KENT staff magazine by University of Kent

Staff

KENT The Magazine for the University of Kent | January 2013

New year... new look Going for gold

Welcome Dear colleagues, Autumn term 2012 saw major progress for the University of Kent. This progress can be measured in a number of ways, but perhaps most visibly in new physical developments across our campuses (see p12). At Canterbury, we opened the new Crit Space for the Kent School of Architecture, an inspirational cutting-edge teaching and learning facility, and one that makes a striking addition to our estate. We also enjoyed the grand opening of the Colyer-Fergusson Music Building, which gave the opportunity for us to hear superb music in beautiful surroundings. With multiple practice rooms as well as the concert hall, the building marks a step-change in our provision for music at Canterbury. New facilities for the School of Arts were completed at the Medway campus, in buildings at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard. Visitors to the campus cannot fail to notice too that there is now a major piece of public art nestled alongside the Medway Building: ‘the elephant-cow’ (see p4) won the Vice-Chancellor’s art prize last year, and we are proud to display it on the campus where it was made by Fine Art student Rajvia Kaur. The links between the Canterbury and Medway campuses were further strengthened by the inauguration of a new hourly shuttle bus service between the two sites. Our academic reputation continues to improve with outstanding results in the National Student Survey, and similar progress in research as we complete REF pilot exercises in preparation for final submission later in the year. I thank everyone who has been involved in the work so far, and for the continued endeavour in the coming months. With progress in our facilities for students and staff, for teaching, learning and research, we have much to celebrate already this academic year. I wish you all the very best for a prosperous and successful 2013.

Professor Dame Julia M Goodfellow DBE, CBE Vice-Chancellor

3 News 6 Feature: Going for gold 8 Research 11 Enterprise 12 Feature: New year... new look 14 Human Resources 16 Staff profile 17 Sport/Books 18 Kent in the news/Obituary 19 People 20 What’s on Special thanks to: Lesley Farr, University Design & Print Centre. Photographs by Robert Berry, Lloyd Bosworth, Howard Griffin, Simon Jarrett and Matt Wilson.

News

KENT We have set up a new group for staff to have their say on all aspects of internal communications, including KENT staff magazine. If you would like to become a member, please get in touch with us via communications@kent.ac.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.

Kent archaeologists help examine newly-found treasure

KENT staff magazine is also available online at www.kent.ac.uk/campusonline/kentmagazine Editorial team: Wendy Raeside, Communications Officer (Corporate Communications); Karen Baxter, Press Assistant (Corporate Communications), University of Kent.

Next issue: the deadline for the next issue is 5 April, with a publication date of 29 April 2013.

Scan me

for the latest KENT magazine on your mobile

Archaeologists at the University have helped confirm a helmet unearthed in Kent dates back to the 1st century BC. The helmet, found in farmland near Canterbury, is made of bronze and was discovered alongside a brooch by an amateur metal detectorist.

manufacture, decoration and use. This sort of emerging technology allows the rapid production of accurate and high-resolution digital 3D models of archaeological artefacts, minimising the potential harm associated with the repeated handling of these often fragile objects. The technology also ensures any details potentially overlooked by the naked eye are highlighted.

Working with Canterbury Archaeological Trust, the helmet has been carefully scanned by experts in the Department of Classical and Archaeological Studies at Kent, using state-ofthe-art technology to help define the history of the object.

‘The secrets of this helmet are only just beginning to emerge but we will know much more as the work progresses. More or less intact helmets of this era are very rare finds; one used as a cremation container, as with this example, is known from Belgium,’ Dr Willis added.

Dr Steven Willis, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology and an expert in Iron Age and Roman Britain, said: ‘We are delighted to be able to assist with such a remarkable find for Canterbury and the local area. Using laser-scanning technology, which has become an essential part of the conservation of objects, we have been able to analyse the helmet from a distance and unlock many details of the object, such as the

Due to the discovery’s archaeological significance, which includes two prehistoric metal objects found together, the find has been registered under the Treasure Act (1996). The objects have been reported to the Coroner and will remain at the British Museum where a special report will be prepared. It is hoped that the Canterbury Museum will be able to acquire the finds for permanent display in Kent.

tinyurl.com/kentlinked youtube.com/user/UniversityofKent flickr.com/photos/universityofkent/

Staff

KENT The Magazine for the University of Kent | January 2013

New year... new look Going for gold

Cover story New year... new look for Kent, including a gala event for our Colyer-Fergusson Music Building (p12).

KENT Magazine

News

University achieves top environmental standard The University has achieved certification to ISO 14001, an international standard that provides a framework for organisations to manage and improve their environmental performance. This marks a major step forward in Kent’s efforts to manage its sustainability. The award, which encompasses the University’s many buildings across the Canterbury and Medway campuses and over 3,000 staff, was obtained through the introduction of an environmental management system [EMS] that enabled the University to identify all its environmental impacts and put into effect strategies to reduce them. The first stage of the external audit in October was passed with flying colours. Final certification rested on the results of the stage 2 audit in midNovember and the University’s Environmental Sustainability Team worked hard to make sure everything was in place to ensure success. The external auditors were extremely impressed with Kent’s commitment to sustainability and had no hesitation in recommending the University for Certification. Formal presentation of the certificate is likely to take place at a high-profile ceremony within the next few weeks.

Honorary degrees awarded at Canterbury Cathedral Governor of the Bank of England Sir Mervyn King, pioneer of dance education Veronica Lewis and distinguished journalist Peter Williams received honorary degrees from the University on 23 November in ceremonies at Canterbury Cathedral. Sir Mervyn King FBA received his honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree in recognition of his contribution to economics and public life. He joined the Bank of England as a non-executive director in 1990, becoming Chief Economist and Executive Director in 1991 and Deputy Governor in 1998. He was appointed Governor of the Bank in 2003, and is Chairman of the Monetary Policy Committee and Financial Policy Committee. Veronica Lewis MBE received her honorary Doctor of the University degree in recognition of her contribution to dance and higher education. In 1998, Veronica Lewis became Director of the London Contemporary Dance School and, in 2001, she helped to establish the world-leading

KENT Magazine

Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. During 2012, Veronica Lewis was made an Honorary Professor of the University of Kent. The London Contemporary Dance School also celebrated the 30th year of its collaboration with Kent, which was the first university to award dance degrees in the UK.

Law professor is latest social sciences academician at Kent

Peter Williams MBE received his honorary Doctor of Letters degree in recognition of his contribution to the City of Canterbury. He has enjoyed a long and successful career in journalism. He has lived in Kent for more than 40 years. He was chair and founder-member of the Canterbury Conservation Advisory Committee, Chairman of the Oaten Hill Society, President of the Optimists Cancer Care Club, and is a life member of Kent County Cricket Club. He recently chaired the Marlowe Theatre Development Trust, was Chairman (now President) of the Canterbury Festival for 21 years and is a Freeman of the City of Canterbury.

Elephant-cow sculpture marks investment in arts at Medway A giant sculpture of a hybrid elephant and Friesian cow is providing a highly visible symbol of the University’s £5 million investment in its School of Arts facilities at the Medway campus.

Professor Rosemary Hunter of the School of Law has been appointed as an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS). Professor Hunter, whose major area of research interest is in feminist legal scholarship and who is the current Chair of the Socio-Legal Studies Association, is one of 63 leading social scientists to be appointed as new Academicians. The Academy is composed of over 800 individual Academicians and 44 Learned Societies. Academicians are distinguished scholars and practitioners from academia and the public and private sectors. Most of the Learned Societies in the social sciences in the United Kingdom are represented within the Academy. The University now has 21 Academicians of the AcSS.

Kent MA to collaborate with Moscow Art Theatre School Kent will offer students the prospect of a spring term at the world-renowned Moscow Art Theatre School (MXAT) as part of its MA in Physical Actor Training and Performance under a new partnership.

The seven-foot-tall ‘elephant-cow’ is now installed permanently near the Medway Building after being moved from the University’s new arts studios at the nearby Historic Dockyard.

As the only Europe-based permanent link with MXAT, the collaboration builds on a wellestablished student exchange between the School of Arts at Kent and the Russian theatre school.

Fine art graduate Rajvia Kaur conceived and sculptured the elephant-cow as a representation of her own identity as a British citizen of Indian background and it won her the Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for 2012. Rajvia, who graduated earlier this year and is now planning to study for an MA, received a £500 cash prize.

The MA programme will give students the opportunity to extend their learning by undertaking classes in Moscow on physical actor training including movement, stage combat, dance and acting classes, led by some of Russia’s best theatre teachers.

News 1 Sir Mervyn King 2 Rajvia Kaur with her ‘elephant-cow’ design 3 Carole Barron

Kent Sport ‘runs off’ with national prize Kent Sport has won an England Athletics National Run England Project Award 2012 for The Kent Running Project. Funded by Sport England and in partnership with Kent County Council’s (KCC) Sport and Physical Activity Service, The Kent Running Project was launched in February 2012 and aims to grow the informal running market in Kent using a network of beginner-friendly running groups. The groups are led by qualified ‘Running Leaders’ co-ordinated by Running Activator, Lucy Tomlinson. Jointly recruited by the University and KCC, Lucy is tasked with growing and leading participation in running across Kent. Building on its success as the regional award winner, the project was awarded the national title at a ceremony in London. It was praised for its success and achievements, including the recruitment of 57 Running Leaders and over 50 Run England groups across the county.

National recognition for Kent Print Collection and Studio 3 Gallery The Kent Print Collection and Studio 3 Gallery have been recognised at an Association of Art Historians (AAH) national seminar, while its creator, Dr Ben Thomas from the School of Arts has been praised for his innovative teaching. ‘Teaching within Collections’, a seminar organised by the AAH Museum and Exhibitions group, brought together academics and museum representatives from across the country to discuss and explore different ways for them to collaborate. The seminar featured a presentation on the unique Kent Print Collection concept by Dr Ben Thomas, Lecturer in History and Philosophy of Art, and one of his students, Sarah Mosely. Laura MacCulloch, Curator, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, praised Studio 3 for being ‘very inspiring’. Dr Thomas was also recognised with the Barbara Morris Prize for Learning Support at the University’s annual Teaching Prize Awards.

Kent in Athens scholarships At least five students from the developing world will be awarded scholarships from the Stavros

Niarchos Foundation (SNF) to support their studies for a Master’s degree in Heritage Management at the University’s centre in Athens. The SNF, which helps fund organisations and projects that are expected to achieve a broad, lasting and positive social impact, will offer an average of five scholarships each year for the next three years. The scholarship will be awarded to students from developing countries, including those in the Middle East, South East Asia and Latin America, and will be offered on the basis of academic merit and background. 3

Blockbuster success for Kent graduates Computer Animation and Digital Visual Effects Master’s graduates from the University have showcased their world-class expertise by working on major Hollywood films, including the latest James Bond blockbuster, Skyfall, and recently released Les Miserables. Robin Walsh and Amz Rattan, both former Kent students of the MSc in Digital Visual Effects, have contributed to one of the most-talked-about James Bond opening sequences of all time. The graduates worked on special effects, including modelling, animation, texturing, motion capture, lighting, rendering and compositing, all taught during the course. Walsh and Rattan, now both employees of leading film and visual effects company, Double Negative, have also worked on Oscar-tipped musical, Les Miserables.

Leading Chamber role for University director Carole Barron, Director of Innovation & Enterprise at the University, has been appointed Chair of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. After two years as Vice-Chair, Carole will serve until 2014. Carole commented: ‘I am honoured to have the opportunity to chair the Board of Directors of one of the most proactive accredited Chambers in the south east. My appointment recognises the University’s position as a business in its own right, acknowledging the contribution we make to the economic development of the region. Developing strong links with businesses is a priority for Kent Innovation & Enterprise, and my appointment will help to position the University at the heart of the business community across Kent and the Thames Gateway.’

It all adds up to Good Practice The School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science (SMSAS) has become a supporter of the London Mathematical Society’s Good Practice Scheme. The Good Practice Scheme aims to improve the participation of women in the UK’s mathematical sciences and research community within higher education. It is based on five principles of good practice to deliver equality of opportunity and reward among all staff and students, both male and female. Despite nearly 40% of female graduates studying mathematical sciences, there is a significant drop-off in the proportion of women who become academic mathematicians. Elizabeth Mansfield, Professor of Mathematics at Kent, is among just 4% of female professors in UK higher education maths departments. As a member, SMSAS will follow the scheme’s five principles while encouraging good practice from its staff. It also hopes to raise awareness of the importance of equal recognition and progression among men and women in the department.

New School at Medway Arts at Kent is set to move to an exciting new level, with the creation of the School of Music and Fine Art at Medway. The new School, to be formally established at the start of the next academic year, will be composed of the existing parts of Arts at Medway, and will work closely with the School of Arts in Canterbury. Further details will be available on the University website shortly.

KENT Magazine

Feature

Going for gold Recent developments in Sport and Exercise Science have led to a rapid expansion of this innovative and exciting discipline, as Professor Louis Passfield told David Clark for KENT staff magazine. The spectacular success of the British athletes in the 2012 Olympics has been attributed to a number of factors, including lottery-funded investment in sports infrastructure and worldclass coaching. However, Professor Louis Passfield, Head of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, pointed out an additional cause of Britain’s success. One of the things that came out of the London Olympics, and the marvellous performance of the British athletes in particular, was the way that commentators, athletes, coaches and politicians all remarked on the important role that sports science played in the athletes’ pre-Olympic preparation, he said. The influence of sports science in improving the Olympic medal haul is undeniable. Developments in optimising the effectiveness of nutrition and training, identifying athletes’ most efficient movements for success and treating injuries have all helped make great athletes even better. The importance of sports science in elite athletic performance is, however, just part of sports scientists’ work. Other areas include using exercise to assist in treatment and rehabilitation after injury, as a way of alleviating depression and in promoting improved health in the frail or elderly. Developments in our understanding of the importance of sport and exercise are reflected in the growth of the University’s School of Sport and Exercise Sciences. It was originally formed in 2001 and named the Centre for Sports Studies. It moved to the Medway campus in 2003, where it had its own dedicated sports science laboratory and sports therapy teaching clinic.

KENT Magazine

Since then, facilities including laboratory space have increased substantially, student numbers have risen to over 450 (a threefold increase since 2008) and there are now 18 members of the academic staff. There are four undergraduate programmes and four postgraduate programmes. A PhD programme was introduced in 2009 that now has more than 20 students, and a professional doctorate programme was recently validated. Overall student satisfaction for sports science at Kent is high; it was registered at 95% in the recent 2012 National Student Survey. This year, the department name was changed to the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences. As Louis Passfield explained, ‘This signalled recognition by the University that we’ve reached a critical size and profile, and that we can now be designated as a full school. It celebrates the growth and development we’ve achieved over the past few years.’ At the same time as this change, the School also moved from the Social Sciences Faculty to the Sciences Faculty, though Louis Passfield was keen to point out that the School isn’t turning its back on the social sciences. ‘Sports science is

still very much an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary subject,’ he continued. ‘However, the majority of our work, the way we teach and the facilities it requires, are best reflected by being located within the Sciences Faculty.’

Improved facilities One of the obvious ways in which the School has changed in recent years is in the range of facilities and equipment available to students. These facilities have enabled the School to attract external funding from a range of bodies including research councils and charities, the MoD, UK Sport, Sport England and Medway Council. The School has strong links with organisations such as the RFU, English Institute of Sport, British Cycling and UK Sport, as well as assisting individual Olympians and Paralympians. In addition to the Medway campus laboratories, students now also have sports science laboratories at Medway Park, a local authorityrun sports centre in Gillingham. As a result of the University investing £3 million in the

Feature

refurbishment of Medway Park, the School has its own dedicated lab space there and an extensive array of research and exercise testing equipment. ‘We’ve maximised the opportunities provided by the investment in Medway Park,’ said Louis Passfield. ‘For example, we’ve opened a sports injuries clinic where people who use the centre can come in and get sports injury treatment from our students while they in turn are being taught by our staff. This means we’re reaching out and engaging with the local community and our students are getting vital hands-on clinical practice with real cases.’ Other labs available to Kent’s Sport and Exercise Science students include a state-of-the-art chamber in which different environments can be simulated. Inside, heat can be increased and oxygen concentration lowered to simulate altitude, which enables interesting and novel types of intervention to take place. Students also have access to an exercise treadmill developed by NASA with the brand name AlterG. ‘It notionally alters gravity,’ explained Louis Passfield. ‘In reality it doesn’t quite do that, but it supports the bodyweight of the person exercising on it. The machine is useful, for example, for exercising someone with a lower leg injury or arthritis.’

Moving forward The Sport and Exercise Sciences at Kent have seen great changes in recent years, but Louis Passfield sees more opportunity for growth. ‘You can’t ignore the economic environment we’re in, or the impact that government changes are having on higher education,’ he said. ‘However, in terms of the development of the School, we’re only half-done. There is even more we can introduce to support and develop our current and future students as well as our own research and enterprise ambitions.’ Although the London Olympics has barely finished, the University is already involved in planning for the Rio Olympics in 2016. ‘A colleague and I have recently met with some of the UK’s elite sport practitioners and other academics,’ said Louis Passfield. ‘The aim is to create a think-tank and steering group for Rio. From the outset, Kent will be actively involved in the preparation of our elite athletes for the next Olympic cycle.’ To read more about the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, see www.kent.ac.uk/sportsciences

Case studies Joe Clements Sports Science undergraduate ‘I started my course in 2010. The most interesting aspects for me are the physiology modules. This is a big part of my degree and it is interesting to find out the new and exciting ways that science affects athletes and interestingly the things that we still don’t know about the human body, such as how fatigue occurs. ‘The University has gone from strength to strength in the time I have been here and the available facilities and equipment is proof of that; many other universities don’t have the luxury of the modern equipment that we have at Kent and it really does improve my quality of learning. ‘My aim is to work in the sports science industry, hopefully with specific teams and trying to improve their ability from a physiological perspective. I also run a small business in the local area, getting children and parents interested in physical activity. This will also be something I would like to expand when I have more time.’ Manasi Shintre Recently completed an MSc in Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation ‘The School’s staff is very good and I liked the informal yet academic manner in which our lectures were conducted. I also liked the fact that we got to volunteer and do practical work at Medway Park and at various big events across the UK such as the London Marathon. All of this enhanced our theoretical as well as clinical and practical knowledge. During the course, I also got to learn certain techniques and use a lot of equipment that was entirely new to me. ‘I have been lucky enough to be already pursuing my dream job after completing my studies, which is working with the elite Olympic athletes of my home country, India. I got the job as soon as I received my postgraduate results and so I know that this course definitely helped to steer me towards my goal.’ KENT Magazine

Research

New frontiers for research The United Kingdom has been, and still is, remarkably successful in terms of the volume, quality and range of its academic research, writes Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow. A recent report for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills demonstrated yet again that the UK punches well above its weight on practically every measure, and does so while offering excellent value for money. Furthermore, that success is replicated across many academic disciplines: the UK has a leading position in over 400 individual specialisms. For how long, though, can this dominant position be held? It will not come as a surprise that other countries are catching up, particularly in terms of the volume of research: China’s national output is rising rapidly. Maintaining the strength of the national research base is important for many reasons. It provides the basis for developments in the future, the environment for high-level skills training and the potential to contribute to solving many of the world’s problems. It is essential for our national prosperity; providing new businesses, skilled people and an environment in which the private sector wishes to invest. The Council for Science and Technology (CST; www.bis.gov.uk/cst) reported in 2010 on a Vision for UK Research, a document which has lasting relevance as it presents some essential messages for nurturing research and further enhancing the national position. It notes that research comes in many forms, and has many uses: there is a need to be able to translate all disciplines’ research into economic, cultural or social benefits. Public engagement with research is under-valued, and more should be made of the intellectual, social, and cultural benefits of sharing academic research with the community. An area of concern to the government and to CST is nurturing our current, and future, researchers as well as providing the facilities in which they undertake research: I led the subgroup that looked at these issues. There are practical steps that can be taken to improve the national skills base and, by targeting younger

KENT Magazine

people, we can build a population with the skills necessary to ensure flexibility and adaptability in the future. CST recently reported on the challenges within Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) education, and the importance of supporting the development of numeracy, particularly within schools. Too few teachers have themselves had advanced training in STEM, particularly in primary schools, and there is a need for better information, advice, and guidance to support young people to choose to develop their numerical skills. Our recommendations are being followed up by the Department for Education and further meetings are planned. What role does the University of Kent play in maintaining, and enhancing, the success of UK research, and in improving the skills of future researchers? • We have tools available to us, such as the Kent Academic Repository (KAR), which help promote our research to the worldwide audience. With increased citations, there is greater capacity to have impact. • Our international collaborations are hugely important, and ever more so when evidence shows that internationally co-authored papers tend to be more highly cited.

• Many of our students will go on to be the researchers of the future, and the University has a pivotal role in preparing them with advanced training across a broad range of disciplines. There are ambitious and exciting plans to promote quantitative skills in the social sciences, not just providing specialist study but integrating them into the very substance of what we teach. This will help our students become leading researchers and more than that; it will give them the necessary skills for the leadership roles they play across 21st-century societies. • We have an extensive outreach programme, especially in science, and have recently started an exciting knowledge exchange scheme in which disciplines in the humanities work with the wider community. • With expertise in promoting innovation, we have created support networks for local businesses, and have an innovative scheme to get a considerable number of students work experience in various industries. Our Ideas Factory funding is dedicated to supporting innovative ideas arising from research. Dame Julia is a member of the Council for Science and Technology, a group which advises the Prime Minister, and of the Science and Technology Facilities Council, one of the UK’s seven Research Councils. She is also Chair of the British Science Association. This article is based on a speech given at the Higher Education Policy Institute’s autumn conference on 5 December 2012 at the Royal Society, London.

Research

Vitamin variants could combat cancer as scientists unravel B12 secrets

autistic children’s development, has reported preliminary success at a special milestone event. The 30-month research project, funded by a £350,000 grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, involves undertaking a series of immersive, play-based methods and improvisation, puppetry, physical performance and interactive digital technologies with autistic children in multisensory environments – portable tent-like structures. The project is a collaboration between staff from the University’s School of Arts, School of Psychology and Tizard Centre, as well as support from the Gulbenkian Theatre.

In a development that may lead to new drugs to treat cancer, scientists at Kent have discovered the process by which a key vitamin (B12) is made in cells. A team in the School of Biosciences led by Professor Martin Warren devised a method that allows them to study how the individual steps for vitamin B12 construction are pieced together. B12 is an essential nutrient that plays an important role in the formation of red blood cells and the maintenance of the nervous system. Deficiencies are associated with anaemia, cardiovascular disorders and dementia. Using techniques from the new discipline of synthetic biology, researchers engineered a conveyor belt of molecular machines for the construction of the vitamin within bacteria. By varying the length of the assembly line, they were able to unravel how the vitamin is manufactured. Significantly, the team was also able to alter some of the molecular machines on the conveyor belt and change the form of the vitamin that is made. It is hoped that these novel variant forms of the vitamin will act as important new drugs to treat diseases such as cancer and infections such as tuberculosis (TB).

‘Evolutionary approach’ needed to reduce teenage pregnancy Attempts to reduce the high rate of teenage pregnancy and motherhood in the UK – which is also the highest in Western Europe – are unlikely to succeed if young women continue to face environmental risk and uncertainty. This is one of the key findings of new research from a team that includes Dr Sarah E Johns, Lecturer in Biological Anthropology in the School of Anthropology and Conservation. Together with colleagues from the universities of Middlesex and Portsmouth, Dr Johns investigated how an evolutionary framework might help move UK policy-makers beyond an ‘intervention impasse’ on teenage pregnancy and motherhood. Among their conclusions, published in the Journal of Social, Evolutionary and Cultural Psychology, the team found that environmental risk, including factors such as crime and vandalism, is a clear predictor of early pregnancy. The researchers suggest that, rather than investing in educational programmes (nearly £468 million by the Labour government of 1997-2010), money would be better spent on ‘the maintenance of at-risk neighbourhoods’.

Major milestone in Kent autism project Imagining Autism, a pioneering research project led by the University to investigate how dramabased activities may play a key role in helping

Imagining Autism shared some of its findings at a dedicated event to mark the end of the practical phase of interventions. Held on 11 December at the Helen Allison School, one of three special schools in Kent involved in the project, the event was attended by over 50 invited guests, including teachers and families associated with the work, as well as professionals from health, education and the arts. The research will now enter its final phase where results will be analysed to see if the practical interventions have made a difference to the children through a range of tests undertaken before and after the practical phase. It is hoped that the results could lead to a full-scale trial and may also prompt changes in approaches to other communication disorders in children.

Research within ethical bounds Professor Ulf Schmidt, of the School of History, has been awarded £20,200 from the Wellcome Trust for an international conference on ‘Research Within Bounds: Protecting Human Participants in Modern Medicine – The Declaration of Helsinki, 1964-2014’ in Switzerland on 12/13 September 2013. The aim of the Symposium, which Professor Schmidt is jointly organising with colleagues from Germany and Switzerland, is to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Helsinki by the World Medical Association (WMA), one of the most important landmarks in biomedical research ethics. Continued overleaf

KENT Magazine

Research

Research (cont) By bringing together leading world experts from the medical humanities, biomedicine, the medical sciences, bioethics and health law, including keynote speakers who served on President Obama’s Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, the Symposium will reflect upon and critically examine our current global regulatory system which is aimed at protecting experimental participants in developed and developing countries.

New software to explore historical documents A new system created by academics at Kent to digitise and explore historical documents has moved into its next phase of development after its unveiling at an international workshop in Rouen. The software has been created as part of a cross-channel EU INTERREG IVa project between the University of Kent, Canterbury Cathedral Archives and researchers in Rouen. Known as DocExplore, the project aims to develop an interactive system that allows digitised versions of valuable historical documents to be explored via a touch-screen,

simulating, as far as possible, the experience of accessing the physical object itself. But users can see much more than the document – they can access translations and transcriptions, read more about the period in which it was written, its contents and who would have used it at the time by using the additional text, image, sound and video resources that are a feature of the system. It also allows scholars to explore many unique features of a document such as handwriting analysis and text searching. The project is led by Dr Richard Guest and Professor Michael Fairhurst from the School of Engineering and Digital Arts. The next stage will involve a public exhibition for Canterbury residents to use the newly created DocExplore technology while accessing documents held in the Cathedral Archives.

‘Significant’ increase in million-pound donors The annual Coutts Million Pound Donor Report, released on 10 December and produced in association with the Centre for Philanthropy, Humanitarianism and Social Justice (CPHSJ) at Kent, has found a record total of 232 separate ‘million pound or more’ philanthropic donations

made by individuals, trusts and corporations in the UK during 2010/11. This is the largest total identified by the report in any one year since the study began in 2008, up by 58 donations compared to last year. There has also been a big increase in the number of million pound donors, with 130 different donors identified, up from 73 the previous year (this includes individuals, charitable trusts, foundations and corporations, some of whom made more than one donation worth £1 million or more). The total value of these donations was £1.241 billion. This is lower than the total value recorded in previous years, down from £1.312 billion in last year’s report, which covered donations made in 2009/10. More than half of the million pound donations made in 2010/11 were donated by 93 individual donors, with a total value of £763 million. Higher education, arts and culture and international development remain the most popular destinations for the largest gifts among both individual and institutional donors. The report is available online at www.coutts. com/philanthropy and at www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr/ cphsj/research/couttsmilliondonor.html

Recent research awards Dr Kate Bedford (Kent Law School), £533,292 from the Economic and Social Research Council for ‘A full house: developing a new socio-legal theory of global gambling regulation’. Professor Simon Thompson (School of Computing), £471,706 from the European Commission for ‘PROWESS: Property-based testing of Web services’. Professor Glynis Murphy (Tizard Centre), £311,049 from the National Institute of Health Research for ‘Cost and benefits of social care support for ex-offenders with learning disabilities’. Dr Will Pettigrew (School of History), £818,692 from the Leverhulme Trust for ‘Corporations and cultural hybridisation: English overseas trading companies in the 17th Century and the development of a global dialogue about governance’.

KENT Magazine

Enterprise

Innovation Awards 2012 Innovation, creativity and enterprise were recognised at the University’s annual Innovation Awards.

Former Dragon inspires Kent entrepreneurs Students and staff at Kent learned about how to become entrepreneurs from former Dragon’s Den panellist Doug Richard at a workshop in December.

Members of Kent’s business community and representatives of partner organisations were welcomed by University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow to the event, held at the Canterbury Innovation Centre on 23 October.

Doug Richard was speaking as part of the Entrepreneurial Institution (EI), a national programme to embed entrepreneurship and innovation at higher education institutions, and to expand awareness of businessuniversity collaboration.

The three categories in the Awards, which were organised and hosted by Kent Innovation & Enterprise (KIE), were: Impact Through Knowledge Exchange; Innovation; and Collaboration. Darren Griffin, Professor of Genetics at the School of Biosciences, won both the Impact and Collaboration awards for research and work, including projects with The London Bridge Fertility, Gynaecology and Genetics Centre and JSR Genetics Ltd. Chris Barron, of the School of Engineering and Digital Arts (EDA), won the Innovation Award for a project to produce an attendance monitoring device for students. Professor David Shemmings and Dr Jane Reeves were highly commended in the Impact category for their Centre for Child Protection project. Ania Bobrowicz and Jane Milton, from EDA, were

Celebrating excellent service An innovative scheme to celebrate excellence among administrative staff has proved a success. The Academic Division ran the ‘Service Excellence’ initiative throughout 2012. The initiative was led by the three Faculty Administration Managers (FAMs) and the School Administration Manager in Engineering and Digital Arts, in collaboration with Learning and Development. The initiative aimed to encourage the sharing of good practice and collaboration across the different Schools and Faculties, and to enhance and, above all, celebrate the service delivered by administrative staff to students and academics as well as to other professional colleagues.

The workshop took place on the Canterbury campus and was hosted by Kent Innovation & Enterprise (KIE), the University’s dedicated business development unit. highly commended in the Innovation category for developing an app for visually impaired visitors to the Turner Contemporary gallery. In the Collaboration category, two projects were highly commended: Professor Mark Smales from Biosciences, for collaboration with Lonza Biologics on developing predictive tools for the isolation of highly productive recombinant cell lines, and Dr James Hopker from the School of Sport & Exercise Sciences for his work with NHS Medway on cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Carole Barron, Director of Innovation & Enterprise at Kent, said: ‘We are always looking for new ways to encourage our staff and students to develop their entrepreneurial skills and understand the principles behind building and running a profitable business. The workshop acted as a catalyst for some of Kent’s entrepreneurs, many of whom shared their own ideas at the event to get advice from Doug on how they might run successful businesses.’

The initiative was launched in January 2012 with a half-day conference to which over 200 administrative staff were invited. The conference consisted of keynote presentations and workshop sessions run by external and internal speakers. Schools were then asked to identify projects which would best meet the specific needs of their own student and staff population. At a second session in May, six Schools talked about work on their projects.

Prizes were awarded to the following projects: • School of Anthropology and Conservation – most enterprising Service Excellence project (sponsored by Kent Innovation & Enterprise) • School of English – Service Excellence project with the biggest potential impact (sponsored by Kent Hospitality) • School of European Culture and Languages – most creatively designed poster (sponsored by Creative Campus).

The final event showcase was held on 23 October when each School produced a poster on their project. A wide range of projects were undertaken including cross-cultural awareness, signage, changing office layout to improve service delivery and access, and building relationships to enhance the student experience. This showcase was attended by the ViceChancellor Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor David Nightingale, the Deans, the Academic Registrar, Director of HR and Heads of Schools.

The FAMs would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of ‘Service Excellence’. They will be presenting a workshop on the initiative at the 2013 Association of University Administrators annual conference in Edinburgh in March and plan to run a similar event at Kent during the spring term. To find out more, please contact the FAMs, Melissa Bradley (ext 3753), Chloé Gallien (ext 3670) or Linda Lough (ext 7371).

KENT Magazine

Feature

New Year – new look The physical appearance of the University is changing as it invests in new developments for the benefit of both students and staff across its campuses. Major new buildings and refurbishments during 2012 included the new School of Arts facilities at the Medway campus, the inspiring ColyerFergusson Music Building and innovative ‘crit’ space within the Kent School of Architecture. Another building at the heart of Canterbury campus, the Templeman Library, is also set for a major makeover, starting in 2013.

Gala opening for new Music Building Kent’s new Colyer-Fergusson Music Building celebrated its official opening with a Gala Event on 8 December. The celebrations began with a speciallycommissioned premiere by eminent British composer, James Rae, entitled Platform One, performed by the University of Kent Concert and Big Bands, and conducted by Ian Swatman. VIP guests were then treated to tours of the building and a champagne reception before the evening concert.

KENT Magazine

The concert programme was designed to show off the new hall in all its musical glory and featured the University Chorus, Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Choir, conducted by Director of University Music Susan Wanless and Deputy Director of Music Daniel Harding. The programme included Elgar’s Enigma Variations, Part One of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and For The Music, specially composed for the concert by Daniel. The new building, sited alongside the Gulbenkian Theatre and Cinema on Canterbury campus, was designed by Tim Ronalds Architects, together with a design team including Arup Acoustics and Carr & Angier. With its adjustable acoustics and flexible seating, the hall is designed for a whole range of music – everything from large-scale choral and orchestral concerts to jazz, bands, chamber music and solo recitals. The building also has a suite of practice rooms, a small stage in the foyer for informal gigs and concerts, and social spaces open to all. The £8 million building has been funded entirely from donations: a bequest from Kent philanthropist Sir James Colyer-Fergusson and a further grant from the Charitable Trust that bears his name, together with matched funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England and donations from over 200 individuals.

Susan Wanless commented: ‘The ColyerFergusson Building affords the opportunity for a wealth of music-making for students and staff at the University and the wider community in purpose-built state-of-the-art facilities. Previously, all such activities have taken place in various venues scattered across the Canterbury campus which were not always suitable – now, we can make music in dedicated spaces, as well as develop the range of musical activities that will further enhance the student experience, and make the venue one of the leading spaces for concerts in the city and south east.’ The Colyer-Fergusson Music Building was also the setting for the debut performance by a new staff choir – see box opposite.

New state-of-the-art digital ‘crit’ space Architecture students at the University’s Canterbury campus are benefiting from the latest in digital technology with the opening of a £1 million extension to provide new ‘crit’ facilities at the Kent School of Architecture (KSA). The new extension, designed by award-winning architects Guy Hollaway, was opened by Stephen Hodder, President Elect of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on 29 November. He described the new extension as ‘quite remarkable’ and said Kent was ‘leading the way’ among schools of architecture. It will

Feature

‘Crits’ are an important part of architecture students’ education, providing invaluable experience of having their projects questioned and scrutinised – in the same way as real work situations – and the new facilities will radically change the way Kent students present their work for discussion and feedback. Professor Don Gray, Head of KSA, said: ‘This is a very exciting development and will mean our architecture students will have access to some of the very best digital learning and teaching facilities in the UK. These eight digital touch screens will totally change the way students present their work. This new way of learning and teaching will be more intuitive and also more collaborative as we can accommodate up to six students at each screen. ‘The design of the building is the result of a creative collaboration between Guy Hollaway Architects and KSA. One of the unique aspects of the project is a rippling façade which responds instantaneously to local wind conditions. Observers have already expressed surprise and delight at this lively addition to the University’s Canterbury campus.’

Templeman Library development underway Extend/Refurbish/Refresh The flagship project to extend and improve the Templeman Library has now begun, with work to replace parts of the East Wing roof already well underway. The main extension is expected to begin in July 2013 and refurbishment work to the existing building in July 2014. Elements of the building will be delivered in phases during the course of the project and other service enhancements are planned over the same period, so that current students will see real benefits. Presentations have taken place during Faculty and departmental meetings and the consultative group, which includes Kent Union representation of undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as academics and representatives from Commercial Services and Estates, has helped to ensure that the needs of Library users is well understood during the design process. Detailed planning work is currently being undertaken which includes the landscaping of the north (rear) entrance of the Library and, to the west, the café areas and arrangement of support services. There will be an exhibition in the Marlowe Building foyer during the spring term. To find out more, see: www.kent.ac.uk/is/projects/ templeman

Estates Choir debut in new Music Building Staff from across Estates hit a high note just before Christmas when they showcased their new choir in the Colyer-Fergusson Music Building. The Estates Choir, modelled on Gareth Malone’s Choir in the Workplace series, sang festive tunes for staff and students. Members include: Beverley Braiden, Sarah Cooke, Tracey Davies, Myfanwy Williams, Karen Weatherley, Lucy Goad, Juliet Thomas, Lizzie Marsh, Lesley Loxley, Nigel Futter, Teresa Curteis, Jayne Mortlock, Rob King, Paul Dengate, Katie Norton, Matt Brealey, Gill Brealey, Mark Crutchlow, Neil Hornsey, Barry Vaughan, Paul Griffiths, Roger Gower and Catherine Morris. If you missed the Choir’s debut, don’t worry, members are continuing their rehearsals this term, led by Daniel Harding, Deputy Director of Music, and accompanied by Miles Banbery, Communications Manager, on piano. Watch out for news on their next public outing!

Artists’ impressions © Penoyre & Prasad

provide Kent’s architecture students with one of the finest and most advanced learning environments in the UK. New state-of-the-art 70-inch U-Touch screens with HD resolution will enable up to six students and tutors to interact and contribute to ‘crit’ presentations on each screen.

KENT Magazine

Human Resources

Harmonisation and reform of employment procedures The University Statutes which relate to employment have not been revised since 1988 and we are currently engaged in negotiations to reform them. In 2010, the University reformed the Charter and Statutes other than those parts specifically relating to employment (Statute 7 and Statute 8). Statute 7 deals with procedures in relation to discipline, dismissal, grievances and appeals, and is currently applicable only to academic, academic-related and research staff. Statute 8 prescribes the ages at which these staff must retire. The Statutes in relation to employment are in the form prescribed by the Education Reform Act 1988 and have not been changed since then. In 2010/11, the Executive Group made a proposal to Council and the recognised trade unions to negotiate on the reform of Statute 7 and the abolition of Statute 8. The purpose of this article is to inform staff about these ongoing negotiations and the proposals that the University is making. Since the implementation of the National Pay Framework in 2006 and work around that time to harmonise terms and conditions, the University now has two sets of procedures – one for staff in

New informal introduction to mediation meeting launched The University’s Mediation Service is now up and running. The in-house service has been set up with the help of mediation experts Total Conflict Management (TCM) Group Mediation, and is based on the principle of collaborative problemsolving and does not seek to apportion blame. If you would like to talk to one of our trained mediators about the process and whether it would be beneficial to you, please complete the form on our website and we will arrange a halfhour introduction to mediation meeting. The meeting will be confidential and no records will be kept. If you are interested in finding out more about the Mediation Service visit kent.ac.uk/mediation

KENT Magazine

grades 1-6 (available at www.kent.ac.uk/hrstaffinformation/policies/a-z.html) and Statute 7 which applies to all academic, research, administrative and technical staff at grade 7 and above who are employed in the UK. The University accepts that academic and academic-related staff are entitled to special protection in relation to academic freedom and is committed to upholding that protection. However, there is now a strong case for having a set of policies and procedures that apply equally to all staff.

Reasons for change The primary reason for instituting this process is because the University believes that the most important employment policies and procedures must be consistent with modern employment legislation and give staff the protection that this legislation has brought. The University of Kent Statute has not been revised since 1988 and is therefore not reflective of the many developments that have been made in employment legislation since then. The current procedures are cumbersome and it means that often procedures are lengthy which causes unnecessary distress to those involved. Many other chartered universities (Southampton, Exeter, Sussex, Leicester, King’s College London

and Imperial) have already reformed their Statutes dealing with these issues, and more (including the London School of Economics) are in the process of doing so. The University is committed to consulting and reaching agreement with the recognised unions on the new procedures, and any subsequent variation to those procedures, which gives the unions and their membership far more say in the content of these procedures than has ever been the case before.

Progress to date A number of meetings have been held between the University and the recognised trade unions and staff representatives from the Joint Negotiating and Consultation Committee. The group has already agreed that Statute 8 (which relates to a compulsory retirement age) should be abolished. This has been agreed by the University’s Council and we are now awaiting approval by the Privy Council. We are still meeting and negotiating on the proposals re Statute 7, which are more complex, but it is hoped that we will able to reach an agreed conclusion to the negotiations in 2013. We will be providing regular updates to all staff through the year and further information is also available on the Human Resources website – www.kent.ac.uk/human-resources/

Human Resources

Have you got ideas for how the University might celebrate 50 years?

Reflect, Plan, Develop – making connections We are pleased to announce that in 2013 the new Reflect, Plan, Develop (RPD) Scheme will be introduced to replace the current appraisal scheme. Over the past 18 months, the University has been reviewing its approach to appraisal with a view to implementing a new scheme and supporting materials in 2013. The review encompassed understanding what practices and schemes already exist across the HE sector and what our own staff and managers think about the current appraisal system. In addition, the University has also been running a number of pilot schemes and has kept a watchful eye on a number of online systems being developed in small pockets of the HE sector. The review concluded that our current scheme needed to be refreshed and redesigned to suit the needs of all the varying types of roles that we have at the University. It was also clear that staff and managers all wanted something different from their appraisal discussions, and that the current processes and forms appeared to be administratively burdensome. Given the range of needs and the desire for the processes and administration to be simplified, the RPD scheme will enable managers and staff to tailor their discussions to focus on topics and subjects that are relevant to both their own development and the requirements of their role. It is intended that the RPD scheme will: • Provide tools and a framework for positive and effective appraisal conversations to take place

Over five decades, the University of Kent has risen to become one of the UK’s leading academic institutions – an internationally oriented, research-intensive university with a commitment to excellence in research and teaching. • Encourage greater participation in the process across the University • Reduce the administration, for managers and staff, associated with the process • Encourage more discussion of personal development and career plans. The RPD scheme consists of three main areas of discussion: Reflect: What has happened over the past 12 months? Plan: What are the objectives for the next 12 months, what needs to happen? Develop: What are your development needs and longer-term career thoughts? These form the basis of the RPD appraisal discussions, but there are also a number of flexible options that both appraisers and staff can elect to bring into the conversation. All of these options will be presented on the new website and within the supporting materials that will be available from the middle of March 2013. Only the key elements of the discussions or any agreed actions/objectives will need to be captured using a redesigned simple template. The new RPD scheme launches officially via workshops for appraisers and staff from March 2013, with the intention that we will all begin to use the new scheme in May 2013.

The 50th Anniversary is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our history, showcase everything that we do, and to set out the University’s vision for the future. The 50th Anniversary will officially launch in October 2014, with the closing event coinciding with the Alumni Reunion Weekend at the beginning of September 2015. During the academic year of 2014/15, the University will host a series of events and celebrations, and initiate a number of legacy projects marking the 50th Anniversary. The plans will involve current staff and students, alumni, former staff and members of the community. We want to thank those staff who have already submitted ideas: we’ve had some interesting and unique suggestions! If you haven’t done so already, please get brainstorming and submit your suggestions online at www.kent.ac.uk/ planningfor50 and follow us on Twitter – @unikent50. The deadline for submissions is Friday 15 February 2013. Feedback on ideas will be given in March 2013.

More information will be sent out over the coming weeks, and the developmental work is still underway, but if you want any further information at this time, please contact a member of your HR team. A copy of this article is available on the HR website – www.kent.ac.uk/human-resources/

KENT Magazine

Staff profile

Tim Warren Tim joined the University of Kent eight years ago and is Accounts Supervisor in the Finance Section of Kent Hospitality. One of his major roles is overseeing and reconciling student and staff spending on the KentOne card. What would be your perfect day? If I could cram in some quality time with Angela and my children, a decent run, watching a Crystal Palace match, relaxing in the sun for a few hours and having a cheeky beer or two with my friends, that would be pretty perfect. Which word or phrase do you use most? I’ll do it tomorrow! What (if anything) would you like to change about yourself? There was a time I would say everything, but I am more than happy with my life at the moment and I wouldn’t change much at all. What was your first/worst job? My first job was a summer job at Sealink which came through work experience and ended up being longterm. My roles varied from post room to accounts and turned out to be a great stepping stone for me. I have enjoyed all my jobs to date and am a firm believer that if you don’t enjoy it – move on. What was your earliest ambition? Like most boys, I always wanted to play football and had my dreams of playing at Wembley. Over recent years, I have discovered that if I take a ball away and run further distances, I am actually a lot better at it. How do you spend your time outside work? The thing that takes up the greatest amount of time outside work is running. I am a member of Folkestone Running Club and when training for a marathon can be known to run four or five times a week, covering between 35 and 50 miles. My three young kids also keep me on my toes. What is your greatest achievement? In 2011, I completed my first London marathon whilst running for my chosen charity, Kidscape. As much as completing 26.2 miles felt like an achievement, raising £100 for every mile run was just as satisfying, especially when I was able to spend a day working with kids helped by Kidscape and see how the funds I raised were used. I ran the Brighton marathon in 2012 and am running London again in April 2013, hoping to raise more funds for Kidscape.

KENT Magazine

How do you celebrate good news? These days it is more likely to be with a nice meal and the odd drink. Long gone are my partying days, although every now and again my body naturally moves into some ‘dad dancing’ if the right tunes are played! When it comes to running, I do write a blog which I enjoy compiling, although I am known for going on a bit! What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? When it comes to running, it would have to be only concentrate on what you are doing – you can’t influence what others do. In regards to life experience, it would be “you can’t change what has happened in the past, but you can have a say in what happens in the future”. To support Tim’s marathon run for Kidscape, visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundrais er-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage. action?userUrl=TimWarren

Sport

New cardiovascular and resistance training area now open Charity Challenge indoor tennis event Kent Sport will be holding a charity indoor tennis event to celebrate the opening of the new indoor tennis structure at the Pavilion on Thursday 28 February 2013 from 11am. All staff and students are welcome to come and see the new facility, hit a few balls and have some fun. Phase one of the £4.8 million redevelopment of the sporting facilities on the Canterbury campus is now complete. The old Fitness Suite has been refurbished and features a new cardio area with double the number of exercise machines. The state-of-theart Star Trac equipment includes new treadmills, trainer bikes, steppers and eSpinners; each with integrated TV, audio, exercise programmes and iPod connectivity.

a complete body workout. In addition to the new equipment, there is an increased dedicated floor space for stretching, recovering and engaging your core.

Come along and have a go at Cardio Tennis from 11am to 3pm. Cardio Tennis is the latest tennis fitness craze and a fantastic way to burn calories, improve your tennis and have some fun.

The new Wellness and Strength & Performance areas are planned to open in March 2013 along with the brand new studio and third sports hall.

Try our record-breaking tennis challenges from 11am to 3pm, including how many tennis balls you can hold in one hand and how many times you can bounce a tennis ball on the handle of a tennis racket. £1 a go and prizes for the winners.

For the latest news, updates and photos of the sports redevelopment visit www.kent.ac.uk/sports/future

The cardiovascular area is also equipped with a mixture of 14 different strength stations, offering

You can also compete in our mini tennis tournament, open to all abilities. Visit www.kent.ac.uk/sports for further details and to register.

Books Consuming Higher Education – Why Learning Can’t Be Bought

Joanna Williams, Bloomsbury Academic Consuming Higher Education explores the status of students within university and society, and the funding and purpose of higher education, drawing on empirical data, UK and USA government policy documents, speeches by policy-makers and media representations of students. Dr Joanna Williams, Lecturer in HE & Academic Practice in the Centre for the Study of Higher Education at Kent, moves beyond the debates surrounding fees to consider the impact of the consumption model on universities, learning, knowledge and student identity.

While consumer status initially appears to empower students, Dr Williams argues that it ultimately erodes students’ autonomy and reduces learning to an instrumental focus on credit accumulation. At the same time, in giving students consumer status, lecturers are encouraged to avoid intellectually or emotionally challenging content so as not to upset student consumers, which could promote dissatisfaction. Dr Williams draws these themes and arguments together to consider what it means to be a student and to explore alternative conceptions of higher education. Find out more at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/ Consuming-Higher-Education-LearningBought/dp/1441183604

KENT Magazine

Kent in the news

Obituary

Valerie Eliot Kent experts continue to feature strongly in international and national news coverage. There have been contributions from, among others, the Schools of Politics and International Relations, Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR), History, and Economics as well as the Centre for Journalism. International broadcast coverage of University research and expert comment included: Dr Gülnur Aybet, of the School of Politics and International Relations, who was interviewed on television channels including Channel 4 News, CNN and Al-Jazeera; Professor Richard Sakwa, also of Politics and International Relations, who appeared on ABC Australia to comment on the Russian Orthodox Church and its relationship to Russian politics; and Dr Charlotte Sleigh, of the School of History, who was interviewed on ABC Australia about her new book Frog. National broadcast coverage included: Dr Ellie Lee, of SSPSSR, who took part in a debate on BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour on the issue of men’s rights in abortion decisions; Professor Tim Luckhurst, of the Centre for Journalism, who was interviewed on various BBC programmes including The World Tonight and Radio 5 Live News on both the implications for the BBC of the Jimmy Savile scandal and the resignation of BBC Director General George Entwistle; and Dr Charlotte Faircloth, of SSPSSR, who was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on a UNICEF report into breastfeeding.

Staff quit in Stoptober The University’s Occupational Health Department linked up with NHS Stop Smoking in the autumn term to offer a NHS Quit Club on Canterbury campus. Nine plucky individuals started the course on 17 September and attended weekly sessions encouraging them to abandon their smoking habit and adopt a healthier lifestyle. They were guided by NHS Stop Smoking Adviser Debbie Van Blommestein. The initiative coincided with the NHS Stoptober Campaign which was advertised widely on television and in the national press. The last session was held on 29 October and the five people who succeeded in stopping – a great success rate of over 50%! – were presented with certificates. Occupational Health (OH) will continue to work with NHS Stop Smoking and the intention is to schedule another course at Canterbury in March 2013, coinciding with National No Smoking Day. If you’re interested, watch for notices on Campus Online and the Occupational Health website. OH is also hoping to link up with the NHS in Medway with a view to offering a Quit Club at the Medway campus. If you’re really keen to sign up for a course, please contact Pat Armstrong in OH (p.armstrong@kent.ac.uk, ext 4691) and she will keep your name on file and get back to you when we have more information.

KENT Magazine

The death of Valerie Eliot (Hon DLitt, 1990) on 9 November 2012 prompted obituaries which praised an individual who had been totally dedicated to the life, work and memory of her late husband, TS Eliot. However, among the examples of her single-mindedness and determination to guard and preserve her late husband’s wishes are the more private anecdotes which tell of someone who moved in the highest artistic and privileged circles, but yet was capable of gestures which demonstrated warmth, kindness and generosity; a spirit which captivated the heart and transformed the life of her husband. After much discussion about suitable names for the first two Colleges at the new University of Kent at Canterbury, Valerie Eliot was approached by the University, shortly after her husband’s death in 1965, to name the founding College after him and she gladly agreed. That the College should bear the name of such a great literary figure and one who had also been a champion for humanity was considered not only highly apt in choice, but also something of a coup for a new university. Thus began a relationship between Eliot College and Valerie which continued for almost 50 years. For many years, Valerie presided over an annual Eliot Lecture series, given by a long succession of very eminent literary figures. Then there was her financial support for a Special Collection of Modern Poetry, now housed in the Templeman Library. In later years the focus moved to the Eliot Poetry Competition, for which budding poets at the University, from any discipline, were encouraged to submit their work which was then judged by a professional poet who also held a workshop to encourage and develop the most promising entrants. The winner was awarded a generous prize, with a cheque signed personally by Valerie, and every year came her request to be sent a copy of the winner’s poems so that she could read what promising poets from the University of Kent were writing. When funds were required to enhance the profile of the competition, Valerie came to the rescue and money was made available to ensure its continuation. Valerie Eliot was one of the most long-standing and loyal benefactors of the University, not only in providing a platform for the understanding and promotion of her husband’s work and as a champion of modern poetry generally, but also through her quiet but unfailing and continued support of our students’ creative endeavours in poetry. Dr Michael Hughes, Master of Eliot College, 2006-2011

People

Appointments and awards Welcome to… Professor Amalia Arvaniti, Professor of Linguistics (SECL); Professor Joao de PinaCabral, Head of School, Anthropology and Conservation; Dr Dean Sayle, Reader in Chemistry (School of Physical Sciences); and Professor Veronica Wong, Professor of Marketing (Kent Business School).

Congratulations to… Dermot O’Brien is the new Master of Darwin and Woolf Colleges. Dermot was until recently Senior Tutor in the School of Arts where he teaches Drama and Theatre Studies to undergraduate and postgraduate students. He is also chair of the Personal Academic Support System (PASS) network. Professor Rob Fraser, of the School of Economics, has been appointed to a new government panel of academic economists that will assess and advise on how environmental regulation and policy impacts on the food and rural sectors of the UK economy. Professor Fraser joined the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) Economic Advisory Panel’s first meeting in the autumn. Dr Gülnur Aybet, of the School of Politics and International Relations, has been invited to join Turkey’s influential Global Relations Forum (GRF). Dr Aybet has already contributed to the GRF as part of a task force working on policy recommendations on Turkey’s approach to security but now joins as a full member. Professor Michael Kölling, of the School of Computing, has been named as the winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Computer Science Education award by the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group for Computer Science Education. The international award recognises Professor Kölling’s work in the computer science education field centering on the development of software tools and material for teaching and learning of programming in schools and universities. Ted Parker, Emeritus Professor of Radio Communications at the University, has been presented with The James Roderick James Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on the development of antenna systems for radio communications. The annual award recognises world-renowned researchers for their contributions to the field and highlighted

Professor Parker’s work on the design and development of frequency selective surfaces. Andrew Livesey, Academy Science Specialist based in the Partnership Development Office, has been awarded the title Eur Ing by the Brussels-based European authority FEANI (European Federation of National Engineering Associations) in conjunction with the UK Engineering Council.

Moustaches for Movember Four members of staff in the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) sported splendid moustaches throughout November – all in a good cause. Steve Allan, James Caiels, Ed Ludlow and Nick Smith (pictured below) were taking part in the national Movember campaign and raised around £600 to support prostate and testicular cancer initiatives.

25 Year Lunch The 25 Year Lunch was celebrated in style at the Beagle Restaurant, Darwin College, on 19 October 2012, attended by 12 members of staff and hosted by Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow. As usual, it was an excellent meal and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the event. Photographed above are (from left, back row): Professor Richard Sakwa, Professor Ann Netten, Nigel Simpson, John Champkin, Robin Hornsey, Colin Daniels, Andrew Fuller, Dr Michael Forrester and (from left, front row): Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow, Christopher Porter, Tina McKenzie, Fran Williams, Carole Barron, Margaret Ayers.

Small ads R & G Cleaning Services – domestic and commercial cleaning – one-off cleans, spring cleans, regular cleans, carpets and ovens, all at competitive rates. A family-run business with over 10 years’ experience. Call Georgina on 07809 898420. Allport Cars – Our business is picking up. City of Canterbury Licensed cars, specialising in airport & long-distance travel with competitive prices. All major credit cards accepted. Contact us on: 01227 370 370 or 0772 0 597 700. Visit the website at: www.allportcarsltd.co.uk or email: allportcars@btinternet.com

KENT Magazine

What’s on

Gulbenkian Theatre highlights Tuesday 5 February, 7.30pm, Reckless Sleepers – Schrödinger, focussing on thought experiments, cats, René Magritte, love, time, mathematics, observations, truth lies and alcohol. Thursday 7 February, 7.30pm, Justin Moorhouse – Justin Time! Expect stories about owls, family fun days, and a pet dog. Friday 8 February, 7.30pm, The Troggs, best remembered for the 60s anthem, Wild Thing. Sunday 10 February, 2pm, Folded Feather with Suitcase Circus. Meet Wobulous Discombobulous, the anarchic sock as he presents a line-up of extraordinarily talented performing objects, all with their own captivating storylines. Sunday 17 February, 7.30pm, A Celebration of Jane Austen, featuring much-loved actor Robert Powell and actress Elizabeth Garvie, who gave the definitive performance of Elizabeth Bennett in BBC TV’s Pride and Prejudice. Thursday 28 February, 7.30pm, An Audience with Jonathan Miller, a man of many parts – doctor, expert in neuropsychology, satirist, writer, sculptor and director of theatre, opera and film. Thursday 14 – Saturday 16 March, 7.30pm, Petrol, a comedy thriller by the Royal Court playwright Gregory Motton and directed by David Wickes (The Sweeney, Frankenstein, Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde).

Thursday 7 February, Magwitch and Great Expectations (PG) double-bill. Thursday 14 February, Dirty Dancing (15) Friday 15 – Thursday 21 February, The Hobbit 3D (12A) Friday 22 – Thursday 28 February, Life of Pi 3D (PG) Friday 1 – Thursday 7 March, Les Miserables (12A) Saturday 2 March, Monsters, Inc 3D (U)

Music Friday 15 February, The Crypt, Canterbury Cathedral, 7.30pm, The University Chamber Choir with Daniel Harding, Emma Murton conductors and Carina Evans percussion, explore a range of music from Handel to Vaughan Williams, with pieces for choir and percussion, and solo marimba. Saturday 2 March, The Nave, Canterbury Cathedral, 7.30pm, The Colyer-Fergusson Concert, with the University Chorus and Symphony Orchestra joining forces for their annual concert, performing Schubert’s Mass in A flat, D678, and Brahms’ Nänie for Chorus and Orchestra, and Symphony No 2 in D major. Wednesday 6 March, Colyer-Fergusson Hall, 1.10pm, Lunchtime Concert featuring Simon Bates clarinet, flute, saxophone, and Paul ‘Harry’ Harris piano. Friday 15 March, Colyer-Fergusson Hall, 7.30pm, From Bond to Basie, featuring the University Concert and Big Bands with Ian Swatman conductor and Steph Richardson vocals.

Tuesday 19 March, 7:30pm, JV2 Tomorrow, an evening of new works created specifically for JV2, an international group of young performers hand-picked by award-winning choreographer and artistic director Jasmin Vardimon.

Wednesday 20 March, Colyer-Fergusson Hall, 1.10pm, Lunchtime Concert featuring the University Cecilian Choir with Daniel Harding conductor and Emma Murton harp, in a celebration of Britten’s centenary year.

Gulbenkian Cinema

Lectures

Friday 1 – Tuesday 5 February, Amour (12A)

Wednesday 6 February, Grimond Lecture Theatre 1, Canterbury campus, 6pm, Lord Mayor’s Lecture by Dominic Grieve, QC, MP, Attorney General, title TBC.

Sunday 3 February, NT Encore – The Magistrate

Wednesday 13 February, Grimond Lecture Theatre 1, 6pm, Open Lecture by Dr Joan Wolf on Is breast really best? Breastfeeding, motherhood and the politics of care. Thursday 28 February, Pilkington Lecture Theatre, Medway campus, 7pm, Bob Friend Memorial Lecture by Stephanie Flanders, on Lessons of the global financial crisis for economists and economic journalists. Thursday 7 March, Pilkington Lecture Theatre, 6pm, Open Lecture by Professor Mary Watkins on Efficiency and compassion – are they incompatible partners in healthcare? Wednesday 20 March, Grimond Lecture Theatre 1, 6pm, Open Lecture by Professor Tim Birkhead on What Darwin thought about sex. Wednesday 27 March, Grimond Lecture Theatre 1, 6pm, Eliot Annual Lecture by Dr John Guy on Thomas Becket.

Lunchtime talks A series of free lunchtime talks by leading academics from the University has been launched at the Beaney House of Art & Knowledge in Canterbury. Find out more at www.thebeaney.co.uk Wednesday 6 February, 1.15-1.30pm, Dr Andy Kesson on Loving Lyly, or, why does Canterbury not celebrate its most successful writer, John Lyly? Wednesday 27 February, 1.15-1.30pm, Professor Darren Griffin on Designer babies: myths and magic. Wednesday 13 March, 1.15-1.30pm, Dr Steven Willis on The story of Roman life from beneath our feet: the fine Roman samian tableware from the archaeological excavations at the Beaney, 2010. Wednesday 20 March, 1.15-1.30pm, Dr Patricia Baker on Roman medical instruments found in Britain and their multi-functional purposes.