[Aqualist] LIEF success

[Simon Haberle]

Dear All,


Congratulations to all those who were successful in the latest round of ARC LIEF grants. There are  7 successful applications listed below worth a total of $2.24 mil in support of building infrastructure for Quaternary research in Australia.


Cheers, Simon


_______________________________
ANSTO
LE100100141
Dr Dennis Mather, Dr John Tibby, Dr Simon G Haberle, Dr Michael K Gagan, Prof Patrick De Deckker, Prof Peter A Gell, Dr Mark T Warne, Dr Paul Hesse, Dr Kirstie A Fryirs, A/Prof Ian D Goodwin, A/Prof Jonathan D Woodhead, Dr Patrick J Baker, Dr Russell N Drysdale, Dr Scott D Mooney, A/Prof Massimo Gasparon, A/Prof Jian-xin Zhao, Prof John M Pandolfi, Dr Dan A Penny, Prof David M Bowman, Prof Charles G Skilbeck, Dr Grzegorz D Skrzypek, Prof Allan R Chivas, Dr Helen V McGregor, Dr Katherine Szabo, Prof Martin C Thoms, Prof John R Dodson
High-resolution ITRAX XRF core scanning facility for global change research 
$420,000.00 
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOSCIENCE 
Partner/Collaborating Organisation(s) 
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Deakin University, Macquarie University, Monash University, The Australian National University, The University of Adelaide, The University of Melbourne, The University of Newcastle, The University of New England, The University of New South Wales, The University of Queensland, The University of Sydney, The University of Western Australia, University of Ballarat, University of Tasmania, University of Technology, Sydney, University of Wollongong 
Project Summary 
This facility will enable researchers to obtain high-resolution geochemical profiles in the study of environmental change and climate variability. It will provide archive data on the variation of density and chemical element composition along sediment and soil cores, rock cores, wood samples, speleothems and corals. These archives contain important information such as human activity, climate variability, water quality changes, pollution histories, recent geomorphological change, land-use change, introduction of invasive species and the occurrence of bushfires. A better understanding of the occurrence and timing of these major environmental issues is of national and regional importance.
 
Macquarie University 
LE100100229 
A/Prof Simon C George, Prof Peter F Nelson, A/Prof Damian B Gore, A/Prof Joanne F Jamie, Dr Jochen J Brocks, Prof Brett A Neilan, Dr Gallage S Kannangara, Dr Ian Snape, Dr Herbert Volk, Dr Michael A Wilson 
Time-of-flight mass spectrometer for analysis of complex mixtures in oils, ancient rocks, recent sediments, natural products and atmospheric aerosols 
$160,000.00 
GEOCHEMISTRY 
Partner/Collaborating Organisation(s) 
Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), The Australian National University, The University of New South Wales, University of Western Sydney 
Project Summary 
Research benefits will be: 1. More effective remediation of petroleum spills through better understanding of degradation pathways, and ecotoxicological impact of spills. 2. Better understanding of the role of urban aerosols in human health impacts and climate change. 3. More effective development of finite petroleum resources by better understanding of processes altering crude oil in the sub-surface.  4. Identification of natural products from algae, cyanobacteria, plants and mushrooms as new sources of pharmaceutical agents. 5. Improved knowledge of early evolution of life on Earth, helping maintain Australian scientists as world leaders in this field. 6. Greater understanding of the source and migration of petroleum in frontier areas. 
 
LE100100094 
Dr Kira E Westaway, Dr Paul Hesse, A/Prof Damian B Gore, A/Prof Patricia C Fanning, Dr Kirstie A Fryirs, Dr Malcolm Choat, A/Prof Ian D Goodwin, Prof James Goff, Prof Charles G Skilbeck, Prof Michael J Morwood 
Single-grain optically-stimulated luminescence and dosimetry instruments to service the Sydney metropolitan and greater New South Wales region 
$110,000.00 
GEOLOGY 
Partner/Collaborating Organisation(s) 
NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW), The University of New England, The University of New South Wales, University of Technology, Sydney 
Project Summary 
This equipment will support projects that address significant environmental challenges in Australia, such as climate change and variability, coastal management and sustainable river and water management, and that assess the impacts and consequences of these challenges for populations living in environmentally sensitive areas. These projects will build on established collaborations in Australia, Antarctica and the south-west Pacific and encourage new collaborations with south-east Asian, Egyptian and Argentinean researchers, which will promote Australian research on a world stage. The use of this equipment will also pioneer new dating methodologies to further enhance Australia's place at the forefront of geochronology. 
 
Curtin University of Technology
LE100100127 
Prof Kliti Grice, A/Prof Daniel V Murphy, Dr Paul F Greenwood, A/Prof Anna Heitz, Dr Pauline F Grierson, Dr Francesco M Busetti, Dr David Wacey, Dr Deirdre Gleeson 
High resolution liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (Orbitrap) for analyses of polar compounds in biomass, petroleum, potable and reclaimed water 
$300,000.00 
GEOCHEMISTRY 
Partner/Collaborating Organisation(s) 
John de Laeter Centre for Mass Spectrometry , Water Corporation of WA, The University of Western Australia 
Project Summary 
Climate change and human impact can harm sensitive ecosystems, significantly threatening Australian biodiversity and water resources. Chemical and biological characterisation of aquatic and terrestrial environments is paramount to assessing and responding to these threats, as well as assisting natural resource utilisation. The high structural polarity of many environmentally occurring organics from biological, petroleum and anthropogenic sources, unamenable to gas chromatographic resolution, can now be accommodated by the advanced organic analytical technology sought in this proposal. This project will enable scholars and young professionals to be skilled in state-of-the-art technology, and prepare quality scientists, ready for employment. 
 
The University of Western Australia 
LE100100041
Dr Pauline F Grierson, Prof Gary A Kendrick, Dr Grzegorz D Skrzypek, Dr Jason B Fellman, Prof David M Bowman, Prof Kliti Grice, Prof Anya M Waite, Prof William D Stock, A/Prof Ray H Froend, Prof Paul S Lavery 
A high-resolution isotope facility for low cost analysis of  water, plant, and soil/sediment samples to understand  environmental change 
$100,000.00 
ECOLOGY 
Partner/Collaborating Organisation(s) 
John de Laeter Centre for Mass Spectrometry,Curtin University of Technology, Edith Cowan University, University of Tasmania 
Project Summary 
The most significant environmental challenges facing Australia include ensuring sustainable management of our water resources and conservation of both terrestrial and marine biodiversity,  particularly in the face of our changing climate and land-use.  The new instruments will accelerate progress across a number of projects aimed at understanding the development of groundwater resources, the relative dependency of ecosystems on groundwater versus soil and surface water, and an assessment of the likely impacts of altered hydrology, especially dewatering and salinisation, on ecosystems. In addition, they will also be used to extend our knowledge of climate variability in the recent past and increase understanding of critical marine resources. 
 
 
LE100100203 
Prof Malcolm T McCulloch, Prof Peter A Cawood, Prof Mervyn J Lynch, Prof Robert J Wasson, Prof Paul S Lavery, Prof Anya M Waite, Asst Prof Ryan J Lowe, Dr Matthew R Kilburn, Dr Julie A Trotter, A/Prof Peta L Clode, Asst Prof James Falter, Prof Neal J McNaughton, Dr Karl-Heinz Wyrwoll, A/Prof Lindsay B Collins, Prof Neil R Loneragan Prof Malcolm T McCulloch, Prof Peter A Cawood, Prof Mervyn J Lynch, Prof Robert J Wasson, Prof Paul S Lavery, Prof Anya M Waite, Asst Prof Ryan J Lowe, Dr Matthew R Kilburn, Dr Julie A Trotter, A/Prof Peta L Clode, Asst Prof James Falter, Prof Neal J McNaughton, Dr Karl-Heinz Wyrwoll, A/Prof Lindsay B Collins, Prof Neil R Loneragan 
Advanced Geochemical Facility for Climate and Environmental Change Research: a Western Australian/Indian Ocean focus 
$700,000.00 
OCEANOGRAPHY 
Partner/Collaborating Organisation(s) 
John de Laeter Centre for Mass Spectrometry, Charles Darwin University, Curtin University of Technology, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University 
Project Summary 
Research outcomes from this new facility will empower government bodies, resource industries, and indigenous stakeholders with key baseline information to ensure the sustainable and sensitive development of west Australia's unique coastal and offshore regions, across heavily populated and pristine environments. This includes projecting future impacts on local industries (eg. energy, fisheries, tourism), rising shorelines with critical implications for existing and developing communities, and enhancing the resilience of habitats at risk. These are crucial to mitigate the impacts from environmental change that could severely affect our regional and national economies, as well as the style and quality of life of current and future generations. 
 
The Australian National University
LE100100064 
Dr Yuri Amelin, Dr Victoria C Bennett, Dr Richard A Armstrong, Prof Ian Metcalfe, Dr Claudine H Stirling, Dr Michael K Gagan, Dr Marc D Norman, Prof Trevor R Ireland, Dr Anthony I Kemp, Prof Allan R Chivas, Prof Richard G Roberts, Prof Colin V Murray-Wallace, Dr D C "Bear" McPhail, Prof Mark E Barley, Prof Ian H Campbell, A/Prof Paul W Hoskin, Dr Tezer M Esat, Prof Raymond A Cas, Dr Kurt M Knesel, A/Prof Massimo Gasparon, Dr Anthony Dosseto,Dr Yuri Amelin, Dr Victoria C Bennett, Dr Richard A Armstrong, Prof Ian Metcalfe, Dr Claudine H Stirling, Dr Michael K Gagan, Dr Marc D Norman, Prof Trevor R Ireland, Dr Anthony I Kemp, Prof Allan R Chivas, Prof Richard G Roberts, Prof Colin V Murray-Wallace, Dr D C "Bear" McPhail, Prof Mark E Barley, Prof Ian H Campbell, A/Prof Paul W Hoskin, Dr Tezer M Esat, Prof Raymond A Cas, Dr Kurt M Knesel, A/Prof Massimo Gasparon, Dr Anthony Dosseto 
A facility for sensitive and precise isotopic dating of the earth's and extraterrestrial rocks 
$450,000.00 
GEOLOGY 
Partner/Collaborating Organisation(s) 
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Australian Scientific Instruments, University of Auckland James Cook University, The University of Queensland, The University of Western Australia, University of Wollongong 
Project Summary 
SPIDE2R will be a new generation mass spectrometer for very precise and sensitive dating and forensics applications in earth and planetary sciences, hydrology, climate studies, and nuclear and archaeological fingerprinting. The unprecedented sensitivity of this unique instrument will provide enhanced capabilities for solving long-standing problems requiring precise geological time resolution, as well as opening new areas of research. It will be the instrument of choice for analysing small, rare samples such as those returned by space missions.  The Australian-built high sensitivity source and ion detection systems can be retrofitted onto other mass spectrometers, opening a new area of commercialisation.