A study of the Australian thoroughbred and racing industry and the construction of 'nature'. The thoroughbred breeding and racing industry contributes significantly to national export income, regional development and national identity in Australia. Studying the physical and discursive construction and use of 'nature' (including, soil, grass, water, reproduction and the necessity of the unpredictability of nature) in different phases of breeding and racing improves understandings of technology ad ....A study of the Australian thoroughbred and racing industry and the construction of 'nature'. The thoroughbred breeding and racing industry contributes significantly to national export income, regional development and national identity in Australia. Studying the physical and discursive construction and use of 'nature' (including, soil, grass, water, reproduction and the necessity of the unpredictability of nature) in different phases of breeding and racing improves understandings of technology adoption, human-animal relations, sport and nature. Research outcomes will improve our understanding of this traditionally resilient but now vulnerable industry, thereby enhancing its capacity to adapt to change and remain internationally competitive.Read moreRead less
Building and Ethics: Understanding A Corpus of Contemproary Australian Award-Winning Houses as Responses to Ecological, Social and Built Contexts. The project aims to construct an understanding from an ethical framework of the interrelationships between attitudes, perceptions, rhetorical statements about and actual behaviours of a small corpus of contemporary award-winning Australian houses. The project is significant as it will create a conceptual advance in understanding the ways in which note ....Building and Ethics: Understanding A Corpus of Contemproary Australian Award-Winning Houses as Responses to Ecological, Social and Built Contexts. The project aims to construct an understanding from an ethical framework of the interrelationships between attitudes, perceptions, rhetorical statements about and actual behaviours of a small corpus of contemporary award-winning Australian houses. The project is significant as it will create a conceptual advance in understanding the ways in which noted Australian houses respond in a cohesive ethical manner to ecological, social and built contexts. The expected outcomes include documentation of an (ethical) methodology for a cohesive analysis of buildings to assist the building design and construction industry to make informed decisions in housing design and construction in the Australian context(s).Read moreRead less
Sustainable' sustainability: Preparing Australia's future citizens for informed decision-making through socially responsible science education. This educational study addresses sustainability as a national priority. It focuses on secondary students as future decision makers through developing their ability to respond effectively to national sustainability issues by engaging in dilemma-based science and values learning. Socially responsible science education promotes knowledge and scientific lite ....Sustainable' sustainability: Preparing Australia's future citizens for informed decision-making through socially responsible science education. This educational study addresses sustainability as a national priority. It focuses on secondary students as future decision makers through developing their ability to respond effectively to national sustainability issues by engaging in dilemma-based science and values learning. Socially responsible science education promotes knowledge and scientific literacy skills. Benefits to the community include application of research results to schools, education systems, and universities whose long-term ability to conduct world-class scientific research will partly be dependent on improvements in school science. Since priority research funding promotes science and sustainability research, science education in schools should progress commensurately.Read moreRead less
Encounters with Urban Nature in Australia: An investigation into environmental values, anti-urbanism, multiculturalism, and the transition to urban sustainability. This project offers strategic basic and applied research approaches to overcoming the neglect of moral experience of ?nature? in urban environments so as to further the transition to sustainability in Australia. Working at the intersection of aesthetic, geographical, philosophical, and sociological studies of ecology, this project dev ....Encounters with Urban Nature in Australia: An investigation into environmental values, anti-urbanism, multiculturalism, and the transition to urban sustainability. This project offers strategic basic and applied research approaches to overcoming the neglect of moral experience of ?nature? in urban environments so as to further the transition to sustainability in Australia. Working at the intersection of aesthetic, geographical, philosophical, and sociological studies of ecology, this project develops a comparative qualitative study of three Australian cities. It explores: (1) the paradoxical appeal of anti-urban environmental values to urbanites; (2) the multicultural axis of diversity in urban environmental values; (3) political sites for contesting experiences of ?nature?; and (4) policy opportunities for expression of local synergies between social and biotic well-being in urban ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Intergenerational Justice. The project aims to overcome a major deficiency in philosophical approaches to justice by developing a comprehensive theory about our rights and responsibilities in respect to people who are differently situated in time or in their stage of life. The theory will explain a) why we have responsibilities in respect to future and past people and what these duties are; b) how people in different age groups ought to treat each other; c) what responsibilities belong to genera ....Intergenerational Justice. The project aims to overcome a major deficiency in philosophical approaches to justice by developing a comprehensive theory about our rights and responsibilities in respect to people who are differently situated in time or in their stage of life. The theory will explain a) why we have responsibilities in respect to future and past people and what these duties are; b) how people in different age groups ought to treat each other; c) what responsibilities belong to generational roles (such as ?parent? or ?child?); and d) how all of these duties fit into a more general theory of justice.Read moreRead less
A study of the public understanding of the Great Barrier Reef and its sustainable use. As a national icon, the survival of the Great Barrier Reef is of consequence to all Australians. As pressures on the Reef increase, it is imperative that the cultural heritage and social value of the Reef be recognised, understood, and mobilised to facilitate efforts to preserve the Reef for future generations. Reaching and informing broad and varied audiences in a range of communities, this project encourages ....A study of the public understanding of the Great Barrier Reef and its sustainable use. As a national icon, the survival of the Great Barrier Reef is of consequence to all Australians. As pressures on the Reef increase, it is imperative that the cultural heritage and social value of the Reef be recognised, understood, and mobilised to facilitate efforts to preserve the Reef for future generations. Reaching and informing broad and varied audiences in a range of communities, this project encourages a much wider appreciation of the value and importance of the Reef to Australian culture, and thus provides an important capacity-building step in realising the long-term social goal of sustainable use of the Reef's unique biodiversityRead moreRead less
Basho's Men : Making Poetic Places; Harold Stewart's travelling in Japan/John Wolseley's texts from Japan. This project will produce three books, each an interdisciplinary study that will speak to students of landscape, poetry, religious studies and cultural history in Australia and Japan, and generally contribute to cross-cultural relations in the Asia Pacific region. Also, the project will enhance my teaching relations with foreign students, particularly Japanese students, at the Australian Ce ....Basho's Men : Making Poetic Places; Harold Stewart's travelling in Japan/John Wolseley's texts from Japan. This project will produce three books, each an interdisciplinary study that will speak to students of landscape, poetry, religious studies and cultural history in Australia and Japan, and generally contribute to cross-cultural relations in the Asia Pacific region. Also, the project will enhance my teaching relations with foreign students, particularly Japanese students, at the Australian Centre, University of Melbourne. Read moreRead less
Autonomy and Identity: A Relational Theory. Autonomy is widely regarded as an important value in liberal democratic societies and underpins many of the basic rights and legal protections enjoyed by citizens. The principle of respect for autonomy is a guiding ethical principle in a range of areas, including in medical and legal contexts, for example in requirements regarding informed consent, and in ethical guidelines governing protocols for research involving human subjects. A better understandi ....Autonomy and Identity: A Relational Theory. Autonomy is widely regarded as an important value in liberal democratic societies and underpins many of the basic rights and legal protections enjoyed by citizens. The principle of respect for autonomy is a guiding ethical principle in a range of areas, including in medical and legal contexts, for example in requirements regarding informed consent, and in ethical guidelines governing protocols for research involving human subjects. A better understanding of autonomy and its relationship to the social context has the potential to produce indirect socio-economic benefits by informing theory and practice in these and other areas. Read moreRead less