It brings together outstanding scholars from Australia and overseas and encourages research by providing fellowships to senior researchers of exceptional distinction and junior post doctoral researchers of high promise.
Professor Frost’s new role involves strengthening these collaborative research and postgraduate studies’ links to enhance the University’s research profile.
Originally from the University of Queensland, Professor Frost joined La Trobe in 1970, where he has been Professor of History and Head of the School of Archaeological and Historical Studies. From 2000 to 2005 he served as Associate Dean, Regions for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and was Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Mildura campus from 2004 to 2006.
An expert on British imperialism, colonial Australia, and European exploration of the Pacific Ocean, Professor Frost’s present research involves collecting and editing the vast range of documents relating to the decision to colonise New South Wales and the mounting of the First Fleet. Another of his projects concerns the relationship between exotic geography and the emergence of English romanticism.
Professor Frost is editing, with former La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor and classicist, Professor Michael J. Osborne and others, a number of volumes of documents dealing with British-Chinese relations at the turn of the 20th century from the First Historical Archives of China.
Professor Frost’s books include The Global Reach of Empire: British Maritime Expansion in the Indian and Pacific Oceans; The Voyage of the Endeavour: Captain Cook and the Discovery of the Pacific; Arthur Phillip: His Voyaging; Convicts and Empire: A Naval Question and East Coast Country: A North Queensland Dreaming. A Fellow of both the Royal Historical Society (London) and Australian Academy of the Humanities, Professor Frost also holds a DLitt from the University of Queensland.
Announcing Professor Frost’s appointment, Professor Paul Johnson, Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe University, highlighted the very significant contribution Professor Frost has made to the University’s research profile over an extended period. ‘The Institute for Advanced Study will benefit greatly from Professor Frost’s extensive research experience and international connections’, he said.
The Institute’s previous director was educationist, Professor Gilah Leder, who retired at the end of June.
Thursday, 26 July 2007La Trobe appoints new Director of Institute for Advanced Study Australian historian and author, Professor Alan Frost, has been appointed Director of La Trobe University’s Institute for Advanced Study. The Institute is based on the main Melbourne campus at Bundoora.Contact:
Professor Alan Frost, Tel: (61 3) 9479 3460 or Email: a.frost@latrobe.edu.au