Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

In this issue:

1. Paddy McGuinness at it again
2. Expanding Horizons update
3. Sigrid Thornton CHASS speaker at the National Press Club
4. Survey on cross-disciplinary research update
5. Board meeting in Adelaide: Main decisions
6. Chris Powell visit 15 March
7. Henk Stronkhorst visit 20-30 March
8. PMSEIC follow-up
9. Parliamentary Dinners: David Gonsky
10. PM no to medals for humanities, arts and social scientists
11. Artspeak+ meeting in Adelaide

1. Paddy McGuinness at it again

Paddy McGuinness' latest diatribe against funding for research in the humanities and social sciences can't be dismissed lightly.

He said in his editorial in Quadrant (March 2006): "…there would be little loss to society and to genuine intellectual enquiry if the funding of the non-sciences through the ARC (or through any similar body) were simply abolished."

The Australian saw fit to run the story on page 3 last weekend, but forgot to seek a response from CHASS or the Academies. It did, however, run a letter from me which included the lines:

"What, no research in Asian cultures, religions or industry, just as we try to counter terrorism and foster trade? No historical research, just as the Prime Minister seeks to re-establish the importance of Australian history?"

There is an ominous atmosphere hanging around our sector: ministerial interventions in research grants, calls for new ways of teaching Australian history, and hardline attacks on postmodernism. These events are forming up to become a trend.

Now Paddy McGuinness, a member of the ARC Quality and Scrutiny Committee, weighs into the arguments.

The best defence is a willingness of our Members to explain clearly and directly what it is they are doing and - crucially - why it is useful to Australia and the world. CHASS will find ways to put these arguments both publicly and privately.

2. Expanding Horizons update

Nearly 100 early-career researchers and professionals have registered for our event on March 28-29.

This is an important stage in our project to examine cross-disciplinary research and education, and we have attracted registrations from the sciences as well as the humanities, arts and social sciences. Registrations will close on Friday March 17.

Over 100 members of Federal Parliament have agreed to meet with our registrants, in individual conversations about their work.

3. Sigrid Thornton CHASS speaker at the National Press Club

Sigrid Thornton is a talented and eloquent actor, and we are delighted she has agreed to deliver the CHASS address at the National Press Club on Tuesday March 28.

All registrants to the "Expanding Horizons" event will attend this lunch as part of the event. Non-registrants can come to lunch as well. The National Press Club is selling tickets.

4. Survey on cross-disciplinary research update

400 people have already responded to our survey of collaborations, as part of our project on cross-disciplinary research and education.

This short survey is posted on the CHASS web site.

We are specifically interested in work that involves BOTH sides: a person working in the humanities, arts or social sciences WITH someone from science, technology, engineering and medicine.

Examples include:

• Doctors working with social scientists on aboriginal health issues
• Fine arts curator working with chemists on conservation of paintings
• Designers, architects and building technologists on urban design issues

And if you are interested in collaborative work but have not been involved, there is space in the response to say why.

5. Board meeting in Adelaide: Main decisions

The Board endorsed the principle of a new subscription structure for membership of CHASS. It agreed that Members of CHASS should become the major stakeholders in our own enterprise. All Member organizations will be advised of the new system in April, by letter.

The Board considered the current climate of HASS in Australia, including the "Imagine Australia" report considered by the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council last December.

It also discussed a possible re-shaping of policy priorities under new Minister Julie Bishop, and the effect of increasingly strident attacks mounted on the sector by some sections of the media.

There was also discussion on how to further the development of an Education Quality Framework beyond the currently evolving Learning and Teaching Performance Fund.

6. Chris Powell visit 15 March

CHASS is hosting a visit to Canberra on March 15 by the Chair of the British organization NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts).

We have organized meetings with senior bureaucrats, the heads of cultural institutions and Ministerial staffers.

NESTA is a funding body based in London, set up to support and promote talent, innovation and creativity in science, technology and the arts. It was suggested as a model for Australia in Iain McCalman's recent repot to the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council.

It invests at every stage of the innovation process; providing early stage seed capital for promising ideas for new products and services; investing in UK talent to ensure it stays in the UK; and experimenting with new ways of engaging the public in science, technology and the creative industries.

7. Henk Stronkhorst visit 20-30 March

Henk Stronkhorst is the head of the Social Sciences Unit at the ESF. He is visiting Australia with his colleague Claus Nowotny for about 10 days from March 20.

Henk is interested in extending links in education and research between Australia and Europe.

He is meeting with ARC and DEST, and the Academies of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Adam Shoemaker (Chair of the DASSH Deans) is hosting a seminar on Monday 27 March at 3 pm at the National Europe Centre, ANU.

Linda Rosenman (Vice President of CHASS) will meet with Henk and Claus during the week to discuss ways that CHASS can assist in building linkages between European and Australian social sciences.

Dr. Neil Hamilton, Executive Director, The Forum for European - Australian Science and Technology Co-operation (FEAST) has further details: neil.hamilton [at] anu.edu.au

8. PMSEIC follow-up

Iain McCalman presented a report to the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council last December. "Imagine Australia" is available on the DEST web site.

PMSEIC will consider what actions it wants to take at its next meeting in mid-year. It will take into account responses to the Report from the three main Departments: DEST, Industry and DCITA

CHASS is putting forward a number of practical ways the Report could be implemented.

9. Parliamentary Dinners: David Gonsky

The next in our series of dinners for MPs is a luncheon at Parliament House on 31 May. The topic is philanthropy and the arts, and David Gonski, Chair of the Australia Council, will lead the discussion.

This is a great way to raise issues to MPs in a non-partisan way. This will be the fourth in a series of CHASS dinners and lunches.

The vital role that philanthropy and corporate support plays in arts organizations is now highlighted by the work of AbaF, the Australian Business Arts Foundation.

These events aim to emphasise the valuable role that the humanities, arts and social sciences play in national life. They have been made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Vice-Chancellor of the ANU, Professor Ian Chubb.

10. PM no to medals for humanities, arts and social scientists

CHASS suggested to the Prime Minister that he might institute a medal system to recognise the achievements of people and organisations working in the humanities, arts and social sciences. (The USA awards medals in the Arts and Humanities.)

His office was not positive in its response, however suggesting the Order of Australia offered an established form of recognition. We still think the idea has merit, and will persist.

But we do strongly encourage our members to consider nominating leading social scientists, creative and performing artists and humanists for the Order of Australia to improve the representation of our sector in the national awards and honours system.

11. Artspeak+ meeting in Adelaide

CHASS has facilitated two meetings for peak organisations with an interest in the visual and performing arts.

The second of these was in Adelaide last week, and attended by the representatives of 35 organisations.

The Australia Council made a strong presentation on its new policy document, and has agreed to host a workshop with members of this group to discuss how this policy might be fleshed out.

The meeting also came up with an arts specific four-point framework as a contribution to National Cultural Policy.

It's been a busy and productive start to 2006 for CHASS. We will be in touch with you soon with further news of events and activities.

 

Regards

Malcolm Gillies
6 March 2006

 

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