NEW PRO-CHANCELLOR FOR KEELE

Ralph Findlay, Chief Executive Officer of Marston's PLC, the UK's leading independent brewing and pub retailing business, has been named as the next Pro-Chancellor of Keele University.

He will initially join the University's Council in April before taking up the role of Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council from 1 August 2014, for a four year term. He will succeed Mr Malcolm Peckham, JP, FRSA, who was appointed Pro-Chancellor for a two year term of office last year.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Foskett, said: "This is a key role within the University structure and in Ralph Findlay we will have a highly experienced business leader, who will make a major contribution to the success of Keele as we look to the future and plan our strategy for the years ahead.

"We launched a national search to find our next Pro-Chancellor and from an exceptionally strong field of candidates Ralph was unanimously recommended. Marston's priorities for differentiation, innovation and operational excellence match our own values very closely and as such we believe that Ralph will make a significant impact as the higher education sector continues to face many uncertainties and we look to meet the challenges ahead."
 
Ralph Findlay, who was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Marston's PLC in 2001, said: "I have been impressed by the people I have met at Keele, their enthusiasm, and the plans in place to develop the University further from a strong base.

"The opportunity to work with Keele is attractive, and I believe that I can assist in developing appropriate responses to some very significant challenges in higher education. The fact that Keele is in Staffordshire is relevant to me: Marston's is a national business, but our heart is in the Midlands.  Helping to champion a respected university in the region appeals."

PARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETING ON NHS RESEARCH

Pauline Walsh, Head of Nursing and Midwifery, has attended an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) roundtable meeting to discuss research in the NHS, representing the Royal College of Nursing as an expert advisor for education and training.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 introduced, for the first time, a duty across the NHS to promote research and the government is currently consulting on changes to the NHS constitution to ensure that every patient who wishes to take part in research has that opportunity.

The meeting aimed to bring senior figures from the NHS and medical research community for a roundtable meeting with APPG to shape a vision for research in the NHS.. The meeting set out to identify how barriers to research can be overcome and how the public can become more involved.
 
Pauline believes that in achieving this goal it is vital to ensure a multi professional approach to research across the NHS which places equal importance on research concerned with the patient experience and quality of life alongside medical and technical advancement. Integral to this is the need for research protocols to embed dissemination and adoption strategies to ensure evidence based practice actually occurs at the point of delivery of care to patients.

The outcomes of both meetings will shape a vision for research in the NHS, which will be launched later this year. 

KEELE WORLD FESTIVAL 2013

Keele World Festival 2013 kicked off in style this week with the first ever launch event. Over 350 Keele staff and students piled into the SU ballroom to experience Keele's rich diversity.

A number of Keele societies were there to showcase their talents including Capoeira, KISS and Eurovision. Guests also enjoyed performances from salsa, dance sport, Bollywood dancing, Houdini style magic and belly dancing.
 
A great evening was enjoyed by all, with food served from around the world, including a number of taster samples. The evening finished with a performance from Keele Cheerleaders to round of a very successful inaugural launch event.

The World Festival continues for two weeks, with talks, debates, language taster sessions and lots more. Check out the full programme at keele.ac.uk/worldfestival.

INTERNATIONAL LAW ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING – INAUGURAL LECTURE

Professor Tom Obokata, School of Law, this week gave the latest lecture in the University's programme of Inaugural Professorial Lectures for 2012/13.

In this lecture,  "International Law on Human Trafficking", Professor Obokata, an expert on transnational organised crime  and trafficking of human beings, identified the core obligations relating to trafficking of human beings established under international law and then presented an analysis on the extent to which these are implemented in the United Kingdom.

Professor Obokata is pictured with the Vice-Chancellor and Professor David Shepherd, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences.

SCIENCE PARK COMPANIES UP FOR BUSINESS AWARDS

There has been more success at the Science and Business Park as the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) and iCritical, based in IC1 and IC2 respectively, have been shortlisted for the prestigious Sentinel Business Awards.

BMA has been shortlisted in the Business Innovation category for its 'Water Label', which is designed to save water and has been adopted by companies across Europe.  In addition, iCritical's managing director, Chris Gee, has been shortlisted for the Entrepreneur of the Year, an award sponsored by Keele University Science and Business Park.

The awards recognise the achievements of the region's most successful and innovative firms and business people. The winners will be announced at a special awards gala dinner on 26 March 2013.

FLINT KNAPPER AT KEELE

Professional flint knapper and experimental archaeologist Karl Lee came to the School of Life Sciences to run a full day of workshops on making stone tools.

Students taking the final year Human Evolution module were shown how some of the earliest species of humans made stone hand-axes, spearheads and arrow points, and each student had the opportunity to make a flint scraper for cleaning hides.

INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE FOR TALK ON FRACCING

Professor Peter Styles, School of Physical and Geographical Sciences and EPSAM, was the Chair and Invited Speaker on the subject  of  the recent DECC report on Shale Gas Hydraulic Fracturing Induced Earthquakes for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Workshop on Induced Seismicity, last week at the Thistle Hotel,  Marble Arch, London, which attracted a wide international audience.

To round off the week, he was an Invited Speaker on wind turbine environmental vibrations at the British Geophysical Association Meeting on 'New Advances in Geophysics' held jointly with the Royal Astronomical Society at the Geological Society in Burlington House, London.

PLANTS FOR BEES BOOK TALK

Dr William Kirk, Life Sciences, will be giving a talk at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth next week on his book about the fascinating world of beekeeping and plants, "Plants for Bees". BBC Wales will be there to interview him for a feature on bee decline.

FAITH FORUM AT KEELE
A Faith Forum is being established to take forward issues brought up by religion, faith and spirituality within Keele. It is aimed at listening to and supporting staff and students from "minority" spiritualities, and making sure a positive, mature conversation is happening.

The first meeting involved representatives from various faith groups and the University. If anyone would like to feed into this process please contact Rev James Stewart, Anglican Chaplain, Keele University Chapel; 34919. They are also looking for "Community Leaders" from minority faiths and spiritualities for wider representation and support for staff and students.
 
Last week nearly 60 people attended the annual ecumenical Ash Wednesday service held in the Chapel, led by Rev Stewart and Ray Bayliss, Lay RC Chaplain.

WHAT'S ON

Concerts at Keele: The Schubert Ensemble - 27 February;
Westminster Theatre, Chancellor's Building at 7.30pm.
The Schubert Ensemble

THREE COUNTIES OPEN PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION -
 
27 February - 27 March, Keele University Art Gallery

An exhibition displaying some of the best works from Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire photographers.

Keele University Concert Band - "The US Masters" in the Keele Chapel on Saturday 2 March at 7.30pm.
 
The programme includes music with an American theme and will feature music such as the Slava by Bernstein, Piano concerto in C by Anderson and Liberty Bell by Susa.

Tickets can be bought at the door and are £7/£5.

GEAR UP FOR CYCLING

Friday, 1 March; 12:00-2:00 or 3:30-5:30

Learn to Ride a bike/Level 1 - attendees get a goodie bag of free cycling gear worth over £40. Meet outside Students' Union.

Limited places, to book email: lindsayvicary@ bikeright.co.uk

www.bikeright.co.uk/ intocycling-keele

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Sixty years ago -

Alderman the Rev. T. Horwood, Chairman of the University College, Keele, and Vicar of Etruria, is awarded the degree of M.A. at Cambridge University. 21 February 1953.