UWS builds on research success with two prestigious ARC grants

The University of Western Sydney has underlined its growing research reputation with the announcement of two prestigious Australian Research Council Future Fellowship grants.

On 25 July the Minister for Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans, announced grants for Professor Donald McNeill, from the UWS Institute for Culture and Society, and Dr Caroline Jones, who will join the UWS MARCS Institute.

Professor McNeill will examine how the digital technology and National Broadband Network will affect the ways in which urban services are supplied and procured, and how city neighbourhoods are built, designed and engineered. The project will analyse whether ‘digital cities’ will benefit existing corporate power structures, or offer opportunities to civil society groups to pursue non-profit exchanges of information.

Dr Caroline Jones will travel to the Northern Territory to study indigenous children who grow up speaking Kriol and English. As children's language outcomes are critical for health, education and employment, this study will establish the factors that help drive the successful acquisition of both languages.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Professor Andrew Cheetham, has congratulated the researchers on their success, and says the grants confirm the international excellence the University fosters in its areas of research concentrations. 

“This result confirms UWS is in the top 20 universities for funding awarded, and with 48 research organisations applying for Future Fellow funding, UWS is in 21st position,” he says.

“I’d like to congratulate the researchers for their success, and extend my thanks to our excellent research development and support staff.”

Ends

30 July 2013

Contact: Mark Smith, Media Officer