The University Peace and Conflict Research Cluster was established in June 2010. The Cluster’s purpose is to provide an interdisciplinary and cross-faculty forum for academic staff ranging from early career researchers through to senior academics. While concerned primarily with research, it also embraces public engagement, knowledge exchange, teaching informed by research, continuing professional development and external partnerships. The concepts of ‘peace and conflict’ used here pertain to a range of relations between individuals, groups, communities, states and societies. The interests of cluster members include, but are not limited to: The arts International organizations Armed conflict Peace-building Communities Peace economics Criminology Current affairs Reconciliation Science and technology Heritage and Public History Terrorism Human Rights Urban regeneration In June 2011 the Cluster convened the workshop; Peace-building from an Interdisciplinary Perspective. Presentations from colleagues in History, Law and Psychosocial Studies grounded discussion about different approaches to conflict resolution. Discussants from the International NGO Training and Resource Centre (http://www.intrac.org) and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues (http://www.conflictissues.org.uk) provided recommendations for future outreach and knowledge exchange beyond academia. A follow-up event, a range of papers on peace-building and state-building in international affairs, took place few days later. A series of events are planned for 2011/12. These are detailed below. Currently the Cluster, with the support of a cross-faculty steering committee, is also seeking to enhance its status in terms of institutional recognition and role. For further details about the Cluster, contact the convener Dr. Kate Flynn, kate.flynn@uwe.ac.uk.
