THREE ATHENA SWAN AWARDS FOR KEELE

Keele has been recognised with three awards in the latest round of the Athena SWAN Charter awards, announced this week.

The Athena SWAN Charter recognises commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in academia and was launched in June 2005.

To be eligible for an award, a Self-Assessment Team for each unit, led by an Athena SWAN Champion, had to submit a substantial report together with a detailed action plan. Of the 112 departments and universities who submitted across the country, 87 received an award. 

The Research Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences (application led by Dr Jane Richardson) was awarded a Silver Department Award. The School of Psychology (led by Dr Sue Sherman) and a joint application from the School of Medicine and Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine (led by Vanessa Hooper) were both awarded Bronze Department Awards.

The University Athena SWAN Support Officer Jo Lawton said: "This is such a positive outcome for Keele. To achieve an award, Schools really need to demonstrate that they understand the challenges that their staff and students face and commit to developing effective interventions to address these. The Schools will now action the strategic plans that they have created in order to achieve greater parity in their areas.  To renew or progress through the awards, Schools will need to report demonstrable improvements, year on year.  If you would like to help support the delivery of your School's strategic plan please contact your Athena SWAN Champion."

Co-chairs of the University Athena SWAN Steering Group, Professors Susan Bruce and Pat Bailey added: "pulling together the Athena SWAN submissions requires a huge amount of work, but most important is that gender equality is demonstrated to be a priority for the Schools and RIs. We're really delighted at the recent successes, and look forward to this rolling out across the whole University."

GROUND-BREAKING FINDINGS PUBLISHED IN PRESTIGIOUS U.S. JOURNAL

Ground-Breaking Findings Published by Keele Epigenetics and Rheumatology Research Groups Researchers based in the ISTM and at the Haywood Rheumatology Centre in Burslem have identified fundamental differences between specific immune cell populations purified from whole blood.

These cells, known as B- and T-cells, are major contributors to both health and disease processes. Now, and for the first time, these findings provide a unique epigenetic "signature" in healthy, disease-free individuals, which will be key to the identification of epigenetic changes in disease, in particular for rheumatoid arthritis in which these cells play an important role.

These studies were performed by Dr John Glossop, pictured, who examined more than 450,000 candidate sites in highly purified B- and T-cell populations. In this way, Dr Glossop and colleagues were able to identify 250 genes that showed the same, highly consistent differences in each of the individuals investigated. This ground-breaking work by Keele Epigenetics and Rheumatology Research Groups, funded by the Haywood Rheumatism Research and Development Foundation, has been published in the USA by a highly prestigious journal in this field, Epigenetics.

The authors of the study were John Glossop, Nicola Nixon, Richard Emes, Kim Haworth, Jon Packham, Peter Dawes, Tony Fryer, Derek Mattey and William Farrell. With the exception of Richard Emes (University of Nottingham) all of the investigators and co-authors are based at the ISTM or at the Haywood Rheumatology Centre.

NEW INAUGURAL LECTURE SERIES LAUNCHED 

Professor Nigel Ratcliffe, Head of the School of Pharmacy, this week gave the opening lecture in Keele University's programme of Inaugural Professorial Lectures 2013-14.

He said the Pharmaceutical environment is changing rapidly and so is the industry that works within it. In his talk, "The Pharmaceutical Industry is Broken? What Must the Pharmacist Do?" he explored the development of the pharmaceutical industry, the pressures on it, the consumer's view, the impact that modern medicines have on society and society's reaction and perceptions.

He looked at the effects of litigious pressures and the cost of medicines, examined the current model and what the future holds. Nigel was particularly keen to see that society understands the contribution that industry and pharmaceutical development brings.

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

RCN AND SCHOOL OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY JOINT STUDENT CONFERENCE

Final year students attended a conference developed jointly by the Royal College of Nursing and the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

The aim of the conference was to celebrate student's poster presentations and hear from guest speakers about current issues that will impact on the students on their qualification as registered nurses and midwives. 

The conference was organised by Patricia Owen Director of Undergraduate Programmes, Nicky Witton student experience lead and Alison Hough in the school with colleagues from the RCN and student representatives. Key speakers included Tim Curry, Assistant Head of Nursing at the RCN and Julia Pridmore, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, Swansea University

The picture shows students networking with Tim Curry.

STUDENT NURSES' TEAM WORKING PROJECTS

First year undergraduate nursing students in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, held a day of celebration last week sharing their success in project management and team-working.
 
Twenty four self-allocated teams have worked together over the past twelve months towards a team determined goal, developing team working skills, working effectively as an individual team member and working together gaining a greater understanding of team working.  Team members made and shared personal reflections on team roles and explored forming, storming, norming and performing. This work contributes towards the Students' Keele University Skills Portfolio.

For excellence in team-working skills and distinctive partnership working with our local community, 'ES-TEAM' were recognised for their outstanding team achievement of working towards creating a sensory garden for people who access Brindley Ford Centre working with Brighter Futures. This team project is continuing in collaboration with local businesses.
 
ES-Team members Jack Fogarty, Richard Bagnall, Rachel Clewlow,  Nicola Cowan, Olivia Chaddock, Jenna Millington and Leanne Mycock are pictured with Nursing & Midwifery Lecturer Kate Bromage.

KEELE HALL'S EMMA BELL JOINS NATIONAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Following Keele Hall Supervisor Emma Bell's recent successes, she has become part of The University Caterers Organisation competition organising committee. Emma is already part of the team planning and developing new strategies, working towards ensuring the  2014 Universities catering  competitions are bigger and better than ever.

Emma said: "I am really looking forward to next year's competitions already, being asked to join the committee is immense!' I am really grateful for the opportunity."

In the next few weeks in-house university caterers will pit their skills against hospitality's finest talent in a bid to be in the running for the coveted National Gold Service Scholarship.

The Scholarship, founded and supported by a number of leading entrepreneurs in hospitality, has been designed to discover, encourage and grow next generation skills across front-of-house roles, with a particular focus on service and engagement with the customer. Last year Emma reached the regional semi-finals, which she described as a 'life-changing' experience.

FIRST PATENT FOR SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

Professor Stephen Chapman, pictured, and Luke Bracegirdle from the School of Pharmacy have been granted the School's first patent for their work on virtual patients;  computer-generated avatars that display symptoms and answers questions to help train health care professionals.

The Australia patent is the first of a series of worldwide patent applications. Avatars have recently been commissioned from NHS Education for Scotland to train pharmacists on pharmaceutical care plans, from Cardiff University for a virtual dental surgery and intra-oral simulator and from GSK for internal training programmes for their medical representatives.

More information on the virtual patient initiative can be found here.

BUTTLE UK QUALITY MARK FOR KEELE

Keele has been awarded the Buttle UK Quality Mark for its work supporting Looked after Young People and Care Leavers into and through University.

The Buttle UK Quality Mark is awarded to further and higher education providers who demonstrate their commitment to young people in and leaving care.

The Buttle UK Quality mark has been awarded as a result of collaboration and support of teams across the university including Student Support and Development Services, Recruitment, Outreach and Access, Accommodation Services and Admissions.

Having gained the accreditation significant work is planned to continue to support this underrepresented group over the coming months and years to facilitate their access to university and support their transition, retention and success. This is one of our key targets for the future.

For more information on support for care leavers at Keele see here.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY ACCREDITATION

The Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry Major Route and Single Honours degree programmes have been accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

An accredited degree satisfies the requirements for admission to the Royal Society of Chemistry's Associate Member category after graduation and enhances the professional development opportunities available to graduates in their careers.

The accreditation panel commented favourably on the quality of the teaching laboratory facilities and extensive range of analytical instruments available for student use, noting that significant investment had occurred over recent years which enhanced the student experience.

The panel also met with a group of chemistry students who spoke highly of the teaching staff, particularly the open door policy operated to ensure students are well supported.

FILM FESTIVAL AWARD FOR KEELE GRADUATE

Keele graduate, Ray Wilkes, 1999 Criminology, has won the 'Best Drama' award at Portobello Film Festival 2013 for his film, 'Molly Crows'.

Portobello Film Festival is the largest indie film festival in Europe. They accept over 1,000 films from all over the world, screen about 700 and shortlist 100 for an award. Out of these only nine are selected.

Said Ray: "It's a huge win because we beat films shot on much higher budgets. I shot this movie for about £400, had a cast of 80 and shot in 30+ locations.

"Winning the award cements the hard work we all put in but the best feeling was seeing all the cast and crew so happy.

"It also a huge win for Keele, as I consulted with Keele Historians on the 17th Century flashback scenes re dialogue.

"Furthermore, the film stars three former Keele students."