Contents images (clockwise from top left)
Kayley Baker, Nick Hynes scholar.
Emma Bull, Norwich Medical School.
Lasdun’s Grade II listed Teaching Wall at UEA.
Prof Karen Heywood OBE, School of Environmental Sciences. Student Union TV Station, 1975. Gus Saggu, UEA
In 1963, a journey began. Generous individuals and organisations joined together to support learning and empower bright minds. Since then, the University of East Anglia has continued to grow. So have our aspirations.
We are fiercely proud of our committed and passionate philanthropic community. A group of individuals who consistently join forces with UEA and each other to transform lives worldwide.
Just this year, you have held out a welcoming hand to those who were too often excluded in the past. We have accelerated vital research, both on campus and in Earth’s furthest reaches. You have provided new routes into enterprise, bypassing societal barriers.
This, our 60th anniversary year, has been an apt moment to pause and reflect, to draw back and take in the full picture of our achievements. You can read more on page 12.
UEA is a great university. We are weathering our current temporary financial challenges. Whatever comes next, your support will be vital. You are just as much a part of this great institution as our bricks and mortar.
David Maguire Vice-Chancellor and President, UEA
Looking back on the inaugural year of the International Chair
UEA’s prestigious International Chair of Creative Writing programme recently completed its first year, focusing on the continent of Africa.
Tsitsi Dangarembga, acclaimed Zimbabwean novelist, playwright and filmmaker, was appointed as Chair by the University in 2021. She led a series of creative writing workshops and events over the following 12 months, beginning with three weeks at UEA meeting students and leading seminars.
Professor Jean McNeil, programme coordinator, said, “Structural forces in the world have led to an imbalance in literature. Through this programme, we wanted to honour new voices and promote African perspectives.”
Tsitsi and Jean travelled to Namibia to host the country’s first-ever literary festival focusing on Namibian and regional writers. UEA also held writing workshops in Kampala, Uganda, and Maun and Gaborone, Botswana, as well as the first-ever bilingual writing workshop in Kiswahili and English in Nairobi, Kenya. A four-month mentorship programme in
Zimbabwe culminated in workshops and theatre performances in Harare.
Workshop participants have since published their work in new anthologies, while the mentorship programme resulted in a writing showcase.
Prof McNeil added, “I do believe we have made a difference to the world of creative writing and the lives of our participants. It was incredibly rewarding to hear our writers’ personal stories, dreams and ambitions, as well as read and hear their new writing. All of this only exists thanks to the International Chair programme and the generosity of our visionary philanthropist.”
In coming years, our hope is that the International Chair of Creative Writing programme will focus on four more regions – Asia, Australasia, the Americas and the Middle East.
If you would like to offer your support for this life-changing programme and its scholarships, please get in touch with the Development Office.
Attended UEA’s literary festival in Namibia.
“The festival gave me confidence in and hope for Namibian literature. I felt empowered and genuinely felt like anything was possible. For the first time, I felt like my dreams of being a writer weren’t as ridiculous as I had always believed.
“Each author had something different and unique to teach us. Witnessing masters talking about their art was impressive and something I won’t easily forget. Besides learning the theory and technicalities of writing, I learned how to create atmosphere and milieu.
“That was particularly relevant because nostalgia is a major theme for me. The story I contributed to our anthology takes place in a town that is very familiar and every single detail is drawn from my memories.
“I want to write stories that put Namibian experiences at the forefront, whether that be in the form of horror, fantasy or romance. I want to write both fiction and nonfiction. I want to write about the Baster people and our history. I want to write stories for Namibian girls and women.
“I just want Namibians to have the chance to read stories where they can see themselves, and I want to play my own part in that.”
Attended UEA’s literary festival in Namibia.
“During the writing workshops, I was completely enthused. Our mentors were walking libraries, offering so much to learn from. It was enlivening and enriching to hear different perspectives on literature’s power to expand the mind and enrich our collective lives.
“I learned that to reach mastery, I had to be willing to be a fool on the path of apprenticeship. And just when I thought I had reached the pinnacle, it was only the first mountain on a very long path.
“Most importantly, I learned the value of being brave enough to make mistakes. They help you learn what not to do next time.
“One of my goals is to expand the ‘reading for leisure’ culture in Namibia, especially for children, teenagers and young Namibians. I want them to choose Namibian literature that they can identify with, instead of wasting away in front of a screen.
“I hope that one day, young people will discover stories like mine and anthologies like ours as part of the Namibian education system’s English Literature curricula.”
The same generous philanthropist funding the International Chair of Creative Writing in Africa will also support 10 Global Voices Scholarships from the region.
The first of these scholars have already travelled to Norfolk to join UEA’s world-famous Creative Writing Programme.
Salma Yusuf (LDC22) joined the MA Creative Writing (Poetry). Her poems have since been published in three literary magazines, and performed on the NaPoWriMo podcast and during a live broadcast by the BBC.
Kelechi Njoku (LDC23) joined the MA Creative Writing (Prose). He is now working on writing a crime novel, which has received valuable feedback from Giles Foden, author of The Last King of Scotland.
Suleiman Lawal (LDC23) joined the MA Creative Writing (Scriptwriting). He is casting and directing his short play Euphoria for UEA’s Spotlights Festival. His goal is to be a working actor, writer and director who specifically tells African stories.
Lillian Akampurira Aujo (LDC23), MA Creative Writing (Poetry), said, “For the first time, I am surrounded by people with the same interest and ambition. Being at UEA right now is the felicitous element I needed to keep my faith in becoming a professional poet.”
The Global Voices Scholarships are fully funded and available for any of UEA’s Creative Writing MA programmes. We are seeking additional philanthropic support to create a further 10 scholarships for each world region that the International Chair programme covers, up to 50 in total.
ranching out alone can be a risky business for first-time entrepreneurs. A thirst for success is vital, but that’s not always enough to launch a successful venture. What really gets new ideas off the ground is sound advice and access to funding.
Supported by philanthropists committed to investing in future talent, the Enterprise Fund’s original vision was to give financial support and guidance to the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Since then, the Fund has helped many fledgling businesses to thrive by forging connections with industry experts and providing access to grants and investment.
The returns on business profits are then reinvested to help even more young entrepreneurs.
“Starting a business can be tough at any time,” said David Tibble, founder and donor to the Fund, “but it’s more challenging than ever in the current climate. The Enterprise Fund is a wonderful example of how philanthropy at UEA can make a real difference to students’ lives.
“Fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship is essential for our future – it is so important to continue to nurture the next generation of talent and creativity.”
Thank you to everyone who supports the Enterprise Fund by investing in future talent.
Showcasing the tangible outcomes of our efforts to build a better future for all.
We offer the largest investment for students and graduates of any UK university.
£1.1m
The total amount of funding awarded by the Enterprise Fund to date.
Almost all entrepreneurs supported by the Enterprise Fund report year-on-year growth.
£50k 95% 45%
Nearly half of Enterprise Fund recipients are female, improving gender equality in business.
UEA’s new tests for deadly prostate cancer have entered their final stages of development.
The Tiger Test and Prostate Urine Risk (PUR) test will be presented to the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS), the national body responsible for managing which treatments can be licensed by the NHS and other health providers.
“It’s how we prove our integrity, impartiality and competence,” said Paul Jackson, Quality Assurance Manager at Norwich Medical School. “From management to the technical side, including the analysis and distribution of results. The idea is that you could give any technicians our procedures and they would be able to perform the same analysis and get the same results.”
The University’s diagnostics lab will need to analyse hundreds of samples for complex genetic data, produce exacting Standard Operating Procedures and train staff to perform tests the same way every time.
“The accreditation process is comprehensive,” continued Paul.” To take our tests forward into the real world, it is crucial for us to demonstrate that our instruments are in optimal working order to analyse samples and report results. It costs thousands of pounds per year to assess each piece of equipment. And that’s before we’ve even analysed anything. Ensuring our equipment is running smoothly fulfils accreditation requirements while also making better use of our funding by minimising breakdown time, increasing working hours and avoiding repair costs.
“Our philanthropists have made it all possible. They fund the whole package – technicians, scientific instruments, consumables, our UKAS application. Without them, nothing happens. It really doesn’t. I cannot stress enough how important that support is.
“I also want to thank our supporters for the real-world impact these tests could have locally and worldwide. You will help us revolutionise how we diagnose prostate cancer and give patients a better understanding of what treatments they need. Thank you.”
I CAN’T STRESS ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT.
Paul Jackson
Professor Colin Cooper and other prostate cancer researchers across UEA have continued to make impressive research gains over the past 12 months.
Prof Dan Brewer led a study that, for the first time, found prostate cancer treatments may be more effective if they target the whole prostate rather than the tumours only.
The team analysed 121 tissue samples and discovered that ‘normal’ prostate cells in men with prostate cancer contain more changes in the DNA than those without cancer. The study has been published in Molecular Cancer in a paper by Profs Brewer and Cooper, and their colleagues.
Dr Rachel Hurst, UEA’s Alan Boswell Fellow, published a paper in European Urology Oncology identifying five types of bacteria common in urine and tissue samples from people with aggressive prostate cancer. Dr Hurst’s research will now turn to how and why these bacteria occur. Her findings could lead to new treatment options.
Prof Cooper said, “The work of UEA’s prostate cancer team is only possible because of donations. We can’t thank our philanthropic community enough.”
In the past 12 months, Dr Darrell Green (BIO06) and his team have continued to make exciting strides towards new treatments for childhood bone cancer.
Bensofib, UEA’s new drug, has passed the first stage of toxicity tests. This vital stage ensures that the treatment is safe and free of side effects. These tests are legally required for all medical drugs.
The treatment is now undergoing the second and third rounds of toxicity testing, using a High Performance Liquid Chromatography machine to analyse plasma samples.
Toxicity tests may be essential, but many traditional bodies are less keen to fund them. That is why UEA’s philanthropic community is so powerful. Together, extraordinary things are possible.
Once these tests are completed, the team can apply for a licence to begin clinical trials in humans. This is the final stage of validation before public rollout, when Bensofib can start transforming children’s lives.
Holding my first patient blood sample was a humbling moment. Generally, my patients are aged between 10 and 20 and have just had a limb completely reconstructed, or perhaps lost a quarter of their body. To think that we have the potential to change the outcome of their treatment in just a decade is simply awe-inspiring.
Usually, you’d want to take your time processing tumour samples, but the ones I deal with are too precious. We can’t afford to let them perish.
If a bone cancer patient has surgery at lunchtime in Birmingham, their sample will get to me at about 5pm here at UEA. Handed over in a regular envelope by a courier. I’ll then be in the lab until 10pm to work through and get it processed.
I’ll use our ClearCell FX machine to extract around two or three millilitres of fluid to study under the microscope. I will have picked out five or six cells within about an hour. Those get frozen overnight in a lysis buffer, which splits open the cell and lets me get to the RNA, the molecules that help the body produce proteins.
Finally, we compare these RNAs with other patients or healthy people to tell us more about how and why bone cancer develops. My findings will contribute to our lifesaving new treatment.
Some days, I’ll be in the lab from morning until late at night. But it’s all worth it when you step back to see the bigger picture. This is more than a vocation for me.
I’m so grateful to our donors, who include the Sir William Coxen Trust Fund, Action Arthritis, the Orthopaedics Charitable Trust Fund and the Peter Stebbings Memorial Charity. Research is expensive, but there is so much more we can achieve thanks to our generous philanthropic community. Their kindness allows us to help change this devastating disease for so many young people. It’s incredible when you think about it.
If you’d like to learn more about UEA’s childhood bone cancer research, please contact the Development Office.
The public fundraising campaign for the University of East Anglia began in 1950.
UEA welcomes its first student cohort in 1963.
Do Different: a motto that members of the UEA family still remember, quote and practise.
The Ziggurat halls of residence, 1968.
Follow the growth of UEA in this decade-by-decade timeline of the 20th and 21st centuries, featuring gems from the University’s history.
All image captions clockwise from top left.
CHIPS, a famous UEA student publication.
Hubert Lamb from the UK Meteorological Office establishes and becomes Director of our new Climatic Research Unit (CRU).
In May 1975, the Student Union TV station, Nexus, teams up with UEA’s Rag Society to cordon off the village of Horning, pretending to be government scientists investigating diseased coypu.
Waveney Terrace, the biggest accommodation block on campus in the 70s.
Earlham Hall becomes the home of Law at UEA in 1983.
UEA turns 25!
King Charles III (then the Prince of Wales) visits UEA in 1988.
Open Day 1989, Signing of the Student Union Petition.
UEA’s Student Union Handbook in 1996.
The student newspaper, Concrete, relaunches in 1992 after being replaced by Phoenix in the 1980s.
The Elizabeth Fry Building, one of the most energy-efficient buildings on campus, officially opens in 1995.
Sportspark launches and becomes one of the most successful community sport facilities in the UK. The School of International Development receives the Queen’s Anniversary Prize at Buckingham Palace.
Climategate brought with it some intense months but the UEA community remain strong and united as ever.
Follow the growth of UEA in this decade-by-decade timeline of the 20th and 21st centuries, featuring gems from the University’s history.
All image captions clockwise from top left.
The Enterprise Centre opens in June 2015. Ever since, it has been a thriving and supportive hub for start-ups and small and medium enterprises.
UEA again receives the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2011 for its contribution to Creative Writing and in 2017 for the School of Environmental Sciences.
UEA celebrates its groundbreaking Difference Campaign after raising £100 million.
UEA alumna Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert, project leader for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, gets a standing ovation on Wimbledon Centre Court in 2021.
Prof Paul Hunter, Professor of Medicine at UEA, is a major voice in the UK media on COVID-19.
The Campus Development Programme, a key part of our NetZeroUEA strategy, begins with renovating the 1960s-built Lasdun Teaching Wall.
How UEA philanthropists will help tell the story of Norfolk’s Mary Rose.
On a sunny beach in Great Yarmouth last June, you’d be forgiven for thinking Professor Claire Jowitt was here for fun, to enjoy an ice cream or try her luck fishing for treasures in the rows of claw machines outside amusement arcades.
In fact, Prof Jowitt was preparing to speak to BBC and Sky reporters about what she has called Norfolk’s Mary Rose – the most significant British naval discovery in almost 40 years.
In 1682, HMS Gloucester sailed north from the Kent coast carrying the future King James II of England on a journey to Scotland.
The Duke of York (as he was then known) was accompanied by courtiers, including John Churchill, the future Duke of Marlborough, George Legge, the future Admiral of the Fleet
and, aboard the flotilla’s royal yacht, the diarist Samuel Pepys.
After a disagreement on the best route to take through notoriously treacherous waters, disaster struck. The Gloucester hit a sandbank, catching its rudder and breaching the hull. Within an hour, the ship was underwater.
James survived. Up to 250 did not.
The wreck then laid on the seabed for 325 years until its discovery in 2007 by brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell. Since then, it has been kept secret to protect the at-risk site.
Prof Jowitt first laid eyes on the treasures pulled from the seabed in 2019, when UEA became the academic partner for the Gloucester project.
“A taxi was ordered for me,” she said. “I didn’t know where I was going. I got whisked off to u
u view this incredible range of artefacts. We looked at wine bottles, the personal possessions of those onboard and the ship’s bell that day. It was so moving to see.”
And then, in 2022, the discovery was made public. The media attention was immense, leading to that day on a Great Yarmouth beach, looking out towards the site of the wreck some 30 miles out to sea.
“The level of interest in the history has been fantastic,” continued Prof Jowitt. “We are very grateful to the Leverhulme Trust, whose generous grant has allowed us to undertake archive research and write a biography of the life and times of this warship.
“It has also been a great pleasure to co-curate an exhibition about the Gloucester at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery. We’ve collaborated with the museum to tell the twin stories of the Gloucester’s doomed voyage and the wreck’s astounding discovery all these years later.”
Following the exhibition in 2023, there are exciting plans for the Gloucester, which will depend on the generosity of UEA’s philanthropic community.
“There are opportunities to sponsor academic conferences, as well as establish named research fellows and lectureships at the University,” said Prof Jowitt. “Our plans include a maritime history and heritage centre to support further research on the Gloucester, its artefacts and the lives of all those affected by the disaster. There will also be enormous interest in a travelling exhibition and, ultimately, a permanent museum for the artefacts in Norfolk.”
These initiatives will be managed by a new charitable trust established to care for the recovered items. The Gloucester (1682) Charitable Trust is chaired by General Lord Dannatt.
Lord Dannatt said, “The Gloucester (1682) Charitable Trust has been formed to provide proper governance around this exciting project. We will raise money to excavate the site and conserve all that will be brought to the surface. Our ultimate goal is to mount a proper presentation of the whole story in Great Yarmouth.
“The story of the Gloucester is one of national and international significance – with Norfolk at its heart. It is a wreck that changed history. Had James drowned, there would have been no need for the Glorious Revolution of 1688 that deposed him. If John Churchill had not been rescued, he could not have led famous battles that put an end to the War of the Spanish Succession.
“Norfolk’s Barnwell brothers, of Aylsham, found the wreck and are now bringing this great story to us all. To be able to play our part in the project as we learn more about late 17th-century life is a huge privilege.”
If you would like to find out more about the Gloucester and UEA’s maritime history research, please get in touch with the Development Office.
Perhaps the most powerfully symbolic artefact recovered so far, a bell inscribed with the date of 1681 proved that the wreck was indeed the Gloucester. During conservation, about 40kg of encrustation was removed from the bell.
The seals of 29 of the bottles are intact. Inside may be fine claret that allows researchers to prove James was flouting Parliament’s ban on French wine. Even the air inside is priceless – UEA scientists hope to compare it with post-industrial air, with huge potential value for climate change research.
A particularly unusual find in the trunks lifted from the seabed is an intricate damask petticoat. Silk is notoriously fragile, so there are few surviving examples from the late 1600s. This is a rare opportunity to study an object usually seen only in pictures or described in written sources.
In the 17th century, urine samples were commonly used to indicate a patient’s health. This distinctively shaped bottle may even have been used by James himself. The royal physician, Sir Charles Scarburgh, was aboard the Gloucester and survived the wreck by clinging to a plank of wood.
The presence of five crowns stamped into this leather pouch shows that a servant of James likely owned it. The design is that of the famous St Edward’s Crown, made for Charles II in 1660 and also used in the Coronation of Charles III in 2023.
One of UEA’s earliest alumni is leaving a legacy for the next generation of students.
In 1963, UEA opened its doors to its first cohort of students. Among them was aspiring young biologist Roy Burns (BIO63), who arrived in Norwich slightly stunned to have a university place at all.
“Frankly, I was told, you’ve been selected to counterbalance the straight A students,” explained Roy. “While two other universities had made me offers to study botany, I decided to take up UEA’s offer to be on the UK’s first degree course in Biological Sciences.
“Being part of that pioneering cohort of 25 students was riveting because none of us had ever been to a university before. I think it was a very smart move indeed by UEA at that time, to bring in people with proven experience of running things. I had a lot of experience in putting events together. From my recollection, that was the reason I got selected at the interview.
“I asked myself what one thing had the greatest impact on my life, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without UEA. A small gamble by the University was the making of me. The thirst for knowledge I discovered propelled me into a long and wonderful academic career in molecular cell biology.”
Together with an emphasis on achieving student, research, staff, and global success, UEA has always lived its ‘Do Different’ philosophy and remains true to its values. It will be a familiar saying to most people who have been associated with UEA at some point.
Roy echoed the sentiments. “Visiting the University today, I’m struck by how much it has changed and grown, but also by how much those original values remain. It is a wonderfully welcoming home for learning.
“The boundaries between different disciplines are often the places of maximum growth. My decision to leave a legacy to UEA tethered to interdisciplinary science comes from the experience I had here at the trailblazing department of Biological Sciences.”
Pioneered almost 60 years ago, this ethos of giving opportunities to students of all abilities and walks of life continues to be a proud tradition at UEA.
There are many ways to give. Every gift, whatever its size, makes an enormous difference in areas including student support, contributing to our pioneering research in cancer and more.
All gifts to UEA help the University to address major global challenges, whether funding research, providing stability for critical teaching posts or ensuring that exceptional students are able to take up their places at the University. Whichever area you choose to support, your legacy will help to shape lives for generations to come.
If you are considering giving to support UEA’s pioneering work, please get in touch with the Development Office. The team will be pleased to answer any questions you have about leaving a gift in your will.
In Roy’s words: “I have chosen the legacy route to repay UEA’s faith in my potential back in the 60s. Some may find it satisfying to give during their lifetime. But what matters most is that if you think UEA added value to your life, then it’s probably time to give back.”
We are deeply grateful to Roy and all our supporters who have left a legacy or pledged a gift in their will to UEA. These generous bequests power our ambitions and give us the capability to think bold, do differently and make a difference with global significance.
Gus Saggu (NBS87) recalls his time at UEA and reflects on being part of the alumni community.
I arrived at UEA in 1984. I got on the bus from Norwich train station to the campus. Also on the bus was Harry, who was on my course. We went on to share a student house on Magpie Road. He’s still my best friend. My daughters call him their uncle, his call me the same.
My favourite spot on the campus is the square, especially in the warmer months. I have many happy memories of hanging out between lectures and waiting for friends.
Football was my life when I was a student. We had a tight-knit group in the team and got up to all sorts. I’d be playing or training six nights a week. In between all that, I also managed to get a degree!
I remember endlessly fundraising for the 1987 tour to Portugal. We used to have functions and parties in the Barn, which I don’t think exists anymore. I became the captain in my final year because I wanted it to be more inclusive. We tried to make the club more welcoming and expanded the women’s team.
I have UEA to thank for the experiences and the friendships I made. I still get together with old friends to return to the campus, watch today's student team and reminisce about our time at the University.
Today, I have started an investment company with a couple of partners. We’re looking to build a healthcare services business. It’s very close to my heart.
Around 25 years ago, I lost my dad to prostate cancer. He kept it all to himself and found talking to my mum about it embarrassing. I wish he had been able to go and get checked earlier. I’d like there to be a lot more research, so I donated when I saw an appeal for UEA’s prostate cancer tests. It was my very small way of supporting the University.
Gus studied BSc Accounting and Business Systems between 1984-1987. He was actively involved in the University Football Club and competed in the USA, Spain and Portugal. After graduating, Gus was employed by KPMG. His career has included various roles, including Head of Finance, Finance Director, NonExecutive Director and Finance Consultant. He also set up his own business development and strategy firm. Gus is currently a Partner and Founder of MGG Capital Partners.
Since it was founded, UEA has always stood on the principles of supporting talent and empowering bright minds.
And nowhere is this value displayed more prominently than in the scholarships generously provided by the University’s philanthropic community.
In subjects as varied as science, business, creative writing and law, promising students are offered vital support by dedicated individuals.
In the 2022-23 academic year, more than 60 donor-funded scholars joined us at UEA. Each one, a life transformed by those with the means, compassion and vision to do so.
A scholarship is a vote of confidence in the brightest minds, a testament to the value of hard work and a pledge to help remove the barriers that still exist in wider society. It is perhaps the most precious gift a young person could receive. The greatest possible investment in their future.
Thank you to all of those who have given to scholarships at UEA this year.
Students exchange ideas at The Enterprise Centre.
OUR DONORS FUNDED MORE THAN 60 UEA
Kayley Baker, in her third year of study, and Daniel Wright, in his first, explain what their scholarships mean to them.
Kayley Baker
Nick Hynes Scholarship BA (Hons) Psychology
“Being awarded my scholarship was a confidence boost. It was a fantastic surprise. Somehow, I was both shocked and relieved at the same time.
“There’s a tendency to lean only on your academics when applying. But I've been told over and over that donors are also interested in us as people. I’ve met my donor now, and he was lovely. He was interested in me, as well as my studies. That gave me confidence too, knowing that someone cares.”
Daniel Wright
Paul Head Memorial Scholarship BA (Hons) Sociology
“I never expected to actually get a scholarship. Getting that news meant the work I’d done had been recognised to the extent that someone was willing to support me to do it. It’s just the most generous thing.
“I already took pride in my work. But this has brought me even closer to my studies. I am determined to show my donor what I can do. And I love being part of the community of scholars at UEA. Put simply, I’m over the moon.”
UEA’s vision is to create a university that’s sustainable and fit for the future.
Love it or hate it, the practical and, in the 1960s, radical medium of concrete seems a suitable foundation for the progressive values upon which the University was established.
Most of us are familiar with UEA’s campus. This masterpiece of 60s brutalism blends modernist concrete blocks with the soft rolling green of the surrounding landscape. Architect Denys Lasdun’s vision of a space to prompt encounters is still relevant today. That wonderful sense of community, along with the now Grade II listed Teaching Wall and Grade II* listed Ziggurats, remains alive at UEA.
But 60 years on, the original structures are deteriorating. Urgent repairs and refurbishments are needed to preserve and protect these buildings to make them safe and fit for purpose for future generations.
Our next capital fundraising project will see Lasdun’s iconic Teaching Wall, which runs like a spine through the centre of campus, restored after more than half a century. As part of UEA’s long-term Campus Development Plan, new learning spaces will be created, merging the latest educational technology with sustainable, energy-efficient surroundings.
The current phase will see the repurposing of Arts Building 3 at the Eastern end of the Lasdun Wall. The current structure will be transformed with the addition of a new science block, in keeping with the initial aesthetic while featuring cutting-edge facilities. Here, our present and future researchers will continue to make the sort of discoveries that have already put UEA in the global top 1% of research institutions for collaborative research.
In the depths of Building 3, a new and exciting project is taking shape. The Centre for Oceans, Organisms and Life (COOL) will take UEA’s world-leading climate change research to the next level.
COOL will be unique in the UK. This centre will bring together UEA’s leading academics in a shared collaborative workspace for the first time in UEA’s history. It will allow us to capitalise on the expertise within UEA’s Faculty of Science, promoting the exploration and understanding of the world around us, from the largest oceans to microbes.
Our findings will inform climate policies worldwide during this critical decade for our planet. UEA reseachers will collect data from the frozen polar regions, and measure the effects of Saharan sand on the oceans. We will examine how nutrients and trace metals in our oceans might have a significant impact upon life, and investigate the challenge of the global biodiversity emergency.
COOL will provide global policymakers with the tools they need to meet these challenges. The centre will continue to make discoveries that have a real impact on all our lives and the future sustainability of the planet.
Work on The Centre for Oceans, Organisms and Life will coincide with UEA’s 60th birthday in September 2023 –a significant milestone for the university.
Campus development has always been at the heart of our supporter community. Philanthropy has helped secure the
past and future of our campus. Historic buildings have been transformed, state-of-the-art facilities have been created and the foundations have been laid for generations to come.
As we enter our 60th year, UEA has created a clear vision of what the University of 2030 should look like. By growing our campus and providing the best facilities and most technologically advanced learning, we will be investing in the future to build on our strong foundations. Our Campus Development Plan will enable essential improvements to be made to the thermal performance of the building, which will in turn significantly reduce operational carbon and is the University’s only route to achieve net zero carbon.
The Centre for Oceans, Organisms and Life is the latest in a long line of projects supported by the generosity of trusts and foundations. Their input has been crucial throughout the University’s 60-year history, from our founding donors in the 60s to these new plans to make our campus sustainable for the future.
Fundraising for campus development will continue to be of vital importance as the University continues to evolve. Philanthropic giving allows UEA to maintain its historically significant campus, whilst providing cutting-edge research and teaching facilities to compete at the highest level, both nationally and internationally.
Philanthropy has been at the heart of UEA since it was founded in 1963. We are eternally grateful to our entire supporter and donor community for their continuing support of the University’s work.
Autonomous ocean gliders are collecting indispensable Antarctic climate change data for UEA researchers.
Sea ice. Storms. Piracy. Hostile powers. There are any number of reasons that collecting vital climate change data may be too dangerous for human expeditions.
That’s why the UEA Glider Science Group is so important. UEA’s fleet of autonomous ocean gliders, the only one owned and operated by a UK university, can be deployed in locations where the risk to human life is too great. They may resemble missiles, but these are highly specialised research craft packed with sensors. Ocean gliders collect data on water temperature, salinity, currents and, crucially, carbon levels. Unlike traditional research vessels, they are quiet, non-polluting and will not disturb local marine life. They operate from the ocean surface to as deep as 1,000 metres underwater, creating vertical profiles that can tell scientists much about how climate change affects precious ecosystems in this region.
The gliders are also highly cost-efficient. Missions lasting weeks or months would carry an exorbitant cost if operated by humans alone. Researchers can deploy the gliders into the water, receive data in real-time and collect them when work is complete.
Professor Karen Heywood OBE, who received her honour in 2022 for Services to Oceanography, leads the Glider Science Group.
“The data collected by our autonomous vessels is priceless,” explained Prof Heywood. “On a recent expedition, my colleague Dr Gillian Damerell, Senior Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, launched three gliders from the sea ice to study marine wildlife populations. Our aim was to tag penguins and then use the gliders to examine their impact on krill and listen for whales. It gave us data on these places’ biology, chemistry and physics.
“But what was most exciting about this trip was an unexpected foray under the ice shelf by one of our gliders. After it was launched, a strong tide carried it off course and we lost contact. We had a very nervous 24 hours, and then it popped up.
OUR PLANET IS CHANGING RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. THIS WORK IS SO, SO IMPORTANT.
Prof Karen Heywood OBE
“The glider had ended up underneath the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in Antarctica. This accidental journey has given us a gold mine of data.
“We’ve been able to see that water from outside the ice shelf is present down there. That’s important, because if water being warmed by the sun is going underneath ice shelves, we could demonstrate a new way that ice is being melted from underneath. It’s a process that could be important in the future climate when waters are warmer.”
Despite a lifetime of pioneering research, the rate of change still has the capacity to shock Prof Heywood.
“When I first went to the Antarctic in 1995,” she said, “I went to Rothera Research Base in the west. There was ice everywhere and Adélie penguins. But when I went back in 2014, there was no ice. And those penguins had left because they needed the ice. That moment brought it home to me that our planet is changing right in front of us.
“Our work is so important because it underpins all of humanity’s preparations for the changing world. The Antarctic affects monsoon rainfall. It affects weather patterns in Europe. u
u “We need to understand why things are changing so that people can make predictions. If we guess or get it wrong, those predictions will be wrong too. And suddenly, the coastal defences you’ve built will be underwater, or the new crops you have chosen won’t survive the weather patterns.”
UEA’s seven ocean gliders will soon find a new permanent home on the campus in a newly refurbished building. Here, there will be space for up to 16 gliders. The building will be fitted out for the refurbishment of gliders between missions by the University’s specialist technician, Gareth Lee. This process involves replacing the advanced batteries on board and tuning the craft for the temperature and speed of currents at its next destination. This hub will also be an interdisciplinary workspace for scientists from different schools at the University to collaborate.
“We’re looking forward to being able to invite donors to our new building,” continued Prof Heywood. “It’ll be a fantastic way to bring their donation to life and explain the impact they are having.
“Donors may wish to display their name on the side of the glider or support climate research at UEA by funding new members of our team. We are finding it increasingly challenging to obtain PhD funding through traditional channels. The University’s strong philanthropic community allows us to speak directly to passionate, generous people.
IT’S A VERY EXCITING TIME TO BE PART OF CLIMATE CHANGE
UEA.
Prof Karen Heywood OBE
“We are also looking forward to PICCOLO, a project investigating carbon in the deep ocean close to Antarctica. UEA is a leading partner, together with Plymouth Marine Laboratory. We recently deployed moored instruments to measure ocean properties underneath the winter sea ice. Between January and March 2024, we will travel on board the UK’s new polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough to the western Weddell Sea, where we will pick up those instruments, undertake intensive surveys with the ocean gliders and run experiments. It’s a very exciting time to be part of climate change research at UEA.”
To find out more about UEA’s climate change research and current funding opportunities, please contact the Development Office.
Philanthropy has been part of UEA’s identity from the start. This proud tradition helped lay the first bricks on campus, welcome the first students and commence our earliest research.
Your support has continued to power UEA for 60 groundbreaking years, helping bright minds achieve more, researchers delve deeper and writers build new worlds of imagination. You are backing the next generation because you believe in better than the status quo.
As we celebrate our 60th anniversary year, I am tremendously excited about what comes next. In a changing world of new global challenges, technologies and
possibilities, philanthropy will be central to our future.
Our plans are ambitious – just look at our five-year Climate Action Plan or the transformative Campus Development Plan. Together, we have already achieved so much. The possibilities are palpable. Thank you so much for supporting the University’s work this year. You are proof that our pioneering spirit of giving is ready for the future.
Dr Sally Howes OBE Chair, University of East Anglia
UEA’s philanthropic community enables the University to create pioneering change in the world.
We are harnessing the power of philanthropy to fund and further the University’s groundbreaking work, adding global reach and impact. Together, we tackle the world’s greatest challenges and transform lives.
The funding you provide is put to work on visionary research, education, campus development, student support and much more. Thank you for helping to make a difference.
If you would like to support UEA’s work, please donate online at www.uea.ac.uk/difference
Or, to discuss your gift, please get in touch with the Development Office.
Telephone: +44 (0)1603 453 704
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