The Humanities Conversation

The Humanities Conversation is a research seminar series jointly hosted by the South West and Wales Africa Research Network (SWWARN) and Humanities for… Partnership.

The aims of The Humanities Conversation are to:

  • Build community, creating a sense of collegiality and possibility
  • Facilitate constructive dialogue
  • Encourage the active role of the audience in offering support to new research and ideas.

The Humanities Conversation is open to everyone, but the rationale for wanting to present comes from seeking a humanities-centred audience. Any scholar or professional can submit a session proposal if they would like to talk with a 黑料正能量 humanities audience about their work.

This series runs regularly in semesters one and two, at BSU’s Newton Park campus.

Presentations will follow one of three formats:

  • Individual presentation (1 paper, 20 mins): for BSU researchers (of all career stages) or professionals. May be useful for feedback on a conference paper draft, as a book launch, an initiative in development by non-researchers, or for inviting a visiting speaker.
  • Short panel (2 speakers, 10 mins each; 1 or 2 papers): an opportunity to share new research or new ideas; might be used for sharing details of newly funded projects, KE collaborations, or new resources (e.g. databases).
  • In Conversation (multiple speakers; 20 mins): a roundtable, with researchers, professionals or a combination; then opening the discussion out to the audience.

Unless otherwise advertised, all sessions will be held at BSU’s Newton Park campus, G17 Main House, 1.30pm-2.30pm on alternate Wednesdays.

Speaker Proposals

The 2026/27 speaker schedule is now full.

Speaker proposals for the 2027/28 academic year may be submitted via This call will close on Monday 31st May 2027, and selected speakers will be contacted after that date.

The Humanities Conversation 2026/27 Programme:

Semester one

04 November 2026
1. Peter Underwood
Power and Performance Practices in the Military Wives Choirs (PhD in progress)
2. Polly Crockett
Conversations with Artists about Careers, Money and Higher Education (PhD in progress)

18 November 2026
Prof William Pettigrew, Visiting Speaker
Britain's Slave-traders': A Conversation about the Public History of the Legacies of African Chattel Slavery in Britain

02 December 2026
Assoc Prof Emmanuel Nartey
Who Bears the Risk?: Architectural Control and Duty of Care for Agentic AI

16 December 2026
Dr David Coast
The People and Public Opinion in Early Modern England

Semester two

03 February 2027
Dr Eri Mountbatten-O'Malley
Do the Humanities need Saving?: Flourishing as an academic in the Age of AI

17 February 2027
Helen Cobby
Drawing Together: Reimagining University Collections through Collaboration

03 March 2027
Dr Victoria-Ellen Smith and Ian Masters, short panel
The Tale of Dr Masters: Practicing Western Medicine in Colonial West Africa

17 March 2027
Dr Helen Goodman
Liberal Arts Education and Ways to Build Empathy in Citizenship and Healthcare Settings

14 April 2027
Richard Stamp
Student dilemma(s)': Bath Academy of Art, Cybernetic Serendipity and '1968'

28 April 2027
Dr David Coast and Dr Mike Hannis, in conversation
'What is populism and why does it seem to be so popular?'

 

If you would like further details, please email swwarn@bathspa.ac.uk 

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