CASS researchers awarded nearly $5M in ARC Discovery Projects

Researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) have been awarded nine Discovery Project (DP) grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC), securing a total of $4.96 million to help expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability. 

Investigating the contribution of advocacy organisations in representing the interests of future generations and addressing Australia’s unfolding fertility crisis are among the research aims of the new government-funded CASS research projects. 

As a flagship scheme for fundamental research and the largest under the ARC National Competitive Grants Program, Discovery Projects (DP) provide funding to individual researchers or teams for up to five consecutive years.

Of the nine funded projects, six will be led in Canberra by The Australian National University (ANU), and three will be spearheaded by partner universities across the country, including The University of New South Wales and The University of Queensland.

In a highly competitive process, the College obtained a success rate of 60% –well exceeding the Go8 average of 48.8%. 

CASS Dean Professor Bronwyn Parry said the projects are a testament to the crucial role that humanities and social sciences research plays in addressing Australia’s most pressing challenges. 

“The high number of funded projects in the humanities and social sciences demonstrates that our contribution to the national mission remains as vital as ever. I look forward to seeing these exemplary projects unfold and deliver solutions that will help make Australia a fairer and more prosperous place for generations to come,” she said.

Internally led projects

• Professor Darren Halpin, from the School of Politics & International Relations (RSSS), has been awarded $553,093 for his project Organising Present Generations to Advocate for Future Generations.
• Dr Natalie Nitsche and Professor Edith Gray, from the School of Demography (RSSS), have been awarded $560,468 for their project Online Social Connections, Mental Well-Being, and Declining Fertility.
• Professor Laurajane Smith, Dr Alexandra Dellios and Professor Mathew Trinca, from the Centre for Heritage & Museum Studies (RSHA), and Professor James Smithies from the HASS Digital Research Hub (RSHA) have been awarded $852,772 for their project Australians and the Past Revisited.
• Professor Rosalind Smith and Dr Claire Hansen, from the School of Literature, Languages & Linguistics (RSHA), and Professor Mitchell Whitelaw, from the School of Art and Design (RSHA) have been awarded $352,449 for their project Handwritten: scribal culture and the early modern woman writer, 1500-1700.
• Professor Katie Steele, from the School of Philosophy (RSSS), has been awarded $333,294 for her project Ethics, Sustainability and Future Generations.
• Associate Professor Duncan Wright and Dr Anna Florin from the School of Archaeology and Anthropology (RSHA) have been awarded $767,398 for their project Malo to Mabo: A community-led archaeological history of the Meriam people.

Externally led projects

• Dr Pia van Gelder, from the School of Art & Design (RSHA), has been awarded $425,158 for her project From Noise to Signal, externally led by The University of New South Wales.
• Dr James O’Donnell, from the School of Demography (RSSS), has been awarded $428,214 for his project Temporary migration, visa pathways and integration outcomes, externally led by The University of Queensland.
• Dr Laura Rademaker, from the School of History (RSSS), has been awarded $685,028 for her project Re-storying Arnhem Land's Aboriginal Knowledge Holders, externally led by The University of Adelaide.

For a full list of funded projects, refer to the ARC Discovery Projects 2026 Grant Announcement Kit.