Successful 2003 Discovery Projects Grants by Institution - Australian ...

Successful 2003 Discovery Projects 

Grants by Institution - contents 

New South Wales 274 

Victoria 228 

Queensland 128 

South Australia 61 

Western Australia 67 

Tasmania 22 

Northern Territory 2 

Australian Capital Territory 139 

TOTAL NUMBER OF GRANTS 921

New South Wales 

Australian Catholic University 1 

Australian Museum 1 

Charles Sturt University 5 

Macquarie University 23 

Southern Cross University 1 

The University of New England 9 

The University of New South Wales 81 

The University of Newcastle 22 

The University of Sydney 98 

University of Technology, Sydney 13 

University of Western Sydney 4 

University of Wollongong 14 

Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute 2 

TOTAL NUMBER OF GRANTS 274 

Victoria 

Deakin University 11 

Howard Florey Institute of Experimental 

Physiology and Medicine 

1 

La Trobe University 24 

Monash University 56 

RMIT University 15 

Swinburne University of Technology 10 

The University of Melbourne 104 

University of Ballarat 3 

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research 2 

Victoria University of Technology 1 

Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research 1 


Queensland 

Griffith University 22 

James Cook University 6 

Queensland Institute of Medical Research 3 

Queensland University of Technology 13 

The University of Queensland 81 

University of Southern Queensland 3 


South Australia 

South Australian Museum 2 

The Flinders University of South Australia 10 

The University of Adelaide 36 

University of South Australia 13 


Western Australia 

Curtin University of Technology 11 

Edith Cowan University 3 

Murdoch University 7 

The University of Western Australia 46 


Tasmania 

University of Tasmania 22 


Northern Territory 

Northern Territory University 2 


Australian Capital Territory 

The Australian National University 137 

University of Canberra 2 


New South Wales 

Australian Catholic University 

DP0345820 Prof P Allen 

Title: The development of the cult of Mary in North African Christianity (100 - 431 C.E.) 

2003 : $68,000 

2004 : $65,245 

2005 : $70,000 

Category: 4201 - LANGUAGE STUDIES 

Administering Institution: Australian Catholic University 

Summary: 

As part of international collaborative research dedicated to dispassionate examination of the development 

of the cult of Mary from 100 to 431 CE, this project deals with literary evidence from North Africa, in 

which the works of Augustine dominate. The Latin texts will be examined philologically, theologically and 

historically in order to reconstruct Mary's place in early Christianity, the raw data made available online, 

and the results disseminated through conference papers, monographs and journal articles. This research, 

the first of its kind, will make a contribution to women's studies, and to the study of late antique culture 

and hagiography. 

Australian Museum 

DP0345876 Dr JM Leis 

Title: Ontogeny of Behaviour and Sensory Abilities in Larvae of Marine Fishes 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $70,000 

*** 

Category: 2707 - ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION 

Administering Institution: Australian Museum 

Summary: 

This project examines development of swimming performance, other behaviours and sensory abilities 

relevant to dispersal in larvae of a variety of marine fish species. Both laboratory and field methods will 

provide an overview of larval behaviour and sensory abilities throughout ontogeny. The extent to which 

morphological development explains these developmental differences in behaviour and sensory ability will 

be examined in reared and wild individuals. This will provide direct evidence of when during the larval 

phase that fishes are able to actively modify dispersal patterns. This is important information for 

management of marine living resources and design of marine reserves. 

Charles Sturt University 

DP0342589 Dr ID Lunt 

*** 

Title: Effects of European colonisation on indigenous ecosystems: multiple-scale spatial 

structure of pre- and post-settlement Callitris forests 

2003 : $60,000 


Administering Institution: Charles Sturt University 

Summary: 

Since European colonisation, altered disturbance regimes, especially fire and grazing, have greatly 

affected intact ecosystems across the globe. However, the extent and causes of changes are often 

hotly contested. This study will examine how European colonisation has affected natural ecosystems, by 

documenting historical fire regimes and comparing pre- and post-settlement forest patterns across 

multiple spatial scales. The study will be conducted in temperate Callitris forests, and will provide the first, 

multiple-scale, spatial analysis of post-settlement vegetation changes in Australia. Results will enhance 

our global understanding of European environmental impacts and provide quantitative benchmarks to

inform vegetation management. 

*** 

DP0343875 Prof Dr JE PRATLEY Dr TJ Haig Dr M An Dr H Wu 

Title: Novel compounds as natural herbicides for weed management 

2003 : $81,000 

2004 : $79,000 

2005 : $76,000 

Category: 3002 - CROP AND PASTURE PRODUCTION 


Summary: 

The development by weeds of herbicide resistance has undermined minimum-tillage systems and 

heightened the limited prospects for development of new chemicals with different modes of actions 

through traditional methods. Such methods of searching for new herbicides are yielding diminishing 

returns and the associated costs are becoming prohibitive.This project aims to develop herbicides by 

evaluating, isolating and identifying novel natural compounds present in a range of weeds and crop 

plants.The outcomes will be reduced herbicide inputs, and the development of a new group of natural 

herbicides to counteract the threat imposed by the development of herbicide resistance. 

DP0345101 Prof AI Robertson 

Title: Testing the Flood Pulse Concept for rivers with variable flow regimes 

2003 : $115,000 

2004 : $115,000 

2005 : $115,000 

2006 : $115,000 

2007 : $115,000 

*** 



Summary: 

For floodplain rivers the major unifying conceptual model linking hydrology, biogeochemistry and ecology 

is the Flood Pulse Concept (FPC). The model is based on rivers that have a seasonally predictable and 

long duration inundation of floodplain habitats. Recent reviews of the FPC indicate that the model needs to 

be broadened to describe the function of rivers with more variable flow regimes. This project will test 

some of the predictions of the FPC for variable dry land rivers by investigating how food webs in the 

channels of a floodplain reach respond to flows of different magnitude, seasonal timing and duration. 

DP0342831 Prof JC Tulloch 

Title: Risk, Media and Identity in Kosovo: Local/Global Trends in Democratization 

2003 : $50,390 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $65,000 

*** 

Category: 4203 - CULTURAL STUDIES 


Summary: 

In the new, post-Cold War global order, overt conflict and everyday risk for national populations has been 

endemic. What some call military humanism, followed by democratic reform and human renewal have 

marked the recent and current histories of Kosovo, Bosnia, East Timor, Afghanistan and various African 

states. Focussing on media and popular culture, this project will take Kosovo as a case study of 

democratic reform and renewal. Drawing centrally on cultural and risk theory, it will examine new 

journalism training, the expansion of local radio, religious pilgrimage/tourism, and media coverage of 

memories of violence and risk in today's Kosovo. 

***

DP0342549 Dr DM Watson 

Title: Mistletoe as a keystone resource---an experimental test 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

My recent synthesis of known interactions between animals and mistletoe suggests that mistletoe 

functions as a keystone resource, influencing diversity patterns in forested ecosystems worldwide. This 

project tests the keystone hypothesis explicitly for woodland communities using landscape-scale 

manipulation. In 40 woodland remnants, all mistletoes will be removed from 20, with subsequent seasonal 

censuses of woodland birds, arboreal marsupials and butterflies. Incorporating data on spatial and 

temporal variation in fruit, nectar and arthropod availability, this study represents a model system for 

understanding the ecosystem-wide role of ecological keystones and the influence of resource distribution 

on diversity patterns in fragmented habitats generally. 

Macquarie University 

DP0343152 Dr SD Bartlett 

Title: Optical realisations of continuous-variable quantum information 

2003 : $69,345 

2004 : $69,345 

2005 : $69,345 

*** 

Category: 2404 - OPTICAL PHYSICS 

Administering Institution: Macquarie University 

APD Dr SD Bartlett 

Summary: 

The project aims to develop a framework for optical realisations of continuous-variable quantum 

information. Such realisations offer the potential for major technological advances in quantum information 

processing in the near future, but are currently impeded by the lack of a well-defined theoretical 

foundation. This project aims to construct such a foundation, including energy cutoffs, detector 

resolution, and finite resources. Feasible experiments to test and exploit continuous-variable quantum 

information processing will be proposed. The resulting framework will allow the field to progress beyond 

proof-of-principle demonstrations and to develop new, technology-driven quantum information protocols. 

DP0344732 Prof AJ Beattie A/Prof DA Briscoe 

*** 

Title: Antimicrobial defences in the evolution of sociality 

2003 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Disease microorganisms were probably important selective agents during the evolution of most species. 

Social insects, the ants, bees, wasps and termites, may have been especially vulnerable because their 

colonies contain large numbers of closely related individuals living in close proximity; ideal conditions for 

contagious diseases. We will explore the evolution of antimicrobial defences in social insects and related 

groups. Social insects are important ecologically and economically and understanding their relationships 

with microbial diseases will facilitate their conservation and control. Knowledge of these interactions 

may also prove useful to human societies becoming increasingly vulnerable to disease. 

***

DP0344400 Dr E Belousova 

Title: Crustal Evolution in Australia: Ancient and Young Terrains 

2003 : $99,345 

2004 : $99,345 

2005 : $99,345 

Category: 2601 - GEOLOGY 


APD Dr E Belousova 

Summary: 

The mechanisms of crustal growth and the processes of crust-mantle interaction will be studied in 

selected Archean, Proterozoic and Phanerozoic terrains in Australia, using a newly developed approach: 

the integrated, in-situ microanalysis of Hf and Pb isotopic composition and trace-element patterns in 

zircons from sediments and selected igneous bodies. The results will provide new information on the 

evolution of the Australian crust, with wider implications for the development of global crust and mantle 

reservoirs. The outcomes will define crustal evolution signatures related to regional-scale mineralisation, 

and thus will be highly relevant to mineral exploration in Australia and offshore. 

DP0343989 Dr C Blaha Prof J Yeomans 

Title: Muscarinic Receptor Regulation of Dopamine Reward Pathways in the Brain 

2003 : $60,000 

*** 

Category: 2701 - BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY 


Summary: 

Human disorders such as schizophrenia and drug addiction are linked to alterations in the activity of 

neurons in the brain containing the chemical dopamine. Other types of brain neurons containing the 

chemical acetylcholine regulate the activity of dopamine neurons by acting on acetylcholine receptors 

located on dopamine neurons. We aim to examine how dopamine neuron activity is regulated by these 

receptors using newly developed physiological methods together with a new acetylcholine receptor drug. 

We also aim to assess the suitability of mice genetically modified to be deficient in acetylcholine 

receptors as animal models of dopamine dysfunction related to schizophrenia and drug addiction. 

DP0345451 A/Prof GJ Brierley Ms KA Fryirs 

*** 

Title: Stream power and river morphology in partly-confined valleys of coastal New South 

Wales, Australia 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $88,000 



Summary: 

Rivers in the escarpment-dominated catchments of coastal NSW are characterised by confined and 

partly-confined valley-settings in which channels have little capacity to adjust. The key aim of this project 

is to determine controls on the distribution of floodplains in this landscape. Particular attention will be 

placed on the role played by stream power in determining the relationship between valley incision and 

lateral expansion processes along river courses. Understanding controls on these rivers is critical in 

determining how they modify their form in response to various disturbance events (whether 'natural' of 

human-induced). Results will provide a rigorous basis with which to explain cross-catchment variability 

in river forms and processes, aiding our capacity to predict future adjustments to disturbance and 

develop river management strategies that 'work with nature'. 

***

DP0344447 Dr DG Butt Ms AR Moore A/Prof JA Cartmill 

Title: Systemic Safety: the meanings of behaviour in contexts of surgical care 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 

Category: 3802 - LINGUISTICS 


APD Ms AR Moore 

Summary: 

This collaborative project aims to improve our understanding of interacting systems of communication, as 

exemplified by the context of surgery. Increasingly, adverse events in operative care are considered 

systemic rather than a product of system breakdown. Existing systems, and how they lead to adverse 

events, need to be made more explicit. We will describe surgical practice as a system of 

meaning-bearing systems, integrated from context to content to expression, and incorporating language 

and other symbolic systems. We will display the ensemble effects of choices in these systems and how 

they predispose towards or inhibit adverse outcomes through systemic networks. 

DP0344688 Dr X Duong 

*** 

Title: Boundedness of Singular integral operators and applications to Bochner-Riesz 

summability, Riesz transforms, and Hardy spaces. 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $55,000 

Category: 2301 - MATHEMATICS 


Summary: 

We aim to develop harmonic analysis methods to study singular integral operators and function spaces 

associated to these operators. We propose to study the long standing problem of convergence of 

Bochner-Riesz means in Fourier analysis, and investigate differential operators with non-smooth 

coefficients acting on rough domains, or acting on general spaces like manifolds. Expected outcomes are 

new techniques in harmonic analysis to be developed, with applications being solutions to a number of 

open problems in the theories of harmonic analysis, partial differential equations and function spaces. 

*** 

DP0345643 A/Prof CS Evans Dr DC Burke Mr RA Peters 

Title: Design of dynamic visual signals 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

Models of the design of visual signals depend heavily upon analyses of static ornaments. Nothing is 

known about dynamic visual signals. We will use an array of new techniques to tackle this problem for 

the first time. Motion analyses will define the task faced by the visual system. Sensory limitations will be 

measured to identify constraints on signal evolution. Digital video playback studies will assess recognition 

and explain aspects of signal design. Results will test the generality of principles that have been 

developed in studies of female mate choice and extend these ideas to address intra-sexual selection 

operating through opponent assessment. 

DP0345302 Dr RM Ferrell 

*** 

Title: Sexual Technologies and Reproductive Powers

2003 : $25,000 

2004 : $25,000 

2005 : $20,000 

Category: 3799 - OTHER STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY 


Summary: 

The project is to investigate the impact of the new reproductive technologies on the concepts of the 

sexual relation. The derivation of concepts of sexual equality, and their relation and dependence on 

technology will be examined. Using the theoretical perspectives of European philosophy, in conjunction 

with contemporary feminist philosophy, the direction of change in concepts will be investigated. 

DP0343541 A/Prof EM Goldys Prof PO Holtz 

*** 

Title: Dual wavelength quantum dot light detectors 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 

Category: 2402 - THEORETICAL AND CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS 


Summary: 

This project aims to develop technologies to fabricate advanced electronic materials based on gallium 

antimonide (GaSb), to explore their physics and use them in improved optoelectronic devices.GaSb 

technology is in its infancy, therefore basic and applied research is needed to utilise these materials to 

their full potential for long wavelength photonic devices with unique promise in military and civilian 

applications: fire detection, missile and surveillance systems, environmental monitoring, biology and 

medicine.As an outcome, growth protocols for innovative device structures will be established, the 

structures' behaviour assessed and device fabrication and characterisation carried out and reported. 

DP0343550 Dr BL Griffen-Foley 

Title: Beyond the Bakelite Box: A History of Commercial Radio in Australia 

2003 : $128,649 

2004 : $104,854 

2005 : $113,854 

2006 : $107,854 

2007 : $101,354 

*** 

Category: 4001 - JOURNALISM, COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA 


QEII Dr BL Griffen-Foley 

Summary: 

Beyond the Bakelite Box is the first full-scale history of commercial radio in Australia. It is an economic 

history of commercial radio from its origins in the 1920s to the present day, examining the factors that 

transformed amateur telegraphy into a means of mass communication, the dynamics of radio advertising, 

and the emergence and expansion of interlocking media dynasties. It is a political history, addressing the 

awarding and regulation of licences, the use of radio by politicians, and censorship. It is a cultural history, 

exploring programming genres, the construction of radio 'communities', and the relationship between 

commercial and public sector broadcasting. 

DP0344212 Dr HG Groth 

Title: Optical Illusion in Victorian Culture 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $35,000 

***

Category: 4201 - LANGUAGE STUDIES 


Summary: 

The aim is to undertake a major interdisciplinary study of optical illusion in Victorian culture, both as a form 

of popular entertainment and as a discursive field in which new modes of self-representation and 

knowledge were explored. By focusing on an extensive range of cultural forms including, optical treatise, 

literary texts, popular entertainments, new visual technologies, newspapers and the periodical press, 

this project will provide an invaluable historical context for contemporary speculations about the impact of 

new visual technologies on the increasingly blurred boundaries between different cultures, identities and 

modes of self-representation. 

DP0342793 Dr JL Hudson 

*** 

Title: From Anxious Temperament to Disorder: The role of the parent- child interaction. 

2003 : $92,000 

2004 : $83,000 

2005 : $83,000 

Category: 3801 - PSYCHOLOGY 


APD Dr JL Hudson 

Summary: 

Three studies are proposed. The first examines parent behaviour (over involvement, encouragement of 

avoidance) in a large group of inhibited and uninhibited preschoolers over two-years. The aim is to 

determine whether parent behaviour places an inhibited child at greater risk of developing an anxiety 

disorder. The second examines parents of anxious children interacting with non-clinical children and 

parents of non-clinical children interacting with anxious children. It is expected that anxious children will 

elicit more help from non-clinical mothers. The third examines anxiety-disordered parents interacting with 

their children. It is expected that anxiety-disordered mothers would be over involved regardless of the 

child's anxiety. 

*** 

DP0344192 Dr AC Nayak Prof N Foo Prof AK Ghose Dr M Pagnucco 

Title: Intelligent Information Assimilation 

2003 : $69,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $55,000 

Category: 2802 - ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SIGNAL AND IMAGE PROCESSING 


Summary: 

Making intelligent and informative choice usually involves assimilating information from multiple sources. 

The underlying emphasis and priorities of different sources vary. That makes the task of assimilating such 

information very difficult. Recent research on belief merging provides a formal framework designed to 

facilitate this task. In this project we will (1) examine existing and novel belief merging strategies, (2) 

study their impact on allied disciplines, (3) extend the framework for suitable applications and (4) design, 

implement and test fielded applications of this framework. The outcome of this research will provide the 

basis for many industrial applications such as agent negotiation. 

DP0345366 Prof JP Pieprzyk Dr H Wang 

Title: Algebraic Analysis of Cryptosystems 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $70,000 

*** 

Category: 2805 - DATA FORMAT 

Administering Institution: Macquarie University

Summary: 

This project studies an (new) algebraic approach to cryptanalysis of modern block ciphers. The approach 

works for all cryptosystems that use either small S-boxes, or their algebraic structure can be described 

by a system of overdefined quadratic equations. The cryptosystems that are potentially breakable using 

this approach are Rijndael and Serpent - the two top finalists of the Advanced Encryption Standard 

contest. The project also explores how this approach can be applied to design new and more powerful 

factoring algorithms. The project has an explosive potential to redefine the theory and practice of modern 

cryptography. 

DP0343216 Dr RJ Stevenson Prof RA Boakes 

Title: Developing and testing a mnemonic theory of odour perception 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $59,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project studies how odours are perceived and remembered. Its theoretical framework is a model of 

olfaction containing a central assumption that past experience of an odour determines how it is perceived 

and how well it can be discriminated from other odours. Thus, the project tests predictions that 

discrimination between odours depends on age and on culture-specific experience, as well as other 

aspects of the model, like discrete memory systems, imagery and different ways of learning about 

odours. The project's outcome will be its integration of odour perception, learning and memory, into the 

first comprehensive information-processing model of human olfaction. 

DP0346047 Prof RH Street 

Title: Invariants of higher-dimensional categories, with applications 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $70,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Complex systems in mathematics are difficult to tell apart so one constructs simpler structures from them. 

These structures must be equal, isomorphic or equivalent when the original systems are equivalent; the 

word invariant is used for such constructions. Higher-dimensional categories are complex structures 

that are currently gaining a lot of attention from mathematicians, physicists and computer scientists 

because of developing applications in those fields. This project will establish and study invariants for 

higher-dimensional categories which will be tested by examining their viability for producing results in 

group theory and homotopy theory. 

DP0345471 Dr J Sutton 

*** 

Title: Interdisciplinarity in the Sciences of Memory: cognition, culture, and complexity 

2003 : $68,000 

2004 : $64,000 

2005 : $52,437 

Category: 3706 - HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE 


Summary: 

Memory is studied in many disciplines, at a bewildering variety of levels. Is there any sense in which 

memory theorists - from neurobiologists to narrative psychologists - are studying the same phenomena? 

This project constructs a positive framework for understanding diverse research on memory in both 

cognitive and social sciences. We clarify the conceptual foundations of dynamical systems theory in the

sciences of memory. We develop methods for understanding complex interactions and collaborations 

between brain and environment; and we test naturalistic accounts of autobiographical memory, social 

memory, and external memory through case studies in cognitive psychology, history, and media theory. 

DP0345180 Dr AC Try 

Title: Functionalised Chiral Building Blocks for New Photonic Materials 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $70,000 

*** 

Category: 2503 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 


Summary: 

This project describes an approach to a new family of chiral liquid crystals and chiral liquid crystalline 

polymers for potential use in display technologies and as wave guides for fibre optic cables in the 

telecommunications industry. The compounds are based on a rigid chiral core with attached peripheral 

functional group handles that span a range of polarities and can be positioned at several locations. 

These new chiral building blocks are anticipated to afford new materials whose properties can be tailored 

to specific applications following structure-property studies. 

DP0344579 Prof AJ van der Poorten 

*** 

Title: Continued Fractions and Torsion on Hyperelliptic Curves 

2003 : $20,000 

2004 : $20,000 

2005 : $20,000 



Summary: 

Scientific advance should not blindly add to our knowledge; a true advance brings insights that collapse 

different issues into one. Understanding more is to need to remember less. For an important class of 

examples, this project identifies the study of a fundamental invariant of a quadratic number field, its 

regulator and hence its class number, with maximum torsion on the Jacobian variety of an hyperelliptic 

curve. The investigator's methods will surprise some longstanding problems into submission and in 

particular will lead them to reveal full data on torsion on hyperelliptic curves of low genus. 

DP0344841 Prof JJ Veevers 

Title: Mapping Under the Ice - crustal evolution in Antarctica and the assembly of 

Gondwanaland 

2003 : $60,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The project will use a novel approach to map the sub-ice geology of Antarctica, and fill a gap in 

paleogeographical reconstructions. Paleocurrents indicate that Permo-Triassic river sands in 

Gondwanaland were dispersed from the sub-glacial Gamburtsev Mountains and the Beardmore-Ross 

region following the collision of Gondwanaland and Laurussia to form Pangea. An integrated U-Pb and 

Hf-isotope analysis of zircon grains from these sandstones will map the age and crustal evolution of 

these intercontinental origins. Comparison with similar data from older Devonian sands in 

Australia-Antarctica-Africa will allow reconstruction of the pre- and post-collisional tectonics of Australia 

and adjoining areas of Gondwanaland. 

***

DP0344444 Dr H Wang 

Title: Security Services for Stream-Oriented and Multicast-Based Communication 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Multicast communication over lossy networks is becoming the basic for a growing number of applications. 

It is therefore critical to provide sound security mechanisms for multicast communication. Yet, existing 

security protocols for multicast offer only partial solutions. This project is concerned with two major 

security problems of multicast communications: authentication and secrecy. The goal of this project is to: 

(1) develop a framework for analysis and evaluation of security services for multicast communication; (2) 

design efficient algorithms and protocols for securing emerging applications that are multicast-based 

and/or stream-oriented. 

*** 

DP0343204 Prof M Westoby A/Prof DD Ackerly Dr H Cornelissen Dr SM Diaz Asst Prof DS Ellsworth 

Prof P Reich 

Title: Plant species economics and strategy-dimensions of plant ecology 

2003 : $190,000 

2004 : $200,000 

2005 : $200,000 

2006 : $200,000 

2007 : $200,000 



Summary: 

Ecological strategies of plant species are differentiated mainly along economic dimensions. Four key 

dimensions are the leaf lifespan - leaf mass per area tradeoff, the seed mass - seed output tradeoff, the 

leaf size - twig size spectrum, and canopy height at maturity. Each dimension reflects a spectrum of 

allocation patterns. Costs, benefits, tradeoffs and correlations underpinning these strategy-dimensions 

will be investigated within Australia, and in collaboration with partner investigators overseas. 

Southern Cross University 

DP0342956 Dr BD Eyre 

*** 

Title: Resolving uncertainty over the importance of N-fixation versus denitrification in 

coastal systems 

2003 : $64,000 

2004 : $71,000 

2005 : $68,000 

Category: 2604 - OCEANOGRAPHY 

Administering Institution: Southern Cross University 

Summary: 

Nutrient enrichment of coastal waters is a significant national and international problem requiring urgent 

action. Despite many studies and many millions of dollars in research funding we know virtually nothing 

about the relative importance of the major nitrogen cycling pathways, N-fixation and denitrification. Many 

hundred's of millions of dollars are likely to be spent over the next ten years on the management of 

nitrogen enrichment of Australia's coastal waters. This study will use a new method for directly 

measuring N-fixation to resolve uncertainty over the importance of N-fixation versus denitrification in 

coastal systems; information which is critical for the efficient allocation of management resources. 

***

The University of New England 

DP0344274 Prof AT Atkinson 

Title: A History of the Uses of Imagination and Authority in Australia, 1870-1919 

2003 : $129,485 

2004 : $129,485 

2005 : $129,485 

2006 : $129,485 

2007 : $129,485 

Category: 4301 - HISTORICAL STUDIES 

Administering Institution: The University of New England 

APF Prof AT Atkinson 

Summary: 

This project is designed as the third and final stage of a process of connected research on the subject of 

European settlement in Australia. The work will focus especially on themes of oral and literary 

communication and the resulting sense of place and community. Prevailing attitudes to and uses of 

authority will be a central theme. The project will also draw together much recent work on the period 

leading up to the federation of the Australian colonies, federation itself and World War One and in the 

process will explore continuities with earlier periods of Australian history. 

DP0343265 Dr RG Baker 

*** 

Title: Modelling the Internet as a Geographical System 

2003 : $50,000 

Category: 3506 - SERVICES 


Summary: 

This project aims to model Internet transactions as a time-dependent random walk relative to the 24-hour 

rotation of the Earth. The dynamics of global distance-time interactions will be tested from Internet 

experiments and data bases. Case studies of retail transactions of connected households in Sydney and 

Brisbane will explore its socio-economic underpinnings. The project is significant in that it specifically 

defines the character of global Internet flows with a possibility of commercial advantage to Australia in 

understanding how the geography of time zones affects its dynamics. 

DP0344111 Dr Y Du Prof NE Dancer 

Title: Free boundary problems in partial differential equations and related topics 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $53,000 

2005 : $50,000 

*** 



Summary: 

We study problems for non-linear partial differential equations where there is an unknown (free) 

boundary in the underlying domain. These problems occur when there is a transition from different states 

of physical systems and arise in many applications of mathematics, such as in population models and in 

melting problems, to mention but two. We as well discuss related problems motivated by understanding 

sharp transitions which also have many applications in applied sciences. 

DP0344782 Dr PR Grave 

*** 

Title: The Early Modern Economy, East Asia 1500-1700AD 

2003 : $53,000 

2004 : $40,000

2005 : $38,000 

Category: 4302 - ARCHAEOLOGY AND PREHISTORY 


Summary: 

This project aims to gauge the extent to which East Asian society was incorporated into the early phases 

of the global economy using high-resolution geochemical ceramic analysis to integrate shipwreck, 

production and stylistic classes. The development of globalized economic systems beginning in the 16th 

century unleashed a profound and accelerating transformation of the social, political and ecological 

landscape of the modern period. While the European contribution to the early modern phase of this 

transformation has been exhaustively studied, relatively little is known about the timing and extent of the 

Asian response to this new economic juncture. 

DP0345664 Dr IA Mason 

Title: Implementing Feferman-Landin Logic 

2003 : $31,500 

*** 

Category: 2804 - COMPUTATION THEORY AND MATHEMATICS 


Summary: 

The objective of this project is to utilise computer based verification tools (such as PVS and Rewritting 

Logic) to develop a software engineering environment for specifying and verifying systems written in 

high-level programming languages such as Java, Scheme, and ML. The project will thus substantially 

advance the use of formal computer based tools to develop reliable programs and specifications for 

life-critical systems. The project will also develop formally based interoperability between the PVS and 

Maude systems, two widely used computer tools for reasoning about complex systems. 

*** 

DP0343334 A/Prof MJ Morwood Prof RP Soejono Dr F Aziz Dr W Rink Dr CS Turney Dr PB O'Sullivan 

Ms CJ Lentfer 

Title: Astride the Wallace Line: 1.5 million years of human evolution, dispersal, culture and 

environmental change in Indonesia 

2003 : $260,000 

2004 : $210,000 

2005 : $190,000 

2006 : $150,000 



Summary: 

This project will address major turning points in human evolution, dispersal, culture and 

palaeoenvironmental change in Southeast Asia. It will focus on two Indonesian islands (Flores and Java) 

that lie east and west of a major biogeographical boundary: the Wallace Line. Turning points in the last 1.5 

million years include the initial arrival of hominids; the extinction of early hominids; the appearance of fully 

modern humans; the beginnings of plant cultivation and animal domestication; and major faunal changes 

over time. We will develop and apply new dating techniques to tackle some of the most fundamental 

questions in world archaeology. 

*** 

DP0345508 Prof JE Pegg Dr LJ Graham Prof JM Royer 

Title: Enhancing basic academic skills of low-achieving students: the role of automaticity in 

numeracy, reading and comprehension 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $50,000

Category: 3301 - EDUCATION STUDIES 


Summary: 

The project is designed to improve the basic reading and numeracy skills of low-achieving school 

students. The aim of the research is to investigate the effects of improved automaticity of basic skills on 

higher-order processes such as comprehension and problem solving. The underlying rationale for the 

program is that improving automaticity in component skills, such as decoding or calculating, frees up 

working memory resources. This freeing up of resources allows students to focus on inherently 

attention demanding higher-order cognitive activities, of the sort increasingly required of students in the 

middle school years. 

DP0345634 Prof JE Pegg Dr DL Panizzon 

*** 

Title: Assessment practices: Empowering mathematics and science teachers in rural 

areas to improve student learning and curriculum implementation 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $55,000 

Category: 3303 - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS 


Summary: 

The philosophy behind this research is that assessment needs to be informative and useful for both 

teacher and learner. For this to happen, there has to be a 'constructive alignment' of curriculum content, 

pedagogy, and assessment. This research employs empirically-based qualitative assessment 

techniques, which complement traditional assessment practices, as the foundation for teachers to make 

this synthesis in mathematics and science in rural schools in NSW. The significance of the research is in 

the insights it offers to how teachers can improve the learning environment for their students by 

addressing more appropriately student needs and higher learning outcomes. 

DP0343957 Dr AM Silvas Prof GH Horsley 

Title: Macrina of Annesi and the Emergence of Monasticism in Central Anatolia 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $64,345 

2005 : $64,345 

*** 

Category: 4402 - RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS 


APD Dr AM Silvas 

Summary: 

This project builds on extensive research into the 'Great Asketikon' of Basil the Great, the primary 

document of monasticism in Anatolia (modern Turkey). By using on-the-ground search for the location of 

Annesi (the family home of Macrina, Basil's sister), a new collation of all the sources relating to Macrina 

and a new collection of the letters of Gregory of Nyssa, Macrina's biographer, it aims to present a revised 

view of the emergence of this local monasticism. Two books, if not three will result: an historical 

monograph, 'The Book of Macrina' and 'The Letters of Gregory of Nyssa'. 

The University of New South Wales 

*** 

DP0343768 A/Prof AG Aberle Prof SR Wenham Dr AB Sproul Prof MA Green Dr PA Basore Dr PR 

Campbell Dr PP Altermatt 

Title: Development of polycrystalline silicon thin-film photovoltaic devices on glass 

2003 : $91,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $100,000 

Category: 2909 - ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING 

Administering Institution: The University of New South Wales 

Summary: 

This project addresses a range of key issues relevant to crystalline silicon solar cells bound by the 

common feature of reducing the cost of solar photovoltaic electricity by fabricating thin films of 

good-quality polycrystalline silicon on cheap glass substrates. The project is significant because thin-film 

polycrystalline silicon solar cells on glass can dramatically lower the cost of solar electricity. However, at 

present such cells are not yet produced industrially. This project is expected to lead to major 

scientific/technical advances with this hugely promising power generation technology, and to bring 

forward the industrial mass production of these urgently needed devices. 

*** 

DP0346391 A/Prof AA Adesina A/Prof MP Brungs 

Title: Novel Metal Carbide Catalysts For Gas-To-Liquid Conversion Processes 

2003 : $77,000 

2004 : $68,000 

Category: 2906 - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 


Summary: 

The development of efficient gas-to-liquid fuels processes is driven by the availability of abundant natural 

gas reserves and environmental advantages of synthetic liquid fuels. In this study, a new 

molybdenum-tungsten carbide catalyst that with excellent performance but 80 times cheaper than noble 

metal catalysts is proposed. It is especially attractive for industrial applications because it can be used for 

steam reforming of natural gas to synthesis gas, and subsequent conversion to gasoline. This 

represents huge cost savings in catalyst and energetically-efficient reactors in the global petrochemical 

industry where millions of dollars are spent annually on catalyst improvement and rehabilitation. 

DP0346315 Prof R Amal Dr C Selomulya 

*** 

Title: Development of a Model Relating Aggregate Properties with Aggregation Conditions 

for Design and Control Purposes 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $79,000 

2005 : $75,000 



APD Dr C Selomulya 

Summary: 

The project aims to understand the role of shear and other important parameters in the aggregation of 

nano- and micron-sized particles through fundamental studies on different particulate systems and shear 

environments. The knowledge will be used to develop an engineering model relating the floc properties to 

system conditions, thus allowing the utilisation of experimental data to full-scale operations without 

eschewing their relevance. Project outcomes include a comprehensive guideline to set optimum conditions 

required to generate flocs with desirable properties for control and design purposes, with applicability 

extending from solid-liquid separation to nano-material synthesis, and various processes involving particle 

aggregation. 

DP0346470 Dr GF Barrett 

Title: Robust Empirical Analysis of Consumption Poverty in Australia 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $52,000 

***

Category: 3402 - APPLIED ECONOMICS 


Summary: 

Australia currently sends $47billion on income support programs, assisting 5.1 million people facing 

economic hardship. The aims of the project are to improve our understanding of economic poverty in 

Australia and contribute new methods to the field of poverty analysis. The analysis will include an 

assessment of the effectiveness of public programs targeted to the poor, and an evaluation of recent 

reforms to income support programs. The project will also reveal the critical methodological assumptions 

underlying our current perceptions of poverty. This research will ultimately contribute to more effective 

poverty alleviation and income support programs in Australia. 

DP0346317 Prof PH Barry 

*** 

Title: A molecular structure-function investigation of major membrane channels involved 

in olfactory transduction 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 

Category: 2706 - PHYSIOLOGY 


Summary: 

Olfactory receptor neurons are extraordinarily-sensitive sensors for detecting minute concentrations of 

odorant molecules. This project aims to extend our previous studies of these specialised mammalian 

olfactory cells by using state-of-the art technologies: electrophysiology (patch-clamp) and molecular 

biology (site-directed-mutagenesis), to investigate how the molecular structure of their ion channels 

(selective protein pores) and receptors contribute to the odorant-induced generation of electrical activity, 

which mediates our sense of smell (olfaction). The project has specific relevance for understanding 

olfaction, as well as relevance for other sensory systems and other ion channels. 

*** 

DP0344301 A/Prof CD Bertram Adj/Prof JA Reizes 

Title: The development of particle-depleted regions in dense suspensions of neutrally 

buoyant particles 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $40,000 

Category: 2918 - INTERDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING 


Summary: 

We aim to measure the spatial variation of fluid speed and particle speed, and of particle concentration, 

across and along a pipe into which has been introduced a mixture of said particles and fluid. This 

problem has significance in mechanical and chemical engineering wherever particle/fluid mixtures are 

flowing. The expected outcomes are recognition of a major contribution to world research, as well as 

technological applications; one that motivates us is the blood shear in the bearings of a revolutionary 

Australian blood pump for cardiac assist that avoids both pivots and magnetic suspension for the single 

moving part. 

DP0345555 Dr SM Best 

Title: Affect and Expression in Women's Art in Art Movements of the 1960s and 70s 

2003 : $30,647 

2004 : $30,800 

2005 : $33,166 

*** 

Category: 4199 - OTHER ARTS 

Administering Institution: The University of New South Wales

Summary: 

Through a study of four artists, this project will constitute a major revision of the way art history 

understands the key art movements of the 1960s and 70s. The study will focus on four women artists' 

each representing a key movement of the period: Hesse (minimalism), Clark (conceptualism), Cha 

(conceptualism), Mendieta (land art)'and will demonstrate that their approach to affective expression is 

the key to understanding their contribution to the development of late-modern art. In the process it will 

reveal the shortcomings of existing art historical interpretations that see these movements as aiming to 

eliminate expression and subjectivity. 

*** 

DP0346398 A/Prof JM Cadogan Prof SJ Campbell 

Title: Insight and understanding in Rare-Earth magnetism 

2003 : $130,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

Today's technologically driven society relies on magnetic materials to an extent unimaginable even as 

recently as 20 years ago. Rare-earth transition-metal intermetallics are among the most important 

magnetic materials, providing the World's strongest magnet with extensive applications. Despite these 

impressive technological and commercial developments numerous aspects of rare-earth magnetism 

remain to be developed and resolved. The two innovative topics we shall research are the critical 

interplay between the rare-earth and transition-metal sublattices in ternary compounds, enabling us to 

understand complex compounds, and exploration of a set of quaternary compounds we have recently 

discovered, thus opening new areas of rare-earth magnetism. 

DP0345466 Dr KR Catchpole 

*** 

Title: High efficiency thin-film gallium arsenide solar cells 

2003 : $92,000 

2004 : $86,000 

2005 : $80,000 



APD Dr KR Catchpole 

Summary: 

Recent developments in GaAs-based solar cells have led to efficiencies above 30%. Widespread 

adoption of GaAs-based solar cells for space applications has also brought about large reductions in 

material costs. However, GaAs cells are still much more expensive than silicon cells. This application 

addresses the development of a manufacturable technique for lifting off thin films of GaAs. This 

approach allows a significantly reduced cost due to reduced materials usage, while maintaining high 

efficiency. Light-trapping for lifted-off cells will also be developed, which will allow the theoretical limit to 

performance to be approached, and fundamental processes in GaAs to be investigated. 

DP0345179 Prof BG Celler A/Prof NH Lovell 

Title: A comprehensive framework for interactive home telehealth research 

2003 : $140,000 

2004 : $115,000 

2005 : $120,000 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $120,000 

*** 

Category: 2915 - BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 


Summary: 

We propose the development of a comprehensive research framework for the next generation of home 

telecare technology. The framework will support the unattended recording of patient physiological data 

and allow for patient management and information review by health professionals. It will include 

knowledge management tools to support clinical decision making. Research will also be conducted into 

the development of mobile community networks and ambulatory monitoring technologies based around 

Bluetooth piconets.The long-term outcomes of this research will be improved patient health outcomes in 

the chronically ill and a decreased overall health care expenditure by reducing hospital admissions. 

DP0344753 Prof JB Chan 

Title: Police Culture and Professionalism: A Follow-up Study of Recruits 

2003 : $51,000 

2004 : $53,000 

*** 

Category: 3904 - LAW ENFORCEMENT 


Summary: 

This is a follow-up study of a longitudinal (1995-1997) research on police culture. The original research, 

based on a cohort of 150 police recruits, analysed the socialisation process and the development of 

concepts of police professionalism. The proposed study will track the careers of the cohort and examine 

any changes in attitudes to policing and professionalism since the original study. It will be the first study 

of its kind in Australia and is expected to further the researcher's already recognised theoretical and 

practical contribution to the understanding of police culture and its relationship with the socio-political 

conditions of policing. 

DP0344814 Mr LK Chan Dr R Donovan 

Title: A Design History of Australian HIV/AIDS Public Health Campaigns 1983-2004. 

2003 : $50,887 

2004 : $49,500 

2005 : $42,000 

*** 

Category: 4104 - DESIGN STUDIES 


Summary: 

This project investigates the differing roles of governments and community organisations as influential 

factors in the formulation of graphic representations which characterise the prevention campaigns used 

in the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Australia 1983-2004. It explains how graphic representations, functioning as 

an index of official and public responses to the epidemic, impact on the aesthetic and professional 

autonomy of the designer. Complimenting existing quantitative assessments this study uses a 

textual-visual analysis and triangulation method to demonstrate the agency of these institutional 

constraints placed within the broader range of material forms relating to the campaigns including 

brochures, posters, and videos. 

*** 

DP0344964 Prof IW Dawes Prof M Breitenbach Prof RA Stocker 

Title: Cellular Responses to Oxidative Damage: Cell Aging 

2003 : $230,000 

2004 : $230,000 

2005 : $230,000 

2006 : $230,000 

2007 : $230,000 



APF Prof IW Dawes 

Summary:

The aim of this project is to identify the mechanisms by which oxidative stress and free radical damage 

cause cell aging. This work will make a significant contribution to our understanding of the aging process 

in cells by identifying the major reactive oxygen species that contribute to cell aging, which defence 

systems and antioxidants provide the greatest degree of protection, what damage accumulates as cells 

age and which genetic systems are activated as during the process. 

DP0345547 Dr D Del Favero A/Prof NC Brown Prof J Shaw Prof P Weibel 

Title: Interactive Narrative as a Form of Recombinatory Search in the Cinematic 

Transcription of Televisual Information 

2003 : $97,542 

2004 : $119,412 

2005 : $25,000 

*** 

Category: 4103 - CINEMA, ELECTRONIC ARTS AND MULTIMEDIA 


Summary: 

This study investigates the role of interactive narrative in the cinematic reconstruction of televisual 

information. Through the design of software enabling the recombinatory search of televisual data within 

virtual environments, it tests the conduct of narrative transcription as a model for interactive cinematic 

production. The value of the study is set against the fact that while narrative is central to conventional 

cinema emphasis upon simulation has caused the narrative potential of digital media to be overlooked. 

Advancing the world's first cinematic concept of transcriptive narrative it seeks evidence of the 

multi-temporal agency of interactivity as expanded within revisionist cinematic theory. 

DP0342868 Prof TM Devinney Prof RE Wood 

*** 

Title: Outcome Trust: An Experimental Validation 

2003 : $30,000 

2004 : $38,000 



Summary: 

Scholars have studied trust from a host of disciplinary perspectives. With such a diversity of scholarship, 

we find both a conflict over approaches and methods as well as the inevitable differences about the 

fundamental nature of the concept of trust. Bhattacharya, Devinney & Pillutla develop a remarkably 

robust operational model of trust that is a function of two factors, the uncertainty faced by the parties to 

a relationship and the conjectures they form about each other's actions. We propose to test this 

formulation rigorously, using experimental methods, thereby allowing us to broaden our understanding of 

the critical concept of trust. 

DP0344007 A/Prof PM Doran 

*** 

Title: Application of bioreactors for culture of differentiated cells and solid-phase tissues 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $55,000 



Summary: 

The aim of this project is to develop methods for producing three-dimensional human cartilage outside of 

the body. Tissue-engineered cartilage has a range of applications, including in toxicity testing, for 

production of therapeutics, and as surgical transplant devices. Bioreactors will be used to culture 

cartilage under controlled conditions for development of living tissues with properties as close as 

possible to those of native articular cartilage. Novel culture strategies will be used to enhance the 

availability of growth factors and provide adequate oxygen and nutrient exchange. These techniques 

have the potential to yield significant improvements in the quality of engineered cartilage.

*** 

DP0345263 Dr KM Dunn A/Prof J Forrest Dr R Pe-Pua 

Title: Measuring and mapping the experience of racism in Australia 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $85,500 

2005 : $60,000 

Category: 3701 - SOCIOLOGY 


Summary: 

This is the first empirical assessment of the circumstances and frequency of the experience of racism in 

Australia. A telephone survey, 12000 respondents, and fieldwork in ten localities, are the major method. 

Spatial and social variations in the experience of racism will be analysed. Social construction theory will 

be tested as an explanation of such variations. Regional anti-racism packages will be developed and 

tested in the field. Decision-support tools for local authorities and communities to combat racism will be 

provided. A unique racism database will underpin a scholarly monograph, doctoral dissertation and a 

series of refereed articles. 

*** 

DP0342864 Dr GM Eckhardt Prof TM Devinney Dr RW Belk 

Title: CROSS-CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN PERCEPTIONS OF CONSUMPTION ETHICS 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $47,500 

Category: 3502 - BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT 


Summary: 

This research addresses the influence of such culturally distinct variables as the relevance of important 

others in determining and acting on ethical interpretations, the significance of external factors such as 

prominence of brand name on interpretations by consumers, and the importance of the type of potential 

ethical infraction. It utilises an interpretive research paradigm that poses potential ethical consumption 

dilemmas and examines consumers' reactions. The interpretations of the dilemmas (are ethical issues 

perceived?) and informants' justifications for their actions are investigated across countries to examine 

how the cultural lens through which consumption decisions are viewed can shape reactions. 

DP0343240 Dr JP Evans 

*** 

Title: Female roles during postcopulatory sexual selection 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $118,000 

2005 : $116,000 



APD Dr JP Evans 

Summary: 

The project will evaluate the importance of postcopulatory sexual selection in the guppy, a polyandrous 

species of livebearing fish. The use of artificial insemination, which experimentally controls the relative 

contribution of sperm from competing males (as well as other confounding effects), will facilitate a 

powerful test of recent theoretical predictions in evolutionary biology. The project will enable me to 

distinguish between competing hypotheses for postcopulatory paternity bias following female multiple 

mating (sperm competition, cryptic female choice, genetic compatibility) and provide additional insights into 

the selective forces promoting the evolution of female promiscuity. 

*** 

DP0346392 Prof AG Fane Prof TD Waite Dr SS Chang

Title: Optimal design and operation of submerged hollow fibres for flocculated feeds 

2003 : $144,000 

2004 : $89,000 

2005 : $86,000 



APD Dr SS Chang 

Summary: 

This project will provide fundamental understanding of the operation of submerged hollow fibre 

(SHF)membranes with flocculated feed and fouling control by bubbling. The SHF is the latest generation 

membrane system for water and wastewater treatment offering lower cost and reduced energy demand. 

The operation of the SHF with floc is radically different from conventional membrane technology and this 

project will provide the understanding necessary to optimise design and operation. 

*** 

DP0342766 Dr M Ferry Dr CH Davies Prof FJ Humphreys 

Title: The thermal stability of nanocrystalline alloys produced by severe plastic straining 

2003 : $69,000 

2004 : $73,000 

2005 : $74,000 

Category: 2913 - METALLURGY 


Summary: 

An exciting class of materials has emerged with grain sizes two orders of magnitude finer than that 

produced by conventional processing. These nanocrystalline alloys are produced by intense plastic 

straining termed equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE). The aim of the project is to incorporate novel 

experimental techniques, using single crystals, in situ annealing and 3-D computer simulation to develop a 

fundamental understanding of microstructural stability during ECAE and subsequent thermal treatment. 

Such advances in our understanding of boundary mobility in fine-scale microstructures is important for 

evaluating their stability and, hence, the possible commercial exploitation of these materials. 

*** 

DP0344484 Prof DG Fiebig Ms EJ Savage Ms RC Viney 

Title: Economic analysis of inter-relationships between private health insurance and health 

expenditures 

2003 : $25,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $30,000 

Category: 3404 - ECONOMETRICS 


Summary: 

Health care services involve a complex mix of private and public funding and provision. The links between 

policy initiatives, such as private health insurance incentives, and outcomes are often unclear. This 

project involves a detailed economic and econometric investigation of individual health insurance and 

health care consumption decisions and their interaction, and the resulting impact on health care utilisation 

and expenditure across public and private sectors. The significance of the project lies in its use of 

innovative methods to combine several data sources, and in the potential for the resulting models to 

predict the impact of future health policy initiatives. 

DP0346234 Prof RI Gilbert Prof MA Bradford 

Title: Nonlinear Analysis and Behaviour of Shallow Concrete Arches 

2003 : $138,000 

***

2004 : $91,000 

2005 : $93,000 

Category: 2908 - CIVIL ENGINEERING 


Summary: 

Concrete arches are widespread structural elements, but they are usually deep so that predicting their 

response is routine. The analysis of shallow arches is much more difficult, and with the contemporary 

use of higher strength concretes, shallow arches are often the optimum geometric configuration. This 

project aims to investigate the profoundly nonlinear behaviour of flat arches, which may be close to 

snap-through buckling, even under service load, due to creep and shrinkage. This research will fill an 

important gap in structural mechanics, and produce fundamental insights into the response of arches 

containing concrete. The outcomes will include much needed design guidance. 

DP0346406 Dr B Goldys A/Prof F Gozzi 

*** 

Title: Optimal Control of Stochastic Partial Differential Equations 

2003 : $50,000 



Summary: 

The problem to control a stochastic process so as to minimize a certain cost functional arises in many 

areas of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Mathematical Finance. An important practical question is to 

find, for a given cost functional, the optimizing control in a feedback form. We propose new tools to 

construct such optimal controls for a class of stochastic processes which are solutions to stochastic 

partial differential equations. As an outcome of this project we will obtain methods to determine the 

optimal control policies for a large variety of cost functionals and degenerated stochastic partial 

differential equations, in particular those arising in modelling of volatility in Finance. 

DP0346062 Adj/Prof RJ Goodwin 

*** 

Title: Porosity: The revision of public space in the city using public art to test the civic 

boundaries of built form. 

2003 : $75,169 

2004 : $45,000 

2005 : $74,429 

Category: 4102 - VISUAL ARTS AND CRAFTS 


Summary: 

This research aims to test the functional boundaries currently ascribed to the physical dimensions of 

public space, using a selected precinct of Sydney as a paradigm case. Using public art as a measure, 

this study aims to produce the first comprehensive indexical map of civic functions within the internal and 

external spaces of a city. Public art is historically well suited to the task of interrogating the civic 

extension of architecture, uniquely because of its symbiotic yet marginal relationship with built form. The 

resulting index will provide a tool for the re-conception of public engagement in architectural design. 

DP0346684 Prof SJ Gray Dr RD Morris 

*** 

Title: Corporate Transparency in the Asia Pacific Region: Factors Explaining Differences in 

Financial Disclosure Levels. 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $47,500 

Category: 3501 - ACCOUNTING, AUDITING AND ACCOUNTABILITY 


Summary: 

The adequacy of corporate transparency, as evidenced by relevant disclosures and accounting 

measurement policies, is of concern to investors and regulators worldwide but notably in respect of 

companies located in the Asia Pacific region following the Asian financial crisis. The aim of this project is 

to assess financial disclosure levels in major countries in the region against recognised benchmarks 

especially International Accounting Standards and to evaluate the significance of factors associated with 

differences in disclosure levels. The results of this study will provide valuable insights for Australian 

standard setters as well as the IASB, IOSCO and the World Bank. 

DP0344086 Ms LM Griffiths 

*** 

Title: Modelling a Complex System: In Search of an Observationally Consistent Universe 

2003 : $58,259 

2004 : $53,259 

2005 : $53,259 

2006 : $53,259 

Category: 2401 - ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCES 


APD Ms LM Griffiths 

Summary: 

This project aims to extract cosmological parameters from a synthesis of observational data and thereby 

significantly progress the understanding of our Universe. This will be achieved by mathematically 

modelling the theoretical predictions of the Big Bang Theory and statistically analysing a broad range of 

observational data. 

*** 

DP0344436 Dr BK Hayes Prof Dr JE Taplin Dr E Heit 

Title: Category learning and conceptual change in children 

2003 : $62,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $54,000 



Summary: 

Fundamental to children's cognitive development is the ability to form concepts and generalize beyond 

direct experience. This project examines the effect of pre-existing beliefs and new empirical observations 

on concept learning by children. The cognitive processes involved when children of various ages 

integrate these different sources of information to form new concepts will be investigated in several 

knowledge domains. In addition to addressing key theoretical questions about the role of exemplar 

diversity and sub-typing processes in concept learning the project will develop and evaluate innovative 

techniques for teaching science concepts to young children. 

DP0345572 Dr BI Henry Dr SL Wearne 

Title: Diffusion driven pattern formation and signal propagation in spatially complex 

excitable media 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $60,000 

*** 



Summary: 

A basic understanding of the mechanisms for pattern formation, from the spots on leopards to electrical 

signalling of neurons, has been achieved through reaction-diffusion equations. However to obtain a 

complete understanding, which is vital for many applications, it is necessary to modify this mathematical

model to incorporate spatial complexities in the underlying media. This project will develop a fractional 

calculus framework for pattern formation, including signal propagation, in spatially complex and excitable 

media. In a particular application we will model the way in which the signalling properties of neurons 

depend critically on their spatial complexity. 

DP0343634 Prof DB Hibbert 

*** 

Title: Preparation of nanostructured surfaces by electrochemical deposition through 

lyotropic liquid-crystal templates 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $48,000 

Category: 2501 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY (INCL. STRUCTURAL) 


Summary: 

Hexagonal-phase lyotropic liquid crystals may be used as templates to deposit metals on electrodes. The 

sizes of the structures made by this method are a few nanometres. We propose to exploit both the 

aqueous and non-aqueous parts of the liquid crystal to deposit different metals, polymers or metals and 

polymers. Thin metal wires (nano-wires) sheathed in polymer will be the thinnest insulated wires ever 

made. Carbon nanotubes will also be aligned in the hexagonal hole in the template allowing exploitation of 

these unique species. The structures that will be fabricated will be candidates for catalysts, sensor 

arrays and electronic devices. 

DP0346786 A/Prof AG Hoffmann 

*** 

Title: Incremental Knowledge Acquisition for Machine Translation from Multiple Experts 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $72,250 

2005 : $61,412 



Summary: 

With increasing globalisation and an increasing amount of electronically available documents the need for 

machine translation is growing dramatically. The state-of-the-art in machine translation is still far from 

satisfactory. Substantial post-editing is necessary for most non-technical texts and even for many 

technical documents to make the translation really understandable. This project will develop a new 

approach for building machine translation systems by extending the unorthodox approach of Ripple-Down 

Rules, which proved very successful for building expert systems in the medical domain. It is intended to 

build a machine translation system by integrating the knowledge from many experts. 

DP0346546 Dr GE Karskens 

*** 

Title: Water Dreams, Earthen Histories :The Penrith Lakes Scheme and the Remaking of 

Old Castlereagh, NSW 

2003 : $25,000 

2004 : $28,000 

2005 : $25,000 

2006 : $25,000 

2007 : $32,000 



Summary: 

The project explores the history, archaeology and environment of Castlereagh and the Penrith Lakes 

Scheme in Sydney's west. Conceived in the 1960s, this Scheme aims to rehabilitate gravel quarries by 

creating huge lakes, but is destroying a rich palimpsest of earlier landscapes. Using a multidisciplinary,

holistic approach, the project will assess the Scheme's history, impact and management, and will develop 

a new kind of environmental history: one which integrates science and engineering with history and 

heritage, and explores the meanings of the place (both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) and the 

consequences of its loss and remaking. 

DP0344082 Prof EJ Kehoe 

Title: Mechanisms of Recovery after Extinction of Conditioned Behaviour 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $70,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Old habits die hard and may never die at all. My previous ARC-funded research has revealed that 

extinguished learning can be recovered rapidly and in unsuspected ways. This project is aimed at building 

a neural network to explain how old learning can recovered. In practical terms, rapid recovery has both 

benefits, e.g., our ability to regain old skills with brief refresher training, and costs, e.g., relapse after 

therapies for anxiety disorders and substance abuse. In theoretical terms, understanding recovery in 

biological systems will inform research concerning both the neural basis of memory and the design of 

robots. 

DP0345071 A/Prof LM Khachigian 

*** 

Title: PKC-zeta-dependent Sp1 phosphorylation: Identification of phosphorylated amino 

acids, demonstration of functional significance, generation and use of novel 

phospho-specific Sp1 antibodies 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

Sp1 is a widely expressed transcription factor that controls the basal expression of virtually every 

mammalian gene, including that of PDGF-B. We recently reported that PDGF-B expression atypical protein 

kinase C-zeta phosphorylation of Sp1. Building on these seminal findings, this project will first, delineate 

the specific amino acid residues in the zinc finger region of Sp1 phosphorylated by PKC-zeta; second, 

demonstrate the functional importance of these site-specific modifications in the PKC-zeta-Sp1-PDGF-B 

system and the expression of other genes, and third, generate and use novel antibodies uniquely 

recognising phosphorylated Sp1 as molecular and diagnostic agents. 

*** 

DP0346258 Prof RJ Kohn Dr SA Wood Dr DJ Nott 

Title: Bayesian inference for complex regression models using mixtures 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $57,200 

2005 : $50,336 



Summary: 

The project will use mixtures to flexibly model complex regression functions and will develop Bayesian 

methods for carrying out statistical inference on these models. The models will deal with both Gaussian 

and non-Gaussian data. Multiple explanatory variables are dealt with by mixing simple additives to 

produce flexible high dimensional function estimates. Variable selection and model averaging will be used 

to identify important variables and thus make the estimation more efficient. The methods will be extended 

to multivariate responses where account will taken be taken of the structure of the dependence between

esponses. 

DP0346711 Prof RN Lamb Dr J Russell 

*** 

Title: Poly-crystalline Thin Films for LASER Applications 

2003 : $99,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $70,000 



Summary: 

This project is based on a recent discovery which reports LASER emission in disordered media such as 

polycrystalline ZnO. This behaviour appears to be related to the crystallographic properties of ZnO 

(wurztite) material. Using a novel deposition process the defect density, size of crystallites and 

macroscopic orientation within such thin films will be controlled independently. This will provide an 

opportunity to study the fundamental basis of such behaviour. In conjunction with this the development of 

structure in similarly produced GaN (wurztite) films will be examined. This work should also provide 

practical information concerning the potential performance of LASER devices based on disordered 

materials. 

DP0346379 A/Prof PF Lovibond Dr CJ Mitchell 

Title: The role of memory and reasoning processes in associative learning 

2003 : $49,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $53,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The project will investigate how people learn to detect cues that predict or cause significant events in 

their environment (associative learning). The research builds on recent empirical and theoretical work by 

the investigators supporting the role of deductive reasoning processes in associative learning. Novel 

experimental strategies will be used to identify the separate and interacting roles of lower-level memory 

processes and higher-level reasoning processes. Existing competing models and novel cooperative 

models will be tested. The research will lead to a better understanding of associative learning in humans, 

and will also inform the construction of intelligent artificial systems. 

DP0345535 Dr FP Lucien 

*** 

Title: Synthesis of oligomers in dense carbon dioxide 

2003 : $50,000 



Summary: 

The aim of the project is to develop a novel technique for the synthesis of low molecular weight polymers 

(oligomers) using dense carbon dioxide as a polymerisation solvent. The use of elevated pressure is the 

major impediment to the commercialisation of such technology. The technique proposed in this project will 

enable oligomers to be produced at greatly reduced operating pressures and may lead to a more general 

procedure for conducting other types of polymer synthesis in dense carbon dioxide. 

DP0343808 Dr GP McNally 

Title: The regulation of fear and attention: From genes to the brain to behaviour 

***

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $64,000 

2005 : $66,000 

2006 : $68,000 

2007 : $70,000 



Summary: 

Exposure to dangerous events elicits fear concomitant with attentional processing of environmental 

stimuli accompanying those events. However this fear and attention are typically inhibited so that they are 

restricted to dangerous events or stimuli which signal them. This project studies the role of endogenous 

opioids in the inhibition of fear and threat-related attention. It studies opioid inhibition in terms of its 

consequences for gene transcription, learning, and attention. It will provide the first integrated analysis of 

fear inhibition, from the level of the gene to the brain to behaviour. Thus, the project will provide significant 

insights into the biological complexity underpinning vulnerability to anxiety and fear. 

DP0344934 Dr PK McNeil 

*** 

Title: A comparative historical study of English and French men's self-fashioning, with 

reference to gender, sexual and national identity, c1740-90 

2003 : $35,771 

2004 : $20,000 



Summary: 

The project analyses the transformation of Anglo-French social attitudes towards aristocratic male dress 

c1740-90. In so doing, it offers a new explanation for the demise of court dress in Enlightenment Europe 

and the rise of that sober protestant and bourgeois style which now dominates the appearance of 

western male elites. It will produce the first comprehensive comparative study of two courtier figures, the 

French petit-maitre and the English macaroni, in order to advance the hypothesis that these 

interdependent national and masculine identities played a significant role in the reformulation of modern 

notions of gender, sexuality, health and consumerism. 

DP0345210 A/Prof GL Mendz 

*** 

Title: A Unique Target in the Purine Biosynthesis of the Pathogen Helicobacter pylori 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $60,000 



Summary: 

The uptake systems of purine and analogues of the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori will be 

characterised because they can be utilised to introduce cytotoxic compounds into the cells. The first step 

in de novo purine biosynthesis of the bacterium is catalysed by two different enzymes, which are 

components of other biosynthetic pathways. These unique properties make them excellent potential 

therapeutic targets. Their individual combined activities in purine biosynthesis will be characterised in situ 

and in vitro. Isogenic mutants with inactivated genes encoding for these enzymes will be constructed to 

investigate their role in the survival of the organism. 

DP0346279 Dr AP Micolich 

*** 

Title: Nanofabrication of Organic (Plastic) Semiconductor and Superconductor Devices 

2003 : $190,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $95,000



APD Dr AP Micolich 

Summary: 

Organic crystals and thin-films are the first known materials to display all four regimes of electrical 

conduction - insulator, semiconductor, metal and superconductor. Additional properties such as 

self-assembly, biocompatibility, molecular level control over properties and flexibility give them exceptional 

prospects for future industrial applications. We will fabricate organic transistors and conduct detailed 

investigations of their electrical and magnetic properties to develop a fundamental understanding of these 

new materials. Most significantly, we will make the first use of an atomic force microscope-based 

oxidation lithography technique to fabricate nanoscale quantum devices that exploit the full range of 

conduction in a single material. 

DP0345886 Prof BK Milthorpe Dr MA Knackstedt Dr DW HUTMACHER Prof A Brandwood 

*** 

Title: Structures and properties of tissue engineering matrices for cartilage and bone: 

Imaging, visualising and modelling tissue/scaffold constructs in 3D 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $97,000 

2005 : $95,000 



Summary: 

Tissue engineering of bone and cartilage has the potential to lower costs and improve outcomes. The first 

stage requires the design of porous 3D scaffolds. To date they have been found less than ideal for 

clinical applications. Our ability to design and optimise scaffolds has been ad hoc, as local structure and 

properties have not been measurable during tissue growth and repair. In this proposal, an interdisciplinary 

group from three universities will utilise microCT imaging, visualisation and numerical modelling to 

determine these structures and properties. This will provide an invaluable understanding for the further 

development of tissue engineering scaffolds. 

DP0345457 Dr CC Morgan Dr AK McIver 

*** 

Title: Economical and practical design and analysis of probabilistic distributed systems 

2003 : $140,260 

2004 : $140,260 

2005 : $140,260 

2006 : $120,260 

2007 : $128,000 



APF Dr CC Morgan 

Summary: 

Complex computing systems composed of communicating processes are distributed over networks, and 

interact with embedded hardware components. They routinely operate in probabilistic environments: 

hardware components fail randomly, but at known rates; and tactical randomisation resolves competition 

for resources. Effective specification, development and analysis methods for these systems is crucial, 

and probability makes that particularly difficult. The focus of this project is to develop new formal methods 

that are economical and practical in use. Exploiting our recent advances in probabilistic program 

semantics, we will add probability in a new way to proven techniques in concurrency theory, including 

refinement and hierarchical design. 

DP0345769 Prof GL Morrison Prof M Behnia 

Title: Heat transfer processes in evacuated tubular solar absorbers 

***

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $67,000 

2005 : $48,000 



Summary: 

The aim of this project is to improve the understanding of the complex heat transfer processes in 

evacuated tubular solar water heaters. This project will develop thermal and hydrodynamic models for 

advanced solar water heaters incorporating evacuated tubular absorbers and will assess the accuracy 

of the models through a series of outdoor experiments on prototype evacuated tubular solar water 

heaters. The outcomes will lead to the design and manufacturing of more efficient solar collectors, which 

can greatly benefit both Australian domestic and export markets. 

DP0345600 Dr A Munster 

Title: The body-computer interface in new media art from 1984 to the present 

2003 : $37,193 

2004 : $29,000 

2005 : $20,144 

*** 



Summary: 

Our understanding of computers is restricted by dominant cognitive models of the interface. This study 

produces an aesthetic framework for analysing new media art as a genre and traces its development 

through changes in the interface from the restricted keyboard/screen assemblage through multiple 

sensory interfaces to the emerging trend of producing the interface as dynamic relation between biology 

and code. It examines the development of interfaces between the body and computers in new media art 

work, establishing that new media artists, from 1984 onwards, have focussed upon the sensate body as 

site for interfacing with, and interpenetrating, virtual media. 

DP0345324 A/Prof A Nymeyer 

Title: Intelligent Model Checking 

2003 : $54,000 

2004 : $54,400 

2005 : $46,240 

*** 

Category: 2803 - COMPUTER SOFTWARE 


Summary: 

Real-world systems are typically so complex that software engineers require specialised CAD tools to 

debug and verify a design. Model checking is a formal method that is used extensively for this purpose, 

particularly for mission-critical systems. In this work, a new kind of verifying tool, based on model 

checking, is developed. This new model checker is intelligent because a heuristic search is integrated into 

the underlying formalism. It is not exhaustive, and is more efficient than a traditional model checker during 

the design phase because it does only a minimum amount of work in its search for a fault. 

*** 

DP0344391 Dr JM O'Brien Dr AM Junor Dr M O'Donnell Prof P Fairbrother Dr R Carter Mr S Davies 

Title: What does 'New Public Management' look like in the public sector workplace: a 

comparative study of Australia and the United Kingdom 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $45,000 

2005 : $45,000 

Category: 3502 - BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT


Summary: 

Moving beyond the macro-level focus of most previous studies of the impact of 'New Public Management' 

(NPM), this project will examine its effect on civil and public services at the micro-level of the workplace. 

It will trace, analyse and compare the impacts of the managerial/contract state on particular public sector 

workplaces in Australia and the United Kingdom. It will classify and evaluate a range of impacts of NPM 

on public sector workplace organisation, labour processes and employment/industrial relations. It will 

explain significant differences in the form taken by NPM in various workplaces and explore their 

implications for workplace practice. 

DP0343991 Prof J Oitmaa A/Prof CJ Hamer A/Prof OP Sushkov Dr RJ Bursill 

*** 

Title: Theoretical studies of strongly correlated quantum states in novel condensed matter 

systems 

2003 : $150,000 

2004 : $150,000 

2005 : $160,000 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $150,000 



Summary: 

Strongly correlated quantum electronic and magnetic systems represent one of the most active and 

exciting areas of condensed matter physics, and one that will continue to have a major bearing on 

technology. We will pursue an extensive program of research into many aspects of this field, using a 

variety of analytical and numerical methods, in many of which we are among the world leaders. The 

project will add significantly to understanding of the physics of quantum phase transitions, spin-liquids, 

novel superconductors, and other related phenomena, and of the properties of quantum lattice models. 

DP0344903 Dr P Oslington 

Title: The Impact of Hiring and Firing Costs on Wages and Unemployment 

2003 : $49,000 

2004 : $35,000 

2005 : $23,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Hiring and firing costs are a crucial part of intense debates over relationships between labour market 

flexibility, wages and unemployment. However, we have little information about their levels and structure. 

Using a new theoretical model of the impact of hiring and firing costs, together with information from a 

large-scale survey of Australian firms, this project quantifies their impacts on wages and unemployment. 

Better information about these impacts will contribute to current policy on training, unfair dismissal laws, 

and regulation of overtime. Efficiency gains from better policy will be a major national benefit, together 

with improved prospects for unemployed Australians. 

DP0346027 Dr VA Ougrinovski Dr HR Pota 

*** 

Title: Monitoring and Control of Complex Power Systems via Robust Control of Jump 

Parameter Systems 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $57,200 

2005 : $50,336 

Category: 2903 - MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING 


Summary: 

The project will involve research on a robust state estimation and control theory of systems with 

uncertain and random structure. This theory will be applied to develop new tools for dynamic voltage 

stability analysis and control of complex power systems by taking into account discrete switching of 

devices comprising the system. The theory will address both performance and robustness of power 

systems against variety of uncertainties including those due to modelling errors associated with uncertain 

nature of discrete switching and nonlinearity of underlying power generation system models. 

DP0343752 Dr M Pagnucco Prof CA Sammut Prof A Sattar Dr AC Nayak 

*** 

Title: Real-time high-level cognitive robotics controllers 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $70,000 



Summary: 

Technological advances have seen the recent release of commercially affordable mobile robots. In the 

wake of Sony's immensely successful AIBO entertainment robot, it is anticipated that the market will be 

flooded with similar devices in short time. However, while traditional robotics focuses on problems like 

navigation and sensory perception, scant attention has been paid to the development of high-level 

cognitive robotics languages for coordinating these lower-level "skills". Such languages allow 

development of sophisticated robot controllers. We aim to develop a cognitive robotics language capable 

of controlling robots in real-time and in a multi-agent setting requiring coordination among agents. 

DP0346405 Dr SK Parker 

Title: Motivating Employee Proactivity by Redesigning the Work Context. 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $68,000 

2005 : $70,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Self-starting and innovative employees are increasingly important in today's decentralised organisations. 

The central question investigated in this project via a longitudinal research design is how organisations 

can facilitate this type of proactive behaviour amongst employees. The project also investigates the 

nature of employee proactively (e.g. how it differs from other behaviours), and its consequences for 

employee performance, innovation, and mental health. The project is significant because it focuses on 

how to promote behaviours that have often been neglected in research. 

DP0345899 Dr LA Poole-Warren Dr LJ Foster 

Title: Design and characterisation of a polysaccharide-based biomaterial for tissue 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $51,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This proposal aims to design a new bio-adhesive material and study the mechanisms of action for tissue 

adhesion. Current suture technology is inadequate for anything but simple repairs and the alternative 

offered by surgical glues available today is at most augmentation of suturing. Combination of a strong 

adhesive biomaterial with factors for accelerating wound healing will generate a novel material 

technology that, by uniting wound closure with sealing, addresses an unmet need in surgery. The primary 

outcomes of these investigations will be:1. advancement of knowledge in theories of tissue-biomaterial

adhesion mechanisms2. knowledge of effects of visible light from laser diodes on cells and isolated 

tissue3. a biocompatible, visible light activated adhesive film for tissue repair based on chitosan 

polysaccharides 

DP0343168 Dr GP Prestage Dr AE Grulich Ms JM Richters Dr JW Grierson 

*** 

Title: Sampling Gay Men: Testing Methodological Alternatives in a Minority Population 

2003 : $80,000 



Summary: 

This project will systematically assess the efficacy and appropriateness of five separate techniques for 

the recruitment of gay and homosexually active men in Australia. The project will use the data from the 

Australian Study of Health and Relationships to assess the representativeness of the samples obtained. 

Using theoretical considerations of the inter-relationship of identity, attraction and practice, the suitability 

of recruitment strategies for research projects addressing key elements of gay men's health will be 

assessed. As a by-product of the sampling exercise, a description of the key health concerns of gay and 

homosexually active men will be developed. 

*** 

DP0346430 Dr P Rapajic Prof V Solo Prof RA Kennedy 

Title: Adaptive Multi-user Detectors for Mobile Space-Time Communications Systems over 

Time Variable Fading Channels 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $57,200 

2005 : $50,336 

Category: 2917 - COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES 


Summary: 

High capacity wire-line internet access (~ 1 Mbit/s) is available through existing telephone lines or through 

the cable TV infrastructure. The need to have the same quality wireless and mobile internet access is 

becoming evident. The full deployment of the mobile internet might be delayed due to the low capacity of 

existing cellular mobile communications systems. This research project will contribute to the 

understanding of fundamental capacity limitations of the mobile communications concept over 

communication channels that vary with time. The outcomes of the project will suggest possible solutions 

to the capacity limitations. 

*** 

DP0346614 A/Prof RW Read A/Prof MD Willcox 

Title: Fluorous Chemistry: New tagging agents and heterocyclic-based fluorous 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $70,000 



Summary: 

Fluorous chemistry is emerging as a powerful adjunct to areas of conventional parallel and combinatorial 

organic syntheses, and its introduction has revolutionised separation technologies. In this project two 

new fluorous tagging strategies will be investigated in an effort to broaden the scope of reagents that 

can used in synthesis. Efforts will be directed to chiral auxiliaries and to fluorous catalyst ligands. In 

addition, a novel class of fluorous surfactant will be investigated, for its surface properties (including its 

ability to self assemble) and for its utility in two specific applications, selective membrane-bound protein 

extraction (relevant to proteomics) and ophthalmics (biomaterials). 

***

DP0346732 Adj/Prof JA Reizes Prof E Leonardi A/Prof F Stella A/Prof CY Kwok 

Title: The Enhancement of heat transfer in microchannels by microelectomechanical 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $95,000 



Summary: 

A perennial and extremely important problem in computer chip technology is the provision of adequate 

cooling. This project is a rare combination of multi-disciplinary activities which will lead to new knowledge 

in a number of poorly explored areas in heat transfer, whilst at the same time permitting the development 

of the necessary theoretical and practical fabrication skills for the manufacture of a realistic cooling micro 

devices. The main goal of this project is therefore to design, manufacture and test a very efficient 

micro-channel cooling device equipped with a micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) synthetic jet 

generator. 

DP0346139 A/Prof R Richardson 

Title: A developmental and neural analysis of learned and unlearned fear 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $32,000 

2005 : $37,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project aims to increase our understanding of the emotion of fear from both a developmental and a 

neural perspective. Anxiety disorders, which are characterised by the inability to appropriately regulate 

fear, are among the most prevalent psychological disturbances in industrialised countries. The present 

project involves a neurobiological analysis of fear in the developing rat, and will (i) test the dominant 

theoretical models of learned fear, (ii) compare the development of learned and unlearned fear, and (iii) 

provide a novel approach for studying whether learned behavioural responses are appropriate to the age 

of training or the age of testing. 

DP0342867 Prof C Rizos Prof KK Kubik 

*** 

Title: Remote Sensing Based on Indirect GPS Signals 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 

2006 : $100,000 

Category: 2910 - GEOMATIC ENGINEERING 


Summary: 

It is intended to utilize signals from the GPS satellite system, reflected from stationary objects (walls and 

water surfaces), to detect deformation or changed surface characteristics using the bistatic radar 

principle. The GPS receiving system consists of one or more signal detection components with antennas, 

as well as a processing device. The main objectives of the research are: the estimation of the power 

budget, developing techniques for system modelling, developing techniques for simultaneous reception of 

signals from different satellites, and processing these signals with the aim of improving the spatial 

resolution, development of a demonstrator system, and evaluation of the system for selected remote 

sensing tasks. 

DP0346036 Dr P Robertson Prof RG Harris 

Title: Human capital accumulation and economic growth: A multi-country general 

equilibrium model. 

***

2003 : $32,000 

2004 : $26,000 

2005 : $28,000 



Summary: 

The project seeks to explain the interaction between policies that affect human capital investment and the 

consequences of that investment for economic growth. Specifically it aims to incorporate recent 

developments in the theory of economic growth, and in particular a schooling sector that produces human 

capital, into a multi-country and multi sector model. This will overcome limitations of the current state of 

growth theory, associated with the high level of aggregation used in growth models - such as the effects 

of sector specific research subsidies research, and the effects of education subsidies on the growth of 

human capital specific sectors. 

DP0345597 Dr TC Ross 

*** 

Title: Aesthetic Strategies in Neo-Conceptual Art, 1980s-1990s 

2003 : $33,511 

2004 : $30,102 



Summary: 

The decline of formalist aesthetics figured prominently in Neo-Conceptual art and post-modern theory of 

the 1980s. In the 1990s, this trend began to reverse, and revisionist aesthetic theory re-emerged as a 

salient force in contemporary art scholarship. Using the perspective of revisionist aesthetic theory, this 

study will show evidence of aesthetic strategies in Neo-Conceptual art that have been neglected in post 

modern, anti-aesthetic interpretations. As the first systematic analysis of how aesthetic and conceptual 

operations interact in Neo-Conceptual art, the study will change how conceptualist art is understood 

within both post modern art discourse and revisionist aesthetic theory. 

DP0345758 Prof AV Savkin 

*** 

Title: Analysis and Design of Networked Control Systems 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $66,000 

2005 : $50,000 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Rapid advances in communications technology have opened up the possibility of large scale control 

systems in which the control task is distributed among several processors and the communication 

between the processors, sensors and actuators is via communication channels. This enables control 

systems to be distributed over large distances and to use large numbers of actuators and sensors. This 

project will be directed towards the development of a theory of networked control systems in which 

control and communication issues are combined together, and all the limitations of the communication 

channels are taken into account. 

*** 

DP0345581 Dr R Sheikholeslami Prof M Behnia 

Title: Combined Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and CFD modelling to study particle 

deposition in conduits 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $45,000 

2005 : $45,000



Summary: 

System geometry greatly influences flow hydrodynamics and hence the transport of colloidal particles 

and ionic species from the bulk to the surfaces that result in formation of unwanted deposit matter on the 

surface. The formation of unwanted deposits has significant environmental and economic penalties. This 

project uses a new approach that is combining the CFD modelling and experimentation including flow 

visualization by PIV to systematically investigate the effect of channel geometry and flow on deposit 

formation. The outcomes of the project will result in a better understanding and formulating of the effect 

of geometry on deposition of colloidal particles and ionic species on the surfaces. The results contribute 

not only towards the mitigation processes for unwanted deposition; it also advances the knowledge in 

coating applications. 

*** 

DP0346313 Dr WB Sherwin Dr RC Connor A/Prof J Mann 

Title: The roles of relatedness and reproductive success in complex social systems of 

dolphins 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Theories of the role of genetic relatedness and reproductive success in mammalian social behaviour have 

mostly been restricted to primates and carnivores. Coexisting alternative strategies within one population 

of bottlenose dolphins (Shark Bay WA) offer unprecedented opportunities for such investigations. The 

male alliances' complexity is unparalleled outside humans, and may require new theory. Some female 

lineages show tool-use - rare outside humans, and virtually unknown in marine species. Our behavioural 

and genetic database has exceptional size, detail and duration for marine mammals, and is most valuable 

if continued while known individuals' offspring reach a stage where they can be sampled. 

*** 

DP0346183 Prof M Skyllas-Kazacos Dr V Luca Dr BA Hunter 

Title: Development of Nanocrystalline Transition Metal Oxide and Polymer-Transition Metal 

Oxide Composite Materials for Rechargeable Lithium Battery Applications 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $48,000 



Summary: 

Recent work by the applicants has shown that nanocrystalline titanates and aluminates hold considerable 

promise as lithium battery electrodes. Nanocrystalline anatase materials showed considerably greater 

lithium intercalation ratios compared with their microcrystalline counterparts, and doping with vanadium 

showed further improvements in capacity. Sol-gel synthesised V-doped anatase materials produced an 

initial discharge capacity of 428 Ah/kg compared with only 280 mAh/kg for the undoped anatase 

electrode in the same Li test cell.In this project different dopants and preparation conditions will be 

investigated to produce nanocrystalline rutile and aluminate materials as potential candidates for high 

capacity lithium battery applications. 

DP0344390 Prof IH Sloan Dr M Ganesh 

Title: Advanced computational algorithms for three-dimensional systems 

2003 : $100,000 

***

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $90,000 

2006 : $85,000 

2007 : $80,000 



Summary: 

This project deals with the development, analysis and implementation of efficient computer algorithms for 

a range of complex three dimensional systems. Major areas of focus are forward and inverse acoustic 

and electromagnetic scattering; dynamical and evolution processes in water waves and tumour growth; 

and the solution of mathematical models on spheres (earth). Potential application areas of the project 

include defence science; ocean engineering; medical research; meteorology and global environmental 

sciences. 

DP0346015 Prof V Solo 

*** 

Title: Fundamental Studies in System Identification 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $55,000 

2006 : $55,000 

2007 : $65,000 



Summary: 

To operate a dynamic system such as a chemical process plant or an economy one needs two things; 

the equations describing the system; a way of regulating the system to provide desired outcomes. 

System identification provides the first; control engineering design provides the second. This proposal 

addresses three important problems in system identification and control. Firstly since the equations can 

never be known precisely we aim to determine what is the best one can do? Secondly to provide then 

tight error bounds for the control design; thirdly to develop new methods for some hitherto unresolved 

problems in system identification. 

DP0345612 Dr B Spehar Dr CW Clifford 

*** 

Title: Contextual interactions in colour and form perception 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $59,000 



Summary: 

This project explores the relationship between the photometric intensity of the light reflected from a 

surface and its perceived lightness. Even this seemingly simple aspect of vision depends on complex 

interactions involving multiple cortical areas. Here, we propose a series of experiments to characterise 

the interactions between colour and form. First, we will look at the effect of the spatial structure of the 

image on colour, lightness and contrast perception. Second, we will look at the effect of the chromatic 

content of the image on perceived spatial layout. The results will help shape theories of visual processing 

in the human brain and will be applicable to the design of visual interfaces and display technology. 

DP0346220 Dr CW Styles Prof P Patterson 

Title: An Investigation of Export Performance Determinants Across Service Types 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $38,000 

***



Summary: 

The objective of this research is to investigate the export performance drivers of services firms, and 

consider how these drivers differ across service types. Previous research into export performance 

drivers has focused primarily on manufacturers. However, theory in services marketing suggests that 

there are not only key differences between service firms and manufacturers, but also key differences 

across different service types. This research is both timely and critical given the recently stated Federal 

Government objective of doubling the number of exporters over the next five years, and the fact that the 

services sector is the fastest growing export sector. 

*** 

DP0345473 Dr CS Suh Dr M Tcha Prof C Leggett Dr CA Wright 

Title: STRATEGY AND STRUCTURE OF THE KOREAN CHAEBOL: CHANGES AFTER THE 1997 

ECONOMIC CRISIS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR AUSTRALIA 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $56,000 

2005 : $57,000 



Summary: 

Korea is the third largest export market for Australia, however, analysis of the structure and strategy of 

Korea's largest corporations has been surprisingly neglected by Australian researchers. This project 

examines recent changes in the operation of the largest family controlled conglomerates in Korea 

(chaebol), which possess unique features in various aspects, within a dynamic historical perspective. 

Case studies will be conducted concentrating on changes of business structure and strategy within 

Samsung, LG, Hyundai and Daewoo, with particular attention to these companies¡¯ response to the 1997 

economic crisis and its implications for major trading partners such as Australia. 

DP0346064 Prof PL Swan Mr DR Gallagher 

*** 

Title: Evaluating the Performance of Active Australian Equity Managers Utilising their Daily 

Portfolio Holdings and Trades 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $56,000 

2005 : $57,000 

Category: 3503 - BANKING, FINANCE AND INVESTMENT 


Summary: 

The aim is to evaluate the performance of active institutional Australian equity fund managers by 

statistical and mathematical modelling of their trades. Using a unique dataset of daily portfolio holdings and 

trades, we compare the trading styles of those who have persistently outperformed the market with 

those that have not so as to reveal drivers of superior performance. Such a study has been impossible 

until now due to non-disclosure of trades. Understanding the fundamental origins of fund performance 

enhances the overall returns to investors, provides a new ratings system yielding superior information, 

and redirects the nest-eggs of "mums and dads" towards better-performing managers. 

DP0346272 Prof M Taft 

*** 

Title: Exploring the nature of lexical representation 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $57,000 

Category: 3801 - PSYCHOLOGY


Summary: 

In order to comprehend and produce the words that we know, whether in speech or in writing, we must 

possess mental representations of each of those words (i.e., "lexical" representations). The aim of the 

proposed research is to elaborate on the nature of these representations in an attempt to understand 

more fully the cognitive mechanisms involved in proficient language use. The central idea to be explored is 

that underlying all lexical functioning is an abstract phonological representation that is influenced by 

orthography. Furthermore, the possibility will be examined that poorer readers possess less abstract 

representations than do better readers. 

DP0344678 Prof JC Trinder Prof KK Kubik 

*** 

Title: Generation of Digital Elevation Models by Fusion of Image and Terrain Laser Scan Data 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $70,000 



Summary: 

There are currently two separate approaches to obtaining digital elevation models of the terrain surface 

by remote sensing, image based methods using aerial or satellite images and scanner techniques by 

terrain laser scanners. Each method provides elevations with high accuracy, but both require significant 

input from an operator during processing. It is proposed to take advantage of the synergies of these two 

forms of data by combining the processing into a single solution for elevation determination by data 

fusion. This approach will improve the quality and efficiency of elevation determination. 

DP0345978 Dr J Wang 

Title: Stochastic modelling for high precision GPS positioning applications 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $63,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Realistic stochastic modelling for measurements is one of the fundamental and challenging issues in a 

wide range of scientific problems. This project aims to develop and test an innovative stochastic 

modelling methodology for high precision GPS positioning applications. The new stochastic modelling 

methodology will significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of satellite positioning results. The 

expected outcomes are: (1) new knowledge about the statistical characteristics of satellite 

measurements; (2) development of a new error analysis framework; and (3) development of 

computationally efficient data processing algorithms to support high precision GPS positioning 

applications. 

DP0343073 A/Prof DE Wiley Dr J Bao Dr D Clements A/Prof DF Fletcher Mr J Schwinge 

*** 

Title: Defining Fundamental Principles for the Design and Operation of Membrane Systems 

from Time-Varying Performance Analysis 

2003 : $125,000 

2004 : $125,000 

2005 : $125,000 



Summary: 

To date, much of the process improvement for industrial application of membrane technology has 

revolved around polymer science based development of membrane materials and process and module 

changes resulting from the application of basic (often simplistic) engineering principles. While some

future improvements may still come from these areas, the most dramatic advances are likely to be derived 

from the application of advanced engineering principles to this complex system. This project will 

integrate advanced CFD modelling and control principles for the design and operation of membrane 

systems in order to develop fundamental understanding that should lead to significant process 

improvements. 

DP0343325 Dr PK Witting 

*** 

Title: Biochemical properties of S-nitroso-myoglobin and its role in regulating nitric oxide 

bio-availability 

2003 : $140,000 

2004 : $140,000 

2005 : $140,000 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $140,000 



ARF Dr PK Witting 

Summary: 

Nitric oxide (NO) stimulates blood vessel dilation. Vessel dilation is essential to maintaining blood pressure. 

Altered NO-regulation leads to vessel dysfunction. Within blood vessels, myoglobin regulates NO 

concentrations through oxidation and binding reactions. In contrast, S-nitroso-myoglobin represents a 

novel source of NO in humans. The goal of this study is to expand the knowledge on NO-regulation by 

myoglobin through determining S-nitroso-myoglobin's chemical stability, rates of formation and decay, 

concentration in human vessels and whether it can cause blood vessel dilation similar to authentic NO. 

Such novel data represents a major fundamental advance in understanding the role of myoglobin in 

NO-homeostasis. 

DP0343475 A/Prof WR Wobcke 

Title: Reasoning about Rational Agents from a Programming Languages Perspective 

2003 : $58,000 

2004 : $57,800 

2005 : $49,130 



*** 

Summary: 

Rational agents are complex system components inspired by models of rationality, in which beliefs, 

desires and intentions are represented explicitly. Intelligent agents are fast becoming mainstream and 

have wide-ranging industrial application. However, a serious obstacle to the deployment of rational 

agents is a lack of understanding of how to design and reason about agents to provide performance and 

correctness guarantees. This project will investigate extensions to intelligent agent architectures and 

develop tools for reasoning about complex systems built using those architectures. This will not only 

enable reliable prediction of performance, but contribute to a general methodology for intelligent agent 

design. 

DP0345227 Dr CM Wright Prof Dr EF van Dishoeck Dr A Glasse Dr R Siebenmorgen 

Title: Before Planets: The Mineralogy and Chemistry of Pre-Planetary Disks 

2003 : $95,321 

2004 : $95,321 

2005 : $95,321 

2006 : $95,321 

2007 : $105,321 

*** 

Category: 2401 - ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCES


ARF Dr CM Wright 

Summary: 

Planets form within the circumstellar disks around young stars. Samples of the solid material composing 

our own primitive disk are found in meteorites and interplanetary dust particles. Using the powerful 

technique of astronomical mid-infrared spectropolarimetry, we will ascertain the composition of the 

material existing within the disks around young stars. By studying a range of disk ages we will determine 

how the composition evolves with time, and what physical processes affect it, in order to better 

understand how our own solar system formed. Further, we will image these disks in mm-wave molecular 

emission and constrain their chemistry and rotational properties. 

DP0346579 Prof AB Yu Dr Y Wu 

Title: Granular dynamics: from discrete simulation towards continuum modelling 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The project aims to develop a general averaging theory to link discrete to continuum description of 

granular dynamics and a comprehensive understanding of the underlying physics. This will be achieved 

through detailed analysis of the particle-particle and particle-wall interactions at both microscopic and 

macroscopic levels, supported by the newly developed averaging theory and novel discrete particle 

simulation. The results, in terms of constitutive relations and boundary conditions, will be implemented in 

continuum-based process modelling and tested by comparing numerical and experimental results via 

typical case studies. It will significantly enhance the present capability of modelling granular flow that is 

widely encountered in many industries and in nature. 

*** 

DP0346091 A/Prof J Zhao Prof MA Green Dr T Trupke 

Title: Microelectronic Applications of Improved Silicon Light Emission 

2003 : $150,000 

2004 : $150,000 

2005 : $120,000 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $110,000 



Summary: 

While semiconductor silicon chips have been the workhorse of the microelectronics revolution, more 

complex semiconductor materials have driven the communications revolution. Australian developments 

during 2001 have largely dispelled the myth that silicon is fundamentally a poor emitter of light. This 

project aims to build on this work by developing silicon light emitters suitable for integration into high 

density integrated circuits, adding a new dimension to the capabilities of these circuits, driving 

microelectronics and the information age to the next stage of development. 

The University of Newcastle 

*** 

DP0343783 A/Prof SR Biggs Dr EJ Wanless Prof SP Armes 

Title: Self-Organised 3-D Arrays of Stimulus Responsive Block Copolymer Micelles 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 


Administering Institution: The University of Newcastle

Summary: 

At the core of developments in nanotechnology is a desire to manufacture functional devices from 

molecular or colloidal building blocks. A significant component of this effort is directed at the 

self-assembly of these materials on solid substrates. Ultimately, the development of higher order 

functional nanomaterials requires a fine control over the 3-dimensional location of each component; this is 

a significant problem. In this project our aim is to develop novel self-assembled surface coatings using 

block copolymer micelles. Spatial control of the micelle adsorption at the solid-aqueous interface will give 

us a significant degree of control over molecular location in 3-dimensions. 

*** 

DP0343788 A/Prof SR Biggs Dr VS Craig Dr C Neto 

Title: Nanorheology: Hydrodynamic Slip in Newtonian Fluids 

2003 : $98,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $98,000 


Administering Institution: The University of Newcastle 

APD Dr C Neto 

Summary: 

Understanding fluid flow across a surface is essential to a great number of technologies. For over one 

hundred years it has been assumed that the layer of fluid adjacent to the solid moves with the solid, this 

is known as the no-slip boundary condition. Recently direct force balance measurements of aqueous 

Newtonian solutions have indicated the presence of boundary slip. Using a newly developed 

nanorheology technique we will systematically investigate the conditions that control boundary slip. This 

information will be used to quantify, model and control boundary slip, progressing the fields of 

microfluidics, particle deposition, and colloid stability. 

DP0344785 A/Prof DH Craig Prof AF Kinney 

Title: Shakespeare, the Early Modern Theatre and Computational Stylistics 

2003 : $55,370 

2004 : $53,638 

*** 

Category: 4202 - LITERATURE STUDIES 


Summary: 

The investigators aim to answer some central questions in Shakespearean drama through a collaborative 

study combining computational and traditional methods. They will explore areas not hitherto studied with 

computational means, such as the nature of collaboration in the drama writing of the period, and 

intertextual relations between source material and plays, as well as long-standing questions in authorship 

and dating. Statistical and corpus-based results will be aligned with scholarly-critical evidence to provide 

findings of exceptional authority, and to establish a new paradigm for humanities research. The main 

outcome will be a jointly authored book. 

DP0343355 Dr PW Dickson Prof PR Dunkley 

*** 

Title: Hierarchical Phosphorylation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase is Dependent on the Activation 

Sequence of Signaling Pathways 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $65,000 



Summary: 

Protein phosphorylation is a fundamental process in biology. It controls protein expression and function in 

all cells. Hierarchical phosphorylation is defined as the phosphorylation of a protein at one site leading to 

an altered phosphorylation at another site on the same protein and an altered biological outcome. We have

discovered that the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase undergoes a form of hierarchical phosphorylation not 

previously reported. Here we examine hierarchical phosphorylation in rat and human tyrosine 

hydroxylase and its functional consequence in intact cells. The approaches and methods developed will 

also be applicable to investigation of hierarchical phosphorylation in other proteins. 

DP0344762 Dr MR Fellows 

Title: Parameterized Algorithm Design and Complexity Analysis: New Methods and 

Strategic Applications in the FPT Algorithmic Server Project 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $50,000 

*** 



Summary: 

A fundamental discovery of the first decades of computer science is that completely efficient (polynomial 

time) algorithms probably do not exist for thousands of natural computational problems. The project will 

result in new methods for designing and analyzing algorithms for hard problems with natural parameters, 

and in improved algorithms for these problems. 

DP0343326 Dr GV Franks 

*** 

Title: Nano-Particle Suspension Behaviour in Salt Solutions: Effect of Ion Hydration and 

Attractive Forces 

2003 : $66,000 

2004 : $56,000 

2005 : $56,000 

Category: 2914 - MATERIALS ENGINEERING 


Summary: 

Understanding and controlling the flow behaviour of nano-particle suspensions is crucial to the 

processing of ceramics with nano-scale features. Interparticle forces influence the flow behaviour and 

depend upon the the adsorption of ions to the particle's surface. The proposed research investigates the 

effect of ion hydration and surface type on ion adsorption, the resulting attractive forces and suspension 

flow behaviour. The outcomes of the project have potential for significant increase in fundamental 

understanding of the relationship between ions, surfaces and forces. The benefits of this knowledge 

include producing nano-ceramics with improved properties and better understanding biopolymer 

behaviour. 

DP0345779 Prof GC Goodwin Dr JA De Dona 

Title: Towards a unified theory of constrained control and estimation 

2003 : $128,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $126,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The project will investigate the implications of duality and other connections between constrained control 

and estimation. We believe that the research will result in a richer understanding of these problems. In 

particular, we envisage an impact in at least four areas: (i) Computational issues, i.e., development of 

more efficient algorithms for constrained problems. (ii) Geometry of constrained problems, by extending 

recent results pertaining to constrained control to estimation problems. (iii) Problems with mixed 

constraints, for example, interval and finite set constraints. (iv) Fundamental limitations imposed by 

constraints to filtering and control problems.

*** 

DP0343462 A/Prof AP Holbrook Prof SF Bourke Prof TJ Lovat 

Title: PhD ASSESSMENT: AN INVESTIGATION OF EXAMINATION PROCESS, EXAMINER 

CONSISTENCY AND FACTORS THAT IDENTIFY THESIS QUALITY ACROSS DISCIPLINES 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $57,000 

2005 : $57,000 



Summary: 

Doctoral research is a significant component of research activity in Australian higher education and 

effective research student supervision and high quality research are key goals. The main control over 

quality is the thesis examination, but there is no systematic study of examiner consistency or application 

of standards within and across disciplines. Drawing on candidature history, examiner reports and 

ratings, this cross-institutional study responds to the need for foundational research into the area. The 

study will ascertain assessment processes, assessment criteria and factors that identify highly rated 

theses. The ultimate aim is to improve the quality of doctoral education practices. 

DP0346748 Prof GJ Jameson 

Title: Flotation separation of nanoparticles 

2003 : $156,000 

2004 : $131,000 

2005 : $137,000 

2006 : $137,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project deals with the separation of fine nanoparticles suspended in water, by attachment to small 

gas bubbles. It aims to find a way of removing nanoparticles from water, or of separating one species 

from another. The process could be used for simple solids such as metal oxides, and for biological 

materials such as large molecules, viruses and small bacteria. The work will be both theoretical and 

experimental. This ground-breaking project will build upon past successes of the applicant, whose 

invention in the field of resource recovery is contributing close to $1 billion a year to Australia's exports. 

DP0345975 A/Prof BV King 

*** 

Title: Scanning Probe Microscopy for Fabrication and Analysis of Polymer Photovoltaics 

2003 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Australian economic growth will depend increasingly on the provision of devices using materials 

designed at the molecular level. Scanning probe microscopy, which uses tips placed very close to 

surfaces to analyse or modify the surfaces with molecular precision, is an indispensible tool in designing 

such materials. In this project, scanning probe microscopy will be used to analyse and build structures on 

polymer solar cells in order to maximise the efficiency of the cells and build prototype nanoscale polymer 

devices. This will lead to the improvement in devices delivering sustainable energy production - a 

technology which has the promise of producing energy cheaply from sunlight. 

DP0345631 A/Prof EH Kisi Ms JS Forrester 

***

Title: Nanocrystalline Processing of Polycrystalline Ceramics Exhibiting the Giant 

Piezoelectric Effect 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $45,000 

2005 : $45,000 



Summary: 

Piezoelectric materials interconvert electric and mechanical energy. They have been incorporated into a 

wide range of industrial, medical and domestic applications. The newest, known as PZN-PTs, are only 

available as single crystals. They have ten times the response of conventional piezoelectric materials, 

however they are expensive, mechanically fragile and have shape limitations. This project will tailor 

nanostructured intermediate states that will allow the production of stronger, more versatile 

polycrystalline PZN-PT ceramics. It will develop scientific results on nanocrystalline processing applicable 

to many materials and allow deeper insight into the mechanism of the anomalous piezoelectric response 

of these materials. 

*** 

DP0345404 Prof GA Lawrance A/Prof M Maeder 

Title: Bifunctional Metal Complexes as Artificial Nucleases 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $48,000 

Category: 2502 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 


Summary: 

This study will develop new compounds with designed and molecularly engineered shapes which bind 

either one or two metal ions and act as artificial nucleases (i.e. catalyse the cleavage of DNA). It will 

produce and examine the properties and reactions of molecules which provide two linked or adjacent 

DNA interaction sites and which influence and direct biological activity through their shape, size and metal 

binding groups. Investigations will be pursued of the reactivity of copper, zinc and cobalt complexes of 

these molecules as artificial nucleases with model systems and for site-specific RNA and DNA cleavage 

of potential pharmaceutical interest. 

*** 

DP0342988 Dr A McCluskey A/Prof DJ Young Dr JA Sakoff 

Title: High Pressure and Fluorous Approaches to Fostriecin Libraries: New Therapeutic 

Opportunities. 

2003 : $50,000 



Summary: 

The natural product, Fostriecin, displays considerable broad-spectrum anti-cancer activity, acting via a 

novel mechanism. However, this activity is tempered by its considerable instability, being too unstable to 

be used as a therapeutic agent. Using state-of-the-art approaches we will, rapidly generate libraries of 

more stable and biologically active fostriecin analogues and examine their potential to be used anti-cancer 

agents. This project represents an opportunity for Australia to take a significant, innovative lead in the 

development of hitherto unforseen therapeutic agents. 

DP0344114 Prof KL Mengersen 

Title: New Bayesian methodology for understanding complex systems using hidden 

Markov models and expert opinion, environmental, robotics and genomics 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $65,000 

***

2005 : $55,000 

Category: 2302 - STATISTICS 


Summary: 

This project aims to merge four areas of intense international interest in describing complex systems: 

hidden Markov models and mixtures, semi-parametric and nonparametric approaches, true combination of 

expert opinion with data, and new Bayesian computational methods based on perfect sampling and 

particle sampling. The project will significantly contribute to statistical methodology and its ability to inform 

about real-world problems. A strong focus on applications to genomics, robotics and environmental 

modelling will bring immediate research and monetary benefit for industry. Expected outcomes include 

enhanced cross-disciplinary and international linkages, publications, industry-funded projects and highly 

trained graduates. 

DP0343694 Prof JW Patrick 

*** 

Title: Phloem unloading of sucrose: cloning, functional characterisation and regulation of 

novel membrane transporters 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $75,000 

Category: 2704 - BOTANY 


Summary: 

Sucrose is the principal form in which plant biomass, produced in photosynthetic leaves, is transported to 

non-photosynthetic organs for growth and storage. Sucrose transport proteins play pivotal roles in 

facilitating sucrose transport around plants. Hence activities of sucrose transporters directly impact on 

plant growth rates and crop yields. Our aim is to isolate hitherto unknown membrane proteins that move 

sucrose at high rates between cells and discover their transport properties. Expected outcomes are to 

better understand mechanisms and regulation of sucrose transport and hence provide novel opportunities 

to enhance crop yield. The project will foster a productive international collaboration. 

*** 

DP0344418 Em/Prof AW Roberts Prof MG Jones Mr CM Wensrich 

Title: Modelling and Characterisation of Stringy/Compressible Bulk Materials 

2003 : $130,000 

2004 : $105,000 

2005 : $100,000 

Category: 2905 - MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING 


Summary: 

The development of new technologies in the treatment of waste products, recycling of green and paper 

waste and the use of biomass fuels has created the need for a new approach in the handling of 

non-conventional bulk solids. The Mohr-Coulomb models that are traditionally used to characterise 

granular materials do not adequately describe the nature of these stringy and compressible bulk solids. 

This project will address this problem by developing new constitutive models and characterisation 

techniques for this class of materials. This work will provide the necessary tools to address a series of 

pressing problems in several emerging technologies. 

DP0344417 Prof SW Sloan Dr D Sheng 

*** 

Title: STATIC AND DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF SATURATED AND UNSATURATED SOILS 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $99,000 

2005 : $99,000 

2006 : $98,000 

2007 : $97,000



Summary: 

Engineering structures such as buildings, highways, tunnels, dams, slopes and offshore oil platforms are 

all constructed on or in soils. The ability to predict the response of these materials under static and 

dynamic loading is therefore of major importance in civil engineering design, but is complicated by the fact 

they are typically unsaturated with nonlinear, inhomogeneous, and anisotropic properties. This project 

aims to formulate and implement new computational tools for predicting the load-deformation behaviour of 

unsaturated soils, and will also involve experimental work and simulations of field data. The long term 

objective is to develop advanced methods that can be used by practising engineers, thereby leading to 

improved engineering design and reduced construction costs. 

DP0346710 Prof SW Sloan 

Title: Upper Bound Shakedown Analysis for Geotechnical Applications 

2003 : $127,000 

2004 : $119,000 

2005 : $116,000 

2006 : $94,000 

*** 



Summary: 

To design many geotechnical structures, engineers need to estimate the maximum load that can be 

sustained under cyclic conditions without causing large permanent deformations (incremental collapse). 

This quantity is used to deduce the allowable design load and is therefore crucial in maximising safety 

and minimising costs. The chief aim of this project is to develop a new method for predicting the maximum 

load that a structure can sustain under cyclic conditions without undergoing incremental collapse. It will 

be applicable to a wide range of geotechnical engineering problems including pavements, offshore 

foundations, compacted soils, and cyclically loaded foundations. 

DP0346818 Dr P Stevenson 

Title: Dynamic behaviour of foams 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 

*** 

Category: 2907 - RESOURCES ENGINEERING 


APD Dr P Stevenson 

Summary: 

Foam flow occurs in many industrial processes such as the fractionation of proteins and coal flotation. 

The proposed research will investigate transient behaviour at start-up of such processes and how the 

method of foam production affects process efficiency. The dispersion of liquid tracers in foam and a 

newly discovered phenomenon of 'upwards rippling' will be studied as it is likely that these could 

illuminate the physical processes that lay behind foam flow. Removal of unwanted material from a pipeline 

is often a major industrial problem and the ability of foams to perform this role will be assessed. 

DP0344191 Mr GJ Suaning 

*** 

Title: Functional Electronic Stimulation of Muscles - Development of a Model for Sensory 

Feedback to Amputees and Vision for the Blind 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 

Category: 2915 - BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING


Summary: 

Electrical stimulation of nerve fibres is an emerging physiological technique with great promise towards 

rehabilitation. The field lacks techniques for detailed, focal application of stimuli to recruit specific fibres 

for fine muscle control or conveying useful neurosensory information. The investigator has developed 

microtechnology for delivering stimuli to 100 sites, conceivably facilitating recruitment of specific fibres 

within a given bundle. Effects of muscle stimulation are readily measured and shall be used to model and 

refine techniques for generic high-resolution fibre recruitment. Benefits include, improved muscle control 

in functional electrical stimulation, sensory perception for amputees and patterned vision from optic nerve 

stimulation. 

*** 

DP0342731 Dr S Tomsen Dr G Mason Dr K Markwell 

Title: Rethinking social intolerance: lessons from the suspension of homophobia at public 

gay and lesbian celebrations 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $36,000 



Summary: 

This project will contribute to the understanding of intolerance via the lessons drawn from an analysis of 

homophobia at public gay and lesbian celebrations. It will take advantage of these events as exceptional 

social windows that appear to be characterised by a suspension of overt intolerance. The study 

innovatively reverses the usual analysis of intolerance and hostility as a social presence. It will analyse 

situational elements and ways of understanding sexuality that structure mainstream views of these 

events as pleasurable activities for all participants. It will advance knowledge of homophobia and 

intolerance in Australian society as contradictory and shifting phenomena. 

DP0344128 Dr P Waring 

*** 

Title: The Employment Relations Implications of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Australian 

Black Coal Mining Industry 

2003 : $25,000 



Summary: 

This project will study the employment relations (industrial relations and human resource management) 

implications of mergers and acquisitions in the Australian black coal mining industry - Australia's largest 

export income-earning industry. Global merger and acquisition activity has intensified in recent years 

despite strong international evidence to suggest that mergers and acquisitions often fail due to 

people-related problems. This study seeks to explore this international enigma, by examining a range of 

employment relations issues in newly merged or acquired organisations in the Australian coal industry. 

The frenetic pace of recent mergers and acquisitions in the coal industry, and its centrality to the 

prosperity of Australia, make it an ideal site to develop understanding of the people-related problems 

associated with mergers and acquisitions, and to develop strategies to address these difficulties. It is 

expected that this study will reveal significant theoretical insights and provide practical lessons on 

appropriate management interventions, that go beyond the Australian coal industry. The findings will be 

presented at international conferences and be published in leading academic journals and the mainstream 

financial press. 

The University of Sydney 

DP0345797 Dr DM Alais 

*** 

Title: Audio-visual interactions in human perception.

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $95,000 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $95,000 


Administering Institution: The University of Sydney 

ARF Dr DM Alais 

Summary: 

How the brain integrates information from different sensory modalities to form coherent perceptions of 

the external environment is a challenging question in sensory and cognitive neuroscience. 

Neurophysiologically, sensory interactions have become well documented over the last decade or so. 

Complementary perceptual research, however, is lacking. This project seeks to redress the imbalance, 

using audio-visual interactions as a paradigm. Psychophysical experiments will explore: (i) audio-visual 

interactions in perception (sound enhancing vision, vision enhancing hearing); (ii) audio-visual interactions 

in spatial attention. Neurophysiological evidence, plus very recent psychophysical findings of 

audio-visual interactions, suggest this will be a rich vein of research. 

DP0345724 Prof SM Andrews 

Title: Lexical retrieval and reading comprehension: Binding perceptual, lexical and 

conceptual information in on-line reading 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $54,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Reading is a complex process that involves integrating sensory information extracted from text with 

stored memories about word meanings, syntactic structures and general knowledge. Most reading 

research has focused on the processing of isolated words, but normal reading requires integration 

processes that are not necessary to recognise single words. This research uses tasks requiring 

sentence comprehension and measures of eye movements during reading to investigate how readers 

retrieve and combine information while reading to comprehend text. It will contribute to developing more 

comprehensive theories of normal reading that can inform methods of teaching reading and contribute to 

refinement of text recognition systems. 

DP0346254 Dr RA Ankeny 

Title: Modelling Nervous Systems, 1880-1930: Debates over Choice of Materials and 

Techniques in the Correlation of Form and Function 

2003 : $30,000 

2004 : $25,000 



*** 

Summary: 

This project will examine key scientific research programs in the history of the neurosciences in the 

transitional period 1880-1930 in order to explore the models, methodologies, and material techniques that 

were the foundation for the most influential theories. Several major figures will serve as anchors for the 

study, providing insight into the contentious debates as well as the often unstated basic agreements that 

occurred across a range of disciplinary, social, and national boundaries to examine the roots of what 

neuroscience is today. 

*** 

DP0344616 A/Prof SW Armfield Prof JC Patterson

Title: Enhancement of Heat Transfer by Stimulated Transition to Turbulence in Natural 

Convection Boundary Layers on Heated Walls 

2003 : $105,000 

2004 : $110,000 

2005 : $110,000 



Summary: 

The aim of this project is to increase the heat transfer from heated vertical surfaces to an ambient fluid by 

stimulating an early transition to turbulence. Such passive heat transfer occurs in heat transfer devices, 

natural ventilation systems and in many environmental settings. Enhanced heat transfer will greatly 

improve the performance of these systems. The project will provide the length scales, frequency and 

amplification rate for the occurrence of the secondary span wise mode that is the primary mechanism for 

turbulent transition. This will provide guidance for the development of appropriate roughness elements 

and heating length and time scales. 

DP0343924 A/Prof A Aspromourgos 

Title: The Development of English Economic Vocabulary to 1776: the Formation of a 

Disciplinary Language 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $52,500 

2005 : $55,000 

2006 : $54,666 

2007 : $37,666 

Category: 3403 - ECONOMIC HISTORY AND HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT 


*** 

Summary: 

The language of economic science is fundamental to all social theory - and indeed, to how modern 

societies perceive themselves. Where does that vocabulary - both the language and the concepts carried 

by that language - come from? How did it develop? The aim of this research project is to clarify the 

answers to these two questions, up to the time at which political economy or economics became a 

mature intellectual system - in Adam Smith's 1776 "Wealth of Nations". This will be the first such 

systematic and comprehensive book-length study of the formation of this disciplinary language ever 

attempted. 

DP0346626 Dr IM Bassett Mr JH Haywood 

Title: New Approach to Photonic Interferometry with Applications in Sensing 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $90,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project is based on a new technique for photonic interferometry, the Network Independent Multiple 

Interrogation (NIMI) technique. This project aims to:1) gain a better understanding of the NIMI method2) 

exploit the NIMI technique in other applications3) provide the key technology for future optical, current and 

voltage sensing systems for high voltage networks.This work is significant as it represents a 

breakthrough in interferometry, with wide applications in scientific and engineering instrumentation.The 

expected outcomes are:1) an improved understanding of the merits and limitations of the NIMI technique2) 

new application of the NIMI technique3) improvements to the NIMI technique and the optical high voltage 

sensing systems to which it is applied 

***

DP0345360 Dr M Beekman 

Title: Social insect behaviour: the importance of individual-decision making and information 

transfer 

2003 : $105,000 

2004 : $95,455 

2005 : $95,455 

2006 : $95,455 

2007 : $95,455 



QEII Dr M Beekman 

Summary: 

Insect societies are complex systems. Understanding complex systems is often hampered by our inability 

to study the individual units that comprise the system without also disturbing the system. Insect societies 

are unique in that the individual insects can be studied within their natural setting. This project will study 

foraging behaviour of honey bees with respect to individual decision-making and information transfer. In 

doing so we will obtain insights in the working of other, less accessible, complex systems such as the 

mammalian brain or the Australian economy. 

DP0345946 Prof MR Bennett 

Title: Calcium Signalling and Sequestration at Vertebrate Motor-Nerve Terminals 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $70,000 

*** 

Category: 2705 - ZOOLOGY 


Summary: 

A fundamental process at Synapses is the release of transmitter from nerve terminals due to the initiation 

of calcium signalling in the temrinals by impulses. This calcium signalling must be terminated by 

sequestering processes. The aim of this project is to identify these processes in a vertebrate 

motor-nerve terminal and to determine the means by which calcium signals the changes in efficacy of 

transmitter release during trains of impulses. This work will give a complete description of calcium 

signalling in a vertebrate nerve terminal and provide the basis for ameliorating failures in transmission 

from nerve to muscle. 

DP0346487 Dr GF Birch Prof FA Gobas 

Title: Determining the Toxicity of Sedimentary Organic Contaminants in the Marine 

Environment and its implications for Australia 

2003 : $83,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $81,000 

*** 

Category: 2599 - OTHER CHEMICAL SCIENCES 


Summary: 

Australia, like many countries, has adopted sediment quality guidelines, which govern construction, 

waste disposal, dredging, protection of living resources and remediation in coastal regions. Recent 

studies by the current applicants indicate that these guidelines overestimate sediment toxicity, which may 

result in unnecessary, costly environmental investigations and possibly needless, very expensive 

remediation. Although contaminants are in extremely high concentrations in many Australian coastal 

areas, they may not be available (bioavailable) to benthic animals. A new technique is proposed to 

determine contaminant bioavalibility and improve the predictability of these guidelines and ensure the 

ecological sustainable development of coastal environments. 

***

DP0345185 Dr LJ Bornholt Dr M O'Loughlin 

Title: Identity, Belonging and Citizenship in urban and regional Australia 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

This project examines a sense of identity, and belonging in relation to citizenship among young people in 

urban and regional Australia. The project will examine what it means to be an individual, and to have a 

sense of belonging, and what it means to be an Australian. The project will show where understandings 

are common to adolescents and young adults. An additive model is proposed of the personal and social 

identities that are particular to urban and regional areas of Australia, that have discrete historical, 

gendered, social and economic foundations. Innovative methodologies integrate implicit and explicit 

attitudes as aspects of self knowledge. The project therefore contributes to a new contextualized 

understanding of Australian identity, democracy and citizenship. 

DP0342542 Dr IH Cairns Prof PA Robinson 

*** 

Title: Field Statistics of Space and Astrophysical Phenomena 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $95,000 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Waves and radiation typically occur in bursts and persist, with their driving particle distributions, for 

unexpectedly long distances in space and astrophysical sources. These features cannot be accounted 

for with older plasma theory but are explained naturally with stochastic growth theory (SGT). Recent 

observations show SGT to be widely applicable in space and for pulsars. We propose to make SGT into a 

quantitative dynamic theory tested on known SGT systems, to discover and interpret field statistics of 

natural radio emissions, and to develop and test observationally theories based on SGT and associated 

wave/radiation processes for key space and astrophysical phenomena. 

DP0344987 Dr J Canning Dr WE Padden 

*** 

Title: Hypersensitisation and Patterned Photosensitivity in Glass 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

Recent developments involving holographically patterned photosensitivity in glass-based optical 

waveguides developed by our group can be extended to fabricate complex two-dimensional structures 

including planar waveguide photonic bandgap devices for applications in telecommunications, sensing 

and signal processing. These will include novel grating-array based 2-D DFB lasers and filters in 

rare-earth doped planar waveguides. Novel etching techniques to be used to enhance index contrast, as 

well as to characterise such devices, will be developed based on our recent observation of 

hydrogen-enhanced etching of glass. Such methods could potentially be applicable to not only photonic 

technologies but also semiconductor lithography of oxides. 

DP0344116 Prof JP Carter 

***

Title: Influence of tunnelling on pile foundations 

2003 : $116,000 

2004 : $126,500 

2005 : $120,000 



Summary: 

The effects of tunnel construction on the behaviour of existing pile foundations will be investigated. In 

particular, models will be developed to predict the influence of tunnel excavation on the bearing capacity, 

average settlement, differential settlement and tilt of pile groups and the loads and bending moments 

induced in the piles of the group and the pile cap. These models will allow rational assessment of the 

effects on buildings undermined by tunnels. This work is significant and timely because of the growing 

trend to place transport infrastructure underground in many cities of the world. 

DP0342862 A/Prof GL Clarke Dr KA Klepeis 

Title: High-P partial melting and melt escape from the lower crust: the evolution of a 

Cretaceous Island Arc, Fiordland NZ 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $95,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Partial melting, melt segregation and magma transport are the main processes controlling change on Earth. 

Though there is clear evidence that even small melt fractions can segregate into large igneous bodies, 

our inability to directly observe active magma ascent means that there is not agreement on the 

mechanisms by which melt initially segregates, pools and ascends. This project will study well-exposed 

lower crustal rocks from the root of a long-lived Mesozoic island arc to resolve the mechanisms that 

controlled melt escape from, and extensive magma transport through deep crustal environments. 

*** 

DP0346270 Prof DI Cook Dr A Dinudom Prof JA Young 

Title: Novel ways of regulating epithelial transport 

2003 : $130,000 

2004 : $130,000 

2005 : $130,000 



Summary: 

This project is intended to discover novel intracellular mechanisms that regulate the rate of ion transport 

by the lung, the gut and the kidney. It will not only provide new insights into how the body controls a 

process that is critical to animal life, but also provide new targets for the development of pharmaceuticals. 

DP0344239 A/Prof PJ Davis A/Prof JM Oates Prof F Fricke Dr KM Greenwood 

*** 

Title: Vocal Quality, Projection and Perception 

2003 : $50,000 

Category: 4101 - PERFORMING ARTS 


Summary: 

This project will quantify the vocal features of projection and loudness in experienced operatic soloists

and actors and will examine how these features relate to emotional expression and how each of these 

qualities are perceived by the performers and by others. We will determine which respiratory and 

laryngeal techniques are associated with the ability to communicate emotional connection and to produce 

certain sound qualities, in particular associated with the performer's ability to project a powerful voice 

unamplified within a large theatre, as well as over an orchestra. 

DP0342843 Dr JC Dortch 

*** 

Title: Late Pleistocene faunal change and the formation of fossil deposits: a taphonomic 

approach 

2003 : $108,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $69,400 



APD Dr JC Dortch 

Summary: 

New insights into the relationships between environment, animal communities and humans are the key to 

understanding faunal extinctions from the prehistoric past to the modern day. Using taphonomic and 

environmental evidence, three prehistoric sites from across Australia will be examined to document 

faunal succession and the factors contributing to the formation of fossil deposits in each location. The 

outcomes include a clearer understanding of the dynamics of fauna, people and climate during a critical 

period in Australian prehistory as well as providing new evidence against which the current explanatory 

models of human impacts and climate change may be tested. 

DP0344675 Dr BJ Eggleton Dr CM de Sterke 

*** 

Title: Light-matter interactions in microstructured optical waveguides for nonlinear optical 

signal processing 

2003 : $218,000 

2004 : $236,000 

2005 : $251,000 

2006 : $250,000 

2007 : $260,000 



Summary: 

The challenge of conceiving and constructing the necessary components and devices for the next 

generation of lightwave telecommunications systems is a profound one. This issue is urgent as the 

current operating principles of switches, filters and sources and other devices simply do not allow for the 

upgrade to the extremely high data transmission speeds that will be required. Using glass optical fibres 

as the starting point, we will devise, demonstrate and analyze these novel components, leveraging 

microstructured optical fibre technology and novel fabrication techniques, which are among the most 

recent developments in optical fibre research. 

*** 

DP0345832 Prof D Feng A/Prof M Fulham Dr S Eberl Dr RR Fulton 

Title: Intelligent Biomedical System Modelling and Multi-modality Image Analysis to 

Maximize Diagnostic Information from Medical Imaging 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $57,200 

2005 : $50,336 

Category: 2801 - INFORMATION SYSTEMS 

Administering Institution: The University of Sydney

Summary: 

Medical imaging is an essential part of our Australian modern health care system and plays an important 

role in the diagnosis, treatment planning and decision making and assessment of treatment of patients. 

This project aims to maximize the benefit of federal government healthcare investment through intelligent 

biomedical system modelling in conjunction with multi-modality image analysis to extract crucial additional 

information for accurate diagnosis and improved treatment, which will not only lead to a major scientific 

advancement, but also deliver significant social benefits. 

DP0346013 Dr N Firth Prof RA Skurray 

Title: Plasmid maintenance and interactions with the host cell and its genome 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 

*** 

Category: 2703 - MICROBIOLOGY 


Summary: 

Plasmids are extrachromosomal genetic elements that play a central role in the evolution of bacteria. They 

are the most dynamic component of the bacterial genome, augmenting the host chromosome by 

conferring a range of significant phenotypes that facilitate environmental adaptation. This project aims to 

elucidate fundamental aspects of the relationship between plasmids and their bacterial hosts. Significant 

outcomes include understanding the molecular basis of efficient plasmid inheritance in bacterial 

populations, and exploration of the innovative hypothesis that plasmids modulate expression of the host 

chromosome, a possibility that would profoundly alter our view of how plasmids influence host 

phenotype. 

DP0343014 Dr MH Fitzgerald 

*** 

Title: An analysis of research ethics and the ethical review process as culture and cultural 

process 

2003 : $58,000 

2004 : $58,000 

2005 : $58,000 

Category: 3703 - ANTHROPOLOGY 


Summary: 

This project explores research ethics and the ethical review process as culture and cultural process. It 

includes analyses of international ethics review-related documents, literature, and processes, case 

studies, key informant interviews, and observation of ethics committees in the process of deliberation. It 

focuses primarily on work associated with the paradigms and methods used or borrowed from the social 

sciences and topics and populations that seem to be the most problematic. This understanding might help 

us better address the issues involved and allow the development of policies and applications that are less 

problematic for all concerned. 

DP0346688 A/Prof SC Fleming 

*** 

Title: Fibre amplifiers and lasers with enhanced and novel functionality based on novel 

fibre fabricated by chelate modified chemical vapour deposition 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $70,000 



Summary: 

This project will explore the application of a novel technique of fibre fabrication (chelate delivery in MCVD)

to rare-earth doped fibres for fibre lasers and amplifiers. The chelate technique allows much greater 

control of the doping than has previously been possible. Higher rare-earth concentrations and greater 

control over dopant placement will permit fibre lasers and amplifiers with increased and novel 

functionality. 

DP0346611 Dr JD Forte 

*** 

Title: The Role of Colour and Luminance in Spatial Location 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 



APD Dr JD Forte 

Summary: 

How does the brain form our impression of the world? Black and white images appear normal to us. 

However, colour images without luminance variation have little depth, suggesting that the brain does not 

process colour in the same way as luminance. A series of fresh experiments examine how colour and 

luminance are utilised for seeing the depth and position of objects. The results will help us to understand 

how the first stages of visual processing in the brain shape our sense of the world, and help develop 

theories of human vision, as well as animal and machine models of vision. 

DP0346376 Dr C Gaina 

*** 

Title: Tectonic versus biological processes: What controls the long-term global carbon 

2003 : $54,259 

2004 : $54,259 

2005 : $53,259 

2006 : $48,259 



APD Dr C Gaina 

Summary: 

A major debate in Earth system analysis concerns two competing hypotheses on the driving forces 

behind dramatic changes in atmospheric CO2 over geological time. One hypothesis considers 

tectonic/geological processes to be the major driving force. The other argues that it is the competition 

between plants and animals that drives the long-term CO2 cycle. We propose to test these hypotheses 

using a novel set of global oceanic palaeo-age grids and subduction models for the last 180 million years. 

This will allow us to appraise key tectonic carbon cycle components such as mantle degassing, seafloor 

weathering and sediment subduction. 

*** 

DP0345968 A/Prof WG Gibson Prof MR Bennett 

Title: A mathematical model of calcium signalling in single cells and in multicellular 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $70,000 

Category: 2399 - OTHER MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES 


Summary: 

Calcium released from stores inside cells plays a vital signalling role in living organisms. It initiates cell 

division after fertilization, mediates communication and learning in the nervous system, causes 

contraction in the muscular walls of arteries and plays an important but as yet poorly understood role in 

the information processing that occurs in systems of coupled glial cells. We will construct a unified 

mathematical model of calcium signalling in multicellular systems, starting from the known processes in

single cells, and use it to gain insight into the functioning and possible dysfunctioning of calcium-mediated 

intercellular communication. 

DP0345964 Prof RG Gilbert Dr MA Fitzgerald 

Title: Novel biomaterials from improved understanding of the structure of starch 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $48,000 

*** 

Category: 2505 - MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY 


Summary: 

The microstructure of starch, comprising two polymers of glucose: amylose (linear, except for a few long 

branches) and amylopectin (with a complex tree-like architecture), is described by a high-dimensional 

function. This project examines simplified measures of the full microstructure, such as the distribution of 

lengths if all links were cut, and also properties which depend on the full architecture, such as 

viscoelastic response and adhesion. Theory, simulation and neural networks will be used to guide 

experiments to elucidate which partial structure measures control which property. Outcomes will include 

means of helping biotechnology create improved biomaterials, and plant breeders to improve food quality. 

*** 

DP0345400 Dr D Grant Prof C Hardy Dr RW Hall Dr WG Harley Mr NR Wailes Dr CA Wright 

Title: The Impact of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems on Australian Organizations 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $43,000 

2005 : $43,000 



Summary: 

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation is one of the most pervasive sources of technological 

change in contemporary Australian enterprises. ERP systems are computer-based technologies that are 

designed to increase efficiency and achieve major cost savings across the entire organization. Their 

implementation has significant implications for the structure, nature and management of organizations. 

This project's innovative application of an organizational change model to eight detailed case studies 

across a range of organizational types will generate important new insights into the effects of ERP 

implementations at Australian organizations and help explain why some implementations are more 

successful than others. 

*** 

DP0344085 Prof TW Hambley Prof GB Deacon 

Title: Development and Biological Chemistry of Novel Platinum Anti-Cancer Agents 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Rule-breakers, platinum anticancer complexes that do not follow the well established structure/activity 

relationships, have emerged as the way forward in the treatment of cancer resistant to the current 

generation of drugs and in reducing side effects. We have developed two new groups of "rule-breakers" 

and these have already demonstrated highly promising anticancer activity and novel biological behaviour. 

In this project we will (i) prepare new anticancer active platinum complexes based on these two highly 

promising groups of compounds and (ii) determine how these drugs work and what happens to them 

when in biological environments.

*** 

DP0343563 A/Prof MM Harding Prof AD Haymet 

Title: Antifreeze Proteins and Glycoproteins 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Antifreeze proteins and glycoproteins permit many species of fish to survive in sub-zero oceans without 

freezing. These antifreeze compounds have potential applications in the frozen food industry (eg. 

maintaining the texture of ice cream), medical science (eg., cryosurgery) and veterinary science (eg. 

storage of sperm). Commercial applications are limited by the amounts of compounds available from fish 

and the lack of understanding of how these proteins work. This research will study how natural and 

synthetic antifreezes inhibit ice growth in order to allow the rational design of new antifreezes and will 

identify new compounds with potential commercial applications as cryoprotectants. 

DP0343552 Dr J Harris 

*** 

Title: The contribution of early sensory cortex to working memory 

2003 : $56,000 

2004 : $49,000 

2005 : $52,000 



Summary: 

This project examines how initial sensory areas of cerebral cortex contribute to working memory. We 

expect to find that the memory of a stimulus involves multiple representations held for different durations 

by different cortical areas. We will examine how these memorial representations are related to the known 

neuronal representations that are supported by each sensory cortical area. These findings will advance 

our understanding of how perceptual memories are organised and represented in the brain. They will also 

challenge the traditional view that segregates memory from perception by showing that certain memories 

are inseparable from the sensory structures mediating their content. 

DP0345942 Prof BS Haynes Dr K Sendt 

*** 

Title: A Comprehensive Kinetic Model for Sulfur Reactions in Combustion, Gasification, and 

Chemical Processing 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $35,000 

2005 : $35,000 

Category: 2999 - OTHER ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY 


Summary: 

Sulfur chemistry in high temperature processes is poorly understood, leading to uncertainties in the 

design of these processes and in the control of their emissions. In particular, new approaches to 

lowering greenhouse emissions which depend on the combustion and gasification of coal, biomass, or 

refuse-derived fuel, such as integrated gasification combined cycle processes, are especially affected 

by these uncertainties. This project seeks to combine experimental measurements and quantum chemical 

modelling to produce a detailed mechanistic model for the reactions of sulfur in high-temperature systems. 

Such a model will provide designers with a tool to optimise these complex interacting systems. 

DP0344185 Dr A Henderson 

***

Title: Canonical bases for standard modules of affine Hecke algebras 

2003 : $56,725 

2004 : $56,725 

2005 : $56,725 

2006 : $56,725 



APD Dr A Henderson 

Summary: 

Lie theory is the study of a class of mathematical structures which arise in many different fields of 

mathematics, and in areas of physics such as quantum field theory. One such structure, much studied in 

the last twenty years, is the affine Hecke algebra of an algebraic group. These have standard modules 

(defined geometrically) which currently lack convenient bases (roughly speaking, ways to write them 

algebraically). The main aim of this project is to prove that standard modules have canonical bases with 

certain special properties, as conjectured by G. Lusztig. 

DP0344728 Dr P Hirsch 

*** 

Title: Toward a political ecology of risk in river basin development: The case of the Mekong 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $57,000 

2005 : $57,000 

Category: 3008 - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES 


Summary: 

This project is designed to examine the distribution and redistribution of risk associated with 

environmental change and large scale development interventions in the Mekong Region. The research 

aims to make a theoretical contribution to the rapidly emerging field of political ecology, by moving beyond 

an analysis of winners and losers based on certainty and post-facto impacts. The study will work 

toward an analysis driven by the inherent uncertainties that underlie both the social construction and 

social distribution of environmental risk. The research also has important practical implications for 

environmental and social assessment methodologies in and beyond the case study region. 

DP0345973 Dr RB Howlett 

Title: Reflection groups 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $45,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The study of symmetry in geometrical and abstract contexts is a central issue in such diverse areas as 

mathematical physics, singularity theory, algebraic geometry, quantum groups and the study of knots and 

braids. Group theory provides the mathematical framework for the analysis of symmetry. Reflection 

groups, simple examples of which are the symmetry groups of the five platonic solids, play a key role in 

all of the areas mentioned above. Thus an improved understanding of reflection groups will significantly 

enhance the development of several important theories. 

DP0346320 Dr RW Hunstead 

*** 

Title: The most distant galaxies: probing the early universe 

2003 : $130,000 

2004 : $110,000

2005 : $110,000 

2006 : $110,000 



Summary: 

Powerful radio emission from a galaxy points to the presence of a central supermassive black hole, and 

is the most effective tool for finding galaxies at the edge of the universe. By using data mining techniques 

on our existing low-frequency radio images of the southern sky, we will identify 80-100 of the youngest 

and most distant massive galaxies, by far the largest such sample ever assembled. It will be used to 

measure the growth of supermassive black holes over time, and to test competing theories of how 

massive galaxies formed in the early universe. 

DP0342590 Dr CA Hutton Dr MD McLeod 

Title: Total Synthesis of the Microsclerodermins: Anti-fungal Cyclic Peptides 

2003 : $88,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Fungal infections are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the increasing 

immunocompromised patient population, which includes AIDS, chemotherapy and organ transplant 

patients. The aim of this project is to discover new anti-fungal treatments for drug-resistant pathogenic 

fungal infections, based on the microsclerodermin family of natural products. The small quantity of 

microsclerodermin isolated from the natural environment hampers the development of anti-fungal agents 

from this natural product. Innovative synthetic methods will be developed to prepare large quantities of 

microsclerodermins and related compounds for biological testing, thereby furthering the development of 

this promising class of anti-fungal drugs. 

DP0346277 A/Prof CB Inglis A/Prof DF Ip Dr KM Dunn Dr SM Thompson 

Title: Transnationalism and Citizenship: the Australian experience in comparative 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $76,000 

2005 : $76,000 

*** 

Category: 3705 - DEMOGRAPHY 


Summary: 

This project explores transnationalism and its impacts on Australian migrants and their children from 

China, Hong Kong and Turkey. It examines their involvement in transnational practices and linkages 

between their homeland, Australia and third countries. The links between transnationalism, sense of 

identity and experiences of citizenship and exclusion are explored. In addition to comparing the effects 

associated with living in Sydney and Brisbane, our findings will constitute part of an international 

comparative project involving Canada, the UK and Germany 

*** 

DP0345746 Dr SD Jackson Adj/Prof MG Sceats 

Title: Passively switched mid-infrared fibre lasers using saturable absorbers placed 

internally or externally to the geometry of the fibre 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $81,000 


Administering Institution: The University of Sydney

Summary: 

This project will create new pulsed mid-infrared fibre lasers based on original and recently developed 

passive switching techniques. An original class of fibre laser systems will be shown that is based on the 

internal placement of saturable absorbers within the optical fibre itself. A configuration such as this will 

enable the production of very simple pulsed laser systems of high efficiency and potentially high power. 

This will lead into the development of practical pulsed oscillator systems the output of which can be used 

directly or optically amplified for applications requiring high power. 

DP0344684 Dr CT Jin Dr FA van Schaik 

*** 

Title: Mobile spatial-audio telecommunication systems 

2003 : $120,836 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $68,601 



Summary: 

We will develop an inter-personal electronic spatial-audio telecommunication system that works outdoors 

in a mobile environment. Talkers using the system will be acoustically aware of other talkers' locations 

because the communication channel is rendered as 3D audio. The system provides situational awareness 

useful during activities such as fire fighting, search and rescue, surveillance, audio/video 

teleconferencing. The research investigates system implementations using wearable computing with 

personal location sensors (differential GPS) and personal orientation sensors (hybrid 

gyroscopic/magnetic system). The work will result in fundamental data relevant to the development, 

testing and validation of a mobile telecommunication system with individualised spatial audio. 

DP0345225 A/Prof JS Jin 

Title: Varying similarity metrics in indexing and retrieving high dimensional data 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $45,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Many applications require varying distance metrics by putting a weight on different dimensions. Taking an 

example in visual information retrieval, due to the subjective nature of similarity measurements, the 

distance metrics can vary between different users. The main problem with k nearest neighbour (k-nn) 

searches using weighted metrics in a high dimensional space is whether the searches can be done 

efficiently, since in an arbitrary distance metric the intersection between the k-nn sphere and the 

bounding envelopes of nodes in an index tree cannot be easily calculated. This project aims to seek a 

novel solution. It will create a great impact on and have many applications in high dimensional visual 

information retrieval, instance-based learning, complex analysis, non-parametric density estimation, etc. 

*** 

DP0346024 A/Prof PW Jones A/Prof AR Welch 

Title: Australia's International Relations in Education 1945-2000 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $57,000 

2005 : $57,000 



Summary: 

The project provides the first comprehensive historical account of Australia's international relations in

education, presented in light of evolving policy and strategic concerns. International education has 

become increasingly important for Australian foreign policy and national development post-WW2, and has 

been taking on particular weight in educational policy and practice. The project investigates how 

pursuing the national interest through international engagement has helped shape the educational 

dimensions of economic and social policy in Australia. Developing an innovative conceptual framework - 

based on a contrast between the logic of internationalism and of globalisation - is of particular 

significance. 

DP0343948 Prof S Jones Prof RG Walker 

Title: Assessing the Nation’s Infrastructure: The Role of Financial and Non-Financial 

Information 

2003 : $30,000 

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $30,000 

*** 

Category: 3602 - POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION 


Summary: 

Presently governments do not disclose information about the condition of legacy infrastructure, and the 

extent of projected (often, non-discretionary) expenditure to repair or upgrade the functionality of those 

assets. This project builds on an analytical framework developed by Walker Clark & Dean (2000). It 

examines the viability of alternative proposals for providing information to external stakeholders, on either 

an agency or 'whole of government' basis. Using a combination of case studies and stated preference 

data, the study seeks to derive an optimal reporting framework which can assist governments better 

measure and more effectively manage the nation's infrastructure. 

DP0345505 Prof N Joshi 

*** 

Title: Global Behaviour of Integrable Complex Systems 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Complex systems as diverse as the weather and the solar system are modelled by non-linear equations 

that have elusive, unstable solutions. An infinitesimally small change in the state of the system at one 

place can lead to a vast change in its behaviour far away. Such extreme sensitivity is often take to be a 

sign of chaos, but it also occurs in completely ordered, integrable systems. Our main aim is to tackle the 

immense challenge of describing the global behaviour of such elusive solutions, particularly when the 

systems depend on many variables. 

DP0346257 A/Prof SH Kable 

*** 

Title: Photodissociation Dynamics of Radicals and Molecules 

2003 : $104,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

Photodissociation dynamics involves studying fundamental chemical processes that underpin all chemical 

reactivity. We address three of the important unanswered questions in this field: i) how do the lessons 

learned from small molecules transfer to larger molecules' ii) can one control chemical reactivity by 

selecting specific states of the reactant?; and iii) are the dynamics of radicals fundamentally different to 

stable molecules? We will combine expertise in large molecule spectroscopy and photodissociation

dynamics with technology in radical production to provide insight into these fundamental questions. 

Photodissociation dynamics is firmly embedded in photon science and technology. 

DP0344343 Dr VJ Keast 

Title: Mapping electronic structure and material properties with atomic resolution 

2003 : $189,000 

2004 : $74,000 

2005 : $74,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project will use electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) to map the bonding and electronic 

structure of InGaN quantum wells at the atomic scale. We will measure and correlate the local 

composition, strain and electronic structure variations within the wells in order to understand the optical 

emission in this system. The characterisation tools developed will allow us to go beyond measuring 

structure and composition and map properties of nano-materials at the atomic scale. 

DP0345996 Dr BJ Kennedy 

Title: Structural and Electronic Properties of Layered Bismuth Oxides 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

*** 



Summary: 

A systematic study of the role of cation substitutions and temperature on the structural and electronic 

properties of a number of layered bismuth oxides will undertaken with the aim of developing improved 

ferroelectric materials for use in electronic devices. 

DP0342494 Dr CJ Kepert 

*** 

Title: Nanoporous Molecular Frameworks: Chirality, Host-Guest Chemistry and Nanoscale 

Templation 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

Molecular frameworks are a new class of nanoporous material that promise a range of applications due 

to their reversible, selective guest-exchange and their great structural and chemical versatility. This 

project addresses three points of focus within this area: 1) the use of homochiral (handed) frameworks 

for molecular enantioseparations, 2) the mechanisms of guest-exchange in these systems, and 3) the 

use of these materials as porous templates within which other nanostructured materials may be grown. 

In addition to having considerable fundamental interest, the work promises a number of significant 

commercial benefits in the areas of drug purification and nanomaterials. 

DP0345961 Prof PW Kuchel Dr TR Eykyn 

*** 

Title: NMR Spectroscopy of Complex Cellular Processes 

2003 : $135,000 

2004 : $135,000 

2005 : $135,000

2006 : $135,000 

2007 : $135,000 

Category: 2499 - OTHER PHYSICAL SCIENCES 


APF Prof PW Kuchel 

Summary: 

The Theme is the cell viewed as a complex regulated molecular assembly. The Aim is to establish an 

integrated mathematical model of red cell metabolism, membrane transport, shape, and mechanical 

properties, principally by using NMR spectroscopy. The Significance will be discovery of new aspects of 

cellular structure and function, and new NMR theory for molecular bioscience. Outcomes will include new 

NMR measurements of kinetics of metabolic reactions, rates of membrane transport, solute diffusion, and 

functions of key membrane- and cytoskeletal proteins. Practical applications will include strategies for 

modelling complex biochemical systems, and circumventing metabolic defects arising from inheritance, the 

environment, and therapies. 

DP0345757 Dr MC Large Prof RC McPhedran 

*** 

Title: NOVEL STUCTURES AND MATERIALS IN MICROSTRUCTURED POLYMER OPTICAL FIBRES 

2003 : $140,000 

2004 : $140,000 

2005 : $140,000 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $150,000 



ARF Dr MC Large 

Summary: 

Last year we succeeded in fabricating the microstructured polymer optical fibres (MPOF). This work 

means that the fabrication constraints applying to similar glass fibres can be overcome, and entirely new 

types of structures can be investigated. As polymers can contain a much larger variety of dopants than 

glass the material properties of MPOF can also be fully exploited to develop new fibre functionalities. The 

combination of structural and material flexibility possible in MPOF offer the opportunity to radically redefine 

what is possible in microstructured fibres. It is these possibilities that we aim to explore in this project. 

*** 

DP0345057 Prof AW Larkum Dr GC Cox Dr RG Quinnell Dr A Salih 

Title: Symbiosomes and symbiosome membranes of corals and other cnidaria 

2003 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Reef building corals and many other marine animals depend on symbiotic algae. Very little is known about 

the ways in which these organisms achieve effective communication with their endosymbionts, yet this 

is vital for understanding coral bleaching, a major present-day problem. In corals and their relatives, algae 

are housed in membrane-bounded vesicles, symbiosomes, which mediate the signal regulation that 

maintains an ongoing and healthy association at the cellular level. Unlike some terrestrial symbioses, little 

is known about the structure and function of the coral symbiosome. This study sets out to investigate 

this membrane at the cellular and molecular level. 

*** 

DP0346162 Prof PA Lay A/Prof RS Armstrong Dr A Stampfl 

Title: Nanoprobe and Microprobe Spectroscopic Techniques in Drug Design, Probing

Mechanisms of Diseases, and Bioinorganic Chemistry 

2003 : $106,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Nanoprobe and microprobe spectroscopic techniques offer unparalleled opportunities to probe the 

structures and distributions of drugs, carcinogens, and biomolecules in cultured cells and tissues. Such 

techniques represent new frontiers in understanding in vivo metabolic processes at the molecular level, 

as well as providing unprecedented information on the metabolism and distributions of pharmaceuticals 

and toxins involved in the treatment and cause of diseases, such as cancer. This project is aimed at 

pushing the boundaries of nanoprobe and microprobe (X-ray absorption, SRIXE, PIXE, Raman and 

two-photon fluorescence) techniques for such applications. 

DP0343834 Prof LF Lindoy A/Prof GV Meehan 

Title: Nanoscale Molecular Architectures - New Metallo Cages and Capsules 

2003 : $112,000 

2004 : $107,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The design and synthesis of novel cage and capsule-like supermolecular structures will be undertaken, 

including rare examples of two large cage types - one designed to incorporate two adjacent metal ions in 

an extended (chiral) cavity while the other utilises macrocyclic metal complexes as the 'walls' of the 

cage. In the latter case metal variation makes possible the alteration of the electronic environment of a 

guest occupying the central cavity . A third (capsule-like) system is designed to 'open' and 'close' under 

pH control. The present studies hold promise for underpinning the future development of nano-scale 

molecular devices. 

DP0342465 Dr JL Lovell 

*** 

Title: Wadi Rayyan and Olive Production in the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Ages (4500-3000 

BCE) 

2003 : $111,703 

2004 : $98,297 

2005 : $110,000 

2006 : $58,000 



APD Dr JL Lovell 

Summary: 

This project seeks funds to excavate two sites in the Wadi Rayyan in the highlands of Jordan. This 

previously unexplored area of Jordan is at high altitude and an excellent region for olive growing. Both 

sites show evidence of agricultural processing (features cut into the bedrock) and both show evidence 

of Chalcolithic/EBA occupation (4500-3000 BCE). Excavation will reveal the relationship between the 

changing economy in the Late Chalcolithic (4000-3500 BCE) and the changing pattern of settlement in the 

region through excavations at these key sites. Specifically this project will investigate the links between 

early olive processing and early complex society. 

*** 

DP0342760 Dr JP Mackay Dr DA Gell Dr PM Crossley 

Title: Characterization of erythroid differentiation related factor (EDRF): a novel a-globin 

binding protein

2003 : $200,000 

2004 : $199,000 

2005 : $180,000 



APD Dr DA Gell 

Summary: 

Hemoglobin, a four-subunit protein comprising two alpha and two beta polypeptide chains, is the essential 

oxygen transporter found in all mammals. Problems with the synthesis of hemoglobin can give rise to a 

range of common and serious human disorders, including thalassaemia and anemia. We have discovered 

a protein, EDRF, that appears to interact directly with alpha-globin (but not beta-globin) and to play a role 

in the regulation of hemoglobin production. We now seek to understand the nature of this interaction at a 

molecular level and mechanistic level. 

DP0345067 Prof RM MacLeod Prof H Albinski 

*** 

Title: The Genie in the Bottle:Science, Politics and Diplomacy in Australia's Engagement 

with Chemical and Biological Weapons, 1915-1995 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $40,000 

2006 : $40,000 

2007 : $40,000 



Summary: 

The threat of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) is attracting increasing attention worldwide. 

Australia's engagement with the CBW began during the First World War. Since then, Australia has been 

influential in promoting CBW control regimes. However, this experience has raised many questions. This 

project explores Australia's historical and current response to the central issues of CBW. Using archival 

and contemporary sources, it analyses the interplay between science, politics and diplomacy. Combining 

history and political science, it assesses the implications of recent developments in CBW for Australia's 

role in preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. 

DP0346569 Prof Y Mai A/Prof YG Shen 

*** 

Title: Studies on Nanocomposite Coatings: Processing, Characterisation and Properties 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $98,000 

2005 : $88,000 



Summary: 

Superhard nanocomposite coatings are relatively new materials that have found many applications in the 

manufacturing industries. The main objectives of this project are: (a) development and optimisation of 

fabrication techniques for a range of novel superhard nano-composites; (b) fundamental understanding 

of the relationships between residual stress, microstructure and composition; and (c) evaluations of 

fracture-mechanical properties including wear-resistance. Major research outcomes are improved basic 

knowledge of these novel nanocomposite coatings leading to optimal processing of superhard 

nano-materials. 

DP0346641 Prof AR Masri Prof RW Bilger 

Title: Advanced Studies of Turbulent Combustion: Premixed to Nonpremixed 

***

2003 : $150,000 

2004 : $130,000 

2005 : $120,000 



Summary: 

Despite limited resources, the world will continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels to satisfy the growing 

energy requirements. There is a pressing need, therefore, for cleaner, more efficient combustion not only 

to conserve energy but also to reduce environmental emissions of pollutants. This project tackles several 

major areas of turbulent combustion covering premixed and nonpremixed flames of gaseous and liquid 

fuels. Each project involves complex calculations and validation with measurements obtained using 

advanced laser diagnostic methods. This is a major research program leading to advanced numerical 

methods which will eventually be implemented in numerical tools to optimise combustor designs. 

DP0343023 Dr A Mathas 

Title: Quantized representation theory 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $55,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The representation theory of quantized algebras, or deformation algebras, is a rapidly expanding and 

exciting field. It has wide ranging applications from within mathematics, to knot theory and statistical 

mechanics. This project addresses several important open problems in the area with an emphasis on 

structural innovations and computing explicit numerical invariants. 

DP0343385 Dr JM Matthews Dr JE Visvader 

*** 

Title: Dissecting a hematopietic transcription factor complex 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

The development of mature active cells is a highly complex and coordinated process that is controlled 

largely by groups of interacting regulatory proteins. We are trying to understand, at a very detailed level, 

how a specific group of these proteins interact to regulate both normal blood cell development and the 

onset of childhood leukemias. Using this information we will try to develop reagents that can be used to 

inhibit these interactions and be used as lead compounds for treatments for disease. 

DP0346556 Dr IS McGregor 

*** 

Title: Defensive behaviours elicited by predator odours 

2003 : $49,000 

2004 : $35,000 

2005 : $37,000 



Summary: 

Rats display a powerful anxiety responses when confronted with the odours of predators such as cats. 

This response may occur even though rats have never encountered an actual predator before. This

project aims to investigate the nature of this anxiety and the nature of the stimuli that produce it. The 

outcomes should be a better understanding of the neural basis and pharmacology of anxiety states and 

the identification of novel chemicals that have powerful rodent repellent properties. Such chemicals may 

be of great use in domestic and agricultural contexts where rodents are pests. 

DP0344988 Dr GA Meagher Dr KE Healy 

Title: Enhancing services to Australian children and families: linking workforce 

characteristics, job quality, and quality and outcomes in social services 

2003 : $39,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $45,000 

*** 

Category: 3702 - SOCIAL WORK 


Summary: 

This project aims to promote best practice in child and family welfare services, and to improve the 

industrial and social recognition of child and family welfare work in Australia. The CIs will construct an 

analytical framework for explaining the links between the nature and deployment of the child and family 

services workforce, service delivery systems and outcomes, and social policy regimes, with wider 

application to other personal social services. Judicious use of international comparison will assist 

identification of best practice. The project will inform policy and research in social service provision to 

vulnerable families, and the aged and disabled. 

DP0345144 Prof DB Melrose 

*** 

Title: Plasma Astrophysics under Extreme Conditions 

2003 : $140,000 

2004 : $140,000 

2005 : $150,000 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $140,000 



APF Prof DB Melrose 

Summary: 

A new branch of theoretical physics, quantum plasmadynamics (QPD), will be applied to plasmas under 

extreme conditions of magnetic field and density, to plasma-neutrino effects and nonlinear radiation. 

Magnetic energy dissipation in solar flares will be attributed to a large number of coupled, local, transient, 

anomalously resistive regions excited by current filamentation. The model will include nonlocal energy 

release at Alfvenic fronts, 3D reconnection at magnetic nulls, and bulk energization of electrons. 

`Coherence' in sources of coherent emission will be quantified and a model for its interpretation for highly 

intermittent wave growth will be formulated. 

DP0345991 Prof RA Minasian 

Title: New Photonics-based Interference Mitigation Filters for Radioastronomy 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $80,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project aims to study new topologies for photonics-based interference mitigation filters for 

radioastronomy. Its significance is that it will solve, for the first time, the problem of excising RF interfering 

signals from within the optical signal fibre transport systems conveying radioastronomy signals from

phased array antennas. These interference suppressors are key elements in removing strong unwanted 

man-made signals from terrestrial transmitters and satellites that coexist, and make the detection of the 

very weak radioastronomy signals extremely difficult. The outcome will be new high-resolution and 

tunable fibre-based interference suppression filters integrable with the signal transport system, which 

enhance the sensitivity of radioastronomy phased arrays. 

DP0344467 Dr B Minasny 

*** 

Title: Modelling soil formation in the landscape 

2003 : $50,000 

Category: 3001 - SOIL AND WATER SCIENCES 


Summary: 

Soil is a complex system composed of a set of interconnected physical, chemical and biological factors 

that function as a whole. Soil system is a key part of natural ecosystems that is significantly affected by 

land management. This project aims to create a new quantitative model for soil formation in the landscape. 

This project will investigate whether the soil variability is a result of the soil being a complex system. The 

outcome of the model will enable us to reconstruct the history of soil profile development in the landscape 

and help us understand how soil forms and landscape evolves with time. 

DP0344909 Prof BJ Morris Dr JE Rasko 

*** 

Title: RNA splicing: factors and mechanisms 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $65,000 

Category: 2702 - GENETICS 


Summary: 

Most primary gene transcripts must have their noncoding intronic sequences spliced out before the mRNA 

can be translated. Moreover, alternative splicing enables cells to generate a far more proteins than there 

are genes in the nucleus. Based on our proven success with ZNF265 we will isolate novel RNA 

interactors and their partners, colocalize these in intranuclear compartments, and elucidate their effect on 

pre-mRNA splicing. This will provide timely spin-offs to the Human genome Project and EST sequence 

information, where the finding of only approx. 30,000 genes in our genome highlights the important role of 

alternative splicing in generating the large proteome repertoire of cells. This will bring considerable 

benefits to science, society, and the biotech industry. 

DP0346380 Dr BK Nauta 

*** 

Title: Superfluid helium nanodroplet spectroscopy 

2003 : $129,345 

2004 : $92,345 

2005 : $69,345 

Category: 2403 - ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS; PLASMA 

PHYSICS 


APD Dr BK Nauta 

Summary: 

Molecules trapped in a helium nanodroplet find themselves in an ultracold liquid environment from which 

they cannot escape. As such, the molecules are forced to interact and this is studied at a resolution that 

is unrivaled in condensed phase spectroscopy. This technique will be used to create new materials and 

study the dynamics behind a large range of chemical processes. The results are expected to lead to a 

greater understanding of condensed phase chemistry and chemical reactions in general.

DP0343707 Dr KL Neal 

*** 

Title: At the crossroads of mathematics, navigation and exploration: A scientific biography 

of Henry Briggs (1561-1630) 

2003 : $25,000 

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $26,000 



Summary: 

My project, a scientific biography of Henry Briggs (1561-1630), will investigate an important scholar who 

was at the centre of interacting networks of prominent mathematicians, colonists, and explorers. A study 

of Briggs's career will shed valuable light on the beginnings of mathematics as a viable profession in 

England, on the relationship between mathematics and scientific ideas concerning magnetism, and on the 

interactions between mathematics, exploration, and colonisation. Such an examination is increasingly 

important due to recent arguments concerning the role of mathematics in the Scientific Revolution. 

*** 

DP0343170 Dr BP Oldroyd Dr R Maleszka Dr FL Ratnieks 

Title: The genetics of social regulation of reproduction in honey bees 

2003 : $190,000 

2004 : $190,000 

2005 : $180,000 



Summary: 

The aim is to characterise the genes that regulate worker reproduction in honeybees and to understand 

how the effects of these genes are regulated by the social environment. There is an inherent conflict 

between the interests of each worker (that can increase its biological fitness by laying eggs) and the 

collective workers (that are disadvantaged by their half sister's reproduction). How sterility is normally 

maintained in social insects remains an important unsolved mystery of biology. To solve this mystery we 

will use genomic techniques characterize the genes that control sterility and show how they are 

regulated by the social environment. 

DP0345112 Dr GG Pereira Prof RP Burford 

*** 

Title: THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF BLOCK COPOLYMER MELTS AS 

NANO-MATERIALS 

2003 : $76,000 

2004 : $74,000 

2005 : $77,000 



Summary: 

We shall theoretically study and predict the possible morphologies of a wide range of block copolymer 

architectures with a combination of simulations and accurate numerical theories. These block copolymer 

melts are of great technological importance because they can self-assemble into morphological patterns 

which are periodic on a nano-scale. Hence they are now being intensively investigated for uses in 

applications as diverse as lithographic templates for electronic and optical devices, nano-porous 

membranes and photonic band gap materials. We shall verify our theoretical predictions by carrying out 

experiments on the various molecular architectures that we have studied theoretically. 

***

DP0343604 Dr I Piller 

Title: Success and failure in second language learning (SLL) 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $45,000 

2005 : $55,000 



Summary: 

Why do some people succeed in learning a second language to very high levels and others fail miserably 

despite the fact that both groups may have set out with similarly positive attitudes and high levels of 

motivation? This research project focuses on the social contexts in which second language learning 

takes place. It aims to provide an insider account of what it is like to be a successful or unsuccessful L2 

user. It will describe the linguistic and discursive resources language learners have access to, and the 

ways in which such access is structured in the communities they participate in. 

DP0342529 Prof L Radom 

*** 

Title: Computational Quantum Chemistry Study of Molecular Structures, Stabilities and 

Reactions 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $110,000 

Category: 2506 - THEORETICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY 


Summary: 

Computational quantum chemistry is revolutionizing the study and practice of chemistry. We will use 

state-of-the-art computer calculations to investigate chemical structures, stabilities and reactions, 

particularly for free radicals. Radicals are of great importance in chemistry, biology and polymer science, 

but are difficult to study experimentally. We will use the computer calculations to determine how to make 

radicals more stable, how they react to produce polymers, how they cause damage to proteins, and how 

they are involved in helping vitamin B12 make reactions go faster. We will create new methodologies in 

order to reliably achieve these goals. 

DP0346673 Dr R Reffat 

*** 

Title: Intelligent Agents for Concept Invention of Design Forms 

2003 : $43,778 

2004 : $48,235 

Category: 4104 - DESIGN STUDIES 


Summary: 

Concept invention refers to the act of discovering new concepts for the first time. Concept invention may 

require a new interpretation and a shift in intentional mode that motivates new mappings of the situation 

prior to the discovery of a new concept. This project is concerned with developing intelligent design 

agents that are capable of inventing creative concepts of design forms, shapes and compositions while 

involved in the design process. A new approach of exploiting the notion of displacement of concepts with 

regard to concept invention in designing will be adopted and utilised in developing the structure of 

intelligent agents. 

DP0342933 Dr PF Rey Dr J Brugger Dr P Philippot Dr WJ Dunlap Dr SN McLaren 

*** 

Title: From Synchrotron Characterisation of Single Fluid Inclusions to Archaean 

Geodynamics: An Integrated Study of Fluid-Rock Interaction in the Primitive Crust. 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $120,000

2005 : $120,000 

Category: 2603 - GEOCHEMISTRY 


Summary: 

In the primitive Earth, a wide range of phenomena including the initiation of biological activity and the 

formation of ore deposits were related to the mobilisation of mineralised fluids through the crust. In the 

Archaean craton of the Pilbara (WA), we have identified, within its tectonic framework, a crustal-scale 

plumbing system that channelled large volumes of mineralised hydrothermal solutions. Our objective is to 

understand the development of this plumbing system in relation to Archaean crustal geodynamics using a 

combination of structural geology, metamorphic petrology, geochronology, geochemistry, and the analysis 

of single-fluid inclusion using synchrotron and other X-ray sources. 

DP0346176 Dr R Reynolds 

*** 

Title: Living With Uncertainty: Creating the Postmodern Self in Contemporary Australia 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $100,000 



ARF Dr R Reynolds 

Summary: 

Life in post modernity is marked by rapid change and uncertainty. Increasingly, as tradition is worn away, 

individuals must create new scripts to give life meaning and structure. Through a case study of gays and 

lesbians, this project will investigate how a group of Australians are creating post-modern selves. 

Drawing on in-depth interviews, it traces the relationship between discursive and psychological accounts 

of the post modern self and their political effects. With a particular interest in emotional life, this study will 

provide critical information on how individuals and communities can manage creatively the uncertain 

conditions of post modernity. 

DP0344181 Dr ML Roberts 

*** 

Title: The Other Orient. Reinterpreting Orientalist Art by studying the priorities of Ottoman 

painters and patrons in Constantinople, 1839-1909. 

2003 : $70,872 

2004 : $104,480 

2005 : $82,710 



Summary: 

My aim is to produce a new understanding of Orientalism through intensive research into the role of 

Ottoman elites in the development of art in nineteenth-century Constantinople. This will be the first 

comprehensive study of the complex web of cross-cultural interactions in the capital of the Ottoman 

Empire in this period, including the major art exhibitions, the Sultan's patronage and the unique 

collaborations between European and Ottoman women artists and patrons. The result will be a major 

innovation within post-colonial and feminist art histories through the inclusion of indigenous perspectives 

on the production and reception of Orientalist art. The outcome will be two refereed journal articles and a 

book entitled, The Other Orient. 

DP0343235 Prof JA Romagnoli 

Title: An Intelligent/Smart Framework for Total Process Monitoring And Supervision 

2003 : $150,000 

***

2004 : $135,000 

2005 : $135,000 

2006 : $135,000 



Summary: 

Operator failures have an adverse effect on product quality, process safety, occupational health and 

environmental impact. The management of abnormal operating conditions is a major responsibility and 

depends critically on information management. A recent report indicates that the total cost attributable to 

preventable losses in petrochemical companies in U.S. amounts to twenty billion dollars per year. The 

objective of this project is to develop the theoretical framework and implementation of an Advanced 

Integrated Support System (ISS) for process monitoring, data analysis and interpretation, event detection 

and diagnosis, and operations support in chemical and petrochemical processes manufacturing. 

DP0346801 Dr J Ruys 

*** 

Title: Literary Self-Awareness and Parental Love: Challenging Alterity in Contemporary 

Medieval Studies 

2003 : $71,000 

2004 : $68,000 

2005 : $65,000 



APD Dr J Ruys 

Summary: 

Did medieval women write about themselves as gendered individuals? Did medieval parents love their 

children? Despite both popular and academic opinion to the contrary, this project aims to demonstrate that 

these propositions are true. By studying the self-aware writings of Latin-literate medieval women and 

medieval parent-child advice-texts, this project aims to challenge the alterity, or otherness, of the Middle 

Ages, a concept which suggests that medieval people are fundamentally unlike us. In doing so, it 

questions the significance of alterity in the construction and practices of contemporary Medieval Studies 

and offers insights into possible new methodologies for the discipline. 

DP0345516 Dr SJ Scheding 

*** 

Title: Holographic Videography for Spatial Communication 

2003 : $50,000 



Summary: 

This project is aimed at developing a true colour holographic video display in which a user or users may 

interact with completely synthetic objects. This will be the first system of its kind, giving a user the illusion 

of real physical interaction with a completely holographic object. The illusion may be shared by many 

participants without the use of external aids. The project has the potential to improve productivity in many 

applications such as geospatial information systems, x-ray inspection, and medical imaging, by giving a 

user a much more natural way of interacting with three dimensional data. 

DP0346291 Dr GM Schiemer 

Title: Pocket Gamelan: Tuning Musical Applications for Wireless Internet 

2003 : $42,823 

2004 : $32,923 

2005 : $27,663 

***



Summary: 

This project proposes a new mobile electronic instrument prototype suitable for live performance of 

music. Recent developments in tuning theory will play an important role in the development of the 

prototype allowing it become a new live electronic performance medium for music. The prototype will be 

tested using tuning principles that have evolved in music over many centuries on every continent. 

*** 

DP0344445 Dr MS Sherburn Prof MN Paddon-Row 

Title: New Horizons in Diels-Alder Chemistry 

2003 : $170,000 

2004 : $170,000 

2005 : $160,000 



Summary: 

Using a unique joint experimental-computational approach, we will develop reliable ways to predict the 

outcome of one of the most important chemical reactions. Practical applications of these new predictive 

tools will be developed involving powerful new versions of the reaction. Several different classes of 

biologically active natural products will be prepared including molecules with antitumor and antiretroviral 

activities. Libraries of structurally-related analogues of natural compounds will be synthesised for 

biological evaluation. 

DP0343673 Prof R Shine Dr JK Webb 

*** 

Title: Ecological and evolutionary impacts of toxic prey 

2003 : $185,000 

2004 : $185,000 

2005 : $185,000 

2006 : $185,000 

2007 : $185,000 



Summary: 

The current invasion of feral cane toads into the Australian wet-dry tropics provides a unique opportunity 

to study natural selection in action. These highly toxic anurans kill many of the predators that attempt to 

ingest them. Within two years, the toads will reach a floodplain near Darwin where we are conducting a 

longterm (already, > 15-year) ecological research program on snakes. The knowledge and data base 

resulting from this program, plus many thousands of individually-marked predators whose home ranges 

and demographic histories are known, provide a unique opportunity to examine the ecological and 

evolutionary impact of toads. 

DP0343682 Dr CA Styan 

*** 

Title: Intersexual arms races - are individuals within marine meta-populations less able to 

interbreed than assumed? 

2003 : $60,000 



Summary: 

A meta-population structure is thought to describe the inter-connected nature of many populations of 

marine animals with dispersive larvae. However, new theory predicts some of these populations might be 

not very inter-connected at all, despite larval migration. In some circumstances, independent, 

co-evolutionary arms races between sexes might develop within local populations, resulting in individuals

ecoming increasingly less able to interbreed freely. I will directly test for this, measuring how 

successfully broadcast spawners can cross-fertilise across populations. This will reveal the genetic 

structure of these populations and if these animals really do live in a meta-population. 

DP0345735 Prof RI Tanner A/Prof P Harrowell 

Title: Simulation studies of stick and slip at the solid-liquid boundary 

2003 : $130,000 

2004 : $115,000 

2005 : $120,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Successful practical application of computational rheology to polymer processing, to adhesion and to the 

understanding of lubrication at very high shear rates, among other problems, needs both an adequate 

description of the fluid - a constitutive equation - and the prescription of proper boundary conditions. The 

constitutive model problem has been extensively studied, and this proposal seeks to address the question 

of proper boundary conditions for viscoelastic flow at interfaces between a flowing fluid and a solid 

surface. This vital area has not been thoroughly studied theoretically and computationally, and we seek 

to clarify the mechanisms by using molecular dynamics. 

DP0342588 Prof FC Teiwes Dr WW Sun 

*** 

Title: The Politics of Transition in China, 1972-1982 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $62,000 

2005 : $65,000 

Category: 3601 - POLITICAL SCIENCE 


Summary: 

The project provides a new interpretation of the elite politics behind one of the most remarkable 

transformations within a continuing political system in the late 20th century, the crucial period of transition 

between the radical late Mao era and the reform program of the 1980s. It thus examines several of the 

least researched, in any sustained in-depth sense, and, as a consequence, poorly understood periods of 

elite politics in the People's Republic of China. 

*** 

DP0343428 Dr MB Thompson Prof CR Murphy 

Title: Uterodomes and the evolution of viviparity 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $110,000 

2005 : $110,000 



Summary: 

We will test the hypothesis that uterodomes, which are cell structures unique to the early pregnant uterus 

in mammals, and the cellular changes accompanying their development, are essential to the evolution of 

viviparity in amniotes. The proposal stems from our recent discovery that uterodomes develop in the uteri 

of viviparous lizards as well as in mammals, suggesting key commonalities at the cellular level in the 

evolution of live birth across amniote vertebrates. We will take advantage of the unique combination of 

placental types among Australian lizards, including a species with both oviparous and viviparous 

populations. 

DP0346419 A/Prof L Tong 

***

Title: Controlled vibration of intelligent super-lightweight structure systems 

2003 : $96,000 

2004 : $39,000 

2005 : $27,000 

Category: 2902 - AEROSPACE ENGINEERING 


Summary: 

This project aims to pioneer research on dynamic shape control of intelligent structure systems, in which 

the rapid shape variation of a structure is controlled with fast varying electric energy. It bridges the gap 

between structural shape and vibration control. The expected outcomes are (a) novel concepts and 

formulation of dynamic shape control; (b) biologically inspired active stiffener system; and (c) an 

innovative theoretical framework for design optimisation of dynamic shape control of intelligent structure 

systems. 

*** 

DP0346689 Dr PG Tuthill Em/Prof J Davis Dr WJ Tango 

Title: The basic physics of stars: determination of sizes, shapes, masses, temperatures 

and distances with very high resolution optical interferometry 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $110,000 



Summary: 

It is surprising that stars, the basic building blocks of galaxies, are not better characterised. Nailing with 

high accuracy the basic stellar fundamentals - masses, radii, effective temperatures and luminosities - 

across the whole range of different stellar types requires the precise, high-resolution, observational data 

that the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer (SUSI) was designed to provide. Operational with the 

highest resolution ever attained, the instrument is poised to make inroads into stellar astrophysics. The 

synthesis of SUSI data with complementary data from national and international collaborators is an 

exciting prospect for the solution of crucial problems in contemporary astrophysics. 

DP0343654 Dr FA van Schaik 

*** 

Title: Dynamic signal processing with currents 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $60,000 

2006 : $50,767 

2007 : $50,767 



ARF Dr FA van Schaik 

Summary: 

Today's digital computers and communications devices, such as mobile phones, contain continuous time 

filters as necessary and important components. We will investigate an integrated circuit design 

methodology for the creation of fully programmable versions of such filters. Currently these filters are 

redesigned for each application and are often external to the IC. This increases the size and cost of the 

design. Another outcome of the methodology is a current domain signal processor. This will be capable of 

modelling complex systems such as biological neurons and stock option pricing. We will build these 

systems and interface them with digital computers. 

DP0345271 Prof BS Vucetic Dr J Yuan 

Title: Space-Time Coding and Receiver Structures for High Speed Wireless 

***

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $57,200 

2005 : $50,336 



Summary: 

The aims of the project are to devise space-time coding techniques and cost effective receiver structures 

for applications in future wireless data networks. We expect that new space-time codes would enable 

an increase in spectral efficiency by two orders of magnitude compared with the existing systems and 

allow the introduction of advanced multimedia services. 

DP0346037 Dr B Wang 

Title: Fracture Mechanics of Functionally Graded Materials: Coupled 

Thermoelectromechanical Problems 

2003 : $83,000 

2004 : $92,000 

2005 : $94,000 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $90,000 

*** 



ARF Dr B Wang 

Summary: 

The primary goal of this project is to develop mathematical and computational models and techniques that 

are capable of novel design of functionally graded materials and structures that can dramatically increase 

the performance and reliability of artificial structures and devices. The applications areas are broad: from 

lightweight thermal protective coatings used in high-temperature environments to biological hard tissues 

like bones and teeth. Efficient numerical methods will be developed to overcome difficulties encountered 

in material properties and loading conditions. The project will provide useful guidelines to design new, 

intelligent, multi-phase material systems, including biomaterial systems for biomedical applications. 

*** 

DP0345171 Dr XH Wang Dr SM Firth Prof RC Baxter 

Title: Structural elucidation and functional analysis of insulin-like growth factor binding 

protein-3 domains 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



APD Dr XH Wang 

Summary: 

Translating information from the human genome project into information about cell function is a major 

challenge in the post-genome era. The multifunctional insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 

(IGFBP-3), a member of a multigene superfamily, regulates cell growth and function through numerous 

signalling pathways. This project will provide structural information about IGFBP-3 as a prototype for the 

superfamily, and using a combination of methodologies will unravel mechanisms of IGFBP-3 action. The 

project will advance understanding of IGFBP-3 and superfamily functions, and provide both benefits in 

international research leadership and economic and health benefits in animal and human growth and 

metabolism. 

DP0344961 Dr MJ Wardle 

***

Title: Interstellar Gas Dynamics 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

The conversion of interstellar gas into stars is a key process in the life-history of galaxies and the 

formation of planetary systems. Star formation takes place within a heterogeneous, dynamic cloud, and 

entails a million-fold contraction controlled by a complex interplay between gravity, magnetic forces, 

ionisation balance, chemical reactions and particles of interstellar dust. Previous modelling has adopted 

inappropriate approximations for the evolution of the magnetic field. This research will bring a rigorous 

treatment of magnetic diffusion to bear on the theory of cloud evolution, shock waves, star formation and 

protoplanetary discs. 

DP0344773 A/Prof AS Weiss 

*** 

Title: Biochemistry of tropoelastin and elastin 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Elastin is the main protein responsible for the elasticity of vertebrate tissues. The Weiss Lab makes large 

quantities of full-length tropoelastin, which is cross linked to make elastin. We want to examine the 

biochemistry of tropoelastin, learn how its domains participate in elastin structure and assembly, and 

explore cellular responses to our synthetic elastin biomaterial. Remarkably little is known of this 

biochemistry because elastin is a highly cross-linked and substantially insoluble macroscopic network of 

tropoelastin multimers. Our availability of tropoelastin and synthetic elastin now makes these studies 

possible. 

DP0343145 Prof LM Weiss 

*** 

Title: Globalisation’s Impact on the Government-Business Relationship: A Theoretical and 

Multi-Country Study 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

This project will explain why states in many contexts are developing more collaborative relationships with 

business (both domestic and transnational), contrary to the expectations of globalisation theory. It will 

develop a novel perspective on globalisation that recognises its potential to 'enable' and not merely to 

'constrain' the state's capacities for industrial governance, and explain why states tend to become more, 

not less, important to social life as economic interdependence rises and vulnerability increases. It will 

offer a new conceptualisation of state transformation by identifying the conditions under which 

globalisation creates pressures for increased public-private coordination of economic upgrading. 

DP0343148 A/Prof S White Prof SR Garton Dr SM Robertson Dr GJ White 

Title: Black Metropolis: Harlem, 1915-1930 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $95,000 

***

2005 : $120,000 

2006 : $90,097 

2007 : $235,401 



Summary: 

Our aim is to produce an ethnographic study of everyday life in Harlem as it became the black capital of 

the world. Not only will our project be a contribution to the exciting historiography of African American 

culture, but it will be at the cutting edge of new scholarship about twentieth-century America. It will also 

offer a model of the ways in which the "everyday" can be recovered and demonstrate the advantages, in 

terms of deeper insights into early twentieth-century black urban life, that such a recovery can yield. 

*** 

DP0345481 Dr L Williams Prof MJ Brammer Ms KJ Brown 

Title: Imaging supra- versus sub-threshold perception: Towards a neural 'signature' of 

conscious experience 

2003 : $62,000 

2004 : $59,000 

2005 : $59,000 



Summary: 

This is the first study to combine spatial and temporal brain measures to test the prediction that 

'conscious' (versus 'unconscious') emotion perception is distinguished by responses in cortical brain 

regions, and by later peaks in integrative brain activity. Two additional innovative features include the 

simultaneous measurement of arousal (as an independent index of responses to emotion, regardless of 

conscious awareness), and the use of psychophysical methods to establish objective thresholds for 

'unconscious' and 'conscious' perception. Elucidating the neural basis of conscious emotion perception is 

important to understanding the mechanisms of unique human experience, and disorders of stress and 

anxiety. 

DP0344929 Dr C Yan 

Title: Characterisation of soldered and adhesively bonded assemblies in photonic 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $91,000 

2006 : $91,000 

2007 : $82,000 

*** 



ARF Dr C Yan 

Summary: 

Photonic packaging plays key roles in development of new optical technology. The project aims to 

establish the theories and techniques for characterising the integrity of soldered and adhesively bonded 

assemblies for photonic packaging. The critical failure mechanisms will be investigated, and sophisticated 

life prediction models will be established using artificial neural network (ANN) approaches for reliability 

assessment. The outcomes of the project will fill the gap in the knowledge for characterising failure 

processes of these assemblies and provide effective methods and easy-to-use guidelines for reliability 

evaluation and life prediction of photonic packages, expanding and enhancing Australia's capacity in the 

areas. 

DP0346475 Dr JJ Zou 

***

Title: A Computer-Aided Cartooning System 

2003 : $56,165 

2004 : $54,185 

2005 : $54,185 

2006 : $54,185 



APD Dr JJ Zou 

Summary: 

This project is aimed at developing a computer-aided system to accelerate main image-related processes 

in cartoon production. Using such a system, many of the tedious and repetitive tasks can be performed 

semi-automatically. The project is focused on accurate representation and matching of shapes. New 

vectorization methods based on projection onto convex sets (POCS), and new matching methods based 

on multi-stage hierarchical structures will be developed. The targeted applications include entertainment, 

next generation mobile services, and the internet. 

University of Technology, Sydney 

DP0343362 Dr DJ Booth Prof MA Hixon 

Title: Living on the edge: settlement dynamics of reef fishes across their ranges 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $55,000 

*** 


Administering Institution: University of Technology, Sydney 

Summary: 

Settlement and early establishment (recruitment) are major determinants of population viability of marine 

organisms, and can vary greatly among oceans and latitudes. We will compare the recruitment dynamics 

of populations of reef fishes across their range, including at range boundaries where populations may be 

more vulnerable to environmental impact. We will test the hypothesis that a combination of highly erratic 

settlement, poor physiological condition of incoming larvae, and poor recruit growth and survivorship will 

occur at range boundaries. Outcomes of the study will help in prediction of the viability of fish 

populations which will improve their management and protection. 

*** 

DP0344927 Prof D Eamus Prof MA Adams A/Prof RE McMurtrie 

Title: Mechanisms linking site water status and net primary productivity 

2003 : $175,000 

2004 : $175,000 

2005 : $175,000 

2006 : $175,000 



Summary: 

Australia is the driest of all inhabited continents and also has the lowest primary productivity. This project 

will determine the mechanisms linking these observations. Through development of a detailed mechanistic 

understanding of how site water balance determines site productivity and application of this 

understanding in a state-of-the-art model, we shall improve forest and water resource management and 

our understanding of the unique ecology of Australia. 

DP0344767 Prof DS Goodman 

Title: China’s invisible economic leadership: women in family enterprises 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $66,500 

2005 : $66,500 

***



Summary: 

Chinese women are generally regarded as not having been in the leadership of economic reform. In 

contrast, the Chief Investigator's recent research on the new rich in North China suggests that the wives 

of new entrepreneurs may play significant, though unacknowledged, leadership roles in enterprise 

development. In particular, it suggests that women often act as business managers and accountants 

alongside their husbands, especially in family based enterprises first established in the private sector. It is 

now proposed to test the wider applicability of these findings, and explore the consequences for the 

development of enterprises, families and local politics. 

*** 

DP0345114 Prof IT Hawryszkiewycz Prof B Henderson-Sellers 

Title: Components for Active Knowledge Portals 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

Businesses require people to collaborate and share knowledge in their work processes especially when 

they are in different locations. Such collaboration emerges by dynamically creating parallel and 

disconnected collaborative tasks that must be coordinated to meet organizational goals. This project will 

define the semantics of such emerging processes in the context of software digital workspaces that 

support them. It will then identify ways of constructing and using workspaces by creating active 

knowledge portals to support emerging processes. These portals will include software agents that are 

sensitive to the business context and help coordinate tasks within the emerging process. 

DP0343632 Prof JJ Louviere A/Prof DJ Street 

Title: Modelling the Choices of Individuals 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $62,000 

2005 : $75,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Individuals make decisions daily and some of these decisions have wide-reaching and long-term 

consequences, such as choices among housing, public transport, electoral candidates and health care 

options. The principal aim of this project is to develop reliable and valid ways to model individual level 

choice processes. Once completed, this will provide insights into ways to aggregate sampled 

observations when population-level applications are required, and allow us to compare and test several 

competing theories of choice behaviour. This will enable us to make contributions to understanding and 

modelling human decision making in many fields ranging from marketing to medicine. 

DP0344453 Dr JP Marshall 

Title: Understanding Online Gender: Structures and Use of Computer Mediated 

Communication and its Social Environments. 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $67,000 

2005 : $65,000 

*** 


Administering Institution: University of Technology, Sydney

APD Dr JP Marshall 

Summary: 

The project uses participant observation of the Internet mailing list Cybermind, to explore the dynamics 

and effects of gender online. Users of the list will be followed through their everyday interactions, and 

through their experience of other online forums, to see how these effects vary. Presentation of gender in 

personal Web pages will also be investigated, as will patterns of exploration of the Web. Results will help 

the design of Internet communication structures, by government and business, which are supportive of 

both multi-gendered communication and use of the World Wide Web, given variations in topic and social 

function. 

DP0346179 Dr DC McKnight 

*** 

Title: Subversion and National Security: ASIO and the new social movements, 1968-1972 

2003 : $20,000 

2004 : $20,000 

2005 : $20,000 



Summary: 

The project will break new ground through an investigation of security surveillance of the anti-war, 

student, New Left and Women's Liberation movements in the period 1968-72 , using the most recent 

archival records. It will also explore covert measures to counter the influence of these movements.The 

interpretation of events will be based on the organising concept of subversion. The project will analyse 

historically the practical application of this concept, including its management of political difference and 

dissent, thus casting light on contemporary questions of internal security and the war on terror. 

*** 

DP0344284 Prof S Muecke Dr D Ghosh Prof MN Pearson 

Title: Culture and Commerce in the Indian Ocean 

2003 : $142,000 

2004 : $125,000 

2005 : $135,000 

2006 : $130,000 

2007 : $144,000 



APF Prof S Muecke 

Summary: 

The project examines trade cultures in a region which was the hub of the major world economic system 

in the pre-colonial period, and is now restrengthening. It thus links the earliest global system with current 

globalisation studies, giving those analyses historical depth. The first cultural studies project in Indian 

Ocean studies, it matches new theory to the empirical diversity of the region, analysing the way cultural 

forces add value to commodities, while creating diverse forms of transnational culture and identity. The 

project makes major contributions to cultural/historical and postcolonial thought, with the potential to 

create a new field of study. 

DP0346325 A/Prof GM Nicholson Dr WC Hodgson A/Prof KW Broady Prof GF King 

Title: Novel insecticidal neurotoxins from Australian spider venoms 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $65,000 

Category: 3205 - PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 


*** 

Summary: 

Insecticidal toxins have considerable potential as novel biopesticides to combat the evolution of

widespread insect resistance to classical chemical pesticides. This problem is increasing both in Australia 

and internationally. This study aims to isolate and pharmacologically characterise potent and selective 

insecticidal neurotoxins from Australian arachnids. Our laboratories will isolate neurotoxins from spider 

venoms, determine their selectivity in insect and mammal bioassays, determine their primary and tertiary 

structures, and investigate their structure-function relationships by electrophysiological techniques. 

These functional and structural data will allow the future engineering, by molecular or synthetic 

procedures, of viral biopesticide analogues with increased potency, stability and selectivity. 

DP0344312 Prof A Pennycook 

Title: Postoccidental Englishes and Rap 

2003 : $36,000 

2004 : $36,000 

2005 : $37,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project examines the conjunction between new Englishes and rap music. Applied linguistic research 

on world Englishes has focused predominantly on newly emergent standardized national varieties, and 

thus has tended to overlook the changing oral codes in domains such as popular music. By looking at the 

global spread of rap in relationship to the global spread of English, this project has great significance for 

1.Expanding our knowledge about the implications and processes of this spread; 2. Developing a model of 

postoccidental Englishes that goes beyond current frameworks; and 3. Creating educational materials 

that can engage with student interests and desires. 

DP0343913 Prof E Platen 

*** 

Title: Approximation and Simulation of Large Diversified Portfolios 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $67,000 

2005 : $67,000 

2006 : $20,000 



Summary: 

The measurement of risk for large diversified portfolios, consisting of primary securities and derivatives, 

will play a key role in future financial technology. Based on a new characterisation of asymptotic 

portfolios this project proposes the development, implementation and testing of highly efficient new 

approximate risk measurement methodologies suitable for portfolios with hundreds or thousands of 

instruments. Comparisons with standard and new simulation methods will demonstrate their superiority. 

The outcomes of this project will give Australian industry an internationally competitive advantage in the 

measurement and management of risk for large diversified portfolios such as those of superannuation 

funds and banks. 

*** 

DP0346540 Dr AM Sanagavarapu Prof DL Ross Prof HT Nguyen 

Title: Microwave Differential Imaging of Myocardium for Assessment and Therapeutic 

Monitoring of Transcatheter Cardiac Ablation 

2003 : $98,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $81,000 



Summary: 

We propose to develop Microwave Imaging techniques for cardiovascular disease diagnosis at 2.45 GHz.

Firstly, we aim to image the contrast in the complex dielectric constants of healthy and ischaemic heart 

tissue. The second aim is to image the extent and efficacy of therapeutic lesion formation due to cardiac 

ablation modalities. We propose to develop a cylindrical antenna array for near field microwave imaging 

using novel wire antenna elements. Fast and iterative reconstruction algorithms based on 

electromagnetic scattering and computational techniques will also be developed. 

DP0343109 Dr S Zhang 

Title: Effective Techniques and Methodologies for Multi-Database Mining 

2003 : $50,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project develops a high-performance multi-database mining system. This project is significant 

because (1) it is imperative due to a great deal of multi-databases widely used in organizations; (2) it is 

difficult due to essential differences between mono- and multi-databases; (3) existing multi-database 

mining techniques are inadequate; and (4) the new mining strategies in this project can make a vast 

improvement of the ability and performance of multi-database mining systems. The expected outcomes 

are: an application-independent database classification, a local instance analysis and a prototype system. 

These proposed techniques are innovative, effective and efficient in identifying novel patterns from 

multi-databases. 

University of Western Sydney 

*** 

DP0345614 Prof DK Burnham Dr CW Davis A/Prof JA Bowey Dr AE Castles Dr S Luksaneeyanawin 

Title: Language Specific Speech Perception: A Mechanism for Language Acquisition 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $70,000 


Administering Institution: University of Western Sydney 

Summary: 

What is exceptional about human infants is not their sophisticated speech perception (for animals 

perceive human speech similarly) but their use of speech to regulate linguistic attention and bootstrap 

language. Using a new validated measure, language specific speech perception (discrimination ability for 

native minus non-native speech sounds), we can ascertain the distribution of resources in linguistic 

tasks. This will be used in conjunction with a raft of experimental psycholinguistic techniques to 

investigate speech processing bases of vocabulary development, normal and dyslexic reading ability, and 

adult linguistic first and second language processing; to derive a dynamic new conception of language 

development. 

DP0343849 Dr PM Finnegan 

*** 

Title: Exploring the gene regulation networks governing mitochondrial biogenesis in 

Arabidopsis 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Mitochondria, subcellular organelles that perform many functions indispensable to plant growth and 

productivity, are dynamic compartments whose protein complement changes dramatically during plant 

development and under stress. Yet, the cellular processes that regulate the production of these

organelles are virtually unknown. By combining conventional approaches with an extremely powerful 

holistic method for simultaneously examining the expression patterns of every gene in the model plant 

Arabidopsis, this project will identify proteins that regulate mitochondrial biosynthesis and uncover the 

gene networks that these proteins control. The project outcomes will provide new opportunities for the 

rational manipulation of plant growth and productivity. 

DP0345266 Dr GJ Gow 

Title: Communities Across Borders: The Transnational Dynamics of Emerging and 

Stateless Refugee Groups in Australia 

2003 : $66,345 

2004 : $70,345 

2005 : $66,345 

*** 



APD Dr GJ Gow 

Summary: 

Dealing with the pressing issue of the refugee experience, this project investigates the transnational 

dynamics of four emerging and relatively 'invisible' refugee groups in Australia who are stateless 

minorities in their homelands. Through ethnographic fieldwork among the Assyrians, Kurds, Southern 

Sudanese and Oromo in Sydney and Melbourne, the project will present a comprehensive picture of the 

impact of transnationalism upon the settlement and citizenship of stateless refugees in multicultural 

Australia. The project will broaden the debate on the transnational cultural processes which operate 

across borders and challenge the ability of democratic nation-states to sustain the belonging and 

participation of citizens. 

*** 

DP0342540 Prof MA Wilson Dr A Shalliker Dr LA Evans 

Title: Aggregate structure of humic organic matter 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Soil aquatic organic matter is important in plant growth, nutrient supply and water quality and in affecting 

pollutants and metal ions in the environment. Indeed the survival of life on the planet depends on the way 

geo-organic matter functions. We have recently developed a new host guest theory on the way this 

material binds important substances such as metal ions and pollutants. This project aims to use this theory 

to investigate the structure of these materials and how they work in Nature by understanding molecular 

composition at a level hitherto thought impossible. 

University of Wollongong 

*** 

DP0344059 Dr IS Burnett Prof D Williamson Mr J Lukasiak 

Title: Sound and Shape Synthesis Using Tensegrity Particle Systems 

2003 : $50,000 


Administering Institution: University of Wollongong 

Summary: 

Pixar's Toy Story amazed audiences with its computer-generated images, yet the sound was still 

composed and 'tuned' almost wholly by human hand. In industry, virtual reality systems are increasingly 

applied to simulation and visualisation but, in general, 'sound' is poorly handled. In this project, we seek to 

research complex systems that will simulate an object's sound, shape and interaction characteristics in a 

unified approach. Our proposed Tensegrity particle systems generate minimal, stable and robust

descriptions of objects in interacting situations. This represents a new and unique approach to the unified 

representation of multimedia objects with applications in manufacturing and entertainment. 

DP0346048 Dr G Cox 

Title: Mathematical modelling of two-phase industrial granular flows 

2003 : $69,000 

2004 : $66,000 

2005 : $66,000 

*** 



APD Dr G Cox 

Summary: 

In many industrial processes involving flowing granular materials, the effect of air pressure can be 

significant. Such examples include pneumatic conveying, lock hoppers and air-impact moulding. The 

effect of pressurised air on a granular material can either compact it, or can cause sudden large flows. 

To model such complex phenomena, the frictional effects between the air and the solid granules must be 

accurately incorporated into a two-phase continuum mechanical model for granular materials. This 

proposal will develop advanced mathematical models and computational procedures to predict complex 

two-phase granular flows for industrial problems. 

DP0346703 Prof DP Dunne 

*** 

Title: Design of Improved Shape Memory Steels by Control of Parent Phase Precipitation 

Strengthening and Stacking Fault Energy 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

The aim is to develop iron-based precipitation strengthened shape memory alloys that are capable of 

recoverable strains > 4% and stresses > 200 MPa, for application as low cost one-way memory devices. 

Innovative solid solution and precipitation strengthening strategies will be employed to modify dislocation 

behaviour and stacking fault energy and to improve the reversibility of the martensitic transformation - the 

key to shape memory behaviour. The interaction of transformation dislocations with strain fields due to 

coherent particles and solute atoms will be elucidated. Significant increases in shape recovery stress 

and strain are expected because of increased alloy resistance to irreversible plastic strain. 

DP0346334 Prof D Farrier Prof RJ Whelan 

*** 

Title: Intersections between science and law: the implementation of threatened species 

legislation in Australia 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $60,000 

Category: 3901 - LAW 


Summary: 

This project will evaluate the effectiveness of techniques currently used in threatened species legislation 

in Australia. By combining the skills of experts in law and ecology, we will assess the role of science 

and scientists in decision-making processes and the extent to which decision-makers apply the 

precautionary principle when faced with scientific uncertainty. The project will analyse the existing

legislative techniques and possible alternatives in the context of the current theoretical debate about the 

respective advantages of reflexive law (which facilitates self-regulation) and top-down 

command-and-control regulation. 

*** 

DP0344011 Dr B Ferry A/Prof JG Hedberg Dr BL Cambourne Dr JB Turbill Prof DH Jonassen 

Title: Investigating a classroom simulation designed to support pre-service teacher 

decision making in planning and implementing literacy teaching 

2003 : $94,000 

2004 : $66,500 



Summary: 

This project investigates teacher mentor and preservice teacher participation in an online simulation of the 

teaching of literacy in junior primary classrooms. It will investigate how simulation can support preservice 

teachers to make complex sequences of decisions about the use of language and learning resources, 

teaching strategies and behaviour management strategies for a class of virtual students. The simulation 

will employ embedded cognitive tools to support teacher decision making. Once effective simulation 

learning of teacher performance is achieved, it will investigate the transfer of these skill to the real 

classrooms. 

DP0343586 Prof LA Kane-Maguire Dr PC Innis Prof GG Wallace Dr GF Swiegers 

*** 

Title: Light-Driven Chemistry with Nanostructured Polyanilines. 

2003 : $140,455 

2004 : $140,455 

2005 : $150,455 

2006 : $120,455 

2007 : $130,455 



QEII Dr PC Innis 

Summary: 

This project seeks to understand and exploit the rich photochemistry for an important class of electrically 

conducting polymers, namely polyanilines. Light stimulated electron transfer events will be employed in a 

wide range of exciting applications. The new fundamental knowledge gained will be used to design novel 

photochemical routes to functionalised polyanilines. The ability to produce solutions, films and especially 

nanoparticles of polyanilines as photo-catalysts should result in novel light-driven processes of 

industrial/environmental significance (eg. reduction of carbon dioxide), as well as new light-promoted 

electronic communication with important biological molecules. 

DP0346386 Dr B Martin 

*** 

Title: Theory and action for opposing political repression 

2003 : $30,000 

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $30,000 

Category: 3699 - OTHER POLICY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE 


Summary: 

Political repression, such as surveillance, arrests, torture and killings, sometimes rebounds against the 

represser in a process called "political jiu-jitsu." The aim of this project is to investigate and reformulate 

the concept of political jiu-jitsu in order to understand its core components and extend its applicability. To 

test the theory, twelve case studies will be drawn from the areas of the technology of repression, covert 

operations, cyberactivism and organisational struggles.

DP0343317 Prof SG Pyne 

*** 

Title: Asymmetric Synthesis of Bioactive Alkaloids and Analogues via Chiral, 

Polylfunctionalized-Pyrrolidines 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Alkaloids are plant products that have many useful biological and pharmaceutical properties. Many of 

these compounds have potential as antiviral and anticancer therapeutics. This project aims to develop 

novel methods of preparing bioactive alkaloids and their structural analogues. These compounds 

potentially have applications as new potent and less toxic pharmaceutical agents. 

*** 

DP0344777 Prof R Safavi-Naini Prof Y Desmedt Dr W Susilo 

Title: Enhancing Privacy for Digital Communication 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $45,000 



Summary: 

Protecting one's privacy in cyber world is a challenging task. Every contact to a Web server leaves a 

digital footprint that can be linked with other publicly available information to compile a profile of one's 

activities. Anonymous communication is a powerful tool for enhancing individuals' privacy and providing 

services such as electronic election where a person's vote must be unlinkable to him/her. However, 

anonymity may be misused by criminals to hide their identities and engage in illegal activities. The aim of 

this project is to design and analyse privacy enhancing communication systems that balance individuals' 

privacy and accountability, and develop criteria and metrics to compare performance of these systems. 

DP0345012 Dr X Wang Dr M Ionescu Dr Z Cheng Dr M James Prof R Liu Prof Dr W Lang 

*** 

Title: Fabrication, charge and spin ordering, magnetoresistance, and polaron effects in 

nano-size and single crystals of novel transition metal perovskite oxides 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $77,000 

2005 : $78,000 



Summary: 

The aim of the project is to synthesize a systematic series of novel colossal magnetoresistance 

manganese, cobalt and iron based transition metal perovskite oxides in the forms of nano-structures, 

nano-structured composites and single crystals using advanced nano-technology and crystal growth 

techniques. Extensive fundamental studies on magnetoresistance, spin and change ordering, and 

nano-scale behaviours will be carried out by neutron diffraction, synchrotron radiation, transport and 

magnetic measurements over a wide temperature range and magnetic fields. The outcomes of this project 

are likely to lead to a better understanding of the colossal magnetoresistance mechanisms, the discovery 

of fascinating new physical phenomena and suitable magnetoresistance materials for superior magnetic 

recording, sensing and switch devices 

***

DP0346521 A/Prof AD Wells Dr GR Knight Em/Prof JS Hagan Prof RG Castle 

Title: Selling their Souls: Between bound and free labour - imperial capital and the late 

colonial state in Asia and Australia. 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

The role of unfree labour has been central to the debate on colonialism and the spread of global trade in 

the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Much has been written about particular colonies, but little 

examines colonial labour as part of a global phenomenon. This project does so by comparing companies, 

workers and the state across a number of European colonies. It asks theoretically innovative questions, 

syntheses extant research, and requires new archival research. Findings, to be published in international 

journals and monograph series, will contribute to historical and contemporary debates on the impact of 

globalisation on labour. 

DP0345955 Prof RJ Whelan A/Prof DJ Ayre 

*** 

Title: Fire, bees and other disturbances: the basis for variation in genetic diversity in 

long-lived plants. 

2003 : $73,000 

2004 : $68,000 



Summary: 

An understanding of processes generating temporal and spatial patterns of genetic diversity in perennial 

plants must underpin successful conservation. Our long-term study will exploit systems in the family 

Proteaceae in which we have completed foundation studies. We will develop and extend molecular 

techniques to measure (i) genetic changes from seed to adult, (ii) gene flow by different pollinator 

classes, and (iii) genetic contamination by foreign gene pools, in systems affected by introduced 

pollinators and natural and cultivar hybridization. Most importantly, we will use fire as an accelerant of 

generational change and test fitness consequences of changes in genotypic diversity. 

*** 

DP0343528 Dr TA Wysocki Dr A Mertins Prof JR Seberry 

Title: Space-Time Block Codes using Orthogonal, Amicable, and General Designs 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $66,000 

2005 : $58,080 



Summary: 

Space-time coding for multiple transmit and multiple receive antennas is the enabling technology for future 

wireless communication systems. Multiple antennas provide independent transmission paths resulting in 

an increased channel capacity without requiring costly additional bandwidth. Space-time block codes lead 

to the simplest receiver structures and thus to the most economical solutions. The currently known 

codes are based on the work of one of the CIs, but so far only a small part of that work has been utilised. 

We aim to fully exploit the potential of this theory and move the performance of wireless systems 

towards their theoretical limits. 

DP0343516 A/Prof C Zhang A/Prof RA Lewis 

*** 

Title: Analysis, simulation, fabrication and characterization of reliable, robust and scalable 

compact cooling elements based on semiconductor nanostructures

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $40,000 



Summary: 

Modern electronic, microelectronic and optoelectronic devices generally work better when they are 

cooler. We aim to develop a semiconductor nanostructure-cooling element, which directly integrates into 

existing devices. The solid-state cooling element will be reliable, robust, scalable and operate in any 

orientation. The basis of operation is thermionic emission - electrons are the working fluid. Our project 

combines (1) analysis and simulation, (2) fabrication of nanostructures and (3) experimental test 

benching using optical and electrical methods. The outcome of this research has the potential to 

revolutionize cooling of modern electronic and photonic systems, from computer motherboards to mobile 

phones. 

*** 

Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute 

DP0346726 Prof RP Harvey Prof RM Graham Dr TB Yeoh 

Title: Molecular mechanisms of stem cell self-renewal. 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 


Administering Institution: Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute 

Summary: 

Muscle growth and regeneration is critically dependent on its stem cell compartment. We have discovered 

that the p38 MAPK pathway is essential for stem cell self-renewal in the C2C12 myogenic cell line. This 

proposal seeks to understand the molecular basis of stem cell self-renewal in skeletal muscles, data that 

may be applicable to many stem cell systems, and to the enormous promise of stem cell therapies for 

injury and diseases of the aged. We will attempt to alter the balance of stem cell production by enforced 

p38 expression, and take microarray and proteomics approaches to define stem cell pathways. 

DP0346729 Prof DI Martin Dr SL Dunwoodie 

*** 

Title: microRNAs: discovery and analysis in mouse development 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 


Administering Institution: Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute 

Summary: 

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a new class of regulatory molecule, recently found to be abundant and strongly 

conserved in several eukaryotic species, encoded by genes that are transcribed into short stem-loop 

structures and then processed into ~22nt single-stranded RNAs by the RNAi pathway. We have cloned 

novel miRNAs, and obtained the first evidence for regulation of a miRNA in a mammal. We propose to 

continue cloning novel miRNAs by the tried method, and to explore bioinformatics-based methods of 

identification. We will also study the expression of miRNAs in mouse embryos at successive stages, and 

develop a microarray assay for miRNA expression. 

Victoria 

Deakin University 

***

DP0343410 Dr G Allinson 

Title: Fate of endocrine disrupting chemicals in water repellent soil 

2003 : $44,000 

2004 : $52,000 

2005 : $24,000 


Administering Institution: Deakin University 

Summary: 

The fate of endocrine system disrupting chemicals in soils has not been studied, even though some have 

been linked to human health effects. Many are found in municipal sewage wastes. This project will 

measure chemical concentrations in water repellent forest plantation soils irrigated with municipal 

wastewater. The outcome will be data specifically addressing (1) the risks when forest plantations are 

irrigated with municipal wastewater in Victoria and, by extension applicable to other Australian 

ecosystems, (2) Environment Australia's stated need for information directly applicable to ecosystem and 

human health risk assessment of the environmental risks posed by endocrine disrupting chemicals. 

DP0343372 A/Prof CM Bradford Dr R McCallum Dr KM Mallan A/Prof JA Stephens 

*** 

Title: Transformative Utopianism: Contemporary Children's Literature Responding to 

Changing World Orders from Glasnost to 11 September, 2001 

2003 : $87,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $102,000 



Summary: 

Political and cultural instabilities and conflicts from 1990 to the present have profoundly affected 

children's literature. Works of fiction in particular have deployed utopian and dystopian tropes to project 

possible futures to their implied readers. The project uses the concept of 'transformative utopianism' to 

suggest that these tropes do important social, cultural and political work by challenging and reformulating 

ideas about power and identity, community, the body, spatio-temporal change, and ecology. In this way 

the project draws together multiple theoretical interpretations of texts to demonstrate the responsiveness 

of children's literature to broader ideological, social, theoretical and pedagogical contexts. 

*** 

DP0343944 Dr J Clemens Dr RA Grigg Prof H Krips 

Title: Science, Knowledge and the Transmission of Psychoanalysis 

2003 : $36,000 

2004 : $36,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Psychoanalysis has always wanted to be a science. From Sigmund Freud to Jacques Lacan, disputes in 

psychoanalysis have typically hinged on the question of whether the knowledge produced by 

psychoanalysis deserves the appellation scientific. If so, in what way? If not, why not? What sort of 

psychoanalytic institution would be adequate to psychoanalysis' scientific claims? This interdisciplinary 

project is a historical, critical and constructive examination of psychoanalytic theory and practice, which 

re-examines key texts from the vantage point of the scientific question. Finally, the project will ask what 

psychoanalysis can contribute to the understanding of other scientific practices. 

*** 

DP0344184 A/Prof RT Howe Prof GJ Davison Prof WS Logan

Title: Community and Governance; Urban Activism in Melbourne in the 1960s and beyond 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $50,000 



Summary: 

As the economy of Melbourne's central and inner areas has been transformed over the last three 

decades, conflicts over urban redevelopment have impacted significantly on governance, urban policies 

and inner city communities. By studying the new generation of activists attracted to Melbourne's working 

class suburbs in the 1960s, this project will push beyond gentrification interpretations of urban change to 

examine the motivations of activists and the process of forging partipatory structures of governance and 

community partnerships. The project will assess the significance of this period of transition for managing 

urban development in the new millennium. 

DP0344287 Dr D Kingsbury Dr L McCulloch 

*** 

Title: The political economy of military reform in Indonesia: Opportunities and challenges 

for civilian control of the TNI 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 



APD Dr L McCulloch 

Summary: 

Despite Suharto's fall, and limited reform process, the Indonesian military (TNI) remains deeply involved in 

Indonesian politics, at Cabinet level, and in state maintenance. The TNI also has substantial economic 

interests, about two-thirds of which is illegal. The TNI is therefore still central to Indonesia's political 

processes, and constitutes the major impediment to Indonesia's democratisation. This project will locate 

military reform within a broader Security Sector Reform agenda, assess the likelihood of further voluntary 

TNI reform and external reform drivers, and structural problems facing this process. It will analyse the 

TNI's reform process, and investigate options for bilateral reform assistance. 

DP0345311 Prof BA Kunz Prof M Ruiz-Rubio Prof RH Schiestl Dr EJ Vonarx 

*** 

Title: Plant Genes Conferring Resistance to Ultraviolet Radiation 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces DNA damage that can decrease plant growth and productivity. Our aim 

is to begin deciphering the mechanisms responsible for the UV resistance phenotype in plants by: 1) 

isolating genes that control processing of UV-induced DNA damage; 2) determining the influence of UV on 

gene activity; and 3) elucidating the functions and essential interactions of the gene products. The 

results of this study will help us understand how these genes operate to produce the UV resistance 

phenotype. This new knowledge will facilitate eventual engineering of plants to increase agricultural 

productivity by enhancing resistance to solar UV radiation. 

*** 

DP0343717 Dr DM Lowe Prof DR Walker Dr CW Waters 

Title: Face to Face with Asia: Australia, the Colombo Plan and the Asian Engagement

Debate, 1950-1975 

2003 : $57,000 

2004 : $58,000 

2005 : $52,000 



Summary: 

This project will be the first comprehensive study of Australia's involvement in the Colombo Plan for aid to 

South and Southeast Asia. It will examine this involvement as a central part of Australia's engagement 

with Asia in the post-war period. It will do so under three main headings: Australian foreign policy; 

cultural diplomacy; and the internationalisation of higher education. The project will be innovative in 

bridging the gap between histories of Australian foreign policy and cultural histories of Australian-Asian 

relations. It will provide an excellent foundation for on-going research into the consequent reconfiguring 

of our identity as an Asia-Pacific nation. 

DP0344595 Dr J Lynch 

*** 

Title: Transforming the organisation of schooling: Technology and organisational change in 

the junior years of secondary school 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 



APD Dr J Lynch 

Summary: 

Qualitative methods will be used to document ruptures in the traditional organisation of junior secondary 

schooling and to explore the role played by information and communication technology (ICT). Literature on 

the integration of ICT across the curriculum, generic capabilities in school-aged learners and the middle 

years of schooling suggests that a multi-dimensional construct will be developed, accommodating 

changes in the organisation of time, space and knowledge and in the roles played by teachers, students 

and parents. An analysis of the qualitative data will inform the development of a questionnaire which will 

then be tested and validated. 

*** 

DP0343866 Prof MP McCabe Dr LA Ricciardelli 

Title: A biopsychosocial model of exercise dependence, steroid use and disordered eating 

among adolescent boys 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $52,000 

2005 : $53,000 



Summary: 

Recent evidence suggests that hazardous body change strategies adopted by adolescent boys are a 

major problem. This study validates a biopsychosocial framework to explain the development of exercise 

dependence, steroid and food supplement use, and disordered eating among at risk adolescent boys. A 

longitudinal experimental design will be employed. Late maturing boys, who are also less popular with 

peers, are expected to demonstrate high body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem and high negative affect 

and maladaptive body change strategies. The result of this study will inform treatment programs for 

these behaviours. 

*** 

DP0344854 Dr W Ommundsen Prof MF Meehan Dr DW Mccooey 

Title: The role of public culture in the construction of contemporary Australian literature

2003 : $35,000 

2004 : $25,000 

2005 : $20,000 



Summary: 

Literature is not simply a body of texts; it is a cultural technology, affected by changing patterns of 

production and consumption. Witness the 'cult of celebrity', the phenomenal recent growth of literary 

festivals, literary internet sites, reading groups, changing patterns of literary marketing, education, 

employment and leisure. Academic scholarship, largely text-based, fails to engage with these public and 

popular phenomena. Our project develops methods for describing and evaluating how these practices 

construct literary value and cultural identity, in ways that will bring academic literary analysis into a more 

informed, more creative engagement with public and popular culture in Australia. 

*** 

DP0343057 Dr J Zhang A/Prof C Zhang Prof E Mosca 

Title: Analysis and Design of Multi-objective Optimal Multirate Filter Banks 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $55,250 

2005 : $46,963 



Summary: 

Multirate filter banks are a fundamental subsystem and play a key role in many applications in information 

technology, such as digital communications and digital audio and video signal processing. Most of the 

existing design methods of multirate filter banks are based on idealized operation conditions, so often they 

do not provide practically desirable performance. This project will develop innovative design methods for 

multirate filter banks under the worst operational conditions and multiple conflicting design objectives. The 

results will fill in the gap between the theoretical design and the practical requirements to provide 

enhanced performance of systems using multirate filter banks. 

*** 

Howard Florey Institute 

DP0346830 Dr RS Weisinger Prof AJ Sinclair Dr H Weisinger 

Title: Programming of appetite and bodyweight by the interaction of maternal diet and 

angiotensin during peri-natal life 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 


Administering Institution: Howard Florey Institute 

Summary: 

The project describes a phenotype for appetite and body weight that can be altered by maternal dietary 

omega-3 PUFA (environmental factors), at a critical period during peri-natal life (developmental phase) 

and that the effect on body weight is opposite when endogenous angiotensin is increased (hormonal 

factor). The project aims to discover how these different factors interact to produce the phenotype by 

defining the critical period and systematically identifying genes that are expressed during this period. The 

effect of manipulating maternal dietary omega-3 PUFA and the role of angiotensin will then be examined. 

The project will discover how genetic, hormonal and environmental factors interact during the perinatal 

period of life to program food intake and body weight in adult life. 

La Trobe University 

DP0342853 Prof D Altman 

***

Title: New Concepts of Human Security and AIDS 

2003 : $53,000 

2004 : $61,750 

2005 : $60,000 


Administering Institution: La Trobe University 

Summary: 

This project recognises that the AIDS pandemic is a significant example of non-military threats to 

international security, and that different national responses to AIDS are a product of different political, 

economic and cultural factors. It seeks to explore the complex relationship between national, international 

and grass roots responses to HIV/AIDS, with some emphasis on those countries most significant to 

Australia's security needs. It seeks to use social theory to illuminate practical issues facing HIV/AIDS 

advocacy at local, national and international levels, in particular how does one assure effective 

responses from all stakeholders. 

DP0343870 A/Prof J Brett Dr AF Moran 

Title: Understanding a changing Australia: Ordinary people's politics 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $45,000 

2005 : $45,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project will use a body of interview material collected in the late 1980s supplemented with new 

material (to be collected) to investigate how Australians have made sense of the social and political 

changes of the past two decades. In particular it will focus on: how individual Australians construct their 

sense of moral community, their expectations of the role of government, and how they have negotiated 

the shift from an explicitly white, British national identity to a multicultural one, their understandings of 

settler-indigenous relations. It will integrate these responses with analysis of their life histories and 

characteristic political ideologies. 

DP0342473 Dr IS Buick 

*** 

Title: Metamorphism, fluid flow, anatexis and the petrogenesis of peraluminous magmas: 

constraints from boron and lithium elemental and isotopic geochemistry 

2003 : $135,260 

2004 : $175,260 

2005 : $175,260 

2006 : $150,260 

2007 : $130,260 



APF Dr IS Buick 

Summary: 

Boron (B) and lithium (Li) elemental and isotopic variations are sensitive monitors of metamorphism, fluid 

flow and melting; the generation of granites; and hydrothermal alteration. However, in detail B- and Li- 

geochemistry are poorly understood. This project uses field-based, analytical and experimental 

techniques to constrain B and Li elemental and stable isotope variations in order to better understand 

high-temperature metamorphism, fluid flow, melting and the generation of granites and pegmatites. The 

results of this project will greatly increase our understanding of B and Li systematics in high-temperature 

crustal environments, and have implications for a range of metamorphic and igneous processes. 

***

DP0342758 Dr G Cairns 

Title: Eclectic problems in topology, geometry and dynamics 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $43,000 

2005 : $40,000 



Summary: 

This project aims to resolve a number of problems across several broad areas of pure mathematics. The 

problems all have a geometric or topological flavour, and some deal with dynamics in the qualitative 

sense. The problems share two common themes: they have group theoretic aspects and homological 

aspects. Specifically, the problems lie in the following areas:1. finite dimensional Lie algebras and their 

cohomology,2. low dimensional combinatorial geometry: graph drawings on surfaces,3. topological 

dynamics of group actions,4. differentiable group actions and foliation theory.The most significant aims 

are to resolve two well known conjectures: Halperin's toral rank conjecture and Conway's thrackle 

conjecture. 

*** 

DP0345369 Prof JA Camilleri Dr S Akbarzadeh 

Title: Central Asia between Islam and the Great Powers: The Implications of September 11 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

The so-called 'Islamic threat' has become a significant but elusive factor in the politics of Central Asia. It 

now also looms large in official thinking in Beijing, Moscow and Washington. By combining diverse and 

complementary research skills and backgrounds, this study will shed new light on the impact of Islam in 

this emerging centre of geopolitical rivalry and beyond. The analysis will centre on the unexplored but 

critical interaction between the domestic and foreign policies of the Central Asian republics on the one 

hand, and the complex and evolving relationship between them and the great powers on the other. 

DP0343051 Dr SF Crowe 

*** 

Title: The role of dopamine in memory consolidation and retrieval in the day-old chick. 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $47,000 

2005 : $47,000 



Summary: 

This project will investigate the effect of the neurotransmitter dopamine on consolidation and retrieval of 

memory in the day-old chick. To date investigation in this area has indicated that the neurotransmitter is 

capable of both facilitating and impairing memory functioning. Clarification of the role of dopamine in the 

cascade of biochemical events following training will contribute to our understanding of the biochemical 

mechanisms of memory formation and retrieval and may have useful applications in human amnesias in 

which dopaminergic transmission is either compromised such as in Parkinson's disease or excessive 

such as in schizophrenia. 

DP0345323 Prof A Frost 

*** 

Title: The British Colonization of New South Wales: The Documentary Record, 1779-1792 

2003 : $50,000

2004 : $33,000 

2005 : $20,000 



Summary: 

My aim is to gather and publish all extant records relating to the British decision in 1786 to colonize New 

South Wales, and to the despatch of the First Fleet in 1787. As well, I intend to include a selection of 

documents showing the colony's progress in its first five years, and the Government response to reports 

of that progress (or the lack of it). Given that so many records remain but are still mostly unpublished, 

and that they are central to an accurate understanding of the development of modern Australia, this is a 

unique opportunity to document the origins of the nation for all posterity. I expect publication in book form, 

but anticipate also CD-Rom or Web publication (hopefully in conjunction with either the NLA or the SLNSW 

- or with both). 

DP0344637 Dr L Gandhi 

Title: Affective Communities: Anti-Imperial Thought and the Politics of Friendship 

2003 : $47,000 

2004 : $27,000 

2005 : $35,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project is a study of five friendships between anti-imperial Europeans and South Asians at the turn 

of the nineteenth-century. Its aim is to offer a reading of anti-colonial politics as the product of numerous 

transnational collaborations, friendships and conversations between western and non-western 

dissidents. It will extend the theoretical paradigms of postcolonial studies by challenging orthodox 

understandings of the colonial encounter as a violent and antagonistic clash between western power 

and non-western dissidence. New information will also be brought to bear on the history of the 

Indo-European colonial encounter. 

DP0342596 Prof NJ Hoogenraad Dr MT Ryan 

*** 

Title: Molecular Basis for the Mitochondrial Stress Response 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $110,000 

2005 : $110,000 



Summary: 

The biogenesis of mitochondria depends on the co-ordinated expression of mitochondrial and nuclear 

genomes. Little is known about the extent and how the expression of both cellular genomes is 

co-ordinated. We have discovered a novel biological process, the mitochondrial stress response, 

whereby the establishment of stress within the mitochondria results in the up regulation of a suite of 

genes in the nucleus encoding proteins which rescue mitochondria from damage caused by stress. This 

project is to determine how stress is sensed in the mitochondrion and communicated to the nucleus 

resulting in alterations in gene expression. The project also aims to define the physiological role of 

mitochondrial chaperones in protein folding in the organelle. 

DP0342459 Dr MG Jackson 

*** 

Title: Problems of duality for semigroups and other algebras 

2003 : $48,259 

2004 : $48,259 

2005 : $48,259 

2006 : $48,259



APD Dr MG Jackson 

Summary: 

The theory of natural dualities has emerged as a powerful tool in algebra and its applications, including 

logic, computer science and theoretical physics. The project aims to apply recently developed techniques 

to a particular class of mathematical objects of established application in areas such as automata and 

language theory; namely the class of semi groups. As well as the contribution to the theory of semi 

groups, the work will provide an understanding of the limits and full potential of application of the general 

theory of natural dualities. 

DP0342873 Dr PV Kabaila Dr CJ Lloyd 

Title: New and computationally feasible methods of constructing efficient and exact 

confidence limits from count data. 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $45,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Biological and health science data is commonly in the form of counts. The statistical analysis of such data 

should be (a) efficient i.e. it should not, in effect, throw away valuable data, (b) exact i.e. it should have 

precisely known statistical properties and (c) computationally feasible. Kabaila and Lloyd (1997-2001) 

have proposed and analysed a radically new method of confidence limit construction which, for the first 

time, possesses all of these requirements. The purpose of the project is to establish further theoretical 

support for the new method, to develop efficient computational algorithms and to write easy-to-use 

computer programs for its practical use. 

DP0345686 Prof JS Kahn 

*** 

Title: Asia-Pacific Cosmopolitanisms: Managing Diversity and Identity Politics in a Changing 

Region 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $45,000 

2005 : $45,000 

2006 : $50,000 

2007 : $30,000 



Summary: 

Why can people of diverse cultural and other backgrounds sometimes devise ways of living together 

while, at other times, they can be drawn into racism and violence? Are there ways of coping with, 

managing, even celebrating, human social, cultural, biological and sexual diversity that do not lead to 

conflict and exclusion? Are we seeing new cosmopolitanisms emerging? This research will investigate 

these questions by focusing on the Asia-Pacific region. The research will result in several publications 

(monographs, articles, etc.), a website/discussion forum, research database/resources facilities, a 

conference, and the consolidation of long-term collaborative links with Asian intellectuals. 

DP0346645 Dr J Lydon 

Title: Colonial encounters: Archaeology at Ebenezer Mission, north-western Victoria 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $65,000 

***



Summary: 

From the 1860s, most Aboriginal people in south-eastern Australia were confined to reserves such as 

Ebenezer Mission, and despite official accounts which argue for the success of the 'civilising' enterprise, 

archaeological evidence promises to provide a new Indigenous perspective. Investigation of this key site, 

in collaboration with Aboriginal descendants, will reveal 1. How everyday life on the mission was 

experienced by different social groups: Aboriginal girls, boys, families and 'fringe' dwellers, and Moravian 

missionaries, 2. The role of gender organisation within the colonial process, and 3. How Aboriginal 

cultural identity was shaped by missionisation. A range of general and scholarly histories will be 

produced. 

DP0342931 Dr FA Martin 

*** 

Title: The Impact of Globalisation in Transforming Sexuality and Cultural Citizenship in 

Transnational Chinese Cultures: A Comparative Analysis 

2003 : $42,000 

2004 : $35,000 

2005 : $36,000 



Summary: 

This project analyses the impact of globalisation and the rapidly increasing use of new media in 

transforming gender and sexual identities in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. New 

forms of cultural citizenship are emerging in these Chinese societies, and alongside them new modes of 

sexuality. Specifically, the project examines changing conceptions of femininity seen in representations of 

lesbian identity in fiction, film, television, popular music, manga comics, and the Internet. The project will 

provide the first comparative, scholarly analysis of this transformation, and will help us understand its 

broader implications for the region as a whole. 

DP0342517 Dr HM Morton 

*** 

Title: Australian youth: exploring ethnicity in cyberspace 

2003 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Australia's youth are moving towards adulthood in a society that is both ethnically diverse and 

increasingly reliant on information technologies. This project will investigate how these characteristics of 

our society are intersecting for young people, as they use computer-mediated communication to seek 

information relevant to their ethnic backgrounds and interact with others from their ethnic groups. The 

central aim of the project is to establish how this activity is impacting on the process of ethnic identity 

construction and young Australians' sense of 'community'. The research findings will also provide a 

broader understanding of young people's use of information technologies. 

DP0345329 Prof DG Stephenson 

*** 

Title: Skeletal Muscle: Reversible Temperature-Induced Uncoupling of Contraction from the Activator 

Ca2+ and Tubular System Roles in Muscle Function Regulation 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $95,000 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $95,000 

Category: 2706 - PHYSIOLOGY


Summary: 

Skeletal muscles represent the largest organ in the body of vertebrates and are responsible for major 

functions including maintaining posture and locomotion. Skeletal muscles are also a major source of heat 

production. The project focuses on temperature-induced effects on the ability of the skeletal muscle to 

contract in warm blooded animals, including marsupials, and on the complex roles played by a cellular 

structure unique to the muscle fibre, the tubular system, with respect to regulation of muscle function at 

physiological temperatures. The project will test hypotheses that will have far-reaching implications for 

muscle physiology, cell biology and evolutionary biology. 

DP0343560 Dr PJ Sunnucks 

*** 

Title: Mobility of log-dependent invertebrates in fragmented forest 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Clearing of Australian native forests continues apace. This leads to declines in total forest area and 

creates isolated remnants with depleted woody debris. Critical forest processes driven by invertebrates 

occur in this debris. Despite its major economic and conservation significance, there is little information 

on the impacts of habitat loss and alteration on organisms in decomposing logs. We will utilize recent 

advances in population genetics to compare impacts on a suite of log-dependent invertebrates in an 

islands-of-bush-in-a-sea-of-pines model. This will facilitate improvements in conservation and 

sustainable management outcomes in forests. 

DP0344855 Dr PL Tait 

*** 

Title: Circus Aerialists: Bodies, Gender and National Identity 

2003 : $32,075 

2004 : $21,874 

2005 : $23,241 



Summary: 

This research will produce the first critical study of circus aerial performance 1860 to 1990. It asks what 

the impact of this performance is on social beliefs about bodies. How has gender and national identity 

been presented in aerial acts? The research promotes the legendary Australian performers who have 

been among our most famous cultural exports, and yet remain neglected in Australia. Were circus 

athletes predecessors of sports athletes? Increasing numbers of professional aerialists work in circus' 

multimillion dollar arts industry, which makes this specialised study, archive and book overdue. It is new 

knowledge that expands Australia's research base. 

DP0342814 A/Prof SH Thomas 

Title: Imperialism, reform and the making of Englishness in Jane Eyre 

2003 : $35,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Charlotte Brontë is usually thought to be imprecise about the time period of Jane Eyre. Working from a 

close chronology established from Brontë's historical allusions to West Indian slave rebellions, I propose 

to write a pioneering book about the novel and aspects of its reception, situating them and Brontë's 

juvenilia in relation to axes of reform politics in Britain in the 1820s and 1830s. I draw on innovative

primary research on the articulation of gender, empire and Englishness in relation to these axes and 

address the implications of Brontë's invocation in 1847 of an earlier reform complex. 

DP0343597 Ms J Thompson 

Title: Intergenerational Justice 

2003 : $38,000 

2004 : $29,666 

2005 : $29,666 

*** 

Category: 4401 - PHILOSOPHY 


Summary: 

The project aims to overcome a major deficiency in philosophical approaches to justice by developing a 

comprehensive theory about our rights and responsibilities in respect to people who are differently 

situated in time or in their stage of life. The theory will explain a) why we have responsibilities in respect 

to future and past people and what these duties are; b) how people in different age groups ought to treat 

each other; c) what responsibilities belong to generational roles (such as 'parent' or 'child'); and d) how 

all of these duties fit into a more general theory of justice. 

*** 

DP0343626 Dr BG Waldrip Prof DL Fisher Dr J Dorman 

Title: Primary classroom teacher-student interactions, cultural learning environments and 

their relationships with students' attitudes and understanding of science concepts 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $45,000 

2005 : $50,000 

Category: 3302 - CURRICULUM STUDIES 


Summary: 

This project examines associations between teacher-student interactions and primary students' 

perceptions of cultural factors of learning environments with students' attitudes towards science and 

their understanding of science concepts. In the tradition of classroom environment research, the study 

will use interviews and questionnaires to obtain students' perceptions of their primary classrooms. 

In-depth studies will then be made of particular classrooms with the aim of enhancing the description of 

primary school science teaching. The project will lead to a systematic understanding of what is 

happening in primary school science and a direction for teachers to implement desirable changes in their 

teaching. 

*** 

DP0343013 Dr JM Webb Dr D Frankel Dr M Iacovou 

Title: Dhenia: A study of regionalism, population and society in Bronze Age Cyprus 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $110,000 

2005 : $114,000 

2006 : $109,300 

2007 : $95,000 



Summary: 

The cemetery complex at Dhenia in Cyprus was in use for 2500 years, from the beginning of the Bronze 

Age (2,400 BCE) to the end of the Iron Age. This project is designed to sample this extensive site to 

assess its changing size and structure during periods of major social transformation. Comparative studies 

of contemporary sites will provide the basis for monitoring and explaining local, regional and island-wide 

relationships, viewed in a context of expanding population and increasing interaction with the wider 

Mediterranean world. New data and approaches will contribute significantly to Cypriot archaeology and to 

broader archaeological theory.

DP0346172 Dr AR Weeks 

*** 

Title: Sex, parthenogenesis and adaptation: a novel laboratory ‘natural selection’ 

experiment testing the adaptive significance of sexual and asexual reproduction. 

2003 : $64,345 

2004 : $64,345 

2005 : $64,345 



APD Dr AR Weeks 

Summary: 

One of the greatest challenges for evolutionary biology is explaining the widespread occurrence of 

sexual reproduction. Many theoretical models show some inherent benefits of sex, however these 

models make assumptions that little or no empirical data exists for. Using a novel phenomenon found in the 

parasitoid wasp genus Trichogramma, I will investigate the adaptive significance of sexual and asexual 

reproduction in a laboratory natural selection experiment and therefore directly test the theory for the 

evolution and maintenance of sex. This will be the first such test in a higher organism. 

DP0342929 A/Prof JA Wiltshire 

Title: Recreating Mansfield Park: the Cambridge Edition of Jane Austen's Novel 

2003 : $32,000 

2004 : $35,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The project will produce an authoritative edition of the English writer Jane Austen's novel Mansfield Park 

in the Cambridge Edition. This is a collaborative and international project, and the first fully scholarly 

edition of Austen's novels. It is designed to meet the needs of the twenty-first century student of her 

work, be accessible to readers in different continents, and have a shelf-life of several decades. The 

edition of Mansfield Park in the series will present a thoroughly revised and accurate text and for the first 

time give a complete textual and cultural history of this famous novel. 

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research 

*** 

DP0346823 Dr GJ Lieschke Dr JE Layton Dr JK Heath 

Title: Linking mutant zebrafish phenotypes with their underlying genetic lesions. 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $52,000 


Administering Institution: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research 

Summary: 

Zebrafish mutants have been generated with many interesting abnormalities, but to understand these 

abnormalities, the defective genes must be identified by positional cloning. We seek to identify the 

defective genes underpinning four mutants. Mutant #562 develops a normal nervous system which then 

undergoes rapid degeneration. The mutant flotte lotte has abnormal gut development. Two mutants with 

defective early blood formation will be studied. We will establish techniques for several steps that will be 

useful for all zebrafish mapping projects. We expect the genetic characterization of these mutants to 

provide new insights into nerve cell survival, gut development, and blood formation. 

DP0342771 Dr GE Reid 

*** 

Title: Differential Expression Proteomics: Identification and Quantitation of Peptides and

Proteins by Fixed Charge Derivatization and Tandem Mass Spectrometry 

2003 : $64,345 

2004 : $64,345 

2005 : $64,345 


Administering Institution: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research 

APD Dr GE Reid 

Summary: 

The aim of this proposal is to develop novel strategies for the rapid, sensitive and selective identification 

and quantitation of proteins present in complex mixtures. Specifically, isotopically labelled fixed charge 

derivatives of peptides containing selected amino acids will be developed that direct the formation of 

product ions following tandem mass spectrometry toward a single fragmentation channel. This approach 

will provide enhanced selectivity and sensitivity of up to 2 orders of magnitude over existing approaches, 

and will allow examination, at the protein level, of the complex cellular changes that occur following 

transformation of cells from a normal to a diseased state. 

Monash University 

DP0346625 Ms JK Adebahr 

*** 

Title: Characterization and design of new soft electrolyte materials 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $71,000 

2005 : $71,000 


Administering Institution: Monash University 

APD Ms JK Adebahr 

Summary: 

The use of fossil fuels for energy generation contributes heavily to global warming. The development of 

new types of energy sources (e.g. fuel cells) and energy storage devices (e.g. batteries) is of crucial 

importance to ease this pressure on the environment. The search for new, high energy-density 

electrolyte materials for these applications is intense. Recently, plastic crystal materials have been 

identified as potential electrolytes in a variety of electrochemical devices. These materials show high 

conductivity at ambient temperatures in their plastic (or soft) phase. This project aims to further 

investigate and develop these novel materials. 

DP0345064 Prof JC Bigelow 

*** 

Title: Semantics, externalism and a priori truths 

2003 : $54,000 



Summary: 

This project aims to discover more about the logical roots of a priori knowledge. Pure mathematicians and 

logicians discover truths which are not justified by inference from observations; philosophers traditionally 

have aspired to do likewise. Yet little is understood about what makes a priori knowledge possible. There 

is a growing branch of logic which studies what is known as "double indexing" and this promises to 

throw light on the a priori. Australian philosophers have played a very salient role in the study of double 

indexing, and this project is well placed to make significant contributions in this area. 

DP0344641 A/Prof RJ Birrell 

*** 

Title: The determinants of educational achievement in Australia 

2003 : $42,000

2004 : $28,000 



Summary: 

This project examines the causes of inequality of access to university places in Australia, with particular 

reference to the influence of household financial resources. The key hypothesis is that these resources 

shape the capacity of families to enrol their children in high performance secondary schools, either 

through attendance at private schools or through the capacity to reside in locations with access to top 

state schools. The study will investigate the commonly expressed fears that parts of the state school 

system are being caught in a vicious circle of poor results and losses of students whose families can 

afford alternative locations. 

DP0344234 Prof AM Bond 

*** 

Title: A blueprint for an intelligent instrumental, theoretical and experimental unification of 

a myriad of voltammetric and related electrochemical techniques. 

2003 : $195,000 

2004 : $195,000 

2005 : $225,000 

2006 : $225,000 

2007 : $230,000 



APF Prof AM Bond 

Summary: 

Electrochemistry is a prominent discipline in many areas of fundamental and applied science (for example, 

electron transfer reactions, corrosion, sensors, photovoltaics). The aim of the research proposal is to 

utilise skills available at Monash University and those of a national and international consortium of experts 

in electrochemistry, electrical engineering, computing and mathematics to introduce a new integrated 

instrumental, theoretical and experimental concept that will provide a blueprint for innovation in 

electrochemical science. An expected outcome is that important advances relevant to Australian Industry 

will be achieved in the area of scientific instrumentation and in modern applications of electrochemistry. 

*** 

DP0342866 Dr SP Bottomley Dr RN Pike Dr JC Whisstock Dr PI Bird 

Title: The Structure Function and Biology of Serpins 

2003 : $150,000 

2004 : $150,000 

2005 : $150,000 



Summary: 

The serpin family of proteins control protease activity, in a variety of biological systems, via a dramatic 

conformational change. We are 4 leaders in the serpin reseacrh field using an integrated approach of 

biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, cell biology, structural biology and bioinformatics to analyse 

every facet of serpin structure, function and biology. We will apply and develop novel technologies that 

will determine how these conformational changes are achieved and how they are controlled. Our 

increased understanding of this inhibitor - enzyme interaction will have implications to other proteins 

which undergo conformational change and biotechnology. 

DP0344387 Dr LN Bourgeois 

*** 

Title: Template-Directed Growth and Assembly of Nanoscale Graphitic Carbon Structures 

2003 : $57,000 

2004 : $44,000

2005 : $44,000 



Summary: 

The various nanometre-scale forms of graphitic carbon have been strong candidates for use as novel 

building blocks in electronic, opto-electronic and electro-mechanical devices. However, their development 

has been hampered by a lack of control of the type, quality and homogeneity of structures produced by 

conventional methods.This project aims to fabricate and characterise thin films of ordered, high-quality 

carbon nanostructures. A novel synthesis route, involving the controlled deposition of carbon onto 

template substrates, is proposed. The products will be studied with near-atomic resolution to understand 

their formation mechanisms, and hence approach the goal of elaborating carbon-based nanodevices. 

*** 

DP0343408 Prof B Caine Prof RL Pesman Dr GA Sluga 

Title: La Bella Liberta: Women, Freedom and the History of Italy c1800-1940 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $42,000 

2005 : $40,000 



Summary: 

By exploring the intersection between Italy and the lives of some prominent educated British women in the 

19th and early 20th centuries this project offers innovative approaches to British history, to biography 

and to cultural history. By analysing the connection these women drew between their own desire for 

personal emancipation and Italian political developments and exploring their active interest in the history, 

culture, and politics of Italy this research will offer new insights into changing constructions of Italy, the 

intellectual life of the expatriate world there and the important role women played in representing Italy in 

the Anglophone world. 

DP0344875 Dr FY Carroll Prof PM Beart 

*** 

Title: Molecular neurobiology of the GABAB receptor: Studies of heteromeric receptor 

function and signalling 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

The G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) for the inhibitory transmitter gamma- aminobutyric acid (GABA) is 

a unique heterodimer. Molecular analyses will be undertaken to provide insights into its signalling 

mechanisms and functional regulation. Investigations employing point mutant and chimeric receptors will 

analyse how ligand binding to the extracellular domain of the GABA-BR1 subunit triggers G 

protein-coupling to the intracellular portion of the GABA-BR2 subunit. Focus will be on different modes of 

GPCR signalling, including constitutive activity and roles for membrane and cytosolic regulatory proteins. 

Targeted studies of GABAB receptor subunits will provide new information on the mechanistic regulation 

of GPCR signalling. 

DP0343869 Dr I Cartwright Dr TR Weaver 

Title: Groundwater in the southeast Murray Basin: Developing an integrated 

hydrogeological model and predicting future changes 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 

***



Summary: 

Agricultural and urban development increases demands on groundwater resources. The sustainable use 

of groundwater requires a thorough knowledge of hydrogeology. This project addresses the origins, age, 

and geochemical evolution of groundwater in the Murray Basin, in particular constraining groundwater 

flow patterns, aquifer-aquitard interaction, water-rock interaction, and groundwater-surface water 

interactions both under present day and previous climatic conditions. The results of this project will 

ensure that this groundwater resource can be more effectively used and managed sustain ably over the 

long term. In particular, historical responses of the system will be used to predict the effects of land use 

or climate changes. 

*** 

DP0344223 Dr AL Chaffee Dr PA Webley Prof WR Jackson 

Title: Nanocomposite Mesoporous Materials for Gas Separations of Environmental 

Significance 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $48,000 



Summary: 

The management of greenhouse and other acid gas emissions is vital to a sustainable future of both the 

economy and the ecosystem. This project will develop novel nano-materials for gas separation by 

tethering organic functional groups to the surface of porous inorganic supports. These materials offer the 

promise of combining the high selectivity and high capacity of liquid phase absorption systems with the 

rapid transport rates of gas-solid adsorption systems. Success would open up several new possibilities 

for reengineering gas separation systems based on the use of these materials in solution, as solid phase 

adsorbents (pressure swing adsorption) and/or as permeselective gas membranes. 

DP0342479 Prof RL Coppel Dr PK Crellin 

*** 

Title: Identifying Novel Biosynthetic Pathways in Mycobacteria using DNA Microarray 

Technology 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

DNA microarrays are a powerful new bioinformatics-based technology and an ideal tool for 

characterising complex biosynthetic pathways since the expression of all genes in the bacterial genome 

can be monitored in a single experiment. In this project we aim to construct and use a DNA microarray to 

identify novel biosynthetic pathways in mycobacteria. Of particular interest are pathways used to create 

components of the highly complex and poorly characterised cell wall. Since this structure is unique in 

the bacterial world, we expect to identify and characterise pathways that are unique to mycobacteria. 

DP0343650 Dr DL Dowe Dr F Vahid 

*** 

Title: Efficient pooling of cross-section and time series data using Bayesian machine 

learning with two econometric applications 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $52,250 

Category: 3404 - ECONOMETRICS


Summary: 

In this project, we adapt a Bayesian modelling strategy, namely the minimum message length principle, to 

the problem of efficient partitioning of economic units, such as firms or countries, into groups whose 

behavioural patterns are similar within each group but distinct across groups. This methodology can 

incorporate the requirements of economic theory. The resulting software will be developed for the Web. 

We consider two specific applications, namely modelling gasoline demand in OECD countries, and finding 

the foreign factor with the most predictive power for the growth rate of the Australian economy. The 

second application is of considerable national interest. 

*** 

DP0346828 Dr J Etheridge Prof AF Moodie Prof CJ Humphreys 

Title: A Direct Approach to Crystal Structure Determination - a solution to the phase 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

The purpose of this research is to determine the positions of atoms in crystals and nano-crystals. We 

have developed a theory that shows how to extract all of the information required to determine atomic 

positions from such crystals and we have carried through initial successful tests on simple materials. In 

particular, we have found that crystallographic phase, hitherto not directly measurable, can in fact be 

extracted uniquely from a single electron diffraction pattern. This constitutes a solution to the phase 

problem in crystallography. It is now our aim to develop this method into a routine technique. 

*** 

DP0345680 Prof RW Faff Prof RD Brooks A/Prof TR Fry 

Title: A Complex Systems Approach to Modelling Time-Varying Risk in the Presence of 

Market Frictions 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $38,000 

2005 : $38,000 



Summary: 

Risk and return are two fundamental variables underlying all business decisions. Risk is difficult to 

measure - potentially leading to sub-optimal outcomes needlessly wasting $millions. This project focuses 

on two important data problems in risk measurement - thin trading and price limits - applying a complex 

systems approach. Specifically, we develop a new time varying risk estimator from the class of 

generalised Tobit models - popular in other areas of economics. Using data across several markets, the 

new risk measure will be developed, applied and compared to existing approaches. This will improve 

future decision-making - delivering considerable long-term economic benefits. 

DP0345726 Dr G FitzSimons 

Title: Adult Numeracy and New Learning Technologies: An Evaluative Framework 

2003 : $58,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $55,000 

2006 : $55,000 



APD Dr G FitzSimons 

Summary: 

***

In the adoption of new learning technologies [NLTs] (e.g., online, CD-ROMS) as alternative means of 

delivery for adult numeracy, high quality educational products, informed by a well-founded research 

base, are essential to benefit the individual student, and tutors/trainers (if any). Given that concept of 

adult numeracy itself is ill-defined and under-theorised in Australia, and that there are no entry standards 

for numeracy tutors/trainers, or even producers of resources, research is needed to establish a 

defensible definition of adult numeracy in the Australian context, and to synthesise this with evolving 

research on NLTs to guide producers and enable proper consumer evaluation. 

DP0343379 Dr M Florey Dr MC Ewing Prof Dr N Himmelmann Dr S Musgrave 

*** 

Title: Cross-linguistic study of endangered Maluku languages: Eastern Indonesia and the 

Dutch diaspora 

2003 : $58,000 

2004 : $58,000 

2005 : $58,000 

2006 : $58,000 



APD Dr S Musgrave 

Summary: 

This project represents the first large scale investigation of Eastern Indonesian languages, and 

assembles an international team to examine language evolution through the interface between linguistic 

typology, language contact and language shift. This ground-breaking work includes a cross-linguistic 

analysis of structural features in ten Central Moluccan languages. It will test current theories of contact 

and shift through an innovative comparative analysis of data from speakers in the homeland and the 

Dutch diaspora. Outcomes will include grammars of six undescribed languages and crucial new insights 

about language cognition and simplification. Improved knowledge of this closely-neighbouring region will 

strengthen Australia's Asia-Pacific relations. 

*** 

DP0344404 Dr M Forsyth Prof Dr H Ohno Prof Dr J Schoonman 

Title: Advanced Polymer Electrolytes for Device Applications 

2003 : $156,000 

2004 : $193,000 

2005 : $166,000 

2006 : $164,000 

2007 : $163,000 



APF Dr M Forsyth 

Summary: 

The future of an energy sustainable society relies upon the development of a range of technologies that 

will involve devices such as lithium batteries, supercapacitors, sensors and fuel cells. One of the key 

challenges is the discovery and development of high performance materials which overcome 

performance limiting issues such as conductivity, durability and stability in current devices. Our recent 

discovery of novel successful approaches to the design of improved electrolyte materials will be 

systematically exploited to develop materials that will provide the significant advance in device 

performance that is required. 

DP0345100 Prof JD Goldsworthy 

Title: Interpreting Constitutions: A Comparative and Theoretical Study 

2003 : $22,294 

2004 : $29,666 

2005 : $34,000 

***



Summary: 

Constitutional provisions that are ambiguous, vague, or insufficiently explicit must often be interpreted by 

judges. Should the judges be guided by contemporary values, rather than the original intentions of the 

founders? That is problematic, because interpretation is then difficult to distinguish from change. 

Constitutions usually require that they be changed only by some special, democratic procedure. 

Australian scholars have only begun to consider such issues, which have been debated in America for 

decades. This project will involve a comparison of the methodologies of constitutional interpretation in five 

different countries, and a theoretical inquiry into the underlying normative and linguistic principles. 

DP0342740 Dr JF Golz 

Title: Genetic control of plant organ growth 

2003 : $170,000 

2004 : $170,000 

2005 : $160,000 

2006 : $170,000 

2007 : $170,000 



QEII Dr JF Golz 

*** 

Summary: 

Plants organs, such as leaves and petals, have a distinct size and shape reflecting differences in 

growth. Despite its importance, very little is known about the mechanisms that regulate growth. The 

objectives of this proposal are a) to test whether organ growth depends on cell-cell signalling and b) to 

identifying genes that regulate growth, and to characterize their molecular function. 

*** 

DP0343902 A/Prof E Gullone A/Prof NJ King Prof BJ Tonge 

Title: Emotion development and adolescent depression: An analysis of gender differences. 

2003 : $58,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $55,000 



Summary: 

This project will investigate the differing role of empathy and guilt in the development of depression over 

time. Consistent with Izard's emotion perspective, it is predicted that these emotions will become more 

strongly correlated with depression in the post-adolescence compared to the pre-adolescent years. This 

strengthening of association will be most marked for specific sub-groups (e.g. females compared to 

males; individuals scoring high on empathy and low on emotion regulation). The expected outcomes will 

lead to a more sophisticated understanding of the development of depression. They will have significant 

implications for the development/refinement of preventative/intervention strategies for depression during 

pre-adolescence. 

DP0342748 Dr JR Hurley 

Title: Virtual Star Clusters: The Dynamics and Evolution of Stars and Planets 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $75,000 

*** 



APD Dr JR Hurley

Summary: 

Most stars are born in star clusters. When stars age they swell and contract, change composition, lose 

mass, and in dense regions they may collide. Further, about 50% of stars are binary pairs, and when 

these swell they can merge or transfer mass. These effects dramatically alter the lives of stars and their 

chemical makeup. By combining special purpose computers with newly developed simulation techniques, 

we will include all these effects to answer timely and important astronomical questions such as: can 

planets survive life in a cluster? How do interactions between stars affect the chemical enrichment of 

clusters and galaxies? 

DP0342502 Dr MI Jeffrey Mr PL Breuer 

*** 

Title: Optimising gold recovery whilst minimising cyanide and copper discharges during 

the processing of gold ores containing copper 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $68,000 

2005 : $77,000 



APD Mr PL Breuer 

Summary: 

The presence of copper is a major problem in Australia's gold industry. We have proposed an innovative 

method for treating copper containing ores which eliminates discharge of copper and cyanide to the 

tailings dam. The copper is recovered, and the cyanide is either recycled or destroyed within the plant. 

Another advantage of the process is a reduction in the cyanide requirement, hence reducing the risk 

associated with cyanide transport and storage. Thus the proposed project has the potential to 

substantially improve the gold recovery process, particularly in an era where environmental and public 

concerns exist over the use of cyanide. 

*** 

DP0344062 Prof DJ Karoly Dr JS Risbey Dr MR Allen Dr PA Stott Dr AC Hirst Dr P Whetton Dr SB 

Power 

Title: Improving Projections of Regional Climate Change for Australia Using Detection and 

Attribution Studies 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $85,000 

Category: 2606 - ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES 


Summary: 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded in 2001 that "most of the observed warming 

over the last 50 years is likely to have been due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations" and 

that "anthropogenic climate change will persist for many centuries". This project will reduce uncertainties 

in projections of future climate change for Australia. We will compare model-simulated climate changes 

during the twentieth century with observed changes globally and in the Australian region. These 

comparisons will be used with statistical modelling to estimate probability distributions for future changes 

in Australian climate. 

DP0342960 Prof MJ Kartomi 

*** 

Title: Islam and Ideologies of War, Gender and Class as Determinants of Musical Identity in 

Twentieth Century Aceh, Indonesia 

2003 : $61,491 

2004 : $69,093 

2005 : $46,000 

Category: 4101 - PERFORMING ARTS


Summary: 

In the colonial and postcolonial periods, the natural wealth and strategic location of Aceh province 

brought it fame, foreign contact and frequent war, yet its cultural expressions - which can help explain 

Acehnese behaviour and the current war situation - are poorly known. Aceh's musical identity is 

determined by intersections between the music's internal syntax and extra musical associations arising 

from ideologies and functions of religion, combat, gender and class; history of noble and religious 

leadership; and social change. New theories are presented that relate musical style to the ideologies and 

explain the performing arts' fusion of indigenous, Arabic and other foreign elements. 

DP0344446 Dr SM Kates Prof MD Uncles 

Title: Exploring Consumers' Switching and Loyalty Behaviours: Brand Relationship 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $40,000 

*** 



Summary: 

For marketers and academics, understanding the ways that consumers develop relationships with 

brands is of utmost importance. Brands may inspire loyalty, repeat purchases, continued use, and 

switching behaviour over time. Yet, continued brand usage and switching behaviours have not yet been 

studied systematically from a relationship perspective. Fournier's (1998) perspective on brand 

relationships is used to understand changes in brand behaviours as changes in underlying 

consumer-brand relationships. This study, using qualitative semi-structured interviews and longitudinal 

brand diary keeping, will uncover the personal, social, and cultural meanings associated with 

brand-related changes, significantly advancing our understanding of brand relationship dynamics. 

DP0343096 Dr SJ Langford Dr SS Cheema 

Title: Peptide Nucleic Acid Based Sensors and Devices - An Investigation into PNA 

Versatility for Emerging Gene Technologies 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $95,000 

Category: 2504 - ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 


*** 

Summary: 

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are analogues of DNA that may have important implications as therapeutic 

agents for the cure of diseases based on genetic defects. The attributes of PNAs that make them 

potentially viable as a drug are also well suited to their development as sensors and molecular devices. 

In this proposal, we wish to develop a series of PNAs containing photoactive elements (a) as alternatives 

to commercially-available fluorophores, (b) for the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases and (c) 

to contribute to one of Science's most debated issues i.e. "does DNA mediate electron transport?" 

*** 

DP0343646 Prof GS Lister Prof TM Harrison Prof R Hall Prof WF Appelbe Mr MR Sutherland 

Title: Tectonic Reconstruction of the Evolution of the Alpine-Himalayan Orogenic Chain 

2003 : $135,000 

2004 : $135,000 

2005 : $145,000 

2006 : $145,000 

2007 : $150,000 


Administering Institution: Monash University

Summary: 

This project will construct a computationally explicit model of movements in the solid Earth for the past 150 

million years, to study the Earth as a complex system during the collision that produced the 

Alpine-Himalayan mountain belt. This is the youngest collisional mountain belt on Earth, and at times it 

stretched from Spain to New Zealand. Earth Scientists want to understand the processes that took place 

to make it, in particular the role of ribbon continents. As a result of this work ordinary Australians will be 

able to better perceive their interactions with their nearest neighbours. 

DP0345915 Dr J Liu Prof BH Toh 

*** 

Title: Functional studies on a novel, brain-specific, Golgi ATP-binding protein in membrane 

trafficking 

2003 : $105,000 

2004 : $105,000 

2005 : $105,000 



Summary: 

In cells specialised for communication such as neurones, protein transport constitutes a large part of total 

cellular activity. A primary pathway in protein transport is trafficking from the Golgi apparatus to the cell 

membrane; materials destined for the cell membrane and secretion are sorted, packed and transported 

from the Golgi apparatus. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes at the Golgi remain 

largely unknown. We have recently cloned a novel ATP-binding protein specifically expressed at the Golgi 

apparatus in human brain, and hypothesise that this protein regulates Golgi protein trafficking by 

interacting with two other molecules, dynamin and calcium, during cell secretion. 

DP0346228 Dr KL Loveland Prof DA Jans 

Title: Developmental Switches: Nuclear Transport and Spermatogenesis 

2003 : $60,000 

*** 



Summary: 

We propose to test the novel hypothesis that changes in the nuclear import machinery are a key facet 

of cellular differentiation. We will investigate a new paradigm in developmental biology regarding whether 

differentiation is achieved, or can be directed, by altering transport of macromolecules, such as specific 

transcription factors, into the nucleus. This project will define changes in the nuclear import machinery 

that accompany germ and somatic cell differentiation in the developing and adult mammalian testis. This 

will be linked to changes in the function of key proteins acting within the nucleus using both in vitro and in 

vivo approaches. 

DP0343898 Dr RC Mac Nally Dr E Fleishman 

*** 

Title: Reconstructing landscapes for biodiversity: From predictive modelling to future 

scenarios 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Many landscapes around the world have been effectively denuded of natural vegetation, causing 

precipitous declines in native biodiversity. Mitigation of such effects in the near/medium-term future 

requires substantial ecological advice. We will employ our skills developed in modelling distributions of 

species across landscapes based on terrain, soils and climate to assess alternative

landscape-reconstruction scenarios. This links use of existing data sets for initial modelling, a validation 

phase for testing model reliability and for refining models, and a subsequent GIS-based modelling phase in 

which alternative options for reconstructing landscapes are evaluated for their effectiveness in 

sustaining landscape-scale native biodiversity. 

DP0345223 Prof SW Marginson 

*** 

Title: The Enterprise University as Networked University: Investigating the contribution of 

Australian higher education institutions to social capital 

2003 : $124,000 

2004 : $136,000 

2005 : $130,000 

2006 : $73,000 

2007 : $76,000 



APF Prof SW Marginson 

Summary: 

As well as creating benefits for individuals, higher education contributes broader social, economic and 

cultural benefits or 'public goods'. Though these are of major significance for community and government, 

they have eluded definition and plausible measurement. However recent research on social capital - the 

norms and networks (including ICT networks) that facilitate cooperation - provides a promising new line 

of inquiry. Building on three previous ARC studies of Australian universities, the project investigates (1) 

local and global networks sustained by eight case study institutions, and (2) through survey, the 

contribution of those institutions to the values and networking of graduates. 

DP0345120 Prof C Mitchell 

*** 

Title: The regulation of signalling molecules in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae by inositol 

polyphosphate 5-phosphatases 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Phosphoinositide signalling molecules regulate the actin cytoskeleton, secretion, vesicular trafficking and 

cell growth and death. We have identified, cloned and characterised a family of signal terminating 

enzymes called inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases (5-phosphatases) that regulate phosphoinositide 

signalling molecules. We have cloned and characterised four distinct 5-phosphatases in the yeast 

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae and demonstrated by both deletion and over expression studies that these 

enzymes regulate the actin cytoskeleton, endocytosis and secretion. This research proposal aims to 

investigate the signalling complexes the 5-phosphatases form with specific actin binding and or 

regulatory proteins, investigate the complex interactions of phosphoinositide lipid phosphatases and the 

roles they play in regulating secretion from the endoplasmic reticulum and finally characterize a novel 

5-phosphatase that we have recently identified. Collectively the outcome of these studies will provide 

novel information about the functionally significant signalling pathways regulated by this important enzyme 

family. 

*** 

DP0345157 Dr LN Moresi Dr HB Muhlhaus Asst Prof S Zhong 

Title: NUMERICAL MODELS OF PLATE TECTONICS, MANTLE CONVECTION AND SLAB DYNAMICS 

WITH EVOLVING FAULTS 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $110,000

2005 : $80,000 

Category: 2602 - GEOPHYSICS 


Summary: 

We plan to develop a method for simulating large-scale geological structures with a much improved 

treatment of tectonic faults in 3D. Current computer models have sharp geological faults at plate 

boundaries represented by broad, blurred zones. New techniques for modelling cracks in engineering 

structures will be scaled up to the whole Earth. This will help us to understand how the Earth's plates 

move and interact now and in the past and how the structure of the continents arose. Not only is this 

intrinsically interesting, it will also be of immediate practical benefit to geological modellers. 

DP0342619 Dr DL Morgan Prof U Proske 

*** 

Title: Optimised distributed stimulation of muscle 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $40,000 



Summary: 

The project aims to extend to humans, a method of producing a non-fatiguing, smooth, submaximal muscle 

contraction. The method using multiple electrodes, stimulated at different times, with those times being 

adjusted for optimum smoothness at low stimulation rates. This will enable the gathering of information 

about the mechanics of muscle undergoing near physiological contractions, which will be of interest to 

researchers in Biomechanics. It will also be a step towards the restoration of function to spinal cord 

injured patients. 

*** 

DP0346745 Prof BC Muddle Dr J Nie Dr AE Smith Dr LN Bourgeois 

Title: States of Aggregation - Clustering, Segregation, Nucleation and Nanostructure 

2003 : $109,000 

2004 : $130,000 

2005 : $133,000 

2006 : $116,000 



Summary: 

High strength light alloys are nanostructured materials, deriving their mechanical properties from 

nanoscale dispersions of strengthening precipitate phases controlled by alloy composition and 

thermomechanical processing. Atom-probe field-ion microscopy and high-resolution electron microscopy 

will be combined to study the aggregation of solute atoms that precedes formation of the precipitate 

phases. Experimental studies at high spatial resolution will be complemented by elastic strain energy 

calculations and first-principles modelling of the aggregation behaviour, to define its role in controlling 

precipitation processes and thus properties. The work will provide a basis for improved alloy design and 

a platform for computer-aided design of high-performance alloys. 

DP0342593 Prof KS Murray 

Title: Nanomagnetic Materials from Molecular Clusters and Coordination Polymers 

2003 : $150,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $92,000 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $100,000 


***


Summary: 

Magnetic materials are important through their use in recording tapes and other electronic devices. 

Traditional magnetic materials are metals, alloys or metal oxides made by high temperature methods. Our 

aims are to synthesize new chemical and molecule based solid materials which possess the properties of 

traditional magnets but which are made by careful chemical design at ambient temperatures. We will 

make materials which have three-dimensional network structures or large clusters of ions such as 

manganese bridged by organic molecules. Their magnetic properties will be studied in detail. The cluster 

compounds are significant since they are nanoscale in size and offer new features, with long term 

possible use in future quantum computers. 

DP0344905 Prof Y Ng Prof XV Yang 

*** 

Title: Welfare Economic Issues in the New Classical Economic Framework of Inframarginal 

Analysis (renewal application) 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $57,000 



Summary: 

The CIs have developed a framework analysing the classical but largely ignored problems of division of 

labour. The 2001-2 project extends the framework to examine welfare issues and public policies, 

including government encouragement of infrastructure, organisational effects of externality-corrective 

taxes, work ethics and the optimal working week. The proposed extension to this research will address 

the more fundamental issue of the Pareto optimality of general equilibrium in the new framework and 

extend the existing analyses to be of more practical relevance with more immediate policy implications. 

DP0344040 Dr J Nie Dr S Zhu 

Title: Interactions between Lattice Defects and Nanoscale Solute Aggregates: 

Strengthening and Creep Mechanisms in Magnesium Alloys 

2003 : $91,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $96,000 

2006 : $92,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Advances in manufacturing and processing technologies in recent years have brought renewed interests 

in magnesium alloys for applications at elevated temperatures (100-200°C). Improvement in strength and 

creep resistance of existing alloys and development of new alloys require better understanding of 

strengthening and creep mechanisms and their correlations with deformation behaviour of the alloys. In 

this project, advanced imaging techniques of transmission electron microscopy and three-dimensional 

atom probe field-ion microscopy, combined with tensile and creep tests, will be used to study interactions 

between lattice defects and nanoscale solute aggregates and their quantitative effects on deformation 

behaviour of magnesium alloys at elevated temperatures. The aim of this project is to develop a robust 

theory for the design of magnesium alloys with improved strength and creep resistance. 

DP0343319 Dr GR Oppy Dr DL Dowe 

*** 

Title: Philosophical Foundations for Probabilistic Inference and Probabilistic Prediction 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $30,000



Summary: 

This exciting and innovative project aims to lay new foundations for contemporary philosophy of science. 

We shall use basic Minimum Message Length (MML) principles to vastly improve on current philosophical 

accounts of scientific inference and scientific prediction. We shall also use the theory to develop new 

and exciting answers to longstanding problems in philosophy of science concerning induction, 

projectability, private languages, determinism and intelligence. A theory based on MML principles will 

demonstrate the clear inadequacies of competing classical approaches, and will completely reshape the 

way in which philosophers think about Bayesian theories of inference. 

DP0342850 Dr DM Paganin 

Title: Quantitative real-time imaging of high-temperature superconductors 

2003 : $89,000 

2004 : $89,000 

2005 : $89,000 



*** 

Summary: 

This project will develop a robust technique for the quantitative real-time imaging of high-temperature 

superconductors. The image-analysis algorithm so obtained will be a virtual software lens, which is able 

to decode the information contained in data obtained by a well-established but hitherto qualitative imaging 

technique. We will transform this technique into one uniquely capable of obtaining two-dimensional 

movies of the current distributions, magnetic fields, and pinning defects in superconducting films. Such a 

quantitative characterization of these key superconductor parameters will be an important tool in the 

present global quest for room-temperature superconductivity. 

*** 

DP0345351 Prof MJ Pittard Dr M Bagaric Mr I Leader-Elliott 

Title: Employment consequences of criminal behaviour: Double punishment or just 

2003 : $35,000 

2004 : $34,000 



Summary: 

Employment deprivations are hardships often consequent upon findings of criminal guilt and additional to 

criminal sanctions imposed by the courts - a convicted person may be dismissed from employment or 

ineligible to apply for certain jobs, particularly public sector positions. There are no settled legal principles 

governing inter-play between criminal behaviour and employment status and opportunities. Unfairness 

may result, as the offence effectively attracts a 'double' punishment; an offender's rehabilitative 

prospects are impeded; social and economic burdens ensue.The project aims to develop comprehensive 

policy guidelines concerning the appropriate connection between criminal behaviour and employment 

status for courts, governments and employers. 

DP0345542 Prof J Richardson Dr R Hurworth 

*** 

Title: The identification and measurement of equity and other health sector objectives 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

The project will investigate public expectations and values about the health system. The results will: (i) 

challenge the recent WHO evaluation of health systems in which 75 percent of the total score came from

objectives other than population health; (ii) provide policy makers with numerical scores to indicate the 

relative importance of different broad objectives (such as access and the distribution of health services 

and the question of access to services); (iii) provide health service researchers with numerical scores to 

indicate where there are higher priority services or recipients: for example, the young or those with long 

term disabilities. 

DP0343829 Prof JI Rood 

*** 

Title: Functional genomics of large clostridial plasmids 

2003 : $102,000 

2004 : $102,000 

2005 : $102,000 



Summary: 

The aims of this genomics project are to determine how large DNA elements called plasmids are able to be 

transferred between different strains of a bacterium that causes disease in domestic livestock. These 

plasmids carry genes that encode the potent protein toxins that are responsible for several diseases. To 

understand how these diseases are spread we must learn how the plasmids have evolved and whether 

they can move from bacterium to bacterium. The successful completion of the project will result in a 

detailed understanding of genetic elements that are important mediators of several diseases of 

importance to Australian primary industry. 

DP0346007 Dr J Rossjohn Prof J McCluskey 

Title: An X-ray crystallographic investigation into co-receptors on T-lymphocytes 

2003 : $162,000 

2004 : $162,000 

2005 : $152,000 

*** 



Summary: 

T lymphocytes are an indispensable cellular component of the immune system. The normal process of T 

cell selection in the thymus, and the ability of mature T cells to respond to foreign antigens are governed 

by receptor recognition and co-receptor mediated events. The co-receptors encompass a wide 

spectrum of structurally diverse proteins that are involved in adhesion, co-ligation and signal transduction. 

This proposal aims to investigate, using X-ray crystallography as the primary research tool, co- 

receptors located on T-lymphocytes. This work will gain fundamental insights into co-receptor function. 

DP0342458 Dr MJ Scanlon Dr CJ Porter 

*** 

Title: The role of fatty acid binding proteins in the binding and transport of lipophilic drugs 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Poorly water-soluble drugs must cross the aqueous cytoplasm of intestinal cells if they are to be 

absorbed following oral administration. The mechanisms by which this occurs are currently unknown. We 

have shown that some lipophilic drugs are capable of binding to cytosolic transport proteins called fatty 

acid binding proteins (FABPs). We propose to use a range of physical techniques including NMR 

spectroscopy, calorimetry and fluorescence firstly to identify the nature of drug binding to FABP and 

secondly to determine the effect of binding on drug transport.

DP0345684 Dr L Segal 

*** 

Title: Development of a Value of Life Framework to Assist Priority Setting Decision Making 

Across Sectors 

2003 : $54,000 

2004 : $79,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

The techniques used to evaluate life-saving interventions differ between health and other sectors. In 

health cost-effectiveness or cost-utility analysis is common, avoiding specification of a value for life. In 

contrast the transport and environment sectors use cost-benefit analysis and value life in monetary 

terms. This duality of approaches has resulted in a lower implicit value of life in the health sector. The 

research will explore these differences and attempt to identify key attributes that influence how life is 

valued, to provide a framework for a single approach to the valuation of life, and the more efficient 

allocation of resources cross-sectorally. 

*** 

DP0343589 Dr GP Simon Prof JG Matisons Prof Dr U Schubert 

Title: New Transparent Polymer Nanocomposite Coatings Using Multireactive Inorganic 

Cages 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $118,000 

2005 : $130,000 

2006 : $130,000 



Summary: 

New polymeric nanocomposite coatings are proposed with enhanced abrasion resistance, toughness 

and optical functionality, suitable for the coating of optical plastic substrates. These composites contain 

inorganic cages, dispersed and chemically-coupled within the cross linked organic matrix. In addition to 

good mechanical behaviour, high value properties such as colorisation on exposure to light and 

resistance to damage from high energy lasers will be achieved by attachment to the cages of chemical 

units with optical activity. These cages are of nanometre size and an important aspect of the project 

involves probing the resultant structure at the molecular level, using advanced characterisation 

techniques. 

DP0343521 Dr L Spiccia 

*** 

Title: Nanosized peptide nucleic acid - metal complex hybrids as catalysts for the cleavage 

of phosphate ester bonds in biological molecules 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

The information from Human Genome Project is being used to generate molecules with a variety of 

therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The capability to design, synthesise and manipulate functional 

molecules that mimic biological processes will underpin many emerging applications. In this project, 

macrocyclic metal complexes that catalyse the cleavage of phosphate ester bonds in biological molecules 

will be developed. Active complexes will be incorporated into nanosized peptide nucleic acid (PNA) - 

metal complex hybrids and applied as artificial enzymes in the sequence specific cleavage of RNA and

DNA. Novel applications of these 'artificial enzymes' in biotechnology are anticipated. 

DP0345357 Prof T Sridhar 

*** 

Title: Fundamental studies in extensional rheology of polymers and biomacromolecules 

2003 : $98,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Long molecules such as polymers, DNA and other biopolymers are of significant practical and 

fundamental interest. The behaviour of such polymers in extensional or stretching flows and the 

consequent stresses generated can be measured as a result of advances in instrumentation pioneered at 

Monash University. This research program builds on this foundation to understand the effects of 

molecular architecture on the properties of macromolecules and to rigorously test several innovative 

theoretical concepts that have been advanced over the last 20 years. Such knowledge allows the 

tailoring of polymer shape to their end use and permits the design of novel polymers. 

DP0344744 Prof NJ Tapper Dr J Beringer Dr ST Siems Dr LB Hutley Dr A Lynch 

*** 

Title: Fire Scar Impacts on Surface Heat and Moisture Fluxes in Australia's Tropical Savanna 

and Feedbacks to Local and Regional Climate 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Fire burns as much as 250,000 km2 of northern Australia every year, mostly tropical savannah land. The 

atmospheric impacts of burning extend beyond the direct emissions of aerosol and trace gases to include 

the effects of land surface alteration on atmospheric circulation. Using observation and modelling, this 

study examines the modification of surface heat and moisture fluxes to the atmosphere caused by fire 

scars, along with the impact of such changes on atmospheric motion and precipitation at a range of 

scales. This unique work is of fundamental scientific interest and significance for current and future 

management of this important national resource. 

DP0345146 Dr T Tiganis 

*** 

Title: Characterisation of a novel protein tyrosine phosphatase 

2003 : $60,000 



Summary: 

A cells ability to respond to its extracellular environment involves a complex and highly organised series 

of events referred to as cellular signalling. These signalling processes regulate fundamental cellular 

events that underlie the growth and development of all living organisms. This proposal focuses on a 

group of enzymes known as the protein tyrosine phosphatases and their ability to regulate tyrosine 

phosphorylation-dependent signalling. We have identified a novel human protein tyrosine phosphatase 

and we aim to characterise its function and the mechanism by which it is regulated. 

DP0343811 Dr F Vahid Dr DS Poskitt 

***

Title: Inference in partially non-stationary time series models 

2003 : $37,000 

2004 : $35,000 

2005 : $36,000 



Summary: 

Economic theories typically specify the long-run relationship between economic variables. However, 

researchers usually examine the long-run features of the data by fitting a restrictive class of models 

using criteria that have only proven useful for short-term forecasting. In this project we consider 

alternative models and modelling strategies that are appropriate for the study of the long-run. We also 

develop computer intensive (bootstrap) methods, which will provide a much-needed improvement over 

the existing (asymptotic) methods for making inference about the long-run. Our research will lead to more 

reliable models for long-term planning in business, industry and government. 

DP0342993 Dr PA Webley Dr RA Singh 

*** 

Title: Synthesis of novel microporous metallosilicate adsorbents 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $73,000 

2005 : $75,000 



APD Dr RA Singh 

Summary: 

Nano-engineered materials will play an enormous role in the 21st century. As our understanding of the 

molecular structure of materials improves and our manipulation techniques develop, it will become 

possible to create materials that direct desirable reactions and separations with unprecedented yields 

and specificity. The proposed work aims to develop novel synthetic microporous metallosilicates using a 

variety of experimental approaches to nano-engineer superior adsorbents for gas separations. We 

expect the project to contribute to fundamental knowledge of creating tailor-made microporous 

adsorbents and lead to important fundamental and applied intellectual property for Australian industry. 

*** 

DP0345336 A/Prof IR Wendt Dr HC Parkington Dr RJ Lang Prof R Paul 

Title: Mechanisms of calcium handling and their role in controlling smooth muscle 

function: evidence from transgenic mice. 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 

Category: 3206 - MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY 


Summary: 

Calcium movements into and out of the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cells are regulated primarily by a 

variety of proteins located in the plasma membrane and in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and play a central 

role in controlling the contractile state of smooth muscle. Understanding the mechanisms that control 

intracellular calcium levels is fundamental to understanding smooth muscle function. This project will 

employ a unique approach, involving the use of mice with targeted disruptions to genes encoding key 

calcium transport proteins, to gain new knowledge on the contribution of various calcium handling 

pathways to overall control of smooth muscle function. 

*** 

DP0345713 Dr A Zaslavsky Ms S Krishnaswamy 

Title: Efficient Prediction of Application Metrics for E-Services 

2003 : $64,345

2004 : $64,345 

2005 : $64,345 



APD Ms S Krishnaswamy 

Summary: 

Application Service Providers (ASPs) are one of the fastest growing classes of e-services and operate 

on the principle of renting software applications. This project aims to develop prediction techniques to 

estimate quality of service metrics for ASPs. The efficient prediction of the service levels that can be 

ensured is challenging given the dynamic nature of the Internet and the semantics of application metrics 

not being formally defined. The project will result in the development of a prototype system to support 

prediction of service levels. This system will be accessible to the Australian e-services industry via a 

web interface. 

DP0344013 A/Prof I Zukerman 

Title: A Minimum Message Length Approach for Discourse Interpretation 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $58,000 



*** 

Summary: 

The ability to communicate with computer systems in Natural Language has great potential to improve the 

overall experience for users. However, current systems support only limited means of communication. In 

this project, we propose to investigate the application of model-selection techniques for interpreting 

human discourse. In particular, we will consider situations where the computer interprets users' 

discourse in the context of its own knowledge. The versatility of our approach will be demonstrated by 

using it to (1) interpret discourse in a human-computer dialogue, (2) provide feedback to short essays, 

and (3) determine the impact of a document on a model. 

RMIT University 

DP0346691 Prof MC Burry Prof L Padgham 

*** 

Title: Sharing Complex Systems information by challenging the orthodoxies of linear 

presentation. 

2003 : $53,000 

2004 : $63,000 

2005 : $48,000 


Administering Institution: RMIT University 

Summary: 

Information Technology has contributed more to working with complex systems than to communicating 

them. Presentation software styled on the power of the point hardly addresses the restrictions of 

traditional media: sequential visual information display with little possibility for the cross-reference needed 

to communicate a complex situation.This research will test the effectiveness of our multidimensional 

presentation software prototype in a range of complex system situations in order to improve the 

opportunities for interactive spatial media in today's work and learning environments. 

DP0342685 Dr KA Cregan 

*** 

Title: Biotechnology Across the Borders of Life: Stem Cell Technology and Global Medical 

Exchange 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $70,000

2005 : $81,000 



APD Dr KA Cregan 

Summary: 

This project interrogates the debates and policy surrounding embryonic stem cell technology and two 

intimately connected medical technologies - reproductive technologies, in which it is founded, and organ 

transplantation, which it seeks to overcome. Each of these technologies repeatedly confronts and tests 

social, cultural, ethical and legal precedents, fuelling world-wide political and media debate. The project 

addresses the social effects - locally and globally - of these technologies. Analyses of altruism, giving 

and commodification underpin the study, and are used to elucidate the social ramifications of the 

practices and expert discourses of these biotechnologies in four nation-states: Australia, Singapore, UK 

and USA. 

DP0344403 Prof PW James Prof M Kalantzis 

*** 

Title: Australian Responses to Refugees, 1901-2005 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $57,000 

2005 : $57,000 



Summary: 

Determining appropriate responses to refugees is a definitive political concern in contemporary Australia. 

However, conceptual and historical analysis is lacking of the global context and genealogy of Australia's 

current policy. This project will analyse Australian reactions to refugees from Federation to the present. It 

is hypothesised that positions on refugees have been integral to the constitution of Australian national 

identity. Using an innovative combination of theory (relating to nationhood), cultural reading and archival 

research, this project will explore the complex interaction between government policy, humanitarian 

concerns, and the culture of security considerations. The project will inform public and policy debate. 

DP0344410 Prof PW James Prof TC Nairn 

Title: Violence at the Intersections of Globalism, Nationalism and Tribalism 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $45,000 



*** 

Summary: 

This cross-disciplinary study investigates recent arenas of violence, from the genocide in Rwanda to 

ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, militia activities in East Timor and the War on Terrorism in Afghanistan. 

First, it examines Western public representations of these arenas. Secondly, drawing upon comparative 

political and anthropological analyses, the study tests its hypothesis that neo-tribalism and 

neo-traditionalism are best understood in the globalising context of insecure nation-states. This study thus 

examines the commonplace claim that assertions of primordial tribalism and traditionalism are the 

well-spring of contemporary violence. The investigation will inform future Australian and international 

responses to sites of conflict. 

DP0342617 Prof JC Macnae 

*** 

Title: Airborne electromagnetic estimation of groundwater quality and distribution in the 

top 100m of the earth. 

2003 : $60,000

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

This research will develop processing methodology to predict groundwater concentration and quality in 

the top 100m of the earth, using continuously sampled airborne electromagnetic data. The method to be 

developed will process received responses to separate and identify propagation delays, distinct from the 

usual diffusive delays caused by shallow conductive materials. The extracted propagation delays then 

predict ground moisture content. With proposed changes to transmitter hardware, we can also achieve 

improved shallow resolution of conductive structures, such as shallow saline groundwater layers. 

However, the new method will pioneer the remote detection of fresh waters. 

DP0346613 Dr PJ MARRIOTT Dr HM Huegel 

*** 

Title: New Enantiomeric Separation Technologies for Natural Product, Pharmaceuticals and 

Environmental Pollutant Characterisation 

2003 : $125,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

Enantiomeric characterisation allows evaluation of drug purity for potentially harmful constituents, 

consumer protection against adulteration of essential oils and natural materials, and study of chemical 

interactions in biochemical/environmental systems. Chromatograph technologies (GC, HPLC and CE) for 

enantioseparation are available, however limitations prevent multicomponent characterisation of complete 

sample mixtures. Critical choices involve: choosing a chiral selector that interacts differentially upon all 

enantiomers; incorporation of selector into high-efficiency chromatographic systems; application to all 

target compounds in the sample. We will synthesise novel chiral selectors, incorporate these into new 

separation columns, apply ultra-high resolution 2-dimensional GCxGC to broad-spectrum chiral analysis of 

volatile chemical samples. 

DP0343854 A/Prof JF Murphy 

*** 

Title: The other welfare state: the non-government welfare sector in Victoria, 1945 - 1995 

2003 : $20,000 

2004 : $20,000 



Summary: 

This project investigates the history and development of the non-government welfare sector in Victoria in 

the half-century following 1945. Through archival research and oral histories, the project consists of 

case studies of four key faith-based agencies, as a lens through which to examine how the sector has 

related to governments and how it has imagined its purposes and its 'clients'. Little attention has been 

given to the post-war history of this sector in Australia, but its escalating role today in service delivery is 

reflected in an international literature on the changing role of non-government organisations within modern 

welfare regimes. 

DP0345920 Prof M Singh Prof FA Rizvi 

*** 

Title: International student mobility and educational innovation: Chinese students and the 

internationalisation of Australian and American universities 

2003 : $56,000 

2004 : $47,500



Summary: 

Given China's entry into the WTO and building upon research into the uses of international education this 

project will investigate educational changes arising from Chinese students studying abroad. Its theoretical 

and empirical focus is the changes that the mobility of international students is effecting in the 

universities in which they are studying. It will explore how Chinese students' identity formation, career 

trajectories and transnational relationships inform changes in Australian and American universities. The 

outcomes will be knowledge of the ways their presence impacts on the different historical trajectories of 

these university systems to produce varying possibilities for educational innovation. 

DP0345310 Dr JV Smith 

*** 

Title: Investigating mineral alteration and infilling of discontinuities in naturally deformed 

rocks as a guide to rock mass rheology 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $48,000 



Summary: 

Structural analysis of naturally deformed rock will be used to investigate the origin, physical 

characteristics and frictional behaviour of naturally formed discontinuity surfaces. Discontinuities in 

naturally deformed rock masses are typically altered and infilled with complex combinations of mineral 

matter and are a major control on the rheology, including strength and stability, of rock masses in 

engineering excavations. By combining structural geology techniques and laboratory experiments, and 

with reference to existing data on field-scale rock mass deformation derived from engineering rock 

mechanics investigations, a methodology for predicting rock mass rheology from fundamental geological 

observations will be devised and tested. 

*** 

DP0346545 A/Prof Z Tari Prof AY Zomaya Prof H Schroder 

Title: Dynamic Load Balancing for Systems under Heavy Traffic Demand and High Task Size 

Variation 

2003 : $64,000 

2004 : $53,000 

2005 : $44,000 



Summary: 

Current computer systems cannot cope with extremely heavy traffic demands. A solution to such a 

difficult problem is to dynamically balance the load across the system's servers. Several solutions have 

been proposed and demonstrate advances in certain limited conditions (e.g. uniform distribution). 

However fundamental research work must be undertaken beyond the current way of dealing with the 

core issues of load balancing. Accounting for realistic conditions is a theoretical and practical challenge. 

This project aims at developing theoretical and computational models for dynamic task distribution for the 

studied systems. The benefits include substantial improvement of the system response time. 

*** 

DP0342482 A/Prof PM Trivailo Dr CM Blanksby Prof HA Fujii 

Title: Remote Delivery and Capture of Payloads using Aerial Deployed Tethers 

2003 : $46,000 

2004 : $46,000 

Category: 2902 - AEROSPACE ENGINEERING


Summary: 

The capability to rapidly transport payloads to and from remote locations is critical for search and rescue, 

disaster relief, remote communities, and military operations. Conventional technology is not well suited to 

this role, hence we propose to develop an intelligent system to manoeuvre a tether, towed from an 

aircraft, to pick-up or set-down a payload, with zero surface velocity. Because of the complex, nonlinear 

dynamics of a cable-body system, advanced modelling and nonlinear optimal control will be applied in this 

task. The resulting world-first system will provide important economic opportunities and demonstrate 

Australian scientific capacity for novel developing intelligent systems. 

DP0346196 Dr HE Williams 

Title: Fast and Scalable Search Techniques for Genomic Databases 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 



*** 

Summary: 

Tens of thousands of users each day search the genomic databases that are so far the most significant 

product of the Human Genome Project. In this project, we will investigate fundamental new bioinformatics 

techniques for information retrieval from genomic databases. The outcomes will allow molecular 

biologists to accurately and efficiently discover relationships between DNA and protein sequences. In 

contrast to existing approaches, our techniques will remain fast despite the enormous growth in genomic 

database sizes. This research will contribute significantly to the "key areas of study including genomics 

and bioinformatics" in the new ARC genome/phenome link priority area. 

*** 

DP0346478 Dr PH WILSON A/Prof P Maruff A/Prof PR THOMAS 

Title: The development of feedforward mechanisms of motor control: The role of 

efference copy in motor skill development. 

2003 : $73,000 

2004 : $69,000 

2005 : $69,000 



Summary: 

Our work provides preliminary evidence that deficits in efference copy (or feed forward planning) 

underlie impaired motor skill development in children (or Developmental Coordination Disorder - DCD). The 

aim of this project is to advance our understanding of normal and abnormal motor development by 

examining this hypothesis in a large sample, longitudinally. We will examine variations in the presentation 

of clumsiness, cognitive deficit(s) in different subtypes, and changes in presentation with age. We 

predict that deficits in efference copy will explain departures from normal motor skill development in most 

children. We also predict that imagery training will ameliorate the deficit. 

DP0345546 Dr CJ Ziguras Dr GD McBurnie 

*** 

Title: Debating the Impact of International Trade Agreements on Transnational Higher 

Education: A Comparative Study of Australia, Malaysia, Canada and Greece 

2003 : $50,000 



Summary: 

In the past decade, education provision across national borders has grown dramatically. However, the 

governmental frameworks for regulating such programs are yet to solidify, with rival approaches hotly

contested. Governments are enmeshed in, and influenced and constrained by existing and emergent 

regulatory structures and trade agreements at national, regional and global levels. This project will identify 

issues of central concern to key actors in four countries with significant involvement in transnational 

higher education, and analyse how debates in these countries utilise divergent models of likely 

implications of trade agreements. 

DP0346289 A/Prof J Zobel Dr HE Williams 

Title: Efficient and Effective Text Information Retrieval with Phrases 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $45,000 



*** 

Summary: 

Current Internet search engines find documents by matching queries to documents, then present the 

closest matches to the user. Such searching is often ineffective. Another technique for searching, 

which with current algorithms is not feasible for large text collections such as the Web, is to browse 

vocabularies and view phrases in the contexts in which they are used. The aim of this project is to make 

wider use of phrases in retrieval, by developing new phrase-based querying algorithms and investigating 

how users can use phrase indexes to find documents. The outcome will be new, efficient methods for 

exploring the Internet. 

*** 

Swinburne University of Technology 

DP0345147 Prof TY CHEN Dr T Tse Dr YT Yu 

Title: Software Testing with Enhanced Partitioning Schemes 

2003 : $64,000 

2004 : $54,400 

2005 : $46,240 


Administering Institution: Swinburne University of Technology 

Summary: 

Partition testing is the most common means of ensuring the quality of software. In partition testing, the set 

of inputs to the program are divided into subsets, from each of which test cases are selected. Our 

previous research has concentrated on how to select test cases from the subsets. In this project, we 

will investigate how to divide the set of inputs into subsets so as to yield better fault-detecting 

capabilities. Not only will this project have an impact on the theoretical foundation of software quality, but 

the resulting methodologies will greatly enhance the efficacy of software testing in practice. 

DP0345767 A/Prof DP Crewther A/Prof SG Crewther Dr D Loesch A/Prof A Puce 

*** 

Title: Phenotypic differences in behaviour, brain function and structure of genetically 

dissimilar forms of intellectual disability. 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

How is the brain of someone with intellectual disability different from that of a normal person? Are 

behavioural phenotypes such as intellectual disability more related to similarities in brain structure and 

function than to the genotypic anomaly? This project will use neuroscience techniques of psychophysics, 

electrophysiology and fMRI to probe these questions. The benefit of this project is that cortical flattening 

fMRI techniques together with new and efficient stimulus paradigms will result in a functional landmark

mapping tool capable of application to many other brain genotype-phenotype questions. Also, the 

functional brain basis of intellectual disability will be further revealed. 

DP0343375 Dr X Gan Mr JW Chon 

Title: Nano-photonic fabrication and storage using near-field super-resolving probes 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The aim of the project is to develop a novel near-field storage device and nano-fabrication instruments, 

which are based on the super-resolution technique. As a result, the new storage device has a density 

100 times of the current DVD technology. The nano-fabrication techniques can be used for all optics 

devices of nanometer resolution for fast information transferring. This project extends the key 

developments in the field of nano-photonics and will put Australia in a uniquely strong position in the 

internationally competitive information technology field. 

*** 

DP0343508 Prof BK Gibson Dr JC Lattanzio Dr GS Da Costa Dr CA Tout Dr A Chieffi Dr GF Lewis 

Title: Calibrating Cosmology: The Near-Field Approach to Galaxy Formation 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $48,000 



Summary: 

Understanding the formation and evolution of structure in the early Universe continues to elude 

astronomers. Studying these earliest epochs is the driver for billion-dollar investments like the Next 

Generation Space Telescope and the Square Kilometre Array (with Australia as a primary partner). Our 

complementary 'near-field cosmology' project is unique, blending strengths in computational cosmology, 

stellar nucleosynthesis, and optical astronomy, to 'deconstruct' the formation history of the one galaxy 

with detailed chemical and kinematical information - our own Milky Way. Combining theory and 

observation, cosmology and nucleosynthesis, we will produce the template for galaxy formation, 

providing the anchor for 'far-field' cosmology. 

DP0343238 A/Prof MD Gilding 

*** 

Title: New Economy entrepreneurs: making the decision to stay in Australia or relocate 

overseas 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $30,000 



Summary: 

This study examines information and bioscience technology entrepreneurs in Australia and the 

decision-making process concerning the location of their businesses. It arises from widespread concern 

that Australia's place in the world economy has become increasingly peripheral in the context of New 

Economy industries. The study examines the social characteristics of entrepreneurs in New Economy 

industries, the different types of social networks in which entrepreneurs are embedded, and how these 

networks inform locational decisions. More generally, the study will clarify theoretical debates about the 

dynamics of the New Economy, and will provide a basis for more informed public policy in Australia. 

***

DP0343224 Dr R Hassan 

Title: Time out of mind? Australians' experience of time in the network society 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 



APD Dr R Hassan 

Summary: 

Computer mediated communication is profoundly affecting the ways in which individuals live. The rapidity 

of the process has left many changes unexplored and under analysed. The project will comprise a 

three-year ethnographic study to uncover the ways in which people think about time, about electronic 

networks, and by what means these influence how they make sense of their lives, their work, and their 

relationships in a fast-changing and globalising world. The project will result in an international workshop 

on 'Time and Networks'; an edited collection of articles from workshop participants; and an internationally 

published book on the project's findings. 

DP0345289 Dr G Lu 

*** 

Title: Dynamic Crushing of Cellular Solids: Deformation Modes and Energy Absorption 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $35,000 



Summary: 

Energy absorption behaviour of structures and materials is essential in minimising damage and fatalities 

caused by accidental collisions. Cellular solids are excellent in this respect. This project aims to 

systematically investigate the dynamic crushing of two such materials: honeycombs and metal foams. 

Experimental techniques applicable to these materials will be developed and comprehensive tests will be 

conducted. Studies will be made into their dynamic deformation modes and the associated energy 

absorption behaviour. The findings will extend our conceptual understanding of a class of similar 

problems and will help to design structures with cellular solids for much improved crashworthiness 

performance. 

DP0343652 Prof Dr YS Morsi Dr SH Masood A/Prof JN Mazumdar A/Prof FL Rosenfeldt 

*** 

Title: Tissue Engineering of Human Heart Valve Grown In Vitro 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $51,000 



Summary: 

Tissue engineering (TE) of heart valves is a new approach to cultivate a functional heart valve from 

human autologous cells. This innovative study aims to develop the technology to transplant cells onto a 3D 

biocompatible valve scaffold that is capable of mimicking native valve. The work proposed is a ground 

breaking study that will encompass development of a new biomaterial, manufacture of scaffolds using 

the Fused Deposition Modelling rapid prototyping process, hemodynamic optimisation and in vitro cell 

culture. This will advance our knowledge in cellular and scaffold technologies and may ultimately lead to 

the development of a TE heart valve. 

DP0344376 Prof RJ Sadus Prof J Prausnitz 

***

Title: Investigation and Prediction of the Novel Properties of Dendrimers 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $70,000 



Summary: 

Dendrimers are a new class of highly branched polymers, which have, until now, been difficult to 

characterise by conventional means. This project will develop and apply molecular simulation techniques 

to reveal the chemical and physical properties of dendrimers and their interactions with other molecules. 

These novel molecules potentially have beneficial applications to areas such as drug delivery and 

electronic materials. The outcome of this work will assist in the exploitation of this beneficial application 

and will provide the basis for efficient processing. 

DP0345655 Dr JD Thomas Dr DL Meredyth 

Title: Liberal Machines: Information poverty, political culture and the uses of new 

communications technologies 

2003 : $31,000 

2004 : $33,000 

2005 : $42,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project examines two contentious issues in scholarly and policy debate: the nature and 

consequences of information poverty, and the consequences of new communications technologies for 

western political culture. Rather than focussing on the emancipatory potential of new technologies, we 

see these problems through the prism of liberal government, its history and prospects. In particular we 

are concerned with liberalism's longstanding concerns with security, civil peace, freedom, and 

disadvantage. We explore contemporary developments in electronic government, digital media, online 

learning, cyber-democracy and wired communities. The result will contribute to our understanding of the 

political and intellectual uses of information technology. 

The University of Melbourne 

DP0345326 Prof JL Anderson 

*** 

Title: Beyond the Madonna Painter: reassessing the life, works, and reception of Giovanni 

Bellini 

2003 : $88,000 

2004 : $81,000 

2005 : $101,000 


Administering Institution: The University of Melbourne 

Summary: 

I aim to write a critical cultural history of Venetian art in Giovanni Bellini's lifetime (1433 to 1516), 

focussing upon Bellini's intellectual position. In the most recent decade archival discoveries, containing 

new revelations about Bellini's patrons, his intellectual friendships with learned humanists, his probable 

illegitimacy, his certain homosexuality and his painting techniques, prompt a new investigation of how 

biography has infused representation in art. Multiple outcomes include a book, with the same title, and an 

exhibition at the National Gallery, Washington, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna in 2005-2006, 

where Bellini's oeuvre will be seen in context. 

DP0344813 Prof EJ Armarego 

*** 

Title: Predictive Mechanics of Cutting Models for Forces and Torque in Machine Tapping 

Operations with Straight and Helical Flute Taps

2003 : $46,000 

2004 : $46,000 

2005 : $46,000 



Summary: 

This project is aimed at developing a fundamental understanding of the cutting process as well as 

mechanics of cutting mathematical models and software for reliable predictions of all the force 

components, torque and power in machine tapping of both wrought and sintered metallic materials with 

straight and helical fluted taps. This investigation will provide useful fundamental and practical information 

and data on the tapping operations, renowned as 'some of the most neglected operations in machining 

research' and as 'bottleneck operations in practice'. This project heads towards satisfying the 

internationally recognised pressing need for quantitatively reliable machining performance data and 

equations. 

DP0343454 Prof A Bacic Dr CJ Schultz 

*** 

Title: Assembly and function of arabinogalactan-proteins: a class of proteoglycans involved 

in plant growth and development 

2003 : $140,000 

2004 : $140,000 

2005 : $140,000 



Summary: 

We aim to define the mechanisms by which a family of cell surface proteoglycans, the 

arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs), are assembled and contribute to the regulation of plant growth and 

development using Arabidopsis, a model system amenable to a functional genomics strategy. This will be 

achieved through the application of bioinformatics for gene discovery and molecular, biochemical and 

genetics approaches to define gene function. Understanding mechanisms that control plant growth and 

development will ultimately impact on industries (agriculture, horticulture and forestry) vital to Australia's 

prosperity. 

DP0343693 Prof JF Bateman Dr JJ Gorman 

*** 

Title: Proteomic and Transcriptional Profiling of Cartilage 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

Gene expression and signalling pathways that regulate cartilage formation, and its orderly transition to 

bone, are poorly described. Our studies will, for the first time, combine two complementary cutting-edge 

approaches, protein identification by proteomic analysis, and mRNA profiling by microarray analysis, to 

define these pathways and develop a comprehensive catalogue of proteins and gene expression 

patterns during cartilage development and bone formation. This information will provide insight into the 

regulation of cartilage differentiation, maturation and structure, and will provide a critical platform for the 

development of more sophisticated cartilage and bone biomaterials for improved tissue repair and 

regeneration. 

DP0344556 Dr SP Best Prof CJ Pickett 

*** 

Title: Redox initiated chemistry of hydrogenase H-cluster model compounds: Biologically 

inspired hydrogen activation catalysts?

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

High efficiency, low temperature, cheap hydrogen activation catalysts suitable for fuel cell applications 

would provide the basis for the development of environmentally benign technologies suitable for 

transportation and some power applications. Hydrogenase enzymes are high efficiency, low 

temperature, hydrogen activation catalysts and the active site of the all-iron version of the enzyme has 

recently been revealed to be a remarkable, weakly protein bound, iron-sulfur-carbonyl-cyanide complex. 

Research into the reactions of redox activated abiological model compounds will provide insights into the 

molecular basis of the enzymatic reaction, potentially leading to the discovery of highly efficient, 

biologically inspired hydrogen activation catalysts. 

*** 

DP0343623 Dr JM Boldero Dr J Francis Dr M Moretti 

Title: The role of the other in self-regulation: Who, when, where, how, and why 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $48,000 



Summary: 

We assume that some individuals, because of the role they have (e.g., parents), are significant others. 

Moreover, we assume that significant others influence our emotions, motivation, and behaviour. These 

assumptions have not been systematically tested using a self-regulatory framework. Also no coherent 

model, detailing how and why individuals come to be significant and the mechanisms by which they have 

an influence, has been proposed. We present a theoretical model to be tested in a sequence of 10 

studies. The results will provide understanding of the role of significant others that will have applications 

in clinical settings and in organisational contexts. 

*** 

DP0342721 Dr AJ Brown-May Prof DR Syiemlieh 

Title: Elephants in the sacred grove: a transcultural history of Thomas Jones and the 

Calvinistic Methodist mission to the Khasi Hills. 

2003 : $50,000 



Summary: 

This project will assert the central role of religion in shaping cultural, political and ethnic identity, through 

an analysis of the Christian evangelical encounter in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, India, and in particular the 

work of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist missionary Thomas Jones (1810-1849). It will challenge current 

views of the simplistic relationship between missions and colonial order, exploring missionaries' spiritual, 

modernising and imperialist ideologies, as well as indigenous negotiations and adaptations of the 

missionary project. This will provide a significant new base for understanding the historical trajectory of 

Christianisation and acculturation, and inform contemporary debates about reconciliation and 

decolonisation. 

DP0343731 Dr A Capling Dr T Marjoribanks 

*** 

Title: Where commerce and culture connect? Corporate governance and social capital in 

the global era: the case of the AFL 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $46,000

2005 : $20,000 



Summary: 

This project investigates a central puzzle that confronts many community organisations in the global era: 

how does an organisation sustain its cultural core while negotiating the new challenges of commercial 

viability and strategic governance? Increasingly, community organisations are confronted with the logics 

of the market and corporate management. At stake is their cultural identity, autonomy and their 

embeddedness in local communities. Through a study of the 16 clubs of the Australian Football League, 

this project aims to generate a new analytical framework to evaluate organisations that seek to blend 

corporate governance and community engagement in novel and innovative ways. 

DP0343840 Dr F Caruso 

Title: Nanoscale Coating and Biomodification of Colloids for Biological Applications 

2003 : $205,000 

2004 : $210,000 

2005 : $225,000 

2006 : $225,000 

2007 : $225,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The research entails the preparation of novel biofunctional colloids of nanometer to micrometer 

dimensions and their utilisation in biological applications. Self-assembly processes will be exploited to 

achieve nanoscale biomodification of technologically important colloid particles, including latex beads and 

rare earth and semiconductor nanoparticles. The studies conducted will generate fundamental knowledge 

pertaining to the underlying factors that govern the formation of biofunctional colloid particles through 

self-assembly. This is essential for the development of tailored colloids that will meet the demands placed 

on nanomaterials synthesis and performance by nanotechnology. The colloids prepared will find new 

applications in medicine, biocatalysis and bioassays. 

DP0344229 Dr HL Chick Prof KC Stacey 

*** 

Title: Knowledge for teaching primary mathematics: How teachers' pedagogical content 

knowledge develops and affects classroom practices and students' mathematics 

achievement 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $84,000 

2005 : $84,000 



Summary: 

The study will investigate mathematics teaching in upper primary school, to identify the influence of 

teachers' mathematics-specific pedagogical knowledge, first on teaching practice and subsequently on 

students' learning outcomes. Case study evidence shows this influence is strong, but statistical evidence 

shows it is weak. This study aims to resolve this paradox by employing quality data that probes the heart 

of teaching and learning mathematics within a statistical study. The growth of knowledge and classroom 

practices of teachers graduating from two contrasting pre-service programs will also be tracked, to 

inform recommendations on the nature of discipline-specific pedagogical knowledge in teacher training. 

*** 

DP0343172 A/Prof MS Chong Prof J Soria Asst Prof I Marusic 

Title: The structure of turbulence at high Reynolds numbers 

2003 : $115,000

2004 : $94,000 

2005 : $94,000 



Summary: 

The aim of this project is to gain a physical understanding of the process of turbulence in fluid motion, 

focusing on boundary layers adjacent to the surface of bodies, such as submarines and turbines. As 

turbulence is of fundamental importance in many engineering tasks, developing our understanding of the 

mechanisms involved will lead to progress in many areas. For example, accurate prediction of drag on 

vehicles, aircraft and ships, resulting in reductions in fuel consumption. The wind tunnel used in this 

project is the largest of its type in the world, enabling pioneering experiments to be undertaken which will 

extend our understanding of the physics of turbulence for applied flows. 

DP0345807 Dr M Christoforidis 

*** 

Title: Negotiating Exoticism, Nationalism and Modernity: Constructions of Hispanic Music in 

Belle-Epoque Paris 

2003 : $37,666 

2004 : $37,666 

2005 : $37,666 

2006 : $20,000 

2007 : $20,000 



Summary: 

Hispanic music and its evocation in French espagnolades fascinated nineteenth-century Paris. Between 

1900 and 1914 this culminated in a proliferation of 'Hispanic' works which were composed and performed 

both by French and Spanish musicians in a variety of styles, genres and venues. This project explores 

the dissemination and assimilation of Hispanic music in Paris. It also examines the phenomenon in the 

context of Franco-Spanish cultural and political ties, and in relation to prevailing artistic and literary topoi 

of Spain. This complex and dynamic creative interaction played a significant role in the construction of 

Parisian exoticism, modernism and Spanish national identity. 

DP0344331 Prof MG Clyne Dr L Kretzenbacher Dr CE Norrby Dr JL Warren 

*** 

Title: Address in Some Western European Languages: A Study of Language and Social 

Change 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

This project investigates how recent sociopolitical events and developments have impacted on the ways 

in which people address each other in French, German, and Swedish. Comparisons will be made with 

Italian and Dutch and between nations using the same language. There is to date no comparative study of 

this kind. The project is innovative in its use of qualitative and quantitative methodology and will lead to a 

new conceptual framework for the study of address. It will provide insights for inter-cultural 

communication and second language acquisition as well as the relation between language, cultural 

values, and sociopolitical change. 

*** 

DP0343089 A/Prof CS Cobbett A/Prof J Camakaris 

Title: Characterisation of heavy metal transport genes in the plant Arabidopsis: potential 

roles in metal detoxification and accumulation

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Plants have considerable potential for the bioremediation ("phytoremediation") of contaminated soils, 

including soils polluted with heavy metals. Progress has been made in understanding the physiological 

and biochemical mechanisms by which plants accumulate and detoxify heavy metals. One important 

aspect of metal detoxification is the transport of metals across cell membranes. The recently completed 

genome project for the model plant Arabidopsis has identified a family of genes encoding heavy metal 

transport proteins. This project aims to investigate the roles of these genes in metal detoxification. In the 

longer term this knowledge can be applied to the improvement of phytoremediation processes. 

DP0344438 A/Prof J Damousi 

*** 

Title: Freud in the Antipodes: A Cultural History of Psychoanalysis 

2003 : $34,000 

2004 : $42,000 

2005 : $47,000 



Summary: 

This project will challenge the argument that Australian intellectuals, more concerned with nationalism and 

social progress, have resisted ideas about inner life. It will also test the hypothesis that in emphasising 

the confessional, psychoanalysis took root during the early twentieth century when the boundaries 

between private and public spheres were becoming increasingly blurred. The outcome will be the first 

study to explore ideas about intimate life in Australia within the context of psychoanalysis. It will make a 

ground-breaking contribution to cultural history by offering a new understanding of Australian national 

identity, which insists on the importance of emotions. 

*** 

DP0344182 Dr S Dey Dr A Doucet Dr JS Evans 

Title: Fast Signal Processing and Control Algorithms for Complex Hierarchical Systems 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $59,500 

2005 : $50,575 



Summary: 

Complex dynamical behaviour is inherent to many real-world systems including telecommunications 

networks, financial markets and biological systems. High performance signal processing and control 

algorithms for such large-scale, complex systems are computationally very expensive in general. An 

important class of large-scale Markovian models arising in many applications shows a remarkable 

hierarchical property, displaying strong interactions within certain clusters of states and weak 

interactions among these clusters. By utilizing this property, the proposed project will design and analyze 

novel reduced-complexity signal processing and control algorithms with rigorous performance 

guarantees. In addition, this project will explore possibilities of making these algorithms hierarchical such 

that they are easy to implement through decentralization. 

DP0342966 Dr SH Donald Prof JG Gammack 

*** 

Title: Branding Cities on the West Pacific Rim: Cinematic Traditions and Tourism Marketing 

Strategies in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Sydney. 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $55,000

2005 : $27,618 



Summary: 

This innovative project emphasises brand-building as a part of visual culture, and cinema as a 

contributory influence to marketing decisions. It will produce a landmark study of media synergies in the 

contemporary world. It compares cinematic traditions and tourism marketing in cosmopolitan cities in the 

Australiasian region. The comparison, based on archival analysis and on interviews with producers, 

policy makers, and consumers, will determine whether images of the city converge or compete in 

business practice and cultural production. The research complements recent major Australian initiatives to 

re-evaluate creativity in the media. 

DP0344105 Prof KG Dovey 

*** 

Title: WHAT IS URBAN CHARACTER? Defining, Constructing and Regulating Urban Place 

Identity 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $40,000 

Category: 3101 - ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN ENVIRONMENT 


Summary: 

Urban character has become a key concept in the discourse and practice of urban development, used to 

defend valued places against what is seen as inappropriate development. This project will study the 

3-way relations between design practice, urban regulation and urban character outcomes. How is urban 

character experienced in everyday life? How is it defined and constructed in public discourse? How is it 

created through design innovation and protected through planning regulation? The project will produce a 

critical re-thinking of the complex issues framing the urban character debate and contribute to the 

development of sustainable, equitable and innovative urban futures. 

DP0344236 Dr BJ Downes Dr J Lancaster 

*** 

Title: Open or closed? Dispersal and recruitment in populations of aquatic invertebrates 

with spatially distributed resources 

2003 : $60,000 



Summary: 

The general aim of this research is to examine the contribution of fertilised eggs and recently hatched 

juveniles to the local population dynamics of some stream invertebrates. It seems likely that these stages 

act as population 'bottlenecks' , and our research will quantify the relations between these two stages 

and between neonates and mature larvae. Our research will also indicate whether these populations 

are likely to be closed (i.e., groups of individuals are relatively isolated) along channels or not. We believe 

our results will show much stream research focuses on the wrong life-stages; practices of river 

management may need re-assessment. 

DP0343786 A/Prof DE Dunstan Prof DY Chan 

*** 

Title: Spectroscopy of Complex Fluids in Flow 

2003 : $170,000 

2004 : $128,000 

2005 : $135,000 

Category: 2405 - CLASSICAL PHYSICS 

Administering Institution: The University of Melbourne

Summary: 

Complex fluids are composed of polymers and nano-particles in solution. Under flow these fluids may 

undergo dramatic molecular and nano-particle orientational and spatial ordering that give rise to a 

fascinating range of rheological behaviour. This project will use state of the art fluorescence 

spectroscopy which is able to resolve the orientation of single molecules combined with novel rheo-optic 

methods to characterise flow induced ordering in these fluids. The flow induced orientation, spatial 

distribution and nano-particle/macromolecule interactions will be quantified. Theoretical deficiencies in 

describing complex fluid flow will be reconciled. The experimental insight gained will be exploited to 

produce novel molecularly ordered materials. 

DP0343759 Ms K Ellinghaus 

*** 

Title: Whitewashing: Miscegenation, Assimilation and Genocide in the United States and 

Australia, 1860s-1960s 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $56,195 

2006 : $48,259 



APD Ms K Ellinghaus 

Summary: 

This project will investigate historical moments when miscegenation was seen as a means of removing 

indigenous identity in Australia and the United States. This research will answer recent calls for 

transnational histories which explore the intimate side of colonisation. My hypothesis is that the presence 

of a large population of African American people in the United States made white Americans 

comparatively more apprehensive about miscegenation than white Australians. My findings will contribute 

to ongoing debates about genocidal practice in settler societies by questioning prevailing assumptions 

about the benign nature of the process of indigenous assimilation. 

*** 

DP0343511 Prof NJ Enright Prof BB Lamont Dr GL Perry Prof F Jeltsch 

Title: Mechanisms of plant species co-existence in species-rich ecosystems: testing 

hypotheses using spatially-explicit field data and computer models 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $95,000 

2006 : $95,000 

2007 : $95,000 



Summary: 

A generally accepted explanation for the co-existence of species in high diversity communities is one of 

the outstanding unresolved issues in ecology. Current hypotheses fail to satisfy in their generality; spatial 

implications are inadequately explored empirically, and the hypotheses are not testable within a common 

framework. Advances in spatial analysis and complex system modelling now make the search for a 

general explanation feasible. This project will parameterise and test the different co-existence 

hypotheses using spatial statistics, empirical/experimental studies of dispersal, recruitment, competition 

and herbivory, and spatially-explicit computer simulation models of community assemblage in species-rich 

Australian shrubland communities. 

DP0343354 A/Prof ND Evans Dr R Nordlinger Dr UA Zeshan Prof Dr S Levinson 

Title: Reciprocals across languages 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $90,000 

***

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

Reciprocity lies at the heart of social organization and human evolution. This project will examine how 

reciprocity is expressed, and what the different subtypes of reciprocal meaning are, by carrying out 

linguistic fieldwork on fifteen little-known languages of Australia and its region, making available detailed 

descriptions of reciprocals that until now have only been available for English and a few European 

languages. The fieldwork on undescribed, and in most cases endangered, languages will be 

supplemented by a ground-breaking survey of how the various notions of reciprocity are expressed in 

languages around the world. 

DP0344570 Dr BA Farmer 

Title: Consuming Celebrity: Female stardom and gay subcultural reception 

2003 : $39,000 

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $27,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project explores the function of celebrity in modern culture through a detailed case study of gay 

subcultural receptions of female stardom. The female star or 'diva' has been an influential figure in gay 

subcultures since the nineteenth century where it has inspired significant and enduring productions of 

gay selfhood. The project explores the histories of gay 'diva worship' to analyse the role and uses of 

stardom in formations of cultural identity. Through scholarly publications, the study will make major 

contributions to our understanding of not only gay culture and history, but the significance of celebrity in 

modern cultural life. 

DP0344466 Dr AM Finnane 

Title: Fashionable Times: An Inquiry into the History of China's Modernity 

2003 : $49,000 

2004 : $50,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Fashion, once regarded as a purely Western phenomenon and equated with thoroughly modern life, has 

recently made an improbable appearance in histories both of urban life in late imperial China and of 

twentieth-century Chinese nationalism. To speak of Chinese fashion is effectively to raise a question 

about the origins and course of China's modernity. The project aims to respond to this question through a 

study of the culture of clothing from Ming to Mao, the expected outcome being an illustrated monograph of 

interest to scholars and general readers in the fields of fashion theory, material culture, and Chinese 

history. 

DP0342800 Dr JM Fletcher 

*** 

Title: Uptalk in Australian English Intonation 

2003 : $25,000 

2004 : $25,000 

2005 : $25,000 



Summary: 

Australian English speakers often use rising instead of falling intonation at the end of sentences which

are not questions. This phenomenon of uptalk is one of the unique traits of the Australian English accent. 

The project will model uptalk by analyzing spoken dialogues from 150 speakers from three major 

populations, Sydney, Melbourne, and regional Victoria. The intonation patterns of regional and 

non-Sydney populations have been poorly investigated, so this kind of study is needed to get a more 

complete understanding of Australian English intonation and the Australian accent. Outcomes will include 

publications on intonation and laboratory phonology, sociophonetics, and a working model of intonation 

that can be implemented in speech output systems for Australian English. 

DP0345527 Dr PJ Forrester 

Title: Mathematical studies on the statistical properties of complex systems 

2003 : $61,549 

2004 : $125,000 

2005 : $125,000 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $125,000 

*** 



APF Dr PJ Forrester 

Summary: 

Introduced in the late `50's to model nuclear spectra, random matrices are now standard in the theory of 

quantum chaos, mesoscopic phenomena and disordered systems. These are all examples of physical 

complex systems, characterized by unknown interactions leading to predictable behaviour due to 

symmetries. Vast mathematical structures result from the symmetries - integrable systems, Painleve 

equations, Macdonald polynomial theory to name a few. These structures will be further developed, 

leading to the analytic form of distribution functions quantifying classes of complex systems. Analogous 

statistical quantification is the essence of recently proposed methods to analyze artificial complex 

systems such as the stock market. 

DP0342887 Prof CS Fraser Dr DD Lichti 

Title: Fusion of Laser Ranging Data and Imagery for Generation of 3D Virtual Models 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $50,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The creation of image texture-mapped, three-dimensional (3D) digital models of object scenes is becoming 

increasingly more important in virtual reality generation. Visually realistic computer models find application 

in reverse engineering and industrial metrology and design, but their utility is often limited by shortcomings 

in accuracy and completeness. This project aims, through a fusion of laser scanner data and digital 

photogrammetric imagery, to develop improved mathematical models and computational systems to 

facilitate advances in automated 3D object reconstruction for high-definition, metrically accurate 

photo-realistic digital models. The principal outcome from the project will be enhanced 3D computer 

modelling for engineering applications. 

DP0343565 Prof KP Ghiggino Dr TA Smith 

Title: Dynamics of Photon-Induced Processes in Engineered Polymer Systems 

2003 : $107,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $75,000 

*** 



Summary:

This project will investigate photo-induced energy and electron transport in innovative polymer systems of 

well defined structure. New functionalised, aromatic and conjugated polymers will be synthesised and 

studied by ultrafast laser spectroscopic techniques. Information on the dynamics of light energy 

dissipation processes in these polymers on time-scales down to the femtosecond regime and at a single 

molecule level will be obtained. The results will provide the basic information required to develop novel 

photon-active materials and devices. 

*** 

DP0345931 Prof AJ Gleadow Dr BP Kohn Dr RW Brown Dr JM Fletcher 

Title: Integrated Chronologies and Dynamics of Continental Extension 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Knowledge about how the Earth's crust is stretched and eventually broken apart to form new ocean 

basins is fundamental to understanding the evolution of the continents, their resources and the surface 

environment of our planet. This project combines new methods of analysing the temperature history of 

rocks to trace their progress towards the surface with direct measurements of the rate of surface 

erosion following extensional movements. This integrated approach will be used to examine some of the 

best-characterised examples of continental extension in Arizona, Mexico and Africa to cast new light on 

the development of older extensional environments in Australia. 

DP0343772 Dr RJ Green 

*** 

Title: Involving local communities in defining town character in Victorian coastal towns. 

2003 : $60,500 

2004 : $27,000 

2005 : $35,000 



Summary: 

Many Australian coastal towns are experiencing rapid growth from tourism. In such places it is common 

to hear residents complain that the 'character' of their town is being lost due to inappropriate 

development. Local planning authorities are now attempting to respond to these concerns by undertaking 

studies to define what it is people feel is being lost. This project will involve local communities in defining 

town and neighbourhood character in affected rural coastal areas of Victoria. Questions concerning 

residents' conceptualisation of town character and relationships between psychological and biophysical 

attributes associated with the notion of town character will be explored. 

DP0345143 Dr MN Harris 

Title: A cohort analysis of the demand for meat and the impact of food scares 

2003 : $26,000 

2004 : $26,000 

2005 : $26,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Australia is the largest beef exporter in the world. In 1999, there were 22.7 million beef cattle, producing 2 

million tonnes with a gross value of $4.4 million. To date, Australia has been unaffected by the growing 

number of major health scares currently plaguing many European and South American countries. 

Equivalent scares in Australia would be devastating and hence research into the impact of scares on the 

behaviour of consumers is of paramount importance. It is the purpose of this research project to quantify 

the effects of such health/product scares on the demand for meat.

DP0345795 Dr NO Haslam 

*** 

Title: Distinguishing categories and dimensions: Taxometric investigations 

2003 : $51,000 

2004 : $47,500 



Summary: 

This project aims to apply and refine promising new methods for classifying psychological variations. 

These "taxometric" methods detect categories and locate their boundaries, enabling improved taxonomies 

of personality and mental disorder. They will be used to examine whether personality disorders are 

discrete categories or fall on a continuum with normal personality, and whether people mentally represent 

social groups according to qualitatively distinct ontological assumptions. The statistical validity of these 

methods will be comprehensively assessed. The project should help to resolve enduring questions about 

psychological classification and deepen our understanding of social stereotyping. 

DP0343431 Dr CJ Hawkins Dr P Ekert 

*** 

Title: Isolation and analysis of novel caspases. 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved cellular process which must be tightly controlled for normal 

development and to avoid disease. Rapid progress has been made recently in the elucidation of apoptotic 

pathways, but many important components are likely still unknown. The caspases constitute the effector 

arm of apoptotic signalling pathways and some members play important roles in cytokine maturation. We 

aim to identify novel caspases using an innovative technique, and to characterise their function and 

regulation. Molecules identified in this project may be candidate targets for therapies which modulate 

apoptosis for treatment or prevention of disease, or diagnostic reagent development. 

*** 

DP0343335 Dr C Healy Dr G Sculthorpe Dr P Walker 

Title: Four South Pacific Museums: New Museums and Public Culture 

2003 : $82,000 

2004 : $77,000 

2005 : $49,000 



Summary: 

The last decade has witnessed a global explosion in the development of new museums. Nowhere is this 

more striking than in our region where four major new museum buildings opened between 1998 and 

2001. FOUR SOUTH PACIFIC MUSEUMS will explore these regional developments by asking:-How are 

they renovating their institutions through exhibitionary, architectural, technological, commercial and 

entertainment strategies?-How are they re-negotiating relationships between indigenous people and 

museums in post-colonial nations? This interdisciplinary project will generate significant publications, 

evaluate contemporary museum practices, enrich debate about the cultural and civic roles of museums, 

and contribute productively to imagining their future. 

DP0345039 Dr CD Hodgson 

Title: Geometric structures on 3-manifolds 

***

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

Three-dimensional manifolds are of central importance in topology, algebra, and cosmology (providing 

models for the universe). Thurston's Geometrization Conjecture gives a beautiful conjectural picture of 

3-manifolds in terms of eight uniform geometries, but the conjecture and some of its basic consequences 

remain unproved. This project is aimed at making advances on fundamental questions in the following 

areas:* construction of geometric structures by deformation methods,* computation of geometric 

structures,* geometric and algebraic invariants. 

DP0345268 Prof MJ Hynes A/Prof MA Davis 

Title: Molecular Genetic Analysis of Genes Regulating Metabolism in the Fungus 

Aspergillus nidulans 

2003 : $269,000 

2004 : $269,000 

2005 : $259,000 

2006 : $269,000 

2007 : $269,000 

*** 



APF Prof MJ Hynes 

Summary: 

Filamentous fungi can use a wide variety of sources of carbon and nitrogen. In order to grow on these 

compounds metabolism is adjusted in response to changes in nutrient availability. Patterns of genome 

expression are altered by signalling to global regulatory genes which control the transcription of genes 

producing enzymes appropriate to the substrates available. This is of fundamental significance to the 

physiology and development of fungi which include devastating pathogens and species used in industrial 

microbiology. This project aims to use the excellent molecular genetics of the model fungus Aspergillus 

nidulans to investigate the strategies employed and the mechanisms involved. 

*** 

DP0344504 A/Prof DN Jamieson A/Prof PN Johnston 

Title: Foundation studies of ion-beam nanotechnology 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $105,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

The impact of a single fast atom with sensitive materials leaves a path of latent damage with a diameter of 

around 10 nm. This latent damage can be developed to create nanostructures in a novel technique called 

ion beam nanomachining. We propose to create a method for using single atom impacts to produce 

nanomachined structures with novel physical and optical properties. This will be done by use of an active 

substrate that functions as a detector sensitive to single ion impacts. We propose to study the 

fundamental principles of this method. 

DP0343258 Mr AT Kenyon Dr T Marjoribanks 

*** 

Title: Defamation Law in Context: Australian and US News Production Practices and Public 

Debate 

2003 : $70,000

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $35,000 



Summary: 

Legal and media commentators claim Australian defamation law 'chills' media speech and limits public 

debate, especially compared to the US. This project examines how defamation risks are considered in 

media production practices under differing legal, institutional and social contexts in Australia and the US. 

It responds to important defamation law developments and media transformations. The project will:- 

Produce qualitative data about media news production practices and products in Australia and the US.- 

Use the data to evaluate the role of defamation law in the media's contribution to public debate, and argue 

for optimal reforms to Australian defamation law. 

DP0344335 Prof Dr P Kofman Prof AD Hall 

Title: When Markets Fail: A Comparative Assessment of Costs and Benefits of Trade 

Interruption 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $35,000 

2005 : $35,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Stock exchanges worldwide provide the opportunity to instantaneously and continuously trade securities. 

The introduction of automated trading systems has considerably enhanced this opportunity. Surprisingly, 

exchanges still have (and use) the discretion to occasionally suspend trading in certain stocks. These 

trading halts are used to prevent a disorderly or uninformed response to pertinent company information 

releases. Practitioners and academics tend to believe that trading halts do not serve this role well. We 

propose a new methodology to more accurately measure the costs and benefits of trade suspensions. 

We compare their impact on different trading systems, and evaluate their intertemporal performance. 

DP0343412 Dr SD Kolsky 

*** 

Title: Making and Unmaking Woman:Boccaccio's De mulieribus claris [Famous Women] in 

its medieval and Renaissance contexts 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $62,000 

2005 : $62,000 



Summary: 

Giovanni Boccaccio's De mulieribus claris, [Famous Women] composed in the 1360s is the first attempt at 

female biography in the history of post-classical Western literature. It over-writes medieval misogyny with 

a humanistic vision of women. Contemporary criticism has generally treated the text contemptuously. 

Famous Women, it will be argued, is an example of the ideological complexities of humanism in its 

formative stages. It is the aim of this project to show that the text played a pivotal role in reassessing the 

conception of woman in early modern Europe. The project will produce the first major monograph on 

Famous Women. 

DP0344241 Prof SA Leech A/Prof PA Collier Prof SG Sutton Prof V Arnold 

Title: Impact of Intelligent Decision Aids on Human Knowledge Acquisition 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $39,000 

***

Category: 3501 - ACCOUNTING, AUDITING AND ACCOUNTABILITY 


Summary: 

Our aim is to identify new factors that enhance learning and knowledge acquisition from an intelligent 

decision aid. The research will assess the ability of alternative designs of an intelligent decision aid's 

advanced explanation and learning facilities to affect the transfer of complex knowledge structures to 

novice insolvency practitioners. The result of the study is critical to understanding the factors necessary 

for successfully deploying and leveraging intelligent decision aids in practice. 

*** 

DP0343347 Dr TJ Lithgow Dr TD Mulhern Dr S Buchanan 

Title: Structure and function of the protein translocation channels in the mitochondrial 

outer membrane. 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $79,000 



Summary: 

Biological membranes are the basis of life and understanding how proteins are inserted into membranes 

is a major goal in the Biological Sciences. The TOM complex is a molecular machine mediating protein 

insertion into a biological membrane. Recent successes with X-ray diffraction of protein crystals, and 

solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy have heralded leaps-and-bound advances for our knowledge 

of how membranes work at the molecular level. Using a combination of phylogenetic analysis, yeast 

genetics and these new techniques from structural biology, we will characterize the structure and 

function of the core from the TOM complex. 

DP0345189 Dr JH Manton Prof W Moran 

Title: Stochastic Construction of Error Correcting Codes with Application to Digital 

Communications 

2003 : $125,455 

2004 : $125,455 

2005 : $125,455 

2006 : $105,455 

2007 : $105,455 

*** 



QEII Dr JH Manton 

Summary: 

Modern society would be unrecognisable without error correcting codes; mobile telephones, storage 

devices such as DVD's and high speed data communications simply would not exist. Yet most theoretical 

results on error correcting codes are asymptotic in nature and ignore computational complexity issues, 

that is, they are not representative of many real life situations. By building on recent breakthroughs in 

statistics and stochastic optimisation, this project will develop algorithms for designing optimised error 

correcting codes subject to realistic finite data length and computational complexity constraints. 

Successful outcomes will lead to enhanced data communications and storage, greatly benefiting industry 

and consumers alike. 

DP0344206 Dr EA Maxwell 

*** 

Title: Photography and eugenics: an historical investigation of photography's role in the 

development and popularisation of the eugenics movement 

2003 : $49,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $44,000



Summary: 

This project analyses the uses of racial type photographs by the eugenics movement. Photography was 

used as a scientific tool by eugenicists but this project is primarily concerned with its role in popularising 

and legitimating a movement that won widespread acceptance between c.1870 and WW2. It will explore 

the techniques, media forms, aims and effects of British, American and German eugenic photography and 

compare eugenics photography with the use of photography in contemporary liberal anthropology. The 

project will result in a groundbreaking monograph on a topic which will make a major contribution to our 

understanding of the history of racism. 

DP0343960 A/Prof AJ Mayne Dr C Fahey 

Title: Family and community in the central Victorian goldfields region, 1851-1933 

2003 : $51,000 

2004 : $37,000 

2005 : $52,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project reformulates Australian gold-mining history by offering a blueprint that applies new 

perspectives and data. It explains historical change systemically across an entire region, through 

comparative analysis of four key centres (Bendigo, Castlemaine, Maldon, Creswick) in central Victoria. It 

teases out this analysis by focusing upon domestic and neighbourhood life. It considers how these 

communities evolved after the 'gold rush' years. It applies demographic analysis and family-reconstitution 

methods to overlooked archival records. The project promotes collaboration between two universities, 

provides training for one PhD student, and delivers practical outcomes to heritage and tourist managers, 

and the general community. 

DP0344070 Dr IJ McNiven Dr B David 

*** 

Title: Western Torres Strait Cultural History Project 

2003 : $175,455 

2004 : $125,455 

2005 : $125,455 

2006 : $97,955 

2007 : $105,455 



QEII Dr B David 

Summary: 

This Project provides the first archaeological study on long-term human presence in Torres Strait. 

Objectives are to research 1), the antiquity of earliest occupation, and 2), the subsequent emergence of 

ethnographically documented cultural practices through excavation of key village, rockshelter and 

ceremonial sites in Western Torres Strait. Current evidence suggests the complex maritime lifeways of 

Islanders developed

2005 : $30,000 



Summary: 

My proposal introduces a fresh perspective on the 18th century by defining vision and reason as cognate 

concepts. The complex dialogue relating to perception and knowledge established in this partnership 

turns mechanical reason into an ideal by the 17th century. By the 18th century, however, a new 

conception of vision emerges. Under the banner of 'Aufklärung' in Germany, an audacious attempt to end 

the separation of the sciences and the arts is undertaken. Analysing archival materials relating to the 18th 

century, the proposal seeks to correct misconceptions about the nature and extent of the movement of 

"enlightenment" in Europe. 

DP0343080 Prof RJ Mitchell Prof IM Ramsay 

*** 

Title: Partnerships at Work: The Interaction Between Employment Systems, Corporate 

Governance and Ownership Structure 

2003 : $150,000 

2004 : $140,000 

2005 : $130,000 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $120,500 



Summary: 

This project examines the interaction of key factors seen to be of paramount importance in the creation 

and sustainability of 'Partnerships at Work'. These include particular employment systems, forms of 

corporate governance and ownership structures of enterprises. The circumstances in which partnership 

models arise, the pressures faced in maintaining them, and the role of the regulatory environment will be 

examined through case studies and the construction of a database. It involves collaboration between 

senior scholars in corporate law and labour law. The project will enhance the capacity of governments, 

enterprises and stakeholders to review employment practices, governance structures and regulatory 

models. 

DP0343724 A/Prof AM Moffat 

Title: Effective Information Retrieval for Partitioned Document Collections 

2003 : $67,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $61,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Current information retrieval services make use of massive indexes in order to resolve content-based 

queries. Monolithic approaches like this have been effective until now because the volume of data stored 

has been manageable on a single machine or tightly-coupled cluster of machines, and because the data 

has been available for collection. But with an increasing amount of automatically generated data, and an 

increasing diversity of information sources, other approaches are required. In this project we will 

investigate mechanisms for handling retrieval tasks when the indexes to the data are stored locally with 

the data, and when no central index is viable. 

*** 

DP0345044 Dr GN Nair Prof RJ Evans Dr S Dey 

Title: Towards an Information Theory for Communication-Limited Control Systems 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $55,250 

2005 : $46,963



Summary: 

In a number of emerging applications in communications, manufacturing and defence, various dynamical 

systems are measured and controlled by transmitting feedback over digital communication channels. In 

such situations, the often limited data rate available for transmissions can have a significant negative 

impact on the overall objectives. This proposal aims to develop techniques for analysing and designing 

such systems, and to delineate the fundamental limits to their performance. This has the potential to 

contribute to a greater understanding of the behaviour of many real systems which combine 

communications and control in feedback loops. 

DP0345325 Dr A Ndalianis 

*** 

Title: The History of Theme Parks and their Cultural Significance for Contemporary Society 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $45,000 



Summary: 

This project will outline the historical development of the theme park, evaluating the significance of the 

growing interest in theme park cultures in recent years. The formal connections between theme parks 

and earlier C16th and C17th theatrical spectacles, and garden and villa designs will be of primary focus. 

In returning to these earlier historical sources, it is proposed that we are returning to a culture of the 

baroque (and its delight in spectacular spaces). In turn, the social and cultural implications of such a 

return will be a central concern. 

*** 

DP0344784 Dr D Nesic Prof Dr IM Mareels Dr PM Dower 

Title: Nonlinear systems with disturbances: analysis, controller design and tradeoffs 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

A range of classical asymptotic methods (averaging, singular perturbations and slowly varying 

techniques) have been recently generalized to deal with nonlinear systems with disturbances. The goal 

of this proposal is the activation of these methods in analysis, controller design and understanding the 

design tradeoffs of nonlinear system with disturbances. Application areas are in adaptive, vibrational and 

gain scheduling control. 

DP0343004 Dr EJ Newbigin 

*** 

Title: Does a novel class of small RNA molecules control self-incompatibility in solanaceous 

plants? 

2003 : $60,000 

Category: 3003 - HORTICULTURE 


Summary: 

Self-incompatibility is a simple and genetically defined cell recognition system that prevents inbreeding in 

many plant species. Flowers of self-incompatible plants can distinguish self pollen from foreign pollen, 

and allow only foreign pollen to fertilise their egg cells. This proposal will investigate the possibility that 

the part of the genetic self-incompatibility locus controlling recognition of pollen is a novel type of gene 

that encodes a small RNA molecule but no protein. Knowledge gained by studying the self-incompatibility

genes will help us to understand how plant cells recognise each other, and may allow us to manipulate 

seed (and hence crop) production. 

*** 

DP0345939 Dr A Nirmalathas Dr C Lim Dr C Chae 

Title: Architectures and System Technologies for Intelligent Photonic Packet Routers 

2003 : $156,000 

2004 : $140,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

The photonic packet switching in future all-optical IP centric networks can provide the much needed 

bandwidth granularity and optimal data transport architectures. Through the adaptation of multi-protocol 

label switching (MPLS) compatible photonic label switching concepts, photonic packet routers can be 

easily realised. As part of this project we will develop subsystem technologies for header processing 

with integrated ability to perform optical signal monitoring will be made. Based on these studies, optimal 

novel intelligent photonic router architectures incorporating these technologies will be developed and 

demonstrated. Performance optimisation will be carried out through computer modelling. 

*** 

DP0344826 Prof RS Norton Dr DW Keizer Prof RF Anders 

Title: Structure, dynamics and interactions of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface 

protein-2 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

The solution structure of the merozoite surface protein-2 (MSP-2), from Plasmodium falciparum the 

causative agent of malaria, will be determined along with an analysis of the motions of residues within the 

protein. This will allow insights into interactions occurring at the surface coat of the organism, where 

MSP-2 is a major component. An understanding of how this protein interacts with antibodies of the host's 

immune system will also be gained. The techniques established during the study of MSP-2 will be useful 

for the study of larger proteins and protein complexes from many systems in the future. 

*** 

DP0344220 Prof KA Nugent Dr AG Peele A/Prof EC Harvey Dr MK Ghantasala Prof G Fraser Dr D 

Mancini 

Title: Advanced X-ray Optical Systems: From innovative idea to intelligent implementation. 

2003 : $260,455 

2004 : $190,455 

2005 : $170,455 

2006 : $140,455 

2007 : $150,455 



QEII Dr AG Peele 

Summary: 

This project combines advances made in x-ray optics by the x-ray physics group at the University of 

Melbourne with sophisticated microfabrication techniques developed at Swinburne University of 

Technology and at the Argonne National Laboratory synchrotron. This fusion gives us immediate access 

into a major space science initiative - an x-ray telescope for the International Space Station. At the same

time we will be building a kernel of excellence, based on new approaches to x-ray imaging, that will be 

strategically placed to become an integral part of the development of experimental facilities for the 

Australian Synchrotron. 

DP0344145 Dr RA O'Hair Dr WD McFadyen 

*** 

Title: Gas Phase Reactivity of Charged Peptide and DNA Radicals: Fundamentals and 

Applications 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Radicals derived from the "molecules of life", proteins and DNA, play both beneficial (e.g. enzyme 

catalysis) and deleterious roles (e.g. protein and DNA damage associated with disease). Two 

electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry approaches have been discovered to generate charged 

radicals of related models systems (e.g. peptides and nucleobases). The gas phase chemistry of these 

species is a largely unchartered area! We will examine the fundamental chemistry (unimolecular and 

bimolecular reactions) of these systems and build upon some exciting preliminary results which suggest 

potential applications (e.g. as a proteomics tool to sequence and distinguish between leucine and 

isoleucine residues in peptides). 

DP0342967 Dr M Olekalns A/Prof PL Smith 

Title: The Dynamics of Trust in Negotiation: Implications for Strategy and Outcomes 

2003 : $30,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $35,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Despite the benefits of cooperation, negotiators frequently choose competitive strategies. This reduces 

their ability to build enduring solutions that meet both negotiators' needs. In this project, we investigate 

the role of trust in fostering cooperation. Although trust is a pre-requisite for cooperation, negotiation 

research is yet to systematically explore how trust is built, sustained and violated. We test how first 

impressions establish trust and how patterns of communication sustain trust. We also test how salient 

events punctuate negotiations and alter trust. Our goal is to identify those processes that facilitate trust 

and cooperation in negotiation. 

DP0344748 Reader PJ Otto 

*** 

Title: Multiplying Worlds: Romanticism, Modernity, and the emergence of Virtual Reality 

2003 : $74,000 

2004 : $45,114 

2005 : $47,000 



Summary: 

This project contends that virtual reality first emerges during the Romantic Period (1780-1830). Further, it 

argues that the contemporary prominence of virtual reality rests to a surprising degree on assumptions 

about the virtual that derive from this earlier period. To establish this aetiology of perhaps the most 

important phenomenon of the digital age, the project focuses on the production of virtual reality in 

Enlightenment schemes for managing the real, popular entertainment, and Romanticism. It will make a 

major contribution to debates concerning Romanticism and (post)modernity, and to our understanding of 

the cultural histories that shape our reception of computer technologies.

*** 

DP0345722 A/Prof M Palaniswami Prof HC Watson 

Title: Control Strategies for Idle Speed of Automotive Engines 

2003 : $83,000 

2004 : $82,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

Reduction of engine idle speed will provide significant improvements in fuel efficiency. Current techniques 

are based on simplified models of a complex engine system and as a result do not fully exploit the 

possible controller capability. Therefore this project proposes new engine models and will provide novel 

controller methods to address this problem. This should contribute to increased engine stability and faster 

torque response to disturbances like air conditioner engagement, for both LPG and gasoline injected 

engines, thus allowing the engine idle speed to be lowered without risking stall or impairing the engine 

Noise, Vibration and Harshness quality. 

DP0343787 Dr KM Parris 

*** 

Title: The impact of noise and vibration from road traffic on the community composition 

and acoustic communication of birds and frogs 

2003 : $96,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $64,500 



APD Dr KM Parris 

Summary: 

Roads cover a significant and increasing proportion of the Australian landscape, but their ecological 

impact is poorly understood. Traffic noise from busy roads can disturb animals over long distances, and 

may interfere with acoustic communication. In addition, ground vibration caused by passing traffic may 

disturb sensitive terrestrial animals. This project aims to assess the impact of traffic noise and vibration 

on communities of birds and frogs. Results of this research will provide vital information on the effects of 

roads on vulnerable wildlife, and the potential benefits to conservation of noise mitigation measures such 

as construction of tunnels and sound barriers. 

*** 

DP0343567 Prof PE Pattison Dr GL Robins Prof TA Snijders 

Title: Modelling dynamic interactive social processes 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $71,250 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

This project aims to enhance our understanding of complex social systems by developing empirically 

testable mathematical models for interactive, dynamic social processes. Models will be developed for 

such processes as the development of interpersonal and inter-organisational networks, and social 

influence and diffusion. They will be assessed using new and exacting evaluation techniques. The 

results will strengthen the mathematical foundation for modelling in the social sciences, and will have 

immediate application in several diverse domains, including: the structure of networks relevant to disease 

transmission; the social epidemiology of rural mental health; and the emergence of collective structures in 

organisations.

DP0344143 A/Prof RN Pau 

*** 

Title: Molecular pumps and metabolism: regulatory interactions that control metal uptake 

and metabolism in bacteria. 

2003 : $55,000 



Summary: 

ABC (ATP-Binding Cassette) transporters are ubiquitous pumps that transport small molecules into and 

out of cells. This project investigates the novel roles of small-molecule-binding domains in the protein 

machine that drives the transporters for molybdenum and iron. They are predicted to interact with 

regulatory proteins and integrate transport with metabolism. It will provide insights into metal trafficking 

and characterize gene regulatory networks that are important for bacterial pathogenicity and biological 

nitrogen fixation. 

DP0343218 Dr DJ Philips 

Title: Defining and Attempting Reconciliation: A Critical Analysis of the Pursuit of 

Reconciliation in South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

2003 : $34,000 

2004 : $37,000 

2005 : $54,225 

*** 



Summary: 

This project challenges existing accounts of South Africa's confrontation of its apartheid past, by 

establishing the conceptual significance of 'reconciliation' in its Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

Using a perspective informed by the international context of transitional justice, and by comparison with 

other postcolonial racially-divided societies, it tests the hypothesis that restorative justice is more 

effective than retributive justice. Publication of the findings in a book and articles will illuminate the 

significance of 'reconciliation' for South Africa's recent political, legal and social history, and for its 

immediate future. In a larger thematic context, it also offers important applications for Australia. 

DP0344998 A/Prof S Prawer 

*** 

Title: Diamond Quantum Dots Fabricated By Ion Implantation 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $95,000 



Summary: 

For centuries scientists have been fascinated by the 'alchemy' of transforming carbon into diamond. This 

project aims to fabricate diamond nanocrystals embedded in a glass matrix by direct carbon ion 

implantation followed by thermal annealing. Unlike other methods of making diamond, the coalescence of 

carbon into diamond occurs under heating in a conventional furnace and does not require the application 

of high external pressures or any pre-existing diamond template. We outline a scheme to exploit the 

properties of these crystals for novel applications in quantum devices. 

DP0344037 Dr GG Qiao 

*** 

Title: Synthesis of functionalised, biosorbable biopolymers with novel architecture for soft 

tissue engineering 

2003 : $100,000

2004 : $80,000 



Summary: 

This project will provide a timely and unique opportunity to develop biodegradable and biocompatible 

polymeric scaffold materials for use in soft tissue engineering. The project forms an essential part of the 

strategy set in the University of Melbourne to develop a system for cell transplantation and organ 

recreation. The success of the project will provide a significant contribution to the solution of organ 

shortage in organ transplantation both in Australia and the world. Through the technology developed in 

this project, a significant contribution in biomaterial science and manufacture in Australia will be achieved. 

DP0345290 Dr GG Qiao Prof DH Solomon 

*** 

Title: Nanogels: Next Generation Polymeric Particles 

2003 : $146,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

The existing knowledge in the formation of polymeric networks limits the technological development of 

polymer materials. This project will introduce new polymeric particles, called nanogels to open a new area 

in new polymeric architecture research. A number of new structures based on the nanogels will be 

developed. These new macromolecules will not only bring the polymer science into a new field, it will 

provide a great opportunity to discover the next generation of the polymeric products, particularly for 

application in automotive paint, drug delivery and bio-molecular separations. 

*** 

DP0344695 Prof K Ramamohanarao Dr J Bailey 

Title: Transaction Oriented Computational Models for Multi Agent Systems 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 

2006 : $58,000 

2007 : $68,000 



Summary: 

Agent systems are a very promising technology for constructing complex, large-scale software. 

Australian researchers have made key contributions in this area, particularly with reference to one 

mature and commonly adopted agent architecture known as BDI (Belief, Desire, Intention). To make this 

technology suitable for use in advanced applications, it has to be provided with robust and predictable 

behaviour. This project will address that need by designing and implementing a novel agent language for 

BDI, based on contributions using transactional concepts for agents developed at The University of 

Melbourne. This will contribute to the development of robust and predictable agent software, that can be 

used in complex and large scale applications of the future. 

*** 

DP0344941 Prof MB Renfree A/Prof G Shaw Hon Prof PD Temple-Smith Ms NM Richings Dr AJ Pask 

Title: Re-uniting marsupials and eutherians by embryonic micromanipulation 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $55,000 

Category: 2701 - BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY


Summary: 

The unique responsibility for transmitting life from generation to generation normally depends on the 

gametes. This project will use new reproductive technologies to investigate the properties of the oocyte 

in reprogramming somatic cell nuclei, and will use the nuclei of both marsupial and eutherian somatic cells 

to test this. We will also use both marsupial and eutherian genes to insert into the oocyte to create the 

first transgenic marsupials. We will also investigate the ability of spermatozoa from species of increasing 

genetic distance to fertilise marsupial eggs using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). 

DP0343388 Dr GA Restall 

Title: Options For Proofs: New Perspectives on Propositional Logic 

2003 : $37,000 

2004 : $37,000 

2005 : $37,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Philosophers and logicians recognise that proof is important, but they do not agree on what proofs are. 

Recent research in logic has greatly expanded our notion of proof, but this research is not unified. We 

need a coherent, general and applicable concept of proof. This project will unify the literature on proof 

and bring these insights to bear in the philosophy of language. It will show how proof can help analyse 

many features of language (more than just logical constants) but that the role of inference does not justify 

one kind of proof in preference to others. 

DP0343996 Prof R Robson Dr BF Abrahams 

*** 

Title: Coordination networks based on carbonate and related ions 

2003 : $130,000 

2004 : $130,000 

2005 : $120,000 



Summary: 

The very familiar carbonate ion will be put to use to generate a very unfamiliar family of new coordination 

polymers with geometries and topologies of fundamental structural significance. Carbonate's ability to 

bring associated metal centres into close communication may lead to unusual and possibly useful 

electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targeted 

coordination polymers with predetermined properties or functions would make possible diverse 

applications of great practical value; the project will contribute significantly to the basis for such 

capabilities leading to 'designer materials' of the future. 

DP0344471 Prof D Samson Dr M Terziovski 

*** 

Title: Assessment of Innovation Capability Models to Create Innovation Driven Companies 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $56,000 

2005 : $64,000 



Summary: 

The aim of the proposed study is to develop and test innovation management capability models. After 

general development of the central constructs, application to nationally important areas of e-commerce, 

sustainable development, and new product development (NPD) will be conducted. The project will 

develop and validate Best Practice Innovation Capability models for the creation of innovation-driven

companies.The proposal responds to the Australian Government's Innovation Report (2001) call for '..the 

strategic vision and long term commitment to create an environment that encourages ideas-an 

environment in which innovation will thrive'. This research will provide an integrated approach to 

innovation management for both researchers and practitioners. 

DP0344493 A/Prof PJ Scales 

Title: The permeability of organized flocculated structures in dewatering in process 

engineering 

2003 : $135,000 

2004 : $130,000 

2005 : $95,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The work aims to understand the method by which assemblies of particles in water, produced through 

flocculation, can be manipulated to produce highly permeable networks of particles. The work is critical 

to new developments and improving the efficiency of suspension dewatering processes world-wide and 

is of relevance to the food, pigments, minerals and electronics industries. The outcomes will be more 

efficient dewatering processes and novel products in these industries. 

DP0345322 Prof L Selwood A/Prof WG Breed 

Title: FERTILIZATION IN VIVO AND IN VITRO IN AUSTRALIAN MARSUPIALS. 

2003 : $60,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Using reproductive technology previously undeveloped in Australian marsupials this study addresses the 

most significant question still unresolved in marsupial reproductive biology - 'How does fertilization 

occur?' We propose to investigate the morphological and functional characteristics of fertilisation and its 

roles in early development in marsupials, the uniqueness of these events and their evolutionary 

significance. These findings will not only further our knowledge of reproduction in marsupials and shed 

light on the evolutionary factors underlying sperm and egg design but will provide tools for assisted 

breeding programs for threatened wildlife and for the regulation of over abundant species. 

DP0343833 A/Prof F Separovic Prof A Watts 

*** 

Title: Membrane structure and lipid interactions of the pore-forming toxin Equinatoxin II by 

NMR. 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $95,000 



Summary: 

The structure of Equinatoxin II, a pore-forming protein, will be determined in model cell membranes using 

solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The relationship of molecular structure to bioactivity and the nature of the 

pore-forming mechanism of this toxin will be determined. The results will aid in understanding how toxins 

lyse cells and could lead to the design of improved antibiotic peptides. Currently the structure of 

membrane proteins are difficult to determine and the newly developed techniques used for the structural 

determination of this membrane-associated protein will be suitable for studying other membrane proteins 

and receptors of pharmaceutical importance. 

***

DP0343858 A/Prof G Shanks 

Title: Information Health Monitor: An Instrument to Assess the Product and Service Quality 

of Information 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Information quality problems are widespread in practice and have significant economic impacts. This 

project will refine and extend a rigorous theoretical framework for understanding information quality and 

develop and validate the Information Health Monitor, an instrument for assessing the quality of information 

within organisations. Existing approaches to information quality are mostly not rigorously defined and 

view information as a product. This work is significant and innovative as it is soundly based in existing 

theory, rigorously defined and views information as both a product and service. The instrument will 

enable organisations to better identify and address their information quality problems. 

DP0345026 Dr K Shields 

*** 

Title: Growth and Inflation Dynamics: Measuring Steady-State Growth, Output Gaps and 

Inflationary Pressures using Survey Data in Australia and Other Advanced Economies 

2003 : $35,000 

2004 : $35,000 

2005 : $35,000 



Summary: 

The aim of the project is to develop, for Australia and other advanced economies, new measures of 

'potential production'. Such measures are important in the prediction of periods of recession and inflation, 

and in the formulation of macroeconomic policy. The proposal seeks to address the shortcomings of 

existing measures by (i) incorporating direct measures of expectations of future output and inflation from 

survey data, and (ii) being consistent with standard economic analysis. Forming best practice methods in 

the use of survey data in policy formation and in the production of economic forecasts will be a vital 

contribution of the project. 

DP0343020 A/Prof IH Simmonds Mr V Morgan Prof WF Budd Dr RJ Francey 

*** 

Title: Physical mechanisms responsible for stable isotope ratios in precipitation over 

southeast Australia 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

The project will identify the physical mechanisms which determine the stable isotopic content (specifically 

of 18O and deuterium) in southeast Australian precipitation events. An aim is to deduce, in a 

physically-based manner, relevant weather and climate information from the isotopic signals. The 

research will be founded on a comprehensive analysis of the three dimensional atmospheric structure in 

the period leading up to the precipitation events, and on the innovative use of a coupled 

atmosphere-ocean model which can account for much of the physical complexity of the relevant 

DP0342739 Dr MM Skidmore 

*** 

Title: Violence, Religion and Well-being in Contemporary Burma (Myanmar): A Medical

Anthropological Study of Everyday Life Under Dictatorship 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $100,000 

2006 : $70,000 



APD Dr MM Skidmore 

Summary: 

For 40 years, Burma has been controlled by a military dictatorship with human rights abuses occurring 

daily. Terror and political violence are used as tools of repression. An in-depth ethnographic study will be 

conducted into the relationship between emotional/psychological distress and the violence and fear that 

pervades everyday Burmese life. The project will test the hypothesis that religion plays an important role 

in mediating responses to fear. No other study has been conducted of everday life under this 

dictatorship, or of survival strategies created to alleviate fear. Outcomes will include refereed articles, a 

major monograph on the subject and the development of a new methodology appropriate for aiding victims 

of terror and torture. 

DP0343955 A/Prof CO Sowerwine 

*** 

Title: From France to Europe: The Shift from Nationalism in French Discourse, 1900-1950 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $42,966 



Summary: 

The aim of the project is to analyse a shift from France to Europe in French political rhetoric. The 

Revolution had inscribed Enlightenment ideals on terms like France and nation. After World War I, they no 

longer carried these ideals. For some citizens, Europe took them on. For others, Europe opened the 

possibility of inscribing new values on the polity. The project seeks to measure the extent of this shift and 

its contribution to the new mentality which made possible the construction of Europe. The result will be a 

major innovation in the way the construction of Europe is understood. 

DP0343947 Dr N Stoljar 

*** 

Title: Controversies of legal interpretation: a philosophical investigation of reasoning and 

adjudication in some recent contentious cases 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $50,000 

2006 : $50,000 

2007 : $50,000 

Category: 3903 - JUSTICE AND LEGAL STUDIES 


QEII Dr N Stoljar 

Summary: 

A series of High Court decisions in Australia since the 1980's generated a public controversy about the 

role of moral and political values in adjudication. It has been charged that judges are engaged, not in an 

exercise of technical legal interpretation, but rather in illegitimate and politically partisan 'judicial activism'. 

The project investigates the theoretical and applied questions of legal interpretation implicit in this 

argument. It rejects the charge of judicial activism. It proposes a 'value-maximizing' theory of reasoning 

and interpretation that characterizes adjudication in contentious cases as precisely a process of 

theorizing about relevant moral and political values. 

***

DP0342703 A/Prof PJ Stuckey Dr MJ Garcia de la Banda Dr KG Marriott Dr P Schachte Dr Z Somogyi 

A/Prof HC Sondergaard Dr M Sulzmann 

Title: Improving the integrity of complex software systems 

2003 : $130,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $110,000 



Summary: 

Software systems are among the most complex artifacts created today. The problems of reliability and 

maintenance of complex software systems are well-known. Improving reliability and lowering production 

cost continues to be an important challenge. The aim of this project is to create software development 

tools that allow programmers to express more of their intentions about program behaviour, in a way 

which can be automatically checked, in order to find discrepancies between intended and actual 

behaviour. This will facilitate the construction of software that is more secure, reliable, maintainable and 

reusable, that is, improve the integrity of complex software systems. 

DP0342784 Dr SE Swearer 

*** 

Title: How connected are marine populations? Comparing life histories of endemic and 

non-endemic reef fishes to investigate the mechanisms behind self-recruitment. 

2003 : $155,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Recruitment of pelagic larvae plays a fundamental role in benthic marine populations, yet the sources and 

destinations of recruits are unknown for nearly all marine species. Because endemic species rely on 

retention of locally spawned larvae, they provide a novel opportunity for investigating the mechanisms 

allowing self-recruitment. I propose to compare the life histories and microchemical signatures in larval 

otoliths of endemic and closely related non-endemic reef fishes to determine the mechanisms and 

prevalence of self-recruitment. The results will broaden our understanding of how marine populations are 

replenished, information critically needed for marine conservation and resource management. 

DP0345511 Dr SE Swearer Dr BJ Downes 

*** 

Title: Diadromous stream fishes: a model system for investigating sources of variation in 

recruitment. 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Our aim is to examine the relationship between adult abundance and recruitment in local populations of a 

diadromous stream fish to identify the source(s) of variation in recruitment. We will accomplish this by 

measuring larval production and recruitment among streams that vary in adult abundance, strength of 

settlement cues, and potential for larval dispersal. We will also use environmental markers of larval origin 

to quantify the degree of self-recruitment and dispersal within/among populations. The results will 

broaden our understanding of the influence of local (production, habitat) versus regional (dispersal) 

processes to local population dynamics, information needed for effective stream management. 

***

DP0345507 Prof PG Taylor Dr DN Veitch 

Title: Modelling, Measurement and Control of the Internet 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $46,963 

2006 : $46,963 

2007 : $66,000 



Summary: 

The demands made of modern high-speed data networks, such as those that make up the Internet, are 

increasing rapidly in terms of both the quantity and quality of service required.So that these demands can 

be satisfied, it is necessary that network operators, or even the network itself, take measurements and 

make control decisions. Depending on the service, there is a need to do this over very short timescales 

(fractions of a second), or longer timescales (minutes or even weeks). By developing innovative 

mathematical models of network behaviour, this project will deliver improved methods for measurement 

and control of the Internet. 

*** 

DP0343619 Prof JA Trinder Dr GW Murray Dr NB Allen 

Title: Sleep and circadian influences on mood and Autonomic Nervous System control of 

the heart. 

2003 : $63,000 

2004 : $56,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Most biological and behavioural processes have a 24-hour oscillation in activity. A critical question is 

whether this oscillation is a consequence of the sleep-wake cycle or the circadian system (our internal 

biological clock). This project will investigate circadian influence over two biological systems that have 

important influences over behaviour, the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and the Behavioural 

Facilitation System (BFS). Specifically, we will investigate the relationship between circadian control of 

the heart and the induction and quality of sleep, and the circadian influence on aspects of personality 

(neuroticism) and mood (Positive Affect) that are related to the BFS. 

DP0344759 Dr C Tuite 

*** 

Title: Romantic Literary Celebrity and the Emergence of Modern Literary Culture, 1798-1910 

2003 : $30,000 

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $28,000 



Summary: 

This project will produce the first full-length study of Romantic literary celebrity (1798-1910). It will argue 

that a new form of literary fame emerged in the Romantic era, which required developed cultural and 

media markets. Romantic literary fame helped shape modern institutions of literary production and 

reception around tensions between popular cultures of celebrity and publicity and high-cultural concepts 

of the literary artist. Using cultural history and cultural theory, the project examines transformations in the 

history of literary celebrity from its emergence to the modernist period by analysing intersections between 

literary culture and wider structures of sociability and sexuality. 

*** 

DP0343446 A/Prof IR van Driel A/Prof PA Gleeson Dr SS Tan

Title: Biochemical, Genomic and Phenomic Analysis of Gastric Parietal Cells from Wildtype 

and Mutant Mice 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $75,000 



Summary: 

The interface between the cell and its environment is the cell membrane. Signals, nutrients, and ions all 

have to cross this barrier. In addition, the cells contain many specialized intracellular membranous 

compartments. We know little about the signals that direct the synthesis of these structures and 

determine their final composition and shape. This grant will utilize acid secretory cells in the stomach to 

examine these questions because they contain a very extensive membrane system. We will use a 

state-of-the-art genetic and cell biological technologies to manipulate and analyse these cells in a whole 

animal setting. 

DP0345215 Dr B Vo Prof AJ Baddeley 

*** 

Title: Stochastic Geometry for Multi-sensor Data Fusion System 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

The aim of this project is to develop efficient algorithms for tracking and sensor management in a 

multi-sensor multi-target environment. Finite random set theory provides a natural way of representing a 

random number of (random) object states, an issue that has been largely ignored in the tracking literature 

until recently. Although a satisfactory foundation for multiple object filtering has been provided by random 

set theory, in this early stage no algorithm capable of tracking many targets has emerged from this 

framework. We are confident that efficient algorithms can be developed by exploiting the insights and 

mathematical tools of stochastic geometry 

DP0344304 A/Prof RR Volkas 

*** 

Title: Particle physics and cosmology of neutrinos 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $85,000 


PHYSICS 


Summary: 

Neutrinos are a particularly interesting class of elementary particle. The Standard Model of particle 

physics sees neutrinos as having exactly zero mass. However, recent experimental data have all but 

demonstrated that massless neutrinos are inconsistent with observations. If neutrinos have mass, then 

quantum mechanics allows them to oscillate between the different neutrino types as they propagate 

through space. Nonzero neutrino masses and the associated oscillations lead to important new physics in 

the elementary particle domain and in cosmology. This project will explore the implications of neutrino 

oscillations in diverse areas in particle physics and cosmology. 

DP0344913 A/Prof RR Volkas Prof BH McKellar Dr GC Joshi A/Prof LC Hollenberg 

*** 

Title: In and beyond the standard model of particle physics 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $48,000


PHYSICS 


Summary: 

The standard model of particle physics was developed twenty years ago, and it has been remarkably 

successful at describing the experiments carried out since then. Now, however there is evidence that 

there is physics beyond the standard model, and new and planned experiments will make the details of 

this new physics clearer in the lifetime of this grant. We will study a wide variety of systems, from the 

foundations of quantum mechanics to extra dimensions of space-time and much between and will find 

guides to the nature of the new physics. 

*** 

DP0343778 Dr JP Walker A/Prof RB Grayson Dr M Rodell 

Title: Gravity Changes, Soil Moisture and Data Assimilation 

2003 : $156,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $41,000 

Category: 2605 - HYDROLOGY 


Summary: 

This project will assess the utility of space and ground based gravity measurements for monitoring 

changes in the hydrological cycle at regional scales. At present there are no methods available for 

monitoring changes in terrestrial water storage over the globe, despite their importance for assessing the 

effects of large-scale changes in land use and climate change. The launch of NASA's Gravity Recovery 

and Climate Experiment satellites later this year provides a 5-year window of opportunity to undertake 

ground-based research to test this innovative technique for monitoring terrestrial water storage from 

gravity measurements - something that has been shown to be possible theoretically, but has not been 

testable until now. 

DP0343843 Dr CR Warren Dr EM DREYER 

Title: Economics of carbon, nitrogen and water use in Acacia and Eucalyptus 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 

*** 



APD Dr CR Warren 

Summary: 

Australia's flora is dominated by plants with sclerophyllous foliage, that is hard leaves that are tolerant of 

nutrient and/or water stress. Either nutrient and/or water stress are suggested as driving the evolution 

of sclerophylly and distribution of extant species. Mechanisms of tolerance to drought and nutrient stress 

differ, and these differences are reflected in patterns of nitrogen and carbon allocation and economics 

of nitrogen and water use in photosynthesis. The present study will use these differences in economics 

to distinguish between water- and nutrient-driven adaptations in a range of Acacia and Eucalyptus 

species from mesic to arid environments. 

*** 

DP0343189 Dr G Wigglesworth Dr JH Simpson 

Title: How mixed language input affects child language development: case studies from 

Central Australia 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $110,000 

2005 : $110,000 

2006 : $55,000



Summary: 

Case studies of three Aboriginal communities (Gurindji at Victoria River Downs, Alyawarr at Epenarra, 

Warumungu at Tennant Creek) will identify: (i) the language input young children receive from traditional 

indigenous languages, Kriol and English varieties, and from code-switching involving these languages (ii) 

the effect on first language acquisition; (iii) the processes of language shift and maintenance resulting 

from multilingual environments, and consequent transmission or loss of target languages, and emergence 

of new mixed languages. This is an unexplored area of bilingual first language acquisition, and has 

theoretical implications for language shift, and practical applications for language maintenance. 

*** 

DP0343406 Prof CJ Wilson Dr IC Fitzsimons Dr SD Boger 

Title: The ins and outs of a Proterozoic supercontinent - what is the significance of 990-900 

Ma orogenesis for the assembly of Rodinia? 

2003 : $89,345 

2004 : $89,345 

2005 : $99,345 



APD Dr SD Boger 

Summary: 

The hypothesis that all of Earth's continents came together one billion years ago to form a supercontinent 

known as Rodinia has invigorated debate about ancient continental distributions. Current models depict a 

flawed configuration for Rodinia, since they assume that continental fragments preserving evidence for 

quite different episodes of tectonic activity between 1350 and 900 million years ago developed at the 

same time. This project will make new correlations based upon careful observation and precise isotopic 

dating of rocks in Antarctica and Mexico, and will use these data to develop a more realistic picture of the 

ancient Earth. 

*** 

DP0344708 Prof CJ Wilson Dr MW Jessell Dr PD Bons Prof Dr CW Passchier Prof Dr JL Urai Dr K 

Stuewe A/Prof J Ree 

Title: Microstructural analysis using integrated experiments and numerical modelling 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Microstructures related to nano-materials and visible up to the scale of a thin section, are important tools 

for any material scientist, geologist or glaciologist. Microstructural evolution underpins how these 

disciplines unravel grain-scale structures, deformation conditions and mechanisms to estimate the 

intensity or amount of deformation. This project will allow us to better interpret microstructural evolution, in 

a range of natural, organic and composite materials, by using integrated laboratory experiments and 

numerical simulations. With these results we will model the conditions that prevail in composite materials, 

in glaciers and apply them to processes operating in of the Earth's crust. 

DP0342804 A/Prof DA Wood 

Title: How just is our criminal justice system? Crime reduction, retribution and their 

impact on substantive criminal law 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $40,000 

***

2005 : $35,000 



Summary: 

The aims of punishment impact dramatically on the substantive criminal law. Although there have been 

various attempts to develop general theories of criminal responsibility, this is the first study to apply 

integrated theories of punishment to specific offences, and the analytical structure of the criminal law.By 

exploring the tensions between crime reduction and retribution, the project develops a theory of 

criminalisation; concrete proposals for the reform of core offences, a criminal code and systematic 

sentencing principles; thereby improving the efficiency, fairness and accountability of the criminal justice 

system. 

*** 

DP0342970 Prof MP Wooden Prof JI Borland Prof A Duncan 

Title: The dynamics of economic and social change: An analysis of the Household, Income 

and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $120,000 



Summary: 

This project will establish a program of research focused on understanding economic and social change 

and how such change affects individual Australians, their families and the communities in which they live. 

It will revolve around new panel data collected through the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in 

Australia Survey, Australia's first nationally representative household-based panel survey. The project 

will address a large number of research questions of fundamental importance to Australians and the way 

they live. These questions cover three main areas: (i) income, poverty and well-being; (ii) labour supply 

and work incentives; and (iii) the changing nature of work. 

DP0344091 Dr K Wysocki 

Title: HOLOMORPHIC CURVES, REEB FLOWS AND CONTACT TOPOLOGY 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $55,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Motion of a satellite is one of many examples of a Reeb dynamical system. The aim of the project is to 

deepen our understanding of Reeb flows. The Reeb flows, in particular, include Hamiltonian flows on 

three-dimensional contact type energy surfaces. To study the behaviour of Reeb flows we construct 

systems of global surfaces of section and study the iterates of the Poincare map, which is obtained by 

following the flow until it hits a surface. The main tools in constructing systems of global surfaces of 

section are holomorphic curves in symplectization, which are defined on punctured Riemann surfaces 

and solve nonlinear Cauchy-Riemann type operator. These curves are also main ingredients of new 

invariants of contact and symplectic manifolds.These new invariants are now known as Contact 

Homology and Symplectic Field Theory. In the second part of the project we develop analytical 

foundations for these theories. 

DP0345024 Ms H Xu 

*** 

Title: The durability of geopolymeric products as a function of the nanostructured gel 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $69,000



APD Ms H Xu 

Summary: 

A comprehensive physical, chemical and microscopic analysis will be conducted on a series of 

geopolymers and Ordinary Portland Cement samples manufactured from 1964 to 2001, with a focus on 

the characterisation of the nanostructured gel phase. The outcomes include (1) revealing the relationship 

between the nanostructured gel phase and durability; (2) the discovery of reaction mechanisms in 

geopolymerisation and formation of OPC; (3) computer modelling of nano-scale assemblies of atoms and 

molecules that will give desirable properties and durability, and (4) a tailored synthesis of geopolymers 

with vastly improved mechanical performance and acid, fire and bacterial resistance. This scientific 

understanding of long term durability will greatly enhance commercial acceptance of geopolymers. 

DP0345298 Dr HM Young 

*** 

Title: Cell cycle and enteric neuron and glial differentiation 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $55,000 

Category: 3207 - NEUROSCIENCES 


Summary: 

Enteric neurons arise from a very small starting population of precursor (neural crest) cells, most of 

which emigrate from the hindbrain, and colonise the developing gut. Over a protracted period of time the 

precursors proliferate and differentiate into glia and many different types of neurons. Cell cycle exit is a 

critical event in the development of many neuron types, largely because the time at which cells exit from 

the cell cycle limits the number of neurons that will be generated. We will determine whether exit from the 

cell cycle contributes to the differentiation and specification of enteric neurons and glia. 

DP0344803 Dr S Zhou 

*** 

Title: Interconnection Network Routing and Graph Symmetry 

2003 : $84,345 

2004 : $84,345 

2005 : $84,345 



APD Dr S Zhou 

Summary: 

Efficient routing schemes are of fundamental importance to both traditional and optical interconnection 

networks. To achieve high performance it is recommended that the graph modelling the network be 

vertex-transitive, meaning that it looks the same viewed from any vertex. In this project we will conduct a 

systematic study of the routing problem for such networks. We will focus on the effect of 

vertex-transitivity and some other symmetry properties on the efficiency of routing schemes measured by 

the vertex- and edge-congestions, and the minimum number of wavelengths needed in optical networks. 

*** 

DP0342607 Dr Y ZHU Prof MJ WEBBER A/Prof JW BENSON 

Title: Implications of Emerging Forms of Labour Management in Transitional Economies for 

Households Livelihood Strategies: China and Vietnam 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $40,000 

Category: 3502 - BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT


Summary: 

This project aims to (1) investigate institutional changes to labour management during the economic 

transitions of China and Vietnam and (2) analyse their impact on the livelihood strategies of households. 

The research will be based on a large interview study of officials, managers and workers in the TCF and 

electronics industries in four cities. The project will contribute details about China and Vietnam to the 

theoretical literature about the management of labour and the relations between restructuring / transition 

and gender at work. The project will inform policy makers, businesses, nongovernment groups and 

academics about the social implications of transition. 

University of Ballarat 

DP0344039 Dr A Baghirov 

*** 

Title: Approximate bundle methods in nonsmooth optimisation and their applications in 

some complex systems 

2003 : $64,345 

2004 : $64,345 

2005 : $64,345 


Administering Institution: University of Ballarat 

APD Dr A Baghirov 

Summary: 

Non-smooth and non-convex optimisation has many applications in industry and science. One of the 

powerful methods in non-smooth optimisation is a bundle method. This project will develop new versions 

of the bundle method by using continuous approximations to the sub-differential and extend this method 

for solving non-convex (smooth and non-smooth) optimisation problems by using max-min of linear 

functions for the approximation of the functions involved. The outcome will be a new class of effective 

readily implementable algorithms for the minimization of non-smooth and non-convex functions, whose 

usefulness will be demonstrated by applications in cluster analysis, biochemistry and robotics. 

DP0343998 Prof AM Rubinov 

*** 

Title: Operations research without convexity 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $65,000 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Operations Research (OR) is one of the most applicable areas of mathematics and of importance for the 

future of technologically advanced Australia. However, applications of OR often require convexity. This 

is a serious limitation. A new approach, monotonic analysis, which is applicable to a broad class of 

nonconvex problems, was given birth by the CI. Promising results have been obtained and leading 

researchers around the world (including the Presidents of the Canadian Mathematical and French Applied 

Mathematics Societies) are keen to work with the CI developing this topic. This project both cements and 

extends world leadership in this field. 

DP0343954 Dr M Tasker 

*** 

Title: Becoming Australians, or Unbecoming Colonials? Australians in British Journalism, 

1892-1902. 

2003 : $25,000

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $34,000 



Summary: 

This project will analyse the influence of Australian writers in British journalistic 

representations/discussions of Australia in the years which produced a federated Australia, and the 

British Commonwealth. Through detailed study of several 'Australian' journalists working in London, and 

their social and institutional contexts, it will trace some of the forces at work to define and represent 

relations between Britain and Australia 

Victoria University of Technology 

*** 

DP0346563 Prof RA Tomasic Prof NJ Andrews Ms J Fu Dr Y Wei 

Title: Directing China’s Top 100 Companies: corporate governance, accountability and 

corporate law in the top 100 companies in China 

2003 : $124,780 

2004 : $104,062 

2005 : $86,613 


Administering Institution: Victoria University of Technology 

Summary: 

Governance, transparency and accountability in listed companies are worldwide concerns; this is 

especially so for PRC companies listed in China and abroad. Using a mixture of fieldwork, financial 

data-base analysis and library research in China and Australia, the project will map the impact of 

corporate disclosure requirements on governance practices of the Fortune magazine top 100 PRC 

companies. PRC companies are internationally active and engaged with Australian companies and capital 

markets. Post-WTO entry PRC reforms of Chinese corporate governance and accountability practices will 

be assessed. A new theorization of governance, law and accountability in Chinese companies will be 

developed. 

*** 

Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research 

DP0345402 Dr LA Miles 

Title: An Investigation of the Structure and Conformational Stability of a Membrane 

Associating Protein and its Petidic Ligands 

2003 : $64,345 

2004 : $64,345 

2005 : $64,345 


Administering Institution: Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research 

APD Dr LA Miles 

Summary: 

The genome of the parasite most commonly responsible for fatal malaria will be completed this year. 

Structural elucidations of proteins identified from these genomic data will expedite the identification and 

classification of proteins synthesised by the parasite that might be developed as vaccines or as targets 

for anti-malarial therapeutics. In this work, recent developments in structural biology will be employed to 

obtain the structure of a vaccine candidate and to identify environmental factors that influence the 

stability of this structure. A novel approach will be taken to determine the conformation of ligands bound 

to such proteins, which will provide a basis for the development of therapeutics. 

Queensland 

***

Griffith University 

DP0342639 Dr K Broadbent 

Title: Power in the Union? An Examination of Women-only Unions in Japan and South Korea 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 


Administering Institution: Griffith University 

APD Dr K Broadbent 

Summary: 

This project will analyse the development of women-only unions in Japan and South Korea. Women-only 

unions have existed and still exist in a number of countries but despite the growing numbers of women in 

unions, the creation of women-only unions has not been a popular organising strategy for pursuing 

issues of importance to women workers. This project is innovative as it explores the contemporary 

(re)emergence of women-only unions in Japan and South Korea. Through interviews, this project will 

explore the Western theoretical concepts of 'same/difference' and examine their applicability to an 

analysis of women-only unions in Japan and South Korea. 

DP0344990 Prof P Brown Em/Prof LJ Bryson Dr PA Warner-Smith A/Prof DS Ironmonger 

Title: Work-life tensions: Time pressure, leisure and well-being among dual-earner 

parents in Australia. 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $69,000 

2005 : $69,000 



*** 

Summary: 

Empirical studies of work-life tensions, especially for women, have rarely considered how individuals 

actually experience time pressures.The main aim of this project is to examine the hypothesis that 

well-being is positively related to reduced time pressure, more leisure and greater control over time 

schedules. The project will use an innovative time-use sampling method to examine this hypothesis for 

parents in dual-earner households.The project will also investigate relationships between women's time 

use, life course experience and measures of physical and mental well-being through being nested within 

the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. 

DP0343253 Prof MR Dadds 

*** 

Title: Structured Writing Tasks: Examination of the process of change as indicated by 

cognitive-behavioural models of trauma. 

2003 : $56,000 

2004 : $42,750 



Summary: 

Research demonstrates that structured writing about past upsetting experiences is beneficial for physical 

and psychological health. The aim of this study is to identify the process of change responsible for these 

benefits. Three processes, based on trauma theory, have been identified (exposure, devaluation, and 

benefit-finding) and are manipulated within the writing paradigm. This study will test these processes in 

predicting future health benefits. It will increase the effectiveness of the writing paradigm for the general 

population, provide manualised variations of the writing paradigm based on trauma theory, examine 

patient-matching variables, and provide a base to conduct research in clinical populations. 

***

DP0346803 Prof MJ Finnane 

Title: John Vincent Barry: law, social reform and institutional innovation in mid-twentieth 

century Australia 

2003 : $26,000 

2004 : $24,000 

2005 : $26,000 



Summary: 

The capacity of governing institutions to adapt to changing social conditions was a critical component of 

Australian post-war history. As jurist, social reformer, sponsor and mentor of an emerging Australian 

criminology, criminal justice practitioner, intellectual and internationalist, John Barry was an exemplar of an 

activist in this cause. This study explores the dimensions of this activity of institution-building and 

intellectual engagement through the record of Barry's life in its political and social context. Outcomes will 

include a published biography and articles dealing with the conditions of intellectual and political 

engagement in social reform in post-war Australia. 

DP0344109 Prof PR Freebody A/Prof M Levy Dr CM Wyatt-Smith Dr GE Castleton 

*** 

Title: Using and creating knowledge in the high school years: Performance, production, 

process and value-adding in electronic curricular literacy 

2003 : $82,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $75,000 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Success in the emerging communicational demands of high-school learning is crucial for cultural 

cohesion, economic productivity, and employment. It also minimizes inter-generational exclusion and 

alienation for at-risk socio-economic and cultural groups. No research exists into the products and 

processes associated with high-school students' engagements in electronic curricular literacy practices 

(ECLs), so 'standards' frameworks for ECL cannot be developed. This project will provide an empirical 

map of students' expected achievements in ECLs in key curricular areas at various year levels. It aims to 

inject a practical and a futures orientation into research, debate and policy formation in literacy education. 

DP0345682 Ms A Galligan 

*** 

Title: Reformulating an Australian Cultural Infrastructure: Strategic Intersections Between 

the Publishing Industry, Libraries and Cultural Policy 

2003 : $74,378 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $73,378 



APD Ms A Galligan 

Summary: 

This project will clarify the national understanding of the Australian literary cultural infrastructure by 

examining the intersection of the publishing industry, the national library network and cultural policy. While 

these elements separately and collectively generate and promote Australian literary culture and books, 

governments and the cultural sector have mostly treated these as separate, isolated units. This study will 

identify the connections and clarify the disconnections among these domains. It will seek to formulate an 

appropriate framework for describing the workings of the literary cultural infrastructure which will assist

in the development of policy and professional strategy. 

DP0343926 A/Prof EM Gray Prof JF Dobson 

*** 

Title: Hydrogen Absorption by Nanostructured Carbons 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Carbon-based materials show great promise for clean energy storage through the absorption and 

desorption of hydrogen. The project aims to use powerful theoretical and experimental methods to 

resolve the controversy that surrounds reports of massive hydrogen absorption by nanostructured 

carbons, by understanding why particular structures should or should not absorb hydrogen atoms or 

molecules. We will particularly study and model intercalated graphite and nanotubes made in Australia. 

Their hydrogen capacity will be compared to the US DOE target of 6.5 weight percent for viable 

automotive hydrogen fuel storage. Reproducibly exceeding this target would constitute a great advance 

in the field. 

*** 

DP0343197 A/Prof RS Guest Prof IM McDonald 

Title: Population Ageing and National Housing Demand in Australia 

2003 : $30,000 

2004 : $23,750 



Summary: 

This project seeks to determine the likely impact of population ageing on the demand for housing in 

Australia. A seminal study for the U.S. predicted that the relative demand for, and therefore price of, 

housing will fall substantially in the next two or three decades due to population ageing. If this were to 

occur in Australia, it could have a significant impact on personal wealth, the national saving rate, 

employment and economic welfare. This question will be addressed by extending two different types of 

models - an analytical model of optimal national saving and an econometric model of housing demand. 

*** 

DP0343078 Prof RC Hunter A/Prof JM Giddings 

Title: Australian innovations in legal aid services: balancing cost and client needs 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $34,000 



Summary: 

Australian legal aid innovations are at the forefront of international practice. Over the past decade, 

Australian Legal Aid Commissions have reduced the number of grants for legal representation, while 

introducing a range of new services, many of which are designed to assist clients to solve their own 

dispute out of court, or to undertake much of the work associated with court proceedings themselves. 

The project will subject these new services to independent evaluation and scholarly analysis. Its results 

will provide a valuable input into the future development of legal aid policy and services, and assist in 

achieving a desirable and cost-effective balance between litigation legal aid, 'outside litigation' and 

self-help options. 

***

DP0346804 Dr JJ Jacobs 

Title: Early Television Drama in Australia, Great Britain and the USA 

2003 : $59,000 

2004 : $61,000 

2005 : $61,000 



Summary: 

This project will reevaluate the history of early television drama by adopting a comparative perspective 

that examines Australian, UK and US drama during the period 1956-1964. Television drama was both a 

primary site where emerging national television systems could explore and showcase the potentialities of 

the new medium and a site in which there was considerable international sharing of critical 

understandings, production practices and creative ambitions. This project will map an international 

television ecology by evaluating these three national television drama systems and tracing the systems of 

interchange among them. 

DP0343443 Dr D Jeng Dr L Li Prof A Barry 

*** 

Title: Poro-elastic, single domain model of wave-induced transport and transformation of 

pollutants in coastal sediments 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $98,000 

2005 : $99,000 

Category: 2912 - MARITIME ENGINEERING 


Summary: 

The sediments in many bays and estuaries in Australia are contaminated by pollutants due to discharge of 

waste from the river, groundwater or/and ocean outfall. Most previous research has had a multi-domain 

approach and have ignored the wave-dirven advective flow and effects of soil behaviour in coastal 

sediment. In this study, we will couple the procedure of pollutant transport near the sediment-water 

interface by a single domain approach, and link wave-dirven advective flow and contaminant in marine 

sediments. The research outcomes will provide a better prediction of the transformation behaviour of 

pollutants in contaminated sediments. 

DP0345468 Dr PR Johnston Prof D Kilpatrick 

*** 

Title: Determination of Conductivity Values for Anisotropic Tissue 

2003 : $64,000 

2004 : $64,000 



Summary: 

Well established mathematical models governing the electrical potential in biological tissue can be 

combined with measurements of the electric potential on the surface of the tissue to provide insight into 

subsurface tissue damage. However, before such observations can be convincingly accepted, reliable 

values for the tissue conductivity must be obtained. The aim of this project is to develop mathematical 

techniques to calculate the conductivity values so that one can apply the equations to solve problems of 

potential distribution and proceed to accurately simulate electrical potential distributions in damaged tissue. 

More accurate and reliable conductivity values will allow a better understanding of the way electric 

current moves through the heart which, in turn, will result in more efficient defibrillators and better 

diagnosis of abnormal function. 

DP0342587 Dr AB Kelly Prof GA Marlatt 

*** 

Title: The initiation, development, and maintenance of alcohol/tobacco use in adolescents:

The role of associative memory 

2003 : $63,000 

2004 : $61,000 



Summary: 

Alcohol abuse and tobacco misuse are common in Australian adolescents and its long-term health 

consequences are well established. Models of drug-related memory association predict drug use in 

adults. However, memory association models have not been applied to smoking behaviour, or to 

understanding adolescent alcohol/tobacco use over time. It is expected that memory associations will 

predict the development of alcohol/tobacco use and misuse, after accounting for viable alternative 

explanations of the association. Understanding the role that memory associations have in the 

development of alcohol/tobacco use should inform prevention programs for at-risk adolescents. 

*** 

DP0343302 Dr MJ Kiefel Dr F Chery Dr BS Coulson Prof M Von Itzstein 

Title: An Investigation of Novel Sialylmimetics as Inhibitors of Rotavirus 

2003 : $94,345 

2004 : $94,345 

2005 : $94,345 



APD Dr F Chery 

Summary: 

Rotavirus causes severe gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. Over 125 million cases of diarrhoea and 

800,000 deaths annually are attributed to rotavirus, primarily in developing countries. The process that 

enables this debilitating and sometimes fatal disease to infect cells is poorly understood. This project aims 

to produce a range of unique chemical entities that will provide information about the way rotavirus 

infects cells. The chemical compounds produced will be assayed for their ability to prevent rotavirus 

from infecting cells. It is expected that this project will provide compounds that may ultimately be used as 

drugs for the treatment of rotavirus. 

DP0344546 Dr SJ Lee Dr T Meziane 

*** 

Title: A novel approach to tracking estuarine food chains: combined use of fatty acid and 

stable isotope biomarkers 

2003 : $101,000 

2004 : $105,000 

2005 : $102,000 

2006 : $102,000 

2007 : $100,000 



QEII Dr T Meziane 

Summary: 

Fatty acid biomarkers provide promising novel tracers for studying estuarine food chains. Stable isotopes, 

commonly employed in food chain studies, lack specificity to allow easy determination of feeding 

relationships. Different primary producers are characterised by unique fatty acid sequences. This study 

will thoroughly evaluate the applicability of fatty acid biomarkers in tracking both natural and 

human-impacted estuarine food chains. By developing a new approach of combining the advantages of 

fatty acid biomarkers and stable isotopes in studying estuarine trophodynamics, this study will provide 

essential information for the management of estuarine biotic resources. 

*** 

DP0342733 Dr A O'Cass Prof B Merrilees Prof GN Soutar

Title: Building Better Brands: A Study of Australian Organizations and Consumers 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

The study is the first to be undertaken in the world to develop a knowledge management system of brand 

development and management. It focuses on understanding how branding strategies increase the 

competitiveness of Australian industry. The study also explores linkages of branding strategy to 

consumer perceptions of brand value. The model is firmly placed in a global market context, contrasting 

domestic, exported and imported brands. The focus is strongly orientated toward improving Australia's 

competitiveness and global performance. This study is vital as the economic superiority of strong nations 

is evident in the value and strength of their industries' brands. 

DP0343419 Dr S Poulsen Prof RJ Quinn 

Title: Refinement of dynamic combinatorial chemistry as a drug discovery tool 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $55,000 



*** 

Summary: 

Medicinal chemistry is constantly being challenged to develop efficient methodologies for the synthesis of 

compounds for drug discovery. Following completion of the Human Genome project, the cloning and 

expression of new proteins will proceed at an accelerated rate. In the absence of biochemical knowledge 

of the target protein there is a growing interest in techniques that expand the structural and biological 

diversity of compound libraries. Dynamic combinatorial chemistry is an innovative technology with the 

capacity for supporting the shift from focussed to diverse compound libraries. This application seeks 

funding to refine dynamic combinatorial chemistry into an effective drug discovery tool. 

*** 

DP0343016 Prof CJ Sampford Prof D Shugarman Dr MH Halperin 

Title: The ethics of international intervention for humanitarian, pro-democratic and 

anti-terrorist reasons: The legal, ethical and institutional means of regulating 

2003 : $116,000 

2004 : $93,000 

2005 : $98,000 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $112,000 



Summary: 

Interventions are increasingly demanded for humanitarian, pro-democratic and anti-terrorist reasons. 

Changed geo-politics and the waning sovereignty of many states increase their likelihood. Using ethical, 

legal and institutional analysis informed by interdisciplinary case studies, this project brings together those 

working on these separate areas - the US Council on Foreign Relations and its International Task Force 

on Threats to Democracy, three Canadian Research Centres and the Key Centre (drawing on its work 

and those of other Australians). The aim is to provide potential answers to when, whether, how and by 

whom interventions should occur and the institutional means for regulating such interventions. 

DP0346497 Prof D Saunders 

***

Title: Law, state sovereignty and religious terror: renewing the relevance of early modern 

political jurisprudence 

2003 : $29,694 

2004 : $23,108 



Summary: 

Modern political thought has lost touch with early modern political jurisprudence. Premised on this 

hypothesis, the project reconstructs the historical role of political jurisprudence as the discipline that 

conferred legitimacy on the sovereign state under the rule of law, the great invention to end religious war. 

As a vital instrument of peaceful coexistence among Europe's warring faiths, this early modern discipline 

is directly relevant to today's renewed concerns with public security against religious terror. The project 

will both recover the relevance of political jurisprudence, and provide a major historical corrective to 

anti-juridical and anti-statist research agendas. 

DP0345648 Prof B Sherman Mr R Burrell Dr M Rimmer Mr AS Taubman 

*** 

Title: Gene Patents in Australia: Options for Reform 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $115,000 



Summary: 

Controversies over the upsurge in gene patenting, access to pharmaceuticals, biopiracy, and ownership 

of genetic resources, lead many to question whether patent law is appropriate for biotechnology. Do 

patents thwart access to beneficial technologies such as drugs, research tools and new crops, while 

hampering policy options for health care and agriculture? This project addresses the urgent need for a 

comprehensive study of the impact of biotech patenting, critically reviewing overseas developments, 

setting biotechnology in the broader policy context of intellectual property law, and empirically analysing 

patterns rather than relying on the anecdotal and piecemeal studies that dominate this area. 

DP0343093 A/Prof PJ Treffner Mr RS Barrett Prof L Adams Dr JR Thornton Dr N Kim 

Title: Dynamics of Locomotion: Visualisation in skill acquisition & rehabilitation 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $20,000 

2005 : $20,000 

*** 

Category: 3214 - HUMAN MOVEMENT AND SPORTS SCIENCE 


Summary: 

How does visual information and attention determine the control and coordination of locomotion? Using 

large-screen projection of computer graphics and immersive virtual reality, we will examine the influence 

of visual information on driver training, gait in the elderly, cardiorespiratory control, and the attentional 

interference of mobile phones on driving. Experiments will be based on principles from dynamical and 

complex systems theory and will inform the design of innovative algorithms for autonomous mobile robots. 

Expected outcomes include improved road safety, new methods for the rehabilitation of those with gait 

disorders, and a deeper understanding of the physiological response to virtual exercise. 

*** 

DP0343398 Dr RL Zevenbergen Prof PD Renshaw Prof S Lerman 

Title: Numeracy, ICT and equity: A study of numeracy and ICT practices in primary schools 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $41,000

2005 : $34,000 



Summary: 

Numeracy and ICT are key lifeskills. However, not all students gain equal access to, and success in, 

these key areas. This project researches the numeracy practices of primary school students and their 

use of ICT; identifies effective pedagogical strategies for teaching ICT in and for numeracy learning; and 

then uses these knowledges to develop strategies to support and enhance learning of students who 

traditionally are most at risk of failing in numeracy. The project produces new knowledge about 

numeracy as a social practice at both theoretical and practical levels in order to support numeracy 

outcomes for indigenous, remote and economically-disadvantaged students. 

James Cook University 

*** 

DP0344219 A/Prof RA Alford Dr L Schwarzkopf Prof TW Schoener 

Title: Beyond Abundance: An experimental study of the effects of predators on prey 

behaviour and reproduction 

2003 : $48,000 

2004 : $48,000 


Administering Institution: James Cook University 

Summary: 

Understanding the influence of top predators on community composition and population dynamics at lower 

trophic levels is a central problem in ecology, with important implications for ecological theory and 

conservation biology. Our study will be among the first to examine effects of presence and absence of 

top-level predators on the behaviour, reproduction, and microhabitat use of mid-level predators. 

Understanding how the behaviour and ecology of lower-level species change in response to changes in 

abundance of top-level predators will increase the ability of managers to mitigate the impacts of changes 

in predator abundance on managed ecosystems. 

DP0344277 Dr MJ Caley Prof RD Holt 

*** 

Title: Why aren't all species everywhere? The evolution of species' borders in tropical reef 

fishes 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $70,000 



Summary: 

Virtually nothing is known about how geographic range limits evolve in the wild in the absence of barriers 

to dispersal and habitat discontinuities. This project will investigate the evolution of range limits of fishes 

on the Great Barrier Reef using combinations of mathematical modelling and field- and laboratory-based 

analyses of evolutionary patterns and processes. By advancing understanding of the fundamental 

causes of species' range limits, this research will provide new options for the management and 

conservation of this very valuable resource, and other complex biological systems, under increasing 

pressures of exploitation, habitat degradation and climate change. 

*** 

DP0343463 Prof PH Gilbert A/Prof NM Alloway 

Title: Telling Tales from the Bush: Gender, rurality and post-school transitions 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $47,500 

Category: 3399 - OTHER EDUCATION


Summary: 

The completion of formal schooling is a critical point of decision-making for all young Australians, but it is 

particularly critical for young men and women from the bush, who are often already disadvantaged in the 

quality of schooling they receive, and their access to facilities and opportunities. This longitudinal study 

will address a significant research gap in this area, by analysing the potentially limiting effect gender 

constructs can play in the decision-making and life trajectories of these young adults. By so doing, the 

study contributes directly to the national interest by improving the social and economic futures of rural 

Australians. 

DP0344222 Dr CN Johnson Dr L Christidis 

Title: Macroecology and phylogeny: the effects of evolutionary history on rarity and 

extinction risk in Australian vertebrates. 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $65,000 

*** 



Summary: 

We will combine ecological and phylogenetic analysis of Australian vertebrates to show how abundance 

and geographic range in living species has been shaped by the historical processes of speciation, 

transformations of range and abundance in relation to species age, and selective extinction. Our analysis 

will throw new light on the processes that have generated species diversity in Australian vertebrates. 

We will also gain new understanding of the causes of rarity and vulnerability to extinction among living 

species, which will result in better identification and management of species at risk of extinction. 

DP0343480 Prof FR Keene Dr JG Collins Dr JR Aldrich-Wright A/Prof Y Tor 

*** 

Title: Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes as Sequence- and Structure-Selective Binding 

Agents for DNA 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Studies of the interaction of mononuclear metal complexes with DNA have greatly increased our 

understanding of the ways that small molecules recognise particular sites on DNA. However, in order to 

design drugs that target specific genes, and hence be potentially capable of controlling gene expression, 

it is necessary to study the binding of metal complexes that can associate with larger segments of DNA. 

Using the combined expertise of the applicants, it is proposed to stereospecifically synthesise dinuclear 

complexes and study their DNA binding. This will greatly assist in the development of drugs that can 

selectively target genes and altered DNA. 

DP0343249 Dr PL Munday 

*** 

Title: Early life-history sex determination in reef fishes 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $110,000 

2005 : $110,000 

2006 : $110,000 

2007 : $110,000 


Administering Institution: James Cook University

ARF Dr PL Munday 

Summary: 

In many fishes, gender is influenced by environmental conditions experienced after hatching. However, 

the timing, cues, and developmental pathways of sex determination are poorly understood. This research 

will establish how environmental conditions during the juvenile phase control patterns of sex 

determination in reef fishes and determine if sex differentiation is a response to local- or broad-scale 

environmental cues. An individual's gender has profound and significant consequences for all aspects of 

its biology and the mechanism of sex determination has important implications for population ecology. This 

project will test theory in evolutionary ecology and greatly benefit the management of reef fisheries. 

*** 

Queensland Institute of Medical Research 

DP0346724 Prof MF Lavin Prof S Lees-Miller 

Title: Co-ordinated Action of ATM and DNA-PK in DNA damage recognition 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 


Administering Institution: Queensland Institute of Medical Research 

Summary: 

The aim of this project is to investigate the mechanism of repair of double straind breaks in DNA sustained 

after radiation damage. Specifically we will focus on two proteins ATM (mutated in the genetic disorder 

ataxia-telangiectasia) and DNA-PK mutated in scid mice. There two proteins recognize double straind 

breaks in DNA and signal this damage to the DNA repair machinery of the cell and to cell cycle 

checkpoints. The emphasis here will be in the relationship between the two proteins in co-ordinating the 

repair of breaks in DNA. This information will be important in understanding mechanisms for maintaining 

the integrity of the genome. 

DP0343921 Ms M Luciano Dr DL Duffy 

*** 

Title: Locating genes for elementary and complex cognitive abilities using genetic linkage 

and association analysis 

2003 : $60,000 


Administering Institution: Queensland Institute of Medical Research 

Summary: 

This study aims to identify genes influencing cognitive ability by using multiple measures of cognition in 

combination with genetic linkage and association analyses. Multiple measures can increase the statistical 

power of finding a gene and provide a more comprehensive framework for charting the functional role of 

genes. The outcome of locating genes for cognition will provide insight into biological functions of the 

brain which affect human intellect, and will have downstream practical applications which could include 

better educational, behavioural and biomedical management of learning and memory disorders, and of 

other intellectual disabilities. 

DP0346797 Dr P Upcroft 

*** 

Title: Organisation, expression and diversity of the sub-telomeric regions of the ancient 

eukaryote, Giardia duodenalis 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 


Administering Institution: Queensland Institute of Medical Research

Summary: 

We propose to extend our findings on the extreme plasticity of the structure and organisation of the 

sub-telomeric region of the complete genome of Giardia by more extensive chromosome walking, and 

comparison of different isolates. These regions are subject to gene conversion, transcriptional silencing, 

gene mobility, recombination, variable surface protein expression, subtelomeric instability and the insertion 

of transposable elements, a dynamic balance between structural conservation and rapid evolution. This 

is a rare opportunity to understand the forces at work in moulding eukaryotic sub-telomeric sequences 

because Giardia is not constrained by sexual homogenisation and the dynamic variability is retained. 

*** 

Queensland University of Technology 

DP0345577 A/Prof VV Anh Prof CC Heyde Prof N Leonenko 

Title: Statistical estimation and approximation of anomalous diffusion 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $65,000 


Administering Institution: Queensland University of Technology 

Summary: 

This project investigates diffusion processes with long memory, heavy-tailed distributions and 

higher-order information. Each of these characteristics has been a subject of extensive current research. 

These processes arise in important applications with significant social/economic benefits such as heat 

conduction and fluid flow in porous media, propagation of seismic waves, transport of drug molecules in 

living tissues. Built on our recent fundamental developments of fractional generalised random fields and 

fractional diffusion equations, this project tackles the key problems of statistical estimation, approximation 

and prediction of diffusion processes with all the above characteristics in a unified framework not 

provided by other approaches. 

*** 

DP0345667 Dr TM Barker Dr JE Smeathers Prof JH Evans Prof MJ Pearcy Prof R Brånemark Dr AK 

Nunn 

Title: Direct measurement of the kinetics of trans-femoral amputee gait during activities of 

daily living. 

2003 : $89,000 

2004 : $84,000 

2005 : $81,500 



Summary: 

This project involves the use of a novel technique to accurately measure the loads placed upon the lower 

limbs of above-knee amputees. Included in the subject group will be a number of amputees fitted with an 

artificial leg fitted directly into the bone. The ability to monitor a range of activities is possible by the use of 

a wireless telemetry system. The outcomes of this work will benefit amputees around the world, as well 

as clinicians and companies who are dedicated to developing significant improvements in the functional 

abilities of subjects who have suffered amputation. 

*** 

DP0345956 A/Prof JM Bell A/Prof PM Fredericks 

Title: Fundamental studies of the mechanism of atmospheric pressure plasma deposition 

of thin films 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 


Administering Institution: Queensland University of Technology

Summary: 

This project will extend fundamental understanding of the mechanisms occurring in a revolutionary 

plasma deposition process, atmospheric pressure plasma deposition, building upon a platform of 

technology developed over the last 12 months. The deposition process uses liquid containing the 

deposition source materials to confine the plasma. The enormous commercial potential of the process for 

wear-resistant coatings, biomaterials and electronics is currently limited by insufficient understanding of 

the basic mechanisms of deposition, and critical plasma parameters which control the process. This 

basic science project focusses on fundamental chemical and plasma processes, and will develop initial 

models, enabling generalisation of the process. 

DP0344338 Dr M Bennamoun 

*** 

Title: An automated 3D model-based object recognition system. 

2003 : $78,290 

2004 : $80,748 

2005 : $83,204 



Summary: 

A novel, practical 3D vision system is proposed as a platform for fundamental applied research in 3D data 

acquisition, object modelling and object recognition. The significance of the vision system lies in the 

advancement of knowledge in three key areas of computer vision, registration, recognition and error 

propagation. The result is a system capable of sensing, modelling and identifying arbitrarily shaped 

free-form objects in a scene, an attribute lacking in current systems. Such a system can provide 

substantial economic benefits to industrial procedures such as grasp planning and quality control. 

DP0345775 A/Prof CA Boyd 

Title: Specifications, Proofs and Animations for Cryptographic Protocols 

2003 : $56,230 

2004 : $51,000 

2005 : $43,350 

*** 



Summary: 

Cryptographic protocols are fundamental security tools for electronic communications. Despite years of 

intensive research it remains difficult to obtain high confidence in the security of almost any new protocol. 

Research in the computer security community has emphasised formal specifications and state based 

searching, while the cryptographic community has concentrated instead on complexity theoretic proofs. 

This project will unify these two approaches for the first time by formally specifying and animating the 

very models used in cryptographic proofs. The result will be proofs that are uniquely accessible to 

practioners combined with increased confidence that the proofs are both correct and relevant. 

*** 

DP0344488 Dr Y Chen Prof K Burrage Dr MA Ragan A/Prof X Zhou 

Title: Integrating Database Technologies and Visual Analysis in Bioinformatics for Genome 

Data 

2003 : $118,000 

2004 : $110,000 

2005 : $106,000 



Summary: 

Solving modern biological problems, especially those involving genome data, requires advanced 

computational and analytical methods. The huge quantities of data and escalating demands of modern

iological research increasingly require the sophistication and power of object-relational database tools. 

Key techniques include relational data management, pattern recognition, data mining and visualization of 

biological data. In this project we will develop efficient methodologies and data structures for gathering 

high-quality approximations of full genomic information, and will use these innovations as the foundation 

to develop novel, practical tools for clustering and visualization in genomic data mining and database 

management. 

DP0345458 Prof EP Dawson A/Prof CA Boyd 

*** 

Title: Secure and Efficient Electronic Auctions 

2003 : $64,436 

2004 : $55,250 

2005 : $46,963 



Summary: 

For the first time in history electronic commerce promises the possibility of auctions to decide the correct 

market price for a widespread variety of everyday goods and services. Security and efficiency are 

critical factors in making this a reality, but almost all the many protocols for secure auctions proposed to 

date suffer from extreme computational requirements. This project will develop efficient and secure 

auction protocols using innovative approaches based on advanced cryptographic techniques. In 

particular we will pioneer the exploration of secure microauctions suitable for negotiating the price of 

small value goods and utilities in almost real time. 

*** 

DP0343627 Prof LD English Dr JJ Watters Prof S Lamon Prof RB Lesh 

Title: Mathematical Modelling in Early Education 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $66,500 

2005 : $66,500 



Summary: 

This study is about enhancing children's and teachers' capacities to engage in basic mathematical 

modelling, which lays the foundation for working with complex systems. New and innovative learning 

experiences will provide all children with future-oriented mathematical understandings and social skills 

that are essential for effective participation in a knowledge-based society, but are underrepresented in 

current curricula. A new research approach, multilevel collaboration, will be adopted involving children, 

teachers, research students, and researchers in an international learning community. The outcomes will 

include explanatory models of children's and teachers' modelling developments, the training of new 

research scholars, the documentation of innovative curriculum, and advancements in teacher education. 

*** 

DP0345907 Prof J Hartley Dr MA Keane Prof SD Cunningham Dr SH Donald Dr T Flew Dr C Spurgeon 

Title: Internationalising Creative Industries: China, the WTO and the Knowledge-based 

Economy 

2003 : $135,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $88,033 



APD Dr MA Keane 

Summary:

This project investigates the challenges facing the creative industries internationally as the rationales for 

government support and industry development are seen variously as cultural, as part of the burgeoning 

services sector, and/or as contributing to the knowledge-based economy. To place the creative 

industries in an international frame, comparing developed countries' policy and industry strategies with 

those of China, the most important developing country, after its admission to the WTO, is a significant 

conceptual advance and innovation not attempted before. Australia will benefit from international 

comparisons of industry strategy and growth and from strategic knowledge of China's creative economy 

dynamics. 

DP0342985 Prof AN Pettitt Dr IW Turner 

*** 

Title: New Developments for Bayesian statistical models and computational methods. 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $45,000 

2005 : $35,000 



Summary: 

Bayesian methods of statistical analysis provide a flexible theory for addressing inference in the 

presence of uncertainty. Consequently Bayesian methods have enabled scientific discovery in areas 

characterised as complex systems where new developments in modelling and computational methods 

have been crucial. Significant barriers to further success involve challenges in formulating and validating 

models, dealing with large data sets, and developing efficient computational methods. The principal aim of 

this project is to develop new Bayesian modelling and computational methodology which address these 

challenges with broad application. 

DP0346777 Dr S Tong Prof KL Mengersen 

Title: Dynamic spatio-temporal approach to environmental health modelling 

2003 : $77,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $75,000 

*** 

Category: 3212 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES 


Summary: 

Maintenance and enhancement of environmental health (EH) is an important aspect of sustainable 

development (SD). There has been an increasing realisation that an appropriate modelling approach 

needs to be developed to measure and promote EH. However, a framework for the development of EH 

models to facilitate environmental management decision-making has not been attempted to date. This 

research aims to increase fundamental knowledge on the relationship between environmental exposures 

and community well-being, to develop a dynamic and systematic approach to EH modelling, and to assess 

implications of EH models in the planning of SD and environmental management. 

*** 

DP0342562 Prof CA Trocki Dr MD Barr Dr S Yao Dr LZ Rahim 

Title: Paths Not Taken: The False Spring of Political Pluralism in Postwar Singapore 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $40,000 



Summary: 

The project aims to recast Singapore's postwar history to challenge the hegemonic paradigm by studying 

civil and political movements that have operated outside the parameters of imagination created by the 

ruling party. Using a combination of archival, interview, and anthropological/artistic research techniques,

we will study Singapore's postwar period of political pluralism, which was finally smothered in the late 

1970s. It will culminate in an international conference and an edited book. We intend to use the project to 

build international partnerships and it should place Australia in an unprecedented strategic position as a 

major partner of researchers in Singapore. 

DP0342641 Dr J Wang Prof Dr E Siores 

*** 

Title: Modelling the cutting process and cutting performance in contour and multipass 

abrasive waterjet machining 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $72,000 

2005 : $70,000 



Summary: 

This project will develop important new cutting techniques to increase the cutting capability and 

application domain of the abrasive waterjet (AWJ) cutting technology. It will gain a fundamental 

understanding of the cutting phenomenon and develop new mathematical models for predicting the cutting 

performance in AWJ contouring and multipass cutting. This project will further develop into a new branch 

of manufacturing science by uncovering the cutting mechanisms in AWJ machining with and without 

nozzle oscillation, and have significant impact to the manufacturing industry by providing machining 

information and cutting performance models to increase the technological and economic performance of 

AWJ machining. 

The University of Queensland 

DP0346844 Prof PF Alewood 

*** 

Title: Total chemical synthesis of a redesigned enzyme, HIV-1 PR, containing an artificial 

tunable catalytic apparatus 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 


Administering Institution: The University of Queensland 

Summary: 

The research project proposed represents a novel approach using total chemical synthesis to study the 

enzyme action of the HIV-1 PR, an aspartyl protease essential for the replication of AIDS virus. The 

redesign of the catalytic apparatus will allow us to investigate molecular aspects of its action. The 

synthetic polypeptide chain will be folded and characterised for the correct folded structure by NMR, and 

assayed for enzymatic activity. It can be expected that significant new insights into the molecular basis of 

the properties of the HIV-1 PR will be obtained. This will be an important contribution to biomedical 

research. 

DP0345002 Dr NM Ashkanasy Dr H Weiss 

*** 

Title: Testing a Multi-level Theory of Emotion in Organisations 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $43,000 

2005 : $43,000 



Summary: 

Affective moods and emotions at work are now recognised internationally as important determinants of 

employee attitudes and behaviours at work, including job satisfaction, turnover, and performance. This

collaborative project involves research teams in Australia and the United States, and entails three studies 

of the role of emotions in organisations. Based on experience-sampling methods, where participants 

report real-time data using hand-held computers, the studies span within-person, between-persons, 

leadership, group, and organisational levels of analysis. The project also extends previous research by 

studying organisations as a source of depletion of regulatory resources that limit employees' potential to 

perform to their ability. 

*** 

DP0344254 Dr MC Bellingham Dr JM Lewohl Dr DV Pow 

Title: Interactions between phenome and genome at developing CNS synapses during 

synaptic refinement 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Activity-dependent changes in synaptic transmission are vital to development and function of central 

neuronal networks. However, the critical factors regulating developmental changes in synaptic signals 

remain largely unknown. We will correlate functional changes in synaptic responses at 

glutamate-releasing synapses with changes in glutamate receptor composition at a critical period during 

development, test whether synaptic activation of receptors is required for these changes and define the 

pattern of activity-dependent changes in gene expression necessary for developmental changes in 

synaptic transmission. Understanding this interaction between synaptic phenome and activity-dependent 

genomic expression will expand our understanding of brain development and function. 

DP0344921 Prof NW Bergmann 

Title: Reconfigurable Computing Implementations of Reactive Systems 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $50,000 

*** 

Category: 2916 - COMPUTER HARDWARE 


Summary: 

Reconfigurable computing combines programmable software with programmable hardware and shows 

real promise as an efficient implementation technology for real-time embedded computing applications. 

However, its use in real-time systems has been hampered by a lack of rigorous analysis of its benefits, 

and by a lack of a suitable methodology for the efficient specification, analysis and design of such 

systems. This project seeks to develop such a methodology, and demonstrate its benefits through 

several proof-of-concept application implementations. 

*** 

DP0343405 Dr PV Bernhardt A/Prof AG McEwan 

Title: Mechanistic Studies of Dimethylsulfide Dehydrogenase: A Novel Bacterial 

Molybdoenzyme 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

The aim of this proposal is to use electrochemical, spectroscopic and molecular biological techniques to 

understand the mechanism of action of the enzyme dimethylsulfide dehydrogenase. This enzyme is 

representative of an major group of molybdenum-containing enzymes that have importance in microbial 

biotransformations. The project will provide fundamental information about a multi-redox centre protein

that has potential application in biosensors and biocatalysis. 

DP0345792 Prof RG Birch Dr L Wu 

Title: Targeting and stabilizing proteins in sugar storage vacuoles for metabolic 

engineering in sugarcane 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 

*** 



Summary: 

We have isolated a novel gene for an enzyme that efficiently converts sucrose into a product of much 

higher value. We have shown that the enzyme functions in sugarcane, a first example of the potential for 

new biosynthetic capacities in this highly productive crop. Because 90% of stored sucrose is in 

specialized vacuoles, the enzyme needs to be directed into these vacuoles, and made stable and active 

there. This is feasible by building on recent discoveries about vacuolar targeting in plants. The outputs 

include scientific understanding to underpin metabolic engineering in plants, and a profitable 

high-technology export industry for Australia. 

DP0344924 A/Prof JR Botella Prof S Assmann 

*** 

Title: The other half of the G-protein story: Functional analysis of the plant G-protein 

gamma subunits. 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

It is now established that G-proteins are involved in the transduction of a number of important processes 

in plants (Cell division, stomata control, defence, light perception, etc). Nevertheless the data accumulated 

to date is based on the study of one of the two subunits (alpha) of the G-proteins. Almost nothing is 

known about the role of the second (and independent) subunit: beta-gamma. We will study for the first 

time the role of the beta-gamma subunit in plants. We will use a comprehensive approach combining 

biochemical, physiological, phenotypic, genomic and proteomic studies. 

DP0345777 A/Prof IT Cameron Prof JD Litster Dr FY Wang Prof FJ Doyle 

*** 

Title: Multi-Scale, Multi-Form Approach to the Modelling, Design and Control of Complex 

Particulate Processes 

2003 : $112,000 

2004 : $99,000 

2005 : $100,000 

2006 : $80,000 

2007 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Many particulate processes suffer from high recycle rates and instability due to lack of knowledge at 

various scale levels, and on the fitness between model forms and applications. This project will develop a 

complete model hierarchy ranging from the microscopic scale to full plant scale using a multi-scale, 

multi-form approach. The joint force of two world class teams will tackle the complex interaction problems 

covering granulation fundamentals, dynamic modelling, process design and advanced control. The work 

will lead to significantly improved productivity and quality for a wide range of industrial particulate

processes using innovative design and model based control strategies. 

DP0345375 Prof GR Campbell 

Title: Myofibroblast differentiation: from haemopoietic cells to smooth muscle 

2003 : $60,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Until very recently the ability of adult cells with specific differentiated functions to re-differentiate for 

another function was thought to be extremely limited. However we have shown that cells ultimately 

derived from the bone marrow can differentiate into fibroblasts, then into myofibroblasts and then into 

smooth muscle cells. This project will build on these unique findings and determine the molecular 

mechanisms controlling this process. We hypothesise that the local environment of a cell is critical and 

will involve a combination of particular extracellular matrix and growth factors as well as mechanical 

tension and the presence of other cell types. 

DP0344806 Dr SF Chenoweth 

*** 

Title: Natural Selection on Mate Recognition in Field Populations of Drosophila serrata 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 



APD Dr SF Chenoweth 

Summary: 

Natural selection on mate recognition is thought to play an important role in the process of speciation. 

Stronger mating discrimination between closely related species in areas where their distributions overlap, 

referred to as reproductive character displacement, suggests that mate recognition has been reinforced 

by natural selection. Drosophila serrata displays reproductive character displacement in areas where it 

occurs alongside the congener D. birchii. Using a combination of molecular and quantitative genetic 

techniques I will investigate how reproductive character displacement has evolved in natural populations 

of D. serrata. Specifically, the role that natural selection has played in generating this pattern will be 

evaluated. 

DP0344155 A/Prof SP Collin Dr AE Trezise Dr NS Hart Prof JK Bowmaker 

*** 

Title: The co-expression of visual pigments in a single photoreceptor: environmental 

regulation and spectral tuning 

2003 : $65,000 



Summary: 

The light sensitive cells (photoreceptors) in the vertebrate retina contain filters (oil droplets) and visual 

pigments (opsins). These structures tune the incoming light and initiate the visual process, respectively. 

Exciting new research reveals that some vertebrates express more than one opsin within a single 

photoreceptor. We plan to examine the regulation of single and two co-expressed opsin genes by 

manipulating the light environment. We expect to determine the environmental triggers for visual pigment 

tuning and the effects of co-expression on colour vision. 

*** 

DP0343350 A/Prof S Crozier Prof LK Forbes Dr H Zhao

Title: Advanced MRI Engineering 

2003 : $220,260 

2004 : $220,260 

2005 : $220,260 

2006 : $180,260 

2007 : $190,260 



APF A/Prof S Crozier 

Summary: 

Magnetic Resonance Imaging is rapidly becoming the medical imaging modality of choice for soft tissue 

injuries. The technology development of MRI, however, is relatively young with only 20 years or so of 

commercial development. The major aim of this project is to contribute to this and the next generation of 

MRI scanners through technical innovation. New engineering design methods will be developed and used 

to generate novel superconducting magnet systems and associated equipment. A strong focus of the 

design work will be to include electromagnetic models of the patient in the equipment design. This will not 

only ensure improved accuracy and speed of MRI scans, but also better patient safety, comfort and 

clinician access. 

*** 

DP0344536 A/Prof JD Curlewis A/Prof MJ Waters Dr ST Anderson 

Title: Signalling cross-talk through Suppressors Of Cytokine Signalling (SOCS) initiates 

luteolysis in the ovary 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Members of the newly discovered SOCS protein family block cytokine signal transduction pathways, 

including those for prolactin and GH. We have discovered that one of these proteins, SOCS-3, is 

upregulated in the corpus luteum of the ovary by prostaglandins and propose that induction of prolactin or 

GH resistance is a hitherto unrecognised and critical step in luteolysis. We have also discovered that 

this cross-talk between prostaglandin- and cytokine-receptor signalling pathways occurs in preadipocyte 

and breast cell lines and propose that this research will serve as a paradigm for understanding how 

sensitivity to cytokines can be controlled at a molecular level. 

DP0342945 Dr GI de Zubicaray 

*** 

Title: Testing the ghost with the machine: Empirical investigations of cognition using 

high-field functional magnetic resonance imaging 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 



APD Dr GI de Zubicaray 

Summary: 

The primary aim of the project is to test hypotheses about the cognitive architecture of word production 

and negative priming using high-field functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Additional 

aims/outcomes are to apply a novel fMRI acquisition sequence that permits overt verbal responding with 

rapid presentation of trials and collection of the time course of the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) 

signal, and to further develop a methodology that delineates the logic of making inferences about cognitive 

systems from functional neuroimaging data. These represent potentially significant developments in the 

fields of cognitive neuroscience and functional neuroimaging.

DP0345811 Prof DD Do Prof ET White 

*** 

Title: Characterization of Sub- and Super-Critical Fluids in Nanomaterials 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

In recent years, nano-porous materials have become the most potential media for applications in the areas 

of separation and purification, with materials such as carbon alloy, activated carbon fibre, carbon 

nanotube and their derivatives. Their effective utilisation depends on how well we characterise them for 

their adsorption capacities. In this project, we propose a new model for this characterisation and this 

model can be used for the prediction of adsorption of multicomponent systems, which are common in 

separation and purification industries, without recourse to extensive experimentation. The success of 

this model could translate to cost savings in those industries. 

DP0345221 Prof MJ D'Occhio Dr PL Kaye Prof D Albertini Dr M Pantaleon 

Title: Subcellular co-localisation of interacting proteins that control maturation in 

mammalian eggs 

2003 : $43,000 

2004 : $40,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The final maturation of mammalian eggs (oocytes) before fertilisation involves a cascade of interactions 

between protein kinases and phosphatases, the shuttling of these proteins between cytoplasm and 

nucleus, and microtubule assembly and disassembly. In this project we have proposed that interacting 

proteins involved in oocyte maturation are co-localised at subcellular sites in oocytes, in a strict temporal 

and spatial manner. The co-localisation of proteins in oocytes is considered a fundamental mechanism 

that ensures coordination of time-bound cellular events and proper preparation of oocytes for fertilisation 

and early embryo development. There are important implications for IVF and cloning by nuclear transfer. 

*** 

DP0342857 Dr MJ Drinkwater Dr S Phillipps Dr MD Gregg 

Title: Galactic Cannibalism: The link between dwarf galaxies and globular star clusters 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $85,000 



Summary: 

The formation of bright globular star clusters in giant galaxies like our own Milky Way remains an unsolved 

problem in astrophysics. Galactic cannibalism is the theory that they formed by the disruption of dwarf 

galaxies that came too close to the gravitational field of giant galaxies. We will use the new Gemini 

Telescopes to test this theory with sensitive comparisons of the properties of globular clusters, dwarf 

galaxies and our newly-discovered ultra-compact dwarf galaxies which may be the missing link in this 

process. 

*** 

DP0343042 Prof PW Eklund Dr RJ Cole Prof PD Bruza Dr D Song 

Title: Concept learning and Structure Formation for Document Navigation 

2003 : $70,345 

2004 : $70,345

2005 : $70,345 



APD Dr RJ Cole 

Summary: 

This proposal is motivated by its interest in document retrieval and discovery using formal concept 

analysis. The hypothesis to be tested is that logical structures can be automatically inferred from a 

document collection using information inference and concept learning. 

*** 

DP0344557 Dr JA Feeney Dr NL Passmore Prof CC Peterson 

Title: Attachment security and relationship outcomes in adult adoptees: The moderating 

effects of family experiences and recent relationship events. 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

Personal relationships are vital to well-being and to the structure of society; hence, factors involved in 

maintaining satisfying relationships are of prime importance. The relationship experiences of adult 

adoptees deserve particular attention. These individuals have lost the major persons with whom 

attachments normally form; further, given legislative changes, an increasing number are facing issues 

related to the search for birth parents. These studies, based on adult attachment theory, represent the 

first research program to systematically examine the links among adoption, family experiences, 

attachment security and relationship outcomes. The research has implications for policy and practice 

regarding adoption and post-adoption counselling. 

*** 

DP0345867 Prof J Foster Prof MJ Hinich Dr PT Wild 

Title: Nonlinear Econometric Modelling: A Complex Systems Perspective 

2003 : $20,000 

2004 : $20,000 

2005 : $20,000 



Summary: 

It is becoming increasingly accepted that economic systems are both complex and adaptive. However, 

this introduces a range of problems in constructing, estimating and testing economic models using time 

series data. In this project, this problem will be addressed through the formulation and implementation of a 

new methodology and associated techniques. These techniques will allow a researcher to use 

information obtained from a set of nonlinearity tests to determine which type of nonlinear model provides 

the best representation of a data generating mechanism. Selected high frequency financial and 

macroeconomic data (for the US and Australia) will be used in the study. This research is intended to 

change the direction and emphasis of econometric modelling and promises to have a fundamental impact 

on forecasting and policy evaluation methods. 

DP0345198 A/Prof CE Franklin 

*** 

Title: Regulation of salt gland activity in the estuarine crocodile: phenotypic plasticity and 

control mechanisms. 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $60,000



Summary: 

The estuarine crocodile excretes excess sodium and chloride ions through salt glands located on the 

tongue, enabling the crocodile to live in seawater. This study will investigate the regulation of salt gland 

secretory capacity and activity, by examining both the phenotypic plasticity of the gland to changes in 

environmental salinity and diet, and by determining the neural/humoral mechanisms controlling secretory 

rate. In vivo measurements of blood flow and salt gland secretory rate, together with perfused gland 

preparations will reveal extrinsic and intrinsic factors controlling salt gland activity and the degree of 

coupling between blood flow and secretory rate. 

DP0345462 Dr MV Glikson A/Prof LI Sly 

*** 

Title: A microscopic and analytical study of extreme thermophile bacteria in simulated 

environments compared to organic matter in early Earth hydrothermal systems 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

The study will examine microbial cells and organic residues of cultured thermophilic archaea from 

simulated extreme environments in terms of temperature, pressure and mineral concentrations. These will 

be compared, applying observational and geochemical techniques to organic material in geologically 

earliest ecosystems. A novel approach will be adopted, of 'backtracking' changes occurring to cultured 

microbial cells towards their breakdown and disintegration (in contrast to the more common approach of 

simulating synthesis of organic compounds as a starting point towards structured functioning organisms), 

and their viability limits. The results of the study will be tested within the currently available theoretical 

models for the origin of life. 

*** 

DP0344455 A/Prof MD Gould Dr JR Links Dr Y Zhang 

Title: Metallic nanograins: superconducting correlations, Josephson tunneling and 

conformal field theory 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

Experimental studies of aluminium grains which are a few nanometres in size have exposed unexpected 

physical characteristics, including pairing interactions which are responsible for bulk superconductivity. 

Our previous theoretical work has shown that precise information about these nanograins can be gained 

in the framework of the exact solution of the BCS model. This project will continue our work in this area 

with an emphasis on investigating the nature of Josephson tunneling between coupled nanograins. The 

results of this project will have important applications in emerging technologies such as the implementation 

of Josephson junctions of nanoscale size. 

*** 

DP0342953 Prof SF Gray Dr V Ragunathan Mr JL Hall 

Title: Quantification issues in corporate valuation, the cost of capital, and optimal capital 

structure. 

2003 : $52,000 

2004 : $49,000 

2005 : $25,000 

Category: 3503 - BANKING, FINANCE AND INVESTMENT


Summary: 

An estimate of the firm's cost of capital is probably the most important calculation required in corporate 

finance. It is used as the discount rate in valuation and capital budgeting decisions and forms the basis of 

pricing structures for many regulated industries. Corporate finance theory has identified the key inputs 

used to calculate the cost of capital, but the current literature falls short of precisely quantifying and 

measuring many of these inputs. The outcomes from this project will be a framework to quantify three 

key aspects of the cost of capital - the value of dividend imputation tax credits, the assessment of the 

optimal capital structure for the firm (in particular, the quantification of bankruptcy and agency costs 

associated with debt financing), and the estimation of the firm's marginal tax rate. 

DP0344877 Dr DJ Green 

*** 

Title: Landscape level effects on dispersal behaviour and gene flow in the logrunner, a 

rainforest restricted bird 

2003 : $73,000 

2004 : $73,000 

2005 : $73,000 



APD Dr DJ Green 

Summary: 

Dispersal is thought to be critical for the persistence of small avian populations in fragmented landscapes. 

However, our knowledge of dispersal is limited. I will combine behavioural observations on radiotagged 

birds and powerful genetic markers to examine the effects of habitat fragmentation on the dispersal 

behaviour of a rainforest restricted bird, the logrunner. This study will determine how landscape structure 

influences the movement of juvenile logrunners, investigate the causes and consequences of variation in 

juvenile dispersal behaviour, and use molecular data to determine how connectivity between habitats 

effects the genetic structure of logrunner populations. 

DP0346679 Prof PM Gresshoff Dr BJ Carroll 

*** 

Title: Systemic control of nodule proliferation 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $95,000 



Summary: 

We aim to clone and characterize the functions of the supernodulation (NTS-1) locus of soybean using 

positional cloning and functional genomics approaches. Supernodulation fascinatingly results from a 

mutant Nts-1 gene functioning in the shoot, although the phenotype is expressed as excessive nodule 

proliferation in the root. The cloned gene will be used to monitor expression changes after inoculation 

with Bradyrhizobium, treatment with nitrate, nod-factor, xylem exudates and phytohormones. We will use 

RT-PCR, in situ hybridisation and reporter gene expression in transgenic plants. Microarray analysis of 

soybean ESTs (4200 arrayed) will analyse concurrent gene expression changes in both root and shoot. 

DP0343532 Prof GS Halford 

*** 

Title: A method for analysis of cognitive complexity: Applications to reasoning, learning 

and to industrial workloads 

2003 : $46,000 

2004 : $44,500

2005 : $46,500 



Summary: 

The project will develop a method for analysis of cognitive complexity in humans and animals. It will 

contribute to basic research because it will enable equivalences and relative complexities of cognitive 

functions to be determined, independent of content or methodology. It has application to human factors, 

especially in aviation and command and control tasks generally. It will advance on current methods 

because it enables workload to be analysed and predicted, so that it can be factored into job and system 

design. It will also have applications to education, because it enables complexities of concepts to be 

recognised and appropriate pedagogies determined. 

*** 

DP0346647 Prof O Hoegh-Guldberg A/Prof D Yellowlees Prof WK Fitt Dr RD Gates Dr TC LaJeunesse 

Title: Tracing the origins of stress in the symbionts of reef-building corals. 

2003 : $160,000 

2004 : $180,000 

2005 : $180,000 

2006 : $180,000 



Summary: 

Symbiotic dinoflagellates of corals are critical to the world's major tropical reef ecosystems. Recent work 

in our laboratories and others has revealed that these algae are sensitive to a wide array of stresses 

(including climate change) and hence may be the 'Achilles Heel' of reef ecosystems. This project will 

identify the key genes and processes in these algae using expressed sequence tags and microarray 

technology. On this basis, the underlying molecular mechanisms of these stress responses and their 

genetic diversity will be studied in order to better understand the differential susceptibility of reef-building 

corals to bleaching. 

DP0345219 A/Prof PM Kelly Dr M Zhang 

*** 

Title: Computer Modelling of the Morphology and Crystallography of Diffusion-controlled 

Phase Transformations 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $70,000 



Summary: 

An analytical, phenomenological version of the successful "edge-to edge" matching approach to the 

morphology and crystallography of diffusion-controlled phase transformations will be developed. This 

will be incorporated in a Windows based computer program that can predict the essential features of 

precipitation (orientation relationships, habit planes, morphology and interface structure), from readily 

available input data for the two phases involved. It will provide a fuller understanding of 

diffusion-controlled phase transformations and the computer simulation will assist in the development of 

improved precipitation hardening alloys. In addition, a database of crystallographic data for typical metallic 

materials will be established in the project. 

DP0343245 Dr VE Kelly 

*** 

Title: Star actors and management in Australia 1880s-1920s 

2003 : $27,313 

2004 : $38,732 

2005 : $31,925



Summary: 

The project studies early twentieth-century star actors who worked for Australian commercial 

managements, in order to locate how the cultural impact of theatrical performers was mediated by their 

immediate industrial situations and their artistic profiles. It selects four significant male and female touring 

stars who performed in spectacular costume drama, in association with JC Williamson's Ltd and other 

entrepreneurial organisations. The investigation relates the negotiations between both managerial and 

labour structures involving actors to their artistic opportunities and repertoire. It will produce a 

materially-informed account of the social presence and cultural meanings embodied by the glamorous 

theatrical star in Australia. 

DP0346069 A/Prof B Key 

*** 

Title: Assessing gene function in the developing vertebrate brain using zebrafish as a 

model system 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

Although the vertebrate brain is the most complicated biological tissue it arises from a very simple sheet 

of cells during embryogenesis. Groups of nerve cells begin to communicate with each other through long 

interconnecting processes called axons. This project seeks to understand the role of specific genes in 

this process. This is the first time that the mechanisms controlling the growth of the earliest axons in the 

vertebrate brain will be examined in a living brain. Our analysis is expected to discover genes that are 

targets for manipulation of axon growth. 

DP0346661 Dr A Kloda 

Title: Conantokin selectivity for heteromeric N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 

*** 



APD Dr A Kloda 

Summary: 

NMDA receptors are ligand gated ion channels formed by heterogeneous population of subunits with 

distinct pharmacological and biophysical properties. The heterogeneic receptors are differentially 

expressed during development and play an important role in many physiological and pathological 

processes. Conantokins are toxins isolated from Conus venoms, which target NMDA receptor subunits 

with high affinity. The primary goal of this study is to examine the effects of conantokins on the molecular 

properties of different NMDA receptor subtypes in vivo and in vitro. 

DP0345872 Dr MM LaCaze 

*** 

Title: Wonder and generosity as guides to the ethics and politics of respect for difference. 

2003 : $89,411 

2004 : $89,411 

2005 : $89,411 

2006 : $84,866 

2007 : $92,866 

Category: 4401 - PHILOSOPHY


ARF Dr MM LaCaze 

Summary: 

This project concerns how wonder, based on accepting others' differences, and generosity, based on 

mutual respect, can supplement each other to establish an ethics and politics of respect for gender and 

cultural difference. It contributes to understanding the relationship between equality and difference in 

public life - the extent to which we must treat others as similar in the name of equality and the extent to 

which we must recognise significant differences. The project will advance philosophical understanding 

of how to conceptualise due respect for the diversity of people's lives and experiences. 

DP0346461 Dr L Li A/Prof P Nielsen 

*** 

Title: Water exchange and mixing at the aquifer-ocean interface 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $43,670 

2005 : $48,000 



Summary: 

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGWD) has been identified by International Geosphere-Biosphere 

Programme as an important contamination source for coastal marine and estuarine environments. Nutrient 

input associated with SGWD is threatening the Great Barrier Reef. Water exchange driven by 

tides/waves at the shore contributes to SGWD significantly. However, no data of the water exchange 

rates exist. This project will measure time-varying groundwater flow and salinity distribution in the 

intertidal zone at two beaches to study near-shore water exchange and mixing. These unique data, 

providing basis for developing SGWD models, will improve the understanding and quantification of 

subsurface chemical fluxes to coastal waters. 

DP0345355 Prof PA Lindsay Prof IJ Hayes Prof RG Dromey Dr DA Carrington 

Title: Building dependability into complex, computer-based systems 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $50,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Air traffic control, telecommunications, defence, power distribution and many other vital infrastructures all 

rely on complex computer-based systems. Whenever one of these systems fails, it can cause major 

disruption to society, create large financial losses and even pose risks to life. This project will integrate 

and improve methods for modelling and analysing computer-based systems in terms of their requirements 

and architectures, focusing on how to achieve and maintain dependability in the context of on-going 

change and failure to meet requirements. These methods will be based on sound mathematical 

foundations and proven engineering approaches applicable to industrial-scale complex systems. 

DP0344931 Prof GM Lu Dr JC Diniz da Costa Prof J Drennan Dr H Zhao 

*** 

Title: NANOCOMPOSITE PROTON-CONDUCTING MEMBRANES FOR FUEL CELL APPLICATIONS 

2003 : $163,000 

2004 : $130,000 

2005 : $149,000 

2006 : $120,000 

2007 : $100,000 

Category: 2918 - INTERDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING


APF Prof GM Lu 

Summary: 

This project aims to develop a new class of proton-conducting materials with high proton-conductivity, 

low gas permeability and good thermal stability for application to fuel cells. The strategy for such a new 

material is to exploit the unique properties of nanoscale particles of metal phosphates and silicates, 

hybridised with proton-conducting polymers. Such new materials will be enabling technology for 

commercialising both hydrogen and methanol fuel cells, promising a revolutionary clean energy supply 

particularly for transport vehicles and mobile devices. The project addresses the synthesis and 

characterisation of nanostructured composite of proton-conducting nanoparticles, a key to high 

performance fuel cell membranes. 

DP0345738 Dr JP Macarthur 

*** 

Title: The Picturesque in Modernity: object image and architecture 

2003 : $72,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $38,000 



Summary: 

The idea of the picturesque its emergence in the eighteenth century are relatively well known. However, 

the longer history of the picturesque, through to its use in the present, has not been studied. This Project 

proposes to describe the key concepts and techniques that constitute the latter history of the 

picturesque. Against claims that the eighteenth century picturesque was a generic and abstract art, this 

longer history will show that the picturesque is better understood as an intra-disciplinary relation of 

architecture and the visual arts. The Project will be of relevance to issues of the historical status of 

architecture as an art discipline. At a more general level, the Project will be of significance in present 

issues in the conceptualization of images and objects, including those that arise in virtual environments, 

issues which first arose in the picturesque. 

DP0346551 Dr AJ Macdonald 

*** 

Title: Representing Kanaks: Generic Variation, Identity, and the Politics of the Everyday 

Semiotic 

2003 : $103,000 

2004 : $98,000 

2005 : $70,000 



APD Dr AJ Macdonald 

Summary: 

The project hypothesizes that representational struggles over indigenous identity are crucially shaped by 

the range of genres in which identity is asserted. Through the case of Kanaks in New Caledonia, as 

represented by several everyday genres hitherto neglected by scholarship, the representational politics 

of indigeneity are interrogated with the aim of demonstrating that Kanak existence is constituted in the 

semiotic detail of everyday generic variation. The project's significance lies in its radical reconception of 

identity and representational politics: going beyond indigenous versus colonial binaries, it reveals the 

complexity of day-to-day competition over and consolidation of indigenous identity through 

representational systems. 

DP0345019 A/Prof JL Martin Dr JD Tyndall 

*** 

Title: Investigating the structure, function and inhibition of the adrenaline-synthesizing 

enzyme PNMT

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

We determined the structure of the enzyme PNMT and we plan to use this in the design of PNMT inhibitors 

to enable us to probe the role of adrenaline and PNMT in the central nervous system. As part of this 

work, we will further characterise the structure of PNMT by crystallography and mutagenesis. The 

significance is that designed PNMT inhibitors could eventually be used as leads in the development of 

compounds with novel pharmacological and therapeutic activity. Furthermore, our analysis of PNMT will 

determine rules that can be applied to the design of new methyltransferase enzymes with novel 

functions. 

DP0346653 Prof JS Mattick 

*** 

Title: Rnomics - The Role of Introns and Other Noncoding RNAs in the Evolution and 

Development of Complex Organisms 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

Approximately 98% of the transcriptional output of the human genome is noncoding RNA. The aims of the 

project are to (a) provide direct evidence that introns contain functional information and are part of an 

RNA-based regulatory network, (b) identify large numbers of new noncoding RNAs and substantiate the 

conclusion that noncoding RNAs genes are common in eukaryotic genomes, and (c) provide supporting 

evidence that the higher eukaryotes have evolved a second tier of gene expression based on RNA. The 

project has the capacity to transform our understanding of genetic programming in the higher organisms, 

with considerable scientific and practical implications. 

DP0345901 Prof GJ McLachlan 

Title: Unsupervised learning of finite mixture models in data mining applications 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $45,000 



*** 

Summary: 

The extraction of useful information from massively large databases is known as data mining. Its broad 

but vague goal is to find "interesting structure" in the data, which typically leads to breaking the data into 

clusters. To this end, we consider the fast, efficient, and automatic learning of finite mixture models in 

hugh data sets without any prior knowledge of the structure. This probabilistic approach to the discovery 

and validation of group structure in data mining applications will considerably enhance knowledge 

management and decision support in science, industry, and government. 

DP0342514 Dr MJ McLelland 

Title: Local Culture/Global Space: Japanese Minority Sexualities and the Internet 

2003 : $67,697 

2004 : $82,807 

2005 : $64,345 


***


APD Dr MJ McLelland 

Summary: 

After English (43%), Japanese (9%)is the most used language on the Internet. No study has addressed 

the specific ways in which Japanese language use affects Internet communication or how the Internet is 

being used by minoritised groups and individuals. The project will examine Internet use by minority 

sexualities in Japan in order to ascertain how individuals and communities who fall outside the 

'mainstream' of society interact with this new technology. The project will contribute to our understanding 

of how the Internet, a supposedly global medium, also facilitates the emergence of very local subcultures. 

The project will result in a series of conference presentations, journal papers and a book. 

DP0345309 Dr P Meredith Prof T Sarna 

*** 

Title: Photoactive Semiconducting Biopolymers 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $48,000 



Summary: 

The basic aims of this project are to elucidate, manipulate, and utilise the unique chemical and physical 

properties of a class of biopolymers called the melanins. These materials are the only known solid state 

semiconducting biopolymers, and are non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable. Their use as active 

components in biomimetic soft electonic, optoelectronic or photovoltaic devices, has not hitherto been 

demonstrated. It is anticipated that the key outcomes from the project will be a demonstration of 

biopolymer-based photoelectrochemical and solid-state p-i-n solar cells, and an improved understanding 

of the physics and chemistry of these important biological macromolecules. 

DP0343037 Dr A Moreton-Robinson 

*** 

Title: Black on White: Indigenous Social Constructions of Race 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $68,000 

2005 : $66,000 



APD Dr A Moreton-Robinson 

Summary: 

This project examines the contested meanings of race for Indigenous people in Australia through an 

analysis of the discourses they deploy in articulating their experiences. By considering their lives as 

contexts for the reproduction of race the research will offer new knowledge about the ways in which 

Indigenous people racialise themselves and others. The project has important theoretical and practical 

implications by elaborating and progressing recent advances in constructions of identity and whiteness. 

The findings will add new knowledge to the current field of race studies in Australia and abroad. They 

will be presented in a book and a series of scholarly articles. 

DP0346039 Prof HB Muhlhaus Prof PR Mora 

*** 

Title: Computer simulation to study emergence of material texture in the Earth and Plate 

Tectonics 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 

Category: 2601 - GEOLOGY


Summary: 

Plate tectonics has played a crucial role in the evolution and dynamics of the earth impacting on the 

diversity of life, mineralisation, and crustal dynamics. Despite its significance, how and under what 

conditions material texture and plate tectonics emerge from a proto-planet is not well understood. New 

computational methodologies to simulate the evolution of the plate-mantle system will be used to study 

how the upper mantle emerges as a thermo-mechanically distinct boundary layer, how this emergent 

structure relates to anisotropy in the upper mantle, and how it is affected by cross-scale effects 

controlling fault zone behaviour and crustal dynamics. 

DP0346664 Dr G Muscat 

*** 

Title: Regulation of mammalian differentiation by methylation of histones and transcription 

factors. 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $70,000 



Summary: 

The objective of this proposal is to examine the functional role of arginine and lysine methylation during 

skeletal muscle differentiation. Differentiation, i.e the acquisition of a specific phenotype, is the biological 

end point of the 'Genome-Phenome' transition. Specifically, the proposal will seek to understand the role 

of protein methylation in the control of tissue specific gene expression and cell signaling during 

differentiation. Key areas of study in the ARC priority area of Genome-Phenome research. We will test 

the hypothesis that the activity/function of the hierarchical myogenic transcription factors and cofactors 

that control skeletal myogenesis is influenced by protein methylation. 

DP0345134 Dr SK Ng 

*** 

Title: On-line and Incremental EM-based Neural Networks: Application to Hospital Utlilization 

and Gene Expression Data 

2003 : $67,467 

2004 : $66,467 

2005 : $64,345 



APD Dr SK Ng 

Summary: 

Artificial neural networks have been widely applied as universal classifiers in many fields, such as 

biomedicine. However, misunderstanding of fundamental statistical principles, which can cause 

misleading findings, has been frequently observed in the literature. This project aims to integrate 

statistical methodologies in neural networks to provide a unified approach to improve its applicability and 

efficiency in implementation. The system developed from this proposed cross-disciplinary research will 

be applied to hospital utilization data (hospital morbidity database, Western Australia) and gene 

expression data (DNA microarrays databases, Harvard University). This collaborative research will 

advance the international standard of Australian research communities. 

DP0346187 A/Prof MA Nielsen 

Title: Quantum entanglement and its role in complex quantum systems 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $110,000 

***

2006 : $45,000 

2007 : $120,000 



Summary: 

Quantum entanglement - non-classical correlations in quantum states - is the physical resource at the 

heart of modern applications of quantum technology, such as absolutely secure communication, and 

teleportation of quantum states from one location to another. This project aims to deepen our theoretical 

understanding of entanglement by characterizing the type and amount of entanglement present in the 

ground and thermal states of a general physical system. These results will enable us to study the central 

role entanglement plays in quantum phase transitions - the change of a physical system from one state 

of matter to another, different, state of matter, one with a truly quantum character. 

DP0343795 Dr LM O'Connell 

Title: The Cultural Impact of Irregular Marriage in the Age of British Colonialism, 

2003 : $24,000 

2004 : $28,000 

2005 : $20,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Marriage has always been central to our understanding of relations between literature, society and 

culture. This project significantly revises that understanding by focussing on the irregular marriage 

practices which thrived in Britain and its colonies from 1660 to c.1860. It demonstrates, for instance, 

how the novel genre became respectable partly by marginalising irregular marriages; how Gretna Green 

weddings came to typify modern romance in drama and fiction; and how marriage regulations 

underpinned literary portrayals of civil society in the Australian penal colony. It will deliver a 

groundbreaking monograph which accounts for marriage's role in modern literary culture in new terms. 

DP0346031 Prof TP Oei 

*** 

Title: The influence of parental alcohol expectancies on offsprings' alcohol expectancies 

and drinking: A longitudinal study 

2003 : $73,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $59,000 



Summary: 

It has been shown that potentially modifiable alcohol related cognitions, such as alcohol expectancies 

(AE)and drinking refusal self-efficacy (DRSE) are formed in childhood are related to drinking in 

adolescents and adults. The question of how these beliefs are formed is still unanswered. This 

longitudinal study examines the influences of parental alcohol-related beliefs and drinking, on children's 

alcohol-related beliefs and drinking behaviour. Positive results of this study will improve primary 

prevention by identifying and changing modifiable variables for populations potentially at-risk of 

developing later alcohol-related. It will also help to reduce cost and suffering of a major problem in 

Australian. Problems. 

DP0345176 Prof SL O'Neill 

Title: Control of Wolbachia replication: maintaining a stable symbiosis 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $90,000 

***



Summary: 

This project will use a comparative genomics approach to better understand how Wolbachia infections of 

insects are able to maintain themselves in insects without causing pathology. The results will allow us to 

better understand a distinguishing characteristic of an intracellular symbiont, namely replication control. 

The results also have the potential to lead to new approaches to insect pest control through a better 

understanding of how Wolbachia might be used to skew insect population age structure. 

DP0342624 Dr RL Parker 

Title: The impact of small business policy systems on small firm innovation and 

competitiveness in critical industry sectors 

2003 : $35,000 

2004 : $25,000 

2005 : $28,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This research will examine the proposition that small business policy systems affect the structure and 

strategy of SMEs and in turn the sectors within which SMEs innovate and specialise. It will involve an 

analysis of SME policy systems; sectors of SME specialisation based on patent data, annual reports and 

firm web sites; and a longitudinal study of the strategy and structure of 29 case study firms in 3 sectors 

in 3 countries based on in-depth interviews and focus groups. Findings will provide a basis for improved 

policy advice concerning the mechanisms for encouraging small firm innovation and competitiveness in 

critical sectors. 

*** 

DP0345121 Prof CC Peterson Dr VP Slaughter 

Title: Maternal input and theory of mind development in infancy and early childhood 

2003 : $44,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $43,000 



Summary: 

When parents talk to their children, they influence their development both by what they say and how they 

say it. Building on previous ARC-funded work, this project will examine how and to what extent parents 

converse about mental states with their children, as well as investigating the influence of such parental 

talk on the child's socio-cognitive understanding of others' minds and emotions. Results promise to supply 

important insights into the complex interaction of biology and socialisation in normal development, and will 

also serve as a foundation for future interventions to help children who are at risk for social problems. 

*** 

DP0346165 Prof HP Possingham Dr MA McCarthy 

Title: Optimal management of complex ecological systems 

2003 : $145,000 

2004 : $140,000 

2005 : $143,000 

2006 : $147,000 

2007 : $74,000 



APF Prof HP Possingham

Summary: 

Natural systems are inherently complex and difficult to predict. This complexity means that efficient 

management strategies are often uncertain, and resource managers have few theories or rules on which 

to base their decisions. We will integrate the existing theories and principles of conservation biology with 

decision-making tools and theory used in statistics, economics, control theory, engineering and 

mathematics. We will use novel methods to investigate the reliability of different management decisions 

that are made in the face of uncertainty and involve learning. Our aim is to discover a general theory for a 

new branch of conservation biology: applied theoretical conservation ecology. 

DP0342987 Dr MA Ragan 

*** 

Title: Automated bioinformatic analysis of vertical and lateral gene transmission among 

microbial genomes 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $60,000 

Category: 2899 - OTHER INFORMATION, COMPUTING AND COMMUNICATION SCIENCES 


Summary: 

Genetic information is transmitted "vertically" from parents to offspring within species. Biologists have 

long assumed that this mechanism, extrapolated far into the past, explains the distribution of genes among 

genomes, thus the potential properties of all phenomes. But genome sequences show that some, 

perhaps many, genes have been transmitted "laterally" between species. We are building a unique 

automated computer-based system to find all instances of lateral transmission in all microbial genomes, 

using rigorous methods. Our results will be important both fundamentally and practically, e.g. in explaining 

sets and dynamics of phenomic traits, and quantifying background levels of "natural genetic engineering". 

DP0342541 Dr JP Ridge A/Prof LI Sly 

Title: The molecular biology and biochemistry of bacterial manganese oxidation 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $72,000 

2005 : $72,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project will further the understanding of bacterial manganese (Mn2+) oxidation. A multi-disciplinary 

approach will be used to further investigate the genetics and biochemistry of the Mn2+-oxidising systems 

of Pseudomonas putida, Leptothrix sp. and Pedomicrobium sp. This work will focus in particular on 

comparing the Mn2+-oxidising systems from unrelated bacteria. A combination of molecular biology, 

protein biochemistry and spectroscopy will be used. This will be the first time that the enzymes of 

bacterial Mn2+-oxidation will have been characterised in such detail and will lead to a greater 

understanding of the process of bacterial manganese oxidation. 

*** 

DP0343094 Prof H Rubinsztein-Dunlop Dr MJ Davis Dr CA Holmes A/Prof NR Heckenberg Prof GJ 

Milburn Dr KC Schwab 

Title: Quantum Atom Optics and Single Atom Detection with Micro-Bose-Einstein 

Condensates 

2003 : $300,000 

2004 : $300,000 

2005 : $260,000 

2006 : $230,000 

2007 : $300,000



Summary: 

A Bose Einstein condensate (BEC) is a collection of atoms, all in the same quantum state, like the photons 

in a laser. It is now possible to create a micro-BEC and move it around on an 'atom chip'. We propose an 

experimental and theoretical study of its properties including those quantum statistical effects which will 

limit future ultra-sensitive measurement technologies such as quantum electromechanical transducers. 

We will develop methods to count small numbers of ultra-cold atoms, engineer their state and build a 

prototype device. 

DP0344571 A/Prof V Rudolph Dr RJ Finley 

*** 

Title: Multi-component Gas Transport in Deep Coal 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $110,000 

2005 : $110,000 



Summary: 

The understanding of multi-component gas flow in coal underlies the use, management and optimization of 

deep coal as an economic resource for methane recovery, CO2 sequestration, pipeline gas storage and 

underground gasification. This project will develop a predictive reservoir flow model for deep coal 

behavior under asymmetric, dynamically evolving internal and external stresses, during multi-component 

gas release or injection. A confluence of new tools including a large sample, high pressure, triaxial stress 

permeameter, and micron resolved 3D reconstruction of the coal cleat and pore structure, will provide 

physical parameters to the fundamentally based, competitive transport and adsorption/desorption model. 

DP0344027 Dr HD Rundle 

*** 

Title: Can Sexual Selection Generate Reproductive Isolation? 

2003 : $72,000 

2004 : $72,000 

2005 : $64,345 



APD Dr HD Rundle 

Summary: 

Sexual selection has long been thought to be central to the process of speciation and numerous models 

have been proposed to explain its contribution. However, the ability of sexual selection to generate 

reproductive isolation has never been evaluated experimentally and there is limited direct evidence for its 

role in speciation in nature. Using Drosophila serrata, I intend to conduct a large scale experimental test of 

the role of sexual selection in the origin of new species. I will manipulate mate choice by placing male 

pheromones under artificial selection and then tracking the evolution of reproductive isolation in the 

presence and absence of sexual selection. 

DP0344078 Prof AP Street Prof JR Seberry 

*** 

Title: Timed Commitment Schemes to Smooth Internet Bottlenecks, Defend against Denial 

of Service Attacks, and Bypass Some Legal Problems of Enccryption 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $50,000 


Administering Institution: The University of Queensland

Summary: 

Bottlenecks on the Internet and Denial of Service attacks on a server are both caused by excessive 

demands made on a system. This proposal is to reduce the ill-effects of either by building on our 

previous theoretical work on strongboxes of combinatorial designs. In the case of bottlenecks, the 

demands are legitimate but badly timed, and our approach will redistribute the demands more evenly. In 

the case of Denial of Service attacks, the demands are malicious, and our approach will respond in such 

a way as to deplete the resources of the attacker. 

DP0343877 Dr PA Strooper Dr RW Duke 

*** 

Title: Practical Tools and Techniques for the Testing of Concurrent Software Components 

2003 : $69,000 

2004 : $58,650 

2005 : $49,852 



Summary: 

This project will develop tools and techniques for the practical, systematic testing of concurrent software 

components. Testing is a major means for ensuring that software performs as expected, but testing 

concurrent software is poorly understood even though the majority of complex, computer-based systems 

are concurrent in nature. The complexities arising from the non-deterministic nature of such software 

means that testing tools and techniques used for simpler, sequential software are inadequate. The 

outcomes of this project will consist of practical techniques for the effective testing of concurrent 

software components in general and tools for the testing of Java components in particular. 

DP0346749 Dr RD Teasdale Dr SM Grimmond Prof BJ Wainwright Prof DA Hume 

*** 

Title: Alternative Splicing in the Mouse Transcriptome 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Although the human genome completion is cause for excitement we do not have any firm indication of 

precisely how many protein-coding genes exist in a mammalian genome. We have even less indication of 

the extent to which these genes generate alternative gene products, through a process termed 

alternative splicing. The detection and sequencing of these full-length alternative gene products is the 

focus of this application. This application details the opportunity to participate in the identification of the full 

transcriptome of the mouse and is part of a collaborative effort with The RIKEN Genome Sciences Center 

in Japan. 

DP0344353 Prof RI Tinning Dr PM Glasby 

*** 

Title: Teacher identity and the challenge of the socially critical curriculum: The case of 

Health & Physical Education. 

2003 : $37,000 

2004 : $33,000 

2005 : $33,000 



Summary: 

The focus of this research project is upon how the teacher identity might influence the possibilities for 

curriculum reform in Health and Physical Education. In particular we are interested in the interplay 

between the embodied identity of HPE teachers and the socially critical agenda of the new HPE 

curriculum. The project aims to gain an understanding of how prospective and practising HPE teachers

construct their teacher identities, and of the extent of their commitment to the emancipatory and life 

politics (Giddens, 1991) discourses that underpin the new HPE curriculum. Findings will be of direct 

significance for policy-makers and curriculum reformers in the field of Health and Physical Education. 

DP0342830 Prof CA Tisdell Dr CI Wilson 

*** 

Title: Economics of Conserving Australian Tropical Wildlife: An Analysis of the Role of 

Economic Valuation, Property Rights and Commercialisation 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $56,000 

2005 : $57,000 



Summary: 

Australian tropical native animals are selected to analyse economic valuation (use and non-use valuation) 

of wildlife species and to assess systematically the role of property rights and commercialisation in 

conservation. The project will (1) reduce bias of Australian economic studies in favour of temperate 

species; (2) answer several unresolved questions raised in the Parlimentary Report on Commercial 

Utilisation of Australian Wildlife; (3) advance economic theory (e.g. relating to dynamic influences on 

economic valuation) and provide new insights into property rights making use of empirical and 

experimental results, and (4) thereby contribute to public policy decision-making. 

*** 

DP0343547 Prof M Trau Dr L Grondahl Dr S Cool A/Prof V Nurcombe 

Title: DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL BIOMATERIAL FOR BONE TISSUE ENGINEERING 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

Tissue engineering of bone is emerging as a viable therapy for treating large defects in load-bearing 

bone. We wish to develop methods for combining novel heparan sulphate molecules (known to deliver 

growth factors to cell surfaces and thereby cause changes in bone cell phenotype) with load-bearing, 

macro-porous, biodegradable mineral/polymer biomaterials. Through the study of release profiles, protein 

adsorption and cell responses to these derivatised biomaterials, a novel approach to bone replacement 

materials can be developed. 

DP0343486 Prof G Turner 

*** 

Title: Talkback radio in Australia: Content, audience and influence 

2003 : $24,450 

2004 : $31,600 

2005 : $21,500 



Summary: 

This project is the most comprehensive study of talkback radio in Australia to date. It examines the 

content, influence and consumption of the programs as well as presenting a detailed investigation of the 

processes of production. Using evidence drawn from two high profile commercial sector programs and 

one ABC program, it will set out to explain the audience's interest in the format, the relations between the 

host and the callers, and the social, political and cultural placement of the format. The outcomes will be 

published in a series of articles in refereed journals and a monograph. 

***

DP0344749 Dr CE van Kraayenoord Dr MA Jobling Dr KB Moni Dr D Koppenhaver Prof J Elkins 

Title: Intervention for written expression: Middle school students with developmental 

disabilities 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $56,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

This study will develop, implement and evaluate professional development workshops on the teaching of 

written expression and integration of technology for teachers in middle school classrooms (Years 6 to 9) 

with students with developmental disabilities. It will also evaluate teacher-developed interventions in 

written expression. 

DP0344955 Dr M Veidt Dr F Rose 

Title: Plate Wave Tomography for Reconstruction of Laminar Defects 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000 

*** 

Category: 2999 - OTHER ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY 


Summary: 

The proposed project promotes a conceptual advance in the application of plate waves for the 

quantitative reconstruction of laminar defects by investigating fundamental experimental and analytical 

aspects of a novel approach in plate wave ultrasonic tomography. A successful development will have a 

comparable significance in the area of health monitoring of thin structures as computer tomography had in 

medical imaging. Previous attempts have ignored wave scattering effects, and therefore do not describe 

the correct physics of the problem. With its combined experimental-numerical approach, the proposed 

fundamental studies will help to identify the potential of plate wave ultrasonic tomography for in-situ 

health monitoring of realistic structures and smart materials design. 

DP0343522 Dr GM Wallis Prof H Bülthoff 

Title: Cortical topology underlying the representation and analysis of visual scenes 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 

2006 : $96,000 

2007 : $96,000 

*** 



QEII Dr GM Wallis 

Summary: 

When we look around us we seem to perceive our visual surroundings fully, accurately and 

instantaneously. Despite this strong impression, recent research has revealed that none of this is true. 

Using virtual environments, brain imaging and neural network simulations, this project aims to discover 

more about what we do see, which part of our brain stores what we see, and how this storage takes 

place. The work has the potential to influence the design of danger signs, teleoperated and virtual 

displays and autonomous machines. It should also help motivate new treatments and rehabilitation 

regimes for stroke victims. 

*** 

DP0345835 Dr H Wang Prof DH StJohn Dr CJ Davidson 

Title: Thixotropic Structure Generation and Semisolid Casting of Aluminium and

Magnesium Alloys 

2003 : $88,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $80,000 



APD Dr H Wang 

Summary: 

A range of aluminium and magnesium alloys will be prepared by controlled-pouring to produce structures 

suitable for semisolid forming. The conditions around grain nucleation and growth will be studied to 

ascertain the controlling factors in producing suitable microstructures. A computer model to simulate the 

thixotropic structure formation and define the processing parameters will be developed. Semisolid 

casting using the produced feedstock will lead to extensive knowledge about the effect of different 

microstructures and alloys on semisolid castability. Outcomes from the project will significantly advance 

the scientific understanding of the thixotropic structure generation and accelerate the development of 

semisolid processing technology. 

*** 

DP0343598 A/Prof J Wiles Dr JS Hallinan Prof JS Mattick 

Title: Computational Modeling of RNA Control Networks 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

One of the most exciting new ideas for understanding the regulation of gene expression involves the 

contribution of intronic and other non-protein coding RNAs to regulatory networks within cells. This novel 

role for intronic RNA is currently making headlines within the molecular biology community but has not yet 

been modelled computationally. The network of genetic regulatory interactions forms a complex system 

which is amenable to computational analysis. This project aims to extend current models to incorporate 

intronic RNA feedback control, complementing parallel studies in vivo, and computationally testing ideas 

essential to the theoretical understanding of the basis of life. 

DP0344021 Dr RS Wilson 

*** 

Title: Testing the adaptive benefit of physiological acclimation 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $85,000 



APD Dr RS Wilson 

Summary: 

For over a century, physiologists have observed that organisms can modify their physiological function in 

response to changes in the environment, a process known as acclimation. However, until recently, the 

adaptive benefit of these acclimation responses has been assumed rather than tested. In this study, I will 

utilize the effects of temperature on the ability of male mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) to obtain 

matings and subsequently sire offspring to test the benefit of both thermal acclimation and developmental 

plasticity. This will allow the most comprehensive test of two important hypotheses in comparative 

physiology: the Beneficial Acclimation Hypothesis and the Beneficial Developmental Plasticity Hypothesis. 

DP0344083 Dr RC Wolff Prof AS Hurn 

***

Title: New approaches to the statistical modelling of financial risk: combining structural 

information with flexible, computationally-intensive non-parametric methods 

2003 : $30,000 

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $30,000 



Summary: 

The aims of this project are to provide a range of novel, rigorous, flexible, statistical methods to assess 

portfolio risk, with due attention to behaviour of its constituent components; to obtain greater 

understanding of the complexities of risk; and to give students research training in the nexus of statistics 

and finance. The anticipated outcomes of this project will be detailed knowledge of extremal behaviour in 

portfolios, improved methods for calibrating risk, advances in non-parametric methods in finance, a 

prototype practitioner toolkit for assessing risk, and high-calibre graduates to contribute to Australia's 

research capacity. 

DP0346075 Dr GF Wyeth 

*** 

Title: Robot Navigation From Nature: Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping Based On 

Hippocampal Models 

2003 : $50,000 



Summary: 

This project will create a new method of robot control that allows a robot to learn a map of any area and 

then navigate using that map. The new method is based on ideas from recent models of rodent brains. 

The resulting improvements in robot navigation offer immediate benefits to the emerging service robot 

industry. In addition, the act of reproducing a high-level brain function in a robot will increase the 

understanding of memory and learning in mammals, including humans. Consequently, the outcomes of this 

research will benefit both robot designers and brain researchers. 

DP0344302 Dr AS Yap 

*** 

Title: Control of actin assembly by cell-cell adhesion: molecular effectors and higher order 

function. 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

Functional cooperation between the actin cytoskeleton and cadherin cell-cell adhesion molecules plays 

critical roles during development and morphogenesis. This proposal builds on my lab's recent discovery 

that E-cadherin interacts with and regulates the Arp2/3 actin nucleator complex, a central determinant of 

actin assembly in cells. We will explore key implications of this finding, concentrating on defining the 

molecular mechanisms that regulate Arp2/3 and actin assembly in cadherin-based adhesion. Our work 

combines molecular characterization of regulatory mechanisms and proteomic searches for new 

regulators, with tests of the higher-order function of this novel process in cell adhesion and recognition. 

*** 

DP0342658 Dr Z Yuan Dr J Keller Prof MM van Loosdrecht Dr T Welander Prof PA Wilderer 

Title: Endogenous Processes in Biological Wastewater Treatment Systems 

2003 : $84,000 

2004 : $64,000

2005 : $51,000 

Category: 2911 - ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 


Summary: 

Biomass decay, or endogenous processes play a major role in biological wastewater treatment systems, 

but are poorly understood at present. Drawing on the expertise of four internationally leading groups in 

the area, we will carry out a comprehensive and profound study of these processes. The study will yield 

novel designs and operational strategies for wastewater treatment plants that optimise the microbial 

populations to achieve lower sludge production and higher treatment capacity and performance. It will 

also deliver a reliable, yet easy to use, model for endogenous processes. Furthermore, a number of 

highly skilled PhD students will be trained. 

DP0342724 Dr Y Zhang 

Title: Algebraic Structures and Correlations in Quantum Many-Body Systems 

2003 : $30,000 

2004 : $30,000 



*** 

Summary: 

Algebraic structures such as quantized superalgebras are among the most important discoveries in 

mathematics and have applications in a wide range of physics. Internationally there has been recent 

excitement about vertex operators and representations of these algebraic structures and their 

applications to integrable systems and quantum field theory. I have made significant contributions to this 

rapidly expanding field, and will capitalize on this success. I will develop a comprehensive theory of these 

mathematical structures and their applications in the construction of correlation functions and form 

factors, and in so doing write a definitive monograph on the subject. 

DP0344943 Dr H Zhou 

Title: Quantum integrable models in nano and mesoscopic physics 

2003 : $73,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $69,767 

*** 



APD Dr H Zhou 

Summary: 

The current advances in nanoscale and mesoscopic physics aregenerating a wealth of activity with 

many exciting applications. Thisproject aims to study several theoretical aspects in three key areas;the 

theory of ultrasmall metallic grains of dimensions of a few nanometres,which through experimental work 

have shown characteristics whichare similar to macroscopic superconductors, the Nobel Prizewinning 

phenomenon of Bose-Einstein condensation in dilute alkali gases and the effects of magnetic impurities in 

strongly interacting electron systems. The approach of the project is to use the mathematical theory of 

exactly solvable systems to study these important areas in contemporary physics. 

*** 

DP0345710 A/Prof X Zhou Dr X Lin A/Prof Y Zhang 

Title: Multi-resolution spatial query processing 

2003 : $64,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $46,240 


Administering Institution: The University of Queensland

Summary: 

The cost of spatial query processing is directly related to spatial data complexity and accuracy. While 

spatial data is often stored in a database with the highest level of detail available, not all applications 

require the same level of detail. Recognising the difficulties of multiple representations of spatial data, in 

this project we propose to use multi-resolution data structures as a new foundation for efficient, 

application-dependent, on-demand derivation of data at different resolution levels. The systematic 

approach adopted in this project has the potential to deliver performance improvement that previous 

algorithm-level-only research cannot match. 

DP0346105 Dr Z Zhu 

*** 

Title: THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF CATALYST DOPING AND DEFECTS IN 

CARBON NANOTUBES FOR HYDROGEN STORAGE 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $73,000 

2005 : $72,000 



APD Dr Z Zhu 

Summary: 

This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the adsorption mechanism of hydrogen in 

carbon nanotubes through theoretical calculations and experimental studies. This addresses an important 

area of hydrogen storage in nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, which promises efficient and 

clean energy supply in the hydrogen economy in 15-20 years time. Specifically, the project aims to 

elucidate the effects of catalyst doping and defects in the carbon nanotube walls on the adsorption 

mechanism and capacity of hydrogen. Such an understanding is crucial to developing the improved 

carbon nanotubes with high adsorption capacity. 

*** 

DP0344050 A/Prof JM Ziviani Dr D MacDonald Dr SG Trost Dr DG Jenkins Prof JA Batch Dr SA Rodger 

Title: Physical activity in the construction of occupation for primary school aged children 

2003 : $56,000 

2004 : $45,000 

2005 : $49,000 

Category: 3704 - HUMAN GEOGRAPHY 


Summary: 

Children become less physically active as they make the transition from childhood to adolescence. The 

physical, medical, social and concomitant psychological sequela of inactivity is of major concern to the 

community. The aim of this study is to map change in physical activity patterns in an identified group of 

315 children currently aged between 6 and 7 years of age. Studies with children in their primary school 

years and of a longitudinal nature such as this one have not to date been undertaken. The study will 

utilize quantitative and qualitative methodolgies to: (a)describe change,(b) determine the primary 

socioeconomical, environmental, child and family level factors which explain a decrease in physical 

activity, and (c) try to understand at the level of child and family what has driven these changes. The 

outcomes of this study will enable researchers to move forward in developing targeted interventions 

appropriately at this important age group. 

University of Southern Queensland 

DP0345990 Prof G Baker Dr G Chen 

*** 

Title: Numerical Modelling of Strain Localization in Reinforced Concrete and Its Application 

to Prediction of Crack Spacing and Crack Width 

2003 : $70,000

2004 : $65,500 

2005 : $64,000 


Administering Institution: University of Southern Queensland 

Summary: 

Cracking of concrete has a major influence on structural performance. Prediction of crack spacing and 

crack widths is essential for serviceability considerations of reinforced concrete. The available formulas 

to evaluate crack widths are approximate and give a wide scatter of predicted values. The project aims to 

provide a new numerical methodology that will (finally) predict crack spacing correctly. The expected 

outcomes include a numerical analysis model and a set of algorithms to predict crack widths. This will 

markedly improve the understanding of the mechanism of crack spacing and provide a better prediction of 

crack spacing and crack widths. 

DP0346109 Prof R Dixon 

*** 

Title: Frank Hurley: The Making of a Modern Cultural Icon 

2003 : $102,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $68,000 

2006 : $68,000 

2007 : $69,000 



APF Prof R Dixon 

Summary: 

I propose to write a book about Frank Hurley (1885-1962) dealing comprehensively for the first time with 

his photography, cinematography and writing from the perspective of the new humanities disciplines, and 

to make an original argument about the significance of his career for modern Australian culture in its 

international contexts. The book will exemplify a new theory and practice of interdisciplinary research. A 

second objective is to publish an edition of Hurley's diaries. Melbourne University Press have formally 

expressed interest in both books. The text of the diaries will also be made available on the internet by the 

Mitchell Library and National Library of Australia. 

DP0343059 Dr PT Kitley 

*** 

Title: From Mass to Public: Discourses and Representations of Popular Sovereignty in 

Indonesia 

2003 : $42,063 

2004 : $41,800 

2005 : $41,096 

2006 : $32,100 



Summary: 

The end of the New Order and transition to more representative government in Indonesia since 1998 have 

been unruly and violent. The process of political transition has been represented on Australian radios 

and television screens and has contributed to a perception that Indonesia is in crisis and inherently 

chaotic. This research aims to show that we can understand this unruliness in part as an outcome of a 

rapid development of publicness: a desire for public discussion and activity, motivated by values of 

popular sovereignty, transparency and accountablity in governance which were seen as crucially lacking 

during the New Order period. 

South Australia 

***

South Australian Museum 

DP0346583 Dr R Leys 

Title: Regressive evolution of eyes in subterranean water beetles of arid-zone Australia: A 

comparative phylogenetic approach. 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 


Administering Institution: South Australian Museum 

APD Dr R Leys 

Summary: 

Reduction or total loss of non-functional characters are common evolutionary phenomena, but little is 

known of the genetic basis of this regressive evolution. This project will use a phylogenetic framework to 

investigate the forces responsible for evolution of eyelessness in subterranean water beetles, by 

studying molecular genetic variation in three key eye developmental genes. The water beetles are 

explicitly suitable to address the questions due to their numerous independently evolved eyeless species 

and relatively old age of divergence from surface relatives. The research will provide a major new 

perspective on regressive evolution and the relationship between gene structure and function. 

DP0344134 A/Prof A Pring Prof A Putnis 

Title: Nickel iron sulphide mineralogy: the link between mineral transformations and 

microstructure and magnetic properties 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $70,000 

*** 


Administering Institution: South Australian Museum 

Summary: 

This project is about measuring the rate at which minerals transform or react and how metal diffusion 

controls these reactions. Metal diffusion in sulphides is much more rapid that in silicates and is still very 

significant at low temperatures (< 300 ºC). In this project, we are trying to measure the rate at which the 

principal ore of nickel, pentlandite, transforms to violarite, another important nickel rich sulphide that forms 

from it in the upper parts of ore bodies. The arrangement of the metal atoms in these minerals is sensitive 

to temperature, so it may be used as a geothermometer. 

*** 

The Flinders University of South Australia 

DP0346520 Dr AP Beer Dr GA Wood A/Prof J Yates Dr MG Wulff 

Title: Supply-side dynamics in the private rental housing market 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $72,000 


Administering Institution: The Flinders University of South Australia 

Summary: 

Demographic and socio-economic trends, along with changes in housing policy, have resulted in 

increased reliance on the private rental sector. This has led to growing concerns about its capacity to 

respond. Our understanding of the supply dynamics of this tenure, and particularly that of low rent 

housing, is underdeveloped. This gap in our knowledge is due to lack of data and to methodological 

difficulties. Recent advances in econometric techniques, in conjunction with the assembly of a unique 

data set, will be used to examine previously untested explanations, including microlevel filtering, 

behavioural, hazard function and spatial analyses. 

***

DP0343548 Dr N Brewer Prof KD Williams Dr L Forster Lee 

Title: The dynamics of witness confidence effects on juror judgments 

2003 : $68,000 

2004 : $70,000 



Summary: 

While psychologists and criminal justice professionals concur that eyewitness confidence is one of the 

major influences on juror judgments, previous researchers' treatment of confidence as an invariant 

testimonial characteristic means that we actually know little about the impact of witness confidence. This 

research tests social persuasion theories and reveals the dynamic effects on juror judgments and 

verdicts of the sort of confidence fluctuations that characterise real witnesses. Knowing how such 

fluctuations will shape jurors' judgments is vital for judges (when instructing jurors) and for police and 

lawyers when they assess the likely impact of the witnesses they intend to call. 

DP0344618 Prof CM BULL Dr SC Donnellan 

Title: LIZARD SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND THE INFLUENCE OF PARASITES 

2003 : $66,000 

2004 : $60,000 

*** 



Summary: 

We ask why stable social group living in animals, with well documented benefits, is relatively rare. One 

cost is the enhanced opportunity for parasite and disease transmission among group members. We will 

explore, for a lizard, the impact of group living on parasite infections, and the costs of infection. We 

expect to produce observational and experimental results with an unusual level of detail, and with a fresh 

taxonomic perspective to influence debate in this central area of behavioural ecology. We will also 

produce new information on behavioural ecology of Australian fauna, important for conservation 

management and ecotourism. 

*** 

DP0345994 Prof DE Catcheside Dr PJ Yeadon 

Title: A genomic approach to the mechanism of meiotic recombination in Neurospora 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Recombination shuffles DNA sequences between homologous chromosomes during the reduction 

division in the life cycle of higher organisms. Along with mutation, it is a key process in evolution. 

Understanding of the molecular processes involved in recombination is largely based on yeast, which is 

intolerant of significant levels of sequence mismatch, limiting the resolution of analyses of normal 

recombination events. We have shown that Neurospora, like other less tractable multicellular eukaryotes, 

is tolerant of sequence mismatch, allowing high resolution analysis of individual recombination events. 

This project will build on fundamental advances we have already made in understanding how 

recombination occurs. 

DP0342876 Prof PG Dodds 

Title: Operator Integrals and Derivatives 

2003 : $80,000 

***

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $20,000 



Summary: 

The project is a contribution to the study of non-commutative differential and integral calculus. The novelty 

of the present project lies in the study of smoothness properties of functions whose domains and 

ranges are spaces of unbounded, non-commuting operators on some Hilbert space. Our general 

approach will be based on a detailed investigation of properties of double operator integrals, which permit 

smoothness estimates of operator-functions. It can be expected that the new techniques generated will 

find further application in areas of mathematical physics and non-commutative geometry related to 

quantised calculus. 

DP0343970 Prof AE Goodman 

Title: Competition or cooperation between marine biofilm bacteria recycling POM? 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $55,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Biofilms develop on any wetted surface by adhesion and subsequent growth of microorganisms. 

Recycling the energy, carbon and nitrogen contained in oceanic particulate organic matter (POM) is a 

global process essential for life on Earth. Ocean POM is degraded by its biofilm consortia, particularly 

bacteria secreting digestive enzymes. It is not known whether biofilm bacteria compete or cooperate in 

recycling POM. This project combines microscopy image analysis, flow cytometry and molecular genetics 

to determine bacterial interactions quantitatively in mixed-species biofilms on natural POM. Results will 

increase knowledge of bacterial community functioning and biofilm recycling of POM in marine 

environments. 

*** 

DP0344451 Dr JG Mitchell Dr H Yamazaki Prof I Koike 

Title: MICROSCALE PLANKTON AND PARTICLE DYNAMICS: COMPARING AND CONTRASTING 

AUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL SEAS 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $48,000 



Summary: 

Microscopic phytoplankton are the basis of ocean ecosystems, but most predictions and measurements 

focus on processes that occur over kilometres. Our recent work shows that definite and regular 

submetre seascape topography exists. This grant will test the extent to which this seascape topography 

is the fundamental organisational unit of marine ecosystems and the extent to which it characterises 

Australian coastal waters and open ocean water masses. This research takes a leadership role in 

defining and advancing our understanding of how marine ecosystems function. The project will bring 

over $200 million of Japanese infrastructure to Australia for 3 years. 

DP0346322 Dr MP Schwarz Dr SJ Cooper Prof Dr BJ Crespi Dr TW Chapman 

*** 

Title: Co-evolution of sociality and sex allocation: phylogenetic comparative approaches 

using insects 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $120,000

2005 : $120,000 



APD Dr TW Chapman 

Summary: 

This project investigates the coevolution of sex allocation and sociality. Although linkage between these 

two traits has long been conjectured in evolutionary ecology, and numerous studies have investigated 

species-specific relationships, the question of how these two features interact over evolutionary time 

has not been examined. Here, we apply phylogenetic comparative approaches to determine whether sex 

allocation strategies have influenced subsequent social evolution. In particular, we extend the notion of 

parental manipulation to ask whether mothers have been able to use sex allocation to influence 

alloparental behaviour in their offspring, leading to greater levels of altruism. 

DP0343735 Prof GJ Tulloch 

*** 

Title: Scholarly Editions of James Hogg's The Three Perils of Man and Edinburgh periodical 

writings and Walter Scott's miscellaneous short stories 

2003 : $51,000 

2004 : $35,000 

2005 : $45,000 



Summary: 

This project will add significantly to scholarly knowledge of James Hogg, now recognised as one of the 

most important nineteenth century Scottish writers, and of his better known contemporary Walter Scott. 

The exciting and very recent discovery of the original manuscript of Hogg's most ambitious novel, The 

Three Perils of Man, the inclusion of Scott's final, unpublished novella and the addition of a volume of 

Hogg's periodical writings have meant a major expansion of work already underway. The project will 

enhance the international reputation of Australian scholars through their participation in producing 

internationally recognised editions of important literary texts. 

DP0344118 Dr NH Voelcker 

Title: Development of an interferometric nanoscale silicon biosensor 

2003 : $50,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Voelcker et al. have recently demonstrated the rapid degradation of porous silicon by certain 

supramolecular transition metal complexes known as functional mimics of metalloproteins. The catalyzed 

degradation forms the basis of a new sensor principle where the porous layer serves as matrix, 

transducer and signal amplification stage. This project uses porous silicon degradation to develop a 

biosensor platform capable of detecting a range of analytes with high sensitivity. The project includes 

detection of an water-borne toxin, a plant virus and a cancer antigen as demonstrators of its wide 

applicability. Multiplexing of the biosensor to demonstrate its potential as high-throughput chip sensors is 

also included. 

*** 

The University of Adelaide 

DP0344349 A/Prof D Abbott Prof V Varadan Mr SF Al-sarawi 

Title: Novel RF Controlled Electromechanical Microvalve 

2003 : $50,000 

Category: 2909 - ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

Administering Institution: The University of Adelaide 

Summary: 

The significance of the proposed microvalve is its potential use in exciting biomedical applications such as 

in drug delivery and fertility control. For human body implantation, it must be batteryless, wireless and be 

made of a biofriendly-polymer. We propose to meet all three criteria, based on novel use of surface 

acoustic waves (SAWs) as the actuation mechanism in a polymer material. Energy for actuation will be 

supplied by a radio frequency (RF) signal. We propose to model, design and demonstrate the device in 

laboratory conditions. This will enable development of application specific designs in future programs, 

such as ARC linkage. 

DP0345613 Prof K Anderson Dr L Jackson 

*** 

Title: Globalization, WTO and sustainable development: new challenges, opportunities and 

implications for Australia 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $84,000 

2005 : $84,000 



APD Dr L Jackson 

Summary: 

Australia is benefiting greatly from opening its economy and encouraging the same in its trading partners, 

particularly through the World Trade Organization (WTO). A major new challenge is to ensure that the 

WTO continues to enhance economic welfare by responding to recent criticisms levelled at it by 

anti-globalisation groups. This project will analyse those groups' claims about the effects of trade and 

investment policy reforms, and of WTO rules and other contributors to globalisation, by going beyond the 

traditional economic effects to examine effects on income distribution, poverty alleviation, the 

environment, labour, and food safety and security. 

*** 

DP0342520 Dr SG Barwick Dr CT Quinn A/Prof TJ Penttila 

Title: Characterizing and classifying ovoids, flocks and generalized quadrangles 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

This project lies within the framework of the classification and characterization of fundamental structures 

in finite geometry. This research area is the site of much international activity, in which the proposed 

research team plays a central role. The aim of the project is to pursue twin goals: the classification of 

ovoids in three dimensional projective space, a famous long-standing problem; and the classification of 

certain generalized quadrangles. Our approach is novel as it utilises recently discovered links between 

these areas. The expected outcomes are significant progress towards these goals, as well as the 

development of new techniques in finite geometry. 

DP0344123 Prof JH Bowie A/Prof F Separovic 

*** 

Title: Biologically active peptides and proteins from anurans: the relationship between 

structure and activity. 

2003 : $115,000 

2004 : $115,000 

2005 : $115,000 


Administering Institution: The University of Adelaide

Summary: 

We have identified peptides (from glands of frogs and toads), some of which are amongst the most 

powerful biologically active compounds in the animal kingdom. The aims of this project are to investigate 

the relationship between the structure and bioactivity of chosen groups of peptides including 

pheromones, anticancer and antibiotic peptides, and peptides which inhibit neuronal nitric oxide synthase. 

It would be of national benefit if any of these peptides have applied application, e.g. if we can use the 

sex pheromone of the cane toad to reduce its population, or if we can produce an anticancer active 

peptide of clinical applicability. 

DP0343036 Dr BA Bryan 

*** 

Title: Setting Geographic Priorities for Integrated Landscape Restoration in a Fragmented 

Agricultural Region 

2003 : $78,000 

2004 : $66,000 



Summary: 

This research project aims to develop the theory and application of integrated landscape restoration in a 

fragmented agricultural region - the Mt. Lofty Ranges of South Australia. Spatially explicit priorities will be 

set for the type and location of habitat to be restored for the benefit of the natural biodiversity within a 

physical environmental, economic and social context. Heuristic and optimisation models will be created 

within a Geographic Information System (GIS) and assessed for their ability to set such priorities in 

integrated landscape restoration. The techniques will help sustain ecological, physical and human 

systems in many other over-cleared regions. 

DP0345417 A/Prof MA Buntine 

*** 

Title: Laser Spectroscopic Studies of Non-Covalent Solute-Solvent Interactions Involving 

Non-Volatile Biomolecules in the Gas Phase 

2003 : $123,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

Solute-solvent interactions play a critical role in determining whether or not many biomolecules display 

biological activity in solution. Making use of our novel liquid microjet injection technology, we will generate 

micro-solvated gas phase biomolecules by rapid laser desorption from the surface of a liquid jet (here, 

micro-solvation describes up to ~10 solvent molecules attached to a solute). Following desorption, laser 

spectroscopy will be used to directly characterise the non-volatile biomolecular solute-solvent 

topography. This project will create a new application of laser science to study biophysical and 

biochemical processes that remain difficult, if not impossible, to explore using traditional techniques. 

DP0344080 Prof RM Carter 

Title: The stratigraphic architecture of continental margins (MARGINS) 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $85,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The project seeks to increase our understanding of how continental margins develop. Emphasis is given

to studying the controls exerted on sedimentation by sea-level change, climate cycling, ocean front 

location, current-deposition and tectonics, using the southwest Pacific (temperate eastern NZ) as the 

prime fieldwork area. Sediment being transported across continental margins passes through a number of 

energy fences (e.g. piedmont, shoreline, wave-base, storm-zone, shelf-edge), which together modulate 

sediment transport and deposition. These fences differ in their relative positions, magnitudes and effects 

on different margins. The research will combine onland and offshore studies, builds on data collected 

during ODP Leg 181, and is integrated with the international MARGINS "source to sink" program. 

*** 

DP0345983 Dr RW Clay Dr GV Bicknell Dr BR Dawson Dr RJ Protheroe Dr PG Edwards Prof T Kifune 

A/Prof M Mori 

Title: Astrophysics with the CANGAROO III Gamma-ray Telescope 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

This project will explore the last remaining part of the electromagnetic spectrum previously inaccessible in 

astronomy. It covers two decades of photon energy, above those accessible to satellite telescopes, and 

below those accessible to previous generations of ground-based VHE gamma-ray telescopes. 

Observations in those other energy ranges give us confidence that there is much to be discovered. We 

will provide an Australian contribution to the CANGAROO III telescope project, supporting the multi-million 

dollar contribution of our Japanese partners. Based at Woomera, this work maintains Australian access 

to a key astrophysical field at very modest cost. 

DP0344259 Dr GM Cullity 

Title: The Morality of Assistance 

2003 : $32,666 

*** 



Summary: 

Other people's needs and interests give us reasons to help them - reasons that ground moral 

requirements. But how extensive are those requirements? How should our actions to assist other people 

be motivated? And what obligations does the receipt of assistance create? These questions are of 

foundational importance to moral philosophy, and underlie a range of practical issues of public policy, 

professional practice and moral education. In this project, the standard treatment of these questions is 

rejected. It shows how recent innovative work in theoretical ethics can be used to answer some of the 

most important questions of applied ethics. 

DP0343690 A/Prof CB Daniels Dr S Orgeig Prof S Schürch Dr SB Hooper 

*** 

Title: Environmental control of genetic/phenotypic interactions in lung development: An 

evolutionary perspective 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Vertebrate lungs all contain morphologically and functionally similar lung lining cells. However, the cellular 

arrangement (i.e. lung morphology) and the function of the surfactant these cells produce, differs 

dramatically between species. Hence, a subset of highly conserved lung-specific genes coincides with

spectacular phenotypic diversity. How has this diversity evolved? Do environmental conditions, birth 

strategy or phylogenetic relationships determine lung phenotype? We will experimentally manipulate 

developing lungs and cells to demonstrate how environmental conditions (temperature, oxygen, lung-fluid 

regulation and neuro-hormonal input) promote evolutionary processes by altering gene expression, 

protein/lipid synthesis, cellular differentiation and hence lung morphology/function in animals with different 

birth strategies. 

*** 

DP0343915 Dr BR Dawson Dr RW Clay Mr JA Bellido 

Title: Studies of the Highest Energy Particles in Nature 

2003 : $109,345 

2004 : $109,345 

2005 : $109,345 



APD Mr JA Bellido 

Summary: 

One of the greatest mysteries of modern astrophysics is the origin of the highest energy cosmic rays. 

While rare, these subatomic particles possess enormous energies, some 100 million times larger than we 

can impart to a proton in man-made accelerators. Theory struggles to identify cosmic ray acceleration 

mechanisms, but these particles do exist. This project will fund our participation in the world's largest 

cosmic ray observatories, and our aim is to use the characteristics of the incoming particles (mass, 

energy and arrival directions) to determine the likely sources of the most energetic particles known in 

Nature. 

*** 

DP0345550 Prof MG Eastwood Dr NP Buchdahl 

Title: Classification and Invariants in Complex Differential Geometry 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $70,000 



Summary: 

Differential geometry is the study of shape using calculus and differential equations. This is a fundamental 

research project in this area. Complex differential geometry refers to geometry based on the complex 

numbers, generally a rich and intriguing setting. Geometries will be distinguished by the construction of 

suitable invariants, both algebraic and analytic. Classification problems will be solved by these means. Of 

particular interest are geometries with a high degree of symmetry, a critical feature that pervades both 

mathematics and physics. Twistor theory provides the unifying theme for this project. 

*** 

DP0345626 Dr MP Hand Dr PD Kinny Dr BF Schaefer Dr S Samson 

Title: Thermal regimes, flexure and duration: establishing the framework for intracratonic 

orogeny in central Australia 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $45,000 



Summary: 

Intracratonic orogeny is a confronting phenomena because it contradicts the plate tectonic paradigm, 

which highlights the apparently rigidity of the lithospheric plates. Central Australia contains an

exceptional record of intracratonic orogeny, expressed by the formation of the Petermann and Alice 

Springs orogens. This project will quantify the duration, and thermal conditions associated with the 

comparatively poorly known Petermann Orogen. Given the importance of intracratonic deformation in 

shaping the lithospheric architecture of central Australia, understanding the history of the Petermann 

Orogeny is essential to developing models that describe the evolution of the Australian continent, and 

continental interiors in general. 

*** 

DP0343404 Prof RS Hill Dr JR Watling Prof GD Farquhar Dr GJ Jordan Dr JG Conran Prof TF Flannery 

Dr PJ Franks 

Title: Why our biota is unique: ecophysiological response, adaptive radiation and changing 

environments in Cainozoic Australia 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $60,000 



Summary: 

We seek to resolve Cainozoic diversification and extinction patterns leading to the modern Australian 

biota. We propose a broad-scale, multi-disciplinary approach involving systematic palaeontology, 

palaeobiology, biostratigraphy, molecular and morphological systematics and physiology of modern 

organisms. For the first time, we will synthesise data on past climatic and environmental influences on the 

evolution of Australian plants, animals and community structure through time. This will provide a solid 

historical basis to develop management strategies for the Australian biota under different, future, climatic 

scenarios, and will also provide a biostratigraphic framework essential for high-resolution mineral and 

hydrocarbon exploration. 

DP0343396 Dr Jc Ji Prof CH Hansen 

*** 

Title: Non-linear dynamics of magnetic bearing systems 

2003 : $72,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

The aim of this project is to gain a much deeper insight into the effects of non-linearities on the dynamic 

behaviour and on the performance of active magnetic bearings(AMBs). This project will focus attention 

on stability analysis, bifurcation control, malfunction analysis, and nonlinear dynamic behaviour. The 

expected outcomes are better understanding and prediction of nonlinear behavior and control of AMBs 

and improved guidelines for designing safer and more effective AMBs. 

DP0345506 Prof KD King 

Title: Laser Diagnostics of Soot Formation in Precessing Jet Flames 

2003 : $75,000 

*** 



Summary: 

In many practical combustion systems (e.g., boiler furnaces and rotary kilns), flame radiation is the major 

contributor to the required heat transfer. Soot formation is a means of enhancing flame radiation provided 

the soot is completely oxidised within the flame so that there are no soot emissions. The enhanced flame 

radiation can have a significant economic and environmental impact on plant operation (changes to the 

parameters that influence soot formation can also influence NOx and greenhouse gas emissions). The 

objectives of this project are to identify and quantify the operating parameters that influence soot 

formation and destruction in such flames.

DP0346211 Dr K Kowalski 

*** 

Title: Structural studies of the interactions of actinin-4 and intracellular signalling proteins 

2003 : $73,000 

2004 : $73,000 

2005 : $73,000 



APD Dr K Kowalski 

Summary: 

The intracellular signalling cascade plays important roles in cellular processes such as growth and 

differentiation by exerting changes in gene expression or remodelling of the intracellular protein 

framework. The actin-based cytoskeleton is one such network of proteins responsible for a number of 

processes including cell division, migration and adhesion to other cells and tissues. This proposal aims to 

understand how actinin-4, a component of the actin cytoskeleton in non-muscle tissues, interacts with 

and is stimulated by proteins of the intracellular signalling cascade. 

DP0344307 Dr MS Lee Dr MN Hutchinson 

*** 

Title: Major Evolutionary Events in Reptiles (Including Birds) 

2003 : $125,000 

2004 : $125,000 

2005 : $125,000 

2006 : $125,000 

2007 : $125,000 



APF Dr MS Lee 

Summary: 

Evolutionary patterns among the major groups of reptiles (including birds) will be resolved using new 

information from multiple (>6) nuclear genes combined with existing phenotypic and (mainly mitochondrial) 

genetic traits. This will simultaneously resolve several high-profile questions, such as: the origin and 

affinities of turtles, snakes and flightless birds; and the prevalence of phenotypic convergence generated 

by paedomorphosis and fossoriality. The multiple genetic and phenotypic data sets will also reveal any 

broad links between genetic and phenotypic evolution (e.g. rate correlations), and the differing abilities of 

nuclear genes, mitochondrial genes, and phenotypic traits to track (and thus reflect) deep evolutionary 

branchings. 

DP0342568 Dr JT Makeham 

*** 

Title: The Intellectual Construction of Confucianism in Contemporary China and Taiwan 

2003 : $35,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Since the 1980s China and Taiwan have witnessed the most sustained resurgence of intellectual interest 

in Confucianism of the twentieth century. This project will provide the first critical analysis of that revival 

by addressing the complex interaction of institutional, philosophical and ideological factors, rather than 

study one or the other in isolation. This will enable us to understand the processes by which Chinese 

intellectuals have sought to make Confucianism a viable philosophical and cultural resource in the modern 

world; and to evaluate how successful they have been in achieving these goals. Results: One 

monograph; one edited volume; several essays.

DP0343248 Dr P Marschner Prof Z Rengel 

*** 

Title: Role of rhizosphere microorganisms in growth of plants in soils with low P 

2003 : $91,000 

2004 : $91,000 

2005 : $89,000 



Summary: 

The concentration of available phosphorus in many Australian soils is low compared to the requirement of 

plants and soil organisms. Plant genotypes differ in their capacity to grow at low P availability but the role 

of rhizosphere microorganisms in plant P uptake from such soils is largely unknown. We will determine 

the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in P solubilisation and mobilisation in different crop genotypes and 

native plant species in different Australian soils with low P availability. The results will give a 

comprehensive picture of the role of rhizosphere microbial ecology in phosphorus acquisition by crop and 

native plants. 

DP0344452 A/Prof MK Murray 

Title: Monopoles, instantons and metrics 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $55,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This Project is pure basic research in the general area of differential geometry or the study of manifolds. 

Manifolds are higher dimensional analogues of surfaces such as the surface of the sphere or the 

surface of a doughnut. This Project studies monopoles and instantons which are solutions of partial 

differential equations arising in physics. These solutions and the so-called moduli spaces of all solutions 

have been used in the last two decades by the worlds leading mathematicians to revolutionize the study 

of three and four dimensional manifolds. 

DP0344072 Dr T Owerkowicz 

*** 

Title: What’s bred in bone: effects of thyroid hormone supplementation on bone growth 

and remodelling in ectotherms and endotherms 

2003 : $73,000 

2004 : $73,000 

2005 : $73,000 



APD Dr T Owerkowicz 

Summary: 

Influence of resting metabolic rate (RMR) and exercise activity on bone microstructure is investigated in a 

variety of amniote taxa. By varying the dose of supplemental triiodothyronine (T3), ectotherms are made 

hyperthyroid with elevated RMR, and endotherms - hypothyroid with depressed RMR. Effects of T3 are 

compared against those of mechanical loading, in form of increased daily treadmill exercise. Rates of 

bone growth and secondary remodelling are determined by histological analysis, and correlated with T3 

and bone strain levels. The study tests the hypothesis that evolution of endothermy can be inferred from 

bone microstructure of fossil bones. 

DP0343368 Dr BA Pocock 

***

Title: Theoretical and policy implications of changing work/life patterns and preferences of 

Australian women, men and children, households and communities 

2003 : $52,000 

2004 : $49,000 

2005 : $49,000 

2006 : $48,000 

2007 : $48,000 



QEII Dr BA Pocock 

Summary: 

This project establishes a Research Fellowship for Ass. Prof. Barbara Pocock, that will principally 

analyse and investigate, over five years, the relationship of changing patterns of work (broadly defined) 

in Australia, and the changing nature of Australian households, communities and workplaces. The study 

explores the effects of work upon households, along with individual preferences and household, 

community and workplace structures (and their interaction), drawing out implications for social theory and 

policy. It will analyse policy, quantitative data, and collect and analyse new qualitative data at Australian 

sites, within an international context. 

*** 

DP0345279 Dr F Recknagel Prof X Yao Dr PA Whigham 

Title: Adaptive Agents Simulation of Freshwater Ecosystems: Artificial Intelligence 

Framework to Discover and Forecast Emergent Ecosystem Structures and 

Behaviours in Response to Environmental Changes 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $55,250 

2005 : $46,963 



Summary: 

The project aims at intelligent adaptive agent models for lakes and rivers in order to improve 

understanding and proactive management of these highly complex ecosystems. Little is known about 

species succession in freshwater ecosystems in response to local and global environmental changes. 

Evolutionary algorithms embodied in differential equations, neural networks and rules allow adaptive 

agents to simulate emergent structures and behaviours of algae and zooplankton communities interacting 

by competition and predation. The agents are trained and tested by ecological time-series of twelve lakes 

and rivers, and validated for the Mediterranean Myponga Reservoir, South Australia, and the temperate 

Burrinjuck Reservoir, NSW. 

DP0343198 Dr MC Ridding Dr TS Miles 

Title: Afferent stimulation-induced plasticity and its functional significance 

2003 : $160,000 

2004 : $140,000 

2005 : $140,000 

2006 : $95,455 

2007 : $95,455 

*** 



QEII Dr MC Ridding 

Summary: 

Certain regions of the brain can reorganise (plasticity) during motor learning or when there is damage to 

peripheral nerves or muscles. There is a large body of evidence for these plastic changes in animals. 

Until recently data showing that similar changes occurred in humans was limited. However, we have 

recently demonstrated that certain patterns of peripheral stimulation can indeed induce similar changes in

human subjects. These findings are important for our understanding of the mechanisms of motor control 

and learning. 

DP0346488 Prof Dr KL Schaffer 

*** 

Title: Indigenous Life Narratives and Racial Reconciliation in Australia and South Africa 

2003 : $47,500 

2004 : $47,500 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

The project studies the relationship between indigenous storytelling (life narratives, storytelling, 

testimony)and political campaigns for human rights and racial reconciliation in South Africa and Australia. 

It analyses the contexts of production, dissemination and consumption of these stories and their effects 

on indigenous and non-indigenous tellers and listeners within and beyond the respective nations, 

including the emergence of new national literatures, indigenous identities, discourses on ethics, 

responsibility and racial reconciliation within and beyond the nations. The study offers a significant 

theoretical and methodological advance within the emerging field of critical global studies and the 

changing formations of nationhood. 

DP0345028 Prof O Schmidt 

*** 

Title: Genetic analysis of two distinct reproductive strategies in sexual and thelytokous 

field populations of an endoparastic wasp. 

2003 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Asexual (thelytokous) females of an insect parasitoid, Venturia canescens, which develop inside another 

insect, exhibit evolutionarily stable mixtures of life-history strategies, allowing two genetically distinct 

wasp lines to coexist sympatrically on the same host resources. The two thelytokous lines differ in a 

virus-like particle protein-coding gene (VLP1), which raises the question whether the VLP1 gene locus is 

genetically associated with the phenotype. We will investigate the genetic basis for the observed 

phenotypic differences, by comparing the two thelytokous lines with the corresponding homozygous 

VLP1-genotypes in sexual strains. The outcome will provide a molecular and genetic framework to test 

parthenogenetic reproduction strategies in some insect species. 

DP0344717 Prof RS Seymour A/Prof MB Bennett Prof RV Baudinette Prof RM Wells 

*** 

Title: Matching of gas exchanger structure and function with activity and environment in 

air-breathing fishes 

2003 : $78,000 

2004 : $58,000 

2005 : $58,000 



Summary: 

This project will investigate the physiology and structure of Australian fishes that use gills and breathe 

air. It will measure the partitioning of oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange between the aquatic (gills) 

and aerial (lung, swim-bladder or mouth) respiratory organs, in relation to dissolved oxygen in the water 

and metabolic energy demands by the fish. Rates of gas exchange, biochemical characteristics of the 

blood, anatomy and physiology of the exchange organs, and respiratory/locomotory coupling will be 

measured in three selected species during graded exercise. The results will help us understand the 

factors influencing the evolution of air-breathing.

*** 

DP0342496 Prof SE Smith Dr SJ Barker Prof FA Smith 

Title: Targeted analysis of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis phenome in a model host, 

tomato. 

2003 : $105,000 

2004 : $105,000 

2005 : $105,000 



Summary: 

We will capitalise on our previous discovery of novel phenotypic variation in arbuscular mycorrhizas in 

mutant and wild-type tomato, to explore development and function of the symbiosis at the 

molecular-genetic level. We will clone and sequence the gene responsible for mycorrhiza-defective 

phenotypes to provide inferences on function and relations with other genes. We will determine if plant 

defence blocks fungal colonisation in the mutant and/or varies with different wild-type phenotypes and 

explore molecular mechanisms of nutrient transfer from fungus to plant in relation to phenotypic diversity. 

The project will provide new insights into genome/phenome interactions controlling this widespread 

beneficial symbiosis. 

DP0342874 Dr WL Soong Dr N Ertugrul 

Title: Wide Speed Range, Inverterless, Constant Current Mode Alternator 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $38,250 

2005 : $30,771 

*** 

Category: 2904 - AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING 


Summary: 

Increasing auxiliary electric power demands in cars due to proposed new features such as 

electromechanical valves and active suspension has created a pressing need for a higher power car 

alternator. There has also been a continuing need for improved alternators for small-scale renewable 

energy generation such as wind turbines. These applications require the lowest possible cost solution 

which meets the challenging technical specifications. Present research in this area is focussed on 

expensive inverter-based methods. We propose a low-cost, "inverterless" alternator configuration based 

on a specially-designed interior permanent magnet machine operating in a new current source mode. 

DP0345500 A/Prof JN Timmis Dr MA Ayliffe 

Title: Trafficking of DNA between chloroplast and nucleus in higher plants 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $65,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Reliably high levels of diverse proteins can be produced in plant chloroplasts. Environmental risks are 

considered low for chloroplast genes because they are not transmitted by pollen. However, we recently 

discovered that DNA escapes from the tobacco chloroplast to the nucleus with unexpectedly high 

frequency. The associated environmental risks require immediate investigation. This project will determine 

the fate of chloroplast DNA that has moved to the nuclear genome and gain insight into the evolutionary 

and environmental consequences of chloroplast DNA escape. The ubiquity of DNA escape also will be 

studied in an edible crop with a small genome, tomato. 

***

DP0345068 Prof SD Tyerman Prof JW Patrick 

Title: Multifunctional channels as key components of biotrophic interfaces in legumes. 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

In legumes there are two types of membrane interfaces between different genomes that are critical for 

growth and yield (nitrogen fixation and seed loading), which require cell-signalling pathways to control 

nutrient exchange. The membranes of these interfaces contain specialised proteins that form 

multifunctional channels through which water, uncharged molecules and electrolytes move. These 

channels are likely to be responsible for supporting the bulk of transported nutrients and in controlling 

their exchange. We aim to discover how these channels function in nitrogen fixation and seed loading 

with a view to developing new technologies that may enhance crop productivity. 

DP0346394 Prof RA Vincent 

*** 

Title: WAVES IN THE MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $82,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Atmospheric waves have a profound influence in the atmosphere. A unique network of radars in the 

southern hemisphere will be used to study wave processes in the upper atmosphere. The project will 

investigate causes of wave variability, wave sources and wave-wave interactions and will involve 

satellite measurements and international collaboration. Results will guide the development and testing of 

schemes that incorporate the effects of small-scale waves in numerical weather and climate models. 

Outcomes from the project will have application in modelling climate change. 

DP0346807 Prof JC Wallace 

Title: Structural and Functional Aspects of the Allosteric Regulation of Pyruvate 

Carboxylase by Acyl-CoA Compounds 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $70,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Pyruvate carboxylase occupies a central location in intermediary metabolism catalysing the formation of 

oxaloacetate, a key component of the Krebs' tricarboxylic acid cycle especially in its synthetic modes in 

gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis and in the synthesis of neurotransmitters. This project aims: (i) To produce 

crystals of pyruvate carboxylase for determining its structure by X-ray diffraction; (ii) To use 

affinity-labelling to determine the amino acid residues in the binding site of the enzyme's allosteric 

activator, acetyl-CoA; (iii) To construct chimeric enzymes from different species to define regions of the 

enzyme which affect its responses to its important allosteric activator, acetyl-CoA. 

DP0345580 Prof LB White 

*** 

Title: Raising the Internet's Quality of Service through improved congestion management 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $57,200

2005 : $50,336 



Summary: 

This project aims to develop methods for improving the service quality of the internet by better 

management of congestion. Improved service quality will be evident to internet users in the form of 

reduced delay and data loss. The proposed research is significant because as well as improving service 

quality, it will facilitate delivery of internet services over poor quality communications infrastructure such 

as is present in many remote and regional areas of Australia. It also will result in more efficient utilisation 

of telecommunications infrastructure. The project will deliver implementations in the form of software 

which is easily installed in any computer. 

DP0345579 Dr AC Zander Prof CH Hansen 

*** 

Title: Investigation of the audio spotlight for active noise control 

2003 : $130,000 

2004 : $107,000 

2005 : $105,000 



Summary: 

The focus of this project is to investigate a new technology - the audio spotlight - with the aim of 

developing an active noise control (ANC) system that incorporates the audio spotlight as a control source. 

The audio spotlight offers the potential to overcome or significantly modify the fundamental physical 

constraints that limit the performance of ANC systems that use conventional loudspeakers as control 

sources. Just as audio spotlights may be the most radical technological development in acoustics since 

the invention of the coil loudspeaker, successful incorporation of an audio spotlight into an active noise 

control system will revolutionise active noise control. 

University of South Australia 

DP0342628 A/Prof P Attard Dr WM Skinner 

*** 

Title: Nanotribology and Nanorheometry: A Fundamental Study of the Dynamic Interactions 

of Particles and Surfaces at the Molecular Level 

2003 : $140,000 

2004 : $140,000 

2005 : $140,000 

2006 : $140,000 

2007 : $140,000 


Administering Institution: University of South Australia 

APF A/Prof P Attard 

Summary: 

Friction and deformation occur from the mutual motion and interaction of microscopic particles and 

surfaces. This research aims to develop new theories and measurement techniques for these 

non-equilibrium phenomena by combining mathematical analysis and numerical computations with dynamic 

force measurement, surface modification, and surface characterisation on nanometre and molecular 

length scales. These insights and data will be critically important in designing low-friction surfaces that 

save energy and wear, in developing nanoscopic probes for the mechanical and structural properties of 

soft polymeric and bio-materials, and in making high performance coatings that control adhesion and 

particle aggregation in technologically advanced applications. 

*** 

DP0345917 Dr GF Bloustien Dr MP Peters Dr S Homan Miss S Baker Dr A Bennett Prof D Buckingham 

A/Prof DeFrantz Dr BM Cohen

Title: Playing for Life: the everyday music practices of marginalised youth as strategic 

pathways to agency, employment and socio-economic inclusion. 

2003 : $130,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $120,000 



APD Miss S Baker 

Summary: 

Popular music is widely recognised as affectively and culturally central to marginalised youth, often 

providing strategic pathways to employment and socio-economic inclusion. This project is the first 

comparative international project to explore how marginalised youth engage with popular music in 

post-industrial societies, and how they develop their music and technological skills by using local cultural 

resources that exist outside of formal schooling. Located in community-based organisations, the study 

will identify processes of learning and agency from the perspectives of young people themselves. The 

findings will enrich current social theory on youth, policy and program development of youth services. 

*** 

DP0343028 Prof JA Filar Dr J Gondzio Mr P Zograf 

Title: New Analytical Perspectives on the Algorithmic Complexity of the Hamiltonian Cycle 

Problem 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $57,200 

2005 : $50,336 



Summary: 

Hamiltonian Cycle Problem (HCP), known - in the complexity theory of algorithms -to be NP-hard is 

proposed for study, from three innovative, separate (yet related) analytical perspectives: singularly 

perturbed (controlled) Markov chains, that links the HCP with systems and control theories; parametric 

nonconvex optimization, that links HCP with fast interior point methods of modern optimization and the 

spectral approach based on a novel adaptation of Ihara-Selberg trace formula for regular graphs. Our 

mathematical approach to this archetypal complex problem of graph theory and discrete optimization 

promises to enhance the fundamental understanding - and ultimate "managibility" - of the underlying 

difficulty of HCP. 

DP0346651 Dr A Fletcher Mr GD Roach 

*** 

Title: Development of a validated tool to help manage the risk of human fatigue in the 

workplace 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $61,000 



Summary: 

Our world has embraced many benefits of the 24-hour society. However, these benefits can not be 

delivered without the costs: one significant cost is human fatigue. A recent federal parliamentary inquiry 

recommended that a fatigue risk management approach be applied to the regulation of working hours 

within industry. A key requirement of such an approach, and the aim of the proposed project, is to 

develop a scientifically validated tool to help manage the work-related fatigue associated with 

hours-of-work. Ultimately, this will reduce the costs of our 24-hour society on employees, their families, 

organisations and the wider community. 

***

DP0346099 A/Prof V Gaitsgory 

Title: Multiscale Singularly Perturbed Control Systems 

2003 : $58,136 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

We propose to develop a unified averaging technique to analyse deterministic and stochastic multiscale 

singularly perturbed control systems. Such systems arise as mathematical models of real-world 

dynamical systems in which state variables can change their values with the rates of different orders of 

magnitude. The technique is based on the assumption that the system, which would describe the 

dynamics of the fast state variables if slow ones were frozen, possesses certain ergodicity properties 

expressed in the existence of its limit occupational measures set. Conditions for the existence of such a 

set will be studied and its structure will be described. 

DP0344856 Dr AJ Grant Prof L Rasmussen 

*** 

Title: Iterative Architechtures for Data Communications 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Growing markets for data intensive applications such as real-time video or speech necessitate continual 

improvements of communications systems. Iterative information processing algorithms have recently 

received attention for communications equipment design, however theoretical understanding of these 

methods is still lacking. Within an iterative processing paradigm, the project aim is the optimisation of 

complex communications systems subject to constraints on computational complexity. Theoretical 

analysis and design methodologies for such systems will be developed, resulting in basic contributions to 

statistical science and in cheaper communications infrastructures supporting a wider range of services 

through better use of limited bandwidth, power and computational complexity. 

*** 

DP0346092 Adj/Prof TG Koch Dr D Kralik Dr K Price 

Title: Describing transition for people living with chronic illness 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 

Category: 3211 - NURSING 


APD Dr D Kralik 

Summary: 

Our primary aim is to explore transition for people living with chronic illness. Understanding the nature of 

transition places health care professionals in an excellent position to assist the person living with chronic 

illness. This is important given that chronic illness has been acknowledged as the prime health concern of 

this era. We explore, how individuals living with chronic illness make sense of "becoming ordinary" rather 

than "being ordinary", exploring how they give meaning to their sense of self and their sense of self 

capacity. As an interactive participatory action research program with 200 participants, we will validate 

the emerging transition thesis collaboratively. Resultant action has the potential to enhance participant's 

lives, foster collective community development, inform health care practice and advance theoretical 

debates. 

***

DP0342553 Dr L Kong Dr AZ Kouzani Ms F She 

Title: Intelligent and objective measurement of wool fibre diameter 

2003 : $71,167 

2004 : $64,345 

2005 : $64,345 



APD Ms F She 

Summary: 

More than a half million tones of wool produced in Australia per year are visually evaluated by human 

wool classers. This fibre-classing process is subjective and heavily dependent on the experience of the 

classers. In this project, we will objectively measure wool fibre diameter by extracting features used by 

human wool classers and by combining image processing and artificial intelligence. The fractal dimension 

calculated by fractal based texture analysis will be correlated to fibre diameter. This approach will 

provide an insight into an on farm and/or in shed objective measurement of wool fibre diameter. 

*** 

DP0346328 Dr K Lushington Dr CJ van den Heuvel 

Title: The effect of temperature biofeedback on sleep and cardiac autonomic tone in young 

and aged adults 

2003 : $25,000 

2004 : $20,000 

2005 : $20,000 



Summary: 

Peripheral heat loss is reported to promote sleep onset. To date, however, most studies examining the 

thermoregulatory model of sleep onset have used sedative-hypnotics with both thermoregulatory and 

soporific effects. We propose that a better test of a causal relationship between peripheral heat loss and 

sleep can be achieved by using temperature biofeedback; a promising non-invasive and non-drug 

treatment that does not have a direct effect on sleep structures. We aim to test whether increased 

peripheral heat loss promotes sleep onset, whether the effects are mediated by changes in autonomic 

tone, and whether this relationship changes with age. 

DP0344401 Dr HP Nixon Dr CA Beavis 

*** 

Title: Cyberkids and cyberworlds: new literacies, identities and communities in formation 

2003 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Little is known of the online cyberworlds of young Australians. Yet they are the highest users of 

Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs). This project theorises that these cyberworlds are 

sites for the development of new forms of literacy, identity and community. This study will achieve a new 

perspective by utilising a multi-disciplinary approach to produce case studies that examine new literacies 

and communities generated online and their consequences for literacy and ICT education practice. Such 

information is vital in Australia and internationally if education is to produce the highly technologically 

literate citizens on whom future economic prosperity depends. 

DP0343137 A/Prof MP Shanahan 

*** 

Title: The impact of globalisation on inequality in a small regional economy: South Australia 

1845-1925.

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $40,000 



Summary: 

The impact of globalisation on income inequality is currently of great concern to many. Globalisation, 

however, is not a new phenomenon. This study examines the effect of global forces on wage and 

personal wealth inequality in South Australia in the 19th and early 20th century. While other studies have 

examined the impact of trade on inequality at an aggregate level, using questionable comparisons, this 

study represents a conceptual leap forward by directly estimating changes in income and wealth 

inequality, and their association with changes in wages, commodity and asset prices over an extended 

period in a small regional economy. 

DP0346054 A/Prof JR Warren A/Prof G Dong 

Title: Continuous process improvement through workstation feedback for General 

Practice medicine using experts-in-the-loop data mining 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $45,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project investigates the iterative use of data mining results to allow experts to construct feedback to 

influence subsequent production work. We explore the problem in the context of General Practice 

medicine by having General Practitioners (GPs) review emerging patterns from their own practice's 

electronic medical records and author feedback to discourage undesirable patterns. The work will have 

immediate applicability to medical practice and will drive innovation in data mining method, notably for 

efficient identification of temporal and complex niche patterns. More broadly, the work will extend the 

way data mining is used to create new expectations of workstation behaviour. 

DP0345299 Dr R Zito Dr J Woolley 

Title: Derivation of Emissions Models from Vehicle Certification Tests 

2003 : $50,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This research project will aim to prove the concept that emissions models capable of modelling changes in 

driver behaviour can be obtained from data that has been used as part of the vehicles emission 

certification process. Second by second emissions data from certification tests will be disaggregated into 

their component phases of acceleration, cruise, deceleration and idle. The emissions characteristics of 

these phases will be established and analysed to produce empirical models of emissions per unit time 

versus mode of operation. These models will then be able to describe the changes in emission 

characteristics under different vehicle operating modes modes for a range of vehicle types. 

Western Australia 

Curtin University of Technology 

*** 

DP0343599 Prof HB Bloch Dr M Bhattacharya Dr GA MacDonald 

Title: Technical Change, Productivity Growth and Pricing in Australian Manufacturing

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $65,000 


Administering Institution: Curtin University of Technology 

Summary: 

We examine productivity growth and price competitiveness of Australian manufacturing by estimating an 

econometric model for aggregate manufacturing and as well as individual industries. The parameter 

estimates from the econometric model are used to identify the separate impacts on productivity growth 

and price changes due to technical change, economies of scale, capacity utilization and market power. 

We then estimate how each separate impact is affected by industry characteristics, including seller 

concentration and investment in physical, human and intellectual capital, and policy related variables, such 

as tariff rates and degree of unionisation of the labour force. This will provide an important contribution 

of the knowledge of how the economic environment and government policies impact on productivity 

growth and the international competitiveness of Australian manufacturing. 

DP0346396 Prof L Caccetta Dr V Rehbock 

Title: Efficient Computational Methods for Constrained Path Problems 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $57,200 

2005 : $50,336 

*** 



Summary: 

We consider a class of path design problems which arise when an object needs to traverse between 

two points through a specified region. The region may be a continuous space or the path may be 

restricted to the edges of a network. The path must optimise a prescribed criterion such as risk, reliability 

or cost and satisfy a number of constraints. Problems of this type readily arise in the defence, 

transport and communication industries. In addition to efficient solution methods for these problems the 

project will produce computational tools for a wide range of related network routing problems. 

*** 

DP0344746 Dr R De Marco Dr CE Buckley Dr AL Rohl 

Title: Probing the interfaces of electrochemical sensors 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $70,000 



Summary: 

The nanostructured surfaces of electrochemical sensors for iron, mercury and cadmium will be 

characterised by using a range of state-of-the-art surface analysis techniques. Whilst electrochemical 

sensors are extremely valuable in monitoring of trace metals in the aquatic environment, a knowledge of 

the surface chemical physics of the systems is vital in order to widen their use in analytical/environmental 

chemistry. This project will derive a universal model for the surface chemistry and physics of 

electrochemical sensors, enabling environmental scientists to develop unique sensor methods for 

studying the speciation of environmentally important trace metals such as those mentioned above. 

DP0342998 Prof B Gurevich Dr M Urosevic Prof WV Pinczewski Prof SA Shapiro 

*** 

Title: Theoretical and experimental study of elastic properties of porous media permeated 

by aligned fractures 

2003 : $95,000

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

The aim of the project is to develop a theoretical model for the elastic properties of fractured porous 

reservoir rocks, taking into account the wave-induced fluid flow between pores and fractures. This will 

be done by theoretical analysis based on the model of fractures as planes of discontinuity in porous rock, 

and on the theory of wave propagation in anisotropic porous media. The theoretical model will be verified 

using numerical simulations and ultrasonic measurements made on synthetic porous and fractured 

samples. The results are expected to benefit seismic exploration and the production of oil and gas in 

fractured reservoirs. 

*** 

DP0344745 A/Prof S Hopkins Prof H Frech Dr MP Kidd 

Title: Private Health Insurance and Utilisation of Health Care in Australia 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $35,000 



Summary: 

The breakdown of activity between the Australian public and private health sectors is currently subject to 

considerable scrutiny. The combination of a comprehensive public system with minimal co-payments, but 

considerable waiting times for some treatment, and a private system with minimal waiting but sizeable 

co-payments has interesting economic implications for both consumer and provider behaviour. This 

research project will explore the relationship between insurance status and utilisation of health care in 

Australia. Because insurance reduces the out-of-pocket price for consumers, they tend to purchase 

more care than they would without insurance. 

DP0344019 Dr Y Hu Prof MF Randolph 

*** 

Title: Economical Offshore Foundation for Deep Water - Suction Embedded Plate Anchor 

2003 : $78,000 

2004 : $77,500 

2005 : $78,000 



Summary: 

The oil/gas industry's venture in finding large resources in deep water has lead to a number of important 

economic and technical challenges including, among others, new types of foundations. Suction 

Embedded Plate Anchor (SEPA) has shown its potential of cost-saving against other types of foundations 

in deep waters. The aim of this project is to use the expertise of investigators, on numerical and 

centrifuge modelling, to study the behaviour of SEPA in sub-marine deposit. Successful completing of the 

project will contribute to the very little existing data on this new type of foundation - SEPA. 

*** 

DP0345583 Dr M Kuhn Prof Dr WE Featherstone Prof W Keller 

Title: Prediction of Sea Level Change around Australia and its Calibration and Validation by 

Satellite-Geodetic Measurements 

2003 : $136,000 

2004 : $128,000 

2005 : $132,000 

2006 : $133,000 

Category: 2910 - GEOMATIC ENGINEERING


APD Dr M Kuhn 

Summary: 

The redistribution of mass and loading due to deglaciation will change the gravity field, spin axis and 

centre of mass of the Earth. As such, global sea level will not rise by the same amount in all places, and 

will even fall in some. This project will extend our realistic Earth model, constructed from a previous ARC 

grant, to simulate such changes in sea level. These simulated values will be compared with 

contemporary estimates of ice mass balance and temporal gravity changes measured by satellite 

geodesy. Ultimately, this will allow for more informed management of sea level change in Australasia. 

DP0344060 Dr AP Lee 

*** 

Title: In situ Raman spectroscopic studies of iron and calcium biomaterials in marine 

chiton teeth 

2003 : $79,000 

2004 : $72,000 

2005 : $69,000 



APD Dr AP Lee 

Summary: 

The future of biomaterial science in Australia depends upon the discovery and refinement of new 

materials. This project characterizes the biomaterials in the feeding apparatus of Australian marine 

chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). Like many biological structures, chiton teeth are sophisticated 

composite materials that have been refined by evolution over millions of years. Initially composed of the 

polysaccharide chitin, these extremely hard teeth are mineralized with calcium and iron compounds and 

used to excavate the rocks on which they live, as they graze for food. Understanding the mechanism of 

biomineralization is vital for devising synthetic routes to composite materials for industrial purposes. 

DP0346120 Prof JG McGuire 

*** 

Title: The World Economy, India and Exchange Banks: 1850 - 1914 

2003 : $44,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $26,000 



Summary: 

This project aims to examine how exchange banks linked India to an expanding world economy between 

1850 and 1914, and to show, in turn, how this process was defined by an imperial relationship that tied 

India to Britain. Its significance lies in the fact that while the exchange banks were central to the 

circulation of capital during this period, their crucial role in shaping the development of capitalism in India 

has been largely ignored. Expected outcomes include conference presentations, at least three articles, a 

monograph, and a digitised map that links time and space in outlining the spread of such banks. 

*** 

DP0345625 Prof KJ Rosman Mr V Morgan Prof C Boutron 

Title: The Impact of Changing Climatic Conditions inferred from the Isotope Abundances of 

Trace Metals in Global Ice Sheets and Glaciers 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $135,000 

2005 : $110,000 

2006 : $110,000

2007 : $100,000 



Summary: 

In this project Greenland and Antarctic ice-cores more than 3 km long will be used to investigate climatic 

variation extending back more that 4 complete glacial cycles. Some of these ice-cores include sections of 

refrozen water formed from sub-glacial Antarctic lake water. This project will use naturally occurring 

lead and strontium isotopic tracers to fingerprint impurities in the ice, because they have the potential to 

simultaneously signal the timing and location of past episodes of climate change. This will lead to an 

improvement in our understanding of the processes that cause these changes. 

DP0344754 Dr GJ Venville 

*** 

Title: Learning and Teaching Genetics in a Biotechnological World: A Multidimensional 

Investigation of Conceptual Change 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $41,000 



Summary: 

The aim of this research is to investigate students' and experts' understandings of fundamental concepts 

of genetics. The aim also is to investigate teaching strategies that will develop appropriate concepts for 

living in a biotechnological world. This is significant because genetics is critical content knowledge for 

general scientific literacy. This is the first research to investigate how children's theories of genetics 

develop and it brings together two successful theoretical approaches. The outcomes of this qualitative 

research will be detailed descriptions and interpretations of what children already know about genetics, 

what they should know, and effective teaching strategies for conceptual change. 

Edith Cowan University 

DP0346137 Dr D Chai 

Title: Advanced Capture, Analysis and Compression of Facial Images 

2003 : $70,267 

2004 : $66,767 

2005 : $66,767 


Administering Institution: Edith Cowan University 

APD Dr D Chai 

*** 

Summary: 

Facial image processing is an area of research that holds an important key to future advances in 

intelligent human-to-computer and human-to-human systems. This project will investigate and develop 

superior approaches to image capturing of human faces for subsequent analysis and compression. It 

aims to develop innovative techniques to detect, extract and recognise faces, as well as more efficient 

ways to compress facial image data. This project will provide advanced Australian technology with 

applications in some of the world's fastest growing markets, including crowd surveillance, computer user 

interface, videoconferencing, and multimedia systems. 

DP0345843 Dr PA Forster 

*** 

Title: Conceptual Understanding and Problem-solving Approaches in the Presence of 

Graphics Calculators 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000



APD Dr PA Forster 

Summary: 

The objectives of the project are to identify how students conceptualise mathematical relationships and 

formulate problem solutions, when graphics calculators are utilised. Graphics calculators are now 

common in schools and research is needed to provide sound bases for teaching and assessment. 

Investigation will centre on upper-secondary applied mathematics subjects because they are studied by a 

high proportion of students for university entrance, are relevant to a wide range of careers and have 

received relatively little research attention in relation to calculator use. The project will yield, for school 

and research communities, new knowledge of mathematics learning with graphics calculators. 

*** 

DP0344682 A/Prof PE Love Prof JM Burn Dr Z Irani 

Title: Classifying the indirect costs of information systems and information technology in 

business 

2003 : $35,000 

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $30,000 



Summary: 

Many businesses are increasing their expenditure on IS/IT to obtain a strategic competitive advantage. 

Traditional approaches to IS/IT appraisal are unable to accommodate the costs associated with deploying 

'organisational-wide' IS/IT solutions because of their qualitative characteristics. The inability of managers 

to determine the 'true' costs of IS/IT are attributable to a lack of knowledge and understanding of IS/IT 

related costs. This research will extend the myopia of traditional 'direct' financial cost analysis by 

identifying 'indirect' cost factors. A model that integrates cost taxonomies and performance 

measures/metrics of IS/IT will be developed as a frame of reference for IS/IT decision-makers. 

Murdoch University 

DP0343733 Em/Prof GC Bolton 

*** 

Title: A biography of Sir Paul Hasluck (1905-1993) 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $35,000 

2005 : $35,000 


Administering Institution: Murdoch University 

Summary: 

Paul Hasluck is one of the most significant figures in post-war Australian history. This project will make 

use of a large body of archival sources, previously unavailable and unexamined, to evaluate Hasluck's 

roles as politician, diplomat, governor-general, historian, poet, commentator and policymaker. The 

expected outcome will be a nuanced political biography and an unusual and important case study of a 

conservative intellectual in Australian politics. Completion will coincide with the centenary of Hasluck's 

birth in 2005. 

*** 

DP0343600 Dr TI Burgess Dr GE Hardy A/Prof B Dell Prof MJ Wingfield 

Title: Population Genetics of Fungal Pathogens that Threaten the Biosecurity of Australia's 

Eucalypts 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

Many new pathogens and diseases are emerging on exotic eucalypt plantations throughout the world. 

These emerging diseases pose a threat to native eucalypt forests and plantations in Australia. Vigilant 

quarantine measures are necessary to prevent the introduction of potentially devastating pathogens into 

Australia. However, incursions do occur and there is a great need to study these pathogens now, 

before they enter Australia. By studying the population genetics of pathogens, their evolutionary potential 

can be estimated and with that the extent of the risk they pose to native and planted eucalypts in 

Australia can be determined. 

*** 

DP0343068 A/Prof JK Currie Dr LM Vidovich Dr R Yang 

Title: University Responses to Globalisation in Singapore, Hong Kong, and China 

2003 : $30,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $30,000 



Summary: 

This research investigates how globalisation affects universities in Singapore, Hong Kong, and China. 

Through comparative policy analyses with Western universities, we examine Asian universities' 

responses to two globalising practices: accountability and autonomy. There is an inherent tension 

between these as they often interact and shape each other. As governments give universities more 

autonomy, they simultaneously demand greater accountability. Evidence suggests that the way quality 

mechanisms are introduced affects institutional and professional autonomy. Significant outcomes include: 

1) an improved understanding of Asian university responses to global trends; 2) building globalisation 

theory based on empirical evidence; 3) developing policy theory; 4) publications. 

*** 

DP0345358 Prof TD Gedeon Prof LT Kóczy Dr K Wong 

Title: Effective Fuzzy Systems for Complex Structured Data Using Fuzzy Signatures 

2003 : $68,259 

2004 : $68,259 

2005 : $68,259 

2006 : $58,259 



APD Dr K Wong 

Summary: 

We are developing systematic, heuristic and mathematical techniques to produce effective fuzzy systems 

for complex structured data. Many or most real world problems have data which has interdependent 

sub-components depending on the context (eg only female patients need be tested for pregnancy), and 

often has missing components. Our techniques use fuzzy signatures to extend simple fuzzy systems to 

deal with data with such complex (sub-)structure. This produces effective fuzzy systems with wide 

applicability to real problems, in telecommunications, and petroleum reservoir data. 

DP0346152 Prof RJ Hobbs 

Title: Ecosystem Assembly in Old Fields in the Western Australian Wheatbelt 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $90,000 

***



Summary: 

This project aims to examine the process of ecosystem re-assembly on land which is taken out of 

agricultural production and left without further management. Land abandonment is common in many parts 

of the world and could increase dramatically in Australia due to land degradation, salinity and structural 

change. We will investigate the factors which influence whether native plant species can recolonise 

abandoned farmland, using field and greenhouse studies. We will do this within the context of ecosystem 

assembly, thereby answering a practical question and also providing input to a conceptual area which is 

currently of great interest in 

*** 

DP0345331 Dr WJ Martino Prof RL Lingard Dr MD Mills Dr L Beckett 

Title: Productive Pedagogies, Productive Schools and Gender Reform 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $42,000 



Summary: 

This proposal seeks to document policy developments at federal, state and school systems in relation to 

boys' schooling and measure their effectiveness within a gender equity framework. It also seeks to 

document and evaluate the effectiveness of school structural and pedagogical reforms geared to better 

meeting the educational needs of boys without detracting from the education of girls. Finally, the study 

will map pedagogies and analyse their effectiveness against such factors as the gender of the teacher 

and gender composition of classes, and subject domains, across both primary and secondary schools. 

DP0344978 Dr SA Moore 

Title: Designing and Evaluating Biodiversity Conservation Policies for the Future 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $70,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Biodiversity loss is a concern worldwide, especially in Australia with one of the world's 25 biodiversity 

"hot spots". Poor translation of ecology into policy and an absence of policy design principles are 

significantly impeding our ability to arrest these losses. This project aims to translate current 

developments in ecological theory into information useful for policy makers, develop and apply an 

evaluation framework to current biodiversity policies using this new information, and develop policy 

design principles based on this evaluation. The project's expected outcomes - a clear translation of 

ecological theory for policy makers, and evaluation criteria and design principles for biodiversity policies - 

will contribute to conserving biodiversity. 

The University of Western Australia 

DP0346370 Dr J Antoszewski Dr CA Musca 

*** 

Title: New generation of hyperspectral infrared photon detectors 

2003 : $115,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $85,000 


Administering Institution: The University of Western Australia 

Summary: 

Although highly desirable for many applications, tuneable, on chip, infrared photon detectors are not yet 

available. The approach described in this application aims to develop a technology for high performance,

on chip, infrared photon detectors that can be tuned over a wide wavelength range. By applying a novel 

in-house developed semiconductor process and a multi-disciplinary approach, this project aims to develop 

such devices by combining, for the first time, micromachined tuneable optical microcavities with high 

performance HgCdTe-based infrared detectors. 

*** 

DP0343933 Ms CA Arrese Dr LD Beazley Prof DM Hunt 

Title: Colour vision in marsupials 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $95,000 



APD Ms CA Arrese 

Summary: 

The ability to distinguish colours is a crucial aspect of vision, providing vital data for sexual selection, 

predator detection and food acquisition. Studies of mammalian colour vision have largely overlooked 

marsupials. Our recent investigation of spectral sensitivity in two Australian species revealed a colour 

discrimination capacity beyond that of placentals (excluding primates), implying disparate evolutionary 

pressures in the two groups. We will provide the first comprehensive description of colour vision in 

marsupials, studying species with differing rhythmicities, habitats and diets. Wavelength sensitivity and 

molecular structure of retinal visual pigments will be assessed in relation to evolutionary influences and 

ecological demands. 

*** 

DP0343517 Prof CA Atkins Dr PM Smith Dr JM Whelan 

Title: Genome Approaches to Investigate Metabolic Coordination in Plant Cells 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $120,000 



Summary: 

Metabolism of C and N in legume nodules requires interaction between the symbiotic bacteria and plant 

organelles, particularly metabolism in plastids and mitochondria. Fixed N is assimilated through the de 

novo synthesis of purines in both plastids and mitochondria. However, each of the nine pathway 

enzymes is encoded by a single gene, indicating each protein is targeted to both organelles. Purine 

metabolism will provide a model to assess the more general occurrence of dual-targeted proteins in 

plants. The aim is to identify and eventually exploit the signalling mechanism(s) that mediate 

communication between plastids and mitochondria. 

DP0346084 Prof DR Badcock Em/Prof J Ross 

Title: How the human visual system uses pattern information to organize motion. 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $54,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project is an investigation into human vision, a priority area for ARC. Its aim is to discover how 

photons from moving objects leave traces in the human visual system that assist it to determine the path 

of local motion and the structure of global motion. Its theoretical significance is that it will lead to 

substantial revisions of current models of human visual processing. Its practical significance is that it will 

provide a theoretical basis for the design of display systems that are more effective in conveying 

information about motion to human observers and eliminate errors inherent in existing systems.

*** 

DP0344334 Dr MV Baker Prof AH White Prof KJ Cavell 

Title: Cyclophane Carbene Complexes as Catalysts: An Integrated Synthetic, Structural, and 

Mechanistic Approach 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Metal-carbene complexes are emerging as efficient catalysts for chemical processes of immense 

importance to the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries. This project will build on the recent 

discovery of a family of complexes that exhibits the highest activity yet reported for metal-carbene 

catalysts in carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. Insights into the ways the new catalysts work will be 

gained through a combination of synthetic, mechanistic, and structural studies. This detailed investigation 

of structure/reactivity relationships will provide an understanding of why these catalyst are so efficient 

and hence give synthetic leads for the development of superior new catalysts suitable for industrial 

application. 

DP0344146 A/Prof ME Barley Dr RA Armstrong Dr RH Rainbird Prof DG Long 

*** 

Title: Precise global time scale for the oxidation of Earth's atmosphere between 2.6 and 2.0 

billion years ago 

2003 : $130,000 

2004 : $130,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

The rock record from 2600 to 2000 million years ago preserves evidence for dramatically fluctuating 

greenhouse and icehouse climates at the same time as, and possibly caused by, change from an 

oxygen-deficient to an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Although the global changes are well-documented, 

correlation of their timing and duration between continents is poorly constrained. This project aims to 

redress that problem by producing a precise calibration of the global changes by analysis of the rock 

records in Australia, Canada and South Africa. It will provide a much needed time framework within 

which long-term feedback between atmospheric composition and climate can be understood. 

*** 

DP0346344 Prof DG Blair Mr D Coward A/Prof M van Putten 

Title: The astrophysical stochastic background of gravitational waves and detection by 

advanced high optical power interferometers: an Australia-US collaboration 

2003 : $99,345 

2004 : $99,345 

2005 : $109,345 



APD Mr D Coward 

Summary: 

The proposed project is designed to enable one of the most exciting and least studied components of the 

gravitational wave spectrum, the Astrophysical Gravitational wave Background (AGB), to be detected by 

Advanced LIGO. It will extend the Australia-US collaboration in Advanced LIGO to include modelling, 

simulation and detection methods of the AGB and the study of the optical noise in LIGO and Advanced 

LIGO type systems. In particular we plan to search for anomalous noise sources and, especially those

arising in high optical power cavities that could limit detection of the AGB. 

DP0344310 Dr SS Burgess 

*** 

Title: Ecophysiological limitations that affect water and carbon balance within large tree 

canopies: a comparative investigation 

2003 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Supply of water to forest canopies is a major control of hydrological, atmospheric and biotic processes 

that impinge on groundwater stability, catchment yield, the fate of pollutants and plant productivity. 

Fundamental aspects of water transport and distribution within plant tissues remain obscured by 

conflicting experimental data and conflicting theoretical models that describe physiological functioning. 

Potential hydraulic constraints to the exchange of water and carbon between leaf and atmosphere 

require investigation before accurate models and informed decisions can be made with respect to the role 

of forests in biosphere-atmosphere processes. I will use large trees to investigate physiological and 

morphological determinants of hydraulic function and consider relationships between tree size, water 

requirements and water supply. This project will foster comparative analyses of hydraulic functioning in 

large angiosperm and conifer species to elucidate universal principles that relate form to function and 

explain relationships between trees and their environment. 

*** 

DP0345717 Prof MB Bush A/Prof XZ Hu Dr BR Lawn 

Title: Evolution of Contact Damage in Layer Structures 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $55,000 



Summary: 

Brittle layer structures (eg brittle coating on ceramic substrate) can be much more damage tolerant than 

their constituent material components - cracks tend to remain contained within the coating. Very little is 

known about the factors that control this behaviour. This project will exploit unique local expertise in 

modelling damage evolution to fill a niche in a large study being carried out at the National Institute of 

Standards (NIST) in the U.S.A. An understanding of the factors that maximise the containment of cracks 

is essential to the design and development of the next generation of advanced layer composites for many 

biomechanical and other engineering applications. 

DP0345424 Dr MJ Cassidy 

*** 

Title: Development of Models for the Three-Dimensional Analysis of Jack-Up Structures 

2003 : $72,000 

2004 : $77,000 

2005 : $78,000 



Summary: 

Mobile jack-up structures perform most of the world's offshore drilling in water depths up to 120m, but 

have a higher accident rate then fixed installations. To improve their safety, this research will develop the 

framework for the integrated assessment of jack-up behaviour in three dimensions. To achieve this, an 

advanced plasticity model that describes cyclic behaviour of the circular shallow foundations of jack-ups 

in both clay and sand will be developed and incorporated with random wave loading of seas in a dynamic 

structural analysis program. The anticipated advantages of the modelling techniques will be assessed 

against existing two dimensional industry guidelines and monitored field data.

*** 

DP0342442 Prof KW Clements Prof HY Izan A/Prof SE Selvanathan 

Title: Stochastic Index Numbers and Their Application in Accounting, Economics and 

2003 : $42,000 

2004 : $42,000 

2005 : $42,000 



Summary: 

Index numbers of prices, such as the Consumer Price Index and the All Ordinaries Index, are among the 

most important economic statistics for the whole economy. But despite their importance, currently 

constructed price indexes do not use all the information available in the underlying price data, namely the 

dispersion among the individual prices. This project will develop and apply a methodology for a new 

approach to index numbers that incorporates this information and leads to tractable ways of estimating 

the whole distribution of the index value, rather than just one number. The practical usefulness of this 

mthodology will be demonstrated with applications in accounting (sustainable earnings), economics (real 

exchange rates) and finance (share prices). 

DP0343499 Mr BA Corry 

*** 

Title: A hierarchical quantum mechanical and classical simulation of biological ion channels 

2003 : $74,345 

2004 : $69,345 

2005 : $65,345 



APD Mr BA Corry 

Summary: 

I aim to develop a methodology incorporating molecular quantum mechanics and classical Brownian 

mechanics in a way that can be applied practically to large macromolecular systems, thus relating fine 

structural details to experimentally measurable properties. Specifically, I will apply this methodology to 

study ion channels in which the challenge is to relate electronic and atomic structure to the conductance 

properties of the channel. Accurately determining these relationships provides a pathway to developing 

cures for many neurological, cardiac, and muscular diseases. 

*** 

DP0344889 Dr DN Denemark A/Prof CS Bean Dr IM Ward 

Title: Television Election Campaign News and Australian Politics 

2003 : $50,000 



Summary: 

This project seeks to expand our understanding of a vital and largely unexplored nexus -- that between 

television and electoral attitudes and behaviour in Australia. Building on substantial organisational, 

empirical and analytic work already completed, it will construct two new databases by content-analysing 

videotapes we recorded of the TV election campaign news coverage during the 1998 and 2001 

Australian federal elections. Merged with survey data, and existing 1996 TV data, our analyses will yield 

a number of publications on TV content, leader images, presidentialisation, and TV cues in voter 

decision-making -- the first cross-time examination of these themes in Australia. 

DP0342915 Prof SJ Houghton Dr A Carroll 

*** 

Title: Emotionally Provoking Events in Classrooms and During Transitions: Developing

Self-Regulatory Programs for Children Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity 

Disorder 

2003 : $42,000 

2004 : $45,000 

2005 : $45,000 



Summary: 

Deficiencies in inhibitory control seen in those with ADHD cause problems in self-regulation of emotion. 

Consequently, children with ADHD are more impulsively emotional and less able to regulate their emotional 

responses to emotionally provoking events. Few studies, however, have systematically examined the 

emotional responses of this population in the classroom and during transitions. Through a series of 

studies the proposed research will identify events which are emotionally provoking for primary and 

secondary school-aged ADHD children, and then develop and evaluate emotion self-regulation programs 

(in combination with/without medication) which assist ADHD children to manage emotionally provoking 

events. 

DP0346198 A/Prof XZ Hu 

*** 

Title: Boundary Effects on Bridging-Stress/Crack-Opening Relationship and Specific 

Fracture Energy 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $58,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

This project is to investigate the boundary/interface influence on fracture/material properties of 

composites and thin layered structures along crack path to free boundary and bi-material interface. The 

local fracture energy dissipation along crack path is emphasised and used to study the boundary 

influence on the cohesive law - the relationship between crack bridging stress and crack opening 

displacement. New fracture mechanics model is proposed that incorporates the boundary/interface 

influence and the more popular size effect. The new boundary/interface effect model will be more 

relevant to modern materials applications related to layered ceramics, thin films, coatings in electronic and 

bio-medical applications. 

DP0346282 Prof J Imberger Prof GN Ivey 

*** 

Title: Internal wave energetics, mixing and transport in lakes 

2003 : $170,000 

2004 : $170,000 

2005 : $170,000 



Summary: 

The aim of this project is to increase our understanding of the physical processes controlling water 

quality in lakes. Water supplies world-wide are under increasing pressure from development, usually 

resulting in decreasing water quality. The biology and chemistry in lakes is controlled primarily by physical 

processes, and so understanding these processes is crucial to managing water quality in lakes and 

reservoirs. The outcomes of this project will be improved tools for the management of these water 

resources, as all the research findings will be incorporated into already existing numerical models for lake 

management. 

DP0345856 Dr GA Kendrick Prof DI Walker 

*** 

Title: Integrating seagrass recruitment and growth at the shoot scale with temporal and

spatial dynamics of seagrass meadows in marine landscapes. 

2003 : $60,000 



Summary: 

In Australia, seagrass loss associated with human activity is one of the most serious issues affecting the 

marine environment. Despite this, processes contributing to maintenance of seagrass meadows are 

poorly understood. This project addresses meadow maintenance through measuring seedling recruitment, 

clonal growth and patch dynamics for 3 species of seagrasses, and modeling emergent patterns of 

meadow expansion. The outcomes will be integration of shoot-scale and meadow-scale dynamics in 

shallow subtidal landscapes, resulting in a clearer understanding of and ability to manage large-scale 

changes in seagrass meadows caused by natural and anthropogenic influences. 

DP0343824 Prof Dr JT Lambers 

*** 

Title: Carboxylate exudation and phosphate nutrition in Hakea prostrata (Proteaecea) 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

Nonmycorrhizal Proteaceae are very successful in acquiring phosphate from nutrient-impoverished soils; 

their cluster roots account for this. They are also extremely sensitive to phosphate toxicity. We will 

elucidate aspects of production and release of carboxylates that are associated with functioning of 

cluster roots, using Hakea prostrata (Proteaceae) as a model. Types and rates of exudation by cluster 

roots, as influenced by development and environmental signals, will be assessed. Our findings will 

provide key information on adaptive mechanisms associated with both phosphate acquisition from 

phosphate-fixing soils and phosphate toxicity. 

DP0344462 Dr C Li 

*** 

Title: Symmetrical graphs, generalized polygons and expanders 

2003 : $125,455 

2004 : $122,455 

2005 : $120,455 

2006 : $105,455 

2007 : $115,455 



QEII Dr C Li 

Summary: 

This project proposes to study a class of highly symmetrical graphs -- locally s-arc-transitive graphs. 

Studying the class of graphs has been one of the central topics in algebraic graph theory for over 50 

years. This class of graphs has been effectively used in computer science, communication network, 

group theory, geometry, and other areas. This project will develop new methods to solve several 

fundamental problems regarding locally s-arc-transitive graphs, and apply the outcomes to solve 

important problems in communication networks, graph theory, group theory, and geometry. 

*** 

DP0342446 Dr J Liu Prof BH Brady Dr CW Mallett Prof D Elsworth 

Title: Investigation of Coupled Processes During Underground Coal Gasification 

2003 : $77,000 

2004 : $74,000 

2005 : $78,000



Summary: 

Coal values could be extracted directly from coal seams through underground coal gasification (UCG) 

without the need for mining. The practical application of UCG is restricted primarily by lack of satisfactory 

quantitative descriptions of the processes involved. The proposed study will address this critical issue 

through an intergated approach of computer modelling and its verification against real field trials. 

*** 

DP0343391 A/Prof AN Luiten A/Prof ME Tobar Dr EN Ivanov Prof LW Hollberg Prof C Salomon Prof P 

Guillon Dr RP Kovacich 

Title: Creation of New Precision Optical and Microwave Technologies and their Application 

to Testing the Fundamental of Physics 

2003 : $417,366 

2004 : $391,841 

2005 : $341,841 

2006 : $307,496 

2007 : $387,496 



APF A/Prof ME Tobar 

APD Dr RP Kovacich 

Summary: 

Clocks and oscillators are crucial for the highest precision scientific and industrial measurements and are 

the foundation of modern communications technology. Recent developments in laser-cooled optical clocks 

promise a wave of revolutionary changes to global navigation, timekeeping and precision measurement. 

Our group has already achieved world's-best performance in this field. To stay at the forefront of this 

wave we propose a broad-ranging program of research aimed at:- new clocks of 100 times higher 

performance than any existing clock,- development of extremely low noise photonic oscillators,- the 

application of these new technologies to test the foundations of Physics, including involvement in a 

space-based experiment. 

DP0346223 Prof C MacLeod Prof A Mathews 

*** 

Title: Attentional and interpretive bias in anxiety: Concurrent expressions of a common 

selective mechanism, or independent mediators of anxiety vulnerability? 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

The proposed research aims to determine whether two key cognitive biases recently shown to causally 

influence anxiety vulnerability, one involving selective attention to threat and the other involving the 

selective imposition of threatening interpretations on ambiguity, arise as concurrent manifestations of a 

common underlying causal mechanism, or instead represent alternative causal pathways in the mediation 

of this emotional disposition. Resolution of this issue will significantly advance our theoretical 

understanding of the mechanisms that govern anxiety vulnerability, while also contributing directly to the 

development of new cognitive technologies designed to therapeutically modify such vulnerability. 

*** 

DP0344016 Dr PC Maddern Dr P Sharpe Dr SM Broomhall 

Title: Beyond the Family: Fragmented Families and Household Strategies in England,

1400-1830 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $60,000 

2006 : $30,000 

2007 : $120,467 



Summary: 

This project poses radical new questions to the history of families and domestic relations in England 

1400-1830. We aim to provide the first systematic analysis of the extent, variety, and significance of 

non-nuclear family forms in this period, explore their affectual relationships, and locate them in European 

contexts. Using approaches from literary textual analysis to statistical demography, we will critique 

several areas of scholarship on family and household history, evoking new research on medieval and 

early modern non-nuclear family structures, and hopefully providing fresh perspectives on the historical 

context of the perceived 'breakdown' of nuclear families in modern western-type societies. 

*** 

DP0345058 Dr SK Maloney Prof D Mitchell Dr DP Blache 

Title: Brain temperature regulation in mammals: mechanisms and consequences 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $30,000 



Summary: 

Mammals detect increases in body temperature predominantly in the brain. Counterintuitively many 

mammals selectively cool the brain during heat stress, which appears to defeat the mechanism for 

inducing cooling responses. We intend to investigate this apparent anomaly which we believe is 

concerned with optimizing water use in hot conditions. We will further investigate the source of water for 

evaporative cooling by panting and discover if there has been convergent evolution in thermoregulatory 

strategies in the eutherian and marsupial lineages. The data we collect will be used to support a new 

model for thermoregulation in mammals. 

DP0342581 A/Prof B Martinac Asst Prof E Perozo Prof K Schulten Prof P Kinnunen 

*** 

Title: Early evolutionary origins of mechanosensory transduction: structure, function and 

phylogenetic studies of the family of mechanosensitive channels in cell-walled 

organisms. 

2003 : $200,000 

2004 : $200,000 

2005 : $180,000 

Category: 2799 - OTHER BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 


Summary: 

The proposed project is based on the recent progress the applicants have made by (i) identifying a novel 

family of mechanosensitive (MS) channels in cell-walled organisms, which include Archaea and Bacteria 

(prokaryotes), as well as fungi and plants (eukaryotes), and (ii) determining basic aspects of the 

structural dynamics of MscL, the prototype MS channel, using electronparamagnetic resonance 

spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations in combination with the patch clamp technique. The aim 

of the project is to elucidate the molecular principles underlying the function of MS channels, which is of 

fundamental importance for understanding of the biophysics and physiology of mechanosensory 

transduction throughout the biological world. 

***

DP0344908 Dr IN McArthur Dr SM Kuzenko 

Title: Low Energy Effective Actions in Supersymmetric Gauge Theories 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

The quest for a unified quantum theory of all the fundamental interactions of Nature, including gravity, is a 

major goal of modern physics. Superstring theory is at present the only plausible candidate. This theory 

makes nontrivial predictions (non-renormalization theorems) about the low energy structure of certain 

supersymmetric gauge theories (the Standard Model of particle physics is a special gauge theory). This 

project will develop new tools for the computation of low energy effective actions, which will then be 

used for a detailed analysis of the non-renormalization theorems governing the low energy dynamics of 

supersymmetric gauge theories. This research is at the forefront of modern particle physics. 

DP0343112 Dr K Miller Dr R Kikinis 

*** 

Title: Real Time Computer Simulation of Human Soft Organ Deformation for Computer 

Assisted Surgery 

2003 : $92,000 

2004 : $73,500 

2005 : $77,500 



Summary: 

The proposed research will develop computational framework, which will allow calculation of soft organ 

(brain, liver, kidney, prostate, etc.) deformation during surgical operations in real time. Fully non-linear 

material models and geometrically non-linear finite element formulation will be used. The fundamental 

technology developed within this project: physically (or mechanically) realistic modelling and real time 

computer simulation of soft organ deformation, will have applications in many areas of computer assisted 

surgery, such as intra-operative, real time non-rigid registration and virtual reality surgeon training and 

operation planning systems with force and tactile feedback. 

DP0342829 A/Prof PH Morgan 

*** 

Title: "The Whole Map of the Balkans": Ethnicity, National Identity and Empire in the Work of 

Ismail Kadare 

2003 : $20,000 

2004 : $35,000 

2005 : $29,666 



Summary: 

The Albanian intellectual, Ismail Kadare, foreshadowed the re-valorization of ethnic identity as a 

socio-political category under late 20th century communism. While Kadare's novels and essays deal 

primarily with his native Albania, they also represent the emergence more broadly of ethnicity as a factor 

in the literature of Eastern and South-Eastern European socialism. The project will explore in depth the 

relationship between ethnicity, ideology and socialist literary culture that underpins Kadare's work, 

providing the first detailed analytical and critical study in English, and locating Kadare in the context of the 

major lines of contemporary European thought regarding ethnicity and ethnic identity. 

*** 

DP0346374 A/Prof BD Nener Dr G Parish Prof UK Mishra

Title: Charge and Interface Properties of Novel Gallium Nitride Transistor Structures for 

Application in Low-Noise High-Frequency Electronics 

2003 : $103,000 

2004 : $81,000 

2005 : $77,000 



Summary: 

Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based transistors offer a unique opportunity to simultaneously achieve both high 

power and low noise from amplifiers. This project aims to improve material and device design of 

GaN-based transistors. It comprises a systematic comparison of charge and interface properties with 

power and noise performance measurements of high electron mobility transistors grown using a broad 

variety of novel growth, processing and device innovations. The expected outcome of the program 

includes key advances in the areas of GaN materials growth, device processing and passivation 

technology, which will ultimately lead to breakthrough performance in ultra-low-noise electronics for high 

frequency systems. 

DP0346148 Mrs E Pasternak 

*** 

Title: Rotational Degrees Of Freedom In Modelling Of Materials With Intrinsic Length Scale 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 



APD Mrs E Pasternak 

Summary: 

In many applications, from nanotechnology to construction and mining, the modelled objects are not large 

enough as compared to the material constituents for classical continuum modelling to be adequate, but yet 

encompass too many elements for comfortable particle-type computer simulation. Generalised continua 

would offer a viable option if a rational method of their construction for each intrinsic material structure 

were at hand. The project aims at developing the necessary homogenisation procedure and constructing 

generalised (Cosserat) continuum models of deformation, wave propagation and impact fracture in 

particulate and layered materials such as multi-wall nanotubes, fullerenes, particulate composites and 

layered rock masses. 

DP0344041 Prof AF Pauwels 

*** 

Title: The spread of gender-inclusive language reform in Outer-Circle Englishes: English in 

Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $45,000 

2005 : $49,000 



Summary: 

This examination aims to describe the adoption and spread of gender-inclusive language use in the 

Englishes in Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines and to compare this process to the one observed in 

'native' Englishes (eg.Australian English). The comparative approach between 'native' and 'non-native' 

Englishes is innovative. Expected outcomes include significant progress in the study of planned language 

change, of English as a global language and language and gender identity. The study will have an impact 

on social policy development. 

DP0346136 Prof Z Rengel 

***

Title: Role of intracellular calcium homeostasis and aluminium transport across the plasma 

membrane in aluminium toxicity to plants 

2003 : $63,000 

2004 : $76,000 

2005 : $73,000 



Summary: 

Aluminium is the most important yield-limiting factor in acid soils throughout the world. The problem of 

aluminium toxicity is aggravated by continuous acidification of arable land. Mechanisms of aluminium 

toxicity in plant cells are poorly understood. The present project seeks to elucidate the molecular basis of 

the interaction between intracellular calcium homeostasis, cytosolic pH and aluminium uptake across the 

plasma membrane in aluminium toxicity to plants. Knowledge of primary triggers of aluminium toxicity will 

pay off in a breeding programme aimed at selecting crop genotypes with increased resistance to 

aluminium toxicity. 

DP0346115 Dr DA Reynolds Ms M Mathew 

Title: The Influence of Fracture Network Topology on Fluid Flow in the Subsurface 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $66,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project focuses on developing methods for the simulation of fluid flow in fractured rock aquifers. 

Given the large computational requirements involved in modelling discretely fractured rock masses, 

scaling approaches are required to allow for simulation at field scales. The sensitivity of the scaling to 

the parameters describing the fracture network will be investigated. It is anticipated that the scaled 

functional relationships will be quite network specific, and that the identification of the controls on the 

form of the scaling relationships will allow for the focussing of data acquisition to the most salient 

information, and will reduce the costs involved. 

DP0346096 Prof GI Rhodes 

Title: Applying the Psychologist's Microelectrode to High-Level Vision: What face 

aftereffects can tell us about face processing. 

2003 : $127,000 

2004 : $129,000 

2005 : $131,000 

2006 : $131,000 

2007 : $131,000 

*** 



APF Prof GI Rhodes 

Summary: 

After effects, the psychologist's microelectrode, can show how our visual experience relates to neural 

activity. In the well-known waterfall illusion, neurons coding downwards motion become fatigued while 

watching a waterfall, making stationary objects on the riverbank appear to move upwards. Viewing a 

face for a few seconds can have a similar effect, causing a previously neutral or average face to take 

on the opposite identity. Here we explore what this and other face afterffects can tell us about how 

faces are coded in high level vision. 

DP0343282 Mr F Sharifian 

*** 

Title: Cultural linguistics and intercultural discourse

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $75,000 



APD Mr F Sharifian 

Summary: 

This project will develop a theoretical framework for the study of intercultural communication by drawing 

on the theory of cultural linguistics. Cultural linguistics is a recent sub-field of linguistics which has so far 

been applied to the study of mono-cultural, monolinguistic data. This study will bring the theory to examine 

discourse in a significant multi-cultural setting such as Australia. In particular, it will shed light on the 

nature of miscommunication between people of different cultural backgrounds, which has often led to 

serious damage to human relationships. This will be achieved by explicating the culturally-constructed 

conceptualisations that people bring to their intercultural discourse. 

DP0346423 A/Prof V Sreeram 

Title: Model-Reduction Techniques for Control, Communication and Circuits 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $57,200 

2005 : $50,336 

*** 



Summary: 

Model reduction is an important area of study in the analysis and design of dynamical systems. Its 

objective is to obtain a low-order model given a high-order system model such that the low-order model 

closely approximates the input-output behaviour of the original high-order system. Although theory and 

application of model reduction is well developed, there are many unresolved issues such as efficient 

model reduction techniques for large-scale circuit simulation and communication applications, 

frequency-weighted model reduction techniques for controller-design applications, and error bounds for 

the reduction techniques. The project aims to address these issues. 

*** 

DP0345971 Dr WE Stone Dr SW Beresford Dr E Deloule 

Title: The Role of Water in Precambrian Ultramafic Magmatism: Insights from an In-Situ 

Microbeam and Nanobeam Assessment of Hydromagmatic Amphibole 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Hydromagmatic amphibole in some Precambrian (>600 million years old) komatiites and other ultramafic 

rocks in Australia, Canada and Russia indicates >3% water in the parental magmas. This magmatic water 

could be crustal or mantle in origin. Constraints on the water source would profoundly impact concepts of 

Precambrian crustal evolution and water recycling. The ultimate goal of this project is to provide 

constraints on the role of water in early Earth magmatism, through in situ microbeam and nanobeam 

analysis of the amphibole to produce an integrated trace element and isotopic dataset for geologically and 

chemically diverse types of Precambrian ultramafic rocks. 

DP0344196 Dr KP Thiagarajan Prof IR Young Prof A Williams Dr B Colbourne 

*** 

Title: MODAL AND DIRECTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SEASTATES AND THEIR IMPACT ON 

DYNAMICS OF MOORED OFFSHORE SYSTEMS 

2003 : $52,000

2004 : $68,000 

2005 : $93,000 

2006 : $61,000 



Summary: 

Under certain conditions a typical sea can becomes bimodal comprising of wind-driven seas and long 

period swells interacting from two directions. Using a nonlinear model, the occurrence and 

characteristics of bimodal and bi-directional seastates are quantified. Low frequency oscillations of a 

moored offshore structure have profound design influence on the mooring system. A nonlinear response 

model for a floating vessel in bimodal and bi-directional seastates, will be developed using nonlinear 

dynamics techniques. The numerical models for the environment and the floating platform will be validated 

by experiments at the Ocean Basin in Canada. The project adopts a holistic approach by considering the 

environment and the moored platform as a complex natural system. With excellent opportunities for 

technology transfer, the project also benefits from substantial in-kind contributions of the overseas PIs. 

DP0346498 Dr S Toussaint Dr V Strang 

*** 

Title: UNDER WATER: a comparative ethnographic analysis of water use and resource 

management in Queensland and Western Australia 

2003 : $175,000 

2004 : $155,000 

2005 : $135,000 

2006 : $100,000 

2007 : $121,000 



ARF Dr V Strang 

Summary: 

Via ethnographic fieldwork in four watershed catchment areas, this comparative study examines how 

interest groups use and manage water resources. Working with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups, 

pastoralists, miners, farmers and fishers, it will provide comprehensive in-depth analysis of the ways in 

which people conceptualise, use and evaluate water. The study will investigate different perspectives 

on water resource management and environmental issues, such as salinity. Its major objectives are to 

further understanding of human-environmental relations in contrasting settings. By elucidating various 

practices, needs and values, we will show how conflicts might be resolved and effective management of 

water resources ensured. 

DP0345224 Prof DS Trigger Ms JP Mulcock 

*** 

Title: Nature, culture and belonging in urban landscapes: an anthropological investigation 

into environmental beliefs, values and practices in Perth, Western Australia. 

2003 : $64,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $64,000 

2006 : $64,000 



APD Ms JP Mulcock 

Summary: 

This project explores contesting attitudes towards native and introduced plant and animal species in an 

urban Australian setting. It will document complex beliefs, values and practices associated with gardens, 

parks and pet-keeping in Perth, Western Australia, in order to investigate urban conceptions of what 

'belongs' in local living environments. Building on previous research in rural locations, the study will

address links between urban environmental attitudes, and citizens' diverse senses of personal and 

cultural identity. The project will contribute to an emergent anthropological approach to the study of 

Australian society and promises outcomes of both academic and practical significance. 

DP0344023 Mr MA Vanderklift Prof KL Heck 

*** 

Title: Evaluating the influence of trophic connections between marine habitats on the 

effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 



APD Mr MA Vanderklift 

Summary: 

Marine ecosystems are characterized by trophic subsidies: consumers forage between habitats, and 

ungrazed primary production is exported as drift or detritus. However, the trophic relationships we see 

today may in a sense be unnatural, because intensive fishing of consumers may have fundamentally 

altered them.We aim to evaluate the importance of the exchange of consumers and drift between 

seagrass and reef habitats in Australia and North America. We aim to find out whether fishing alters 

these processes by studying marine protected areas in both continents.This work will come at a crucial 

time for the implementation of Australia's MPA system. 

*** 

DP0344330 Dr S Wang Prof KL Teo Dr V Rehbock 

Title: Numerical Algorithms for Constructing Feedback Control Laws 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $57,200 

2005 : $50,336 



Summary: 

Many decision making problems in engineering, finance and management are governed by optimal 

feedback control systems. These systems are normally too complex to be solved by conventional 

numerical methods. In this project, we propose to develop novel numerical algorithms for constructing 

feedback control laws. We will also investigate the procatical significance of these algorithms for solving 

real-world problems. The outcome of the project will provide efficient and accurate tools for constructing 

feedback laws in high dimensions. 

*** 

DP0343104 A/Prof MC Wilce Prof Dr RA Capaldi Prof K Schulten 

Title: Molecular machines: regulation of the catalysis and rotation of the enzyme ATP 

synthase 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $110,000 



Summary: 

This project aims to elucidate the regulation of the molecular machine ATP synthase. ATP synthase is an 

enzyme that performs a critical role in all cells - the synthesis of ATP, the universal biological energy 

currency. It is known that the enzyme operates via rotation of a central stalk which is driven by a 

hydrogen ion gradient across a membrane. Constructs of this molecule have been envisaged in the 

design of future biological nano-motors. Our work will provide an understanding of the regulation of this 

enzyme with potential application in the control of nano-motors.

*** 

DP0345376 A/Prof MC Wilce Dr JA Wilce A/Prof PJ Leedman 

Title: Structure and dynamics of a multiprotein-mRNA complex involved in the regulation of 

gene expression 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $85,000 

2006 : $75,000 



Summary: 

RNA/protein interactions are now recognised as a major control point in the regulation of 

gene-expression. Proteins such as HuR and the poly(C)-binding proteins (PCBPs) act to stabilise and 

transport specific messenger (m)RNAs, and thus determine their translation levels. In contrast to such an 

important function, very little is known about these protein/mRNA interactions at an atomic level. The 

current study will investigate the structural and biophysical properties of a recently discovered 

HuR/PCBP/mRNA complex implicated in the regulation of androgen receptor expression. This information 

has the potential to assist in the development of drugs to reduce AR expression in prostate cancer. 

DP0346718 Prof JF Williams Dr S Samarin Prof Dr M Donath Dr J Berakdar 

Title: Spin-dependent interactions: a fundamental basis for spin-electronics 

2003 : $150,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $105,000 



*** 

Summary: 

This project will establish a comprehensive understanding of spin-dependent interactions and correlated 

behaviour of multi-electron systems that are responsible for spin-relaxation, spin transport and spin 

coherence in spin-electronic devices. Our approach is based on the spin-resolved two-electron 

coincidence spectroscopy that is inherently suited for studying electronic correlations. Systematic 

investigations of spin-dependent interactions in atoms, molecules and ultra thin films will increase 

understanding of magnetic (spin) properties of artificially structured materials with reduced dimensionality 

for the benefit of nanotechnology. This understanding will be used to design and control, at the quantum 

mechanical level, the building blocks of spin-electronic devices. 

DP0346222 Dr MT Wingate 

*** 

Title: Proterozoic tectonic evolution of Australia and India 

2003 : $165,321 

2004 : $165,321 

2005 : $170,321 

2006 : $160,321 

2007 : $140,321 



ARF Dr MT Wingate 

Summary: 

Recent studies cast doubt on reconstructions of the Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia, and on the 

tectonic coherence of East Gondwanaland (Australia, Antarctica and India). Within Australia, the relative 

positions of the major crustal blocks during most of the Proterozoic era remain largely unverified. Fossil 

magnetism in rocks of different ages from the major crustal blocks of Australia and India will be used to 

determine whether the blocks were together or were separated by large oceans during Proterozoic time. 

The results will place fundamental constraints on the geological, palaeogeographic, and palaeobiological

evolution of Australia, Rodinia, and the early Earth as a whole. 

Tasmania 

University of Tasmania 

DP0342826 Dr AR Bowie 

Title: Targeting organically-complexed iron species in seawater using selective 

solid-phase adsorbent resins 

2003 : $116,345 

2004 : $76,345 

2005 : $82,345 

*** 


Administering Institution: University of Tasmania 

APD Dr AR Bowie 

Summary: 

Iron limits primary productivity in 40% of the oceans. Its accurate determination is thus critical to 

understanding the functioning of marine ecosystems and their role in moderating Earth's climate. Recent 

findings indicate that serious discrepancies exist in iron concentrations obtained using different analytical 

methods. These discrepancies are believed to be due to the lability of organic and colloidal iron species 

to extraction by adsorbent preconcentration resins. This project will design and synthesise a range of 

functionalised resins for the selective extraction of iron species from seawater, advancing our 

knowledge of its bioavailability and leading to the generation of class-specific analytical methodologies. 

DP0342714 Dr CJ Bradshaw 

*** 

Title: Effects of maternal foraging success and oceanographic variation on offspring 

behaviour and survival in the southern elephant seal 

2003 : $45,000 



Summary: 

Juvenile survival is the key determinant of mammalian population performance, but the proximate 

determinants of this have rarely been established in large, long-lived predators. Southern elephant seals, 

with their concentrated lactation effort and marked separation of energy acquisition (at-sea foraging) and 

expenditure (on-land lactation) provide an ideal model for investigating these factors. In this study, we 

investigate the partitioning of pre-partum performance (fat acquired in mothers) relative to spatial-temporal 

variation in ocean productivity and the effect of this expenditure on offspring condition and survival. 

Here, the final missing link of energy transfer and its effects on offspring will be a major outcome of this 

project. 

DP0342842 Prof AJ Canty 

*** 

Title: High Oxidation State and Related Chemistry of Organic Compounds of Palladium 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $110,000 

2006 : $90,000 



Summary: 

Palladium is able to form compounds containing palladium-carbon bonds, and compounds of this type

occur in applications such as synthesis of organic compounds. The fundamental chemistry of this class 

of palladium compound is to be explored, in particular for the oxidation state +IV for palladium and with a 

focus on reactions that are relevant to processes occurring in organic synthesis applications. Particular 

emphasis is placed on chemistry involving phosphorus compounds and unsaturated organic groups 

bonded to palladium, and on compounds containing groups that are able to join together to depart from 

palladium as organic compounds containing carbon-oxygen bonds. 

DP0342599 Mr GP Chapman 

Title: Historical Records of Australia 

2003 : $67,000 

2004 : $62,000 

2005 : $56,000 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $60,000 

*** 



Summary: 

To re-vitalize the research base of early Australian history by resuming the research, editing and 

publication of Historical Records of Australia, Series III and also to initiate, in similar form, the research, 

editing and publication of Historical Records of Australia Series I (Despatches and Documents relating to 

New South Wales), with the aim of completing Historical Records of Australia in approximately 60 

volumes. The expected outcome will be to establish a new research base for the writing and interpreting 

of 19th century Australian history as well as completing the objective of the original founder of the series, 

Frederick Watson, who in 1914 observed that "history in its truest form can be founded only on a 

careful and studied examination of the records themselves". 

DP0344766 Dr AJ Crawford 

Title: Tectonic paradox of the E margin of the Australian plate, 120 - 45 Ma 

2003 : $84,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $65,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Available geological evidence indicates that massive extension of continental crust occurred from 120-45 

million years ago at the eastern margin of the Australian plate. In contrast, global plate movement models 

indicate that there was convergence between the Pacific and Australian plates, implying subduction and 

island arc magmatism. We propose a marine research expedition to dredge rocks from scarps of the 

submarine ridges east of Australia. Geochemical signatures and dating of the dredged rocks should 

elucidate the geological evolution of this region, improve our understanding of eastern Australian geology, 

and better define Australia's Maritime Jurisdiction Zone along the eastern seaboard. 

DP0342543 Dr LV Danyushevsky 

*** 

Title: The role of melting of oceanic crust within the subduction factory: A melt inclusion 

approach 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $30,000 



Summary: 

Continental crust is ultimately generated in subduction zones, where oceanic crust is recycled back into

the mantle along deep ocean trenches, producing island arcs. Processes occurring in the subduction 

'factory' are poorly understood, but dehydration of old subducted oceanic crust is usually invoked to 

provide water that triggers mantle melting and arc magmatism. Evidence is accumulating that in many 

locations the subducted oceanic crust may melt, rather than simply dehydrate. I will test this using studies 

of melt inclusions (droplets of melt trapped by crystals growing in the magma), and will better constrain 

the input-output budgets of the subduction factory. 

DP0344074 Dr AG Davison 

*** 

Title: Encounters with Urban Nature in Australia: An investigation into environmental 

values, anti-urbanism, multiculturalism, and the transition to urban sustainability 

2003 : $74,000 

2004 : $70,475 

2005 : $65,787 



APD Dr AG Davison 

Summary: 

This project offers strategic basic and applied research approaches to overcoming the neglect of moral 

experience of 'nature' in urban environments so as to further the transition to sustainability in Australia. 

Working at the intersection of aesthetic, geographical, philosophical, and sociological studies of ecology, 

this project develops a comparative qualitative study of three Australian cities. It explores: (1) the 

paradoxical appeal of anti-urban environmental values to urbanites; (2) the multicultural axis of diversity in 

urban environmental values; (3) political sites for contesting experiences of 'nature'; and (4) policy 

opportunities for expression of local synergies between social and biotic well-being in urban 

ecosystems. 

*** 

DP0342478 Dr SP Ellingsen Dr PD Godfrey Dr JL Caswell 

Title: Masers: high resolution probes of star formation 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

The largest stars in the Galaxy play a vital role in the formation of the atoms which make life on Earth 

possible. The birth of these stars is shrouded in gas and dust through which only radiowaves penetrate. 

In this project we will make observations of interstellar masers from the hydroxyl and methanol 

molecules and through mathematical modelling of molecular excitation and radiative transfer probe the 

physical, chemical and evolutionary status of the high-mass stars associated with the masers. 

DP0343132 Prof L Frost 

*** 

Title: Female Convicts as Women Travellers: an investigation into how the itineraries of 

convict experience affected life narratives 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

For convict women sent to Australia, 'transportation' meant international travel. By mapping the convicts 

as travellers, this project will afford a new perspective on women whose convict itineraries radically

affected the direction of their lives. Alert to the specifics of time and place, the project investigates the 

carceral and non-carceral experiences of women whose shared voyage as convicts was neither the 

beginning nor the end of their travels. The research involves a systematic cluster sampling of three ships 

which sailed to Van Diemen's Land while transportation was at its height: the Harmony (1829), Atwick 

(1838), and Elizabeth and Henry (1847). 

DP0342815 Dr JA Gibson Dr KM Swadling 

*** 

Title: Antarctic freshwater lake fauna: Palaeobiogeography, palaeoecology and applications 

to climate change studies 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

The origins of the Antarctic freshwater fauna are poorly known: Are the species currently extant 

long-term endemics descended from species present before the formation of the Antarctic ice-cap, or are 

they recent invaders from more temperate zones? By studying the distribution of faunal remains in the 

sediments of freshwater lakes, a picture of the development of the fauna in space and time 

('palaeobiogeography') will be formed that will allow the Antarctic fauna to be placed in a wider 

biogeographic context. Changes in the faunal distribution will also be interpreted in terms of lake 

palaeoecology and climate change. 

DP0345010 Dr MA Hindell Dr KJ Michael A/Prof R Coleman Dr NL Bindoff Dr SR Rintoul 

*** 

Title: Winter temperature and salinity profile measurements in the Southern Ocean using 

elephant seals as ocean sampling platforms 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

As a result of the paucity of winter data in the Southern Ocean, sophisticated ocean models such as the 

GFDL MOM are hampered in their ability to properly represent the complex processes in the Antarctic sea 

ice zone. Elephant seals forage in the Southern Ocean throughout winter, and traverse the water column 

between 0 and 800 metres many times each day, providing an opportunity to collect profiles of 

temperature and salinity. The resulting data will contribute to oceanographic studies of water mass 

formation and frontal variability, including comparisons with historical data and assimilation into a complex 

ocean model. 

DP0344996 Dr PD Jarvis Mr JD Bashford 

*** 

Title: Structure and informatics of the genetic code 

2003 : $84,345 

2004 : $84,345 

2005 : $84,345 



APD Mr JD Bashford 

Summary: 

Recent advances in biotechnology have seen its emergence as a highly quantitative, numerically-based 

discipline. To exploit the available data to the full will require, alongside computing power, new analytical 

techniques. This project aims to develop such techniques, by handling the systematics of the genetic

code with methods derived from theoretical physics and chemistry. Expected outcomes include a 

dynamical (quantum field theory) model of phylogenetic branching, analyses of nucleic acid structure and 

content (spin chain models of RNA binding and of DNA open reading frames), and insights into the origin 

of the code itself (via numerical codon similarity measures). 

*** 

DP0342500 Prof PM McCulloch Dr DL Jauncey 

Title: Structure and Evolution of High Brightness Temperature Cores of Quasars and 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $110,000 

2005 : $110,000 



Summary: 

Interstellar scintillation, ISS, is a revolutionary new and powerful technique which we will use to study 

the highest brightness temperature cores of radio quasars with unprecedented angular resolution, and 

probe the interstellar medium of our Galaxy in a way not previously possible. The combination of 

scintillation and conventional VLBI allows imaging with light-month to light-year resolution across the 

known Universe. Scintillation observations are challenging basic synchrotron physics by uncovering 

quasar cores with temperatures possibly as high as 10^15 K, and lifetimes many times longer than 

theory. The Ceduna and Hobart telescopes are cornerstones of our scintillation and VLBI proposals. 

DP0344067 A/Prof A McMinn Dr PJ Ralph 

*** 

Title: Effect of Global Change on the Primary Production of Antarctic coastal Ecosystems 

2003 : $115,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

As the climate warms, sea ice in Antarctic coastal areas will reduce. Most primary production currently 

occurs within the sea ice. We propose that a reduction in ice extent will lead to a reduction in ice 

production but greater benthic production; phytoplankton production will stay relatively constant. These 

changes will significantly effect the size of pelagic (ie fish) and benthic (starfish, sea urchins etc) stocks, 

which in turn will impact on the size of seal and penguin populations. Our project will allow predictions of 

these changes that have been induced by a reduction in ice extent 

DP0344650 A/Prof J McPhie 

*** 

Title: Volcanology of voluminous felsic lavas 

2003 : $48,000 

2004 : $48,000 



Summary: 

Eruptions of voluminous lavas (>100km3)have occurred throughout geological time but not in recorded 

human history. These lavas are a major part of very large volcanic areas that form the continents. 

Excellent examples have been identified in the Gawler Range Volcanics, South Australia. Little is known 

about the eruption mechanisms and yet these events are the key to understanding large-scale melting 

processes deep in the Earth and continent formation. This research will use field data from one of the 

South Australian examples to constrain the nature and position of the source volcanic centre and to 

clarify outflow mechanisms. 

*** 

DP0342644 A/Prof BM Potts Dr RE Vaillancourt

Title: Hybridisation and gene flow in Eucalyptus 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $60,000 



Summary: 

We propose to use a molecular approach to study hybridisation in eucalypts. We will study the genetic 

barriers to gene flow and provide base-line data to assess the potential threat of genetic pollution from 

exotic plantations to our native forest gene pools. We will concentrate our studies on species of 

subgenus Symphyomyrtus which includes all the major plantation species. This will allow us to extend 

our long-running studies of hybridisation towards understanding the dynamics and consequences of 

genetic invasion and help develop guidelines to minimise the risk of genetic pollution. 

*** 

DP0342957 Dr CJ Pybus Dr HJ Maxwell-Stewart 

Title: Transatlantic slavery, the African diaspora and the unfree settlement of Australia, 

1750-1850 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

This project breaks new ground in historical research and will open up areas of demographic and cultural 

history rarely understood by historians. By reading penal transportation as an aspect of the international 

traffic in unfree labour and its use as a form of control throughout the British colonies, as well as 

examining penal systems in relationship to coercive labour management in the Atlantic world, the project 

will make a significant contribution to research into the African Diaspora, slavery and colonial history. It 

will also facilitate an understanding the complexities of race-relations in Australia and help untangle 

contentious issues concerning Aboriginality. 

DP0342668 Prof JB Reid Dr JJ Ross 

Title: Genetic and Hormonal Interactions Controlling Shoot Growth 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project will determine how plant growth is regulated at the genetic, biochemical, and physiological 

levels, and how plant hormones provide key links between the genotype and overall phenotype 

(phenome). The work uses peas as a model because of the wealth of mutants available and the suitability 

of the species for physiological and biochemical studies. Our results will allow comparison of 

development in the caulescent pea plant with other model species with different growth habits, such as 

Arabidopsis. The project is significant because it will enable shoot growth to be modified either genetically 

or chemically to meet particular agronomic objectives. 

DP0344918 Dr SP Riek Prof JJ Summers 

Title: An investigation of limb dynamics as a constraint on human motor learning 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $120,000 

2006 : $100,000 

***

2007 : $100,000 



QEII Dr SP Riek 

Summary: 

Everyday we use our limbs to interact with a variety of objects. These objects have various mechanical 

characteristics (dynamics), which require the human motor system to provide appropriate control. This 

project seeks to understand how the brain, in both normal and disease states, learns new limb dynamics 

as we interact with a novel mechanical environmental. Repetitive brain stimulation will be used to 

selectively block the contribution of various cortical regions during the learning of a new motor skill and 

later, the recall of that skill. This will allow us to determine definitively which areas are critical to motor skill 

acquisition. 

DP0342802 Dr EE Stratford 

Title: Island Communities, Island Rhetoric: Sustainable Development and the Global 

Promise? 

2003 : $35,000 

2004 : $38,000 

2005 : $40,000 

Category: 3009 - LAND, PARKS AND AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT 


*** 

Summary: 

The challenge to integrate economic development, social equity and environmental care intensifies on 

small islands. This research focuses on Tasmania, peripheral island state of Australia, sometimes typified 

as 'regional basket-case'. The aim is to examine how Tasmanians understand and accommodate the 

paradoxes of sustainable development (demanding new forms of ecological citizenship) and globalisation 

(based on conservative consumer-citizenship). Both deeply influence core government policy as well as 

formal and informal institutional life and language. Drawing on cultural geography and political ecology, the 

research will enhance theory and policy discussions about island regions, local communities and 

governance, sustainability and social change. 

*** 

DP0345312 Prof JJ Summers A/Prof T Matyas Dr C Skilbeck 

Title: Interlimb coordination dynamics in stroke 

2003 : $67,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $57,000 



Summary: 

Everyday we use our limbs in a coordinated manner. However, for a person who has suffered a stroke 

resulting in weakness on one side of the body even the simplest interlimb coordination tasks are difficult 

to perform. This project will examine interlimb coordination in persons who have suffered a stroke and 

explore whether the coupling between limbs can be exploited to promote functional recovery of an 

impaired limb. In particular, the research seeks to identify the critical components underlying the 

effectiveness of an intervention involving the practice of actions bilaterally and simultaneously. 

DP0345161 Dr JM Whitehead 

Title: PAST EAST ANTARCTIC ICE SHEET AND GLOBAL SEA-LEVEL VARIATIONS 

2003 : $99,760 

2004 : $66,845 


***


APD Dr JM Whitehead 

Summary: 

Unique fossil-bearing, open marine sediments occur inland from the modern Antarctic coastline. These 

were deposited when a now-glaciated Antarctic basin became a marine embayment, during intervals of 

significantly reduced ice sheet volume and elevated global sea-level in the past. Urgent palaeontological, 

sedimentological and geochemical research on these sediments are vital to provide: directly datable in situ 

evidence for major ice sheet retreat and global sea-level rise in the past; and quantifiable data 

concerning the environment during such events; an innovative opportunity to improve predictions of 

Antarctica's response to global warming and answer international debate about past Antarctic Ice Sheet 

stability. 

Northern Territory 

Northern Territory University 

DP0343000 Dr DM Bowman Dr BW Brook Prof PA Werner Dr RJ Williams 

*** 

Title: Landscape-scale population dynamics of open forests in the Australian monsoon 

tropics 

2003 : $105,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $75,000 


Administering Institution: Northern Territory University 

Summary: 

Over the last century there has been a trend of increasing tree cover in many landscapes. Yet the 

causes of this globally important ecological phenomenon are poorly understood, but may include the 

effects of climate, fire, grazing and CO2. We will determine how an area of forest has changed over 50 

years in Kakadu National Park, linking forest demography with remote sensing techniques, 

re-measurement and analysis of long-term tree demography datasets, and simulation models of tree 

population dynamics on a landscape scale. This will provide a scientific framework to develop sustainable 

land management and the conservation of Australia's forest biodiversity. 

*** 

DP0343672 A/Prof KS Gibb Dr BL Schneider Prof R Fischer 

Title: Engineering and expression of recombinant antibodies that interact with plant 

pathogenic phytoplasma membrane proteins - a model for phytoplasma disease 

management. 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $90,000 


Administering Institution: Northern Territory University 

Summary: 

In Australia phytoplasmas are associated with serious diseases including papaya dieback and 

strawberry lethal yellows. Phytoplasmas cannot be cultured so there is a paucity of knowledge at the 

genomic level. We have identified the ABC Transporter and FtsH genes and expressed these 

phytoplasma membrane proteins (MP) in E. coli . We will generate antibody fragments that bind these MP 

and express them in tomato. We will analyse antibody expression in tomato and study their association 

with the phytoplasma membrane. Transgenic plants will be inoculated with phytoplasma and monitored for 

resistance. This work represents a major step towards engineering resistance to phytoplasmas. 

Australian Capital Territory 

***

The Australian National University 

DP0343804 Dr TD Abhayapala Prof RA Kennedy 

Title: System Theoretical Aspects of Spatial Signal Processing 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $57,200 

2005 : $50,336 


Administering Institution: The Australian National University 

Summary: 

The aims of the project is to gain better understanding of spatial characteristics of wireless 

communication channels; and to apply spatial signal processing theory to design receivers for wireless 

systems. The expected outcomes of the projects are new system theory for spatial signal processing, a 

new spatial model to characterize wireless communication channels, categorize a relationship between 

scattering environment antenna spacing and multi-element antenna system capacity, and novel use of 

multiple antennas to improve the performance of wireless systems. Success in this investigation could 

have wide applications in the development of future mobile and fixed wireless communication systems. 

DP0342585 Prof Dr NN Akhmediev 

Title: Multi-Soliton Complexes 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project aims to investigate phenomena related to multi-soliton complexes in optics. Solitons have the 

potential of high speed data transmission across the world. Their use in telecommunications requires 

various component and extensive knowledge of their properties. Multisoliton complexes are essential in 

future devices for high speed information processing and transmission. We expect that our proposed 

study would provide essential information regarding the properties of multisoliton complexes and their 

application in practice. 

DP0342683 Prof BD Anderson Dr A Lanzon 

Title: Safe Adaptive Control 

2003 : $84,345 

2004 : $84,345 

2005 : $84,345 

*** 



APD Dr A Lanzon 

Summary: 

Adaptive controllers are intelligent controllers, which can redesign themselves as they learn more about 

the environment. There are many algorithms for adaptive controllers; some of them can cause 

unacceptable behaviour during the learning process. Safe adaptive controllers are those for which this 

behaviour is ruled out. This project is concerned with developing procedures for guaranteeing the safety 

property in a wide variety of situations. 

DP0344221 Dr BH Andrews 

Title: Geometric evolution equations and global effects of curvature 

***

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $70,000 

2006 : $70,000 

2007 : $80,000 



Summary: 

This project aims to approach several important problems in global differential geometry, by inventing new 

processes to deform geometric objects to simpler ones. The deformations are described by carefully 

constructed geometric evolution equations, designed to exhibit behaviour suited to the given problem. The 

project proposes methods for building such equations, and new techniques for their analysis. The 

research is expected to yield significant new results, both in differential geometry and in nonlinear heat 

equations, and should provide substantial progress towards resolving several important long-standing 

conjectures. 

DP0343318 Prof TJ Andrews 

*** 

Title: Can efficient algal variants of the photosynthetic CO2-fixing enzyme, Rubisco, be 

folded and assembled in functional forms in higher-plant plastids? 

2003 : $165,000 

2004 : $165,000 

2005 : $165,000 

Category: 2708 - BIOTECHNOLOGY 


Summary: 

We have shown that it is possible to alter the photosynthetic phenotype of a plant predictably and 

profoundly by engineering the plastid genome to replace the plant's CO2-fixing enzyme, Rubisco, with a 

bacterial homolog. Thus it may be possible to replace the plant enzyme with more efficient algal Rubiscos 

that would allow plants to grow with less light, less water or less fertiliser. Before such desirable 

changes to the plant phenotype can be realised, some complex issues of modification, folding and 

assembly of Rubisco subunits need to be resolved. This proposal addresses them. 

DP0343640 Prof HA BACHOR Prof C Fabre 

Title: Quantum Photonics and Imaging 

2003 : $230,000 

2004 : $230,000 

2005 : $230,000 

2006 : $229,640 

2007 : $265,000 

*** 



APF Prof HA BACHOR 

Summary: 

Photonics is an expanding industry and its technology to date is essentially all classical, it uses light as a 

wave. In Quantum Photonics we want to carry out fundamental research that makes full use of the 

quantum properties of photons. We want to demonstrate novel and better ways to create, transfer, store 

and manipulate information both in space and time. This will lead to new applications such as 

quantum-cryptography, optical teleportation, and quantum-imaging, initially with a few, later with many 

pixel. All these are particularly suitable for our proven technology of nonclassical continuous laser 

beams. 

DP0343488 Prof MR Badger 

*** 

Title: Identification of transcription factor genes involved in the regulation of aspects of

photosynthetic capacity in plants 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $95,000 



Summary: 

There is increasing evidence to suggest that we may be reaching a yield plateau with many agricultural 

plants and that future avenues for yield increases may depend on increases in photosynthetic capacity 

per unit leaf area. Molecular genetic technology offers the promise of the direct manipulation of 

photosynthetic gene expression to increase photosynthetic capacity. This project aims to understand one 

important part of genetic regulation, the transcription factors, that may determine aspects of 

photosynthetic capacity. Altered expression of these transcription factors in transgenic plants will be 

used to test the their ability to control photosynthesis and generate agricultural intellectual property. 

DP0344483 Dr EE Ball Dr DJ Miller 

*** 

Title: Differential expression and functional analysis of genes controlling metamorphosis 

and early neurogenesis of a model lower animal, the coral Acropora 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

This study will analyse, at a molecular level, the response of coral larvae to stimuli inducing settlement 

from the plankton and the process of establishment of a sessile, calcified colony. The knowledge gained 

will facilitate induction of settlement on demand in the most effective way. We will characterise known 

candidate genes which may be involved in settlement, and reveal a more complete picture using 

subtractive hybridisation. Studies of the nervous system and the changes that it undergoes at 

metamorphosis will promote understanding of the control of metamorphosis, and insights into how more 

complex nervous systems may have evolved. 

DP0342561 Prof MT Batchelor 

*** 

Title: The mathematics and physics of interacting systems 

2003 : $195,260 

2004 : $195,260 

2005 : $205,260 

2006 : $200,260 

2007 : $215,260 



APF Prof MT Batchelor 

Summary: 

Much of the world around us involves the networked interaction between a large number of components. 

For example, such complex networks may be physical, biological, social or technical in nature and 

represent connections between magnetic spins, species, people or computers. This Project will provide a 

firm theoretical foundation for such complex interacting systems through an investigation of the 

fascinating mathematics and physics behind them. This perspective from mathematical physics, in 

particular using the tools of statistical mechanics, will lead to a better understanding of many real-world 

complex systems. 

***

DP0346077 Ms AC Berriman 

Title: Alpha-particle cluster structure in light nuclei: helping and hindering fusion? 

2003 : $119,345 

2004 : $84,345 

2005 : $84,345 


PHYSICS 


APD Ms AC Berriman 

Summary: 

A new, efficient detector system will be designed and built to answer a question never before asked - 

can the special structures of carbon, resembling three alpha-particles, assist rather than hinder the 

process of fusion with heavy nuclei? This question has arisen through my recent work published in 

Nature, which showed that in reactions with heavy nuclei, paradoxically both fusion and break-up into 

alpha-particles are more likely for carbon than for neighbouring nuclei. These results defy interpretation 

within the standard theory of nuclear fusion. The project will help to maintain Australia's world-leading 

position in the study of nuclear fusion. 

DP0342467 Dr AJ Berry Dr J Hermann 

*** 

Title: Water storage in the earth's mantle - understanding the process of OH incorporation 

in olivine. 

2003 : $39,000 

2004 : $48,000 



Summary: 

The amount of water in the Earth's mantle is thought to be sufficient to replace the surface oceans more 

than ten times. Whether this water exists in a fluid, melt, or mineral is important for understanding a range 

of mantle properties. The entire upper mantle water budget may be accommodated at defect sites in the 

mineral olivine. However, defects found in natural olivine do not correspond to those 

producedexperimentally. Therefore, previous conclusions on water storage in the mantle are 

questionable. To address this problem the mechanism of water incorporation in olivine will be 

investigated using experimental petrology and spectroscopy. 

*** 

DP0342488 Dr FP Bierlein Dr RJ Goldfarb Dr TP Mernagh 

Title: Rich Cousin, Poor Cousin - What Controls the Formation and Size of Orogenic Gold 

Deposits? 

2003 : $20,000 

2004 : $20,000 

2005 : $20,000 



Summary: 

What are the geological and geochemical factors that control the formation and size of gold deposits in 

Phanerozoic mountain belts ('orogens')? The answer to this question lies in a combination of methods we 

will use to establish the importance of source, absolute timing of mineralisation, genetic links to magmas, 

and geochemical processes that result in the transport, and deposition of gold in three separate, 

geologically young orogens. The wider implications of this research include a greatly improved 

understanding of lesser known Phanerozoic orogenic gold provinces, ore genesis at convergent plate 

margins, and the formation of gold deposits in older terrains. 

DP0342875 Prof AW Blakers Dr KJ Weber 

***

Title: The LASE process - a new approach to cost effective thin solar cells 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

This project aims to develop a process to produce a new type of single crystalline silicon solar cell. The 

cell is made on very thin slices of silicon that are detached from a conventional high quality silicon wafer. 

The wafer is gradually consumed as successive slices are harvested from it. Substantially less silicon is 

used in each solar cell, which allows significant cost reductions. 

DP0343815 Prof PG Board 

*** 

Title: A genomic and phenomic investigation of a mitochondrial glutathione transferase 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

The aim of this study is to understand of the genomics, structure and function of glutathione transferase 

Kappa (GSTK), a novel GST found in mitochondria. The investigations will achieve several outcomes. 

(1)an understanding of the organisation of GSTK gene(s) in humans and mice; (2) determination of the 

role of GSTK in mitochondria, by investigating the phenotype of knockout mice; (3) determination of the 

crystal structure of human GSTK; (4) An understanding of GSTK's substrate specificity, reaction kinetics 

and structure/function relationships. Since GSTK is confined to mitochondria, and may not be related to 

other GSTs, we may also identify novel functions 

DP0343986 Dr MA Boström 

Title: Intermolecular interactions revisited-Flaws in the fabric and applications to 

lower-dimensional structures 

2003 : $68,345 

2004 : $68,345 

2005 : $68,345 

*** 



APD Dr MA Boström 

Summary: 

This project aims to capitalise on recent developments, that have shown that previously accepted 

theories are deeply flawed, in various applications in fundamental physics and in unsolved problems in 

biology that involve electromagnetic fields. Interactions driven by electromagnetic fluctuation forces, and 

real photon exchange, between molecules will be investigated. The project will investigate how 

dispersion interactions change in mesoscopic pores, in electrolytes, and at finite temperatures. 

Applications involve catalysis, molecular formation, and quantum logic. The project also aims to develop a 

unified theory for energy and charge transfer, relevant for photosynthesis and the way biological 

molecules transfer information. 

DP0344100 Dr FJ Bowden Dr JT Hajek 

Title: Indigenous languages of eastern East Timor: description and contact studies 

2003 : $45,000 

2004 : $35,000 

2005 : $30,000 

***



Summary: 

Both Austronesian and Papuan languages from eastern East Timor have undergone substantial changes 

which have presumably resulted from communal bilingualism in both sorts of languages. The project aims 

to document and explain these changes. Language contact has traditionally been a neglected area in 

historical linguistics and the East Timor situation will provide valuable material for a general theory of 

language change. Book length grammars of an Austronesian and a Papuan language, further grammatical 

sketches, and a number of papers on language contact will be produced as a result of the project. 

DP0344167 Ms JE Bradby 

*** 

Title: Mechanical deformation of layered semiconductor structures 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $77,000 

2005 : $77,000 



APD Ms JE Bradby 

Summary: 

This project aims to reveal the mechanisms of mechanical deformation in thin film layered semiconductors 

structures. Currently, there is little knowledge in this area despite the importance of such structures in 

electronic and optoelectronic devices. Layered structures are not expected to respond to mechanical 

stress in the same way as bulk materials, as a result of size constraints in nanoscale films, the critical 

importance of strain, and the possibility of disparities between the mechanical properties of the individual 

layers. The results of this project will dramatically enhance the understanding of the deformation 

responses of nanoscale structures to mechanical stress. 

DP0343288 Dr MA Brady 

*** 

Title: Learning to Drink:a socio-cultural history of the introduction of alcohol to Indigenous 

Australians and a critique of existing explanations 

2003 : $70,425 

2004 : $73,704 

2005 : $64,345 



APD Dr MA Brady 

Summary: 

The wide distribution of alcohol-related problems among Indigenous people is undoubtedly related to the 

ongoing legacy of Australia's colonisation. This study examines forces and factors that have shaped 

distinctive present-day Indigenous alcohol-related behavioural patterns, by analysing the history of 

interactions between Aborigines and colonisers around alcoholic beverages. In this endeavour, the 

historical and cultural continuities in the style of drinking are the focus, rather than the number of 

consumers. Current understandings of problem drinking, emphasising distress and biology, impede 

progress and will be challenged. In contrast, a social learning model is conducive to optimism about 

implementing new treatment approaches. 

*** 

DP0344638 Prof J Braithwaite Dr CE Parker Mr C Scott A/Prof N Lacey 

Title: Meta-regulation and the Regulation of Law 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $59,000 

2005 : $59,000



Summary: 

Meta-regulation means the regulation of regulation (eg state regulation of corporate risk management 

systems). Meta-regulation is a response to complexity in managing relations between systems of 

governance, society and economy. Ten case studies will analyse the way 'regulators' (broadly defined) 

observe how real-world systems work and steer them indirectly by understanding internal systems. The 

project will develop a theory of meta-regulation that accounts for recent shifts in Australian governance. 

It will generate a meta-regulatory theory of law. Understanding meta-regulation may enhance regulatory 

effectiveness, social and procedural justice while advancing the international competitiveness of 

Australian regulation 

*** 

DP0342909 Dr JL Braun Prof C Beaumont Dr GE Batt 

Title: Constraining landform response to tectonic and climate changes in an active orogen: 

a multi-disciplinary approach 

2003 : $125,000 

2004 : $125,000 

2005 : $135,000 



Summary: 

The aim of this project is to quantify the efficiency of coupling between tectonics, climate and erosion in 

an active mountain belt, the Southern Alps of New Zealand, by combining world-class expertise in a 

range of fields, including the collection and analysis of thermochronological data, the analysis of digital 

elevation maps, morphometric field measurements, and the development and use of numerical models, 

both tectonic and geomorphic. In particular, it is proposed to develop and use unique quantitative methods 

to interpret thermochronological data. This work will help resolve the current debate concerning the 

potential feedback between climate and tectonics. 

DP0345001 Prof FH Briggs 

Title: Atomic Hydrogen through Cosmic Time: Steps to the Square Kilometre Array 

2003 : $60,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Understanding how primal hydrogen clouds evolve into modern-day galaxies is a main science goal of the 

Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the next-generation international radio telescope, which is likely to be 

sited in Australia. As steps toward the design of SKA, we propose a three-pronged strategy that will 

enable hydrogen gas to be traced through cosmic time: (1) pushing the limits of current technology to 

detect faint global signals from the first structures in the infant Universe, (2) novel hardware and 

software development to mitigate the confusing signals from human radio interference, and (3) 

international participation in logistical development of SKA. 

DP0343794 Prof SJ Buckman 

Title: Collision Studies with Laser-Cooled Metastable Helium Atoms - Recoil Atom 

Spectroscopy 

2003 : $105,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 

*** 


PHYSICS 

Administering Institution: The Australian National University

Summary: 

This project will provide the first absolute, differential measurements of the scattering of low energy 

electrons from metastable excited helium atoms. Laser-cooling techniques are used to create a bright, 

slow helium beam and a unique approach, where the recoiling atoms are detected, is used for the 

scattering measurements. Such measurements are of critical importance in the assessment of new 

scattering theories for excited states and in understanding the role which excited species play in the 

behaviour of low temperature gas discharges and thus also on the operation of many important devices 

and phenomena which are based on discharge technology. 

DP0344198 Prof SJ Buckman Dr JC Lower 

*** 

Title: A Microscope for Molecular Reactions 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 


PHYSICS 


Summary: 

We are proposing to combine new, state-of-the-art detector technology and innovative experimental 

techniques in the development of A Microscope for Molecular Reactions. This device will enable precise 

and highly efficient studies on the structure of molecules and their interactions with the physical world. It 

will be applied to a broad range of problems in contemporary atomic and molecular physics, and will lead 

to new insights into the dynamics of such reactions and their role in our everyday lives. 

DP0343659 Dr M Buda 

*** 

Title: Asymmetric InP-based structures for high power laser diodes at 1400-1500 nm for 

pumping optical amplifiers used in communication systems 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $55,000 

2005 : $45,000 



Summary: 

This project is aimed at obtaining high power, single mode 1400-1500 nm wavelength laser diodes using a 

novel design of asymmetric InP-based structures. These devices are in great demand for pumping of 

erbium-doped and Raman amplifiers for powering the next generation of dense wavelength division 

multiplexing optical networks. The low modal gain (confinement factor) of this asymmetric structure is 

expected to reduce internal losses and hence increase the output power with better thermal dissipation. 

Single mode could be obtained by careful design in the trade-off between filamentation and threshold 

current. Ion implantation is also proposed to suppress higher order modes. 

DP0342575 Prof JC Caldwell 

*** 

Title: Interactive Demographic Transition: Analysis and Theory 

2003 : $51,000 

2004 : $48,000 

2005 : $47,000 



Summary: 

The demographic transition, or decline in mortality and fertility levels to produce the modern small family 

and normally long-lived individuals, may well be the most important social change of our time. It has 

occasioned much research but theory is still in disarray. This is at least partly explained by a disregard

for feed-back mechanisms in the form of organized movements supporting and opposing such 

demographic change. My aim is to reanalyse data from my own and others' work, taking such 

interactions into account, to produce a demographic transition theory suited both to historical explanation 

and the guidance of contemporary policy. 

*** 

DP0346479 Dr BJ Chapman Dr RV Breunig Dr TF Crossley Prof RG Gregory Prof PD Kenyon Dr CA 

Ryan 

Title: Literacy and Numeracy, Schooling, Neighbourhoods and Labour Market Success 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $70,000 



APD Dr CA Ryan 

Summary: 

Our research will assess the role of literacy and numeracy in explaining the educational attainment and 

labour markets outcomes of young Australians, after accounting for background characteristics and 

school and neighbourhood effects. By exploiting differences in Australian jurisdictions' school 

structures, it will enable, for the first time, the direct estimation of the effect of schooling on literacy and 

numeracy. This will clarify the role of literacy and numeracy in subsequent decisions to acquire more 

human capital through education. This will enable more precise estimates of the contribution of literacy 

and numeracy to subsequent labour market outcomes achieved by young Australians. 

*** 

DP0342689 Prof JM Chappell Dr M Honda Dr D Fabel Dr LK Fifield 

Title: Production and transport of soil and sediments, determined by cosmogenic 

radionuclides and noble gases 

2003 : $115,000 

2004 : $115,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

Basic questions concerning Australia's soil and regolith resources are addressed through measurement 

of nuclides produced by cosmic rays in near-surface minerals. Cosmogenic Be-10, Ne-21 and Al-26 are 

used to (i) quantify the sustainable levels of soil loss, (ii) assess long-term mixing rates, (iii) quantify 

dispersion and flux of regolith materials from hill-slopes to rivers, and (iv) determine the rates of sediment 

movement through Australian rivers and floodplains, including sediment-adsorbed pollutants. The 

research has strong implications for the usage and conservation of soil, sediments and weathered 

deposits for agriculture, mineral resources, and sedimentary waste disposal. 

DP0343908 Prof JM Chappell Dr TM Esat 

*** 

Title: MILLENIAL-SCALE INSTABILITY OF SEA LEVEL AND THE CLIMATE SYSTEM: NEW 

ANALYSIS OF CORAL TERRACES IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

Northern hemisphere climates switched repeatedly and abruptly between cold and warm states during 

the ice ages. This unexplained finding poses uncertainties about future climate. The exact chronology of 

past sea level and climatic changes is a key to the problem: this project aims to establish precise

chronology through re-analysis of coral terraces at Huon Peninsula, PNG. New U-series dating methods 

will give an accurately-timed record of sea level changes, which will be tightly locked to marine-sediment 

records of climatic change, by using sharp changes in atmospheric radiocarbon as universal marker 

horizons. 

DP0342890 Prof GW Clarke 

*** 

Title: Hellenistic Jebel Khalid on the Euphrates,North Syria: the archaeology and history of a 

Seleucid settlement 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $70,000 



Summary: 

Jebel Khalid, a large fortified town guarding a strategic crossing-point on the Euphrates, appears to have 

been established as a military colony early in the Seleucid period. Excavation is revealing how far the 

immigrant Greek/Macedonian colonists settled down to live with the native populations. It is also revealing 

much about Greek defence systems; about adaptations of Greek architecture and town-planning (both 

public and domestic) to local conditions; about civic amenities as well as domestic and religious life; about 

economic and trading contacts. Important stratigraphic control is also being established over dating 

Hellenistic pottery, both imported and local wares. 

DP0342858 Dr D Cobb-Clark Dr S Khoo Prof S Richardson Prof BR Chiswick 

*** 

Title: Public Policy and Immigrant Settlement in Australia 

2003 : $70,000 

2004 : $38,000 



Summary: 

The proposed research will assess the relative importance of labour market conditions, income-support 

policy, and immigrant selection criteria in facilitating the settlement of recent immigrants in Australia. The 

project will be the first major academic study to make use of the complete data from the Longitudinal 

Survey of Immigrants to Australia to compare two cohorts of recent immigrants who arrived under 

different policy settings and economic conditions and whose initial settlement outcomes varied 

dramatically. The results will advance our understanding of how immigrants adjust to Australia and will be 

useful for future policy development. 

DP0343949 Dr MD Crisp 

Title: Were the Tertiary radiations of the Australian flora synchronous? A molecular 

phylogenetic approach 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $70,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The fossil record shows that in a short period from about 20 Mya, the ancestral Gondwanan rainforest 

gave way to the unique Australian 'sclerophyll' flora dominated by eucalypts, acacias and casuarinas. 

This coincided with a drying climate and the advent of fire. It is hypothesized that 'explosive' evolutionary 

radiations rapidly increased the number of sclerophyll species, rather than a mere range expansion of 

pre-existing species. In a novel approach, molecular phylogenies of several distantly related plant groups 

will be used to test whether explosive evolutionary radiations took place simultaneously and to identify 

the environmental triggers.

*** 

DP0343348 Prof MK Davies Dr I Gold Dr D Stoljar 

Title: Perception, interpretation, and the explanation of delusional beliefs 

2003 : $83,000 

2004 : $84,000 

2005 : $117,000 



Summary: 

The occurrence of bizarrely false beliefs, called delusions, presents challenges, not only for clinical 

psychiatric practice, but also for psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy. The aim of this project is to 

make a distinctively philosophical contribution to our understanding of delusional beliefs by addressing 

three philosophical questions raised by the study of delusions, questions about perception, interpretation, 

and explanation. Answers to these questions will constitute substantial contributions to three central 

areas of philosophy, but their significance also extends beyond philosophy. They will impact on the 

scientific investigation of delusions and will contribute indirectly to the treatment and rehabilitation of 

sufferers. 

DP0344932 Dr P De Deckker Prof JR Dodson Prof Dr L Labeyrie Prof GH Miller 

*** 

Title: High-resolution records of climatic change in Australia, both on land and at sea 

covering the last 20,000 years 

2003 : $150,000 

2004 : $130,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

This project aims to determine climatic changes in the Australian region since the deglaciation commenced 

20,000 years ago at a century scale or better. The information is to be obtained from high-quality records 

of carefully selected lakes and deep-sea cores in the Australian region. The project will rely on 

high-resolution chronological records of environmental changes. Several geochemical and 

micropalaeontological techniques will be used to determine conditions in the lakes and ocean, and links to 

atmospheric conditions will be determined. This information is of relevance to the international climate 

community which aims at modelling high-quality and high-resolution records of climate change. 

*** 

DP0343765 Prof RL Dewar Dr R Ball Dr JS Frederiksen 

Title: Studies of turbulence and coherent structures in quasi two-dimensional plasmas 

and fluids 

2003 : $135,000 

2004 : $135,000 

2005 : $135,000 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $110,000 



Summary: 

One of the most celebrated but least understood complex systems in nature is turbulent flow. This 

cross-disciplinary project aims to contribute to basic scientific knowledge of a class of turbulent flows, 

known as quasi two-dimensional fluids, that typically exhibit self-organizing properties, stable sheared 

flow, and relatively weak dissipation. The significance lies in the proposed testing, by modelling and 

simulation studies, of the well-grounded hypothesis that suppression of turbulence by sheared flow is a

universal phenomenon in such fluids, and that it can be exploited to control transport of fluid constituents. 

Applications of this new knowledge will be developed. 

DP0342435 Dr NE Dixon Prof G Otting 

*** 

Title: Enabling Technologies for Structural Genomics 

2003 : $145,000 

2004 : $145,000 

2005 : $145,000 



Summary: 

New technologies will be developed to save time, money and effort in rapid preparation of protein 

samples for structural genomics. Systems will be devised for preparing sufficient isotope-labelled 

proteins for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy without using living organisms, for efficiently 

identifying points at which proteins can be broken into smaller fragments with the right properties, and for 

joining the ends of proteins and peptides together to make them much more stable. This combination of 

technologies are widely applicable to current problems in protein chemistry, molecular biology, functional 

genomics and the medical sciences. 

*** 

DP0343027 Prof GD Dracoulis Dr AP Byrne Dr T Kibedi Dr RA Bark Prof PM Walker Dr J Gerl 

Title: Isomers as Probes of Nuclear Structure and Sources of Energetic Photons 

2003 : $165,000 

2004 : $127,000 

2005 : $110,000 


PHYSICS 


Summary: 

The aim is to study exotic long-lived states in nuclei using accelerator facilities in Australia and overseas. 

This involves the development of sensitive instrumentation and will lead to a new understanding of how 

such states are formed, of how they may be used to identify the structure of exotic nuclei, and on the 

limits of stability of nuclei in general. Isomers represent a special form of nuclear matter and they play a 

role in the formation of the elements in stellar nucleosynthesis. Stimulated isomer decay may ultimately 

lead to new forms of energy storage and gamma-ray lasers. 

DP0342943 Dr SP Driver Prof Dr RA Windhorst Dr SC Odewahn Dr S Phillipps 

Title: The Structural and Physical properties of Galaxies over the past 10Gyears 

2003 : $95,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $85,000 

*** 



Summary: 

How did matter transform itself from the smooth distribution of ~13Gyrs ago to the gravitationally-bound 

complex systems we call galaxies today. This collaboration has unique access to four world-leading 

datasets at a facility cost of over $40 million. These data will be analysed using novel computational 

algorithms (including Artifical Neural Networks) to ascertain the structural properties of galaxies as a 

function of look-back time. This will enable the mass and angular momentum history of bound-systems to 

be traced back to the epoch at which the first stars formed and to empirically establish when and by 

what mechanism each galaxy type formed and evolved. The final assimilated catalogue will provide a 

legacy resource for future astronomers. 

***

DP0342795 Prof JS Dryzek Prof RE Goodin 

Title: The Theory and Practice of Deliberative Democracy 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $76,000 

2005 : $58,000 



Summary: 

This project links the theory of deliberative democracy to institutional innovation, to benefit both, through 

comparative case analyses of democratic innovations in different countries. It is hypothesized that 

particular kinds of institutional innovation (such as consensus conferences, policy dialogues, dialogical 

networks) will work out quite differently in different political contexts. If so, then the emphasis of almost 

all democratic theory on models of democracy is misplaced: instead, theorists should attend to processes 

of democratisation in particular contexts. The results of the comparative case analyses will be used to 

reflect back upon, and reformulate, deliberative democratic theory. 

DP0344878 Dr AF Dulhunty 

*** 

Title: REGULATION OF RYANODINE RECEPTOR CALCIUM CHANNELS BY THE CALCIUM BINDING 

PROTEIN CALSEQUESTRIN 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

The project is to examine the functional interaction between two proteins in skeletal muscle that are 

essential for Ca2+ regulation and hence contraction, respiration and movement in all vertebrate species. 

One protein, the ryanodine receptor, releases calcium from stores inside the muscle cell. The other 

protein, calsequestrin, binds and sequesters calcium ions. We have recently discovered that the proteins 

also bind to each other and that calsequestrin regulates Ca2+ release from the stores through the 

ryanodine receptor ion channel. This regulation is likely to be important in conserving store calcium during 

stress or fatigue. 

DP0343709 Dr AJ Dundon 

*** 

Title: Development, Disease and Desire: AIDS and women's understandings of maternity 

and health among the Gogodala of PNG 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $69,000 

2005 : $64,345 



APD Dr AJ Dundon 

Summary: 

This project explores articulations and experiences of health and illness among women in rural PNG, in 

light of the spread of HIV/AIDS in these communities. It examines the incorporation of new diseases, like 

HIV/AIDS, into Gogodala women's conceptualisations of sickness and health, arguing that in-depth 

analyses of cross-cultural notions of disease are vital for the provision of effective health care. Given 

HIV's rapid spread into rural communities, and its devastating effects on women and children in PNG, the 

project seeks to provide ethnographically-informed material that contributes to the development of regional 

health care policies and programs. 

***

DP0343418 Dr MH Dungey Dr RA Fry 

Title: MONETARY POLICY WITH LIQUIDITY CONSTRAINED GOVERNMENT DEBT MARKETS 

2003 : $32,000 

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $30,000 



Summary: 

Modern monetary policy seeks to influence domestic macroeconomic outcomes, using actions in official 

Government debt markets. The effectiveness of this route is being challenged by reductions in the level of 

Government debt outstanding. Monetary policy is faced with the possibility of operating in alternative 

financial markets. The project will: * Examine alternative markets for monetary policy operation.* Examine 

the effects of alternatives on real economy outcomes.* Develop a model of the economy which controls 

for global financial conditions - which has not been done before.* Combine modern econometric 

techniques. 

DP0342601 Prof CJ Easton 

Title: Amino Acid and Peptide Radicals in Biochemistry and Synthesis 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The aim of this research is to develop a better fundamental understanding of biochemical free radical 

reactions of peptides and proteins, particularly those involving superoxide radical anion and thiols, and 

peptide radicals in enzyme-catalysed reactions. Knowledge gained through this work will be used in the 

synthesis of physiologically active amino acids and peptides, as well as to establish ways to regulate 

biochemical free radical processes. The ultimate goal of the research is to develop methods and 

pharmaceutical compounds to prevent and treat human disorders associated with these reactions, and to 

underpin commercial exploitation of peptide and protein biomaterials. 

DP0343279 Prof RG Elliman Dr ER Krausz Ms TD Weijers A/Prof SH Choi 

Title: The Physical and Optical Properties of Self-Assembled Si Nanocrystals 

2003 : $109,345 

2004 : $109,345 

2005 : $99,345 

*** 



APD Ms TD Weijers 

Summary: 

The properties of nano-scale materials can differ significantly from those of their bulk counterparts. As 

such, they can provide materials with new and novel properties as well as proving a useful test of 

modern theories. An outstanding example of the significance of such effects is provided by quantum 

confined silicon structures, such as porous or nanocrystalline silicon, which exhibit luminescence 

efficiencies up to a million times greater than bulk silicon. This project aims to understand the novel optical 

properties and interactions that underpin potential applications of this technologically important material. 

*** 

DP0343308 Prof RG Elliman Prof J Linnros Dr J Valenta 

Title: Novel Silicon-Based Photonic Devices 

2003 : $98,000 

2004 : $97,000

2005 : $95,000 



Summary: 

Silicon's pre-eminence in high-speed digital electronics does not extend to optoelectronics where the 

demand is for devices that can generate, guide, detect and process light. However, the properties of 

silicon are dramatically altered when it is reduced to nanometre dimensions. Advances in the 

understanding of such effects and in the fabrication and application of nanoscale silicon have provided 

the prospect of new and innovative Si-based photonic devices, and of fully integrated electronic and 

photonic functionality. This project aims to extend the understanding of nanoscale silicon and to develop 

and prototype novel Si-based photonic devices based on this material. 

DP0343188 Prof MD Elvin 

*** 

Title: Raising and Solving New Questions in China’s Late-Imperial Demographic History, 

and their Economic and Environmental Implications 

2003 : $40,000 

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $30,000 



Summary: 

Examining China's premodern demographic history shows that age-specific rates of births and deaths are 

a crucial element usually missing in reconstructing the local histories needed to refine nationwide 

generalizations. They also raise unanticipated questions, relating for example to diet, stress, and disease 

. The extensive data on 'virtuous women' in local gazetteers, never previously utilized, show wide local 

variations in expectancy of life. The project will determine parts of this spatial pattern, and that of fertility 

where information is systematic enough. These findings will be interpreted by integrating them with the 

local histories of women's experiences. 

DP0344142 Prof GD Farquhar Prof TJ Andrews Dr H Stuart-Williams Dr HJ Kane 

*** 

Title: Using the fractionation of hydrogen and carbon isotopes to analyse the mechanisms 

of the primary processes of photosynthesis. 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $120,000 



Summary: 

The primary processes of CO2 fixation and reduction in photosynthesis leave their signatures in the 

isotopic composition of organic matter. Although these signatures are used widely in geochemistry, 

biology and climatology to infer the dynamics and history of the biosphere, the information they provide 

about the mechanisms of the processes that produce them has not been exploited fully. We propose to 

map the underlying biochemistry responsible for fractionation of hydrogen isotopes, to assess its ability to 

indicate the water relations of plants, and to use carbon-isotope discrimination to probe the catalytic 

chemistry of the CO2-fixing enzyme, Rubisco. 

DP0344313 Dr B Forster Dr U Mathesius 

Title: Functional genomics of light stress resistance in the model organism 

Chlamydomonas: combining molecular genetics, transcriptome and proteome 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $65,000 


***


Summary: 

This project aims at combining molecular genetics, transcriptome and proteome analysis to identify genes 

and pathways underlying high light stress tolerance in previously isolated mutants of the chlorophyte 

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Comprehensive profiles of transcriptome-proteome linkage will be 

constructed without the complications of multicellularity for this unicellular photosynthetic model organism. 

We will establish a public proteome reference database and provide new microarrays and molecular 

markers beneficial for research in Chlamydomonas. We expect to advance understanding of high light 

resistance mechanisms so that it will eventually be applicable to improve productivity in crop plants 

growing under various environmental stress conditions. 

DP0343530 Dr L Fu 

Title: Growth and intermixing of quantum dots for multi-wavelength infrared 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $83,000 

2005 : $82,000 

*** 



APD Dr L Fu 

Summary: 

Quantum dots are nano-scale structures grown by self-assembled epitaxial methods. In this project, 

intermixing of quantum dots, which is a novel technology to modify the opto-electronic properties of the 

dots will be studied using ion implantation and subsequent annealing. Optimised growth, implantation and 

annealing conditions will be used to grow and tune the detection wavelength of the infrared 

photodetectors using intersubband transition. This will allow us to fabricate multi-wavelength infrared 

photodetectors for high performance infrared imaging system. This project involves an exciting 

combination of fundamental physics and device technology. 

DP0342917 Dr MK Gagan Dr WS Hantoro Dr JM Lough Dr G Meyers Dr GB Dunbar 

*** 

Title: Quantifying the El Niño-Indian Ocean Dipole system using high-resolution coral 

palaeoclimate archives 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $110,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

The ocean surrounding Indonesia is the warmest on Earth and a major source of energy for global 

atmospheric circulation. Understanding the role of the Warm Pool in future climate change is of key 

importance, but highly controversial because the potential extent of its variability is largely unknown. To 

address this issue, this project will provide the first major geochemical investigation of recently 

discovered ancient corals in Indonesia using state-of-the-art microanalytical techniques. Outcomes from 

these palaeoclimate records will advance our understanding of global climate change, rainfall variability 

related to the El Niño - Indian Ocean Dipole system, and Australian drought. 

DP0344862 Prof PW Gage 

Title: ION CHANNELS FORMED BY SMALL PROTEINS FROM VIRUSES 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $90,000 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $90,000 

***



Summary: 

Movements of ions across cell membranes through protein ion channels are essential for normal cell 

function. We have found that some small proteins from viruses can form ion channels. Studying these 

simple channels should give us clues about the function of more complex channels, such as those in the 

brain, as well as giving us information about the viruses themselves. We will test whether a small protein 

from Ross River virus forms ion channels and will also test the effects of selected mutations in proteins 

from influenza and AIDS viruses that we have shown previously to form ion channels. 

*** 

DP0344480 Dr MJ Gibbs Dr JW Trueman Prof AJ Gibbs 

Title: Kingdom switching microbial pathogens: the bioinformatics of mutation in the 

genomes of viruses and bacteria affecting crops, livestock and people. 

2003 : $80,321 

2004 : $80,321 

2005 : $80,321 

2006 : $80,321 

2007 : $80,321 



ARF Dr MJ Gibbs 

Summary: 

Some organisms that cause infectious diseases have moved between plants and vertebrates, either 

recently or repeatedly over evolutionary time. Switching between plants and vertebrates strongly 

influences the way these microbes mutate and evolve. We will search the genomic sequence databases 

for information about how the choice of host influences mutations in viral and bacterial genomes and 

model the evolutionary processes involved. This project will advance our understanding of the fine 

structure of microbial genomes and the importance of selection pressures on genes. It will lead to better 

disease management strategies for humans, and for domestic crops and livestock. 

DP0346163 Mr CJ Glover 

Title: Applying advanced synchrotron radiation-based techniques to determine the 

connection between the geometric and electronic structure of semiconductor 

nanocrystals 

2003 : $86,500 

2004 : $81,500 

2005 : $81,500 



APD Mr CJ Glover 

*** 

Summary: 

As the dimensions of nanocrystals become small unique optical and electronic properties are observed, 

forming the basis of many new technologies. The properties of interest depend on the fine-scale, local 

details of the nanocrystal structure, which may differ considerably from bulk-like. Advanced 

synchrotron radiation techniques will be used to investigate the relationship between the local geometric 

and electronic structure of semiconductor nanocrystals. Insight will be provided to their formation and 

stability, and the important mechanisms of their unique optical and electronic properties will be identified. 

Such fundamental information is necessary to facilitate innovative application of future nanocrystal 

technology. 

DP0346686 Prof JA Graves 

*** 

Title: Molecular characterization of marsupial genome organization, function and evolution

2003 : $180,000 

2004 : $180,000 

2005 : $180,000 



Summary: 

I will initiate a coherent investigation of the genome of an Australian marsupial (the tammar wallaby), 

exploiting new resources, new techniques and the hugely increased capacity for large-scale 

investigations of genomes at the molecular level. I will isolate and characterize large-insert (BAC) clones 

of the gene-rich region of the Y chromosome, ancient, added and controlling regions of the X 

chromosome, and autosomal imprinted regions. Comparisons with the homologous regions of the human 

and mouse genomes will identify and characterize new mammalian genes and control signals, untangle 

complex regulatory systems, and discover how mammalian genes, and the mammalian genome, evolved. 

*** 

DP0346292 Dr JE Gready Dr PL Cummins Dr A Bliznyuk Prof U Rothlisberger Prof SW Ragsdale 

Title: TOWARDS A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF HOW ENZYMES WORK: development of 

simulation methods and protocols, blind test predictions, and experimental validation 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

Enzymes catalyze quite fantastic chemistry under mild physiological conditions. Many special chemical 

concepts (such as "transition-state stabilization" and "entropy-enthalpy compensation") proposed to 

explain these powers are unnecessary. Uniquely for a catalyst, these powers are integral to the 

structure, properties and dynamics of the protein, as constrained and selected by evolution. The question 

is how do they work? Answering this requires energetic and thermodynamic analysis beyond current 

experimental techniques, but accessible by computer simulation. We aim to develop a robust toolkit of 

simulation methods and protocols, blind test them by predicting the mechanism of a new enzyme, with 

follow-up experimental validation. 

*** 

DP0342569 Prof RW Griffiths Dr RC Kerr Prof KV Cashman 

Title: The Fluid Dynamics of Lava Flows: Silicic Domes and Basaltic Channels. 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $55,000 



Summary: 

Lava flows surface much of the Earth, Moon and terrestrial planets. This interdisciplinary program will 

combine laboratory experiments, mathematical analysis, numerical modelling and field observations to 

elucidate the complex dynamics of lava flows, including the nonlinear coupling of flow with surface 

solidification and basal melting. The focus will be on lava dome instability, and flow in open channels and 

tubes. Expected outcomes include: the ability to predict rates of lava flow cooling and advance, indicators 

of hazardous lava dome collapse, improved volcanic hazard assessments, explanations of the genesis 

of world-class magmatic ore deposits, and new interpretations of planetary surface morphologies. 

DP0343064 Dr FS Gruetzner 

*** 

Title: Solving the Mysteries of Monotreme Chromosomes

2003 : $130,000 

2004 : $130,000 

2005 : $130,000 



APD Dr FS Gruetzner 

Summary: 

The peculiar chromosomes of Australia's platypus and echidna have been debated for more than 30 

years. Classical cytology cannot resolve the puzzling sex chromosome system, or to sort out the bizarre 

translocation chain (unique in vertebrates) and deduce how it segregates to make viable zyotes. I will 

microdissect individual chromosomes, and use DNA 'paints' from them (and gene probes isolated by them) 

to detect homologies between unpaired chromosomes at mitosis, meiosis and in sperm. I will use 

immunohistochemistry to clarify chromosome pairing and recombination at meiosis. This will answer some 

important general questions about chromosome behaviour and sex chromosome evolution. 

DP0342788 Prof Dr R Grün Dr DM Bowman Dr MK Gagan A/Prof RT Wells 

*** 

Title: Stable isotopes in marsupials: reconstruction of environmental change in Australia 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $55,000 



Summary: 

This project will establish the application of stable isotope analysis of marsupial bones for the 

reconstruction of past environments, a key area to advance Australian prehistory. On a continental scale, 

it will establish the relationship between stable isotopes (C, O, N) in bones and environmental factors 

(e.g., plant distribution, humidity, temperature); on a local scale, the relationship between stable isotopes 

and aboriginal land management. The project will provide a late Quaternary environmental reconstruction 

along a transect from the coastal regions in South Australia into the Lake Eyre Basin and explore the 

methodological limitations at sites with long fossil records. 

*** 

DP0344361 Prof JH Harris Dr BD Blackwell Dr J Howard Dr M Shats 

Title: Localised instabilities in magnetically confined plasmas heated by radio waves 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $48,000 


PHYSICS 


Summary: 

The H-1 Heliac Major National Facility will be used for experiments to search for localised plasma 

"ballooning" instabilities. These instabilities, studied theoretically but not yet identified in experiments, are 

thought to limit the pressure achievable in plasmas of interest for production of renewable, 

low-greenhouse gas emission, fusion power, and are also invoked to explain magnetospheric 

phenomena like auroral substorms. The flexible magnetic configuration, radio frequency (rf) and 

microwave plasma heating systems, and diagnostic set of H-1 are uniquely suited to this program. 

Advances in rf plasma techniques and diagnostics will also benefit the development of novel 

communications and instrumentation technologies. 

*** 

DP0342709 Prof TM Harrison Dr TR Ireland Dr VC Bennett Prof SJ Mojzsis Dr FJ Ryerson Prof B 

Bourdon Prof KD McKeegan 

Title: A Mission to Very Early Earth: When Did Conditions Suitable for Life Emerge on Earth?

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

A uniquely Australian resource - 4.4-4.1 Ga detrital zircons from the Jack Hills (WA) - represent the only 

tangible record of the Hadean Eon (4.5-4.0 Ga) and potentially contain information regarding the origin of 

the atmosphere, hydrosphere, continental lithosphere, geodynamo, and perhaps even life, during the 

earliest stages of Earth evolution. Following age characterization of 100,000 zircons, experiments 

involving short-lived nuclear chronometers and tracers of continental evolution (Hf and O isotopes) will be 

undertaken on the most ancient zircons that could both radically our paradigm for early planetary 

evolution and permit assessment of whether life emerged during the Hadean Eon. 

*** 

DP0343610 Prof R Hartley Dr AJ Smola Prof JS Shawe-Taylor Dr WJ Triggs Dr B Schoelkopf 

Title: Pattern Recognition and Scene Analysis via Machine Learning 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $77,440 



Summary: 

We plan to use kernel methods, a novel machine learning technique, for computer vision problems, such 

as scene analysis and real time object recognition. Such capabilities are relevant for the design of 

intelligent and adaptive systems, suitable for complex real world environments. Expected outcomes are 

the design of efficient statistical tools which take the special nature of visual data into account (structure, 

decomposition, prior knowledge of physical environments, etc.) and combine the advantages of feature 

based high-level vision methods with low-level machine learning techniques. This proposal is part of a 

joint IST project with partners from the European Union. 

DP0343994 Dr RA Heaney Prof FD Foster Prof S Gregor Prof TJ O'Neill Prof RE Wood 

*** 

Title: Floor trading versus computer trading - Does it matter? 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $57,000 

2005 : $57,000 



Summary: 

Computer systems for securities trading date from the 1980s. These systems are large, costly and 

extremely complex. Outcomes from their introduction were unforeseen and the relevant research 

literature is sparse. This project will investigate experimentally with a simulated trading system the effects 

on trading behaviour of important system parameters. Intelligent support systems for traders will also be 

developed and tested. The project team combines needed expertise from the areas of human decision 

making, finance, and advanced information technologies. Results will be important for theory of market 

microstructure and interactive intelligent systems and also for an important industry in Australia. 

DP0344092 Prof CC Heyde 

Title: Problems of identification and inference for 'non-standard' models in complex 

systems with special reference to finance and teletraffic 

2003 : $75,000 

2004 : $75,000 

2005 : $65,000 

***



Summary: 

The project is concerned with 'non-standard' models needed to deal with complex systems, such as 

those exhibiting scaling and fractal properties. There is a focus on methods for dealing with heavy tailed 

distributions and long range dependent observations, for which most standard statistical methods break 

down, and on applications in finance and telecommunications. An important part of the project concerns 

model validation for Heyde's fractal activity time geometric Brownian motion model, a candidate minimal 

description risky asset model to replace the geometric Brownian motion paradigm. 

DP0342701 Prof AF Hill 

Title: Metallaboratranes: Soft Scorpionates and Masked Metal Bases 

2003 : $135,000 

2004 : $125,000 

2005 : $115,000 

*** 



Summary: 

All molecular metal compounds involve a metal surrounded by a group of electron donors ('ligands'). The 

design and manipulation of these ligand sets and their interactions with metals ('coordination chemistry') 

underpins ALL applications of metals, be they in biological, pharmaceutical, materials or industrial 

applications. This proposal addresses the diametric opposite the role-reversal wherein a metal centre 

acts as an electron donor to a ligand. This rare situation has only recently been firmly established in this 

research group, but promises to be part of a wider new coordination chemistry, the limits of which will be 

pursued in the proposed work. 

*** 

DP0343588 Dr DJ Hinde Dr M Dasgupta Dr K Hagino 

Title: Dynamics of Nuclear Fusion: Evolution Through a Complex Multi-Dimensional 

Landscape 

2003 : $200,000 

2004 : $200,000 

2005 : $175,000 


PHYSICS 


Summary: 

The key questions in the fusion of heavy nuclei form an interlocking puzzle, which can be resolved using 

our recently developed analysis concepts and measurement techniques. The newly completed, unique, 

and highly efficient superconducting fusion product separator, together with Australian's Heavy Ion 

Accelerator, will be used to unlock the puzzle and reveal how fusing nuclei evolve in a multi-dimensional 

landscape. This will impact on the emerging fields of superheavy element formation, physics with rare 

isotope beams, and on coupling-assisted quantum tunnelling. This project will maintain Australia's 

world-leading position in the current race to develop a quantitative understanding of fusion. 

DP0344125 Prof B Hindess Dr P Larmour 

*** 

Title: Transparency International and the Problem of Corruption 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $66,500 

2005 : $66,500 



Summary: 

The project aims first, to produce a history of the emergence and rise to prominence of Transparency 

International (TI), a unique international non-governmental organisation devoted exclusively to the fight 

against corruption. Secondly, it will use this history as a framework (and substantial empirical anchor) for 

investigating some of the more important recent developments both in the conceptualisation of corruption 

and in anti-corruption practice: the increasing influence of economic perspectives on corruption; changing 

perceptions of the relationship between corruption and development; and the internationalisation of the 

problem of corruption. 

DP0345427 Dr SM Hogg 

Title: Ion implantation induced diffusion and defect evolution in Si nanostructures 

2003 : $80,900 

2004 : $80,900 

2005 : $80,900 

*** 



APD Dr SM Hogg 

Summary: 

A fundamental understanding of nanostructures is essential for the development of nanoscale electronic 

devices. This project will investigate ion implantation of dopant atoms into Si nanostructures. The goal is to 

develop a broad understanding of the effect of the nanostructure dimensions on point-defect-induced 

diffusion and the formation of extended defects. In particular, the influence of multiple surfaces on 

point-defect recombination will be investigated. Concurrently, the techniques necessary for the analysis 

of nano-structures will be developed. 

*** 

DP0342513 Dr M Honda Dr JW Harris Dr P Cartigny 

Title: Diamonds - a window into the ancient mantle: the origin of Earth's atmosphere and 

outgassing of the mantle 

2003 : $50,000 



Summary: 

The project will provide a better understanding of the mantle source regions of diamonds and, in 

particular, homogeneity/heterogeneity of the source regions as a function of space and time - potentially 

of economic significance for diamond exploration. The project will investigate the noble gas compositions 

of a systematic selection of diamonds of different ages and from different parts of the mantle. Together 

with carbon and nitrogen isotope systematics, this information will be used to better constrain models of 

Earth outgassing and the evolution of the Earth's atmosphere and mantle. 

DP0343280 Dr JJ Hope 

Title: The New Atom Laser: Theory of Quantum Atom Optical Sources 

2003 : $20,000 

2004 : $20,000 

2005 : $20,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The atom laser is a new device which produces a coherent source of ultracold atoms. A practical atom 

laser will be a revolutionary source for atom optics. This project will develop a comprehensive and 

practical quantum theory of a new generation of atom lasers which can produce a continuous beam. 

This will require a different and more complicated theoretical approach to that which worked for optical 

lasers, but the result will be a device with a spectral flux which is orders of magnitude better than the

current state of the art. 

*** 

DP0344004 Prof ST Hyde Dr T Aste Dr T Di Matteo 

Title: The architecture of networks: Characterisation and visualisation of complex 

systems as fluctuating networks. 

2003 : $120,455 

2004 : $115,455 

2005 : $150,455 

2006 : $150,455 

2007 : $150,455 



QEII Dr T Di Matteo 

Summary: 

Complex systems comprise many mutually interacting components, characterised by a range of different 

interactions over time and space. They are dynamical systems, whose features are reminiscent of a 

web, with fluctuating links of varying strengths. The natural paradigm for such systems is a generic 

network, or a graph. A suite of novel measures from statistical physics, graph theory, topology, 

geometry, and computer graphics will be developed to characterise system/graph growth and stability. 

The aim is two-fold: first to reduce real complex systems (mainly financial systems) to computationally 

manageable structures (including direct visualisation) and second to construct realistic models of the 

evolution of such systems. 

*** 

DP0342772 Dr TR Ireland Prof EK Zinner Prof KD McKeegan 

Title: Lithic Astronomy: The age and origin of the elements and their incorporation in the 

solar nebula 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $65,000 



Summary: 

All heavy elements are produced in stars. The signature of nucleosynthesis is the isotopic composition of 

the elements and thus measurement of isotopic compositions allows nuclear astrophysics to be 

elucidated in the laboratory. This project will examine the linkages between stellar sites and the material 

in our solar system through measurement of interstellar grains and other primitive material obtained from 

meteorites. A chronology of processes affecting the solar nebula will be determined through 

measurement of radionuclides. Th/U measurements in presolar grains could allow a view of galactic 

chemical evolution billions of years prior to the solar nebula. 

DP0343575 Prof FC Jackson Dr D Stoljar 

Title: Understanding phenomenal experience as a natural part of our world 

2003 : $63,000 

2004 : $63,000 

2005 : $63,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The natural sciences-physics, chemistry and biology-provide compelling accounts of our world. They 

contain, however, no overt mention of mental states and in particular the mental states with a 

phenomenology: states like itches and colour experiences. The challenge for naturalists is locate these 

states within the naturalist picture. This project develops and draws on representationalist accounts of

mind to explain how to locate mental states that have a phenomenology within the naturalist's picture. This 

will yield new perspectives on the mental lives of machines. 

DP0342895 Dr PA Jackson Dr GJ Fealy 

*** 

Title: RELIGION, POWER AND CRISIS IN INDONESIA AND THAILAND: Islamic and Buddhist 

Responses to Globalising Markets and Cultures 

2003 : $30,000 

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $30,000 

Category: 4402 - RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS 


Summary: 

Religion has been central to state power in Indonesia (Islam) and Thailand (Buddhism), both historically 

and throughout recent dramatic shifts in economic and political circumstances. This study examines how 

institutional and popular religious movements now relate to political authority in Southeast Asia's 

economically and strategically most important countries. It will analyse: (1) comparative Islamic and 

Buddhist fundamentalisms; (2) democratisation and changing patterns of state influence on religion; and 

(3) marketisation, mass media and religion as popular culture, thereby filling major gaps in the globalisation 

literature and transcending the limitations of single-country studies of Southeast Asian regional affairs. 

DP0343927 Prof C Jagadish 

*** 

Title: Fabrication and monolithic integration of III-V semiconductor photonic devices using 

impurity-free interdiffusion 

2003 : $145,000 

2004 : $140,000 

2005 : $105,000 

2006 : $120,000 



Summary: 

The objective of this project is to achieve the integration of GaAs- and InP-based photonic devices using 

the atomic interdiffusion technique. The project will use the key understanding of the atomic relocation 

process in the GaAs-based system, with novel laser designs. Furthermore, elucidating the more 

complicated interdiffusion mechanism in the InP-based system will be a precursor to device integration. 

This project also aims to understand the interdiffusion mechanism in quantum dot structures, which are 

important for high performance optoelectronic devices. The fabrication of novel photonic integrated 

circuits (PICs) will generate patentable technology, and enhance Australia's semiconductor optoelectronic 

and photonic industry. 

DP0344248 Prof P Jalland 

*** 

Title: THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF DEATH AND BEREAVEMENT IN AUSTRALIA AND 

ENGLAND, 1914-1980 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Death, bereavement and old age come to us all, but their history has been neglected for twentieth century 

Australia and England. I aim to write two substantial books and several articles on this vitally important 

subject, explaining how and why emotional and expressive death practices and attitudes were often

transformed after 1918 into a silence about death, with minimal ritual and privatised grief. This 

comparative project has crucial outcomes for our understanding of the histories of medicine, war, religion 

and the family, as well as policy implications for current issues such as euthanasia, suicide, aged care, 

cancer and palliative care. 

*** 

DP0344793 Prof RS Johnstone Prof MG Quinlan 

Title: The Implementation of Process Regulation in Occupational Health and Safety: A 

Comparative Study of Policy and Practice 

2003 : $53,000 

2004 : $53,000 

2005 : $57,000 

Category: 3904 - LAW ENFORCEMENT 


Summary: 

The shift from prescriptive to process regulation of occupational health and safety (OHS) over the past 

25 years represents the most significant transformation of OHS law since the nineteenth century. OHS 

regulators hoped process standards would provide a comprehensive and adaptable regulatory 

framework to address hazards at work. Yet the implementation and enforcement of process standards 

and systematic OHS management has been little researched. This project will analyse the development 

and implementation of process standards in six jurisdictions, assessing their evolution, effectiveness and 

ability to meet changing workplace circumstances. It will provide knowledge and tools for improving 

interventions. 

DP0346495 Dr R Kennedy 

*** 

Title: Peepshows: Love Letters and the Death Penalty in a Sensation Trial and its Cultural 

Legacies 

2003 : $20,000 

2004 : $20,000 

2005 : $30,000 



Summary: 

Criminal trials are primarily studied by cultural historians and legal scholars without reference to each 

other. My aim is to produce a feminist cultural history of a sensation trial and its legacies that addresses 

the legal, historical and cultural dimensions of the case. The monograph will explore how a woman was 

hanged on the flimsy 'evidence' of her love letters, and how later critics and cultural producers used 

popular forms to speak back to law. The project significance stems from its multi-disciplinary approach, 

and the innovative synchronic and diachronic framework, which will provide a model for later cultural 

studies of trials. 

*** 

DP0342618 Prof BL Kennett Prof GA Houseman 

Title: CRATON EDGES AND SUTURES IN THE AUSTRALIAN MANTLE 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

A major seismic experiment using recording of distant earthquakes will be used to provide images of 3-D 

structure in the Earth's crust and mantle along the length of the edge of the Precambrian Australian Shield 

and across the suture between the South and North Australian cratons within the Shield. Seismic 

structures derived from different classes of geodynamic models will be compared with seismic results

derived from a variety of styles of data interpretation, including seismic tomography. The experiment will 

improve understanding of the range of physical processes associated with rifting and building of 

continents. 

*** 

DP0342531 Dr JS Keogh A/Prof JD Roberts Dr PG Byrne 

Title: Molecular Phylogenetics of Australian Myobatrachid Frogs and the Evolution of 

Reproductive Strategies 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

The Family Myobatrachidae (22 genera, 120+ species) is wholly endemic to the Australo-Papuan region, 

represents 57% of the Australian frog fauna and displays more diversity in reproductive strategies than 

any other group of frogs. We will recover a robust molecular phylogeny for all species in this family and 

use it to exploit existing ecological and behavioural data sets to provide powerful tests of alternative 

hypotheses concerning the evolution of diverse reproductive strategies. This multi-disciplinary research 

project will provide detailed phylogenetic information for one of the most diverse vertebrate radiations in 

Australia and address important questions in historical ecology. 

DP0343874 Prof B Kerkvliet 

*** 

Title: Politics of land in Vietnam, late 1950s-1990s 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $43,000 

2005 : $35,000 



Summary: 

The project is three-fold: (1) complete an in-depth analysis of the politics of land in Vietnam during the 

second half of the 20th century, (2) through this analysis contribute to a broader understanding of 

Vietnam's political system, and (3) show the implications of this Vietnam case for comprehending how 

unorganised, everyday kinds of activity in an authoritarian political system can contribute to significant 

shifts in national policies. Expected outcomes include a book on agricultural collectivization and 

decollectivization in Vietnam, a PhD dissertation on land reform in the southern half of the country, and 

journal articles. 

*** 

DP0344425 Prof K Kirk Dr SM Howitt Dr S Broer 

Title: Expression and characterisation of nutrient transporters from the intracellular 

malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $85,000 



Summary: 

The malaria parasite invades the red blood cells of its host and this provides it with a safe haven in which 

to grow and replicate. Within the red blood cell, the parasite takes up nutrients and excretes metabolic 

wastes via specialised membrane transport proteins which are, as yet, very poorly understood. The 

sequencing of the malaria parasite genome has enabled us to identify candidates for a wide variety of 

these proteins. The aim of this project is to establish systems in which the functional properties of these 

transporter proteins may be characterised in detail. 

***

DP0342704 Prof K Lambeck Dr D Fabel Dr P Tregoning A/Prof R Coleman Dr D Fink 

Title: Looking back to see the future: Change in the Lambert Glacier and the East Antarctic 

Ice Sheet 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $150,000 

2005 : $140,000 

2006 : $120,000 



Summary: 

To develop a comprehensive understanding of the Lambert Glacier of East Antarctica, from the time of the 

last maximum glaciation to the present, through an integrated and interdisciplinary study combining new 

field evidence - ice retreat history, geodetic measurements of crustal rebound, satellite measurements of 

present ice heights and changes therein with other geological and glaciological data and numerical 

geophysical modelling advances. The project contributes to the quantitative characterisation of the 

complex interactions between ice-sheets, oceans and solid earth within the climate system. Outcomes 

have implications for geophysics, glaciology, geomorphology, climate, and past and future sea-level 

change. 

DP0345844 Dr GJ Lane 

*** 

Title: Structure of Exotic Neutron-Rich Nuclei Populated Using Novel Reaction Mechanisms 

2003 : $135,321 

2004 : $115,321 

2005 : $105,321 

2006 : $105,321 

2007 : $105,321 


PHYSICS 


ARF Dr GJ Lane 

Summary: 

Over half of the nuclei believed to be stable to particle decay have not been studied due to the lack of 

available nuclear reactions. We have played a leading role in developing innovative techniques using 

incomplete-fusion and deep-inelastic reactions to access neutron-rich nuclei that were inaccessible prior 

to this work. This project aims to study new phenomena in exotic, neutron-rich nuclei, building on 

Australia's existing investment in this area, and, through international scientific leadership, facilitating the 

access of Australian researchers to highly competitive overseas facilities. 

DP0342990 Dr W Liang 

Title: Design Efficient Routing Protocols For WDM Optical Networks 

2003 : $50,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The optical network technique plays a key role to the next-generation networks. In particular, 

wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) optical networks have emerged as a promising candidate for 

next-generation networks in providing huge available bandwidth and connectivity. Routing and 

wavelength assignment problem is one of the fundamental problems in WDM optical networks. In this 

project we primarily focus on devising and analyzing efficient routing algorithms for all-to-all routing and 

robust routing in the WDM networks. Incorporated with various known techniques, practical algorithms 

will be developed. The algorithms and techniques developed in this project will be through simulation, 

testing, and implementation.

DP0342902 Dr DH Macdonald 

*** 

Title: Lifetime spectroscopy of impurities in silicon solar cells 

2003 : $84,345 

2004 : $84,345 

2005 : $84,345 



APD Dr DH Macdonald 

Summary: 

This project aims to apply recently developed experimental techniques to the important problem of 

characterising impurities in silicon, with a strong focus on solar cell applications. These new 

spectroscopic techniques, which are based on carrier lifetime measurements, are more sensitive and 

less ambiguous than most existing methods. The results will have important implications for solar cell 

technologies in two independent ways - firstly, by allowing accurate diagnosis of the 

performance-limiting impurities in standard silicon solar cells - and secondly, by identifying particular 

impurities which could boost cell performance beyond the conventional limit through the impurity 

photovoltaic effect. 

DP0343570 Dr RD Magrath 

Title: Communication and predation in scrubwrens: alarm calls and eavesdropping 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $50,000 

2005 : $50,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Animal behaviour, including acoustic communication, is shaped by the risk of being killed by predators. 

Many animals give alarm calls, potentially warning others of danger, and all face the risk that calls 

intended for conspecifics might be overheard by predators. We will use observations and playback 

experiments on birds to test what information is conveyed in alarm calls, and measure the risk of 

predators eavesdropping on the calls of young birds. Such work has never before been carried out on 

wild birds, and will contribute to the understanding of non-human communication about the environment 

and the design of signals. 

DP0342849 Dr RE MAHONY Dr PI Corke 

Title: Image Based Visual Servo Control of Dynamic Under-Actuated Systems 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $57,200 

2005 : $50,336 

*** 



Summary: 

The project builds on earlier work on visual servo control of under-actuated rigid body dynamics to 

develop and implement sophisticated and robust image based visual servo control for a wide class of 

under-actuated and fully actuated dynamic systems. The scope of the project extends far beyond basic 

testing of preliminary results to address key technical issues facing visual servo control algorithms at this 

time. The project is strongly motivated by the host of emerging applications for visual servo control of 

unmanned aerial vehicles. The experimental program within the project is based on control of a four rotor 

VTOL `hoverbot'. 

***

DP0343504 Prof LN Mander Dr PM Chandler 

Title: Preparation of Photo-Affinity Molecular Probes for the Identification of Gibberellin 

Receptors 

2003 : $115,000 

2004 : $115,000 

2005 : $115,000 



Summary: 

Bioactive gibberellins affect numerous processes during plant growth and development, including seed 

germination, leaf expansion, stem elongation, flowering and fruit development. However, only very limited 

information is available regarding their mode of action at the molecular level. The central aim of the 

project is to prepare a family of photo-affinity molecular probes based on the gibberellin molecule that will 

be designed to provide critical information on the location and structure of gibberellin receptors. 

Screening of the probes for potential effectiveness will be determined initially by the measurement of 

alpha-amylase produced in a standard barley aleurone assay. 

DP0344090 Dr NB Manson Dr MJ Sellars 

*** 

Title: Storage of non-classical light in a solid 

2003 : $105,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $75,000 



Summary: 

A new scheme for storing and recalling coherent light pulses based on 'slow light' has been 

demonstrated. The aim of this project is to show how this can best be achieved in a solid to enable 

practical applications. A range of materials will be investigated. The novel feature of the storage is the 

maintenace of the coherence information and a noise analysis will be made to determine whether it is 

experimentally possible to store non-classical light. 

*** 

DP0342844 Dr PJ McGregor Prof MA Dopita Prof KC Freeman Prof AS Wilson Prof T Storchi-Bergmann 

Dr RD Blum 

Title: Galactic Nuclei; How Old, How Massive, and How Active? 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Australia's Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) will be used on the Gemini North 8 m 

telescope in Hawaii to study the mass, age, and activity of the nuclei of nearby galaxies at high spatial 

resolution. Many nearby galaxies contain massive nuclear black holes. Understanding processes 

occurring near these black holes will shed light on how galaxies evolve and how massive black holes 

continue to interact with their surroundings. This is the NIFS core science program. It will use guaranteed 

telescope time granted to the instrument team. NIFS is an innovative new near-infrared spectrograph 

designed and constructed in Australia. 

*** 

DP0343616 Dr S Mendelson Prof G Schechtman A/Prof A Litvak 

Title: Geometric parameters in Learning Theory 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $50,000



Summary: 

We aim to investigate the behaviour of geometric parameters which appear naturally in Statistical 

Learning Theory. Those parameters are used to control the sample complexity, which is the size of a 

random sample needed to produce an accurate prediction. They are also of independent interest in the 

local theory of Banach spaces. We shall use geometric methods originating in the local theory of Banach 

spaces to investigate the parameters and the way they influence sample complexity. All the problems we 

focus on are not only important from the Machine Learning point of view, but are intriguing in their 

theoretical implications. 

DP0343373 Dr DC Morris 

*** 

Title: Analysing the roles of cospeciation and host-shifting in the evolution of behaviour 

and ecology of thrips associated with Australian Acacia 

2003 : $83,000 

2004 : $83,000 

2005 : $83,000 



APD Dr DC Morris 

Summary: 

The relationships and interactions between phytophagous thrips and their host Acacia species provide a 

system well suited to investigating mechanisms of macroevolution in the Australian arid-zone biota. In this 

project we will determine the relative importance of mechanisms such as cospeciation and host-shifting 

within this model system, and examine the influence of these mechanisms on the evolution of both the 

insects and the host-plants. It is expected that the results of this study will provide insights into the 

evolution of arid-zone biodiversity in Australia and the nature of insect/host-plant interactions. 

DP0343621 Prof TI Morris-Suzuki Prof A Kaur 

*** 

Title: Border Controls and the Movement of People in a Globalizing Asia-Pacific Region: A 

Cross-National Study of Four Evolving Control Regimes 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $47,000 



Summary: 

This project examines emerging border-control regimes in four countries of the Asia-Pacific region - 

Australia, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia. Shifting away from traditional images of frontiers, it treats 

national borders as complex social realities, and argues that the location of 'borders' is increasingly 

becoming diffused within and outside the territory of the nation state. It thus contributes to important 

theoretical debates about globalization and its relationship to migration and national power, while also 

presenting information directly relevant to cooperation between the nations of the region on issues 

related to the cross-border movement of people. 

DP0343239 Dr A Neeman 

*** 

Title: Derived categories and their applications, especially in K-theory, topology and 

algebraic geometry 

2003 : $168,000 

2004 : $135,000 

2005 : $114,000 

2006 : $90,000 

2007 : $130,000



Summary: 

Algebraic geometry, topology and algebraic K-theory are mathematical disciplines that study different 

aspects of geometry. In all these areas of study, derived categories have proved to be powerful tools. 

This project aims to use derived categories to advance our understanding of geometry. Involved are some 

of the main open questions in geometry from the second half of the twentieth century. The research is 

being nominated for the Complex/Intelligent Systems Priority Area. Geometry is relevant in two ways. 

Secure and/or error correcting codes are often based on algebraic geometry. And modelling concurrency 

problems involves homotopy theory. 

DP0343390 Prof BW Ninham 

*** 

Title: Ionic Dispersion Forces in Physical Chemistry: Implications for pH, Electrochemistry, 

Nanoparticle Formation and Organic Synthesis 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

Our current understanding of charged systems in solution is deeply flawed . Existing theories are not 

predictive, mainly because they concentrate entirely on electrostatics. This proposal aims to partially 

rectify this by including the effects of previously neglected dispersion forces in a number of problems. 

These forces are responsible for much of the behaviour seen in the following systems: the theory of 

electrolytes; electrochemistry pH and buffers; self energy effects in organic chemistry; and zeolite and 

nano-particle synthesis. The main outcome will be accurate and predictive theories for these systems. 

*** 

DP0342613 Prof JE Norris Dr M Asplund Prof MS Bessell Prof TC Beers Dr N Christlieb Dr SG Ryan Dr 

W Aoki 

Title: The First Stars and the Chemical Enrichment of the Universe 

2003 : $175,000 

2004 : $100,000 

2005 : $100,000 



Summary: 

The chemical abundances of the first stars bear the signature of conditions at the earliest times - during 

the Big Bang and the formation of the first astrophysical objects. This proposal assembles a world-class 

team to discover and analyse significant numbers of the most metal-poor and oldest stars in our Galaxy. 

We shall develop innovative techniques to analyse the spectra of these objects to obtain accurate 

abundances - not currently achievable. The project will clarify our understanding of Big Bang 

Nucleosynthesis and the first supernovae and hypernovae, the manner in which Galactic chemical 

enrichment occurred, and the age of the Galaxy. 

*** 

DP0342794 Dr AP Nutman Dr VC Bennett Dr CR Friend 

Title: Early Archaean Ecology - Exploring the Evidence and Habitats for Early (3.6-3.85 billion 

year old) Life 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $54,000 

2005 : $48,000 



Summary: 

The prime scientific quest of the 21st century will be the origin of life. The earliest evidence for life is at 

3.85 Ga (billion-years) in the world's oldest-known sediments from Akilia, Greenland. These rocks were 

contorted and heated during later crustal upheavals, and the evidence for life at 3.85 Ga is controversial. 

Such life would be highly significant, because then first, primitive life arose before the known 

stratigraphic record. The project will extend the methods used to detect earliest life, and use Greenland 

rocks to explore other possible early habitats (submarine volcanic rocks and hot springs) and understand 

its environment. 

DP0342798 Dr AP Nutman Dr CR Friend 

*** 

Title: Deep Crustal Section Through a Late Archaean Orogen (Greenland): Archaean Crustal 

Sutures, Abyssal Peridotites and Gold 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $50,000 



Summary: 

Did plate tectonics operate in Earth's early times - the Archaean (before 2500 million years ago)? This is 

important for understanding Australia's rich Archaean gold mineralisation. Using plate tectonics, young 

mountains like the European Alps formed when once distant continents collided. The project will 

investigate the origins of a deeply-eroded, superbly-exposed Archaean Greenland mountain belt and its 

gold mineralisation. This is to establish whether it represents a deep section through an Archaean 

continent-continent collision formed via ancient plate tectonics and also to provide insight into Australia's 

important Archaean gold deposits and to produce models to help search for more gold. 

DP0343941 Dr PJ Oakes Dr CA McGarty 

*** 

Title: The politics of opinion: Individuals, groups, and the social psychology of opinion in 

the public sphere. 

2003 : $55,000 

2004 : $57,000 

2005 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Public opinion is crucial to democratic theory and practice, but its extensive multi-disciplinary literature is 

littered with contested definitions. One major (and heated) debate concerns whether public opinion 

should, in principle, comprise the views of individuals, as aggregated in polls, or of groups, as expressed 

through collective statements and action. This project examines public opinion in reality rather than in 

principle, using social psychology to predict that individuated and group-based representations serve 

distinct purposes for specific social actors under specific social and political conditions. It offers new 

answers to longstanding questions about the role of citizen opinion in democratic politics. 

DP0343352 Dr S Ohnishi 

Title: Friction and capillary forces 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $105,000 

2006 : $105,000 

2007 : $98,000 

*** 

Category: 2501 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY (INCL. STRUCTURAL)


QEII Dr S Ohnishi 

Summary: 

Reducing friction forces is important for improving the performance of moving components in devices, 

and also useful for relieving people from pains at joints. In ambient conditions, confined liquids have a 

great influence on friction forces because an attractive force is induced by capillary condensation and 

adsorption between the surfaces. The correlation between capillary and friction forces will be clarified 

by force measurements with newly developed surface force apparatuses in various conditions. 

Theoretical interpretation of influences of molecular layered liquids between the sliding surfaces on 

frictional behaviour will be also given based on thermodynamics. 

DP0342678 Dr DL Ollis Dr H Kim 

*** 

Title: Directed evolution used to probe protein structure and function; new enzymes for 

bio-remediation and industry 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

The aim of the research is to generate new and useful enzymes for bio-remediation and other practical 

applications. For example, we are evolving enzymes to better degrade organophosphate pesticides that 

are environmental pollutants. Apart from producing useful enzymes, the proposed research aims at 

gaining a better understanding of how enzymes work and how they evolve. We intend to determine the 

structure of many related enzymes that have been evolved to have enhanced activities. This data will be 

used to analyse the intricate relationship between sequence, structure and enzyme activity. 

DP0344188 Dr HS O'Neill Dr J Hermann Dr J Mavrogenes Prof RJ Arculus 

Title: Properties of hydrous fluids and silicate melts at very high temperatures and 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 

*** 



Summary: 

High-temperature, high-pressure, water-rich fluids play a central role in many geological processes. 

However, these fluids are extremely difficult to characterise: although their effects are evident in many 

rocks, the fluids themselves are too reactive to be preserved. Here several novel techniques are 

described for studying the compositions and thermodynamic properties of hydrous fluids and silicate 

melts over a wide range of geologically relevant conditions. The results of this study will greatly improve 

the understanding of geological processes as widely diverse as volcanism, ore deposition and 

metamorphism. 

*** 

DP0342900 Dr EA Ostrovskaya Prof YS Kivshar Dr CM Savage 

Title: Nonlinear atom optics of Bose-Einstein condensates in optical lattices 

2003 : $129,345 

2004 : $119,345 

2005 : $104,345 


PHYSICS 


APD Dr EA Ostrovskaya 

Summary: 

When a new state of matter - Bose-Einstein condensate - is trapped in a periodic potential created by 

light, it forms a unique, reconfigurable nano-scale system with unprecedented control over its properties. 

Its behaviour ranges from quantum to classical, from linear to nonlinear, and from continuous to discrete. 

This project aims to develop a theory for the nonlinear localization, transport, and excitation of BEC in the 

optical lattices. Its outcome will provide an important assessment of the feasibility of the proposed use of 

the BEC in optical lattices in quantum computing, information storage, precision measurements, and 

nanotechnology. 

DP0342445 Prof G Otting 

*** 

Title: New Methods for Structural Biology in Solution 

2003 : $250,000 

2004 : $250,000 

2005 : $230,000 

2006 : $240,000 

2007 : $250,000 



Summary: 

New technologies will be developed that are sufficiently rapid and inexpensive to compete with and 

replace the mutagenesis experiments that biologists usually perform to identify and characterize the 

functionally important parts of a protein. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques in 

combination with various selective labelling schemes will be developed with the goal of identification and 

structural characterization of protein-ligand interactions at increased rates and enhanced accuracy. In 

addition, the three-dimensional structures of proteins and protein domains of biologically important 

functions and unknown fold will be determined by NMR. The project aims at techniques of direct impact in 

pharmaceutical industry. 

DP0342949 Prof AR Pagan 

*** 

Title: Inventories and the Business Cycle in Australia and the U.S. 

2003 : $60,000 



Summary: 

The project looks at the contribution that inventories make to business cycles in Australia and the U.S. It 

uses recent research by the chief investigator on measuring business cycles in order to explain how the 

presence of inventories in an economic system might influence activity in that system. It then adapts an 

existing model in the literature to quantify the role of inventories in the Australian and U.S business 

cycles.. It seeks to answer a number of questions that have arisen in recent years over whether the 

business cycle is becoming longer owing to improved methods of inventory control 

DP0342702 Dr C Pelejero 

*** 

Title: UPTAKE OF ATMOSPHERIC CO2 IN THE OCEANS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL 

CHANGE: NEW PROXY DEVELOPMENTS 

2003 : $94,345 

2004 : $89,345 

2005 : $79,345 



APD Dr C Pelejero

Summary: 

This project aims to quantify the response of the oceans to increasing atmospheric CO2 from 

anthropogenic production. This will be achieved by using newly developed paleoceanographic indicators 

in deep sea sediments, corals and coralline sponges. These will be used to evaluate changes in 

seawater acidity and the response of the oceans to past variations in atmospheric CO2. The capacity 

and role of the oceans to buffer the rise of atmospheric of CO2 will be ascertained. This will provide 

constraints on the impact of increased seawater acidity on coral reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef. 

DP0343303 Dr N Piper 

Title: Asian Women, Migration and Transnational Governance from Below 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $30,000 

2005 : $27,000 

*** 



Summary: 

This project investigates international labour migration and its gender implications in the context of 

intra-regional flows in Southeast and East Asia.It evaluates the responses and type(s) of activism by 

major migrant lobbyists as a potential force for socio-legal change and to what extent they operate 

beyond national borders. By integrating civil society activism, a novel approach is offered which 

conceptually combines the analysis of women's needs and concerns when migrating internationally with 

democratisation processes and the increasing acceptance of global norms, nationally and 

transnationally.The publication of a single-authored monograph and a number of journal articles is 

anticipated. 

DP0343160 Dr BJ Pogson Dr AM Gilmore Dr WS Chow Dr K Niyogi Prof S Itoh 

Title: THE MECHANISMS OF PHOTOPROTECTION IN PLANTS - A GENOMICS AND 

PHOTOPHYSICAL APPROACH 

2003 : $110,000 

2004 : $110,000 

2005 : $110,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Coping with adverse environmental conditions is central to plant survival in nature so understanding the 

photoprotective mechanisms of light acclimation is important for crop improvement. Therefore, effective 

acclimatory mechanisms at whole plant, cellular and molecular levels are essential to accommodate short 

and long-term exposure to potentially photodamaging full sunlight and environmental stresses, such as 

drought and temperature extremes that lead to plant death or greatly reduced crop yields due to free 

radical damage. This project brings together a unique cross-disciplinary expertise in biophysics, 

biochemistry, physiology and genomics to elucidate the known mechanisms and identify unknown factors 

in photoprotection. 

DP0343327 Dr GD Price 

*** 

Title: Molecular analysis of photosynthetically-linked, active CO2 uptake and CO2 signal 

transduction by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). 

2003 : $60,000 



Summary: 

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) have evolved a very efficient means of capturing and concentrating

CO2 for photosynthetic fixation into sugars, the basic building blocks for cell growth. This process is 

dependent on the operation of several unique, active uptake systems for CO2 and HCO3-, with their 

genetic expression regulated by CO2 supply. This proposal will capitalize on our progress in describing 

the functional genetics of this process and aims to elucidate the mechanism of active CO2 uptake and the 

way that cells sense the ambient CO2 concentration. The information gained is likely to be useful for 

designing improved crops. 

DP0342974 Prof JC Quiggin 

Title: Risk and Australian public policy 

2003 : $179,000 

2004 : $171,950 

2005 : $181,000 

2006 : $181,000 

2007 : $181,000 

*** 

Category: 3401 - ECONOMIC THEORY 


APF Prof JC Quiggin 

Summary: 

This project will develop fundamentally new approaches to the theory of risk and uncertainty and their 

role in the design and management of complex projects and policy initiatives. The results will be applied to 

the central economic policy choices facing Australia; those connected with globalisation and 

microeconomic reform. This project will show how the latest advances in economic theory can help to 

illuminate the major issues in the Australian public debate, from the role of government and the market to 

the assessment of standards of living. The project will also help to bridge the gap between economics 

and other social sciences. 

DP0343533 Dr CG Reus-Smit 

Title: HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF WORLD POLITICS 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $56,000 

2005 : $57,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Rights politics played a central role in the international changes that occurred at Westphalia (1648), in the 

Age of Revolutions (1776-1848), with decolonisation (1950s-1960s), and in the aftermath of the Cold 

War. Yet the literature on human rights and international relations has failed to consider the impact of 

rights politics over the longue duree. This project systematically examines how, and to what extent, rights 

politics has transformed the international system since the seventeenth century to the present era. It will 

generate a series of articles, a single-authored book, and an edited volume. 

*** 

DP0343345 Dr MC Ridgway Dr AP Byrne Dr K Yu 

Title: Atomic-Scale Identification of Amorphization and Relaxation Processes in Compound 

Semiconductors 

2003 : $105,000 

2004 : $95,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

We seek a fundamental understanding of the processes that govern implantation-induced structure, at the 

nanometer scale, in the compound semiconductors used in photonic device fabrication. Since

implantation-induced disorder limits the performance of such devices, the proposed project is of 

substantial technological significance and national benefit. The Photon Science techniques of perturbed 

angular correlation and extended x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy will be used to identify the 

mechanism of amorphisation and relaxation in order to enable more effective exploitation of compound 

semiconductors in advanced telecommunications systems. 

DP0345482 Dr A Rumsey A/Prof LR Goldman Mr DW Niles Ms NC Haley 

*** 

Title: Chanted tales from Highland New Guinea: a comparative study of oral performance 

traditions and their role in contemporary land politics 

2003 : $164,954 

2004 : $124,077 

2005 : $102,667 



Summary: 

In parts of Highland PNG there are flourishing traditions of epic-like chanted tales. Often dealing with 

relationships between people and land, these are a highly valued cultural resource. From the perspective 

of comparative poetics they are one of the clearest known examples of measured verse that has 

developed independently of alphabetic or syllabic writing. This project brings together an interdisciplinary 

team of investigators to analyse the wide range of styles in which these narratives are performed, and 

further the understanding of their implications for cross-cultural study of verbal art and the politics of land 

ownership in present-day Papua New Guinea. 

*** 

DP0343962 Dr BP Schmidt Dr PJ Francis Prof MS Bessell 

Title: The Southern Sky Survey 

2003 : $220,260 

2004 : $200,260 

2005 : $190,260 

2006 : $200,260 

2007 : $250,260 



APF Dr BP Schmidt 

Summary: 

The Southern Sky Survey will create the first digital map of the southern sky, providing a community 

available database of a billion objects. This database will be used by entire community, with our group 

targeting four key areas including: studying the creation of our solar system through a census of distant 

asteroids, exploring how stars and planets form by observing nearby young stars, probing the shape and 

extent of the Galaxy's dark matter halo, and discovering when the first stars in the Universe formed. This 

data set will also be used as a staging ground for a Virtual Observatory. 

DP0346018 Dr MJ Sellars 

*** 

Title: Development of a quantum computer based on solid-state optical impurity sites 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $40,000 

Category: 2899 - OTHER INFORMATION, COMPUTING AND COMMUNICATION SCIENCES 


Summary: 

The use of optical impurity sites in solid-state hosts as a basis for a quantum computer will be 

investigated. This project will experimentally demonstrate and characterize all the functions necessary 

for the operation of a scalable quantum computer. A significant advantage of the current approach is that

all these functions can be performed optically, circumventing the need for the complex fabrication found 

in other solid-state quantum computing schemes. 

DP0342706 Dr EM Sevick Prof DJ Evans 

*** 

Title: Experimental Demonstrations of Violations of the Second Law of Thermodynamics 

2003 : $175,000 

2004 : $130,000 

2005 : $140,000 



Summary: 

Inventors and engineers strive to scale-down machines, devices and engines to nanometre sizes for a 

range of technological purposes and scientists investigate protein motors to understand their operation in 

hopes of modifying their biological behaviour. However, according to a new theorem in Non-equilibrium 

Statistical Mechanics, there is a fundamental limit to this scaling-down of engines: such nanomachines, 

including protein motors, will run in "reverse" for appreciable amounts of time and in violation of the 

Second Law of Thermodynamics. We propose to demonstrate this inescapable, operational limit in 

nanotechnology with experiments using an Optical Tweezers apparatus. 

DP0346529 Dr DA Shaddock 

*** 

Title: Interferometry beyond the Standard Quantum Limit 

2003 : $64,345 

2004 : $64,345 

2005 : $64,345 



APD Dr DA Shaddock 

Summary: 

This research aims to realise measurements below the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL) using advanced 

quantum optic and opto-mechanical techniques. This is of fundamental interest as the SQL is yet to be 

observed for a macroscopic object. It is also of particular significance to second generation gravitational 

wave detectors which are expected to be limited by the SQL. This project will develop an 

opto-mechanical sensor capable of achieving SQL sensitivity as well as develop and test techniques to 

surpass the SQL. These techniques will be directly applicable to long base-line gravitational wave 

detectors. 

DP0344795 Prof Dr L Sitsky 

Title: Rediscovering Australia's Musical Achievements: Creating Critical Editions of 

Significant Scores 

2003 : $50,632 

2004 : $42,000 

2005 : $42,000 

2006 : $42,300 

2007 : $42,600 

*** 



Summary: 

Many Australian music manuscripts languish in archives and collections unperformed, unrecorded, and 

little known. The project aims to create critical editions of selected manuscripts, consolidating and making 

available work I have already done. Scholarly editing of manuscript scores is not copy editing, but a highly 

skilled process requiring extensive knowledge of musical styles and an informed ability to interpret 

composer's intentions. The need is urgent. Many manuscripts are in a serious state of deterioration. It is

through the dissemination of our music in printed form that performers, scholars, and educators - 

nationally and internationally - can give it deserving attention. 

DP0343704 Prof MA Smith 

Title: Reasons and Rationality 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $65,000 

2005 : $65,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The project explains how we assess the truth and falsehood of everyday claims about what people have 

reason to do. It also explains what legitimises our practice of praising and blaming people for their 

success and failure at doing what we think they have reason to do. In so doing it provides a foundation 

for both our ordinary practice of holding people responsible, and for the more institutionalised counterpart 

of this ordinary practice in the law. 

DP0343579 Dr MJ Smithson 

Title: Individual Differences in Orientations to Risk and Uncertainty 

2003 : $36,000 

2004 : $36,000 

2005 : $35,000 

*** 



Summary: 

The main goal of this research project is to extend and integrate three individual-differences approaches 

to predicting and explaining human judgement and decision making (JDM) and risk-taking behaviours (RTB) 

under uncertainty: Cognitive-capacity, preferences and dispositions, and dual cognitive process 

approaches. It will achieve this by studying the joint impact of cognitive style, capacities, and RTB/JDM 

dispositions on performance in appropriate JDM tasks. JDM and RTB are at the root of managing 

uncertainty, human adaptiveness and rationality. This project will also extend our knowledge of gender 

differences in JDM and RTB, and lay foundations for systematic cross-cultural studies on this topic. 

DP0346541 Dr AJ Smola 

*** 

Title: Network Intrusion Detection via Machine Learning 

2003 : $65,000 

2004 : $55,250 

2005 : $46,963 



Summary: 

Computer security is an increasingly important, yet complex task. It takes significant skills to configure 

systems properly such that they are safe from malicious attacks. The proposed project aims at designing 

automatic systems which are able to adapt to an existing network configuration and which detect novel 

and unusual events. For this purpose we will use modern machine learning techniques, mainly based on 

kernels. In particular, recently developed algorithms to estimate the support of a distribution and detect 

rare events will be employed in this context. The project is in cooperation with Dr. Ralf Herbrich (Microsoft 

Research, Cambridge). 

*** 

DP0342577 Dr R Stranger Dr BF Yates Prof K Morokuma

Title: Activation and Scission of Small Molecules using Three-Coordinate Metal Complexes 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 



Summary: 

Chemists have long admired the ease with which such fundamental molecules as nitrogen, oxygen and 

carbon dioxide are processed in biological systems under mild conditions in contrast to existing industrial 

processes such as nitrogen 'fixation' which require drastic temperatures and pressures. Our project 

addresses this inbalance by using powerful computational methods to design highly-tuned chemical 

systems based on three-coordinate metal complexes which are specific for the activation and scission of 

important small molecules possessing multiple bonds. 

DP0342503 Dr P Tregoning 

Title: Caught in a vice: Modelling crustal deformation in Papua New Guinea 

2003 : $80,000 

2004 : $70,000 

2005 : $70,000 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $100,000 

*** 



Summary: 

Papua New Guinea is trapped between the collision of the Australian and Pacific Plates. This proposal 

uses GPS methods to measure and model the tectonic motion across Papua New Guinea, identifies and 

quantifies areas undergoing regional deformation near plate boundaries and within tectonic blocks, and 

evaluates the tectonic processes associated with such deformation. Numerical models will be developed 

to match the observed site motions, thereby revealing the nature of the active plate boundaries and the 

characteristics of the Earth's crust and mantle. The project will produce new results necessary for 

assessing the tectonic hazards of Papua New Guinea. 

DP0343030 Prof N Trudinger Dr X Wang 

*** 

Title: Variational problems of Monge-Ampere type 

2003 : $138,000 

2004 : $140,000 

2005 : $146,000 



Summary: 

Nonlinear models dominate the frontline of modern theoretical and applied mathematics. This project 

concerns contemporary variational problems with analysis linked strongly to the Monge-Ampere equation, 

which is a fully nonlinear partial differential equation. Its study in recent years has generated complex 

and deep theoretical issues along with a diverse range of applications. The proposal is divided into two 

themes, affine maximal surfaces (involving fourth order partial differential equations of Monge-Ampere 

type) and optimal transportation (where Monge-Ampere theory has been applied successfully in recent 

years). Each of these builds upon major recent research breakthroughs of the proposers. 

DP0343910 Dr AG Truscott Dr JJ Hope 

*** 

Title: How Does a Bose-Einstein Condensate Develop Phase? 

2003 : $300,321 

2004 : $250,321 

2005 : $210,321

2006 : $175,321 

2007 : $120,321 



ARF Dr AG Truscott 

Summary: 

The demonstration of Bose-Einstein Condensation in 1995 was a major milestone in physics. When atoms 

are extremely cold, their de Broglie wavelengths can overlap, forming a single macroscopic quantum fluid 

with well defined phase. Theorists have long pondered the origins of this phase. In this experimental 

program we aim to answer for the first time the intriguing question: "How does a BEC develop phase?". 

The answer will also be important for the recently developed atom laser - with potential applications as 

wide-reaching as the laser - where understanding the phase coherence is important for devices such as 

atom interferometers. 

DP0342645 Prof JC Turner Dr K Reynolds 

*** 

Title: From the inevitability of prejudice to the origins of social change: The emergence of 

perceived illegitimacy in intergroup relations 

2003 : $141,000 

2004 : $158,000 

2005 : $142,000 

2006 : $143,000 

2007 : $144,000 



APF Prof JC Turner 

Summary: 

This project examines the social psychological processes underpinning the (il)legitimacy of intergroup 

relations, prejudice, and social stability and change. To date it is accepted that those who do not perceive 

a social system (community, culture, society) as politically and morally legitimate are more likely to reject 

the status quo and seek change. What is missing is the crucial analysis of how and when perceived 

legitimacy is transformed into illegitimacy. The project elaborates a novel and comprehensive approach to 

the illegitimacy question based on social identity and self-categorization theories and tests it through a 

major program of survey and laboratory-based research. 

DP0344108 Prof J Unger 

Title: The History of an Urban Chinese Factory Community in Transition 

2003 : $114,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $79,742 

*** 



Summary: 

Changes over the past five decades at a Chinese state-owned industrial enterprise and its adjoining 

residential compound will be explored largely through in-depth oral histories by a collaborative team of 

Australian and Chinese researchers; and the implications for China's ongoing economic and urban social 

transformation will be addressed. This will be the first study of its kind, and the University of California 

Press, a leading publisher in this field, is keen to publish a book based on the study. 

*** 

DP0343283 Dr M Vos Dr AS Kheifets Prof E Weigold 

Title: Electron Momentum Spectroscopy of Correlated Nanoscale Structures 

2003 : $105,000 

2004 : $97,000

2005 : $93,000 



Summary: 

Electron correlations play a vital role in determining the electronic properties of condensed matter and 

nanoscale structures. The most fundamental electronic property of a material is its spectral momentum 

density and this depends critically on electron correlations. It can be measured uniquely by electron 

momentum spectroscopy, even for amorphous and disordered materials. We will use our new 

world-leading electron momentum spectrometer to measure the electronic structure of nanometer thick 

samples of correlated systems, such as alloys, superconductors, and reduced dimensional structures. 

These measurements will be used to test theories developed to describe the behaviour of these 

nanoscale structures. 

DP0346246 Dr AL Watchman 

*** 

Title: Development and application of the Uranium-series method for dating ancient rock 

engravings 

2003 : $89,500 

2004 : $80,000 

2005 : $80,000 



Summary: 

Radiocarbon dating has been used to establish the age of relatively recent Australian rock art, but the 

ages of ancient engravings cannot be measured beyond the limit of this method. Comparative 

radiocarbon and uranium-series assays will be made on pairs of test samples collected from natural 

mineral deposits at engraving locations constrained by the ages of lakes, lava flows, sedimentary 

deposits or ice. Using test samples with independent and radiocarbon age controls will give confidence 

in the uranium dating approach for reliably measuring the ages of similar coatings associated with ancient 

carvings and exposed rock surfaces throughout the world. 

DP0344063 Prof TR Welberry 

*** 

Title: Development of Methods and Strategies for the Measurement, Interpretation and 

Analysis of Diffuse X-ray Scattering from Disordered Materials. 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $70,000 



Summary: 

This application seeks to exploit our established lead in the measurement of diffuse scattering from 

disordered materials and its analysis using large-scale computer simulations. Many industrially important 

materials such as ceramics, superconductors, catalysts, electro-optical materials and minerals owe their 

special properties to the disorder in their structure. This disorder causes diffuse X-ray scattering which 

can be probed using synchrotron X-rays and powerful computers to reveal details about the material's 

nanoscale structure. The new methodology being developed will enhance our detailed understanding of 

the relationships between structure and properties in materials and help promote the design of new 

materials. 

DP0345145 Prof I White Dr DE Smiles 

*** 

Title: Hydraulic Properties of Swelling Clay-Gel Soils: Electrolyte and Temperature Effects 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $40,000 

2005 : $42,000

Category: 3001 - SOIL AND WATER SCIENCES 


Summary: 

We seek to understand the impacts of electrolytes and temperature on the equilibrium and water flow 

properties of swelling, clay-gel soils. These soils are important in cropping, the environment and industrial 

processes. Their hydraulic properties govern dewatering rates, rheology, and solute movement. Double 

layer theory (DLVO) successfully describes the equilibrium behaviour of model, parallel-plate clay 

systems in laboratories. However, equilibrium and water transport properties of less-ideal, clay slurries 

are poorly described by theory. Field clay-gels are therefore problematic. Outcomes will be better 

understanding of swelling clays, improved and more cost effective management techniques for gel soils 

and trained graduates. 

DP0342560 Dr SM Whitney 

*** 

Title: Controlling the rate of transcription and translation of Rubisco transgenes effectively 

in higher-plant plastids. 

2003 : $20,000 



Summary: 

Genetic transformation of the circular genome of the plastids provides a containable means for modifying 

plant growth by manipulating photosynthesis. Although the transformation mechanism is precise, 

predicting the level of foreign gene expression is difficult because the amounts of messenger RNA and 

protein produced by foreign genes in plastids varies widely, even when the protein assembles without 

difficulty. This project will devise strategies for controlling this variability that will facilitate attempts to 

exploit plastid transformation for transplanting better versions of the photosynthetic CO2-fixing enzyme, 

Rubisco, into plants to improve their growth efficiency in terms of water, fertiliser and light use. 

DP0342860 Dr SB Wild 

Title: Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Phosphines, Arsines, and Stibines 

2003 : $85,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $85,000 

*** 



Summary: 

There are now chiral phosphine-transition metal catalysts that rival enzymes in their efficiency for the 

asymmetric synthesis of important chiral drugs, fragrants, cosmetics, nutrients, vitamins, and pesticides. 

This project is aimed at a generalised asymmetric synthesis of the critical components of these enzyme 

mimics, notably enantiopure chiral phosphines, but also chiral arsines and stibines, by a highly innovative 

approach that involves novel six-electron phosphenium, arsenium, and stibinium cations that are 

themselves stabilised by chiral phosphines so that chemical breeder reactions are possible. The use of 

chiral auxiliaries from the natural pool and from biotechnology will also be investigated. 

DP0345136 Prof JS Williams Dr M Petravic 

*** 

Title: Nanocavities and Nanoparticles in Silicon-based Materials Tailored by Ion Implantation 

2003 : $120,000 

2004 : $120,000 

2005 : $110,000 



Summary: 

Nanometre sized crystals embedded in different host materials can exhibit novel optical behaviour, 

including light emission. However, the optical properties depend critically on the ability to tailor the size 

and size distribution of such nanocrystal inclusions, parameters that are extremely difficult to control. 

This project is based on our previous discovery that small holes of controlled size and distribution can be 

formed in silicon by ion irradiation and that such cavities can be filled with fast diffusing elemental 

species. We intend to explore this novel concept to tailor the size of desired nanocrystals in 

silicon-based materials for optoelectronics applications. 

DP0343346 Prof RC Williamson Dr RE Mahony Dr G Raetsch Prof M Warmuth 

Title: Analysing Iterative Machine Learning Algorithms with Information Geometric 

2003 : $60,000 

2004 : $52,800 

2005 : $46,464 



*** 

Summary: 

Online machine learning problems arise from situations where data is provided a point at a time. There 

are many classical algorithms for solving such problems based on the principle of stochastic gradient 

descent. Recent research by the CIs and others have thrown up interesting but diverse geometric 

connections that offer new insights. The proposed research aims to integrate the understanding of these 

algorithms with the aim of designing algorithms better able to exploit prior knowledge, and to extend 

existing algorithms to new problem domains thus offering well principled and well understood algorithms 

for solving a variety of novel online problems. 

DP0343727 Prof SR Wilson 

*** 

Title: Statistical Advances in the Post-Genome Era 

2003 : $100,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $70,000 

2006 : $60,000 

2007 : $70,000 



Summary: 

Biologically relevant statistical foundations for post-genome biology and biotechnology will be developed. 

Specific goals of the topics include the development of accurate and more efficient algorithms for 

sequence alignments, improved models to maximise the accuracy of analyses for gene expression data 

and superior statistical methods for identification of complex gene networks that predispose an organism 

to disease. The Project will make significant contributions to the new and evolving priority research area 

of Bioinformation Science (including bioinformatics). Outcomes will include novel techniques for analysis 

and mining of post-genome data, with applications to developments in Bio-medicine and Bio-agriculture 

DP0342934 Dr RL Withers A/Prof A Pring Prof TR Welberry Dr N Ishizawa 

Title: The effects of local strain on the crystal chemistry of solid solutions 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $85,000 

2005 : $70,000 

*** 



Summary:

The concept of the solid solution, the substitution of one kind of atom for another in a crystal structure, is 

a central idea in both mineral sciences and solid state chemistry. Such atomic substitutions alter local 

crystal chemistry and hence always introduce strain into crystal lattices. In this project we aim to 

characterize this substitutional strain. Ultimately this should lead to a better understanding of the 

geological history of rocks, improvements in metal recovery from ores and to the design and synthesis of 

new materials. 

*** 

DP0343832 Dr PR Wood Dr JC Lattanzio Prof DL Lambert Dr KH Hinkle 

Title: Dying stars, mass loss and the creation of the elements 

2003 : $90,000 

2004 : $90,000 

2005 : $90,000 



Summary: 

This project aims to observationally estimate the mass loss rates and the surface chemical enrichments 

exhibited by low and intermediate-mass stars during their final evolutionary stages. The study has 

become possible because of new telescopes and instruments just arrived or imminently to arrive. 

Another part of the project is to use the observations to calibrate theoretical models for the evolution of 

dying stars. Such models are required for an understanding of the chemical enrichment of the universe 

from the time of first star formation to the present. 

University of Canberra 

*** 

DP0345350 Prof WR Blood Dr JE Pirkis Prof G Martin 

Title: Communicating Risk: Journalistic news values, and medical, health professional and 

lay discourses on suicide and mental illness. 

2003 : $50,000 

2004 : $60,000 

2005 : $65,000 


Administering Institution: University of Canberra 

Summary: 

Traditional journalistic practices in reporting suicide and mental health/illness issues are under strong 

challenge from a variety of groups, including medical/health professionals, and people diagnosed with 

mental illness. The project investigates the changing dynamics and hotly contested interplay between 

media, journalistic, medical, health professional and lay discourses about these issues, using in-depth 

interviews, focus groups and media analyses. How do media label events and people, and how do 

various audiences interpret and manage this information? Key outcomes include theoretically informed 

understandings of the positions of key stakeholders and policy advice for government and health 

professionals in planning communication strategies. 

DP0346850 Dr S Sarre A/Prof A Georges 

*** 

Title: Sex in Dragons: Probing the genotype-phenotype interaction in sex determination 

2003 : $60,000 


Administering Institution: University of Canberra 

Summary: 

Reptiles have two modes of sex determination: genetic (GSD) and temperature dependent (TSD). We will 

determine if there is an underlying mechanism of sex determination common to TSD and GSD reptiles by 

comparing the genomes of two sister species of dragon lizard that differ in their mode of sex 

determination. This study will provide new insights to the mechanism of sex determination in vertebrates 

and will test the proposition that sex determination results from the interaction between environmental

influences and an underlying genetic component. 

***

Successful 2003 Discovery Projects Grants by Institution - Australian ...

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