Research

Research in the Division of Humanities is characterised by excellence and diversity. The Performance Based Research Funding appraisal conducted in 2003 established that the Division is one of the top institutions in the arts, social sciences, and humanities in New Zealand, with the Department of History, the Department of Philosophy, and the Faculty of Law being the top in the country.

All courses offered by the Division are research-informed, with all lecturing staff being active researchers in their field. Many academic staff are engaged in international research collaborations, and a large number of Areas of Research Strength have been formally recognized by the University. Most recently, the Division has established a number of Research Clusters designed to promote the integration of multi-disciplinary perspectives, as well as a number of more specialized Research Centres and Research Networks, such as the Centre for Research on Children and Families, and the Centre for the Study of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Researchers in the Division have been successful in winning major externally funded research grants. Nationally funded research includes a project to monitor educational assessment; studies on time in antiquity; the reconstruction of the New Zealand grasslands; the expression of identities of young adults growing up in the context of recent economic reforms in New Zealand; and the historical archaeology of Pakeha shore whalers.

The Division of Humanities also recognizes the importance of creative innovation in art, music and literature with the annual Otago Fellowships.