School of Historical Studies , University of Melbourne

The School of Historical Studies, which was formed this year, is putting on a series of lectures for members of the general public. The first, is a discussion forum on the war in Iraq. It will be held at 6.30 on Wednesday 2 May, to mark the fourth anniversary of President Bush’s announcement that the American mission had been accomplished. The forum is free and open to everyone. Participants will include

David Wright-Neville, School of Politics Monash University, and expert
on terrorism.

Riadh Al-Mahaidi, an engineer closely involved with the Iraqi community in Australia.

Richard Pennell, al-Tajir Lecturer in Middle Eastern history at the
University of Melbourne.

In the second semester (July-October 2007), there will be a full
programme of lectures at 6.30 on Wednesday nights, lasting for about an
hour. They will be free and open to everyone. The programme has not been
finalised yet but the following lectures have already been decided.
More lecture titles - and more details - will be made available on the
internet later at
http://www.history.unimelb.edu.au/news_events/events/school.html


25 July Chris Mackie - “Gallipoli 1915: Encounters with Antiquity.”

'During the 1915 campaign on the Gallipoli peninsula, soldiers encountered the material remains of antiquity at Cape Helles, at Anzac, and at Suvla Bay.  This paper will focus on the finds at all three areas and the manner in which it was encountered and recorded. The lecture will also suggest how the material uncovered offers us an insight into the Gallipoli campaign, and the ancient context in which it was fought'.

Associate Professor Chris Mackie works in the School of Historical
Studies of the University of Melbourne. He has done extensive research
on the Dardanelles region in antiquity as well as the historical and
archaeological background of the Gallipoli campaign of 1915

22 August Richard Evans "History, Memory and Denial: Reflections on the
Irving- Lipstadt Libel Trial.”

Professor Richard Evans of Cambridge University was the main legal expert in the recent court case brought by
David Irving in connection with claims that he denied the Holocaust

29 August Tilman Ruff “Medical consequences of the War in Iraq”
Associate Professor Tilman Ruff is a specialist in infectious diseases
in the Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of
Melbourne, and President of the Medical Association for Prevention of War

12 September Stephen Wheatcroft "Unintended consequences of ‘Wars on
Terrorism’: the Bolshevik Revolution and Great Terror."

Stephen Wheatcroft is Professor of History in the School of Historical Studies
of the University of Melbourne. He is an internationally-known expert on
the Soviet Union.

3 October Richard Pennell "Enemy law: Criminal trials abroad and
national identity"

Assoc-Prof Richard Pennell is al-Tajir Lecturer in
Middle Eastern History in the School of Historical Studies, University
of Melbourne. he is author of several books on North Africa and is now
doing research on the history of cross-cultural trials from the French
invasion of Egypt in 1798 to the modern Schapelle Corby case