Centre for 21st Century Humanities Newsletter - February

WEB VERSION

Welcome to our February newsletter

Welcome to the University of Newcastle's Centre for 21st Century Humanities monthly newsletter, read on to learn about our research and activities.

Farewell Prof Ros Smith

We wish a hearty congratulations and fond farewell to Centre member Professor Rosalind Smith who has been appointed as the Chair in English Literature at the Australian National University (ANU). This is a wonderful achievement and a significant opportunity for Ros as a highly respected research leader in the field of early modern studies, women’s writing, and innovations in digital scholarship.

Ros has played an integral role in UON, Faculty and School leadership roles throughout her time at Newcastle including Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Assistant Dean (Research / Research Training), Director (Centre for 21st Century Humanities), Deputy Head of School (Teaching and Learning), Program Convenor and Discipline Convenor.

Ros has been highly successful in attracting significant ARC research funding and currently holds an ARC Future Fellowship (2019 – 2022). Ros’ work and sustained excellence has continued to grow what has become the largest concentration of quality research in early modern women’s literature in Australia.

Ros leaves UON at the end of February after 23 years of service and will maintain her links and collaborations with the Faculty and the School of Humanities & Social Science as a Conjoint Professor.

Centre Director convenes third international wine studies conference during Fulbright program

Dr Julie McIntyre, an environmental historian and interim Director of the Centre for 21st Century Humanities, recently spent 3 months at the Shields Library, University of California in Davis to trace binational innovations in modernising wine production as part of the Fulbright Scholarship she was awarded.

Julie’s time at Davis culminated in her convening the Third International Wine Studies conference, ‘Wine in the Anthropocene.’

Julie said ‘the most significant outcome of the conference is the new research connections forged between humanities and social science researchers and UC Davis scientists such as Beth Forrestel.’

New monthly radio spot features creative ageing researcher Dr Helen English

School of Creative Industries lecturer and Centre for 21st Century Humanities member, Dr Helen English will join ABC Radio Newcastle Mornings presenter Kia Handley in a monthly radio interview (at approximagely 10.45am) about her research that is focused on understanding the benefits of engagement with creative activities, such as in music, dance or art, for older members of society.

The interviews started on Wednesday February 12 and Helen will be heard across the Hunter every month throughout 2020.

“I’ll be exploring how engagement in arts activities like music and dance can help us discover untapped strengths as we age, keep the brain healthy and reduce age-related cognitive decline. As part of my research I’m looking at how much creative activity is optimal,” Helen said.

TLCMap update

The TLCMap team travelled to Melbourne earlier this month for a design workshop led by Dr Laura Kostanski and Kyle Kessler from Asymmetric Innovation. The team was given demonstrations of the network of TLCMap systems which have been under development, and shared plans for individual projects. The output of this workshop will be a set of design principles to inform future iterations of the system, as well as a clear set of user requirements which can be tested in the next phase.

A new TLCMap logo (pictured) and website has been designed by a group of talented Bachelor of Visual Communication Design students completing a summer intensive placement at UON. This course prepares students for careers in the creative industries by providing an opportunity to undertake a professional placement in a design studio. Studio Zed began as a Humanities Start-up in late 2016 and was awarded funding by the Centre for 21st Century Humanities to meet demand for design services within the University whilst also creating opportunities for students to gain work experience. The students will present their final portfolio to the team this month.

History of gay and lesbian rights features in Waiting for Equality exhibition

The Waiting for Equality exhibition which brings together archival and contemporary research material to focus on LGBTQ+ history as it has emerged in the city of Newcastle, is in its final days. The exhibition is currently on display until March 4 at Watt Space Gallery.

Waiting for Equality developed out of an interdisciplinary research project by Dr James Bennett, Centre member Professor Marguerite Johnson, Dr Kcasey McLoughlin and Dr David Betts at the University of Newcastle and in conversation with LGBTQI+ community groups in the region. UON Criminologist, Dr Justin Ellis, reflects on two media items in the exhibition which both feature stories about a particularly grim period in LGBTQ-police relations in NSW.

Classics and ancient history PhD travel scholarship awarded to Tanika Koosmen

PhD student Tanika Koosmen has been awarded the inaugural Odyssey Travel Scholarship. Introduced in 2019, the scholarship was established to support a student studying a PhD in Classics or Ancient History to increase their knowledge and understanding of the Greek and/or Roman world through experiencing the landscape, geography, culture and artefacts of the countries and regions bordering the northern Mediterranean.

Tanika will use the $5000 scholarship to cover travel expenses to visit Greece, to complement the ancient Greco-Roman topics she is researching.