastid (chloroplast) to the nucleus. We now aim to measure the frequency of DNA transposition from the plastid to the 

mitochondrion. If transposition is sufficiently frequent, the approach can be used to transformation the mitochondrial genome. 

DP0665194 Dr MR Tingay; Prof R Hall; Dr CK Morley; Dr D Coblentz 

Approved Crustal Stress Field of SE Asia 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $65,000 

2009 : $55,755 


APD Dr MR Tingay 



The key project benefit is to advance our fundamental understanding of tectonic processes such as sedimentary basin 

development and continental collision. It has major implications for natural hazard assessment and resources exploration in 

SE Asia, consistent with Australia's participation in the APEC Energy Working Group. The project has major ancillary 

benefits. It will strengthen international links between Australia, SE Asia, the UK, USA and Germany. It will provide 

high-quality research and training experience for the APD and PhD student involved, whom will spend time with research 

groups and oil companies in Australia, UK, USA and SE Asia. Finally, the project will increase the institutional capacity for 

contract research in SE Asia. 

Page 209


DP0666108 Prof SD Tyerman; Dr WH Zhang 

Approved Root aquaporins as sensors and regulators of plant water transport. 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $95,000 




The knowledge we will gain will benefit Australia by allowing better management of plant water use. Because such large 

quantities of water move through aquaporins in membranes, our understanding of the pores could enable us to manipulate 

plants to conserve or use water depending on predicted climatic conditions. Molecular aspects of the project will reveal 

potential novel ways of controlling root water uptake by shoot and root manipulation. High calibre PhD and Honours students 

will also be educated to maintain the momentum of international excellence within Australia in the field of plant water 

relations. 

DP0662770 A/Prof M Varghese 

Approved Fractional analytic index theory 

Project Title 

2006 : $94,000 

2007 : $84,000 

2008 : $86,000 




Atiyah-Singer index theory, for which M.F. Atiyah and I.M. Singer received the 2004 Abel Prize, has stimulated considerable 

interaction between mathematicians and mathematical physicists. An extension of this theory is Fractional Index Theory, 

co-invented by R.B. Melrose, I.M. Singer and myself, which has received international attention, having solved a fundamental 

open problem. A central aim in my research project is to extend our theory to elliptic boundary value problems. I will assist 

beginners to navigate to the cutting edge of research through workshops, spring-schools and supervision. Benefits include 

the enhancement of Australia's position in the forefront of international research. 

DP0664311 Prof JC Wallace; Dr GW Booker 

Approved Innovative Approaches for Defining the Interaction of Insulin like Growth Factor I (IGF I) with the 

Project Title Type 1 IGF Receptor 

2006 : $93,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 




This study will improve our understanding of the interactions of Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGFs) with their principal 

receptor, the IGF-1R. A sound understanding of these interactions is essential for the development of non-peptide IGF 

antagonists designed for therapeutic applications. Such molecules could lead to new therapeutic approaches for diseases in 

which dysregulation of the IGF system has been implicated including cancer, diabetes and atherosclerosis. 

Since IGFs are major determinants of growth, the outcomes of this project could also lead to improvements in animal 

production with major benefit to primary industry. New IGF analogues developed could assist biotechnology exports. 

DP0666383 Prof AG Williams; A/Prof DB Leinweber; Dr LJ von Smekal 

Approved Advanced studies of QCD and the strong interaction 

Project Title 

2006 : $210,000 

2007 : $150,000 

2008 : $150,000 


Page 210




This project will significantly advance our knowledge of the subatomic structure of the universe. It will maintain excellence 

and strength in an area where Australia has built an outstanding international reputation over the past decade. It will place 

Australia at the cutting edge of fundamental and computational science research and it will maintain and grow strong 

international links. It will produce Australian graduates and research associates of high quality, who will benefit from 

participating in these state-of-the-art studies and from the advanced training in modelling, high-performance computer 

simulation and visualisation. This training will have major economic benefits for and provide strong links to Australian 

industry. 

University of South Australia 

DP0666632 Prof JA Filar; Dr SK Lucas; Prof VS Borkar; Prof W Murray 

Approved Doubly Stochastic Matrices & The Hamiltonian Cycle Problem 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $111,000 

2008 : $112,000 

2009 : $113,000 

2010 : $114,000 


APF Prof JA Filar 

Administering Institution University of South Australia 


The classical hard problem of determining whether a given graph possesses a Hamiltonian cycle contains the essential 

difficulty of the famous 'Travelling Salesman Problem'. A characterisation of this difficulty in terms of variability of returns (to 

the initial state) in a controlled stochastic process will be a significant conceptual advance with repercussions in a number of 

fields including optimisation and theoretical computer science. Algorithmic advances exploiting such a characterisation will 

significantly contribute to existing technologies for solving problems in applications ranging from logistics to cryptography. 

Since TSP describes certain efficient ways of routing its applicability to information networks is clear. 

DP0664330 Prof V Gaitsgory 

Approved Occupational Measures Approach to Long Run Average and Singularly Perturbed Optimal Control 

Project Title Problems 

2006 : $73,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $77,000 




Problems of optimal control of long-run average and singularly perturbed systems arise in many applications. The project will 

lead to the development of new linear programming based techniques for analyzing these problems (including problems 

intractable so far) and finding their numerical solutions. The new techniques will have a potential to be further developed into 

software that can benefit Australian industries and technologies. The proposed topic is in the focus of interest of many 

eminent researchers around the world and the dissemination of our results will further improve Australia's standing in the 

international research community. 

DP0667206 Dr J Liu 

Approved Normalizing XML Documents 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 




Our work will be of great benefit, both to the research community and to the ICT industry. The project addresses one of the 

most important problems in XML usage and we expect our results to be published in important international forums, as has 

our preliminary research on the topic. This will significantly improve Australia's reputation in research in the ICT area. In the 

longer term, we intend to build commercial software tools based on the results of our research and this will be of direct 

benefit to the Australian economy and the Australian ICT industry. 

Page 211


DP0666677 Dr Z Lu; Dr J Trogdon 

Approved The effects of child disability on carer's labour market outcomes in Australia 

Project Title 

2006 : $28,988 

2007 : $28,955 

2008 : $31,745 




Increasing prevalence of children with disabilities in Australia accompanied by lack of research makes this study imperative. 

The innovative approach adopted in this project means there will be a number of national benefits resulting from this study. 

- It will help governments in Australia make more informed policies toward providing assistance to affected families, which 

will reduce the burden on families caring for children with disabilities. 

- More informed policy will improve the well-being of such children. 

- It will advance knowledge in the fields of labour and health economics, and econometrics, and hence enhance Australian 

research reputation in the fields. 

DP0663567 Prof LK Rasmussen; Prof AJ Grant 

Approved Complexity Constrained Iterative Information Processing 

Project Title 

2006 : $133,000 

2007 : $99,000 

2008 : $107,000 




The contribution of Information and Communications Technologies to the National Economy has been widely recognized. 

ICT enables wealth creation, employment and exports, and underpins many innovation processes. Immediate project 

benefits will be: Contribution to the knowledge base and fundamental capabilities in high-speed wireless communications 

networks; Education of future Australian academic and industrial innovators; Raising the international profile of Australian 

research in the area of information technology. Applied development of the outcomes will lead to the generation of valuable 

intellectual property. Close links to Australian industry ensures that Australian ICT companies stand to gain commercial 

advantage. 

Western Australia 

Curtin University of Technology 

DP0666328 Dr MC Besemeres 

Approved Anglos Abroad: Memoirs of Immersion in a Foreign Language and Culture 

Project Title 

2006 : $30,017 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $31,343 


Administering Institution Curtin University of Technology 


A study of Anglophone narratives of language immersion offers a significant intellectual resource for thinking about ways in 

which Australian non-immigrant selves are shaped by culture and language: an issue with important implications for just 

practises within a wide range of national institutions and agencies, including education, immigration and social work. It thus 

contributes to the priority goal of strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric (Research Priority 2). It also contributes 

to enhancing our capacity to interpret and engage with our region and the world through a greater understanding of other 

languages and cultures (Research Priority 4). 

Page 212


DP0663929 Prof HB Bloch 

Approved Innovation, Competition and Economic Performance: Understanding the Dynamics of Industry 

Project Title Development 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $96,000 

2008 : $98,000 

2009 : $75,000 




An improved understanding of the impact of innovation on competition and economic performance will inform the design of 

public policy in terms of industry assistance, research and development support, competition policy and regulatory activity. 

This will help ensure that the billions of dollars of private and public expenditure devoted to innovative activities and industry 

development has the greatest possible impact in terms of improved products, lower prices and the enhanced 

competitiveness of Australian businesses. 

DP0665946 Prof L Caccetta; Dr G Zhou 

Approved Robust methods for hard optimization problems 

Project Title 

2006 : $136,000 

2007 : $124,000 

2008 : $124,000 

2009 : $110,880 

2010 : $110,880 


QEII Dr G Zhou 



Highly advanced industrial and information-based societies depend on complex systems that underpin their infrastructure and 

technologies. Mathematical modelling and optimization techniques are most frequently deployed for the development and 

refinement of these systems. This project focuses on an important class of difficult optimization problems that arise in many 

applications. A significant benefit of this project is the development of a number of robust methods for these hard optimization 

problems. These methods will be built upon advances in the fundamental theory developed by the research team. The 

resulting high quality publications and associated algorithms will greatly enhance Australia's international scientific reputation. 

DP0665044 Dr CE Cooper; Prof PC Withers 

Approved Evaporative water loss and relative water economy in marsupials 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $35,000 




Marsupials are an iconic element of the Australian fauna, so the robust physiological database we will establish has intrinsic 

educational and scientific value to Australians. We will provide important methodological and analytical advances at the 

cutting edge of physiological research. This project will sustain our leading role as marsupial physiologists in the international 

scientific community, contribute to the high-quality training of research students, foster national and international 

collaboration, and generally enhance the scientific profile of Australia. Knowledge of a species' biology and its interactions 

with the environment are essential for conservation in the face of landscape modification and climate change. 

DP0665400 A/Prof R De Marco; Prof E Pretsch; Prof E Bakker 

Approved Probing the internal contacts of all solid-state polymeric ion sensors 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 


Page 213




The results of this research will enable the development of robust and reliable all solid-state polymeric ion sensors. These 

sensors will enable solutions to significant environmental problems such as soil salinity and acidity, and may pave the way for 

new and exciting analytical applications, e.g., miniaturized implantable sensors for in-vivo use, microfluidics and Forensic 

Science, single blood droplet clinical analyzers, rugged solid contact ion sensors for use in submersible oceanographic 

analyzers, etc. The research will develop a unique in-situ neutron reflectometry technique for the study of electrochemical 

interfaces, providing scientific opportunities for the new Australian Replacement Research Reactor. 

DP0663020 Prof Dr WE Featherstone; Mr SJ Claessens 

Approved Ellipsoidal physical geodesy - improved global and local gravity field modelling 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $150,000 

2008 : $150,000 

2009 : $150,000 

2010 : $150,000 


APF Prof Dr WE Featherstone 



Improved techniques for gravity field modelling, using the ellipsoidal approach proposed in this research, will increase the 

accuracy of the Australian geoid model. A more accurate model of the geoid will bring great cost-benefits mainly to the 

Australian surveying, mapping and exploration community. For example, height determination from GPS [Global Positioning 

System] or similar satellite-based measurements is only possible with the aid of an accurate geoid model. This will allow the 

use GPS to its full capacity and save valuable time and money (by as much as a factor of 10). 

DP0664679 Dr IC Fitzsimons; Prof SL Harley 

Approved Mineral reaction, deformation, and accessory phases in migmatites: What controls monazite 

Project Title behaviour during high-grade metamorphism? 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $70,000 




Isotopic dating of rocks and minerals has revolutionized the way we view our planet, and allowed us to attach an absolute 

timescale to a range of Earth processes from the evolution of life to formation of mineral deposits. Australian technology has 

long been at the forefront of this field, but it is apparent that our ability to date Earth materials has overtaken our ability to 

interpret these ages in terms of geologic processes. The results of this study and the associated collaboration will ensure that 

Australian understanding of what isotopic ages mean keeps pace with our ability to measure them. This will allow us to 

resolve finer details of Earth history, and improve our understanding of the planet and how best to manage it. 

DP0662839 A/Prof K Grice; Dr PF Greenwood; Prof RE Summons; Dr PD Franzmann 

Approved New molecular and isotopic biomarker approaches to establishing source, palaeoclimate, facies 

Project Title and thermal history of sedimentary organic matter 

2006 : $134,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 




The ability to identify crude oil sources is a key issue in petroleum exploration, especially in Australia where vast gas deposits 

occur but very limited reserves of liquid hydrocarbons have been discovered. Discoveries of new petroleum 

reservoirs/provinces will benefit all Australians. Technological developments made will be extended to other Australian basins 

leading to more effective petroleum and mineral exploration strategies. The project described will also help our understanding 

of climate variability of past episodes and help predict what might happen in the future. The PhD scholars will foster 

high-calibre postgraduate research students suitable for employment in research or in industry. 

Page 214


DP0664586 A/Prof I Low; Dr IJ Davies 

Approved Synthesis of Novel Nanostructured Ternary Carbide Composites 

Project Title 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $40,000 




This research will lead to (a) new advances and provide contribution of new knowledge to the Priority Research Areas of 

Advanced Materials; (b) a novel vacuum heat-treatment process for nanostructured materials design. This will offer the 

ceramics industry in Australia a new technology for producing wear- and heat-resistant components for advanced 

engineering applications. (c) design of new layer-graded materials with a unique combination of hardness for wear resistance 

and toughness for damage tolerance. This will enable the ceramics industry in Australia to compete internationally in the 

business of advanced and high performance ceramic products. 

DP0667240 Prof AD Lucey; Prof PW Carpenter 

Approved Taming turbulence: Hydrodynamic stability and flow-structure interaction using grid-free 

Project Title computation 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $73,000 

Primary RFCD 2905 MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING 



Turbulence is characterized as seemingly disordered fluctuations that impede the progress of an object through a fluid by 

creating increased frictional or drag forces. Using a new type of fluid-flow simulation, this project will generate advanced 

understanding of turbulence in the flow over the surface of a vehicle, be it a ship, car, aircraft or within a pipe, with the 

technological objective of reducing drag by adhering a compliant skin to the surface. While the correct choice of compliance 

relies upon understanding very complex flow-structure dynamics, the resulting technology is simple, robust and has low 

capital and maintenance costs. Clearly, drag reduction reduces fuel costs and lower fuel consumption is environmentally 

beneficial. 

DP0662826 Prof RA Nile; Dr TP Dolin 

Approved Colonial Publishing and Literary Democracy in Australia: an analysis of the influences on Australian 

Project Title literature of British and Australian publishing. 

2006 : $125,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Colonial Publishing and Literary Democracy is concerned with the complex relationship between colonialism and nationalism 

within the context of Australia as a settler society and involves an exploration of the powerful but complicated interplay 

between literature, law and commerce as expressed through the production of the Australian novel. The project proceeds 

from an assumption that for much of the twentieth century literature was the flagship of national creativity in an industry worth 

around $1 billion pa at century's end. From that perspective, it engages directly with the cultural capital and heritage of the 

nation. 

DP0664078 Dr SM Reddy; Dr PD Kinny; Prof SA Wilde; Dr PV Crowhurst; Dr JK Lee 

Approved The Effects of Crystal-Plastic Deformation on Zircon Geochemical Systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $115,000 

2007 : $114,000 

2008 : $92,000 


Page 215




This project establishes the significance of deformation-related fast-diffusion pathways on the zircon geochemical system and 

develops intragrain compositional variations as new tools for tracking geological processes. The unique application of zircon 

to constrain geological processes in numerous Earth Science disciplines over 4.4 billion years of Earth history ensures that 

results will have far-reaching impact in the Australian and International Earth Science community. As such this project will 

maintain Australia's leading international reputation in accessory mineral research. 

DP0665948 Prof KL Teo; Dr V Rehbock 

Approved A Study of Stabilisation and Optimal Control Computation of Impulsive Control Systems 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $92,000 

2008 : $99,000 




Impulsive systems exhibit the phenomenon of jumps occurring at various time points along their trajectories. They arise from 

many applications, such as determining appropriate levels of drug administration in cancer and diabetes treatment, 

optimizing investment strategies in capacity expansion, and sustainable optimal forest management. This project will result in 

fundamental theory on stability and efficient computational algorithms and software packages for stabilizing controls and 

optimal controls of impulsive control problems. The outcomes will enhance Australia's reputation for leading edge research 

and facilitate opportunity for international collaboration. It will also provide an excellent opportunity for research training. 

DP0665028 Prof DF Treagust 

Approved Using diagnostic tests in science as formative assessment to enhance teaching and learning 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $55,000 

Primary RFCD 3803 COGNITIVE SCIENCE 



The success and continuation of science programs in upper secondary school and university is dependent on foundational 

improvements in science education in lower secondary schools. This proposal is designed to address this national concern 

by fostering talent in science and encouraging more students to study and enjoy science in a meaningful way. Through 

planned formative assessment, teachers will enable students in Years 8-10 to think about the science concepts and consider 

alternative explanations rather than memorise basic facts for a test or examination which are then forgotten. Practical 

benefits are a large range of valid and reliable tests and a range of teaching approaches for diagnosing student learning 

difficulties. 

DP0667282 Prof DF Treagust; Dr M Mocerino 

Approved Using explanatory frameworks to enhance students' metacognitive capabilities in science 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $55,000 




The success and continuation of science programs in secondary schools and universities is dependent on foundational 

improvements in teaching and learning. This proposal is designed to address this national concern by fostering potential 

science talent by encouraging more students to study and enjoy science in a meaningful way. Through the development of 

carefully analysed explanatory frameworks, science teachers and university lecturers will enable students to develop their 

metacognitive capabilities so that they are able to think logically about science concepts rather than memorise basic facts 

which are easily forgotten. Expected practical benefits are students who are better able to learn and communicate, 

especially in science. 

Page 216


Murdoch University 

DP0664334 Dr TI Burgess; A/Prof B Dell; Prof MJ Wingfield; Dr D Xu 

Approved Biosecurity of Australia's eucalypts at risk from exotic diseases present in the Asian region 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $80,000 

Primary RFCD 3006 FORESTRY SCIENCES 

Administering Institution Murdoch University 


Biosecurity of Australia's flora and fauna is a National Research Priority, however currently there are no projects in Australia 

dealing with the threats and risks of exotic diseases to Australian native forests and hardwood plantations and consequently 

our proposed project is unique. It is through years of networking and collaboration that such a project is possible within our 

group. The network of scientists put together in this project, both in Australia and Asia, results in a team of trained scientists 

studying and estimating the risk of existing disease threats and being vigilant for new disease threats. 

DP0665730 Dr PA Fleming; Prof S Nicolson; Dr TJ McWhorter 

Approved Sugar and water handling by honeyeaters and sunbirds 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 


APD Dr TJ McWhorter 



Honeyeaters are the major vertebrate pollinators in Australia, playing a vital role in maintenance of healthy ecosystems. 

These birds are faced with extreme physiological challenges due to their diet, ingesting 2-5 times their body mass in nectar to 

obtain their daily sugar requirement. Nectarivores are, consequently, masters at processing and assimilating sugars and 

water; comparative physiology of these charismatic birds will provide deep understanding of sugar and water handling 

mechanisms. Understanding gut and renal physiology and morphology contributes to the broad base of knowledge required 

to address pathological and clinical conditions in man, and will enhance our ability to predict effects of environmental change 

on these birds. 

DP0663833 Dr D Fursa; Mr PL Bartlett; Prof Dr J Ullrich 

Approved A complete computational approach to electron-atom collisions 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 


PHYSICS 



Our research contributes to multidisciplinary efforts to improve the efficiency and reduce the toxicity of lighting systems, 

which has far-reaching implications for environmental sustainability. It will also facilitate significant improvements in the 

accuracy of astrophysical and artificial plasma modelling, as well as providing insight into many processes fundamental to 

nanotechnology research. The research project will further enhance our reputation in an area where Australian theorists are 

preeminent, and the research training will produce PhD graduates with a high-level ability in numerical modelling using 

supercomputers. Such skills are essential in many defense, mining and technological applications of national priority. 

DP0666805 Prof DT Hill 

Approved Secular modernisers in the Indonesian media: A biography of Mochtar Lubis (1922 - 2004) 

Project Title 

2006 : $45,000 

2007 : $20,000 


Page 217




Democracy in post-Suharto Indonesia is being challenged by radical religious and communal interests. Precisely what form of 

polity will emerge remains unclear but, as Indonesia responds to such threats, Australia has a direct stake in the outcomes 

and needs new ways of understanding this dynamic. Media play a vital role in this. One of the most strained aspects of 

Australian-Indonesian relations has been the vastly differing assumptions on both sides about the relationship, exacerbated 

by a poor understanding of how the other's media operate. This research, and the biography of Mochtar Lubis, will provide a 

greater understanding of Indonesia's media, and of the unresolved struggle within it between secular democracy and 

sectarianism. 

DP0665471 Prof RJ Hobbs 

Approved Setting and achieving realistic restoration goals in human-dominated ecosystems 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $120,000 

2009 : $120,000 

2010 : $120,000 


APF Prof RJ Hobbs 



Federal and state programs and community and NGO activities increasingly focus on ecosystem restoration as a tool in 

conservation and natural resource management. Clearer understanding of ecosystem dynamics and better articulation of 

realistic restoration goals can lead to much improved restoration success and better investment of government and private 

funds. This project will provide a better understanding of ecosystem dynamics both under current conditions and also as 

influenced by future environmental changes. The contribution to the theoretical and conceptual development of the field of 

restoration ecology will increase the profile of Australian science and enhance our reputation as leaders in this field. 

DP0664515 Prof TJ Lyons; A/Prof JM Hacker; Dr W Junkermann; Dr US Nair 

Approved Impact of land use on cloud formation 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $25,000 




Large scale land clearing has the potential to significantly modify regional climates yet current climate models do not 

incorporate an adequate representation of the land surface. Within Western Australia the rabbit fence provides a unique 

environment in which the interaction between the land surface and the atmosphere can be studied without other competing 

influences. A combination of satellite, aircraft and ground based observations will be used to relate cloud formation to land 

characteristics and provide a clearer insight into the climatic impact of human-induced land surface changes. 

DP0666075 Dr RG Strong; Prof J Tonkin; Em/Prof GC Bolton 

Approved Religion at the End of the World: Anglican Communities in Western Australia 1829-c.2000 

Project Title 

2006 : $35,000 

2007 : $20,336 

2008 : $27,736 




As the project will study Anglicanism as an internal variety of forms it will benefit minority groups in understanding their 

'agency' in shaping religious traditions. The project will also contribute to breaking down stereotypical generalities about 

religions and religious groups in Australia that result from approaching any religion as a monochrome and uniform 

phenomenon. The identification of the various forms of Anglicanism in Western Australia and their own particular religious 

cultures will be of benefit in substantiating the part played by indigenous, rural, and regional communities in the history of 

Western Australian society through the agency of Anglicanism. 

Page 218


DP0666933 Prof SE Volet 

Approved Internationalisation of higher education:Sociocultural dynamics of group learning 

Project Title 

2006 : $62,000 

2007 : $62,000 

2008 : $65,000 




A better understanding of the challenges created by social and cultural diversity in the context of internationalisation of higher 

education will lead to educational and social benefits. The research will provide a conceptual basis for the development of 

innovative teaching practices, which address these challenges and capitalise on diversity to enrich the learning of both 

international and local students. It directly addresses the national research priority of enhancing Australia's capacity to 

interpret and engage with its regional and global environment, through greater reciprocal understanding of the interface of 

diverse cultures and societies. 

DP0665543 Prof J Warren 

Approved Captivity Remembered: Slavery, Islam and Identity Formation in the Sulu Zone, 1768-1898 

Project Title 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $21,000 




This project will promote collaborative and comparative research on slavery and other forms of unfree labour, Islam and 

cultural hybridity. It will provide knowledge to governments, educators and religious leaders concerned with ending 

Muslim-Christian conflict in the Philippines, about the more socially inclusive nature of Islam and the process by which 

Muslim states and societies changed the ethnic identities and spiritual beliefs of captives. It will also reveal the paradoxes of 

the historically conditioned response to the trauma and difference caused by Muslim slavery in the Sulu Zone that has 

governed the thinking and social practise of the Philippine community and other nations. 

Museum of Western Australia 

DP0664703 Prof KJ McNamara; Dr AD George; Dr ZQ Chen; Dr R Feist 

Approved Extinction and survival: biotic responses to environmental change in Late Devonian oceans during 

Project Title a greenhouse-icehouse transition 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $65,000 


Administering Institution Museum of Western Australia 


This project represents an important opportunity to answer fundamental questions about the role of environmental changes in 

major mass extinction events in the geological past and to provide insight into the survival of modern marine species in 

response to climate change (National Research Priority 1). It will enhance Australia's global research profile in 

biostratigraphical and palaeontological research through contribution to the development of biozonations, correlation and 

global debate on extinction mechanisms. It will also strengthen international collaboration, and, importantly, provide crucial 

research training to young researchers in these fields. 

Page 219


The University of Western Australia 

DP0665616 A/Prof M Anderson; Dr AM Fox; Ms CL Reid; Prof DV Bishop 

Approved Maturation of the brain and the development of cognitive abilities 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $120,000 

2009 : $120,000 


Administering Institution The University of Western Australia 


This project aims to develop techniques for measuring the growing brain. We will use these techniques to determine how the 

growing brain influences a child's intellectual ability and to answer an important question - do areas of the brain mature at the 

same or different rates and what influence does that have on the development of specific abilities such as language and 

reasoning? An answer to this question will make an important contribution to our theoretical understanding of developmental 

disorders. Moreover, given the influence of intellectual development on life prospects, it is important to understand how early 

brain development impacts on a child's ability to learn. 

DP0662985 Dr CA Arrese; Prof LD Beazley; Prof DM Hunt 

Approved Evolution and function of colour vision in mammals 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




The project aims to investigate colour vision in marsupials and monotremes (echidna and platypus) with differing phylogenies 

and biogeographic histories. Improving knowledge of the molecular structure of opsin genes mediating colour vision will be 

crucial to the understanding of evolution and function of this key mammalian (including human) sensory capacity. 

Understanding species colour discrimination will contribute to protective measures of Australia's unique fauna, presenting 

social and economic assets for the local and national community, and will set a standard that should be applied world-wide. 

Close international links and intellectual exchange will be invaluable to the Australian science community, including students. 

DP0666206 Prof DR Badcock 

Approved Characterising and linking intermediate-level processing of pattern, motion and position in human 

Project Title vision? 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $55,000 

2009 : $65,000 




This work will advance basic science by enhancing understanding of human coding of image structure. The aim is to provide 

a common structure for understanding visual processing of form, motion and position. The work will help lift the international 

profile of Australian science. Explaining how the primitives for shape perception are extracted will also have consequences of 

potential economic benefit. One important aspect is the design of displays that allow observers to absorb complex 

information about rapidly changing situations. This work has the potential to provide information that enables display 

designers to optimise the efficiency of presentation of pattern and motion information. 

DP0663037 A/Prof MV Baker; A/Prof TV Chirila; Prof AK Whittaker; A/Prof H Kraatz 

Approved Biodegradable Porous HEMA-Based Polymers: Innovative Strategies for the Design and Tuneable 

Project Title Single-Step Production of a Novel Class of Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering 

2006 : $220,000 

2007 : $160,000 

2008 : $160,000 


Page 220




This project will lead to the development of new biocompatible, biodegradable, porous materials ideally suited to many 

applications in tissue engineering. These new biomaterials will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, via simple 

processes using non-toxic reagents. The key properties of the biomaterials will be controllable by appropriate choice of 

starting materials. The availability of these new biomaterials will facilitate future developments in tissue engineering, which will 

ultimately lead to improved medical outcomes in areas as diverse as joint and bone repair and organ regeneration. Local 

manufacture of these biomaterials would also contribute to the development of the Australian biotechnology industry. 

DP0664228 A/Prof M Bennamoun; Prof RA Owens 

Approved Unified Representations of Multimodal Biometrics for Robust Authentication and Identification 

Project Title 

2006 : $132,000 

2007 : $113,000 

2008 : $111,000 




We propose two biometric systems based on two novel unified multimodal biometric representations. These systems will 

have a great potential impact on the national economy by reducing frauds related to identity, credit card transactions, and 

ATM withdrawals. Statistics show that these types of frauds are dramatically increasing in the U.S.A., the U.K., and Australia. 

Our systems will also have government applications and will impact on the national security in areas related to immigration, 

passport and driver's license controls. Forensic applications include criminal identification, crime scene investigation and 

corpse identification (as in the case of the victims of the Asian tsunami 2004). 

DP0662817 Prof SJ Berners-Price; Prof NP Farrell; Mr DS Thomas 

Approved Second Generation Polynuclear Platinum Compounds. Mechanistic NMR Studies Probing DNA 

Project Title Binding and Pharmacokinetics 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Cancer affects one in four Australians and 50% of cancer patients are treated with cisplatin. BBR3464 is a new type of 

platinum anticancer drug that has shown promise in clinical trials, including results in cancers that do not respond to cisplatin 

treatment. Second-generation analogues, now under development, may offer significant advantages. This international 

collaboration between Prof. Berners-Price and the inventor of these new drugs puts Australian research at the forefront of the 

clinical development. There is the potential for the generation of new IP from new strategies in the design of improved 

anticancer drugs. The project builds strong international links and provides international training for Australian PhD students. 

DP0664909 Dr F Boussaid; Prof RR Etienne-Cummings 

Approved Biomimetic Ultra-Thin Compound-Eye Vision Sensor 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $56,000 

2008 : $46,000 




With the recent advances in microelectronic fabrication technology, it becomes possible today to fabricate paper-thin imaging 

systems. The proposed research will target the development of such systems to enable the concept of 'stick-on cameras'. 

Examples of potential applications for this new imaging technology include head-mounted camera patches for rescue 

workers, smart credit card capable of identifying its user by fingerprint technology, discrete monitoring of venues, preventing 

driver's drowsiness inside a car but also assisting in medical diagnosis and minimally invasive surgery. This leading edge 

research will enhance the reputation of Australia as a leader in frontier technologies. 

Page 221


DP0664001 Prof AA Brennan; Prof JE Malpas 

Approved Making Ethics Work: A New Model for Business and Professional Ethics 

Project Title 

2006 : $79,142 

2007 : $132,116 

2008 : $110,916 




Sound ethical practice is fundamental to long-term business success and organizational well-being. In developing a new 

framework for applied ethics, this project will enhance understanding of the foundations of ethics in business, organizational 

and professional contexts, as well as enabling improved ethical practice in those domains. As such, it will assist in 

strengthening Australia's social and cultural fabric, in promoting the conditions that facilitate innovation and creativity, in 

developing leadership capacities and organisational structures, and in supporting Australian business and industry through 

promoting greater ethical awareness and expertise. 

DP0664008 Dr SM Broomhall 

Approved Voicing the Welfare State: Experiences of the Sixteenth-Century French Poor 

Project Title 

2006 : $74,595 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $79,000 




This research enhances our historical understanding of poverty and its support mechanisms in Europe's past, through 

reconstruction of a comprehensive and detailed picture of the sixteenth-century French poor. New methodologies and 

techniques for recovery of formal and informal social networks will be developed. Historical models of such mechanisms 

provide context of the long history of Australia's welfare structure models, philosophy and participation strategies. The 

programme provides expert research training for early career researchers, in a collaborative Humanities team environment. 

Australian historians can thus continue to generate globally competitive and significant research. 

DP0665327 Prof MB Bush; A/Prof X Hu; Dr BR Lawn 

Approved Failure of Complex Biomechanical Structures 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $115,000 

2008 : $115,000 




Layer structures are replete in biological systems, both natural and artificial. Issues concerning the lifetime of such systems 

are paramount to the quality of life and economic well being of our aging society. Our project will analyse damage in brittle 

layer systems that simulate dental crown structures. We are now at a critical point in the understanding of how these 

structures fail, and are beginning to make substantive predictions to improve designs for prolonged life. The project is 

connected to the dental community and international crown material manufacturers through a broader NIH project in the 

USA. The improved materials and crown designs resulting from this project will have impact worldwide, including Australia. 

DP0663247 Dr KW Carter; Prof LJ Palmer; Prof JL Hopper; Dr ML Hazelton; Prof AJ Baddeley 

Approved Novel Bioinformatics approaches for genetics and data linkage 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $74,340 

2008 : $74,340 


APD Dr KW Carter 

Page 222




The research project will involve creation of novel data and communications formats to fulfil the vital task of integrating the 

vast heterogeneous biological resources available. We will apply this new infrastructure to a large data linkage project. In 

parallel, we will undertake methodological research in informatics to design high throughput research methods and tools to 

analyse and visualise genetic data. These will be applied to linkage disequilibrium mapping and haplotyping in human, animal 

and plant diseases. Improving informatics integration and designing novel methods and implementations of algorithms will be 

beneficial to local and international researchers in a range of fields. 

DP0663574 Dr JP Evans 

Approved Postcopulatory sexual selection and intraspecific variation in sperm competition traits 

Project Title 

2006 : $185,000 

2007 : $152,000 

2008 : $152,000 

2009 : $152,000 

2010 : $152,000 


QEII Dr JP Evans 



This project will contribute towards Australia's burgeoning reputation as a country where excellent and original research in 

behavioural ecology and evolution is conducted. By focusing on the evolution and function of sperm and genitalic traits, the 

project will address fundamental questions at the core of contemporary evolutionary research, thereby yielding results that 

will have a significant international impact. Australian science will further benefit from the research fellow's established 

collaborations with international scientists and through the training of young scientists. 

DP0665763 Dr PM Finnegan 

Approved Arabidopsis DNA binding proteins that control transcription of its mitochondrial genome 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 




The increases in crop output and quality needed to drive the agricultural sector of Australia's future economy will arise from 

knowledge gained by combining traditional methods and the type of cutting-edge research that identifies plant mitochondrial 

DNA-binding proteins and their sites of action. Mitochondria are fundamental to many agronomically important traits, 

including plant growth, fruit ripening and plant stress and disease defence. Opportunities for the rational manipulation of 

these and hitherto undiscovered traits will come from new knowledge generated by this project, which will develop and use 

frontier technologies that will keep Australia at the forefront of international research into mitochondrial structure and function. 

DP0664751 Dr A Ghadouani; Prof GN Ivey; Prof WD Taylor; Prof B Pinel-Alloul 

Approved Predicting plankton patchiness in lakes using a high resolution sampling system 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $40,000 




This research will benefit Australian Society through a better understanding and prediction of the response of aquatic 

systems to major shifts in the environment. Eutrophication and toxic algal blooms represent serious threats to the security of 

water supplies in Australia and elsewhere. Through development of high resolution technology (SPS), this project will provide 

the necessary knowledge and data for producing management tools capable of detailed predictions of the behaviour of 

aquatic systems. Successful management of Australian waters relies heavily on a better understanding of the scale 

dependent processes which govern the response to external perturbations such as increased nutrient export and consequent 

eutrophication. 

Page 223


DP0663339 Prof MD Grounds; Prof UM Wewer 

Approved The molecular role of ADAM12 in maintenance of skeletal muscle, myogenesis and adipogenesis 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 




An understanding of the molecular control of skeletal muscle growth, maintenance and balance between muscle and fat 

production is of fundamental importance for a competitive meat industry, for the promotion of strong muscles in the ageing 

population and for disorders such as muscle diseases, diabetes and obesity. This project will enhance strong international 

collaborations and expand cutting-edge research within Australia with many potential economic benefits for the meat 

industry, biotechnology and health. The expertise developed by this pioneering research will ensure that Australia is well 

placed to harness new technologies and exploit future advances in this fast-moving field of muscle biology. 

DP0663491 Prof SJ Houghton; Dr A Carroll; Dr SL Hopkins 

Approved Trajectories of Childhood Antisocial Behaviour: A New Model and Prevention Program for the Early 

Project Title Onset Life Course Persistent Offender 

2006 : $55,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $55,000 

2009 : $55,000 




Criminal offences committed by children under 14 years in Western Australia and Queensland increased by almost 20% in 

2003. Many individuals involved in these actions began their antisociality in primary school and continued through high 

school, despite intervention. Support for the developmental pathway to early onset persistent offending is found in the school 

suspension and exclusion data where in 2002, 3339 Western Australian primary school children were suspended. Trends are 

comparable in Queensland. Antisocial behaviour is a major costly education and public health problem. This research 

addresses the issue of preventative treatments and hence State and Federal government expenditure. 

DP0666102 Prof J Imberger; Prof G D'Antona 

Approved The application of inverse methods for resolving velocity, density and mixing fields in lakes and 

Project Title estuaries. 

2006 : $86,544 

2007 : $78,721 




The two techniques to be developed and tested here will allow the measurement of the 3D density and velocity fields in lakes 

and estuaries using only simple instruments and with minimum lake obstruction. Coupled with a Real Time Management 

System, these techniques can be used to validate numerical models and to simulate scenarios, such as future flood events, 

which have the potential for contamination of water quality. The output from these simulations is then used, again in real time, 

to evaluate the new Index of Sustainable Functionality of the water body. When augmented with the results from this 

research we would have a tool that would help manage lakes and reservoirs to optimize the water quality, while maintaining 

the supply. 

DP0663334 Prof GN Ivey; Prof CB Pattiaratchi 

Approved Tidal generation of internal waves and currents 

Project Title 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $115,000 


Page 224




The North West Shelf (NWS) is a region of great significance to Australia, due mainly to the presence of the multi-billion 

dollar oil and gas industry, but also for fishing and national defense issues. This project will combine laboratory, numerical 

and field studies to quantify the production of internal waves on the NWS. The results will aid engineering design of offshore 

pipeline and structures, for both current production facilities and for future developments in deeper waters. The project will 

also provide quantitative knowledge and predictive behavior of the marine environment, allowing the development of earth 

and marine resources in a sustainable and informed way to protect the marine-based biodiversity. 

DP0662841 A/Prof KT Judd; Dr L Smith 

Approved Forecasting and management using imperfect models, with a focus on weather and climate 

Project Title 

2006 : $83,000 

2007 : $73,000 

2008 : $75,000 




Research into complex systems is predicted to be the focus of twenty-first century science, since most of the problems of 

simple systems are solved. Examples include the weather and climate, economies, argriculture, ecologies, the mind and 

brain, genetics, biochemistry. Confidence in the reliability and usefulness of models will have significant bearing on how 

these models are used by decision making and how the community perceives the value of this science. Specific immediate 

benefits of the project include better policy and management responses to climate change and servere weather events. 

DP0664698 A/Prof SM Kuzenko; Dr IN McArthur; Prof SJ Gates 

Approved Progress in Supersymmetry and Supergravity: Continuing Einstein's Legacy 

Project Title 

2006 : $240,000 

2007 : $180,000 

2008 : $180,000 




2005 is the International Year of Physics in recognition of Einstein's revolutionary contributions. His unfinished quest for a 

unified description of Nature has become the hottest topic in modern physics. Led by a team of internationally recognized 

experts, this project will yield breakthroughs in supersymmetry and supergravity - crucial ingredients of current approaches 

to unification. As well as putting Australia at the forefront of this mainstream activity, a fertile environment will be provided for 

the training of graduate students. They will be ideally placed to lead Australia's involvement in the revolution sparked by the 

expected experimental confirmation of supersymmetry with the next generation of particle accelerators. 

DP0667326 Prof P LeSouef; Prof AH Bittles; Dr J Goldblatt; Mr P Candelaria 

Approved Evolution and the immune system: genetic differences in immune response between human 

Project Title populations due to adaptation to living in different geo-climatic locations 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $95,000 




The project, which investigates the genetics of inter-population differences in immune response, will lead to advances in 

immunology and population genetics research, explain present population specific differences in disease incidence and 

possibly forecast future population trends of diseases such as asthma and allergy. The study will strengthen ties with 

collaborators around the world, thus promoting excellence in Australian research and gain Australia prestige in the 

international community as a country that produces research of global significance. Understanding the immune system's 

'recent evolutionary roots' has implications for the health of Australians, especially in light of Australia's increasingly 

multi-ethnic background. 

Page 225


DP0662831 A/Prof AN Luiten; A/Prof EN Ivanov; Dr JJ McFerran; Dr CR Locke; Prof A Clairon; Dr FA Benabid 

Approved Developing New Clocks for Australia: Testing the Assumptions of Modern Physics 

Project Title 

2006 : $270,000 

2007 : $180,000 

2008 : $180,000 


APD Dr CR Locke 



Clocks lie at the heart of all precise measurement devices; for example, they are the crucial elements in modern navigation 

and telecommunications systems. This project will develop three new clocks for Australia: a laser clock at the leading edge 

of technology, a novel and compact clock with commercial potential, and a microwave clock for use in the next generation of 

satellites. The performance advantage conferred by our new devices can deliver economic benefits while also giving the 

possibility for scrutinizing the laws of physics for evidence that there is something beyond our present formulation. 

DP0666652 Dr D McDougall 

Approved Christianity, conflict, and culture: an anthropological investigation of the political role of churches 

Project Title in Solomon Islands 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $66,000 

2008 : $70,000 

2009 : $60,000 


APD Dr D McDougall 



This project contributes to a better understanding of one of Australia's closest neighbours, Solomon Islands. This nation, the 

site of political turmoil in recent years, is now the focus of an Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission. Many scholars and 

policy makers have commented on the importance of Christian organizations during the crisis in Solomon Islands and the 

need to incorporate them in current attempts to restore stability and prosperity. However, most discussions are not informed 

by an understanding indigenous Christian belief and practice, a lacuna that this project aims to fill by providing an 

ethnographic investigation of how church-linked groups engage with secular national and international organizations. 

DP0664534 A/Prof K Miller; Prof N Knuckey; A/Prof SK Warfield; Dr K Chinzei 

Approved Biomechanical model-based algorithms for computational radiology of the brain 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




The proposed research will develop computational framework, which will allow matching high quality pre-operative brain 

images with lower resolution images taken during neurosurgery. The success of this work will greatly improve effectiveness 

of brain tumour removal, and therefore improve clinical outcomes. The proposed work will provide enabling technology for 

other areas of computer aided medicine, such as virtual reality operation planning systems with realistic force and tactile 

feedback, control systems of neurosurgical robots with tissue deformation prediction module, etc. 

DP0663124 Dr LM Nimmo; Prof JS Nairne; Dr E Service 

Approved The role of retrieval cues when remembering over the short term 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 


APD Dr LM Nimmo 

Page 226




This project has two principal benefits: A basic scientific outcome concerning the development of a cue-driven memory model 

and an applied outcome that can inform the design of language learning tools. A core assumption proposed to explain 

short-term memory performance is that an event's salience affects its memorability. To date however, this salience 

dimension has escaped experimental vigour. This project examines the conditions under which some events are perceived to 

be more salient than others. In addition, by determining when, and which cues are more salient, the project can inform future 

design of language learning tools (e.g., interactive memory games). 

DP0663600 Dr LM Parker; Dr LR Bennett; Dr P Nilan; Dr KM Robinson 

Approved Ambivalent Adolescents in Indonesia 

Project Title 

2006 : $135,000 

2007 : $170,000 

2008 : $80,000 

2009 : $25,000 




Indonesia's stability and prosperity are matters of great significance for Australia. Adolescents have spearheaded political 

and social transformations in Indonesia, but face continuing economic and social difficulties. Our project will provide Australia 

with knowledge about Indonesian youth culture, Islam among youth and adolescent reproductive health, enhancing 

understanding of social change in Indonesia and thereby contributing to Australian security in the region. Australia has been a 

world leader in expertise on Indonesia, but this expertise is dwindling. Our project puts together junior and established 

scholars, contributing to the sustainability of Australia's pre-eminent research position in Indonesian studies. 

DP0665454 Prof L Polizzotto 

Approved Family, Politics and Society: The Valori Household and Florence, 1380-1650 

Project Title 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $35,000 

2008 : $33,000 




This is a study of one family's engagement in the turbulent and dangerous world of Florentine politics over nine generations. 

A study of the Valori will enable us to identify the political assumptions that inspired them and other Florentines to fight 

against the trends towards despotism. An understanding of these assumptions and the civic values they engendered will 

benefit our society's efforts to strengthen family bonds, instil civic responsibility and combat the political indifference which, in 

the opinion of our political leaders, threatens to 'disengage the young from the democratic process' (Governor-General 

Michael Jeffery, 26-1-2005). 

DP0664090 Prof SB Powles; Dr KJ Steadman; Dr H Hilhorst; Dr R Benech-Arnold; Dr PE Toorop 

Approved A novel role for phytochrome in dormancy release inhibition 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 




Seed dormancy contributes to the persistence of weeds in agriculture by enabling seeds to remain viable in the soil for many 

years, and is a major reason why annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) has become the most economically damaging weed in 

Australian agriculture. Recently we discovered a new way to control dormancy release and germination in these seeds. This 

project to identify the changes occurring within the seeds during dormancy release will underpin our efforts to manipulate 

emergence timing in order to improve the efficacy of current weed control practices and contribute to sustainable farming 

systems. 

Page 227


DP0665958 Prof MF Randolph 

Approved Application of field penetrometer data to offshore geotechnical design in deep water 

Project Title 

2006 : $180,000 

2007 : $160,000 

2008 : $180,000 

2009 : $120,000 

2010 : $100,000 




Offshore oil and gas extraction is a $17 billion/year industry and a major component of GDP, but facing increasing challenges 

in Australia as exploration extends into water depths exceeding 1 km. In order to develop safe and economic facilities in 

these environments, solutions to significant technical challenges are required, ranging from new technology to assess the 

strength of seabed soils, to formulating response models for oil and gas pipelines and shallow foundations or anchoring 

systems. This project contributes to future exploitation of offshore hydrocarbon reserves while minimising impact on the 

marine environment; it brings direct benefits to our economy and helps maintain our world leadership in offshore geotechnical 

research. 

DP0665388 Prof Z Rengel 

Approved Aluminium uptake across the root-cell plasma membrane 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




Aluminium toxicity limits crop growth in acid soils that occupy about 24 million hectares of agricultural land in Australia. 

Liming can increase pH of the surface soil, but is frequently too expensive in the low-input Australian agriculture. 

Surface-applied lime is poorly effective in ameliorating subsoil acidity, and incorporating lime deep into the profile is 

prohibitively expensive and technically difficult. Hence, Al-resistant crop cultivars are important part of sustainable farming in 

Australia. This project will characterise early triggers of Al toxicity in plants, providing a foundation for increasing Al resistance 

in crop cultivars. Understanding the physiological basis of Al toxicity will lead to improved crop breeding strategies. 

DP0663243 Dr MW Shane 

Approved Australian rushes: unearthing the function of root clusters and sand-binding roots 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $105,000 

2008 : $105,000 


APD Dr MW Shane 



Unearthing the functioning of highly specialised root structures provides fundamental insights into the role of native rush 

plants in south-western Australian ecosystems and addresses a major issue with Australia's biodiversity, currently a Priority 

area for the ARC. Native rushes form a prominent but inconspicuous component of the Australian 'grass-like' flora, 

accounting for more than half the plant biomass on some landscapes. Rushes are also highly sensitive to small increments in 

nutrients in disturbed environments and thus form a management priority relating to their use in rehabilitation of degraded 

landscapes, such as mine sites and wetland margins. 

Page 228


DP0665155 Dr PM Smith; Prof CA Atkins 

Approved Is transport of miRNAs essential for plant development? 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




This project will provide knowledge of how a new class of biologically active molecule (micro RNA) regulates expression of 

genes at sites in the plant that are critical for growth and development. MicroRNAs are believed to influence the size and 

shape of plants, how rapidly they grow and how well they produce and fill seeds. These molecules are part of a group of 

bioactive signals that move throughout the plant, functioning like hormones but directly influencing how well critical genes 

work. Their exploitation holds great promise for manipulating plant performance and enhancing crop yields. 

DP0666434 Prof S Smith 

Approved Functional genomics approaches to the mechanisms of starch mobilisation in Arabidopsis 

Project Title 

2006 : $350,000 

2007 : $285,000 

2008 : $285,000 




Starch is a key carbon and energy reserve that underpins plant growth. This in turn underpins much of Australia's $60 billion 

agriculture industry. Starch also provides most of the calories in the human diet and is a renewable commodity supporting 

manufacturing industries. Dependence of society on starch will increase as it becomes used more for novel materials and for 

bio-ethanol production, which in turn will create new jobs in the rural economy. A major quality problem in cereal grain is 

pre-harvest starch breakdown caused by warm wet weather triggering events associated with germination. By understanding 

starch metabolism in plants we will be better able to manage and enhance growth of crop plants, starch production and seed 

quality. 

DP0667197 Prof S Smith; Dr KW Dixon 

Approved Discovery of the physiological and molecular modes of action of butenolides in promoting seed 

Project Title germination and vigour in plants 

2006 : $180,000 

2007 : $145,000 

2008 : $145,000 




The Australian discovery of butenolides opens up a new scientific frontier and new opportunities for land management, plant 

conservation and agriculture. Butenolides will be used to promote seed germination and plant growth in land reclamation, in 

conservation of species, to break dormancy in weeds so that they can be eradicated, and to promote germination and vigour 

in crops. Realising the full potential of butenolides demands that we understand how they work so that creative approaches 

can be developed that may not even require use of the chemical. Crucially by achieving these aims ahead of international 

competitors we can ensure that Australia gains maximum benefit. 

DP0666533 A/Prof RL Stamps; Dr A Mulders 

Approved Magnetic Nanostructures for Emerging Technologies: Experimental and Theoretical studies 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 


Page 229




This project enables collaborations between Australian and European groups in an important and expanding area at the 

forefront of technology, and facilitates access to state of the art resources in laboratories in Austria and Spain. It carries 

across knowledge in synchrotron techniques just at the right time, just before the Australian synchrotron goes on line in 2008, 

allowing time to deepen expertise and to obtain specific knowledge. It will help establish a new effort at the University of 

Western Australia concentrated on developing advanced materials for technology. We will make important contributions to an 

internationally important area and offer high quality interdisciplinary research training in magnetic nanomaterials science. 

DP0663953 Dr KL Swaminatha-Iyer 

Approved Fabrication of robust nanoscale optical biosensors using the novel spinning disc reactor 

Project Title technology 

2006 : $86,340 

2007 : $86,340 

2008 : $86,340 


APD Dr KL Swaminatha-Iyer 



Spinning Disc Reactor (SDR) technology is new to Australia and will have wide ranging applications in nano-technology, and 

is destined to attract significant industrial interest beyond the proposed application in nano-scale biosensors. SDR is based 

on continuous flow and is more benign (less chemical waste) than traditional batch technology with a smaller footprint and 

significantly reduced capital outlay. The emergence of SDR technology will revolutionize the practice of nano-engineering 

leading to miniaturization of devices, advances in information technologies and intelligent systems, and the revolution in 

medical science. The exciting research will enhance public opinion towards science. 

DP0663746 Dr JL Tomkins; Dr NR LeBas; Prof JS Kotiaho; A/Prof JW Radwan 

Approved Alternative reproductive tactics and threshold evolution 

Project Title 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 




This research is focussed at the highest level in the field of evolutionary biology; testing recent theory for the evolution of 

alternative reproductive tactics and using these species to test hypotheses about adaptation. The proposal involves 

collaborations with high-profile researchers from three European countries and will increase Australia's standing as a 

world-leader in evolutionary biology. Australian students will benefit from exposure to high quality international collaborators. 

We will also increase our understanding of the biology of the European earwig, a pest species in Australia. Reproductive 

tactics are exciting topics for media attention and this research will reach a wide and interested Australian and world 

audience. 

DP0663543 Dr MA Tonts; Prof M Taylor; Prof RH Fagan; Dr P Plummer 

Approved New Regionalism and the Dynamics of Local Economies 

Project Title 

2006 : $50,000 

2007 : $40,000 




The economic development of Australia's regions is of ongoing concern and importance to governments, communities and 

businesses. This research will provide new insights into the factors underpinning local economic growth, and the extent to 

which these are supported or otherwise by emerging approaches in regional policy and practice. This is especially important 

given the need to ensure the effectiveness regional and local development strategies. By analysing the dynamics of local 

economies in their policy context, the research will offer development strategies that will underpin economically sustainable 

businesses, localities and regions. This has the potential to lead to more productive and prosperous regional and local 

economies. 

Page 230


DP0663670 Dr AM Waite; Prof CM Duarte; Dr S Agusti; Dr J Montoya 

Approved Biological Oceanographic Mechanisms Driving Australia's Coastal Fisheries 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Overfishing results in the irreparable destruction of fish stocks and biodiversity, nationally and globally. To manage marine 

resources effectively we must implement sustainable practices, including catch limits for low stock sizes. However a critical 

limiting factor in determining appropriate actions is our poor understanding of the mechanisms driving production. Our project 

will provide key information on the biological oceanographic mechanisms supporting Australia's coastal fisheries, linking 

nutrient supply, biological drivers and climate. By linking all these factors we will not only assist in determining appropriate 

ecosystem management but provide a knowledge base to support adaptation to future changes in Australia's climate. 

DP0664692 A/Prof JM Whelan; Dr AH Millar 

Approved Dual-targeting of proteins and its role in coordinating organelle functions in plants 

Project Title 

2006 : $250,000 

2007 : $185,000 

2008 : $185,000 




Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia's future will be built on understanding and manipulating the expression of groups 

of genes to influence whole plant phenotypes providing more robust plants and high value plant products. Plant energy 

organelles are central components in plant metabolism, their coordination by processes such as dual-targeting has potential 

to modify germination characteristics, early seedling vigour, and stress tolerance. Studying energy organelles could generate 

valuable intellectual property to be applied within Australia's large plant-based industries and at the same time provide a rich 

intellectual environment for the training of research students and postdoctoral researchers. 

DP0666826 Prof JF Williams; Dr S Samarin; Prof J Kirschner; Dr J Berakdar; Prof Dr M Donath 

Approved Visualizing spin-related properties of functional nanostructures (for spintronics). 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $110,000 




This project contributes to undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral research and training to encourage the pursuit of 

excellence, with: 

- increased depth of knowledge in interdisciplinary research, 

- a scientific environment providing access to research not otherwise in Australia, 

- experience in the design, construction and development of scientific instruments. 

Possible applications include high-speed magnetic filters, sensors, quantum transistors and spin qubits for quantum 

computers. The technological aspects of our project's outcomes offer real prospects of local development. The development 

of spin-polarized electron spectroscopy has great potential for existing applications in the surface science industry. 

Page 231

Tasmania 


University of Tasmania 

DP0663416 Prof AJ Canty; Dr RM Guijt; Dr T Rodemann 

Approved Microreactors for Organic Synthesis 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 


Administering Institution University of Tasmania 


Since the electronic revolution, miniaturisation has been the trend for devices from consumer electronics to scientific 

instruments. In this time very little has changed in the manner, or scale, that synthetic organic chemistry has been carried out 

even though advances in instrumentation mean that less compound is required for identification and analysis. This project 

aims to bridge the gap by developing recyclable miniaturised reaction vessels for the formation of organic compounds on a 

scale thousands of times smaller than it is currently done. These devices will have applications in drug discovery 

programmes due to higher throughput and increased efficiency while minimising waste. 

DP0666733 Prof R Coleman 

Approved Active Ice-Shelf Rift Systems on the Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Our work will inform the public on how the Antarctic might contribute to global sea level rise, e.g., are current iceberg 

production rates accelerating and causing inland ice to flow into the sea more rapidly? Furthermore, a greater understanding 

of the important Earth systems, including the ocean-ice-atmosphere system, is important to a society contemplating the 

responsibilities of stewardship of the planet as we move into the era of potentially profound effects from global climate 

change. 

DP0666062 Prof AJ Crawford 

Approved Marine Geological Investigation of the Naturaliste Plateau and Diamantina Zone - the 

Project Title tectono-magmatic development of a non-volcanic passive margin 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $40,000 




Australia's continental margins impact enormously on our major industries including tourism, hydrocarbon production and 

fisheries, and are particularly significant with respect to biodiversity and hazard planning (both long and short term), yet 

knowledge of the seafloor of our margins is desperately poor. To contribute to alleviating this problem, we will use the R/V 

Southern Surveyor research vessel to produce swath mapping imagery and dredge samples from the seafloor of a 

geologically fascinating part of the southern section of the Western Australian margin dominated by the Naturaliste Plateau 

and Diamantina Zone. 

DP0663781 Prof PR Haddad; Dr RA Shellie 

Approved Enhanced peak capacity in ion chromatography through gradient elution and multidimensional 

Project Title separations 

2006 : $298,879 

2007 : $251,517 

2008 : $179,765 

2009 : $186,404 


APD Dr RA Shellie 

Page 232




Current methodology in ion chromatography (IC) is limited in that very complex samples cannot be analysed because the 

peak capacity of conventional IC systems is insufficient. The proposed research will provide a huge increase in peak capacity 

so that samples of extreme complexity can be analysed. Samples of this type occur in many fields, including environmental, 

clinical, forensic, energy generation and foods. The ability to directly address such samples will therefore provide benefit to a 

wide range of sciences of great importance to Australia. Moreover, the proposed research will lead to significant new 

intellectual property which can be commercialised, thereby providing further direct national benefit. 

DP0666271 A/Prof B He; Prof GM Stokes 

Approved Deliberative Democracy and Citizenship: A Study of Deliberative Polling and Participatory 

Project Title Budgeting in China 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $20,000 

2008 : $20,000 




The result of this research will enhance Australian democracy-promotion activities overseas, foster Chinese learning from 

Australian deliberative democratic experiences, as well as benefiting Australian governmental agencies such as AusAID and 

Australian NGOs working in this field. The project will also strengthen cooperation between Australian researchers and their 

counterparts in China. The lessons learned from this Chinese experiment can be used to improve the quality of citizen 

participation and to develop more effective means of public participation and consultation in Australia. The project will 

contribute to the Australian government's dialogue approach to human rights issues in China since 1989. 

DP0666121 Dr EF Hilder; Dr MC Breadmore 

Approved Bioanalytical Microchips Based on Integrated, Application Tailored Monolithic Modules 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $60,000 




Microfluidic devices offer substantial advantages over current technology, in terms of speed, cost of analysis, portability, 

operator simplicity and safety. Integrating multiple analytical processes within a simple and reliable portable device will lead 

to application in a range of areas, from pharmacology to therapeutic drug monitoring, proteomic and metabolomic screening 

for disease diagnosis and drug development, and also for performing clinical diagnostics in a rural area. This will significantly 

impact on the quality of life of the Nation as a whole, not only due to expedient diagnosis and treatment which has obvious 

health benefits, but also in the considerable financial benefits that result from early and efficient treatment. 

DP0666431 Dr MA Kashem 

Approved Optimising Control of Hydroelectric Turbines Subject to Basslink Instability 

Project Title 

2006 : $41,064 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $25,000 




With the introduction of Basslink, an underwater DC power cable across the Bass Strait, Tasmania will be connected to the 

national Electricity Market. Basslink will also provide an opportunity to utilise the significant water energy potential found 

throughout Tasmania. This project will examine the impact and disturbances due to the connection of Basslink with 

Tasmanian hydro power systems and develop control strategies for effective operation and control of hydro turbines with 

Basslink. Particular attention will be paid to the quality and reliability of electricity supply in Tasmania. 

Page 233


DP0665083 Prof JB Kirkpatrick 

Approved Grazing-fire interactions and vegetation dynamics 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 




Grazing and fire are the two major cost-effective tools that can be used to manipulate the vegetation of reserves and 

rangelands. This project will result in information and models that will enable a more effective use of grazing than at present 

in natural vegetation management for both nature conservation and production. An understanding of the ways in which 

vertebrate grazing animals influence the incidence and intensity of fire is also highly important in planning to prevent the 

occasional vegetation fire that causes substantial losses of life, property and conservation values, especially in the context of 

predicted climatic change. 

DP0662838 Dr M Macka 

Approved Towards Microfluidic-Based Advanced Remote Analysis 

Project Title 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




The research under this project will establish and systematically develop Advanced Remote Analysis as a new 

inter-disciplinary area and establish a leadership role for Australia. By addressing pressing needs such as monitoring the 

environment, remote medical diagnostics, advancing Australian science and technology, or monitoring for traces of 

explosives, this project falls directly into all four of the National Research Priorities with applications addressing 

corresponding Priority Goals. Other areas benefiting from the outcomes of this project will be remote monitoring of 

agricultural production including living species, and a number of other industries such as biotechnology, mineral processing, 

power generation etc. 

DP0665058 Dr D McGuinness 

Approved The development of homogeneous catalytic processes for the manufacture of new chemical 

Project Title products derivable from Australia's resources 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $140,000 

2009 : $120,000 

2010 : $120,000 


QEII Dr D McGuinness 



The research proposed is deliberately aimed at exploiting opportunities that will arise as a result of changes that are taking 

place in the global petrochemical industry. It is almost certain that Australia will take part in these changes through the 

utilisation of its gas and coal reserves and abundant biomass. Early advances in the processes that are presented above will 

allow Australian industries to benefit from these changes, and will allow significant value-adding to Australia's resources. 

DP0664923 Dr GE McKinnon; A/Prof BM Potts 

Approved Contribution of hybridisation to genetic diversity and adaptation in Eucalyptus 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 


Page 234




The eucalypt gene pool is an outstandingly important bioresource for Australia. Its effective future management will be based 

on understanding the extent, causes and significance of genetic variation in eucalypt species. This project investigates a 

currently overlooked, but potentially important, source of genetic diversity and adaptation in Eucalyptus. The knowledge 

gained will contribute substantially to our understanding of eucalypt biology, and will inform decision-making for conservation, 

revegetation, and sustainable use of seed resources. Through addressing fundamental questions, the project will also 

provide a uniquely Australian contribution to world research in forest molecular genetics. 

DP0662856 Prof CJ Pybus; Dr A Johnston; Dr AR Page; Prof PD Hulme; Prof M Rediker 

Approved The Construction of Race and Racial Identity at the Antipodes of Empire, 1788-1840 

Project Title 

2006 : $102,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $81,000 




The view that Australia was always a racially based society, pursuing racial policies to the detriment of indigenous 

Australians and our Asian neighbours, is subject to rancorous national debate. Polemical assertion by high profile journalists 

that race was never a driving force in Australian history is not conducive to understanding complex history, nor are derogatory 

attacks on historians helpful in explaining the past to our neighbours. Whether colonial Australia was a race-based society 

remains to be established. With indigenous uncertainty over the demise of ATSIC and rising antagonism among our Islamic 

neighbours, there is need, as never before, for dispassionate scholarship to provide a complex interpretation of Australia's 

past. 

DP0663758 Prof JB Reid; Dr JJ Ross 

Approved Genetic and Hormonal Regulation of Plant Growth 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $93,000 

2008 : $93,000 




Leguminous plants make a substantial contribution to the Australian economy. To ensure future growth, we need to know 

more about how legume development is regulated. Genetic mutants, typically affecting the growth-promoting gibberellin plant 

hormones, played a key role in the green revolution, which transformed agriculture world-wide. Recent results show that 

gibberellin acts in concert with another hormone, auxin. We will generate new auxin-related mutants that will help us to 

understand how auxin and auxin-mediated interactions affect crop architecture and performance. Further benefit will accrue 

from training of students in state-of-the-art techniques, and the generation of new germplasm for use by other researchers 

and plant breeders. 

DP0662868 Dr M Sussex; A/Prof P Shearman; Prof M Cox; Prof R Sakwa; Prof RE Kanet 

Approved Globalization and New Wars: The War in Chechnya 

Project Title 

2006 : $47,000 

2007 : $26,489 

2008 : $35,000 




Identifying the causes of conflict has practical applications for Australian security policy formulation, since an area of 

instability exists within our region. A finding that causes of war arise either from complex domestic political struggles, or 

processes of globalization, has implications for which strategic posture Australia should adopt in responding to crises. The 

project falls within Research Priority 4: 'Safeguarding Australia'. By addressing the need to better understand causes of war, 

it assists Australian policymakers to better understand and manage potential threats. Greater knowledge of war likewise 

assists defence policy planners to maintain an operational advantage for Australia's defence forces. 

Page 235


DP0663741 Prof FM Vanclay; Dr AW Russell; Dr HJ Aslin 

Approved Managing innovation with a policy-relevant framework to assess the social consequences of 

Project Title technological developments 

2006 : $56,000 

2007 : $52,000 

2008 : $40,000 




A framework to assess the social consequences of new technologies will enable their benefits to be maximised and impacts 

lessened. By considering impacts during development and before release, design criteria can be broadened, appropriate 

management and mitigation measures implemented and appropriate regulatory conditions established. Interested parties can 

participate in discussions about technology directions at an early stage, allowing technological development that is more 

democratic and less obstructed by conflict. Society benefits by having socially-appropriate and socially-acceptable 

technologies. Industry benefits from clearer technology development paths and a better understanding of potential social 

impacts of new technology. 

DP0664792 A/Prof BF Yates; Prof T Rovis 

Approved Nucleophilic carbenes as organocatalysts for asymmetric synthesis 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




Chemical compounds which come in two chiral mirror images (enantiomers) can have very different biological function. 

Often one form can have beneficial effects while the other can cause great harm (such as birth defects in the case of 

thalidomide). It is therefore very important for the drug industry to have asymmetric chemical reactions that lead specifically 

to only one enantiomer. The asymmetric reactions in this project have been used previously to synthesise the anti-cancer 

metabolite roseophilin. The results of this project will ensure that there are many more similar success stories in the 

pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. 

Northern Territory 

Charles Darwin University 

DP0665020 Dr J Mitroy 

Approved Application of variational methods in atomic and molecular physics 

Project Title 

2006 : $68,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $76,000 


PHYSICS 

Administering Institution Charles Darwin University 


Atmoic physics is both a basic an enabling science and this project will improve fundamental knowledge about the 

interactions of electrons and positrons with atoms and molecules. Research will be directly relevant to the activities of the 

National Positron Beam-Line (located at the Australian National University) which is directed to break-through research in 

matter-antimatter interactions and materials characterisation. 

Page 236


DP0662946 Dr IM Wanless; Dr DE Bryant 

Approved Analysis of the structure of latin squares 

Project Title 

2006 : $86,000 

2007 : $76,000 

2008 : $76,000 

2009 : $56,000 

2010 : $56,000 


QEII Dr IM Wanless 

Administering Institution Charles Darwin University 


The benefits to Australia of fundamental research in core disciplines such as mathematics are well documented. Discrete 

mathematics and combinatorics are boom disciplines of the computer age and this project seeks new knowledge concerning 

basic building blocks of combinatorial mathematics. The outcomes will be of interest to theoretical discrete mathematicians 

around the world, enhancing Australia's already high research profile in this important area of pure mathematical research. 

Importantly, the problems under investigation offer substantial opportunity for excellent postgraduate training, critical for the 

future of Australian research. 

Australian Capital Territory 

The Australian National University 

DP0663216 Prof Dr NN Akhmediev 

Approved Bifurcations of dissipative solitons 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 


Administering Institution The Australian National University 


Fundamental research on the basic concepts of solitons in dissipative systems and their bifurcations is the next essential 

step for further progress in the science of optical pulse generators and amplifiers. Australia was the first country in the world 

to use self-organized ultra-short pulses, called solitons, in a commercially-deployed optical transmission line. This proposed 

new research will answer the question of how solitons behave at the ultimate limits of optics. New principles of ultra-short 

pulse generation and amplification, developed in our research, will provide the basis for an unprecedented increase in the 

capacity of optical transmission and processing of information. 

DP0666546 Dr TJ Alexander 

Approved Matter-wave vortices in engineered nanostructures 

Project Title 

2006 : $74,340 

2007 : $74,340 

2008 : $74,340 


APD Dr TJ Alexander 



This project tackles some of the key problems which must be solved before any applications of manipulating and controlling 

Bose-Einstein condensates with nanostructures can be realised. This project is therefore of National Benefit for its advances 

in critical fundamental research and for the potential applications which may be ultimately derived from harnessing the power 

of this new state of matter. Australia is at the forefront of this revolution in quantum technology. This project furthers 

Australia's competitive position and opens up new opportunities for ground-breaking research and applications in an area 

which has the potential to be as revolutionary as the development of the laser. 

Page 237


DP0664546 Prof AJ Anderson; Dr K Szabo; Dr E CONTE 

Approved The origins of human colonization in East Polynesia and their relevance to maritime migration 

Project Title 

2006 : $65,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $65,000 




The Indo-Pacific is a world of islands, including Australia, which was colonized during prehistory in several phases of 

migration, the last and longest of which was in East Polynesia. Extensive excavation of a large, waterlogged archaeological 

site of this era in French Polynesia will provide a better understanding of the period, society and external relationships of the 

early migrants, and of the processes of prehistoric maritime migration which link Australian peoples to those of our 

neighbours across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. 

DP0664427 Prof BD Anderson; Dr A Lanzon 

Approved Development of robust adaptive and nonlinear control methodologies 

Project Title 

2006 : $133,000 

2007 : $98,000 

2008 : $105,000 




Techniques will be developed that will allow industrial plants to operate with lower direct or environmental cost, and airborne 

vehicles to operate more efficiently or more safely. 

DP0664583 Prof MR Badger 

Approved Identifying genes controlling the regulatory and metabolic interactions between the energy 

Project Title organelles of the leaf. 

2006 : $145,000 

2007 : $115,000 

2008 : $115,000 




Plant energy metabolism underlies the synthesis of many important products in crops, and subtle changes in metabolism can 

enhance key plant traits, such as germination rates, early seedling vigour, biomass/yield, and tolerance to harsh 

environments. Furthering our understanding on the complex interplay of genes controlling energy metabolism and its impact 

on leaf function has potential outcomes for smart genetic manipulation either by classical breeding or genetic transformation. 

There are more than 10,000 genes of unknown function in plant genomes and this represents a tremendous untapped 

resource for future Australian R&D outcomes and insights from this research proposal will have application to all plant-based 

agriculture. 

DP0663026 Dr KG Baldwin; Prof BJ Orr; Prof EE Eyler 

Approved Precision Measurement of Highly Excited Atoms and Molecules: From the Infrared to the Vacuum 

Project Title Ultraviolet 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $65,000 

2008 : $70,000 


PHYSICS 

Page 238




Precise measurements of the structure and dynamics of atomic and molecular systems provide important benchmarks 

against which our fundamental understanding of matter can be tested. Such measurements also provide reference 

standards, with applications in many subfields (e.g. testing theories that indicate time dependence of the fundamental 

constants). Determination of the behaviour of simple molecules such as oxygen and nitrogen is important for understanding 

the complex processes that shape the atmosphere of the earth and other planets. These experiments will also enable the 

understanding of other chemical processes, and will build on our strengths in developing precision laser technologies. 

DP0663773 Prof MT Batchelor; Prof VV Bazhanov; Prof MD Gould; Dr JR Links 

Approved The mathematical analysis of ultracold quantum gases 

Project Title 

2006 : $181,000 

2007 : $158,000 

2008 : $162,000 




Ongoing developments in the experimental realisation of ultracold quantum gases play a leading role in the international 

effort towards the eventual realisation of quantum technology. This project brings together Australian researchers with 

complementary strengths to develop a sophisticated range of innovative mathematical tools for understanding these 

fundamental quantum systems. The expected outcomes will thus include potentially far reaching impacts on downstream 

quantum technology. The project will contribute to training mathematically talented students and thus take essential 

steps to establish the long term future of mathematical physics in Australia. It will also establish enduring key international 

research links. 

DP0663259 Dr JM Behrens; Mr BM Smyth 

Approved The Experiences of Parents and Children After Family Court Decisions About Relocation 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $36,000 




This research will contribute to the improvement of decision-making about children in the family law system. It will enable an 

assessment of judicial decisions about whether a parent can relocate with children. It will make a unique contribution by 

gathering information from children and their parents about the effects of these decisions. The analysis will help parents, 

law-makers and judges to make better decisions in this important and controversial area. This will have benefits for the 

happiness, health and prosperity of children and their parents. Better decision-making will also reduce the costs to 

government of family breakdown. 

DP0663587 Dr SM Bellm 

Approved Probing Electron Dynamics in the Molecular Frame 

Project Title 

2006 : $98,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $76,000 


PHYSICS 

APD Dr SM Bellm 



The outcome of this project will be an improved understanding of the molecular fragmentation process, enhancing our ability 

to control chemical reactions through a better knowledge of the mechanisms which drive them. By providing data which will 

stimulate the development of theory it will encourage creativity and innovation. Results will contribute to building a strong 

foundation in the fundamental physical sciences and lead to advances in areas ranging from quantum chemistry, the 

chemistry of planetary atmospheres to mechanisms responsible for radiation damage in biological systems. 

Page 239


DP0663562 Prof MS Bessell; Prof JE Norris; Dr M Asplund; Prof TC Beers; Dr N Christlieb 

Approved Nucleosynthetic Signatures of the First Stars 

Project Title 

2006 : $190,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $145,000 

2009 : $126,000 




By examining the chemical compositions of the oldest stars observable today, our program seeks to identify the nature of first 

objects to form in the Universe and to examine conditions at the earliest times in our Galaxy. This work will stimulate interest 

in the natural sciences among the general public and the nation's youth. Our team seeks access to the world's largest 

telescopes to a monetary value of several million dollars. We shall train young researchers in cutting-edge observational and 

theoretical science, enhancing their skills in data analysis, problem solving, project management, and effective 

communications. 

DP0666059 Dr SM Blackburn; Prof KS McKinley 

Approved Dynamic Cooperative Performance Optimizations 

Project Title 

2006 : $133,000 

2007 : $121,000 

2008 : $121,000 

2009 : $100,000 

2010 : $100,000 


ARF Dr SM Blackburn 



This project seeks to improve the reliability, security, and performance of modern software systems. Security is a problem of 

such scale that outbreaks of computer viruses etc. headline in major financial newspapers. We approach the problem by 

addressing the key performance problems that hold back the programming languagues widely used for secure and reliable 

systems. By improving the reliability, security and performance of computer systems, this project will help 

alleviate the millions of hours and dollars lost to inadvertent errors and malicious software attacks. The project will give 

Australia an international presence in a research area of great academic and commercial importance. 

DP0663388 Prof T Bonyhady; A/Prof N Lendon 

Approved The War Rug: the history, iconography and theory of the war art tradition of the Baluch of 

Project Title Afghanistan 1979-2004 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $38,000 

2008 : $60,000 

Primary RFCD 4199 OTHER ARTS 



The 'war rugs' of Afghanistan, a new topic of art-historical, sociopolitical, and cross-cultural communications, reflects an 

Indigenous perspective of twenty five years of conflict in the region. This project will: *Produce new knowledge on a regional 

topic of considerable sociopolitical relevance *Enable Australia to take a leading role in the articulation of new fields of 

knowledge and academic discourse, enhancing both our international reputation and knowledge of the region *Provide an 

exemplary model for the role of museums in the conceptualisation of artistic categories cross-culturally *Develop new 

applications of online database technologies *Develop new modes of integrating new digital technologies in an exhibition 

setting. 

Page 240


DP0664028 Prof J Braithwaite; Prof HC Charlesworth 

Approved Peace Building and Responsive Governance in Asia and the Pacific 

Project Title 

2006 : $135,000 

2007 : $135,000 

2008 : $135,000 




War causes not only human suffering; it threatens the health and education of generations of children, sets back regional 

economies and encourages warlords to become transnational criminals who traffic in drugs, people, money laundering, guns 

and terror across Australia's region. Fresh insights will be obtained from the successes and failures of attempts to build 

peace in failing states that Australia sees as a threat to our security. These national and regional diagnoses will enhance the 

quality of Australia's contribution to security and stability in our part of the globe and enhance national capacity to contribute 

to global peace strategies. 

DP0666337 Dr VA Braithwaite; Dr KL Murphy 

Approved The Governance of Defiance 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $90,000 


APD Dr KL Murphy 



Defiance is a threat to social order. For this reason sanctioning institutions are in place to punish the defiant through legal, 

financial and sometimes physical means. The institutional rationale is that, at worst defiance will be silenced and at best, 

compliance will take its place. Increasingly, adverse and unexpected consequences of dealing with defiance in this way have 

been exposed. To be accountable for their actions, therefore, authorities have begun to develop more responsive and 

deliberative systems. But they also need to know how to read defiance. When is defiance an inappropriate response to a 

more than reasonable request? And when is defiance a reflection of institutional failure? This project can inform such 

decision making. 

DP0662955 Prof SJ Buckman; Dr JP Sullivan; Dr JC Lower; Em/Prof PD Burrow 

Approved Electron and Positron Interactions with Bio-Molecules 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 


PHYSICS 



This program of research will quantify reaction rates and elucidate reaction pathways for a range of important processes in 

our bodies involving ionising radiation. It will lead to a greatly improved understanding of positron and electron interactions 

with biological systems, including DNA and its constituent molecules and, through a better understanding of the underlying 

fundamental interactions, will lay foundations for improvements in technologies such as PET imaging. 

DP0666607 Dr FD Bulbeck; Dr MF Oxenham 

Approved The Flores hobbit - Homo floresiensis or microcephalic eastern Indonesian? 

Project Title 

2006 : $40,000 


Page 241




The hobbit is so controversial as it implies that a tiny hominin with a miniature brain coexisted for 30,000 years with modern 

humans in our region. This would have immense, fundamental implications for understanding the human colonisation of our 

region and the role of brain size in human evolution. Our research will determine whether the alternative explanation of 

microcephalic pathology is viable. If so the hobbit would still be of unique signficance as the only known microcephalic 

hunter-gatherer who had survived to adulthood. The role of Australian scientists in spearheading the hobbit discovery places 

a high priority on resolving the debate objectively. 

DP0665920 Em/Prof JC Caldwell 

Approved Socio-economic determinants of future fertility trends in Australia and other developed countries 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 




Future demographic trends will do much to determine Australia's future. Fertility levels will dominate in deciding population 

numbers, age structure, and the optimum balance between natural increase and immigration. Current ARC-supported 

research on the theory of demographic transition provides a paradigm for forecasting likely trends, especially when employed 

with an existing data bank of findings on social and demographic interrelations. The research is of great national benefit 

because even small differences in age structure will impact significantly on the size of the labour force, health services, the 

support of the aged and taxation levels. Relevant policy decisions will need to be made in the near future. 

DP0667107 Prof HC Charlesworth 

Approved Building Democracy and Justice after Conflict 

Project Title 

2006 : $148,000 

2007 : $127,000 

2008 : $124,000 

2009 : $127,000 

2010 : $93,634 




Weak governance is a cause of terrorism. Australia is increasingly involved in nation-building projects, both in its region and 

internationally. This project will build Australia's expertise in the ways that international law can promote democracy and 

justice after conflict. It will develop guidelines for states and organisations involved in peace and nation-building. The project 

will thus contribute to safeguarding Australia by increasing Australia's capacity to engage with, and interpret itself to, its 

neighbours and the broader international community, as well as by tackling the threat of terrorism. 

DP0664719 Dr WS Chow; Prof J Barber 

Approved Disorder as a novel determinant of photosynthetic structure and function: an experimental study 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




Australia enjoys a world reputation in photosynthesis research, typified by hosting the 2001 International Photosynthesis 

Congress. It also has a claim to fame for theoretical work in non-equilibrium thermodynamics concerning production of 

disorder or entropy, yielding new insights into planetary climates. This experimental project investigates the novel relation 

between entropy/entropy production and the structure/function of the solar powerhouse of plants (chloroplasts), and 

addresses fundamental questions at the interface of biology and physics. The research explores chloroplasts as a 

manifestation of the all-pervading Second Law of Thermodynamics, advancing Australia's contribution to basic science and 

helping to train researchers. 

Page 242


DP0666158 Dr D Cobb-Clark 

Approved The Wealth and Asset Holdings of Native- and Foreign-born Australian Families 

Project Title 

2006 : $75,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




The national/community benefits of this project are twofold. First, understanding net worth, portfolio allocation, and wealth 

accumulation is central to a number of Australian policy debates. Our ability to lessen the budget pressures caused by 

population aging will rest on finding incentives for families to accumulate more personal wealth, while the ability of 

immigration to solve this budget problem rests on determining whether foreign- and native-born families accumulate wealth in 

the same way. Second, this project allows Australia to make a unique contribution to the international evidence on the 

relationship between race, ethnicity, and nativity and economic well being. 

DP0665253 Prof MD Crisp 

Approved Australia's monsoon tropical flora: invader or relict? 

Project Title 

2006 : $125,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $75,000 




The monsoonal tropics is a large region with unique yet poorly understood biodiversity. It is undergoing rapid agricultural, 

urban and tourist development, all of which threaten the sustainability of that biodiversity. The region includes three World 

Heritage areas, all with flora in their listed values: Kakadu National Park, Purnulu NP (Bungle Bungles) and Riversleigh. 

Additionally, the Kimberley is considered one of the last great wilderness areas in the world. This project will help us 

understand the evolutionary and geographic origins of the biodiversity of the monsoonal tropics, including the World Heritage 

areas, and it will identify those components that are uniquely Australian and therefore have the greatest heritage values. 

DP0663892 Prof A Cuevas 

Approved New Directions in Silicon Solar Cell Technology 

Project Title 

2006 : $170,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $120,000 




The fabrication of pure silicon is energy intensive, but solar cells can return 10 times more energy than is used to fabricate 

them. By investing in the development of silicon solar cells, Australia will develop a technology capable of encapsulating its 

vast coal resources within pure silicon. This has the potential to create an export market of clean energy and have an 

explosive effect on the growth of the local industry and skilled jobs. 

This project will bolster the already prominent position of Australia in the field of photovoltaic solar energy by establishing 

collaborations with the top international organisations in the field. It will also coordinate efforts with all the main university 

research groups in the country. 

DP0666225 Dr EJ Curthoys 

Approved Hannah Arendt, Émigré Intellectuals, and the Ethos of World Literature 

Project Title 

2006 : $74,790 

2007 : $84,000 

2008 : $74,790 


APD Dr EJ Curthoys 

Page 243




My project will bring an inspiring movement of ethical resistance to the dehumanising forces of fascism, nationalism, and 

parochialism to the Australian public's attention. It will help ensure that Australia, a nation that now successfully exports its 

literature to the world, is also at the centre of a fruitful dialogue about methods of research and interpretation appropriate to 

the study of the world's literatures. It will address the relative paucity of the historiography and theory of comparative literature 

in Australian Universities and suggest the educational and moral value of comparative literature studies for future generations 

of Australian students. 

DP0664077 Dr M Dasgupta; Prof DJ Hinde; Dr JF Liang; Dr K Schmidt 

Approved Reaching the superheavy elements: a new approach with a novel ultra-sensitive detector array 

Project Title 

2006 : $190,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 


PHYSICS 



Our project aims to build the knowledge base underpinning the creation of new heavy elements and isotopes. This first direct 

investigation of the hoped-for benefits of using radioactive beams will enhance the strong reputation of Australian research in 

the fundamental subject of nuclear fusion. The unique and sophisticated scientific instrument to be developed will enhance 

the capability of our RIEF-funded fusion product separator at the ANU, and use at overseas radioactive beam accelerators 

will showcase Australian technological achievement. This early participation in exciting, leading-edge developments will help 

Australian researchers to make full use of future, intense radioactive beam facilities, both in pure and applied research. 

DP0665579 Prof MK Davies; Prof C Wright 

Approved Epistemic Warrant: Transmission Failure, Basic Knowledge, and Entitlement 

Project Title 

2006 : $75,553 

2007 : $75,553 

2008 : $80,500 




This Project will bring substantial intellectual, cultural, and economic benefits to the nation - not only by increasing research 

strength, contributing to research output and establishing an international research partnership, but also by deepening the 

relationship between the study of the mind and theory of knowledge as a traditional area within philosophy and thus helping 

to maintain the pivotal position of philosophy in our intellectual life. Students, early-career researchers and established 

philosophers will benefit from access to the intellectual and institutional resources of international partner universities and 

there will be substantial and quantifiable financial contributions by international universities and research agencies. 

DP0663293 Dr NE Dixon 

Approved Molecular Interactions in the Eubacterial Replisome: A Paradigm for Study of Dynamic 

Project Title Macromolecular Machines 

2006 : $155,000 

2007 : $105,000 

2008 : $105,000 




Many pathogenic bacteria have developed resistance to antibiotics in common use, and new drugs are urgently required to 

kill them. Copying of their chromosomes before they divide into two new cells is essential for bacteria to live, so DNA 

synthesis is a good process to target for development of new antibiotics. This project will use state-of-the-art equipment 

available in several laboratories in Australia and overseas to develop new understanding of how the molecular machine that 

copies DNA works. This k nowledge could lead to new drugs, and will give us new information about how cellular machines 

function. 

Page 244


DP0665356 Dr B Douglas; Dr C Ballard 

Approved European Naturalists and the Constitution of Human Difference in Oceania: Crosscultural 

Project Title Encounters and the Science of Race, 1768-1888 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $70,000 




This research will promote better understanding of the historical antecedents to contemporary Australian regional 

interventions, relations with our neighbours and conceptions of racial or ethnic differences. It thus directly addresses current 

debates on the politics of history. The assumptions about regional differences which underpin current Australian attitudes and 

policies stem from much earlier debates on the racial histories and collective physical variations of Oceanian people and from 

beliefs about natural European dominance over indigenous populations. This project will produce an accessible history of the 

genesis of such ideas and demonstrate the historical embeddedness of Australia within the wider context of Oceania. 

DP0663734 Prof CJ Easton 

Approved Platform Technologies for the Regulation of Peptide Hormones 

Project Title 

2006 : $205,000 

2007 : $180,000 

2008 : $180,000 

2009 : $190,000 

2010 : $150,000 




Research in the field of this application is expected to contribute to the social and economic welfare of Australians. It is 

anticipated that a platform of technologies will be developed, for the treatment of human and animal disorders associated 

with imbalances in levels of peptide hormones. This will provide better therapies to improve human and animal health. 

Related potential applications include the development of more effective insecticides. The range of new materials and 

protocols that will result from the research will be suitable for commercial exploitation. Particular benefit to Australians will 

result from the research being carried out locally, where the intellectual property and expertise will be developed and 

maintained. 

DP0662890 Dr LP Edwards 

Approved Warriors, Patriots, Traitors and Opportunists: Chinese Women and War 

Project Title 

2006 : $159,000 

2007 : $141,000 

2008 : $110,000 




This project furthers our knowledge of the workings of the political, military and security scene in one of our most strategically 

important neighbours, the PRC. The better we understand the PRC and how it responds in times of military disruption the 

more likely we are to be able to further Australian interests within this large market and ensure continued national security. 

The project also enhances Australia's strong reputation as leaders in scholarship in Chinese Studies by producing research 

publications of high impact that present new perspectives on old projects. This project will keep Australia at the forefront of 

research in Chinese Studies. 

DP0663385 Dr AS Fairbairn 

Approved Plant use at the dawn of agriculture in central Anatolia 

Project Title 

2006 : $20,000 

2007 : $20,000 


Page 245




The project will increase collaboration with researchers in the UK, and Turkish archaeological authorities. It will refine our 

understanding of the process, rate and direction of agricultural origins in Western Asia and improve Australia's profile in 

origins of agriculture research. It will increase Australia's knowledge base about other regions and help to consolidate and 

promote archaeobotany/archaeological science in Australia's research community. 

DP0663392 Prof JJ Fox 

Approved The Semantics of Canonical Parallelism: Oral composition among Rotinese poets, eastern 

Project Title Indonesia 

2006 : $50,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $45,000 




The pairing of words, known in linguistics as parallelism, is a critical feature of the oral traditions of the world. This strict use 

of couplets for oral compositions is a characteristic of the vibrant traditions of verbal communication on all the islands of 

eastern Indonesia. This project focuses on the oral traditions of the island of Roti, Australia's closest Indonesian neighbour. 

Using new analytic techniques applied to an extensive recorded corpus, it seeks to identify underlying mechanisms of verbal 

composition that may be applied comparatively to other oral traditions throughout the world, thus locating Australia at the 

forefront of the international study of oral traditions. 

DP0664024 Dr RA Fry; Prof WJ McKibbin; Dr MH Dungey 

Approved Empirical and Theoretical Coherence of Macroeconometric Models 

Project Title 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $70,000 




Variants of the G-Cubed models are used by researchers, governments and international institutions for policy analysis. The 

need for policy makers to have models with substantial structural detail and a strong theoretical base is paramount for 

transparency and accountability. The development of simple SVAR models which capture these theoretical underpinnings will 

provide Australian policy makers with an effective tool for economic analysis. It will also provide powerful tools that enable 

forecasting and detailed policy analysis within the same broad conceptual framework. The emphasis is on international and 

financial market linkages which encompass key issues facing the Australian economy. 

DP0665839 Dr L Fu; Dr M JOHNSTON 

Approved Development of high performance III-V semiconductor photoconductive antennas for terahertz 


2006 : $107,669 

2007 : $93,240 

2008 : $93,240 

2009 : $93,240 

2010 : $93,240 


ARF Dr L Fu 



The practical applications of terahertz (THz) radiation include scientific probing for material characterisation, screening for 

weapons, explosives and biohazards, imaging for concealed objects and medical diagnostics, chemical and biological 

analysis, astronomy and space research. The success of this project will lead to the creation of a new generation of high 

performance THz emitters/detectors essential for above applications, making great contribution to the Nation in the areas of 

science, technology, health, security and economy. 

Page 246


DP0663227 Dr MK Gagan; Dr WS Hantoro; Dr DH Natawidjaja; Dr JM Lough; Dr G Meyers; Prof Z Liu; Prof K Sieh 

Approved The Indian Ocean Dipole, Australasian drought, and the great-earthquake cycle: Long-term 

Project Title perspectives for improved prediction 

2006 : $260,000 

2007 : $190,000 

2008 : $180,000 

2009 : $183,000 

2010 : $203,000 




The protracted drought across Australia and Boxing Day 2004 earthquake in Sumatra defied prediction, and are causing 

incalculable environmental, economic, and social harm. Knowledge of past climate extremes will enhance our ability to 

predict climate change, and alleviate adverse affects for Australasian nations who miss-out in the future redistribution of 

life-giving moisture. Insights into the great-earthquake cycle will help fulfil Australia's responsibility to predict tsunamis, for the 

benefit of nations fringing Australasian seismotectonic zones. Development of improved techniques in palaeoclimatology, 

palaeoclimate modelling, and palaeoseismology will provide new collaborations and opportunities for research, training, and 

education. 

DP0663274 Dr MK Gagan; Dr J Zhao; Dr RN Drysdale; Dr WS Hantoro; Dr GA Schmidt 

Approved Monsoon extremes, environmental shifts, and catastrophic volcanic eruptions: quantifying impacts 

Project Title on the early human history of southern Australasia 

2006 : $245,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 




The coincidence of a long, diverse Australasian human history with Earth's greatest climate systems presents the Australian 

and Indonesian communities with unrivalled opportunities for scientific discovery. Our study will improve understanding of 

global climate change, environmental shifts, volcanic catastrophes, and their role in early human dispersal, and extinction, in 

Australasia. The significance of the results will extend to the modern world, where human behaviour modifies, and is modified 

by, climate and environment. Integration of research strengths in Australia and Indonesia will contribute to an improved 

bilateral relationship in science, education, and training, and engage the public in the excitement of scientific discovery. 

DP0663161 Dr Q Gao 

Approved Band gap engineering of novel (In,Ga)SbN epitaxial semiconductors for high-performance 

Project Title long-wavelength optoelectronic devices 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $100,000 


APD Dr Q Gao 



This proposal is at the forefront of a number of important fields, and therefore the outcomes are expected to be of great 

interest to a broad spectrum of industry sectors, including national defence, health care, environment and manufacturing. 

This novel material system could create new high technologies for various infrared devices. The outcomes of this project will 

position Australian researchers among the pioneering groups in this area and will be beneficial to several major 

technology-related fields: global warming and associated environmental monitoring, security systems, thermal-imaging 

systems for night vision, and healthcare with the emphasis on disease diagnosis and treatment. 

DP0666267 Dr ST Gibson 

Approved Imaging chemical reaction dynamics from the transition state to reaction products 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $95,000 


Page 247




Chemical reactions play a key role in many atmospheric, environmental and industrial processes. An understanding of 

reactions at the molecular level will lead to significant economic benefits, through more efficient reaction control, and through 

the identification of the key environmental factors which influence why particular reactions proceed. Our study of chemical 

reaction dynamics has been driven by technological advances which enable key stages of a reaction to be imaged and 

studied at the molecular level. 

DP0664466 Prof PM Gill 

Approved Development and implementation of efficient new models for electron correlation 

Project Title 

2006 : $73,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $85,000 




The two new approaches will allow researchers in the chemical, pharmaceutical and materials sciences to predict the 

physical and chemical behaviour of moderately large molecular systems with an accuracy and efficiency that has not 

previously been possible. The software that will result will enable cost and time savings in the design of advanced materials 

in the medical and agricultural contexts. 

DP0663060 Prof RE Goodin; Prof HG Brennan 

Approved Norms, Reasons & Values 

Project Title 

2006 : $170,000 

2007 : $180,000 

2008 : $170,000 




Social norms often come adrift from the reasons and values that they are supposed to serve. Strengthening Australia'a 

social and economic fabric (a National Research Priority) requires understanding how norms work and revising them in 

changing circumstances. This project explores such ideas in relation to crucial issues-democracy, terrorism (another NRP), 

historical injustice and sexuality-and interjects practical suggestions into the public debate over how norms ought be revised. 

It also furthers Australia's world standing in political science and philosophy and, by enlisting international scholars to help 

explore these issues, focuses the intellectual firepower of the world on problems of national importance to Australia. 

DP0664453 Dr DM Gordon; Dr B Barnes 

Approved The ecological dynamics of secreted bacteriocins and the evolution of multiple bacteriocin 

Project Title production in Escherichia coli 

2006 : $93,000 

2007 : $83,000 

2008 : $83,000 




Bacteria produce compounds known as bacteriocins that are toxic to other microorganisms. The success of bacteria as 

bio-control agents and in probiotic formulations for the control microbial pathogens is, in part, due to bacteriocins. 

Bacteriocins may also have a role as replacements for traditional antibiotics and as natural food preservatives. The potential 

usefulness of bacteriocins as the active agent in bio-control agents, as antibiotic replacements, as food preservatives, and as 

part of the repertoire of traits in probiotic formulations requires a sound understanding of the eco-evolutionary dynamics of 

bacteriocins. Understanding the ecology and evolution of bacteriocins is the goal of the proposed research. 

Page 248


DP0666437 Dr MB Gray; Dr DA Shaddock; Prof Dr K Danzmann; Dr G Mueller 

Approved Technologies for space-based optical interferometry 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




Gravitational waves are ripples in the curvature of space-time produced by the motion of massive celestial objects. 

Gravitational waves provide a different kind of information about the universe and their measurement will lead to an entirely 

new type of astronomy. The quest to detect gravitational waves is entering a new era with the Laser Interferometer Space 

Antenna (LISA) now under development. LISA is a two billion dollar joint NASA/ESA deep space mission to build a 

gravitational wave observatory in space. This research will develop Australian technologies critical to the success of LISA 

and other future deep space missions. 

DP0665816 Prof JE Gready; Dr PL Cummins 

Approved Importance of conformational and electrostatic contributions in simulations of enzyme reaction 

Project Title mechanisms 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 




The research will contribute to the development of biomolecular simulation in Australia by demonstrating its potential to 

complement experiment, and also promote the effective use of APAC (Australian national supercomputer facilities) resources 

by providing advanced programs and computational protocols for other researchers. It will assist the diffusion of 

computational biology technology into industrial applications such as rational drug design and protein engineering, as, for 

example, in our associated Linkage project grant, and provide novel insights into protein engineering and other sorts of 

design, which transcend concepts currently used in biomimetic chemistry. 

DP0664255 Prof SD Gregor; Dr WD Fernandez; Dr MA Martin; Dr J Ng; Dr S Stern 

Approved The key strategies in firms' realisation of value from ICT: A transformational model of ICT value 

Project Title generation 

2006 : $68,000 

2007 : $91,000 

2008 : $59,000 




Studies indicate that information and communication technologies (ICT) have contributed significantly to Australia's 

productivity gains over the last decade. It is not well understood, however, why some firms and some industries have been 

able to benefit significantly more from ICT use than others. This study will show the strategies and practices that are used by 

the firms that gain maximum benefit from ICT - the 'ICT winners'. The lessons learned will allow other firms to gain further 

benefits from ICT, potentially leading overall to further economic gains by industries and the nation. 

DP0664115 Prof RW Griffiths 

Approved From The Ocean Depths To Abrupt Climate Change - Missing Processes In The Global Overturning 

Project Title Circulation 

2006 : $141,000 

2007 : $140,000 

2008 : $120,000 


Page 249




The overturning circulation of the oceans is a driver of large and surprisingly abrupt climate shifts. We aim to understand the 

factors that control the rate of overturning, and whether it might soon slow down or cease owing to global warming. We also 

aim to resolve one of the biggest conundrums in oceanography by reconciling theoretical and measured rates of mixing in the 

deep ocean. Improved knowledge of deep ocean dynamics, particularly in the Southern Ocean, will help us gauge the likely 

nature and pace of imminent climate changes in the Australian region, an essential step in assessing the impacts on water 

resources, ecosystems, agriculture, and energy demands. The research will add to a major new initiative in marine science at 

ANU. 

DP0667253 Dr RH Grove 

Approved British Empire and the Natural World: the Environmental History of the British Empire and 

Project Title Commonwealth 1600-2000 

2006 : $134,420 

2007 : $135,420 

2008 : $135,420 

2009 : $136,520 

2010 : $131,420 


APF Dr RH Grove 



Australia faces multiplying environmental crises in climate change, including soil erosion, salinisation, deforestation. Most of 

these crises originate in faulty land use management. An understanding of the causes of this predicament require deep 

insights into the global impact of European colonisation and an understanding of the environmental history of the British 

empire and the ideas and intellectual networks that underpinned the expansion of the geographical and resource frontier. 

DP0664267 Dr FS Gruetzner; Dr E Tsend-Ayush 

Approved Many Ys in monotremes: multiple sex chromosomes and sex determination in platypus and echidna 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $110,000 

2008 : $110,000 

2009 : $110,000 

2010 : $110,000 


ARF Dr FS Gruetzner 



Platypus and Echidna are Australian icons, even featuring on our coins. Their unusual biology and ancient relationship to 

humans make them unique for understanding the mammalian genome, as demonstrated by our recent discovery of ten sex 

chromosomes in platypus that link mammal and bird sex. Still little is known about their genome, embryo development and 

how sex is determined. We will identify new genes on all ten sex chromosomes and investigate how they determine sex. The 

set up of an Australian Monotreme Resource Centre will be crucial for this research and attract worldwide high profile 

collaborations. We will answer important general questions in monotreme biology and contribute to our understanding of 

sexual abnormalities in humans. 

DP0664144 Prof Dr R Grun; Prof MJ Spriggs; Dr IS Williams 

Approved Microanalysis of human fossils: new insights into age, diet and migration 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 


Page 250




Human occupation of Australia and the Pacific dates back tens of thousands of years. New micro-analytical techniques now 

make it possible to learn about the life histories of these ancient peoples: their diet, migration paths and the climate in which 

they lived. This project will benefit the Indigenous populations and researchers of neighbouring countries through 

collaboration and increased knowledge of their ancestors, thus enhancing Australia's links and status as a good neighbour in 

the region. This falls squarely into the Research Priority 'Safeguarding Australia - Understanding our Region and the World'. 

In the future, our analytical approach will give important insights into the complex and rich archaeological heritage of 

Australia. 

DP0663269 Mr JJ Hanley 

Approved The Role Of Halide Melts In Platinum-Group Element Mobility 

Project Title 

2006 : $83,090 

2007 : $81,340 

2008 : $81,340 


APD Mr JJ Hanley 



The proposed research will introduce a new, high profile application of analytical and experimental facilities at ANU, thereby 

maintaining Australia's standing as a world leader in the global geoscience community. The data generated in the proposed 

study may critically impact exploration models and assist the Australian mining industry in locating new reserves of 

platinum-group elements (PGE). Therefore, the study will benefit the people of Australia by providing the means to find an 

important resource base for sustainable society. The research will be timely as Australia's future demand for the 

environmentally-safe PGE metals in medicine, transportation, and energy production will be very significant. 

DP0666497 Prof TM Harrison; Dr J Blichert-Toft; Prof G Turner; Prof B Bourdon; Prof SJ Mojzsis 

Approved Exploring the Hadean Earth 

Project Title 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




This research spotlights a globally unique Australian natural resource that preserves the most detailed record of how our 

planet worked during its formative stages. The project showcases Australian scientific and technical leadership in a field of 

widespread interest, aids in capturing the imagination of young people considering a career in science and technology, 

provides training opportunities for young scientists, and enhances the international visibility and prestige of Australian 

science. 

DP0663818 Prof CE Hill; Dr F Edwards 

Approved Involvement of cell coupling in vascular function: Development of a computational model 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $85,000 




Gap junctions are intercellular channels which enable the production of coordinated responses in multicellular tissues and 

organs. Blood vessels are comprised of endothelial cells surrounded by smooth muscle cells and gap junctions exist within 

and between these layers. The present proposal will determine the fundamental role of gap junctions in regulating blood flow 

and blood pressure. Our data will enable us to develop a computational model of the vascular wall and so predict how 

changes in electrical properties, as occur during pressure changes, can influence blood flow. Since ageing is accompanied 

by an increase in blood pressure, our results will contribute to a better understanding of blood flow regulation in our ageing 

population. 

Page 251


DP0663390 Mr BT Hillman 

Approved Social Networks and Political Change in Contemporary Rural China 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 


APD Mr BT Hillman 



Rural China is home to nearly one-sixth of the world's population. Reforms in the Chinese countryside triggered a prolonged 

period of economic growth that has become the engine of the world economy and the major destination for Australian 

exports. Political and economic developments in the agricultural sector and the continued industrialisation of China's rural 

regions have an immediate impact on the Australian economy and will shape Australia's relations with China long into the 

twenty-first century. Australia is a world leader in research on contemporary China and this project will help to consolidate 

that position. 

DP0667064 Dr J Howard; Prof MB Persson 

Approved Development of microwave tomography techniques and inverse methods for biomedical imaging 

Project Title applications. 

2006 : $133,000 

2007 : $121,000 

2008 : $116,000 




Microwave tomography is a rapidly emerging imaging technology with highly significant applications in industry and medicine. 

In particular, given its sensitivity to differences between normal and malignant breast tissue, non-invasive microwave imaging 

has been the subject of intense research interest in the last ten years. In collaboration with workers at Chalmers University in 

Sweden, we will develop and evaluate a scanning microwave imaging tomographic system with a number of potential 

industrial and biomedical applications. This appears to be a new Australian initiative. 

DP0666662 Dr BH Hunter; Prof DA De Vaus 

Approved An Integrated Analysis of the Social Context of Indigenous Poverty 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $85,000 

2008 : $78,000 




The project will identify the processes that improve Indigenous participation in social and economic life of the nation-an 

important pre-condition for a lasting reconciliation between indigenous and other Australians. The new poverty benchmarks 

developed will provide evidence about the adequacy of income support payments with associated implications for child 

welfare. Given that Indigenous people are a substantial and increasing proportion of remote Australia, improvements in their 

income and welfare would have significant multipliers for regional economies. Also, the national debate on these issues will 

be augmented by scholarly articles and a readable book providing an integrated analysis of the social context of Indigenous 

poverty. 

DP0666365 Prof ST Hyde; A/Prof H Hasegawa; Prof N Hadjichristidis 

Approved Self-assembled polyphiles: molecular nanopatterns 

Project Title 

2006 : $146,000 

2007 : $127,000 

2008 : $127,000 


Page 252




21st century technology is certain to rely on advanced materials, utterly new in character, function and manufacturing 

process. Control of material structure, from the atomic and molecular scales and upward will be a central focus, to engineer 

specific features from electronic or photonic functionality, to chemical selectivity. The manufacturing principle of biological 

materials, made routinely in vivo with exquisite economy and control at all length scales, will be adopted for materials design. 

The route to these materials is self-assembly. We will explore in detail theory and practical manufacture of self-assembled 

nanostructured materials, building molecular honeycombs combining composite material features at the nanoscale. 

DP0666751 Dr TR Ireland; Dr Y Amelin; Prof EK Zinner 

Approved Sources and processes in the early solar system - an isotopic study 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $70,000 




Our solar system formed over 4.5 billion years ago. We aim to develop techniques that will allow us to determine the 

sequence of events that led to our planetary system with unprecedented detail. The same techniques can be applied to 

dating geological events, for example, correlating ore-forming events and dating opal formation. This project utilizes new 

Australian technologies that will have potential economic benefits both in instrument sales and applications. 

DP0663389 Dr T Jacka 

Approved Changing approaches to gender and development in rural China 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,036 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $50,822 




Harmonious and cooperative relations with China are crucial to Australia's economic and cultural development and to security 

in the region. By contributing to Australian understanding of Chinese society, this project will enhance such relations. 

Knowledge gained through this project will also enhance Australian development projects in China, and more generally, 

contribute to development projects focusing on gender and development in Asia and elsewhere. In addition, the contributions 

of the project to research and postgraduate training in Chinese studies, gender studies and development studies will benefit 

Australia by raising the international profile of Australian institutions within these disciplines. 

DP0663049 Prof FC Jackson; Dr D Braddon-Mitchell; Prof PR Godfrey-Smith 

Approved Belief singular versus beliefs plural 

Project Title 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $35,000 

2008 : $35,000 

2009 : $55,000 

2010 : $25,000 




Research on the brain and how it represents the environment has the potential to reconfigure our ordinary conceptions of 

belief and rationality. This project explores the impact of the changes and their implications. 

Page 253


DP0663997 Dr J Jupp 

Approved Researching the Social Role of Religions in Australia 

Project Title 

2006 : $78,000 

2007 : $39,000 

2008 : $39,000 




Most Australians claim allegiance to various religions in the Census. The number of religious denominations has greatly 

increased in recent years, most notably through immigration, with significant numbers from all world religions. Political and 

social policies are frequently influenced by religious principles and a detailed analysis of this variety is of crucial national 

importance. Religions from neighbouring societies are significantly represented in Australia. Understanding them is of central 

importance in international political and commercial activity. Current research is essential, based on the most recent Census 

and other recent socio-economic information. 

DP0663786 Dr H Keane 

Approved Reforming the Male: Masculinity, Medicalisation and Men's Health 

Project Title 

2006 : $21,000 

2007 : $45,000 

2008 : $20,000 




Men's health is an issue of significant national importance and community concern. This project will contribute to knowledge 

of the social and cultural determinants of men's health and health practices in Australia. It is at the forefront of new 

approaches to men's health which emphasise the impact of norms and practices of masculinity on wellbeing. As well as 

providing specific insight into problems such as attention deficit disorder and depression in men, the project will also 

contribute to international debate about medicalisation, the rise of pharmacological treatments for problems of living and the 

existence of a crisis in masculinity. 

DP0662984 Prof BL Kennett 

Approved Seismic constraints on the assembly of cratons 

Project Title 

2006 : $200,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $120,000 

2009 : $95,000 




Improved definition of the 3-D seismological structure and nature of the major lithospheric blocks in Australia and their 

assembly to form the present-day continent will be sought from seismological data. The inclusion of information on the 

depth extent and character of the lithosphere will improve geological understanding of the evolution of the continent, with 

relevance to the interaction of the crust and mantle and the placement of mineral resources. 

DP0662772 Dr JS Keogh 

Approved Comparative phylogeography and conservation genetics of Australia's biodiversity hotspot 

Project Title 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $95,000 

2008 : $95,000 


Page 254




Southwestern Australia has been identified as one of the world's 25 biodiversity hotspots. The project will address broad 

questions in evolutionary biology with unique Australian systems, make a world class contribution to the fields of 

phylogeography, molecular phylogenetics and conservation genetics and contribute substantially to the continued training of 

high quality research students. I am a foundation member of the new ARC Environmental Futures Network: Discovering the 

Past and Present to Shape the Future. One of its primary listed objectives is "documenting Australia's biodiversity: 

recognising, understanding and managing key hotspots". My research plan fits in precisely with this research agenda. 

DP0667104 Dr Y Kinfu; Dr J Taylor 

Approved Below replacement fertility among Indigenous Australians: Course, Causes and Regional Variations 

Project Title 

2006 : $83,000 

2007 : $69,000 

2008 : $96,000 




This research will enhance the knowledge base on Indigenous Australian fertility and provide a timely contribution to current 

debate about the social and economic consequences of low fertility and ageing. By engaging an early career researcher and 

an Indigenous research student, it will expand Australia's research capability on current and future Indigenous population 

dynamics in what has become a neglected area of research. It will ensure that full use is made of public expenditure on the 

collection of Indigenous social and demographic data. By extending linkages with researchers internationally, it will place 

Australia at the forefront of global efforts to understand Indigenous demographic transition. 

DP0666080 Prof WZ Krolikowski; Dr AV Rode; Prof EG Gamaly 

Approved Ultra-high density permanent and/or erasable optical memory in photorefractive media formed by 

Project Title ultrafast laser pulses 

2006 : $178,000 

2007 : $146,000 

2008 : $121,000 

2009 : $125,000 

2010 : $125,000 




A possibility to form tree-dimensional 10Tb-density optical memory based on permanent modification, or damage, of 

transparent dielectrics, using powerful femtosecond laser pulses has already been demonstrated by the Applicants. This 

project aims to improve the fundamental understanding of ultrafast laser formation of nano-bits using unique ability of 

photorefractive materials to reversible change and the refractive index. We aim to find ways for controlling the storage time, 

density and the writing-reading-erasing rate without inducing damage in the material. The results will be applied to efficient 

formation of high-speed, high density, write-read-erase 3D optical memory for applications in the information technology. 

DP0665260 Dr A Leigh 

Approved Understanding and Improving Teacher Quality 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $70,000 

2008 : $50,000 


Page 255




The quality of Australia's schooling system is a key determinant of skills in the economy, affecting economic growth, 

unemployment and inequality. With 3 percent of GDP currently devoted to primary and secondary education, improving 

educational productivity could lead to enormous gains. International evidence suggests that a promising approach to 

improving our education system is to boost teacher quality, yet we currently know little about the differences between the 

best and worst teachers. With large numbers of teachers due to retire in the next decade, now is an ideal time to learn more 

about teacher quality, and implement policies to ensure that the calibre of the teaching profession is as good as it can be. 

DP0663694 Dr Q Li 

Approved Carrier dynamics in III-V semiconductor quantum dots and nanostructures 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 


APD Dr Q Li 



Quantum dots and related nanostructures are one of the most attractive topics in the recently years. This project will 

investigate the role of carrier dynamics in these nanostructures by using state-of-the-art ultrafast spectroscopy techniques. 

The wealth of information obtained from this study will not only enhance our knowledge base but also allow us to design high 

performance QD lasers and detectors and to demonstrate innovative optoelectronic devices for optical communication 

systems as well as quantum information processing. It will ensure that Australia is at the cutting edge of nanotechnology and 

optoelectronics research. 

DP0665459 Dr JM Lo 

Approved Diaspora, Hybridity and the Nation: Asian-Australian Perspectives in Literature and Theatre 

Project Title 

2006 : $52,533 

2007 : $41,386 




Australia's engagement with Asia remains central to our national security and economic development. Better understanding 

about Asians in Australia will enhance Australia's capacity to interpret itself to the Asian region. This research also addresses 

major concerns that are of significance to the wellbeing and cohesiveness of the nation: race relations, reconciliation, 

nationhood, and globalisation. By foregrounding the contribution of Asian-Australians in the cultural life of the nation, the 

research serves to enrich public life and foster stronger community relations. 

DP0665481 Dr RD Magrath 

Approved Interspecific communication and the evolution of alarm calls in birds 

Project Title 

2006 : $91,000 

2007 : $76,000 

2008 : $72,000 




There are probably more papers on vocal communication in some individual European and American species of birds than 

there are on all Australian species combined. Our work will contribute to redressing this imbalance by carrying out detailed 

studies on acoustic communication in a major group of Australian songbirds (scrubwrens, fairy-wrens, honeyeaters and 

allies), while at the same time addressing an unsolved general problem in call design first identified 50 years ago in European 

songbirds. Specifically, we will test whether different prey species have repeatedly evolved 'hawk' alarm calls of similar 

structure, and whether such evolution could be due to benefits of having similar calls when communicating with other prey 

species. 

Page 256


DP0664603 Prof RA Maller; Prof CC Klueppelberg 

Approved Financial Risk Processes: Stochastic and Statistical Models and their Applications 

Project Title 

2006 : $126,000 

2007 : $114,000 

2008 : $114,000 




On the one hand, the misuse of complex financial instruments has contributed to recent major disasters in the Australian 

financial and insurance industries; on the other hand, great benefits can be obtained by correct use of these kinds of 

instruments, to share risk between markets and segments of markets. The overall research effort in Australia in these areas 

is relatively small. This project will target the development of cutting edge technologies underlying the use of financial 

derivatives, not presently studied in this country or elsewhere, by bringing together a variety of top level international 

researchers in an integrated effort to lift the Australian understanding and application of this methodology. 

DP0664243 Prof DG Marr 

Approved State, War and Revolution in Vietnam, 1945-1954 

Project Title 

2006 : $45,000 

2007 : $40,000 

2008 : $30,000 




The explosive experience of state formation, war and revolution combining together, thought by many to have vanished along 

with colonialism and the Cold War, now threatens to engulf the Middle East and/or Central Asia, much as it did Indochina fifty 

years ago. The largely untold story of Vietnam's 'Anti-French Resistance' in 1945-1954 offers plenty of policy warnings, if no 

prescriptions. Notably, those who argue that Australia's interests overseas can be safeguarded by technology and big-power 

alliances, ignoring human grievances, contentious politics, mass movements and social upheavals, put future generations at 

risk. 

DP0663459 Prof PF McDonald; Prof JH Baxter; Dr DA Mitchell; Dr EE Gray; Ms JA Baxter 

Approved Negotiating the Life Course: Education, Work, Family and Lifestyle Behaviour in Australia 

Project Title 

2006 : $370,000 

2007 : $60,000 

2008 : $60,000 




The Negotiating the Life Course Project is a leading Australian social science resource accessible to and widely used by 

university researchers and students, especially PhD students. Beyond its major academic contributions, its results have been 

extensively reported in the media and have greatly increased community understanding of Australian society. It has an 

important and on-going role in several areas of policy formulation especially in the development of policies related to the 

balance of work and family. Its principals are leading social commentators in these policy areas because, in large part, they 

are able to draw upon this significant national resource. 

DP0663768 Prof F Menezes; Dr RV Breunig 

Approved The Consistency of Price Regulation of Infrastructure Businesses across Australian Jurisdictions 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $90,000 


Page 257




The spread of regulation across the majority of the economy necessitates that regulatory policy should be consistent across 

jurisdictions and industries. This project would offer policy and regulatory institutions quantitative analysis of the consistency 

of regulatory decisions across Australia. This research would develop a new database that would maintain and supply details 

on regulatory decisions across jurisdictions and industries. This project would enable the new Australian Centre of 

Regulatory Economics (ACORE) to supply independent database and quantitative analysis from an open, fully documented, 

scholarly environment to Australia's policy and regulatory agencies and its regulated firms. 

DP0664775 Dr L Narangoa; Dr RB Cribb 

Approved Borders and Empires: A Historical Atlas of Northeast Asia, 1636 - 2006 

Project Title 

2006 : $35,000 

2007 : $80,557 

2008 : $39,300 




This historical atlas brings insights into the continuing tensions in Northeast Asia, both in the Korean Peninsula, and between 

China and Russia, where old antagonisms have repeatedly led to armed conflict and where border friction today is 

exacerbated by economic disparities, population movements and rival nationalist rhetorics. Our research deepens the 

understanding of decision-makers and of the Australian public concerning these issues. The project contributes important 

insights into the flexibility of borders at a time when they under new challenge. Our study of settler politics in Northeast Asia 

and the settler relations with indigenous political forces is also relevant to Australia's history and present. 

DP0664860 Dr R O'Kearney 

Approved Trauma memory and narrative structure in post-traumatic distress 

Project Title 

2006 : $55,000 

2007 : $35,000 

2008 : $45,000 




The project enhances understanding of factors that maintain enduring distress and disability following traumatic experiences 

which have major social and financial costs to individuals, communities and to the nation. Better knowledge of these factors 

is central to improving early detection and refining prevention and early intervention for individuals and to help understand 

how communities can better manage their response to severe traumatic events. The results may lead to significant 

refinements to efficacious psychological treatments involving exposure to emotional memories. The project's innovative 

approach to studying autobiographical memories will enhance Australia's internationally competitiveness in a key area within 

psychology. 

DP0664039 Prof DL Ollis; A/Prof LR Gahan; Dr G Schenk 

Approved Directed evolution of enzymes for bioremediation: structure function studies of bimetalloenzymes. 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $78,000 

2008 : $78,000 

Primary RFCD 2708 BIOTECHNOLOGY 



We will evolve enzymes that degrade organophosphate pesticides (OPs) that are used in Australian agriculture. Although 

these OPs were designed to kill insects they are closely related to chemical warfare agents and are known to be toxic to 

humans. Bacteria have acquired a number of enzymes that degrade some OPs. One such enzyme has been used in field 

trials demonstrating its potential to degrade OP residues. However, many pesticides are not removed rapidly and 

OP-degrading enzymes require modification(s) if they are to be useful environmental reagents - this can be achieved with 

directed evolution. 

Page 258


DP0663319 Prof HS O'Neill; Prof B Wood; Prof T Irifune 

Approved Understanding the deep mantle: experimental petrology at very high pressures 

Project Title 

2006 : $190,000 

2007 : $145,000 

2008 : $145,000 




The great processes that shape the Earth at its surface, including plate tectonics and continental drift, can only be 

understood by appreciating how the interior of the Earth works. However, studying the deep Earth is difficult because of the 

enormous pressures and temperatures involved. This research proposes to simulate conditions in the Earth's lower mantle 

(that is, below 670 km in depth) by making use of an Australian invented diamond-based ceramic, to double the pressure at 

which experiments can be performed. The information gained from this fundamental research will help predict how giant ore 

bodies form. The development of the high-pressure apparatus will also aid material scientists in their quest for novel 

materials. 

DP0666289 Adj/Prof CB Osmond; Dr KK Niyogi 

Approved Novel photoprotective mechanisms and functional biodiversity of high light tolerance in the model 

Project Title alga Chlamydomonas 

2006 : $115,000 

2007 : $84,000 

2008 : $84,000 




Most plants have limited capacity to avoid high light (HL) stress which commonly accompanies drought and high temperature 

stress. We will identify novel genes and proteins that underlie diverse mechanisms of photoprotection in unique very high 

light resistant (VHLR) mutants in the alga Chlamydomonas and develop new tools to screen other plants for these attributes. 

Depending on progress, we expect to express them in the higher plant Arabidopsis as a first step towards utilization of VHLR 

genes for crop improvement. Understanding the mechanisms conferring HL photoprotection is a research priority in plant 

sciences and will further strengthen Australia's innovative contributions to the internationally networked Chlamydomonas 

Genome Project. 

DP0664184 Prof G Otting; Dr T Huber 

Approved Fluorine-labelled proteins for NMR spectroscopy 

Project Title 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $119,000 

2008 : $119,000 




The technique developed in this project has direct impact on pharmaceutical research: NMR spectroscopy is used routinely 

to identify chemical compounds that bind to protein targets. This project includes the development of novel assignment 

techniques of 19F-labelled proteins, so that 19F-NMR can be used to detect specific binding interactions. One of the methods 

proposed here is designed to reveal structural information about the binding mode in solution with atomic detail. This 

knowledge can significantly accelerate drug development. It is otherwise only available from crystal structures that can not 

always be determined. 

DP0665718 A/Prof RJ Pace; Prof R Stranger; Prof J Barber; Prof L Hammarström 

Approved Structural and Mechanistic Studies of the Oxygen Evolving Centre in Photosystem II 

Project Title 

2006 : $115,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 


Page 259




Hydrogen fuel production from electricity and water sources, such as sea water, represents the ultimate goal for the research 

described here. This is part of an overall scheme, called "Artificial Photosynthesis", to generate clean renewable energy. The 

present project is an important step in this ambitious program and directly addresses a key hurdle which must be overcome 

to make artificial photosynthesis feasible. This hurdle is the efficient electrical conversion of water into hydrogen and oxygen, 

a two part process of which the latter is the most chemically difficult. The project aims to 'steal nature's secrets', by 

deciphering and then technologically mimicking the highly efficient means by which plants carry out these processes. 

DP0663170 Prof AK Pawley; Prof MD Ross 

Approved Proto Oceanic language, people and society: Foundations of the Austronesian settlement of the 

Project Title Pacific 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $110,000 




The settlement of the farflung Pacific Islands is an important chapter in human history. The origins of the languages and 

cultures of this region, and how the first settlers adapted to and exploited the island environments they encountered, which 

this study investigates in great detail, are matters of interest not only to scientists but to a wider public which includes Pacific 

Islanders themselves. Research on this scale requires a great deal of intellectual capital and this project will help to ensure 

that Australia maintains at least one strong research centre in this field. 

DP0665679 Prof TW Pogge; Prof JA Whitworth 

Approved Just Rules for Incentivizing Pharmaceutical Research and for Disseminating its Benefits 

Project Title 

2006 : $136,000 

2007 : $116,000 

2008 : $106,000 




Intelligent reform of the rules for incentivizing pharmaceutical research and for disseminating its benefits can cost-effectively 

decimate the global disease burden. Australians would benefit directly, through lower drug prices, enhanced pharmaceutical 

research employment, and improved public health, as well as indirectly, through reduced threats from foreign diseases and 

better relations with the developing countries. 

DP0665363 Dr BJ Pogson; Dr WS Chow; Dr J Rossel; Prof PM Mullineaux 

Approved Elucidating the interactions between drought tolerance and photoprotection in plants 

Project Title 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $113,000 

2008 : $113,000 

2009 : $113,000 


APD Dr J Rossel 



The 2002-03 drought cost Australia in the order of $10Billion and 70,000 jobs. Associated with reduced rainfall is increased 

sunlight irradiance, which exacerbates the reduction in crop yield due to the combined damage of a water deficit and 

oxidative damage caused by the excess light. Plants have networks of responses to minimise damage due to drought and 

excess light. We have identified a novel class of genes that optimise or alter different aspects of these networks and we wish 

to define the nature of that optimisation to determine how it could be transfered to crop plants. 

Page 260


DP0665941 Prof Q Qin; Dr S Kalyanasundaram 

Approved Theoretical and experimental studies on magnetoelectroelastic bone remodelling process 

Project Title 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 

Primary RFCD 3214 HUMAN MOVEMENT AND SPORTS SCIENCE 



The project combines biotechnology and material science which will have national economic, social and environment impact. 

It can benefit industry by providing knowledge that help scientists understand remodeling under coupled fields and is used to 

develop bone replacement. By better understanding remodeling due to multi-field loading, we can assist scientists in 

aeronautical industry in developing countermeasures that reduce or eliminate bone loss resulting from long-duration space 

flight. It can provide knowledge that can be used to explore underlying mechanisms controlling bone remodeling and 

self-repair in gaining insight into debilitating diseases such as osteoporosis, to develop high-performance prosthetics for 

medical injury healing. 

DP0666673 Prof FJ Ravenhill 

Approved Responding to Globalization: Firms, the State and Upgrading in the Automotive Industry on the 

Project Title Western Pacific Rim 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $100,000 




The automotive industry is arguably still the most important manufacturing sector in the world economy. It is one of the most 

'globalized' of industrial sectors, whether considered in terms of geographical dispersion of production or of trade. In 

Australia, the turnover of the auto industry is around $17 billions per year. It employs more than 50,000 people. Like other 

auto industries around the region, that in Australia must adjust to several rapidly changing contexts driven by technological 

developments, industry consolidation, and new trade regimes. This project will provide a better understanding of the forces 

driving change, and of the range of possible policy responses available to firms and governments. 

DP0663375 Dr B Reilly 

Approved Democratization, Institutional Reform and Ethnic Politics in the Asia-Pacific 

Project Title 

2006 : $34,000 

2007 : $30,000 

2008 : $35,000 




The democratisation of the Asia-Pacific has significant implications for Australia. Consolidated democracies are better able to 

manage internal conflicts, and less likely to pose a threat to their neighbours via arms trafficking, refugee flows, and 

transnational terrorism. However, the initial transitional period of democratisation can be highly fraught, and many of the new 

democracies of the Asia-Pacific are fragile, beset by internal cleavages and conflicts. If ways can be found to manage ethnic 

and other cleavages within a democratic framework, the prospects for peaceful and stable governance in the region will be 

significantly enhanced. This has the potential to transform the security of the region and Australia's relations with it. 

DP0663314 Dr K Reynolds; Prof JC Turner; Dr KI Mavor; Prof NR Branscombe 

Approved Self-categorization and personal identity: Integrating group and personality processes 

Project Title 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $125,000 

2008 : $135,000 

2009 : $135,000 

2010 : $135,000 


ARF Dr K Reynolds 

Page 261




This project will maintain and advance Australia's contribution to social psychology and strengthen international collaboration. 

It also will support a high-profile researcher and contribute to the quality research training of students. The project questions 

the widespread belief that personal identity and the personal self (how we define ourselves as being unique from others - the 

'I' or 'me') are relatively stable. It explores the possibility that personal identity can be both stable and variable depending on a 

range of factors. The project informs how we understand personality processes and the role that our group memberships 

(work, family, institutions) play in shaping our personal selves and associated attitudes, beliefs and values. 

DP0665477 Prof M Richardson 

Approved An economic analysis of local content requirements in radio broadcasting: a model and an 

Project Title empirical investigation of the Australian experience 

2006 : $28,942 




How much local music should radio stations be required to play? Twenty per cent? Thirty per cent? As much or as little as 

they wish? Who benefits from such schemes? Local musicians? International record companies? Who is hurt? Radio 

stations? The listening public? By better understanding the effects of local content quotas on radio broadcasters (and the 

ways in which they lead to those effects) and by being aware of the actual consequences of the Australian scheme (and, 

potentially, those of other countries) we can better answer these sorts of questions. Gaining such understanding is the goal 

of this research. 

DP0665592 Dr MC Ridgway; Prof AP Byrne; Prof Dr W Wesch 

Approved Amorphous-Phase Formation and Structure in Semiconductor Substrates following Swift Heavy-Ion 

Project Title Irradiation 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $120,000 




This proposal is consistent with Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian 

Industries and the Priority Goals: Breakthrough Science, Frontier Technologies and Advanced Materials. We seek to 

deduce and understand the processes operative during swift heavy-ion irradiation of elemental and binary semiconductor 

substrates and identify and measure the resulting amorphous-phase structure. Our results and accompanying scientific 

insight will broaden the applicability of these materials in advanced technologies, enhance the national research profile, 

increase the domestic knowledge base and yield skilled, young scientists trained to utilize the Australian Synchrotron when 

commissioned in 2007. 

DP0665034 Dr L Robin; Dr DB Rose 

Approved Producing Biodiversity: A History of Science in Australia's Desert Lands 

Project Title 

2006 : $42,000 

2007 : $43,000 

2008 : $40,000 

2009 : $40,000 




Biodiversity conservation is regarded by most people as desirable, but its historical and cultural aspects are poorly 

understood. It is not just about scientific understanding of animals and plants, but also a matter of practice and negotiation. 

People and places are changed through conservation and these changes in turn shape the ways nature is imagined and 

managed. Producing Biodiversity documents historical and contemporary initiatives in biodiversity management on six very 

different pastoral properties on the margins of the Australian desert. We provide a long-term perspective on national and 

local conservation imperatives in different eras, and explore how they affect pastoral, Aboriginal and scientific communities. 

Page 262


DP0665866 Dr TM Rowse; Dr LR Smith 

Approved The politics of Indigenous enumeration in Australia, Canada and New Zealand - a history 

Project Title 

2006 : $49,000 

2007 : $66,095 

2008 : $62,205 




The recent 'History Wars' demonstrated that how we tell our national story is more than an 'academic' issue. Settler-colonial 

nations, whether they enjoy it or not, are bound to ponder and to debate the histories of the relationships between colonisers 

and colonised. By being comparative, the project will enable Australians to consider what is common and what is unique in 

the Australian story. By highlighting social science and social policy, the project will give interested Australians a context for 

their recent discussions about what policy (if any) should succeed 'self-determination'. 

DP0665308 Dr GE Russell 

Approved A History of the Theatre in Late Georgian Britain: Spaces, Sociability and Cultural Networks 

Project Title 

2006 : $82,120 

2007 : $80,900 

2008 : $77,200 




The Romantic period in Britain was formative in the history of Australia and the reconfiguring of Romantic period culture 

which this project entails will be of relevance to the understanding of our history. The ideologies and practices of 

Enlightenment sociability underpinned the early years of the colony, as much as they influenced metropolitan culture. In 

2005, when many of the achievements of Enlightenment modernity have been questioned or are perceived to be under 

threat, it is also worth re-examining the egalitarianism underlying the ideals if sometimes not the practice of Georgian 

sociability. This research will also enhance Australia's overseas reputation in the field of eighteenth-century and Romantic 

studies. 

DP0665111 Dr M Sambridge; Dr RK Snieder 

Approved Precise location of earthquakes: combining arrival times with Coda Wave Interferometry 

Project Title 

2006 : $113,000 

2007 : $112,000 

2008 : $112,000 




The location of earthquakes is important for improving our knowledge 

of the contemporary plate tectonic regime, mapping of active crustal faults and quantifying risk posed to population centres 

and infrastructure. Precise relative location of micro-earthquakes also has important industrial applications, including 

mapping the extent of underground geothermal reservoirs, and in exploration for ore producing hydrothermal systems. This 

project will advance the field of earthquake location by introducing new techniques that will increase the amount of seismic 

information that can be used for both research and national monitoring purposes. 

DP0664133 Prof M Sawer 

Approved Democratic Choices: Ideas and Outcomes 

Project Title 

2006 : $50,000 

2007 : $50,000 

2008 : $50,000 


Page 263




Democratic Choices will provide important evidence for policy actors and policy makers on Australian democratic beliefs and 

on current performance of institutions relative to those beliefs. It will stimulate debate and inform strategies for democratic 

renewal, particularly in relation to youth disengagement and the crisis of confidence in representative institutions. It will 

sustain Australia's capacity for democracy assessment and contribute to international best practice in this field. In improving 

capacity for critical self-assessment it will enhance the credibility of our democracy assistance programs and promote 

regional and international understanding of our democratic institutions. 

DP0666262 Dr MJ Sellars; Dr JJ Longdell 

Approved Solid state optical quantum information technology 

Project Title 

2006 : $220,000 

2007 : $160,000 

2008 : $160,000 




There is a significant effort in Australia and around the world to develop quantum information technologies. This project, by 

demonstrating a suite of critical building blocks for quantum information processing, will support Australia's strong position in 

this emerging technology. 

A major motivation for the effort directed at quantum information technologies is the impact they will have on the security of 

data transmission, both in breaking existing encryptions and implementing new encryption systems. The successful 

completion of this project will provide the essential components for a secure long distance quantum communication network. 

DP0662953 Dr EM Sevick; Prof DJ Evans 

Approved Experimental Demonstrations of New Theorems of Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics 

Project Title 

2006 : $160,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $105,000 




In the last decade, two theorems have been proposed to revolutionise the field of thermodynamics. These theorems lift the 

restriction of the thermodynamic limit, allowing thermodynamic concepts to be applied to small systems such as 

nanomachines, and characterise systems that may be far-from-equilibrium. These theorems are at odds with a traditional 

understanding of 19th century thermodynamics where equilibrium is central and the Second Law inviolate. However they are 

critical to the application of thermodynamic concepts to modern systems of the 21st century. Using Optical Tweezers, we will 

experimentally demonstrate these theorems, present irrefutable evidence of their validity, and demonstrate their application in 

modern systems. 

DP0666442 Dr AP Sheppard; Dr V Robins; Dr K Mecke 

Approved 3D Image segmentation and shape characterisation driven by topological persistence 

Project Title 

2006 : $127,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $83,000 




Tomographic imaging is emerging as a new tool to help tackle a remarkable array of scientific challenges. What distinguishes 

healthy bone from that of osteoporosis sufferers? How does groundwater contamination spread? Why is a macadamia nut 

so hard to crack? What causes the iridescence in a butterfly wing? These are just a few of the questions being answered at 

tomographic facilities in Australia alone. By combining sophisticated mathematics with cutting edge image-processing 

algorithms, this project will yield a new class of topology driven image analysis techniques that will improve the accuracy and 

reliability of predictions made from tomographic images. 

Page 264


DP0665161 Dr MS Sherburn; Prof MN Paddon-Row 

Approved Experimental-Computational Investigations into Diels-Alder Sequences 

Project Title 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Organic molecules are an integral part of our world - in us, around us and, importantly, in our medicines. Chemists design 

experiments to make specific molecules by mixing the appropriate chemicals. Often, however, the outcome can't be 

predicted. We are developing ways to accurately predict these outcomes using computer modelling of chemical reactions. 

This will allow us to better understand reactions and make molecules more efficiently. Such research is the basis for the 

development of new pharmaceuticals. Few people in Australia are working in this area and we expect to train four to six 

people during the course of this project. 

DP0665664 Dr BR Smith 

Approved The subject of the state? Changing relations between government and Indigenous North 

Project Title Queenslanders 

2006 : $20,000 




This project will provide a detailed analysis of the relationship between the state and Indigenous Australians in three north 

Queensland townships. This research is directly relevant to Indigenous social policy at a time when innovative solutions to 

chronic Indigenous disadvantage are being sought. The project will provide empirical data on the effectiveness of projects 

promoting practical reconciliation and mutual responsibility through increased intervention in Indigenous lives. As well as 

providing input to policy debates at the State and Federal level, the project aims to inform Indigenous community 

organizations and local Indigenous groups about current changes resulting from a new Indigenous policy environment. 

DP0664145 Dr D Stoljar; Prof FC Jackson 

Approved Conscious Experience and the Hegemony of Representation 

Project Title 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Many things make humans special but three stand out: the possession of a moral sense, rationality, and consciousness. This 

project aims to explain consciousness in a way fully comppatible with the aspirations of cognitive science to see humans as a 

natural part of the physical world. 

DP0664995 Dr C Strange; A/Prof AC Bashford; A/Prof T Loo 

Approved Thomas Griffith Taylor (1880-1963): Visions of 'Man and Nature' in the Twentieth Century 

Project Title 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $52,000 

2008 : $70,000 




This project will enhance Australians' appreciation of environmental problems as complex historical issues. Since scientists 

have recently rediscovered Thomas Griffith Taylor, an Australian geographer who studied climate, sustainability and 

settlement in the early to mid 20th century, it is timely that he also be reassessed by humanities scholars. By fully 

historicising environmental ideas of the recent past, this project will clarify and focus public debate on climate and the 

environment in the present and future. 

Page 265


DP0663045 Prof R Stranger; A/Prof BF Yates; Prof K Morokuma; Prof M Head-Gordon; Prof CC Cummins 

Approved Metal Complexes for Activation and Scission of Small, Multiply-Bonded Molecules 

Project Title 

2006 : $180,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $150,000 




The immediate outcome of this work is a series of new metal complexes capable of selectively cleaving the strong bonds 

present in a number of small molecules of industrial and synthetic importance. These outcomes will have a significant impact 

on the development of both novel transition metal systems for synthetic chemistry and new industrial procedures for the 

activation and cleavage of multiply-bonded molecules such as molecular nitrogen and carbon dioxide. They will lead to new 

consumer products, better methods of production, and potential downstream applications such as nitric oxide/nitrogen 

dioxide converters and carbon dioxide emission controls. 

DP0663875 Dr JM Sumner 

Approved Testing Theories of Historical Divergence using South Eastern Australian Reptiles 

Project Title 

2006 : $116,000 

2007 : $101,000 

2008 : $101,000 


APD Dr JM Sumner 



The processes that serve to create species diversity must also be preserved in order to allow evolution to continue. My study 

will clarify the number and distribution of water skink species in south eastern Australia, a biologically diverse, yet under 

studied area of Australia. I will also be looking at processes, such as dispersal, that determine patterns of species distribution 

over time. These lizards are also found on mountain tops and may be affected by global warming. Understanding how 

climate change has affected these lizards in the past may help us to predict how climate changes will affect them in the future 

and better enable us to conserve these and other species in the future. 

DP0664434 Dr RS Sutherland; Prof MA Dopita; Dr GV Bicknell; Dr WJ van Breugel; Dr RJ Ivison; Dr LJ Kewley; Dr J 

Bland-Hawthorn 

Approved Feedback Processes in Galaxy Formation 

Project Title 

2006 : $180,000 

2007 : $130,000 

2008 : $130,000 




We have an opportunity to combine the best Australian theory with the best local and international telescopes, to probe the 

murky story of how galaxies form and why they look they way they do today. By looking back to a time when the Universe 

was only 1 billion years old, and comparing what we see with cutting edge supercomputer simulations plus pure theory, we 

will gain insight into the birth of entire galaxies. The results will form part of the study of how the universe works - that is 

driving astrophysics today, and represents pure research for the sake of advancing knowledge and showing us where we fit 

into the Universe. In doing so we will also advance Australia's base of theoretical and computational expertise. 

DP0665247 Dr HH Tan 

Approved Photonic Crystal Enhanced Wavelength Selective, Multi-Colour Quantum Dot Infrared 

Project Title Photodetectors 

2006 : $148,000 

2007 : $120,000 

2008 : $120,000 


Page 266




Photonic crystal enhanced quantum dot infrared photodetectors are a new generation of detectors developed from integrating 

nanotechnology with material science and optics. This would not only enhance the detector performance but the structure will 

now detect a narrow band around the desired wavelength with multi-colour detectivity. The technology developed in this 

project is anticipated to attract interest from the industries and government agencies. It will be pervasive for use at home, in 

the manufacturing and mining industry, environmental and pollution monitoring, defence and national security. Applications 

include spectral imaging, remote sensing, environmental/pollution monitoring, toxic gas and bio-hazardous material detection. 

DP0665611 Dr PK Taylor 

Approved Ethnic, Religious and Social Bases of Community in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam 

Project Title 

2006 : $127,000 

2007 : $124,500 

2008 : $125,500 

2009 : $126,000 

2010 : $122,000 


QEII Dr PK Taylor 



This project will promote understanding of a fast developing region of Vietnam in which large amounts of Australian 

development aid resources have been spent and with which Australian companies have growing trade and investment 

activities. The Mekong delta is a multicultural and religiously diverse area, very different from other parts of the country. Yet 

we know very little about why the delta is so economically productive and why there has been little conflict between its many 

ethnic and religious groups. This project will advance Australia's reputation as a world leader in social scientific research on 

Vietnam. 

DP0662894 Dr L Tomba 

Approved Communities and New Patterns of Stratification in a Chinese City 

Project Title 

2006 : $50,000 

2007 : $55,000 

2008 : $40,000 




China plays a major geopolitical role in the Asia-Pacific region. It is essential to understand the political and social challenges 

faced by China. Whether or not Chinese urban areas are going to experience a period of further growth and stability depends 

largely on the ability of the Chinese government to manage social change. This research will be the first systematic 

investigation into contemporary community building in China. By looking at the fundamental re-organisation of urban society, 

it will significantly improve the understanding of the complex social implications of China's rapid modernization and regional 

integration, and provide unprecedented insights on the perspectives for political reform. 

DP0664517 Prof NS Trudinger; Dr X Wang 

Approved Nonlinear elliptic equations and applications 

Project Title 

2006 : $118,000 

2007 : $106,000 

2008 : $106,000 




Many fundamental advances in modern technology, science and economics are driven through the analysis of nonlinear 

models based on nonlinear partial differential equations. In recent years there has been an explosion in applications of partial 

differential equations of elliptic type with major discoveries in underlying theory being made by the two Chief Investigators. 

This project provides for the continuation of Australian leadership in key strategic areas of international science, such as 

optimal transportation, as well as the continued building of related expertise and training. 

Page 267


DP0663155 Dr M Vos; Dr AS Kheifets; Dr F Aryasetiawan 

Approved Many-Electron Dynamics and Electronic Structure of Materials Studied by Electron Momentum 

Project Title Spectroscopy 

2006 : $135,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $100,000 




Electron momentum spectroscopy is a technique that resembles playing pool with electrons. This technique, largely 

developed in Australia, determines the binding energy and velocity distribution of electrons in matter. This distribution, closely 

related to the quantum mechanical wave function of the electrons, can be compared directly with calculations of the 

electronic structure. Such a comparison helps establish which theory approaches nature most closely, and thus improves our 

understanding of the electronic structure. This understanding helps to predict the properties of materials, and hence this 

knowledge will facilitate the design of materials with desirable properties. 

DP0664357 Dr KJ Weber; Dr P Deenapanray 

Approved Investigation of P Type Emitters for Future Generation Photovoltaics 

Project Title 

2006 : $115,000 

2007 : $75,000 

2008 : $75,000 




The overseas market for photovoltaic panels is large and rapidly expanding - it is expected to grow six-fold over the next 

decade, to nearly US$10 billion per annum. Australia is well placed to capture a significant share of this market, creating 

employment and export earnings. The project is expected to make a significant contribution to the development of a vibrant 

and highly competitive photovoltaics industry in Australia, since the results of the research are expected to lead to improved 

manufacturing processes. In addition, photovoltaics will be a key technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus 

mitigate the magnitude and severity of the effects of global warming. 

DP0664428 Dr DR Williams; Prof T Odijk 

Approved Macromolecular Condensates: From Globules to Toroids and Beyond 

Project Title 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $90,000 

2008 : $90,000 




Polymers are long-chain molecules which are vital for all living things. Examples include proteins and DNA which carries all 

of the information needed for life. In the cell and in the laboratory these polymers are often found in a compact folded state. 

Current polymer science is good at describing very flexible polymers, but fails to describe most biological polymers which 

have backbones that are difficult to bend. Our aim is to describe the folded or globular state for many kinds of biological 

polymers and thus improve our understanding of the role of polymers in living things. 

DP0663445 Prof JS Williams; Dr JC McCallum; Dr YJ Wong-Leung; Dr PJ Simpson; Dr HL Gossmann 

Approved Fundamental Implantation, Epitaxy and Defect studies in Silicon to support ultra-shallow junction 

Project Title formation 

2006 : $150,000 

2007 : $145,000 

2008 : $139,000 


Page 268




If successful this project will provide key data and understanding that are fundamentally important for semiconductor science 

and technologically essential for the global semiconductor industry. Hence successful outcomes will benefit the Nation by 

raising the international profile of Australian science in these areas. More direct benefit will be derived from the two 

Australian ventures that require successful implementation of ultra-shallow junction formation. One is the new silicon 

phase-change memory company, WRiota, that requires ultra-shallow silicon layers. The second is the quantum computing 

initiatives in silicon, where understanding of defect-mediated processes in shallow implanted layers is essential to the 

technology. 

DP0665069 Prof RE Williamson; Dr S Kalyanasundaram 

Approved Predicting cell wall mechanics from structure in a materials engineering approach to plant growth 

Project Title 

2006 : $69,000 

2007 : $80,000 

2008 : $80,000 




The project fosters a novel, interdisciplinary approach to understanding how the structure of plant cell walls determines their 

mechanical properties. Such understanding requires combining biological and engineering approaches and will illuminate 

how plants grow and produce cells and organs with particular shapes. This is scientifically important but is also important for 

industries depending on specialised cell shapes such as those of cotton and wood fibres. Our work will improve our 

understanding of how wall structure determines fibre and other cell shapes and give us tools which can be used to 

understand how final wall structure determines the fibre mechanics on which industrial users depend. 

DP0666721 Prof GA Withers 

Approved A New Economic History of Australia 

Project Title 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $35,000 

2008 : $61,000 

Primary RFCD 3403 ECONOMIC HISTORY AND HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT 



Australia is at a cross-roads. After almost a century of protectionism we have globally re-integrated and liberalised, as we 

were when we possessed the world's highest standard of living in the nineteenth century. But we have yet to truly rebuild our 

capability to compete well in a global knowledge economy and to do so sustainably and justly. It is the presumption of this 

Project that a new understanding of the role of human investment in our history can help underpin a clearer understanding of 

the policy imperatives for our future. The Project will lead to an explicit and detailed policy agenda for re-shaping Australia's 

future so as to be again a clever country. 

DP0663617 Prof RL Withers; Dr Y Liu 

Approved An integrated approach towards the development of new generation RF/microwave dielectric 

Project Title materials 

2006 : $200,000 

2007 : $170,000 

2008 : $170,000 

2009 : $150,000 

2010 : $140,000 


QEII Dr Y Liu 

Page 269




The ultimate aim of this project is to rationally design and optimize new types of environmentally-sustainable, cost-effective 

and high performance microwave dielectric materials and devices for advanced information and communication technology 

(ICT) applications. This is a designated National Research Priority area. Our fundamental understanding of dielectric 

materials and their properties will be enhanced considerably by working on this project. Further, we will promote the 

relationship between the fundamental science of polar crystalline materials and practical applications. If successful, the 

results will enhance Australia's capacity and standing in this highly competitive area. 

University of Canberra 

DP0664429 Prof AM Harding; Prof RJ Stimson; Prof HL Kendig; Prof F Stanley; Ms RE Lloyd; Dr SR Goldfeld; Mr PS 

Williams 

Approved Opportunity and Disadvantage: Differences in Wellbeing Among Australia's Adults and Children at a 

Project Title Small Area Level 

2006 : $200,000 

2007 : $100,000 

2008 : $150,000 

2009 : $150,000 

2010 : $150,000 


Administering Institution University of Canberra 


There is growing interest in regional perspectives in social, economic and health policy, amid increasing evidence that the 

opportunities and well-being of Australians are greatly affected by where they live. But the evidence base and data required 

to assess distributional equity issues are deficient. This project will improve the welfare of Australians by generating new 

insights into spatial inequalities; creating new databases about the characteristics of Australians living in each small area; 

making these new data very widely available through the web; and placing Australia at the international leading edge in the 

production of spatial socio-economic household data. 

DP0666665 Prof BT Horrigan 

Approved The High Court of Australia's International Impact and Engagement - Enhancing Judicial 

Project Title Accountability and Australia's Place in International Law 

2006 : $56,000 

2007 : $25,000 

2008 : $45,000 

2009 : $55,000 

2010 : $50,000 


Administering Institution University of Canberra 


This project on the Australian High Court's engagement with the international community enhances Australian and 

international understanding of how national and international judicial systems interact, especially in important areas of 

national protection, democratic government, and human rights. It advances scholarly, governmental, professional, and public 

knowledge of the Court's contribution as a governmental organ to international justice in the 21st century. This improves 

judicial accountability, enhances Australia's international legal reputation, and meets the government's stated commitment to 

promoting justice and human rights internationally. The project produces public web-based resources and promotes national 

research priorities. 

Page 270

PDF Format - Australian Research Council

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?