STUDENT OF THE YEAR

The University is delighted to announce that the 2010 winner of the prestigious Neil and Gina Smith Student of the Year Award is Darrell Simkins, a 23-year old student in Music and Educational Studies.

Darrell, pictured left, has performed exceptionally well academically, achieving firsts in every module studied.  He has been invited to present his dissertation, 'Inside and Outside 'The Campus Bubble': A comparative research project of study abroad programmes at Keele University and The University of Leeds', at the International Conference of Education in Canada, a sign of the very high standard of scholarship and research skills Darrell has attained through his studies at Keele.

In common with many Keele students Darrell took the opportunity to pursue part of his studies in a partner University, in his case in Toronto, Canada, in the Faculty of Fine Arts at York University.  In recognition of his academic excellence, Darrell was awarded the Royal Doulton scholarship to support his study abroad experience.

While at Keele Darrell has participated in extracurricular music programmes, both on and off campus, and made a significant contribution to musical life at Keele and in the local community. In June, he was invited to conduct the Keele Bach Choir, Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, a considerable honour for an undergraduate student.

EVALUATING CARDIOVASCULAR RISK ASSESSMENTS

Professor Alison Blenkinsopp, Research Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, pictured, has been awarded £230,743 from the NHS National Institute for Health Research for an "evaluation of outcomes, costs and benefits of a community pharmacy based cardiovascular risk assessment service".

The study, a partnership between Keele and NHS South Birmingham, working with Richard McManus (Professor of Primary Care Cardiovascular Research at University of Birmingham) and Dr Richard Little (formerly of Keele, now health economist at the Yorkshire & Humber Public Health Observatory), is the only such evaluation being conducted in the UK and its findings will be important in future commissioning decisions. Funded by NHS Research for Patient Benefit, the study will evaluate cardiovascular risk assessments provided in community pharmacies in South Birmingham's 'Pharmacy Heart MOT' service.

GEOPHYSICS SEARCH FOR ELIZABETH

Dr Jamie Pringle, School of Earth Sciences and Geography, and his research team are using geophysics to find a barge buried when a canal was filled in almost 50 years ago. Dr Pringle is working with the Burslem Port Project, which aims to restore and reopen the disused Burslem Branch Canal.

A National Coal Board narrow boat, called Elizabeth, was moored in the canal near its junction with the Trent and Mersey main line canal and was left stranded when the canal breached in 1961. It is believed to have been buried when the canal was filled in.

ORIGAMI AND ENGINEERING

A hundred teacher trainers, teachers of mathematics and year 12 students were enthralled as they found out more about Origami and the Bloodhound SSC Engineering Adventure at a special Mathematics Day at Keele. First on the programme was Robert J. Lang, an American origami expert, who called in at Keele during a whirlwind tour of Europe, to talk on From Flapping Birds to Space Telescopes: The Modern Science of Origami. He followed this by leading a master class in paper-folding.

Dawn Fitt, of the Bloodhound SSC Engineering Adventure, talked on How Can We Design A Car To Travel At 1000 Mph? - a unique British project to design, build and run a car that will reach speeds of 1,000 miles per hour. 

Professor Graham Rogerson, School of Computing and Mathematics, completed the day with comments on how mathematics has been used to solve problems related to vibrations on aeroplane wings. The event was organised by Dave Miller, School of Public Policy and Professional Practice, as part of the work of the Further Mathematics Support Network.

MOVING UP GUARDIAN LEAGUE TABLE

Keele has jumped six places to 44th position in the Guardian university league table for 2011, which was published this week.

The guide, which ranks all UK universities according to teaching excellence, showed that overall student satisfaction at Keele was 87% and satisfaction with teaching was also 87%.

In the subject tables Keele is placed 3rd for Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 5th for Social Work, 10th for Geography and Environmental Studies, 11th for Social Policy, 13th for Nursing, 14th for Maths and American Studies, and 15th for Medicine.

FUNDED TEACHING INNOVATION PROJECTS

Nine teaching innovation projects have been selected for funding from the Learning Development Unit in 2010-11. A panel chaired by the Head of the LDU, Dr Stephen Bostock, with representation from the faculties and senior management and with an external member, selected the projects from 21 applications.

The projects tackled issues such as internationalization, the design of assessment, virtual field trips for mobility-impaired students and the transition to university.

Other projects involved using technologies such as SMS text messages, computer based assessment and video games. Completed projects will be presented at the Teaching Innovation Symposium in late 2010-11.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Dr David Hunter, Centre for Professional Ethics at Keele, has been appointed the Associate Editor for Global Inequalities and Technology for the journal Studies in Ethics, Law and Technology.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

14 June 2002

A survey in the Independent magazine "The Information" has placed Keele University's award winning Le Cafe among the top 50 places in Britain for a cup of coffee. 

Le Cafe, which recently won a design award, was placed at 29th in the league table.