UNSW Researchers Secure $2.9 Million Grant from ARC for Cutting-Edge Research
UNSW researchers have received $2.9 million of funding for five research projects under the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Linkage Projects scheme. In this first-round of the scheme’s 2023 funding, the ARC awarded more than $26 million to 50 research grants.
The funding will support a broad range of UNSW research projects spanning the Faculties of Science, Arts Design & Architecture, and UNSW Canberra.
Professor Nicholas Fisk, UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Enterprise, congratulated the lead researchers and their teams on receiving the grants which will support industry and community collaboration.
“With five ARC Linkage grants this round and the second highest amount of funding awarded, UNSW has once again performed incredibly well in this scheme which promotes strategic partnerships.
“From investigating solar e-waste in Sub Saharan Africa, to helping supply chain companies model upstream uncertainties, the breadth of UNSW’s research with social impact is on show here,” Prof. Fisk said.
Associate Professor Daniel Falster in UNSW Science has been awarded $977,026 for a project aiming to use carbon dating and dendrochronology (studying the rings that appear in tree trunks) to measure growth of mulga trees through time. This data will help the team improve forecasts of tree growth and thereby inform decisions for investment in carbon farming and nature repair.
Associate Professor Omar Hussain from UNSW Canberra has been awarded $349,108 for a project that will help supply chain companies model the impact on their operations by capturing the uncertainties impacting their upstream suppliers. This is expected to assist in risk management analysis to develop strategies for managing uncertainties.
Associate Professor Paul Munro from Arts, Design & Architecture has been awarded $341,374 for a project that will investigate solar e-waste in Sub Saharan Africa, a result of the global transition to renewable energy. The project will assess the viability and justice implications of possible product repair solutions for solar e-waste. Co-Chief Investigators for the project are Professor Matthew Kearnes, Dr Sarah Walker from UNSW Business School, and Associate Professor Anna Bruce from UNSW Engineering.
Professor Angela Nickerson from UNSW Science has been awarded $745,446 for a project that will identify how interventions improve the day-to-day lives of refugees living in low- and middle-income countries. The project has the potential to have a positive impact on refugees living in these countries and enhance Australia’s capacity to meet its international refugee obligations.
Professor Sophie Primig from UNSW Science has been awarded $479,527 for a project aiming to address problems that occur in the manufacturing of a superalloy. The commercial benefits of the project are opportunities to domestically source alloys with reduced dependency on international trade. The environmental and societal benefits include lower emissions due to better mechanical design and workforce training.