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Welcome to our weekly in Focus update...... |
Past Issues << | Issue 75: Monday 22 October 2007
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Working Lives of the Thames Gateway, a three-year scheme to celebrate East London's working history, documents the past and present lives of the people of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Greenwich and Havering.
Eastside Community Heritage has received a £530,500 grant, from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), to record and share these stories of the area’s industrial past.
Up to 250 interviews will be carried out to preserve local people’s stories and experiences, and the resulting reminiscences shared with as many people as possible through a touring exhibition to partner boroughs, a website and publication.
The scheme will provide the first detailed look at the major industries of the area and how they continue to influence the lives of people living in the Thames Gateway; as the area undergoes rapid redevelopment.
Judith Preece, Docklands Library and Learning Centre Manager, said: "The Eastside Community Heritage Archive arrived with us in June, and is now available for staff, students and the general public, to use for research. The Heritage Lottery Fund team,
headed by broadcaster and journalist, Wesley Kerr, visited our Library and Archive prior to making this significant award. The team told us how impressed they were by our facilities, and the fact that we have made the archive easily available to the public."
For more information about Working Lives of the Thames Gateway; contact Judith Preece on: 020 8223 7400 or
Email: J.A.Preece@uel.ac.uk
Three Public Lectures as part of Black History Month
Black History Month continues and three lectures in our Public Lecture Series commemmorate it. BHM 2007 highlights include:
Man dem nor Gladdy'O a documentary film screening and debate, led by Media Studies and Cultural Studies student Clarence Davies, (Thurs 25 Oct 12 - 2pm West Building Lecture Theatre) relates the harrowing and moving account of the twelve years of bloody civil war which Sierra Leone is, only now, just beginning to recover from.
Faces Indie Jungle, (25 October 6.30pm Business School Lecture Theatre) presented by former student, independent film maker and media lecturer, Roy Thomas, is a series of films exploring cultural responses to the history of Drum and bass - 1990s electronic dance music - also known as jungle. Roy shows the influence of drum and bass both then, and on popular music and culture, today.
Keeping the peace? Gangs, culture and identity (31 October 5pm West Building Lecture Theatre). The programme of Black History Month Public Lecture Series events ends with a panel debate as part of Keeping the peace? Gangs, culture and identity and includes poetry readings.
Pictured: Sky Lafoucade, UELSU Race and Welfare Officer speaking at BHM 2007 launch earlier in October.
For full listings for our Black History Month events visit: http://www.uel.ac.uk/news/events/bhm07.htm
For details and registration for Public Lectures contact Franc Gooding 020 8223 2884 or email: f.gooding@uel.ac.uk
Inclusive New Media: Designing Accessible Websites (Weds 24 October East Building EB.G.08) by Dr Helen Kennedy
How accessible is the World Wide Web to people with disabilities? And how can designers create more inclusive online content?
Dr Helen Kennedy, a leading researcher and practitioner in the field of new media and in/equality, will reveal some examples of current best (and worst) practice in inclusive new media design, offer advice and tips, and introduce an exciting new research project.
Dr Kennedy has published widely on new media in/equalities, debunking some of the myths of cyberspace, and addressing issues of gender, race, disability and virtual identity. Her multimedia practice includes a range of collaborations as project manager.
Narrative Research and the Challenge of Accumulating Knowledge (Weds 14 Nov 5pm refreshments, lecture 5:30- 7:00 pm; King's College) by Professor Ruthellen Josselson. This is the third, annual, Public Lecture co-organised by our Centre for Narrative Research and King's College's Centre for Language, Discourse, and Communication.
Narrative research has produced an array of richly-detailed expositions of life as lived, well-interpreted studies full of nuance and insight that befit the complexity of human lives. Narrative researchers, situated differently, study different people, make highly contextualized interpretations and theorize their understandings differently. We are then met with the problem of building a knowledge base that can amalgamate the insight and understandings across researchers. This is a problem that has yet to be taken up directly within narrative research.
This talk inquires into the necessity and possibilities of amalgamation of knowledge obtained through narrative research. As narrative studies, with their accompanying interpretations, accumulate, how do we “add them up?” What would a meta-analysis of narrative studies look like? The challenge that confronts us is how to assimilate narrative understanding at a conceptual level in a way that does not return to a modernist frame, treating the various research reports as “facts” – but rather to treat them as situated interpretations. Insights from anthropology suggest some approaches to dealing with these dilemmas. Conversation is offered as a metaphor and context within which knowledge is to be understood.
Our Centre for Narrative Research, also, has an exciting programme of forthcoming research seminars. For more details visit: http://www.uel.ac.uk/news/events/graduate.htm
For more information and for details of the Prof Ruthellen Josselson public lecture, please contact Dr Molly Andrews on Email: m.andrews@uel.ac.uk
If you would like to register for one of the Public Lectures, please contact Franc Gooding 020 8223 2884 or email: f.gooding@uel.ac.uk
For full listings check:
Events webpages: http://www.uel.ac.uk/news/events/index.htm
Public Lectures webpages: http://www.uel.ac.uk/lectureseries/
Life and Media - an exciting programme of international speakers, workshops and events now open as part of the London's Games Week - Games for the Games Events: 22-24 Oct.
For details of events, speakers and biogs, visit: www.smartlab.uk.com, www.give-trust.org, www.safespaces.net.
Wednesday 24 October, 2pm - 4pm, Education Building RGN13, Stratford Campus.
As part of the new BSc Acupuncture programme at Stratford, you are invited to a FREE open lecture, Limits to Science. Max Gascoyne Payne, born 1930, is a compelling and entertaining speaker and was senior lecturer in Philosophy at Sheffield Hallam University. He remains an active lecturer, reviewer and writer, and is a trustee of The Scientificand Medical Network. He is especially interested in the convergence of the philosophy of mysticism and the philosophy of science.
For more information contact Charmian Wylde, Programme Leader, BSc Acupuncture -Tel: 020 8223 4518 Email: c.wylde@uel.ac.uk
Wise Up 2007 health and safety events take place at our Docklands Campus, in the Atrium, 30 October (10am-4pm) and at our Stratford Campus, in the Education building, 1 November (10am -4pm).
Activities over the two days include:
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hula hoop classes - learn how to hula hoop - how long can you keep your hula hoop moving?
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Yoga - come and try, whatever level from beginner to advanced
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First aid - learn how to resuscitate…
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Aromatherapy, reflexology, herbal medicine, hypnotherapy…. And a hazard alley.
To contribute, contact: Del Basi Tel: 020 8223 2966 Email: d.s.basi@uel.ac.uk or Kate Beaven-Marks (pictured left at Wise Up 2006) Tel: 020 8223 2585 Email:k.beaven-marks@uel.ac.uk.
Weds 31 Oct, 2.30pm -4.30pm, Docklands Campus - West Building WB. 2.02
4.30pm High Tea - an opportunity to meet informally and discuss issues further.
Following last semester's successful seminar on Pluralism and Security, our Chaplaincy is
co-hosting another event (in partnership with The Contextual Theology Centre http://www.theology-centre.org/index.htm and TELCO - The East London Communities Organisation http://www.telcocitizens.org.uk/) - looking at how universities engage with local faith and community groups to work for social change:
Speakers:
Professor Susan Price - Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Professor Jane Wills - The City Centre, Queen Mary University of London
Alice Brickley - The East London Communities Organisation (TELCO)
Jonathan Cox - Director of the Independent Asylum Commission
For more information, please contact James Ramsay Email: J.A.Ramsay@uel.ac.uk
Wednesday 7 November, Docklands campus.
Keynote speaker: the Right Honourable Tessa Jowell MP, Minister for the Olympics and for London.
This one-day conference explores how we can use the one-off opportunity of the London 2012 Games to create both quick wins and sustainable gains in public health, regeneration, sustainable place-making, individual and community well-being and quality of life.
London faces huge public health challenges. To tackle these, NHS organisations are increasingly working with local government, social landlords, universities and colleges, community and voluntary agencies. The Wanless reform agenda is also strongly pushing health services in the direction of change.
This conference is a chance to create new coalitions for change and explore more effective ways of working together. Join participants including Richard Budgett (Chief Medical Officer, London 2012), Sarah Ebanja (London Development Agency), Nic Marks (New Economics Foundation), government, NHS, voluntary sector staff, policy and development professionals, practitioners and researchers.
For more information and to book your place online visit: http://www.uel.ac.uk/health2012/
Thursday 8 November, Docklands Campus.
Come along to a special one-day conference, Positive Psychology, Well-being and Business, featuring a keynote speech from world-renowned psychologist Professor Martin Seligman, founder of positive psychology.
Whether you are involved in business, human resources, social and corporate responsibility, communication, organisational development, marketing, executive coaching, training or business consultancy, this conference could make a valuable contribution to your operational and staff development.
For more details and to register, visit www.uel.ac.uk/positiveconference or contact Sue Meade on 020 8223 4428.
Centuries of Celebrity: Re-Contextualizing the Meaning of Fame. Friday 27 June 2008, Docklands Campus.
Abstracts of 250 words are invited by 9 November 2007.
Centuries of Celebrity is an interdisciplinary conference that welcomes papers which open up a dialogue between participants in relation to the meaning and value of fame across the centuries and in so doing re-examine what it means to be famous. We invite papers which explore past and present constructs of celebrity in order to develop an historical contextualisation of this field of inquiry. Potential topics might include: Authenticity, Heroes, Representations, Scandal, Tabloidization and Mediations
Abstracts should be sent to Janet Riddle at: Email: J.K.Riddle@uel.ac.uk or Janet Riddle, Graduate School, University of East London, Docklands Campus, University Way, London E16 2RD.
Conference organising group: Julia Banister (Southampton), Julia Dane (UEL), Helen Powell (UEL) and Alan White (UEL)
David Woodhouse has provided a series of links so that we can access information and news from our Academic Board, Governing Body and Corporate Management Team.
Please see the following links:
Academic Board: http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/committees/acaboard.htm
Board of Governors: http://www.uel.ac.uk/governors/board.htm
Good news from the CMT: http://www.uel.ac.uk/vcg/news/index.htm
To conduct a search of current funding opportunities , including all the major competitions , or to set up email alerts specific to your interests, visit www.researchresearch.com.
If you intend to submit an application for funding please contact Tim Brooks (Acting Research Funding Officer) in the Graduate School. Tim is retaining his other responsibilities within the Graduate School so the more notice you can give, the better!
For a round-up of what's on in London visit: http://kids.visitlondon.com/whatson/august_events.html
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Brush up your IT skills and get an internationally recognised qualification online. Contact Greg Price, Organisational Development Manager on ext 4361 or email g.price@uel.ac.uk
Simply click here for the dates for Staff Development courses:
http://www.uel.ac.uk/staff-development/documents/ForthcomingStaffDevelopmentCoursesOct-NOv07.doc
To register for a range of FREE business support workshops from Business Planning to Protecting Your Ideas and E-Business Planning this Autumn get in touch with Sujata Vaishnav Tel: 020 8 223 7286/3301, Email: s.vaishnav@uel.ac.uk
30 October, 2pm - 4pm Duncan House
This seminar explores the benefits of a development scheme to increase representation of Black and Minority Ethnic staff at senior levels. Chaired by Secretary and Registrar Alan Ingle, speakers at the seminar are Joe Greenland - Director of the Mentor and Equalities Unit, Sonia Harding - Project Manager UEL Black and Minority Ethnic Staff Development Scheme, Chartered Psychologist - Professor Derek Mowbray and Marcia McKnight - Director of Communications Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust.
For more information contact Sonia Harding Project Manager, Mentor and Equalities Unit, Tel: 020 8223 6379 Email: s.harding@uel.ac.uk or websites www.nmc-online.com and www.uel.ac.uk/nmc/
Inclusive New Media Design, which is run from our Rix Centre for Innovation and Learning Disability is an exciting new research project which aims to encourage web designers, developers and editors to build websites accessible to people with cognitive disabilities.
Inclusive New Media Design is running a series of free training workshops for web professionals, to provide them with the skills and knowledge to ensure that their sites meet the legal requirement of addressing the needs of all disabled users, including the cognitively disabled web user community.
The workshops will show how to build accessible websites, showcase inspiring new design and offer a space to discuss creative solutions to making websites that are usable by people with cognitive disabilities. They will also offer participants a unique opportunity to test their websites with cognitively disabled users and listen to what this user group has to say about what works for them.
Workshops will take place early in 2008 at our Docklands campus. The deadline for recruitment is 31 October 2007.
Find out more and register your interest at www.inclusivenewmedia.org, or forward this link to someone you know who might want to participate.
To find out more about the wide range of E-Learning applications available to us in our everyday work, visit:
UEL Plus info: http://www.uel.ac.uk/uelplus/index.htm
SDEL staff development: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/staff_development/index.htm
E-Learning Resources: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/e_learning/resources.htm
Global Development Links, the international development charity, founded and managed by our students, has undergone some major changes over recent weeks. For a start, the name's been changed to Childreach International; reflecting an increased focus on grassroots community-development projects, that particularly benefit the under-18s.
Based in our Knowledge Dock Centre, the charity is now rapidly expanding its range of international projects and programmes and aims to be active in Tanzania, Peru, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Ghana - by Christmas, 2007.
Examples of current Childreach International projects include: funding and overseeing the development of a mother and child health camp in Nepal; an infant immunization programme in India; an orphan support programme in Kenya; and a new water pump for a remote village in Tanzania. Not only does the charity perform great work overseas, it also provides invaluable opportunities for our students to gain first-hand experience of responsible leadership roles, both at home and abroad.
Pictured: Abdul, a Childreach International volunteer, dancing with school students.
For further information, or to support the work of Childreach International, contact Dan Quille, the charity's new full-time member of staff, on 020 8223 7066 or Email: dan@childreach.org.uk.
If you would like items included in In Focus Update please send them to me by Wednesday of the preceding week at infocus@uel.ac.uk
Please print off a copy of In Focus Update for those of your colleagues who may not have easy access to email.
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