FIREWORK FINALE FOR KEELE'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Fireworks and lasers lit up the Students' Union Building and Union Square as alumni, students, staff, local residents and civic dignitaries gathered to see the first lighting of the Forest of Light.

The unveiling of the sculpture by Pro Chancellor, Malcolm Peckham, marked the completion of a major project to transform the heart of the campus, the £2.7 million overhaul of the Students' Union building into a superb social hub and the grand finale of Keele 50th Anniversary year.

The walk-through installation - designed by Diane Maclean to commemorate Keele's 50th Anniversary - reflects the open nature of the University, its many disciplines and the different backgrounds and countries around the world from which students are drawn. Cluster lights set in the ground shine through and reflect on the many angled surfaces of the columns.

The Pro Chancellor revealed that an anonymous alumni had donated £25,000 towards the cost of the sculpture and the rest had come from the Keele Key Fund. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Foskett, described the installation as "absolutely fantastic". He said: "We are delighted with the re-modelling of Union Square, the installation of the Forest of Light and the renovation of the Students' Union."

The picture above shows Joe Turner, the Vice-Chancellor, Diane Maclean and Malcolm Peckham.

Earlier former SU and AU President Neil Smith, with current SU President Joe Turner, pictured right, performed the opening ceremony for the remodelled ground floor of the Students' Union Building.

Neil said: "It is terrific to see so many people here and it gives me great please to declare this newly refurbished Students' Union open – it is a fantastic centre that will enhance the student experience at Keele."

50 YEARS OF CREATIVITY AT KEELE

Miroslav Spasov, Senior Lecturer in Music, and Sarah Watts, bass clarinet performer and PhD student at Keele, have returned from Brazil where they visited four well-established universities – State University of Campinas, University of Sao Paulo,  Federal University of the Rio de Janeiro, and the Federal University of Pernambuco in Recife.

They gave concerts and presentations featuring compositions and research by Keele staff members. Spasov's presentation entitled '50 Years Creativity at Keele: Research and Practice in Music/Music Technology' included examples of his colleagues works including his own research. Sarah Watts presented her work in progress involving theory and practice of bass clarinet's extended techniques with an emphasis on 'multiphonics'.

This was an excellent opportunity to present research at Keele, to initiate collaboration between Keele and Brazilian universities as well as for recruiting postgraduate students from Brazil. In fact the first step toward writing a collaborative grant application based on the AHRC (UK) and FAPESP (Brazil) bilateral agreement and funding scheme, which involves Keele and several universities in the State of Sao Paulo, has already been made – Prof Rajmil Fischman (Keele) and Prof Jonatas Manzolli (University of Campinas, Sao Paulo) have already began the team-building process.

The tour allowed both Miroslav and Sarah to exchange experience and knowledge and also to establish solid grounds for collaboration with Brazilian universities in the future and to make Keele more 'visible' in South America.

DEVELOPING NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL IN SAUDI ARABIA

The formal signing of an agreement to develop a new medical school in Saudi Arabia took place at Keele.  Madina Medical University will include schools of medicine, nursing and physiotherapy, based on programmes at Keele. 

All three programmes have been praised by their respective external regulators, the GMC, NMC and HPC, and are highly regarded by students who ranked them all in the top four schools nationally at the last NSS.
 
The picture shows Professor Zohair Sebai and Keele Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Foskett signing the document, accompanied by Professor Andy Garner, Dean of Health, Professor Khalid Khoshhall, Dean-elect of MMU, and external advisor Dr Tony Veturo, a former Dean of Health at the University of Arizona.

CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

A week of activities will be held from 3 – 7 December to raise awareness of disability and celebrate the contributions made by disabled people. The University works in close partnership with a number of local specialist disability organisations to ensure appropriate support and access to the full range of University services is made available for all staff and students.
A focus for the week is to establish the views of disabled people to inform University practice and priorities. Highlights include: Disability in film; Guide dogs for the blind; Sports for all; Student Poetry Competition and Disability Awareness Workshop for Staff.

The full programme of the week events can be found here. To get involved or for further information please contact Maureen Cook, Disability and Dyslexia Support Manager, HRSS. Tel – 01782 734364 (ext. 34364) Email: m.cook@keele.ac.uk.

INAUGURATION OF OBSERVATORY VIEWING PLATFORM

Following the generous donation of £13,000 by the Friends of Keele for an Observatory viewing platform to celebrate Keele University's 50th anniversary, members gathered on campus last weekend for its inauguration.

The event included the official unveiling of the viewing platform plaque by Friends Chair, Brenda Jones, sun watching, a tour and astronomy talk, plus demonstrations of the telescopes.
 
Brenda said: "The Friends of Keele have supported a number of projects over the last 50 years, both large and small, but all demonstrating the on-going support and the interest of the Friends in this unique University. We look forward to the next 50 years of Keele and hope that the Friends will continue to prosper."

NETWORKING WITH THE PROFESSIONALS

Careers and Employability, in collaboration with Finest and Future/Finest, held a unique evening networking event and buffet for students at Keele Hall Ballroom.

Students from a variety of degree disciplines heard presentations on networking skills and opportunities in North Staffordshire from successful professionals and young professionals representing companies such as Emma Bridgewater and Tinsdills.
 
The students then spent time networking with professionals from areas which included accountancy, science, law and banking. Hardly distinguishable from the guests, the students, in smart business dress, impressed by making the most of the opportunity to find out more about specific roles, employers and career skills, as well as making valuable contact for their future careers.

Keele students are pictured networking with Kelly Thelwell from the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce.

PHYSIO STUDENTS ONESIE DAY

Physiotherapy students in the School of Health and Rehabilitation held a 'wear a onesie' day and raised £130 for the charity Therapies Unite, in memory of their fellow student Catrin Pickles.  Therapies Unite works with disabled children and adults with musculoskeletal and neurological problems to improve their mobility and provide them with access to healthcare that they would otherwise be unable to afford. 

Catrin was one of the first volunteers to work with the charity in Mexico and was keen to develop links between the charity and Keele. Therapies Unite has now been adopted as the students' chosen charity for 2012. The School is working to establish placement and volunteering opportunities with the charity for current students, staff and graduates. The first visit to Mexico by SHAR staff is planned for January 2013.

NURSE RESEARCHER WINS TWO AWARDS

Julie Green, Lecturer in Nursing and part time PhD student, has been awarded two prestigious awards for her research into the experiences of patients with chronic venous leg ulceration.

WoundsUK, the organisation that supports the largest wound care conference in the UK, awarded Julie the winning prize in their 'Patient Wellbeing' category for research into the patient experience, which was sponsored by Smith and Nephew.

Julie was also awarded the Society for Academic Primary Care (North) Conference Award for 'Best in Research' for her presentation at their recent conference in Kendal.

Julie is part of the Health Services Research Unit and is supervised by Professor Robert McKinley, Professor Rebecca Jester and Dr Alison Pooler.

BEAT HOTEL INTERVIEW ON RADIO 4

Professor Oliver Harris, Research Institute of the Humanities, American Studies, took part in the Radio 4 programme "The Beat Hotel" presented by Professor Andrew Hussey yesterday.

Professor Harris was interviewed extensively for the broadcast, which discussed the cultural significance of the small Left Bank hotel in Paris where the American Beat writers, especially William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and Gregory Corso, lived during the late 1950s and early 1960s, and where they created some of their most important and challenging poems and novels.

PARLIAMENT EDUCATION SERVICE CONFERENCE ON POLITICS

Dr Jonathan Parker appeared last week at a regional conference on
politics for A-Level students, organised by the Parliament Education
Service at the Telford International Centre. 

Students from throughout
the West Midlands heard from Speaker of the House of Commons, John
Bercow, about the role of the Speaker, Jonathan presented an analysis
of the U.S. election results, and a politics roundtable was chaired by
Tim Beech, Managing Editor, BBC Radio Shropshire,that also included
Telford MP David Wright and local councillors.

INTERVIEW ON IRISH ABORTION LAW

Dr Sorcha Uí Chonnachtaigh, PEAK, School of Law, was interviewed this week on the News at One, Raidió na Gaeltachta.

The interview focused on the Report of the Expert Group on the Judgement in A, B and C v. Ireland, and the recent death of Savita Halappanavar following requests for a termination while miscarrying in an Irish hospital.

Sorcha discussed the difficulties faced by women and doctors in Ireland in the absence of primary legislation and the recommendations for dealing with this as set forth by the Expert Group, in accordance with requirements of the European Court of Human Rights' judgement.

NEXT WEEK

Tuesday 4 December

Professor David Leece Inaugural lecture, 'Tales From the Realm of Finance' -
6.00pm, Westminster Theatre, Chancellor's Building.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Ten years ago -

Professor Sir David Weatherall was installed as Chancellor of Keele University at a special ceremony in the University Chapel attended by senior officers of the University and distinguished guests.

He succeeded Lord Moser, who retired after 16 years unstinting and distinguished service to the University.

The nomination had been unanimously put forward by the University's Council, after being advised by its Nominations Committee. 29 November 2002.