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Funding and Partners

Background

G-ADOPT — the Geoscientific ADjoint Optimisation PlaTform — was launched under the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) 2020 Platforms Program, an initiative designed to transform the way research is conducted across disciplines through world-class digital research infrastructure.

Originally conceived as the Geodynamic ADjoint Optimisation PlaTform, G-ADOPT has since expanded beyond its initial focus on mantle convection and plate dynamics to support a wide range of geoscientific applications. These now include groundwater simulation, and Earth’s response to melting polar ice sheets.

In 2023, the platform received additional support from AuScope, under the NCRIS Research Infrastructure Investment Plan (RIIP), to accelerate development of G-ADOPT’s capabilities for modelling glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) and related solid Earth processes — areas critical to understanding sea-level change and Earth system evolution.

Specific Funding Awards and Grants

  1. 2020 — ARDC Platform Grant — Geodynamic ADjoint Optimisation PlaTform (PL031) Funding: A$1,355,492 Purpose: Development of transformational software infrastructure for inverse geodynamical simulation. Chief Investigators: D.R. Davies (ANU), S. Ghelichkhan (ANU), K. Czarnota (GA), D. Müller (USyd), S.C. Kramer (Imperial College London), D. Ham (Imperial College London), S. Funke (Simula Research Laboratories), P.E. Farrell (Oxford University), M. Sambridge (ANU), M. Seton (USyd), S.D.B. Goes (Imperial College London), B. Evans (NCI), T. Rawling (AuScope).

  2. 2022 — Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS) — Simulating Glacial Isostatic Adjustment in G-ADOPT Funding: ~A$600,000 Purpose: Development of G-ADOPT infrastructure for simulating glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) and quantifying solid Earth impacts on sea level. Chief Investigators: D.R. Davies (ANU), M.J. Hoggard (ANU), S. Ghelichkhan (ANU), A. Gibson (ANU), W. Scott (ANU).

  3. 2023 — AuScope NCRIS Research Infrastructure Investment Plan (RIIP) — Coastal Research Infrastructure (CoastRI) Funding: A$1,418,350 Purpose: Support for the development and long-term maintenance of G-ADOPT’s GIA modelling capabilities, including dynamic topography and solid Earth feedbacks on coastal systems. Chief Investigators: D.R. Davies (ANU), M.J. Hoggard (ANU), S. Ghelichkhan (ANU), S.C. Kramer (Imperial College London), A. Gibson (ANU), A. Hogg (ACCESS-NRI), T. Rawling (AuScope).

  4. 2024 — ANU Institute for Water Futures (IWF) Funding: ~A$500,000 Purpose: Extension of G-ADOPT’s framework for digital twins of groundwater systems, integrating hydrological processes with geodynamic modelling. Chief Investigators: S. Ghelichkhan (ANU), D.R. Davies (ANU), A. Gibson (ANU).

Partners

ARDC logo The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) is a transformational initiative that provides Australian research community and industry with access to nationally significant, leading-edge data-intensive infrastructure, platforms, skills, and collections of high-quality data. In partnerships with organisations, the ARDC leads facilitations that work towards a coherent research environment to enable researchers to find, access, contribute to, and effectively use services to maximise research quality and impact. The ARDC is funded by the Australian Government's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).

AuScope Logo AuScope provides geoscientists with a world-class research ‘toolkit’ to help tackle Australia’s key geoscience challenges and improve Australian life and the environment. AuScope is funded by the Australian Government's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).

NCI logo The National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) is Australia’s leading high-performance data, storage, and computing organisation, providing expert services to benefit all domains of science, government, and industry. NCI brings the Australian Government and the Australian research sector together through a broad collaboration involving the largest national science agencies, universities, industry and the Australian Research Council. NCI is supported by the Australian Government's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)

ACCESS-NRI logo The Australian Earth-System Simulator (ACCESS-NRI) is a national research Infrastructure created to support development and research with the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESS) modelling system framework. ACCESS simulates past, present, and future climate, weather, and Earth-Systems.

Geosciences Australia logo Geoscience Australia is Australia's pre-eminent public sector geoscience organisation. They are the nation's trusted advisor on the geology and geography of Australia. They apply science and technology to describe and understand the Earth for the benefit of Australia.

Australian Research Council logo The Australian Research Council's purpose is to `grow knowledge and innovation for the benefit of the Australian community through funding the highest quality research, assessing the quality, engagement, and impact of research, and providing advice on research matters'.

ACEAS logo The consequences of changes in the Antarctic, including sea-level rise, extreme weather events, alterations to rainfall patterns, and fisheries impacts, will be profoundly costly to Australia. However, the speed and scale of future change remains poorly understood. The Australian Centre of Excellence in Antarctic Sciences (ACEAS) will combine new field data with innovative models to revolutionise predictions of the future of the East Antarctic and Southern Ocean.