An academic at The University of Queensland Ipswich campus has received national recognition through election as Fellow to the Australian Academy of the Humanities.
Associate Professor Frederick D’Agostino, Program Director of the Bachelor of Arts at Ipswich, was elected as a Fellow to the Academy at its annual general meeting earlier this month.
Professor D’Agostino join 17 outstanding scholars who were elected as Fellows, and seven individuals elected as Honorary Fellows.
Fellows elected to the Academy are residents of Australia who have achieved the highest distinction in scholarship in the humanities.
Professor D’Agostino is a philosopher at The University of Queensland, best known internationally as a leading contributor to the contemporary literature on public reason. His recent work focuses on value incommensurability and social epistemology. His work draws on literature from cognitive and social psychology, economics and social choice theory.
Professor D’Agostino said he was humbled by his election and, as a Fellow of the Academy, was looking forward to working with others to enhance the profile of humanities in the community.
“My election brings recognition to the Campus, and that pleases me immensely,” he said.
“The Ipswich Campus is increasingly a site of intellectual ferment and high-quality research, often, as in the Ipswich Arts program, organised on an interdisciplinary basis, much as my own research work has been.
“Many people overlook the humanities when they think of excellence in research, but, internationally, Australia ‘punches above its weight’ in philosophy, cultural studies, and other humanities subjects. And these subjects have a lot to contribute to contemporary debates about meaning and values.”
Professor D’Agostino said the Academy was also an important forum for securing recognition for the humanities and for amplifying the voices of humanities scholars.
Media: Contact Professor Frederick D’Agostino on 3365 2632 or UQ Ipswich Marketing & Development Manager Loretta Porche on 3381 1068.
