$3.9 million in funding for ARC Linkage Projects

ARC Chief Executive Officer, Ms Judi Zielke PSM announced 57 successful innovative research projects totaling more than $28 million awarded under the ARC Linkage Projects scheme for 2022. 

Seven University of Sydney research teams have secured over $3.9 million in project funding to explore innovative approaches in developing resilient supply chains and reconnecting Warlpiri communities with their ancestral documentation and cultural recordings.  

Linkage Projects support academics to work with government and industry partners to tackle complex problems and fast-track solutions to benefit end users. Sydney researchers will join forces with high-profile industry partners on projects, including research in collaboration with Qantas Airways focused on developing strategies to mitigate jetlag and improve alertness and sleep for ultra-long-haul flights.

Successful Linkages projects

Reconnecting Warlpiri Communities with Cultural Heritage:

Led by Dr. Georgia Curran and a team of esteemed researchers, this project aims to reconnect Warlpiri communities with past documentation and recordings of their cultural heritage. The project, centered in Yuendumu, seeks to understand the significance of cultural heritage documentation for present-day Warlpiri people who live in different social contexts from their ancestors. Working alongside the Warlpiri families and the Pintupi Anmatyerr Warlpiri (PAW) Media and Communications, the project will engage with cultural materials and create resources for future generations. Funding awarded: $255,192 


Developing Safe Emulsion Explosives for Deep-Level Ore Mines:

Associate Professor Brian Hawkett and his team, in collaboration with Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Limited, are working on developing a new class of emulsion explosives. These explosives will be designed to withstand the hot and reactive rock conditions found in very deep-level ore mines. By preventing premature detonation or deflagration caused by the reaction between the emulsion and the rocks, the project aims to increase the volume of safely extractable deep-level ore, generating more jobs and economic benefits. Funding awarded: $745,310.


Advancing Oxytocin Receptor Research:

Led by Professor Michael Kassiou, this project focuses on developing a positron emission tomography (PET) ligand for the oxytocin receptor. The novel platform will enable researchers to explore the role of the oxytocin receptor in social behavior and quality of life. The University of Sydney's expertise in oxytocin receptor research and PET ligand development uniquely positions them to generate this technology. This project is significant for Australian startup Kinoxis Therapeutics, as it will enable the progress of their molecules to market. Funding awarded: $723,641.


Paving the way for ultra-long haul flights: strategies to mitigate jetlag:

Dr Svetlana Postnova and team from the Charles Perkins Centre, in collaboration with Qantas Airways Limited, aim to develop and test strategies to mitigate jetlag using biophysical modelling of circadian rhythms. The project aims to quantify the speed of adaptation after transmeridian travel and optimise the timing of light exposure, food, and exercise to minimise jetlag. Building on earlier work undertaken in 2019 with the Project Sunrise research flights, the outcomes of this research will inform Qantas's operations for ultra-long-haul flights and improve travellers’ alertness, sleep, and safety. Funding awarded: $790,276

Digital Labour, Australian Women Authors, and Public Persona-Building: 

Associate Professor Anthea Taylor and her team will generate new knowledge about the role of digital media in promoting women authors. This project's findings will be of use to authors, publishers, cultural policy makers and funding bodies to help better support these vital cultural workers in their digital media usage. Funding awarded: $214,900.


A Data-Centric Mobile Edge Platform for Resilient Logistics & Supply Chain:

Dr Dong Yuan and his team will develop a secure mobile edge computing platform for resilient logistic and supply chain management. The computing platform will enable businesses to realise low latency, high reliability, low cost, and high security in their logistics and supply chain system, with the intelligent business applications applicable across industries from manufacturing to media. Funding awarded: $713,000 


Self-supervised feature learning for rapid processing of marine imagery:

Professor Stefan Williams and his team will lead a project focused on improving quantitative estimates of marine environmental health. The need for fast and reliable assessments of the marine environment is crucial for scientific studies, design and management of protected areas, and regulatory compliance of industrial activities in the ocean. The project aims to develop self-supervised techniques that leverage large amounts of unlabelled data to enhance the performance of image classification and analysis. The outcomes of this project will advance the field of marine environmental health assessment, providing researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders with more accurate and efficient tools for monitoring and managing marine ecosystems.
Funding awarded: $478,994

View a summary of all successful ARC Linkage Projects 2022 for round 2.