The 44th Conference of the Australasian Society for Classical Studies

The 44th Conference of the Australasian Society for Classical Studies will be hosted by the Classics Department at the University of Canterbury from 31 January – 3 February 2023. This will be a face-to-face conference, timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the University of Canterbury.

In 1874 Professor Macmillan Brown was appointed to the Chair of English and Classics, one of three foundation chairs at the newly established Canterbury College in Christchurch. The College at that time was located at the "old university" site, now the Arts Centre, which in many ways remains the spiritual home of the University. The Classics Department returned home in the Arts Centre in 2017 along with the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities.

Activities related to the conference will take place at the Arts Centre. We intend to use our Heritage setting both to acknowledge the University’s past and to connect with the city. However, it is also our intention to look forward, by developing and showcasing future directions for our discipline. A central theme in the conference is Classics in the 21^st Century.

Keynote Speaker

Kate Cook is a UK based researcher who works on the intersection of the digital world and the ancient world with a particular focus on “gaming”. Her talk will help develop new perceptions of our discipline, enhance our future directions theme, promote interdisciplinary study and help showcase possibilities in UC's new Bachelor of Digital Screen.

This event is open to the general public. Registration is essential. ASCS delegates will be automatically registered when Conference registration payment is received.

Programme & Booklet

ASCS44 Conference Programme*

ASCS44 Conference Booklet  

*Please note this programme may be subject to changes*

Presentation Slides 

If you are presenting a paper, please follow the steps below to send us your presentation slides by 5pm, Thursday 26th January NZDT.

1. Go to wetransfer.com 
2. To the left of the page you will see a box where you upload your files. Upload your powerpoint here. 
3. In the 'title' field, please include your name 
4. In the 'Email to' field, put harriet.boyle@canterbury.ac.nz 
5. Once you have done the above steps, click the 'Transfer' button to send.

Handouts: All presenters need to pre-print and bring copies of any handouts to Christchurch. Conference attendees will not have access to printing/copying facilities. 

Special Conference Topic: Games and the Ancient World 

Video and tabletop games are an exciting space of classical reception and one that is growing as an object of scholarly attention in the field of Classics and Ancient History. This year we have two special panels on the topic and a demonstration:

Panel 1: Ludic Mythologies

Panel 2: (Re)shaping Perspectives

Workshop: Kolax, The Flatterer: Reconstructing a fragmentary play through play

Read more about these Special Conference Topic sessions

Registration

For registration and other related information (including details on the conference dinner), visit the REGISTRATION PORTAL. 

Registration amounts (all prices are in NZD and are GST inclusive):

• Full participation - $330.00
• Postgraduate/Student/Unwaged - $260.00
• Dayrate - $135.00
• Conference Dinner - $115.00

ASCS delegates will be automatically registered when Conference registration payment is received.

Registration Cancellation Policy:

1. Up until 5pm Friday 16 December 2022 NZDT with a full refund. 
2. From 5pm 16 December to 5pm Friday 20 January 2023 NZDT a full refund less an $100.00 admin fee.
3. After 5pm 20 January 2023 NZDT no refund is possible.

Poster Competition 

As a part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the University of Canterbury, the organisers of ASCS 44 would like to invite the submission of posters on any aspect of the history of Classics at UC. The focus can be people, subjects, events, the collection, teaching or any aspect of the Department’s history from its earliest time as a foundation chair in the Canterbury College to the present day.

There will be cash prizes for the best posters as determined by the judges:

1. First prize NZ$250.00
2. Second prize NZ$150.00
3. Third prize NZ$100.00 

All judges decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. Not all prizes need to be awarded. 

Register interest by 5pm Tuesday 24th January (NZDT)

ASCS44 Poster Competition Instructions

Accomodation

View accommodation options in the City Centre and around the Arts Centre.

We encourage delegates and their families to stay in Christchurch after the conference and to visit beautiful Aotearoa. For activities, destinations, transport and accommodation around the country, go to the explore Christchurch page or visit Tourism New Zealand.

Postgraduate Support 

ASCS provides support to postgraduate students presenting a paper at the conference,  apply for the ASCS Conference Subsidy Form here.

We would like to acknowledge the support of the University of Canterbury, the Classical Association of Christchurch, the Badian Fund and Tourism New Zealand. 

Page header image: Courtesy of the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, James Logie Memorial Collection #41.57.  

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