[Aqualist] ARC Special Research Initiative grant results

[Simon Haberle]

Dear All,

Below are results just announced of successful applications to the ARC 
Special research Initiative for 2005-2006 (e-Research). Details about the 
first grant listed can be found at http://palaeoworks.anu.edu.au/databases.html

Cheers, Simon



SR0567379       Dr SG Haberle; Prof G Hope; Dr M Buchhorn
Title:  The Australasian Pollen and Spore Atlas
2005 :  $55,000
2006 :  $55,000
Category:       2801             -      INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Administering Institution:      The Australian National University
Summary:
This proposal will enable online accessibility to the largest collection of 
pollen and spores information in the Australasian region that is currently 
located at the Australian National University. This will be a searchable 
database that is accessible over the web and suitable for professional as 
well as the technical novice involved in pollen and spore identification. 
Novel approaches to the federation of other smaller existing pollen and 
spores databases will result in The Australasian Pollen and Spores Atlas. 
The Atlas will be a flexible and powerful knowledge management tool 
applicable to research development by a wide range of users including those 
within the archaeology, biology, geology, and airborne allergy specialists.


SR0567201       Dr NS Bordes; Dr SG Ulm; Mr SC Hungerford; Dr P Hiscock; 
A/Prof J Hall; Prof BA Pailthorpe
Title:  e-Archaeology: Towards an Australian Archaeological Data Grid.
2005 :  $38,714
2006 :  $38,714
Category:       4302             -      ARCHAEOLOGY AND PREHISTORY
Administering Institution:      The University of Queensland
Summary:
The central goal of this pilot project is the development and 
implementation of an Australian archaeological digital collection platform 
based on existing High Performance Computing techniques and infrastructure. 
This collection will facilitate the dissemination and interchange of 
archaeological data across disciplines and institutions and across the 
public and private sectors; enhance archaeological research; and contribute 
to discourses about Australian cultural heritage and identity. Our case 
study will be the Mill Point Archaeological Project in southeast 
Queensland. This initiative will build on existing developments made 
overseas and through strategic collaborations between UQ, ANU and the San 
Diego Supercomputer Center at UCSD.


SR0566976       Prof AH Lynch; Prof DA Abramson; Prof IH Simmonds; Prof Dr 
K Dethloff; Prof L Mysak; Dr RM Wardle
Title:  eScience and Climate: Using Grid technology to build capacity in 
studies of Australian climate variability.
2005 :  $25,000
2006 :  $25,000
Category:       2803             -      COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Administering Institution:      Monash University
Summary:
Australia possesses capability in the area of palaeoclimate modelling, but 
efforts to understand our past natural climate variations are hampered by 
the computational profligacy of such models. Further, Australia does not 
possess a capability in intermediate complexity models which would allow 
experiments that take account of tectonic time scales. This initiative aims 
to develop a framework to allow the integration of climate system models 
with grid computing approaches (such as Nimrod/G) and test this framework 
on a pilot study of the Australian palaeomonsoon system. In addition, we 
will use this initiative to develop international linkages to enhance our 
ability to address problems of importance to Australian natural climate 
variability.