The beginning of 2019 brought a sense of anticipation and excitement for things to come. To kick off the New Year, we’re shining a spotlight on the insight and activities of our academics. In addition to the latest news and updates, check out some of our favourite academic blogs, articles and media appearances below.
Multi-award winning children’s author, Katherine Rundell, has been announced as the keynote speaker for this year’s University of Winchester Writers’ Festival.
Katherine’s keynote speech – titled Why You Should Read Children’s Books Even Though You Are So Old and Wise – will explore how reading children’s books can reignite the imagination and help create new perspectives on the world.
The University of Winchester Writers’ Festival takes place 14-16 June, with Katherine’s keynote speech at 9am on Saturday 15 June.
The dismantling of a tower crane signalled another construction milestone for our new learning and teaching building at West Downs Quarter, just months after celebrating the development reaching its highest point.
At 72.5 metres tall, with a jib measuring 35 metres in length, Tower Crane 2 was the smaller of two cranes used to lift steel, concrete and a wide variety of other building materials, as well as large tools and equipment, on the construction site. Tower Crane 1 will remain on site until summer 2019.
Find out more about the development
Professor Andrew Knight, Director of the Centre for Animal Welfare, labelled a recent research study performed on monkeys as “disturbing” and “very irresponsible”.
The study saw scientists in China edit the genes of five cloned macaques to induce mental illnesses including schizophrenia and depression. Andrew condemned the study for causing suffering to the animals and questioned whether the study would produce any tangible benefits for human patients.
Dean of Arts, Professor Alec Charles shared his thoughts about the value of the BBC and the importance of television licences on BBC Three Counties Radio‘s consumer issues programme The JVS Show. Chatting to radio host Jonathan Vernon-Smith, Alec highlighted how important the BBC is as cultural force in the UK and beyond and emphasised how much would be lost if the television licence fee was abolished. He also advocated for a more progressive method of taxation whereby households paid according to their means.
Listen now (segment starts at 1:10:00, Alec contributes at 1:19:48)
Professor Kate Adams, Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange and Professor of Education and Childhood, explores the nature of dreams and the impact they can have on a child’s spiritual life. She concludes that giving children the space they need to talk about their dreams can help them examine their thoughts and beliefs about life.
Karin Jenssen, Cleaner at the University, published The Story of the Big Light and the Light of the World, an illustrated book inspired by the Christian story of creation.
Karin collaborated on the book with her daughter Maria, a final year Fine Art student at Southampton Solent University, who drew the illustrations, and her sister Gela, who handled the project’s graphic design.
Find out more and purchase the book here
As Prime Minister Theresa May battles to push her Brexit deal through Parliament, the debate around whether the public should get to vote on the final deal continues. But would the second referendum unite the country or just divide it further? Professor John Denham, former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics, shares his thoughts.
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