Annual Reports
Annual Report 2000
Mission statement
The overall aim of the Institute for Advanced Study [IAS] is to raise further the reputation and standing of La Trobe University as a major research institution - a place to which students and staff of the highest calibre will be drawn. To achieve this, the IAS will bring to La Trobe University outstanding scholars who are leaders in their discipline and at the cutting edge of research. By encouraging productive interactions between these scholars, staff, and post graduate students of the University, the climate for research will be strengthened and the profile of the university enhanced.
Director's Report 2000
It has been a privilege to be associated with the establishment of the Institute of Advanced Study and to present the first annual report outlining its activities for the year 2000. Major developments to date are listed below:
The Research Centre for Linguistic Typology [RCLT]
RCLT's first year as a part of the Institute for Advanced Study at La Trobe University has been a marked success - in terms of the excellence of its Research Fellows, Visiting Fellows, and Doctoral students, in terms of the success of the International Workshop on the unit 'Word' in August, and in terms of the Fellowships and Grants gained.
Staff and students undertook original fieldwork on previously under described languages from Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, the USA, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, India, the Central African Republic, and Aboriginal Australia. During the year, four books and 18 academic papers were published, based on work done by scholars while members of the RCLT. A further nine books and 27 papers are in print.
Professor R Dixon was awarded a third term as Senior Research Fellow by the Australian Research Council. Professors R Dixon and A Aikhenvald were both successful in gaining ARC Large Grants.
Visiting Fellows
After considerable preparations, the Visiting Fellowship Scheme got under way, with the first Fellows arriving towards the end of the year. The following Fellows spent time at the Institute during 2000:
- Professor D N S Bhat, an expert in Linguistics;
- Professor Han Wei, an acknowledged international leader in Archaeology;
- Professor Bruce Thompson, a leading figure in Social and Behavioural science;
- Professor John Perram, whose expertise is in Mathematics.
There were also several short term visitors to the IAS. They, too, had productive interactions with staff and higher degree students.
"Showcasing the Future" Seminar Series
The first seminar in this series: "Frontiers of Molecular Cell Biology", held in December 2000, most successfully brought together emerging and mature researchers in this field. The sponsorship of the CRC for Diagnostic Technologies and the support of Professor Nick Hoogenraad are gratefully acknowledged.
La Trobe House
Refurbishment of one of the cottages on the former Kingsbury Centre site into five furnished quality apartments was completed in 2000. Since then, they have been used extensively: by visiting IAS Fellows and, when available, by other visitors to the university.
Future Developments
- We look forward to the continuing development of the IAS Fellowship Scheme.
- It is anticipated that the IAS Inter-Campus Fellowship Scheme will commence in 2001.
- Plans for the refurbishment of the IAS administrative building and IAS Fellow Offices are advanced, with work expected to be completed mid 2001.
- The link road/footpath between the IAS and the main university campus, to be constructed shortly, will facilitate access between the IAS and the main parts of the University.
For further information contact:
Prof Gilah C Leder(Director)
Ph: + 61 (0) 3 9479 2842
Email: g.leder@latrobe.edu.au
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