Annual Report 2013–14 Contact Details
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF THE HUMANITIES ANNUAL REPORT 2013–14 CONTACT DETAILS SECRETARIAT Executive Director Dr Christina Parolin Office Manager Christine Barnicoat Policy and Projects Manager Dr Kylie Brass Fellowship Coordinator Gabriela Cabral Publications and Gillian Cosgrove Communications Coordinator Administration Officer Michelle Nagle International Coordinator Dr Meredith Wilson Postal Address GPO Box 93, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia Street Address 3 Liversidge Street, Acton, ACT, 0200 Email Address [email protected] For staff members use: [email protected] President [email protected] Website www.humanities.org.au Telephone +61 [0]2 6125 9860 Fax +61 [0]2 6248 6287 © 2014 Australian Academy of the Humanities All images © Australian Academy of the Humanities unless otherwise indicated. Editor: Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Webby am Faha Designer: Gillian Cosgrove Printer: Canprint Communications Pty Ltd Cover image: Section of Mapamondi by Abraham Cresques. Facsimile of the 1375 edition of the Catalan Atlas in France’s Bibliothèque Nationale, known as Atlas catalan de 1375. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division. Australian Academy OF THE Humanities ANNUAL REPORt 2013–14 This document is a true and accurate account of the activities and abridged financial report of the Australian Academy of the Humanities for the financial year 2013–14, in accordance with the reporting requirements of the Academy’s Royal Charter and By-Laws, and for the conditions of grants made by the Australian Government under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth). CONTENTS From the President 2 Publications and Communications 19 From the Executive Director 5 Grants and Awards 20 Council 6 International Activities 23 Strategic Plan 7 Obituaries 26 The Fellowship 8 Treasurer’s Statement 39 Events 14 Abridged Financial Report 40 Policy and Research 16 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Funding for the production of this report and a number of the activities described herein has been provided by the Australian Government through the Department of Education. The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Education. 2 THE AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF THE HUMANITIES ANNUAL REPORT 2013–14 FROM THE PRESIDENT The following report showcases the many and varied sciences (HASS) sector, to contribute more effectively ways the Academy has sought this year to make a to the national conversation about the education and contribution to public life in Australia, to provide research system in Australia. The data provided in leadership and advocacy on behalf of the humanities the report will be a key resource for policy makers, community, and to promote connections between researchers, teachers, and the public at large. It is our humanities researchers and their colleagues – both in hope that the report encourages a strategic approach Australia, internationally and across the disciplines. to the development of HASS fields by universities and government. I take this opportunity to share some highlights from an often challenging, though very rewarding, year for the Academy – and to offer my thanks to all ADVocacY AND LEADERSHIP those who contributed to the Academy’s successes One of the key policy areas in which we have been and achievements. contributing this year is to the work of the Chief Scientist in developing a national strategy for science, LANDMARK ResearcH ProJECT technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). We were pleased that early drafts of the proposed TheMapping the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences in strategy document acknowledged the importance of Australia project was a key priority for the Academy in the HASS disciplines, but we have taken a strong and 2013–14. Initially conceived by our Academy as a project consistent position that a national research strategy to map the humanities in Australia, we welcomed is needed to take a whole-of-system view of the sector. the offer of funding from then Government Minister, This is to ensure that any research support policies or Senator the Hon Chris Evans, and his request to expand mechanisms implemented as a result of the strategy the project to include the social sciences, and to involve do not lead to the exclusion of the HASS disciplines. our colleagues at the Academy of the Social Sciences in But we are also concerned to promote recognition Australia (ASSA). With strong support and co-funding of the strong evidence now available that the HASS from both ASSA and the Office of the Chief Scientist, disciplines will not only be essential to ensuring that along with our own cash and in-kind support, the industries can function effectively in an export market, project set out to provide an understanding of student but are fundamental to posing the right questions enrolment trends and teaching and research activity in and contributing to the solutions to the key societal the humanities, arts and social sciences, and to examine challenges of our time. current and future capacity in these disciplines. Both the complexity of, and sheer amount of data in, CONNECTING across THE DISCIPLINES the higher education and research space has meant The theme of the 2013 annual Symposium, the project has been a colossal undertaking by the Environmental Humanities, provided an opportunity to project team: Emeritus Professor Graeme Turner FAHA consider the important contribution of the humanities (Project Leader), Dr Kylie Brass (Research Manager), to this growing field, and to the new and productive Rebecca Coates (Research Assistant); and the Steering collaborations between humanities researchers and Committee: Professor Mark Western FASSA, Professor those in the sciences and social sciences. The event was Joy Damousi FAHA FASSA, Professor Stephen Garton a great success, attracting a large number of participants FAHA FASSA, and Professor Sue Richardson Am FASSA. and an impressive array of excellent speakers. It is I also wish to acknowledge the extensive support for difficult to single out any one presentation, but the project from the Australian Research Council (ARC). particular mention must go to Dr Thom van Dooren, It is a testament to the expertise and dedication of who delivered an outstanding 2013 Hancock Lecture on the project team that we submitted a final report of Hawaii’s endangered crow population and their cultural, outstanding quality to the Department of Industry and social and environmental significance to the country the Office of the Chief Scientist on 30 June 2014. We are and its peoples. Dr van Dooren’s lecture demonstrated indebted as an Academy to the work and commitment so aptly the remarkable work being undertaken by of Graeme Turner and Kylie Brass, the report authors. younger researchers in the humanities. I am very Although the report is not an advocacy document, grateful to the two convenors of the Symposium, it provides the crucial evidence base to allow the Professor Gay Hawkins FAHA and Professor Peter Academy, and others in the humanities and social Harrison FAHA. THE AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF THE HUMANITIES ANNUAL REPORT 2013–14 3 Collaboration across the disciplines, and between the unenviable task of selecting the 2014 recipient from four Learned Academies in Australia, also continued an outstanding field of ten candidates. I look forward this year under the auspices of the Australian to offering my personal congratulations to the 2014 Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA). The focus Crawford Medallist, Dr Tom Murray, when I present of activity remained largely directed at the Securing him with the Medal and Certificate at the 2014 Fellows’ Australia’s Future (SAF) research programme, which Dinner in Canberra on 21 November. was announced by the Chief Scientist in January 2012, funded through the ARC, and with the aim to undertake International research on long-term issues of concern to government. This year we have focused our international It has been a requirement for all the ACOLA projects collaboration efforts on strengthening existing that the expertise of the four Academies be represented, connections and forging new relationships in the and the SAF programme relies on the good will and Asia region. We have conducted two very successful dedication of Fellows from across the four Learned research workshops – one on history and one with Academies, as well as a number of outstanding mid- a focus on philosophy – with our colleagues at the career researchers. Our representatives on each of the Chinese Academy of the Social Sciences (CASS). I was projects – ranging from Asia literacy to agricultural delighted to travel to Beijing in June to sign a formal futures, urbanisation to innovation and productivity – Memorandum of Understanding with CASS which have been extraordinarily generous with their time, lays the platform for collaboration between our two participating in various ways in these projects. organisations over the next three years. I also had the Particular mention must go to Professor Ien Ang FAHA privilege of meeting my counterpart at the National who leads the major research project, Asia Literacy: Academy of Sciences in Korea, Professor Sook-Il Kwun, language and beyond, examining the many forms to discuss possible closer collaboration between our of public diplomacy for which Australia’s research two Academies. and science sectors make an important and direct contribution; and to Professor Stuart Cunningham FINALLY FAHA, who led a sub-project under another of the I have noted above the extraordinary