A 30th anniversary roundtable on the Open the Social Sciences report

What is the future of interdisciplinary research?
Is it limited or liberated by institutional structures and processes?
Has the history of the Anglo-European university trapped its future?

Thirty years ago, questions like these were considered by Immanuel Wallerstein and a group of distinguished scholars in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

They were concerned that the historical tendency toward departmentalization of knowledge had constrained prospects in academic life.

They anticipated difficulties in the 21st century, but also opportunities for change.

Their report – Open the Social Sciences – will be revisited in this roundtable.

Three scholars will consider aspects of the report on its 30th anniversary, and whether its insights might still be a source of invigoration today.

Speakers

Professor Helen Sullivan is a public policy researcher, teacher, advisor, and senior university leader.
She currently serves as Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University.

Professor George Lawson’s work is oriented around the relationship between history and theory, with a particular interest in global historical sociology. He is Professor in the Department of International Relations, at the Australian National University.

Professor Peter Morgan is Director of the European Studies program at the University of Sydney. Research areas include world literature, German and European literature and Intellectual History and Gay literature.

Introduced by Benedict Moleta, who will provide a summary of the report's key recommendations. This is a hybrid event and Zoom details will be sent upon registration.

Image credit: Chris Madden/Getty Images

Additional information
Registration is required for this event. If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan please email bell.marketing@anu.edu.au. Accessible parking spaces are available around campus should you require them.

TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider Code: 00120C

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