Professor S Bruce Dowton is pleased to appoint Professor Irad Malkin as the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Visiting Fellow for 2015.
Professor Malkin is one of the world’s leading ancient historians, and the Israel Prize Laureate for History 2014. He is the Cummings Chair for Mediterranean History and Culture, Tel Aviv University, and Co-Editor Mediterranean Historical Review.
Professor Malkin’s area of expertise dovetails with a number of research areas within the Department of Ancient History and aligns with a number of streams within the Future-Shaping Research Priority Resilient Societies. The Fellowship recognises Professor Malkin’s ground breaking contributions to historical methodology, in particular his theory of ‘networks’, ethnicity and identity. His work has revolutionised understanding of how ancient societies interacted, and how communities connected and maintained their distinctive cultural and social networks.
“I am delighted to award the Fellowship to Professor Malkin, and this is yet another step in furthering the close relationship between Macquarie and Tel Aviv University,” said Professor Dowton.
Professor Malkin began his academic career at Tel Aviv University, graduating with an undergraduate degree from the Department of History. He studied ancient history at the University of Pennsylvania, earning his Masters degree and later, with a thesis entitled “Religion and the founders of Greek colonies”, his PhD.
A leading academic and a polyglot (he speaks and understands eight languages), Professor Malkin has worked with colleagues at Macquarie University’s Department of Ancient History to develop the ancient Israel program and facilitate international student exchanges to and from Tel Aviv University.
Professor Malkin will spend four weeks with the University as part of the visiting fellowship, working alongside staff and students at Macquarie to further advance the Ancient Israel program.
Promised lands: Greek Hebrew Colonization
Public lecture – Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Visiting Fellow
Professor Malkin will present a public lecture on Wednesday 2 September at 5.30pm on the topic of Promised lands: Greek and Hebrew Colonization.