‘Using Lives’ Workshop, 6-11 Sept 2009

Are you working on a MA or PhD thesis that is biographical in theme or approach, or draws upon biographical methods?

The National Centre of Biography, in conjunction with the Humanities Research Centre (Australian National University) and the Centre for Historical Research (National Museum of Australia), will be offering a week-long, intensive, residential postgraduate workshop on 'Using Lives' in Canberra on 6-11 September 2009.

Biography and ‘life writing’ figure increasingly prominently in humanities and social science research, expanding in accessibility and innovation by adapting to new technologies, exploring new materials and perspectives, and advancing new agendas. The ‘Using Lives’ workshop provides a forum in which postgraduate students from around Australia can discuss aspects of this ‘biographical turn’ in relation to their work and

• generate reflection and debate on issues of biographical enquiry
• develop networks to assist in their research and professional development
• explore opportunities for the presentation of biographically-informed work

The workshop consists of morning sessions, led by experts in areas related to these overall objectives, and afternoon sessions, in which students present their research for discussion. The workshop will be integrated with the Seymour Lecture in Biography, to be given this year by Dr David Day, author of the prize-winning biographies Chifley and John Curtin: A Life, as well as Andrew Fisher: Prime Minister of Australia, on 9 September at the National Library of Australia. Dr Day will also address a session of the ‘Using Lives’ Workshop.

If you would like to participate in the 'Using Lives' workshop, please contact the convenor, Dr Nicholas Brown, Senior Fellow, National Centre of Biography at nicholas.brown@anu.edu.au

Include the following information in your application:

• a brief curriculum vitae
• two short statements, totalling no more than 500 words, on (1) the subject of your thesis and (2) what you hope to gain from the workshop

The workshop is restricted to MA and PhD students. There is no registration fee. Students from outside Canberra will be provided with accommodation at the Liversidge Court Apartments, ANU.

Applications close on 6 July 2009.