Three-D Issue 29: Postgraduate conferences and new executive committee
‘Borders and Boundaries: Territories, Technologies, Transgressions’ was the 14th annual conference of the MeCCSA Postgraduate Network and a big success! For the first time, it was hosted jointly by two leading institutions, LSE and Goldsmiths. The conference was organized by an excellent organizing team that comprised of PhD candidates from the LSE and Goldsmiths: Jacob Mukherjee, Anthony Kelly, Yu-kei Tse, Paula Kiel, Fabien Cante, Sarah Beck. It convened postgraduate students, artists and activists to examine and reflect upon the ever-changing social, geographical and political landscape in the form of paper presentations, posters, mini-documentaries, panel discussions and seminars (Figure 1). The 14th MeCCSA PGN Conference was sponsored and supported by the Departments of Media and Communications at LSE and Goldsmiths, the LSE Student Union’s Annual Fund and CHASE. We would like to thank Professor Natalie Fenton and Dr Milly Williamson in particular for their wholehearted support.
New Executive Committee
After the AGM during the 15th MeCCSA PGN Conference this summer, we now have a new executive committee for a two-year term as follows: Tianyang Zhou Chair, Aurora Patera Vice Chair, Umar Suleiman Jahun Communications Officer, Patricia Prieto Blanco Journal Editor, Madhushala Senaratne Journal Associated Editor, Emma Graves Training Officer. The new executive committee will continue to strive to improve postgraduate student experience.
2018 MeCCSA PGN conference at CCU
Canterbury Christ Church University will be hosting the 15th MeCCSA PGN Conference on 5th-6th July 2018. Tianyang met with 2018 MeCCSA PGN conference organising committee on the 22nd of November in Canterbury, who visited the venue of the conference and discussed the co-ordination of the next steps (Figure 2). Preparations are ongoing and the Call for Papers will be issued soon, along with more details on the logistics and programme. The theme of conference is “Media, Communities, Cultures”, which allows for a broad depth of proposed papers. It also encompasses the University’s tradition of inclusivity and diversity, exemplified by the well-established Centre for Research on Communities and Cultures, in the School of Media, Arts and Design.
Canterbury Christ Church is a dynamic, diverse and modern university, with deep ties to the local community. Many of its students are from the local area and often continue to live and work in and around the city after the culmination of their studies, thereby contributing to the local economy and society. In addition to this, the University hosts and sponsors a variety of events throughout the year, which aim to bring the local community and the members of the University together, such as the Canterbury Festival, Canterbury Anifest, and a series of public lectures freely accessible to all, which encompass current affairs and issues of common interest. The main University campus, where the conference will take place, is located in the heart of Canterbury World Heritage Site, a thriving international tourist and business destination. Bringing communities together is one of the core values of the university. As well as running an “edible campus” scheme, which promotes sustainability and community gardening, the University even produces its own craft beer. A historic, cosmopolitan city, Canterbury is the perfect setting to discuss the theme of Media, Communities and Cultures, having a culturally diverse and vibrant population.
MeCCSA PGN’s new executive committee together with 2018 annual conference organizing team look forward to welcoming you to our 15th annual conference in July and introducing you to the sights and sounds of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University.