Maitrii Victoriano Aung-Thwin

Brief Introduction

Maitrii Aung-Thwin received his PhD from the University of Michigan (2001) where he studied Burmese and Southeast Asian history. He has lived and conducted research in Southeast Asia for nearly two decades.

Teaching Areas

Dr. Aung-Thwin offers a range of undergraduate and graduate modules in Asian and World History. Some of his more regular undergraduate courses include "Introduction to Southeast Asian History", "Introduction to World History", "Asia in the Modern World", and "History of Myanmar". Graduate courses recently offered include "Asian Studies in Asia", "Approaches to Southeast Asian History" and "Approaches to World History: Indian Ocean Encounters".

Current Research

• Dr. Aung-Thwin's current research is broadly concerned with the social history of nation-building and in particular the role of Burmese scholar-officials in the epistemological construction of Myanmar.

• A second project explores the relationship between Myanmar nation-building and Buddhist transnationalisms in South and Southeast Asia through the activities of Myanmar's religious and business communities.

• A third research project examines the historical and ethnographic construction of national identity in Myanmar.

Research Interests

Dr. Aung-Thwin is interested in questions that pertain to historiography, intellectual history and the construction of knowledge in and about Southeast Asia. Much of his research has been influenced by area-studies writings on colonialism/post-colonialism, ethno-history, socio-legal studies, public history, the history of anthropology, Buddhist scholarship, and heritage.

Publications

BOOKS/MONOGRAPHS AUTHORED

• 2013. A History of Myanmar Since Ancient Times: Traditions and Transformations with Michael Aung-Thwin (Revised and Updated), London: Reaktion Books/University of Chicago Press.
• 2012. A History of Myanmar Since Ancient Times: Traditions and Transformations, with Michael A. Aung-Thwin, Reaktion Books/University of Chicago Press.
• 2011. The Return of the Galon King: History, Law, and Rebellion in Colonial Burma, Ohio University Press.
• 2010. A New History of Southeast Asia, with M.C. Ricklefs, Bruce Lockhart, Albert Lau, and Portia Reyes, Palgrave-Macmillan.

Awards and Distinctions

• 2017. SSRC, "Making Identity Count in Asia", ($74,448)
• 2016. Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
• 2014. Tier 1 MOE Grant. "Envisioning Myanmar: Images, Identities, Ideas" ($30, 000.00)
• 2013. Tier 1 MOE Grant. "Nation-Building and Public History in Myanmar" ($87,765.46.).
• 2012. ODPRT Research Excellence Award (Top 20% in FASS).
• 2012. Faculty Teaching Excellence Award.
• 2012. Faculty Research Support Scheme. ($3500).
• 2007. Faculty Research Support Scheme. ($4882.50).
• 2007. Faculty Teaching Excellence Award.
• 2004. Faculty Research Support Scheme. ($3880.00).
• 2003. Faculty Start-up Grant. ($16,800.00).
• 1998. John D'Arms Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award (Univ. of Michigan).
• 1995. Department of Education Summer Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship SEASSI (Univ. of Wisconsin)
• 1994-1997. Department of Education Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship (Univ. of Michigan)

Professional Affiliation

• Association for Asian Studies
• International Association of Historians of Asia
• National Council of Public History
• International Federation of Public History
• Burma Studies Group
• American Historical Association

Editorial Boards and Advisory Posts

• 2017-Current. Member. Board of Directors, SEASREP Foundation
• 2014-Current. Member. UNESCO Expert & Technical Advisory Committee, Shared Histories Project.
• 2014-Current. Member. Presidential Nomination Committee, Association for Asian Studies.
• 2014-Current. Elected Member. Board of Directors, Association for Asian Studies.
• 2014-Current. Chair. Southeast Asia Council of the Association for Asian Studies (SEAC).
• 2014-Current. Assessor, Australian Research Council.
• 2013-Current. Elected Member. Southeast Asia Council of the Association for Asian Studies (SEAC), Council Member (2013-2016)
• 2003-Current. Editorial Board. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. Department of History, NUS.
• 2003-Current. Advisory Board. Heritage. National Museum of Singapore.
• 2011-2014. Co-Chairman. Burma Studies Group of the Association for Asian Studies.
• 2012-Current. Trustee. Burma Studies Foundation.

Continuing Professional Development Training

• 2017. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies Training Convener (Indonesia)
• 2017. UNESCO Content Developer, "Shared Histories in Southeast Asia".
• 2016. UNESCO Technical Advisor, "Shared Histories in Southeast Asia".
• 2014-Current. Trainer. Asia Research Institute Graduate Student Froum

Conferences and Workshops Organized

• 2018 Busan University of Foreign Studies Teaching Workshop on Southeast Asia II. Co-organizer (S. Korea).
• 2017. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies Workshop: Reassessing 1819 in Singapore History. Co-organizer (Singapore)
• 2017. Busan University of Foreign Studies Inaugural Teaching Workshop on Southeast Asia. Co-organizer (S. Korea).
• 2017. SEASREP Foundation Workshop. Law, Nature and Nation in Southeast Asia. Co-organizer (Myanmar)
• 2016. SEASREP Foundation Workshop. Public History in Southeast Asia. Co-organizer (Thailand)
• 2016. SEASREP Foundation Workshop. Placemaking in Southeast Asia. Co-organizers (Thailand)
• 2014. International Burma Studies Conference. "Envisioning Myanmar". Co-organizer. (Singapore).
• 2013. Forefront Asia Conference. "The Study of Southeast Asia Today". Co-organizer.
• 2010. Workshop. "Writing Asia: Textual Traditions, Scriptural Modernities" Co-organizer.
• 2010. Workshop. "History and Memory: Myanmar Language Commission" (Yangon, Myanmar).
• 2009. Workshop. "History and Memory: Myanmar Historical Commission" (Yangon, Myanmar).
• 2006. International Burma Studies Conference. "Communities of Interpretation". Co-organizer. (Singapore).
• 2005. Workshop. "Casting Faiths: Imperialism and the Construction of Religion in East and Southeast Asia", Co-organizer. (Singapore).