Range dynamics and demographics of spatially structured populations under global change. Why are particular species present in some locations, but not others? This is a simple, fundamental ecological question, yet surprisingly, our answers on this point remain far from complete. Using an integrated, systems-based approach, we will determine the interplay between: (i) birth, death and movement rates, (ii) species interactions, and (iii) the constraints of the physical environment (temperature, ra ....Range dynamics and demographics of spatially structured populations under global change. Why are particular species present in some locations, but not others? This is a simple, fundamental ecological question, yet surprisingly, our answers on this point remain far from complete. Using an integrated, systems-based approach, we will determine the interplay between: (i) birth, death and movement rates, (ii) species interactions, and (iii) the constraints of the physical environment (temperature, rainfall, soil type), which determine the limits of species' ranges. Our models will provide Australian conservation managers with a novel, validated toolbox to explore the trade-offs, and synergies, inherent in trying to adapt to climate change and other stressors on biodiversity.Read moreRead less
A Platform for Rapid and Flexible Development of Context-Aware Web Services. Context awareness is one of the most exciting trends in computing today, and it holds the potential to make our daily life more productive, convenient and enjoyable. The proposed project will produce a comprehensive platform for developing context-aware Web services, which will facilitate ready implementation of many innovative applications and make important contributions to Australian society and the national economy. ....A Platform for Rapid and Flexible Development of Context-Aware Web Services. Context awareness is one of the most exciting trends in computing today, and it holds the potential to make our daily life more productive, convenient and enjoyable. The proposed project will produce a comprehensive platform for developing context-aware Web services, which will facilitate ready implementation of many innovative applications and make important contributions to Australian society and the national economy. One such application is an intelligent seniors assistance service that will improve quality of life for senior citizens while helping them maintain an independent lifestyle. This project will also place Australia at the forefront of Web service development.Read moreRead less
Autobiography of a People: Aboriginal Writing in Queensland, 1890s-1930s. As the recent "history wars" confirm, Australians today care deeply about the colonial past, because its legacies are "all around us and within" (as Oodgeroo noted). This project advances knowledge and conceptual understanding in the key areas of colonial race relations, Indigenous self-representation, and Indigenous literacy. Aboriginal autobiography is an especially effective tool for stimulating the empathetic imaginati ....Autobiography of a People: Aboriginal Writing in Queensland, 1890s-1930s. As the recent "history wars" confirm, Australians today care deeply about the colonial past, because its legacies are "all around us and within" (as Oodgeroo noted). This project advances knowledge and conceptual understanding in the key areas of colonial race relations, Indigenous self-representation, and Indigenous literacy. Aboriginal autobiography is an especially effective tool for stimulating the empathetic imagination, and bridging social, temporal and geographical distances between people. This research will strengthen the nation's social fabric by promoting inter-racial understanding, and by adding historical depth to present thinking about contemporary Aboriginal attitudes to literacy.Read moreRead less
Evolutionary genetics of bovid genomes over 60,000 years. This project will provide data critical for understanding the genetic background of modern cattle and bison, and how humans have shaped factors such as milk yield, growth rates and muscle mass. It will also reveal genes and genomic regions that were favoured in the domestication process, including those potentially linked to genes of commercial interest for future research. This pioneering ancient DNA approach will also be applicable to a ....Evolutionary genetics of bovid genomes over 60,000 years. This project will provide data critical for understanding the genetic background of modern cattle and bison, and how humans have shaped factors such as milk yield, growth rates and muscle mass. It will also reveal genes and genomic regions that were favoured in the domestication process, including those potentially linked to genes of commercial interest for future research. This pioneering ancient DNA approach will also be applicable to a variety of other domestic crops and animals. The unique temporal analysis of microevolution will provide crucial data for genetic research, and groundproof our attempts to analyse the timing and nature of human evolutionary history, major domestication events and inform conservation management.Read moreRead less
Using ancient DNA to investigate the environmental impacts of climate change and humans through time. This project will provide important information about how climate change and human impact have effected our environment over the past 50,000 years, removing many of the large mammals and altering the landscape. It is critical that the background to our current environment is properly understood if we are to predict the effects of on-going changes such as global warming. The research will concent ....Using ancient DNA to investigate the environmental impacts of climate change and humans through time. This project will provide important information about how climate change and human impact have effected our environment over the past 50,000 years, removing many of the large mammals and altering the landscape. It is critical that the background to our current environment is properly understood if we are to predict the effects of on-going changes such as global warming. The research will concentrate on the effects of climate change on large mammals in North and South America, New Zealand, Australia and Africa over this time period, and will examine the additional impact of humans in each location.Read moreRead less
Links across Empire: Australia and India 1880-1925. This project explores links between Australia and India between 1880-1925 and posits that India and Indians provided a foil against which Australians operated as they forged their nation and an Australian identity. It explores links around trade, religion, tourism , travel and the development and operation of the White Australia Policy to demonstrate the 'Othering' of India, but also the circumstances where closer understandings developed. In e ....Links across Empire: Australia and India 1880-1925. This project explores links between Australia and India between 1880-1925 and posits that India and Indians provided a foil against which Australians operated as they forged their nation and an Australian identity. It explores links around trade, religion, tourism , travel and the development and operation of the White Australia Policy to demonstrate the 'Othering' of India, but also the circumstances where closer understandings developed. In exploring relations between two very different colonies it pioneers new aspects of imperial history. It reveals the virtually un-researched history of relationships between Australia and India and thus historicises Australia's place in the Asia-Pacific.Read moreRead less
Shared and Separate Histories: Landscapes of Memory in the Barunga Region, Australia. This research integrates archaeological, documentary and oral evidence to investigate the dynamic relationships between Indigenous people and place over time in the Barunga region, Australia. By mapping the active construction of social landscapes by different groups in the same place, this project illuminates the webs of attachment between people, place and identity during periods of upheaval and change. It ....Shared and Separate Histories: Landscapes of Memory in the Barunga Region, Australia. This research integrates archaeological, documentary and oral evidence to investigate the dynamic relationships between Indigenous people and place over time in the Barunga region, Australia. By mapping the active construction of social landscapes by different groups in the same place, this project illuminates the webs of attachment between people, place and identity during periods of upheaval and change. It records Indigenous histories being lost on a regular basis, contributes to national reconciliation through enhancing understandings of shared histories and advances international debates about the nature of social significance and how best to assess this for Indigenous places.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear Panel Data Econometrics: Theory and Practice. This research addresses the ARC National Research Priorities Goal of 'An Environmentally Sustainable Australia', specifically 'Reducing and capturing emissions in transport and energy generation'. Avoiding, managing, and/or adapting to the climate change impacts is now the most pressing global environmental problem. This project will produce tangible and original insights into policy options for institutional adjustment to future climate ....Nonlinear Panel Data Econometrics: Theory and Practice. This research addresses the ARC National Research Priorities Goal of 'An Environmentally Sustainable Australia', specifically 'Reducing and capturing emissions in transport and energy generation'. Avoiding, managing, and/or adapting to the climate change impacts is now the most pressing global environmental problem. This project will produce tangible and original insights into policy options for institutional adjustment to future climate change in Australia; will provide insight into the scope for positive community behavioural change; and possible transformations in Australian social debate to maximise adaptive capacity. It will also strengthen and produce original conceptual approaches and research methods.Read moreRead less
Reconstructing past population dynamics to understand human and climatic impacts in prehistory. More than 100 species have become extinct since humans first colonised Australia, and over 1000 are considered threatened. This research will determine the factors most strongly governing the interaction between humans and native fauna in Australia over the last 46 millennia. Our approach is powerful and novel because it will effectively draw together multidisciplinary evidence on natural resource exp ....Reconstructing past population dynamics to understand human and climatic impacts in prehistory. More than 100 species have become extinct since humans first colonised Australia, and over 1000 are considered threatened. This research will determine the factors most strongly governing the interaction between humans and native fauna in Australia over the last 46 millennia. Our approach is powerful and novel because it will effectively draw together multidisciplinary evidence on natural resource exploitation and habitat alteration by ancient people, and the influence of dramatic climatic shifts on the Australian biota. Information on past biological responses to environmental change is critical to properly contextualising the current impact, and long-term consequences of, threats such as global warming, habitat loss and invasive species.Read moreRead less
Indigenous Life Narratives and Racial Reconciliation in Australia and South Africa. The project studies the relationship between indigenous storytelling (life narratives, storytelling, testimony)and political campaigns for human rights and racial reconciliation in South Africa and Australia. It analyses the contexts of production, dissemination and consumption of these stories and their effects on indigenous and non-indigenous tellers and listeners within and beyond the respective nations, inclu ....Indigenous Life Narratives and Racial Reconciliation in Australia and South Africa. The project studies the relationship between indigenous storytelling (life narratives, storytelling, testimony)and political campaigns for human rights and racial reconciliation in South Africa and Australia. It analyses the contexts of production, dissemination and consumption of these stories and their effects on indigenous and non-indigenous tellers and listeners within and beyond the respective nations, including the emergence of new national literatures, indigenous identities, discourses on ethics, responsibility and racial reconciliation within and beyond the nations. The study offers a significant theoretical and methodological advance within the emerging field of critical global studies and the changing formations of nationhood.Read moreRead less