MICRA recap on the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2017
22 November 2017
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) 2017 Festival of Social Science ran from 4-11 November 2017 and included over 300 events across the UK, covering a range of topics from early development to dementia. MICRA researchers organised and participated in several successful events.
Being 'in the moment' with music
6 November
This was an interactive workshop exploring how we might better understand the experiences of people with dementia when they engage with music. The event gave workshop attendees the opportunity to experience taking part in a music programme that has been developed by Manchester Camerata for people living with dementia. The day enabled workshop attendees to explore their own experiences when they took part in music and enabled them to think of positive outcomes that may be experienced by people living with dementia. The event received some really positive feedback such as:
- "You've made me look at my own career path, maximising my own input and effect on the change";
- "Music can engage people – all people – and be a great way of communicating";
- "How powerful music is! I was aware that music is a great tool. It wasn't until we talked about what other people experienced that actually realized just how powerful and a great, great tool".
Valuing urban nature
7 November
A free screening of the award-winning 2015 social and environmental documentary 'Demain' ('Tomorrow') by Cyril Dion and Melanie Laurent was followed by an open discussion and sharing of ideas between ecological artists, designers and writers from Manchester School of Art, Manchester Met, MICRA and University of Manchester. This was programmed in conjunction with the research project GHIA: Green Infrastructure and the Health and Wellbeing Influences on an Ageing Population (funded by NERC/ESRC/AHRC through the Valuing Nature Network).
Everyday places: Why neighbourhoods matter for people living with dementia.
8 November
This was a free drop-in event allowing participants to engage in a conversation about the neighbourhood, neighbouring and the experience of people living with dementia.
The event was part of a study funded by the ESRC and NIHR 'Neighbourhoods and Dementia' (2014-2019). The organisers stated: "We were delighted to meet members of the public, some of our research participants and colleagues working in dementia research, and those working with older people across Manchester who came and talked neighbourhoods, neighbouring and dementia with us at our ESRC Festival of Social Science exhibition on Wednesday, 8 November at Manchester Central Library. Around 90 people visited our exhibition and we had some really positive feedback, as well as interesting conversations about what makes a good neighbour. At the exhibition we were accompanied by Domenique Brouwers, an illustrator, working with us to turn some of our research findings into graphic stories and he was inundated with interest in this work and it was really helpful to see the impact of using creative mediums to present research."
'Ping Pong', screening with panel and Q+A with director Hugh Hartford
8 November
The amazing award-winning film 'Ping Pong' in association with the Granada Centre of Visual Anthropology. Director Hugh Hartford is a multiple award-winning film director and graduate of the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology, University of Manchester. 'Ping Pong' has had 4000 screenings in care and residential homes, and is used to promote an active lifestyle.
Good caregiving in care homes for older people
9 November
Attendees were asked to debate what good caregiving might be, and how it can be delivered in residential and nursing homes for older people. The session offered three short presentations from different research projects at The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, from the perspectives of sociology and nursing and organisational psychology. Speakers included Professor Paula Hyde, Professor Josie Tetley, Dr Kirsten Jack and Professor Alison Chambers, Professor David Holman and Dr Maurice Nagington. The presentations will be followed by a lively panel discussion. Speakers and audience alike expressed how much they had enjoyed and engaged with the event.
EnvisAge: Imagining later life
11 November
A two-hour interactive workshop held on which invited participants to think about ageing through creative means.