Research Newsletters
The research newsletter highlights activities that have been happening in the School of Law and the work that we do with other institutions.
The newsletter is produced on a quarterly basis and contains news and articles from our researchers. The newsletters are created to give an insight into the wide range of research activities that the School engages in.
Just a few selected research stories taken from recent newsletters
Publishing leading edge research
One aspect of Professor Aurora Plomer's research is stem cell research. Stem cell research, and particularly embryonic stem cell research, whilst offering the prospect of developing theories for serious life-threatening diseases, also raises a number of difficult and controversial moral questions. Her latest publication is with P. Torremans 'Embryonic Stem Cell Patents: European Law and Ethics (ed.) Oxford University Press'. With its broad research in the fields of patent law, ethics and philosophy, the book analyses a wide range of issues in a way no other book has previously done and suggests solutions to unblock the current stalemate surrounding the patentability of human embryonic stem cell related inventions. The book will be welcomed by a broad readership, including experts and academics in both ethical and legal disciplines as well as policy makers and regulators in the field of embryonic stem cell research in Europe. Professor Plomer is Director of Sheffield Institute for Biotechnology Law and Ethics and supervises Postgraduate Research Students.
Research led teaching
Our Director of Research Professor Tamara Hervey is a leading socio-legal researcher specialising in European Union law. She has been recognised for her research and teaching ability and awarded EU funding for an "Ad Personam" Jean Monnet Chair. She was awarded €42,000 over 3 years for her research, teaching and learning in EU Law. Professor Hervey teaches EU related modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level and is involved in teaching Legal Research Methods, that is part of the Research Training Programme that all postgraduate Researchers complete. She is also the director of the Centre for the Study of Law in Society.
Engaging the world in international law
Professor Duncan French and the Sheffield Law School, on its own behalf and that of the International Law Association (ILA) organised the Global Justice and Sustainable Development two-day conference (Sheffield, August 2009), which brought together 75 international scholars and policy-makers from 20 countries. It secured over £3000 from the Modern Law Review’s annual competitive funding cycle, purposely designed to support seminar proposals. Participants included academics, international civil servants, government officials, and PhD students. An edited collection of the conference papers was published by Brill in 2010. Professor Duncan French is Deputy Head of the School of Law and Director of the Sheffield Centre for International and European Law and supervises Postgraduate Research Students.
Sheffield Centre for International and European Law will be holding two conferences in 2011.
EU External Relations Law and Policy in the Post-Lisbon Era13-14 January 2011, The School of Law, Sheffield
The International Law Association - British Branch Annual Conference 2011 28 – 29 April 2011, The Showroom, Sheffield
Research with an impact on society
The research project Evaluation of Restorative Justice Schemes (Crime Reduction Programme) has now been completed but the results are still contributing to Home Office Policy as it tries to reduce crime. Directed by Professor Shapland, the project is evaluating three schemes, Justice Research Consortium, REMEDI and CONNECT, which were funded by the Home Office to run restorative justice schemes dealing with offenders within the criminal justice process. The schemes included both adult and juvenile offenders and worked at all stages of criminal justice from pre-court to prison and probation sentences, using both conferencing and mediation. The evaluation has followed the implementation of the schemes, interviewing offenders and victims, observing conferences, and looking at reconviction.
Home Office Research Team: Professor Joanna Shapland (with Anne Atkinson, Helen Atkinson, Emily Colledge, James Dignan, Jeremy Hibbert, Marie Howes, Jennifer Johnstone, Gwen Robinson, and Angela Sorsby, together with Becca Chapman and Rachel Pennant of the Home Office, and NFO Europe Social Research) 1.8.2001 to 30.6.2007, approximately £1,300,000.
Professor Shapland is Head of School and a member of the Centre for Criminological Research
Research with an impact on commerce
The Institute of Commercial Law Studies Conference 2010, in conjunction with the Journal of International Trade Law and Policy, held a conference on "Banking charges and consumer rights: a comparative perspective" on 7 June 2010. Delegates and presenters from across the country attended, including representatives from the Office of Fair Trading. The conference was organised by Dr Severine Saintier, Director of the Instutute of Commercial Law Studies.