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Free lectures bring social sciences to the public

Friday, 11 July 2008

A new public lecture series at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide aims to highlight the relevance of social sciences to our world.

The Distinguished Social Sciences Public Lecture Series gives members of the public the opportunity to hear from some of Adelaide's - and the world's - experts in their field.

Presented by Professor Ann Brooks, Head of the , and Professor Graeme Hugo, the free public lecture series starts next week (Wednesday 16 July) at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s North Terrace Campus.

"The aim of these lectures is to give the public an understanding of the range of disciplines covered by the School of Social Sciences at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide, and how these areas of study impact on people's daily lives and the world around them," Professor Brooks says.

The series begins with two lectures that deal with different aspects of Chinese society: Limiting Confucian Meritocracy (16 July) by Associate Professor Tan Sor Hoon (Head of Philosophy, ) is presented in conjunction with the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide's , ; followed by Civil Society in China (30 July) by Emeritus Professor Andrew Watson (, ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide).

Professor Chilla Bulbeck (, ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide) will take a look at a potentially controversial issue that affects many ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ns: Family Responsibilities in the Age of Individualism: Whose 'Right' to 'Choose'? (13 August).

Migration is another topic that has a huge impact not only on individuals but also on society as a whole. Two lectures in the series will deal with this issue, starting with Theories of Global Mobility (10 September) by Professor Stephen Castles (Professor of Migration and Refugee Studies, Department of International Development, ); and The New Paradigm of International Migration in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ (17 September) by Professor Graeme Hugo (Professorial Research Fellow, Director of , , ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide).

The growing importance of China to the western world will be addressed in The Rise of China and Chinese Studies in the West (22 October) by Professor Mobo Gao (Professor of Chinese Studies, Director of the Confucius Institute, Centre for Asian Studies, ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide).

The lecture series continues into 2009.

WHAT: Distinguished Social Sciences Public Lecture Series

WHERE: Lecture Theatre Napier 102, Napier Building, North Terrace Campus, ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide

WHEN: 6.00pm-8.00pm Wednesdays (check program for specific lecture dates and details)

COST: Free - all are welcome

For more information about Social Sciences, including the full program of public lectures in this series for 2008 and 2009, visit the School of Social Sciences website:

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