Life March 2013

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March 2013

RAG week raises £3,000

On course for top award

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David Blunkett MP launches lecture series Page 7

James is ‘on par’ to become a golfing pro Page 8

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RAG raises £3,000 W

OULD you dress in your most-hated football team’s shirt all day, or turn up to a party in clothes bought entirely from a charity shop, or perhaps even auction yourself for a date?

These are just some of the antics students have been getting up to, to raise funds for charity.

The Beds SU RAG (Raise and Give) Week raised more than £3,000, which brings this year’s total to £4,000, all of which will be donated to RAG’s four selected charities: l The Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust (RAFT) skincare charity l Sue Ryder, which provides care and support for people with palliative, long-term and end-of-life needs l The UpRising leadership programme – dedicated to nurturing and developing young people between the age of 19 and 25 to become the next generation of leaders

Communications Team contacts Rose Taylor Head of Communications & Events rose.taylor@beds.ac.uk Kevin Cunningham Communications Officer kevin.cunningham@beds.ac.uk Simon Wesson Communications Assistant simon.wesson@beds.ac.uk Caroline Jacobi Communications Administrator caroline.jacobi@beds.ac.uk Photographers James Linsell-Clark David Stubbs

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Phab Club, a Luton community club The week was preceded by a Super Bowl night on Sunday, 3 February, when the Luton campus Mezz bar was open to show the Ravens beat the 49ers, and served American food.

“It attracted a massive attendance for a Sunday and was an absolutely fantastic night,” said RAG Officer Jordan Lewis.

“It was the perfect evening to attract people along to events in the following week.”

Those events included a silent auction, table tennis competition and sponsored l

silence day, as well as the dress-up events in Luton.

In Bedford students took part in ‘Balloon Babies’ where each had to keep their inflated balloon with them all day and night to receive a prize, while Liquid in Bedford ran a balloon drop, with

information about prizes and RAG week.

The concluding event was a bachelor auction in the Mezz bar, which alone raised £2,000, including the sale of the football squad’s first team manager for £200.

RAG Week – revellers at the Shirt of Hurt fundraiser

‘Dairylea Dunkers’ dragon outfit wins green prize

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IFE magazine isn’t just a good read, it seems; it’s also the perfect material to make a quick outfit!

This imaginative dress, pictured left, was created as part of Beds SU’s ‘Get Your Green On’ costume-making competition, held on 11 February at the Bedford campus.

Students and staff were given 20 minutes to make costumes out of recyclable materials, including boxes, milk bottles, bits of material and plastic.

The winner of the competition was the ‘ Dairylea Dunkers’ team, Sarah Hand and Ollie Wright, who made a dragon outfit.

The event was held as part of national Go Green Week, student network People & Planet’s annual week of action on climate change in schools, colleges and universities.

On the day representatives from Bedford Borough Council also promoted recycling in the community with a stall showcasing recycled accessories, including necklaces, purses, bags, CD holders and notepads, as well as a ‘make your own bracelet’ out of plastic bags and strips of bicycle inner tube.

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News Will Horncastle

“My way of dealing with it is to raise money for treatment needed by people who are in a similar situation to the one I was in.”

Will goes extra 13 miles in dad’s memory Student Will Horncastle is helping others coping with the loss of a loved one by competing in the Great North Run this September.

Caroline Jacobi reports

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HEN Criminology student Will Horncastle lost his father to a rare form of cancer, he was adamant that he would strive to help others in the same situation.

Will and his family began fundraising in memory of his dad Alan by taking part in sponsored walks and cake sales but decided they needed to do something bigger.

“I wanted to do something because you hear all sorts of stories about people just giving up and going into depression when something like this happens,” said Will, who is from Chalton, Beds. “My way of dealing with it is to raise money for

treatment needed by people who are in a similar situation to the one I was in.”

Will’s dad passed away on Father’s Day last year after suffering from a rare adrenal tumour, which doctors told the family affects just one in a million people.

“It all happened so fast and it was such a shock. I was taking my A-levels at the time so it was very stressful. It was a horrible time,” said Will, who plans to run the 13-mile Great North Run in September with brothers Darryl and Christopher and his best friend Adam Delicate.

Starting in Newcastle-upon-

Tyne, the course takes in the Tyne Bridge, passing through Gateshead and finishing in the town of South Shields on the North East coast.

“The four of us want to do something big to raise money but also test ourselves to see how far we can go,” said the 18-year-old.

The group will be raising money for Queen Mary Hospital in Birmingham, which has a research centre looking at the cancer that took Alan’s life, and the St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle, which provides support and advice to those suffering from life-limiting conditions.

Sponsor Will by visiting his JustGiving page at www. justgiving.com/AlanHorncastleGreatNorthRun

Gender should not matter for primary school teachers STEREOTYPES are preventing men from entering primary school teaching according to new research.

The study ‘Why are there still so few men within Early Years in primary schools? Views from male trainee teachers and male leaders’ suggests that mentoring by head teachers is needed to overcome the issue.

Malini Mistry (University of Bedfordshire) and Dr Krishan Sood (Nottingham Trent University) questioned 13 male primary school head teachers, and 18 male early years trainees at one university, at the initial and final stages of their undergraduate Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses.

The trainees highlighted a number of stereotypes and barriers preventing men from entering the profession: the perception that ‘early years’ is a woman’s role, as they are more nurturing; men being perceived as threatening to some young children; and risks of accusations of indecent behaviour.

Gender stereotyping They stressed that leaders need to challenge gender stereotyping and provide positive role models, while also suggesting that all male ITT students should experience early years education and work with a man during a placement.

Malini Mistry, Senior Lecturer at the University’s School of Education, said in her class of 28 just a ‘handful’ are men and on external primary visits there are even fewer male teachers.

“It’s a trend we really need to change,” she said.

“Stereotypes, perceived or real, of gender inequality, homophobia or identity need to be challenged and addressed by leaderships in organisations,” he said.

All the male primary school heads emphasised that gender was not an issue for them; instead, qualities such as professionalism, understanding of early years and how children learn and develop, empathy, and good emotional intelligence were more important.

This research has been published in Education 3-13: International Journal of Primary, Elementary and Early Years Education.

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A five-year research programme has investigated how acute psychiatric wards can provide better care for patients with schizophrenia and psychosis, and, aid staff who treat them.

Caroline Jacobi reports

Psychiatric ward research makes inroads to patient care C LEAN, uncluttered and well-managed premises can lead to calmer psychiatric wards, a study conducted by a Bedfordshire academic has shown.

Dr Chris Papadopoulos, pictured right, has been working on a five-year research programme into how acute psychiatric wards can provide better care for patients with schizophrenia and psychosis, for example, and aid staff who treat them.

The latest findings look at correlations between a range of patient, staff and ward characteristics and levels of conflict – incidents that affect whether a patient escapes or is violent, for example – and containment – methods used to manage someone who is violent, for instance, such as extra medicines or restraint.

The results of the study, which was published last month in the academic journal Psychiatric Services, expected to influence policy and good practice to make psychiatric wards safer and more theaputic environments.

Dr Papadopoulos, a senior lecturer in Public

“If we can illuminate which wards are more likely to be therapeutic we can create more wards which benefit both patients and staff.”

Health and part of the University’s Institute for Health Research, said: “Conflict and containment events take their toll on patients and staff and are also expensive for the NHS so we have been looking at how we can, most importantly, improve patient care, but also save money.”

The research investigated 136 wards in England between 2004 and 2005, looking at patient and staff activity, in particular conflict and containment incidents, and also how the wards were managed.

New book offers solutions to boost radio wave capacity

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XPERTS from the University’s Department of Computer Science and Technology have contributed to a book exploring developments in the next generation of wireless networks.

The book, LTE-Advanced and Next Generation Wireless Networks: Channel Modelling and Propagation, describes recent advances for the successful design and deployment of new wireless systems.

One of the book’s editors is the University’s Head of Centre for Wireless Research,

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Professor Ben Allen.

Dr Petros Karadimas and Dr Ghazanfar Safdar also contributed to the book, part of a team of 35 researchers from 13 countries.

With so many devices using current wireless systems, the volume of wireless data transmitted over the air is exploding, resulting in exhaustion of radio resources.

The book addresses topics to resolve the imminent lack of radio spectrum, such as cognitive radio, compact antenna design and network planning.

They found: • Low conflict, high containment wards were predominately larger and featured fewer patients with schizophrenia and those admitted for the risk they pose to others.

• High conflict, low containment wards had a greater number of male staff and were not based in quality premises.

• High conflict, high containment wards had high levels of unqualified and temporary staff.

• Low conflict, low containment wards were different in very specific ways including being based in nicer premises, better ward structure and organisation, and fewer patient beds.

Dr Papadopoulos added: “There are very clear implications that are important for patients and staff. If we can illuminate which wards are more likely to be therapeutic we can create more wards which benefit both patients and staff. We are beginning to know the way forward and that’s a crucial step.”

“The take-up of mobile phones is still increasing, fuelled by our insatiable demand for more data any time, anywhere,” said Professor Allen. “Yet the radio spectrum that supports radio transmission is a limited resource and so new ways of accommodating more data in such a limited resource continues to be the focus of telecommunications researchers and engineers.

“Understanding the radio channel is fundamental to the successful design of any wireless system and this book provides this vital information for future mobile networks.”

The book’s other editors, Guillaume de la Roche and Andres Alayón-Glazunov, are former Research Fellows of the University.

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You Said…We did: Check out Major improvements in ICT – the new because you asked Postgraduate T Centre

HE University is spending £3.5 million on upgrading its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure and systems, including the wireless network, across all five of its campuses – what students and staff asked for, and more.

The £1 million programme will replace all old PCs used by students over the next three years Wireless access point – some 400 by the summer, and the rest over the coming two years.

Students will also see a marked improvement in network capacity once new wireless access points are installed. One hundred have already Are you a third year student? All you gone in with more on the way. have to do for a chance to win one of The hours that the ICT Service Desk is open 10 iPADs or one of 30 x £100 cash prizes have already been extended and, from the end of is to spare 10 minutes to take part in the March, ICT support will be available for students National Student Survey (NSS). and staff 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

All higher education colleges and The University’s Chief Information Officer, universities are Wojtek Adamek, said: “We are working as fast obliged to take part in as we can and prioritising according to what the annual NSS. students have asked for.

It is your opportunity “Once stages of this work are complete there to give your opinions will be noticeable improvements in service. The on what you like about new student PCs, for example, will be faster, and your university and when the new software distribution system is in your course place, log-in times will also be quicker. as well as “A lot of work is being done to upgrade To have your anything you and improve the entire wired and wireless say log on to want to see network in all five campuses.” l Full details of all work planned, www.thestudent improved. timescales and what you can expect once survey.com work is done see next month’s Life.

Have Your Say – and win an iPAD or £100 in cash

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ave you been to the newly opened Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development Centre?

Make sure you do.

Havard University-style lecture theatres, a cafe, formal and informal meeting areas, a games room and student lounge with a big screen are just some of what you will find there.

The five-storey building is linked to the rest of the Luton campus via a high-level bridge into the Business School.

The University’s Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell said: “The Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development Centre is an energising and inspiring building which will further enhance the student experience which is at the top of all our agendas.

“This new building will transform our flexible, responsive CPD support to businesses.”

And students have been giving the Centre their seal of approval too. MBA student Manoj Bhatt said: “The building is awesome – it is really fine.”

LLB Law student Lorraine Tierney was equally impressed adding: “The Postgraduate Centre looks really good.”

The £20m building project included recladding the Business School and external relandscaping between the University’s buildings on Vicarage Street.

Plans are now in the pipeline for another £140 million of refurbishment and new buildings including a new, bigger, state-of-the-art library in Luton.

Dean of Business School honoured THE Dean of the Business School Dr Sonal Minocha has been named Academic of the Year at the Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards.

Dr Minocha was presented with the prestigious award at the House of Commons last month by Chuka Umunna MP and Asian

Voice magazine’s publisher CB Patel.

Dr Minocha said: “It’s great to have the University of Bedfordshire recognised in the Asian community via this award. A number of innovative schemes have been introduced in the Business School which will benefit our students and will be models for business and management in the future. I’m encouraged that Asian Voice has recognised that.”

Last year Dr Minocha was shortlisted for the Woman of the Year category for the 2012 Asian Achievers’ Awards.

Left to right: Dr Minocha with Chuka Umunna MP and Asian Voice publisher C B Patel

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Spaghetti western festival rides into town

ith, Django Unchained picking up the best original screenplay Oscar at the Academy Awards a few weeks back, it would seem the taste for spaghetti westerns has returned – just in time for Luton’s very own ‘Spaghetti Cinema’ Film Festival.

The concept was dreamed up by University of Bedfordshire Senior Lecturer Dr Austin Fisher, author of Radical Frontiers in the Spaghetti Western, and includes eight classics of the genre.

Among the films showing at the festival, which takes place at The Library Theatre, St George’s Square, from Thursday, 11 to Saturday, 13 April, will be the Sergio Leone/ Clint Eastwood masterpieces The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and For a Few Dollars More. There will also be talks by international experts, including Professor Sir Christopher Frayling and Spaghetti Western actor Dan van Husen.

The festival is open to the public.

Dr Fisher sought help from students for the project, including Festival Programmer Neil Fox (studying for a Professional Doctorate in Media, Journalism, Cinema and Television), who has previously organised Luton film festivals, and Monika Ciapala, a third-year Graphic Design student, who created the posters and signs to promote the event.

Dr Fisher, a Senior Lecturer in Media Arts, Division of Media Arts and Production, said: “The idea for the festival stemmed from my professional and personal fascination with the spaghetti westerns and it has grown from there.

“We are offering a unique opportunity to the audience – to see some cult classics for as little as £2. These are iconic pieces that will be enjoyed by everyone, from fans of the genre to film enthusiasts discovering this wave of cinema for the first time, who may not be familiar with each title.”

Spaghetti westerns are so-called because they were made by Italian filmmakers, and funded by Italian studios. During the 1960s and 70s, around 500 spaghetti westerns were made.

l Entry to talks is free for University of Bedfordshire students and staff. l For more information, visit spaghetticinema.tumblr.com or follow spaghetticinema on Facebook or @ spaghetticinema on Twitter. l For details of tickets visit www.lutonlibrarytheatre.com or call 01582 547474.

“Spaghetti westerns are so-called because they were made by Italian filmmakers, and funded

by Italian studios.”

University filmmakers are a big hit at Berlin festival

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GROUP of tutors, alumni and current students attended the British Shorts Film Festival, held every year in Germany, where British filmmakers from all walks of life can show off their work.

MA Documentary students Helen Easter and Karol Sapinsky presented their short film, Svartnaetti, a poetic documentary exploring what humans experience when they are awake at night while the rest of society sleeps. The title is an Icelandic word which roughly means the darkest part of the night.

“Some people came up to us afterwards and said the film reflected their own lives and they really related to it, which was so touching,” said Helen, 22.

Karol, also 22, said: “We have had a lot of

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Staff and students from the University’s MA Documentary course wowed audiences recently at a film festival in Berlin.

Caroline Jacobi reports

support from our tutors – you come to the University not knowing what you’re doing but you have a great support network around you and I feel more confident now.”

Recent graduates Yunli Cai, Zhaoyu Li and Zhongling Li, and tutors Ruth Grimberg and Jan Bednarz also showed work. Ruth and Jan are both documentary graduates from the University.

MA Documentary Course Leader Dave Green and Senior Lecturer John Digance conducted Q & As with the filmmakers and ran a workshop where visitors had 48 hours to make films which were screened on the last evening of the festival. l You can view the short film Svartnaetti at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHDKGGSoEPk

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Universities must stand up to Ministers R t HON David Blunkett MP spoke about the challenges facing higher education when he addressed an audience at the Luton campus. The Labour MP was the first speaker in a new Public Policy Lectures series.

Drawing on his Greenwich University speech, while Education and Employment Secretary in February 2000, he said: “Many of the issues now under debate are very similar to those of 13 years ago.

“Whilst substantial progress has been made in the expansion of university places, and the challenges of the global economy and learning society have been understood and taken on, much of what was seen as relevant at the turn of the millennium remains central to the future success of learners today.”

He said universities in the UK must be prepared to work together in a world of growing interactive communication. He also called on universities to stand up to government when planned reforms did not make sense.

Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell said: “I’m delighted that my friend and former Government colleague David Blunkett launched our lecture series. David is one of the most original and distinctive thinkers in UK public life – and this speech certainly lived up to that.

“Universities have a huge role to play in developing public policy and provoking debate.

We must be a hothouse for ideas, contributing on a local, regional and national level.

“We look forward to welcoming our next guest in the series on 9 May: the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP”.

Rt Hon David Blunkett MP launched the Vice Chancellor’s Public Policy Lecture Series earlier this month.

‘Be different’ experts advise law students

l Visit www.beds.ac.uk/aboutus/vcprofile/ vice-chancellors-public-policy-lectureseries/Lecture-1-David-Blunkett to see a recording of David Blunkett delivering his speech or follow the Twitter discussion at #uniofbedspolicy

l Earlier this month the University successfully retained its Fairtrade University status.

First granted the accolade by the Fairtrade Foundation in 2012, Bedfordshire continues to be recognised as supporting and using Fairtrade products and to raising awareness of Fairtrade and the benefits that it brings to producers in developing countries with students and staff.

In a joint statement on behalf of Luton Fairtrade Steering Group, Sarah Alexander and Ryad Khodabocus said: “Well done on this fantastic achievement and for all the hard work that has been put into this.

We wish the University, Beds SU and their partners all the best as you continue to work hard supporting Fairtrade within the University.”

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tand out from the crowd,’ the University’s law students were told during an annual careers day.

The theme of this year’s event was ‘Where will your law journey lead you?’ and professionals from the legal sector talked of what graduates could potentially achieve.

Solicitors from two Luton-based law firms, Machins and Pictons, shared their knowledge, along with Technology Policy Adviser for the Law Society Tim Hill.

Third-year Law students Kenroy Justin and Qaiser Raja, pictured left, also had a lively debate about the effect the Legal Services Act 2007 known as Tesco Law - will have on high street solicitors. The Act could mean legal services being sold in supermarkets and other business structures.

Team recognised for ‘exemplary’ work

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OR many young people who have grown up in care without a traditional family upbringing, going to university may seem impossible.

The University’s Access Partnership team helps those who have had a difficult start in life to look to a brighter future.

Now the team’s work has been recognised with ‘exemplary status’ from the Frank Buttle Trust, a charity that helps young people who are in care, or have left care, to reach their potential.

Access Partnership Lead Officer Roisin Kendall said: “The team is over the moon to have received this status. It means that we are moving in the right direction. The odds stacked against young people in care are horrendous, so it’s good to make a difference.”

The team offer support at the application

stage, where students can identify themselves as a care leaver. They are then offered help throughout their time at university and, thanks to the National Scholarship Programme, receive £3,000 in their first year of study.

Staff also go out to schools and meet children as young as seven who are in care to explain that university really is a viable option.

“We aim to build up aspirations for university as often children in care move from school to school and may not get the academic support they need,” said Roisin.

“If we show them what can be achieved, and support them to get there, they have a much better chance of fulfilling their potential.”

Bedfordshire was first awarded the Frank Buttle Quality Mark in 2007 – it was one of the first universities to receive it.

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Student ‘on course’ for glory Sport Science and Coaching student James Tobia has just become a professional golfer and is now set to hit a pro tour.

Simon Wesson reports

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GED 15 James was out on the golf course practising the same five foot putt repeatedly for more than five hours at a time.

“I was there for so long I used to create my own footprint on the practice putting green,” recalls the Milton Keynes resident.

It’s a dedication which has more than proved worthwhile as James, 21, a first-year, part-time Sports Science and Coaching student at the Bedford campus, has made the step from amateur to pro golf and is now to embark on the Jamega Pro Tour in April.

Elated James, who will be representing the prestigious Woburn Golf Club in Bedfordshire, told Life he is “extremely excited” about the upcoming tour – designed for aspiring professionals to “cut their teeth” to discover if they

are good enough to earn a living at the game.

“For me it’s huge just to become a pro. I’ve played in pro tournaments before and there’s a big step up in terms of the other players’ attitude and

Sporting duo recognised as top performers

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TRINIDAD and Tobago and Colchester United ladies footballer, and a netball player/coach, have been awarded scholarships to recognise their achievements.

The two Physical Education with Qualified Teacher Status course students Karissa Rodney, footballer, and Felicity Dickinson, a Hertford Hornets netball player and Back to Netball coach, have each received a £500 Christine Heath Sports Scholarship.

The scholarships are presented to sportsmen and women who are competing at a national level.

Christine Heath was a student at Bedford between 1951 and 1954 and went on to become a member of staff for many years. She was also the Secretary of the Bedford Physical Education Old Students’ Association for 25 years.

At the award ceremony Karissa was described by her coach, Kevin Anderson, Director of Colchester United Womens’

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Football Club as a “committed, dedicated, highly-valued member both on and off the pitch, setting fantastic examples in work ethic as well as giving encouragement and support of other players”.

The scholarship will enable Karissa to continue attending training sessions in Colchester and join the local gym to carry out training with the most appropriate equipment. Felicity, who aims to play at the highest level and enthuse others to play, also received flowing praise, being described as “very committed in all areas of Netball”.

“She is willing to work hard and continues to improve. She travels an hour each week to attend training,” read her report from Sally Close, Hertford Hornets Coach.

Felicity, who is also assistant coach for Luton Satellite, was unable to attend the ceremony, but in a statement thanked the University and said she will use the money for travel and kit costs.

behaviour – I want to prove myself now and learn how to manage myself as a business too.”

James started playing golf aged 13. His dad, Tony, was a professional golfer and taught at Whitewebbs Golf Club, near Enfield, North London.

With practice it was clear James had some of his father’s natural ability and by the age of 17 was already playing off a zero handicap.

“For me it’s huge James justTobia to become a pro – I want to prove myself now and learn how to manage myself as a business too.”

“At the time we had a bit of a rivalry, but now I know I’m better than him!” joked James, who holds the course record at Milton Keynes Golf Club and has lead Berks Bucks & Oxon Elite County Team to many victories as captain.

“My dad is now my caddy. For me a big part of this is to make him proud; as he told me that he didn’t quite make it when he was younger, so I want to do it for him and go the whole way. He is my inspiration.

“I’m working hard to make that happen, practising as much as I can, up to eight hours a day. And I am also using my University course to my advantage – this term I’m analysing the biomechanics involved in golf, so hopefully this can give me the upper-hand!”

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Sports stars nominated for award First Year Sports Therapy students – Paralympic Dressage star, Mari Durward-Akhurst, and UK number two Canoe Slalom athlete, Mallory Franklin – have been nominated for the 2013 Luton Sports Woman of the Year.

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T the age of 11, Mari Durward-Akhurst was advised to take up equestrianism with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) to act as therapy for her Cerebral Palsy.

She hasn’t looked back since, and today she is one of UK’s top para dressage competitors contesting at a national, and international, level.

This week the 19-year-old was given the fantastic news that she will be joining fellow University of Bedfordshire sport-star Mallory Franklin on the list of nominees for Luton’s best sportswoman.

Elated Mari, who is aiming for a professional career in sports therapy to aid her riding and is “loving” her first year at uni, told Life she was really excited about the upcoming awards at the Vauxhall Recreation Centre, on Thursday, 21 March.

“It’s really great to be nominated.” She said.

“But really it’s thanks to the support of my parents, who have taken me everywhere and spent so many hours helping me, as well as the RDA, which has made my disability something

that I just get on with.

“Riding is something I’ve found that I’m really good at, and I’ve made so many friends in the sport. At school I struggled quite a lot, but it was fantastic to know I can do something, and I can excel in it too.”

Mari trains four times a week and is tutored by Sacha Hamilton, who trained Olympic doublegold winner Natasha Baker.

The Borehamwood girl, who currently lives in Luton, was invited to London 2012 to watch Natasha in action.

“It was amazing. Hearing the national anthem with Natasha on the podium was the biggest thing ever to inspire me to go on to perform at Rio 2014.”

Mallory is also aiming high.

Currently her sport is only represented by men in the Olympics, so her focus rests

on competing in British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) events against other students, as well as in national and international competitions.

The 18-year-old has already built up a fine portfolio having claimed an individual silver medal, and a team bronze medal, at the European Championships, in Germany, and team gold at the Junior Canoe Slalom World Championships. This adds on to the many other achievements on her CV including being number two female in the UK at c1 (canoeing) and 10th at k1 (kayaking) in 2012.

Mallory started canoeing, aged five, in her hometown of Windsor with her brother Zachary, a fellow canoe-star who carried the Olympic Torch down the Games course at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.

She “fell in love” with the sport… despite the usual sibling rivalry!

Today Mallory joked almost all conflict had disappeared and she stays with Zachary in his student digs in Nottingham, during part of her training (as well as at Lea Valley).

“I train every day; my main focus is to build up consistency to improve on my times,” the trained lifeguard, who wants to focus on injury assessment later in life, said.

On her nomination she added: “I was surprised, but thrilled. I didn’t know much about sports women in Luton, so was happy to be considered one of the best.

Performance art students highlight self-harm

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ELF_HARM was the topic Performance Arts students tackled as they staged a show at Bedford’s Wellbeing Centre, which helps people with mental health issues.

‘Journey to Chrysalis’ was a series of four pieces by first-year students, which even inspired one service user to write a poem about self-harming.

The event was attended by charity members, service users and family as well as an evening show at the Bedford Campus Theatre for students.

It was part of the course’s community-based project, in which students research a ‘difficult’ topic (including interviewing those affected and charities which help), before putting on a show.

Theatre and Professional Practice student Rosie-Louise Watson, 21, said investigating the subject matter helped her overcome a “fear” of self-harm, and the reaction to the performance made her feel they had “accomplished something that made a difference; showing

there are people that care and do want to help.”

“I learnt not to be ignorant to matters so sensitive to others, because anyone may be going through this dreadful experience.”

Lecturer John Rossi said the project was also beneficial for the students to see how many steps are involved from process to production.

“There was a lot of research done by the students to make sure they would send the right message out

about a topic, on which so many people can be uncomfortable with.

“They uncovered many issues such as why people self-harm, the peer-pressure involved, stereotypes, the sometimes negative treatment received in hospital – all of which was addressed in the performances which was followed by a really enthusiastic Q&A.” Janice Scott, Locality Leader at The Woburn Road-based centre which regularly works with the University, said everyone thought the students had done an “excellent job”.

‘Journey to Chrysalis’: Performance Arts students at the Bedford Campus Theatre

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Behind the subtitles – graduate’s film celebrates the invisible workers

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AVE you ever wondered who writes the subtitles of the international films you watch? Probably not.

But University of Bedfordshire graduate Ali Campwala, pictured right, was curious to find out. And what he learnt has led him to produce a documentary, The Invisible Subtitler, which was screened by Subtle, the Subtitlers’ Association, at Imperial College, London.

Ali interviewed nine audio-visual industry experts and subtitlers living in London to learn about the challenges that subtitlers face.

“Subtitlers are invisible but I wanted to make them visible and give them a voice,” said Ali, a postgraduate International Cinema student.

“I wanted to do something unique and raise awareness of what is a very tough job.

“Subtitlers are often paid very little for what they do. Nobody knows about them; they are an invisible labour force and they are not represented.

The quality of subtitles in films is dropping and subtitlers need more support.”

Ali’s unusual film topic has already attracted attention in Poland and Greece where he has been invited to show the documentary. Organisations in Turkey and the USA have also expressed an interest.

Despite his success, Ali, who has his own

“Subtitlers are invisible but I wanted to make them visible and give them a voice.” production company called Arc Pictures, and who also studied Media Production as an undergraduate at Bedfordshire, believes it is thanks to the support of his tutors in the Division of Media Arts and Production that he has found success.

“I want to thank Dave Green, John Digance and Austin Fisher for their fantastic guidance and support,” he said.

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Top award for diabetes professor

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ROFESSOR Alan Sinclair’s work into improving the healthcare of older people with diabetes has won him an international honour.

The Director of the University’s Institute of Diabetes for Older People (IDOP) is to receive the International Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology (IAGG) 2013 Presidential Award – the highest honour the organisation gives to a doctor.

Professor Sinclair will travel to a ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, later this year to collect the award.

Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of ageing, while Geriatrics focuses on the healthcare of elderly people.

Professor Sinclair received the honour for promoting gerontology internationally and his commitment to promoting the latest findings in diabetes through the work of IDOP. Professor Sinclair said: “I am pleased to have this recognition from the IAGG after more than two decades work in the area of gerontology and diabetes. This will encourage me to further develop IDOP so that we continue to make important contributions in the field.”

The IAGG promotes the achievements in gerontological research and training worldwide.

Citizenship award for Brownie leader

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Bedfordshire High Sheriff Jack Sapsworth MBE and Jan Bavister

10 Life – March 2013

HEN she’s not preparing delicious food for conferences and prestigious events, Jan Bavister can be found helping young girls ‘do their best’.

The Catering Manager for the Putteridge Bury campus has been awarded a community prize for her tireless work as a Girl Guide leader.

Jan, or ‘Brown Owl’ as she is known to the 29 Brownies in her pack, picked up a High Sheriff Citizenship award at special ceremony held at Barnfield College.

“I am very proud but also very shocked to win – I was not expecting that at all,” said mother-of-two Jan. “I am a great believer that you should give back to the community what you take out.”

Jan, who also has four grandchildren, got involved with the Girl Guide movement in 1984 and has never looked back. She is now the adult leader of the 25th Luton St Christopher Brownie pack, for girls aged between seven and ten, who meet weekly at a local church hall.

“We don’t get paid for what we do, we fund all the activities ourselves but I love doing it and it gives me a great deal of pleasure. I am very proud of my Brownies,” said Jan. The Girl Guides were created in 1910 following the creation of the Boy Scout Movement, after many girls asked to have a similar group. Girls can join from the age of five, starting in the Rainbows, moving on to the Brownies aged seven, and finishing in the Guides from ages 10 to 14.

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Flashmobs dance to end violence against women

Flashmob dancers wow the audience at Bedford campus

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TUDENTS went flashmob crazy on the Bedford and Luton campuses to make a stand on violence against women.

Undergraduates joined thousands of dancers across the world on 14 February in support of One Billion Rising, an international movement that wants an end to attacks on women.

The event coincided with the 15th anniversary of V-Day, a global activist movement that wants to create awareness of and end violence against women and girls. One Billion Rising is the largest day of action in its history.

A digital screens link-up meant the campuses could cheer each other on.

Dance and Professional Practice student Annesha Parkinson, 22, who danced at Luton, said: “It’s a good way of bringing attention to the issue. Anything that throws light on it is a good thing because it happens to so many women.”

Fellow Dance student Amy Warden, 20, said: “We thought this was a fun way of raising awareness of a good cause.”

Flashmob at the Mez Bar, Luton campus

“Anything that throws light on it is a good thing because it happens to so many women.”

F1 expert panel talk motorsport

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ORMULA One’s future could be threatened by a “short-sighted” financial plan that stops the most-prestigious F1-hosting countries from holding Grand Prix – and prevent some of the world’s best drivers taking their place on the grid.

The concern was raised by a panel of top motorsport and media figures who discussed the sport, its role and values, with an audience of sports journalism students at the Luton campus.

The ‘Motor Racing Focus’ event featured Mark Blundell whose credentials include winning the Le Mans-24 Hours race, taking part in 69 Grands Prix and working as F1 commentator for ITV. Other speakers included sports commentators David Croft of Sky, Jonathan Legard of BBC, Kevin Eason of the Times and F1 PR consultant Ann Bradshaw.

The event opened with the screening

of the award-winning documentary film SENNA – the story of Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna, who died after his car crashed into a concrete barrier during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

Afterwards, students raised questions with the panel including the political manipulation of motor-racing events, safety in the sport - Blundell recounted his own serious accident while cart racing in Brazil and F1’s future.

l A windfall rebate worth £682.80 received by Putteridge Bury Conference Centre has been donated to a local good cause.

Coca Cola Enterprises Ltd sent the rebate to the University for selling their branded Schweppes Abbey Well bottled water to customers at Putteridge Bury over the past year.

Conference Centre staff selected Keech Hospice Care as their chosen charity and donated the rebate to the Hospice last month.

Life – March 2013 11

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TV and movie star at students’ Wrap Party A HOLLYWOOD movie and UK TV star was among the guests at the Media Arts and Production students’ ‘Wrap Party’ held in London last month.

28 Days Later and Mission: Impossible actor David Schneider, pictured top left, was one of many names from the world of television who were at Soho’s Graphic Bar for the annual networking night.

As well as TV industry figures, the event was attended

by University staff and alumni, and was a chance for the students to showcase their work.

Kathryn Wolfe, Course Leader in Television Production, said: “The evening was a fantastic success. A mix of 140 students, alumni and TV industry figures all networking and making contacts for their future careers.”

Mr Schneider, who has appeared in many TV shows including Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, and I’m Alan Partridge, said on the night: “It has been a really fun event and lovely to meet and speak to so many students to hear about what they are up to.”

Other guests included Colleen Daley, who plays Fizz in Tweenies; Dan Clapton, producer on Come Dine with Me; and Jo Johnson, director of EastEnders, as well as postgraduate students who are working on successful, national shows.

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