ANU lecturer honoured with 2018 Max Crawford medal

Dr Raihan Ismail from The Australian National University (ANU) has been awarded this year's prestigious Max Crawford Medal from the Australian Academy of Humanties, for her outstanding scholarly achievement. Dr Ismail, a lecturer at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies since 2014, was also recognised for her publications, which make a significant contribution to the understanding of humanities disciplines by the general public. Her book, The Saudi Clerics and Shi'a Islam , was published by Oxford University Press in 2016 and Dr Ismail engages in many public policy discussions and debates about issues of the Middle East. "I am honoured to be recognised by the Australian Academy of the Humanities for the work about which I am passionate in the areas of Islamic and Middle Eastern studies," Dr Ismail said. The Director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies Professor Amin Saikal said Dr Ismail is an enormous asset to ANU and Australia. "Dr Ismail is one of the brightest, most diligent and productive scholars of her generation. It is extremely gratifying to see that her contributions as a leading researcher, teacher and public speaker in the field of Arab and Islamic studies are recognised in this way," Professor Saikal said.