MEDICAL PRACTICE BURSARIES FOR KEELE STUDENTS

Medical students Megan Bevis and Ashley Hawarden, who are currently intercalating Masters degrees, were this week presented with bursaries by a Stoke-on-Trent medical practice.

The Belgrave Medical Practice practice is very generously supporting two students who intercalate a masters degree in either medical education, clinical general practice or primary care sciences each year for five years.  Few medical schools offer masters degrees and it is one way in which Keele can help its brightest and best students to differentiate themselves from students of other schools. The bursaries will support 10 students over the next five years.
 
Ashley and Megan, who received the bursaries from Drs Rao and Mohini, partners in the practice, and Deborah Morgan, practice manager, said: "We would like to express our utmost thanks to Dr Rao and the Belgrave Medical Practice for their generous support towards our Masters' degrees this year. It is important to remember that not only have they provided a substantial bursary to us, they play an integral part in training of future doctors."

Dr Rao, pictured above with Ashley and Megan, has been awarded a BMA Fellowship for his 'constant drive to do his best for his patients, the community and fellow professionals', something that is exemplified by Dr Rao's and the practice's generosity giving these bursaries.

FAREWELL TO CHRIS PHILLIPSON

Colleagues and senior members of staff joined together this week to give their best wishes to Chris Phillipson, Professor of Applied Social Studies and Social Gerontology, who has left Keele after 33 years for a new position at the University of Manchester.

Chris joined the University as a Senior Research Fellow in 1979, and was promoted to Professor in 1987. In the same year he became founding Director of the Centre for Social Gerontology, a post he held until 2000. For much of that period he was also Head of the newly-established Department of Applied Social Studies and Social Work. After serving as Dean of Research for the Faculty of Social Sciences, and then Dean of Postgraduate Affairs, he became Pro Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Academic Development in 2004. Upon stepping down from this role he became Director of the Research Institutes for Social Sciences, overseeing the merger of three institutes into one.

Opening the farewell reception, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences David Shepherd paid tribute to Professor Phillipson's long career at Keele, before introducing Professor Mim Bernard, who spoke of Chris as an outstanding academic who had made, and would continue to make, an enormous contribution to social gerontology both nationally and internationally. Dr Bill Dixon, Head of the School of Sociology and Criminology, spoke warmly of Professor Phillipson's strengths as a leader, persuader, and supremely supportive colleague. Finally, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Rama Thirunamachandran, said Chris had made a "huge and sustained contribution to the University, in an exceptionally wide range of leadership roles".

Thanking colleagues for his leaving gifts, Chris said: "This is absolutely overwhelming. It is fantastic to see so many people. I have been at Keele since 1979 and the University means a huge amount to me."

Chris will continue to be involved with Keele as a Visiting Professor.

MEASURING AND EVALUATING END-OF-LIFE CARE IN SERVICES FOR ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

Professor Sue Read, School of Nursing & Midwifery and RISS, is a collaborator on a successful grant application for a project entitled 'Measuring and evaluating end-of-life care in services for adults with learning disabilities in the UK'. The research study, led by Dr Stuart Todd, Unit for the Development of Intellectual Disabilities, Glamorgan University, has been awarded £98,000 by The Baily Thomas Charitable Trust. The 30-month study aims to understand the end of life care phase of adults with learning disabilities living in residential settings. Many people with learning disabilities will enter long term care, and more so with increasing age.  Yet, whilst much attention has been given to understanding the quality of life of people with learning disabilities in such settings, very little is known about where and how they are supported at the end of their lives. A survey of learning disability service providers, incorporating VOICES (a nationally recognised approach to evaluating end-of-life) will enhance understanding of this important and significant issue, and critically will allow some comparison with the wider population.

The collaboration brings together academics and practitioners with internationally recognised expertise in research in end of life care, death, and learning disabilities, Moreover, the expertise and commitment from members of the collaboration concerning this important field of study will maximise both nationally and internationally, the widespread and effective dissemination of the study's findings to professionals, policy makers and academics.

AMPHITHEATRE RESTORATION PROJECT

Phase 1 of an ambitious student-led initiative to restore the amphitheatre to its former glory kicked off last week with a geoconservation work party to improve access to the site. The former quarry, from which stone was probably cut for the original Elizabethan Keele Hall, was made into a picturesque amphitheatre planted with ferns and roses in the Nineteenth Century.

Much of the infrastructure (pointed arches) has been lost to decay, and the rock exposures lay hidden by landslipping and growth of scrub. Geoconservation work led by Sarah Taylor and Ian Stimpson focussed on improving site access and removing invasive scrub from the quarry floor. Funding will be required for the next phase of restoring the listed viaduct.

The picture shows Liam Eddleston removing vegetation from around the listed viaduct.

NEW TREES IN UNION SQUARE

The 24 semi-mature trees planted into Union Square may look just like trees, but there is a good deal of subtle meaning in their choice.  Outside the shops are two red maples (Acer rubrum) and three cut-leaved silver maples (A. saccharinum 'Born's Gracious') which turn red and gold, respectively, in the autumn, matched by the golden autumn foliage of six hybrid elms (Ulmus clusius) in front of the library and the contrasting deep green foliage of two upright Persian ironwoods (Parrotia persica 'Vanessa') and a Japanese hornbeam (Carpinus japonica) between the Chapel and the Union - the University colours.
 
The colours are further developed by the foliage of two Norway maples (Acer platanoides 'Princeton Gold') and two honey locusts (Gleditisa triacanthos 'Sunburst') on the way to the bus stop that are golden-yellow all summer.  Autumn colour is added to by the Persian ironwoods that turn a wonderful mixture of orange, red and purple.  For some variety in winter, there are two Sichuan birches (Betula szechuanica), with chalk-white bark planted at strategic locations.

Another meaning comes from their origin.  The native lands of the ironwoods and hornbeam mark the two sides of the old USSR, while the red and silver maples opposite are from North America.  Part of the funding for these trees kindly came from the alumnus Philip Davies who studied American Studies, while his alumna wife Rosamund studied Russian – a fitting tribute.
 
Yet another meaning is the unusual nature of many of these trees and their value in education through the University Arboretum.  For example, by the bus stop is a rare form of the oriental plane with deeply dissected leaves (Platanus orientalis 'Digitata') and an unusual lime (Tilia henryana), which has bristle-teeth along the edges of the leaves, both from China.

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE TEAM

The search for Keele's University Challenge Team has come to an end. The team of four members and a reserve successfully made it through an audition and a high pressure Grand Final that used University Challenge approved questions to test their minds and nerves.

The team is:
• Harriet Earl (Team Captain), studying a PHD in American Literature
• Austin Haffenden, studying a PHD in Computational Ecology
• Robert Croton, studying a MRes in Humanities (English Literature)
• David Sharpe, studying Medicine
• Sam Mansfield (Reserve Member), studying for a BA in Politics

SEMINARS IN UKRAINE

This week, Professor Peter Styles of the School of Physical and Geographical Sciences has been the guest of the British Ambassador to Ukraine, Mr Simon Smith, as part of a UKTI initiative and the Director of the British Council in Ukraine, Mr Martin Dowie. Together with Dr Nick Riley, MBE, of the British Geological Survey, Professor Styles has been speaking at a series of seminars aimed at increasing public understanding of unconventional gas,  emphasising the economic opportunity and necessary environmental safeguards to audiences composed of representatives of regional and local government, academics and NGOs.

After losing a suitcase and having to spend the night in Kiev Airport (eating Pringles and drinking beer with the Ambassador because of freezing fog in Kharkiv), the itinerary eventually took Professor Styles to Karazin Kharkiv National University, T.Shevchenko Kyiv National University and Donetsk National Technical University.
 
The objectives of the bilaterals included achieving a greater understanding of the technology and practice of tight gas, showcasing the UK's experience in long-term planning in areas such as education for major energy developments and providing the opportunity for relationship building between UK and Ukrainian universities in the non-conventional gas and geological sectors.

SHOE BOXES FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN

Residence Support assistants at Hawthorns, Jessica Beck, Christina Hancox, pictured, and Laura Chattaways collected shoe boxes containing sweets, toys, pencils, crayons, toothpaste, soap, and other basics that we take for granted,  for disadvantaged children around the world. More than 40 boxes were collected in the SU and President Joe Turner donated some Keele teddy bears for the boxes.

COFFEE AND CAKE SALE

The Residence Support team in Barnes Hall held a Charity Cake & Coffee sale in aid of the Douglas MacMillan Trust last week.
Cakes were donated by students and staff, and prizes given for the best tasting cakes and the best looking cake.

The event raised £168 and thanks go out to all those who contributed, and who generously bought a slice (or in some cases two) of cake.

LORD STAFFORD AWARDS SUCCESS

A joint project between McCamley UK Ltd and Keele University was shortlisted in the prestigious Lord Stafford Awards that recognise
outstanding collaborations between universities and businesses.

The project was runner-up in the Sustainability category at the Awards
Dinner at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

The project was a result of an interdisciplinary project involving researchers and teaching staff from the Research Institute for the Environment, Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics (EPSAM), the School of Physical and Geographical Sciences and Keele Management School.

Masters students on Keele's MBA in Business Management and the MSc in Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology worked on the
performance and business potential for the prototype vertical axis turbine which has potential for viable operation in an urban setting.

The picture shows Dr Sharon George, Sustainability Hub Manager, and Scott Elliot, from McCamley, picking up the
runner-up certificate.

KEELE ACADEMIC IN SHANGHAI

Professor Richard Luther, Research Institute for the Social Sciences and SPIRE, has returned from a week-long visit to Shanghai, where he delivered a paper on 'West European Social Democratic Responses to the Challenge of the Populist Radical Right' at Tongji University's international conference on 'Research on Contemporary Political Parties…'.

Whilst in Shanghai, he presented other research findings at seminars held at Fudan University and at Tongji's Institute for Germany and the EU.

At these seminars he spoke about the results of a project recently conducted by the Keele European Parties Research Unit on the organisational adaptation of Western European political parties to EU integration.

A delegation from Tongji University is scheduled to visit SPIRE in early December.

TRAINING FOR HE ENGLISH LITERATURE TEACHERS

Susan Bruce, Michaela Owen, Nick Seager and Jonathan Shears organised and last weekend delivered a highly successful one-and-a-half day national training event for new HE teachers of English Literature. 

Held under the auspices of the national subject association for English, the Council for College and University English, the event benefited from the participation of the HEA discipline lead for English, Dr Nicole King and from an invited talk from Professor Robert Eaglestone of Royal Holloway. 

It attracted 24 new teachers of English Literature from across the country, including several postgraduates from Keele.

Evaluations of the occasion were as fulsome as they were last year when Susan Bruce ran the event for the first time at De Montfort University; it is hoped that this will become an annual occasion.

WHAT'S ON –

Sunday, 25 November 2012, 11am - 4pm

Christmas Market at Keele Hall

Keele Christmas Market with Santa's Grotto, a choir singing festive carols and a range of high quality exhibitors selling Christmas gifts, decorations and festive foods.

Wednesday, 28 November -

Charter Year Event: Official opening of Union Square: Forest of Light
 
This special occasion forms part of our programme of events to mark the 50thAnniversary of the Charter of Incorporation to the University of Keele.

10:00 to 17:00 - Union Show Rounds
 
17:00 - Official Opening of the Union by Neil Smith (Class of 1980, AU President (1977-1978) and Keele SU President (1978-1979) followed by a charity auction of the original "Union Square" Pub sign.
 
18.30 – Ceremony to mark the opening of Union Square followed by Lighting the Forest of Light, led by the Pro Chancellor of the University, Malcolm Peckham.

19:00 Closing Ceremony

If you would like to attend this special event, kindly confirm your attendance by contacting our events team on 01782 733292 or via email at: events@keele.ac.uk.

KEELE CONCERTS

Wednesday, 28 November, 7.30pm.

Westminster Theatre, Chancellor's Building - Bartosz Woroch and Robert Thompson, Violin & Piano Recital.

As a soloist Bartosz Woroch has appeared with numerous orchestras and
collaborated with many well-known artists. He has appeared at major venues
including the Wigmore Hall.

Robert Thompson is equally at home as soloist and accomplished chamber musician and has given
recitals at venues and festivals throughout the UK, as well as
collaborating with a range of instrumentalists and singers.

Tickets £14 per person (£7 concessions).

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Thirty-five years ago -

The University was used in background shots for the ABC TV series Haunted, where Patrick Mower played a lecturer in Philosophy investigating tales of the supernatural. 22 November 1967.