Warden’s Annual Public Engagement Awards 2017 Celebrating excellence in public engagement at Goldsmiths
18 May 2017
Table of Contents
2 Welcome
3 Running Order
4 Established Researcher category 4 Winner 6 Commendation
11 Early Career Researcher category 11 Winner 12 Commendation 16 Nominated
18 Postgraduate Researcher category 18 Winner 20 Commendation 24 Nominated
Table of Contents — 1 Welcome
Welcome to the Warden’s Annual Public Engagement Awards ceremony at Goldsmiths, University of London. These awards recognise and celebrate the excellent work researchers at all career stages do with members of the public, whether they’re sharing ground-breaking findings with new audiences or collaborating with the public throughout their research.
An exceptional range of innovative activities and projects were nominated by Goldsmiths staff, showcasing different approaches to engaging the public with research and practice. Our researchers worked with organisations like reddit, the V&A, Radio France, The Science Museum, and The National Archives to engage diverse audiences through music, performance, art and play.
There was a real sense that researchers, partners and the public benefited from this work, demonstrating how research in the arts, humanities, social sciences and computing can create real positive change in the world.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the nominees, whose work with the public is a real asset to Goldsmiths and an example to our community, and beyond.
Pat Loughrey Warden of Goldsmiths
2 — Welcome Running order
Warden’s Annual Public Engagement Awards Ceremony Richard Hoggart Building, Room 137
17.00 Welcome by Pat Loughrey, Warden of Goldsmiths
17:05 Introduction by Professor Chris French, academic lead for public engagement
17.15 Professor David Oswell, Pro Warden for Research and Enterprise, presents the award and commendations in the category of Established Researcher
17.25 Dr Gordon Wright, Department of Psychology, presents the award and commendations in the category of Early Career Researcher
17.35 Dr Kat Jungnickel, Department of Sociology, presents the award and commendations in the category of Postgraduate Researcher
17.45 Closing remarks by Professor Chris French
17.50 Drinks reception in the Kingsway Corridor
Find out more about all of the nominated projects including the winners, commendations and nominees.
Running Order — 3 Established Researcher category
Winner
Dr Charlotte Faucher The project was run in Students conducted and Professor partnership with pupils original primary- Richard Grayson for and staff at the Lycée source research on this ‘Francophones in London Français Charles de Gaulle understudied topic, during the First World in South Kensington and using sources including War’ (History). NewVic 6th Form College Francophone newspapers in Newham. It aimed published in London, Anglo-Franco relations to broaden historical which historians had during the First World perspectives on the First not previously explored. War took centre stage World War for the children Concurrently, non- in this project led by of today’s Francophone francophone pupils historian Dr Charlotte community in London, from NewVic 6th Form Faucher in collaboration while developing their examined how the with Professor Richard skills as historians. British press depicted Grayson. Working with Francophone communities school children, the The project was supported and refugees. project uncovered the by Gateway to the First lives of French speaking World War, an Arts and Pupils from both schools refugees and settled Humanities Research have blogged about their communities in London Council (AHRC) First findings in French and during the First World War, World War engagement English, with some of the particularly in 1916. centre, and the French posts being transcriptions government’s First of archive documents World War Centenary and others being Partnership Programme. analytical reflections on the experiences of Francophone refugees in wartime Britain.
4 — Established Research Category, Winner The main output of The project’s findings have The project was the project, a bi- been covered by news particularly innovative in lingual exhibition, was outlets all over Europe, that it partnered English launched at Goldsmiths including in Greek, speaking pupils with in September 2016. The Hungarian, French and French speakers in order launch event was attended Belgian newspapers. to gain dual perspectives by parents, teachers, on a topic which bears French diplomatic staff, so much contemporary and journalists from both relevance to the refugee sides of the channel. crisis and Brexit.
Established Research Category, Winner — 5 Commendation
Dr Ashok Jansari for Taking in extremes at could lead to a step ‘Facial Recognition Reddit either end of the facial change in facial AMA’ (Psychology). recognition spectrum, recognition research. Jansari discussed his work Research into facial with people suffering from The popularity of the recognition by Dr Ashok prosopagnosia, or face- AMA is testament to the Jansari has proved that blindness, who can find it extremely high levels of science and social media difficult to recognise even interest generated by can be combined to close family members. the topic. The scores make new strides in data of personal exchanges collection. At the opposite extreme, between Jansari and he spoke of his work with redditors (members of Ashok is a London’s Metropolitan the reddit community) Neuropsychologist from Police, who are the first demonstrate how a Goldsmiths’ Department police force to deploy so genuine dialogue can lead of Psychology and took called ‘super-recognisers’ to new insights on both to Reddit, the self- to catch criminals. sides of the discussion. styled ‘front page of the internet’, to discuss In a matter of hours over 5,642 people ‘up-voted’ his research on facial 16,000 people took part the AMA, while over recognition and in Ashok’s online facial 650 potential ‘super- gather data. recognition test that recognizers’ were he posted to the site, identified by the providing data that online test. Dr Caspar Addyman and Prof Lauren Stewart for ‘The Happy Song – A scientifically designed song for babies’ (Psychology). was expanded into a full following the making of song including interactive the song has amassed In collaboration with lyrics and funny sounds 160,000 views, and the Grammy winning musician compiled from a survey of project has been reported Imogen Heap and with over 2000 parents. on by publications such as the support of C&G Time, Newsweek, the Daily Baby Club, Professor A further round of lab Mail, and the BBC. Lauren Stewart and Dr testing refined the song Caspar Addyman from and the final track was The project was hugely Goldsmiths’ Department given to seven families popular, proving to of Psychology created who were filmed at home. be a testament to the the world’s first song The footage was used to effectiveness of engaged scientifically designed create a music video by research and collaboration and tested to make BAFTA winning director between the arts and babies happy. Michael Ferns from sciences. Responses from Pretzel films. parents whose children Working with the took part in the research researchers, Imogen Since its launch in were overwhelmingly Heap composed four October 2016, The positive, with one parent melodies to appeal to Happy Song has gone commenting on YouTube young babies which on to secure the number that his baby “loves the were played to babies one spot on the iTunes song, if he’s crying or in Goldsmiths’ InfantLab children’s chart, with fussy it calms him down. under experimental the music video gaining He can be screaming and conditions. One melody over 3 million views on I put the song on and he was a clear favourite and YouTube. A documentary listens and starts smiling!”
Established Research Category, Commendation — 7 Dr Kate Devlin for the developers get together ‘International Congress to produce prototyped on Love and Sex with systems for an intense Robots and Sex Tech period of up to 48 hours. Hackathon’ (Computing). Kate and Hacksmiths Should taboo stifle teamed up to create an innovation? This was experimental retreat sourced prizes worth the central question attended by 52 tech-savvy over £1000 for the best being asked at the people of all abilities. The products with the help Sex Tech Hackathon event was interdisciplinary of industry participants and the International and welcomed both such as Mystery Vibe, Hot Congress on Love and novices and experts, Octopuss and Amorelie. Sex with Robots, hosted with an emphasis on by Dr Kate Devlin from equality, diversity and The ‘Congress on Love Goldsmiths’ Department accessibility in terms of and Sex with Robots’, also of Computing. both attendance and the hosted at Goldsmiths, end results. brought together Run in collaboration with academics, researchers Hacksmiths, Goldsmiths’ £1400 in sponsorship and industry to present on student tech society, and an additional a diverse range of topics the Hackathon aimed to £400 contributed by relating to sex technology. create exciting new ways Goldsmiths’ Student The programme included to push the boundaries of Union ensured that discussions on philosophy, how we view sex through all the hackers were media, technology and AI. the use of innovative well equipped with technology. Hackathons refreshments to keep are popular events them going throughout in computing, where the session. Kate also
8 — Established Research Category, Commendation The conference attracted music. This was made huge interest from people possible by Kate’s tireless working in wide array of efforts to make both disciplines including tech events as welcoming as development, design, possible to people of all psychology, art, materials sexualities, abilities and science, robotics and backgrounds.
Established Research Category, Commendation — 9 10 — Early Career Research Category, Winner Early Career Researcher category
Winner
Dr Jasmine Hornabrook South Indian communities engaging members for ‘Cultural Engagement in London and students of the Tamil diaspora, and Knowledge Exchange and composers at staff and students at between Music Research Goldsmiths Department Goldsmiths, students of and London’s Tamil of Music. the professional Carnatic Community’ (Music). musicians, and the Jasmine worked closely broader public. Between February with members of the and May 2016, Dr Tamil community and A website dedicated Jasmine Hornabrook of key individuals who to the project was also Goldsmiths’ Department promote Tamil cultural created including a short of Music worked with and religious practice in edited film focusing on the Tamil community in London. This included the creative process. London on a musical and the professional temple Additionally, two peer cultural collaboration singer employed by the reviewed journal articles project called ‘Songs of London Sivan Temple, have been written by the Saints: Tamil Traditions Oduvar Sami Dhandapani, Jasmine, as well as a and New Creativities’. and professional Carnatic presentation in May 2016 musicians in London, at the Malmö Academy Funded by the Arts and notably the renowned of Music in Sweden. Humanities Research vocalist, Manipallavam K. Council (AHRC), the Sarangan and the expert project brought together percussionist Paramasamy the London Tamil Centre Kirupakaran. in Wembley and the London Sivan Temple The collaboration resulted in Lewisham to build in two concerts, one connections between at Goldsmiths and one professional Carnatic at the London Tamil musicians, Sri Lankan and Centre in Wembley,
Early Career Research Category, Winner — 11 Commendation
Dr Patricia Alessandrini and providing audiovisual their own instruments, for ‘Sound Kitchen: a expositions, interactive and perform alongside public outreach project installations, concert members of France’s most employing innovative performances and prestigious ensemble. forms of transmission educational resources. through digital In addition to the dissemination’ (Music). The overarching theme sound installations, of the series was around performances and As the first artist ‘re-embodying’ Human presentations, Patricia led in residence with Computer Interaction, free public educational the Ensemble and attempted to show sessions focusing on InterContemporain (EIC) a large range of sonic various forms of sound at the Gaîté lyrique, Dr art and audio-visual experimentation, including Patricia Alessandrini practice, ranging from hands-on workshops and created Sound Kitchen, circuit bending to motion demonstrations. an outreach project capture and robotics. consisting of four This approach engaged public presentations of Each event was people of all ages interactive sonic and programmed around a and backgrounds, audiovisual art. specific musical theme, including those with such a ‘listening’ and no previous experience Sound Kitchen featured ‘time’, and was animated with experimental Patricia’s own work as by Patricia and Radio contemporary music, well as the curation of France personality and diversified the creative and educational Clément LeBrun. audience for the EIC, and performances and that of contemporary presentations in The project provided experimental music more collaboration with the members of the public generally. EIC. Sound Kitchen was with the opportunity a multifaceted project, to learn new skills in spanning multiple events electronic music, build
12 — Early Career Research Category, Commendation Dr Sian Jones for her project on imagined Children were asked about also helped consolidate contact and prejudice in their friendship groups the popular #toylikeme children with disabilities and their thoughts on social media campaign, at the London Science children with disabilities in raising awareness Museum (Psychology). a simulated play scenario. about representation They were then given toys of disabilities in How powerful is your representing themselves children’s toys. imagination? That was and were asked to choose the question explored toys that represented The project materials have by the 900 children children with a range of since been translated into and 784 parents who disabilities, including a five languages and it has participated in a project temporary cast, a hearing attracted media attention led by Dr Sian Jones at the impairment, and autism. from the BBC, while Sian London Science Museum’s has continued to work Wellcome Wing. The task allowed young closely with Playmobil. children to see themselves Involving 14 and their peers with By supporting children’s undergraduate and disabilities represented in practical and imaginative postgraduate researchers, play scenarios and helped engagement with the project examined to facilitate discussions toys with disabilities, imagined prejudice in between them and their the project provoked relation to children with parents. consideration, changed varying forms of physical perceptions, and and cognitive disabilities. Sian’s project was challenged taboo. The study engaged both highly innovative, fusing young children and their established research carers through games, methods with 3D toys questionnaires, and designed especially for demonstrations. the tasks. The findings
Early Career Research Category, Commendation — 13 Sue Mayo for ‘The the work, could help to Gratitude Enquiry’ increase understandings (Theatre and of participation and Performance). collaboration in the arts.
This three part arts The scope of the project project by Sue Mayo of is demonstrated by its Goldsmiths’ Department partnership with three arts of Theatre and organisations, one school, Performance, sought and two charities across to explore the theme three London boroughs. of thankfulness. Sue An additional three collaborated with a team workshops facilitated of six artists and a film- public participation and maker with an important four short films have been component of the project made available online. The being artist development work was funded through and reflection. a term of Dedicated core participants, and over Research Time, with two hundred people live Research into gratitude additional funding from and five hundred online. indicates that the ability Arts Council England, the Sue initiated the project, to feel thankful and to London Borough of Tower securing funding and express it is extremely Hamlets, and Mulberry providing leadership to beneficial to both the School for Girls. a group of collaborators. thanker and the thanked. Community participants Sue and her team of The sheer number of were actively involved artists investigated how collaborators and different in contributing to gratitude, both as a audiences is evidence for the research. theme to investigate, and the reach of Sue’s work. as an action at play in The Gratitude Enquiry engaged six artists, thirty
14 — Early Career Research Category, Commendation The projects under the The Gratitude Enquiry umbrella of the Gratitude was highly original, Enquiry have all led to encouraging participants further work. Participants and artists to collaborate have gone on to showcase on a theme that is their performances at the fundamental to art. Sue WOW Festival at the South succeeded in creating Bank Centre and with a safe and supportive the Nour Festival. One space for the participants project is being extended to explore these themes, in partnership with the with one participant Ovalhouse theatre and summing up her the charity Stockwell experience as similar to Good Neighbours. becoming a ‘butterfly’.
Early Career Research Category, Commendation — 15 Nominated
Dr Francis Gilbert for ‘Creative Writing Mentoring Programmes with Goldsmiths and London Schools’ (Education). students’ work – partnered with Critical My Dreams, My World – Connections II, a global Bringing public which was published on research project to boost engagement initiatives Amazon in hard copy and 21st century literacy to local classrooms as an e-book. in schools using often creates positive digital storytelling. and lasting impact, The programme also as demonstrated by led to a launch event at Due to its success, Dr Francis Gilbert of Goldsmiths attended by Francis will be running Goldsmiths’ Department the student participants, the programme again this of Educational Studies. their parents and teachers. academic year with the The project was extensive support of Goldsmiths’ Dr Gilbert’s creative in its reach both socially Outreach team. writing mentoring and geographically with Overwhelmingly positive programme was borne twelve schools taking feedback has meant that out of harnessing the part, while encouraging even more local schools expertise of Goldsmiths’ students from challenging will be involved, with post-graduate teachers backgrounds to embrace creative writing pieces and the creativity of creative writing. based on the theme of London’s secondary ‘belonging’. This will school students. Together, Francis will be writing an ensure that Goldsmiths they were able to produce article about the project remains a supportive and an anthology of the school for a forthcoming edition encouraging presence in of English in Education, a the community through peer-reviewed academic its diligent work with journal, and has also local schools.
16 — Early Career Research Category, Nominated Dr Naomi Wood for ‘Mrs voice recordings from Public engagement has Hemingway: Exploring the four women, films also come via Naomi’s the Lives of Ernest adapted from their lives, active engagement with Hemingway and His newspaper archives, the media. She was the Four Wives’ (English and songs, original magazines Hemingway Guest Expert Comparative Literature). articles and photographs. on Radio 4’s ‘Great Lives’, the subject of ‘Meet the Dr Naomi Wood was Since 2014, Naomi Author’ on BBC World, and nominated for her explored her research engagingly spoke about novel Mrs Hemingway with sold-out audiences Hemingway on Radio 4’s - a book about writer at over seventy UK events Open Book, BBC London, Ernest Hemingway’s throughout Scotland, and France 24. lesser known wives. England and Wales. She Naomi, of Goldsmiths’ has been able to have an Naomi’s research has Department of English and impact by reaching into had an impact on over Comparative Literature, communities distant from a hundred thousand brought her research to academia, especially by readers and has engaged life via readings, festival utilising the reach of local academic and non- panels and lectures. Her bookshops and libraries academic readers alike. work challenged popular across the country. Her book has been opinion surrounding the translated into fifteen persona of Hemingway Mrs Hemingway has had languages and has by shedding light on his international reach, with been praised in reviews domestic character. Naomi giving lectures by the Telegraph and in the United States, the Guardian – the Naomi chose to deliver Switzerland, Guernsey, latter concluding that her work to the public France, the Czech “Certainly [Naomi’s] through the use of sensory Republic and Germany. portrayal of Hemingway archives: disseminating is enticing, maddening Hemingway’s letters in and haunting…”. their original handwriting,
Early Career Research Category, Nominated — 17 Postgraduate Researcher category
Winner
Vanessa Hughes for young migrants with Vanessa’s research ties ‘Undocumented Migrant uncertain immigration in closely with themes Children: school as status for several years. that have been at the spaces of belonging and Her research is focused forefront of British politics inclusion?’ (Sociology). on young immigrants in recently, such as the London, attempting to Calais migrant crisis. She Vanessa Hughes understand how they is conducting fieldwork in is nominated for make sense of their a local London school and her highly thought- worlds, and how their working in partnership provoking research into immigration experience with Let Us Learn, a undocumented migrant and status has shaped and youth-led movement that children and how schools continues to shape their works for access to higher can act as spaces of lives and identity. education for all young belonging and inclusion. people living in the UK. Vanessa has worked on research projects with As part of her work, Vanessa has also worked in collaboration with numerous local schools, as well as the Migration Museum, where she collaborated on the Calais ‘Call Me by My Name’ exhibition, which sought to humanise the migrant crisis in Calais.
18 — Postgraduate Research Category, Winner Vanessa’s research is both timely and urgent, educating young people about migration and race issues in a manner that is rooted in empirical evidence. Her work brings researchers, young people and communities together to share knowledge and insights.
Postgraduate Research Category, Winner — 19 Commendation
Rose Sinclair for ‘Dorcas It asks how understanding The Caribbean Front Stories’ (Design). this history provides new Room project at ways of thinking about Lewisham Shopping Across 2016, Lecturer in networks and their place Centre was particularly Design and PhD candidate in textile design and successful, where 88% Rose Sinclair undertook innovation, as well as of respondents rated a range of highly the rise of ‘safe their overall impression successful engagement making spaces’. as ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’. activities as part of her One participant explained practice led research Rose’s project was made that “The past few days into the development up of various public have been therapy. of the Dorcas Clubs engagement events, Reconnecting me to and Societies set up by including installations the love of making and Caribbean women on their in Lewisham Shopping of community”. arrival in the UK in the Centre, the Bruce Castle 1950s and 60s. Museum, the Victoria & The project provided Albert Museum, and the a safe space for the Exploring female textile National Archives at Kew. community, particularly networks as a catalyst black women, to gather, for social and economic Rose’s sold-out talk at the make and share textile change, Rose’s work Victoria & Albert Museum skills through their uses life stories and oral was described by Janet culture, inviting shared histories to unpick how Browne, Programme understandings. Rose the textiles created by Manager for African has since been awarded these networks embody Heritage & Culture, as funding to showcase both material culture and “one of the high points of her project as part of diasporic tales. the V&A Art and Existence Wandsworth Arts Fringe. African and Asian Diaspora Explored talks series”.
20 — Postgraduate Research Category, Commendation Rebecca Wheeler for ‘The Death of Jane Doe: The Psychology of a Murder Investigation’ with Laura Oxburgh, Ashleigh McGregor, Dr Gordon Wright and Professor Fiona Gabbert (Psychology). directly with potential research and police Rebecca Wheeler’s suspects, the police and practice based on collaborative project forensic psychology real crimes from the brought an interactive experts. They experienced Innocence Project. murder mystery onto the a police press conference Goldsmiths campus. where they observed Rebecca and the FPU CCTV footage of the crime team succeeded in The Death of Jane Doe, and appeals from the creating ambiance hosted by the Goldsmiths family. and authenticity, Forensic Psychology Unit which was reflected (FPU), invited members The evening culminated in the enthusiasm of of the public to solve the with the identity of the participants. This attention mystery of the death of murderer being revealed to detail ensured that Jane Doe, taking on the with the preliminary the set and venue looked role of a trainee cop or results of the regular highly convincing. an investigative reporter polls being presented in a live mock murder throughout. Audience investigation. members were also actively engaged with Attendees had access to current psychological the murder scene and were able to interact
Postgraduate Research Category, Commendation — 21 Irene Chrysocheris for ‘Heritage Days of Alexandria’ (Anthropology).
This project was concerned with the once- influential and prosperous Greek community in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, where a series of political and economic crises have challenged the position of the community, which faces anxiously faces an uncertain future. and invited members included Egyptians, To grasp the complexities of the community to Greek Alexandrians, of Greek-Alexandrian’s select and contribute citizens and diplomatic connections to the city, images and objects representatives of a wide their sense of place that they considered range of countries. and identity and strong to be significant and attachment to the past, meaningful. In her presentation, Irene Irene curated an exhibition explained how the idea that captured the As part of the project, of the exhibition had community’s sense of its Irene was invited to come about as part of her place in the world. address an open meeting doctoral research, which held at the Greek was followed by a guided She engaged with Consulate in Alexandria. tour of the exhibition now the secular and The event attracted a large permanently housed at religious leadership, and varied audience that the Greek Consulate.
22 — Postgraduate Research Category, Commendation One of the most attachments, conflicts and important outcomes of contradictions within the the exhibition was that community, and the very it embraced contrasting real challenges they face views across generations. as their numbers and their While the perspective influence decline. of the young prompted debate and controversy, the exhibition as a whole explores the values,
Postgraduate Research Category, Commendation — 23 Nominated
Khairani Barokka for Indigenous Species (Visual Cultures).
Khairani Barokka is nominated for her In making Indigenous At the Indigenous Species production, publication Species accessible to launch held at Goldsmiths, and launch of the book individuals with visual Barokka performed a Indigenous Species with impairment, Khairani reading of the book. This Tilted Axis Press in 2016. breaks down barriers was followed by a Q&A between able and disabled where she discussed The book is an audiences, bringing them environmental issues environmentally together through her which are the main sound and politically work. She effectively and topic of the book. committed poetry actively engaged all types This discussion was book which addresses of audiences, whether it is very informative and issues of pollution and in her performances of the enlightening in that it consumerism in a global text or actually in the text’s traced links between context. However, what material form. the cultural product she makes it unique is that produced and the politics Khairani conceived it to Tilted Axis Press describe that inform it. be accessible for both Indigenous Species as sighted and visually “a bold and necessary Khairani is also the co- impaired audiences. The experiment in making a editor of the UK’s first D/ text is in braille, but also, sight-impaired-accessible deaf and disabled poets’ the artwork is embossed art book” and the book anthology titled Stairs so that sight impaired has been met with praise. and Whispers: D/deaf and readers can have a fuller Disabled Poets Write Back, experience of the book out in June from Nine Arches Press.
24 — Postgraduate Research Category, Nominated
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