Following the Director’s announcement that he will be leaving the School on 1 September, the LSE Council agreed at its meeting on 9 February to proceed to seek to appoint an Interim Director from within the School community for a period of up to one year.

At the same time, Council agreed the steps to be put in place to appoint a long-term successor to Professor Calhoun through a rigorous procedure with the involvement of the School community.

Information on further developments will be provided on a regular basis.

Professor Sonia Livingstone of the Department of Media and Communications has contributed to a specially convened expert panel for the Department of Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS).

Identifying the Routes by which Children View Pornography Online was published alongside several other papers by DCMS as part of their Child Safety Online: Age Verification for Pornography consultation to discuss reducing children’s access to pornography on the internet.

Five Nobel Prize recipients and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos have endorsed a new LSE report recommending a radical overhaul of international policies that would move countries beyond the existing singular ‘war on drugs’ focus on eradication and repression towards policies grounded in political and socioeconomic integration.

More than half of teenagers and young people with mental health problems in the UK do not receive any clinical treatment, amounting to a ‘’moral scandal and enormous economic mistake,’’ according to a new LSE study.

The report, prepared by LSE’s Personal Social Services Research Unit, and funded by the NHS Confederation Mental Health Network, is the first of its kind to analyse the economic impact of youth mental health services in the UK.

To make an informed decision on the merits of leaving the European Union, UK voters need to know more about what the government would do following Brexit. Just as the parties put forward policy manifestos in the run-up to an election, they should publish their plans for a post-Brexit world before the referendum.

That is among the conclusions of a new report from LSE's Centre for Economic Performance, the first in a series of briefings analysing the economic costs and benefits of Brexit for the UK.

New research from LSE shows how a powerful and lucrative industry has grown off the back of the European migration crisis and argues for a fundamental change of course towards international cooperation and shared asylum systems.

Over the past eight years Dr Ruben Andersson has investigated the borders at the frontier of Europe’s migrant crisis, documenting the emerging industry of border controls, comprising private defence and security contractors, border agencies and neighbouring states’ forces.

From Jed Bartlet to Shen Xiaoyi and even the Shaw Library, catch up with LSE’s adventures in film and TV in LSE on the big and the small screen.‎

"Prevent" is part of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy. Since last September, universities have been under a legal duty to comply with it. But what does this mean for students?

We are laying on some briefing sessions with the help of the School lawyers, Pinsent Masons. Students have priority for the session on Thursday 25 February at12-2pm in 1 Kingsway. If you would like to attend please email Marta Gajewska on m.gajewska@lse.ac.uk.

If space permits, students would be welcome instead to attend on 25 February at 2.30-4.30pm, Friday 26 February at 12-2pm or  2.30-4.30pm or Thursday 3 March at 12.30-2.30pm or 3-5pm. If there’s demand, we’ll run more sessions.

If you’d like to know more but can’t attend a briefing, click here for background.

Over 22-26 February, the LSE Volunteer Centre will be bringing Student Volunteering Week (LSESVW16) to you.

There are a wide range of exciting events planned and whether you like running, community groups, conserving urban landscape, history or just giving your time for a good cause, they’ll be something for you.

We’re holding three one-off volunteering events over the week, so why not sign up for the Regent's Canal Challenge, get your trainers on for Get fit, Give back with GoodGym, or transcribe some World War One diaries?

It’s set to be an action packed week with charities on campus, talks on fundraising and daily student volunteering blogs. You can then round off the week by coming along to our charity networking breakfast with international NGOs and think tanks.

We’re also excited for the debut of our short film of the LSE community sharing the reasons they volunteer. Get involved in #LSESVW16 and kickstart your volunteering journey.

As part of Volunteering Week, on Tuesday 23 February, the Animal Rights Society and Volunteering Centre Society are hosting a day of panel discussions and workshops on some of the biggest issues and opportunities in the charity sector right now.

You can meet industry experts, hear their perspectives on changes and opportunities in the charity sector, and find out how you can get involved and get experience.

Student Services are currently recruiting mentors for new undergraduates who will not live in halls when they start at LSE next year.

Mentors make contact in early September to introduce themselves and answer questions about being an LSE student. They meet their mentees during Welcome Week and then periodically throughout the year.

It’s not time intensive and fits around your studies. You could make a real difference to the experience of new students. You will also develop your skills and have your contribution recorded in your PDAM.

Message from Professor Julia Black, Pro Director for Research and Athena SWAN Chair and Project Director

As part of the School’s work to embed equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its culture, we welcome your input to a survey about childcare provision at the School.

The survey is intended to provide an opportunity to review individuals' needs for early-years childcare, with a view to enhancing the School's current provision. The School currently provides childcare vouchers through a salary sacrifice scheme and a subsidised nursery.

We would be grateful if all students who feel this issue is relevant to them could take part in the childcare survey which will be available to complete until Tuesday 1 March.

BriefX is a student social venture run by two LSE final year students and a team of students from across the School. Every Tuesday and Friday they produce an economic and business summary delivered straight to your email inbox.

The briefs will allow students to situate academic economic theory within the practical context, and help prepare students for interviews at investment banks and corporate law firms.

For more information and to sign up, visit briefx.co.

44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields - the Paul Marshall Building Exhibition

Six renowned architectural practices were shortlisted via an international design competition and their submissions will be on display in the Saw Swee Hock Student Centre from Wednesday 2 March until Thursday 17 March.

Have your say - come along, view the designs and vote for your preferred scheme.

For more information visit the website or email us at estates.44lif-pmb@lse.ac.uk.

Running from Monday-Saturday next week, tickets for many of the events are still available to book, including:

Monday 22 February

The Innovations of the Future
Time: 5.15-6.45pm
Speaker: Alec Ross

The Allure of Happy Endings
Time: 7-8.30pm
Speakers: Dr Molly Crockett, Professor Paul Dolan, and Sinéad Moriarty
Followed by an opening night drinks reception

Tuesday 23 February

Art and Wellbeing: the growing impact of arts on health
Time: 5.15-6.45pm
Speakers: Lizz Brady, James Leadbitter, David McDaid, and Vivienne Parry

Wednesday 24 February

Uninvited Arrivals: refugees and the challenge of responsibility
Time: 4.30-6pm
Speakers: Dr Ruben Andersson, Professor Lilie Chouliaraki (pictured), and Dr Myria Georgiou

Imagining African Futures
Time: 6.30-8pm
Speakers: Leye Adenle, Jennifer Makumbi, and Chibundu Onuzo

Thursday 25 February

Looking Eastwards: cultural exchange with the Islamic world
Time: 6.30-8pm
Speakers: Professor Jerry Brotton and Dr Peter Frankopan

Friday 26 February

Utopia: getting somewhere or going nowhere?
Time: 4.30-6pm
Speakers: Toby Litt, Patrick Parrinder, and Samantha Shannon (pictured)

Saturday 27 February

Re-Writing the Past vs Imagining the Future
Time: 1-2pm
Speakers: Miriam Halahmy, Philip Womack, and M M Vaughan

Out of our Bodies: can we ever free consciousness?
Time: 7-8.30pm
Speakers: Ned Beauman, Dr Kate Devlin, and Professor Nicholas Humphrey

Tuesday 23 February from 6-7.30pm in Cañada Blanch Room, Cowdray House
Speaker: Angelos Chryssogelos, National Bank of Greece Postdoctoral Fellow in the Hellenic Observatory at LSE

This presentation will examine whether, and how, key aspects of Greek foreign policy have been transformed in the years of the crisis, and especially the relationship between Greek foreign policy interests and practices and the EU framework.

29 February - 4 March 2016

Featuring Wolfgang Schäuble, Gregor Gysi and Rainer Brüderle among many other prominent German personalities,  the LSESU German Society proudly announces its 15^th Symposium.

Resting upon Henry Kissinger’s well-known quote, this year’s speeches and panel discussions will follow the guiding question "Poor old Germany - too big for Europe, too small for the world?". With Germany, Europe and the world facing challenging times marked by various crises, this year’s speakers will address issues of the refugee crises, the role of Germany and the UK in the European Union as well as banking and technology-related topics.

An innovative platform for critical debate, the German Symposium has welcomed distinguished German politicians such as Angela Merkel, Joachim Gauck and Gerhard Schröder in recent years and proudly confirms this year’s attendance of renowned politicians Wolfgang Schäuble, Gregor Gysi, Rainer Brüderle, Philipp Rösler, Olaf Scholz, Roland Koch and Friedrich Merz.

In addition, speakers include senior German business leaders such as Margret Suckale, Ferdinand Kirchhof and Wolfgang Kirsch as well as German media representatives including Ranga Yogeshwar and Peter Frey.

Tuesday 1 March at 6pm in CLM.3.01, Clement House
Speaker: Jin Xu, Minister Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in the UK

At this talk, organised by LSE's Language Centre, Jin Xu and distinguished CEOs will give an overview of this investment and discuss how it will affect UK-China relations during the next decade.

Economic investment will inevitably lead to increased cultural and linguistic exchange. Jin Xu will discuss how strengthening economic ties will affect universities and education in both the UK and China.

Click here to secure your place and to submit a specific question for Mr Jin. For more information, contact Michael Tavares at m.tavares@lse.ac.uk.

Monday 7 - Friday 18 March in the Atrium Gallery, Old Building
Monday-Friday 10am-8pm (expect Wednesday 9 March from 5pm onwards)

This exhibition captures Greece through the lens of 34 Greek photographers, showcasing images of the country and its people. The exhibition is organised by the Hellenic Observatory, LSE Arts and Photoglobe Seminars to celebrate the 20 Year Anniversary of the Hellenic Observatory.

Political Economy and Development: a progress report
Speaker: Professor Tim Besley
Recorded: Wednesday 10 February, approx. 90 minutes

The Global Refugee Crisis: a challenge to our common humanity
Speaker: Baroness Amos
Recorded: Thursday 11 February, approx. 90 minutes

The Future of the EU in the Face of BREXIT
Speaker: Enrico Letta
Recorded: Friday 12 February, approx. 88 minutes

Congratulations to the @lsemensbasketballclub who have been having some big wins recently!

For more images like this, visit the Photography Unit or check out the School's Instagram page.