Macquarie University seeks to host a Research Hub for Diverse Intelligences (DI) in Oceania, aiming to strengthen and expand interdisciplinary research on the evolution, diversity, and societal implications of intelligence. The project is directed by Andrew Barron, who has been actively involved in the Diverse Intelligences community since 2018, and is currently lead investigator on the Major Transitions in the Evolution of Cognition project. 

The Hub’s objectives are to foster early career leadership, and catalyze collaborations addressing critical challenges such as artificial intelligence (AI) development, the evolution of cognition, and human cognitive wellbeing. Funding will support Short-Term Fellowships, Catalyst Workshops, Regional DI events and a Living Archive — a dynamic repository of shared knowledge enhanced by science communication specialists. These initiatives prioritize inclusivity, emphasizing support for early career researchers and those returning from career breaks.

Building on Macquarie University’s existing Macquarie Minds and Intelligences Initiative, which unites 27 interdisciplinary research teams, the Hub will leverage partnerships with institutions across Oceania and beyond, including other DI Hubs. This Hub aims to address a gap in regional engagement while contributing to global discourse about DI. It has broad community support within Oceania, where the potential to contribute to DI research has not yet been fully activated.

In the short term, the Hub seeks to become a self-sustaining international research network through leveraging international and regional funding opportunities. Mid-term goals include pioneering innovative frameworks for studying intelligence, while long-term aspirations are transformative advances in how societies recognize, interact with, and value diverse intelligences. By bridging Oceania’s untapped potential with global expertise, the initiative aims to position the region as a cornerstone of 21st-century intelligences research.