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International


conference generates stream of research


A generous donation of modern tractors for Newton Rigg


Three brand new tractors are the latest additions to the educational teaching fleet at the Newton Rigg campus.


Donated by tractor manufacturer Newholland to the engineering department, the 8160, TM150 and TS110A models are fitted with the latest electronic gearboxes.


An international conference on Gender, Marketing and Consumer Behaviour took place at the Ambleside campus this June. Dr Helen Woodruffe-Burton, Reader in Marketing at the university, was one of the conference co-chairs, which attracted over 50 delegates from 14 countries across the world, including the USA, New Zealand, France, Thailand, Canada and Brazil.


This year’s theme was ‘Embodying Gender in Consumption and Markets: Advancing Gender Problematics in Market and Consumption Research and in our Careers’.


The conference had a programme of paper presentations, special sessions, and roundtables that pushed further explorations of the nature and contours of gender in consumption and markets. The conferences have generated a rich stream of research which has examined questions of gender, drawing on a huge range of perspectives (including sociology, cultural, media, literary, and women’s studies, queer theory, politics and philosophy) and in a wide variety of contexts (from weddings to hip-hop, motherhood to masculinities, sexuality to single parents).


Speaking before the conference Dr Helen Woodruffe-Burton explained: “I’m very pleased that the university is hosting such a prestigious event, bringing distinguished academics from around the world to the Lake District to share their research and expertise.”


The conference organisers gratefully acknowledge sponsorship provided for this year’s conference from the Association for Consumer Research (ACR), the University of Cumbria and the Consumption, Markets and Culture Journal.


“It gives us a lot more scope for providing engineering students with learning opportunities in diagnostic testing, which supplements the core unit on basic transmissions,” explained engineering lecturer Richard Gargett.


Worth approximately £100,000, the new farm vehicles are a fantastic addition to the existing land-based fleet which includes two combine harvesters, a telehandler, 14 other tractors and a range of modern field machines.


“The fleet is in constant use at the campus, both in the engineering workshops and on Sewborwens Farm, to allow land-based students to gain practical experience,” added engineering lecturer Paul Clarke, a former Newton Rigg engineering student himself.


“They are a fantastic educational resource for us as there is a lot more technology in a modern tractor than meets the eye,” said Richard. “Years of research and development go into the latest models which are packed with sophisticated electrical and hydraulic systems. It’s important that all our engineering students have access to the sort of technology that is now in use on today’s farms.”


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