All 3 entries tagged Office

Closing Time (Sort of)

Change is afoot for the Exchanges campus office

Closing time, one last call for alcohol, so finish your whiskey or beer. Closing time, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. (Semisonic, Closing Time, 1998)

Yes, it has come to this – the Exchanges office is closing down. But before you all start wailing and gnashing your teeth, not to mention organising a quick whip around to buy me a leaving gift [1] I should point out…this is not actually the end.

What is happening though is over here in the IAS where Exchanges is currently based our wonderful department has rather become a victim of our own success. Over the next few months, we’ve got lots of exciting new research fellows coming to join us, and unsurprisingly campus office space is (as always) at a premium. Now, I’ve very much enjoyed my current office, which I moved into during September 2019 [2] – having a space on the main campus to call my own did lend a spot of prestige to the journal. It was easier to arrange to meet people in person too, as I didn’t have to worry about checking if my office mate was in or out – nor did people have to walk a looooong way to find me.

Naturally, not that long after the IAS had moved here to Zeeman the pandemic lockdowns began. As a consequence, I didn’t really see the inside of my office regularly again for a good 18 months. [3] Despite that for the past couple of years I’ve made regular pilgrimages to my office and hosted many people for publishing and educational discussions, so I’ll confess I will miss this place. But…this isn’t the end, merely a point of inflection.

Which is why, today, I’m surrounded by boxes, bits and pieces which are moving along with me (and Exchanges) just down the corridor. This is where I’ll now be office mates with my line manager and the IAS’ associate director – the estimable Dr Fiona Fisher. Personally, I couldn’t wish for a nicer and more supportive fellow office dweller, and I’m looking forward to a range of informative, interesting and possibly amusing conversations in the coming months.

Hence, after today – if you come looking to meet with me on campus – don’t visit my old room of Zeeman of C 0.10 – but instead come along and knock on C 0.05. You’ll be assured of a warm welcome – even if I’m not there – as Fiona always likes to say hello too!

And to close as I began, with Semisonic, and the reason I picked this song for this article.

Closing time, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end, yeah…

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Endnotes

[1] A new car would be nice, just saying.

[2] Before this I was sharing an office with a researcher over in Milburn House, on the Science Park.

[3] Being part time at Warwick, and with the pandemic it still feels like I’ve only just arrived here – despite it being the best part of 5 years ago since we transitioned here.

Gareth Johnson : 07 Aug 2024 10:30 |  Tags: Moves New Office Relocation |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Relocation Achieved and Open Participation Calls

Well the good news is the relocation to the new offices for Exchanges Headquarters this week has been pretty successful, although there’s the usual niggles. Not to mention getting used to a new location and finding all the important local amenities, along with working out the most logical and effective places to stash my office supplies. There is though a lovely view out of the office, and I’m writing to this entry to the happy sound of birds tweeting directly outside my window. Hence, I suspect this will be a splendid space to conduct the journal’s business.

As next week I’m speaking (Monday) at the Vitae International Researcher Developer conference in Birmingham, I’m tied up today with running through my talk, so apologies for a shorter than usual rumination on developments in scholarly publishing.

In the meanwhile – here’s a reminder of all our currently open calls for participation:

Themed call for papers for a special issue, inspired by the recent Utopia, Dystopia and Climate Change Utopian Studies Society conference. Deadline 30th Nov '19. https://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/announcement/view/17

For the Spring 2020 issue, Exchanges particularly welcomes submissions which will contribute to a themed section on in-between spaces. Deadline 1^st Nov ’19 https://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/announcement/view/15

Of course Exchanges welcomes manuscript submissions on any research topic which fulfil our manuscript submission format requirements. This is an open call, with no closing date. https://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/announcement/view/16

Finally, for early-career or post-graduate researchers at Monash University, we're looking for new recruits to join our editorial board. See details here, or speak to any of our current editors. Deadline 20^th Sept. https://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/exchangesias/entry/call_for_editors/

Gareth Johnson : 12 Sep 2019 09:51 |  Tags: Campus Ias New Office Relocation Zeeman |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Out of Office, and into a New One

It's all change in the Exchanges editorial office this week - or rather, it's all change forthe Exchanges editorial office this week. Myself, along with my colleagues in the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) are relocating to some lovely new offices closer to the heart of Warwick's campus. And in my case, nearer to the local wild fowl too. I'm writing this message off-site today, having packed up my entire office into three crates which will be moved at the start of the next week to my new office.

This might mean a slight blip in communications, while I get my computer and phone transferred and set up, but hopefully it will be so brief most readers probably won't even notice. Rest assured though, the Exchanges servers will remain fully operational and accessible throughout, so you'll be able to read, submit and interact with the journal as normal.

I'm very excited about the move, as it's introduced some new possibilities for engaging with the local early career community that I'm in the process of developing. Naturally, more about these once I'm ready to announce.

In the meanwhile, don't forget about all our various open calls for contributions and participation - the editorial team are waiting to hear from you!

Gareth Johnson : 05 Sep 2019 09:24 |  Tags: Announcements Communications Move Office Relocation |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem