lgbtq flag

Lecturers’ study reveals complex response by LGBTQ+ people and mental health struggles in the UK’s ‘gay capital’

The two-year project led by University of Brighton researchers Dr Zoë Boden-Stuart and Dr Nick McGlynn asks ‘Does living in Brighton make for LGBTQ+ happiness?’ and explores experiences of migration, social isolation, loneliness and mental health for LGBTQ+ people who had chosen to move to the city, and who had sought support from MindOut.

Continue reading “Lecturers’ study reveals complex response by LGBTQ+ people and mental health struggles in the UK’s ‘gay capital’”

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”

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!”

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”

If the banks were too big to fail, why isn’t the British steel industry?

Alex Simpson, University of Brighton

The financial crisis of 2008 taught us that markets fail. But the current plight of the steel plant in Port Talbot, Wales, shows how not all markets fail equally.

Eight years ago the UK treasury pumped £850 billion into a failing banking industry. Teetering on the brink of collapse, the Treasury stepped in through a succession of loans, share purchases and liability guarantees, using 89% of its assets to prop up the industry. The historic step led to the government owning a majority stake in Royal Bank of Scotland, one of the world’s biggest banks, and more than 40% of the combined Lloyds TSB and HBOS banks. Continue reading “If the banks were too big to fail, why isn’t the British steel industry?”

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”

Explainer: why the Supreme Court ruled against joint enterprise

Peter Squires, University of Brighton

Hundreds of convictions may need to be re-examined after a landmark Supreme Court judgement found that a man found guilty of murder under the controversial “joint enterprise” principle should have his murder conviction quashed.

The man, Ameen Jogee, was convicted after the jury in his original trial believed him guilty of encouraging the killer, Mohammed Hirsi, who actually struck the fatal blow – even though Jogee was outside the building when the murder occurred. Continue reading “Explainer: why the Supreme Court ruled against joint enterprise”

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

A political movement is rising from the mud in Calais

Raphael Schlembach, University of Brighton

Since the official refugee reception centre in the French town of Calais closed in 2002, undocumented migrants hoping to cross the Channel to Britain have found shelter in a number of squatted migrant camps, locally known as “the jungles”.

Consisting largely of tents and self-built shacks, the two largest in Calais and Dunkirk now have some 8,000 residents between them. Many are refugees fleeing conflict in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan and surviving in extremely poor living conditions. Continue reading “A political movement is rising from the mud in Calais”

Four key economic trends shaping society

Philip Haynes, University of Brighton

The year is off to a turbulent start; both in the UK, and around the world. January saw oil prices plummeting, while Chinese growth slowed, spooking investors (but surprising none). But amid the turmoil and confusion of global stock markets, there are a few economic trends which look set to hold sway throughout 2016.

Here’s a wrap up of some of the key developments which will shape our society in the months to come. Continue reading “Four key economic trends shaping society”

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”