ICS Seminar - Zelmarie Cantillon, James Arvanitarkis, and Deborah Stevenson
Where to now for Australian HASS Research?
Event Details:
Date and Time: Thursday, 11 August, 11:30am - 1:00pm
Location: Building EA, ground level, Room 15 (EA.G.15), Parramatta South Campus, Western Sydney University
Panellists: Zelmarie Cantillon and James Arvanitarkis
Chair: Deborah Stevenson
Abstract
The new Federal government wishes to re-set relationships with universities by establishing a bi-partison and long-term approach to higher education national policy. On offer is a different conversation than one centred on declining levels of trust, to instead take academic expertise seriously, not just for governments, but for diverse industries and communities. So, what then for humanities and social science scholarship going forward? This panel discussion considers where change needs to happen from two different viewpoints, in and amongst global pandemics, the hollowing out of the middle class, economic precariousness, environmental crises and war and conflict. Dr Zelmarie Cantillon considers how meaningful, responsive research can be secured for both researchers and participants given the ARC model and the situation facing Early Career Researchers. Professor James Arvanitakis will present what the humanities is doing and needs to do given populist sentiments and continued economic insecurity, especially if the apparent progressive turn in national policy is short-lived.
Biographies
Dr Zelmarie Cantillon is a Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow in ICS. Her research focuses on the intersections of heritage, space and place, cultural policy, and tourism. Zelmarie’s most recent work explores heritage through the lens of cultural justice, as well as the role heritage initiatives play in urban transformations. She is CI on two current ARC projects: ‘Reimagining Norfolk Island's Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area’ (2021–24) and 'The Collaborative Museum: Embedding Cultural Infrastructure in the City’ (2022–25).
Professor James Arvanitakis is an award-winning educator, cultural researcher, and media commentator and is currently working as a Principal Consultant with the Astrolabe Group. He had successful careers in finance and the not-for profit sector before becoming an academic including working for over ten years Western Sydney University. He remains associated with the University as an Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Culture and Society. James is a Fulbright alumnus, and in 2021, he was appointed the inaugural Patron of Diversity Arts Australia. In 2022, he founded Respectful Disagreements.
