Communicating the Value of Research

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PgR Symposium: Communicating the value of research

Friday, 24 June 2022 | 10:30 - 16:00 | Lecture Theatre, Templeman Library

The Kent School of Architecture and Planning (KSAP) is hosting a PGR symposium which explores the challenges in communicating the value of postgraduate research in our fields.

Introduction

Universities, in particular those with a strong Arts and Humanities focus, are facing increasing pressure to justify the value academic research and teaching provide to society and the economy. Much of this is underpinned by a conservative and neoliberal understanding of education, with its emphasis on economic benefits.

The one-day symposium aims to discuss some key questions on the day such as:

  1. What is the value of postgraduate research and how is the value of research communicated in academia, society and industry?
  2. Does the context of academia, society and industry affect the way we communicate the value and how?
  3. How does this discussion in arts and humanities differ from that of social science, technology or science?
  4. What impact does PGR research have on the development of professions within the built environment?
About the event

‘Communicating the Value of Research’ symposium aims to provides a forum for the Division of Arts and Humanities PGR community to engage in discussion about the challenges of communicating the value of postgraduate research.

It will be an all-day event with 2 separate panel discussions on themes relating to arts and humanities, technology and the social sciences. Each panel will be comprised of three to four presenters with chairs from the academic staff within the Division. Selected participants will present their ideas in 10-minute slots. Each of the panel sessions will be followed by 30 minutes of open discussions with the audience.

We will also welcome Prof. Henrik Schoenefeldt as our keynote speaker to reflect on the ‘Opportunities and Challenges of Current Architectural Research’.

View the Programme

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Keynote speaker

Prof. Henrik Schoenefeldt

Henrik Schoenefeldt is a Professor of Sustainable Architecture and AHRC Leadership Fellow at the Kent School of Architecture and Planning. He is currently leading a large AHRC-funded project investigating the Houses of Parliament’s historic ventilation system, which is entitled ‘Between Heritage and Sustainability – Restoring the Palace of Westminster’s nineteenth-century ventilation system’.

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