Academy of Social Sciences in Australia
Download this issue of Dialogue [PDF: Filesize
464.81 kB]
President's Report
Leon Mann
On the matter of dialogue
At the beginning of 1999 the name of the Academy's quarterly journal of news, comment and reports was changed from the rather prosaic Newsletter to the more distinctive Dialogue. The name change captured the spirit of some of the Academy's most important objectives - to act as consultant and adviser, to comment on national needs and priorities in the social sciences, and to promote international scholarly cooperation.
Most importantly, the switch to 'Dialogue' served as a reminder of one of the most fundamental values of the social sciences - its reliance on free and open discussion for the purpose of gaining knowledge and exploring perspectives. One of the strengths of the Academy lies in its role of bringing together scholars from all branches and disciplines of the Social Sciences. Productive dialogue fosters mutual understanding and respect between disciplines. Respect between disciplines should not be taken for granted; prejudice and suspicion between some social scientists of different disciplines exist, as they do between some engaged in the physical sciences. Dialogue provides the platform for new ideas and fresh thinking that can occur when scholars from a range of disciplines meet, challenge old assumptions and work together to find better solutions.
A splendid example of a dialogue which helped promote greater understanding of the links between disciplines in the social sciences was the Fellows' Colloquium on Sunday evening 5 November which launched the Academy's Annual General Meeting. The Colloquium, on the topic of 'Creating Unequal Futures', was convened by Ruth Fincher and Peter Saunders who reported on the collection of essays they have edited (to be published in 2001 by Allen and Unwin). The research reported in this book - funded as an Academy research project - illustrates the importance of taking a multidisciplinary perspective for an understanding of the problems of poverty, inequality and disadvantage. But the comments, questions and suggestions from Fellows who attended the Colloquium, representing all four Panels of the Academy, also demonstrated the benefit of approaching a topic from different disciplines and perspectives to achieve a deeper understanding of complex social issues.
The year 2001 provides a rich opportunity for the Academy to engage in dialogue.
One opportunity is the symposium 'Alternative Australias' to be held in Canberra on 12 November. The symposium will be jointly sponsored by this Academy and the Australian Academy of Humanities, bringing together Fellows of each for the first time at an Annual General Meeting, in order to celebrate and examine the centenary of Australian Federation. The two Academies will share sessions, speakers and panels, with the Humanities taking a retrospective look at Australian issues of the twentieth century and the Social Sciences taking a more prospective view of Australian issues for the twenty first century. The organising committee, with Professor Iain McCalman - Fellow of both Academies - as convenor, will be keen to encourage a high level of participation and dialogue across the two Academies.
Another opportunity for dialogue is the growing realisation by all political parties - sharpened by the reality of a federal election later this year - that education, research and innovation are back on the national agenda. Australia has much to do if it is to come near, let alone catch up with, other advanced nations in policy and performance. In this changed climate, it is possible to detect in some quarters a growing understanding that a sustained collective effort involving the sciences and technological sciences and the social sciences and humanities is required for the country to make up for lost time, a recent history of meagre support for higher education and research and a legacy of wasted opportunities.
The present challenge for the four learned academies is to engage in a constructive dialogue. This dialogue should aim to define practical ideas and proposals that will help shape progress toward a society which is more innovative in science and technology, while equally innovative in addressing the breakdown of community and communities, the threat to the physical and social environment and the feelings of powerlessness and alienation of many affected by the rapid pace of change.
The Academy of the Social Sciences is well placed to participate in this dialogue by virtue of the knowledge and expertise of its members. But it is fair to say that the Academy has not always made its voice heard and is seen by many as having a low profile. For instance, from conversations with several Canberra taxi drivers ('Is the Academy of Social Sciences the group of elderly gents who have cocktail parties in the igloo or fried-egg building?'); those with University colleagues ('Now tell me again, what exactly does the Academy do?'); and from the Minister for Education ('With the exception of the Economists and Historians, the Academy doesn't seem to speak out on important issues').
It is clear that the Academy has work to do to make its voice heard and to make a difference in the formulation of new ideas and proposals for a 'more clever' and more responsive Australia.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge the important contribution of Professor Fay Gale who served the Academy as its President from 1997-2000. Professor Gale provided distinguished leadership. She maintained links with Academies in many countries, strengthening the Academy's international role in promoting scholarly cooperation. She was the guiding figure in securing for the Academy its new home at 28 Balmain Crescent, a most welcome achievement. She presided over the Academy in a period in which a very active Research Projects Committee was established and the Workshop Committee went from strength to strength. She represented the Academy effectively through her contacts with Ministers, the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs, the Australian Research Council and the National Academies Forum. We are all pleased that Fay's wisdom and experience will continue to be available to the Academy through her ongoing membership of the Academy's Executive.
I also take this opportunity to welcome Dr John Beaton as the new Executive Director of the Academy from April 2001. John comes to the Academy with a range of experience in research, teaching and administration, a strong interest in the changing nature of tertiary education and a commitment to help build a more active and effective Academy.
Leon Mann
2001
Last modified: 2 November 2009.