September 2011

thebulletin
27 September 2011 - Issue 106
Sir Steve Redgrave visits UWE
In this
month’s issue
NEWS
2 Sir Steve Redgrave
gives support to Bristol
Rovers and UWE
stadium scheme
3
Sir Steve Redgrave gives support to Bristol
Rovers and UWE stadium scheme
Experts investigate
best way to treat
cardiac arrest
4 UWE takes leading role
in £16 million AHRC
investment in creative
industries
5
Geography lecturer
wins National Teaching
Fellowship
9
Success and ‘Familiness’
go hand in hand
14Honorary graduates
2010
15Sir Ian Carruthers OBE
installed as new UWE
Chancellor at Bristol
Cathedral
From left: Hannah Lawton, UWE Boat Club, Colin Offler, SU President, Ally Clarke, UWE Boat Club, Sir
Steve Redgrave, Ariana A Sefre, Vice-President Sports, Nick Preston, UWE Boat Club President and
Kimberley Warner, UWE Boat Club.
The Bulletin is published by the
Marketing and Communications
Office who reserve the right to
select items for inclusion and to
edit copy. For further information
contact Jane Kelly or Mary Price on
ext 82208, e-mail Jane.Kelly@uwe.
ac.uk and Mary.Price@uwe.ac.uk.
The next issue will be circulated
at the end of October. Please do
keep sending contributions in. The
Bulletin regrets that it cannot be
held responsible for any claims that
arise out of advertisements carried.
Editor: Jane Kelly
Editor: Mary Price
Contributor: Lesley Drake,
Kate Mooney
Production: Jayne Andrews,
Kate Mooney
Designed by Graphic Design
Printing and Distribution by
Printing and Stationery
Fron cover: Photo Martin Chainey
From left to right: Nick Higgs,
Chairman of Bristol Rovers, Sir Steve
Redgrave, Richard Steer, Chairman
of Gleeds and Professor Steve West,
Vice-Chancellor.
Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave, visited
the Centre for Sport at UWE to meet UWE’s
rowing team, view plans and give his seal of
approval to plans for the UWE stadium.
to the same state-of-the-art facilities as
professional sportsmen and women which is
extremely positive and may help encourage
the next generation of Olympians.”
The visit was arranged by UWE and
Gleeds, the International Management
and Construction Consultancy, who have
recently been appointed by Bristol Rovers
as Project Manager, Cost Manager and CDM
Co-ordinator for the £28 million community
stadium scheme that will be based on UWE’s
Frenchay Campus.
Terry Langdon, Director of Gleeds Bristol
who will be responsible for the scheme,
went on to say, “Gleeds has considerable
experience working with large and complex
stadium redevelopments and we’re
confident that we will be able to deliver
above and beyond the client’s expectations.
We have established an appropriate
development mix to suit all parties and are
looking forward to getting started on site
mid-2012.”
The project will include the construction of
a new all seated community stadium of at
least 20,000 capacity for both football and
rugby union at international level. The site
will be capable of holding major concerts
and includes an education centre, as well as
a mix of community facilities for wider use.
Sir Steve Redgrave toured the site which is
situated adjacent to the Frenchay Campus
for a meet and greet with Vice-Chancellor,
Professor Steve West. He also met student
representatives and Nick Higgs, Chairman of
Bristol Rovers.
“I am delighted to have been invited to
meet the team involved with what I’m sure
will be a superb sporting venue,” said Sir
Steve. “It is fantastic that, by pooling their
resources, UWE and Bristol Rovers will allow
students at the University to have access
2
Sir Steve Redgrave enjoying his visit to UWE
Experts investigate best way to treat cardiac arrest
currently in pre-hospital
treatment, are the
i–gel manufactured by
Intersurgical and the
LMA Supreme®. The
devices are used in the
upper airway, they are
easy to use and cause
less disruption in chest
compression.
UWE, the Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust
(GWAS) and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation
Trust, will conduct an investigation to ensure paramedics
employ the best possible techniques when treating a patient
who has suffered a cardiac arrest.
Over the next year, a pilot study funded by the National
Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research for Patient
Benefit programme will take place to find out which
approach to rescue breathing is most likely to improve
patient survival. The results from this study will be used to
inform a large national study that will determine future
guidelines to be used nationally and internationally.
Paramedic teams from
GWAS will receive
structured education
on CPR and rescue
Professor Jonathan Benger
breathing; one group
will be taught how to
use the Intersurgical
i-gel, one group the LMA Supreme® and one group will
continue as usual. Each group will have consented to taking
part in the research project.
Working with paramedics from the Great Western
Ambulance Service NHS Trust (GWAS), the researchers will
test the efficacy of three different approaches and/or tools
to manage a patient’s airway during cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR). CPR is a combination of rescue breathing
and chest compression.
Professor Jonathan Benger from UWE and Consultant in
Emergency Medicine at University Hospitals Bristol NHS
Foundation Trust, recently cited as one of the top emergency
doctors in a Times survey, is leading the project. He explains,
“When the heart stops outside hospital, this is a dire medical
emergency and a major cause of sudden death. Emergency
ambulance teams attend several calls daily to treat people
in cardiac arrest and it is important that the most effective
techniques are employed and best tools used to provide the
best chance of patient survival. At the moment outcomes
remain poor with most patients not surviving.
GWAS Medical Director and Chief Operating Officer Dr
Ossie Rawstorne says, “GWAS is keen to continue its
involvement in research and this study will provide evidence
to support the best care for patients suffering out-of-hospital
cardiac arrest. Pre-hospital ambulance care has changed
significantly in the last 30 years and continues to do so.
GWAS is committed to remaining at the forefront of these
developments and participation in such research ensures the
service and its dedicated staff are able to provide the best
care and treatment for patients wherever and whenever they
need us.”
“Prompt CPR saves lives by preventing damage to a patient’s
brain and other organs, and effective airway management is
a fundamental component of this.
Professor Benger concludes, “We will be pioneering a new
research model on a small scale that will, if successful, be
rolled out for a national study that will then go on to shape
future guidelines and be of benefit to cardiac arrest patients
in the UK and internationally.
“Until now placing a breathing tube in the windpipe
(tracheal intubation) has been considered the best form of
pre-hospital airway management, but sometimes attempting
intubation can cause significant complications and
interruptions in chest compression.
“The findings from this pilot study will teach us important
lessons in conducting research in this way. We are interested
to learn if we can answer our questions by trialling
techniques in a challenging area of clinical care.”
“National recommendations advocate using newer
supraglottic airway devices (SADs) which are quicker to
insert and cause minimal interruption to chest compressions.
The two most promising SADs used in hospitals, but not
The University has signed up to a four year
membership with the Institute of Customer Service
to help make UWE a world class provider of
service throughout the organisation. Membership
provides access to expertise, publications and
market trends along with accredited training
which will be used to influence the culture and
develop a more customer oriented University. This
is in line with the white paper ‘putting students at
the heart of the system’ and will focus not only on
students but all customers who use and work at
UWE. Pictured are: Deputy Vice-Chancellor, John
Rushforth receiving the plaque from Kevin Copp,
Account Manager, Institute of Customer Service.
3
NEWS
UWE takes leading role in £16 million AHRC investment in
creative industries
Mutant Labs, part of iShed's Media
Sandbox in 2010
UWE has been chosen to lead one of
four prestigious Knowledge Exchange
Hubs for the Creative Economy by the
Arts and Humanities Research Council
(AHRC).
UWE is teaming up with the
Universities of Bristol, Exeter, Bath and
Cardiff, as well as Bristol’s Watershed
and a wide range of creative industry
partners, to form the new Research
and Enterprise in Arts and Creative
Technologies Hub (REACT) for Bristol,
the South West of England and South
Wales.
The four new Hubs, announced in
August, will represent an investment
by the AHRC of some £16m over four
years. The Hubs will have the task
of building new partnerships and
entrepreneurial capacity in the creative
economy and increasing the number
of arts and humanities researchers
actively engaged in research-based
knowledge exchange.
The four lead institutions are UWE, the
University of Lancaster, the University
of Dundee and Queen Mary, University
of London. Each will lead consortia
that will include other universities,
creative businesses - including small
and medium enterprises - arts and
culture organisations, and other
agencies.
Professor Paul Gough, Deputy ViceChancellor said, “This is an outstanding
result for the universities and for all
our partners across the south-west of
the UK; the Hub will generate many
brilliant and exciting projects that will
have a direct impact on the creative
economy, on businesses and education.
UWE is delighted to be leading this
project and working in collaboration
with so many outstanding partners.”
The Hub will be directed by Professor
Jon Dovey and based in Watershed's
Pervasive Media Studio, growing
its existing partnership with UWE's
Digital Cultures Research Centre. This
unique city-centre studio, which was
established in 2008, brings together
artists, technologists and academics
to explore the future of creative
technologies.
4
The UK’s creative economy – which
includes the creative industries as
well as museums, galleries, libraries,
orchestras and theatres – is, relative
to GDP, probably the largest creative
sector in the world. As the major focus
of AHRC’s new knowledge exchange
and impact strategy for 2011-2015,
the Hubs will encourage significant
interactions between research and the
creative economy which will generate
wider social, economic and cultural
benefits.
David Willetts, Minister for Universities
and Science said, “Interaction between
businesses and universities is crucial for
driving growth. It enables businesses
and organisations to benefit from
our world-class research base, gaining
new knowledge and ideas. This major
investment will not only enrich the
creative industries but is also a vote
of confidence in the excellent arts
and humanities research at our higher
education institutions.”
Geography lecturer wins
National Teaching Fellowship
Education
Research
Group, Jenny
is leading UK
initiatives to
bridge the
divide between
geographical
pedagogy in
schools and
universities.
Intrepid Geography lecturer Dr Jennifer Hill (FET) has been
awarded a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship by the
Higher Education Academy.
She was one of 55 lecturers and learning support staff to be
honoured with the most prestigious award for excellence in
higher education teaching and support for learning.
She continues,
“I am keen
to extend
Geography lecturer Jennifer Hill who has been
education into
awarded a National Teaching Fellowship
informal settings
- I served for 10
years as an officer in the Territorial Army and in 2003 was
mobilised to Basra, Iraq, where I managed the education of
local artisans. This experience demonstrated that education
erases ignorance, bringing with it a depth of understanding
that transcends divergent cultures and contexts.”
The winners were chosen from nominations submitted by
Higher Education Institutions across England, Northern Ireland
and, for the first time, Wales. Each will receive an award of
£10,000 which may be used for professional development in
teaching and learning or aspects of pedagogy.
Jenny says, “As a chartered geographer, I am passionate about
exploring and introducing new ideas, concepts and viewpoints
into the student learning experience. For example, I have
produced bespoke video podcasts about exotic ecosystems,
filmed at a number of locations worldwide, including Tunisia,
Australia, the Caribbean, French Guyana and Brazil in order to
enhance student learning.”
The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme is part of an
overall Higher Education Academy programme to inspire
and celebrate teacher excellence. It is funded by the Higher
Education Funding Councils for England (HEFCE) and Wales
(HEFCW) and the Department for Employment and Learning in
Northern Ireland (DELNI).
She is committed to integrating research into undergraduate
geography programmes at UWE, and has driven curriculum
changes that encourage students to engage in research and
which inspire staff to creatively integrate their scholarship
into teaching. She has written 26 journal articles, edited
three books and almost 100 other outputs including the
co-authoring of research with undergraduate students after
joint presentation at the Royal Geographical Society (RGS)
Annual International Conference in 2010.
Along with the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme, the
Higher Education Academy’s work in teacher excellence includes
the accreditation of institutions’ professional development
programmes and individual recognition for staff who meet the
criteria of the UK Professional Standards Framework.
In her roles on the Geographical Association Post-16
Committee, Geography Editorial Collective and RGS Higher
The new National Teaching Fellows will officially receive their
awards at a ceremony in London on 5 October 2011.
“More Routes, More Buses – all year round”
Timetables on public bus routes provided by UWE and the University of Bristol are being improved in response to
feedback from local people while new routes have been introduced to provide added choice for bus users from 4
September 2011.
The timetables on the most popular routes U2, U3 and U5 will run on a year-round timetable, providing consistency
for local users. This means that from September this year, bus timetables for these routes will remain the same outside
of university term times, making these routes an attractive option for regular bus users. The routes are: U2 (UWE to
City Centre via Gloucester Road); U3 (Old Market to UWE via Fishponds) and U5 (UWE to City Centre via Henleaze and
Whiteladies Road).
In addition to the enhanced timetable on key routes, three new routes are being created. The new U7 route will run
from Frenchay Campus to Cribbs Causeway and at peak times this will be the U7A calling at Aztec West. The U8 from
Bradley Stoke (starting at Woodlands Road) will go to the City Centre via the A38.
The bus service used to be called Ulink, but has now been rebranded as Wessex Red to tie in with the rest of the Wessex
Connect network. The service will operate 30 vehicles at peak times, compared to 21 in 2010, and seven when the service
started in 2007. Between September 2010 and March 2011 the service carried one million passengers, the greatest
number of passengers so far in a seven month period.
Speaking about the changes UWE Travel Planner Steve Ward says, “Against a background of cuts in public transport we
are improving our services and their reliability for the benefit of local people. We are increasing the service rather than
shrinking it and at the same time maintaining the quality of the service and the low cost. UWE is committed to making
this transport as sustainable as possible and supporting the needs of students and the local community.”
Full details of all the services and the routes can be found at: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/transport/bus.shtml
5
NEWS
UWE commits to international recognition for breast feeding training
The Baby Friendly University Award was launched in the UK in
2008 – the first such award anywhere in the world –in order to
ensure high levels of training in breastfeeding are incorporated
in midwifery and health visitor training courses. The Certificate
of Commitment recognises
that a university is dedicated
to implementing recognised
best practice standards in
breastfeeding training,
and is part way along the
road to full Baby Friendly
Accreditation. Once the
training is underway at UWE,
the teaching methods will
be scrutinised and students
will be questioned to ensure
their training meets the new
guidelines.
UWE has been recognised for its commitment to work towards
international recognition from the UNICEF Baby Friendly
Initiative for the high levels of training in breastfeeding provided
to students on its health visiting and midwifery courses.
UWE is one of only three UK
universities who have gained
a certificate of commitment
for both health visiting and
midwifery courses.
Louise Condon, (Nursing
Lecturer) says, “More than
eight out of ten newborn
babies in the UK are now
breastfed according to the
latest NHS figures*. Whilst
it is good news to hear
that breastfeeding is on
the increase, for women
“We are delighted that the
who want to breastfeed
University of the West of
successfully it is vital they get
England has received this
the support they need. That
award,” said Baby Friendly
is why it is so important that
Initiative Programme Director
midwives and health visitors
Sam Hillier-Smith (breastfeeding peer supporter), Louise Condon,
Sue Ashmore. “Surveys show
are given the right training
Valerie Watson (Head of Nursing Department) and Geraldine Lucas
us that most mothers want to
and the practical skills needed
receiving their certificates.
breastfeed but don’t always
to support women at this
get the support they need.
crucial time. We decided to
Working towards full Baby Friendly Accreditation means that
work with the Baby Friendly Initiative to ensure a high standard
UWE is addressing this problem and aiming to ensure more
of training in breastfeeding for all student midwives and health
mothers can successfully breastfeed their babies in future.”
visitors graduating from UWE.”
The Certificate of Commitment to the UNICEF Baby Friendly
Geraldine Lucas (Midwifery Lecturer), explained, “Breastfeeding
Initiative was presented to staff and students at the Glenside
is important because it protects babies against a wide range
Campus of UWE by April Whincop, Barnardos Breastfeeding Peer
of serious illnesses including gastroenteritis and respiratory
Support Co-ordinator, on 29 July.
infections in infancy as well as allergies and diabetes in
Bristol has already been awarded the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly
childhood. We also know that breastfeeding reduces the
Initiative Community in 2010 and is the first city to have both
mother’s risk of some cancers such as breast and ovarian cancer.
midwifery and health visiting services accredited for best practice
For a woman’s baby, there is also a reduced risk of childhood
in the support of breastfeeding http://www.bristol.nhs.uk/yourleukaemia.”
health/breastfeeding.aspx
The Baby Friendly Initiative, set up by UNICEF and the World
*The Infant Feeding Survey 2010: Early Results from the NHS
Health Organisation, is a global programme which provides a
Information Centre. www.ic.nhs.uk/
practical and effective way for health services to improve the
care provided for all mothers and babies. http://www.unicef.org.
uk/BabyFriendly/
Professor David James (EDU/ACE) cycled from London to Paris (some
300 miles in just over three days), raising over £1,400 for the Mines
Advisory Group, the Nobel peace prize-winning charity that clears
landmines and helps some of the world's poorest people to use
their land to grow food again after war. David said, “The ride was
a great experience with a very diverse group of about 65 people.
It was superbly organised and supported by a firm called Discover
Adventure who are towards the sustainable and responsible end of
the spectrum. We rode together in a procession for the last few miles
and took in the Arc de Triomph, the Champs-Elysées and the Eiffel
Tower”. More details and photos can be seen at www.Justgiving.com/
David-James5
6
'Outstanding’ ex-RAF forensic science graduate wins
Inner Temple scholarship
Former RAF man James Davis is having a summer to
remember. He left school with just a handful of GCSEs - but
now has come top of the class with a First Class honours
degree in Forensic Science from UWE. And he was so inspired
by some of the law lectures that formed part of his course
that he has won a major scholarship from the Inner Temple to
train as a lawyer.
At his recent graduation ceremony, he was awarded not only
his degree but the Forensic Science Society prize for top UWE
student on one of the modules; this came just one week after
being awarded the scholarship, worth £18,500, from the Inner
Temple. The scholarship covers two years of legal training fees
and was awarded in the face of stiff competition from many,
including Oxbridge graduates.
Associate Head of Department, Dr Carolyn Morton (SLS) said,
“James is an exceptional student and to say we are proud
of him is an understatement. He achieved his degree with a
tremendous aggregate mark of 79.6 per cent - almost 5 per
cent above the next highest mark. He has also won a Royal
Society of Chemistry award, and we are nominating him for
the national student award offered by the Forensic Science
Society.
“James’ success is proof of the strong links between UWE’s
forensic scientists and our Bristol Law School, in a range of
activities. Two of the law staff, Kathy Brown and Lauren
Devine, lead a module called Science in Court for our FS
students and it was their inspiration that encouraged him to
make this career move.”
Twenty-seven year old James from North Wales spent more
than three years as a military policeman with the RAF, seeing
service in places such as the Falkland Islands. During his
military service, he improved his qualifications, enabling him
to enrol for UWE’s Science Foundation year, which was the
stepping stone to the BSc Forensic Science.
James Davis receiving his degree certificate and plaque from the Forensic
Science Society from Vice Chancellor Steve West
He said, “It took me three attempts at school and a further
attempt in the RAF to get a C grade in GCSE Maths but I
gained the focus I needed to continue with my academic
career during my time in the forces. I would never have
thought about enrolling for UWE’s law conversion course,
and hopefully training to be a barrister, if it hadn’t been for
the inspiration of tutors like Lauren and Kathy, and I would
like to thank them both for all their support. I also owe
great thanks to Helen Robson and Fritjof Korber (both SLS)
for the scholarship references they provided which I'm sure
contributed greatly to my success.”
"He has contributed to the University by being a student
representative and has also helped trainee barristers from
UWE’s Bristol Law School by acting as an expert witness in
courtroom simulations. He has recently completed his training
with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau where he volunteers as a
Gateway Assessor. James sees his future as a barrister, wishing
to put his forensic science expertise to good use in the pursuit
of justice.”
James’s next challenge over the coming years is to find
pupillage, a yearlong apprenticeship in a barrister’s chambers,
which he hopes to be able to commence following the Bar
Professional Training Course.
Principal Lecturer Dr Fritjof Korber said, “James has
consistently performed extremely well in all subjects.
7
NEWS
Live Sound at the Royal
Albert Hall
Just before the end of term 28 students and staff from the
Live Sound module on UWE’s Music Technology programme
were invited by Principal Sound Engineer Phil Wright to go
up to London’s Royal Albert Hall to experience Live Sound
at the sharp end.
Phil Wright of Sound by Design crafts the live sound for
prestigious events such as the BBC Proms and has the
enviable job of providing front of house sound for all of
the Royal Albert Hall’s varied events.
The visit was arranged by Senior Lecturer Martyn Harries
(FET) who was put in contact with Phil by BBC National
Orchestra of Wales’ balance engineer, Huw Thomas, who
earlier in the year had helped put together a lecture with
details of the sound rig and mix for the Dr Who prom.
Students get in the swim with
legal advice
A group of Legal Practice Students from Bristol Institute
of Legal Practice have used their skills to help residents
from Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire to take over
the running of their local swimming pool when the council
decided they needed to close it.
In the Pro Bono project UWE students supported a group
of community volunteers who needed help with the legal
aspects of the project. The students provided legal advice
between November and July, set up a company and advised
on governance issues. They also registered the company as
a charity and advised on associated issues as well as dealing
with the lease and service level agreement with the council.
The project is now up and running successfully. http://
wottonpool.co.uk/. It is well known and used in Wotton
and surrounding areas and is a valuable resource for the
local community.
Cathy Biggs (Bristol Institute of Legal Practice, UWE) said,
“Our students made a significant contribution both in
terms of time and energy and provided much-needed legal
expertise to the clients. It is a really good example of the
way students can get involved in the local community and
use their skills to help others, but also learn a great deal
in the process. Both the students and the local volunteers
have greatly benefited from the experience. This is just one
of a number of Pro Bono projects that our students are
involved in, using their skills and time to help out in the
local community.”
Martyn Harries said, “As soon as Phil heard of our keen
students he extended an invitation to the most prestigious
venue of all to gain valuable real world, first hand
knowledge of how high end live sound is handled. The
students were treated to a master class and talk by Phil
and then sat in on a dress rehearsal of a major show by the
English National Ballet with full strings, a big-band multiple
pianos, singers and tap dancers (with radio mics in their
shoes!). They witnessed Phil building the sound mix ‘from
the floor up’, as he explained he only had three hours to
get the sound right. It was a full dress rehearsal of Strictly
Gershwin and as the director and choreographer were
concentrating on the visuals, he couldn’t stop the show to
sort any problems, he had to just work away achieving the
perfect sound for the event without anyone being aware
he was there.”
Phil also explored the physics of sounds with the students
including the theory behind the massive slung curvo-linear
array of speakers and how wherever you sit the sound
should still appear to be coming from the stage. He was
pleased with their knowledgeable responses and questions.
The students really enjoyed the whole experience and
found it very beneficial. One student said, “Had a great
time yesterday, I found it very informative and inspiring!
Trips like that to see ‘real world’ pros in action is essential I
think and should definitely be encouraged and supported.”
Martyn added, “Everyone was so grateful for Phil’s
generosity and willingness to share the details of his craft,
they were also in awe of his ability to bring together so
many sound sources and achieve a great mix in such a short
time with the minimum of fuss. He must have liked us too,
as we are invited back next year!”
Alan George (Wotton-under-Edge Swimming Pool Ltd)
said, “The pool has been running very successfully through
the summer, and to start with it was a bit hectic, but
everything is now going really well. The contribution UWE
students made to our set up was important and very much
appreciated. As well as being incorporated we are now
a fully fledged charity, so their help has been invaluable.
Legal fees can be very expensive so the students’ help in
this area was a considerable cost saving for us and helped
to make the project viable.”
The students involved in the project were Nicola Copeland,
Heather Shere-Massey, Jenna Larcombe, Sean Garbutt and
Katherine Cantle who were all doing the Legal Practice
Course full–time at BILP during 2010/11.
Music Technology students and staff outside
the impressive Royal Albert Hall.
Photo credit: Steve Brown (FET)
Lecturer designs cover of
award winning album
UWE lecturer Michelle Henning (Media and Cultural
Studies), designed the cover for PJ Harvey’s Let England
Shake, this year’s Mercury Music Prize winner for best album
in the UK and Ireland.
Talking about her work Michelle said, “The cover image of
a swarm of birds was inspired by the war-themed songs on
Let England Shake. I wanted to produce something very
immediate, which looked at first glance like an explosion
of shrapnel, and then revealed itself to be birds. I created
the explosion photographically, then used pictures of birds,
many of them lifted from the backgrounds of PJ Harvey’s
own drawings, to replace each piece of ‘shrapnel’ using
Adobe Photoshop.”
Success and ‘familiness’ go hand in hand
Against the backdrop of the toughest
economic times in living memory,
family businesses seem to be not only
surviving, but thriving, according to
research conducted by UWE and law
firm Veale Wasbrough Vizards.
Their recently published 2011 National
Family Business Report identifies
that family businesses have proved
well able to survive the credit crunch
and shown that financial resilience
and a commitment to the future are
attributes of the family business.
The message from family businesses
has been that the outlook is bright,
with over 50 per cent actually
reporting that they had increased both
market share and profitability during
these tough economic times. This is
set against their reported perception
that competitors are struggling. In the
survival of the fittest, family businesses
have come out fighting.
Of the 233 family businesses who
responded to the survey over half were
not concerned about raising finance
or the availability of funds at a time
when other businesses seem to be
struggling with financing and cash
flow.
For those working in, or owning family
businesses, this may not come as a
great surprise. Family businesses tend
to have their eye on longevity and
sustainability for future generations,
focusing on reinvestment of profits
and low gearing. The result has been
that they have been well equipped
to survive the banking crisis and the
recession at large and this has been
reflected in the survey results.
Dr Lorna Collins (BBS), said,
“Opportunities to reach a global
market have been grabbed with both
hands by family businesses with over
30 per cent reporting that they trade
internationally. This challenges the
popular misconception that family
businesses are small and insular and
focused on local markets. On the
contrary the family businesses in this
survey are demonstrating that they
are forward thinking, financially fit
and strong players in today's global
market.”
What explains their success and outperformance of the general market?
Nicholas Smith, Partner and Head of
Family Business at Veale Wasbrough
Vizards, points to ‘familiness’ to
explain their success. By this he means
the unique characteristics that family
businesses exhibit.
The positive influence of the family
in business shone through the survey
results. 58 per cent of respondents
indicated that the primary aim of the
family business was to put bread and
butter on the table of the immediate
family. However over 30 per cent
pointed to purely family orientated
aims such as building a legacy for
future generations (15 per cent). It
is this strength and depth of vision
which Nicholas believes gives family
businesses a competitive edge and this
is never more apparent than during
tough economic times.
Nicholas Smith said, “Family businesses
have a strength and depth of vision
9
way beyond immediate revenue
building. The sense of custodianship
often felt by the current generation
gives them a reason for survival
beyond their own immediate needs.
This also provides them with a
reason for protecting profits for
future generations and I believe it is
this that has given them a financial
shock absorber needed to survive
the recession and outperform their
counterparts.”
For the full story please see the press
release on the UWE web pages http://
info.uwe.ac.uk/news/uwenews/news.
aspx?id=2012
Lorna Collins
NEWS
Staff evacuation under spotlight in Fire Safety Training roadshows
“The provision of this training by the University’s Health and
Safety Unit provided the understanding of our roles and
responsibilities in terms of fire safety and the requirement
that all members of staff attend was fully endorsed by the
senior management team and myself.”
Some interesting facts and figures emerged from the
roadshows:
• In 2010 there were 684 fire alarm activations
• 6
53 of these were in student residences and 31 at
campuses
• Ten of these required the Fire and Rescue Service to attend
• F ire doors can contain a fire for up to 30 minutes allowing
for staff to exit safely in corridors protected by these,
as shown in the graphic images of fire damage at the
University of Westminster
Fire Safety Roadshow organisers - from left, Jackie Oxenham, H&S
Adviser; Alison Weeks, Acting H&S Manager, and Julie Bryant, H&S
Support Officer
The vital importance of leaving buildings rapidly in the event
of a fire alarm has been brought vividly to life in a series of
Fire Safety Training roadshows on every UWE campus.
A short film at the start of the roadshow showed how peer
pressure can work against people exiting their building
quickly on hearing a fire alarm. For example, in major
incidents like the Twin Towers, people have a tendency to
wait and see what others do, rather than act decisively on
their own account. A company in the World Trade Centre
that held regular fire drills, with every member of staff clear
on what they had to do, was the one from which most staff
members survived.
Alison Weeks, Acting Health and Safety Manager, said, “We
opted for a roadshow approach to ensure a consistent,
face-to-face message to all staff on the role they play in
preventing fires, and what to do if they should hear a fire
alarm.
“This is the first time at UWE that safety training has been
mandatory and we have done this because we were aware
that for some staff it will have been a long time since their
induction training, and there have been changes in fire safety
legislation over the years.”
The roadshows – organised by Alison, Health and Safety
Adviser Jackie Oxenham and Health and Safety support
officer Julie Bryant - visited Frenchay, Glenside, St Matthias
and Bower Ashton campuses over a period of four weeks
during June and July. During that period, there were 25
sessions, attended by 1,783 staff, and a further five sessions
took place in September.
Vice-Chancellor Steve West said, “Fire safety is a fundamental
component of the University’s Health and Safety Policy. Our
success in achieving and sustaining the high standard that we
aim for requires widespread commitment and engagement at
all levels within the University.
• D
uring fire drills, only 68 per cent of staff have evacuated
within four minutes
The main roles for staff, according to the Health and Safety
team, are how to prevent fires, and how to respond to fire
alarm activation.
Prevention – includes housekeeping, keeping exits and routes
clear, making sure fire doors are shut, and reporting faults
such as fire doors not working
Response – on hearing a continuous alarm, staff should use
the most accessible escape route, which may not be their
usual exit; they should not use the lifts, should close doors,
encourage others to leave, evacuate to a safe place away
from buildings, and stay out until told it is safe.
Alison continued, “Because of the nature of the University’s
work and activities all staff are ‘wardens’ through a collective
and collaborative approach. This means we should all:
• Leave without prompting
ssist those who need help because they don’t know
• A
where to go – or have difficulty getting there eg visitors
and the disabled
• E
xhibit leadership and direction – from all, particularly
managers
• E
ngage in tasks to assist the co-ordination of evacuation eg
door control
“We will continue to monitor performance during our fire
drills throughout the next year, with the aim of getting
everybody out of the buildings in four minutes. We have
had a lot of good feedback from the roadshows, with
people saying they have found them useful. It appears we
have succeeded in making people more engaged in taking
responsibility for fire safety – since the roadshows we have
been getting an increase in emails both on potential hazards
such as missing fire signs or fire doors not closing properly, or
on positive actions people have taken to keep fire exits clear.”
To notify any fire safety issues, e-mail the team on safety@
uwe.ac.uk.
10
Croatia Calling celebrates 10th birthday
Croatia Calling, a professional link between HLS and learning disability
and autism services in Croatia, celebrated its 10th birthday this year. The
link, which was established in 2001, celebrated a decade of co-operation,
partnership and student visits at a special event in June.
The link is an innovative scheme which offers a two week elective every year
for student nurses to work in and experience an alternative health and social
care delivery system and make comparisons with Learning Disability services
in the UK.
Since the outset of the scheme student nurses have made valuable
contributions and formed constructive relationships with clients and staff in
Croatia. Students also give positive feedback about their experiences.
Eric Broussine, who helped to set up the link says, “Students benefit hugely
from learning about how people with learning disabilities and autism are
managed in an Eastern European country. The students also get involved in
fundraising for services taking part and this contributes to the success of the
link.”
Eric Broussine, (Senior lecturer, HLS), Mr Chris
Hodge (Deputy Head of the British Embassy) and
Vesna Muraja (General Manager, The Centre for
Rehabilitation Zagreb, branch office Sloboština).
The occasion was marked by the signing of a memo of agreement witnessed
by the Deputy Head of the British Embassy, Chris Hodge.
UWE historians launch new
Cricklade book as part of Wiltshire
VCH series
Dr Virginia Bainbridge, who is County Editor of VCH
Wiltshire, and her colleague Dr Alex Craven (History,
Philosophy and Politics) are researching the history of
Wiltshire towns and villages for the Victoria County History
of England.
Virginia said, “This new volume, produced
in co-operation with the local communities,
demonstrates the vitality of historical research
within Wiltshire. It charts the history of Cricklade
and its environs, from pre-history to the founding
of an Anglo-Saxon burh as part of King Alfred's
defences against the Vikings, from the civil war
to its highly controversial political culture in the
eighteenth century, and its modern-day role as a
satellite to Swindon. The research of VCH Wiltshire
is only made possible thanks to the continuing
support of Wiltshire Council and UWE.”
Cricklade High Street in the early 1900s
The latest volume in the Wiltshire Victoria County History
(VCH) series, Cricklade and its Environs, was launched on 10
September by UWE historians and Wiltshire Council. The Lord
Lieutenant of Wiltshire, John Bush OBE, presented a copy of
the new volume to the leader of Wiltshire Council, Councillor
Jane Scott, at the United Church Hall in Cricklade.
Work on the definitive history of Wiltshire has been going
on since 1947, and the project has been a part of the UWE
history department since 2004, with a large part of the
funding coming from UWE’s Wallscourt Foundation.
The launch was celebrated by events at Cricklade
and Purton museums, and included talks by
contributing author Dr John Chandler, who is
a visiting research fellow at UWE and recently
appointed editor of VCH Gloucestershire, and Dr
Peter Fleming (HPP).
The VCH was founded in 1899 as a private
enterprise, with the intention of producing a
history of each English county. This latest volume, Wiltshire
XVIII, covers the area to the west of Swindon, which was once
the western half of Highworth, Cricklade and Staple hundred.
Mr Bush, who is also the patron of the Wiltshire VCH County
Appeal Trust, said, “It is always a delight when another
volume of the Victoria County History is published for
Wiltshire. Being able to read about the development of
specific areas of Wiltshire provides an invaluable insight into
the historical development of our county, whilst providing a
wonderful research resource for many.”
11
NEWS
Emma Weitkamp is pictured (fourth from left in
the front row) with delegates from the ‘Doi Moi in
Science’ workshop (roughly translated as ‘Opening
up in Science’). Next to her are Dr. Nguyen The Dung
(fifth from left), former director of the Department
of Health of Ho Chi Minh City, and Professor
Nguyen Tan Binh (sixth from left), vice-director of
the Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City. Also
present are workshop organisers Dr Tran Thuy Chau
(fourth from right in first row), Universities Liaison
Officer, and Mr Phan Kim Son (far right) a science
journalist with OUCRU.
UWE shares science communication ideas with Vietnam health
journalists
Dr Emma Weitkamp (Science Communication Unit, HLS) recently ran a three-day media training workshop for the Oxford
University Clinical Research Unit which is based at the Centre for Tropical Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Twentytwo medical and health journalists from print and broadcast media took part. Delegates explored the problems faced
by both journalists and scientists in covering health and medical topics in Vietnam, key amongst which was access to
spokespeople and/or securing permission to speak with the media. Sessions explored how to overcome these barriers and
how to communicate health information to the lay public effectively.
Emma said, “I really enjoyed the visit and learned a huge amount. I know that the experience will be useful for me in my
own teaching – it is always helpful to have international examples you can draw on!”
Dr Tran said, “It was our pleasure to have you with us in the workshop. We really appreciated your time and commitment
during the time. We learned a lot from your exciting lectures and would be very grateful if you could continue to advise
us as an expert on the field of science communications in the future.”
Havi Carel awarded a Leverhulme
Fellowship
UWE philosopher, Dr Havi Carel (HPP) has been awarded a
prestigious one year Leverhulme Fellowship to study the experience
of illness from a philosophical perspective. This proposal was selected
from over 600 applications in an open field competition. Of the
90 proposals selected for funding only two are in philosophy. The
research project, entitled The lived experience of illness: philosophical
grounding and descriptive method, will consist of four research
papers.
Havi Carel says, “Although much has been written on the experience
of illness, no method for the first-person description of illness
has been developed in detail. This project aims to develop such a
method, using a phenomenological approach. This approach enables
a systematic qualitative description of first-person experience. The
method will be used to provide patients with a way to communicate
their experiences to health professionals, family and friends and
enable patient-centred experience to feed back into effective health
care provision.”
Phenomenology is a philosophical view that focuses on lived
everyday experience, providing a method for ordering and describing
this experience. Using this approach Dr Carel plans to develop a
descriptive method that will enable patients firstly to discern and
then to describe their experience.
12
Dr Havi Carel
UWE Philosophy tops the chart
at NSS
viewed on UWE’s Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/
BristolUWE#p/c/1/gugWteQ6LFs
In addition UWE Philosophy has won an award of £3,000 as a
conference grant from the RIP. The conference organised by
Dr Havi Carel and Dr Darian Meacham, focused on Human
Experience and Nature. The conference attracted delegates
from the UK, the US, Canada and Europe. Information on
the conference: www.uwe.ac.uk/rip2011.
Philosophy at UWE received a terrific result at the recent
National Student Survey. 97 per cent of students said they
were satisfied with their course. This result places UWE
Philosophy second nationally in the survey. The past year
has seen great investment in philosophy students, in the
form of a very active philosophy society, an introduction of
Peer Assisted Learning, tailored advice for students about to
graduate, and an encouraging and friendly teaching style.
Additional events this year included a book launch of
Idealism (co-authored by Jeremy Dunham, Iain Grant and
Sean Watson), an AHRC-funded public debate on organ
donation held at the Watershed, and a graduate workshop
on phenomenology. Dr Havi Carel has been elected to the
British Philosophical Association Executive Committee. UWE
Philosophy saw an increase in MA European Philosophy
student numbers, and a further rise in the number and
quality of applications for the BA(Hons) Philosophy.
This has also been UWE Philosophy’s first year as a Royal
Institute of Philosophy (RIP) Branch. UWE receives funding
from the RIP to organise events. This year’s RIP annual event
was attended by more than 750 members of the public, as
well as members of Bristol City Council. The event can be
UWE + Chinese partners hold workshop on innovative technologies
for the food industry
Some of the
workshop
delegates
Group
discussions
aim to establish a long-term partnership with China. The
partnership will include not only the development of
joint research projects but also enhancing links between
academia and industry, training of young scientists, the
establishment of long-term programmes for students and
staff exchange and access to partners’ facilities.”
Food quality and safety was the global issue addressed at
a free two day workshop hosted by the University in July,
bringing together academics and business leaders from the
UK and China to discuss innovative technologies for the
food industry.
There are many food quality and safety challenges in the
industry: concern regarding food contamination with
environmental pollutants (pesticides, heavy metals and
other); concern regarding nutritional quality of food (ie
the amount and type of fat, vitamins, minerals) and also
that current evaluation technologies are time-consuming,
expensive, require specific expertise and are commonly
performed in specialised laboratories.
The workshop was opened by Professor Steve Neill, Deputy
Dean, HLS. The workshop attracted around 50 delegates
and along with presentations from the UK and China it
included group sessions, poster exhibition and industry
exhibitions. An overview of the UK/China partnership was
given by Professor Olena Doran and an overview of food
safety issues in China was given by Dr Gang Chen and Dr
Hongyang Wei. Other presenters included Kim Matthews
(UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board),
Professor Shuming Yang (Institute for Quality Standards
and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, China), Dr Don
Wilson (Anitox), David Telford (Biosciences Knowledge
Transfer Network), Tim Harrap (Adams Food Ltd), John
Sheaves (Taste of the West) and scientists from the Centre
for Research in Biosciences, FET, Institute of Bio-Sensing
Technology and University of Plymouth.
Jointly organised by the Centre for Research in Biosciences
(HLS), the Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology, the
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the China
Agricultural University, the workshop forms part of a
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
(BBSRC) China Partnering Award to UWE. The main aim
of this workshop was to establish a sustainable network
and long-term collaboration between the UK and China
in order to develop and take to the market new, rapid
and cost-effective technologies for the evaluation of food
quality and safety. It is anticipated that these technologies
will form a platform for wider applications (ie to biomedical
and health care areas).
Professor Doran concludes, “China has a large food market,
extensive expertise in food quality, food safety, access to a
wide range of unique animal breeds and plants used for
food production and rapidly developing technology. The
BBSRC award and this workshop are part of our strategy
to internationalise our research, to enhance links between
academia and industry and to translate our research into
practical application.”
Professor Olena Doran, Leader of the BBSRC China
Partnering Award and Centre for Research in Biomedicine
Director, says, “We look forward to working with our
new Chinese partners. This workshop is part of our larger
13
Honorary graduates 2010
The following individuals were awarded honorary degrees by the University in the past academic year
in recognition of their outstanding contribution in a particular field:
Stephen Golledge
Liz Redfern CBE
Roger White OBE
Doctor of Business Administration
in recognition of his significant
contribution to the development
of UWE's health provision and
continuing input to the National
Health Service.
Doctor of Education in recognition
of her service to nursing
education, leadership and
influence in the South West
in supporting nursing practice
and policy.
Doctor of Education in recognition
of his outstanding work with
ASDAN in the field of curriculum
innovation.
Sir John Bourn KCB
Professor Leon Chua
Gillian Smith
Doctor of Business Administration
in recognition of his outstanding
contribution to public service
and in recognition of his active
relationship with the University.
Doctor of Science in recognition
of his outstanding achievements
in the field of nonlinear circuit
theory, cellular neural networks
and memristors.
Master of Science in recognition
of her significant contribution to
the furtherance of the importance
of social research within transport
studies.
14
Michael Rosen
Ruby McGregor-Smith
Antony Jinman
Doctor of Letters in recognition of
his significant contribution to and
impact on primary education and
English literature.
Doctor of Business Administration
in recognition of her significant
national and local contribution to
business through the distinctive
culture she has created within
MITIE.
Doctor of Education in recognition
of his pioneering work with young
people and raising awareness of
the environment.
Miles Templeman
Doctor of Business Administration
in recognition of his significant
contribution to the regeneration
and competitiveness of
regional business along with his
representation of UK business
directors both nationally and
internationally.
Sir Ian Carruthers OBE installed as new
EWS
UWE Chancellor Nat
Bristol Cathedral
Sir Ian Carruthers OBE was installed as
the new Chancellor on Monday 18 July
and presided over his inaugural awards
ceremony for graduands of the Faculty
of Health and Life Sciences at Bristol
Cathedral.
Professor Steve West (V-C) formally
invited Sir Ian Carruthers to become
the new Chancellor, symbolised by the
traditional gesture of clasping hands.
He said, “Award ceremonies are always
a wonderful occasion for the University
to celebrate the well-deserved
achievements of our students. This
year, was even more memorable
for the graduating Health and Life
Sciences students to have their degrees
conferred by our newly installed
Chancellor, who has played such a vital
role in the NHS over the past 40 years.
“I am delighted to welcome Sir
Ian to the University as Chancellor.
His passion for education, his deep
understanding of the University and
the challenges and opportunities we
face stand us in good stead to take the
University forward.”
15
NEWS
UWE links up with US
libraries to offer 24/7
advice service
A new 24 hour online chat service for
UWE library users, starting in September,
means students and staff can access outof-hours advice from a network of 400
academic libraries, across the US and in
the UK. UWE is one of the first universities
in the UK to offer this benefit to students
and staff.
Chat is an instant message service that
enables students to contact a member
of library staff for help and receive an
instant response. This is a well established
mode of communicating with students
and is used by many other academic
libraries. What will be different about
the new service is that it will be available
to UWE students 24/7, allowing for the
time difference between the UK and the
United States.
Senior Assistant Librarian Sandra Clark,
who is project lead on this initiative
continued, “The Frenchay Library is open
24/7 to reflect students’ study patterns,
with library staff available until 18:30 from
September. In order to provide support
to students after 18:30 on a 24/7, 365 day
basis, we are joining a Chat co-operative
consisting of over 400 other academic
libraries, most of which are in the US but
which also includes the Open University
which is currently the only member in the
UK.
“Students will be able to chat with one
of our team Monday to Friday between
11:00 and 14:00, the rest of the time they
will be able to get help via chat from a
librarian who could be anywhere from
Boston to Honolulu. Our staff will also
contribute to the co-operative providing
enquiry services to students ‘across the
pond’ at certain times of the week.”
Services Development Librarian Amanda
Conway said, “We are providing this
service as part of the Academic Reference
Co-operative, collaborating with library
staff in US academic libraries, and
building on the current library e-mail
enquiry system available to UWE students,
staff and external users, to provide an
enhanced experience. A Chat box will sit
on our library web pages where students
can type in their enquiry and ‘chat’ live
with a librarian who will respond instantly
to their query.
“Our recent Library Survey (LibQual
survey) highlighted that students want
access to the information they need for
their studies where and when they need
it. We need to provide help and support
to enable this flexibility in access and
Frenchay Library
use. For example, we had lots of e-mail
enquiries over the Christmas period when
the University is closed and Chat will
provide easy access to library support all
year round, complementing our existing
enquiry services (face to face, phone and
e-mail webform).”
In other developments, Level 2 of the
library on Frenchay Campus has been
revamped to provide a new Help Zone,
where librarians can spend time helping
students with their enquiries, and an
updated Assistive Technology Area for
disabled students. At Glenside Library,
there is a refurbished teaching room and
increase in number of network points for
laptop use. At Bower Ashton library, selfservice machines have been introduced
to speed up book borrowing and make
artists’ books more visible and accessible.
Photography and Media lecturer
shows film in California
Dr Shawn Sobers, Senior Lecturer in Photography and Media,
showed his film, 15 Autobiographical Moments in Perpetuity,
at the PerpiTube exhibition in California earlier this month. The
exhibition took place at Pitzer College Galleries and included
invited contributions from 29 international artists.
Dr Sobers describes his film as, “a personal analytical journey
through YouTube and social media, using the 15 YouTube
catagories as the theme for the film's content.”
The unique structure of the show was designed to highlight
how various spaces, on and offline, amplify the connections
and contradictions between local place and digital mobility, the
reception and production of social media, the tension between
the ephemeral and the archive, and the ‘artist’ and ‘amateur’.
To find out more see www.youtube.com/PerpiTubeSpace
16
A still from the spoof video blog
Royal Photographic
Society awards Saxby
Medal to fine print
researcher
David Huson, research fellow in the Centre
for Fine Print Research (CFPR), has been
awarded the Saxby Medal by the Royal
Photographic Society in their annual
awards.
The Saxby Medal is an award for
achievement in the field of threedimensional imaging, endowed by
Graham Saxby Hon FRPS in appreciation
of the benefits of 50 years’ membership of
the Society.
David was awarded the medal for the
body of work he has undertaken at UWE
since 2000 at a ceremony on 8 September
at the Royal Society. This includes research
into early photo-mechanical print
techniques on ceramics and alternative
substrates, and 3D rendering and printing.
Along with Professor Steve Hoskins,
director of the CFPR, David received
funding in 2000-2003 from the Arts and
Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for
research entitled A Practical Re-appraisal
of Continuous Tone Photo-relief Printing
for Ceramics and Alternative Substrates.
This project explored the potential of early
photo-mechanical printmaking techniques,
including the Woodburytype process, for
UWE graduate
wins Mullany Prize
for Excellence in
Physiotherapy
The Mullany Prize for Excellence
in Physiotherapy has been won by
deserving recent UWE graduate Chris
Jones. The Mullany Fund was set up in
memory of Ben and Catherine Mullany,
whose lives were tragically cut short on
their honeymoon in Antigua in 2008.
At the time of his murder Ben was a
physiotherapy student at UWE, and
Catherine was a qualified doctor. Each
year, the Mullany Fund awards two
£1,000 prizes, one to an outstanding
student of physiotherapy at UWE,
and the other to a medical student at
Swansea University’s School of Medicine,
in Cath’s home city.
The awards aim to recognise, promote
and reward exceptional student
commitment. Chris was nominated
by his tutors in HLS for his academic
the printing of high quality photographic
imagery onto ceramics and alternative
substrates.
As a result of the success of this research,
UWE’s 3D printing laboratory, led by
David and Steve, was set up in 2007
with funding from the Science Research
Investment Fund and Higher Education
Innovation Fund which allowed the
purchase of equipment. This was followed
by an AHRC grant for a project entitled
The Fabrication of 3 Dimensional Art and
Craft Artefacts through Virtual Digital
Construction and Output (2007-09), to
carry out research into 3D rendering and
3D printing.
This study was undertaken from the
perspective of the artist/craftsperson and
sought to adapt its generic, intermediary
and industrial role as a tool for creation of
temporary prototypes to the production
of one-off, permanent bespoke or limited
edition artefacts. The current AHRC
funded project entitled Solid Free-Form
Fabrication in Fired Ceramic as a Design
Aid for Concept Modelling in the Ceramic
Industry (2011-12) aims to prove the
commercial viability of 3D printed ceramic
bodies as a design tool for concept
modelling of tableware and whiteware for
the ceramic industry.
David said, “I was surprised and delighted
to receive this award and I am very
honoured with the recognition from the
Royal Photographic Society. This award
reflects the expertise and dedication of
the team at the CFPR.”
achievements, including gaining top
marks in one of his final modules, and
also for his contributions as a student
representative.
Chris said, “My main contributions
have come through being Chartered
Society of Physiotherapy representative
- I presented to each of the first year
groups with the aim of increasing
membership. I also spoke at the CSP
annual representative conference about
how the profession might be moved
forward which I felt was beneficial
and allowed the student voice to be
considered. I was also part of a team
that organised a Haiti fundraiser which
raised £700.”
Vice-Chancellor Steve West said, “The
Mullany Prize for Excellence is a fitting
tribute to an outstanding student. Ben
Mullany was very highly regarded by all
the staff and students who worked with
him and it is wonderful that his family
have chosen to make such a generous
and far sighted gesture that will make
such a positive difference to future
physiotherapy students at the University.
This is a great legacy in memory of Ben
and Cath Mullany.”
17
Dave Huson’s award-winning research
included 19th century photo-mechanical
printing techniques on ceramics
Steve said, “The Centre is very pleased
that David’s multidisciplinary work has
been recognised by this award. Unusually,
CFPR, as visual arts printing specialists,
have one of the most comprehensive sets
of state-of-the-art 2D and 3D printing,
cutting, machining and fabrication
hardware of any university creative arts
departments in the UK. By adapting to
the changing demands in the market
and requirements of the user, David is
able to conduct research that has direct
application to industry, creative design,
science and art. The Centre’s long-term
vision is to capitalise on the strengths that
have been built over the last ten years to
work in new and innovative ways towards
novel surface print, design and fabrication
in 2 and 3 dimensions, combining a
multi-technology approach of using new
materials and processes to push forward
new ideas and innovation.”
Ben’s mother Marilyn Mullany said,
“We are delighted for Chris to receive
the award. He has demonstrated
a dedication and enthusiasm for
physiotherapy, striving to achieve the
best not just for himself but for others
as well and this quality makes him a very
worthy recipient of the Mullany Fund
award for 2011.”
To find out more about the Mullany
Fund or make a donation visit http://
www.themullanyfund.org/
Chris Jones received this year’s Mullany
prize for excellence in physiotherapy
NEWS
Animation graduates Constantinos Mavromichalis and Dane Winn, after winning the Crazy Horse session
at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film
UWE animation students
win Crazy Horse short film
competition in Stuttgart
we thought rather than over-complicate the scenario, we
should have a simple conflict for the character and utilise
our skills to enhance it. We were very surprised and excited
when we were announced as winners, and shared our victory
and champagne with our competitors and UWE tutor, John
Parry.”
Recent graduates from UWE’s Bristol School of Animation,
Constantinos Mavromichalis and Dane Winn, have won
the Crazy Horse Session, a competition at the Stuttgart
International Festival of Animated Film. They competed with
teams of international animators from Poland, Singapore,
Egypt and Georgia to create a short film using the festival
mascot – a Crazy Horse - in just 48 hours.
During the 18th Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film, the
city was transformed into the capital of animation for six
days. The programme demonstrated how animation is a lot
more than just light entertainment. The social relevance and
the political topicality of the winning films and entries to
this year’s Festival were proof of this. In total, almost 1,000
films were shown at the Festival, and around 70,000 visitors
attracted to both the inner-city cinemas and the open air
cinema with a large LED screen.
According to the organisers, animating a film before an
audience is a frightening thought for most animation artists
– and all the more challenging is the task of creating a short
film within 48 hours at the live Animation Jam.
The teams had to use the same character, taken from the
festival motif, to tell a short story of between 30 seconds
and two minutes. The organisers provided the participants
with the source code for various types of animation software
such as Maya, 3D Studio Max and xsi Softimage. They could
then compare the skills of the animators with regard to
storytelling, graphic style and animation software.
Their film showed what happens when the colourful Crazy
Horse encounters a disintegration force-field.
Dane said, “It was a really fun experience. We figured out
the story on the plane to Germany, and worked through
the 48 hour Jam with hardly any sleep. Our UWE tutors
suggested going for something simple with the story, so
Senior Lecturer in Animation, Rachel Robinson said, “Both
Constantinos and Dane have gone from strength to strength
in the work they have produced - they are hugely talented
and creative individuals. Their win for the Bristol School
of Animation showcases the high standards we expect of
our students and the passion and commitment we have to
providing high quality teaching and training in all aspects of
creative animation production.”
They are part of a group of five animation students, called
A Foot Apart Productions, who were featured as rising stars
in the spring issue of Imagine magazine. Dane has already
secured a job in animation at Blue-Zoo Productions.
To view the winning animation visit
http://goo.gl/Y1dU5
18
Sea, air and light come to life
in Extreme Wave exhibition
UWE project helps Ugandan
communities build water security
Dramatic seascapes by visiting UWE Research Fellow Dr
Janette Kerr were on show this summer focusing on the seas
around Shetland. The exhibition of works in paint, graphite,
charcoal and chalk was at the Bonhoga Gallery, Shetland,
until 14 August.
Water research experts from UWE have been helping rural
communities in Uganda to create secure and sustainable
water supplies.
Dr Alan Terry, Dr Chad Staddon, Dr Olayide Fatoyinbo (all
from Bristol Group for Water Research, UWE) with colleagues
from NAPE (The National Association of Professional
Environmentalists), Uganda, travelled to Mukono District,
outside Kampala in Uganda, to improve the community water
supply.
The exhibition represents the end of the first stage of
an Arts Council funded research project on the interface
between art and science. The work on show is the result of
fieldwork in Shetland’s shoreline and cliffs, on boats out at
sea, and research into first-hand accounts by survivors of
fishing disasters in the Shetland Museum archive.
Dr Chad Staddon said, “Water security is a crucial challenge
for the developing world where more than a billion people
lack access to clean, safe water. Local communities do not
always have the expertise and the resources to ensure the
water supply is sustainable. For a modest outlay on technical
infrastructure, we were able to improve the water supply for
more than 1,000 people in Mukono District on the outskirts
of the Ugandan capital, Kampala. Working with the Ugandan
NGO NAPE and with local government we rehabilitated
gravity wells, making them safer, more reliable and easier to
use. A related work package involved helping with training of
local water user committees in sustainable water management
– key to the long term sustainability of projects like these.
Janette seeks to make direct visual associations between
observational and experiential field work and the work
of Norwegian mathematicians and scientists researching
extreme wave theory, and the material culture of
exploration and measurement. This is intertwined with
the cultural narratives of danger and the sublime – historic
storms and tragedies that are part of Shetland’s history.
During her time on the island Janette went out drawing in
the snow, was blown across cliff-tops, and experienced the
dramatic changes in the landscape. She met local archivists,
story-tellers and sea-farers, and witnessed Shetland's famous
Up Helly Aa fire festival.
“Water is an increasingly precious resource and we need to
help communities to manage water supplies in a way that is
sustainable, uses available (and relatively low tech) skills, and
benefits both the community and the environment. We need
to make the link between researching the global issues of
water supply and demand, and the practical actions here and
in developing countries that will help to secure water supplies.
Helping these communities is a practical application of the
research and understanding we are developing in the Bristol
Group for Water Research.”
She says, “My process of making paintings involves
extremes and instabilities: peripheral vision, peripheries and
promontories - sites of instability and unknowing, places
of rapid change and sudden shifts both physically and
meteorologically.
Following the success of this work, funded with £5,000
from the Department of Geography and Environmental
Management, the Bristol Group for Water Research and NAPE
are now looking for funders to help with follow-on work in
Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa.
“Shetland experiences one of the highest wave energy
environments in the world, exposed to the full force of
the Atlantic, generating high winds and agitated sea. My
journey here was auspiciously in keeping with the aims
of the project. I experienced the effect of high winds on
the sea, which kept me awake most of the night, with the
noise of the ferry battling against gale-force wind and the
constant swell and roll of the boat.”
Work from the project will be shown later on in this year at
Bower Ashton Campus as part of Janette’s travelling/workin-progress exhibition.
Chad Staddon at the Mukono Well
Visit her blog of her experiences on Shetland at
http://extremewavetheory.blogspot.com/
19
NEWS
Call for entries for FIRA RoboWorld
Cup 2012
Robots playing football and basketball, climbing, or running a
marathon will be on display when the FIRA RoboWorld Cup is
held in Bristol from 20-25 August next year.
The event will be hosted by Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL)
– a collaboration between UWE and the University of Bristol,
and will take place between the Olympics and the Paralympics.
Student teams with expertise in robotics and engineering from
universities around the world are now being invited to take
up the challenge and enter the competition.
Humanoid robots play football
Professor Alan Winfield, (FET, and Publicity Chair of the
RoboWorld Cup), said, “We want this RoboWorld Cup to be
the best ever and for that we need student teams from across
the UK and around the world to take up the challenge and
enter the competition.
all our lives. Robotics will be used to perform ever more
sophisticated medical treatments, to control our transport and
to complete tasks in the home. Care for the elderly will also
benefit through research into socially assisted technology. The
RoboWorld Cup is a way to inspire people about the potential
of robots.”
“Teams need to be multi-disciplinary with a mix of computer
scientists, electrical and mechanical engineers, as well as
having expertise in vision and sensing. This event is a fantastic
opportunity for students to showcase their skills, network with
other roboticists and learn about the potential for robotics.”
Robot soccer began in 1995. The Federation of International
Robot-soccer Association (FIRA) was founded in June 1997
with the goal of taking the spirit of science and technology of
robotics to the laymen and the younger generation. Alongside
the games, a major scientific conference, the FIRA/TAROS
Congress, will be held in Bristol, bringing together the leading
experts in robotics in the UK and worldwide.
The aim of the tournament is to inspire interest in robotics as
the teams design and build robots to compete against each
other in a variety of challenges. The technology developed
for the FIRA RoboWorld Cup requires a holistic view, involving
mechanical, electronic and software engineering, integrating
advanced AI, automated control and image processing
technology. These are the core technologies in robotics, and
key to the future development of this field.
The FIRA RoboWorld Cup 2012 is sponsored by the Institution
of Mechanical Engineers and a range of industrial partners.
Staff and students from BRL have already formed a team to
enter the Humanoid Robot World Cup Soccer (HuroSot).
Isobel Pollock, President Elect of the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, sponsors of the event, said, “As we move forward
robots are going to play an increasingly important part in
The Faculty of Environment and Technology
recently said thank you and good bye to eight
colleagues from the Department of Planning and
Architecture who were leaving the University
after some combined 100+ years of service.
Approximately 60 current and former colleagues
and friends gathered for a leaving party in the
Studios Extension in R Block to say goodbye to
Laura Braybrook, Stuart Farthing, Clara Greed,
Ron Griffiths, Christine Lambert, Paul Millar
(moving to another Faculty), Derrick Purdue and
Yusak Susilo.
Pictured at the party is Ron Griffiths addressing
the other leavers and guests. The photo in
the background, taken in the 1980s, shows
former colleagues, many of whom were in
attendance. The second photo shows Barry
Hutton (foreground, right), the first Head of
Department of Planning, in conversation with
former staff member Geoff Walker.
20
Diagnostic Imaging student
elected to the Society of
Radiographers Council.
Esther Spiering, a second year Diagnostic Imaging student,
was recently elected to the post of student observer to
the Society of Radiographers UK council. Founded in
1920, the Society is a professional body and trade union
that represents more than 90 per cent of the 26,000 state
registered diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers in
the UK. The Society is led by a Council which is made-up
of representatives from 12 regions from England, Wales,
Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The council determines
the Society's policy and strategic direction in consultation
with members and others that have a vested interest.
Student observers attend the monthly council meetings
and although they do not have the right to vote they get
to learn how the council operates and can raise issues that
are faced by student radiographers.
Esther first learnt about the Society when a representative
came to give a talk at the University last September.
She said, “After the talk, I got in touch with Amanda
McKenna. a Radiotherapy and Oncology student, who is
already active in Society business and was subsequently
invited to the South West Committee meetings. When I
attended the meeting
I was surprised at
the broad range
of topics discussed
and how there are
representatives from
all over the area who
really care about the
issues surrounding
radiography. As part
of the South West
Committee I attended
the Annual Delegates
Conference in Brighton
in April and it was
there where a firstyear student at London
South Bank University
and I were elected to
share this post.”
Esther Spiering
Karen Dunmall, Diagnostic Imaging Programme Leader,
said, “This is a first for a UWE Diagnostic Imaging student
and it is a great opportunity for Esther to be involved in
the internal processes of the Society of Radiographers as
well as sharing her experiences with the students and staff
involved in both the Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy
and Oncology programmes here at UWE.”
Relaunch of FET’s best kept secret,
the Video Project
The relaunch has involved
the production and launch
of a new website displaying
products, film clips and a
website sample. An online
payment system has also
been introduced to enable
customers external to UWE
to purchase our products
electronically.
The Video Project, run by the Department of Construction
and Property, FET, has relaunched as Educational Resources
for the Built Environment (ERBE). ERBE now comprises both
the Video Project, which produces educational films, and the
Construction Website, which is currently used on licence by
over 75 UK colleges and universities.
UWE’s Educational Resources for
the Built Environment team Steve
Samantha said “We have
Brown, Nigel Dann and Samantha
rebranded to better reflect
Organ
the nature of the project
and its products. This is
an ideal time for members of the University to reacquaint
themselves with these valuable resources.”
Founded in 1992 by Duncan Marshall (1953–2009) (see article
on him in the February 2010 Bulletin), ERBE currently has 32
films on construction and building history and conservation.
These educational films are sold extensively throughout the
UK and internationally.
The internal Construction Website can be accessed at
The Construction Website is an interactive web-based
encyclopedia covering a wide variety of teaching and learning
materials for use within the classroom, lecture hall, for
independent learning or in professional practice. It has over
500 pages of text on all aspects of construction including
materials, techniques, history and technology. There are over
1,500 photographs, more than 1,000 colour graphics, and has
numerous computer-based self-tests.
https://fbe6.uwe.ac.uk/resources/constructionofhouses/cduwe_
flicformat/Index.htm
The externally facing website with films clips can be found at
www.uwe.ac.uk/et/cp/erbe
Also find it on Facebook under Educational Resources
for the Built Environment. For more information
e-mail: fet-erbe@uwe.ac.uk, tel: 0117 32 83008.
The ERBE team updates the Construction Website annually,
and produces four films every two years. Today the team
principally consists of Nigel Dann, Steve Brown and Samantha
Organ.
21
NEWS
Novel measures to control
disease in amenity turf grass
Drs Dawn Arnold, Ian Wilson and Peter Spencer-Phillips
(Department of Applied Sciences, HLS) visited their PhD
student John Dempsey in Ireland in July. John’s research
project is entitled The effect of phosphite treatments on
the disease susceptibility of Agrostis stolonifera L, and
essentially focuses on novel measures to control disease
in amenity turf grass. John is the Course Manager for
the Curragh Golf Club in County Kildare, the oldest golf
club in Ireland, having been founded in 1883. The visit
included a tour of the course and the trial plots that John
has established, as well as discussion of the next stages
of the research. The project is investigating alternative,
environmentally friendly means to reduce susceptibility to
fungal pathogens in amenity turf grasses, thereby allowing
for a reduction in the use of chemical fungicides. This is
particularly significant as disease control by conventional
methods relies heavily on pesticides, with end user costs of
approximately £200 million per annum across the world on
golf greens alone.
Successful management requires diverse maintenance
procedures in order to achieve optimum playing surfaces.
Disease control is a major factor in this and the most
common and damaging disease in temperate climates is
caused by the fungus Microdochium nivale. Fungicide use
gives rise to a number of contentious issues, including
high cost, inhibition of non-target beneficial organisms,
continued use giving rise to a build up of resistance in
pathogens, and forthcoming legislative restrictions on
fungicide use. Thus alternative methods of reducing
susceptibility to this pathogen are required. The present
research is exploring the use of phosphite (PO33-),
which is an anion of phosphorus, as a means of reducing
susceptibility to M. nivale by stimulating or enhancing the
plants natural defence mechanisms.
Amenity turf grasses are used worldwide to provide
playing surfaces in a wide range of sports in addition to
golf, such as football, rugby, athletics and tennis, as well
as providing surfaces for green spaces in public areas
and domestic lawns. All suffer from infection by the
Microdochium fungus, and therefore there is significant
potential for this research to reduce fungicide use
wherever turf grass is grown.
From left to right; Ian Wilson, John Dempsey, Dawn Arnold and
Peter Spencer-Phillips at the turf grass trial plots.
Mental Health Awareness Day – 10 October
Drs Dawn Arnold, Ian Wilson and Peter Spencer-Phillips UWE Students’ Union are leading a campaign to mark Mental
Health Awareness Day on 10 October. Keep an eye out for the colourful campaign that will be featured across UWE
campuses.
Louise Goux-Wirth, Vice President Commununity and Welfare, UWE Students' Union, says, “Mental Health is an area
of health that is important to us all. It is crucial to our ability to fulfill life. The Mental Health Foundation carried out
a research into mental well-being and found that one out of four people will suffer from mental health issues in the
course of the year.
“Mental health is sensitive issue, making it challenging for institutions and organisations to find suitable ways of
approaching it. It is essential, however, to ensure that we break down the myths and stigma currently associated with
mental health.
“Ultimately, the silence and lack of understanding about mental illness can encourage feelings of shame, and
discourages people from seeking treatment or even discussing symptoms that they may be experiencing, that may relate
to mental illness. Working to break down the stigma can be done by simply talking about it, and making the services
available more accessible.”
22
PinkLime Design Consultancy
UWE Ventures helps students get entrepreneurial
“External assessment from a business perspective was really
respected by the students. Some were so used to getting high
marks, they were amazed by how low they were rated in
some of the areas. Instead of giving up, they really dug in and
responded,” said Dr Rob Williams, Principal Lecturer, FET.
In Autumn 2010, the Department of Art and Design launched
a final-year option module entitled Enterprise in Creative
Practice to introduce enterprise and entrepreneurship in a
supported academic context. The undergraduate module was
developed in consultation with the Bristol Business School
and building on a popular MA option module, Enterprise for
Creative Practice.
To discover how course leaders are building on these successes,
go to www.uwe.ac.uk/ventures
Due to overwhelming demand, the pilot run with 22 students
was increased to 62 (about 13 per cent of the year group).
The module’s aims include students’ identifying and cultivating
entrepreneurial skill sets and initiatives, as well as encouraging
engagement with extracurricular University-supported
enterprise-related activities provided by UWE Ventures.
Faculties deliver inspiring selfemployed work placements
Adrienne Noonan, Module Leader and Associate Head of
School, External Relations, Department of Art and Design,
said, “The University has a fantastic range of services to
support enterprise and innovation – from UWE Ventures,
the BizIdea competition, the Ideas Factory and IP/Copyright
expertise.
Matt Rusling (FBL) and Rob Nisbett (FET) Work Placement
Officers have delivered successful self-employed work
placements with support from UWE Ventures.
Business undergraduates can elect to run their own business
rather than going into a traditional work placement. Matt
Rusling helps guide students who want to enter ideas for the
BizIdea.
“We felt that it was important to flag these up and encourage
student engagement whilst they’re still students. By working
in partnership with UWE Ventures, we organised a roster of
guest speakers. Students really responded to UWE Ventures
residents – including Make Design Enjoy, Fiasco Design,
BrisFest, PhotoBoy, and Mindsport – particularly the frankness
about their own entrepreneurial journeys.”
Matt said, “The BizIdea was extremely useful because it meant
students came to us before their self employed placement
with a solid, validated business plan.”
UWE Ventures also secures and co-ordinates business mentors,
feedback and presentations.
Creative Enterprise student Alex Green, BA(Hons) Illustration,
anchored UWE's winning team in the FLUX Inter-University
Challenge. He went on to be shortlisted at the Idea stage of
the BizIdea Competition. Rita Madiera, MA Media, scooped
first prize, winning £1,000 and UWE Ventures incubator space
for her artisan fashion import concept, AYMO.
Matt said, “They offer a crucial interface with local business.
Students received feedback on presentation skills and
incubator clients came in to present their ventures. Students
responded particularly well to these as their achievements
are relatively recent, making them accessible and therefore
attainable.”
“Student take-up of the module was strong with many of
these being high-fliers. This was evident by a high proportion
of students achieving a 1st (27 per cent), 2.1 (28 per cent) and
2.2 (27 per cent) respectively.”
When five FET students came up with creative design
consultancy, PinkLime, they approached Rob Nisbett to see if
they could develop this during their work-placement year.
Rob Nisbett said, “We’re used to directing academic learning
– not helping students run a business. We set milestones that
we wanted PinkLime to achieve from an academic perspective.
UWE Ventures staff then identified milestones on setting up
the business. They also provided business mentors to advise
and assess the team throughout their placement.
In Autumn 2011, Enterprise in Creative Practice will run with
65 students, an interdisciplinary teaching team, and the
continued support of UWE Ventures.
FET also reported outstanding results and outcomes from
their enterprise-focused modules last academic year. The
module Entrepreneurial Skills for Computing attracted a highly
engaged cohort of high-fliers. These benefited from leadingedge course materials supplemented by UWE Ventures’
enterprise initiatives including theBizIdea.
“We’ve used PinkLime as an example to other students. Quite
a few have got in touch on the back of this and we’re hoping
to offer the same encouragement to others who want to take
this more entrepreneurial route.”
Read PinkLime’s story at www.uwe.ac.uk/ventures
23
NEWS
Environmental Technologies iNet event held at UWE
Professor James Longhurst speaking at the Environmental Technologies iNet lunch event at Frenchay Campus
More than 50 academic and support staff from UWE
attended an event on Frenchay Campus in July, to
find out how they could work with the Environmental
Technologies iNet.
resulting benefits including academic networking
opportunities, the recruitment of graduate interns and
assistance with securing European funding.
The £2 million UWE-led project, which provides
business support to the most promising environmental
technology companies and entrepreneurs in the South
West, is already working with a number of individuals
and teams across the University.
“The opportunities for UWE staff to get involved
in what we are doing will increase in the coming
months,” he said. “A number of clients that are
developing new technologies can gain an enormous
amount from the opinions and guidance of academic
consultants.
As the number of businesses it is engaging with grows,
and those it is currently assisting evolve to a stage
where they can take advantage of the University’s
more intensive support services, extending these
relationships will become increasingly important.
“Others have recruitment issues that can be resolved
through graduate internships and student placements,
or specific project needs that may have the potential
to develop into Knowledge Transfer Partnerships or
longer-term graduate roles.
Professor James Longhurst, Assistant Vice-Chancellor
(Environment and Sustainability) and Associate Dean
(FET), opened proceedings with an overview of the
iNet’s inception and how it fits into UWE’s future
strategy.
“Where a skills shortage exists, UWE’s professional
course offering can also provide an effective solution.
In many cases, simply having the chance to network
with university representatives is highly valued by
these companies and entrepreneurs.”
This was followed with a summary of current project
activity provided by the Faculty’s Professor Martin Bigg,
Director of the Environmental Technologies iNet.
For more information on the Environmental
Technologies iNet and the opportunities it presents
for UWE staff to engage with innovative businesses,
contact environmental@inets-sw.co.uk,
tel 0117 32 86711
During his speech, Professor Bigg highlighted three
client companies that had already engaged with
the higher education sector through the iNet, with
24
Environmental technology issues
discussed at breakfast debate
an honorary
UWE graduate,
who gave an
overview of the
regional sector.
Professor Martin Bigg (FET) was a panellist at one of South
West Business Insider magazine’s recent economic breakfast
events in Bristol.
The panellists
answered
questions from
an audience
that included
leading
From left: Vimal Vallabh (PricewaterhouseCoopers);
environmental
Ross Fairley (Burges Salmon) and Professor Martin
Bigg (Environmental Technologies iNet) at the South
technology
West Business Insider magazine panel event.
businesses,
public sector
organisations
and investors drawn from the South West and further afield.
Director of the UWE-led Environmental Technologies iNet,
Professor Bigg debated current financial, regulatory and
technological issues facing environmental businesses in the
South West with a diverse group of industry leaders and
experts.
Other panel members included Julie Davenport (Chief
Executive of Good Energy), Ryan Law (Managing Director
of Geothermal Engineering), Ross Fairley (Partner and Head
of Environment and Energy at Burges Salmon) and Vimal
Vallabh (Director of Renewables Corporate Finance at
PricewaterhouseCoopers).
As might be expected in the current economic climate, most
questions related to the availability of funding, from UK
government, European Union and private sources.
The debate opened with two on-stage interviews conducted
by South West Business Insider’s Editor, Christian Annesley.
Merlin Hyman, Chief Executive of Regen South West, an
Environmental Technologies iNet consortium partner, set the
scene with regard to government regulation and support,
followed by Alan Bailey, Chair of Low Carbon South West and
Coverage of the event was published in the September edition
of South West Business Insider and is available as a PDF
download from the Environmental Technologies iNet website:
www.inets-sw.co.uk/environmental
Intellectual property initiative
responds to Government findings
to book confidential one-to-one follow up appointments with
an independent expert in the field.
These sessions resulted in the provision of detailed action
plans containing bespoke guidance on how to best manage IP
in relation to the individual businesses.
A scheme providing the South West’s environmental
technology businesses with a comprehensive free programme
of intellectual property (IP) support has successfully
assisted ten of the region’s most promising companies
and entrepreneurs, and plans are in place to re-launch the
initiative later in the year.
“Intellectual property is often one of the most valuable
assets our client businesses possess,” said Dr Enda Hayes
(FET) the Environmental Technologies iNet’s Business Support
Manager and a Senior Research Fellow with UWE’s Air Quality
Management Resource Centre. “In many cases, however, they
are simply not aware of how to make the most of it.
The Exploit Your Most Valuable Asset programme was devised
by the UWE-led Environmental Technologies iNet in response
to government findings that only 15 per cent of small
businesses seek advice on safeguarding their ideas. It enabled
participants to secure specialist, bespoke IP support that might
otherwise have been too costly.
“Seeing clients enter the programme without an
understanding of what they should protect and how they
should protect it, then emerging at the other end with a
tailored action plan and a clear vision of the best way forward,
has been really satisfying.
“This timely initiative directly addressed one of the key
challenges facing small and medium sized enterprises in the
UK. We now intend to open the scheme up to even more
businesses with a re-launch planned for later in the year.”
After attending an initial workshop that covered the basics of
securing commercial benefit from IP and dispelled some of the
common myths surrounding the subject, participants were able
25
NEWS
CLARS nominated for award
Geographers bring Gordano
Valley history to life
Following the 2011 national recognition of CLARS free
legal advice and representation service (winner of the
Attorney General Award, runner-up in The Lawyer
awards ), the service has recently been nominated by the
publishers of the legal periodical Family Law for an award
in its ‘outstanding contribution in the field of family law’
category.
Dr Wendy Woodland (FET) and colleagues from Bath Spa
University have collected a 3m-deep soil core to help to
record the history of the Gordano Valley, near Portishead.
The core will be preserved in resin and put on display at
Bristol’s @-Bristol science centre, as part of the attraction's
forthcoming exhibition – “Our World” – a permanent new
display which will be unveiled in the spring.
CLARS has now started, at the Civil Justice Centre in Bristol,
the first in-court service in the country offering advice
and representation to litigants in person in the area of
domestic abuse. The Government is cutting public funding
in family cases and there is a significant concern that the
courts will be littered with litigants in person. Accordingly,
the service has attracted interest from the President of
the Family Division of the High Court of Justice and, on
his behalf, Mr Justice Cranston is examining the service
and considering whether it may form the model for future
nationwide schemes.
“People think about history as being something that's
gone: disappeared,” Wendy says, “But it's all still there, just
below our feet – history itself, or at least an echo of it.”
“We hope this will provide a physical record of time
passing, right here on our doorstep.”
The soil-sampling, in a field owned by the Avon Wildlife
Trust, was filmed by BBC Points West and also covered
by the Bristol Evening Post. Tom Hill, Senior Lecturer
in Physical Geography from Bath Spa, whose PhD was
supervised by Wendy, explained what the clearly defined,
different coloured layers of earth show us:
CLARS is in the process of setting up an Environmental
Justice Partnership based at UWE; the launching event to
be held at CREATE in Bristol on 21 October. The partners
are UWE, Bristol Green Capital, The Environmental Law
Foundation (President: HRH The Prince of Wales) and
the ADR group, Bristol. The purpose of the Partnership
is to provide a focal point for Bristol and the South-West
offering research, publicity, information, advice and
representation on all environmental issues to individuals,
business and community groups.
“Each layer of strata is a different type of soil, which can
tell us a different thing about the era in which it was set
down. Because sediment builds up and up over time, the
lower down the core we look, the further back into history
we are delving.”
The first section of the core, a dark layer of peat,
represents the most recent past. But the next section down
is grey in colour, and the section below that is beige.
“The grey layers further down the core tell a very
interesting story,” Tom says. “If you go back 11,000 years,
parts of the Gordano Valley were underwater.”
Association of University
Administrators (AUA)
Helen Featherstone, content and visitor researcher for
@-Bristol who is working with Wendy and Tom says “It's
about finding ways of bringing history to life – making
academic concepts more accessible for our visitors."
Join AUA now and benefit from:
• support for your career development
• networking opportunities
• information on current HE issues
• a world of new opportunities within the sector
•the opportunity to travel (through application
for travel awards)
The UWE Bristol Branch of the AUA contributes to
the professionalisation of the UWE Administrator
by promoting the work of the Association and by
working with the University to embed the Code
of Professional Standards in a more high profile
manner.
For an information pack on the benefits of being
a member of the AUA, please contact Pat Hughes,
Patricia.Hughes@uwe.ac.uk or Teresa Stephens,
Teresa2.Stephens@uwe.ac.uk, UWE Joint AUA
Branch Co-ordinators.
From left: Helen Featherstone, Content and Visitor Researcher from
@Bristol, Wendy Woodland (FET) and Tom Hill from Bath
Spa University.
26
October 2011 is Black History Month
UWE is proud to be celebrating Black History Month (BHM)
this October.
BHM aims to celebrate and promote the contribution that
black people of African and Caribbean origin have made to
society.
BHM was established in the United States of America by
the Harvard-educated African American scholar, Dr Carter G
Woodson in 1926. UK recognition of BHM started in London
in October 1987 by the former Greater London Council.
October was chosen because the month coincided with
the Marcus Garvey celebrations and London Jubilee. From
the London boroughs the interest in BHM soon spread to
other cities like Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and
Birmingham. Since 1997 BHM has gained national profile and
the then Commission for Racial Equality became involved in
co-coordinating a national events programme. Broadcasters
such as Channel 4, the BBC and local media now include
programmes focused on BHM in their October schedules.
UWE has a range of activities and events for students and
for staff. More details are on the equality and diversity web
page for UWE and Bristol wide events: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/
groups/equalityanddiversity
The UWESU are planning various activities, notably a Love
Music Hate Racism event, for more details on this and
other UWESU BHM events go to: http://www.uwesu.org/
events/6013/115/
UWE Library investigates researchers’ information needs
How do researchers use the Library? Are the relevant information, books and journal titles needed, accessible? And how can
librarians at UWE support the research process? A recent needs analysis by Research and Knowledge Exchange Librarians, Judith
Stewart and Jenni Crossley, assisted by Dave Hewish, found that there was a high level of satisfaction within the UWE research
community with the resources and services offered by UWE Libraries.
A pilot survey of researchers in Health and Life Sciences which elicited 72 responses, was extended to researchers across the
University. This received 105 responses, with representation from all faculties.
There was a high level of satisfaction for access to full text journals in terms of relevant titles (93 per cent) and relevant back
issues (86 per cent). Where items were not available from the library, 75 per cent of respondents made use of the interlibrary
loans service and were largely satisfied with the process.
Researchers said they would like more assistance in finding and using:
• conference papers
(75 per cent)
• grey literature
(58 per cent)
• official publications
(50 per cent)
They would also welcome support with:
• citation impact/impact factors
(75 per cent)
• open access publishing
(76 per cent)
• UWE Research Repository
(67 per cent)
• getting published
(67 per cent)
Specific mention was made of a need to learn more about data management and curation.
For developing information skills, researchers would welcome workshops on using Refworks,
searching databases and developing search strategies.
Opinions about specific library space for researchers were divided 50/50; however there was a clear demand for silent study
space with some extra facilities for researchers. The Library is working to address this.
Questions were asked to rate the ease of use of features of the Library’s web pages. Views expressed here
have already informed developments on the new look library website: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/library/usingthelibrary/
servicesforresearchers.aspx.
Thank you to all those who took part in the study. A full survey report can be accessed
at: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/15596/. Data from the survey will inform the development of services to meet
the needs of the UWE research community.
You may contact the Research and Knowledge Exchange Librarians, e-mail lib.rke@uwe.ac.uk or phone 0117 32 82840.
27
NEWS
UWE graduate picks up inaugural
award from Bristol Property
Agents’ Association
Jayne Rixon, president of the BPAA, who is a partner at
Burston Cook, added, “We shortlisted and interviewed four
candidates but Shahaid is a worthy winner. He put himself
through university by working for a local motor vehicle garage
and his sheer dedication, enthusiasm and application is borne
out by the fact that he was awarded a First.”
The BPAA represents the commercial and residential property
sector in the city and its membership comprises surveyors,
solicitors, architects, engineers, developers and contractors.
UWE graduate, Shahaid Hussain is on track for a successful
career in the property industry after being recognised by the
city’s professional body.
Shahaid, from Bristol, is the first winner of the Bristol Property
Agents’ Association’s (BPAA) Student of the Year award. The
39 year old recently obtained a first class degree in property
management and investment.
left to right:
Shahaid Hussain
with Doug
Wood, Senior
Vice President
of the Bristol
Property Agents’
Association and
Jayne Rixon,
President
He will be presented with the award and a £500 cheque at the
BPAA’s annual dinner in February.
Shahaid said, “I am delighted and honoured to be named
BPAA UWE Student of the Year 2011. It would not have
been achieved without the mentoring and dedication of my
lecturers at UWE over the last three years, who included Tania
Woolf, Andrew Ellison, Christopher Mason and James Taylor.”
UWE nurses join global community
Pam Moule (pictured middle row, fourth from left) at the
ceremony
UWE offers special
training in Women’s
Health issues
The University will be offering specialist
training and support to help people
who work in professions concerned with
women’s health. The course has been
developed to help professionals gain a
better understanding of specialist issues
so that clients and patients are better
supported.
Pam Moule (Department of Nursing and Midwifery) attended
the chartering and induction ceremony of the first England
Honour Society of Nursing (Phi Mu Chapter), held at the American
Embassy, London on 8 July. The Honour Society of Nursing, Sigma
Theta Tau International, aims to create a global community of
nurses who strive to improve nursing care through leadership,
scholarship in practice, education and research. The Phi Mu
Chapter is hosted by Bournemouth University. Its President
is Professor Elizabeth Rosser and members are drawn from
across England, representing a wide range of nursing interests.
The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences will be hosting the
February meeting of the Phi Mu Chapter that will include three
presentations of nursing research and scholarly work. All staff and
students are welcome to attend the presentations on 29 February
2012, UWE, Glenside Campus, room 1F11. For further information
on the event and Phi Mu Chapter please contact Pam Moule (Pam.
Moule@uwe.ac.uk 0117 32 88422)
The course will cover a diverse yet relevant
range of topics including physiological
processes and abnormalities of the female
reproductive system, menarche and
fertility; menopause and the older woman;
mental health and psychosexual issues;
issues around sexual health; screening
for female cancers and urogynaecology;
sociological and public health perspectives;
and communication skills using
appropriate models and/or motivational
interviewing.
Pat Turton, one of the course tutors says,
“This course will suit people working in
primary care, the voluntary sector, public
28
health nursing, school nursing, practice
nursing, sexual health, mental health or
any other field where you are providing
advice and care to women of all ages.
There are many health issues that are
pertinent to women only and this course
gives busy professionals a chance to reflect
on and learn more about these specialist
areas.”
The course starts in November and runs
over an eight month period.
For more information please contact:
Pat Turton : Pat2.Turton@uwe.ac.uk
Telephone: 0117 32 88848
UWE provides input into national
Nuclear Medicine Workforce
Development event
Marc Griffiths and Gary Dawson (both HLS) delivered two
interactive keynote addresses at a national Nuclear Medicine
Workforce Development event, held at the Institute of
Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) headquarters in
York. The event focused on career development within the
field of nuclear medicine practice and was attended by a
mixture of clinical technologists and radiographers.
Gary Dawson provided a session on developing standards
for education, training and practice in Nuclear Medicine
and Marc Griffiths discussed the educational requirements
and practice development within Hybrid Imaging. Both
sessions utilised Turning Point Technology, in order to
capture delegate feedback at the event and gather market
intelligence related to the emerging education and training
themes within Nuclear Medicine practice.
Speakers and organisers at the seminar event: (L to R)Cathy
Scully (Avon TeleCare), Jill Preddy (Occupational Therapist,
AWP), Marc Griffiths (Associate Head of Department, AHP
(HLS) and ATSN Project Lead), Lesley Donovan (HEIF4 Project
Manager), Harriet Moseling (Tunstall Healthcare Ltd), Dylan
Martlew (Avon Telecare).
The event provided an opportunity to promote the Nuclear
Medicine programme and various CPD modules and short
courses at UWE. This was the first collaborative workforce
event held between IPEM and the Society and College of
Radiographers (SCoR), which also explored the impact of
the new Modernising Scientific Careers training programme
within the field of nuclear medicine. Following on from the
event, Marc Griffiths and Gary Dawson have been asked
to lead on two strategic SCoR publications, providing an
evidence based approach to a career road map within
nuclear medicine practice and the development of an
essential core competency framework within hybrid imaging.
Assistive technology seminar
event for health and social care
professionals
The Assistive Technology Strategic Network (ATSN)
organised and co-delivered a half day seminar event
on 27 July. The event focused on the use of assistive
technology (AT) in the management and prevention of
falls within a number of physical environments. A number
of commercial companies also supported the seminar
event, providing access to a range of AT equipment and
presentations for delegates.
The seminar event was supported by the ATSN, which
was formed earlier in the year, through HEIF4 funding,
and provided an opportunity for a range of health and
social care professionals to network and discuss aspects
of care and support for patients / clients who may
require the use of AT. The event covered areas including
choosing the right AT equipment for the patient /
client and environment, emerging mobile AT and geofencing technology, telecare options within the home
environment and how to refer a patient / client for an AT
assessment.
The event was attended by over 65 delegates with various
professional backgrounds being represented.
Keynote speakers and organisers of the joint IPEM / SCoR Career
Promotions for Technologists and Radiographers in Nuclear Medicine
event:
Marc Griffiths (ATSN Project lead and seminar event
organiser) highlighted the value of the seminar event:
“This was an opportunity to bring together a range of
health and social care professionals and commercial
companies in one environment, sharing experiences,
emerging technologies and the current challenges
associated with the provision of diverse assistive living
solutions. It is evident that the use of AT and telecare
will continue to grow and UWE is positioning itself as a
key stakeholder in the delivery of education and training
within this field.”
Back row: Kim Howe, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne;
Andrew Tootall, Salford University, Manchester; Marc Griffiths, UWE;
Sean Kelly, The Society and College of Radiographers; Sally Farrell,
Derriford Hospital, Plymouth; Gary Dawson, UWE
Front row: Anil Vara, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton & IPEM
Technologist Representative; Bernadette Cronin, The Royal Marsden
Hospital, Sutton; Ian Jones, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby; Barbara
Dawson, Rotherham Hospital, Rotherham
A larger scale Assistive Living conference, which will
focus on the use of AT and service improvement, is being
planned for the winter and aims to involve commercial
companies, service representatives / users and carers.
29
NEWS
Mollie Hughes training in the Alps
UWE graduate seeks sponsorship
to achieve Everest dream
to make some kind of difference to people around the world
suffering in poverty.”
Climbing Mount Everest is a major physical and psychological
challenge. Before attempting to reach the summit at 8,850m,
Mollie will need to spend almost two months on the mountain
to acclimatise as much as possible to the extreme altitude and
reduced oxygen levels.
Psychology and Sports Biology graduate, Mollie Hughes
is seeking sponsorship to help her achieve her dream of
becoming the youngest British woman to climb Mount Everest
in May 2012.
A keen sportswoman and former UWE netball player, Mollie
has been supported by the University Centre for Sport’s Steve
Lock in her quest to reach the optimum fitness levels needed.
She said, “Steve has helped with his expert knowledge of
fitness training and by creating and adapting a training
programme specific to the challenges I am going to face on
Everest. Since training with UWE I have definitely seen an
improvement in my fitness levels, I have just returned from
training in the Alps and even though some of the climbing
was pretty tough I felt fit and adapted to the altitude well. If
I had done the same climbs in the Alps before training with
UWE I would have struggled a lot more.”
Mollie who recently completed her studies, will be 21 when
she takes on the challenge, hoping to emulate the feats of
Bonita Norris, who was 22 when she climbed Everest in 2010.
Currently she is looking for sponsorship from local businesses
to fund the costs of this two month expedition to Nepal. She
will be climbing with the expedition company Dream Guides
led by experienced climber Kenton Cool who has successfully
summited Everest nine times.
Talking about her inspiration behind the challenge, Mollie
says, “ I have always had a passion for mountaineering and
adventure sports, but my inspiration for wanting to conquer
Everest comes largely from my dissertation project during my
last year at UWE. I interviewed seven high altitude climbers
who had summited Everest. Through meeting them and
assessing their psychological experiences on Everest I realised
it was a mountain I definitely wanted to experience for myself.
But also having the chance to raise money and awareness of
such a deserving charity (ActionAid). Hopefully I will be able
The next step of Mollie’s training programme comes in
November when she will travel out to Nepal to climb the
mountain, Ama Dablam in the Himalyas.
To find out more about Mollie’s Everest Challenge and
sponsorship opportunities,
e-mail: Mollie2.Hughes@live.uwe.ac.uk
Radiography staff take delivery of technology
upgrade to further enhance student learning
Radiography staff within the Department of Allied Health Professions (HLS) have
recently taken delivery of an equipment upgrade to existing practical X-ray imaging
facilities at the Glenside Campus. The introduction of a CXDI-50G Canon portable
Direct Digital Radiography (dDR) detector complements the existing practical
radiography facilities, which were installed in 2005 by Xograph Healthcare Ltd.
The “BuckyStar” dDR imaging system was installed by Xograph Healthcare Ltd over
the summer and will provide additional imaging capabilities for students on the
BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy and Oncology programmes from
September. The introduction of the DR imaging system reflects recent technological
advancements within clinical practice and provides students and staff with the ability
to replicate a variety of clinical scenarios.
Marc Griffiths, Associate Head of Department, Allied Health Professions (HLS),
highlighted the importance of the imaging upgrade. “The addition of a DR system
to existing imaging resources will provide first class practical teaching, learning and
research resources for students and staff. The upgraded imaging resources will also
be promoted at future open days for student recruitment.”
30
Members of the Radiography team pictured
with the new Canon DR Imaging system: (Back
row L to R): Gary Dawson, Senior Lecturer;
Antonio Sassano, Senior Lecturer; Viv Gibbs,
Programme Leader Ultrasound; Angela Bailey,
Senior Lecturer and Clinical Co-ordinator; Rob
Stewart, Senior Lecturer; Liam Neill, Territory
Manager, Xograph Healthcare Limited
(Front L to R): Stuart Grange, Senior Lecturer;
Marc Griffiths, Associate Head of Department,
Allied Health Professions
Copyright Licensing Agency annual survey
The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) will soon be conducting its annual survey of copyright material being photocopied in the
University. The survey will be conducted by the CLA at selected photocopiers within the departments of two faculties: Health
and Life Sciences and Arts, Creative Industries and Education from 24 October–2 December 2011.
Teaching staff or administrative staff copying on their behalf, photocopying from books, journals or magazines will be asked to
photocopy a single sheet that identifies the book (title or verso page). If photocopying a journal or magazine the identification
of the relevant article is also required. A sticker showing the number of copies made must be fixed to the identification sheet
and placed in the yellow box by the photocopier. Stickers and boxes will be supplied by the CLA and placed by all participating
photocopiers. Staff in these departments are asked to familiarise themselves with the red instruction posters that will be
displayed
next to
relevant photocopiers
during 2
the survey.
FAQ Flyer
A5the 5/9/06
12:31 Page
For further information please contact John2.Elliott@uwe.ac.uk
Photocopy Survey
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is CLA?
The Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. is a non profit-making company set up by
authors and publishers to license the photocopying, and in some cases, scanning
and emailing of their works.
What does CLA do?
We facilitate access to copyright materials, represent the rights of authors, artists
and publishers and protect the value of their creativity. Our licences provide easy
legal access to magazines, journals, books, law reports, press cuttings and more.
Why are you here?
Surveys are a means of identifying the authors, artists and publishers whose
works are copied so that we can distribute licence fees to them. The surveys also
provide an opportunity to discuss copyright issues with licensees and to answer
any questions that may arise.
How do surveys work?
The survey procedure is quick and simple. When photocopying we ask you to
produce a single copy of the page that identifies the work. This is either the
ISBN/title page of a book, the ISSN/title page of a journal or a copy of the journal
cover and the first page of the article copied. You are also asked to record the
number of pages and copies made on a label we provide .
31
News in Brief
NEWS
Staff in the media
The Family Names of the United Kingdom
(FaNUK), an AHRC-funded research project led by
Professor Richard Coates (ELC), was featured
on BBC Radio 4’s Word of Mouth on Tuesday 26
July.
included the director of Historical Studies at the
Russian Academy of Sciences and the Director of
the Institute of Historical Research.
Publications
Dr Andrew Spicer (ACE) was interviewed on
BBC Radio Scotland’s Movie Café about Gilda
(1946), a classic film noir due to be re-released at
selected cinemas soon.
Mike Richardson and Peter Nicholls (HRM
Department, Business and Law Faculty) have
edited the monograph: A Business and Labour
History of Britain: Case Studies of Britain in the
Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Palgrave
(September 2011). The book brings together
historical case-study evidence to provide valuable
insights in the field of work organisation, the
social relations of production and the detailed
division of labour in some key British industries
between the 1830s and the 1990s.
Professor Alan Tapp (BBS) was interviewed
on Radio 5 Live on Monday 5 September about
research with Dorset County Council on parental
choice of primary school and the link to driving
children to school
Professor Don Webber and Dr Andrew
Mearman (FBL) have published Students'
perceptions of economics: identifying demand
for further study, in Applied Economics, 44 (9):
1121-1132.
Professor Clara Greed (FET) was interviewed
on Monday 25 July about toilets on BBC
Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. She was also
interviewed by the Women’s Design Service
for a video about women’s experiences of
toilet provision in London. It can be viewed on
You Tube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/
marielenclos?feature=mhee#p/u/0/62n5ANpFwTw
Tony Flegg (FBL) has published with T Tohmo
- Regional input-output tables and the FLQ
formula: a case study of Finland, Regional
Studies DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2011.592138
Professor Alan Winfield (EPSRC Senior Media
Fellow) was interviewed on robot ethics by
Dallas Campbell for the extra web segments
to accompany the BBC programme Bang Goes
the Theory: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/
p00k24rk
Fiona Spotswood (FBL) of the Bristol Social
Marketing Centre was interviewed on BBC Radio
Bristol on Tuesday 19 July on the day a subgroup
of the House of Lords Science and Technology
Committee published its report on issues around
the ‘nudge’ approach to behaviour change, which
is based on thinking from behavioural economics.
MediaWise Director Mike Jempson (Senior
Lecturer, Journalism) has been interviewed
about the hacking scandal at News International
by the Los Angeles Times and Huffington Post,
by BBC Radios Bristol, Gloucester, Somerset and
York, Three Counties Radio and Jack FM, and
appeared on BBC News 24 and Iran's Press TV.
He also addressed the NUJ public meeting at the
Conway Hall in London's Red Lion Square. He is
now part of the Media Reform Steering Group
bringing together academics and activists giving
evidence to Lord Leveson Inquiry.
Mike also was interviewed by both BBC Points
West and ITV West about the Attorney General's
successful action for contempt of court against
the Daily Mirror and The Sun for their treatment
of Bristol landlord Christopher Jefferies during the
police investigation into the murder of Joanna
Yeates, and Mr Jefferies’ successful legal actions
against eight newspapers.
Dr Chris Alford (PSY) did an interview with Nick
Ferrari on London LBC radio breakfast show on
28 July, discussing sleep apnoea and related sleep
problems – in connection with Ed Miliband who
underwent surgery in order to help treat his sleep
and breathing problem.
Alastair Kocho-Williams (HPP) was interviewed
on Pyaty Etazh for the BBC Russian Service on
Anglo-Russian relations. Other commentators
Dr Noelle Quenivet (Law - FBL) has published
an article the War on Terror and the Principle of
Distinction in International Humanitarian Law in
the Colombian Yearbook of International Law
(2010, Volume 3, pp 155-186).
Dr Britta Martens (ACE) has published a
monograph Browning, Victorian Poetics and the
Romantic Legacy: Challenging the Personal Voice
(Ashgate Press).
Her book takes an original approach to Robert
Browning's poetics and analyses his work
in relation to Romanticism and an evolving
Victorian poetic culture. It goes beyond reductive
interpretations of Browning as a self-effacing
poet to reveal a highly self-conscious, selfdramatising and conflicted engagement with the
Romantic tradition.
Nigel Curry and Stephen Owen (CCRI) had
Rural Planning in England - a Critique of Current
Policy published in Chinese in the journal Urban
and Rural Planning.
Jens Krause, Alan FT Winfield, Jean-Louis
Deneubourg (BRL) have published Interactive
robots in experimental biology, Trends in Ecology
& Evolution, 26 (7), 369-375, doi:10.1016/j.
tree.2011.03.015.
Erbas, M D, Winfield, A F T and Bull, L (BRL)
Towards Imitation-Enhanced Reinforcement
Learning in Multi-Agent Systems. In Proceedings
of 2011 IEEE Symposium on Artificial Life pages:
6-13, Paris, France.
Dr Rachel Gillibrand (PSY) has co-authored
the textbook Development Psychology (Pearson
2011) with Dr Virginia Lam (University of East
London) and Victoria L O’Donnell (University of
the West of Scotland). The book has received
very positive reviews from the global psychology
community. Professor Anne I H Borge, University
32
of Oslo, Norway said, “A timely, fresh textbook
with verve and student appeal. This modern,
future-oriented text is compelling and lively
from start to finish - a real page turner. The text
helps students to develop a critical mindset by
exploring the many crucial ‘why’ questions we
have about child development. Each chapter is
cleverly constructed around essential topics, and
includes relevant and engaging case studies,
key recommended websites, stop and think
boxes, specifically designed to facilitate student’s
learning.”
Mike Jempson (ACE) and research assistant
Wayne Powell contributed a chapter From the
Gentlemen's Club to the Blogosphere: media
accountability in the UK in Media Accountability
- in Europe and Beyond [Ederwein, Fengler,
Lauk and Leppik-Bork (eds), Herbert von Halem
Verlag, Koln 2011, ISBN 978-3-86962-038-1].
This is the first publication of the EU-funded
MediaAct project in which UWE is a partner.
They also co-produced a study on the impact
of the internet on media accountability in the
UK for the project website <www.mediaact.
eu> a summary immediately overtaken by the
'hackgate' affair. They are currently conducting
a survey of attitudes amongst UK journalists for
the project.
Dawn Arnold (HLS), with Robert Jackson
at Reading University, has recently had a
review paper Bacterial genomes: evolution of
pathogenicity, published in the journal Current
Opinion in Plant Biology. The invitation to write
this review came after Dawn had a number
of papers published recently on investigations
into the evolution of pathogenicity in plant
pathogenic bacteria. Her research group
looks into how the resistance of plants to
bacterial attack can be lost due to changes
in the pathogen's DNA. This has significant
implications in terms of protecting our food
crops from devastating disease outbreaks.
Dr Havi Carel (HPP) has recently had published
In the Grip of Grief: the Materiality of Mourning
in Vital in New Takes in Film –Philosophy, H
Carel and G Tuck (eds), Palgrave, Basingstoke
(2011) and Phenomenology’s influence on
nursing and medicine in Routledge Handbook
for Phenomenology, S Luft and S Overgaard
(eds), Routledge, London (2011); also the paper,
Phenomenology and its Application in Medicine
in Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 32(1):3346 (Nov 2010).
Dr Owain Jones (CCRI) has had the following
chapter published: Forest landscapes: Identity
and Materiality, in E Ritta and D Dauksta (eds)
Society, culture and forests: human-landscape
relationships in a changing world, Guilford:
Springer (2011), pp 159 – 178. The following
publications have also been accepted and are
in production: Geography, Memory and Nonrepresentational Theory; Geography Compass,
Social Geography Section and Lunar-solar
rhythm patterns: towards the material cultures
of tides, Environmental and Planning A.
Alastair Kocho-Williams (HPP) - Editor of The
Twentieth Century Russia Reader (Routledge,
2011). The volume is a collection of edited
articles and extracts from books which provide
a broad overview of 20th Century Russian
History and Politics for undergraduate students.
Dr Kocho-Williams is currently producing a
textbook, Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy
in the Twentieth Century to be published by
Routledge in January 2012 and his monograph,
Russian and Soviet Diplomacy, 1900-1939 will
be published in November 2011 by Palgrave
Macmillan.
Bayarma Alexander, Christa Hubers (Centre
for Transport and Society, FET), Tim
Schwanen, Martin Dijst and Dick Ettema (2011)
have published: Anything, anywhere, anytime?
Developing indicators to assess the spatial
and temporal fragmentation of activities,in
Environment and Planning B: Planning and
Design 38(4) 678–705
Stephen E Hunt has had published Green
Romanticism: The Natural World and Human
Well-Being, 1775-1900, VDM Verlag Dr. Müller
(Aug 2011)
Appointments
Professor Alan Bensted has been appointed
Emeritus Professor in recognition of his
distinguished service to the University.
Jane Powell (HASS) has been appointed to
the funding board of the Public Health Research
Programme (National Institute for Health
Research) for a three year term.
Dr Andrew Spicer (ACE) gave a paper, An
Invisible Art: The Role of the Film Producer
at the Screen Conference, Repositioning Film
History, University of Glasgow, 1-3 July 2011.
Dr Chris Alford (PSY) was invited to co-chair
a special session - Treating Sleep Disorders
with Sue Wilson (University of Bristol) at the
British Association for Psychopharmacology
(BAP) annual meeting from 24-27 July in
Harrogate. The session was entitled BAP
consensus statement on evidence-based
treatment of insomnia, parasomnias and
circadian rhythm disorders. This was a result of
Chris’s involvement, as part of an international
panel, in preparing sleep disorders treatment
guidelines for the BAP which were published
last year. Chris also gave a talk Insomnia: the
size of the problem, its costs and consequences
at the meeting. UWE Psychology undergraduate
students also attended and included the
following poster presentations of their research:
Gunn C and Alford C: The effects of alcohol on
deception rate, success and mood and Alford C
and Johnson S: The effects of caffeine treatment
and belief on daytime performance after normal
and restricted sleep.
Dr Carey McClellan (AHP) who recently
completed his PhD and Physiotherapy Lecturer
Rob Grieve (final year PhD), presented results
from their PhD studies at the World Physical
Therapy Congress (WCPT 2011) in Amsterdam
June 2011. The PhD director of studies for both
presenters was Dr Fiona Cramp.
Dr Karen Bultitude, Science Communication
Unit (HLS) is taking up a new post as an
academic in the Science and Technology Studies
Department at University College London.
Conferences
Dr Glenn Parry (FBL) presented a paper
Servitization and Value Co-Production in the
Music Industry at the 18th International EurOMA
Conference in Cambridge. The work looked
at the move from physical product towards
digital streamed music services. Analysis defined
consumers according to their attitudes towards
music purchase, exploring differences between
modern digital online sales and more traditional
sales channels. Findings showed over half of
consumers would be active in creating value
with music sellers.
Dr Phil Ollerenshaw (HPP) gave an
invited paper at the Colloquium on Business
Organisations in Europe, jointly hosted by the
University of Paris I (Sorbonne) and University
of Paris XIII between 9 and 10 June. After peer
review the papers will be published by Rennes
University Press in 2012.
Dr Stephen Hunt (HASS) presented his paper
Christian Negotiation of Non-Heterosexual
Rights: The Case of the UK, to the 25th Nordic
Sociological Conference on the theme of Power
and Participation, University of Oslo, August
4 – 7, 2011
Student Vic Burgess won a prize for the poster
presentation Barriers to counselling experienced
by British South Asian women: a grounded
theory exploration.
Student Guy Millon won a prize for the
poster presentation Seeing others' feelings:
does mirroring of emotions facilitate social
understanding and how is this related to
traumatic brain injury?
Dr Owain Jones (CCRI) gave an invited talk,
Sylvan Spirits. Trees as makers and shapers of
strange places, at the Scala Film Festival event,
curated by PassengerFilms at RoxyBarandScreen,
London in August. At the Royal Geographical
Society (RGS-IBG) Annual International
Conference 2011, The Geographical Imagination
(31 August - 2 September), he also convened
three sessions entitled Meteorological
Imaginations. Towards geographies of affective
practices of weather, atmospherics and
landscapes, with Oliver Moss of the University of
Northumbria. He also organised and contributed
to one of the advertised conference highlights:
To the River – a film showing, presentation and
discussion. To the River is set during the vernal
equinox of 2010 , artist Sophy Rickett installed
a rig of spotlights along a stretch of the bank
of the River Severn in anticipation of one of
the largest predicted bore waves for several
years, filming and recording a small crowd who
gathered at night to watch the Severn Bore.
John Bird (Sociology and Criminology)
presented a paper Pain, Injury and Risk in Girl
and Women Footballers at the Sports and
Coaching at the Pasts and Futures conference
organised by Manchester Metropolitan
University’s Institute of Performance Research.
Professor Chris Melhuish, Director of the
Bristol Robotics Laboratory, has been appointed
Visiting Professor of the Department of
Computer Science, Sheffield University for a
period of three years from September 2011.
Dr Owain Jones (CCRI) has been appointed as
a Visiting Fellow in the School of Arts and Social
Sciences, Northumbria University.
Tony Ward presented the poster Towards
pluralism - the perceptions of trainee counselling
psychologists around therapeutic integration.
Rob Grieve and Dr Carey McClellan
at WCPT 2011
The Department of Psychology contributed
widely to the British Psychological Society
Division of Counselling Psychology conference,
15-16 July in Bristol. Eight staff and students
presented posters with a further eight
presenting papers and workshops.
John Waite and student Sarah Brinsdon
presented the workshop Pluralism and the Real
Relationship.
Dr Naomi Moller presented the paper
Preventative, low-intensity family services needed but only if they work! with Dr Andreas
Vossler, Open University.
Dr Antonietta DiCaccavo presented the
paper The kinder face of cognitive-behavioural
therapy; the importance of the therapeutic
relationship in working with clients’ thoughts,
feelings and behaviours.
Christine E Ramsey-Wade presented the
paper Poetry in Therapy: An example of group
bibliotherapy and therapeutic creative writing
with clients with eating disorders.
Students Amanda Kinsella, Naomi Moller
and Gary Christopher presented the poster
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for
Alcohol Dependency and Negative Affect
Investigating the Role of Self Compassion.
33
Alastair Kocho-Williams (HPP) presented
a paper, India as a Sticking Point in AngloSoviet Relations in the Interwar Period, at an
international conference on Anglo-Russian
relations in the 19th and 20th centuries held at
the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow in
May 2011. The conference was organised by the
Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute
of Historical Research and was of major political
significance.
The Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology
(IBST) in partnership with scientific publisher,
Elsevier will host the second international
conference on Bio-Sensing Technology from
10-12 October in Amsterdam. Over 300
delegates from industry and academia will come
together from across the world to exchange
and share their experiences, present research
results and explore collaborations with the
aim of developing new projects and exploiting
new technology for bio-sensing applications.
The themes of the conference are: Biomarkers,
Sensor technology, Instrumentation and data
processing and System Integration. Institute
Director, Professor Richard Luxton will open the
conference and chair some of the sessions and
researchers from UWE’s Centre for Research
in Biosciences will also be presenting oral and
poster presentations: Professor Tony Killard will
present his latest research on electrochemical
sensing devices and Dr Myra Conway will
share developments on identifying potential
biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease. For more
information and the full conference programme
see: www.biosensingconference.com
News in Brief
NEWS
Tony Flegg (Accounting, Economics and
Finance) gave a keynote address at the
International Conference on The Spatial
Economy, Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU),
Guangzhu, China 2-3 July 2011 and gave a
seminar on his regional modelling work to PhD
students in Economics. His trip was funded by
SYSU Business School.
Dr Robert Grattan, Visiting Research Fellow,
BBS, was invited to the panel of a workshop
run by the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies in Washington, DC on 3-4 August. The
topic was on helping friendly nations to conduct
strategic defence reviews, and Dr Grattan gave
a presentation on the British MoD Strategic
Defence Review of 1997/98. He published a
book on this subject, Strategic Review: the
Process of Strategy Formulation in Complex
Organisations (Gower) in February 2011. The
report on the proceedings of the workshop will
be available shortly.
Martin Sullivan, (Department of Accounting
Economics and Finance and member of
the Centre for Global Finance) was invited
to take part in a debate on the future of UK
pensions policy, hosted on 2 September at the
Office for National Statistics (ONS) in Newport.
The debate was held before an audience of 120
staff. Martin was joined on the panel by two
representatives from ONS and a trade union
representative, to consider the question How
should the crisis in UK pensions be addressed?
Martin, who has been researching and writing
about the economics of public and private
pension provision for 15 years, argued that
the proposal contained in the 2011 pensions
Green Paper, for an end to the second state
pension and contracting-out and a single-tier
state pension was a step in the right direction,
but did not go far enough. He argued that the
government needed to go a step further and
also scrap the tax relief on contributions to
private pensions.
UWE Farmers’ Market 2011/12
Friendly market selling a wide range of delicious
fresh local produce, crafts, plants and more. Come along!
On
First Tuesday of the month
Where
Main reception courtyard
Frenchay campus
When
10:00 till 15:00 in term time
For further information
www.uwe.ac.uk/farmersmarket
E-mail sustainability@uwe.ac.uk
Now
Tuesdays
www.uwe.ac.uk/farmersmarket
Telephone 0117 32 82659
sustainability+action
U+WE taking action for a sustainable world
34
Human Resources Update
New policies
Askwell
HR would like to take this opportunity to make staff aware of
some new policies:
The EAP wellbeing website has been updated with detailed
advice and guidance on a whole range of wellbeing issues. The
website can be accessed via the Askwell link on the Employee
Assistance Programme web page:
Unpaid sabbatical leave – ever thought about having some
time out of work to travel, pursue a hobby or spend extra time
with the family? We now have a sabbatical leave policy which
allows you to apply for up to a year off work.
www.uwe.ac.uk/eap
The site offers: a series of wellbeing subjects on topics such as
nutrition, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular risk, sleep and other
subjects. Each subject contains articles, links and also numerous
fact sheets.
Homeworking guidelines support staff working from home
on an ad hoc basis. The guidance provides advice on the
kind of work that could be undertaken at home and practical
information on working practices, responsibilities etc.
For example the Musculoskeletal Clinic has information on the
prevention and treatment of common musculoskeletal problems
including back problems and upper and lower limb problems.
There is also a useful section on balancing work and life, with
tools such as the Balance Wheel to help you measure your level
of satisfaction in different areas..
Job sharing – UWE’s position is that all posts could be offered
on a jobshare basis except for in exceptional cases. The policy
gives advice on making jobsharing work and the practicalities
of implementing the arrangement either for a new post being
recruited or for existing staff.
Grievance – there is a new grievance procedure for all staff.
There is a form for staff to complete should they wish to raise a
grievance. We have also written guidelines and an investigation
toolkit for managers involved in investigating grievances.
Health programmes
Time to get moving?
In essence the policy emphasises trying to resolve issues
informally; offering mediation where appropriate and allows for
a grievance and disciplinary to run in parallel (we have amended
the disciplinary policies to reflect this change).
We’d like to invite you to join Askwell’s Get Moving programme,
which can help you get fitter and healthier, and feel more
confident about your body. Our online eight-week programme
lets you set your own goals and easily slots into your everyday
life.
We will be running briefing sessions in the autumn and are also
organising one-day investigation training for managers. We plan
to ask that each Faculty and Service nominates managers to be
trained in conducting investigations.
Links can also be found on the website to the very successful
paper-based programmes that are easy to print and follow;
Bribery Act
Calling all staff who use public
transport
The Bribery Act 2010 came into force on 1 July 2011 and
encompasses four offences in relation to bribery:
• Making or offering a bribe
Did you know that the University provides interest free loans for
staff to purchase season ticket loans to help pay for travel to
work? Details of how to apply for a loan are on the HR web site
in the travel section under Wellbeing and Employee Support.
• Requesting, receiving or accepting a bribe
• Bribing a foreign public official
• Failing to prevent bribery
Organisations may be liable for all the offences above. Individuals
may also be liable for the first three offences.
The University could also be liable where someone who performs
services for it pays a bribe specifically to get business, keep
business, or gain a business advantage for the University.
The University is updating both its Finance and HR policies and
these are available on the intranet for you to download. Training
will be provided to managers in relation to this.
Alcohol and drugs - the policy offers advice and support for
staff in respect of alcohol, drug and substance misuse. Included
within the policy is advice for managers on how to deal with
alcohol and drug related issues within the workplace.
Domestic abuse – unfortunately there may be some employees
who are suffering from domestic abuse: these guidelines provide
practical advice and support/signposting for managers and
employees.
All the above policies can be found on the HR webpages
under policies and procedures.
35
Enjoy Sustainability
Week at UWE
NEWS
Monday 17 - Friday 21 October
Green gardeners question time
Library rubbish challenge
Natural Theatre company
Fairtrade tastings
Farmers market on 18 October
Local seasonal foods in cafes
Electric bikes for sale
Bulb planting
Wildlife walks Green office champions
PLUS lots more...
www.uwe.ac.uk/whatson/sustainabilityweek
Organised by the sustainability team in Facilities
36
The St Matthias Lecture 2011
The HBOS story and the lessons learned
putting faith and ethics into practice in the world today
17 October 2011 19:30 - 22:00
Chapel Lecture Theatre, St Matthias Campus, Oldbury Court Road, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 2JP
Speaker: Paul Moore - former Head of Group Regulatory Risk at HBOS
Paul Moore was a whistleblower in 2008 after
claiming that he had been fired for warning
HBOS about its excessive risk-taking.
Admission to this Lecture is FREE to all but
you will need to register to attend.
Register to attend at
www.uwe.ac.uk/whatson
thelivingcentre@uwe.ac.uk
0117 32 82334
This event is a collaboration between
The Living Centre at UWE, Clifton Diocese
Justice and Peace Commission and
Business West.
There’s more to uwe
than work…
Whatever your sporting or fitness needs, we’re here to help.
We’ve made a few changes:
• Now open at 7:00 – perfect for a
work-out before work
• ‘Gym only’ membership now available –
so only pay for what you will use
Contact us: 0117 32 86 200
More information and sign up online at:
www.uwe.ac.uk/sport
facebook.com/uwecentreforsport
• Interested in Golf? Active Card Members
can get a free loyalty card for Windmill
Golf Academy
twitter.com/UWESport
Terms and conditions apply
2310_Sport_WesternEye_uwe08-18e.indd 1
31/08/2011 10:36
37
UWE Awards Ceremonies
NEWS
November 2011 Monday 14 November
10:30 ceremony
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
14:00 ceremony
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
17:00 ceremony
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Tuesday 15 November
10:30 ceremony
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
14:00 ceremony
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
17:00 ceremony
Faculty of Creative Arts, Humanities and Education
Wednesday 16 November
10:30 ceremony
Faculty of Creative Arts, Humanities and Education
14:00 ceremony
Faculty of Creative Arts, Humanities and Education
Thursday 17 November
14:00 ceremony
Faculty of Creative Arts, Humanities and Education
17:00
ceremony
Hartpury College
Wednesday 23 November
10:30 ceremony
Faculty of Business and Law
14:00 ceremony
Faculty of Business and Law
17:00 ceremony
Faculty of Business and Law
Thursday 24 November
10:30 ceremony
Faculty of Environment and Technology
14:00 ceremony
Faculty of Environment and Technology
17:00 ceremony
Faculty of Environment and Technology
Full details at www.uwe.ac.uk/graduation or contact graduation@uwe.ac.uk
38
hello+welcome
UWE Open Days
01 October 2011
15 October 2011
Register online
www.uwe.ac.uk
39
what'son
• for full details of all UWE events
• to submit an event to the diary
• to sign up to receive What’s on monthly
go to www.uwe.ac.uk/events
www.uwe.ac.uk/events
Staff Association
Coach Club - forthcoming trips
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All staff, family and friends are welcome to
book for trips. You don’t have to be a SA
member, all welcome to join us!
Please make payment on booking, as seats will
not be held without, unless otherwise advised.
Cheques should be payable to Staff Association
Coach Club. Thank you
Saturday 22 October - Salisbury (with
Wilton Shopping Village)
We shall visit Wilton Shopping Village on
route for short stop before heading for
medieval Salisbury. Cost: Members £10, 3rd
Age £11, Non-members £12
Saturday 19 November - London
(waiting list applies)
We plan to drop off near Hyde Park
for those who wish to visit the Winter
Wonderland for the day. Entry to the Park
is free but you will need to book tickets
for Wheel & Rink in advance yourselves.
The next drop off will be central for those
wishing to shop, sightsee or take in a
matinee show. Cost: Members £11.50, 3rd
Age £12.50, Non-members £14, Child £10
Friday 9 - Sunday 11 December - Xmas
Market Weekend to Ghent, Bruges and
Ostend
Beautiful places to visit at any time of the
year, but with the festive feeling even
better! Cost: £139 (Members), £145 (Nonmembers)
www.uwe.ac.uk
Interested in any of the above? Please
contact:- Coachclub@uwe.ac.uk, Tel: 0117
32 83001
Non-members are welcome to join us but
remember that membership will bring with it
a further reduction on ticket costs advertised.
If you are interested in joining us at the
theatre and wish to be put on the mailing list
for regular updates and advance notice of
any tickets available please contact BOB via
e-mail:- Bobclub@uwe.ac.uk
Staff Association BOB Club
Tickets are still available for the performances
below. All tickets are for the evening
performances and in the (comfortable) Stalls at
the Bristol Hippodrome;
Peter Pan (Panto) - Tuesday 13 December 2011
- £20
Sister Act – Thursday 12 January 2012 - £27
Lord of the Dance - Tuesday 25 January 2012
- £36.50
Strictly Gershwin – Thursday 16 February
2012 - £32
Blood Brothers – Tuesday 28 February 2012
- tba
Bulletin Deadlines 2011
Month/Issue
Copy deadline
Oct/107
1 October
Nov/108
1 November
Dec/109
1 December
Graphic Design TeamMC10052
40
UWE, BRISTOL
F.06.11
Printing and Stationery Services