Information technology and social cohesion : a tale of two villages

Acknowledgements This research was made possible by a grant from the EPSRC “Dot.Rural Digital Economy Hub” (EP/G066051/1) at the University of Aberdeen and EPSRC Communities and Culture Network+ (EP/K003585/1).Peer reviewedPostprin

Landscapes of Helping: Kindliness in Neighbourhoods and Communities

Increasing geographical mobility, economic change and the rise of an individualist culture in the UK have contributed to the loosening of close ties in communities. Communities need to evolve, to reconnect, so that people cultivate the ‘background hum’ of sociability that has been associated with neighbourliness. This ‘background hum’ is characterised by people’s awareness of each other, by a respect for each other’s privacy and by a readiness to take action if help is needed. In this research we define kindliness as ‘neighbourliness enacted’ and describe the process of reconnection within communities as the ‘reinvention of sociality’. Hebden Bridge’s relative success in melding traditional and more contemporary forms of sociality helps to identify some broader lessons about fostering kindliness in neighbourhoods and communities

Antihydrogen, CPT, and Naturalness

Studying fundamental symmetries of Nature has proven fruitful in particle physics. I argue that recent results at the LHC, and the naturalness problem highlighted by them, provide a renewed motivation for tests of CPT symmetry as a probe for physics beyond quantum field theory. I also discuss prospects for antihydrogen CPT tests with sensitivities to Planck scale suppressed effects.Comment: Based on an invited talk at CPT'13 -- the Sixth Meeting on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry, Bloomington, Indiana, June 17-21, 201

Student perspectives of a place-responsive outdoor education programme

There is a growing recognition of the role that places have in influencing learning In outdoor education. Being aware of the importance of place encourages the development of outdoor programmes that respond to the uniqueness of the locality and the community. This article investigates student perspectives of a place-responsive outdoor education programme. The findings indicate that this approach is a viable form of outdoor education practice that has the potential to foster positive interpersonal relationships and strengthen participants’ appreciation of and attachment to place(s). These findings contribute to a growing body of literature demonstrating that place-responsive outdoor education has the potential to enrich participants' understanding and enjoyment of places In addition to providing a challenging and enjoyable outdoor experience