Australia a space-faring nation: imaginaries and practices of space futures. This project investigates the challenges, opportunities and implications of outer space as a site of economic, political, environmental and cultural interest for Australia. Combining ethnography and creative practice, the project analyses how a range of imaginaries of outer space are produced through a study of the development of Australia’s National Space Agency, the role of new venture capital firms in Australia, and ....Australia a space-faring nation: imaginaries and practices of space futures. This project investigates the challenges, opportunities and implications of outer space as a site of economic, political, environmental and cultural interest for Australia. Combining ethnography and creative practice, the project analyses how a range of imaginaries of outer space are produced through a study of the development of Australia’s National Space Agency, the role of new venture capital firms in Australia, and scientific research on alien life in terrestrial analogue sites in Australia, the U.S and Chile. Research outputs will contribute to national research capacity in social studies of science, foster opportunities for international interdisciplinary collaborations, and inspire Australian public engagement with space research. Read moreRead less
How digital on-demand mobile work is transforming Australian cities. This project aims to investigate how the rapid rise of digital on-demand mobile work is transforming Australian cities by evaluating its diverse impacts on consumers, workers and industries. Through world-first qualitative research, this project expects to generate new knowledge of the social transformations taking place using cutting-edge theories of mobilities, technologies and labour. Expected outcomes of this project includ ....How digital on-demand mobile work is transforming Australian cities. This project aims to investigate how the rapid rise of digital on-demand mobile work is transforming Australian cities by evaluating its diverse impacts on consumers, workers and industries. Through world-first qualitative research, this project expects to generate new knowledge of the social transformations taking place using cutting-edge theories of mobilities, technologies and labour. Expected outcomes of this project include enhancing Australia’s research capacity in this area through the development of international collaborations. The project should provide significant benefits to a range of stakeholders by identifying opportunities for socially just interventions by the state, urban governance, industry and the community.Read moreRead less
Society and climate change: A social analysis of new technology. The project aims to explore the likely unintended social consequences and disruption of technological responses to climate change. Responses to climate change often involve imagined technological innovation, including geo-engineering (or the modification of the global environment), newer forms of energy such as solar, wind or biofuels, and social technologies such as carbon trading. Both technological innovations and fantasies abou ....Society and climate change: A social analysis of new technology. The project aims to explore the likely unintended social consequences and disruption of technological responses to climate change. Responses to climate change often involve imagined technological innovation, including geo-engineering (or the modification of the global environment), newer forms of energy such as solar, wind or biofuels, and social technologies such as carbon trading. Both technological innovations and fantasies about technologies can disrupt social and economic life, and are themselves disrupted by the social processes involved in deployment. This investigation could make informed, acceptable, and possible technological adaptation more possible.Read moreRead less