Research Themes fund three new Kick Start Networks at Sussex
The University’s Research Themes have awarded funds to help connect Sussex academics with non-academic research users in external organizations.
Three grants have been made by the Research Themes Kick Start Network scheme to support the development of new networks over the next two years.
Professor Vicky Lebeau, Professor of English, was awarded funds to bring Sussex academics from arts, humanities, social sciences and the Medical School into contact with local health and arts partners, including Future Health (a Brighton-based organisation of GPs, practitioners and community workers).
Together they will explore collaborations in relation to the role of the arts and humanities in the future development of healthcare policy, practice and delivery.
The Humanities in Future Health network also aims to establish the University as a hub of excellence in the medical humanities and to connect academic research with the needs of GPs and health providers.
Meanwhile Dr Jan Selby, Director of the Sussex Centre for Conflict and Security Research, will establish a network to explore the existing and potential impacts of rising powers on contemporary peace processes.
The Rising Powers and Peace Processes network will be organised around a series of four one-day workshops for academics, policymakers and practitioners, focusing on post-Cold War peacemaking and the different approaches to peacemaking in emerging national economies such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (‘BRICS’).
Finally, Dr Anna Stavrianakis, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, will bring together researchers, military personnel, peace activists and campaigners in an Austerity versus Strategy network to discuss public policy questions around the impact of the financial crisis and austerity measures on military strategy, military spending, equipment procurement and weapons transfers.
The goal is to develop an international and interdisciplinary network to discuss the common problem of austerity from different political, technical and theoretical perspectives.
Now in its second year, the Kick Start Network scheme is part of the University’s knowledge-exchange activities and is supported by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).