{"links":{"self":"http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/DE260100717"},"data":{"type":"grant-details","id":"DE260100717","attributes":{"code":"DE260100717","administering-organisation":"The Australian National University","announcement-administering-organisation":"The Australian National University","scheme-name":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","grant-status":"Active","funding-commencement-year":2026,"years-funded":3,"project-start-date":"2026-01-01","anticipated-end-date":"2028-12-31","grant-summary":"Decoding Stellar and Galactic Evolution through Star Clusters. Star clusters are the fossils and living dinosaurs of the Milky Way, preserving its history while shaping its evolution. These stellar groups are the birthplaces of millions of  Milky Way stars, yet their full life cycle—from formation to dissolution—remains poorly understood. This project will trace their evolution, from young clusters where stellar rotation influences early evolution to ancient globular clusters holding the chemical fingerprints of the Galaxy’s past. By uncovering how clusters form, evolve, and dissolve, this research will provide fundamental insights into stellar and Galactic evolution, supporting and preparing for the scientific discoveries of next-generation billion-dollar instruments.","funding-current":534116.00,"funding-at-announcement":529878,"investigators-current":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Giacomo","familyName":"Cordoni","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0002-7690-7683 "}],"investigators-at-announcement":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Giacomo","familyName":"Cordoni","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0002-7690-7683 "}],"organisations-current":[{"organisationName":"The Australian National University","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"ACT"}],"organisations-at-announcement":[{"organisationName":"The Australian National University","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"ACT"}],"field-of-research":[{"isPrimary":true,"code":"5101","name":"Astronomical Sciences","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"510104","name":"Galactic Astronomy","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"510109","name":"Stellar Astronomy and Planetary Systems","type":"FOR20"}],"socio-economic-objective":[{"code":"280120","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Physical Sciences","type":"SEO20"}],"international-collaboration":["Belgium","England","France","Italy","United States of America"],"lief-register":[],"achievement-summary":null,"national-interest-test-statement":"This project tackles two key questions of the Australian Astronomy Decadal Plan 2026–2035: \"How do planets, stars, and galaxies evolve, and how is that evolution connected across scales?\" and \"How does physics work in extreme environments?\" By investigating how star clusters form, evolve, and dissolve, this research will provide critical insights into their role in shaping the Milky Way. These findings will directly support the development and scientific objectives of next-generation astronomical instruments, ensuring Australia maximises its multi-million-dollar investments in world-class facilities like MAVIS for the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). These cutting-edge observatories will transform our ability to explore the Milky Way and the Universe.\nBeyond astronomy, this project strengthens Australia’s leadership in big data analysis and high-performance computing, skills that are increasingly essential across sectors such as weather modelling and space applications. By training the next generation of scientists in advanced data science techniques, this project will help build a highly skilled STEM workforce, supporting national priorities in space science, technology, and innovation."}}}