The American weekly news magazine Newsweek has interviewed Dr James Cole, our expert in Human Origins and Senior Lecturer in Archaeology, on the new theory that our ancestors came from Europe, not Africa.
Monthly Archives: May 2017
Moulsecoomb Campus Open Day
Open days are a great way to find out about the local area and the campus where you will be studying. You will also be able to hear more about your chosen subject and talk to our staff and current students.
If you are thinking of beginning your studies in 2018 come along to our campus open day on Saturday 17 June. Find out more about open days on our website.
Castles and Roses: University of Brighton research project
University of Brighton research project helps Canal and River Trust develop canal heritage in post-industrial Manchester
As part of the European Waterways Heritages project, SECP researchers Abigail Wincott and Paul Gilchrist, with PI Professor Neil Ravenscroft, have unveiled three new canal heritage trails for three under-appreciated areas of Manchester.
For the two-year project, the team looked at everything from developers’ brochures to 19th century novels to understand how canal heritage heritage has been envisioned in post-industrial regeneration projects. The research has been used to identify untapped resources which can help local groups use heritage for leisure, tourism and community-building projects.
The team found that existing local development of these inland waterways as heritage assets has emphasised a particular kind of Victorian industrial heritage, with an almost complete neglect of other forms, in particular the heritage of the canal boats and the people who have lived and worked on the canals, and used them for leisure, even in the industrial heyday. Why many towns and cities have 19th century industrial and mercantile heritage, canal boats are unique to canal network and their omission is a wasted opportunity.
The canal boat aesthetic challenges the dominant aesthetic of industrial heritage in two ways. It appears domestic and feminine, painted in pretty, clashing colours with floral scenes. Intimate domestic details are often on display on the outside of the boats, like plant pots, shoes and mugs of tea.
The vivid and clashing colours and the castles and roses style of decoration have also often been assumed to be foreign in origin, but they are part of a long British tradition of working people decorating the vehicles of their trades with impressive carving and art work.
Together with a range of local community groups and the Canal and River Trust, who manage the waterways, the Brighton team have produced multimedia heritage trails that put the boats back into canal heritage.
These local stakeholders hope the trails will tempt locals to walk the canals and reclaim their very special canalside heritage.
The trails are available on the Izi.travel website and mobile app, and will soon be released on a bespoke app, designed by colleagues in the Netherlands. The materials have been uploaded to a database and GIS maps, which can be handed over to local organisations to continue to produce their own heritage itineraries and allow them to capitalise on the unique heritage of Britain’s canal network.
The trails can be found on the project blog:
https://waterwaysheritage.wordpress.com/
Twitter updates: @wwheritage
SET Seminar Series – Wednesday 17 May 2017 1-2 pm C712 ” Some Political Repercussions Buried in Urban Soils Research
School BBQ
Take a well earned break from end of semester revision and join us for some fun outdoor games, a BBQ and a some drinks on Friday 19 May. Open to all students and staff in our school. Let Daisy Kyle in the school office know if you are coming along.
See you there!
Dr Cyprian Njue , Student Support and Guidance Tutor
Dinosaur expert’s double award
The University of Brighton’s dinosaur expert, Dr Susannah Maidment, has won two top awards.
Dr Susannah Maidment has collected the Palaeontological Association’s Hodson Award for her 10 years research following her PhD and her contribution to science.
Her nominee said: “Susie is an outstanding early career palaeontologist who has made several highly significant and substantial novel research contributions. She has developed a strong international research reputation, generated significant external grant funding, and played an important role in promoting palaeontology through her outreach and media activities.”
Dr Maidment has also received an award from the Geological Society’s Lyell Fund, given to contributors to the earth sciences on the basis of noteworthy published research.
| Her nominee said: “Susie is an outstanding palaeontologist with a track record of collaborative, multidisciplinary research that spans biology, palaeontology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy.
“She has already made numerous significant achievements in her career, as demonstrated by a series of well-regarded and cited high-profile papers. She brings a rare combination of laboratory and fieldwork skills to her research, and is an excellent communicator of her science to academia and the wider public. Susie is firmly on course to develop into a true international leader within palaeobiology Dr Maidment’s research hit the headlines in 2015 when she and a collaborator discovered blood cells preserved in 75-million-year-old dinosaur bone. She said: “I’m extremely honoured and absolutely delighted to receive these awards. As a new member of staff, I hope to be able to build on these awards and develop an internationally-recognised research group in palaeobiology at the University of Brighton.” For more information on Dr Maidment’s research click here |
Source: Dinosaur expert’s double award
Why our ancestors turned to cannibalism
Research undertaken by Dr James Cole has quantified the calorific value of the human body to shed more light on the habits of our ancient human ancestors.
