Monthly Archives: December 2015

Call for book proposals on Studies in Roman Space and Urbanism

Professor Ray Laurence from the Department of Classical and Archaeological Studies is editor of a new series of books on Studies in Roman Space and Urbanism for Ashgate Publishing and is looking for book proposals.

Over the course of the last two decades the study of urban space in the Roman world has progressed rapidly with new analytical techniques, many drawn from other disciplines such as architecture and urban studies, being applied in the archaeological and literary study of Roman cities. These dynamically interdisciplinary approaches are at the centre of this series. Ray Laurence has been a pioneer of these studies with books such as Roman Pompeii: Space and Society; The Roads of Roman Italy: Mobility and Cultural Change and, with David Newsome, Rome, Ostia, Pompeii: Movement and Space. The series includes both micro-level analyses of interior spaces as well as macro-level studies of Roman cities (and potentially also wider spatial landscapes outside the city walls). The series encourages collaboration and debate between specialists from a wide range of study beyond the core disciplines of ancient history, archaeology and Classics such as art history and architecture, geography a nd landscape studies, and urban studies. Ultimately the series provides a forum for scholars to explore new ideas about space in the Roman city.

For more information on how to submit a book proposal to the series, please contact Michael Greenwood, at mgreenwood@ashgatepublishing.com.

Are you thinking about a PhD?

If so make sure that you get your applications in as soon as possible as most of the research funding deadlines are throughout January.

Kent has a £9m postgraduate scholarship fund, including some which is specific to Kent graduates.

You can find out more on the postgraduate funding pages: http://www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/postgraduate/

Make sure to check the school-specific awards for your subject area as well as all the other sources.

Paul March-Russell on China Miéville in The Guardian

An essay collection, China Miéville: Critical Essays, edited by Caroline Edwards and Tony Venezia (Gylphi Limited), which includes a chapter written by Dr Paul March-Russell from the Department of Comparative Literature, has been mentioned in Adam Roberts’ round-up of the best science fiction books of 2015 in The Guardian.

Since the publication of his first novel in 1998, China Miéville has distinguished himself as one of the most exciting and inventive writers working in any genre in contemporary British fiction. The author of nine novels and two short story collections to date, as well as comics script-writing, numerous critical works on science fiction, and legal scholarship, Miéville is a critically acclaimed writer who has also achieved popular success. The chapters in this collection respond to the range of interests that have shaped Miéville’s fiction from his influential role in contemporary genre debates, to his ability to pose serious philosophical questions about state control, revolutionary struggle, regimes of apartheid, and the function of international law in a globalised world. This collection demonstrates how Miéville’s fictions offer a striking example of contemporary literature’s ability to imagine alternatives to neoliberal capitalism at a time of crisis for leftist ideas within the political realm. The chapter written by Paul is entitled ‘Signatures of the Invisible: Reading Between The City & the City and Christopher Priest’s The Glamour’.

The article in The Guardian can be seen at www.theguardian.com/books/2015/dec/03/best-science-fiction-and-fantasy-books-of-2015.

You can vote for your book of the year at www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/nov/28/which-are-your-favourite-books-of-2015

Apply for the Student Projects Grant Scheme

We would like to remind you that the applications for the Student Projects Grant Scheme will be closed on Friday 18 December, 2015. In January 2015, grants totalling almost £65,000 were made to a range of projects across the University. We are delighted that in the 2015/16 academic year we are able to award £50,000, with individual grants up to a maximum of £5,000. 

The Student Projects Grant Scheme is funded by the Kent Opportunity Fund, which supports students by providing scholarships to enhance their academic studies, offering bursaries to assist individuals who are suffering financial hardship, and funding projects that help students to develop their personal and professional skills.

The Student Projects Grant Scheme encourages individuals to bid for funds to run projects that will enhance the student experience and employability of Kent students, offering them the opportunity to hone their skills and gain vital experience outside of the seminar room. 

Applications are welcome from student groups in Kent Union, departments, faculties and schools across the University, including our campuses at Canterbury and Medway, our centre in Tonbridge and our European centres in Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome.

Application forms and guidelines can be obtained from the Development Office or downloaded from the Kent Opportunity Fund webpage

Applicants will be notified of their application results by late January. For any enquiries, please contact Eva Chow on 01227 824547 or at W.K.E.Chow@kent.ac.uk.

Network issues

As of 10.50 we believe that the local network issues affecting many Kent IT services have been resolved, however, all services should be considered ‘at risk’ for the rest of today.

Network connections to and from campus continue to be affected at times due to ongoing issues which appear to be repeated denial of service attacks on the JANET network which connects us to the internet. We believe that other Universities are similarly affected.

The knock-on effect of this is that students may be finding access to email difficult or impossible, whether they are on or off campus. They may find access to some other services, including Library Search difficult even from on campus. Students working away from campus may have difficulty accessing any of our services.

JANET are continuing to investigate and mitigate the issue with the highest priority. We will send a further update when a clearer picture emerges, however for now, we are unable to give an estimate of how long the issue will persist.

 

A half moon rising behind Canterbury Cathedral at night. Kent.

Last Chance for Carol Service Tickets

The second, and final, distribution of student tickets for the University Christmas Carol Service at Canterbury Cathedral takes place today (Tues 8 Dec) at 19.00 at Woolf Lecture Theatre. Tickets are free, one per student present with ID. Queues will have formed in advance of the distribution time. The Carol Service is on Monday 14 December at 20.00.

SECL Winter Ball

The Winter Ball this Friday 11 December is the first ever collaborated event by the School of European Culture and Languages societies!

It is sure to be a classy event! With live music including 50’s Rock n Roll band JIMMY B AND THE BLOWERS, the University of Kent’s own STEFAN SEVER and a bar serving you cocktails and mocktails, we will be celebrating the winter season in style!

Dress code: formal
Venue: Darwin Conference Suite
Time: 8 till’ late!

Tickets are only £5. Buy them at Mandela or on the Kent Union website page for the following organisers: Kent Classics and Archaeology, Comparative Literature, English Language and Linguistics, French, German, Hispanic, Italian, Religious Studies and Philosophy

UKM Student Blog: Getting ready for Christmas

As the end of term fast approaches, it’s easy to get so bogged down with all the work you have to do that it seems like there’s no time to get ready for Christmas. I for one always find that the festive spirit seems to escape me until after I’ve finished my assignments, and then suddenly it’s Christmas Day and I’m completely unprepared. So, how can you avoid this? Here are some tips!

Deck the halls

This isn’t exactly rocket science I’ll grant you, but decorating your student room is a great way to start feeling a bit more festive. The pound shops in town do some great decorations, or if you’ll feeling more creative, why not buy some paper and create your own snowflakes or paper chains? Getting together with your flat-mates to decorate the communal areas is a great way to spend an hour away from work.

Go out for an early Christmas dinner

This can be with your flat-mates or course-mates, but going out for an early Christmas dinner, or even just a Sunday roast if you want to save the turkey for the big day. I mean, is there anything better than a roast dinner? I’m not so sure.

Jingle bells

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I always have a chilled out study playlist sorted for essay writing. This time of year, I slip in some Christmas songs to make my playlist that little bit festive. Here’s some suggestions of songs you can add to your playlist that aren’t too disruptive:

  • Otis Redding ‘White Christmas’
  • Louis Armstrong ‘Christmas in New Orleans’
  • Nat King Cole ‘Carolling, Carolling’

Do some baking 

Whether you make Christmas cookies or mince pies, baking is a great way to relax, and the smell of mincemeat will have you in the festive spirit in no time! You can take these treats to study sessions at the library, or even your last seminars of term – you’ll be everyone’s favourite!

Festive film night

Whatever your favourite Christmas film is (but let’s be honest the right answer here is The Muppets’ Christmas Carol), put it on! Pop down to the shops and grab some popcorn, or serve up some of those mince pies you made earlier, and cuddle up on the sofa with your housemates (or on one of your beds if you’re in halls). There’s no better way to take your mind off all the work you have to do.

Studying and borrowing in the winter vacation

Opening times

The Templeman Library will be closed from 17:00 on Wednesday 23 December and reopens at 09:00 on Monday 4 January.

Full vacation opening hours

Student PCs

If you need to use a student PC on campus between 24 December – 3 January, Park Wood and Oaks study hubs will be open 24/7. You’ll need your KentOne card to get in.

All other study hubs are closed 24 December – 3 January inclusive.

Borrowing arrangements

You don’t need to renew or return any books from Thursday 24 December to Sunday 10 January inclusive.

We’re extending loans for an extra week after the Library reopens because of a system upgrade, meaning you can keep your books for longer than usual.

Otherwise, borrowing continues as normal, so that books remain accessible to everyone who needs them. Please be prepared to return items when they are due, as they can be recalled from you.

If you can’t get a book back to us in time or are concerned about fines, get in touch as soon as possible. The friendly Loan Desk staff will do their best to resolve your problem:

Full details and your vacation borrowing checklist

International students

Check the International Students website for a list of all services available on campus during the Winter Vacation.

Using other libraries

Away from campus for the Christmas vacation? You can use other academic libraries around the UK and Ireland by registering for SCONUL Access.

Rutherford Grass Roots Lecture: Love, Art, and Psychoanalysis: Professor Janet Sayers

Friday 11 December, 2015, 18.00
Rutherford Lecture Theatre One

Illustrated with images from her latest book, this Rutherford Grass Roots lecture by Janet Sayers (Emeritus Professor in the University’s School of Psychology) focuses on the love story of Barbara Hepworth’s close friend, Adrian Stokes, and on his account of the healing power of art and psychoanalysis.