reporter issue 569

8/10/2019 Reporter Issue 569

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Reporter Issue 569November 2012

Growing asustainable

futureHow Leeds is creating a

sustainable future for our staff,

current and future students,

and the wider community.

Pages 7, 8 and 9

Advisory Group

Be part of a support

staff group that helps

address important

University issues.

Page 5

Arts research

Creating the best

possible environment

for research.

Page 10

ClothworkersConsort

A new name heralds

a bright future for a

University choir.

Page 14


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Reporter 56902 Leader Column November 2012

Leader column

Reviewing ourstrategy, highlightingour strengths

Some of you have noticed thatIve started to write a regular

feature on For Staff with myreflections on the weeks events.So much happens in the sectorand on campus that its easy towrite a couple of paragraphs eachweek, whether its on our researchachievements, staff and studentnews, or the activities and eventsacross the University that makemy job so enjoyable.

Two topics that have recently generated

important discussion across the University are

the review of our Strategy and the outcome ofour first cycle of undergraduate recruitment

under the new fees regime. Our strategy, your

say is the first phase of open consultation on

our strategy and Im delighted that so many

colleagues have already responded, both

in writing and in person. The first series of

open meetings was well attended with over

300 staff across all three sessions. Our main

objective was to involve and listen to people

right from the beginning of the process.

Members of the senior team and I enjoyed

the interesting, wide-ranging and sometimes

challenging discussions.

Its not too late to participate and Id be keen

to hear more from staff who found it difficult

to attend, particularly academic staff busy at

the start of the academic year. For those of

you who have recently joined the organisation,

now is the time to shape the future of this

University do have your say.

Initial feedback suggests that we should

continue to strive towards our strategic

ambition, but we have some important

questions to answer about how we implement

and deliver the strategy more effectively.

Our next steps are to consider all the feedbackand have our proposal for a revised strategy

ready to share with you and our Council

early in the new year.

In terms of undergraduate numbers, it s

now clear that we have a shortfall of around

500 students against our plans, as we were

anticipating from about Easter onwards.

However, Leeds is not unique we believe that

many Russell Group universities are in a similar

position. Weve also seen a fall in both home/

EU and international taught postgraduate

student numbers, the former also reflecting a

national trend. The reason for the downturn in

international PGT is under further analysis

UKBA and changes to post-study work havent

helped, but there are a number of other factors

that are making competition for high-quality

international students much more challenging.

The good news is that both international

undergraduate and postgraduate researchrecruitment remain buoyant.

Fortunately, our finances are in good shape,

in no small part to due to our previous hard

work in keeping our cost base under control,

and we are therefore able to cope with

a short-term fluctuation in fee income as a

result of the volatility and highly competitive

nature of the more marketised recruitment

cycle. The shortfall in student numbers does

have a financial impact against our plan,

but there was flexibility built in, and some

mitigating adjustments can be made, mostly

involving the delay of some of our proposedlocal investments.

We recognise that the recruitment market is

changing and we will have to work hard to

ensure that applicants make Leeds their firm

choice, both undergraduate and postgraduate,

home/EU and International. A great deal of

work is underway involving the Deans, Pro-

Deans for Student Education and Heads

of Schools, to make sure were all focused

on recruitment and that local admissions

teams feel supported. Were thinking through

each part of the recruitment process so its

managed to the highest possible level ofprofessionalism from the way we build our

external reputation to our communications

with prospective students, to the timeliness

of making offers and how we interact with

applicants after an offer is made, both at

home and overseas.

But other institutions will also be aiming to

improve and theres no room for complacency.

We need to be clear about our academic

excellence and highlight the strengths that

league tables, surveys and datasets dont

routinely measure. That means talking about

the quality of our interactions with students

in personal tutoring and LeedsforLife; our

outstanding Quality Assurance Agency

reports; the fact that we have the highest

number of National Teaching Fellows in the

UK; the world-leading research carried out

and our fantastic campus and facilities.

We should seek to promote our success

in all these areas.

The latest results from the National Student

Survey show that weve gone up in every

question for the second year in a row. That

says to me that our improvements are real,

consistent and likely to continue. Were above

our benchmark, which is fantastic, and to

have a 78% return from one of the largest

cohorts of students in the country is

excellent. Im delighted about the score

for Leeds University Union, which rated

us in the countrys top three student unions

its thoroughly deserved.

Were currently deep into the Academic

School and Performance Review meetings,

the objective of which is to ensure that

theres enough focus and attention on

driving academic excellence and School

academic performance to the maximum;

because ultimately that translates into

success across all areas.

I am grateful to the School senior management

teams, who have done a great job in preparing

for these meetings, and for demonstrating

enormous commitment to improving the

academic performance of their Schools.


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Reporter 569 News 03

Contents

Valuing our people

Page 4

Inspire our students

Page 6

Sustainability

Page 7

Research and innovation

Page 10

In the news

Page 12

Honours

Page 13

Small ads

Page 14

Events

Page 15

FAQs

Page 16

November 2012

News

Piano postcards auctionhits the right note

About theReporter

The Reporteris the University of Leeds

staff magazine, produced eight times a

year. Over 8,500 copies are distributed

to staff across campus.

The Reporteris produced by the

Communications team.

Web: http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk

Email:[email protected]

Front cover shows a team from Residential

Services working with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

staff at the Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve.

News

Help improve our communications

Win 25 vouchers

The University is undertaking its first ever

survey to assess the effectiveness of our

internal communications activities.

We want know what you think about how

the Universitys leaders, managers and staff

communicate with one another, as well as

the channels we use for communications.

Its your opportunity to let us know what

works, what doesnt and what we should

focus on in the future.

The survey will go live on Monday 5 November.

You can access the 20-minute survey online at

www.survey.leeds.ac.uk/staff_communication

and its also available in paper format from the

Communications team just call 33996 to ask

for a copy.

You can choose whether or not to complete

the survey anonymously, but all completed

surveys where a name is given will be entered

into a prize draw to win one of eight 25

Marks & Spencer vouchers.

Layla Bloom from the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery shows off the Piano Postcards.

A postcard designed by SirPaul McCartney as part of theUniversitys Piano Postcardsinitiative raised an amazing 1,600for two high-profile music charities Nordoff Robbins and LiveMusic Now.

A further 1,100 was raised by 15 more

postcards created by famous faces associated

with Yorkshire or the music world such as

singer Emili Sand, playwright Alan Bennett

and our own alumnus and Olympic Gold medal

winner Alistair Brownlee.

The University ran the charity auction tomark the 2012 Leeds International Pianoforte

Competition, which, since its inception in 1961,

has launched the careers of some of the worlds

most pre-eminent pianists. This year it was

won by 24-year-old Federico Colli of Italy.

All the postcards were framed and displayed

to the public as part of an exhibition in the

Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery before being

auctioned on eBay.


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04 Valuing our people Reporter 569 November 2012

Valuing our people

Team Talk Plant Nematology GroupWhat does the team do?

The group carries out research into plant

parasitic nematodes. These are microscopic

worms that infect the roots of plants, causing

major crop losses worldwide. The chemicals

that have been used to control them are

harmful to the environment, and we are trying

to develop safer control methods. Were

interested in the biology of the nematode,interactions between the nematode and the

plant, and how the plant responds to infection.

We look at these fundamental aspects and

translate the knowledge into strategic outputs

to develop technologies to control nematodes.

In the UK our work focuses on the nematode

problems associated with potato and we also

have projects looking at nematode pathogens

of rice, banana and cotton in India, Uganda

and China. Research-led teaching brings the

knowledge out of the lab to our undergraduate

and postgraduate students.

Tell us about some of the teamsmost successful projects

Were the only group in the UK to have carried

out field trials of GM nematode resistance

technology. The lab has developed three

technologies that are delivered as GM traits,

which successfully offer resistance to plant

parasitic nematodes. The two most advanced

of these technologies are about to be trialled in

banana and plantain in Uganda and in brinjal

(aubergine) in India. The GM technology has

been closely monitored to show that the potato

plants have less effect on soil micro-organisms

than the chemical controls used previously.

Weve also shown the effectiveness of a non-

GM technology known as bio-fumigation, which

involves ploughing green manures into the soil

to control nematode populations.

What particular challenges hasthe team got coming up?

An exciting project gets underway this year

working with Chinese partners to produce a

nematode defence for cotton plants. We also

have a new collaboration with the University of

Southampton that should help us to understandmore about the neurobiology of the worms and

how chemicals affect them.

What are the most rewardingthings about being in your team?

The team has great cultural diversity, with

members from places such as India, China

and Romania. We also host visitors from

collaborating groups in sub-Saharan Africa. This

affords the group a rich, rewarding diversity. Our

research enables our collaborators to use the

nematode resistance technology freely, in the

crops that they want to develop. It empowers

scientists in less-developed nations to build

their own research, in their own countries, toserve the public good. The technologies are

devised to allow farmers to continue to use their

current cultivation methods, whilst improving

their crop production.

Tell us something about yourwork that would surprise people.

Nematodes are the most numerous

multicellular animals on earth! A handful of

soil will contain thousands of the microscopic

worms, many of them parasites of insects,

plants or animals.

How has your work changedin recent years?

Improvements in sequencing technologies have

allowed us to be involved in the sequencing of

the genome of the potato cyst nematode, which

causes damage to potato crops. The increased

knowledge gained from these advances

allows research to progress more rapidly.

Were more aware than ever of the immediate

environmental impact of research and are

proud to be the highest scoring lab for

Green Impact.

Who do you work with inthe University?

Outside the Faculty of Biological Sciences

weve worked with researchers in Food Science,

looking at the effects of stress, including

nematode infection, on fruit quality and

composition of tomatoes. Were about to start

a project collaborating with members of Earth

and Environment establishing the effects of

climate change on crops and pathogens.

Do you work in a Universitylab and want to get involvedwith Green Impact?

Last year a special award was launched

to suggest ways that lab users canbecome greener and to recognise

existing best practice. If you and your

colleagues would like to rise to the

challenge of becoming more efficient

and changing your local environment,

email [email protected]

A diverse group (l-r): Jennie Hibbard, Mirela Coke, Fiona Moulton, Kate Warner, Bev Merry, Peter Urwin, Catherine Lilley,

Ritushree Jain, Sebastian Eves-van den Akker, Laura Jones, Grace Hoysted and Pete Thorpe.


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Valuing our people 05

Valuing our people

New officer on the University beat

Revitalising the Support Staff

Advisory GroupWould you like to be part of agroup that helps address importantissues that concern the University?

University support staff are invited to nominate

themselves or a colleague to be part of the

Support Staff Advisory Group (SSAG).

SSAG was formed to give non-union, clerical,

technical and operational colleagues the

opportunity to raise any issues of concernwith the existing Staff Support Groups in the

University, says long-term member Moyra

Culbert. Its been in existence for 12 years

and, whilst its not empowered to make

decisions, the group has contributed to

debate on a number of issues and helped

bring about changes in areas such as staff

wellbeing, transport, parking, recognition

for long-service, and health and safety.

The group is now seeking to revitalise its

membership and refocus its approach to

find ways in which support staff can more

fully engage with the Universitys strategy.Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Organisational

Effectiveness Professor Dawn Freshwater is

leading the changes to the group. Theres

great value in the work that SSAG does, and

I think it can be even more effective in future,

she says. We envisage the future group to be

made up of 14 nominated members nine

faculty representatives and five from the

services. Members would meet two or three

times a year to discuss strategic-level issues

which have been brought to their attention

by colleagues. As well as raising topics,

members would also be asked to take relevant

information back to their colleagues and

encourage two-way communications.

If you are interested in representingyour faculty or service on SSAG,

please contact Professor Freshwater on

[email protected],

you can talk informally to Robert Finch

(35242) or Moyra Culbert (33360) about

membership of the group.

Its party time!

Tickets are now on sale for this years

Staff Christmas Party, which will be

on Friday 14 December from 6pm

until late.

Held in the Universitys Refectory, the

party is always a fantastic event, with

dancing, great food and drink, and a

festive atmosphere. Come and enjoy:

a delicious three-course Christmas

dinner (veggie option available)

made by colleagues from our

own catering department

a disco featuring live band Vibetown

and DJ for your evenings entertainment.

exclusive use of the Terrace Bar.

Tickets for this years party costjust 25. Partners are also welcome

to come to the event. For more details

or to book, visit www.meetinleeds.co.uk/

staffchristmasparty, email xmasparty@

leeds.ac.ukor call Natasha Rahanu

on 36106.

The University recently welcomednew police liaison officer PC MattGuy, who will be with us for thenext academic year.

PC Guy studied for a degree in Law and

Criminology at the University of Sheffield and

went on to achieve a Masters in International

Criminology. He took on a number of roles

from residential social worker to climbing shopmanager before becoming a police officer

eight years ago to make a difference, get

involved and in his own words, stick up for

people who could do with some support.

Matts career in the police has been

community focused, his passion being

in working with young people on crime

prevention initiatives, turning young offenders

away from crime and engaging them in

positive activities.

Matt says of his new role: Im truly excited

about working at the University. My job is to

help people with any problems they are having

and to develop a bet ter, safer and happier

community for everyone. Im full of ideas

and enthusiasm so expect to see me around,

promoting our new schemes and events.

You can contact Matt via the University

Security Office on 0113 343 5495or

e-mail [email protected]

Reporter 569November 2012

PC Guy helping out at one of this years graduation ceremonies.


6/16

New Library goes to planning

Plans for the new undergraduate Library

are expected to be submitted to Leeds

City Council for planning approval at the

end of October.

We hope to give full details of the new

flagship building, which will be accessible

from Woodhouse Lane and Hillary

Place, in the December issue of the

Reporter. A public display of the plans

and a consultation meeting are expected

to be announced shortly, so look out

for details on the For Staff intranet

www.leeds.ac.uk/forstaff/

Reporter 569 November 201206 Inspire our students


Student survey showsmore improvement

Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Education

Professor Vivien Jones said: Colleagues acrossthe University and in Leeds University Union

(LUU) have continued to work hard to ensure

our students have an excellent experience.

With six out of seven category scores putting

us ahead of the sector average, the results

show that their efforts have been worth it. I was

particularly pleased to see that across every

School students were satisfied with the quality

of teaching, and delighted that LUU achieved

such a high score.

As ever, there is room for improvement and,

despite a significant increase in our score for

Assessment and Feedback, this is still an areawhere we need to do better. We also need

to continue to improve our performance on

Academic Support and Personal Development,

and these will be a priority for action plans

this year.


Changing Lives,Changing Times

Changing Lives, Changing Times a

collaboration between the Universitys

Centre for Disability Studies, School of

Performance and Cultural Industries and

two performing arts schools in Leeds

has paved the way for improved disability

awareness to spread across the UK.

Culminating in a musical theatre

performance, which also served as aprelude to National Disability History

Month, pupils from Cockburn School and

Cathedral Academy of Performing Arts

took to the stage in a show stimulated by

the real life stories of disabled people born

in the 1940s, 1960s and 1980s.

The project is based on research into

how life has changed for young disabled

people between World War II and the

present day. Funded by the Economic and

Social Research Council, the 12-month

project will increase disability awareness

and stimulate historical understandingin secondary schools through the use of

performance techniques.

The project team, led by Dr Sonali Shah

(Centre for Disability Studies) worked with

the schools to practise and evaluate methods

for the construction of a Theatre-in-Education

Learning Resource Pack for secondary

schools. The pack aims to encourage

students to look at historical stories in

creative ways and invites them to find ways

of challenging traditional representations of

disability. Targeted at children and young

people in post-16 education, it can be usedin various areas of the curriculum, such as

GCSE drama, personal, social and health

education and history.

You can read more about the project at

www.disability-histories.leeds.ac.uk

Leeds University Union was given a 90% satisfaction

rating by our final year students.

The University continues toimprove performance in theNational Student Survey (NSS),with 87% of our final yearstudents saying they are satisfiedwith their experience at Leeds our highest score since the

survey began in 2005.

Our scores in NSS 2012 improved in all seven

categories, with the greatest increase in

Assessment and Feedback (up 4 percentage

points), followed by Academic Support and

Personal Development (both up 3 percentage

points). We did exceptionally well in a new

category introduced this year: Satisfaction

with Students Union. Our score of 90%

significantly ahead of the 66% sector average

is the third highest in the country.

Our improved score for overall satisfaction

ensured that we maintained the position inthe top third of the national ranking that we

achieved last year. 78% of eligible students

completed the survey, giving us one of the

highest response rates in the sector.

Students rehearse for the performance

of Changing Lives, Changing times.


7/16


Sustainability

We want tohear from you!The Sustainable Development team

are interested in hearing about research

being conducted in the University thatrelates to sustainability.

Whether youre part of a multi-disciplinary

institute or working independently, they

want to know about it. Your experience

could be used to showcase the fantastic

research going on at Leeds or help to

shape our sustainability strategy for the

coming year.

If you think your research could make a

great case study, contact Sam McCarthy

on [email protected]

Sustainability 07

Thousands of participantsfrom governments, the privatesector and non-governmentalorganisations gathered in Rio deJaneiro earlier this year for theUN Conference on SustainableDevelopment (Rio+20).

As well as commemorating the 20th

anniversary of the landmark 1992 Earth

Summit, the task in hand was for the

international community to reinvigorate the

global commitment to sustainable development.

Dr James Van Alstine from the School of Earth

and Environments Sustainability Research

Institute (SRI) attended the summit as an

Earth Negotiations Bulletin writer. He assessed

its outcome in a forthcoming paper for the

Environmental Politics journal and produced

an SRI working paper Rio+20: A sign of

the times, or ecology as spectacle which is

available at goo.gl/O1K4j

Rio+20 focused primarily on two themes:

developing a green economy that will foster

sustainable development and poverty

eradication; and reforming the global

environmental governance framework to

improve communication and co-ordination

amongst international environmental

institutions, says Dr Alstine. Disappointingly,

the summit largely failed to further promote the

idea of sustainable development but it did take

the decision to develop universal Sustainable

Development Goals, which may help define

the future development agenda.

Sustainability

Rio conference sets thesustainability agenda

Sustainability

Embedding sustainability education

Together, the staff-student Education for

Sustainable Development Network (ESDN)

and the Curriculum Enhancement Project

(CEP) are helping to fulfil the Universitys

commitment to promoting a co-ordinatedapproach to sustainability education.

As relevant research and teaching is developed

based on different perspectives of sustainability,

the ESDN facilitates cross-disciplinary links and

the sharing of experiences between academics.

The work of the network also ensures that this

educational provision has a practical as well as

an intellectual dimension, harnessing academic

insights into sustainable development to inform

all aspects of University activity.

ESDN is also helping to increase study

opportunities and broaden the intellectualhorizons of students through the Creating

Sustainable Futures strand of the CEP. From

September 2014, students will have the

opportunity to select from modules that

address key issues such as sustainability

as an environmental challenge and

environmentally-sound and socially-just

economic development.

There are currently around 50 sustainability-relevant elective modules on offer across

the University. As the Creating Sustainable

Futures strand develops and is trialled

throughout its first academic year, the

ESDN will have an important role to play

in supporting the strand leader to pursue

opportunities for new developments.

An institutional approach, embodied by the

mutually reinforcing effect of the CEP and the

ESDN, is of great value to the University, giving

coherence to the development of education

for sustainable development. Future work

will include working in partnership with theSustainability Team and Leeds University

Union to foster the notion of the campus as a

laboratory to promote practical engagement

with sustainable development concepts.


8/16

Reporter 569 November 201208 Sustainability

Sustainability

Travel SurveyThe Universitys third annualtravel survey received responsesfrom nearly 7,000 staff andstudents, and recorded somevery positive results.

A key focus of the survey is to obtain Scope

3 emissions for staff, broken down into

Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, resulting

from staff commutes and University-relatedbusiness travel.

The results compare favourably with 2011,

with the average 23.39kg of GHG equivalent

in commuting shrinking to 20.92kg and a drop

in the number of miles travelled on University

business from 700,000 miles to 620,000

miles in the month to which the survey related.

However, despite some progress, the survey

shows there is significant potential to improve

current levels of car sharing and persuade

To find out more about the Universitys

commitment to sustainable travel, visit

goo.gl/Ln4OD

staff to replace driving to work with walkingor cycling.

The Sustainable Transport team have

been working on this area, and have installed

a further 150 new cycle stands around

campus for people wishing to cut their

emissions and cycle into work. Looking

out for your safety, the team will also be

providing lights and reflective slap bands,

along with other safety advice, throughout

November via the UTravelActive scheme.

Sustainability

Bulbs for bees

Look out for a colourful surprise next spring,

when some 3,000 crocus and snowdrop

bulbs burst into life across campus.

October saw the Sustainability Team, Grounds

and Gardens team and staff and studentvolunteers come together and get their hands

dirty in a mass planting of bulbs in support

of the Biodiversity Action Plan.

The provision of a good variety of flowers

throughout the year, in particular in early

spring and late summer/autumn is one

of the main actions in the Plan to improve

the habitat for invertebrates, particularly

bees, on campus.

Also part of the Plan are the wildflower

patches dotted around campus, with the

main area outside the Earth and Environment

building and another small area in front

of the Edward Boyle Library.

Aside from the aesthetic beauty of wildflower

areas, they encourage insects which in turn

encourage a greater variety of bird species.

The Sustainability Team also plan to put up

30 bird boxes later this year which will be

numbered and monitored.


9/16

Reporter 569November 2012 Sustainability 09

Sustainability

Sustainability news round up

Residences live it green

Residential Services Team (RS) is encouraging

an increased awareness of environmental

issues by publishing the Living it Green Guide

and spreading the word about the Universitys

other sustainability initiatives.

The Living it Green Guide gives information

and advice on reducing environmental impact

in University-managed residences and is a

branch of the Living it Green initiative. Staff and

students, along with conference delegates andcontractors involved in residential operations

are advised about the little things that can

make a BIG difference and encouraged to

reduce their environmental impact. This ranges

from day-to-day tasks like switching off heating,

lights, and electrical appliances before leaving

offices and flats, to pointing students in the

direction of environmental groups and societies

within Leeds University Union.

Staff and students have also been provided

with information about the Yorkshire Wildlife

Trust (YWT), of which the University is a

corporate member. Staff from ResidentialServices headed down to the Kirkstall Valley

Nature Reserve where they worked alongside

YWT staff, raking and collecting hay to increase

soil fertility and allow the local meadow to thrive

and regenerate and thereby continue to sustain

and attract wildlife. Further opportunities for

staff and students to engage with the Trust

will take place across 2012/13.

Green Impact

Green Impact, the Universitys environmental

accreditation scheme, has been re-launched

in a bid to encourage students and colleagues

to take an active role in reducing their

environmental footprint.

The aim is to showcase positive changes in

environmental practice at students unions,

universities and community organisationsacross the UK. Teams can work towards a

Bronze, Silver or Gold award by signing onto

an online workbook and fulfilling criteria by

making small, local changes such as

switching off at the end of the work day

or arranging for office heating and cooling

systems to match usage.

One team who managed to achieve Gold last

year was Student Administration. Rosie Dowen

from their Green Impact team offers the advice

of have fun and start small, saying the best

part is to feel like youre making a difference.

Now in its third year at the University, the

Sustainable Development team are hoping

this will be the best yet for Green Impact!

For more information about Green Impact

and how you can get involved please contact

Sam McCarthy at [email protected]

It All Adds Up update

Its just over a year since the It All Adds Up

campaign began, when the giant numbers

appearing around campus grabbed peoples

attention. It certainly got people thinkingabout energy use and carbon production,

and was very successful, with savings of

around 42,000 and 245 tonnes of CO2

recorded in the shutdown periods alone.

The second phase of the campaign will

launch this month, so look out for some

surprises on campus!

Sign up to Leeds Goes Green

Do you want to discuss sustainability on

campus and beyond with your fellow staffand students? Would you like to collaborate

on existing sustainability projects, organise

events or just be kept up to date with whats

going on? Sign up for information about

the Leeds Goes Green staff and student

forum at goo.gl/UDQ0land get involved

with sustainability at the University.

Waste not, want not

New waste removal contracts promise to raise

the Universitys recycling and recovery rate

and lessen our environmental impact.

A new hazardous waste contract managed

by Health and Safety Services (HSS) will

see a larger percentage of waste reused than

previously, with a 75% target set. HSS are

also helping Cleaning Services to manage

a new healthcare waste contract which aims

to reduce incineration. Finally, a new skip

contract will enable the Sustainability team to

track progress and set targets to ensure that as

little of our waste as possible is sent to landfill.

A minimum of 90% recovery has been set.

Discover one of the Universitys

best kept secrets

The Hidden Caf is on a mission to become

LUUs first sustainable caf. On the lower floor of

the Leeds University Union building, the caf has

been refurbished and provides a peaceful place

to get a bite to eat. With locally sourced food,

Fairtrade tea and coffee, recycled furniture

and compostable cups and food trays, you can

take a break and go green at the same time!

Leeds student cracks the carbon

footprint of University purchasing

Student James Townsend has been working

with the Universitys purchasing team to

calculate climate change impact linked to

University procurement.

James, who is studying for an MSc

Sustainability (Climate Change), used a

model developed by Professor John Barrett

(School of Earth and Environment) which

shows that approximately 50% of University

climate change impact can be attributed to

our purchasing decisions. The findings from

the six-month project will be used to inform

future purchasing and is a great example

of how students and academics are helping

to guide our approach to sustainability.

Bird boxes being made on campus.One of the wildflower areas on campus.


10/16

10 Research and innovation

The Leeds Humanities ResearchInstitute (LHRI) is launching anew set of activities in 2012-13,following a strategic review bythe Faculty of Arts.

Our aim is to help foster the best possibleenvironment for research in the Faculty of

Arts, explains Dr Matthew Treherne, Director

of the LHRI. This means creating a context for

intellectual collaboration and debate; preparing

researchers to gain external funding; and

making sure that grant holders are supported

as effectively as possible.

Four new LHRI research themes on the topics

of Home, Community and Belonging, Cultural

Exchange, Medical Humanities and Cultures

of Ownership/Ownership of Culture will

provide a stimulus for new collaborations. LHRI-

funded Graduate Research Groups are enablingpostgraduates to work together to develop

research programmes at the cutting edge of

Reporter 569 November 2012

International

Leeds workshop for Overseas Offices

The International Office played host to thesecond Leeds Overseas Offices Workshop

in Leeds this September with representatives

attending from our teams in Japan, China,

Nigeria, India and Malaysia.

The Workshop provided the representatives

with the opportunity to spend time as a

team and share best practice and common

challenges. It also allowed them to ensure

their own activities are in line with Leeds

strategic developments, whilst being a

platform for overseas staff to brief the

University on developments and events in

their own respective markets.

Members attended a number of sessions

which ranged from recruitment discussions

with faculty marketing managers to an

introduction to key strategy themes by

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Vivien Jones.

Also on the agenda was an introduction toIRS colleagues and the sector hubs to build

an understanding of the Universitys research

and innovation agenda and how overseas

teams might contribute to identifying

opportunities in this area.

During their time in Leeds, they were

introduced to our newest buildings and

campus developments such as the Liberty

Building and the Marks & Spencers

Archive and fortunately they had the luck of

experiencing the best weather this autumn

had to offer.

Dr Judith Lamie, International Director, said:

The workshop was a great success and

an excellent reminder of how valuable the

overseas teams are in promoting all aspects

of Leeds.

knowledge. The LHRI also offers pump-priming

support to enable researchers to prepare for

major research bids, and aims to build strong

relationships with funding bodies.

Post-doctoral research in the Faculty is a

further priority for the LHRI, which runs a

programme of social and cultural events

for post-doctoral researchers. A short-term post-doctoral fellowship scheme will

launch this year to bring the most promising

researchers to Leeds, to contribute to our

research activities and develop applications

for externally funded fellowships. Together

with the Universitys post-doctoral initiative,

these activities ensure that our post-doctoral

researchers make the most of their time at

Leeds, and that our applications for externally

funded fellowships are as strong as possible,

continues Dr Treherne.

At the same time, the LHRI is helping to

broaden access to the Facultys research.

The Students as Scholars scheme offers

mentoring to Arts students as they attend

research seminars in the Faculty. And new

impetus is being given to Arts researchers

work with external partners, through the

Institutes collaboration with the transformation

project, Arts Engaged, led by Professor

Stuart Murray (School of English). As Matthew

Treherne explains: The five post-doctoral

fellows employed by the project are emblematic

of the vibrant, collaborative research culture

which the LHRI exists to support.


Fostering a researchenvironment in Arts

Our aim is to helpfoster the best possibleenvironment for researchin the Faculty of Arts.

Dr Matthew Treherne, Director of LHRI

Elaine Wilson (Faculty Research Manager), Jasjit Singh

(Research Fellow) and Dr Mat thew Treherne.


11/16

A new blog has been launched,aimed at helping to fosterdebate about how security andjustice contribute to buildingsustainable societies.

The blog, which will include comment

pieces and video content, hopes to engage

with policy-makers, practitioners and the wider

public, and be used by academics across theUniversity to share their research and expertise.

Professor Adam Crawford (School of Law),

director of the Building Sustainable Societies

Security and Justice research group which

has launched the initiative, is encouraging

academics to use the site as a way of

maximising the impact of their research.

We hope this will be a valuable platform to

contribute to the national and international

debate, says Professor Crawford. It is an

opportunity to share new research findings

and opinions from scholars working across

the social sciences and other disciplines.

Reporter 569November 2012 Research and innovation 11


Join the debate

By Professor David Hogg, Pro-Vice-Chancellorfor Research and Innovation

As one of the largest research-intensive

universities in the UK, Leeds engages in

world-class research across an exceptionally

diverse range of disciplines. This breadth

of knowledge and expertise underpins our

commitment to work with partners from all

sectors, ensuring our research has direct

economic and societal benefit.

The launch of Gateways to knowledge is

your chance to find out more about how

potential partners can work with the University

via our new Higher Education Innovation

Fund-backed Sector Hub approach,

focusing on 14 industrial/commercial sectors.

Supported by over 6m of investment, theSector Hubs provide a more focused and

strategic approach to the way we work with

industry and other external partners. They also

enable us to address increasingly complex

problems requiring multidisciplinary approaches

that combine our major research strengths.

The Hub approach is challenge driven, applying

research excellence to issues of national and

international importance. Above all it ensures

our research is relevant to industry and external

partners because by collaborating we can

focus on developing practical solutions to real

needs based on world-class research.

The Hubs are broad enough to encourage and

stimulate genuine cross-sector development,

working together to present a co-ordinated

presence to partners and users, with shared

intelligence and best practice.

This model ensures dedicated innovationsupport is in place to match each sectors

specific requirements, from academic lead

and vision to dedicated business development

contacts with key account responsibility.

We are committed to building productive

relationships with Hub users and partners,

using effective engagement and feedback to

guide operational activity. Real impact and

effective delivery through collaboration are

fundamental to the success of the Sector

Hub approach.

Visit www.leeds.ac.uk/sectorhubsFor further

information or to request a copy of Gateways

to knowledge please contact Impact and

Innovation Manager Owen Adams 0113 34

30912or [email protected]


The Sector Hubs: now online and in print

The first series of blogs, focusing on current

changes in policing and the advent of Police

and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), has been

launched ahead of a key conference in January

2013, which will examine the role of PCCs

60 days into their term following the elections

on 15 November.

Visit www.bss.leeds.ac.uk to contribute to the

debate, or contact Gill Sayers on g.sayers@

leeds.ac.ukFor more information about theconference contact [email protected]


12/16

12 In the news Reporter 569 November 2012

In the news

The comments of Dr Victoria Honeyman(School of Politics and International Studies)

on the booing of the Prime Minister and the

Chancellor of the Exchequerat a Paralympic

Games medal ceremony were widely reported,

in both local and national press across the

US, including on ABC Newsand on National

Public Radio.

A study of the quantity and geographical reach

of rainfall generated by extensive tropical

vegetation, led by Dr Dominick Spracklen and

co-authored by Dr Stephen Arnold (School of

Earth and Environment), was widely reported

in the UK and internationally, including in the

Daily Mail, France 24, International Business

Times, ABC de Sevilla, and Europa Press. Dr

Spracklen explained: Our study implies that

deforestation of the Amazon and Congo forests

could have catastrophic consequences for thepeople living thousands of kilometres away in

surrounding countries.

The US media showed great interest in

research by Charlotte Evans (School of Food

Science and Nutrition), which found that

schemes to encourage healthy eating among

schoolchildrenhad limited success, on average

only increasing intake of fruit and vegetables

by a quarter of a portion. The research

was reported in the Los Angeles Times,

Sun Sentinel, Chicago Tribune, and by

Reuters Health.

Both the UK and international press gave

widespread coverage to a report into Chinese

investment in the European Union, launched

by Professor Jeremy Clegg and Dr Hinrich Voss

(both of Leeds University Business School).The report examined why such investment

had been limited to date and how it might

develop in the future. It was covered by the

Guardian, Reuters, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! News

Singapore, International Business Times,

The US Daily, Reuters Latin America,

Spanish Peoples Daily (China), Liberal

(Mexico), Economic Times of India, Jiangsu

Broadcasting Corporation, Chicago Tribune,

and the Yorkshire Post.

A study by Drs David Grainger and Esme

Hanna (School of Sociology and Social Policy)

into changing family relationshipsin the

UK found that cohabiting couples are, for

the first time, as likely to have children asthose who marry. This finding was reported

by the Guardian, Telegraph, Daily Mail, and

BBC Radio 2.

Rings from just eight lowland cedar trees inBolivia have provided a century-long record

of rainfall patternsacross the entire Amazon

basin, according to research by Dr Roel

Brienen and Professor Manuel Gloor, which

was reported by BBC News, the BBC World

Servicein Spain, ABCin Spain, and in the

Epoch Times.

Research by PhD student Marco-Felipe King,

supervised by Dr Catherine Noakes (School of

Civil Engineering, Institute for Pathogen Control

Engineering) has suggested that superbugs

could spread through hospitals by air currents.BBC News, BBC Online, Times of India,

BBC World Servicein Spain, and El Nacional

(Dominican Republic) all reported Mr Kings

findings.

Researchers led by Professor Paola Caselli

(School of Physics and Astronomy) have

discovered that there is enough water vapour to

fill the Earths oceans more than 2,000 times in

a gas and dust cloud, which is about to collapse

into a new Sun-like starwithin the Taurus

constellation. The discovery has been reported

by Yahoo! India, Toronto Telegraph, North

Korea Times, El Mundo, COSMOS Magazine

(Australia), and La Repubblica(Italy).

Dr Paul Taylor (Institute of Communications

Studies) discussed the definition of being

grown upwith Jenni Murray and others on

BBC Radio 4s Womans Hour. He explained:

We should stay in touch with our inner

child ... all I really want from my girlfriend

for Christmas is matching his and hers tiger

pants so that I can eat sticky ribs and pretend

I caught an antelope.

The Guardianreported on a study by Professor

Ian Kirkpatrick and Dr Gianluca Veronesi(Leeds University Business School), which

suggested that more involvement from

clinicians on the boards of English NHS acute

trusts led to better hospital performance.

As well as in an article in the body of the

newspaper, the study also featured in the

Today in Healthcaresupplement.

Dr Kevin Houston (School of Mathematics)

may have discovered the secret of the

clanging, opening chord of the 1964

Beatles hit, A Hard Days Night, which

has proved so hard for musicians to

replicate. Dr Houston used sophisticated

software to split the chord into its

component frequencies and reveal which

notes were most prominent. His findings

were reported by the London Evening

Standard, Mail on Sunday, Scotsman,

Belfast Telegraph, Daily Star, Sydney

Morning Herald, Brisbane Times, Canberra

Times, Yahoo! India, North Korea Times,

Toronto Telegraph, and Boston Standard.

They were also reported in around 200

other local UK news publications.

Professor Stephen Westland (Acting Dean

of the Faculty of Performance, VisualArts and Communication) appeared in a

BBC1 documentary about the history of

the colour film industry, Race for Colour.

Professor Westland explained how the eye

perceives a whole range of colours using a

basic palette of red, green and blue light.


13/16

Professor Stephen Alford(School of History) hasbeen appointed Chair in Early Modern History.

His main research interests include: politics,

political thought and monarchy in Britain in

the 16th and early 17th centuries; empire,

exploration, navigation, trade and the City

of London in the 16th and early 17th

centuries; and espionage and intelligence

in early-modern Europe.

Professor Alford held posts as a British Academy

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Cambridge,

Ehrman Senior Research Fellow in History, and

Senior Lecturer in History, both at Kings College,

Cambridge. His book Burghley: William Cecil at

the Court of Elizabeth Ireceived much critical

acclaim and was short-listed for the Marsh Prize

in Biography. His recently published book

on espionage in Elizabethan England and

beyond The Watchers: A Secret History

of the Reign of Elizabeth I also received

positive press attention.

PhD student and teaching assistant Christiaan

De Beukelaer(Institute of Communications

Studies) has won the Cultural Policy Research

Award 2012 for the best innovative research

proposal in applied, comparative, cross-cultural

research in Europe. His project, Developing

Culture and Culturing Development: A critical

analysis of the link between cultural industries

and sustainable human development in the

Global South, was selected from 24 high-

quality applications from 12 European countries

by an international panel.

Honours 13

Honours

The Yorkshire Finance Director of the

Year Awards honoured the Universitys

Finance DirectorJane Madeley, who

received the award for Best Finance

Director of a Public Sector Organisation.The awards seek to recognise the key

contribution and exceptional performance

of the regions top Finance Directors

and their ability to adapt to changing

market conditions.

The Worshipful Company of Dyers of The

City of London has awarded Dr Richard S

Blackburn(Centre for Technical Textiles,

School of Design) the Freedom of theCompany and the Freedom of The City of

London in Guildhall. Dr Blackburn became

a Freeman of The City in early October

and, on the same day, he returned to

Dyers Hall to become a Liveryman of the

Company and was clothed with the Livery.

The Dyers Company has had long

associations with the University, primarily

through the Department of Colour

Chemistry (now Colour Science), and a

representative from the Dyers Company

of London sits on the University Court.

This is a rare honour for an academic,

particularly one with no ancestors who

were Liverymen, says Dr Blackburn.

I was very surprised and incredibly

honoured to be recognised in this way.


Professor Alford

Dr Hamer

A team of Leeds researchers led by

Dr Philip Holland(School of Medicine,

Leeds Institute of Medical Education) has

won the Medipex-NHS Innovation Award

2012 for Software and Telehealth for

UpBete, which provides online support

for diabetic children.

UpBete is designed to promote self-

management of diabetes, communityknowledge sharing, and public education

and outreach. The UpBete website received

over 1,000 visitors in six months and

feedback has been extremely positive.

UpBetes development was initially funded

by the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic

Health Authority Innovation Fund and

was a collaboration between the Leeds

Teaching Hospitals Trust, NHS Leeds,

the Leeds Institute of Medical Education

and MyKnowledgeMap Ltd.

Correction

Sir Mark Elder did not receive an honorary

degree as reported in the last issue of the

Reporter. The award will now be conferred

upon Sir Mark in summer 2013.

Dr Susan Hamerwas awarded the eHealth

Insider Chief Clinical Information Officer award

for clinical IT leadership. Dr Hamer is the

Organisational and Workforce Development

Director for the Clinical Research Network

(Faculty of Medicine and Health). The

eHealth Insider awards recognise excellence

in healthcare IT across organisations andprojects in the public and private sector.

Dr Hamer says: Im so proud to receive this

award for our clinical leadership programme; for

me it has acknowledged the potential of senior

nurses to be actively involved in developing

innovative technology enabled practice. It was a

real privilege to receive the award and was only

possible due to a team of nurses from across

the NHS who helped facilitate the sessions.


14/16

14 NewsSmall Ads

News

Name change ushers in new era for choir

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The Clothworkers Consort of Leeds,formerly Leeds University LiturgicalChoir, is hoping that their new namewill enable them to develop a moreprofessional external profile andbuild their reputation as one ofthe UKs premier university choirs.

It was the choirs 10th anniversary in

2011-12 and we wanted to mark the nextphase in our development, so a new name

seemed appropriate, explains Assistant Director

Dr Stephen Muir. Our new title recognises the

contribution that the Clothworkers Company

has made to music in the University, most

conspicuously the Clothworkers Centenary

Concert Hall, where we rehearse.

Established after the Leeds-Bretton Hall

Merger in 2001 by the School of Musics

Professor Philip Wilby and Drs Muir and

Bryan White, the Clothworkers Consort

has grown to be one of the finest choral

ensembles in the North. The 24-strong

choir is made up of both staff and students.

Were seeking to develop and professionalise

our activities further, and contribute to the

world-class ambitions of the University,

continues Dr Muir. Weve been taken on by

a professional agency, Ellison & Strmsholm

International Artists Management, which will

mean more prestigious bookings, and next

May we are making a recording for Divine

Art Records. It is a cycle of poems by

Robert Louis Stevenson, set to music for

the Clothworkers Consort by Bradford-based

composer Philip Henderson, titled Under

the wide and starry sky. It charts Stevensons

life during his final years in Samoa, drawing

its name from his famous poem Requiem.

The choir is regularly asked to participate in

professional events. Weve recorded three CDs,

undertaken a number of successful foreign

tours, and are proud to be the most high-profile,

active musical ambassadors for the University

at a national and international level.

The name change and association with the

Clothworkers Company will be celebrated in

a special concert for Advent and Christmas

at the Leeds Universities Catholic Chaplaincys

beautiful chapel on 7 December. For details of

this and other events, visit www.ccl.leeds.ac.uk


15/16

Events 15

Events

Austerity andInvention: Illustrationbetween the WarsLovers of art and the book areinvited to the Stanley & AudreyBurton Gallery, to view a magicalmixture of styles and imageryfrom the 1920s and 1930s.

The sequel to Fancy and Imagination:

Aubrey Beardsley and the Book Illustrators,

the exhibition features original drawings,

watercolours, prints and book illustrations

from the Leeds University Library Special

Collections and other Yorkshire collections.

Illustrators featured include internationally-

renowned artists William Heath Robinson and

Kay Nielsen, lesser-known Yorkshire artists

Thomas Blakeley MacKenzie and Albert

Wainwright, and increasingly successfulwomen artists, such as FISH. Original

sketches and artwork for the beloved

classic, Swallows and Amazonsby Arthur

Ransome are also on display.

The exhibition runs until 1 December

2012. Gallery is open from Mon-Sat,

10-5pm and admission is free. Full event

details can be found on the gallery website

www.leeds.ac.uk/gallery/events.htm

Why did Germany fight to the end in 1945?

All colleagues and members of the public are

invited to attend a lecture by Sir Ian Kershaw,

a world-renowned authority on the history of

Nazi Germany, on Wednesday 14 November

at 5pm in Conference Auditorium 1.

The lecture Why did Germany fight to the

end in 1945? is sponsored by the School

of History and the Faculty of Arts.

Sir Ian, who was recently made an honorary

Doctor of Letters by the University, was

Professor of Modern History at the University

of Sheffield until his retirement in 2008. He is

most celebrated for his two-volume biographyof Hitler, subtitled Hubris, 1889-1936, and

Nemesis, 1936-45. Other works include

Fateful Choices. Ten Decisions that Changed

the World, and his most recent book, The

End. Hitlers Germany, 1944-45.

Make Your Mark

The next event in the Make Your Mark

Networking Series bringing business and

higher education together at the University

takes place on Friday 23 November at

11.45-14.00 in the Yorkshire Bank Lecture

Theatre, Leeds University Business School.

From government to banking, media to

technology and manufacturing to retail,

how companies and organisations conduct

themselves has come under intense scrutiny

in recent years. Given the current tougheconomic climate we all face, it is surely

more important than ever that organisations

make headlines for the right reasons.

Marks & Spencer Company Secretary Amanda

Mellor talks about how Britains most iconic

retailer places doing the right thing at the heart

of its business model. Speaking about the

challenges facing companies in the wake of

recent events, Amanda will explain why good

governance, trust and ethics remain vital to

business success.

Refreshments will be provided and a networkingreception will take place after the session.

Admission is free but places are limited;

register at [email protected]

British Academy Raleigh Lecture

at the University

The Reverend Professor Judith M Brown

(University of Oxford) will give a lecture on

The Making and Breaking of States: the End

of Empire in India Revisited on Wednesday 5

December at 5.306.45pm in the Rupert

Beckett Lecture Theatre.

By revisiting perhaps the greatest imperial ending

the end of British imperial rule in India in 1947

we can investigate issues which may prove

helpful in probing the dynamics of other phases of

turbulence in the structures and nature of states.

The lecture is given in association with the

Leeds Humanities Research Institute and

will be followed by a reception in the School

of History. Registration is not required and

attendance is free. Contact Elaine Wilson

at [email protected]

Professor Brown is also delivering the

lecture in London on Tuesday 27 November

at the British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House

Terrace at 6.00pm7.15pm. Details are at

goo.gl/ONAC3

2012 Bolton Lecture in Astronomy

This years lecture Of Suns and Other

Worlds will be delivered by Professor Michael

Thompson on Thursday 29 November at

5.30pm in the Conference Auditorium.

Professor Thompson is Director of the Higher

Altitude Observatory in Boulder, Colorado, and

runs the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory in Hawaii.

He will discuss how fragile our own existence

around the Sun might be in light of space

weather, and what we are learning about

planets and suns elsewhere in the Galaxy.

Presented by the School of Physics and

Astronomy, the lecture is free and open to

all. Visit www.physics.leeds.ac.uk/home/

bolton-lecture.htmlParties of more than

five people should contact Sarah Gardner at

[email protected]


The Goldfish Bowlby Phyllis Austin (1922). Private collection. The Estate of Anne Harriet Fish /Photo: Norman Taylor, 2012.


16/16

16 FAQs

FAQs

Louise Ellis, Head of SustainabilityTell us about your role.

The Head of Sustainability is a new and exciting

role, both for me and the University. The main

objective of the role is to develop and deliver

an integrated approach to sustainability across

the whole University activity. Its grown out of

the great work which has already been done by

the sustainability team and others around the

organisation and gives us a great springboard

to further develop this agenda.

What drew you to this areaof work?

As a teenager I was interested in the

environment and this led to me studying

environmental science as an undergraduate

in the early nineties. Through my career Ive

further developed my interest and knowledge

expanding into the broader sustainability field

and, more specifically, how organisations

and business address and adapt to this.

Sustainability allows me to work in an areawhich is challenging and constantly evolving,

addressing issues which question the way things

are and work. This role in particular draws

together my experience in the private sector

and my academic role. Its come along at a

time when as an organisation the University

can make a real impact on how the sector

develops both nationally and internationally.

In terms of sustainability, whatdo you hope the University willachieve over the next few years?

I hope that we will be, and will be seen to be,addressing the issue fully, challenging the

perceptions of what it means to be green and

socially responsible. Well be leading the sector

in driving change, enhancing the way we do

things with sustainability as one of the key

areas that makes us distinct.

What do you think are the biggestchallenges youll face in helpingthe University to become moresustainable?

I think one of the biggest challenges is also one

of our biggest strengths: that is our diversity.

As an organisation we do lots of different

things, encompassing the excellent broad

range of research and student education andthe activities which allow this to take place on

a day-to-day basis. This means that we can be

innovative in our approach to sustainability but

also means we need to ensure that all elements

are captured in our approach.

Tell us about some of yourresearch.

Ive been working in the field of corporate

sustainability and also looking at the interface

between business and policy. Im currently

finishing off papers around corporate response

to climate change and sustainability and theOlympics. Going forward my emphasis will

be the implementation side of the University,

however, I think there will be a lot of lesson-

learnt work which we can disseminate to the

wider academic and practitioner communities.

Which four people dead or alive would you invite for dinner?

This is a hard one and would change depending

on when you asked me, there are so many

people who are probably more inspirational than

those I have chosen but youve only given me

four spaces!

David Attenborough maybe a little predictable

but his films were instrumental in my

understanding of the natural world as a kid and

I would love to hear more about his experience

off camera; Gro Harlem Brundtland because

her work has had such an impact on how

sustainable development is viewed by so many

different people and organisations; Chris Hoy

because he is awesome in his dedication and

sportsmanship; and my Grandma she was anamazingly strong yet gentle woman and it would

be a great way to share with her a taste of my

adult life.

Whats your most frequently askedquestion?

At the moment week one in a new role!

what is your job all about? But more generally,

What is sustainability?

What are your main interestsoutside of work?

I love playing cricket and baking.


reporter issue 569

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