Geographer contributes to debate on the new Longitude Prize
Longitude prize 2014: a poor replacement for political action Geography's Jon Mendel in the Guardian 21 May: When it comes to dealing with global challenges, we should be holding our government to account, not seduced by hopes that science will solve our problems. The UK government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has proudly announced the new Longitude prize and minister David Willetts states that “this prize will challenge scientists to tackle one of today’s greatest scientific problems”. Longitude 2014 “is a challenge with a £...
Growing up in the new Scotland
Geography's Lorraine van Blerk helps organise Growing up in the New Scotland event Growing up in the new Scotland: The impact of independence on the future of Scotland’s children This is a Five Million Questions event 10/6/14, 6pm, Dalhousie Building Although most public services pertinent to children’s lives such as health and education are already devolved to the Scottish Government, they are still likely to be transformed under a new Scotland. Further the welfare system, its benefits and cuts remain the responsibility of the UK Government and this directly impacts family and child poverty. T...
Icing on the Cake?
Town and Regional Planning were delighted that Barbara Illsley’s excellent teaching was acknowledged when she received one of the College of Arts and Social Sciences’ 2014 Teaching and Good Practice Awards under the “Transformational Teaching: Creating Wider Impact” category. The Course Team had nominated Barbara for a range of learning and teaching initiatives she has developed over the years and which have helped to raise the profile of planning amongst the general public. In selecting just one of her initiatives, Barbara talked about her work with primary and secondary schools an...
Inspiring Mugs?
Town and Regional Planning staff Anne Thomas-Cumming, Vincent Onyango and Deborah Peel would very much like to thank their students for their nominations for this year’s category: Most Inspirational Teaching of Undergraduates. This DUSA initiative is a fantastic example of how students can tell their lecturers about what makes a difference. Feedback is important for all of us and the Town and Regional Planning staff are most appreciative of these nominations. It is, of course, our aim to create a transformational learning environment for all students but this award is a clear way of telling us we are...