Geography Alumni Magazine

School of Geography FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT

ALUMNI ALUMNI NEWSLETTER • ISSUE NUMBER 5• MARCH 2012

Welcome Welcome to another edition of the Leeds School of Geography alumni magazine. It has been a busy nine months for the School. Much of the talk around the place is the impending move of Geography from its present site on University road to the Garstang Building near the Medical School. The new space will be refurbished and tailored to our needs and should provide a quality environment to facilitate expansion in the future (the old ‘East building’ really is on its last legs). However, it will be sad to leave the grand building we moved into in the mid 1990s.

We have also learned recently that our current head of School, Gill Valentine, will be moving on to pastures new from August. We wish her well in her future role as a PVC at Sheffield University as we currently search for a new leader! Watch this space for more details on both these major news items.

Once again we hope you enjoy the mixture of articles on our alumni and current members of staff.

There are details of two reunions in this edition and it was a pleasure to attend both of them. Please do consider coming ‘home’ and meeting old friends.

Talking of old friends, there is an interesting piece on Phil Rees’s retirement seminar which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who participated. Phil is still working on research projects in the School so it is great to report that he will be around for a few more years yet! Also catch up with two of our top profs, Mark Birkin and Oliver Phillips, not to mention one to watch for the future – Graeme Swindles.

Finally, thanks again to Tessa who continues to do such a great job in getting these articles to press and keeping in touch with all of you. Enjoy! And as ever, drop us a line, let us know what you are up and if we can help organise a reunion we’d love to hear from you.

Contents 3

Message from the Head of School

Research News 4

School research news in brief

Meet the Staff 6

What future for the Amazon?

Professor Oliver Phillips

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Talisman: GeospaTiAL Data AnalysIS and SiMulAtioN, Professor Mark Birkin

10 The importance of peatland: Dr Graeme Swindles

Reflections 12 Professors Phil Rees & John Stillwell

Profiling Alumni 14 Samantha Brear: BA Geography 2008 15 Martine Croxall: BA Geography 1990 Richard Rowney: BA Geography 1992 16 Craig Morley: BA Geography 2005

Reunions 18 Class of 1990 Reunion 20 Class of 1999 Reunion

Alumni Q & A Tessa Grant External Relations Manager and Alumni magazine editor 2

22 Rebecca Churchill: BA Geography 1990

Graham Clarke Professor and Alumni magazine 23 editor

Emily Ledder: BA Geography 1998

Message from the Head of School 2012 is a significant and auspicious year – not only because of the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee -but more importantly in the world of higher education because it marks the introduction of the new tuition fees.

The year is starting well for the School of Geography - we are forecast to meet our recruitment targets and have seen a rise in applications for our BSc Programme. We have sound finances despite the tough economic climate and are currently seeking to recruit two new Research Leadership Chairs able to

integrate their world class research and teaching. We are also investing in the student experience and have appointed a numeracy fellow, alongside our existing literacy fellow to support learning and we are further developing our year in industry scheme. As mentioned below, we would very much welcome offers from our alumni to place a current student.

Indeed, the ‘Where are they now?’ section provides testimony to the employability of Leeds geographers.

The School remains committed to increasing the impact of our research from a local to a global scale. Articles from my colleagues provide plenty of examples of the way our staff and postgraduates are making important contributions to international challenges on

climate change, the financial crisis and forced migration as well as mapping emerging social phenomenon such as cosmetic surgery tourism and developing new ways of simulating population and social change to inform all aspects of planning/policy.

Lastly, on a personal note, this is my final editorial as Head of School, as I will be leaving at the end of August to take up a post of ProVice Chancellor at the University of Sheffield. I would therefore like to thank all the staff and students in the School for the support they have given me and to offer my best wishes to my successor for the future and the continued success of Geography at Leeds.

Professor Gill Valentine

The expertise our students can bring to your company ... even before they graduate!

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eeds geography students have an opportunity to extend a three-year degree to a four-year programme by working for a year in industry between Levels 2 and 3 of their degree. Whether they are a single honours or joint honours student, this opportunity will be presented to them once they begin their degree programme with us. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain new skills, increase their employment potential, earn some much needed money to support their studies and help them to decide upon their future career path.

Benefits for you as an employer ...

There are considerable advantages for employers. Leeds geography students stand out from the crowd due to their:

 Ability to think flexibly and independently.  Motivation and high achievements.  Ability to analyse information and propose creative solutions.

I just wanted to thank the School for yet another recruit. I hope CACI will continue to be a source of employment for Leeds Geography/ GIS graduates over the next few years.

A geography degree at Leeds coupled with a ‘Year in Industry’ makes a student stand out from the crowd. On completion of the ‘Year in Industry’, I was offered a permanent job following graduation!

 Ability to work as a team and value difference.

We continue to be delighted with the quality of your graduates, their knowledge of retail location planning and their ability to work effectively from day one.

Paul Matthews BA Geography Industrial, 2009, currently a Location Planner at Javelin thanks to the Year in Industry opportunity.

 Project and time management skills.  Enthusiasm, commitment and talent.

Ian Thurman Vice President, Location Planning, CACI

Recent Industrial Placements

Many of our students have gone on to work for their industrial year companies following graduation, bringing with them the skills and expertise they have gained throughout their geography degree at Leeds.

Interested in knowing more?

 Critical understanding of the commercial sector and the needs of businesses.

 Research, report writing and presentation skills.

If you think your company might be interested in placing a student for a year please contact our External Relations Manager (and editor) Tessa Grant to discuss this further.

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Assistant Buyer, Mars Demographics Analyst, Edge Analytics Assistant Ecologist, Access Ecology Property Management, King Sturge Management Consultancy, Accenture Operational Researcher, NHS Risk Analyst, Lloyds Banking Group Systems Implementer, Barnsley Council

Could you offer an industrial placement?

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Research news in brief Putting the ash clouds into perspective An analysis of ash fallout over the past 7,000 years suggests ash clouds are a relatively common occurrence throughout history. But ash clouds have only reached northern Europe every 56 out of the past 1,000 years on average. The research is published in the journal Geology.

Lead author of the study Dr Graeme Swindles, from the University of Leeds School of Geography, said: "The ash cloud resulting from the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption caused severe disruption to air travel across Europe, but as a geological event it is not unprecedented. While the aviation industry and the travelling public will welcome the news that another large-scale ash event isn't expected in the immediate future, they shouldn't breathe a sigh of relief just yet.” To find out more click here

Geography PhD student represented UK Youth at Climate change talks Leeds student Kristina Diprose was selected as one of ten young people to represent UK youth at UN climate negotiations in South Africa in November 2011. The talks brought together negotiators and politicians from UN member states to work towards a coordinated international response to climate change. Kristina, a PhD student from the School of Geography, joined the international youth constituency and a coalition of environmental NGOs calling for more urgent action and leadership.

As well as rubbing shoulders with the likes of UK Environment Minister Chris Huhne (as was), Greenpeace International Director Kumi Naidoo and UN climate talks head Christiana Figueres, Kristina also led environmental education workshops for Year 9 pupils in Leeds and Durban to strengthen existing school partnerships. Since returning home, she's planning follow-up seminars for young people in Leeds to raise awareness about youth involvement in international decision-making and to share inspiring stories of climate action from young people around the world.

Can we change anything?

Dr Paul Chatterton featured in a short documentary looking at solutions to the current world crisis, affecting us financially, environmentally and socially. Director Pelayo Canga met specialists to talk about the credit crunch, global warming and the protests that are happening around the Globe - from the Arab world through to Spain, Greece and England and asks can we CHANGE anything?

To view the documentary visit: http://vimeo.com/28510275 Paul has also had a new paper published, entitled “Demand the Possible: Journeys in changing our world as a public activist scholar.

To view the paper click here 4

Sun, Sea, Sand and Silicone: aesthetic surgery tourism Dr David Bell is involved in an interdisciplinary project looking at Britons and Australians who participate in cosmetic surgery tourism, and at the countries and people that provide this service. It comprises in-depth interviews and key on-site observations in order to explore the peculiarly contemporary phenomenon of cosmetic surgery tourism and its connections to global flows of people and capital. Cosmetic surgery tourism has a crucial wider context: it is part of a general medical tourism trend. Women and men travelling abroad for cosmetic surgery are likely to become the pioneers of medical tourism and cosmetic surgery is leading this growth industry because it is a largely privatized healthcare practice.

This research aims to broaden our understanding of the modes of operation of the organizations involved, the surgical tourist experience, and the potential implications for a globalized system of healthcare organized around consumption. If you have previously had cosmetic surgery abroad the research team would love to hear from you, email: k.r.jhardy@leeds.ac.uk

The impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) on UK river ecosystems Pharmaceuticals find their way into the environment through sewage. Much recent research has focused on quantifying the presence of PPCPs in the aquatic environment and on understanding the ecotoxicological effects of acute exposures of standard organisms (algae, invertberates, macrophytes and fish) in the laboratory. However, very little is known about the long-term effects of low level (chronic) exposures and mixture toxicity to organisms in the aquatic environment and how these may impact on ecosystem structure and function.

To find out more contact: Steve Hughes, PhD student in the School of Geography.

Asylum seekers and refugees’ experiences of forced labour Dr Hannah Lewis is an ESRC Research Fellow investigating experiences of forced labour among people who are refugees or seeking asylum. Her research interests include community and social relationships, migration and refugee studies; UK immigration and asylum policy particularly in relation to destitution among refused asylum seekers; housing, volunteering, leisure, multiculturalism; and the ethics and methodologies of research with migrant populations.

If you would like to find out more about Hannah’s research please email: h.j.lewis@leeds.ac.uk 5

What future for the Amazon?

Professor Oliver Phillips Chair of Tropical Ecology, School of Geography The Amazon forest is vast and magnificent. So huge in fact that it is possible to fly over it for hours on end, with nothing below but a seemingly endless carpet of green, interrupted here and there by winding, giant rivers and small ox-bow lakes. Sometimes the rivers are coloured milk chocolate by the mud which washes off the towering Andes to the west.

Sometimes they are sparkling and transparent, draining the ancient, crystalline rocks of the great Brazilian Shield to the south. And sometimes they are like black tea, stained by the tannins washed out from billions of leaves rotting on the forest floor of the north, where lush vegetation often grows on deep white sands. The Amazon is many things to many people. To a biologist or a physical geographer it is something akin to paradise.

always like this, and that it always will be. Yet the forest is changing, and in many ways not immediately obvious to the human eye. One fifth of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed. While there are some optimistic signs that deforestation can be controlled, the destruction is undeniable, and more subtle changes are occurring too. The climate is changing. Where the big mammals and birds are hunted out for food, the trees that need these animals to disperse their seeds may continue to fruit year after year, but their seedlings have little chance of survival, suffocated under the deep shade and heavy load of fungal pathogens supplied by their parents. Intensive hunting - eventually - can kill tree species just as effectively as it kills animals.

The sun glints back at you from these watery surfaces, and it is easy to imagine that it was

But there are reasons for hope too. One of these is that people are realising the valuable

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Sometimes the rivers are coloured milk chocolate by the mud which washes off the towering Andes to the west...

role that forests play in our climate – not only do they recycle huge amounts of water and bring rains that feed crops even beyond their borders, but they also store huge amounts of carbon (100 billion tonnes of it in the Amazon, to the nearest 10 billion or so), so keeping it out of the atmosphere. This benefits us all. Our research has also found that for decades now, trees in the forests which do remain have actually been growing bigger, taking up an extra half billion tonnes of carbon each year. In fact, over recent decades tropical forests worldwide have absorbed one fifth of global fossil fuel emissions. In several ways then nature, is doing us all a very big favour in helping to slow climate change.

The question is though – for how long can this continue? Like most of the world, tropical forests have already warmed noticeably.

Continuing climate change means that it is

inevitable that the Amazon will become hotter this century. It may also become drier. While plants may be able to deal with extra heat, if the great Amazon water-cycle becomes disrupted and droughts also intensify they may well find it harder to cope. Our research team of more than 60 scientists has worked throughout the Amazon for years, and now we have the first solid evidence that drought can cause big carbon losses in tropical forests, mainly through killing trees.

region is so vast, these small ecological effects can scale-up to have a large impact on the planet’s carbon cycle.

Fires, set to clear land for farming, can escape out of control in a drought.

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tropical sunlight pours in, and the whole system can be primed to burn again.

To keep the Amazon standing in a changing climate will require better ways of living in the region, with much less use of fire, and much more value accruing to those forest dwellers prepared to protect their land. Other models of development exist. Using mixtures of compost and charcoal, indigenous peoples have managed to turn patches of normally nutrientstarved tropical soils into artificial, rich ‘black We based our study on the unusual 2005 earths’ that can yield bountiful crops in small drought in the Amazon. This gave a glimpse farms. The push of industrial farming into into the region’s potential future climate, in forests is driven by some unlikely forces – which a warming tropical North Atlantic may including the meat that we eat (many cows in cause hotter and more intense dry seasons.

Britain are fed with soya beans grown in the By measuring thousands of trees for years Amazon), and global commodity demand which before the drought and then through the event make monocultures such as palm oil itself, we were able to discover how they Yet the biggest danger to the Amazon is plantations more attractive investments than responded to the unusual conditions. probably not climate change. It is not even the hyper-diverse locally-managed forests they hunting, or logging and agriculture and the replace. With knowledge and action these The 2005 drought reversed decades of carbon deforestation which accompanies it. Rather it is forces can be reversed. And, last but not least, absorption in which nearly six million square the combination of climate change plus if we can find ways to reward those countries kilometres of Amazon forest has helped to slow development: a drier forest is certainly a that help us all by keeping their climateclimate change. Yet in fact to our eyes, most of vulnerable forest but it will still remain a forest protecting carbon-rich forests intact and the forest appeared as before - tree deaths did unless it burns. Fires, set to clear land for standing, the Amazon and its millions of increase but not enough to affect the complex farming, can escape out of control in a drought. species may still have a bright future. It is in all structure of the forest. Only by examining the Amazon trees evolved without fire and so they our interests to make sure it happens. records from dozens of plots did we discover have none of the protective features like thick an increase in the death rate of trees, one that bark or heat-resistant seeds which their To find out more about the research was linked to the increase in moisture stress relatives in areas which burn naturally have undertaken by Oliver Phillips visit his webpage experienced. So, at the small scale of each plot evolved. Once burned, the canopy thins, dead here. the effects were very modest, but because the wood accumulates on the ground, the hot A few species were found to be especially vulnerable, including some palm trees which couldn’t get enough water to feed their huge leaves. This means that as well as releasing carbon, we can expect drought to have some subtle but important effects on the forest’s plant and animal species too. No other ecosystem on Earth is home to so many species. If we fail to stop climate change much of the forest itself may remain, but the complicated fabric of life which underpins it will certainly change. Some species will gain. Others will lose, and many adapted to the wettest areas may find themselves with nowhere to go.

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Talisman Mark Birkin talks about his research project GeospaTiAL Data AnalysIS and SiMulAtioN Mark Birkin is Professor of Spatial Analysis and Policy. His major research interest is in simulating social and demographic change within cities and regions, and in understanding the impact of these changes on the need for services like housing, roads and hospitals.

Mark is a co-editor of the journal Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy and a member of the editorial board of Transactions in GIS. He is also on both the programme committee for the European Social Simulation Association and the International Conference on e-Social Science.

My research is concerned with the movement of people in cities. Social scientists at the present time are engaged in the challenge of constructing large-scale simulations of city regions which can help to understand the impact, and response strategies, to disease outbreaks, plan transport networks, and allocate land use to meet local development goals. Simulations of this type are now under consideration by the European Union for funding as a Technology Flagship project (www.futurict.eu) which would pump hundreds of millions of euros of funding into this subdiscipline over the next decade.

commercial gain in our work with retail and service organisations like Asda-Walmart, Exxon, Ford and HBOS. The more important underlying message from these endorsements is that the models really can be made to work effectively.

a somewhat contrived acronym I know! Our aim is to begin to exploit reserves of spatial data, which are not only vast but growing rapidly, using a combination of modelling techniques ranging from the classical (not just Alan Wilson’s spatial interaction models, but random utility theory and choice modelling, Nowadays one of the dominant scientific Hagerstrand’s time-space prisms perhaps) to narratives is about data intensive research, much more novel approaches like agent-based also known as the Fourth Paradigm (see for modelling and microsimulation. TALISMAN is example http://blogs.nature.com/ fourth one of six nodes which are supported by the paradigm/). I’ll allow the more diligent amongst Economic and Social Research Council to you to identify the first three paradigms as this constitute the National Centre for Research Methods (www.ncrm.ac.uk) with guaranteed month’s homework! In this latest paradigm shift, the natural sciences are increasingly seen funding for the next three years. It is the only Those of you with long memories and greying as moving from the laboratory to the computer one of these nodes which draws from temples who were my contemporaries as (experiments ‘in silico’) the classic example geography as its disciplinary basis. The work students in the 1970s or early 1980s may have perhaps being the human genome project. Now has a theoretical and intellectual dimension vague recollections of ‘urban and regional that the genome has been decoded, all we which is immensely challenging (because the modelling’ in the work of Alan Wilson, John need to work out is what it actually means. For abundance of hard evidence forces us to Stillwell, and several others. At that time, the geographers, and indeed other social rethink hitherto abstract ideas about ‘who does models were largely theoretical, powered by scientists, similar challenges are emerging. what where’) but it is also very applied, and the abstract spatial relationships and the Take communications as an example. Every project will build on letters of support from occasional anecdotal insight about patterns of day in the UK alone, mobile phone companies partners who include Google, Ordnance commuting. In the 1980s, the advent of are capturing hundreds of thousands of geoSurvey, and the Home Office, as well as Geographical Information Systems transformed located text messages and ‘tweets’, and much academic collaborators in four continents. the situation into one in which the capture of of these data are freely available for research spatial data was commonplace, and models use. As with the genome, what we have to do Please keep your eyes on the School of became much more faithful representations of now is to try and figure out what it all means, Geography and ESRC websites for more news geographical behaviour in the real world. My and this is what we need the models for. on our progress. Do get in touch with us own work at GMAP, with Alan Wilson again, directly if you feel that geographers could help Martin Clarke and Graham Clarke, even The TALISMAN project has a focus on with the analysis of spatial data in your own showed that such models could be exploited for GeospaTiAL Data AnalysIS and SiMulAtioN – organisation or community!

The project will build on letters of support from partners who include Google, Ordnance Survey, and the Home Office .

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So what does the data tells us ..?

Example 1. Crime Data Many service organisations use geodemographic data to inform performance analysis and the allocation of resources. In this research, we demonstrate that land use is equally important. For example, crime rates are high in areas of City Living according to the Office for National Statistics neighbourhood classification, but primarily because of high levels of retail and business activity. This work is informed by land use data newly released by the Ordnance Survey and related to the government’s Open Data initiative. More details: JISC GeoCrimeData.

Example 2. Twitter Data This map has been produced by our partners at the Centre for Applied Spatial Analysis at University College London. It shows variations in Twitter traffic across London during a weekday. Contemporary information sources such as Twitter promise researchers the opportunity to understand movement patterns in cities much more deeply than ever before, and to shed new light on the (social) networks by which they are connected. Geographers are also using new methods to increase public engagement with the discipline: this map was viewed hundreds of thousands of times after being ‘retweeted’ by Stephen Fry!

Example 3. Retail Data Equilibrium price distributions in a local network of petrol stations. A model reproduces the reaction of Individual retailer ‘agents’ to disturbances such as a rise in crude oil prices, or aggressive price cutting by a competitor outlet or chain. The model is calibrated against daily price data, provided in this case by a third party, but which now could just as easily be captured from volunteered geographical information such as tweets or blogs.

Would you like to keep up to date with news, events and graduate jobs?

Join our facebook group, search under, University of Leeds, School of Geography alumni.

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Meet the staff Dr Graeme Swindles, Lecturer Graeme’s research interests are in the past! He is interested in using evidence from the past to help understand how environments may change in the future. In particular he researches the nature and causes of rapid climate change, long-term ecological and hydrological dynamics of peatlands, volcanic ash deposition and human responses to climate change in prehistory. Visit Graeme’s web page here Geography was one of my favourite subjects at school… so I decided to read it at university, which set my career path!

After graduating from Durham University with a BSc (Hons) degree in geography I went to Queen’s University Belfast to undertake a PhD entitled ‘Reconstruction of Holocene climate change from peatlands in the North of Ireland’.

This firmly established my interest in environmental change over the past 10,000 years. After a brief stint working as an air pollution scientist, I took a post as lecturer in physical geography at the University of Bradford (2007-2010). I am currently a lecturer in earth system dynamics in the School of Geography, University of Leeds.

places including Ireland, the Shetland Isles, collaborating with archaeologists to see how Peruvian Amazonia and Arctic Canada. Apart prehistoric people may have adapted to abrupt from research, much of my time is taken up climate change. Watch this space! with teaching our large cohort of undergraduate students in the field, laboratory and lecture theatre which is both enjoyable and rewarding.

1 What is in store for the future? Well, lots of Swindles, G.T., Lawson, I.T., Savov, I.P., Connor, C.B. and things! I am trying to develop some new Plunkett, G. 2011. A 7000-yr perspective on volcanic ash projects looking in more detail at the dynamics clouds affecting Northern Europe. Geology 39, 887-890. of Arctic peatland and permafrost and I’m also Contact me at g.t.swindles@leeds.ac.uk if you want a copy!

I am particularly interested in how peatlands respond to climate change and currently work on several projects with colleagues in the School including examining the long-term dynamics of peatland in Peruvian Amazonia and using palaeoenvironmental data and computer models to investigate how the hydrology of peatlands respond to rapid climatic change. Analysis of peatland responses to past events will improve our understanding of what might happen in the future - peatlands represent a significant global carbon sink which is under threat.

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Analysis of peatland responses to past events will improve our understanding of what might happen in the future.

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In addition, I research volcanic ash layers which are preserved in sediments and peats. In a recent paper1 we presented an analysis of volcanic ash layers found in peats and lake sediments across northern Europe. We used these along with historical records to calculate that ash clouds from Icelandic eruptions have, on average, reached northern Europe every 56 years over the past 1,000 years and there is at least a 16% likelihood of this happening in any 10 year period. So ash clouds punching into Northern Europe is a relatively common occurrence. This is a good example of how looking to the past can be very useful!

My research takes me to many interesting

For Peat’s Sake ...

peat stores make “ Worldwide, up at least a third of global

Worldwide, peat stores make up at least a third of global soil carbon. In the UK, peatlands are the most important carbon store on the land surface. However, recent work by staff in the School of Geography has shown that natural underground pipes are important pathways for carbon loss in peatlands. Professor Joseph Holden, Professor Andy Baird and Dr Pippa Chapman have discovered that flows transported through subsurface natural pipes contribute 13% of river flow and yet contribute 21% of the fluvial carbon loss from peatlands.

They have monitored the carbon losses through different natural pipes and found that pipe outlets were also hotspots for greenhouse

The team are now working with a local company, Dinsdale Moorland Services, as part of a TSB and NERC funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership to use the geophysical mapping techniques to improve our

understanding of peatland carbon stores and losses while at the same time developing more targeted peatland restoration actions.

The team hope that the work will also inform management actions on peatlands such as best practice for windfarms which, while acting as a renewable energy source, also often disturb sensitive peatland environments when they are constructed, thereby potentially releasing stored carbon from the peat into rivers or the atmosphere.

To find out more about our work in this area contact the research team here

Peatlands are the most important carbon store on the land surface.

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gas release. However, despite being natural features of peatlands, mapping the pipes by using ground penetrating radar has shown human action has accelerated the development of pipes and hence the rate of underground carbon loss. This is important because much of this additional degradation is not visible on the peat surface until pipes become so large that they collapse to form gullies.

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soil carbon.

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Reections: Professor Phil Rees looks back over 40 years in the School and the relationships that helped to shape and inform his career.

A celebration of the work of Professor Phil Rees

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In July 2009 my colleagues John Stillwell and Martin Clarke organized a symposium, supported very generously by the School, to mark my impending retirement from the School shortly after my 65th birthday in September.

The papers presented at the Symposium were assembled into a book Population Dynamics and Projection Methods edited by John and Martin and published by Springer

in 2011. The Springer web site enables you to buy individual chapters as well as the whole book. The symposium brought together as speakers and audience many of the people with whom I had worked over the previous four decades.

To read how those pictured above helped shape my career visit: http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/alumni

Reflections: Professor John Stillwell recalls a 40 year relationship as student, colleague and friend of a worldclass population geographer!

I recall one afternoon, back in the 1970s, wandering over from the Annex (41 University Road and home to most of the Geography postgrads in those days) to the main Department (our current east Building) with a new postgraduate colleague. On entering the building, my companion espied a rather unusual structure on display in the foyer (see photo below). “What the hell is that?”, he proclaimed with the curiosity of a promising scholar, pointing to the structure confronting us.

“What’s an aquarium doing in a Department of Geography? Who does research on fish populations?”, he questioned. As we moved closer, his inquisitiveness appeared to intensify and I could see that he was considering alternative interpretations. “My God”, he declared, “Its an objet d’art! Is there someone in the Department that does sculpture?”

I realised it was time to intervene and offer some explanation in defence of its creator who happened to be my supervisor, Dr Phil Rees, as he was at the time. So I launched into a rather feeble attempt to explain individual timespace transitions and population accounting methods based on different types of data.

“Wow”, he said, “so quantitative population geographers still use physical models!”.

‘Fishtank’ or objet d’art!?

Reflecting on this, I realise that Phil has always been creative in presenting important demographic concepts in a variety of formats: textual; algebraic; mathematical; graphical as well as physical! And I have always felt very privileged to have been one of his PhD students; not the first, John King and Paul Smith were already under his wing when I started my research as an ESRC funded student in October 1973, but one of the early cohort in a Department governed in those years alternately by Alan Wilson and Mike Kirkby.

a final year course on Urban and Regional Analysis taught by Phil, Alan and Christine Leigh that I had found particularly inspiring (and did the exams for all my courses for two years in the summer of 1973!). I should say also that I had encountered Phil previously in my second year as an undergraduate when he arrived from Chicago in 1971 with a rather strange Anglo-Welsh-American accent (using words like ‘gotten’ and ‘for sure’) and a rather large PhD thesis which he brought to his first lecture and proudly used as his lecture notes!

career matters and, on almost every occasion, his advice has proven to be right. I was always astounded by his knowledge of all matters relating to ‘the Census’ and of the way in which the national statistical office (OPCS in those days) operated. I felt certain that Phil knew more about the Census process than any one who actually worked for OPCS, including the National Statistician. The population / demography conference circuit, both in the UK and abroad, was one with which Phil engaged closely and in which he always appeared to feel very comfortable. It was a great bonus for Phil offered me the chance to stay on as a me to attend conferences and meet many of postgraduate student under his mantle and I the key population researchers across the was very pleased to accept, although I confess world – many of whom Phil introduced me to – that my decision to do so was partly driven by and all of whom knew Phil personally or by the opportunity for another three years of reputation. He seemed to come into his own at playing university rugby and cricket! In the conferences and meetings, enjoying the event, Phil was very good about my extraopportunity to mix with kindred spirits. curricular activities, though I recall some rather Conference chairs came to rely on Phil to ask ‘difficult’ 9-10am supervision sessions following questions and take copious notes on all the late nights out on the town. As all those who presentations, regardless of their relevance to have been supervised by Phil will know, those his own interests. But Phil also relishes sessions could be rather intense – but Phil’s discussion of more serious matters in less characteristic approach of ensuring that all formal circumstances, see below! thoughts and ideas were always comprehensively converted into written notes I have thoroughly enjoyed studying and and diagrams, photocopied and presented to working alongside Phil since those halcyon you at the end of the meeting, were immensely days in the 1970s. I have been fortunate that valuable for subsequent reference. we have been friends and colleagues, but I also know him as a most esteemed academic I very much enjoyed my regular meetings with whose reputation is truly ‘world class’ (check Phil; whenever I tried to articulate some point out his CV here if you want the details). It was or other in a rather naive way, he seemed to a great pleasure for Martin Clarke and I to be understand what I was thinking and it was rare able to bring together so many of those people that, sometimes after an extended period of who have worked with Phil over the last 40 pause for thought, an answer was not years to celebrate his retirement in 2009, forthcoming. I also felt well looked after – my although we both realised that retirement was peers might see their supervisors once a month never on the cards. Perhaps semi-retirement and those with Alan Wilson as their supervisor will allow for the creation of another new were lucky if they saw him once a term! ‘object’. We will need something to enliven our new building!

Since I have known him, Phil has always given sound advice on both research related and Getting down to some serious business at a Dialog-Plus meeting at Penn State in 2005

The early 1970s were exciting days for quantitative geographers and I had completed a degree in Geography and Economics, taking

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Profiling alumni Samantha Brear BA (Hons) Geography 2008, Emergency Management Specialist in Iowa

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The professors that taught and encouraged me at the School of Geography had a profound impact on my career and where I am today.

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I graduated in 2008 with a BA in Geography having completed a dissertation on Hurricane Ivan that hit the Cayman Islands in 2004. This led to several research trips to the islands, my own personal experience of a hurricane and their effects and an ongoing interest in emergency management related to this type of major weather event.

Encouraged by Dr. Grainger and particularly enjoying my modules in Natural Disasters and Geopolitics, I planned out a career path in the disaster management field starting with volunteering with the Red Cross in Los Angeles to expand my knowledge and to help me decide what area of emergency management would best suit my expertise and help me make a difference. I soon realised that if I wanted to get involved in the field in the States on a Federal level, I would need a Masters degree in Emergency Management. So, I began a Masters and also interned with the local

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government, helping them with re-writing their emergency management plans and working for a private consultancy group where my project work included hands-on emergency management training with multiple healthcare workers to see if they were prepared for a virus pandemic.

During this time I also worked for the Red Cross in disaster response work, including assisting during and after a massive apartment block fire on New Year's Eve that resulted in 48 people being made homeless. In addition, I participated in "ride-alongs" with the local fire department to familiarise myself with the workings of the response teams and gained valuable experience of the work of the emergency responders.

Having completed my Masters in 2011, together with my internship and volunteering experience and with a network of disaster

management contacts, I was able to secure a post as an Emergency Management Programme Specialist at county level in Des Moines, Iowa. With responsibility for emergency management planning in the county and coordinating the three 911 dispatch centres in the county. I will be working closely with local police and fire departments as well as other state and federal agencies. It’s an exciting opportunity and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.

My geography degree at Leeds has set me in good stead for my speciality work in emergency management planning. The professors that taught and encouraged me at the School of Geography had a profound impact on my career and where I am today.

If you are interested in this field of work please look at the International Association of Emergency Managers website, www.iaem.com.

Martine Croxall BA (Hons) Geography 1990, Presenter: BBC News24 / Extreme Weather, Green.TV

The fortnightly Extreme Weather series features the latest reports and analysis on extreme weather events around the world. If there’s a drought, hurricane, freak snowstorm or severe flooding, Extreme Weather will cover the story and the science behind the headlines – with expert analysis from leading meteorologists and weather data from Vestas.

In the first episode of Extreme Weather Martine looked at the devastating floods which hit Thailand, claiming 500 lives and costing the country an estimated $4 billion, freak snow storms in the US, the coldest places on earth, dust storms in Texas and the likelihood of climate change bringing on more extreme weather. Subsequent episodes have featured

South East Asia battered by tropical storms, severe flooding in Australia, deadly tornadoes, the Texas drought and the foggiest places on Earth.

To watch these episode and tune in to upcoming reports visit: http://green.tv/ videos/extreme-weather-2011/

Richard Rowney BA (Hons) Geography 1992, Managing Director of Life & Pensions at LV= Richard Rowney graduated from The University of Leeds in 1992 with a 1st Class Honours degree in Geography. Shortly after, Richard embarked on a successful career within the financial services industry and is currently the managing director of Life & Pensions at LV=, one of the UK's leading and fastest growing insurance companies.

Richard joined Barclays in early 1992 and during his fourteen year tenure was Small Business Risk Director, Chief Operating Officer of Premier Banking and Integration Director for Woolwich and Barclays retail bank.

During his time at Barclays, Richard completed his banking qualifications and became an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers

and then undertook an MBA at Henley Management College. Richard was fortunate enough to participate in a six month course at Harvard Business School in 2006, where he studied alongside some of the future senior leaders of global companies.

Richard joined LV= in February 2007 as Group Chief Operating Officer and was appointed to the Board in August 2007. As Group COO, Richard was responsible for the transformation programme that saw LV= successfully re-brand and develop trading businesses that have delivered unprecedented growth and recognition. In March 2010 Richard was appointed Managing Director of LV= Life & Pensions leading a strategy to become the UK’s leading ‘in & at retirement’ and protection specialist.

Richard remains passionate about education and for the last four years has been Vice-Chair of the governing body of Bournemouth & Poole College.

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Craig Morley BA (Hons) Geography 2005 HM Diplomatic Service, Foreign & Commonwealth Office After graduation in 2005, I took up a job as a lecturer at a university in Hebei Province, China (just outside Beijing). I taught what can best be described as a “culture” module to undergraduate English majors, covering topics such as the politics, economics and history of English-speaking countries. My contract ended in Summer 2006 and, shortly after, I took up a role with the Chinese Government as an Editor of English language feature stories (for foreign publications) for the Xinhua News Agency.

I left that role six months into my contract and took up another contract position working for the British Embassy in Beijing as locally engaged member of staff investigating visa fraud and abuse. My contract at the British

Embassy ended in November 2007 and I decided it was time to return to the UK. I decided to turn my journey home into an epic train journey from Beijing to my parents’ village of Finstock, Oxfordshire. I took the transSiberian express - from Beijing to Moscow (via Mongolia). After a few days sightseeing in Moscow, I took the train to St Petersberg where I stayed with a Russian family for a few days for some more sightseeing. I then boarded the train from St Petersberg to Berlin (via Minsk and Warsaw). I’d never been to Berlin before so that was a treat - especially for someone who was obsessed with all things World War II as a child!

The next legs of the trip were non-stop to Oxfordshire, via Cologne, Brussels and London Waterloo. A trip which took me just over two weeks and one I will never forget!

After arriving back in the UK I took up a few temping jobs before securing a permanent position as Constituency Assistant to the MP for Reading East, Rob Wilson. Within two months I was promoted to Parliamentary Aide where I spent two years working for Rob, helping him with his reelection in the 2010 General Election.

Two weeks after the Election I started my career at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office something I had been working towards since my final year at Leeds. The recruitment process took a year, with a really intense period of vetting. I was delighted when I turned up on my first day and learned of my first job in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), in the Conflict Department’s Peacekeeping Team.

I’m still in this position, although my tour comes to an end in May 2012 when I can either take up an overseas posting or another Londonbased role.

My job has a great deal of responsibility attached to it. I lead on UK policy for three UN peacekeeping missions (in Western Sahara, Timor-Leste and Kashmir). I also co-manage the UK’s £450m budget for UN peacekeeping (1/3 of the FCO’s budget!) and work on building strategic alliances and partnerships on UN peacekeeping issues. I accompanied my head of department to Pretoria in September 2011 to further develop our relationship with the South Africans on a range of conflict issues. They are an increasingly important partner for us on a whole range of issues in Africa.

Travelling on the Transiberian Express

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However, my most interesting trip with the FCO so far was visiting the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) in October last year. The mission was set up in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire between Morocco and the Frente Polisario - a Sahrawi independence group. I spent two days with the peacekeeping mission: mostly meetings and briefings on the first day; but on the second day I had the opportunity to visit two team sites.

One on the Moroccan-occupied side of the Berm (a sand wall which acts as a separation

Craig with the Western Sahara UN peacekeeping mission

barrier between the two sides) in Smara, the other in Mehaires on the Polisario-controlled side.

The trip not only made me more aware of the vastness of Western Sahara, but also the hardships UN troops go through in order to keep the peace in some of the most remote

and harsh regions of the world. I’m hoping to use my trip to help shape the UK’s approach to the mission’s mandate renewal at the UN in April - which will include drafting text for the UN Resolution passed by the Security Council.

I thoroughly enjoy my job at the FCO and am looking forward to what will hopefully be a long

and fruitful career. Looking back however, my experiences in China, my interest in domestic politics and my desire to work for the FCO are all thanks to the fantastic time I had at Leeds studying Geography. It broadened my horizons and allowed me to get where I am today! I also wouldn’t have met my beautiful wife - who I met whilst living in China!

Craig meeting David Cameron

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Meeting up with old friends ...

Friday 1 July 2011 was a fantastic afternoon of sharing tales and getting up to date with you all. After half a lifetime apart it is amazing quite how quickly we once again reverted to type i.e., afternoon drinking, talking about how great geography is and moaning that the kids of today have no idea what hard work is.

I must admit that there was some trepidation in this return journey would the Leeds of today live up to my rose tinted view of the past?

Whilst the buildings in the University, and indeed in the centre of town, have changed the atmosphere remained as I remembered and cherished it. More to the point each and every one of those in attendance lived up to my memories - both students and staff. I managed to spend a few hours on Saturday walking the old haunts of Devonshire, the Hyde Park Picture House, Woodhouse Moor etc., before catching the train back home, happy days! The only disappointment of the day was the fact the Old Bar was closed for renovation - surely Martyn that should have been your first consideration when arranging the date...

Simon Breasley

Andy Taylor Billy Wheeler

Claie Gill

Thanks to one and all who arranged the get together and to everyone who made the effort to come back and celebrate a key part of all of our lives - it felt like 21 hours rather than 21 years since I had last seen the majority of you (other than the grey hair, few extra pounds etc...)! I look forward to our next get together.

Jonathan Fairhurst D ĂƌƟŶĞ ƌŽdžĂůů

Terence Paul

Thank you very much for “ hosting the Class of 1990 last Friday - we all had a wonderful afternoon back in the School of Geography.

I think it has whetted our appetite so we may not leave it another 21 years before we come back again.

“

Martine Croxall 18

Class of 1990 visit old haunts!

On behalf of the class of “1990, I would like to thank the geography staff for their support and turning up on a Friday afternoon on the last day of term. In 1990 I never would have thought I would be chatting with Mike Kirkby over a glass of wine 21 years later!

“

Martyn Pilley

Really great to see everyone again and revisit “ Leeds, the University and the Geography

“

Department after all these years!

Pete Hindmarsh

Pete Hindmarsch

ŚĂƌůŽƩ Ğ ^ƚĞǁ Ăƌƚ Emma Bull Jonathan Fairurst

Simon Breasley

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Meeting up with old friends ...

Reunions are often nerve-inducing affairs.

Fear of the unknown, not living up to others’ (or indeed, our own) expectations, digging up old tales lost to the years that have passed, and those awkward “sorry, who are you?” moments have all served as personal reasons for me not attending various events over the years.

over time contact waned, folks moved on and as the 10th anniversary of our graduation came and went in 2009, the prospect of a ‘reunion’proper seemed very unlikely.

Then, in late Spring this year I happened to be working in the same building as one of my fellow long-lost Geographers, Dmitri Wychrij. I don’t recall the exact details, but the idea of Take John Cusack’s character, Martin Blank, in organising a reunion was mooted. I flippantly the 1997 movie Grosse Pointe Blank. Blank, a agreed it was a good idea (well, it was ‘about contract hitman (a career path somewhat time’) but deep down thought it might just go encouraged by his disaffection toward his away, if I forgot about it. Not so … hometown, and the folk who live therein),

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One by one, I found and messaged the vast majority of those who had contributed to the Yearbook. Now, sit back and wait for the replies to come in. Some did reply, others didn’t. A few yes’s, mostly nos. Perhaps we’d left it too late – should’ve organised something sooner, kept everyone interested. I was bitterly disappointed. “Shouldn’t have even bothered”.

Having said that, the process of finding these long lost souls and reconnecting, albeit virtually, was rather cathartic in itself. An online reunion, of sorts. It was great to see old faces again, amidst their post-University lives, and as the day of our now mini-meet approached it didn’t really matter that attendance on the day would be even poorer than many of the lectures.

John Cusack in Grosse Pointe Blank

reluctantly accepts an invitation to attend his ten-year High School reunion. Once back in town, he’s reunited with his once-scorned high school sweetheart whom he’s never quite got over, and faces the dilemma of what to tell his old classmates what he now does for a living.

Not really my idea of an enjoyable evening out.

OK, so perhaps it’s a tad melodramatic to be making comparisons to the reunion at Grosse Pointe, but the thought of reuniting hasn’t really appealed over the years. Sure, back in 1999 when we graduated from the School of Geography, there were many promises to ‘keep in touch’. But remember folks, this was right back at the dawn of the digital age, we hadn’t been using email for long (I can still remember the lectures on how to use search engines and email) and very few of us had mobile phones as undergraduates. The world wasn’t nearly as connected as it is today. Even now, in the age of social networking, it’s been years since I’ve seen my closest coursemates, bar the odd photo on Facebook.

In the first couple of years following graduation there were meet-ups with close friends, but

Suddenly, those Grosse Pointe-inspired nerves were no longer there – this was actually quite exciting. “What if we manage to get everyone back together? How cool would that be?”

It wasn’t long before I received a Facebook message from Dmitri, suggesting a couple of possible dates. This really wasn’t going to go away. Dusting off my Geography Yearbook, I promptly set about tracking down all those that we were no longer personally in contact with.

Legitimate facebook stalking at its best.

I was first to arrive at our meeting place of choice: The Original Oak in Headingley (where else?). While sipping from my first pint, the nerves set in again: most of those who would be attending I hadn’t seen at all since graduation. “What would we talk about?” While I’ve stayed in Leeds since University, others would be coming from further afield. “Would it be worth their effort?”

I soon discovered that the nerves would be short-lived (perhaps that was the beer?). One by one, familiar faces from years-past started to appear in the Oak’s beer garden. Tim

In the garden of the Original Oak in Headingley

Let’s Party like it’s (class of) 1999!

Newman, Dmitri, Charlie Webber. So far, so bald. At least the four of us had something in common, 12 years on.

The conversation was flowing faster than the booze. At the end of the day, these guys weren’t my closest pals at Uni, but we were exchanging stories and recalling events from our days together at a rate of knots.

Then more; Robin Hiley, and Claire Brown (incidentally, Clare’s the only one of us to have put her degree to use, and is now a geography teacher. Clearly, she was paying attention during lectures!). Next up, Cat Robertson and Lizzie Fox– still inseparable after all these years.

The conversation and laughter continued as the sun drew in, and the afternoon became colder. Still, we sat in that beer garden retelling tales of field trip tomfoolery, and updating each other on what we are all up to these days.

Finally, our last – and arguably most distinguished – invitee arrived; Prof Graham Clarke. Graham was Head of School in our final year, and we were all looking forward to catching up with him. Graham hasn’t changed much over the years. Granted, his hair is a lot whiter these days, but he’s still got his razorsharp wit, and he could still drink me under the table today, as he could back in 1999.

Graham was on top form, and before long, our little gathering was getting on so well that it felt like we’d never been apart. Photos, beer and chat galore – my nerves had been completely misguided! The finer details of what happened next will remain a closely guarded secret amongst those in attendance, but let’s just say it involved our old Yearbook, a red pen, and some very candid ‘regrading’ of each and every entry.

Montpellier field class in 1999 singing competition in full flow!

Our small, but perfectly-formed reunion had been a total success! A great night out, catching up with old friends – we really should have made the effort sooner. As we clambered into our respective taxis at the end of the evening we all agreed that 12 more years was far too long to wait, and that we should plan a further meet-up for 2012.

June 2012 in Leeds. So, if you want to know exactly what was scribed in your Yearbook, forget any nerves or trepidation you might have, and get in touch. We’ll be looking forward to seeing more of you on our post-graduate ‘field trip’ next year! brianjonfletcher@gmail.com www.facebook.com/brianjonfletcher

And with that, we’re back where we started. To all of you from the Class of 1999 – we’re planning to get together again on Saturday, 23

Graham Clarke with the year book - but where’s the red pen?

As the good times continued and dusk settled in, a brief, obligatory, visit was made to the SkyRack before we jumped on the Number 16 and headed into town for a spot of karaoke and a Chinese buffet, Graham still in tow, to end the night in style.

If you would like organise a reunion but have lost touch with many of your former classmates, drop me a line and I can put you in contact with others from your year group: Tessa Grant, t.j.grant@leeds.ac.uk 21

Alumni Q & A Emily Ledder, BA Geography 1998 I work for Natural England, which is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body responsible to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The purpose of Natural England is to protect and improve England’s natural environment and encourage people to enjoy and get involved in their surroundings. My role sits within the part of the organisation working with farmers and land managers in agri-environments schemes. These schemes provide funding to deliver good stewardship of land and management which improves the quality of the environment. I am also the Natural England’s hedgerow specialist and champion this habitat both internally and externally.

Fondest memories of time spent at UoL? Hanging out with housemates in the parlour of the 4th Floor, Dobree House, Charles Morris, celebrating the end of exams sat outside the Union in the sunshine with a Snakey-B, playing hilarious games of racket ball, geography fieldtrips.

Favourite courses/ modules?

It’s quite hard to cast my memory back so far! I think I remember really enjoying glaciology and things to do with rivers best. Probably easier to remember my least favourite.......soil science and meteorology.

Too scientific for me!

Typical night out as a UoL student?

Students Union, Ritzy’s, CocSoc.

Fellow graduates you remain in contact with?

Since graduating I have kept in touch sporadically with Emily Cronin (nee Ray) and Rosemary Slack, plus a handful of other ex University of Leeds graduates.

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Most embarrassing moment as a student?

It was probably so embarrassing I have erased it from my memory!

Has a geography degree been useful in your career choice?

Different elements of my degree have been a thread throughout my career to date, ranging from understanding maps and cartography to the science of soils and geomorphology.

If you could bring something extinct back to life what would it be?

The Baiji River Dolphin

If you were a kangaroo, what would you carry in your pouch?

My Sprocker Spaniel, Spindle.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

The mountain regions of the UK, especially if they have a dusting of snow.

Alumni Q & A Rebecca Churchill BA Geography 1990 Hospital Director—Spire Southampton Hospital

Has a geography degree been useful in your career choice?

If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would it be?

Yes, it gives you a broad range of skills which have stood me in good stead throughout my career. I have to say though, even today it does still raise some eyebrows and cries of incredulity in interviews!

The Javan Tiger or a Female Pinta Tortoise for Lonesome George so he wouldn't be lonesome any more!

Typical night out as a UoL student?

Lots of snakebite and a curry!

Fellow graduates you remain in contact with?

Fondest memories of time spent at UoL? Too many to recall - keeps me smiling.

Favourite courses/ modules?

I loved the natural resources and environmental risk courses as I found them thought provoking and topical (e.g. was BSE a risk to humans?). It also got me a job on a coalmine in central Queensland when I travelled around Austalia after my degree - I blagged my way into doing a risk study after polluted water was pumped over the highwall and the rain dried up so it wasn't washed away and diluted and the cattle for 100 miles started to get sick. My work prevented the graziers making a claim against the mine.

Not all Geography students though - Martine, Karen, Paul, Tony, Simon, Lindsey and Scott (you all know who you are!).

Most embarrassing moment as a student?

If you were a kangaroo, what would you carry with you in your pouch?

Wine and Chocolate (for emergencies of course).

Singing a Geography Rhapsody to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody at the Geog Soc review dressed in gowns, stockings and suspenders! Thanks for making me relive it!!!

Which living person do you most admire and why?

My friend who is a single parent and is battling breast cancer. She has remained positive and happy the entire time (a year and a half so far). She has not complained or felt sorry for herself once. It is humbling.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Anything with wide open spaces (Australia, South Africa, Antarctica) and the Galapagos!

If you’d like to complete a Q & A drop me an email: geo-alumni@leeds.ac.uk 23

The write stuff Students in the Faculty of Environment are honing their writing skills with expert advice and help from Livi Michael, a professional author and member of the Royal Literary Fund Livi is the second author to be appointed in the faculty under an RLF Fellowship scheme which is run in partnership with British universities and colleges. The scheme funds and places professional writers in institutions for a two-year period, during which they offer writing support and advice to undergraduates.

“We were keen to offer writing support within the faculty and the RLF scheme seemed like an ideal solution,” says Pro-Dean for Learning and Teaching Martin Purvis. “We applied in 2008 and were lucky enough to get our first fellow – Paul Sayer – almost immediately. That proved so successful that, when Paul’s time with us was over, we jumped at the chance to host Livi’s fellowship.

“Livi is with us two days a week. Students consult with her on a voluntary basis, sometimes responding to a tutor’s recommendation. They book in for hour long slots during which they can discuss particular problems. Last year, Livi delivered just over 200 consultations in total and held surgeries in the Schools of Geography and Earth and Environment. Although the service is confidential, we’ve received feedback that students really value the help that a professional author like Livi can provide.” Livi,

too, is enthusiastic about the Fellowship, saying: “It’s a fabulous scheme, and one of the best ways of employing a writer’s ability to help people understand the features that make a good piece of writing. Often it’s not the fact that students haven’t been working hard, instead they’ve almost been doing too much and they’re drowning in a sea of information! I talk to them about things like note taking, how to frame an argument and sentence construction. Although I’ve no specialist environmental knowledge, I can see clearly how essay structure and writing style can be improved.

working on campus is a refreshing change from the normally reclusive life of a professional writer: they love the variety of students they encounter and feel that they have something unique to offer in return. Students are generally appreciative of the help they get and kind enough to tell the Fellows what improvements they see in their work. That makes for excellent job satisfaction!

“We trust that University staff see the Fellow as an ally in the overall enterprise of helping students get the best possible marks and learning experience. We provide added value to what the University already offers. And the “Personally, it’s given me the freedom and wonderful thing is that it’s all paid for by the income to work on my next novel. The scheme independent charitable income of the RLF, is a great initiative and I’d love to see more thanks to bequests made by authors such as disciplines and more universities take on RLF Somerset Maugham and A.A. Milne.”

Fellows to help their students.”

More information visit www.rlf.org.uk/ and The RLF’s Director of Education Steve Cook www.livimichael.com/ says: “When the Fellowships began in 1999 it was more common for English departments to host Fellows. Over the years we’ve got better at broadening the base and now we’re delighted that around a third of Fellows are working mainly with science, business or social science students. Leeds is a flagship post in this respect. “For our Fellows,

Finding Lost Friends How do I get back in touch with people from my course?

If you have lost touch with friends from your course the first place to look for them is on the on-line networking database at www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk. If the people that you are looking for are not on the database you can email Tessa Grant at t.j.grant@leeds.ac.uk. If we have contact details for the person concerned, we will contact them and ask them to get in touch with you.

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