KEELE TO LEAD MAJOR UK-INDIA PROJECT ON LOW CARBON TECHNOLOGIES

Professor Mark Ormerod, Research Institute for the Environment, Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics, is heading a collaborative team of six leading research groups from the UK and India that has been awarded c. £1.35million from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Indian Department of Science and Technology, funding a collaborative three year research project entitled, 'Modelling Accelerated Ageing and Degradation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells'.

The Keele-led project is aimed at obtaining a greater understanding of the factors which affect fuel cell performance and durability, particularly in relation to using readily available fuels, including waste biogas.

It is one of three proposals funded under the new RCUK UK-India Low Carbon Technology Initiative, and includes Keele, Birmingham and Loughborough universities as UK partners, and three Indian Institutes of Technology, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi and IIT Hyderabad.

The initiative is particularly aimed at establishing collaborative research between internationally leading UK and Indian researchers in low carbon technologies, placing considerable emphasis on collaborative visits and exchange of researchers.

The project will fund nine senior research scientists from India, as well as research students, who will make extended research visits to the UK partners.

 PHYSIOTHERAPY STUDENT WORKS WITH GB CANOEING TEAM

Third-year physiotherapy student, Sally Montgomery, has attended a Great Britain Sprint Canoeing team training camp in Portugal, with roles in injury management, delivering core stability and stretching classes, benchmarking assessments, soft tissue techniques and first aid, as well as assisting coaching staff.

Some of the country's top sprint athletes were present at the seven-day camp, including thirteen from the GB Junior Sprint Team and three athletes from the GB under-23s Canoe Sprint Team, as well as coaching and support staff.

The training camps benefit the athletes' performances in major competitions, such as European and World Championships, and are crucial preparation for Olympic events.

Sally, pictured above, said: "It was a tremendous pleasure working with the team. I feel I have learnt some valuable skills from the camp and received some very positive feedback."

FROM PLANNING TO CRISIS MANAGEMENT

Helen Parr, School of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy, was an invited speaker at a conference 'From Planning to Crisis Management: Time, Futures and Politics in West Germany and Britain', at the German Historical Institute, London.

Helen's paper examined planning in Britain's European policy 1964-1974. It argued that while Edward Heath is regarded as the most 'pro' European of all British Prime Ministers, it was less his vision, than a change in Britain's negotiating stance, facilitated by a transformation in Whitehall's institutional cultures, that explains British accession to the EC.

Nevertheless, there remained an enduring belief that Britain should pursue international influence, through Europe. Helen's paper stimulated debate on the nature of Britain's 'national interest', and the relative importance of high politics in explaining change.

WHITE AFRICANS, BLACK BRITISH

Dr Emma Dawson, Learning Development Unit, took part in a panel discussion, White Africans, Black British, chaired by Mike Wooldridge, BBC World Affairs Correspondent at Christ Church Cathedral School at Oxford.

It was well attended and the audience, some of whom were White African, and some of whom had travelled extensively in Africa, asked the panel insightful questions on the state of the contemporary White African experience. Other questions explored issues of British multiculturalism, lessons learned and possible parallels with the White African experience.

Emma contributed to the panel with an exposition of her fieldwork in Africa from 2008-09 which resulted in the publication of four anthologies of new writing from Cameroon, Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya. The absence of the 'White African' author and of the 'White African' experience in this fieldwork was central to the panel's debate and opened up to questions of who and what is the 'White African' experience today and why was it not part of the literature received for consideration in the anthologies.

EURO PROJECT ON PRESCRIBED TABLETS

Researchers at Keele have launched a survey to find out the views of patients who are currently being prescribed tablets for high blood pressure. Dr Wendy Clyne and colleagues at NPC Plus, School of Pharmacy, are carrying out the online survey as part of a European project that aims to produce evidence-based recommendations for European policymakers for better use of medicines.

She said:  "It is widely reported that only about 50% of medicines that are prescribed are taken as recommended.  By finding out more about the potential reasons for patients not taking their medicines, we will add to the understanding of patient behaviour, and lay a solid foundation for the development of interventions that aim to improve patients' use of medicines."

Members of the public, aged over 18, who are currently being prescribed tablets for high blood pressure, are invited to take part in the survey to share their views and experiences of taking these tablets.  Access to the survey, which runs until the autumn, is via www.keele.ac.uk/pharmacy/npcplus/abc and further information is available from Comfort Mshelia on +44 (0)1782 734794

CANADIAN NURSING STUDENTS VISIT KEELE

The first Canadian nursing students have visited the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

This international exchange was one of the first offered by the School of Nursing at York University, Toronto, in partnership with the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Keele.

Student Nurses Catherine Valle and Natasha Dias, who were in the fourth year of their Canadian nursing programme, were at the School for three months. Through this international exchange they experienced a range of learning opportunities and a variety of clinical placements.

The students presented a paper at the recent International Awareness Day held at the School on the differences in health care delivery, health issues and nursing practice between the countries. Three Keele nursing students are currently on their exchange at York University and will be presenting on their experiences when they return.

In the photograph - Students Catherine and Natasha, Sister Phyllis Dunn and Staff Nurse Emma Hulson, Clinical Mentors, University Hospital of North Staffordshire and Wynne Thomas, School International Champion.

UNRAVELLING RAVEL

Professor Barbara Kelly, Music, was interviewed on BBC Radio 3's Music Matters programme about the French composer Maurice Ravel. 

She was asked to take part in a discussion with Professor Richard Langham Smith (Royal College of Music) and author and scholar Roger Nichols, who has just completed a new biography of the composer.

They discussed new perspectives on Ravel's character in the light of recently available sources, the link between the perceived emotional distance of the composer and expression in his works, and his posthumous legacy. The programme, broadcast on Saturday,is available for a few weeks as a podcast here.

MUSIC IN MUSEUMS

Music staff and students have taken part in a number of concerts and public talks at Newcastle and Hanley museums. 

Keele Chamber Choir (directed by student, Jordan Meakin), Keele-based Mars Quartet (with Alex Lamont) and Keele Brass Quintet performed a programme of British Music at Hanley Museum, with works by Elgar, Moeran Purcell, Delius and Vaughan Williams. 

Michael Bell and Karen Radcliffe gave a lunch-time recital of Russian, French and Polish music at Newcastle Museum, with short talks by Nick Reyland and Barbara Kelly on their specialist areas (supported by the Harding Trust). The concerts were part of an initiative to bring Keele's musical activities and research into the community.

NATIONAL AWARD FOR CARING MATT

Keele undergraduate, Matt Bedding, has been presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Nightline Association – a confidential listening, support and information service, run by students for students – for his work at a local and national level.

Matt, who is in his final year studying sociology and criminology, joined Keele Nightline in his first year and has held several posts, including welfare, social and policy officer and external co-ordinator.

During the past year the 21-year-old has been promoting the service to students and staff to ensure Nightline's continued success. Matt is also regional coordinator for the national  association, and has been elected national non-portfolio officer. He has also been elected as the next Vice-President (Welfare) of the Students' Union.

FILM NIGHT FOR UNICEF

Keele students organised a charity film night in support of UNICEF to raise funds and awareness for the advancement of children's education in Asia.

The audience enjoyed 'Due Date', starring Robert Downey JR and Zach Galifianakis, and from the event, plus other donations, the student organisers raised almost £700 for UNICEF.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Forty-nine years ago -

A bill, which seeks to dissolve the University College of North Staffordshire and transfer its properties and liabilities to the University of Keele, passed the unopposed committee stage of the House of Lords. 5 April 1962.