Strengthening economic resilience in Monsoon Asia. Sharing, reciprocity and resource pooling are at the frontline of recovery and relief when economic crisis or disaster hits Monsoon Asia. This research aims to shed light on cases where these economic practices have been innovatively harnessed to diversify livelihoods and build economic resilience. Working with contemporary Asian scholars, practitioners in the disaster field and a data set gleaned from multiple sources, including mid-20th centur ....Strengthening economic resilience in Monsoon Asia. Sharing, reciprocity and resource pooling are at the frontline of recovery and relief when economic crisis or disaster hits Monsoon Asia. This research aims to shed light on cases where these economic practices have been innovatively harnessed to diversify livelihoods and build economic resilience. Working with contemporary Asian scholars, practitioners in the disaster field and a data set gleaned from multiple sources, including mid-20th century tropical geography texts, the project aims to bring to the fore a regional landscape of diverse economic practices across Monsoon Asia. A cross-regional on-line knowledge community is expected to be formed to explore how this asset base might be mobilised towards more effective local development and disaster response.Read moreRead less
Changing administrative territory. This project analyses how China changes subnational administrative territory – establishing and enlarging cities and eliminating others – to develop regional economies, establish power bases, and govern society. Using systematic data on changes to administrative divisions, this project will analyse how China strategically changes subnational territory to achieve political, economic and social goals – aligning the territorial space of the state with economy and ....Changing administrative territory. This project analyses how China changes subnational administrative territory – establishing and enlarging cities and eliminating others – to develop regional economies, establish power bases, and govern society. Using systematic data on changes to administrative divisions, this project will analyse how China strategically changes subnational territory to achieve political, economic and social goals – aligning the territorial space of the state with economy and citizenship. Results from research in four cities are expected to provide strategic information for establishing city-to-city partnerships as well as insights for economic development and national security.Read moreRead less
The geography of power in China: urban expansion and administrative empire. Understanding the governing relationships among new cities in China reveals how urbanisation has propelled economic growth while invigorating the political power of the Chinese Communist Party. Comparison of differences among seven city regions contributes to understanding how China is a complex composite of highly differentiated places and provinces.
Australia’s role in Global Financial and Production Networks. The project intends to address a major deficit of knowledge about the ways financial centres develop and compete among a network of international centres. Australia’s long-term economic future is closely tied to providing financial services throughout Asia. Yet very little attention has been given to analysing the structures and networks that enable internationalisation, in particular the performance of Sydney and Melbourne as competi ....Australia’s role in Global Financial and Production Networks. The project intends to address a major deficit of knowledge about the ways financial centres develop and compete among a network of international centres. Australia’s long-term economic future is closely tied to providing financial services throughout Asia. Yet very little attention has been given to analysing the structures and networks that enable internationalisation, in particular the performance of Sydney and Melbourne as competitive financial centres within a network of financial centres in East and South-East Asia. Using specialist industry databases and intensive case study methods, this project plans to examine the processes underpinning the growth of this network, map scenarios for the next two decades, and advise on policy implications arising from the 2013–14 Financial System Inquiry.Read moreRead less
Tracing modes of infrastructure financing and their effects on cities. Urban infrastructure is seen to be in crisis. In response, cash-strapped governments defer increasingly to private financiers and operators. This project assesses the changes required of infrastructure to meet the expectations of private finance. It will also assess how infrastructure items are being transformed as modes of finance move from one city to another.
Optimising community-based climate change adaptation in the Pacific Islands. Optimising community-based climate change adaptation in the Pacific Islands. This project aims to evaluate community level climate change interventions in the Pacific to provide guidelines for better practice. The effects of climate change—rising sea levels, more droughts, and more frequent and intense storm activity—have been particularly concentrated in tropical areas such as the Pacific Islands. In response, interven ....Optimising community-based climate change adaptation in the Pacific Islands. Optimising community-based climate change adaptation in the Pacific Islands. This project aims to evaluate community level climate change interventions in the Pacific to provide guidelines for better practice. The effects of climate change—rising sea levels, more droughts, and more frequent and intense storm activity—have been particularly concentrated in tropical areas such as the Pacific Islands. In response, interventions to adapt to a diversity of impacts have accelerated at the community level across the region, but there has been no analysis of their long-term effectiveness in reducing livelihood and resource vulnerability to climate change.Read moreRead less
Rupture: nature-society transformations in mainland Southeast Asia. This project aims to understand the nexus between intense, cumulative processes of socio-ecological change and emerging forms of social agency. Three case studies of Cambodian and Vietnamese dams, and a review of Thai-Lao cases, will reveal local and civil society responses to nature-society rupture and how these responses affect the region, inform advances in environmental change management, and be relevant to Australia's secur ....Rupture: nature-society transformations in mainland Southeast Asia. This project aims to understand the nexus between intense, cumulative processes of socio-ecological change and emerging forms of social agency. Three case studies of Cambodian and Vietnamese dams, and a review of Thai-Lao cases, will reveal local and civil society responses to nature-society rupture and how these responses affect the region, inform advances in environmental change management, and be relevant to Australia's security policies.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