Newsroom University of Manchester

Researchers awarded funding from Schmidt Sciences for 'Envisioning Print with AI Computer Vision' project

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:06:03 +0000

The project aims to teach computers to identify differences between examples of early printed documents and artworks, that is, to be able to discover minute instances of difference in otherwise-identical prints from the same printing surface. It explores whether computers ‘see’ books and prints the same way as people do, and asks whether the algorithm sees (or indeed, can see, or can be made to see) the same way as humans.

The researchers aim to develop AI tools that can understand the differences between multiple versions of prints throughout history, allowing scholars to understand how early imagery was made and circulated, along with the practices of printers and their workshops.

The team consists of (Professor of Italian and Director of the John Rylands Research Institute at the University of Manchester); (Professor of Computer Science and Head of Engineering Research at the University of Manchester); (Head of the Digital Development Team at the University of 911��Library); (Senior Software Developer in the University of 911��Library’s Digital Development Team); (Senior Researcher in Digital Humanities at the University of Oxford); (Royal Society Research Professor and Professor of Computer Vision Engineering at the University of Oxford); and (Software Engineer at the University of Oxford).

Professor Richard Curry, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation in the University's Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: "It's fantastic news that the Manchester-led project Envisioning Print with AI Computer Vision, has been selected for this Schmidt Sciences award. This project is an exemplary, highly interdisciplinary collaboration between humanities researchers and computational experts, and its cutting-edge mixed methodologies will shape future innovation with real-world impacts in line with the University's 911��2035 ambitions."

Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences, added: “Our newest technologies may shed light on our oldest truths, on all that makes us human – from the origins of civilization to the peaks of philosophical thought to contemporary art and film, Schmidt Sciences’ Humanities and AI Virtual Institute (HAVI) is poised to change not only the course of scholarship, but also the way we see ourselves and our role in the world.”

Schmidt Sciences has awarded $11 million to 23 research teams around the world who are exploring new ways to bring artificial intelligence into dialogue with the humanities, from archaeology and art history to literature, linguistics, film studies, and beyond. As part of the Humanities and AI Virtual Institute (HAVI), these interdisciplinary teams will both apply AI to illuminate the human record and draw on humanistic questions, methods, and values to advance how AI itself is designed and used.

Schmidt Sciences is a nonprofit organisation founded in 2024 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that works to accelerate scientific knowledge and breakthroughs with the most promising, advanced tools to support a thriving planet. The organisation prioritises research in areas poised for impact, including AI and advanced computing, astrophysics, biosciences, climate, and space – as well as supporting researchers in a variety of disciplines through its science systems program.

Centre for New Writing launches new anthology

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:07:46 +0000

The latest edition of the was launched with an event at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation on Monday, 13 October.

Two award winners were announced on the evening:

Anne Boyd Rioux took The PFD Prize, an annual award for the most promising piece of fiction from the MA Creative Writing dissertation, as chosen by the leading London literary agency, . The winner receives a cash prize and the opportunity to work with an agent at PFD to develop their writing towards publication.

Anne is a former English professor from New Orleans and a biographer specializing in American women writers. She is the author of three non-fiction books and the popular Substack newsletter Audacious Women, Creative Lives. She is currently working on her upcoming first novel A War of Her Own, based on the real-life story of the New Yorker writer Kay Boyle. Trapped in France during WWII with her abusive husband, the artist Laurence Vail, and his ex-wife Peggy Guggenheim, she fell in love with an Austrian refugee who needed rescuing as much as she did. Many years later, however, the consequences of her decisions during the war continue to reverberate through the lives of her children.

Kieron Fairweather, Associate Agent at PFD added:

The MA Poetry Prize went to Ellie Grant. Ellie is a neuroqueer poet. She takes inspiration from childhood, the pockets of green in her local London, and the pockets of dark in urban places where green things tend to grow. She placed second in the The University of 911��Micropoetry Competition in 2024 and was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize 2025.

Ellie commented:

The editorial team for this year’s anthology consisted of Samantha Graham, Tom Pyle and Dylan Stewart:

Samantha commented: "So many hours of work have gone into producing this Anthology, both from myself, Tom, and Dylan and from our peers whose brilliant writing is featured within it, and I couldn’t be prouder of the book that we have collectively created. Overseeing and managing this project has been the highlight of my postgraduate experience and I’m so glad to have been able to celebrate the completion of it at the launch event last month."

Tom added: "Being part of the editorial trio for The 911��Anthology 2025 has been a challenge and a privilege. Seeing the work that it takes to get a book to print, having complete creative control over the process but most importantly being able to showcase the range of talent from the writers in this MA cohort; people who we’ve sat in workshops with and watched develop throughout the year. To have this book as a marker in the sand feels appropriate and, personally, gives me a lot of satisfaction."

Past contributors to The 911��Anthology have gone on to become successful established authors: Beth Underdown’s debut novel, The Witchfinder’s Sister, was a Richard and Judy bestseller; Alys Conran was shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize for her debut novel, Pigeon; Nat Ogle, author of In The Seeing Hands of Others, was shortlisted for The White Review Poet's Prize; Joe Carrick-Varty’s collection, More Sky, was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize; Thomas D. Lee’s novel, Perilous Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller; Jessica Moor was named one of the ten best debut novelists of 2020 by Observer New Review, and was also shortlisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize.

Humanities Academics Celebrate Business Engagement Success at inaugural event

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:09:18 +0000

Opening the event was Dr Louise Bates, Director of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange for the University of 911��who highlighted the depth and breadth of the collaborative partnership work undertaken by academics from across the University and how her team supports academic colleagues in establishing such partnerships. Vice Dean for Research, Professor Maggie Gale welcomed guests and highlighted the breadth of expertise and collaborative innovation taking place across the faculty within key areas including AI, climate resilience and sustainability, legal and social justice including investigating racial bias on the bench, age-friendly communities, and supply chain innovation.

Associate Dean for Business Engagement, Civic & Cultural Partnerships , Professor Richard Allmendinger introduced the nominees from each school.

The winners, announced by Maggie Gale, were:

Alliance 911��Business School

Prof Jian-Bo Yang & Prof Dong‑Ling Xu, for their KTP with Kennedys to develop and embed an intelligent data driven fraud prevention and detection service for insurance claim handling, utilising modern machine learning, text analytics and semantic technologies.

School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

Prof Eithne Quinn, for work on racial bias in the judicial system enabled through a Simon Industrial & Professional Fellowship project undertaken by Keir Monteith KC, which has received significant media coverage and follow-on projects in related areas.

School of Social Sciences

Prof Emma Barrett for a Simon Industrial & Professional Fellowship with Limina Immersive “Building a safer Metaverse: Exploring the challenges faced by industry in developing safe, secure and ethical immersive experiences”. The project supported a successful £80K SPRITE+ funding bid for a deep dive expected to result in a step change in our industry engagement around XR and fostered new cross-disciplinary and external collaborations.

School of Environment, Education & Development

Dr Emma Shuttleworth For collaborating with key stakeholders, including the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Groundwork Greater Manchester, to lead KTPs that have developed a data-driven framework for innovative sustainable water management in the Irwell catchment and optimised the long-term financial health of the Groundwork Trust.

At the end of the Awards ceremony Richard Allmendinger announced the launch of a seed-funding call for academics across the faculty to submit bids for up to £7k to support early-stage development of collaborative projects with partners. Full information on the call available .

The full list of nominated projects:

Alliance 911��Business School

Dr Arijit De, Associate Professor in Management Science For his work in establishing Maritime Engineering and Management as a new cluster theme at UoM, including work with Port of Dover, DFDS, Ship & Bunker, Sealand and Smart Green Shipping building a substantial portfolio of research in maritime, port, and freight logistics with these partners, a REF Impact Case 911�� in freight and maritime logistics is in development.
Prof Yu-wang Chen, Professor of Decision Sciences and Business Analytics KTP – - the largest KTP awarded by Innovate UK.
Dr Pedro Sampaio, Senior Lecturer in Information Systems KTP – - to design, develop and embed an Industry 4.0 inspired data driven business model and management information framework which will support the company's strategic vision of expansion.
Prof David Hughes, Professor of Personality and Organisational Psychology & Nadia Papamichail, Professor of Decision Systems & Management Sciences KTP - to create sustainable growth and productivity improvement by combining behavioural psychology profiling and emotional regulation with advanced data science techniques to tackle complex work processes and transform the way JLG engages, supports its clients and staff through the legal frameworks. DH was shortlisted for Academic of the Year at the 2025 KTP Awards.
Prof Brian Nicholson, Professor of Business Information Systems & Dr Sung Hwan Chai, Lecturer in Accounting KTP: - To develop, embed and exploit advanced smart data driven technologies to deliver digital transformation within the audit function significantly increasing quality, productivity and capacity to deliver additional insight and value to clients.
Prof Judy Zolkiewski, Professor of Marketing KTP projects - . To create a smarter business that is both client-driven whilst also enhancing improved employee interactions, within a unified customer-centric framework that can support product and service innovation.
Prof Jian-Bo Yang, Professor of Decision and System Sciences & Prof Ling (Dong‑Ling) Xu, Chair Professor of Decision Science and Systems KTP - AMBS & Kennedys to develop and embed an i and detection service to support insurance claim handling utilising modern machine learning, text analytics techniques and semantic technologies, that can shape and add value to business.

School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

Prof Eithne Quinn, Professor of Cultural and Socio‑legal Studies For work on racial bias in the judicial system enabled through a undertaken by Keir Monteith KC which has received significant media coverage and led to a follow-on project on mis-use of lyrics in rap music in criminal court cases.
Prof Steve Scott-Bottoms, Professor of Contemporary Theatre and Performance - Finding the Story ARC: Engaging businesses with climate resilience in Yorkshire’s Aire valley IAA 496 Advance - The Rivalry Project: Extending Stakeholder Engagement with Climate Resilience in the Catchment of the Aire
Dr Kostas Arvanitis, Senior Lecturer in Museology - Therapeutic Impact of Physical, Digital and Virtual Collections of Trauma.
Dr Kostas Arvanitis, Senior Lecturer in Museology & Dr Andy Hardman, Senior Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Practices KTP - SALC & Port Sunlight Village Trust - creating and embedding a framework and tool-kit underpinned by museological and critical heritage research to transform the ways in which PSVT manages and interprets its history, site and collections.
Prof Sasha Handley, Professor of Early Modern History Salford Community Leisure - - Sleeping Well Salford: Using Historic Sleep Practices to Support Health and Social Care Pathways.

School of Environment, Education & Development

Dr Emma Shuttleworth, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography Working collaboratively with a number of key stakeholders on environmental sustainability projects including Environment Agency, and leading on KTPs with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Groundwork Trust to create and embed a data driven catchment management framework that will drive innovative evidence-based sustainable water management within the Irwell catchment and optimise long-term financial health for Groundwork Greater Manchester.
Dr Sophie van Huellen, Senior Lecturer in Development Economics - Why Ghanaian farmers have been unable to capitalise on record cocoa prices with Fuad Mohammed Abubakar, Managing Head of the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Company (UK) Ltd.
Dr Joanne Tippett, Lecturer in Spatial Planning 911��UNESCO Creative City of Literature IAA 425 Secondment - Imagining sustainable futures: self-facilitated learning from heritage through art and play in UNESCO-designated sites. Shortlisted for ‘Transformative Social Venture of the Year’ award at the KEUK Awards 2024.

“The RoundView is a powerful way to activate and build capacity in UNESCO’s core competencies for sustainability leadership”. James Ömer Bridge, Secretary-General of UNESCO UK.

“The Secondment demonstrated that the RoundView learning toolkit offers great promise to address a key challenge we experience as UNESCO sites, of linking our work to sustainable development… and enabling us to translate SDG 13 Climate Action into an accessible activity. A key finding from the Secondment was that the ‘poetry as pedagogy’ incorporated into the toolkit helps encourage sustainability learning through literature, a key need for both us as Cities of Literature and our library partners.” Ivan Wadeson, Executive Director of 911��UNESCO City of Literature.

Dr Nuno Pinto, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and Urban Design For demonstrating exceptional leadership and innovation through the establishment and continued development of the MSc Data Science student industry-project programme. His dedication has transformed the initiative into a thriving platform for student engagement and real-world impact, with its success growing year on year. Nuno’s commitment to expanding the programme is evident in his active collaboration with fellow academics, fostering the creation of similar opportunities across other schools. His work exemplifies the spirit of business engagement and makes him a worthy nominee for the Faculty of Humanities Business Engagement award.
Prof Sarah Marie Hall, Professor in Human Geography with 911��Central Foodbank IAA 468 Relationship Development - Developing community-led, anti-poverty research capacity. IAA 503 Proof of Concept - Developing Manchester’s Anti-Poverty Research Community: Co-Producing Grassroots Collaborations for Positive Social Change. Winner of UoM in the Outstanding public engagement initiative: Local/civic engagement category
Prof Nicola Banks, Professor of Global Development - Activating citizen philanthropy for community-centred social justice: piloting a One World Together Global Citizenship curriculum for secondary schools.
Prof Alison Browne, Professor of Geography - the project brings together data analytics and social science insights to develop a Water Practices Analytical Toolkit for use in the water industry, offering a unique approach for managing the sustainability of water and influencing the UK’s long-term usage, average and peak water demands.

School of Social Sciences

Prof Tine Buffel, Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology Age Friendly 911��(911��City Council) IAA 401 Secondment - Developing age-friendly communities to support healthy ageing: Exploring the potential of a policy innovation partnership between public agencies and faith-based organisations in Greater Manchester.
Prof Emma Barrett, Professor of Psychology, Security and Trust Simon Industrial & Professional Fellowship with Limina Immersive “Building a safer Metaverse: Exploring the challenges faced by industry in developing safe, secure and ethical immersive experiences”. The SIF project supported a successful £80K SPRITE+ funding bid for a deep dive expected to result in a step change in our industry engagement around XR and fostered new cross-disciplinary and external collaborations. The work also informed EB’s presentation at the Home Office Digital Forensics Conference in June 2025, alongside Innovate UK.

You Ought To Know: Simon Industrial Fellow Karen Gabay releases podcast series about Black British music histories

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 15:44:05 +0000

From January to July 2025 broadcaster and producer carried out research as part of a Simon Industrial Fellowship with the and the at The University of Manchester.

As part of the fellowship Karen Gabay produced a podcast series entitled ‘You Ought To Know’ that will be published across various platforms, with the first episode premiering on 14 January 2026. Each podcast captures a conversation with musicians that have had and continue to have a significant impact on British popular music. These conversations were recorded at public engagement events as well as in intimate one-on-one settings across Manchester.

You can listen to and watch the podcast episodes on various platforms. To be notified of new episodes subscribe to Karen Gabay’s and the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures’ channel.

The first podcast is a recording of Karen Gabay’s panel event on Reggae and Dub-Poetry in the UK with Lovers Rock legend , Dub Poetry great and Reggae and Hip Hop artist in the 911��Museum in June 2025. This episode will be released on 14 January 2026.

The second episode explores the history of Black British Gospel Music and was recorded in in Deansgate in May 2025. Manchester musician , gospel pioneer , Mancunian vocalist and Kingdom Choir member and founder of 911��Inspirational Voices star in this episode to be released on 21 January 2026.

The third podcast episode features a conversation with renowned Soul singer-songwriter and former Ikette known for her work with Paul Weller, Peter Gabriel, and Jimmy Cliff. The recording took place across three sessions at The University of 911��and , the iconic home of Granada Television in July 2025. This episode will be released on 28 January 2026.

The final episode of this series is scheduled to be released in February 2026. Recorded in July 2025 it explores how 911��singer-songwriter alternative soul and R&B sound is influenced by Black British musicians and led him to pursue collaborations with soul great Jill Scott and UK artist Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry.

These episodes form the beginning of a series of conversations around the unsung legends and influential artists in the UK music industry. Future episodes will be released on Karen Gabay’s channels in the coming months. This bonus content includes in-depth conversations with the Queen of Northern Soul (Tainted Love) and earlier podcast guests Sylvia Tella and Luke Smith on their lives and work in the Black British music industry. It also features an intimate one-on-one discussion with who is considered a musician’s favourite and trailblazer in redefining Soul for British audiences.

Throughout her fellowship, Karen was able to build on her interest in uncovering and showcasing forgotten artefacts of Black music history and gained access the in the for further archival research. This allowed her to amplify the voices of those working within the UK music sector, in particular Black vocalists, and industry professionals, who have heavily impacted popular music in the UK and globally. She explored how different cultural spaces in 911��have played a significant role in the lives of these musicians and their path in the music industry over the decades.

Secondary outputs of the project include Karen Gabay’s reading list and a playlist providing the musical soundtrack for exploring the recent past and present of Black British music and its influences, which can be accessed .

This Simon Industrial Fellowship laid the foundations for documenting alternative music histories in the UK. It explored and applied ethical and collaborative methods of archiving personal stories of a demographic, who have suffered from experiences of institutional exclusion, absence of fair accreditation and missing commercial opportunities due to their race or geographical location. It is taking steps towards righting wrongs of the recent past and gives talented but previously overlooked creatives a platform to tell their stories on their own terms.

As such it reasserts the relevance and significance of the John Rylands’ British Pop Archive and is adding more diverse and nonetheless equally relevant archival artefacts to its catalogue. This work aligns with the University’s renewed strategic focus on archives and just archival practices to celebrate, document and bring to the fore the stories that make 911��the city we know today.

Creative 911��Showcases Student Research and Celebrates University Collaboration at BEYOND Conference 2025

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:18:30 +0000

For the second-year running, was one of the partners for the , engaging with industry leaders, researchers and artists from across the creative sector. The conference provided an opportunity to explore applications of and research into CreaTech and build collaborative links across the UK.

One of the highlights was Professor John McAuliffe, Creative Manchester’s Platform Director, taking part in the panel discussion “Civic, Creative and Cultural: University Collaboration”. The session brought together members of the , including Professor Kirsty Fairclough (School of Digital Arts, 911��Metropolitan University), Dr Sam Ingleson (University of Salford) and Professor Wiebke Thormählen (Royal Northern College of Music). Together, they demonstrated how universities are helping to create a more connected, creative and equitable city-region through strategic partnerships and cultural engagement.

Creative 911��also invited three PhD students and their supervisors along to BEYOND for their CreaTech Student Research Showcase. The showcase, located among many other exciting product and research demos in the Immersive Futures Lab, featured the students’ PhD research and celebrated the University of Manchester’s vibrant postgraduate research community. These projects show how creative technology can tackle real-world challenges across diverse industries:

- PhD in Electroacoustic Music Composition
Stream of Strings explores embodied music cognition, blending cultural heritage with creative technology to create motion-responsive performances and visual works. The project reimagines the ancient Chinese Guqin as an interactive instrument for live performance and public engagement. She is supervised by .
- PhD in Electroacoustic Music Composition
Data Sonification for Algorithm Behaviour uses sonification, the mapping of non-auditory data into sound, to better understand how optimisation algorithms work. This approach advances mathematical research while inspiring educational tools and musical compositions. He is also supervised by Professor Ricardo Climent.
- PhD in Computer Science
ReflectanceFusion is a neural text-to-texture model that generates editable, relightable materials from text prompts. It enables precise control of physical attributes, producing highly accurate textures for rendering and material design. He is supervised by .

The showcase sparked lively conversations among attendees, with many playing the Guqin virtually via a Leap Motion Controller and others listening to the beats generated by algorithms being solved in real time. Not only did the students get to practise their pitching skills, but they also found partners for onward collaboration and learning. It was great to see how the next generation of researchers and business partners can come together and seize opportunities for R&D.

More content from BEYOND 2025 will be shared soon, but to get an idea of the atmosphere at this special conference.

In Memoriam: Professor Roger Ling (1942–2025), Distinguished Scholar of Roman Art

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:11:00 +0000

ROGER LING, Professor of Classical Art and Archaeology

It is very sad to report that Roger Ling, a distinguished member of the Art History staff at the University of 911��for more than 50 years - as lecturer, senior lecturer, Professor, and emeritus - died at the beginning of November after a long illness. During much of that time the Department had expanded to its maximum extent in terms of personnel and breadth of interests, which extended from the classical to modern periods. But early on it was Roger who for a number of years singlehandedly saw to the teaching of ancient and classical art at all undergraduate and postgraduate levels, until he was joined by colleagues with interests in early Greece and pre-Roman Italy, as well as in Minoan and Egyptian art, enabling him to concentrate more on the Roman world.

Roger was, in international terms, a leading historian of ancient Roman art and architecture. His deep knowledge of Pompeii originated from his PhD on stuccowork in Roman Italy, and he went on to publish many books on related topics, including Roman painting (on which he wrote the standard English textbook), and mosaics - he was also a frequent contributor to the journal Mosaic which focused on the rich material of Roman Britain. But Roger’s lasting monument is the four-volume Insula of the Menander at Pompeii published by Oxford University Press, to which his wife Lesley, who died three years before him, was a major contributor and was co-author of volume 2 (on the wall decorations). This housing block occupied a large residential space in the ancient town and encompassed a number of dwellings along with various service areas. As well as meticulous recording of archaeological detail, the Menander volumes offer a fascinating human history concerning the different social classes that inhabited the various parts of the insula at different periods, from the impoverished to families of the highest rank.

For all the time that he worked at Manchester, Roger and Lesley lived a characteristically austere life in beautiful but remote parts of the High Peak near Buxton. Internet receptivity could never be relied on. Without a television, Roger would go over to friends and neighbours, or the local pub, to follow his favourite team, Watford FC. Without a car, he would ski across the fields in winter to the local station at Chapel-en-le-Frith to catch the 911��train in time for his early morning lectures. Occasionally he would sleep over in his office in the department if the weather got too bad for the return journey. But with a knowing smile, Roger remained cheerful and imperturbable in almost all circumstances. Only departmental meetings succeeded in disturbing his equilibrium.

New study exposes how conspiracy theories go mainstream across Europe

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000

New pan-European research has shown that the spread of conspiracy theories across the continent is driven by a continuous feedback loop between media reporting, political rhetoric, protest movements and social media algorithms - not any single cause.

The involves 14 researchers from across Europe, and it has examined how conspiracy theories take shape differently in the UK, German-speaking countries, the Balkans, the Baltics, Slovakia and Poland. Their findings highlight that conspiracy narratives reflect the political cultures, histories and social tensions of each region, meaning that approaches to tackling them must be tailored rather than imported wholesale from elsewhere.

A key theme across the reports is the feedback loop that enables conspiracy narratives to circulate. Even when politicians or media outlets refer to a conspiracy theory to debunk it, the resulting attention helps it spread further via social media amplification and mainstream exposure. This blurring of online and offline spaces allows fringe ideas to influence political rhetoric, as seen in Europe-wide variations of the “Great Replacement” narrative.

The research also explores how conspiracies evolve in response to local concerns. In the UK, anxieties around Covid-19 restrictions fed into narratives about “15-minute cities”. In German-speaking countries, stigma around conspiracism has pushed much of it to the online sphere. In the Baltics and the Balkans, the legacy of foreign occupation, conflict and surveillance shapes suspicion of elites and fuels a sense of victimhood. Conspiracy theories in Poland and Slovakia frequently target gender and LGBTQ+ rights, often influenced by US culture-war narratives.

The reports identify a lack of evaluation of initiatives designed to counter disinformation. Some fact-checking and NGO efforts themselves become targets of conspiracist suspicion, undermining trust and the stability of their funding. Nevertheless, media literacy campaigns, debunking and fact-checking each have a role to play when adapted to national contexts.

In the UK, the REDACT team argues that the current Online Safety Act does not go far enough. Unlike the EU’s Digital Services Act, it does not explicitly address health misinformation, election-related disinformation or AI-generated content, leaving gaps in the regulation of systemic risks.

Ultimately, the project concludes that tackling conspiracy theories requires more than closing individual online channels. Efforts must address the structural political and social conditions that allow conspiracist narratives to flourish, as well as the business models that incentivise sensational content. The researchers urge a move away from simply asking why the public lacks trust, towards making institutions genuinely worthy of trust.

The University of 911��is globally renowned for its pioneering research, outstanding teaching and learning, and commitment to social responsibility. We are a truly international university – ranking in the top 50 in a range of global rankings – with a diverse community of more than 44,300 students, 12,800 colleagues and 585,000 alumni. Sign up for our e-news to hear first-hand about our international partnerships and activities across the globe.

HCRI Anthropologist Recognised with Top Feminist Scholarship Award for Groundbreaking Work on Kashmir

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:49:38 +0000

, Lecturer in Disasters and Climate Crisis at the , has won the Gloria Anzaldúa Book Prize for his monograph,

Widely regarded as one of the highest honours in the field of feminist studies, the prize is named in tribute to renowned Chicana poet, feminist theorist, and writer Gloria Anzaldúa. It is awarded annually to groundbreaking monographs that significantly advance multicultural feminist research, particularly within Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

The National Women’s Studies Association announced the award at its annual conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November.

The jury described the book’s contributions as follows:

“Atmospheric Violence: Disaster and Repair in Kashmir offers incredible insights and invitations as we take up [the author’s] question: ‘how we can operate in ways that warp the distance between the academy and community, expert and subject, story and theory, life and poetry’? [The] generous, incisive, beautifully written and visual work informs a lyrical and generative text that is disobedient to the colonial disciplines of extraction normalized in the infrastructure of knowledge production. Atmospheric Violence enriches the depth of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies in [its] offering of rich and complex ethnographic scholarship that continually asks readers pause and reframe the role of the researchers, modalities of living and erasure, and the ever-present question of the politics of our location before we can even fathom a response to ‘Who Can Stand with Kashmir?’ [We] thank [the author] for inviting us to pause and delve into these rich scenes of an otherwise.”

This is the fifth international award the monograph has won since its release last year.

University of 911��hosts unveiling of 2026 BRIT Awards Trophy

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:28:59 +0000

The University of 911��proudly hosted the unveiling of the official 2026 BRIT Awards trophy design at the University’s , marking a major cultural moment as the BRITs prepare to be hosted in 911��for the first time in their history.

The trophy, designed by internationally acclaimed Manchester-born designer was unveiled during a special event celebrating both the city’s creative heritage and the University’s role as a hub for arts, design, music and performance. The University of Manchester’s , home to the renowned - the UK’s first large-scale, dedicated collection for the preservation and study of popular, counter- and youth culture - helped frame the significance of the occasion.

At the event, attended by fashion, music and drama students from across the University, guests witnessed the first public reveal of the iconic trophy and took part in an in-depth Q&A with Williamson. The conversation, led by , Head of Collections, Teaching and Research at the John Rylands Library, offered students and attendees unique insight into the designer’s creative process, his career journey, and what it means to see the BRITs come to his home city.

Williamson’s design draws deeply from Manchester’s identity. Crafted in amber-toned resin reminiscent of the golden honey of the worker bee, the city’s enduring symbol of resilience, the trophy sits atop a globe representing the global reach and influence of British music.

Heather Cole from the John Rylands Research Institute and Library added: “It was a privilege to host Matthew Williamson and introduce our students to the creative thinking behind this year’s BRITs trophy.

At the John Rylands Library, and through the British Pop Archive, we are committed to preserving and celebrating the cultural movements that shape British identity. Seeing a Manchester-born designer lead this new chapter of the BRIT Awards resonates strongly with our mission, and it was inspiring to give students direct access to such an influential figure.”

, taking place on Saturday 28th February at Manchester’s , marks the first time the ceremony will be hosted outside London. This year’s trophy places 911��and the University, firmly at the centre of the BRITs’ new era.

Matthew Williamson joins a distinguished list of creatives who have shaped the BRITs trophy, including , , , , , , , . Each year, the BRITs commission a leading artist to reinterpret the iconic statue, ensuring it remains a dynamic symbol of British creativity.

As the BRIT Awards begin their first-ever chapter in Manchester, the University’s involvement underscores its commitment to celebrating and fostering the city’s rich cultural landscape while offering transformative experiences for its students.

New research sheds light on Britain’s forgotten role in the French Resistance

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:25:56 +0100

New research by Dr Laure Humbert from The University of 911��and Dr Raphaële Balu from Sorbonne University has revealed how Britain’s vital contribution to the French Resistance during the Second World War was largely forgotten in France - and why this silence lasted for decades.

The study, published in French journal as part of a special issue on ‘Les invisibles de la Résistance’ [the invisibles in the Resistance] edited by Professor Claire Andrieu, highlights the many ways British men and women supported the Resistance - from sending secret agents behind enemy lines to working side by side with Free French forces in mobile hospitals - and explores why this contribution was not officially celebrated in the aftermath of war.

One striking example is the story of the Hadfield Spears hospital, a Franco-British medical unit set up in 1940 by American philanthropist Mary Spears and Lady Hadfield, with support from the Free French in London. Staffed by British nurses and doctors alongside Free French medics, the hospital followed the troops across campaigns in the Middle East, North Africa, Italy, and finally France. It treated thousands of wounded soldiers and became a symbol of cooperation between the two nations. But in 1945, just after the victory parades in Paris, the unit was suddenly dissolved. Official recognition never came, and its story slipped into obscurity.

Another case examined is that of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), the British service that parachuted around 1,800 agents into occupied France. These men and women risked their lives to arm and advise Resistance fighters, often building strong friendships with local groups. But as liberation came, Charles de Gaulle, keen to re-establish France’s independence, dismissed several of these agents in person. Their contribution, once celebrated in Britain, was gradually erased from French accounts of the Resistance.

The study shows that this sudden “falling-out” in 1944-45 was not only about personalities, but also about sovereignty and post-war politics - the result was a long-lasting “invisibility” of Britain’s role in French collective memory.

While in the UK the exploits of SOE agents became the stuff of books, films and television dramas, and while the Hadfield Spears unit appeared at the BBC, in France these same stories were largely absent from official commemorations.

Festival celebrating Manchester’s medieval heritage returns for 2025

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0100

Thanks to the dedication of The University of Manchester’s Dr Gillian Redfern and the support of the University’s Social Responsibility Fund, the 911��Medieval Quarter Festival will return to the city on Saturday 27 September. The free, family-friendly festival will once again transform the area into a lively celebration of Manchester’s rich medieval heritage.

Now in its third edition since its launch in 2021, the festival continues its mission to shine a light on an area many residents are surprised to learn exists - the Medieval Quarter. Nestled beside the modern city centre, this historic area stretches from Chetham’s Library and School of Music to 911��Cathedral, weaving through Shambles Square, the Corn Exchange and the National Football Museum.

The area tells the story of 911��long before the Industrial Revolution. From the 10th-century parish church that grew into 911��Cathedral to the 15th-century Collegiate buildings that became Chetham’s Library, the area is steeped in history. At the festival, the public will have the rare chance to explore these spaces for free - normally only accessible by paid tour - making the festival a unique opportunity to engage with the city’s past.

Visitors can look forward to an exciting programme of activities designed to bring medieval 911��to life:

Saturday Scriptorium – Try your hand at medieval calligraphy using quills, ink and parchment in Chetham’s Library’s Baronial Hall, and take home your masterpiece.
Falconry Displays – Watch birds of prey soar in the courtyard and even try falconry with expert guidance.
Historical Re-enactments – Meet medieval re-enactors from Historia Normannis as they showcase tournaments, crafts, and costumes.
Medieval Drama – Boo, cheer, and hiss along with interactive student performances in Chetham’s Courtyard.
Guided Tours – Discover the story of the Medieval Quarter, including rare access to the remnants of the 14th-century Hanging Bridge, and enjoy tours of 911��Cathedral.
Music of the Middle Ages – Immerse yourself in the sounds of the era with performances from the 911��Troubadours.
Family Fun – Browse medieval-themed stalls, enjoy a fashion show, and soak up the atmosphere with food, picnics and live entertainment.

The festival will take place from 11am – 4pm. For more information, visit .

How an ancient document secured the power of the ‘first King of England’

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 13:46:39 +0100

An expert from The University of 911��has revealed how a single sheet of 1,100-year-old parchment may have been used to heal a dangerous royal rift in Ancient England.

King Æthelstan, who is generally known as the first King of England, began his rule almost exactly 1,100 years ago when he was crowned at Kingston on 4 September 925. While history books usually paint his reign as powerful and secure, Dr Jonathan Tickle has found that his early years on the throne were far from smooth sailing - especially in the city of Winchester, where loyalties to a rival prince ran deep.

The story centres on a document now known as “Sawyer 1417” – a lease of farmland agreed between the monks of Winchester’s New Minster and a royal official named Ælfred. On the surface, it looks like a simple property deal. But Dr Tickle’s analysis reveals it was also a carefully staged public event designed to send a political message, patch up strained relationships, and remind everyone who was really in charge.

At the time, Æthelstan faced opposition from supporters of his younger half-brother Eadwine, who some believed had a stronger claim to the throne. The New Minster was a key player in this drama - not only was it home to the tombs of Æthelstan’s father Edward the Elder and grandfather Alfred the Great, but it also stood in a city that may have backed Eadwine.

The charter was read aloud in an assembly packed with nobles, monks, and townsfolk. Its language tied the land deal to the memory of Alfred and Edward, anchoring the king’s authority in his famous ancestors. By setting the rent payment on the anniversary of Edward’s death, the agreement turned a routine transaction into a yearly reminder of Æthelstan’s royal lineage.

“This wasn’t just about farming rights. It was a performance – a way of reshaping alliances, cooling tensions, and making a statement about the king’s rightful place in history. The document itself became a lasting reminder of that moment,” said Dr Tickle.

The research also suggests that monks kept their copy of the charter safe for generations, possibly consulting it at annual rent payments or during disputes – ensuring the king’s message lived on.

By looking at this 1,100-year-old parchment not just as a legal record but as a piece of political theatre, the study opens a new window into how early English kings built and maintained their power.

The full article, ‘’, is published in the Journal of Medieval History.

The University of 911��is globally renowned for its pioneering research, outstanding teaching and learning, and commitment to social responsibility. We are a truly international university – ranking in the top 50 in a range of global rankings – with a diverse community of more than 44,000 students, 12,000 staff and 550,000 alumni from 190 countries. Sign up for our e-news to hear first-hand about our international partnerships and activities across the globe.

Book by 911��academic shortlisted for Royal Society prize

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 14:44:39 +0100

A historian from The University of 911��has been named as one of six authors shortlisted for the 2025 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize, which celebrates the best popular science writing from across the globe.

by Professor Sadiah Qureshi was named as one of the finalists at the Edinburgh International Book Festival by author and palaeontologist Steve Brusatte, following an event with the Prize’s 2024 winner Kelly Weinersmith.

The Royal Society Science Book Prize has championed non-fiction books that celebrate the collective joy of science writing for more than 30 years. Previous winning titles cover diverse themes, ranging from the sensory experiences of animals to the evolution of all life on earth, and a fresh perspective on human behaviour and relationships.

All of this year’s authors make the shortlist for the first time, with books that cover an array of important scientific topics through compelling and accessible storytelling. The shortlisted titles represent the judges’ pick of the most fascinating and relevant science writing over the past 12 months.

Professor Qureshi is a writer and historian of science, race and empire. Currently a Chair of Modern British History at the University of Manchester, she has written for the London Review of Books, Times Literary Supplement and New Statesman.

Vanished is a compelling exploration of how the modern concept of extinction has been shaped not just by science but by empire, racism and the politics of disappearance, and it urges us to reckon with extinction as both an evolutionary fate and a deliberate choice.

“This book shows us why science is not a neutral subject - from the human-driven extinction of the dodo to the justification of indigenous peoples being killed based on false racial hierarchy, politics has been woven into scientific decision-making throughout history,” said previous prize winner Roma Agrawal, who was on the judging panel. “This is an updated and refreshing perspective of a story we ought to know about. Qureshi’s writing is thoroughly readable, while being extremely well researched, opening up a new and important conversation about natural history.”

The winner of this year’s Prize will be revealed on the evening of 1 October 2025, where they will be presented with a cheque for £25,000. Each of the five shortlisted authors will receive a cheque for £2,500.

Project breaks the silence around death in primary schools

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:07:38 +0100

A powerful new initiative is set to transform how children talk about death, dying, and bereavement. The project - a collaboration between the universities of Manchester, Bradford and Wolverhampton, Child Bereavement UK and the Child Bereavement Network - features brand new poems by legendary children’s author and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, whose work has helped generations of young readers explore life’s most profound emotions with honesty and humour.

Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the 10-month pilot will work with primary schools to create age-appropriate, creative, and compassionate ways to explore life, death, and everything in between.

Led by Professor Karina Croucher, Professor of Archaeology, Heritage and Wellbeing at the University of Bradford, the project uses archaeology to start conversations around death and bereavement. “It’s about helping young people to talk about death, dying and bereavement, challenging what is almost a taboo in society,” said Professor Croucher. “We’re using archaeology and global practices to show how diverse our responses to death can be – and how we can celebrate life in the process.”

Dr Jane Booth, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Wolverhampton, is part of the team delivering weekly workshops in two primary schools – Wycliffe CE Primary in Shipley, West Yorkshire and St Joseph’s in Sale, Manchester. “The project is about normalising and validating feelings around death, dying, care-giving and grief resilience,” said Dr Booth. “It’s about saying it’s OK to talk about these subjects – and giving children the tools to do so.”

Beloved children’s author and poet Michael Rosen is writing new poems to accompany the project’s workshops, helping children explore their emotions through creative expression.

The project will run from September 2025 and is open to pupils aged five to 11 as part of their PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) education. Children will explore not only bereavement but other forms of loss – such as the death of a pet or a friend moving away – through archaeology-inspired art and poetry. Parents will be invited to information sessions and can choose whether their children take part.

‘Lost and Found’ builds on the success of previous AHRC-funded projects, including ‘Continuing Bonds’ and ‘Dying 2 Talk’, which used archaeology to support conversations about death in secondary schools. The new pilot will result in a workshop resource pack for other schools to replicate the approach.

This initiative also aligns with the UK Government’s recent inclusion of grief education in .

‘Lost and Found’ builds on nearly £100,000 in AHRC funding and follows two earlier projects: and . These initiatives explored how archaeology can support conversations about death, dying, and bereavement in non-medicalised, creative ways.

Continuing Bonds brought together archaeologists, healthcare professionals, and psychologists to explore legacy and loss, while Dying 2 Talk co-produced resources with secondary school pupils, using artefacts and workshops to help young people reflect on grief and caregiving through the lens of the past.

911��researchers help to uncover ancient Egyptian city

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:04:13 +0100

Archaeologists from The University of 911��have played a leading role in the rediscovery of the ancient city of Imet in Egypt’s eastern Nile Delta, uncovering multi-storey dwellings, granaries and a ceremonial road tied to the worship of the cobra goddess Wadjet.

The excavations at Tell el-Fara’in (also known as Tell Nabasha) are part of a joint Egyptian-British mission with the University of Sadat City in Cairo, directed by Dr Nicky Nielsen of The University of Manchester. By combining remote sensing with on-the-ground archaeology, the team has begun to transform understanding of the urban, religious and economic life of this city in the Nile Delta during the 4th century BC.

Using high-resolution satellite imagery, Dr Nielsen and his team identified clusters of ancient mudbricks prior to excavation. This approach led to the discovery of dense architectural remains, including substantial tower houses - multi-storey buildings supported by exceptionally thick foundation walls, which were designed to accommodate a growing population in an increasingly urbanised Delta region.

“These tower houses are mainly found in the Nile Delta between the Late Period and the Roman era, and are rare elsewhere in Egypt,” said Dr. Nielsen. “Their presence here shows that Imet was a thriving and densely-built city with a complex urban infrastructure.”

Additional discoveries include a paved area for grain processing and animal enclosures, pointing to an active local economy alongside its religious significance.

Elsewhere, excavators found a large building with a limestone plaster floor and massive pillars dating to the mid-Ptolemaic Period. This building was built across the processional road which once connected to the temple of Wadjet - the city’s patron deity. This ceremonial route appears to have fallen out of use by the mid-Ptolemaic period, offering insight into shifting religious landscapes in ancient Egypt.

Artefacts from the site reflect a vibrant spiritual culture. Highlights include a green faience ushabti from the 26th Dynasty, a stela of the god Harpocrates with protective iconography and a bronze sistrum adorned with the twin heads of Hathor, goddess of music and joy.

The University of Manchester’s involvement continues to shape global narratives of Egypt’s forgotten cities, bringing the ancient Delta back into view one discovery at a time.

In addition to Dr Nicky Nielsen, the excavation team comprised Dr Hamada Hussein (University of Sadat City), Dr Diana T. Nikolova (University of Liverpool), Matei Tichindelean (UCLA), Kylie Thomsen (UCLA), Omar Farouk, Jamal el-Sharkawy, Ahmed Fahim and Ali Bashir.

The University of 911��launches groundbreaking ‘Digital Dante Library’

Thu, 22 May 2025 15:40:08 +0100

The University of 911��is set to launch the 911��Digital Dante Library, a landmark digital collection which will make some of the rarest and most significant early printed editions of Dante’s Divine Comedy available freely online for the first time.

The first part of this digital library will go live on 29 May, coinciding with an international conference at the historic John Rylands Research Institute and Library where the collection is held.

Developed as part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-funded project Envisioning Dante, c.1472–c.1630: Seeing and Reading the Early Printed Page, this digital library is one of the most significant scholarly resources ever created for the study of Dante’s works in print. It features 99 editions printed between 1472 and 1629, with 20 being made available in the first release. The full collection will be rolled out across 2025.

The conference on 29-30 May will bring together world experts in Dante studies, early print culture, and digital humanities. Attendees will explore groundbreaking interdisciplinary research, including the project’s pioneering use of artificial intelligence and computer vision to analyse page design and layout in early modern books - offering a new lens through which to view the evolution of print culture.

The JRRIL Dante Collection includes all but three of the known pre-1650 printed editions of the Divine Comedy, with highlights such as the very first Italian editions printed in 1472, richly illustrated editions from 1481 and 1487, and later translations in Spanish, French, English and Japanese. The collection also features 19th-century illustrations by Gustave Doré, and a giant hand-illuminated manuscript created in 1902.

The 911��Digital Dante Library is hosted on 911��Digital Collections, a state-of-the-art platform developed in partnership with Cambridge University Library and supported by the Research Lifecycle Project. It exemplifies a new model for digital scholarship, merging humanities research with advanced imaging techniques and setting a new standard for cultural heritage digitisation.

For more information on the conference, visit .

Expert unlocks truth of Stanford Prison Experiment in new TV show

Thu, 15 May 2025 12:00:00 +0100

National Geographic is set to premiere ‘The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth’ in the UK this month, which features expert commentary from The University of Manchester’s .

The gripping new docuseries revisits the infamous , but with a twist. Through accounts from the original prisoners and guards, many of whom are speaking on camera for the very first time, the docuseries shares a groundbreaking look at one of history’s most notorious psychological studies.

The study, controversial yet influential, has shaped popular understanding of human behaviour for over half a century. Re-examining the experiment from a different perspective, the docuseries set out to challenge long-held beliefs around Philip Zimbardo’s ‘guards vs prisoners’ study.

Surviving participants confront the emotional weight they have carried for decades, alongside newly uncovered archive footage, dramatisation and contributions from leading scholars.

Professor Scott-Bottoms expresses the fine line between theatrical roleplay and real psychological trauma. Bringing a unique interdisciplinary perspective to the psychological, cultural, and theatrical dimensions of the original Stanford Prison Experiment, he noted:

Building upon his 2024 book, , the unsettling history of role-playing in ‘constructed situations’ is explored through his commentary on the performative dynamic of the experiment and its wider societal implications. Students from the School of the Arts, Languages & Cultures also feature in the reenactments shown in the series.

To mark the UK premiere, the , in partnership with , will be hosting an in-conversation event on Wednesday 4 June titled ‘’.&�Բ��;

Professor Stephen Scott-Bottoms will be joined by from the , who is also among the expert commentators featured in the series, alongside , Director of the docuseries. An internationally recognised expert on social identity, collective behaviour, intergroup conflict, and leadership influence, Professor Stephen Reicher co-led the BBC’s partial reconstruction of the Stanford Prison study,

The event will feature behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the series, a discussion on the enduring relevance of the Stanford study and a live audience Q&A. It is open to the public and promises a compelling dialogue on truth, myth, and morality in psychological research.

CreaTech Network 2025: Events series returns this year to explore Creativity + AI in Music, Publishing and Fashion

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:38:00 +0100

, and the (TIC) 911��are pleased to announce the return of the CreaTech Network Series, with three events taking place across 911��from May to June 2025.

Following on from a successful series in 2024, this year's events bring together University of 911��researchers, creatives from fashion, music and publishing and professionals from the technology industry for important conversations about emerging technologies.

Throughout this series AI will be the focus and approached via three different themes. The pace of development of this technology is rapid and leads the creative sector into previously unchartered territory, which may prove as much a threat as it provides opportunity to the future of the creative and cultural industries.

Please book your free place via .

Creativity + AI: Music
Monday 12 May, SISTER, M1 3NJ
How can creative businesses take advantage of emerging technologies and create opportunities for innovation and knowledge exchange? A panel of expert speakers will explore applications, challenges and opportunities of AI in the Music industry focussing on creative technologies for composition, inclusive economic development of regional and national creative clusters and more.

Creativity + AI: Publishing
Monday 16 June, Oddfellows Hall, M1 7HF
The rapid expansion of AI is impacting and changing the publishing industry. We will be asking a panel of publishers, authors and librarians to reflect on the pace of change in the sector, and where they see opportunities emerging for their work. We will be asking how best we can take advantage of new technologies and how new technologies are taking advantage of creatives.

Creativity + AI: Fashion
Thursday 26 June, Arbeta, M40 5BP
How can fashion businesses can take advantage of emerging technologies affecting design, materials, production and retail, and create opportunities for innovation and knowledge exchange?

Lemn Sissay OBE to judge University's 2025 Micropoetry Competition

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 11:51:05 +0000

Esteemed poet and former Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Lemn Sissay OBE, has been unveiled as a returning judge for the 2025 edition of the annual Micropoetry competition.

As the honorary chair of creative writing, Lemn will joined by fellow judges John McAuliffe, Professor of Poetry at The University of 911��and Manchester-based poet and critic, Maryam Hessavi.

The theme for 2025 is ‘Connections’ and the challenge is simple - write a ‘micro poem’ of no more than 280 characters, and submit using the official competition entry form.

Lemn said: “The Micropoetry Competition sets a wonderful yet challenging task of translating a theme into a short work of art. It’s a craft to tell a story in such a manner and I’m looking forward to reading the 2025 entries, centred around the chosen theme. As someone who published a book of tweets in the form of quatrains, I urge you to pen your poem and enter the competition.”

Entries must be submitted by 23:59 on Saturday 21 June 2025, with winners to be announced by Friday 25 July 2025.

Prizes will be awarded for first place (£500) and the two runners-up (£250), with a £25 book token for winner of the under-18s category.

Professor of Poetry at The University of Manchester, John McAuliffe, said: "World Poetry Day celebrates all that is fascinating about poetry and its manifold forms. Our Micropoetry Competition explores the art of translating a set theme into a condensed poem that captures attention and shares a story.”

For the full entry details as well as the terms and conditions,

Acclaimed author Sarah Hall joins The University’s Centre for New Writing

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 18:15:53 +0000

Internationally acclaimed novelist and short story writer Sarah Hall has joined The University of 911��as a Professor of Creative Writing.

Sarah joins a prestigious teaching team at the University’s Centre for New Writing made up of novelists, poets, screenwriters, playwrights and non-fiction writers, including Jeanette Winterson, Ian McGuire, Jason Allen-Paisant, Beth Underdown, Horatio Clare, Tim Price and John McAuliffe.

Hailed as a ‘writer of show-stopping genius’, Sarah is a two-time Man Booker Prize nominee and an award-winning author of six novels and three short-story collections. Notably, she is the only author to win the prestigious BBC National Short Story Award twice —first in 2013 with ‘Mrs Fox’ and again in 2020 with ‘The Grotesques’. Her new novel, Helm, will be published in August 2025 by Faber who describe it as a ‘wondrous, elemental new novel … about nature, people and the sliver of time we have left’.

Director of the Centre New Writing, Dr. Kaye Mitchell, said: “It feels like a tremendous coup to have Sarah Hall join the Centre for New Writing. Personally, I’ve been beguiled by her beautiful, sensuous prose since the publication of her debut novel, Haweswater, in 2002 and she is simply one of the absolute best short story writers working today. She’s also a writer rooted in the North and in northern landscapes, histories and peoples – a writer whose elemental evocation of natural environments feels passionate and timely. Our Creative Writing students will benefit enormously from her critical eye and creative influence.”

Sarah’s work has been published in more than 15 languages, worldwide. In the UK, she is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and has won a clutch of prizes – including the Society of Authors Betty Trask Award and Commonwealth Writers Best First Novel (for Haweswater, 2002), the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize (for The Carhullan Army, 2007), and the Portico Prize (for How to Paint a Dead Man, 2010). She has also served on the judging panels of The Booker Prize, The John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, The Northern Writers Awards, and the Commonwealth Short Story Award. In 2025, she is Chair of the judging panel for the Forward Prize for Poetry.

In addition to her fiction, Sarah frequently publishes journalistic reviews, op-eds and provocations; she has written feature length radio plays and scripts and adapted her own work for radio. She commentates for culture programmes including primetime shows on BBC Radio 3 and 4 and has presented radio and television documentaries for the BBC and Sky Arts. Currently, Sarah is working on a film adaptation of The Wolf Border with AC Chapter One/Climate Spring and an original TV series concept for Bonafide Films.

Sarah was previously Professor of Practice at the University of Cumbria, and has taught masterclasses and workshops for The Arvon Foundation, The Faber Academy, The Guardian, and universities including Cambridge and St. Andrews.

911��Professor named Archaeologist of the Year in public vote

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Photo (C) Adam Stanford,

The University of Manchester’s Professor Joyce Tyldesley OBE has won the 2025 Archaeologist of the Year award, as voted for by readers of Current Archaeology magazine.

As Professor of Egyptology, Joyce has a career-long determination to make the past accessible to all. With support from the Egyptology team, Joyce has developed a pioneering suite of online programmes designed to reach students who, for various reasons, could not attend traditional, face-to-face lectures.

Joyce studied the archaeology of the Eastern Mediterranean at Liverpool University, then obtained a D.Phil in prehistoric archaeology from Oxford University. She holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton and is a Research Associate of the 911��Museum. Joyce is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In 2024, she was awarded the OBE in recognition of her services to Egyptology and heritage.

Dr Nicky Nielsen, Senior Lecturer in Egyptology at The University of Manchester, said: “This is a very well-deserved honour. Professor Tyldesley has shaped the study of Egyptian archaeology here at 911��for decades, as well as her extensive work in outreach and scholarly communication, and it’s wonderful to see her get recognition from the wider field.”

The Current Archaeology awards celebrate the projects and publications that made the pages of the magazine over the past 12 months, and the people shortlisted have made outstanding contributions to archaeology. The awards were voted for by the public, with Joyce being named the people’s winner at the ceremony on Saturday 1 March.

"Joyce’s work and its impact are highly valued by all her colleagues in the department, and the University as a whole," said Professor Peter Liddel, Head of Classics, Ancient History, Archaeology and Egyptology. “Congratulations Joyce on another hugely deserved recognition of your achievements and contributions.”

Reflecting her interest in outreach, Joyce has published a series of books and articles on ancient Egypt, including three television tie-in books and Cleopatra, Last Queen of Egypt, which was a Radio 4 "Book of the Week". Her book Tutankhamen: The Search for an Egyptian King, won the Felicia A Holton Book Award from the Archaeological Institute of America.

911��academic condemns Trump’s attacks on diversity initiatives

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:57:58 +0000

An expert from The University of 911��has strongly criticised US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks blaming a tragic aviation accident on diversity initiatives. Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Industries Dr Roaa Ali argues that these claims are not just factually baseless – they also serve to reinforce systemic racism under the guise of ‘neoliberal meritocracy’.

Following the mid-air collision between a passenger jet and a helicopter in Washington DC in January, Trump suggested that diversity programmes contributed to the crash. His remarks, which have been widely contested and refuted, reflect a broader pattern of right-wing rhetoric that Dr Ali says disguises racism as a defence of economic and social stability.

She warns that his comments are emblematic of a growing trend in which diversity is scapegoated for economic and institutional failures.

“Trump’s rhetoric is not just problematic - it is overtly racist,” she states. “His claims perpetuate the myth that racialised individuals are inherently unqualified and that diversity efforts undermine meritocracy - when, in fact, meritocracy itself is a neoliberal myth.”

She highlights that systemic barriers - not individual incompetence - shape access to education, employment and economic opportunities. “Capitalism has always been racial,” she explains, referencing Cedric Robinson’s analysis of racial capitalism. “The idea that economic decline is linked to racial equality is a dangerous falsehood that has been used time and again to justify discrimination.”

Dr Ali’s research challenges the assumption that diversity hires lack merit. In her interviews with ethnically diverse job entrants and organisations overseeing diversity initiatives in the UK, she found that these individuals are often overqualified. “They go through multiple rounds of stringent recruitment processes,” she notes, “yet their presence is still framed as a threat rather than a step towards equity.”

She further criticises the misconception that diversity schemes provide an undue advantage. “These schemes exist to address structural racism, but they do not go far enough in creating lasting change,” she says. “Instead of meaningful intervention, they serve as temporary solutions that do not dismantle the barriers faced by racialised communities.”

Dr Ali calls on policymakers, cultural institutions and the public to actively resist these harmful narratives and support genuine structural change.

University partners with 911��Literature Festival to launch 2024 events

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:46:23 +0100

An exciting programme of literature events returns this October, hosted by .

Celebrating a series of collaborations with The University of Manchester’s Centre for New Writing and Creative 911��research platform, the 2024 events programme will be held between 4 and 20 October.

The 2024 events begin on campus at the University’s Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama as we welcome former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas who launches her fascinating book Another England: How to Reclaim Our National Story.

As Higher Education Partner, The University of 911��works closely with the festival team to co-host a variety of events that showcase and highlight the impact of literature across the city. Other partnership events showcase new publications by celebrated authors – including:

Former Scottish Makar and firm festival favourite,  performs poems from her new collection May Day and celebrates A Life in Poetry and Protest at a special event hosted by actor Julie Hesmondhalgh (Saturday 5 October, 7pm, Martin Harris Centre for Music & Drama)

Throughout her four decades as a foreign correspondent, has always carried a book of poetry with her as ‘a vaccination against despair’. She will share some of her favourite poems and reflect on her career as a war reporter (Sunday 6 October, 4.30pm, Central Library)

(The Damned United) explores the grief, the heartbreak and the resurrection of a club (911��United), a city and a country in his compelling new book Munichs (Sunday 6 October, 7pm, HOME)

, one of the world’s most prolific designers, talks about his mission to end soulless, boring buildings and put human emotion back at the heart of building design (Tuesday 8 October, 7pm, Contact)

Bestselling cook and Guardian food columnist  shares her passion for East and South Asian cuisine and reveals the dishes she creates when she wants to cook for herself, family and friends in her delicious new book Dinner (Wednesday 9 October, 7.30pm, Martin Harris Centre for Music & Drama)

Legendary music producer (White Bicycle) invites audiences to open their ‘minds and ears to a wider, richer musical world’ via his engrossing new book And the Roots of Rhythm Remain: A Journey through Global Music (Monday 14 October, 7pm, Central Library)

Scottish author  (Mayflies) joins us to discuss his epic, new state-of-the-nation novel Caledonian Road with host Dave Haslam (Wednesday 16 October, 7pm, Central Library)

Bestselling novelist  (Babel) visits 911��to discuss her number one global sensation Yellowface, a provocative satire set in the cut-throat world of publishing seen through the eyes of failed writer June. She also discusses navigating genres, creating characters and her literary influences (Thursday 17 October, 7.30pm, RNCM)

Post-Festival, Pulitzer Prize winner (The Overstory) makes a rare visit to the UK in support of his compelling new novel. Longlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, Playground interweaves themes of science, technology, nature, the environment and our shared humanity beautifully (Friday 8 November, 7pm, Central Library)

Our annual Rylands Poetry Reading takes place on Thursday 10 October, 7pm and welcomes poet, playwright and educator, . One of the most acclaimed and widely read poets of recent decades, Gillian will also run a Poetry Masterclass, sharing insights into the craft of poetry, and how to bend language into original and musical verse.

Cathy Bolton and Sarah-Jane Roberts, Co-Directors of 911��Literature Festival said: “Over the last 200 years, The University of 911��has shown itself to be one of the most innovative and groundbreaking universities in the UK and we are delighted to have the Centre for New Writing and Creative 911��as our Higher Education Partner once again. New perspectives and reimagining are at the heart of this year’s 911��Literature Festival. Caroline Lucas asks us to reimagine a greener, more inclusive England. George Monbiot encourages us to reimagine the end of neoliberalism. Thomas Heatherwick invites us to reimagine our cities without soulless, boring buildings. David Peace reimagines the grief, heartbreak and resurrection of 911��United after the 1958 Munich air disaster. We also welcome a multitude of brilliant novelists, poets and artists to the city, and invite you to join us to revisit familiar narratives from a place of freshness, curiosity and hope.”

Find out more about 911��Literature Festival and view the full programme by visiting .

Oscars history for late 911��Professor Martin Amis

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:58:52 +0000

The Zone of Interest, based on the novel penned by late University of 911��creative writing Professor Martin Amis, made Oscars history as the first British film to land ‘Best International Film’.

Filmed in the German language, the movie is a UK/Poland co-production directed by Jonathan Glazer which deals with the day-to-day life of Nazi Commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig as they go about building their dream home next to Auschwitz. The film also picked up the award for ‘Best Sound’, upsetting favourites ‘Oppenheimer’ to the title.

Amis joined the Centre for New Writing in 2007 to take up his first teaching post at The University of Manchester.

Famous for a series of novels including his London Trilogy, Martin was highlighted by The Times as one of the 50 greatest British novelists of the late 20th Century. He stepped aside from his teaching post in 2011. Martin passed away from cancer in May 2023 aged 73.

�Ѳ��پ��’s The Zone of Interest was published in 2014 and was �Ѳ��پ��’s fourteenth novel to be published. The Oscar-winning film of the same name is a loose adaptation of the novel.

911��poet wins prestigious TS Eliot Prize

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:50:53 +0000

The University of Manchester's has been named the winner of the UK’s most prestigious poetry award, the TS Eliot Prize.

Jason's collection Self-Portrait As Othello explores Black masculinity and immigrant identity. The Jamaican poet, who is a Senior Lecturer in Critical Theory & Creative Writing at the University's Centre for New Writing, was announced as this year’s winner during last night's ceremony at the Wallace Collection in London.

“Self-Portrait As Othello is a book with large ambitions that are met with great imaginative capacity, freshness and technical flair,” said the judging panel, made up of the poets Paul Muldoon, Sasha Dugdale and Denise Saul.

The award follows on from Jason winning the Forward Prize for Best Collection last October, and the book has also since been shortlisted for the Writers’ Prize.

The TS Eliot Prize shortlist also featured Centre for New Writing graduate Joe Carrick-Varty, who was recognised for his debut collection, More Sky.

Jason’s collection is published by Manchester-based Carcanet Press, a publisher with a long association with the University, through the John Rylands Research Institute Library, and is run by and , who also teach at the Centre for New Writing.

His first collection, Thinking With Trees, was . His non-fiction book, Scanning the Bush, will be published later this year.

Lemn Sissay to judge poetry competition celebrating ‘science around us’

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Budding writers have been challenged to craft a Twitter micropoem on the theme of the ‘science around us’ by , which has launched its annual Micropoetry Competition to mark World Poetry Day.

BAFTA-nominated poet and writer Lemn Sissay - an honorary chair of creative writing at The University of 911��- will be one of three judges considering entries. They will need to combine a vast and thought-provoking topic with a strict 280-character Twitter limit.

One of three research platforms from The University of Manchester, Creative 911��has run the Micropoetry Competition in in partnership with the University’s for the last 10 years.

The competition is open to everyone, and entrants can submit their micropoem via Twitter using the hashtag #micropoem23. People can also submit their poem by email with the same 280-character limit, including the hashtag.

The competition will close on Wednesday 21 June. Lemn and fellow judges John McAuliffe, Professor of Poetry at The University of 911��and Director of Creative Manchester, and Manchester-based poet and critic Maryam Hessavi, will then deliberate over the submissions.

The writer of the judges’ favourite poem will win a prize of £500, while two runners-up will receive £250 each. There will also be an under-18 first prize of a £25 book token.

“The variety and quality of poems entered into the competition each year always impress us – the limited space of a tweet seems like a challenge that brings out people’s inventiveness,” said John.

For further details on the competition, visit .

Guilt by Association, A Black History Month Event

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 14:25:19 +0100

In a recent in Manchester, prosecutors were able to build a group case against several black teenagers and have them convicted after they used social media messages between the teenagers that referenced violence in drill rap lyrics. The prosecutors claimed the teenagers were affiliated to a ‘gang.’

This case crystallises certain broader trends in group prosecutions, with a recent report from the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies on joint enterprise laws in England and Wales (‘’, 2022) finding that young men of colour continue to be disproportionately swept into large group convictions.

Professor of Public History, David Olusoga OBE, will chair a panel discussion with expert speakers, including , Chancellor Nazir Afzal (The University of Manchester), founder of Kids of Colour, , and Jan Cunliffe, Director of . They will reflect on the effects of conspiracy and joint enterprise laws in racializing and criminalizing particular communities and cultures, and on how these laws increasingly raise questions about fairness and justice as they relate to the prosecution of young Black and Asian men.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, either in person, or via live-stream. If you’re interested in attending this topical discussion, please register via .

This event has been organised by the Creative Manchester, presented in partnership with the Global Inequalities research beacon at The University of Manchester.

Black History Month Lecture with Professor David Olusoga OBE

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 14:18:52 +0100

David Olusoga is Professor of Public History at The University of Manchester, specialising in the British Empire and how different communities experience its lasting effects in modern society. Awarded an OBE in 2019 for his services to history and community integration, David has presented several historical television programmes on the BBC. These programmes include Civilisations, Black and British, Our NHS: A Hidden History, A House Through Time and the BAFTA award-winning Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners.

On 10 October, David will host a lecture exploring what it means to be Black and British and the role of Black History today. With his recent book, , being published for children to better understand the relationship between Britain and Empire, this event would be particularly insightful for those in school years 7-11 and anyone older.

If you would like to attend this FREE event, please register via .

The event is hybrid, and will be live-streamed and recorded.

Creative 911��appoints new research leads

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 13:40:16 +0100

Since becoming a research platform at The University of Manchester, Creative 911��has witnessed immense growth, nurturing exciting research and delivering outstanding workshops and events. The platform’s research is centred on three key themes: Creative Industries and Innovation; Creative and Civic Futures; and Creativity, Health and Wellbeing.

The newly appointed Creative 911��Research Leads will support and grow strong multidisciplinary communities around each key theme, and provide strategic direction to each area.

The research leads will work closely with Creative 911��Director, Professor John McAuliffe, who said of their appointment, “I am delighted to welcome Claudia, Stephen, and Jenna to the Creative 911��team. They bring with them a huge amount of knowledge and expertise, and I am looking forward to working closely with each of them across the three Creative 911��research themes.”

The new research leads took up their appointment on 1 September 2022, each of whom will be leading their respective research theme:

Dr Claudia E Henninger – Creative Industries and Innovation
Dr Stephen Hicks – Creativity, Health and Wellbeing
Dr Jenna C Ashton – Creative and Civic Futures

is a Reader Lecturer in Fashion Marketing Management, holding interest in sustainability and the circular economy within a fashion context. She has been published in internationally leading journals, such as the and the , and has disseminated her work at various leading conferences. Claudia is also an Executive Member of the and the Chair of the .

is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work in the School of Health Sciences, . He is also a member of the and, until recently, was the Senior Postgraduate Tutor for the . He is currently the 911��lead on the (NIHR) and School for Social Care funded project, , which is working with eight co-researchers to examine social care workers’ assessments of the welfare needs of older LGBTQ+ people. Stephen has also carried out research into community belonging and questions of place with colleagues from Sociology, Anthropology, and Architecture, and has written extensively on LGBTQ+ parenting.

is an artist and Lecturer in Heritage Studies in the . Jenna's research contributes to evolving creative and community methods within heritage and cultural studies for addressing social and ecological (in)justice. Her work is often site-specific, highlighting experiences and knowledge(s) of place, and she has over 15 years’ experience in community collaboration and co-production. Jenna also holds advisory and trustee roles in the UK and internationally, and is currently leading the project, ‘’ (AHRC UK Climate Resilience Programme (2020-2022)), is a Co-Investigator on ‘’ (NERC Future of UK Treescapes programme (2021-2024)), and is part of The University of Manchester’s Cottonopolis Collective (AHRC-NERC Hidden Histories of Environmental Science funded project, Cottonopolis).

Upon Reflection: Creative and Cultural Collaborations Workshop

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 12:09:03 +0100

Professor of Poetry and Creative 911��Director, , opened the workshop by providing a brief overview of Creative 911��and the , followed by Research Associate Dr Alicia J Rouverol presenting on the project to date, along with a proposed framework for creative and cultural collaborations.

Taking place throughout 2021, and working in partnership with Creative Manchester, , and , the project interviewed Creative and Cultural Industry professionals and academics in Higher Education Institutions who were engaged in partnerships. These interviews helped locate ‘best practice’, allowing the Deep Dive research team to develop a framework (or toolkit) with key distinct phases to help facilitate stronger, more viable partnerships between academics and industry professionals.

Attendees were then divided into breakout rooms and asked to consider their experiences when working in partnerships and collaborations and to put forward their thoughts on frameworks. The provocations provided to each breakout room were:

How best can you sustain an effective partnership?
Given your experience, in your own context, what are the challenges in developing, implementing and evaluating a framework?

When everyone reconvened, there were clear themes in each breakout room’s responses concerning best practice in partnerships. Some of these included: finding common interests with partners; communication, both formal and informal, including regular check-ins with colleagues and acknowledging differences with collaborators; and supporting early-mid career workers in their development.

Attendees were also able to hear from other project partners, including:

– Cardiff Business School
Rachel Kenyon – Business Engagement Manager, Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange, The University of Manchester
–

, Co-Founder and Director of the National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange (), concluded the workshop with an oversight of the NCACE’s key areas of work and its crucial findings, such as the value that collaborative activities bring to the arts and cultural sector.

If you would like to catch-up on the workshop and hear about the exciting research and thoughts of speakers and attendees, you can watch it on the .

Creative 911��at the Bluedot Festival 2022

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 12:03:31 +0100

Curated for Creative 911��by Senior Research Fellow Ellah Wakatama OBE, the conversations focused on new publications in many genres, touching on poetry, science fiction, fantasy, nature writing, and memoir. With a variety of poets and storytellers, these conversations also acted as a celebration of diversity, inclusivity, and the power of literature, with speakers reflecting on their experiences, their work, and their visions for the future.

The conversations included:

Love and Being – Niki Igbaroola, Jared McGinnis, and Kasim Ali
Our Future Selves – Geoff Ryman, Temi Oh, and Nikhil Singh
Writing Nature, ft. The Nan Shepherd Prize – with Marchelle Farrell and Nina Mingya Powles
Poetry: Remixes and Reimagination
Crime and Punishment – Nadine Matheson, Kia Abdullah, and Parker Bilal

Thank you to all those who joined us for these wonderful conversations. Beyond our Creative 911��line-up, the Bluedot Festival was yet again a wonderful and perfect blend of science, music and culture after its two-year hiatus. From ��ö��

and the Halle symphony orchestra head-lining Sunday to Tim Peake speaking about his Top Gun inspiration, it was a .

If you’re looking forward to next year as much as Creative Manchester, tickets are already available for the .

Thank you, Lemn

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 11:54:31 +0100

After 7 years, Lemn Sissay has come to the end of his tenure as Chancellor of The University of Manchester. We are delighted to announce that Lemn will continue as Creative 911��ambassador and has also been appointed as Honorary Professor of Creative Writing.

Lemn’s contributions in his time with the University have been remarkable, whether that be his work with local communities or his active role in literature across the North West. This included his commitment to widening access and removing barriers to those commonly under-represented, such as through his introduction of the .

We, at Creative Manchester, are particularly grateful to Lemn, who supported the platform from its inception as an ambassador and has collaborated with us on several research projects and events. In particular, for the past six years, he has served as Lead Judge on our , including for this year’s theme of Climate Change.

We look forward to exciting future collaborations with Lemn during the forthcoming year.

Lemn Sissay is pictured above with John McAuliffe, Creative 911��Director and Professor of Poetry.

Academics LEAP into HEA fellowships for teaching excellence

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 10:25:01 +0000

Four academics from the University of Manchester’s Faculty of Humanities have been recognised at the latest outing of the Leadership in Education Awards Programme (LEAP) Recognition Panel for their HEA fellowship awards.

The meeting, which took place on 24 January 2019, awarded Advance HE Fellowships to colleagues across the University to mark its commitment to enhancing the student experience and delivering exceptional teaching and learning.

In the School of Law, Isil Aral was awarded a Fellowship, while Sarah Devaney and Catherine Stanton were each awarded Senior Fellowships, and Deborah Madden of the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures was awarded a Fellowship.

The LEAP is accredited by AdvanceHE to award Associate, Fellowship, Senior and Principal HEA Fellowships and is open to all staff who influence teaching and learning at an institutional, national and international level.

Since the programme was launched in 2016, colleagues across the University have been evidencing their teaching and learning excellence to line them up for formal national teaching awards.

“LEAP is a fantastic way for colleagues to reflect on the teaching and the support they provide for students and gain a nationally-recognised award,” said Prof Judy Williams, University Academic Lead for LEAP. “It has also enabled people to share best practice and make connections across the University.”

The LEAP programme runs twice per year and will be accepting applicants from a LEAP Information Session on 2 October 2019. To find out more, or to book a place on the session, please visit .