Research centres & institutes
Offering evidence-based solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
![ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø Kensington Aerial photograph of ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø Kensington campus.](/content/dam/images/unsw-wide/general/buildings-facilities/2020-02-aerial_images/2021-02-ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø-Aerial-Kensington-0008.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpg)
At ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø Arts, Design & Architecture, we host and participate in a number of world-leading research centres and institutes recognised for their high-impact research and engagement, locally and globally. Our investigations advance our understanding of cities, people, places and technology. We conduct critical social enquiry into the intersections between inequality, wellbeing and justice, or use arts-led approaches and thinking to generate new insights into globally important issues.
ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø centres & institutes
![BARC hero image 3 Big Anxiety Research Centre](/content/dam/images/ada/big-anxiety/research/2021-11-barc/2021-11-barc-hero-3.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpg)
Big Anxiety Research Centre
The Big Anxiety Research Centre is a unique transdisciplinary enterprise, dedicated to transforming thinking and practice in mental health through creative collaboration and cultural innovation.
![Aerial. People crowd on a pedestrian crossing crosswalk when it's rain. View above. Centre for Social Research in Health](/content/dam/images/ada/general/websites/2022-09-uploads/2023-01-CSRH-about-us.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpeg)
Centre for Social Research in Health
The Centre for Social Research in Health aims to increase understanding of the individual, social and structural factors that influence health-related behaviours, experiences and outcomes.
![Civil with Architecture City Futures Research Centre](/content/dam/images/photos/people/lifestyle/2021-06-fs-degree-finder-lifestyle/sunset-569093_1920.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpg)
City Futures Research Centre
The City Futures Research Centre is a national leader in scholarly applied urban research based in the School of Built Environment.
![Sydney harbour bridge, Panorama view of Sydney city skyline with Sydney harbour bridge north shore in Australia Cities Institute](/content/dam/images/ada/built-environment/stock/2022-08-cities-logo/2022-08-AdobeStock-288201902.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpeg)
Cities Institute
ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø Cities Institute is independent and exists to develop new, long-term and integrated visions and roadmaps for the city.
![AVIE Animation Still 004 iCinema Centre for Interactive Cinema Research](/content/dam/images/ada/icinema/research/2021-09-research-centres-institutes/2021-09-AVIE-Animation-00-00-43-00-Still004.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpg)
iCinema Centre for Interactive Cinema Research
The iCinema Centre is focused on the development of AI-based creative visualisation across the ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø faculties of Arts, Design & Architecture, Engineering and Science, and ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
![Young people marching on the street protest. Take a part in a march. Rally. Movement. Protest in the city Social Policy Research Centre](/content/dam/images/ada/general/websites/2022-09-uploads/2023-01-SPRC-teaser.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpeg)
Social Policy Research Centre
The Social Policy Research Centre tackles critical social issues through research with a focus on poverty, inequality, wellbeing and justice.
ARC centres & other hubs
![ARC ITTC (Industry Transformation Training Centre) for Next-Gen Architectural Manufacturing ARC Centre for Next-Gen Architectural Manufacturing (Arch_Manu)](/content/dam/images/ada/general/logos/2022-12-creative-technology-network/2022-12-creative-technology-network-arch-manu.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.png)
ARC Centre for Next-Gen Architectural Manufacturing (Arch_Manu)
Arch_Manu brings together academics, researchers, and industry experts from Architecture, Engineering, Management and Governance, Information Systems, Computer Science, Computational Design, Industrial Design, and Construction Management to investigate how data and digital strategy can help the AEC Sector meet critical sustainability and productivity goals.Â
ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S)
ADM+S brings together researchers in the humanities and social sciences, communication and media studies, law, computer science and data science.Â
![Indigenous River Rangers Program ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous & Environmental Histories & Futures (CIEHF)](/content/dam/images/edi/2024-04-indigenous-river-rangers-program.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpg)
ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous & Environmental Histories & Futures (CIEHF)
CIEHF was created to pursue better outcomes for Land and Sea Country by bringing Indigenous and Western knowledges together to understand the long-term histories and near-term futures of Australia. Our Centre is a collaboration between 29 organisations, bringing together Australia’s leading researchers and research organisations across diverse fields.
![Solar panels and wind turbines NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub](/content/dam/images/engineering/2023-08-iid-images/2023-08-solar-panels-wind-turbines-square.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpg)
NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub
The Hub and its Networks support, accelerate, and attract investment to decarbonisation tech and services in NSW. They foster collaboration, partnerships and projects between industry, researchers and government to drive decarbonisation forward in NSW and beyond.
![The Laureate Centre for History & Population The Laureate Centre for History & Population](/content/dam/images/ada/humanities-languages/research/2021-08-centres-networks/2021-08-laureate-01.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpg)
The Laureate Centre for History & Population
The Laureate Centre for History & Population asks how, where and why population policies emerged over the 19th and 20th centuries, and what their present legacies are, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
Research labs
![3DXLab header image 3DXLab](/content/dam/images/ada/general/websites/2022-09-uploads/2023-09-3DXLab-IMG-2376.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpg)
3DXLab
The 3DXLab is a multi-disciplinary research lab that unites artists, designers, and technologists to craft innovative immersive worlds.
![2023-03-AAAL-Title1 A³ LAB](/content/dam/images/ada/built-environment/research/2023-03-aaal/2023-03-AAAL-Title1.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpg)
A³ LAB
The Advanced Architectural Analytics Laboratory (A3Â LAB) is a multi-disciplinary research lab that specialises in architectural analytics and design computing.
![Creative robotics lab hero image Creative Robotics Lab](/content/dam/images/ada/creative-robotics-lab/research/2021-10-creative-robotics-labs/2021-10-CRL-hero-image.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.png)
Creative Robotics Lab
Founded in 2011 at the School of Art & Design, the Creative Robotics Lab is a collaborative research and educational space that advances interaction between humans and machines.
![Empirical musicology Empirical Musicology Laboratory](/content/dam/images/ada/arts-media/websites/2021-08-ada-sam-738075858/2021-08-empirical_musicology-738075858-0001.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpeg)
Empirical Musicology Laboratory
The Empirical Musicology Laboratory applies interdisciplinary methods to understand the phenomenon of music and human interactions with it.
![Interactive media lab Creative Technologies Research Lab](/content/dam/images/ada/art-design/students/2021-07-a-d-makerspace/2021-07-iml-tile.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpeg)
Creative Technologies Research Lab
The Creative Technologies Research Lab (CTRL) at the School of Art & Design researches and teaches emerging media technologies and their application in creative work.
Other research groups
![Arts Health Research Group program tickets Arts & Health Research Group](/content/dam/images/ada/arts-media/research/2023-03-arts-health-research-group/2023-03-arts-health-research-group-pic-of-program-tickets.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpg)
Arts & Health Research Group
The Arts and Health Research Group build capacity in arts and health research, publications, collaborations, and knowledge exchange opportunities, connecting and intersecting with strategic areas within the university and beyond through local, national, and international networks.
![primary school workshop Children & Youth Research Network](/content/dam/images/engineering/computer-sci-eng/websites/2022-01-engage-with-cse/2022-01-cse-06.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpg)
Children & Youth Research Network
A university-wide research organisation with members from the social sciences, humanities, law, architecture and STEMM disciplines. They are united by their interest and commitment to enhancing the lives of children and young people.
![Critique Network Critique Now](/content/dam/images/ada/humanities-languages/research/2021-05-centres--networks/2021-05-whole-room-Critique.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpeg)
Critique Now
Critique Now in the School of Humanities and Languages brings together academics and students working in critical theorising and its applications across multiple disciplines.
![Drawing research group banner Drawing Research Group](/content/dam/images/ada/art-design/headshots/2022-12-ada-art-research/2022-12-drawing-research-group-0001.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.png)
Drawing Research Group
Drawing is an important tool in the communication of ideas, and we research theories, practices, methods, and processes across many disciplines - visual thinking through drawing is an essential cognitive skill for the future.
![Forced Migration Network members Forced Migration Research Network](/content/dam/images/ada/social-sciences/research/2021-06-soss-our-research/2021-06-engagement-forced-migration.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpeg)
Forced Migration Research Network
The Forced Migration Research Network advances debate and knowledge translation on the multifaceted nature of human mobility and displacement.
![Social distancing concept Gendered Violence Research Network](/content/dam/images/ada/social-sciences/stock/2021-06-ada-stock-images/2021-06-istock-1227369849.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpg)
Gendered Violence Research Network
The Gendered Violence Research Network unites the significant domestic and international research expertise of ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø to respond, prevent and end gendered violence in Australia and beyond.
![GRID Logo Geospatial Research Innovation Development](/content/dam/images/ada/built-environment/research/2021-05-be-research-clusters/2021-05-Logo-GRID.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.png)
Geospatial Research Innovation Development
GRID's research involves using unique geographic identifiers and efficient 3D indoor navigation to record and monitor complex environments.Â
![Airport Globalisation & Governance Research Network](/content/dam/images/ada/social-sciences/research/2021-06-soss-our-research/2021-06-istock-1149089169.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpg)
Globalisation & Governance Research Network
The Globalisation and Governance Research Network represents ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø academics who research the complex relationship between globalisation and governance.
![HPA Banner High Performance Architecture Research Cluster](/content/dam/images/ada/built-environment/research/2021-05-be-research-clusters/2021-06-hpa-banner.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpeg)
High Performance Architecture Research Cluster
The High Performance Architecture Research Cluster aims to deliver research innovation in design, planning and management of high-performance buildings and cities.
![Oxford street trams 1940s History & Theory of the Built Environment Research Cluster](/content/dam/images/ada/art-design/buildings-facilities/2021-07-art-design/2021-07-Oxford-street-trams-1940s.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpeg)
History & Theory of the Built Environment Research Cluster
The History and Theory of the Built Environment Research Cluster focuses on history and theory of architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, interior architecture, industrial design. 
![People checking burned house HowWeSurvive](/content/dam/images/photos/news/2024/2024-09-howwesurvive/2024-09-HowWeSurvive.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpeg)
HowWeSurvive
HowWeSurvive is a long-term, independently funded initiative that aims to change the way community-centred disaster recovery efforts are enacted and understood.
![Photo of work by Rochelle Haley 'Dance on a couch by an open window (after Boyd)' Intermedial Composition Network ](/content/dam/images/ada/general/events/2022-09-uploads/2021-06-intermedial-composition-network-hero.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpg)
Intermedial Composition Network 
Established in the ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø School of the Arts & Media, the Intermedial Composition Network (2015–) explores the creative practices of leading artists working in all media as a site of experiment, innovation, resilience and imagination.
![Creative digital picture gallery on blue background. Photo album and media technology concept. Media Futures Hub](/content/dam/images/medicine-health/general/stock/2024-05-hsr/AdobeStock_518042234.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpeg)
Media Futures Hub
Media Futures Hub is a collection of scholars at ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø researching justice, media, and emerging technologies.
![New Earth Histories Research Program New Earth Histories Research Group](/content/dam/images/ada/humanities-languages/stock/2021-05-new-earth-histories-research-program/2021-05-luca-micheli-unsplash.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpeg)
New Earth Histories Research Group
New Earth Histories brings the history of geosciences and the history of select world cosmologies together.
![Writing workshop People and Place Research Cluster People & Place Research Cluster](/content/dam/images/ada/built-environment/research/2021-05-be-research-clusters/2021-07-writing-workshop-pp.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpeg)
People & Place Research Cluster
The People and Place Research Cluster focuses on understanding the relationship between people and their environments, with 'place' being defined as broad as region and as small as a room.
![Beijing Smart Cities & Infrastructure Research Cluster](/content/dam/images/law/general/stock/2021-05-overseas-electives/2021-05-li-yang-beiging.cropimg.width=335.crop=square.jpg)
Smart Cities & Infrastructure Research Cluster
The Smart Cities and Infrastructure Cluster seeks to promote and advance the efficient design, planning and delivery of urban environments, infrastructure, and properties using spatially integrated information and smart technologies.