Heather Widdows and IAS launch

The University of Birmingham's Institute of Advanced Studies was launched on Wednesday the 10th of April by Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Eastwood and the IAS's director Professor Malcolm Press. The launch was held at the Elgar Concert Hall in the new Bramall Music Building. The Institute's aim will be to promote interdisciplinary research across the University.

The event also launched the Institute's two inaugural themes: Saving Humans: Risk, Intervention, and Survival and Regeneration Economies: Transforming People, Place, and ProductionProfessor Heather Widdows will co-lead the Saving Humans theme together with Professor Nicholas Wheeler from International Relations and Professor Paul Jackson from International Development.

The aim of the interdisciplinary research under this theme is to consider questions such as 'Who is responsible for doing and financing the saving?' and 'What does saving involve?' The investigated threats include health threats, environmental threats, and security threats. The research will consider interventions by states, international communities of states, international organisations, and individuals.