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Research boost
ARC allocates $ 221M for 2023 discovery grants .
By Emilie Lauer
Over 400 research projects from 32 major Australian universities have been greenlit for more than $ 221 million dollars as part of this year ’ s round of the ARC Discovery Projects scheme .
The 2023 ARC Discovery grants were distributed across all states and territories with New South Wales and Victoria institutions having the highest number of grants approved ( 142 ), pocketing $ 64m and $ 67m respectively .
Queensland topped third place , with 92 grants attributed across all its universities for nearly $ 43m .
The University of Melbourne received the highest number of approved applications , with 57 projects sharing more than $ 28m . UniMelb Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research Professor Jim McCluskey said the university is delighted with the results .
He told Campus Review said the grants demonstrate the “ critical role ” Melbourne University can play in responding to major social , economic , environmental and medical challenges facing Australia .
“ The ARC Discovery grants awarded demonstrate the sheer depth and breadth of the research at the University of Melbourne with projects focusing on climate , water quality and biodiversity , economics , microbiology and literature amongst many others ,” he said .
The University of Melbourne also scored the most funding of this year ’ s cohort , which was received by Professor Andrew Allen who will investigate the link between emotions and heart rate variability .
The project aims to address the lack of knowledge linking emotions and heart rate by identifying and characterising the interactions between the nervous system and various feelings .
Following UniMelb on the highest number of grants attributed , the University of Queensland saw 51 projects funded and Monash University 46 , scoring $ 25m and $ 22m respectively .
Nearly half a million dollars was awarded to researchers at The University of Sydney to develop cybersecurity techniques to protect individuals against artificial intelligence attacks .
Researchers from Swinburne University of Technology will be working in an international team with experts from the USA , Europe , and Israel to discover ‘ mature galaxies ’ with the James Webb Space Telescope .
The University of Newcastle will tackle the recovery of Australia ’ s coral reefs by providing information on how historical temperatures and bleaching can impact reef recovery . The project received $ 660,000 .
The University of New South Wales received funding for 41 projects totalling
$ 17m , with the science and engineering department being awarded the lion ’ s share by securing 15 and 14 grants .
UNSW Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise , Professor Jonathan Morris , congratulated the University ’ s researchers on their success .
“ The Discovery Projects support cuttingedge research into ‘ new ’ knowledge that drives much of Australia ’ s world-leading research ,” Professor Morris said .
“ The UNSW projects will deliver significant outcomes in fields such as ocean forecasting , advanced manufacturing , health , and architecture .
“ It ’ s great to see UNSW researchers perform strongly in this funding scheme once again this year .”
This year the ARC Discovery project scheme received 2,589 applications of which 22 were deemed not to meet the eligibility requirements .
ARC Chief Executive Officer Judi Zielke said the chosen projects will “ deliver significant outcomes ” in their respective industries and will expand Australia ’ s “ knowledge base and research capacity .”
The ARC Discovery Projects scheme is part of the Australian Government ’ s plan to support researchers who wish to undertake research in areas of national and international interest .
Applications for the 2024 Discovery Projects are open and will close in early March . ■
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