insight november 2011

InsightAutumn 2011

In the bloodInnovative health research

is part of the University’s DNA.

Welcome Contents

A strategic approach | 1Supporting our students | 2Light, chemistry, action | 3Crowning glory | 4Taking care of business | 4Politics 50 | 5Satisfaction guaranteed | 5The heart of things | 6Talking telehealth | 6Reaching new heights | 7Changing channels | 8Coming clean | 8Celebrating success | 9An inspector calls | 10A presidential occasion | 11News in brief | 12Thinking big | 13A WISE choice | 13Healthy futures | 14Health research funding | 15Scholarship awards | 15Alumni news in brief | 16A healthy approach | 17Switched-on science | 17A greener pint | 18First port of call | 18Leading the way | 19Appointments | 20Go beyond | 20Top 350 world ranking for Hull | 20Milestone moments | 21Royal honour | 21Beyond the sea | 22Step changes | 22The Thomas Ferens Academy | 23A bird’s-eye view | 24Word of mouth | 24News in brief | 25The write stuff | 26University in a day | 27A matter of trust | 27All roads lead to Rhodes | 28Mark of excellence | inner back coverGet active, stay active | inner back coverIn the spotlight | outer back cover

Insight is produced by the University of HullMarketing and Communications team. To makesuggestions for future contents, or to contact themagazine, telephone (01482) 465268. To downloadan electronic copy of Insight visit www.hull.ac.uk.

Welcome to the latest edition of Insight, which showcases theachievement and excellence that are integral to the University.

The University recently unveiled a new vision and mission,expressed as aspirations and ambitions for the future, togetherwith a new strategic plan for the period 2011–2015. Our newvision is a blueprint for the future of the University of Hull,underpinned by a strategic plan that will initiate a period ofsignificant renewal and transformation: steering the Universitythrough a period of great change in higher education in the UK.

Building on a proud history of achievement, the plan articulatesthe University’s commitment to shaping a better future for theindividual and for society. Striving for academic excellence – inresearch and enterprise and in learning and teaching – remainsthe nucleus of our strategy and is essential to enhancing ourstature and reputation nationally and internationally. The planemphasises the University’s vision of affecting broader outcomesand ‘going beyond’. Engagement becomes a central theme in ourapproach and is key to being an anchor institution for ourcommunities.

Empowering people is an important aspect of the plan. Studentsare placed at the heart of the University and we shall continuallyenhance the student experience. Empowered staff will bring theirknowledge, expertise and commitment to the challenges we face.We shall actively encourage the development of anorganisational culture which supports these principles of ourvision. The plan centres on an aspirational model for theorganisational culture.

This edition of Insight also profiles the University’s innovativeresearch, including high-quality health research being conductedby the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Division and theChemistry Department, along with work that Biological Sciencesis undertaking into grassland bird species. Also profiled is theUniversity’s commitment to the student experience, includingour continued success in the National Student Survey and theannouncement of our scholarships and bursaries for 2012.

Our commitment to being an anchor institution for the local andregional communities is exemplified by our sponsorship of theThomas Ferens Academy, also featured in Insight, which opens inSeptember 2012. We are delighted that Juliet Strang has beenappointed as the Principal Designate, and we look forward toworking with our co-sponsors in making the venture a hugesuccess for the city.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who hascontributed to the development of the new vision and strategicplan. Your contributions are highly appreciated and yourcontinued input and support is highly valued.

Professor Calie PistoriusVice-Chancellor

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www.hull.ac.uk/insight Insight Autumn 2011 1

A strategic approachThe University’s Strategic Plan for 2011–2015 has been launched together with a new long-term vision andmission. This is an exciting opportunity to enhance the University’s stature and reputation nationally andinternationally, to make us even more responsive to our students, to place their experience at the heart of theinstitution, and to address the challenges that will face the higher education sector in coming years.

Over the past year, an environmental scan and aconsultation programme have been carried out sothat the views of staff, students, alumni, theChancellor, Council and Court, and otherstakeholders have been taken into account. Thisfeedback has been invaluable in shaping thestrategic planning framework for the University ofHull.

The development of the plan could not come at amore opportune time. Higher education in the UK isfacing a period of deep and rapid change duringwhich many previous certainties will be challenged,all against a backdrop of severe cuts in publicspending. At the same time the demands onuniversities are increasing, as is the competitivenature of the higher education environmentnationally and internationally.

The plan states that, as trustees of the future,universities must contribute proactively to creating abetter future, not passively react to a world thatothers have shaped. The University of Hull embracesthe advancement of education, the quest forknowledge and scholarship, and empowering peopleas the means of building that future.

Our success in contributing to the creation of a betterfuture will be gauged by the extent to which theUniversity makes a difference, adding value andachieving a positive impact. The emphasis will be oninfluencing broader social outcomes, embracing anethos of going beyond.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Calie Pistorius, said:‘Building on a proud history of achievement, the planarticulates the University’s commitment to shaping abetter future for the individual and society. Strivingfor academic excellence – in research and enterprise,in learning and teaching – remains the nucleus of ourstrategy and is essential to enhancing our statureand reputation nationally and internationally.’

He continued: ‘The plan emphasises the University’svision of affecting broader outcomes and “goingbeyond”. Engagement becomes a central theme inour approach, and is key to being an anchorinstitution for our communities. We can only achieveour goals by striving for excellence in all ourendeavours, seeking every opportunity to increasequality through innovation.’

For more information about the Strategic Plan and todownload a copy, please visitwww.hull.ac.uk/strategy.

Strategicplan

2011–2015

Insight Autumn 20112

The support measures include bursaries worth £3,000,which will be available to all students from householdswith incomes less than £25,ooo. These will partly defraythe cost of tuition fees and can also be used to pay forlearning resources and meet other study expenses.

The University is also offering a number of academicscholarships worth between £3,000 and £9,000.

Both the bursaries and the scholarships will be availableto eligible students starting university in September 2012.

‘We believe that a degree from the University of Hullshould be available to all who have the talent andambition to succeed,’ said the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Calie Pistorius. ‘We have givencareful thought to the package of support we are offeringso no student should feel that an undergraduateexperience at Hull, irrespective of their background orfinancial situation, is beyond their grasp.’

The University already has a strong record of supportingstudents from under-represented backgrounds, and thenew bursaries and scholarships will help to provideadditional support in the light of the recent changes tohigher education funding.

From 2012, the University of Hull will charge a fee of£9,000 per year to UK/EU students entering full-timeundergraduate Honours programmes, since newGovernment policies dictate that the bulk of teachingfunding to universities in England, previously receivedfrom public funds, will in future be provided by tuitionfees.

However, higher education remains free at the point ofdelivery irrespective of students’ background andfinancial resources. Loans are available to all UK/EUstudents, and repayments start only after graduation andwhen they earn more than £21,000.

Professor Pistorius added: ‘Students who choose Hullknow that they are going to reap the benefits ofgraduating from a university with a recognised stature onthe global stage. Hull students can be confident that theirdegree will add real value to the career path they choose.’

This is backed up by the latest figures from the HigherEducation Statistics Agency, which show that that 91.8%of full-time undergraduates from Hull who received theirdegree in 2010 went on to employment or further studywithin six months of leaving – a 1.8% improvement onthe previous year. Of those graduates who were employedin full-time jobs, more than 71% were in graduate-levelemployment, which is 2.4% better than last year.

Supporting our studentsThe University of Hull is spending more than £15 million over the next three years onmeasures to help students from the poorest backgrounds to access higher education.

A team of researchers from Hull and ETH Zurich havelinked light-sensitive molecules with antibodies thattarget tumour blood vessels. When irradiated with light,the molecules create particles known as reactive oxygenspecies, which in high numbers cause irreparabledamage to cells.

By ensuring that the light-sensitive molecules weretargeted at the tumour blood vessels in their models, theresearchers could starve the tumour of oxygen andnutrients and cause it to disappear completely, with noregrowth during the following 100 days.

‘There are already drugs in clinical use which targettumour blood vessels, but these only inhibit growthrather than completely kill the tumour,’ explained DrRoss Boyle, from Hull’s Department of Chemistry, whodesigns and creates the light-sensitive molecules used inthe research.

‘By using this form of targeted photodynamic therapy, wewere able to completely kill the tumour in our models.Though this is still a long way from being used onpatients, it does hold exciting potential for the treatmentof some of the most common skin cancers.’

The tumour, however, was only completely eradicatedwhen ‘natural killer cells’ – a key part of the immunesystem – were present. When the production of these wasblocked, the tumour reduced in size, but did notdisappear. The team believe that further research isneeded to determine the exact role of the immune systemin the process.

‘Targeting light-sensitive molecules to a tumour sitemeans that the treatment should be more effective even atsmaller doses, improving outcomes and reducingpotential side effects for patients,’ added Dr Boyle. ‘Thetechnique could potentially replace more invasive formsof treatment such as surgery and radiotherapy.’

Dr Boyle and his colleagues are now applying for furtherfunding to move the research closer to clinical trials.

The team’s research has been published in the BritishJournal of Cancer.

Light, chemistry, actionIt remains one of the world’s most prominent illnesses, but pioneering work by scientistsat the University of Hull is literally shedding light on possible new ways of eradicatingsome types of cancer through the use of photodynamic therapy.

www.hull.ac.uk/insight Insight Autumn 2011 3

Dr Ross Boyle.


Crowning gloryHull University Business School has become the first businessschool in Yorkshire, and only the 13th in the UK, to earn thehighly respected Triple Crown of accreditations for its businessand management provision.

Representatives from the Business School picked up the third award in the TripleCrown from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) at aspecial ceremony in New York in May. This achievement, coupled with accreditationsfrom the European Foundation for Management Development (EQUIS) and theAssociation of MBAs (AMBA), completes this prestigious quality mark for businesseducation.

‘We are delighted to have been recognised by the AACSB and are proud that as aresult the Business School has now achieved Triple Crown status,’ said Dr BarbaraAllan, Deputy Dean.

‘The Triple Crown provides us with a strong basis for development into the future.We would like to thank all the students, partners and staff who have helped usachieve this accolade.’

Highlights of the week included ‘The Power of Sport’,which was held at the Business School. The eventexamined the significant impact that sport can have onboth businesses and local communities, andpresentations were delivered by notable local sportingfigures: the owner of Hull City, Assem Allam; the Hull CityChief Executive, Mark Maguire; the StrategicDevelopment Director for Hull Kingston Rovers, Dr NeilPease; and the Premier League’s Head of CommunityDevelopment, Simon Morgan.

The University also hosted ‘The Naked Entrepreneur’,which was designed to help new and emergingbusinesses in the region, and was also involved in anevent at the World Trade Centre entitled ‘A Fair Deal forthe Humber – Embedding Value from Renewables’, whichpresented business leaders with a debate on theeconomic challenges facing the North.

The University was a key contributor to the sell-out GreenCity Hull event at Hull City Hall and was a sponsor andexhibitor at the Yorkshire International BusinessConvention at Bridlington Spa, which rounded off theweek’s events in style.

‘We were delighted to have once again played such anactive role in Humber Business Week,’ said theUniversity’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engagement,Professor John Leach. ‘There is a tremendous sense ofentrepreneurship in the city, and we are committed tohelping businesses thrive and develop.

‘The fortunes of the city and the fortunes of the Universitygo hand in hand, and we remain focused on playing ourpart in attracting businesses to the region.’

Taking care of businessThe University of Hull was once again a major player in the Humber Business Week, whichbrings together businesses and other organisations from across the region.

Insight Autumn 2011 5

Politics 50It’s celebration time in the University’sDepartment of Politics and InternationalStudies as it marks its 50th anniversarythis year.

As part of the celebrations, the University ishosting a special lecture series featuring high-profile names, including John Bercow, MP, theSpeaker of the House of Commons, and the BBCproducer and Hull alumnus Lucie Hass.

A new edited collection entitled Regression? TheWithering of the Welfare State, written by currentand former members of the department, is alsobeing launched, and a special alumni event isbeing held in Hull.

To find out more about the department’sanniversary celebrations, please visitwww.hull.ac.uk/politics50.

www.hull.ac.uk/insight

© istockphoto.com/oversnap

Student satisfaction at the University ofHull is among the highest in the country,according to the latest National StudentSurvey (NSS).

Results from the 2011 NSS show that the University hasimproved its position among the leading universities forstudent satisfaction. Hull is now ranked joint eighth outof all mainstream English higher education institutions.

The University received an overall score of 89% forstudent satisfaction, a 2% increase on last year. Thenational average figure is 83%. Of the 31 subject areas atHull, 27 scored 80% or above, and 16 of these scored 90%or more. Teaching quality was commended and personaldevelopment was highlighted as an area of distinction.

Professor Glenn Burgess, Pro-Vice-Chancellor forLearning and Teaching, said: ‘These results are hugelyencouraging and demonstrate the hard work andcommitment of our staff across the University. Anoutstanding student experience has always been ahallmark of this university, and students can be assuredthat we remain focused on delivering the best experiencethat we possibly can.

‘Several development plans are under way, such as the£15 million project to improve the Brynmor Jones Libraryon the Hull Campus following a major refurbishment ofthe Scarborough Campus last year. This will see acomplete modernisation of the building to ensure that itmeets the needs and expectations of future students.’

The top 10 English mainstream higher educationinstitutions, as ranked in the 2011 National StudentSurvey

1 University of Cambridge 94%

2 University of Oxford 93%

3 University of Bath 91%

4 University of Exeter 90%

5 Keele University 90%

6 University of Durham 90%

7 University of Sheffield 90%

8 University of Hull 89%9 University of Reading 89%

10 University of East Anglia 89%

Satisfactionguaranteed

The event, which was organised by the University’s Centre for Telehealthin collaboration with the King’s Fund and the Yorkshire and HumberHealth Innovation Education Cluster, attracted more than 230delegates and focused on the implementation of telehealthtechnologies, which enable remote monitoring and support ofpatients with long-term illnesses.

‘The importance of telehealth to the future of the NHS is clear,’said the Centre for Telehealth’s project manager, JonathanThorpe. ‘It provides an effective and efficient way to care forpatients, and offers the potential to improve services withoutincreasing costs.’

Among those speaking at the event were the University of Hull’sProfessor of Cardiology, John Cleland, and Professor ofRespiratory Medicine, Alyn Morice. They are researchingnew ways of using telehealth to manage heart failure andchronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Talking telehealthHealth professionals, policy makers and researchersfrom around the UK discussed the latest developmentsin the field of telehealth at a major conference held atthe University of Hull.

The Clopidogrel vs Aspirin in Chronic Heart Failure(CACHE) study is the first of its kind in the UK and isfunded by the National Institute for Health Research’sHealth Technology Assessment programme. The five-year study will involve 3,000 patients from 350 sitesacross the UK.

‘Most patients with heart failure are treated with aspirinto try and reduce the risks of heart attack and stroke,but aspirin may reduce the benefits of other treatments,’explained Professor John Cleland, who is leading thestudy and working with colleagues from thePostgraduate Medical Institute, Hull York MedicalSchool and the Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust.

‘Both aspirin and clopidogrel reduce the stickiness ofplatelets in the blood in order to inhibit blood clotting,but we can’t just assume that clopidogrel is a betteralternative; we have to prove it.’

Patients in the study will be prescribed either aspirin orclopidogrel by their family doctor. There is one formalassessment at six months, but every two months thepatient will be asked to report by post or telephone onhow they are feeling, detailing the severity of theirsymptoms and any side effects. This will allow theresearch team to build up a picture of how each drugperforms.

The heartof thingsThe University’s Department of Cardiologyhas secured £5 million to study the effectof clopidogrel and aspirin on patients withchronic heart failure.

Professor John Cleland.


Professor Alyn Morice.

www.hull.ac.uk/insight 7Insight Autumn 2011

Reaching new heightsImagine having to run a marathon after cycling 112 miles and enduring a three-mile swimin tropical conditions while competing against some of the world’s top athletes.

Well, it’s all in a day’s work for Ryan Hepworth, a Hullgraduate, who travelled out to Hawaii recently tocompete in the Ironman World Championships.

To help him complete one of the world’s mostgruelling sporting challenges, staff from theUniversity’s Department of Sport, Health andExercise Science worked with Ryan on a series oftraining exercises using high-tech sport scienceequipment.

The University recently invested in a state-of-the-artenvironment chamber which simulates extremeconditions of heat, altitude and humidity. It is one ofjust a handful in the UK and can reach temperaturesin excess of 50 degrees.

During his time in the chamber, Ryan trained usingexercise bikes and treadmills, with sport scientistsmonitoring his condition. It is hoped that Ryan’sexperience of the simulated environment will makehim better prepared for the conditions in the Pacific.

‘I knew I’d got the fitness to do the distance inHawaii, but the conditions are very different. In EastYorkshire you certainly don’t ever get 40-degreeheat,’ said Ryan, who studied Sport and LeisureManagement at the Scarborough Campus.

‘Last year I had to fit training in around my studies,but it’s great that I can come back to work with thedepartment. I’m really grateful for all their help ingetting me ready for the challenge.’

Overseeing the training exercises was Dr Grant Abt,Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology. He said:‘Our initial tests showed that Ryan is an extremelycapable athlete. He had already completed thecourse once before, but weather conditions do makeit even harder. The distances involved push his bodyto the limit, so we hope we can play a part in hissuccess.’

As well as athletic training, the environment chambercan be used for commercial purposes, such as thetraining of fire officers and miners. It is also avaluable addition to the research equipment of theDepartment of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, asit helps the academic team learn more about thephysiology of exercise in extreme conditions.

Dr Grant Abt (right) and James Bray (centre) from theDepartment of Sport, Health and Exercise Science putIronman challenger Ryan Hepworth through his paces.

Dr Will Mayes, based at the University’s Scarborough Campus, led ateam that travelled to western Hungary to analyse pollutant levels inthe sludge-hit environment. The incident saw more than 900,000cubic metres of bauxite sludge run into the Torna Creek and theMarcal River.

The initial results of the study, funded by the Natural EnvironmentResearch Council, were presented to the Hungarian Minister of Statefor Environment, Dr Zoltan Illés, at a meeting hosted by the BritishGeological Survey in Nottingham.

‘The study showed us that the contaminants are largely locked awayin forms that are unlikely to be damaging to the local ecosystems,’said Dr Mayes. ‘As such, the overall prognosis is relatively positivegiven the initial fears at the time of the spill.’

‘However, ongoing monitoring is required to ensure thatcontaminants are not released from the locations most severelyaffected in the future.’


Changing channelsA University of Hull report on communication‘channel shift’ within local governments was partof the discussions at this year’s EuropeanConference on eGovernment, which took place inLjubljana.

‘Channel shift can be defined as the creation of effective andefficient channels that are most appropriate for the customer andthe organisation,’ explained Dr Darren Mundy, from the School ofArts and New Media at the Scarborough Campus, who led thestudy.

‘The University’s research consisted of three stages: theidentification of the potential for channel shift within councils, ananalysis of the impact of channel shift and an investigation ofcustomer perspectives on channel shift. We used case studies,questionnaires and focus groups as part of our analysis and werepresented with some really interesting findings.’ As part of the firststage, customer services managers identified a range of potentialareas for channel shift, from the automation of benefits services toonline systems supporting waste and recycling management.

Researchers found that key performance indicators should beused to assess the impact of channel shift and that any changes inoperations should not mean replacing frontline services. Thestudy also found that many customers recognised the importanceof providing services through the most cost-effective channels,such as the web, and felt that access to these should be enhanced.

‘We hope that these findings will now help councils around thecountry to adapt their communication channels to maximumeffect,’ added Dr Mundy.

Coming cleanA year on from an environmental disaster that hit one of Hungary’s major rivers, aUniversity academic has been addressing environmental experts and government officialsabout the impact of the toxic-sludge spill.

DrWill Mayes.

Dr Darren Mundy.

Each year, Hull students graduate alongside someremarkable individuals who are recognised for theircontributions in a range of fields and activities, and the2011 summer ceremonies were no exception.

Honorary doctorates were conferred on several notablefigures, including the local businessman andphilanthropist Assem Allam; the President of theCommonwealth of Dominica, His Excellency Dr NicholasLiverpool; the former MP Lord Patrick Cormack; theHeadteacher at Robert Clack School in Dagenham, SirPaul Grant, who is a Hull graduate; the formerprofessional rugby league player Steve Prescott, MBE; theheart specialist Dr Clive Aber; Her Majesty’s ChiefInspector of Prisons, Nicholas Hardwick, CBE, anotherHull graduate; the engineering industry specialist MartinTemple, CBE; and Professor Erik De Clercq, who is anacademic and a leading expert in antiviral chemotherapy.

Commenting on the summer degree ceremonies, whichtook place at the City Hall in Hull and at the Spa Complexin Scarborough, the University’s Vice-Chancellor,Professor Calie Pistorius, said: ‘Awarding honorarydegrees to such a diverse range of people continues along tradition at the University of Hull. It is a special dayfor our own graduates, and I’m sure the presence of thesehonorary representatives has been a great source ofinspiration.

‘I’d like to offer my sincere congratulations to all thosegraduating this year. They deserve to feel immenselyproud of their achievements, and I wish them everysuccess for the future.’

Insight Autumn 2011 9www.hull.ac.uk/insight

Lord Cormack.Dr Nicholas Liverpool.Dr Assem Allam.

Professor Erik De Clercq.

Dr Stephen Prescott, MBE. Dr Clive Aber.Sir Paul Grant.

Dr Nicholas Hardwick, CBE. DrMartin Temple, CBE.

Celebrating successOur graduation ceremonies are landmark events in the University’s calendar, where proudfamilies and friends get the chance to come together and celebrate the culmination ofyears of hard work and dedication.


Dr Nicholas Hardwick.

Since graduating from the University ofHull in 1979, Nick Hardwick has led some ofthe country’s most high-profile charitableand social institutions, receiving a CBE forhis efforts. And the accolades keep oncoming – the latest being an honorarydegree from the University at this year’ssummer degree ceremonies.

Nick is currently taking on his most challenging role todate as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons.

‘I was appointed in July 2010 after working as the ChiefExecutive of the Refugee Council and as the Chairman ofthe Independent Police Complaints Commission,’ hesaid. ‘I report to the Justice Secretary on the conditions ofthe country’s prisons and make recommendations forimprovements. My team looks at the potential negativeaspects of prison life, such as bullying, victimisation andsafety issues, and make suggestions for how things canbe changed.

‘I also report to the Home Secretary on the conditionsand treatment of people detained in immigration centres.Both are obviously contentious issues, and this isdefinitely a challenging role, but it is one that can make adifference to people’s lives and even influenceGovernment policy.’

Making a difference appears to have been at the heart ofNick’s work since he left the University with an EnglishLiterature degree more than 30 years ago. As well asworking at the Refugee Council and the IPCC, he ran thehomeless charity Centrepoint.

But this kind of work did not initially feature amongNick’s career aspirations. His degree, and his timeediting the student magazine, naturally led him toconsider entering the world of journalism.

‘Becoming a journalist did seem to be the obvious route,’he said. ‘However, my time at Hull not only equipped mewith a good qualification; it also opened up a wholerange of vistas by providing me with the skills andconfidence to think for myself and discuss and debateideas. This has had a major impact on my work andambitions to date.

‘As time passes I value more what I learned at universityand I am proud to hold a degree from Hull. I’m also reallyproud to have been awarded an honorary degree. It is agreat, but wholly unexpected, honour and I am verygrateful to the University.’

Alumni focusAn inspector calls

Insight Autumn 2011www.hull.ac.uk/insight 11

He graduated from the University in 1960,has served as a high-court judge and in2003 was elected President of theCommonwealth of Dominica. At this year’ssummer degree ceremonies His ExcellencyDr Nicholas Liverpool received an honorarydegree from the University of Hull. He hasbeen telling Insight about how hiseducation has shaped his career.

Congratulations on your honorary doctorate. Whatdoes this recognition mean to you?I feel very proud and flattered. I couldn’t attend mygraduation in 1960, so to receive a letter offering me thisdegree was a great surprise and I was delighted to comeback to Hull.

What are your memories of your time at the Universityof Hull?In 1960 there were fewer students and things haveobviously changed but it’s fantastic to see traditions arestill being upheld to this day. When I studied here I livedin the halls of residence, but some of us elected to live insome of the huts which had been left following theSecond World War. I used to cycle to the University and Ireally enjoyed that. One of the highlights was the annualtrip to Hull Brewery, so I was disappointed to find out thatit no longer exists.

How do you feel your education at the Universityhelped you?It has shaped my life in several ways. When I was at Hullyou had two sets of students – you had those who haddone national service in the British Army and had justreturned from the war, so they were mature, and then youhad those who had just come from high school. It was thefirst time I had experienced different nationalities – I metpeople from Nigeria, Ghana, Malaysia and the MiddleEast. It helped to widen my vision of the world, and I stillhave those friends to this day. Hull is a very special placeto me as it helped me to think not just about Britain andthe Caribbean but also about the wider world.

What advice would you give to our graduates?Work hard after university because life really does beginthen. Be honest and diligent and try to help people whocan’t help themselves. Go out and make a difference,work with a charity or do something worthwhile, so thatwhen you say you’re from the University of Hull you cansay you’ve made an impact.

Alumni focusA presidential occasion

His Excellency Dr Nicholas Liverpool.


Advisory roles for law expert

Professor Christopher Bovis, from the University’s LawSchool, has been appointed by the European Commissionand the United Nations to head a new training scheme fornational judges, high-level public-sector executives,ministries and governments. He will help officials makethe best possible use of public money and aims to givethem the confidence for contract negotiations.

Professor Bovis has also been appointed as an officialadvisor to the Government, offering advice on publicprocurement and spending, and has been acting as anadvisor to the Australian Defence Material Organisation.

Employer engagement in petrochemicalsThe University is working with companies and otherorganisations in the refining, chemical and allied sectorsin a bid to help employers improve both professionaldevelopment and the technical skills of their workforces.

Backed by Cogent, the Sector Skills Council for science-based industries, the University has launched a part-timeFdEng degree in Process Engineering Management,which features a mix of theoretical and practical teachingand is expected to take three years to complete. Thecourse is based on Cogent’s National Foundation DegreeFramework Specification and meets their Gold Standardfor first-line supervisor roles in the process industries.

Creative thinkingA group of five Theatre and Performance students fromthe University’s Scarborough Campus have been helpingusers of mental health services to improve theircommunication skills and discover their creative sides ina unique artistic performance project.

The students have been working alongside service usersfrom the mental health charity Mind as part of a four-month project in applied theatre. They have covered arange of issues through performance, from how to dealwith finding a wallet – and the impact of not handing it in– to relationships and the discussion of feelings betweenpartners.

Creating historyArticles by three historians from the University have beenfeatured in a collection of the 35 ‘most respected’ articlespublished by Britain’s oldest historical journal.

The articles, written by Glenn Burgess, Professor of EarlyModern History and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Learning andTeaching; Peter Wilson, Grant Professor of History; andDavid Omissi, Senior Lecturer in Imperial History, werechosen as part of the English Historical Review’s 125thanniversary celebrations.

Selection of the top 35 articles was based on the numberof times the journal papers were accessed over the last 12months via the Oxford Journals and JSTOR websites.

Academician honour for Hull professor

Margaret Holloway, Professor of Social Work and Directorof the Centre for Spirituality Studies at the University, hasbeen named as an Academician of the Academy of SocialSciences.

The academy – which promotes excellence in, and theadvancement of, the social sciences in the UK – conferredthe award on Professor Holloway for her distinguishedcareer to date, which has included pioneering work ondeath, dying and bereavement and on end-of-life care.

Her work has had considerable impact on public policydevelopment, and she is a regular keynote speaker atspirituality conferences and events.

News in brief

Professor Christopher Bovis.

ProfessorMargaret Holloway.

Professor Bernard Binks, from the Department of Chemistry, has beenawarded the ECIS-Rhodia Prize for 2011 by the European Colloid andInterface Society (ECIS). The prize is presented to a European scientist fororiginal work of outstanding quality.

Professor Binks leads the Surfactant and Colloid Group (S&CG) at theUniversity, and his research team has already made several importantdiscoveries in the field of nanoparticles.

These include the creation of so-called dry water, whose structure iscomposed of water drops in air as opposed to air bubbles in water, as infoam. The researchers found that it was possible to mix water withnanoparticles and air to create a powder, which reverts back to its liquidform when it comes into contact with skin and could have applications in thecosmetics and food industries.

The team have also shown how nanoparticles, such as silica and carbon, canbe used to prevent mixtures of oil and water from separating – and to do somore effectively than traditional emulsifiers.

Professor Binks said: ‘I was at the first ECIS conference back in 1987 andhave seen how it has developed over the years, so I’m very proud to havebeen awarded the prize. I never imagined that I would be getting recognitionlike this when I first started out in my career. Receiving a European award ismost pleasing.’


Professor Bernard Binks.

A WISE choiceA professor at the University’s Wilberforce Institute for the study of Slavery andEmancipation (WISE) has scooped a top literary prize for co-writing a major historicalatlas of the slave trade.

Professor David Richardson’s Atlas of the TransatlanticSlave Trade, written with David Eltis and published byYale University Press, was recognised in the 76th AnnualAnisfield-Wolf Book Awards, which honour written worksthat contribute to the understanding of racism andhuman culture.

The atlas charts more than 300 years of the slave trade,using maps, letters, poems and diary entries. It haspreviously been named the winner of the prestigiousAssociation of American Publishers Hawkins Award andclaimed top prize in the 2010 American PublishersAwards for Professional and Scholarly Excellence.

Commenting on his latest accolade, ProfessorRichardson, Director of WISE, said: ‘It is an honour toreceive the Anisfield-Wolf award, and I am delighted thatthis work continues to attract recognition fromorganisations around the world.

‘Importantly, it also reflects the outstanding work takingplace at the University of Hull and continues to raiseawareness of issues of slavery today.’

Thinking bigA professor from the University of Hull has scooped a prestigiousaward for his ground-breaking work with nanoparticles.

Professor David Richardson.

The new building, made possible by a £1.5 milliondonation from the leading Hull businessman DrAssem Allam, will provide a physical link between theexisting Biological Sciences and Chemistry buildingsand will help to enhance the University’sinternational reputation in health research.

The Allam Building will bring academics fromChemistry and Biological Sciences together withcolleagues from the Postgraduate Medical Instituteand the Hull York Medical School to strengthensignificantly the University’s interdisciplinary ClinicalBiosciences Institute. In addition, new appointmentswill be made and specialist equipment will beinstalled to strengthen biomedical research output atthe University.

Two new research centres will make their home in thebuilding: one focusing on cardiovascular andmetabolic research and the other on cancer.

A further donation by the Daisy Appeal will also helpwith the purchase of two mini-cyclotrons, proton-accelerating machines that generate radioactiveatoms for use in medical applications. One machinewill be sited at the University for research, while thesecond, based at Castle Hill Hospital, will be used formedical imaging with patients.

Commenting on the designs for the new building,Dr Assem Allam said that they brought his vision tolife and reflected the cutting-edge nature of the workthat will be carried out in the new research centres:‘I think the design is excellent. It is very modern, yetit integrates perfectly into the existing campus.

‘It makes me very proud to be able to contribute tothe Allam Building. I believe the building will put theUniversity at the global forefront of clinicalbiosciences research. My hope is that it will be heldup as a beacon of excellence and inspirebreakthrough discoveries in the treatment ofcardiovascular and metabolic illnesses and, ofcourse, cancer.’


HealthyfuturesWork has started on a new biomedicalresearch centre at the University’s HullCampus.

From left: Dr Assem Allam, Ehab Allam, Rt Hon BaronessBottomley and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Calie Pistorius..


Health researchfundingIn addition to the physical developments, two leadingUniversity academics have secured further funding tocarry out health research at the new Allam Building.

Professor John Greenman has won an NC3R grant worth£450,000 to research blood clotting in patients withovarian and pancreatic cancers. Currently, when patientsundergo chemotherapy and the tumour cells aredestroyed, the release of cell debris increases the risk ofclotting. In this project, Professor Greenman and his teamwill design a device that allows analysis of these clottingpathways, using a human ovarian tumour model. Thedata generated will be extremely useful for clinicianswhen obtained at the time of diagnosis.

Professor Khalid Naseem has been awarded fundingworth a total of £427,000 to run two research programmesaimed at understanding how blood platelets arecontrolled in order to prevent thrombosis. The first£241,000 was awarded by the Biotechnology andBiological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and theother £186,000 by the British Heart Foundation.

ScholarshipawardsWorking alongside the University’s academics will bePhD students Anna Pacelli and Kate Nicholson, whohave recently been awarded Allam Scholarships to helpthem complete their research.

‘I feel really privileged to have been awarded thescholarship,’ said Kate. ‘It has enabled me to continueresearch in the bioinorganic chemistry field which willhopefully contribute to earlier diagnoses of cancer. It willalso significantly enhance my understanding of the fieldand allow me to progress along a career whichencompasses the sciences I love.’

Anna was equally delighted to have received thescholarship. ‘The scholarship will help me pursue mydream of becoming a researcher, something I couldn'thave done back home in Italy,’ said Anna. ‘I hope I willrepay the trust they showed me by learning how to carryout a research project and make the most of thisscholarship, for which I am truly grateful.’

The University would like to thank its friends and alumnifor their donations and continuing support to the PhDScholarship Fund, which have made these awardspossible. For more information about the fund, pleasevisit www.hull.ac.uk/scholarshipfund.

Professor John Greenman (left)and Professor Khalid Naseem. Kate Nicholson (left) and Anna Pacelli .

16

Celebration time for Hull studentsDegree celebrations took place in the Far East earlier inthe year for the University’s Hong Kong and Singaporestudents. There were two celebrations in Hong Kong –one in partnership with HKU SPACE, where the Universitydistance-teaches undergraduate programmes inmarketing and accounting, and the second for distant-taught MBA students in conjunction with the agents,Kaplan. Celebrations in Singapore were also for distance-taught MBA students.

The celebrations were timed to coincide with alumnievents in each country, which brought together Universitystaff (including our Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engagement,Professor John Leach), alumni and prominent guestspeakers.

IBM meets MBALarry Hirst, CBE, a Hull alumnus and former chairman ofIBM Europe, Middle East and Africa, was the guestspeaker at a special celebration dinner for current MBAstudents hosted by the Business School.

The event was held to mark the achievements of theUniversity’s MBA students and wish them luck beforethey embarked on the final stages of their programme ofstudy.

Mr Hirst, who is Chairman of the ‘Transition to Teaching’Steering Committee, appointed by the UK Secretary ofState for Education, and Chairman of e-skills UK, theSector Skills Council for Business and InformationTechnology, talked about his successful career followinghis graduation from the University in 1973 with a BSc inMathematics.

Let the games beginA year ahead of the 2012 Games, the London AlumniGroup were put through their paces during a guided tourof some key parts of the new Olympic Park in eastLondon.

An accredited Blue Badge guide, Steve Levinson, beganthe tour at Three Mills – an industrial site mentioned inthe Domesday Book which is now the base for a televisionstudio and home to the organisers of the Olympicopening ceremony.

The group were also given the chance to view thecompleted velodrome, the swimming venue, theWestfield shopping centre and the main stadium, theupper parts of which will be removed after the Games toadapt it for football.

Winning ways for Hull golfersSome 30 years after winning the Universities’ AthleticUnion (UAU) Golf Championship, the victorious 1981University of Hull golf team met up for the first time sincethe win to share some old memories.

Hull had finished in second position in a tough regionalqualifying round and were drawn away to CardiffUniversity. Although the team had to travel half wayacross the country, they still recorded a very convincingvictory of six points to three.

Victories against Exeter and Liverpool followed to set up afinal against the University of Leeds, where the Hull teamsneaked a win at the 18th hole.

‘Sadly, time has taken its toll on the standard of our golfbut, in all truth, that played second fiddle to the sheerenjoyment of meeting up again and reminiscing aboutthe experiences of 30 years ago,’ said Mark Orchart, oneof Hull’s triumphant golfers of 1981.

Alumni news in brief

Insight Autumn 2011

Larry Hirst, CBE.

University of Hull golf team.

The team, led by Dr Camille Ettelaie, found the mechanism whichcontrols the incorporation of a protein called tissue factor intoendothelial microparticles. They discovered that two tandem aminoacids work like a switch in the cell, controlling how and when thetissue factor is released into the microparticles. When a phosphatemolecule is added to the first of the two amino acids, the processstarts; and when it is added to the other, the process stops. Byblocking the addition of the phosphate to the first amino acid, theresearchers were able to stop the process – opening up the possibilityof controlling when and how much tissue factor is released inmicroparticles.

Dr Ettelaie said: ‘Tissue factor is exploited by cancer cells – they use itto speed up their growth directly, and also increase the growth ofblood capillaries which supply the tumour with nutrients – but if thelevel of tissue factor is too high within a cell, it will die. If we can usethe switch to prevent a cell getting rid of excess tissue factor then itmight be possible to kill a cancer cell without causing a wider,detrimental effect.’

Switched-on scienceA team of scientists from the University of Hull haveidentified a cellular ‘on–off’ switch that could haveimplications for the treatment of cancer andcardiovascular disease.

17Insight Autumn 2011www.hull.ac.uk/insight

A healthy approachThe University has developed a suite ofnew training resources to help mentalhealth nurses build their confidence andpractical skills in relation to theadministration of injections.

The resources have been developed by Jacquie White, alecturer in the Faculty of Health and Social Care, inconjunction with the pharmaceutical company Janssen UKfor their R4R (Reach4Resource) website.

While administering injections is an integral part of anynurse’s role, the level of practical skills, competencies andunderstandings around medications and theiradministration varies throughout nursing teams. Thewebsite offers a range of multi-platform resources on theadministration of deep intramuscular injections, includingvideos, webinars, smartphone applications and advice callcentres.

Jacquie explained: ‘After a nurse qualifies, injections inpractice are rarely scrutinised in the way that they shouldbe. Of course there are mentors in the workplace, but theyall have different standards and it is not currently possibleto instil best practice across the board.

‘I believe in the use of technology to support education andsafe administration practice and I am confident that manynurses, whether newly qualified or in need of a refresher,will benefit from the tools available on the R4R website.’

Jacquie White.

Dr Camille Ettelaie.


Dr Paul Barratt, a researcher from the Department ofGeography, has been working with Muntons, whichproduces malt for the brewing, distilling and foodindustries, as part of a project run by the Centre for LowCarbon Futures (CLCF) to support companies across theYorkshire and Humber region in reducing their carbonfootprints.

‘Muntons had already made significant steps towards itstarget of 100% low-carbon malt production within fiveyears,’ said Dr Barratt. ‘However, an initial mapping ofthe business’s carbon footprint revealed that about 60%of its carbon emissions were actually associated withfarming activities in its supply chain.’

Following the mapping exercise, the CLCF hosted ameeting with growers, farming cooperatives, customersand a company specialising in organic fertilisers. DrBarratt also gave a presentation at a regional growers’forum, and the CLCF helped Muntons to develop a‘carbon calculator’ on its website so that farmers couldcalculate their own carbon footprints.

Muntons is now encouraging growers to use accreditedorganic fertilisers produced from compost and ispromoting the use of precision farming techniques, suchas those involving GPS technology, so that fertilisers areapplied only where needed.

A greener pintThe amber nectar is getting greener, thanks to a University-led initiative to boost theenvironmental credentials of one of the UK’s leading malt producers.

First port of callPorts are central to the drive to reduce carbon emissions in themaritime industry, according to researchers at the University ofHull.

Currently, more than 50% of global container traffic is controlled by 20 major portcompanies. This, say the researchers, means that ports have the opportunity to takea leading role in bringing about major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions fromshipping.

‘Ports are already improving the energy efficiency of their handling operations anddeveloping renewable energy sources,’ said Hull University Business School’sDr Patrick Rigot-Muller. ‘Where ports work collectively, they can further reduceemissions and encourage shipping companies and other elements in the supply chainto do the same. Through a range of technical and operational measures, carbonemissions could be reduced by between 25 and 75%.’

Initiatives include the use of ‘green passports’ that offer reduced port fees for vesselsmeeting specified environmental requirements for emissions, as well as vehiclebooking systems whereby time slots are allocated to haulage vehicles in order to limitthe amount of time they spend at the quayside with their engines running.

Led by Professor David Gibbs of the Department of Geography and Professor ChandraLalwani from the Business School, researchers from several departments have beencollaborating on the project after the University won a bid to carry out the workalongside UCL and the Universities of Plymouth, Newcastle and Strathclyde.

Dr Paul Barratt.

From left: Professor David Gibbs, Dr PatrickRigot-Muller and Professor ChandraLalwani.

Professor Steve Kelly.Professor Terry Williams.Professor Steve Ersser.


Professor Steve Ersser, Dean of the Faculty of Healthand Social CareProfessor Ersser joins Hull from Bournemouth University,where he was Professor of Nursing Development and SkinCare Research in the School of Health and Social Care. Hehas also held positions as Reader in Nursing and Head ofNursing Development at the University of SouthamptonSchool of Nursing and Midwifery.

Professor Ersser said that he was delighted to be joiningthe University and was looking forward to building on itsresearch activity, developing the integration betweenpractice and education and raising the profile of thefaculty.

‘My priority in the first year is to refine the faculty’sdevelopment strategy in line with the University’s newstrategic plan, especially in the areas of research andscholarship and enhancing the student experience,’ headded. ‘I would also like to explore the possibility ofenhanced collaboration between health care and relatedfields across the University.’

Professor Terry Williams, Dean of Hull UniversityBusiness SchoolProfessor Williams has worked in both the public and theprivate sector, having begun as a Lecturer at theUniversity of Strathclyde, while completing his PhD inOperational Research. His most recent role was asProfessor of Management Science and Head of the Schoolof Management at the University of Southampton.

‘As Dean of HUBS I’m coming to what is already a greatschool,’ said Professor Williams. ‘My task is to steer HUBSthrough the difficult environment we currently face andto help it move to the next stage of being a global playeramong business schools.

‘Key to a business school is the synergy between research,consulting, teaching and training, and our relationshipwith industry remains a priority. We also aim to expandour postgraduate portfolio and strengthen our researchfocus. And, as HUBS would not have achieved ‘TripleCrown’ status if it had not taken internationalisationseriously, we will continue to develop our internationalpresence.’

Professor Steve Kelly, Dean of the Faculty of ScienceProfessor Kelly took up his role as Dean of the Faculty ofScience in May. As part of his new role, the former head ofHull’s Department of Physical Sciences is looking torefocus the work of the faculty to make sure that it meetsthe requirements of the local region.

‘Hull has been earmarked for substantial investment inthe renewables sector, and the faculty – which includesthe Centre for Adaptive Science and Sustainability (CASS)– will play a major role in both a research capacity and inproducing skilled graduates for local industry,’ saidProfessor Kelly. ‘This will mean that energy and theenvironment will remain a priority for the faculty. We willalso be expanding our role in the health sector with thecreation of a new biomedical research institute’ (seecentre pages).

‘And, of course, at the very heart of what we do is to makesure we deliver first-class learning and teachingexperiences to our students. This will continue to be apriority for the faculty going forward.’

Leading the wayThe University has recently appointed three new deans of faculty. Insight caught up withthem to find out more about their plans for the future.

20 Insight Autumn 2011

NewCouncil appointmentsFour new members have been appointed to the UniversityCouncil, which is the University’s governing body and isresponsible for its strategic direction.

Nicholas Hildyard, Joint Managing Director at Arco, nowsits as a lay member on the Council. A qualified charteredaccountant, Nicholas has worked as a finance director ofa local shipping and freight-forwarding business andheld a number of international roles at Smith & Nephew.He has been a Deputy Lieutenant of the East Riding ofYorkshire since 2001, having also served as High Sheriff in2007/08.

HelenMacCarthy, an analyst programmer in theUniversity’s Information and CommunicationsTechnology Department, was elected to the Council bynon-academic members of staff. Helen, who has a BSc inMathematics and an MSc in Computation, spent severalyears working as an engineer at Rolls-Royce beforemoving into IT.

The University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning andTeaching), Professor Glenn Burgess, has beenappointed by Senate to the Council, replacing ProfessorBarry Winn. Professor Burgess joined Hull’s Departmentof History in 1994 and served as Head of Department from2003 to 2009. He has also served as Deputy Dean forResearch in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Neil Scott has been appointed as the University’s newChief Finance Officer. He joins us from StaffordshireUniversity, where he has been Finance Director for thelast five years.

Neil is a graduate of Newcastle University and a CIMAqualified accountant. Prior to his position at StaffordshireUniversity, he held a series of senior finance roles withinthe private sector, gaining experience in the retail, leisureand motor industries.

Commenting on his appointment, Neil said: ‘I am reallythrilled by this opportunity to join Hull at such anexciting time for the University and the region. I lookforward to joining a university with a rich heritage and afantastic student experience.’

Andrew Snowden has been appointed as the Interim HRDirector. Formerly an Interim HR Director at theUniversity of Southampton, Andrew has a wealth ofexperience of human resource development within theuniversity sector and beyond.

He has previously worked in HR roles at City University,the University of Wolverhampton, ManchesterMetropolitan University, the University of CentralLancashire and the University of Manchester Institute ofScience and Technology. His overseas work has includedassignments in Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands,Bermuda and Nepal.

Nicholas Hildyard. Helen MacCarthy. Andrew Snowden.Professor Glenn Burgess. Neil Scott.

Top 350 worldranking for HullThe University has been placed in the 301–350 bracket ofthe world’s top 400 universities in the 2011–12 TimesHigher Education World University Rankings. TheUniversity scored particularly well in the areas of‘International Outlook’, which relates to staff, studentsand research, and ‘Citations’, which measures researchinfluence. The rankings have been called the ‘goldstandard in international university performancecomparisons’ by Times Higher Education.

AppointmentsThere have been several new appointments at the University.

Going beyond with£15m investmentThe University is to invest £15 million in new staffthis academic year. We will be recruiting more than100 academic posts, including 24 professorial posts,21 senior lecturers and 45 lecturers. This increasednumber of teaching staff will improve the staff-to-student ratio to enhance the University’s reputationand standing. For more information visitwww.hullgobeyond.co.uk.


Founded in 1986 as one of the first gender studies centresin the UK and now based in the Department of SocialSciences, the centre acts as a research network foracademics and postgraduates from across the Universityand regularly holds conferences, workshops andseminars, featuring international experts working ongender studies in a wide range of disciplines.

Impetus from the centre led to the introduction ofundergraduate, taught Masters and doctoral programmesin gender studies. The centre also launched the quarterlyJournal of Gender Studies, published by Routledge, whichcontinues to flourish with a little help from centremembers who sit on the editorial board.

And this year the centre, as part of an internationalconsortium of eight universities, has for the second timebeen awarded the prestigious Erasmus Mundus fundingfor its ‘Masters of Excellence’ MA in Women’s and GenderStudies (GEMMA). Erasmus Mundus scholarshipsregularly attract high-calibre students and academicsfrom around the world.

‘We’ve achieved a considerable amount over the last 25years, and the centre remains as vibrant as ever,’ said DrRachel Alsop, Co-Director of the Centre for GenderStudies. ‘We decided to mark this important milestonewith a series of celebratory events and invite high-profileguests with an interest in gender studies.’

The anniversary year kicked off with the Annual MaryWollstonecraft Lecture, presented by Professor LuceIrigaray, one of the foremost feminist writers of currenttimes. This was followed by a celebration dinner in May,with special guests Dame Jenni Murray, OBE (see thearticle below), and the Hull MP Diana Johnson. Roundingoff the celebrations was a series of seminars looking at‘Feminism Now’ and featuring several guest speakers,including Professor Sylvia Walby, OBE, UNESCOProfessor of Gender Research at the University ofLancaster.

Royal honourThe award-winning broadcaster JenniMurray, who is a Hull alumna, has beenmade a dame in the Queen’s BirthdayHonours list.

TheWoman’sHourpresenter studied French and Dramaat Hull, and it was during her time at the University thatshe was first introduced to radio and television.

Her successful career to date includes work on BBC Two’sNewsnightand Radio 4’s Todayprogramme. Jenni hasalso written for various newspapers, including theDailyTelegraph and theDaily Express. She is a regularcolumnist for theDailyMail.

In 1999 she was awarded an OBE for services tobroadcasting, and more recently she was honoured bythe Sony Radio Academy.

Dame Jenni Murray, OBE.

Members of the Centre for Gender Studies.

Milestone momentsIt has been celebration time this year at the University’s Centre for Gender Studies as itmarks its 25th anniversary.


Dr Catherine Dobson.

As part of its commitment to enhancing the student experience,the University is continuing to invest in first-class facilities, mostrecently with a £300,000 refurbishment of laboratories in theCentre for Environmental and Marine Sciences (CEMS) at theScarborough Campus.

The new lab has been expanded to accommodate the growing number of students onCEMS courses and has been fully kitted out with modern research equipment to makeit easier for students to carry out lab-based studies of marine organisms, which is akey part of many of the programmes offered at CEMS.

‘Although a lot of teaching and research is carried out in the local environment, wealso teach students about whole organisms in the lab, often using specimens theyhave collected themselves from the local area,’ explained Dr Phil Wheeler, Lecturer inEcology and Environmental Science and the Head of CEMS.

‘The new additions to the lab and other key facilities, such as seawater taps, meanthat staff and students can carry out this work more effectively, making for a betterteaching and learning experience. In fact, the new lab is already proving to be a bighit with our students.’

The CEMS work is part of a continued investment at the Scarborough Campus whichhas already seen a major transformation of library facilities and student-facingservices, and the refurbishment of teaching rooms, student accommodation, thestudents’ union and catering facilities.

Step changesA collaborative project undertaken by theDepartment of Engineering and theDepartment of Sport, Health and ExerciseScience is aiming to improve elderlypeople’s balance and stability in order tominimise the risk of falls.

The NHS spends millions of pounds every year treatingand rehabilitating elderly patients who have sufferedbone fractures or breaks. The study by the University,which is being funded by Osteoporosis Research in EastYorkshire (OSPREY), is looking at ways of preventingpotential falls through simple exercise.

First, candidates undergo pain-free biomechanical testingat the University’s Human Performance Laboratory,where they climb a flight of five steps. Using motion-tracking technology and pressure pads, a 3D model iscreated during the exercise to see what happens to thebody when it moves up the staircase.

Using the data, the project team identify specific muscleswhich need to be strengthened and develop a simpleexercise plan.

Dr Catherine Dobson from the University’s Medical andBiological Research Group said: ‘Movement tracking isfrequently used in professional sports to improveperformance, but we want to see just how far we canpush computer modelling and see if it’s possible to targetspecific muscles rather than whole areas.’

Beyond the sea

The new Academy is a flagship project for the Universityand exemplifies its commitment to being an anchorinstitution in the region. As the lead sponsor of theAcademy, the University will work alongside Hull CityCouncil, Wyke Sixth Form College and Wilberforce SixthForm College to deliver this exciting project for the city.

The new school, which is to be called the Thomas FerensAcademy, is located on the Princess Elizabeth PlayingFields in Hull and will accommodate 1,250 pupilsbetween the ages of 11 and 16 from the surrounding area.There will also be provision for post-16 learning.

Thomas Ferens was a politician, a philanthropist and anindustrialist. He was the MP for Hull East for 13 years, andhe helped establish Reckitt Benckiser. Ferens madenumerous charitable donations throughout his life; hislegacies in the city include the Ferens Art Gallery and theUniversity of Hull.

Juliet Strang, who brings 19 years of successfulexperience as a senior leader in three different largeschools, was recently appointed as the Academy’sPrincipal Designate.

‘The Thomas Ferens Academy will be a centre ofexcellence which will provide the very best education andlife chances for the young people of Hull,’ said Juliet.‘Students will be offered a wide range of courses and haveaccess to cutting-edge information and communicationstechnology. They will also benefit from the combined

expertise of the sponsors as well as school staff, drawingon a wealth of knowledge, skills and resources.

‘Languages and science are particularly relevant to thiscountry’s future economic growth, and the Academy willgive the young people of Hull the skills and knowledge tocontribute to and benefit from this growth.’

But the focus will not just be on academic expertise. Non-academic achievement will be recognised on a dailybasis. ‘It is my strong view that a good education is morethan the acquisition of qualifications,’ explained Juliet. ‘Agood education develops a set of moral values and theskills, capabilities and habits to lead a happy andfulfulling life. We will develop a coherent and attractivesystem for recognising and rewarding these.’

As construction work continues at the site, thoughts areturning to the opening in September 2012 and the firststudents who will walk through the Academy’s doors.

‘The priority after opening will be to ensure that the newstudents have an outstanding curriculum and excellentteaching, and that they are well supported and happy atschool,’ added Juliet. ‘And going forward, I will be settingup systems to ensure that students have a strong voice intheir school and that parents and the communitycontinue to be actively engaged.

‘Together we can create a truly inspirational Academythat will raise aspirations and help every student achievetheir goals.’

www.hull.ac.uk/insight

The Thomas Ferens AcademyConstruction work on the new, state-of-the-art Academy school in the north of Hull is nowwell under way. A Principal Designate has also been appointed.

Insight Autumn 2011 23

Juliet Strang.

Dr Darren Evans.


A bird’s-eye viewDr Darren Evans, a lecturer in conservationbiology at the University, has been workingwith academics in Scotland on a project whichthey say could help to explain a decline ingrassland bird species throughout Europe.

The team examined different areas of grazing land tosee how it impacts on the breeding of the meadowpipit, Anthus pratensis, the most common uplandbird in the UK. They found that mothers nesting infields grazed at low intensity produced more maleoffspring whereas those nesting in ungrazed fields orthose with many livestock produced more femaleoffspring.

The study, which took place at Glen Finglas, nearLoch Lomond, used four experimental grazingtreatments replicated six times in fields measuringthree hectares in size. Areas of high grazing pressurecontained nine sheep, those of low pressurecontained three sheep, and a mixed area containedtwo sheep and two cattle, while an ungrazed areawas also established.

Dr Evans said: ‘It is thought that the quality of thebreeding environment declines in areas that areeither ungrazed or grazed at a high intensity,meaning that the meadow pipit speciesoverproduces the sex that requires fewer resources.Livestock grazing is associated with the widespreaddecline of various species across the world, so it isimportant that this issue is looked at further.’

Word of mouthThe award-winning author David Almondwas the special guest at the University’ssecond Annual Children’s Writing Event.

The author, best known for his novel Skellig, talked abouthis work and read passages from some of his books. Healso took questions from the assembled audience.

The evening was hosted by pupils from Sydney SmithSchool in Hull and also featured youngsters fromEastfield Primary School performing winning poems froma competition run by the Philip Larkin Centre (whichorganised the event), the Royal Infirmary and MigraineAction.

‘The Annual Children’s Writing Event aims to inspirechildren in their work and encourage the localcommunity to be actively involved with the University,’explained Professor Martin Goodman, Director of thePhilip Larkin Centre. ‘Hull has been fortunate to shapethe careers of many famous writers, and hopefully we’llinspire the next generation to recognise their talent anddevelop it to the full.’David Almond.


Hull hosts centenary celebrationsPlaygoers were given the chance to be part of a uniquetheatrical experience when the University hosted aspecial conference – organised by Professor KatharineCockin, Head of the English Department – celebrating thecentenary of the founding of the Pioneer Players, aleading theatre society associated with women’s suffrage.

Audience members were invited to portray one of the 50great women of the past (including the aviator AmyJohnson, the novelist Winifred Holtby and the first femaleGP in Hull, Mary Murdoch) who argue the case forwomen’s rights in the women’s suffrage play A Pageant ofGreat Women. First produced in 1909 by Edith Craig, theplay was directed by Dr Anna Birch and her company,Fragments and Monuments. Professor Cockin’s researchalso inspired students from Hull College to include EdithCraig in their new play Suffragette.

Professor Cockin has been researching the life and worksof Edith Craig for more than 20 years. In 2008, funded bythe AHRC, she produced an online descriptive catalogueof the National Trust’s Ellen Terry and Edith CraigArchive. Containing more than 20,000 documents, it isone of the most significant theatre archives in the UK.

International academy appointmentThe University’s Director of Sports Rehabilitation, AngelaClough, has been made a member of the InternationalAcademy of Manual/Musculoskeletal Medicine (IAMMM).

Angela was invited to join the academy after serving forthe past four years as co-editor of the the journalInternational Musculoskeletal Medicine. She will nowwork alongside other experts, clinicians and universitiesfrom around the world in helping to shape the future ofthe industry.

Top of the classShe has been leading the way in online learning andteaching for many years and has now been rewarded forher efforts with a top teaching award. Shirley Bennett,from the University’s Centre for Educational Studies, waspresented with a Teaching with Sakai Innovation Award(TWSIA) at a special conference in Los Angeles.

Shirley leads the Master of Education in eLearningprogramme (MEd eLearning), which is taught entirelyonline and attracts students from across the UK andabroad. It provides professionals in education andtraining with an understanding of issues around thedesign, development and implementation of e-learningcourses.

Shirley said that she was delighted and honoured to bereceiving her TWSIA, which was awarded by the SakaiProject, a global community of academic institutions,commercial organisations and individuals.

Researchers attend Newton’s Apple workshopThe North’s first Newton’s Apple workshop was held atthe University earlier this year. With advice from a panelof experts, PhD students, early-career researchers andacademics got the chance to learn more about how theycan influence science funding and policy even in thesedifficult economic times.

The panel featured Mr Tim Lovett, President of the BritishBeekeepers Association, who influenced government andchanged policy on funding for bee research. Otherpanellists included Dr Michael Elves, Chairman ofNewton’s Apple and formerly Director of Scientific andEducational Affairs for Glaxo Wellcome, and Dr BrianIddon, Reader in Chemistry at the University of Salford,who is also an MP and a former member of the House ofCommons Science and Technology Select Committee.

News in brief

Angela Clough.

Shirley Bennett.


Mick first heard the word ‘journalist’ when watchingDr Who. Sarah Jane Smith, the investigativejournalist played by Elisabeth Sladen, inspired himand he felt that journalism was the way to go.

Although his first placement at Autosport didn’t quitehave the drama and glamour of Dr Who, it was a rolethat proved to be both interesting and challenging.During his time there, Mick covered various motorraces and wrote a monthly column. He also learntabout the production process. It was an excellentgrounding for his role at New Scientist.

Mick’s current role involves coordinating the entireproduction process. He has to ensure that stories areready and that headlines and images are prepared.He also has responsibility for producing themagazine on time.

The skills of scientific analysis that Mick learnt on hisdegree course have really helped with his job at NewScientist. ‘I am always looking for evidence andscientific rigour,’ he explained; ‘flimsy stories andirrational letters do not make the final cut.’ It is aformula that seems to work, with 175,000 copies soldworldwide each week.

In 1994, Mick introduced the well-loved ‘Last Word’column to the magazine. This was inspired by TheGuardian’s ‘Notes and Quotes’ column, wherereaders’ questions are answered by other readers.Simple scientific questions such as ‘Why does hairgo grey?’ and ‘Why can’t elephants jump?’ are typicalof the New Scientist column.

‘The Last Word’ has proved so popular that thecontent has formed the basis of a series of NewScientist books. The first one, entitled Does AnythingEat Wasps?, sold half a million copies. It wasreviewed by The Times and The Independent andbecame a Christmas best-seller in 2004. Mick waseven interviewed by Philip Schofield on This Morningand invited to explain why the book had caught theimagination of the public.

The follow-up book, Why Don’t Penguins’ FeetFreeze?, sold 800,000 copies and there was a pointwhen both books were in the Waterstone’s Top 10. Itis a truly impressive success story.

So what is Mick’s advice to budding journalists? ‘It isvital to gain work experience as an undergraduate,prove that you’re keen in a particular area and buildup a portfolio of work. It is also an idea to set up yourown blog and demonstrate originality of thought.’

Alumni focusThe write stuffMick O’Hare graduated with a Geology degree in 1987. He is now Production Editor at NewScientist and the brain behind a best-selling series of books.

Mick O’Hare.


University in a dayThe University welcomed schoolchildrenfrom across East Yorkshire to the HullCampus for a special event duringUniversities Week.

‘University in a Day’, which was organised in conjunctionwith the Hull Children’s University, aimed to show pupilswhat campus life is all about through a series of speciallydesigned demonstrations and activities.

During the day, members of the Department of Chemistrydemonstrated a range of experiments involving pureoxygen, film canister rockets, dry-ice balloons and liquidnitrogen. HIVE showcased their 3D computer technologyand allowed the children to explore the inside of a virtualmonkey brain. Various activities were also organised bythe University’s sports centre to highlight the importanceof staying fit and active.

Universities Week 2011 was a national campaign todemonstrate the benefits of universities across the UK. Ithighlighted the impact that universities have onindividuals, the local community, businesses and thefuture of the UK.

Dr Mark Lorch, from the Department of Chemistry, said:‘This was the first time some of the children experiencedlife at a university. It’s very different from a school or sixthform, and there are lots of incredible things that happenat universities which people maybe aren’t aware of.

‘And it’s not all about teaching and learning; highereducation also helps to improve our understanding of theworld around us.’

A matter of trustA PhD student from the University’sDepartment of Biological Sciences hasbeen elected a Trustee of the RoyalEntomological Society.

Cathleen Thomas, who joined the RES at the beginning ofher PhD research in 2008 and became very active withinthe society, will serve on the governing body for threeyears.

Cathleen’s PhD project examines the evolutionary geneticsof the invasive harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) andlooks at why this species is such a successful invader.

‘The RES has been very supportive during my PhD studies,and I am honoured to be asked to becomea Trustee,’ said Cathleen. ‘I am particularly keen to helpthe society support early-career researchers,so that others can benefit as I have.’

The RES was founded in 1833 and many eminentscientists, including Darwin and Wallace, have beenFellows of the society.

Cathleen Thomas.

All roads lead toRhodesThe University has been playing a leadingrole in an international rugby leagueproject which took in a tour of Greece.

Steve Curtis, the University’s Sports DevelopmentManager, was asked by the Student Rugby Leaguesection of the Rugby Football League to lead theGreat Britain Pioneers Tour. Liam Duffy, a third-yearstudent and captain of the Hull University team, alsofeatured in the squad which travelled to Greece.More than 20 students from higher educationinstitutions across the country took part in the tour,representing both their home nation and theiruniversities.

The Pioneers project was started in 2005 with theaim of promoting rugby league to a widercommunity. In previous years the side worked todevelop the sport in Norway, Ukraine, the CzechRepublic, Latvia, Estonia and Kazakhstan.

As part of the tour, the students lived on the islandof Rhodes, where they held training sessions for theplayers of the two local rugby sides – the RodosColossi and the Rodos Knights. Following thetraining sessions the Pioneers were given theopportunity to demonstrate their playing skills in aseries of two test matches. The GB students werecomfortable winners on both occasions, but theyinspired their Greek counterparts to want to teachthe game in their local schools.

‘The tour was a great opportunity for everyoneinvolved,’ said Steve Curtis. ‘We went to Greece withabsolutely no idea how far the sport had alreadybeen developed, but that was the most exciting part.Rhodes was a brilliant place to visit, and I’m sure ourstudents found it incredibly rewarding. All of theplayers we came across really took to rugby league,which was very encouraging to see.’

He added: ‘It was a great honour for the players to beselected for the tour and represent their country. Wewere made to feel extremely welcome by the Greeks,and it was great to see how they interacted with ourplayers and got involved.’

‘Rugby league is a really fast-growing sport, and thePioneers is an exciting project and a great way tohelp deliver the objectives of the Rugby LeagueEuropean Federation. The trip to Rhodes alsoprovided a really valuable learning experience foreveryone concerned.

‘We’ve seen the positive impact it can have on theplaces we’ve visited in previous years, and that’swhat makes it so worthwhile.’


Steve Curtis.

Get active, stay activeThe University will be benefiting from the legacy of the 2012Olympics after being awarded £85,346 from Sport England.

The money will be used for the University’s Get Active scheme, which aims toincrease the sporting options on offer at both campuses. Over the next three yearsthe University will work with professional organisations such as the Rugby FootballUnion, the East Riding County Football Association and Yorkshire Cricket tointroduce sport via campus activities and events held at the halls of residence.

The programme will offer informal versions of games such as cricket that can beplayed throughout the year to ensure that all students are able to take part, regardlessof ability. A Sports Activities Coordinator will be employed to work across bothcampuses to deliver the activities.

‘The Get Active scheme will help to enhance our students’ experience by deliveringgreat, wide-ranging sporting opportunities, and it has been launched followingresearch into student sporting needs and attitudes,’ explained Steve Curtis, theUniversity’s Sports Development Manager.

‘Boosting student participation will have a lasting impact on grassroots sport,because research shows that students who play sport at university are far morelikely to continue participating throughout their lives.’

Mark of excellenceThe University has become one of the first institutions in the country to gain a new nationalaccreditation award for it sports coaching courses.

The BSc Sports Coaching and Performance degree run bythe Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Science hasbeen accredited by Skills Active and Sports Coach UK.The Higher Education Endorsement means that studentsundertaking the course are reaching professionallyrequired standards, improving their chances ofemployability within their chosen industry.

To gain the accreditation, the department had todemonstrate that the degree involves an appropriatebalance of theoretical study and practical experience. Anexternal examiner visited the University to look at thefacilities and course materials on offer to the students;staff from the department also talked about theprogramme content and how it would be delivered.

The University works alongside the Football Association,the Rugby Football Union, the Rugby Football League andother national sporting bodies to provide coachingqualifications which complement the overall degree. TheHumber Sports Partnership and the East Riding ofYorkshire Council also work with the University toprovide work placements and practical experience duringthe third year of study.

Lee Nelson and Phil Marshall from the Department of Sport,Health and Exercise Science.

© Fotolia.com/aaastocks

Art became John’s interest during hisundergraduate years. He was reading history atBristol University when he went on a trip to Rome.He visited the galleries, discovered ItalianRenaissance art and was particularly drawn toRaphael and Caravaggio. The holiday was adefining moment: he decided at that point that arthistory would be his area of academic expertise.

After graduation, he was a postgraduate atLondon’s Courtauld Institute and then saw avacancy for an Italian Renaissance art specialist atthe University of Hull. John had never been to Hullbefore, but it was another turning point. Heconfesses that he is now very fond of the city.

During his time here, John has been Head ofHistory of Art and Head of History. He now splitshis time between being Director of the ArtCollection and teaching history of art.

Since the Italian Renaissance is John’s specialistarea, he continues to visit galleries regularly. ‘Inthe same way that a Shakespearean academicshould read his plays every so often, it isimportant for me to see Italian art,’ he said. ‘Soholidays are spent visiting galleries in Venice andRome, and earlier this year I went to theParthenon Museum in Athens.’

When he is not curating, organising exhibitions orpersuading people to give works of art to the

University, John enjoys catching up withcolleagues over a cappuccino. In fact, one ofJohn’s lasting legacies has been the Artcafe atMiddleton Hall. ‘I love the coffee culture here,’ hesaid. ‘People tend to work in silos at universities,so I think it is healthy to have a place where staffand students can meet.’

Students on art history modules are especiallyfortunate, because John invites them to cheeseand wine evenings at his home in nearby NewlandPark. He also holds an annual masked ball tocelebrate the last night of the Venetian Carnivale.Students dress up, and the donning of a mask iscompulsory. ‘These nights have becomesomething of an institution,’ he said.

Interestingly, John used to know the formerlibrarian Philip Larkin and the English lecturerAndrew Motion very well. ‘Philip had a very drysense of humour but played up to his miserablepersona. Andrew, on the other hand, had a cultfollowing and was very popular with all thefemale students,’ he said. The three of them wouldmeet regularly and discuss the happenings of theday. ‘Andrew taught me the importance of makingtime for lunch,’ he explained. ‘No matter howbusy I am, I always ensure that I have have lunch,usually in the Jubilee Restaurant. Having a breakin the middle of the day is good for the soul.’

In the spotlight …John Bernasconi has worked at the University of Hull for just under 40 years,and during that time he has secured some wonderful pieces for the ArtCollection and met some fascinating people.

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insight november 2011

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