Fringe to Famous: Contemporary Australian Culture as an Innovation System. The project examines the crossover between ‘alternative’ and ‘mainstream’ cultural production in Australia, identifying ways in which a hybridisation between the avant garde and the popular promotes the development of cultural industries. It will conduct a detailed study of five cases: comedy (Working Dog and the Chaser), music (Mental as Anything, Paul Kelly and Nick Cave), visual arts/graphic design (Mambo Graphics), sh ....Fringe to Famous: Contemporary Australian Culture as an Innovation System. The project examines the crossover between ‘alternative’ and ‘mainstream’ cultural production in Australia, identifying ways in which a hybridisation between the avant garde and the popular promotes the development of cultural industries. It will conduct a detailed study of five cases: comedy (Working Dog and the Chaser), music (Mental as Anything, Paul Kelly and Nick Cave), visual arts/graphic design (Mambo Graphics), short film (Tropfest) and games development (Freeplay). It will identify the conditions which have allowed crossover between the avant-garde and the mainstream and produce recommendations for policy both in cultural development and the development of creative industries.Read moreRead less
Victorian Ethnographers: collecting and contesting racial knowledge in the settler colonial laboratory. Using new archival and museum collections, 'Victorian Ethnographers' investigates the connections between anthropology, the governance of Aboriginal peoples and the history of colonialism in south-eastern Australia. This project will produce new knowledge about the local and global networks that shaped Victorian anthropology and its legacies.
Functionalisation of boron nitride nanotubes: preparation, underlying mechanism and potential sensor applications. Building on Australian expertise in synthesis and characterisations of nanomaterials, this project will carry out comprehensive and systematic research in functionalisation of boron nitride nanotubes and explore their potential applications. The success of this project will enhance Australian international reputation in nanotechnology development and ensure our leading position in t ....Functionalisation of boron nitride nanotubes: preparation, underlying mechanism and potential sensor applications. Building on Australian expertise in synthesis and characterisations of nanomaterials, this project will carry out comprehensive and systematic research in functionalisation of boron nitride nanotubes and explore their potential applications. The success of this project will enhance Australian international reputation in nanotechnology development and ensure our leading position in this highly competitive area. The outcome of this project will promote the potentially functional applications of boron nitride nanotubes in various nanodevices and nanosensors. It will also offer trainings for Australia's future scientists and will further strengthen international scientific collaboration in these fields.Read moreRead less
Spiritual Ecologies and Customary Governance in Post-conflict East Timor. This project examines the dynamics of a 'return to custom’ in post-conflict East Timor: a set of practices connecting ancestral house communities with complex ecologies upon which people's livelihoods and well-being depend. Drawing on extensive background experience and detailed comparative studies, the project plans to consider the contribution of custom and its inter-generational legacies to the development of sustainabl ....Spiritual Ecologies and Customary Governance in Post-conflict East Timor. This project examines the dynamics of a 'return to custom’ in post-conflict East Timor: a set of practices connecting ancestral house communities with complex ecologies upon which people's livelihoods and well-being depend. Drawing on extensive background experience and detailed comparative studies, the project plans to consider the contribution of custom and its inter-generational legacies to the development of sustainable social and environmental policies of governance. The project is designed to be both a timely study of social renewal in post-conflict societies, and a contribution to the possibilities of sustainable environmental and resource management in East Timor and the wider region.Read moreRead less
Engineering functional nerves using microtailored culture systems. The aim of this work is to develop new culture systems for developing and growing nerves outside of the body. The project will generate knowledge and engineering technology for production of neural implants suitable for medical applications. The availability of engineered nerve grafts to repair neural injuries will improve patient health outcomes.
Demographic consequences of Asian disasters: family dynamics, social capital and migration patterns. This study of the long term demographic consequences of Asian disasters will contribute to development of more effective governmental policies on disaster mitigation, preparedness and reconstruction/recovery, thus assisting to reduce the human and material losses from natural disasters.
Young Australians' perspectives on religions and non-religious worldviews. This project aims to elicit diverse young people’s understandings about religion and belief to inform debate about how education assists or impedes intercultural understanding as well as enhancing wellbeing and social inclusion. Australian governments have invested in programs to promote respect for religious diversity and to counter violent extremism, yet there is no coherent, evidence-based understanding of young Austra ....Young Australians' perspectives on religions and non-religious worldviews. This project aims to elicit diverse young people’s understandings about religion and belief to inform debate about how education assists or impedes intercultural understanding as well as enhancing wellbeing and social inclusion. Australian governments have invested in programs to promote respect for religious diversity and to counter violent extremism, yet there is no coherent, evidence-based understanding of young Australians’ perspectives on religions and nonreligious worldviews. Knowing more about young people's perspectives and what influences them could facilitate development of appropriate educational responses equipping schools to help young Australians to live productively in their diverse society.Read moreRead less
Contemporary contestations over working time: should health weigh in? In the last 30 years, the demand for economic competitiveness has driven the growth in flexible employment conditions, with little consideration of the impacts on the nation’s health. Using mixed methods, the research tests a new theory that when governments deregulate labour markets they destabilise cultural practices, with potential health and well-being consequences. It also determines whether and how the health implication ....Contemporary contestations over working time: should health weigh in? In the last 30 years, the demand for economic competitiveness has driven the growth in flexible employment conditions, with little consideration of the impacts on the nation’s health. Using mixed methods, the research tests a new theory that when governments deregulate labour markets they destabilise cultural practices, with potential health and well-being consequences. It also determines whether and how the health implications of flexible work practices are considered in recent reviews of the Fair Work Act and the Modern Award Review Process. The research fills a policy vacuum in relation to the health impacts of the temporalities of working life, and will contribute to understanding time as both a cultural and economic resource. Read moreRead less
Collecting institutions: cultural diversity and the making of citizenship in Australia since the 1970s. This project will develop the first comprehensive history of the engagement of the Australian collecting sector with cultural diversity. It aims to understand the role of the sector in the management and promotion of culturally diverse societies, including the formation of citizens and to identify Australian innovation in this regard.
Understanding the structure and unusual properties of ion implanted amorphous germanium. This project explores the properties of a semiconductor (germanium) that has become important in fast electronic applications. Its disordered form has unusual properties and their understanding is a main project aim. Outcomes are: fundamental understanding of an important material, and enabling its technological applications to be fully realised.