Discovery research sits at the heart of scientific inquiry in our Faculty, where our researchers push the boundaries of scientific knowledge by addressing profound questions about the universe, our planet, and life itself. Our researchers explore cosmic phenomena such as black holes and dark matter, driving advancement in technologies ranging satellite navigation and medical imaging.
Investigations into the Earth's systems, climate interactions and evolutionary biology inform conservation strategies and sustainability efforts, while our work in molecular science and complex systems unravels the foundations of next-generation materials, renewable energy, and ecological networks.
Our work in brain and behavioural sciences deepens our understanding of memory, decision-making and the biological basis of psychological disorders, while our work in the history and philosophy of science contextualises scientific discoveries and their broader implications.
Through innovative science education research, citizen science and engagement programs, our researchers foster scientific literacy and develop future generations of scientists. Our comprehensive approach to discovery research continues to unlock and enrich our understanding of our world and our place within it.
Our research spans nine strengths across multidisciplinary research
Vast regions of the Universe are still a mystery: black holes, supernovae, and ancient galaxies can help us understand the 14-billion-year history of the universe. Our astronomy, physics, mathematics, and chemistry research allows us to explore these cosmic phenomena, while advances in astrophotonics and gravitational wave detection expand our powers of observation. Our discoveries have advanced knowledge of galaxy formation, stellar evolution, and cosmic magnetic fields and found practical applications in satellite navigation, data transmission, and medical imaging.
Our research aims to uncover the fundamental laws of nature and the building blocks of the universe. This includes discovering new particles, the substance of the enigmatic dark matter, the origin of matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe, and, more generally, understanding complex physical systems from sub-atomic to cosmic scales. We undertake research on the mathematical theories underlying these discoveries, including in dynamical systems, representation theory, geometry and topology. Breakthroughs in this field advance our understanding of basic science and the universe around us, and have applications in advanced technologies, medicine, veterinary science and data science.
Our research focuses on the dynamic interactions between the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere, exploring how these processes shape climate, natural resources, and the diversity and evolution of life. We investigate planetary functioning, including tectonic and geodynamic evolution, to understand how Earth’s processes shape landscapes, seascapes, and ecosystems that sustain life.
By integrating fields such as geology, soil science, evolutionary biology, agricultural and environmental science, our work deepens understanding of climate change, informs both rural and urban planning, and supports the sustainable management of critical resources. Additionally, our research fosters biodiversity and advances nature-positive initiatives, ultimately contributing to global wellbeing and ensuring the long-term health of our planet.
Research in this area aims to understand life and evolution across scales, and our interactions with life in water, land, and air. Our researchers seek to understand how individual molecules influence gene expression, the behaviour and evolution of microbes, how cells coordinate to create complex organisms, patterns of organismal evolution, and species interactions across ecosystems and human use of these systems.
Our discoveries enhance our knowledge in agriculture, biochemistry, microbiology, molecular and cell biology, marine systems, genetics, ecology, evolution and veterinary science.
These discoveries have resulted in improved food production, development of sustainable practices, enhanced understanding of marine systems, new strategies for biodiversity conservation, enhanced human and environmental health, highlighting the central importance of basic life science research and how it can be applied for the benefit of all life on Earth.
Scientific discoveries both drive and emerge from historical, philosophical and social contexts. Understanding the history and philosophy of Science allows our researchers to observe how scientific knowledge has developed over time and the wider implications of scientific discoveries, both in terms of what they can say about our world and our place in it. This interdisciplinary field enriches our understanding of contemporary scientific practices and their societal implications, contributing to fields including science communication, bioethics, public policy, and education.
Capitalising on our strengths in condensed matter theory, chemistry, and molecular genetics, our researchers predict, model, design and create new functional molecules and materials. They then explore their properties, providing an increased understanding of how to tune structure for a bespoke function and laying the foundations of next-generation electronics, catalysis, nanotechnology, medical and energy applications. Our interdisciplinary focus intertwines biology, chemistry, and physics, leading to discoveries that underpin new industries from advanced manufacturing to biotechnology through to renewable energy.
Beyond building skills and understanding for the next generation of scientists, our research in cultivating capability contributes to improved scientific literacy for local and global communities. Our researchers investigate science literacy, student engagement, and public participation in science, developing methods that democratise knowledge by making science more accessible.
We also explore open-source drug discovery and outreach projects, empowering communities to engage in scientific research, and examining science's cultural, social, and ethical contexts through the examining the history and philosophy of science. With a large and dedicated team of education-focussed academics, we are also developing innovative best practices and methodologies for improving how we teach science, especially in tertiary education.
Complex systems is an approach to science that observes how relationships between parts contribute to the behaviours of a system, and how that system interacts with its environment. Systems are considered complex when their dynamics cannot be easily predicted or explained as a linear summation of the behaviours of their parts.
Through disciplines spanning physics, mathematics, biology, and computer science, our researchers explore complex systems in ecological, social, biological and technological settings, involving systems ranging fluid dynamics, cell signal transduction, the brain, and even socio-ecological networks. Discoveries in complex systems often help determine research questions in more applied fields and ultimately improve our ability to forecast and manage system changes, from the cellular level to complex environmental crises.
Our research aims to understand fundamental mechanisms of thinking and behaviour and how developmental and social contexts shape human behaviour. Cognitive psychology explores complex forms of human thinking including memory, decision-making, and problem-solving. Developmental psychology explores psychological changes across the lifespan, while health psychology studies the promotion of wellness and adjustment to illness. Neuroscience investigates the biological basis of psychological disorders, and social psychology focuses on how interpersonal interactions shape behaviour. Our biophysical modelling of the brain complements the experimental research and tackles the questions of information processing, effects of sleep and circadian rhythms on cognition, and brain changes with age. Our research is paving the way towards a better understanding of the human brain in all its complexity, which informs our models of the world and how we operate within it.
