Invenite 2023 Issue 7 by University of Plymouth

IN CONVERSATION Our graduates through the decades share their fondest memories of Plymouth

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Studying the effects of climate change in Costa Rica with Dr Robert Puschendorf, Lecturer in Conservation Biology

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Al u m n i & Fr i en ds m a g a z i n e

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Chris Lee, architecture graduate and swimming champion, talks to us about training the future stars of swimming

Invenite GUEST FEATURE From trauma to change maker. We talk to graduate Sancha Conway Holroyd about her experiences as a UN Climate Activist

THE BIG INTERVIEW Our Executive Dean of Health talks about his groundbreaking work to make global strides for those impacted by dementia

W E LCOME

Representatives from the State University of Infrastructure and Technology (SUIT) in Kyiv during their first visit to the University back in February.

Welcome I always enjoy meeting our alumni. It is fascinating to hear stories of how studying at the University has unlocked all manner of possibilities, enabled people to fulfil their ambitions, and ensured they are having real influence and impact in countries around the world. This year has offered many opportunities to catch up with Plymouth alumni, with a variety of celebration events marking our three decades of university status. From the conversations I have had there and elsewhere, I know our continued success is a source of great pride to everyone. During the past year, the ongoing situation in Ukraine has never been far from our thoughts. Our University community has pulled together, providing homes for families impacted by the invasion and opportunities for students to continue their studies. We have twinned with two of the country’s universities, the State University of Infrastructure and Technology in Kyiv and the Kherson State Maritime Academy. The initial focus has been to enable them to continue to function despite everything going on around them, but we are already discussing opportunities to expand our partnerships in the future. You can read about these efforts in this edition of Invenite, which also includes evidence of how the University’s staff, students and graduates are addressing many of our most pressing global challenges. You will also see the impact of our work here in the South West, as a further demonstration – if it was needed – that our University’s influence truly knows no bounds. I hope you enjoy this edition, and please do keep in touch. Professor Judith Petts CBE Vice-Chancellor University of Plymouth

Cover image: La Selva in Costa Rica

WELCOM E

An archive campus shot of the Davy Building from the 1970’s

We would love to hear from you and know your thoughts on the magazine – please get in touch by emailing alumni@plymouth.ac.uk. For the latest news from Plymouth and its community of alumni you can follow us on social media.

 @PlymUniAlum  University of Plymouth Alumni  @plymouthunialumni instagram @plymunialumni  plymouth.ac.uk/alumni Content Editors – Rachel Brown, Becky Taylor, Alan Williams, Graphic Designers – Kate Sardella, Lee Mattock, Zachary Child, Lauren Porter, Tara Tregidgo, Digital Designer – Catherine Hemsley, Photography – Lloyd Russell, Proofreaders – Alice Li and Sarah Dunstall, Head of Development and Alumni Engagement – Rachel Brown, Alumni Engagement – Becky Taylor and Samantha Davis, Print Production – Design and Print Centre, University of Plymouth, Printer – Deltor Communications Ltd. University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA

The University is committed to promoting equality and diversity. If you require information from this publication in an alternative format, please email alumni@plymouth.ac.uk

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Ne w s Ro u n d U p “… we can avoid making the same mistakes and work collectively to prevent a tragedy of the commons in space.”

Calling for a global push to eliminate space debris As almost 200 countries agreed to a treaty to protect the high seas, a consortium of experts – led by the University – launched calls for a similar process to protect Earth’s orbit. Writing in the prestigious journal Science, they said that with the number of orbiting satellites expected to increase from 9,000 today to over 60,000 by 2030, a legally-binding treaty was critical to ensure Earth’s orbit isn’t irreparably harmed by the global space industry. Dr Imogen Napper and Professor Richard Thompson OBE,FRS who have previously led research into the impact of microplastics in

the marine environment, are leading the call to prevent the accumulation of so-called space junk. Dr Napper said: “The issue of plastic pollution, and many of the other challenges facing our ocean, is now attracting global attention. Now we are in a similar situation with the accumulation of space debris. Taking into consideration what we have learnt from the high seas, we can avoid making the same mistakes and work collectively to prevent a tragedy of the commons in space. Without a global agreement we could find ourselves on a similar path.”

A SHOWCASE OF OUR RESEARCH AT COP27 Leading researchers from across the University attended the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, last November. It provided an opportunity to demonstrate our broad level of expertise in policy and the land-sea continuum, and the critical systems-thinking approach being taken to find solutions to climate change. Delegates from more than 60 nations were welcomed to the University stand, from government officials to successful alumni now

working towards a sustainable future. It also provided an opportunity to showcase a new partnership with University College Cork, created in the wake of COP26 in Glasgow, both institutions have jointly agreed to work together and address some of the critical climate and sustainability challenges facing our planet.

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A transformation of our campus Those of you who have visited the University’s main campus recently will have noticed it is undergoing something of a transformation. The 1970s Babbage Building, which many of you will have spent many hours in during your studies, is being reinvented as our new home for engineering and design, combining re-equipped laboratories with modern, stateof-the-art resources. Meanwhile, by Plymouth Railway Station, InterCity House is being revamped into a first-class space to train our future nurses, paramedics and other allied health professionals. Both buildings will welcome their first students in the autumn of 2023, by which time work will also have started on a number of other major campus projects, so keep an eye out for more information on our website and social media channels over the coming months.

PLYMOUTH DAYS: A CELEBRATION OF OUR GLOBAL ALUMNI COMMUNITY In May 2023, the University launched an alumni-led series of global reunion events. The Plymouth Days initiative is designed to bring our graduates together all over the world, and share our pride in being part of the University community. Events will take place in different parts of the UK and overseas, and we hope this series of events will give our graduates the opportunity to connect with university friends in their home towns and cities, and create networks that they can build on. If you are interested in hosting your very own Plymouth Days reunion, drop us a line at alumni@plymouth.ac.uk.

The Babbage Building undergoing its transformation which will be unveiled in autumn 2023

CON T E N T S

Pages 8–15

The Big Interview Professor Sube Banerjee MBE Professor Sube Banerjee MBE is an international expert in quality of life in dementia and the evaluation of new treatments. Here he shares his hopes for the future care of dementia sufferers.

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Pages 20–25

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Alumni Portrait

Under the Microscope

Chris Lee How a student journey involving sacrifice and dedication for his sport led Chris to train the future stars of swimming.

Studying the effects of climate change in Costa Rica with Dr Robert Puschendorf, Lecturer in Conservation Biology.

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Feature

Student Story

Graduates through the Decades A selection of our graduates share their special stories and fondest memories of their time at Plymouth.

Jenita Loheswaran A personal and academic account of overcoming barriers to achieve your calling.

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Feature

Medical Research

United for Ukraine: How the University has supported those impacted by the ongoing invasion.

How the University is making a difference thanks to its supporters.

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Alumni Portrait Sancha Conway Holroyd From trauma to change maker, Sancha’s experience as a UN Climate Activist and Early Career Researcher.

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Professor Sube Banerjee MBE Our Executive Dean of Health and Professor of Dementia talks about the global strides being made for those impacted by dementia THE BOY too young to go to war but who managed to reach the trenches of western Europe. The girl who came to London in the 1920s and experienced life in all its forms working in pubs along the Old Kent Road. The soldier who saw first-hand the carnage left by the retreating Germans at Montecasino. The people who lived through nightly bombing raids by the Luftwaffe on London’s docks. By the late 1980s, London was a very different place to what

it had been in the first half of the 20 th century. Yet these were the stories that Sube Banerjee was hearing on a daily basis. Fascinating. Engaging. Memories so vivid that simply hearing them painted a harrowing picture in a listener’s mind. But stories told by people unable to recall what they had eaten for breakfast that morning. “For people with dementia, the difficulty is in coding new memories,” Sube says. “You tend

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to be able to recall what you did in the past. And those things still define you. You aren’t any less of a person because you are a person with dementia.” London’s Hither Green Hospital had been built in the year of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. But in 1989, it was pioneering a new approach to psychogeriatric care. Doctors and nurses worked directly alongside social workers and

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occupational therapists. Rather than relying solely on consultants to see patients, everyone did. They contributed their own expertise. But, crucially, all realised that it was only by working as a team that they would deliver the best outcomes for those trusted into their care. This approach marked Sube’s first forays into older people’s mental health care. Having completed his medical training, he had decided he wanted to work in psychiatry.

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His first two jobs in adult psychiatry fuelled that passion. But his third, in in old age psychiatry, was widely dreaded. For medical students in the 1980s, it was drummed in repeatedly that older people were a bad thing. They had social problems. They stayed in hospital too long. They blocked beds that could be used to treat younger people. “It’s quite similar to what we hear today,” Sube says. “But what I grew up learning went much further. There were really offensive terms like GOMER, an acronym for ‘get out of my emergency room’ from the book House of God, that talked about older people in hospitals getting in the way. Older people’s mental health was really at the bottom of the pile in terms of esteem. It was the Cinderella of all Cinderellas.” THE team at Hither Green actively swam against the tide. They listened. They talked. They deployed personal skills. They used the passions of individuals in the best interest of patients. But, perhaps even more importantly, they sought to change the narrative. In Sube’s 18 months at Hither Green, he and his colleagues saw countless people with depression, dementia, or a combination of the two who weren’t being treated. Chiefly, it was because nobody would diagnose dementia. And if they hadn’t been diagnosed, they didn’t get the support they needed. It led to a lot of unmet need. This was a war generation who didn’t ask for much, and didn’t complain when they were given nothing. Like many neurodegenerative conditions, dementia is often described as cruel. It is seen

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Alzheimer’s disease: pathological Tau protein (red-orange) phosphorylation (yellow) leads to disintegration of microtubuli and aggregation to neurofibrillary tangles (orange) in a neuron axon.

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as eating away at the patient and the relationships they have with their family. But knowledge is power. There may be no magic pill. However, by knowing what the problem is you can acknowledge it. You create awareness among loved ones that it is the illness talking and not the person. There are psychological, social, practical, financial actions that can be put in place. It is possible with help and support to “live well with dementia”, which became a theme of Sube’s subsequent work. To change the perception, you needed to kill the misconception that there is only horror associated with dementia. People can and do continue to live good lives. They just need support. “We had a feeling of crusade

interested in developing and evaluating new treatments and in service improvement, Sube was appointed as the lead consultant for older people’s mental health. It gave him immense freedom to innovate. One such novel approach was the development of the Croydon Memory Service Model to address the underdiagnosis of dementia in the community. In its first year, the first memory service doubled the rate of diagnosis, and it did so again the next year. It delivered improvements in the quantity and the quality of diagnosis. On the back of this, and further work modernising services across the whole of south east London as the Maudsley’s

the goal of building health and social services for dementia that are fit for the 21st century.” The UK became the second country in the world to have such a strategy. It crystallised the concerns of organisations like Alzheimer’s Society. It is still the underpinning strategy referred to by the UK government in its approach to dementia. It set out that work was needed to improve public attitudes and understanding. But professional perceptions also needed to shift. Clinicians needed to become more aware of the help they could offer, but also the help being sought. Dementia, as Sube says, does not respect boundaries in the healthcare profession, or what is done by families or care services.

“We had a feeling of crusade in terms of bringing something into the light that had been kept in the darkness,” in terms of bringing something into the light that had been kept in the darkness,” Sube says. “The false belief it is a natural part of ageing. The false belief there is nothing you can do about it. The false belief that you can’t speak about it. The stigma.” IT IS no coincidence that the UK’s first National Dementia Strategy was titled Living Well with Dementia. On completion of his higher training at the Institute of Psychiatry and the Maudsley Hospital, Sube was appointed there as Senior Lecturer and honorary consultant in old age psychiatry. As someone

Clinical Director for older people’s mental health, Sube was asked by the Department of Health to co-lead its new dementia strategy. Prompted by Alzheimer’s Society and others, the Labour government of the time recognised it as a growing issue. But while each case needed an individual approach, care needed to be underpinned by a national strategy. Within two years, including a great deal of consultation and engagement, the work was complete. Writing in its foreword the then Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson MP, said: “Dementia is not an illness we can ignore. This is a key step towards achieving

“It was time for dementia to get its voice,” he adds. “We were able to articulate that clearly, and created a coherent core of people with a shared analysis and vision in government and nationally. We based this on the largest and most inclusive consultation ever in the Department of Health. That has stood the test of time.” It has also been influential beyond the UK. Where there were two national strategies in 2009, there are now around 100. It is a core priority of the World Health Organisation. Its development and publication also coincided with a cultural shift in how dementia is perceived globally. Japan, for example, has the

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oldest population in the world. It has a tradition of respect for older people. But in the early 2000s, it had some of the worst quality dementia care. People were physically restrained, tied onto beds in warehouselike care homes. Chiming with this, the Japanese word for dementia at the time was “chiho”. Literally translated it means idiocy, stupidity. As a polite and reserved nation, people wouldn’t speak of their elders in that way. It resulted in the condition being largely hidden.

was lucky enough to spend time in Japan working with them on their national strategy,” Sube says. “They carried out analysis of what they needed to do, and then did it. They took the model for diagnosis we developed in Croydon and implemented it en masse.”

SINCE the turn of the century, awareness and action on dementia has increased exponentially. But for almost three years, a different health threat has dominated the news agendas. The COVID-19 pandemic focused medical The country’s Ministry of minds across the world. And Health, Labour and Welfare while it brought attention to decided a change was needed. people with dementia, it was A new neutral term – “ninchinot always for the right reasons. sho”, cognitive disorder – was A disproportionate number of introduced. A more accurate people with dementia died all less value-laden reflection of over the world. They missed out the illness, the response was on regular care as a result of noticeable. Within a year, one million people had come forward restrictions. They were placed directly in harm’s way when and the Dementia Friends hospital patients began being movement, now functioning discharged into care homes. globally, had been spawned. “I

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Added to that, the rate of prescriptions for anti-psychotic medication increased markedly. Sube had led a national Department of Health review which found such medications are responsible for a 1% increase in mortality in people who take them for three months or more. In 2009 they were being prescribed to at least a third of people with dementia. With 860,000 people with dementia in the UK, they were therefore causing 1,600 deaths that were avoidable. The review resulted in prescriptions for the drugs in dementia halving. But COVID undid much of that good work. As the restrictions gripped, people became agitated. Dementia, after all, is a tough thing to have and the pandemic meant other treatments were not available. So GPs and other services reverted to their old ways. The ultimate result of this is yet to be fully assessed.

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“I was lucky enough to spend time in Japan working on this, they carried out analysis of what they needed to do, and did it. They took the model I had developed in Croydon and implemented it en masse.” However, the impact of COVID was not solely felt by patients. Research by the DETERMIND team, a £5m programme led by Sube studying inequalities and inequities in dementia care and outcomes, showed that in the face of lockdown after lockdown, people with dementia’s quality of life actually stayed broadly the same. The people most harmed were their family carers. In areas where memory clinics continued, the carers had better outcomes. But where they were closed the harm was higher. The carers, much like their loved ones, were living with dementia 24/7. So would the scientific approach to addressing the pandemic work for dementia? Sube’s response is unequivocal. “The coronavirus is so much more simple than your brain,” he says. “In ten months we had a vaccine for the virus, and that was amazing. But in terms of dementia care, the same period took us back about ten years. The greater digitalisation. The challenge of seeing doctors. The increased waiting times. They are all particularly challenging for people with dementia. It meant they were much less likely to not come forward for help.”

THERE is no doubt COVID has resulted in challenges across the healthcare sector. And people with dementia are one of the groups to have suffered most. But, as the world emerges from the pandemic’s shadow, there are two words Sube repeats throughout our conversation. Hope. Positivity. Given everything known, and all that is still be known about the condition they may seem out of place. But that disregards just how far things have come. Saga, the company serving the needs of those aged 50 and over, conducts an annual poll of the health conditions people fear the most. In 2016, for the first time, dementia appeared above cancer. For many, that may seem a bad thing – not a cause for positivity. For Sube, it is an acknowledgement. Yes, dementia is a real problem. Yes, it is something we should be concerned about. But yes, people are less afraid to talk about it. The stigma has well and truly been broken. The main global challenges, however, remain. Continuing to improve public attitudes and understanding. Instilling hopefulness. Improving the quality of post-diagnostic care. Creating a climate where people feel they’ve not been

Amyloid plaque forming between neurons in Alzheimer’s disease.

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abandoned. Where they feel supported. Where they know they can ask for help. And where they trust the professionals to find ways to prevent harm. “Most of that is to do with great quality human interaction and support,” Sube says. “It’s things we can already do – we just need to do it more and for all.” In a significant about-turn from his own medical training, Sube also leads an initiative through which students learn about dementia. Since 2015, the Time for Dementia programme has been delivered in seven universities and across nine professional courses. It provides not only knowledge and understanding, but also empathy and compassion. The skills students will need to support not only families living with dementia but also those where there are people with multiple conditions and frailty in the future. The programme is delivered to nursing students in Year 1 of their degrees. For medical students, it comes in Year 2. “It is further evidence that we’ve come an immensely long way,” Sube says. “With any illness, there is a steep slope to climb before you make the major breakthroughs. We are making that ascent and solutions are in sight. Dementia has always come with the historical problem that we value older people less, so there is a lack of will. I genuinely feel that is changing. And that is undoubtedly a cause for hope, and positivity.”

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Studying the effects of climate change in Costa Rica Dr Robert Puschendorf, Lecturer in Conservation Biology, charts the opportunities and challenges facing this tropical paradise

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“That’s the frog that got me into science.” Rob Puschendorf points to a shelf above his desk. Around us are things you would normally find in an academic’s office – books, papers, family photos, reminders of past field trips. But, for him, there is one item that stands out. On this shelf is a copy of Newsweek magazine from October 2006. Staring out from its cover is a harlequin toad. “I used to play with these when I was a child,” Rob says. “The rivers and streams close to where we lived were full of them. Then one day they vanished. It was like my toys had been taken away. I wanted to know why.” The childhood Rob refers to was spent in Costa Rica. Home to five million people, it covers a land area of just 51,000 km2. On one side is the mighty Pacific Ocean, on the other the stunning waters of the Caribbean Sea. Rainforests rub shoulders with 4,000 m high mountains. The combination creates a paradise, an idyllic place to grow up. But Costa Rica is about more than golden beaches and warm climes. For while it may be small in size, the country is a big player globally when it comes to its rich biodiversity. In fact, the indication is that it has the same degree of diversity as the United States and Canada combined. That is not solely down to its geographical location. This is a nation in touch with its natural side. In 1970, three scientists established the country’s national park system. Initially protecting 11 areas around the country, it meant the flora and fauna within those sites were preserved. Other Latin American rainforests – most notably the Amazon in Brazil – have continued to be decimated by deforestation. But Costa Rica’s have recovered. People have found ways to make money from the forest in ways other than cutting it down.

That ethos extends to its infrastructure. Hydropower and geothermal are the main energy sources. And if roads need to be built, the engineers work with conservationists to ensure the nature is preserved. It has led to Costa Rica becoming known as the ‘Switzerland of the Americas’. “Paradise is the right word to use,” Rob says. “Growing up, there was zero crime, the weather was good. And in 20 minutes, you can drive from city to dry forest, plant forest and rainforest.” That kind of diversity is another part of what makes this such a special place to study climate change. And Rob and those he works with are following a well-trodden path. Conservation research has been taking place within Costa Rica’s borders for decades, if not longer. That has created an unsurpassed level of knowledge of what exists. It also serves as a benchmark when scientists are looking for signs of change. And that change is becoming ever more apparent. “The first thing you feel is the heat,” Rob says. “After an 11-hour flight from the UK, it’s always a shock to the system. And when we go in April, it’s the hottest time of the year in Costa Rica.” Rob has been taking Conservation Biology students from Plymouth to Costa Rica for almost a decade. But before they even reach the tarmac of Juan Santamaría International Airport, the uniqueness of the landscape is already apparent. The capital city of San José sprawls across the valley. Forests are evident out of every window. Behind them are towering mountains, and volcanoes that cast menacing shadows. The airport has gift shops full of tropical trinkets. And the flourishing palm trees outside its automatic doors are a small clue of what is to come.

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Within 20 minutes of clearing customs, civilisation is already a distant feature in the rear-view mirror. A minibus journey winds through mountain passes and national parks. But after three hours, it arrives at the La Selva Biological Station. Surrounded by forest, and located right by a river, this will be the students’ base for the next ten days. The wildlife is quite literally within touching distance. But while it is stunning, light clothes, liquid and lots of showers are the order of the day. “The physical environment is a challenge,” says Rob. “You’re talking 100% humidity, and the buildup to monsoon time. Only the library has airconditioning. I have heard of students sleeping in there to stay cool.” Once they acclimatise, La Selva offers a diversity most of the students will never have seen. More than 2,000 species of plants. 125 mammals. 470 birds. 87 reptiles. Tens of thousands of insect and other arthropod species. That can mean tens of thousands of bites. But in essence, this is an incredibly safe environment from which to launch students into the remarkable, but challenging, tropical forest. The field station also has an unrivalled resource base – expert guides, a herbarium, lab and classroom facilities. Listening to Rob talk about the species in La Selva is like listening to someone read an encyclopaedia aloud. In and around the research station there are jaguars, pumas, four species of monkeys and sloths. During dinner, you may be lucky enough to see a flock of critically endangered green macaws fly over. There are crested eagles as well. Where the students sleep, there are bats roosting on the roof and you can walk right up to them. In one of the national parks, there are more than 14,000 different species of moth. Compare that to the UK, where there are 2,500 in total. Closer to the ground, poison dart frogs are everywhere. The males engage in territorial combat. The females lay their eggs on leaves, put their tadpoles on their backs and take them into the trees, where they feed them on other fertilised eggs. There are turtles in the rivers, too. And all sorts of fish.

“We do stuff they’ve never done before like night walks. Going into the forest at night is a completely different experience,” Rob says. “Hopefully they will be excited, because enjoying it is crucial. For some, it is such an assault on the senses.” “I guess what I first loved about frogs is that they’re not going to kill me.” As reasons to focus on a particular creature go, it’s not an unreasonable one. Especially when you realise that much of the wildlife in Costa Rica isn’t quite so considerate. “Then I realised they have really interesting behaviours and biology,” Rob adds. “I got hooked as a child.” It’s four decades since Rob’s childhood encounters with the frogs of Costa Rica. But his passion for understanding them, and the threats facing them, is as strong as ever. In 2015, he and colleagues in Costa Rica discovered the first new species of glass frog in the country since 1973. Hyalinobatrachium dianae, also known as Diane’s barehearted glass frog, bears a striking resemblance to arguably the world’s bestknown puppet amphibian. It took two years of field and lab studies to verify. “It was the kind of find we hope will inspire future generations of biologists,” Rob says. “We want them to keep searching, being curious and exploring. Understanding the biology of a species fundamentally requires hard work in the field. But the passion to discover is what makes biology such an exciting career.” His current work focuses on another critically endangered species, Craugastor ranoides. Found in the Guanacaste Conservation Area, close to the border with Nicaragua, disease and climate change have seen it disappear from its original habitats. It now persists only in locations where the pathogen cannot thrive. But this isn’t sustainable. In 2014–15, a strong El Niño caused rivers to dry out. A freak hurricane also caused landslides that buried streams under rubble. These natural hazards are now an ongoing threat that, unlike the water the frog needs for survival, has not evaporated. The only solution will be to try and move a whole population.

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But that’s not something that can be done on a whim. Before any human intervention can be advocated, human evidence is needed. To gather that, Rob is working with Plymouth colleagues Dr Katherine Herborn and Dr Alex Wilson, along with partners from the UK and Costa Rica. The aim is to conduct science that will deliver lasting benefits. And one good thing about a country with such a rich conservation heritage is that it’s often very receptive to new ideas. Searching for a tiny frog in a rainforest sounds considerably more different than the proverbial hunt for needles in haystacks. But technology is on the scientists’ side. As a thermal biologist, Katherine takes the lead on the night-time searches. A combination of thermal cameras and drones can pinpoint a single frog in a vast area. Alex, a behavioural ecologist, then observes it in its natural environment. And once it is captured, the team works to establish the frog’s gender and swabs it to check for the presence of disease. The frog is then marked so it can be recognised again, and chipped so its movement can be tracked. Another colleague, Dr Xavier Harrison, looks at their skin microbiome to help define what a healthy population should look like. This also gives an insight into how able they are to defend themselves from emerging infectious diseases.

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15 biological and forest reserves, 11 wetlands and 33 protected zones. Costa Rica also protects more than 15% of its marine territory in ten protected marine parks and other marine protected areas. This environmental commitment has, in no small part, been aided by the country’s relatively stable political situation. In 1989, that was threatened when it found itself at the centre of a Cold War scandal involving the notorious American General, Oliver North. It is more than faintly ironic that the airstrip at the centre of the controversy is now one of Rob’s field sites, in the Guanacaste Conservation Area. When it comes to the biggest threats facing the country’s wildlife, Rob is clear. Disease, yes. Climate change, absolutely. But there is also a third aspect – complacency. Costa Rica has thrived because it has been closely managed. The people feel a sense of pride, a genuine connection to the landscape. “The problem is they don’t realise how lucky they actually are,” says Rob. “And I was probably the same when I lived in Costa Rica. If we are to keep protecting our environment, that needs to change.”

“All of this data is crucial,” Rob says. “If we want these frogs to survive we need to know the conditions they operate in. It is only then that we can work with our partners and come up with a long-term plan.” Costa Rica’s diversity is not all on land. Its Pacific coast is home to coral reefs. But these are also under threat from climate change. In 2009, an extreme weather event resulted in rapid sea temperature drops of up to 10°C. Combined with a widespread rise in harmful algal blooms, it caused a collapse of the reefs in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Coral cover at some sites decreased by between 20% and 100%. And while some sites have seen a recovery, others most definitely have not. “The demise of coral reefs is normally linked to global warming and marine heatwaves,” Rob says. “That wasn’t the case here and it’s something we need to consider. It emphasised the importance of tailor-made conservation strategies.” Costa Rica has a history of making such decisions. And the positive decisions made more than 50 years ago continue to yield positive impacts today. From 11 protected areas in 1970, there are now 186. That covers 31 national parks, 34 wildlife refuges,

“If we want these frogs to survive, we need to know the conditions they operate in. It is only then that we can work with our partners and come up with a long-term plan.”

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In 2012 Chris became a student athlete, balancing an architecture degree at the University with training to become a national-level swimmer. It is a move that changed his life. It is 4am. The alarm on Chris Lee’s phone sounds and the luminosity lamp in his room, which has been getting brighter for half an hour, creates an illusion that the sun has risen. As autumn turns to winter, there is often nothing glorious or illuminating about surfacing at this hour. The walk through Central Park to Plymouth’s Life Centre is, more often than not, a lonely one. Five days a week, though, this is Chris’s routine. In all winds and weather, all times of the year, there are people who rely on the fact he doesn’t switch off the alarm and roll over. “I like walking through Central Park at 5am,” Chris says. “No-one else is up and it’s a time to gather your thoughts.”

But it’s also more than that. “Many of the kids I work with only have one shot at success,” he adds. “I have to be there for them.” The ‘kids’ that Chris refers to have come from all over the world. As Head of Development for Plymouth Leander Swimming Club, he is responsible for guiding a group aged between 14 and 24 towards their own personal glories. They include sporting scholars from the University, here to combine a rigorous training schedule with studying for a degree. There are also stellar talents from the city and local schools, with dreams of becoming the next champion in their chosen discipline.

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All of them look up to Chris – at 6 ft 8 in, it would be hard for them not to. But this is about more than just a physical presence. He has been in their position. He has felt the pain they do after a training session. He has overcome the mental challenges to achieve national recognition. And now he is committed to helping them be the best they can be. “When swimmers prove to themselves that they can do something, that is the best feeling,” he says. “We had someone last year who wanted a certain time. At the first attempt, he didn’t get it. So we worked hard, went to the English nationals and he won it with a nine-second PB. I remember his face and his parents’ faces. That is what continues to motivate me.” As we chat in a small room next to the Life Centre’s 50-metre pool, it is clear Chris feels at home here. That is probably just as well given he spends 27 hours a week coaching his swimmers, not to mention the hours of planning and preparation. But the water has always been a big part of Chris’s life. His mum tells stories of how, while working as a teacher, she would bring him along to school swimming sessions. As the children were getting ready to swim, he would join them, running along the poolside and jumping in the deep end. He was 18 months old. In spite of that, his path to swimming is not a wholly conventional one. During his teenage years, he swam and played water polo at a regional standard. He also played tennis at the national college championships. It was only aged 17 that he decided to focus on the pool. He obviously had no idea at that point, but it is a decision that has ultimately changed his life. Just over a year after taking that literal plunge, it is July 2012. Chris is on holiday with his family in France. Like millions worldwide, he

is keeping a keen eye on the London Olympics. At around 7.30pm on the Games’ first Monday, he is watching the swimming finals. Given his passion for the sport it is perhaps no surprise, but there is one swimmer he is focused on. At the age of just 15, Lithuanian swimmer Rūta Meilutytė storms to gold in the women’s 100-metre breaststroke final. Until that point few people had heard of her, but Chris is one of the exceptions. In fact, he had swum with her just two weeks previously. Ahead of coming to the University to study for a BA (Hons) Architecture degree, Chris had a two-week trial with Plymouth Leander. He swam with Rūta – at the time a pupil at Plymouth College – and another University student, Antony James, who would both set out their stall for Olympic glory in East London that summer. “I worked hard, but they were something else,” Chris says. “Rūta in particular was meticulous – in her gym, her pre-pool, everything. There were times I was laid out on the poolside, unable to walk because of lactic acid or because my arms had gone numb. She would still be going.” However, Chris also uses her experience at London 2012 to inspire his team: “In the last 25 metres of that Olympic final, she was in real pain. It is a reminder to my swimmers that even world record holders struggle.” Having secured his place at Plymouth, Chris’s training ramped up from eight hours a week to 20. Nine swimming sessions. Three gym sessions. Adjusting to changes in diet. Balancing training and study. But it paid off. Over the next four years, he made 50-metre backstroke finals at both the English and British swimming championships. At a British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) event, he lined up against the-then world record holder, Liam Tancock.

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“There are also times where he needs to show them that swimming isn’t all about hard work – it can, and needs to be, fun as well.” Despite this, Chris is undecidedly modest about his achievements. “Swimming was my drive and I got to a level I never thought possible. But I don’t think I was a talented swimmer,” he says. “I wanted to be the hardest worker in the pool. I hated missing sessions. And on the rare occasion I slept through the alarm I would run to the pool as I wanted to be there.” That level of commitment – no more, no less – is what Chris expects from his swimmers now. At 28, it might appear something of a stretch to describe him as a father figure. But that is very much how Chris sees his role. There are days when his athletes need a push, or an arm around the shoulder. There are also times where he needs to show them that swimming isn’t all about hard work – it can, and needs to be, fun as well. “I find myself singing while they’re swimming,” he says. “I’m often not conscious of what I’m singing until one of them gives me a funny look. When I start singing ‘The Final Countdown’ as they’ve got ten minutes of a two-hour session left, I guess I can understand that.” The Life Centre’s 10-metre diving board casts a long shadow over his training sessions. At the end of one cycle, his swimmers decided they wanted to follow in the steps of Tom Daley OBE, Tonia Couch and the countless others who have launched themselves to the blue below. For the coaches, there was no real opportunity to escape the same fate. “I stood on the 10-metre board and my legs were shaking,” he says. “You fall for so long, it is such a high place. But then you see eight-year-olds go up there and just

jump. It was so much more nerve-wracking than anything I’ve done in swimming.” Whether competing or coaching, Chris holds true to the premise that if enough hard work has gone in, you can only do your best. As a coach, that approach is yielding results. Three of his swimmers went to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham – they all reached finals. Others – notably Reece Dunn MBE, already a three-time paralympic champion and world record holder – have a genuine chance of making it to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With Paris the venue, it may be the closest they ever come to having their own home Olympics. Chris’s dalliances with chlorinated water are now merely observational. He admits his competitive edge won’t let him simply dive in for a relaxing few lengths. But his passion for water has not deserted him completely. These days, when his schedule allows, he regularly takes to the waters off Plymouth Hoe – and once in, there is still that sense of being at ease. His love of architecture, the other reason he first looked at Plymouth, is also still evident. “I loved my course and the people I met. I’m still in touch with a lot of them,” he says. “I’ve always loved how architects can take a set of ideas and incorporate them in one structure. And although it was hard work to study and train, it was definitely a sacrifice worth making. That, again, is something I can pass on to my university swimmers to help them balance their schedules.” He also plans to one day put his architecture studies into practice to design his own house. And, yes, it will have a pool.

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GRADUATES THROUGH THE DECADES

As the University of Plymouth celebrates its 30 years of university status, we reminisce with our graduates, who share their special and unforgettable memories from their time at Plymouth.

“I learned to live independently. I met people from all over the country... and I had the chance to sail off the beautiful Devonshire coast... they were some of the happiest days of my life.”

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Sally Edwards BA (Hons) Social Policy and Administration Graduated 1991 I arrived in Plymouth with a little yellow Yamaha Bop moped so was able to scoot around the city. It was sunny and bright, and I was amazed that people really did say, “Hello my lover /my petal”! The city felt friendly and safe, and you could walk everywhere. As students, we really felt the city was ours and that we were a big part of it. My fondest memory has to be standing as Women’s Officer in 1989–90. It was hard and I lost ‘friends’ because feminism was a dirty word (still is sometimes). I banned The Sun (or anything with boobs in it) from the SU (not sure how long that held!) and introduced rape alarms in the welcome pack free to the women. It was the sensible thing then! I also arranged a band night which was very good. I received Lifetime Membership of the SU – although they never got me a card! Our lecturers were published and well known – Mike Thrasher and Rob Mawby, for example. I also remember having to queue in the library to get on a computer, then wait days to get it printed out on computer paper! My degree certainly shaped the way I think and helps me understand the problems involved in taking real social science and turning it into policy. Perhaps it even makes me feel more sympathy for politicians! I learned to think critically, I learned to live independently, I met people from all over the country, I undertook roles like Women’s Officer, and I had the chance to sail off the beautiful Devonshire coast. I met my husband. They were some of the happiest days of my life.

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Dr Andrew Eccleston BSc (Hons) Nautical Studies PgCert Learning and Teaching in Higher Education PhD in Meteorology Graduated 1976; 1980; 2005

“Nautical Studies was the first undergraduate course offered in Plymouth.”

My inspirational relationship with the University goes back to the 1970s – when it was still a polytechnic. I came to study by the ocean and began a career to become a Merchant Navy navigator. Nautical Studies was the first undergraduate course offered in Plymouth, and over the next six years I completed my degree and obtained a professional qualification. After another year travelling the world, one of the lecturers on my degree course, who has become a lifelong mentor, took me on as a research assistant and I completed a PhD in Meteorology. Moving to the Met Office, I spent some time as a civil servant, and the next career jump was a start-up business writing software for weather applications. This grew successfully and was acquired by a large US-based corporation.

“It was my dream to achieve After a few more years developing the an MSc in my current area of business internationally, I came back to Plymouth and saw there was a lecturer post going in the department where I practice. A huge thanks to the had once been a student. So, I applied for it – and thus reinvented myself back University for helping me to to where I started! This opened up a new world of opportunities, helping to inspire fresh generations of students looking for reach the goal. It has been a a career connected with the sea. life-changing experience. ” Now retired, I can look back on many exciting events: ‘re-graduating’ in 2012 for the University’s 150th anniversary, the second circumnavigation of ‘Gipsy Moth IV’ and voyaging with my students on a tall ship. After 50+ years, the University of Plymouth is still inspiring me!

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Trevor Grigg BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences PhD in Cell Biology Graduated 1983; 2022 Can you count an institution as a friend? In my opinion, yes. The University has helped me build a better future for myself not once, but twice. First, as an undergraduate back in the early 80s, when Plymouth Poly took me under its wing as ‘one of the left-behinds’ and nurtured me to academic success, and again in my 60s to gain a PhD, and nowadays in a part-time job as a researcher and lecturer in the School of Biological and Marine Sciences.

The compact urban campus is so much more than its bricks and mortar, and there is a lot more of that since my time here in its polytechnic days. I have found that behind the open and closed doors of its schools, faculties and support services mainly reside people genuinely dedicated to give of their best and make student life as rewarding as it can possibly be. For example, I was particularly impressed by the speedy and seamless transition to move all teaching online in March 2020. Therefore, congratulations Plymouth on your 30th anniversary, for all your achievements in the past 30 years and earlier. For me, as one of its ‘home grown products’ it has been a trustworthy and nurturing friend, both in my past and hoped-for future.

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Kim James MBE BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences Graduated 1985 I vividly remember the moment I was offered my place at Plymouth Poly, as it was affectionately known then. I was sat at home on the ‘old style’ telephone, when they said, “Yes, we have offered you a place and all the details are in the post”! In September 1982 I embarked on a degree in Biological Sciences. We were very fortunate to be taught by many talented and inspirational lecturers. Dr Dave N Price is still in touch with many of us today. So much has changed over the last 40 years in biology; no longer is ‘genetic engineering’ just about breeding fruit flies! I have fond memories of those Plymouth days. The field trip to Slapton Sands at the start of year 2, catching plankton in Slapton Ley in a boat that should really have been condemned! The wettest of days on the local rocky shore, where rain fell from all directions. Walking from Looe to Polperro and a balmy hot day on Hannafore rocky shore looking for blue-rayed limpets. I still have the drawings I made in my blue hardbacked notebook! I returned to Plymouth in September 2022 to enjoy and reminisce 40 years after the journey started. The obligatory cup of tea at Cap’n Jaspers, alas no longer 5p a cup! A swim in the Tinside Lido brought back fond memories of final exams being celebrated on the Hoe; I know that will jog a few memories for others!

“Plymouth will always hold a special place in my heart because of my time as an undergraduate there. I was fortunate to spend five years at the University (though with one year away on placement), and I feel like it was the making of me.” to help raise attainment in schools, and in 2016 I was promoted to lead School Improvement on the island. In 2018, I returned to Oxfordshire, where I lead School Improvement, Governor Services, Early Years and the Virtual School. Throughout the pandemic I led the County Council Education COVID-19 response team.

I left Plymouth in 1985 and joined Bath Uni to undertake a PGCE. I spent the majority of my 36-year teaching and senior leadership career in Oxfordshire secondary schools. In 2008, I joined Hampshire County Council as I have always had high aspirations for all children. an inspector/adviser working across the primary, I now lead the work in the local authority secondary and special schools. In 2013, I was part regarding Service pupils, and I set up and chair of a team of staff seconded to the Isle of Wight the Oxfordshire and Central Service Pupil Hub.

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Kerry Baldwin BSc (Hons) Hospitality Management Graduated 1991 I chose the University of Plymouth due to its excellent industry placement year and also for the ability to be able to keep racing offshore boats – which is still a passion of mine today! I look back so fondly at my time at the University. My year out was incredible, ensuring a balance of practical learning and fostering independence of thought which significantly shaped my career today. I was lucky enough to initially work in Gozo, looking at Casino trading patterns. This led me to work in Italy for the remainder of my year out, working with a family office in a hedge fund. I returned to the UK and set up my own venture capital fund, IQ Capital, which invests in disruptive deep-technologies from seed stage to up to £30 million. I have backed over 70 companies with exits to Facebook, Oracle, Google and Apple, and we now have £1 billion assets under management. I was appointed the Chair of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association in 2021, where I worked closely with government to influence policy and roll out measures to ensure that the UK remains the leading destination in Europe, to set up a tech company and venture capital funds. I was deeply honoured to receive an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours list this year for ‘Services to Education’. Many things have changed over the years. However, my affection for Plymouth Poly and the friends I made, and the memories, will never leave. I’m delighted to share that 40 years on, my nephew has started at the Uni on the same course! Thanks Plymouth Poly for the great springboard you gave me.

I work closely with international governments, advising on the development of research and development, innovation, and venture ecosystems. I am also the Non-Exec Investment Committee Member for the British Business Bank, a £4 billion asset bank. I will always be grateful for the experience, excellent course and close friendships made at the University of Plymouth, and it is fantastic to see the University rise through the rankings and generating outstanding globally recognised research!

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Scott Underwood BSc (Hons) Environmental Science Graduated 1992 I received my acceptance letter from Plymouth Polytechnic back in 1988. I had the pleasure of studying Environmental Science under the watchful eye of John Bull from 1989–92. Needless to say, we spent a lot of time getting soaked to the skin on various field trips to the rivers and coastlines of Devon and Cornwall and on and around Dartmoor. Even back then, Plymouth had a fantastic reputation for its Environmental and Marine Sciences courses. A lot of my student life centred around the Students’ Union; I don’t think there was a sport or activity that wasn’t catered for. I have great memories of the BPSA days (British Polytechnic Sports Association), where eight or nine coaches packed with students from all the sports teams would break free from Devon and head up the M5 to play against other polytechnics – Bristol and Pontypridd being most memorable. After three fantastic years living in and around Mutley Plain in Plymouth, I just didn’t want to leave, and in 1992 I was elected President of the Students’ Union. It was an incredible sabbatical and a chance to give something back to the organisation which helps, supports and entertains so many campus students each year. There was always something special about the SU building, entering the foyer, passing the SU Shop, STA Travel Office and the SU Executives offices (picking up a copy of ‘Fly’ on a Friday) and then heading down the stairs into the subterranean bar and cafeteria with its glass pyramid roof light, pool tables and laundromat. I have so many fond memories of my student days in Plymouth – far too many to try and recount. However, I will conclude with a few words which hopefully may spark a memory or two for your readers…. The JSV (J-Block), Cap’n Jaspers, Barbican pub crawl, Star of the West, The Retreat (band), Gus Honeybun, Ivor Dewdney pasties and ‘The Sloop John-B’.

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Saad and Ayesha Faraj Saad BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering Graduated 1991 I started my degree back in 1978 (seems like yesterday) and graduated in 1981. The University was a polytechnic at the time and the number of students was around 3,000. The campus was much smaller and most of the buildings were probably built in the 1960s. The library was half the size it is now and the Students’ Union was accessed from the yard outside the library. Two of my three years were spent in the Palace Court building at the Barbican, where the Civil Engineering school moved to. Life seemed to go slower during those years, and I have many fond memories of the period. I have to confess that I had fun most of the year, then really worked hard at the end to pass the exams (not a good example to other students). The teaching staff were excellent and very friendly and a couple of them became friends in later years. Most of our leisure time was spent in the SU (Bunker) playing Space Invaders, pinball machines and pool.

I am really proud that my daughter followed in my footsteps and continued the ‘legacy’ by attending the same university, although I expect much has changed since my time there! It was nice to share stories and learn about what has changed and stayed the same, but I was proud to know she was able to use the facilities I designed. Ayesha LLB Law Graduated 2020 I attended the University from 2017 to 2020, graduating with a first-class honours degree in Law. Not only did I love my time there but I also gained so much beneficial professional and personal experience. However, the most valuable thing I gained were the people I got to know throughout my degree. From lecturers that I still keep in touch with today to my course mates and the people I met within societies such as ISOC and the University of Plymouth Law Society (UPLS), my best moments all revolve around time spent with them.

My favourite memories span a broad range of different moments from my time at university. Writing my dissertation with my close friend into the early hours of the morning at the library is something that we still reminisce about and miss to this day. A painting I had created for the annual I was the karate instructor during the last two ISOC charity auction dinner being sold for £350 was years and enjoyed teaching students and making something that was surprising (I was expecting friends in the process, especially during Freshers’ £10 at the most) and rewarding. After waking up for Week when we had a stall for the Karate Club. I the train at 2am to travel to Cardiff on two hours represented the polytechnic in a national karate of sleep to compete and win the regional client competition, but sadly didn’t win (I was robbed). interviewing competition for the West of England with another of my close friends was an experience I have been working in Plymouth for about I will always laugh about but an achievement I will 36 years and running a consulting engineers always be proud of. practice for the last 24 years. I have been back to the University several times, assisting in After having heard so much about my dad’s time moderating and assessing projects in civil spent at the University and the memories of his engineering within the School of Engineering, time there, I loved being able to see the University Computing and Mathematics, and the School through his eyes and sharing experiences of our of Art, Design and Architecture. I have also time there. Having lunch at the SU together and been responsible for the design of some of the pointing out both of our distinct memories of the buildings at the Uni; the most notable was the same space is something I will always cherish. Nancy Astor Sports Centre in Endsleigh Place.

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Angelia Ong BSc (Hons) Maritime Business and Maritime Law Graduated 2016 Since graduating, I have started my career in port operations, and I was heavily involved in transformational projects that shape the future of how a Singapore multi-purpose port will operate. Later, I joined a leading healthcare media company in Asia Pacific and drove process standardisation and improvement projects at a regional scale. Today, I am leading business process improvements in StarHub, one of the major telcos operating in Singapore and listed on the Singapore Exchange. The University has always held a special place in my heart. As an undergraduate, I had the opportunity to participate in many activities and events outside academics. Some of my fondest memories of Plymouth were going horse-riding with the University of Plymouth Riding & Polo Club and competing in the Southern Universities Trampoline League together with the team. The most unforgettable memory was the graduation ceremony at Plymouth Hoe with the most scenic view featuring the iconic Smeaton’s Tower. Living in Plymouth was exciting and memorable. I enjoyed the monthly markets held at Royal William Yard, where fresh produce from local traders and a wide variety of delicious food were available. I also enjoyed having cod ‘n’ chips along with mushy peas from the Barbican Fish Bar and strolling down the nautical-themed streets of the Barbican. After a long week studying, you would usually find me having scones and tea in one of the tearooms and enjoying the sea breeze. Occasionally, my friends and I would go on road trips to Cornwall and visit the picturesque towns. Given a chance, I would love to visit Plymouth again and relive those memories!

If you would like to share your memories of Plymouth, we would love to reminisce with you! Get in touch with us at alumni@plymouth.ac.uk.

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“As I got to know my patients over the coming days and weeks, I began to see the difference my care was making.” Invenite spoke to Jenita Loheswaran – Nursing Associate graduate and recipient of this year’s Mel Joyner Award - as she embarked on the next phase of her nursing training at the University. There were countless occasions during my course when I wondered what on earth I’d let myself in for. We had three days of induction in the classroom and that was it – I was on the wards of a community hospital in Cornwall. I’d done a Biomedical Sciences degree at Plymouth and was working in the offices of a student letting company, wondering what my next step should be. Plymouth’s Nursing Associate Apprenticeship seemed the perfect way to get hands-on healthcare experience and develop professionally at the same time. I certainly didn’t imagine when I applied that I would fall in love with nursing.

One of my early placements was on a stroke rehabilitation ward. I’d never met anyone who’d had a stroke until then. Some patients couldn’t even swallow. It was autumn 2020 and the ward was locked down to visitors, so it was down to me and my colleagues to support them in every way. As I got to know my patients over the coming days and weeks, I began to see the difference my care was making. ‘I’m helping this person walk again – I’m helping this lady eat again.’ It was an indescribable feeling to have contributed to their recovery – I was starting to see what a difference I could make as a nurse.

I was two months into my training on my second ever night shift when I had my first death. I haven’t forgotten how it felt – I was terrified. But with the support of the senior nurses, I learned what to do and how to do it. When I got home the next morning, I thought about the difference I’d made to that man and his family. I’d been privileged to be one of the last people to care for him. It was another turning point – discovering I was capable of coping and doing a good job. I thought, ‘If I can do this after a few months, what difference will I be able to make in two years’ time?’ There have been plenty of challenges along the way. I moved to Cornwall for this adventure and – coming from London – was naïve about the lack of diversity I’d find here.

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It didn’t really hit home until I was the only person of colour on the wards. I started getting comments and remarks made by patients and colleagues – which have been hard to cope with.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council Code states that we must prioritise people, practise effectively, preserve safety and promote professionalism and trust – standards of practice I aim to upkeep.

But it was this that prompted me to get involved in the equality and diversity work at the University. I thought – if I don’t do something about this, who will? As a young British Asian woman, I felt it was my duty to be a pioneer of diversity among my peers and colleagues.

My hope is that through the next 40 years I’m nursing, things will continue to change for the better.

We’ve already made some progress with the nursing curriculum: some of the new anatomy models in the medical school now have different skin tones. All of the changes are about making us better healthcare professionals. We’re taught in lectures about skin conditions – but the pictures usually show these symptoms on white skin. I need to know what this rash would look like on my skin – so I can identity it correctly on all my patients. Experiencing prejudice at work is difficult, but I treat all patients with the same level of care.

I’m about to start my top-up course to complete the full nursing degree at Plymouth. As I’ve been based in community settings for most of my training, I’m excited to get acute care experience and get to grips with faster pace wards. I grew up watching Casualty – so I’d love to experience A&E life, even if it isn’t exactly like on the TV! I’ve also been really encouraged by the staff to think about a career in lecturing. I’d never considered teaching, but I’ve been so supported by the staff here at Plymouth that it’s something I can envision myself doing. Perhaps in years to come I’ll be teaching on the very Plymouth course I trained on. Wouldn’t that be wonderful to come full circle!

The Mel Joyner Award Mel was a much loved and respected member of University staff who sadly died in 2018. Mel worked at the University for 20 years; her first role was as a lecturer in social sciences and her last role was Director of Student Services. Mel’s family have launched this award to celebrate Mel’s passion for Plymouth and its students. These annual awards support students at the University who are making a positive contribution to university life.

“The joy and comfort in providing a bursary in Mel’s name keeps our daughter’s memory alive. Her dedication and love was for those students at Plymouth that beat adversity and followed their dream.” – Fred and Dianne Joyner.

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“My hope is that through the next 40 years I’m nursing, things will continue to change for the better.”

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Universities are exciting places – not only because students come here to study at a key stage in their lives. They’re also where new ideas – some with the potential to save lives – are generated, investigated, developed and tested. Every year, hundreds of graduates and friends support the medical research teams at the University of Plymouth. The University has research facilities to be proud of at our Derriford Research Facility. Its location, right by the hospital, encourages a close partnership with the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. With the support of our funders, medical and biomedical experts are conducting research into areas such as infection and immunity, neurodegenerative diseases, brain tumours and antimicrobial resistance.

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Brain tumour research

Parkinson’s research

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other form of cancer yet, for years, research has had a fraction of the funding other cancers have received. The University is one of only three specialist centres of brain tumour excellence in the UK, established with the charity Brain Tumour Research. Professor Oliver Hanemann leads a highly collaborative team that focuses on understanding how low-grade brain tumours develop and grow.

At a time when the number of people in the UK living with Parkinson’s is increasing, Plymouth is fast becoming one of the UK’s foremost Parkinson’s research centres.

Achievements to date include:

“A big thank you” Professor Oliver Hanemann, Lead of the University of Plymouth Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence

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• discovering a novel mechanism that brain tumour initiating cells use for growth • helping to identify new drug targets and successfully using repurposed drugs as well as new first-in-class drugs • investigating biomarkers, which may help towards tailored treatments for slow growing brain tumours.

Treatments with the potential to slow down the development of Parkinson’s are ready to be tested. The research team are working on ways to fast-track trials. The team are also working on a project looking at digitising the award-winning ‘Home Based Care’ pathway based at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. This initiative equips patients with a wearable device that monitors their movements, and helps them to manage their condition. For trials to move forward, it’s important to have effective ways of measuring the impact of the condition.

What’s next?

Looking ahead, the research team aims to find effective ways to target the tumour and its micro environment, as well as tumour cells. They have also applied for funding for clinical trials to move their research from bench to bedside.

Future goals include the long-term aim of setting up a Movement Disorders Centre. This will bring the research and care of patients across a range of conditions under one roof, and will act as a hub for clinical and research excellence.

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“There is a real potential for the development of effective therapy for this devastating neurological disease. We really hope that our work can provide hope to people.” Professor Shouqing Luo, Professor of Neurobiology

Huntington’s research

MS research

Huntington’s is a fatal disease, which affects a person’s ability to think, reason, walk and talk. A child who has a parent with Huntington’s has a 50% chance of developing the condition as a result of a faulty inherited gene. Symptoms usually become apparent in patients between 30 and 50 years old, and worsen over time, leading to people needing full-time care.

Every week in the UK, around 250 people are diagnosed with MS, (multiple sclerosis) – a neurologic disease causing irreversible damage to the nerves in their brain and spinal cord. The impact on how people feel and function, and their quality of life, workability, and relationships, is profound. At present there is no cure and new treatments are being developed to stop or inactivate MS.

There is currently no cure for Huntington’s, but Professor Shouqing Luo and his team believe there is real potential for the development of an effective therapy for this devastating neurological disease. They are working with international researchers, clinicians and the pharmaceutical and biotech industries to investigate manipulating activity at a cellular level. They’re looking at: • protein aggregation toxicity • RNA toxicity • neurodegeneration. What’s next? With your support, we can move fast to bring new treatments and, eventually, a cure to the estimated 5,700 people in the UK alone with this progressive brain disorder.

Researchers at the University are providing new insights into how MS changes over time through the South West Impact of Multiple Sclerosis project. They’re following 1,600 people with MS in Devon and Cornwall to enhance understanding of the impact of MS and find better ways of helping patients. The researchers are looking at everything from initiatives to improve clinical services to clinical research trialling new treatments. What’s next? The MS research team’s primary focus will be to continue developing better ways of measuring change relating to the impact of MS. Accurate measurement tools can make clinical trials of new treatments shorter, less expensive and more effective – they also improve clinical monitoring and the support of people with MS. Specific symptom areas of focus are in walking, upper limb function and fatigue, which are a focus for emerging treatments in MS.

“We’re so grateful to these families for all of their fundraising efforts, and it’s thanks to such support that we’re able to continue what we do.”

“Together, we’re helping to improve the lives of people living with MS.”

Professor Shouqing Luo, Professor of Neurobiology

Jeremy Hobart, Professor of Clinical Neurology

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Researchers need equipment Your support also aids investment in the equipment that researchers need to progress their work. Here’s how friends of the University have recently helped:

Our fundraisers

Mass spectrometer: analysis at ten times the speed

John’s friend and best man died of a brain tumour. He chose to use his 400th Parkrun to raise funds in his friend’s memory for the Brain Tumour Research team at Plymouth. He set an ambitious fundraising target, offering to run the 5 km course in his gorilla suit if the target was met.

Proteomics is the study of proteins, which is an important part of several current research projects, including work to validate new drug targets and biomarkers for brain tumours. We were recently able to purchase a new state-of-the-art mass spectrometer, which is commonly used in proteomics to measure the weights and chemical structures of proteins. We’re grateful to everyone who helped buy this vital piece of equipment, including the Wolfson Foundation. Researchers can now analyse samples ten times faster than before. Optical imaging scanner: gathering evidence for clinical trials Thanks to the Peninsula Medical Foundation for helping to buy a new optical imaging scanner, which is used to scan, measure and track the growth of tumours. It can also work in reverse – monitoring how a tumour shrinks in response to a new treatment. With their help, the teams now have a more efficient and effective way of gathering evidence to support clinical trials.

Thank you. By donating to the University, you ensure we have the necessary resources to move this research forwards and tackle the health challenges facing us all. All donations, no matter what size, will enable us to continue this vital work. Scan here to learn more about how you can support our medical research.

Each year, many of you don your running shoes, host an event, or take on a personal challenge to raise funds for these research teams. Here are some of the people who have gone the extra mile in the last year.

Jordan’s raised over £5,000 for Huntington’s research at the University by taking on several running endurance challenges. Having lost his mother to the disease in 2017 at the age of 60, Jordan decided to get tested, and found that he also carried the gene. Jordan said: “I wanted to support Plymouth

because I’d heard about the research into Huntington’s and the potential to make a real difference. As well as helping me with my own diagnosis, it’s a fitting tribute to my incredible mum.”

Scan here to learn more about how you can support our medical research.

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How the University has supported those impacted by the ongoing invasion Since February 2022, much of the world has watched in shock and awe at events unfolding in Ukraine. Shock at the country’s invasion, the destruction of its towns and cities, the displacement of its people. Awe at the resilience of those people, the courage of its forces, the way the whole country has responded in the face of intense and unimaginable struggle. Soon after the invasion, the focus for individuals and organisations in the UK shifted from horrified bystanders to active supporters. Families across the country opened their homes to Ukrainians fleeing the fighting. Aid packages were hastily assembled and transported across Europe in cars, vans and lorries. And institutions, such as the University, actively sought ways to support their counterparts with no end to the invasion immediately in sight.

Just months after the invasion began, the University had signed formal twinning agreements with two universities – the State University of Infrastructure and Technology (SUIT) in Kyiv, and the Kherson State Maritime Academy (KSMA) – as part of the Universities UK #TwinForHope campaign. Both had been impacted in different ways by the evolving situation, their buildings damaged by Russian forces, their staff and students in exile all over Europe. The immediate focus was to identify and meet practical needs such as IT infrastructure and mental health support. In the case of SUIT, the University has also transported an electricity generator – donated and adapted by Princess Yachts– to enable research and support staff to keep working during temporary electricity blackouts.

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In addition to these formal partnerships, the University found other ways to directly support those affected by the invasion. The Peninsula Medical School ran a summer school for medical students whose studies have been interrupted, and seven students from regions around Ukraine visited the campus in August 2022. They gained hands-on experience in areas such as clinical and communication skills, ultrasound, anatomy, and patient safety, using the state-ofthe-art technology available on our campuses and at Plymouth Science Park. An additional 50 Ukrainian students took part in an online summer school, with features including healthcare systems, image interpretation, emergency medicine, and presentations by the General Medical Council, as well as some of the activities of the ‘in-person’ programme. Speaking during the visit, student Daria Kuzmina from Kharkiv said: “The biggest challenge at the moment of course is that we don’t know our future – we can’t say what our career aspirations are, because we simply don’t know what we’re going back to. As we study here, people are hiding underground being shelled and tortured,

it’s just impossible to convey how horrific it is. But while this uncertainty and horror continues, we do know that the war will one day end – and when it does, we want to be ready to help people. This summer school has definitely helped to prepare us for that.” This engagement with the Higher Education sector in Ukraine is not about short-term fixes. Discussions have already taken place about mutually beneficial research and teaching partnerships with both our twinned universities, with the focus on restoring and bolstering a vibrant HE sector in Ukraine. For example, joint research projects – with co-investigators from both institutions – have already been launched.

“We’re really pleased that we’re in the rare position of helping not one, but two, universities,” said Professor Dafydd Moore, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor. “While the immediate future remains challenging, the resilience and optimism of our colleagues at both SUIT and KSMA is extraordinary. It is something that we at Plymouth hope to support over what we all hope will be brighter years ahead.”

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In February 2023, following months of online discussions, a delegation from SUIT made their first visit to Plymouth. It also marked the first time in a year that they had been able to meet in person, with the three visitors presently living in the Netherlands, Portugal and Ukraine. They toured the maritime facilities on our campuses, spoke to academics from across all three faculties about potential future projects, and visited Plymouth Science Park. They were also the special guests at a Civic Reception, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, in The Box. Olena Kostenko, SUIT’s Vice-Rector for International Relations and Postgraduate Studies, said:

“The last year has been incredibly challenging and we do not know when we will all be able to get back to Kyiv with our families. The partnership with the University of Plymouth is already making a huge difference, and the support we have received from

everyone here has been fantastic. This visit has enabled us to expand our discussions and we are all feeling positive about how they might build for the future.” Also in February this year, the University secured funding to establish a dual degree with KSMA. It forms part of a twinning scheme being coordinated by Cormack Consultancy Group and the President of Ukraine’s Fund for Education, Science, and Sports, with support from Universities UK International.

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From Trauma to Change Maker: My experience as a United Nations Climate Activist and Early Career Researcher Reading marine biology at the University of Plymouth had been my goal since I first applied in 2016 – what I didn’t expect was that the route to obtaining a degree wouldn’t be so straightforward, nor did I realise where it would take me. Sancha Conway Holroyd

When I was 18 I had a life-changing experience as a result of a car accident, which left me in recovery for two-and-a-half years and prevented me from living a ‘normal life’. During recovery I struggled not only with severe physical pain and trauma but mental frustration due to limited physical capabilities. My degree was delayed and with the ongoing battle to recovery, I had a bleak outlook on life. But it was during this period my thinking completely switched. I made an active decision to move away from being engrossed on all that I couldn’t do, to focusing on what I could. I turned to reading online educational courses in marine biology and citizen science.

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As a young person at the time, I struggled to see beyond my immediate physical restrictions; I now look back and see that this period was a pivotal moment in making me who I am. My perspectives changed and my mantra on helping others, people and planet alike really came to light. I realised how precious life was and, thus, how hard we must work to protect it. I’m proud to say a once traumatic experience has become a key positive driver in my life. My journey to becoming a young leader has been a gradual process of hard work for many years. It was in my first year that I began to make conscious decisions to begin to build my skills and haphazardly began to re-engage in environmental action, while pursuing academia. I had no overall ambition in this work, just to simply do as much as possible. I volunteered at the National Marine Aquarium, joined CoachBright as a course rep, and participated in the 2019 Autumn FLUX business challenge, to which our team was placed 1st and I was awarded the Outstanding Participant Award. While pursuing a degree in BSc (Hons) Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology, my interests in youth leadership began to grow and I’d spend hours googling opportunities to get involved in. I began to network and engaged with organisations like The Future Leaders Network and One Young World, all while building my own ideas and learning. The first related position I applied for I was actually rejected from;

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it was for a delegate role at the Y7 (youth G7 Summit) to which I was shortlisted and then rejected in the final round. Despite feeling discouraged, I attended the leadership training I was offered and began to apply what I was taught. In 2020, I managed to secure a £5,000 sponsorship from the University to attend One Young World (OYW) as a delegate in 2021 – a summit which brings young leaders together, with the likes of Dr Jane Goodall, Bob Geldof, Sylvia Earle and global leaders in attendance. I am now an ongoing Ambassador for OYW.

“Young people really are the drivers of change. It’s down to us as young leaders to create real imapct.” My second year at university is where I really began to home in on my interests in environmental policy work, youth-led action and public speaking. I delivered a talk on behalf of the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and was a guest speaker at the MBA’s Young Marine Biologist Summit 2020. My continued efforts in the leaders network also paid off as I was selected to be a Member of the UK Working

Group for the Y7 2021 Summit, where my role was to ensure the involvement of youth in policy recommendations for the G7, particularly underrepresented groups, and produced a national and international youth outreach strategy. This was the year I also co-founded Ambassadors of Earth, a not-for-profit organisation that works to empower and support youth in localised community-led environmental action. This started through my team’s participation in the Global University Climate Forum – an opportunity I just so happened to hear about from a lecturer’s email. My final year of my degree I decided to concentrate on my dissertation, focused on marine ornamentals and ecophysiology. It was also the year my involvement with the United Nations begun. In 2021, I was selected to speak at the 10th annual United Nations Economic and Social Council Youth Forum (ECOSOC) as part of the Planet session ‘Accelerating Action for the Planet’. More recently I was chosen to represent the UK as a delegate at the 17th United Nations Conference of Youth (COY17), led by the official Youth Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and attended COP27. I am currently a postgraduate research student at the University’s Doctoral College, working towards a PhD. Prior to and post-accident, I worked in the marine ornamental trade. My first-hand knowledge of

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the trade has largely driven my ongoing passion to pursue a PhD, which looks to tackle some of the key issues within the trade. In 2022, I was coawarded, with colleague William Jones, the David Henderson Inspiring Journey Grant by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST). This ongoing project titled ‘Flying Fish: The Journey of Marine Ornamentals’ saw us document the marine ornamental trade in the Philippines by working alongside exporters and fishermen, to bring to light trade practice and evoke discussion on its sustainability. Interestingly, through my research, I am looking at how we can utilise ecophysiological techniques in innovative ways to not only tackle key theories in biology but also to advise practice in relation to transporting marine specimens to minimise death and poor health. Many of these species we currently know very little about in science. However, my continuation towards my PhD in this largely new and innovative field is entirely dependent on obtaining financial support. While my journey to this point has been far from easy, I am grateful and honoured for the opportunities I have had and support given from the University and academic staff. I intend to continue my work both as a climate activist/ youth leader and as an early career researcher and look forward to continuing the journey and meeting more young leaders along the way.

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Brain powering the future Plymouth has long been the university of pioneers – advancing knowledge and transforming lives. After all, the University’s origins are rooted in the spirit of exploration and discovery. The cutting-edge technology of the laboratories in our new flagship Brain Research & Imaging Centre (BRIC) seeks to uncover the complexity of the human brain. By exploring the causes of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, how the brain can be stimulated to address chronic pain, and how we can gain a better. better understanding of conditions such as dementia, the lives of everyone can be improved. And our future? That can be up to you.

By leaving a gift in your will to the University of Plymouth, you can help secure our pioneering spirit for future life-changing research.

“I am confident that BRIC will enable us to realise our aim of translating our world-leading research into outcomes that improve the lives of everyone, locally, nationally and internationally.” Stephen Hall, Professor in Human Neuroimaging, Director of BRIC

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Learn more about leaving a gift in your will:  plymouth.ac.uk/campaign/your-legacy  +44 (0)1752 588088  giving@plymouth.ac.uk