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Arts Research Bulletin - Edition 3

Monday 16th February 2009

Menzies Building

Note from the Associate Dean Research

Dear Colleagues,
The arduous business of ARC DP application is nearly concluded. We will have over 50 applications involving more than 80 Monash Arts researchers. My thanks to all for their efforts, with particular acknowledgement to Deepa Balakrishnan and Katherine de Zilwa for their sterling work.

One of our principal challenges for this year will be to maintain momentum on the initiative introduced in the last 12 months to facilitate Linkage applications and cross-faculty collaboration. We now have a healthy number of Linkage projects in development and a number of cross-faculty projects, which have received funds for initial development. I am more than happy to meet with anyone who wishes to discuss assistance for potential or on-going projects, or with researchers who would like help in making contact with colleagues in other faculties. Deepa Balakrishnan is also available for assistance in drawing together Linkage proposals and Katherine de Zilwa can help researchers attempt to locate funding opportunities for smaller projects. Please note that Deepa will be on leave from March 13 until April 27 - so those needing assistance for the next Linkage round need to seek her input in the next month.

Details of Faculty research funding assistance are available on the ARO website. There will be a new initiative to provide (modest) conference travel assistance to researchers giving papers at recognised conferences (in order to stretch the $50,000 allocated as far as possible, funding will be limited to Level A, B & C staff who are giving papers, and who do not have the assistance of ARC funds to attend). This will be added to the website shortly.

Professor Pauline Nestor
Associate Dean Arts Research

External Research Grants

Updates:

ARC Deadlines for 2009:
Discovery - Funding commencing in 2010

All Arts DP10 applications have now been submitted to the Monash Research Office for review. Applicants will be notified by the MRO by email of any changes required and also the date for the final submission.

Applicants must submit four copies of their final application (two single sided + two double sided), including signed MRO coversheets and ARC Certification Proformas (if these have not already been submitted) to the Arts Research Office.

Research Performance

Updates

Annual Research Publications Data Collection: HERDC 2009

The Faculty deadline for the submission and entry of all data pertaining to research publications for the HERDC excercise is Monday 2nd March, 2009. Please ensure by this date that you have submitted to your school or centre's publications officer, the relevant pro forma complete with verification material for all of your book, book chapter, journal article and published conference proceeding publications (electronic and hard copy) for 2008.

It is vital that this data is comprehensively and accurately recorded as it is used to determine future research block grant funding.

For more information, and to access the relevant proformas, please consult the Monash HERDC guidelines.

The Faculty of Arts HERDC page outlines key deadlines and responsibilities.

If you have any further queries, please contact your school publications officer or the Faculty's Research Coordinator:
Stephen.Sheehan@arts.monash.edu.au or on extension - 59211.

Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)

Parallel with the HERDC excercise, the Faculty will be collecting data for the new ERA initiative. The data collected for this initiative is much broader than that specified for the HERDC exercise and will include categories such as performance, exhibition and written creative work. In addition, data collected for the ERA will be for the period 2002 to 2007 for academics on staff at Monash on the census date of 31 March 2008 and who meet the eligibility criteria, regardless of which institution/s they were affiliated with before that date.

The ARC has announced that the deadline for ERA submissions is 8 May 2009. This submission date is for two clusters that involve a significant amount of research from the Faculty of Arts: PCE (Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences) and HCA (Humanities and Creative Arts).

The Monash ERA webpage contains links to relevant documents and sector-wide information, while the Faculty of Arts ERA page contains information on our internal process and deadlines. Schools will be advised on the process as soon as more information becomes available.

Faculty Research Grants

Updates

Graduate Researchers in Print (GRiP): Reminder - nominations due 28 February 2009

GRiP is a facilitated, peer-supported writing for publication program for Arts postgraduate research students which has run successfully through ARGS since 2005. The program has received excellent feedback from past participants and provides both valuable and practical experience in publication.

Nominations of postgraduate research students who have been successfully confirmed are now welcome. For further information, or to apply, please visit the Download the new OSP application form.

Current OSP Round—Closing Dates:

For more information on the OSP program please visit the following links:
Arts OSP Website
University OSP Website

Faculty Grant Schemes—2009

New Appointees

The Arts Research Office is currently fielding applications for the New Appointees grant scheme. This scheme is designed for new academics who have joined Monash in the last twelve months. The scheme provides for $5,000 over three years to assist New Appointees with establishing their research program at Monash.

Unlike last year, there are no funds available to support a teaching component to the scheme.

New appointees are required to submit a research statement, setting out their three year research goals, annual targets, strategies and anticipated expenses. More information and the application form are available here.

Travel Grants

This year the Faculty of Arts will be fielding applications for travel grants to enable researchers to present papers at national and international conferences. Up to $1,200 will be made available for international conferences and $600 for national conferences. There will be two rounds during the year. Guidelines, application forms and deadlines are still to be confirmed and will appear on the Internal Funding Schemes webpage when available.

Visiting Scholars

The Faculty of Arts Visiting Scholar scheme provides support to visiting researchers at Monash. The aim is to host distinguished academics from other higher education institutions while they collaborate with Monash Arts researchers on projects that will lead to multiple outcomes, such as applications for major externally funded research grants and publicatons.

The scheme provides grants of up to $4,000 to assist with airfares and living expenses. Any additional costs associated with the visit are supported by the host school.

The deadline for submission of applications is Thursday 16th April 2009. Guidelines and application forms are currently being updated and will become available shortly.

Arts Postgraduate Researcher - Asher Flynn

School of Political & Social Inquiry

Asher Flynn

What are you currently researching?

I am in the final stages of my PhD Candidature. My research identifies the main reasons for, and specific areas in Victoria's plea bargaining process that would benefit from formalisation. Using semi-structured interviews and observation, it discusses the practical and policy implications of formalisation on the adversarial legal culture, the conduct and actions of counsel and the judiciary, the pre-trial process and the current Legal Aid funding structure. The main intention of my research, given the accountability and public justice ideals arguably inherent in the operation of Victoria's justice system, is to open up debate about the lack of transparency, scrutiny and control regulating the practice of plea bargaining and the wide discretionary powers afforded to the Crown to make certain concessions. It also aims to highlight the extent of delays confronting the stability and effectiveness of Victoria's criminal justice system, and demonstrate the importance of ensuring accountability and transparency in efficiency-driven processes.

Where has your research taken you?

I have been very lucky in terms of travelling and experiences. My topic allowed me to travel to the United Kingdom where I interviewed participants from the Attorney General's department and Crown Prosecutorial Service. Later this year, my research will take me to the Monash Centre in Prato, Italy, where I will be involved in a research program with postgraduates and internationally renowened critical Criminology scholars. My research has also allowed me to meet a number of influential and interesting individuals from Victoria's legal community. One of the quirkiest moments during these observations involved a pre-trial hearing at the Magistrates' Court. I was sitting next to the Magistrates' Associate, observing, when the defence counsel requested a break. The Magistrate turned to me, and asked whether I would be interested in having a lunch break now. The whole court turned and awaited my answer (I said yes) and the case was adjourned. It was a very strange experience!!

What facet of Monash University contributes most to your research?

My supervisor, Professor Jude McCulloch, is an enormous basis of support and has provided invaluable feedback, advice and encouragement on many facets of my research. The Criminology Department itself has been another amazing source of support and encouragement. We are a small department, which is steadily growing, but the amount of time and interest that each staff member has in your work, progress and general life and well-being makes a huge contribution to all postgraduates. In particular, I have been lucky to attend annual Criminology PhD retreats where we spend two days with the academic staff and other postgraduates discussing issues, sharing experiences and advice, presenting our work and generally getting the support that is so necessary when you undertake the somewhat isolating PhD experience.

What have you enjoyed the most about undertaking research in your subject area?

The Research experience itself has definitely been the most enjoyable part of my study. After reading as much as possible to confine my topic and fill a gap in the existing literature and legal policy, actually getting the opportunity to interview and observe participants within Victoria's legal community was an amazing experience. In particular, observing the Victorian State Office of Public Prosecutions, and grasping an understanding of the way our criminal justice system operates. The other most enjoyable aspect has also been the scariest. This has involved presenting at conferences and sending work to journals for peer review. It is a really difficult thing to put yourself and your work up for criticism, but in the end it is the most rewarding part of your work and helps to show that yes, it is all worth it and yes, you do have something to contribute!

What has been the greatest challenge?

Separating life and the PhD has probably been the greatest challenge. It is very hard not to let your research consume every facet of what you do. I still haven't quite worked out how to switch off thinking about it, but I now understand that is is important to take a break from your work, even just to get some perspective. The other most challenging aspect is simply having faith in your own ability, that you actually have something new and interesting to contribute. In particular, if you send off an article for peer review or present at a conference, often in front of some of the people whose work inspired your research interests initially, that you will offer something interesting and significant.

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