Tibet's rivers in the Anthropocene: history and present trajectories. This project aims to produce a multifaceted history of the eastern Tibetan Plateau's rivers, focusing on the increasing human impacts during the Anthropocene. It will combine data from archival, cultural and oral sources in multiple languages with the results of scientific studies of river flow, water quality, and sediment, ice, and tree-rings analysis. The project will produce both historical narratives and graphic representa ....Tibet's rivers in the Anthropocene: history and present trajectories. This project aims to produce a multifaceted history of the eastern Tibetan Plateau's rivers, focusing on the increasing human impacts during the Anthropocene. It will combine data from archival, cultural and oral sources in multiple languages with the results of scientific studies of river flow, water quality, and sediment, ice, and tree-rings analysis. The project will produce both historical narratives and graphic representations that model past land and water usage. The results of the project will underpin environmental policy for this hydrologically and ecologically crucial region, including the development of a paradigm of care based on the region's indigenous cultural resources.Read moreRead less
Life, living and livelihoods in satellite cities: new urban forms in India . This project aims to assess the success of satellite cities, conceived as possible solutions to the urgent challenge of rapid urban growth in today’s megacities. Through an ethnography of an Indian satellite city, Mahindra World City, this project aims to generate knowledge on new urban formations and the consequences of experiments in urban development for different socio-economic groups. Understanding the lived experi ....Life, living and livelihoods in satellite cities: new urban forms in India . This project aims to assess the success of satellite cities, conceived as possible solutions to the urgent challenge of rapid urban growth in today’s megacities. Through an ethnography of an Indian satellite city, Mahindra World City, this project aims to generate knowledge on new urban formations and the consequences of experiments in urban development for different socio-economic groups. Understanding the lived experiences of residents/workers in satellite cities aims to form a robust evidence base for research driven dialogue with policy makers, planners and developers. Lessons derived are expected to inform policy and practice as to how to achieve wellbeing for urban residents, while providing indications of Asia’s urban futures.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101522
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,000.00
Summary
The politics of torture in Myanmar and Thailand. This project aims to explore how torture occurs in Asian countries of political, economic and strategic importance to Australia. Torture is by many accounts routine practice for police and security forces across Asia. How is torture possible? What role is it playing? By documenting where, when and how torture occurs, this project aims to determine what torture constitutes and analyse the politics that enable it. It is anticipated that information ....The politics of torture in Myanmar and Thailand. This project aims to explore how torture occurs in Asian countries of political, economic and strategic importance to Australia. Torture is by many accounts routine practice for police and security forces across Asia. How is torture possible? What role is it playing? By documenting where, when and how torture occurs, this project aims to determine what torture constitutes and analyse the politics that enable it. It is anticipated that information from the project could be used to develop effective interventions to address torture. The project also anticipates contributing to policy-oriented debate on whether torture can be eliminated, or merely suppressed.Read moreRead less
Antimicrobial resistance, inequality and development in India. This project aims to provide an analysis of the cultural and social drivers behind the threat of antimicrobial resistance in India. As the highest consumer of antibiotics globally, India is central to the global challenge of addressing antimicrobial resistance. This project will focus on antimicrobial resistance as a distinctly social problem. The intended outcomes include a deep understanding of how the crisis is unfolding in India ....Antimicrobial resistance, inequality and development in India. This project aims to provide an analysis of the cultural and social drivers behind the threat of antimicrobial resistance in India. As the highest consumer of antibiotics globally, India is central to the global challenge of addressing antimicrobial resistance. This project will focus on antimicrobial resistance as a distinctly social problem. The intended outcomes include a deep understanding of how the crisis is unfolding in India at the nexus of poverty, weak governance and embedded cultural practices. Anticipated findings will generate policy-relevant outputs to optimise antimicrobial use, position Australia as a leading voice in addressing a global threat, and prepare Australia against the specific issue of microbial resistance.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL120100155
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,796,420.00
Summary
Informal life politics in the remaking of Northeast Asia: from Cold War to post-Cold War. This project will create a new approach to our understanding of non-state politics and social change in Northeast Asia as that region completes its crucial transition to a post-Cold War order. It will advance scholarship in area studies and strengthen Australia's place as a world-leading centre for the study of Northeast Asia.
The Commercialization of Ritual and Transformation of Kinship in Urban China. This project analyses transformations in the practice of kinship in urban China by examining the commercial enterprises that conduct funerals and weddings. Through a focus on the imagination of kinship performed in these rituals, it will address major scholarly debates on three topics: the relationship between urbanisation and practices of kinship; the wider social ramifications of the commercialisation of ritual; and ....The Commercialization of Ritual and Transformation of Kinship in Urban China. This project analyses transformations in the practice of kinship in urban China by examining the commercial enterprises that conduct funerals and weddings. Through a focus on the imagination of kinship performed in these rituals, it will address major scholarly debates on three topics: the relationship between urbanisation and practices of kinship; the wider social ramifications of the commercialisation of ritual; and how to theorise Chinese modernity. In addition to contributing to theoretical debates, the project will make a major empirical contribution to China studies by providing the first systematic depiction of contemporary urban funerals.Read moreRead less
Women, politics and democracy: political labour in India and Indonesia . This project aims to advance understandings of Asia's two largest democracies through an examination of the pathways and dead-ends to political power for women in India and Indonesia. Research of women's everyday political labour will examine their contributions to generating different forms of power, and their adverse incorporation into political structures. The comparative ethnographic approach will lead to the developme ....Women, politics and democracy: political labour in India and Indonesia . This project aims to advance understandings of Asia's two largest democracies through an examination of the pathways and dead-ends to political power for women in India and Indonesia. Research of women's everyday political labour will examine their contributions to generating different forms of power, and their adverse incorporation into political structures. The comparative ethnographic approach will lead to the development of analytical and conceptual tools to understand democracy across different socio-historical contexts. The project aims to produce policy and practice relevant knowledge to increase the meaningful participation of women in politics in India and Indonesia, with comparative lessons for other countries Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100857
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$369,354.00
Summary
Local Memories and Nation-building in Timor-Leste and Bougainville. It is well known that, in post-conflict societies, political elites portray and memorialise the past in the service of nation-building. Far less attention has been paid to the relationship between local memory practices and nation-building. By examining how community members in Timor-Leste and Bougainville commemorate the past, construct monuments, undertake reconciliation practices and ritually rebury the dead, this project aim ....Local Memories and Nation-building in Timor-Leste and Bougainville. It is well known that, in post-conflict societies, political elites portray and memorialise the past in the service of nation-building. Far less attention has been paid to the relationship between local memory practices and nation-building. By examining how community members in Timor-Leste and Bougainville commemorate the past, construct monuments, undertake reconciliation practices and ritually rebury the dead, this project aims to reveal how citizens' collective memories are shaping nations. This research aims to contribute new theoretical understandings of the relationship between memory and nation-building, while also influencing policy debates on peace-building and transitional justice after conflict.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100573
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,699.00
Summary
Glasnost for Myanmar? Political cultures in transition. Myanmar is a major country in Southeast Asia and has since 2008 made moves towards more democratic government. This project will research and explain this period of transition in terms of political cultures. It will provide guidance on the processes of democratisation underway in a society that has experienced long-term military rule.
Local responses to missing persons and post-conflict peacebuilding . This project aims to fundamentally reshape dominant thinking on the problem of missing persons in post-conflict peacebuilding. Through the first large-scale comparative ethnography of Timor-Leste and Sri Lanka, the research will bring local community approaches, needs and practices around the missing in from the margins to the centre of scholarly analysis and practice. Outcomes include new knowledge about local agency and commu ....Local responses to missing persons and post-conflict peacebuilding . This project aims to fundamentally reshape dominant thinking on the problem of missing persons in post-conflict peacebuilding. Through the first large-scale comparative ethnography of Timor-Leste and Sri Lanka, the research will bring local community approaches, needs and practices around the missing in from the margins to the centre of scholarly analysis and practice. Outcomes include new knowledge about local agency and community understandings of the missing that are relevant to peacebuilding, and enhanced collaborations with scholars and policymakers. Expected benefits include improved international, state and NGO responses to missing persons to meet the needs of families and communities and facilitate sustainable peace after conflict.Read moreRead less