Research Symposium 2023

Registration 9am

Welcome and Opening 9.15am
by Dr Deborah Lawler-Dormer

Science and Arts 9.30am

The Parramatta River – refraction/reflection, with Dr Nigel Helyer
Revealing a hidden ecology defined by darkness and light beneath the reflective surface of the river.

Infrared Spectroscopy of Heritage Polymers: a Handbook for Museum Practitioners, with Dr Barbara Stuart
Using infrared spectroscopy to develop a permanent reference guide to minimise the risk of misidentification and mishandling of polymer-based collection items.

Changing Perceptions of Minerals, with Dr Jason Reynolds
Using the science of repair and landscape regeneration as a toolkit to address the most challenging environmental problems.

Design 11am

Swedish and Australian Design Relations in the 1950s and 1960s, with Dr Mark Ian Jones
Investigating the evolution of the Swedish-Australian transnational relationship since the mid 1900s and its impact on Australian design.

Games of Empire: Visualising Pre-computational Algorithmic Information Systems in 19th Century Colonial Board Games in the Powerhouse Collection, with Dr Andrew Yip
Analysing and subverting British board games, a global cultural phenomenon used to gamify education and British Imperial values, providing a critical lens on colonial discourse and pre-computational algorithmic systems, and digitally reconstructing vintage games for modern players.

Lace Codes, with Dr Cecilia Heffer and Dr Donna Sgro
Exploring lace as a coded material language to uncover the tacit embodied knowledge lace holds and transposing its unique spatial patterning to different modes of practice such as the generation of new music.

Lunch Break 12.30pm

Documentary and real stories 1.30pm

Spirits of the Hoey, with Dr Gregory Ferris and Dr Liz Giuffre
Generating an immersive recreation of an iconic Australian music venue, showcasing Sydney's role in shaping cultural industries and engaging with local communities to highlight the cultural legacy of the Hopetoun Hotel.

Lessons in Eating for Migrants, with Dr Noëlle Janaczewska
Exploring how post-war migration shaped Australia's tastes. How did migrants deal with the Australian menu? Did Australian produce modify their culinary practices? Stroganoff, schnitzels and strudels offer insights beyond the kitchen, shedding light on the familiar and adding missing voices to the archive.

Sonifying the Astrographic Catalogue, with Dr Diana Chester
Exploring sound's cultural, scientific and ecological aspects through field recording and composition, using multilingual and data generated sounds, focusing on sound and culture in religion and the environment, audio essays and spatialised media technology.

Dr Diana Chester will appear in a pre-recorded presentation.

Tea break 3pm

Fashion 3.30pm

Wearing Wool: Fashion, Fibre and Feel (1770–1970), with Dr Lorinda Cramer
Exploring wool's diverse experiences on the body as shaped by empire, trade and migration, cross-cultural encounters, fashion, innovation and consumer culture, delving into wool as a worn fibre beyond its role as an economic commodity. Dr Cramer will appear online.

Futuring Weather: Thinking, Making and Wearing, with Dr Todd Robinson
Generating dialogue about climate change and our place in the world by reimagining historical weather artefacts in future scenarios, inspiring speculative fashion designs for possible weather futures.

Dress and the Making of Queer Worlds in Sydney (1980–1995), with Dr Melissa Bellanta
Exploring dressing up for queer life and dance parties in the 1980s and 90s in Sydney. Examining the role of creative processes in building queer community and culture.

Closing remarks 4.30pm
by Dr Deborah Lawler-Dormer

End 5pm