Developing new catalysts to boost plastic recycling and driving increases in crop productivity through more efficient use of nitrogen are just two of the innovations that may emerge from new research projects by some of Australia's leading early-career researchers.
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced $92.9 million in funding for 200 new research projects to be undertaken as part of the ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme.
"The ARC Discovery Program has an impressive track record in generating new knowledge that addresses a significant problem or gap in knowledge, and it offers exciting opportunities for Australia's promising early career researchers to develop in supportive environments," ARC Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Richard Johnson said.
"As well as boosting Australia's research and innovation capacity, DECRA projects result in new technologies and ideas, leading to new jobs, economic growth, and ultimately improved quality of life for Australians."
The awarded DECRA projects include:
The University of New South Wales ($458,331): to develop new catalysts for plastic recycling, allowing the conversion of plastic waste into high value chemicals and monomers that can be used to generate new virgin plastic - the "holy grail" of plastic circularity.
The Australian National University ($467,603): to advance knowledge on how plants use nitrogen for grain filling to produce more grain with less fertiliser, resulting in improvements to food security and nutrition, reduced costs, and less pollution.
University of Wollongong ($487,974): to explore how high-quality digital activity can support children's learning and development, and create a conceptual framework that integrates digital learning, training of self-control, and movement.
Monash University ($482,017): to investigate little-known encounters between Asian voyagers and First Nations people in the Gulf of Carpentaria through new archaeological investigations and oral histories, providing a deeper understanding of our First Nations heritage and better conservation of threatened Indigenous coastal sites.
University of Tasmania ($460,183): to understand what controls the transport of heat polewards to the Antarctic margin, with outcomes including a tool for near-real-time estimation of the Antarctic overturning circulation and accurate projections of future ocean heat transport in a changing climate.
For a full list of funded DECRA projects, including a snapshot of funding by State and Territory, please view the grant announcement kit: Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2025 | Australian Research Council
