GREEN WEEK SUCCESS AT KEELE

Green Week 2013 proved to be a huge success as the University demonstrated its commitment to green living and sustainability this week.

Among the highlights was the official opening of the Wolfson Lecture Theatre at the Sustainability Hub by The Chancellor, Jonathon Porritt, and a partnership with Nissan GB to provide an electric vehicle for use by the University.
 
The Sustainability Hub was awarded a £140k grant by the Wolfson Foundation, to establish a first class lecture theatre facility to support its outreach activities.
 
Opening the Wolfson Lecture Theatre, the Chancellor, pictured with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Foskett, and Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Natural Sciences, Professor Pat Bailey, said: "Green Week is a fantastic initiative and I am delighted to be part of it.

"This lecture theatre is such an important facility, which will allow the Hub to extend its exciting range of events and projects to encourage an improved awareness of sustainability issues."

He added: "This electric car is just one of a number of ways that the University is demonstrating its commitment to the sustainability agenda and during the next few years we will continue to drive forward similar initiatives."

The launch was followed by a public lecture, 'Our Unknown Future', by The Chancellor in the Westminster Theatre. Other events during the week included a debate on 'fracking' between Professor Andy Dobson and Professor Peter Styles, a workshop on green careers, an outdoor cycling drop-in event, tours of the Hub, a campus biodiversity walk and visits to the sustainable student bungalow.

INSPIRE GRANT FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL

The Keele School of Medicine has been awarded a two year INSPIRE grant (£10,000) - a funding programme co-ordinated by the Academy of Medical Sciences and supported by the Wellcome Trust. The scheme constitutes part of the academy's portfolio of activities "aimed at nurturing the next generation of medical researchers".

INSPIRE aims to engage medical students with basic/clinical research and encourage students to consider research careers. Coordinated by Dr Sam Hider (Primary Care Sciences), pictued, and Dr Divya Chari (Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine) together with two 5th year medical students Sohel Samad and Paul Nderitu, the grant will support a diverse range of activities including the setting up a student-led research network and promotion of research opportunities to students via a dedicated website and links to national student academic societies.

The grant will also support a competitive summer studentship scheme, hosted by the research institutes of Primary Care and Science and Technology in Medicine , that have supported the scheme through matched funding, and an annual  student Research Showcase featuring invited external speakers. Through this initiative, the medical school aims to foster and evolve an innovative research strand within the medical curriculum. 

NEW FUME CUPBOARDS FOR EM UNIT

New fume cupboards have been installed in Keele's Electron Microscopy Unit. The unit - set up in 1983/4 - offers a range of microscope techniques, including two Transmission Electron Microscopes and a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope. Researchers come from throughout the UK to use and train on its equipment, plus a group of about 20 researchers and their groups within Keele who rely on the EM Unit regularly.
 
To support the Unit's work a suite of preparatory facilities are needed to make samples for analysis. While research grants will pay for the usage of the TEM and SEM equipment, funds for the replacement or upgrading of the support facilities can be harder to find. Deafness Research UK recently paid for some improvements, but for replacement of two 30-year old fume cupboards the EM Unit turned to the Research Institute for Science & Technology in Medicine, which has committed £10,000 from the HEFCE capital equipment fund.

Dr Dave Furness, Reader in Neuroscience who heads the Unit, said "The fume cupboards are integral to the function of the EM Unit but difficult to replace on our normal budget".
 
For more details about the EM Unit, including a gallery of award-winning images and opportunities for school visits, please see its website at http://www.keele.ac.uk/emunit/.

The photo shows Drs Karen Walker and Dave Furness with the new fume cupboards.

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF GRIEF

Professor Sue Read, Professor of Learning Disability Nursing, this week gave the latest lecture in the University's programme of Inaugural Professorial Lectures for 2012/13.
 
In her lecture, 'Living in the Shadow of Grief: lessons from people with a learning disability', she identified and catalogued the challenges when supporting people with learning disabilities with disenfranchised grief and death. She explored the concept, nature and meaning of support associated with loss and death, in order to show the complexity when supporting individuals who have cognitive impairments.

Using her research experiences of travelling alongside people with a learning disability through their journeys of loss, she demonstrated that marginalised groups can indeed teach us much about death and dying, but often lack the vehicles/routes to help them share the experiences and knowledge with others.

Professor Read is pictured with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Foskett and the Dean of Health, Professor Andy Garner.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT KEELE

Keele's Environment Model United Nations conference saw a simulated the Security Council facing the problem of China building dams along the River of Mekong, a problem for other Far East countries as it was limiting water supply. As the conference progressed the situation became critical and 'crisis' elements were added encouraging a faster pace of debate.

KEMUN 2013 had delegates from the University of York, the Royal Agricultural College, King's College London, Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, as well as bringing together Keele Model United Nations members and other Keele students with an interest in environmental matters. 

The delegates who participated felt the conference was a very successful diplomatic forum simulation, which contributed to development of skill sets such as public speaking, academic research skills and general knowledge. 

ANY QUESTIONS AT KEELE MEDICAL SCHOOL

Over one hundred staff and students registered for an 'Any Questions' style debate on the subject of Global Health hosted by Keele Medical School. The evening commenced with a short lecture to set the scene by Richard Horton, editor of "The Lancet".

The 'Any Questions' panellists were Richard Horton; Head of School, Val Wass; Respiratory and Infectious Disease Consultant, Nina Boodasing, and Andrew Bennett, chair of Medsin.

Clive Gibson, Medical School Director of Staff Development, chaired the evening and directed questions to the panel.

Questions ranged across a number of issues but included "Is climate change the biggest challenge to public health in the 21st century?" and "Are we allowing pharmaceutical companies to drive global health goals?"

The very successful event was preceded by an afternoon workshop when staff and students discussed how to embed Global Health into the undergraduate curriculum.

Richard Horton later posted on Twitter: "Keele Medical School is blessed with superb students and faculty.

"Unencumbered by tradition they want to respond fast to global change".

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH KEELE

This week has seen the Recruitment, Outreach & Access team oversee three 'Get to Grips With' Key Stage 5 Masterclasses.

Learners from NULC, Blythe Bridge 6th Form and Trinity 6th Form enjoyed masterclasses on Music, Chemistry and How to Choose a University.

One young person who attended the chemistry lab session led by Dr Jane Essex, completed three generations of engagement at the University. Abi Kempa became the third in her family to have Keele links, following teacher-trainer grandad, Richard Kempa, and father and ex-Keele PhD student, Dr Mike Kempa.

WHAT'S ON

Monday, 18 February

Inaugural lecture: Professor Tom Obokata, 'International Law on Human Trafficking'.

In this lecture, Professor Obokata will identify core obligations relating to trafficking of human beings established under international law.

He will then present an analysis on the extent to which these are implemented in the United Kingdom.

The lecture, at 6pm in the Westminster Theatre, Chancellor's Building, is free and open to all.
 
Wednesday, 20 February - Concerts at Keele: Doric String Quartet

Westminster Theatre, Chancellor's Building, at 7.30pm

Described by Gramophone Magazine as 'one of the finest young string quartets', whose members are 'musicians with fascinating things to say', the Doric String Quartet has received glowing responses from audiences and critics across the globe.

Since its formation in 1998 at Pro Corda, the National School for Young Chamber Music Players, the Quartet has performed across the world, won numerous prizes and collaborated with many well-known artists. In autumn 2010 the Quartet made its highly acclaimed American debut with recitals at the Frick Museum in New York and Library of Congress in Washington.

Tickets £14 per person (£7 concessions).

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

Sixty-two years ago -

Lord and Lady Lindsay, Professor Vick and Dr Wolverson Cope attended the opening of a geological laboratory at the University College, Keele.

The laboratory provides admirable facilities for the 160 students and has been adapted from a building erected by American troops during the war. It includes a work-room for mineralogists as well as storage space for exhibits. 13 February 1951.