Dr Yin Gao
| Work Phone | (02) 49215191 |
|---|---|
| Fax | (02) 49216933 |
| Yin.Gao@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Position |
Lecturer
School of Humanities and Social Science
|
| Office | MC121, McMullin Building |
Qualifications
- PhD, University of Newcastle, 2005
- Master of Arts (Liberal Arts), Heilongjiang Social Sciences Institute - PR China
- Bachelor of Engineering, Shenyang Architect University - PR China
Research
Research keywords
- Philosophy
Research expertise
Dr Gao has done extensive research on complex system theory and its philosophical implications in terms its impacts on our understanding of:
* The development of science and technology in terms of the dynamics and organization of their practice;
* The dynamics and organization of ecological system and its implication on ecological investigation and environmental policy;
* The interaction between manmade systems and its ecological environment, especially in the case of engineering systems;
* The dynamics of high technology products market and its implication on science, technology, and industry development policies.
She has extended her work to area such as applying complex system theory in conceptualizing and analyzing traditional Chinese medical theory and practice. She is also working on evaluating the application of evidence-base medicine in traditional Chinese medicine. She is currently involved in organizing a major international conference on Evidence-based Practice in China with IASH.
With her work on complex system theory, she has applied complex system framework in analyzing the organizational and dynamic properties of scientific and technological practice. This work involves examining:
1. the epistemological processes in various scientific and technological research and development settings;
2. the physical infrastructure of science including scientific and technological instrument design and construction, laboratory design, communication network building, etc;
3. the impacts on such infrastructural systems on scientific practice and organization;
4. the dynamic properties of such infrastructural systems, as well as interactions among these systems.
Her work on applying the complex system framework to traditional Chinese medicine includes constructing a set of conceptual tools to reinterpret the medical theory presented in TCM classics such as the Yellow Emperor Inner Classic in terms of articulating the conception of human body, health, and diseases; explaining and analyzing the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies based on such conceptions; and developing appropriate assessment parameters in testing the efficacy of TCM. These works provide a critical bridging framework that helps Western academics and medical professional to understand the working processes underlying TCM practice as well as a set new research tools for TCM researchers and practitioners. She has been working closely with other researchers interested in TCM and TCM practitioners here in Australia and aboard. She and her collaborators have published several papers in this area in both English and Chinese peer-reviewed journals.
Recently, she has started a new project investigating the ethical, methodological and epistemological aspects of applying evidence-based medicine to traditional Chinese medicine.
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 220100 | Applied Ethics | 35 |
| 120100 | Architecture | 35 |
| 220300 | Philosophy | 30 |
Centres and Groups
Centre
Teaching interests
Dr Gao has taught a range of sucessful courses at the University of Newcastle, including postgraduate as well as undergraduate courses and seminars on analyses of ethical, social and environmental impacts of Engineering practice. She currently teaches or contributes substantially to the following courses at advanced undergraduate and postgraduate levels: