The University of Tasmania has secured more than $4.8 million in new Australian Research Council (ARC) funding to advance discovery science and strengthen research partnerships across Australia.
Five ARC Discovery Projects and one ARC Linkage Project will support research into Antarctic ice, ocean chemistry, animal behaviour, peaty soils, medicinal chemistry, and sustainable manufacturing.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Anthony Koutoulis said the funding recognised the depth and range of Tasmanian research.
"These research projects address urgent global issues," Professor Koutoulis said.
"With each project based in Tasmania, we contribute to global knowledge and technologies that deepen our understanding of how the planet is changing, how we must respond, and how new technologies can deliver real benefits for society.
"These grants signify the calibre of research taking place at our University, and I congratulate all the successful research teams."
The University's funded ARC Discovery Projects are:
Protecting the peaty soils that store Australia's water
Peaty soils in Australia's high-country act like natural sponges, storing and filtering water that supports rivers and ecosystems. These fragile environments are under pressure from climate change and land use. This project, working with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy and in Kosciuszko National Park, will study how plants, carbon and water interact in these systems and test simple ways to protect them. The work will help improve water security and support the resilience of these vital landscapes.
- Research team: Professor Mark Hovenden, with Professor Adrienne Nicotra, Associate Professor Duanne White and Dr Elizabeth Wandrag
- Funding: $1,188,459 over 4 years
Understanding past ice loss to predict future sea-level rise
The project will study how sensitive the Antarctic Ice Sheet is to warmer climates by studying geological archives from East Antarctica's Aurora Subglacial Basin. By combining geological data with new modelling capabilities, researchers will learn how the ice sheet responded to conditions similar to those expected later this century. The results will support improved predictions of future ice loss and its impact on sea levels worldwide.
- Research team: Associate Professor Jacqueline Halpin, with Dr Taryn Noble, Associate Professor Alan Aitken, Dr Jacob Mulder and Dr Katharina Hochmuth
- Funding: $859,029 over 3 years
Unlocking how iron shapes ocean life and climate
Tiny ocean plants called phytoplankton form the foundation of marine life and help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Their growth depends on small amounts of iron in seawater, but many questions remain about how iron is delivered and how marine plants access it in the ocean. This project will combine lab work, field studies and modelling to understand these processes and how they affect ocean productivity and climate.
- Research team: Professor Andrew Bowie, with Dr Thomas Holmes, Professor Delphine Lannuzel, Dr Robert Strzepek, Dr Randelle Bundy and Professor Alessandro Tagliabue
- Funding: $837,168 over 3 years
Building better medicines through chemistry
This project will establish new ways to make complex molecules more quickly and efficiently. By designing new metal catalysts, the team will invent chemical reactions that can build a wide range of structures found in many medicines and natural compounds. By studying how these reactions work, researchers aim to make the development and discovery of life-saving drugs more cost-effective and sustainable.
- Research team: Professor Alexander Bissember, Dr Curtis Ho and Professor Debabrata Maiti (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay)
- Funding: $811,541 over 3 years
Tracing the origins of family life in animals
Family life lies at the heart of human society, yet its evolutionary origins remain a mystery. This project will explore how family living first evolved by focusing on a unique group of Australian social lizards where parents and offspring live together in simple family groups. By investigating the molecular mechanisms that underpin parenting, the research will reveal how animals transition from solitary living to forming families. The team will then explore whether similar molecular mechanisms have shaped the evolution of family life across lizard species worldwide.
- Research team: Associate Professor Geoffrey While, with Associate Professor Camilla Whittington, Professor Martin Whiting, Dr Nathalie Feiner and Professor Tobias Uller
- Funding: $768,654 over 3 years
New ARC Linkage Project to advance sustainable manufacturing
In addition to the five Discovery Projects, the University also received funding under the ARC's Linkage Projects scheme, which supports research partnerships between universities, industry, government and the community.
This project will develop new 3D-printed materials to help scientists and industry extract important proteins and natural compounds more efficiently. The team will test the materials in real-world cases, such as isolating proteins from milk and compounds produced through precision fermentation. The research aims to create faster, more sustainable ways to produce these valuable substances.
- Research team: Professor Brett Paull, Dr Estrella Sanz Rodriguez, Dr Vipul Gupta, Professor Nick Birbilis, Dr Sonja Kukuljan, Dr Nuwan Vithanage and Mr Thomas Dickins
- Funding: $388,508 over 4 years
The funded projects reflect the ARC's commitment to research excellence with real-world impact across economic, social, environmental and cultural fields, while helping to train the next generation of research leaders and strengthen Australia's global research standing.
