Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
The free magazine for The University of Manchester
Citation preview
2 December 2013Issue 3 Volume 11
unilife
The many wayswe’re making adifference
The free magazine for The University of Manchester
hen I took over as President and Vice-Chancellor in July of that same year,I chose to take the lead on this activity,which I hope demonstrates the
importance of social responsibility to me personallyand to our University.
I am directly supported in ensuring that ‘Goal 3,’ asit is often known, is as effective as our research andeducation goals, by Professor Aneez Esmail,Associate Vice-President and Julian Skyrme, Directorof Social Responsibility. In addition, each Faculty, our
Professional Support Services (PSS) and our culturalinstitutions have a lead for Goal 3 and we also workclosely on this with our Students’ Union.
The University’s other two goals - of world classresearch and outstanding learning and studentexperience - might be characterised by the question“What are we good at?”
In contrast, social responsibility can be characterisedby a different question: “What are we good for?”
We make a huge contribution to society, through our research, our education and thanks to a wide range of remarkable activities undertakenby our staff, students and alumni, both individuallyand collectively.
By having social responsibility as one of our threemain goals, it is our aim to ensure that our activitiesare robust, focussed and effective, and are subjectto the same level of scrutiny and assessment as ourresearch and education.
Hence, last year we initiated a review of ouractivities in this area and conducted a majorconsultation. Our review identified 72 differentactivities across the University. This reflects the hugecommitment to the agenda as evidenced in ourrecent Staff Survey, where 98% of colleagues saidthey supported this goal.
There were three main outcomes of this processfocusing on priorities, programmes and resources.Firstly, we agreed to become more focused on asmaller number of social responsibility priorities.
To make a real difference we agreed, in consensuswith Faculties, the PSS, our Students’ Union andLibrary and cultural institutions to focus on five core priorities:
• Research with impact: highlighting key aspects of our research where we are making the most positive contributions to society through addressing some of the major 21st century challenges;
• Socially-responsible graduates: supporting ourgraduates to exercise ethical, social andenvironmental responsibility;
• Engaging our communities: ensuring ourevents and activities harness our knowledge,resources and cultural attractions for the benefitof our communities and the wider society;
• Responsible processes: focussing on how ourdifferent policies and processes aim to balanceefficiency with opportunities to create social andenvironmental benefit;
• Environmental sustainability: ensuring ourresearch, teaching and activities are guided by ourcommitment to environmental sustainability.
Secondly, we undertook a major consultation withstaff, students and our local community to agree asmall number of ‘signature programmes’ whichwould make tangible what social responsibilitymeans for The University of Manchester and againstwhich our progress can be measured. The agreedsignature programmes, which will be refreshedperiodically, are:
• Addressing inequalities: will highlight andbring together some of our most significantresearch that addresses issues of equality and
Social responsibility, perhapsmost simply described as‘making a difference to society’was adopted as the third goal ofthe University in 2010.
2
Contact usNews and story ideasMikaela Sitfordtel 0161 275 2112email [email protected]/staffnet/newsDeadline 15 January 2014
Events and listings informationPhilippa Adsheadtel 0161 275 2922email [email protected] 15 January 2014
Ads Suzanne Rosstel 0161 275 2922email [email protected] 15 January 2014
Next issue 3 February 2014
W
Message from the President
NewsFrogs and their friends celebratefifty fascinating years
Teaching, Learningand StudentsPlaying host to a future curator
7 10
At a Simon and Hallsworth Fellows poster event at the Manchester Museum
3
Contents2 Message from the President4 News9 Feature: Research Impact10 Teaching, Learning and Students12 Research14 Feature: Social Responsibility16 Feature: Engagement18 What’s On20 Making a Difference
Front cover: Becky Burns, Head of Gardens and Interpretation at Jodrell BankPhoto Mark Waugh
ResearchFormer missile-tracking telescopehelps reveal fate of young star
FeatureWorking hard for the greater good
13 14
At the MCRC topping out with Director of MCRC Professor Nic Jones,. The Christie ChiefExecutive Caroline Shaw and Chief Executive Officer of CRUK Dr Harpal Kumar
fairness. It will include our research on health,poverty, class, diversity, education, naturalresources, conflict and climate change;
• Ethical grand challenges programme: willprovide every undergraduate with the opportunityto confront key ‘ethical grand challenges’ througha programme that encompasses three corethemes: sustainability, social justice andworkplace ethics;
• School governors initiative: will contribute tothe leadership and improvement of state schoolsby engaging staff and alumni in the largestgrowth of school governors in the UK by 2014/15;
• Cultural access programme: will engage theleast advantaged schools locally by wideningaccess to the cultural institutions of the University,including the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre,Manchester Museum, Whitworth Art Gallery andThe John Rylands Library;
• ‘Manchester Works’ programme: through ourleadership of ‘The Works’ in Moss Side andArdwick, we will work with partners to support
local unemployed people back into work by2014/15 in communities with some of the highestlevels of unemployment in the UK;
• Staff steps to sustainability programme: willensure all members of staff are empowered withthe knowledge and resources to enhance theirpositive environmental actions in the workplacethrough opportunities to engage in aprogramme of carbon and natural resourceliteracy by 2017/18.
We have invested in the team that Julian leads,which is coordinating our governance, planning,reporting, communication and engagementactivities for social responsibility with representativesfrom across the University.
Our new priorities and programmes are formallylaunched in this edition of UniLife, where youcan read more about social responsibility in othersections and in our accompanying ‘Making aDifference’ publication. We also launched ournew strategy, this publication, a short film andan impact report of our work at an event withlocal stakeholders.
To build awareness and engagement in advance ofthe launch, we have been highlighting the widevariety of ways that staff, students and alumni are‘making a difference’ to society - highlighted by acampaign across campus where stories werehighlighted in hundreds of purple circles. Thisencouraged many more staff, students and alumnito share stories of the impressive ways that theyare contributing to society on our ‘Make aDifference’ blog.
So in answering the question “What are we goodfor?” our social responsibility goal will seek to applyfocus and measurement to the real and significantdifference we can make to our local communitiesand to wider society.
Professor Nancy Rothwell,President and Vice-Chancellor
To download a copy of the Making a Differencepublication, read our impact report ‘Measuring theDifference’ and find out how you can engage withthe social responsibility goal of the University, visit:www.manchester.ac.uk/socialresponsibility
his picture, which won the public vote for theImages of Research 2013 competition, tells abigger story.
It is ‘Small loans, big dreams: fighting poverty, one loan at a time’ by Asad Ghalib, who researches internationaldevelopment, at the School of Environment, Education and Development.
Asad said: “The photo shows Rani Begum, who runs asmall business of rearing goats and chicken at home in aremote rural area in South Pakistan.
“She was introduced by a local community-support officerto a women’s self-help group and with a small loan, shebought a goat. Today, four years into the programme, sheowns six goats and twelve chickens and looks forward tobuying a cow.
“My study examines whether access to microfinancereduces social and economic poverty, and if so, to whatextent and across which dimensions of wellbeing.”
The first runner up was ‘Scientific Research: A Real Bed ofRoses’ by David J Lewis; the two runners up were‘Metamorphosis revealed: time-lapse three-dimensionalimaging inside a living chrysalis’ by Tristan Lowe and‘Counting Copper Wishes’ by Ceri Houlbrook; and highlycommended was ‘5,000 years of weather’ by Colin Richards.
You can see all the images at:www.manchesterimagesofresearch.co.uk/winners/
Rani’s new life… through a lens
T
ancer survivors and those who havelost loved ones to the disease willleave a lasting impression on thenew £28.5 million Manchester
Cancer Research Centre (MCRC).
Their handprints will be included in thedesign of the windows of the new buildingwhich is due for completion in summer 2014.
The centre, which is being built in Withingtonfunded by the University, Cancer Research UKand The Christie, is set to revolutionise cancertreatment in the North West.
The handprints were completed on the sameday as a topping out ceremony held on thebuilding site of the new centre.
University President and Vice-ChancellorProfessor Nancy Rothwell, Christie ChiefExecutive Caroline Shaw, Chief ExecutiveOfficer of CRUK Dr Harpal Kumar andDirector of MCRC Professor Nic Jones helpedto attach the last piece of steel onto roof.
Staff and sponsors were also given a tour ofthe new building to view the progress.
Professor Jones, said: “The new researchcentre will make a massive difference tochanging the lives of future generationsaffected by the disease.
“Manchester has such an amazing legacy incancer research. But the new centre will reallyput the city on the world map for helping tosave lives.”
The “More Tomorrows” fundraisingcampaign will raise the remaining £6 millionneeded to complete the new research centre,which will be the largest of its kind in Europe.
C
4
News
Hands-up for groundbreaking cancer research
Cancer survivors and relatives celebrate the MCRC topping out
Rani Begum in ‘Small loans, big dreams: fighting poverty one loan at a time’
low-in-the-dark chemicals,dinosaurs and nanotechnologywere among the hands-onscience activities showcased by
the University at an event for theManchester Science Festival.
The Festival, now in its seventh year, isorganised by MOSI (Museum of Scienceand Industry, Manchester) inpartnership with Siemens.
University researchers invited visitors toplay, create and experiment withscience through surprising installations,immersive science experiences andhands-on experiments in more than100 events for all ages at venuesthroughout Greater Manchester.
‘Science Spectacular’, held at theWhitworth Hall and ManchesterMuseum, saw visitors finding out howto make graphene, using laser scanningto study dinosaurs and learning aboutthe secrets of meteorites and themysteries of the skin, as well as aboutdiseases associated with worms andwhat’s inside a nuclear reactor.
Leading lights of science put on show for festival
G
rofessor Tony Redmondhas been leading the UKmedical mission to helprecovery efforts in
typhoon-hit areas of thePhilippines, with colleague Dr Amy Hughes on his team
In addition, PhD studentChristine Cassar assessed thedevastated province of Leyte forDisaster Aid International, urgingthe world not to forget areasequally affected by the disasterbut off the media radar.
More than 11 million peoplehave been affected by TyphoonHaiyan, one of the mostpowerful storms ever recordedon land, which hit the Philippines last month.
Tony, Professor of InternationalEmergency Medicine in theUniversity’s Humanitarian ConflictResponse Institute and theManchester Academic HealthScience Centre lead for GlobalHealth, has been leading Britishmedical response teams indisaster zones since 1988.
His team was deployed by theDepartment for InternationalDevelopment as part of the British Government’s £10 millionrelief efforts for the disaster.
Christine Cassar, taking a PhD inHumanitarianism and Conflictresponse, reported: “In Leyte,everything is utterly destroyed. InOrmoc 97% of houses are
completely destroyed, the restare severely damaged; there is noaid coming in despite manyrumour of it being on its way.
“There needs to be a lot more inthe way of coordination of aidefforts as a concerted effortbetween aid agencies – local,national and international – andlocal government.”
Manchester academics helpPhilippines typhoon victims
5
Imaging techniques win Royal awardThe University’s world-leading imagingtechniques have been honoured with a Queen’sAnniversary Prize – one of the most prestigiousawards in higher education.
Our work in imaging techniques to supportresearch and skills in advanced materials andmanufacturing was selected as an outstandingexample of how excellence and impact canbenefit the institution, industry and society as a whole.
The safe and cost-effective introduction anduse of advanced engineering materials iscritical to the international competitiveness ofthe UK’s industrial companies and the securityof society in key areas such as energy, medicineand manufacturing.
Manchester is at the forefront in developing newtechniques for the 3D imaging of structures anddefects in materials, and the mapping of residualstresses using X-rays and neutron beams.
The announcement was made at a ceremony atSt James’s Palace attended by the Dean and Vice-President for the Faculty of Engineeringand Physical Sciences, Professor Colin Bailey,last month.
P
100 years ofquantum atomdiscoveryThe centenary of the discovery of the quantumatom by Niels Bohr was celebrated at theUniversity with an event organised by theInstitute of Physics.
The Danish physicist and philosopherconducted postdoctoral work at the VictoriaUniversity of Manchester following an invitefrom Ernest Rutherford.
Bohr won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922 for his work.
Devastation in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan
Niels Bohr
A youngster enjoys the Manchester Science Festival
© Photo by Albert Harlingue / REX
© Photo by George Calvelo / NurPhoto / REX
AMEC-DaltonpartnershipannouncedThe University‘s Dalton Nuclear Institute hasextended its relationship with AMEC, theinternational engineering, project managementand consultancy company.
The partnership with AMEC’s nuclear business inKnutsford will see both organisations workingtogether on key initiatives in the nuclear sector,developing innovative research and developmentprojects and offering a wide range of services tocustomers across the globe.
Policy @ Manchester Weekver 700 peopleenjoyed a range ofdebates duringManchester Policy
Week, which saw 14 successfulevents run over five days.
Several events attracted bigaudiences, including a ‘Battle ofthe Thinktanks’ on the future ofgovernment, Ivan Lewis MPoutlining Labour’s internationaldevelopment strategy and thelaunch of a major report callingfor changes to the Government’sdomestic violence strategy.
The Policy@Manchester teamproduced a total of 419 LiveTweets from events, whichallowed dozens of people acrossthe UK and further afield tojoining the debates online.
Mr Lewis commented: “It’s greatto see this innovative idea ofhaving a series of events whichdemonstrate the contributionthat The University of Manchestermakes to the development of public policy.”
Professor Colin Talbot, Director ofPolicy@Manchester, said: “It wasvery encouraging to see so manyacademic colleagues gettinginvolved, along with decisionmakers and policy players fromManchester and further afield.
“The week has really helpeddemonstrate the breadth of our
expertise across a number ofpublic policy areas.”
Reports from events and audiorecordings are available atwww.manchester.ac.uk/policy
Pictured above: Psychologist and former star basketball playerJohn Amaechi OBE (front) in discussion.
O
Oar-some duo reachfundraising milestone
anchester alumnus Nick Rees and his best friend Ed Curtis have raised more than £160,000 aheadof their gruelling challenge to row across the Atlantic this month.
The duo will row from the Canary Islands to Antigua, a journey of almost 3,000 miles, in the TaliskerWhisky Atlantic Challenge which starts today. Considered to be the world’s toughest rowing race, they willrow unsupported and self-sufficiently.
Their inspiration is Nick’s wife Ellen, also a Manchester graduate, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in2009 aged just 33.
To follow their progress or sponsor the duo, please visit: http://breakthroughatlantic.com/ orhttps://www.facebook.com/#!/Breakthroughatlantic
M
News
6
University andUnilever join forcesThe University has committed to a long-termpartnership with Unilever, one of the world’slargest companies.
The strategic relationship will makeManchester a key partner for Unilever’sresearch collaborations in a number of specificfields of science.
Unilever will support the University to carry outresearch across all four of its Faculties in areascovering sustainable consumption, processengineering, biophysics and systems biology, aswell as aspects of inflammation, toxicology andhair biology.
Pictured above: Professor Luke Georghiou andVice President of Research and Development atUnilever Dr Cameron Jones.
Nick Rees and Ed Curtis aboard their boat
Frogs and their friends celebratefifty fascinating years
onservation campaigner Lee Durrel, widowof author and conservationist GeraldDurrel, marked the 50th anniversary of theManchester Museum Vivarium by re-
opening it following a complete re-interpretation ofthe ‘Live Animals’ gallery.
The Museum is one of the very few that boasts acomprehensive collection of live reptiles on displayand which also plays a leading role in theconservation of some of the world’s mostendangered amphibians.
It is home to many species of frogs, reptiles andlizards from South America, Australia andMadagascar, allowing visitors to experience the thrillof a first-hand encounter with some of the rarestcreatures on the planet.
And now visitors will find better displays andenhanced interpretation, and be able to see more ofthe important conservation work that usually takesplace behind the scenes.
For example, the Museum is part of a consortium ofinstitutions worldwide that are carrying out essentialwork in Europe and Costa Rica in an effort to savethe very rare Lemur Leaf Frog (Agalychnis lemur).
Andrew Gray, Curator of Herpetology, said: “Manyamphibians worldwide are under the threat ofextinction due to factors such as habitat loss and achanging climate. Our everyday actions have a directeffect on these creatures, their habitats, and indeedour own species.
“We are doing our best to help visitors to the newVivarium understand that these animals and theplaces they live are special and need our support.”
The redevelopment of Manchester Museum’sVivarium is supported by the Oglesby CharitableTrust, St Modwen Environmental Trust and The Foyle Foundation.
To find out more visit:http://frogblogmanchester.com/
Our world beating initiative with schoolshe University has won both a national and internationalsocial responsibility award for its initiative to increase thenumber of staff engaged in supporting local state schoolsthrough the School Governors programme.
Manchester was shortlisted for two different categories, SocialResponsibility and Facilities and Services, as part of theEnvironmental Association of Universities and Colleges (EUAC)Green Gown Awards.
Our School Governors programme won both National andInternational Best Social Responsibility category.
Director of Social Responsibility Julian Skyrme said: “I want tocommend Alison Gregory and Stephanie Lee in the Directorate forthe Student Experience, who have done a huge amount of work inmaking this programme a success, and also the University's partnersSGOSS Governors for Schools, who deliver such an effective serviceto the University.”
• Watch our School Governors Initiative video atwww.youtube.com/watch?v=iMA8LXLrrsE
C
T
Staff Surveystrikes goldThe Staff Survey team took the Gold award inthe CIPR PRide Awards for the North West forthe campaign to encourage staff to completethe Staff Survey earlier this year.
The campaign resulted in 71% of eligiblestaff taking part – a massive increase on the23% who took part in the survey in 2010.
The work was carried out by theCommunications and Marketing Division,working in conjunction with the Staff SurveySteering Group.
Registrar, Secretary and Chief OperatingOfficer Will Spinks said: “I’d like tocongratulate our team for all their efforts,which were both creative and energetic, and their well-deserved win.”
To find out more visit:www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/staff-survey/
£100 million forenvironmentalscience trainingThe University is to share in £100 million ofnew investment in 15 Doctoral TrainingPartnerships (DTPs) for environmental science PhD students.
The Natural Environment Research Council(NERC) funding will support 1,200 PhDstudents across the 15 partnerships, meaningat least 240 new students will begin trainingevery year for five years.
7
A youngster meets a red-eyed tree frog
(left to right) BBC presenter Professor Iain Stewart with Stephanie Lee, Julian Skyrme, Alison Gregory,Luke Dickinson from SGOSS, Governors for Schools, and NUS Vice-President Dom Anderson.
News
8
visually spectacular temporary exhibition linking historicand contemporary art, new commissions and naturalhistory specimens can be seen at the Museum.
‘Coral: Something Rich and Strange’ explores the enduringfascination with coral as a material and inspiration for artists,cultures and societies, from antiquity to the present day.
The displays will include a plethora of fascinating and beautifulobjects, telling a story about biodiversity and the importance ofmarine environments and bringing to our attention coral’sfascinating natural, scientific characteristics; the diversity of itsshapes and patterns; its uses in different cultures and contexts;and the urgency of marine habitat protection.
Curator Dr Marion Endt-Jones, British Academy PostdoctoralFellow in Art History and Visual Studies at the University, said:“The exhibition hopes to illustrate what rich and diverse culturaltradition we put at risk by polluting, overfishing and acidifyingthe world’s oceans.”
‘Coral: Something Rich and Strange’ (#MMCoral), supported byArts Council England and The Granada Foundation, runs from 29November to 16 March 2014.
Treasure from under the sea
A
A bone coral installation from the exhibition
New chapter for Myanmartudents, teachers and researchers in Myanmar (formerly Burma) are now able to access vital educational resources thanks to a groundbreaking project led by Mimas.
The eTekkatho library, set up using leading-edge technology, contains a treasure trove ofworld-class academic resources including online text books, datasets and research papers.
The free online resource was developed and hosted by Mimas working closely with anetwork of leading Myanmar universities.
It contains just over 900 resources so far, covering subjects such as community forestry,earthquake maps and reference data from the World Bank, though the team hope thatthe number will expand substantially.
There will also be self-contained mirror versions of the e-library at six of the partneruniversities, and there is a mirror site of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)OpenCourseWare, which contains over 2,000 undergraduate and postgraduate MIT courses.
As well as the Myanmar community, it may also benefit university academics in otherdeveloping countries where IT infrastructures are fragile.
Project officer Yin Tun said, “The aim of eTekkatho is to help young people in Myanmarachieve their educational aspirations and so move our country forward.”
Project officer Yin Tun (front) discusses the library with colleagues
Max Ernst, Antidiluvian Landscape, 1967.University of Edinburgh Art Collection.
S
Feature
9
ur researchers have helped cut the cost of prescription drugs for thousandsof NHS patients.
Work by the School of Pharmacy andPharmaceutical Science has led to a key policychange on how people pay for medicines.
In the past they could only ‘cap’ their annualcharges by buying a pre-payment certificate,currently £104, with one lump sum.
Under the new rules, they can take advantage ofthe scheme in a more affordable way – by paying inmonthly instalments.
“It means people can budget for their year’sprescriptions without having to find all the moneyupfront,” says Senior Lecturer Dr Ellen Schafheutle.
“It puts a protective mechanism in place for thosewho are struggling financially.”
Dr Schafheutle and colleagues, Professors PeterNoyce and Karen Hassell, have been at the forefrontof UK research into access to medicines and theimpact of prescription charges.
Together they have spent over ten years exploringhow charging can influence patients’ behaviour andaffect National Health Service resources. They alsoled a Europe-wide study into how other countriestackle the problem.
In 2006, and again in 2009, they submitted writtenand oral evidence to Parliament, makingrecommendations backed up by a decade ofquantitative and qualitative research.
“While prescriptions are now free in Scotland andWales, around half the population of England still hasto pay £7.85 for every item,” said Dr Schafheutle.
“It’s a complex issue but charging can be a falseeconomy if it deters the essential use of drugs.Patients who end up in hospital can cost the NHSmuch more.”
Following the researchers’ evidence the governmentintroduced a new monthly direct-debit scheme andalso launched a three-month certificate, replacingthe existing four month one, to deal with shorter-term problems.
“It was a key policy change which made pre-payment certificates accessible to many morepeople,” said Dr Schafheutle. “It was our researchthat helped inform that policy.”
Cutting drugscosts for NHSpatientsThe Research Excellence Framework –the new system for assessing thequality of research in UK highereducation institutions – asks us toshow the impact that our research hason the world. Here UniLife looks athow our researchers really arechanging the world…
O
Aneez, Professor of General Practice and AssociateVice-President for Social Responsibility, started atthe University as a lecturer in General Practice in1992. In addition to teaching, learning andresearch, he has lead responsibility for socialresponsibility working with the President NancyRothwell and a small team of Professional SupportServices (PSS) staff to develop and implement thesocial responsibility agenda of the University. Andhe still works as a GP two days a week.
What’s the best part of your job?
Working with a committed and enthusiastic teamof people who really enjoy what they do.
Any challenges?
Just juggling all of the different things I do. I’menvious of my wife who is the best multi-tasker inthe world.
How did you get to the role you have now?
I was asked to take the lead in equality anddiversity for the University in 2005 and as therole developed, the President created the role ofAssociate Vice-President for Social Responsibilityto support her. Best career breakthrough wasgetting a Harkness fellowship in 1997 when Iwent to Harvard University for a year and beingseconded to work as the clinical advisor toDame Janet Smith, who chaired the Shipmanenquiry from 2001-2005. I have loved workingat the University – I have the most varied,intellectually stimulating and satisfying job Icould ever wish for.
Any future projects coming up?
To make social responsibility something that allstaff and students recognise as something unique in Manchester.
Who would be your ideal dinner partyguests?
Karl Marx, Arthur Lewis, Subash Cahandra Bose(one of the leaders of the movement for IndianIndependence) and Camila Vallejo who is a leaderof Chile’s Communist Youth Party and about to beelected (I hope) to Chile’s parliament.
What would you say to your 16-year-old self now?
When you challenge and take risks make sure you don’t forget what your family may be goingthrough.
Favourite book, film and TV programme?
Book: A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. Film: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (my wife isGreek). TV: Any crime thriller, also Parade’s Endand Sherlock Holmes – my daughter has a thingabout Benedict Cumberbatch!
What is your earliest childhood memory?
Going with my family to a game resort in Uganda where I was brought up. The monkeysstole my food.
Any interesting hobbies?
I love cooking for my family – I’m a bit of a food obsessive.
A meeting with... Professor Aneez Esmail
Dr Ellen Schafheutle
anchester Museum has been playing host to trainee curator AnnaGarnett as part of the British Museum’s Heritage Lottery Fundsupported ‘Future Curators’ training programme.
Anna spent six months based at the British Museum and twelve months atManchester, one of the British Museum’s partner institutions.
She described it as “so much more than a qualification” thanks to the wealth ofexperience she gained with the Museum’s Curator of Egypt and Sudan DrCampbell Price and the friendliness of the Museum team.
During this time her practical, hands-on work experience included exhibitiondesign and installation, conservation, audience participation and eventsorganisation, and collections care and management.
Anna, whose specialism is Egypt and the Sudan, said: “The most rewarding partof the job is getting people excited about Egyptology – seeing the look of prideon people’s faces when they read the hieroglyphs on an object for the first time,or when they realise that a simple piece of broken pottery is much moreinteresting than initially meets the eye.”
M
Playing host to afuture curator
he opening of three new lecture theatres –seating nearly 1,000 students – in the SimonBuilding marks the latest stage in a series ofmajor developments in student study and
teaching facilities on the University campus.
Professor Clive Agnew, Vice President for Teaching, Learning and Students, said: “It’s timelyto remember that the building was named afterLord Ernest Simon of Wythenshawe, who had along association with the University and endowedthe University's Simon Fund to provide research fellowships.”
The Simon lecture theatres follow a series ofimprovements to our student study and teachingfacilities, including the Alan Gilbert LearningCommons, WiFi upgrade across campus, and sixadditional teaching rooms in the Zochonis Building.
The University is also planning to refurbishteaching spaces in the Samuel Alexander Building,the Manchester Business School and Coupland 3.And architects have just been appointed to designthe new Teaching Building to be built by 2016next to the Alan Turing Building as part of theCampus Masterplan.
New lecture theatres providemajor addition to teaching space
T
Teaching, Learning and Students
Manchesterexpands in onlineeducationThe University has become the third UK universityto join Coursera for the development anddelivery of a number of massive open onlinecourses (MOOCs).
The University is currently advertising coursesincluding An Introduction to Population Health;Water Supply and Sanitation in DevelopingCountries; Our Earth: its Climate, History andProcesses; and Global Health andHumanitarianism, with more expected to follow.
Manchester joins other new members such asthe Netherlands’ Eindhoven Institute ofTechnology, the University of Lausanne andShanghai Jiao Tong University in China.
Professor Richard Reece, Associate Vice-Presidentfor Teaching, Learning and Students, said: “Thedevelopment of these courses is an importantstep for Manchester. They will appeal to a broadaudience from across the globe, and will form animportant part of fulfilling our commitment tosocial responsibility.
“Signing up to any of these courses will be free toparticipants, and we expect that many thousandsof people will take part. MOOCs are seen bysome as the future of online education. Whilebeing based anywhere, the ability to be taught byand learn from the world’s best researchers andteachers should not be underestimated.
“Manchester is determined to produce some ofthe best and highest quality online courses toshowcase our excellence in distance education.”
See: www.coursera.org/manchester
10
Anna Garnett working in the Museum store, photo by Steve Devine
Students in class in the new Simon Building lecture theatre
he University hosted a graduation ceremony with a difference, to the sound ofAfrican drumming, when more than 35 Equity and Merit alumni, current studentsand their families attended a scholarship celebration in Kampala, Uganda.
Many of the students couldn’t attend their graduation in Manchester, either because they hadto return home as soon as completing their studies or they studied by distance learning sohave never actually been to the UK.
And they had shown great commitment and determination to succeed often in difficultcircumstances. For example, internet access is poor which led one enterprising student to setup his own internet cafe in a remote part of Northern Uganda.
Equity and Merit Scholarships give access to postgraduate education for outstanding studentsfrom some of the world’s poorest countries supporting 130 students so far. Initially targetingUganda, the scheme now includes Rwanda, Tanzania and Bangladesh.
Graduate Peter J Sentongo, who completed his Masters in Public Health by distance learning in2011 and is now Public Health Specialist at the US Centers for Disease Control in Uganda,said: “I will forever appreciate the University’s support. The skills I acquired will be used tosignificantly contribute towards the transformation of our country’s health care system.”
TA gem of an ideaManchester students have won an international award fortheir work to develop a biosynthetic version of palm oil – awidely used vegetable oil whose current production causesenvironmental devastation, with an area of rainforest the sizeof 300 football fields being chopped down every hour.
The Manchester iGEM (International Genetically EngineeringMachine) team won the ‘Best Human Practices’ award at theiGEM World Championships in Boston.
The ten students, with funding from the Faculty of LifeSciences, competed again 73 other synthetic biology teamsfrom around the world.
Their oil, when developed, could help preserve the rainforestand thereby save major elements of biodiversity.
A new career path University scientists and colleagues have helped theDepartment of Health address a skills shortage in genomicmedicine which will assist the diagnosis and management ofhereditary disorders.
Dr Angela Davies at Nowgen, Professor Andy Brass from theSchool of Computer Science and Andrew Devereau from theManchester National Genetics Reference Laboratory (NGRL)developed an MSc course in clinical bioinformatics, now beingdelivered by the team at the University.
The first cohort of 14 students started at Manchester in October.
African drums heraldgraduation ceremonywith a difference
11
Equity and Merit scholars celebrate their graduation
Local drummers provide the music
The Manchester iGEM team at work
arly human evolution was driven by short pulses of rapid environmental change in East Africa,according to new research involving the Faculty of Life Sciences.
Researchers found a link between the waxing and waning of huge lakes in the East African Rift valleyand the brain expansion and migration of early human species.
Co-author Dr Susanne Shultz said: “We found that around 1.9 million years ago a number of new speciesappeared, which we believe is directly related to new ecological conditions in the East African Rift valley, inparticular the appearance of deep-freshwater lakes. Among these species was early Homo erectus with abrain 80% bigger than its predecessors.”
The researchers compiled all the known occurrence of lakes over the last five millions years from the North ofEthiopia down to Tanzania. Using statistical modelling, the team compared the lake and climate records withevidence of human evolution, providing strongest evidence to date for their hypothesis.
ess than 7% of cervicalcancer patients in Kenyaare getting the optimumtreatment needed to
eradicate the disease, leading tounnecessary deaths, a study byUniversity scientists reveals.
Results from the research, whichlooked retrospectively at thetreatment of women diagnosedwith cervical cancer during a twoyear period, showed 18% ofcervical cancer patients in the EastAfrican country died within twoyears of a diagnosis.
Dr Ian Hampson, from theUniversity’s Institute of CancerSciences, who oversaw the research, said the findings add further weight to the call to spend more on cancerscreening and prevention in Kenya.
He added: “Our study suggests simple, cost effective changes in hospital procedures to improve the situation.”
Study shows how to helpKenyan cancer victims
L
Research
12
Racism link withgun ownership inwhite Americans A new study has found that higher levels ofracism in white Americans is associated withhaving a gun in the home and greateropposition to gun control policies.
Researchers used data from a largerepresentative sample of white US voters.
After accounting for numerous other factorssuch as income, education and politicalideology, the researchers found that for eachone point increase in symbolic racism therewas a 50 per cent increase in the odds ofhaving a gun in the home and a 28 per centincrease in support for policies allowing peopleto carry concealed guns.
Dr Kerry O’Brien, from the School ofPsychological Sciences, said: "The study is afirst step, but there needs to be moreinvestment in empirical research aroundhow racial bias may influence people'spolicy decisions, particularly those policiesthat impact on the health and wellbeing ofUS citizens.”
Human evolution drivenby climate change
E
Dr Lynne Hampson and Dr Ian Hampson in the lab
© Photo by Courtesy Everett Collection / REX
© Photo by ZUMA / REX
13
he genetic make-up of a patient’s tumour could be used to personalise theirtreatment, and help to decide whether they would benefit from receivingadditional drugs as part of their radiotherapy programme.
Researcher Professor Catharine West, Institute of Cancer Sciences, said: “Our goal is to find ways of predicting how patients will respond to different treatments. Future cancer treatments will be personalised so that patients get the best therapy for their tumour.”
Bespoke tumour treatment
T
radio telescope once used to track ballisticmissiles has helped astronomers study ayoung star.
Using the smaller telescope at Jodrell Bank, theyhave determined how the magnetic field structureand rotation of the young and rapidly rotating Crabpulsar – a neutron star which formed in a massivecosmic explosion seen in both Europe and China inAD 1054 as a bright star in the daytime sky –evolves with time.
Now rotating 30 times a second, this highly-compact star emits beams of radio waves that, like alighthouse, produce flashes each time it rotates. Thestar itself is only about 25 km across but containsthe mass of nearly 1 million Earths.
Professor Andrew Lyne and colleagues reported asteady change in these flashes during a 22-yearexperiment watching the star, telling them about itsvery strong magnetic field and helping them learnabout the otherwise inaccessible interior of the star.
Missile-trackingtelescopereveals fate ofyoung star
Gaming technologyunravels mystery of nature Scientists at the University’s Institute of Biotechnology have used thepower of computer gaming technology to capture previouslyunobservable atomic movements.
The research, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological SciencesResearch Council and led by Dr Ben Satellite in the Faculty of LifeSciences, is helping to chart one of nature’s most complex entitiesknown as ‘glycomes’ – the entire complement of carbohydrateswithin a cell.
This novel solution provides a new understanding of these vitalbiomolecules which play a role in everything from neuronaldevelopment, inflammation and cell structure, to disease pathologyand blood clotting.
How plants take shapeScientists have discovered an important mechanism in plant cells whichregulates the direction that they grow.
The discovery could have the potential to develop higher yielding cropsor increase the size of plants grown for use in biofuels.
A team, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological SciencesResearch Council and led by Professor Simon Turner in the Faculty ofLife Sciences, demonstrated how the building of plant cell scaffolds isregulated to produce distinct shapes, allowing the plant cell to grow inparticular directions.
A
The small telescope at Jodrell Bank
Cancer researcher Professor Catharine West
14
Feature
ocial responsibility is one of our key goals inthe strategic plan Manchester 2020.
This articulates our commitment to helpingsolve global challenges and contributing to
the social and economic success of local, nationaland international communities.
Or, as Director of Social Responsibility Julian Skyrmeputs it: “Asking ourselves what are we good forrather than what we are good at and whatdifference do we make to society as a University.”
Associate Vice-President for Social ResponsibilityProfessor Aneez Esmail adds: “As well as beingexcellent in research and teaching, our University ismaking profound contributions to society, economyand the environment.
“It has been wonderful to see how many of ourcolleagues have been working in so many differentways, and so passionately, to make the world offand on campus a better place.”
Julian, appointed in March 2013, is overseeing ourstrategy, working with colleagues to ensure thatactivity is co-ordinated across our four Faculties,Library and cultural institutions and ProfessionalSupport Services.
Following a major consultation five new prioritieshave been identified – highlighted on the opposite page.
There are also six new ‘Signature Programmes’ todefine social responsibility in practice.
These include an ‘Ethical Grand Challenges’programme to show our undergraduates key issuesconcerning sustainability, social justice andworkplace ethics, and a ‘Cultural AccessProgramme’ will see our four cultural institutionsreach out to all nine year olds across 23 localprimary schools in less advantaged parts of our city.
A campaign launched last month featured photosand stories about staff and students ‘making adifference’ and also featured a blog inviting othersto share their experiences.
Julian says: “The fact that social responsibility issitting equally with our other two core goals is adistinguishing feature of our University and withsuch a focused strategy we can make a number ofsignificant contributions to society.”
Working hard forthe greater good
Giving a home to 13,000 bees,helping a primary school fulfil itspotential and sourcing food fromlocal producers. These are just threeof the many and varied ways ourUniversity is making the goal ofsocial responsibility a reality. HereUniLife looks at how we are trulymaking a difference…
• For more information visit:www.manchester.ac.uk/socialresponsibility
• See A Meeting With…Professor Aneez Esmail onpage 9
• Turn to our regular back page social responsibilityfeature about Phil Tresadern on page 20.
S
Professor Aneez Esmail (left) and Julian Skyrme
15
Our research impactProfessor Stephanie BarrientosInstitute of Development Policy andManagement and Associate Director ofBrooks World Poverty Institute.
“My work isdriven by apassion toadvance fairnessin trade betweendeveloped andemergingeconomies. Iresearch issueslike globalsourcing,internationallabour, corporatesocial responsibility and ethical trade.
“I was commissioned by Cadbury/Kraft tocarry out research instrumental in convertingits main product lines to Fairtrade.
“Other companies including Nestle and Marsfollowed suit, leading to an eight-fold increasein Fairtrade cocoa products from £25.6 millionin 2008 to £320.9 million in 2012.
“Through my research I aim to make adifference to the life chances of some of theworld’s least advantaged people.”
Our socially responsiblegraduatesValeed GhafoorFormer Manchester Access Programme studentand final year Medical student at the Faculty ofMedical and Human Sciences.
“I have been a student ambassador for the past sixyears and have mentored well over a hundredstudents on the Manchester Access Programme(MAP) personally.
“My tasks include teaching students socialawareness, equipping them with the techniquesthey need to excel in medical and dental interviews.
“I do this in conjunction with the wideningparticipation team by working with students on theMAP, which supports talented students frombackgrounds currently under-represented inuniversities.
“I have the opportunity to save lives in my futurecareer and I want to do my bit by helping as manystudents reach their potential as possible.”
Our responsibleprocessesMartin SmithExecutive Chef at the University
“The University is one of the largest foodbuyers in the city. We supply 5,600 mealsevery day to staff and students, fromformal dinners to coffee and sandwiches.
“One of my jobs is sourcing localproduce and three years ago we wereapproached by Manchester Veg People,which is a co-operative of local organicgrowers and restaurants.
“They work together to provide fresh,seasonal food. It’s sustainable,environmentally friendly and supportsour local economy.
“It’s difficult for people growing produceto make much money and for me it’sabout supporting local people who haveput themselves out there.”
Our environmentalsustainabilityBecky BurnsHead of Gardens and Interpretation atJodrell Bank
“My team looks after 35 acres of grounds,including the extensive Lovell Tree Collection, ournew Galaxy Garden and a wildflower meadow.
“I did a course on beekeeping when I wasworking in North Wales and I’m a newly-qualifiedbeekeeper.
“When I moved here two years ago I saw thepotential to introduce bees to Jodrell Bank toimprove our biodiversity.
“With the help of the South Cheshire BeekeepersAssociation, we’ve been able to introduce twohives of local honeybees to help pollinate ourcrabapple trees and rowan trees.
“We now have 13,000 bees that are settling inwell and producing honey. It is great to havesomewhere where people can learn about beesand the work they do for biodiversity.”
Engaging with ourcommunityRachel BrealeyHead of Administration in the Faculty ofEngineering and Physical Sciences.
“I have been a governor at Chapel StreetPrimary School in Levenshulme since May2012, chairing the governing body sinceSeptember 2012.
“I‘m passionate about education andcommitted to helping Chapel Street improveperformance in maths and science.In 2013,we got our best results ever at Key Stage Two.
“I work closely with the Head on issues likebudgets, building projects and appointment ofnew teachers. We are also developing a ParentTeacher Association. I speak to the Head everyweek and visit the school as much as I can.”
Becky Burns
Professor Stephanie Barrientos
“Failure is unimportant. It takes courage tomake a fool of yourself.” – Charlie Chaplin.
He was talking about comedy, but couldeasily have been describing the struggles ofGalileo, Michaelangelo or even the WrightBrothers, who braved ridicule before theirtalents were spectacularly proven.
Science, arts and laughter are minglingagain in Manchester, but there’s no publicmockery this time as academics are takingtheir work out to comedy audiences andinviting hoots and chuckles at the bi-monthly Bright Club Manchester at Nexus Art Cafe on Dale Street.
“Comedy is a way of getting across whatUniversity researchers are working on to newaudiences by finding common ground inlaughter,” explained Dr Emily Robinson, apast performer and organiser of Bright Club Manchester.
“We can share the frustration of what canseem an endless search to prove a theory orhighlight the unexpected parts of research.
“We don’t poke fun at research. It’s aboutmaking complex ideas accessible andmemorable through the passion of our speakers.
“We have to remember not everyone wouldattend a lecture, but they may embracelaughter,” said Emily who completed her PhDon the effect of brain inflammation indiseases such as stroke in September 2012and now works in public engagement atManchester Museum.
The 28-year-old is one of over a hundredexperts to perform at Bright ClubManchester, which began in May 2010taking its model from the original Bright Clubat University College London.
She now helps to run the club which is opento academics from universities across GreaterManchester in her spare time.
“Performing was a great experience!Although it was a daunting prospect initially,when I got my first laugh, I relaxed andstarted to enjoy it. Now as an organiser Irelish the opportunity to help others sharetheir research with a wider audience.
“Any academic can take part so long as theyare willing to attend the preparation sessionand run-through beforehand. That’simportant because the six performers on thenight all help develop and support eachother’s acts.
“I had a lab meeting the day after my actand it seemed so serious and intimidating,understandably – but for one night only it was great to get away from that tenseatmosphere and to enjoy being in the spotlight.”
http://nexusartcafe.com/
Engagement
Our researchers have a variety ofways of showcasing their work to thepublic – informing and inspiring, eventhrilling and enchanting them. HereUniLife looks at how our academicsescape their ivory towers…
16
Stand up for academiaDr Emily Robinson checks out the Museum’s monkey exhibitMatthew Gunther takes to the stage
17
ManchesterMuseum EXHIBITIONS
All exhibitions at The Manchester Museumare FREE
Fragmentary Ancestors: Figurines fromKoma Land until 5 May
Coral: Something Rich and Strange until16 Mar
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Most activities are free and drop-in, someactivities may need to be booked and maycost up to £1.50, all ages
Available Sat and Sun 10am or 2pm –bookings one month in advanceNew! Children’s Birthday Parties
Sat 14 Dec, 11am-4pmBig Saturday: Polar Animals
Mon 23, Fri 27-Mon 30 Dec and Fri 3-Sun 5 JanChristmas Holidays: Create FancifulPhoto-frame Gifts
Fri 27 Dec, 10.30am and 11.30am, Free(booking essential)Magic Carpet Story making and activity session for theunder 5s.
Every other Tues, 10 Dec, 10.30am,11.30am and 1pm, Free (booking essential)Baby ExplorersSensory play for babies
TOURS
Every Weds and Thurs, 1pmTaster Tours
Every Tues and Thurs, 12pmVivarium Tours
Wed 11 Dec, 1pmExhibition Tour of Coral: SomethingRich and Strange
MUSEUM MEETS
Tues 3 Dec, 1-2.30pm (drop in)English Corner: Free EnglishConversation Class
Thursday 12 December, 6-8pm, FreeWildlife Recording6 week introductory course - to book emailstephen.atkins @tameside.gov.uk
Thurs 12 Dec, 2-3pm, FreeRock Drop: Geology IdentificationSession
Fri 13 Dec, 12-1pm (Free)Dig It: Archaeology IdentificationSession
TALKS
Weds 4 Dec, 1-2pm, FreeTranslucent Marvels: The BlaschkaGlass Models of Marine Invertebrates with Marion Endt-Jones
Opening times Open: Tues-Sat 10am-5pmSun-Mon (and Bank Holidays) 11am-4pm
FREE admission
The Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, Manchester 0161 275 2648www.manchester.ac.uk/museum Follow us on Twitter @McrMuseum www.facebook.com/ManchesterMuseum
InternationalSocietyVisit some of the most beautiful andinteresting locations around England,Scotland and Wales. There are visits takingplace almost every weekend throughoutthe year.
Sat 7 DecLincoln Christmas Market
Thurs 26 Dec Boxing Day Sales visit to Chester andCheshire Oaks
Opening times Mon-Fri 9.30am – 7pm (during term time)Mon-Fri 9.30am – 5pm (during vacation)
Small World Café opening timesMon-Fri 11am – 3pm
327 Oxford Road (next to Krobar)0161 275 4959 email [email protected]
18
Listings
A selection of objects fromManchester Museum’s newexhibition ‘Coral: SomethingRich and Strange’.Photo by Paul Cliff.What’s On
19
Whitworth Art Gallery Re-opening summer 2014
The Whitworth Art Gallery has started anew and exciting chapter in its history. Amajor building project is now taking placeto transform and extend the 120-year-oldgallery, doubling its public areas whilstreducing its carbon footprint and improvingfacilities for visitors.
This new development by architects MUMAwill re-connect the 19th century buildingwith Whitworth Park through an elegantcontemporary extension. The newWhitworth will bring you more art, moreactivities, more events and more space. Itwill be all things our many visitors havealways loved about the Whitworth.
We look forward to welcoming you back insummer 2014.
Watch this space for details of ourforthcoming outreach events………
Whitworth Art GalleryOxford Road, Manchester0161 275 7450email [email protected]/whitworth
Jodrell BankDiscovery CentreJodrell Bank Discovery Centre offers a greatday out for all the family. Come andexplore the planets using our model of theSolar System. Find answers to the wondersthe Universe, listen to the sounds of the BigBang and discover what the scientists areresearching ‘Live’ in our interactive SpacePavilion. The glass-walled café offersspectacular views of the iconic Lovelltelescope and fantastic homemade cakes!
EVENTS
The Jodrell Bank Christmas Lectures, part ofthe Lovell Lecture Series
Tues 10 Dec, 7.30pm The Radio Sky – SOLD OUT
Weds 11 Dec, 7.30pm Solar Max
Thurs 12 Dec, 7.30pm Unravelling the Solar System
Weds 22 Jan, 7.30pmA Beginner’s Guide to Observing theHeavens Workshop
Sun 26 Jan, 10am-12pmBig Garden Birdwatch with RSPB
Information: Live from Jodrell Bank website
Tickets: http://ow.ly/hQCFU Ticketsinclude entry to the Discovery Centre.
Opening times10am-5pm
For more information and prices please visitour website Jodrell Bank Discovery CentreMacclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9DL01477 571 766www.jodrellbank.net
The Martin HarrisCentre for Musicand DramaLITERATURE LIVE
Thurs 5 Dec, 7pm, Free (booking essential)Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin
EVENING CONCERTS
Thurs 5 Dec, 7.30pm, £10/£6/£3Manchester University Big Band
Fri 6 Dec, 7.30pm, £13.50/£8/£3Quatuor Danel
Thurs 12 Dec, 7.30pm, £10/£6/£3MUMS Festive Concert
FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERTS
Thurs 5 Dec, 1.10pmQuatuor Danel
Fri 6 Dec, 1.10pmManchester University BaroqueOrchestra
Thurs 12 Dec, 1.10pmPsappha : The University ofManchester’s Contemporary Ensemblein Residence
The Martin Harris Centre for Music and DramaBridgeford Street, Manchester, M13 9PL0161 275 8951 email [email protected]/martinharriscentre
Chaplaincies St Peter’s House Chaplaincy Sunday, 11am Holy Communion12.45pm Lunch (1st Sun)Sunday, 6.30pm Evening Worship (term-time only)FOYER 10am – 5pm, weekdays12.15pm Wednesdays EucharistAn area where students and staff can relaxand meet friends. A tea/coffee machine isavailable.
RC Chaplaincy Avila House Mass Times (term-time only)Sun, 7pm, Holy Name ChurchMon, Tues, Thurs and Fri,5.30pm Chaplaincy ChapelWeds, 1.05pm, Chaplaincy Chapel
The Jewish Student Centre andSynagogue07817 250 557Email Rabbi Mati Kos:[email protected]
Muslim Chaplaincy South Campus Mosque, McDougall Centre Jammaat (Group Prayer) Daily Juma Prayer Friday 1.15pm Honorary Imam: Imam [email protected]
North Campus MosqueBasement of Joule Library Sackville Street Building Jammaat (Group Prayer) Daily Juma Prayer Friday 12.30pm The role of Volunteer Muslim Chaplain is toprovide pastoral support, guidance and alistening ear to Muslim staff and students.Chaplains’ contact details are available inthe prayer rooms or via St Peter’s House.
The John RylandsLibrary(Deansgate)EXHIBITIONS
Locating Boccaccio until 20 Dec
Picturing Stories: British and FrenchRomantic Illustrations until 9 Jan
Polari Mission: Bona Eek! until 2 Feb
Morbid Miscellany until 31 Jan
Portrait of a Living Archive until 13 Jan
THINGS TO SEE
Thurs 5 Dec, 12-1pmThe Self-portraits of Li Yuan-chia
Sat 7 Dec and Tues 14 Jan, 2-3pmCurator Tour: Morbid Miscellany
Weds 11 Dec, 12-1pmCurator Tour: Picturing Stories
THINGS TO DO
Every 3rd Thurs of the month, 12-1pm Tour and Treasures
Sat 7 Dec, 1-2pmCollection Encounters: Machiavelli theBandit and the Writing of The Prince
Sat 7 Dec, 2.30-3.30pmUnusual Views: Library tours forPhotographers
Weds 22 Jan, 2.30-3.30pmExplorer Tours: A Peek Behind theScenes!
Sat 25 and Tues 28 Jan, 2-3pmCollection Encounters: A Tale ofKnights and Love
EVENTS
Weds 4 Dec, 11am-4pmWhimsical Wednesday Workshops:Festive Makes
Thurs 5 Dec, 6-7pm11th Rylands Poetry Reading
Sun 15 Dec, 2-3pmHark!
Fri 6 Dec, 4-9pmPagan Winterfest
Weds 15 Jan, 11am-4pmWhimsical Wednesday Workshops: ARiot of Colour
FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
Sat 7 Dec and 11 Jan, 12-1pmHere be Dragons!
Sat 11 Jan, 11am-12pmEnchanting Tales
For further details of our events, please visitour website.
FREE ADMISSION
Public opening times: Sun-Mon 12-5pm,Tues-Sat 10am-5pmReader opening times: Mon-Weds, Fri-Sat10am-5pm, Thurs 10am-7pmThe John Rylands Library 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH Visitor/Event Enquiries: 0161 306 0555 Email: [email protected]/Reader Enquiries: 0161 275 3764Email: jrul.special-collections@manchester.ac.ukwww.library.manchester.ac.uk/specialcollections/
Gig GuideManchester Academy 1, 2 and 3 Thurs 5 Dec Papa Roach - £20 Watain - £15
Fri 6 Dec White Lies - £20 Dutch Uncles + Outfit - £11 Electric Six - £12.50
Sat 7 Dec Shed Seven - SOLD OUT For Those About to Rock 2013 - £18 The Vibrators + DJ Jake - £8 Seize The Chance + Bandit & Butler + Euthemia - £6
Sun 8 Dec The Word Alive - £10
Thurs 12 Dec The Men They Couldn’t Hang - £13
Fri 13 Dec Alabama 3 - £18
Sat 14 Dec Gogal Bordello + Man Man - £18.50 Kurt Vile - £12.50 The Room + Guests - £6
Sun 15 Dec Primal Scream - £25
Thurs 19 Dec Black Veil Brides + Guests - £18
Fri 20 Dec Levellers + Guests £20
Sat 21 Dec The Ratells - £5
Sat 28 Dec Overload - £8
Mon 6- The 1975 - £15 Weds 8 Jan Extra date added
Sun 19 Jan Lamb of God + Guests - £19.50 Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip - £13.50
Tues 21 Jan Megan Nicole - £12.50
Weds 22 Jan Julia Sneer - £12.50
Weds 29 Jan London Grammar + Bondax - £14
Thurs 30 Jan Mayday Parade - £13.50
Fri 31 Jan John Newman - £15 RX Bandits - £12
Sat 1 Feb Killswitch Engage/Trivium - £20 Jefferson Starship - £17.50
Sun 2 Feb Skindred - £17.50
Mon 3 Feb Less Than Jake & Reel Big Fish - £18.50
Tickets fromStudents' Union, Oxford RoadPiccadilly Box Office @ easy Internet Café (c/c) 0871 2200260Royal Court (Liverpool) 0151 709 4321 (c/c)Students’ UnionOxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL0161 275 2930 www.manchesteracademy.net
rom running a marathon tocleaning the loos, there’s notmuch Phil Tresadern won’t do
to help homeless and vulnerablepeople. But he simply describes hisvoluntary work at the charity Lifeshareas “a varied job” that’s also “a win-win situation.”
The charity helps people living on the streets, giving both long-term,year-round support with finance,accommodation and medical care and short-term, emergency servicessuch as a Weekend Breakfast Cluband a daytime drop-in shelter over Christmas.
Phil, a Research Associate at theInstitute of Population Health, did his first ever shift in the soupkitchen over Christmas. But hewanted to do more.
He has raised vital funds with a seriesof marathons and half marathons aswell as fundraising at work here atthe University.
And he’s now on the charity’s boardof trustees, using his leadership skillsto guide the organisation into thefuture – but still works face-to-facewith the vulnerable people the charityseeks to help, from serving food tolistening to their stories.
He explains: “My work at Lifeshareranges from washing pots andcleaning toilets, through chatting toclients and supervising new volunteersat Christmas, to working with otherBoard members to set policy and draftapplications for funding.
“It certainly is a varied job!
“Like many others, I first started byvolunteering at Christmas whilelooking for ways in which I could usemy free time to benefit others. Likemany others, I enjoyed working withLifeshare so much I wanted to getmore involved throughout the yearand, after working on the WeekendBreakfast Club for 18 months, I joinedthe Board of Trustees.
“Volunteering is a great way todevelop new skills and meet newpeople, all while doing somethingthat really helps people and givesback to the local community. It reallyis a win-win situation and I’ve neverlooked back.”
• If you have a story to tell like Phil,add some text, an image orweblink to themakeadifferencemcr.tumblr.comblog. Or if you use twitter, follow@SocialResponUoM and use thehashtag #makeadifferencemcr tojoin the conversation.
The University’s strategic planManchester 2020 lists one of our goals ascontributing to the social and economicsuccess of the local, national andinternational community. Last month ournew engagement campaign to encouragestaff to highlight how they are ‘making adifference’ to society was launchedfeaturing campus installations and a newblog. Here UniLife looks at a colleague wecan be proud of…
Next Issue 3 February 2014
M807 11.13 The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL Royal Charter Number RC000797 Cert no. SGS-COC-3059
Feature
Please help us distribute UniLifemore efficiently.
Undelivered copies should be sent to Sarah Davenport at The University ofManchester Visitors Centre, UniversityPlace, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL.
University staff should send changes ofwork address [email protected]
Or opt out of receiving hard copies atwww.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/opt-out/
More than a fair shareF
Phil Tresadern outside Lifeshare
Phil chats to a client
