KENTThe Magazine for the University of Kent | February 2011

Chaucer Fields

Fine Art lecturer’s work makes India tour

Dear Colleagues,

While there is no doubt that we are in difficult times, there has been a positive start to 2011. As you may be aware, we arethe lead sponsor of the Brompton Academy which has just had its official ‘celebration of opening’. In particular, I would liketo thank David Nightingale, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Jen Wyatt, Head of the Partnership Development Office, whohave played key roles in developing the strategic relationship we have with the school. We believe our internationallyrecognised expertise will support the Academy’s specialism of Science and the Arts and help establish it as one of theregion’s leading schools.

This is just one reason why we are working hard to ensure the University continues to thrive and develop in the face of avery large cut in government funding to all HE institutions in England and the introduction of a new funding system in 2012,which will require students to borrow greater amounts of money to cover increased ‘fees’. The new system will see moniescurrently going direct to universities being put into a large loan scheme to support this. The details are quite complex andsome aspects are still yet to be decided.

There has naturally been widespread condemnation of the level of cuts to a world-class HE system and, as you probablyknow, we had a group of students occupying the Senate building in protest against the cuts. However, the alternatives toincreased fees suggested by the coalition government were simply to have many fewer undergraduates and to significantlycut the investment per student. Neither of these actions would have enabled us to sustain the existing excellent system,nor would they seem to support widening participation activities. Therefore, we are now planning for the new system ofincreased fees.

At this point, it is worth mentioning that no UK student will have to pay up front; fee loans are available together with grantsand loans for maintenance costs. Graduates only start paying back when they reach a certain salary threshold and it isthought that the system may be more generous for those whose salaries are at the lower end.

Of course, the debate rightly continues – not only on whether there is an alternative system and if so will it be fairer, butalso on how the University will respond to students who are investing more personally in their education. Once the detailshave been finalised, the University will do all it can to work with the new National Bursary scheme and other mechanismsto support widening participation and fair access. At present, discussions and presentations on the future fee levels areongoing across the institution at Council, Senate, the Managers’ Forum, academic schools and the professional servicedepartments.

The good news is that the University is in a relatively strong position and we will be looking to sustain the University throughthe transition period.

Although it may sound clichéd, people are undoubtedly our greatest asset and it is only with your support and hard workthat we will get through these testing times.

I wish you all the best for the New Year.

Professor Dame Julia M Goodfellow DBE, CBEVice-Chancellor

Welcome

Special thanks to: Lesley Farr, University Design & Print Centre. Photographs by Robert Berry, Stephen Blakeley, Nick Ellwood, Spencer Scott,Karen Baxter, Stuart Harrop

3 News 6 Chaucer Fields: Building for the future 8 Research10 Enterprise 11 Green news 12 Human Resources 13 Staff profile14 Kent in the news/Obituaries 15 Sports and culture16 What’s on/Gulbenkian Cinema goes digital

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News

Professor Yong Yan awardedFellowship

Double win for DICE in BBCcamera-trap photo of the yearTwo current DICE students, Mark Darmaraj andHadi al Hakmani, have won prizes in the BBCWildlifemagazine’s photo competitions. PhDstudent Mark won the top prize in the magazine’scamera-trap photo of the year competition with arare and astonishing shot of a female Malayantiger and her offspring staring into the lens of acamera-trap device. BSc student Hadi securedthe runner-up prize in the Animal Portraitscategory with his stunning portrait of an Arabianwolf in the deserts of Oman.

Both photographs are published in theDecember issue of BBCWildlife and arefeatured online at www.bbcwildlifemagazine.com

KENTWe have set up a readers’ panelfor staff. Please get in touch if youwould like to become a member. Weare keen to have your feedback andletters are welcome from all our readers.Simply email the editorial team atkentmagazine@kent.ac.uk

Kent is also available online atwww.kent.ac.uk/campusonline/kentmagazine

Editorial team: Posie Bogan, Press& Communications Manager(Communications & Marketing);Colette O’Reilly, Publications Officer(Communications & Marketing);Fiona Jones, Alumni Relations Officer(Development Office);Karen Baxter, Press Assistant,(Communications & Marketing),University of Kent.

Next issue: the deadline for the nextissue is 7 March, with a publication dateof 30 March.

KENTThe Magazine for the University of Kent | February 2011

Chaucer Fields

Fine Art lecturer’s work makes India tour

Cover story: Deluge by Angus Pryor

Professor Yong Yan from Kent’s School ofEngineering and Digital Arts (EDA) has beennamed a Fellow of the Institute of Electronic andElectrical Engineers (IEEE).

His Fellowship is in recognition of hiscontribution to pulverised fuel flow metering – along-standing industrial problem – andcombustion flame imaging, with his research inthese areas having made a significant impacton the combustion efficiency improvement andemissions reduction of coal-fired power stations.

The IEEE Grade of Fellow is conferred by theIEEE Board of Directors upon a person with anoutstanding record of accomplishments in anyof the IEEE fields of interest. It is the highestgrade of membership and is recognised by thetechnical community as a prestigious honourand an important career achievement.

Professor Sarah Spurgeon, Head of EDA, said:‘Professor Yong Yan fully deserves thisrecognition from the IEEE. After many years ofpainstaking work and with substantial financialsupport from the UK government and industry,Professor Yan and his team have developedinnovative particle flow instruments which arecapable of measuring velocity, concentrationand size distribution of particles such aspneumatically conveyed pulverised fuel.

‘The other most distinctive contribution ProfessorYan has made lies in combustion flame imaging.As the demand for lower atmospheric emissionsand more efficient power generation increases, itis important to maintain a tight control of how thefuels are burnt. After more than 10 years’meticulous work, Professor Yan and his teamhave developed a digital imaging basedtechnology for the monitoring and quantitativecharacterisation of fossil fuel flames. This is animportant development for this sector.’

Professor Yong Yan joined the University in 2004.

Christmas competitionwinnerThe answer to our Christmascompetition question was SimonWesterman. We are delighted toannounce that the winner, drawnfrom a host of correct entries, isBarbara Delaney. CongratulationsBarbara!

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News

Fine Art lecturer’s work makesIndia tourThe British Council has selected work by AngusPryor, a Senior Lecturer in Fine Art, for its touringprogramme which showcases examples ofcontemporary British painting in India.

Pryor’s semi-abstract painting, Deluge (2007),(reproduced on this month’s KENT cover)composed from oil-based paint and builders’caulk, transposes the apocalyptic motif ofNoah’s Ark which is shown submerged underthe Adriatic waters around Venice.

The British Council tour, designed to introducerecent and contemporary trends in British art tonew audiences, will be showcasing work at ninevenues throughout the Indian sub-continent.

University in joint bursary tofund research into living withsight lossThe School of Social Policy, Sociology and SocialResearch (SSPSSR) and Thomas PocklingtonTrust have announced a major joint three-yearresearch bursary into sight loss issues.

The research will focus on the relationshipbetween partially sighted individuals and thesocial and technological environment in whichthey live and work. Further details on the bursaryare available at www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr

Thomas Pocklington Trust is a leading providerof housing, care and support services for peoplewith sight loss in the UK. Each year, Pocklingtonfunds social and public health research anddevelopment initiatives to identify practical waysto improve the lives of people with sight loss. Itsresearch and development programme focuseson three themes: increasing social inclusion,independence and quality of life; improving careand support services; and public health issues,including prevention of blindness and promotionof eye health.

Professor Chris Shilling, Director of GraduateStudies at SSPSSR, said: ‘This is an excitingcollaboration coming at a very important time forthe future of social policy in this country, and welook forward to developing this area of researchin collaboration with Thomas Pocklington Trust.’

‘It is hoped that the first lecture will be heldduring the spring term, although it will take aninspirational lecturer to compete against thebeautiful surroundings of the woods for thestudents’ full attention,’ he added.

Grace Turner, President of Kent’s ConservationSociety, said: ‘This was a fantastic project to workon. As well as creating a seating area which willbe used for lectures and social activities, wehave also used off-cuts to create wildlife friendlylog and brash piles.’

Marathon run for charityTim Warren, the Hospitality Accounts Supervisor,is running in the London Marathon this year. Hischosen charity is Kidscape an organisation setup to support victims of bullying and theirfamilies, and to provide advice, resources,training and information to the public.www.kidscape.org.uk

Tim said: ‘As a father of three, I wanted to run fora kids charity so I was delighted to be offered aplace with Kidscape. This is my first seriousmarathon and I am currently working through mytraining plan, which averages 36 miles a weekover 5 days. When I feel tired, I just think aboutcrossing that finish line in April. I am very excited,and very nervous about this challenge!

If you would like to sponsor Tim go tohttp://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=TimWarren

Taking the initiativeThe Centre for Research on Social Climate, incollaboration with Kent Enterprise, recentlyhosted an event titled, ‘Taking Charge of theNext Step: Initiative-taking Skills Workshop’. In aninterdisciplinary collaboration, Dr Ulrich Weger,the Centre’s Director, and Tracy Crowther andStephanie Barwick from Kent Enterprise,organised a workshop to help students developtheir ideas and initiatives.

Dr Weger commented: ‘We all have some senseof what we are good at and what we would liketo achieve – the challenge is to translate ourvisions into actions. In fact, we often belittle ourown ideas by questioning whether they are goodenough or whether others are interested in whatwe have to offer. It is important, however, to bebold about the ideas that excite us.’

Martin Large, a social entrepreneur and prolificinitiative taker, facilitated the session and helpedpeople articulate their dreams and develop andsharpen them. ‘There was a sense of excitementand enthusiasm in the room – and, perhaps mostimportant, people left the workshop with anumber of new contacts,’ said Dr Weger.

Future workshops will be posted on the Centrefor Research on Social Climate and KentEnterprise websites. There is also a module ondeveloping one’s own initiative-taking skills beingplanned. Further information can be found at:www.kent.ac.uk/psychology/research/crsc/

Outdoor classroom createdfrom fallen oak treeThe University Conservation Society has spentsix days creating an outdoor classroom from afallen oak tree.

Nearly 20 students worked with local artist PeterLeadbeater to create a series of carved benchesand toadstool seats. Ian Bride, Lecturer inBiodiversity Management at DICE, said: ‘I havelong had the idea that we should create someteaching and leisure spaces in the non-builtenvironment on the Canterbury campus.

‘So when a large oak tree fell down recently verynear to a site that we had previously identified ashaving good potential for the creation of such aspace (behind Beckett Court), the opportunitypresented itself in the form of raw materials.

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News

1 Outdoor classroom created from fallen oak tree2 Taking the initiative3 Marathon run for charity4 A taste of ‘the Good Life’

A taste of ‘the Good Life’Students at the University are now growing theirown fruit thanks to an innovative project run by theNational Union of Students (NUS) and Homebase.

Kent is one of seven universities taking part in theFresher Freshers project, an initiative designed tohelp students grow environmentally-friendly food.So, on Saturday 27 November, staff and studentsplanted a wide variety of fruit canes and trees,including apple, pear, cherry, Kentish cobnuts,raspberries, blackcurrants, tayberry, loganberryand redcurrants. The plants were supplied byBrogdale Farm, home of the National FruitCollection.

Matthew Compton, Category Manager, GardenHorticulture at Homebase said: ‘This initiative isabout creating a generation of graduates withhealthier, greener and more pocket-friendly eatinghabits.’

Catherine Morris, Environmental Co-ordinator atthe University, said: ‘The new orchard and soft fruitcage should provide a great resource over thecoming years for students and staff to learn aboutfruit growing.’

Web rankingsOn the 4icu website (http://www.4icu.org/) Kent isagain ranked 22nd in the UK (out of 150) for webpopularity, the same position as in July 2010 andJanuary 2010. Moreover, for the first time Kentalso appears in the top 100 European Universitieslisting – ranked 93rd.

Broaden your horizonsThe European Office holds funding forprofessional, managerial and support staff toundertake a short-term work-based visit to an EUcountry – this can be either to one of the KentErasmus partner universities or to an enterprisein another EU country. The visits could be builtaround, for example, work shadowing, short-term study or attendance at a conference orworkshop. This scheme runs alongside the moreestablished scheme for academic staff to visitEU countries, also funded by Erasmus. You canfind more information on the European Officewebsite at: www.kent.ac.uk/european-office/staffinformation/stafftraining.html

There is still funding available for staff interestedin taking advantage of this opportunity for 2011.If you are considering applying, please emailh.ellerby@kent.ac.uk to register your interest; wewould advise you to apply as soon as possible.

If you would like to talk through your application,please contact Primrose or Hannah in theEuropean Office on 4922/4921, or AnneRushworth in Staff Development onA.Rushworth@kent.ac.uk, ext 7897. We can helpyou develop your idea or put you in touch withsomeone who has already benefited from thescheme. The European Office also has a list ofupcoming Erasmus staff training weeks takingplace at some of our partner universities, if youwould prefer to take part in a pre-organised visit.

International training networkestablishedThe Greenfoot project group, part of theComputing Education Research Group at theSchool of Computing, has set up an internationalnetwork of partner institutions to deliver trainingand community support around the Greenfootsoftware system, developed at Kent.

Greenfoot is a system designed to helpteenagers learn to program, and to helpteachers to make computer science moreattractive to a wider audience of young learners.

First released in 2006, adoption of the Greenfootsystem has increased substantially over the lastyear, with well over 1,000 institutions now usingthe software for their computer science teaching.Following this surge in popularity, providingtraining and support for teachers is one of thebig challenges.

Professor Michael Kölling, lead designer of theGreenfoot project, said: ‘Other people gettinginvolved in our project is a great thing, and a signof the value educators see in our software.’

Of the seven new partner institutions, known asGreenfoot Hubs, five are in the USA, one inGermany and one in Moscow. Add to this analready existing project partner in Australia andKent itself, and there are now nine institutionsdelivering workshops and training for Greenfoot.

Greenfoot is being developed at the Universityby Michael Kölling, Ian Utting, Neil Brown andPhil Stevens, and can be downloaded freely fromwww.greenfoot.org. More information about theGreenfoot Hubs is at www.greenfoot.org/hubs.

University helps BromptonAcademy celebrate openingThe University has helped Brompton Academy,the latest school in the region to gain Academystatus, celebrate its official opening in style.

As Lead Sponsor of Brompton Academy’ssuccessful bid, the University invited students,staff, governors and local strategic partners tothe Gillingham-based school’s Celebration ofOpening event earlier this month.

University Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor DavidNightingale, who is also Chair of Governors atBrompton Academy, and Vice-ChancellorProfessor Dame Julia M Goodfellow both gavekeynote addresses at the event.

Said David: ‘The Vice-Chancellor and I were bothdelighted to help Brompton Academy celebrategaining Academy status. It has been a long roadto travel but, given the academic excellence ofthe school, I was never in any doubt that theresult of the bid would be successful.

‘The University was in part chosen to be theLead Sponsor because of our ability to helpprovide support for the Academy’s sciencespecialism and I look forward to seeing thatrelationship develop over the coming years.’

Predecessor school New Brompton Collegebegan its quest for Academy status in 2006 andgained the support of many in the community,including the then local MP Paul Clark.

Academy Principal Judy Rider thanked all thosewho had supported the school in its ‘relentlesspursuit’ of Academy status.

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Feature

Aplanned £60milliondevelopment at the University’sCanterbury campus will deliversignificant economic benefit tothe local economy as well asmuch-needed new studentresidence places. That’s thepromise of Kent’s ChaucerFields development, featuringnew student accommodationalongside hotel and conferencecentre facilities.

Feature

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Staff, students and local residents have beenconsulted on the plans before the Universitysubmits a planning application to CanterburyCity Council, which is due in March.

The proposed development is planned for anarea of the University’s campus that is mainlygrassland surrounded by woodland, situatedalongside the existing Canterbury InnovationCentre. Its design has been carefully developedto respect the character, flora and fauna of theChaucer Fields site.

A key element of the proposal is its high level ofsustainability, with efficient use of energy andresources throughout the proposed developmentand the surrounding landscaping.

Chaucer Fields:Building for the future

The scheme would provide accommodation for800 students through a mix of sharedapartments, townhouses and flats. A 150-bedhotel and conference centre with 200-capacitylecture theatre, as well as a college centrecomprising office and study space, laundry, shopand café would complete the development.

University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Keith Mandersaid: ‘We are proud of our proposals for a high-quality, sustainable new development at ChaucerFields because it will benefit the local economyas well as the University.

‘The University continues to be popular and ourstudent population is thriving. Unfortunately, ouron-campus student rooms cannot satisfydemand, which means students are takingprivate housing in Canterbury. These 800 newrooms will go some way to responding to calls forstudents to live on campus.

7KENT Magazine

‘There is also a shortage of hotel and conferencefacilities in Canterbury which this developmentwill go a long way towards addressing. Theconstruction process will generate jobs andbusiness within the local economy and, oncefinished, the new facilities will create manyadditional employment opportunities.

‘We have been keen, however, to hear theopinions of as many local residents as possible,as well as get feedback from our own staff andstudents.

‘These consultation events have provided anopportunity for everyone with an interest to viewour plans and ask questions before we submitour planning application in March. I’m delightedthat we received many comments which werethen fed back into the ongoing Chaucer Fieldsdesign development process.’

SiteThe site chosen for Chaucer Fields is mainlygrassland set on a gentle hill surrounded byclusters of mature trees and hedgerows. Thepositioning of the development has beencarefully considered to ensure it maximisesscreening from existing mature trees and avoidsany need to remove woodland.

The development site, located adjacent to theCanterbury Innovation Centre, is alongside thearea covered by Canterbury City Council’sSupplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) for theUniversity’s Kent Business Innovation Park. ThisSPG aims to ensure a complementary mix ofland use in the local area. Chaucer Fields hastherefore been sited to complement the existingCanterbury Innovation Centre and othersurrounding buildings.

As well as its situation in relation to otherbuildings, the development will have a layout thatwill be in character with the Chaucer Fieldssetting. The College Hub, hotel and conferencecentre will form the core of the development, withthe one-bedroom student flats located next to thehotel to allow them to be used as additional hotelaccommodation out of term-time.

Feature

The other student residences, situated in fourblocks arranged in an arc around the corebuildings, will each look down over ChaucerFields towards Canterbury Cathedral and citycentre.

DesignThe Chaucer Fields design concept is centred ona ‘village green’ area surrounded by woodland.The student accommodation and hotel will beangled towards the Cathedral, thus echoing afeature of the original University campus designwhen it was built in 1964.

Buildings within the scheme will be between twoand four storeys high, but will be stepped andbuilt into the slope to minimise height. Screeningby trees and other landscaping will furtherreduce the visual impact of the development.

Most of the student accommodation will be inshared apartments located in four blocks, eachfour storeys high. There will also be studentrooms in town houses and a number of one-bedroomed flats. The proposed hotel andconference centre is also set to be three to fourstoreys, but stepped and built into the slope.

At the centre of the scheme, a two-storey CollegeHub will be made up of office space, quiet studyzones and a catering area opening onto asecluded courtyard.

SustainabilityThe University is committed to achieving highlevels of sustainability in all its buildings and theproposed development at Chaucer Fields is noexception.

At its heart, the scheme incorporates a rangeof sustainability measures and is based on theefficient use of energy and resources. The designincludes low carbon and renewable energyinitiatives, with at least 10% of the development’senergy requirements coming from renewableenergy sources. Thermal insulation and high-efficiency boilers will help reduce energyconsumption. Display screens in the hub buildingwill show energy use to encourage everyone touse less power. Among the sustainable featuresalso being considered are green roofs.

Ecological and landscaping considerations havealso been a key element in the developmentplanning process. A series of ponds will becreated in the southern part of the site to managewater and drainage. These will also serve tocreate a rich new ecological habitat andadditional screening for neighbouring properties.Landscaping will seek to provide screening andenhance the existing landscape character bycareful planting of a mix of native trees andvegetation to enrich the woodland and improvebiodiversity. It will also create a transition betweenthe development and the adjacent woodland.

Martin Herrema, Press Officer

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Research

Ethical and practical support forbiodiversity conservation may befound within the great religionssuch as Islam, or within the beliefsand traditional cultural practices ofeven the smallest community.

However, in order to measure and understandthe potential impact of conservation ethics inreligion and local culture, Stuart Harrop,Professor of Wildlife Management Law andDirector of the Durrell Institute of Conservationand Ecology (DICE) at Kent, has embarked onseveral major projects in three of the world’sconservation ‘hotspots’.

The first of these projects, funded by the DarwinInitiative, examines the relationship betweenconservation and Islam in Sumatra while activelyraising awareness of Islamic teachings aboutconservation; the second, funded by theEconomic & Social Research Council/NaturalEnvironment Research Council InterdisciplinaryStudentship Scheme, examines the relationshipbetween culture, sacred sites and bird migrationin north and central Africa; and the third,financed by the Christensen Fund, examines therole of sacred forest sites in south-west Ethiopiain forestry conservation.

Beliefs, cultureand the environment

Across all three projects, Professor Harrop aimsto show that natural resource conservation canbenefit from the integration of key religiousconcepts and traditional conservationapproaches into conventional managementplans and conservation strategies, while localpeople can benefit from making conservationrelevant to them.

He explained: ‘Innovative approaches tocommunity-based conservation are urgentlyneeded in places such as Indonesia and inparticular Sumatra, which has some of thehighest rates of tropical deforestation in South-East Asia. Indonesia also has the world’s largestMuslim population, with religion having a stronginfluence on daily life.

‘Fortunately, within the Al-Qur'an there are severalkey principles – Tauhid, Khalifah, Mizan andFitrah – that underpin nature conservation andoutline the human role in conserving naturalresources. Further, three interrelated land-usemanagement systems in Sumatra apply Islamicprinciples within nature conservation. These are:Hima or management zones established forsustainable natural resource use; Harim orinviolable sanctuaries used for protecting waterresources and their services; and, Ihya Al-Mawat, which encourages reviving neglectedland to become productive. Our work there aimsto implement a faith-based community outreachprogramme to strengthen and integrate thesereligious management systems into the legallyrecognised traditional, or nagari, system, whichusually comprises several villages.’

While it remains too early to provide thoroughevidence of the potential impact of beliefsystems on conservation in the three projectsoutlined above, Professor Harrop remainsencouraged by the very positive local support ofthe project in Sumatra, ‘which suggests that thelong-standing reverence for the environmentwithin religion and culture is a very powerfulforce to turn the tide of biodiversity destruction.’

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Research

Biometrics for careenvironmentsBiometrics experts from the University’s Schoolof Engineering and Digital Arts (EDA) haveformed a partnership with InMezzo, one of theUK’s leading secure information specialists, fora project to be supported by the TechnologyStrategy Board that will enhance identityauthentication procedures in care environments.

The growing costs and demands on health andsocial care are leading to huge pressures todevelop improved care for older people and thedisabled in their own homes, using telecaretechnology to deliver the services. Telecareenables remote monitoring and alerting of clientincidents to carers, so that sound responses toevents can be made on a 24/7 basis. It also ofteninvolves the electronic transmission of highlypersonal health or welfare information, whichraises important issues about clientconfidentiality and safety.

The University’s researchers have an establishedrecord in developing novel and robust patternrecognition techniques to identify individualsfrom a range of biometric measurements.Working in partnership with InMezzo, theUniversity’s researchers are now exploring user-friendly ways in which recognition of individualsfrom their face and voice characteristics canenable a wide range of patients and vulnerableindividuals to gain easier access to telecaresystems and applications, using the audio visualfunctions of the healthcare delivery platformSmartCare. It will also develop a door entry

system which recognises faces and voices ofauthorised carers and other visitors.

Michael Fairhurst, Professor of Computer Vision(pictured above, left) said: ‘It is exciting for us towork with leading companies such as InMezzo.This project provides an excellent opportunity forus to work towards some very practical solutionsto difficult problems in a way which directlydemonstrates the social value of strong ongoingresearch.’

EDA’s Dr Gareth Howells, a specialist in imageprocessing and pattern recognition techniques,will work with Professor Fairhurst on the project.

The research is also supported by theInternational Centre for Excellence in Telecare(ICE-T+).

Research awards listSome recent research awards

Dr David Wilkinson (School of Psychology)£186,470 and Simon Coulton (School of SocialPolicy, Sociology and Social Research(SSPSSR)) £49,836 from the Medical ResearchCouncil (MRC) for ‘Does repeated vestibulastimulation induce lasting recovery from hemi-spatial neglect’.

Professor Jim Mansell (Tizard, SSPSSR):£30,699 from the Department of Health for‘Quality and outcomes of person-centred care’.

Dr Richard Williamson (School of Biosciences):£239,648 from the Wellcome Trust for‘Conformational, dynamic and ligand-binding

properties of protein disulphide-isomerase:studies with site-specific NMR and fluorescentprobes’.

Dr Farzin Deravi (School of Engineering andDigital Arts): £47,000 from East Kent HospitalsUniversity NHS Foundation Trust for ‘Canautomatic facial gesture recognition techniquesbe developed as an input device to electronicassistive technologies for severely disabledpatients’.

Dr Luke Lavan (School of European Cultureand Languages): £182,598 from the LeverhulmeTrust for ‘Visualising the late antique city:everyday life AD 300-600’.

Time will tellKent health services researchers are hoping thatthe results of their current project on the qualityand provision of long-term home care for olderpeople will promote the UK from its previousranking of tenth out of 11 European countries.

The three-year SHELTER (Services and Healthfor Elderly in Long Term Care) project, which isdirected by Iain Carpenter, (pictured, left)Professor of Human Ageing at the University’sCentre for Health Services Studies (CHSS), isevaluating services and health for older peoplein long-term nursing home care in eightEuropean countries. Methodology includescomparing the condition, needs and levels ofdependency of each resident andcharacteristics of their facility.

It was a similar project carried out by ProfessorCarpenter seven years ago which ranked the UKtenth out of 11 European countries for the qualityof its care at home for older people. ‘This projectwill determine how nursing home care comparesacross Europe,’ he said.

‘By collecting the same highly detailed data onindividual nursing home residents in each of theeight countries, we can make direct comparisonsin a way that has not been possible before innursing homes. In fact, I would say that suchperson-centred data is central to developingpolicy for long-term home care in Europe.’

The study ends in December 2011, and theresults will be built into what will be the largestEuropean web-based database of person-centred resident and facility information.

For further information on this project visithttp://www.shelter-elderly.eu

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Enterprise

Business academic and leadership author, PeterCook then took to the stage combining hisbusiness knowledge with original music. He wasaccompanied by John Howitt, a professionalmusician who performs with Celine Dion,Anastasia and Shirley Bassey. Together they tookthe audience on an interactive journey exploringleadership ideas from academia and music.

The event is part of the University of Kent ICEprogramme, offering network members an easyway to engage with the University, like-mindedbusinesses and the latest research.

To find out more information on the network andfuture events please visit www.icekent.co.uk oremail enterprise@kent.ac.uk

Funding support for localbusinessesThe newly launched Innovation Voucher initiativeoffers businesses the opportunity to develop anew project with the University of Kent with a50% contribution towards the cost.

The scheme has been set up for firms to developinnovative products, processes or services withour academics, encouraging joint collaborationbetween businesses and University schools.

Voucher funding of 50% against the total projectcost (excluding VAT) is available up to July 2011,and applications will be assessed as they arereceived. Priority will be given to Kent SMEs;although the University will accept projectapplications from larger organisations too.

Visit www.kent.ac.uk/enterprise today for moreinformation about the scheme, emailenterprise@kent.ac.uk or call 01227 827376.

Over 50 businesses attended the ICEnetworking event ‘Myths and Riffs ofLeadership’ on Tuesday 18th Januaryat the Canterbury Innovation Centre.

Professor Dennis Tourish gave an entertainingand thought-provoking talk about leadership,using comic examples to expose the mistakesmade by bad leaders, as well as highlighting thetraits of good leaders. Professor Tourish’s directand original approach to leadership showed howthe seven key roles of effective leadershipdirectly impact on staff morale and futurebusiness growth.

Myths and riffsof leadership

This year’s Business Ideas Competition isnow open to all University of Kentstudents. Individuals and teams are invitedto submit a business idea with the chanceto win a share of the £5,000 prize fund, tohelp turn their ideas into reality.

The winning team will be the Kent entry inthe Global Business Concept Challenge,where they will have the opportunity tocompete for a $25,000 prize in a GlobalCompetition in Virginia, USA.

Details of the competition includingentry forms can be found atwww.kentroundone.co.uk or contactStudent Enterprise Officer, Tracy Crowther,email: T.S.Crowther@kent.ac.uk or call01227 824641.

Business Ideas Competition

Networking to music: (left to right) Peter Cook, Professor Dennis Tourish and John Howitt

11KENT Magazine

Green news

Fairtrade at Kent

The Fairtrade mark is now one of themost widely recognised certificationmarks in the UK, but what does itreally mean?

What is Fairtrade?The concept of Fairtrade has been around fora long time but the official system was firstintroduced in Holland in the 1980’s. In short,any product bearing the mark has been tradedaccording to a set of internationally agreedstandards and the supply chain has beenaudited to ensure that these rules are beingadhered to. There are certain core ideas thatapply to all products. For example, Fairtradetraders must:

• Pay a price to producers that covers the costof sustainable production and living

• Pay a premium that producers can invest indevelopment

• Make partial advance payments whenrequested by producers

• Sign contracts that allow for long-term planningand sustainable production practices.

Behind these core ideas are two underlying setsof standards. One ensures that small-scaleindependent producers receive a decent andstable minimum wage for their crops, while theother applies more to estate growers and focusesprimarily on issues related to the pay andconditions of the workers.

The Fairtrade Foundation is an independent non-profit organisation that licenses the use of theFairtrade mark on products in the UK. As well aslicensing products they also aim to bringFairtrade into communities by allowing schools,towns, universities and workplaces to becomeFairtrade accredited. A Fairtrade university is onethat has made a commitment to supporting andusing Fairtrade. It ensures that Fairtrade productsare available in as many places as possible andraises awareness of Fairtrade among studentsand staff.

To find out more about Fairtrade and Fairtradeuniversities please visit www.fairtrade.org.uk

Fairtrade at the Universityof KentKent has been a Fairtrade university since 2006.As a Fairtrade university, Kent ensures thatFairtrade tea and coffee is served exclusively inevery outlet on campus and other Fairtradeproducts including clothing, fruit juice, flapjacksand cotton wool are widely available. Every year,the Fairtrade steering group works with the localCanterbury District Fairtrade Network to organisea number of events to promote Fairtrade which inthe past have included; Fairtrade music nights,free tasters of Fairtrade products and stalls at theFreshers’ fair.

Collectively, as schools and departments, staffshould actively support the University’s Fairtradestatus by ensuring that Fairtrade tea and coffee isbought and that staff uniforms are made fromFairtrade cotton. Individually, there are manyways to get involved in Fairtrade from joining theFairtrade Steering Group, promoting Fairtrade toyour colleagues and getting involved in FairtradeFortnight.

Fairtrade FortnightThis year, Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 28February – 13 March so keep your eyes open forany Fairtrade events on campus during that time.If you or your department or school would like toget involved in Fairtrade Fortnight please emailc.morris@kent.ac.uk

The Degrees Cooler project is now well into itssecond year and this year we have over 20schools and departments signed up to theGreen Impact scheme. Green Impact, which lastyear was jointly won by Kent Enterprise Hub andthe Unit for the Enhancement of Learning andTeaching (UELT) is an environmentalaccreditation scheme which allows staff acrossthe University to make positive environmentalchanges and rewards them at the annual awardsceremony at the end of the year.

In order to find out more about what people thinkabout environmental issues on campus and toengage staff from across the University, we areasking for staff to send their suggestions forenergy saving ideas to greenimpact@kent.ac.uk.Please ensure that you include your school ordepartment in your email.

Students from the University are able toparticipate in Degrees Cooler through ‘GoingGreener’ the climax of which is Go Green Weekwhich is held in the second week in February.

Degrees Cooler update

Promotingequality and diversity

Briefings were held across the University onthe new Single Equality Act and a pilot seniorleaders’ workshop on the topic of equality anddiversity has now been incorporated into theHeads Leadership & Management Programme.An online equality and diversity learning tool waslaunched and a website for new international staffwill be launched shortly. Additionally, theUniversity has committed to the Athena SwanCharter which focuses on the advancement andpromotion of the careers of women in Science,Engineering and Technology (SET) in highereducation. In 2011, work will continue in all ofthese areas. The University has also recentlyjoined Stonewall’s Diversity Championsprogramme which promotes equal treatmentand a good working environment for those

who are lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Supportingworkforce planning

Human Resources, Finance andInformation Systems have been co-operating in initial project scoping workthat is necessary for the longer termproject to develop improved workforcereporting through a new HR/Payroll System.With a view to continuing to develop a morejoined-up approach to data gathering andreporting, the Higher Education StatisticsAgency (HESA) was invited by HumanResources to conduct a training session forHR and staff from a range of departments,including Finance, the Planning and BusinessInformation Office and Information Systems, in

late 2010. Work to support the University’sannual planning process, using theresources available with our existingsystem, has already begun.

The feature articleWorking to Plan (KENT December 2010) mentioned thework that has been done to develop a new HR Strategy to support theUniversity’s Institutional Plan. The HR Strategy was written with a view tosupporting staff to continue to develop and excel, and to ensure theircontribution to the success of the Institutional Plan, and focuses on sixthemes. Some key developments from 2010 and highlights of initiativesbeginning in 2011 are summarised below; over the course of the year, weplan to keep you updated through interviews in KENT with people who havetaken part in some of these initiatives.

12 KENT Magazine

Human Resources

Developingleadership capabilities

The University launched a revised versionof the Heads Leadership & ManagementProgramme in September and hosted asuccessful half-day event for newly promotedsenior staff in December 2010. We are alsobuilding on the success of the Academic Division’sleadership pilot programme by conducting ayear-long series of focus groups with participantsfrom the first programme and have launched across-University Leadership Programme forProfessional Services Managers that willcontinue throughout the year. A number ofparticipants from the first pilot will bedirectly involved in facilitating sessionsand sharing knowledge duringthe 2011 University-

wide pilot.

Strategy update

Providing peoplemanagement and

development opportunitiesA number of new initiatives were created in 2010to support staff at the University. A new internalrecruitment process was implemented for administrativeroles and a more structured job evaluation panel reviewprocess has begun, with a view to ensuring consistency andproducing benchmark role profiles, such as those that havebeen created for School Administration Managers. Improvedinduction materials were developed and a new ProbationScheme for academic staff was launched. AnOrganisational Change policy, Redeployment policy anda policy to assist with the management of performaceissues were created and supported with briefings andworkshops during 2010. Work will continue in 2011in all of these areas, including a review of theappraisal and administrative staff re-

grading processes and theintroduction of a mediation

scheme.

Improving employeecommunication and

consultationEffective communication has beena key priority for senior staff atthe University and regularupdates are being provided tostaff via the Manager’s Forum.The Joint Staff Negotiation andConsultation Committee and StaffPolicy Committee membership wasrefreshed in 2010 and a consultationexercise was carried out about theproposed changes to USS. HumanResources developed a regular featurepage in KENTmagazine in 2010and will continue to review its

website in 2011.

The University of Kent is a successful organisationwhich has developed due to the efforts and talents ofits staff. The University values its very good employeerelations and its excellent record of encouraging staffto achieve their ambitions.

For more information about the HR Strategy,see: http://www.kent.ac.uk/human-resources/strategy/index.html

Ensuring HRsystems and processesare efficient and effective

Human Resources is conducting a reviewof many of its administrative systems andprocesses to ensure that they are bothefficient and effective, and will also beparticipating in the ‘University-wideProcess Improvement Centre’

Triaster software projectduring 2011.

13KENT Magazine

Staff profile

Robert Grimer

Robert is the Chef de Cuisine at the University, which means he is responsible for allfood across campus. He came to Kent in 2005, having previously owned AugustinesRestaurant for seven years and prior to that worked for the Roux brothers.

recent years. I would love to visit South-East Asia,in particular Vietnam.

What is your favourite TV or radioprogramme?Radio 6 music – the variety is superb.

What was your earliest ambition?To own my own restaurant.

How do you celebrate good news?I like to pop open a bottle of bubbly.

What is your greatest achievement?Owner of Augustines Restaurant in Canterbury.This was a dream come true.

What is the best piece of advice you’veever been given?Don’t become a hairdresser!

What would be your perfect day?Going to Blean Woods in the morning lookingfor cep mushrooms and finding some! Then Iwould love to go shrimping in the afternoon atSandwich Bay. To finish off my perfect day, Iwould like to have a dinner of potted shrimps,fillet steak with ceps, and sticky toffeepudding, followed by a visit to my local pub.

What single thing would improve thequality of your life?An Aston Martin Vanquish.

How do you relax?Listening to music or going to a restaurant.

What was your worst job?In a hotel in Harrogate working under ascreaming, paranoid German head chef who

seemed to want to kill most chefs. I would workfrom 6:30am to midnight, and then go back to ashared room with a smelly room-mate.

What is your favourite item of clothing,either now or in the past?My white T-shirt.

What (if anything) would you like tochange about yourself?I would like to be able to speak a secondlanguage.

Who was your first pin-up?I didn’t have one.

Which country would you most liketo visit?I love to travel – not that I have done much of it in

14 KENT Magazine

ObituariesKent in the news

Staff at the University continue to make a strong contribution tointernational, national and regional news. Over the past few months therehave been contributions from those in the Durrell Institute of Conservationand Ecology (DICE), The Centre for Sports Studies, Kent Business School(KBS), the School of Arts, the Centre for Journalism and the School ofSocial Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR).

Leading the amount of coverage gained was Medway-based criminologistProfessor Alex Stevens of SSPSSR. His research on Portugal’s policies ondrug users gained extensive coverage, particularly in the US. The story wascovered by theWashington Post, CBS and Fox News as well as a host ofother newspapers and broadcasters across the US. And his Canterbury-based SSPSSR colleague, sociologist Professor Frank Furedi, was alsomaking the headlines. He featured in the Daily Telegraph on his bookParanoid Parenting and in The Guardian on what lies ahead for highereducation in 2011. Visiting Professor of Criminology Marian Fitzgerald hada letter published in The Times.

Medway-based professor of journalism Tim Luckhurst also featuredprominently. He took part in a number of broadcast interviews, including onChannel 4 News, commenting on the Wikileaks story, and BBC Radio 5 Liveon the European Commission’s ruling on Rupert Murdoch’s bid for BSkyB.He was also interviewed for the New York Times on developmentssurrounding The Independent and Evening Standard titles.

Canterbury-based Kent Business School professor of leadership, DennisTourish, had an opinion piece published in Times Higher Education, whilehis colleagues Luca Cacciolatti and Professor Andrew Fearne were coveredin the Organic & Natural Business and the Cambridge News, respectively.A keynote speech by Bank of England Chief Economist Spencer Dale wascancelled due to bad weather, but the text of his speech still attracted manynational mentions for Kent Business School, including in The DailyTelegraph and the Financial Times.

Stuart Harrop, professor of wildlife management law and Director of DICE,featured in Eurasia Review, while his PhD colleague Brett Lewis featured inThe Daily Telegraph on his seal sightings study.

Medway-based Centre for Sports Studies researcher Dr Sakis Pappous,gained widespread coverage in Kent’s media for his research link-up with afoundation established by Spanish football giant Real Madrid. Othercontributions came from Jonathan Friday, Head of the School of Arts.

The University has also been receiving coverage in Canterbury media for itsplans to develop a new £60m student accommodation, hotel andconference facility on a part of the Canterbury campus known as ChaucerFields. Medway media including theMedway Messenger, covered theUniversity’s sponsorship of the annual Pride in Medway awards.

This is just some of the recent coverage gained by the University. For moreinformation, visit Kent in the News on Campus Online or contact the PressOffice at PressOffice@kent.ac.uk

It is with great regret that theUniversity reports the deaths of LizTanner, Professor (AW) BrianSimpson FBA and Professor DavidBradby.

Liz TannerLiz Tanner, Master’s Assistant inKeynes Master’s Office, diedfollowing a road traffic accident on17 December. Liz worked in anumber of positions in theUniversity before becomingMaster’s Assistant in KeynesCollege, firstly with Dave Reasonand latterly with Anthony Ward. Shewas a hugely efficient andsupportive colleague, who ran theMaster’s Office with great care andconsideration for the College’sstudents, as demonstrated by themany messages of sympathyreceived from students past andpresent. Liz was a lovely personwho will be missed very much bystudents and by colleagues acrossthe University. Our thoughts arewith her family to whom we extendheartfelt condolences.

Professor (AW) BrianSimpson FBAProfessor Brian Simpson, FBA,Emeritus Professor of Law, passedaway on 10 January 2011. BrianSimpson was Professor of Lawfrom 1973 to 1985 and Dean of theFaculty of Social Sciences from1975 to 1978. In more recent years,Brian was the Charles F and EdithJ Clyne Professor of Law at theUniversity of Michigan Law Schooland he has held professorships atthe Universities of Cambridge andChicago, and, previously, at theUniversity of Ghana. Brian had anMA and a Doctorate from theUniversity of Oxford and his manyother awards included an honorarydegree from Kent conferred in

2003. He was an Honorary Fellowof Lincoln College, Oxford, a Fellowof the British Academy and of theAmerican Academy of Arts andSciences. In June 2001, he wasappointed Honorary Queen’sCounsel. Brian was immenselydistinguished and much loved bystaff and students; Law alumnireturning to the University alwaysremembered him. He will be greatlymissed.

Professor DavidBradbyProfessor David Bradby passedaway on the 17 January 2011.David will be remembered as oneof the founders of the Kent Dramadepartment in 1970, as co-editor ofContemporary Theatre Review formany years, alongside his prolificwork as a world-leading scholar ofEuropean theatre with a principleinterest in French theatre anddirectors’ theatre. From Kent, hemoved on to become Head of theTheatre Department at theUniversity of Caen in Normandybefore taking up the Chair at RoyalHolloway from 1988 to 2007. TheBradby Studio, in Eliot College, willremain as a very small memorial tothe great work and legacy of thisfine scholar, and friend, who will besadly missed.

We plan to publish fuller obituariesfor Professor Simpson andProfessor Bradby in the next editionof KENT, published in April.

15KENT Magazine

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The Vice-Chancellor’s Cup waslaunched on Wednesday 12 Januarywith the dodgeball competition.Competition between the 12 teamswas fierce – and a good time was hadby all. The winning points wereshared between the HumanResources team, Wii not fit, and thePsychology team, The Psycho’s.There has been a great response tothis interdepartmental staffcompetition with 14 departmentssigning up so far. You can follow theprogress of the teams atwww.kent.ac.uk/sports/vc. The nextevent is racket sports and will be held

in April. If you have not alreadysigned up and would like to getinvolved as an individual or a team,contact Mel Clewlow(M.Clewlow@kent.ac.uk).

Zumba Worldfest partyUniversity of Kent Sport are hostinga Zumba party on Thursday 24February as part of Worldfest. Theparty will include a Zumba masterclass in the main hall, with our ownZumba instructor Jeni Dexter and aselect team of Latino students. Thiswill be followed by live music from

Sport and culture

Vice-Chancellor’sCup update

Samba band Cocoa Xpress and a DJset. There will also be a cocktail bar,chillax zone, VIP zone and aWorldfest information desk. Ticketsare available from the Sports Centre.

Xercise FactorFive Kent Sport members areembarking on a six-week fitness andexercise plan in an effort to changetheir health and lifestyle habits aspart of Xercise Factor. The lucky fivewill be mentored by two members ofthe Fitness Team, as they are firstassessed, and then supported,through a strict regime which aims tohelp them achieve their goals. Thecontestants will discuss their effortsvia blogs on the Kent Sport Facebookpage, and also via our websitewww.kent.ac.uk/sports. If you areinspired by our Xercise Factorcontestants and would like help withyour own health and lifestyle goals,Kent Sport offers fitness assessmentsand personalised exerciseprogrammes. Further details areavailable on our website or from theSports Centre reception.

The University’s Studio 3 Gallery is hosting an exhibitionby Brazilian artist Ana Maria Pacheco. It marks the latestin a series of major exhibitions to be held at the excitingnew gallery space at the award-winning School of ArtsJarman Building.

Ana Maria Pacheco’s Shadows of the Wanderer is ondisplay until 17 May 2011. Shadows of the Wanderer is amulti-piece figure sculpture in polychromed wood. In it agroup of larger than life, darkly robed figures witness thestruggle of a young man to carry an older man on hisshoulders. The figures of the young man burdened by theold suggest a reference to the beginning of Virgil’sAeneid, where the hero Aeneas carries his lame fatherAnchises out of the burning city of Troy. Shadows of theWanderer initiates a journey into unknown territory, ajourney that the beholder is invited to participate in.

Ana Maria Pacheco has lived and worked in Britainsince 1973. She was Head of Fine Art at NorwichSchool of Art (1985-89) and Associate Artist at theNational Gallery (1997-2000). She has exhibited widelyin the UK and abroad, and her work is represented ina number of major public collections, including thoseat the British Museum and British Council .

Shadows of the Wanderer has been described as‘a major new sculptural work by perhaps the mostpowerful and original of significant artists practisingin this country’

The exhibition is open Mondays to Fridays from9am-5pm and is free and open to all. There is disabledaccess to the Gallery.

Shadows of the Wanderer

What’s on

Music eventsFriday 18 February, 7.30pm, GulbenkianTheatre. ‘Have a blast’, the University of KentConcert Band and Big Band, conducted byIan Swatman, play everything fromBroadway tunes to big band standards andvocal numbers. Tickets available from theGulbenkian Booking Office.

Wednesday 23 February, 6pm, GulbenkianTheatre. Open Lecture with award-winningconductor Charles Hazlewood titled, ‘SixDegrees of Separation – what connects JSBach to Prodigy’. Admission free.

8pm, Gulbenkian Theatre. The BrodskyQuartet, with Diana Baroni, perform acelebration of South American music tolaunch this year's Worldfest. Tickets availablefrom the Gulbenkian Booking Office.

Friday 25 February, 7.30pm The Crypt,Canterbury Cathedral. The University of KentChamber Choir presents ‘This Scepter’dIsle’, including pieces by Vaughan Williams,Macmillan and Skempton, conducted by

Daniel Harding. Tickets are available from theUniversity Music Office, T:01227 827335 oremail musictickets@kent.ac.uk

Saturday 12 March, 7.30pm, The Colyer-Fergusson Cathedral Concert at CanterburyCathderal Nave. For this year’s concert, theUniversity of Kent Chorus and SymphonyOrchestra, conducted by Susan Wanless,perform Wagner’s Overture to DieMeistersinger von Nürnberg, Stravinsky’sFirebird Suite (1919 version) and Mozart’sRequiem. Tickets are available from theUniversity Music Office, T:01227 827335 oremail musictickets@kent.ac.uk

Gulbenkian Theatre highlightsMonday 14 February 7.45pmDaniel Kitson, ‘The Interminable Suicide ofGregory Church’ – the story of a deathpostponed by life.

Thursday 24 February, 7.45pm,The Plasticine Men present Keepers

Friday 25 February 7.45pm,Shazia Mirza Multiple Choice

Thursday 17 March 7.45pmAlan Price Set

Wednesday 9 – Friday 11 March 7.45pmT:24 present A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Gulbenkian CinemahighlightsFriday 18 February – Thursday 24 FebruaryBlack Swan (15)

Friday 25 February – Thursday 3 MarchBiutiful (15)

Friday 4 March – Thursday 10 MarchBrighton Rock (15)

Monday 7 March Peeping Tom (18)

For full details of times and ticket availability,please go to www.thegulbenkian.co.uk

Gulbenkian Cinema goes digitalThe Gulbenkian is delighted to announce theinstallation of a new digital projector, thanks to agenerous grant from Digital Screen Network andthe University of Kent.

The new projector will enable the Gulbenkian toscreen digitally re-mastered BFI classics and alsogives additional functionality previously onlydreamt of. Subtitled screenings (particularly forthe deaf and hearing impaired) will be held everyweek on a Tuesday. 3D screenings will now alsobe possible, launching on 21 March with thespectacular The Green Hornet (pictured right).Future plans include screenings of the best ofBritish theatre and opera, broadcast live to theGulbenkian screen.

As part of the new installation, the Gulbenkianhas also upgraded its sound system with the

latest Dolby Digital Stereo equipment. With fulldigital surround sound, the Gulbenkian Cinemanow offers a rich cinema audio experience sosharp you can hear a pin drop – so imagine whatan explosion will sound like!

However in with the new does not mean out withthe old. The Gulbenkian is retaining its 35mmprojector to continue screening classics in theiroriginal format.

With so many exciting developments and afabulous array of films ahead in the run up to theOscars, the Gulbenkian Cinema experience hasnever been so good.

For more information about upcoming films andperformances please see our websitewww.thegulbenkian.co.uk