Arc Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science Annual Report 2018 Contents Welcome 1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ARC CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR ELECTROMATERIALS SCIENCE ANNUAL REPORT 2018 CONTENTS WELCOME 1 DIRECTOR’S REPORT 2 INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT 4 ACES RESEARCH 6 PUBLICATIONS 18 RESEARCH TRAINING 30 KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION 44 GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT 58 COMMUNICATIONS 66 AWARDS 76 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 82 GOVERNANCE 86 FINANCIAL STATEMENT 92 OTHER RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTS 94 MEMBERSHIP 98 2019 ACTIVITY PLAN 116 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 118 APPENDIX 1: ACES RESEARCH TRAINING AND MENTORING EVENTS 2018 120 APPENDIX 2: ACES CROSS-NODAL INTERACTIONS 2018 123 APPENDIX 3: END-USER VISITS TO ACES 2018 126 APPENDIX 4: GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION INTERACTIONS 2018 128 APPENDIX 5: ACES OUT AND ABOUT INTERACTING WITH INDUSTRY 2018 129 APPENDIX 6: END-USER EVENTS 132 APPENDIX 7: ACES PLENARY AND KEYNOTE ADDRESSES 2018 134 APPENDIX 8: ACES INVITED TALKS 2018 136 APPENDIX 9: ACES INVITED SEMINARS / COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH VISITS 139 APPENDIX 10: ACES CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS 146 APPENDIX 11: ACES INTERNATIONAL EVENTS 2018 150 APPENDIX 12: ACES INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC VISITORS 2018 152 APPENDIX 13: ACES NATIONAL ACADEMIC VISITORS 2018 156 APPENDIX 14: A SUMMARY OF ACES OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN 2018 158 WELCOME Our Vision is to be the pre-eminent are Dublin City University, Ireland; world centre for research in the University of Warwick, UK; Friedrich field of electromaterials science and Alexander University of Erlangen, integrated device assembly. Germany; Hanyang University, Korea and Yokohama National University, To achieve this we strive: Japan. To use our research into advanced Each node comprises of individuals materials to deliver innovative with key research strengths that device solutions for clean energy when combined, place ACES in a and medical bionics. powerful position to design, discover To deliver research programs that and develop new electromaterials. produce world class graduates with not only exceptional technical skills, but skills in science communication, research OUR FUNDING management, commercialisation, The Australian Research Council and an awareness of the ethical, invested $25 million in ACES social and environmental impact of over 2014-2020 to translate our their research. materials science knowledge into practical, game-changing devices To realise commercial that will have a significant impact opportunities for our research in the areas of diagnostics, energy, through delivery of step-change health and soft robotics. technologies that positively impact on quality-of-life issues for the The NSW Government invested global community. $500,000 through its Research Attraction and Acceleration Program To educate, inspire and engage (RAAP) to help us facilitate the stakeholders and the broader commercialisation of our research. community, by effectively This is to assist in developing communicating our research innovative approaches that messages. encourage entrepreneurship and commercialisation. Our core funded activities provides THE ACES a fundamental research program, facilities and expenditure that PARTNERS has enabled us to pursue new We have established a global opportunities through MedTech and network of partners integral to Pharma Growth Centre connect our success in research, training, (MTPConnect) funded projects, commercialisation and engagement. CRC funded projects, ARC linkage ACES, led by the University (project and training hubs), NHMRC of Wollongong, incorporates and ARC discovery projects. eight Australian collaborating As we work towards our goals, organisations and five international we embrace the challenge of partner institutions known for their training the next generation of expertise in materials and device multidisciplinary research leaders, fabrication. and providing new manufacturing The collaborating organisations and industrial opportunities for are Deakin University, Monash Australia. University, University of Tasmania, The challenges are numerous, but The Australian National University, the opportunities are even greater. The University of Melbourne, The ACES team is committed to Swinburne University of Technology building a knowledge base in an and the University of New South environment that ensures effective Wales. training that will be used to deliver The international partner institutions economic returns for Australia. 1 DIRECTOR’S REPORT 2 At ACES, we have been privileged to be these links with existing research in a position to carry out world-leading partners as well as building new research for more than 10 years. Since connections, which has steered us into 2005, ACES has been at the cutting edge exciting, ground-breaking territory. In of electromaterials science, discovering the past year, we have celebrated our new materials and developing new research achievements with our global approaches to fabrication. In this time, collaborators as we actively take our we have made significant contributions research to the world. to the fields of energy, biomedical Our researchers, innovators and science, robotics and electrofluidics. collaborators share a common vision. This privileged position was afforded A vision to take ideas to industry, and to us by our peers who reviewed and to use fundamental research and critiqued our ideas, our research plans, knowledge as the fuel to create end-user and our skill set, and gave us the opportunity. Through the efforts of many public backing to pursue our goals. we have laid the foundations for a truly We recognise we have a responsibility global engagement program. to complete our journey and return As we have grown as a Centre, we have the benefits of our research to our continued to embrace the challenge communities. of attracting and training the next In 2018, we reached a critical juncture generation of multidisciplinary research where we turned our attention towards leaders. We want our researchers to using our fundamental knowledge in break through traditional academic electromaterials to create strategic, high boundaries to confront significant issues impact applications. More and more, we in the real world by working with teams have found ourselves at the forefront of highly skilled individuals who have of technological, clinical and industry the ability to communicate outside their breakthroughs, working side by side field of expertise. As well as providing with experts to bring about better social high quality training for our students outcomes. and early-career researchers, we also We must continually strive to stretch launched our Equity and Diversity ourselves beyond the laboratory. While Committee in 2018 to ensure that we we continue to hone our technical skills, provide, support and foster a truly we also recognise that those skills alone inclusive work environment and culture will not see our knowledge or advanced for all our staff. materials turned into next generation We are grateful for the world-class technologies. facilities and equipment we have access For effective engagement and translation to, but it is our people that bring our of discoveries, researchers need to vision to life. I thank all of my colleagues develop skills in intellectual property and our collaborators for their hard work creation and management, coupled with and committment in 2018. I am proud of relevant regulatory policy information. the efforts from the entire ACES team to At ACES, we have the advantage of further their research while focussing on experience with regulatory, ethical and delivering practical outcomes that bring community engagement activities thanks about real knowledge advancement, and to the integration of the skills of our social and economic benefits. colleagues in ethics, policy and public Together, we will confront the engagement. We also work with those challenges ahead and deliver the best with a flair for the development of new outputs possible. commercial models to ensure activities are sustainable, meaning we are well positioned to translate our discoveries Best Wishes through to engagement with end-users. Our researchers can not complete this journey alone. Through our activities in ACES, our strong national network is growing into a global, multidisciplinary network. At present, we have numerous active collaborations in more than 50 countries. Prof Gordon Wallace Photo Credit: Frontiers 2018, Andrew Watson Photography Watson 2018, Andrew Photo Credit: Frontiers 2018 has been a time of strengthening Executive Director of ACES 3 INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT “The IAC was impressed to note the impact of ACES as its excellent fundamental research is benefitting the community. This is noteworthy in two important ways. Its commitment to the production of broadly trained students through its innovative training programmes is widely recognised. The IAC was pleased to note too that ACES researchers are now focussed on ensuring their results are translated into commercial ventures. The IAC looks forward to seeing these important impacts continued during the remaining years of the current ARC Centre support to ACES.” 4 The International Advisory Committee met companies via ARC linkage grants (both twice to review progress, June 2018 and project and training hubs). February 2019. I would like to take this The ACES network of members and opportunity to thank all our International collaborators continues to grow, testament Advisory Committee (IAC) members who to a growing ACES global reputation, and have supported ACES engagement and in turn gaining international recognition engagement impact. for Australian