[csaa-forum] CHASS newsletter #14

Thu Mar 9 15:32:59 CST 2006

Dear csaa-forum

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, ASRTS AND SOCILA 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):  "Šthere 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.

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: www.chass.org.au

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.

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: see www.npc.org.au

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.

You can find this short survey on our home page: www.chass.org.au

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.  CHASS BOARD MEETING IN ADELAIDE 3 MARCH 2006: 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.

Further information is at:  http://www.nesta.org.uk/

7.  EUROPEAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION 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 at:
http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/science_innovation/science_agencies_committee
s/prime_ministers_science_engineering_innovation_council/meetings/fourteenth
.htm

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 GONSKI
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.  See:  http://www.abaf.org.au/index.html

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.  For information, see:
http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/

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.

Yours sincerely

Malcolm Gillies
President