ICS Celebrates Exceptional Success in ARC’s Discovery Projects Scheme for 2025

In a remarkable achievement, Institute researchers have secured over $3.3 million in funding for three ICS based projects in the ARC’s Discovery Projects (DP) scheme for 2025. This exceptional outcome comes with a sense of additional joy as all submitted applications were awarded.

The projects funded include:

• Professor Denis Byrne and Professor Gay Hawkins (and team): The Legacy of Coastal Infrastructure: Reclamations and Seawalls – $504,070.

• Professor Gerard Goggin (with Adjunct Professor Karen Soldatic and team): Disability and Digital Citizenship – $2,175,460.

• Professor Brett Neilson and Professor Ned Rossiter (with Adjunct Professor Sandro Mezzadra and team): Transborder Electricity Infrastructures and Geopolitics – $704,099.

• In addition, Professor Amanda Third is part of a team based at the Australian Catholic University which was awarded $929,546 for their project Artificial Intelligence for the Early Years.

The culture of collective research at ICS, which fosters collaboration and innovation, remains a key factor in this success. Colleagues have lent their experience and time to building these successful projects, with many people acting as mentors and peer reviewers throughout the entire development process. This achievement is also a testament to the crucial role played by Dr. Flora Zhong, Senior Research Officer at ICS, whose critical oversight and guidance are instrumental in securing ARC grants. Dr. Zhong is supported by a dedicated team within ICS Research Development, including Dr. Daniel Carrington, Isabella Geha, and Wynston Lee.

This outstanding success also reflects the strength of collaboration between ICS and Western colleagues, including in MARCS, Hawkesbury Institute of the Environment, the School of Humanities and Communication Arts, and the School of Engineering, Design, and Built Environment.

Congratulations to all the recipients, and we look forward to seeing the continued success and impact of these groundbreaking projects.

Full details of the ICS projects can be found below with a very big congratulations to all grant recipients.

Full project teams and summaries

Professor Denis Byrne; Professor Gay Hawkins; Professor Lara Lamb; Assistant Professor Shi Chi Leung

The legacy of coastal infrastructure: reclamations and seawalls. Positioning coastal reclamations and seawalls in Asia-Australia as artefacts of the Anthropocene, the project aims to highlight their historical role in the expansion of human habitat into the sea, provoking debate on the sustainability of human coastal terraforming practices and assisting the heritage field to reassess the significance of historic coastal infrastructure in the context of the current climate crisis. Examining the threat that sea level rise poses to reclaimed land that, over time, has been integrated into the terrain of everyday life in Sydney, Hong Kong, and Japan, the project will better equip the Australian public to understand the background to this threat, thus laying groundwork for enhanced climate resilience.

Professor Gerard Goggin; Professor Kathleen Ellis; Professor Jennifer Smith-Merry; Professor Simon Darcy; Professor Paul Harpur; Professor Bree Hadley; Professor Michael Kent; Associate Professor Dinesh Wadiwel; Dr Natasha Layton; Associate Professor Mary-Ann O'Donovan; Professor Scott Avery; Professor Karen Soldatic; Professor Lorenzo Dalvit; Dr Kuansong Victor Zhuang; Associate Professor Meryl Alper

Disability and Digital Citizenship. This project investigates people with disability’s full participation in the digital age by advancing a new conceptualization of digital citizenship. Via a co-designed benchmark Australian study, the project generates knowledge on how people with disability experience digital technology, barriers encountered and how to address inequities. Expected outcomes include an evidence base on the nature and state-of-play of disability digital citizenship, and resources to support embedding of inclusive design in future technology. The project’s benefits should help optimise national digital policy, and strengthen national research capabilities in the emerging area of inclusive and accessible technology.

Professor Brett Neilson; Professor Ned Rossiter; Professor Teresa Lea; Professor Anna Cristina Pertierra; Dr Sean Dockray; Professor Jack Qiu; Professor Tetz Hakoda; Dr Myung Ho Hyun; Professor Sandro Mezzadra; Professor Manuela Bojadzijev

Transborder Electricity Infrastructures and Geopolitics. The energy map is being redrawn. This project aims to understand how the extension of renewable electricity grids across national borders inflects geopolitics. Designed to sustain the planet, these grids catalyse and respond to changing configurations of world power. The project is significant for specifying how the energy transition spurs the emergence of large infrastructural systems that reorganise the spatial dynamics of globalisation. Intended outcomes include insights into how transborder grids shift regulatory frameworks to meet challenges facing populations, economies and environments. The expected benefit is knowledge relevant to government and industry stakeholders engaged at the interface of energy policy and foreign affairs.

Professor Susan Edwards (ACU); Professor Michael Henderson; Professor Jane Page; Professor Amanda Third; Dr Victoria Minson; Professor Andrew Manches; Associate Professor Sherri Hope Culver

Artificial Intelligence for the Early Years. This project aims to generate new knowledge about Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the early years. Education and care for young children (birth-to-8-years) is important for children's long-term developmental outcomes. AI is already being used by educators to assess children's development and provide suggested learning experiences in practice. It is also being applied in children's digital games and content. However, little is known about how AI interfaces with children's play, learning and developmental outcomes and how to ensure children are provided with AI that is safe, equitable and trustworthy. The research will inform a new AI for the Early Years Statement to inform adult-decision making about AI design and use with young children.