100th Roscoe Lecture

23 May 2011

 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Brown delivered the 100th Roscoe Lecture on Monday 16th May to an audience at The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall addressing the question of "What are modern universities really for?".  This considered common myths about universities; reviewed what a university is actually for; the development of universities in the UK; what they actually do; addressed an example of a modern university through LJMU; additionally raised the question 'should all universities be the same' and looked at the future of universities in the UK.

Professor Michael Brown commented before the Lecture:

"When I was asked to deliver one of LJMU’s celebrated Roscoe Lectures, I was delighted to accept as this gave me a very public opportunity to engage with a general audience about the work of modern universities. Most people have little real idea of the range and importance of our work and there are strong myths about universities that need to be challenged. I hope to deliver a challenging, albeit entertaining, Lecture that will change the views and perceptions often held by the general public."

David Alton (Professor Lord Alton of Liverpool), Director of LJMU’s Foundation for Citizenship said:

"The Roscoe Lectures are an important part of the intellectual life of Merseyside – and since their inception many thousands of people have attended. The Lectures embody the spirit of William Roscoe – the father of Liverpool culture, who championed the cause of oppressed people and opposed the slave trade. He was a noted philanthropist, poet and educationalist.  The purpose of the Lectures is to create informed debate, broaden horizons and perspectives, and to uphold the crucial spirit of intellectual inquiry and free speech in which Roscoe passionately believed."

Good Citizenship Awards were also presented at the Lecture. LJMU student Jenny Adshead was recognised for her work as a reading partner with primary school children and a 'writers’ ink' project, working with young people on creative writing projects. LJMU staff member Amina Ismail was recognised for her voluntary role as a Liverpool Muslim Society trustee where she has continuously committed herself to ensuring that individuals and organisations have access to Al Rahma mosque, in addition to supporting organisations to meet the needs of the community. Amina has also worked to ensure the needs of individuals from Black and Minority Ethnic communities are considered in local and national policy development.

Jacq Keegan, a Prospective LJMU student for this September, and a pupil at St Margaret’s Sixth Form also received a Citizenship Award for playing a leading role in the Sixth Form, including the role of Editor in Chief of its magazine, fundraising activities and raising the spirits of his fellow students.

You can listen to the 100th Roscoe Lecture  at: http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/roscoe/97603.htm

Pictured below: Professor Michael Brown with Jacq Keegan and Amina Ismail