Smart Engagement with Asia

Researchers: Professor Ien Ang, Dr Yasmin Tambiah, Dr Phillip Mar
Funding: Australian Academy of the Humanities (opens in a new window)
Period: 2012-2015

The depth of Australia's linguistic and inter-cultural competence will be a determining factor in the future success of developments in innovation, science and technology, research capacity, international mobility, trade relations and economic competitiveness. In the medium to longer term, the Asia Pacific region will be a principal focus, presenting major challenges and opportunities economically, socially and culturally, for our national security interests. The project, which is part of the Australian Council of Learned Academies' (opens in a new window) Securing Australia's Future program, examines how language, research and culture can be leveraged as vehicles for Australia's engagement with Asia. The final report, entitled Smart Engagement with Asia: Leveraging Language, Research and Culture (opens in a new window), was launched by Professor Ian Chubb, Australia's Chief Scientist, in Melbourne in June 2015. Members of the Expert Working Group are: Professor Ien Ang (Chair), Professor Chennupati Jagadish (Deputy Chair), Professor Kent Anderson, Professor John Fitzgerald, Professor Krishna Sen and Professor Mark Wainwright.