Old Building goes art-house

This week, the entrance to the Old Building has taken on a new style, with the installation of a new piece of public art, called Final Sale.

LSE Photo Prize

Want to win a trip for two to the View from the Shard? Send in your best photos for a chance to win and see your photo printed.

Cheryl Brumley

Cheryl, LSE Public Policy Group, was a big baseball fan growing up and loved the early 90’s Phillies player John Kruk.

As some of you may have seen, the entrance to the Old Building has taken on a new style this week, with the installation of a new piece of public art, called Final Sale.

This temporary installation is the creation of the Recycle Group - made up of the award winning Russian artists Andrey Blokhin and Georgy Kuznetsov - who “explore the realm of ‘virtual reality’ using both recycled imagery and materials.”

The piece was loaned to the School free of charge by the Gazelli Art House as part of its on-going commitment to art education. It will be mounted over the main entrance to the Old Building for the next three months.

Recycle Group’s work is mainly concerned with consumerism and the infinite drive for materialistic sustainability. Recycling is a central part of their art, whether this is through the use of recycled materials or recycling of familiar imagery.

The LSE installation is composed of both recycled imagery and materials, and examines the socio-political and economic effects created by the current financial climate - exploring the realm of modern day economics and its effect on today’s society.

Stand tall if you are living in a democracy

Men growing up in a democracy are likely to be taller than those who spend the first 20 years of their lives in a communist regime.

The link between democracy and stature is related to good nutrition, high disposable income and a life free of social and political constraints, according to new findings from LSE.

In a study of Czech Republic and Slovakian residents since the dissolution of the communist regime in 1989, LSE political economist Dr Joan Costa-i-Font and colleague Dr Lucia Kossarova found clear height differences between the two regimes.

For Slovaks, those born under democracy as opposed to communism are on average 1.5cm taller, gaining about 0.28cm for each year spent in a democratic society. Czechs gained about 0.14cm each year in comparison.

The UK has become Europe’s most entrepreneurial economy and has climbed five places to fourth globally, according to the 2015 edition of the Global Entrepreneurship Index (GEI).

The improvement in the UK’s ranking is due to progress in entrepreneurial attitudes and abilities. However, entrepreneurial aspirations - a measure of how innovative, risk-taking and internationally oriented UK entrepreneurial ventures are - remains a relative weak spot compared to other leading countries.

The study was carried out by researchers from LSE, Imperial College Business School, University of Pécs and George Mason University.

This year’s GEI, formerly known as the Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index, is now in its fifth edition. It profiles and benchmarks the entrepreneurial ecosystems of 130 countries. In this year’s index, the US ranked first, Australia second and Canada third.

Some of the world’s top economists have warned the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, that the Sustainable Development Goals will not succeed without a stronger emphasis on the need for economic growth, in an open letter.

Ahead of negotiations to finalise the Goals - which will replace the Millennium Development Goals - 18 leading economists warn Mr Ban that, “Achieving the SDG targets will not be possible unless the agenda focuses squarely on individuals as active generators of their own income, lifting themselves out of poverty.”

The letter has been signed by Professor Sir Paul Collier, Director of the International Growth Centre and Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford, and Professor Tim Besley from LSE.

New Gearty Grilling online

A new Gearty Grilling video, part of the series of short video debates between Conor Gearty, director of the IPA and professor of human rights law, and leading researchers at LSE, is now online.

We are conducting a review into the way the School communicates with students.

The School currently uses a number of channels to communicate with students, but are they the right ones, with the right messages, and is the information that needs to be communicated getting through? We want to know if Student News is an interesting and useful resource, or something you delete on sight? Would you prefer more emails from LSE, or do you fear email overload? Could LSE be making more use of social media tools like Twitter, or is the intranet homepage the best way to keep you informed you of School activities?

We want to hear from as many students as possible, so will be holding a series of focus groups over the coming months, as well as circulating a survey more widely later in the term. This is an opportunity to help shape the way LSE communicates with you, so please do get in touch if you would like to take part in a focus group. You are, of course, also welcome to email us directly with your thoughts and suggestions. A £20 Amazon voucher will be provided to all participants in gratitude for the time they have given up.

Alumni information for December 2014 graduates

All December 2014 graduates should check their emails for an upcoming email from the LSE Alumni Relations team.

This will contain your unique Alumni ID number for LSE Alumni Online and details of the benefits and services available to you as LSE alumni.

If you do not receive this before graduation, please contact alumni@lse.ac.uk for your Alumni ID.
 

Faith and Leadership Certificate

Want to improve your knowledge of world faiths? Keen to develop your leadership skills? Want to meet men and women in positions of leadership from different faith backgrounds?

LSE Faith Centre is piloting its new Faith and Leadership Certificate in Lent term 2015. It’s an extracurricular programme with no preparatory reading or examination that will deepen your understanding of different religions, develop your leadership skills and enhance your CV.

The course will run on seven Monday evenings beginning in January 2015 and will include one residential weekend. It will include:

• Short, creative introductions to the main world faith traditions from expert scholars and community leaders.
• Consideration of the changing dynamics of religion in the world today and evolving models of secularism and religious pluralism.
• Training in decision-making, mediation and reconciliation by people experienced in the field.

The course is free of charge with no preparatory reading and no final assessment. But commitment to the sessions is imperative. You will be required to attend all the Monday evening sessions and the residential. Missing more than one session without good cause will disqualify you from the certificate.

We all handle data in various forms during the course of our work at LSE. It is important that we take the appropriate measures to make sure this data is handled, stored and secured appropriately and safely, to abide by the law and avoid fines, sanctions and legal action.

One practical way of doing this is by using the Information Classification Standard (.pdf) to identify what kind of data you have, and what should be done to secure it. Keeping files in order and storing them in the appropriate place is also good practice - see Where Should My Info Go (.docx) for advice.

Want to win a trip for two to the View from the Shard? Send in your best photos for a chance to win the top prize and see your photo printed.

Current staff and students can enter up to three photos into the competition - submissions open on Monday 1 December. A selection of submitted photos will be displayed around the LSE campus during the Literary Festival, which will be on the theme Foundations, in February 2015.

The prize, worth £1,000 will be awarded for the best research proposal on the topic of ‘Corporate Reputation, Media and Society’.

It is open to all post-graduate students studying at LSE in the 2014-15 academic year. The student must submit a 500-1,000 word proposal on the topic by 5pm on Friday 12 December. The proposal should include: an outline of topic area; its relevance to the subject area; and a view as to the value of the research topic to the corporate world.

Computer Tip of the Week - Weekly Software Surgery is open to all

Do you need some personalised help with Endnote, Microsoft Office software or statistical or qualitative analysis packages like SPSS, Stats and Nvivo?

All students are welcome to attend the weekly Software Surgery in R08, lower ground floor of the Library. Sessions are run every Thursday from 1-2pm during teaching terms. Drop-ins are welcome, but those who sign up via the Training and Development System will be seen first - log into the system using your usual LSE ID and password, then open the Using IT list.

If you have an IT question, check out our online guides and FAQs. Alternatively, staff and PhD students are invited to enrol for a 1-2-1 IT Training session or to contact IT.Training@lse.ac.uk to book a consultation with a training specialist.

Write for the London Globalist

LSE's international affairs blog is now welcoming submissions for its Magazine issue, this year under the theme of The Power of the Protest.

Send your submission to thelondonglobalist@gmail.com under this theme, of any length, type and perspective and get the chance to be published in our annual Magazine, this year to be launched in January at a panel event in Parliament.

Visit www.thelondonglobalist.org to get a feel for the type of work we've been publishing, and to see the archive of our previously published issue.

EXHIBITION - Art as Social Document

From: 1 December 2014 - 23 January 2015 in the Atrium Gallery, Old Building

This show presents a selection of work by the British photographer Mark Neville. The artist’s socially engaged practice distinguishes him from the majority of contemporary artists and builds a natural bridge to the academic debates on the issues of inequality, class, race, and conflict.

The exhibition is organised in cooperation with the Alan Cristea Gallery and curated by Helen Waters (Alan Cristea Gallery) and Gwendolyn Sasse (University of Oxford). The opportunity to show such a high-profile artist at LSE has arisen out of a previous cooperation between LSE and the Alan Cristea Gallery.

Ready for Hillary? Portrait of a President in Waiting
On: Monday 1 December at 6.30pm in the New Theatre, East Building
Speaker: Robin Renwick (pictured)

Open Government in the Age of Total War
On: Tuesday 2 December at 6.30pm in the Old Theatre, Old Building
Speaker: Professor Matthew Connelly

Lunchtime Concert
On: Thursday 4 December at 1.05pm in the Shaw Library, 6th floor, Old Building
Performers: Krysia Osostowicz (violin) (pictured) and Daniel Tong (piano)

Pressed for Time: the acceleration of life in digital capitalism

On: Thursday 27 November from 6.30-8pm in the Old Theatre, Old Building
Speaker: Professor Judy Wajcman (pictured), Professor of Sociology at LSE.
Respondent: Genevieve Bell, Vice President of User Experience Research at Intel Labs.

The technologically tethered, iPhone-addicted figure is an image we can easily conjure. Most of us complain that there aren't enough hours in the day and too many emails in our thumb-accessible inboxes. This widespread perception that life is faster than it used to be is now ingrained in our culture, and smartphones and the Internet are continually being blamed.

But isn't the sole purpose of the smartphone to give us such quick access to people and information that we'll be free to do other things? Isn't technology supposed to make our lives easier?

In her new book Pressed for Time (University of Chicago Press) Judy Wajcman explores why it is that we both blame technology for speeding up everyday life and yet turn to digital devices for the solution.

This event is free and open to all with no ticket or pre-registration required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. More
 

On: Friday 28 November from 6-8pm at Café 54, New Academic Building

LSE Chill has moved - join us for a chilled night in our new home, Café 54 in the New Academic Building.

With a limited number of free drinks and nibbles, relax after a long week with musical performances from staff and students.

If you are interested in performing at any of next year’s events please email arts@lse.ac.uk with your name and details of your act.

On: Friday 28 November at 7pm in the Shaw Library, Old Building

The Michaelmas term Chamber Music Concert, organised by the LSESU Music Society, promises to be a night of splendour and relaxation, showcasing the very best LSE talent.

Tickets are priced at £2 for Music Society members and £3 for non-members, with all proceeds going to the Worldwide Cancer Research charity. Tickets are purchased at the door.

On: Tuesday 2 December from 2.15-3.45pm in the Old Theatre, Old Building
Speaker: Martin Bauer, Department of Social Psychology

Can a minority change the opinions of a majority? Are we always influenced by the views of the majority? When do we challenge those in authority?

This session will review and compare the classical modalities of social influence including crowds and leaders, contagion, peer group pressure and conformity, obedience to and compliance with authority, active minorities, conversion and persuasion.

Dilma Re-Elected: perspectives for the next four years

On: Friday 5 December from 6-7.30pm in room 32L.LG04, 32 Lincoln's Inn Fields
Speakers: Dr Francisco Panizza, Associate Professor in Latin American Politics in the Department of Government at LSE and Head of Latin American International Affairs Research Programme, and Dr Joana Naritomi, Assistant Professor at LSE.

October 2014 emerged as of one of Brazil’s most iconic periods in history. In what turned out to be a very tight presidential race, Dilma Rousseff, Brazil’s first female president, secured another term in office by a margin of only 3.4 million votes - which culminated in the fourth consecutive win for the country’s Workers’ Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores).

Following the highly debated scenario, the LSESU Brazilian Society has invited two of LSE’s most respected scholars to discuss what the next step is for Latin America’s giant, politically and economically, both inside and outside of the country.

Spaces are limited so please arrive early. For more information, contact d.traldi@lse.ac.uk or a.p.soares-silva@lse.ac.uk.
 

Discovering Latin America: film festival

Founded in 2002, Discovering Latin America (DLA) is a London-based charity raising funds to promote development projects in the region by sharing Latin American culture worldwide. Today, many of Discovering Latin America’s volunteers and contributors are students or alumni of LSE.

From 27 November to 4 December, Discovering Latin America is staging its tenth annual film festival here in London, headed by LSE MSc Economics alumnus Daniel Calderon. Daniel was previously president of the LSESU’s Colombia Society, meeting other Latin American enthusiasts who have become involved with DLA.

The film festival will showcase an exciting selection of feature films and shorts to provide a unique insight into Latin America. Screenings include To Kill a Man by Alejandro Fernández Almendras (followed by a Q&A with the director,) and The Clown by Selton Mello. The festival also offers master classes and discussions with film directors and actors from across Latin America.

This year, the festival has elected to support Casa Alianza UK, an organisation defending children’s rights by providing advocacy and legal aid in Guatemala, Hondruas, Nicaragua and Mexico. For more information about DLA’s work, as well as tickets and programmes, click here.