APPOINTED CHAIR OF MARINE AND CLIMATE SCIENCES

Professor Andrew Willmott will be joining Keele in August, to take up the Chair of Marine & Climate Sciences.  Andrew started his academic career in mathematics, obtaining his first degree from Bristol and his PhD from UEA, but was already using his maths to help understand ocean currents … hence the climate change link. 

He moved to a post-doc position in Canada straight after his PhD (to UBC in Vancouver), and then on to Assistant Professor of Oceanography at Monterey in California, before returning to the UK under the 'New Blood' scheme, quickly rising to reader at Exeter University.  He came to Keele University in 1993 as Professor of Applied Mathematics, and was the inaugural Head of the School of Computing & Mathematics between 2003-2005. 

His reputation for using applied mathematics to tackle complex environmental issues led to his appointment in 2005 as Director of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory in Liverpool.  In 2010, the two NERC marine centres were merged to become the National Oceanographic Centre, and Andrew is the Director of Science & Technology, overseeing around 180 staff and a budget of ca £20m.

Despite his strategic roles as Director of oceanographic centres, Andrew has maintained his own research on ocean current simulation, having won over £1m of research funding, and publishing ca 70 papers.  His international reputation is exemplified by several honorary/visiting posts in Australia and the Americas, numerous invitations to organise and speak at international conferences, and his appointment to influential committees … including the NERC Executive Board, and the RAE and REF panels on Earth Systems & Environmental Sciences.  He will be joining Keele University in a part-time capacity, with his expertise especially important as we develop environmental research through the REF and beyond, whilst his knowledge of marine technologies and climate change will be a great asset to our teaching of environmental issues, particularly at postgraduate level.

LEVERHULME INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP

Professor Matthias Klaes, Keele Management School, has been awarded a highly competitive Leverhulme International Academic Fellowship to support his on-going research related to digital history of economics collections.
 
The prestigious award (£22K) will allow him to spend time at the Centre for History of Political Economy at Duke University, US and liaise with the Roy Rosenzweig Centre for History and New Media at George Mason University.

Following his recent Headship of Keele Management School, Professor Klaes is set to join the School of Business at the University of Dundee as Dean and Professor for History and Philosophy of Economics, retaining his longstanding involvement in Keele's Forum for Philosophical Research.

BBC RADIO 4'S ANY QUESTIONS?  - LIVE FROM KEELE

Broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby said how much he enjoyed BBC Radio 4's 'Any Questions?' held in the Keele's Westminster Theatre last week.

He said a range of questions from the capacity audience ensured a 'lively debate' among the panel, which included the Secretary of State for Transport, The Rt. Hon. Patrick McLoughlin MP, Christine Hamilton, Independent columnist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and Shadow Education Secretary Stephen Twigg MP.

PAPER AT U.S. CONFERENCE

Professor Joe Andrew, Programme Director for Film Studies in the School of Humanities, has returned from the United States, where he presented a paper at the conference, Adaptation: Russian Text into Film, held at Ohio State University.

His paper, 'Another Captive in the Caucasus' dealt with director Aleksei Uchitel's 2008 film, The Captive, which is set against the background of the 1990s Russian-Chechen wars. Professor Andrew's paper also discussed the work in the context of the long tradition of literary and cinematic works, going back to Pushkin and Tolstoy, that have attempted to explain Russia's on-going troubled relationship, with the 'south'. His paper will be published as part of a volume arising from the conference.

DUBLIN LOCKOUT COMMEMORATIONS

Professor Karen Hunt (History) took part in Dublin's centennial commemorations of the Dublin Lockout. A new collection of essays, A Capital in Conflict: Dublin City and the 1913 Lockout, was launched by the city's Lord Mayor at a large public event. Karen spoke on her contribution which provides a new gendered account of the Lockout by focusing on re-reading the act of solidarity by British workers, the 'Save the Kiddies' scheme. She also spoke to the Women's Historical Association of Ireland on the scheme and its leader, Dora Montefiore.
 
Karen has been invited to return to Dublin in June to speak at another public event in Ireland's Decade of Commemorations. Organised by Universities Ireland, the conference on 'Reflecting on a decade of war and revolution in Ireland 1912-1923: the cause of Labour' has as its principal speaker the Irish President, Michael D Higgins. Karen will be speaking on Dora Montefiore and the Dublin Lockout.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF KEELE

Rain could not dampen the spirits of over fifty Keelites who came home last weekend to celebrate '50 Years and more since Keele'.

Twenty members of the Class of 1963 were welcomed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Rama Thirunamachandran, and President of the Students' Union, Joe Turner (2011), and joined many predecessors from the Golden Classes of 1954 to 1962 in Keele Hall. Current and recent Keele students also attended to welcome their pioneering predecessors.

Bob Crockford (1963) spoke for the Golden Graduates and left everyone with tears in their eyes - some of laughter from his gags and puns (many dating back fifty years) but more from joy after his warm tributes to Keele and to fellow Keelites.

Bob captured the sentiment when he addressed the SU President: "Joe - remember this day at your own Golden Graduates Reunion in fifty years. You can say: I was at a reunion of Keele pioneers celebrating their fiftieth, and that links us across one hundred years to the Golden Age of Keele".

FROM PUPIL TO PROFESSOR - INAUGURAL LECTURE

Patricia Black, Professor of Pharmacy Professional Development and Education and the strategic lead for postgraduate taught courses in the School of Pharmacy, this week gave the latest lecture in Keele's programme of Inaugural Professorial Lectures. The title of the lecture was "From Pupil to Professor - Reflections on a Journey in Pharmacy Education and Professional Development".

Her talk was contextualised within 'Pat's story' and the influences and personal experiences that shaped her approach to the design of postgraduate education to meet the continuing professional development needs of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. It included her research into the use of structured learning portfolios and the conceptual model of reflective learning for professional practice development that emerged from it.

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

BED NETS TO PREVENT MALARIA

Professor Hilary Hurd was invited to attend a forum organised by the Guardian on the role of mosquito nets in long lasting strategies that help prevent malaria. In association with the Malaria Consortium and supported by Comic Relief the event was held at the Guardian offices in London and brought together malaria and health development experts from the private, government, commercial and academic sector. 

During a panel discussion and workshop, complex issues such as how to tackle the growth of resistance of mosquitoes to net insecticides, various models for the continuous distribution of nets via the public and private sector when nets become damaged  and future strategies for their deployment  in combination with other measures were considered. A reduction in child mortality by almost one fifth, and malaria cases by half, has been attributed to recent mass distributions of long lasting insecticide treated nets. A report of the meeting will be published in the Guardian shortly.

WORKING TO RESTORE HEARING

Human hearing is crucial to our social interactions and can convey emotion, nuances that all too often computers cannot.  Imagine the awkwardness of the technology and personal endeavour by the patient concerned of learning to use a hearing aid or tolerating the surgery necessary for a cochlear implant.  Imagine too the bliss of a solution that, like immunisation, forestalls the former. 

In a talk to the London Evening meeting of the British Society of Audiology, Dr David Furness, Life Sciences, described the pros and cons of the options.  He reviewed the research and the outcomes that have enabled more people to hear again. He and his group are working on a biological solution to solving this problem; replacing by injection the sensory cells that have gone missing due to age or trauma by new ones.  This seems like other replacement therapy, a biological solution, to hearing loss that all could benefit from by their late70's.  But Dr Furness emphasised the need for a careful approach.

NEW EXHIBITION OPENS

The University this week gave a preview for their new exhibition Stross - the Keele University Art Collection with a special live performance of music created by Keele  students for the Inspired Film documentary 'Lidice: A Light Across the Sea'.  Kevin Mattinson Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of Education, opened the exhibition with Chris Gibbs, from Inspired Film, introducing the documentary and talking about the importance of working with students.

Sarah and Nicola, from Unearthed, attended the event to talk to guests about their public art project to remember Lidice in Stoke-on-Trent. For another chance to see the student performance, the premiere of the film "Lidice - A Light Across the Sea" will take place at the Mitchell Arts Centre, 27 June, 8pm and is a free event.

NETWORKING WITH KEELE ALUMNI

The first "Networking with Keele Alumni" event was held on Wednesday at the Sustainability Hub. Thirteen Keele graduates and two representatives of local business attended, along with a cross-functional team of Keele colleagues.

The initiative is the result of  collaboration between the Keele Internships Team, the Curriculum Support & Development Team, the Careers & Employability Team, the SPEED Plus and Enterprise Team and the Alumni & Development Team.

The aim was to give current students an opportunity to network with Keele graduates, gaining advice and insights to improve their skills both in finding employment and progressing onwards in their careers. The students were briefed and prepared in advance in how to make the most of a business networking opportunity and they received further coaching at the event.
 
The alumni represented a wide range of businesses and sectors and gave their time freely to share their experience and expertise. They also sought to achieve their own networking goals with high-calibre Keele students and fellow alumni.
 
Twenty students attended and had plenty of opportunity to talk with alumni and fellow students, practising their networking techniques and receiving support on how to achieve their own career goals. Students commented on how valuable it was to talk to real people in business who had a genuine desire to help them, while alumni commented on how well the students presented themselves and participated.

MIDLANDS TEACHERS AND ADVISERS CONFERENCE

Keele's Recruitment, Outreach and Access team hosted a conference at Keele Hall on Wednesday for teachers and advisors on behalf of Midlands HELOA(Higher Education Liaison Officers Association).

The aim of the event was to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information and advice, to help teachers and careers advisors support students considering their higher education options. Seventy four delegates from schools and colleges, and career professionals from the newly formed providers, attended from across the West Midlands.

A range of talks were offered with speakers from external organisations and the regional universities with an opportunity for networking. The conference was a great example of collaborative working between the higher education institutions, and provides a good opportunity for teachers and advisers to develop contacts and see what universities can offer their staff and learners.

TOP TEN PLACES IN UK FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY AND SOCIAL POLICY

Keele has been awarded top ten places for Physiotherapy and Social Policy in the Complete University Guide 2014 subject league tables which were published on Monday.

Keele's physiotherapy programme was placed 8th in the UK, while Social Policy was 9th in its table.

Overall the University moved up one place to 45th in the UK and was placed fourth in the West Midlands.

MATRIX QUALITY AWARD FOR CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY TEAM

The Careers and Employability team have gained a national award recognising the quality of their services. 

In a rigorous assessment, carried out over two days by a representative of the awarding body EMQC, students, internal partners, academic colleagues, senior management and employers were all interviewed about the quality and range of services offered by the team. 

The assessor's feedback highlighted the professional nature of the advice and guidance offered to students. 

KEELE LECTURER AT MUNICH ECONOMIC SUMMIT

Dr Gabriella Legrenzi, Economics and Finance, Keele Management School, has received a fully funded invitation to attend the prestigious 12th Munich Economic Summit on "Relaunching Europe", organised by the BMW Stiftung Herbert Quandt, the CESifo Group Munich, in partnership with The Times of London, The Wall Street Journal Europe and Handelsblatt, taking place this week.

The Munich Economic Summit is a high profile initiative aimed at bringing together selected academic scholars, decision-makers in politics, industry and finance, as well as most influential media, in order to discuss vital European issues.

The Summit convenes annually (it is currently running for the 12th year) and involves only a limited number of invited participants, on the basis of their international reputation/expertise in European issues.

OUTSTANDING PAPER AWARD FOR KEELE ACADEMIC

Dr Lindsay Hamilton, Course Director (Management), jointly with co-author Nik Taylor of Flinders University, Adelaide, has been awarded an Emerald Literati Network Award for Excellence.

Every year Emerald invites each journal's editorial team to nominate what they believe has been that title's Outstanding Paper and up to three Highly Commended Papers from the previous year (2012).

Dr Hamilton's paper, "Ethnography in evolution: adapting to the animal "other" in organizations", published in Journal of Organizational Ethnography, has been chosen as an Outstanding Paper Award Winner at the Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2013.

Further information regarding the Awards for Excellence can be found at: www.emeraldinsight. com/literati.

TV BAFTA FOR KEELE GRADUATE
 
Keele graduate, Jamie Aitchison (1993 History & Politics), headed the Channel 4's Paralympic coverage that won a TV Bafta for best sport and live event.

"The Paralympics went from zero recognition with the British public to this huge event," says Jamie, Channel 4 sports editor, who described Sunday's win at the Television Bafta Awards as "an amazing surprise".

"We had disabled presenters who knew about the sport - and we chose the tone; educating people in an entertaining way."

It is the second Bafta for the Channel 4 Paralympics team, who also won the craft award for digital creativity.

WORLD CHESS RECORD FOR KEELE STUDENTS

Two Keele University students have broken the world record for the longest chess marathon.

Matthew Carr and Fraser Greenroyd played for 44 hours and 2 minutes in the University Library this week to beat the previous record of 40 hours 20 minutes, which had been set in Germany.

The new record has yet to be verified by Guinness.

Technical support during the record breaking effort was provided by Glenn Harding.

During the record attempt they raised money for the local charity, the Peter Pan Nursery.

BIKERIGHT FOCUS GROUP TO DEVELOP CYCLING AT KEELE

Bikeright is holding a focus group next Thursday, 23 May, to help develop the next phase of cycling activities at Keele.

The focus group will run from 12:00 to 13:30 - Light lunch and drinks provided.

They are looking for about 8 to 12 people, a good mix of staff and students, cyclists and non cyclists. The venue is to be confirmed.

The purpose is to establish what types of cycling activities, support and infrastructure people need/want to encourage higher uptake of cycling at Keele.

RSVP to alicewalton@ bikeright.co.uk.

NEW ACADEMIC STARTER

School of Nursing & Midwifery
 
Mrs Alison Hough has been appointed a Lecturer in Adult Nursing and was previously CPE/SCPHN - Staffs and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership Trust. 
 
FROM THE ARCHIVES

Twenty-five years ago …

The University is to confer honorary degrees on broadcaster Sir Robin Day, novelist Margaret Drabble and Staffordshire industrialist Anthony Bamford. 20 May 1988.