The longest day at work is the one before you go on vacation. I'm now at my mother-in-laws in Potter Bar Hertfordshire and soup of the day is my last job of the day. I had have quite some time to reflect on water since we last met. The thing that has stayed with me most since Belfast is "water work is womens work" and we have just talked about her water supply as a child. Christine Conry (my mother-in-law) grew up on a farm in rural Ireland before WW2. The source of potable water a well in the town and it was more than a kilometre from the house. Before school, she and here sibling would pump and carry water, in enamalled buckets. Another source of water for the house was rain-butts - used for bathing and washing clothes. Tomorrow I'll regale you with all her tales of water sources as we'll be flying to Florida together. I didn't realise quite how close I was to the WHO definition of patable water supply.
Last night I introduced the 6th Annual Roberts Lecture at the University of Sheffield. The guest speaker, Maureen McTeer, is both a graduate and an honorary graduate of The University of Sheffield. She is an academic lawyer, author and speaker who has made a important contributions to the public understanding of complex legal and ethical questions about science and technology in the 21st century. Her work in this field, and her advocacy for the legal and health rights of women, has been a source of inspiration to countless people throughout the world. She was born in Ottawa and attended its university, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in History and Communications, and later in Common Law. In 1993 she received a Master of Laws degree in Health Law from Dalhousie University, Halifax. She has been a member of the Ontario Bar since 1980. Having searched world-wide for a top-ranking Law School that would offer her advanced studies about relationships between law, health, science and ethics, she identified Sheffield as a leading centre and graduated here in 2004 with a Master’s degree in Biotechnology, Law and Ethics. The title of her Sheffield degree describes aptly the subjects for which Maureen McTeer has an international reputation and in July this year our University honoured her with the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa. In great demand as a speaker on aspects of law, science and technology, she is known for her ability to convey, in a clear and concise way, how these phenomena affect our everyday lives. She is a world-renowned expert on intellectual property in relation to biotechnology and health and holds robust views on the ethical implications of ownership. In May of this year Maureen McTeer received the DIVA award for her long-standing commitment to women’s health in Canada. This, and the many other awards she has gained, bring to the fore her work as a social activist for women’s rights, particularly their rights to health care and to full participation in democratic politics, not least in the developing world. Her autobiography, In My Own Name, was a bestseller, inspiring and encouraging thousands of Canada’s women to seek equality and to pursue their personal goals. Even her private life is distinguished – her husband, Joe Clark who was there with us last night, is a former Prime Minister of Canada. In all her public speaking, in her writing and research, in her advocacy, personal issues become public problems. The personal and the political spheres are linked, just as a public academic should link them. And she gave a great lecture on the topic ‘Designs on Life: Being Human in the 21st Century’.
We had a fascinating and wide ranging conversation over dinner and it struck me that she would be a great addition to our Universities United team,. We did discuss the feminist issues surrounding water and the education of girls in the 3rd world, perhaps I should have asked her to join us? But given the need for me to concentrate on implementing some of our UK focussed projects I decided not to ask!
What is 'Free Radicals' (formerly known as Universities United)?
The project aims to embed social responsibility into the corporate activities of the HEI sector. We will bring together cross-disciplinary academics from three UK universities, together with private and public sector partners who will ‘volunteer’ their time to develop original ideas and projects that can have profound societal impact.
A core aim is that ideas will be both developed and realised, thereby formulating a model for other universities to apply. Our goal is that each university will embed social innovation as a key theme within their approach to corporate responsibility, creating an example of best practice for others to follow.
Who is involved both institutionally and individually?
The project will be delivered by three main academic partners and the Helen Storey Foundation (HSF). The academic partners are leading UK Universities which represent a range of institution types and a wide geographical spread. The University of Sheffield (UoS), University of Ulster (UU) and the University of the Arts London/ London College of Fashion (UAL). The Helen Storey Foundation is a not for profit arts organisation which seeks to inspire new ways of thinking by instigating cross-collaborative art, science and technology projects.
Other partners from industry/private sector will add valuable input with their experience of creating innovative ideas and products and bringing these successfully to market. Evaluators and those with experience in the marketing and PR sectors will also be key to the success of this project.
What are the aims and desired outcomes.
• To create a ‘think tank’ of leading academics, public and private sector partners to create cross disciplinary, innovative solutions to global dilemmas.
• Use the networks available across HEIs and the private and public sector to secure resource to test and implement these solutions.
• Taking into account the economics of social innovation, to investigate mechanisms which would develop and commercialise ideas from the HE sector in these areas.
• Take learning from the private sector, where Corporate Responsibility has driven the development of successful social innovations, and improve HE sector performance in this area.
A core aim is that ideas will be both developed and realised, thereby formulating a model for other universities to apply. Our goal is that each university will embed social innovation as a key theme within their approach to corporate responsibility, creating an example of best practice for others to follow.
Who is involved both institutionally and individually?
The project will be delivered by three main academic partners and the Helen Storey Foundation (HSF). The academic partners are leading UK Universities which represent a range of institution types and a wide geographical spread. The University of Sheffield (UoS), University of Ulster (UU) and the University of the Arts London/ London College of Fashion (UAL). The Helen Storey Foundation is a not for profit arts organisation which seeks to inspire new ways of thinking by instigating cross-collaborative art, science and technology projects.
Other partners from industry/private sector will add valuable input with their experience of creating innovative ideas and products and bringing these successfully to market. Evaluators and those with experience in the marketing and PR sectors will also be key to the success of this project.
What are the aims and desired outcomes.
• To create a ‘think tank’ of leading academics, public and private sector partners to create cross disciplinary, innovative solutions to global dilemmas.
• Use the networks available across HEIs and the private and public sector to secure resource to test and implement these solutions.
• Taking into account the economics of social innovation, to investigate mechanisms which would develop and commercialise ideas from the HE sector in these areas.
• Take learning from the private sector, where Corporate Responsibility has driven the development of successful social innovations, and improve HE sector performance in this area.
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