Research stories
The secret lives of brown snakes: how a university vet supports wildlife research
Written by Phillis Zeng. It’s peak snake season between September and April each year. Among the species inhabiting the region, brown snakes are the most commonly found in Canberra – exceptionally well adapted to urban ecosystems – and highly feared and maligned due to their proximity to…
CASS study finds strong link between place, language and wellbeing for First Nations communities
The combination of languages spoken in a given place, known as language ecology, matters for the wellbeing of Indigenous language speakers, according to a new study from the Australian National University (ANU). This article was originally published in ANU Research. The different…
Long live the king: why monarchy is still popular in the 21st century
Our love affair with monarchy has endured for millennia. ANU Professor Caillan Davenport explains the appeal of sole rulers. This article was originally published in ANU Reporter by Luis Perez. In a world where 700 million people live in extreme poverty, 43 countries still bow…
Global Humanities Institute on Inclusive Collaboration comes to ANU
Report by Professor Kylie Message-Jones, Director of the ANU Humanities Research Centre. The ANU Humanities Research Centre in partnership with the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Minnesota, the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, the University of California San Diego, the…
The death of inclusive AI? Dr Thao Phan discusses Trump’s fight against diversity
Amid President Trump's crusade against DEI, tech companies are reneging on promises to address bias in AI. This article was originally published in ANU Reporter by Luis Perez. In less than three years, ChatGPT has become the oracle of modern life. Some users like to whisper…
Can ancient pottery hold the clues to a food-resilient future?
In 2050, humanity will grapple with the unprecedented challenge of feeding nearly 10 billion people against a backdrop of dwindling resources and climate unrest. While there are no silver bullets in sight, ANU archaeologist Mathieu Leclerc is searching for sustainable solutions where few are—the…
Why studying India’s roads matters for Australia’s international relations
As one of Australia’s key trading partners and regional allies, India’s rise as a global economic powerhouse remains a topic of much debate. ANU historian Aditya Balasubramanian is hoping to contribute to this discussion by conducting the first-ever study of post-colonial roadbuilding in the South…