Campus News
Pop Art to Britart
November 2nd, 2014
One of the most important collections of late-twentieth century and contemporary art in private hands is going on show at Lakeside Arts Centre.
Pop Art to Britart includes works by David Hockney, Patrick Caulfield, Bridget Riley, Peter Blake, Francis Bacon and Richard Hamilton and more recent pieces by Damien Hirst, Marc Quinn and Gavin Turk.
The collection belongs to David Ross, an alumnus of the University (Law) and co-founder of The Carphone Warehouse. Mr Ross is a member of University Council and pursues a passion for the arts, sports and education through the David Ross Foundation.
Mr Ross’s collection is largely drawn from pieces created by British artists in his lifetime. He told Apollo magazine: “It’s supposed to be from 1965 onwards. The problem is that when you start getting involved with things like Bridget Riley and Allen Jones and David Hockney and one or two others, actually the reality of the situation is that if you chop off what happened between 1960 and 1965, it doesn’t really work. So whilst it’s supposed to be relatively strictly 1965 to the present day, you will find that there are a couple of works by Bridget Riley that predate the parameters.”
The earliest works date from 1960. Peter Blake’s What’s Wrong Wimpy? Popeye, November 1960 and David Hockney’s The First Love Painting evoke a heady decade in which British society broke free from the privations of the postwar period into an atmosphere of hedonistic optimism.
The most recent, Shock and Awe by Richard Hamilton, was completed in 2010. Like Blake and Hockney, Hamilton is regarded as one of the founders of Pop Art, but this late work defines a different world to that of the early 1960s. Hamilton’s depiction of Tony Blair is bitterly satiric.
British Pop is represented in depth. In addition to Blake, Hockney and Hamilton, other key figures are included, notably Patrick Caulfield, Derek Boshier, Allen Jones and Gerald Laing. Their legacy is apparent in works by young British artists Hirst, Quinn and Turk.
Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor, said: “I am delighted that Lakeside Arts Centre will be hosting this outstanding and ground-breaking exhibition of late-twentieth century art. It will provide a wonderful opportunity for audiences to get up close to a wide range of contemporary pieces which never before have been made available for public view.”
The exhibition will be opened at Djanogly Art Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, on 20 November by Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of Tate.
Tags: Bridget Riley, David Hockney, David Ross, Francis Bacon, Lakeside Arts Centre, Patrick Caulfield, Peter Blake, Pop Art to Britart, Richard Hamilton, Sir Nicholas Serota, The Carphone Warehouse
Posted in Issue 71 | Comments Off on Pop Art to Britart
Doctors feel powerless in face of ‘McMedicine’
November 2nd, 2014
The growing “McDonaldisation” of healthcare in the UK is leaving many doctors with “an underlying sense of powerlessness”, research has warned.
Those with limited experience and influence feel they have little choice but to accept more commercialisation and bureaucracy, according to an academic study.
By contrast, marketisation is also giving rise to a “corporate elite” of doctors.
Professor Justin Waring, of Nottingham University Business School, who led the research, said: “Bureaucratic and market logics are transforming all kinds of expert work, resulting in ever more rationalised and standardised practices and identities.
“In the field of healthcare this process of ‘McDonaldisation’ is leading to a more explicit emphasis on commercial viability and profit — what we might call ‘McMedicine’.
“Our study shows how doctors’ reactions to the new way of doing things vary and how those reactions reflect individuals’ standing in terms of the power they wield.
“We detected an underlying sense of powerlessness among inexperienced doctors who lack the influence and esteem of their more senior peers.
“They accept greater bureaucratisation and commercialisation largely because they see few alternatives to marketisation at a time of economic uncertainty.
“Meanwhile, a growing ‘corporate elite’ of doctors who hold medical-management positions are enthusiastic in advocating ‘new’ ways of working to increase operational productivity and, in turn, to advance their own financial positions and careers.
“However, one crucial question that’s inevitably raised by the elevated status and motivations of such an elite is precisely whose interests they really serve.”
The three-year study, carried over by academics from the School’s Centre for Health Innovation, Leadership and Learning (CHILL), focused on scores of frontline staff, including medics and managers.
As an illustration of the “hyper-rationalisation” of procedures, executives often referred to doctors as “technicians” whose work needed better organising to prevent waste.
One manager remarked: “Medicine always has this human aspect to it, but in general, of course, it’s a production process – the same as every product and process.”
A few senior clinicians resisted greater bureaucracy, but employees of lesser standing accepted marketisation as possibly the only option for their careers.
Professor Waring said: “There’s no doubt that a mixed economy offers private companies a chance to transform the organisation and delivery of public healthcare.
“But it seems the corporatisation of healthcare values certain professional resources more than others in relation to their contribution to accumulating capital.
“As a result, the future is likely to involve more extreme forms of McDonaldisation for some employees and quite different opportunities for others.”
Tags: CHILL, Leadership and Learning, McDonaldisation, NHS, Nottingham University Business School, Professor Justin Waring, School’s Centre for Health Innovation
Posted in Issue 71 | Comments Off on Doctors feel powerless in face of ‘McMedicine’
Courses are ‘best in UK’
November 2nd, 2014
Two Nottingham courses have been named no.1 in the UK in the latest national league tables.
Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture topped their respective subject tables in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2014.
The latest rankings also feature top five positions for pharmacology and pharmacy, physiotherapy, law and physics, and a string of other disciplines in the top ten including economics, architecture, music, nursing, English, chemistry, American studies and Iberian languages.
Nottingham scored highly for the career prospects of all of its graduates — it was rated highest in the region for graduates moving on to professional jobs or further graduate-level study.
The Good University Guide said: “Nottingham works hard to give its students the best possible chance in the job market. Besides a lifetime access to its career service, the University offers the Nottingham Advantage award which provides extracurricular modules as well as internships for graduates.”
The number one ranking for Veterinary Medicine follows this year’s National Student Survey, which saw vet students at Nottingham give a resounding 91% satisfaction rating.
Professor Gary England, Founding Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, said: “We are exceptionally pleased to be recognised as the best place to study veterinary medicine in the UK in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2014.
“This follows hot on the heels of success in the National Student Survey, where we gained outstanding ratings, coming top again for the third successive year. Our students, staff and clinical associates are to be congratulated on making Nottingham undoubtedly a great place to study veterinary medicine.”
Professor Neil Crout, Head of the School of Biosciences, said: “We are delighted that our courses in Agriculture and related subjects have been rated the best in the country by The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide — this reflects our excellent teaching, facilities, and of course our fantastic students.”
The Good University Guide added: “Nottingham is the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain.
“A member of the Russell Group, Nottingham is in the Top 75 in the QS World University Rankings and one of the most popular universities in the country in terms of applications. Once in, students tend to stay the course — the 94% completion rate is among the best in the country.”
Tags: Agriculture, National Student Survey, Professor Gary England, Professor Neil Crout, School of Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2014
Posted in Issue 71 | Comments Off on Courses are ‘best in UK’
A new industrial age takes shape
November 2nd, 2014
Researchers at Nottingham helped create a landmark exhibition at London’s Science Museum to showcase a technology that is transforming manufacturing.
Additive manufacturing or 3D printing has been termed a new industrial revolution. Using digital data, 3D printers print multiple thin layers of material such as polymer or metal, usually in powder form, which are then fused by lasers to form solid objects.
The technology allows levels of flexibility and customisation beyond traditional industrial methods and is revolutionising approaches to design and manufacturing.
The Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group (3DPRG) at the University is recognised as the world’s leading research centre in the field. 3DPRG, which hosts the national EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Additive Manufacturing and has a research portfolio in excess of £10m, is a sponsor and adviser to the exhibition, 3D: printing the future, which opened at the Science Museum this month.
Student interns created one of the highlights of the exhibition — a 3D-printed functionalised prosthetic arm illustrating how the technology could evolve to print customised prosthetics with electronic moving parts and nerve endings.
Professor Richard Hague, Professor of Innovative Manufacturing and leader of the research group, said the University was delighted to support the exhibition.
The impact of additive manufacturing — so-called because it uses 3D printers to build up material — is growing rapidly. The wider availability of 3D printers and the prospect of goods being customised and printed at home or on the high street has further raised interest.
Suzy Antoniw of the Science Museum said: “We are indebted to Nottingham’s Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group for all the support they have given to this exhibition. The prototype prosthetic hand developed by Richard and his students (and showcased in the exhibition) is a prime example of how 3D-printed innovations could transform people’s lives.”
Mary Amos and Matthew Cardell-Williams, who are studying Product Design and Manufacture (MEng), and Scott Wimhurst, a Mechanical Engineering (MEng) student, worked on the prosthetic arm during their summer research placement with 3DPRG. Their brief was to conceptualise the future applications of multi-functional and multi-material 3D printing.
“We worked as a team to create a range of different concepts and eventually narrowed it down to an active prosthetic of an arm as we thought it was an appropriate application for the technology and was easy to communicate to a wide audience,” they said.
As well as the prosthetic arm created in Nottingham, the exhibition features 3D-printed pharmaceutical tablets, one of a number of collaborations between 3DPRG and the University’s School of Pharmacy. Some of the printed tablets are bilayered, allowing two different drugs to be released at varying speeds according to individual patient need.
The 3DPRG researchers were recently awarded a £2.7m grant from EPRSC to work with the School of Pharmacy. Professor Clive Roberts, head of the School of Pharmacy, said 3D printing of solid medicines at point-of-care offered personalised patient treatments beyond the scope of conventional mass manufacturing.
He added: “While there are many practical and regulatory issues to consider I firmly believe that 3D printing will be used in the medicines manufactured in the future.”
The Science Museum will also look at how engineers are using 3D printing to create lighter and more sustainable aerospace parts. This is being explored by Professor Hague’s team and the University’s Institute for Aerospace Technology.
Professor Hague said additive manufacturing would help transform the industrial landscape, with more emphasis on smaller, localised manufacturing.
He said Nottingham is leading research into the next phase of Additive Manufacturing: the 3D printing of mixed materials in multifunctional devices.
While 3D printing was at present capable of printing single materials into complex geometries, the results were passive. “What we’re looking to do is activate those and make them functionalise,” he said. “So rather than make a component you make the whole system — an example might be rather than print a case for a mobile phone you make the whole phone — all the electronics, the case, the structural aspects, all in one print.”
Another exciting development is new research into the direct 3D printing of metal. “That will be globally unique – nobody else will be working on that,” said Professor Hague.
3D: printing the future is as the Science Museum, London, for the next 9 months.
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
Tags: 3D printing, 3D: printing the future, 3DPRG, Additive manufacturing, Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Additive Manufacturing, he Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group, Mary Amos, Matthew Cardell-Williams, Professor Clive Roberts, Professor of Innovative Manufacturing, Professor Richard Hague, School of Pharmacy, Science Museum, Suzy Antoniw
Posted in Issue 71 | Comments Off on A new industrial age takes shape
Raising standards for tall buildings
November 2nd, 2014
Taking in the sights across the island city-state of Singapore, you would be hard pushed to avoid a crick in the neck from gazing at the spectacular skyscrapers jostling for space in the business district.
At 274 square miles, and with a booming population of over 5.1m, space is at a premium; not just in the commercial heart — some 85% of the population live in highrise public housing blocks.
To mitigate the effects of such high-density development, Singapore aims to achieve a 35% improvement in energy efficiency on 2005 levels by 2030. It’s a trend playing out across south east Asia.
Among the new generation leading the charge for sustainable building design are Arham Daoudi and David Calder, alumni of The University of Nottingham’s post-graduate diploma in Architecture Tall Buildings — one of the only programmes of its kind in the world.
Both graduated in 2011 and are now based in Singapore, working at Pomeroy Studio for leading green architect Jason Pomeroy. They’ve worked on projects ranging from mixed-use high rise towers and masterplans for communities of 30,000 to what is set to become the first carbon-negative home in Singapore.
“Sustainability shouldn’t be an afterthought; it’s part of the design process,” Arham said. “We are supporting the sustainability agenda and doing it in a very practical way by integrating passive solutions from the outset.”
This moves beyond just the environmental, the design ethos of Pomeroy Studio is based on scrutinising and responding within the following established framework: environmental, technological, socio-cultural, spatial, economic.
“By analysing each project under [these parameters] we are able to ensure everything we design is holistically sustainable. Good design is driven by context, and we’re particularly inspired by the history and heritage of the site.” David explained. “The International Style, as epitomised by New York City’s seminal Lever House tower, has been replicated globally without regard for climate or context — regional differences are really important.”
Arham’s first project in the region was one of his highlights. Being part of a small team on Trump Tower Manila, which will be the tallest residential tower in the Philippines when completed in 2016, enabled him to learn a lot in a short period. “While being given guidance and support, I was awarded a tremendous amount of design independence and responsibility,” he said.
Meanwhile, David is proud of his work on The Veil, an ambitious, technically challenging mixed-use development in central Kuala Lumpur, comprising retail, food and beverage, serviced apartments, with a hotel and sky bar separated by skycourts — the first large-scale project under his supervision.
“Architecture at Nottingham gave us an advantage in concept design and thinking outside of the box. It challenged us to come up with something new and relevant,” Arham said.
This is something that was ingrained in their studies; trainee architects are given a choice of three cities in which to design a sustainable tall building. Matthew Humphreys, Pomeroy Studio’s latest intern, and winner of the 2013 Design for a Sustainable Future Award, proposed a vertical fish farm in Singapore’s Tanjong Pagar district, formerly a bustling fishing village. This nod to heritage is blended with a need to support a serious issue: Singapore clocks up a large amount of food miles, with 95% of it coming from imports.
But while the environmental credentials may be covered, can these awe-inspiring creations match up when it comes to financial sustainability?
Dr Philip Oldfield, Course Director of the Masters in Sustainable Tall Buildings at Nottingham, said: “In general terms, green buildings may be 1-5% more expensive in the short term, but they would be cheaper in the long term for two reasons; the first is the obvious reduction in energy bills. But the second is even more important — whist the building is expensive, the wages of those who work there are even more expensive.
“If, through providing shade, natural ventilation, natural light and social spaces we can improve the productivity or reduce the illness of people who work in these buildings by only a small percentage, it can make a huge difference financially, and make these ideas more economically viable.
“I am however conscious of the ground breaking work Pomeroy Studio are doing in creating cutting edge sustainable design to tight budgets in emerging Asian markets, and have even come out with a carbon negative house that is cheaper than an average bungalow in that area of Singapore.
“I’m delighted that David, Arham and Matthew are able to contribute to the green agenda, and have been able to find a studio that bucks the ‘business as usual’ trend and are creating meaningful, economically viable sustainable architecture.”
Visit: www.pomeroystudio.sg
Tags: Arham Daoudi, David Calder, Dr Philip Oldfield, Jason Pomeroy, Masters in Sustainable Tall Buildings, Pomeroy Studio, post-graduate diploma in Architecture Tall Buildings
Posted in Issue 71 | Comments Off on Raising standards for tall buildings
Welcome to the global classroom
November 2nd, 2014
The University of Nottingham is offering a free course on sustainability as part of a new venture in social online learning.
The University is part of FutureLearn — an online platform offering free course content from the UK’s top universities, which had its official launch on September 18.
FutureLearn, the first UK-led provider of massive open online courses (MOOCs), offers learners around the world access to free, high-quality courses from its internationally renowned university partners.
Social interaction is central to the FutureLearn experience, enabling people to learn actively by engaging in conversations around the learning material, or vicariously, by following discussions. FutureLearn has also been designed to work on smartphones, tablets and desktop computers, so that learners can enjoy the same high-quality user experience, regardless of the screen size.
FutureLearn is wholly owned by The Open University. A new website combines the best elements of the social web with The Open University’s 44 years of expertise in distance and open learning.
The University of Nottingham is offering a course entitled Sustainability, Society and You — exploring the major global issue of sustainability and how individuals can have a real impact on the future. Sustainability, Society and You will begin in January 2014 but registration for the course is already open.
The course is led by Dr Sarah Speight, archaeologist, educator and the University’s academic lead on sustainability. It features contributions from academics across a variety of disciplines, supported by expert facilitators.
Dr Speight said: “Sustainability is one of the big global issues of our time. It is crucial that we all play our part in protecting our world for current and future generations. This course provides you with the knowledge and skills to do this by investigating sustainability from multiple angles and exploring what small steps you can take to have a real impact upon all our futures.”
The FutureLearn website will run until early 2014. Learners will be able to sign up for a selection of courses from FutureLearn’s university partners, with learner feedback used to inform the development of the website. So far learners from over 165 countries have registered their interest in taking a course on FutureLearn.
Simon Nelson, CEO of FutureLearn, said: “We wanted to make FutureLearn a fresh, different and enjoyable user experience. We have designed the website in line with principles of effective learning, such as storytelling, discussions and celebrating progress. We decided to go live with FutureLearn in an open testing phase so that we can remain responsive to learners as we continue to develop the website.”
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said: “FutureLearn has the potential to revolutionise conventional models of formal education. I encourage all our institutions to explore the opportunities offered by new modes of technology, such as MOOCs. This will keep the UK ahead in the global race to deliver education in worldwide markets.”
Tags: CEO of FutureLearn, David Willetts, Dr Sarah Speight, FutureLearn, massive open online courses, MOOCs, Simon Nelson, Society and You, sustainability, The Open University, Universities and Science Minister
Posted in Issue 71 | Comments Off on Welcome to the global classroom
World of sport
November 2nd, 2014
A business which arranges overseas sporting programmes for gap year students is going from strength to strength at The University of Nottingham’s Innovation Park.
Sport Lived was founded by Ian Dodd, who spent six months playing cricket in South Africa in 2002. Ian was so inspired by his experience that he set up a company to help other people have the same adventure.
Sport Lived provides gap year placements ranging from four weeks to six months for students in Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Argentina in sports including athletics, cricket, football, hockey, netball and rugby.
The company has expanded and in the latest financial year turnover was up by more than 50% on the previous 12 months.
“I think we have found a niche in the market,” says Ian. “In each country we’ve handpicked the best sports clubs, coaching and accommodation providers. We also have permanent staff in each city to help and support the young people out there.”
Ian moved Sport Lived into The University of Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP) in May 2012 to accommodate the expanding team. The company currently employs 15 people in Nottingham and its overseas bases in Cape Town, Melbourne, Brisbane, Colombo (Sri Lanka), Dunedin (New Zealand) and Rosario (Argentina).
“UNIP is the ideal base for us,” added Ian. “We spend a lot of time meeting young people who are about to leave school or college and Nottingham is very central, which means that we are within easy reach of the majority of schools and colleges across the country. We also have space to grow the business here as the office accommodation is very flexible.
“I honestly believe that travelling overseas to play and coach sport is one of the best things you’ll ever do, no matter what career you want to pursue. For a young person, being able to see the world through sport is an inspirational and unforgettable life-changing experience.”
Find out more: www.sportlived.co.uk
Office space at the University of Nottingham Innovation Park:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/unip
Tags: Ian Dodd, Sport Lived, The University of Nottingham Innovation Park
Posted in Issue 71 | Comments Off on World of sport
A wonderful friend of the University
November 2nd, 2014
A close friend and supporter of the University, John Robinson, has died at the age of 53.
An alumnus, honorary graduate and a major benefactor, Mr Robinson enjoyed a long relationship with Nottingham after graduating in 1981 with a degree in Medieval and Modern History.
Following a very successful career in fund management and property development, he supported a range of charitable causes and arts organisations, and also took an active interest in his alma mater.
Mr Robinson served on Council – the University’s governing body — from 2008-2012, and was a member of the Nottingham University Business School Advisory Board. He was a board member for Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, a five-year project aiming to raise £150m for the institution.
Last month saw further evidence of Mr Robinson’s extraordinary generosity when he donated a further £500,000 to the University. This will be used to create an endowment for John Robinson PhD Scholarships in History.
Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor, said: “John’s passing was a real shock and is a great sadness. He was a wonderful friend of the University.
“Many members of our community got to know him well through the service he gave and he was liked as well as respected. John’s warmth, wise counsel and friendship will be missed, but his legacy in supporting future generations of graduate students in History will be an enduring one.”
John Mills, President of Council, said: “John valued his time at Nottingham but no more so than we’ve valued his contribution, since not just his time on Council but his wider role in taking the University forward. There’s a sadness that we won’t share that future with him, and we will miss him.”
John Robinson was brought up in Croydon. He came to Nottingham as an undergraduate in 1978 and after graduation joined the accountancy firm Arthur Andersen. He spent four years in London qualifying as a chartered accountant, and gaining Associate status of the Institute of Taxation.
Andersen then sent him to Hong Kong, where he first started in fund management. In 1986 he joined the Thornton Group, and spent time working in San Francisco, Sydney and London. He subsequently joined Tyndalls, a financial institution which was bought in 1989 by Jupiter Asset Management. Mr Robinson managed Jupiter’s overseas business, travelling to Bermuda, Thailand and the Philippines.
Following the conclusion of a deal with Commerzbank in 1999, Mr Robinson set up his own property company, N&R Properties, which turned dilapidated London buildings into desirable residences.
He was also keen to put something back into society, becoming a trustee of the Mary Rose, an Ambassador of the Royal Albert Hall, and a member of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers. He was involved with The University of Nottingham on a number of different levels — not only in its governance as a member of Council, but also his contribution to philanthropic work and his own personal gift for the support of postgraduates in the School of History.
In recognition of his support for the University, Mr Robinson was admitted to the College of Benefactors in 2006.
Tags: College of Benefactors, Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, John Mills, John Robinson, John Robinson PhD Scholarships in History, Nottingham University Business School Advisory Board, President of Council
Posted in Issue 71 | Comments Off on A wonderful friend of the University
Self-harm: young to get a voice
November 2nd, 2014
The problem of self-harm among young people in care is to be tackled as part of a new research project.
The study will offer 11 to 18 year olds living in either residential care homes or with foster carers and care leavers the chance to speak out about why they self-harm and will attempt to identify any common themes which led them to this behaviour.
The project will also aim to highlight services or support successful in helping looked-after young people who self-harm. The research will be used to inform the development of health and social services.
Dr Ellen Townsend, of the University’s School of Psychology, is leading the research. She said: “Self-harm is a serious sign of emotional distress and is still relatively poorly understood by academics and clinicians. Significant NHS resources are required to deal with the assessment and management of self-harm.
“Each year approximately 200,000 episodes of self-harm are seen in general hospitals in England and Wales and many more hidden episodes occur in the community.
“This is very worrying because self-harm is the strongest predictor of eventual suicide and each suicide significantly affects many other individuals. Looked-after young people are at particularly high-risk of self-harmful behaviour yet there is sparse research targeting this group.
“The study is called the Listen-up! project because we know that many young people who self-harm do not feel listened to. This is why our advisory group will be made up of young people who have experience of self-harm and being in care.”
The young people — and their carers — will be interviewed about their experiences of self-harming and will also take part in computer-based interviews which will allow researchers to track their self-harm and trends in their behaviour and recovery over a longer period. The computer-based interviews allow young people who struggle with reading to take part as they will hear the questions via headphones and indicate their response with a mouse click. This method also enhances privacy and increases disclosure about sensitive topics.
The project, which will run until 2016 has been funded by the Department of Health Policy Research Programme to support the the new Suicide Prevention Strategy for England.
The project will involve collaboration with an advisory group of young people and colleagues at the Institute of Mental Health (a partnership between The University of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust), the University of Leicester, a national user-led support service Harmless, national mental health charity YoungMinds, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Social Care Services.
Tags: Department of Health Policy Research Programme, Dr Ellen Townsend, Institute of Mental Health, School of Psychology, self-harm
Posted in Issue 71 | Comments Off on Self-harm: young to get a voice