The University of Newcastle, Australia

International and national researchers will visit the University of Newcastle this week for a first-of-its-kind workshop on the role of massacre in history.

Hosted by the University's Conflict Research Group, the workshop will feature researchers from a range a disciplines addressing the topic of massacre from ancient history to the present day.

Workshop Organiser, Dr Philip Dwyer, said the term massacre had become synonymous with genocide in recent years, but the workshop would focus on the distinctiveness of massacre as an historical experience.

Topics include the manner in which massacres operate and the impetus behind them whether racial, religious, political, sexual, age-related, ideological or military.

The workshop will run from Thursday 25 - Saturday 27 September 2008 at the Crowne Plaza, Newcastle.