Conference proceedings: Gardening Time: Reflections on Memory, Monuments and History in Sardinia and Scotland.

S. Stoddart and Malone, C. (eds) In Prep. 2013-4 Oxford, Oxbow Books. 25+ themed papers

METAMORPHOSE VI – the Virtual Institute for artificial electromagnetic materials and metamaterials: Origin, mission, and activities

In this paper, we outline the background, mission, and activities of the Virtual Institute for Artificial Electromagnetic Materials and Metamaterials (METAMORPHOSE VI). This international association, founded in the framework of the FP-6 Network of Excellence METAMORPHOSE, aims at promoting and developing research, training, and dissemination activities in the emerging and highly dynamic field of advanced electromagnetic materials and metamaterials at both European and International levels. More than 300 researchers are currently associated with the METAMORPHOSE VI which networks them together in a learnt society. After a brief description of the association and its mission, we present an overview of the activities developed by the METAMORPHOSE VI, with a particular emphasis on the coordination of the European Doctoral Program on Metamaterials (EUPROMETA) and the organization of the International Congress on Advanced Electromagnetic Materials in Microwaves and Optics – metamaterials congress.

From the past to the Future: integrating archaeology and conflict resolution in Northern Ireland

Contested understandings about the past continue to reify the divided character of post-Troubles Northern Ireland. In particular, the unresolved legacies of the extension of English control over Ireland in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries through warfare and plantation continue to structure daily lives in the province. Yet the archaeological record of this period complicates the accepted dichotomous narratives through highlighting complexity. These nuances, however, have been lost in recent decades as an overly simplistic model of colonizer versus colonized has emerged as the dominant political paradigm. The management and presentation of sites associated with the process of plantation can arguably create the space necessary to bridge the divide, and to challenge accepted understandings. Cross-community engagement in the process of archaeological discovery and interpretation on plantation-period sites in Northern Ireland highlights the critical role archaeology can play in peace and reconciliation in post-conflict societies.

The geographical structure of British bird distributions:diversity, spatial turnover and scale

1. Using data on the spatial distribution of the British avifauna, we address three basic questions about the spatial structure of assemblages: (i) Is there a relationship between species richness (alpha diversity) and spatial turnover of species (beta diversity)? (ii) Do high richness locations have fewer species in common with neighbouring areas than low richness locations?, and (iii) Are any such relationships contingent on spatial scale (resolution or quadrat area), and do they reflect the operation of a particular kind of species-area relationship (SAR)?

2. For all measures of spatial turnover, we found a negative relationship with species richness. This held across all scales, with the exception of turnover measured as beta (sim).

3. Higher richness areas were found to have more species in common with neighbouring areas.

4. The logarithmic SAR fitted better than the power SAR overall, and fitted significantly better in areas with low richness and high turnover.

5. Spatial patterns of both turnover and richness vary with scale. The finest scale richness pattern (10 km) and the coarse scale richness pattern (90 km) are statistically unrelated. The same is true of the turnover patterns.

6. With coarsening scale, locations of the most species-rich quadrats move north. This observed sensitivity of richness 'hotspot' location to spatial scale has implications for conservation biology, e.g. the location of a reserve selected on the basis of maximum richness may change considerably with reserve size or scale of analysis.

7. Average turnover measured using indices declined with coarsening scale, but the average number of species gained or lost between neighbouring quadrats was essentially scale invariant at 10-13 species, despite mean richness rising from 80 to 146 species (across an 81-fold area increase). We show that this kind of scale invariance is consistent with the logarithmic SAR.

'When I Land in Islamabad I Feel Home and When I Land in Heathrow I Feel Home': Gendered Belonging and Diasporic Identities of South Asian British Citizens in London, in Leicester and in North England

According to Deleuze and Guattari (1987) ‘de-territorialization’ is followed by a moment of re-territorialization. This moment, however, has to be regarded as a continuing educational process that becomes a different spatial site of social practices. It is argued in this chapter that regional, local as well as global identification override national and mono-ethno cultural identities, while shaping particular notions of gendered belonging and creating specific diasporic practices. Based on a sample of interviews with professional and academic South Asian British citizens in London, in Leicester, and in a number of Northern English cities gendered and generational patterns in terms of local diasporic identities are explored. Apart from multiple cultural belonging, foremost, territorial bonds and notions of group loyalty collapse at a point where temporary migration and settlement alternate in individual biographies.

Lecture 1: The Pioneers and History (pre-WWW)

A Powerpoint file for a Lecture on the development of the world wide web. Intended for lecturers and undergraduates. Produced by Hugh Davis, ECS for a 3rd year Module.

New science 1 : science, geography and history.

Forma parte de un proyecto de aprendizaje de las ciencias, tanto experimentales como sociales, basado en tres piedras angulares: primero, mejorar su comprensión, que es un elemento clave; segundo, aprender más, para lo cual se ofrecen un gran número de actividades típicas en la práctica docente, desde resúmenes y vocabulario, hasta mapas conceptuales, y; por último, la adquisición de los hábitos necesarios y el desarrollo de un programa de valores para vivir en una comunidad.

New science 2 : science, geography and history. Teacher's book.

Presenta los contenidos del currículo del Conocimiento del Medio (ciencias naturales, geografía e historia) de enseñanza primaria. Pensado específicamente para profesores de los centros que quieren integrar el inglés en la práctica docente diaria con tres o cinco horas semanales. Incluye actividades variadas que favorecen el desarrollo de las destrezas lingüísticas del inglés a la vez que fijan los contenidos del área.

Essential science 2 : (science, geography and history).

Forma parte de una serie que cubre los seis cursos de la enseñanza primaria, y enseña los fundamentos de las ciencias, geografía e historia a través del inglés. Ha sido desarrollado teniendo en cuenta las necesidades de los centros educativos que integran el inglés con dos a tres horas semanales en la práctica docente. Cubre los contenidos básicos del currículo de Conocimiento del Medio requeridos por los estudiantes en esta etapa a través de presentaciones muy sencillas de los conceptos clave. Las actividades ayudan a desarrollar la confianza de los estudiantes. Hay una amplia variedad de ejercicios y actividades para mantener a los estudiantes motivados. Ofrece un doble enfoque que trabaja tanto el aprendizaje del inglés como los contenidos científicos. Tiene, además, CD de audio que ayuda a repasar la pronunciación y a trabajar a fondo los textos.