Facilitating the decline of unsustainable urban infrastructure. Two kinds of process bring sustainable socio-technical practices into the mainstream: those supporting adoption of alternatives (much studied already), and those facilitating decline of superseded practices (seriously neglected so far). Exposing that second and less visible side of the coin, this research aims to develop a more holistic and balanced theory than current advocacy-based accounts of urban infrastructure change, and insi ....Facilitating the decline of unsustainable urban infrastructure. Two kinds of process bring sustainable socio-technical practices into the mainstream: those supporting adoption of alternatives (much studied already), and those facilitating decline of superseded practices (seriously neglected so far). Exposing that second and less visible side of the coin, this research aims to develop a more holistic and balanced theory than current advocacy-based accounts of urban infrastructure change, and insights into the 'interface' between discarding the old and adopting the new. To complement theory, it aims to offer the first empirical study of processes that weaken old paradigms. Outcomes are expected to include a new research agenda and a practitioner toolkit for addressing institutional barriers to sustainability transitions.Read moreRead less
Institutional transitions to sustainable agriculture: An inter-disciplinary analysis of a novel common-property resource governance system. Efforts to overcome the severe degradation of land resources supporting agriculture and human communities continue to be constrained by institutions and social norms. The knowledge needed for a transition to sustainable agricultural landscapes through institutional change is inadequate. A collaboration between specialists in economics, politics, sociology, ....Institutional transitions to sustainable agriculture: An inter-disciplinary analysis of a novel common-property resource governance system. Efforts to overcome the severe degradation of land resources supporting agriculture and human communities continue to be constrained by institutions and social norms. The knowledge needed for a transition to sustainable agricultural landscapes through institutional change is inadequate. A collaboration between specialists in economics, politics, sociology, ecology and soil science at the University of New England and graziers in an upper Murray-Darling subcatchment will analyse the transition to a common-property institution on this subcatchment. It will make a distinctively Australian contribution to international efforts to understand such transitions, and serve as a model for progress towards sustainability elsewhere in Australia.
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Acceptability of reclaimed water use in urban Australia: Establishing a baseline and variations based on experience, consultation and trust. Under current, prolonged drought conditions, with the reappearance of water restrictions in major cities, the widely identified need for research into social factors that affect public acceptance of water reuse is increasingly urgent. This project will produce national baseline data on the public acceptability of water reuse, and its predictors. This benc ....Acceptability of reclaimed water use in urban Australia: Establishing a baseline and variations based on experience, consultation and trust. Under current, prolonged drought conditions, with the reappearance of water restrictions in major cities, the widely identified need for research into social factors that affect public acceptance of water reuse is increasingly urgent. This project will produce national baseline data on the public acceptability of water reuse, and its predictors. This benchmark data will be compared with results from case studies of implemented or mooted water reuse projects, focusing on the impact of differing public consultation and other implementation processes in public acceptance of water reuse. The role of risk perceptions and trust in relevant authorities will be explored.Read moreRead less
The actor and institutional dynamics in emerging socio-technical transitions. The project addresses the translation of environmental resource policies to widespread practice in the face of institutional inertia. The outcome informs the design of policy mechanisms for enabling the emergence and mainstreaming of alternative resource technologies and consolidates Australia's leadership in urban water resource management.
Managing innovation with a policy-relevant framework to assess the social consequences of technological developments. A framework to assess the social consequences of new technologies will enable their benefits to be maximised and impacts lessened. By considering impacts during development and before release, design criteria can be broadened, appropriate management and mitigation measures implemented and appropriate regulatory conditions established. Interested parties can participate in discuss ....Managing innovation with a policy-relevant framework to assess the social consequences of technological developments. A framework to assess the social consequences of new technologies will enable their benefits to be maximised and impacts lessened. By considering impacts during development and before release, design criteria can be broadened, appropriate management and mitigation measures implemented and appropriate regulatory conditions established. Interested parties can participate in discussions about technology directions at an early stage, allowing technological development that is more democratic and less obstructed by conflict. Society benefits by having socially-appropriate and socially-acceptable technologies. Industry benefits from clearer technology development paths and a better understanding of potential social impacts of new technology.Read moreRead less
Protecting Australia’s food future: shared responsibility for biosecurity. This project aims to investigate whether Australia’s ‘shared responsibility’ approach to biosecurity is capable of facing the growing threat from exotic pests and diseases. Through the analysis of policy documents and the use of semi-structured interviews, this project intends to contribute to a deeper understanding of the inter- and intra-organisational characteristics that influence implementation of biosecurity. Expect ....Protecting Australia’s food future: shared responsibility for biosecurity. This project aims to investigate whether Australia’s ‘shared responsibility’ approach to biosecurity is capable of facing the growing threat from exotic pests and diseases. Through the analysis of policy documents and the use of semi-structured interviews, this project intends to contribute to a deeper understanding of the inter- and intra-organisational characteristics that influence implementation of biosecurity. Expected outcomes include crucial insights into the capacity of a shared responsibility approach to protect agri-food production against biological threats, and the forms of institutional change that may be needed to enhance responsiveness to those threats. This in turn will benefit Australia's biosecurity system.Read moreRead less
The re-emergence of political labour in Indonesia. This project examines trade unions' attempts to encourage Indonesian political parties to think less about charismatic leadership and money politics and more about policy. The project will document and analyse unionists' strategies for the upcoming local and national elections and assess their efficacy and impact on the outcomes of those elections.
Unions and Regional Regeneration. Unions face many challenges in older industrial regions, where they previously have had a strong presence. Successful regeneration of such regions depends on the active involvement of unions and their members as well as business. In some places, however, unions have remained marginal to these processes. Not only does this project extend theory on union purpose, capacities and organisation in support of economic, political and environmental change towards sustain ....Unions and Regional Regeneration. Unions face many challenges in older industrial regions, where they previously have had a strong presence. Successful regeneration of such regions depends on the active involvement of unions and their members as well as business. In some places, however, unions have remained marginal to these processes. Not only does this project extend theory on union purpose, capacities and organisation in support of economic, political and environmental change towards sustainable futures, it applies a novel combination of methods. This application examines the consequences of involvement and non-involvement in these processes. The project seeks to extend theories of social change and social mobilisation.Read moreRead less
The meaning of work, well-being and the changing terms, times and spaces of service sector jobs. This research investigates how work and its terms, timing, technologies and location are changing, and how these affect well-being. It will analyse the meaning that service sector workers draw from work, and how workers at the top (like professionals and consultants) compare with those at the lower end (like carers and cleaners).
Building gender equity and diversity in the Australian construction industry. This project will investigate the construction industry's informal gender rules and their role in inhibiting policy measures to improve gender equity and diversity in the industry's professional ranks. The project will make innovative recommendations for shifting the stubborn gender imbalance.