Motor car aesthetics : The contexts of design.

The original, probably naive, aim of the research was to quantify the proportions of car bodies and plot these graphically, with a view to extrapolating future developments. There are a number of objections to such a scheme, the most fundamental being that it pre-supposes an evolutionary process which does not in fact obtain except in certain periods between design revolutions whose incidence cannot be predicted by the model. Neither can such revolutions be related to technological change. Rather, they seem to result from changes occurring on an ideological level; and it was to this level that research was directed.It was postulated that design revolutions occurred as a result of a dialectical relationship between two opposing modes of thought. These modes were characterised respectively as classic and romantic. This terminology is open to criticism, as was any other that could be devised, but is defined at some length in the text.The main body of the text is concerned to demonstrate that changes in car body shape may be best understood in terms of this opposition between classic and romantic, in conjunction with a separate but related opposition between organic and inorganic form.Appendix I considers the political implications of the explanatory model and argues that future developments may be predicted in the light of these.Appendix 2 considers the problem of meaning and explains that it is not yet possible to devise a coherent theory; it does however indicate the importance of certain factors that such a theory should embrace.Appendix 3 presents the results of an experiment designed to test the explanatory model used

Black carbon physical and optical properties across northern India during pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons

Black carbon (BC) is known to have major impacts on both climate and human health and is therefore of global importance, particularly in regions close to large populations that have strong sources. The size-resolved mixing state of BC-containing particles was characterised using a single-particle soot photometer (SP2). The study focusses on the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. Data presented are from the UK Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements BAe-146 research aircraft that performed flights during the pre-monsoon (11 and 12 June) and monsoon (30 June to 11 July) seasons of 2016. Over the IGP, BC mass concentrations were greater (1.95 µg m−3) compared to north-west India (1.50 µg m−3) and north-east India (0.70 µg m−3) during the pre-monsoon season. Across northern India, two distinct BC modes were recorded; a mode of small BC particles (core diameter <0.16 µm and coating thickness <50 nm) and a mode of moderately coated BC (core diameter <0.22 µm and coating thickness of 50–200 nm). The IGP and north-east India locations exhibited moderately coated black carbon particles with enhanced coating thicknesses, core sizes, mass absorption cross sections, and scattering enhancement values compared to much lower values present in the north-west. The coating thickness and mass absorption cross section increased with altitude (13 %) compared to those in the boundary layer. As the monsoon arrived across the region, mass concentration of BC decreased over the central IGP and north-east locations (38 % and 28 % respectively), whereas for the north-west location BC properties remained relatively consistent. Post-monsoon onset, the coating thickness, core size, mass absorption cross section, and scattering enhancement values were all greatest over the central IGP much like the pre-monsoon season but were considerably reduced over both north-east and north-west India. Increases in mass absorption cross section through the atmospheric column were still present during the monsoon for the north-west and central IGP locations, but less so over the north-east due to lack of long-range transport aerosol aloft. Across the Indo-Gangetic Plain and north-east India during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons, solid-fuel (wood burning) emissions form the greatest proportion of BC with moderately coated particles. However, as the monsoon develops in the north-east there was a switch to small uncoated BC particles indicative of traffic emissions, but the solid-fuel emissions remained in the IGP into the monsoon. For both seasons in the north-west, traffic emissions form the greatest proportion of BC particles. Our findings will prove important for greater understanding of the BC physical and optical properties, with important consequences for the atmospheric radiative forcing of BC-containing particles. The findings will also help constrain the regional aerosol models for a variety of applications such as space-based remote sensing, chemistry transport modelling, air quality, and BC source and emission inventories

On the causes of mid-Pliocene warmth and polar amplification

The mid-Pliocene (~ 3 to 3.3 Ma ago), is a period of sustained global warmth in comparison to the late Quaternary (0 to ~ 1 Ma ago), and has potential to inform predictions of long-term future climate change. However, given that several processes potentially contributed, relatively little is understood about the reasons for the observed warmth, or the associated polar amplification. Here, using a modelling approach and a novel factorisation method, we assess the relative contributions to mid-Pliocene warmth from: elevated CO2, lowered orography, and vegetation and ice sheet changes. The results show that on a global scale, the largest contributor to mid-Pliocene warmth is elevated CO2. However, in terms of polar amplification, changes to ice sheets contribute significantly in the Southern Hemisphere, and orographic changes contribute significantly in the Northern Hemisphere. We also carry out an energy balance analysis which indicates that that on a global scale, surface albedo and atmospheric emmissivity changes dominate over cloud changes. We investigate the sensitivity of our results to uncertainties in the prescribed CO2 and orographic changes, to derive uncertainty ranges for the various contributing processes

Valuation studies: a collaborative valuation in practice

This discussion note provides a perspective on valuation studies by a group of PhD students. Based on impressions from the Valuation as Practice workshop at The University of Edinburgh in early 2014 we were inspired by the example of Kjellberg et al. (2013) to debate how we see, understand, and are inspired by the field of valuation studies. It is the hope of the editors that sharing the concerns of early-stage researchers starting out in a field in flux, may be of use to, and perhaps spur, senior contributors to further develop this emerging research landscape. Using the workshop experience as a springboard, we argue that the domain of valuation studies still relies heavily on influences from the study of economics, with a strong emphasis on processes of quantification and calculation. With apparent pragmatism within the field, concern as to what might be lost by this narrower perspective is raised. Additionally, we call for the exploration of the possibility of a common language of valuation, to better define shared features, and identify as well as manage conflicts within the field

Recognition of Experience Based Education and Learning (REBEL)

The RECOGNITION OF EXPERIENCE-BASED EDUCATION and LEARNING (REBEL) framework is designed to assist learning reflection and evaluation in the context of informal and non-formal lived and educational experiences. The REBEL competencies and capabilities tool: The competencies and capabilities tool is a method that offers a variety of structures for evaluating learning gain. It can be used in relation to an individual’s lived experiences as well as their engagement and participation in both non-formal and formal education. The system is composed of 108 descriptors relating to transferable competencies and capabilities. The tool enhances student awareness of their strengths and positive behaviors, and their personal and professional development needs. Flexible learning and access: The REBEL system can facilitate and support the process of application for the Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning. As such, it can supplement or replace a part of the existing curriculum of a course or assist students without standard qualifications in their applications for HE courses. Current developments with Camden Council are focused on the Extended Project Qualification and the REBEL tool is being deployed to reinforce learner confidence and enable third party endorsements (kite-marked certification). Development: The REBEL competencies and capabilities tool is open source and was devised and tested in partnership and with the support of: University of Salford, SOLIDAR foundation, Observal (the Observatory of Validated Learning at Universidad Valladolid), La Ligue de L’Enseignement (France), Workers Educational Association (UK), Trade Union UnionLearn (TUC), and the Open Design and Manufacture EU Strategic Network

Natural dynamics: understanding natural dynamics of seagrasses of the north west of Western Australia. Report of Theme 5 - Project 5.3 prepared for the Dredging Science Node

Relatively little is known of the spatial and temporal dynamics of seagrass meadows in the north west of Western Australia, but such knowledge is needed when designing and evaluating studies that aim to detect potential dredging-related impacts on seagrass, and when making predictions about the likelihood of, and speed of recovery from, such impacts. This study was undertaken to improve our understanding of the spatial and temporal patterns in seagrass composition, abundance and reproductive phenology in the Pilbara. We also characterised key environmental parameters, especially light, that influence seagrass survival and can be altered by dredging..

Guns to Goods, artefacts

The ‘Guns to Goods’ initiative started in 2008 and evolved into a social enterprises, established in August 2011, based in inner urban Manchester, UK. The motivating concept is to develop public art and new design products for manufacture using only recycled metal harvested from police-confiscated guns. The intended outcome is the generation of advocacy for community based campaigns and social action designed at reducing impacts from gun crime. Artefacts produced to date include; public art in the form of; 'The Erinma Bell Portrait' sited in Manchester Town Hall, and 'Paving the Way to Peace', sited at Hulme Community Garden and the Claremont Community Centre. There have been a number of 'Fellowship Trophies' produced to support aligned activist campaigns such as the CARISMA (Campaign for Renewal in the Inner South Manchester Area) Peace Award, and the 'In Place of War' fellowship. In recent years, the gun metal has been processed into pigments and made into paint and printing media with the assistance of ColArts. This practice project has evolved into a creative enterprise start-up partnership with a locally (Moss Side, Manchester) based charity. The impact sought is to build social cohesion and collective remedial action with and for communities affected negatively by weapons based crime. Initially supported by AHRC funding (ref: AH/G017115/1) ‘Guns to Goods’ is an evolving collaboration between researchers, artists, CARISMA (Community Alliance for Renewal, Inner South Manchester Area), Greater Manchester Police and the Mines Advisory Group International. The initiative relates to continuing campaigns that seek to address gun ownership and proliferation. It has, so far, destroyed 220 long-barrel firearms, placing them beyond use by symbolically converting their metal into fresh artefacts of aesthetic and economic value. The narrative has brand value for the main charity partner and links to related endeavours offering crime solutions. Products offer a canvas for expression and gestures, adding to campaign resources through participatory design. The current focus is on public art outputs, utilising the metals sourced from recycling. The metal has been further developed into pigments for use in painting and printing with the assistance of ColArts and Newton and Windsor. The project was shortlisted twice for Times Higher Education ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community’ Awards (2010 and 2011). It received a Manchester Beacons for Public Engagement award in 2010 and an Unlimited Potential Catalyst Award in 2011. It was presented at the 6th International Conference on the Arts in Society in 2011, and the 7th Conference of the European Research Network, Sociology of the Arts in 2012. It featured in national and international BBC news coverage. Conference proceedings and dissemination: Sept 2012 ‘The Art of Enterprise Activism’; Paper presentation with Samantha Ingleson. 7th Conference of the European Research Network,Sociology of the Arts. Institute for Music Sociology, Vienna, Austria. May 2011: ‘Goods to Guns; Arming Social Enterprise with the Arts.’ Paper Presentation at the 6th International Conference on the Arts in Society. Theme: Social, Political and Community Agendas. Berlin. Germany. 2011 (September) Times Higher Education Awards, University of Salford, short-listed nomination for the ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community’, winner to be announced on 24th November 2011. 2010 (September) Times Higher Education Awards, University of Salford, short-listed for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community’. Poster Presentation: 2010 (September): Haywood, P & Ingleson, S (2010), ''Art, Activism, Enterprise'', Exhibited at: International Entrepreneurship Educators Conference 2010, Enterprise Educators UK and the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship, Cardiff University. 2010, UK, from 01/09/2010 To 03/09/2010