WELCOMING OUR NEW INCOMING STUDENTS

As we approach the end of Welcome Week, many will be beginning to reflect upon the impact that the hard work and planning of staff across the University has had on our new incoming students.
 
The week has required significant commitment from staff, as well as excellent communication amongst services and individuals, to ensure that our students are as well informed and supported as they can be.  Whether it was enrolling students, showing students to their accommodation, promoting services, running events, talks and activities, adding or amending modules and electives, connecting a student to the internet, directing students to the right building or just being there to talk to a student or parent, the work done by staff across the whole University was very much appreciated by colleagues, parents and, most importantly, our students.

And there was a special welcome from the Vice-Chancellor for new students and their parents as he delivered four presentations in the ballroom at Keele Hall.

Student Ambassadors, in their Yellow tee-shirts, ensured that students were well informed, knew where to go and what to get involved in. Alyson Bird, who has been co-ordinating the team said : "Working as a Student Ambassador was a fantastic experience and a great opportunity to engage with so many new students at a range of different events." 

WELCOME TO KEELE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Last week saw the campus come to life as hundreds of our International Students arrived to start life at Keele.  The adventure that our International Students embark on when travelling to the UK to study is exciting but it is also often mixed with anxiety and nervousness.

In order to ensure that they make as smooth a transition as is possible, a thorough and structured programme of support and activity is delivered by staff from across the University. This year the commitment from staff was matched by the hard work of a team of energetic and enthusiastic Student Ambassadors.

After students had successfully enrolled and settled into their accommodation they were treated to a 'Welcome to Britain' party, hosted by KUSU, which provided food and drink for students, many of whom had travelled the globe over the previous 24 hours. Sessions and workshops were delivered through the week which focused on subjects such as money and finances, culture shock, language support, study skills, etc. These were balanced with social events, such as cooking demonstrations, quiz nights and a trip to Trentham Gardens. The highlight of the week was the International Welcome Ball held at Keele Hall, attended by over 300 of our new International Students, who were impressed by the guests of honour, the Mayor  and Mayoress of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Councillor Trevor Hambleton and his wife, Councillor Sandra Hambleton, pictured above.

Karen Manley, International Student Support Manager, said: "The willingness of staff members from across the University to get involved and help to make a difference has been overwhelming and the strength of our Student Ambassador team has exceeded all expectations.  With Internationalisation very much on the Keele agenda, I look forward to further progressing the ongoing programme of developments and initiatives for all of our international and EU students with the help of colleagues in many directorates and departments"

STARTING EARLY - PRE-ARRIVAL SUPPORT FOR KEELE STUDENTS

'Moving on Up', a weekend residential event for disabled students and their parents and 'ForMat', a two day event for Mature students are two new events that were delivered in the fortnight prior to Welcome Week in order to ease and enhance the transition to Keele life for those  students attending.

The two events were a real success but were only made possible by the excellent support given by colleagues from across Keele. Staff from across Faculties and Directorates, as well as elected Union Officers, gave up their time (many over the weekend) to ensure that students were given a first class Keele experience. Both events aimed to dispel some of the myths that many of our students have about University and to also ensure that those students attending began to feel comfortable in their new 'home'.  A structured and fun programme of events provided opportunities for students to meet new friends, colleagues and staff supporters.

Claire Slater-Mamlouk, Student Life and Learning Manager said: "The best thing about these events was seeing the transformation in the students as their confidence grew. It has been great seeing them around campus and chatting to them about their positive experiences."

PHYSIOTHERAPY INTERNATIONAL

The School of Health & Rehabilitation (SHAR) welcomed another intake of international students this week. The diversity of students on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes continues to grow and now a total sixteen non-EU countries are represented in the school; students have come from as far east as Guam and as far West as Vancouver.

There is a growing global demand for rehabilitation professionals, physiotherapy in particular, to take a leading role in the delivery of health and wellbeing services in response to a global increase in life expectancy. The innovative and distinctive educational provision at SHAR is leading the way in the education of rehabilitation professionals who will contribute to health care services across the globe. Some of the current first and second year undergraduates are pictured above.

KEELE STAFF SHOW THEIR ARTISTIC SIDE

An exhibition of artwork by staff at Keele is currently on display in the main foyer of the Dorothy Hodgkin Building. 

The exhibition was co-ordinated by Keele Arts & Health group and forms part of the West Midlands Autumn Arts & Health Festival, which will culminate in an Arts & Health Showcase and Conference at the Mitchell Arts Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, on 12 October.

The Keele exhibition includes work by academic, administrative and technical staff throughout the University.  At a reception to open the exhibition, Rama Thirunamachandran, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, congratulated the artists and the organisers.  He added: 'The arts are central to the life of the University'.
It is intended to have further exhibitions in the coming year.  If any member of staff would like to know more about the Arts & Health showcase or would like to contribute to future exhibitions they should contact either Michael Murray, m.murray@keele.ac.uk, or Anna Lydon, a.b.lydon@keele.ac.uk.

MEDICAL STUDENTS VISIT FROM SAUDI ARABIA

The Research Institute for Science & Technology in Medicine welcomed a group of medical students from Al Imam Mohammed Bin Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for a month over the summer. The seven students came to the Guy Hilton Research Centre at Hartshill to learn about the research facilities at Keele and the University Hospital of North Staffordshire. They came to see and try specific laboratory techniques and experience clinical research, undertaking a short scientific project and visiting the Paediatrics and Cancer Centres.

The academic programme included lectures from ISTM's research teams and intensive laboratory sessions, supervised by Dr Paul Roach, Dr Alan Richardson, Dr Josep Sule-Suso, Professor David Smith FRS and Dr Ying Yang.

Dr Khalid AlQumaizi, the students' tutor in Riyadh, is pictured with the students and Mark Smith and Paul Roach, who organised the programme.

FORENSIC SCIENCE TRIP TO THE BODY FARM

Twelve Forensic Science students and a member of staff, Victoria Cartwright, have returned from a field trip to Knoxville, Tennessee. The students undertook a five day Human Identification course delivered by the Anthropology Department at the University of Tennessee and a one day course at the National Forensic Academy.

All the students (Level 2 Forensic Science students and third year graduates) successfully completed the Human Identification Course, which involved topics such as human osteology, ageing, sexing, ancestry and stature determination of skeletonised human remains, as well as a visit to the University's research facility, "the Body Farm" (see picture).

The students also visited the National Forensic Academy, a renowned training facility for police officers that is supported by crime writer Patricia Cornwell, where they undertook a one day course in Crime Scene management. The trip was supported by the School of Physical and Geographical Sciences and a grant from Keele's International Travel Fund.

BPSCS CONFERENCE AT KEELE

The British Psychological Society Cognitive Section's annual conference took place at Keele. The event, organised by Dr Sue Sherman from the School of Psychology, pictured, was attended by almost 100 delegates from all over the UK, as well as from Europe and the US.  The conference featured symposia convened by members of the School of Psychology on such topics as time perception (Professor John Wearden), music and cognition (Dr Alex Lamont), influences on cognition (Dr Richard Stephens) and recognition memory (Dr Andrew Rutherford). One symposium (co-convened by Dr Nicky Edelstyn) was sponsored by Parkinson's UK. At the AGM held during the conference, Dr Sue Sherman was elected unopposed as Honorary Secretary of the BPS Cognitive Section Committee.

FACING THE FUTURE: PEAK OIL AND CHILDREN WORKSHOP AT KEELE

Professor Bulent Gokay ( SPIRE) and Dr Farzana Shain (Education) hosted a workshop at Keele entitled "Facing the future: Peak oil and Children".  The workshop brought together academics and practitioners to discuss the current and future challenges posed by the finite supply of oil, end of cheap oil economy, and social, economic and political consequences of this for societies in general and particularly for children.  Looking at the current discovery and production levels of oil fields around the world suggest that within the next decade, the supply of conventional oil will be unable to keep up with demand.  We are also witnessing the impact in the increasing scarcity and cost of food and other critical resources that rely on oil.  The end of cheap oil indicates a potentially spectacular reshaping of the globalized trade flows that have emerged in the last two decades. Among the other Keele presenters were: Professor Chris King (Education); Dr Lydia Martens (Sociology) and Dr Matthew Wyman (SPIRE).

The event was funded by the HEFCE SEA-Change programme, which aims to help universities develop their capacity for policy impact.  A full report on the event can be found at http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/655/peak-oil-are-we-sleepwalking-into-disaster

HIV AND RISK IN MALAWI

Dr Emma Anderson, SPIRE, has returned from three-months of research on 'HIV and Risk' in Malawi, one of the world's poorest countries and one devastated by HIV.

The impetus for this project was the fact that, where HIV is reinforced by various inequalities, certain communities are at particular risk of infection. Given that these communities are aware of the risks of HIV, what explains their risky behaviour?

Following a series of consultations and observations, 110 key-informant interviews and 48 group discussions with people living with HIV were conducted. The research partner, Russell Msiska (Banja la Mtsogolo), pictured, undertook trainings on 'Positive Living'. The aims of the project are to understand individual behaviour to inform interventions and engage communities to encourage lifelong health.

Vice-Chancellor's annual address to staff

Professor Nick Foskett held his second annual address to staff last week in the Westminster Theatre, during which he took the opportunity to reflect on progress and achievements over the past twelve months and update on the University's response to the rapidly changing environment and the Government's White Paper on Higher Education.

In his address, entitled 'Challenges and Opportunities for Keele - Beyond 2011,' the Vice-Chancellor presented the revised Strategic Plan and updated strategic priorities for 2011-15, and also identified the main institutional priorities for 2011/12.  The key findings of the recent staff communications audit were also considered.  In conclusion, the Vice-Chancellor unveiled the University's new corporate visual identity.

Staff had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss directly with the Vice-Chancellor their views on the University's future direction. 

The presentation was simultaneously streamed via video link to Lecture Theatre 1 in the UG Medical School on the Hospital campus to enable staff there to contribute directly to the meeting.
A copy of the presentation slides can all be found here.

Staff are reminded that they are able to contact the Vice-Chancellor directly with comments and views by email at: emailthevc@vco.keele. ac.uk.

Meeting of Senate

The first meeting of Senate for the 2011-12 academic year will be taking place on Wednesday, 5 October.

Key items on the agenda include the National Student Survey outcomes and institutional response, updates on the Home/EU and International admissions, revisions to the Undergraduate entry requirements for 2012 and a discussion paper on reassessment attempts.

The papers are available for campus users to view online here.

Members of staff who are not on Senate are also reminded that they can contact elected colleagues, should they wish for their views and comments on the papers to be shared at the meeting. A list of Senate membership can be found here.

Science for Sustainability at major international music festival

The Science for Sustainability environmental education group, led by Dr Zoe Robinson, pictured below, and Professor Mark Ormerod, School of Physical and Geographical Sciences (SPGS), took part in their biggest public event ever, as invited contributors to the 'Science tent' at Bestival, a major music festival, attended by 50,000 people, on the Isle of Wight. 

Nicola Ruston and Sophie Bessant (EPSAM) engaged the festival-goers with new interactive resources, including a pedal-powered light display, along with other interactive displays about renewable energy and sustainable living.

Jodcast for Pierre

Dr Pierre Maxted (EPSAM, SPGS) has appeared on the "The Jodcast" - a podcast about astronomy produced by The University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank.

Dr Maxted talks about the SuperWASP search for exoplanets - planets beyond our own solar system. The podcast can be downloaded at www.jodcast.net

Elected to Council of Trustees

Dr Michael Evans, School of Life Sciences and iSTM, has been elected onto the Council of the Physiological Society. The role involves shaping the Society's activities and policy. In addition to policy he will have a particular focus on membership and grants.

Dr Evans was a Reviewing Editor for the Journal of Physiology over the past seven years and is the Society Representative at Keele.

Evaluation of PCOS

Verity, the PCOS self-help charity, in collaboration with Dr Tracy Nevatte and Professor Shaughn O'Brien, iSTM, is undertaking a service evaluation of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in the UK. 

An online survey has been designed to investigate the level of knowledge, symptoms, service provision, impact and management of PCOS.  Women with PCOS have been asked to complete the survey, the results of which are likely to lead to future research led by Dr Nevatte.  For more information see the Verity website (http://www.verity -pcos.org.uk/).

Dr Tracy Nevatte is currently Research officer for Verity and has been working with the charity to help study recruitment, patient and public involvement and dissemination of PCOS research across the UK.

UK - Iran meeting at Keele

Astronomers from Iran have met with their British colleagues at a meeting in Keele Hall, sponsored by the Royal Astronomical Society. "Building Bridges: cooperation of UK and Iranian astronomers" was aimed at exchanging scientific and cultural ideas and fostering joint projects. Seminars, mostly by Iranian speakers, described the rich scientific tradition and vibrant current activity in Iran, their plans for a national observatory, and a range of diverse scientific projects, many of which contain elements of collaboration with scientists in Britain, including Keele.

 Details of the meeting are posted here.

Appointed Associate Fellow

Professor Pnina Werbner has been appointed Associate Fellow at the National Humanities Center in North Carolina for the academic year 2011-12.

She was recently awarded £7,500 from the British Academy to translate the hagiography of the Sufi saint she studied in Pakistan, under the title "Comparing 'Hagiographies': Indigenous and Anthropological Textual Representations of a 'Living Saint'".

Professor Werbner also contributed to the launch of the new Social Science Research Council 9/11 essay forum, '10 Years after September 11', which can be found here.

She was one of the original authors of articles published on the SSRC website in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, who were asked to reflect back on the past ten years.

Euro conference presentation by Keele student

Claire Howell, a 3rd year M.Geoscience student within the School of Physical and Geographical Sciences, presented the results of her Nuffield Foundation funded summer project at the European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers 16th Annual Near Surface Geophysics Conference in Leicester on 13th September 2011.

Claire's project, one of five funded by the Nuffield Foundation within SPGS, was supervised by Dr Jamie Pringle, and was looking at geophysically monitoring collapsing salt mines in Northwich, Cheshire. She was also presenting results from Will Barnsley, a Newcastle-under-lyme School 'A' level summer student, also funded by the Nuffield Foundation, who was also working on the project.

This research will shortly be submitted for publication to the Geophysics Journal. Dr Ewan Russell in the School of Computing & Mathematics is the regional co-ordinator for this funding.