Leanne Weber is a Research Professor in the Canberra Law School with a multi-disciplinary background in the social sciences. She researches policing and border control using criminological and human rights frameworks. Leanne holds an MA in the theory and practice of human rights from the University of Essex, and an MPhil and PhD in criminology from the University of Cambridge. She joined CLS in February 2021, having previously been a Future Fellow in the School of Social Sciences and Director of the Border Crossing Observatory at Monash University. She has (co)authored/edited 10 academic books and published more than 50 journal articles and book chapters on policing, human rights and border control.
On September 8, Leanne will present On the dangers of law without social context where she draws on her own professional experience as a social scientist in a presentation devised for Social Sciences Week 2021. The event is co-hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology and CLS. In this lecture, Leanne will draw on several decades of criminological research on policing and border control to illustrate the value and importance of bringing together knowledge derived from legal and social science traditions. The event will be a zoom event and registration is required as Zoom details will be sent to all participants closer to the date of the event.
The Weekly Wrap caught up with Leanne and here are Leanne's answers to our light-hearted questions.
Where do we find you this weekend?
Cross country skiing in the Kosciusko National Park. I’m so lucky to live in the Snowy Monaro LGA, so this still fits within the NSW Covid rules.
What’s the ideal start to a Sunday? Gentle start or a jolt?
This has definitely changed during my lifetime and it’s a deliberately slow start now. I didn’t even own a pair of PJs until my 50s, but these days I have trouble struggling out of them.
What’s the best thing you’ve watched on TV recently?
After being late adopters, my partner and I have become obsessed with Scandi noir drama series. Since the real world is becoming increasingly dismal, I have to ask myself: ‘Why?’.
A glass of something you’d recommend?
For a bit of a kick you can’t beat a Jindy Devil. Chillie schnapps from the local Wild Brumby distillery and one other secret ingredient which we make all our visitors guess. I can’t tell you what it is or I would have to kill you.
What’s that you’re singing in the shower?
I like to pretend I’m Karen Carpenter, or Carly Simon, or even Patsy Cline. I’ve got a low pitched voice so I go for the altos.
Soundtrack of your choice?
I’m embarrassingly stuck in the late 60s to early 80s, and there’s just too much to choose from there. But as for contemporary musicians, I’m an absolute fan-girl of the incomparable Beth Hart.
Best vacation you’ve been to?
I travelled a lot in earlier years – from independent trekking in the Himalayas to lots of European jaunts while living for a while in the UK – so I was always a bit sneery about the idea of a ‘vacation’. But I surprised myself a few years back when I went to a conference in Waikiki and actually loved the place. I guess that’s the sort of spot you would go for a ‘vacation’.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us.
I’ve never once in my life played a video game, and don’t expect that will change ever.
The ideal dinner menu?
Something with lots of coconut milk and spice, and maybe my home made flourless carrot cake afterwards. It takes ages to make but is worth it, so I was quite annoyed the year I made it for my own birthday and one of our dogs ate it.
Ideal dinner venue?
Best meal ever was on a pristine beach in Coffin Bay, South Australia, with our trailer sailer nosed into the sand, cooking freshly caught King George whiting on a campfire, washed down with some chilled Port Lincoln sav blanc.
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