Q&A Panel from the 2015 Writing Summer School, organised by the University Graduate School, University of Birmingham
Panelists: Prof Fiona Carmichael, Dr Nicki Smith, Prof Allan H Anderson. Moderator: Erika Hawkes

Writing Summer School 2015

Joe Baker sits down with Professor Dan Oron to discuss the potential of nanophotonics, the study of behaviour of light on the nanometre scale (the distance hair grows in 1 second) and developing next-generation technologies to study the relationship between structure and optical function in biological system. Professor Oron is a world-class specialist at the Weizmann Institute of Science, and excited to share his work and journey with apprising physicists, like PhD researcher Joe Baker.

Studying physics opens a world of possibilities – find out more by visiting the Planet Possibility website at: https://www.planetpossibility.co.uk/.

Episode 1: Dan Oron on the potential of nanophotonics

Joe sits down with Dr Ruchi Gupta to discuss developing revolutionary wearable, implantable and point-of-care sensors and microanalytical systems which can be integrated into the daily life of individuals whilst monitoring health. Dr Ruchi Gupta is an associate professor at University of Birmingham having studied across three continents in her career.

Studying physics opens a world of possibilities – find out more by visiting the Planet Possibility website at: https://www.planetpossibility.co.uk/.

Episode 2: Ruchi Gupta on revolutionary sensors for better healthcare treatment

Joe sits down with Rachel Youngman to discuss how Institute of Physics aims to tackle stereotypes and address the physics skills shortage, particularly in education. Rachel is Chief Executive of the Institute of Physics, having worked in international development and social justice.

Studying physics opens a world of possibilities – find out more by visiting the Planet Possibility website at: https://www.planetpossibility.co.uk/.

Episode 3: Tackling stereotypes and the physics skills shortage with Rachel Youngman

Joe sits down with Professor Kai Bongs to discuss the merging of academia and industrial knowledge to build meaningful quantum technologies for the future – to fight climate change, predict natural disasters and to see what lies beneath the ground. Professor Bongs is Director at the Institute for Quantum Technologies at the German Aerospace Centre. Before this Professor Bongs headed the UK Quantum Technology Hub Sensors and Timing.

Studying physics opens a world of possibilities – find out more by visiting the Planet Possibility website at: https://www.planetpossibility.co.uk/

Episode 4: Merging academia and industry with Kai Bongs

Joe sits down with Abhilash Jha to discuss building the ultimate timekeeper in a transportable atomic clock and working in the University of Birmingham’s clock laboratory – one of the coldest places in the known universe! Abhilash Jha is early-stage researcher at the UK Quantum Technology Hub Sensors and Technology.

Studying physics opens a world of possibilities – find out more by visiting the Planet Possibility website at: https://www.planetpossibility.co.uk/.

Episode 5: Abhilash Jha and the ultimate timekeeper

We’re excited to launch our brand new podcast mini-series, Decolonial Dialogues, from Birmingham Business School’s Decolonisation Project, to understand in depth what decolonising the business school means from different perspectives.

In this episode, we contextualise the project, and our understanding of decolonisation within a Business School, as well as share a bit more about how the project launched, and what listeners should expect from the series. 

Learn more about Birmingham Business School’s Decolonisation Project: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/business/research/research-projects/decolonising-the-business-school

To get in touch, please email Anita Lateano, from the Decolonisation Project, at: a.lateano@bham.ac.uk

This episode was produced and hosted by Birmingham Business School’s Decolonisation Project.

The music is from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/yasumu/blue-waters License code: QGWG3Y8D0JBENZSK.

Decolonising the Business School: Introduction to our new podcast

In the first episode of the new Decolonial Dialogues mini-series, hear what decolonising the business school means from one of the leading voices in the field, Professor Bobby Banerjee in conversation with Birmingham Business School’s Professor of Inclusive Leadership, Donna Ladkin.

In this episode, we delve into what decolonising the business school looks like from the perspective of an educator. We speak to Professor Bobby Banerjee, where his research focuses on sustainability, climate change, and postcolonial and decolonial movements. He joins us from Bayes Business School, formally Cass Business School, whose name change in the wake of June 2020’s Black Lives Matter movement, sparked conversation within the wider business school environment. Bobby is a leading voice in the debates surrounding decolonising the business school, who has inspired our own journey through his ‘Manifesto for Decolonising the Business School’ and work with ETHOS: The Centre for Responsible Enterprise. Bobby and Donna discuss their journeys toward decolonial thinking, the balance between working in a business school and critiquing its operations, and Bobby’s multi-cultural student experience. Reflecting on his own journey with decolonisation, through academia, activism and as an educator, this conversation between Professor Bobby Banerjee and Professor Donna Ladkin gives listeners a deeper understanding of what decolonising is, the challenges the business school faces in decolonising, and practical steps we can all take to get there.

Learn more about Birmingham Business School’s Decolonisation Project: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/business/research/research-projects/decolonising-the-business-school

Relevant links:
Professor Bobby Banerjee profile: https://www.bayes.city.ac.uk/faculties-and-research/experts/bobby-banerjee
Professor Donna Ladkin profile: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/business/ladkin-donna
ETHOS workshop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_Z10IdkePQ&t=2s
Manifesto for Decolonising the Business School: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/it-possible-decolonise-business-curriculum
Bayes Business School’s name change statement: https://www.bayes.city.ac.uk/about/more/our-name-change
Accounting for Slavery, Caitlin Rosenthal: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674972094

This episode was produced and hosted by Birmingham Business School’s Decolonisation Project. It was edited by Chris Lateano. The music is from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/yasumu/blue-waters License code: QGWG3Y8D0JBENZSK.

Decolonising the Business School: Perspectives from an educator

In the second episode of the Decolonial Dialogues mini-series, we hear from the Decolonisation Project team at Birmingham Business School. Dr Caroline Chapain, Dr Emma Surman, Dr Rweyemamu Ndibalema and Anita Lateano discuss their own journeys into decolonisation work, to where they are now and reflect on the wider project within Birmingham Business School.

From our own points of departure to reflections on race and positionality whilst engaging in decolonial work, the Decolonisation Project team explore their own learnings and speculations on what decolonising the Business School means to them, as well as hopes for the future.

Find out more about the Decolonial Dialogues mini-series here. Learn more about Birmingham Business School’s Decolonisation Project here: www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/busine…usiness-school

Relevant links:

Dr Caroline Chapain: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/business/chapain-caroline
Dr Emma Surman: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/business/staff/profile?ReferenceId=173888
Dr Rweyemamu Ndibalema: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/business/ndibalema-rweyemamu-alphonce
Anita Lateano: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/business/staff/profile?Name=anita-lateano&ReferenceId=200210
Cultural Animation workshops at Birmingham Business School: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2023/decolonising-birmingham-business-school-a-students-perspective

This episode was produced and hosted by Birmingham Business School’s Decolonisation Project. The music is from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/yasumu/blue-waters License code: QGWG3Y8D0JBENZSK.

Decolonising the Business School: Perspectives from a researcher

Decolonising the Business School: Perspectives from a business leader with Dujon Smith, Global Co-lead for Accenture’s Black Founder’s Development Program

In this episode of the Decolonial Dialogues mini-series, hear what decolonising the business school means from one of the leading voices working within the field of diversity, inclusion and representation within the consulting industry, Dujon Smith.

Dujon Smith is joining us in conversation today with Birmingham Business School BSc Economics Graduate and Decolonisation Project Student Intern, Susan Njuguna to explore what decolonisation means to business and business leaders today. Dujon is the Global Co-Lead for Accenture’s Black Founder’s Development Programme, a new initiative helps improve Black communities’ ability to create wealth for those who previously did not have a seat at the table and enable the next generation of innovation. He is passionate about connecting technology, culture and education within communities, and recently joined the Birmingham Business School Advisory Board. This conversation between Dujon and Susan explores the importance of decolonising from a business perspective, and how representation within the curriculum can have hugely positive repercussions for universities, businesses and wider industry.

Find out more about the Decolonial Dialogues mini-series here. Learn more about Birmingham Business School’s Decolonisation Project here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/business/research/research-projects/decolonising-the-business-school

Relevant links:
Dujon Smith LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dujoncsmith/
Accenture’s Black Founders Development Program: https://www.accenture.com/gb-en/insights/technology/black-founders-development-program 
My Block Skin Sunscreen: https://myblockskin.co.uk

This episode was produced and hosted by Birmingham Business School’s Decolonisation Project. It was edited by Chris Lateano. The music is from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/yasumu/blue-waters License code: QGWG3Y8D0JBENZSK.

Decolonising the Business School: Perspectives from a business leader with Dujon Smith

The ‘Decolonise the University’ movement originally came from students, starting in South Africa with ‘Fees Must Fall’ and ‘Rhodes Must Fall’, which later gained traction within UK universities. In this episode, we’re exploring what decolonising the business school looks like from the perspective of business school students. Mukuka Kasonde, PhD Candidate at University of Huddersfield joins Susan Njuguna, a recent BSc Economics graduate from Birmingham Business School and Student Research Intern on the Birmingham Business School Decolonisation Project. Mukua’s research investigates and evaluates calls for the decolonisation of higher education by exploring the attitudes and everyday experiences of academic practice and pedagogy within the business school. We’ll hear about both their experiences studying with the business school, and understand their views on the movement, and why they believe business schools should be embracing decolonisation.

Find out more about the Decolonial Dialogues mini-series here. Learn more about Birmingham Business School’s Decolonisation Project here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/business/research/research-projects/decolonising-the-business-school

Relevant links:

Mukuka Kasonde’s profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mukukakasonde/

This episode was produced and hosted by Birmingham Business School’s Decolonisation Project. It was edited by Chris Lateano. The music is from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/yasumu/blue-waters License code: QGWG3Y8D0JBENZSK.

Introductions

University of Birmingham

Related tracks