Humanities and galleries ,libraries, archives and museum are not represented on the Australian Research Council advisory committee – DASHH is not happy

The new committee is STEM-rich, plus business reps and two social scientists, Uni Queensland VC Deborah Terry and  sociologist Maggie Walter (Yoorrook Justice Commission) – but  there are no humanities researchers or GLAM representatives (CMM yesterday).

And without them, the consultation process “will result in skewed findings that do not represent the whole of the Australian research sector nor even Australian society.”

“The decision to exclude the humanities and GLAM sector from this distinguished list further entrenches the lack of representation for these sectors at the ARC,” the Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, warned in a statement yesterday.

And it only adds to DASSH’s disquiet, following Acting Education Minister Stuart Robert rejecting the ARC’s recommendation to fund six humanities projects in the last Discovery Grants round, which DASSH believes, “signals the continued disregard for important areas of Australia’s intellectual culture and life,” (CMM January 24).

And so DASSH suggests including representatives from its communities to add to the ARC’ advisers– proposing six people, all from GLAM organisations.

Which has nil chance of happening now – the government clearly has the committee it wants. But it might be intended as advice for whoever is minister after the election