Korean PM opens ICAS conference

Christine De Matos

Mr Ken Brunker, Ms Nichole Georgeou and A/Prof Peter Kell

Dr Ruchira Ganguly-Scrase (left), A/Prof Tim Scase (second from right...

CAPSTRANS Researchers Shine at International Conference in Korea

Held every two years, the International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS) is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious gatherings of social scientific and humanities researchers exploring the complexities of Asia, and comparative Asian topics. In the city of Daejeon, South Korea the sixth conference of ICAS titled “Think Asia” was held from 6-9 August 2009. Officially opened by the Prime Minister of Korea, Dr. Han Seung-soo, the conference attracted over 1000 delegates from more than 50 countries.

Twelve CAPSTRANS staff and higher degree research students presented their work in four, CAPSTRANS-sponsored panels, highlighting the range of research undertaken by UOW researchers. The CAPSTRANS grouping of scholars was the largest non-Korean team in presence at the conference, and showcased the range of scholarship undertaken including studies of Asian workers in the global garment industry (A/Prof Kate  Hannan, Dr Ruchira Ganguly-Scrase and Dr Vicki Crinis); cultural transactions in Asia in literature (Dr Alison Broinowski, Dr Ouyang Yu and Mr Frank Huang); development and aid issues in east Timor, Laos and PNG (A/Prof Peter Kell; Mr Ken Brunker and Ms Nichole Georgeou); gender and globalization in India (A/Prof Tim Scrase; Dr Ruchira Ganguly-Scrase, and Ms Susheela Pandian); and Japanese occupation history (Dr Christine de Matos).

Importantly the international publishing company, Taylor and Francis, organised an international launch of Dr Ganguly-Scrase and A/Prof Scrase’s recent book (Globalisation and the Middle Classes in India; published by Routledge); this book was launched by Mario Rutten, Professor of Comparative Asian Studies at the University of Amsterdam. Additionally, the book Responding to the West Essays on Colonial Domination and Asian Agency, in which a chapter by Dr de Matos (“Living the Colonial Lifestyle: Australian Women and Domestic Labour in Occupied Japan 1945-1952”) appeared, was also launched during the conference.