The Campus Stars campaign has been launched to showcase the colleagues still working on campus during the lockdown and highlight the crucial work they do.

Kamal is a School Technician and Laboratory Manager for the Crop Science laboratories at Sutton Bonington campus and has worked at the University for 21 years.

Kamal usually oversees the day-to-day running of the laboratory to support various research groups in Crop Science. This involves training, supporting and inducting students, new staff and visitors and enables her to network and engage with staff across the school of Biosciences. Kamal is also able to contribute towards research projects and enjoys the diversity of her role and that every day is different.

During the pandemic, Kamal visits the campus on a regular basis to look after important ongoing experiments and ensure that they can continue. This involves plants growing in controlled environments that require regular irrigation and fertilisation and ensuring that all growth facilities and fridges and freezers remain working. The campus is very quiet at the moment with very few people but lots of rabbits running around!

Kamal has enjoyed spending time with her family during lockdown and this has included fun activities such as playing games, watching films, listening to music, gardening, exercising and cooking. In the kitchen, Kamal has enjoyed making samosas, scones, pasta and baking!

Kamal’s message to the University community is that she hopes that everyone is making the best of these strange times. Many of us may be experiencing feelings of grief, sadness, anxiety and loneliness but stay positive, stay home and hope for life to return to normal soon.

Above all, Kamal would like to say a very big thank you to the NHS staff and all key workers who are risking their lives for us. We are all very grateful.