Human Connections and Digital Connectivity: Place and Displacement in 21st-Century Cities

Centre for the Study of Global Human Movement

Date: Wednesday 21st June: 9.30 am – 4.30pm

Venue: Barbara White Room, Newnham College

The event is free but as places are limited, you are asked to register as soon as possible by contacting aparajita.rayc@gmail.com cc jsm15@cam.ac.uk

Morning session:

9.30am – Coffee and introductions

10 am  – Session 1

11.15am – Keynote

11.45am – Session 2

12.15pm – Session 3

1pm – Sandwich lunch (free)

Afternoon session

2pm – hands-on participatory activity led by local artist Annabel Lee

4pm – concluding reflections led by the poet-in-residence Harriet Truscott

The workshop aims to bring together those working in the arts and humanities with those in STEM and explore the place for ‘arts-led thinking’ in relation to digital ‘solutions’ around 21st-century challenges.  We will focus in particular on the modern city and how innovation meets conditions of hospitality or inclusion for all – including the refugee.  The goal of the morning session is to develop connections and conversations across academic disciplines and sectors around short (10 minute) 'conversation openers' provided by a range of speakers.  In the afternoon all participants will play an active role in a hands-on session, facilitated by local artist Annabel Lee.  Harriet Truscott will join us as poet-in-residence and act as rapporteur.

Leading questions:

• What, from your perspective (whether personal, professional or academic) are currently or will become the key issues around human connections and digital connectivity particularly in relation to the 21st-century city and how it adapts to flows of people, including refugees, created by economic, political or climate challenges?
• Are slum areas ‘a boon or bane’ for mega cities?
• How will concerns for net zero affect cities and migration?
• Cambridge has been described as the UK's most unequal city: are there existing collaborations and partnerships involving University researchers that inform these questions?  What further potential is there for innovative interdisciplinary activity and collaboration within the University and with outside stakeholders?
• What is your vision of a truly hospitable ‘smart city’?
• How would you react to the statement, ‘Data will be the new oil’?

Speakers include:

Keynote: Professor Rajendra Kumar, Director LSAD, Lovely Professional University, India

Dr Mohammed Haqmal, Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health 2013-to 20187; Research Fellow, Clare College

Dr Anya Yunatskaya, Sociolinguist, Cambridge

Dr Matthew Ireland, Computer Scientist; Director at DRA Consulting

Dr Tessa Lynn (by video), Community Coach; Olive Branch Community Garden, Peterborough  

Dr Ronita Bardhan, Sustainable Design Group, Faculty of Architecture

Dr Zeina Al Azmeh, Cambridge Centre for Governance and Human Rights

Dr Ruchit Purohit,  Research Associate, Cambridge Urban Room

Olivia Hylton, Community Manager, Founder of Sistren (social connection app for Black women)

Dr Sarah Doxat-Pratt, Research Associate, Institute of Criminology

Dr Timos Kipouros and Hitesh Mahawar, Engineering Design Centre, Cambridge