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Academics honoured for their contribution to the humanities

1 December 2015
New Fellows of the Australian Academy of the Humanities

Six University of Sydney academics have been elected as Fellows of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, one of the highest honours of achievement in the humanities in Australia.

The academics were recognised as leaders in their research areas, which range from Japanese and East Asian studies, to the history and philosophy of science, Southeast Asian languages, feminist studies, and Chinese literature and art.

"We're delighted to welcome this impressive group of scholars to the Academy," said Academy President Professor John Fitzgerald FAHA about the 23 Fellows inducted this year.

"Their election is testament to the excellence and influence of their work. Collectively, they have made an outstanding contribution to our communities, to the nation and to the world."

New Australian Academy of the Humanities Fellows

Dr Olivier Ansart from the School of Languages and Cultures, is a leading specialist of the pre-modern political theories of Japan, China and the West, particularly on the political theories of Japanese Confucian thinkers of the 18th century.

Professor Peter Anstey from the Department of Philosophy is a key figure in the philosophy of early modern European science philosophy, particularly the work of John Locke and Robert Boyle.

Professor Nick Enfield from the Department of Linguistics is an international authority in Southeast Asian languages, whose publications on syntax and semantics span over a dozen mainland Southeast Asian languages.

Professor Annamarie Jagose from the School of Letters, Arts, and Media is one of the world's leading practitioners of feminist studies, gay/lesbian studies and queer theory. Professor Jagose is also an award-winning novelist.

Professor Bonnie McDougall from the School of Languages and Cultures is known worldwide for her research on modern and contemporary Chinese literature, and as a translator of classic Chinese texts into English.

Associate Professor John Schuster, Senior Research Fellow in the History and Philosophy of Science, is a leading authority on the 17th-century scientific revolution, especially on René Descartes, and on the relation of intellectual and institutional change in the history of science.

The University of Sydney also recently hosted the Australian Academy of the Humanities' 46th Annual Symposium.

Jennifer Peterson-Ward

Assistant Media and PR Adviser (Division of Humanities and Social Sciences)