Spotlight on HDR Achievements: Celebrating Excellence in Research
Sharing the accomplishments of our Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates across the Faculty of ABLE.
Each story highlights a student’s unique contributions to their field, showcasing the diversity, impact, and innovation in their research journeys. Through these achievements, we recognise the hard work and dedication that shape our HDR community and inspire future research excellence.
Anna Henwood, from the Elder Conservatorium of Music, represented the University of Adelaide at the Second Biennial International Conference of Music and the University in July 2024, held at the University of Surrey, UK.
She presented findings from her doctoral research on Reforms to the Santa Cecilia Accademia and Conservatorio in Rome, and more recent reforms to universities in Italy.
The conference gathered international musicians and academics, providing a valuable platform for Anna to share her insights. Following the conference, Anna adapted her presentation into a journal article, which is now under peer-review with the British Journal of Music Education.
David Ishaya Osu, from the School of Humanities (English, Creative Writing, and Film), was recently awarded The Charles Rischbieth Jury Poetry Prize for 2024 for his poem "Daylight."
This poem forms part of the creative component of David’s PhD research in Creative Writing. The judges praised "Daylight" for its "wonder of language," "elliptical, evasive quality," and its "groundedness of reference beyond the merely personal." They noted its "formal inventiveness," "immediacy, sensuality and visual intensity," and described it as having a "slow but understated build across the careful stacking of images and fleeting moments/sensations." Among the entries, "Daylight" was recognised for its "nuance, sensitivity, and sophisticated relationship between language and subject matter."
Joanna Louisa Jarose, from the Law School, has recently achieved the publication of an expanded and refined version of her honours thesis in the prestigious American Journal of International Law, widely regarded as the leading international law journal.
Her article, titled "A Sleeping Giant? The ENMOD Convention as a Limit on Intentional Environmental Harm in Armed Conflict and Beyond," explores the potential for broader environmental protection under the 1976 ENMOD Convention, which addresses the prevention of military and hostile manipulation of the environment. This significant publication contributes to advancing international discussions on environmental protections during armed conflicts.
Annamaria Fratini from the School of Social Sciences published a paper in the international journal Mortality titled "What’s said and done in the mortuary stays in the mortuary": secrecy and (in)visibility of the dead and data collection in South Australia. This co-authored work delves into themes of secrecy and (in)visibility within the death industry, drawing on insights from her fieldwork.
Additionally, another co-authored paper was recently accepted by The Australian Journal of Anthropology, discussing the aesthetics of the dead body in South Australian funeral homes. Annamaria was also interviewed by Uni SA about her research, and an audio clip will feature in MOD.’s upcoming 2025 exhibition, focusing on themes of death and memorialisation.
Virginie Ducruc from the School of Social Sciences took the initiative to secure an internship with Food Frontier, a Melbourne-based advocacy group promoting sustainable proteins. On October 10th, she attended and assisted at their 2024 conference, gaining valuable exposure to industry and academic leaders in the field. This experience deepened her understanding of the industry and highlighted the potential impact of her research. It also provided an excellent opportunity to expand her professional network and create a platform for disseminating her findings once published.
Virginie encourages all Higher Degree by Research students to think creatively when seeking internships relevant to their studies, reminding them that the university internship team is available to support them in this process.
Preeti Nalavadi, from the Law School, attended a distinguished meeting on 25th October 2024 with The Hon'ble Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, of the Government of India. Nominated by the University of Adelaide’s Faculty of ABLE, Preeti participated in this event hosted by the Group of Eight at UNSW in Sydney, alongside Vice Chancellors from UNSW and the University of Adelaide, officials from both the Australian and Indian governments, senior academics, and representatives from the Indian Consulate.
Among 13 PhD candidates selected across Australia, Preeti engaged with the Minister on her comparative law research on corporate rescues and discussed her future goals. She was also interviewed by Vicki Thomson, CEO of the Group of Eight, with the interview widely shared on social media, bringing further visibility to her research.
Congratulations to these HDR students on their impressive achievements! We look forward to celebrating more of our HDR candidates' successes in the future.