Yearly Archives: 2018

Kent launches project that supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

On the 26 June, the University of Kent Estates Department launches its new sustainability project: FutureProof.

FutureProof builds on the successes of Green Impact and Green15 and looks at how staff and students can help deliver a University of the future. By challenging each department to review their impacts against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), FutureProof aims to inspire individuals, departments and the whole University community to take action in ensuring that our estate, our curriculum and our students are ready for the future.

The SDGs are 17 goals that outline the vision for a sustainable world by 2030. The 17 goals and underlying targets were created and signed by 193 countries at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015. The goals seek to finish the job that was started by the Millennium Goals which ran from 2000 to 2015 and brought 850,000,000 people out of extreme poverty and yet saw carbon emissions increase by 9,850,000 kilotons.

In February the Vice-Chancellor signed the SDG Accord which commits the University to incorporate the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals into its operations and the teaching curriculum it delivers. FutureProof is the vehicle by which we seek to deliver this.

All departments across the University are eligible and encouraged to get involved with the project. To find out more please come and visit the Sustainability Team at the Estates Showcase in Darwin Conference Suite on the 26 June 10.00 – 15.00, or email sustainability@kent.ac.uk.

Scholar spotlight: Rakim Trapp-Jackson, American Football

The University of Kent’s American Football team, The Falcons, have seen an incredible triumph throughout this past season. Not only did they soar to Division one southeast champions being undefeated in their regular season, they also were recognised as the Club of the Year at Kent Union’s Team Kent Ball this past spring.

As a new member of their team and a Kent Sport scholar, Rakim Trapp-Jackson helped raise the profile of the team this season and has been an asset to the scholarship scheme we offer through Kent Sport.

Rakim has quite a story, so we caught up with him to learn more about how he came to playing for the Falcons at the University of Kent.

Originating from Jacksonville, Florida in the US, Rakim discovered his passion for football in high school. He went on to receive his undergraduate degree in America, but kept his sport high on priority. He joined the military, which meant a temporary end to his sporting career, but life would lead him back to it when he decided to go for his Masters in Computer Science at the University of Kent.

“I was interested in going to school in the UK due to the recent great achievements and developments in Artificial Intelligence – I badly wanted to be a part of that wave. I conducted a lot of research on universities here in the UK, looking for opportunities to study within the field of Computer Science. After much research, University of Kent conversion course was what I needed to allow me to chase my dreams.”

With his placement at the University of Kent, Rakim applied for a sports scholarship in American Football which has helped him gain financial support while not only studying, but getting to play a sport he thought he may never get to play again.

“My biggest achievement is after hanging up my cleats for what I thought would be my last time playing when I was conducting my undergraduate and five years later getting opportunity to play the sport I love again. It’s truly a blessing. I love my sport.”

The scholarship programme has been a great asset to Rakim, not only by strengthening his already strong physique, but opened doors to other like-minded athletes helping him make bonds with students throughout the campus.

The Falcons greatly benefited from having Rakim on their time and they hope it won’t be the last time that he graces their presence.

“Hopefully, I can get another chance of playing for Kent, for one last go round during my industrial placement.”

The University of Kent offers sports scholars to those who compete at county level or higher. Find out more about our scholarship scheme to see eligibility requirements and deadline dates.

To stay up-to-date with Kent Sport news and events, like UniKentSports on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Castle Concerts 2018

From 10 July – 14 July, Medway will be hosting Castle Concerts 2018. Set in the beautiful grounds of Rochester Castle, this much-loved music extravaganza is one not to miss.

Featuring artists such as, The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Jools Holland and his Rhythum and Blues Orchestra, UB40, Ronan Keating and The Australian Pink Floyd.

For more information and a full list of artists, visit Castle Concerts web pages.

School of Arts Summer Festival production ‘Dawn is Breaking’ to hit Aphra Theatre

As part of the School of Arts Summer Festival and in commemoration of the Suffragette movement in Britain, there will be a production of ‘Dawn is Breaking’ on Friday 15 June, 18.00 at the Aphra Theatre, Canterbury Campus.

‘Dawn is Breaking’ is an original poetic adaptation of Emmeline Pankhurst’s autobiography exploring her childhood, the dynamics of the Pankhurst family and the conflict surrounding militant tactics that divided the movement.

Tickets are free, and you can register here

Medway Print Festival co-organised by 2012 MA Fine Art alumnus Matt Bray

Matt Bray is a practising artist, freelance curator and arts consultant, who graduated in 2012 with an MA Fine Art at SMFA. He co-founded the Medway Print Festival, which is running until 24 June. Now in its 3rd year, the festival celebrates printmaking and fine art in Medway, with over 40 events and activities to showcase some of the best printmaking being created today as well as highlighting the fascinating local history of the medium.

Read the interview with Matt about his time at Kent and since graduating here.

Fine Art students take part in Revolutions Festival at the University’s Paris centre

At the invitation of Peter Brown, director of the University of Kent Paris centre, SMFA Fine Art students recently spent a week in Paris taking part in the Revolutions festival held at the University Centre, which celebrates 50 years of protest and featuring a huge range of artwork and events.

The SMFA students from the remaining two undergraduate years and the final MA year worked collaboratively as a group together with students and staff at the Paris Centre to make and exhibit new work in response to theme and site. This has included a performance involving cheese and a derivé exploring the city around the centre.

Peter Brown commented:

“It has all been going exceptionally well. There was an excellent turn-out for the Menteur launch and Medway students did the event proud with their own ‘set’ that was very well received. Thank you for enhancing our activities with your excellent students! “

The students recorded their visit via Instagram.

Commented Year 2 BA Fine Art student Kevin Hadimadja:

“The Paris trip was an amazing and enjoyable experience! Thank you very much for giving this opportunity to present my artwork as well as surrounding myself with great people. It has opened my eyes in the sense of interaction and collaborative thinking into not just the art but the journey through it.”

It is planned to stage a return visit next year.

More info:

https://revolutionsmafest.wixsite.com/revolutions/le-menteur-magasine-launch
https://www.instagram.com/smfa_paris_2018/

SMFA students and alumni feature in international festival of moving image

On Saturday 2nd June, SMFA students featured in a large-scale, outdoor screening of artists’ films and video projected on the exterior wall of The Old Neptune Pub, Marine Terrace, Whitstable, facing the seafront. Presented by 51zero/voyager at Whitstable Biennale as part of the Decreation international festival of moving image and digital arts Touring Programme. The event ran from 21.30 – 23.30.

Many of the participating artists have taken part in international art Biennials, and were showcased alongside emerging talent selected from open calls and SMFA Fine Art students, including graduates Rose Sizer and Nicola Baxter, and Alfie Killick (Little-Blood) (3rd Year), Jordan Colbert (3rd Year), Constanza Marques Guedes (3rd Year), Olu Taiwo (MA)

Find out more here.

Richard King on ancient and modern mindfulness

Richard King, Professor of Buddhist and Asian Studies and Head of the Department of Religious Studies, will be delivering a keynote talk at the ‘Happiness and Wellbeing’ conference to be held the Carrs Lane Conference Centre in Birmingham on Saturday 16 June 2018.

The aim of the conference is to explore the theme of Happiness and Wellbeing from religious, philosophical, psychological, health and other perspectives.

Richard’s talk is entitled ‘From Buddhist Meditation to Modern Secular Therapy: An Analysis of Mindfulness in Ancient and Modern Contexts’. Richard will ask ‘why has mindfulness meditation become so popular in the early 21st century?’ and ‘How do modern accounts of mindfulness compare with traditional Buddhist ones?’ The talk will explore the roots of mindfulness meditation in Buddhist thought and practice, and consider what issues arise from its transformation into a modern secular form of stress-relief.

The event costs £21.50 full price or £5 for students.

To book, please see the page here.

You may watch a video of Richard presenting on ‘Mindfulness and the Buddhist Tradition’ below.

Discover the Changing Face of Medicine

Distinguished cardiothoracic surgeon, Professor Tom Treasure will give a presentation on The Changing Face of Medicine on Monday 18 June.

The event is arranged by the Centre for Professional Practice and will explore how changing ideas in medicine shaped today’s healthcare. It takes place from 19.00-21.00 at Sun Pier House, Medway Street, Chatham, ME4 4HF, and admission is free.

Professor Treasure is currently Honorary Professor of the Clinical Operations Research Unit at University College, London and has chaired, participated and advised numerous initiatives and organisations and was a Director of the British Heart Foundation between 1996 and 2001.

He has wide ranging interests in medicine in general and surgery in particular and, after more than two decades as a world-renowned expert cardiac surgery, broadened his scope to cover both heart and lungs.

His fascination with the history of medicine led him to rescue documents from parts of Guys Hospital which were scheduled for demolition in the course of its refurbishment in the 1990s. Among these were meticulously-kept records belonging to ‘The Heart Club’ a group of surgeons at Guys who pioneered heart surgery in 1940’s Britain. Inspired by this he wrote a book of the same name which detailed the bravery of surgeons who dared to challenge and overturn centuries of dogma using the evidence of treating injured WW2 service personnel to do so.

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This free event is hosted by the University of Kent’s Centre for Professional Practice (CPP). The Centre’s part-time, flexible work-related programmes BA/BSc Top-up in Professional Practice or MA/MSc in Professional Practice and short courses have been specifically designed to meet the needs of working professionals who wish to develop their academic ability while maintaining their professional role.

Nostalgia podcast with Montserrat Roser i Puig

Dr Chris Deacy, Reader in Theology and Religious Studies in the Department of Religious Studies, has just released the third instalment of his podcast series on ‘Nostalgia‘.

In the latest podcast, Chris interviews Dr Montserrat Roser i Puig, Senior Lecturer in Hispanic Studies in the Department of Modern Languages, who presents a fascinating slice-of-life about growing up in Franco’s Spain.

Montserrat talks about the important role that memory plays in her family, including the very vivid initial memory she has from when she was just 2-3 months old, and she talks about the way that she and her siblings will often share different recollections of the same events. She relates the desperate urge she had to leave the village where she grew up, and the way she was a trailblazer for her family in seeking an education, against the instincts of her father, and how she moved to London and ended up studying for her doctorate.

Montserrat reflects on the important role that cinema played in her childhood – especially Monty Python’s The Life of Brian (1979) – when she would often see three films in an afternoon.

The interview concludes with some very personal insights about the influence of religion in her native Catalan, as well as important reflections on the nature of belonging – where and how we belong, whether our understanding of identity changes over time, if we can ever truly escape our pasts, and the concomitant danger of looking back.

The podcast is available here.