Fifty-four UNSW projects across seven faculties will advance bold ideas, foster collaboration and deliver long-term national benefits.
UNSW Sydney researchers have secured more than $35 million from the Australian Research Council (ARC) for 54 Discovery Projects that will generate knowledge and deliver cultural, social and economic benefits for Australia.
Academics from the faculties of Science, Engineering, Medicine & Health, Law & Justice, Business, as well as the faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture, and UNSW Canberra, will lead projects spanning fields from clean energy and health to law, history and social policy.
Professor Bronwyn Fox, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise at UNSW, congratulated the academics who received funding.
"These ARC Discovery Projects showcase the strength and breadth of research at UNSW. Professor Rose Amal's work converting methane into useful chemicals using solar energy and Professor Angela Nickerson's research to better understand and support refugees displaced by war and persecution are two examples of UNSW researchers advancing discovery to benefit society," Prof. Fox said.
Some of the successful applicants include:
Professor Andrew Neely from UNSW Canberra has received $1,084,000 to develop new methods to test how high-speed aircraft respond under extreme conditions. The project will study how heat, air pressure and structural forces interact at high speeds, which can affect an aircraft's strength, shape and performance. By improving the ability to predict these effects, the researchers will help design safer, more efficient and more cost-effective aerospace vehicles, supporting innovation in Australia's defence and aerospace industries.
Professor Kathryn Bowrey from UNSW Law & Justice, Associate Professor Oliver Bown from UNSW Arts, Design and Architecture, Dr Marie Hadley from the University of Newcastle and Dr Louise Buckingham, CEO, Arts Law Centre of Australia, have received $814,000 for a project examining how the rise of generative AI and digital platforms is affecting artists' rights and livelihoods. The research will explore how licensing terms in the tools and apps used by visual artists shape the way their work is used in AI systems and online markets. By analysing artists' experiences and the legal frameworks behind these technologies, the project aims to develop recommendations that promote fairer industry practices, stronger legal protections and better support for artists in the digital age.
Professor Rose Amal, Dr Denny Gunawan, Associate Professor Vidhyasaharan Sethu and Professor Guan Yeoh from UNSW Engineering have received $739,000 for a project that aims to develop new technology using solar energy to convert methane into useful chemicals such as methanol. By designing advanced photocatalysts at the atomic level and testing them in larger systems, the team aims to make this process more efficient, stable and environmentally friendly. The research could significantly reduce methane emissions while supporting cleaner, more sustainable energy and chemical production.
Dr Vaishnavi Ananthanarayanan and Dr Gregory Redpath from UNSW Medicine & Health have received $788,000 to study how cells control the signals that keep them functioning and alive. Their research will focus on understanding how tiny motor proteins move receptors within cells to start, stop or adjust these signals. By uncovering how these movements are regulated, and developing a mathematical model to predict them, the project will provide new insights into how cells communicate, paving the way for future treatments that target diseases linked to faulty cell signalling.
Professor Angela Nickerson from UNSW Science has received $660,000 to study the experiences of refugees living in different circumstances, from those with secure residency in Australia to those with uncertain status both in Australia and Indonesia. The research will follow participants over time to understand how environmental, psychological and social factors shape their wellbeing and adjustment. The findings will help inform more effective policies and programs to support refugees to rebuild their lives and thrive in their new communities.
Professor Danielle Logue from the Centre for Social Impact and the UNSW Business School and Professor Hokyu Hwang, Dr Yi Zhao and Associate Professor Melissa Edwards have received $523,000 to study how communities can attract and manage investment that supports sustainable and inclusive local economies. The project will examine how government, business and philanthropic funding can be combined to deliver long-term social and economic benefits. By analysing real-world examples of place-based investment, Prof. Logue's team aims to identify the organisational and governance models that help communities build lasting 'civic wealth' and ensure local people are active participants in their economic future.
Professor Ruth Balint from UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture has received $346,000 to explore the little-known history of Jewish pearl merchants and traders in Broome during the early 20th century. The project will uncover stories of migration and global trade, revealing how Jewish traders helped connect Australia's pearling industry to international markets. Through archival research in Australia and Europe, the study will shed new light on Australia's migration, colonial trade and maritime histories, with outcomes including a book, academic papers, a PhD project and a public Storymap website.
The $35 million in grants to UNSW are part of the more than $370 million in funding announced by ARC for 520 new projects.
Discovery Projects, a flagship scheme for fundamental research and the largest scheme under the ARC National Competitive Grants Program, provides between $30,000 and $500,000 in funding each year for up to five consecutive years.
Read about all the ARC Discovery Projects in this round here .
