[Aqualist] ARC Success DPs, Centre of Excellence & LIEF

[Simon Haberle]

Dear Colleagues,

The ARC have recently announced the outcomes of 3 major grant schemes - DPs, CoEs and LIEF. Successful projects related to Quaternary research (including archaeology) are listed below, and as always, congratulations to those who were successful.

Overall, there where 9 DPs (totalling $4.2M), 2 CoEs (totalling $70M), and 1 LIEF (total $4.4M). This is a remarkable achievement and bodes well for the future of Quaternary research in our region.

It is also important to acknowledge the huge amount of effort and sacrifice of time that is required to submit these grants. To those who were not successful, thank you for continuing to generate great ideas and push the boundaries of our disciplines. Hopefully there will be future opportunities to fund the great work you are doing.

The successful projects are listed below in order of appearance on the ARC website https://rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/Download/Report/a3f6be6e-33f7-4fb5-98a6-7526aaa184cf/243.

Best wishes for 2023, Simon
__________________________

ARC DISCOVERY PROJECTS

Curtin University

DP230103085    Dr Martin Danisik; Professor Noreen Evans; Professor Dr Axel Schmitt; Professor Shanaka de Silva

Novel tools for dating explosive volcanic eruptions in the critical window.

This project will develop novel dating methods necessary for precise reconstruction of the eruption histories of super-volcanoes in the Asia-Pacific region over the last million years. The project outcomes will provide better models for predicting super-eruptions, thereby informing global climate change research, urban planning, and transport and telecommunications infrastructure engineering. Results will also improve existing volcanic risk models used by insurers to quantify volcanic risks and calculate expected losses from volcanic eruptions, and greatly improve our ability to use eruption deposits as time markers for important events in human evolution.
3705, $348,000.00


The University of Newcastle

DP230101868    Dr Danielle Verdon-Kidd; Professor Silvia Frisia; Dr Quan Hua; Associate Professor Francesco S.R. Pausata

A Holocene history of rainfall extremes for the South Pacific.

The project aims to generate the longest ever record of rainfall extremes in the Southern Hemisphere (11,700 years) that will be used to update probabilistic recurrence intervals and inform future risks in a warming world. We will apply a palaeoclimate approach to the science of extreme events by using proxy data from stalagmites to investigate natural rainfall variability during the Holocene. Combined with state of the art Global Climate Model simulations for three major climate events of the Holocene, we will identify mechanisms of long term shifts in heavy rainfall events. The project will provide significant benefits for Australia and the Pacific islands in terms of prediction and preparedness for deluges like we experienced in 2022.
3709, $438,904.00


Griffith University

DP230101273    Associate Professor Julien Louys; Professor Patrick Moss; Dr Gilbert Price; Dr Mathieu Duval; Dr Sebastian Breitenbach; Dr Ola Kwiecien

Human use of early tropical forest ecosystems.

This project aims to investigate the earliest records of tropical forests occupied by modern humans. This project expects to reconstruct ancient tropical ecosystems through time and in unprecedented detail by applying interdisciplinary methods including analyses of fossil mammals, carbonates, and pollen records. Expected outcomes of this project include novel ecological techniques of reconstructing the tropical forests that people first inhabited, and advancing our understanding of modern human behaviour, environmental adaptation, and past exploitation of key ecosystems. This should provide significant benefits such as better understanding of the long-term interaction between tropical forests, their faunas, and people.
3705, $582,031.00


University of Tasmania

DP230100226    Dr Martin Jutzeler; Dr Rebecca Carey; Associate Professor Stephen Gallagher; Assistant Professor Steffen Kutterolf; Professor Michael Manga; Dr Emily Lane; Professor Yusuke Yokoyama

Eruption dynamics and tsunami potential from submarine volcanoes.

This project is based on recently acquired seafloor samples and geophysical data from extraordinary deposits at a modern submarine volcano. This project aims to determine the conditions that lead to explosive eruption underwater, the dynamics of associated sediment flows, and if these events can trigger tsunami. Expected outcomes include an unprecedented reconstruction of the architecture of submarine caldera volcanoes, new innovative models applicable globally for a richer understanding of volcanic tsunami and eruptions that shape the seafloor. This project will provide significant benefits through mitigation of global marine natural hazards, and by improving knowledge on the volcanic hosts of ore deposits.
3705, $475,000.00


The University of Queensland

DP230102264    Professor Christopher Clarkson; Professor Veerle Rots; Professor Mark Collard

High-speed impact fractures and the global origins of projectile technology.

It is often argued that complex projectile technology emerged and spread out of Africa with Homo sapiens, but this hypothesis remains untested. Recent research shows certain tip fractures and usewear/residues on stone points may be diagnostic of high-speed projectile impacts, facilitating identification of early complex projectiles. This project aims to use controlled ballistic experiments to generate diagnostic markers of high-speed impacts, test these against ethnographic collections, and analyse archaeological points on four continents. The should provide significant benefits in understanding the origins of complex projectiles, their role in human dispersal, inter-species competition and reasons for early appearance in Australia.
4301, $441,909.00


University of Wollongong

DP230100577    Associate Professor Alexander Mackay; Professor Teresa Steele; Dr Lynne Quick; Assistant Professor Elizabeth Niespolo; Dr Mareike Stahlschmidt

The evolution of human innovation in an arid biodiversity hotspot.

This project will examine the archaeology and environmental history of South Africa’s Succulent Karoo, the world’s only arid biodiversity hotspot. Arid regions of Africa have historically been marginalised in accounts of human evolution yet recent evidence suggests that they were loci of innovation over the last 120 000 years. To explore the importance of such areas to the evolution of our adaptive capabilities, this project will produce comprehensive new datasets relating to the climatic, environmental, and social contexts of innovation among early humans occupying the site of Varsche Rivier 003. The results will test prevailing models of human behavioural evolution, shedding new light on how we came to be human.
4301, $550,107.00


Macquarie University

DP230100440    Associate Professor Kira Westaway; Dr Justyna Miszkiewicz; Professor Yingqi Zhang; Dr Patrick Roberts; Assistant Professor Katerina Douka

Dispersing myths; Characterising human migration through Asia.

The human journey across the globe is one of our greatest achievements, yet the archaeological evidence for the earliest migrations is poorly dated, plagued by uncertainty and often overlooked. This project aims to characterise the nature of early human dispersals across Asia en route to Australasia by going beyond the timing and identification of human evidence to explore their behaviour, health and adaptability. Reconsidering early migrations within their environmental context will allow an assessment of their feasibility and address the disparity between the genetic and physical evidence. By elucidating the story of the greatest human journey we will develop a new understanding and appreciation of our survival and adaption capabilities.
4301, 452,748.00


La Trobe University

DP230100152    Dr Matthew Meredith-Williams; Associate Professor Lee Arnold; Dr Mathieu Duval; Dr Ash Parton; Dr Yamandu Hilbert; Dr Roman Garba

Early desert settlement of Arabia following out-of-Africa human dispersals.

This project aims to improve our understanding of the nature, timing and climatic context of early human expansion into SW Asia, from a new extensive archaeological complex with associated palaeoenvironmental sequences on the Arabian Peninsula – a strategic out-of-Africa migratory corridor. It will combine innovative approaches in archaeology, geochronology and palaeoenvironmental research to evaluate the environmental and cultural adaptability of early desert settlement, providing critical new insights into globally significant human dispersal debates spanning multiple continents, including Australia. The aim is a fundamental new perspective on long-term human occupation dynamics of deserts and new understanding of regional dispersals.
4301, $347,437.00


The University of Melbourne

DP230100033    Dr Louise Shewan; Associate Professor Dougald O'Reilly; Dr John Webb; Professor Andrew May; Dr Jonathan Kemp; Dr Thonglith Luangkhoth; Dr Stefan Vollgger; Dr Rachel Wood; Dr Tilok Thakuria; Professor Tiatoshi Jamir; Mr John Fardoulis; Professor Sian Halcrow; Mr John Pollard; Dr David Barnes; Professor Thinethavone Soutphommasane; Associate Professor Kathryn Domett

Megalithic Connections: Imperilled Cultural Heritage in Laos and India.

This interdisciplinary project aims to document and explore the cultural connections between the geographically disparate megalithic cultures of Laos and India and create an enduring digital record of these threatened cultural assets. Integrating archaeological science and pioneering data capture technologies, the project will create globally significant new knowledge; advance heritage management processes including transferrable exploratory technologies; and help underpin economic, social and cultural benefit in these regions. With an increasing awareness of the need to conserve global cultural assets, Australia will take the lead in developing breakthrough technological solutions and new cross-country research and practitioner capability.
4301, $513,598.00


ARC CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Monash University

ARC Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century

CE230100012     Pdrofessor Christian Jakob; Professor Nerilie Abram; Professor Todd Lane; Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick; Professor Neil Holbrook; Professor Steven Sherwood; Dr Martin Singh; Professor Elizabeth Ritchie-Tyo; Professor Julie Arblaster; Associate Professor Shayne McGregor; Dr Ailie Gallant; Dr Claire Vincent; Dr Andrew King; Dr Josephine Brown; Professor Andrew Hogg; Professor Jason Evans; Professor Lisa Alexander; Associate Professor Andrea Taschetto; Associate Professor Paul Spence; Dr Charmaine Franklin; Dr Acacia Pepler; Dr Eun-Pa Lim; Dr Gilbert Brunet; Dr Simon Marsland; Dr Jaclyn Brown; Dr James Risbey; Dr Tilo Ziehn; Dr Jon Petch; Dr Benjamin Shipway; Ms Catherine Senior; Professor Dr Heini Wernli; Professor Dr Sonia Seneviratne; Dr Cathy Hohenegger; Professor Dr Bjorn Stevens; Associate Professor Adam Sobel; Dr Gretchen Mullendore; Dr Gerald Meehl; Professor Axel Timmermann; Professor Paul O'Gorman; Dr Robert Hallberg

This Centre aims to determine how Australia’s weather is being reshaped by climate change. Through a fusion of innovative analyses of observations and fundamental science advances, alongside the development of ultra-high resolution climate models, the Centre looks to address climate science’s grand challenge in anticipating the likely weather patterns of a warmer world. The Centre strives to transform climate research by focussing on what matters most to making critical adaptation and mitigation decisions – weather change. The Centre aspires to provide Australia with the knowledge, technology, and human capital for robust evidence-based decision-making in response to future weather changes in our region and to harness weather as a resource.

BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY; COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION; NATIONAL COMPUTATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE (ANU); ETH ZURICH; MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR METEOROLOGY; MET OFFICE, UK; GEOPHYSICAL FLUID DYNAMICS LABORATORY; NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH; MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY; COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, USA; IBS CENTER FOR CLIMATE PHYSICS; DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT LAND WATER AND PLANNING; DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT; DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT; WATER NSW; ENERGYAUSTRALIA PTY LTD; INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIMITED; GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS PTY LIMITED; DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU
3701, $35,000,000.00


James Cook University

ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures.

CE230100009     Professor Sean Ulm; Professor Lynette Russell; Associate Professor Michael-Shawn Fletcher; Professor Nicholas Nakata; Professor Michael Bird; Associate Professor Felecia Watkin Lui; Professor Darren Crayn; Associate Professor Alana Grech; Professor Ian McNiven; Dr Amy Prendergast; Professor Corey Bradshaw; Dr Christopher Wilson; Dr Frederik Saltre; Dr Raymond Tobler; Associate Professor Janelle Stevenson; Professor Simon Haberle; Professor Jason Sharples; Professor Alison Bashford; Professor Jo McDonald; Professor Peter Veth; Mr Gerald Turpin; Professor Kristofer Helgen; Dr Geraldine Mate; Dr Brit Asmussen; Dr Shannon Faulkhead; Mr Dermot Henry; Dr Pauline Treble; Mrs Patricia Gadd; Dr Vladimir Levchenko; Dr Matthew Leavesley; Adj A/Prof Michael Slack; Dr Alan Williams; Professor George Nicholas; Assistant Professor Stefani Crabtree

The proposed Centre aims to generate a new direction in knowledge creation based on Aboriginal- and Torres Strait Islander-led approaches to managing Land and Sea Country. The Centre expects to make a legacy contribution by developing complementary Indigenous and Western knowledge frameworks for modelling environmental, cultural, and historical change in Australia over the last millennium and into the near future. Expected outcomes focus on sustainable Indigenous land and sea management planning for future decades. Benefits include improved forecasting of the trajectory of environmental change, an increase in the capacity of Indigenous research, creation of a pipeline for Indigenous students into research, and evidence-based policy-making.

DAWUL WURU ABORIGINAL CORPORATION; MURUJUGA ABORIGINAL CORPORATION; GUNDITJ MIRRING TRADITIONAL OWNERS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION RNTBC; NGARRINDJERI ABORIGINAL CORPORATION RNTBC; GUJAGA FOUNDATION LIMITED; BUTCHULLA ABORIGINAL CORPORATION RNTBC; GUR A BARADHARAW KOD TORRES STRAIT SEA AND LAND COUNCIL TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CORPORATION; TAUNGURUNG LAND AND WATERS COUNCIL (ABORIGINAL CORPORATION); QUEENSLAND HERBARIUM; QUEENSLAND MUSEUM; AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM; MUSEUMS VICTORIA; WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM; SUMMER INTERNSHIP FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN GENOMICS - AUSTRALIA; COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION; AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION; BIOPLATFORMS AUSTRALIA LTD; TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH NETWORK (UQ); UNIVERSITY OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA; SCARP ARCHAEOLOGY PTY LTD; EMM CONSULTING PTY LIMITED; SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY ; SANTA FE INSTITUTE, USA
4501, $35,000,000.00


LIEF

The Australian National University

Australian Membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program 2023-24

LE230100044     Professor Eelco Rohling; Associate Professor Helen Bostock; Associate Professor Nathan Daczko; Professor Carmen Gaina; Professor Kliti Grice; Dr Richard Jones; Dr Agathe Lisé-Pronovost; Professor Helen McGregor; Dr Michael O'Leary; Professor Iain Suthers; Dr Jonathan Tyler; Professor Jody Webster; Associate Professor Joanne Whittaker; Dr David Robinson

This proposal is for a 2 year membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), the world’s largest collaborative research program in Earth and ocean sciences. IODP membership delivers access to global-ranging research infrastructure that provides unique enabling capabilities to explore, sample and monitor geological and biological activity deep beneath the seafloor. The IODP facilitates research into past global environmental change on multiple time scales, the deep biosphere, plate tectonics, formation and distribution of resources, and generation of hazards. This research addresses multiple national science and research priorities, and underpins future societal and economic prosperity.
3705, $4,378,196.00



Prof Simon Haberle
Director, School of Culture, History & Language
Professor of Natural History & Palaeoecology

ANU College of Asia & the Pacific
Coombs Building (Rm 3.378), Fellows Rd
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 2600
+61 2 6125 5125 (ph)  0424453861 (mob)