NEW £2.8 MILLION STATE OF THE ART DEVELOPMENT FOR SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Work has started on a state of the art development which will allow the School of Medicine to join a select group of institutions offering leading edge facilities which will attract surgeons from across the UK.

A new £2.8 million extension of the Anatomy Skills Facility at The David Weatherall building will mean not only improved facilities for students, but will also offer senior surgeons the chance to improve high level skills in the most up-to-date teaching environment.

The complex build will also involve raising the existing single storey IT suite, alterations to office accommodation and high level specialist mechanical and electrical installations. State of the art audio-visual and video capture technology will be built into the heart of the new suite enabling unprecedented opportunities for the detailed viewing and capturing of anatomical procedures.
 
Touch screens, video editing suites and secure live dissection broadcasts within the Keele network will be provided to enable the students to have the most accurate possible experience of real human physiology at a level not offered in many UK Medical Schools.

The work is expected to be completed in August.

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY AT KEELE

A Holocaust Memorial Day Conference took place at Keele last week, hosted by the Recruitment, Outreach and Access team. Over 150 learners from six local schools attended the day and took part in a number of sessions to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. Workshops were provided by the Holocaust Education Trust and Keele academic, Dr Jane Essex, conducted a theatrical lecture on 'Scientists of the Holocaust'.

The highlight of the event was when students had the opportunity to hear from Holocaust survivor, Susan Pollack, who gave a touching and inspirational talk on her experiences as a survivor of Auschwitz. Learners particularly benefited from the opportunity to hear Susan speak - one said: "I am glad to have come and listened to Susan's story. It is life changing and made me realise how lucky I am."

KEELE STUDENT GEARS UP FOR NEW MOTOR RACING SEASON

A Keele student has been named in the Fortec Motorsports driver line-up for the 2013 Protyre Formula Renault Championship.

The Daventry outfit will field a squad spearheaded by returning Chinese racer Hong Wei Cao, from Keele, and British karting graduate Sam MacLeod (Cambridge). Cao, also known as 'Martin', is the most experienced of Fortec's quartet. After making his British racing debut in Protyre Formula Renault last year, the 19-year-old 2nd Year student went on to achieve his maiden podium in the 2012 Winter Series – concluding the four round championship fifth overall. He was also the 2008 Asian Formula Renault Champion.

Fortec team manager Steve Lynch, said: "It'll be a learning year for Sam but he's been very quick in testing and we're confident he and Martin will be fighting at the front for regular podiums. We're looking for Martin to continue where he left off in the Winter Series, he's committed to making a big push this year."

EXCHANGE STUDENTS SUPPORT COMPATRIOT CAMERON AT STOKE CITY

Thirty American exchange students, who will be studying at Keele for 12 weeks, along with teachers and support staff, showed their support for compatriot Geoff Cameron in Stoke City's FA cup 4th Round clash against Manchester City at the Britannia Stadium. Although Cameron was not in Stoke's match day squad, he was eager to meet the students before the game.
 
On hearing about the event Tommy Lancaster, a former exchange student to the UK, flew from Wisconsin, to meet Geoff and take in the 0-1 defeat, before flying back to the States after the match.
 
Dr Jon Parker, who teaches the students, said, "This was a fantastic chance to experience British culture and get to know the local community first-hand. It will teach them more about England and Stoke-on-Trent than I could possibly get across in a classroom. This is one of the things they will remember and talk about for years to come when they return to America."

CALL TO KEELE RESEARCHERS ON NEW EU RESEARCH AGENDA

Researchers at Keele have the chance to contribute to Horizon 2020 - the new European Union Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, scheduled to run from 2014 to 2020.

In order to gather expert advice on the development of the new programme's research agenda and calls for proposals, the European Commission has launched a call for members of the Horizon 2020 Expert Advisory Groups.

The call provides UK researchers, and higher education institutions, with the opportunity to directly influence the development of Horizon 2020 over the next programming period.

Individual researchers can register their interest with the European Commission up to 5pm (Continental time) on the 6 March 2013.

Please access the Europe Note for more detailed information on the International Unit's website here.

WHAT'S ON

Concerts at Keele -Wednesday, 6 February

Warren Mailley-Smith - Piano Recital

Westminster Theatre, Chancellor's Building at 7.30pm

The award-winning concert pianist Warren Mailley-Smith made his solo debuts to critical acclaim at Wigmore Hall London and Carnegie Hall, New York.

He studied at the Royal College of Music where he won numerous postgraduate prizes, including a Countess of Munster Award and the French Piano Music Prize.

Warren is in increasing demand as a solo concert artist and now performs in festivals and concert venues across the UK, Europe and the US.
 
Tickets £14 per person (£7 concessionary).

Please call the 24 hour booking line on 01782 717058 to order tickets. For more information please email concerts@keele. ac.uk.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Fifty-eight years ago -

Arrangements have been completed for a special residential study course on the structure and identification of timber, to be held at the University College, Keele, in March.

The course will include lectures on wood anatomy and 30 hours of laboratory work, under the guidance of Professor Alan Gemmell. 1 February 1955.