Wed, 5 April 12:00 AM Fri, 28 April 11:31 AM

Centre for Feminist Research to study sexual misconduct

The Centre for Feminist Research (CFR) at Goldsmiths, University of London has won a £10,000 grant to fund a research project investigating sexual misconduct and abuse of power in Higher Education. updated again and again...

Funding was this month confirmed by the British Academy’s Research Awards Committee in the latest round of BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants.

The award of £9,947 was granted for the project entitled “Cultures of Consent: Examining the complexity of sexual misconduct an d power within universities”.

Professor Lisa Blackman, Director of the CFR and co-head of the Department of Media and Communications, is the Principal Investigator for the project with Dr Yasmin Gunaratnam, Reader in Sociology and Co-Director of the CFR as the Co-Investigator.

The research will be undertaken by Dr Tiffany Page, post-doctoral researcher based in the CFR and co-founder of The 1752 Group.

This study is on staff-to-student sexual misconduct in universities – the use of institutional and personal power, including grooming, sexual force, intimidation, coercion, or manipulation.

It proposes four main activities:

• updating and archiving existing literature reviews by collaborators on staff-to-student sexual misconduct in UK universities, gathering research from international contexts and on current best practices, in an open access resource
• inaugurating a cross-institutional network of researchers to facilitate knowledge exchange
• developing a proposal for a themed issue of a peer-reviewed journal
• identifying suitable methods and methodological principles for future research on the topic.

Professor Blackman said: “We are delighted that the British Academy has funded this important seed project, which will help us begin to understand some of the complex “cultures of consent” surrounding sexual misconduct in universities.

"It will build on important research that has been done by groups such as The 1752 Group and allow us to build a cross-institutional network to take this work forward across the sector.”

Work on the study is due to begin at the end of August, 2017. 

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Tue, 28 March 12:29 PM Wed, 12 April 9:55 AM

EU referendum announcement and information

The decision by the UK to vote to leave the EU is a historic one for the country, for Europe and – on a more local level – Goldsmiths.

The official process of leaving the EU is likely to begin later this year - and will take a number of years to complete.

Goldsmiths is proud of its diverse community and we are renowned for building friendships across the world. The referendum result will not change this.

Situation as it stands

Barring unilateral action from the UK Government, the vote to leave the EU will not result in material changes to the immigration status of current and prospective EU students and staff.

On 27 June 2016, Goldsmiths confirmed that fees for EU member state students would remain the same as those for UK students up to and including the academic year 2018-2019.

The university also pledged to continue to fund student and staff mobility across the globe for the next three years amid uncertainty in higher education over funding for schemes like Erasmus+.

The financial commitments show Goldsmiths’ commitment to welcoming EU and international students following the leave vote in the referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.

The coming months and years are likely to present us with a range of challenges. But using the ability, knowledge and creativity for which Goldsmiths is renowned, we will overcome these issues together.

We will keep you updated as we learn more and will work with Goldsmiths Students’ Union to ensure that you have all the most up-to-date information possible.

(Updated: 2 December 2016)

Information for current students

Current students from EU member nations

Your status has not changed. The processes for withdrawing from the EU are long and complex and will take a number of years.

Your immigration status and associated fee status, as well as your access to student loans (where applicable) have not changed as a result of the vote.

The UK Student Loans Company (SLC) has confirmed that EU nationals or their family members, currently in higher education, and who are assessed as eligible to receive loans and/or grants from the SLC, will continue to receive these loans and grants until they finish their course.  See the SLC’s full statement.

If you have any questions or concerns then you can contact the Student Centre on studentcentre (@gold.ac.uk) or visit in person.

Current students from outside of the EU

If you are a student from outside of the EU then this has no implications for you and current arrangements will continue.

If you have any questions or concerns then you can contact the Student Centre on studentcentre (@gold.ac.uk) or visit in person.

Information for prospective EU national applicants (2017 entry)

Prospective EU national applicants (2017 entry)

Goldsmiths has confirmed that fees for EU member state students will remain the same as those for UK students up to and including the academic year 2018-2019.

The UK Student Loans Company (SLC) has also confirmed that rules applying to EU nationals, or their family members, who intend to apply to study a course which begins in August 2017 and which attract student support are unchanged. See the SLC’s full statement.

Find out more about what the EU referendum means for you as a propsective EU national applicant

If you have any questions please contact our enquiry team on +44 20 7919 7766 or by e-mail course-info (@gold.ac.uk).

Offer holders from outside of the EU

If you are a student from outside of the EU then this has no implications for you and current arrangements will continue.

If you have any questions please contact our enquiry team on +44 20 7919 7766 or by e-mail course-info (@gold.ac.uk).

Information for current staff

If you are a member of staff from an EU member state, your status of immigration has not changed as a result of the vote. This will remain the case until the Government decides otherwise.

If you are a member of staff currently undertaking work on an EU-funded project, the status of existing project grants and contracts has not changed because of the referendum vote. The UK’s status as a full participating member of the Horizon 2020 programme has not changed as a result of the vote.

Our sector body Universities UK is currently liaising with the UK Research Office and European Commission and will be issuing further advice on current and future research projects as soon as possible.

Information for research collaborators

If you are collaborating or planning a research collaboration with a member of staff on an EU-funded project, be assured that the UK’s status as a full participating member of the Horizon 2020 programme has not changed as a result of the vote.  Our sector body Universities UK is currently liaising with the UK Research Office and European Commission and will be issuing further advice on current and future research projects as soon as possible.

If you would like further information on how Goldsmiths supports current and future EU-collaborations, please contact the Research Office via Dr Muriel Swijghuisen Reigersberg.

Postgraduate support for EU nationals from the UK Research Council

The UK government on 1 December 2016 confirmed that Research Council UK (RCUK) studentships will remain open to non-UK EU students starting courses in academic year 2017 to 2018 and that funding support will cover the duration of their course, even if the course concludes after the UK has left the EU.

Further information on RCUK funding for research training is available on its website.

Tue, 7 March 12:42 PM Thu, 27 April 11:24 AM

Rock around the dock: jurors needed for ‘50s musical murder trial

The team behind last year’s award-winning murder mystery night at Goldsmiths, University of London bring a dramatic new twist on psychology research to the city this February with The Accused: The Psychology of a Murder Trial.

With live music, film, dancing, drama, and a dose of 1950s nostalgia, a series of immersive science-theatre events on the 9th, 10th and 11th February will combine the best creative and research talent Goldsmiths has to offer.

Alongside three nights of entertainment, the university’s Forensic Psychology Unit (Department of Psychology) will conduct two psychological research experiments during the event – with guest participation optional – while feeding back results to attendees.

Based on transcripts and court records of a high-profile 1950s murder trial, The Accused: The Psychology of a Murder Trial invites guests to play the role of juror as Goldsmiths staff and students present a dramatisation of the crime, the case, and the testimony presented in court.

Throughout the event, music and dance - devised, choreographed and performed by Goldsmiths’ Acting and Filmmaking Society and the Musical Theatre Society – will immerse participants in the sounds and style of the era.

Guests are encouraged to attend in 1950s dress, and prizes for best dressed and best (or most enthusiastic!) dancers are up for grabs, with choreographers on hand during the interval to give a helping hand to those with a rusty jitterbug.

In 2016 the FPU’s first dramatic event, The Death of Jane Doe: The Psychology of a Murder Investigation, was named winner of the CorpComms Magazine award for best communications by a public sector organisation in honour of its ‘creative approach to building awareness’.

Led by Professor Fiona Gabbert, researchers in the Forensic Psychology Unit at Goldsmiths hold expertise spanning evidence gathering and the investigation process, through to the sentencing, assessment and management of offenders. Research has informed major developments in eyewitness identification and the interviewing of victims and witnesses in the UK and internationally.

Find out more about the FPU

The Accused: The Psychology of a Murder Trial runs on the 9th, 10th and 11th Februry 2017 in the Great Hall, Richard Hoggart Building, Goldsmiths, University of London, Lewisham Way, New Cross.

Tickets have sold out.

This event is supported by the Goldsmiths Annual Fund.

Tue, 14 February 12:56 PM Wed, 15 February 1:37 PM

Success for undergraduate filmmakers as 'The Female Voice' wins coveted RTS award 

A film made by Goldsmiths, University of London undergraduates Julia Dos Santos, Minji Kim and Jeanette Lee has received a major award from the Royal Television Society (RTS). 

'The Female Voice', which uses contemporary and archive footage compiled entirely in-house at Goldsmiths to illustrate the literal suppression of female voices in the media and society, was the recipient of a craft award to recognise exceptional editing at the RTS London Student awards, held at ITV London on February 7th. 

Mon, 13 February 3:33 PM Mon, 13 February 3:48 PM

BAFTA wins for Goldsmiths partner Curzon Cinemas and alumni Elena Ruscombe-King

Curzon Cinemas, the pioneering champion of independent and international cinema which opened a new 101-seat venue on the Goldsmiths, University of London campus in January 2016 has received a BAFTA award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.  And Goldsmiths Media and Modern Literature graduate Elena Ruscombe-King's film A Love Story was victorious in the British Short Animation category.

The outstanding contribution award celebrates Curzon's success in bringing challenging and innovative cinema to audiences around the country.  Previous recipients of this award include Mike Leigh, Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jarman, Mary Selway, Ridley and Tony Scott, Working Title Films, Lewis Gilbert, the Harry Potter series of films, John Hurt, Tessa Ross and BBC Films. 

A Love Story, directed by Anushka Kishani Naanayakkara and co-written by Ruscombe-King (who graduated in 2013), sees two creatures fall in love and weave a colourful world together. But when darkness threatens to consume one of them, they must fight to stay together or risk being torn apart. The film previously received the Best Experimental Film Award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival 2016.

Patrick Loughrey, Warden of Goldsmiths, University of London said:

“The opening of Curzon Goldmsmiths last year brought full-time cinema back to Lewisham and gave Goldsmiths one of the country’s best campus cinemas in the country.  I'm proud of our ongoing partnership with an organisation that shares our commitment to excellence and inclusivity, and pleased that these values have been recognised at the BAFTA awards. 

 

"Like Curzon, Goldsmiths believes film can be vital force in promoting diversity, internationalism and independent thinking. Our Screen School is shaping the next generation of film-makers, and and our partnership with Curzon helps us share our love of cinema with the local community, London and the wider world.”

 

Dame Pippa Harris, Chair of BAFTA’s Film Committee, said: 

“For over 80 years, Curzon has provided the British public with unforgettable cinema experiences, while championing independent, art house and foreign language film making. I would like to thank everyone at Curzon for their extraordinary contribution to our industry, and for their unwavering commitment to bringing the very best in film to audiences across the UK.”

Programming at the 101-seat Goldsmiths venue, located in the Richard Hoggart Building, follows Curzon’s mix of the best in cinema from across the globe as well as documentary and special director Q&As.

Ticket prices at Curzon Goldsmiths range from £6 to £12 with all students paying £7. The cinema includes a Sony 4k projector and 7.1 sound. The facilities also include a hearing support system which delivers descriptive narration for the visually impaired and amplified sound for the hearing impaired.

The EE British Academy Film Awards took place on Sunday 12 February at the Royal Albert Hall, London. 

Read the full British Academy of Film and Television Arts press release here:

http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/outstanding-british-contribution-cinema-award-curzon

 

Curzon To Receive Award For Outstanding British ... www.bafta.org The Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award is presented annually in honour of Michael Balcon, the British film producer known for his work with Ealing Studios.

Wed, 8 February 9:39 AM Wed, 15 February 1:37 PM

New research suggests Ministers maintain 'open door' policy for Murdoch and News Corp

New analysis shows that Rupert Murdoch and his News Corp continue to enjoy huge access to Government, apparently contradicting Ministers’ proclamations that powerful special interests won’t enjoy privileged status under this administration.

Research by the Media Reform Coalition – based in the Department of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London - and 38 Degrees suggests that Murdoch’s lobbying of government intensified ahead of the recent government consultation on the Leveson Inquiry and the announcement of Murdoch’s renewed bid to take over Sky. 

Between April 2015 and September 2016, senior News Corp executives met with government ministers or their special advisers on 22 separate occasions.

18 involved meetings or gatherings with either the Prime Minister, Chancellor or Culture Secretary, and, out of those, Rupert Murdoch was himself present on at least eight occasions.

The frequency of Murdoch’s encounters with government appear to contradict his recent statement that ‘I have made it a principle all my life never to ask for anything from any prime minister’.

Former chair and founding member of the MRC Professor Des Freedman says:

"Theresa May promised in her very first speech as prime minister that the government she was going to lead 'will be driven not by the interests of the privileged few'.

“This commitment is looking especially hollow when we find out just how easy it is for Rupert Murdoch and his top lobbyists to make the government drop everything and find time to meet with them. 

“Theresa May was only in New York for 24 hours in the autumn and she still managed to clear her schedule for a meeting with Murdoch himself - not long before the announcement of a Fox bid to take over Sky.

"A lot of attention is focused on fake news and digital platforms at the moment - but we shouldn't lose track of the power of established media owners to dominate our media landscape and shape our political culture according to their own interests.

And we can't rely on our elected governments to do anything about this abuse of media power when they seem more determined to bow down before it than to confront it."

The research also shows that News Corp met with the Prime Minister or Chancellor – the two most powerful figures in government – more than any other organisation or individual during this period. In the year to September 2016, there were 10 meetings involving Rupert Murdoch or senior executives of News Corp and the PM or Chancellor.

In the same period, the Prime Minister or Chancellor had:

• 6 meetings with BBC senior management
• 4 meetings with Evgeny Lebedev, owner of The Independent and Evening Standard
• 4 meetings with Japanese telecoms giant Softbank
• 3 meetings each with JP Morgan, Siemens, Blackrock, HSBC and the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI)

Read the full MRC press notice here

Sat, 4 February 4:56 PM Thu, 27 April 11:23 AM

Director chosen to lead new art gallery at Goldsmiths

Sarah McCrory has been appointed Director of the new contemporary art gallery at Goldsmiths, University of London.

McCrory joins Goldsmiths from Glasgow International, Scotland’s best-known art festival, and is a former curator of Frieze Projects and Film.

The public venue at the heart of Goldsmiths’ south London campus will host a world-class programme of exhibitions, residencies and projects by leading professional artists. It is expected to host its first public exhibition in Spring 2018.

Building work is currently underway on the 1,000m2 gallery, designed by Turner Prize-winning collective Assemble, around the Grade II-listed Laurie Grove Baths and the building’s derelict Victorian water tanks.

McCrory takes up the post of gallery Director, assuming operational responsibility for management of the gallery, including developing an innovative programme of exhibitions, commissions and residencies and building upon its already successful fundraising campaign.

The new Director said: "I’m honoured and thrilled to be appointed Director of the new gallery at Goldsmiths. At a time when cuts and closures threaten our cultural institutions, the opening of a new gallery as part of a university with such a rich artistic history is an exciting and encouraging occasion.

This new gallery will become a vital research tool, a place for innovative new commissions, presentations of historical positions and reflections on our challenging and rapidly changing times.

“I look forward to drawing upon the wealth of excellence across the university and its research departments - to work with artists to create a gallery with both an international reputation, as well as an important place for both students and local audiences in south London.”

McCrory moved to Scotland in 2012 to direct Glasgow International 2014 and 2016. Under her leadership the festival has developed into one of the world’s leading international arts festivals, known for its dynamism and innovative programming.

Featuring new commissions and works by established and underrepresented artists, as well as incorporating projects from across the city, it highlights the wealth of creative talent that Glasgow has to offer.

McCrory was formerly curator of Frieze Projects and Film, producing works with over 40 artists across three editions; co-curator of Studio Voltaire, London, curator of project space ‘Swallow Street’ and ‘Arts & Jobs’; curator of ‘Publish and Be Damned’; and Assistant Director of Vilma Gold, London.

She was on the panel for the selection of the 2017 British Pavilion for the Venice Biennale and the 2014 Turner Prize and is currently a board member and founder of independent art school Open School East, and curator of Monteverdi Gallery in Tuscany.

McCrory studied BA Fine Art at Kingston University and MA Curating Contemporary Art at the Royal College of Art.

Richard Noble, Head of the Department of Art at Goldsmiths, adds: “We are absolutely delighted that Sarah McCrory is joining the gallery as Director. Her distinctive curatorial vision and her extensive practical experience as Director of Glasgow International make her uniquely qualified for this challenging and exciting new position.

"We are confident Sarah will build Goldsmiths’ gallery into one of the most distinctive and influential contemporary art spaces in the UK.”

Find out more about the gallery at Goldsmiths

Wed, 1 February 9:38 AM Thu, 27 April 12:00 PM

Goldsmiths lecturer's Golden Hill wins Costa "First" Novel's Award

A book by first-time novelist and Goldsmiths, University of London Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing Francis Spufford has been awarded the Costa First Novel Award 2016.

Judges for the prize, which was announced on Tuesday 3rd January 2017, described the book as “a captivating and dazzlingly original tale that heralds a bold, invigorating new voice in fiction."

As the winner of his category, Francis is now in the running for the Costa Book of the Year – awarded on the 31st January.

Golden Hill (Faber & Faber) has been described by the Guardian as “splendidly entertaining” and a “frolicsome first novel”. Set in mid-18th century Manhattan, the book follows a young man from London, Mr Smith, after his arrival in New York with an enormous sum of money.

The book was selected for the £5,000 prize from a shortlist of 114 debut novels, and will now go up against four other titles for the Costa Book of the Year award.

Quoted in the Cambridge News, Francis explained that the novel originally began life as an idea for a history book.

“I read one sentence of a history book saying New York beat England at cricket in 1752, and I thought why don’t the Americans still play cricket? Why are they the only ex-British colony not to keep it up?” he said.

“I thought you could write a whole history about how they split, but I don’t know very much about baseball or cricket, but then I realised there was a wider story here.”

"I read a lot of fiction and I have been teaching writing for nearly 10 years, so I thought I should take my own confident advice. I was always writing non-fiction books that had a story somewhere near the front of them, I’ve always wanted to tell stories."

“I am still fundamentally gobsmacked to have won, since I am very old as first-time novelists go. I am a hardened old writer, but a nervous novice when it comes to writing fiction. My ambitions were just I should not make a fool of myself, so I think I have achieved that now!”

Born in 1964, Francis Spufford is a former Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year (1997) and the author of five highly-praised books of non-fiction.

The first, I May Be Some Time, won three literary prizes, and helped create a small new academic field dedicated to the cultural history of Antarctica.

He has been longlisted or shortlisted for prizes in science writing, historical writing, political writing, theological writing and writing ‘evoking the spirit of place’.

In 2007 Francis was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He supervises Creative Writing PhD candidates in the Department of English and Comparative Literature at Goldsmiths, and teaches on the MA Creative and Life Writing.

Find out more about the MA Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths

Wed, 25 January 11:41 AM Fri, 27 January 11:05 AM

The naked truth – research finds nudism makes us happier

Taking part in naturist activities can help make us significantly more satisfied with our bodies and lives, new research from Goldsmiths, University of London has found.

Researchers led by Dr Keon West (Department of Psychology) investigated the associations between naturist activity and psychological well-being, as well as the immediate effects of two real naturist events on participants’ life-satisfaction.

The first study - an online survey of some 850 British people of a variety of ages, ethnicities and religions - found that those who spent time naked or partially naked around others (eg. topless sunbathing or taking part in World Naked Cycle Rides), also liked their own bodies more, thought better of themselves, and were more satisfied with their lives overall.

The longer they had been practicing naturism and the more frequently they did it, the happier they were.

The second and third studies took place at a “Bare all for Polar Bears” event at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park (24 participants) and British Naturism’s Waterworld event in Stoke on Trent (100 participants). At both events, participants were assessed just before shedding their clothes and at the end of the event, before they put them back on.

In both cases participants experienced immediate and significant improvements in body-image, self-esteem and life satisfaction.

For decades, research has shown that body image dissatisfaction is a serious, global problem that negatively affects psychological health. Much of it stems from overexposure to “idealised bodies” such as those widely seen in magazines, on television, and increasingly on social media.

Previous research also shows that positive or neutral reactions to one’s own body, and exposure to “non-idealised” bodies (otherwise known as normal people), should counter the negative effects of idealised imagery. Logically, then, naturism – the practice of being naked in the company of non-intimate others – should be good for your body image and self-esteem.

Dr West says:

"The naturists have been saying this for some time. However, despite a lot of positive claims, little to no empirical research has investigated whether naturist activity (rather than attitude or beliefs) actually makes us happier or, just as importantly, why it makes us happier.”

Dr West believes that this current research is a good first step, but that there are still many more questions to answer. How exactly does naturism have these positive effects? And do the effects taper off after a certain number of naturist events?

Initial analyses of the data suggests that seeing other people naked is more important than being seen naked yourself. The data also seemed to find that the benefits hit a ceiling after about 20 naturist events a year – further naturist activity beyond this did not appear to make a difference.

Dr West suggests that further research, including longitudinal designs and randomised controlled trials would shed more light on these initial findings.  While representation at the two naturist events was diverse, most of the respondents to the first survey were male, most were white, most were straight, and most were middle-aged. While the same effects were found when gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and age were included as factors in the analyses, Dr West believes it would be useful to conduct research with more diverse populations.

However, this should not detract from the conclusion that naturism appears to have psychological benefits. For a long time many people, even health professionals, assumed that public nudity was a sign of psychological dysfunction. This perception has stuck even though an increasing number of people are now taking part in clothes-free activities.

The findings certainly indicate that naturism appears to have positive effects, not negative ones. As such, Dr West suspects that it could offer a low-cost, widely available solution to the problem of body dissatisfaction. “At the very least”, he concludes, “this is worth investigating”.

Naked and unashamed: Investigations and applications of the effects of naturist activities on body image, self-esteem and life satisfaction by Dr Keon West is published in the Journal of Happiness Studies.

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Thu, 19 January 1:33 PM Thu, 19 January 4:30 PM

Mark Fisher: a tribute

It is with deep sadness that the university pays tribute to Mark Fisher, who died last week.

A lecturer in the Department of Visual Cultures, Mark was a scholar whose talent burned fiercely. He inspired students, colleagues and the public with his work as a music writer and critical theorist.

At Goldsmiths Mark was course leader for the MA Contemporary Art Theory, and before that the MA in Aural/Visual Cultures. He taught the MA Special Subject Vocalities and Postcapitalist Desire and BA courses on Popular Modernism and Beyond Boundaries.

Away from the university Mark was familiar to so many at the author of the influential blog k-punk. There as well as in his academic output his work focussed on the intersection between underground music, critical theory and radical politics.

His first book, Capitalist Realism: Is there no alternative?, published by Zero Books in 2009, went on to become a best-seller and was followed in 2014 by Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures.

His latest book, The Weird And The Eerie, was published two weeks ago.

Mark helped found Warwick University’s Cybernetic Culture Research Unit before joining Goldsmiths.

He was much loved at the university and his loss has shocked the Goldsmiths community. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, colleagues and all those who were lucky enough to have known him.

Colleagues have created a memorial fund to help support Mark’s family.

Following this sad event the university is providing support to students and staff. Students can access support via the Wellbeing pages while Staff can find out about support via Goldmine.

Mark’s life will be commemorated on campus, with details to follow in due course.

Thu, 19 January 9:37 AM Thu, 19 January 4:29 PM

Tracey Thorn joins Kevin Barry, A.L. Kennedy and Naomi Wood to judge UK and Ireland's boldest fiction

Musician and writer Tracey Thorn will join award-winning novelists Kevin Barry, A.L Kennedy and Naomi Wood to judge this year’s Goldsmiths Prize - the £10,000 award created by Goldsmiths, University of London in association with the New Statesman to reward bold and original fiction.

The annual Prize is now recognised as among the UK's most significant literary awards. Open to novels written by authors from the UK and the Republic of Ireland, it has been widely acclaimed for encouraging and celebrating fiction that takes readers in new directions, reigniting interest in the novel as a fresh and exciting art form.

Tracey Thorn comments: 

“I’m thrilled to have been invited to join the Goldsmiths Prize judging panel, and I’m looking forward to reading what I’m sure will be a selection of exciting and adventurous novels."

Mike McCormack's Solar Bones, which claimed the prize in 2016, follows the recollections of a man briefly returned from the dead following the financial crisis in 2008. It unfolds in one unbroken sentence without sacrificing accessibility or impact. 

Eimear McBride's A Girl Is A Half-formed Thing was awarded the inaugural Goldsmiths Prize in 2013, a decade after being rejected by publishers. It went on to win other major awards including the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction. 

Ali Smith’s How to Be Both won in 2014, with Smith later giving credit to the Goldsmiths Prize for encouraging greater risk-taking in the publishing world. Kevin Barry’s intricately woven imagining of John Lennon’s visit to an island off the coast of Ireland to undertake primal scream therapy, Beatlebone, won in 2015.

Submission of entry forms to the Goldsmiths Prize will open on 20 January and close on 24 March. From a shortlist of six books to be announced in September, the winner will be announced on 8 November.

Chair of Judges, novelist and Lecturer in Creative Writing at Goldsmiths, Naomi Wood, says:

“I am delighted to be chairing the panel of judges in the Prize’s fifth year and am looking forward to reading the most innovative books of 2016."

Tom Gatti, culture editor of the New Statesman, says:

"The New Statesman is proud to continue its close partnership with a prize that has successfully put audacity and invention back on the literary agenda.”

Find out more on the Goldsmiths Prize website.

Wed, 18 January 2:29 PM Thu, 19 January 9:21 AM

Enabling digital citizens: Goldsmiths sociology professor to speak to World Economic Forum, Davos

Professor Evelyn Ruppert, Director of Research for the Department of Sociology at Goldsmiths, University of London will address the some of the world's most influential economic and public policy specialists when she speaks this week at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

In her five-minute talk, ‘Enabling digitally inclusive societies’, today (18th January) Professor Ruppert will draw on her research on citizen rights and data to discuss how the internet can impact social cohesion - an increasingly pertinent theme for the WEF, which this year has put digital technology and its impact on economies and societies worldwide at the heart of its programme. Her talk is part of an Ideas Lab session, ‘The Science of Social Cohesion', organized by the European Research Council (ERC). Professor Ruppert is joining 8 other ERC grantees as part of a delegation to the WEF led by ERC President Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon.

Referring to her ERC project ARITHMUS, Professor Ruppert will outline how fostering and supporting citizen involvement in how the internet works is key to making digital societies inclusive rather than divisive and controlling. While expanding access to the internet is usually regarded as an answer to ending a digital divide, she will argue that it is also necessary to provide opportunities for people to become not merely users and consumers of the internet, but digital citizens with the power to shape what the internet should be.

This talk will be available on the WEF Youtube channel

At another invited session, on 19th January, Evelyn will join a panel of business leaders and human rights lawyers to discuss the timely question, ‘What if Privacy Becomes a Luxury Good?’ 

Organised as a partnership between WEF and TIME Magazine, the session will respond to the implications of the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ for societies. The panel will be asked to discuss how digital devices are monitoring and compiling personal data and the uneven consequences this has for privacy.

This panel will be live streamed on the WEF website WEF website

Finally, she will respond to questions at a science hub session 'Ask about digitally inclusive societies’ on 20 January.

At Goldsmiths, Professor Ruppert champions the research theme Technologies, Worlds and Politics. 

Professor Ruppert comments: 

‘Digital technologies have the power to redefine how we conduct ourselves, form relations, participate in politics and organise our economies - for good or ill. It also has profound implications for our autonomy and privacy as citizens through the increasing generation and trading of volumes of data. At Davos, I'll be drawing on my research to argue that citizen digital rights are key to making the internet a space of empowerment and social cohesion. If internet data is to serve as a new source of knowledge about individuals and populations, then it is critical that citizen digital rights be central to government digital strategies'.

Wed, 11 January 12:13 PM Wed, 11 January 12:24 PM

Study explores when babies learn about how touch and sight link together

At the age of just six months, a baby’s senses are developed enough for them to tell whether or not touches and sights are coming from the same place, a study from Goldsmiths, University of London suggests.

Being able to perceive tactile and visual stimuli in a common place in the space around our bodies is a crucial ingredient in forming a representation of one’s own body and the interface between bodily and external space.

Yet little was previously known about when we develop this ability with light and touch.

Researchers from the Department of Psychology put gloves - containing buzzers and LEDs - on six and 10-month-olds’ hands.

The babies could see the lights moving backwards and forwards between their hands

In one condition, the tactile and visual cues were together: the vibration from the buzzers moved backwards and forwards between the hands with the lights.

In another condition, the tactile and visual cues were not together: the lights and the buzzers moved backwards and forwards between the hands, but were always on different hands.

Both age groups of babies showed more interest (measured by the time they spent staring at their hands) when the buzzers and lights were on different hands.

The researchers, led by Professor Andy Bremner, conclude that babies do this because this situation is unfamiliar compared to what they’re used to.

“Normally, visual tactile events happen in the same place in an external space so one might say that the babies are almost ‘surprised’ when that status quo is violated,” Professor Bremner explains.

“We believe that by six months of age babies are able to perceive whether or not touches and sights are coming from the same place in space.

“We need to be able to do that sort of thing in order to perceive a unified and coherent multisensory world,” he says.

Perception of visual-tactile co-location in the first year of life by Andrew J. Bremner (Goldsmiths), Livia Freier (Goldsmiths and Brown University) and Luke Mason (Goldsmiths and Birkbeck) was published in the journal Developmental Psychology.

Tue, 10 January 3:23 PM Tue, 14 February 1:40 PM

BAFTA nominations for Goldsmiths alumni

Two Goldsmiths, University of London alumni have been shortlisted for the EE British Academy Film Awards 2017. BAFTA nominations were announced on 10 January 2017 by Dominic Cooper and Sophie Turner at BAFTA’s London headquarters.

Elena Ruscombe-King (BA Media and Modern Literature, 2013) has been nominated for A Love Story in the British Short Animation category.

Producer Jo-Jo Ellison (Certificate Media and Communications, 2004) is nominated for Notes on Blindness in two categories - Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer – alongside writer/director/producer Peter Middleton and writer/director James Spinney.

The seven minute short, A Love Story, sees two creatures fall in love and weave a colourful world together. But when darkness threatens to consume one of them, the other must fight to stay together, or risk being torn apart. The film, directed by Anushka Kishani Naanayakkara and written by Ruscombe-King and Naanayakkara, previously received the Best Experimental Film Award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival 2016.

Notes on Blindness is a dramatisation of original recordings by writer and theologian John Hull, chronicling the world after losing his sight. A feature length version of the film has also been developed.

The EE British Academy Film Awards take place on Sunday 12 February at the Royal Albert Hall, London. The ceremony will be hosted by Stephen Fry and broadcast on BBC One.

Find out more about the Department of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths

Find out more about the Goldsmiths alumni community

View the full EE British Academy Film Awards shortlist

Sat, 31 December 4:00 AM Thu, 22 December 11:30 AM

Open Book’s Joe Baden appointed OBE

The founder of an award-winning access-to-education programme based at Goldsmiths, University of London has been appointed OBE for his services to higher education.

Joe Baden, a Goldsmiths History graduate and founder of Open Book, was named Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s New Year Honours 2017.

Established in 2003 to support those at the margins of society in transforming their lives through education, Open Book has gone on to provide courses, drop-in classes, and a new social community for hundreds of students of all ages and backgrounds who may never have previously considered any sort of further or higher learning.

Having grown up dabbling in a life of crime and left school at 13 with no qualifications, Joe Baden found himself looking at a prison sentence. Disillusioned by offers of manual labour courses, but realising he had to do something, he became determined to go to university.

After graduating from Goldsmiths in 1998 with a BA in History, Joe became a tutor with the probation service, where he became acutely aware of the scepticism towards education and feelings of alienation held by many people with similar backgrounds to his own.

He set out to build a team of like-minded individuals who could provide help and support for those who for institutional, structural or cultural reasons have not been provided with equal access to education.

With an ethos of education for education’s sake, students – many of whom continue at university to complete undergraduate and postgraduate degrees – are encouraged to combine their own life experience with what they learn in the classroom, transforming negative backgrounds into valuable insight and inspiration for positive change.

Open Book has gone on to open satellite projects in other universities, and has won or been shortlisted for multiple university sector awards for widening participation.

Joe’s dedication to the project has been recognised by Southbank University with an Honorary Degree, and he received the William Ross Murray Award from the University of London in 2012 – an award previously won by Tony Benn, among others.

(Neil and Joe collect the Student Diversity and Widening Participation Guardian University Award in March 2016)

Joe’s colleague Neil Bradley, Open Book tutor, says: "Very much like the majority of Open Book students, Joe has always been reluctant to take praise for his tireless work in making Goldsmiths Open Book Project what it is today. And yet, he so very much deserves his moment in the spotlight for single handedly changing the lives of hundreds of people, including mine, and those of my colleagues.

This honour is so well deserved, and a fitting tribute to a man whose single aim was to make the lives of the people he encountered better. Over the years he’s provided love, friendship, support, and enthusiasm, believing that all of us, regardless our background or social status, should let the power of education turn us all into the people we were always meant to be.

“I know of no one working in higher education today more deserving of this honour than Joe Baden, a true working class hero."

Sarah Lambert, Open Book Academic Skills Manager, says: “Joe has built something unique. A team that works together and supports one another to do what we each want; an ethos of respect and responsibility; a way for us to make a real difference to the institutions of higher education, and a community of students who constantly give back to the project as much as they get from it.”

Open Book is a project that has not only drastically turned around the lives of participants and, by extension, their families, but caught the imagination of others.

Writing in the Evening Standard on his experiences meeting several Open Book students, author Will Self noted that “the man who told me he was boning up on Medieval Latin so he could do a doctoral thesis on St Augustine had been a drug addict for 30 years, in and out of jail.

“I also spoke to a former armed robber who’s doing a sociology degree and a playwright on day release from HMP Ford whose work has been commended by the Royal Court… I wish that the people who are so blinkered about the possibility of rehabilitating offenders could see the work organisations such as Open Book do.”

Patrick Loughrey, Warden of Goldsmiths, adds: “We’re immensely proud of Joe and everything he’s achieved through both the transformation of his own path, and in changing the lives of hundreds of people through Open Book.

“Joe’s devotion to this project over a decade and a half, and his wholehearted belief in the value of education as an absolutely critical force for good is evident in everything he says and does.

“Open Book had modest beginnings but has grown, and continues to grow. Here’s to a truly inspirational man, so very deserving of this recognition.”

Tue, 20 December 2:25 PM Wed, 21 December 4:23 PM

Virtual reality, magical thinking - and another election? Goldsmiths academics share their predictions for 2017

2016 is unlikely to be mourned by many. But as a new year dawns and we look hopefully to the future, are there any grounds for optimism? Five of our academics aren't so sure. But one thing is certain - 2017 at least promises to be interesting...

Professor of Psychology Christopher French hopes that truth will be on trend again

In light of Brexit, Trump and other worrying developments 2017 will be a very good year for psychics, astrologers and prophets - as evidence shows that magical thinking of all kinds increases at times of political and economic uncertainty. Although there is no convincing evidence that these practitioners can actually foretell the future, many people find even an illusory sense of control comforting.

2017 will be a bumper year in terms of the spread of wild conspiracy theories such as "Pizzagate". When the most powerful man in the world admires and respects the likes of Alex Jones, the king of conspiracy theorists, who claims that Hilary Clinton is literally a demon from hell who smells of sulphur, we are justified in being somewhat concerned.

Dare we hope that there will be a gradual realisation in 2017 that "truth" really does matter and that it makes more sense to listen to those who are well-informed on a topic (sometimes known as "experts") as opposed those who don't?  Sadly, there are no signs of such a change in the air at the moment. But unrealistic optimism is a sign of mental health so I'm sticking with it!

Course leader for PGCE Secondary English Dr Francis Gilbert says Goldsmiths will fight educational inequality

The “backdoor” privatisation of education will continue apace with many more schools becoming part of academy chains or forming their own “multi-academy trusts”: these chains although nominally “non-profit” organisations have covert means of making profits, including employing connected sub-contractors and awarding bosses high salaries.

The introduction of new higher education providers with the ability to award degrees into the system will mean that a system similar to the “free schools” scheme will be set up at HE level.  So once again, public institutions will be run by unaccountable companies who will view their own private interests - rather than the public good - as primary.

Grammar schools are back! More selective schools will be established in the coming year with the result that educational outcomes for poorer children will suffer, since they fare badly in grammar-school systems.

The educational attainment gap between rich and poor students will widen.   The school system will entrench and exacerbate existing social, ethnic and religious divisions because the power of local authorities to set up fair systems for admitting students will have been further eroded by the drive towards selection.

I predict mass confusion over new exams. There will be a great muddle about the reformed GCSEs with a system of grading from 1-9 (with 9 being the top grade) replacing the A*-G grades in GCSE English and Maths. I predict parents, teachers and students will find this system difficult to understand and there could be many complaints about the new system in the summer when the results are published. University admissions tutors will struggle to deal with the new A levels, because AS Levels are no longer mandatory: admissions’ tutors have previously relied on AS grades to admit students to university.

Goldsmiths will head the “fight-back” against educational inequity and sterile teaching with exciting developments: its teacher-educator programmes remain the most creative in the country and are growing in popularity, while its Masters degrees such as the MA in Children’s Literature, headed by Professor Michael Rosen, and the MA in Creative Writing and Education are the most innovative in the country, educating teachers, writers and other interested professionals to be more original in their approach.

Lecturer in Virtual Reality Dr Sylvia Xueni Pan fears that virtual reality fans will lose their fear of danger

VR is a tool, and its impact on society rests on how we  decide to use it.  In this respect, the next year will be crucial.

In some respects Virtual Reality will bring people together and contribute to training, education, and therapy for all sorts of neurological and psychological disorders. For others, VR will become another mechanism for escaping from reality: having the thrill of visiting places without having to leave their living rooms, or playing games with friends without feeling their physical presence...

"VR Experience" stores are already opening, but I expect to see more health and safety issues that may call for new regulation of the industry. There are already hygiene concerns over the sharing of HMDs. 

Perhaps a more profound health and safety concern is that because VR is really immersive, exposing oneself to apparent danger in VR without any real physical risk of being injured might encourage risky behaviour in real life at a subconscious level.  For instance, if you enjoy the thrill of jumping from the top of a building in VR and get too used to it, your body learns to suppress the "inhibition" signal that it naturally sends in similar situations in real life.  So this weakens the defence mechanisms that help us stay alive - and there are obvious practical and ethical concerns here!

Lecturer in Urban Sociology Dr Alex Rhys-Taylor says London could lead the way in a testing time for cities

In 2017, British and American cities will be increasingly fraught with pain, as austerity and xenophobia combine to make the worlds of the city’s most vulnerable residents increasingly uninhabitable. Rough sleeping in London has doubled over the last five years and does not look set to decrease. Despite the city electing a Muslim to Mayoral office, Islamaphobic hate crime in London soared 58% over 2016. While the number may dip, the national rhetoric looks likely to keep the figures high. 

While difficult places to live in, cities will nonetheless be increasingly important sites for identifying resources and developing strategies with which to mitigate the fall-out from increasingly hostile, illiberal and introspective political centres.  

While it is also tussling with its own national government, Barcelona’s new municipal authority is leading the way in demonstrating the changes a progressive mayoral office might be able to achieve. And Sadiq Kahn is making very positive noises about the dire state of housing in London. Such developments offer a small glimmer of hope in what, for the British and American cities that voted resolutely for a different future, looks likely to be another dark year.

Professor of Caribbean Literature Joan Anim-Addo hopes to see more breakthroughs for black writers

2016 closes for me with Paul Beatty’s swingeing satire, The Sellout, which now dominates my Christmas present list. But has any one else noticed that Beatty’s Man Booker award winning novel represents the second in-a-row such award to a black male author? This is certainly a phenomenal breakthrough for writing across the African diaspora and readers across the world.

I know that I cannot be the only one celebrating this historical moment for the winners and trail-blazers, Paul Beatty and Marlon James. It is also unmistakably a moment of huge importance, marking a signal change in reading practices away from disingenuous habits of acknowledging, through reading, the narrowest ideas of a supposed ‘universal’.

I wait, now, with bated breath for the first black woman Man Booker prize winner.

Senior Lecturer in Politics Dr Simon Griffiths says predictions can't tell us much

The one thing that the last couple of years has shown is that experts are not very good at making predictions. People who work in politics made the wrong calls over the 2015 general election, the vote for Brexit and the result of the US presidential election. 

With this in mind, it seems foolish to make any more predictions.  Experts might know more about the past and have a clearer idea of trends, but there is no telling which of those trends will carry on into the future. 

Having said all this, there are a few things that seem likely in British politics. Brexit will be a complicated business that will cause numerous headaches for Theresa May. She will come under increasing pressure to rip up the Fixed Term Parliament Act and hold an early election to capitalise on Labour's disarray and her shortening honeymoon period. The great unknown is how the Lib Dems and UKIP would do come a new election. Would we see a Lib Dem revival? Would UKIP push on into the Labour heartlands in the North or are they done now that their reason for being is achieved and their best known politician, Nigel Farage, is busy across the pond promoting the president elect? 

Whether you’re interested in working within the charity sector or you’re eager to be apart of positive changes in the local area, Student Volunteering Week is the perfect opportunity to get involved.

Starting Feb 20 we will have opportunities throughout the week for you to get involved in improving an aspect of local life.

Openings include the chance to assist with the 999 Club Homeless Drop In, Deptford Reach Drop In or gardening at the New Cross Gate Trust. As well as a Social Hackathon, tickets for which can be booked at Eventbrite.

There is an abundance of activities for you to be a part of. Try something new, gain some skills and most of all be a positive change in your community. 

For more informatiom about the opportunities in Volunteering Week, check out the CareerSPACE page.

Schedule

Monday 20th

FareShare Volunteering - 8:45am - 5pm

999 Club Homeless Drop in (2 spaces per day) - 9am - 12pm

Deptford Reach Homeless Drop in (1 space per day) - 9am - 12pm

Good Gym Group Run - Glass Mill Leisure Centre - 6:45pm

Tuesday 21st

FareShare Volunteering - 8:45am - 5pm

999 Club Homeless Drop in (2 spaces per day) - 9am - 12pm

Deptford Reach Homeless Drop in (1 space per day) - 9am - 12pm

Good Gym Starter Session - Meet outside the Richard Hoggart Building - 12:30pm

Wednesday 22nd

FareShare Volunteering - 8:45am - 5pm

999 Club Homeless Drop in (2 spaces per day) - 9am - 12pm

Deptford Reach Homeless Drop in (1 space per day) - 9am - 12pm

New Cross Social Hackathon @ Goldsmiths - 2-3:30pm. Get Tickets. 

Thursday 23rd

FareShare Volunteering - 8:45am - 5pm

999 Club Homeless Drop in (2 spaces per day) - 9am - 12pm

Friday 24th

FareShare Volunteering - 8:45am - 5pm

999 Club Homeless Drop in (2 spaces per day) - 9am - 12pm

Gardening @ New Cross Gate Trust - 12 - 2pm 

Winter BBQ Celebration! @ New Cross Gate Trust 2 - 4pm

Saturday 25th

FareShare Volunteering - 8:45am - 5pm

Sunday 26th

FareShare Volunteering - 8:45am - 5pm

It starts with one person writing some notes or underlining a section of a library book.

Then the next lender goes over a section with a green highligher.

Then the next lender scribbles an opinon in the margin.

Then the next lender adds their own highlights in red.

Then the next lender gets influenced by these notes, which might not be correct.

Then the library cannot scan the book so it cannot be made available digitally for everyone (including students who need to use assistive software to study).

Then the library has to buy a replacement rather than buying an additional copy, or spending that money on a different book a student needs.

We don't want to nag.

We just want you to know that:

Together with the Students Union we are asking student to looking at different areas of what Goldsmiths does.

SU Officers are leading on different themes....

Sounds like a joke doesn’t it? Alas, not. It is true, it is real and it is here. I’ve spent the days since the inauguration scrolling endlessly through Twitter, trying desperately to keep up to date with what horrors are being put in place by the big ol’ ham face that is now the US president. It’s keeping me a little bit sane that most of the people I follow on Twitter are comedians. It’s comforting, in a way, to have the light relief of mockery thrown in amongst the awful headlines.

But does that really achieve anything? Does Alec Baldwin impersonating Trump on SNL create change? Do the witty signs at the women’s marches around the world stop Patriarchy-Personified-Trump cutting abortion access?

I feel like it does. I feel like when the world is big and scary, there comes a point where all you can do is point and laugh at the fact that Donald Trump has bad hair, or retweet a twitter account that imagines Bridget Jones was the president. When you laugh at something you take away a little bit of its power. if you’re laughing at it then, for a bit, it can’t hurt you.

I’m in no way saying this fixes the problem. I know comedy can be elitist, I know that if you’re really being damaged by the system then The News Quiz on a Friday night doesn’t change your situation. But maybe it helps.

Comedy is a comfort. When you’re part of a laughing audience, you become a community. You’re as one. And if you’re all laughing at a well-constructed bit of stand-up about the fact that Boris Johnson is foreign secretary, then you feel united in the face of the terrifying new reality we’ve found ourselves in known as ‘the aftermath of 2016.’ It brings bodies together in rooms, all laughing together. Nothing is more powerful than laughter. Laughter is hope, and joy, and freedom.

If we laugh together, then there’s so much more we can do together.

Sian Brett, President Goldsmiths Comedy Society

• Follow Goldsmiths Comedy Society on Twitter
• Like us on Facebook
• Become a member 

Get ready to take on 2017!

Shake off the baffling ordeal that was 2016, and step enthusiastically in to the light of the new year and a new term at Goldsmiths. We've got something for everyone to get you refreshed and ready to take on the next few months of study.

Thu, 5 January 1:40 PM Thu, 19 January 3:10 PM

Book Worms and Study Bugs

For those of you eager to explore the library we will have library tours Monday 16th, Tuesday 17th, Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th and Friday 20th at 11am and 3pm.

Anyone keen to get to know how to use the library both on and off campus can join us Monday 16th - Thursday 19th at 2pm and 4pm.

Exercise Enthusiasts

Get your bike checked by the one and only Dr Bike FOR FREE by the Warmington Tower Bike Pump on Monday 16th at 11-3pm.

Sort out your core strength after weeks of indulgence with Yoga in The Stretch Monday 16th 1:30-2:30pm, Tuesday 12:45-1:45pm and Thursday 10:30-11:30am. 

Wellbeing and Self Care

Keep an eye on social media for our pop up well being events and workshops.

Home is where the heart is, so the University of London housing service will be joining us in the Refectory Thursday 19th 11am-4pm with everything you need to know about renting and landlords. There will also be a talk at 1pm (location tbc).

New Year New Society

There will be a refreshers fair for you to take a look at all the societies and sports teams available for you to join on Wednesday 18th. For those of you looking for a more chilled out browsing experience there will be a Quiet Fair in the morning from 11:30-12:30pm. From 12:30 to 4pm the fair will then get an injection of music and a party atmosphere. 

To celebrate your new found hobbies and team mates the SU will be hosting  a Societies and Sports Teams Pizza Welcome in The Stretch between 6:30-8pm.

Find out more at goldsmithssu.org

Six Hour Party People

The SU will be hosting a party straight after the Society and Sport Team Welcome Wednesday 18th from 8-2am: Glitter Up Get Down! Get on your dancing shoes and shake off those 2016 blues. 

Get your tickets at goldsmithssu.org

Meeting the creative minds behind this year's Goldsmiths Prize

The final year Goldsmiths Design students who created the 2016 Goldsmiths Prize award

Thu, 10 November 3:29 PM Fri, 11 November 5:23 PM

Designing and creating an award for the winner of the prestigious annual Goldsmiths Prize proved to be quite the challenge for the creative team of third year Goldsmiths Design students behind the 2016 prize, but with grit and determination they produced a memento every bit as unique as the book which won the accolade.

Looming academic deadlines, an inaccessible 3D paper printer, and a broken hand were among the many hurdles the four-member team of Archie Harding, Tom Morgan, Raoni Sapretti, and Panos Tzortzopoulos had to contend with. But they powered through to create the award which was won by Mike McCormack for his book Solar Bones at a ceremony in Foyles in central London on 9 November. 

Harding and Harding had previously worked together to design the Orwell Prize and had been seeking for an opportunity to work collectively with Sapretti and Tzortzopoulos.

When we caught up with Morgan and Sapretti as they were putting the final touches to the award they said it had been a pleasure to spend time away from their books and writing their final year proposals and get back to work in the studio.

Continuing, Morgan said that the chance to design the Goldsmiths Prize had been a fantastic opportunity to produce something which would had a real world function and it would be an endeavour he would encourage his fellow students to take part in in the future.

We wish the team the very best of luck in their final year at Goldsmiths and extend our thanks to them all for creating a truly unique award for the Goldsmiths Prize.

Travel

As the nights get longer and we head in to the festive party season, the need to plan your routes in advance is perhaps a little more pressing. There are a number of useful websites, phone numbers and apps it may be worth taking note of.

TFL

The TFL website has dedicated safety page with advice on buses, trains, cycling and taxis and the tube.

Taxis and mincabs

Now this is important.  Don't get into a minicab you haven't pre-booked through a recognised taxi service.  Illegal minicabs aren't worth the risk.

There are loads of taxi booking apps you can use and usually they give great discounts the first time you use them.

Citymapper

If you want to know how to get somewhere Citymapper is a website and app with detailed maps of London as well as route planning options which you can plan days in advance and screen shot to your phone. Equally it will alert you to the stops you need to get off at as well as providing ETA information.

Crime Prevention

There's lots you can do to protect yourself from crime. The Met Police website is full of crime prevention advice.

Of course, if you are ever in an emergency then remember to dial 999 for Police, Ambulance and Fire services wherever you are in the country.

If you are unsure of what to do, perhaps you believe you have seen something suspicious or are concerned you are being followed or perhaps are dealing with cat calling then the phone number for non emergency police services is 101.  They can advise you on steps to take and can also send officers to where you are.

Campus Security

Security are based in the Richard Hoggart Building are always on hand to help out should you need help with anything whether that is loss prevention or you have simply lost your keys. If you are concerned about anything regarding your safety on campus they will be happy to help.  

Call them anytime on 020 7919 7105.  If you want to visit them late at night knock on their door, which is right of the main RHB entrance.

Free bike checks and safety

We are giving free bike safety checks on campus by the bike pump outside Wamington Tower:

• 7th Nov 10am-2pm
• 9th Nov 10am-2pm

You'll be able to get great bike safety tips too.

Free event: Self-defence basics

Learn some basic practical skills from the self-defence art of Krav Maga. Wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to get active!

• 8th Nov - 6pm-7.30pm - RHB 300a
• 10th Nov - 6pm-7.30pm - RHB 300a

Need more?

Drop by RHB reception 12-2pm from 7th to 10th November for more help and advice.

Free Terrestrial Television From Box of Broadcasts!

Exclusively for students of the UK, the British Universities Film and Television council brings you all the best terrestrial television from the last decade. Whether you need a reference for an essay or a project, you have access to a huge database just for being a student in the UK! Visit B.o.B. and get more information at bufvc.ac.uk

Free to Use Software!

Has this ever happened to you? You’ve just started your third and final year and you have dissertation work on your mind, but your Office subscription has run out. Well have no fear, Goldsmiths is here! You can find access to some of your most used software right here on the university website. Have a look and see if we can help you out.

Who said there was no such thing as a free lunch?

The Chaplaincy offers free lunches from 12:30 every Tuesday during term time at the Catholic Chaplaincy (56 Amersham Rd). This is open to anyone, regardless of their beliefs. If you are interested, from 1pm there are speedy lunchtime prayers but this is of course optional. Why not swing on by and say hello? For more info have a look at Chapliancy page.

I like to ride my bicycle…

Greening Goldsmiths are your number one source of free transport in SE London. With bikes regularly being abandoned on campus, Greening Goldsmiths have been working hard to save these vehicles from a life as scrap metal. Every week you are given the opportunity to get your hands on a free bicycle. Just keep an eye on their Facebook page.

Campus furniture treasure trove

Actually, Greening Goldsmiths have an abundance of free furniture and equipment on a near daily basis. Keep an eye on that Facebook page!

Free New York Times

As of early this year, Goldsmiths students have exclusive free access to the New York Times. The publication is hailed as one of the world's greatest, so this is an opportunity not to be missed. Whether you love to be up to date with current affairs or want a newspaper source for an essay, we advise you seek this out as soon as possible! Here's how to subscribe.

1.Steve Reich at 80, Oct 3rd, RHB Great Hall, 8-9pm

A celebration of the work of contemporary composer Steve Reich, in honour of his 80th birthday.

2. Contemporary Art Talks: Artist and Writer Hannah Black, Oct 5th, Ian Gulland Lecture Theatre, 5:30-7pm

Join Goldsmiths’ MFA Alumnus Hannah Black as she talks candidly about her multi-form works from digital to writing, performance to installation, as well as the life of an art student in London and the politics that drives her.

3. Facebook: A Medium for the Language Building Planning of Migrant Churches, Oct 5th, Dr Anna Souza, Top Floor Education Building, 4-5:30pm

Dr Souza presents on the fascinating world of language planning (LPP) i.e. the deliberate choice of language to be established as the one a group of speaker should adopt. More specifically on a group of Brazilian Pentecostal migrant churches on Facebook and explores how flexibility can increase engagement within these communities.

4. Part Time Jobs Fair, Oct 6th, RHB Great Hall

All things CVs, employment and making money. The Part-Time Jobs Fair is a perfect opportunity to find paid, flexible and freelance work that fits around your studies. Visiting employers will be on hand to share options and vacancies in anything from catering to tutoring. The Careers Service team will be on hand to offer advice and check your CV.

5. RE:Mind Open Discussion and Mindfulness Session 1, Oct 6th, St James Garden Room, 4:30-6:30

The mental health society RE:Mind have their first session of the year including an open discussion about mental health as well as mindfulness exercises and advice.

6. Of Dinosaurs and Divas: Is Class Still Relevant to Feminist Research, Professor Valerie Wakerdine, Oct 6th, LG01 PSH, 6-7:30pm

Kicking off the academic years’ first Centre for Feminist Research lecture is Prof. Valerie Wakerdine, exploring post war Britain and the changes in class and society at this time and how feminism can engage with these.

7. Talking Textiles Workshop, Oct 7th, DTH Constance Howard Gallery, 1-2:30pm

This months theme is textiles of childhood and will be looking at items from Goldsmiths Textile Collection such as children’s clothes, dolls and textiles made by children.

8. ISoc Sister’s Lazer Tag, Oct 9th, Lazer Mayhem RM4 1AA, 1-4pm

Join the Sister’s of the Islamic Society on October 9th for fun and frolics at Lazer Mayhem!

9. Louise Madsen Exhibition, DTH Constance Howard Gallery, Until November 4th, 11-5pm

After a long hard summer of part-time jobs, pretending to get along with your “back home friends” and trying to survive living with your parents again, moving back to university often comes with a hell of a lot of excitement (and a huge sigh of relief).

But let’s face it, settling back into uni life isn’t always as smooth an operation as you hope it will be. As rocky as the transition may be though, by the time you get to Reading Week you’ll have completely forgotten about any awkward back-to-uni fails that may have occured all those weeks ago. 

Speaking from some hard learned experience, here are the ups, downs and in betweens that returning students go through when they finally get back to campus.

Feeling all the feels

When you’re finally reunited with your Goldsmiths friends who like, just get you

Reading? What reading?

Realising that you didn’t finish the books you were told to read over summer and having to re-establishing your relationship with the 2nd floor of the library.

Hellooooo, freebies

Watching first years get really excited about free smoothies at Welcome Week while your seasoned knowledge tells you to head straight for the free stationery to save you buying any later on.

How does the stove work again?

Remembering that you’re responsible for cooking your own food again. Pasta a la special offer sauce it is.

Student royalty, coming through

Marching onto campus feeling slightly above it all because you’ve been there, done it and won the pub quiz a whole year ago.

So long, FOMO

Realising you don’t have to go to Club Sandwich every single week, and that a film and a take-away is actually pretty exciting.

One with campus

Knowing your way around without getting lost makes those 8:57 dashes to your 9:00 lecture so much easier (except the RHB, no one knows how to navigate that one).

Student spotlight: Ted Low

Bringing vibrancy and life to the corner of Dixon road is a statement piece of artwork, hand painted by Design graduate, Ted Low.

Fri, 27 May 1:57 PM Tue, 31 May 10:31 AM

The new mural stretches across the Students Union building, reflecting the historical timeline of black liberation. 

We caught up with Ted to find out what it was like to work on such a significant piece, and how it all came about.

How did you find yourself painting a mural? 

I saw an opportunity to try something new and went for it. The Students’ Union put out a call for submissions to produce a ‘new liberation mural’ and I entered. It was then shortlisted down to myself and another student, and from there it was left to a student vote. 

What’s the concept behind it?

It’s a black liberation piece. I’m from South Africa, and although I didn’t live through the anti apartheid movement, it’s still very much part of my history. 

The idea is that if you look at the piece from left to right, you’ll see a timeline of progress towards liberation, personified by the key people in history who made an impact on the movement. As you follow it along, the lines gradually become less rigid and more colourful and free flowing, drawing your eyes to Nelson Mandela on the far right as the last and most recent figure of racial equality. 

I also tried to include people who may have not had as much public recognition for their political impact as they deserved. For example, I could have included Martin Luther King, who is such a leading and familiar figure, but instead I chose to feature Assata Shakur who also made significant contributions to black equality. Also featured in the mural is Rosa Parks, Sekou Odinga, Frantz Fanon and an unnamed black man forced to use a black water fountain.

It was clearly a really big job, why bother doing it?

It was really an opportunity to do something that doesn’t come around every day. It was a big commitment but at the same time it was great to do something that was really personal to me. I’m really proud of what I achieved.

On a practical basis, how did you go about creating something so incredibly detailed?

I used a *lot* of masking tape! The difficulty was figuring out what would work with the paint to stop it from running. I set up a grid system to keep everything in proportion. I’d then project images of the people onto the wall at night and outlined them. I painted the lines first, which was followed by lots of retouching. The security team were such a big help when I was working through the evenings in particular. 

Was there anything that you found particularly challenging?

Unfortunately the whole production was delayed quite a bit, which was really frustrating.  I tore my Achilles in November, so I couldn’t work on the mural while I was waiting for it to heal. I also managed to get a full-time job around the same time, which left me with less time. 

I finally got it finished on the 8 May. Lots of my friends helped out along the way, which was great, particularly Tom Holloway and Joe Thompson. Jen Hart in the SU was also very helpful. 

What does it mean to you now that it’s finished?

I’m obviously really happy with the final result,but more importantly I’m glad that there’s something that, in a way, thanks everyone that fought for equal rights and also hopefully raising more awareness about wider equality, not only between races.

Read all about it: free New York Times for all

Thu, 4 February 2:48 PM Thu, 4 February 2:49 PM

Students and staff at Goldsmiths can now access The New York Times for free thanks to a university-wide subscription.

The 165-year old publication is hailed as one of the world's greatest newspapers – and revels under the motto "All the news that's fit to print".

This includes stories from Goldsmiths – with research at the university and the Goldsmiths Prize grabbing headlines in the publication over the last six months.

Goldsmiths is just the second British university to subscribe to the newspaper – a move which gives everyone on Campus a new resource to use in their work, practice and research.

Experts from the newspaper are due to visit campus to help explore how their extensive database can be used for teaching. Reporters are also due to visit to carry out masterclasses with students.

Patrick Loughrey, Warden of Goldsmiths, said: "Goldsmiths is part of a global network and this underlines our world view. We want to give everyone a chance to use and enjoy this brilliant newspaper.

 "Giving free access to the New York Times opens up a huge resource – it will be of real benefit to research and scholarship across campus. I urge everyone to dive in as soon as possible."

To access the paper go to The New York Times website directly.

• Once there, click on the Log In screen at the top of the homepage.
• You'll first need to register an account, so click on Sign Up and then create an account.
• You will need to use your Goldsmiths email address – you must use an @gold.ac.uk email address as this will be automatically recognised as belonging to the subscription. 
• Once registered, access again through the Log In screen on the homepage.

Goldsmiths is only the second university in the UK to subscribe to the newspaper – alongside the University of Cambridge's Judge Business School. Around the world university subscribers include Harvard University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Dusseldorf.

The daily broadsheet is one of the world's most prestigious, influential and widely circulated newspapers and has won a record 117 Pulitzer Prizes.

It covers international and national news, politics, business, tech, science, health, sports as well as features on the arts, style food and travel. Its opinion section is feared the world over – with columnists including Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman.

The homepage features the latest news, but to find older content or more in-depth content, use the search function or click on sections and browse for content. You can also click on Today's Paper to see which content is in today's print version of the newspaper.

Each news story can be saved for reading later, or shared via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and more.

The New York Times is not the only newspaper Goldsmiths students and staff can access.

Through our subscriptions to Proquest Online Newspapers, you can access the archives of the main UK national newspapers and many local and regional newspapers since approximately 1997.

To access this, visit the Library e-resources A-Z page and click on "P".

Other sources of news that are available include the British Library's Newsroom at St Pancras and even your local public library will have access to resources such as the Times Digital Archive.