Indigenous perspectives on energy infrastructures
This research asks: how do nation states like Australia manage energy politics when the infrastructures are not confined within national borders but cross terrains and involve multiple stakeholders?
This scholarship supports an Indigenous candidate to research renewable energy transitions in the Northern Territory.
Key details
- 20247184
- PhD
- Applications close on 31 October 2026
- Domestic, International
- Arts and social sciences, law, media, communications and creative arts
- $51,700 p.a.
This PhD project is attached to an Australian Research Council funded study titled “Transborder Electricity Infrastructures and Geopolitics” which explores how nation states like Australia manage energy politics when the technology isn’t governed by any one country.
Our case studies cover the Mediterranean, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia. This scholarship informs the Australian case study.
Potential sites the candidate might choose include:
- the Sun Cable solar array site in the Barkly
- the Middle Arm Sustainability Precinct site.
Sun Cable's Australia-Asia PowerLink is a renewable energy generation and transmission project that is meant to help ‘decarbonise’ the Northern Territory and the wider Southeast Asian region. Sun Cable’s proposed converter station and battery facility – known as the Murrumujuk cable station – will be located at Gunn Point, to the north-east of Darwin, and is projected to supply solar energy to Singapore via undersea cables. It is hailed as the world’s largest solar energy infrastructure project.
Another plan, which may or may not go ahead, is for Sun Cable to provide solar power to the Middle Arm Sustainability Precinct, a proposed gas and petrochemical hub in Darwin harbour.
About the scholarship
This project seeks to capture people’s views as these ambitious and not-quite-in-place energy developments take shape. We specifically want to explore:
- the perspectives of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Elders, young people, organisational representatives and workers
- the different ways in which renewable energy projects add to, detract from or negotiate with Indigenous sovereignty.
We seek Indigenous-identified candidates who are interested in a PhD project exploring these issues, amplifying a research question of their choosing. The student will be based in the School of Communication, Society and Culture under the supervision of Professor Tess Lea. They will be part of an international research community and able to draw on expertise from multiple institutions.
Availability
This scholarship is available to eligible candidates to undertake a direct entry, three-year PhD program.
Awards are not available to non-Indigenous candidates.
Components
The scholarship comprises:
- a tuition fee offset
- a living allowance stipend.
The value of each stipend scholarship is $51,700 per annum (full time) for three years. This figure includes a scholarship top up of $12,000 per annum which is only available to Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students.
How to apply
To discuss proposed research ideas, contact Professor Tess Lea: