Dr Bernadette Drabsch

Lecturer

School of Creative Industries

Email:bernadette.drabsch@newcastle.edu.au
Phone:(02) 4921 6371

Career Summary

Biography

My academic path began with very tentative footsteps as a mature-aged student during a year of Open Foundation at the University of Newcastle, studying both Ancient History and Visual Arts. The cross-road at the end of my enabling year caused some dilemma in deciding which avenue to follow, Ancient History or Art? My mind was made up after receiving a particularly high mark for Ancient History and my undergraduate journey began with a Bachelor of Arts. However, whilst I thoroughly enjoyed studying Latin, Ancient Greek and the classics my love of art never departed and I continued to draw and paint during this time, holding three successful solo exhibitions. Eventually my paths merged when I wandered over to the Natural History Illustration department for some elective subjects within my BA, undertaking courses in scientific illustration and field studies. After much deliberation I decided to undertake my honours year under the banner of Natural History Illustration and travelled to Pella, in Jordan to work as an illustrator on an archaeological dig. This culminated in a collection of artworks and a related honours exegesis/dissertation, entitled 'Tabula Recens Antiquae Terrae - A fresh account of an ancient land'. My time in Jordan also introduced me to the 6000 year old wall paintings from a site near the Dead Sea called Teleilat Ghassul, that were to become the focus of my PhD research project. This four year endeavor successfully merged all of my prior academic training and practical expertise and combined all of my passions - ancient history, archaeology and natural history illustration. In addition to being a fascinating project to work on my PhD also opened up many new paths to explore and I now feel that I'm at the beginning rather than the end of my meandering academic journey.

Research Expertise
My trans-disciplinary academic background in Ancient History, Classical Languages and Natural History Illustration and my volunteer work on archaeological digs in Jordan have resulted in a wide variety of research interests. My PhD titled 'The contextualisation of the ancient wall paintings from Teleilat Ghassul, Jordan' was a cross-institutional and trans-disciplinary project, combining aspects of ancient history, archaeology and natural history illustration. Ongoing research interests include the following areas:

• The contextualised history of illustration
• The role of prehistoric art as a mnemonic tool
• Art creation as a ritual process
• Early visual narratives and linear inscriptions
• The connection between art, religion and social complexity in the Levantine Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age.
• Syrio-Mesopotamian cylinder seals
• Rock art of New South Wales
• Illustrators of the Hunter Region, past and present

Teaching Expertise
I currently teach the theoretical component of the Natural History Illustration degree in addition to some studio based subjects. My 2nd year theoretical course covers the history of illustration, from prehistory to modern times, focusing on the importance of socio-cultural contextualisation and developing observation skills. The 3rd year theoretical course teaches students how to develop and write practice-based research. I have developed the curriculum for both of these courses and conduct lectures, tutorials and seminars in addition to carrying out the marking and assessment. I also teach a new winter compressed field course that combines illustration and cultural studies, focusing on the rock art of the Hunter region. In addition I have recently designed and written the University's first MOOC with Edx that partners with the Smithsonian Institute. This creative MOOC 'Drawing Nature, Science and Culture: Natural History Illustration 101' had 13,000 enrollments from around the world.

Collaborations
I'm currently collaborating with archaeologist, Dr. Stephen Bourke, from the University of Sydney and we are exploring the relationship between art, ritual and social complexity in the Chalcolithic period of the Southern Levant. Additionally, I'm collaborating with members of the Natural History Illustration Research Group (NHIRG) from the University of Newcastle and we are working towards a book publication, exhibitions, public art projects and a proposed conference. Most recently my primary area of collaboration is with the BOLD team and Edx developing online learning modules for the MOOC.

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle
Bachelor of Arts, University of Newcastle
Bachelor of Natural History Illustration (Honours), University of Newcastle

Keywords

Ancient forms of visual communication
Archaeological Illustration
Art History
Art of the Ancient Near East
Chalcolithic period in the Southern Levant
Contextualisation
Field work
Frescoes
Indigenous rock art
Natural History Illustration
Natural History Illustration theory
Pictorial representations from preliterate cultures
Prehistoric Art
The history of illustration and early illustrators

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
120301	Design History and Theory	35
190102	Art History	30
210199	Archaeology not elsewhere classified	35

Professional Experience

UON Appointment

Title	Organisation / Department
Lecturer	University of Newcastle School of Creative Industries Australia

Membership

Dates	Title	Organisation / Department
4/02/2016 - 30/11/2016	Natural History Illustration Research Group	Natural History Illustration Resarch Group (NHIRG) Natural History Illustration Research Group Australia
1/01/2013 - 31/12/2014	Membership - Guild of Natural Science Illustrators	Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Colombia
1/01/2010 - 31/12/2016	Membership - Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation	Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation University of Sydney Australia

Professional appointment

Dates	Title	Organisation / Department
27/01/2009 - 16/12/2016	The University of Sydney Pella Project Senior staff member and head illustrator	The University of Sydney Pella Project Australia

Awards

Award

Year	Award
2016	Faculty - Team Award for Collaboration Excellence Faculty of Science and Information Technology, The University of Newcastle \| Australia
2016	Vice Chancellor's Award for Collaboration Excellence NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY

Distinction

Year	Award
2010	University Medal University of Newcastle

Prize

Year	Award
2017	edX Prize for Exceptional Contributions in Online Teaching and Learning edX

Recognition

Year	Award
2011	3MT prize University of Newcastle
2010	Australian Postgraduate Award Australian Government
2010	Graham Gilchrist Natural History Illustration Prize University of Newcastle
2009	DVC Research Honours Scholarship University of Newcastle
2008	William Coleborne Memorial Prize in Greek University of Newcastle
2007	Williams Classics Scholarship University of Newcastle
2006	Ann Lowry Memorial Prize in Latin University of Newcastle
2006	James King Memorial Prize in Greek University of Newcastle
2005	Staff Prize in Classical Civilisations University of Newcastle

Research Award

Year	Award
2017	Women In Research Fellowship University of Newcastle
2010	Dorothy Cameron Fellowship University of Sydney

Teaching

Code	Course	Role	Duration
NHIL4003	Exegesis and journal NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY This course expands on the foundational studies developed in 4002 and focuses on how to write a reflective account of a creative process.	Lecturer	5/12/2016 - 5/01/2017
NHIL3004	Natural History Field Studies & Culture Compressed winter course NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY This compressed course includes a field trip and individualised projects related to areas of cultural importance in the Hunter Valley.	Lecturer and course co-ordinator	5/12/2016 - 5/01/2017
NHIL3001A	Natural History Illustration Major Project A NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY This course encourages students to employ their technical skills to 4 applied projects of their choice.	Lecturer/tutor	5/12/2016 - 5/01/2017
NHIL3003	Natural History Illustration External Project NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY This course encourages students to work in collaboration with external partners on a project of their choice or to explore and develop new techniques.	Lecturer and course coordinator	5/12/2016 - 5/01/2017
NHIL3001B	Natural History Illustration Major Project B NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY This intensive course follows on from Major Project A. Students build a body of work based on a chosen theme that correlates with the requirements of the Margaret Senior Award.	Lecturer/tutor	5/12/2016 - 5/01/2017
NHIL4002	Natural History Illustration Honours - theory NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY This course covers project and research development and planning. It explores the theoretical underpinnings of practice based and practice led research.	Lecturer	5/12/2016 - 5/01/2017
NHIL3002	Natural History Illustration Dissertation NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY This course explores the theory around practice based research. It covers areas such as methods and methodology, literature and practice reviews and writing an exegesis.	Lecturer and course co-ordinator	5/12/2016 - 5/01/2017
NHIL1004	Natural History Illustration Studio Studies NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY This course covers the basics of studio practice for first year students. It explores concepts such as spatial depth, figure drawing and creative illustration techniques.	Lecturer and course coordinator	5/12/2016 - 5/01/2017
NHIL2002	Natural History Illustration Theoretical Studies NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY This course explores Natural History Illustration from the Mesolithic to the modern day. Students learn to research, analyse and write in an academic manner while exploring artists and cultures of their choice.	Lecturer	26/01/2016 - 5/01/2017
Edx MOOC	Drawing Nature, Science and Culture: Natural History Illustration 101x NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY This comprehensive course was developed to cover the foundations of Natural History Illustration. The online delivery mode made it available to students from all around the world.	Lecturer and developer	5/12/2016 - 5/01/2017

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Publications

For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.

Book (2 outputs)

Year

Citation

Altmetrics

Link

2018

Howells A, Drabsch B, Atkins D, Sailer P, Weekes TC, Observe, Research, Create Case Studies in Natural History Illustration PhD Projects, Common Ground Research Networks, University of Illinois Research Park | 2001 South First St., 202 | Champaign, IL 61820 USA, 102 (2018) [A1]

DOI	10.18848/978-1-61229-978-5/CGP.
Co-authors	Andrew Howells, Prue Sailer

2015

Drabsch BS, The mysterious wall paintings of Teleilat Ghassul, Jordan: In context, Archaeopress Archaeology, Oxford, 210 (2015) [A1]

Chapter (2 outputs)

Year

Citation

Altmetrics

Link

2019

Drabsch B, 'Nude, Robed and Masked Processions: Considering the Figural Images in the Teleilat Ghassul Wall Paintings, Jordan', Human Iconography and Symbolic Meaning in Near Eastern Prehistory, Austrian Academy of Sciences Press, Vienna, Austria 111-129 (2019)

2018

Drabsch BS, 'Learning by Observing, Learning by Doing, Learning by Sharing: A Conversational Account of a Researched Practice Case Study', Observe, Research, Create Case Studies in Natural History Illustration PhD Projects, Common Ground Research Networks, Champaign, Illinois 51-68 (2018) [B1]

DOI	10.18848/978-1-61229-978-5/CGP

Journal article (6 outputs)

Year

Citation

Altmetrics

Link

2019

Drabsch B, Howells A, Lloyd C, 'Blending Graphite with Pixels: Natural History Illustration Online', The International Journal of Arts Education, 14 1-13 (2019) [C1]

DOI	10.18848/2326-9944/CGP/v14i02/1-13
Co-authors	Andrew Howells, Clare Lloyd

2019

Drabsch B, Bourke S, 'Early Visual Communication: Introducing the 6000-Year-Old Buon Frescoes from Teleilat Ghassul, Jordan', Arts, 8 79-93 (2019) [C1]

DOI	10.3390/arts8030079
Citations	Web of Science - 1

2017

Drabsch BS, 'The Wandering Star of Ghassul: from the east to the west - and back again?', The Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation Bulletin, 59 19-22 (2017)

2015

Drabsch BS, 'Drawn into the Star: Recreating the Ghassulian Wall Paintings', The Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation Bulletin, 58 17-19 (2015) [C3]

2015

Drabsch BS, 'The wall art of Teleilat Ghassul, Jordan: When, where, why, to whom and by whom', Expression, No 8 50-58 (2015) [C1]

2014

Drabsch B, Bourke S, 'Ritual, art and society in the levantine chalcolithic: The 'processional' wall painting from teleilat ghassul', Antiquity, 88 1081-1098 (2014) [C1]

© Antiquity Publications Ltd. The fragmentary 'Processional' wall painting from Teleilat Ghassul in Jordan is here shown to depict a religious procession involving eight individuals rather than the three identified in the original 1970s reconstruction. All of the figures wear masks and carry objects, but elaborately robed leaders, members perhaps of a dedicated priestly class, are clearly distinguished from their naked attendants. The scene belongs to the Late Chalcolithic period when Levantine society was becoming increasingly hierarchical, and the wall painting as a whole illustrates the prominent role of elites in ritual practices at this critical period of social transformation.

DOI	10.1017/S0003598X00115339
Citations	Scopus - 5Web of Science - 4

Show 3 more journal articles

Conference (1 outputs)

Year	Citation	Altmetrics	Link
2014	Drabsch BS, 'A Procession of Chalcolithic Villagers: Reconsidering Hennessy's 'Processional' wall painting from Teleilat Ghassul, Jordan', Proceedings of the 8th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Warsaw (2014) [E1]

Creative Work (9 outputs)

Year

Citation

Altmetrics

Link

2018

Drabsch B, Howells A, Thutmoses III mural - Nicholson Museum, Connections Exhibit, Nicholson Museum (2018)

Co-authors	Andrew Howells

2016

Weekes TM, Endangered and Extinct, Maitland Regional Art Gallery (2016)

2016

Bonfiglioli C, Drabsch B, Cincunegui G, Donnelly P, Petrie C, Pax hominibus bonae voluntatis, Oxford (2016)

2015

Drabsch BS, Mulubinba: Place of Sea Ferns, The University of Newcastle Gallery (2015) [J2]

2015

Drabsch BS, Signature: Celebrating our artist graduates, The University Gallery (2015) [J2]

2015

Howells A, Atkins D, Weekes T, Sailer P, Dedman L, Purnell T, et al., Illuminating Science, Lovett Gallery (2015) [J2]

Co-authors	Andrew Howells, Prue Sailer

2015

Drabsch BS, Atkins DP, Illuminating Science, Lovett Gallery, Newcastle Library, Newcastle City Council (2015) [J3]

2015

Howells A, Atkins D, Weekes T, Sailer P, Dedman L, Purnell T, et al., Illuminating Science, Lovett Gallery (2015) [J2]

Co-authors	Andrew Howells, Prue Sailer

2014

Drabsch BS, 'Transformations: 40 years of the Open Foundation Program', The University of Newcastle Gallery (2014)

Show 6 more creative works

Other (17 outputs)

Year

Citation

Altmetrics

Link

2019

Drabsch B, Howells A, O'Donnell L, 'Recolouring the coffin', (2019) [O1]

Co-authors	Andrew Howells

2019

Drabsch B, 'Imagination, Illustration, Interpretation - Drawing at Pella', (2019) [O1]

2019

Drabsch B, Howells A, 'Drawing on the Past', ( issue.24 pp.26-29). Sydney: The University of Sydney (2019)

Co-authors	Andrew Howells

2019

Wood M, Harrison T, Carter E, Whitford M, Drabsch B, Howells A, et al., 'The Mer-Neith-it-es Project', (2019) [O1]

Co-authors	Andrew Howells

2019

Drabsch B, Howells A, 'Digitally re-colouring the coffin of mer-neith-it-es: a 26th dynasty egyptian priestess', (2019) [O1]

Co-authors	Andrew Howells

2019

Howells A, Drabsch B, 'The Mummy Project - Public Lecture at Nicholson Museum, University of Sydney', (2019) [O1]

Co-authors	Andrew Howells

2018

Drabsch BS, 'Dolmen Construction - diagrams illustrating stages of quarrying and extraction', (2018) [O1]

2018

Drabsch BS, 'Dolmen Construction: Schematic reconstructions of a possible sequence involved in transporting and positioning the slabs', (2018) [O1]

2018

Drabsch B, 'The latest technology or traditional recording methods - why not both? An argument for including artists in rock art recording teams', (2018) [O1]

2018

Drabsch B, 'Blending Graphite with Pixels: Natural History Illustration Online', (2018) [O1]

2018

Fraser JA, Harrison T, Wood M, Lord C, Drabsch B, Howells A, Carter E, 'Spectroscopic Analysis of pigments from the coffin of the 2500-year-old Egyptian mummy Mer-Neith-it-es for digital recolouration', (2018) [O1]

Co-authors	Andrew Howells

2018

Howells A, 'Blending Graphite with Pixels: Natural History Illustration Online', (2018) [O1]

Co-authors	Andrew Howells

2016

Drabsch BS, 'Evolving Symbolism: Continuity and Change in Artistic Repesentation during the South Levantine Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Ages', (2016) [O1]

2016

Drabsch BS, 'Society and Symbolism of the Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Periods in the extended Fertile Crescent', (2016) [O1]

2016

Drabsch BS, 'Visualising and Contextualising the rock art sites of the Hunter: Conservation through Education', (2016) [O1]

2016

Drabsch BS, 'Nude, Robed and Masked Processions: Considering the Figural Images in the Teleilat Ghassul Wall Paintings, Jordan', (2016) [O1]

2016

Drabsch BS, 'Iconography and Symbolic Meaning of the Human during the Southern Levantine Chalcolithic', (2016) [O1]

Show 14 more others

Thesis / Dissertation (1 outputs)

Year	Citation	Altmetrics	Link
2014	Drabsch BS, Contextualising the wall paintings of Teleilat Ghassul, Jordan, University of Newcastle (2014)

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Grants and Funding

Summary

Number of grants	7
Total funding	$115,864

Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.

20201 grants / $10,000

Biodiversity Education and Engagement Network$10,000

Building from collaborative work between SOCI and Biological Science researchers this network is designed to develop partnerships with key industry associates and local community members. We will use this pilot project within a longer-term strategy to builds UoN’s profile in this space, based on cross-faculty, trans-disciplinary collaboration around measuring biodiversity literacy and working with local stakeholders to develop educational materials to raise levels of community knowledge around biodiversity. We will use this foundation to develop the Biodiversity Literacy Survey (BLS) - an annual, longitudinal research survey, building from results to provide a knowledge base for an ARC Linkage application (and working towards a larger international project with multiple collaborators from other countries replicating the survey in their own contexts). This seed funding will support a one-day engagement and collaboration workshop involving relevant industry partners, community members and UON academics. The workshop will help establish a network of external collaborators, identify specific case studies for follow-up projects, and provide consultation on the BLS. This will be followed with targeted follow-up field trips with specific stakeholders to develop initial production materials around local environmental case studies. We will use these opportunities to develop real world problem-solving projects for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Funding body: FEDUA - Faculty of Education and Arts, UoN

Funding body	FEDUA - Faculty of Education and Arts, UoN
Project Team	AProf Craig Hight (Lead), Dr Bernadette Drabsch, Dr Simone O'Callaghan, A/Prof Matthew Hayward, Dr Andrea Griffin, Dr Kaya Klop-Toker and Dr Alexandra Callen
Scheme	Strategic Network and Pilot Project Scheme
Role	Investigator
Funding Start	2020
Funding Finish	2020
GNo
Type Of Funding	Internal
Category	INTE
UON	N

20191 grants / $10,000

Low Waste, Slow Fashion Future$10,000

Investigating and Implementing design and digital print textile solutions for a sustainable fashion industry

Funding body: The University of Newcastle

Funding body	The University of Newcastle
Project Team	Faye Nielson, Bernadette Drabsch, Brett McMahon, Giselle Penn
Scheme	University of Newcastle Small Grant
Role	Investigator
Funding Start	2019
Funding Finish	2020
GNo
Type Of Funding	Internal
Category	INTE
UON	N

20181 grants / $6,875

The Visualsing Humanities Research Project$6,875

Funding body: University of Sydney

Funding body	University of Sydney
Project Team	Doctor Bernadette Drabsch, Doctor Andrew Howells
Scheme	Nicholson Museum
Role	Lead
Funding Start	2018
Funding Finish	2018
GNo	G1800102
Type Of Funding	C3112 - Aust Not for profit
Category	3112
UON	Y

20171 grants / $17,989

East Coast Rock Art Project - Preliminary stages$17,989

Funding body: University of Newcastle

Funding body	University of Newcastle
Project Team	Doctor Bernadette Drabsch
Scheme	Women in Research Fellowship
Role	Lead
Funding Start	2017
Funding Finish	2018
GNo	G1701396
Type Of Funding	Internal
Category	INTE
UON	Y

20151 grants / $15,000

Archaeological Illustration Industry Scholarships - Saruq al-Hadid Archaeologcal Research Project$15,000

Three archaeological illustration industry scholarships were established with the University of New England and the Municipality of Dubai i connection with the Saruq al-Hadid Archaeological Research Project

Funding body: The University of New England

Funding body	The University of New England
Scheme	Saruq al-Hadid Archaeological Research Project
Role	Lead
Funding Start	2015
Funding Finish	2015
GNo
Type Of Funding	C3232 - International Govt - Other
Category	3232
UON	N

20102 grants / $56,000

Australian PostGraduate Award$51,000

Funding body: Australian Federal Government

Funding body	Australian Federal Government
Scheme	Australian Postgraduate Award
Role	Lead
Funding Start	2010
Funding Finish	2013
GNo
Type Of Funding	C2120 - Aust Commonwealth - Other
Category	2120
UON	N

Dorothy Cameron Fellowship$5,000

Awarded to conduct research into the role of women in the culture, rituals and belief systems of prehistoric societies.

Funding body: The University of Sydney

Funding body	The University of Sydney
Scheme	Dorothy Cameron Fellowship
Role	Lead
Funding Start	2010
Funding Finish	2010
GNo
Type Of Funding	Grant - Aust Non Government
Category	3AFG
UON	N

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Research Supervision

Number of supervisions

Completed0

Current8

Current Supervision

Commenced	Level of Study	Research Title	Program	Supervisor Type
2020	PhD	Reconstructing the Extinct Avifauna of the Cenozoic Era: Developing a Comprehensive Framework using Australian Examples	PhD (Natural History Illustr), Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle	Principal Supervisor
2019	PhD	Exploring Novel Scientific Communication Methods in Order to Enhance Biodiversity Literacy and Pro-Conservation Engagement: an Examination of the Hunter Region	PhD (Comm & Media Arts), Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle	Principal Supervisor
2018	PhD	Visualisation of STEM Concepts Pertaining to Energy Conversion for Effective Science Communication.	PhD (Natural History Illustr), Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle	Principal Supervisor
2018	PhD	Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of Stillbirth Through Animation	PhD (Natural History Illustr), Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle	Principal Supervisor
2017	PhD	Can Illustrated Cultural Heritage Mapping Make a Difference to Community Attitudes: A Documented Case Study of the Natural and Cultural Environment of the Darkinjung People on Central Coast of Australia	PhD (Natural History Illustr), Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle	Co-Supervisor
2017	PhD	A holistic framework for valid archaeological reconstructions: A case study of the ‘Migdol’ temple of Pella, Jordan	PhD (Natural History Illustr), Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle	Co-Supervisor
2017	PhD	The Symbiotic Relationship Between Art, Science and Education: Fostering a Sense of Wonder and Curiosity About the Natural World Through Scientific Inquiry and Illustration.	PhD (Natural History Illustr), Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle	Co-Supervisor
2016	PhD	Visualising Life: Illustration as a Vehicle for Communicating the Development and Aging of the Human Placenta	PhD (Natural History Illustr), Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle	Co-Supervisor

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Research Projects

The Mummy Project 2017 - 2018

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News

World-first UON course draws international recognition

December 8, 2017

Taking out the prestigious edX Prize for Exceptional Contributions in Online Learning and Teaching at an international ceremony

Women In Research Fellowships awarded

October 27, 2017

Thirteen UON researchers have been awarded a Women in Research (WIR) Fellowship thanks to Research Advantage.

World-first online course grants access to leading Australian artists

September 28, 2016

Natural History Illustration online course grants access to leading Australian artists