Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

In this issue:

1. "Measures of quality and impact" study
2. Cross-disciplinary research: New project
3. Release of ARC grants
4. Dinner with parliamentarians
5. ARTSPEAK+ meeting in Melbourne
6. CHASS policy released
7. Letter from Minister Nelson
8. CHASS Board meets in Adelaide
9. The orchestras we need…
10. And from the USA

1. "Measures of quality and impact" study

This major report will be launched at Parliament House on Wednesday 9 November at 9.30, in Room 2S1

It sets out a new way of evaluating research in Australia, a method that applies equally well to all disciplines (including the sciences). The paper involved extensive discussions across our sector, and provided the basis for CHASS' contribution to the RQF process.

The report will be available both in hard copy and as a pdf file from the CHASS web site.

Members and friends of CHASS are invited. Please let us know if you'd like to attend the event (quickly!).

2. Cross-disciplinary research: New project

CHASS is commencing a new DEST-funded project to examine cross-disciplinary research and education. We are interested in the occasions when people in the humanities, arts and social sciences work collaboratively with people in science, technology, engineering and medicine (STEM).

• The basic questions to be addressed are:
• What issues are addressed?
• How did the people involved find each other?
• What funding sources do they draw on?
• What are the important ingredients of a collaborative project?
• What works - and what doesn't work?

The aim is to draw up a list of suggestions to enhance collaborative work, actions for all parties involved (government, researchers, research organizations and universities, etc).

All Members of CHASS will be invited to contribute ideas and examples for this study.

3. Release of ARC grants

The ARC grants will be announced by Minister Nelson at Parliament House on Wednesday 9 November at 10.30 am.

CHASS wants to be reassured that the integrity of the peer-group review process has been maintained in the selection of successful grants.

4. Dinner with parliamentarians

CHASS has organised three dinners for MPs. Each has allowed MPs from all parties to discuss issues with experts from the HASS sector.

The discussion at the first dinner on 9 March "Aging Well" was led by Professors Sue Richardson and Hal Kendig. They addressed the issue of how Australia was going to fare as the population ages, from a medical and economic perspective. Six MPs and three political advisers were in the audience.

The second dinner on Income Contingent Loans (such as the HECS Scheme) was led by Professors Meredith Edwards and Bruce Chapman. They discussed how such loans could be applied to other matters such as drought relief, with the loan to be repaid once farm income hit a certain level. Eight MPs and three political advisers attended. This was on October 12.

The third dinner on Aboriginal health and welfare was led by Kerry Arabena and Peter Pinnington, in a wide-ranging discussion which focussed on the first steps to take in solving these challenging issues. Seven MPs and political staffers attended the dinner on November 2.

Our thanks to Professor Ian Chubb of the ANU, who has hosted the three dinners.

5. ARTSPEAK+ meeting in Melbourne

CHASS has been working to give a new voice to arts and humanities organizations. The representatives of over 20 groups met recently to explore issues of common concern.

From this, a small planning group is considering the best way to conduct a literature review of recent reports and papers in the general area of cultural policy, including an analysis and a distillation of the recommendations these papers and reports may contain.

Another group is planning the next meeting, in Adelaide on 2 March.

6. CHASS policy released

The CHASS policy has been posted on our web site. It sets out a broad policy framework guiding our agenda, and lists the areas where CHASS has already had an impact.

This living document will be reviewed periodically by the Board and the Policy Committee to keep it relevant, and our Members will be consulted regularly.

7. Letter from Minister Nelson

CHASS wrote to the Minister last month to request a review of the National Research Priorities:

'Our sector feels excluded from priority research areas, partly because they do not mention key issues of importance for HASS (eg Asia), and partly because the wording of the priorities is seen as sciencentric in nature. A solution could lie in expanding or re-wording the associated priority goals which flesh out the four priorities, to make it abundantly clear that HASS research does have a place.'

The Minister has responded to say that he does not envisage any review until 2006-07.

He said that the NRPs were enhanced in 2003 to strengthen the contributions of social sciences and humanities research and to focus on Australia in the Asian region. He believes there is 'enormous potential for humanities and social science researchers to contribute to this and other areas of national importance.'

We will continue to press for changes.

8. CHASS Board meets in Adelaide

The board will meet in Adelaide on Thursday 1 December, as part of our policy to circulate through the capital cities. This is an opportunity to meet with leading figures in our sector in the regions, and also to discuss particular local issues.

9. The orchestras we need…

… rather than the orchestras we have inherited or might have had. Malcolm Gillies' address to the Music Council of Australia now posted on the CHASS website.

'Is the national and transnational orchestra, the type of professional orchestra we ultimately have to have? How important now is the civic base of an orchestra? What are our entitlements as citizens to the provision of orchestral services of quality? And, what do audiences-as distinct from musicians, managers and governments-now really want?'

10. And from the USA

The National Endowment for the Humanities began a year-long celebration of the agency's 40th anniversary with a private reception at the National Gallery of Art on September 29.

President George Bush issued the following statement in conjunction with the event: "Our Founders understood that the study of the humanities should be central to every American's education. This milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on the many extraordinary contributions of the NEH to America's national heritage. The NEH has been dedicated to learning and truth in the humanities for four decades. I appreciate all those involved with the NEH for your commitment to education, history, and culture. By promoting programs in the humanities and encouraging Americans to remember the past, you honor the founding ideals that make our country strong and help preserve our freedom for the future."

 

Regards

Malcolm Gillies
5 October 2005

 

For more information, please contact:

Toss Gascoigne

Executive Director

Council of the Humanties, Arts and Social Sciences

Phone: +61 2 6249 1995

director@chass.org.au