Five research projects selected for Cultural Affairs Bureau’s Academic Research Grant

The members of the Selection Panel of 2017 Academic Research Grant of IC

In order to encourage original academic research on the culture of Macao and the exchanges between Macao, Mainland China and other countries, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) has set up the Academic Research Grant programme. After an evaluation, the 2017 Academic Research Grant is awarded to five research projects by candidates from Mainland China and Macao.

In order to ensure that the integrity and impartiality of the selection process and in accordance with the Academic Research Regulations, IC has commissioned the Institute for Social and Cultural Research of the Macau University of Science and Technology to organize a panel of experts to carry out an anonymous review of the applications and to provide academic comments for the Selection Panel. The Selection Panel was composed by the Vice President of IC, Chan Peng Fai; the Rector of the City University of Macau, Zhang Shu Guang; the Vice President of Macau University of Science and Technology, Pang Chuan; the Dean of the School of Arts of the Peking University, Wang Yichuan; and the Head of the Division of Research and Publications of IC, Wong Man Fai. After seeking advice from professionals and in-depth discussion, the Panel selected five research projects out of a total of 36 applications for this year’s Grant, namely:

1. “Research on Folk and Liturgical Music in Macao in the Twentieth Century” presented by researcher Dai Dingcheng, who obtained his doctoral degree in Composition Theory from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and now works as a Professor of the School of Arts at the Macao Polytechnic Institute. Against the unique socio-cultural and historical backgrounds of Macao and following the historical thread of music development since the early days of the city, his research project will involve a detailed categorization and division of the folk and liturgical music in the 20^th century in Macao. Adopting the research methods of music history studies, ethnomusicology and urban musicology, taking composition theory as its theoretical framework and resorting to primary sources and music data, the project aims to explore and categorize relevant issues by presenting the main thesis and based on justifiable argumentations, in order to draw conclusions from the cultural perspective of urban musicology, ethnomusicology and the anthropology of music..

2. “Research on Robert Morrison’s A Dictionary of the Chinese Language” presented by researcher Sio Chio Ieong, who obtained his doctoral degree in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics from the Beijing Language and Culture University and now works as an Assistant Professor of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at the University of Macau. His research project aims at an exhaustive survey of A Dictionary of the Chinese Language, from which corpora will be collected. A total of 10 areas will be involved in the project, including systems, religions, names, laws, appellations, and geographic concepts; history, geography, culture, society and other issues will all be covered. In addition, the project aims to conclude the lexicographical features of different types of terms as well as Robert Morrison’s own historical and cultural perspectives.

3. “From Portugal to Macao: Portuguese Nationality reflected in Portuguese Literature” presented by researcher Yao Jingming, who obtained his doctoral degree in Comparative Literature from Fudan University and now works as the Head of the Department of Portuguese at the University of Macau. His research project aims to fill in gaps in “Macao Studies”, in other words, to produce a monograph which is written from a Chinese perspective for Chinese readers, on the culture of Portugal and the nationality of the Portuguese people. It will take the major views of modern Portuguese thinkers as a starting point and make a detailed textual examination to analyze the most representative writers in Portugal and their works so that an insight can be gained from the perspective of a Chinese into the nationality of the Portuguese people.

4. “Images and Appreciation – The Art of Sculpting in Macao in Light of Sino-foreign Art Exchanges” presented by researcher Gu Yue, who obtained his doctoral degree in Art Studies from Tsinghua University and now works as an Associate Professor of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts at the Macau University of Science and Technology. His research project aims to explore the value of sculpture images in Macao (including carvings), for which the history of Sino-foreign art exchanges over the past several hundred years since the 16^th century will be revisited. The focus of this research will be on the artistic field of sculpture, especially that of modern sculpture in Macao since the 20^th century where valuable images and videos will be reviewed, in an attempt to fill in gaps in Macao’s art history studies.

5. “Research on the Design of Space-saving Furniture and the Spatial Function of Macao’s Economical Housing” presented by researcher Yan Shaoshi, who obtained her doctoral degree in Communication from the Macau University of Science and Technology and now works as an Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts at the Macau University of Science and Technology. Her research project aims to analyze the spatial function of Macao’s economical housing from the perspectives of space configuration, salary structure, family composition and consumer behavior. It will also explore the definition of space-saving furniture, taking into account the possible changes to external shapes and internal functions of furniture products. Methods of designing space-saving furniture will be investigated according to the operating methods of changing furniture shapes and the principles of structural design. And efforts will be made for a detailed understanding of the role space-saving furniture could play in economical housing.

For details about the Academic Research Grant Regulationsand the list of grantees, please visit the IC’s website at www.icm.gov.mo. For enquiries, please contact staff member of IC, Ms. Silvia Kuan, through tel. no. (853) 8598 6710 during office hours or the following email: silviak@icm.gov.mo.