The Role of Naturalism in Ontology and Scientific Methodology. Naturalism is the philosophical doctrine perhaps best described as a respect for the methods of the natural sciences. Although most contemporary philosophers would describe themselves as naturalists, exactly how this important doctrine is spelled out is a matter of much controversy. What is more, many substantial issues in both philosophy of science and in metaphysics depend crucially on how we understand naturalism. This project ....The Role of Naturalism in Ontology and Scientific Methodology. Naturalism is the philosophical doctrine perhaps best described as a respect for the methods of the natural sciences. Although most contemporary philosophers would describe themselves as naturalists, exactly how this important doctrine is spelled out is a matter of much controversy. What is more, many substantial issues in both philosophy of science and in metaphysics depend crucially on how we understand naturalism. This project will investigate the various conceptions of naturalism, looking at both their motivations and their implications for philosophy and scientific and mathematical methodology.Read moreRead less
Material Transfer Agreements and Open Science in the Genome Era. Research paradigms are changing rapidly in the Genome Era. Open access databases are increasingly popular and are required by public funding agencies. The role of material transfer agreements (MTAs) in this open access era is not clear. This project aims to assess the extent to which MTAs facilitate exchanges of biological materials between organisation in Australia and internationally. The project will assess whether MTAs are refl ....Material Transfer Agreements and Open Science in the Genome Era. Research paradigms are changing rapidly in the Genome Era. Open access databases are increasingly popular and are required by public funding agencies. The role of material transfer agreements (MTAs) in this open access era is not clear. This project aims to assess the extent to which MTAs facilitate exchanges of biological materials between organisation in Australia and internationally. The project will assess whether MTAs are reflecting the open data access movement or maintaining traditional closed proprietary practices. The project will make policy, ethical and legal recommendations for the development of MTAs to promote exchange of materials nationally and internationally and to facilitate the developing collaborative research culture. 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
Carbonaceous adsorbents for ultra-high performance liquid chromatography. This project aims to develop a new generation of mechanically and thermally stable carbon-nanocarbon composite adsorbents for ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of adsorbents will be constructed according to advanced core-shell design with non-porous carbon central core and porous shell formed by highly ordered uniform nanocarbon particles. The unique properties of carbon-nanocarbon composite adsor ....Carbonaceous adsorbents for ultra-high performance liquid chromatography. This project aims to develop a new generation of mechanically and thermally stable carbon-nanocarbon composite adsorbents for ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of adsorbents will be constructed according to advanced core-shell design with non-porous carbon central core and porous shell formed by highly ordered uniform nanocarbon particles. The unique properties of carbon-nanocarbon composite adsorbents will put liquid chromatography to qualitatively new levels of the separation performance that may open new possibilities for medicine and biodiagnostics. The resulting technology also has a strong potential to be used in other priority areas such as preparation of electrodes and supercapacitors for energy storage devices.Read moreRead less
Modelling with data: Advancing STEM in the primary curriculum. Improving the nation's skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) remains a continuing concern, especially given the decline in international test results. The project aims to introduce a new approach to promoting this learning across grades 3-6 through modelling with data. With a focus on inquiry processes involving data variation and uncertainty within STEM-based contexts, the project aims to develop the imp ....Modelling with data: Advancing STEM in the primary curriculum. Improving the nation's skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) remains a continuing concern, especially given the decline in international test results. The project aims to introduce a new approach to promoting this learning across grades 3-6 through modelling with data. With a focus on inquiry processes involving data variation and uncertainty within STEM-based contexts, the project aims to develop the important mathematical and statistical literacies needed for lifting student achievements. In advancing both theory and practice, the project aims to contribute to knowledge of primary students' capabilities for STEM problem solving and ways of enhancing implementation of the Australian Curriculum.Read moreRead less
Co-operative intellectual property management and technology transfer for the Australian biotechnology industry. The Australian biotechnology industry rests on a framework of internationally competitive research and should be well placed to capture a significant share of expanding global markets. However, existing intellectual property (IP) management strategies do not make the most of this potential because they raise barriers to much-needed co-operation among industry players. By developing an ....Co-operative intellectual property management and technology transfer for the Australian biotechnology industry. The Australian biotechnology industry rests on a framework of internationally competitive research and should be well placed to capture a significant share of expanding global markets. However, existing intellectual property (IP) management strategies do not make the most of this potential because they raise barriers to much-needed co-operation among industry players. By developing and refining new co-operative IP management models in an Australian context, this project offers direct economic benefits (more efficient industry structures), improved social and economic benefits (better and cheaper biotechnology products and services), and an opportunity for Australia to take the lead in developing innovative approaches to IP management.Read moreRead less
The innovation pool in Australian biotechnology: assessing strategies for fostering innovation through patenting and patent pooling. The current patent system was designed for a very different research environment than that in which the global biotechnology industry operates. Rather than facilitating innovation there is evidence that the system can unduly restrict R&D. Patent pooling is being promoted internationally as a way to facilitate innovation. However, potential pitfalls are also recogni ....The innovation pool in Australian biotechnology: assessing strategies for fostering innovation through patenting and patent pooling. The current patent system was designed for a very different research environment than that in which the global biotechnology industry operates. Rather than facilitating innovation there is evidence that the system can unduly restrict R&D. Patent pooling is being promoted internationally as a way to facilitate innovation. However, potential pitfalls are also recognised, and work is underway to develop appropriate regulation. Australia cannot afford to be left behind: urgent consideration must be given to the desirability of patent pooling and the regulatory changes that are required to allow it to function in the national interest. The proposed research will provide the data necessary to make informed decisions on this critical issue. Read moreRead less
Encounters with Urban Nature in Australia: An investigation into environmental values, anti-urbanism, multiculturalism, and the transition to urban sustainability. This project offers strategic basic and applied research approaches to overcoming the neglect of moral experience of ?nature? in urban environments so as to further the transition to sustainability in Australia. Working at the intersection of aesthetic, geographical, philosophical, and sociological studies of ecology, this project dev ....Encounters with Urban Nature in Australia: An investigation into environmental values, anti-urbanism, multiculturalism, and the transition to urban sustainability. This project offers strategic basic and applied research approaches to overcoming the neglect of moral experience of ?nature? in urban environments so as to further the transition to sustainability in Australia. Working at the intersection of aesthetic, geographical, philosophical, and sociological studies of ecology, this project develops a comparative qualitative study of three Australian cities. It explores: (1) the paradoxical appeal of anti-urban environmental values to urbanites; (2) the multicultural axis of diversity in urban environmental values; (3) political sites for contesting experiences of ?nature?; and (4) policy opportunities for expression of local synergies between social and biotic well-being in urban ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Artificial Intelligence, Robots, and Agriculture: Social and ethical issues. This project aims to investigate the social and ethical issues raised by the use of artificial intelligence and robotics in agriculture. By combining social science research methods and philosophical analysis, the project aims to generate new knowledge in bioethics and applied ethics. Expected outcomes of this project include an account of the social and ethical issues farmers, rural communities, and consumers anticipat ....Artificial Intelligence, Robots, and Agriculture: Social and ethical issues. This project aims to investigate the social and ethical issues raised by the use of artificial intelligence and robotics in agriculture. By combining social science research methods and philosophical analysis, the project aims to generate new knowledge in bioethics and applied ethics. Expected outcomes of this project include an account of the social and ethical issues farmers, rural communities, and consumers anticipate arising from these technologies, improved understanding of these issues, and an account of how these groups would like to see these issues addressed. This should help Australia benefit from the responsible use of artificial intelligence and robotics in agriculture.Read moreRead less
The age of personalised medicine: regulatory challenges for Australia. Australia is entering an age of personalised medicine where therapies and tests will be based on individual genetic profiles. This project aims to ensure that there is a best practice regulatory and governance environment for facilitating responsible research and clinical service delivery through a process of evidence-based regulatory reform.