Women, Architecture & Academia symposium

To change the design profession we need to change what and how we teach. We need to present new models of success, and we need to change expectations.

The Women, Architecture & Academia symposium brings together academics, practitioners and students who, each in their own institutional context, struggle for fair exposure, opportunity and support in the architecture discipline.

The symposium is structured around three thematic sessions, each with a series of short presentations and a summarising workshop.

The symposium is convened by Peggy Deamer (Yale University) and Joanna Merwood-Salisbury (Victoria University of Wellington). Moderators are Justine Clark, Sarah Treadwell, and Dorita Hannah.

Session 1: Representation – 10.00am-12.00pm 

This session discusses how women are represented in academia, how models of female success are, (or are not), represented for/to both faculty and students, and what can be done to address this.

Session 2: Gender and family politics – 1.00pm-3.00pm 

This session covers how academia prepares us for healthy, fulfilling careers with a work/life balance, cooperation, and gender equity.

Session 3: Curriculum - 3:30pm-5:30pm 

This session considers academic courses that in their subject matter or form of delivery address and rectify the invisibility or implicit dis-empowerment of women.

Agenda/Schedule for the day:

9.30am - 10.00am - Morning tea (will be provided) 

10.00am - 12.00pm - Session 1: Representation 

12.00pm - 1.00pm - Lunch break (will be provided only to guest speakers) 

1.00pm - 3.00pm - Session 2: Gender and family politics

3.00pm - 3.30pm - Afternoon tea (Will be provided) 

3.30pm - 5.30pm - Session 3: Curriculum 

5.30pm - 6.00pm - Summation 

6.00pm - 7.30pm - Reception 

Attendance is free, but places are limited. For more information and to register see the Victoria University School of Architecture website.