===================================== MONASH ASIA INSTITUTE BULLETIN 4/2005 13 April 2005 ===================================== In this bulletin 1. CSEAS Seminar 2. Special MAI seminar on contemporary Hong Kong 3. Workshop on Southeast Asian Women 4. Conference: Religious Sites in Ancient Southeast Asia 5. India-China Conference 6. Conference: Human Rights and Development 7. Workshop: Citizenship, Identity and Mobility in the Asia Pacific 8. East Timor Studies Symposium 9. Conference: Co-operating with Timor-Leste 10. Conference: Transborder Issues in the Greater Mekong Sub-region 11. Website of the month: Smart Societies ------------------------------------------- Item 1. CSEAS Seminar Centre of Southeast Asian Studies Thursday 14 April 2005, 11.30am - 12.30 pm PLEASE NOTE THE STARTING TIME THIS WEEK ONLY IS 30mins LATER THAN USUAL Manton Room SG02 South Wing (Ground Floor), Menzies Building (11), Monash University Clayton campus Topic: "Reconstructing Angkor: Investigations into Applied 3D Simulation and Visualisation for Archaeological Research" Speaker: Mr Tom Chandler, a Lecturer in the Monash Faculty of Information Technology, will present a paper and visuals introducing his PhD project. Tom's PhD project draws upon previous research undertaken at RMIT into 3D visualisations of Angkor (in Cambodia). His current, early-stage research for the PhD aims to demonstrate the combined power of 3D visualisation and simulation to assist in addressing the key archaeological issues of Angkor's demise. ALL WELCOME Enquiries: Dr Penny Graham, Director, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies Email: Penny.Graham@arts.monash.edu.au, Phone: +61 3 990 52994 ------------------------------------------- Item 2. Special MAI seminar on contemporary Hong Kong Friday 29 April 2005 10.00 am to 12.00 noon Building 54 (Japanese Studies Centre Auditorium) Monash University Clayton campus "What does C.H. Tung's resignation say about Hong Kong-Chinese politics?" Speaker: Christine Loh, Chief Executive Officer, Civic Exchange, Hong Kong Professor Richard Larkins, Vice Chancellor of Monash University, will say a few words about Monash's research strategies and welcome Ms Loh to the Clayton campus. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China passed from British to Chinese control in 1997. Since then, Hong Kong has been governed by Beijing appointed Chief Executive, Mr C. H. Tung. The HKSAR Government has dealt - and often struggled with - a range of challenges since 1997. In early March this year Mr Tung announced that he had decided to step down early from his position as CE. Hong Kong is at another turning point. In this seminar, Christine Loh will review the HKSAR experience as China's wealthiest enclave. In particular, she will consider the current state of Hong Kong's political relationship with Beijing. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Christine Loh is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the independent, non-profit public policy think tank, Civic Exchange. Prior to the establishment of Civic Exchange, Loh had a highly successful career in politics. She was appointed to the Hong Kong Legislative Council in 1992 and then ran two successful elections in 1995 and 1998. As a politician, she championed many issues, which included the successful reform of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, access to information, rural land inheritance rights for the indigenous women of the New Territories, equal opportunity legislation and passed the groundbreaking Protection of the Harbour Ordinance. Loh chose to not stand for re-election in 2000 in order to set-up Civic Exchange. Prior to her career in politics, Loh had a successful 14-year career in the private commercial sector. She was engaged in commodities trading and strategic planning for Philipp Brothers, and Phibro Energy, divisions of the US multinational Salomon Inc [now Salomon Smith Barney]. Her last position with the company was as regional Managing Director. She was among the first group of business people to be posted to work in Beijing in 1980 and helped set-up the first US representative office there for Philipp Brothers. In 1992, she helped the Hong Kong-based CIM Company Ltd put together an international consortium to bid for the development of Hong Kong Container Terminal No. 9, and also brought the famous LoFt retail licence from Japan to Hong Kong. Loh writes extensively about politics, political economy, sustainable development, and corporate social responsibility, and has been widely published in Hong Kong and abroad in both mass circulation as well as academic publications. Loh's e-Newsletter provides up-to-date political analysis and has a large circulation. Her book, "Getting Heard: A Hong Kong Citizen's Handbook" (2002), provides a user friendly guide on civic participation. She has co-authored and edited "Building Democracy: Creating Good Government in Hong Kong"(2003), and "At the Epicentre: Hong Kong and the SARS Outbreak"(2004). She is a frequent speaker at business and public forums at home and abroad. She has also anchored radio and television public affairs programmes. Loh is well known also for her work in designing and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue processes to help deepen and broaden understanding on public policy issues. She is a Council Member of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Member of the Advisory Committee of the Securities and Futures Commission, Non-executive Director of the Association for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia (ASRIA), Board Member of Community Business, Member of Asia Society's International Council (USA), and Human Rights in China (USA). She is one of the World Economic Forum's "Global Leaders for Tomorrow". Christine Loh has won various prizes, including being twice recognised by Business Week as one of 'The Stars of Asia' in 1998 and again in 2000. Most recently, she was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2003 for the success of Civic Exchange, and won the Peter Bryce award for outstanding civic work in 2004. Loh holds an English law degree from the University of Hull, England, and a Masters of Law degree in Chinese and Comparative Law from the City University of Hong Kong. She has been awarded the degree of Doctor of Law, honoris causa, by the University of Hull. Her background in law, business, politics and media has helped her to be a leading voice on public policy. In her private life, she is an art collector, video filmmaker and writer. This seminar is free and open to the public. As usual, the seminar will be followed by a light luncheon at 11.45 am RSVP(essential)using "Hong Kong Seminar" in subject line to Sanjeev Veloo sanjeev.veloo@adm.monash.edu.au by 25 April 2005. ------------------------------------------- Item 3. Workshop on Southeast Asian Women Call for papers - due date: 30 May 2005 Centre of Southeast Asian Studies Twelfth annual Workshop on Southeast Asian Women will be held at Monash University, Clayton, Victoria on Friday June 17, 2005 The aim of the Workshop is to bring together researchers and others interested in the study of matters relating to Southeast Asian women, in any field, such as politics, geography, literature, the arts, history or health. Please send brief offers of papers to Dr Susan Blackburn, School of Political and Social Inquiry, Building 11, Monash University, Victoria, 3800. Email address: sue.blackburn@arts.monash.edu.au, Telephone (03) 9905 2384 The deadline for offers is 30 May 2005. ------------------------------------------- Item 4. Conference "Old Myths and New Approaches - Advances in the Interpretation of Religious Sites in Ancient Southeast Asia" 13 - 15 July 2005 Centre of Southeast Asian Studies (MAI) in collaboration with the Monash Asia Institute and the Faculty of Arts. The focus of the two-day conference will be on the religious sites of ancient Southeast Asia, and their integration into and interaction with the surrounding cities and landscapes. These sites have received considerable attention from the colonial period onward, and a substantial body of documentation has been accumulated over time. During the past few years this body of knowledge has been extended even further due to the introduction of new technology. While this information has helped advance the understanding of issues ranging from water management to construction techniques, the question of how it affects our understanding of the links of the temples with their surroundings has received far less attention. The temples were socially lived sites, interconnected inseparably with the rhythms of everyday life of the surrounding community. The conference will endeavour to present new insights regarding the temples themselves as well as the surrounding land- and cityscape, and will focus on the incorporation of temple sites into the lived environment - physically, metaphysically and socially. The conference will take place in Melbourne, on July 13 - 15, 2005. Enquiries: Dr. Alexandra Haendel , Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash Asia Institute. ------------------------------------------- Item 5. India-China Conference Call for papers - due date - 1 August 2005 The Monash Asia Institute is collaborating with the ABERU (Asian Business and Economics Research Unit) in organising a conference on Globalisation, Migration and Labour Mobility in India and China, to be held in Melbourne, September 29-30, 2005. The conference focuses on the interaction of the two countries, India and China, both countries with large populations and high growth rates following market liberalisation. The conference will examine how their labour experiences compare, and what the 2 countries might draw from each other in relation to labour markets and management. ABERU invites submissions of papers for the conference. Comparative papers will be particularly welcome. Closing date for submissions is August 1, 2005. Visit the ABERU website for registration and further details including paper abstracts: http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/units/aberu/conference/index.php =============================================================== Other items of interest =============================================================== Item 6. Conference The School of Law of City University of Hong Kong is organising an International Conference on Human Rights and Development: Approaches to the Reform of Governance in Asia to be held at the Multi-media Room, City University of Hong Kong during 9-10 May 2005. A number of speakers from Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Norway, People's Republic of China, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and the United States of America will be presenting papers at the conference. The conference is expected to cover a number of themes within the focal areas of human rights and development. Some of the themes that the conference is expected to cover are: constitutionalism and the rule of law, business and human rights, development and good governance, World Bank, IMF & human rights, WTO and human rights and poverty and human rights and also the relevance of the right to development for Asia. More details: http://www.cityu.edu.hk/slw/english/upcoming/pdf/HumanRightsConferenceBrochure.pdf Enquiries: C. Raj Kumar, School of Law, City University of Hong Kong Email: crajkumar4@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------- Item 7. Workshop on Citizenship, Identity and Mobility in the Asia Pacific 14-16 June 2005 Centre for Asia-Pacific Social Transformation Studies (CAPSTRANS) University of Wollongong, NSW CAPSTRANS is calling for applications from PhD students enrolled at Australian universities to participate in its inaugural Winter Workshop for Doctoral Students. This 3 day residential workshop will bring together doctoral students from different disciplines working on a range of topics related to the intersection of citizenship, identity and mobility in the Asia-Pacific region. Applications close: 29th April 2005. Further information is available at: http://www.capstrans.edu.au/resources/conferences/conferences-2005.html Enquiries: Dr Lenore Lyons, Director Centre for Asia-Pacific Social Transformation Studies (CAPSTRANS) University of Wollongong NSW 2522, Australia Email: Lenore_Lyons@uow.edu.au ------------------------------------------- Item 8. East Timor Studies Symposium 16 June 2005 Victoria University Conference Centre, 13th floor, 300 Flinders Street, Melbourne http://www.deakin.edu.au/arts/icg/e_timor/et_index.php This one-day symposium for academic and other researchers will launch the East Timor Studies Association of Australia (ETSAA), an interdisciplinary research network focused on all aspects of social science and humanities research into East Timorese society, politics and history. The inaugural ETSAA symposium will immediately precede the Co-operating with Timor-Leste: Options for Good Development Practice conference organised by Victoria University East Timor Working Group, the ANU Development Studies Network, and the Australia-East Timor Association at the same venue (17th and 18th June 2005 - See next item for more details). Enquiries Dr. Michael Leach Research Fellow, Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation Faculty of Arts, Deakin University Tel.:(61-3) 9244 3923 Email: michael.leach@deakin.edu.au ------------------------------------------- Item 9. International Conference "Co-operating with Timor-Leste: Ideas for Good Development Practice conference" 17 - 18 June 2005 Victoria University Conference Centre Level 12, 300 Flinders St., Melbourne CBD International conference convened by Victoria University East Timor Working Group, the ANU Development Studies Network, and the Australia-East Timor Association How do East Timorese view the future of their country? How are Australian governments, federal, state and local, working with the Timorese? How can Australian aid agencies, unions, churches, service clubs, educators, and local groups work effectively in Timor? How can cooperation between East Timor and Australia be more effective? What ideas from other parts of the world are of relevance to solving some of Timor's problems? It is now three years since Timor-Leste became an independent nation. In this three years many Australians have worked with the East Timorese to help reconstruct and develop their new nation. The conference will explore how Australians and others can help the East Timorese consolidate their independence through effective dialogue and collaboration. It will examine what is involved in good practice for collaboration in a wide range of fields to help strengthen democracy and build capacity for sustainability. The conference will involve civil society, professionals, and national and local government from both countries. It will include a number of plenary sessions, sectoral panels and concurrent workshops on agriculture, communications infrastructure and transport, the economy, health, governance and social development, the legal system and justice and education. Enquiries: Mr Ashley Sievwright, Conference Organiser Victoria University Events email: vuevents@vu.edu.au, Tel: +61 3 9919 7885 ------------------------------------------- Item 10. Conference 30 June - 2 July 2004 Nevada Grand Hotel in Ubonratchatani, Thailand. "Transborder Issues in the Greater Mekong Sub-region" Mekong Sub-region Social Research Center (MSSRC), Faculty of Liberal Arts, University of Ubonratchatani in association with the Mekong Institute Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. The conference will bring together scholars who have carried out or are carrying out research on trans boundary issues in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) to review and share theoretical frameworks as well as research results. There will also be a one-day field trip to the Thai-Lao border town of Chong Mek. We also invite any interested parties to submit papers for consideration to be presented at the conference. The sub-themes planned for discussion are A) Sex Trade, Gender and Sexuality; B) Labor Migration; C) Health and HIV/AIDS; D) National Resources, Environmental Management and Challenges; E) Regional Market Economy; F) Regional Relations and Cooperation; G) Tourism Development and Consequences; H) Human Rights Issues regarding Ethnic Groups and Trafficking in Women and Children; I) Cultural Studies (Diaspora, Ethnicity, Media and Identity). The deadline for abstracts is April 20, 2005. For more information or to register please contact: Surasom Krisnachuta Mekong Sub-region Social Research Center (MRSSC) Faculty of Liberal Arts, Ubon Ratchatani University Warinchamrap, Ubon Ratchatani 34190, Thailand Tel. +66-(0)45-288387 ex.3725, +66 (0)45-353725 fax. +66-(0)45-288387 e-mail Homepage: http://www.ubu.ac.th/~mssrc/html/index.php ------------------------------------------- Item 11. Website of the month: Smart Societies http://www.abc.net.au/ra/smartsocieties/ What will it take to be truly smart in the 21st century? In this education series young people and regional specialists discuss a range of issues from international education to creating liveable cities to being good corporate citizens. This radio series was produced by Radio Australia and was first broadcast in 2004. The full transcripts of each episode of the programme can be viewed or listened to online. ======================================================================== The Monash Asia Institute Newsletter incorporates news items from the six research centres of the Monash Asia Institute, partner organisations and other groups working to promote Asian Studies in Australia. For further information about the Monash Asia Institute and this newsletter: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/ To unsubscribe, please send an email to: monash.asia.institute@adm.monash.edu.au ========================================================================