U.S. – Australia Relations

Fulbright Professional Scholarship in Australia-United States Alliance Studies

Canberra — 18 March 2010

Media release

18 March 2010

I [the Hon Stephen Smith MP, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs] am pleased to announce Dr James Curran as the 2010 recipient of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Fulbright Professional Scholarship in Australia-United States Alliance Studies (the Alliance Scholarship).

I congratulate Dr Curran, a senior lecturer in History at the University of Sydney.

Dr Curran will undertake research at Georgetown University's Centre for Australian and New Zealand Studies in Washington DC. He will draw on official US archives to examine the history of the bilateral relationship from 1969 to 1983, a time when both countries sought to forge new relationships in Asia.

I am also pleased to announce continued Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade funding for the Alliance Scholarship for a further three years from 2010-11, and a special commemorative Anniversary Alliance Scholarship for 2010-11.

The Anniversary Alliance Scholarship celebrates significant milestones in our bilateral relations in 2010, namely: the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Australian-American Fulbright Commission and the 25th anniversary of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).

I congratulate the Australian-American Fulbright Commission on its 60th anniversary and commend the important contribution it has made to the people-to-people relationship between Australia and the United States.

Since its establishment in 1949, the Commission has funded tertiary and professional exchanges for more than 4600 Australian and American Fulbright Scholars.

The Alliance Scholarship promotes research in priority areas for the Australia-US Alliance and aims to contribute, in a practical way, to contemporary Australian scholarship on the Alliance relationship. It was established in 2001 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the ANZUS Treaty.

The Fulbright Program is one of the largest and most prestigious educational exchange programs in the world. The Australian-American Fulbright Commission is the flagship educational institution in the Australia-US relationship. It is co-chaired by the Australian Prime Minister and US Ambassador to Australia.

Original document from www.foreignminister.gov.au.

Last update: Friday, 9 April 2010 GMT+1000