When we arrive at the future, where will it have come from? Professor Max Saunders examines where visions of the future come from, looking back to an enlightening series of projections written nearly 100 years ago that has led him to launch a new series called FUTURES, imagining what we might expect in a world of tomorrow.
Why is being selfish often seen as one of the worst things a woman can be? Can women with politics that are contrary to the interests of the collective teach us anything about the value of rethinking the role of the individual?
How can we shed new light on Dickens 150 years after his death? A new concordance tool is helping corpus linguists and literary scholars develop insights into how readers perceive fictional characters.
How is technology accelerating the discovery of new dinosaur species? For all of the innovation and advances in technology, the field of palaeontology is still rooted in traditional methods of discovery - be that rummaging through museum collections or through field work. Imaging technologies, however, are helping researchers analyse and interpret specimens, revolutionising the field.
How can we decide who plays the hero? From Bond to the Bard, a strategic research partnership between the Birmingham and Waseda is supporting researchers in shifting thinking around the legends of stage and screen.
What role should women play in policies to counter violent extremism? The September 11th attacks on New York City changed the world, and changed how the ‘West’ spoke about terror and radicalisation. For Dr Katherine Brown, the ripples were felt in the communities of Muslim women with whom she worked with across the globe.
How can Shakespeare's plays help to transform the lives of people who find it difficult to communicate? Rowan MacKenzie's research explores how Shakespeare's work can be used in unconventional performance arenas, such as prisons and mental health institutions, to help disadvantaged people liberate themselves from physical or emotional constraints and establish fresh connections with society.
Can theatre practitioners bridge 400 years to make Shakespeare relevant today? Discover how researchers are creating new opportunities for professional theatre makers to connect with 21st century theatregoers, overcoming myths that have grown up around Shakespeare’s plays during the past 400 years.
How can we untangle heritage and challenge people's preconceptions? People have rigid mindsets about what heritage is and indeed what it is not. How can we understand the role of heritage in the intricate relationship between people and places?