CASS ARC success will create major joint humanities/social science research data facility

The Australian Research Council has awarded $600,000 to the ANU through the Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities Scheme. CASS academic staff Professor Deborah Mitchell and Dr Steven McEachern will lead a consortium of over 20 researchers from five major Australian universities in the creation of the Australian Data Archive (ADA).

In partnership with the ANU Supercomputer Facility (ANUSF), the ADA will build on the existing world-class Australian Social Science Data Archive (ASSDA), managed by the ANU, by expanding it to include data critical to Humanities researchers. In 30 years of operation, ASSDA has been the only comprehensive social science data collection in Australia with a catalogue of around 2500 data sets, including Australian surveys, opinion polls and censuses and includes data from other countries within the Asia Pacific region.

ADA will allow, for the first time, researchers in the humanities to access the same world-class facility available to their colleagues in the social sciences. It will provide a web-enabled one-stop service allowing researchers to browse a diverse range of data holdings and formats; conduct sophisticated statistical analysis on-line; connect to audio and visual files; and download data to their desk-top for further analysis using preferred software. ADA will also provide direct data support for a range of major research networks and projects which address the complex social, economic, environmental and cultural challenges facing Australia. Additionally, through its international affiliations, the facility will provide Australian researchers with internationally sourced data.

Other CASS researchers involved in the project include Professor Ian McAllister and Dr Edith Gray.

Further information: