Lecture to celebrate inspiring Celeste
CQUniversity staff, students and community are invited to the inaugural Celeste Lawson Lecture to commemorate the beloved Rockhampton academic, who passed away in 2023.
The School of Education and the Arts is holding the event at CQU Rockhampton North campus, and online, on Thursday 17 October 2024, from 5.30pm – 7pm.
The new annual event will honour Emeritus Professor Celeste Lawson, commemorating the valued member of the School, and wider CQU community.
The vibrant educator is remembered for her inclusion, leadership, and a teaching philosophy that encouraged student engagement and deep learning.
She is also remembered as a highly valued president of CQU’s Academic Board, where she skillfully led attendees to consider and recommend on important University matters.
Prof Lawson's colleague Dr Jan Cattoni will deliver the lecture, titled, 'Why the Arts Matter in the 21st Century'.
"My lecture will firstly honour Celeste through a creative exploration of the special place she held in the lives of those at CQUniversity before addressing the place of the Arts in the current social, cultural and historical climate," Dr Cattoni said.
It will also include a presentation of the research Dr Cattoni and her team have been undertaking, co-creating virtual worlds with young people who are navigating life-limiting health conditions.
"There experience is a showcase of the importance of the arts in the 21st century and beyond," she said.
Prof Lawson was a supervisor, mentor, colleague and friend to Rockhampton-based Communications lecturer Dr Amy Johnson, who will chair the event.
"I'd much rather have her back then chair a lecture in her memory – but I am very glad that my colleague Jan Cattoni will be speaking at what is sure to be an impactful and memorable evening," Dr Johnson said.
The event will be held at Building 5, Room G.02, on Rockhampton North campus, or remote participants can attend via this Zoom link and use
Webinar ID: 87678154296
Passcode: 527144
For in person attendees, RSVP by Friday 11 October, by emailing l.sutton@cqu.edu.au for catering purposes.
