Chair of Marsden Fund Humanities Panel Supports Dr Jagose
Associate Professor Lydia Wevers, Chair of the Marsden Fund Humanities Panel, has spoken out against attacks on the
research of The University of Auckland’s Dr Annamarie Jagose.
“I would like to express my regret that Dr Annamarie Jagose’s academic research has been called into question following
this year’s Marsden funding round. Dr Jagose did not participate, score or have any other involvement in the assessment
of the project proposal she co-authoured,” said Associate Professor Wevers.
The Marsden Fund Humanities panel, comprising leading NZ scholars, considered that Dr Jagose’s proposal asked extremely
intelligent and thoughtful questions on a topic which is always central to human behaviour and development. In addition,
the proposal was also assessed by three distinguished international scholars who all rated it extremely highly, and said
that the project was of great scholarly innovation. Dr Jagose was excluded from all discussions relating to her project.
The proposal, entitled ‘Acts and Identities: Towards a New Cultural History of Sex’, was jointly proposed by three
leading researchers, all with extensive international reputations and publication records. Professor Barry Reay is
internationally respected as a social historian. Dr Jagose is an acclaimed editor, theorist and critic, as well as an
award-winning novelist. Dr Lee Wallace brings considerable expertise on Pacific sexualities.
Associate Professor Wevers notes: “This project is of the highest standard. It asks questions about how sexual identity
is determined that have not been asked before. Because sexuality is a great social and cultural force, their work will
help produce a timely, comprehensive understanding of sexual identity”.
ENDS