Visiting Fellowship at ANU’s Humanities Research Centre for 2019

Applications for the 2019 Humanities Research Centre Visiting Fellowship Program – on the theme of ‘Crisis!’ – are now open.

2019 Theme – Crisis!

Mobilised as a defining characteristic of the contemporary condition, ‘crisis’ often functions as a way to mark out a critical ‘moment of truth’ or rupture. Alternatively, it is offered as a tool with which to understand the category of ‘history’, or to differentiate the past from a conflicted present. For some, crisis has become a state of ordinary ambivalence, a constant and unresolvable feature of the status quo. Forming a background to these debates is the escalating chorus of ‘crisis’ texts in popular and academic contexts alike. In this growth industry – richly illustrated by images of violent protest and reform, by news of corruption, incompetence, and injustice, and by consecutive environmental disasters – the urgency of crisis is conveyed through its implication in the networks and structures that influence our individual and collective lives. And yet, despite the growing ‘crisis industry’, humanity has grappled for centuries with an intellectual history of crisis, with practices of critique and dissent, as well as with a past that often sees itself as on the cusp of an irredeemable crisis – often considered, in retrospect, part of a ‘generative’ process.

Seeking to explore all facets of crisis, plus the potential connections that might exist between and across them, the HRC encourages contributions from researchers working in all disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields, historical eras and geographical contexts, as well as those offering issue, topic, and case-study based approaches to the theme of ‘crisis’. Key questions might include: How are we today to understand intellectual, ethical, moral, and epistemological crises? What qualifies (or quantifies) as a crisis? What is the artistic, cultural, political, social, or psychological expediency of crisis? How does ‘crisis’ relate to ideas and practices of ‘criticism’ and ‘critique’? What, if anything, differentiates our current experience from prior experiences of crisis? How can disciplinary debates inform political change, or vice versa? Is there any potential for the humanities to have an impact on public conceptions of crisis? What is at stake when a researcher undertakes to examine crisis, and what ethical and other responsibilities does the researcher have in conducting this work? Are we really in a new age of crisis – and, if so, how so?

The HRC encourages contributions from researchers working in all disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields, historical eras and geographical contexts, as well as those offering issue, topic, and case-study based approaches to the theme of ‘crisis’.

Fellowship Categories

• Visiting Fellowships (with grant) The standard period of tenure for an HRC Visiting Fellowship is from a minimum of six to a maximum of twelve weeks. The grant covers travel and accommodation. The maximum contribution for travel is $3,000 AUD. Accommodation is in a one bedroom, self-contained apartment on the university campus. (This financial assistance for travel and accommodation expenses is not a salary replacement. No stipend or living allowance is attached to this fellowship.) While participating in seminars and other activities at other Australian universities is encouraged, Visiting Fellows are not expected to be away for more than 7 days on any one occasion during their fellowships.

• Visiting Fellowships (without grant). Academic staff from other Australian universities, as well as from national or international cultural institutions, may apply to use the facilities at the HRC and contribute to its intellectual life during their periods of research leave (e.g. sabbatical). These awards do not provide financial assistance and are dependent on the availability of office space in the Centre.

• Visiting Fellowships, HRC-ANU Gender Institute (with grant) The HRC offers a dedicated HRC ANU Gender institute (GI) Fellowship as part of its annual round. The ANU Gender Institute was established in 2011 as a cross-campus virtual Institute to provide a focus for existing activity on issues of gender and sexuality and a catalyst to develop and deepen them. The Gender Institute has two distinct but related tasks. One is to support and deepen research, education, and outreach on gender and sexuality across the University, in particular promoting collaboration and linkages in this area across the seven Colleges. The second is to support the employment and retention of women and LGBTI people at all levels, in all disciplines, across the University. To do this it works closely with ANU Diversity and Inclusion Unit on programs to support the attraction and retention of women staff. This fellowship enables the GI to showcase and involve a visitor whose work intersects with the focus of the Institute and the nominated theme of the HRC. Interested applicants should look at the research areas of focus identified by the GI and in their application suggest which node/s of the GI they would best intersect with (it may be more than one). See: http://genderinstitute.anu.edu.au/people/ The standard period of tenure for a GI Visiting Fellowship is 12 weeks. The grant covers travel and accommodation. The maximum contribution for travel is $3,000 AUD. Accommodation is in a one bedroom, self-contained apartment on the university campus. (This financial assistance for travel and accommodation expenses is not a salary replacement. No stipend or living allowance is attached to this fellowship.)

Eligibility

Applicants for fellowships must have an institutional affiliation to a University or equivalent research or cultural organisation, and generally have at least a higher research degree (or equivalent professional experience), research experience, and publications. These fellowships are not as a rule offered to independent scholars, nor are students working to complete a higher degree eligible to apply. International applicants are strongly encouraged. Visa documents, if required, are the responsibility of the applicant. The ANU will offer a formal letter of invitation to successful applicants which may be used for visa purposes.

Visiting Fellows are expected to participate in the programs of the Centre and the College, meet regularly with other fellows, make public presentations of their research at the Centre’s weekly seminar series, possibly offer to contribute to a graduate seminar/Master Class, and avail themselves of other opportunities for scholarly exchange. Visitors must be in residence for at least 75% of their appointment.

See the HRC website for more information: http://hrc.cass.anu.edu.au/visiting-fellows-program

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