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Birkbeck's public events explore Big Ideas - from the Olympics to the East End in World War One

A new series of free thought-provoking events is being organised by Birkbeck at Stratford Library

A new series of free thought-provoking events is being organised by Birkbeck at Stratford Library.

The sessions focus on diverse topics, including many related to east London, including the legacy of London 2012 and the impact of Zeppelin raids on the East End during the Great War of 1914-1918.

Staff will also be on hand at the events to provide information about Birkbeck – London’s only specialist provider of evening higher education with campuses at University Square Stratford in east London and in Bloomsbury in central London.

Social change

The first event in the six-month programme analyses social problems in contemporary society. It is entitled, Stratford after the 2012 Olympic Games? Your part in developing social change, and takes place on Monday 14 July from 6:15pm-7:45pm at Stratford Library, 3 The Grove, Stratford, E15 1EL.

The talk and interactive workshop, led by Jan Etienne (pictured, above right), Assistant Programme Director of Birkbeck’s BSc Social Science degree, will give participants the opportunity to explore local social issues. She said: “Are you interested in understanding more about the relationships, communities, traditions and institutions that make up our social world? You can also hear about what our students do after graduating and take part in a question and answer session.”

Understanding management

The next event in the six-part series takes place on 11 August from 6:15pm-7:45pm. Ian Harrison, of Birkbeck’s Department of Management, and Nirmal Singh Lotay, a former Birkbeck student, will demystify the term ‘management’ and will examine the importance of management in organisations in a presentation entitled The myths of management.

World War One

On 8 September from 6:15pm-7:45pm, Mike Berlin, of Birkbeck’s Department of History, Classics and Archaeology, will explain the impact of the First World War on east London. Berlin said: “The worst fears of the pacifists proved true: no family remained untouched, and traditions of mass mourning for the dead emerged. This session will look at how the city we live in, and the way in which we think about war and conflict, is still shaped by the events of 100 years ago.”

For the full list of events in the upcoming Big Ideas series visit: www.bbk.ac.uk/tryit .

This is the third series of Big Ideas events following successful events in 2013 and earlier this year.

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