Same city, different worlds – a tale of two suburbs
If a picture tells a thousand words, a map can tell a million. AURIN is developing a series of interactive story telling maps – AURIN Data Tales – to highlight the data access and analytics capability we offer and provide real-world examples of urban challenges, presented in an engaging way to inspire further research and […]
Improving spatial analysis for disease risk detection: a COVID-19 case study
During COVID-19, public health agencies relied heavily on data to understand where the virus was spreading and who was most at risk. While robust data have long underpinned decision-making, the pandemic reinforced that statistical factors – such as how data are grouped, how geographical boundaries are defined, and how granular the data are – can […]
Australian Virtual Seed Bank Portal upgraded
Seedbank data from across Australia is easier to access, search and visualise, thanks to updates to the Australian Virtual Seed Bank Portal. Built through a collaboration between the Australian Seed Bank Partnership (ASBP) and the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) the portal is a shared online space showcasing the breadth of conservation seed collections held […]
Research Impact: AURIN data and infrastructure shaping a more sustainable urban future
Densifying the great Australian dream Owning a home is the great Australian dream. But as Australia’s population continues to grow, understanding how to plan and deliver housing is more important than ever. Urban planning therefore plays a critical role in government and industry decision-making, shaping where and how people live. Emeritus Professor Peter Newton has […]
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 […]
Research impact: understanding bikeability to shape healthier, more connected cities.
Across Australia, cities are looking for safer, easier ways to support cycling. ‘Bikeability’ describes how well an area supports cycling through its infrastructure, safety, environment and access to everyday destinations. But understanding what actually makes an area ‘bikeable’ is not straightforward. Until now, studies have used different definitions, indicators, and modelling approaches to explore bikeability, […]
Early warning from above! – how Gadi detects vegetation drought stress before it’s visible using a new satellite-based method
Droughts are one of Australia’s biggest natural hazards. They reduce crop yields, threaten livestock, reduce water storage volumes in dams, damage forests, and increase the risk of bushfires. Often, by the time plants show visible signs of stress, such as yellowing leaves and/or thinning canopies, the damage is already done. A team of researchers, led […]
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 […]
Cutting-edge laser boosts thermochronology research at the University of Melbourne
Researchers from the University of Melbourne’s School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences are transforming the speed and scale of their thermochronology research, enabling more effective and precise analysis of geological samples. The faster research is thanks to a new, state-of-the-art ESL193nm ImageGEO laser system from Elemental Scientific. The laser will accelerate earth science research […]
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 […]
Supercomputer simulations reveal novel approaches to enhancing atmospheric water harvesting
Water molecules are everywhere, from the atmosphere around us to the technologies that power our modern world. Yet extracting this moisture from the atmosphere in an efficient way remains a significant challenge. In a major breakthrough using Gadi, researchers have discovered a way to dramatically enhance atmospheric water capture using a smart combination of graphene […]
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 […]
Safer and more accurate scans for pregnant women and children
The NIF-supported Australian National Total Body PET Facility creates benefits for both research translation and patient care. Challenge Exposure to ionising radiation is a significant concern for vulnerable patients – particularly pregnant women and children – who may require PET/CT scans for diagnosing or staging cancer, infection, or inflammatory diseases. Traditional methods of reducing radiation […]
NIF helped provide the evidence that led to the approval of Australia’s first dementia treatment
MRI and PET imaging provided essential evidence that supported the approval of donanemab. Challenge Dementia is a major health challenge in Australia, currently affecting nearly half a million people and ranking as the nation’s second-leading cause of death. This number is expected to double by 2058. Donanemab is a new disease-modifying therapy that uses monoclonal […]
NCRIS supports breakthrough ovarian cancer agent from early-stage design to first in-human studies
Australian capabilities shepherded new agent through entire innovation pipeline. Challenge Professor John Hooper has worked for decades to develop antibody 10D7, a beacon of hope for patients with advanced ovarian, prostate and bladder cancers. Very few novel drugs are developed entirely in Australia, from their early stages through to preclinical models and first-in-human trials. Ovarian […]
NIF Node Director leads WHO resolution to improve global imaging access
Increasing imaging capacity will reduce the rising burden of premature deaths from cancer and other diseases. Challenge Each year, about 17 million people die prematurely from cancer and other non-communicable diseases – and this burden is increasing. Imaging plays a critical role in early cancer detection and more effective treatments. Better access to imaging will […]
World’s largest longitudinal muscle MRI study set to benefit children with cerebral palsy
The completed MUGgLE study has produced vital data on muscle growth patterns and muscle under-development in children with cerebral palsy. Challenge Cerebral palsy, the most common physical disability in children, affects ~34,000 Australians. It impacts movement and posture, often leading to muscle weakness and stiffening. Previous studies have typically only examined muscle groups collectively – […]
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 […]
Supercomputing powers the fight to accelerate phage therapies against antibiotic-resistant infections
NCI, Pawsey, and ARDC help researchers rapidly identify therapeutic phages from metagenomic data through the powerful new Sphae toolkit. Flowchart of Sphae’s modular process for predicting suitable phages for antimicrobial therapy. Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing global health threats of our time, prompting scientists to urgently explore alternative ways to combat deadly […]
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, […]
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 […]
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) […]
Strengthening our European connections to EMBL and beyond
On a recent visit to EMBL Heidelberg, Ian Smith, Chair of the EMBL Australia Council, spoke about the synergies between EMBL and EMBL Australia, opportunities for collaboration and ideas for exciting future programs. Ian Smith, Chair of the EMBL Australia Council, chatted to EMBL about the synergies between the organisations, opportunities for collaboration, and ideas […]
Record-breaking fast radio burst discovery highlights synergies between ESO and SKA
A global team led by Macquarie University’s Dr Stuart Ryder and Swinburne University of Technology’s Associate Professor Ryan Shannon have discovered the most distant fast radio burst ever detected, and one of the most energetic. The team determined its location and distance from Earth by using a combination of the world’s best optical and radio […]
Associate Professor Lee Spitler – AAO and Advanced Navigation, Moon to Mars Initiative
Associate Professor Lee Spitler – AAO and Advanced Navigation, Moon to Mars Initiative As part of a Moon to Mars Initiative, Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO) at Macquarie University will build a new optical multi-beam laser collimator that will land on the moon. The project is part of a collaboration between AAO and lead partner, Advanced Navigation, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Improving Environmental Decision Making with Research Platforms
Over 7,000 users based at 400 different institutions in 35 countries have accessed ARDC-supported digital research platforms for ecological modelling to inform environmental research and decision making. Australia’s Environment Is in a State of Decline In a 2020 independent review of Australia’s environmental legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Prof Graeme Samuel […]
Engineers devise new method to remove harmful E. coli from water
Engineers at Monash University have developed a new solar filtration method to remove deadly bacteria, such as E. coli, from water using a safe and low-cost material: graphitic carbon nitride with polyethylenimine. This builds on previous solar filtration technologies but has one key benefit, it does not leach metals back into the water to create secondary […]
Developing Personalised Treatment for Kids With Cancer
CAVATICA is a cloud-based platform for collaboratively accessing, sharing, and analysing childhood cancer data. Childhood cancer kills more children than any other disease in Australia and tragically, every week three children and adolescents in Australia currently die because of cancer. Every child is different, every cancer is unique, and so treatment has to be tailored for […]
Elastagen – Skinnovation in treatment for burns victims
Elastagen Pty Ltd is a clinical stage medical device company that is pioneering Elastatherapy™ using the human protein elastin to naturally repair and augment the skin. The company has arisen out of patented research conducted by Prof. Tony Weiss’s group at the University of Sydney and their first clinical trials have demonstrated the biocompatability and […]
