Layout 2 - University of Central Lancashire

Snapshots of 2011
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January
Fridge of the future
Product design experts from UCLan team up with online
supermarket Ocado to predict the evolution of the domestic fridge.
The team forecast that fridges could evolve into something truly
cerebral, offering predictive, fully automated shopping, robotic
‘stock’ rotation, self-cleaning routines and waste food
management, all of which could change the way we eat forever. 1
Lift off for wind energy project
UCLan hosts the official unveiling of its revolutionary wind power
research project ‘IsWindTech’, funded by a £1.1 million grant by
the European Regional Development Fund. The project, which will
position UCLan as a world leader in the development of
innovative small wind energy technologies, aims to improve the
efficiency, quality, reliability and safety of the systems while
encouraging SME uptake. 2
Local partnership creates eco-friendly
building material
Reader in Contemporary Ceramics David Binns with Dr Alasdair
Bremner team up with local commercial recycler and social welfare
charity Recycling Lives to create a unique eco-material that can be
used in architecture and interior design.
By combining recycled glass and ceramic waste, the duo from the
Silicate Research Unit, have created a high-value, commercially
attractive material which can be used to create kitchen worktops,
building cladding and other architectural features. 3
February
Engineering sports excellence
UCLan teams up with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and
BAE Systems to explain to over 100 pupils from schools across the
North West how sporting success can be achieved through science.
Through a series of live demonstrations, incorporating Formula
racing, running performance, hovercraft racing and cycling, the aim
is to encourage more students to consider engineering as a future
education and career choice. 4
UCLan highlighted in national experience
league table
A national student experience survey undertaken by the Times
Higher Education ranks UCLan among the UK’s top ten high
performing modern universities.
The results place UCLan in 41st position overall and top modern
university in the North West. The University ranks in the top ten
overall for a good Students’ Union (7th) and a good library and
library opening hours (7th).
Green light for Green Week
UCLan brings the North Pole to Preston when it creates a polar
bear ice sculpture as part of its Green Week activities. The ‘Think
Before We Sink’ ice statue is part of UCLan’s third annual Green
Week programme, which aims to get students, staff and visitors to
the University thinking about climate change, sustainability and
environmental issues.
Pictured L-R: UCLan Students' Union Campaigns Officer Laura
Hicks, UCLan's Executive Director of Operations Len Lewis,
International Journalism student Shiza Nisar and International
Journalism student Megna Kalvani. 5
March
UCLan journalists scoop BBC award
At BBC North’s Developing Talent Conference, held at UCLan,
a team of journalism students from the University win a BBC
Partnership Award for Innovation. The award, presented by Victoria
Wood, is for the students’ multimedia coverage of Chancellor
George Osborne’s Spending Review address.
The Conference attracts hundreds of students from across the
North to UCLan with workshops centred on the theme of ‘talent
and technology’, and includes expert advice from Nick Park and
Victoria Wood. 6
Dragons’ Den founder praises UCLan's
entrepreneurial drive
Doug Richard, one of the original Dragons’ Den stars, praises
UCLan for its commitment to turning academic research into
entrepreneurial activity. Over 180 UCLan academics and
researchers attend a workshop led by Doug as he shows them
how to understand the potential business impact of their
academic research. The event is part of a nationwide Enterprising
Academic Programme that is backed by Minister for Business and
Enterprise, Mark Prisk MP.
Pictured L-R: UCLan Director of Research, Dr Robert Walsh, Doug
Richard, CEO of the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship
and Ian Robertson, International Commercial Director. 7
UCLan welcomes African sports coaches to Preston
As part of an exchange project, sports coaches from Zambia and
Rwanda arrive at UCLan to teach local schoolchildren about
traditional African games and exchange best practice ideas with
Preston sports coaches and UCLan’s sports coaching students.
Cliff Olsson, a Senior Lecturer from the School of Sport, Tourism
and The Outdoors, helps to co-ordinate the project. 8
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