Grants and projects
These are the research grant projects that the academic staff at the Unit are currently engaged in, or have recently completed.
ARC Discovery Project DP0984930
Dr D Rickles
The Development of Quantum Gravity
2009 : $ 127,500
2010 : $ 124,000
2011 : $ 124,000
2012 : $ 124,000
2013 : $ 118,000
Project Summary
This research constitutes the first large-scale effort to unpack and make sense of the development of quantum
gravity. Given the pressing nature of this problem and its importance for our worldview, such a study would be of
great benefit to several sectors of the academic community. By giving a global perspective of the field from its
origins those outside the field will be able to appreciate its importance and its place in contemporary physics.
Quantum gravity researchers will be able to see how their preferred approach fits into the web of research
programmes, thus opening the door for greater collaboration between the various approaches. This research will
greatly enhance Australia's position in this breakthrough science.
University of Sydney Bridging Grant
Dr Dominic Murphy
2009-10 : $ 40,000
ARC Discovery Project DP0772706
Dr Ofer Gal and Dr Charles T. Wolfe
The origins of scientific experimental practices: from the anatomical theatre to the conversations of the Royal Society
2007 : $98,324
2008 : $130,974
2009 : $137,010
2010 : $90,240
Project summary
This research will offer new insight into the emergence of scientific empiricism, and will thus provide an important contribution towards informed public discussion concerning science education, the relations between the sciences and between science and general culture. This discussion is incumbent on us in our quest for a knowledge based economy and a proper place in an increasingly competitive world of science led industry and commerce. Australia enjoys a prime international position in history and philosophy of science scholarship, and in the field of seventeenth century science in particular. This project will maintain and enhance this position.
ARC Discovery Project DP0664046
Dr Ofer Gal
The imperfection of the universe: music, mathematics, technology and the (dis)order of nature in baroque science
2006 : $120,000
2007 : $30,000
2008 : $90,000
Primary RFCD: 3706 - History and philosophy of science and medicine
Administering institution: the University of Sydney
Project summary
This research will offer new insight into the birth of modern science, and will thus provide an important contribution towards informed public discussion concerning science education, the relations between science and industry and between science and general culture. This discussion is incumbent on us in our quest for knowledge based economy and a proper place in an increasingly competitive world of science led industry and commerce. Australia enjoys a prime international position in history and philosophy of science scholarship, and in the field of seventeenth century science in particular. This project will maintain and enhance this position.
ARC Discovery Project DP0556068
A/Prof SM Dodds; Dr RA Ankeny; Dr J Grossman; Prof FE Baylis; Dr J Downie
Big-picture bioethics: policy-making and liberal democracy
2005 : $105,140
2006 : $69,511
2007 : $78,799
2008 : $86,208
Category: 4401 - Philosophpy
Administering institution: University of Wollongong
Project summary
We live an era of rapid growth in biotechnology generating new and difficult ethical questions that need to be tackled by bioethicists and politicians. This project goes beyond typical approaches in bioethics to explore the 'big picture': how policies are generated in ethically-contentious domains. It is important to examine how the values of different stakeholders are reflected in such processes to ensure that they are in accordance with Australia's commitment to fostering a multicultural, pluralistic, democratic society. This project will produce practical recommendations for refining public consultation in healthcare policy-making through an examination of three relevant contentious case studies in Australia with comparison to Canada.
ARC Discovery Project DP0450751
Dr Hans Pols
War, Trauma, and Rehabilitation: The Army, Psychiatry, and World War II
2004 : $30,000
2005 : $26,000
2006 : $29,666
Project summary
This project will examine a key episode in the history of twentieth century psychiatry: the development of new theoretical approaches and treatment methods for war neurosis encountered during World War II. This will be the first in-depth study of the topic and will be conducted from a trans-national perspective, in which the contributions of Australian, British, and American psychiatrists will be analysed. The development of psychiatric diagnoses will be analysed in the context of the
dynamic relationship between psychiatrists, soldiers, and the army. The outcome will be at least three refereed journal
articles and a scholarly monograph.
ARC Discovery Project DP0346254
Dr RA Ankeny
Modelling nervous systems, 1880-1930: debates over choice of materials and techniques in the correlation of form and function
2003 : $30,000
2004 : $25,000
Project summary
This project will examine key scientific research programs in the history of the neurosciences in the transitional period 1880-1930 in order to explore the models, methodologies, and material techniques that were the foundation for the most influential theories. Several major figures will serve as anchors for the study, providing insight into the contentious debates as well as the often unstated basic agreements that occurred across a range of disciplinary, social, and national boundaries to examine the roots of what neuroscience is today.