The 2nd Lecture in the 2024 AIA Virtual Lecture Series
“The Indian Ocean Travels of the Kashkul” - A presentation by Dr. Peyvand Firouzeh
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Zoom Link: https://tinyurl.com/59mxhv5
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An overview of the AIA activities
The Association of Iranica in Australasia Inc. was founded in Sydney Australia in 2004. The Association began with a handful of members who organised small periodic gatherings and has gradually grown into a significant force presenting varied aspects of Iranian cultural heritage in the form of thematic annual forums and conferences. The work of the Association in promoting Iranian cultural heritage in Australasia has been largely inspired by the monumental scholarly publication, Encyclopaedia Iranica. However, the Association is independent and not directly affiliated with EI.
Highlights:
• The first major public meeting, held in 2005 at the Doherty Centre in Willoughby attracted over 100 participants. The presentations included a survey of historical and literary traditions of Iran by well-known scholar, Dr. Jalil Doostkhah and Persian Satires by visiting Iranian Writer, Fereydoon Tonkaboni.
• “The Forgotten Civilization of Ancient Elam”, a seminar presented by Dr. Javier Alvarez-Mon, University of Sydney (USYD); October 2007 at the University of Wollongong.
• Celebration of 35th anniversary of Encyclopaedia Iranica, May 2008 at USYD. Presenters: Emeritus Professor Trompf, Dr Jalil Doostkhah, Masoud Rowshan
• Celebration of International Week of Iranian Culture; March 2010 at University of Technology (UTS), Sydney. Presentation by Dr. Alvarez-Mon (USYD), “In Search of the Highlanders of Ancient Iran”; Screening of rare historic documentary film, Grass (1924) tracking the journey of the nomadic Bakhtiari tribe during their annual migration in search of pasture.
• A Taste of Paradise: Celebration of Iranian Cultural Heritage; October, 2013 in collaboration with USyd Archeology Department and Centre for Near Eastern Studies, at USyd. Presenters: Dr Laetitia Nanquett, University of New South Wales (UNSW); Dr Milad Milani, University of Western Sydney (UWS); Dr Javier Alvarez-Mon, (USYD); Dr Omid Tofighian, (USYD); USYD Iranian Archaeology PhD panelists: Yasmina Wicks, Ana Becerra, Amanda Dusting and Kat McRae.
• 2014 Forum - “Saving lives by a simple method to earthquake-proof mud brick houses”, by Professor Bijan Samali, (UWS) held at UTS.
• 2015 Symposium - “Religious and Cultural Elements shaping Iranian Civilization: An Historical and Literary survey, from Ancient to Contemporary times". Presenters: Emeritus Professor Garry Trompf; Dr Zahra Taheri, Australia National University (ANU); Dr Naser Ghobadzadeh, Australian Catholic University (ACU); Ardalan Esfandiari & Sahand Mehrkhavari (Musicians). Held at CCANESA-USYD.
• 2016 Conference - “Mirrors of Iran: Reflections in a Transnational Context” at Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) and in collaboration with AGNSW. Keynote Speaker: Hossein Válámanesh. Presenters: Matt Cox, (Curator Asian Art Collection, AGNSW); Dr Laetitia Nanquette (UNSW); PhD Panellists: Mojgan Habibi, University of Newcastle (UNC); Farina Salehi, (College of Art, USYD); Sarah Irannejad, (College of Art, Griffiths University). Bahman Kermany & Nazanin Khorshidian, (Musicians)
• 2017 Conference - “Mirrors of Iran: Cinematic Reflections and Refractions”. Keynote Speaker: Associate Professor Negar Mottahedeh, (Duke University, USA). Presenters: Dr Amin Palangi, Director of the Persian International Film Festival; Dr Michelle Langford, (UNSW); Dr Rosa Holman, (Deakin University); Dr Gay Breyley, (Monash University); and Ruby Arrowsmith-Todd, AGNSW film program producer. PhD Candidate: Mahsa Salamati, (UNSW). Chair: Dr Sam Bowker, Charles Sturt University (CSU); Dr Mehran Djamshidi & Sahand Mehrkhavari, (Musicians). In partnership with International Persian Film Festival and in collaboration with AGNSW. Venue: AGNSW Centenary Auditorium.
• 2018 Conference - “Mirrors of Iran: Unveiling Iranian Literary Heritage”. Keynote Speaker: Associate Professor Sholeh Wolpe, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA; Chair, Dr Michelle Langford, (UNSW). Presenters: Dr Milad Milani, (UWS); Shokoofeh Azar, (Author); PhD Candidates: Elham Naeej and Mazda Moradabbasi, (UNSW); Reza Taghipour (Calligrapher); Anna McDonald & Bahman Kermany, (Musicians). In partnership with the State Library of NSW, (SLNSW). Held in the Gallery Room of SLNSW.
• 2019 Conference - “Mirrors of Iran: A Continuum of Architectural Heritage”. Chair: Dr Zahra Taheri, (ANU); Keynote Speakers: Emeritus Professor Miles Lewis, University of Melbourne (UMelb); Associate Professor Javier AlvarezMon, Macquarie University (MU); Dr Ali Mozaffari, Deakin University (DU). PhD Panel presenters: Dr Zahra Ranjbari, Sareh Abooali, Hamed Tavakoli, (CAMEA) Adelaide University (ADU). Reza Taghipour, (Calligrapher); Nuran Zorlou, (Photographer); a special screening of the documentary film entitled: Arch of Ctesiphon: “Táq Kasrá” by Director & Producer Filmmaker, Pejman Akbarzadeh; Siamak Farukhsereshti Music Ensemble. In partnership with SLNSW. Held at Gallery Room of SLNSW.
In the past two years, in collaboration with Australian National University, the Association organised two highly successful virtual conferences:
• 2020 "Mirrors of Iran: A Continuing Legacy of Persian Poetry and Music".
• 2021 "Mirrors of Iran: Contemporary Persian Literature: Storytelling and Fiction", in 2 sessions: English and Persian.
• 2022 Virtual lecture series - scheduled into quarterly sequences: April-June, July-September and October-December.
• Outcomes in 2022: 9 successful lectures held throughout the year with significant number of high calibre presenters and participants on a global scale.
• 2023 Virtual Lecture series – are already planned and will be scheduled into quarterly sequences starting off with the First lecture on 1st February.
Final Note:
The Association of Iranica is committed to continue its efforts to promote the richness and diversity of Iranian cultural heritage to the wider community in the Australasian Region and also to provide a platform for PhD students, and scholars to showcase their research work. Over the last 19 years the Association has gained considerable recognition and the support of many academic institutions and scholars in Iranian Studies. However, to keep its work sustainable, there is still a pressing need for financial support and sponsorship by well-established universities and well-intended people committed to the goals of this Association. Ideally academic institutions that are already engaged in running Iranian Studies would be best positioned to lend their support to achieve this goal.
Further information about AIA activities is included in this website
Also Facebook page: www.facebook.com/iranicaAustralasia Masoud Rowshan, President of the Association E: iranica.associa@gmail.com Tel +64 210548839