Australia India Research Collaboration Grants

Making village groundwater visible: Outscaling MARVI
Australian Principal Investigator: Dr Dharma Hagare, Western Sydney University  
Indian Co-Investigators: Dr Parmeshwar Udmale, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay; A/Prof. Shive Rai, Banaras Hindu University; Prof. Jayantilal Patel, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology
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The Managed Aquifer Recharge and Sustaining Groundwater through Village-level Intervention (MARVI) project, launched in 2012, aims to enhance the security of groundwater supplies and improve livelihoods in rural communities in India. It has successfully been piloted in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The current project aims to expand its application to Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and other parts of Gujarat. The Unnati Grant project will refine the outscaling process of the MARVI approach under different hydrogeological and socio-economic conditions. The study’s findings will be used to further engage state governments, NGOs, and village communities for scaling up the approach for greater impact.

Innovative solutions for safe drinking water in rural India
Australian Principal Investigator: A/Prof. Meenakshi Arora, University of Melbourne
Indian Co-Investigator: Dr Manoj Tiwari, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
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This project aims to investigate groundwater contamination caused by high levels of fluoride in rural areas of West Bengal, India. Using surveys, interviews, and water sample analysis, researchers will gain insights into the issue and assess the effectiveness of existing methods to improve water quality. The project will develop a roadmap to address fluoride pollution in groundwater, considering the need for affordable and energy-efficient solutions to provide safe water.

Climate Adaptation, Food and Water Security in the Indian Sundarbans Project
Australian Principal Investigator: Dr Annabel Dulhunty, Australian National University
Indian Co-Investigators: Dr Jenia Mukherjee, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur; Ms Sukanya Banerjee, Rabindra Bharati University
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This research project examines the equity of climate adaptation policies and programs in addressing the food and water security needs of individuals, especially women and vulnerable groups. It specifically examines how climate change impacts individuals' food and water security, considering factors like gender, age, disability, and minority group status. The study focuses on the Sundarbans, India, an area with limited research on the perspectives of its climate-affected communities. Researchers will develop research papers and policy briefs, with recommendations for climate adaptation programs.

Developing biomarkers for leaky gut
Australian Principal Investigator: Dr Purnima Bhat, Australian National University
Indian Co-Investigators: Dr Rupjyoti Talukdar and Dr Nageshwar Reddy, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology 
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Our guts house millions of bacteria, forming the human microbiome. A damaged intestinal barrier can allow bacteria and toxins to leak into the bloodstream, contributing to disease. Currently, there is no blood test for gut leakiness. Australian researchers will collaborate with Indian scientists to develop new tests specifically designed to measure a compromised gut barrier.  

Building clinical trial capacity in India through the RESPOND Trial
Australian Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Kristen Gibbons, The University of Queensland
Indian Co-Investigators: Professor Vivekanand Jha, The George Institute for Global Health India; Professor Jayashree Muralidharan, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research
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Globally, critically-ill children are treated in Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs), where clinical practice is informed by high-quality evidence generated by clinical trials. This project aims to deliver education to Indian paediatric intensive care clinicians on clinical trial methodology through a series of workshops, webinars and site visits. The Resuscitation in Paediatric Septic Shock using Mega-Dose Vitamin C and Hydrocortisone (RESPOND) Trial, a University of Queensland-led clinical trial investigating new treatments for paediatric sepsis, will be used as a case study. This work will ensure Indian hospitals can participate in international clinical trials and enhance their international visibility, ultimately benefitting their sickest children.

Developing an enhanced model of care for survivors of exploitation
Australian Principal Investigator: Emma George, University of Adelaide
Indian Co-Investigators: Professor GVS Murthy, Indian Institute of Public Health; Dr Beryl D’Souza, Good Shepherd Hospital 
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In the rural areas of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, India, there are women in the Jogini system who continue to be exploited in sexual servitude. This research project aims to enhance care for their recovery, using occupational therapy. This project team will adapt an occupational justice research tool in the Indian context and explore the occupational rights and health needs of women in the Jogini system. The context specific outcome will promote local Indian knowledge and voices from an occupational perspective.

Heat stress in vulnerable populations
Australian Principal Investigator: Professor Petra Tschakert, Curtin University Indian Co-Investigators: Dr Anshu Ogra and Professor Upasna Sharma, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
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This collaborative research project will examine how exposed and socially vulnerable populations in Perth and Delhi experience heat stress, identify energy barriers they face in staying cool, and determine the losses they endure. The findings will help improve heat action plans by considering the specific challenges faced by these populations, enabling targeted preventative measures instead of one-size-fits-all approaches.

Clean energy for healthy environments and lives in India
Australian Principal Investigator: Professor Sotiris Vardoulakis, Australian National University
Indian Co-Investigators: Professor Shiva Nagendra and Professor Krishna Vasudevan, Indian Institute of Technology Madras; Mr Raghuraman Chandrasekaran, E-Hands-Energy
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Around 80% of rural households in India use solid fuels for cooking, causing high levels of indoor air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This project aims to accelerate the transition to clean solar energy in rural villages in India by gathering and analysing data to demonstrate the associated benefits for energy security, air quality and community health. This clean energy transition can improve health and welfare in rural India, and help mitigate the detrimental effects of environmental change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation.

Phase change energy storage technology for temperature and fire control of batteries and electronics
Australian Principal Investigator: Professor Frank Bruno, University of South Australia
Indian Co-Investigators: Dharam Buddhi, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun; Professor Richa Kothari, Central Jammu University; Mr Chanderashekhar Dhangar, Adiabatic Technologies Pty Ltd 
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Batteries are essential for our clean energy future. However, their operating performance, life and safety is reduced when they operate outside of their design temperature range, especially on very hot days. This research will explore novel methods using phase change materials to manage battery temperature and prevent fires. The findings could also be applied to other electronic applications like satellites.

Improving women’s safety using digital technologies 
Australian Principal Investigator: Dr Jinwoo (Brian) Lee, University of New South Wales 
Indian Co-Investigators: A/Prof. Sundeep Kumar and Dr Anoop Shukla, Manipal Academy of Higher Education 
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Violence against women in public spaces is a global issue. Researchers will use Udupi and Manipal in Karnataka, India as case studies to understand the factors influencing women’s sense of safety and to identify areas of potential danger. An interactive map will be developed to share the information and to encourage residents to contribute their perceptions of safety in the study areas.

Digital Shillong: Mapping, visualising, and interpreting urban historical data
Australian Principal Investigator: Professor Andrew May, University of Melbourne
Indian Co-Investigators: Professor Desmond L. Kharmawphlang, North-Eastern Hill University; Dr Madeline Tham, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Meghalaya Chapter); Mr Nathaniel Majaw, Northeast India Audio-Visual Archive, St Anthony’s College.
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Using innovative digital humanities tools, this project will develop an interactive online gateway to the history and heritage of Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, India. The website will include historical maps, information about cultural heritage sites, links to datasets and images, and the capacity for crowdsourced data. By doing so, this project will demonstrate the potential of digital platforms to contribute to sustainable tourism, community wellbeing, social interaction, urban planning, and heritage diplomacy.

Strengthening Australia-India cybersecurity partnership for digital innovation
Australian Principal Investigator: Dr. Kamaljeet Sandhu, University of New England
Indian Co-Investigators: Professor Amlan Chakrabarti, University of Calcutta; Professor Deepa Sethi, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode 
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This project aims to strengthen Australia-India Cybersecurity partnership for digital innovation. The escalating number of cyberattacks affecting global technology and digital platforms necessitates strategic collaboration between universities, governments, and businesses. This project focuses on building new ethical frameworks and best practices for digital technology platforms to detect and prevent instances of cyberattacks.