Welcome to DSE

The Division of Society and Environment is the largest division in the Research School of Pacific & Asian Studies, with 36 academic staff, 107 postgraduate students and 88 Visiting Fellows. The Division has an active fieldwork program which ranges over the whole Asia Pacific region. It consists of the:

• Department of Anthropology (chair: Professor Mark Mosko);
• Department of Archaeology & Natural History (chair: Dr Sue O’Connor);
• Department of Human Geography (Acting Head: Dr Bryant Allen);
• Department of Linguistics (chair: Professor Nick Evans);
• Contemporary China Centre (chair: Professor Jonathan Unger);
• Gender Relations Centre (chair: Professor Margaret Jolly);

• Centre for Archaeological Research (CAR);
• Centre for Research in Language Change (CRLC);

• Resource Management in Asia Pacific Program (RMAP);
• United Nations University Project on People, Land and Environmental Change (PLEC);
• Land Management Group (LMG);
• Transformation of Communist Systems Project.
• Thai-Yunnan Project

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The main focus of the Division has been on the national research priorities as they apply to the social sciences and the humanities. Man's impact on the environment, both historical and contemporary, and major changes in the societies of the Asia-Pacific region, are central issues. These changes, grounded in a deepening of our understanding of Asia Pacific societies through the disciplines which constitute the Division, involve contemporary issues such as trans-national migration, political instability and governance, with cognate research on access to resources, food security, employment, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. These are informed by basic research into environmental history, marine and climate change, tropical ecosystems, faunal extinction and language and cultural endangerment and loss. A major goal of this research is to contribute to the shaping of a sustainable social and natural environment across the Asia-Pacific.

Geographically, the Division's research is concentrated on the cultures and societies within the region, focussing particularly on China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, the Philippines, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, French Polynesia and Palau in Micronesia.

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Prospective students interested in undertaking higher studies within the Division can find out more about the departments and centres by linking to their websites (above). Information on specific student programs and postgraduate scholarships may be found at http://www.anu.edu.au/graduate/ and http://rspas.anu.edu.au/scholars.php.

Our postal mail address:
The Division of Society and Environment:
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
Australian National University
Canberra ACT 0200
Australia

Convenor:
Dr Bryant Allen
bryant.allen@anu.edu.au

Divisional Administrator:
Ann Buller
ann.buller@anu.edu.au

Telephone: +61 2 6125 2243

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