Extended Nuclear Deterrence and the Restraint of Non-Nuclear Allies: Material Cooperation and Strategic Dialogue. Extended nuclear deterrence is central to the security commitments offered by the US to its European and Asian allies, but little is known about why non-nuclear allies ask for the nuclear assurances they do and how they influence the assurances they ultimately receive. Using the lenses of intra-alliance bargaining, the role and composition of assurances, and domestic and internationa ....Extended Nuclear Deterrence and the Restraint of Non-Nuclear Allies: Material Cooperation and Strategic Dialogue. Extended nuclear deterrence is central to the security commitments offered by the US to its European and Asian allies, but little is known about why non-nuclear allies ask for the nuclear assurances they do and how they influence the assurances they ultimately receive. Using the lenses of intra-alliance bargaining, the role and composition of assurances, and domestic and international interactions, the project investigates why non-nuclear allies often seek modest extended nuclear deterrence guarantees when they could push for more ambitious commitments. The outcomes of the project will advance theoretical understanding of alliances, assurance and nuclear strategy, with direct relevance to foreign policy and nuclear disarmament.Read moreRead less
Expectations and commitments in the Australia-USA alliance. This project aims to investigate the gap between the high expectations of mutual support and the lack of detailed security commitments in the Australia-US Alliance. The project intends to use a focused approach that captures thematic aspects of the alliance through project frames and historical slices across time. Expected outcomes can advance understanding of how alliances operate as security institutions. The outcomes can help to prom ....Expectations and commitments in the Australia-USA alliance. This project aims to investigate the gap between the high expectations of mutual support and the lack of detailed security commitments in the Australia-US Alliance. The project intends to use a focused approach that captures thematic aspects of the alliance through project frames and historical slices across time. Expected outcomes can advance understanding of how alliances operate as security institutions. The outcomes can help to promote a more informed national conversation about the costs and benefits of Australia's security relationship with the United States of America (USA) and contribute to debates over the future of the Australia-USA Alliance during a period of strategic uncertainty.Read moreRead less
Restructuring Statistical Reasoning in the Early School Years: A Longitudinal Study of Data Modelling. Research Priority 2 (the goal, Strengthening Australia's Social and Economic Fabric) is targeted. By providing young learners with the foundations of data modelling, which has been ignored in early curricula, the study will sow the seeds for productive participation in a data-driven society and effective use of its increasingly complex economic and social systems. The foundational statistical i ....Restructuring Statistical Reasoning in the Early School Years: A Longitudinal Study of Data Modelling. Research Priority 2 (the goal, Strengthening Australia's Social and Economic Fabric) is targeted. By providing young learners with the foundations of data modelling, which has been ignored in early curricula, the study will sow the seeds for productive participation in a data-driven society and effective use of its increasingly complex economic and social systems. The foundational statistical ideas and processes to be developed will lay the groundwork for further studies in the key curriculum areas, 'chance and data,' 'probability and statistics,' 'science and society,' and 'life and living.' Professional gains include knowledge of ways to implement mathematical and scientific experiences that capitalise on young children's potential.Read moreRead less
Frontiers of Australian science popularisation. This project details Australia's role in science popularisation in the 1960s and 1970s, when the boundary between science fiction and science fact was often blurred. The project will explore how popular science of that era framed today's crucial issues of climate change, overpopulation and space exploration.
Investigating ways to enhance teachers' science explanations and students' concept learning using cycles of reflective explanations. Explanation is central to learning because teachers explain phenomena to students and students are assessed on their explanations to other students and the teacher. Teacher explanations are not always effective and many lower secondary students provide descriptions when an explanation is needed. This projects aims for three outcomes: first, it researches teacher ....Investigating ways to enhance teachers' science explanations and students' concept learning using cycles of reflective explanations. Explanation is central to learning because teachers explain phenomena to students and students are assessed on their explanations to other students and the teacher. Teacher explanations are not always effective and many lower secondary students provide descriptions when an explanation is needed. This projects aims for three outcomes: first, it researches teacher explanations for teachers. Second, it researches student-student and student-teacher explanations to find which explanatory types maximise concept learning; and third, it evaluates a cycle of reflective explanations model for enhancing science teacher explanations.Read moreRead less
Burma's Role in Shaping the Asia-Pacific Strategic Environment. Australia is an active participant in global security affairs, not only as a close ally of the United States but also as an independent middle power with its own perceived sphere of influence. Developments in the strategic environment and the way in which countries attempt to influence state behaviours are central to our national security posture and alliance relationships. Also, the diverse security challenges in the Asia-Pacific r ....Burma's Role in Shaping the Asia-Pacific Strategic Environment. Australia is an active participant in global security affairs, not only as a close ally of the United States but also as an independent middle power with its own perceived sphere of influence. Developments in the strategic environment and the way in which countries attempt to influence state behaviours are central to our national security posture and alliance relationships. Also, the diverse security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, such as those associated with so-called 'pariah' states like Burma, and the management of related transnational threats, are critical to the formulation and implementation of Australia's foreign and defence policies.
Read moreRead less
Primary classroom teacher-student interactions, cultural learning environments and their relationships with students' attitudes and understanding of science concepts. This project examines associations between teacher-student interactions and primary students' perceptions of cultural factors of learning environments with students' attitudes towards science and their understanding of science concepts. In the tradition of classroom environment research, the study will use interviews and questionna ....Primary classroom teacher-student interactions, cultural learning environments and their relationships with students' attitudes and understanding of science concepts. This project examines associations between teacher-student interactions and primary students' perceptions of cultural factors of learning environments with students' attitudes towards science and their understanding of science concepts. In the tradition of classroom environment research, the study will use interviews and questionnaires to obtain students' perceptions of their primary classrooms. In-depth studies will then be made of particular classrooms with the aim of enhancing the description of primary school science teaching. The project will lead to a systematic understanding of what is happening in primary school science and a direction for teachers to implement desirable changes in their teaching.Read moreRead less
Transforming the technologies and modalities of learning: The case of the New Life Sciences in secondary schooling. This project aims to provide theoretical and analytic frameworks for understanding changing intellectual, technological and communicational parameters of contemporary education, but it also aims to make these frameworks accessible enough to become part of the conceptual repertoire of professional practitioners and flexible enough to allow practitioners to maintain currency in evolv ....Transforming the technologies and modalities of learning: The case of the New Life Sciences in secondary schooling. This project aims to provide theoretical and analytic frameworks for understanding changing intellectual, technological and communicational parameters of contemporary education, but it also aims to make these frameworks accessible enough to become part of the conceptual repertoire of professional practitioners and flexible enough to allow practitioners to maintain currency in evolving fields of knowledge in the NLS. As the NLS, and education in this field are both expanding export industries, this study will offer Australian practitioners and authorities evidence and ideas for the growth of the NLS in schools, thereby supporting the maintenance of Australia's prominence in the region as a high-quality, current education provider.Read moreRead less
Researching Collective Argumentation in Mathematics and Science Classrooms. The project will provide evidence-based pedagogical strategies for the reform of classroom teaching and learning in the crucial areas of mathematics and science. We will develop a form of pedagogy (Collective Argumentation) that enables students to be confident in deploying mathematical and scientific knowledge and skills in relation to the economic and social choices that they make in everyday contexts. Collective Argum ....Researching Collective Argumentation in Mathematics and Science Classrooms. The project will provide evidence-based pedagogical strategies for the reform of classroom teaching and learning in the crucial areas of mathematics and science. We will develop a form of pedagogy (Collective Argumentation) that enables students to be confident in deploying mathematical and scientific knowledge and skills in relation to the economic and social choices that they make in everyday contexts. Collective Argumentation can induct students into 'habits of mind and social practices' necessary for building an innovative learning community. This project will enable us to extend this innovative approach and to further develop its effectiveness.Read moreRead less
The Regionalisation of Peace Operations: Legitimacy, Effectiveness and Stable Peace. Through its deployments in East Timor, the Solomon Islands, PNG and elsewhere, Australia has led the world in thinking about innovative ways of conducting peace operations. It is well-understood that peace operations in failed states can help to prevent terrorism by removing the conditions in which they prosper. To date, however, there has been no rigorous conceptually informed historical and contemporary resear ....The Regionalisation of Peace Operations: Legitimacy, Effectiveness and Stable Peace. Through its deployments in East Timor, the Solomon Islands, PNG and elsewhere, Australia has led the world in thinking about innovative ways of conducting peace operations. It is well-understood that peace operations in failed states can help to prevent terrorism by removing the conditions in which they prosper. To date, however, there has been no rigorous conceptually informed historical and contemporary research on precisely which types of actors are most effective. This project will add significantly to global understandings of peace operations and make an important contribution to Australian policy decisions about how best to maximise effectiveness. Read moreRead less