Exchange: November 12

EXCHANGE News and views from around the University

Top of the world Leanna conquers Seven Summits

Issue 62/ November 2012

What’s inside

16&17

P4&5 Cream of the crop The student-run farmers’ market at Sutton Bonington is in line for a national award.

P6 On the cards Help the University to make an Impact.

P7 Dolly the Sheep pioneer dies Tributes pour in for Professor Keith Campbell.

P8&9 Saturday Night and Sunday Morning New exhibition draws on the novel that famously put Nottingham on the map.

P10 Spotlight News round-up.

P11 Are you a couch potato? Volunteers are needed for a University exercise trial.

P12&13 Edoardo’s big day out A young boy meets his heroes behind the Periodic Tables.

P14 In memory of Jan A new student prize fund is launched.

P15 Launch of ‘hothouse’ The Centre for Advanced Studies is officially opened.

P16&17 Leanna’s on top of the world Foundation student climbs into the record books.

P18&19 Bethan’s full of beans Student Bethan Davies explains why HealthyU Week is a good idea.

P20 Bulletin board A round-up of news from across the University.

P21 Events P22&23 What’s on Public lectures, exhibitions, music, theatre and dance.

Contact

16&17 4&5 12&13

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18&19

Karen Shale Exchange magazine, The University of Nottingham, Pope Building, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD e: karen.shale@nottingham.ac.uk t: 0115 846 8545 Photography: Lisa Gilligan-Lee, Andrew Hallsworth, Leanna Shuttleworth, The Nottingham Post, Woodfall/BFI, Shirley Baker.

Design: Karen Shale Read Exchange online at: www.exchangenottingham.org.uk Read Research Exchange online at: www.exchange.nottingham.ac.uk/research For articles for Research Exchange, please contact: tara.decozar@nottingham.ac.uk

Cover image: Saturday Night and Sunday Morning image reproduced courtesy of the Nottingham Post©

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News

Campbell leaves an amazing legacy

“Campbell was only in our lives for eight months, but had a huge impact — we were lucky to have been his parents, and will hold our little boy in our hearts forever.”

Bekki Burns, Campbell’s mum

Campbell Burns, the baby son of University research secretary Bekki Burns, has sadly lost his fight against the rare metabolic disorder Leigh’s Disease.

Campbell, whose story we featured in Exchange in September, was diagnosed with the condition at just nine weeks old and his parents Bekki and Mark were told it was unlikely he would live until his first birthday.

Despite continuing to defy the doctors by making remarkable progress, Campbell was taken ill suddenly on the afternoon of Friday 28 September and died in hospital later that evening.

Bekki, who works in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said: “Campbell was only in our lives for eight months, but had a huge impact — we were lucky to have been his parents, and will hold our little boy in our hearts forever.”

Bekki and Mark have two other children, five-yearold Daniel and three-year-old Holly, who are not affected by the condition.

Bekki added: “The support of family and friends in recent months has been invaluable, and we are grateful to everyone who contacted us to ask how we were doing, and to send their condolences.

“What is certain is that Campbell has left an incredible legacy in his charity. We can’t wait to start helping other families in his name.

“The Campbell Burns Metabolic Trust will grow from strength to strength and will be there to support families like ours.”

Friends and family gathered to say goodbye to the eight-month-old on Friday 5 October at Loughborough Crematorium.

Shortly after learning of Campbell’s diagnosis his family established the Campbell Burns Metabolic Trust, which aims to raise money to support other families affected by these devastating conditions.

More information about the Campbell Burns Metabolic Trust is available at: www.campbellstrust.co.uk. Donations can be made via: www.justgiving.com/ thecampbellburnsmetabolictrust.

Alternatively text CBMT01 £1 (or whatever figure you would like to donate) to 70070. And you can follow the charity on Twitter: @CampbellsTrust and on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ TheCampbellBurnsMetabolicTrust.

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Feature

Emily Boothroyd chats to TV chef Valentine Warner and the Food Programme’s producer Dan Saladino.

A farmers’ market founded and run by students at Sutton Bonington Campus has made it into the finals of BBC Radio Four’s Food Awards — just over a year after its launch.

The monthly market is one of three finalists in the Best Food Market category of the national awards scheme.

“I found out we’d been nominated by hearing us mentioned on the Food Programme,” said founder Emily Boothroyd.

“It came as a real surprise as I hadn’t thought we’d have even been in the running being such a new market and not that well known.”

The market has more than doubled in size since it was launched in May 2011, with around 35 local food producers at each event.

Valentine Warner and fellow judge Kath Dalmeny.

“Both past and present organising committees are really delighted that we’ve been shortlisted. They are all full-time students and as you can imagine, a lot of time and effort goes into the planning and execution of every market, so this is well-deserved recognition for all that hard work.”

Judges TV chef Valentine Warner and Kath Dalmeny, from Sustain — the alliance for better food and farming — were impressed when they dropped in last month.

“I was incredibly impressed by the market,” said Valentine. “It was well thought out and offered an impressive variety of produce to the students, some of which I was surprised but delighted to know they were buying.

“Stall-owners were giving student discounts too, it was still worth it for them as the market was supported by so many people. It was very encouraging to see everyone selling out.”

Valentine Warner samples the wares.

Ian Jalland with Samanatha Bennett and Elizabeth Barnes.

Valentine praised the student organisers as “very organised, very friendly, very forward thinking” and said the market had been chosen as a finalist, not just for its standards, but for the benefits it brings to the local area.

“Markets champion ingredients particular to various region of the country and support local commerce. They often take things hard to find in the city to the city. They are a fun day out as well as a good place to learn more about ingredients.

“We also like the idea of students being given an opportunity to have things that normally they couldn’t afford, while also having an alternative to the supermarket and bad eating which they are commonly associated with.”

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Harriet Bunday and Emily Boothroyd paid tribute to all the student market organisers.

Isobel Pooley tucks in to a burger.

In the market for a national award 5/ Exchange/ Issue 62/ November 2012/

News

How you can help to make an Impact Take your pick from these fab Happy Christmas to all our readers, lots of love, from seven-year-old Jessica, four-year-old Tim, five-year-old Kallum and Jacob, aged eight (and a half).

The children who designed these superb Christmas cards are all patients at the Queen’s Medical Centre and created the cards under the guidance of students from the University’s Open Art Surgery Society. A pack of eight cards (two of each design) costs £4 and every penny will go directly to support the work of the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre (CBTRC) at Nottingham, helping to improve survival rates of children with brain tumours.

Order your cards online at: store.nottingham.ac.uk (click on Product Catalogue). To purchase on behalf of your school/department, please call the Campaign and Alumni Relations team on +44 (0)115 951 3036 with your project code and order details. Cards will also be available from The Alumni Hub, B floor, Portland Building, University Park.

The CBTRC is a key project within Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, a five-year campaign to raise money across five strategic themes. The Campaign — the biggest fundraising campaign in the University’s 130-year history — aims to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future.

In just over a year since its launch, Impact has already raised more than £80m towards its £150m target.

And you can play your part. This year’s corporate card features the Campaign logo with a festive twist.

Cards are available in packs of 25 for £7.50 plus VAT with a donation from every pack going to Impact: The Nottingham Campaign. Order your corporate card at: www.alphagraphics.co.uk/uk007, click on AG online, log in and order. (Email Richard Eldridge: r.eldridge@ alphagraphics.co.uk to request an account if you don’t have one). The card will be available to order from 5 November.

Ecards of both the CBTRC and corporate cards will also be available to download from: www.nottingham. ac.uk/christmas-e-cards in the run-up to the festive season.

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cards created by youngsters or the corporate card below.

News

Tributes paid to Dolly the Sheep pioneer Tributes have been paid to internationally renowned scientist Professor Keith Campbell, who has died at the age of 58.

Professor Campbell was instrumental in the creation of Dolly the Sheep, the first cloned mammal, which paved the way for the successful cloning of other species.

He was a cell biologist/embryologist with a research career spanning more than 30 years, the majority of which was in the field of cell growth and differentiation.

He joined the University in 1999 as Professor of Animal Development in the School of Biosciences.

Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor, said: “Keith was a brilliant scientist. His work was genuinely transformational and inspirational. His pioneering research was revolutionary. That, together with his passion for science, will ensure he is justifiably remembered for all he accomplished. Keith was also an outstanding colleague whose absence leaves a huge gap. He will be greatly missed. I offer my deepest respect and sympathy to his family.”

Prof Neil Crout, Head of the School of Biosciences, said: “Keith was a valued and respected colleague who will be sadly missed. His work and scientific achievements speak for themselves and his death is a great loss for developmental biology. Inevitably most people will remember him for Dolly the Sheep although his recent work was focused on fundamental and applied stem cell research as a tool for the study of human disease.”

Prof Jus St John, Director, Centre for Reproduction & Development at Monash University, Australia, said: “Keith was an outstanding and inventive scientist whose foresight and work led to major changes in how we now ask scientific questions and make significant advances.

“Very few scientists of Keith’s calibre exist and when they are successful, their impact is immense. The generation of Dolly, which he was the intellectual leader of, was an advance that triggered a revolution in scientific investigation. Without Keith’s input, the field of cellular reprogramming would not have made the significant advances that it has. I will sorely miss Keith as a great friend and collaborator.”

Prof Jose Cibelli, of Michigan State University, USA, said: “I knew Dr Campbell for almost two decades, first as a competitor, then as a colleague and then as a dear friend. While he is known worldwide by the public because of his role in the generation of Dolly the Sheep, his contributions to science are enormous and will be forever lasting. He developed new techniques to produce therapeutic proteins in domestic animals and was the first person to clone pigs, now being used for the generation of organs to potentially treat patients in need of organ transplantation.

“Thanks to his dedication and brilliant intellect the field of regenerative medicine is today closer to the clinics. We anticipate that within the next five years, patients suffering from degenerative diseases will be treated, if not cured, using technology introduced by Dr Campbell. All these scientific breakthroughs Prof Campbell gave us did not happen by chance; they are the product of years of study, hands-on experimentation and above all, a deep love for science.”

Prof Campbell is survived by his wife, Kathy Campbell and his daughters, Claire and Lauren Mills. An online book of condolence has been set up on the University website. An extended version of this article is available at: www.exchange.nottingham.ac.uk.

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Feature

Arthur Seaton’s Nottingham in the frame “I’m a bloody billygoat trying to screw the world, and no wonder I am, because it’s trying to do the same to me.”

So said the hard-drinking, hard-fighting, hard-loving Arthur Seaton, the Raleigh factory worker in Alan Sillitoe’s 1958 groundbreaking novel Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.

The 1960 film — directed by Karel Reisz — saw Albert Finney bring Sillitoe’s anti-hero to life and was hailed a turning point in British cinema. It is also widely credited with putting Nottingham on the map.

The novel helped frame a cultural moment, set at a time when the working class had a collective identity thanks to trades unions and working men’s clubs. But Seaton has rejected this and was out for himself. If he isn’t “pursuing his rebellion against the rules of love, or distilling them with the rules of war, there was still the vast crushing power of government against which to lean his white-skinned bony shoulder, a thousand of its laws to be ignored and therefore broken”.

It was also the time when youth culture was emerging.

Young people realised that they could have an identity and lifestyle that was different from that of their parents.

And, in stark contrast to the austerity of the post-war years, they had a spending power like never before.

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning: The ‘Authentic Moment’ in British Photography is inspired by the novel and the film. Shirley Anne Field — who played Doreen, Seaton’s naïve young girlfriend — will open the exhibition at Djanogly Art Gallery on 17 November.

The exhibition aims to capture the essence of the world Sillitoe portrayed. As Sillitoe was writing the novel in Majorca, Nottingham was undergoing a radical social upheaval. Whole areas of the city were razed as new housing developments such as the Clifton Estate changed the face of the city. The Raleigh factory where Seaton worked and his home — the film featured Sillitoe’s family home at 5 Beaconsfield Terrace — are long gone; the University’s Jubilee Campus stands in their place, the Aspire statue symbolic of the hopes and aspirations of the city and its people.

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in contemporary photography, focusing on working class culture in the 50s and 60s. It highlights the work of a generation of photographers drawn to the regions in a bid to capture the authenticity of ordinary lives.

The exhibition is curated by Neil Walker and Anna Douglas. Neil says: “Whereas previous photographic surveys have tended to focus on the ‘swinging’ capital, we wanted to examine a cultural phenomenon which was more regional in spirit and more closely aligned to the spate of accounts of urban working-class life by academics, playwrights, novelists and documentary filmmakers that were making such an impact at the time. We were also interested in those photographers — often working in journalism — who seemed to us to be pursuing a similar realist agenda to the filmmakers of new wave cinema.”

The discovery at the British Film Institute of an archive of photographic stills from the shooting of Reisz’s film was a breakthrough for the organisers, suggesting how Sillitoe’s world could be portrayed.

Neil says: “We have taken liberties with his narrative to interpret the Sunday Morning section of the exhibition in terms of the dawn of this new world ... at the end of the book Seaton himself hints at a more settled future life with Doreen in one of the new estates he despises.”

“Our excuse for extending the chronology of the exhibition to the late 60s was to be able to encompass the photography produced for the books by Ken Coates and Bill Silburn at the University on the effects of poor housing in St Ann’s.”

The exhibition features the work of John Bulmer, Graham Finlayson, Roger Mayne, Shirley Baker and Maurice Broomfield, alongside national photographers and more than 33 local amateurs. Including the work of local amateurs was Anna’s idea.

“The introduction of this less-privileged imagery expands the gamut of uses to which photography was put and confounds further our readings of reality and artifice,” says Neil. “We hope that the results will appeal on many levels in capturing the essence of the novel’s time and place as well as providing a snapshot of the country at the point of profound cultural change.”

Top: Saturday Night and Sunday Morning ©Shirley Baker. Bottom: Saturday Night and Sunday Morning 1960 ©Woodfall/BFI.

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning: the ‘Authentic Moment’ in British Photography runs from 17 November to 10 February 2013 at Djanogly Art Gallery.

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Media

Spotlight

For the very latest in University news, follow us on Twitter: @UniofNottingham, @UoNStudentNews and @UoNPressOffice.

Award-winning academic’s Ningbo role An award-winning academic is to spearhead developments in teaching and learning at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China.

Professor Julie Sanders, pictured above, Head of the School of English in the UK, will take up the post of Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) in 2013. She takes over from Professor Andrew Marton who moved to the University of Victoria in Canada as Associate Academic Vice-President International.

Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor, said: “Professor Sanders is ideally placed to take on this key role. Alongside her Director of Teaching, Dr Jo Robinson, she already leads several ground-breaking initiatives within the School of English aimed at enhancing teaching and learning through the development and implementation of innovative approaches. That, together with her experience as a head of school and her standing as a scholar of international repute, make this an outstanding appointment.”

Students join in day of action in Lenton Students joined residents and businesses during a day of action in Lenton Boulevard last month.

Teams cleared rubbish and tidied gardens as well as calling doorto-door to spread crime prevention messages.

Melanie Futer, Off Campus Student Affairs Manager at the University, said: “Students are very much a part of the community residing and using the facilities of Lenton Boulevard. It is their community and as such they should and do take a pride in the area.

Students being part of this initiative will help ensure that the area becomes more vibrant.”

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CTU recognised as a NUBs climbs in MBA centre of excellence rankings A centre which brings together specialist experts to support ‘bench to bedside’ research projects has been recognised as a centre of excellence.

The Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit has maintained its registration by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC), recognition of its excellence in coordinating randomised trials, which test the effectiveness of drugs and other healthcare interventions, and opening the door to potential research funding.

The Nottingham CTU offers a ‘one stop shop’ to support academics and clinicians from universities, hospitals and NHS Trusts to plan and run largescale randomised clinical trials.

It receives CTU Support Funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to support applications to NIHR research programmes and funded projects and has a current estimated annual turnover of £2m for all its research projects.

Nottingham University Business School (NUBS) is celebrating after jumping up this year’s Economist MBA rankings.

NUBS improved its position from 94 in 2011 to 86 this year.

The top 100 includes institutes from around the world and places the University’s business school as 13th in the country.

The Economist MBA rankings are ‘student-centric’ — focusing on the way business schools meet the demands that students have of an MBA programme.

Dr John Colley, Director of MBA Programmes at the Business School, said: “We believe that creativity and entrepreneurial thinking can be taught. Our students benefit from both our worldwide reputation for research in this area and our close links with entrepreneurs who contribute extensively to our teaching.”

The ranking considers a range of factors including the opening of career opportunities, personal development, increasing salary and the potential to network.

Research

Call to all couch potatoes Do you want to get fit but find it hard to make time for exercise?

Researchers are looking for sedentary volunteers to take part in a study into a time-efficient exercise tool called HIT — High Intensity Training. The training programme is part of Metapredict, a multi-disciplinary European health project which aims to develop individualised lifestyle strategies to help fight or prevent metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Each volunteer will undergo health screening before they start and have a HIT schedule devised so they work to just below their own maximum level of intensity.

The University is one of six sites across Europe and Canada collaborating on this research project.

Beth Phillips, a research associate in the School of Biomedical Sciences, said: “The hope is that we can show people don’t have to conform to the traditional guidelines of 60 minutes a day of moderate intensity exercise, which some people say they simply don’t have the time to do. If we can prove that seven minutes of high intensity exercise in a 15-minute session three times a week is enough then most people can fit that into their daily lives.”

The Nottingham research is led by Dr Phil Atherton, Associate Professor in the School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health in Derby and Professor Paul Greenhaff in the School of Biomedical Sciences.

Dr Atherton said: “The clinical contribution from the University — training 20% of all the Metapredict cohort — is crucial for trialing the utility of HIT exercise on a large scale and for developing “predictors” of the health benefits of exercise, which in future could be used for assessing “health risk” and/ or assigning personalised exercise and medicationbased interventions.”

Volunteers need to be aged 18 to 50 with a BMI of over 27, who lead a sedentary lifestyle and can find time to do seven-minute bursts of high intensity exercise in a 15-minute session, three times a week for six weeks. The training sessions will be in Nottingham. Contact Beth Phillips on 0115 823 0202 or email: beth.phillips@nottingham.ac.uk.

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Feature

“Last Saturday was one of the best days in Edo’s life so far… (and mine…). As his mother I truly hope he will be able to maintain this passion, not only for chemistry but also for the belief that dreams can become true, with dedication and work.”

Paola Pavarotti, mother of Edoardo

Best birthday surprise ever for Edoardo A 10-year-old boy came face to face with his heroes — the team behind the University’s YouTube hit, Periodic Table of Videos.

Edoardo Bandieri had already exchanged emails with Professor Martyn Poliakoff before his mother Paola arranged the birthday surprise.

Paola, who lives in Modena in Italy, wrote to Professor Poliakoff: “My name is Paola Pavarotti and I am the mother of a little 9-year-boy, Edoardo Bandieri, with whom you kindly exchanged a few e-mails.

“Edoardo is very fond of chemistry, and in the last year has become a real fan of yours and of your team. At home we have to limit his accesses on the Internet as he would tend to spend all his free time on your periodic videos!

“On 12 September he will be turning ten and my husband and I have thought of surprising him by trying to organise a short visit to The University of Nottingham. We would like to know whether you and someone from your team would be available to spend a few hours with him, showing your labs and premises and explaining some experiments.

“Edoardo has been attending the English Primary School in Modena, where we live, and he is fluent in English, so you’d be able to communicate quite easily.

“If you think this could be somehow possible (not necessarily that week, due to this short notice), I could start planning a short stay in Nottingham and set a schedule with you.

“Despite your availability to meet Edo, let me thank you and your staff for the wonderful work you are doing. It is amazing how your videos have helped Edo to develop a real passion in chemistry.”

The Periodic Table of Videos, which are the brainchild of University of Nottingham film maker Brady Haran and a team of working chemists at the University, are designed to make chemistry as

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interesting as possible — and it looks like they’ve succeeded. From etching the Queen’s portrait onto a diamond to ozone insights on Bondi Beach, the series has covered every element in the Periodic Table and much more besides.

Professor Poliakoff said: “On the day, Edoardo attended the demonstration lecture for A-level students, sitting in the front row, and putting up his hand to answer questions.

“He brought biscuits as a present for the team, and cards for Pete, Sam, Debbie and me. After the lecture he visited my office and went to lab with Pete Licence.”

Edoardo’s favourite video is one where Pete demonstrates how to convert some white phosphorus into phosphorus pentoxide, using just a little bit of sand and a hot copper rod. Visit: http://youtu.be/U6_-EUcswSc. “Edoardo has watched all the videos, quoting from them, and even reciting perfectly the limerick about DDT! His mother said that last year Edoardo chose Chemistry as the conversation topic for his English test at school,” said Professor Poliakoff.

The limerick is: A mosquito was heard to complain, that chemists had poisoned his brain.

The cause of his sorrow Was para-dichlorodiphenyltrichloro-ethane.

Visit: http://youtu.be/L3QkJ9-Wnk4.

“It was really a moving experience,” said Professor Poliakoff. “It’s occasions like this that makes us feel that our YouTube project is really worthwhile.”

Visit: www.periodicvideos.com and periodicvideos.blogspot.co.uk.

Edoardo with Professor Martyn Poliakoff.

“Edoardo’s visit was really a moving experience. It’s occasions like this that makes it all worthwhile.”

Professor Martyn Poliakoff

Edoardo’s thank you card.

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News Emeritus Professor Brian Atkin and his late wife, Jan.

A former University of Nottingham lecturer has established a student prize fund at the Malaysia Campus in honour of his wife who died from Alzheimer’s earlier this year.

Emeritus Professor Brian Atkin and his late wife Jan spent five years in South East Asia after Brian was appointed CEO and Vice-President of The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.

Jan embraced the opportunity, gave up teaching and moved to Malaysia where she became an honorary tour guide for the many visitors to the university, especially colleagues from Nottingham, as well as accompanying Brian to official functions.

Jan also helped students to improve their English and developed a strong interest in student welfare, particularly in relation to international students. Years earlier she had acted as a “substitute mother” to students at Ancaster Hall while Brian was warden there.

But in 2008, Jan’s health deteriorated and the couple returned to the UK. Brian briefly returned to University Park before retiring after 35 years’ service, to look after his wife.

Jan so enjoyed her time in Malaysia that after her death, Brian wanted to find a way that she could be remembered for years to come in a place where she had been so happy and had made so many staff and student friends.

“Jan never forgot about the good times in Malaysia, although through her illness she forgot many other things. Hopefully this prize fund will help Malaysia remember her for a little longer,” said Brian.

Jan and Brian’s son Ben has started fundraising; in September he completed a 100km run in 12.5 hours.

The first three prizes from the Jan Atkin Prize Fund will be awarded in Malaysia in 2013. Donations to the Jan Atkin Prize Fund can be made by sending a cheque payable to The University of Nottingham, marked on the reverse ‘for the Jan Atkin Prize Fund’, to the Campaign and Alumni Relations Office, Ground Floor, Pope Building, University Park. Alternatively you can make a donation over the phone — call Jo Crossley on: 0115 846 7310.

Professor Ian Pashby, Provost at UNMC, said: “We are delighted to receive this very generous donation from Brian. Jan is sadly missed, but the Jan Atkin Prize Fund is a most appropriate way to commemorate the life of someone who always took a very keen interest in helping students during her time in Malaysia.”

Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor, said: “Jan is fondly remembered by all who knew her, both in Nottingham and at the Malaysia Campus, and it is entirely fitting she should be celebrated in this way. We are very grateful to Brian for this generous legacy.”

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Student prize fund set up in memory of wife Jan

News

Research ‘hothouse’ launched

The Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) has been officially launched in the newly refurbished Highfield House on University Park.

segregation, changes in leisure pursuits and tourism, issues of environmental sustainability and ways of increasing happiness and wellbeing.

CAS is a hub of research excellence to help academics and students make internationally significant and pioneering contributions to the ways in which social, cultural, economic and political life is understood and practised.

“It is a testament to the value of the Centre for Advanced Studies that all of these research matters (and others) feature in its current inventory of active research.”

Much of this new research is cross-disciplinary ranging from the shedding of new light on regional history to the role of the humanities in healthcare as well as the creative economy including pervasive digital media and moving image research. CAS also actively promotes public engagement outside academia in the arts and social sciences.

As part of the launch, the 12th Earl of Portland — actor and writer, Tim Bentinck, who plays David in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers — gave a reading from the University-curated Portland family archive collection.

And writer, broadcaster and sociologist Professor Laurie Taylor discussed what makes a good society and why do the arts, humanities and social sciences matter? for the keynote speech.

Professor Taylor said: “Anyone who doubts the need for research in the humanities and social sciences only has to think for a moment about the critical questions which currently preoccupy all those with an urgent concern about the future of our society; questions about the changing nature of work, about the impact upon our daily lives of developments in the digital landscape, about issues of urban development and residential

Director of CAS, Professor Pat Thomson, added: “At a time when society both nationally and globally faces major challenges, the arts and social sciences make particularly important contributions to knowledge and to the quality and scope of public discussion. CAS fulfils its mission by providing administrative support and funding generation as well as practical help and strategic planning for research, public engagement and the forging of new partnerships.”

The centre includes the former Humanities and Social Sciences Research Centre team and is directed by an Executive Committee which includes an academic Director, the Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and the Graduate School, and the Research Manager.

An example of work being undertaken include The Raleigh Project, a three-year collaborative study on the history and social impact of the celebrated Nottingham bicycle brand. It includes archive research, an oral history programme, public lectures and film screenings and community theatre involving the ex-Raleigh workforce. It will culminate in the production of a digital archive.

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Feature

Ain’t no mountain high enough 16/ Exchange/ Issue 62/ November 2012

University of Nottingham Veterinary Medicine student Leanna Shuttleworth has climbed her way into the record books.

Earlier this year — aged just 19 — she became the youngest female Briton to climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. And the foundation year student accomplished the feat with her dad Mark — becoming one of the few father-anddaughter teams to stand together at the top of the world.

Leanna’s love affair with mountaineering began aged 14 on a school trip to Everest base camp. Despite extreme altitude sickness, Leanna was hooked.

“We went to a little summit called Kala Patthar, which has a beautiful view over Everest and watched the sun set — it was incredible. I made the best friends I ever have. When you experience something like that you just want to do it again and again and again.”

Back home, Leanna read Together On Top of The World by Phil and Susan Ershler — the first married couple to conquer the Seven Summits. “I’d just turned 15 and thought the challenge sounded amazing. So I sat down at my computer to look up as much information as I could, which wasn’t very much in retrospect, took it downstairs to my parents and begged to get started.

“My dad said one mountain at a time and it went from there; we did a couple of courses, got slightly better — found out what crampons were, for example, and it kind of led on. Realistically I didn’t think it was going to happen, but did I think it was possible?

At that age anything is possible.”

On a second school trip, Leanna climbed Kilimanjaro. This time Mark came along. Together the pair have since scaled Elbrus, Denali, Aconcagua, Vinson, Kosciuszko and Everest.

“It has been really lovely,” said Leanna. “Most fathers and daughters don’t get to experience what we have together, and we are a lot closer now. When we are climbing together we are very much team-mates, you have to all be equals, so it can be difficult to re-adjust to everyday life where he is the one with the power.”

The ascent of Everest had added incentive for both of them. “We decided to raise money for the Vitiligo Society, as my mum has the condition,” says Leanna. “It was important to her and so became very personal. Vitiligo affects one person in every hundred and causes the skin, and sometimes hair, to turn white in patches.

Despite it being quite common some cultures still pair it with leprosy. By raising £57,000, we’ve helped the society to provide support to those affected and to conduct further research.”

What was it like to face extreme physical and mental challenges in some of the world’s harshest places — roped to her dad?

Leanna says they loved the shared experience of overcoming the challenge, the beauty of the mountains and teamwork. But she said: “For me the summit probably isn’t the reason I do it, but for my dad I think it is. I just enjoy the climb in general; I love how it takes life right back down to the basics. You don’t have to worry about anything trivial; each day is very much about surviving and getting to where you want to go. You have to look after yourself, which is the only thing you have to worry about.”

Mark said: “We’ve accomplished such a lot together. Everest was a life-changing event for both Leanna and myself and one we are still coming to terms with in terms of a sense of achievement.”

Leanna has the Matterhorn and the Eiger pencilled in for next summer. But for now, there’s the small matter of a foundation year to be getting on with...

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Feature

Why is Bethan full of beans?

If the saying “healthy body, healthy mind” is to be believed, the stereotypical student lifestyle is perhaps not the most conducive to maximising learning potential.

While rejected by some, drunken antics, a sleep pattern which can be described as inconsistent at best and a poor diet, mean that for others a bout of flu is never far away.

To help students adjust to the move away from home, the University has been running HealthyU for the last five years, dishing out advice, sexual health testing or cheap exercise classes to hundreds of students.

The first term saw roadshows at halls, and now HealthyU Week offers a timely reminder of the importance of looking after yourself as a month of revision looms on the horizon.

Ahead of this year’s HealthyU Week, Exchange caught up with Bethan Davies, a PhD student at the University’s Institute of Mental Health, to find out why it is so important for students to take advantage of the support offered by the University.

“I am a PhD student wherein my research is focusing on university students’ mental health and emotional well-being.,” said Bethan.

“As both a student and a researcher, I’m aware of how important it is for students to stay healthy while at university. Entering and being at university can be challenging; we often have to juggle academic, social, employment and leisurely demands.

“If our health and well-being is affected at all, such as falling ill or experiencing emotional distress, then it can also affect how we cope with our academic workload and our other demands. It’s important to consider our health and well-being while at university; we don’t have mum to nag us, so it’s our responsibility to look after ourselves! Being healthy — both in the body and mind — is important as our thoughts, feelings, behaviours and actions are often influenced by one another.

“Students face numerous challenges in keeping healthy.

Many of us are on a budget and money is tight — we might not be able have a healthy diet or to go to the gym every day.

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“With cheap fast-food joints and drinks offers, it can be difficult to avoid having frequent takeaways or to get carried away with alcohol. I’ve found joining the University swimming club helpful in providing me with frequent exercise. Having gym membership also means that some of the sport centre’s exercise classes are free, and the University’s Any Body Club also provides affordable exercise opportunities for students.

“HealthyU helps increase awareness of what opportunities are available to students and provides advice and information — both in person and online — about how to improve and maintain your health and well-being.

“The HealthyU roadshows and events are great in helping signpost students to relevant resources for their health and well-being, such as university counselling.

It can help reduce barriers that might otherwise hinder students from taking care of their health — such as the C-Card scheme which provides free condoms to under-25s.

“Healthy U is a great initiative in promoting both physical and psychological well-being — and I hope it continues to help students!”

This year’s HealthyU Week takes place at University Park from 26 to 30 November and at Sutton Bonington from 3 to 7 December. To find out about the range of exercise classes, talks and information fairs taking place throughout the week, visit: www.nottingham.ac.uk/ healthyu.

Bulletin

Bulletin board

Email any school/faculty news to: karen.shale@nottingham.ac.uk, marking your email bulletin board.

54km of cabling marks start of improved wi-fi roll-out

Dr Harold Shukman dies: A tribute

New student admin hub opens at Royal Derby

A massive 54km of cabling has been installed in halls of residences as part of a major overhaul of the University’s wireless network at its UK campuses.

Dr Harold Shukman (Slavonik Studies/ Philosophy 1956) was a leading authority on Russian history, politics and culture.

Students at The University of Nottingham Royal Derby Hospital Centre now have a one-stop shop for all their course administration and student services needs.

Working with BT iNET, the University aims to improve service in halls and in teaching and learning spaces, and to make it easier to use.

Nearly 800 access points have been installed in halls, and a further 1,500 access points will be fitted in campus buildings before the end of the first term.

A simplified authentication service will be launched in early next year and a new wireless service identifier (or SSID) will become available called UoN-WiFi. When this appears all users of the wireless service should move their devices over to connect to this new SSID. After registering, staff and students will be automatically connected to the appropriate secure service. Guests and visitors will be re-directed to a simple registration process to be connected to the guest service (visitors using the eduroam service will be unaffected by these changes).

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From Nottingham, he moved to St Antony’s College, Oxford, obtaining his DPhil in 1960. St Antony’s remained his academic base until his retirement in 1998.

Malcolm Jones (Russian Studies 1962), Emeritus Professor of Slavonic Studies at the University, former Professor of Slavonic Studies (1980-1997), former Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, said: “A superb linguist, inspiring teacher, prolific writer and translator, and a person capable of great generosity, Harry always cherished his Nottingham roots and kept in touch with successive generations of colleagues here, serving as external examiner in Russian for an unprecedented six years in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

“He regarded his studies at Nottingham as ‘three of the best years of my life’.

“Harry will be greatly missed, both as a scholar and as a friend.”

Dr Shukman leaves a wife Barbara, three children and three stepchildren.

The Student Services and Course Administration Centre is based between the Schools of Nursing and Graduate Entry Medicine and Health. The schools have worked with the site’s professional services departments to develop this dedicated admin service for the 1,200 students based at the Royal Derby Hospital Centre.

Students can access a range of services through the centre, including undergraduate admissions and course administration, assessment administration, timetabling and room bookings, academic and disability support, counselling, financial support, careers and health promotion.

The Students’ Union has space at the centre, and will hold events throughout the week, from yoga classes to choir practice.

A welcome event on Wednesday 7 November will allow staff and students to find out more. Drop in between noon and 2pm. For more information, call 01332 724900.

Events

Events Saturday Night and Sunday Morning: The ‘Authentic Moment’ in British Photography Saturday 17 November to Sunday 10 February at Djanogly Art Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park. The gallery is open 11am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, and noon to 4pm, Sundays and bank holidays.

Admission is free.

A sensational new exhibition inspired by Alan Sillitoe’s groundbreaking novel and the film adaptation directed

by Karel Reisz. Taking seminal moments from the book and film, the exhibition explores the depiction of social change in contemporary photography, focusing on working-class culture in the late 50s and 60s.

Image: Saturday Night and Sunday Morning ©Shirley Baker.

Lustre Saturday and Sunday, 10 and 11 November at Djanogly Art Gallery/DH Lawrence Pavilion. Open 11am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, and noon to 4pm, Sundays and bank holidays. Admission: £5 for a weekend pass, £4 for OAPs, under 16s free.

Fifty-five of the UK’s finest contemporary craft-makers come together for a weekend. Each maker has been selected by a panel of experts for the quality and uniqueness of their craft, and each will be on hand to chat to the public about the ideas and inspiration behind their work. Lustre previews some of the most cuttingedge work coming out of the region’s universities.

Image: Earrings by Anna Wales.

Jubilee Wood tree planting days Alumni planting event is on Saturday 1 December from 11am-1pm; a student planting afternoon on Wednesday 28 November from 1pm-4pm.

Sutton Bonington has been chosen as a site for a Diamond Wood to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee.

Planting will take place on Pasture Lane, about a mile from Sutton Bonington. Students should email: DominicSweeting@WoodlandTrust.org.uk or call: 07720 808 754. Alumni are asked to email: simon. buttenshaw@nottingham.ac.uk or call: 0115 9513998.

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Listings

What’s on

Arts, music and lectures — expand your mind on campus this month.

See www.nottingham.ac.uk/events for comprehensive listings.

Public lectures

Exhibitions

Music

Balls, Boots and Players: Celebrating 500 Years of Nottingham High School in its Community Ken Clarke talks Date: Friday 9 November Time: 1pm to 2pm Venue: Senate Chamber, Trent Building, University Park Admission: Free

Balls, Boots and Players Celebrating 500 Years of Nottingham High School in the Community Date: Until Sunday 13 January Venue: Weston Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: Free

Marilyn Crispell, Eddie Prévost and Harrison Smith (Jazz) Date: Tuesday 6 November Time: 8pm Venue: Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: £15, £12 concessions, £9 restricted view

Balls, Boots and Players: Celebrating 500 Years of Nottingham High School in its Community Balls, Boots and Players: Tony Palfreman Date: Tuesday 13 November Time: 1pm to 2pm Venue: Senate Chamber, Trent Building, University Park Admission: Free Saturday Night and Sunday Morning Regionalism and Realism: Tracy Hargreaves Date: Thursday 22 November Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm Venue: Djanogly Art Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: Free Saturday Night and Sunday Morning I’m Out For a Good Time: Nigel Arthur (BFI) Date: Thursday 29 November Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm Venue: Djanogly Art Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: Free Karachi and the Wilds of Interior Sindh Aleem Maqbool, BBC Pakistan correspondent Date: Tuesday 4 December Time: 1pm to 2pm Venue: Room A09, Engineering Science Learning Centre, University Park Admission: Free Elixir: Post-show Cafe Scientifique BBC Radio 4’s Quentin Cooper Date: Tuesday 27 November Time: 9pm Venue: Djanogly Theatre, University Park 22/ Exchange/ Issue 62/ November 2012/

Lustre Date: Saturday 10/Sunday 11 November Time: 10am to 5pm Venue: DH Lawrence Pavilion and Djanogly Art Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, Admission: Weekend ticket £5, OAPs £4, under-16s free Saturday Night and Sunday Morning The ‘Authentic Moment’ in British Photography Date: Saturday 17 November to Sunday 10 February Venue: Djanogly Art Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: Free Still: Dean Rogers Date: Saturday 17 November to Sunday 10 February Venue: Angear Visitor Centre, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: Free

Ensemblebash (Contemporary) Date: Wednesday 14 November Time: 8pm Venue: Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: £15, £12 concessions Atos Trio (Chamber) Date: Saturday 17 November Time: 7.30pm Venue: Djanogly Recital Hall, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: £15, £12 concessions Shooglenifty (Folk) Date: Friday 23 November Time: 8pm Venue: Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: £15, £12 concessions Wihan Quartet (Chamber) Date: Saturday 24 November Time: 7.30pm Venue: Djanogly Recital Hall, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: £15, £12 concessions University Wind Orchestra Date: Sunday 25 November Time: 8pm Venue: Great Hall, Trent Building, University Park Admission: £8, £5 concessions, 4 UoN students

Theatre and Dance Mother Courage And Her Children Date: Tuesday 13 November Time: 7.30pm Venue: Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: £15, £12 concessions, £9.50 restricted view The Tear Thief suitable for 3+ Date: Friday 16 to Sunday 18 November Time: Friday, 10.30am and 1.30pm, Sat/ Sun, 1.30pm and 3.30pm Venue: Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: £6.50 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Date: Monday 19/Tuesday 20 November Time: Monday, 7.30pm, Tuesday, 1.30pm and 7.30pm Venue: Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: £15, £12 concessions, £9.50 restricted view Inspector Norse Date: Wednesday 28 November Time: 8pm Venue: Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: £15, £12 concessions, £9.50 restricted view Sadhana Dance: Elixir Date: Tuesday 27 November Time: 8pm Venue: Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park Admission: £12, £9.50