ARC projects will close key knowledge gaps, driving positive change for families, industries and the environment
The University of Wollongong (UOW) has been awarded more than $2.6 million in funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) to implement research projects that will address critical knowledge gaps across a diverse range of areas, including childhood development and social media, cybersecurity and coastal environments.
Professor Kerrylee Rogers, Associate Professor Sarah Hamylton, and Professor Barbara Bollard won ARC Linkage, Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities scheme funding to lead a multidisciplinary collaboration to map Australia's coastlines in unprecedented detail, using advanced green laser LiDAR technology and drones.
The $650,000 project will fill major gaps in our knowledge about shallow coastal waters by surveying hard-to-reach areas, such as beaches and estuaries. This will help scientists model how coastlines change over time due to storms, climate change and rising sea levels.
Four UOW researchers – Dr Tiffani Apps, Dr Zhiguang Zhang, Dr Yudi Zhang and Dr Lei Yuan – were awarded a collective $2 million through the ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) fellowship scheme.
Dr Apps, from the School of Education, will explore how Australian families use social media and how that affects children aged 8 to 17. With new laws restricting access to some social media platforms for children under 16, the study will give governments, families and communities clear evidence and practical tools to help create safer, age-appropriate online experiences for young people.
Dr Zhiguang Zhang, from the School of Education, will research ways to help families by developing practical, evidence-based tools to improve children's sleep and overall wellbeing. Healthy sleep is essential for growth and learning, yet one in three Australian preschoolers don't get enough. The results will be shared through free online resources on the ARC Digital Child website and through updated national guidelines developed with government agencies.
Dr Yudi Zhang, from the School of Computing and Information Technology, will lead a project to strengthen Australia's cyber defences by developing new ways to protect online privacy and data. The work supports national cyber security strategies, helping position Australia as a global leader in cloud security innovation and resilience against cybercrime.
Dr Yuan, from the School of Mechanical, Materials, Mechatronic and Biomedical Engineering, will investigate how metal 3D printing can transform Australia's advanced manufacturing and help build a resilient, technology-driven economy. His research aims to improve the quality and sustainability of metal 3D printing, driving innovation and competitiveness in industry nationally.
