Research
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences has an enviable reputation as a provider of advanced research training. Much of this research is unique in Australia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Because of this established expertise, many students come to UNE to undertake research degrees, such as the Master and PhD programs.
The Faculty's expertise in research covers a broad spectrum with just some examples being:
- research related to the tiny human species Homo floresiensis (nicknamed "the Hobbit" by the media)
- involvement with the ARC funded Research Network in Spatially Integrated Social Sciences
- Australian Aboriginal languages, Asian literature and performing arts
- West European polyphonic song and its cultural context
- local family and applied history
- gnosticism and early Christianity
- effect of climate and climate change on the geographical distribution of fungi and plant diseases
- biological control and other alternatives to pesticides
- behaviour of polymers in solution and their interaction with small molecules and colloidal matter
- how species perform within their ecosystems particularly in regard to reproductive functions
- theories of nuclear spin relaxation and solid state diffusion
- measurement of whole-farm sustainability over the long term
- spatial and temporal variation in marine and estuarine benthic communities
- detection of quantitative trait loci
- non-linear analysis and partial differential equations
- molecular genetics and functional genomics of filamentous fungi
- environmental modelling and Hyperspectral Remote Sensing
Collaborative research with other institutions, such as the CSIRO, has led to many important projects including participation in high profile Cooperative Research Centres. Through its research the Faculty is able to assist in the advancement of Australia and in the advanced training of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The Schools of the Faculty are actively involved in seeking support from the Australian Research Council resulting in ARC Discovery Projects; Linkage Projects; NHMRC projects; ARC LIEF grants.. Staff have also been part of successful bids for research funding through other Australian universities.
The academic staff of the Faculty have been recruited world-wide and include many who are internationally recognised leaders in their particular research fields. The Faculty has a long and proud tradition of excellence in teaching and research, and its degrees are recognised internationally.
Facilities
- Electron Microscope Unit
- Zoology Museum
- Museum of Antiquities
- NCW Beadle Herbarium
- Bruker AC300 high-field n.m.r. spectrometer
- Astronomical observatory with a Celestron C14 refractor telescope
- Geophysical Observatory
- Four of the University’s rural research properties are within a short distance of the campus.
- The property, ‘Newholme’ is operated as a Natural Resources field laboratory.
- Ideally situated for field work in a range of ages and types of geological formations and vegetation types, including rainforests, acid wetlands, coastal heath and a variety of other pastoral and agricultural systems.