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Two ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ns for prestigious Harvard position

Professor Nicholas Jose: appointed Chair of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Studies at Harvard ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ for 2009
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Wednesday, 2 April 2008

Two distinguished ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n scholars will share the honours in being appointed to the prized annual for 2009.

ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide's and the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Sydney's Associate will simultaneously take up the role of Chair of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Studies from September 2009, Associate Professor Bashford in Harvard's and Professor Jose in Harvard's . It's the first time more than one Chair has been appointed.

The Visiting Professorship was first established by a gift from the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Government to Harvard in 1976 in commemoration of America's Bicentennial, and famous past post-holders have included Manning Clark, Gough Whitlam and Geoffrey Blainey.

Professor Graeme Davison, Chair of the , said: "We are thrilled that two such outstanding scholars will be occupying the Chair. With the recent announcement that Harvard intends to sponsor joint conferences of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n and American researchers, we expect that the post will grow even further in influence."

Professor Jose is Chair of Creative Writing at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide, a novelist, critic and General Editor of the Macquarie PEN Anthology of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Literature, to be published in 2009.

"It's a great opportunity to familiarise North American scholars and students with contemporary developments in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n literature, including Indigenous writing and writing that engages with our environment and our region," Professor Jose said.

Professor Jose was Cultural Counsellor at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Embassy, Beijing 1987-1990, has written widely on contemporary Asian and ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n culture and has published several acclaimed novels as well as short stories, essays and translations. At Harvard, he will teach courses in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n fiction, fiction from the Asia-Pacific region, and creative writing.

Alison Bashford is Associate Professor in History at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Sydney and has published widely on the history of infectious disease management and its links with regulation of immigration and global movement. She will be the first ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Studies chair to be hosted by Harvard's Department of the History of Science.

At Harvard she will be teaching as well as completing two books: one is on the world population problem over the 20th century and the second is a large collaborative history of eugenics, with Associate Professor Bashford heading a team of 35 international science historians.

"This fellowship represents a fabulous opportunity to develop my research. I can discuss the findings at length with experts at Harvard, utilise the resources available, and get both these projects a range of public airings," Associate Professor Bashford said.

The endowment for a Visiting Professorship in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Studies was given to Harvard to "maintain such teaching, research and publication as will help to promote awareness and understanding of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ in the United States".

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