Emerging assisted reproduction markets in Southern Africa. This anthropological study aims to investigate the global networks and emerging markets for assisted reproduction in Southern Africa. It will focus upon the mobilities of patients to South Africa for assisted reproduction and mobility of ova providers, gametes, embryos and medical staff across Africa and to and from Australia. This ethnographic study includes an analysis of the development of the industry, surveys of the numbers of inte ....Emerging assisted reproduction markets in Southern Africa. This anthropological study aims to investigate the global networks and emerging markets for assisted reproduction in Southern Africa. It will focus upon the mobilities of patients to South Africa for assisted reproduction and mobility of ova providers, gametes, embryos and medical staff across Africa and to and from Australia. This ethnographic study includes an analysis of the development of the industry, surveys of the numbers of international patients travelling to clinics in South Africa and interviews with staff, patients, gamete donors, and facilitating agencies. This study is anticipated to provide theoretical insights on the social impacts of reproductive travel across national borders for improved public policy responses.
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Digital energy futures: forecasting changing residential electricity demand. This project aims to understand and forecast changing digital lifestyle trends and their impact on future household electricity demand, including at peak times. The project expects to generate new knowledge by employing digital ethnography and sociological theories to investigate how changing social practices will impact on electricity sector planning. Expected outcomes include: scenarios and principles for digital ener ....Digital energy futures: forecasting changing residential electricity demand. This project aims to understand and forecast changing digital lifestyle trends and their impact on future household electricity demand, including at peak times. The project expects to generate new knowledge by employing digital ethnography and sociological theories to investigate how changing social practices will impact on electricity sector planning. Expected outcomes include: scenarios and principles for digital energy futures; an interdisciplinary energy demand forecasting methodology; and demand management tools to help the sector meet future residential consumption. This should provide significant benefits, such as lowering the cost of infrastructure spending, and helping secure affordable electricity provision.Read moreRead less
The ideologies and practices of anti-racism in Australia. This project aims to advance understanding of what anti-racism work looks like in Australia and how it has developed. Drawing upon approaches within politics and cultural studies, this project expects to map the history of thinking about anti-racism in Australia, evaluate the impact of anti-racist work within Australian society, and theorise the effect of anti-racist efforts on liberal democratic institutions and ideology. The project's b ....The ideologies and practices of anti-racism in Australia. This project aims to advance understanding of what anti-racism work looks like in Australia and how it has developed. Drawing upon approaches within politics and cultural studies, this project expects to map the history of thinking about anti-racism in Australia, evaluate the impact of anti-racist work within Australian society, and theorise the effect of anti-racist efforts on liberal democratic institutions and ideology. The project's benefits include the identification of best practices in anti-racist policies and approaches. This would make a significant contribution to Australia’s social cohesion and the combatting of racial discrimination, both of which relate to official Australian government policy objectives.Read moreRead less
A transcultural approach to belonging and engagement among migrant youth. This project aims to map experiences of migrant youth in developing and accessing trans-cultural capital, a set of skills, resources and knowledge accessed through multiple cultural repertoires. This will be undertaken through a comparative study of three highly diverse urban contexts: Melbourne, Birmingham and Toronto. The project will examine how trans-cultural capital can affect young people’s ability to instigate, nego ....A transcultural approach to belonging and engagement among migrant youth. This project aims to map experiences of migrant youth in developing and accessing trans-cultural capital, a set of skills, resources and knowledge accessed through multiple cultural repertoires. This will be undertaken through a comparative study of three highly diverse urban contexts: Melbourne, Birmingham and Toronto. The project will examine how trans-cultural capital can affect young people’s ability to instigate, negotiate and maintain socio-cultural connections locally, trans-locally, and trans-nationally. The project's expected outcomes will contribute to scholarly and policy discussions on migrant youth in the West and improve understanding of their overall social well-being.Read moreRead less
Being a Transnational Muslim in Australia in an Era of Hyper-Security. Muslims have been the focus of significant policy articulations around security and integration in a hypersecuritised environment. This project aims to investigate how Australian Muslims are negotiating increased surveillance and public hostility and how this impacts on their sense of belonging. Working with members of four disparate Muslim communities in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, the project will examine the va ....Being a Transnational Muslim in Australia in an Era of Hyper-Security. Muslims have been the focus of significant policy articulations around security and integration in a hypersecuritised environment. This project aims to investigate how Australian Muslims are negotiating increased surveillance and public hostility and how this impacts on their sense of belonging. Working with members of four disparate Muslim communities in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, the project will examine the varied manifestations of national and transnational belonging for conceptions of identity and social inclusion. In addition to generating new knowledge in the sociology of religion and migration studies, this project will also yield novel data for better policy and practice both locally and internationally.Read moreRead less
The effects of transnational mobility on youth transitions. This project aims to examine transnational mobility amongst young people and to understand its effects on their economic opportunities, social and familial ties, capacity for citizenship and transitions to adulthood. Young people increasingly migrate abroad for work and education, and Australia is a significant hub for sending and receiving. Migration and education policies encourage this mobility, which is expected to provide youth wit ....The effects of transnational mobility on youth transitions. This project aims to examine transnational mobility amongst young people and to understand its effects on their economic opportunities, social and familial ties, capacity for citizenship and transitions to adulthood. Young people increasingly migrate abroad for work and education, and Australia is a significant hub for sending and receiving. Migration and education policies encourage this mobility, which is expected to provide youth with enhanced competitive skills. Outcomes of this project include a significant dataset and online research database on how youth from various cultural backgrounds manage mobility and develop economic, social and civic benefits for themselves and the broader community.Read moreRead less
Disposal of the dead: beyond burial and cremation. This project aims to investigate the contexts, motivations, responses to, and implications of emerging alternatives to the profoundly important practices of burial and cremation. This project will provide a timely and critical investigation of the social, cultural, regulatory, commercial, environmental, and personal challenges posed by alternative technologies for disposal of the dead. Expected outcomes will inform the funeral industry, regulato ....Disposal of the dead: beyond burial and cremation. This project aims to investigate the contexts, motivations, responses to, and implications of emerging alternatives to the profoundly important practices of burial and cremation. This project will provide a timely and critical investigation of the social, cultural, regulatory, commercial, environmental, and personal challenges posed by alternative technologies for disposal of the dead. Expected outcomes will inform the funeral industry, regulators and the public.Read moreRead less
The Future Cemetery. This project aims to identify and critically assess the potential of innovative technologies to enhance the experience of the cemetery for an increasingly diverse, secular, and well-informed public, and to strengthen cemeteries’ community connections.
It will generate knowledge about the industry’s and the public’s future-oriented desires through an interdisciplinary, collaborative, and evidence-based assessment of emerging cemetery-based technologies including mobile apps, ....The Future Cemetery. This project aims to identify and critically assess the potential of innovative technologies to enhance the experience of the cemetery for an increasingly diverse, secular, and well-informed public, and to strengthen cemeteries’ community connections.
It will generate knowledge about the industry’s and the public’s future-oriented desires through an interdisciplinary, collaborative, and evidence-based assessment of emerging cemetery-based technologies including mobile apps, GPS systems, drones, holography, virtual reality, green burials, and resomation.
A key expected outcome is a future cemetery that makes sensitive use of technology to enhance its services to public and community, underpinned by scholarly research.
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Net Zero Precincts: an interdisciplinary approach to decarbonising cities. This project aims to help cities and urban regions reach net zero emissions by taking the precinct as an optimal scale for urban transition. This project expects to co-create a new approach grounded in transition management and design anthropology. This will be tested in an action-oriented case study in the Monash Technology Precinct through three Living Lab experiments across energy, mobility and buildings. Expected outc ....Net Zero Precincts: an interdisciplinary approach to decarbonising cities. This project aims to help cities and urban regions reach net zero emissions by taking the precinct as an optimal scale for urban transition. This project expects to co-create a new approach grounded in transition management and design anthropology. This will be tested in an action-oriented case study in the Monash Technology Precinct through three Living Lab experiments across energy, mobility and buildings. Expected outcomes include a validated approach for net zero transitions that delivers to the real-life experiences of the precinct community of business, government, knowledge institutes and civil society. This should provide significant benefits to industry seeking to enhance community engagement for accelerating urban transitions.
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A comparative sociocultural and bioethical study of uterus transplants . This socio-cultural study aims to undertake a comparative study of the new Australian Uterine Transplant (UTx) trial with established and emerging UTx programs in the US and India. Expected outcomes of this project include: enhanced understandings of the experiences and meanings of uterine transplant for women donors, recipients and staff involved in UTx trials; an exploration of the ethical issues raised by this technolog ....A comparative sociocultural and bioethical study of uterus transplants . This socio-cultural study aims to undertake a comparative study of the new Australian Uterine Transplant (UTx) trial with established and emerging UTx programs in the US and India. Expected outcomes of this project include: enhanced understandings of the experiences and meanings of uterine transplant for women donors, recipients and staff involved in UTx trials; an exploration of the ethical issues raised by this technology; and a comparison of social responses to uterine transplants across different societies.This study is anticipated to provide theoretical insights on the social and ethical impacts of this technology for improved public policy responses. Read moreRead less