September 14, 2021

The late Professor Mark McLelland funds a research grant

Awards of US$3,500 available for early-career scholars of sexualities to pursue research in Japan

The United States-based Association for Asian Studies (AAS) recently announced the establishment of a Short-Term Research Grant Program in the History of Japanese Sexualities, thanks to a bequest from the late Emeritus Professor Mark McLelland.

The University of Wollongong (UOW) Professor was a cultural and social historian of Japan whose work inspired many people in various academic fields – from Queer, Gender and Sexuality Studies to Internet Studies.

Even though Professor McLelland was born in the United Kingdom and his work has had a truly global impact, he spent most of his academic days in Australia. 

He joined UOW in 2006, following an esteemed academic career that began in the late 1980s. In 2019, he retired from UOW, having spent his last seven years as a Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies in the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry.

After passing away in November 2020, Professor McLelland left the AAS a generous bequest of $100,000. Upon his request, it has been used to establish the Short-Term Research Grant in the History of Japanese Sexualities within the Northeast Asia Council grants program of AAS.

UOW Emeritus Professor Vera Mackie of the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry welcomed this award.

“This bequest is a culmination of Professor McLelland's work, which will help to develop the next generation of scholars on genders and sexualities in Japan. It's also a part of the legacy of remembering Professor McLelland,” Professor Mackie said.

ABOUT THE AWARD

Annual awards of up to US$3,500 will be available for early-career scholars of the history of Japanese sexualities who are already familiar with Japan and their topic but need time in Japan to complete their work. Preference will be given to academics whose planned research entails archival work, including the use of major national and regional archives and smaller archives, but fieldwork projects are not precluded.

There is no restriction on candidates' nationality or their place of residence, and the funding provided by this grant may be used to contribute to a long-term research project.

Applications will open in December 2021, and specific guidelines will be further announced closer to that date. The deadline for applications is set for 1st February 2022.

Questions about this opportunity should be directed to the AAS at grants@asianstudies.org