A staunch defender of the humanities will discuss the pros and cons of popularising research at a free upcoming University of Queensland public lecture.
Professor Ian McCalman’s lecture is entitled From reality TV to the airport bookshop: the pleasures and perils of popularising scholarship. It will be delivered at 5.30pm on Thursday, September 18 at the UQ Centre lecture theatre, St Lucia campus.
As President of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and Director of the Humanities Research Centre at the Australian National University, Professor McCalman has been at the forefront of analysing, defending and advocating the work of humanities scholars in Australia.
“The humanities are often marginalised by schemes to stimulate research innovation and commercialisation,” Professor McCalaman said.
“In addition, opportunities for young humanities scholars to publicise their work have decreased as traditional scholarly presses rely increasingly on market sales and are reluctant to gamble on the unproven work of young scholars or early-career researchers.
“Humanities scholars are now told they must be prepared to get down and dirty and take the hard steps necessary to adapt their research to the world of the modern commercial market.”
Drawing on his experiences publicising his latest book in the United States, Professor McCalman will discuss the challenges, compromises, drawbacks and benefits of popularising research for the general public.
Professor McCalman’s main area of expertise is 18th century and early 19th century British and European history. He is particularly interested in popular culture and “low life”.
His most recent book, The seven ordeals of Count Cagliostro, is targeted at the general public and examines the life Count Cagliostro, a celebrated and infamous 18th century alchemist, magician, freeman and global identity.
In recent times he has worked as a television consultant and commentator on several BBC television programs including The Ship, a reality TV re-enactment of the voyage of The Endeavour.
He has also co-curated exhibitions at the National Museum of Australia and the National Library of Australia.
This is the fifth lecture in the Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies’ 2003 program of free public lectures and is supported by The University of Queensland Press.
Media: For further information, contact Lisa Gunders (telephone 07 3346 9764) or Professor Graeme Turner (telephone 07 3365 7183) at the Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies, Joanne van Zeeland at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2619) or visit www.cccs.uq.edu.au/events/lectures/McCalman/index.html
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