Governance, Constitution and Support

CMNH was established in 2008 with a constitution and remit approved by senior management of the University of Brighton and reviewed periodically by the University’s Research Strategy Committee. Whilst operating on a cross-college and cross-school basis, the Centre is based in and resourced by the School of Humanities, which covers its administrative costs, underwrites many of its activities, and provides academic staff time for leadership and some activities. CMNH reports annually to the Director of the Centre for Research and Development in the College of Arts and Humanities in accordance with the University’s specified criteria for evaluating the work of its research centres.

CMNH reports annually to the Director of the Centre for Research and Development in the College of Arts and Humanities. These reports provide a record of the evolution of our work since launching in 2008. A new template for reporting in accordance with the University's specified criteria for evaluating the work of its research centres was introduced in 2014.

Annual monitoring reports are available to view.

The aims of the Centre

To provide a cross-College context in which to foster research on memory, narrative, and histories, and their interrelationship;
To promote dialogue about the methodological, epistemological, theoretical and political issues involved in the study of the making of histories;
To create an institutional locus that embraces creative and critical practice, and encompasses academic, professional and community development;
To raise the public profile of this research, contributing to the further development of the University’s research culture in terms of research funding, research students and local, national and international collaborative networks.

Roles of the Director, Deputy Director, Steering Group and Researcher Membership

Director

To provide academic leadership, giving strategic direction to activities that further the aims and objectives of the Centre as a cross-College and cross-School entity, and secure the financial basis of its work, in the context of University, College and School research strategies.
To liaise with the Steering Group in deciding on, and keeping under review, the focus of the Centre's research interests and activities; in planning and developing appropriate projects, events, funding applications, and other research activities; in establishing and maintaining an active and productive cross-College and cross-School Researcher Membership of the Centre; and in creating a public profile and means for the wide dissemination of the Centre's work.
To liaise with the Head of the School of Humanities on the provision of institutional support for the Centre's work, and with the Chief Administrator of the School of Humanities on the staffing and role of the Centre Administrator post.
To liaise with the Steering Group and the Advisory Group in developing and maintaining a range of active research networks across the full spectrum of the Centre's activity.
To represent the Centre within the University's research monitoring process by producing an Annual Report on its activities, achievements and future plans, for consideration by the Director of the Centre for Research and Development in the College of Arts and Humanities.

Deputy Director

To support the Director in providing academic leadership of the Centre and, in liaison with the Steering Group, in planning and developing its research activities, membership and wider networks.
To undertake leadership of the Centre during any period when the Director is temporarily absent.

Steering Group

To liaise with the Director and Deputy Director in deciding on, and keeping under review, the focus and strategic development of the Centre's research interests and activities;
To establish and maintain an active and productive cross-College and cross-School Researcher Membership of the Centre, based on clear criteria for approving membership of individual researchers, including postgraduate students.
To initiate and develop research projects, events, funding applications, and other research activities, in the context of the Centre's strategy for furthering its aims and objectives as a cross-College and cross-School entity.
To assess proposals for, and support the development of, research projects, events, funding applications, and other research activities made by Centre members.
To liaise with the Director and Deputy Director in creating a public profile and means for the wide dissemination of the Centre's work.

Researcher Membership

Membership of individual researchers from the University of Brighton, including doctoral and postdoctoral students, is by approval of the Steering Group (which may invite individuals to join).

Criteria:

Relevance of individual research interests/quality of research to Centre's identified research areas, themes, projects;
Representativeness across areas of the University, for example, by college, discipline, research grouping, methodology.

Contributions of researcher members may include some or all of the following:

To propose Centre activities (projects, events, funding bids etc.);
To take responsibility for organising, initiating, developing such activities as are proposed to, and agreed by, the Steering Group;
To support Centre activities, eg chairing at symposia and conferences, co-editing or copy-editing Working Papers, commenting on funding bids, etc.;
To network with other Centre members and external partners in developing Centre initiatives;
To develop a relationship between the Centre and another research grouping, cluster or centre within the University.

Benefits of researcher membership may include:

Opportunities to further individual and collective research interests and to initiate and participate in collaborative research activities in the context of an established research centre with supporting infrastructure and a local, national and international profile;
Formal association with the Centre, thereby enhancing individual research profile and CV, and strengthening individual applications for funding, potential to attract research students, publication plans, etc.

To join:

Using our online form, please upload a two-page CV and a short statement (700 words max.) that describes:

Your research interests and how they relate to CMNH’s aims and activities;
How you expect to benefit from Centre membership;
How you envisage contributing to the Centre’s work, as an individual and/or participant in a research grouping, in the immediate and longer term future.

The process for joining the membership is compliant with the University’s Equality and Diversity Policy and guidance on good practice.