Understanding multiday cycles underpinning human physiology. We recently discovered long-term rhythms modulating activities of our brains and hearts ranging in duration from 3-60 days. The cause of these longer, ‘multiday cycles’ remain unknown. This project aims to understand; causes of multiday cycles (measuring the nervous and autonomic nervous system), their effects (on cognition, sleep, and stress), and quantify the relationship between coupled cyclical systems. The research outcomes can pr ....Understanding multiday cycles underpinning human physiology. We recently discovered long-term rhythms modulating activities of our brains and hearts ranging in duration from 3-60 days. The cause of these longer, ‘multiday cycles’ remain unknown. This project aims to understand; causes of multiday cycles (measuring the nervous and autonomic nervous system), their effects (on cognition, sleep, and stress), and quantify the relationship between coupled cyclical systems. The research outcomes can provide fundamental new knowledge about cyclic dynamics governing human physiology, leading to improved rigour in life sciences research. Commercial outcomes include technology to optimise individual productivity, learning, health, and wellbeing based on physiological cycles, with diverse benefits to society.Read moreRead less
Novel mechanisms by which retinal microglia regulate vascular development. This project aims to investigate how immune cells called microglia refine the developing retinal vasculature. New knowledge utilizing state of art imaging techniques is likely to be examine a completely novel mechanism by which vascular development occurs. This information is critical for enhancing our understanding of the role of immune cells in the nervous system and will guide the development of new ways of examining t ....Novel mechanisms by which retinal microglia regulate vascular development. This project aims to investigate how immune cells called microglia refine the developing retinal vasculature. New knowledge utilizing state of art imaging techniques is likely to be examine a completely novel mechanism by which vascular development occurs. This information is critical for enhancing our understanding of the role of immune cells in the nervous system and will guide the development of new ways of examining these cells. Expected outcomes include a novel way for assessing microglia in the developing nervous system and new knowledge. In the longer term the information gained in this project may be helpful for understanding scenarios where blood vessels are abnormal, or for using microglia as a target to modify vascular function.Read moreRead less
Visualising Retinal Microglia as a Window into Brain Inflammation. This project aims to use the unique autofluorescence signature of immune cells, microglia, imaged in the retina, as an index of brain inflammation. This project expects to provide the fundamental knowledge to allow us to image microglia non-invasively and identify the presence of brain inflammation without needing to access the brain-proper. Expected outcomes include full characterisation of microglial autofluorescence in the ret ....Visualising Retinal Microglia as a Window into Brain Inflammation. This project aims to use the unique autofluorescence signature of immune cells, microglia, imaged in the retina, as an index of brain inflammation. This project expects to provide the fundamental knowledge to allow us to image microglia non-invasively and identify the presence of brain inflammation without needing to access the brain-proper. Expected outcomes include full characterisation of microglial autofluorescence in the retina and how it relates to brain inflammation. This should provide significant downstream benefits for the detection of inflammatory brain disease well before visible symptoms develop with substantial benefit for livestock, pets, zoo and conservation animals, as well as research knowledge. 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
A study of China’s south to north water transfer project. This project aims to investigate the motives, processes, and socio-political and hydrological consequences of the South-North Water Transfer (SNWT) in China, the world’s largest inter-basin water network. It connects four major river basins, six provinces, three megacities and over 700 million people. This project will analyse the SNWT's governance regime; its effects on local and regional flows of water, money, people, pollutants, produc ....A study of China’s south to north water transfer project. This project aims to investigate the motives, processes, and socio-political and hydrological consequences of the South-North Water Transfer (SNWT) in China, the world’s largest inter-basin water network. It connects four major river basins, six provinces, three megacities and over 700 million people. This project will analyse the SNWT's governance regime; its effects on local and regional flows of water, money, people, pollutants, production and political authority; and the interactions between these systemic and local changes. This project expects to produce knowledge about the politics of vast technologies, and the management of inter-basin water schemes in Australia and globally.Read moreRead less
Understanding the role of digital technologies in addressing loneliness. This sociological project aims to develop a new approach to understanding the role of digital technologies in efforts to overcome loneliness. The team expects to generate new knowledge of how digital technologies are used by people who feel lonely and applied in policies and programs, using an innovative approach to explore different views, gaining the essential knowledge for assisting lonely Australians, and building much- ....Understanding the role of digital technologies in addressing loneliness. This sociological project aims to develop a new approach to understanding the role of digital technologies in efforts to overcome loneliness. The team expects to generate new knowledge of how digital technologies are used by people who feel lonely and applied in policies and programs, using an innovative approach to explore different views, gaining the essential knowledge for assisting lonely Australians, and building much-needed research capacity in the sociology of loneliness and digital technologies. This should provide significant benefits such as a deep understanding of the sociocultural factors that influence people’s use of digital technologies to address loneliness, and evidence-based support for effective strategies and policies.Read moreRead less
Ethical and Social Issues in Translating Epigenetics into Antenatal Care. This project aims to investigate how knowledge about the intergenerational transmission of health and disease is shaping antenatal care in Australia. It expects to generate new knowledge about how the science of epigenetics can be used to address social inequality and is anticipated to have impact across the social sciences, bioethics and public health. Expected outcomes of the project include novel theoretical approaches ....Ethical and Social Issues in Translating Epigenetics into Antenatal Care. This project aims to investigate how knowledge about the intergenerational transmission of health and disease is shaping antenatal care in Australia. It expects to generate new knowledge about how the science of epigenetics can be used to address social inequality and is anticipated to have impact across the social sciences, bioethics and public health. Expected outcomes of the project include novel theoretical approaches to the ethics of pregnancy, along with guidance tools to shape the use of epigenetics in antenatal care and social policy to reduce social inequalities. This should provide significant benefits, improving information and support available to vulnerable women as they negotiate maternal health and social services. Read moreRead less
Sea-level rise and everyday lives in small island states. This project aims to advance understanding of the impacts of sea-level rise and associated policy responses on the everyday lives of island communities. Focusing on village relocation in Fiji and fortification and land reclamation in the Maldives, the project will analyse people's changing everyday experiences and practices. The project seeks to enable international and interdisciplinary collaborations, and to produce new knowledge on the ....Sea-level rise and everyday lives in small island states. This project aims to advance understanding of the impacts of sea-level rise and associated policy responses on the everyday lives of island communities. Focusing on village relocation in Fiji and fortification and land reclamation in the Maldives, the project will analyse people's changing everyday experiences and practices. The project seeks to enable international and interdisciplinary collaborations, and to produce new knowledge on the opportunities and challenges of diverse policy responses to sea-level rise. The project’s findings will be beneficial for countries facing the threat of sea-level rise, as well as national governments and international agencies that support and fund climate adaptation.Read moreRead less
Reclaiming Child Rights: Activism, Public Inquiries and Social Change. This project aims to develop an historical sociology of activism against institutional child abuse from the 1990s to the present. It examines the reform strategies, actions and rationales of activists before, during and after the Child Abuse Royal Commission using media-rich methods, and it investigates the mobilisation of child rights discourse in Australia and internationally. The project expects to generate new insights in ....Reclaiming Child Rights: Activism, Public Inquiries and Social Change. This project aims to develop an historical sociology of activism against institutional child abuse from the 1990s to the present. It examines the reform strategies, actions and rationales of activists before, during and after the Child Abuse Royal Commission using media-rich methods, and it investigates the mobilisation of child rights discourse in Australia and internationally. The project expects to generate new insights into child rights and activism, new understandings of a globally significant Royal Commission, and new knowledge on research translation. Expected outcomes and benefits include an archive of activist stories, a digital memory project, and a new model for public engagement with sensitive topics.Read moreRead less
Precarious Dwelling: Encounters with housing crisis. This project aims to investigate the hidden impact and lived experience of housing insecurity. Using an innovative ethnography and policy analysis, the project will generate new knowledge about how people practice dwelling under conditions of dispossession, forced relocation or homelessness and the policy settings that create and sustain those conditions. The intended outcome is a holistic understanding of the lived experience and impacts of p ....Precarious Dwelling: Encounters with housing crisis. This project aims to investigate the hidden impact and lived experience of housing insecurity. Using an innovative ethnography and policy analysis, the project will generate new knowledge about how people practice dwelling under conditions of dispossession, forced relocation or homelessness and the policy settings that create and sustain those conditions. The intended outcome is a holistic understanding of the lived experience and impacts of precarity and the policy changes necessary to remedy its conditions. This should provide benefits to people experiencing precarity, support policy makers to understand the implications of different policy choices, and inform public understanding about contemporary housing and urban conditions. Read moreRead less