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Volume Twenty-Three • Number Ten • 4 December 2000Designs for better livingLord Rogers of Riverside, architect, Labour peer and chairman of the Urban Task Force, gave a lecture, Big Cities in a Small Country, on 23 November as part of the LSE/RA public architecture series organised by the School's Cities Programme. His lecture focused on contemporary urban problems in the UK - although many parallels can be drawn between cities all over the world. He argued that an integrated approach to urban planning and development was essential in creating a happy, functional and sustainable urban environment. For example, he said that high density living, best exemplified by Georgian architecture and illustrated in Barcelona, works in harmony with urban living, slowing down urban sprawl into Britain's countryside, reducing dependency on high-energy consuming transport systems, alleviating social exclusion and its associated problems, and dealing effectively with predicted population growth and changing social patterns. Rogers stressed the importance of urban open spaces and the need to recycle brownfield sites - an ugly legacy of Britain's industrial past which serve only to fragment communities. He spoke of advancements made in the design of buildings. Utilising combined heat and power (CHP), reducing the use of air conditioning and acknowledging and exploiting natural weather conditions results in a significantly more efficient building and a step closer to a truly sustainable lifestyle. Lord Rogers presented a vision of city life which the Urban White Paper, while being a positive and a long-needed step forward, only partly addresses. Super LSEOn Monday 13 November, LSE was recognised as a 'Business Superbrand' by the Superbrands organisation at their tribute event held in the Great Eastern Hotel. The School features in the Business Superbrands book alongside other great brands like Andersen Consulting, American Express and Microsoft which were selected by the Business Superbrands council. This body comprises prominent and influential individuals in the business world. The definition of a Business Superbrand is an organisation which has established the finest reputation in its field, offering customers significant advantages over its competitors. Graduate open eveningOn Wednesday 15 November, the School hosted its annual Graduate Open Evening. This event, combined with the Student Recruitment Office's new LSE Graduate Evenings held in Manchester (13 November) and Oxford (9 November), is an integral part of the School's strategy to attract an increasing number of high quality UK students into graduate study. This year, for the first time, the event was held in Clement House, with academic and administrative departments providing advice areas in various rooms around the building and current MSc students offering their own advice over a complimentary coffee in Cafe Pepe. LSE Director Professor Anthony Giddens gave two welcome talks in the Hong Kong Theatre, and was very enthusiastic about the evening's unique atmosphere, created by over 800 prospective graduate students. Phil Moss, Student Recruitment Officer, was delighted with the number of visitors, and the quality of the enquiries. 'This was the third Graduate Open Evening the School has organised, and by far the most successful. There was a real buzz around Clement House and I can only thank staff from the departments and my own office for their contribution to such an excellent event.' Hansard SocietyThe Hansard Society, an independent educational charity based at the School, is undertaking a groundbreaking online consultation with low-income families as part of its innovative e-democracy programme - piloting inclusive ways of involving citizens in the parliamentary process via ICTs. This consultation will provide evidence for the Social Security Select Committee on tax credits. There will be a series of reports covering the main findings, message content analysis and an appraisal of the process of online consultation as a democratic tool. The Hansard Society also runs a Parliament and Government programme, examining the dynamics between the two institutions. This programme has established a commission on the Scrutiny Role of Parliament, chaired by Lord Newton of Braintree, to examine how effectively parliament scrutinises the work of government and holds the executive to account for its actions. Four reports have been produced this year: Systematic Scrutiny: reforming the select committees; Under Pressure: are we getting the most from our MPs?; Creating a Working Parliament: reform of the commons chamber; and Parliament and the Public Purse: improving financial scrutiny. The final report will be published next spring. If you would like further information about Hansard's work, either call ext 7459 or email hansard@hansard.lse.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can visit their website at: www.hansardsociety.org.uk. Books & publications
From Control to Drift: the dynamics of corporate information infrastructures OUP This book presents six in-depth case studies of large corporations which offer a rich picture of the main issues involved in information infrastructure implementation and management. Far from being linear, the use of the information infrastructure is, in fact, an open-ended process, in many cases out of control. The authors provide the reader with interpretations and theories that can foster a different understanding and approach.
Gender, State and Society in Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia Routledge The attempt to supplant traditional gender roles was an important element of the Bolshevik drive to transform society in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution. This book explores the constitution of gender identity in the Soviet system and examines the implications of the collapse of communism for the gender roles of both men and women. It also addresses the important questions raised by the rise and fall of the Soviet experiment in transforming gender relations. On the basis of qualitative research, the contributors analyse both the state prescription of gender roles and the active role of men and women in defining gender identities within the institutional parameters laid down by the state. This is one of the few English language studies to focus on men and masculinity - something which is vital to understanding gender relations in Soviet and post-Soviet Russia. ObituaryJanetta Futerman died on 28 November after a two-month battle with a very severe illness. Janetta joined LSE in 1973, working in timetables, registry and examinations. When she died, she was in charge of the Registry Section of the Undergraduate Office. Janetta was totally devoted to LSE, its staff and students. A 1984 staff assessment summarises her character perfectly: 'very able, intelligent and conscientious, totally committed to her work as is demonstrated by her willingness to undertake many tens of hours of overtime throughout the year'. She always had time for people and a wonderful ability to make you feel the most important person in the room, even though she had a million things to do. With her determined and direct approach, Janetta got things done. She had a persuasive manner, coaxing people to do as she wanted without inflicting any pain! To many, Janetta was more than just a work colleague; she was a friend; kind, compassionate, generous, loyal, and she had a wonderful sense of humour. Small in stature, but with great strength of character, she was one of the School's foundation stones and will be sorely missed by all, staff and students alike. Janetta leaves a husband, Maurice, and son, Simon. By David Ashton, Assistant (U/G) Registrar. Getting publishedAre you: a postgraduate looking to publish all or part of your thesis? A member of staff looking for a publisher, or negotiating a publisher's contract? Do you: need advice on copyright, rights, or electronic rights? The Academic Publications Office is here to help you get published, and to negotiate the best contractual terms for publication. Beverley Friedgood, Head of Academic Publishing, and her assistant, Sylvia Cornforth, are available to advise on all aspects of publication. Their 'publishing surgery' is held every Monday during term-time. Please contact them to book an appointment, ext, 7692, email: s.a.cornforth@lse.ac.uk. The office is in Room A288. Beverley Friedgood also advises the School on its academic journal publishing, the development of revenue from School journals for the purposes of teaching and research, and advises academic colleagues on the development of new LSE journal projects. She provides a contact point between publishers and academic staff for the development of new LSE-based books and series. If you have a project you would like to discuss, please contact her on ext 7960, email: b.friedgood@lse.ac.uk. The things they say
Pit your witsHow do you rate your general knowledge? Here's a chance for all you super-brains out there to shine in UNISON's General Knowledge quiz, to be held in the Beaver's Retreat Bar, starting at 6pm on Tuesday 19 December. It's FREE to enter and with big cash prizes galore a splendid time is guaranteed for all. SSN news
Scholarships and Bursaries Funding
Source: The Student Support Network (SSN) - an LSE-wide network for research students. To become a member, contact Ahmad Lutfi on: a.a.lutfi@lse.ac.uk. Executive Officer to the Director of LSEAn Executive Officer is sought to pursue academic and non-academic projects on behalf of Professor Anthony Giddens. The successful applicant will have an outstanding degree in the social sciences and some experience of working in a large and complex organisation. Academically oriented but administratively aware, they should be energetic, innovative, diplomatic and a networker. Tutors of short-listed applicants pursuing postgraduate studies at LSE will be contacted. This fixed-term post is to 30 April 2004; salary between £21,616-£27,347 inc. For further particulars please contact Paulina Chow/Sinead Tuite on 020 7955 7826 or email: LSE-Resource-Centre@lse.ac.uk with your postal address. Please quote reference number AR/00/12 Applicants who wish to discuss the post informally should call Adrian Hall on 020 7955 7062 or email adrian.hall@lse.ac.uk. Closing date for applications is Wednesday 10 January. It is hoped that informal interviews will be held in the week beginning 22 January with formal interviews in the following week. Christmas lunchChristmas is just around the corner! Why not take the opportunity to relax with friends and colleagues over a cheering meal before the hustle and bustle of the season take over? The Robinson Room (3rd floor, Old Building) will be serving Christmas lunch on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 December and the Staff Dining Room on Tuesday 12 December (SCR members and guests only). Both will provide a choice of starters, traditional fare with fish and vegetarian options, Christmas pudding and mince pies with brandy sauce - and wine to wash it all down! Limited table reservations can be made either in person or by calling ext 7819, for the Robinson Room, or ext 7821, for the Staff Dining Room. News&ViewsThis is the last News&Views of this term. The next one will be issued on Monday 8 January. Everyone in the Press and Information Office would like to take this opportunity to wish all students and staff a very merry Christmas and a prosperous new year. Noticeboard
Used stamps for charity LSE News & Views is published every Monday during term by the Press & Information Office. Printed by Reprographics Department. The aim is to provide a means of communication for all members of the School as well as news and information about people and activities. Articles, news and photographs are welcome. Contributions should be sent to Toni Sym, Press & Information Office, H615, to arrive no later than one week before publication date. All personal ads carry a standard charge of £2 for up to 50 words. ^ Back to top
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