This event has now finished.
  • Date and time: Tuesday 3 June 2025, 1pm to 4pm
  • Location: BS/005 Lecture Theatre (Bowland Auditorium)
  • Audience: Open to staff, students
  • Admission: Free admission, booking required

Event details

The last 15 years have seen an alarming increase in wars and armed conflicts. Wars have become more frequent, deadlier, and more complex. At the same time, the global order appears to be fragmenting, traditional approaches to conflict resolution and peacebuilding have been rendered ineffective, and the space for civil society has shrunk significantly. In this challenging context, there is a need to explore the emerging dynamics of conflict and war and examine the options available for building sustainable peace and social cohesion. Which strategies are likely to be effective, which actors can we rely on, what do innovative approaches to peace look like in 2025?  We will spend a thought provoking afternoon discussing these important issues with students, staff and invited guests, including Nic Hailey, Executive Director of International Alert, one of the world’s largest peacebuilding organisations.  

Followed by our evening event:  

We are honoured to be joined by the Indonesian Ambassador to the UK and RI, HE Dr Desra Percaya, who will speak on "Opportunities and Challenges for Peace in the New Multiplex World Order: A View from the Global South." Reception 5-6pm (CL/A/002/), Lecture and Q&A 6-7.30pm (CL/A/057) - both in SBS, Church Lane Building. 

Programme: 

Annual Peace Lab Colloquium - Visions of Peace, 3 June, 1-4pm, BS/005 Lecture Theatre (Bowland Auditorium)


1pm-2:30pm: Session 1

  • Student research internship projects:
      • Amelie Calvelli-Adorno: ‘Accepting the past: Comparing the effectiveness of interventions to promote acceptance of responsibility for the ingroup's past wrongdoings’ (mentor: Dr Lusine Grigoryan, Psychology, UoY)
      • Sarah Maquire: ‘Developing Methodological Tools for Negotiating Peace in a Multi-Actor Setting: Addressing Challenges in Colombia’ (mentor: Dr José A. Gutiérrez D., Politics & CAHR, UoY) 
  • Panel: Activism from a Distance - Personal reflections from human rights defenders and activists, with Memet Tohti Atawulla (Protective Fellow, CAHR, UoY) and Nazia Qani (PGR Researcher, Politics, UoY). Moderator Dr José A. Gutiérrez D., Politics & CAHR, UoY)

2:30-3pm: Break 

Refreshments and student poster exhibition in the Berrick Saul Foyer 


3-4pm: Session 2

  • Panel: Peacebuilding and mediation in a changing geopolitical context with Nic Hailey (Executive Director, International Alert) & Dr Gyda Sindre (Politics, UoY). Moderator Dr Jacob Eriksson (Politics, UoY).   

* Please register for the afternoon event on EventBrite