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Our place - culture and heritage
Research highlights
From research into social impact and Western Australian history, to rock art conservation and management, Muslim studies, or urban design, UWA works together with industry partners, local community organisations and government to understand and address our world’s critical issues.
Indigenous research
UWA is committed to Indigenous-led, quality research that makes a positive contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and academic communities. Our researchers engage with traditional custodians of the land, promoting a greater understanding of First Nations peoples’ culture and knowledge, and educating future Indigenous researchers. Find out more about Indigenous research at UWA.
Housed at UWA, the Berndt Museum is an Indigenous-led institution that holds one of the most significant collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural material in the world.
Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres
Rock art
We are leaders in rock art conservation and management by research-driven advocacy for its priceless heritage values. Our researchers are involved in projects with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia as well as working with rock art in a number of international contexts.
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Archaeology
Archaeological research at UWA explores the past to deepen our appreciation and understanding of the human experience. Our collective research expertise spans multiple eras, continents and themes. UWA Archaeology has working expertise in Australia, the Indo-Pacific region, Europe, Africa and North America.
Collaborative projects
We collaborate with industry partners and Indigenous communities on projects across Australia. Our researchers are engaged in planning, social policy, community development and database management.
Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres:
- School of Humanities
- School of Social Sciences
- The Digitisation Centre of Western Australia
- Archaeology Department
- Centre for Western Australian History
- Digital Humanities Research Cluster
- Medieval and Early Modern Studies Research Group (MEMs)
- Westerly Group
- Australian Studies Research Network
- Centre for Forensic Anthropology
Social policy and society
Our research addresses social issues including equitable access to education, entrenched disadvantage, homelessness, discrimination in the legal system, and family and domestic violence. Through this work, we can shape public policies through evidence-based recommendations.
Collaboration for maximum impact
We collaborate with government agencies, not-for-profit organisations, industry partners, and other academic institutions. Several flagship entities provide a bridge between academic research and government, public, and business needs, to drive positive social change.
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Arts and culture
Human experience is made more meaningful through culture, language, literature, music, and art. UWA has a long-established tradition of research into arts and culture, spanning the fields of music, fine arts and English and literary studies.
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Business, law and finance
UWA’s business research strengths include management, entrepreneurship, marketing, investment, financial markets, and economics. Our researchers collaborate with industry partners and government agencies to ensure research outcomes can contribute to high level decision-making processes that influence government, policy and industry outcomes.
Diverse legal research
Our legal research strengths cover constitutional law, criminal law, international law, human rights law, and health and consumer law. Our legal scholars contribute to legal theory, and provide guidance on legal reform, with the aim of contributing to a more fair and just society.
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Get in touch
To hear more about UWA’s extensive research, or if you have a specific enquiry, connect with us today.
Shifting risk versus reward ratio against athletes
Our researchers are leading the conversations on database management including creating appropriate legal, organisational, and ethical limits around data collection and use. What are the stakes of exponential and unregulated growth in human monitoring for the workplace of professional sport, and beyond? UWA is working to solve the ethical challenges by taking the opportunities and imperatives to act.
Explore our specialist facilities
Discover our world-renowned researchers
- Clint Bracknell - Noongar song-maker, composer, and Professor of Music
- Jo McDonald - Centre for Rock Art Research and Management
- Paul Flatau – Director of the UWA Centre for Social Impact
- Tony Hughes-D'Aeth – Chair in Australian Literature
- Tanya Dalziell – English and Literary Studies
- Celeste Rodriguez Louro - Director of Language Lab, Linguistics Discipline Chair
- Katie Attwell – Social Sciences, International Relations, Asian Studies & Politics
- Teresa Senserrick – Director, WA Centre for Road Safety Research
- Alan Lourens – Head of School, Conservatorium of Music
- Len Collard – Emeritus Professor, Indigenous Studies
- Maria Ignatieva - Landscape Architecture
- Samina Yasmeen – Political Science and International Relations
- Amanda Davies – Head of School, School of Social Sciences
- Sharon Biermann – Professor & Director, School of Social Sciences, Archaeology, Forensics, Geography & Anthropology
- Shino Konishi – Associate Professor, School of Humanities, Discipline of History
- Jane Lydon – Wesfarmers Chair in Australian History, School of Humanities, Discipline of History
- Erika Techera – Professor, UWA Law School