ARC Large Grant Awards for 1998
Faculty of Arts
School of Australian and International Studies
School of Social Inquiry
Faculty of Business and Law
School of LawFaculty of Education
School of Social and Cultural StudiesFaculty of Science and Technology
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
School of Ecology and Environment
Faculty of Arts
School of Australian and International Studies
Title: The Disappearing Asian City: Protecting Asia's Heritage Townscapes in the Context of Rapid Economic and Cultural Globalisation
Prof W S Logan
Summary: The project aims to carry out research leading to the publication of a comparative study of urban heritage attitudes, threats, planning policies and practices in a selection of East, Southeast and Asian cities. The study focuses on the theme of the steady erosion of what Westerners - and many commentators in Asia itself - have regarded as the Asian qualities of those cities, particularly in terms of their built form, under the impact of current processes of rapid economic and cultural globalisation.
1998: $50,000
1999: $46,000
2000: $25,000
School of Social Inquiry
Title: Intimacy, Sexuality and the Self: Contributions to the Sociology of the Body
Dr F J Stewart
Prof B S Turner
Ms A S Riggs
Summary: Currently there is an expanding interest in intimacy and emotions in social theory and sociological research. There is an emerging focus in public health upon adult heterosexual relations, particularly as they relate to sexual health concerns. This study examines the construction and experience of intimacy within heterosexual relationships and employs a (more) comprehensive and holistic approach in order to investigate the conjunctions between sexuality, intimacy and self-identity. The study will contribute towards a better understanding of gender relations at the micro level of the sexual. Practical application of the results of this study would incorporate all areas of health concerning heterosexual men and women.
1998: $50,000
1999: $50,000
Faculty of Business and Law
School of Law
Title: Law and Development in Vietnam: Controlling Bureaucratic Discretion
Mr J Gillespie
Summary: The success of certain East Asian economies has lead to a questioning of the centrality of positive law to economic development. Transplanted rights-based laws have consistently failed to induce expected outcomes and check administrative abuses. Vietnam is currently experimenting with different forms of economic regulation, making it timely to assess competing neo-liberal and East Asian law and development models. From the perspective of Vietnamese law, ideology, and culture, the project will evaluate the developmental factors required to control administrative discretion, the source of much bureaucratic corruption.
1998: $30,000
Title: Reconciling Corporate Finance Law Reform and Company and Shareholder Tax Reform
Prof R E Krever
Summary: Australia s company and shareholder tax system will require substantial revision in response to changes in share capital structure introduced by reform of the Corporations Law. This project will examine the equity and efficiency aspects of reform options in terms of their impact on existing and future shareholders, distinguishing, where appropriate, between domestic and overseas investors in Australian companies. In particular, it will consider the impact of reform options on the ability of Australian companies to compete internationally for investment funds and their likely effects on the cost of corporate reorganisations, takeovers, and divestments.
1998: $40,000
1999: $40,000
Faculty of Education
School of Social and Cultural Studies
Title: An Investigation of the Development of Dialogue Approaches to Teaching and Learning in Schools through Interactive Television (ITV)
Prof T Evans & Ms E Stacey
Summary: This project will explore the extent, nature and problematics of educational dialogue through interactive television (ITV) in primary and secondary schools. ITV has been introduced in many nations schools as a solution to the demands for increasingly complex curricula, high retention rates and equitable provision, all within tight budgets. Australia, especially Victoria, is at the forefront of these initiatives. There is little research on ITV, especially as a means of developing and sustaining forms of interaction which foster learning. This project will make a significant contribution to research on ITV and its place in the future of schooling.
1998: $48,000
1999: $45,000
Faculty of Science and Technology
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Title: Expression and Function of Copper Transport Genes in Mammary Epithelial Cells
Dr M L Ackland & Dr J F Mercer
Summary: Copper is an essential trace element, supplied to neonatal mammals in milk. It is secreted from mammary cells into milk by mechanisms not yet elucidated. We have recently shown expression of two novel copper export genes, MNK and WND, in a mammary cell line and propose to investigate their role in secreting copper into milk. We will determine whether defects in MNK and WND expression underlie the lethal disorder in the toxic milk mouse, causing reduced milk copper. Our studies will provide insights into the cellular processing of trace elements and the molecular basis of inherited defects involving trace elements.
1998: $59,000
1999: $56,000
2000: $57,000
Title: Selective Chemical Sensing using Soluble or Immobilised Chemiluminescence Reagents: New Analytical Strategies for a New Millennium
A/Prof N Barnett
Prof R Russell
Dr S Lewis
Summary: Through fundamental scientific investigation, this project seeks to advance the performance of chemical measurement by the introduction of new chemiluminescence materials. The results will find extensive application within the priority areas of biomedicine, forensic science, pharmaceutical manufacturing and industrial process control.
1998: $41,000
1999: $43,000
2000: $45,000
Title: Organotin Oxo-Clusters: Building Blocks for New Highly Selective Homogeneous Catalysts
Prof D Dakternieks
Dr E R Tiekink - The University of Adelaide
& Prof K Jurkschat - Dortmund University
Summary: Organotin oxo-clusters have applications as homogeneous catalysts for a range of organic synthesis and polymerisation reactions as well as in the field of new materials science. Nevertheless the number of organotin oxo-clusters currently known is not large. This project will develop and expand the range of organotin oxo-clusters by using new synthetic strategies to link smaller organotin precursors. These strategies will enable control over the size, shape and tin nuclearity of new organotin oxo-clusters which are certain to find application in laboratory and commercial uses.
1998: $41,000
1999: $43,000
2000: $45,000
Title: Supramolecular Assemblies for Nanotechnology and Termolecular Catalysis
Prof R Warrener - Central Queensland University
A/Prof M Gunter - The University of New England
Prof R Russell
Summary: Three of Australia's leading synthetic chemists join forces in a multi-campus attack on nanotechnologies needs for the next century: miniaturising electronic devices to a molecular level. They plan to achieve this using specially designed 3D organic molecules as the binary switch. Conceptually simple, it is like a bell with an outer case and an inside striker, hitting the side gives off a signal which can be monitored and the information stored. Related 3D molecules also feature in research planned to challenge nature and build an artificial enzyme which will conduct chemistry efficiently and specifically, with implications for reducing environmental concerns.
1998: $68,000
1999: $63,000
2000: $63,000
School of Ecology and Environment
Title: Modelling Continental Shelf Upwelling and Downwelling
A/Prof G N Ivey - The University of Western Australia
Dr M J Coates
Summary: Coastal upwelling is the principal mechanism raising the deep nutrient rich water up to the surface, leading to the high productivity observed there. Laboratory experiments will be used to investigate the combined role of stratification, surface wind and cooling, and bottom slope on both upwelling and downwelling. A fine-scale numerical model will be validated against these experiments, before being used to simulate boundary conditions, forcing parameters and bathymetry which are not readily attainable in the laboratory.
1998: $52,200
1999: $33,000
2000: $39,000
