Monthly Archives: February 2016

Artist John Russell visits The School of Music & Fine

On Tuesday 23 February at 18.15 in the stunning setting of the recently refurbished Royal Dockyard Church in the atmospheric Historic Dockyard Chatham, acclaimed artist John Russell will give a free talk about his work. Formerly a member (and founder) of the subversive London art collective BANK (whose antics included faxing galleries “corrected” versions of their own press releases back to them), artist Russell has continued to make art on his own which likewise casts a gimlet eye on the doings of the art world and culture at large. The centrepiece of his recent NY exhibition consists of a video made up of animated gif files that tell the story of a near future, where humans have learned to extend life by downloading consciousness into the brains of small animals. A tale of technological transformation, SQRRL is also a chilling allegory for our own time. Recent solo shows include: ‘SQRRL’ Bridget Donahue Gallery, New York, 2016, Jexus, MOTINTERNATIONAL Brussels 2012; Angel of History: I can see for miles, Focal Point Gallery Southend 2011; and Ocean Pose, Matts Gallery London. Editor of Frozen Tears, Russell is Professor in Fine Art at the University of Reading and is Director of Research for Art. His research interests are:’Affect. Affirmation. Figurality. Event. Art/politics. Art/philosophy. Art/language. Class. Performativity. Fiction/fictioning. Visualisation. Digital media. Philosophy. Bad philosophy. Printed matter. Staging’

Although the talk is free and everyone is welcome, please book via https://alumni.kent.ac.uk/events/john-russell-feb-2016

University App Development Conference

As part of the University’s Student Project Grant Scheme HIVE, Hub for Innovation and Enterprise, is running an App Development Conference on Wednesday 16 March.

The aim of the conference is to introduce young entrepreneurs to the industry of app development and help students realize their potential by running a series of workshops and welcoming successful digital entrepreneurs to deliver speeches and provide insights on their entrepreneurial journeys.

This will be an introductory and interactive conference for non-technical people and aspiring mobile entrepreneurs; no prior technical or programming knowledge will be required for this conference, and there will be sandpit opportunities for like-minded students to work alongside external developers to grow their ideas.

Register: The conference is open to all staff and students at the University of Kent.Registration is required. Please register using your Kent IT details on the EventBrite page.

Location: Templeman Library, Library Road, University of Kent Canterbury Campus
Start Time: 12.30 There will be an opportunity to network at the end of the conference with free refreshments and catering.

Enterprise and Impact Training

The sixth annual Enterprise and Impact Training event will take place on Wednesday 16 March, 09.15 to 16.45, in the Darwin Boardroom, Canterbury Campus.

This programme will give you the knowledge, confidence and practical tools necessary to engage successfully in enterprise activities such as consultancy and collaborative funding streams.

You will increase your potential to apply your expertise within industry, public sector and third sector organisations, and will learn about how enterprise and knowledge exchange activities can benefit your career.

The training, run by Kent Innovation & Enterprise (KIE) is recommended for academics and researchers, at any stage of their career, who would like to develop skills for enterprise activity and optimise their interactions with external organisations. It is also suitable for members of support staff that work at the interface between academia and external partners.

There are only 20 places available, so to reserve your place on training day please get in touch with Janine or Kimm using the contact details below.

A light lunch is included. If you have any questions about the training please contact Janine Coomber or Kimm Sutter, Faculty Liaison Officers, ext 4574 or j.l.m.coomber@kent.ac.uk or k.sutter@kent.ac.uk. or visit the enterprise website for more information.

Specialist Exam Arrangements – deadline for applications week 23

Students who require extra time or Specialist Arrangements for exams need to apply to Student Support and Wellbeing before end of Week 23. To be eligible for extra time, you will be asked to register with Student Support and Wellbeing and you will need to meet with a Student Adviser to discuss your application.

All applications for additional time must be supported by evidence of disability or other significant difficulty (for example a doctor’s letter).

We encourage students who may require Specialist Arrangements to apply well before the Exams Deadline (1st April).

Student march planned for today

A student march has been planned on the Canterbury campus to take place today at 2pm in support of Muslim students. The march is to be from Darwin to the Jarman Plaza followed by tea and cakes at the nearby mosque.

Heide Kunzelmann to present on Ilse Aichinger

Dr Heide Kunzelmann from the Department of Modern Languages is to present on the writings of Austrian author Ilse Aichinger at the Austrian Cultural Forum in London on 8 March 2016 at 19.00.

Ilse Aichinger is an Austrian writer noted for her accounts of her persecution by the Nazis because of her Jewish ancestry. The event entitled ‘Translation, Friendship: A Celebration of the Writing of Ilse Aichinger’, curated by Yve Lomax, Research Fellow at the Royal College of Art, is an evening of performances of poetry, prose and philosophy to celebrate the writings of Ilse Aichinger and the recent publication of The Bound Man, and Other Stories (Copy Press, 2015). Alongside academics and artists from various backgrounds, Heide will be providing the literary scholarly view on Aichinger’s writings in post-WW2 Austria.

Further details of the event are available at: www.acflondon.org/literature-and-books/translation-friendship-celebration-writing-ilse-ai

Do you know an inspirational Kent student?

From 11 January until 6 March students, staff and members of the public can nominate a student to win a Kent Student Award.

Nominate someone now

The Kent Student Awards recognise and celebrate student achievement in extracurricular areas of university life. View the award categories.

Kent Student Award winners will receive £400 and it’s something impressive to add to the CV. Runners up will also receive £100.

Please share this with colleagues, students and local businesses to encourage nominations.

Apply to be a Freshers Week Helper

Volunteering in this role will also look great on your CV, it’s fun to do, you meet lots of new people and it makes a real difference to students coming to study at Medway.
 
This is what a couple of our Freshers Week Helpers said about the volunteering role:
 
·         ‘I would say being a freshers helper for the first time was the best experience i had as a volunteer. I was given the chance to be part of the transition of young people from school to university life. I met so many people that i worked with as a team and many more new people on their first day in the university’. Lefteris
·         ‘I was a Freshers’ Helper and Team Leader and the best part of being a helper was learning new things about the university and the area surrounding it while meeting new people and gaining valuable basic skills. I also found many other volunteering opportunities through the GK Unions website which I took on and have taught me so many different things. I’m looking forward to volunteering in the future.’ Laura 
 
For more information or to apply NOW to be a Freshers Week Helper 2016: www.gkunions.co.uk/freshershelpers

Canterbury Varsity is back

Varsity, the annual sporting competition between Canterbury Christ Church University and University of Kent, kicks off this Saturday (13 February).

Running until Wednesday 24 February, teams from both Universities will go head-to-head in 40 matches across 15 sports from lacrosse, rugby and American football to cricket, equestrian and snow sports.

The sporting spectacle was created to showcase the best of university sport within the community and this year the event will be supporting LGBT History Month. Both Universities believe that everyone should have a safe space in sport and wanted to celebrate how inclusive sport can be. 

Sport has the power to unify people while also celebrating the individual regardless of age, gender, sexuality and race. It is for that reason that both Universities are standing together with its LGBT members and allies to ensure everyone has a place to play. 

All students, staff and members of the public are invited to attend the matches, take in the atmosphere, support the players, and see the sporting talent that Canterbury has to offer.

Emily Barron, President (Sports) at Christ Church Students’ Union said: “Being the biggest sporting event in Canterbury, Varsity unites not only fellow students but also the wider community and allows us to showcase the outstanding talent our city holds.

“Varsity is a unique spectacle in which the raw passion, unprecedented nerves and immense pride each player feels cannot be replicated, along with the largest assembly of supporters spurring them on for the win.”

Kent Union Vice-President (Sport), Nina Mehmi, said, “I can’t believe it’s that time of year again, Varsity, the biggest sporting event in Canterbury.

“I want to wish the best of luck to all of my teams, and remember to bring home the wins. Varsity is definitely one of the most memorable things you will take part in at University. Five days, two Universities, one city…there can only be one winner!”

For fixtures and results, head to canterburyvarsity.com