Two years ago, the UN, in its 75th year, worked with partners to initiate dialogues within and across borders, sectors and generations. The outcome of the dialogue was issued as a report; UN75: The Future We Want, The UN We Need.
At NTU, we joined with our partners around the world in 2020 to explore our collective engagement with the UN75 Dialogue and the UN Sustainable Development Goals under the theme of Living Securely and again in 2021 under the theme The Challenge of Change. This year we aim to continue our dialogue with partners around the world under the theme of: Living Together in the Future.
Explore our UN75+2 at NTU events
Running over three days from Tuesday 22 November - Thursday 24 November 2022, the UN75+2 Conference will attempt to understand the challenges living together sustainably presents to us and hence address some of the most urgent priorities agreed in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The conference will comprise of a series of standalone workshops, roundtables and panel discussions to bring together a global audience with NTU and its diverse network.
In line with the UN75 Dialogue objective to reach as many people as possible, NTU is delighted to welcome everyone who wishes to join the conversation to participate free of charge in as many of the conference sessions as are of interest.
Browse our UN75+2 at NTU events below and follow the links to book your place:
Tuesday 22 November 2022
Date and time: Tuesday 22 November 2022, 9.30 - 11:00 am GMT
Type of event: Roundtable
Related School: School of Arts and Humanities
Session overview:
The concept of “environmental amnesia” has been used to explain why the looming ecological crisis is not being addressed adequately: the memory of environmental change has not registered enough with the public at large because the very scale of the ongoing transformations have made them difficult to capture in stories that generate demands for action. This Roundtable will debate the concept and practice of “slow memory” as a way to respond culturally to the environmental emergency and to propel future action. We will discuss how art, literature and digital media can help us persuade global publics and policy makers – emotionally, rather than only rationally – that change must happen now. Panelists will focus particularly on the key case study of the MEMO Project/Eden Portland in Dorset, where activists are working to build (a physical and virtual) memorial to biodiversity loss and distinct species.
Speakers:
Professor Jenny Wüstenberg, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Professor Natalie Braber Professor, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Professor Eiman Kanjo, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Sebastian Brooke, MEMO Project/Eden Portland
Professor Stef Craps, Ghent University
Date and time: Tuesday 22 November 2022, 12.30 - 14.30 pm GMT
Type of event: Panel Discussion
Related School: School of Science and Technology
Hosts: Dr Omprakash Kaiwartya and Dr Mufti Mahmud, Department of Computer Science, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Session overview:
The governments around the world have been supporting various measures of E-Mobility for both private and public transport, focusing on the contribution to UN future transport policy goals. Electric Vehicles (EVs) can eliminate road traffic-oriented pollutions and consequently could improve air quality, reduce noise pollution as well as carbon emissions. The number of EVs has witnessed significant growth in the last few years in the UK and some other countries the worlds including China, and US. The growing network of EV charging stations or infrastructure has potential security threat as the pluggable charging architecture provides vulnerable links for cyberattacks.
In is also noteworthy, that future vehicles are no longer stand-alone transportation medium due to the increasing advancements on Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure communications. The Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) are aimed towards sustainable developments in transportation by enhancing safety as well as efficiency. However, safety and efficiency-oriented sustainability in transportation via Internet of connected Vehicles comes with greater risk of online vehicle hijacking.
Another mobility technology, drones are becoming an increasingly familiar aspect of life and work in the UK and around the world nowadays. The UK government has already started geofencing a drone traffic manage program considering a huge global opportunity for countries that can successfully accommodate commercial drone operations worth £127bn globally. Smart traffic related software applications will be crucial for enabling next generation intelligent mobility systems via EV, CAV, and drones.
In this workshop, expert panel members will be discussing on cutting edge research and development for enabling future transport and mobility systems.
Speakers:
Professor David Brown, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Professor Usha Ramanathan, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Professor Shahid Mumtaz, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Professpr Houbing Song, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, USA
Professor Yue Cao, Wuhan University, China
Professor Nauman Aslam, Northumbria University, UK
Professor Neeraj Kumar, Thapar University, India
Dr Sushil Kumar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
Professor M. Shamim Kaiser, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh
Dr Kashif Naseer Qureshi, University of Limerick, Ireland
Professor Rupak Kharel, Central University of Lancashire, UK
Date and time: Tuesday 22 November 2022, 14.00 - 16.00 pm GMT
Type of event: Roundtable
Related School: Nottingham Business School
Session overview:
How are we going to live together in the future? This is one of the most pressing questions for the planet. The challenges of global sustainability in international business are driven by international trade, multinational enterprise’s global innovation and the foreign direct investment’s impact in supply chains. The value chains across the globe offer not only innovation in digitalization, global health and renewable energies but also challenges regarding cross-border transactions with impact on climate change, poverty, international peace and north-south divide. This session considers the strategies of market entry and decision making of international companies, groups and individual players in economy, politics and society. The tragedy of the commons (Harding, 1965) is transferred into the 21st century with the challenges and new realities we face as societies dependent on economic activities and ecological necessities.
Speakers:
Members of the Centre for International Business Strategy and Decisions:
Professor Ursula F. Ott, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Dr. Weixi Han, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Dr. Ugbede Umoru, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Dr. Juliana Siwale, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Dr. Soumia Nouari, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Collaborators of the Centre for International Business Strategy and Decisions:
Professor Marina Papanastasiou, University of Leeds, UK
Dr. Nicola Pontarollo, University of Brescia, Italy
Dr. Federica Gasbarro, University of Brescia, Italy
Dr. Elda Nasho Ah-Pine, ESC Clermont Business School, Université d’Auvergne, France
Professor Elisa Salvador, ESSCA School of Management, France
Date and time: Tuesday 22 November 2022, 16.00 - 17.00 pm GMT
Type of event: Presentation, Q&A
Related School: School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
Session overview:
Intelligent building to incorporating images of nature which improve mental health will be beamed into homes, public spaces, and workplaces as part of a new research project between Nottingham Trent University and international display manufacturer Allsee Technologies as well as a completed research project between Humber College and Kirkor Architects in Canada.
The £260,000 Innovate UK funded knowledge transfer partnership is led by an inter-disciplinary team. Principal Investigator: Dr Yangang Xing and and Dr Andrew Knight from the School of Art, Design and the Built Environment. This project lasting over two years – will incorporate screens which can broadcast moving and still images of nature that are so clear they look like the real thing, enabling immersive experiences to enhance wellness, comfort and entertainment. The Canadian project was led by Professor Phil Fung as the Principal Investigator and funded by the Canadian National Science and Engineering Research Council.
The NTU project will develop “Vieunite” an innovative system which combines an advanced digital canvas with an online community across the globe It also provides artists with a contemporary and unique online platform to sell their work, as well as offering other users a new way of sharing photos and videos with their loved ones to enable us to live together and healthier. The Humber project used four biophilic design features to provide insights to architects on design that are most likely to improve wellbeing in building occupants
Speakers:
Professor Yangang Xing, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Professor Phil Fung, Humber College, Toronto, Canada
Wednesday 23 November 2022
Date and time: Wednesday 23 November 2022, 09:00 - 10:00 am GMT
Type of event: Workshop
Related School: NTU Global
Session overview:
The role of universities to increase public awareness of the climate and ecological crisis and foster community resilience is the subject of a student-led Climate Commission funded by the British Council and involving Nottingham Trent University, UK and Galala University, Egypt.
Students are more likely to experience the negative impacts of climate change in their lifetime. As such, they are key stakeholders with a vested interest in the positive impacts which universities can have on local, regional, and global communities through teaching, research and wider activities. The work of students on the Commission will inform a set of recommendations on specific measures universities can take to support communities.
During this session which will be facilitated by members of the Commission, delegates will take part in a creative activity based on the Turn it Around project to explore how universities in the wake of COP27, can collaborate to foster climate resilient communities in ways which address the SDGs.
*Please have some physical or digital art materials ready for the start of the session such as pens, coloured pencils and paper or drawing software.
Speakers:
Helen Puntha, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Clare Newstead, Nottingham Trent University, UK
NTU students representing the GU-NTU Climate Commission
Maged Zagow, Galala University, Egypt
Mohamed Hamdy, Galala University, Egypt
GU students representing the GU-NTU Climate Commission
Date and time: Wednesday 23 November 2022, 10:00 - 11:00 am GMT
Type of event: Lecture, paper session
Related School: Nottingham Business School
Session overview:
Sustainable Development Goal 5 aims to achieve gender equality, and specifically links to recognising women’s unpaid care work (United Nations, 2015). This lecture discusses the feasibility of SDG 5 in relation to caring and the policy requirements needed to sustain it and challenges associated in so doing.
As a nation state, and founding member of the UN, the UK will be used to illustrate some of the issues raised, drawing upon both policy analysis and primary data collected with 30 women caring and working in Leicestershire (UK). Further, it highlights the role of universities in supporting students with care responsibilities, and a current project at Nottingham Trent University exploring the issue.
The lecture highlights that if transformative changes are not made in policy at both national and global level, there is a risk that SDG 5 will not be achieved (Oldridge and Larkin, 2020). Attention is needed to understand care and its impact on carers across the globe. Comprehensive state provision is required to recognise the plight of carers, alongside paid care workers, to redistribute women’s unpaid care work through supporting infrastructure, offering additional provision, increased practical and financial welfare benefits, employment flexibility and regulation, and improved working conditions. This need has only been heightened by the impact of COVID-19 (Oldridge and Larkin, 2020).
Speakers:
Dr. Louise Oldridge, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Date and time: Wednesday 23 November 2022, 13:00 - 14:00 pm GMT
Type of event: Panel discussion, roundtable
Related School: School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences
Session overview:
Peatlands are the largest terrestrial carbon store and could act as carbon sinks when in pristine or restored status. However, a large proportion of peatlands are currently degraded and under increasing anthropogenic pressures, such as, overgrazing, burning, peat extraction, drainage and more recently, windfarm developments. In addition, there are a large proportion of unmapped peatlands increasing the lack of recognition and protection of this habitat. Degraded peatlands act as carbon sources and therefore, increasing the greenhouse gases emissions and loss of soil carbon.
Peatlands restoration has increased in the last decade across Europe and globally; however, there are still numerous challenges that need to be addressed to make peatlands functional and beneficial to mitigate climate change.
Speakers:
Dr. Guaduneth Chico, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Dr. Nicholas Midgley, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Dr. Javier Ferreiro, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Dr. Stefanie Carter, South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute, Falkland Islands
Martin Toye, National Park Services and Wildlife, Ireland
Date and time: Wednesday 23 November 2022, 14:00 - 15:30 pm GMT
Type of event: Presentation, panel discussion
Related School: School of Art and Design
Session overview:
Fashion Fictions is an international participatory research project that brings people together to generate, experience and reflect on engaging fictional visions of alternative fashion cultures and systems. The project aims to support transitions towards sustainable, post-growth fashion systems by reshaping academic, professional and public understandings of the possibilities for sustainable fashion.
At this event the project’s founder, Amy Twigger Holroyd, will introduce the project, give an insight into the diverse worlds imagined and enacted so far, and launch a set of adaptable resources. These resources are intended to support individuals and groups to organise their own Fashion Fictions activities – whether writing outlines of fictional fashion worlds, creating visual and material prototypes to represent life in these worlds, or bringing a fiction to life through playful performance.
Three international panellists, each bringing expertise in sustainable fashion, will respond to the project and the resources, commenting on the idea of collective imagination as a strategy for sustainability in fashion and considering how the opportunities offered by the project might be taken up in cultural contexts including South Africa, Mexico, Cuba and Turkey.
Speakers:
Dr. Amy Twigger Holroyd, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Dr. Erica de Greef, African Fashion Research Institute, South Africa
Dr. Sanem Odabaşı, Eskisehir Technical University, Turkey
Jeanine Diego, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, USA
Date and time: Wednesday 23 November 2022,15:30 - 16:30 pm GMT
Type of event: Roundtable
Related School: School of Social Sciences, NTU Global
Session overview:
"This session will focus on the significance of SDG 17 to build effective global partnerships for Living Together for the Future. It will demonstrate how student engagement in global experiences facilitated through one specific NTU/ CETYS Universidad partnership can develop students’ confidence and self-efficacy and significantly enrich their higher education learning journey.
The benefits of this international community partnership between NTU and CETYS Universidad in Mexico will be demonstrated through its alignment to a range of UN Sustainable Development Goals and evidencing its value in:
- Enhancing the personal and professional development of those participating students, contributing to their life-wide learning and employability, and providing multiple platforms to apply theory to practice.
- Fostering cross cultural understanding and respect across student communities and building skills and capability to effectively work within prevailing environmental and resource constraints.
- Building community and overcoming personal and social disadvantage
- Developing a global mindset.
The presenters will share evidence which evaluates the impact of the experience on students’ personal development and growth. Discussions will be set in the context of prevailing literature and scholarly approaches in the area of graduate attributes, employability and global mindset."
Speakers:
Angela Vasey, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Helen Reed, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Dr. Diana E. Woolfolk Ruiz, Associate Dean for International Affairs, CETYS Universidad, Mexico
Dannia Vega, Admissions coordinator and Volunteer Program Coordinator, CETYS Universidad, Mexico
Thursday 24 November 2022
Date and time: Thursday 24 November 2022, 10:00 - 11:30 am GMT
Type of event: Presentations, discussion
Related Schools: School of Art and Design
Session overview:
This session responds to the issue of empowering young people across society. Dr Naomi Braithwaite will present findings from the Shoe and Tell project which explores the negotiation of identity for young people. Images from the study will be shown and narratives from individuals will be read by NTU students, bringing to light the complexity of identity expression for young people. Rose Marroncelli continues the theme of identity negotiation in the context of our climate crisis through her PhD findings.
The latter part of the session focuses on the role of education in empowering young people. The work of the Nuffield Research Placements Scheme, funded by the Nuffield Foundation and delivered by STEM learning, which supports young people in engaging in real world research projects within academia and industry, will be showcased. The difference that these opportunities have made to young people will be shared through presentations of their work and testimonials. This theme will be continued by a discussion of the work of NTU’s Saturday Arts Club, part of the National Saturday Club scheme which enables 13-16 year olds to learn new skills, supporting their career development. Dr Braithwaite, Marion Snow and Emili Tomac will conclude the presentations by sharing their work with The Virtual Shoe Salon as an educational tool that celebrates the diversity of our student voices.
Host and moderator:
Hollie Bellis, Course Leader, BA (Hons) Creative Direction and Curation for Fashion, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Speakers:
Dr. Naomi Braithwaite, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Rose Marroncelli, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Marion Snow, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Hollie Bellis, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Emili Tomaic, Research Assistant and NTU Alumni
Lara Kekwick, Fashion Marketing and Branding student, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Charlotte Iley, Fashion Marketing and Branding student, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Stacy Munday, Nuffield Research Scheme
Urvi Nandha, Saturday Arts Club
Date and time: Thursday 24 November 2022, 12:00 - 13:00 pm GMT
Type of event: Presentation, Discussion
Related School: Accounting and Finance/Nottingham Business School
Session overview: This session will outline the impact of international higher education partnerships, often summarised as “Transnational Education” on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The session will draw upon 25 impact case studies collected through the TNE IMPACT British Council project.
The TNE IMPACT is an open-access repository of impact case studies which is part of the British Council “Value of Transnational Education” project. The project is endorsed by Professor Sir Steve Smith, the UK Government International Education Champion and is expected to impact policy and practice across the 21 countries involved.
Through a cross-case analysis and direct input by case study authors, the session will provide evidence of the types of UN SDG impact that universities generate through their global engagement.
Speakers:
Dr Vangelis Tsiligiris, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Kevin Van Cauter, Senior Adviser, Higher Education Partnerships, British Council
Mike Winter OBE, Director International Affairs, University of London
Date and time: Thursday 24 November 2022, 13:00 - 15:00 pm GMT
Type of event: Panel discussion
Related Schools: Nottingham Law School
Session overview:
Studies link austerity policies in health and social care to excess deaths in England and poor life expectancy for people experiencing disadvantage. Something must be done. The University of Glasgow and the Glasgow Centre for Population Health (Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health October 2022) found austerity measures in the United Kingdom with cuts to social security and vital services led to significant excess deaths. Female death rates in 20% of most deprived areas in England increased by 3% after a 14% decline over the previous decade. Similar rates occur elsewhere in the UK’s deprived areas.
Our paper explores innovative practices (in settings with limited resources in the UK and other jurisdictions) and emerging evidence-based practice that has the potential to make inroads into Social Development Goals (specific to this paper, 1 (no poverty), 3 (good health & wellbeing), 10 (reduced inequalities), 16 (peace Justice & strong institutions) and 17 (partnerships for the goals).
Our panel looks at the role of action research, multidisciplinary practices, policy engagement by partners in endeavours aiming to improve legal empowerment, rights capability and inroads to address poor health, social and justice outcomes.
Each of the panellists bring insights from different vantage points of practice (public health and justice), research and campaigns that bring about change and raise public awareness. It shares recent evidence-based programs making inroads into the SDGs and discusses what might need to change in the UK for it to improve outcomes in communities in the UK experiencing disadvantage and harm.
Host:
Dr. Liz Curran, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Speakers:
Professor Linda Gibson, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Sue James, Chief Executive Officer, Legal Action Group UK
Jo Wardle, Support Through Court
Date and time: Thursday 24 November 2022, 15:00 - 17:00 pm GMT
Type of event: Panel discussion
Related Schools: Nottingham Business School
Session overview:
How are we going to live together in the future? This is one of the most pressing questions for the planet. The global pandemic, the War in Europe and protectionist approaches in Western economies has brought about new migration challenges as many countries placed border restrictions on the movement of individuals. Nonetheless, the 2030 agenda for sustainable development recognises migration as an important driver for global sustainable development. Migration benefits include transnational skills transfer, investments, and remittances to migrants’ local communities in their countries of origin, and migration fosters socio-cultural diversity in developed countries. To unlock the many opportunities and possibilities positive migration bring to societies, we need to (re)engage with the concept of migration, exploring a multi-disciplinary perspective to migration and societal integration for the future. This roundtable discussion will look to engage scholars on the creating spaces for migrants in the host societies, their contribution to economies and societies. Integrating locals with migrants in communities and cities.
Speakers:
Members of the Centre for International Business Strategy and Decisions:
Prof. Ursula F. Ott, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Dr. Abiodun Adegbile, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Dr. Olu Aluko, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Dr. Anna Ball, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Dr. Soumia Nouari, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Collaborators of the Centre for International Business Strategy and Decisions:
Dr. Maria Elo, University of Southern Denmark
Dr. Indianna Minto, University of the West Indies, London School of Economics
Dr. Noemi Sinkovics, University of Glasgow
Follow @ntu_research on Twitter and use the hashtag #UN75xNTU to join in the conversation. Email NTUGlobal@ntu.ac.uk for more information about the virtual conference.
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