Our research

Fertility and Family Formation

Research in the area of fertility and family formation investigates the dynamic nature of the family types in which people live, changes in family formation behaviour, and the work-family balance. Studies include the development of new methodologies for monitoring fertility trends, sex preference…

First Three Fleets and Their Families

About 4500 people set off in the first Three Fleets from England to New South Wales in 1787-91. The National Centre of Biography's project, The First Three Fleets and Their Families is examining how those, who survived the journey, 'remade' their lives in the infant colony. We are also…

Proust. Image: Adobe Stock

Francophone Research Cluster

The Australian National University’s Francophone Research Cluster (FRC) is an interdisciplinary initiative that seeks to promote innovative research into all aspects of culture and society in France and the Francophone world. For more information visit the project page.  …

Gambling in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory

Gambling is an issue that is increasingly reported, both anecdotally and through research, as having significant negative impacts on Indigenous individuals, families and communities in the Northern Territory. Rates of gambling problems are much higher in the Indigenous population compared to the…

Gendered Excellence in the Social Sciences

Gender equity has still not been realised, despite decades of activism, policy and research. In some of the social sciences women make up less than 15 per cent of the professoriate. Yet these are the disciplines that should most aid our understanding of how gender works in society. This project…

Humanising Machine Intelligence

Every new technology bears its designers’ stamp. For Machine Intelligence, our values are etched deep in the code. Machine Intelligence sees the world through the data that we provide and curate. Its choices reflect our priorities. Its unintended consequences voice our indifference. It cannot be…

Indigenous Australian Dictionary of Biography

The National Centre of Biography has launched a new project to develop an Indigenous Australian Dictionary of Biography. The four year project is funded by the Australian Research Council and will be led by Dr Shino Konishi from the University of Western Australia, with Dr Malcolm Allbrook and…