 On
October 9 2004 a diverse and senior group of academics from around
Australia met at the ANU in Canberra to take the first steps toward
forming a national association for Pacific Island scholars.
This meeting was an initiative of the newly created International
Centre of Excellence in Asia Pacific Studies (ICEAPS), which has
a brief to develop a network which will promote excellence and
collaboration in Asian and Pacific studies across Australia and
internationally. While the interests of Asian scholars can already
be represented through the aegis of the Asian Studies Association
of Australia (ASAA), there was no comparable body to advise ICEAPS
on the interests of Pacific Island scholars. It is proposed that
ICEAPS will provide the secretariat for this new association,
along with that of the ASAA.
The group of about thirty-five academics who met to address this
issue agreed on the formation of an Australian Association for
the Advancement of Pacific Studies (AAAPS). Those present at that
meeting decided not to elect formal office bearers until a wider
constituency representative of all academic fields in the humanities,
social sciences and natural sciences had been contacted. It was
also deemed important to sort out issues around a proposed constitution
and processes of incorporation for the association before proceeding.
In the interim, the meeting elected a Steering Committee of members
from different states to carry the work forward. This committee
consists of the following: Grant McCall (UNSW), Paul Darcy (JCU),
Steve Mullins (CQU), Max Quanchi (QUT), Peter Mühlhaüsler
(U. Adelaide), Margaret Jolly (ANU), Michael Morgan (ANU), Kalissa
Alexeyeff (U. Melb), Katy Le Roy (U. Melb), Tracy Banivanua-Mar
(U. Melb), Rod Ewin (U. Tas).
Grant McCall of the Centre for South Pacific Studies at the University
of New South Wales said he could not recall having seen such a
gathering of Australian based Pacific experts in one room, ever.
He congratulated Professor Brij Lal, Chair of Pacific History
in the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the ANU
(above left), for convening the meeting. Professor Lal hosted
a reception and dinner for delegates.
Interim Director of the Centre of Excellence Professor Kam Louie
addressed the meeting (above centre). To his left are Katy Le
Roy of the University of Melbourne and Professor Andrew Pawley
of RSPAS, ANU. Professor John Fitzgerald succeeded Prof Louie
as Director in January 2005.
|
Home
"Asian
Currents"
