Exploring new frontiers in time and materiality
Scholars from the humanities and social sciences will share multidisciplinary ideas at the Australian Academy of Humanities' 46th Annual Symposium, hosted by the University of Sydney.
The concept of 'deep time' - one of the themes of this year's Symposium - can be expressed through excavation. Image: Australian Academy of the Humanities.
The intersections between objects and time have long been the building blocks used by archaeologists to understand human history and culture, but recently these connections have also opened up exciting new research frontiers for scholars across the humanities.
Leading experts from the fields of archaeology, art practice, heritage studies, history, linguistics and philosophy will offer their perspectives on the concepts of time and materiality this week at the 46th annual Australian Academy of Humanities's Symposium, hosted by the University of Sydney.
From an historical account of human occupation in the Torres Straits to an examination of the English landscape over a 2500-year span, Academy Fellows and invited guests will deliver a series of public talks exploring the impacts of concrete things, places and the natural world on human action and creativity.
New perspectives often arise when different disciplines meet and cross-over, so by canvassing a broad range of multidisciplinary perspectives we hope this year's Symposium can provide a forum for productive discussion and debate.
In addition, Symposium attendees will be invited to touch, hold and even smell ancient material objects at the University of Sydney’s Nicholson and Macleay museums. A poster display will also showcase innovative new humanities projects by early career researchers.
Dr Anne Clarke, Symposium co-convener and Director, Museum and Heritage Studies at the University of Sydney, said: "New perspectives often arise when different disciplines meet and cross-over, so by canvassing a broad range of multidisciplinary perspectives we hope this year's Symposium can provide a forum for productive discussion and debate."
Dr Robin Torrence, Symposium co-convener and Academy Fellow, said: "We hope this Symposium provides stimulating and enjoyable opportunities for scholars in the Humanities and Social Sciences to take a fresh look at their own disciplines."
Event details:
What: Australian Academy of the Humanities 46th Annual Symposium
Where: The University of Sydney
When: Thursday 26 and Friday 27 November
Full symposium program and speakers can be found here
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