On Monday 6 June, students and staff presented their end-of-year Independent Studies projects and current research in progress at the second Student-Staff Research Conference. The aim of the conference is to give students a chance to share their interests and ideas with other students. “Doing and research in the Social Sciences can be a very isolated experience”, Wolfgang Deicke, Politics tutor and one of the conference organisers explained, “being able to present and discuss your project with a wider audience gives you the experience of being part of a proper research community. ” With over 41 presentations organised into ten panels, the conference covered a broad range of themes from user involvement in social service design to the role of new media in global protest movements. Three big themes followed through a large number of the presentations: gender, the environment and political and economic globalisation. Nick Mercer, in his second year at Ruskin, said the conference was “an excellent check on one’s own research and again served to highlight the range of subjects covered by the student block.” He also noted that “the first year students displayed an impressive grasp of what was required and ensured the rest of us were on the mark with both their questioning and genuine interest in the presentations of work by others.” Behind the scences, Carol Newbury (Warden at Ruskin Hall) and her team made sure that the participants were supplied with a steady stream of coffee and biscuits. The course team would like to thank all the participants and the support team for their input and are looking forward to the third conference in Summer 2012!

Discussion in the Economy & Environment II Panel

Discussion in the Economy & Environment II Panel

Students enjoying a break outside of Stoke House

Discussions continued in the lobby of Stoke House