ANU receives $8.1 million to unlock new materials, critical resources
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) will share $8.1 million to build a sustainable materials workforce, answer fundamental questions in Earth science, further advance computational modelling, and solve real-world exploration challenges.
ANU scored a 100-per cent success rate with both of its applications approved in the latest Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Training Centres and Research Hubs rounds.
Some $4,470,151 will support a project designed to build a sovereign biomanufacturing capacity, led by Professor Adam Perriman from the ANU Research School of Chemistry.
Using engineering biology, a technology that programs microbes to build new materials and reduce petrochemical use, this work will forge links with other universities as well as industry, government, and investment partners.
The funding will ensure researchers are trained in science, regulation, business and policy to create new biomaterials and help translate research into real-world outcomes. The ARC Research Hub for Geodynamic Pathways to Critical Resources, or GeoPath, led by Professor Rhodri Davies was awarded $3,660,405.
GeoPath will create a Virtual Earth to reveal how, where and why mineral systems form and persist through time.
AI will be used to predict new mineral potential by combining plate reconstructions, mantle and landscape models, and data fusion tools.
"We’ll translate that understanding into practical tools to help identify promising exploration regions, quantify uncertainty and support responsible resource discovery," Davies says.
"Making this useful requires close collaboration with the people who make exploration decisions.
"Our industry partners include Rio Tinto, Fleet Space Technologies, Geonome Pty Ltd, GeoSpectra and Terrescient, alongside Geoscience Australia, state geological surveys, Mineral Resources Tasmania and AuScope."
The ANU-led projects have been selected for their direct contribution in building the skilled workforce Australian industries need to remain globally competitive.
A new generation of students and researchers is expected to strengthen Australia's resilience and sustainability, reduce exploration risk and cost, and support the clean energy transition.
This post was first published on ANU Research and Innovation news.
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