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Recent Events at Aberdeen

Great Escapes: A Two-day Conference

Professor Rice gives the opening address.

On March 21 and 22, the Department of Sociology hosted a conference entitled ‘Great Escapes’, at which senior sociologists reflected upon mistakes they made in their early careers and how they overcame them. The conference was held in King’s College Auditorium.

‘Great Escapes’ was designed to encourage continued reflexivity about sociology in Britain. It also provided a unique opportunity by gathering together some of the most prominent sociologists from the last 50 years and many leading figures from today.

The speakers have all made key contributions to sociology, including areas as diverse as ethnic relations, gender equality, cults and sects, friendship, multiculturalism and globalization.

One of the major names to attend the conference was Lord W.G. Runciman, of Trinity College Cambridge, a former President of the British Academy. In 2004, Lord Runciman edited and contributed to the British Academy paper Hutton and Butler: Lifting the Lid on the Workings of Power. The paper dealt with the events surrounding Britain's participation in the invasion of Iraq and the way in which it was presented to the British public. Other speakers were Eileen Barker, Tony Coxon, Ray Pahl, John Rex, Roland Robertson, Liz Stanley and Sylvia Walby. In addition, special guests included John Westergaard, Jennifer Platt, John Scott, Chris Jenks, David Morgan and Robert Dingwall.

“The speakers are amongst the best sociologists of their generation and it is testimony to their interest in the theme of the conference that we have been able to attract them to Aberdeen to admit to their ‘great escapes’”, said Professor John Brewer, Professor of Sociology and Head of Department.

• Other pictures from the day are available

Robert Morrison MacIver Centenary Conference

In conjunction with the Research Institute of Irish-Scottish Studies, the Department of Sociology organised a one-day conference to mark the centenary of the university appointment of Robert Morrison MacIver, with whom the teaching of sociology began at Aberdeen. The conference was held on Friday 18th May, 2007.

MacIver was born in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis in 1882. He was appointed as lecturer in political philosophy at the University of Aberdeen in 1907 and began teaching sociology here from 1911. MacIver went on to develop an international reputation in sociology, holding posts at the Universities of Toronto and Columbia and the New School of Social Research in New York City. He served as President of the American Sociological Association and authored several major texts in sociology. MacIver died in 1970 and has since been largely forgotten. MacIver’s presidential address to the American Sociological Association.

The conference assessed MacIver’s writings on community, politics and methodology. It also addressed the state of British sociology during his time and the impact of MacIver’s Scottish upbringing on his sociology. Speakers included Profs. John Brewer (University of Aberdeen), David McCrone (University of Edinburgh), Geoff Payne (Professor Emeritus at University of Plymouth), John Scott (University of Essex), and Malcolm Williams (University of Plymouth).