ARC Discovery Awards for 2009
Faculty of Arts
School of Communication and Creative Arts
School of History, Heritage and Society
School of International and Political Studies
Faculty of Science and Technology
School of Engineering and Information Technology
Institute for Technology, Research and Innovation
ARC Discovery Projects for Commencement in 2009
Faculty of Arts
School of Communication and Creative Arts
DP0987101 Dr K Vincs; Dr VH Mak; A/Prof RM Smith
Title: Capturing Dance: using Motion Capture to enhance the creation of innovative Australian dance
2009 : $ 200,000
2010 : $ 27,000
2011 : $ 100,000
Primary RFCD : 4101 PERFORMING ARTS
Administering Organisation: Deakin University
Project Summary:
Australian dance companies are dependent on income derived from international markets for their continued
survival and growth. Their ability to compete in the global arts market depends on their ability to remain on the
leading edge of choreographic development world wide. This study will provide Australian dance artists with new
tools and technologies to enhance their creation of new and innovative dance, ensuring their ability to secure
international profile and market presence, and contributing to dance internationally a new understanding of, and
new technologies for creating, innovative dance.
School of Education
DP0986955 Dr G Williams
Title: The role of optimism in collaborative problem solving in mathematics: Building problem solving capacity
2009 : $ 100,000
2010 : $ 70,000
2011 : $ 70,000
2012 : $ 58,943
Primary RFCD: 3302 CURRICULUM STUDIES
APD: Dr G Williams
Administering Organisation: Deakin University
Project Summary
Integration of psychological and educational approaches is the strength of this proposal. The notion that student
optimism may be key to strengthening problem solving capacity in mathematics is new and exciting. Creative
thinking, problem solving, and mathematical proficiency are surely critical resources for Australia's future.
Understanding how these human resources are nurtured and enhanced informs pedagogies to increase academic
performance. Whilst providing pedagogical insights, this study also informs the building of adolescent well being,
and the stimulating of interest in mathematics in 'ideas workers' for Australia's future three outcomes
advantageous to Australian society and the economy.
School of History, Heritage and Society
DP0987792 Dr KL (Tina) Murphy
Title: Managing compliance with procedural justice: The role of motivational postures, legitimacy and emotion
2009 : $ 60,000
2010 : $ 25,000
2011 : $ 35,000
Primary RFCD: 3801 PSYCHOLOGY
Administering Organisation: Deakin University
Project Summary:
Regulatory authorities exist to ensure that members of the public comply with their obligations under the law. At the
same time, however, regulators should not exercise their authority in ways that result in the alienation of the public.
Using social science methodology, this project will examine the role that procedurally fair regulation can play in
promoting trust and confidence in authorities. The national and community benefits of this project will include
ascertaining how greater levels of cooperation and compliance with regulatory decisions and laws can be
facilitated; particularly among those who may feel disgruntled with their experiences with authority.
DP0987677 Prof DR Walker
Title: Australia's Asian Futures: A Cultural History, 1972 to the present.
2009 : $ 60,000
2010 : $ 60,000
2011 : $ 60,000
Primary RFCD: 4301 HISTORICAL STUDIES
Administering Organisation: Deakin University
Project Summary:
Relations with Asia are vital to Australia's prosperity and security. This project places in historical context evolving
understandings of what the 'region' has meant to Australians from the 1970s to the present. It will clarify the
processes by which Australia has adapted to Asia, and points of resistance to engagement. By examining the
representations of politicians, journalists, Asianists, and travel writers, this study will seek to explain how threats to
security have been perceived over time, and the interplay between popular and elite representation. An analysis of
how threats from political Islam have been understood will inform a wider history of threat perceptions extending
from the mid nineteenth century to the present.
School of International and Political Studies
DP0986641 Prof B He
Title: The Democratization of the Rising China through Deliberative Democracy
2009 : $ 40,000
2010 : $ 55,000
2011 : $ 55,000
2012 : $ 25,000
2013 : $ 40,000
Primary RFCD: 3601 POLITICAL SCIENCE
Administering Organisation: Deakin University
Project Summary:
This project falls within the Research Priority 4: Safeguarding Australia. Its benefits include strengthening
Australian leadership in deliberative democracy, developing deliberative democratization in China which is vital for
the security and fundamental interest of Australia, and offering new strategies of deliberative democratization for
the international democracy promotion community. It will contribute to a balanced and sophisticated understanding
of Chinese democratization; enhance cooperation between Australian researchers and their counterparts in China;
and contribute to global democracy promotion activities by developing a new field of deliberative democratization.
DP0987534 A/Prof D Kingsbury; Dr MP Leach
Title: After the crisis: Nation building challenges in East Timor
2009 : $ 41,000
2010 : $ 21,000
2011 : $ 43,000
Primary RFCD 3601 POLITICAL SCIENCE
Administering Organisation Deakin University
Project Summary:
Given the substantial commitment of International Stabilisation Force intervention, nation and state building in East
Timor remains a high priority for Australian policy makers. This project will examine three key nation building
agendas in post crisis East Timor, focusing on the key areas of decentralisation of state authority, evolving
relationships with traditional authorities, and post crisis conflict resolution programs, over the period of 2009 11. In
so doing, the project will contribute to a better understanding of antecedent factors to state failure, linking directly
with recent Australian government policy concerns over 'fragile states', and their potential to destabilise the regional
security environment.
Faculty of Science and Technology
School of Engineering and Information Technology
DP0987421 Mr X Geng; Prof KA Smith Miles; Prof Z Zhou
Title: Automatic Human Age Estimation Based on Visual Information
2009 : $ 85,000
2010 : $ 80,000
2011 : $ 80,000
Primary RFCD: 2802 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SIGNAL AND IMAGE PROCESSING
APD: Mr X Geng
Administering Organisation: Deakin University
Project Summary:
Age verification is important for many security applications including passport control for border security, and
protecting children from adult websites, venues, or products. Accurate, reliable and practical age estimation or
verification technologies would be of enormous benefit for 'Safeguarding Australia'. The ability of a machine to
estimate a person's age and provide an age appropriate interface also has benefits for the young and old in our
society. The outcome of this project, practical technologies for automatic human age estimation based on visual
information, will dramatically change the current (non technology based) methods of age verification and create
new opportunities for customised human machine interfaces.
Institute for Technology, Research and Innovation
Institute for Technology, Research and Innovation
DP0985364 Dr T Lin; Prof X Wang
Title: Field Enhanced Electrospinning for Fine and Uniform Nanofibres
2009 : $ 119,000
2010 : $ 119,000
2011 : $ 113,000
Primary RFCD: 2903 MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING
Administering Organisation: Deakin University
Project Summary:
This project will result in a new platform technology to produce very fine and uniform nanofibres that can be used in
a range of advanced applications. It will further strengthen our leading position in the field of nanofibre technology,
and contribute to the National Research Priority area of Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming
Australian Industries. Australia already has niche expertise in nanomaterials. This project will significantly enhance
our international standing in the field. There is a growing list of local companies that are interested in exploring the
production and application of nanofibrous materials also.
