A leading art academic will deliver a professorial lecture in Aberdeen this month.
The head of Gray’s School of Art at Robert Gordon University (RGU), Professor Chris O’Neil, will deliver a public lecture on Wednesday, October 21 at the university’s Garthdee campus.
The free lecture is the first in a new series of professorial lectures announced by RGU where a number of its experts discuss topical research issues.
Entitled ‘Can Integrated Learning Communities Create a Relevant Ecosystem of Knowledge Generation, Application and Acquisition’, Professor O’Neil’s lecture will demonstrate the various impacts that successful learning communities have on society, the economy and culture.
Prof. O'Neil was appointed to head of Gray’s School of Art in 2014 after spending six years as executive dean at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD).
His professorship was granted at Birmingham City University for design and innovation and in particular links between research, industry and added value applied solutions.
Commenting on his lecture, Prof. O’Neil says: “My lecture will focus upon business focused activities that have had positive and negative effects on communities and societies.
“Universities are places where integrated learning can happen as a microcosm of the wider world. This lecture will pose some of the questions and challenges that we must all face.
“In particular I will demonstrate how and why some successful learning communities have an impact that is sometimes both critical and surprising.”
Prof. O’Neil first trained as a fine artist at Wimbledon School of Art and at the Royal College of Art. He has exhibited his work nationally and internationally and has moved from being a sculptor to a documentary photographer.
His work has always been concerned with issues of social justice and representation. Projects have included documenting gangs in the Southern United States to examining secular and non-secular business models in the slums of India.
As an academic, Professor O’Neil has worked in the UK, the USA, the Far East and India as a lecturer, head of department, dean and pro-vice chancellor.
His lecture will begin at 6pm at the Sir Ian Wood Building located in RGU’s Garthee campus and will be followed by an opportunity for questions. The evening will conclude with light refreshments.
If you would like further information or to book a place, please email Anna Duthie via a.duthie3@rgu.ac.uk or call 01224 262210.