Latest News
Does the Government understand what universities are for?
The Cabinet does not understand what universities are for. Who decides what universities are for? By all means, let us avoid the pretension of referring to the "Academy" and of trying to establish an unbroken line back to Plato. Nevertheless, without such an incontrovertible pedigree, who is to choose? There is, surely, much in the argument that "the people pay, so they should say".
The Politics of Nothing
by Robert Fine, Department of Sociology
To ask the question today -what is the 'politics of nothing'? - is to refer to the phenomenon of destruction in the modern age. We are surrounded by competing banalities. On one side, we hear a repeated indictment of 'evil ones' who blow things up, be it Buddhist statues or world trade centres, apparently out of a simple demonical impulse. On the other side, we are plied with 'good reasons' why people should want to blow up symbols of western power: blame is placed on American foreign policy, the poverty of the Arab masses, or even once again on the Jews - this time, what they are doing in Israel. Banality is pitted against banality.
To ask the question today -what is the 'politics of nothing'? - is to refer to the phenomenon of destruction in the modern age. We are surrounded by competing banalities. On one side, we hear a repeated indictment of 'evil ones' who blow things up, be it Buddhist statues or world trade centres, apparently out of a simple demonical impulse. On the other side, we are plied with 'good reasons' why people should want to blow up symbols of western power: blame is placed on American foreign policy, the poverty of the Arab masses, or even once again on the Jews - this time, what they are doing in Israel. Banality is pitted against banality.
Nothing Really Matters
by Dr David Wood, Department of Mathematics
Mathematics is full of the weird and wonderful, so where could 'nothing' possibly have a place? According to the Collins New English Dictionary:
nothing (pron) 1. not anything. 2. a matter of no importance. 3. absence of meaning, value, or worth. 4. the figure 0
Mathematics is full of the weird and wonderful, so where could 'nothing' possibly have a place? According to the Collins New English Dictionary:
nothing (pron) 1. not anything. 2. a matter of no importance. 3. absence of meaning, value, or worth. 4. the figure 0
Community Volunteering Day for Staff and Students
Warwick staff and students are being invited to sign up and support local community projects in Coventry and Warwickshire at a Volunteering Day on Tuesday 14 January.
What is Art?
Someone once remarked that the question 'what is art?' was as useful as the question 'where is God?' It depends from where you start and what you believe. A few centuries ago, painters in Britain at least were viewed more as decorators than artists as we understand the term today. They might paint a coat of arms on a carriage one day and make a ceiling painting the next. Artists would work together, the apprentices grinding colours, less experienced artists painting in the backgrounds and the outline of figures or filling in draperies while the master (and it generally was) of the studio tied the whole thing together, sometimes just by painting the portrait faces on top of the bodies.
From Screen to School: Lord Puttnam Tells his own Epic Tale
Ten years in advertising, followed by 30 years as an independent (and Oscar-winning) film producer of classics such as Chariots of Fire and The Killing Fields, is not what one might consider a traditional route into education. On Thursday 14 February, Lord Puttnam visited the University to tell the tale of his journey from screen to school and what motivated him to make the change. The lecture formed part of the longstanding Speakers' Corner series, run jointly by Warwick, Coventry University and the Cathedral.
National Academy Launched - the Talent Search begins
Warwick has been selected by the Government to host the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth, following an extremely competitive bidding process against at least five other university consortia. The formal announcement was made by School Standards Minister Stephen Timms on Tuesday 19 February.
Spotlight on... Donald Beaton, Director of Personnel
Donald arrived at Warwick at the beginning of the spring term. He was previously Director of Human Resources at the University of St Andrews.
I have been at Warwick for almost six weeks now and during that time have come to appreciate and admire the diversity and range of activities that make up this University.
I have been at Warwick for almost six weeks now and during that time have come to appreciate and admire the diversity and range of activities that make up this University.
In Living Memory
The Memorial Tree Record now contains nearly a hundred entries, starting with commemorations of staff of the former City of Coventry Training College serving in the 1940's. Many of these trees have complemented the arboretum style planting at Westwood, and more recent additions have been donated by the Westwood Former Students Association.
Sutherland Staff Lounge
The former Sutherland Suite is undergoing the final stages of adaptation to become the Staff Lounge and will open on Monday 16 December.
StArs are out in Force
Student Arts Representatives (StARs) promote Warwick Arts Centre shows and events to their peers and colleagues.
Lifelong Learning
Building on the work of the Department of Continuing Education, which was formally disbanded at the start of this academic year, a new Centre has been established, bringing together a number of the University's lifelong learning and widening participation activities.