About Us

By Geoffrey FerrariTue, 10/14/2008 - 12:52am

A happy philosopher at the NPAPC

Two happy philosophers at the NPAPC

Many happy philosophers at the NPAPC

The BPPA is a volunteer association of postgraduate philosophy students in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Our association is born out of the conviction that left to their own devices, too many postgrad philosophers tend to read Kripke or Heidegger alone in the dark. As a result, most of our energies are directed towards helping young philosophers bridge the geographical boundaries between their different universities and departments and make contact with each other. If you are a postgrad philosophy student, we live in the hope that our activities will make you a happier person, a better philosopher, or both.

The BPPA is best known as the proud parent of the BPPA Annual Conference (the conference formerly known as the NPAPC!) and our twice-yearly Philosophy Masterclasses.

BPPA Executive Committee

The main day-to-day running of the BPPA is handled by the Executive Committee, comprising President, Treasurer and Secretary. The Executive Committee is in turn advised by the BPPA Council, made up of past committee members, some honorary lifetime members, our venerable founders Ewan and Simon, and various others who have shown themselves brave and true in the cause of the BPPA. Finally, we maintain close contact with a number of Britain’s leading professional philosophical associations, who sit on our Advisory Board and whom we occasionally approach for guidance on strategic matters. We also maintain a nationwide network of student reps, who are there to let us know of any critical needs or issues brought to their attention. And, of course, most importantly, we listen to our members, too. We believe this structure provides us with a deep and broad pool of experience and talent from which to best serve our members.

Each year we appoint student events teams to organise the NPAPC and, now, of course, our Masterclasses. These teams change regularly — could you be on the next one?

Executive Committee 2008-9

Co-Presidents		Ines de Asis (St Andrews)
Co-Presidents		Joachim Aufderheide (St Andrews)
Treasurer	[picture coming soon!]	Kathy Butterworth (Kent)
Secretary		Fiona Roxburgh (UEA)
Events Coordinator	[Picture Coming Soon!]	Selina Sadat (Brighton)
Committee Advisor & Webmaster		Geoff Ferrari (Oxford)

Advisory Board

Dr. Mike Beaney (York): British Society for History of Philosophy

Dr. Helen Beebee (Birmingham): British Philosophical Association

Professor Tim Chappell (Open University): Mind Association

Dr. Rachel Cooper (Lancaster): British Society for the Philosophy of Science

Dr. Simon Glendinning (LSE): Forum for European Philosophy

Dr. Simon Kirchin (Kent): British Society for Ethical Theory

Dr. Aaron Meskin (Leeds): British Society of Aesthetics

Dr. Clare Saunders (Leeds): Higher Education Academy

Dr. Alison Stone (Lancaster): Society for Women in Philosophy

We are keen to hear from any other professional philosophical organisations who would like to play an active role with us in developing Britain’s postgraduate philosophy community.

Council

Professor Tom Baldwin (York) — Honorary Life Member
Professor Jonathan Dancy (Reading) — Honorary Life Member
Professor Christopher Hookway (Sheffield) — Honorary Life Member
Dr. Geraldine Coggins (Keele)
Dr. Alix Cohen (Cambridge)
Dr. Mark Day (Nottingham)
Dr. Mahlete-Tsige Getachew (York)
Dr. Jon Gorvett (Nottingham)
Dr. Simon Kirchin (Kent)
Ewan McEachran (founder member)
Michael McElroy (Cork)
Dr. Constantine Sandis (Oxford Brookes)

University Reps

We are keen to maintain links with all philosophy departments in the UK and Ireland so that we have a good picture of postgraduate needs, and so that students and lecturers are aware of what we can do for them. If you’re a postgraduate student and are interested in being the link for your department, please get in touch. It’s a great way to meet lively students and leading academics across the nation, and to influence postgraduate philosophy in Britain for the better.

Past Executive Committees

2007-8

President: Geoffrey Ferrari

Vice President: Matt Lavery

Treasurer: Nigel Leary

Secretary: Fiona Roxburg

2006-7

President: Geoffrey Ferrari

Treasurer: Nigel Leary

Secretary: Briony Addey

2005-6

President: Mahlete-Tsige Getachew

Treasurer: Michael McElroy

Secretary the 1st: Robin Dennis

Secretary the 2nd: Steven Burton

2004-2005

President: Alix Cohen

Treasurer: Brian King

Secretary: Neil Sinclair

2003-2004

President: Jon Gorvett

Treasurer: Derrick Teo

Secretary: Constantine Sandis

2002-2003

President: Constantine Sandis

Treasurer: Dan Davies

Secretary: Derrick Teo

2001-02

President: Geraldine Coggins

Treasurer: Constantine Sandis

Secretary: Mark Day

2000-01

President: Mark Day

Treasurer: Geraldine Coggins

Secretary: Ewan McEachran

1999-2000

President: Ewan McEachran

Treasurer: Simon Kirchin

Secretary: Mark Day