RISE May-June 2009 - University of Salford
RISE May-June 2009 - University of Salford
RISE May-June 2009 - University of Salford
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<strong>RISE</strong><br />
Research Innovation and InternationaliSation NEws<br />
MAY/JUNE <strong>2009</strong><br />
Inside this issue ...<br />
AIR and SPACE<br />
CONFERENCE<br />
FOLLOWING IN DANTE’s FOOTSTEPS<br />
US NAVAL HISTORICAL PRIZE<br />
DRIVING REGENERATION FORWARD<br />
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH WEEK<br />
plus much more ...
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
Welcome to the second<br />
edition <strong>of</strong> <strong>RISE</strong>, the new<br />
Research Innovation and<br />
InternationaliS ation<br />
NEwsletter from the <strong>of</strong>fices<br />
<strong>of</strong> the PVC (Research &<br />
Innovation) and the Office<br />
<strong>of</strong> International Relations at<br />
the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>. The aim <strong>of</strong> <strong>RISE</strong> is<br />
to demonstrate our expertise in research,<br />
innovation and internationalisation and<br />
to reach out locally, nationally and<br />
inter-nationally.<br />
In this issue you will see examples <strong>of</strong> the wide range <strong>of</strong> research<br />
expertise that the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> has and projects that the<br />
<strong>University</strong> is currently undertaking. These are as diverse and<br />
wonderful as the CASE Centre for Control and Systems Engineering<br />
collaborating with Airbus Toulouse in France on optimised power<br />
systems, architecture and energy storage for electric aircraft, and<br />
research being undertaken by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Phil Craig, who was<br />
recently honoured by the Chinese Government for his work<br />
preventing the spread <strong>of</strong> a killer parasitic disease – potentially<br />
saving the lives <strong>of</strong> thousands <strong>of</strong> people in China’s Sichuan Province.<br />
There are also articles on post-disaster management, hydrogen<br />
storage materials for use in fuel cells in cars, planning and<br />
regeneration in urban areas, the use <strong>of</strong> urban knowledge to shape<br />
critical infrastructure, research on homelessness and even acoustic<br />
research into the humour <strong>of</strong> flatulence!<br />
You can also read about some <strong>of</strong> the prizes won by researchers<br />
across the <strong>University</strong>, such as the US Naval Historical Prize and the<br />
Royal Astronomical Society Award, and honours and awards<br />
received by postgraduate research students, including one recently<br />
completed PhD student whose findings have directly informed and<br />
influenced the 2008 NICE guidelines on Chronic Kidney Disease<br />
Management.<br />
Research at the <strong>University</strong> has had to change and adapt with the<br />
times. <strong>Salford</strong> is currently positioning its research areas along the<br />
<strong>University</strong>’s six themes that cover energy, media, health & wellbeing,<br />
human rights, crime & security, innovation & enterprise and the<br />
built environment. You will find more details about these plans<br />
inside this issue in the Scoping Studies section. Whatever changes<br />
take place within the research structures over the next few years,<br />
here at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> our main goal is to carry on<br />
developing our national and international reputation as a<br />
research-led institution that creates and applies new ideas and<br />
creates opportunities for individuals and the knowledge economy. I<br />
would like to take this opportunity to invite not only my colleagues<br />
within the <strong>University</strong>, but all our current external, regional,<br />
national, international and potential new partners to come on this<br />
exciting and worthwhile journey with us. As partners we can be<br />
strong, creative and innovative, generating new pathways into<br />
research that produces results applicable to the real world.
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
RESEARCH NEWS<br />
Inside<br />
Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
26 RESEARCH SCOPING STUDIES FOR<br />
NEW UNIVERSITY THEMES<br />
27 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION:<br />
SHAPING THE FUTURE REPORT: HEALTH,<br />
SOCIAL CARE AND WELLBEING<br />
28 INNOVATION & ENTERP<strong>RISE</strong> /<br />
ENTREPRENEURSHIP<br />
29 THE ENERGY THEME<br />
30 MEDIA AND CREATIVE TECHNOLOGIES /<br />
INDUSTRIES<br />
31 CRIME AND SECURITY<br />
23<br />
14<br />
NEW RESEARCH ON<br />
SCRI EXPERTISE<br />
HOMELESSNESS<br />
RECOGNISED<br />
32 NEW APPOINTMENTS<br />
34 POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH NEWS<br />
36 POSTGRADUATE Awards<br />
42 FORTHCOMING EVENTS<br />
INTERNATIONAL NEWS<br />
38 CHINA-UK COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS<br />
39 UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD EXCEEDS UK<br />
NORM FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF<br />
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS<br />
40 GETTING TO KNOW OUR STUDENTS<br />
40 MORE ENTRY POINTS, MORE<br />
FLEXIBILITY, MORE INTERNATIONAL<br />
STUDENTS…<br />
41 SALFORD TAKES ON THE UNIVERSITIES<br />
OF THE WORLD!<br />
13<br />
SHAKESPEARE<br />
INTERPRETED<br />
4 SALFORD RESEARCH CONTRIBUTING TO<br />
CONFLICT MITIGATION AND POST-DISASTER<br />
RECONSTRUCTION IN SRI LANKA<br />
6 WRISTBAND TRIALS<br />
6 KNOWLEDGE INTENSIVE ORGANISATIONS<br />
6 WHOOPEE!<br />
7 DISCIPLINE HOPPING RESEARCH<br />
7 NEW FUNDING FOR FUNCTIONAL<br />
ELECTRICAL STIMULATION (FES) AND<br />
REHABILITATION ROBOTICS<br />
8 DRIVING REGENERATION FORWARD<br />
8 ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY AWARD<br />
8 ‘BUCKYBALLS’ AND FUEL CELLS IN CARS<br />
9 BAKING WITH ROBOTS<br />
9 PROFESSOR vs PARASITE!<br />
10 US NAVAL HISTORICAL PRIZE<br />
10 SALFORD RESEARCH, MUSIC AND POETRY<br />
10 COMMUNITY COHESION<br />
11 WORK LIFE BALANCE in FRANCE and UK<br />
11 ART IN GAMES<br />
11 BUILDING EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS<br />
12 INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH WEEK<br />
12 FOLLOWING IN DANTE’s FOOTSTEPS<br />
12 DEHEMS: Domestic Energy Consumerism &<br />
Behaviour Change<br />
13 WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION<br />
13 SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH BIDDING<br />
14 FACULTY TV<br />
15 SYSTEM DYNAMICS SOCIETY<br />
15 DARWIN’S DECLINE<br />
16 CASE CENTRE IN CONTROL AND SYSTEMS<br />
ENGINEERING<br />
17 AIR and SPACE CONFERENCE<br />
18 THIK LAB: DESIGNED FOR INTERACTION<br />
AND COLLABORATION<br />
19 RESEARCH REPOSITORY INFORMATION<br />
AVAILABLE TO ALL<br />
19 ALAS POOR YORICK!<br />
20 URBAN KNOWLEDGE FOR SHAPING<br />
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: NEW<br />
FRAMEWORKS FOR CITY-REGIONS<br />
20 GLOBAL SPORTS FORUM<br />
21 VISITING SCHOLAR AT JUDGE BUSINESS<br />
SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY<br />
21 SUCCESSFUL BIDDING WITH BUHU<br />
22 THE FUTURE OF TELEVISION IS THE<br />
INTERNET AND MOBILE<br />
23 KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PARTNERSHIPS<br />
(KTP) WITH VALVES INSTRUMENTS PLUS<br />
(VIP) ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY!<br />
24 COMMERCIAL & TECHNOLOGY<br />
TRANSFER<br />
3
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
SALFORD<br />
RESEARCH<br />
CONTRIBUTING<br />
TO CONFLICT<br />
MITIGATION AND<br />
POST-DISASTER<br />
RECONSTRUCTION<br />
IN SRI LANKA<br />
A team <strong>of</strong> researchers from the<br />
Research Institute for the Built &<br />
Human Environment are working on<br />
a range <strong>of</strong> activities that will<br />
contribute to conflict mitigation and<br />
recovery in Sri Lanka.<br />
These activities are planned in support <strong>of</strong> the European Commission, UK<br />
Department for International Development and the World Bank’s objective<br />
<strong>of</strong> supporting conflict affected communities in Sri Lanka, in particular<br />
helping Internally Displaced People (IDPs), returnees and host<br />
communities. Infrastructure in the North and East <strong>of</strong> Sri Lanka has<br />
suffered from damage and neglect during the war, and from an absence<br />
<strong>of</strong> new investment.<br />
When massive development projects are launched there is a great demand<br />
for technically trained manpower. The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> research team<br />
is promoting a community-based approach to acquiring construction skills,<br />
assisting the process <strong>of</strong> social reintegration while alleviating poverty.<br />
The problems that the team have encountered in Sri Lanka<br />
are manifold, including:<br />
> Ineffective, inadequate and conflict insensitive community<br />
infrastructure development and reconstruction<br />
> Inadequate representation <strong>of</strong> vulnerable groups in the infrastructure<br />
development process (e.g., women, IDPs, ethnic minorities)<br />
> Lack <strong>of</strong> integration <strong>of</strong> gender considerations into conflict prevention<br />
> Need to empower women during post-conflict recovery and<br />
mainstreaming women into decision-making and vulnerability<br />
reduction<br />
> Need to promote ethnically sensitive reconstruction that encourages<br />
inter-ethnic coexistence within communities<br />
> Informal non-state actors with inadequate construction skills and<br />
knowledge to support and deliver infrastructure development<br />
and reconstruction<br />
4
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
> Inability <strong>of</strong> non-state actors to influence policies and plans that affect<br />
local infrastructure development and reconstruction<br />
> Inadequate capacity and understanding among state actors<br />
on community infrastructure development and reconstruction<br />
requirements and<br />
> Inadequate inter-community participation in infrastructure<br />
development and reconstruction activities<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dilanthi Amaratunga and Dr. Richard Haigh, leaders <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>University</strong> research team, recently launched and are the editors <strong>of</strong> The<br />
International Journal <strong>of</strong> Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment<br />
(www.emeraldinsight.com/ijdrbe.htm), to capture and disseminate<br />
knowledge pertaining to the reconstruction <strong>of</strong> conflict affected<br />
communities.<br />
The journal provides a unique forum for novel enquiries into the<br />
development and application <strong>of</strong> new and emerging practices as a source<br />
<strong>of</strong> innovation to challenge current practices, promote the exchange <strong>of</strong><br />
ideas between researchers, educators, practitioners and policy makers, and<br />
to influence disaster prevention, mitigation, response and reconstruction<br />
policies and practices.<br />
In addition to these specific activities, the <strong>Salford</strong> team, which includes<br />
academic staff, researchers and PhD candidates, is engaged in a range <strong>of</strong><br />
other disaster management related research initiatives with partners in<br />
Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and<br />
the USA.<br />
If you require further information about the team and its research,<br />
please contact Richard at: r.p.haigh@salford.ac.uk or<br />
Dilanthi at: r.d.g.amaratunga@salford.ac.uk<br />
This journal (the only one <strong>of</strong> its kind) aims to develop the skills and<br />
knowledge <strong>of</strong> the built environment pr<strong>of</strong>essions in strategic and practical<br />
aspects <strong>of</strong> disaster (both natural and man-made, including<br />
conflicts) preparedness, rehabilitation and reconstruction to mitigate the<br />
effects <strong>of</strong> disasters nationally and internationally.<br />
5
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
WRISTBAND TRIALS<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> is part <strong>of</strong> collaborative team, along<br />
with <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Liverpool, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Manchester and<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Plymouth, conducting trials to test<br />
acupressure wrist bands as a drug-free alternative for<br />
chemotherapy-related nausea. The trial will be the first <strong>of</strong> its<br />
kind to run in the NHS and is funded by the National Institute<br />
for Health Research Health Technology Assessment<br />
programme. More than 75% <strong>of</strong> patients undergoing<br />
chemotherapy experience nausea, this can impact negatively<br />
on their quality <strong>of</strong> life. Acupressure wrist bands can reduce<br />
the symptoms <strong>of</strong> travel sickness by applying force to the Nei<br />
Kuan pressure point on each wrist.<br />
The national study <strong>of</strong> more than 700 patients, at nine NHS cancer<br />
centres, will now measure the cost and clinical effectiveness<br />
<strong>of</strong> acupressure wrist bands in reducing and controlling chemotherapyrelated<br />
nausea. Led by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Mari Lloyd-Williams from the <strong>University</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> Liverpool’s Academic Palliative and Supportive Care Studies Group,<br />
the team will analyse a wide range <strong>of</strong> patients diagnosed with different<br />
types <strong>of</strong> cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, in order to<br />
discover which patient groups would most benefit from the<br />
intervention. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Lloyd-Williams said: “Developments in<br />
anti-emetic drugs – used to combat nausea and vomiting – have<br />
decreased the symptoms suffered by chemotherapy patients but nausea<br />
remains a debilitating and poorly controlled symptom. Patients rank<br />
nausea and vomiting amongst the most distressing side effects <strong>of</strong><br />
chemotherapy. In some cases, poorly controlled symptoms can lead to<br />
patients choosing to stop potentially curative treatment. If the trials are<br />
successful, we should be able to control this debilitating symptom with<br />
a drug-free therapy. The wrist bands could potentially help patients to<br />
maintain a good quality <strong>of</strong> life throughout their treatment.”<br />
For more information on this project contact Dr. Adam Garrow at:<br />
a.garrow@salford.ac.uk<br />
KNOWLEDGE INTENSIVE<br />
ORGANISATIONS<br />
Dr Maria Burke <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> Business School has contributed a<br />
chapter entitled “Cultural Issues: An Exploration Towards<br />
Improved Knowledge Management Relationships” to<br />
The Handbook <strong>of</strong> Research on Knowledge-Intensive<br />
Organizations, edited by D. Jemielniak, Kozminski Business<br />
School, Poland and J.Kociatkiewicz, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Essex, UK.<br />
This book has just been published and <strong>of</strong>fers an international collection<br />
<strong>of</strong> studies on knowledge-intensive organizations with insight into<br />
organizational realities as varied as universities, consulting agencies,<br />
corporations, and high-tech start-ups. The research investigated<br />
knowledge management in Poland, Russia and the UK and <strong>of</strong>fers new<br />
perspectives for the future. Ongoing related projects will take the<br />
research to a new stage and examine knowledge sharing in SMEs in<br />
Poland, Hungary and the UK.<br />
To find out more about Maria’s work please contact her at:<br />
m.e.burke@salford.ac.uk<br />
WHOOPEE!<br />
The funniest whoopee cushion sounds are long and<br />
whiny, according to research into the humour <strong>of</strong><br />
flatulence undertaken by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Trevor Cox, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong><br />
Acoustics at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>. People are more<br />
amused by drawn-out noises than abrupt toots, with a<br />
seven-second burst most likely to provoke a laugh.<br />
While whoopee cushions have traditionally been the practical joke <strong>of</strong><br />
choice for cheeky schoolboys, women actually find the sound<br />
slightly funnier than men. The surprising results were based on a<br />
survey <strong>of</strong> 34,000 people who were played six <strong>of</strong> twenty possible<br />
whoopee cushion sounds and asked to rank the noises by how much<br />
they made them laugh. The research on www.soundsfunny.org was<br />
carried out to help celebrate the charity event Comic Relief, which this<br />
year features the whoopee cushion alongside its traditional red<br />
nose logo.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Cox, who helped set up the survey, said that the research<br />
would help engage young people in the science <strong>of</strong> sound, as well as<br />
having a practical purpose: “The whoopee cushion has a great deal in<br />
common with the human voice and how instruments work, so it is a<br />
memorable way <strong>of</strong> portraying the principles <strong>of</strong> acoustics,” he said.<br />
“This research will enable us to engineer the ultimate whoopee<br />
cushion, and fine-tune the world's funniest design.” The experiment<br />
produced one more result that will surprise any parent who has endured<br />
the repeated pranks <strong>of</strong> a mischievous child; flatulent sounds<br />
apparently get funnier the more you listen to them.<br />
For more information on Trevor’s work please contact him at:<br />
t.j.cox@salford.ac.uk<br />
6
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
NEW FUNDING FOR<br />
FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL<br />
STIMULATION (FES) AND<br />
REHABILITATION ROBOTICS<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>’s FES research team have recently<br />
secured another research grant, worth £470,000, from the<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Health’s i4i NEAT funding stream.<br />
DISCIPLINE HOPPING<br />
RESEARCH<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> is taking part in a major new<br />
research initiative linking the Institute for Materials Research<br />
(IMR) and the School <strong>of</strong> Health Care Pr<strong>of</strong>essions (HCP), with a<br />
major discipline hopping grant from the Medical Research<br />
Council (MRC).<br />
Dr Richard D Pilkington, the senior investigator from the IMR and Gillian<br />
Cr<strong>of</strong>ts co-investigator from the HCP stated “this is a very exciting<br />
project linking the expertise <strong>of</strong> the IMR with that <strong>of</strong> the HCP”.<br />
The project will focus on the use <strong>of</strong> Laser Induced Breakdown<br />
Spectroscopy (LIBS) to look at bone density as a measure <strong>of</strong> suitability<br />
for bone assessment in dental implants.<br />
Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a powerful Optical<br />
Emission Spectroscopy (OES) analytical tool capable <strong>of</strong> sampling a wide<br />
range <strong>of</strong> solids, liquids and gases for research and industrial applications<br />
and has been successfully employed in the study and identification <strong>of</strong><br />
malignant tissue cells and also to identify carious teeth. The <strong>Salford</strong> LIBS<br />
group is the only one <strong>of</strong> its type in the UK and has been studying the<br />
fundamentals <strong>of</strong> this exciting new materials analysis technique for a<br />
number <strong>of</strong> years. The research will compare results with those obtained<br />
using conventional radiographic and computerised tomography<br />
techniques. If successful, this project will lead to the development <strong>of</strong> a<br />
safe replacement for current bone analysis technologies, prior to tooth<br />
implant surgery.<br />
The project begins <strong>of</strong>ficially on the 1st <strong>June</strong> and will develop new<br />
systems for hand/arm rehabilitation after stroke based on a combined<br />
approach utilising both functional electrical stimulation (FES) <strong>of</strong><br />
partially paralysed muscles and a novel rehabilitation robotics system,<br />
using pneumatic actuation, to guide and support the arm. The project<br />
will build on the previous work <strong>of</strong> the partners who include the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Leeds, the National Clinical FES Centre (based at Salisbury<br />
District Hospital) and Grampian NHS Trust.<br />
<strong>Salford</strong>’s FES research is led by Dr Laurence Kenney and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor David<br />
Howard (both engineers) and the team includes Christine Smith (senior<br />
lecturer and physiotherapist) and Dr Ed Chadwick (research fellow and<br />
engineer). The work is also supported by the NHS User Involvement<br />
team in the School <strong>of</strong> Nursing (Tracey Williamson and Julia Ryan). The<br />
new grant is in addition to two existing contracts, one from the<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Health's i4i HTD funding stream to develop an electrode<br />
array system for correcting drop foot after stroke, and one from the<br />
Stroke Association for a clinical trial <strong>of</strong> FES in upper limb rehabilitation.<br />
The <strong>University</strong> currently has over £900,000 <strong>of</strong> current contracts for FES<br />
research, bringing total funding for FES research (since 2001) to over<br />
£1.5 million.<br />
FES is just one part <strong>of</strong> the cross-faculty research in "Biomedical<br />
Engineering and Biomechanics" involving the Schools <strong>of</strong> Health Care<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essions (HCP) and Computing, Science and Engineering (CSE),<br />
bringing cross faculty current collaborative research contracts worth<br />
approximately £2.8 million.<br />
If you want to find out more about the FES work at <strong>Salford</strong> contact:<br />
d.howard@salford.ac.uk<br />
If you would like to know more about this project contact Richard at:<br />
r.d.pilkington@salford.ac.uk<br />
7
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
DRIVING REGENERATION<br />
FORWARD<br />
Researchers on the SURegen project team have been looking<br />
into the complexity and lack <strong>of</strong> access to data which <strong>of</strong>ten<br />
leads to problems when planning to regenerate urban areas.<br />
Because <strong>of</strong> this decisions are made without built<br />
environment pr<strong>of</strong>essionals, planning authorities, developers<br />
and communities agreeing whether a plan is acceptable, let<br />
alone sustainable.<br />
These problems could be overcome by developing communication skills<br />
and collaborative working methods, but so far no one has suggested<br />
how to do this. The web-based SURegen workbench will be one the<br />
first tools <strong>of</strong> its kind to propose a solution. Now entering the second <strong>of</strong><br />
four years’ funding, the EPSRC funded Sustainable Urban Regeneration<br />
(SURegen) project team are developing ideas on how to create an<br />
effective virtual workbench by working with a panel <strong>of</strong> regeneration<br />
experts, including those working on the Liverpool Road Corridor (A57)<br />
at <strong>Salford</strong> City Council.<br />
The research team is the result <strong>of</strong> collaboration between five other<br />
universities and ten partners including local authorities, NGOs,<br />
architects, engineers and construction companies. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Steve<br />
Curwell, project leader, said: “The SURegen workbench will help<br />
decision makers in urban regeneration programmes to collaborate more<br />
effectively and to learn key lessons from past mistakes by using case<br />
studies <strong>of</strong> best practice.” <strong>Salford</strong> <strong>University</strong> was chosen by the<br />
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to lead the<br />
SURegen project, awarding £2.5m-worth <strong>of</strong> funding from its £38m<br />
Sustainable Urban Environment (SUE) research programme. Industrial<br />
partners have contributed an additional £0.5m.<br />
For more information on the project contact Samantha Bowker on<br />
s.l.bowker@salford.ac.uk or visit SURegen at: www.suregen.co.uk<br />
ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL<br />
SOCIETY AWARD<br />
Solar physicist Dr David Tsiklauri, from the <strong>Salford</strong> Space and<br />
Solar Plasma Physics Group, has been honoured by the Royal<br />
Astronomical Society (RAS).<br />
David, who lectures in space technology, has received the Fowler Award<br />
for Geophysics for his work on the heating <strong>of</strong> the solar corona - dubbed<br />
“one <strong>of</strong> the major unsolved problems <strong>of</strong> solar physics”. He was one <strong>of</strong><br />
a number <strong>of</strong> astronomers and geophysicists from the UK and across the<br />
world to be recognised by the RAS in its annual list <strong>of</strong> medals and<br />
awards. The prizes were presented at the National Astronomy Meeting<br />
in April <strong>2009</strong>. David has already identified a new mechanism for<br />
accelerating electrons using a specific type <strong>of</strong> wave disturbance. It had<br />
never been considered before and could be crucial to explaining the<br />
heating system.<br />
For more information on David’s work please contact him at<br />
d.tsiklauri@salford.ac.uk<br />
‘BUCKYBALLS’ AND FUEL<br />
CELLS IN CARS!<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Keith Ross, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ian Morrison and Daniel<br />
Roach have been awarded £360K by the EPSRC to develop a<br />
new way <strong>of</strong> interpreting coherent inelastic neutron<br />
scattering from polycrystals.<br />
For single crystal samples, this<br />
technique is widely used to measure<br />
phonon dispersion curves<br />
which can then be directly interpreted<br />
in terms <strong>of</strong> interatomic<br />
interactions. For polycrystals,<br />
however, the measured data<br />
becomes very complex and<br />
cannot be directly interpreted.<br />
To get round this, the proposers have developed a method <strong>of</strong> directly<br />
simulating the scattering expected for a given model <strong>of</strong> the crystal. So<br />
far, it has been demonstrated for the case <strong>of</strong> well crystallised graphite.<br />
The Project Team are currently trying to interpret the complex scattering<br />
obtained from a natural graphite taken from rock strata that has<br />
been deformed over geological time.<br />
This shows much more complex scattering which, it is believed, comes<br />
from partial stacking faults produced by the deformation. If these early<br />
findings are true, it would appear to be the first time that the<br />
dynamics <strong>of</strong> such lattice defects have been observed. The research team<br />
will be applying this approach to both nano- materials, such as carbon<br />
nanotubes and fullerenes (so called ‘buckyballs’) and hydrogen storage<br />
materials for use on fuel cells in cars.<br />
8<br />
For more information on this project please contact<br />
d.k.ross@salford.ac.uk
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
PROFESSOR vs PARASITE!<br />
A <strong>Salford</strong> <strong>University</strong> scientist has been honoured by the<br />
Chinese government for his work preventing the spread <strong>of</strong> a<br />
killer parasitic disease – potentially saving the lives <strong>of</strong><br />
thousands <strong>of</strong> people in the country’s Sichuan Province.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Phil Craig has visited the<br />
Ganze Tibetan Autonomous<br />
Prefecture in Sichuan Province<br />
every year since 2000, researching<br />
a dangerous tapeworm which is<br />
transmitted from animals to<br />
humans, causing parasitic cysts to<br />
grow in the liver and leading to<br />
poor health and, eventually, death<br />
in many cases.<br />
In the last ten years alone, an international team<br />
including Chinese physicians, directed by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Craig, has screened<br />
the livers <strong>of</strong> more than 10,000 people using portable ultrasound<br />
machines – with a 10% detection rate. Following Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Craig’s<br />
research, the Province’s health authority has introduced a programme<br />
providing free-<strong>of</strong>-charge treatment to those affected – many <strong>of</strong> whom<br />
are too poor to afford private health care.<br />
BAKING WITH ROBOTS<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> heads a consortium <strong>of</strong> the country's<br />
leading independent robotic and automation facilities, this<br />
consortium working with CenFRA Ltd, Europe's only centre<br />
for food robotics and automation, is helping the bakery<br />
industry remain competitive during this extremely volatile<br />
economic time with its specialist guidance and support<br />
on the use <strong>of</strong> automation and robotics.<br />
Fosters Bakery is the latest company to<br />
reap the benefits <strong>of</strong> improved<br />
productivity following its £1.5million<br />
investment in automation and<br />
robotics systems at its Barnsley plant.<br />
Investing in automation can help<br />
ensure the long-term sustainability <strong>of</strong><br />
the baking industry, and is money well<br />
spent according to Fosters' operations<br />
director Michael Taylor.<br />
Mr Taylor commented: “Fosters<br />
designed a fully bespoke baking robot<br />
to load and unload a real oven. Unfortunately, while the design was<br />
great, there were problems with getting the robotic solution to work”.<br />
CenFRA engaged with Fosters and evaluated the baking robot before<br />
setting out a project plan to get the robot up and running.<br />
What CenFRA does prior to the introduction and integration <strong>of</strong> robotic<br />
equipment is key to getting things to work. Through the expertise <strong>of</strong><br />
CenFRA's research and development team, the company has been able<br />
to re-design and re-formulate the robot and support the re-evaluation<br />
and integration <strong>of</strong> this robot in the bakery, which is due to be complete<br />
in April <strong>2009</strong>."<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Craig has been awarded the Sichuan Jinding Prize for his<br />
contributions to health care in the Province. He said: “The Tibetan<br />
people we work with are poor semi-nomadic pastoralists that live in<br />
mud-brick houses or tents 15,000 feet above sea level on the eastern<br />
Tibetan Plateau.<br />
They have many health problems including tuberculosis, nutritional<br />
deficits, arthritic problems and parasitic infections. They share living<br />
areas with livestock, dogs and wild rodents which all may carry the<br />
tapeworm parasite, so the risk <strong>of</strong> infection to people is extremely high.<br />
As well as researching how the parasite is transmitted between animals<br />
and diagnosing those infected, we’ve been able to educate the local<br />
people and influence the Province to provide free treatment.”<br />
For more information on Phil’s work please contact him at<br />
p.s.craig@salford.ac.uk or read more about his award at<br />
http://www.rgc.salford.ac.uk/cms/news/article/index.phpid=117<br />
Others in the bakery industry can also benefit from CenFRA's expertise<br />
and the organisation is <strong>of</strong>fering all bakery companies in the Northern<br />
Way free audits, while there is only a modest cost to those located<br />
beyond this region.<br />
CenFRA is funded principally by Yorkshire Forward but with additional<br />
support from Northern Way and the Centre is in partnership with a<br />
consortium <strong>of</strong> the country's leading independent robotic and<br />
automation facilities headed by the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>.<br />
If you would like further information on CenFRA please contact Nigel<br />
Hall at n.r.v.hall@salford.ac.uk or visit : www.cenfra.co.uk<br />
9
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
US NAVAL HISTORICAL PRIZE<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>’s Dr. Douglas Ford has been awarded<br />
the 2008 Rear Admiral Ernest M. Eller Naval History Prize,<br />
awarded by the US Naval Historical Centre and the US Naval<br />
Historical Foundation, for the best article in a pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
journal during a given year (2007).<br />
The article explains the features which led the US Navy to underestimate<br />
the capabilities <strong>of</strong> the Japanese navy during the interwar years and<br />
illustrates how the shortage <strong>of</strong> reliable information was a key problem<br />
which hindered the Americans’ capacity to develop a realistic<br />
understanding <strong>of</strong> their adversary. The misperceptions, in turn,<br />
prevented the US Navy from developing an effective method <strong>of</strong><br />
combating the Imperial Japanese fleet. Douglas, a full time lecturer in<br />
Military History at the School <strong>of</strong> ESPaCH and member <strong>of</strong> European<br />
Studies Research Institute, has published several scholarly articles on<br />
British and US intelligence on Japan’s armed forces during the Pacific<br />
War, which have appeared in leading international journals, as well as a<br />
book, Britain’s Secret War Against Japan, 1937-45 (Routledge, 2006).<br />
Douglas is currently preparing a monograph on US intelligence and the<br />
Japanese navy during the Pacific War.<br />
For more information on Douglas’ work please contact him at:<br />
d.ford@salford.ac.uk<br />
SALFORD RESEARCH,<br />
MUSIC AND POETRY<br />
Dr. Judy Kendall, currently researching into the parallels<br />
between music and poetry, and how to map music lexicon<br />
and theory on to the process <strong>of</strong> composition and<br />
performance <strong>of</strong> poetry, recently held a workshop<br />
where she developed and wrote the lyrics for a lullaby for<br />
the community acapella choir, Ordsall Acapella Singers.<br />
The choir is based in Ordsall Everyone Community Centre. The singers<br />
are a community group boasting members from all over <strong>Salford</strong>, <strong>of</strong> all<br />
ages and from a variety <strong>of</strong> backgrounds. A significant proportion <strong>of</strong><br />
members come from the Ordsall estate.<br />
Several other members work at <strong>Salford</strong> <strong>University</strong>. The lullaby was<br />
commissioned by Ordsall Hall to celebrate its refurbishments.<br />
The music to the lullaby chorus was written by the choir’s Director, Jeff<br />
Borradaile, and the verses were sung extempore by members <strong>of</strong> the<br />
choir at two concerts this February at Ordsall Hall. The choir will<br />
continue to perform the lullaby at its regular concerts as part <strong>of</strong> their<br />
efforts to represent the spirit <strong>of</strong> Ordsall Hall.<br />
If you would like to know more about Judy’s research project please<br />
contact her at: j.kendall@salford.ac.uk<br />
For those who might want to book or join the choir please contact<br />
Gail Skelly: on 0161 848 8779<br />
To find out more about Ordsall Hall please visit:<br />
http://www.salford.gov.uk/leisure/museums/ordsallhall/<br />
ghostcam/ordsallhall-history.htm<br />
COMMUNITY COHESION<br />
A <strong>Salford</strong> academic has warned that the UK trend for<br />
segregated neighbourhoods is undermining community<br />
cohesion – potentially leading to community fragmentation,<br />
economic instability and poor living standards.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Andy Steele from the Research Institute for the Built & Human<br />
Environment, speaking recently at the International Research week,<br />
hascautioned that isolated communities such as retirement villages,<br />
‘hotel-style’ city centre living, and close-knit Asian areas are<br />
characterised by lifestyle aspirations rather than real need, and could be<br />
unsustainable in the future. He further warns that the UK trend for<br />
segregated neighbourhoods is undermining community<br />
cohesion – potentially leading to community fragmentation, economic<br />
instability and poor living standards. He goes on to point out that some<br />
segregated Asian communities are centred on just two or three streets.<br />
Their desire to stay in that community means they are sometimes<br />
willing to suffer poor standards such as damp. This could lead to<br />
economic vulnerability. Similarly young pr<strong>of</strong>essionals living in ‘hotel<br />
style’ apartments, and older middle-class white people in USA-style<br />
retirement villages are cut <strong>of</strong>f from wider society.” The solution, he<br />
suggests, is mixed communities <strong>of</strong> older and younger people, black and<br />
minority ethnic groups, Gypsies and Travellers, and economic migrants<br />
- promoting diversity at a local level and uniting diverse social groups.<br />
He concluded by saying: “I would seriously question whether these<br />
kinds <strong>of</strong> segregated housing communities are responding to a need or<br />
creating a new market. Is it what people want or is it the housing<br />
industry’s idea <strong>of</strong> community”<br />
If you would like more information on Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Steele’s work please<br />
contact him on: a.steele@salford.ac.uk<br />
10
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
ART IN GAMES<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> researcher, Mathias Fuchs, a<br />
video games designer, has created an animated game<br />
showing divisions within Europe – earning the recognition<br />
<strong>of</strong> the influential Saatchi art blog.<br />
Mathias, from the School <strong>of</strong> Art & Design, used computer games<br />
technology to create an animated map <strong>of</strong> Europe which displaying<br />
groups in conflict such as in Northern Ireland, and the Balkans. The<br />
game, was shown at the opening <strong>of</strong> a new gallery in Vienna last month<br />
and previewed by the Saatchi blog – one <strong>of</strong> the world’s most respected<br />
websites devoted to the arts. Players are able to guide characters<br />
around the map triggering discordant national anthems and angry<br />
dialogue. It uses games engines, used in current best-selling computer<br />
games, were employed to create effects such as fire and smoke.<br />
Mathias said: “Art using computer games technology is a growing<br />
movement. The elements <strong>of</strong> animation and interactivity that make<br />
games so popular commercially can also be exploited to <strong>of</strong>fer a<br />
different kind <strong>of</strong> artistic experience. In this case I wanted to show the<br />
theme <strong>of</strong> borderlines – how they define allegedly ethnic or political<br />
areas and are <strong>of</strong>ten conflict-laden, irrational, historically grown and<br />
completely arbitrary. The variety <strong>of</strong> languages, anthems and images that<br />
can demonstrate this theme make it a perfect subject for this medium.”<br />
If you would like to know more about Mathias’ work please contact him<br />
at: m.fuchs@salford.ac.uk<br />
WORK LIFE BALANCE<br />
in FRANCE and UK<br />
Dr Abigail Gregory's collaborative work with Dr. Susan<br />
Milner, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Bath, has led to an article due to<br />
be published in British Journal <strong>of</strong> Industrial Relations<br />
in March <strong>2009</strong> entitled “Trade Unions and<br />
Work-life Balance: Changing Times in France and the UK”<br />
The research on family-friendly working in Britain and France, with<br />
particular reference to fathers, derives from fieldwork carried out<br />
between 2001 and 2005 in insurance and social work in the two<br />
countries which was co-funded by the French Family Benefit Agency<br />
(Caisse Nationale des Allocations Familiales) and the British Academy.<br />
The project was based on a questionnaire survey, distributed to human<br />
resources (HR) <strong>of</strong>ficers in major insurance companies and local<br />
authorities in both countries. This was followed up with semistructured<br />
interviews with corporate HR <strong>of</strong>ficers, line managers, trades<br />
union representatives and a small number <strong>of</strong> employed parents in<br />
two case-study organizations in each sector in Britain and France. The<br />
project also entailed interviews with trades union representatives<br />
at national level and in the case study organizations in insurance and<br />
social work.<br />
For more information on Abigail’s work please contact her<br />
at: a.gregory@salford.ac.uk<br />
To view the article please go to: http://www3.interscience.<br />
wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/121588174/PDFSTART<br />
BUILDING EXCELLENCE<br />
IN THE ARTS<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Peter Barrett, Chair <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Salford</strong> Centre for<br />
Research and Innovation (SCRI) and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Pat Sterry<br />
(School <strong>of</strong> Art and Design) have contributed to a CABE/ACE<br />
guide entitled ‘Building Excellence in the Arts: a guide for<br />
clients’, (March <strong>2009</strong>).<br />
This guide and their contributions have arisen from a major AHRC<br />
funded project Peter and Pat researched with colleagues from<br />
Cambridge <strong>University</strong> called Designing Dynamic Environments for the<br />
Performing Arts (DeDEPA). The guide is designed to be used online and<br />
gives step by step advice to those engaged in projects on arts buildings,<br />
from minor remodelling to new buildings. CABE is the government’s<br />
advisor on architecture, urban design and public space.<br />
CABE also help local planners apply national design policy and advise<br />
developers and architects. ACE is the major funder <strong>of</strong> the arts in the UK,<br />
including significant investment in capital arts projects. These types <strong>of</strong><br />
projects have been criticised in the past by the NAO for cost and time<br />
overruns and this guidance is designed to help clients be more effective<br />
in their role. This new resource reflects Peter’s previous work on the<br />
briefing process and Pat's research in user consultation and design.<br />
To find out more about Peter or Pat’s work please contact<br />
p.s.barrett@salford.ac.uk or p.sterry@salford.ac.uk<br />
To download a copy <strong>of</strong> the CABE guide please go to<br />
http://www.cabe.org.uk/default.aspxcontentitemid=3045<br />
11
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
FOLLOWING IN<br />
DANTE’s FOOTSTEPS<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
RESEARCH WEEK<br />
On the 26th January, BuHu (The Research Institute for the<br />
Built & Human Environment), SoBE (The School <strong>of</strong> Built<br />
Environment SoBE), and SCRI (the EPSRC funded <strong>Salford</strong><br />
Centre for Research & Innovation) joined forces to launch the<br />
International Research Week at the Lowry in <strong>Salford</strong> Quays.<br />
This unique event brought together academic partners from leading<br />
Universities (Reading, Loughborough, TU, Delft and Middle East<br />
Technical <strong>University</strong>), along with other key players from the industry, to<br />
enhance and promote current research within the built<br />
environment community.<br />
The full week event comprised <strong>of</strong>:<br />
> The industry day – Sustainable Delivery <strong>of</strong> Housing<br />
(26th January <strong>2009</strong>)<br />
> International Research Symposium (27-28th January <strong>2009</strong>)<br />
> 9th International Postgraduate Research Conference<br />
(29-30th January <strong>2009</strong>)<br />
The conference included over 250 registered candidates, over 120<br />
accepted papers, rich presentations, panel discussions, and interactive<br />
workshops. The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> was honoured by the presence <strong>of</strong><br />
the <strong>Salford</strong> <strong>May</strong>or and the Lord <strong>May</strong>or <strong>of</strong> Manchester at the IPGRC<br />
dinner. The event was brought to a close with a prize award ceremony<br />
for best papers, sponsored by BuHu, SCRI, CIOB, Construct IT and<br />
Emerald Publishers. One <strong>of</strong> the highlights <strong>of</strong> the ceremony, was the<br />
‘BuHu BRANDON AWARD’ to honour the contribution <strong>of</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
Peter Brandon to the Built Environment. The IRW09 also acknowledged<br />
the generous contribution <strong>of</strong> £2000 from the CIOB to sponsor this<br />
event, and congratulated them for the 175 year anniversary <strong>of</strong> great<br />
achievements.<br />
If you would like further information on the event please contact<br />
Vian at: v.ahmed@salford.ac.uk<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> academic, Gillian Ania, has been invited to speak at<br />
an International Conference at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Cambridge in October<br />
<strong>2009</strong>, on representations and conceptions <strong>of</strong> the apocalypse in<br />
medieval and contemporary Italy. Her paper will discuss<br />
fin-de-millennium writers who are following in the steps <strong>of</strong> Dante,<br />
Boccaccio, Machiavelli, Manzoni and Leopardi, writers who all used<br />
apocalyptic motifs to comment on, and condemn their society. Gillian<br />
was also involved recently in the inaugural meeting <strong>of</strong> Mosaici, at the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Edinburgh. Mosaici is a new electronic Journal <strong>of</strong> Italian<br />
poetry, hosted by the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> St Andrews, and Gillian, who<br />
published her first collection <strong>of</strong> poems (Moments <strong>of</strong> Being) in 2005, will<br />
have joint responsibility for directing the Creative writing section <strong>of</strong> the<br />
journal. Gillian has been <strong>of</strong>fered the role <strong>of</strong> Visiting Pr<strong>of</strong>essor (spring <strong>of</strong><br />
2010) at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, to teach a<br />
module on Creative writing, and to organize, with colleagues, a series<br />
<strong>of</strong> public interviews with Italian writers. This will form part <strong>of</strong> her<br />
research on European Writers and Writing.<br />
For more information on Gillian’s work please contact her at:<br />
g.ania@salford.ac.uk<br />
DEHEMS: Domestic<br />
Energy Consumerism &<br />
Behaviour Change<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> is a major partner in the EU FP7<br />
funded project, Digital Environmental Home Energy<br />
Management System (DEHEMS).<br />
The aim <strong>of</strong> the project is to develop cutting edge technology for<br />
monitoring and assessing domestic energy usage, so that ultimately<br />
individuals are encouraged to change their behaviour towards<br />
conserving energy. Households across Europe will participate in this<br />
project, including the city councils <strong>of</strong> Manchester, Birmingham and<br />
Bristol. The homes, known as the Living Labs, will be installed with the<br />
DEHEMS system that will monitor appliance-level energy usage, detect<br />
energy usage patterns, and display real-time energy usage (and<br />
wastage) information.<br />
As energy is a source for increasing CO 2 emission, it is hoped that the<br />
DEHEMS project will provide the means and opportunity for individuals<br />
to take active responsibility in conserving energy. Dr David Kreps from<br />
the <strong>Salford</strong> Business School leads the project team at <strong>Salford</strong>, which<br />
includes Dr Vasughi Sundramoorthy, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Grahame Cooper,<br />
Dr Haifa Takruri-Rizk and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Nigel Linge from the School<br />
<strong>of</strong> Computing.<br />
For more information on this project please contact David at:<br />
d.g.kreps@salford.ac.uk or visit the project website at:<br />
http://www.dehems.eu<br />
12
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH<br />
BIDDING<br />
The latest round <strong>of</strong> the Research Bidding Support Fund has<br />
provided awards to support the preparation <strong>of</strong> a wide range<br />
<strong>of</strong> bids in areas as diverse as X-ray optics, Holocaust<br />
museums, parasites and jazz cultures. This scheme has been<br />
developed to support the <strong>University</strong>’s strategic objective <strong>of</strong><br />
achieving an annual research grants and contracts income <strong>of</strong><br />
£30 million by 2015.<br />
The fund is run twice per year and is designed to help <strong>of</strong>fset the costs<br />
<strong>of</strong> preliminary activities associated with putting together large-scale<br />
research bids, especially collaborative proposals involving industrial or<br />
academic partners. The fund provides awards up to a maximum <strong>of</strong><br />
£3,000 and can be used to support a range <strong>of</strong> activities, including<br />
travel, teaching time buy-out and preliminary research studies.<br />
For further information see www.rgc.salford.ac.uk/page/<br />
internal_funding or contact Matt Boswell in the Research &<br />
Graduate College on 0161 295 4301 or at:<br />
m.j.boswell@salford.ac.uk<br />
WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION<br />
The Research Centre for Construction Innovation (CCI) as part<br />
<strong>of</strong> the School <strong>of</strong> the Built Environment (SOBE) will be<br />
successfully entering their third year <strong>of</strong> supporting and<br />
training women to enter, stay and progress in the<br />
construction industry.<br />
Dr Lisa Worrall and Katy<br />
Harris have further acquired<br />
the additional responsibility<br />
<strong>of</strong> broadening this activity<br />
base from the North to<br />
include the Midlands. This<br />
expanded third phase will be<br />
launched from April. During<br />
Phases I and II, Katy and Lisa received media attention and coverage in<br />
both North West and North East regional newspapers and were interviewed<br />
by Heather Stott <strong>of</strong> BBC Radio Manchester.<br />
Due to the hundreds <strong>of</strong> women in construction benefiting from the<br />
training, support and workshops on <strong>of</strong>fer and complimenting on the<br />
passion, vision and support <strong>of</strong>fered by its project managers, both Lisa<br />
and Katy have received invites to talk about their activities and services<br />
on both BBC radio and Channel M TV. Word <strong>of</strong> this project is spreading<br />
further afield, with recent queries for information and interviews about<br />
the Women in Construction project that is funded by Construction Skills<br />
coming from BBC Radio in London.<br />
If you would like to know more about this project contact either Lisa<br />
or Katy at: L.J.Worrall@salford.ac.uk or Katy.Harris@ccinw.com or<br />
visit the website at: www.wicnet.org.uk<br />
SHAKESPEARE INTERPRETED<br />
<strong>Salford</strong> <strong>University</strong> academic Sameh Hanna’s article ‘Othello in<br />
the Egyptian vernacular: negotiating the ‘doxic’ in drama<br />
translation and identity formation’ was published in the<br />
special issue <strong>of</strong> The Translator in April <strong>2009</strong> on Translation and<br />
Nation in the Middle East.<br />
The article, which is part <strong>of</strong> Sameh’s current interest in elaborating<br />
sociology <strong>of</strong> drama translation inspired by Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology <strong>of</strong><br />
cultural production, investigates the workings <strong>of</strong> identity politics in<br />
twentieth century Egypt and how drama translators can play a<br />
significant role in promoting/silencing different versions <strong>of</strong> national<br />
identity. This is the latest in a series <strong>of</strong> articles in which Sameh is<br />
attempting to map out the ‘field’ <strong>of</strong> drama<br />
translation in Egypt, its genesis,<br />
development, the agents with stakes<br />
in drama translation and the<br />
different forms <strong>of</strong> capital they<br />
struggle over. The fact that<br />
Shakespeare has been widely<br />
politicised in Arabic to enact different<br />
political and socio-cultural goals has<br />
motivated Sameh’s sociological<br />
approach to the Arabic translations<br />
<strong>of</strong> Shakespeare in Arabic.<br />
If you would like to know more about<br />
Sameh’s work please contact him at:<br />
s.hanna@salford.ac.uk<br />
13
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
FACULTY TV<br />
NEW RESEAR<br />
ON HOMELES<br />
SEE Faculty TV is the ‘on demand’ television channel<br />
established by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Steve Donnelly and implemented by<br />
Dr Wilfred Darlington from the School <strong>of</strong> Computing, Science<br />
and Engineering (CSE).<br />
The channel’s original function was to showcase Faculty activity in<br />
research, teaching and enterprise and to reflect academic life in the<br />
Faculty <strong>of</strong> Science, Engineering and Environment: all <strong>of</strong> this is<br />
showcased in the ‘<strong>Salford</strong> Science Spotlight’. Programme subject<br />
matter includes an insight into life at <strong>Salford</strong>, from both academic and<br />
social perspectives and a series <strong>of</strong> films pr<strong>of</strong>iling successful SEE Faculty<br />
graduates at their places <strong>of</strong> work. The concept <strong>of</strong> SEE TV has been<br />
further widened by the development team <strong>of</strong> students and staff, who<br />
recognised that SEE TV <strong>of</strong>fered a unique teaching and learning<br />
opportunity in television engineering. The teaching and learning<br />
dimension <strong>of</strong> SEE TV matured within six months <strong>of</strong> its inception with the<br />
transmission and recording <strong>of</strong> Graduation 2008. From the Graduation<br />
ceremonies <strong>of</strong> 2008 SEE TV students and staff worked in support <strong>of</strong><br />
BBC Television Outside Broadcasts (now SIS) to provide live coverage<br />
from the Lowry <strong>of</strong> the thirteen graduation ceremonies, and recorded<br />
material for the issue <strong>of</strong> DVD. The live transmission exercise was<br />
repeated on a smaller scale when Sir David Attenborough came to the<br />
<strong>University</strong> in October 2008 to give a lecture at the inauguration <strong>of</strong> the<br />
MSc in Wildlife Documentary Production. Smart City Futures, a<br />
wide-ranging co-operative <strong>of</strong> industrialists, academics and community<br />
groups, led by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor James Powell, is also supported by SEE TV.<br />
You can view SEE TV at: www.fsee.salford.ac.uk/tv or on YouTube<br />
by entering ‘salford science’.<br />
If you would like more information on SEE TV please contact<br />
Steve Donnelly at: s.e.donnelly@salford.ac.uk or Wilfred Darlington<br />
at w.darlington@salford.ac.uk<br />
Dr Phil Brown from the <strong>University</strong>’s Research Institute for the<br />
Built & Human Environment is working on a new £692,000<br />
project looking at the causes <strong>of</strong>, and solutions to, the<br />
problem <strong>of</strong> homelessness – research which could have a<br />
major influence on Government policy.<br />
In partnership with a number <strong>of</strong> local voluntary and community groups<br />
the <strong>University</strong> will be interviewing people who have been, or currently<br />
are, homeless in Stoke-on-Trent to find out what has led<br />
to them to being homeless as well as looking at underlying life<br />
experiences. As one <strong>of</strong> four national studies funded by a range<br />
<strong>of</strong> bodies including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Health, <strong>Salford</strong>’s researchers will examine not only a lack<br />
<strong>of</strong> adequate housing as a cause, but also problems with drugs,<br />
domestic violence, mental illness and other factors that lead to social<br />
exclusion.<br />
making a major<br />
difference<br />
<strong>Salford</strong>’s study will form part <strong>of</strong> a major national campaign which seeks<br />
to look at a range <strong>of</strong> causes and solutions to homelessness, and<br />
present findings to the Government in an attempt to eradicate the<br />
problem. Dr Brown’s research will conclude in 2011, at which point he<br />
aims to have a set <strong>of</strong> case studies which, combined with the results <strong>of</strong><br />
the other projects, make a major difference in how government bodies<br />
and charities deal with the homeless.<br />
If you would like more information on Dr. Brown’s work please<br />
contact him at: p.brown@salford.ac.uk<br />
14
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
DARWIN’S DECLINE<br />
As Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday approaches, new research<br />
from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> has identified a decline in<br />
references to the pioneering scientist in ‘A’ level textbooks -<br />
despite the continuing presence <strong>of</strong> creationist theory.<br />
Dr Paul Rees, a lecturer in biology and former ‘A’ level teacher,<br />
examined textbooks and syllabuses used in the UK since the sixties, and<br />
found that textbooks currently in use sometimes completely fail to<br />
mention Darwin, and <strong>of</strong>ten only deal very sketchily with the theory <strong>of</strong><br />
evolution. On the other hand, creationism gets several references in<br />
current textbooks, including Hall et al 2006 which says the idea that all<br />
living things are descended from a common ancestor is a minority view<br />
among the people <strong>of</strong> the world.<br />
CH<br />
SNESS<br />
SYSTEM DYNAMICS<br />
SOCIETY<br />
Dr Rees <strong>of</strong> the Research Institute for the Built & Human Environment,<br />
said: “While the historical context <strong>of</strong> important theories, and the names<br />
<strong>of</strong> their proponents, are commonplace in textbooks written for some<br />
other subjects, such as psychology, in biology textbooks Darwin is<br />
sometimes not deemed important enough to mention. “If people are<br />
giving space to nonsense like creationism, then they should certainly be<br />
mentioning the most important figure in our understanding <strong>of</strong> the<br />
natural world. Role models and icons are important to help young<br />
people become inspired by science. It’s a shame that biology examiners<br />
and therefore textbooks don’t always recognise this.”<br />
If you would like more information on Dr. Rees’ work please contact<br />
him at: p.a.rees@salford.ac.uk<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Brian Dangerfield, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Systems Modelling,<br />
<strong>Salford</strong> Business School, has recently been appointed as<br />
President <strong>of</strong> the UK Chapter <strong>of</strong> the System Dynamics Society<br />
for <strong>2009</strong>.<br />
The International System Dynamics Society has 16 national Chapters<br />
and one Student Chapter (see www.systemdynamics.org). The UK<br />
Chapter has the largest membership excluding the USA. The UK<br />
Chapter hosts an annual conference in February and a number <strong>of</strong><br />
networking meetings during the year in the evening. It is hoped to<br />
convene one <strong>of</strong> these evening events in the North-West in <strong>May</strong> or <strong>June</strong>.<br />
The annual conference now includes a PhD symposium which allows<br />
doctoral students to present their work in poster form and receive<br />
feedback from experts (mainly academics but also from those who work<br />
in the consultancy sector).<br />
The UK Chapter <strong>of</strong>fers two prizes annually: The Steer Davis Gleave Prize<br />
for the best piece <strong>of</strong> work which applies the system dynamics<br />
methodology to a significant problem <strong>of</strong> wide public interest in the UK<br />
and a Student Prize for the best student project report using system<br />
dynamics.<br />
To find out more about the System Dynamics Society please contact<br />
Brian at: b.c.dangerfield@salford.ac.uk<br />
15
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
CASE CENTRE<br />
IN CONTROL<br />
AND SYSTEMS<br />
ENGINEERING<br />
Paul Stewart (Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Aeronautical and Automotive<br />
Engineering) and TX Mei (Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Control and<br />
Mechatronics) joined the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> in January<br />
<strong>2009</strong>, and merged their activities by forming the CASE Centre<br />
for Control and Systems Engineering to take advantage <strong>of</strong><br />
the synergies and complementarities in their research. The<br />
Centre also serves as a focus for developing engineering<br />
research activity in the School <strong>of</strong> Computing, Science and<br />
Engineering.<br />
The focussed research areas <strong>of</strong> the Centre include:<br />
> Control and systems engineering, fault tolerant control, advanced<br />
condition monitoring, data fusion in multiple sensing, intelligent<br />
control, system optimisation, search and scheduling, complex<br />
engineering systems design and control, prognostics and<br />
diagnostics.<br />
> Mechatronics, electric and hybrid vehicles, fault tolerant actuation,<br />
traction control, drive by wire (steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire etc),<br />
active railway wheelset control, vehicle dynamics and control, flight<br />
dynamics and control, internal combustion engine control, domestic<br />
intelligent control, robotics.<br />
> Electronic and electrical systems, electrical architectures, aircraft<br />
power and actuation systems, electrical machines and drives, electrical<br />
and electro-mechanical actuators, renewable energy system management,<br />
energy storage, electric and hybrid vehicles, power electronic<br />
energy converters, distributed generation and grid<br />
connection.<br />
EPSRC Ideas Factory Sandpit – Low Carbon Airport Operations Start:<br />
July <strong>2009</strong><br />
1: Landing aircraft energy recovery Collaborating company: Airbus<br />
Innovation Works<br />
Figure 1: Energy<br />
recovery from<br />
landing aircraft<br />
Figure2: Landing<br />
and take<strong>of</strong>f pattern<br />
optimisation for low<br />
carbon operation<br />
> Energy and optimisation, power architectures, power management,<br />
energy efficiency, multiobjective optimisation and design, advanced<br />
hardware in the loop experimentation.<br />
CASE Centre – Funded Research<br />
The prime motivations for the centre are fundamental and applied<br />
funded research and development. In this section is presented the R&D<br />
project portfolio <strong>of</strong> the Centre, which represents the attraction <strong>of</strong> funds<br />
from a wide number <strong>of</strong> bodies and also represents the wide spectrum<br />
<strong>of</strong> applications and collaborating companies with which the centre<br />
members are involved.<br />
2: Optimised runway, take-<strong>of</strong>f, landing and gate assignment -<br />
Collaborating companies: Manchester and Zurich Airports<br />
3: Low carbon airport operations network.<br />
EU Framework 6 More Open Electrical Technologies (MOET)<br />
Optimised power systems, architecture and energy storage for the<br />
more electric aircraft. Collaborating Company: Airbus Toulouse Fr.<br />
16
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
AIR and SPACE<br />
CONFERENCE<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> Researcher Dr Thurai Rahulan from the<br />
School <strong>of</strong> Computing, Science and Engineering, has been<br />
appointed as the Chairman <strong>of</strong> the Regional Advisory Group<br />
by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) for the forthcoming<br />
European Air and Space Conference to be held at Manchester<br />
Central from 26th to 29th October this year.<br />
This is the second such event that has been organised by the Council <strong>of</strong><br />
European Aerospace Societies (CEAS) as a result <strong>of</strong> a resounding success<br />
<strong>of</strong> the first one that was held in Berlin in 2007. The RAeS has tasked the<br />
Group with maximising participation <strong>of</strong> the local industries and the<br />
universities in the North West along with the sorting out <strong>of</strong> all logistics<br />
involving the 500+ delegates from all over the world.<br />
The Group is now at full strength and comprises <strong>of</strong> personnel from<br />
Manchester City Council, Manchester Museum <strong>of</strong> Science and Industry,<br />
Northwest Regional Development Agency, Northwest Aerospace<br />
Alliance, Manchester Marketing, Manchester Central and the<br />
Universities <strong>of</strong> Manchester and Liverpool.<br />
United States Air Force: European Office <strong>of</strong> Aeronautical Research<br />
and Development Neural network optimisation <strong>of</strong> aircraft<br />
multisensor data fusion<br />
Figure: Panavia<br />
Tornado: One <strong>of</strong> the<br />
subjects <strong>of</strong> new<br />
intelligent sensor<br />
arrays.<br />
Carbon Trust Electric/hybrid vehicle electric energy storage systems<br />
scoping study in collaboration. Collaborating Companies Lotus<br />
Engineering Ltd and E4Tech Ltd.<br />
TSB Technology Programme High integrity actuation system with<br />
embedded intelligence for steer-by-wire. Collaborating Companies:<br />
Pera, SET, InMoCo and TMS.<br />
a resounding<br />
success<br />
Since this year marks the centenary <strong>of</strong> the first flight demonstration by<br />
Alliott Verdon Roe (a Mancunian!) <strong>of</strong> a British designed and built<br />
aircraft, the Group is organising an additional event in the form <strong>of</strong><br />
lectures and conducted tours to the public as a whole at the<br />
Manchester Museum <strong>of</strong> Science and Industry, in addition to organised<br />
excursions for the delegates. Thanks to the unreserved support<br />
provided by Manchester Marketing, a full programme for the spouses<br />
to accompany the conference has also been arranged.<br />
If you would like to know more about the Conference or planned<br />
events please visit: http://www.ceas<strong>2009</strong>.org/ and<br />
http://www.manchestercentral.co.uk/<br />
TSB/KTP Novel integrated control for vehicle traction and guidance<br />
systems Collaborating company: GGS Engineering.<br />
RRUK Measurement <strong>of</strong> train ground speed by exploring vehicle<br />
dynamics with intelligent data processing. To start in March, <strong>2009</strong>.<br />
To find out more about Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Stewart and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Mei’s<br />
work please contact them at: p.g.stewart@salford.ac.uk and<br />
t.x.mei@salford.ac.uk or visit the centre website at:<br />
www.control-engineering.co.uk<br />
The A380 by kind permission <strong>of</strong> Airbus<br />
17
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
Meeting room in the THINKlab<br />
THINKlab: DESIGNED FOR INTERACTION AND COLLABORATION<br />
Research is at the forefront <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>’s THINKlab futuristic virtual environment centre –<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the most advanced in the world and unique in Europe. THINKlab is a state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art facility that<br />
harnesses leading ICT technologies.<br />
It brings together people from every conceivable sector such as<br />
academia, industry, social regeneration, health and media to share and<br />
generate ideas on how digital technologies can be utilised to solve<br />
current and future challenges <strong>of</strong> industry, commerce and the<br />
community, using the expertise <strong>of</strong> the best researchers from across the<br />
<strong>University</strong> in the field <strong>of</strong> ICT to explore new possibilities for the future.<br />
Already engaged in some <strong>of</strong> the world’s leading research in fields such as<br />
virtual urban planning, regeneration and digital design, THINKlab is also<br />
currently home to the CoSpaces project funded by the European<br />
Commission. The project aims to demonstrate how advanced<br />
technologies could be brought together to create futuristic<br />
tele-immersive environments enabling distributed engineering<br />
organisations to work together to produce new designs <strong>of</strong> aircrafts or<br />
automobiles.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Terrence Fernando, Scientific Director <strong>of</strong> THINKlab, who leads<br />
CoSpaces says “Think Lab provides an ideal setting to demonstrate such<br />
novel working methods and to inspire industry leaders to change their<br />
current ways <strong>of</strong> working to gain significant business benefit”.<br />
THINKlab is available to all researchers across the <strong>University</strong> and to<br />
external bodies or organisations for hosting workshops and conferences,<br />
project development, and experimenting with new technologies.<br />
If you would like to know more about the THINKlab contact the Facilities<br />
Manager, Carla Kocsis at: c.kocsis@salford.ac.uk or visit the THINKlab<br />
at http://www.thinklab.salford.ac.uk/<br />
18
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
ALAS POOR YORICK!<br />
Two <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> Academics, Denis McGrath (Faculty<br />
<strong>of</strong> Health and Social Care) and Dr. Rob Aspin (Faculty <strong>of</strong><br />
Science Engineering and Environment) have jointly<br />
developed a “mixed reality” anatomical simulator prototype<br />
called Yorick after receiving a grant from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Salford</strong> Enterprise fund, supported by Pawel Zolnierczyk<br />
from Enterprise and Development and Stephen Bowden<br />
Virtual Reality consultant from SEE.<br />
This cross faculty initiative tracks an object in real-time (anatomical or<br />
otherwise) and allows for simultaneous physical, virtual and online webbased<br />
interaction with the object for the purposes <strong>of</strong> teaching and<br />
learning.<br />
RESEARCH REPOSITORY<br />
INFORMATION AVAILABLE<br />
TO ALL<br />
Information & Learning Services (ILS) have been<br />
developing the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> Institutional Repository<br />
(USIR) which is an online database created to showcase<br />
research output from the <strong>University</strong>.<br />
USIR is an open access repository which allows details <strong>of</strong> the research<br />
and a full copy <strong>of</strong> the text to be deposited so that it is freely available to<br />
anyone, anywhere, at any time. Research can be read, downloaded and<br />
copied for non-commercial private study or research purposes.<br />
With researchers regularly submitting their work to USIR, this<br />
technology will play a significant role in achieving success within the<br />
forthcoming Research Excellence Framework (REF) which will assess<br />
institutions’ research standing based on various metrics including both<br />
quantity and quality <strong>of</strong> research publications.<br />
USIR can be found at http://usir.salford.ac.uk/ If you would like some<br />
further advice on copyright or any other USIR-related query then please<br />
do not hesitate to contact the USIR team at: usir@salford.ac.uk<br />
Yorick’s basic premise is that any one can pick up an unfamiliar<br />
anatomical object, enter the tracking environment, have the relevant<br />
data displayed to them on screen and begin the process <strong>of</strong> interaction,<br />
exploration and “self directed learning”. The system has successfully<br />
demonstrated the capability <strong>of</strong> ‘virtualising’ physically rendered MRI<br />
scans directly from DICOM slice data, e.g. for , MRI slice data from<br />
a patient with a badly shattered shoulder complex was then fabricated<br />
into a physical representation using a rapid prototyping tool then the<br />
physical representation was tagged for use in the Yorick system.<br />
Denis and Rob are particularly interested in the use <strong>of</strong> the simulator for<br />
the development <strong>of</strong> teaching and learning for pre-registration Nurses,<br />
Undergraduate Occupational Therapists, Radiographers and Midwives.<br />
The virtual information in the prototype can be populated with relevant<br />
learning, anatomical or interaction data depending on the client group.<br />
Future investigations include the possibility <strong>of</strong> using the prototype for<br />
telemedicine and higher level medical intervention analysis.<br />
For more information on Denis and Rob’s work please contact them<br />
at: d.m.mcgrath@salford.ac.uk or r.aspin@salford.ac.uk<br />
You can view more about the Yorick Project on Faculty TV at<br />
http://www.fsee.salford.ac.uk/tv/sss4yorick.php or on youtube<br />
at www.youtube.com/watchv=O8yxMPcS3Xk<br />
19
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
URBAN KNOWLEDGE<br />
FOR SHAPING CRITICAL<br />
INFRASTRUCTURE:<br />
NEW FRAMEWORKS FOR<br />
CITY-REGIONS<br />
How do city-regions attempt to integrate their<br />
economic aspirations with new policy drivers to<br />
more effectively coordinate spatial growth with<br />
infrastructure networks and to do so in a way that<br />
accelerates a low carbon transition<br />
Researchers at SURF are collaborating with ARUP to address these issues<br />
through a new Business Placement - jointly funded by the Economic<br />
and Social Research Council and ARUP. Typically the response to<br />
the above question has focused on the design <strong>of</strong> exemplary<br />
eco-developments – eco-towns, eco-cities and eco-regions - that aspire<br />
to carbon, energy, water and waste neutrality by using decentralised<br />
technologies to reduce reliance on existing infrastructure networks. Yet<br />
given the slow pace <strong>of</strong> renewal <strong>of</strong> cities attention is now increasingly<br />
focused on how the existing city can be effectively “retr<strong>of</strong>itted” for a<br />
low carbon transition.<br />
While building new low carbon developments may be challenging, the<br />
complexity involved in creating managed change in existing cities<br />
dealing with multiple users, utilities, and property owners, public and<br />
private sectors is a daunting task. Critically the key questions are ‘who’<br />
is responsible for managed socio-technical change in the<br />
organisation <strong>of</strong> a cities infrastructure, ‘what’ are the key priorities and<br />
strategic steps and ‘how’ is capability and capacity developed to ensure<br />
systemic rather than piecemeal change<br />
SURF Researchers working within ARUP have been reviewing key<br />
documentation, holding workshops and interviewing senior level<br />
directors, specialist consultants in planning, design and infrastructure,<br />
and graduate planners. Interviews have also taken place with the<br />
critical infrastructure policy community in the Greater Manchester<br />
city-region. The work will produce an ARUP/SURF framework that will<br />
outline the critical steps involved developing systemic rather change in<br />
the infrastructures <strong>of</strong> existing cities.<br />
If you want to know more about SURF’s work contact:<br />
v.simpson@salford.ac.uk or visit the SURF website at:<br />
www.surf.salford.ac.uk<br />
To find out more about the ARUP/SURF collaboration visit:<br />
www.surf.salford.ac.uk/page/UrbanKnowledgeforShapingCritic<br />
alInfrastructure<br />
GLOBAL SPORTS FORUM<br />
<strong>Salford</strong> Academic Dr. Garry Crawford was an invited speaker<br />
at the first Global Sports Forum held in Barcelona in February<br />
<strong>2009</strong>.<br />
The event was attended<br />
by numerous top-level business<br />
leaders, politicians and<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional athletes, including<br />
amongst others, the French Sports<br />
Secretary <strong>of</strong> State, Bernard<br />
Laporte, IOC Honorary President<br />
Juan Antonio Samaranch, and<br />
Olympic medallist, and son-in-law to the King <strong>of</strong> Spain, Iñaki<br />
Urdangarin Liebaert. Garry spoke in a session with Lander Unzueta,<br />
Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer for FC Barcelona, and George<br />
Bolos, principle organizer <strong>of</strong> the 2004 Athens Olympics, on the<br />
importance and role <strong>of</strong> fans within contemporary sport. In particular,<br />
Garry discussed the benefits sport can bring to its fans, such as<br />
providing a sense <strong>of</strong> community and identity, but warned against<br />
exploiting and pricing out fans and the importance <strong>of</strong> taking<br />
supporters’ interests into consideration at all levels.<br />
To find out more about Garry’s work please contact him at:<br />
g.crawford@salford.ac.uk<br />
To find out more about the Global Sports Forum please visit:<br />
http://www.globalsportsforum.org/index.aspx<br />
20
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
SUCCESSFUL<br />
BIDDING WITH BUHU<br />
On the 10th <strong>of</strong> March, the Research Institute for the Built and<br />
Human Environment (BuHu) ran an expert panel discussion<br />
focusing on sharing and exchanging bidding best practice.<br />
The discussion was chaired by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Mustafa Alshawi,<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> BuHu, and guided by a panel <strong>of</strong> successful bidders<br />
comprising Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ghassan Aouad, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Terrance<br />
Fernando, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Mike Kagioglou, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Trevor Cox<br />
and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Marcus Ormerod.<br />
VISITING SCHOLAR AT<br />
JUDGE BUSINESS SCHOOL,<br />
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY<br />
Dr. Richard Li-Hua, Director <strong>of</strong> China Programmes, in <strong>Salford</strong><br />
Business School, has recently been invited to visit Judge<br />
Business School (JBS) in Cambridge. During his visit he met<br />
with academics from JBS, attended seminars and gave a<br />
seminar to JBS MBA Students on Benchmarking<br />
Competitiveness <strong>of</strong> Firms in China.<br />
Whilst in Cambridge Richard was also invited, by Cambridge <strong>University</strong><br />
Asia Law and Business association (CUALA), to deliver a speech on<br />
Integration <strong>of</strong> Western Management and Chinese Philosophy in the<br />
Current Economic Recession at the CUALA Annual Conference aimed<br />
at addressing the current credit crunch, along with discussions with<br />
other world leading academics around this topic.<br />
Richard has been working and researching with Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Arnoud De<br />
Meyer, Director <strong>of</strong> Judge Business School, on the importance <strong>of</strong><br />
keeping up with the fast pace <strong>of</strong> technological change within the<br />
global business environment, the close relationship between<br />
technology strategy, business sustainability and providing fresh insights<br />
for multinational companies in creating competitive advantage through<br />
designing an appropriate technology strategy.<br />
The panel addressed all stages <strong>of</strong> the bidding process, starting from<br />
“creating a research idea” to “finances” and “distribution <strong>of</strong> funds”.<br />
The main discussion focused on networking and opportunities. The role<br />
<strong>of</strong> the former was highlighted as key to produce timely and high quality<br />
bids with higher chances <strong>of</strong> success. This is particularly important in<br />
large national and European bids. The latter, however, refers to having<br />
the ability to identify an opportunity, in line with one’s strength, either<br />
in a response to a call or external strong interests from either the public<br />
or private sector.<br />
passion is the<br />
driver <strong>of</strong> success<br />
The panel stressed the need to introduce some type <strong>of</strong> monitoring<br />
process within the institution to guide staff through the bidding process<br />
and to ensure that quality is adhered to at all times. This will be critical<br />
in the future in the light <strong>of</strong> the expected changes <strong>of</strong> the funding<br />
councils’ reviewing process. The panel also acknowledged the excellent<br />
support that the Contracts Office is giving to staff and encouraged all<br />
staff to lean more towards this Office in the future.<br />
The main message which came out <strong>of</strong> the discussion was “passion is<br />
the driver <strong>of</strong> success”. In addition, other factors that could make a<br />
difference were highlighted. These were security <strong>of</strong> the individual staff,<br />
team creation, networking and opportunities, encouraging and<br />
motivating staff particularly young researchers and networking<br />
with BuHu.<br />
To find out more about BuHu visit their website at:<br />
www.buhu.salford.ac.uk/<br />
If you would like to find out more about Richard’s work contact him<br />
at: r.li-hua@salford.ac.uk<br />
21
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
THE FUTURE OF<br />
TELEVISION IS THE<br />
INTERNET AND MOBILE<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> Lecturer and Researcher, Laurence<br />
Murphy, has been looking into the ways people are accessing<br />
TV programmes.<br />
This access to television and radio media is changing rapidly and it is<br />
having an impact on both the public and the television companies. The<br />
next generation <strong>of</strong> mobile phones such as the Apple IPHONE and the<br />
Nokia N96 are capable <strong>of</strong> receiving television media either by video on<br />
demand through the mobile internet or via a direct to mobile TV<br />
receiver. Laurence, who is also Project Director for the School <strong>of</strong> Media<br />
Music and Performance’s Internet Television channel, <strong>Salford</strong>tv.net,<br />
began in 2008 a number <strong>of</strong> research projects, with the aim <strong>of</strong> working<br />
with broadcasters, schools and colleges, internally and externally, to<br />
analyse the use <strong>of</strong> new media technologies in both teaching and<br />
everyday environments. One project, in association with the BBC and<br />
the Lowry, will be looking at the use <strong>of</strong> wireless capable handheld<br />
gaming devices as a media source to enrich school visits to the Lowry’s<br />
local education and media centre. This project, and others like it, will<br />
contribute to an underlying research theme establishing the new modes<br />
and mechanics <strong>of</strong> media consumption and aim to answer questions<br />
such as: how are the viewing public accessing media why download a<br />
programme onto your ipod rather than watch on your TV in the living<br />
room how will advertising survive this multi platform media<br />
landscape Laurence, who is Programme Leader for the first<br />
undergraduate degree to concentrate on the internet and mobile<br />
devices as a broadcast delivery platform (BSc Mobile and Internet<br />
Television) says :”The more we understand the new mechanisms and<br />
new forms <strong>of</strong> media the more valuable and relevant the research data<br />
will be in informing and orientating our students in this rapidly evolving<br />
industry”.<br />
If you would like to know more about Laurence’s work contact<br />
him at: l.murphy@salford.ac.uk or visit<br />
http://www.salfordtv.net<br />
SCRI EXPERTISE<br />
RECOGNISED<br />
The <strong>Salford</strong> Centre for Research & Innovation<br />
The <strong>Salford</strong> Centre for Research & Innovation (SCRI), established in<br />
2002 in the <strong>University</strong>’s school <strong>of</strong> the Built and Human Environment, is<br />
funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council<br />
(EPSRC). This award, which has now been extended until December<br />
2011, is in recognition <strong>of</strong> the leading role the <strong>University</strong> plays in<br />
delivering research excellence in the field. SCRI brings together a diverse<br />
group <strong>of</strong> leading international academics from fields such as the Built<br />
Environment, Computer Sciences, Engineering and Art and Design to<br />
deliver innovative solutions to current and future research problems.<br />
SCRI is positioned within the top rated Built and Human Environment<br />
(BuHu) research institute in the UK and has three main research themes:<br />
Procuring Value<br />
Procuring Value examines the way in which we determine the need for<br />
buildings and the processes which we use to realise value. It considers<br />
the wider policy and market context in which these business case<br />
decisions are made and how these issues affect the built environment.<br />
Nationally, SCRI has contributed to several government reports on<br />
procurement. Regionally, in partnership with the Centre for<br />
Construction Innovation (CCI), SCRI has worked with 36 <strong>of</strong> the 47<br />
regional local authorities to enable them to maximise social,<br />
environmental and economic value through their construction<br />
procurement.<br />
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KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER<br />
PARTNERSHIPS (KTP) WITH<br />
VALVES INSTRUMENTS PLUS<br />
(VIP) ANOTHER SUCCESS<br />
STORY!<br />
The <strong>University</strong> recently completed a KTP with VIP, an<br />
engineering wholesaler, providing significant benefit; not<br />
only to the company but to the academic team involved.<br />
Below are some <strong>of</strong> the examples <strong>of</strong> how Dr John Davies and<br />
Dr Aris Syntetos, <strong>Salford</strong> Business School, were able to<br />
associate this KTP with a number <strong>of</strong> other teaching and<br />
research related activities:<br />
> A conference paper “The impact <strong>of</strong> human factors on e-commerce<br />
implementation in a small business” was presented at the 31st<br />
Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference, Belfast,<br />
Northern Ireland.<br />
Seamless Delivery <strong>of</strong> Value<br />
Seamless Delivery is concerned with removing boundaries between all<br />
partners involved in the design and production <strong>of</strong> the built<br />
environment. This theme considers issues such as use <strong>of</strong> IT to manage<br />
knowledge intensive processes, supply chain management and the<br />
implementation <strong>of</strong> management techniques such as Lean. SCRI plays a<br />
central role in the International and European Groups for lean<br />
construction. Here SCRI’s work on Theory Based Lean Production is<br />
setting the international research agenda.<br />
At a regional level SCRI seeks to influence company practice through<br />
the establishment <strong>of</strong> Lean Special Interest Groups that bring together<br />
practitioners from across the supply chain.<br />
Realising Value in Use<br />
A greater proportion <strong>of</strong> the value from the built environment is<br />
determined by how we all use and engage with it over the life <strong>of</strong> our<br />
buildings and public spaces. Realising Value in Use is concerned with a<br />
better understanding <strong>of</strong> how people live, work, learn and play to<br />
maximise this value for society as a whole. SCRI’s “Senses, Brain,<br />
Spaces” workshop brought together thirty invited international experts<br />
at the forefront <strong>of</strong> neuroscience and sensory perception, together with<br />
building specialists from a range <strong>of</strong> sectors including education, retail,<br />
banking, <strong>of</strong>fices and housing. The findings from this research are now<br />
being taken forward in Manchester City Council’s School building work<br />
in an activity entitled Optimising Learning Spaces.<br />
If you would like more information about SCRI and its work please go<br />
to: www.scri.salford.ac.uk or contact Pam Allen SCRI Administrator<br />
on: 0161-295-2649<br />
> The successful application <strong>of</strong> forecasting and stock control theory in<br />
a practical setting has motivated Aris to further explore the<br />
commercial potential <strong>of</strong> his research work; this led to another<br />
successful proposal to EPSRC which is already receiving considerable<br />
attention from both industry and academia.<br />
> The demonstration <strong>of</strong> the effect that business analytics (i.e. the<br />
application <strong>of</strong> quantitatively-based knowledge towards solving<br />
business problems) may have in an actual organisation has led to the<br />
development <strong>of</strong> a new MSc in Business Analytics – the programme is<br />
currently under evaluation at the Faculty level.<br />
> Three (3) MBA (Masters in Business Administration) students<br />
conducted their dissertations on Valves Instruments Plus, the<br />
academic team identified three problem areas that could be<br />
addressed by MBA students further expanding the portfolio <strong>of</strong><br />
innovations introduced to the company.<br />
> Joint paper submitted for peer review to International Journal <strong>of</strong><br />
Production Economics (published by Elsevier). Such a submission<br />
indicates the true knowledge transfer involved in this project for the<br />
mutual benefit <strong>of</strong> all parties involved.<br />
If you would like to know more about KTPs at the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> or you are engaged with a<br />
company/organisation you feel could benefit from<br />
a KTP contact please contact Janet Topping at:<br />
j.topping@salford.ac.uk or visit<br />
www.ktp.salford.ac.uk<br />
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COMMERCIAL &<br />
TECHNOLOGY<br />
TRANSFER<br />
“Encouraging Innovation, Exploiting<br />
Opportunity”<br />
Innovation Network provides the opportunity for both new and<br />
experienced innovators to network with each other, share experiences<br />
and act as a community <strong>of</strong> practice. The network hosts guest speaker<br />
sessions where significant figures <strong>of</strong> industry are invited to talk.<br />
Innovation Clubs are a sub-set <strong>of</strong> the over-arching Innovation<br />
Network. The Clubs brings together like-minded academics to share<br />
ideas and gain support for further creative development. The Clubs runs<br />
two facilitated sessions, an introductory meeting, which outlines the<br />
innovation process and acts as an induction to the Innovation Network,<br />
and a sounding board session, where ideas are shared and discussed<br />
and suggestions developed for possible future Innovation Cells.<br />
Innovation Cells are small informal groups formed to explore<br />
and develop ideas for research and commercial opportunities.<br />
Cells provide a platform for multi-disciplinary creative problem solving<br />
using a facilitated approach. This helps break down barriers, encourage<br />
creativity and stimulate ideas. The innovation process is deliberately<br />
generic so that it can be used in a variety <strong>of</strong> situations such as research<br />
bidding, knowledge transfer, process improvement and technology<br />
exploitation.<br />
“With a vision to become renowned for excellence in the<br />
exploitation <strong>of</strong> research and innovation, the Commercial<br />
& Technology Transfer Team, based in Faraday House,<br />
provide a portfolio <strong>of</strong> services both internally to staff and<br />
students, and externally with the business community.”<br />
Do you have a specific business need that could benefit from our<br />
innovation process<br />
Our process can be applied within your businesses to aid research and<br />
development <strong>of</strong> new ideas for products and services. This can be<br />
carried out with your own staff internally or a collaborative approach<br />
can be adopted to include academics from the <strong>University</strong>.<br />
IP Commercialisation - We work with staff and students to help<br />
develop commercial potential from ideas. We provide guidance and<br />
support on the process <strong>of</strong> getting the idea <strong>of</strong>f the ground (via the<br />
Innovation Network/Cells) by: protecting the idea; support through the<br />
pro<strong>of</strong>-<strong>of</strong>-concept stage (pro<strong>of</strong>-<strong>of</strong>-concept funding may be available);<br />
help finding, managing and negotiating with commercial partners;<br />
through to creating a spin-out company or license.<br />
Consultancy Network – We are developing a network <strong>of</strong> experts to<br />
identify and develop consultancy best practice. A programme <strong>of</strong><br />
events, including external speakers, and workshops will be on <strong>of</strong>fer and<br />
the network will provide a forum to share ideas, develop novel<br />
consultancy opportunities and specialist interest spin-out groups.<br />
Consultancy & Facilities - We help businesses access the resources<br />
within the <strong>University</strong> to assist in developing your people and business.<br />
From short courses, world class facilities, consultancy, bespoke training,<br />
student and graduate placements, there is a wealth <strong>of</strong> opportunity<br />
available to help your business grow.<br />
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<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
INNOVATION EXCHANGE<br />
This is a short selection <strong>of</strong> new innovation emerging from<br />
<strong>University</strong> research. If you are interested in knowing more<br />
please let us know.<br />
Contracts Management - Covers all aspects <strong>of</strong> contract systems and<br />
processes, assistance with negotiating contracts, risk assessment,<br />
approval and signing <strong>of</strong> legal contractual agreements. The support also<br />
includes collaboration, partnership and sponsorship agreements, as well<br />
as the contracts and exploitation stages <strong>of</strong> commercial and public<br />
funded research. A whole range <strong>of</strong> formal documentation related to<br />
this area is also maintained, along with notes for guidance.<br />
Consultancy Network – We are developing a network <strong>of</strong> experts to<br />
identify and develop consultancy best practice. A programme <strong>of</strong> events,<br />
including external speakers, and workshops will be on <strong>of</strong>fer and the<br />
network will provide a forum to share ideas, develop novel<br />
consultancy opportunities and specialist interest spin-out groups.<br />
Innovation Voucher Scheme - The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> is part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
North West Development Agency’s Innovation Voucher Scheme which<br />
is designed to help Northwest business owners, entrepreneurs and<br />
social enterprises purchase an academic’s expertise to develop<br />
innovation and enhance business. It provides a voucher <strong>of</strong> up to £3,000<br />
to encourage and make it easier for more people to engage with<br />
Universities.<br />
The key benefits are:<br />
> Access the wealth <strong>of</strong> knowledge from academic institutions<br />
> Resolve a business issue, quickly, efficiently and through a source<br />
not previously utilised<br />
> Easy to apply and ‘spend’ the voucher<br />
The Scheme is run by the North West Development Agency (NWDA).<br />
For more information see: www.nwda.co.uk/finance<br />
Acoustic Buds<br />
Dr Andy Moorhouse and Dr Olga Umnova are building an industrial<br />
consortium to develop a range <strong>of</strong> acoustic materials around a cheap,<br />
plentiful and lightweight material that uses a unique mechanism to<br />
absorb low frequency noise. The team want to hear from companies<br />
involved in architectural componentry, industrial noise control, aircraft<br />
airframe or trim or any business interested in high noise reduction with<br />
low weight.<br />
“Lip Synch” s<strong>of</strong>tware<br />
Dawn Shaw has used motion capture techniques usually seen in<br />
Hollywood movies to develop a programme which produces a 3D<br />
model <strong>of</strong> human lips that can accurately simulate speech. The project<br />
will allow a hearing-impaired person to lip read an animated character<br />
as text is read out in real time. The team want to hear from animators,<br />
event production organisers, educational s<strong>of</strong>tware houses or special<br />
needs educators.<br />
Expanded pressurised gas compliance<br />
The university is examining a material that can store many times its own<br />
volume <strong>of</strong> gas at relatively low pressures (sub 10 bar). Applications<br />
could include small gas struts that behave like larger ones in terms <strong>of</strong><br />
plunger excursion and rate, compact air suspension units and low<br />
pressure emergency breathing apparatus.<br />
CONTACT US<br />
If you would like to know more about any <strong>of</strong> our services please<br />
contact Marie Foley.<br />
Commercial & Technology Transfer<br />
Enterprise & Development<br />
Faraday House, The Crescent, <strong>Salford</strong>, Greater Manchester<br />
M5 4WT, United Kingdom<br />
T: +44 (0)161 295 7235<br />
E: m.foley@salford.ac.uk<br />
www.business-services.salford.ac.uk<br />
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<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
RESEARCH SCOPING STUDIES<br />
FOR NEW UNIVERSITY THEMES<br />
A key aspect <strong>of</strong> the new Research & Innovation Strategy is to develop<br />
a series <strong>of</strong> broad interdisciplinary themes. The themes have been<br />
identified by the <strong>University</strong>'s Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) as areas<br />
where the internal strengths and potential <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> chime with<br />
important external drivers. They are set to address key societal issues such<br />
as understanding climate change, the use <strong>of</strong> Information and<br />
Communication Technology in every aspect <strong>of</strong> our lives, living securely in<br />
the globalcommunity and creating affordable, energy-efficient<br />
housing.<br />
In order to inform the development <strong>of</strong> the research aspect <strong>of</strong> these themes,<br />
the Research & Graduate College commissioned five studies to scope<br />
the potential for growing research activity within these areas.<br />
The studies (available at www.rgc.salford.ac.uk/page/research_themes)<br />
were presented by their authors at an internal conference on 28 October<br />
2008 that was attended by in excess <strong>of</strong> 150 members <strong>of</strong> staff.<br />
The full list <strong>of</strong> themes is set out below. Please note that some <strong>of</strong> these<br />
titles are broader in nature than the original reports, reflecting the<br />
feedback already received:<br />
The themes will provide an opportunity for <strong>University</strong> staff to<br />
collaborate in unique ways with staff in other disciplines, whilst<br />
retaining a strong mono-disciplinary focus through their Research Centres.<br />
The reports, along with feedback received by the Research & Graduate<br />
College, will be considered by the Research & Innovation Steering Board.<br />
This Board, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor Designate, will be leading the<br />
implementation <strong>of</strong> the Research & Innovation Strategy and will consider<br />
how the themes will be introduced and operationalised.<br />
Your views are still very welcome and should be made by email to:<br />
m.hession@salford.ac.uk<br />
The following pages give a précis <strong>of</strong> the five original scoping study<br />
reports. If you would like to read the full reports please go to:<br />
http://www.rgc.salford.ac.uk/page/research_themes<br />
> Energy (including environmental issues, sustainability, new materials,<br />
nanotechnology, resources)<br />
> Human rights, crime, security, terrorism, disaster management,<br />
war studies<br />
> Media and creative industries and technologies, including digital<br />
economy and digital technologies<br />
> Health and wellbeing, including social care<br />
> Innovation and enterprise<br />
> Built and human environment (already well established)<br />
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RESEARCH AND INNOVATION: SHAPING THE FUTURE<br />
REPORT: HEALTH, SOCIAL CARE AND WELLBEING<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Mike Kagioglou, BuHu / SOBE; Dr Lindsey Dugdill, Faculty <strong>of</strong> Health and Social Care; Mr. Ricardo Codinhoto,<br />
BuHu / SOBE; and Mrs Kathryn Yates, BuHu / SOBE.<br />
This scoping report addressed the internal capacity and expertise<br />
available in this area at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>, sources <strong>of</strong> UK/European<br />
funding available for health, social care and wellbeing related research, key<br />
policy drivers, and future opportunities. Health, social care and wellbeing<br />
have been increasingly topical in the political agenda in the last 8 years.<br />
During this period, in excess <strong>of</strong> £3.5 billion has been spent improving<br />
schools, hospitals and other public buildings/infrastructure in the North<br />
West. In health and social care, the main drivers are to increase quality<br />
whilst reducing costs, to increase efficiency and effectiveness, improve<br />
patient experience (Darzi, 2008) and fundamentally improve health and<br />
social care / wellbeing outcomes. Thus, in general, health and social care is<br />
moving gradually from “curative” to a more “preventative” approach<br />
towards sustainable wellbeing.<br />
Within the <strong>Salford</strong> <strong>University</strong> context, some multi-disciplinary/cross<br />
faculty/health and social care related research has been conducted but<br />
opportunities have not yet realised the potential with respect to the<br />
agenda <strong>of</strong> opportunity in the field. In particular, there is strong need for<br />
inter and multidisciplinary research across disciplines that cut across the<br />
whole <strong>University</strong>. There are many funding bodies and opportunities<br />
for health, social care and wellbeing research.<br />
Strategic Recommendations:<br />
1. Establish an advisory/steering leadership group that would take<br />
forward the recommendations and explore future opportunities over<br />
a period <strong>of</strong> 6 to 12 months.<br />
2. Prioritise funding/training opportunities as part <strong>of</strong> a coherent<br />
strategy in the areas <strong>of</strong> Health, Social Care and Wellbeing.<br />
3. Aim to emulate the healthy wellbeing ethos through to all areas <strong>of</strong><br />
the <strong>University</strong>, for example when planning new buildings, catering,<br />
etc. so that we move to a situation where the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong><br />
not only delivers but also embodies this ethos.<br />
4. Engage with and enhance our collaboration with key institutions in<br />
the UK and internationally that have an established influence both in<br />
funding and policy terms, for example <strong>University</strong> Medical School Kings<br />
College London, Imperial College, among others.<br />
Future Opportunities:<br />
1. Develop a Centre for multidisciplinary research across knowledge<br />
bases, schools and expertises: the study identified many centres<br />
working in the same areas across different contexts.<br />
The report identified the main (high) level research themes to be (in no<br />
particular order): a) Environment; b) Public/Social Health/Care; c)<br />
Education/Training; d) Evidence-Based Approaches; and e) Information and<br />
Communication Technology (ICT). A sixth theme “Patient/ Communities<br />
Experience” is also included and it was considered as a broader crosscutting<br />
theme encompassing the other five themes.<br />
2. Identify and bid for external infrastructure monies in the future that<br />
will allow the development <strong>of</strong> mock-up rooms (both physical and<br />
virtual), link medical and non-medical practices to enable better<br />
training and education.<br />
3. Internationalise our funding sources: the majority <strong>of</strong> the existing<br />
funding in the areas <strong>of</strong> the study are UK-based and there is a need<br />
to engage with international agendas and funding sources.<br />
4. Work more closely with key user-communities and stakeholders<br />
through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) and collaborative<br />
work to increase our impact and pr<strong>of</strong>ile and help alleviate<br />
degreasing research council funding. For example the Media<br />
City project <strong>of</strong>fers great opportunities in this area.<br />
5. New multi-faceted courses need to be developed in particular<br />
around Continuous Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Development (CPD) and<br />
organisation specific training (work-based learning). There are<br />
also opportunities in the area <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essional doctorates.<br />
6. ICT healthcare/workplace health school/centre needed: there is a<br />
missed opportunity in capitalising our ICT competencies across the<br />
<strong>University</strong> and great advances can be made here at a fast speed.<br />
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<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
INNOVATION & ENTERP<strong>RISE</strong> / ENTREPRENEURSHIP<br />
Mr. Carl Abbott, Manager, SCRI & Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Christos Kalantaridis, Management and Management Sciences Research Institute<br />
Innovation and enterprise/entrepreneurship are at the centre <strong>of</strong> the policy<br />
agenda regionally, nationally but also across the EU. This interest (and<br />
investment) on behalf <strong>of</strong> policy-makers reflects changes in the ‘real’<br />
world. Enterprising behaviour and innovation in organizations are<br />
increasingly viewed as cornerstones <strong>of</strong> long-term competitiveness and<br />
sustainable development. This is not confined to private sector<br />
businesses, but increasingly extends to public and third sector<br />
organizations. Changes in climatic conditions and increased demand for<br />
natural resources exert pressure for the identification <strong>of</strong> innovative ways<br />
<strong>of</strong> using resources more intensively, within the context <strong>of</strong> a<br />
global economic downturn. These trends underpin a significant growth in<br />
the demand for knowledge creation (research), application<br />
(academic enterprise), and imparting (education) in innovation and<br />
enterprise/entrepreneurship from policy-makers, organizations (private,<br />
public and third sector), as well as individuals.<br />
The existence <strong>of</strong> opportunities in these two fields <strong>of</strong> research and<br />
practice led to the emergence <strong>of</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> established research<br />
centres: this is particularly the case in the area <strong>of</strong> innovation, with the most<br />
established research centre (SPRU – <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Sussex) going back forty<br />
years ago or so. However, in the UK and elsewhere in the world, there is<br />
limited connection between work in innovation and that in<br />
enterprise/entrepreneurship. Moreover, in many instances centres focus<br />
heavily on either knowledge creation or its application. This <strong>of</strong>fers a<br />
niche for the advancement <strong>of</strong> innovation and enterprise/ent<br />
repreneurship at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>.<br />
The <strong>University</strong> is well placed to exploit this opportunity. This is because it<br />
possesses internal assets and a track record in innovation and<br />
enterprise/entrepreneurship that are internationally leading but diverse<br />
in character. Interestingly, this cuts across knowledge creation,<br />
application and imparting. These assets include: more than ninety<br />
individuals publishing in these two fields, projects totalling in excess <strong>of</strong> £9<br />
million, as well as a wealth <strong>of</strong> educational opportunities at the<br />
undergraduate and postgraduate levels.<br />
These activities concentrate heavily, though not exclusively in distinct<br />
industrial settings, namely: construction, healthcare, media and the third<br />
sector. Nonetheless, at present, centres, activities and individuals exist in<br />
isolation from each other and do not maximize their impact<br />
collectively on external audiences.<br />
Existing expertise in these areas, where there is evidence <strong>of</strong> long-term<br />
demand and impact, augers well for the development <strong>of</strong> a distinctive<br />
<strong>of</strong>fering at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>. This could take the form <strong>of</strong> a<br />
‘centre <strong>of</strong> excellence’ in innovation and enterprise/entrepreneurship that<br />
would be internationally recognizable for:<br />
> The establishment <strong>of</strong> a seamless (two-directional) continuum between<br />
new ideas and cutting-edge practice & education<br />
> The adoption <strong>of</strong> a specific ‘use value’ (rather than technological)<br />
approach to enterprise/entrepreneurship and innovation<br />
> The use <strong>of</strong> a strong sectoral focus – placing particular emphasis on<br />
rapidly growing and/or strategic sectors for the UK and the Manchester<br />
city-region<br />
> The ability to cut across the areas <strong>of</strong> enterprise/entrepreneurship and<br />
innovation in contrast to most other centres that focus on either one or<br />
the other.<br />
The proposed ‘centre <strong>of</strong> excellence’ will be:<br />
> Internationally visible, showcasing the <strong>University</strong>’s expertise in the fields<br />
<strong>of</strong> innovation and enterprise/entrepreneurship<br />
> Strategic, in that it would incubate large-scale initiatives that cut across<br />
knowledge creation, dissemination and imparting<br />
> Embedded in the regional context, with a multitude <strong>of</strong> linkages with<br />
enterprises and organizations.<br />
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<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
THE ENERGY THEME<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Keith Ross, Centre Director, Institute for Materials Research, and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Steve Curwell, Sustainable Urban Development,<br />
Institute <strong>of</strong> Built Environment.<br />
The significance <strong>of</strong> energy to the future <strong>of</strong> mankind cannot be<br />
exaggerated. The population <strong>of</strong> the Earth has reached a level that it could<br />
nowhere near be fed without the extensive use <strong>of</strong> energy in<br />
agriculture and we have become used to the lavish use <strong>of</strong> energy in the<br />
support <strong>of</strong> our lifestyle. However, whether we consider the<br />
anthropomorphic rise <strong>of</strong> CO 2 levels in the atmosphere, giving rise to Global<br />
Warming, or alternatively consider the imminence <strong>of</strong> “Peak Oil” and the<br />
consequences to humanity <strong>of</strong> an inexorable rise in fossil fuel costs and the<br />
associated transfer <strong>of</strong> financial wealth to the Middle East and Russia, it is<br />
clear that we have to face very significant changes in the way we use<br />
energy. These necessary changes create a major challenge to the research<br />
community, internationally and nationally. Training will also be essential to<br />
produce the number <strong>of</strong> specialists in the new areas.<br />
Governments are meeting this challenge by allocating considerable<br />
resources to research in the area. It is therefore natural that energy should<br />
become one <strong>of</strong> the themes <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>.<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> already plays a considerable role in energy<br />
research, in the development <strong>of</strong> new technologies, the observation <strong>of</strong><br />
global changes resulting from climate change, the development <strong>of</strong><br />
energy savings technologies in the Built Environment and the<br />
observation <strong>of</strong> social attitudes to these necessary changes. In the<br />
development <strong>of</strong> new technologies, we are active in wind power and<br />
related meteorological and acoustic phenomenon, in hydrogen energy and<br />
associated developments in hydrogen/fuel cell and battery cars and in<br />
materials problems related to nuclear energy.<br />
All this work on advanced materials is supported by a considerable effort<br />
in ab initio modelling. We also have various important existing facilities<br />
such as the radio chemistry laboratories in Cockcr<strong>of</strong>t. Global changes<br />
related to climate change are inferred from satellite data. Research in the<br />
Built Environment relates to the adoption <strong>of</strong> improved thermal insulation,<br />
smart devices for energy saving and architectural design features that<br />
minimise the need for additional space heating and cooling. Retr<strong>of</strong>itting <strong>of</strong><br />
insulation to the existing housing stock is also important. We also have<br />
major research efforts into the analysis <strong>of</strong> social attitudes, for instance into<br />
the popular response to the introduction <strong>of</strong> hydrogen energy on a broad<br />
scale. Our current research portfolio (grants awarded since 2000) amounts<br />
to £7 million, which is spread over the research areas referred to above.<br />
When it comes to considering how the <strong>University</strong> might develop its<br />
research within the energy theme, the proposed philosophy is to invest in<br />
new research activities in areas adjacent to our existing research strengths,<br />
thus avoiding overlap but gaining from existing reputations and facilities.<br />
The specific suggestions are:<br />
(1) investment in nuclear energy, both fission and fusion, and both at the<br />
teaching and research levels. This would build on existing research<br />
strengths and develop related teaching programmes to meet the<br />
urgent need for new nuclear engineers;<br />
(2) a senior appointment in the area <strong>of</strong> new low carbon<br />
energy technologies (batteries, hydrogen, wind power etc.);<br />
(3) further development in the area <strong>of</strong> energy technology in the built<br />
environment;<br />
(4) a senior appointment in the socio-economic aspects <strong>of</strong> new energy<br />
technologies.<br />
... we have to face<br />
very significant<br />
changes in the way<br />
we use energy ...<br />
In each <strong>of</strong> the above areas, a business plan would be developed,<br />
implying an investment <strong>of</strong> the order <strong>of</strong> several millions, to encompass the<br />
parallel development <strong>of</strong> research and teaching, with the objective <strong>of</strong><br />
covering its additional costs in a period <strong>of</strong> around five years.<br />
29
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
MEDIA AND CREATIVE<br />
TECHNOLOGIES/INDUSTRIES<br />
Dr Garry Crawford, Institute for Social, Cultural and Policy<br />
Research, and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ben Light, Director ISOS, School<br />
<strong>of</strong> Media, Music and Performance<br />
It is clear that the media and creative industries have, and continue<br />
to be, important constituents <strong>of</strong> our social, cultural,<br />
political and economic landscape. In particular, new developments<br />
in media technologies, such as advances in mobile telephone and video<br />
production technologies, have made media more accessible and<br />
participatory and are pr<strong>of</strong>oundly changing patterns <strong>of</strong> media<br />
consumption and production. However, even in the light <strong>of</strong> such new<br />
shifts, it is important to recognise that the media and the creative<br />
industries have a long and rich history - and this must be remembered in<br />
the light <strong>of</strong> the excitement around MediaCityUK. Indeed, the <strong>University</strong> has<br />
a long and established pedigree in media-related research and<br />
teaching, with the International Media Centre established in 1993 and the<br />
School <strong>of</strong> Media, Music and Performance in 1999 (with media being<br />
represented in other institutional forms at least as far back<br />
as 1993).<br />
Specifically in terms <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>’s capacity and<br />
capabilities, we clearly have real strengths in a number <strong>of</strong> key areas. These<br />
areas include: film scholarship, script-writing, cultural politics,<br />
literature and creative writing, music, art, design, heritage, computing,<br />
video games, social media, information systems and virtual<br />
environments — but this is by no means is this an exhaustive list. In<br />
particular, since writing the original ‘peaks <strong>of</strong> excellence’ report the<br />
<strong>University</strong> had significant success in several Research Assessment Exercise<br />
(RAE) submission areas <strong>of</strong> direct relevance to the media and creative<br />
industries. These include Communication, Culture and Media Studies,<br />
Library and Information Management, English Language and Literature<br />
and Art and Design.<br />
There were also important media-related themes and research evident<br />
in other <strong>University</strong> RAE submissions made in health, the built<br />
environment, business and management, social work and social policy and<br />
administration, law, and <strong>of</strong> course, music. Regionally, the North West has<br />
a long tradition in many aspects <strong>of</strong> the cultural industries, including,<br />
television, radio, newspaper publishing, music, digital games and other<br />
cultural industries such as advertising, design and marketing. Indeed,<br />
although this sector is rapidly growing in the UK, this is<br />
markedly so in the North West, and the North West Development Agency<br />
(NWDA) believes that the North West can become the creative hub <strong>of</strong> the<br />
UK, if not Europe. It almost goes without saying <strong>of</strong> course that<br />
MediaCityUK undoubtedly provides one <strong>of</strong>, if not the, most<br />
important and exciting developments in the North West in recent decades,<br />
and it is evident that the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> will be a key partner in this.<br />
In terms <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>’s wider engaging with the media and creative<br />
industries, it is notable that the Government and funding bodies are<br />
making increasing amounts <strong>of</strong> monies available to research that is ‘user’<br />
focused. Though, this should not be taken to suggest that all academic<br />
work now needs to be end-user focused, it is important to recognise that<br />
interdisciplinary working to meet the diverse needs <strong>of</strong> end-users and keys<br />
industry partnerships are significant areas for new research opportunities<br />
and development.<br />
In terms <strong>of</strong> the way forward, the media and creative industries ‘peaks <strong>of</strong><br />
excellence’ scoping-report recommends continued investment in core<br />
areas <strong>of</strong> media and creative industry/technology teaching and research.<br />
This also suggests the need for an internal refocusing around<br />
interdisciplinary clusters and research focused on the media and creative<br />
industries. This activity needs, we argue, to be pulled together and to<br />
represent the established and impressive capabilities that the <strong>University</strong> has<br />
in the media and creative industries.<br />
30
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
CRIME AND SECURITY<br />
Mr Andrew Wootton, Director, Design Against Crime<br />
Research Centre; Dr Christopher Birkbeck, School <strong>of</strong><br />
English, Sociology, Politics and Contemporary History and<br />
Dr Caroline Davey, Design & Innovation Research Group.<br />
The importance <strong>of</strong> crime and security<br />
Crime and security are key issues for the UK Government and for the<br />
European Union. Crime affects a large proportion <strong>of</strong> the population.<br />
England and Wales are among the countries with the highest victimisation<br />
rates in the industrialised world. Reducing crime and fear <strong>of</strong> crime and<br />
increasing security form part <strong>of</strong> the UK Government’s sustainability<br />
agenda. Crime and security are major issues for residents and users <strong>of</strong><br />
urban environments, and a key factor in social and economic decline.<br />
While crime levels are decreasing across Europe, fear <strong>of</strong> crime and feelings<br />
<strong>of</strong> insecurity remain serious problems and negatively impact on citizens’<br />
quality <strong>of</strong> life. In addition, terrorism has become a key issue<br />
internationally. Attention has focused on radicalisation, improved policing<br />
and surveillance technologies, legal reform and resilience. The design<br />
and construction <strong>of</strong> buildings, places and services can significantly<br />
reduce the likelihood and impact <strong>of</strong> a terrorist attack.<br />
We believe that the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> should aim to create a vibrant,<br />
ambitious and world-renowned peak <strong>of</strong> excellence in crime and security.<br />
‘Crime’ and ‘security’ can refer to a wide variety <strong>of</strong> concepts, but a key<br />
consideration is the potential harm to individuals, groups and society.<br />
Crimes and analogous harmful behaviours are subject to sanction. Security<br />
is defined freedom from danger or risk <strong>of</strong> harm, and this report focuses on<br />
security in relation to crime and analogous behaviours. Insecurity may<br />
derive from non-human sources (e.g. natural disasters), but this was<br />
considered outside the scope <strong>of</strong> our report.<br />
Recommendations<br />
Our report provides recommendations that build on the valuable work in<br />
the crime and security domain currently underway at <strong>Salford</strong>, and focus on<br />
three themes:<br />
A Supporting existing crime/security groups and researchers to flourish<br />
and grow<br />
There is a clear need to develop research capacity by encouraging and<br />
supporting those undertaking research to share ideas, generate projects,<br />
win funding and achieve their full potential. Established groups require<br />
practical support to deliver projects, meet demand and ensure continued<br />
success.<br />
B Supporting improved interaction between strands <strong>of</strong> activity in crime<br />
and security<br />
The <strong>Salford</strong> Crime and Security Research Network should be established<br />
to create a framework for the internal exchange <strong>of</strong> information,<br />
knowledge and expertise.<br />
C Raising <strong>Salford</strong>’s external pr<strong>of</strong>ile in the crime and/security domain.<br />
Recommendations are made to improve external communication <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Salford</strong> crime and security work to other researchers, criminal justice<br />
and other relevant organisations, funding bodies and the media.<br />
The internal and external context<br />
Our research showed that the crime/security domain is already well<br />
established within <strong>Salford</strong>. 27 researchers completed a web-based survey<br />
detailing their current sources <strong>of</strong> funding, their current enterprise activities,<br />
how they are influencing policy, and their priorities for the future. Research<br />
clusters/groups include: Design Against Crime Solution Centre; <strong>Salford</strong><br />
Centre for Prison Studies; Centre for Social Inclusion, Risk and Crime;<br />
Contemporary History and Politics Research Centre; Informatics Research<br />
Institute and <strong>Salford</strong> Centre <strong>of</strong> Legal Research.<br />
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<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
NEW APPOINTMENTS<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Tony Dickson has been appointed Visiting<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor to <strong>Salford</strong> Business School and the <strong>University</strong>.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dickson has fulfilled a number <strong>of</strong> roles in<br />
higher education including: Head <strong>of</strong> Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Sociology, Chair <strong>of</strong> the Faculty <strong>of</strong> Life and Social<br />
Sciences both at Glasgow Caledonian <strong>University</strong>; Dean<br />
<strong>of</strong> Social Sciences, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Development),<br />
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and then Deputy Vice-Chancellor<br />
(Development) at Northumbria <strong>University</strong>. As Deputy Vice-Chancellor<br />
(Development) his responsibilities included leading the <strong>University</strong>’s<br />
significant international activities and expansion. He left Northumbria in<br />
2006 to establish and become the President <strong>of</strong> Raffles <strong>University</strong>,<br />
funded by the Raffles Education Corporation. Raffles <strong>University</strong> has over<br />
50,000 students and has its headquarters in Singapore but it operates in<br />
10 countries and 19 major cities in Asia Pacific. Since 2008 he has been<br />
Managing Director <strong>of</strong> Global Higher Education Consulting.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dickson will contribute to the School’s and the <strong>University</strong>’s<br />
internationalisation activities and will have an immediate input into<br />
ensuring the School and <strong>University</strong> fully capitalise on the prestigious PMI2<br />
(Prime Minister’s Initiative 2) project with leading Chinese Universities.<br />
tony.dickson@globalhec.com<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Tony Warne has worked in mental health<br />
care since 1975. He has over 20 years <strong>of</strong> experience in<br />
nursing and service management, and has worked in a<br />
variety <strong>of</strong> different specialist mental health service<br />
environments and contexts. Tony left the NHS in 1995<br />
to join Manchester Metropolitan <strong>University</strong>,<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Health Care Studies as a teacher and<br />
nurse researcher. In 2006, he was appointed Pr<strong>of</strong>essor in Mental Health<br />
Care at <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>, and appointed Head <strong>of</strong> School (School <strong>of</strong><br />
Nursing) in 2007. In March <strong>2009</strong> he also became Associate Dean<br />
(Research) and intends to continue with both roles as the Faculty <strong>of</strong> Health<br />
and Social Care embraces the <strong>University</strong>’s new research strategy. The focus<br />
<strong>of</strong> Tony’s research interest is on inter-personal, intra-personal and<br />
extra-personal relationships, using a psychodynamic and managerialist<br />
analytical discourse.<br />
In the main his research has centred on exploring the impact <strong>of</strong> such<br />
relationships on nursing practice, policy, organisation and particularly nurse<br />
education and the preparation for practice. Much <strong>of</strong> his research has<br />
involved mental health nursing, although he has conducted research into<br />
other areas <strong>of</strong> nursing and health and social care.<br />
Tony is a Clinical Associate for the Healthcare Commission and has been a<br />
Magistrate for 14 years, with a special interest in the mentally<br />
disordered <strong>of</strong>fender. He has published extensively and is the Co-Editor and<br />
author <strong>of</strong> the book Using Patient Experience in Nurse Education and<br />
Associate Editor <strong>of</strong> the International Journal <strong>of</strong> Mental Health Nursing.<br />
t.warne@salford.ac.uk<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Sharon Ruston has been appointed Chair<br />
in Nineteenth-Century Literature and Culture in<br />
ESPaCH. She joins <strong>Salford</strong> from Keele <strong>University</strong> where<br />
she was Programme Director <strong>of</strong> Media,<br />
Communications and Culture for the past two years.<br />
Since 2007 she has been Vice-President <strong>of</strong> the British<br />
Association for Romantic Studies and this year<br />
becomes one <strong>of</strong> the judges for the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association’s<br />
annual essay prize. Her publications include Shelley and Vitality (2005),<br />
Romanticism (2007) and Literature and Science (2008). She is particularly<br />
interested in the interrelationships that exist between literature, science<br />
and medicine in the early nineteenth-century, and is currently working on<br />
the poetry <strong>of</strong> chemist Humphry Davy.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ruston is an external examiner for the ‘Literature and Medicine’<br />
MA at King’s College, London and for the undergraduate degree at<br />
Lancaster <strong>University</strong>. Plans for <strong>Salford</strong> include organising a conference,<br />
‘Thomas de Quincey, Manchester and Medicine, 1785-1859’ to<br />
commemorate 150 years since de Quincey’s death, to be held at <strong>Salford</strong> on<br />
4th December <strong>2009</strong>. s.ruston@salford.ac.uk<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Sue Kilcoyne is the Associate Dean for<br />
Research in the Faculty <strong>of</strong> Science, Engineering and<br />
Environment. She was appointed as Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong><br />
Materials in January 2006, became Director <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Institute for Materials Research in October 2006 and<br />
took up the post <strong>of</strong> ADR in January this year.<br />
Sue’s academic work has always involved aspects <strong>of</strong> both biological and<br />
physical sciences. She graduated from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Liverpool with a<br />
BSc degree in Physics with Environmental Biology and continued at<br />
Liverpool to study for a PhD, which was awarded for her work on<br />
Mossbauer Spectroscopic studies <strong>of</strong> iron containing proteins.<br />
Throughout her career Sue’s research has focussed upon the application <strong>of</strong><br />
physical techniques to a wide range <strong>of</strong> problems in for example, physics<br />
(magnetism, superconductivity), the life sciences (biomaterials, proteins),<br />
and in geology (Fe oxides in soils and clays). She works with<br />
multidisciplinary groups <strong>of</strong> academics throughout UK and Europe -<br />
physicists and biomaterials scientists at Leeds <strong>University</strong>, biophysicists at the<br />
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire and physicists at the<br />
Institute Laue Langevin in France, and is now extending this grouping<br />
through the development <strong>of</strong> an archaeometry research programme with<br />
archaeologists and local historians from the Blackden Trust in Cheshire.<br />
s.h.kilcoyne@salford.ac.uk<br />
32
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Stewart, Chair in Aeronautical and<br />
Automotive Engineering, was Senior Lecturer in the<br />
Electrical Machines and Drives Group in the 6*<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Electronic and Electrical Engineering<br />
(Electrical Machines and Drives Group) at the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Sheffield from 2002-2008, where he was<br />
a Staff Member <strong>of</strong> the Rolls-Royce UTC in Advanced<br />
Electrical Machines and Drives, and member <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong> Directors <strong>of</strong><br />
the Academic Initiative in the More Electric Aircraft (AIMEA-UK).<br />
In January <strong>2009</strong> he became Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Aeronautical and<br />
Automotive Engineering at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>, and in<br />
collaboration with Pr<strong>of</strong>essor T.X. Mei, formed the CASE Centre for Control<br />
and Systems Engineering. His research encompasses the fields <strong>of</strong> control<br />
theory applications, electromechanical energy conversion, power systems,<br />
multi-objective optimisation and intelligent control systems. Prior to<br />
pursuing an academic career, he worked for 14 years in the automotive<br />
industry, latterly specialising in hybrid electric drivetrains and engine<br />
development.<br />
Examples <strong>of</strong> his research include EC funded projects on<br />
electromechanical valve actuation, automotive drive-by-wire systems and<br />
integrated modelling and optimisation toolboxes for Matlab.<br />
His recent research portfolio extends from free-piston linear energy<br />
converter technology (EPSCR GR/S97507/01), which is being<br />
undertaken in collaboration with Group Lotus Ltd., and intelligent<br />
domestic energy control (Yorkshire Forward Grant), to the modelling and<br />
optimal control <strong>of</strong> electrical power generation/energy storage<br />
systems on ‘more-electric’ aircraft (EU Framework VI). He has led major<br />
scoping and feasibility projects on power conversion, regenerative<br />
energy and energy storage with UK partners: Group Lotus PLC,<br />
GreenUrban Ltd., and ITI Energy Scotland Ltd, and will be leading More<br />
Electric Aircraft Power Systems work packages under the EU Framework VII<br />
‘Clean Skies’ JTI.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Mei, Chair in Control and Mechatronics,<br />
was a Reader in Control and Mechatronics in the<br />
School <strong>of</strong> Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Leeds, which was ranked as the best<br />
Electronic and Electrical Engineering School in the UK<br />
in the 2008 RAE. In January <strong>2009</strong>, he became<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Control and Mechatronics at <strong>Salford</strong><br />
<strong>University</strong>, and formed the CASE Centre for control and Systems<br />
Engineering with Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Paul Stewart. He currently leads a strong<br />
research team <strong>of</strong> 3 research associates and 5 PhD students which carries<br />
out leading-edge research in control and systems engineering mainly for<br />
energy efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles <strong>of</strong> the future.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Mei has a strong background and substantial research expertise<br />
in traction control and drives, steer-by-wire, fault tolerant control, power<br />
systems and optimisation, intelligent sensing, and condition monitoring.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong> Mei is a world leader in the latest research into active steering and<br />
mechatronic systems for rail and automotive applications.<br />
He has been very successful in attracting research grants from a variety <strong>of</strong><br />
funding sources and supervised many research projects. He has given<br />
state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art plenary talks and invited research seminars at an<br />
international level and has also disseminated widely and regularly in<br />
leading academic journals and international conferences, including invited<br />
papers in special journal issues and special conference sessions. Some <strong>of</strong><br />
his journal publications have been awarded best paper prizes in<br />
recognition <strong>of</strong> the quality and significance <strong>of</strong> his research. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Mei<br />
has also substantial industrial experience from his employment in<br />
manufacturing industry (including GEC Alsthom, Brush Traction and Linear<br />
Motors) at early stage <strong>of</strong> his career. He collaborates closely with a number<br />
<strong>of</strong> industrial partners through various research grants and proposals,<br />
including Modec, GGS, SET, InMoCo, TMS, TNEI, ATP and Greenurban.<br />
t.x.mei@salford.ac.uk<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Stewart recently attended an EPSRC ‘Sandpit’ event on Low<br />
Carbon Airport Operations and secured an unprecedented tally <strong>of</strong> 3 new<br />
research grants as Principal Investigator, totalling over £1 million, all <strong>of</strong><br />
which will be starting in <strong>Salford</strong> in July. p.g.stewart@salford.ac.uk<br />
33
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
POSTGRADUATE<br />
RESEARCH NEWS<br />
PHD STUDENT BECOMES CHAIR<br />
OF UACES<br />
Kamil Zwolski, a second-year PhD student in ESRI<br />
(European Studies Research Institute) researching on<br />
European Union Security, has been granted a £2,500<br />
scholarship for a research field trip to Brussels.<br />
This academic year he will go to Brussels<br />
to conduct elite interviews for his project. This prestigious and highly<br />
competitive scholarship is awarded annually by the <strong>University</strong> Association<br />
for Contemporary European Studies (UACES).<br />
UACES is an academic organisation bringing together scholars from all<br />
over the UK and abroad. Last November Kamil was elected to the<br />
position <strong>of</strong> chair <strong>of</strong> the UACES Student Forum, which is the<br />
postgraduate ‘branch’ <strong>of</strong> the organisation. As Chair he coordinates the<br />
preparation <strong>of</strong> various academic events, such as the UACES<br />
Student Forum Annual Conference in April this year. The UACES<br />
conferences provide an important opportunity for young researchers in<br />
European Studies to present their findings. This year for the first time, the<br />
conference will be hosted by the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>.<br />
If you would like to find out more about Kamil’s work please contact him<br />
at: K.M.Zwolski@pgr.salford.ac.uk<br />
ONE YEAR PLACEMENT FOR MASTERS STUDENTS<br />
<strong>Salford</strong> Business School is building on its expertise in managing<br />
student placements and partnerships with local and national<br />
organisations by launching a scheme allowing Masters students to<br />
undertake a one year placement. Students enrolling on the MSc Project<br />
Management, MSc Managing Information Technology, MSc Events<br />
Management, and MSc International Tourism Management can choose to<br />
undertake a placement year following successful completion <strong>of</strong> the taught<br />
part <strong>of</strong> their programme. The MSc therefore taking two years in total. The<br />
MSc placement replaces the traditional research dissertation and it’s assessment<br />
includes a major report relating experience to theory. This is a unique<br />
scheme within the <strong>University</strong> which will give graduates a significant advantage<br />
and we are keen to talk to organisations interested in <strong>of</strong>fering relevant<br />
placement opportunities as well as potential applicants.<br />
For further information please contact Chris Procter, placement<br />
co-ordinator: c.t.procter@salford.ac.uk<br />
CAREERS BLOG FOR PHD RESEARCH STUDENTS<br />
Reaching our dispersed and diverse PhD community is a challenge.<br />
Fiona Christie, Careers Advisor/Careers Coordinator for Postgraduate<br />
Researchers, has found a solution. Fiona has risen to the challenge by<br />
creating a careers blog specifically for research students. Websites, being<br />
fairly static tools, don’t always allow you to talk directly to a<br />
specific group or give a glimpse <strong>of</strong> your own personality, a blog allows<br />
Fiona to be accessible to our research community and to put in one place<br />
all the relevant careers news and views for PhD students. It allows for<br />
comments and interaction from users. You can access Fiona’s blog via<br />
www.careers.salford.ac.uk/students/phd/blog<br />
Fiona aims to send posts to the blog about twice a week. Information on<br />
events and opportunities <strong>of</strong> interest will be included but the blog will also<br />
give the opportunity to debate topical issues, such as the current economic<br />
downturn and how this affects the doctoral and research community. So<br />
far the feedback from PhD students who use it has been positive, it has<br />
also attracted attention from outside <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> and Fiona has<br />
presented at a regional Vitae conference about the blog as an example <strong>of</strong><br />
innovative good practice. Fiona doesn’t only have a virtual identity! Face to<br />
face communications are critical and she is available to see research<br />
students and research staff for one-to-one appointments and workshops.<br />
Fiona is planning non-virtual one-day <strong>University</strong>-wide careers event on<br />
<strong>June</strong> 23rd called “PhD Futures” which will bring together research<br />
students, staff supporting researchers, academics and alumni.<br />
To contact Fiona please email: f.christie@salford.ac.uk or call her<br />
on: 0161 295 5668<br />
LEADING RESEARCH ON INFORMATION<br />
NEED<br />
Dr Paula Ormandy, a research fellow in the School <strong>of</strong><br />
Nursing, has recently completed a PhD making a<br />
valuable research contribution to understanding and<br />
measuring the information needs <strong>of</strong> chronic kidney<br />
disease patients. As the PhD developed the importance<br />
<strong>of</strong> the research was evident winning, in 2007, best poster at the British<br />
Renal Society and best abstract at the European Dialysis & Transplant<br />
Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association. Since completion <strong>of</strong><br />
the work the findings have directly informed and influenced the 2008<br />
NICE guideline on Chronic Kidney Disease Management identifying the<br />
importance <strong>of</strong> key information topics to consider when meeting the<br />
information needs <strong>of</strong> patients. Paula is to extend this work further within<br />
her post-doctorate research developing international networks,<br />
particularly building on Sense-Making Methodology, the focus <strong>of</strong> a<br />
workshop she is involved in, taking place in Chicago in <strong>May</strong> <strong>2009</strong> at the<br />
International Communication Association Conference.<br />
If you would like to know more about Paula’s work or the workshop in<br />
Chicago please contact her at: p.ormandy@salford.ac.uk<br />
34
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
AHRC GRANT<br />
ESRI PhD Student Kimberley Taylor has won a £2,000 grant from the Arts<br />
and Humanities Research Council in conjunction with Manchester<br />
<strong>University</strong> to organise a PGR conference in the region. The conference is a<br />
one-day interdisciplinary conference on European Minorities<br />
in Cross-Disciplinary Perspective to be held on 26th <strong>June</strong> <strong>2009</strong> at<br />
the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Manchester under the aegis <strong>of</strong> the Jean<br />
Monnet Centre <strong>of</strong> Excellence (Manchester). Although supported by the<br />
JMCE and its stakeholders (the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Manchester, Manchester<br />
Metropolitan <strong>University</strong> and ESRI - <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>), and<br />
undertaken as part <strong>of</strong> their ongoing plan <strong>of</strong> Training for Young<br />
Researchers, the bid was drawn up and submitted by Kimberley and Filippo<br />
Nereo (JMCE Administrator and PhD Researcher in Sociolinguistics at the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Manchester).<br />
The conference is for advanced PhD students and early career researchers<br />
in any aspect <strong>of</strong> ethnic and linguistic minorities in Europe (in its broadest<br />
sense). Three highly-regarded plenary speakers are to present individually<br />
and participate in a roundtable discussion on the position <strong>of</strong> minorities in<br />
Europe. The speakers are: Patrick Stevenson (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Southampton)<br />
who will be looking at Central European sociolinguistics, more particularly<br />
language myths in a spatio-temporal dimension; Dieter Halwachs<br />
(<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Graz) will consider ethnic and linguistic minorities within the<br />
nation-state from a more policy-oriented dynamic and Stefan Wolff<br />
(<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Nottingham) will look at ethic conflict and the EU's conflict<br />
management vis-a-vis 'frozen conflicts' in the Soviet Union. Part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
conference funding from the JMCE will <strong>of</strong>fer travel grants to PhD<br />
students from universities across Europe who wish to attend and there will<br />
also be a wine reception and dinner following the event to make it a<br />
friendly social occasion for the young researchers involved.<br />
If you would like more information on the event contact<br />
Kimberley at: k.j.taylor@pgr.salford.ac.uk<br />
POSTGRAD CONFERENCE<br />
<strong>Salford</strong>’s highly successful Postgraduate Annual Research Conference –<br />
SPARC, as it is famously known – is taking place this year on 7th and 8th<br />
<strong>May</strong> in Faraday House and the Old Fire Station. For the third year running,<br />
it will be opening its doors to a wide variety <strong>of</strong> researchers from across the<br />
North-West. Last year’s SPARC, the proceedings from which will be<br />
published shortly, was even busier than usual, with 63 paper-givers and 30<br />
poster-presenters. In addition to the student-led panels, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ghassan<br />
Aouad gave a talk on “How to Succeed in Doing a PhD: A Personal<br />
Perspective”. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Aouad will be developing the theme <strong>of</strong> this<br />
presentation in one <strong>of</strong> this year’s keynote speeches; the other will be given<br />
by a senior figure from publishing.<br />
The conference will also see the return <strong>of</strong> the poster competition, which is<br />
judged by a panel from business and industry, and assesses not just the<br />
quality <strong>of</strong> the poster, but also at the capacity <strong>of</strong> the researcher to explain<br />
their work to a lay audience. Last year’s first prize (£200) went to Simon<br />
Keens (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>) for his poster on “Hydrogen Storage in<br />
'Ti-Decorated' Graphite”, and the second prize (£100) to Glenda Melling<br />
(<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Central Lancashire) for her poster on “Gene Expression in<br />
Human Post Mortem Dermal Tissue.” The conference dinner on Thursday<br />
night, free to all paper-givers, will be held in <strong>University</strong> House, with an<br />
organised tour and social gathering in Urbis on Friday afternoon. Paper<br />
abstracts for the conference need to be provided by Friday 10 April – full<br />
details are available at: http://www.pg.salford.ac.uk/page/SPARC.<br />
PHYSIO AWARDED DOCTORATE<br />
A SALE physiotherapist has been awarded a doctorate (PhD) by<br />
Staffordshire <strong>University</strong> following five years <strong>of</strong> part-time study.<br />
Christopher Norris conducted research into rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> backpain<br />
in collaboration with both <strong>Salford</strong> <strong>University</strong> and Manchester Metropolitan<br />
<strong>University</strong>. He said: “There is a steady move towards<br />
evidence-based medicine, but also much criticism <strong>of</strong> studies carried out<br />
only by researchers based in laboratories. “As a clinician involved in the<br />
day-to-day treatment <strong>of</strong> patients, I thought it was important to be at the<br />
cutting edge <strong>of</strong> backpain research, and contribute to the future <strong>of</strong> my<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>ession.” Christopher is the former physiotherapist to Sale Harriers and<br />
has a clinic on Eastway in Sale. His scientific work has<br />
been published in several medical journals and is available at:<br />
norrisassociates.co.uk/library.html<br />
IOLANTHE MIDWIFERY TRUST RESEARCH FELLOW<br />
Senior lecturer Julie Wray recently visited the the House <strong>of</strong> Lords to<br />
celebrate 25 years <strong>of</strong> the Iolanthe Midwifery Trust and pick up her Research<br />
Fellowship award. The event was hosted by Baroness Cumberlege, patron<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Trust.<br />
This prestigious award is designed to assist in the final stages <strong>of</strong><br />
completing a doctorate degree and is unique in targeting the<br />
writing-up phase rather than the research phase <strong>of</strong> the doctorate.<br />
Julie’s PhD explores the culture <strong>of</strong> postnatal care in the UK and women’s<br />
views and experiences <strong>of</strong> birth recovery. This work is <strong>of</strong> national and<br />
international significance and the results will inform the shape <strong>of</strong> future<br />
maternity services. Julie was congratulated for her excellent application<br />
and hard work by both the Iolanthe judges and trustees. She said: “I'm<br />
very excited and honoured to have this wonderful opportunity to<br />
complete my doctorate studies with the support <strong>of</strong> the Iolanthe Trust and<br />
the School <strong>of</strong> Nursing.”<br />
The awards ceremony was hosted by the patron <strong>of</strong> the Iolanthe Midwifery<br />
Trust, Baroness Cumberlege and she welcomed many noted midwives –<br />
including 18 pr<strong>of</strong>essors! - as well as MPs, guests from the Royal College <strong>of</strong><br />
Midwives, Royal College <strong>of</strong> Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, MIDIRS,<br />
National Childbirth Trust, King’s Fund, White Ribbon Alliance and others.<br />
The Iolanthe Midwifery Trust exists to promote and improve the care <strong>of</strong><br />
mothers and their families through awarding grants and fellowships in<br />
support <strong>of</strong> education, practice and research.<br />
For more information on Julie’s work please contact her at:<br />
j.wray@salford.ac.uk<br />
To follow the events at the award day please go to:<br />
http://www.iolanthe.org/Award_winners_2008.html<br />
35
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
POSTGRADUATE Awards<br />
Institute/Centre<br />
Surname<br />
Forename<br />
Award<br />
Title<br />
Research Institute for the<br />
Built Environment<br />
Forgues<br />
Daniel<br />
PhD<br />
Using Boundary Objects to Generate Better<br />
Value in the Construction Industry. Interpreting<br />
Cases from an Activity Theory Perspective<br />
Institute for Materials Research<br />
Hampshire<br />
Joanne<br />
PhD<br />
A Study <strong>of</strong> the Structure <strong>of</strong> Co deposited PVD<br />
Coatings<br />
Institute for Materials Research<br />
Marques<br />
Simao<br />
PhD<br />
Computation <strong>of</strong> High-Lift Aerodynamics using<br />
Unstructured Grids and Reynolds-Stress<br />
Turbulence Models<br />
Institute for Materials Research<br />
Khan<br />
Mohammed<br />
Uzair<br />
PhD<br />
Airbag Simulation Utilising Arbitrary Lagrangian<br />
Eulerian Methodology for Out <strong>of</strong> Position Cases<br />
Informatics Research Institute<br />
Mit<br />
Edwin<br />
PhD<br />
Developing VDM++ Operations from UML<br />
Diagrams<br />
Adelphi Research Institute<br />
Wallace<br />
Thomasina<br />
Phd<br />
A Study <strong>of</strong> 3D CAD and Implications for Training<br />
and Skills in the Fashion Industry<br />
Institute for Health & Social Care<br />
Blakemore<br />
Edwina<br />
PhD<br />
How Do I Self Manage in a Complex World<br />
A Health Visitor's Perspective<br />
Institute for Health & Social Care<br />
Ormandy<br />
Paula<br />
PhD<br />
Chronic Kidney Disease: Patient Information<br />
Need, Preferences and Priorities<br />
European Studies Research Institute<br />
Al-Taher<br />
Mohammad<br />
Anwar<br />
PhD<br />
The Translation <strong>of</strong> Intertextual Expressions in<br />
Political Articles<br />
Research Institute for the Built<br />
& Human Environment<br />
Lima<br />
Jose Barreiro<br />
PhD<br />
Methodology for Demand-Supply Selection <strong>of</strong><br />
Commercial Off-The-Shelf S<strong>of</strong>tware-Based<br />
Systems. Contextual Approach <strong>of</strong> Leading<br />
Contractors in Portugal<br />
Institute for Social, Cultural and<br />
Policy Research<br />
Buss<br />
Roman<br />
PhD<br />
Pathways to Hydrogen Economies: A<br />
Quantitative Gross-National Investigation <strong>of</strong><br />
Hydrogen Discourse and Strategy Formulation<br />
in Britain and Germany<br />
Research Institute for the Built & Human<br />
Environment<br />
Vorakulpipat<br />
Chalee<br />
PhD<br />
Exploring Knowledge Value Creation Practices:<br />
an Interpretive Case Study<br />
Institute for Health & Social<br />
Care Research<br />
Sobuh<br />
Mohammad<br />
MSc by<br />
Research<br />
Monitoring <strong>of</strong> Upper Limb Prosthesis Activity in<br />
Trans-Radial Amputees - A Feasibility Study<br />
Institute for Materials Research<br />
Garcia<br />
Juan Fernandez<br />
PhD<br />
Neutron Scattering Studies and Simulations <strong>of</strong><br />
Hydrogen Absorption in Single-Walled Carbon<br />
Nanotubes<br />
Informatics Research Institute<br />
Kasiran<br />
Mohdkhairudin<br />
PhD<br />
An Information Framework for Merchant Trust<br />
in Electronic Commerce (Business to Consumer<br />
Segment)<br />
Management & Management<br />
Sciences Research Institute<br />
El-Ba<br />
Khaled Massoud<br />
Yahia<br />
PhD<br />
Factors Affecting the Strategic Planning Process:<br />
Case Studies from Libyan Public Manufacturing<br />
Companies<br />
36
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
Institute/Centre<br />
Surname<br />
Forename<br />
Award<br />
Title<br />
Research Institute for the Built<br />
& Human Environment<br />
Al-Ajam<br />
Maher<br />
PhD<br />
Integrating Collaborative Extranets with Project<br />
Integrated Databases to Improve the<br />
Construction Tender Stage<br />
European Studies Research Institute<br />
Al-Jabari<br />
Raed Yahya<br />
Ahmad<br />
PhD<br />
Reasons for the Possible Incomprehensibility <strong>of</strong><br />
some Verses <strong>of</strong> Three Translations <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Meaning <strong>of</strong> the Holy Quran into English<br />
Informatics Research Institute<br />
Al-Rashed<br />
Maha<br />
PhD<br />
An Investigation <strong>of</strong> Leadership Styles <strong>of</strong> Bahraini<br />
Women Top Managers<br />
Institute for Materials Research<br />
Fiala<br />
Jiri<br />
PhD<br />
Investigation <strong>of</strong> Space Charge Neutralization<br />
Effects in High-Current Positive ION Beams<br />
Institute for Materials Research<br />
Hampson<br />
Paul Robert<br />
PhD<br />
Fluid-Structure Interaction <strong>of</strong> Metallic and<br />
Composite Plates Subjected to Dynamic Loading<br />
Research Institute for the Built<br />
& Human Environment<br />
Marston<br />
Christopher<br />
PhD<br />
Spatial Modelling <strong>of</strong> Small Mammal<br />
Distributions in Relation to Parasite Transmission<br />
in Western China<br />
Informatics Research Institute<br />
McWhinnie<br />
David Paul<br />
PhD<br />
A Case Study Investigation into an<br />
Implementation <strong>of</strong> a Techno-Driven Knowledge<br />
management Initiative<br />
Research Institute for the Built<br />
& Human Environment<br />
Onyenobi<br />
Timothy<br />
PhD<br />
Impact <strong>of</strong> High-Rise Morphology on Gas<br />
Temperatures During Fires<br />
Research Institute for the Built<br />
& Human Environment<br />
Sulaiman<br />
Khairuddun<br />
PhD<br />
A Study <strong>of</strong> Building Procurement Process as a<br />
Potential Too to Enhance Safety Practice in the<br />
Construction Industry<br />
Adelphi Research Institute<br />
Evans<br />
Howard John<br />
DMA<br />
Performance Portfolio<br />
Management & Management<br />
Sciences Research Institute<br />
Al-Mut<br />
Saeed Abdullah<br />
Juma<br />
PhD<br />
Perceptions <strong>of</strong> Service Quality and Effects <strong>of</strong><br />
Personality Traits <strong>of</strong> Employees in the UAE<br />
Islamic Banks<br />
Research Institute for the Built<br />
& Human Environment<br />
Lees<br />
Melvyn Alen<br />
PhD<br />
Measuring the Value <strong>of</strong> Engagement between<br />
Higher Education and Industry and Practice in<br />
the Built Environment<br />
Research Institute for the Built<br />
& Human Environment<br />
Mog<br />
Tiroyamodimo<br />
Mmapadi<br />
PhD<br />
Barriers to Successful Application <strong>of</strong> Information<br />
Technology in Botswana<br />
Institute for Health & Social<br />
Care Research<br />
Sha<br />
Ning<br />
PhD<br />
A Surface Electrode Array-Based System for<br />
Functional Electrical Stimulation<br />
European Studies Research<br />
Institute<br />
Mohan<br />
Gita<br />
PhD<br />
Translation and the Quest for Self-Identity<br />
in Postcolonial Indian Anglophone and<br />
Maghrebian Francophone Literature<br />
Research Institute for the Built<br />
& Human Environment<br />
Rains<br />
Jonathan Philip<br />
PhD<br />
Hydraulic Characteristics <strong>of</strong> Siphonic Ro<strong>of</strong><br />
Drainage Outlets<br />
37
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
INTERNATIONAL NEWS<br />
CHINA-UK COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> is one <strong>of</strong> seven universities in the UK<br />
to have been granted a prestigious Prime Minister’s Initiative 2<br />
China-UK Collaborative Partnerships Award for Employability<br />
and Entrepreneurship. The funding, administered by The British<br />
Council is to provide pump-prime funding for UK HE institutions<br />
to develop partnerships with Chinese institutions in the areas <strong>of</strong><br />
employability and entrepreneurship. The collaboration is with<br />
three top universities in China: East China Normal <strong>University</strong><br />
and Shanghai Jiao Tong <strong>University</strong>, both in Shanghai; and<br />
Harbin Institute <strong>of</strong> Technology in the North <strong>of</strong> China.<br />
The project has been running since <strong>May</strong> 2008, and together work has<br />
been undertaken to ensure that the terms “employability” and<br />
“entrepreneurship” mean equivalent things to all partners. This has been<br />
a very interesting journey, and the team have gained informative and<br />
valuable insights in differences between the drivers and response<br />
approaches both within the UK and China. The partners have also<br />
exchanged examples <strong>of</strong> institutional initiatives which have been used<br />
to support students such as resources, tools and case studies.<br />
The final aspect <strong>of</strong> year one <strong>of</strong> this project has been to explore the<br />
relationships between universities and employers both in the UK and in<br />
China. At the end <strong>of</strong> last year, employer steering groups were held in both<br />
<strong>Salford</strong> and Shanghai.<br />
Fifteen major companies attended the steering group hosted in Shanghai.<br />
Not only was such an approach in China considered to be extremely<br />
innovative and different, but it was also felt that attendance and<br />
participation was reflective <strong>of</strong> the Chinese culture and also the<br />
different demographics <strong>of</strong> companies in China. These steering group<br />
meetings produced a list <strong>of</strong> skills and attributes which are considered to be<br />
the most important when seeking graduates.<br />
38
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD<br />
EXCEEDS UK NORM FOR<br />
THE RECRUITMENT OF<br />
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS<br />
The most recent set <strong>of</strong> data on international students was recently<br />
released by HESA, and shows some encouraging signs for both UK<br />
Higher Education but especially for the <strong>University</strong>, with increasing<br />
volumes <strong>of</strong> international students coming to study at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Salford</strong>. The total number <strong>of</strong> international students in the UK (not<br />
including visiting or exchange students) increased by 3.7% since<br />
2006/07, with a 5.1% increase in EU students and a 3% increase in<br />
students from outside the EU. Impressively, the <strong>University</strong>’s growth in<br />
the same period was 28.3% for EU students, and 28.1% for non-EU<br />
students, with the total number <strong>of</strong> international students also<br />
increasing by 28.1%. This increase also led to a 0.2% increase in<br />
market share, with 0.9% <strong>of</strong> students studying in the UK now at the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>.<br />
The number <strong>of</strong> international students in the UK grew in all <strong>of</strong> the main<br />
study levels, with PGR increasing by 4.7%, PGT by 2.4% and UG by<br />
4.3%. The <strong>University</strong> also recorded strong increases, but especially in<br />
the PGT category which increased by 35.9%! The number <strong>of</strong> PGR<br />
students increased by 26.8%, with a 20.2% increase in UG students.<br />
The biggest growth in international students in the UK (from countries<br />
with more than 500 students in the UK) came from Bulgaria (84.5%),<br />
Iraq (77.3%), Romania (69.6%) and Oman (41.5%), with many<br />
countries which have acceded to the EU in the past 5 years (such<br />
as Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland) also showing strong growth.<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> mirrors this to a certain degree, with the<br />
biggest increases coming in students from Bulgaria (300.0%), Vietnam<br />
(300.0%), and Brunei (100.0%), but also from some <strong>of</strong> the target<br />
countries to which the international <strong>of</strong>fice dedicates special resource,<br />
such as Pakistan (93.8% increase), UAE (85.7% increase), India (85.2%)<br />
and Nigeria (61.5%).<br />
See the table below for more statistical information<br />
As we now approach the end <strong>of</strong> the first year <strong>of</strong> this project, which has<br />
primarily focused on information sharing, the project team are eager, in<br />
year two, not only to share the information and the lessons learnt, but<br />
also to develop the Chinese cultural understanding <strong>of</strong> more staff across<br />
the <strong>University</strong>. Results from this project will equip staff across the<br />
institution with the confidence to better respond to the needs <strong>of</strong><br />
Chinese students, and those students who undertake mobility or<br />
placements in China. These findings will inform staff how to engage<br />
with employers in China, or who are perhaps Chinese but based in the<br />
UK. Work is also planned with partners to establish long-term<br />
collaborative initiatives such as joint curricula and joint delivery (initially<br />
in the areas <strong>of</strong> business and management and art and design), virtual<br />
student forums and joint research.<br />
For more information on the project please contact Project Manager<br />
Xiang Li at: X.li2@pgr.salford.ac.uk<br />
UK top growth countries<br />
(500+ students)<br />
Bulgaria (+84.5%)<br />
Iraq (+77.3%)<br />
Romania (+69.6%)<br />
Oman (+41.5%)<br />
Kazakhstan (+40.0%)<br />
Lithuania (+33.7%)<br />
Latvia (+31.8%)<br />
Poland (+28.7%)<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> top growth<br />
countries (20+ students)<br />
Bulgaria (+300.0%)<br />
Vietnam (+300.0%)<br />
Brunei (+100.0%)<br />
Pakistan (+93.8%)<br />
UAE (+85.7%)<br />
India (+85.2%)<br />
Malaysia (+81.8%)<br />
Turkey (+66.7%)<br />
39
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
GETTING TO<br />
KNOW OUR<br />
STUDENTS<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> International Relations team has<br />
recently hosted two events for our current cohort <strong>of</strong><br />
international students. Focusing on our Bulgarian students<br />
for the first <strong>of</strong> these events the team held a social evening<br />
with a dinner and drinks and Bulgarian music in order to<br />
allow these students to meet each other and key staff<br />
members to help make them feel welcome at the <strong>University</strong><br />
as well as introducing them to some <strong>of</strong> our services such as<br />
Careers, Erasmus and student support.<br />
The event was a great success with almost 80% <strong>of</strong> Bulgarian students<br />
in attendance along with many key members <strong>of</strong> staff. This event was<br />
followed by a similar evening for Turkish Students and was met with<br />
equal if not greater success. With a similar attendance the students<br />
were keen to meet others from their own country as well as having the<br />
chance to discuss issues with staff in a relaxed and sociable<br />
environment. It’s a great way for <strong>University</strong> staff to find out a bit more<br />
about how our current students came to choose <strong>Salford</strong> and how their<br />
experiences are living up to their expectations, for example, Sadettin<br />
Sezer a mature student from Turkey, had originally met with one <strong>of</strong> our<br />
representatives in Ankara. On being told he needed to improve his<br />
English prior to applying, Mr. Sezer embarked upon a trip to the US to<br />
raise his level <strong>of</strong> English. He later applied for an MSc Construction<br />
Management which he is now studying. He told us that he was<br />
enjoying his time at <strong>Salford</strong> so much that he is now looking for a way<br />
to stay here and complete a Phd!<br />
Over the coming months the International Relations team plans to host<br />
similar evenings for other large student groups – including a c<strong>of</strong>fee and<br />
cake event for our Cypriot cohort! See the next edition for an update<br />
on their success.<br />
MORE ENTRY POINTS,<br />
MORE FLEXIBILITY,<br />
MORE INTERNATIONAL<br />
STUDENTS…<br />
A record 450 international students joined the <strong>University</strong> in<br />
January and February <strong>2009</strong> from countries including Bolivia,<br />
China, Cyprus, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria,<br />
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tanzania and Turkey.<br />
The School <strong>of</strong> the Built Environment introduced a second intake for its<br />
MSc programmes in February <strong>2009</strong>, following the success <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong><br />
Business School’s intake points in January 2008. Brian Meichen, Director<br />
<strong>of</strong> Marketing & Business Development in the School <strong>of</strong> Built<br />
Environment commented, “The school has been delighted with the<br />
significant take-up <strong>of</strong> a second entry point for its suite <strong>of</strong> MSc<br />
programmes in <strong>2009</strong>. The interest in these opportunities, particularly<br />
from the Indian sub-continent as well as the UK, has surpassed our<br />
expectations. It significantly strengthens the viability <strong>of</strong> many<br />
programmes as well as enriching our school through the infusion <strong>of</strong> an<br />
ever wider group <strong>of</strong> students.”<br />
Recruitment to the School <strong>of</strong> Languages’ International Foundation Year<br />
and English Study Programmes was impressive and will provide a<br />
strong cross-university base <strong>of</strong> recruitment for undergraduate and<br />
postgraduate programmes in September <strong>2009</strong>. Steve Roden, Associate<br />
Head (Marketing & Recruitment) within the International Relations<br />
40
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
SALFORD TAKES ON<br />
THE UNIVERSITIES OF<br />
THE WORLD!<br />
Team commented “It is very pleasing to see such an impressive<br />
recruitment cycle across an increased range <strong>of</strong> programmes. We are<br />
seeing a definite shift in new programme approvals within the<br />
<strong>University</strong> where multiple start points are available to students,<br />
particularly at postgraduate taught and research levels. This increase<br />
in flexibility is vitally important in terms <strong>of</strong> international<br />
recruitment as it allows students who complete their education towards<br />
the end <strong>of</strong> a calendar year to join the <strong>University</strong> immediately without<br />
having to wait 9 months to join a traditional September start point”.<br />
In keeping with our Internationalisation strategy, the<br />
<strong>University</strong> has recently completed its entry to be<br />
considered for entry in the QS World <strong>University</strong><br />
rankings. The rankings measure an institute’s level <strong>of</strong><br />
international staff and international students along with its<br />
delivery <strong>of</strong> an internationalised programme and how it ranks<br />
against competitor institutes.<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> compares favourably to other UK universities<br />
listed in the QS World <strong>University</strong> Rankings, appearing at number 61 in<br />
the league table published in the Times Higher Education above both<br />
Bradford and Brunel (both ranked number 62), while in Research<br />
Fortnight’s widely respected ‘Research Power’ rankings (which considers<br />
volume <strong>of</strong> research as well as quality) <strong>Salford</strong> appears at number 48,<br />
ahead <strong>of</strong> Aberystwyth (number 51), Bangor (number 56), Bradford<br />
(number 61) and Aston (number 64).<br />
<strong>Salford</strong>’s research strength in a broad range <strong>of</strong> subject areas was also<br />
demonstrated, with more research staff submitted from <strong>Salford</strong> than<br />
from the Universities <strong>of</strong> Essex, Aberystwyth, Bradford, Bangor and<br />
Aston as well as Heriot-Watt <strong>University</strong>, and in more categories than the<br />
Universities <strong>of</strong> Bradford, Essex, and Aston. The <strong>University</strong>’s teaching is<br />
also highly rated by external examiners and pr<strong>of</strong>essional bodies as well<br />
its own students. In February 2008, a Quality Assurance Agency<br />
Institutional Audit praised the <strong>University</strong>’s action to ensure continued<br />
robust quality assurance procedures, and placed confidence in the<br />
management <strong>of</strong> academic standards at the <strong>University</strong>. Being considered<br />
on the merits <strong>of</strong> our teaching along with the proportions and ratios <strong>of</strong><br />
international students, international staff and international curriculum<br />
we are hopeful that we shall be successful in our bid.<br />
41
<strong>RISE</strong>! Research Innovation and Internationalisation News<br />
FORTHCOMING EVENTS<br />
5th <strong>May</strong> <strong>2009</strong> – Health Economics and Decision Science, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
Sheffield, Impact <strong>of</strong> structural assumptions within breast cancer<br />
natural history models on estimates <strong>of</strong> the benefits <strong>of</strong> screening,<br />
CORAS Seminar Series. For information contact Dr. Aris Syntetos at:<br />
a.syntetos@salford.ac.uk<br />
5th <strong>May</strong> <strong>2009</strong> – Royal College <strong>of</strong> Nursing Debate, Assisted suicide:<br />
what do you think, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>, Kingston <strong>University</strong> and<br />
Manchester Metropolitan <strong>University</strong>. For information or to book<br />
attendance contact Janelle Yorke at: j.yorke@salford.ac.uk<br />
7th <strong>May</strong>, <strong>2009</strong> – Katherine Preston, College <strong>of</strong> William & Mary, Confronting<br />
the Stereotypes, Confounding Cultural Hierarchy: An Unexplored Web<br />
<strong>of</strong> American Musial Life 1876-1880. Adelphi Research Seminar. For more<br />
information contact: adelphiri-amss@salford.ac.uk<br />
7th - 8th <strong>May</strong> <strong>2009</strong> - <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>, <strong>Salford</strong> Prostgraduate Annual<br />
Research Conference (SPARC), Faraday House, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>.<br />
For information contact Linda Kelly at: l.m.kelly@salford.ac.uk<br />
12th <strong>May</strong> <strong>2009</strong> – Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Peter Diggle , Lancaster <strong>University</strong>,<br />
Statistical Modelling for Real-Time Epidemiology, CORAS Seminar Series.<br />
For information contact Dr. Aris Syntetos at: a.syntetos@salford.ac.uk<br />
12th <strong>May</strong> <strong>2009</strong> – The Chancellor’s Lecture, given by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Sir Peter Hall,<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Planning and Regeneration at the Bartlett School <strong>of</strong> Architecture<br />
and Planning, UCL, The Geography <strong>of</strong> Recession: Glimmers <strong>of</strong> Hope.<br />
For more information contact: j.m.holmes@salford.ac.uk<br />
14th <strong>May</strong> <strong>2009</strong> – 3rd North West Biomechanics Research Day, hosted by<br />
Manchester Metropolitan, <strong>University</strong>, Liverpool John Moores <strong>University</strong>,<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Liverpool, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Manchester and <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>,<br />
Smith Building Lecture Theatre and Foyer. For more information contact:<br />
M.J.Major@pgr.salford.ac.uk<br />
19th <strong>May</strong>, <strong>2009</strong> – Dr. Luc Muyldermans, Nottingham <strong>University</strong> Business<br />
School, The benefits <strong>of</strong> co-distribution: experiments with a local search<br />
heuristic for the multi-compartment vehicle routing problem,<br />
CORAS Seminar Series. For information contact: Dr. Aris Syntetos at:<br />
a.syntetos@salford.ac.uk<br />
27th <strong>May</strong>, <strong>2009</strong> – Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Sue White, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Social Work, Lancaster<br />
<strong>University</strong>, Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Sense-Making in Health and Social Care, Institute<br />
for Health & Social Care Research Seminar Series. For information contact:<br />
d.delargy@salford.ac.uk or call 0161 295 7006<br />
28th – 29th <strong>May</strong>, <strong>2009</strong> - PMRC Conference – Sound Property<br />
Investigating the Legal Status <strong>of</strong> Sound Recordings an Interdisciplinary<br />
Conference on Music & Copyright. For information contact:<br />
d.sanjek@salford.ac.uk<br />
3rd <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2009</strong>, 2 p.m - Peter Baloh, Faculty <strong>of</strong> Economics, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
Llublijana, Rigor vs. relevance <strong>of</strong> academic research: an example <strong>of</strong><br />
Knowledge Management Systems design research, Maxwell Building<br />
Room 516. For information contact: n.audren@salford.ac.uk<br />
4th – 5th <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2009</strong> - Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ben Light, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>,<br />
The second Digital Cultures Workshop. For information contact:<br />
n.audren@salford.ac.uk<br />
4th – 5th <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2009</strong> – International Comedy Conference <strong>2009</strong>,<br />
The School <strong>of</strong> Media, Music and Performance & the Adelphi Research<br />
Institute present the 3rd Annual International Comedy Conference.<br />
For more information contact: c.lee@salford.ac.uk or<br />
a.willis@salford.ac.uk<br />
9th <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2009</strong> – Dr. Mario Cortina-Borja Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology<br />
and Biostatistics, Institute <strong>of</strong> Child Health, <strong>University</strong> College London, Suicide<br />
rate in England and Wales after the London bombings on 7th July<br />
2005, CORAS Seminar Series. For information contact Dr. Aris Syntetos at:<br />
a.syntetos@salford.ac.uk<br />
17th <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2009</strong> – Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Nichola Rumsey, Co-Director, Centre for<br />
Appearance Research UWE, Bristol, Appearance Matters: The trials and<br />
tribulations <strong>of</strong> Appearance Research/Psychology <strong>of</strong> whole face<br />
transplantation, Institute for Health & Social Care Research Seminar Series.<br />
For information contact: d.delargy@salford.ac.uk or call 0161 295 7006<br />
17th <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2009</strong> – Julie Adshead, ScoLR and Tim Andrew, Solicitor, Burton<br />
Copeland, Environmental Crime and the Role <strong>of</strong> the Magistrates’<br />
Courts, <strong>Salford</strong> Centre <strong>of</strong> Legal Research Seminar Series. For information<br />
contact: j.d.adshead@salford.ac.uk or call 0161 295 4369<br />
23rd <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2009</strong> – PhD Futures – a one day careers event for PhD<br />
research students, Lady Hale Building. For more information contact:<br />
f.christie@salford.ac.uk<br />
26th <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2009</strong> – A full day event on Media and the Downturn,<br />
Adelphi House, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>. For more information contact:<br />
G.palmer@<strong>Salford</strong>.ac.uk or adelphiri-amss@salford.ac.uk<br />
15th July, <strong>2009</strong> – Dr. Roberto De Vogli, Department <strong>of</strong> Public Health,<br />
<strong>University</strong> College, London, Globalisation and Health: Evidence<br />
and Prospects, Institute for Health & Social Care Research Seminar<br />
Series. For information contact: d.delargy@salford.ac.uk or call<br />
0161 295 7006<br />
3rd – 4th September, <strong>2009</strong> – The British International History Group<br />
Conference. Keynote addresses from Pr<strong>of</strong>essor John Keiger, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Salford</strong> and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Keith Neilson <strong>of</strong> the Royal Military College, Canada.<br />
For more information contact Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Glyn Stone<br />
at: Glyn.Stone@uwe.ac.uk<br />
8th – 9th September, <strong>2009</strong> – ISCPR and the Centre for Literary Studies,<br />
On the Page: Seeing, Reading, Interpreting. Conference, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Salford</strong>. Enquiries to: g.white@salford.ac.uk or<br />
s.barton@pgr.salford.ac.uk<br />
42
RESEARCH AND GRADUATE COLLEGE<br />
CONTACT DETAILS<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ghassan Aouad,<br />
Pro Vice Chancellor Research & Innovation<br />
Senior Leadership Team, First Floor,<br />
The Old Fire Station, The Crescent<br />
g.aouad@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 5382<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Sue Kilcoyne, ADR<br />
Faculty <strong>of</strong> Science, Engineering and<br />
Environments<br />
s.h.kilcoyne@<strong>Salford</strong>.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 2865<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Martin Bull, ADR<br />
Faculty <strong>of</strong> Arts, Media and Social Sciences,<br />
m.j.bull@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 9002<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Les Ruddock, ADR<br />
Faculty <strong>of</strong> Business, Law and the Built<br />
Environment<br />
l.ruddock@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 4208<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Tony Warne, ADR<br />
Faculty <strong>of</strong> Health & Social Care,<br />
Allerton Building<br />
a.r.warne@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 2777<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Brian Dangerfield, RID<br />
Management and Management Sciences<br />
Research Institute, Room 600, Maxwell<br />
Building<br />
b.c.dangerfield@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 5315<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor George McKay, RID<br />
Adelphi Research Institute,<br />
Adelphi House, The Crescent<br />
g.a.mckay@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 2694<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ge<strong>of</strong>f Hide, RID<br />
Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Room<br />
G53, Peel Building<br />
g.hide@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 3371<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Mustafa Alshawi, RID<br />
Research Institute for the Built Environment,<br />
Maxwell Building<br />
m.a.alshawi@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 5128<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor John Keiger, RID<br />
European Studies Research Institute,<br />
Humphrey Booth House.<br />
j.f.v.keiger@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 5614<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Greg Smith, RID<br />
Institute for Social Cultural and Policy<br />
Research, Humphrey Booth House.<br />
g.w.h.smith@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 2819<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Sunil Vadera, RID<br />
Informatics Research Institute<br />
s.vadera@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 3622<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jocelyn Evans, Director<br />
<strong>of</strong> Graduate Studies<br />
Research & Graduate College, Ground Floor,<br />
Faraday House, The Crescent.<br />
j.a.evans1@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 7072<br />
Mr. Mike Hession, Assistant Registrar<br />
Research & Graduate College, Ground Floor<br />
Faraday House, The Crescent.<br />
m.hession@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 4616<br />
Dr. Matt Boswell, Administrative Officer<br />
Research & Graduate College, Ground Floor,<br />
Faraday House, The Crescent.<br />
m.j.boswell@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 4301<br />
Mrs. Anna Higson, Executive/Projects Officer<br />
Mrs. Gillian Southwell, PA to PVC Research<br />
& Innovation<br />
Mrs. Sandra Wadeson, Administrator<br />
Mrs. Linda Kelly, PA to Director <strong>of</strong> Graduate<br />
Studies<br />
ADR=Associate Dean Research<br />
For more information contact:<br />
Research & Graduate College,<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong>,<br />
Faraday House, <strong>Salford</strong>,<br />
Greater Manchester, M5 4WT<br />
T +44 (0)161 295 4616/4301<br />
W www.rgc.salford.ac.uk<br />
First Floor, The Old Fire Station, The Crescent.<br />
First Floor, The Old Fire Station, The Crescent.<br />
Research & Graduate College, Ground Floor,<br />
Faraday House, The Crescent.<br />
Research & Graduate College, Ground Floor,<br />
Faraday House, The Crescent.<br />
RID= Research Institute Director<br />
a.higson@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 3176<br />
g.l.southwell@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 5382<br />
s.wadeson@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 3671<br />
l.m.kelly@salford.ac.uk<br />
0161 295 3841<br />
Editor: Anna Higson<br />
the design & print group, university <strong>of</strong> salford T: 0161 295 2639 27686/09