Claire Hayward has made a small discovery that is making a big impact, while a Flinders expert places a lens over Australia’s history of fascism, a former Drama Centre student’s film gets international attention and an industry leader wins a national award.
Placing a lens over Australia’s history of fascism
Dr Evan Smith, lecturer in History at the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, is co-editor of a powerful new book Histories of Fascism and Anti-Fascism in Australia, which provides a history of fascist movements and anti-fascist resistance in Australia over the past century. Australia has a long history of fascist and far-right groups and individuals, often portraying themselves as the inheritors of a violent and exclusionary colonial past. Concurrently, these groups have linked into globalised anti-communist and white supremacist networks. At the same time, Australia has often seen resistance to fascism and the far right, from the political centre to the far left. This expansive history book covers from the 1920s to the present day, and features insights from historians, sociologists and political scientists. https://www.routledge.com/Histories-of-Fascism-and-Anti-Fascism-in-Australia/Smith-Persian-Fox/p/book/9780367638139
Dr Smith has also contributed a chapter in this recent book on the history of fighting the far right in Australia: https://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/books/lessons-from-history-118027/
Award-winning films goes international
The multi-awarding winning short film, The Veil, by actor, writer, director and composer Mike Griffin – a former Flinders Drama Centre student – has been picked up for global distribution by renowned US- based distribution company INDIEFLIX.
The Veil has so far received 28 wins and nominations on the global film festival circuit, including success at the Brazil International Short Film Festival and the prestigious LA Shorts Screenplay Contest. The film deals with the struggle of a young woman, Affaf, as she seeks to reconcile the traditional culture of her parents with life in modern Australia. As the victim of an horrific ‘honour crime’, Affaf wants to seek justice against those who caused her suffering.
Tiny discovery makes a big impact
Congratulations to Claire Hayward, who was recently awarded the Australian Society for Microbiology Nancy Millis Student Award (SA/NT Branch). Claire was invited to attend the National ASM Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney, where she presented her research – “Are all plumbing materials created equally? Antimicrobial activity of brass versus stainless steel against opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens”. Claire also received a certificate at the Nancy Millis Student Award Symposium, a full conference registration to the Annual Scientific Meeting, a $500 accommodation allowance and a return economy airfare. Claire recently received extensive media coverage for her research, which can be read here.
Industry leader hits the accelerator
Trusted Autonomous Systems (TAS) has recognised Professor Karl Sammut‘s outstanding contribution to industry-led innovation with a 2022 Autonomy Accelerator Award. With more than 20 years’ experience in maritime autonomy research development of un-crewed surface and underwater vehicles, Professor Sammut has worked in collaboration with Trusted Autonomous Systems, DSTG, Thales, Boeing Australia, Lockheed Martin Australia, Naval Group and Fincantieri. The Autonomy Accelerator Award recognises his significant contribution to the advancement of autonomous systems in Australia.