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Tuesday, 1 November 2011

The University of Western Australia cemented its place as the state's leading research institution with the announcement of a total of $16.6 million in Federal Government grants awarded by the Australian Research Council.

UWA received about 73% of annual competitive grants awarded to West Australian institutions for important new research over the next three years.

The money will fund a total of 48 UWA projects, including mining-related science, Indigenous health and climate change studies.

The grants include $300,000 to improve wireless broadband internet services for rural Australians under the Federal Government's National Broadband Network.

"The University of Western Australia has a history of being at the forefront of research that benefits all West Australians and we are pleased that this continues to be the case," UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said.

"The ability of our researchers to continue to attract high levels of competitive funding will further UWA's aim to be counted among the world's top 50 universities by the year 2050."

A total of $1.3 million will be spent on resources industry-related research associated with commercial partnerships, including studies into improved ecological and landscape restoration, and climate-related changes in inland semi-arid ecosystems.

One of the biggest UWA grants was $700,000 for a national geotechnical centrifuge facility involving 18 scientists, followed by $620,000 for high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography supporting WA geoscience, and physical and biological sciences, involving 11 researchers.

Other grants include funding for research into urban disasters ($482,000), treatment of acute burns ($375,000), brain biomechanics ($280,000), autism ($275,000) and air traffic control ($200,000).

A total of $1.4 million was awarded for UWA research into Indigenous issues.  These projects consisted of: Indigenous solutions to mental health ($609,000), promoting positive perinatal mental health, parenting, cultural and spiritual well-being and resilience in WA Aboriginal parents ($735,000), and developing narratives from Indigenous language and stories from WA's south coast ($123,000).

Media references

Christine Casey (Associate Director, Research Grants and Finance)  (+61 8)  6488 1776
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783

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