Thinking Chinese Conference (31/03-1/04 2015) 思華 · 華思 (UPDATE)

A ground-breaking two-day interdisciplinary conference on British Chinese history and representations of Chineseness in the UK, convened by UCL in partnership with

ming-ai.org.uk/" target="_blank">Ming-Ai (London) Institute.

Venue: UCL Main Quad Pavilion, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT
Dates: 9am-5pm, Tuesday 31st March - Wednesday 1st April 2015.

Speakers include British-Chinese actor David Yip; Robert Fleming (National Army Museum); Dr Kai Liu (Yanfu Foundation); Prof Tim Barrett (SOAS); Prof Jonathan Liu (Regent's University London).
The event will also feature roundtable debates on Chinese medicine and community representation, British Chinese history exhibitions and more.

Download an updated programme here.

Conference Fee (including lunch and refreshments):

A. £30  Standard fee - both days
B. £20  One day only
C. £10  Refundable deposit for free places for UCL full-time students only (two days - deposit to be returned on day two). Strictly limited to 30 places on a first come first served basis.

Book your place directly, including lunch and refreshments, via Eventbrite: http://bit.ly/1AEJepO

For enquiries, or to request a free UCL student place, please email: projects@ming-ai.org.uk.

Day 1: 31st March 2015

Panels

10:00-12:30

Chinese Community History

Michael Murray, Heritage Lottery Fund: Funding Chinese Heritage in the UK
Li Chungwen, Ming-Ai (London) Institute: The British Chinese Workforce Heritage Project

Navy and Military

Prof. Jonathan Liu, Regent's University London: British Chinese Armed Forces Heritage Project
Robert Fleming, National Army Museum: China's relationship with the West in the World Wars and its Legacy
Rachel Hasted: The Chinese Labour Corps in England during WW1
Dr Zhuang Yijie, and Dr Vivienne Lo, UCL: New Sea Lords: the Greenwich Fuzhou meridian

13:30-14:30

Professions

Dr Kai Liu, Yanfu Foundation: Beyond Translation: Yan Fu and the Inception of Chinese Modernity
Dr Lily Chang, UCL History: Called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn: England's First Ethnic Chinese Barrister

Roundtable Discussion

14:30-16:30

Is traditional Chinese medicine really relevant?

Chair: Prof. Therese Hesketh, UCL Institute for Global Health    
Prof. David Colquhoun, UCL Pharmacology
Dr Fanyi Meng, Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture UK
Dr Dick Middleton, British Herbal Medicine Association
Prof. Adrian Renton, University of East London: Institute for Health and Human Development
Prof. Volker Scheid, University of Westminster
Dr Kaicun Zhao, Middlesex University

18:30, China City, Gala Dinner and performance evening (ticketed)

Day 2: 1 April 2015,

Panels

09:15-11:00

Food and Identity

British Chinese Food Culture Project: Video-show
Dr Vivienne Lo, UCL History: Dimsum Diplomacy

Representing 'Chineseness'

Dr Anne Witchard, University of Westminster: Maidens and Mandarins: China on the Pantomime Stage
Prof. Tim Barrett, SOAS, University of London: Chinese Language Teachers and Regency Britain
Emile de Bruijn, National Trust: Thinking Chinese Wallpaper: the image of China in British interiors

11:30 - 13:10

'Chineseness', Race and Eugenics

Dr Nathaniel Coleman, UCL Philosophy: 'Africa for the Chinese': A response from Critical Eugenics at UCL
Dr Leon Rocha, University of Liverpool: Racial Miscegenation and the Chinese in Liverpool
David Yip: Being the Chinese Detective
Dr Diana Yeh, University of Winchester: Staging China, Sinophilia and the Racial Order

Roundtable Discussion

13:10 - 14:20

Breaking Our Silence: Voices from the Chinese Community

This open debate will bring together members of the UK's diverse Chinese community with representatives from social welfare, politics and community centres to discuss the current representation of the community in the UK.

Throughout the week before the conference, UCL students and the public will be invited to respond to the questions: 'What does it mean to be Chinese? What does being Chinese mean to you / society?' The results of this engagement will be presented to contribute to the wider debate.

Plus

14:30- 16:00, South Cloisters, UCL

British Chinese Workforce Heritage Project Completion Ceremony & Thinking Chinese Exhibition Reception

All invited. Join us to celebrate the completion of Ming-ai's pioneering three-year oral history project, and the launch of the Thinking Chinese exhibition.

---