2006 Media Releases
Tuesday, 17 October 2006
ARC grants: La Trobe gains $8 million for new research
La Trobe University has received almost $6.6 million for 18 major research projects – and an additional $1.5 million for special research infrastructure and equipment – following the latest round of Australian Research Council (ARC) grants.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian Stoddart said the University’s success rate in the highly competitive grants scheme was up on last year’s.
‘This is extremely encouraging. Our performance in Discovery and Linkage Grants ranks us second among the Innovative Research Universities of Australia.’
La Trobe was awarded 13 Discovery Grants for projects totalling more than $3.5million. These involve fundamental research important for national innovation.
It also received almost $1million for four Linkage Grants – with an additional $2.1 million contribution from industry partnerships. In the Linkage Grants, designed to secure commercial and community benefits, La Trobe University had a success rate of 57 per cent – compared with the national average of 42.9 per cent.
‘We were also one of only 12 universities to receive a special Development grant for Indigenous researchers – and one of 11 to be awarded an International Linkage Grant,’ Professor Stoddart said.
La Trobe research teams will tackle a wide range of issues with the new funding.
These include studies in adolescent mental health and supportive classroom environments, investigating organisational supports as mediators to reduce aggressive classroom management, in partnership with VicHealth and a number of local secondary schools.
The environmental impact on neuroendocrine and neurobiological mechanisms for treatment strategies for maintaining good health will be examined under a large five year project with Jim's Group and the Bionic Ear Institute.
Ecological researchers will work to protect the environment: mountain pygmy possums and an important Indigenous icon, the Bogong Moth, while another project, highlighted by the government in its announcement of the latest grants, will assess the ABC’s role in how Australia is perceived in Asia at this critical time.
Others will assist in malarial vaccine development, DNA-anticancer drug interaction and biomarker discovery as part of national biotechnology and medical research priorities, and carry out world-leading research into waste water treatment.
La Trobe staff have also received three out of eight grants awarded for Linguistics research across the whole Discovery Projects area. And in Archaeology, a substantial grant – which includes one of two postdoctoral fellowships awarded to the University – will be used to study the origins of Asian domestic buffalo and its role in the development of agricultural technology .
DETAILS OF GRANTS
1) Linkage Indigenous Researchers Development grant
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
Ms P Love; Dr S Lawler
Investigating the source of arsenic contamination in the Bogong Moth and the impacts on the ecology of the Australian alps.
Almost $110,000 over three years
Project Summary
Much of Australia’s alpine region is National Park and as such, is managed for the conservation of its unique fauna and flora. The recent discovery of Arsenic in the Bogong Moth and one of its key predators, the endangered Pygmy Possum, raises questions about how to manage this threat to this unique ecosystem. Two main concerns are the preservation of the Bogong Moth, as an Indigenous Icon, and the conservation of the Pygmy Possum. In order to manage this threat we need to identify how, when and where the Bogong Moth is exposed to Arsenic. This information will aid in conserving the unique alpine species, including the Mountain Pygmy Possum, and protecting the Indigenous value of the Moth.
2) Linkage Projects
LAW
Prof JM Brett; Dr DE Kirkby
The history of advocacy and guardianship for people with disabilities in Victoria, 1986 - 2006
More than $75,000 over three years
Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s) Office of the Public Advocate
The history and analysis of the Victorian Office of the Public Advocate will benefit the national community by providing a fuller understanding of guardianship and advocacy in daily action, and of the interaction between people with disabilities and the state. It will make an important contribution to understanding the changing ways that governments act and deliver services. The project will also deepen understanding of volunteering, in particular of the role ordinary citizens can play in guarding the rights of their fellow citizens.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS
A/Prof R Lewis
Adolescent mental health and supportive classroom environments: investigating organizational supports as mediators to a sustainable reduction in aggressive classroom management.
$102,000, funded over two years
Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s) VicHealth and seven Victorian Secondary Colleges
Making classrooms safe and supportive for all students enables young Australians to lead healthier and more productive lives through social inclusion and economic participation. Finding effective ways to reduce teachers' use of non-productive, aggressive strategies in interactions with challenging students offers important social and economic benefits to Australia. These include reductions in adolescent anxiety and depression, greater engagement in schooling, a reduction in student withdrawals and exclusions, increasing parent, community and international confidence in Australia's schools, and a reduction in the number of young teachers leaving the profession.
PSYCHOLOGY
Dr AG Paolini; Dr SP Kent; Prof SF Crowe
Environmental impact on neuroendocrine and neurobiological mechanisms: treatment strategies and mimetics for maintaining good health
$596,000 over five years
Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s) Jim's Group and The Bionic Ear Institute
The current societal climate of industrialized countries such as Australia has shifted considerable over recent decades and is now one which is highly conducive to overfeeding and reduced physical activity. As a result, the incidence of obesity has risen markedly along with an associated increase in obesity-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, obstructive pulmonary disease, type II diabetes, and many types of cancers. Less is known about the psychological and behavioural sequelae of this overfeeding. Calorie restriction mimetics may not only act as a preventative intervention to help reduce the incidence and severity of these major health problems, but also impact on social behaviour.
MICROBIOLOGY
Prof RJ Seviour; Dr D Tillett
Biocontrol of foaming in activated sludge plants with bacteriophages
$150,000 over three years
Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s) South East Water and Melbourne Water
Activated sludge systems are the most widely used processes for treating wastewater in Australia. Yet most eventually suffer from episodes of bulking and foaming, where high levels of biosolids leave the plant with the treated waste, representing serious pollution hazards. Attempts to solve these problems have met with limited success.The highly novel biocontrol method proposed here will provide a specific, environmentally friendly and safe method to protect our rivers, streams and oceans form the harmful consequences of these problems
3) Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY
Dr AG Peele; Prof L Tilley; Dr MT Ryan
X-ray Diffraction Microscope
$ 289,680
Partner Organisations & Collaborating Organisations, The University of Melbourne, Swinburne University of Technology and Monash University
The results of the research will substantially expand Australia's knowledge base in the area of diffraction, imaging and structural biology. It will build up our expertise in x-ray optics and synchrotron technology, and will open up a new approach to x-ray imaging and structure determination.
This will revolutionize our understanding of cellular and sub-cellular organisation with implications for the treatment of disease while the ability to determine structures of membrane proteins will open the door to fresh opportunities in rational drug design and biotechnology that will promote innovation in this industry, and the likely foundation of new start-up companies.
THEORETICAL AND CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
Prof JD Riley; Prof RC Leckey; A/Prof PJ Pigram; Dr N Janke-Gilman; A/Prof BF Usher
Surface and Magnetic structure of crystalline materials
$ 636,000
Partner Organisations & Collaborating Organisations, Monash University, The University of Sydney, The University of Newcastle, The University of Western Australia
This proposal brings together significant research groups in La Trobe University, Monash University, the University of Western Australia, Newcastle University and Sydney University to establish a unique materials characterisation facility which will enable surface and magnetic structures of technologically significant materials to be determined. It will support developments in the areas of new magnetic phenomenon which is used in magnetic sensing and in the exploration of processes of size reduction for electronic devices. It will enable this new, world leading technology, to be applied to surface structures relevant in the areas of nanotechnology and catalysis.
OTHER MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
Prof DL Vaux; Prof NJ Hoogenraad; Prof L Tilley; Prof MA Anderson; Dr MT Ryan; Dr DA Dougan; Dr KN Truscott; A/Prof AB Hughes; Prof RT Brownlee
A Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility
$ 587,000
This facility will support a large group of nationally and internationally recognised scientists working on a range of projects in the National Interest: the role of apoptosis in normal and diseased cells, mitochondrial biogenesis and genetic diseases resulting from defects in mitochondrial function, malarial vaccine and drug development, plant biotehnology, design and synthesis of drugs, DNA-anticancer drug interactions and biomarker discovery. By supporting this wide range of well funded researh, the mass spectrometry facility will support the emerging Biotechnology sector and National Research Priorities.
4) Discovery Projects
LINGUISTICS
A/Prof D Bradley
Why and how do languages expand, coalesce or die? Lisu in China, Burma, Thailand and India
$192,000 over three years
This project extends Australian leadership of international co operation in language contact research. Practical outcomes include a pandialectal dictionary of Lisu and literary materials which provide in depth background on the languages, cultures, religions and history of East, Southeast and South Asia. Like most nations, Australia has many indigenous and migrant languages which are under threat, many with dialect issues that further complicate the situation. The findings of this project may be directly applied for the maintenance and revitalisation of our indigenous languages, nearly all of which are now struggling for survival, and in similar efforts for migrant languages.
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Prof JA Camilleri
International Conflict, Religion and Culture: Implications for Southeast Asia and Australia
$290,000 over three years
This study will:
(1) Provide governments and their agencies critical benchmarks and strategic options for policy development and public discourse, especially in periods of international tension;
(2) Offer religious and ethnic organisations greater expertise and more usable resources to help defuse potential conflict and hostility within Australian society;
(3) Widen media skills in interpreting and disseminating material originating from diverse religious and cultural sources;
(4) Enhance Australia's reputation as a vibrant multicultural society able to develop cutting edge dialogical
programmes;
(5) Help to make Australia's engagement with Asia more sensitive to the religious and cultural dimensions of international diplomacy.
PSYCHOLOGY
Prof GD Cumming; Ms F Fidler
Evidence based improvement of statistical inference practices in psychology and other
Project Title disciplines
$356, 000 over three years
The commonest ways that many researchers currently draw conclusions from their data have been shown to be inefficient, and often used incorrectly. This project will develop new, better statistical representations and software tools for data analysis. It will evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of these. Wide adoption of these techniques and tools will enhance the international reputation and competitiveness of Australian psychological science. Adoption by Australian researchers across the social and behavioural sciences, and in other disciplines including medicine, economics and ecology, will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Australian research, with consequential wide ranging benefits to the Australian community.
LINGUISTICS
Prof RM Dixon; Prof AY Aikhenvald
Are some languages better than others?
$371,000 over four years
It is important for the Australian community speaking several hundred different indigenous and immigrant languages across the nation to realise that each language has approximately (but not precisely) the same overall complexity as every other. One may have intricate word structure, while another has short words but elaborate rules for putting words together to make sentences. And, striding above 'political correctness', many people in Australia will be interested to know whether a certain language is a little more efficient than certain other languages for a particular purpose (for example, commercial business).
BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY
Dr DA Dougan; Dr KN Truscott
Function and modulation of the protein quality control network in mammalian
Title mitochondria
$263,000 over three years
This project has potential technological benefit in the areas of biotechnology and molecular medicine especially in relation to age related cellular degeneration. As a result of our research outputs, strategies could be developed to either delay the onset or reduce the severity of diseases related to mitochondrial dysfunction. Training research scientists of the future, forms an integral part of our research program and our association with world leaders in the field provide excellent opportunity for exchange of personnel, ideas and emerging methodologies. This project will lead the way in this field and consequently will expand Australia's reputation at the forefront of scientific advancement.
BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY
Prof NJ Hoogenraad; Dr MT Ryan; Prof DL Vaux; Dr N Klonis
A Cytosolic Complex for Targeting Mitochondrial Proteins
$369,000 Over three years
Mitochondria are essential for the viability of cells, and are the major source of cellular energy via oxidative phosphorylation. A loss of mitochondrial function with age contributes to the ageing process and therefore understanding the basic functions of this organelle is an important aim in biology. In mammalian cells this organelle comprises about 1500 different proteins, 99% of which need to be imported from outside the organelle. We have found that this requires a large protein complex to target the preproteins to the organelle. This research is directed to determining the component parts of this complex and the roles each component plays in the targeting process and in mitochondrial reproduction.
ANTHROPOLOGY
Prof JS Kahn; Dr WP Mee
Translocal Identities in the Malay World: Travel, Commerce, Community Building and
Project Title Religious Reform in Insular and Peninsular Southeast Asia
$251,000 over three years
First, the project contributes to an understanding of the region. Second, understanding how different governments in the region have and are managing religious and cultural diversity may provide lessons for Australia. Third, a study of migration within the region can make a significant contribution to debates within Australia on immigration from Asia. Fourth, there are benefits in greater understanding of Islamic networks in Southeast Asia as these are of strategic significance for Australia. Finally, there are benefits in informing an Australian public that Southeast Asia should not be equated solely with negative aspects but also with civility and tolerance.
ARCHAEOLOGY AND PREHISTORY
Prof L Liu; Prof X Chen; Mr T Gonzalez
The origins of Asian domestic buffalo and its role in the development of agricultural technology
$545,000 over three years
Benefits for Australia are educational, cultural and scientific. This project will enhance research collaborations between Australian universities and research institutions in China, Canada, the USA and India. It will particularly create more opportunities for academic exchange between Australia and China. This project employs new methods combining archaeology with DNA technology and archaeometry to tackle important issues in animal domestication and agricultural technology in many Asian regions. Its outcome will make a significant contribution to our knowledge of the human history of our region and the world.
ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
Dr R Makarevich
Study of the ionospheric E region during disturbed geomagnetic conditions using stereoscopic HF radar observations
$130,000 over three years
This project is expected to benefit Australia by: maintaining and expanding Australia's traditionally strong research positions in the field of space physics; conducting leading edge research in the rapidly expanding field of geomagnetic storm effects on technological systems; establishing bi directional transfer of radar technology between Australia and international partners; providing unique training in space science and advanced data processing highly valued by industry, government and academia' potentially leading to significant improvements in performance and stability of satellite communication and positioning systems; and supporting Australia's critical infrastructure such as surveillance and power distribution networks.
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Prof JF Martin
Australia's Rural Heartlands: Declining Economic Fortune or Dynamic Regional Adjustment?
$170,000 over two years
Agriculture in the rural heartlands provides high quality food and fibre for domestic consumption and export making significant contributions to national earnings. The heartlands are the custodians of our natural resources and cultural heritage and farmers play a vital economic and social role in the sustainability of these regions. While there is considerable variability between these places this research will provide a detailed understanding as to why it is that rural places differ in their development. A major benefit will be to present Australian governments, the agricultural industry and rural communities with a more accurate picture of how the rural heartlands now function, and to articulate the public policy implications.
LITERATURE
Dr PJ Salzman
Mary Wroth: A Contextual Biography and Electronic Edition
$132,000 over three years
This project will result in the biography of a remarkable early modern woman: Lady Mary Wroth. Wroth was an extremely talented writer who produced a huge prose romance, poetry and a pastoral play, and the project will also involve the production of an electronic edition of her writing. No biography of Wroth exists, and the contextual biography which I will write will offer many insights into early Jacobean society and culture. As a whole, the project will enhance Australia's strong research contribution to the key area of early modern studies.
LINGUISTICS
Dr TN Stebbins
The Baining languages: a window on the history of Island Melanesia
$290,000 over three years
Papua New Guinea is Australia's nearest neighbour. The province of East New Britain is one of Papua New
Guinea's most economically important regions due to its significant natural resources. However, it is also home to long standing ethnic tensions over the distribution of land and resources. This project will increase Australia's understanding of the languages, cultures, history and politics of the province, and strengthen Australia's ability to make informed economic and political decisions in the area. The project will reinforce Australia's leadership in the field of Melanesian Studies, train postgraduate students, and strengthen strategic ties in the region.
JOURNALISM, COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA
Dr JA Tebbutt
A study of the ABC in Asia and its role in cultural exchange
$207,000 over three years
Technological and cultural exchange with Asia through the Australian Broadcasting Commission/Corporation has been critical in building cross cultural awareness in both Australia and Asia. Recording and assessing the breadth and character of this exchange will assist Australia's capacity to interpret itself to the world. Analysing the interaction of a liberal democratic broadcasting model with social organisation in Asia will enhance our capacity to engage with a changing regional media environment. A critical assessment of the ABC's international role will contribute to debates on the value of public broadcasting. The outcomes (book, database, oral histories) provide a permanent resource for researching media and Australia Asian relations.