Defence

Countering nuclear weapons proliferation

To counter the proliferation of nuclear weapons requires Australia to have the ability to evaluate threats and pursue non-proliferation policies. The backbone of this ability is having the necessary skilled people and infrastructure to carry out the Government’s goals. To support this, HIA plays a role in the training of PhD graduates in intelligence, nuclear safeguards, and international nuclear policy.

Effects of TBI and PTSD on Vietnam war Veterans

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are critical health issues affecting veterans of war. A collaborative project to investigate the affects of TBI and PTSD on Alzheimer’s Disease in Australian war veterans was conducted at the university of Melbourne’s NIF node. Researchers have found no evidence of increased Alzheimer's disease, which is good news for veterans.

Seismometers in Schools detect unexploded bombs

The AuScope Seismometers in Schools (AuSIS) team at the ANU have worked with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to apply their seismometers to detecting unexploded bombs. RAAF staff were able to detect an exploded bomb within a 10-metre radius and an unexploded bomb within a 25-metre radius. In near real-time instead of in days/weeks. Their results are paving the way for enhanced RAAF safety capability in the future.

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Defence-adjacent support

The National Computational Infrastructure program has been providing defence adjacent support across a variety of industries. They have used their high-performance computing to assist the Bureau of Meteorology in making weather forecasts, to improve emergency strategies at water software company DHI, and to develop next generation gas masks in at the department of defence and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Protecting spines from combat vehicle bomb blasts

Spinal injuries may result from conflict situations, such as bomb blasts. Researchers have used equipment at the Monash National Imaging Facility Node to image human spine sections before and after applying forces equivalent to those encountered by soldiers exposed to bomb blasts while in combat vehicles. This information will change the design of new military vehicles to protect against spinal injuries.