Channel 06/2010

JUN | JUL10

GROWING SUCCESS

The world comes to Brighton A Bluer Hawaii Clear water

Editor Rebecca Haroutunian Communications manager Assistant editor Phil Mills Communications officer Channel magazine is published every two months by Marketing and Communications.

Channel is available online at www.brighton.ac.uk/channel.

Alongside this publication our online newsletter eChannel is produced monthly at http://community.brighton.ac.uk/ echannel.

For the latest news about the university, please see www.brighton.ac.uk/news.

For an insight into research conducted at the university, see www.brighton.ac.uk/research.

Contact details Channel Marketing and Communications Mithras House Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4AT +44 (0)1273 643022 communications@brighton.ac.uk Send your news to communications@brighton.ac.uk.

Front page image Miho Toyooka, second year Illustration BA(Hons) student.

Miho features in the lead article on page 14.

Photo by Andrew Weekes.

Print and reproduction

By DSI Colourworks, registered to environmental standard, ISO 14001. This magazine was printed using inks made from vegetable-based oils and without the use of industrial alcohol.

Ninety-five per cent of the cleaning solvents were recycled for further use and 94 per cent of the dry waste associated with this production will be recycled.

Next editions of Channel September–October 2010 Copy deadline 30 August Distributed on 30 September

Contents Regular features News 04–07 Round-up News from across the university

18–19 Research briefing News and grant awards

Lead features 12–15 Lead feature Brighton: An international and multicultural university

12–15

16–17 Research feature Blue Hawaii

Features

08–09

04–07

08–09 Team in focus Surviving extremes 10 Staff in focus Jacqueline Barclay 11 The Long View The road from Sydney to Brighton

20–21 In conversation Harvey Atkinson talks about the university’s South African Scholarship Trust 22–23 On campus International students work with local primary pupils 24 Events

19 20–21

22–23

June | July 2010 Channel Magazine 03

UNIVERSITY ROUND-UP

Comment

By Colin Monk, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Business and Marketing

It seems only fitting that the international focus in this edition of Channel comes at a time of intense world-wide sporting activity. Our own involvement in this area and many other disciplines show that international education does indeed transform lives. Look no further than the story on the two nurse educators in Zambia for an outstanding example of this effect.

Brighton has a growing international reputation based on the relevance and quality of our courses, and the support provided across the university. Traditionally the word ‘international’ has been used to describe areas outside of Europe. But our successful linkages with Europe have led to approximately the same number of students coming here from across Europe as from all other continents.

Students get to know Brighton not just through our network of excellent agents and on-line recruiting support but because they hear of our success in other ways; through universities in their country; from other international education groups or our association with a growing number of multi-national organisations who increasingly value partnerships with us.

And while students from all over the world are with us in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings they enrich our communities through studying, volunteering, joining in many activities and sharing the uniqueness of their ‘stories’ with us.

Increasingly we are staying in touch with a growing number of graduates from all around the world who share that same special bond which is to have studied at the university. And they are prepared to offer their time and enthusiasm to help new students see the advantages of joining us along the South Coast.

UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON Any Questions? comes to Brighton The popular Radio 4 current affairs programme Any Questions? came to Brighton the week after the general election. Presented by Jonathan Dimbleby, the programme was broadcast on 14 May from the Asa Briggs Hall in the Checkland Building at Falmer.

On the panel were the former Labour minister, Roy Hattersley; former Conservative minister, Douglas Hurd; Liberal Democrats’ MP Simon Hughes and Brighton’s newly elected Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas.

Roy Hattersley said the episode was one of the liveliest: “And I have been associated with the programme for 40 years.”

UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON Brighton hosts Arctic talk for the University of the Third Age Members of the University of the Third Age from the south-east attended a seminar organised by Margaret Allen at the university in February to learn about the Arctic.

The seminar, Out of Sight, Out of Mind – Why the Arctic Matters, featured five speakers. Dr Colin Whiteman from the university said climate change in the Arctic could bring greater flooding and weather changes in Sussex.

Dr Anne Jungblut from the Natural History Museum described the effects of climate change on Arctic flora and fauna. Dr Martina Tyrrell from the University of Reading talked of her socio-anthropological research on the Inuit of northern Canada.

Martin Diaper from the Environment Agency spoke about preparations being made to defend coasts and riverbanks from higher sea levels and flooding; and Naja Hendriksen, an Inuit student from Qaqotta, described life in her village in Southern Greenland.

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BRIGHTON AND SUSSEX MEDICAL SCHOOL Scanning for gold Five Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls are the subjects of an innovative exhibition combining medical imaging and striking photography this summer.

Led by the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) in partnership with the University of Brighton’s Chelsea School of sports science, Scanning for Gold explores the bodies of high performance athletes and gives an insight into their training regime for the 2012 Games.

UNIVERSITY ROUND-UP

In her recent inaugural lecture, Professor Sadlo explained how human hands have evolved as the finest manipulative tools in the animal kingdom and explained how challenging, creative activities such as playing a musical instrument can give feelings of wellness.

Gaynor qualified in 1968 and has worked as a practising therapist and educator for 42 years. She said: “I am very honoured but I think this is a reflection of the high standing in which the entire school is held.”

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ENGAGMENT Cupp scoops international award A joint scheme between community organisations and the University of Brighton which addresses inequalities and promotes sustainable development has won international recognition.

The Community University Partnership Programme (Cupp) received an honourable mention from CommunityCampus Partnerships for Health, a US-based organisation which is recognised as the main global network for improving higher education and civic engagement.

The athletes include BSMS student and triathlete Todd Leckie, Brighton engineering student and weightlifter Halil Zorba and Paralympic cyclist and gold medallist Darren Kenny. Each had their body scanned in an MRI machine at the BSMS Clinical Sciences Imaging Centre. www.bsms.ac.uk/research/cisc.

To complement the scan images and commentary from lecturers in anatomy, imaging and exercise physiology and the athletes themselves, Brightonbased photographer James Lewis went behind the scenes capturing the their daily training regime.

The travelling exhibition opened on 11 May and travels to venues across Sussex until November.

FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SCIENCE Occupational scientist wins prestigious fellowship Gaynor Sadlo, professor of occupational science at the university, has received one of the highest academic accolades by being made a Fellow of the College of Occupational Therapists. Gaynor, assistant head of the university’s School of Health Professions, based in Eastbourne, will be receiving the honour at the college’s annual conference being held at the Brighton Centre in June.

The honour is given to those recognised by the professional body for their ‘exceptional contribution’ to the profession.

Above: The Any Questions? panel

Board member Bobby Gottlieb presented Paul Bramwell from Brighton’s Working Together Project and Professor Angie Hart from the University of Brighton with the award at a conference in Portland, Oregon.

The award described how Cupp brings together 50 University of Brighton staff and more than 300 community partners to develop solutions to real problems, using university and community resources to tackle disadvantage and promote sustainable development.

Cupp’s work is wide ranging and involves more than 100 projects to date. It now helps other universities, particularly those in developing countries, to work in partnership with their local communities.

June | July 2010 Channel Magazine 05

UNIVERSITY ROUND-UP

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Students develop roadside bomb detection equipment A university-managed programme has helped local school students to develop a device that could reduce the biggest cause of casualties among troops in Afghanistan – improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

As part of the annual Royal Academy of Engineering’s Engineering Education Scheme, four year 12 students from Hazelwick School in Crawley, West Sussex, were set the task of constructing a remote-controlled robot platform that can carry sensor equipment, including a metal detector, to detect roadside bombs. Until now, metal detectors carried on such platforms have been compromised by radio waves used to control the robot, but the students devised a way of shielding the metal detector from electronic interference and improving its performance.

Technology company Thales UK, which set the task, said the detector needs refining, but has real potential. The students presented their project at an event organised by STEM Sussex which is based at the university and which supports and encourages young people in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex to engage with science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

FACULTY OF ARTS Students create musical mural Illustration and Graphic Design students have created a mural based on Brighton’s musical history in the historic Sea Life Centre in Brighton.

The Music Tunnel was unveiled in late May by Roger Daltrey, front man to The Who, who played at The Florida Rooms, now the Sea Life Centre. The Rooms were one of Brighton’s hottest music venues in the 60s.

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Above: Students from Hazelwick School in Crawley with their robot to detect the roadside bombs. Left to right: Husman Mahmood, Imran Ahmed, Peter O’Sullivan and Vipulan Sivarajah.

The mural in the 80-foot-pedestrian tunnel linking the centre to the beach side of Marine Parade depicts music artists past and present who have been closely associated with the city, including Norman Cook (Fat Boy Slim), Adam Faith, Leo Sayer and Sir Paul McCartney.

The project is a live brief for secondyear Graphic Design and Illustration students from David Courtney who will give 25 per cent of profits from the Brighton Music Awards to fund the course’s annual show. The students have created a blog following the project, which has also been filmed by students from University Centre Hastings

UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON More than just a lending hand A dual celebration took place 29 April at Cockcroft: the official opening of the new Santander branch and an opportunity to recognise the achievements of the staff, students and community partners who received funding during the first year of the Santander-University of Brighton relationship.

A total of 27 grants and awards were made ranging from £500 to £10,000 and a number of the recipients attended the event to collect certificates and to express their thanks to Santander.

John Hedges of Santander remarked upon the impressive array of activities rewarded through the funding opportunities and the Vice-Chancellor acknowledged Santander’s genuine commitment to supporting the university sector.

UNIVERSITY ROUND-UP

Blanca Balaguer, one of the Masters Scholarship recipients, highlighted how her award had enabled her to benefit from an educational and cultural experience which would otherwise have been out of her reach. The branch provides a range of preferential rate services and products for staff and students and details of these can be obtained by contacting the branch (santandercockcroft@brighton.ac.uk).

Further information about the 2010 Santander funding opportunities can be found at http://staffcentral.brighton. ac.uk/dao/santander.shtm.

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING University supports education development in Middle East The University of Brighton was recently selected as one of a limited number of UK universities by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation of Saudi Arabia to offer bespoke courses for graduates of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) Diploma Programmes.

TVTC was set up to prepare and train individuals to perform the required industrial, commercial, agricultural and services activities that contribute to the national economy in Saudi Arabia whether by working in public or private sectors.

Through the King Abdullah Scholarship Programme, which aims to give young Saudi Arabians opportunities to study abroad, TVTC will be awarding around 250 scholarships per year for their own staff to attend UK Universities as part of TVTC’s drive to up-skill the next generation of trainers for their new and existing technical training colleges.

The University of Brighton can expect over 40 of these students to join us in September 2010. Chris Knight, who is leading the development of this important international partnership,

said: “The University of Brighton was selected as a partner for this programme on the basis of the university’s reputation as an institution with an established history of providing high quality courses with professional accreditation.”

The three-year programmes include a year of English language and preparatory work which will allow students to join the second year of a wide range of engineering, construction, computing and business degree programmes across the university.

The programmes will also include opportunity for placements in industry and/or further education colleges. On completion of their degree programmes the students will also be offered the opportunity to undertake a short course on post-compulsory teacher education to help prepare them to deliver courses in the technical training colleges in Saudi Arabia.

Professor Andrew Lloyd, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the university to contribute to the building of the educational infrastructure in Saudi Arabia which capitalises on the universities ability to provide bespoke courses which meet the needs of external partners through effective cross-faculty collaborations.”

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Chewing gum bins win national coverage

Left: Chris Knight Above: Anna Bullus with her invention Gumdrops.

Graduate Anna Bullus has made national headlines with her pink bubble recycling bins made from chewing gum.

Now running her own design company, Anna was interviewed by the Observer in connection with the bins called Gumdrops. They can be seen on the campus of Orpington College where they are being trialled and are made using Anna’s Gumnetic Bin which won the British Council’s National Design Award for 2007.

Anna, who studied 3D Design at Brighton, started researching the problem of discarded gum after walking through Brighton city centre and wondering if it could be recycled.

She spent months getting the gum to make foam. She then turned it into a pellet and, adding a secret ingredient, she was able to extract a polymer that she calls Bullus Recycled Gum Polymer (BRGP). She says it can be used for any plastic product, including Wellington boots.

June | July 2010 Channel Magazine 07

TEAM IN FOCUS

IN FOCUS...

SURVIVING THE EXTREMES WITH HELP FROM SPORT SCIENCE

BY DR NEIL MAXWELL, PRINCIPAL LECTURER, CHELSEA SCHOOL The soaring heat of the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert, the freezing temperatures of a North Pole trek and the dizzy heights of climbing Kilimanjaro; these are some of the extreme and formidable challenges that University of Brighton students have provided sport science support to in recent years.

With remote and extreme parts of the world becoming more accessible (ash clouds notwithstanding), along with the need by some to test their physical and mental toughness outside of their busy working lives, the Sport and Exercise Science Area of Chelsea School is increasingly being asked to provide sport science support to improve the chances of success in these extreme challenges.

Environmental physiology has been an important feature in the Sport and Exercise Science area for over 20 years. Before moving into the Welkin Laboratories in 2000, a small environmental chamber enabled undergraduate students to study the effects of thermal stress on the human body within taught modules and their research-based dissertations.

Occasional consultancy-based projects were also conducted.

Then in 1988 our own head of school, Professor Jo Doust, was part of a team that supported a local lifeguard to complete a gruelling 500 miles of running through the United States Death Valley. This was equivalent to a marathon a day for 20 days in temperatures that reached 50°C!

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The move of our Sport and Exercise Science facilities to the Welkin Laboratories brought a larger, more sophisticated, purpose-built environmental chamber that could closely control ambient temperature (-20°C to +50°C) and humidity. We are now able to measure tolerance to heat stress and the likelihood of suffering from hypothermia with confidence, and the environmental chamber has led to an exponential rise in our teaching, research and commercial activity.

In 2009, a purpose-built hypoxic chamber joined our existing facilities that enables us to simulate altitudes equivalent to 5000m and examine susceptibility to injuries such as acute mountain sickness. With the investment in environmental physiology facilities over the last 10 years, we have been able to offer a far more sophisticated support service to a greater range of challenges that take place in extreme environments around the world.

If you believe in the Out of Africa ancestry theory, humans have actually evolved to cope better in hotter (~28°C) rather than cold environments.

Notwithstanding, we are only able to move between a relatively small core body temperature window (~5°C) before experiencing episodes of either hot or cold injury. Therefore, even recreational enthusiasts put themselves at a real risk when embarking upon these extreme challenges.

In 2004, Chris Howarth – a Sport and Exercise Science graduate – ran 200km over seven days in 35°C and 80 per cent humidity through the Brazilian jungle.

Chris was 14th out of 75 runners and the first European to finish.

He attributed his success and the prevention of a heat illness to the 10 days of heat acclimation training in our environmental chamber.

TEAM IN FOCUS

For our undergraduate students, they are able to put into practice the theory they have studied in their degrees and gain valuable vocational skills.

EXTREME CHALLENGES SUPPORTED Jungle Marathon, Brazil Marathon des Sables, Sahara Desert North Pole Marathon North Pole Challenge North Pole Trek Ascent Of Kilimanjaro Trek Of Annapurna Sanctuary, Himalayas Ascent Of Cho Oyo, Himalayas

Unfortunately, sport science support does not come cheap, nor should it if our profession is to be valued.

However, by using students to manage and support these extreme challenges, we have been able to meet the needs of many clients and provide a valuable and vocationally relevant experience to some of our students.

Recently, we have linked these experiences to the students’ personal and professional development modules.

Our Applied Exercise Physiology MSc students have been able to develop project management skills as they prepare the clients for the enormity of the challenge and coordinate groups of undergraduate students.

Above: The university’s environmental chamber Right: Dr Neil Maxwell

This year the North Pole challenges and Kilimanjaro expeditions that we supported were run by two MSc students, Lee Eddens and Kerrie Edmonds, and generated exploratory data that has impacted both students’ choice of dissertation project.

Mike Scholes, a blind hot air balloonist who reached the North Pole (www.brighton.ac.uk/news) was supported by Lee Eddens’ team.

Mike later reported that “their help was invaluable” and his achievement resulted in some excellent local publicity.

Although sport science support is now a common, feature in most Olympic athletes’ training programme, we believe that students and novice adventurers alike can benefit from similar support as they prepare for the unpredictability of extreme and hostile challenges.

June | July 2010 Channel Magazine 09

STAFF IN FOCUS

A WEEK IN THE LIFE...

Jacqueline Barclay, international agent for Barclay & Knap Educational Services In the past four years Jackie has helped over 2,500 graduates gain admission to the university/college of their choice. Based in Canada, Jackie has visited university campuses around the world, and regularly attends conferences and seminars related to post-secondary admissions and education. Jackie maintains a strong network of contacts within universities and colleges throughout Canada, the USA, the UK and Australia.

She said: “We assist high school students with career/programme searches as well as their postsecondary applications. Many university students come to us regarding their postgraduate options. “We work with 20 UK universities and promote those schools at high schools, colleges and universities in Canada, including the University of Brighton.

THURSDAY I have started compiling a chart outlining our partnerships between Ontario colleges and UK universities. My business partner Joe Knap has spent hours exploring programmes at colleges and how they can articulate into degrees in the UK. We can take a number of three-year advanced diplomas in Canada and convert them into degree completions at UK universities. The chart will allow students to see the options they have in the UK.

We assist students in finding the right school/programme to meet their needs.This includes assisting with applications, checking the requirements, assessing transcripts, sending documentation, scholarship applications, residence applications and the visa process.

We also work with international students and assist them with applications to various Canadian universities.

MONDAY Today was a holiday but I found myself working. We are still getting enquiries for the UK so I wanted to make sure I responded to all of them and begin scheduling appointments for them to begin the application process.

Many UK-bound students are getting their final marks so I was busy making sure that all of these marks were sent to the UK universities to ensure students conditional offers are switched to unconditional offers.

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TUESDAY Each morning I answer emails and always try to respond to our UK partners first since they are five hours ahead. Many UK enquires are for law, medicine, international relations, business, physiotherapy and dentistry. We are finding more students are interested in studying abroad. I met with a new UK applicant. He is applying to a number of UK schools for a MSc finance programme.

In the afternoon I reviewed the Career Inventory Test results which tell where high school students’ interests lie. The test provides us with a pathway to start our counselling. We use the results as a beginning point for our counselling.

WEDNESDAY I spent much of the day updating UK student files. We generate a spreadsheet of UK applicants and acceptances and track each student to make sure they have accepted their offers, met conditions, paid deposits, applied for residence and have their money in order to apply for the student visa.

When we started the business over two years ago we had 10 students go to the UK, last year we had 26, this year we are almost at 50. Our goal for next year is to double that number.

In the afternoon I met with one of my high school students to explore programmes that he can apply for.

FRIDAY Today is the deadline for my Ontario high school students’ to accept university offers. Most of the morning was spent following up with students who were still making their final decisions.

In the afternoon I met with a student who is interested in applying to an engineering programme in the UK. He was a bit low in his science and maths courses in high school so I recommended that he take a foundation programme first.

He had no idea that he could do this and was happy that we recommended it. He would rather complete the foundation programme first so he is better prepared for the degree! All of his documents were compiled, I wrote the cover letter and everything will be ready to send as soon as he finishes the UCAS application.

THE LONG VIEW

THE ROAD FROM SYDNEY HARBOUR TO BRIGHTON PIER From Sydney to Brighton may be a long way to go to change your job, but Dr Karl Cox is no stranger to travel. He has just returned to the UK after six years working in Australia to take up a post as a senior lecturer in the School of Computing, Mathematical and Information Sciences at the university.

Karl, who has also worked in Madrid and Budapest teaching English, said he gained a lot of vital experience in Australia, particularly entrepreneurial skills, which he will put to good use in Brighton. He was senior research associate in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales in Sydney and worked as a senior researcher with National ICT Australia, the country’s leading ICT research organisation.

They are at the cutting edge of the crossover between higher education and industry and his role was to help overcome misunderstandings between the commercial and research side of IT. He also succeeded in getting commercial funding to develop new software and encouraged his PhD students to take up industry placements so they could learn more about the realities of the business world and how to turn their research into something that has real commercial potential.

In an article in jobs.ac.uk, the specialist website for careers in academic, research, science and related professions, he said: “Working in Australia was hugely beneficial to my career. NICTA is one of the best organisations of its kind in the world, and working there has given me a unique experience. Our work had started to make a real impact on the business world in Australia.”

During his time in Australia, Karl also visited Japan for five weeks and has developed collaborative links with industry and universities there which will benefit the University of Brighton. He says that given concerns in New South Wales about water supplies, he developed a particular interest in climate change issues and as a result has been working as a consultant on a carbon management strategy at Brighton.

He is also part of a university research group involved with green issues and IT. In addition to his work with industry in Australia, Karl wrote about 50 journal and conference papers and attended high-profile conferences around the world. He was also invited to write the foreword of a Japanese industry book, which is now for sale in every bookshop in Japan.

Before he left for Australia, Karl had been teaching at Bournemouth University. He says he went to Australia because he wanted to get ahead in his career and because he likes “moving to new places and experiencing different cultures”.

Now back in the UK, he has the chance to harness that experience for the benefit of his students at Brighton.

Asked why he chose to return to Brighton, he said: “Brighton is close to where I grew up in West Sussex so it was an opportunity to come home and spend time with my family here.

“Also, it was the right time to leave Australia so our stars aligned at the opportune moment.

Brighton’s a vibrant place to work at and I felt it would offer me new opportunities and challenges: that’s certainly been the case as I’m now involved in the Carbon Management Programme.”

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LEAD ARTICLE

12 Channel Magazine June | July 2010

LEAD ARTICLE

The University of Brighton is more than just a centre of excellence for learning. It is all-encompassing, multicultural experience that students from around the world enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives.

In 2009/10, 2,734 of the university’s 22,000 students came from abroad.

Many have commented how the mixture of nationalities and cultural backgrounds gives the university a truly cosmopolitan feel.

of the student population at University of Brighton is made up of students from outside the UK. (2009/2010)

The university gives support to international students from before they arrive in Brighton. International alumni ambassadors, graduates from the university, are on hand to talk to new and prospective students about all aspects of campus life. This means students from particular countries can get the lowdown on campus life from someone who has come to Brighton from their own country.

Once at the university, international students are greeted by a team of support staff. Services are on offer include a free orientation programme, with free airport pick-up. During the first year of their studies, the university offers international students free English language tuition and accommodation is guaranteed for all those in their first year. There is also a range of discretionary scholarships and bursaries available for international students, including Commonwealth scholarships, University of Brighton scholarships and sports scholarships.

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LEAD FEATURE

Current and former students tell us why they picked Brighton and their lasting memories of their time at university.

ARTURAS GUDAVICIUS Lithuanian Arturas was keen to experience different cultures. With a knowledge of three languages, he had his choice of universities outside his home country. He chose Brighton because of its cosmopolitan and creative atmosphere. “Brighton is a seaside resort like no other – cosmopolitan, compact, unique and friendly,” says the 23 year old. He says his lecturers have been very encouraging and he has met a host of inspiring people working in the creative industries. “What I have learned here is unique,” he says. He admits, though, that he still cannot quite get to grips with why some British people like Marmite.

BONISWA VAZ CONTREIRAS Boniswa comes from a coastal town in Angola so Brighton with its seafront was something like home, although quite a few degrees cooler. On her first day she says she almost had a heart attack when she was told the heating wasn’t on because it was too hot – she recommends the university allows students from tropical countries a few days to adjust to acclimatise. She has a British Council scholarship to study creative media and is really enjoying the course, particularly experimenting with different technologies and media platforms. The students on the course are very culturally diverse and she says they have taught her a lot about herself.

KATERINA COUNTA Katerina says Brighton was an obvious choice for her after she completed her BA at the University of Kent. “I was looking for a more art/media-oriented environment,” says the Cypriot student who says she is still surprised by how self-contained and lawabiding British people. Her course has confirmed her interest in the creative media and the campus and city have inspired her with their multiculturalism. She says a high point has been her participation in the Active Student project in Moulsecoomb. She says it has made her more positive about her chosen field as well as helping her become more open to new possibilities, such as volunteering.

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Top: Arturas Gudavicius

MIHO TOYOOKA

Bottom: Katerina Counta Right: Miho Toyooka

Miho found huge differences between English and Japanese cultures: “That confused me sometimes but the more years I spend here the more I’m getting used to. It’s not that I am being English but I am understanding the different ideas from each cultures and I am sometimes being the bridge between those two. I sometimes work as translator for exchange students from Japan.” Miho is in the second year of her illustration course. “I did an art foundation before I started my degree in Brighton and during that time I did research about the course and came here for the open day. I quite liked the environment and how lively students were. I chose the University of Brighton because it has got reputation in the field of illustration studies not only in the UK but also in Japan.”

LEAD FEATURE

DR. LIE PATRICK MOUVOGNY Dr Lie came to Brighton from Gabon in 1993 to do a degree in teaching English as a foreign language and says that after completing related courses as well as a PhD in Linguistics it has become his hometown.

Now a principal lecturer in the English department at the University Omar Bongo of Gabon, he says Brighton was “the best place to prepare me for my career” because it sharpened both his knowledge and his social skills. While doing his PhD on teacher education and information technology, he taught in a range of secondary schools in the south of England as well as working as a freelance interpreter and translator.

SANDEEP KUMA Since completing his masters in Physiotherapy in 2000, Sandeep has worked as a physiotherapist in India, Malaysia and his home country, Singapore. He chose Brighton because very few universities offered the masters in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy he wanted to do. Brighton tailormade the programme to suit his needs. “It was fantastic,” he says, “as with the independent learning modules embedded in the programme, I was able to learn what I wanted to learn.” He was given a mentor when he arrived in Brighton who gave him a warm welcome and he says his tutors ensured everyone got individual attention.

“They do not teach, they allow you to learn,” he says.

He now runs his own company providing clinical services, training and education programmes for healthcare professionals.

AMY MA Amy says her masters course in Hospitality Management has taught her two things which are vital in her current job as a senior membership manager at Mission Hills Golf Club in China – strategic management and positive thinking. The Chinese student came to Brighton in 2002 to do a one-year pre-masters English course at the School of Languages and finished her masters in 2005. Based at the School of Service Management in Eastbourne, she says “Come to study at the University of Brighton. I am sure it will make a big change in your life!”

Above: Saeed Al Amoudy and Boniswa Vaz Contreiras who also took part in the active student volunteering project on page 22.

To find out more, visit www.brighton.ac.uk/international.

Brighton is a seaside resort like no other – cosmopolitan, compact, unique and friendly

June | July 2010 Channel Magazine 15

RESEARCH FEATURE

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RESEARCH FEATURE

Hawaii’s blue waters are more appealing to swimmers and surfers than anyone imagined, according to research by scientists from the University of Brighton.

Their work could lead to a change in the way water quality is monitored around the world.

A collaborative study between the university’s Drs Huw Taylor and James Ebdon and scientists of the University of Hawaii, has revealed beaches in the tropical state may be cleaner than previously thought.

Around the world, bathing waters are tested for faecal indicator bacteria. Their presence suggests that dangerous human pathogens may also be present, and that swimmers are therefore at risk from stomach bugs.

Tests carried out by the UK Environment Agency on beaches including those in Brighton are similar to those conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency on Waikiki beach.

However, Professor Roger Fujioka of the University of Hawaii has demonstrated that these indicator bacteria are able to multiply in the tropical sunshine of Hawaii.

Their presence in Waikiki’s bathing waters may not therefore be indicative of faecal pollution and the state’s coastal waters may be much safer for bathing and swimming than previously thought.

The problem has been finding an alternative indicator that more accurately describes the real health risk for Hawaii’s swimmers and surfers. Being aware of the University of Brighton’s expertise in this field, Professor Fujioka discussed his problem with Huw and James at water research conferences in Japan and the US. The three scientists agreed that a novel approach to risk assessment using the interaction between gut bacteria and the viruses that destroy them, a method recently developed in Brighton’s School of Environment and Technology, might be able to solve Professor Fujioka’s problem, and provide an environmental protection tool for Hawaii and other tropical regions.

Professor Fujioka invited Huw and James to give a key note address at the US Oceans Research Conference in Waikiki and to deliver a research training course for researchers at the University of Hawaii. The recently published outcome of this collaboration shows that the new method may pinpoint faecal pollution in Hawaiian coastal waters more accurately than existing US methods. It also suggests that beaches previously thought to be contaminated by human faecal matter, may not in fact pose a significant risk to human health.

Huw Taylor said: “It’s great to be able to tell some good news about the environment for once. Although the main aim of our work on microbial source tracking is to develop simple tools to protect water resources in less developed countries, we jumped at this chance to work with Professor Roger Fujioka of the University of Hawaii.

“Professor Fujioka has made an enormous contribution to global public health during a long and successful research career, and his invitation to us to visit Honolulu and advise his research team was a great honour.

Since our trip to Hawaii we have been able to share the findings with our Brazilian collaborators during a training workshop that James and I ran in Minas Gerais last month. Our collaborators at the University of Lagos in Nigeria are already adapting our method for application in West Africa following Dr Simbo Aboaba’s research sabbatical at our laboratories last summer.

“So, through our activities we are now providing improved laboratory tools to protect human health on four continents.”

June | July 2010 Channel Magazine 17

RESEARCH BRIEFING

Researchers at the University of Brighton have won funding to study the link between bowel cancer and bacteria in the gut in a move which could lead to a breakthrough in the study of one of the world’s most common cancers.

Dr Brian Jones, a senior lecturer in microbiology at the Centre for Biomedical and Health Sciences Research, has won a New Investigator Research Grant from the Medical Research Council to identify the links between the activity of bacteria that live in the human gut and bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and it is estimated that more than 100 new cases are diagnosed daily in the UK. In England and Wales the cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the third most common in men.

While diet, and in particular high fat intake, has been consistently linked to the risk of developing the cancer, the underlying mechanisms which lead to genetic damage

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and cancer are poorly understood. Studies focusing on diet have produced conflicting evidence and several large scale intervention studies have failed to reduce the risks of developing the disease.

The three-year funding will allow scientists at Brighton to investigate growing evidence that the activity of bacteria in the gut, particularly their impact on bile acids, can play a crucial role in the development of bowel cancer.

Bile acids are produced by the body to help it digest the fat contained in food. They are converted to different forms by the gut bacteria and scientists believe some of these altered bile acids may be carcinogenic and activate genes thought to be important in the development of bowel cancer.

The researchers will compare the gut bacteria of individuals with cancer and those who are healthy and will look at the effect of these bacteria on specific human genes known to be associated with the cancer.

It is important for us to understand the causes of diseases like bowel cancer, in order to develop effective treatments or identify ways in which the disease could be prevented altogether

RESEARCH BRIEFING

The World Cup is well underway in South Africa and among the visitors there is the University of Brighton’s Professor Alan Tomlinson. He is in the capital Johannesburg, working on his latest book on the global politics of football.

How is it that an event of almost inestimable cost continues to attract cities and nations to put on the month-long tournament, especially those without the established sporting infrastructure and firm finances? How is it that unaccountable organisations such as the world’s governing body of football, FIFA, continue to be courted in spite of criticism about their practices and ethics?

These are the sorts of questions that have driven Professor Tomlinson in his work over more than 25 years. His books on the Olympic Games and the football World Cup in the mid-1980s were groundbreaking explorations of the morals and meanings of grand sporting spectacles. How do such spectacles relate to grass-roots sports?

What is the balance between national pride and inter-cultural understanding? How do the universal claims widely made for the positive benefits of sport fit with the promotion of international rivalries? Television rights for the South Africa 2010 World Cup have given FIFA £2.2 billion of income, none of which flows directly into the South African economy.

Yet Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the World Cup organising body, paints a wider picture. It is sport that can profile his country on an unprecedented scale: 400 television crews; 15,000 journalists; 350,000 foreign visitors. The eyes of the world can change perceptions, he argues, and this is almost beyond value.

So ambitious individuals and entrepreneurs, along with aspiring countries and cities, continue to chase such big events, including Gulf states for which sport has become a major image-promotion tool as well as lucrative dimension of the tourist industry. States look to get what they want; markets are created or expanded; players and fans provide the performances and the passion.

A body like FIFA takes the credit and the cash, and the drama on the pitch overrides the moral and ethical questions on the motives and nature of the FIFAcrats. It is this dynamic that continues to stimulate Tomlinson’s research, which has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and numerous print and broadcast media outlets across the world.

June | July 2010 Channel Magazine 19

IN CONVERSATION

THE UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON SOUTHERN AFRICAN SCHOLARSHIP TRUST

A child who does not travel or visit only praises the mother’s meal

ZAMBIAN PROVERB

In 2009, the University of Brighton Southern African Scholarship Trust appointed Harvey Atkinson as its first ever Chair of the Board of Trustees. In this article he provides a history to the Trust and the important international work it enables.

The Scholarship Trust was set up in 1987/88 by the Students’ Union to mark the tenth anniversary of the death of Steve Biko, political activist and former leader of the South African Students’ Association who died in custody under the apartheid regime. The aim of the scholarship is to assist in the development of South Africa and its neighbouring states, which were affected by the apartheid regime. Although apartheid is now thankfully long gone its effects are still huge and are further exacerbated by issues such as poverty and HIV/AIDS.

This health link is dedicated towards training and capacity building in Lusaka and will extend more widely across Zambia through training exchanges for healthcare professionals. To date, six Zambian medical students have completed clinical attachments (electives) in Brighton.

The scholarship provides educational opportunities to black southern African students.

The trust also provides excellent international links and shared learning between the UK, southern African countries and their students.

A particular highlight of the work of the scholarship was in giving learning opportunities to two nurse educators from the University Teaching Hospital in Zambia, who were nominated following a partnership created by the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Brighton. Zambian hospitals have only one educated critical care nurse in the whole of the country.

The scholarship is extremely grateful for the support it receives from the university and the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) in providing these educational opportunities. The university gives fee waivers on courses and free accommodation for scholars. Without these, the scholarship would not be able to provide the opportunities it does.

In recent years, the trust has provided short courses aimed at medical professionals. Working with Brighton and Sussex Medical School staff and students who are involved in BSMS and the BSUH NHS Trust Zambia Link programme, the scholarship has been able to offer excellent educational opportunities to medical students and scholars.

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As Professor Melanie Newport from BSMS states: “The exposure to different learning styles in a different environment opened their minds to a different way of learning and equipped them with lifelong learning skills.”

The scholarship funded a three-month course in critical care nursing for two nurse educators during 2009, which resulted in a successful bid for British Council funding for a new curriculum that will enable 20 nurses to be trained in critical care every year in Zambia.

Recognising the impact of the trust’s work, Nita Muir, Principal lecturer from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, said: “In supporting this curriculum development the exchange of academic staff and students from both partners has been inspiring and rewarding.”

The scholarship is funded from donations from students and staff. Last year, staff at BSMS organised a Christmas quiz and raised £250, Shelley Guild and her colleagues at the Aldrich Library held a book sale and raised £250 for the scholarship, various SU staff have also donated money to the scholarship and without these generous donations the trust will not be able to continue.

If you would like to make a donation, or have an idea to raise money for the Scholarship, please contact me: Harvey Atkinson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, University of Brighton Southern African Scholarship email: ha22@bton.ac.uk tel: 01273 642896

IN CONVERSATION

OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE WELCOMED THE FOLLOWING SCHOLARS: • Phumla Nquawa (SA), graduate of Biomedical Sciences, 1991–1996 • Nozizwe Ngono (SA), Education MA 1996–1997 • Elizabeth Mathabela (Swaz) and Shoba Mistry (SA), MBA and MBA International, 1998–1999 • Sipho Shabangu (Swaz), Education MA, 1999–2000 • Allan Mable (Swaz) MSC, Construction/Project Management, 2000–2001 • Constance Motsa (Swaz), TESL MA, 2001–2002 • Mapule Lekeka (SA), MBA, 2002–2003 • Siphiwe Delamini (Swaz), Communications Studies MA, 2002–2003 • Patrick Lungu (Zambia), Electives in infectious diseases and cardiology 2008 • Sombo Fowosi (Zambia). Electives in infectious diseases and cardiology 2008 • Patrick Malisawa – Nurse Educator (Zambia) 2009 • Universe Universe Himoonga Mulenga – Nurse Educator (Zambia) 2009 • Friday Kaunga (Zambia), Electives in infectious diseases and cardiology 2009 • Cephas Mwanza (Zambia), Electives in infectious diseases and cardiology 2009 • Hunter Mwansa (Zambia), Electives in infectious diseases and cardiology 2010 • Atiyah Patel (Zambia), Electives in infectious diseases and cardiology 2010 THEY HAVE FOUND THE COLLABORATION EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

It’s not only me who has benefited but this knowledge will be extended to many others when I return to Zambia.

June | July 2010 Channel Magazine 21

ON CAMPUS

Seven media students from countries ranging from Angola to Scotland have been teaching primary schoolchildren in Moulsecoomb about their different cultures as part of an innovative new project.

The seven Creative Media MA students are from Angola, Saudi Arabia, Lithuania, Serbia, Cyprus, Scotland and England and took part in the On Our Doorsteps volunteering project as part of their research and learning for the Participatory Media Production for Social Change module.

The project, funded, inspired and delivered

by Active Student, the volunteering service at the University of Brighton, covers the Moulsecoomb and Bevendean areas, and aims to get students and local residents volunteering together to make a positive difference to their neighbourhood.

The students shared their knowledge about their countries and cultures with a group of year 4 pupils at Moulsecoomb Primary School.

They showed the children where their country was on a map of the world, brought an artefact representing their country and showed a tourist video of interesting facts about their culture and country.

The children are currently learning about India, and were given cameras to make a short film about the country, using artefacts they had brought to the session. They really enjoyed filming each other and sharing their knowledge and particularly liked seeing their short films projected onto a large screen at the end of the day.

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The students will edit all the footage taken by the children during the workshop, and will create a short DVD, which can be used by the school as an educational resource. The film will be screened at a Celebration event held at the university on 8 June.

The children also ‘visited’ four different countries and had their names written in Arabic, Japanese, Serbian and Cypriot. They were interested in the different alphabets and how their names looked in different languages.

Moulsecoomb Primary School is currently applying for international schools status, and the workshop fits in very well with the aims of the school. At the end of the workshop, the pupils said they had learnt a lot about different countries and had enjoyed using the cameras and making the films.

The project, part of On Our Doorsteps is a new initiative led by the university’s Community University Partnership Programme. It focuses on funding and collaborating with very local community projects (all within neighbourhoods close to university buildings).

Dave Wolff, director of Cupp said: “On Our Doorsteps shares resources and expertise with communities experiencing significant need in these challenging economic times.

The University of Brighton believes that it

part of our job to make a useful contribution to communities that are in the locality of our campuses. But of course, we get a lot out of the activity too through curriculum development and research opportunities.”

On Our Doorsteps is just starting and the team is working with the Development and Alumni Office to secure financial contributions to support the activity. Staff, students and anyone else who would like to are invited to make financial contributions – even donating the cost of a cup of tea once a month could make all the difference. Once projects are up and running there will also be opportunities for staff and students to volunteer.

If you are interested in finding out more about this project including how you can help, please contact Professor Angie Hart on a.hart@brighton.ac.uk or David Wolff at Cupp on d.wolff@brighton.ac.uk. To make a one-off donation to the project or to set up a regular contribution through payroll giving, contact Sam Davies in the Development and Alumni Office (sam.davies@brighton.ac.uk).

There is currently an opportunity to almost double the value of donations made to this project through Gift Aid and matched funding, which means all donations at any level will make an immediate impact.

ON CAMPUS

Above: International Active students with their year 4 pupils at Moulsecoomb Primary School.

June | July 2010 Channel Magazine 23

Events PUBLIC EVENT Research Innovations Awards Date Venue

Time

Left: The Checkland Building, Falmer Below: Research and Innovation awards

Thursday 24 June Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade, University of Brighton 6.00–8.30pm

PUBLIC EVENT Checkland Building Opening Date Venue

Time

Thursday 1 July Checkland Building, Falmer, University of Brighton 4.30pm

PUBLIC EVENT Summer Academic Award Ceremonies Date Venue

Monday 26 July – Friday 31 July Brighton Dome

Honorary Awards – July 2010 • Professor Lucy Orta Doctor of Letters • Barbara Hulanicki Doctor of Letters • Dr Etienne Wenger Doctor of Science • Professor Sir Graeme Catto Doctor of Medicine • Bob Cotton OBE Doctor of Science • Christopher Adams Master of Science • Ed Sweeney Doctor of Laws • Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin HJ. Kasim Doctor of Technology

research and innovation awards 2010

is your idea worth £2000?

A total of £12,000 will be awarded to students and graduates with the most enterprising ideas, and to academic staff whose research demonstrates impact.

To find out more and download application forms visit www.beepurple.co.uk/innovationawards Closing date for entries is Friday 21 May 2010

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