Concrete 391

“I want to route this out of our service”Norfolk Police Chief on officer misconduct

Jamie Bryson News Editor

Trust in national policing has fallen by a historic 22% in just two years -standing at just 53% in England and Wales, according to the latest YouGov poll. Amidst multiple cases of misconduct and abuse inside forces across the two countries, distrust remains greatest amongst 18 to 24-year-olds. Concrete sat down with the Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary, Paul Sanford, to discuss issues within his own force and the actions he is taking to address it.

Between 2019 and 2021, 25 Norfolk officers were held against misconduct or gross misconduct proceedings, leading to five

sackings, four resignations (who were due to be sacked) and a further 12 given formal warnings. Amongst those sacked were disgraced former officers Neal Porter and George Ince, who were arrested on duty over indecent images of children.

Challenged on these incidents, Sanford stated, “We found out their activity - we invested in finding them out and we got them out”. Reflecting more widely, he added, “Most of our officers are there for the right reasons - but this lot let us down terribly. I want to route this out of

our service; we’re determined to get them out”.

Appointed in June 2021, during what he branded “challenging times”, the veteran officer emphasised that since coming to the post he has “already kicked people out because they don’t line up with our values” and referred to “more investment into anticorruption”, adding “you will hear more on this”.

Probed on the effectiveness of the force's security vetting processes, Sanford proceeded to describe how “the best vetting in the world will tell you what someone has done, but not what they will do”. Expanding on this, how does the Chief Constable believe the force will begin to attract more of the

right attributes and characteristics to the recruitment process? “I think it starts before recruitment”, he states, “I think there's something about how the constabulary is seen amongst its local communities; we recruit from communities. What we often find is people who we've had positive encounters with, who think, you know what you've done there is something that I'd like to be associated with - that looks like a noble cause. So the engagement that we do in our communities is key”.

So what experience and qualities does Sanford hope to emerge from

these community engagements that would work well within the force?

“When recruitment does come in, we assess against values” he describes.

“We’re less interested in academic capability - we're interested in life experience. We're interested in people's ability to communicate with others”.

In many cases, it is clear that any previous value-based assessments in previous vetting within the service has not always been - as the College of Policing’s Vetting Code of Practice states - “effective in identifying those who pose a potential risk to others or who are otherwise unsuitable for working within the police service”.

What reassurances then, can the Chief constable give, that due processes are in place post-recruitment that will allow “unsuitable individuals” to be removed from post? “Once someone is recruited, they are still

then in a probation period, and dependent upon the route they take into policing that probation period could be two years or three years” Sanford reveals, and then keenly emphasises, “It's lengthy and during that time, I do have the ability to remove them from policing - that is where the Chief constable does have powers if they don't demonstrate those values in everything that they do”.

In recent years, the force has seen a greater number of people leaving during this probationary period,

which Sanford remarks, “might well be a good thing”.

In concluding the interview, Chief Constable Sanford stated “The reputation of the police is something we hold dear. The events of the last few years have severely hampered that. So the effort to bring the right people into the organisation doesn't stop once they've signed their contract”.

Members of the public can contact Chief Constable Sanford by emailing ForceExec@norfolk. police.uk

Exclusive: Clive Lewis MP on the costs of climate change

Charlotte Gullick News Writer

As the annual UN climate change conference, COP27, comes to an end, many of us may be left with questions, and no more so than towards our local representatives. In a Concrete exclusive, our local MP – Labour’s Clive Lewis –reflects on the politics of the ‘climate crisis’, and shares his views on the steps we can take as a community here in Norwich South.

When asked the seemingly obvious question of his views on climate change, Lewis highlighted his views on the importance of framing, stating, “It's not climate change, it’s a climate crisis; it’s not just about change, it’s catastrophic change that’s taking place which is going to cause a crisis.”

With regard to political policy, it was clear the former Shadow Defence Secretary believed his party was not doing enough.

At their recent autumn conference, The Labour Party pledged 100% clean electricity

by 2030 (70% wind and solar, 30% nuclear, hydrogen and other renewables), the instating of a publicly owned energy company, and to triple the amount of solar power production, and quadruple offshore wind farms.

In putting this to Mr Lewis, he remarked “Infinite growth on a finite planet is not scientifically possible. I think my party does tend to focus too much on growth; let’s focus on the things that need fixing, rewilding, renewable tech, retrofitting, properly paid social care jobs, nursing, increasing the number of nurses and doctors, enhancing and increasing the roles of teachers.”

Expanding on the economics of the climate crisis, Lewis repeatedly highlighted that “you don’t have to wear a hard hat to be in a green job.” He wants to see further investment in the “jobs which enhance our wellbeing, enhance our mental health…That’s the kind of growth of the economy that I want to see, rather than just seeing empty growth in terms of consumption or parts of the economy which are harming the environment and the ecological systems which we need to survive.”

Asked what he would be telling the leaders of the Conservative party to do right now if he was their environmental advisor, he exclaimed that he would call for them to “resign!” and added “The Conservative party is inimical to genuine climate action. I personally think that capitalism - or the variations on capitalism that we have at the moment - is always going to struggle to be able to tackle the climate crisis”.

Mr Lewis emphasised to us

that he was a self defining “Socialist”, in a break from the more social-democrat (centreleft) political positioning of the current Labour Party leadership.

In the context of the Just Stop Oil protests that have been materialising across the country in recent weeks, Lewis responded that “yes”, there are circumstances in which breaking the law is permissible: “those protesters, I think,

when they make their case in a peaceful way, and sometimes it is disruptive - I am supportive of that. I personally think that they have every right to do what they need to do in the way that they want to express themselves, in a peaceful way, to make their point. And I’ll make the point that there is a big backlash about the fact that they’ve delayed ambulances and so on, and I’m afraid to say that this government and the way it has treated the NHS in the 12 years of austerity has probably contributed more than any climate protester ever has.”

Moving on to the current cost of living crisis, Lewis remarked on how the energy crisis and the climate crisis are “one in the same thing”.

He emphasised “what is driving inflation is excess profiteering, we know that there are a large number of companies that are increasing their prices under the guise of inflation, because they can, and they’re generating super profits…you can just look at the oil companies they are a classic example of that, and they are benefitting very much from a crisis, in part, of their own making.”

Lewis continued to explain that not only nationally but globally those who are poorest are those most affected by the climate crisis; from those struggling to heat their homes in the UK this winter to those affected by adverse weather conditions in the global south.

In considering the above, we asked Mr Lewis what advice he would give to students in Norwich; “I think the biggest thing people can do is take an interest in these issues, speak up on these issues, and act as a kind of spokesperson in their community; when you go into work, when you speak to your family, when you hear people saying ‘oh those pesky climate protesters’ and have

the argument, say oh hold on a second why are they protesting, what’s happening, what are the failures."

Lewis also urged readers to vote and hold those accountable who possess the ultimate power to make a difference, without putting too much pressure on ourselves to try and fix things with personal actions, and instead to come together as a community.

Leaving students with one final message the Norwich South MP advised readers to “educate themselves about what is happening, understand what is happening, and make sure they play an active part in their democracy, ensuring that their politicians are doing what is necessary.”

If you are registered to vote in Norwich South, you can contact Clive Lewis MP on any issue at clive.lewis.mp@parliament. uk stating your full name and address.

Union Council proposes removal of Antony Gormley’s statues

Badriya Abdullah Home of the Wonderful Writer

The Student Union Council has passed a motion calling for UEA to remove the famous (or infamous) Antony Gormley statues that are placed around campus.

The art installation was placed in 2017, and whilst the university had stated that it is proud to be hosting “thought-provoking work”, they have drawn criticism from students from back then until now.

The art installation is part of a bigger project by Gormley called “Another Time” and features 100 life-sized human statues placed in a nation-wide art exhibit.

Gormley has stated that the aims of

these works is “an attempt to bear witness to what it is like to be alive and alone in space and time” and explore a human experience.

UEA is host to three of three of Gormley’s statues placed on the walkway of UEA’s library and on the roofs of the Biology department and UEA library.

Whilst the statue on UEA’s walkway is considered good luck by students, many have complained about the placement of the other two statues and the way they eerily look like someone about to make an attempt on their own life.

This resulted in a petition back in 2017 for the statues to be removed, but this did not come to pass.

Gormley, most famously known

for the art piece, “Angel of the North” defended his work at the time, stating that all art should be “unsettling” and that the installation had “nothing to do with suicide”. Rather, “they’re actually to do with life and they’re placed on the skyline in a way to make us think about space and distance.”

On Thursday 24th November, at the last Student Union Council meeting, Ethical Issues Officer Alice Bethell proposed that the statues be removed at the end of their five year loan period, which would be complete by the end of this academic year.

The motion proposed that the SU lobby the university to hasten the removal of the statues, and to ensure that it take into account student opinions when installing

controversial work in the future.

Currently, it is uncertain whether the statues will be moved to

other locations of if they will be permanently removed from campus as they near the end of their loaning period.

A Wonderful Christmas: the holiday season in Norwich

Lily Taylor Home of the Wonderful Writer

Norfolk never seems to disappoint at Christmas, and it looks like it is not about to start. With Christmas 2022 just around the corner, Norfolk has plenty of magical events lined up to get the public in the festive spirit. Whether you prefer an evening exploration of Norwich City with its endless trail of lights, or simply want to sit down for a Christmassy cake and drink, there is something for everyone this season.

One of the most anticipated Norfolk Christmas attractions is Norwich’s Tunnel of Lights. Back for its seventh year, the popular tunnel consists of over 57,000 LED lights that are bright and colour changing. Situated on Hay Hill near The Forum, the illuminous tunnel is

a stunning display. If you’re looking for the perfect selfie location with a friend of partner, this is not an attraction to be missed. The Tunnel of Lights is open now, make sure to check it out before it closes on the 5th of January.

Lights and selfies not really your thing? Maybe you are more of a show person; this year, Thursford are bringing back their annual Christmas Spectacular, the largest Christmas show in the country. Audiences will be treated to a night of music, singing and dancing from a cast of 120 professionals, many of whom have appeared on the West End. Due to the show’s popularity, the 2021 Spectacular sold out fast, so make sure to get your tickets as soon as possible for this year. Tickets are on sale now, so head online or make a phone call to grab yours today.

Sometimes, there is nothing better at

Christmas than a warm drink and a slice of cake in a cosy café. Why not take this to the next level and treat yourself to The Nutcracker Festive Christmas Afternoon tea? Located at the Assembly House in Norwich, this mouthwatering array of sweet and savoury delicacies is the perfect festive treat. Furthermore, this afternoon tea is designed to suit a variety of diets, with vegetarian, vegan and dairyfree options. The Nutcracker Festive Christmas Afternoon Tea is available to buy from now until the 8th of January, so book your table at the Assembly House now and get your tastebuds in the Christmas spirit.

These are just a handful of events and attractions available to you in Norfolk this year. To explore more ideas, visit www.norwichbid.co.uk

COP27: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back.

As the largest climate conference of the year wraps up, Emma Darlington looks at the key takeaways

Emma Darlington Global Senior Writer

At what point does the human race say enough?

Enough to the exploitation of natural resources fuelling our greedy lifestyles. Enough to the millions of people being affected by wars, conflict, hunger, and migration brought about by climate change. According to UNICEF, 33 million people have been affected by the heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan brought about by devastating rain and floods. The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in more than 40 years. More than 18 million people are facing severe hunger in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya. Let’s not forget the islands which have been inundated by rising sea levels, destroying whole communities. These were among the direst cases of climate crisis when world leaders headed to Cairo.

The 20th of November was the start of the 27th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27). Held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, more than 100 heads of state and governments and over 35,000 participants came together for action against climate change. After two weeks of intense debate which overran by two days, agreements were made with an emphasis on mitigation, adaptation and boosting support in finance, technology and the capacity building needed by developing countries. There was a “reaffirmed commitment” to limit global temperatures to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. A strong emphasis of COP27 was climate justice, with the creation of the “loss and damage fund” with the aim to compensate and assist nations most vulnerable to climate change. This fund was an historic step towards rectifying the systematic injustices of billions of people who are facing the effects of the climate crisis today. However, many critics argue that COP27 “fell far below expectations”.

Take the issue of fossil fuels, for example. One pitch by India, a proposal to “wind down consumption of all fossil fuels” was quickly shut down by oil and gas producers such as Russia and Saudi Arabia. Will phasing out fossil fuels ever be included in the list of tangible achievements of COP28, COP29, and beyond? Perhaps not. The challenge is overcoming the vested interests of

countries and companies in oil and since according to the World Bank the oil and gas industry generate $1 trillion in profit a year, the oil lobby exerts a considerable amount of power, especially over petrostates such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Incidentally, the latter is hosting COP28 next year, and have recently brought forward oil production capacity expansion to 2027.

When looking at historical cumulative emission, countries with the highest historical emissions, are not always the biggest emitters today. But there is a consensus historical emitters should pay for their impact on the climate. The US alone is responsible for 25% of historical emissions, followed by China and Europe. The largest emitters today are China, US, India, Russia, and Japan who contribute 52% of global emissions, so these countries need to lead the way to combatting the climate crisis, whilst historical emitters need to pay for the damage they have wrought.

During COP27, obstinate stubbornness was the order of the day as the US initially refused the creation of the loss and damage fund and the entreaties of EU nations attempting to water down proposals and options. Conflict emerged over which emitters should contribute to the fund. EU countries proposed that big emitters such as Saudi Arabia, China, and India, who are not historically responsibility for emission, still play a role as donors towards developing countries.

However, the agreement concluded that each country either developed or developing could contribute to the fund on a “voluntary” basis. When examining past financial commitments made by countries one may wonder whether this fund will ever materialise.

The idea of industrialised countries taking responsibility for their past emissions, is not new to the table.

“Developing countries” have been pitching this idea since 1992 but have been unsurprisingly side-lined and barred from discussions. This new fund seems quite like one of the commitments made during COP 15, seeking to “enhance capacity and resilience, reduce vulnerability through technology transfer, finance and capacity building”.

Developed countries agreed to provide $100 billion in finance per year. Frustratingly, by 2019 this target had not been lived up to, with up to $20 billion missing. To bring this figure into perspective Qatar reportedly spend $220 billion alone on hosting the World Cup.

Additionally, there is a lack of clarity whether this fund will be additional money or money which has already been committed to other issues and shifted for the fund. It is becoming increasingly difficult to see how the most vulnerable countries will ever receive justice, and with the impacts of climate change hitting the said countries the hardest quick cash flows are vital. Despite this, COP 27 fell short in that it made no outline on how and when the money should be paid into the fund, or even on how it should be distributed. For this we will have to wait for COP 28.

Despite a clear emphasis on climate justice and empowerment nominally shared by all levels of participants and stakeholders there is still controversy when it comes to the perceived priorities of the organisers. When looking at the representation of people at the COP 27, the number of fossil fuel lobbyists were double those of indigenous people, who have a good deal more to lose than corporate profits. Cue, quite rightly, cries of injustice.

Climate change cannot be confronted without COPs. They are the only forum in which all countries can come together on an equal basis to discuss the climate crisis with the eyes of the world on them. But countries which do not want to bear the brunt of responsibility or act can do so. We need to continue and expand addressing climate change on all the forums we have, from the public to the private sectors, because relying on a single conference a year, however large in scale and inclusive in its participants, is not doing enough fast enough. How can effective

action occur at COPs when banks are still lending money to fossil fuel companies and governments are still heavily subsidising them?

International cooperation is essential for resolving the climate crisis. But unless the major emitters and fossil fuel users come with a much greater impetus on making change and not letting their wallets rule their politics, human civilisation will pass the point of no return, and there will be no coming back.

In the words of Secretary General Antonia Guterres; “We are on a highway to climate hell with one

Honour amongst uncertainty: the reality for families of nuclear test veterans

Libby Hargreaves Editor-in-Chief

It was recently announced the sacrifices and efforts of

nuclear test veterans will now be recognised with a medal. For veterans and families alike, this is great news as previously to this there was little record of their service, it means now, finally, the government and MoD must admit their role in the deaths and life-altering conditions of these brave men, and their families.

My grandad, Rawdon Howe, served on Christmas Island in 1957 as part of this nuclear test effort. I never met him. He died of cancer in 1984, age 48, when my mum was just 15. We suspect this was a result of the chemicals and radiation he was exposed to, and injested.

Christmas Island was a testing site for nuclear bombs. Veterans on the Island were in extremely close proximity to these bombs, and therefore the radiation which came after.

They swam in the waters around the Island (as you can see my grandfather doing) and ate the fish they found there too, which had been radiation contaminated.

I don’t know much about how he served, or what role he had on the island and I can’t find any records for his time there. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon; it is the unknown reality for many of these veteran’s family members due to the undocumented nature of their

service, and the lack of living relatives as a result. That doesn’t make it any easier to digest that he was such an influential figure to much of my family, and that he gave his life to me and future generations, yet I barely know more than his name.

It is scary to know he came home with this radiation in his body, that the children he had after his service have potentially suffered adverse affects from this negligence, that I may have certain conditions or increased likelihood of life altering diagnoses because my grandfather simply tried to serve his country.

Studies supported by organisations like Labrats and Children of Atomic Veterans have found genetic impacts of the radiation even in the greatgrandchildren of these veterans, and other radio-active sites like Chernobyl, which are taken more seriously, clearly have widely known medical impacts. Do I then have to consider the impact of his service on the island in my decision to have children?

It seems unfair that others around me can tell amazing, heroic stories of their grandfathers and greatgrandfathers’ time in the war effort, and not have to consider further impacts on themselves or their families, yet I am left with nothing but worry and a few pictures of a man I never knew.

I am going to try to apply for the medal, to honour his sacrifice, and to honour the trauma my family has felt since. More than anything though, I would love to see his military records and to hear any stories that might exist of his time out there.

The next step is compensation for families; whilst honour is great, it is no consolation for the pain and medical uncertainty families have been put through.

Image: Concrete- Libby Hargreaves

I’m a politician - what am I doing here?

Lily Taylor Comment Writer

Like thousands of others, I was shocked and somewhat disgusted to learn that Tory MP Matt Hancock would be joining the I’m A Celebrity 2022 line up. Hancock, 44, is best known by the public for his role as the government’s health secretary during the pandemic. However, in June 2021, he resigned from this position after it was revealed that he was having an affair with his aide and breaking his own guidance rules. When so many of us followed his guidance to protect ourselves and our loved ones, we couldn’t help but feel disrespected and disappointed when Hancock was unable to do so himself. His appearance on I’m A Celebrity feels like a slap in the face for the public. The years 2020 and 2021 were

devastating for many of us. With the unexpected outbreak of COVID-19, people were left anxious and confused. In the UK alone, over 209,000 Covidrelated deaths have been recorded, leaving thousands of families grieving. I lost my

great-grandma to Covid just after her 100th birthday in the early stages of the pandemic, making me realise just how severe this disease could be.

I myself was also at risk of becoming very ill with Covid-19 due to having a compromised

immune system. I had to shield for months, which negatively impacted my mental health.

I knew I wasn’t the only one feeling like this. So many of us were struggling; mentally and physically.

During the peak of the pandemic, Matt Hancock was often on our screens during the evening’s daily briefing.

I would never go as far as to say I warmed to him, but compared to Boris Johnson’s nervous stuttering, he seemed more confident in his guidance, and many of the rules he put in place made sense. Whilst Johnson often gave the impression that he was living in a parallel world to the rest of us, Hancock came across as more grounded. As a result, it was incredibly damning when his affair scandal was revealed, and perhaps more surprising than Johnson’s lockdown

parties. Hancock’s affair, Johnson’s parties, Dominic Cummings’ illegal Durham trip – all these people were leading our country, yet it felt like there was nobody we could trust. Due to the widespread controversy surrounding Matt

Hancock’s affair scandal, it was unsurprising when Ofcom received over 1,100 complaints concerning his involvement with I’m A Celebrity. Furthermore, a protest banner was flown over the Australian jungle, demanding Hancock to

be dropped from the show by ITV. Can we blame the public for being angry? Not really. Why should we allow a politician who abused his power to gain celebrity status? He is not a celebrity, he is a politician, and a failed one at that.

Since his appearance on the show, I believe ITV have a lot to answer for in terms of their editing. In an earlier episode from the first week in the jungle, Hancock’s celebrity campmates confront him about his actions during the pandemic. Yet, within two minutes, they are all taking it in turns to hug him, describing him as “only human.” I’m sorry, but I don’t believe that a couple of apologies on an ITV reality show are going to cut it, Matt.

Magic Mushrooms as Medicine: Psychedelic Therapy could hold key to curing depression

George Barsted Science Editor

Psychedelics have long been seen as niche, dangerous and harmful drugs often espoused by alternative, newwave gurus who seek to enlighten their chakras. But, in a clinical sense, psychedelics may hold the key to treating various mental health disorders where currently available treatments fail.

Recently, patients were treated with a low dose of psilocybin (the active compound found in magic mushrooms or Psilocybe cubensis as it is also known). Alongside this small dose, patients were assisted with talking therapy to understand the causes and solutions of their depression. This was particularly effective for those suffering from treatment-resistant depression (depression for which two courses of antidepressants have been tried but lead to no improvements). Around half of those impacted by treatmentresistant depression are unable to perform basic household tasks due to their condition. Prof Guy Goodwin, who helped to lead the trial, characterised the results obtained as “exceptional”. Up to thirty percent of participants experienced remission of symptoms after 3 weeks. This is deemed to be an incredibly satisfactory outcome for a trial of its kind.

Psychedelic therapy is nothing new. Since ancient times man has consumed various cacti, fungi, and seeds hoping to experience some type

of spiritual breakthrough. Most of these experiences are tied up in cultural rites, with shamans and medicine men employed as spiritual gurus. Whilst many cultures have experience with various psychedelics most of it hasn’t been studied in a controlled clinical setting and focuses on cultural or religious implications.

Spurred on by Albert Hoffman’s synthesis of LSD in 1938, hallucinogens began to be studied en masse in the twentieth century. Trials of psychedelics were operated throughout the 50s and 60s, trying to find applications to a variety of cases. Alcoholics, schizophrenics, autistic children, depressives, terminal cancer patients, and even criminals were all the focus of various studies with these drugs. Timothy Leary, an academic at Harvard, even experimented on divinity students in the so-called “Good Friday Experiment”. This lead to one student having to be restrained as he attempted to flee the trial to announce the return of the Messiah. Many results with hallucinogens were largely positive in terms of improving mood and mental disorders. But the experiments were poorly performed and lacked

the rigour and control of modern science. For a short while, it seemed that hallucinogens, in controlled doses, could provide an opportunity to take a different route to solve a variety of psychological and behavioural issues.

As the 70s rolled around and with psilocybin having left the lab and found an audience with hippies, moral panic had set in. The authorities worried that the public would “turn on, tune in, drop out”, and a raft of legislation was placed to restrict access both academically and recreationally to these substances. Now some 50 or so years later, we are in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance.

The path forward for psychedelic research may contain some roadblocks. Government controls on these substances are still rather draconian. Psilocybin is classified as a “schedule 1” drug in the UK, meaning it is said to have no medicinal benefit and is illegal. This is increasingly untrue as more research is published, and means that trials using it need to obtain a Home Office licence to operate. The process of obtaining one can be expensive and represents a blockade for some types of research. Professor David Nutt, a former government health advisor, is quoted as saying “Patients are being denied access because of the regulations”. Nutt was dismissed from his post by then Home Secretary Alan Johnson in 2009 after arguing for the relaxation of legislation on psychedelics, but he continues to be well respected in the field of psychiatry. Most psychedelic research is being funded now by wealthy philanthropists or private

healthcare companies in the UK, and there is a worry that these treatments will be left only to those who can afford them. Psychedelic therapy may end up being for the elites only.

Dr. James Rucker, a researcher in the area of psychedelic therapy, declares there has been a “legal stranglehold” on the drugs for years. There is a distinct lack of public funding for the use of these drugs in clinical trials, which may be key for unlocking their further potential.

It’s important to note that psychedelics might not be the miracle drugs for treating depression and other mental health disorders that some claim.

There is still meticulous research to be done on these substances. It is also worth noting that most of these studies are looking at the applications of low doses of psilocybin, between 1 mg to 10 mg, and accompanied by therapy to understand the root of the patient’s issues. This is in contrast with what some recreational users would consider in terms of dose sizes. Some side effects reported in the trial included headaches and nausea with some experiencing

suicidal thoughts or partaking in selfharm. Professor Nutt hopes that a larger phase three trial will be able to provide more results and insight into how psilocybin-assisted therapy can be used.

Most of these trials have little time for the talk of “spiritual enlightenment” that many after a psychedelic trip talk of, they’re purely designed for a medicinal purpose. A study led by Imperial University noted that connectivity in the brain increased after small doses of psilocybin when tracked by fMRI scans. This increased connectivity in patients’ neurons was associated with remission from severe forms of depression in the study. This was significant as the brain connectivity wasn’t increased with conventional antidepressants, suggesting psychedelics were working in a different mechanism. Elucidation of this could provide even more information as to why psychedelics could provide the breakthrough needed in some forms of mental health treatment.

Psychedelic research is now a far cry from hippies in fields supporting “vegetable rights and peace”, it could genuinely provide answers for those suffering from resistant forms of depression and other mental disorders. Psychedelics at first will be seen as disruptive and taboo amongst the general population but it’s hoped within time they may provide a viable alternative in helping people to understand and treat their mental health.

Stranger Things: The Culture Shock Experience

Seshadhri Subramanian Concrete Writer

I still remember my first experience of culture shock. It was at the selfcheckout counter at a Sainsbury’s in Newcastle in September 2018. As I stood there not knowing how selfcheckouts worked, I looked around and asked myself what I was doing in a country thousands of miles away from my hometown, trying to start a degree that nobody in my extended family had done with absolutely no idea how secure my future was going to be.

It was not the first time I had moved cities. I had lived in different places throughout my 23 years prior to Newcastle. I come from a city called Chennai in southern India and have

spent significant time living in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Nairobi, Kenya at various points throughout that time. Being from urban India and moving to the UK is a uniquely jarring experience at times. Chennai – and for that matter Mumbai and Bangalore as well – is crowded, noisy, vibrant, traditional, modern, cosmopolitan, and much more. It is a melange of eras, something that is reflective of a larger country that is finding its identity everyday and yet fearful of losing it at the same time. Being in an Indian city, no matter which one, felt like being at home – the people, the roads, the smells, and life in general felt familiar.

Being thrust into Northeast England to do my doctorate was like being dunked in a bucket of cold water. Newcastle, as vibrant as it was, felt unfamiliar in the

early days. It was cold (the worst winter I ever had in Chennai was 22 degrees) and everyone at university seemed to know one another even before they arrived. I considered myself relatively fluent in English and yet somehow felt incapable of holding a conversation because I was reticent and tonguetied. I was told to join societies to make friends but what I was not told were the inner workings of the societies and the sometimes-cliquey nature of them. I joined the wrong ones at Newcastle University and felt even more out of place and without friends than I did before. The pandemic didn’t help either – only exacerbating any feelings of homesickness I had. So, at the end of my first year, I was in a strange place,

with no real friends and somehow facing a language barrier even though I supposedly spoke and understood English.

But over time, I adjusted to life in Britain (to a point where Buzzfeed now tells me I am 62% British). Joining a sports society in Newcastle that was welcoming and inclusive and gave me one of my best friends to date made a huge difference (shoutout to Newcastle Pies Ultimate Frisbee).

I ingratiated myself more into the scientific community there (for context, I do a science degree) – something I regret not doing earlier and I managed to find more people who were in similar situations as me and who also wanted to adjust to life in Britain.

By the time I got the offer for a second doctorate at UEA, I knew what I was getting into. The change from India to Newcastle was big and daunting and as much as I felt prepared for it, it was a curveball I did not deal well with. On the other hand, it was a learning experience. The shift from Newcastle to Norwich felt natural to me both from an academic and a non-academic point of view. I knew the mistakes I had made and I was determined not to repeat them. I found yet another welcoming Ultimate Frisbee club (shoutout Aye Aye Ultimate). I started getting more involved right from the beginning with my lab group and within my Doctoral

Training Programme (DTP) and found some of the best people within them. It was a much smoother transition than I thought it would be and I have yet to hit any real snags.. I am sure there will be something at some point – I just think I am much better prepared to deal with it than I was four years ago.

Culture shock is a strange thing. It can be incredibly debilitating for a person to be transplanted from a life they’ve known all along to a completely new one. And yet, somehow, it feels like an important learning experience. If I could go back to 2018 and tell myself one thing, I would probably say that I shouldn’t hide in my shell so much –that if I go out there and get involved in everything a bit more, I would find the transition a lot easier because most people are willing to help you – as somebody did on that day with the selfcheckout at Sainsbury’s.

UEA Kayak and UEA Boat Club team up for 24-hour row for Movember

Dan Laughlan Sports Editor

A couple of weeks ago UEA Kayak joined UEA Boat Club for their annual 24-hour row in support of Movember. We reached out to them to hear how the event went.

UEA Kayak said, “We wanted to support Movember as it is something we previously haven’t done before, and rowing (UEA Boat Club) kindly let us join in on their annual 24-hour row. Movember is a great cause as mental health is

something that will affect us all at various points in our lives and we all need a good support network, men especially often don’t feel comfortable talking to people about their feelings and as such raising money for movember to support men’s mental health is a great cause.”

“We split the 24 hours into hour long slots to kayak and members could claim as many spots as they wanted to attempt, luckily we had two amazing kayakers who did long hard shifts in the night (up to three and a

half hours) which meant we could always keep paddling non-stop for the whole 24 hours. That was definitely the hardest part of the challenge. Having the kayak/ row in the hive presented a great opportunity for people to meet the club and for all our members to come and support throughout the day, especially towards the end as those who had done multiple hours needed the support most throughout the last push.”

“The last hour in particular was a great bonding moment as we had 3 people take part

in short stints so everyone could have a try before one last half an hour push from a member. This was a lovely last half an hour as a large portion of both the rowing and kayaking clubs were there with music playing and everyone singing dancing and cheering each other on.”

“Between the two clubs we have raised nearly £800 so far”

Although November is now over, you can still donate anytime of the year to Movember in support of their great cause.