The IAS stands for new thinking about big ideas through inter-disciplinary dialogue across all disciplines
2009-10 Theme
Water
About 1,460 teratonnes of water covers 71% of the Earth's surface, mostly in oceans and other large water bodies, with 1.6% of water below ground in aquifers and 0.001% in the air as vapor, clouds and precipitation. Water pervades the arts and the sciences, both thematically and in the flesh: after all it comprises over half the human body. Water is a key to life, a means of mobility, a tourist attraction, a power source. From the sea water that tortured Coleridge's Ancient Mariner we can extract deuterium to power future nuclear fusion reactors.
The IAS annual theme on ‘Water' is designed to attract researchers from across the disciplinary base to address a wide variety of topics spanning the sciences and the arts. More info...
Events
Tuesday 9 February 2010
- IAS Fellow's Public Lecture - Alien Ocean: Life at Sea 5:30pm to 6:15pm , Ustinov Room, Van Mildert College , Professor Stefan Helmreich
Wednesday 10 February 2010
- Reflections on Water Public Lecture - Water in Religious Art and Architecture 5:30pm to 6:30pm , Room 202, Calman Learning Centre, Science Site , Professor David Brown (Theology, St Andrews University)
Thursday 11 February 2010
- IAS Discussion Group for Research Postgraduate Students 5:00pm , IAS, Cosin's Hall, Palace Green
Tuesday 16 February 2010
- Water on the Earth and Beyond Public Lecture - The Rosetta Mission to a Comet: an attempt to sample water frozen 4.5 billion years ago 8:15pm to 9:15pm , Kenworthy Hall, St Mary's College , Professor Ian Wright
Wednesday 17 February 2010
- Liquid Metaphors and Measurements Seminar 2:00pm to 4:15pm , Institute of Advanced Study, Cosin's Hall, Palace Green
- Reflections on Water Public Lecture - Going Swimmingly: Rivers of Rebirth and Recreation 5:30pm to 6:30pm , Room 202, Calman Learning Centre, Science Site , Professor Peter Coates (History, University of Bristol)
Monday 22 February 2010
- Venice Public Lecture - Edith Wharton's 'Venetian backgrounds' 6:15pm to 7:30pm , Room 201, Elvet Riverside , Dr Pamela Knights
Wednesday 24 February 2010
- Reflections on Water Public Lecture - Water, water everywhere - finding ourselves when all at sea: navigators, astronomers and clockmakers 5:30pm to 6:30pm , Room 202, Calman Learning Centre, Science Site , Professor Sir Arnold Wolfendale FRS
Saturday 27 February 2010
- Joint Research Day: Institute of Advanced Study, Prehistoric Society and Department of Archaeology 10:00am to 6:00pm , Department of Archaeology
Monday 1 March 2010
- Venice Public Lecture - 'As a figure in a picture stepping by magic out of its frame': Henry James's Venice, the Visual Arts, and Film Adaptation 6:15pm to 7:30pm , Room 201, Elvet Riverside , Dr Sarah Wootton
Tuesday 2 March 2010
- Water on the Earth and Beyond Public Lecture - Extra-solar Planets: liquid water and the habitable zone 8:15pm to 9:15pm , Kenworthy Hall, St Mary's College , Professor Martin Ward
Wednesday 3 March 2010
- Reflections on Water Public Lecture - 'Take me to the river' Water Cures in the Twentieth Century 5:30pm to 6:30pm , Room 202, Calman Learning Centre, Science Site , Dr Roberta Bivins (History of Medicine, University of Warwick)
Monday 8 March 2010
- Venice Public Lecture - 'Who clipped the lion's wings/ And flea'd his rump and pared his claws?': The myth of Venice in the decline of Eliot and Pound 6:15pm to 7:30pm , Room 201, Elvet Riverside , Dr Jason Harding
Wednesday 10 March 2010
- Reflections on Water Public Lecture - The Sparkling Nectar of Spas: Physicians, Clerics and Mineral Water in an 18th Century Provincial Town 5:30pm to 6:30pm , Room 202, Calman Learning Centre, Science Site , Dr Matthew Eddy (Philosphy, Durham University)
Thursday 11 March 2010
- IAS Fellow's Public Lecture - Liquidity Lost: The Global Financial Crisis, 2007-8 6:30pm to 7:30pm , Room 21, Pemberton Building, Palace Green , Dr Paul Langley
Tuesday 16 March 2010
- IAS Fellow's Public Lecture - Authors and owners: issues in the dissemination of knowledge 8:15pm to 9:15pm , Kenworthy Hall, St Mary's College , Professor Marilyn Strathern
Welcome
The Institute of Advanced Study was established in October 2006 to mark the 175th anniversary of Durham University. It is a prestigious, ideas-based Institute which brings together some of the world’s finest researchers from every discipline to examine themes of major intellectual, scientific, political and practical significance. At least twenty fellows per annum are based in Cosin's Hall (a beautiful 18th Century, Grade 1 listed mansion house, situated on Palace Green - a designated World Heritage site) for up to three months, working with Durham scholars to spark these investigations, set tomorrow's agenda and participate in a varied programme of activities. The Institute also serves as a top-level forum, enabling key-decision makers and experts to discuss pressing policy problems in an intellectually stimulating and unrestricted manner.
There are many ways to participate in the life and work of the institute: through the fellowship scheme, by developing new themes, activities and events, by devising follow-on research activities, by supporting our work financially, or simply by enjoying and engaging with the many and varied outputs of the Institute. The IAS is an invitation to help build capacity, realise potential, and meet the challenge of a changing world. We warmly welcome your involvement.
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2009/10 Annual Programme
Maharaja presents public sculpture to Durham
