Posts tagged: Professor Garry Crawford

Salford Professor announced as Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences

Professor Garry CrawfordA leading scholar in sociology and criminology specialising in audiences, consumers, technology, fans, sport and games has been conferred as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.Garry Crawford, Professor within the School of Health & Society is one of 58 leading social scientists awarded the Fellowship this year. He is only the fifth at Salford, including our former Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Harlow, to have received this honour.

The new Fellows are drawn from academics, practitioners and policymakers across the social sciences. They have been recognised after an extensive peer review process for the excellence and impact of their work through the use of social science for public benefit. Garry was nominated for the Fellowship by the Leisure Studies Association for his contribution to the field of digital leisure.

It’s been a pretty momentous week for Garry, who has also just released a book around the culture of Video Games.

Announcing the conferment, Professor Roger Goodman FAcSS, Chair of the Academy said:

“Each new Fellow has made an outstanding contribution in their respective field and together they demonstrate the vital role played by social science in addressing some of our most pressing public issues.

We are delighted to welcome them to the Academy.”

Speaking about the announcement, Garry said: “It really is an honour to be conferred a Fellowship of the Academy alongside so many great scholars.”

Garry is a Professor of Cultural Sociology, a Director of the University of Salford Digital Cluster and has authored eight books. He has worked at the University for ten years and is a proud alumnus, having graduated from Salford in 1995 with a degree in Sociology.

In addition to his University position, Garry is review editor for the journal Cultural Sociology.

A full listing of all new Fellows can be found on the Academy of Social Sciences website.

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eSports Symposium – The Digital Cluster

eSports Symposium 2016Last week our Media City UK campus hosted a one-day symposium on eSports – a £0.5bn industry which is growing all the time.

With a global audience of 226 million last year, eSports is big business with people tuning in to watch others play games including Call of Duty, League of Legends, Counter-Strike and Starcraft II.

The event was supported by a Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) bid and is a great example of ICZs in action. Combining both sport and digital, it was organised in collaboration with industry partners and engaged Salford academics, along with leading industry figures from a number of different sectors.

The symposium, organised by The Digital Cluster (part of CARe) and the Centre for Sports Business, was very well attended with over 70 people present. Delegates ranged from top academics from across the UK to professionals from top football clubs and video game companies.

The programme on the day featured a panel discussion on the future of sport with profs. Garry Crawford and Andy Miah from the University of Salford and Trevor Keane from Celtic eSports League, as well as a keynote presentation on the development of eSports with Chester King, CEO of International eGames Group.

Prof Garry Crawford, who led the event, said: “eSports is a rapidly growing global phenomenon, but in many respects both industry and academics are still only starting to get to grips with the possibilities and opportunities this exciting new area offers.

“This conference was a key opportunity to engage academics and industry experts in discussing and envisaging the future of eSports, and also how this intersects with, and relates to, more traditional sports, such as football in the UK.”

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Professor Garry Crawford becomes a Principal Fellow

Prof. Garry CrawfordCongratulations to Garry Crawford, Professor of Sociology, who was recently made a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

Garry becomes the third person from the University to achieve this accolade, following Dr Sam Grogan, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Student Experience, who accomplished this 2014. He joins an elite group of under 500 Principal Fellows throughout the UK, all of which have given substantial strategic commitment to Higher Education.

“I am delighted that Garry’s achievements and profile have been recognised by the HEA and, on behalf of the University, offer sincere congratulations to him on becoming a Principal Fellow,” said Prof Richard Stephenson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

He added: “The Principal Fellowship is internationally recognised and reflects Garry’s commitment and professionalism in teaching and learning, including a sustained impact and influence through strategic engagement and leadership. Garry is the third person from the University to become a Principal Fellow and I would encourage academic colleagues to consider applying for this excellent external recognition through a HEA Fellowship relevant to their experience.”

Garry’s award was in recognition of the numerous leading roles and activities he has undertaken over his 20-year teaching career in both the HE and FE sectors. Not only has he has been a programme leader for several degrees but he has also designed many successful programmes including a distance learning master’s degree.

Garry has co-authored leading teaching textbooks such as Introducing Cultural Studies and The Sage Dictionary of Leisure Studies, both of which are used widely across the world in teaching. In addition, Garry is the editor and lead contributor to the Discover Sociology website which aims to provide learning material for teachers and students at pre-university level, and in doing so, encourages more to study the subject at university level.

“The number of HEA fellowships at the University of Salford, at all levels, is increasing all the time. I feel this is important as it recognises and reflects the high quality of teaching that is undertaken in this institution,” said Garry.

To find out more around becoming a Principal Fellow please visit the HEA website.

Click here to explore the Discover Sociology website.

Follow Professor Crawford on Twitter

 

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eSports and the Future of Sport Symposium

esports handsetThe University of Salford Centre for Sports Business, in collaboration with The Digital Cluster (part of CARe), and World Gaming Executives is hosting a one-day symposium on the 2nd November 2016 at the University of Salford at MediaCityUK on eSports and the Future of Sport.

This event will include talks by leading academics in the field, and those working in the management and provision of eSports. This will explore the rapidly developing business of eSports, and consider its relationship and synergies with the changing nature of more traditional sports.

The event is free and open to anyone interested eSports, the business of digital gaming, digital media, or the changing nature of professional sports.

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Prof. Garry Crawford, University of Salford
  • Prof. Andy Miah, University of Salford
  • Chester King, CEO International eGames Group
  • Trevor Keane, Celtic eSports League
  • Andrew Nixon, Sheridans (Media Law)
  • Dr Mark Johnson & Dr Jamie Woodcock, York Digital Hub
  • Carleigh Morgan, Kings College London
  • Dominic Sacco, British eSports Association
  • Malph Minns, Strive Sponsorship

Book Tickets Here

For more information contact: Professor Garry Crawford: g.crawford@salford.ac.uk.

Follow Professor Crawford on Twitter https://twitter.com/CultSociologist

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