On Tuesday 14th March the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement, Professor Agnes Nairn, and the International Research Partnerships (IRP) team were delighted to welcome several of the current cohort of Bristol Benjamin Meaker Distinguished Visiting Professors, Bristol ‘Next Generation’ Visiting Researchers and their University of Bristol hosts to a meet-and greet event. This gathering took place in the Verdon Smith International Meeting room in Royal Fort House and presented an opportunity to learn about the different collaborative international projects taking place and meet other visitors. Light refreshments and cake were served, making for a very pleasant and relaxed atmosphere with a real buzz in the room as guests mingled and made new connections.
Professor Nairn provided a warm welcome, and invited everyone to make a brief introduction. We heard about a range of fascinating projects from our visitors from Brazil, Canada, Ghana and the USA. Projects included:
- African resistance, history and culture in Lusophone film.
- Border Networks in Medieval Britain and the Atlantic.
- British Gospel Choirs.
- Effects of Climate Change and Health Outcomes.
- The Interplay of Toxic Chemicals and Nutrients.
It had already been a busy day for some of our visitors, with several activities taking place around the University. This included a hybrid seminar from Dr Owoo from Ghana on ‘The Effects of Climate Change on Health Outcomes in Ghana’ and a talk from Professor Ferreira from Brazil on ‘An African Queen on Screen: Njinga, Queen of Angola’ earlier that day, with Professor Hudson from USA due to deliver his talk on ‘Dangerous Company: Questions about MacBeth’ later that afternoon.
We are so delighted to have such a flurry of international activity back at the University of Bristol again after a hiatus during COVID, and it was such a pleasure to have met and talked to so many of our visitors and hosts. We are really looking forward to organising another similar event in the autumn!