Human Character Modelling and Animation

Bournemouth November 2006

The incredible complexity of the human body means the realistic animation and modeling of human characters is still some way off.

But with the rapid advance of computer animation techniques other disciplines, including medicine, sports science, robotics and ergonomics are realising the potential uses of animation in their fields.

This one day symposium, funded by the AHRC, brought together prominent researchers from the animation, gaming and visual effects industries with their peers in medical science, human biometrics and performance sports to review where we are and look to future possibilities.

Governance and Communication Conference

Bournemouth March 2006

This three day event was based on the proposition that "Good governance can only be achieved where organisations communicate their governance structures and processes in a clear, comprehensive, and truthful way."

Journalists, academics and figures from prominent industries gathered to debate issues surrounding communication in the 21st century.

Keynote speakers included Greg Wood (Radio 4), Rosemary Martin (Reuters), Larry Stone (BT) and Peter Montagnon (Association of British Insurers). The conference proceedings and extracts from the papers presented can be accessed here.

Current affairs on UK commercial television

British Academy of Film and Televison Arts January 2006

This event marked the 50th anniversary of This Week, the first current affairs series made by Independent Television (ITV), and also looked at the state of current affairs in the very different climate of television in the 21st C.

Speakers discussed the early years of This Week, debates around the launch of ITV in the 1950s, analysed the concept of ‘citizens’ in the 2002 Communications Act, and debated the present and future of current affairs.

Guests included many of the producers and journalists who worked on the series as well as representatives from the regulator Offcom.

Conference proceedings, a Quick Time video of conference highlights and the Media School's This Week database can be accessed here.

Anti-Terrorism, Media and Publics

Regent’s College, London, January 2005

Organised by CPCR this one day seminar brought academics, politicians, news agencies and PR people together to examine the public perception of the contemporary terrorist threat and the importance of understanding this for successful anti-terrorist strategies.

Among the issues discussed were; whether media reportage helped create healthy public discourse, how the public view of ‘official’ governmental sources of information is changing and the dangers of hyperbole fuelling terrorist self image.

Participants included Lord Alderdice, Dr Ian Stewart (MOD), Jamie Shea (NATO), Christine Archetti (Uni of Leeds) and Dr Marie Gillespie (OU).

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