The Deakin Science and Society Network is an engine for interdisciplinary research at Deakin. Together we address the world’s biggest challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, health, and food and water security. We reach across the disciplinary divides of universities and institutions, as well as the divides between research, policy and practice, to meet these challenges.
Our projects and activities are organised around four themes, each led by an interdisciplinary team of scholars.
We tackle pressing issues such as climate change, industrial pollution and biodiversity loss. By collaborating with ecologists, criminologists, psychologists, historians and other scholars, we address environmental challenges and explore linkages to biodiversity conservation, renewable energy, pollution, mental and physical health, and sustainable resource use.
We recognise that the diverse and complex knowledge systems of Australia’s First Nations Peoples are vital for creating sustainable solutions to ecological, social and health crises. Our network unites Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars to collaboratively explore questions related to environment, sustainability and wellbeing.
While advances in genetics, medicine and public health have extended lifespans, new challenges arise from climate change, conflict and evolving lifestyles. Emerging technologies also present complex ethical, legal, and social dilemmas. Our interdisciplinary team of scientists, bioethicists, health professionals, philosophers and policy makers collaborate to address these challenges and work towards building healthier, more equitable futures.
As societies become increasingly data-driven, we investigate the implications of datafication on privacy, ethics and public life. We connect researchers in artificial intelligence, data science, human-computer interaction and information technology with sociologists, anthropologists, artists and policy scientists to tackle critical issues such as data security, privacy and the democratisation of information.
Join the Deakin Science and Society Network to engage in vital global research through seminars and discussions, and support early- and mid-career researchers in developing ideas, finding partners and securing funding.
We have funded interdisciplinary projects ranging from well-being in space to developing a new bowel cancer screening tool to decolonising the secondary science curriculum. Many of our grantees go on to win further grants and international acclaim.
Associate Professor Radhika Gorur
Convenor, Deakin Science and Society Network
Each research theme is co-led by two academics – typically one from Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) and one from Science, Tecnology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
Associate Professor Radhika Gorur is the convenor of the Deakin Science and Society Network and a member of the School of Education and the Centre for Research for Educational Impact. Her research interests include education policy, regulation and reform, global networks, and the social studies of science and technology, particularly critical data studies.
Associate Professor Vicki Huang is the deputy convenor of the Deakin Science and Society Network and a faculty member at Deakin Law School. She utilises quantitative empirical methods to challenge assumptions in law, focusing on the intersections between patents and gender, and trademarks and race.
The Deakin Science and Society Network Incubator scheme supports interdisciplinary collaborative research led by Deakin early- and mid-career academics to address significant social issues. Our projects achieve an impressive 4:1 return on investment, with researchers leveraging their work to secure external funding, inform policy and build partnerships across various sectors.
Led by Dr Jennifer Browne, this project identifies the commercial drivers that influence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. Initially conceived as a 2022 incubator grant, it has successfully secured a Victorian Health Ideas grant and received $1.2 million in funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
This project, led by Associate Professor Rangam Rajkhowa, focuses on capturing coloured fibre from end-of-life textiles for reuse as pigments in Australian Indigenous art. Following a 2023 Incubator grant, the team secured additional funding from Sustainability Victoria and won gold at the prestigious 2023 Anthem Awards.
We’d love to hear from you! If you’re interested in our research, funding opportunities or want to stay updated on the latest developments, reach out to the team.
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