As we move into autumn, more news from the Inglis Clark Centre for Civil Society:

1. Books for Our Time – Alain de Botton, Wednesday 18 April.
The Inglis Clark Centre has partnered with Fullers Bookshop to present Books For Our Time, a series of events prompted by books which shape the big ideas of our time. Helen Hayward, the Editor of Tasmanian Style, and Natasha Cica lead each discussion, featuring a selected book as a starting point for conversation. The next event is Wednesday 18 April, at 6 pm at Fullers Bookshop in Hobart. The featured book is Religion for Atheists by Alain de Botton. ‘The tired old debate between fundamentalist believers and non-believers is put to one side in this book about religion. Alain de Botton – himself a non-believer – argues that although the supernatural claims of religions are false, they still have important things to teach the secular world. Blending deep respect with total impiety, he proposes that we should look to religions for insights into community, relationships, envy and inadequacy, art, architecture and business.’ All are welcome and participation is free, but numbers are limited and RSVP is essential to [email protected]

2. Winner of the inaugural Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Bursary selected.
Tasmanian lawyer Alexander (Sandy) Duncanson died in June at the age of 37, after surviving cancer for sixteen years. Sandy is greatly missed, and was widely respected for his work in the community legal and housing sectors. Sandy’s family and friends have worked with the UTAS Faculty of Law and the Inglis Clark Centre to establish a fund in his name through the University of Tasmania Foundation. The Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Fund was launched in May 2011by the Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG. The fund will grant a bursary each year to a University of Tasmania student to help them advance a social justice initiative, encouraging more of our graduates to pursue their careers with integrity – read more in the attached feature from Tasmanian Style magazine by Lowy Institute contributor Cate Sumner, and donate here: https://www.utasalumni.org.au/donate (under ‘Gift Purpose’, choose Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Bursary). Over $100,000 has been raised to date for the fund. Our initial target was $60,000 to award one bursary each year in perpetuity; our new target is $120,000 to award two bursaries each year. The winner of the inaugural Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Bursary has been selected, and an official announcement will be made soon by the University of Tasmania.

3. Launch of Collegiate Institute for Professional Learning, Research and Innovation.
On 7 February Natasha Cica launched the Collegiate Institute for Professional Learning, Research and Innovation was launched at St Michael’s Collegiate School in Hobart. Natasha’s attached speech covered questions about education, gender and culture in Tasmania. The event was well attended by educators, members of the wider Tasmanian community and representatives of the Tasmanian Government and Opposition.

4. The Tasmanian Landscape – Handmark Gallery, Hobart, Friday March 16 at 6pm.
This Friday Natasha Cica will open The Tasmanian Landcape, an exhibition of paintings inspired by the (not uncontroversial this year!) Glover Landscape Prize, at 6 pm at Handmark Gallery in Hobart. Your invitation is attached.

5. REMINDER – Denison Debate with Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, Wednesday 28 March at 6 pm.
A reminder that the first Denison Debate for 2012 will be on Wednesday 28 March, 6:00 – 7:30 pm in the Stanley Burbury Theatre, University Centre, Sandy Bay campus of the University of Tasmania.
The topic will be ‘Frank, Fearless or Forgotten? The Role of Public Service Today.’

Natasha Cica, Director of the Inglis Clark Centre for Civil Society, will be in conversation with:
• Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, Chair, Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, UK and Emeritus Professor of Health Law, Ethics & Policy at University College London
• Mr Rhys Edwards, Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet
• Professor David Adams, Social Inclusion Commissioner

This will be the key public event in the March 2012 visit to Tasmania by Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Tasmania. For more information about Sir Ian, see http://www.events.utas.edu.au/2012/march/denison-debate/sir-ian-kennedy/

Sir Ian will also be speaking in Launceston and Hobart at events hosted by the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Midwifery, on the topic ‘Making Sure We Care – Starting With Children’:
• Tuesday 27 March 12:45pm-1:45pm, Launceston General Hospital – http://www.events.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/225564/Launceston-flyer-27-March-Kennedy-NEW.pdf
• Thursday 29 March 12:30-2:00pm, Medical Science Lecture Theatre, Hobart – http://www.events.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/225563/Hobart-flyer-29-March-Kennedy-NEW.pdf

He will also deliver a seminar at the Faculty of Law entitled ‘Stepping Beyond the Academy – The Educator’s Duty’:
• Thursday 22 March 12:00-1:00pm, Law School Staff Room, Hobart – http://www.events.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/224991/SirIanKennedyLAWSEMINAR.pdf (please RSVP for this event by 20 March directly to [email protected])

Sir Ian’s visit is hosted by the Inglis Clark Centre and is supported by the Office of the Provost and the Faculties of Law and Arts at the University of Tasmania, with the HC Coombs Policy Forum at the Australian National University.

Associate Professor Natasha Cica
Director, Inglis Clark Centre for Civil Society | Sidney Myer Creative Fellow
Division of the Provost | University of Tasmania
Private Bag 51 Hobart | TAS 7001 Australia

http://www.utas.edu.au/provost/inglis-clark-centre
Associate Professor Natasha Cica Director, Inglis Clark Centre for Civil Society