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Wednesday, 28 May 2008
'Silent witness' research to revolutionise forensics
$63 million in new ARC grants announced
A radical new hair examination technique that is set to revolutionise forensic science is one of 208 new research projects sharing in $63,717,139 over five years, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, announced today.
The University of Canberra "Silent Witness" project is a collaboration with the Australian Federal Police and Leica Microsystems Pty Ltd, and aims to improve the quality of evidence drawn from human hair.
Senator Carr said: "Hair is one of the most common forms of evidence found at crime scenes. The "Silent Witness" project will draw on recent advances in technology – including composite colour imaging, pigmentation pattern recognition and ancient DNA genotyping – to improve the reliability of this critical evidence.
"The research is an excellent example of the type of innovative, collaborative projects supported under the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Projects scheme, Round 2, for funding in 2008.
"Collaboration – across disciplines, sectors and geographic boundaries – is central to the creation and success of an innovative country," Senator Carr said. "One of the Australian Government's primary goals is to develop a strong, effective culture of innovation that will set us up to reap economic, social, cultural and environmental rewards for generations to come.
"In this funding round, 400 partner organisations have pledged to contribute more than $115 million over five years as additional support for these projects, including approximately $21 million from international organisations."
Average funding for each project is $306,332, with average first-year funding per project coming to $100,952.
Other Linkage Projects research programs funded in this round include:
- investigating the use and effects of modern art materials to assist collectors and curators to develop innovative approaches to conservation (The University of Melbourne with the Art Gallery of New South Wales; Artlab Australia; Getty Conservation Institute; Queensland Art Gallery; the National Gallery of Australia; Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery; National Art Gallery of Malaysia; SEAMEO-SPAFA; and Tate Britain).
- using the polyphenols contained in the waste products from sugar refining to reduce body fat and insulin resistance with the intention of addressing the increasing problem of obesity and metabolic syndrome (La Trobe University with Horizon Science Pty Ltd).
- exploring resilience in regard to physical activity and dietary behaviours in children from low socioeconomic areas (University of South Australia with the SA Department of Health).
- developing a precision three-dimensional localisation system for underground mining vehicles that offers improved productivity and personnel safety (University of Technology, Sydney with Pempek Systems Pty Ltd).
Top funding of $11,410,443 will go to The University of New South Wales to support 22 projects, followed by $8,085,401 to The University of Queensland for 21 projects, and $8,047,807 to The University of Melbourne for 28 projects.
The Minister approved all of the projects recommended by the ARC for funding. For more information, refer to the attached statistical overview.
Media contacts:
Catriona Jackson Minister's
office 0417 142 238
Fiona Skivington ARC 0412
623 057
