Impact of evaluation-based funding on the content of scientific research. Evidence suggests that evaluation-based funding mechanisms trigger adaptive behaviour in scientists, leading to unintended changes in knowledge production. However, there is no conclusive evidence about when (under what circumstances), how (by what processes) and with what effects researchers adapt to these mechanisms. This study aims to answer these crucial questions. To overcome the methodological weaknesses of earlier s ....Impact of evaluation-based funding on the content of scientific research. Evidence suggests that evaluation-based funding mechanisms trigger adaptive behaviour in scientists, leading to unintended changes in knowledge production. However, there is no conclusive evidence about when (under what circumstances), how (by what processes) and with what effects researchers adapt to these mechanisms. This study aims to answer these crucial questions. To overcome the methodological weaknesses of earlier studies, a comparative investigation of several research fields and universities will be conducted, combining for the first time: qualitative interviews, ethnographic observations and bibliometric studies. It will enhance Australian research policy with a critical assessment of existing research funding models.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100741
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,386.00
Summary
How genomics is shaping healthcare: an ethnographic study. This project aims to generate new understandings of how science and biomedicine are co-producing and shaping healthcare. This will be achieved by combining hospital and laboratory ethnography to examine how genomic data is produced, circulated and applied in clinical settings. The project aims to build a theoretical framework and conceptual understanding of genomic medicine that may be used by practitioners and may inform policy. This pr ....How genomics is shaping healthcare: an ethnographic study. This project aims to generate new understandings of how science and biomedicine are co-producing and shaping healthcare. This will be achieved by combining hospital and laboratory ethnography to examine how genomic data is produced, circulated and applied in clinical settings. The project aims to build a theoretical framework and conceptual understanding of genomic medicine that may be used by practitioners and may inform policy. This project should provide significant benefits such as minimising costs by helping identify and streamline decision-making processes, and by showing how public engagement practices shape patients' and practitioners' approaches to genomics.Read moreRead less
Supporting Responses To Commonwealth Science Council Priorities - Grant ID: CS170100008
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$209,346.00
Summary
Deployment of artificial intelligence and what it presents for Australia. This project aims to explore the opportunities, risks and consequences of broad uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) and to collate evidence on the economics, social perspectives, research capabilities and environmental impacts. As AI becomes more advanced, its applications will become increasingly complex in applications in homes, workplaces and cities. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to explore the opportunities, ....Deployment of artificial intelligence and what it presents for Australia. This project aims to explore the opportunities, risks and consequences of broad uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) and to collate evidence on the economics, social perspectives, research capabilities and environmental impacts. As AI becomes more advanced, its applications will become increasingly complex in applications in homes, workplaces and cities. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to explore the opportunities, risks and benefits of AI, this project will examine the economic, social, ethical and cultural aspects of deployment and will present a set of key findings to guide and support policy making over the next decade.Read moreRead less
Biotechnology Across the Borders of Life: Stem Cell Technology and Global Medical Exchange. This project interrogates the debates and policy surrounding embryonic stem cell technology and two intimately connected medical technologies - reproductive technologies, in which it is founded, and organ transplantation, which it seeks to overcome. Each of these technologies repeatedly confronts and tests social, cultural, ethical and legal precedents, fuelling world-wide political and media debate. The ....Biotechnology Across the Borders of Life: Stem Cell Technology and Global Medical Exchange. This project interrogates the debates and policy surrounding embryonic stem cell technology and two intimately connected medical technologies - reproductive technologies, in which it is founded, and organ transplantation, which it seeks to overcome. Each of these technologies repeatedly confronts and tests social, cultural, ethical and legal precedents, fuelling world-wide political and media debate. The project addresses the social effects - locally and globally - of these technologies. Analyses of altruism, giving and commodification underpin the study, and are used to elucidate the social ramifications of the practices and expert discourses of these biotechnologies in four nation-states: Australia, Singapore, UK and USA.Read moreRead less
Living and Learning in a Knowledge Society: The implications of young adults' knowledge-creating practices for higher education. As society moves into a new era, knowledge creation has become vital to Australia's participation in global society. Knowledge creation fuels innovation and economic prosperity, and fosters social cohesion through new forms of community engagement. Young adults play an important role in our society as the next generation of knowledge workers, with many already active k ....Living and Learning in a Knowledge Society: The implications of young adults' knowledge-creating practices for higher education. As society moves into a new era, knowledge creation has become vital to Australia's participation in global society. Knowledge creation fuels innovation and economic prosperity, and fosters social cohesion through new forms of community engagement. Young adults play an important role in our society as the next generation of knowledge workers, with many already active knowledge creators in their everyday and academic lives. By investigating how young adults create knowledge across these diverse contexts, this research will provide important practical insights for educators and policy-makers who are trying to determine the role of higher education in a knowledge society.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100134
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$323,088.00
Summary
Addiction in the Australian legal system: A sociological analysis. This project is designed to analyse and compare legal approaches to addiction to alcohol and other drugs (AOD), identifying the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. Harms associated with AOD cost Australia over $25 billion per year. The law plays a central role in managing these harms. Yet legal responses to AOD and the key concept of ‘addiction’ are often inconsistent. These variations have unintended and often adve ....Addiction in the Australian legal system: A sociological analysis. This project is designed to analyse and compare legal approaches to addiction to alcohol and other drugs (AOD), identifying the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. Harms associated with AOD cost Australia over $25 billion per year. The law plays a central role in managing these harms. Yet legal responses to AOD and the key concept of ‘addiction’ are often inconsistent. These variations have unintended and often adverse economic, social and health implications. The expected project outcomes will inform new, more productive approaches to AOD-related harms in Australian law, contributing to improved economic, social and health outcomes.Read moreRead less
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
Understanding the Australian public's expectations of personalised genomics. This multi-disciplinary project aims to be the first to explore the Australian public's awareness of new developments in genetic science that allow healthy individuals to access their own genetic makeup. Called 'personal genomics', this broad group of genetic tests can be used for a variety of purposes that include ancestry, paternity, sporting ability and health. These tests are developing at a rapid rate yet little is ....Understanding the Australian public's expectations of personalised genomics. This multi-disciplinary project aims to be the first to explore the Australian public's awareness of new developments in genetic science that allow healthy individuals to access their own genetic makeup. Called 'personal genomics', this broad group of genetic tests can be used for a variety of purposes that include ancestry, paternity, sporting ability and health. These tests are developing at a rapid rate yet little is known about why, how and where they are used by the public. This project will employ a mixed methods approach to examine how the public might engage with this new technology. The research aims to help define educational strategies and supports and thereby to inform national policy for personal genomics.Read moreRead less
High hopes, high risk? A sociological study of stem cell tourism. This project investigates the phenomenon of stem cell tourism, particularly the factors shaping patients’ expectations and decisions in relation to the promising new field of stem cell research. As the first in-depth study on this form of medical travel, the project will provide valuable information to policy makers.
How expectations shape testing in healthcare. This project aims to understand the sociocultural processes underpinning optimism for the use of testing technologies in healthcare. Australians are using more tests, which increases healthcare costs. This project will use the Australian national cancer screening programmes and routine clinical practice as case studies to determine human decision-making traits in sociological terms. The project expects to increase understanding of the sociocultural f ....How expectations shape testing in healthcare. This project aims to understand the sociocultural processes underpinning optimism for the use of testing technologies in healthcare. Australians are using more tests, which increases healthcare costs. This project will use the Australian national cancer screening programmes and routine clinical practice as case studies to determine human decision-making traits in sociological terms. The project expects to increase understanding of the sociocultural factors that influence decision-making and behaviour in healthcare settings, and help formulate effective social and economic policies.Read moreRead less