​Murdoch Academic Chair, Professor Sandra Wilson has been recognised for her distinguished scholarship on Japan, being elected to the prestigious Australian Academy of the Humanities.

The Academy is the leading body of senior humanities scholars in the nation, and election of academics is reflective of their significant contributions to the arts and humanities disciplines.

Professor Sandra Wilson's studies into the political history of modern Japan; Japanese society in the 1930s and 1940s; and history of Japanese nationalism have had international impact.

Murdoch Vice Chancellor Eeva Leinonen said Professor Wilson had been a leader of the History program at Murdoch University for many years, overseeing and contributing to the redevelopment of its curriculum and to its internationally recognised research reputation.

“Professor Sandra Wilson is a highly-regarded teacher of undergraduate students in her popular classes on modern Japan and on the Second World War in the Pacific, as well as a supervisor of many doctoral students, who have gone on to achieve success in their own right,” Professor Leinonen said.

“She has been recognised internationally as an excellent mentor of early and mid-career researchers and she is always willing to give time, attention and support to the career development of others.”

Murdoch University Acting Head of the School of Arts, Professor Helena Grehan said Professor Wilson had made a ground-breaking contribution to the understanding of Japanese History and of war crimes in the Pacific.

“Through her painstaking and award-winning scholarly work, Professor Wilson has altered our understanding of core issues arising out of the experience of the Second World War, which continue to influence our world today,” Professor Grehan said.

Professor Wilson was the lead author of the jointly-written book Japanese War Criminals: The Politics of Justice After the Second World War, which won the General History category in the prestigious New South Wales Premier’s Award for History in 2017.

Professor Wilson joins 18 other newly-elected fellows from a range of diverse fields including archaeology, classics, history, philosophy, media studies, religion, Asian studies, art history, applied linguistics and musicology in receiving the highest honour for achievement in humanities in Australia.

In a statement, President of the Academy, Professor Joy Damousi FASSA FAHA congratulated all newly-elected Fellows, recognising their exceptional contribution to the humanities and arts in Australia and internationally.

“I am honoured to welcome our new Fellows, elected in recognition of their distinguished achievement in the humanities and arts disciplines,” she said.  

“The work of the humanities is central to our culture, to our identity and to our future. Understanding the histories, heritages, languages and cultures of our own people, and of those around the world, will enable Australia to thrive in an ever-changing and dynamic world.”