New research centres that bring together leading experts to tackle ocean sustainability, transform prisoner reintegration, study human origins, build security and trust in the quantum era and develop renewable fuels have received Federal funding.
Researchers from The University of Western Australia are collaborating partners for five new centres, announced as part of the Australian Research Council's Centres of Excellence scheme, which are expected to have an estimated research income of $18.6 million for the University.
Professor Anna Nowak, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), said the centres would drive breakthroughs that shape Australia's future.
"Congratulations to our exceptional UWA researchers on their successful applications and their contributions to advancing world-leading research," Professor Nowak said.
"This is a remarkable achievement that highlights our research excellence, strong national collaborations and international standing."
Professor Nicole Jones, Dr Matt Rayson, Professor Ryan Lowe and Associate Professor Jeff Hansen, from UWA's School of Earth and Oceans, will collaborate with researchers as part of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Our Future Oceans, led by the University of New South Wales.
The centre will determine how our oceans are changing – now and into the future – and develop solutions to support ocean sustainability and a thriving blue economy.
Professor Michael Johns, Professor Eric May and Associate Professor Paul Stanwix, from UWA's School of Engineering, will collaborate with researchers as part of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Renewable Fuels led by the University of Wollongong.
The centre will leverage fundamental science to develop next-generation technologies and associated supply chains in order to expand the Australian renewable fuels industry.
Professor Paul Flatau, from UWA's Centre for Social Impact, Professor David Preen, from UWA's School of Population and Global Health, and Professor Hilde Tubex and Adjunct Professor Victoria Hovane, from UWA's Law School, will collaborate with researchers for the ARC Centre of Excellence Prisoner Reintegration, led by Flinders University.
Using a strengths-based, First Nations and industry-led approach, the centre aims to fundamentally transform how prisoner reintegration is envisioned and achieved at scale.
Associate Professor Martin Porr and Dr Gretchen Stolte, from UWA's School of Social Sciences, will collaborate with researchers for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Transforming Human Origins Research, led by Griffith University.
The centre aims to transform our understanding of why and how Homo sapiens are the only surviving humans on our planet, and to address how we became a versatile, global species, resilient to profound environmental changes over the past 300,000 years.
Professor Michael Small, from UWA's School of Physics, Mathematics and Computing, will collaborate with researchers for the ARC Centre of Excellence in Mathematics for Quantum Era Security and Trust led by Sydney University.
The centre intends to build critical expertise to protect against the anticipated breakdown of cybersecurity protocols on quantum computers and build trust in artificial intelligence.
