Monday 1 February: Lecture
What's race got to do with it? Identity politics in Irish-American literature and culture
Dr Tara Stubbs, Associate Professor in English Literature, Director of Studies in English Literature and Creative Writing
This talk looks at the changing definitions and associations of the term 'Irish American' from the time of the Great Famine to the present day, thinking about the ways in which views of race and ethnicity have shaped Irish and American literature and asking larger questions about how we describe identity.
Monday 8 February: Lecture
Multiculturalism, and the importance of place
David Howard, Director of Studies and Associate Professor, Sustainable Urban Development
Identity politics, multiculturalism, and ‘place-making’ are contemporary and contested ideas. This lecture addresses the importance of belonging, and how this develops, or is designed in today’s cities.
Monday 15 February: Lecture
Ethnicities and identities in human rights law
Dr Nazila Ghanea, Associate Professor in International Human Rights Law, Director of International Human Rights Law Programmes, Deputy Director of the Department for Continuing Education
The grappling of the law with ethnicity and different aspects of our identities may seem self-evident but is nevertheless evolving and fraught with challenges. Questions that we'll explore include the following: What motivates and shapes the recognition of different aspects of identity in human rights law? How can this assist in upholding minimum standards and protections?
Friday 19 February, 5-6pm (UTC): LIVE Q&A
Join Tara Stubbs, David Howard and Nazila Ghanea for a live online Q&A session.
Monday 22 February: Lecture
Mathematics: a universal language?
Marcus du Sautoy FRS OBE, Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford
Mathematics is often considered a language that transcends ethnic, cultural, geographical boundaries. So much so that many science fiction writers choose it as the language for their aliens to communicate with earth. But is this true or are there aspects of mathematics that have unexpected ethnic and cultural resonances?
Monday 1 March: Lecture
Genetics of ethnicity and ancestry
Danny Wilson, Director of Studies in Data Science at the Department for Continuting Education, Associate Professor at the Big Data Institute
How do genetics help us understand the nature of different ancestral groups and how that relates to ethnicity? The last decade has witnessed great strides in our understanding of human ancestry thanks to technological developments that have permitted the investigation of genetics in millions of people worldwide. Genetics has become an everyday tool for people interested in tracing back their own family history and ancestry and for scientists studying the history of population groups. Increasingly, genetics is illuminating our understanding of what makes us the same and different, including traits we can see and those we cannot, such as the risk of diseases and responses to medicines.
Monday 8 March: Lecture
Identities influence behaviour
Donna Harris, Director of Studies in Political Economy at the Department for Continuing Education; Research Fellow at Centre for the Studies of African Economy, Department of Economics
Recent research in economics has put more emphasis on the role of identities, norms, and narratives in guiding decisions and behaviour. This lecture will discuss this exciting new strand of research with a particular focus on the role of identities in influencing economic, political, and social behaviour. Identities can be based on a wide range of 'group memberships', including ethnicity, race, political ideologies, religious beliefs, etc. and the way in which such group memberships influence behaviour (and which group membership plays a dominant role) also depends on the context. We will explore examples in developing countries and research related to political economy where identities can lead to suboptimal outcomes.
Friday 12 March, 5-6pm (UTC): LIVE Q&A
Join Marcus du Sautoy, Danny Wilson and Donna Harris for a live online Q&A session.
Monday 15 March: Lecture
Ethnicity, identity and mobility: a spotlight on Roman Britain
Alison MacDonald, Lecturer in Archaeology, Course Director of the Diploma and Advanced Diploma in British Archaeology, Director of Undergraduate Studies
Many people from across the empire went to the province of Britannia during the period of Roman rule, and in some cases, glimpses of their lives can be seen in the archaeological record. This lecture will use a range of evidence to explore the lives, cultural heritage, place of birth, language and customs of people who travelled to, and settled in, Roman Britain.
Monday 22 March: Lecture
Music - an international language?
Jonathan Darnborough, Director of Studies in Music
If music is, indeed, an international language then it certainly has a multiplicity of dialects. This lecture explores the ways in which music can become rooted in a particular national or ethnic culture as well as the ways in which it can be truly international.
Monday 29 March: Lecture
The price of prejudice
Dr Ria Ivandic, Lecturer in Political Economy at the Department for Continuing Education, Researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science
There is a growing set of empirical evidence that disparities with respect to ethnicity exist in a number of outcomes such as hiring, wage setting, educational attainment, provision of healthcare, policing. Yet while the immediate targets of prejudice are unquestionably hurt the most, discrimination inflicts a staggering cost on the entire economy. Questions that we will explore in this lecture include the following: How can we measure ethnicity based discrimination and in which economic outcomes is it most present? What do we know about the economic causes and consequences of the discrimination?
Monday 5 April: Lecture
Everyday Objects: Ethnicities and Ecosystems
Dr Claire O'Mahony, Associate Professor in the History of Art and Design, Course Director of the MSt in the History of Design
Much modern design strives for universal solutions facilitated by mass production to reach global markets. By looking closely at everyday objects, we will ask how might their materiality, histories and use also be rooted in local ecosystems and hopes of more sustainable futures.
Friday 9 April, 5-6pm (UTC): LIVE Q&A
Join speakers Alison MacDonald, Jonathan Darnborough, Ria Ivandic and Claire O'Mahony for a live online Q&A session.