Next Generation: Arts & Social Sciences Lecture Series 2026

The Clepsydra and the perception of time in Ancient Greece

Abstract: Hilary will explore whether the introduction of the clepsydra to the Athenian law courts in the fifth century BC began to influence the perception and experience of time. She will consider both textual and archaeological sources, including a clepsydra found in an established fifth century well deposit in the Athenian Agora. She will explore how the clepsydra would have been experienced sensorily by the speakers, the judges and all who were present in the context of Athenian law courts.

About the speaker: Hilary Forbes in her third year of a part time PhD on How Sensory Experiences Influenced Perceptions of time in the Ancient Greek and Roman Worlds, with focus on the Water Clock. She has a background in Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Theology especially Old Testament Literature and Language. Hilary has had a long career as a mathematics teacher in secondary schools and then Further Education. Hilary continues to tutor maths online on a part time basis.

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How politicians used to insult each other over Europe: A Rhetorical Political analysis of invective in debate of the European Communities Act 1971 - 1972

Abstract: Chris’s talk will present a case study of Parliamentary debates on the Legislation which took Britian's into then European Economic Community under PM Ted Heath . Using rhetorical political analysis, he will explore how politicians utilise the methods of persuasion—ethos, pathos, and logos—in their parliamentary speech attack and insult opponents. The talk will consider continuities and changes in how politicians use invective to undermine their opponents and will assess what evidence there is to support claims that politicians are more personally insulting than in the past.

About the speaker: Chris is in the fourth year of his part-time PhD. His project, currently titled "Lower than Vermin? A Rhetorical Political Analysis of Parliamentary invective, 1971–2024", aims to provide a small-scale investigation into the perception that modern politicians are more insulting and less civil than in the past. This is explored by examining PMQs and parliamentary debates on Britain’s relationship with the EU. Formerly a secondary school teacher of history and politics, Chris now works for the National Education Union and is a city councillor in Norwich.

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The road constructed by us is solid compared to the road constructed by machine: Exploring choice of technique and local development outcomes of rural road projects in Nepal

Abstract: Kirsteen’s presentation explores how choice of technique during road construction affects local development outcomes. Choice of technique refers to decisions to use labour or equipment in construction processes; whether to use labour to spread benefits to poorer community members or to use equipment to deliver the road benefits sooner. She uses case studies from a remote rural area in the mountains of Nepal to illustrate the importance of context in decision making: how technical, social and political factors are all important in understanding the impacts on communities and the constraints on project decisions.

About the speaker: Kirsteen Merrilees is a civil engineer with over 30 years’ experience, mostly in rural infrastructure construction and management in development countries including Nepal, Vietnam, Uganda and Ethiopia. She has managed award winning projects in labour based road construction and natural disaster recovery. She is nearing completion of her part time PhD on choice of technique, research that was born from her own experience on road construction projects in the mountains of Nepal.

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Agricultural risks and social networks of local actors

Abstract: Agriculture is inherently risk-prone due to its strong dependence on weather conditions and vulnerability to biological threats. The risks arise from diverse and interconnected sources varying across geographic and political contexts, including climate change, water availability, yield fluctuations, market and financial instability, and policy uncertainty. Together, they significantly affect local societies’ income, food security, and overall welfare. Effective risk management therefore requires farmers and organisations to identify and manage multiple interrelated risks. This requires information and knowledge transfer and collaboration among these two groups through social relations and networks, especially in more risk-prone areas, such as the Middle East. In this lecture, I will talk about the risks affecting agricultural production in Central Iran and the role of farmers and organisations’ social networks in managing those risks.

About the speaker: Zohreh is a final-year PhD student in geography, at the school of Social Sciences and Global Studies, The Open University. Her research focuses on the role of social networks in rural areas and local communities’ risk management and resilience, particularly those related to climate change, environmental damages.

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