STMA - Austehc - New Centre Announced

To: stama@asap.unimelb.edu.au
Subject: STMA - Austehc - New Centre Announced
From: Gavan McCarthy <gavan@asap.unimelb.edu.au>
Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 16:49:10 +1000
Sender: owner-stama
Dear STAMAsters,

The Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre (Austehc) of the
University of Melbourne has been created to take over the academic,
research and heritage activities of the Australian Science Archives Project
(ASAP). See the details below.

Regards .... Gavan

It was first announced on STAMA.

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Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre	
The University of Melbourne
203 Bouverie StreetCarlton VIC 3053
Ph: +61 3 9344 9287
Fax: +61 3 9349 4630
email: austehc@asap.unimelb.edu.au

ANNOUNCEMENT

On 3 May 1999 the Council of the University of Melbourne declared the
formation of the  Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
(Austehc) in the Faculty of Arts.   Austehc will continue the academic,
research and heritage activities of the Australian Science Archives Project
(ASAP) which was established by Professor R.W. Home in 1985.  The Centre
will encompass ASAP’s original objectives and continue to develop new
programs that foster the  preservation, promotion and development of the
heritage of Australian science, technology and medicine.  ASAP’s popular
online information resources, notably Bright Sparcs
(http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au.), will form the key focus of the Centre’s
activities.

ASAP’s 14 years experience at the local, national and international levels
provides a solid foundation for the Centre’s success.  The important
network of associations with academic, government and private organisations
and individuals will be maintained and developed to further enhance the
Centre’s crucial role.  Austehc will:
· Establish the infrastructure, through research, development and
implementation, to undertake collaborative projects and activities relating
to the history and heritage of science, technology and medicine, within the
University of Melbourne and with external organisations and individuals;
· Create and provide access to authoritative information resources dealing
with the history and heritage of science, technology and medicine ,
primarily with an Australian focus, to support academic scholarship,
secondary and primary education, and general community awareness;
· Advance the pursuit of knowledge in the history, archival, museum,
heritage studies and information management disciplines through teaching,
research and development.
 
The significant corporate archival and records management projects
undertaken by ASAP over the past few years has led to the formation of a
separate company, ASAP Archives and Records Consultants (asapARC).  The
separation of this commercial work from the academic, research and heritage
activities will enable the Centre to maintain a strong focus on its
fundamental goals.

Along with ASAP’s Director and founding staff member, Gavan McCarthy,
Austehc has retained an essential core of  ASAP’s staff with distinctive
expertise and knowledge as archivists, researchers, teachers, historians,
and WWW-developers.  Austehc will continue the self-funded tradition
established by ASAP and work to enhance its position within the University
of Melbourne and augment its strong links with the Department of the
History and Philosophy of Science.

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*   Gavan McCarthy - Director 
*   Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
*    Phone: +61 3 9344 9287 Fax: +61 3 9349 4630
*   <http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/>