Research
Socially engaged research for a changing world
Our humanities and social sciences research explores the social, cultural, political and environmental issues shaping contemporary society.
Explore humanities and social sciences research
At Deakin’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, researchers investigate the forces shaping contemporary life and work with partners to turn knowledge into public value. Our research combines disciplinary depth with agile, problem-led collaboration. Across the humanities and social sciences, we examine democracy and public institutions, security and justice, culture and ethics, and the ways communities respond to global change. We work with governments, industry, civil society, cultural organisations and communities to produce rigorous research that informs debate, improves practice and creates lasting impact.
Our work combines our world-class expertise in humanities and social sciences research with deep engagement with our partners beyond the university, producing research that changes how we understand the world and how we respond to it.
Associate Head of School, Research
Our research strengths
Our strengths are connected by a common purpose: socially engaged research that brings humanities and social science expertise to urgent public questions. Our researchers have outstanding Australian Research Council (ARC) success and engage with over 150 partners.
Democracy and public institutions
Politics, public policy, citizenship, international relations, democratic innovation and parliamentary reform. Our researchers examine how institutions earn trust, exercise power and respond to social and geopolitical change.
Security, justice and resilience
Criminology, cybercrime, covert and criminal networks, violent extremism, technology-facilitated abuse, illicit markets, humanitarian leadership and disaster resilience.
Culture, history and ethics
Contemporary and transnational histories, heritage and museums, philosophy, religion, technology and ethics. This research explores how ideas, memory, belief and cultural institutions shape the present.
Communities and global change
Migration, mobility, diversity, racism, Indigenous health and wellbeing, social inclusion, environment and social change, with a focus on more equitable and sustainable futures.
Meet the researchers driving change
Our research helps shape a fairer, safer and more sustainable world.
Find the right PhD supervisor
Browse our list of leading experts to match with the best supervisor in your field. Filter by field of research and click through to individual profiles to learn more about their expertise or find out if they’re available for supervision.
Our research projects
We create research broad portfolio of competitive and collaborative research. Projects range from investigator-led discovery to applied research developed with government, community, philanthropic and international partners.
Sustaining emergency fire management in times of crisis
This project is a $1.27 million ARC Future Fellowship examining how fire-management workforces and systems are changing under climate, economic and political pressures, and how Australia can sustain vital emergency infrastructure.
Holding country, facing crisis: Aboriginal men’s ceremonial futures
This project is a $1,160,642 ARC Future Fellowship and the first systematic study of the significance of Arandic men’s ceremony in the 21st century. The co-designed project is overseen by Arrernte and Anmatyerr elders and centres Indigenous leadership and capacity building.
Community-led research returns Menang knowledge home
A six-year ARC-funded partnership that reconnects cultural artefacts, language, ecological knowledge and traditional practices with Menang Country. The project culminated in the Kalyagul: Connections to Menang Country exhibition in Albany.
Strategic border management in response to irregular migration
This project is a $388,000 project with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute examining emerging border-management challenges and developing options for interagency collaboration and bilateral coordination between Indonesia and Australia.
Our research institutes and groups
Our community of researchers work across our flagship institutes and strategic research groups to drive innovation and discovery across humanitiesand social sciences.
Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation
The Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation is one of the world’s largest and most influential social sciences and humanities research institutes. Its researchers investigate the complex meanings of citizenship, social inclusion and globalisation, and the implications of these forces in our lives and communities.
Deakin Centre for Contemporary Histories
The Deakin Centre for Contemporary Histories is a dynamic, diverse and distinctive research centre that delivers and translates high-quality research into outcomes that are relevant and meaningful to contemporary society. Its researchers work to understand the uses of history in public debate and the unfinished business of the modern past.
Research on covert, criminal and security networks.
How scientific and technological knowledge shapes institutions, communities and environments.
Ethical questions about emerging technologies, death, dying and the dead.
Lived experiences of neurodivergence and psychopathology.
Parliaments, integrity, accountability and political careers.
Religion, spirituality, wellbeing, belonging and social change.
Sport, movement and leisure in relation to culture, identity and inclusion.
Supporting science-literature social science and socially-engaged science.
Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our University rankings page.
*Engagement and impact assessment conducted by the Australian Research Council in 2018
Contact us
Get in touch if you have any questions about the School of Humanities and Social Sciences research. We can help you choose a discipline or find a supervisor.
General research enquiries
Professor Emma Kowal
Associate Head of School (Research)
Higher degree by research enquiries
Dr Alistair Welsh, HDR Coordinator
