Associate Professor in Museum Anthr
Overview
I am a social anthropologist and curator specialising in material, visual and digital cultures, and in re-inventing ethnographic museums for the 21st century. I have curated 18 exhibitions. I have a continuing research interest and publication track record in the anthropology of colours.
I have an undergraduate degree in Architecture, an MA in Anthropology of Art from University College London and a PhD in Social Anthropology from University College London where I was part of the Material Culture group in the Department of Anthropology. I won an ESRC Post Doctoral Fellowship and a Post Doctoral fellowship at ANU before becoming the Anthropology Museum Director at UQ. I am currently Director of the Museum Studies Masters Program at UQ.
My research interests include the anthropology of art, landscape and ecology, consumption, film and photography, historical anthropology, design anthropology, museum studies, and research through exhibition curation as public anthropology. I have expertise in researching Australian Indigenous and Pacific cultural production. I welcome students for higher degree research supervision in any of these subject areas.
My ARC Discovery (2013-2016) A desire for things concerns the relationship of money, art markets, consumption practices and art making among Indigenous artists working in central Australia.
I am the first woman to direct the UQ Anthropology museum. I created a new research infra structure for the museum that includes a dedicated 240m square gallery and a new global best practice collection store. I led the creation of a new online digital catalogue for the museum with innovative object imaging. More than 60,000 people visited the UQAM’s new teaching, research and engagement facilities. I promoted a successful acquisition policy of purchasing works by named women makers to assist in the rebalancing the gender equity of the collection, and raised more than AUS$1.1 million for the museum. I initiated a gallery program to show the museum's collection that included collaborative exhibitions derived from research in the museum’s collection. I am expert at successfully profiling academic research for public engagement. These projects aim for inclusivity and an inter-cultural understanding that promote ever widening networks which assist in the continuing process of decolonising the museum.
Research Interests
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Colour as Material, Digital and Visual Culture.
I am influential in establishing the contemporary research of colour in anthropology. My work centres on the role of colour as a concept, and colours as substances, in social and cultural life. This research is centred on visual, digital and material culture using fieldwork and draws on linguistics, cognitive science, architecture, archaeology, ecological studies, contemporary art theory and museum collections. -
Western Desert Art Histories
My interest is in the development of the art histories of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands since the establishment of the mission at Ernabella (now Pukatja) in South Australia 1937. Overall this work is a contribution to reassessing Australia’s colonial history and the creativity of Aboriginal women artists who gained autonomy and an expansion of themselves through art practices. I have curated public exhibitions (1998 'Warka Iritii munu Kuwari Kutu/ Work from the past and the present 50 years of Ernabella Arts'; 2001 'Art on a string' ; 2009, 'Nyukana Baker. A Retrospective') and catalogues on this topic. This research includes fieldwork and archival study - both textual and photographic. -
Consumption Practices in Central Australia.
This project was funded by an ARC Discovery ( 2013-Dec 2016) which researched the neglected history of consumption after colonisation among Australian Indigenous peoples. The research based on long term fieldwork. Findings from this recently completed research are in press. -
Public Anthropology through Curatorial practice and the future of the ethnographic museum
This research examines the role of so-called ethnographic museums now. I have collaborated in the curation of 17 public exhibitions in many venues in Australia including at UQ. I have developed collaborative research in museums with the aim of generating innovative exhibitions, using little seen objects combined with contemporary academic theory, to engage wide audiences.
Research Impacts
As an influential curator of anthropology, I am at the forefront of object centred teaching and learning for university and school students. I directed the creation of a new research and teaching infrastructure for the UQ Anthropology Museum and transformed it into a public institution with loans to many state galleries and museums and to local projects. See the online catalogue at http://catalogue.anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au/ and exhibtions at http://anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au/exhibitions/. These digital sites have been visited by people in 157 different countries globally (Google analytics June 2017).
Key Exhibitions
2016 Director of curation Solomon Islands; Re enchantment and the colonial shadow, UQ Anthropology Museum. http://www.anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au/solomon-islands
2015 commissioned Wild Australia. Meston’s Wild Australia show 1892-1893 curated by Michael Aird and Mandana Mapar, research Paul Memmott UQ Anthropology Museum; http://www.anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au/wild-australia. Toured to Grafton Regional Gallery 2016.
2014 written on the body commissioned and co curated with Waanyi artist Judy Watson UQ Anthropology Museum; http://www.anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au/written-on-the-body
2013 Musical Landscapes of Lihir, commissioned, developed, director of curation with Kirsty Gillespie and the Lihir Development Project, New Ireland province Papua New Guinea, UQ Anthropology Museum; http://www.anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au/musical-landscapes-of-lihir
2012 In the red on the vibrancy of things director/curator UQ Anthropology Museum, commissioned work Fiona Foley, Miyarrka media; http://www.anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au/in-the-red-on-the-vibrancy-of-things
2012 What do objects want? director/curator UQ Anthropology Museum; http://www.anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au/what-do-objects-want and on line exhibtion; https://catalogue.anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au/search/?q=what+do+objects+want.
2009 Nyukana Baker; A retrospective, curator at the Jam Factory Adelaide for SALA (South Australia Living Artists festival). Australia Council funded.
2001-2005 co curated Art on a String. Threaded objects from the Western Desert and Arnhem Land, Object centre of Australian craft and design touring show (venues included Object Gallery Sydney, Museum of Victoria, Bathurst regional gallery, NSW, Araluen cultural centre, Alice Springs, Tandanya cultural centre, Adelaide). Australia Council funded.
1998 consultant curator for Ernabella Arts Inc., ‘Warka irititja munu kwari kutu. Work from the past and the present a celebration of 50 years of Ernabella Arts,’ Tandanya Cultural Centre Adelaide
Qualifications
- PhD Socio Anthropology, University College London
- MA Anthropology of Art, University College London
Publications
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Journal Article: In the red: substances and materials in the Australian Western Desert
Young, Diana (2020). In the red: substances and materials in the Australian Western Desert. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 26 (2), 269-283. doi: 10.1111/1467-9655.13248
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Other Outputs: On some street ecologies
Young, Diana (2019). On some street ecologies. Berlin, Germany: CARMAH Humboldt University.
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Book Chapter: The light is looking at us
Young, Diana J.B . (2019). The light is looking at us. James Turrell - night life. (pp. 53-63) edited by Rebecca Mutch. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: QAGOMA.
Grants
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(2017–2018) National Library of Australia
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Operationalising research collections in archaeological science and museum studies
(2015–2016) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
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Significance Assessment of the University of Queensland Anthropology Museum Photographic Collection
(2015–2016) National Library of Australia
Supervision
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Threadbare: the Bhutanese textile industry. Contemporary innovation in Bhutanese weaving and its translation to market
Doctor Philosophy
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Place, practices, and creativity: The (re)creation of a transnational subculture
Doctor Philosophy
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Digital Practices in a South Korean County
Doctor Philosophy
Publications
Book
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Rematerializing colour: from concept to substance
Diana Young ed. (2018). Rematerializing colour: from concept to substance. Canon Pyon, United Kingdom: Sean Kingston Publishing.
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Solomon Islands: re-enchantment and the colonial shadow
Young, Diana (2017). Solomon Islands: re-enchantment and the colonial shadow. Brisbane, Australia: Anthropology Museum, The University of Queensland.
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Strong women strong painting strong culture
Diana Young ed. (2014). Strong women strong painting strong culture. St. Lucia, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland Anthropology Museum.
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Art on a string: Aboriginal threaded objects from the Central Desert and Arnhem Land
Hamby, Louise and Young, Diana (2001). Art on a string: Aboriginal threaded objects from the Central Desert and Arnhem Land. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Object-Australian Centre for Craft and Design, Australian National University.
Book Chapter
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Young, Diana J.B . (2019). The light is looking at us. James Turrell - night life. (pp. 53-63) edited by Rebecca Mutch. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: QAGOMA.
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Young, Diana (2018). Color. International encyclopedia of anthropology. (pp. 330-360) edited by Hilary Callan. New Jersey, United States: John Wiley and Sons. doi: 10.1002/9781118924396.wbiea2210
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Colour as the edge of the body
Young, Diana (2018). Colour as the edge of the body. Rematerializing colour: from concept to substance. (pp. Unknown-Unknown) edited by Diana Young. Wantage, United Kingdom: Sean Kingston Publishing.
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Young, Diana J. B. (2018). Colour palettes and beauty. Anthropology and Beauty: From Aesthetics to Creativity. (pp. 148-166) edited by Stephanie Bunn. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315681566
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Young, Diana (2018). Introduction. Rematerializing colour: from concept to substance. (pp. 1-21) edited by Diana Young. Wantage, United Kingdom: Sean Kingston Publishing.
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Coloring Cars: customising motor vehicles in the east of the Australian Western Desert
Young, Diana (2017). Coloring Cars: customising motor vehicles in the east of the Australian Western Desert. Design anthropology: object cultures in transition. (pp. 147-159) edited by Alison Clarke. London, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing.
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Young, Diana (2017). Introduction. Solomon Islands: re-enchantment and the colonial shadow. (pp. 1-7) Brisbane, Australia: Anthropology Museum, The University of Queensland.
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Young, Diana (2015). Introduction. Wild Australia. Meston's Wild Australia 1892-93. (pp. 2-3) edited by Michael Aird, Mandana Mapar and Paul Memmott. Brisbane, Australia: Anthropology Museum, The University of Queensland.
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Colouring cars: Customising motor vehicles in the East of the Australian Western Desert
Young, Diana (2011). Colouring cars: Customising motor vehicles in the East of the Australian Western Desert. Design anthropology: Object culture in the 21st century. (pp. 117-129) edited by Alison J. Clark. Wien, Austria ; New York, U.S.A.: Springer.
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Dingo scalping and the frontier economy in the north west of South Australia
Young, Diana (2010). Dingo scalping and the frontier economy in the north west of South Australia. Indigenous participation in Australian economies. (pp. 91-107) edited by Ian Keen. Australia: ANU E-Press.
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Dressing the body in the Western Desert, Australia
Young, Diana (2010). Dressing the body in the Western Desert, Australia. Berg encyclopedia of world dress and fashion. (pp. 37-41) edited by Joanne Eicher. Oxford, United Kingdom: Berg. doi: 10.2752/BEWDF/EDch7007
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Young, Diana (2006). The colours of things. The handbook of material culture. (pp. 173-185) edited by Christopher Tilley, Webb Keane, Susanne Kuechler, Mike Rowlands and Patricia Spyer. London: Sage Publications.
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The life and death of cars. Private cars on the Pitjantjatjara Lands, South Australia
Young, Diana (2001). The life and death of cars. Private cars on the Pitjantjatjara Lands, South Australia. Car cultures. (pp. 35-59) edited by Daniel Miller. London: Berg Publishers.
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Punu metaphors and markets- wood carving in the Ernabella area
Young, Diana (1998). Punu metaphors and markets- wood carving in the Ernabella area. Warka iritita munu Kuwari kutu. Work from the past and the present: a celebration of Fifty years of Ernabella Arts. (pp. 38-43) Ernabella, SA, Australia: Ernabella Arts .
Journal Article
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In the red: substances and materials in the Australian Western Desert
Young, Diana (2020). In the red: substances and materials in the Australian Western Desert. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 26 (2), 269-283. doi: 10.1111/1467-9655.13248
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Winifred Hilliard and the cultural brokerage of the Ernabella craft room
Young, Diana J. B. (2017). Winifred Hilliard and the cultural brokerage of the Ernabella craft room. Aboriginal History, 41, 71-94. doi: 10.22459/AH.41.2017.04
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Young, Diana (2017). Focus on the exhibition. Oceanic Arts Society, 22 (1), 7-8.
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Mutable things: colours as material practice in the north west of South Australia
Young, Diana (2011). Mutable things: colours as material practice in the north west of South Australia. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 17 (2), 356-376. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9655.2011.01684.x
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Young, Diana (2011). Australia: William Blandowski's illustrated encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia by AllenHarry (Ed.) Aboriginal Studies Press, Canberra, 2010, x + 176pp., ISBN 978 0 85575 713 7. The Australian Journal of Indigneous Education, 40, 125-126. doi: 10.1017/S1326011100000181
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On materiality - a review of two Australian exhibitions
Young, Diana (2006). On materiality - a review of two Australian exhibitions. Museum Anthropology, 29 (2), 133-139. doi: 10.1525/mua.2006.29.2.133
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Water as country in the Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands South Australia
Young, Diana (2006). Water as country in the Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands South Australia. World Views: Environment, Culture and Religion, 10 (2), 239-259. doi: 10.1163/156853506777965839
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The smell of greenness: cultural synaesthesia in the Western Desert
Young, Diana (2005). The smell of greenness: cultural synaesthesia in the Western Desert. Etnofoor, 18 (1), 61-77.
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Young, Diana (2004). Review of Theories, technologies, instrumentalities of color: anthropological and historiographic perspectives by Barbara Saunders & Jaap van Brakel. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 10 (3), 707-708. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9655.2004.00208.x
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The material value of colour: The estate agent's tale
Young, Diana (2004). The material value of colour: The estate agent's tale. Home Cultures, 1 (1), 5-22. doi: 10.2752/174063104778053572
Other Outputs
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Young, Diana (2019). On some street ecologies. Berlin, Germany: CARMAH Humboldt University.
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Young, Diana (2018). The Anthropologist. Making Faces - A Jewellery Playbook. (pp. 33-33) Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Manon van Kouswijk.
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Young, Diana (2017). On revealing and concealing. Songlines: tracking the seven sisters. (pp. 72-75) edited by Margo Neale. Canberra, ACT, Australia: National Museum of Australia Press.
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Solomon Islands: re-enchantment and the colonial shadow
Young, Diana (2016). Solomon Islands: re-enchantment and the colonial shadow. Brisbane, Australia:
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Young, Diana and Hardjo, Camella (2016). In the red. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/uql.2017.569
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Young, Diana (2015). Snake relations. Brisbane, Australia:
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Young, Diana (2014). Strong Women Strong Painting Strong Culture. Indigenous women's art of the central and western deserts from the Simms Dickson Collection and the UQ Anthropology Museum Collection. Brisbane, QLD, Australia:
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The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum 5 year report July 1 2009- June 30 2014
Young, Diana (2014). The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum 5 year report July 1 2009- June 30 2014.
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Watson, Judy and Young, Diana (2014). Written on the body. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum.
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Written on the body and Gapuwiyak Calling opening event and curator talks
Young, Diana, Willcock, Jane and Strelan, Charla (2014). Written on the body and Gapuwiyak Calling opening event and curator talks. UQ Anthropology Museum:
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Young, Diana (2014). How did we get here?. Strong Women Strong Painting Strong Culture. (pp. 7-12) edited by Diana Young. St. Lucia, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland Anthropology Museum.
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Young, Diana (2014). The domestication of things. Written on the body. (pp. 1-3) edited by Diana Young. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum.
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Young, Diana (2014). Written on the body. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum.
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Women with clever hands past and present
Hamby, Louise and Young, Diana (2013). Women with clever hands past and present. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum.
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Gillespie, Kirsty, Lihir Cultural Heritage Association and Young, Diana (2013). Musical landscapes of Lihir. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum.
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Anthropology Museum Digital Collection
Young, Diana and Hardjo, Camella (2013). Anthropology Museum Digital Collection. The University of Queensland. (Collection) doi: 10.14264/uql.2017.25
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Hector Burton Tjupuru. My Country
Young, Diana (2013). Hector Burton Tjupuru. My Country. NEWv: selected recent acquisitions 2011-2013. (pp. 34-35) edited by Ian Were. Brisbane, Australia: UQ Art Museum.
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Young, Diana (2012). What do objects want?. Brisbane, QLD, Australia:
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In the red, on the vibrancy of things
Young, Diana (2012). In the red, on the vibrancy of things. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum.
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Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri; rock holes and country near the Olgas’
Young, Diana (2012). Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri; rock holes and country near the Olgas’. New, v. 2: selected recent acquisitions, 2009-2011. (pp. 86-86) edited by Ian Were. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland Art Museum.
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The social life of things: UQ centenary exhibition
Young, Diana (2010). The social life of things: UQ centenary exhibition. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum.
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Double Up: Pasifika Treasure in the University of Queensland Anthropology Museum
Young, Diana (2010). Double Up: Pasifika Treasure in the University of Queensland Anthropology Museum. St Lucia, Qld, Australia: The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum.
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Double up: Pasifika treasure in The University of Queensland, Anthropology Museum
Young, Diana and Willcock, Jane (2010). Double up: Pasifika treasure in The University of Queensland, Anthropology Museum. St. Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland Anthropology Museum.
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Young, Diana (2009). Nyukana Baker: Retrospective. Adelaide, Australia: JamFactory Gallery.
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Art on a String. Aboriginal Threaded objects from the central desert and Arnhem Land
Hamby, Louise and Young, Diana (2001). Art on a String. Aboriginal Threaded objects from the central desert and Arnhem Land. Sydney, Australia: Object-Australian Centre for Craft and Design.
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Young, Diana and Ernabella Arts artists (1998). Warka Irititja munu Kuwari kutu. Work from the past and the present. A celebration of Fifty Years of Ernabella Arts. Tandanya Cultural centre Adelaide:
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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(2017–2018) National Library of Australia
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Operationalising research collections in archaeological science and museum studies
(2015–2016) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
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Significance Assessment of the University of Queensland Anthropology Museum Photographic Collection
(2015–2016) National Library of Australia
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(2013–2016) ARC Discovery Projects
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(2012) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
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The Mobile Museum: Digital 3D objects and participatory design in the Pacific
(2011–2013) UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
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Transforming Qualitative Research: Creating, preserving and re-using digital data
(2010) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
PhD and MPhil Supervision
Current Supervision
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Threadbare: the Bhutanese textile industry. Contemporary innovation in Bhutanese weaving and its translation to market
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Place, practices, and creativity: The (re)creation of a transnational subculture
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Digital Practices in a South Korean County
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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How culture tunes technology and technology tunes cultures of healthcare: An ethnographic study of rural healthcare and the design and use of artificial intelligent (Ai) technologies
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Completed Supervision
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(2015) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
