The creatives arts, humanities and social sciences at Murdoch University have made a significant impact on our lives and our experts have brought unique insights to different conversations and events occurring around the world.
From student led projects, to alumni creating change, to specialist advice and insights, our students, staff and researchers are utilising the power of creativity every day.
Student led projects
Practical experience and immersion into different cultures is a key part of what makes the Murdoch experience unique. Our students gain valuable experience through practical assessments and projects that help them to find their future career.
Achievements in this area include but are not limited to:
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Murdoch University Dubai students won the Best Student Campaign award at the coveted Public Relations Communications Association (PRCA) MENA (Middle East North Africa) Awards for 2022. The winning team comprised of final year Murdoch students, Gazala Parker, Aishani Zafar, Micah Aguilar, and Sai Kemkar. The campaign, created by the students, was called ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind, but Still Our Problem’.
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Students from across the College of Arts, Business, Law and Social Sciences had the opportunity to travel within the Indo-Pacific region as part of the New Colombo Plan scholarship.
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Creative media students at Murdoch University hosted an interactive showcase, called The Buzz, of student projects at the Geoffrey Bolton Library on 25 November with installations across graphic design, games art and design, photography, sound, screen production, creative writing, theatre and drama, and strategic communication.
Murdoch alumni
Several of our alumni have contributed significantly to our communities and across the world in a range of different subjects.
While there are many, during 2022 we highlight one alumnus in social sciences specifically:
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Dr Charles Roche, Murdoch alumnus, Honorary Research Associate and tutor in International Aid and Development, has been working with communities for twenty years, particularly around mining and the impacts it has on the local peoples. Dr Roche’s motivation to create positive change grew over the many years he spent engaging with local Indigenous peoples and environmental groups.
Murdoch experts
We have several experts across creative arts, humanities and social sciences who have spoken to different subjects and made headlines across the globe.
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During March 2022 and the early stages of the war in Ukraine, social media platforms introduced encrypted one-to-one chats and vanishing chats for people in Ukraine and Russia. Former Murdoch University Senior Lecturer in Strategic Communication and social media researcher Dr Catherine Archer said the response from social media companies was new territory. Dr Archer moved to ECU in July 2022.
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‘Getting Our Act Together: A Theory of Collective Moral Obligations’ by Dr Anne Schwenkenbecher has achieved international recognition after being awarded ‘Best Social Philosophy Book’ by the North American Society for Social Philosophy.
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Ian Wilson, a lecturer in Global Politics and Security studies at Murdoch University, provided expert commentary throughout the year, particularly around Indonesian politics and events such as the Bali Bombings (as covered by the Washington Post).
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Erica Mason, Associate Lecturer in Graphic Design at Murdoch University, spoke to RTRFM during November 2022 to promote The Buzz and discussed how the arts are creating job ready graduates.
The ‘arts’ covers many topics and this year there was certainly a range of experts and fantastic projects. We’re looking forward to hearing more from the creative arts, humanities and social sciences in 2023.