Humanities research
Research in the Faculty of Humanities critically examines social, cultural, political, environmental, and technological shifts globally and locally, and offers creative solutions for a more just and safer world. By engaging in research using a holistic, critical, and engaged approach, and partnering with government, industry and community organisations, Humanities researchers at Curtin strive to deliberate and test solution pathways to some of the world’s most challenging global problems.
Platforms for a Better Future
Our unique Futures Platforms enable us to bring together research expertise from across the Faculty to collaboratively develop pioneering, strategic, and socially meaningful solutions in real-world settings to drive transformative change.
Sustainable Futures
Transitioning to a low carbon, prosperous and just future
Global Futures
Creating a better world for future generations
Learning Futures
Shaping the future of excellence and equity in education
Indigenous Futures
Embedding Indigenous knowledges and values in and through research
Learn more about the Indigenous Futures Platform
Research Centres and Institutes
Our Research Centres, Institutes and collaborative research clusters solve real-world issues by tapping into a reservoir of human experience within the Faculty and bring together interdisciplinary collaborations across the Futures Platforms.
Aligned with both the Global Futures and Learning Futures Platforms, the Centre for Culture and Technology (CCAT) brings together the study of culture with digital technologies and digital media platforms, and includes the TikTok Cultures Research Network and The Curtin Open Knowledge Initiative (COKI). The Centre for Human Rights Education leads ethical scholarship, enabling individual agency and community engagement on human rights and social justice through the study and promotion of human rights at local, national and international levels. Addressing the complex challenges posed by rising extremism, the Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN) is an interdisciplinary research group focussing on issues of disinformation, cultural extremism and neoreaction.
- Supported by ARC funding and working with Aboriginal communities and schools, the Moombaki Cultural Learnings project has generated new knowledge using an innovative yet culturally secure transfer of knowledge from Aboriginal Elders and carers to children within a school environment.
- Aligned with the Sustainability Futures Platform is the Faculty’s contribution to Curtin’s new Institute for Energy Transition. It provides a generative space for the arts, environmental humanities, and social sciences to demonstrate more just, inclusive, and considered energy and climate futures that value the diverse populations and webs of coexistence on our planet.
- The Critical Creative Imaginations Research Network brings together our creative practice researchers in creative writing, visual arts, fashion design, screen arts and performance studies to generate creative research outputs that challenge, stimulate and provoke response to these local and global issues.
- The Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child program brings together national and international experts and partners to investigate children’s digital experiences, including a world-first study of 3000 Australian families and children from birth to eight years of age.
Centre for Culture and Technology (CCAT)
A portal to cutting-edge research in media, digital practices, culture, theory and new technologies
Learn more about the Centre for Culture and Technology (CCAT)
TikTok Cultures Research Network
Fostering impactful collaboration opportunities that will result in innovative research perspectives
Curtin Open Knowledge Initiative (COKI)
The world’s leading hub for analysis and evaluation of Open Knowledge in higher education
Learn more about the Curtin Open Knowledge Initiative (COKI)
Center for Human Rights Education
Leading ethical scholarship, enabling individual agency and community engagement on human rights and social justice
Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN)
An interdisciplinary group focused on research and education around issues of cultural extremism and neoreaction
Learn more about the Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN)
Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute
CUSP integrates ecological, social, economic and cultural perspectives, offering new policy and practice possibilities
Learn more about the Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute
Curtin Institute for Energy Transition
Transitioning towards clean and sustainable energy
Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child
Supporting young children growing up in a rapidly changing digital age
Learn more about the Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child
Creative Education Research Hub
The Curtin University School of Education Creative Practice Research Hub provides a vehicle for Arts-based education research advocacy and collaboration within the disciplines of visual arts and performance/theatre work.
Higher degrees by research
We offer a range of research degrees designed to foster new knowledge in disciplines relevant to the humanities.
View research degrees
What topic can I research?
Before applying to study a higher degree by research (HDR), you are encouraged to have a proposed topic in mind that relates to our areas of research strength. Once you have a topic in mind, you will need to find a supervisor in that area to oversee your study. Our register of supervisors can help you identify the right academic.
Search Humanities supervisors