The ANU School of Sociology was last week awarded two Cross-College Research Grants from the Research School of Social Sciences. The teams are led by Associate Professor Robert Ackland and Dr Baptiste Brossard respectively.

The first study - titled 'Advanced tools and methods for analysing the role and influence of bots in social media' – builds on a collaboration with ANU computer scientists led by ANU Sociology academic Dr Tim Graham (who has a joint position with RSSS and the Research School of Computer Science) and A/Prof Ackland. ANU Sociology academic Dr Jenny Davis is also on the project.

The second study, led by Dr Brossard, evaluates 'the social dimensions of mental health', and seeks to build a collaborative research team of sociologists and psychologists to carry out a transformative interdisciplinary study of mental health. ANU Sociology academics Associate Professor Helen Keane, and Emeritus Professor Larry Saha are also on the research team.

Finally, Dr Jenny Davis is also a chief investigator on a RSSS cross-college grant on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (led by the School of Philosophy).

Congratulations to all academics involved in these fantastic initiatives.