Why not go on a Manchester walkabout?
10 November 2015
Time to think on your feet about urban sustainability
PARTICIPANTS in one ESRC Manchester Festival of Social Science event will be quite literally “thinking on their feet” tomorrow when they discuss everything to do with urban sustainability on a special guided walking tour of the city.
Walkabout the city? is an opportunity to talk about everything from local and international transport to biodiversity, food production, poverty, health, housing, adaptability and climate change.
Talking while walking stimulates particular rhythms of self-organising conversation that will be reflected upon at specific sites of sustainable urban inquiry. The walkers (and online participants) will be able to view their experience on Youtube two days later to engage further through a blog for continuing dialogue and research development.
Dr David Haley, Senior Research Fellow and Director of Ecology in Practice at Manchester Metropolitan will be leading the tours.
Stimulate dialogue
Dr Haley said: “Walkabout the City? is an opportunity for people to question urban sustainability, and walking with others will stimulate dialogue that will continue on our Vimeo with further opportunities for people to contribute on our blog. This opens up the Social Sciences to other disciplines while focusing on everyday issues that affect everyone.”
In the first instance, potential participants should email David Haley on d.haley@mmu.ac.uk. Numbers are limited to 30 walkers each day for health and safety reasons. People with mobility issues will be included where possible, but you will need to inform the organisers of your needs.
Two walks will start from Manchester Metropolitan’s Geoffrey Manton building on November 11 and 12, and will run from 10am to 2pm.
The event is part of the first dedicated Manchester strand of the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) Festival of Social Science. The festival strand has been organised by Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of Manchester. Events run from November 7 to 14, and venues include Manchester Met’s city centre campus, No 70 Oxford Street (formerly Cornerhouse), Manchester Art Gallery and the Northern Quarter exhibition venue 2022.
Full listings can be found online at: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/public-engagement/festival-of-social-science/
Follow events and join in online during the festival using the hashtag #McrESRCfest.
For more information, contact Kat Dibbits in the Manchester Metropolitan University press office on 0161 247 5278 or email K.Dibbits@mmu.ac.uk.
