Social sciences peak body honours for UQ experts

The strength of social and behavioural sciences at The University of Queensland has been demonstrated by three significant appointments at the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA).

UQ’s Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Terry has been elected to lead the prestigious scholarly academy, Professor Brian Head has been elected a new Fellow and Dr Paul Dux won the Paul Bourke Award for Early Career Research.

Professor Terry was elected President of the ASSA by unanimous vote last month at the ASSA Annual General Meeting in Canberra.

“I congratulate Debbie, Brian and Paul on these achievements, which are indicative of the high quality scholars we have at UQ,” Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj said.

“Thanks to these scholars and many others, UQ is ranked 40 in the world for social sciences in the 2012 Times Higher Education rankings.”

Professor Terry said she was honoured to have been appointed to the President’s position.

"The Academy is uniquely positioned to provide social science expertise on a wide range of research and policy issues that are core to the very significant challenges that will face global society in the 21st century. The membership of the Academy includes Australia's leading social science scholars across a wide range of disciplines," she said.

“I welcome the challenge of leading this esteemed scholarly academy over the next three years.”

Professor Terry’s career includes periods as Head of the School of Psychology at UQ and Executive Dean of the University’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), as well as Acting Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Brian Head is an eminent Australian political scientist, with an international reputation in public policy, public administration, political institutions, and intellectual history.

Dr Paul Dux is a cognitive scientist whose interests lie in the field of attention, the process by which animals select relevant stimuli from the environment for extended processing and discard those of less importance after limited analysis.

The ASSA works collaboratively with institutions and national bodies to progress social science disciplines, including many of those offered at UQ such as anthropology, history, education, psychology, geography, political science, economics, and sociology, through the publication of findings, fostering relationships on a national and international level and providing advice and comment as appropriate for these disciplines.

Professor Terry takes office from 1 January 2013 for a three-year term, having been a Fellow of the ASSA since 2003.

Professor Terry succeeds Professor Barry McGaw AO, Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne, who has just completed his three-year term.
Media: Janelle Kirkland at UQ Communications, j.kirkland@uq.edu.au or 07 3346 0561.