Ustinov Public Lectures on Prejudice

Professor Haleh Afshar, Department of Politics, University of York

"Gender and Islamophobia: the dilemma of ascribed identities for Muslim women in West Yorkshire"

Tuesday 16th November 2004 at 6.15 pm, ER201 in Elvet Riverside Building, New Elvet, University of Durham

Sir Peter Ustinov & the Study of Prejudice

Sir Peter Ustinov believed that prejudice is the root cause of misunderstanding between religions and nations and described it as ' a mole in the middle of society' and as 'one of the worst villains on the casting list of history'. In November 2001 Sir Peter founded a chair for research into prejudice at the University of Vienna, sponsored jointly by the City and the University. The Institute's work will be promoted by an interdisciplinary visiting professor. The same month, Sir Peter also founded the Sir Peter Ustinov Centre at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

In 2002 the University of Durham, where Sir Peter was Chancellor from 1992 to 2004, agreed to form the UK link in this international network for the study of prejudice. When Sir Peter gave his name to the University's postgraduate college in 2003, it was decided that the College would take the lead in developing this work within the University. The College established a Ustinov Studentship in 2003, to be awarded every 3 years to an outstanding student whose PhD research includes prejudice as a central theme.