UCL GRAND CHALLENGES
OFFICE OF THE UCL VICE-PROVOST (RESEARCH)
Executive Group
UCL Grand Challenge of Intercultural Interaction (GCII)
10am-11.30pm, Tuesday, 4 June 2013
Room G01, Central House
Minutes
Present
Dr Tim Beasley-Murray
Dr Claire Dwyer
Dr François Guesnet (Chair)
Professor Stephen Hart
Dr Martin Holbraad
Marianne Knight
Professor Axel Korner
Jacob Leveridge
Professor Karen Radner
Michael Reade
Dr Alexander Samson
Dr Ian Scott
Nicholas Tyndale
Professor Claire Warwick
Professor Jo Wolff
Professor Maria Wyke
1.
Apologies
Professor Robin Aizlewood
Dr Henriette Bruun
Professor Susan Collins
Dr Sinead Kennedy
Dr Ruth Mandell
Dr Amna Malik
Professor David Napier
James Paskins
Roselle Thoreau
Matters arising from previous meeting (12 March 2013)
1.1
GCII/FIGS collaboration
1.1.1 It was noted that the FIGS Friday Forums, organised by PhD students, were
very successful in creating an open and informal space that brought together
academics and graduate students in Arts and Humanities. There were plans
to include the faculty of Social and Historical Studies in future forums.
1.2.2 Francois Guesnet encouraged members to contact Stephanie Bird, UCL
German ( stephanie.bird@ucl.ac.uk) if they had topics relevant to the GCII
themes that could be incorporated into the programme of Friday Forums.
1.2.3 UCL/London Borough of Camden joint events
Dr Guesnet reported that he was still waiting for a reply from the London
Borough of Camden concerning the possibility of holding joint events with UCL
in line with the themes being developed by the Science Medicine and Society
Network lead by David Napier (UCL Anthropology).
1
1.2.4 Karen Radner mentioned that she knew a Camden councillor and this could
be a useful connection.
2.
New leadership themes
2.1
China and India at UCL
2.1.1 Ian Scott explained that the Grand Challenges were keen to support the
international Pro-Provosts. For instance, GCII was supporting a panel
discussion entitled 'Negotiating Gender & Caste in Higher Education' on 27
June 2013 at which Nick Tyler (Pro-Provost for East and South Asia) and Xiao
Guo (Pro-Provost for China) would be speaking.
2.1.2 GCII needed to offer something manageable, which would contribute to UCLs
efforts in China and India. The following points were made:
2.1.3 When appropriate the relevant Pro-Provosts should be invited to GCII
meetings.
2.1.4 Sometimes there was an assumption that the world was full of problems and
that UCL was in a position to offer solutions for them. It was therefore
important for GCII to concentrate on the positive aspects of inter-cultural
interaction. The Slade’s work with artists in Bangladesh was given as an
example that could be usefully emulated around UCL.
2.1.5 Maria Wyke mentioned that if the proposal for a Centre for Research on the
Dynamics of Civilisation was successful, China would certainly be a strong
area of interest. Mike Rowlands (UCL Archaeology) had research interests in
China and there could be opportunities to form partnerships with relevant
museums.
Formatted: Indent: Before: 0 cm,
Hanging: 1.14 cm
2.2.6 It was important to make greater use of the regional expertise that existed
within UCL. Vivien Lo’s China Centre for Health and Humanity was cited.
Formatted: Indent: Before: 0 cm,
Hanging: 1.14 cm
2.1.7 Alex Samson indicated that he was considering inviting Geoffrey Parker to
speak at UCL, who is interested in the global crisis affecting China, Japan and
East Asia.
2.1.8 The tendency of students to self-segregate in teaching situations was
mentioned. Was UCL was doing enough to break down barriers?

ACTION
Members were encouraged to contact Ian Scott with suggestions.
2.2
Empathy
2.2.1 Tim Beasley-Murray explained that the theme of empathy could be an
effective topic to bring together researchers from different disciplines. It was
also important to consider the negative as well as positive aspects of
2
empathy. For instance, empathy and demagoguery played important roles in
politics.
2.2.2 Francois Guesnet said that the theme of empathy, like the other themes, was
a ‘pathway’ to formal activity such as a research project, workshop or other
events. The recent small grant award for ‘Increasing Awareness of Organ
Donation in Black and Minority Ethnic Groups’, which explored communication
in cross-cultural environments, was mentioned. It was important for members
to commit to specific activities so that a theme could be developed and
sustained.
3.
Current activity
3.1
Dissent
3.1.1 Tim Beasley-Murray reported that a number of ‘dissent’ related activities were
taking place in SEES following the death of Vaclav Havel – most recently a
three day conference, ‘The Art of the Impossible: Culture, Philosophy and
Dissent from Havel to the Present’, had been held in May 2013.
3.1.2 Dr Beasley-Murray asked if the theme of dissent was one that GCII should
develop further. Indeed UCL had its own tradition of dissent. Dr Guesnet
added that exploring dissent required examination of both empathy and
resilience – the recent issue of gender segregation at an event held on UCL
premises was mentioned.
3.2
Wonderments of Cosmos
3.2.1 Martin Holbraad outlined preparations leading up to the GCII supported
workshop: ‘Wonderments of Cosmos: a transdisciplinary conversation on
cosmological horizons’ (21 June 2013). The workshop had attracted
considerable interest from researchers within physics, the Slade, history of
science and anthropology. The workshop would conclude with a rountable
discussion of activities , which could be pursued to develope this theme further
in the next academic year. It was envisaged that there would be:
 a regular seminar series
 potential to develop links with the proposed Centre for Research on the
Dynamics of Civilisation
 a Wonderments of Cosmos blog
 opportunities to address the ‘two cultures’ of the science and arts,
which could be considered an instance of intercultural interaction
3.3
GCII Newsletter
Francois Guesnet decided that the GCII Newsletter should be discussed at the
next meeting.
4.
Suggestions for leadership activity, 2013-14
4.1
Global Citizenship Programme (28 May – 7 June 2013)
Tim Beasley-Murray mentioned the topic of the Danube, which he was leading
as part of this new first year undergraduate programme. The Danube
represents and example for a pathway for intercultural communication and
ideas but also as a barrier between peoples, and offers a good opportunity to
think about inter-cultural interaction..
3
4.1.2 To date around fifty students from diverse disciplinary and national
backgrounds had signed up for this part of the programme. The Global
Citizenship programme needed to offer greater incentives to encourage
student particpation and needed to be inbedded in existing activity to sustain
it.
4.2
Gender segregation
4.2.1 It was noted that UCL had been in the press recently regarding gender
segratation following an event organised by the Islamic Education and
Research Academy that had taken place on UCL premises. Francois Guesnet
asked if GCII should host some sort of event to discuss this issue in greater
depth. In the ensuing discussion, the following points were made:
4.2.2 There was little point in discussing this specific case any further.
The issue was complicated but there was considerable expertise within UCL about
gender and segregation.
The role of gender in terms of cross-cultural interaction could be developed rather
than focusing specifically upon gender segregation.
GCII could reflect upon the modern university as a space where these types of
issues manifested themselves.
ACTION
 Francois Guesnet recommended that this topic should be developed
further at the next meeting.
5.
AoB
5.1
Events and communications
5.1.1 Some members mentioned the difficulties in scheduling and promoting events:
5.1.2 The recent ‘dissent’ related events in SEES had been of a high standard but
had not been published widely across UCL.
5.1.3 More efficient ways were need to coordinate events and communications
across UCL. Grand Challenges needed to address this matter.
5.1.4 Members were asked to sign-up for the Arts and Humanities newsletter.
5.1.5 It was asked if an Arts and Humanities calendar of events could be
established to avoid duplication and clashes. It was reported that this matter
was currently under consideration.
5.2
Next meeting date
The date of the next meeting will be arranged via email.
4