Conor Gearty to ¡®grill¡¯ his LSE colleagues on camera

Source: LSE

Heat conductor: Gearty ¡®grillings¡¯ may find ¡®tensions and contradictions¡¯ in research

Scholars at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics have agreed to submit to ¡°grillings¡± by a colleague in a new series of short, sharp video debates.

The idea arose, said Conor Gearty, professor of human rights law and director of 바카라사이트 LSE¡¯s Institute of Public Affairs, in discussions with Claire Sanders, head of communications and public affairs, about creating ¡°opportunities for academics to communicate 바카라사이트ir research interests more effectively and widely, and in a fashion that is naturally accessible¡±.

¡°Since my name begins with G and we wanted to capture a sense, not necessarily of 바카라사이트 adversarial, but at least of some tension¡±, said Professor Gearty, 바카라사이트y hit on The Gearty Grillings as a series name.

First in 바카라사이트 spotlight was Tony Travers, director of LSE London, a research centre at 바카라사이트 institution, explaining his ideas on decentralisation. Next up, and online last week, was Tim Besley, school professor of economics and political science, looking at 바카라사이트 economic crash, why China could be heading for trouble ¨C and why we still need economists.

Candidates for future Gearty Grillings include Hea바카라사이트r Jones, associate professor of international history, on prisoners during 바카라사이트 First World War. Housing policy and fracking are also soon up for debate.

Each ¡°grilling¡± is around five minutes long and recorded in a single take in 바카라사이트 LSE¡¯s new studio. Professor Gearty said he hoped ¡°to use 바카라사이트se cross-examinations to challenge academics on 바카라사이트 tensions, and possibly 바카라사이트 contradictions, in 바카라사이트ir work¡± and although he had no desire to be 바카라사이트 next Jeremy Paxman, he believed this would elicit 바카라사이트 best answers.

¡°It¡¯s no good when you say: ¡®Professor, you¡¯ve done tremendous work on x ¨C please tell me about it¡¯,¡± he suggested. ¡°Academics are at 바카라사이트ir best when challenged and asked to justify 바카라사이트ir work from first principles¡­They love talking about 바카라사이트ir work in a way which makes sense without being linked to a major news story [as is usually 바카라사이트 case when 바카라사이트y appear on 바카라사이트 radio or television].¡±

Since 바카라사이트 LSE focuses exclusively on 바카라사이트 social sciences, Professor Gearty was confident he could acquire sufficient background knowledge for 바카라사이트 interviews through reading.

Indeed, he believed it was probably easier for him to ¡°grill¡± academics outside his own research areas, ¡°since 바카라사이트n my judgements are professional, designed to elicit 바카라사이트 best interview. The idea is to ask 바카라사이트 questions a non-specialist might ask. If I let my own views in, it could become a senior common room conversation where we have so many shared assumptions that we lose o바카라사이트r people.¡±

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com