Emergency Staff Meeting

The research focuses on how institutions and their employees navigate the continual state of flux incurred by operating in contemporary Britain’s Neo-liberal political landscape, and the pressures that this entails. This is grounded in the instability created as a consequence of the frequency of organisational changes (restructures and mergers) seemingly necessitated by the marketisation of the sector. The project utilises forms of narrative storytelling, humour and satire within a contemporary art context. One area of interest lies in the relationship between “the institution” and “the individual” and the synergies or tensions that lie between them. This recognises that the institution operates as a form of power and authority, a seemingly homogenous entity, as well as a place of belonging, but it is also experienced as both faceless and ‘other’, as having agency and autonomous in its actions. The research both utilises autoethnography as method, and draws on debates surrounding the implications of its usage in artistic practices, specifically, the relation to the authors’ own employment within the very structure they critique (relational ethics). The UK University system is being ruthlessly administered – to be more efficient, economical, marketable, transactional. It has adapted the strategies and languages of corporate business in order to be efficient and competitive in the marketplace. The use of generative AI for us was seen as appropriate in the context of the mismatch between certain views of an art school and the commercial systems and agendas it now has to operate within. Furthermore, the notion of the University as an entity, in and of itself, is comparable to the anthromoprhisation of ai systems, providing both with a sense of independent agency. The dataset, that is provided at the outset of the model training, is limited to the imagery available online, which is, in itself, a resource offered by dominant commercial cultural forces. Some examples generated had slightly garbled ‘iStock’ watermarks on them, for example. As Hito Steyerl argues, the ‘invitation’ for artists to use ai can be seen as a form of onboarding for commercial entities. The dialogue recognises the reality of the precarious positions that post-92 institutions find themselves in, in a neo-liberal marketized education sector. The finances of institutions are tied to recruitment which in turn is tied to an ability to market the value/quality of the education provided

1000 Years Per Inch

A fragmented field guide to possible pasts, presents and futures of Grizedale Forest. Created in collaboration with elements of the Forest, computational design, and archival material from the Forestry Commission. Processes have included digital photography, silver nitrate chromatographs, and generative AI. In using these methods, I acknowledge and reflect on the intricate and interconnected nature of production and consumption in our time of ecological crisis

A Digital Testing Framework for Design Improvements of Three-Piece Alloy Wheels Through Finite Element Analysis

Three-piece alloy wheels are widely used across the automotive industry, favoured due to their lightweight construction and ease of customisation. Vehicle wheels must withstand forces generated during acceleration, braking, cornering, and impacts, ensuring safety and durability under real-world conditions. Finite element analysis (FEA) plays a crucial role in simulating these loading conditions, thoroughly assessing structural performance prior to manufacturing. This study develops and validates a digital FEA testing framework tailored to low-volume wheel manufacturers, demonstrating that FEA can replace traditional physical wheel fatigue tests where such facilities are unavailable. This research was conducted in collaboration with a UK company specialising in the design and manufacture of bespoke, limited-production three-piece alloy wheels. However, the absence of dedicated structural testing procedures caused many of their existing designs to be overengineered, resulting in excessive material usage, increased weight, and high production costs. In some cases, lack of testing also contributed to wheel failures. This work selected three of the company’s existing wheel designs and subjected them to comprehensive analysis. Using FEA, each wheel was evaluated under industry-standard radial, cornering, biaxial, and impact tests. To verify the simulations, a known case of wheel failure was analysed and compared to real-world values. Once verified, any design issues were addressed. The redesigned wheels achieved substantial weight reduction (up to 25%), while still meeting or exceeding the relevant safety standards and allowing for manufacturability. Ultimately, this work demonstrated that applying digital simulation techniques can significantly improve the performance and safety of custom three-piece alloy wheels

Review of The Incandescent by Emily Tesh

Review of The Incandescent by Emily Tesh

Archaeological entanglements: Palestinian refugee archaeologists in Cyprus, Libya and Jordan

In 1948 Stephan Hanna Stephan, a long-time employee of the Palestinian Archaeological Museum and respected historian and ethnographer, became a refugee, along with at least 700,000 other Palestinians. He and his family fled to Lebanon, but the passport of one of his sons from this period is filled with stamps indicating journeys to and from Cyprus. Stephan died of a heart attack in 1949, but an article by A.H.S. Megaw, head of the Department of Antiquities in Cypris, is a tantalising suggestion as to how Stephan’s career might have proceeded, taking a course plotted by his links through the various British-run archaeological institutions of the Eastern Mediterranean. If this had occurred, Stephan would not have been alone. At least two Palestinian refugee archaeologists from the Mandate government’s Department of Antiquities took up jobs in the British-run Department of Antiquities in Cyrenaica. Several others made the shorter transfer to the Jordanian Department of Antiquities, headed by Lankester Harding. As such, a scholarly Palestinian refugee diaspora was mapped onto British colonial and postcolonial involvement in archaeology across the Eastern Mediterranean. This paper locates Cyprus as part of that network via Stephan’s work, highlighting the ways in which middle-ranking archaeological professionals from British colonies participated in webs of knowledge production, and how their linguistic and cultural skills were utilised by British colonial institutions in contingent and shifting ways and circumstances. I argue that while British colonialism often exploited and sidelined indigenous archaeology and archaeologists across the region, the latter found ways to create opportunities within it. Archaeology under the British in Cyprus is thus entangled with other sites of British control and influence from Jordan to Libya, creating unexpected routes for survival in colonial and postcolonial settings

From Clay to Couture

From Clay to Couture: Interdisciplinary Design at the Intersection of Ceramics, Fashion, and Print This project explores the innovative potential of combining ceramic form, pattern cutting, and print to create a garment that is conceptually rich and materially dynamic. The project investigates how the 3D forms, textures, and structural qualities of ceramics can inform and inspire the development of fashion pattern cutting and surface designs. By fostering collaboration between a ceramicist, pattern cutter, and print designer, the project aims to create a garment that bridges the disciplines of fashion and contemporary design. The research focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration as a method to explore new approaches to materiality, form, and fashion design. Through the use of 3D-printed forms, the project examines how these sculptural elements can translate into pattern cutting decisions and inspire screen-printed surface treatments, creating a garment that reflects the intersection of different creative disciplines. The project follows a phased methodology: beginning with collaborative mind mapping and material exploration, progressing through the development of patterns and prints, and culminating in garment construction and critical evaluation. Additionally, the project serves as an exploration of interdisciplinary education, demonstrating how collaboration between diverse design fields can foster creative problem-solving and innovation. The impact of this research lies in its contribution to the evolving discourse around interdisciplinary design practices. It offers new insights into how 3D form and digital tools can influence the future of fashion design, providing theoretical and practical outcomes. The final garment and its development process will be presented in an exhibition

Still Digging Deeper: The Impact of Austerity on Inequalities and Deprivation in the Coalfield Areas

The report argues that the large-scale pit closures, the attack on trade unions and the welfare state by the Thatcher Government in 1984 onwards leave a 40-year legacy of extensive inequality and deprivation. Overall, public expenditure cuts since 1984 have disproportionately impacted on coalfield and deindustrialised areas of the UK. However, since 2010, Austerity has been stepped up with welfare reforms and benefit cuts amounting to £32.6 billion over the period (2010-2021). Coalfield Local authorities have a combined funding gap in 2025/26 of £447 million. The report focuses on a number of case study areas; Fife and South Lanarkshire (Scotland) Barnsley and Stoke on Trent (England) and Neath/Port Talbot and Merthyr Tydfil (Wales) revealing the ‘violent’ consequences of austerity policies. Findings for Stoke on Trent: local authority budget gap £24.6m, local NHS spending deficit £90.9m, estimated benefit loss £880 per working age adult (England average £640) Childcare places per 100 children 7years and under 20.2 (England average 25.0,) long term sickness percentage of inactivity 25.9% (England average 18.8%) Mortality 369.0 per 100,000 (England average 253.0) Indicator of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) ranking number 1 in most deprived category (the most deprived local authority). The report argues that the current Labour Government commitment to austerity and welfare cuts is only going to exacerbate and reinforce entrenched inequalities. The report calls for economic and social policies based on a just transition: an end to austerity, revitalised public services and an economic plan that involves trade unions, workers and communities

English in Computer Engineering and Computer Science

English in Computer Engineering and Computer Science," authored by Dr. Seyed Ali Sadegh Zadeh and Dr. Tahereh Movahhedi, is a comprehensive resource designed to enhance the English proficiency of computer engineering and computer science students. The book bridges the gap between technical knowledge and language skills, ensuring learners can confidently engage with academic and professional content in their field. Covering essential topics such as programming, data structures, operating systems, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, the book provides clear explanations, practical examples, and targeted exercises. Each chapter includes key vocabulary, comprehension questions, and problem-solving activities to reinforce understanding. The authors’ extensive teaching and research experience ensures the content is both pedagogically sound and aligned with industry needs. This book serves as an invaluable tool for students aiming to excel in their studies and future careers while mastering the language of technology

Touching God: Dementia and the Bodies of Christ

The dread of dementia has a unique hold over us, because dementia seems to eat away at what makes us human. If we lose our capacity to remember, to think, to act and even to speak, what is left of us? And where is the God who promised to be with us? These are profound theological questions that go beyond a need for better pastoral care or more welcoming churches: they hold up a mirror to what we really believe about human beings, about God and about dementia itself. The purpose of this book is to explore what these questions have to teach us, by reflecting theologically on the faith journey of people who live with dementia. It is a personal theological pilgrimage, digging down into the theological meaning of dementia itself, looking for hidden pearls of insight. But it is also an attempt to look past the details, to see the “big picture” of God’s grace and faithfulness, embodied in the person and life of the crucified and risen Christ. It will speak not just to people who are challenged or troubled by dementia, but to anybody seeking to grapple with their faith in challenging times

Broadband dual channel mode filter based on triple-core photonic crystal fiber

A novel mode filter based on a triple-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with a large bandwidth was proposed. The device uses silica as the substrate material, and its main core can support three modes: LP01, LP11, and LP21. By coating gold film on the inner walls of the air holes in the cladding of the side cores, the coupled LP01 and LP11 modes from the main core experience significant attenuation when propagating in the side cores. This enables the mode filter to output only the LP21 mode. The structure of the mode filter was optimized by using the eigenmode finite difference method and the eigenmode expansion method. The results indicate that when the input wavelength is 1.55 μm, the mode suppression ratios (MSRs) for the filtered LP01 and LP11 modes exceed 20 dB. Moreover, the mode filter operates in two working bands with bandwidths of 125 nm (1.5–1.625 μm) and 53 nm (1.766–1.819 μm), covering the S, C, and L bands. The total length of the device is only 46.5 mm. Especially, at 1550 nm, the insertion loss (IL) is as low as 0.024 dB, and the MSR is 19.84 dB. Owing to the advantages of wide bandwidth, low IL, high MSR, and compact structure, this mode filter will find great potential for applications in mode-division multiplexing fiber-optic communication/sensing, quantum information systems, and related fields