Bulletin

THE NETWORK WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL PARTICIPANTS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND POSITIVE FEEDBACK RECEIVED THROUGHOUT 2008.

The Network was set up with a five-year plan to focus on Governance and Security, Culture and Religion, Media and Communications, Health and Population, and Trade and Industry. 2009 sees the ARC Asia Pacific Futures Research Network enter the fifth year of this five year plan and the signature theme of Trade and Industry.

It will be a busy start to the New Year as we compile the 2008 annual report. Please forward any information you would like to report about Network related activities for possible inclusion. We will also be launching a survey in order to gather valuable information about the Network and as much participant feedback as possible. Please email Nicki.Davies@uts.edu.au

ANU joins forces with La Trobe to host 2009 Signature Event

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANU'S PROFESSOR PREMA-CHANDRA ATHUKORALA AND LA TROBE'S PROFESSOR SISIRA JAYASURIYA ON THE SUCCESS OF THEIR JOINT APPLICATION TO HOST THE ARC APFRN 2009 SIGNATURE EVENT: TRADE AND INDUSTRY IN THE ASIA PACIFIC.

The event will be designed as a major international conference held over two days at ANU in late 2009. There are plans to bring together international scholars together with leading scholars in Australia to explore the historical, institutional and political economy aspects and implications of regional and global market integration in trade and industry in Asia Pacific in the context of major changes in the global economy associated with the rise of Asia's economic power. In particular the conference aims to explore the following themes:

Network Celebrates 2008 Signature Event at University of Adelaide

THE NETWORK OWES DR GERRY GROOT AND HIS TEAM A HUGE VOTE OF THANKS FOR ORGANISING AN OUTSTANDING SIGNATURE EVENT SUPPORTING THE 2008 THEME OF RELIGION AND CULTURE.

The "Globalising Religions and Cultures in the Asia Pacific" conference held between 1 and 5 December proved a highly successful collaboration at many levels between academics interested in Asia, the Pacific, religion and culture.

Dr Gerry Groot organised a conference program that proved both innovative and stimulating with 175 registered participants - many attending the full five days. Registrations were notable for the number of overseas participants who funded themselves, including academics from Malaysia, Iran, Pakistan, Germany and Switzerland.

A number of special workshops were incorporated into the event to maximise synergies:

The Postgrad and ECR workshop received very favourable feedback and was a great study in collaboration between universities. Some twenty post grads received funding to attend while a number of foreign participants also attended and commented favourably. Most of the participants in this special workshop also presented papers proving very impressive in both style and content.

Two public forums, on religion and attitudes to genetic modification of organisms and on religious revival in South East Asia, hosted by the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre also received fantastic feedback, attracting around 70 members of the public. For further information please visit the website: http://www.unisa.edu.au/hawkecentre/events/2008events/Religion_Culture_AsiaPacific.asp

Network Celebrates 2008 Signature Event at University of Adelaide

THE NETWORK ASKED DR GROOT WHAT FACTORS HE THOUGHT MADE THE EVENT SUCH A HUGE SUCCESS:

Left to right: Prof Ann Gold (Syracuse University), Prof John Weckert (Charles Sturt University), Prof Ron Herring (Cornell) Gerry Groot (University of Adelaide) Prof Ann Brooks (University of Adelaide) & Forum Chair

"The event was a great success, in large part I think because it was over five days. This extended time allowed for more relaxed interactions between participants and longer discussion on mutual interests and on the papers presented. A number of participants were impressed by the variety of backgrounds of speakers and the wide variety of approaches used to discuss particular topics, in other words, the impressive degree to which academic silos were at least temporarily dismantled. A number of offers of possible journal and book publications on conference panels and themes were also received..."

Round One 2009 - grant applications now open

APPLICATIONS FOR ROUND ONE ARE NOW BEING INVITED. CLOSING DATE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2009

Applications based on the 2009 signature theme Constructing Economic Foundations for the Future (trade and industry) will be considered. Further information is available on the website: http://www.sueztosuva.org.au/grant_apps.php

ARC PhD scholarship available at the China Research Centre

A PhD scholarship is available at the China Research Centre (CRC) and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Technology, Sydney. The Centre is a global leader in research on social and cultural change in China.

The successful PhD candidate will by supervised by Dr Elaine Jeffreys as part of an ARC Discovery Project, DP0985709 'Governing Prostitution in the People's Republic of China' and will collaborate with Dr Jeffreys on areas relating to the governance of prostitution in China, while working on the preparation of their own thesis.

Thesis topics can be negotiated. Possible topics include: the relationship between prostitution and sexual health, the 100 per cent Condom Use Program, crime, and corruption. The ideal candidate will have a background in social theory and Chinese language skills.

Applicants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian Permanent Residents to apply. They must also demonstrate equivalent research qualifications or experience to an Australian Honours (at least Class 2 Division 1) degree. The stipend is currently A$26,669 p.a. tax exempt (2009) for three years subject to satisfactory progress. Up to six months extension may be available where unavoidable research delays are evidenced.

Please visit the China Research Centre website www.china.uts.edu.au/ or email Dr Elaine Jeffreys for further information Elaine.Jeffreys@uts.edu.au

ARC Discovery Grants

If you have PhD scholarships you would like advertised please send us your project descriptions and contact details for circulating to the Network Members and Postgraduate/ECR lists.

Transmission of Academic Values in Asian Studies – call for papers

CALL FOR PAPERS FROM EVERY CAREER STAGE (POSTGRADUATE TO POST-RETIREMENT). DEADLINE 27 FEBRUARY 2009 BUT EARLY SUBMISSION APPRECIATED. PLEASE EMAIL HELEN MCMARTIN FOR FURTHER DETAILS: Helen.McMartin@anu.edu.au

This special ANRC mid project workshop "Transmission of Academic Values in Asian Studies" will be held at ANU in June 2009 to examine issues surrounding the transmission of scholarly values in Asian studies. Full details are available at the website http://www.aust-neth.net/workshop.php

'Writing the Pacific' workshop hits the mark

THE NETWORK WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR PAUL SHARRAD AND PROFESSOR STEWART FIRTH FOR THEIR INNOVATIVE 'WRITING THE PACIFIC' WORKSHOP.

A successful Network grant application by A/Prof Paul Sharrad (U. Wollongong) and Prof Stewart Firth (ANU) enabled the next generation of Pacific scholars to meet, exchange ideas, build potential collaborative links, discuss the interdisciplinary nature of Pacific Studies and have their work critiqued by a panel of experienced academics. The grant was supplemented by support from the UoW Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformations (CAPSTRANS).

Ten postgraduates working on Pacific topics were brought together with six academics of long-standing expertise in the field. Altogether, they represented U Wollongong, ANU, UTS, UQ, QUT, UNE, UniSA, Victoria U (Wellington) and Cambridge U. They included two Solomon Islanders, an Indo-Fijian, and an NZ-resident of Kiribati origin. Their work involved intersections amongst Law, Political Science, Sociology, History, Environmental Studies, Education, Media-Journalism Studies, Gender Studies, History, Anthropology Visual Arts and Literature.

Participants were asked to prepare a thesis chapter or article draft for discussion. These were circulated to everyone in advance. Presenters spoke to their papers, briefly contextualising them, and at least half an hour was then given to discussion of each paper. Two respondents with relevant country and/or discipline experience were detailed to lead discussions together with opportunities for other disciplines to give their perspective on the topic as well. This led to a richly textured response which all participants found extremely useful.

2008 HAS SEEN THE NETWORK SUPPORT A WIDE RANGE OF INNOVATIVE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Music and Movements in Indonesian Cultures

Alfira O'Sullivan, Paul Mason and Pak Yonny from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Canberra

THE MUSIC AND MOVEMENTS IN INDONESIAN CULTURES CONFERENCE, WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCE TOOK PLACE AT THE CONSULATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA IN MAROUBRA UNDER THE CO-ORGANISATION OF MACQUARIE PhD STUDENT PAUL MASON, AND LOCAL INDONESIAN ARTIST AND CHOREOGRAPHER ALFIRA O'SULLIVAN.

Through a grant from the ARC Asia Pacific Futures Research Network, Paul and Alfira were able to invite numerous researchers, teachers and performers from around Australia and Indonesia. Please visit the website for further information http://culturalevents.sobriquet.net/

Forthcoming events and sponsorships

DON'T FORGET THAT A VAST ARRAY OF ARC-APFRN FUNDED EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT YEAR. DETAILED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE www.sueztosuva.org.au

Your participation is most welcome and please don't hesitate to spread the word about all events far and wide. We look forward to your company in 2009!