Designing for uncertainty in conservation auctions. Economic theory and case study evidence show that tenders or auctions are more efficient than grant mechanisms for encouraging landholders to produce environmental outcomes on private land. These studies have ignored the effects of uncertainty of both bidders and administrators about factors such as landholder participation and the level of environmental benefits that will be delivered. This project will test whether distributing environmental ....Designing for uncertainty in conservation auctions. Economic theory and case study evidence show that tenders or auctions are more efficient than grant mechanisms for encouraging landholders to produce environmental outcomes on private land. These studies have ignored the effects of uncertainty of both bidders and administrators about factors such as landholder participation and the level of environmental benefits that will be delivered. This project will test whether distributing environmental funds via tenders is still efficient when uncertainty about various important factors is considered. Results from this research are expected to inform the cost effective design of systems to pay landholders for the provision of environmental benefits even when there is high uncertainty.Read moreRead less
Australian Indigenous storytelling: a critical study of the way Aboriginal stories are being told in Australia today. This research project will investigate the role and effectiveness of Aboriginal storytelling in the current environment of Aboriginal policy in Australia. The outcomes will form a set of benchmarks for understanding the power of effective Aboriginal storytelling.
Mobile ecologies, complex landscapes: cultural environmental research to understand and enhance invasive plant management in high amenity rural areas. Weeds are a major problem requiring integrated social and ecological management. Land ownership change in tree change areas alters the mix of owners and how they manage their land. It is often claimed that this leads to increased weed problems, especially for farmers. This project evaluates actions and results on the ground to improve management.
Realising Democracy Amid Communicative Plenty: A Deliberative Approach. The ever-increasing volume of political communication (especially online) challenges democracy and effective policy making. The aim of this project is to examine whether, how, why, and to what effect discourse flows within and between different sites in the new politics of communicative plenty. This research applies the idea of deliberative democracy, which puts meaningful communication between citizens and policy makers at ....Realising Democracy Amid Communicative Plenty: A Deliberative Approach. The ever-increasing volume of political communication (especially online) challenges democracy and effective policy making. The aim of this project is to examine whether, how, why, and to what effect discourse flows within and between different sites in the new politics of communicative plenty. This research applies the idea of deliberative democracy, which puts meaningful communication between citizens and policy makers at the heart of effective governance. It develops a deliberative analysis of controversy surrounding coal seam gas in Australia, using qualitative and 'big data' techniques to collect information. The knowledge generated is expected to inform efforts to put deliberative democracy into practice, as well as more effective environmental governance.Read moreRead less
Mine, yours, theirs, and ours: examining the tension between private and community interests in property. Property is increasingly characterised by a tension between private rights and broader community interests, such as those relating to the environment, heritage and the public cultural domain. This project will create a new understanding of the nature of property which takes into consideration the need to balance community and individual interests.
The global history of organic farming. The first global history of the organic farming movement explains how organic farming changed land-use, government policy and consumer habits. Understanding how this scientific and cultural movement arose, where it succeeded and where it failed, helps to better formulate policy that promotes sustainable agriculture, human health and climate.