Welcome to the Institute for Advanced Studies
The purpose of the Institute for Advanced Studies is to enhance research and intellectual life at the University of Bristol by facilitating visits by scholars from the UK and overseas; by promoting interdisciplinary research; and by creating circumstances for generating fresh thinking. We seek collaborations with industries and the cultural sector, and wish to develop the public profile of the University’s people and their ideas. The IAS at Bristol encompasses all disciplines within the University.
Events
- Global Change Research Theme Mini Sandpit Event: 'Food Security: Challenges for the 21st Century'
Fri, 26 Feb 10 - Exploratory Research Workshop Series: 'Breakfast/Lunch/and Tea'
Wed, 03 Mar 10 - Ideas & Universities Virtual Seminars: Balancing Global Competition, Regional Partnerships & Community Engagement in the 21st Century University
Tue, 16 Mar 10 - University-Wide Disability Network: Research Workshop Three
Mon, 22 Mar 10 - Ideas & Universities Virtual Seminars: A Typology of Higher Education Development in the Asia-Pacific Region: Reforms & Education Hub
Thu, 15 Apr 10 - Ideas & Universities Virtual Seminars: Embedding Third Stream in the Academic Profession - How do universities reward academics for knowledge exchange & public engagement?
Tue, 20 Apr 10 - Exploratory Research Workshop Series: 'Breakfast/Lunch/and Tea'
Sun, 25 Apr 10
Complete list of current events
If there are no current IAS events at the moment, you may wish to check for University events.
The IAS offers resources and support for different types of activity, from eminent lecture series and public debates to in-depth and exploratory seminars and workshops. The main channels of funding for which we invite applications are the Benjamin Meaker Visiting Professorships, the University Research Fellowships and Senior Research Fellowships, the Exploratory Research Workshop and Research Workshop schemes, and the Post-Doctoral Interdisciplinary Events and Research Student Interdisciplinary Events schemes. All IAS-sponsored events aim to be interdisciplinary and interfaculty, and we try to support existing priority university research themes which match this criterion. We also develop research initiatives ourselves, chiefly around the kinds of ‘meta-themes’ and ‘proto-themes’ that might take the interdisciplinary agenda forward in new ways.
Our international dimension is developed as part of the University’s participation in the Worldwide Universities Network, and there is a further IAS/WUN International Research Workshop resource to encourage those connections. The IAS also enjoys links with similarly designated Institutes elsewhere, particularly those in WUN universities, such as the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Western Australia.
The IAS is located in the heart of the University, in the Royal Fort House, one of Bristol’s outstanding historic buildings, set within landscaped gardens designed by Humphry Repton. It provides well-equipped study and seminar facilities, plus a comfortable reading room. Residential accommodation for visiting scholars can be provided in nearby University Walk.
The Director of the IAS is Professor Gregor McLennan (G.McLennan@bristol.ac.uk), and its Research Development Manager is Dr. Susan Jim (Susan.Jim@bristol.ac.uk). Professor of Sciences and Society, Kathy Sykes is also based in IAS. Please follow contacts for further details and to make enquiries.