Bioplatforms Australia drives cancer cures across the nation
Australia is a global leader in cancer genomics research and translation, driving improved survival rates in children and adults. Bioplatforms Australia provides national genomics and bioinformatics infrastructure supporting collaborative programs that convert genomic data into actionable clinical insights across melanoma, paediatric and adult cancers, including the following national initiatives: The Australian Melanoma Genome Project, co-led […]
Astronomy Australia Ltd (AAL)
Astronomy Australia Ltd (AAL) is an NCRIS funded program which was established for the purpose of liaising with the Australian astronomical community and managing investments in world-class astronomy infrastructure to enable Australia to continue to perform high-impact research and develop cutting-edge technologies. AAL, a not-for-profit company, directs NCRIS funding toward a variety of projects/facilities as guided by the AAL Board of Directors and its Advisory Committees. These bodies assess all current and future investments based on how they align with the criteria set out by the Decadal plan for Australian astronomy (2016-2025).
Atlas of Living Australia (ALA)
The ALA is Australia’s national biodiversity data infrastructure. It allows researchers, decision makers and the community to contribute, access and analyse data on Australia’s plants, animals and fungi. The ALA also supports international research as the Australian node of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
Australian Access Federation (AAF)
The Australian Access Federation (AAF) is Australia’s leading provider of identity and access management services to the education and research sector. We make it easy for people to securely access education and research services nationally and internationally, by providing single sign-on. It allows individuals from different organisations to collaborate and access online resources within a trusted environment.
Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF)
ANFF owns and provides access to micro and nanofabrication capabilities for Australia’s researchers and industry. We can assist in both the development of new products and improvements to current production methods. Each Node provides expertise in a specific area, including advanced materials, nanoelectronics & photonics and nano-bio applications. The ANFF commitment to providing a world-class, open-access user facility is underpinned by the sharing of best practice in service provision across the network.
Australian Plant Phenomics Network (APPN)
The Australian Plant Phenomics Network (APPN) delivers national research infrastructure and expertise to accelerate the development of improved crops for sustainable agriculture and food security in a changing climate.
Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC)
The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) provides Australian researchers with competitive advantage through data. It accelerates research and innovation by driving excellence in the creation, analysis and retention of high-quality data assets. The ARDC is enabled by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). NCRIS is a national network of world-class research infrastructure projects that support high-quality research that will drive greater innovation in the Australian research sector and the economy more broadly.
Marine National Facility (MNF)
From ice edge to equator, the Marine National Facility (MNF) is Australia’s dedicated ocean research capability which enables world-leading research to increase our understanding of Australia’s vast and valuable marine environment. The MNF is funded by the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and operated by CSIRO on behalf of the nation.
The unseen engine
How Australia’s investment in research and infrastructure is forging global quantum leadership Over the past 20 years, Australia has quietly secured a position at the forefront of the quantum revolution. Not only are we building some of the world’s first commercial quantum computers but quantum science is being employed in a new generation of sensors, […]
National Computational Infrastructure (NCI)
The National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) is Australia’s one of two Tier-1 high-performance data, storage and computing organisations, providing expert services to benefit all domains of science, government and industry.
Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre (Pawsey)
Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre is home of Setonix, Australia’s fastest and most energy-efficient supercomputer, delivering the nation’s most advanced AI research infrastructure through massive GPU power.
Our integrated platform combines cutting-edge GPU acceleration with AI frameworks, real-time analytics, and advanced remote visualisation services and expertise. This gives researchers nationwide access to the scale, speed and expertise needed to accelerate discovery and innovation across every field, from climate modelling and drug discovery to quantum research and astronomy.
Southern Coastal Research Vessel Fleet (Coastal Vessels)
The Southern Coastal Research Vessel Fleet has been established to coordinate vessel use and provide better access to coastal research vessels in Southern Australia. This includes competitive access to fully funded grants of sea time onboard southern coastal research vessels and support for a replacement vessel to upgrade the aging fleet to provide the marine research community with access to contemporary coastal research infrastructure.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN)
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network is an NCRIS funded program. NCRIS is a national network of world-class research infrastructure projects that support high-quality research that will drive greater innovation in the Australian research sector and the economy more broadly.
AARNet
AARNet is Australia’s national research and education network, a not-for-profit organisation equally owned by 38 Australian universities and CSIRO. AARNet provides essential high-speed internet and advanced network services tailored to meet the specialised needs of researchers in Australia.
Ocean information behind the Sydney to Hobart
How IMOS data powers an optimised race strategy. As crews prepare to launch into one of the world’s most challenging ocean races, a group of oceanographers are also at work to help competitors optimise their route. IMOS provides data that delivers crucial oceanographic insights, including information about currents along the race route. Drawing on a […]
EMBL Australia PhD Course celebrates 10 years of training Australia’s future research leaders
More than 60 PhD students from across the country came together in Adelaide for the 10th EMBL Australia PhD Course – a unique, two-week residential program designed to equip emerging researchers with the skills and confidence needed for modern scientific careers. Co-hosted with the South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI), this year’s course focused on future-ready […]
Australia’s climate future: new ACCESS model goes global
Australia’s latest climate model, called ACCESS-ESM1.6, is ready to enter the global stage through the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP7), which will inform the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. Climate change will shape everything about life in Australia – from the homes we live in and the food we grow to the […]
ACCESS models help to unveil the causes of the unprecedented 2023 North Atlantic Ocean heatwave
A paper published recently in Nature using two ACCESS models, has revealed the drivers of a marine heatwave that swept across the North Atlantic Ocean during the summer of 2023, causing severe impacts on climate and ecosystems. “The intensity of the warming in that single summer was equivalent to about two decades worth of warming for the […]
Ten years on the radar: How Australian infrastructure is supporting space agencies around the world
Over ten years ago, a curious network of triangular aluminium structures was erected across the quiet paddocks of Queensland’s Darling Downs region. Scattered amongst grazing livestock, these radar corner reflectors sit idly, without using power, collecting data or transmitting signals. But despite their seemingly simple design, these metal structures play a critical role in Earth […]
Strengthening international research relations and showcasing Australian capability
Driving global collaboration through the Prato 2025 Health Research Infrastructure Symposium The 2025 Australian & European Health Research Infrastructure Symposium, held from 16-18 September at the Monash University Prato Centre in Italy, united leaders from major Australian and European research infrastructures to strengthen international partnerships and tackle shared challenges in health and life sciences. The three-day […]
AuScope in Antarctica: unlocking climate-response secrets hidden beneath the ice
Antarctica holds clues about how our planet is responding to climate change, and what that means for our future. AuScope is helping Australian researchers uncover critical new knowledge, by building and deploying polar-rated instrument sets that can withstand Antarctic extremes, drilling deep beneath the ice to retrieve ancient sediments, and developing software for modelling how […]
ACCESS-NRI joins the international Momentum partnership to advance climate and weather prediction
Australia’s climate simulator, ACCESS-NRI is thrilled to announce its participation in the Momentum Partnership, joining an international collaboration that develops world-leading modelling frameworks for weather and climate science. The Momentum Partnership includes access to the UK Met Office’s Unified Model (UM Model), which is the atmosphere component of the ACCESS framework. ACCESS-NRI’s partner collaborators, CSIRO and the […]
MAB: advancing bioimaging through collaboration and innovation
EMBL Australia Group Leader Dr Senthil Arumugam, along with Dr Toby Bell and Dr Kate McArthur, recently launched the Monash BDI Advanced Bioimaging (MAB) platform – a researcher-led, global collaboration hub designed to bring innovative microscopy technologies directly to the researchers who need them. From light-sheet imaging to custom-built microscopes and large-scale data visualisation, MAB integrates experimental […]
A software time dial for the paleoclimate community
The ACCESS-NRI team has added a “time dial” into the Earth System Model (EM1.5) that allows paleoclimate researchers to match the right value of Earth’s orbit around the Sun during different past climates. The ACCESS Earth System Model 1.5 (ACCESS-ESM1.5) is used by the paleoclimate community to understand the climate of the Earth from thousands […]
Research Impact: Geospatial Factors Applied to Road Accidents
Road accidents are a major source of trauma worldwide. Over 1.3 million people are killed in road accidents annually, and collisions are a leading cause of death and injury across all age groups. Aside from the human cost of road accidents, there is a significant financial toll. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention […]
TRI boosts medical research efficiency with FileSender
The Translational Research Institute’s integration of FileSender enables fast and secure data sharing, streamlining collaboration for vital medical research. The Translational Research Institute (TRI) is at the forefront of medical research, supporting diverse research projects that produce crucial data to further our understanding of complex diseases. The institute plays a key role in studies spanning cancer biology, […]
Binar CubeSats pioneer radiation detection technology
CubeSats – small satellites roughly 10cm in size – punch above their weight when it comes to space research. Their low weight and affordable components make space research cheaper and more accessible, and they are especially popular for Australian research institutions. The Binar Space Program, based at Western Australia’s Curtin University, specialises in CubeSats running […]
Powerful software reveals brain superhighway ‘tracts’ for surgery and research
Our brains work a bit like highly advanced supercomputers, with bundles of white matter, known as ‘tracts,’ acting as superhighways that facilitate information flow and enable various brain functions. Injuries and disturbances in these tracts are linked to numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, imaging these white matter tracts is challenging. These tracts are made […]
Streamlining remote sensing data transfers for environmental research
FileSender addresses the challenge of moving large datasets around for researchers participating in the Joint Remote Sensing Research Program. For environmental researchers, the volume of data generated by remote sensing technologies can be massive and challenging to manage. The Joint Remote Sensing Research Program (JRSRP) is a leader in this field, involving experts from academia […]
Enabling research and innovation to address climate change through trust and identity
Understanding the usage of Australia’s critical climate change modelling software through user reporting, will inform the future of this service. ACCESS-NRI, Australia’s Climate Simulator, is the national critical research infrastructure that provides software engineering support for Earth system and climate research. Standing for the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator – ACCESS – is […]
Unlocking the power of Australia’s Tier 1 supercomputer
Through a national framework for trusted identity, accessing one of Australia’s Tier 1 supercomputers will become easier. The Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre (Pawsey) is one of two Tier-1 high-performance computing facilities in Australia. Its primary function is to accelerate scientific research for the benefit of the nation. Pawsey’s service and expertise in supercomputing, data, cloud […]
Liquid lenses for better satellite monitoring
Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility’s Space Irradiation Beamline (HIAF-SIBL), hosted at the Australian National University, has played a vital role in an exciting first for the Australian space industry: the first time that Australian space radiation testing has been done on an Australian space payload. The occasion? Testing innovative liquid lenses that enable a satellite to […]
First in-human images of new hope treatment for poor-prognosis prostate cancer
In a world first, supported by National Imaging Facility, Australian researchers have imaged and measured the uptake of a promising new prostate cancer therapy drug developed by Australian company AdvanCell, which was recently administered to its first patient in a clinical trial. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer for men. Around 50% of […]
New brain imaging set to improve and speed epilepsy diagnosis, treatment
Novel imaging methods combined with cognitive, genetic and medical data will use AI to increase the speed and accuracy of diagnoses and treatment for epilepsy patients, according to researchers working collaboratively with NIF. Advanced MRI imaging methods are helping Australian epilepsy researchers move closer to faster, more accurate, individualised diagnoses and treatment options for patients. […]
Partnering for impact with Australian industry
Supporting industry with data access The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) is Australia’s national biodiversity data infrastructure. It allows industry, researchers, decision-makers and the community to contribute, access and analyse data on Australia’s plants, animals and fungi. The ALA is partnering with industry to leverage the power of biodiversity data and infrastructure to support business […]
ALA’s Indigenous Ecological Knowledge Program
Connecting Traditional and Western science Indigenous Ecological Knowledge The Atlas of Living Australia’s (ALA) Indigenous Ecological Knowledge (IEK) program supports collaboration with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners, promotes Indigenous ecological knowledge and languages, and links this knowledge to Western science. Indigenous ecological knowledge is based on thousands of years of studying native plants, animals and the […]
ALA helps to stop pests in their tracks
The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) and its large network of biodiversity data providers are helping our national biosecurity system to protect Australia’s flora and fauna from the threat of invasive species. The ALA’s Biosecurity Alert System Australia is one of the most biodiverse continents on the planet, but the health of our environment, and agriculture, is under constant threat […]
State support injects big cash for upgrades and new national research infrastructure
National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)-supported programs have received nearly $30 million in co-investment from the New South Wales and Queensland Governments through the NCRIS Support Program and Research Infrastructure Co-Investment Fund (RICF), respectively. Co-funding arrangements such as the NCRIS Support Program and RICF are another way that NCRIS ensures that spending on research infrastructure […]
Data Without Borders: the role of Globus in international genome research
Genetics technical specialists at the Biomolecular Resource Facility are using the Globus data movement service through AARNet to share huge datasets with national and international collaborators. The Biomolecular Resource Facility (BRF) is located in Canberra within the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University (ANU). As a core laboratory providing research […]
Future-proofing computational proteomics
EMBL Australia and Bioplatforms Australia joined forces to host a pivotal proteomics workshop titled ‘Future-proofing Computational Proteomics’ on 24 April, featuring leading guest speakers, Dr Rolf Apweiler, Prof Marc Wilkins and Dr Richard Lipscombe. The Australian proteomics community discussed advancements in proteomics research and the pivotal role of computational approaches in shaping the future of […]
Australian health research infrastructure underpins world-first brain cancer collaboration
The NCRIS Health Group will support Australian brain cancer research through Brain Cancer Australia’s project to develop an integrated network of research platforms to improve patient outcomes, test new treatments and work toward a cure, with the announcement of a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant worth just under $6M. The project brings together clinicians, […]
Implanting a Revolution
Quantum computing is a revolution in progress, and Dr Shao Qi Lim is excited to be part of it. “I’m lucky to be part of this revolutionary field,” says Dr Lim, a postdoctoral fellow in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (CQC2T) based within the Experimental Condensed Matter Physics (ECMP) […]
Brain research supercharged by new ‘control panel’ accessible worldwide
The flood of data from brain research worldwide has now been channelled into an easy-to-use, open-access processing tool built to supercharge our understanding of the human brain. Neurodesk – a platform for processing, analysing and sharing massive datasets – has solved critical issues in the search for answers about brain disorders and diseases such as epilepsy, […]
A true partnership to improve position, navigation and timing services in Australia
What do precision agriculture, weather predictions and synchronising financial transactions all have in common? They rely on geodesy, the science of measuring the Earth that enables all Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) applications that are used in everyday life. This exact science underpins the global geospatial economy, which has a value of at least US$1 […]
Major upgrade to outback telescope a resounding success
Last year, a $1 million Australian Government grant enabled the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) to undergo ‘brain surgery’ – its resulting processing capability is being hailed as a significant technological achievement and feat of software engineering. The project might seem simple in concept: replace the insides of the MWA telescope’s computing racks. Of course, this […]
ADACS gives astronomers a vital boost in their effort to make a gravitational map of the southern universe
In the era of big data, Australian astronomers have a powerful strategic advantage to help them extract insights from the immense data volumes that characterise modern astronomy. Astronomy Data and Computing Services (ADACS) – delivered jointly by Swinburne University of Technology and Curtin University – was established by AAL in 2017 to remove the computational […]
Shared Vocabularies Create Oceans of Opportunities
Research vocabularies are helping researchers aggregate data from a wide range of sources and disciplines to find evidence-based solutions to big societal challenges such as climate change. In 2021, an analysis of sea temperature data collected from the Southern Ocean over 25 years revealed disturbing evidence that the potential for Antarctic ice-sheet melting has been […]
Making life easier – Prof Joe Shapter’s ORCID story
We recently chatted with Joe Shapter, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure) at the University of Queensland (UQ), to learn more about how his ORCID ID has helped him when applying for grants. Joe shared with AAF how his ORCID record was first registered when he was at Flinders University and it continued to be populated when […]
Carpentries Partnership for Australia to Uplift Digital Research Skills
A new partnership between 10 Australian research institutions will train instructors in The Carpentries, a proven method for teaching digital research skills to researchers. We are pleased to announce a new partnership between 10 Australian research institutions to train instructors in The Carpentries digital research skills. The partnership will be announced today at the ARDC Digital […]
Launching DReSA: A Portal for Digital Research Training in Australasia
DReSA is a portal for discovering digital research training events, materials, providers and trainers in Australia, New Zealand, and the region. We are excited to announce the launch of Digital Research Skills Australasia (DReSA), a portal for discovering digital research training events, materials, providers and trainers in Australia, New Zealand, and the region. The portal launched […]
Imaging technique paves way for improved quantum devices
A University of Queensland team made up of physicists and engineers have found a way to identify and address imperfections in materials for one of the most promising technologies in commercial quantum computing. Challenge Superconducting quantum circuits are one of the most promising commercial quantum computing technologies, and are attracting significant interest from industry giants […]
AuScope earthquake hunters catch record-breaking quake
Hold onto your coffee cups and comfort the dog. This morning’s earthquake in southeastern Australia, which is perhaps the largest in the region in 200 years, thankfully has not yet caused any injuries. It has, however, provided AuScope geoscientists with the opportunity to put their earthquake hunter hats on and investigate this record-breaking moment. Here […]
From planets to pandemics: translating science in challenging times
After years of building NCRIS enabled software to address geodynamics problems, researcher and AuScoper from The University of Melbourne, Rohan Byrne, found an opportunity to turn his Everest code to help model COVID-19 mobility data during Melbourne’s 2020 and 2021 lockdown periods. Here, Rohan shares his story. JC — Rohan, please tell us what you […]
Mysterious Lithium-Producing Stars Analysed on Nectar
Dr Simon Campbell, ARC Future Fellow at Monash University, is unravelling the origin of the elements in the universe, one ARDC Nectar Research Cloud processor at a time. Here on Earth, Lithium is used in electric cars, giant solar-storage batteries, medicine, mobile phone batteries and heat resistant glass, but little is known about how the […]
How Australia’s national research infrastructure is responding to COVID-19
Australia’s National Research Infrastructure (NRI) swiftly redeployed to support national and international COVID-19 research. Some examples are listed below. Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Bioplatforms Australia (BPA), Microscopy Australia and Therapautic Innovation Australia (TIA) were involved in the University of Queensland vaccine program. Australian Plant Phenomics Facility (APPF) is supporting research into plant-based vaccines. Astronomy Australia […]
Australian cities are quiet during lockdown. Earthquake scientists are making the most of it
Our responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have dramatically changed human activity all over the world. People are working from home, schools are closed in many places, travel is restricted, and in some cases only essential shops and businesses are open. Scientists see signs of these changes wherever they look. Carbon dioxide emissions are down, air […]
Global weather prediction: Australia’s contribution to the global Argo array
Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) coordinates Australia’s contribution of approximately 10% of the global Argo array. Used internationally and by the Royal Australian Navy to predict ocean conditions, Argo data is critical to weather prediction globally. Argo data helps scientists understand large-scale ocean temperature and salinity structures, interactions between the ocean and atmosphere, and […]
Making mining models with magnetic minerals
Australian Geophysicists are mapping the possible location of economic mineral deposits in South Australia and relying on the NCI to produce advanced 3D models of the subsurface. The great challenge of this work is that over 80% of the surface of the state is covered by younger sediment, such as vast fields of sand dunes, […]
Southern Ocean Time Series providing important data for ocean observations globally
Deployed and retrieved by the Marine National Facility (MNF) on behalf of Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), the Southern Ocean Time Series Observatory provides high temporal resolution observations in sub-Antarctic waters. Observations are broad and include measurements of physical, chemical and biogeochemical parameters from multiple deep water moorings in the sub-Antarctic Zone southwest of Tasmania. […]
Transistors from thin air
Next-generation transistors may revolutionise electronics The transistor is the building block for all electronics, and typically involves sending electrical currents through silicon. Every computer and phone has millions to billions of silicon electronic transistors, but this technology is reaching its physical limits where the silicon atoms get in the way of the current flow, limiting […]
