{"links":{"self":"http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/DE260100688"},"data":{"type":"grant-details","id":"DE260100688","attributes":{"code":"DE260100688","administering-organisation":"The University of Melbourne","announcement-administering-organisation":"The University of Melbourne","scheme-name":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","grant-status":"Active","funding-commencement-year":2026,"years-funded":3,"project-start-date":"2026-01-01","anticipated-end-date":"2028-12-31","grant-summary":"Rediscovering Ancient Arabic Gospels with Phylogenetics and AI. Arabic translations have been largely overlooked in New Testament textual criticism, limiting understanding of the transmission of biblical texts in the Islamicate world and neglecting key evidence for reconstructing the earliest text. This project addresses this gap by analysing three ancient Arabic translations of the Gospels found among the recently discovered Sinai New Finds. Using deep learning, large language models and Bayesian phylogenetics—an approach from evolutionary biology—the project aims to advance textual criticism methodologies applicable to diverse textual traditions. Expected outcomes include critical editions of newly discovered manuscripts and insights into the history of the Gospels, particularly in the Near East.","funding-current":534086.00,"funding-at-announcement":529845,"investigators-current":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Robert","familyName":"Turnbull","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0003-1274-6750 "}],"investigators-at-announcement":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Robert","familyName":"Turnbull","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0003-1274-6750 "}],"organisations-current":[{"organisationName":"The University of Melbourne","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"VIC"}],"organisations-at-announcement":[{"organisationName":"The University of Melbourne","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"VIC"}],"field-of-research":[{"isPrimary":false,"code":"460208","name":"Natural Language Processing","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":true,"code":"5004","name":"Religious Studies","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"500401","name":"Christian Studies","type":"FOR20"}],"socio-economic-objective":[{"code":"220403","name":"Artificial Intelligence","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"280116","name":"Expanding Knowledge In Language, Communication and Culture","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"280119","name":"Expanding Knowledge In Philosophy and Religious Studies","type":"SEO20"}],"international-collaboration":["Belgium","Egypt","England","Germany"],"lief-register":[],"achievement-summary":null,"national-interest-test-statement":"The Bible is sacred for more than 2 billion people worldwide, including more than 11 million Australians. Its text is changing as scholars continue to reevaluate decisions affecting the editions of the Greek New Testament. But important Arabic sources are being overlooked. Furthermore, the current editors are using a ‘Big Data’ algorithm which exhibits bias and is ill-suited to the task. This project will use Bayesian phylogenetics for a more rigorous and reproducible approach. The use of AI and other natural language processing techniques will position Australia at the forefront of computational analysis of historical documents as this methodology is applicable to other manuscript traditions as well as biblical studies. The results will impact scholarship on Christian origins, recover excluded voices in textual history, and inform translations of the Bible globally in decades to come. The project will also highlight and celebrate the role of Middle Eastern Christians in preserving the text of the Bible. Hundreds of thousands of Arabic-speaking Christians have migrated to Australia from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere. As these manuscript traditions are part of their cultural heritage and legacy, this project will benefit Australia culturally and socially. Results will be disseminated to the public by publishing articles in the media, e.g., The Conversation, as well as running a seminar for members of the Arabic Orthodox community in Melbourne."}}}