Developing Large Grant Applications Workshop: Framing Coherence

On 23 September, ICS hosted a 'Developing Large Grant Applications' workshop at the Parramatta CBD campus. The theme was 'Framing Coherence' and the workshop included presentations by ICS Professors Brett Neilson, Ned Rossiter, Paul James, Tony Bennett and Associate Professor Amanda Third.

The subjects covered were:

• coordinating a large-team application; the platform method of collective research; 
• working across disciplines and developing global partners; 
• strategies for a large-scale, cross-sector, interdisciplinary bid. 

The presentations were followed by 'breakout' small group discussions of research proposals. Apart from ICS members, there were participants from UWS's Schools of Humanities and Communication Arts, Social Sciences and Psychology, Science and Health, Business, and Education; the Office of Research Services; and the National Institute of Complimentary Medicine.

Program

Chair: Professor Greg Noble
Organiser: Dr Fiona Cameron

Venue: Room X6.4.15, UWS Parramatta CBD Campus, 100 George Street, Parramatta

Presentations by speakers

10.00-11.00am

Professor Tony Bennett: 'Australian Cultural Fields'

This presentation addressed the issue of coordinating the relations between the theoretical, empirical and methodological components of a large-team application in a manner calculated to achieve a high degree of coherence between them.

Professor Ned Rossiter and Professor Brett Neilson: 'Research Platform Method'

This presentation outlined the platform method of collective research, drawing on sites of investigation in Shanghai, Kolkata, Sydney and Athens. Particular attention was given to the invention of digital methods and the challenge of coordinating international and local partnerships.

Professor Paul James: 'Working Across Disciplines and Developing Global Partners'

One of the most productive ways of bringing large teams together is around a problem or critical issue that requires quite different expertise to handle the various dimensions of the research. This presentation focussed on a major project that became both a large ARC Linkage grant 'Accounting for Sustainability' that brought together the social sciences, information sciences and business studies, and a project for supporting a number of cities across the world to reframe the way that we respond to seemingly intractable problems of sustainability.

Associate Professor Amanda Third: 'Young and Well CRC'

This presentation discussed some of the strategies deployed by the Young and Well CRC to give coherence to a large-scale, cross-sector, interdisciplinary bid, both at application stage and beyond.

Followed by questions.

Group work 

11.00am-12noon

Small group work on concepts and applications with an opportunity for feedback from the presenters.