Impact and Public Engagement
As one of the UK's leading history departments, we support research on a wide range of periods, themes and regions. As well as making substantial contributions to the growth of knowledge and advancement of methodologies in their own disciplines, researchers in the Department of History utilise their internationally renowned scholarship to engage with and inform current social, cultural, political and economic issues.
The Department has adopted a proactive approach towards exploiting the impact arising from its research to bring benefits to a wide range of stakeholders, policy-makers, charitable and campaigning organisations, government departments, and public audiences. Much of the department's impact activity focuses on the creation and exchange of knowledge and skills across the cultural and heritage sector, as well as collaborations with the creative arts, theatre groups, artistis and designers, poets and novelists, and literary and cultural festivals. The Department has contributed to policy debates on critical contemporary issues, evidence-based policy making, and government intitiatives at a regional, national and international level. Via exhibitions, the press and popular magazines, digital media, radio and television work, our research reaches the general public in Britain and overseas and, by means of public talks and tailored events, to local schools and non-academic researchers, family and local historians.
Recent Impact and Public Engagement Activities
Beat Kumin at Gersau communal assembly
On 2 February, Beat Kümin - co-founder of the Warwick Network for Parish Research - will be guest of honour and plenary speaker at the communal assembly in Gersau (Switzerland). This forms the launch event of a year of activities commemorating the temporary restauration of the parish republic in 1814. A few weeks later, he will also moderate a public panel debate on the ‘myth of freedom’, which forms part of an international conference on European republicanism sponsored by the district authorities and cantonal lottery fund. Further details of the celebrations can be accessed at http://my-parish.org/archives/1966
The Royal Birth
Dr Sarah Richardson explores the similarities and differences between the pregnancies of the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte, nearly 200 years ago, and what they mean to our constitution.
Trade in Lunacy
The Trade in Lunacy was a chamber theatre performance inspired by the practices of treating those diagnosed with ‘diseases of the mind’ in private houses set up by individual entrepreneurs to generate income and enhance claims to cure; this event built on the work Professor Hilary Marland's work in to the history of mental disorder and its institutions.
Audience comments, images and a video recording of the production are available at the Centre for the History of Medicine website.
'Atoning for the Sins of Empire'
Read Dr David Anderson's recent article about the British government's decision to compensate Kenyans detained and tortured during the Mau Mau rebellion of the 1950s. The piece is published by The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/13/opinion/atoning-for-the-sins-of-empire.html?_r=0).
Transgender China
Dr Howard Chiang discusses his work on Chinese transgender studies: emerging critical thought on gender and sexuality in Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China. His article is available via the Knowledge Centre (http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/knowledge/culture/transgenderchina).
Dr Angela Davis explores the history of NHS maternity services
History & Policy has just published a new policy paper & opinion article by Dr Angela Davis of Warwick University, exploring the history of NHS maternity services and the campaigns to improve them, and promote women’s choices and human rights in childbirth. 'Something should be done': campaigns for choice and human rights in childbirth - 23 May 2013
Despite over 50 years of campaigning for improvements to NHS maternity services, media reports suggest that they are struggling to cope with demand, while new campaign groups call for women's choices and human rights in childbirth to be respected. In a new H&P policy paper and opinion article, Angela Davis of Warwick University puts these concerns in historical perspective, arguing that women's calls for both choice and safety need not be in conflict.
Read Angela Davis' policy paper: Choice, policy and practice in maternity care since 1948
Read her opinion piece: 'Something should be done': campaigns for choice and human rights in childbirth
Past Impact and Public Engagement Activities
Find out more about the Department's diverse impact and public engagement activities. Click here
Forthcoming Impact Activities
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