HOME OFFICE MEETING ON DOMESTIC ABUSE RESEARCH

Dr Claire Fox and Professor David Gadd visited the Home Office this week to share the findings from a three-year ESRC-funded project, 'From Boys to Men', with senior civil servants working on the teenage relationship abuse campaign and domestic abuse policy more generally. This led to an interesting debate with invitations for the team to be involved in future round table events.

The meeting followed the launch of the website www.boystomenproject.com to showcase the findings from the project, led by Professor Gadd (University of Manchester) and Dr Fox, from Keele (pictured at the Home Office). The aim of the project was to explore what can be done to prevent more boys from becoming perpetrators of domestic abuse in later life.

There were three phase to the research involving: 1) A survey of 13-14 year olds and an evaluation of a domestic abuse prevention education programme; 2) Focus groups with young people, and 3) in-depth interviews with young men at risk of becoming perpetrators. The launch of the website has attracted a great deal of media attention with interviews by Dr Fox on Signal 1 and BBC Radio Stoke and pieces in the Burton Mail, Manchester Evening News and the Telegraph.
 
For anyone interested in the project findings, the three final reports are free to download from the project website.

MAJOR AWARD FOR ISTM  RESEARCH GROUP

Professor William Farrell, pictured, Dr Derek Mattey, Dr Jon Packham, Dr Peter Dawes and Dr John Glossop have been awarded £402,141 by the Haywood Rheumatism Research and Development Foundation for a bench-to-bedside research project titled "Epigenetic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis".

The grant represents a major long-term investment in research in ISTM by the local charity based at the Haywood Hospital in Burslem. The three-year project will build on exciting preliminary genome-wide DNA methylation data based on the analysis of approximately 450,000 gene-specific candidate sites in more than 21,000 genes in three different cell populations that impact on rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
 
The research will analyse and validate the methylation of these sites/genes in a larger independent cohort of RA patients. The team will then conduct a prospective study investigating methotrexate therapy and DNA methylation in RA. The findings from these studies will increase our understanding of this disease and perhaps lead to improvement in long term clinical management strategies.
 
Keele staff in the research includes Professor Farrell, Dr Mattey and Dr Glossop, together with consultant rheumatologists, Dr Dawes and Dr Packham, based at the Haywood Hospital.

WWF's EARTH HOUR AT KEELE 

For the first time, Keele participated in WWF's Earth Hour, one of the largest global grassroots events on the planet.

Aimed at raising awareness about the environment and sustainability, individuals and institutions around the world switched off lights for one hour between 8:30 and 9:30 pm on Saturday 23 March.

Lighting in and around the centre of campus was reduced to a minimum, with the ring road lights staying on because of the snow and ice. A large century-old telescope was set up at Union Square - unfortunately the dark cold evening was overcast as well.

The KPA and Observatory were candle-lit, while the Sustainability Hub featured Stardome shows. Dozens of people enjoyed the special attractions, guided by the many student volunteers. This year's trial, aimed mainly at the campus community, was endorsed by the Vice Chancellor and the Dean of Natural Sciences and received generous assistance from Keele Estates and Security. Not only did Keele reduce its carbon equivalent usage, it also demonstrated it is willing and able to set an example and to put its sustainability agenda into practice.

The PVC for Environment & Sustainability, Professor Pat Bailey, pictured, said: "The campus really did take on a magical feel as the lights were dimmed, especially in the snowy conditions. It was fantastic to have so many willing helpers, and for the University to be taking part in this global event."

BUILDING SOCIETY CHIEF OPENS STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES AT KMS

David Webster, Chief Executive, Hanley Economic Building Society and a member of Keele University Council, unveiled a plaque last week to mark the opening of the newly re-furbished Darwin Building, which provides state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate the growth of Keele Management School.

He said the development was "absolutely magnificent", and added: "This is a fantastic facility giving a focal point to the University's ambition to have a modern, state-of-the-art Management School." Following the unveiling Mr Webster, pictured above right, gave a talk on "The importance of business-university links".

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Rama Thirunamachandran, welcomed guests to the relaunch of KMS in the Darwin Building, describing the Management School as one of the University's 'jewels in the crown'.

Director of KMS, Professor Harry Scarbrough, pictured above left, said the School was growing rapidly in student numbers and recognition both nationally and internationally.

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY TRUST BURSARIES FOR KEELE STUDENTS

A joint research initiative between Dr Aleksandar Radu, Dr Fotis Sgouridis and Dr Sami Ullah (School of Physical and Geographical Sciences) has been recognised by the Analytical Chemistry Trust.

The trust awarded £2,880 to sponsor two 2nd year undergraduate students to gain transferable research skills during the summer and to encourage them to consider careers in Analytical Chemistry. This award also contributes to showcasing the profile of Keele being supportive of high quality undergraduate research.
 
This year's winners of the bursary are Robert Price, Chemistry, and Max Reboul, Applied Environmental Sciences. Robert is also a winner of John Tebby 1st year Chemistry prize for his outstanding performance during his 1st year of study. His research work during the summer will be supervised by Dr Radu. Robert's project will involve elucidating response characteristics of "adaptable sensors".

The latter are sensors capable of adapting their response characteristics relative to the need of analysis and sensing environment. Sensor characteristics are controlled by the user by utilizing specific external stimulus. Sensors that Robert will study will utilize light as external stimulus in order to externally control sensor's selectivity and sensitivity.

Max Reboul will undertake his research on 'Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA: Development of the microdiffusion-hypobromite oxidation technique for determining 15N isotope in ammonium in different soil types'. His research work will be supervised by Dr Sgouridis and Dr Ullah. The expected output would be to evaluate the suitability of the method for adoption as a 'routine' for the quantification of DNRA under field conditions.

DNRA is regarded as nitrogen conservation mechanism in soils that helps in reducing pollution of water resources. A future collaborative research on the utilization of adaptable sensors for small-scale characterisation of reactive nitrogen species in soils and sediments would also be explored.
 
Pictured from left to right: Dr Aleksandar Radu, Robert Price, Dr Fotis Sgouridis, and Max Reboul.

GROUND ENGINEERING RISK SEMINAR AT KEELE

The Applied and Environmental Geophysics Group and RSK STATS (Geophysics) hosted a full day seminar aimed at students and local environmental and engineering practitioners at the Hub last week.

More than 70 attendees heard Dr George Tuckwell, formerly of the Keele Research Group and now Director of RSK STATS, give an overview of available geophysical techniques followed by their application and real case studies. The event was chaired by Professor Peter Styles, who is the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers Distinguished Lecturer on Environmental Geophysics.

Professor Styles also gave the monthly lecture to the Staffs Physics Centre of the West Midlands Branch of the Institute of Physics on "Do we really need Unconventional Oil and Gas?".

KEELE SCIENTIST JOINS INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON ITALIAN EARTHQUAKES

Professor Peter Styles, Professor of Applied and Environmental Geophysics, Applied & Environmental Geophysics Research Group, School of Physical and Geographical Sciences, has joined  an international commission charged with the evaluation of the possible relationships between hydrocarbon exploration activities and the increase of seismic activity in the area of the Emilia Romagna Region, hit by the May 2012 earthquakes.

The Committee will formally start its activity next week. Its first meeting will be held in Rome, from April 23 to 26, and will include a trip to the Emilia area hit by the earthquakes.

Professor Styles, an international authority on induced earthquakes caused during fracking for shale gas, has been formally thanked by the Italian Government and by the President of the Emilia Romagna Region for accepting the invitation to join the Commission.

MUSEUMS, CULTURAL CAPITAL AND CIVILIZATION

Gordon Fyfe, School of Sociology and Criminology, was invited to talk to an audience of anthropologists and museum researchers at Mary Washington University (Fredericksburg USA) on the subject of museums. 

The title of his talk was Museums, cultural capital and civilization.

NATIONAL PHARMACY CONFERENCE AT KEELE

The British Pharmaceutical Students' Association is holding its annual conference at Keele.

The week-long event – from 31 March to 7 April - will see undergraduate pharmacy students from all over Britain (and three from the Nottingham University Malaysia campus), pre-registration pharmacists and first year qualified pharmacists descend on Keele.

The day events consist mostly of conference business, including the AGM when motions that will form the Association's policies are debated.

There are also have several sessions throughout the week when guest speakers will be present.

On Tuesday they will be joined by Helen Gordon (CEO of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society) for a Q&A panel. She will also be attending the evening events, which start with the Reckitt Benckiser Student of the Year Award presentation and drinks reception (the competition final will be taking place in Keele Hall throughout the day).

That is followed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society sponsored dinner when they will also be joined by Martin Astbury, the President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

There is a Medical Exhibition in the Exhibition Suite, Chancellors Building, on Thursday and exhibitors include the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Pharmaceutical Journal, the GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council), GlaxoSmith Kline (GSK), the CPPE and UKCPA, the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, Boots, Superdrug and Day Lewis pharmacy.

Keele organisers, Pharmacy students  Lottie Bain and Katrina Fredericks,said: "There are a huge number of prestigious guests coming who are very influential in the world of pharmacy."

BPSA is the Official Students' Organisation of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

NEW PENSION AUTO ENROLMENT LEGISLATION

Two presentations have been given by Eifion Morris, of USS, pictured, explaining to Keele staff about changes introduced by the new Pension Auto Enrolment legislation.

All employers are required to provide a pension provision for their workers with most automatically enrolled into a suitable scheme.

Keele must start to auto-enrolling staff from 1 August 2013.

Keele's auto-enrolment project is led by Tim Statham who told the audience that this is the biggest pensions change for over 25 years.

Along with the USS presentations, the project team is planning other communication to ensure staff are fully informed on how auto-enrolment affects them.

Plenty of useful information is available here and www.uss.co.uk.

Eifion will repeat his presentation on 25 April.