Research projects
This list details past and present research projects conducted at CPAS. It provides a good indication of the nature of science communication as well as the breadth of research topics that can be broached in this discipline.
Prospective students are encouraged to develop their own research topics, perhaps using this list as a starting point for thinking through ideas and to find an appropriate supervisor.
CURRENT
This research project strives to contribute to the theory and practice of critical health communication.
People
- Mia Castillo, Principal investigator
- Professor Joan Leach, Supervisor
The project will surface congruences and incongruences in role constructions, and how scientists and judges navigate differences in their expected and actual tasks in legal proceedings.
Theme
- Public policy and science advice
- Responsible innovation and emerging technologies
People
- Damcelle Cortes, Principal investigator
- Professor Sujatha Raman, Supervisor
This project aims, to develop empirically grounded guidance on how to improve the use of marine science in decision-making processes, and build the capacity of academic researchers to engage more effectively with policy and practice to achieve real world impacts.
People
- Associate Professor Will Grant, Supervisor
- Denis B. Karcher, Principal investigator
This research aims to better understand what culturally-appropriate science education could look like, and focuses on the interaction between indigenous knowledge systems and scientific knowledge in the South Pacific.
Theme
- Public engagement and informal science
People
- Dr Graham Walker, Supervisor
- Emeritus Professor Sue Stocklmayer AO, Supervisor
- Emily Standen, Principal investigator
- Professor Sujatha Raman, Supervisor
Mouthparts that not only slice skin apart, but also slurp blood; body armour that in comparison makes a tank look like a soap bubble and body snatchers that take over the control of their hosts – the world of parasites is full of weird and wonderful adaptations.
Theme
- Science, media and culture
This research project strives to contribute to the theory and practice of critical health communication.
Theme
- Responsible innovation and emerging technologies
People
- Lucy Darragh, Principal investigator
- Professor Joan Leach, Supervisor
This mixed methods study of survey and interviews explores farmers’ value systems and how these associate with interest in climate mitigation and adaptation.
Theme
- Public policy and science advice
Impacts of women in information technology mentoring programs
People
- Associate Professor Merryn McKinnon, Supervisor
- Jade Carson, Principal investigator
Investigate the claims of inclusion at the interface of biodiversity conservation policy and practice in the Philippines.
There is a general consensus that the multiple, intersecting sustainability crises of our time call for transformative forms of innovation. But the question of which kinds of innovation are needed and how they might be steered towards the public good objectives embodied in sustainability goals is less clear-cut.
Theme
- Theories and frameworks in science communication
This research attempts to unpack the incentives and outcomes around issue politicisation by interest groups.
Theme
- Public policy and science advice
People
- Aiden Essery, Principal investigator
- Associate Professor Will Grant, Supervisor
Our research aims to bridge this gap by investigating the effective implementation of responsible innovation in medium to large organisations in the mobility sector, specifically focusing on electric and autonomous vehicles.
Theme
- Responsible innovation and emerging technologies
People
- Dr Ehsan Nabavi, Supervisor
- Xiao Han Drummond, Principal investigator
Scientific communication of the contribution of dietary overconsumption to planetary destabilisation
This research explores this urgent and wicked problem; a nexus that could be a site for impactful environmental, social, and health change
Understanding the role of communication in behaviour change
People
- Associate Professor Will Grant, Supervisor
- Professor Joan Leach, Supervisor
- Tanya Wilkins, Principal investigator
This project aims to understand how PFAS is seen as a problem (or not a problem) in Australia.
Theme
- Topics in Science Communication
- Public policy and science advice
People
- Bangle (Bernice) Wu, Principal investigator
- Professor Sujatha Raman, Supervisor
COMPLETED
This project will look at student perspectives on which molecular models they find most valuable.
Theme
- Public engagement and informal science
People
- Associate Professor Merryn McKinnon, Supervisor
- Ellen Phiddian, Principal investigator
This project investigates the image memes shared on Facebook by anti-vaccination and pro-vaccination advocates.
For more information about this project, contact the principal investigator, supervisor or cpas@anu.edu.au.
Theme
- Topics in Science Communication
This research project focuses on the portrayal of the nature of science (NOS) within international curricula.
Theme
- Public engagement and informal science
For more information about this project contact cpas@anu.edu.au.
This research describes the early history of satellite-based remote sensing in Australia.
Theme
- Public policy and science advice
Mitsuru's PhD research focuses on practice of science communication in Japan.
Theme
- Theories and frameworks in science communication
For more information about this project please contact cpas@anu.edu.au.
Theme
- Topics in Science Communication
For more information on this project, contact the SCOM3003 course convenor.
This research will also examine the implications of the Ice Bucket Challenge on the future of using viral marketing online to communicate science and medicine.
People
- Associate Professor Will Grant, Supervisor
- Rachael Featherstone, Principal investigator
For more information about this project please contact cpas@anu.edu.au.
Theme
- Responsible innovation and emerging technologies
For more information about this project please contact cpas@anu.edu.au.
For more information about this project please contact cpas@anu.edu.au.
Theme
- Responsible innovation and emerging technologies
This project examined the Australian policy framework regulating preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and discussed the gaps and ambiguities present in the regulatory framework in the mid-2000s.
Theme
- Public policy and science advice
The report was produced for the use of the ANU Medicine, Health and Wellbeing Learning Community and other ANU stakeholders to help inform future health communication strategies in our community.