Announcing: “Skills for New Historians” Seminar Series 2021

Now that we’re well and truly into the 2021 grind, we are so pleased to be able to announce another new initiative for 2021. Responses to the survey we circulated last year indicated that the ECR and HDR communities are searching for more development and guidance on the different elements that make up the life and work of an academic. We know ourselves that, both during and after your PhD, you can suddenly find yourself in the middle of conversations about postdocs, DECRAs, book proposals, grant applications … it can feel like learning a new language. This blog has a wealth of information about these various topics in the back catalogue (and we of course recommend you take the time to explore past posts!) but we also wanted to provide a forum where ECRs and HDRs alike can engage with the latest information about all these different branches, as well as a space where we can check in regularly with each other.

With that in mind, we’re thrilled to announce Skills for New Historians, a new monthly seminar series for ECR and HDR members of the AHA that will offer advice and guidance on academic life, and the various things we as emerging historians need to think about as we move into this new phase of our careers. You can expect seminars on developing your skills in relation to grants, publishing, and book proposals, to name just a few seminars we have planned … but we’ll also be thinking about careers and pathways outside of/adjacent to academia too. We’re thrilled as well that this series has the support of the Executive Committee of the AHA, and that our president Prof Melanie Oppenheimer will be coming along to them throughout the year! This is a great opportunity to get advice from not only experts in particular areas, but to meet and get to know a leading Australian historian who is the head of our representative body.

We’re kicking things off with a seminar that is important generally but especially timely right now: Digital Histories. Our limited travel abilities in the age of COVID have only emphasised the importance and possibilities of the digital world. Whether engaging with digital archives or using digital tools to analyse archives or promote research, the digital research landscape is an exciting and ever-shifting space that offers countless opportunities for historians. We’re delighted, then, to have two of the best researchers come and lead a seminar/workshop about the digital terrain: A/Prof Tim Sherratt (University of Canberra) and Dr Alana Piper (UTS).

Details:

  • Skills for New Historians: Digital Histories with A/Prof Tim Sherratt and Dr Alana Piper
  • Friday 5 March, 4 — 6 pm AEDT (via Zoom)
  • To register: please email executive@theaha.org.au by Thursday 4 March

Skills for New Historians is open to ECRs and HDRs who are members of the AHA. If you’d like to join in and aren’t a member, head over to the AHA website where you can renew your membership or become a member for the first time.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch. We’re looking forward to seeing you at our first seminar for 2021!

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