FHSS Research Showcase 2018
Projects supported by the FHSS Interdisciplinary Research Fund, work by recent research award winners and recipients of important external research funding were in the line-up for the evening, resulting in a selection of fascinating and diverse topics.
The evening started with presentations about two projects supported by the 2017 Interdisciplinary Research Fund. Dr Miriam Ross (School of English, Film, Theatre, and Media Studies) spoke about her project, ‘Virtual Reality: Technology Meets Art’, where Miriam and her team are exploring what the humanities can bring to the world of VR. They have created an experimental documentary VR film, Embodied, about musicians, circus performers and artists who work with their bodies in very physical ways.
Dr Arini Loader (School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations) and Dr Mike Ross (Te Kawa a Māui) then spoke about their project, ‘Ngā Waiata a ngā Herehere’ (The Songs of the Prisoners). The project examines and explores a manuscript of around 230 waiata written by some of the 180 Māori men taken prisoner from the battle of Rangiriri in the New Zealand Wars. Dr Elizabeth Stanley (School of Social and Cultural Studies) presented on her project ‘Developing Social Change on State Abuse’, funded by the Rutherford Discovery Fellowship that Lizzy was awarded in 2013 to explore the changing status of human rights in New Zealand. Following the publication ofher book The Road to Hell: State Violence Against Children in Postwar New Zealand, Lizzy is now involved in drafting the terms for the Royal Commission of inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care.
Dr Corinne Seals (School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies), a recent Victoria Early Career Research Excellence Award winner, presented ‘New Perspectives on Multilingual Education’, describing her work as part of the Wellington Translanguaging Project. Corinne and her research team have been working to create resources that help support children’s multilingual and multicultural development.
Another Victoria Early Career Research Excellence Award winner, Dr Valerie Wallace (School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations), spoke about her new project ‘Scots Law and British Colonialism’. Valerie aims to show that Scottish law has had a greater influence in the colonies than previously thought.
Associate Professor David O’Donnell (School of English, Film, Theatre, and Media Studies) rounded out the evening with his project ‘Stage Design as Eco-Criticism’. The project explores the relationship between the arts and the environment; as an example, he pointed to The Conch’s production of Marama, where all the materials used were made of natural fibres, and set and lighting design highlighted the differences between before and after colonisation.
FHSS Deputy Dean Professor Sarah Leggott said the event highlighted the Faculty’s commitment to quality research that engages with diverse perspectives, different languages and with mātauranga Māori. “Research and scholarship are at the very centre of our mission to be the Faculty of choice in Aotearoa New Zealand for students and staff to explore the human condition. The 2018 Research Showcase really highlighted the breadth of disciplines and approaches the Faculty comprises and the strength of our research culture. I am very grateful to our presenters and to everyone who came along and participated in this celebration of research in FHSS”.