Eathquakes and sinking ships – scholarly studies
March 21, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
TITANIC to the Great East Japan EarthquakeDocumentation of DisastersPublic Event Thursday 22nd March Kelvin Gallery University of Glasgow 10am – 3pm The White Star liner Titanic sank after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic in April 1912 and the Great Eastern Japanese Earthquake took place almost a century later in March 2011. Both disasters sent shock waves round the world and were extensively covered in the world press that in both cases had to rely heavily on eye-witness accounts. The sinking of the Titanic still attracts huge public interest and the centenary will be commemorated in many events this year. Will the Great Eastern Japanese Earthquake be similarly commemorated in 2111? The memory of the sinking of the Titanic was transmitted through images, film and records from before the events, the evidence of survivors and the reports of public enquiries on both sides of the Atlantic. The event was memorialized in public monuments such as that in Washington and subsequently in books and films. The memory of the Great Eastern Japanese Earthquake will be transmitted through the same media, but with the important addition of digital images and the recorded testimony made by eye-witnesses at the time, using mobile phones and other personal devices and uploaded on social networking sites. This joint symposium between Humanities Advanced Technology and Information Institute (HATII), University of Glasgow, and Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies (IIIS), University of Tokyo, in Glasgow, will bring together Japanese and Scottish scholars and is free to members of the public. 10.00 Coffee & welcome There is no charge for attendance and all are welcome. For more information or to register for attendance , please contact Kirsti-Ann Mullen, Kirsti-Ann.Mullen@glasgow.ac.uk
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Confucius Institute formally opened at Glasgow University
October 5, 2011 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
The children of Glebe Primary School, Irvine delighted First Minister Alex Salmond and University Principal Anton Muscatelli at the opening of the Confucius Institute
Children from Chinese families had an exciting day on Tuesday 4 October, when they were part of the welcome to the Confucius Institute which was officially opened at the University of Glasgow by First Minister Alex Salmond MSP.
The Institute –a partnership with China’s prestigious Nankai University– is part of a network of more than 350 around the world, supported by the Chinese government to spread awareness, understanding and appreciation of Chinese language and culture.
Funded by the Chinese National Office of Chinese Language Council International – known as Hanban – the main purpose of the Confucius Institute is to teach the Chinese language. It will also organise cultural activities, including lectures and exhibitions and provide information and support for businesses in Scotland planning to operating in China.
The ceremony in the University’s Bute Hall was attended by Li Ruiyou, Chinese Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Scotland, and Xiaogang Tian, Minister Counsellor for Education, Chinese Embassy London.
Mr Salmond said: ‘The promotion of the educational, economic and cultural ties between Scotland and China are further strengthened by the creation of the Confucius Institute at the University of Glasgow. The work being done in partnership with Nankai University will support the Scottish Government’s China Plan through support for Confucius Classroom hubs and for Sino-Scottish business links.
‘During the past two years, I have had the pleasure of visiting China twice to reinforce this bond and I am greatly looking forward to returning later this year. It is vital that the Scottish Government, our agencies and Scotland’s business and education organisations continue to do all they can to advance Scotland’s relationship with mainland China and Hong Kong, particularly as we pursue opportunities to build growth and therefore a stronger Scotland.’
Professor Jane Duckett, Director of the Confucius Institute, said: ‘Our aim is to increase understanding of China, its fascinating language, and its rich culture. China is playing an ever more important role in the world. Within the next decade or so, it will be the world’s biggest economy and it will become an increasingly important trading partner and investor for Scotland and the UK. It is therefore essential to Scotland’s future economic success that we understand China in all its diversity and are able to communicate with its people.
She continued: ‘The Confucius Institute will make a significant contribution to the Scottish Government’s China Plan through support for Confucius Classroom hubs and for Sino-Scottish business links. It is a symbol of Glasgow’s and the West of Scotland’s engagement with China and will be an important source of support for that engagement across education, the arts and business.’
The Confucius Institute builds on long-standing research collaborations focused on social sciences, arts, business and chemistry, between the University of Glasgow and Nankai University in the major northern city of Tianjin.
The focus of the Institute’s programmes will be on contemporary Chinese society and culture, promoting understanding between young people in Scotland and China, and supporting links between the cities of Glasgow and Tianjin.
One of the first events organised by the new Institute is a six-week exhibition of art works by Professor Fan Zeng, one of China’s most famous artists, whose traditional ‘splashed ink’ and figure drawings are hugely popular in China. The exhibition will run until 20 November in the Kelvin Gallery of the Hunterian Museum.
The Confucius Institute is located in the John McIntyre Building on the University’s Gilmorehill Campus. For more information visit www.gla.ac.uk/about/confucius/ and see a video of the children of Glebe Primary School, Irvine who performed an umbrella dance for the opening ceremony on University’s Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/glasgowuniversity
Head teacher Francine MacKenzie of Glebe Primary told this website:’The children had a wonderful day at Glasgow University at the opening of the Confucius Institute. One parent phoned me the next morning to say thank you for giving her son the best opportunity of his life so far. The Chinese families whose children attend this school, consider themselves Scottish and are very pleased that we celebrate their other culture. We take full advantage of every opportunity to learn of the richness of Chinese culture.’ The school has already sent teachers to visit China and is about to send another one to study Mandarin.
