Inaugural Refugee and Migration Network meeting

The Inaugural Refugee and Migration Network meeting aims to encourage debates between researchers of different schools, disciplines and career stages, including researchers from at-risk backgrounds. It aims to identify cross-cutting themes in research to lay the ground for future collaborations. It is linked to Loughborough University's plan to become a University of Sanctuary and will be an opportunity to raise awareness of the work of LUSARG (Loughborough University for Students and Academics at Risk Group) and to discuss how researchers can contribute to it in the future.

This event has been organised by Laura Dale (IAS, LUSARG member), Dr Azmeary Ferdoush (Lecturer in Human Geography, 'Migration, borders and mobility' research group lead), and Dr Alena Pfoser (Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication Studies, LUSARG member). 

Aims

• Mapping of existing research on refugees, asylum seekers and displacement at Loughborough University; creating a data base of researchers
• Connecting researchers from both campuses including researchers at risk we currently host, across different disciplines and career stages; identifying cross-cutting themes laying the ground for future research collaborations
• Awareness raising for LUSARG, researchers may also contribute/ advise LUSARG in the future, part of LU’s application to become a university of Sanctuary.

Programme
10:30am - 4:00pm

10:00am - 10:30am: Arrival & Refreshments

10:30am - 11:00am: Introductions - Rachel Thompson (Provost and Deputy VC) & Malcolm Cook (Professor of Building Performance Analysis, Dean of ABCE, Chair of LUSARG)

11:00am - 11:45am: Keynote Lecture I - Camilo Boano (Professor of Urban Design and Critical Theory, Politecnico di Torino)

11:45am - 12:30am: Keynote Lecture II - Sara de Jong (Professor of Politics and International Relations, York)

12:30am - 1:15pm: Lunch

1:15pm - 2:15pm: Roundtable - ‘Interdisciplinary perspectives on research on refugees and displacement’ with Ksenia Chmutina (Professor of Disaster Studies and Director of IAS), Azmeary Ferdoush (Lecturer in Human Geography), Ksenija Kuzmina (Senior Lecturer, Institute for Creative Futures and Programme Director, Institute for Creative Futures), Anastasiya Pshenychnykh (CARA fellow Council for At-Risk Academics support scheme, 2022–2024), Michelle Richey (Senior Lecturer in Technology and Entrepreneurship) and Robyn Smith (Postdoctoral Research Fellow (ESRC Funded)), chaired by Alena Pfoser (Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication Studies and LUSARG member).

2:15pm - 2:30pm: Coffee break

2:30pm - 3:30pm: Networking

3:30pm - 4:00pm: Concluding discussion and next steps