Griffith University’s Academy of Excellence in Financial Crime Investigation and Compliance has once again positioned itself at the forefront of financial crime research in Australia, hosting the second annual Financial Crime Investigation and Compliance Research Symposium. The event brought together leading voices from academia, industry, and research to discuss the latest trends and challenges in financial crime prevention, compliance, and investigation.
The symposium covered a broad spectrum of topics, from advanced compliance frameworks to emerging technologies combating financial crime. Each session provided valuable insights into the evolving landscape of financial crime and the innovative strategies being developed to combat it.
Panel Highlight
Moderated by Academy Director, Professor Andreas Chai, the panel discussion, Preparing Australia for AML/CTF Tranche II: Risks and Challenges, included a distinguished group of experts:
Sue Bradford (Partner – Forensic, Financial Crime, KPMG)
John Fogarty (Executive General Manager, Financial Crime Compliance, CBA)
Dr Gordon Hook (Senior Industry Fellow, Griffith University)
Professor Shireenjit Johl (Deputy Director, Griffith University)
Belinda Zohrab-McConnell (Regulatory and Professional Standards Lead, CPA Australia)
The session offered a comprehensive overview of the changing landscape and impacts of Australia’s AML/CTF legislation. Key takeaways included:
Compliance overhaul: Panellists emphasised the need for businesses to adapt to a heightened compliance burden, underscoring the opportunity to enhance internal controls and risk management practices.
Technology’s role: Advanced analytics and artificial intelligence were spotlighted as game-changers in detecting financial crimes, with calls for increased investment in innovative technologies.
Legal perspectives: Legal implications of the new regulations were explored, emphasizing the need for clear and consistent guidance to ensure a smooth transition.
Global cooperation: The session highlighted the international dimensions of financial crime, with panellists advocating for global partnerships to combat increasingly sophisticated threats.
Driving future innovation
The symposium underscored the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in tackling the multifaceted issue of financial crime. Discussions emphasised continuous education and training, equipping professionals with the tools to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.
As financial crime evolves, Griffith University remains committed to leading the charge in developing innovative, impactful solutions. This year’s symposium not only deepened understanding but also inspired a collective effort to fortify Australia’s financial systems against the growing threats of financial crime.
Pictured left to right: Professor Michael Good AO, PDG Sandy Doumany OAM, Associate Professor Danielle Stanisic, Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD, Professor Carolyn Evans, Lisa Hunt.
The Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics was honoured to host Governor of Queensland Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM and Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD to share the ground-breaking research of their Malaria Vaccine Research Project team.
The Vice-Regal couple were welcomed by Griffith University Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Carolyn Evans; Vice President (Advancement), Marcus Ward; Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics Executive Director Professor Paul Clarke, Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics Principal Research Leader Professor Michael Good AO, Research Leader Associate Professor Danielle Stanisic and delegates from our Malaria Vaccine Project partners, Rotary District 9640; PDG Sandy Doumany OAM, Sam Doumany AM, and Lisa Hunt.
The Malaria Vaccine Project lead research scientists, Professor Good and Associate Professor Stanisic presented an overview of their break-through malaria vaccine candidate. For the past 10 years Griffith University, in partnership with Rotary, has been developing a vaccine candidate with the potential to provide lifelong protection against all strains of malaria. Malaria is one of the world’s deadliest diseases and remains a major global health issue, claiming over 600,000 lives every year.
“Our work has been endorsed by leading global experts in this field as one of the most significant new vaccine candidates capable of addressing the alarming mortality rates from malaria each year,” says Professor Good. “With the support of key partners, we are poised to commence Phase 1 clinical trials early next year which will test and evaluate a field deployable version of the vaccine candidate in a human clinical trial based at Griffith University’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics Gold Coast Campus.”
Associate Professor Danielle Stanisic and Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSMHer Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM and Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD with Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics Researchers
“Our malaria vaccine candidate, named PlasProtecT, is a novel approach in a number of ways.” explains Associate Professor Stanisic. “It recognises and destroys the malaria parasites when in the blood-stream – the stage that is responsible for the pathology, morbidity and mortality of malaria and it relies on T cells for protection. It contains more than 5,000 malaria parasite proteins and our pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that it stimulates a broad protection against multiple malaria parasite strains. Additionally, it has been formulated so it can be frozen or freeze-dried into a powder without impacting its efficacy. This makes it easy to transport and is more cost effective when deploying the vaccine to malaria endemic countries.”
Her Excellency and Professor Nimmo were escorted on a tour of the Laboratory of Vaccines for the Developing World and introduced to the dedicated and passionate team of researchers working tirelessly in the fight against malaria. Her Excellency and Professor Nimmo have vast medical backgrounds. The Governor’s esteemed medical career included the role of Chief Health Officer for Queensland, with responsibility for leading the State’s preventative health and public health agendas, including response to public health emergencies and was appointed the State Health Incident Controller during the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Nimmo’s distinguished medical career spans more than four decades, including 19 years as State Director of Microbiology for Pathology Queensland. He currently holds a professorial position in medicine at Griffith University.
“It was a privilege and pleasure to welcome Her Excellency and Professor Nimmo to our Institute,” said Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics Executive Director Professor Paul Clarke. “We are appreciative of their keen interest in our malaria research and we were proud to showcase the world-leading expertise and cutting-edge research of our Malaria Vaccine Project Team.”
Over the past decade, transformational philanthropic investment, government backing, competitive grant funding and the unwavering support from industry and the community have accelerated the research development and translational impact of our malaria vaccine candidate – a collaborative investment in the future of global health.
Pictured left to right: PDG Sandy Doumany OAM, Lisa Hunt, Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD, Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Hon Sam Doumany AM, Professor Michael Good AO, Associate Professor Danielle Stanisic.
The rankings measured an institution’s ability to address environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges faced by the world today.
Dean of Griffith’s Sustainable Development Goals Performance Professor Jennifer Boddy said Griffith had been a leader in sustainability since its inception.
Dean of Griffith’s Sustainable Development Goals Performance Professor Jennifer Boddy
“Being ranked in the top 50 in the world reflects our outstanding achievements through research, teaching, partnerships and operations, where we seek to have positive environmental and social impacts, both locally and globally,” Professor Boddy said.
“Griffith staff are actively working towards creating a brighter future for all.”
QS CEO Jessica Turner said: “For today’s brand-conscious students, universities represent lifelong affiliations tied to identity and social awareness.
“The 2024 QS International Student Survey shows 62 per cent of prospective students consider sustainability practices very important, and 40 per cent actively seek this information when choosing universities.
“This shift highlights how students increasingly evaluate social and environmental impact alongside academic excellence.”
Ranking out of 1743 universities worldwide by category: Overall = 49
Social Impact = 77 Knowledge Exchange = 59 Impact of Education = 60 Health & Wellbeing = 50 Equality = 34 Employability and Opportunities = 340
Governance = 20
Sustainability was a key value in Griffith’s strategic plan and commitments to sustainability were heightened as part of the Sustainability Strategy which included:
Embedding the SDGs in teaching, research, and operations by 2025
Being ranked in the top 100 universities in the world for the implementation of the SDGs by 2025
Reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2029.
Griffith University Art Museum has opened a new exhibition Yuriyal Bridgeman: yubilong(mi)bilongyu showcasing the work of esteemed Queensland College of Art alumnus Yuriyal Bridgeman.
Vice Chancellor Professor Carolyn Evans officially opened the exhibition on Sunday 1 December to an appreciative crowd at the QCAD campus, ending a weekend of celebrations across Brisbane for the opening of the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT) at QAGOMA.
Yuriyal Bridgeman: yubilong(mi)bilongyu, opening event, Griffith University Art Museum, 1 December 2024. Photo: Phoebe Ye
Yuriyal Bridgeman: yubilong(mi)bilongyu, opening event, Griffith University Art Museum, 1 December 2024. Photo: Phoebe Ye
About Yuriyal Bridgeman
Yuriyal Bridgeman, Boi Boi the Labourer, 2008, from the series The Sport and Fair Play of Aussie Rules, 2008-10, digital print on Hahnemuhle cotton rag, mounted to composite panel. Courtesy of the artist and Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane
Yuriyal Bridgeman’s work is deeply anchored in the traditional cultural practices of his Papua New Guinean community. Born in Redcliffe, Queensland, Bridgeman now lives and works between Kau-in-Kau-in lands of the Ningy Ningy people on Redcliffe Peninsula, the Turrbul/Yuggera Country of Kurilpa (West End) in Meanjin/Brisbane, and in Papua New Guinea.
Having completed a Bachelor of Photography at the Queensland College of Art in 2008, Bridgeman has carved out a distinctive presence within the contemporary art landscape of the Asia-Pacific region. Today, Bridgeman’s practice encompasses photography, video, painting, sculpture and installation. Bridgeman is also the co-founder of the artist collective Haus Yuriyal, where he plays a key role in developing the group’s contemporary art projects, showcased in the recently opened 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.
Since graduating from QCA, Bridgeman has regularly exhibited in group and solo exhibitions across Australia, including at QAGOMA, Brisbane; Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA), Sydney; Home of the Arts, Gold Coast; and Carriageworks, Sydney. Bridgeman’s work has also featured on the international stage, notably NIRIN: 22nd Sydney Biennale, held across Cockatoo Island and the MCA.
Yuriyal Bridgeman: yubilong(mi)bilongyu
Yuriyal Bridgeman: yubilong(mi)bilongyu presents significant new works that reflect the culmination of Bridgeman’s recent research practice, along with a selection of works surveying the breadth of his career to date.
Bridgeman’s photographic and video works are positioned in portraiture and social commentary, often featuring loved ones and members of his community. His painting and sculpture practice, developed during his time in PNG, draws deeply from the traditions of the Yuri Alaiku men’s practices in the Simbu Province.
Yuriyal Bridgeman: yubilong(mi)bilongyu, opening event, Griffith University Art Museum, 1 December 2024. Photo: Phoebe Ye
The exhibition and publication have been co-curated and co-edited by Angela Goddard, Director of Griffith University Art Museum and respected Bougainville Elder and art curator Aunty Sana Balai.
In their curatorial essay Yuriyal Bridgeman: Building Trust, Translation, Community, and Yalkuna, Angela Goddard and Aunty Sana Balai describe Bridgeman’s work as “demonstrating the responsibilities and support of community and the collective while translating between cultures and languages and navigating the pleasures and pressures of autonomy as an individual.”
Yuriyal Bridgeman, Haus Paia / House Fire, 2024, mural, Griffith University Art Museum. Courtesy of the artist and Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane. Photo: Carl Warner
Accompanying the exhibition is a monograph published by Griffith University Art Museum, that offers the first in-depth exploration of Bridgeman’s career to date. It presents cultural perspectives on his work from family members, community leaders in PNG, as well as leading artists, writers, and curators, and explores Bridgeman’s commitment to creating art within the context of community while also navigating the journey of an individual artist.
The publication includes texts from: Sana Balai, Veronica Gikope, Angela Goddard, Pat Hoffie, Joe Kuman, Ruth McDougall, Michael Mel, Archie Moore, Khaled Sabsabi, Aaron Seeto, John von Sturmer and Bomai Witne.
Yuriyal Bridgeman: yubilong(mi)bilongyu is supported by Sarazin, Creative Australia, University Art Museums Australia (UAMA), Wattyl, and Lock, Stock and Barrel.
Supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation, the publication can be purchased at Griffith University Art Museum or online.
Yuriyal Bridgeman: yubilong(mi)bilongyu is open at Griffith University Art Museum until 15 March 2025.
The toe-tapping, swashbuckling Gilbert and Sullivan classic The Pirates of Penzance has sailed into Brisbane for a very limited season, featuring an array of home-grown talent from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (the Con) and the Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre (the Academy).
Presented by Prospero Arts at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), and directed by renowned opera director Stuart Maunder, the production features iconic numbers such as ‘I Am a Pirate King’, ‘Poor Wandering One’, and ‘I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General’.
Starring alumni Nina Korbe and Billy Bouchier, the cast has also been joined by a live 23-piece orchestra.
Bachelor of Musical Theatre graduate Sophie Moman
Among the cast is Sophie Moman, who has just this year completed her Bachelor of Musical Theatre.
In her first professional production outside of her studies, Ms Moman plays Edith, a role she was invited to audition for after being scouted at this year’s industry showcase in September.
As Edith, the eldest and bossiest of Major-General Stanley’s daughters, Ms Moman sings and dances with the ensemble and said there was something for everyone in the classic comedy-opera.
“This show is fun, silly, romantic, interesting and musically stunning,’ she said.
“It’s been incredible working with industry giants like Stuart Maunder and [musical director] Isaac Haywood and learning from stars including Nina Korbe and Billy Bourchier.”
The Bachelor of Musical Theatre course is the only program of its kind worldwide where students train within a major performing arts venue, so Ms Moman has been no stranger to the QPAC stage.
“It’s been a whirlwind, having just handed back my access pass for QPAC ahead of graduation, and to be back there and applying the skills I’ve learned so soon is really exciting.”
Associate Professor Margaret Schindler
Associate Professor Margaret Schindler, an esteemed vocal coach at the Con, was thrilled to see her students excelling, and said their work ethic, enthusiasm and preparation give them an extra edge in the industry.
“Stuart Maunder texted me on the first day of rehearsals to say how proud I should be of our students,” Associate Professor Schindler said.
“We focus on building a solid foundation for our students—vocal technique, stagecraft, movement and musicality, and the practical experience they gain in high-calibre productions prepares them for professional life.
“Not only are our graduates highly skilled, but they also bring individuality and passion to their performances.
“Their love for everything they do, from their love of performance and the art form to their love of engaging with an audience all shines through.
“We’re super proud of them all and we’re really excited for them.”
A familiar festive favourite has taken on a fresh new look with artist and Queensland College of Art and Design Senior Lecturer, Dr Natalya Hughes, partnering with MECCA and the National Gallery of Victoria to design packaging for the 2024 MECCA Holiday campaign.
With one in three people in Australia expected to see the packaging under their Christmas tree, and the designs fronting stores across the country, the annual campaign has seen the beauty retailer take a break from their iconic pink packaging, to this year explore the theme of ‘together we shine’.
Dr Hughes’ practice has always focused on the potential of decoration and ornamentation, so it was fitting for her vibrant and evocative work to be selected for such a visible moment.
Dr Natalya Hughes with some of the MECCA packaging designs. Image courtesy of MECCA.
With her arts career having already spanned a few decades, Dr Hughes was taken by surprise when she received a phone call from the National Gallery of Victoria advising she had been selected, especially seeing she hadn’t applied for anything.
“It was completely out of the blue for me but an absolute delight,” she said.
“In my work I often start by looking back at art history and the work of others, and what I noticed was there were lots of image of women but not many by women that had made it into the cannon of art history.
“Running the Honours program for visual arts at the Queensland College of Art and Design, I’m very aware of the challenges my students may have in a world that does not always provide equal opportunities, but being part of this project carries a powerful message of empowerment and shows there are opportunities for women and non-binary artists at all stages of their careers.”
Dr Hughes’ name or signature has been worked into the designs including the store fronts and packaging, plus there is a small statement about why decoration is important to her printed on each of the bags and boxes.
“My presence is very visible – almost disturbingly so,” she laughed.
“The theme of ‘together we shine’ to me means trusting others.
“Working with others can produce really exciting things, so working together with people helps us to say new things, make new things, speak to a whole other new set of ideas that we couldn’t if we had just worked alone.
“It was a wonderful collaboration with the MECCA design team, plus the visual merchandisers and the video team making those digital components.
“They genuinely love art and are genuinely interested in doing collaborations where they’re taking art to their audience.”
Dr Natalya Hughes’ work can be seen on MECCA stores nationwide throughout this holiday season, or at the National Gallery of Australia in Melbourne until February 2025.
Lion numbers in the country are at a critical low while hyenas are faring well across four major protected areas in Uganda, according to new survey findings co-led by Griffith University, Southern University of Science and Technology (China) and Northern Arizona University.
Researchers unveiled the first comprehensive population estimate of Uganda’s lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas in nearly two decades.
Conducted across six major protected areas – including the 4000 km2 Murchison Falls and the 2400 km2 Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area – this innovative study was a collaborative feat involving more than 100 conservation stakeholders.
Karamoja Overland Safaris help Dr Braczkowski set camera traps in Pian Upe used for the survey.
Using advanced spatial capture-recapture methods set a new standard for wildlife monitoring in Africa, the findings are already influencing conservation policy, and served as the foundation for Uganda’s new Strategic Action Plan for Large Carnivore Conservation (2023-2033).
Lions are in decline across most protected areas while hyenas show resilience
The study showed that populations of lions in the Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo Valley National Parks were critically low, with fewer than 40 and 20 individuals remaining respectively.
In contrast, spotted hyena populations appear to be faring well with the Murchison Falls National Park population holding Africa’s largest density recorded to date at 45 individuals per 100 km².
The radically different numbers of hyenas displaying resilience could be indicative of a trophic imbalance.
“We could be seeing a release in hyena numbers as populations of lions decline,” Griffith University lead researcher Dr Alexander Braczkowski said.
“However in places like Murchison Falls, we are seeing high densities of all three species, lions, hyenas, and leopards.”
Murchison Falls National Park is the last critical lion stronghold in Uganda
The study identified the Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda’s largest protected area) as a vital area for lion conservation.
The region supported high lion densities (seven lions per 100 km²) and an abundance of 240 individuals in a 3233 km² sampling area compared with Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo Valley despite significant pressures from wire snare poaching and oil exploration, making it a critical priority conservation area in the country.
Leopards holding on across most of the country
Ludwig Siefert and James Kalyewa collar a lioness in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Credit: Alexander Braczkowski
While leopard densities varied, Murchison Falls recorded some of the highest in Africa at 14 individuals per 100km², the highest recorded to date in Africa. Similarly to the national parks’ lion populations, it is highly probable that the anti-poaching efforts by the government and several non-government organisations (including Uganda Conservation Foundation, Snares to Wares, and ICON) were preventing the low densities observed in other parts of the country.
Collaboration and training key to such a large effort
Dr Braczkowski said one of the most striking results from the survey was that it brought together more than 100 participants from 20 different NGOs, lodges, and conservation groups, meaning people who may not have had an opportunity to be involved in science previously now had an opportunity to survey and engage in science on the animals they lived closest to.
He added that this was critical for the long-lasting capacity needed to maintain a solid understanding of how these carnivore populations performed over time, especially against conservation action.
“This survey highlights both the challenges and successes of Uganda’s carnivore conservation,” Dr Braczkowski said.
“The collaborative nature of this work – spanning governments, NGOs, and local communities – is a testament to what’s possible for wildlife conservation. More importantly, these are the kinds of training exercises that are most needed if we hope to build the science capacity in the places that need it most.”
Dr Braczkowski said the results sounded an alarm for Uganda’s iconic carnivores, whose survival was jeopardised by poaching, habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict. His team also emphasised the critical role of community engagement in conservation success.
Drone surveys even captured a herd of elephants. Credit: Alexander Braczkowski A lion cub rests in an acacia tree. Credit: Alexander BraczkowskiAnkole cattle in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Credit: Alexander BraczkowskiCheetahs photographed in Pian Upe during the survey. Credit: Alexander BraczkowskiMakerere students set traps in Mburo. Credit: Alexander BraczkowskiVolcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust identify lions from the survey photographs. Credit: Alexander Braczkowski
A new study has designed a prediction method to simulate the yearly southward migration of humpback whales, which could provide management authorities with greater awareness of altered migration routes in a changing climate.
Led by Griffith University, the study focused on the southern migration of humpback whale mums and calves between the Great Barrier Reef and the Gold Coast bay to develop a new modelling approach to predicting their movements.
“Humpback whales encounter a variety of environmental conditions during seasonal migration between polar feeding grounds and tropical breeding grounds,” said lead author Dr Jasper de Bie, from Griffith’s Coastal and Marine Research Centre.
“The relationships between environmental conditions and the whales’ migratory movements are largely unknown because there is a lack of oceanographic data coupled with the presence or absence of the whales.”
Dr De Bie and the team reproduced observed migration patterns from August to October 2017 by assessing how the sea depth, ocean currents and water temperatures impacted the whales’ movements.
The modelling further confirmed that the whales switched direction after Hervey Bay (a known resting ground), which appeared to align with the coastline.
“Our model provides a novel, suitable framework for simulating humpback whale migration, and an important first step in the development of predictive models of humpback whale behaviour,” Dr De Bie said.
“Developing such tools is increasingly necessary to predict how changing ocean conditions are likely to affect their distribution.”
With the passing of the bill this week to ban young people from social media, we need to keep talking about alternatives so the Senate approaches this with a long-term view, not a quick fix. Adults created this online genie, that we now seem to want to put back in the bottle, but at what cost to young people?
Young people who are experiencing vitriolic, damaging online hate via social media or who have fallen prey to scams need to be protected from immediate harm. Removing the source of the hate or scam is important in the first instance, however, we also need to help young people develop robust self-worth through support from peers, family and professionals to navigate cyberbullying and other potentially harmful content such as sextortion scams. Long-term reputational damage to a young person’s self-image via online spreading of lies can be devastating and life threatening as we have sadly seen. But as the cyber juggernaut continues to grow and morph, online bullying will likely never go away, and we cannot wrap kids in cotton wool forever.
Associate Professor Jennifer Alford
Removing the source of potentially problematic content from within the reach of young people does nothing to help them traverse these spaces with a healthy, critical disposition. They will not miraculously wake up at 16 and be able to do this. They need to develop critical thinking and critical literacy practices to be able to distinguish mis/disinformation and opinion from truth, and to work out what they think and believe. The Australian Curriculum: English provides ample opportunity for this to be covered in school lessons with a specific mandate for teachers to help students ‘learn to identify the opinions, assumptions and points of view in texts’ and to ‘analyse how language is used to position individuals and groups’. Social media and advertising provide ideal material to do this. My research has shown how Australian school students are able critically analyse social media out of school because they are learning how to do this in school.
Banning children from accessing social media lets the makers and peddlers of mis/disinformation and harmful opinion get away with it without taking responsibility for their part in its existence. Big tech companies making millions continue to benefit while young people are denied access to what can be innocuous, enjoyable material on social media just because some of it may be harmful.
What are some alternatives to banning social media for young people?
Talk with young people about the time they spend on social media and what they get out of it/don’t get out of it. My research with 15-year-olds shows they are more critical of it than we think. We should encourage this critical view. Work out with them how they want to balance it with other activities such as sport, music, reading books. Give them some control over how they use it. Banning and removing it will only make them angry and rebel and potentially push them to the dark web.
Agree on designated spaces/places for being on social media – public places in the home – and others for where it is not used, for example in bed late at night.
Encourage young people to see social media as just one of many spaces for learning from and enjoying information sharing.
Discuss social media posts/videos openly in families as soon as kids are mature enough – bring it out in the open and defuse its power. The more we make it the bogey man, the more we will fear it.
Discuss the ways people interact online. Often people hide behind anonymity in the online world to posit what is nothing more than emotion-fuelled (and at times alcohol and drug-fuelled) opinion. They would never say it to our face which says more about them.
Play fact checker games – spot the false claim with Snopes.com rumour checker.
Model responsible use of social media to your children and discuss – what are we as adults prepared to put online? Why? Why not?
Associate Professor Jennifer Alford is Deputy Head of School (Research) of the School of Education and Professional Studies, and Deputy Director of Griffith Institute of Education Research at Griffith University.
Griffith University researchers have been awarded a combined total of $7,218,149 in the Australian Research Council’s latest round of Discovery Projects, representing a 44.4% success rate.
From settlement agreements between First Peoples and governments, quantum experiments to test reality beyond Bell’s theorem, to oxygen release from red blood cells under pressure, the 12 successful Griffith research teams will #makeitmatter by tackling a variety of societal and scientific challenges the world faces.
Griffith’s successful Discovery Projects are:
Spectral-spatial-temporal object tracking in hyperspectral videos, led by Professors Jun Zhou and Kuldip Paliwal, valued at $523,425.
Advancing Quantum Experiments to Test Reality Beyond Bell’s Theorem, led by Professor Howard Wiseman, Dr Nora Tischler, Associate Professor Eric Cavalcanti and Dr William Zeng, valued at $956,929.
Advancing statistical models for clustering data with structured dependence, led by Professor Shu-Kay Angus Ng, Associate Professor Hien Nguyen, Dr Florence Forbes and Associate Professor Liming Xiang, valued at $509,809.
Unlocking the mechanobiological events in oxygen unloading by erythrocytes, led by Associate Professor Michael Simmonds, Professor Daniel Kolarich, Dr Lennart Kuck and Associate Professor Jason Peart, valued at $644,976.
Developing chemical probes for effector triggered immunity in plants, led by Associate Professor Thomas Ve and Dr Santosh Rudrawar, valued at $767,243.
Dissecting the interplay of metabolism and lysine acetylation in Plasmodium, led by Professor Katherine Andrews, Dr Ghizal Siddiqui and Dr Alain-Dominique Gorse, valued at $646,936.
Mitigating the dark side of AI-powered virtual influencers, Dr Sara Thaichon, Associate Professor Isaac Cheah, Associate Professor Park Thaichon, Professor Scott Weaven and Professor Dr Robert Palmatier, valued at $365,770.
Proxy advisors and political dynamics in ethical investment campaigns, led by Dr Erin O’Brien, Dr Ainsley Elbra and Dr Martijn Boersma, valued at $660,397.
Timber reimagined: structurally efficient two-way flat plate construction, led by Professor Hong Guan, Associate Professor Hassan Karampour and Associate Professor Benoit Gilbert, valued at $520,387.
Co-creating a sustainable future for the community heritage sector, led by Professor Sarah Baker, valued at $512,968.
A further 5 projects involving Griffith researchers, led by other institutions were also announced.
Associate Professor Debbie Bargallie on the project What does ‘doing diversity’ do, and how can it be done differently?, led by Macquarie University.
Professor Simone Fullagaron the project Creating Safer Sport Communities from Rural to Urban Australia, led by La Trobe University.
Professor Neeraj Gill on the project A Human Rights Implementation Assessment for Mental Health Law and Policy, led by La Trobe University.
Dr Amber Marshall on the project The Role of Public Library Services for a Changing Rural Australia, led by Charles Sturt University.
Dr Leo Zhang on the project Copyright Protection of Deep Neural Network Models Based on Watermarking, led by Deakin University.
