Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100339
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,505.00
Summary
Re/connecting People, Nature and Sustainable Futures via Indigenous tourism. This project aims to identify how Australians might appropriately learn from and act on Indigenous knowledges for more sustainable futures. In the face of global ecological crises, Indigenous custodians are increasingly recognised as sustainable land managers from who much can be learned, yet it is not clearly understood how different individuals might be influenced by Indigenous sustainability thinking. In collaboratio ....Re/connecting People, Nature and Sustainable Futures via Indigenous tourism. This project aims to identify how Australians might appropriately learn from and act on Indigenous knowledges for more sustainable futures. In the face of global ecological crises, Indigenous custodians are increasingly recognised as sustainable land managers from who much can be learned, yet it is not clearly understood how different individuals might be influenced by Indigenous sustainability thinking. In collaboration with NSW-based Indigenous tour operators, this project aims to discover the potential of Indigenous custodians as change agents towards sustainability thinking and action, communicated widely through research publications, reports to policy-makers. and documentary film.Read moreRead less
Household innovation and the transition to the low waste city. Australia is experiencing an urban waste crisis. Long-term solutions require new strategies to reduce waste generation. To be effective, these will need to engage and actively involve households. This project examines the capacity for experimentation and innovation in households necessary to transition to low waste cities. It integrates studies of demographic profiles of household waste generation, household low waste experiments and ....Household innovation and the transition to the low waste city. Australia is experiencing an urban waste crisis. Long-term solutions require new strategies to reduce waste generation. To be effective, these will need to engage and actively involve households. This project examines the capacity for experimentation and innovation in households necessary to transition to low waste cities. It integrates studies of demographic profiles of household waste generation, household low waste experiments and policy rationales and co-design to propose realistic pathways for decreasing waste generation. The research outcomes are critical for understanding and supporting pathways to low waste cities. The knowledge developed will support urban sustainability transitions in Australia and internationally. Read moreRead less
Measuring the benefits of reuse in the circular economy. The project will advance understanding of reuse commodity chains, their societal benefits and contributions to a more sustainable circular economy. Drawing on case study research with charitable and community reuse organisations, factors facilitating or inhibiting reuse will be identified, and rigorous methods developed for assessing the benefits of reuse organisations in terms of quantities of materials processed, employment, skills devel ....Measuring the benefits of reuse in the circular economy. The project will advance understanding of reuse commodity chains, their societal benefits and contributions to a more sustainable circular economy. Drawing on case study research with charitable and community reuse organisations, factors facilitating or inhibiting reuse will be identified, and rigorous methods developed for assessing the benefits of reuse organisations in terms of quantities of materials processed, employment, skills development and contributions to regional economic development. Research outputs will provide a sound evidence base for government policy and decision-making and strengthen conceptual understanding of drivers and enablers of reuse and links with broader economic activities. Read moreRead less
The drowned: cultural and political geographies. This project aims to reveal and critically analyse the geographies of drowning and the drowned. Drowning is the third most common cause of death worldwide, and a subject of universal interest that is relatively limited in specifically cultural and political geographical research, policy, and debate. The project will be significant by rectifying that gap and investigating shared concerns about drowning’s abiding, widespread, profound effects. The e ....The drowned: cultural and political geographies. This project aims to reveal and critically analyse the geographies of drowning and the drowned. Drowning is the third most common cause of death worldwide, and a subject of universal interest that is relatively limited in specifically cultural and political geographical research, policy, and debate. The project will be significant by rectifying that gap and investigating shared concerns about drowning’s abiding, widespread, profound effects. The expected outcomes will include public debate about drowning and its cultural and political reach and management generated from a book, articles, and blog. Benefits will include new fundamental knowledge and practical insights about how to rethink risks and disasters in rapidly changing environments.Read moreRead less
Pedalling for change: cultural geography for traffic congestion innovation. This project aims to offer new knowledge about why commuter cycling has failed to increase at a time when leisure cycling grows exponentially. The project seeks to provide evidence about what cycling enables people to achieve through analysis of a database of media discourses, policies and most importantly the experiences of cyclists. Expected outcomes include an enhanced understanding of cycling as response to congestio ....Pedalling for change: cultural geography for traffic congestion innovation. This project aims to offer new knowledge about why commuter cycling has failed to increase at a time when leisure cycling grows exponentially. The project seeks to provide evidence about what cycling enables people to achieve through analysis of a database of media discourses, policies and most importantly the experiences of cyclists. Expected outcomes include an enhanced understanding of cycling as response to congestion and improved policy strategies for increasing purposeful cycling in cities including moving the focus from cycling participation rates to cultures of cycling. Australia will benefit from cycling growing as a mode of transport to attenuate traffic congestion in metropolitan centres.Read moreRead less
Integrated Futures for the use of Motorised Mobility Devices. People using Motorised Mobility Devices (MMDs) face increased regulation. A pessimism exists about the future of MMDs because of the lack of evidence and explanation of MMD use in transport decision making. This project aims to fundamentally change knowledge about the everyday meanings and experiences of MMDs. The project seeks to provide comparative, trustworthy and in-depth baseline empirical data about how people who are reliant u ....Integrated Futures for the use of Motorised Mobility Devices. People using Motorised Mobility Devices (MMDs) face increased regulation. A pessimism exists about the future of MMDs because of the lack of evidence and explanation of MMD use in transport decision making. This project aims to fundamentally change knowledge about the everyday meanings and experiences of MMDs. The project seeks to provide comparative, trustworthy and in-depth baseline empirical data about how people who are reliant upon MMDs negotiate the current transport infrastructure. Expected outcomes with our Partner Organisation, Assistive Technology Services Australia, include a database of deliberative strategies. This project will benefit Australia’s urban and regional communities through a better understanding of transport. Read moreRead less
Understanding contested human-plant geographies for urban greening success. Urban greening is vital for sustainable, liveable and climate-adapted cities. However, conflicts over urban greening continue to cause delays and even failure of initiatives. Such disputes, and the diverse socio-cultural relations that drive them, remain poorly understood. In ground-breaking research employing innovative concepts and methods developed by the team, this project aims to generate new knowledge about how peo ....Understanding contested human-plant geographies for urban greening success. Urban greening is vital for sustainable, liveable and climate-adapted cities. However, conflicts over urban greening continue to cause delays and even failure of initiatives. Such disputes, and the diverse socio-cultural relations that drive them, remain poorly understood. In ground-breaking research employing innovative concepts and methods developed by the team, this project aims to generate new knowledge about how people experience urban greening in their everyday lives and how urban greening is contested in three Australian cities. Expected outcomes include new, crucial understandings of key human-plant relationships, facilitated international collaborations, and significant findings for improving urban greening policies and governance.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100394
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$444,548.00
Summary
Momentarily immobile: the futures of backpacking and seasonal farm workers. This project aims to examine the experiences of backpackers and seasonal migrants who live in communal hostel accommodation while doing farm work in regional Queensland. This project expects to generate new knowledge using ethnographic and arts-based methods on how backpackers navigate periods of being affixed to the one place while completing required farm work, and their contribution to the socio-cultural life of regio ....Momentarily immobile: the futures of backpacking and seasonal farm workers. This project aims to examine the experiences of backpackers and seasonal migrants who live in communal hostel accommodation while doing farm work in regional Queensland. This project expects to generate new knowledge using ethnographic and arts-based methods on how backpackers navigate periods of being affixed to the one place while completing required farm work, and their contribution to the socio-cultural life of regional communities. Expected outcomes include greater understanding on the contributions of seasonal migrant labour, a public forum, recommendations for industry and governments, and an exhibition. This should provide significant benefits to encouraging post-pandemic growth back into regional communities and farming labour.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100242
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,773.00
Summary
Bushfires, faith and community cohesion: building a resilient Australia. Bushfire emergencies in Australia have social, ethical and political, as well as biophysical causes. Hidden in embedded vulnerability, social norms and institutional structures, these causes are often critical obstacles to building resilient communities. This project aims to identify key ways to heighten resilience by examining how sacred and secular faith affects the ability of individuals and communities to prepare for, r ....Bushfires, faith and community cohesion: building a resilient Australia. Bushfire emergencies in Australia have social, ethical and political, as well as biophysical causes. Hidden in embedded vulnerability, social norms and institutional structures, these causes are often critical obstacles to building resilient communities. This project aims to identify key ways to heighten resilience by examining how sacred and secular faith affects the ability of individuals and communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from bushfires. Using ethnographic methods, this project will critically examine evidence of bushfire vulnerability, resilience and adaptation strategies driven by, retained in, or promoted through faith and ethics.Read moreRead less
Reconfiguring the enterprise: shifting manufacturing culture in Australia. The project aims to explore the future for manufacturing in Australia in the context of sustainability. Concerned with the wider societal and planetary impacts of conducting business-as-usual, some innovative Australian manufacturers are reorienting their business towards social and environmental sustainability. The complexities involved in pursuing genuine sustainability call for shifts in the culture of manufacturing. T ....Reconfiguring the enterprise: shifting manufacturing culture in Australia. The project aims to explore the future for manufacturing in Australia in the context of sustainability. Concerned with the wider societal and planetary impacts of conducting business-as-usual, some innovative Australian manufacturers are reorienting their business towards social and environmental sustainability. The complexities involved in pursuing genuine sustainability call for shifts in the culture of manufacturing. This project plans to use qualitative research to explore the inner workings of 12 firms that are integrating different forms of sustainability into their core operations. It plans to develop business metrics and critical incident cases to unravel the negotiations involved in addressing social and environmental sustainability. In so doing, it expects to contribute to debates about the nature of enterprise in the 21st century.Read moreRead less