Marsden Humanities Panel Chair Supports Dr Jagose

Chair of Marsden Fund Humanities Panel Supports Dr Jagose

Associate Professor Lydia Wevers, Chair of the Marsden Fund Humanities Panel, has spoken out against attacks on the research of The University of Auckland’s Dr Annamarie Jagose.

“I would like to express my regret that Dr Annamarie Jagose’s academic research has been called into question following this year’s Marsden funding round. Dr Jagose did not participate, score or have any other involvement in the assessment of the project proposal she co-authoured,” said Associate Professor Wevers.

The Marsden Fund Humanities panel, comprising leading NZ scholars, considered that Dr Jagose’s proposal asked extremely intelligent and thoughtful questions on a topic which is always central to human behaviour and development. In addition, the proposal was also assessed by three distinguished international scholars who all rated it extremely highly, and said that the project was of great scholarly innovation. Dr Jagose was excluded from all discussions relating to her project.

The proposal, entitled ‘Acts and Identities: Towards a New Cultural History of Sex’, was jointly proposed by three leading researchers, all with extensive international reputations and publication records. Professor Barry Reay is internationally respected as a social historian. Dr Jagose is an acclaimed editor, theorist and critic, as well as an award-winning novelist. Dr Lee Wallace brings considerable expertise on Pacific sexualities.

Associate Professor Wevers notes: “This project is of the highest standard. It asks questions about how sexual identity is determined that have not been asked before. Because sexuality is a great social and cultural force, their work will help produce a timely, comprehensive understanding of sexual identity”.

ENDS

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