Campus News
Vice-Chancellor Staff Forums in March/April 2015
March 4th, 2015
In March and April 2015, Professor Sir David Greenaway will host a series of staff forums to focus on progress with the development and delivery of the University’s Strategic Plan 2015-2020.
Read the Vice-Chancellor’s blog to find out about Sir David’s plans for these forums, and why they are so important to staff across the University.
At each forum, Sir David will make a short presentation, with the majority of time set aside for Q and A. Staff are encouraged to attend to find out more about Strategy 2020.
The date and time for each faculty, school, division and department are below. If based on other campuses, colleagues will be welcome to attend the most convenient session:
Tuesday 24 March, 10.30-11.30am
LT1, Queen’s Medical Centre
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Wednesday 25 March, 2-3pm
B52, Business School South, Jubilee Campus
- Nottingham University Business School
- School of Computer Science
- School of Contemporary Chinese Studies
- International Office
- Business Engagement and Innovation Services
- School of Education
Thursday 26 March, 10.30-11.30am
Studio 7, King’s Meadow Campus
- Human Resources
- Financial & Business Services
- IT Services
- Corporate Systems
- Libraries & Research & Learning Resources
- Widening Participation
- Community Partnerships
- Project Transform
Thursday 26 March, 3.30-4.30pm
A30, Vet School Auditorium, Sutton Bonington
- School of Biosciences
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science
Monday 30 March, 1.30-2.30pm (please note: this event has been updated with the correct time)
Coates Road Auditorium, University Park
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Academic Services
- Strategy, Planning & Performance
- Estates, Facilities & Hospitality
Tuesday 31 March, 10.15-11.15am
A50, Lecture Theatre, Clinical Sciences Building, City Hospital
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Wednesday 1 April, 3.30-4.30pm
Coates Road Auditorium, University Park
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Engineering
- The Graduate School
- Lakeside Art Centre
- Marketing, Communications & Recruitment
- Campaign & Alumni Relations Office
- Student Operations & Support
Thursday 2 April, 9-10am (please note: this event has moved from Tuesday 31 March)
Room A2026, Royal Derby Hospital Centre
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Tags: forum, Global Strategy 2020, Professor Sir David Greenaway, staff, staff forum, Strategy 2020, Vice Chancellor
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Sports centre closure dates
March 4th, 2015
Following planning approval, construction will soon begin on the new multimillion pound David Ross Sports Village. The existing sports centre will be closed and demolished to make way for the new complex which is expected to be completed by September 2016.
To minimise any disruption to services during the construction of the new sports centre, a temporary facility has been built on Nightingale Field to replace the existing sports and fitness centres.
In the coming weeks, all indoor University park sports activity will move to the Nightingale Field facility for the duration of the building work on the new sports complex. The swimming pool will remain unaffected throughout the construction phase.
Nightingale Field will house the following sports areas and facilities:
- 12 badminton courts
- 3 squash courts
- 2 studio spaces
- Fitness suite
- A small number of changing & shower facilities (inc. disabled toilet)
All fitness and strength stations currently available in the Fitness Centre, plus all strength and conditioning equipment housed within the Sports Centre, will be moved to the Nightingale Field fitness suite.
Sports centre closure
University Park Sports Centre will close at 10.30pm Sunday 22 March. Services will resume in the Nightingale Field sports centre from 6pm on Monday 23 March.
Fitness centre closure
University Park Fitness Centre will close on Tuesday 31 March. Services will resume in the Nightingale Field fitness suite on Friday 3 April.
Sports and fitness centres at Jubilee, Sutton Bonington and King’s Meadow will be open as usual throughout the construction period. To find out more about the David Ross Sports Village and for updates throughout the build please visit UoN Sport.
Tags: building, closure, David Ross, David Ross Sports Village, DRSV, fitness, fitness centre, gym, investment, Nightingale Field, sport, sports centre, University Park
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Cornea team researchers of the year
March 3rd, 2015
Nottingham picked up Research Project of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards 2014.
Scientists from the University identified a previously undetected layer of the cornea, the clear protective lens that sits in front of the eye.
The researchers, led by Professor Harminder Dua, found a distinct layer deep in the corneal tissue that plays a vital role in corneal transplant surgery.
Professor Dua said: “Winning this award is fantastic – but the real winners are my team, The University of Nottingham for the support and the environment it provides, and my NHS colleagues who have always encouraged and facilitated my research.”
The discovery has been named Dua’s Layer in his honour. He carried out the research with Dr Dalia Said, Dr Lana Faraj, Trevor Gray and James Lowe.
Having identified this new and distinct layer deep in the tissue of the cornea, doctors are exploiting its presence to make operations much safer and simpler for patients.
The discovery has also sparked a flurry of research questions about its role in diseases of the eye including glaucoma, the world’s second most common cause of blindness, which is a result of defective fluid drainage.
Professor Dua’s research, published in the journal Ophthalmology, was the discipline’s most downloaded paper on the ScienceDirect website over the next three months. Collaborative work with researchers in Italy, Egypt, Lithuania and Wales is building on the breakthrough.
Professor Saul Tendler, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, said: “I’m delighted to see this outstanding work recognised by the Times Higher Education judges. This is exciting research that is helping to improve patient care and having a real impact on day-to-day treatment of patients around the world.”
The Times Higher Education Awards judges described the discovery as truly ground-breaking.
Shearer West, head of the Humanities Division at the University of Oxford, said: “The discovery of a new layer of the cornea by Professor Dua has been one of the most exciting recent developments in ophthalmology, with the possibility of revolutionising the treatment of corneal diseases.”
Nottingham was also shortlisted in the category of Outstanding International Student Strategy for its innovative support of international students, including immigration surgeries given by a leading law firm, interactive online sessions with applicants and on-campus police registration all year round.
Pictured: Dr Simon Kerridge, of the Association of Research Managers and Administrators, (right), presents Professor Dua and colleagues Dr Dalia Said, second left, and Dr Lana Fara with the award. Guest Jack Dee looks on.
Tags: Dr Dalia Said, Dr Lana Faraj, James Lowe, Ophthalmology, Outstanding International Student Strategy, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Professor Harminder Dua, Professor Saul Tendler, Research Project of the Year, ScienceDirect, Times Higher Education Awards 2014, Trevor Gray
Posted in Issue 81 | Comments Off on Cornea team researchers of the year
Professor Martyn Poliakoff knighted
March 3rd, 2015
Professor Martyn Poliakoff was knighted in the Queen’s New Year Honours 2015.
Professor Poliakoff received the honour for services to chemical sciences in recognition of his contribution as a global leader in green and sustainable chemistry. The honour also reflects his work as an ambassador for UK Science as Vice-President and Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society, a role that illustrates the esteem in which he is held by his fellow academics.
Professor Poliakoff is a familiar face to millions – he is a star of the Periodic Table of Videos, a YouTube channel dedicated to every one of the 118 chemical elements which has been viewed more than
80 million times.
In 2011 the videos earned him the Royal Society of Chemistry’s prestigious Nyholm Prize for Education.
As well as inspiring would-be scientists and chemistry enthusiasts through a range of exciting experiments showing the properties of all the chemical elements, Professor Poliakoff has picked up his own band of faithful followers who has been charmed by his eccentric hairstyle and outlandish chemistry-themed ties.
Sir Martyn said: “I feel both honoured and somewhat overwhelmed.
“I see the award very much as recognition of all the work being done in green and sustainable chemistry in the School of Chemistry by my colleagues, by my research team and by our technical staff whose efforts underpin so much of our research.”
Professor Sir David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham, said: “What a richly deserved accolade. Sir Martyn contributes so much as a research leader, educator and communicator of science to the wider public.
“He will receive this honour with his customary modesty, but will be surprised at how widely applauded it is. We are very proud to have him as a colleague.”
Tags: Nyholm Prize for Education, Periodic Table of Videos, Professor Martyn Poliakoff, Professor Sir David Greenaway, Queen’s New Year Honours 2015, Royal Society, School of Chemistry
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Study of radical right is political book of year
March 3rd, 2015
A book co-written by a Nottingham academic has won the prestigious Political Book of the Year award in the Paddy Power Political Book Awards 2015.
Since its release in March 2014, Revolt on the Right: Explaining Support for the Radical Right in Britain, by Nottingham’s Dr Matthew Goodwin and Manchester’s Dr Rob Ford, was reviewed in almost every national newspaper, described in The Spectator as “one of the most important books on British politics for years” and in The Times as “the book to arm yourself with for those dinner parties when the talk turns to politics”.
It was mentioned in more than 170 national newspaper articles on British politics and was also cited in speeches by the Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, and the two Conservative Members of Parliament who defected to UKIP, Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless.
Goodwin and Ford were also awarded the Political Studies Association Communicator Prize for their efforts to share the research findings widely.
Dr Goodwin said: “I am delighted to receive this award, with my co-author Robert Ford. We wanted to deliver a book that was anchored in rigorous research but which is also accessible to a wide audience. I would like to thank both The University of Nottingham and Routledge for their support throughout the project.”
Tags: Paddy Power Political Book Awards 2015, Political Book of the Year, Political Studies Association Communicator Prize, Revolt on the Right: Explaining Support for the Radical Right in Britain
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Make your research headline news
March 3rd, 2015
Sharing your research with the wider world via the broadcast media may be less daunting and more rewarding than you think, academics heard at a media workshop.
“Sitting in your office, in glorious isolation, may well be safer and easier, but there’s a reason for that: it’s very dull.”
So said Philip Cowley, Professor of Parliamentary Government and seasoned blogger, broadcaster and tweeter, at a workshop aimed at encouraging his fellow academics to share their expertise with the wider world.
There may be risks – “we all fear our work being distorted or corpsing on live TV” – but he believes the benefits far outweigh them.
The Making the Headlines workshop, hosted by the University’s Communications team, heard that these plusses include sharing research findings as widely as possible, raising the University’s profile, and becoming a better communicator. And, not least, it may be fun.
Phil was joined by two fellow academics who shared their experience of working with the media.
Dr Sandra Corr, of the Vet School, spoke about operating on a gorilla at a sanctuary in Africa – with the BBC, ITV and the Daily Mail in tow. Her talk on the dos and don’ts of dealing with the media was summed up: “don’t do anything you wouldn’t normally do”.
Virologist Professor Jonathan Ball spoke of his journey from media sceptic to believer: “I was once Phil Cowley’s archetypal sulky academic, sulking in his room.” Jonathan – as a British Science Association Media Fellow spent eight weeks embedded with the BBC, learning what it’s like to be a journalist. And over the last few months he has worked tirelessly talking to the media about Ebola. After his presentation he disappeared to talk HIV to BBC Newsday, BBC Wales, the News Channel and BBC Nottingham. He’s quoted on BBC Online, and there’s a feature from him about ‘HIV: Why is the virus so ‘successful’? on the BBC website.
The media workshop was rounded off by Jeff Randall, a Nottingham alumnus (BA Economics, 1979) and former BBC business editor, Fleet Street veteran and Sky TV presenter, who is a member of the University Council.
Jeff, pictured, is also a champion of the Media Hub, a purpose-built studio on University Park that allows the world’s broadcasters to access expert commentary from our academics: if journalists require insight on a news story, our experts can record interviews or broadcast live via a fixed camera and ISDN line to TV and radio programmes around the world.
In the spirit of Professor Cowley’s 20-point guide on engaging with the media (you’ll find it on the blog Ballots & Bullets, itself a masterclass in how to make research topical and accessible), here’s some of the insights shared at the workshop:
1 Fill the void. Putting yourself in the spotlight and offering expert insight can make a difference and influence policy-makers: compare the misinformation surrounding the MMR vaccine with the more measured and informed response to the Ebola outbreak.
2 It’s good for Nottingham. Everyone wins by raising the profile of our institution and its research.
3 If you’re worried about looking old/fat/silly, don’t watch yourself.
4 Sandra Corr says the BBC are more generous in getting the beers in than ITV or the Daily Mail.
5 Be prepared to say no. If it’s not your area of expertise, say so, and suggest a colleague who better fits the bill.
6 Don’t accept a false premise. If the interviewer asks the wrong question, take them down the road you want to travel. “Arthur Scargill was the master of this,” says Jeff Randall.
7 If live interviews are too daunting, go for recorded ones. “If you are unhappy with what you’ve said, swear so they can’t use it,” says Phil Cowley. “This approach isn’t advisable on live broadcasts.”
8 That first live TV appearance is terrifying. But you’ll get over it. Remember you are working with professionals, says Jonathan Ball – it’s in their interest to put you at ease.
9 Watch the birdy. If asked to look down the camera for link to a remote interviewer, keep your eyes still and not darting off-camera. Otherwise, like Phil Cowley recalling his first time on Sky News, you’ll look like a hyperactive Nookie Bear.
10 Consider applying for a British Science Association Media Fellowship. Jonathan Ball had a six-week placement with the BBC.
11 Think like a journalist. What type of stories are the media interested in? How can you contribute?
12 Sign up for our online Media Expertise Guide, which features 500 experts. So far this year, it has had 160,000 views from journalists looking for academics to add substance to their stories.
13 Be prepared to say no #2. Use your common sense, says Sandra Corr, who kept the cameras at bay in Cameroon when she felt filming was inappropriate.
14 Don’t waffle. Prioritise what you want to say and take Andrew Marr’s advice to Jeff Randall: “You only need two thoughts for an interview – a big one and a little one in case you forget the big one.”
15 Find the time. Over the course of a career, says Phil Cowley, surely you can sacrifice completing one or two papers for the chance to share your research with millions.
16 It’s you they want. The Communications team offer training, support and advice and can help you build relationships with the media. But it’s you the journalists want.
17 Find the time #2. If a big story breaks and you’re in demand (see Professor Ball and Ebola) be prepared to clear your diary.
18 Find the time #3. The Media Hub has made it easier for broadcasters to access expert commentators. You no longer have the excuse of not having the time to traipse off to a TV or radio station.
19 Don’t sit back and wait for a journalist to call. See points 9, 10, 11, 16, 18. If you are interested in working with the media or using the Media Hub, contact Communications: t: 951 5765 communications@nottingham.ac.uk
20 And remember – it could be fun.
Making an Impact
The Press and Media Relations team is organising a second event, Making an Impact, for academics and researchers interested in working with the media. Dr Caroline Ogilvie, of the BBC/Open University Partnership, will explain how to pitch programme ideas to broadcasters. The half-day seminar is from 1pm on Wednesday 29 April at Highfields House.
Tags: British Science Association Media Fellow, Communications team, Dr Sandra Corr, Ebola, Jeff Randall, Making the Headlines, Media Hub, Philip Cowley, Professor Jonathan Ball, Professor of Parliamentary Government, Vet School
Posted in Issue 81 | Comments Off on Make your research headline news
Do you speak cow?
March 3rd, 2015
Researchers have been eavesdropping on ‘conversations’ between calves and their mothers – using detailed acoustic analysis for the first time to measure how cows communicate.
The team from The University of Nottingham and Queen Mary University of London spent 10 months studying carefully examining acoustic indicators of identity and age. They identified two distinct maternal ‘calls’. When cows were close to their calves, they communicated with them using low-frequency calls. When they were out of visual contact, their calls were louder and at a much higher frequency.
Calves called out to their mothers when they wanted to start suckling. And all three types of calls were individualised – it was possible to identify each cow and calf using its calls.
It has long been thought that cows use individualised calls to communicate with each other, but this study confirms the theory – and identifies particular types of mother-offspring contact calls in cattle.
The researchers studied two herds of free-range cattle on a farm in Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. Recordings were made using highly sensitive equipment, gathering so much data it took a further year to analyse.
Dr Mónica Padilla de la Torre lead the research at Nottingham’s School of Life Sciences. She said: “The research shows for the first time that mother-offspring cattle ‘calls’ are individualised – each calf and cow have a characteristic and exclusive call of their own. Acoustic analysis also reveals that certain information is conveyed within the calf calls – age, but not gender.”
Dr Alan McElligott, of Queen Mary University of London, said: “This is the first time that complex cattle calls of have been analysed using the latest and best techniques. Our results provide an excellent foundation for investigating vocal indicators of cattle welfare.”
By investigating vocalisations in behavioural contexts outside of mother-offspring communication, further research could reveal vocal indicators of welfare – and influence change in animal care policies.”
This study was funded by The National Council of Science and Technology, Mexico (CONACyT). The paper is published by the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science and is available here
Tags: cows, cows communicate, Dr Alan McElligott, Dr Mónica Padilla de la Torre, pplied Animal Behaviour Science, School of Life Sciences
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Small Change Big Impact supports dementia research
March 3rd, 2015
Small Change: Big Impact – which enables University staff to donate a few pence from their monthly pay packets to an Impact project – is this year raising money for research into dementia.
The scheme works by asking staff to round down to the nearest pound their monthly salary. Collecting these surplus pennies generates an average of £300 a month in donations.
Last year the 650-plus staff signed up to Small Change: Big Impact raised £4,190 for Children’s Brain Tumour Research in Nottingham.
In 2015, money from the scheme is already helping the University’s vital research into dementia. Over 800,000 people in the UK have dementia; one in three of us is said to have a family member or close friend who is affected.
Nottingham pioneered MRI scanning and Small Change: Big Impact will be supporting another world first when new clinically enhanced MRI technology, thousands of times more sensitive than standard scanners, will be used at the Queen’s Medical Centre to research ways of diagnosing dementia earlier and improving its treatment. This offers real promise for advancement in our understanding of and ability to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
Dementia is characterised by a decline of the brain and its abilities, causing effects such as memory loss and personality changes. It cannot be prevented and current treatments merely delay the inevitable decline.
Staff already signed up to Small Change Big Impact need take no action as their pennies will automatically be redirected to dementia research.
If you wish to sign up for Small Change Big Impact, or to find out more about the supporting the Impact Campaign, please visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/impactcampaign/staff
Small Change Big Impact supporters receive a donor pin and Jen Wickham, Community Fundraising Manager, said: “Please wear your donor pin with pride throughout 2015 to symbolise your support for the University. We hope this will inspire others to give by increasing awareness of the value and pleasure of giving to Nottingham.”
Tags: Children’s Brain Tumour Research, Community Fundraising Manager, dementia research, Jen Wickham, MRI, Queen’s Medical Centre, Small Change Big Impact
Posted in Issue 81 | Comments Off on Small Change Big Impact supports dementia research