BICC in Manchester, wishes to maintain its teaching and research excellence on all China related matters, with a unique strength in History, Language and Culture in the School of Arts Languages and Cultures. The project has a remit to bring its knowledge outside of a University setting in order to bring its understanding to all corners of society, and to promote interest in China to all sections of the community.
Knowledge Exchange Networks
Four knowledge exchange networks operate in the School of Arts Languages and cultures. The outputs of these networks range from websites to international conferences, public events, film screenings, and public talks in galleries and museums and books.
Dr Will Schroder’s Network looks at China in ten words, and culminated in an international conference organised with BICC funding called ‘The Translation of Key Terms in Traditional and Modern China’ (「中國文化中的關鍵詞及其翻譯」國際學術研討會) at Academia Sinica in Taipei from 02-04 January 2015
Dr Pierre Fuller’s network and the subsequent founding of a website DisasterHistory.org explores multiple aspects of natural and man-made disaster in modern China: causation, experience/mortality, and relief/reconstruction. The website, made possible by BICC funding, itself serves as the ‘go-to’ online portal and clearinghouse for academic work and historical sources on Chinese disasters, while creating a dynamic forum of collaborative research and data-sharing for experts on the subject.
Dr Erica Baffelli and Dr Jane Caple established a network focusing on Religious Authority and Representation in Asian Religions with the aim of bringing together scholars from social anthropology, religious and cultural studies to analyse changing forms of religious authority in Asia. This network focuses of the social and technical transformations which have spurred a rapid shift in forms of interactions between religious specialists or institutions and their wider communities within both institutionalised religions such as Buddhism and new religious movements. Two round table events and films screenings have so far been held at Manchester with another one planned for early next year.
Sinicising Christianity; Professor Yangwen Zheng. This network examines the story of Christianity and how this story reinforces the pattern in the process of sinicisation which can be seen from the indigenisation of other foreign things, cultures, and ideas. This is important because today’s China is fast indigenising much that is foreign. Will this extend to foreign ideas or ideologies—such as democracy? This project and its resultant book will join the growing body of literature on Christianity in China; it will make a distinctive and timely contribution to the study of its globalisation and the making of Chinese Christianity.
Public Events organised- Manchester BICC
International Conference– 02-04th January 2015 ‘The Translation of Key Terms in Traditional and Modern China’ (「中國文化中的關鍵詞及其翻譯」國際學術研討會) at Academia Sinica in Taipei
Public Talk Wednesday 25th February 2015 World Factory – A cafe conversation- Centre for Chinese Contemporary Arts, Manchester. See also press release.
Jasmine Suite
Meet the Author 23rd February 2015 When China Rules the World- A talk by writer and academic Martin Jacques
Public Film Screening 3rd February 2015 Nowhere to Call Home– UK Premiere of Globally Acclaimed Film.A film by Jocelyn Ford in Tibetan, Chinese and English, with English and Chinese subtitlesTuesday 03 February, Manchester University- BICC/Centre for Chinese Studies.
Public Film screening and Round table March 18th 2015, 20 Years after the Tokyo Subway Attack. Film event and round table. Filmed live by Japanese broadcasters NHK.
Public Film Screening and Discussion November 25th 2015 Buddhism after the Tsunami Documentary and opportunity to meet the director.
Future events 2016
Public Talk Feb 12th Manchester City Library. The Bellot collection. A public talk on the the Bellot collection, after a three months project unearthing the archives. These artifacts and bronzes were collected by Thomas Bellot (1806-1857) when he was serving as a surgeon on the HMS Wolf during his stay in China just after the Opium Wars. Dr José Antonio Cantón Álvarez will deliver this public talk in conjunction with Stephen Welsh from the Manchester Museum and reveal what he has found.
Chinese for Academic Purposes Course for PG students April 4th – April 8th Manchester University. A fully funded one-week course to develop academic skills for PG in the China field. Funded by a link made with SOAS and the HEFCE.
Public Engagement opportunities Sep -Dec 2015
BICC Manchester funded 2 ECR’s to do public outreach and engagement projects in cultural institutions.Manchester selected and funded two, three month projects.
The National Trust Anglesy Abbey Cambridge. The Chinese Pagoda Clock project
Manchester Museum and City Library to look at the Bellot Collection.