A week-long celebration to showcase the wealth of interdisciplinary research excellence at Swansea University begins on Monday, November 21, 2011.
The University’s first Interdisciplinary Research Week, which runs until Friday, November 25, will include a comprehensive programme of conferences, lectures, demonstrations, tours, discussions, exhibitions, and competitions, which aim to promote best practice and stimulate new ideas and collaborations within the University’s research community.
Professor Richard B Davies, Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University said: “A variety of events throughout the week will bring interdisciplinary research excellence at Swansea sharply into focus.
“Colleagues will be highlighting and celebrating some of the leading-edge work in our academic Colleges, which cross the boundaries between the traditional scientific and technical, the political, cultural and social disciplines. It will be evident that interdisciplinary approaches can open up exciting new avenues for exploration and can generate important new insights into contemporary problems.
“We are also delighted to welcome prominent figures such as Professor John Harries, Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales and Professor Paul Boyle, Chief Executive of the ESRC, who will deliver keynote addresses outlining the future of science and social science strategy and direction for Wales and the UK respectively.
“Swansea University actively encourages innovative collaborative approaches to interdisciplinary research. This inaugural Interdisciplinary Research Week proudly recognises what has already been achieved, and allows us to continue to build momentum as one of the UK’s more ambitious, research-led universities.”
Among the many highlights of Interdisciplinary Research Week will be the opening of the week on Monday, November 21, by Professor John Harries, the first Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, who will give a keynote address, followed by questions, on the theme of ‘Science for Wales Strategy’.
The week will close on Friday, November 25, with the launch of the University’s new Research Institute for Applied Social Sciences (RIASS), with a keynote address on ‘The Future of Social Sciences in the UK’ by Professor Paul Boyle, Chief Executive of The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
RIASS, led by its Director Professor Judith Phillips, is interdisciplinary, applied, collaborative, and international; with the purpose of embedding applied social sciences across disciplines within Swansea University.
Interdisciplinary Research Week is led by the Bridging the Gaps (BTG) project at Swansea University. Programme Manager Andrea Buck said: “Interdisciplinary Research Week is a new initiative for Swansea University which has brought the diverse research community together to debate and discuss research specialisms and perspectives.
“We’ve provided an entertaining and stimulating programme which has been designed with enthusiastic input from across all the University’s colleges and academies, to showcase just some of the great work we’re undertaking.
“Through a diverse programme of activities and funding, Bridging the Gaps has had a very positive effect upon the research culture of the University. I anticipate that Interdisciplinary Research Week will act as a further catalyst for stimulating new interdisciplinary research projects and collaborations.”
For more information about Swansea University Interdisciplinary Research Week and a full programme of events, visit www.swansea.ac.uk/research/interdisciplinary-research-week.
