Faculty of Society & Design research profile

The Faculty of Society and Design offers a platform for internationally recognised research into an eclectic portfolio of disciplines that relate directly to who we are and how we live as a society.

We welcome both traditional and non-traditional research proposals that are aligned with our core specialist fields – humanities, social sciences and the built environment. The diversity of our interests also means that our projects often encompass a multi-disciplinary approach, co-designed and executed with teams from other disciplines, other faculties, other universities and with various industry partners to generate outcomes that make a tangible impact on life and workplace issues.

Current research strengths include:

  • Understanding the impact of music on the mind and social cognitions
  • The application of cognitive neuropsychology in understanding how we interact with our environment
  • Health and safety issues in the construction industry, 
  • Digital approaches to fabrication
  • The management of complex projects

A message from the Executive Dean

  • "Bond University’s Faculty of Society and Design has emerged as a leader in exploring the human condition: How we think, behave, communicate and tell our stories. Hand-in-hand with understanding who we are as people is to examine how we design and construct our built environment and how that environment can affect us.

    We are home to an active and engaged community of research-active academics and HDR students representing a diversity of intellectual perspectives and drawn from a wide range of national and international backgrounds. The new knowledge and creative works they are producing provides the motivational force for innovation in society and help us all to better understand our world."

    Professor Derek Carson - Executive Dean, Faculty of Society & Design

Faculty research centre

Centre for Comparative Construction Research

Founded on the idea that research into the building and property industries must be broad and inclusive, recognising the complexity and diversity of industries, economic challenges, and social imperatives that underlie this most fundamental of human activities. 

Learn more

Facilities

Architecture Futures Laboratory (AF_LAB)

The interior of an equipment testing office.

At the AF-LAB, researchers from around the world are reimagining the way we design, construct and interact with the built environment. Housed within the Abedian School of Architecture, it provides access to advanced technology, materials fabrication and testing equipment, including robotics, 3D printers and cutting edge thermoplastic extrusions; offering everything you need to explore innovative design systems, with a focus on environmental, economic and societal sustainability.

Current research strands include:

  • Exploration of novel techniques to achieve creative and sustainable innovation, efficiencies and reduced waste in construction industries
  • Ecological and biological material research and application
  • Lean and enduring construction through design, fabrication and assembly

MIND/SPACE Laboratory

Female behind a glass screen watching a female psychologist interact with her client.

The MIND/SPACE laboratory is a research facility in the School of Psychology that uses experimental psychology and psychophysiology to explore human-environment interactions, spatial navigation and cognitive ageing, and the role of non-oscillatory neural activity in human cognition.

The lab supports national and international collaborations, with a particular focus on the use of electroencephalography, peripheral psychophysiology, virtual reality and machine learning. 

Current research strands include:

  • Non-oscillatory (i.e., aperiodic) neural activity as a mechanism for human cognition and cognitive ageing
  • Novel assessment methods for human spatial navigation
  • Environmental Influences on human behaviour and cognition

Society & Design higher degree research (HDR) collaborative space

The Faculty of Society & Design houses a collaborative higher degree research (HDR) space. The space, which is located next to the Alumni Centre, provides HDR students with a collaborative dedicated area. It features a small conference room and an area designed and equipped for Seminar presentations and PhD Confirmation of Candidature presentations. 

Higher degree research (HDR) programs

With its broad range of disciplines, headed by internationally recognised academics, the Faculty of Society and Design attracts HDR students from around the world.

They work in a diverse range of fields – from philosophy, creative writing and criminology to psychology, architecture and sustainable development.

Research-focussed degrees are offered at the Masters, MPhil and PhD level under three HDR hubs:

  • Humanities
  • Social Sciences
  • Built Environment

In addition to the academic, advisory and professional development protocols offered by the University’s dedicated Research Support team, the Faculty runs regular workshops and get-togethers for its HDR student community.

  • CRICOS Code: 072092F

    Master of Philosophy - BU-70001

    • 2 years (6 semesters)
    • Postgraduate research
    View program

  • CRICOS Code: 063150J

    Doctor of Philosophy - BU-70003

    • 4 years (12 semesters)
    • Postgraduate research
    View program

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Research groups

The Communication, Culture and Narrative group focuses on research related to communication, media, advertising, technology, news, visual communication, tertiary education and storytelling.

Current research strands include: 

  • Use of artificial intelligence and interactive technologies by brands
  • Creative cultures and brand cultures in advertising
  • Meaning-making, rumination, gender communication, emotion and close relationships as studied through autoethnography and narrative
  • Digitalisation, technological convergence and the integration of entertainment with learning
  • Visual communication, including information graphics and representation of women in film
  • Social media and editorial decision-making, news frame and agenda setting, and the framing of global news stories in Australia

Latest articles

Tackling gender pay gap - and violence against women

Closing the gender pay gap empowers women to leave abusive relationships, says Assistant Professor Cher McGillivray.

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Decade of design at Abedian School of Architecture

Bond University has celebrated the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Abedian School of Architecture building that helped redefine the Gold Coast's architectural character.

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Perry's degree plays out as an action-adventure movie

It was a whirlwind final year of university for Perry Briggs, with stints working at the Brisbane Lions and Dick Johnson Racing.

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Knit happens as wool socks it to construction waste

It is said Australia once rode on the sheep’s back. Soon it could be built on it.

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Faculty of Society & Design researchers

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