[csaa-forum] CHASS newsletter November

Toss Gascoigne director at chass.org.au
Tue Nov 8 11:41:26 CST 2005


Dear csaa-forum

Here is the CHASS newsletter for November.  There are now 786 subscribers.

Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Newsletter 10.  November 2005



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
CHASSS 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. http://www.chass.org.au/

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 NEEDŠ
Š 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
President, CHASS



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Toss Gascoigne
Executive Director
Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS)
28 Balmain Cres, ANU, ACT

Postal address
PO Box 8157, ANU, ACT AUSTRALIA 2601

Ph: 02 6249 1995 OR 02 6230 7179
0408 704 442
Fax: 02 6247 4335
Email: director at chass.org.au
Web:  www.chass.org.au
ABN:  75 017 337 844
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