ASU academics drive collaborative security, defense research across Indo-Pacific

Researchers from Arizona State University are partnering with colleagues in the United Kingdom and Australia to tackle pressing security and defense challenges — from semiconductor supply chains and election security to the great power rivalry and energy resilience.

Supported through the Security & Defence PLuS Seed Grant Scheme, the eight funded projects — four trilateral and four bilateral — bring together scholars and practitioners from ASU, the University of New South Wales and King’s College London.

ASU academics contributing to these projects come from across the university, including the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, W. P. Carey School of Business, and School of Politics and Global Studies.

A new video series showcases each project, with lead researchers explaining their work, why it matters, and how cross-border collaboration strengthens collective security.

Navigating Great Power Rivalry Under the Conditions of Global Uncertainty

This project examines how small and middle powers respond to strategic pressure from larger states in an increasingly contested international system.

• Professor Keith Brown, School of Politics and Global Studies, ASU
• Professor Samuel Greene, director of the Russia Institute, King’s College London
• Alexander Korolev, School of Social Sciences, UNSW

Fortifying Defense: A Strategic Blueprint for Trusted Semiconductor Supply Chains in AUKUS

This project explores vulnerabilities in global semiconductor supply chains and identifies opportunities to strengthen trusted access to critical technologies across AUKUS partners.

• Professor John Fowler, Motorola Professor of International Management, W. P. Carey School of Business, Department of Supply Chain Management, ASU
• Ripon Chakrabortty, School of Systems & Computing, UNSW Canberra
• Professor Harris Makatsoris, Department of Engineering, King’s College London

Establishing Guidelines for Successful Collaboration Between the Space Industry and Indigenous Communities

Focusing on the rapid growth of the space sector, this research develops guidelines for ethical consultation, resource sharing, and engagement with Indigenous communities affected by space activity.

• Timiebi Aganaba, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, ASU
• Jeni Mitchell, Department of War Studies, King’s College London
• Adam Fish, School of Arts and the Media, UNSW
• Amos Taylor, Faculty of Law and Justice, UNSW

Integrating Mechanical Defence Requirements into Next Generation Solid State Batteries

Bringing together expertise in materials science and engineering, this project advances solid-state battery technologies designed to meet defense operational demands in extreme environments.

• Professor Candace Chan, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, ASU
• Laura Lander, Department of Engineering, King’s College London
• Professor Neeraj Sharma, School of Chemistry, UNSW

Promoting Election Security: Regulating Foreign Electoral Interference in the U.S. and Australia

This project investigates how legal and policy measures can counter foreign interference in democratic elections, supporting resilient and secure electoral systems in both countries.

• Professor James Weinstein, Dan Cracchiolo Chair in Constitutional Law, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, ASU
• Rosalind Dixon, Scientia Professor of Law, UNSW

Intelligent Additive Manufacturing of Refractory Alloys via Reinforcement Learning

Using AI and additive manufacturing, this project accelerates the design of high-temperature alloys with exceptional strength, enabling rapid production of materials for defense applications.

• Vitor Vieira Rielli, Scientia Lecturer and Alcoa Research Fellow, School of Materials Science & Engineering, UNSW Sydney
• Associate Professor Houlong Zhuang, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, ASU

The Evolution and Impact of Public Opinion on Nuclear Policy in the Indo-Pacific

This project examines how public understanding and risk perception shape nuclear policy across Australia, Indonesia, Japan and the United States, informing policy development and public engagement.

• Professor Minako Sakai, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, UNSW Canberra
• Professor Itty Abraham, College of Global Futures, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, ASU

Enhancing AUKUS Cognitive Security in the Indo-Pacific: An AI-Powered Narrative Defense Approach

This project develops advanced AI methods to simulate, forecast and counter misinformation narratives targeting alliances such as AUKUS, helping to build cognitive resilience across the region.

• Jiaojiao Jiang, School of Computer Science and Engineering, UNSW
• Professor Huan Liu, School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, ASU