Researchers from The University of Queensland’s Faculty of Business, Economics and Law were-well represented in the latest round of Australian Research Council (ARC) grants announced last month.
Collectively, UQ researchers have been awarded $32 million for work designed to create positive change across business, science, health, engineering and the humanities.
The ARC announced the funding as part of the latest round of Discovery Projects, Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards (DECRAs), Discovery Indigenous Projects and Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) grants.
UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said UQ was awarded 57 Discovery Project grants, totalling $21.4 million, and 19 DECRAs amounting to $6.75 million. A consortium of universities led by UQ was awarded $3.5 million in the LIEF scheme.
Nationally, the ARC announced $225 million in grants for 594 Discovery Projects across 34 universities.
“UQ won the second highest number of Discovery Project grants awarded to universities across Australia, underscoring its position as a research powerhouse,” Professor Høj said.
“And the 19 DECRA awards have confirmed our position as the most successful university in the life of the DECRA scheme, which is designed to support researchers in their early career phases.
“It’s exciting to see funding for diverse research with potential to create change in health, infrastructure, the economy and the environment.”
Congratulations to the following BEL Faculty ARC grant recipients:
Discovery Projects
“Large dynamic time-varying models for structural macroeconomic inference” – Lead investigator: Professor Rodney Strachan (UQ School of Economics); other investigators: Professor Joshua Chan (University of Technology, Sydney) and Dr Eric Eisenstat (UQ School of Economics)
Funding: $179,472
This project aims to develop techniques that allow economists to use much more complex models when attempting to answer difficult economic questions, therefore providing more accurate policy advice.
“Triggering pro-environmental behaviour in pleasure-seeking contexts” – Lead investigator: Professor Sara Dolnicar (UQ Business School)
Funding: $142,628
This project aims to trigger environmentally friendly behaviours in tourists rather than relying on government or industry action. Using field experiments, the effectiveness of newly developed theory-based measures to reduce plate waste at hotel buffets will be tested. The expected outcomes could substantially improve the sustainability of tourism globally, regionally and locally.
“Smart micro learning with open education resources” – Lead investigator: Associate Professor Jun Shen (University of Wollongong); other investigators: Dr Tingru Cui (University of Wollongong); Dr Dongming Xu (UQ Business School)
Funding: $362,666
Administered by the University of Wollongong, this project aims to enhance personalised learning systems for mobile device users to help meet each individual learner’s needs. The project tackles the problems around the increasingly popular mobile and 'micro learning’ platforms, where people learn on the move and in small units of time.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards (DECRA)
“Strategic interaction with limited memory: A theoretical approach” – Lead investigator: Dr Priscilla Man (UQ School of Economics)
Funding: $357,996
This project aims to investigate the effect of imperfect memory on economic decision-making and the implications for firms and government agencies.
Discovery Indigenous Projects
“Bringing Indigenous Voices into Judicial Decision-Making” – Lead investigator: Ms Nicole Watson (University of Sydney); other investigators: Professor Heather Douglas (TC Beirne School of Law) and Dr Asmi Wood (Australian National University)
Funding: $678,640
Administered by the University of Sydney, this project will focus on incorporating Indigenous voices into judgments and recognising Indigenous people's contributions to the development of Australian law.
Linkage, Infrastructure and Equipment Facilities Grants (LIEF)
“Foundations of the Common Law Library” – Lead investigator: Associate Professor Phillip Chung (University of New South Wales); other investigators; Professor Andrew Mowbray; Professor Bruce Kercher; Associate Professor Lisa Ford; Professor Shaunnagh Dorsett; Professor Stefan Petrow; Professor Mark Finnane; Professor Kit Barker (TC Beirne School of Law); Professor Mark Lunney; Professor Matthew Groves; Associate Professor Ann Genovese; Associate Professor Arlie Loughnan; Professor Anita Stuhmcke; Dr Natalie Skead: Dr Karen Fairweather
Funding: $499,899
Administered by the University of New South Wales, this AUSTLII project aims to build a comprehensive, historical, legal resource for the whole common law world from 1215-1914. The free access library will include reported cases from superior courts and selected others in all common law jurisdictions, databases of key materials including treatises, legislation and treaties, and databases of case law from newspaper reports.
Contact: BEL Communications, Alysha Hilevuo, media@bel.uq.edu.au, (07) 3346 9349.
