MAJOR GRANT FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM

An interdisciplinary team from the natural and social sciences at Keele and the Marches Energy Agency has been awarded £452, 928 to carry out research over 30 months on 'Reducing Energy Consumption Through Community Knowledge Networks', beginning in January.
 
This major grant, in the face of stiff competition from over 80 other applications, is an indication of the high regard in which Keele's interdisciplinary sustainability research is held. The award is part of a £4 million investment from the Economic and Social Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Six other awards were made to UK HEIs.
 
The team comprises Professor Andrew Dobson, pictured, Dr Phil Catney and Dr Sherilyn MacGregor (Research Institute for Social Sciences/ SPIRE), Professor Mark Ormerod and Dr Zoe Robinson, (Research Institute for the Environment, Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics/ School of Physical and Geographical Sciences) and Simon Ross, Marches Energy Agency. 

The project will focus on knowledge networks in two types of community, called 'switched-on' and 'hard-to-reach'. The aim is to compare and contrast the energy reduction challenges in these two types of community, and to see which strategies work best in each of them. The 'switched-on community' is Shrewsbury and the 'hard-to-reach' community comprises the Newcastle-under-Lyme wards of Cross Heath and Knutton/Silverdale.

ENVIRONMENTAL SYMPOSIUM AT KEELE

Eighty people attended an Environmental Symposium Event held in Keele Hall ballroom last week.  Attendees ranged from external businesses involved in renewable technologies and environmental management, as well as representatives from local councils and voluntary organisations, researchers and other staff from Keele, and students on the MSc in Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology.
 
The event was held to showcase Keele's research in the areas of environmental sustainability and green technology, as well as a number of significant initiatives across campus, including the refurbishment of Home Farm to form the Keele Hub for Sustainability: www.keele.ac.uk/keelehub, and the launch of the Keele Recycling Scheme.

As well as talks by Keele researchers, networking opportunities and poster displays, attendees were able to hear a lecture on 'Sustainable Communities' by Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director of 'Forum for the Future', a leading sustainability charity, pictured above.  The lecture was well-received by the symposium attendees as well as a number of other guests.  The event was organised by the Faculty of Natural Sciences Office and the Research Institute for the Environment, Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics with input from colleagues across the University.  Talks and presentations given at the event will be available in the next month on the EPSAM website.

INTERVIEWS ON MERAPI ERUPTION

Dr Ralf Gertisser, School of Physical and Geographical Sciences, featured in interviews focusing on the current eruption of Merapi volcano in Indonesia on BBC Radio 5, Radio 4 "Material World" and the BBC Radio Stoke.
 
On 25 October, Indonesia was hit by a deadly tsunami that was triggered by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra. A day later, the Merapi volcano on Java, one of Indonesia's most active and dangerous volcanoes, erupted with relatively little warning. Dr Gertisser, a geologist who has studied Merapi throughout his career, commented on the causes and effects of this latest eruption. During the events of 26 October, at least 34 people were killed by pyroclastic flows (or glowing clouds), which are typical of Merapi's more recent activity. Current research by Dr Gertisser and his research group aims to improve models of pyroclastic flow forming eruptions, pyroclastic flow behaviour and associated hazards through an interdisciplinary approach using volcanological, petrological, geophysical and numerical modelling techniques. Link: http://www.esci.keele.ac.uk/merapi/.

The photograph, taken by Ralf Gertisser, shows Merapi as seen from the south, immediately after the 2006 eruption. The same area was affected by pyroclastic flows during the October 2010 events.

THE ALLAN DARLINGTON LABORATORY

A special ceremony was held this week to mark the naming of a laboratory in memory of Allan Darlington, who died suddenly in February of this year.

At the ceremony, attended by members of Allan's family, friends and colleagues, representing all sections of the University, the analytical/spectroscopy laboratory, off the new Multy-Lab (which Allan was very closely involved in project managing) was named The Allan Darlington Laboratory in recognition of Allan, who contributed so much to the School of Physical and Geographical Sciences, and before that the Department of Physics and School of Chemistry and Physics, over many years. Allan, who was particularly involved in many building and laboratory refurbishment projects, was School Technical Manager and worked for the University for 21 years.

The picture shows Allan's widow, Judith, and four sons.

 UNIVERSITY RECYCLING SCHEME LAUNCHED

The University this week launched a campus-wide recycling scheme. Co-mingled recycling collection points are being introduced across all academic, central services and student accommodation buildings, which will allow for cardboard, paper, plastics and cans to be recycled. A guide to the new recycling scheme is available on the estates website here.

Huw Evans, Environmental Manager, said "The University should aim to reduce waste at source and re-use items where possible. However, where waste is unavoidable it should be recycled. The new recycling scheme is a significant step forward in reducing our environmental impact from waste."

BON VOYAGE DAVE

Dave Roberts, chauffeur, driver, store-man, porter, has retired after 45 years loyal and dedicated service to the University. Nearly 200 colleagues gathered to say a fond farewell to Dave at a special gathering in the Keele Hall Ballroom last week.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Foskett, welcomed Dave and the guests, while Secretary and Registrar, Simon Morris, paid tribute to Dave's "long service and dedication to, and pride in, Keele University."

He said Dave first joined Keele on leaving school but had then left for a few years before rejoining the University in 1967, working in Estates. He went on to become chauffeur to four Vice-Chancellors, three Chancellors, plus many members of the University staff and guests.

Dave's wife Christine, Residential Operations Manager with Commercial and Facilities Management Directorate, also retired last week after 26 years service. She joined Keele as a Hall Manager for Barnes, then became Cleaning Manager, Deputy Head of Residential Services and Deputy Head of Student Services, before becoming Residential Operations Manager.

INNER TEMPLE ACADEMIC FELLOW

Dr Andrew Francis, Law, is one of four outstanding legal academics who have been elected Academic Fellows of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.

They are the first academics to hold this honorary three-year post.

  
 The Academic Fellowship Scheme, launched this week at the Inner Temple, aims to recognise the outstanding contribution of legal teaching and research of early to mid-career academics to the Bar of England and Wales.

It also aims to support their research and to build stronger ties between barristers and legal academics.
 
Dr Francis, pictured above, teaches Public Law, Law and Ethics and Research Methods. He is the Alumni Liaison and Careers Liaison Officer and will become the next Head of the School of Law in February.

His research interests include the legal profession, legal education and access to justice, including diversity issues.

REEL MADNESS II

Professor Joe Andrew, Programme Director of the newly established degree subject, Film Studies, this week introduced Ken Loach's 'Family Happiness' (1971) at Stoke Film Theatre.

The talk follows that given by Dr Beth Johnson last week, and both part of a season entitled 'Reel Madness', which aims to raise awareness of mental health issues in the local area in association with the NHS.

In his presentation, Professor Andrew recalled the debates of the 1960s and 1970s around the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, in particular, the controversies between Laingian proponents of 'anti-psychiatry' and the medical establishment of the time.

After the screening of the film Professor Andrew led a lively discussion around these and other issues in Loach's film.

MAKING IT MOLECULAR

The 'Make it Molecular' team were at the Trafford Shopping Centre, Manchester, for two days during the half term break.

More than 200 children made models of a molecule and had their pictures taken with them.

Luke Unsworth, a 13-year-old, who was visiting the centre for the day, spent 40 minutes making the heart drug digoxin, which contains over 100 atoms. 

See the photos here.

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENT

The following academic appointment commenced in post this week:

School of Medicine

Dr David Blanchard, a GP at Penkridge Surgery, has been appointed a GP Education Facilitator (Lecturer).

RESTAURANT GETS SPOOKY MAKE OVER

About 100 guests attended a Halloween ball at Keele in aid of Douglas Macmillan, Alzheimer's UK and Macmillan UK charities.

The evening fundraiser took over the Comus restaurant, which was decorated with pumpkins, flying bats and ghostly decorations.

The ball was hosted by the Co-operative Travel Group, which organised a three-course dinner and disco.

A charity raffle raised over £2,500.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

This week 56 years ago -

Sir John Lennard-Jones, Principal of the University College of North Staffordshire at Keele, died on 1 November 1954.

Sir John, who was 60, was the second Principal of the College, succeeding the late Lord Lindsay of Birker in 1952.