SPace
Bath Spa University’s monthly magazine FEBRUARY 2015
FEATURES 12
Spotlight on‌
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Review Professor Jim Hendler
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My Student Experience Ashley Patterson, Finalist of Fashion Awareness Direct competition
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Robert Gould, Vice-President Welfare introduces the SU buddy team
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contents 6
Update from the Vice-Chancellor
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Branford Boase award
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Spotlight on‌ Robert Gould, Vice- President Welfare
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14 Royal Television Society West of England Student Awards 15
New Creative Writing event
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Longlist for 2015 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals
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Review: Professor Jim Hendler
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International Awards for Bath Spa University film
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My Student Experience‌Ashley Patterson, Fashion and Design
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Forced Walks
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SPACE magazine is published every month and is aimed at staff and students of Bath Spa University. SPACE welcomes contributions from all members of the Bath Spa community. Want to get involved? Contact Anya Clifton – a.clifton@bathspa.ac.uk
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Editor Anya Clifton Features Writer Bethany Tomlins Design and layout Lorna Harrington
Front cover Ashley Patterson’s designs for Fashion Awareness Direct competition
Contributors Naomi Box Robert Gould Abigail Herbert Ashley Patterson Scott Rogers Faye Williams
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In the News - When tackling mediocre schools becomes a teacher shortage - Impact of Somerset floods - The Romanticism of vinyl
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Development and Alumni Relations -Alumni Reunion weekend - Telethon
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What’s On
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Staff news
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In Memoriam, Donald Whittle
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Professor Christina Slade, Vice-Chancellor
Update from the Vice-Chancellor This issue of SPACE celebrates the ongoing success of the University’s alumni, especially from our Creative Writing and Film courses.
Gill Lewis, Sally Nicholls and Clare Furniss, alumni from the MA Writing for Young People were featured on the long list for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, alongside former lecturer Nicola Davies who was nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. Giancarlo Gemin, also a graduate from the MAWYP course has been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2015, and is on the longlist for the Branford Boase Award alongside Maria Farrer and Clare Furniss. Graduates Luke Taylor, Gabby Hawes, Geoffrey Clinch and Rosie Jones were named as winners at the recent Royal Television Society West of England Student Awards for films they made here as students.
Sixteen, the film created by staff and students has just added to its accolades with a win of Best Debut Feature at the prestigious Luxor Egyptian and European Film Festival, and the Audience and Jury prizes at the Regards sur le Cinéma du Monde (Glances on the Cinema of the World) festival in France. The University is once again Creative Partner at The Independent Bath Literature Festival which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015. The festival runs from 27 February through to 8 March and the programme is packed with talks and events from dozens of writers including a number of staff and graduates.
Professor Christina Slade Vice-Chancellor
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UNIVERSITY NEWS Three graduates from the MA Writing for Young People on the longlist for the prestigious Branford Boase award Maria Farrer, Clare Furniss and Giancarlo Gemin all appear on the longlist of 18 authors for the
Branford Boase Award. The Award focusses on debut authors and their editors to reward their combined efforts on a literary success. Launched 15 years ago, the award has been given out every year and continues to be the top prize for any new author/editor team. In 2014, Clare Furniss completed the MA Writing for Young People course at Bath Spa University having already completed a degree at Cambridge University. Her MA manuscript, The Year of The Rat is published by Simon and Schuster. Maria Farrer studied speech sciences at University College London and spent much of her life teaching, lecturing and working with students with language and literacy difficulties. She completed her MA in 2012, and her young adult novel ‘Broken Strings’, written on the MA, is published by Scholastic. Giancarlo Gemin completed the MA Writing for Young People course in 2010. His novel Cowgirl, published by Nosy Crow, has also been nominated for the 2015 Carnegie Medal and the UKLA Book Awards long list.
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Four Bath Spa University graduates named as winners at the Royal Television Society (RTS) West of England Student Awards 2015. Luke Taylor and Rosie Jones
BA Creative Media Practice (CMP) graduates Luke Taylor, Gabby Hawes and Geoffrey Clinch along with BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies graduate, Rosie Jones have all won awards for their latest film successes. Monday evening (2 February) saw the students along with nominees from other universities come together at the Watershed, Bristol to celebrate the awards. The ceremony was also attended by presenter and wildlife filmmaker, Patrick Aryee who gave a keynote speech advising students on how to make a successful impact on the TV industry. Luke Taylor and Rosie Jones won the combined award for the Open category with their film, Nan. The film was created directed, written and edited by Luke and produced by Rosie. Featuring Luke’s real life grandmother, the plot focusses around the idea that grandparents teach you the things you know and help you through growing up. You then repay the favour for them as they grow older and require help themselves.
Gabby Hawes completed her undergraduate degree in 2014 and is currently studying for an MA in Feature Filmmaking. Gabby won the Drama award with her film, Unseen. Written and directed by Gabby, Unseen looks into the severity behind human trafficking and domestic servitude and follows the emotions and struggles that go with it. Geoffrey Clinch also won an award in the Comedy and Entertainment category for his film Square Eyes. This film was written, directed and edited by Geoffrey who created it as part of his third year personal project on the CMP course. Square Eyes looks into the effects of video games where one young man plays them so often that he starts to experience them in real life.
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UNIVERSITY NEWS Longlist announced for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals Bath Spa is proud to have three graduates featured in the longlist for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal and former lecturer, Nicola Davies on the longlist for the sister award, the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. Clare Furniss, Gill Lewis and Sally Nicholls (all graduates in BSU’s MA Writing for Young People) have all been included in the list of 20 titles for this prestigious prize in writing for children and young people.
The 40 nominees in total are now contenders for what are considered the golden prizes in the literary world. Clare Furniss appears on the list for her book, The Year of the Rat, Gill Lewis created Scarlet Ibis and Sally Nicholls for her novel, Close Your Pretty Eyes. Former lecturer, Nicola Davies appears on the CILIP Kate Greenaway longlist of 20 nominees for two of her picture books, The Promise and Tiny.
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International awards for Bath Spa University film Sixteen, a film created by staff and students from Bath Spa University has won Best Debut Feature
at the prestigious Luxor Egyptian and European Film Festival, and the Audience and Jury prizes at the recent Regards sur le Cinéma du Monde (Glances on the Cinema of the World) festival in France. The film is an urban thriller about Jumah, an African former child soldier now living in London. Jumah’s life looks to be taking a turn for the better when a tentative romance blossoms with a girl called Chloe. Nearing his sixteenth birthday, he witnesses a stabbing which forces him to confront his violent past. 2015 marks the third Luxor Egyptian and European Film Festival, with more than sixty films from seventeen countries being screened over the four-day event. The jury panel was headed up by French film director Yves Boisset and included directors, producers and actors from across Europe. The Regards sur le Cinéma du Monde festival has been held annually in Rouen in Northern France since 1993. There are four awards given at the end of the eight day festival. Sixteen won the public vote and the jury award which was shared jointly with Kertu from Estonia.
Sixteen was directed by Media Practice Lecturer Rob Brown who was in Luxor to collect the award. The film was produced by Senior Lecturer in Creative Media Practice at Bath Spa, Nic Jeune, and was supported by a crew of film professionals and students from the university. The film highlights the quality of the students and staff on the MA Feature Filmmaking, which is now in its second year.
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spotlight ON...
the Students’ Union Buddy Team
The Buddy team receiving their award
Starting at university is daunting for anyone
spotlight on...
but having a friendly face to arrive to can make the transition that little bit easier. At BSU we try to make the transition easier with the Students’ Union Buddy Team. The 50-strong team, who were around for the whole of Freshers’ Week, were there to respond to a whole range of queries from housing issues, alcohol awareness and bus timetables to course questions and showing the new students around Bath.
different people’s needs was completely invaluable. They used to fill a primarily social role of getting everyone out and partying; whilst that is still something they facilitate, they’ve now got a heightened awareness of different people’s wants and needs around fresher’s week. This is the first year they’ve had such a welfare-focused remit, and they handled it spectacularly.
“Throughout Freshers’ Week, the team were pretty much constantly on call, helping out with a range of SU activities such as voter registration and alerting SU staff to conversations happening ‘on the ground’. As such we were able to respond and step in where necessary, whether to check up on new students who were feeling a bit homesick, or alter our events in order to cater to a wider range of students. I have no doubt that Students’ Union Vice-President Welfare, Robert not only are new students more aware of the Gould said: “The amazing job the buddies did SU and important information around alcohol, this year of checking on their housing groups, sexual health, and river safety (among others), integrating everyone and showing sensitivity to This system of buddies recently won the award for the Good Neighbours Team in the Bath and North East Somerset Chairman’s Community Awards, which recognises volunteers, community leaders and local organisations that make a difference and positive impact in the community.
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but that we actually retained a few students who would otherwise have felt lost or overwhelmed and gone home.” There is little doubt that the Buddy team would have anything but a positive effect on new students, but it is always good to hear a positive news story as a result of the initiative. Robert said: “I heard so many positive stories during the week from new students who were struggling and felt so much more confident after just a five minute chat with their buddy. One buddy sat for an hour with a new student who had drunk a little too much and the next day they were so appreciative, and said they’d be more careful next time. It looks as though the Buddy Team is already proving to be a great success but Robert and the rest of the team do not want it to stop there. Robert explained: “Based on the work we’ve been doing this year on the I Heart Consent campaign, we’ll be including consent training in next year’s buddy training. I felt personally that this year they struck a perfect balance between being social facilitators and welfare helpers, so I’d be careful not to lean too far one way or the other. Sometimes officialising a role too much leads to less engagement... one of the reasons the buddy system works so well at the moment is that they’re essentially just ready-made friends, handed to new students upon arrival!” Being a part of the Buddy Team is a credit to the University and looks great on your CV too. The Buddies are automatically created from the housing reps, but for the remaining spaces there’s an application process that will be open later in the year for anyone to recommend themselves. Robert Gould, Vice-President Welfare
Freshers’ Buddies
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New Creative Writing event Bath Spa University launches new Creative Writing event for aspiring young writers
The University recently held the first of its Creative Writing events
for aspiring young writers. Working in collaboration with the University’s Library, the Widening Participation Office and Creative Writing Department, the day was aimed at 14-18 year olds from schools in Somerset and Wiltshire, who took part in a series of free workshops. The event was launched to celebrate National Libraries Day. The morning sessions were led by Laura James, a graduate of Bath Spa’s MA Writing for Young People, published author, and workshop leader at Write Now, an outreach initiative of the University. Laura got the young people thinking about ideas of who, where and what within a story. They then explored portraying a detailed character, evoking an imaginative setting and then seeing how the two interact, and what happens next. The writing workshop was followed by an inspiring and entertaining talk by award-winning author and Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing for Young People Steve Voake. Steve read from his books and spoke about his writing and the inspiration that helps him Laura Jones delivers her workshop create his successful novels. He offered advice to the budding authors and then answered all the questions the students had about the craft of writing. The workshops took place in the new academic building, Commons, at the University’s Newton Park campus. The children were able to get a taste of what it is like to learn in a university setting and to experience first-hand the three-story MediaWall which provided an interactive element to the sessions. 14
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Forced Walks: Honouring Esther Forced Walks: Honouring Esther takes the route of a Nazi Death March in February 1945 into the Bergen Belsen death camp and transposes it onto the English countryside. The two day walk from Frome to Bath seeks to connect with local and contemporary human rights resonances, sharing stories and bearing witness. When the camp was liberated by the British army in April 1945, some of the soldiers came from Somerset, so the walk also commemorates the local involvement in this key moment in history. The project is being run by Bath Spa Creative Media Practice and Heritage lecturer and walking artist, Richard White in collaboration with installation artist, Lorna Brunstein, whose mother Esther undertook, and survived, the original walk in 1945 The walk will take place over two days, beginning in Frome and ending at Bath’s historic Jewish Burial Ground, Combe Down, on 15 April 2015, exactly 70 years after the liberation of Bergen-Belsen. The walk follows public rights of way as close as possible to the transposed line of the death march, the walkers will pause to reflect, share and bear witness at the moments where the lines of history and present intersect. It will be an intimate participatory and performative event gathering sounds and images whilst pausing to reflect on the events of 70 years ago and sharing these thoughts with the world. For more information on the walk please click here. If you would like to participate in the walk itself, please register here
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Review Review…Professor Jim Hendler ‘Social machines: Can humanity survive without artificial intelligence?’ by Professor Jim Hendler.
Professor Jim Hendler recently gave a talk entitled ‘Social machines: Can humanity survive
without artificial intelligence?’ Professor Hendler is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) scientist with over 40 years experience and is listed among the 20 most cited scholars on Google Scholar. The talk was staged in collaboration with the Media Futures Research Centre, With the ever-growing reliance on technology, a world without it seems like a lifetime ago. But with this development leading to job losses and higher unemployment figures, some fear the technology triumph and dream of a return in time to before it was all invented. Professor Stephen Hawking recently stated that “the development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.” Professor Hendler begs to differ and claims that instead of 16
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fearing this progression, we should embrace it and work alongside it. In the 1990’s, robotics was an arm on the table that could do the jobs originally carried out by people. Now they have massively advanced to the stage where a car no longer requires a driver to get it from A to B. Professor Hendler proposed the thought that, when the current students have teenage children of their own, cars featuring a steering wheel will be socially unacceptable. There are three stages of artificial intelligence; Artificial Narrow Intelligence, which is technology that is good at one job; Artificial General Intelligence, when technology is good at several roles; and Artificial Genius Intelligence, when technology surpasses the intelligence of humans. When asked when we would surpass the point of Artificial Genius Intelligence, Professor Hendler simply stated that we had surpassed it many years ago. Our homes may not yet be entirely filled with robotics for our everyday chores but computers already capture unimaginable amounts of data. By the year 2020, doctors will be expected to face 200 times the amount of medical data than a human could ever process, thus requiring computers to be even more heavily relied upon. Due to the effect that technology has had on unemployment and the fact that five people can now do what 500 people would have done, some may ask if technology is ethical. Professor Hendler claims that it may not be considered ethical for robots to replace humans in job roles and increase unemployment, however he equally poses the question “Is it ethical for us not to use technology and robotics where we cannot deploy people?” For example places of war and disadvantaged countries would be much more accessible with technology. World issues such as global warming and war can no longer be defeated by humans alone, technology is a medium that needs to be used to our advantage. However, no matter how much technology takes over, humans will always be required to programme that technology and maintain its life. Technology is excellent for storing data; it’s people who decide what happens with it. Professor Hendler’s talk was truly inspirational and left you with much food for thought. The audience was captivated by his lecture and considerations for technology had taken on a new light by the end of the evening.
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my student experience
MY STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Ashley Patterson BA Fashion Design
Fashion is one of the most competitive industries to be a part of and making your work stand
out from the crowd can be a challenge. Third year student, Ashley Patterson recognised this and upon hearing about the Fashion Awareness Direct competition, made it her aim to showcase her designs at one of the most iconic fashion events in the world: London Fashion Week. “Entering into a very competitive industry isn’t always plain sailing so to compete in competitions against fellow designers is a pivotal move for fashion design students. In doing so, it gave me the opportunity to set myself apart from others, and show the industry what I can do. Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD) set a design brief to explore and investigate how physics can be used within the design process to open up a new way of creative thinking. After research and development into my concept I was able to further investigate, explore and expand upon that in a fresh and inventive way.
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It was important to look at things with a scientific approach so I researched into the past and present and found a link between Nikola Tesla and the Tesla Motors electric car. I used gravity suspension to suspend fabric at angles from the angular velocity formula used in the electric engine. I chose the fabrics based on Picasso’s ‘Man leaning on a table’ (1916) where he transformed art through cubism during the same time Nikola was exploring and executing his futurist ideas and inventions. From that I designed a line of ‘mini-collection’ womenswear featuring two outfits. I am so pleased with the achievement of my work being selected as a finalist for the show and of course, it would have been fabulous to win, but honestly I just loved the atmosphere and seeing my designs truly come to life. The FAD competition has given me a fantastic insight into the industry, I have been able to fulfil a brief successfully and meet deadlines, which is vital. To be part of a prestigious show such as London Fashion Week is an honour, and to have a moment like this whilst still at university has been very exciting. Despite not winning the competition, I believe in hard work, and I am determined to do just that to achieve the potential I have within me. I want to design because I love it. In the future, I will continue with design in whatever capacity I can. I would love to work within the industry first and then eventually run my own label. “
Model on catwalk wearing Ashley’s design
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In the News When tackling mediocre schools becomes a teacher shortage Dean of Education, Kate Reynolds wrote an article for The Conversation looking at David Cameron’s response to teaching and general standards within schools and the impact that teachers have on them
The impact of the Somerset floods Associate Dean, Dr Mark McGuiness commented in an article with the BBC News about the impact of the flooding in Somerset last year.
The Romanticism of vinyl Professor Joe Bennett gave an interview with Graham Seaman on the BBC Radio Wiltshire about the romanticism of vinyl – a sceptic’s view.
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Development and Alumni Alumni in The Bath Literature Festival Between 27 February and 8 March over 200 authors from all around the world will descend on
Bath for the 20th annual Bath Literature Festival. A host of celebrated authors, well-known faces from journalism and TV personalities will be joining the festivities, including Alastair Campbell, Jon Snow, Shami Chakrabati and Mary Portas.
Alice Maddicott (MA Creative Writing, 2005), who is running an exhibition called ‘The Chancery of Lost and Found’. “What would Bath be like if it existed only in your imagination? Where would the streets take you?” Anna Freeman (BA (Hons) Creative Writing, 2009) and Emma Hooper (MA Creative Writing, 2006) will be discussing their debut novels at Keynsham Library – ‘Ella and Otto and Russell and James’ and ‘The Fair Fight’. Rebecca Tantony (BA Creative Writing with Religion, 2012) will be hosting a Poetry Slam competition in The Porter. Beth Porter (MA Dance and Music, 2003) will be joining other spoken word artists at The Guildhall for The Deepest Seas. “Explore the varied landscape of the human condition through wonder tales, ballads and music”. You can find out more about The Bath Literature Festival on their website: http://bathfestivals.org. uk/literature/.
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DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI NEWS
Alongside these famous faces we will also see a group of Bath Spa University alumni, primarily from our renowned MA Creative Writing course. Artists include:
Alumni telethon The Development and Alumni Relations Office has just recruited 21 students to work as callers for
Bath Spa University’s first telethon fundraising campaign. They will be spending their evenings and weekends during March attempting to call over 3000 graduates of the University and its predecessor colleges. The callers will be finding out what the University was like when they were here and what they have gone on to do since leaving, updating them about university life today and discussing how they can continue to be involved with our amazing community. The alumni we are calling have all been contacted by the University before and have either responded to the alumni survey, attended an event or made a contribution to support our students. They will all receive a letter or email letting them know about the telethon and be given the opportunity to opt out if they would prefer not to talk to one of our lovely callers. We will be inviting our alumni to attend the first Alumni Reunion in August, with special guest Mary Berry, finding out if any of our alumni would like to become a mentor or could offer placements or advice to our current students and to invite them to consider making a donation to support current students at the university. Any funds raised will provide scholarships to those who face financial barriers or have exceptional circumstances in order that they may follow their dreams and achieve their potential. If you would like to find out more about the telethon, its aims and to meet the callers please visit our dedicated webpage.
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Bath Spa Live Poetry Slam - Tue 3 Mar, 7:30pm - MICHAEL TIPPETT CENTRE Tickets: £3; Free for BSU students Expect barbed-wire wit and raucous word play as we celebrate the skills that are taught and nurtured in the UK’s only performance poetry module. This is an event that promises to bring the glorious variety of spoken word talent in Bath together for an evening of poetry not to be missed
Quartet for the End of Time - Wed 4th Mar, 6:00pm - MICHAEL TIPPETT CENTRE Tickets: FREE Olivier Messiaen Written while Messiaen was a prisoner of war at the Nazi’s Stalag VIII-A camp. It displays his particular musical concerns, including the mysticism and transcendence of his Catholic faith, and also with nature, in the form of birdsong. A deeply involving and profound piece. Alexandra Wood – Violin, Robin Michael – Cello, Roger Heaton – Clarinet, Charles Wiffen – Piano
WordPlay - Sat 7 Mar, 2:00pm and 7:30 pm - BURDALL’S YARD Tickets: £3; Free for BSU students OnSet presents a series of rehearsed play readings of scripts from new and established writers. WordPlay brings together young actors, new writing and professional directors to develop new work and talent.
Professorial Lecture - Joanna Moncrieff - Wed 11 Mar, 3:00pm - COMMONS Tickets: Free - Book in advance Myths and realities of drug treatment for mental disorders Drugs like antidepressants and antipsychotics are presented as being sophisticated treatments that target an underlying biological process, a chemical imbalance, for example. In this SPACE FEBRUARY 2015
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talk Joanna Moncrieff will show that this view has never been substantiated, and has led to an impoverished understanding of the effects of these drugs. She will argue for an alternative understanding that suggests that the psychoactive or mind-altering effects of psychiatric drugs induce altered states that affect the symptoms of mental disorders. She will ask if these drug-induced, altered states are really useful, and look at evidence of the harmful effects they can produce.
Global Citizenship Lecture - Aminatta Forna - Wed 11 Mar, 6:00pm - COMMONS Tickets: Free - Book in advance Writing Trauma: The Case of Agnes Aminatta Forna will discuss her research into trauma and the creation of the case history of Agnes from her award winning novel The Memory of Love. The lecture formed part of The Muriel Gardiner Program in Psychoanalysis and the Humanities at Yale University.
The Bakers Wife - Thu 12 Mar to Sat 14 Mar, 7:30pm (and 2:00pm on Sat) - MICHAEL TIPPETT CENTRE Tickets: £12; concessions £10; BSU student £6; Free to Bath Spa Live Members By Stephen Schwartz & Joseph Stein From Oscar winner and Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) and Tony Award winner Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof) comes a witty, bittersweet, romantic musical that explores the themes of love, hope, conflict and belonging. After seven weeks with no bread, the arrival of a new baker brings hope and vitality to a provincial French village. Meanwhile, his beautiful young wife stirs up unexpected passions in a community where usually “nothing much happens.”
Poetry Centre - Wed 18 Mar, 8:00pm - BURDALL’S YARD Tickets: £3; Free for BSU students Jennifer Militello and Sean Borodale headline this regular poetry slot at Burdall’sYard.
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“Militello is one of our richest younger poets” G.C. Waldrep Sean is one of 20 poets selected as the Next Generation Poets 2014
Third Space - Mon 23 Mar to Thur 26 Mar, 7:30pm - UNIVERSITY THEATRE Tickets: Free: Booking Required Bath Spa University Dance Degree Shows Third Space is an opportunity to see the creative work of this year’s graduating dance students. The dance programme at BSU offers students a training programme that is both physically and intellectually stimulating. There is a strong focus on creativity and performance and the degree shows offer a wonderful opportunity to see the creative environment that these exciting new artists have been immersed in.
Global Citizenship Lecture - Salima Hasmi - Wed 25 Mar, 6:00pm - COMMONS Tickets: Free - Book in advance ‘A Song for This Day’ – Art, poetry and activism in Pakistan. Poetry and politics have long been intertwined in Pakistan. Traditionally, the Sufi poets challenged both court and cleric, their verses recited and sung by the populace for hundreds of years. In Pakistan’s turbulent 67 year history, the poet has often been the lone voice of dissent, lending courage and hope to people
Blood Wedding - Thu 26 Mar to Sat 28 Mar, 7:30pm (and 2:00pm on Sat) BURDALL’S YARD Tickets: £10; Concession £8; BSU student £5; Free to Bath Spa Live Members By Federico García Lorca Directed by Matt Ball Lorca’s Blood Wedding is a classic of twentieth-century theatre. Inspired by a true story, it’s a haunting tale of forbidden love and SPACE FEBRUARY 2015
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blood feuds. In a small rural community, where everyone knows your business and reputation is all, a bride runs away with her true love on her wedding day. The couple are chased by the bridegroom and the woodcutters with tragic results - all overseen by the moon and death.
Easter Concert - Fri 27 Mar, 7:30pm - ST. SWITHIN’S CHURCH Tickets: £10; consession £8; BSU student £5; Free to Bath Spa Live Members Chorus and Orchestra, Wind Band, Chamber Choir and Georgian Band. Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Chichester Psalms’ for choir, soloist and orchestra is conducted by third year BA Music student James Thomas. Commissioned in 1965 by Chichester Cathedral, it is one of his most Jewish works using settings of ‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands’ and ‘The Lord is my Shepherd.’ The orchestra will also play Tchaikovsky’s Fantasy Overture ‘Romeo and Juliet’ conducted by second year student Elliott Black.
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Starters and Leavers Starters Debra Turner, Payroll AssistantFinance Richard Swales, Deputy Director Library and Learning Services, Library and Learning Services Rebecca Midwinter, Senior Lecturer in Education Studies, School of Education Laura Jimenez-Guaman, Resident Tutor, Student Services Mohan Siriwardena, Team Leader, Domestic and Portering Services Katy Nicholson, Library Assistant, Library and Learning Services Sonny-Lee Lightfoot, Technical Demonstrator in 3D Design, Bath School of Art and Design Rebecca Smith, Library Assistant, Library and Learning Services Weihong Huang, Cleaner, Domestic and Portering Services Grainne Conole, Professor of Education, School of Education
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Leavers Melissa Hawkins, Senior Learning Development Advisor, Library and Learning Services Montana Sheikh, Receptionist, School of Humanities and Cultural Industries James Page, Estates and Site Services Manager, Estates Ryan Edge, Network Architect, Computing Services Anna Hill, Technical Demonstrator: Three Dimensional Design, Bath School of Art and Design Chanok Rickarby, Cleaner, SH, Domestic and Portering Services Colin Edwards, Senior Lecturer: English and Creative Studies, School of Humanities and Cultural Industries Lee Laurie, Cleaner, Domestic and Portering Services John Sturm, Academic Services Librarian (Facilities), Library and Learning Services
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In Memoriam Donald Whittle
It is with great sadness that we learned of the
sudden death of Donald Whittle on 2 December, 2014. Donald was a member of academic staff at Bath College of Higher Education from 1967 until 1985. He led Religious and Philosophical Studies within the teacher education degrees offered at that time. With his colleague, Heather Williamson, he was a pioneer in the subjects of Religious Education and Religious and Philosophical Studies. Examples of this include his key role in the development of the 1970 Bath Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education in schools which was remarkable at the time for proposing that ‘in a pluralistic society there must be an attempt to understand views other than Christianity (e.g. Humanism, Communism, Buddhism)’. This syllabus predated the more famous 1975 Birmingham Agreed Syllabus that made national headlines for similar suggestions. Although Buddhism and other world religions came to be represented more widely in the Religious Education syllabuses nationwide, it was not until 2004 that official guidance
permitted the inclusion of secular worldviews. Donald gained a national reputation for an inclusive and experiential pedagogy that saw him mentioned in the definitive history of Religious Education in this country (see Terence Copley’s Teaching Religion: Fifty Years of Religious Education in England and Wales, University of Exeter Press, 1997). Another enduring legacy – especially for Bath Spa University - is the introduction in the 1970s of experiential learning in the form of fieldwork placements with religious communities as an essential part of a Religious Studies programme, still a distinctive feature of our Study of Religions and Religions, Philosophies and Ethics degrees. An interview with Donald in 2010, sharing his memories of the 1970s and the reasons why he considered this form of learning is so important can be found at www.livingreligion.co.uk Denise Cush Professor of Religion and Education
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