Applauding arts and social sciences research at annual FASS showcase

Last week, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) welcomed colleagues and friends from across the university to the Fireside Lounge in the Marion McCain Building to share in the celebration of their faculty members’ published research, scholarship, edited works and performances over the past year.

The 13th annual FASS Publication and Performance Launch featured works by more than 30 faculty members, including 72 books, edited volumes, peer reviewed articles, chapters and edited journal issues, along with four performances, three exhibitions, two stage designs and one database. And this was just the tip of the iceberg of what the faculty has been up to, reflecting only what was submitted for the event.

This year’s exhibit — hosted by Frank Harvey, the faculty's dean, and Howard Ramos, FASS associate dean of research — featured a breadth of works covering immigration, indigenous research, religion, health, animal welfare, media, performing arts, languages, and gender, sexuality and race.

“These contributions confirm, again, that our scholars, researchers and performers are working on topics, issues, themes, policies, principles, debates and cultural values that capture the human condition,” said Dr. Harvey in his remarks.

“Dalhousie is among the first Canadian universities to embrace the UN's Sustainability Development Goals as foundational strategic research priorities. If we have any hope of resolving some of the most significant and pressing challenges of our time, the solutions will inevitably emerge from the knowledge, understanding and insights grounded in the humanities, social sciences and every part of the performing arts.”

Margaret Robinson of the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology and recently appointed as a Canada Research Chair in Gender and Reconciliation had several published journal articles featured covering topics on sexuality and indigenous representation.

Margaret Robinson

Shirley Tillotson’s book Give and Take – The Citizen Taxpayer and the Rise of Canadian Democracy was among the featured books on display. The retired Department of History faculty member's book was shortlisted for the Awards to Scholarly Publications Programs (ASPP) Book Prize in Humanities and Social Sciences from the Canadian Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Shirley Tillotson

Letitia Meynell and Andrew Fenton, both faculty members in the Department of Philosophy (Meynell is also cross-appointed with the Gender and Women’s Studies Program), were co-authors, among others, on the book Chimpanzee Rights: The Philosophers’ Brief.

Dr. Meynell explains that this book “is an extended version of an amicus brief submitted to the New York Court of Appeals in support of chimpanzee personhood, which addresses some of the philosophical issues at the heart of our relationship with other animals.”

Letitia Meynell and Andrew Fenton

Some of the faculty members whose stage performances were highlighted included Susan Stackhouse, professor of acting in the Fountain School of Performing Arts, who received The Legacy Award from Theatre Nova Scotia and performed the role of Nurse in Neptune’s main stage production of Shakespeare in Love this past fall. The play The Bridge, written by Shauntay Grant of the Department of English, premiered this past January at Neptune Theatre. Grant’s 2018 book, Africville was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Awards – Canada’s oldest and most prestigious literary prize – administered by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Left to right back row: Teri Balser (Provost & VP Academic), Howard Ramos (Sociology and Social Anthropology and FASS Associate Dean Research), Steven Bauer (Fountain School of Performing Arts), Gary Kynoch (History), Leonard Diepeveen (English), Vincent Masse (French), Andrew Fenton (Philosophy), Christopher Austin (Religious Studies), Frank Harvey (Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
Left to right front row: Shirley Tillotson (History), Emily Varto (Classics), Krista Kesselring (History), Margaret Robinson (Sociology & Social Anthropology), Liz Fitting (Sociology & Social Anthropology), Letitia Meynell (Philosophy and Gender and Women’s Studies), Pauline Gardiner Barber (Sociology & Social Anthropology), Karyn McCallum (Fountain School of Performing Arts), Alice Aiken (VP Research & Innovation)