Last week, Andy Miah gave another lecture to the Design Interactions programme at the Royal College of Art. This time, the focus was on Robot Ethics and his presentation dealt with aspects of prosthesis, robotics and artificial life. Also speaking that day was the renowned science fiction writer Bruce Sterling.
Archive for October, 2007
John W Robertson (Ayr, 12-2, 24 Oct, 2007)
October 16, 2007John W. Robertson: ‘Quality and Quantity’: The value of online seminars for Media and Cultural Studies undergraduates
Much previous research into the effectiveness of Computer-mediated Communications (CMC) has suffered from a lack of clarity or of consistency in the adoption and explication of coding typologies or taxonomies. This has reduced opportunities for comparison between studies and for the accumulation of evidence to guide pedagogy. In addition, most studies of CMC have used post graduate students from the sciences, mathematics and engineering as their subjects. There is a notable dearth of studies with undergraduate students and, in particular, with students in the arts, social sciences and humanities. In this study, 104 undergraduate students on media-related programmes undertook a three-week online (BlackboardTM) discussion on the nature of cultural globalisation. The quality of the discussion was evaluated using an enhanced taxonomy rooted in Bloom and other more recent writers. The pattern of dialogue was also mapped and represented graphically. The results suggest that CMC as a method for enhancing peer-led discussion of theoretical concepts, with media arts undergraduates, can be very effective.
The session will offer suggestions for maximising the quality for the learner of such experiences.
The full research report appears in Learning, Media and Technology, 32 (4) 2007
The Big Debate:’that’s not research it’s art’ (Manchester, 23 Oct, 2007)
October 16, 2007The Big Debate:’that’s not research it’s art’
23 October 2007 – 4.15pm to 6pm
Location: Bragg Lecture Theatre, Martin Harris Bldg, University of
Manchester.
A debate about the place of ‘practice as research’.
With Suzy Butters (Art History), Andrew Irving (Visual Anthropology),
and
Kevin
Malone (Music). The session will be chaired by Sasha Dundjerovic
(Drama).
This debate will be followed by a drinks reception.
NB: This is a free event and forms part of the Drama department’s
Research
Encounters Seminar series.
For more information please contact Jennifer.Kidd[AT]manchester.ac.uk or
katharine.low[AT]postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
Arrival of New Professor
October 16, 2007Yvonne Spielmann joins the School this semester as Professor of New Media.
Yvonne Spielmann (Ph.D. habil.) is formerly Professor of Visual Media at the
Braunschweig School of Art, Germany, previously Assistant Professor of
Media Studies at the University of Siegen, Germany. She is author of the
books “Eine Pfütze in bezug aufs Mehr. Avantgarde” (1991), “Intermedialität.
Das System Peter Greenaway” (1998), and “Video. Das reflexive Medium”
(2005). The Engish translation of the book “Video. The Reflexive Medium” is
forthcoming with MIT Press in fall 2007.
She has edited “Kunst und Politik der Avantgarde” (1989), “Image – Media –
Art” (German and English, 1999, together with Gundolf Winter), “What is
Intermedia?”, special issue of Convergence, winter 2002 (together with
Jürgen Heinrichs), and is editor of “Hybrid Identities in Digital Media”, special
issue of Convergence, winter 2005 (together with Kerstin Mey) and the
section “Forty Years of Video Art” of Art Journal (2006) and “Cultural
Renovations. Spaces, Identities, and Re/presentations” (together with Meike
Kröncke and Kerstin Mey), (German, 2007).
Research grants and fellowships include the Getty Center (1989/90), The
Society for the Humanities at Cornell University (2000/2001), The Rockefeller
Foundation’s Bellagio Study & Conference Center (2002), The Daniel Langlois
Foundation (2003 and 2004), the Japan Foundation (2005), and the National
University of Singapore (2007).
5 new phd students
October 16, 2007This semester, five new phd students start with us full time:
Ana Adi, BA, MA, MA
Ana Adi is a doctoral researcher in the School of Media, Language and Music at the University of Paisley (University of the West of Scotland). Ana comes to the University after completing a Fulbright scholarship at the Missouri School of Journalism of the University of Missouri-Columbia where her dissertation was on emotional engagement with online news video releases. Ana has worked as a PR Executive for various agencies and organisations such as Mojo AD in the United States and McCann PR in Romania. She also has extensive experience as a radio producer.
An expert in Public Relations, Ana’s background is in Political and Administrative Studies and Strategic Communication. Ana’s PhD investigates the role of new media structures and public relations in China, as they relate to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Ana is a Staff Writer for Culture at the Olympics: Issues, Trends and Perspectives. Ana is a true polyglot, fluent in English, Spanish, French and competent in German, Dutch and Italian, along with her mother tongue, Romanian.
Link:
http://anaadi.wordpress.com
Contact details: ana.adi@gmail.com
John Andrew Carruthers, BA (Hons), MSc
John Andrew Carruthers is engaged in PhD research with the School of Media, Language and Music at the University of Paisley. John’s current research explores the effectiveness of separate and integrated marketing communications in selling alcoholic beverages to consumers within the eighteen to thirty age group in the United Kingdom.
John obtained a BA (Honours) degree in Communication and Mass Media from Glasgow Caledonian University, and an MSc International Marketing degree from the University of Paisley. He previously worked in a marketing role for Glasgow Caledonian University, and currently works on behalf of the United Kingdom Government providing sexual health information and advice to young people. Aside from marketing communications, his wider interests include European, Asian and Middle Eastern media, global communication and information technology, online marketing and buyer behaviour.
Bettina Hörmann, BA (Hons), MRes
Bettina (Tina) Hörmann is the Institute of Nanotechnology Doctoral Researcher in Public Engagement with Science, at the School of Media, Language and Music, University of Paisley. Tina’s research investigates ethical, policy and communication issues arising from nanotechnology.
Previously a Master degree student in Sociology at Brunel University, where she attained a Distinction on her dissertation, Tina is originally from Germany. Her undergraduate honours degree in Communication is from the University of Applied Science Hanover. Tina brings considerable expertise in the area of science communication and is working closely with the IoN in developing an industry sensitive analysis of critical nanotechnology challenges within the United Kingdom. In September 2007, Tina participated in the NanoBio-RAISE programme on public engagement with nanotechnology held at Oxford University.
links:
http://www.bettinahoermann.net
http://www.nano.org.uk
email: email@bettinahoermann.net
Elizabeth McLaughlin BA, MSc (award pending)
Elizabeth is joining the university as a PhD student studying media effects at the School of Media, Language and Music. Elizabeth’s research intends to look at the impact the Internet is having on young people and their engagement with the world of news media and politics.
Elizabeth has just completed a Masters in Political Communication at the University of Glasgow, and her dissertation researched the role the Internet is playing in local newspapers and whether this is helping to embrace the concept of citizen journalism. She has an undergraduate degree in Journalism Studies, which she gained at Bell College in Hamilton.
Elizabeth has spent the past 22 years as a working journalist, 15 of those as editor of local weekly newspapers in Glasgow and Ayrshire. She has also lectured in journalism and media related subjects for the past eight years teaching at Bell College and Glasgow Caledonian University. She has considerable experience and knowledge of the newspaper industry – having worked up through the ranks from her first appointment as a trainee reporter at the age of 18 – and her research will also look at the impact the Internet is having on the traditional mass media.
email: mclaughlineliz@aol.com
John Quinn, Cert. HE, BA (Hons)
PhD Student: Media Effects
John holds a BA in Cinema from the University of Paisley. His dissertation explored connections between Modernism, Jungian Psychoanalytic theory, and the aesthetics of German Expressionist cinema. John also specialised in creative writing and is currently working on a novel.
Research interests
‘High Concept’ production values/ Jungian Psychoanalytic theory/ Crime & Deviance/ Biomedical & Bio-psychosocial theory/ Modernity & Modernism
Links
http://www.bebo.com/quinnjohn5
[e] quinn.john@talk21.com
