June 2014 Issue 8 Volume 11
unilife The free magazine for The University of Manchester
Manchester Makes Us Proud
Message from the President With well over 150 universities in the UK and many thousands worldwide, it’s almost impossible for most people to determine what is different, special or even unique about any one university.
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his is compounded by the fact that universities are not always as effective as they might be at disseminating what they do and what they are good at. Also many, like ours, are huge with a diverse range of activities. A small number of universities stand out because of their global prominence, quality and heritage. Even then, those outside the world of research or higher education find it hard to put their finger on what makes them special. We know from our application figures, from polling, our media profile and our own surveys that The University of Manchester already has a very strong ‘brand’ - it is well known and respected. However, we are now operating in an increasingly competitive global environment where we will have to work even harder to maintain and build our reputation. We can all act as ‘ambassadors’ for the University, frequently reminding people of the many
attractive features of our University. But we know that many of these features are shared by other institutions around the globe. The challenge is to identify a small number of distinctive features or activities which can serve as powerful beacons or exemplars of what we are good at, to illustrate our broader excellence. Distinctiveness was a significant topic of discussion at our recent Board of Governors’ Planning and Accountability conference. The question: “What is distinctive about The University of Manchester, and what is the simple story that we can tell about our University?” was also asked by many participants in our External Stakeholder Survey last year, by members of our Global Leadership Board and our Local Enterprise Partnership. All groups want simple and clear messages, not a long list which is full of phrases that they find hard to understand or can’t easily relate to. The challenge is to tell a short story on our key strengths to our many external audiences.
With the Centre for New Writing team
Some will be obvious, but others will depend on the audience. For a general audience, our messages must also be readily understood and clearly relevant to ‘everyday life’. In short, the narrative must be accessible and memorable, but based on strong evidence. We have identified the following as important features of The University of Manchester: Research strengths. Our research has huge scale and diversity. A notable feature is the focus on interdisciplinarity, which brings together complementary strengths to address complex problems. We also have a strong reputation for commercialisation, growing partnerships with industry, the health sector, cultural institutions and other organisations nationally and internationally. Our graduates. Students graduating from our University are highly sought after and valued by leading employers. This is in part because of their academic achievements, but feedback tells us that that employers value the wider educational experience we provide. This can be through our academic courses, practical and research experience,
Meeting our apprentices in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Contact us News and story ideas Mikaela Sitford tel 0161 275 2112 email uninews@manchester.ac.uk www.manchester.ac.uk/staffnet/news Events and listings information Philippa Adshead tel 0161 275 2922 email unievents@manchester.ac.uk Ads Sarah Davenport tel 0161 275 2922 email uniads@manchester.ac.uk
News Michael Owen’s Marathon Mission
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News Physics takes flight – from Manchester to Thailand to Hollywood!
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Visiting the Division of Communications and Marketing’s new office
periods spent overseas or opportunities for a broader education such as social responsibility and grand ethical challenges and through entrepreneurship training, volunteering and Manchester Gold. Social Responsibility. Can be summarised as ‘making a difference to society’. We have now defined more precisely our focus in this area and the signature programmes that will deliver our intended outcomes. We have long been proud of attracting many students from disadvantaged backgrounds; and we are now focussing on their long term career goals. We are working hard on interactions with local schools, long term unemployed on community engagement and our research into global challenges. Cultural Institutions play an important part in delivering on our commitment to social responsibility and each is in itself distinctive. Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, John Rylands Library, the Manchester Museum and the Whitworth Art Gallery have or are undergoing major extension or refurbishment. When the fabulous new extension to the Whitworth Gallery is completed later this year, we expect to attract over a million visitors a year across our cultural institutions.
Location. We are located in a great city, often referred to as the ‘Original Modern’. Manchester is the home of the Industrial Revolution with an amazing history, but with a ‘can do’ and forward looking approach. We benefit greatly from our very close relationship with the City of Manchester and the wider region. As an example, Manchester will be designated the ‘European City of Science’ for 2016. Our campus. When our Campus Masterplan is complete, we will be one of the few universities occupying a discrete campus within a major city. The vast majority of our activities will then be co-located and clustered around Oxford Road. Soon we will have more green spaces and trees and a new bus and cycle priority route along Oxford Road apparently we have the largest bicycle user group of any university (over 1,000), which is perhaps another distinctive feature! There is much more that we could add to this list, such as our global reach, with more international students than any other UK university and many global partnerships, our heritage, sporting activities (especially in Manchester), to name but a few.
These are all powerful and impressive features of The University of Manchester, however the list is already too long for most people, and many of these features apply equally to our principal competitors around the globe. Our challenge is to select what is truly outstanding, distinctive or unique about what we are doing here and to find new and exciting ways of articulating or showcasing that particular approach or activity so that it grabs people’s attention and encourages them to take a look at what we are doing in more detail. It is about what we put in the ‘shop window’, particularly our great new website (www.manchester.ac.uk). We have a great example with what we have achieved with graphene, but we need a handful of other examples. I will be updating you on progress in coming months. President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Nancy Rothwell
Contents 2 4 8 11 18 20
Message from the President News Research Features What’s On Making a Difference
Front cover: Solid oak, laser-engraved panel at the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons, quoting Manchester’s great and good
Research ‘Lonely’ bacteria more likely to mutate
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Feature Celebrating our volunteering stars
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Photo by Shaw and Shaw
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News
Professor Andrew Sherry
Recognising innovative research The Dalton Nuclear Institute has been awarded a Gold Medal by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3). The prize recognised the Institute’s lead in the development of academic research and innovation in the field of advanced materials and manufacturing for the nuclear sector and its specific contribution to nuclear plant life extension, decommissioning and waste management projects. Professor Paul O'Brien was also awarded this year’s IOM3 Platinum Medal in acknowledgment of his international research reputation and global science ambassador services. In addition, Professor Andrew Sherry, Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute, has been chosen as a Recognising Inspirational Scientists and Engineers (RISE) Renowned Fellow to mark the 20th anniversary of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Manchester pharmacist lands trustee role Professor Karen Hassell, of the Faculty of Medicine and Human Sciences, has been apponted a Trustee of the Daphne Jackson Trust. The Trust aims to return researchers to their careers, helping retain a talented STEM workforce by offering flexible fellowships with mentoring and training to allow women and men to return to research after a career break of two or more years, for family, caring or health reasons. Professor Hassell, of the Manchester Pharmacy School, said: “I hope that my appointment will provide an opportunity for the University to work with the Trust in sponsoring more Fellows here at Manchester.” The Faculty’s Institute of Population Health is also both sponsoring and hosting a Daphne Jackson Fellowship, the first time a Daphne Jackson Fellowship has been sponsored at the University.
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Mr Susmito Biswas, Professor Graeme Black, Olivia Dronsfield and her mum, Professor Chris Lloyd and Michael Owen
Michael Owen’s Marathon Mission
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etired footballer Michael Owen has donated £25,681.20 to scientists from the University and Manchester Royal Eye Hospital after running the London Marathon for the cause.
Michael, who played for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City during his career, finished the race in an impressive 3 hours, 45 minutes and 43 seconds. Michael was joined at a cheque presentation by one of the hospital’s patients two-year-old Olivia Dronsfield, who had three operations within the first six months of her life.
Michael said: “Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and scientists at The University of Manchester are doing fantastic work to develop new treatments for families with genetic eye disorders, so I’m really pleased to be able to support this cause. I hope my support will boost their quest to find more treatments for patients like Olivia.” Graeme Black, Professor of Genetics at the University, said: “Michael’s support will help us in our quest to improve the outcomes for patients like Olivia, so they can lead better and more fulfilling lives.”
Celine is our energy champ
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Manchester student has won a coveted paid summer internship with global company, EDF Energy, in a national, high profile competition.
Chemical Engineering student Celine Dischamps was crowned the ‘Low Carbon Undergraduate of the Year’. In addition to the internship, her prize includes a visit to a nuclear power station in France and an exclusive lunch with an EDF Station Director. Including Celine, Manchester had five finalists in the 12 award categories – deemed by organisers, graduate recruitment media company TARGETjobs, an excellent result. Celine said: “It has been an incredible experience and I would highly recommend students to apply for the awards next year. I have been given an amazing
Celine Dischamps (centre) meets Sir Trevor McDonald
opportunity and I am very proud to have represented my University.” Deputy Director of the Division of Careers and Employability Tammy Goldfeld said: “It was incredibly rewarding to see so many Manchester finalists at the event and Celine receiving her award. We hope her experience will inspire other students.”
Royal Society honour for Chemist A University Chemistry Professor has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science. Gareth Morris, Professor of Physical Chemistry in the School of Chemistry, has been awarded the prestigious honour for his ground-breaking work in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. He said: “One of the joys of research is never quite knowing where things will lead – at different times our work has ended up being used in research on nanoscience, heart transplants, and quantum computing – but in a career full of surprises this has been one of the nicest.”
(L-R) Award winners John Pal, Professor David Schultz, Dr Colin Lumsden, Dr Jill Barber, Dr Louise Walker and Jennie Blake
Education, education…inspiration!
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ix members of University staff have been presented with Teaching Excellence Awards, which recognise their achievement in teaching, learning and the student experience.
Professor Clive Agnew, Vice-President, Teaching, Learning and Students, hosted the event. These competitive awards celebrate significant and sustained commitment to excellence in teaching and learning and are decided by a panel drawn from across the University and chaired by Professor Kersti Börjars, Associate Vice-President, Teaching, Learning and Students.
The 2014 Winners are John Pal, Manchester Business School, Professor David Schultz, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, Dr Colin Lumsden, Manchester Medical School, Dr Jill Barber, Manchester Pharmacy School, Dr Louise Walker, School of Mathematics, and Jennie Blake, University Libraries • For more information and to see videos of the winners talking about their work, visit: www.tlso.manchester.ac.uk/ teaching-and-learning/teachingawards
Versarien completes graphene start-up purchase A major materials company has bought 85% of the shares of University start-up 2-DTech. Versarien plc has taken over the graphene company and intends to invest £300,000 in two research projects. Clive Rowland, CEO of the University’s Innovation Group (UMI3), said: “I am delighted that we have been able to agree this arrangement with Versarien, which takes 2-DTech to a new level and allows the University to share in the future success of the business.”
From the Cabinet Office to the Front A new book tells the fascinating story of how the 27th Earl of Crawford David Lindsay – the University’s Chancellor from 1922-40 – took the unorthodox step of enlisting, aged 43, as a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps.
(L-R) Chris Oglesby, George Osborne and Mene Pangalos
Osborne visits Alderley Park
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hancellor George Osborne visited Alderley Park to hear about the new vision for the future of AstraZeneca’s former research and development site.
Manchester Science Parks (MSP) shareholders – including the University – joined the MP and local, regional and national business and community leaders at a celebratory launch event. Manchester Science Parks, who with majority shareholder Bruntwood acquired the 400 acre site in March, revealed its ambition to maintain top
quality bioscience as the cornerstone of its commercial strategy. The vision is supported by the University and MSP’s other public sector and academic partners, including Manchester Metropolitan University; Manchester, Salford and Cheshire East Councils and the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Nancy Rothwell said: “I am delighted to see the progress that has been made in ensuring the future of Alderley Park as a site of outstanding science.”
Lindsay, a distinguished political career already behind him, spent 14 months as a medical orderly on the Western Front – the only cabinet minister to serve in the ranks in the First World War. ‘Private Lord Crawford’s Great War Diaries: From Medical Orderly to Cabinet Minister’, edited by his grandson Christopher Arnander, gives a unique close-up view of the Great War though the eyes of a shrewd and uncommon participant. • Published by Pen and Sword, ISBN: 9781781593677, it is available from the Spectator Bookshop. Telephone: 08430 600033
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News
In full make up
From Bugs to Drugs! Around 300 people fought a fictitious and fun-filled battle against the zombies when Manchester Pharmacy School hosted a community open day. The educational event took children and their families on a journey through the different stages of the drug development process. They helped scientists as they looked to find, develop and market a cure for a new and highly infectious – and of course fictitious! – microorganism that turns human beings into zombies if infected. Organiser Dr David Allison said: “The event was a great success and one of many comments that summed up the day was ‘an amazing day, keep up the good work’.”
Milena Cimmarrusti-Davila and Linda Callaghan of the Communications and Marketing team during Give and Gain Day
Our global scale volunteering!
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round 100 staff from across the University got involved in Give and Gain Day, a global initiative run by Business in the Community (BITC), to support our social responsibility agenda and contribute to professional development and team building. Give and Gain brings together like-minded organisations to use their ideas, talents and resources to enhance their social responsibility impact through a national day of employee volunteering in 25 countries as diverse as Spain, Iran, Nigeria and Guatemala.
The efforts of our five teams – from the Division of Communications and Marketing, the Office of Social Responsibility, Directorate of Human Resources, Directorate of Estates and Facilities, and Recruitment and Admissions – can be seen on StaffNet. Head of Human Resources at the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Sue Field said: “It gave a sense of achievement through team working, contributing to projects that benefit our community, taking opportunities to work together and forge new working relationships – and a great deal of fun!”
Meeting one of our frogs
Frogs and bananas showcase our impact Our researchers will be demonstrating the impact of their work using topics as varied as bananas, frogs and fighting cancer as part of Universities Week, an annual event to open up a national conversation about the relevance and impact of university research, from 9-15 June. The Manchester theme is Ideas for Life, including the Ideas for Life Big Saturday, hosted by Manchester Museum on Saturday 14 June from 11am-4pm. Universities Week 2014 is run by Universities UK with Research Councils UK, the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement. All the Ideas for Life events are free and open to all. • For more information visit: www.universitiesweek.org.uk or follow on Twitter @uni_week or Facebook at www.facebook.com/uniweek
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An Objects in Mind handling session. Photo by Paul Cliff
Museum has objects in mind
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useums have long believed that using their collections can improve people’s mental health and a new project at Manchester Museum is putting that into practice.
Damian Scully is a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Skills for the Future trainee. As part of his 18-month Diploma in Culture and Heritage he has developed an innovative programme, Objects in Mind, to create unique museum experiences to enhance visitors’ mental health. Damian explains: “We consider what the people who made it thought, what did the object mean to them and how does that influence our viewpoint.” Key to the progress that Damian has made is a partnership with colleagues in the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences. Yvonne Awenat is a Research Fellow in the School of Psychological Sciences and an
important area of her work is around involving people in the design and implementation of research studies. Yvonne says: “Objects in Mind fits into the ethos of the kind of work we’re doing here – conducting research that aims to improve the lives of people with psychological distress and offering opportunities to be involved in the research process, which can often help them make sense out of an experience that they didn’t want, they didn’t like and has been very difficult for them.” Feedback included: “I loved the way Damian related the objects and displays to deeper meanings around history and ways of seeing mental health. The handling session was a fantastic interactive addition.” • For more information contact Damian Scully on damian.scully@manchester.ac.uk
Free scheme for abuse victims Women who have suffered domestic abuse will now be able to access free counselling support, thanks to a collaboration between the University and Stockport Without Abuse. Kath Dunn-cham, Accommodation Manager at the Stockport Without Abuse refuge, and Dr Terry Hanley, Course Director for the doctoral training programme in counselling psychology at Manchester, identified the need for an on-site counselling service at the Stockport’s women’s refuge.
Students at Baan Ratchawiti Girls' Orphanage
Physics takes flight – from Manchester to Thailand to Hollywood!
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University academic has taken his work in animal flight physics from Manchester to Thailand – and now to Hollywood!
Ban Parslew has been building links between early career researchers in Manchester and Thailand, teaching kids in a Thai orphanage how to fly quadcopters and gliders and working as a “bird consultant” on the Hollywood biblical blockbuster ‘Noah’. Ben, at the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering (MACE), who used to work at Kasetsart University in Thailand, has been involved in several projects with Thai universities. They include the UK-Southeast Asia Collaborative Development award, which Ben received from the British Council to establish new research links between UK and Thailand, and his visiting lecturer scholarship for King Mongkut's University, in which he runs a workshop on flight physics for students on the new robotics undergraduate course. Another project was his ‘RoboShop’ robotics workshop in Bangkok, promoting collaboration between 12 UK and 12 Thai early career researchers. Funded through
the British Council’s Research Links programme, it involved MACE researchers Khristopher Kabbabe and Gareth Roberts holding a hands-on session where participants built their own flying robots. Its outreach session – in which the team taught students at Baan Ratchawiti Girls' Orphanage how to fly quadcopters and gliders – was covered by Thai Channel 3 news. And now Ben features on the silver screen too – his name appears in the credits for Russell Crowe’s latest film, ‘Noah’, having worked with one of the film’s executive producers and animation team to improve the realism of animated doves in the film. Ben said: "I was really surprised when the producer first contacted me about Noah, especially because I was already a fan of his films. Working with their team was a fascinating experience - they were engaging and enthusiastic about the work, and incredibly professional. “And I am just as proud of RoboShop – it opened up discussion between all kinds of robotics researchers, with backgrounds in engineering, electronics, zoology and mathematics and established some key areas for collaborative research.”
Celebrating research into – and life after – stroke
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ore than 250 people from Manchester celebrated the launch of Science Stroke Art 2014 with an innovative event at Manchester Town Hall to mark the start of Action on Stroke Month.
stroke and show that it is not just something that happens to old people, but that young people can be affected too. We also wanted to show that stroke isn’t the end of a fulfilling life and to tell people about research into stroke.”
Manchester alumnus Dr Chris Steele, a GP and resident doctor on ITV’s This Morning, hosted the event, organised by the Stroke Association and the University. It mixed music, poetry and visual art with talks about stroke research and the latest in stroke treatment.
• For more information visit: www.stroke.org.uk
Dr Cinzia Casiraghi
Four University of Manchester scientists have been honoured by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Professor David Leigh has been named the Royal Society of Chemistry Pedler Award winner for “pioneering work on the biologically inspired design and synthesis of artificial molecular machines”. Dr Cinzia Casiraghi has been named the Royal Society of Chemistry Marlow Award winner for 2014, while a third prize went to Professor David Procter who is the Royal Society of Chemistry Bader Award winner. Finally, Professor Sabine Flitsch has been named the Royal Society of Chemistry Interdisciplinary Prize winner for 2014. • A fifth member of the School of Chemistry and Head of the School of Materials, Professor Paul O'Brien, is also celebrating after recently being awarded the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining's (IoMMM's) prestigious Platinum Medal.
The event kicked off Science Stroke Art 2014, a series of interactive events that included the Manchester Museum-hosted Creative Catalyst, a collective conversation of stroke survivors and carers, clinicians, artists and cultural organisations. Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell said: “What we want Science Stroke Art to do is raise awareness of
Chemists celebrate success
Alumnus Dr Chris Steele
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Research Fleet Street still packs a punch Printed newspapers are still among the most influential sources of information for senior civil servants, according to University research. The findings are welcome news for Fleet Street journalists, battling against online competitors and ever shrinking print ad revenues. The results also explode the myth that Oxbridge educated civil servants tend to go back to their old tutors for advice – only 11% claimed to access academic expertise through that route. The survey of over 320 senior civil servants by the University’s Policy@Manchester network revealed that 61% used newspapers and weeklies to first learn about academic research. An even higher 79% preferred briefings or reports, but just 27% used social media, 24% university websites and 9% from University blogsites.
Double boost for arthritis research Two major new research centres at The University of Manchester aimed at improving the lives of people with arthritis were officially launched on May 19. Leading medical research charity Arthritis Research UK is investing almost £5 million over the next five years into the centres of genetics and genomics, and epidemiology. The event also celebrated 60 years of epidemiological research at the university – funded largely by the charity – which has made a huge contribution to finding the causes of inflammatory arthritis and the factors that increase the risk of developing it.
Newspaper vendor
Prejudice against Poles blamed on media
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University researcher has found evidence which shows the media bears some of the blame for stirring up prejudice against migrant communities.
Alina Rzepnikowska has researched contacts between Polish migrants and the local population in the UK and Spain. Whereas the British might blame the Poles for “driving down wages”, “stealing their jobs” and “squeezing public services”, there was little evidence of similar attitudes towards the Polish communities of Spain. According to the PhD researcher, the British media often does not recognise the diverse economic and social background of Polish migrants, and rarely gives them a voice.
Heart smart The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama is the latest building on campus to install an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), a safe device which only delivers an electric shock to the heart when it detects an appropriate arrhythmia and can be used by a non-trained member of the public. There are now 17 AEDs (or defibrillators) across the campus and the University urges all staff and students to familiarise themselves with their locations. The University received a Gold Cardiac Smart Award in 2013 for its provision of defibrillators and training more than 500 staff in basic life support skills.
A cell undergoing normal mitosis
A cancer cell treated with chemotherapy drug Paclitaxel
Targeting cells that resist chemotherapy A way to sensitise cancer cells to chemotherapy making them more open to treatment has been identified. Scientists from the University say their study paves the way for the development of drugs to target cells that have become resistant to treatment. The research team made the discovery whilst exploring the possible mechanisms behind resistance to chemotherapy drugs like Paclitaxel, often used to treat breast and colon cancer.
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New policy briefing toolkit A new toolkit to help researchers communicate effectively with policymakers and influencers has been released. As part of work funded by the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) Impact Accelerator Account, the policy@manchester initiative has unveiled a policy briefing template with a guide to completing it effectively. As part the project, researchers are also able to access to the Dods database of MPs, Peers, Senior Civil Servants and Special Advisors. This allows searches for key national figures who have specific policy interests, and provides details of their key staff and contact information, which can be used to build a distribution list for a policy briefing.
E. coli bacteria in petri dish
‘Lonely’ bacteria more likely to mutate
Mussolini was no buffoon, historian argues
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Benito Mussolini was not the bumbling buffoon portrayed in popular culture, but the most powerful force behind the rise of European fascism before World War Two.
onely microbes are more likely to mutate, resulting in higher rates of antibiotic resistance, according to scientists at the University.
The new discovery was made during research into mutation rates in E. Coli which was jointly funded by The Wellcome Trust and EPSRC. The study found out that the rate of mutation varied according to how many of the bacteria there were. Surprisingly, they discovered that more bacteria gave fewer mutations.
Meanwhile more ‘lonely’ bacteria developed greater resistance to the well-known antibiotic Rifampicin, used to treat tuberculosis. Dr Chris Knight, joint lead author on the study with Dr Rok Krašovec from The University of Manchester, said: “What we were looking for was a connection between the environment and the ability of bacteria to develop the resistance to antibiotics. We discovered that the rate at which E. coli mutates depends upon how many ‘friends’ it has around. It seems that more lonely organisms are more likely to mutate.”
Public think alcohol adverts breach regulation
esearchers have found practising yoga while pregnant can reduce the risk of them developing anxiety and depression.
A majority of the UK general public perceive alcohol adverts to breach the Advertising Standards Authority's Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) Code, suggesting that the current regulatory system for UK television is inadequate.
Women who attended a yoga class a week for eight weeks had decreased anxiety. Stress during pregnancy has been linked to premature birth, low birth weight and increased developmental and behavioural problems in the child as a toddler and adolescent, as well as later mental health problems in the mother.
Researchers from the School of Psychological Sciences led by Professor David French showed 373 adults, aged 18-74 years, one of seven adverts that had been broadcast on commercial television channels.
A high level of anxiety during pregnancy is linked with postnatal depression, which in turn is associated with increased risk of developing depression later in life. Senior investigator Professor John Aplin said: “The results confirm what many who take part in yoga have suspected for a long time. There is also evidence yoga can reduce the need for pain relief during birth and the likelihood for delivery by emergency caesarean section.”
And many Italians, he says, are wrong to dismiss the world’s first fascist dictator as an ineffectual madman. According to the historian, Mussolini and the Fascists guided Hitler to power, offering him important strategic advice on, for example, enrolling the support of the middle classes.
Yoga can keep mums-to-be stress free
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Using archival material kept across Europe, Dr Christian Goeschel says the Italian fascist, as a senior partner to Hitler until the mid-1930s, was instrumental in the rise of the Nazi party in the pre-war years.
Overall 75 per cent of the participants rated the adverts as breaching at least one rule from the BCAP Code rules in all seven adverts.
Mums-to-be at yoga
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Research
Revealing the healing of Dino-sores
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anchester scientists have used state-of-the-art imaging techniques to examine the cracks, fractures and breaks in the bones of a 150 million-year-old predatory dinosaur.
The researchers say their groundbreaking work – using synchrotron-imaging techniques – sheds new light, literally, on the healing process that took place when these magnificent animals were still alive. The research, published in the Royal Society journal Interface, took advantage of the fact that dinosaur bones occasionally preserve evidence of trauma, sickness and the subsequent signs of healing.
Allosaurus by Jon Hoad
Diagnosis of such fossils used to rely on the grizzly inspection of gnarled bones and healed fractures, often entailing slicing through a fossil to reveal its secrets. But the synchrotron-based imaging, which uses light brighter than 10 billion Suns, meant the team could tease out the chemical ghosts lurking within the preserved dinosaur bones. Dr Phil Manning, one of the paper’s authors, said: “Using synchrotron imaging, we were able to detect astoundingly dilute traces of chemical
signatures that reveal not only the difference between normal and healed bone, but also how the damaged bone healed.” Lead author Jennifer Anné added: “Bone does not form scar tissue, like a scratch to your skin, so the body has to completely reform new bone following the same stages that occurred as the skeleton grew in the first place. This means we are able to tease out the chemistry of bone development through such pathological studies.”
Graphene research stacks up to more Graphene researchers have shown how they can control the properties of stacks of two-dimensional materials, opening up opportunities for previously-unimagined electronic devices. The researchers create ‘heterostructures’ made up of 2D materials, capable of delivering novel functionality.
Writing in Nature Physics, the scientists demonstrate that layers in such stacks can interact strongly. PhD student Colin Woods said: “It was extremely exciting to see that the properties of graphene can change so dramatically by simply twisting the two crystals only a fraction of a degree.”
A meeting with… Mike Kelly What’s the best part of your job?
Mike Kelly, our Deputy Facilities Manager at SPORT Manchester, started at the University in March 2013. He is responsible for supporting the overall management of our sports facilities including the Armitage Centre, Wythenshawe Sports Ground and the Boat House in Sale.
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I have a keen interest in facilities management and I’m also a huge lover of sport. My role provides me with both an exciting career and a very enjoyable occupation. It is great to know that our work directly contributes to the success of both our student sport activities and the SPORT Manchester services we provide.
room, introduction of a new uniform and lots of other things to make our facilities the best as possible for students, staff and all visitors.
Any challenges?
Prince, Richard Pryor and Floyd Mayweather.
Who would be your ideal dinner party guests?
Every day is a challenge within facility management which makes the job even more interesting – it always keeps you on your toes!
What would you say to your 16-year-old self now?
How did you get to the role you have now?
Don’t change a thing…maybe try and do even more!
I was previously managing the extended and integrated services at Failsworth School and Sports College. Managing all aspects of this smaller scale operation gave me a fantastic footing for moving upwards in my career. Whilst not looking for a job at the time, a colleague showed me the job and said he thought it looked perfect for me... and the rest is history.
Any future projects coming up? There are lots of exciting things being developed within SPORT Manchester including the installation of a Leisure Management System, a redevelopment of the Armitage Centre reception area and staff
Favourite book, film and TV programme? I’m not a massive reader, but the Mike Tyson autobiography is a great read. My favourite film is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the original version). TV, I love 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
What is your earliest childhood memory? Riding my tricycle on the floor boards at home.
Any interesting hobbies? Boxing, music, hiking, basketball…well, they’re exciting to me at least!
Feature
Celebrating our volunteering stars The University celebrated the volunteering achievements of its staff, students and alumni with a special awards ceremony and lunch in Whitworth Hall. This year’s judging panel had a particularly difficult task, as the number and quality of nominations across a diverse range of volunteering activity was possibly the highest ever. Here, UniLife meets the winners in the Staff, Student and Alumni categories, who all received a University donation to the groups they work with. (L-R) Thomas Pacey, Dr Carl Clowes, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Lucy Swinton
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taff winner Lucy Swinton has spent every birthday since she was 17 away from home, helping Romanian children and adults in governmental care who have intellectual or physical disabilities. Lucy, a Student Support Graduate Intern in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, is a Director and the Oltenia Project Co-ordinator for The Life Foundation. She joined the organisation in 2008 as a volunteer on projects in Romania and India and took on the role of Oltenia Project Coordinator in 2011 during her first year as a student at Manchester, becoming a Director of The Life Foundation during her final year. Lucy recruits, interviews and trains volunteers for the programme; is involved in developing the organisation’s various projects; manages the recruitment and fundraising sub-committee; and organises fundraising events.
Lucy Swinton
Nominator Niko Wright said: “Lucy has dedicated significant amounts of free time volunteering alongside her A-levels, University degree and now her job in order to support her causes.
Thomas Pacey
“Since the age of 17, she has never spent her birthday in this country, giving up many celebrations to devote more time to her projects with unwavering enthusiasm.” After receiving the award, Lucy said: “I am incredibly grateful to all my colleagues and friends and especially to The Life Foundation Committee who provide fantastic support. “The donation for The Life Foundation will make a massive difference in Romania – it will contribute to providing medical equipment for a child with untreatable hydrocephalus, providing shoes for adults living in a government institution and to support the running of our centre in Oltenia.” Alumni category winner Dr Carl Clowes was recognised for his voluntary activity since becoming a general practitioner on the Llŷn peninsula in rural North Wales. In the early 1970s, the health of the local population was affected by rural decline. Carl’s initial response was to set up and chair a Villagers’ Association to re-establish the village’s viability.
Thomas Pacey won in the highly competitive Student category for his work with Chernobyl Children's Cancer Care Cardiff. This small charity provides funding and volunteers to assist with the running of a summer camp for disabled and terminally ill children in Belarus. An enthusiastic and dedicated volunteer, he’s spent time on the camp every year, also organising fundraising events to financially support these activities. His dedication has seen Thomas appointed a Trustee by the charity’s Board, taking on more responsibility for financial and governance decisions. He has also devised a volunteer training programme so that they are fully prepared for camp life and develop their skills.
As the challenges increased, Carl recognised the need for a more structured approach and in 1974 Antur Aelhaearn was born as an Industrial and Provident Society. This was the UK’s first community co-operative, with each villager entitled to vote on local regeneration.
Nominator Rhiannon Heslop said: “Thomas is a creative, enthusiastic and caring volunteer who’s always coming up with fun activities for the children. He makes a difference to so many people’s lives and most of the time he doesn't even notice that he's doing it!”
Carl’s commitment to the Llŷn peninsula has continued over the years, and the latest initiative in which he’s involved is Ynni Aelhaearn – the co-operative’s efforts to promote green energy through the development of a community turbine.
President and Vice-Chancellor Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell said: “Each year, I’m ever more inspired by the acts of generosity and time freely given by our staff, students and alumni to communities here in the UK and around the world.”
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Feature
Manchester Makes Us Proud Our University has a long and illustrious history. It has been home to many pioneering scholars and researchers and it has helped to shape the modern world through discovery, ideas and knowledge. It is on this rich heritage that our reputation as a world-leading university has been built.
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ur reputation is a key factor in the University’s success in the modern higher education landscape where we have to compete for students and research funding against formidable competition from across the world. If we are to achieve the ambitious goals contained in the Manchester 2020 Strategic Plan, we need to promote and build on our reputation as an outstanding place to study or carry out research.
Here, UniLife takes a look at the work going on to build our reputation in this fiercely competitive environment… A survey carried out last year amongst our key external stakeholders revealed they felt that the reputation of our University was strong and growing. Our Nobel Prize winning discovery of graphene, Professor Brian Cox’s TV appearances and the President’s personal profile were identified as key strengths, but other achievements from engineering, to medicine to humanities were also highlighted. Without doubt, we have a lot to celebrate. Our research performance is one of the best in the country, and our students are increasingly satisfied with their experience here, as our improving National Student Survey results prove. And our commitment to widening access and social responsibility is well illustrated by the fact that we
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recruit more students from low participation neighbourhoods than Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE and UCL combined. We continue to be the most popular university in the UK for undergraduate study and we attract more international students to study here than any other British university. And it is not just amongst our peers and prospective students that we enjoy a strong reputation. A public opinion poll conducted last year showed that more people thought that Manchester was one of Britain’s “top five” universities (alongside Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh and UCL) than any other Russell Group institution. One of the enabling goals of the Manchester 2020 strategic plan is to build a ‘Reputation for Excellence’ to strengthen the power of our brand by celebrating our achievements and distinctiveness and engaging staff, students, alumni and other key stakeholders as ambassadors for the University. Colleagues in the Division of Communications and Marketing, working in partnership with staff from right across the University, have a key role in delivering that enabling goal and building the University’s reputation. The team, led by Director Alan Ferns, has recently been strengthened with the appointment of a new Head of University Marketing Terry Hudghton and Head of Communications Rachael McGraw, and by
closer links with those responsible for supporting communications and marketing in the Faculties. As Alan Ferns says: “We have developed a very powerful and effective reputation that has served the University well since the merger in 2004, but we now need to ‘step up’ our game. We need to become more disciplined and effective in the messages we put out about the University and develop a more strategic and professional approach to our communications and marketing activities. That doesn’t mean spending more money, but it does mean using the resources and opportunities that we have more effectively by co-ordinating and aligning the efforts of colleagues.”
New University website On 30 April the Division of Communications and Marketing launched the new University website. Nearly 12 months of planning and hard work went into ensuring the project was completed on schedule, and you can have a look at the results at www.manchester.ac.uk The end product guarantees an excellent user experience on desktop, tablet or mobile, reinforcing the University brand and enhancing our reputation for excellence. It features a new streamlined site structure, a new design, a stunning range of photography and copy that has been optimised to rank more highly in search engine results pages.
Amazing imagery Powerful imagery forms the cornerstone of our new visual language. Working with an approved set of photographers to develop a recognisable style, we are creating a range of vibrant images which consistently illustrate and reinforce our points of distinction. The Communications and Marketing team has new film and imagery co-ordinator, who working with colleagues in the Design Studio, was responsible for creating the new vibrant photography for the corporate website. Over the coming months, in collaboration with colleagues in Faculties and the Professional Support Services, the Design Team will be auditing all of the photography and video within marketing and writing new guidelines for creating and sharing images and video University-wide.
In the news We live in an era of 24-hour news and information. The internet and social media have revolutionised how people consume news and the way that journalists find stories has changed too – with them more likely to use Twitter than the traditional press release. Manchester is part of the World 100 group and receives monthly reports looking at the amount of media coverage generated and the impact of this coverage. In March 2014, our University was ninth in the world for the amount of media coverage as we
are consistently in the top six in the UK. The impact of this coverage is also analysed to see whether its message is positive, negative or neutral, and again Manchester performs particularly well compared to our competitor institutions. This is achieved thanks to a small team of Media Relations Officers who work with Faculties to identify news stories – often focussed on our ground-breaking research. Over the next few months the team will be investigating ways of better using social media to ensure that the University’s voice is heard loud and clear.
Communicating with our staff The University has more than 11,000 staff working in a huge variety of roles both on and off campus, making us one of the largest employers in the North West. Each and every one of these people has the potential to be an ambassador for our brand. The Internal Communications team works hard to ensure that our staff are kept up to date with the news and information they need, not only to be able to do their jobs, but to ensure that they feel part of the University. The focus for the team’s work is based on the findings of the Staff Survey carried out in 2013 which revealed that 92% of staff were proud to work at the University and the 81% felt satisfied in their job.
The team is now working on providing better ways to give staff a voice through two-way communications and ensuring the University’s senior leadership is visible and approachable – as demonstrated by the recent President’s Question Time which you can view at: www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/ presidents-question-time
World Leading Minds Working with Human Resources, we have just concluded advertising for the second University staff recruitment campaign ‘World Leading Minds’. The first campaign took place in 2011/2012 and utilised both conventional and online media in publications such as New Scientist, Nature, The Guardian, THE and the US Chronicle to advertise over 100 senior academic jobs. The second campaign ran in the first quarter of 2014 and mirrored the first in terms of its branding and design but this time also extensively used social media and blogging groups as well as significant Google AdWords spend to attack the USA market. The results were spectacular – to date 20,069 (42.5%) of the campaign microsite visitors came from USA and 21% of applications to date. This has increased the University’s profile with US academia. For more information or to get in touch, visit: www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/services/ communications-marketing
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Feature
Saving the banks – from themselves The Research Excellence Framework – the new system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions – asks us to show the impact that our research has on the world. Here UniLife looks at how our researchers really are changing the world…
Professor Pierre-Richard Agénor
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rofessor Pierre-Richard Agénor is in the business of saving banks from themselves.
In the wake of the world financial crisis, his cutting-edge research is redefining the agenda on financial regulation and helping central banks lead the way in promoting economic stability. As Manchester’s Hallsworth Professor of International Macroeconomics and Development Economics, his academic credentials are impeccable. But the complex theoretical models he and his collaborators have developed are no abstract ‘ivory tower’ vision. They are having a significant impact not only on academic research but also in the real world. Indeed, the path-breaking work, focussing on middle-income countries like Brazil and Turkey, has received immediate worldwide attention and begun to influence high-level debate in major international institutions.
far; put the brakes on, as it were. The effect of all that is to exacerbate changes in the economy. “My work has focussed on building theoretical models to understand how policies work in terms of identifying weaknesses in the system and promoting financial stability. Should policies be combined? Could monetary policy do more? Should central banks be more concerned with the bigger picture? “The conclusion we reached was very much yes.” The findings led to proposing a new monetary policy regime for middle-income countries in which the central bank is explicitly responsible for financial stability – helping prevent crises like bank runs – and monetary and macroprudential policies are set jointly.
“Since the global financial crisis central banks have had to completely rethink what they do,” said Professor Agénor. “Until then financial regulation was very much focussed on individual institutions. “It became increasingly clear that central banks needed to take a macroprudential approach – focussing more on risks to the financial system as a whole. If you allow banks to concentrate on their own business they tend to amplify cyclical fluctuations. “When they are doing well and times are good, they are too optimistic and lend too much. When there’s a downturn they get spooked and cut lending too
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Outside the former Bank of England building on King Street
They also have implications for other nations and Professor Agénor has already been awarded funding by the Economic and Social Research Council to lead a major research project on financial regulation in low-income countries. While his areas of research are unusually wide – gender equality, international finance, poverty reduction, growth theory and labour markets – he’s very clear that it’s how they affect policy that ultimately counts. “Policymakers want to know what my models will tell them – not how many equations they have,” he says. “It’s important to speak their language. You have to live in the real world.”
Feature
Putting a good word in for Manchester The University’s new Learning Through Research programme teaches our undergraduate students about their subject by having them look at – or do – research. This will not only enhance our students’ learning experience, it will improve their employability by increasing the scope of their studies and skills base. Here UniLife meets one of the academics showing our students a new way of learning… Dr Laurel Mackenzie
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anchester’s linguistics students have captured the nation’s imagination – by using YouTube and the Beckhams to answer dynamic new questions about Britain’s dialects. In studies that could never have been done 10 years ago, they have been exploring how the way people speak changes over the course of a lifetime. They analyse pre-recordings of public figures celebrities or politicians - to pinpoint a range of subtle differences. And their findings on football icon David Beckham and his fashion designer wife Victoria means their ground-breaking work has already featured in a raft of national newspapers. “This is a new and really dynamic research question in linguistics - whether people can change the way they talk across their lifetime, and if so how and why,” says English Linguistics lecturer Dr Laurel Mackenzie. “People have always speculated but it’s been difficult to scientifically evaluate without the right sort of data. “YouTube has been a godsend, a positive treasure trove of information. With two recordings of someone at different points in time you can go wild. “It has suddenly become much easier to get the kind of data we need, to find it online and to store it.” The research into the Beckhams was particularly fascinating, comparing David’s latest recorded interviews with his first as a 16-year-old cockney kid thrust into the spotlight and listening to
Essex girl Victoria as a Spice Girl and again as a successful designer. “We looked at how at the beginning David dropped his Hs and she ‘swallowed’ her Ls,” said Dr Mackenzie. “We did a proper scientific quantitative study, counting how many times they did it before they moved to the US and how many after. The rate goes down. “We don’t know why; whether it was sub-conscious, whether they want to sound posher or more American. You can’t tease those apart in this case. But it stands up to rigorous scientific scrutiny.” It isn’t the first time her students’ work has made it into the pages of the press. Their quantitative research into the UK’s linguistic features also hit the headlines after students looked at people’s choice of words for items like bread rolls and trainers. And by mapping their study into certain word pronunciations they found that the line between North and South variations has moved further North over the past 50 years – but still very much exists. “They really got their hands dirty doing all this work,” says Dr Mackenzie. “It’s unusual for undergraduates to be able to contribute so much, especially in terms of quantitative studies but it shows them how research works and how difficult it can sometimes be.” She says she is delighted by the high profile response - but not nearly as excited as the students themselves.
A map of how the UK names its bread
“They are thrilled,” she says. “I’ve seen them include it in personal statement applications for Masters programmes and jobs and put it on their CVs. It’s a nice reminder that what we do as academics is relevant to the greater public. “It proves we’re not just stuck in an ivory tower poring over a book. We’re actually telling people about the world around them.” Graduate Naomi Proszynska, who worked on the Beckham project, said it had taught her skills that she would now use in her working life. “Dr Mackenzie gave us the tools required, but after that she left us to research and write our reports independently. That’s something that has importance out in the real world.”
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Feature
Mimas: at the leading edge of data As Mimas prepares to move to a new home with technology charity Jisc, UniLife looks back on a 30-year relationship with the University, as well as forward, as it continues to lead the way in providing pioneering services to higher and further education.
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orn out of the University’s Regional Computing Centre, Mimas – now a Centre of Excellence – has grown from supporting around 100 researchers in their use of census data, to developing a significant number of the UK’s research information assets, including Copac, Zetoc and The Archives Hub, with hundreds of thousands of users across the UK. Its strong focus on research and development, its people – a collection of 69 experts in areas such as technical development, information and data management, understanding user’s needs and its collaborations with organisations, universities and colleges across the UK, all account for Mimas’ success today.
From Punch Cards to Augmented Reality During its 30 year history, technology has changed beyond recognition, but Mimas’ purpose has remained the same – to make data and information available for education and research in the best way possible. Indeed it developed some of the first web-based interfaces to data resources and continues to develop innovative technologies and services, such as Augmented Reality and mobile learning, which meet current and future user needs.
Leaf frog behind the scenes of the Vivarium at The Manchester Museum
Working with the University In its time at the University, Mimas has developed strong relationships with colleagues in academic departments, research centres, and the Library. An example of this is the ‘Mapping the Museum’ project, an initiative with The Manchester Museum. Here augmented reality (AR) - the technique of enhancing materials with 3D models, digital media and overlaid virtual imagery through smartphones and tablets - and 3D mapping is being used to visualise the spatial distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the Vivarium, so helping people engage with this collection in new ways.
'Fabulous Frogs' app: Splendid and Native, interactive AR tool targeted at 7 – 11 year olds
And there’s the potential to expand this innovative work to other areas of the Museum such as the Ancient Worlds and Living Worlds galleries. Moving forward, with Mimas part of Jisc, the University will continue to be a key partner.
More information www.mimas.ac.uk AR or Mapping the Museum http://teamscarlet.wordpress.com Vivarium Collection http://frogblogmanchester.com
Virtual Vivarium app, developed using Google Earth
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Listings International Society Visit some of the most beautiful and interesting locations around England, Scotland and Wales. There are visits taking place almost every weekend throughout the year. Sat 7 Jun Alton Towers Sun 8 Jun Peak District visiting Chatsworth House with its Food and Drink Fair Sat 14 Jun Yorkshire Dales visiting Ingleton Waterfalls Walk and White Scar Caves Sun 15 Jun North Wales visiting Portmeirion Village with a ride on the Welsh Highland Railway to Caernarfon Sat 21 Jun Robin Hood’s Bay and Scarborough Sun 22 Jun North Wales visiting Bodnant Gardens and Penrhyn Castle Sat 28 Jun Whitby Sun 29 Jun Liverpool Sat 5 Jul South Lake District visiting Bownesson-Windermere with a boat ride on Lake Windermere Sun 6 Jul Blackpool Children’s marbles, found on Whitworth Park dig. Photo credit Manchester Museum
Sat 12 Jul to Sun 13 Jul Overnight Trip to Bath and Stonehenge
What’s On
Manchester Museum
Fri 27 Jun, 10.30am and 11.30am (booking essential) Magic Carpet Story making and activity sessions for toddlers up to 5 yrs and their families/carers.
EXHIBITIONS All exhibitions at Manchester Museum are FREE From the War of Nature until 7 Sept Whitworth Park: Pleasure, Play and Politics until 5 October FAMILY ACTIVITIES Available Sat and Sun 10am or 2pm – bookings one month in advance. New! Children’s Birthday Parties Tues 10 and 24 Jun, 10.30am, 11.30am and 1pm, FREE Baby Explorers Sensory play and interactive story sessions for babies who aren’t walking yet. Sat 14 Jun, 11am-4pm, FREE Big Saturday: Ideas for Life Family day of discovery for Universities Week.
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THINGS TO DO Tues 10 Jun, 7.30pm Cabinets of Curiosities: How disability was kept in a box Live performance exploring the history of disability. TALKS, TOURS AND WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS Every Weds and Thurs, 1pm, FREE Taster Tours Fri 6 Jun, 1pm, FREE Lunchtime exhibition talk: From the War of Nature Weds 4 Jun, 1pm-2pm, FREE Collection Bites: Designed by Nature, Made by Hand Fri 20 Jun 1pm-2pm Taster Urban Naturalist: On the Allotment Tues 24 Jun, 6pm-8pm, FREE
Sat 12 Jul York Sun 13 Jul North Wales visiting Caernarfon Castle and Portmeirion Village Sat 19 Jul North Wales visiting Conwy Castle and Llandudno Sun 20 Jul Stratford-upon-Avon Sat 26 Jul Chester and Cheshire Oaks
Whitworth Park Community Archaeology and History Project Meet the exhibition’s project team as they share the fascinating discoveries from their dig. Sat 28 Jun, 2pm-4pm Urban Naturalist: Geology Garden
Sun 27 Jul The Lake District with a ride on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway and a cruise on Lake Windermere
Opening times Open: Tues-Sat 10am-5pm Sun-Mon (and Bank Holidays) 11am-4pm FREE admission The Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, Manchester 0161 275 2648 www.manchester.ac.uk/museum Follow us on Twitter @McrMuseum www.facebook.com/ManchesterMuseum
Sat 9 Aug York
Sat 2 Aug Stratford-upon-Avon
Sat 16 Aug Whitby Sat 23 Aug Liverpool Sat 30 Aug South Lake District visiting Bownesson-Windermere with a boat ride on Lake Windermere Opening times Mon-Fri 9.30am – 7pm (during term time) Mon-Fri 9.30am – 5pm (during vacation) Small World Café opening times Mon-Fri 11am – 3pm 327 Oxford Road (next to Krobar) 0161 275 4959 email int.soc@manchester.ac.uk www.internationalsociety.org.uk
Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre
John Rylands Library (Deansgate)
Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre offers a great day out for all the family. Come and explore the planets using our model of the Solar System. Find answers to the wonders of the Universe, listen to the sounds of the Big Bang and discover what the scientists are researching ‘Live’ in our interactive Space Pavilion. The glass-walled café offers spectacular views of the iconic Lovell telescope and fantastic homemade cakes!
EXHIBITIONS
EVENTS
Until 26 Oct Imprinting the Imagination
Gig Guide
17 Jul – 21 Dec Communities in Communication – Languages & Cultures in the Low Countries, 1450-1530
Manchester Academy 1, 2 and 3
EVENING CONCERTS
Tues 3 Jun
Gary Clarke Jr - £12.50
FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
Sat 7 Jun
Thurs 5 Jun, 3 Jul, 7 Aug and 4 Sep, 10.30am-11.30am (booking essential) Toddler Tales
The Polyphonic Spree £17.50
Tues 3 Jun, 7.30pm-9pm, £10/£6/£3 Estival 2014: Manchester University Big Band
Mon 9 Jun
Pond - £11
Sun 15 Jun Rocket Racing – Father’s Day Sun 29 Jun Family Pop-up Planetarium Shows Information: Live from Jodrell Bank website www.livefromjodrellbank.com Tickets: http://ow.ly/hQCFU Tickets include entry to the Discovery Centre. Opening times 10am-5pm For more information and prices please visit our website Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9DL 01477 571 766 www.jodrellbank.net
Until 22 Jun Bus Stop Stories Until 29 Jun Aftermath (exhibition to mark the centenary of the IWW) Until 3 Aug The Space Between: exhibition of artworks by Anthony McCarthy
Thurs 28 Aug, 12pm-4pm Summer Fun Day
RC Chaplaincy Avila House Mass Times (term-time only) Sun, 7pm (in the Holy Name Church) next door to the Chaplaincy Mon, Tues, Thurs and Friday, 5.30pm in the Chaplaincy Chapel Weds, 1.05pm in the Chaplaincy Chapel The Jewish Student Centre and Synagogue 07817 250 557 Email Rabbi Ephraim Guttentag: ephraim@mychaplaincy.co.uk Muslim Chaplaincy South Campus Mosque, McDougall Centre Jammaat (Group Prayer) Daily Juma Prayer Friday 1.15pm Honorary Imam: Imam Habeeb, h_chatti@hotmail.com
Thurs 12 Jun George Ezra + Port Isla + Dancing Years - £12.50 The Pierces - £15 Fri 13 Jun
Weds 4 Jun, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm Whimsical Wednesday Workshop: Decoupage Sat 7 Jul and Sun 14 Sep, 11am-4pm Printing Press Demonstrations
The M’Goo Project + Misty’s Big Adventure + The Retainers - £8
Weds 18 Jun Brave Black Sea - £12 Andy Jordan - £8 Thurs 19 Jun Jurassic 5 + Ugly Duckling - £25 (This show has moved from the Apollo. Original tickets remain valid)
FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERTS Tues 3 Jun, 1.10pm-2pm Estival 2014: Contemporary Works Weds 4 Jun, 1.10pm-2pm MUMS Grade One Orchestra Thurs 5 Jun, 1.10pm-2pm Estival 2014: University of Manchester Brass Band Fri 6 Jun, 1.10pm-2pm Estival 2014: Vocal Showcase
Weds 4 Jun, 7.30pm-9pm, £10/£6/£3 Estival 2014: Manchester University Wind Orchestra Thurs 5 Jun, 5pm-7pm, £7/£4/£2 Estival 2014: Ad Solem and The Cosmo Singers Thurs 5 Jun, 7.30pm-9pm, £10/£6/£3 Estival 2014: MUMS Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensembles Fri 6 Jun, 7.30pm-9pm, £10/£6/£3 Estival 2014: MUMS Symphony Orchestra
Tues 24 Jun
Gareth Gates + Jai McDowall - £17.50
Tues 1 Jul, Weds 2 Jul and Thurs 3 Jul, 7.30pm-9.30pm, £5/£2.50 One Education Presents “Annual Music Showcase”
Weds 2 Jul
Bam Margera’s FuckFace Unstoppable - £15
EVENTS
Fri 4 Jul
Extreme – Pornograffitti Live Tour + Leogun £28.50
Sat 5 Jul
Ska Face - £7
TOURS
Mon 7 Jul
Sebastian Bach - £18.50
Booking required for all tours.
Weds 9 Jul
In Hindsight - £10
Sat 12 Jul
The Ocean - £10
Fri 1 Aug
Athlete - £18.50
Weds 20 Aug, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm Whimsical Wednesday Workshop: Book Making
St Peter’s House Chaplaincy Sunday, 11am Holy Communion 12.45pm Lunch (1st Sun) Sunday, 5.30pm Student Service (term-time only) Wednesday 12.15pm Eucharist, followed by free soup lunch (term-time only)
The John Rylands Library 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH Visitor/Event Enquiries: 0161 306 0555 General/Reader Enquiries: 0161 275 3764 Email: jrul.visitors@manchester.ac.uk Email: jrul.specialcollections@manchester.ac.uk www.library.manchester.ac.uk/ specialcollections/
THINGS TO DO
Weds 30 Jul, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm Whimsical Wednesday Workshop: Hama Beading
Chaplaincies
The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama
Weds 10 Sep, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm Whimsical Wednesday Workshop: Printmaking
Mon 2 Jun, Tues 17 Jun, Thurs 17 Jul, Tues 29 Jul, 5 Aug and Thurs 14 Aug, 3pm-4pm Unusual Views: Library Tours for Photographers Tues 3 Jun, 3pm-4pm, Thurs 12 Jun, 11am-12pm, Fri 20 Jun, Sat 28 Jun, 12 Jul, 26 Jul, Fri 1 Aug and Sat 9 Aug, 3pm-4pm (booking essential) Explorer Tour
Weds 27 Aug Evergreen Terrace + The Human Project - £13 Fri 12 Sep
Sat 6 Sep, 11am-12pm (booking essential) Dragon Tour
North Campus Mosque Basement of Joule Library, Sackville Street Building Jammaat (Group Prayer) Daily Juma Prayer Friday 12.30pm
Every Fri at 3pm (arrive early to ensure a place) Library Tour
The role of Volunteer Muslim Chaplain is to provide pastoral support, guidance and a listening ear to Muslim staff and students. Chaplains’ contact details are available in the prayer rooms or via St Peter’s House.
FREE ADMISSION
For further details of our events, please visit our website
Public opening times: Sun-Mon 12-5pm, Tues-Sat 10am-5pm Reader opening times: Mon-Weds, Fri-Sat 10am-5pm, Thurs 10am-7pm
The Magic Numbers - £15
Thurs 18 Sep Azealia Banks - £18.50 (Rescheduled from Wed 26 Mar, Original tickets remain valid) Johnette Napolitano (of Concrete Blonde) - £17.50 (Rescheduled from Tues 10 Apr, Original tickets remain valid)
Sat 14 Jun, 2pm-4pm Bus Stop Stories: Photographer Workshop
Sat 9 Aug and 20 Sep, 11am-12pm (booking essential) Tour of the Library in French
The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama Bridgeford Street, Manchester, M13 9PL 0161 275 8951 email boxoffice@manchester.ac.uk www.manchester.ac.uk/ martinharriscentre
Thurs 7 Aug Anberlin - £12
Weds 11 Jun, 11am-11.30am Bus Stop Stories: Curator talk
Thurs 19 Jun, 17 Jul, 21 Aug and 18 Sep, 3pm-4pm (booking essential) Tours and Treasures
Sat 14 Jun, 10am-9pm RNCM Gold Medal Competition
Fri 19 Sep
Sleaford Mods - £7.50
Mon 22 Sep The Axis of Awesome: Viva La Vida Loca Las Vegas - £16.50 Thurs 25 Sep Vance Joy + Eva Stone £10 Fri 26 Sep
The Fray - £20
Sat 27 Sep
Evile – Album Launch Show - £5
Mon 29 Sep Lewis Watson - £11 Tickets from Students’ Union, Oxford Road Piccadilly Box Office @ easy Internet Café (c/c) 0871 2200260 Royal Court (Liverpool) 0151 709 4321 (c/c) Students’ Union Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL 0161 275 2930 www.manchesteracademy.net
The Whitworth Art Gallery Re-opening 25 October 2014 The Whitworth Art Gallery has started a new and exciting chapter in its history. A major building project is now taking place to transform and extend the 120-year-old gallery, doubling its public areas whilst reducing its carbon footprint and improving facilities for visitors. This new development by architects MUMA will re-connect the 19th century building with Whitworth Park through an elegant contemporary extension. The new Whitworth will bring you more art, more activities, more events and more space. It will be all things our many visitors have always loved about the Whitworth. We look forward to welcoming you back on Saturday 25 October 2014. Visit our website for details of our forthcoming outreach events….. Whitworth Art Gallery Oxford Road, Manchester 0161 275 7450 email whitworth@manchester.ac.uk www.manchester.ac.uk/whitworth
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Feature
From the teapot to the finishing line… The University’s strategic plan Manchester 2020 lists one of our goals as contributing to the social and economic success of the local, national and international community. Our new engagement campaign to encourage staff to highlight how they are ‘making a difference’ to society was launched featuring campus installations and a new blog. Here UniLife looks at a colleague we can be proud of…
Amanda Labella (front, in red dress) with Lucas Garrity (holding torch), John Bishop and friends
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rom chatting over tea and cake to running the Manchester 10k, Amanda Labella is making a difference.
Amanda, PA to Dr Teresa Anderson, Director of the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, hosts Contact the Elderly Tea Parties – regular Sunday afternoon tea parties for people over 75, who live with little or no social support. “The tea parties are lovely for both the guests and my family,” Amanda says. “My children get involved and help bake cakes and serve tea and coffee to everyone, which they really enjoy. “Some of our guests haven’t seen anyone since the last meeting a few weeks before and this makes you realise how lonely some elderly people are in our community. “A couple of hours out on a Sunday afternoon makes a huge difference to their lives and I urge anyone who has a little time to take part and support the elderly people within our community.” Amanda also ran the Manchester 10k in memory of Lucas Garrity, whose family are members of Jodrell Bank's annual membership scheme and who Amanda has met at several of its events, the last
time when the Olympic torch relay visited the University site and scaled the iconic Lovell Telescope. Lucas was among the host of schoolchildren who greeted the torch – carried by comedian and charity fundraiser John Bishop – along with President and Vice Chancellor Professor Nancy Rothwell. Just a month later, Lucas became ill. His father Damyon contacted Amanda a few months later to let her know he had an aggressive and inoperable brain tumour. He died not long after his seventh birthday last year. Amanda recalls: “I last saw Lucas as a happy, healthy six year old, running around with his brother Zac and my two children. “He was a brave, cheerful little boy who never lost his big, beautiful smile despite his illness and I wanted to remember him, while supporting Brainstrust, the charity that continues to work so hard to find a cure for the brain tumour that Lucas suffered with and supports families such as the Garritys.” • To donate to Amanda’s run visit: www.justgiving.com/Amanda-Labella • Or to help Contact the Elderly visit: www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk
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