Phil Ward, Director Eastern Arc
The University is part of Eastern Arc, a strategic research consortium of three radical, interdisciplinary universities on the eastern seaboard of England: UEA, Essex and Kent.
‘Do different’
All three were established in the 1960s to be a different type of institution, aiming to work across disciplinary boundaries, and to offer alternative ways of thinking. You can find out more here about what unifies us and makes us different from other universities.
The consortium has already achieved a huge amount since it was established in 2013, and we’re now starting our second phase. The aim now is to deliver real and tangible change through a close collaboration to address pressing issues of sustainable development.
Thematic champions
To this end we mapped our collective strengths at the end of last year, and identified four broad areas in which we share world-leading research. They are:
- Health systems, social care and wellbeing
- Human rights, equality and conflict
- Sustainability, natural resources and food
- Culture, connection and creativity.
We’re now seeking ‘thematic champions’ in each of these areas. In difficult times it’s a real opportunity to work with colleagues beyond your division and university, and to develop a positive, creative and potentially very productive collaboration.
To find out more about these roles, or about Eastern Arc more broadly, get in touch with the Director of Eastern Arc, Phil Ward (p.ward@kent.ac.uk)
The Eastern Arc podcast series
In addition, you can listen to colleagues at the three universities discussing current issues in our new podcast series. In the first five episodes, they bring their own research to bear on the origins and spread of coronavirus, testing for it, maintaining health and wellbeing during lockdown, and how to develop networks and collaborations more broadly.
If you have an idea for a future episode, get in touch with Phil who can identify those working in similar areas at the other two universities.
Phil Ward
29/05/2020