Best in the state

UNSW researchers have been awarded $33 million for 110 projects in the latest round of Australian Research Council (ARC) grants, topping the state and ranking third nationally.

The new projects, to be funded from 2012, were announced today by the Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr.

In Discovery Project grants, UNSW received $24.6 million for 84 projects. The largest grant of $750,000 was awarded to a team led by Professor Robert Kohn at the Australian School of Business. The research will support the development of new models for analysing socio-economic and financial data.

UNSW was successful in 14 Linkage Project grants, worth $3.8 million, the best result in NSW. The largest - more than $500,000 - was awarded to a team of researchers led by Professor Iain Suthers in the Faculty of Science to investigate the viabilty of artificial reefs off Sydney to enhance recreational fishing.

The Linkage projects - undertaken in collaboration with industry and government agencies - attracted a further $9.5 million from partner organisations.

Under the Linkage Equipment, Infrastructure and Facilities (LIEF) scheme, UNSW achieved the best result in the country, winning $3.9 million for 10 projects. The largest grant of $1 million, led by Professor Andrew Dzurak in the Faculty of Engineering, will establish an advanced materials fabrication facility with application across physics, nanocomposites, energy storage and solar cells.

UNSW was also awarded two projects under the Discovery Indigenous scheme. The largest grant of $693,000 will support a cross-faculty team, led by Professor Martin Nakata at Nura Gili, to identify more effective ways of supporting Indigenous students moving from TAFE to university.

The ARC will announce its 2012 Research Fellowships in coming weeks.

The federal government commited a total of $310 million in today's announcement, supporting more than 1,000 projects nationwide.

See a full list of UNSW's successful grants at the ARC website.

Media contact: Denise Knight, UNSW Media Office | 02 9385 8920