Kate becomes new President of the British Psychological Society

Professor Kate Bullen, head of the School of Applied Social Science, will become the new President of the British Psychological Society (BPS) at its AGM on 30th August.

Professor Bullen has been interviewed by the BPS’s ‘The Psychologist’ magazine as she takes the chair and said “I’m honoured to have the opportunity to serve as BPS President for 2018/19, during a time of exciting change and positive progress for the Society.”

Professor Kate Bullen, Head of the School of Applied Social Science

 

Read the full story here.

 

 

We’ve been chosen to help access national teaching standards (TEF) around the UK

Cath Holmström, Deputy Head of School of Applied Social Science (Student Experience and Recruitment) and Joanna MacDonnell, Director of Education (Arts & Humanities), have been chosen to help access the quality of teaching and learning environments in Higher Education institutions around the UK. Continue reading “We’ve been chosen to help access national teaching standards (TEF) around the UK”

The Checkland building at night

Come and visit us this winter

It might be cold outside but don’t let that stop you visiting us this winter! 

If you’re considering starting an undergraduate course here in 2018, why not sign up to one of our campus tours taking place during December and January and find out more about what it’s like study at Brighton?

The tours will give you the chance to explore the campus where your course of interest is based, view our facilities and talk to our staff and students.

Find out more and book onto a tour.

Graduation – SASS prizewinners, the class of 2017

This week, more than 4,400 University of Brighton students graduated at our ceremonies at the Brighton Centre which started on Tuesday (25 July). Students aged 19 – 79 and from over 90 countries dressed in gowns and mortarboards to collect their awards.

The School of Applied Social Science (SASS), class of 2017, took to the stage on Wednesday 26th July for the morning ceremony. Continue reading “Graduation – SASS prizewinners, the class of 2017”

Come visit us at our School of Applied Social Science ‘Open Day’ on 1st July

The School of Applied Social Sciences are based in Falmer, Brighton and we teach a number of inspirational and thought provoking Applied Social Science courses.

If you are interested in Criminology, Politics, Psychology, Social Policy and Practice, Social Science, Social Work, or Sociology we would love to talk to you about why you should ‘Choose University of Brighton’.

The Falmer open day will be held on the Saturday 1 July 2017, 9am to 5pm.
To find out more, see the timetable and book your place now!

Royal Pavillion

 

Kate Bullen BPS Presidential Elect

SASS Head of School elected as President of the British Psychological Society

Professor Kate Bullen, Applied Social Science Head of School and Professor of Psychology, has been elected as President of the British Psychological Society (BPS).  The BPS is the second largest psychological association in the world, second only to the American Psychological Association. Continue reading “SASS Head of School elected as President of the British Psychological Society”

Squatting – grass roots redistribution of space or theft?

Squatting – grass roots redistribution of space or theft? This is the subject that Dr. Deanna Dadusc, Lecturer in Criminology at University of Brighton, refers to in her recent article called ‘Squatting: the urban space as a common good’, written for Times Literary Supplement (TLS).

This offers a fascinating insight into her view on the potential impact of the recent criminalisation of squatting and how this change in law could alter public perceptions around the use of urban space and private property.

The article raises questions such as “Is there really is a housing crisis?”, and whether “Urban regeneration has contributed to a social inequality by making some urban spaces inaccessible to those who used to inhabit them?”.

With business investment increasing, ‘local’ people being unable to afford to live in the area, yet vacant properties potentially running into thousands, squatting appeared a viable option for some.  However the law has changed and squatting is now illegal.

Whether you are studying criminology or this area of law, this article debates an interesting, ethical angle on squatting.

Read Dr Dadusc’s article here and let us know what you think!

 

people at an event

3rd year students showcase ideas and inspiration at BUDS

The annual Brighton Undergraduate Dissertation Showcase Conference (BUDS) took place on 17th May SASS (School of Applied Social Science), and was an excellent opportunity for all our third-year students studying in the School of Applied Social Sciences to showcase their dissertation work to fellow students and staff. Continue reading “3rd year students showcase ideas and inspiration at BUDS”

SASS BSU Awards 2017 Plaque

Outstanding performance by SASS who scooped 8 awards at the Brighton Student Union Awards ceremony!!

What a fantastic event it was at the Brighton Student Union (BSU) Awards 2017 ceremony at Komedia last night! Not only did the School of Applied Social Sciences (SASS) receive a number of nominations beforehand, but on the night they scooped up a total of 8 awards, including ‘School of the Year’ award!! Continue reading “Outstanding performance by SASS who scooped 8 awards at the Brighton Student Union Awards ceremony!!”

A glimpse into our SASS Applicant Day!

You would have thought that going to an applicant day at university to have a closer look at the subject offerings would have been a serious affair – yet judging by the smiles on everyone’s faces the atmosphere was light hearted, and fun! If you didn’t make it – have look below to get a taste of what goes on at our SASS applicant day. Continue reading “A glimpse into our SASS Applicant Day!”

Shocking survey shows that 75% of police agree with carrying a taser

 

With over 8000 Metropolitan Police stating in a recent survey that they should be allowed to carry a taser, this has become a hot topic for debate.

Professor Peter Squires, of Criminology and Public Policy at the University of Brighton, speaks to The Conversation about the lessons learnt from countries where police carry weapons, and what the research and evidence show so far.

What do you think? Read the full article here and let us have your feedback on whether police carrying tasers is a good idea.

Wesley launches community enterprise | University of Brighton Alumni Association

Last week, Wesley Ankrah (Criminology and Sociology BA(Hons) 2012) formally launched his community interest company, Essential Living Future. Essential Living Future offers training programmes, work experiences and employment opportunities to engage with the communities where property developers are undertaking development projects.

Source: Wesley launches community enterprise | University of Brighton Alumni Association

Best summer crime fiction, as recommended by a criminologist

Peter Squires, University of Brighton

A criminologist with a passion for crime fiction. It sounds a bit of a cliché, but crime thrillers may have started me on this career path to begin with. I’ve always told people that my interest in law and order was ignited by Z-Cars, when believable working class characters and realistic urban settings replaced the usual, old-fashioned cerebral sleuths in country houses. But then I’ve been reading mysteries and detective stories since childhood. I started, as did many, with the Famous Five and the Hardy boys, before gravitating on to more adult crime fiction and legal thrillers. Continue reading “Best summer crime fiction, as recommended by a criminologist”

How illegal firearms find their way onto British streets despite tough laws

Helen Williamson, University of Brighton

How it is possible to get hold of weapons in Britain despite tough laws that restrict their ownership and use? This strict firearm legislation, enacted chiefly through the Firearms Act 1968 and amendments following the 1987 Hungerford mass shooting and 1996 Dunblane mass shoting, has reduced the number of purpose-made firearms in circulation. This has contributed to the number of firearms offences (including those using airguns and air rifles) falling from a high of 24,094 in 2004 to 7,866 in 2015. Continue reading “How illegal firearms find their way onto British streets despite tough laws”

Dunblane massacre 20 years on: how Britain rewrote its gun laws – and the challenge it faces now

Peter Squires, University of Brighton

Thomas Hamilton walked into Dunblane Primary School, near Stirling, Scotland on March 13 1996, armed with four legally-owned handguns and over 700 rounds of ammunition. In three to four terrible minutes, he fired 105 shots killing 16 children and their teacher, and wounding 15 more children. His last shot killed himself.

In the 20 years since Dunblane, a great deal has been learned about preventing gun violence. Only the United States, where mass shootings now number in the hundreds, seems reluctant to embrace those lessons, prompting president Barack Obama to wonder why the US could not do more on gun control. Continue reading “Dunblane massacre 20 years on: how Britain rewrote its gun laws – and the challenge it faces now”

The Big Short is a perverse Robin Hood parable – in which King John wins

Alex Simpson, University of Brighton

At heart, The Big Short – which just won Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars – is a parable. Much like Robin Hood’s comment on the greed of King John, it warns of the dangers that come from taking from the poor for personal gain and power. It is a simple story designed to illustrate a moral lesson. And when the moral lesson in hand is calling out the financial establishment, you’d think we should be pleased the film is scoring so many accolades.

But this particular story has some issues. While the film attacks the moral architecture of Wall Street’s financial services industry, in doing so it continues to uphold the “virtue” and “sanctity” of the financial market. The outcome is another dramatisation of the events surrounding the financial crisis that leaves a sour taste and a questionable moral lesson. Continue reading “The Big Short is a perverse Robin Hood parable – in which King John wins”

How to build better prisons

Yvonne Jewkes, University of Brighton

The “new for old” prison reform programme would close old city-centre jails in British cities, such as the iconic HMPs Pentonville, Wandsworth and Strangeways. Speculation about what will replace these notorious Victorian “houses of correction” has been rife.

These and more recent prisons also slated for closure, such as HMP Holloway, occupy valuable city centre sites. Some will be bulldozed or redeveloped as housing – or even, as with the former HMP Oxford, as a boutique hotel with rooms designed around the former cells, exercise yards and punishment blocks. Continue reading “How to build better prisons”

Fairness and the City: A better politics. Annual Lecture for the University of Brighton’s Festival of Social Science

Danny Dorling, Halford Mackinder Professor at the University of Oxford will be delivering the University of Brighton Annual Social Science Forum Lecture.
Thursday 19th May 2016
5.30-7.00pm

Of the richest 25 countries in the world the UK has become one of the most unequal and is on course to win the ‘global race’ to become the most economically unequal of all by 2030. In all of Western Europe, apart from in post-crisis Ireland, no other country taxes and spends as little on its society as the UK does. Once all taxes are considered it is clear that the most well off 1% of society pay tax at a lower rate than the poorest tenth, whilst simultaneously complaining about how much they contribute and how little they think they get back. Danny Dorling is a leading thinker on the geography of inequality and a member of the London Fairness Commission. His recent lecture addressed these glaring disparities; considering how we arrived at this situation and what we could do about changing it.

www.dannydorling.org
@dannydorling

Huxley Lecture Theatre, Room 300, Huxley Building, University of Brighton, Lewes Road, Brighton.  BN2 4AT

For more information contact Julie Green: J.Green2@brighton.ac.uk

Obama’s bold move against guns proves the politics of firearms really is changing

Peter Squires, University of Brighton

It’s common in the US to refer to a second-term president in his final year as a “lame duck”, his time limited, his momentum gone, and his political capital ebbing away to whoever’s next in line for the White House. But, not for the first time, Barack Obama has surprised and confounded his critics.

Deeply frustrated by the failure of his package of “sensible gun controls” to secure enough votes in the Senate back in April 2013, he has now announced a series of executive control measures as a way of delivering on key gun control commitments, re-energising the debate and doing so in a way that may favour the Democratic cause in a presidential election year. Continue reading “Obama’s bold move against guns proves the politics of firearms really is changing”