Stories about our Fellows
Last week, Australian historian Lyndal Roper FAHA was awarded the Holberg Prize for 2026, one of the largest international prizes awarded annually to an outstanding researcher in the humanities, social sciences, law or theology. This highly prestigious prize is worth 6 million Norwegian kroner or almost AUD $900,000. The Prize described Roper as “pioneering” the […]
Born in Melbourne, Professor Vanarva’s love of history was sparked early in secondary school. “I loved history at school. I remember eagerly answering questions about World War I and World War II in class. When it came to selecting our VCE subjects, some of the other students made fun of me because my school did not offer
Andrekos Varnava on the British Empire, Cyprus & why the past still matters Read More »
Engaging with family law and the court can be a confusing, stressful and highly emotional experience for families and communities. For individuals with limited literacy, or where English is not their first language, understanding the language of family law system can be a significant barrier to navigating the system. Emeritus Professor Pam Peters FAHA is
How linguistics helps when life gets hard: navigating justice & health systems Read More »
Democratic pluralities & the future of Australia Professor Kate Fullagar FAHA FRHistS: I thought that we might begin with a discussion of periodisation. You’ve described your era of main focus to be 1780 to 1850, also known as early colonial Australian history. You’ve noted a decline of interest in this area over the past two
A deeper discourse on Australian history — Kate Fullagar interviews Alan Atkinson Read More »
In the opening paragraph of her autobiography, My Accidental Career, acclaimed biographer and academic, Brenda Niall AO FAHA describes a filling out an application for a passport. ‘For most of my friends the Occupation slot would have been easy to fill. ‘Home Duties’ was what women did: the home was where we all belonged, and
More than a ‘nice little job’: Brenda Niall’s career in academia Read More »
‘It was books before everything else,’ Colin Steele AM FAHA says as he overlooks the Chifley Library at the Australian National University. The library houses notable collections of social sciences and humanities research—a collection Colin built meticulously during his time as University Librarian. ‘And it’s all still about books. Everything I do is because of
An ambitious librarian: Colin Steele reflects on 70 years of loving books Read More »
‘Why are you here?’ It was one of the first questions space archaeologist, Associate Professor Alice Gorman FAHA FSA, remembers being asked at a space industry conference in Canberra back in 2003. Alice can still recall the mix of surprise and confusion her paper received. ‘People asked me “why are you here?” even as I
“What is a space archaeologist?” how Alice Gorman pioneered a cosmic career Read More »
Officer of the Order of Australia recipients Dr Lindy Lee AO FAHA One of Australia’s most prominent and celebrated artists, Dr Lindy Lee is a painter and sculptor based in Arakwal Country in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales and in Turrubul Country in Brisbane, Queensland. Lee’s creative practice draws on her Chinese-Australian
2024 Australia Day Honours List Read More »
Recognising excellence in the humanities Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this article contains the name of a person who is deceased. The Academy today recognised outstanding humanities researchers and leaders from the cultural, creative and research sectors in Australia – across three categories of membership. Twenty-four Fellows were elected today. These distinguished
Announcing 2022 Academy Fellows Read More »
Emeritus Professor William Rubinstein OAM FAHA and former Academy President Professor Joy Damousi AM FASSA FAHA have been named in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours, which recognise and reward meritorious, distinguished and conspicuous service. Member of the Order of Australia Professor Joy Damousi – for significant service to social sciences and the humanities, and to tertiary
Queen’s Birthday Honours for Academy Fellows Read More »
In this 1919 caricature, Ukrainians are surrounded by a Bolshevik (to the north, man with hat and red star), a Russian White Army soldier (to the east, with Russian eagle flag and a short whip), and to the west a Polish soldier, a Hungarian (in pink uniform) and two Romanian soldiers. Wikimedia Commons One interpretation
Ukraine as a ‘borderland’: a brief history of Ukraine’s place between Europe and Russia Read More »
OFFICER (AO) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA Professor Geoffrey Lancaster AM, for distinguished service to the arts, particularly music, through education, performance, research and philanthropy. MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA Professor Virginia Gail Hooker, for significant service to tertiary education, and to Asia-Pacific relations. Our
Australia Day Honours for Academy Fellows Read More »
The Australian Academy of the Humanities recognises Australia’s First Nations Peoples as the traditional owners and custodians of this land, and their continuous connection to country, community and culture.