A cross-national study of the relative impact of an oral component on PhD examination quality, language and practice. High quality doctoral degrees call for the most effective forms of assessment. This project investigates the role of oral examination in PhD assessment, common internationally but not in Australia, and is the first to compare the relative impact of oral and 'no oral' models on examination quality, language and practice.
Belonging and sexual citizenship among gender and sexual minority youth. In the context of well-documented threats to the mental health and well-being of minority young people, this project will examine the experiences of two different generations of gender and sexual minority youth growing up in Australia, and the sources of support they have found most useful. Innovative contextual analysis will involve documentary and archival research alongside individual and group interviews. Through a focu ....Belonging and sexual citizenship among gender and sexual minority youth. In the context of well-documented threats to the mental health and well-being of minority young people, this project will examine the experiences of two different generations of gender and sexual minority youth growing up in Australia, and the sources of support they have found most useful. Innovative contextual analysis will involve documentary and archival research alongside individual and group interviews. Through a focus on the promotion of well-being and participatory citizenship in a rapidly changing social world, the findings aim to contribute new theory concerning transitions from youth to adulthood, improved methodology for the study of marginal and sometimes hard-to-reach populations, and better quality policy and practice.Read moreRead less
The 6dF Galaxy Survey - Mass and Motions in the Nearby Universe. The 6dF Galaxy Survey will yield by far the largest and most detailed map of the positions and motions of galaxies in the nearby universe. The goal of the survey is to determine the distributions of both the galaxies and the dark matter in order to measure fundamental cosmological parameters and constrain models of galaxy formation. The survey will cover the whole southern hemisphere, measuring redshifts for 120,000 galaxies and di ....The 6dF Galaxy Survey - Mass and Motions in the Nearby Universe. The 6dF Galaxy Survey will yield by far the largest and most detailed map of the positions and motions of galaxies in the nearby universe. The goal of the survey is to determine the distributions of both the galaxies and the dark matter in order to measure fundamental cosmological parameters and constrain models of galaxy formation. The survey will cover the whole southern hemisphere, measuring redshifts for 120,000 galaxies and distances and motions for 15,000 galaxies. The survey will use the unique 6dF robotic fibre spectrograph we have constructed for the Anglo-Australian Observatory's Schmidt Telescope.Read moreRead less
Processing mathematics tasks: the nature and role of visual and non-visual reasoning in digital and non-digital environments. Within the next four years, it is likely that the National Assessment Plan for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will be administered in a digital mode. This project identifies differences between the delivery of mathematics assessment in pencil-and-paper and computer-based modes. Primary students' mathematics reasoning is compared across these modes and to cohorts from Sing ....Processing mathematics tasks: the nature and role of visual and non-visual reasoning in digital and non-digital environments. Within the next four years, it is likely that the National Assessment Plan for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will be administered in a digital mode. This project identifies differences between the delivery of mathematics assessment in pencil-and-paper and computer-based modes. Primary students' mathematics reasoning is compared across these modes and to cohorts from Singapore.Read moreRead less
Building on rural knowledges to unlock the potential of rural students. This project aims to advance understanding of the distinctive knowledges that rural students bring to school and develop teaching practices that build on these rural knowledges to unlock the potential of this significant student population. The project involves collaborating with rural primary schools, teachers, students and communities to identify rural knowledges, study classroom practices in detail, and develop sustainabl ....Building on rural knowledges to unlock the potential of rural students. This project aims to advance understanding of the distinctive knowledges that rural students bring to school and develop teaching practices that build on these rural knowledges to unlock the potential of this significant student population. The project involves collaborating with rural primary schools, teachers, students and communities to identify rural knowledges, study classroom practices in detail, and develop sustainable teaching practices that help students connect rural knowledges and school knowledge. Expected outcomes include a framework of place-based teaching practices and resources that will benefit rural schooling, teacher education, and the education of communities crucial to the nation’s future wealth and welfare.Read moreRead less
Force from lipids: the role of the lipid bilayer in mechanosensory transduction. The proposed research will significantly contribute to a better understanding of the wide range of physiological processes underlying mechanosensory transduction in living cells. The direct benefit for Australian science consists of: (i) strengthening international links with leading overseas laboratories, and (ii) accessing the state-of-the-art expertise not available in Australia. The acquired knowledge will aid i ....Force from lipids: the role of the lipid bilayer in mechanosensory transduction. The proposed research will significantly contribute to a better understanding of the wide range of physiological processes underlying mechanosensory transduction in living cells. The direct benefit for Australian science consists of: (i) strengthening international links with leading overseas laboratories, and (ii) accessing the state-of-the-art expertise not available in Australia. The acquired knowledge will aid in developing and designing artificial tactile sensors inspired by their biological models studied in this project. Long-term, the project is expected to make an original contribution towards developing new technologies and novel medical applications, both of which promise to be of great national benefit.Read moreRead less
Reliable and accurate statistical solutions for modern complex data. This project aims to develop novel methods for reliable and accurate statistical modelling with modern, complex correlated and error-prone data. The project expects to make significant strides towards future-proofing statistical data analysis, equipping practitioners with a suite of robust and computationally efficient methods which provide confidence in the stability and reproducibility of results obtained, while offering guar ....Reliable and accurate statistical solutions for modern complex data. This project aims to develop novel methods for reliable and accurate statistical modelling with modern, complex correlated and error-prone data. The project expects to make significant strides towards future-proofing statistical data analysis, equipping practitioners with a suite of robust and computationally efficient methods which provide confidence in the stability and reproducibility of results obtained, while offering guarantees on their transferability over a range of populations. This will provide important benefits as they are applied in predicting endangered marine species for fisheries conservation, and in enhancing our national understanding of the relationship between education achievement and financial success. Read moreRead less
Force-from-lipids biophysical principle underlying mechanotransduction. The major aim of this project is to determine evolutionary conserved physical principles of mechanotransduction in living cells through structure and function studies of PIEZO mechanoreceptor channels playing a crucial role in senses such as touch and pain in animals and humans. Mutations in these channels can cause numerous genetic disorders, including hereditary anaemias and joint contractures. Since they have been shown t ....Force-from-lipids biophysical principle underlying mechanotransduction. The major aim of this project is to determine evolutionary conserved physical principles of mechanotransduction in living cells through structure and function studies of PIEZO mechanoreceptor channels playing a crucial role in senses such as touch and pain in animals and humans. Mutations in these channels can cause numerous genetic disorders, including hereditary anaemias and joint contractures. Since they have been shown to respond to mechanical stimuli in the same manner as mechanoreceptor channels of organisms from bacteria to humans the intended outcome of this project is to uncover the unifying principles of mechanotransduction anchored in the laws of physics and chemistry that have guided the force-dependent design of all life forms.Read moreRead less
3000 Years of settlement and interaction in southern Vanuatu. This project aims to conduct an archaeological survey of Vanuatu. One of archaeology's most significant contributions is providing models for the emergence of cultural diversity through time. Vanuatu is one of the most diverse regions on Earth. The southern islands were an important hub in early settlement and long-term inter-island interactions of Island Melanesia. Yet little is known about the origins of cultural contacts and divers ....3000 Years of settlement and interaction in southern Vanuatu. This project aims to conduct an archaeological survey of Vanuatu. One of archaeology's most significant contributions is providing models for the emergence of cultural diversity through time. Vanuatu is one of the most diverse regions on Earth. The southern islands were an important hub in early settlement and long-term inter-island interactions of Island Melanesia. Yet little is known about the origins of cultural contacts and diversity in the area. A major archaeological survey of the Polynesian outliers Futuna and Aniwa and neighbouring islands Tanna and Aneityum would greatly improve our knowledge of settlement patterns, long-distance exchange, and cross-cultural interaction in the region, from initial Lapita settlement 3000 years ago through to the arrival of Christian missionaries in the 1860s.Read moreRead less
The digitisation of school health and physical education. While there is growing enthusiasm for using digital technology in school health and physical education (HPE), this is happening in the absence of systematic empirical research. This project aims to describe the forms digital HPE is taking, analyse the commercial and ideological forces shaping it, and discuss its impacts. It aims to provide educational stakeholders with a knowledge base on which to anchor debate, policy and further researc ....The digitisation of school health and physical education. While there is growing enthusiasm for using digital technology in school health and physical education (HPE), this is happening in the absence of systematic empirical research. This project aims to describe the forms digital HPE is taking, analyse the commercial and ideological forces shaping it, and discuss its impacts. It aims to provide educational stakeholders with a knowledge base on which to anchor debate, policy and further research concerning the complex ethical and philosophical issues raised by the digitisation of HPE. As the first HPE research grounded in theories of digital culture, the project also aims to challenge the intellectual foundations of HPE teacher training as well as widely held views about the public health role of schools.Read moreRead less