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Inaugural Lecture Series 2007/08 - University of Liverpool

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THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL MAGAZINE FOR STAFF<br />

P<br />

Making<br />

New milestone for<br />

particle experiment<br />

JANUARY DECEMBER 20<strong>08</strong> 2006<br />

Physics<br />

matter


CONTENTS<br />

<strong>08</strong><br />

14<br />

24<br />

Quick glance<br />

03 John joins the team<br />

03 New Year Honours<br />

04 Research group rescue 14th<br />

Century Cairo public bath<br />

04 Penny Readings step back in time<br />

05 Nail-biting climax to construction<br />

phase <strong>of</strong> experiment<br />

06 Iraq Minister meets water team<br />

06 Henry Cohen TB lecture<br />

06 First tours <strong>of</strong> new Victoria<br />

07 Scientists link cattle illness to<br />

Crohn’s disease<br />

07 Schh... African rituals and the<br />

King <strong>of</strong> Drinks<br />

<strong>08</strong> £5m boost for cell research<br />

<strong>08</strong> Proteins – something to sniff at<br />

09 Top industry chiefs visit<br />

Management School<br />

09 Zoonosis Centre <strong>of</strong>ficially opens<br />

10 Hoist booster for swimming pool<br />

10 Full house for Goodall lecture<br />

10 News in brief<br />

11 First Person – Olympia pilgrimage<br />

11 Kiddies collage <strong>of</strong> infirmary unveiled<br />

12 Radio 1’s Gag Idol tour hits university<br />

12 Movers and Shakers<br />

12 Green charter in place<br />

12 Liverpinion<br />

13 New look campus takes shape<br />

13 Computing Services ensure speedy service<br />

14 Culturextravanganza<br />

16 School builds weather station<br />

16 Barry’s keynote spot<br />

Coverstory 05<br />

Making Physics matter<br />

New milestone for particle experiment<br />

£5m boost for cell research<br />

Pete’s Lear challenge<br />

GET INVOLVED! Please send your news, views, compliments and complaints to:<br />

Janis Morgan<br />

Corporate Communications<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />

Foundation Building<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> L69 7ZX<br />

Honorary degrees for two<br />

world-leading names<br />

16 Joining forces to fight obesity<br />

17 Celebrating 60 year Turkish link<br />

17 Stress busting success<br />

17 Big name conference<br />

18 Dragon-slayer Laban tells his story<br />

18 In the spotlight – Alumni Scholarships<br />

19 Knowledge quarter generates £1 billion<br />

19 Access to Business Gateway<br />

19 Unique enterprise for entrepreneurs<br />

20 Enterprise Week<br />

20 Computers agreeing to disagree . . .<br />

21 Work experience<br />

21 Children’s rights in Europe<br />

21 Law grant<br />

22 Guild prepares for quality assessment<br />

22 Celebrating 20 years at <strong>University</strong><br />

22 Therapist Judith prepares for round the<br />

world trip<br />

22 National recognition for Jade and Rebecca<br />

23 Patient care website wins innovation award<br />

23 Customer service award for Foresight team<br />

23 Biotechnology showcase<br />

24 Honorary degrees for two<br />

world-leading names<br />

24 Children’s Centre Santa visit<br />

25 Alumni deck the halls<br />

25 Staff celebrate at Carnatic<br />

25 Ho, ho, ho for FM children<br />

25 Christmas get together for<br />

international families<br />

26 Take notes<br />

27 Classifieds<br />

t: 0151 794 2251<br />

e: precinct@liv.ac.uk<br />

w: www.liv.ac.uk/precinct<br />

Production: UNIVERSITY CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS<br />

NB. Please don’t send letters anonymously, just let us know if you don’t want your details to be published.<br />

Copy dates for future issues: March issue: 4 February (Dates subject to change).<br />

If you require this publication in an alternative format, please telephone 0151 794 2251.<br />

Vice-Chancellor’s<br />

Message<br />

Happy New Year - and welcome to <strong>Liverpool</strong>'s<br />

special year as European Capital <strong>of</strong> Culture.<br />

I am sure this will be a notable 12 months<br />

for the <strong>University</strong> and, with the eyes <strong>of</strong> the<br />

world on our city, I am looking forward to<br />

seeing the development <strong>of</strong> more international<br />

academic collaborations.<br />

We are rising up the world rankings, as<br />

we saw at the end <strong>of</strong> the year, and as one <strong>of</strong><br />

the world's top international universities, we<br />

must ensure our strategy is focused on<br />

continuing to develop globally-competitive<br />

research linkages with emphasis on<br />

excellence rather than location.<br />

The <strong>University</strong>'s research partnerships are<br />

already strong in Western Europe and the US,<br />

and developing nations - notably China and<br />

India - now form an important part <strong>of</strong> the world<br />

research base as well as a significant<br />

component <strong>of</strong> its pool <strong>of</strong> talent.<br />

The <strong>University</strong> is working with academic<br />

and industrial partners to build world-class<br />

collaborations in these new markets, in areas<br />

such as biological sciences, electrical<br />

engineering and electronics, and sustainable<br />

water management. Our links with the very<br />

best groups and institutions overseas will have<br />

a positive effect on our credibility and<br />

reputation as a research partner, as a potential<br />

employer <strong>of</strong> talented people, and as a valued<br />

destination for overseas students.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Drummond Bone<br />

Vice-Chancellor’s<br />

Open Meetings<br />

The Vice-Chancellor is holding his next Open<br />

Meeting on Wednesday 20 February at 4pm<br />

in <strong>Lecture</strong> Theatre 2, Sherrington Building.<br />

All staff are welcome to attend for an update<br />

on issues that affect the <strong>University</strong>.<br />

Future date for your diary: Wednesday<br />

18 June 20<strong>08</strong> at 9am.


John joins the team<br />

The <strong>University</strong> has appointed its<br />

first Director <strong>of</strong> Strategic<br />

Partnerships and Development.<br />

John Flamson (above) will join the<br />

institution in March 20<strong>08</strong> from his<br />

position as Deputy Regional Director<br />

(Strategic Business) at the Government<br />

Office for the North West (GONW).<br />

John has a wealth <strong>of</strong> experience in<br />

the city and the region, but also has an<br />

active involvement in the <strong>University</strong> and<br />

its work. He has been a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>University</strong> Council, latterly as Deputy<br />

Treasurer, and is also chair <strong>of</strong> the Alumni<br />

Board. An alumnus himself (BA Hons<br />

Geography 1973, MCD 1975), he is also<br />

the enthusiastic Chairman – and regular<br />

player - <strong>of</strong> Convocation Football Club,<br />

the <strong>University</strong>’s alumni team which plays<br />

in the region’s veterans circuit.<br />

The Vice-Chancellor announced<br />

John’s appointment shortly before<br />

Christmas. He said: “At GONW John<br />

oversaw numerous significant<br />

investments which continue to have an<br />

impact on the region's regeneration. In<br />

his new role at the <strong>University</strong> he will still<br />

be involved, albeit in a different capacity,<br />

in the city's regeneration.<br />

“He will be responsible for<br />

spearheading the <strong>University</strong>'s<br />

international, Government, regional<br />

and business relationships and<br />

developments, as part <strong>of</strong> our overarching<br />

strategy to 'invest, collaborate<br />

and grow'.”<br />

John says he is very much looking<br />

forward to working at his alma mater. He<br />

added: “I have very much enjoyed my<br />

time at GONW but this is an exciting new<br />

challenge for me.<br />

“I am already very involved in, and<br />

passionate about, the work <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>University</strong> and am keen to play a part in<br />

its future. In many ways, it will be like an<br />

enthusiastic supporter being invited to<br />

step down from the terraces and play in<br />

the team. I have huge admiration for<br />

many at the <strong>University</strong> and have already<br />

been warmly welcomed. It’s a great<br />

place with a great mission that is firmly<br />

on an upward curve.”<br />

New Year Honours<br />

The 20<strong>08</strong> New Year Honours List has bestowed<br />

prestigious accolades upon two prominent<br />

<strong>University</strong> figures.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ole Petersen (above), who is the George<br />

Holt Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Physiology, has been appointed<br />

Commander <strong>of</strong> the Order <strong>of</strong> the British<br />

Empire (CBE).<br />

Ole, who is also Medical Research Council<br />

Research Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, said: “I am delighted to have<br />

been awarded a CBE and am particularly pleased<br />

that the citation is for services to science. I am both<br />

grateful and happy that my scientific work and<br />

involvement with many scientific societies, including<br />

the Royal Society and the Physiological Society,<br />

have been recognised in this way.<br />

“The award is a major encouragement to my<br />

research group and myself in our continuing efforts<br />

to understand the mechanisms underlying acute<br />

pancreatitis.”<br />

Pancreatitis is a common and serious illness<br />

caused by gallstones or by drinking excess<br />

alcohol. It is <strong>of</strong>ten fatal as the pancreas digests itself<br />

and its surroundings.<br />

Currently, there are no drugs to successfully treat<br />

the disease so the work that is being carried out by<br />

the research group is vital. They are looking at the<br />

involvement <strong>of</strong> changes in calcium ion<br />

concentrations as a trigger <strong>of</strong> pancreatitis and have<br />

recently been awarded a Medical Research Council<br />

grant to test substances that could be used to<br />

prevent or treat the disease.<br />

Also included in the honours list is Paula Ridley<br />

(below), who was a member <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong><br />

Council until December <strong>2007</strong>. She received a CBE<br />

for her services to the arts, which have included<br />

chairing the board <strong>of</strong> the Victoria and Albert<br />

Museum for nine years and working as Trustee for<br />

the Tate Gallery and Liaison Trustee for the National<br />

Gallery. She was also the first Chairman <strong>of</strong> Tate<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> and Director <strong>of</strong> the UK branch <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, one <strong>of</strong> the largest<br />

grant-giving organisations in the arts in the UK.<br />

A graduate <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> and former Lady<br />

President <strong>of</strong> the Guild <strong>of</strong> Undergraduates, Paula<br />

was also awarded an Honorary Degree in 2003.<br />

She is one <strong>of</strong> the patrons <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>’s appeal<br />

for the Victoria Gallery and Museum, which is due<br />

to open in July 20<strong>08</strong>.<br />

Also celebrating achievement and service, the<br />

<strong>University</strong> conferred honorary degrees upon a<br />

number <strong>of</strong> distinguished figures in December.<br />

See page 24 for the full story.<br />

03


04<br />

Research group rescue 14th<br />

Century Cairo public bath<br />

Penny Readings step back in time<br />

A14th century public bath in<br />

Cairo has been saved from<br />

demolition by <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />

academics.<br />

The <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />

Hammam Research group<br />

comprises Dr Fodil Fadli who<br />

works alongside Dr Iain Jackson,<br />

another post-doctoral research<br />

associate under the direction <strong>of</strong> Dr<br />

Magda Sibley. The Hammam<br />

research projects develop ways <strong>of</strong><br />

adapting old Hammam buildings<br />

to fit contemporary life and<br />

consider the best way to use them<br />

in the future.<br />

The Hammam (commonly<br />

known as Turkish Bath) serves as an integral part <strong>of</strong> Islamic society,<br />

providing not only a place to wash, but also somewhere for people to<br />

meet. It is a space for artistic and ceremonial activities and the Hammam<br />

used to be the only public place for women where to meet socially.<br />

Hammam Bashtak was built in AD 1341 and is one <strong>of</strong> the last<br />

remaining Mamluk bath houses in Cairo. However, only its gate was<br />

registered, which meant that the rest <strong>of</strong> the building was not protected from<br />

demolition. Dr Sibley, project director and Dr Fadli, a post-doctoral research<br />

associate at the School <strong>of</strong> Architecture, petitioned the Supreme Council <strong>of</strong><br />

Antiquities in Cairo to register the entire bath house as a monument in<br />

order to preserve it.<br />

Above: Bashtak entrance<br />

Above left: inside the Hammam Bashtak<br />

Left: Dr Sibley and Dr Fadli inside the Hammam Bashtak<br />

Visitors to St George’s Hall stepped back to the<br />

days <strong>of</strong> Dickens when The Reader, an outreach unit<br />

<strong>of</strong> the School <strong>of</strong> English, recreated his first public<br />

reading in the city.<br />

The event featured renowned poet Jenny Joseph,<br />

The Archers star Annabelle Dowler, BBC Radio 4<br />

and CBeebies presenter David McFetridge, and<br />

much-loved <strong>Liverpool</strong> teacher Brian Nellist.<br />

The Penny Readings is named after Dickens’<br />

insistence that people were charged just one penny<br />

entrance fee to enable the poorest to attend.<br />

Organiser, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Phil Davis, said: “In a time when<br />

we're bombarded with the visual, this event is a<br />

celebration <strong>of</strong> the spoken word and pro<strong>of</strong> that<br />

reading is something we can all share together.”<br />

The audience heard readings from such classics as<br />

Bleak House, A Christmas Carol and A Winter’s Tale.<br />

Other highlights included performances by the<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> African Youth Dance group, three<br />

community choirs, a Dickensian trumpet player and<br />

a string quartet.<br />

The Penny Readings are supported by logistics<br />

company Publiship.


Assembly <strong>of</strong> LHCb VELO modules<br />

Nail-biting climax to construction<br />

phase <strong>of</strong> experiment<br />

Fragile detectors for a major physics<br />

experiment buried deep under the<br />

French-Swiss border have been<br />

successfully installed, ensuring huge<br />

pieces <strong>of</strong> machinery are on track for their<br />

start-up in 20<strong>08</strong>.<br />

The delicate detectors for the Large<br />

Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment,<br />

one <strong>of</strong> four experiments at CERN, near<br />

Geneva, were built and assembled by<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong> scientists.<br />

The LHCb collaboration includes UK<br />

scientists from the Universities <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />

and Glasgow, who have been installing the<br />

Vertex Locator (VELO) detector into its final<br />

location in the underground experimental<br />

cavern at CERN.<br />

CERN is the European Organisation<br />

for Nuclear Research, the world's largest<br />

particle physics centre. It is a laboratory<br />

where scientists unite to study the building<br />

blocks <strong>of</strong> matter and the forces that<br />

hold them together using accelerators,<br />

which accelerate particles to almost the<br />

speed <strong>of</strong> light, and detectors to make the<br />

particles visible.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Themis Bowcock, lead LHCb<br />

scientist from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong>,<br />

said, “This is a big milestone for VELO and<br />

marks an end to the construction side <strong>of</strong><br />

the project. With each one <strong>of</strong> the 42<br />

modules that make up the instrument<br />

taking months to construct, the final<br />

installation was a nail-biting experience.<br />

“The installation was very tricky,<br />

because we were sliding the VELO blindly<br />

in the detector. As these modules are so<br />

fragile, we could have damaged them all<br />

and not realised it straight away.”<br />

The VELO is a precise particletracking<br />

detector inside the LHCb<br />

experiment. At its heart are 84 half-moon<br />

shaped silicon sensors, each one<br />

connected to its electronics via a delicate<br />

system <strong>of</strong> more than 5,000 wires. These<br />

sensors will be located very close to the<br />

collision point, where they will play a<br />

crucial role in detecting b quarks, to help<br />

in understanding tiny but crucial<br />

differences in the behaviour <strong>of</strong> matter<br />

and antimatter.<br />

05


06<br />

Iraq Minister<br />

meets water team<br />

Aleading Iraqi minister, who is also<br />

an alumnus <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>, came<br />

back to the campus for the first<br />

time in nearly 40 years.<br />

Dr Abdul Latif Rashid is Minister <strong>of</strong><br />

Water Resources in the Iraqi government.<br />

He visited the <strong>University</strong> at the invitation <strong>of</strong><br />

SWIMMER, the Institute for Sustainable<br />

Water, Integrated Management and<br />

Ecosystem Research.<br />

Dr Rashid is leading the redevelopment<br />

<strong>of</strong> his country’s infrastructure to ensure its<br />

people have access to fresh water<br />

supplies. He first met the SWIMMER team<br />

at a conference on marshlands; Iraq has a<br />

vast environmentally and economically<br />

important marsh area which was drained in<br />

the 1990s under Saddam Hussein, but is<br />

now being restored and revived by the<br />

government.<br />

During his visit to the <strong>University</strong>, Dr<br />

Rashid discussed future collaborations,<br />

including the training <strong>of</strong> students and<br />

knowledge transfer, as well as talking about<br />

the challenges facing the Iraqi people and<br />

the management <strong>of</strong> water resources. The<br />

Engineering graduate also learned more<br />

about the<br />

£36 million<br />

transformation <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Faculty <strong>of</strong><br />

Engineering and<br />

other developments<br />

on campus, as well<br />

as across <strong>Liverpool</strong>.<br />

He also visited the<br />

city centre and the<br />

historic waterfront to see the major civil<br />

engineering projects taking place there.<br />

Dr Rashid graduated with a BEng in<br />

Civil Engineering in 1969 and says he<br />

loved his time in <strong>Liverpool</strong>.<br />

He said: “I came to <strong>Liverpool</strong> in the<br />

time <strong>of</strong> the Beatles! I had done my<br />

A-levels in North Wales and knew and<br />

loved the city so I was very happy when<br />

my application to the <strong>University</strong> was<br />

accepted. I received a scholarship from<br />

the Iraqi Government which, at that time,<br />

was allocating scholarship students to<br />

various colleges in the UK.<br />

“There is a large Iraqi community<br />

in Britain and all British universities<br />

welcome Iraqi students. I would<br />

Henry Cohen TB lecture<br />

The 35th Henry Cohen History <strong>of</strong><br />

Medicine <strong>Lecture</strong> was this year<br />

delivered by Dr Chris C Evans,<br />

Emeritus Consultant Physician at<br />

Cardiothoracic Centre and Royal<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>University</strong> Hospital.<br />

The title <strong>of</strong> his lecture was ‘The<br />

Management <strong>of</strong> Tuberculosis prior to<br />

Antibiotic Therapy’.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jim Neilson, Deputy Dean,<br />

Faculty <strong>of</strong> Medicine, introduced the<br />

lecture, giving a brief resume <strong>of</strong> Lord<br />

Cohen <strong>of</strong> Birkenhead, who was the preeminent<br />

British physician <strong>of</strong> the 1950s<br />

and 1960s. One <strong>of</strong> his greatest legacies<br />

was undoubtedly the significant advisory<br />

role he played to the Minister <strong>of</strong> Health<br />

about the establishment <strong>of</strong> the NHS,<br />

which was introduced in 1948.<br />

Dr Evans was attached to Lord<br />

Cohen’s team in 1961. His lecture was<br />

on the history <strong>of</strong> the management <strong>of</strong><br />

TB prior to the introduction <strong>of</strong><br />

antibiotic therapy - a subject <strong>of</strong><br />

contemporary relevance given the<br />

emergence <strong>of</strong> multi-drug resistance in<br />

Africa in the co-epidemic with AIDS. Dr<br />

Evans traced the timeline from Asklepius<br />

to the middle ages and highlighted<br />

Koch’s discovery <strong>of</strong> the infecting<br />

organism in 1882, and outlined the birth,<br />

rise and fall <strong>of</strong> the sanatorium movement<br />

in Europe, Britain and, more specifically,<br />

in Merseyside. He said the 10-fold<br />

reduction in TB death rates after 1850<br />

was testimony to a successful<br />

policy, notwithstanding the lack <strong>of</strong><br />

statistical pro<strong>of</strong>.<br />

Dr Rashid with Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ed Maltby, Director <strong>of</strong> SWIMMER<br />

definitely recommend coming here to<br />

study, especially in technical subjects,<br />

but I would hope that those scholarship<br />

students who come to Great Britain come<br />

back to Iraq and make a contribution to<br />

its future.”<br />

First tours <strong>of</strong><br />

new Victoria Gallery<br />

The team from the Art and Heritage<br />

Collections is conducting tours <strong>of</strong> the Victoria<br />

Gallery & Museum for <strong>University</strong> Art Officers.<br />

Art Officers are members <strong>of</strong> staff in<br />

administrative and academic departments<br />

who take responsibility for the <strong>University</strong>owned<br />

pictures, sculpture and furniture on<br />

display within its buildings.<br />

The first <strong>of</strong> these tours was conducted by<br />

Moira Lindsay, Assistant Curator (Art). The Art<br />

Officers had a chance to see the progress<br />

being made inside the Victoria Building and<br />

were given the opportunity to ask questions<br />

about the new Victoria Gallery & Museum.<br />

Above: Moira Lindsay (pictured front, third from left)<br />

with the Art Officers


Scientists link cattle illness to Crohn’s disease<br />

Scientists at the <strong>University</strong><br />

have found how a bacterium,<br />

known to cause illness in<br />

cattle may cause Crohn’s<br />

disease in humans.<br />

Crohn’s is a condition that<br />

affects one in 800 people in<br />

the UK and causes chronic<br />

intestinal inflammation, leading<br />

to pain, bleeding and<br />

diarrhoea.<br />

The team found that a<br />

bacterium called<br />

Mycobacterium<br />

paratuberculosis releases a<br />

molecule that prevents a type <strong>of</strong><br />

white blood cell from killing<br />

E.coli bacteria found in the body.<br />

E.coli is known to be present within<br />

Crohn’s disease tissue in increased numbers.<br />

Schh... African rituals and the King <strong>of</strong> Drinks<br />

Photo credit: Peter Coenen<br />

It was the archetypal British Colonial<br />

cocktail. Now a <strong>University</strong> historian<br />

has completed a research project which<br />

crowns a gin and tonic as the ‘King <strong>of</strong><br />

Drinks’<br />

Dr Dmitri Van Den Bersselaar’s main<br />

interest is West African history. Schnapps<br />

gin is a massively important product in<br />

West African societies, however, they do<br />

not drink it - they pour it on the ground<br />

whilst praying to the gods and ancestors<br />

and use it as an indication <strong>of</strong> the status <strong>of</strong><br />

chiefs and elders.<br />

It is thought that the Mycobacteria make their way<br />

into the body’s system via cows’ milk and other<br />

dairy products. In cattle it can cause an illness<br />

called Johne's disease - a wasting, diarrhoeal<br />

condition. Until now, however, it has been unclear<br />

how this bacterium could trigger intestinal<br />

inflammation in humans.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jon Rhodes, from the School <strong>of</strong> Clinical<br />

Sciences, said: “Mycobacterium paratuberculosis<br />

has been found within Crohn’s disease tissue but<br />

there has been much controversy concerning its<br />

role in the disease. We have now shown that<br />

these Mycobacteria release a complex<br />

molecule containing a sugar, called mannose.<br />

This molecule prevents a type <strong>of</strong> white blood<br />

cells, called macrophages, from killing<br />

internalised E.coli.”<br />

Scientists have previously shown that people with<br />

Crohn’s disease have increased numbers <strong>of</strong> a<br />

Dmitri said: “The history <strong>of</strong> the product<br />

and its use is an interesting one. In the<br />

1900s it was a very fashionable and<br />

modern drink and indicated that you were<br />

connected to the modern and international<br />

world. But, surprisingly, by the 1950s it was<br />

considered ‘traditional’ – an essential<br />

ingredient <strong>of</strong> African ritual.<br />

“We see a similar thing happen in<br />

Britain with tea; it was modern and<br />

fashionable to begin with and then became<br />

a mass consumer good. Gin in Africa,<br />

however, went in the opposite direction: it<br />

has become less widely consumed<br />

since 1900.”<br />

The marketing efforts <strong>of</strong> European gin<br />

producers and trading companies largely<br />

failed in Africa. It is though that this is an<br />

example <strong>of</strong> the power <strong>of</strong> the African people<br />

to define a product in the face <strong>of</strong><br />

commercial campaigns, colonialism and<br />

Christian missionaries. Through the history<br />

<strong>of</strong> the product it is possible to see how<br />

identities and definitions <strong>of</strong> community in<br />

colonial and post-colonial West Africa<br />

were formed.<br />

Dmitri’s research has been turned into<br />

a book which has been well received in<br />

‘sticky’ type <strong>of</strong> E.coli and weakened ability to fight<br />

<strong>of</strong>f intestinal bacteria. The suppressive effect <strong>of</strong><br />

the Mycobacterial molecule on this type <strong>of</strong><br />

white blood cell suggests it is a likely mechanism<br />

for weakening the body’s defence against<br />

the bacteria.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Rhodes added: "We also found that this<br />

bacterium is a likely trigger for a circulating<br />

antibody protein (ASCA) that is found in about<br />

two thirds <strong>of</strong> patients with Crohn's disease,<br />

suggesting that these people may have been<br />

infected by the Mycobacterium."<br />

The team is beginning clinical trials to assess<br />

whether an antibiotic combination can be used to<br />

target the bacteria contained in white blood cells<br />

as a possible treatment for Crohn’s disease.<br />

The research was funded by core and the<br />

Medical Research Council and is published in<br />

Gastroenterology.<br />

Ghana and the Netherlands where it<br />

became the focus <strong>of</strong> an exhibition, staged<br />

at the Jenever Museum, which looks at<br />

Dutch Aromatic Schnapps in Ghana. This<br />

included a miniature bottles exhibit, where<br />

the history <strong>of</strong> trade between Holland and<br />

Ghana is traced, and examples <strong>of</strong> how gin<br />

was used in rituals.<br />

Photo credit: Collection Lucas Bols BV<br />

07


<strong>08</strong><br />

£5m boost for<br />

cell research<br />

Scientists at the <strong>University</strong> have been awarded £5 million to investigate<br />

how cells respond to stimuli.<br />

Biologists will investigate the role <strong>of</strong> the NF-kappaB signalling system<br />

to determine how cells decide when to die. NFkB governs responses<br />

within cells to stimuli such as stress and the immune system, but when<br />

this system goes wrong it is thought that it can lead to cancer,<br />

inflammatory problems and septic shock.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Mike White, from the School <strong>of</strong> Biological Sciences, said:<br />

“Systems Biology involves the analysis <strong>of</strong> how biological processes<br />

work at all levels. This goes from the interactions between individual<br />

biological molecules, to the physiology and behaviour <strong>of</strong> animals and<br />

plants. With this grant we can develop models to understand more<br />

clearly how cells communicate with each other.”<br />

The project - in collaboration with the Universities <strong>of</strong> Manchester and<br />

Warwick - is a multidisciplinary collaboration involving scientists in<br />

Biological and Biomedical Sciences, veterinary scientists and<br />

mathematicians.<br />

A second team from the School <strong>of</strong> Biological Sciences, headed by Dr<br />

Anthony Hall, has been awarded a further £1 million as part <strong>of</strong> a £5<br />

million project led by scientists at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Edinburgh to<br />

develop a model <strong>of</strong> how plants cope with temperature changes. The<br />

research could help to develop higher-yield crops that are better able<br />

to survive in harsh conditions, thus allowing scientists to develop plants<br />

capable <strong>of</strong> withstanding the possible effects <strong>of</strong> global warming.<br />

Proteins – something to sniff at<br />

Photo Mike Thom<br />

Scientists have discovered that mice rely on a special<br />

set <strong>of</strong> proteins to recognise each other.<br />

The team found that mice use a highly specialised<br />

set <strong>of</strong> proteins in their urine to recognise different<br />

individuals, suggesting that this may also be true <strong>of</strong><br />

other animals.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jane Hurst, Director <strong>of</strong> the Mammalian<br />

Behaviour and Evolution research group, said: “For<br />

many years scientists assumed that a particular set<br />

<strong>of</strong> genes, called the major histocompatibility complex<br />

(MHC), helped animals to identify individuals within<br />

their own species through their scent. Each individual<br />

has a different MHC code, just like every human has<br />

a different fingerprint. It influences the body’s odour<br />

and it was assumed that animals that are sensitive to<br />

scents would use these different odours to recognise<br />

each other.<br />

“We found, however, that while female wild mice do<br />

indeed use scent to identify individual males, MHC<br />

does not play a part. For example, it is clear that we<br />

all have different fingerprints, but it certainly isn’t how<br />

we recognise individuals in everyday life. Equally,<br />

while MHC odours differ between individual mice,<br />

this isn’t the way they recognise one another.”<br />

To test this theory, scientists observed how female<br />

mice identify potential mates. Female mice<br />

distinguish between dominant and weaker males by<br />

how fresh a male scent-mark is. A dominant male is<br />

able to scent-mark a territory after excluding its other<br />

male competitors, allowing it to leave a more recent<br />

scent-mark than any <strong>of</strong> its competitors.<br />

The group demonstrated that when faced with two<br />

males with different MHC types, females cannot<br />

identify which male left the fresh territory scents and<br />

which left the older scents, indicating that MHC<br />

differences are not sufficient for individual recognition<br />

as previously thought. Instead, they found that a<br />

special set <strong>of</strong> proteins in the urine <strong>of</strong> mice allows<br />

females to recognise which individual male is<br />

dominant.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Hurst added: “These major urinary proteins<br />

(MUPs) act like a ‘chemical barcode’ <strong>of</strong> individual<br />

identity – each individual has a slightly different set <strong>of</strong><br />

proteins, allowing each animal to be easily<br />

recognised. Our results demonstrate that this protein<br />

‘barcode’ allows females to identify individual males<br />

accurately, and thus recognise dominant males that<br />

are likely to be good sires for their <strong>of</strong>fspring.”<br />

The research is published in Current Biology


Top industry<br />

chiefs visit<br />

Management<br />

School<br />

The Management School MBA guest<br />

speaker programme has played host to a<br />

number <strong>of</strong> high pr<strong>of</strong>ile business leaders.<br />

Sir Joe Dwyer spoke at the first event, run<br />

in association with the Chartered<br />

Management Institute. He talked about his<br />

experiences in the construction industry<br />

with particular reference to work on the<br />

Channel Tunnel and Wimpey Construction<br />

to illustrate good and bad synergies<br />

within organisations.<br />

The second lecture was the ninth<br />

International Business Management<br />

evening event where guests spoke about<br />

the promises and pitfalls <strong>of</strong> trading with<br />

the Gulf region in the Middle East. The<br />

key note speaker for this event was<br />

Michael Thomas from the Middle<br />

Eastern Association.<br />

Finally, the Management School<br />

welcomed Lewis Booth (above), Deputy<br />

Vice-President <strong>of</strong> Ford, who gave MBA<br />

students a fascinating insight into global<br />

developments <strong>of</strong> management in the<br />

car industry.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Murray Dalziel, Director <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Management School, said: “This has been<br />

a great season <strong>of</strong> speaking events and we<br />

are looking forward to many more.”<br />

Dates for your diary<br />

Peter Erskine, Chairman and Chief Executive<br />

Officer <strong>of</strong> Telefónica O2 Europe, will be guest<br />

speaker at the Management School on<br />

Thursday 21 February.<br />

The Psychology graduate left the <strong>University</strong> in<br />

1973 and this will be his first visit to the<br />

campus for many years.<br />

Another prominent graduate, Maurice<br />

Flanagan CBE, Executive Vice-Chairman <strong>of</strong><br />

Emirates Airlines, is also coming back to his<br />

alma mater. He will be delivering the<br />

prestigious McKechnie <strong>Lecture</strong> in the Faculty<br />

<strong>of</strong> Engineering on Wednesday 9 April.<br />

Maurice graduated with a BA in General<br />

Studies in 1950.<br />

Staff, alumni and students are welcome at<br />

both these lectures. For more information<br />

please email: development@liv.ac.uk<br />

Zoonosis Centre<br />

<strong>of</strong>ficially opens<br />

Lord David Owen with technician<br />

Gill Hutchinson at the Zoonosis<br />

Centre laboratories.<br />

The UK’s National Centre for<br />

Zoonosis Research, dedicated to<br />

the study <strong>of</strong> animal-borne human<br />

diseases, has been formally opened by<br />

Lord David Owen, the <strong>University</strong>’s<br />

Chancellor, and Lord Lawson Soulsby,<br />

the former President <strong>of</strong> the Royal College<br />

for Veterinary Surgeons and Honorary<br />

DVSc.<br />

Zoonoses are diseases that originate<br />

in animals but can jump species and<br />

infect humans.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Malcolm Bennett, Veterinary<br />

Pathologist and Co-Director <strong>of</strong> the Centre,<br />

said: “Diseases such as SARS and avian<br />

flu are examples <strong>of</strong> new and emerging<br />

zoonotic diseases that hit the headlines,<br />

but around two thirds <strong>of</strong> all human<br />

infections are transmitted from animals,<br />

and some <strong>of</strong> these can be very serious.<br />

Rabies, for example, still kills more than<br />

50,000 people every year, mainly in<br />

developing countries, while closer to<br />

home, most cases <strong>of</strong> food poisoning are<br />

also caused by zoonoses.”<br />

The Centre is funded by the<br />

Northwest Regional Development Agency<br />

(NWDA) and is a collaboration involving<br />

the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Lancaster, the Health<br />

Protection Agency and the Veterinary<br />

Laboratories Agency. It is located at the<br />

<strong>University</strong>’s veterinary<br />

Below: (back) Lord David Owen,<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Malcolm Bennett and Dr Chris<br />

Parry with (front) Lord Lawson Soulsby<br />

campus at Leahurst because <strong>of</strong> the<br />

importance <strong>of</strong> understanding these<br />

diseases in animals as well as people.<br />

Dr George Baxter, NWDA Director <strong>of</strong><br />

Science and Innovation, said:” The NWDA<br />

is committed to developing and nurturing<br />

an internationally competitive knowledge<br />

base in the North West, which is why we<br />

invested £1.68 million into the Centre for<br />

Zoonosis Research through the Northwest<br />

Science Fund.<br />

“Through the expertise <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong>, this new Centre will<br />

help ensure that the region remains a<br />

leader in scientific innovation and<br />

significantly advance the North West’s<br />

research base.”<br />

09


10<br />

Hoist booster for swimming pool<br />

Anew pool hoist has been installed at the Sports and<br />

Fitness Centre to encourage people with limited mobility to<br />

use the facility.<br />

The project formed part <strong>of</strong> a £2.2 million commitment by the<br />

<strong>University</strong> to meet the legal requirements <strong>of</strong> the Disability<br />

Discrimination Act.<br />

The Dolphin Pool Hoist is simple to operate and provides<br />

a safe, quick and effective way to get in and out <strong>of</strong> the water.<br />

All lifeguards are fully trained to support those using the<br />

equipment.<br />

The team in Sport <strong>Liverpool</strong>, the <strong>University</strong>’s Sport Directorate,<br />

has already developed strong partnerships with Action for the<br />

Blind and disability groups associated with the Daisy UK<br />

awareness organisation.<br />

Pete Sampara, Sports Operations Manager, said: “We hope<br />

that the pool hoist will not only serve existing customers, but will<br />

make swimming a more enjoyable proposition for many more<br />

people within the <strong>University</strong> and local community.”<br />

Full house for<br />

Goodall lecture<br />

Leading<br />

conservationist Dr<br />

Jane Goodall was<br />

the star <strong>of</strong> the final<br />

Public <strong>Lecture</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

the year.<br />

The very successful series, organised<br />

by Corporate Communications, has also<br />

featured TV’s Time Team presenter, Tony<br />

Robinson, BAFTA award winner Michael<br />

Wood; Dr Robert Beckford, film-maker<br />

and theologian; and a unique<br />

presentation about the famous<br />

Wedgwood china.<br />

Dr Goodall told the packed audience<br />

about her life as primatologist,<br />

ethologist, anthropologist and<br />

environmentalist. Her pioneering work<br />

with Gombe Chimps in East Africa<br />

contributed to scientific knowledge <strong>of</strong><br />

the links between humans and<br />

primates. Her lecture, called Reasons<br />

for Hope, also addressed the issues <strong>of</strong><br />

environmental destruction and animal<br />

abuse. To view the lecture via webcast<br />

visit: www.liv.ac.uk/events/heritage<br />

The 20<strong>08</strong> Public <strong>Lecture</strong> series has just<br />

been announced. See centre pages<br />

for details.<br />

Doctoral students from the Institute <strong>of</strong> Irish<br />

Studies joined colleagues from <strong>University</strong><br />

College Dublin, St Patrick’s College,<br />

Dramcondra, l’Universite de Lille and l’Universite<br />

de Paris III for the first international conference<br />

for postgraduate students in Irish studies. The<br />

conference was held in the Sorbonne, Paris.<br />

Lord Owen is backing a campaign to bring HMS<br />

Plymouth back to Plymouth to form part <strong>of</strong> a<br />

national Falklands War Museum. The Former<br />

Foreign Secretary and MP for Plymouth is<br />

supporting plans by the HMS Plymouth<br />

campaign group, Warship Management Limited,<br />

who aim to have the Type 12 frigate towed from<br />

Birkenhead to South Yard in Plymouth. The<br />

group has already raised £20,000 towards<br />

moving the vessel, but it is believed that the<br />

overall cost will be in the region <strong>of</strong> £100,000.<br />

A book sale organised by the School <strong>of</strong><br />

Population, Community and Behavioural<br />

Sciences, raised more than £300 for<br />

Macmillan Support.<br />

Robert Moore, an Honorary Senior Fellow from<br />

the School <strong>of</strong> Sociology and Social Policy, has<br />

contributed to the Community Health and Well<br />

Being: Action Research on Health Inequalities<br />

book, which was the recent topic <strong>of</strong> debate at a<br />

Welsh Assembly Government seminar. The book<br />

looks at the process <strong>of</strong> improving health in<br />

populations in which health is generally poor<br />

and argues that traditional government<br />

approaches to encourage individuals to live<br />

healthier lifestyles is not enough.<br />

The BSC North West Regional Group<br />

Symposium, organised by the School <strong>of</strong><br />

Newsinbrief<br />

Sociology and Social Policy is taking place<br />

on 1 February. Focusing on ‘Crime and<br />

Community’, confirmed speakers are Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />

Gordon Hughes (Cardiff <strong>University</strong>), Dr Roy<br />

Coleman (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong>) and a<br />

number <strong>of</strong> other speakers from the<br />

Probation Service and community groups<br />

based in Merseyside.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jonathan Harris from the School <strong>of</strong><br />

Architecture will be giving a keynote lecture at<br />

a major international conference to be held at<br />

the Frick Art Reference Library <strong>of</strong> the Frick<br />

Collection in New York. The conference, in<br />

February 20<strong>08</strong>, is on ‘Modern Art Collecting<br />

from 1913 to the Present’ and addresses the<br />

impacts <strong>of</strong> critics and critical writing on the<br />

art market.<br />

A new hard-hitting campaign about sex<br />

trafficking is being launched in pubs and clubs<br />

across <strong>Liverpool</strong>. Students from the <strong>University</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong> are distributing beer mats that<br />

highlight the plight <strong>of</strong> sex workers with the aim<br />

<strong>of</strong> targeting men who visit prostitutes.<br />

The Guild has launched a new promotional<br />

campaign to re-engage students with the<br />

purpose <strong>of</strong> the Guild. The campaign will<br />

consist <strong>of</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> posters and postcards<br />

that highlight the opportunity that students<br />

have into setting the priorities <strong>of</strong> the Guild.<br />

The School <strong>of</strong> Law hosted a lecture given by<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Nicola Lacey, from the London<br />

School <strong>of</strong> Economics, on Explaining Penal<br />

Tolerance and Severity as part <strong>of</strong> the <strong>2007</strong><br />

Hamlyn <strong>Lecture</strong> series.


IMPACTS <strong>08</strong><br />

FIRST PERSON<br />

Beatriz Garcia, lecturer in Sociology,<br />

meets old friends on Olympia pilgrimage<br />

Beatrice planting the tree<br />

As Co-Editor <strong>of</strong> Culture @ the Olympics: Issues,<br />

Trends and Perspectives, I joined another 40<br />

scholars from 11 countries in a ‘pilgrimage to<br />

Olympia’ in Greece. We were travelling to this<br />

ancient site, cradle <strong>of</strong> the Olympic Games and<br />

site for the lighting <strong>of</strong> the Olympic Flame prior to<br />

each Games, to pledge our support to the<br />

International Olympic Academy (IOA). The visit<br />

was a symbolic gesture to express gratitude to<br />

the people <strong>of</strong> Olympia and staff <strong>of</strong> the IOA who<br />

Pupils with their artwork<br />

fought to save the sites from the fires <strong>of</strong> August<br />

<strong>2007</strong>. The occasion involved the donation <strong>of</strong><br />

12,000 Euros, the presentation <strong>of</strong> gifts and the<br />

planting the first tree in the process towards<br />

recovering the Academy’s grounds. The event<br />

culminated in the signing <strong>of</strong> a Declaration <strong>of</strong><br />

Solidarity, which has been sent to the President<br />

<strong>of</strong> the IOC, Mr Jacques Rogge.<br />

Myself and Dr Andy Miah, from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

the West <strong>of</strong> Scotland, were the two<br />

representatives <strong>of</strong> UK universities, joining<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essors and researchers from Austria,<br />

Bulgaria, China, Denmark, France, Germany,<br />

Greece, Italy, Spain, and the United States. All<br />

the scholars on the trip were involved in<br />

research <strong>of</strong> the ancient or modern Olympic<br />

Games and have been invited in the past to<br />

participate at the IOA as lecturers or<br />

postgraduate students. Attending an IOA<br />

session is a unique scholarly experience as it<br />

involves a period <strong>of</strong> two to six weeks <strong>of</strong><br />

discussions and fieldtrips around Greece’s<br />

ancient sites in the company <strong>of</strong> representatives<br />

from 40 to 100 different countries at a time. This<br />

provides an opportunity to explore, not only the<br />

historical, economic and social dimensions <strong>of</strong><br />

the Olympic Movement, but also to experience<br />

its international dimension first hand.<br />

This trip saw me reunited with scholars I had<br />

not seen for more than eight years and<br />

rekindled relevant discussions on the purpose<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Olympic Movement and the likely legacy<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Beijing 20<strong>08</strong> Games in China. The main<br />

intention behind this trip was to highlight the<br />

significance <strong>of</strong> the IOA as the main platform for<br />

academic debate on the Olympics. It created an<br />

opportunity to argue for the continuing support<br />

<strong>of</strong> an institution that provides a much needed<br />

space for an informed critique <strong>of</strong> the Games,<br />

testifying to its educational aspirations, beyond<br />

the narrow commercial and medal tally focus <strong>of</strong><br />

mainstream media coverage.<br />

Stele <strong>of</strong> the founder <strong>of</strong> the Games with the<br />

background showing the effects <strong>of</strong> the fire<br />

More on this trip is available at:<br />

www.scholars-for-olympia.com/<br />

also visit: www.culturalolympics.org.uk<br />

Kiddies collage <strong>of</strong> infirmary unveiled<br />

Pupils from Sacred Heart Primary School visited the<br />

Foresight Centre chapel to unveil a colourful collage <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> Royal Infirmary.<br />

They produced the artwork with the help <strong>of</strong> Educational Officer<br />

and local artist, Peter Rix, based at <strong>Liverpool</strong> Vision.<br />

The visit was part <strong>of</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> health and heritage events<br />

organised by the <strong>Liverpool</strong> Culture Company called ‘The<br />

Extraordinary Journey’. The series <strong>of</strong> exhibitions held throughout<br />

the region, celebrated the innovation and accomplishments <strong>of</strong><br />

former pioneers in medicine and health that worked in or<br />

originated from the <strong>Liverpool</strong> area.<br />

Lynn Westbury, Head <strong>of</strong> the Foresight Centre, was responsible<br />

for organising the visit. She said: “The collage is the result <strong>of</strong><br />

several months <strong>of</strong> hard work from these pupils. It really does look<br />

fantastic and they were delighted to see their efforts displayed in<br />

the actual building depicted in their artwork.”<br />

11


12<br />

Below: Chris Moyles at the Guild<br />

Movers and Shakers<br />

Jean Graham from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />

Children’s Centre (right) has been awarded the<br />

NMT (Nursery Management Today) Nursery<br />

Lifetime Achievement <strong>2007</strong> award. The<br />

judges chose Jean as the winner because<br />

‘she is an extremely warm and pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />

person’ and ‘is child focused and dedicated<br />

to the care and development <strong>of</strong> the children,<br />

but also values her team and their<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essional development.’<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor George Wolff, from the Department<br />

<strong>of</strong> Earth and Ocean Sciences, has had a new<br />

species <strong>of</strong> deep-sea snailfish named after him.<br />

The Paraliparis wolffi is one <strong>of</strong> five specimens<br />

<strong>of</strong> deep-sea snailfish collected during the<br />

deep-sea trawls on the multidisciplinary NERC<br />

funded research cruise led by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Wolff.<br />

Liverpinion<br />

Dear Editor,<br />

Given the constraints on its physical estate, the<br />

terms and conditions <strong>of</strong> employment <strong>of</strong> staff,<br />

and the desirability <strong>of</strong> maintaining a sense <strong>of</strong><br />

common values within the <strong>University</strong>, does the<br />

<strong>University</strong> believe there is or should be an<br />

optimum level <strong>of</strong> student numbers to which the<br />

<strong>University</strong> should continue to grow its student<br />

population on its current <strong>Liverpool</strong> site?<br />

Name and address supplied<br />

Radio 1’s Gag Idol tour hits university<br />

Radio One’s Chris Moyles brought his<br />

breakfast team to the <strong>University</strong> as part <strong>of</strong><br />

their ‘Gag Idol’ tour.<br />

The events involve live shows where members<br />

<strong>of</strong> the audience are asked to get up on stage<br />

and tell jokes. The aspiring comedians are<br />

rated on their performance by a panel <strong>of</strong><br />

celebrity judges and anyone failing to impress<br />

is unceremoniously heckled <strong>of</strong>f stage.<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong>’s judging panel comprised Breakfast<br />

Team members Comedy Dave and Dominic<br />

Byrne, and special guest star Yvette Fielding,<br />

Walking home with friends after a night out,<br />

Criminology student, Robert Mather, caught a<br />

suspected burglar, who is reported to have<br />

stolen a laptop from a city centre <strong>of</strong>fice. The<br />

group managed to carry out a citizens arrest<br />

following a pursuit, which they recorded on<br />

their mobile phones.<br />

The Vice-Chancellor responds: We are<br />

projecting our home undergraduate<br />

population to remain broadly flat. We hope<br />

the number <strong>of</strong> overseas undergraduates will<br />

grow somewhat to align us with our sister<br />

Russell Group institutions, but not hugely in<br />

percentage terms. We would like our<br />

postgraduate numbers to grow significantly,<br />

but again they represent a small proportion<br />

<strong>of</strong> total student numbers. The constraint on<br />

our site is not its overall size (it is large for<br />

our student numbers relative to HEFCE<br />

norms) but its fitness for purpose.<br />

Your views. Your opinions.<br />

Have your say at:<br />

The Liverpinion, Precinct, Foundation Building, <strong>Liverpool</strong> L69 7ZX<br />

t: 0151 794 2251 e: precinct@liv.ac.uk<br />

ex-Blue Peter presenter and host <strong>of</strong> Living TV’s<br />

Most Haunted.<br />

Several audience members volunteered to<br />

take part and the winner was awarded with a<br />

trophy and given the dubious honour <strong>of</strong><br />

appearing on the show to share her best joke<br />

with the nation.<br />

The following morning, the Breakfast Show<br />

was broadcast from the BBC Radio<br />

Merseyside studios and team member Aled<br />

visited Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to turn on<br />

its Christmas lights.<br />

Green<br />

charter<br />

in place<br />

The <strong>University</strong> has put a governance<br />

structure in place to drive forward the<br />

<strong>University</strong>’s commitment to creating a<br />

sustainable environment and manage its<br />

environmental impact.<br />

This comprises a Sustainability Advisory Board,<br />

chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />

Graham Dockray, which has the broad remit <strong>of</strong><br />

advising the Estates Committee on the resources<br />

and methods required to improve both the<br />

<strong>University</strong>’s environmental and sustainability<br />

performance. In addition, the Environmental<br />

Implementation Group, chaired by Patrick<br />

Hackett, Director <strong>of</strong> Facilities Management, has<br />

the role <strong>of</strong> developing appropriate policies<br />

and strategies.<br />

Four new working groups will focus on<br />

sustainable construction and maintenance, utility<br />

management, waste management and<br />

procurement. A fifth group, chaired by Carol<br />

Matthewson, Estate Strategy Manager, will<br />

implement an environmental management<br />

system, which will be used as the framework for<br />

ensuring continual improvement.<br />

The groups are working hard towards developing<br />

a sustainability policy, environmental policy and<br />

other related policies, and while Facilities<br />

Management is leading on their development,<br />

every member <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> has a role to play<br />

in contributing to the agenda.<br />

For further information contact Sustainability<br />

Officer, Clare Scott, via<br />

clare.scott@liverpool.ac.uk


New look campus takes shape<br />

The first phase <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>’s<br />

Campus Enhancement project will<br />

be completed by the Spring.<br />

Since work started in September <strong>2007</strong>,<br />

the initial phase has involved changes to<br />

Peach Street, Guild Walk, Ashton Street<br />

and Abercromby Square, including the<br />

introduction <strong>of</strong> new paving and surfacing,<br />

landscaping, planting, street furniture and<br />

lighting along the main arterial route.<br />

A new green area has also been<br />

created between the School <strong>of</strong> Architecture<br />

and the Sports Hall, which will be known<br />

as Bedford Gardens. The <strong>University</strong> has<br />

been working closely with <strong>Liverpool</strong> City<br />

Council’s Conservation Officer to<br />

ensure that all <strong>of</strong> the building materials<br />

are approved.<br />

Running in conjunction with the<br />

landscaping work, a Wayfinding initiative<br />

will start this month that will see the<br />

instalment <strong>of</strong> new signage across the<br />

campus, including gateway totems,<br />

orientation posts, building signs, logos<br />

and notices.<br />

Patrick Hackett, Director <strong>of</strong> Facilities<br />

Management, said: “We would like to thank<br />

staff for being so patient throughout the first<br />

phase <strong>of</strong> the redevelopment and hope that<br />

the work hasn’t caused too much<br />

inconvenience. These changes are part <strong>of</strong><br />

the wider estate strategy which will continue<br />

to be implemented over the next five years.”<br />

Computing Services ensure speedy service<br />

The backbone <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong><br />

computer network now operates at<br />

10Gbps (gigabits per second) –<br />

more than 1000 times faster than the<br />

fastest home broadband connections,<br />

following a major upgrade by<br />

Computing Services.<br />

The system, which links the main<br />

<strong>University</strong> buildings to the central network,<br />

has been upgraded from 2Gbps to 10Gbps<br />

and will support the increasing demand for<br />

greater bandwidth for both research and<br />

teaching. Departments who make use <strong>of</strong><br />

The estate strategy ensures the<br />

<strong>University</strong> can continue to develop its<br />

physical assets in a way that enriches the<br />

student experience and provides the<br />

environment required to achieve teaching,<br />

learning and research excellence. It<br />

involves a major capital investment<br />

programme <strong>of</strong> restructuring, renovation<br />

and redevelopment projects, which are<br />

taking place across the <strong>University</strong>.<br />

high performance computing will benefit,<br />

including Physics, where researchers’<br />

experiments use the new CERN accelerator<br />

in Geneva (see page 5 for more about<br />

CERN.)<br />

Resilience <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> network has<br />

also been improved by the upgrade. An<br />

additional router has been put in place<br />

which will further improve core services<br />

including email and the Managed<br />

Windows Service.<br />

The upgrade is part <strong>of</strong> an ongoing<br />

strategy to provide greater resilience for<br />

The next stage <strong>of</strong> the enhancement<br />

programme will see the refurbishment <strong>of</strong> the<br />

newly-named <strong>University</strong> Square (across<br />

from the Victoria Building and next to the<br />

Guild) and the remodelling <strong>of</strong> the junction<br />

where Mount Pleasant meets Brownlow Hill<br />

(see architect drawing above). This work,<br />

which includes funding from the City Council<br />

and the Northwest Regional Development<br />

Agency will start in April 20<strong>08</strong>. Highway<br />

improvements will begin in January 2009.<br />

the <strong>University</strong> network, a further<br />

aspect <strong>of</strong> which is to provide dual<br />

network connections to all key<br />

<strong>University</strong> buildings, so that should<br />

one line fail, there will be no loss <strong>of</strong><br />

service.<br />

Iain Stinson, Director, Computing<br />

Services, said: “This was a massively<br />

complex project which required<br />

extensive planning and preparation.<br />

The Computing Services team worked<br />

very hard to ensure there was minimal<br />

disruption for staff and students.”<br />

13


14<br />

OUR CAPITAL OF CULTURE 20<strong>08</strong><br />

Photo by Tim Brunsden<br />

CULTUREXTRAVANGANZA<br />

PETE’S LEAR CHALLENGE<br />

Honorary Graduate Pete Postlethwaite<br />

is returning to his roots to star in one<br />

<strong>of</strong> Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies.<br />

He will appear in King Lear in<br />

November, in performances sponsored by<br />

the <strong>University</strong>.<br />

The role will mark his return to the<br />

Everyman theatre, where, the actor says, he<br />

‘learned his trade’. Oscar-nominated Pete<br />

joined the Everyman Theatre Group in 1974,<br />

alongside the likes <strong>of</strong> Alison Steadman, Julie<br />

Walters and Bill Nighy.<br />

The Warrington-born thespian, famed for<br />

his craggy facial features, shy personality<br />

and mild manners, has been described by<br />

Hollywood director Steve Spielberg as the<br />

greatest actor in the world. His film credits<br />

include In The Name <strong>of</strong> the Father, The Lost<br />

World: Jurassic Park, The Usual Suspects<br />

and Brassed Off.<br />

But he still says the thought <strong>of</strong><br />

performing Lear is a frightening prospect.<br />

He added: “It’s terrifying and exciting at the<br />

same time and I hope it will fulfil all our<br />

dreams and hopes."<br />

Pete received his Honorary Degree from<br />

the <strong>University</strong> in 2006. He was one <strong>of</strong> host<br />

<strong>of</strong> stars from the 'golden eras' <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong>'s<br />

Everyman Theatre who were given the<br />

accolades. Pete was joined by actress<br />

Alison Steadman and Everyman founders<br />

Terry Hands and Martin Jenkins at the<br />

ceremony during the city’s ‘Year <strong>of</strong><br />

Performance’. Two <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Liverpool</strong> Poets,<br />

Roger McGough and Brian Patten also<br />

received doctorates for their contributions to<br />

arts and culture. They, along with the late<br />

Adrian Henri, all considered the Everyman a<br />

formative home in their early years.<br />

Pete’s appearance back in <strong>Liverpool</strong> is<br />

one <strong>of</strong> the highlights <strong>of</strong> the city’s year as<br />

European Capital <strong>of</strong> Culture. Staff, alumni<br />

and students will be eligible for discounts on<br />

tickets closer to the time – register for the<br />

mailing list at www.liv.ac.uk/<strong>08</strong> to receive<br />

regular updates.


PUBLIC LECTURES ANNOUNCED<br />

The <strong>University</strong>’s free Public <strong>Lecture</strong> series<br />

features a quartet <strong>of</strong> fascinating characters<br />

in 20<strong>08</strong> – and the first event takes place<br />

this month.<br />

Sir Jonathan Miller, physician,<br />

broadcaster, theatre, opera and film director,<br />

will take centre stage at the Sherrington<br />

Building on Tuesday<br />

29 January.<br />

He is one <strong>of</strong> Britain’s most influential<br />

theatre directors. After graduating as a<br />

Doctor <strong>of</strong> Medicine from Cambridge<br />

<strong>University</strong> in the early 1960s he joined forces<br />

with Alan Bennett, Peter Cook and Dudley<br />

Moore to co-write and appear in<br />

the internationally acclaimed ‘Beyond<br />

the Fringe’.<br />

Since then, as well as working with<br />

many <strong>of</strong> the world’s leading opera houses,<br />

he has directed numerous theatre<br />

productions including The Merchant <strong>of</strong><br />

Venice, with Sir Laurence Olivier and Joan<br />

Plowright, and The Taming <strong>of</strong> the Shrew.<br />

In 1966, Sir Jonathan directed the<br />

critically acclaimed Alice in Wonderland and<br />

has since presented major television series<br />

including A Brief History <strong>of</strong> Disbelief in 2004.<br />

He also produced and directed 11 plays for<br />

the BBC's prestigious Shakespeare series.<br />

Later in the year, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Richard<br />

Dawkins, the evolutionary theorist and<br />

science writer, will speak on Monday 25<br />

February, followed by scientist and fertility<br />

expert Lord Robert Winston on 9 September,<br />

and playwright, lyricist and composer Willy<br />

Russell on 27 November.<br />

Precinct readers should have received a<br />

flyer detailing all the Public <strong>Lecture</strong> speakers<br />

in this copy <strong>of</strong> their magazine. If you did not<br />

and would like one, please email<br />

precinct@liv.ac.uk or call ext 42251.<br />

Alternatively, visit www.liv.ac.uk/<strong>08</strong> for<br />

information about tickets. These lectures<br />

have proved incredibly popular, invariably<br />

attracting a full house, so book your<br />

place early.<br />

SCIENCE<br />

Science and Engineering are colliding in a new initiative which is bringing a Sculptor in<br />

Residence to the campus.<br />

Rod Harris will explore fundamental aspects <strong>of</strong> Engineering and Science subjects and<br />

produce pieces <strong>of</strong> sculpture to illustrate these aspects.<br />

The initiative, called EXCESS – Exploring Creativity in Engineering and Science with<br />

Sculpture – will include workshops and interactive sessions. Students will have the<br />

chance to explore their creative side when they are asked to design and make pieces<br />

<strong>of</strong> sculpture to enter a competition. Winning pieces will be reproduced on a larger<br />

scale and set up as a legacy from the project.<br />

For more information, or to get involved, email dominic.dickson@liv.ac.uk<br />

ARCHITECTURE<br />

The School <strong>of</strong> Architecture is holding its first International Winter School from<br />

13 to 18 January.<br />

The event, entitled Multipli-Cities, will see around 150 participants from different<br />

countries to collaborate on a series <strong>of</strong> interconnected architectural design projects that<br />

will explore various aspects related to the urban landscape <strong>of</strong> the future.<br />

Multipli-Cities will examine topics such architecture, public art, design, urban planning,<br />

regeneration and sustainability in an era when more than half <strong>of</strong> the world’s population<br />

lives in cities. In order to maintain their socio-political and economic status, cities are<br />

developing disguised commercial strategies: biennials, athletic events, international<br />

fairs, among many others. Architecture always plays a central role in the realisation <strong>of</strong><br />

such projects.<br />

For more details see www.liv.ac.uk/architecture/winter<br />

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY<br />

Sunday 13 January to Friday 18 January – School <strong>of</strong> Architecture International<br />

Winter School<br />

Sunday 20 January – Sunday 9 March - Cityscape artist Ben Johnson is in<br />

residence at the city’s Walker Art Gallery. The <strong>University</strong> is the main sponsor <strong>of</strong> the<br />

exhibition and the School <strong>of</strong> Architecture is also creating an interactive exhibit which will<br />

sit alongside the main project.<br />

Tuesday 29 January – Public <strong>Lecture</strong> - Sir Jonathan Miller,<br />

INAUGURAL LECTURES – www.liv.ac.uk/think<br />

Wednesday 23 January – Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Neil Hall, Chair <strong>of</strong> Comparative Genomics and<br />

Bi<strong>of</strong>ormatics – Decoding infectious disease; a genomics view <strong>of</strong> the microbial world<br />

Monday 28 January – Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Swapan Chattopadhyay, Sir John Cockcr<strong>of</strong>t Chair <strong>of</strong><br />

Physics - Cockcr<strong>of</strong>t’s legacy in sub-atomic physics; accelerators <strong>of</strong> the 21st century<br />

Wednesday 6 February – Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Brigitte Resl, Chair <strong>of</strong> Medieval History – But ask<br />

the animals, and they will teach you: animals and culture in the Middle Ages<br />

Monday 11 February – Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Francis Barr, Chair <strong>of</strong> Molecular Oncology –<br />

Understanding how cells divide<br />

WWW.LIV.AC.UK/<strong>08</strong><br />

<strong>08</strong><br />

15


16<br />

Scientists at the<br />

weather station<br />

School builds<br />

weather station<br />

A team from the School <strong>of</strong> Biological<br />

Sciences has built an automated weather<br />

station on the remote moors <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Peak District.<br />

The team <strong>of</strong> volunteer students, led by Dr<br />

Mike Le Duc and Mike Harris, spent several<br />

days erecting the mast on quivering peat,<br />

making sure the site was well fenced to stop<br />

the sheep from trampling the sensors and<br />

knocking the mast over, and protecting all<br />

the exposed cables from vole attack.<br />

Vehicle access is only possible in Summer<br />

by Land Rover, and Winter by Argocat<br />

(the vehicle made famous by the TV’s<br />

Banana Bunch!)<br />

Mike said: “Surprisingly, it all went very well.<br />

The data logger works, weather information<br />

is now being logged at approximately 20<br />

minute intervals, and the site will be revisited<br />

to add a telecommunications system so that<br />

the team can access the data live from<br />

our lab.”<br />

“Upland moors are very important from both<br />

an economic and a conservation viewpoint.<br />

Economically, they support sheep and<br />

grouse, and both <strong>of</strong> these provide income to<br />

upland communities. From, a conservation<br />

viewpoint, we are obliged to look after it and<br />

keep it in good condition. The conservation<br />

issue is, however, very complicated, because<br />

the moors need to be managed to maintain<br />

themselves in good conditions, and currently<br />

this is most <strong>of</strong>ten achieved by burning. As<br />

these moors also contain a very large<br />

carbon store they can act as a very large<br />

source <strong>of</strong> carbon to the atmosphere, and<br />

they can also act as a sink. Either way they<br />

contribute to the UK’s carbon accounting.”<br />

He added: “In the Applied Vegetation<br />

Dynamics Laboratory, we are studying the<br />

effects <strong>of</strong> current burning practice on these<br />

moors, measuring burning temperatures<br />

during fire, the response <strong>of</strong> the plants to fire,<br />

and making an assessment <strong>of</strong> how much<br />

carbon is lost. Knowing the actual weather<br />

during burning is important background<br />

information, and hopefully our new weather<br />

station will provide sufficient information to<br />

help use develop burning models and assist<br />

in designing good burning practice.”<br />

Barry’s keynote spot<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Barry Goldson, from the<br />

<strong>University</strong>’s School <strong>of</strong> Sociology<br />

and Social Policy, has presided<br />

over the Scientific Committee <strong>of</strong> the<br />

International Congress Phenomena in<br />

Juvenile Delinquency: New Penal Forms.<br />

The Congress took place in Seville,<br />

Spain, and was organised by the Council<br />

<strong>of</strong> Justice and Public Administration <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Assembly <strong>of</strong> Andalucía, together with the<br />

International Juvenile Justice Observatory<br />

which is based in Brussels, Belgium.<br />

Barry presented the President’s<br />

keynote address at the Congress, entitled<br />

Explorations in Comparative Analysis,<br />

Trends and “New Penal Forms”,<br />

Commonalities, differences and the<br />

universal currency <strong>of</strong> international human<br />

rights. More than 350 delegates from<br />

Europe, North America and Central<br />

America attended.<br />

Speaking after the Congress, Barry<br />

said: “Many academic commentators<br />

contend that we are witnessing new<br />

globalising penal forms characterised by<br />

intolerance and the emergence <strong>of</strong><br />

increasingly punitive juvenile/youth justice<br />

systems. Other experts question this,<br />

arguing that the picture is significantly more<br />

complex. What is more clear is that trends<br />

in juvenile crime do not necessarily reflect<br />

either increasingly widespread or more<br />

serious patterns <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>fending. Furthermore,<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Goldson gives keynote address<br />

the tensions between calls for ‘tougher’<br />

regimes, sit uncomfortably alongside the<br />

provisions <strong>of</strong> international human rights<br />

standards, treaties, rules and conventions.<br />

The context within which modern juvenile<br />

and youth justice debates are located,<br />

therefore, is dynamic and contested and, in<br />

this sense, the International Congress was<br />

particularly timely.”<br />

Barry has also recently completed a<br />

‘Youth Justice Dictionary’. The Dictionary,<br />

the first to be published in the field <strong>of</strong> youth<br />

justice studies, is scheduled for publication<br />

in February this year. It contains more than<br />

300 entries contributed by almost 100<br />

academic researchers, policy makers and<br />

practitioners. Furthermore, in collaboration<br />

with Pr<strong>of</strong>essor John Muncie from the Open<br />

<strong>University</strong>, he is working on a three-volume<br />

set <strong>of</strong> international ‘major works’ on youth<br />

crime and juvenile justice for the Sage<br />

Library <strong>of</strong> Criminology. The volumes will be<br />

published towards the end <strong>of</strong> 20<strong>08</strong>.<br />

Joining forces<br />

to fight obesity<br />

Members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Liverpool</strong> Obesity Research<br />

Network (LORN) have joined forces with<br />

colleagues from Manchester to create a new<br />

regional group <strong>of</strong> experts.<br />

The North West region Association for the<br />

Study <strong>of</strong> Obesity (ASO) group links researchers<br />

from the North West’s and North Wales’s 11<br />

Universities to colleagues within the NHS, as<br />

well as other specialists tackling the grave<br />

obesity problem facing the region.<br />

The opening event took place at Knowsley Hall<br />

and was attended by researchers and<br />

practitioners from across the UK. Future events<br />

include an international meeting entitled Early<br />

Development and Obesity: Food Preferences,


Celebrating<br />

60 year<br />

Turkish link<br />

Sixty years <strong>of</strong> British research in<br />

Turkey have been celebrated<br />

by the School <strong>of</strong> Archaeology,<br />

Classics and Egyptology (SACE).<br />

The event marked the foundation<br />

<strong>of</strong> the British Institute <strong>of</strong> Archaeology in<br />

Ankara (BIAA) by the <strong>University</strong>'s<br />

founding Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Archaeology,<br />

John Garstang. The Institute continues<br />

to act as a meeting point between<br />

British and Turkish culture and has<br />

broadened its remit to serve the needs<br />

<strong>of</strong> British academics conducting<br />

research in all areas <strong>of</strong> the arts and<br />

humanities in Turkey.<br />

The celebratory event included<br />

presentations on John Garstang's life<br />

and work in Turkey, by Dr Alan<br />

Greaves and Patricia Winker from<br />

SACE, as well as a guest lecture by<br />

the BIAA's director, Dr Lut Vandeput.<br />

Diet and Appetite Regulation at the <strong>University</strong> in<br />

March. A regional meeting on Obesity and Public<br />

Health, organised by Dr Lynne Kennedy, is planned<br />

for June.<br />

LORN is an obesity research network based across<br />

the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong>, Aintree <strong>University</strong><br />

Hospital and Royal <strong>Liverpool</strong> and Broadgreen<br />

Hospital Trusts. In addition to research activity, the<br />

Network has a seminar programme and helps to<br />

organise regional and national meetings on obesity.<br />

The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong> has a long history <strong>of</strong><br />

research into the biology <strong>of</strong> energy regulation,<br />

obesity and obesity related illness. Created in<br />

March 2005, LORN promotes existing interdisciplinary<br />

research within the <strong>University</strong> and<br />

stimulates new research activity in <strong>Liverpool</strong> and<br />

the North West.<br />

For more information about LORN<br />

contact Dr Jason Halford, LORN convenor, at<br />

j.c.g.halford@liverpool.ac.uk<br />

For ASO details visit:<br />

www.aso.org.uk/portal.aspx<br />

Stress<br />

busting<br />

success<br />

Relaxation sessions run by the Staff<br />

Counselling Service have proved a<br />

stress-busting success.<br />

Jules Howdin and Gabrielle Pearson<br />

Heavisides initially piloted the sessions in<br />

the early Summer and these proved so<br />

popular they were repeated thoughout<br />

the Autumn.<br />

Jules said: “The sessions were part <strong>of</strong><br />

a proactive initiative to support employees<br />

<strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> to manage stress and to<br />

gain some tools to support positive<br />

well-being.”<br />

The sessions covered a range <strong>of</strong><br />

different breathing techniques, relaxation<br />

exercises and visualisations as well as<br />

promoting popular aides such as<br />

aromatherapy oils to ease stress. For some<br />

<strong>of</strong> those attending the sessions, the focus<br />

was to gain support to manage current<br />

stress whilst others were interested in<br />

learning techniques which they could<br />

incorporate into their lives to promote a<br />

general sense <strong>of</strong> well-being.<br />

Gabrielle added: “We all experience<br />

stress from time to time whether this is at<br />

home or at work, each affects the other. By<br />

focusing on our breathing and learning<br />

how to relax we greatly<br />

increase our chances <strong>of</strong><br />

managing those stressful<br />

times more successfully.”<br />

The sessions will<br />

continue in the next<br />

semester and will be<br />

promoted via the staff<br />

intranet, or call Jules or<br />

Gabrielle at the Counselling<br />

Service on 0151 794 3304<br />

or email counserv@liv.ac.uk<br />

Big name conference<br />

The Management School, in association with the faculty <strong>of</strong> Social and Environmental Studies will<br />

be hosting an International Conference titled The Changing Role <strong>of</strong> Agency in the Development<br />

Process on 9 and 10 June 20<strong>08</strong>.<br />

It promises to be an extraordinary event, bringing together activists, practitioners and<br />

researchers in a unique effort to explore the ubiquitous relevance <strong>of</strong> agency in the complex<br />

processes <strong>of</strong> economic and social development.<br />

Prominent speakers will include Shami Chakrabarty (civil liberty activist), Clare Short (politician<br />

and ex-MP), Barbara Harriss-White (Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford <strong>University</strong>) and two debate<br />

sessions on War and Development and Aid Effectiveness will take place. There will also be a<br />

special session on the second day <strong>of</strong> the conference to inaugurate the much awaited India in<br />

the World Research Centre.<br />

Registration details can be found at www.liv.ac.uk/agencyconference. Prospective participants<br />

can submit an abstract <strong>of</strong> up to two pages to agency@liv.ac.uk. For more information contact<br />

S.Garikipati@liv.ac.uk<br />

17


18<br />

Dragon-slayer Laban tells his story<br />

Few people these days can write ‘dragonslayer’<br />

on their CV. But then again, few people<br />

have emerged from the hit BBC TV show<br />

Dragons’ Den with a £60,000 cheque and the<br />

personal backing <strong>of</strong> James Caan, one <strong>of</strong><br />

Britain’s richest men.<br />

Laban Roomes did and retold his tale when<br />

he was invited to be the keynote speaker at<br />

the launch <strong>of</strong> the Careers and Employability<br />

Service’s newest programme – The Next<br />

Big Thing.<br />

The aim <strong>of</strong> The Next Big Thing is to help<br />

students at the <strong>University</strong> develop enterprise<br />

and entrepreneurial skills – skills epitomised in<br />

abundance by both by Laban and the TV<br />

Dragons. And, as Laban himself argued,<br />

these are skills that everyone can develop.<br />

And he should know.<br />

Laban’s career as an entrepreneur got <strong>of</strong>f to<br />

an inauspicious start. His family were poor<br />

and to make ends meet he toured the<br />

neighbourhood being paid to cut hedges. By<br />

The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong> Alumni<br />

Scholarships have been in<br />

operation since 2000 and many<br />

students have benefited from the<br />

financial rewards.<br />

Scholarships were also one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

areas alumni could choose to support<br />

during the recent Benefactors’ Fund mail<br />

and phone campaign which, by the end <strong>of</strong><br />

December <strong>2007</strong> had raised overall more<br />

than £107,000 from 660 donors. A new<br />

telephone campaign gets underway early<br />

in 20<strong>08</strong>.<br />

Ten Alumni Scholarships are awarded<br />

each year, and during the course <strong>of</strong> their<br />

studies, students and donors have the<br />

opportunity to meet each other at a<br />

number <strong>of</strong> events – something which<br />

donors find tremendously rewarding.<br />

Three current Alumni Scholars told<br />

Precinct what difference the award has<br />

made to them:<br />

Indrani<br />

Karpha<br />

I am now<br />

entering the fourth<br />

year <strong>of</strong> my<br />

medical degree. I<br />

chose the<br />

the time he was 11 he was earning more<br />

money than his mum.<br />

But it wasn’t green fingers that Laban was<br />

interested in acquiring but gold fingers. After<br />

leaving school, Laban trained to become a<br />

gold-plater. After several years in the job he<br />

developed his own gold plating machine<br />

which applies genuine 24 carat gold, silver,<br />

platinum, nickel and even chrome to hundreds<br />

<strong>of</strong> metallic items.<br />

What took him to the next level, however, was<br />

the decision to enter the TV show Dragons’<br />

Den. After surviving the traditional verbal<br />

mauling Laban emerged with funding and the<br />

personal support from multimillionaire<br />

business tycoon, James Caan.<br />

The message <strong>of</strong> the evening – and The Next<br />

Big Thing programme – is that through the<br />

resources and expertise <strong>of</strong> the Careers and<br />

Employability Service, <strong>Liverpool</strong> students have<br />

access to a fantastic range <strong>of</strong> actual and<br />

potential business opportunities.<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong> because it is one <strong>of</strong><br />

the top five universities for Medicine and<br />

has a modern style <strong>of</strong> teaching which<br />

involves PBL, or problem based learning. I<br />

am a member <strong>of</strong> the committee for<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> Medical Students’ Society<br />

(LMSS) and last year was the publications<br />

secretary for the Society which meant I<br />

was the editor <strong>of</strong> the LMSS magazine<br />

called the ‘Sphincter’. I have just been<br />

elected to the committee again and will be<br />

one <strong>of</strong> the charity representatives.<br />

Receiving the scholarship has taken away<br />

some <strong>of</strong> the financial pressure. It has<br />

mean that I was also able to spend some<br />

time last Summer as a volunteer in one <strong>of</strong><br />

the nursing homes in Calcutta set up by<br />

Mother Theresa where I was able to take<br />

over medical supplies. I have also just<br />

returned from five weeks in Belize, as part<br />

<strong>of</strong> my course, where I was helping out in<br />

some <strong>of</strong> the local hospitals and villages.<br />

My ambition is to qualify as a doctor and<br />

continue in a medical career.<br />

Andrew Billington<br />

I am currently studying Mathematics<br />

and hope to pursue a career in finance,<br />

perhaps involving actuary work. This<br />

Alumni Scholarship has enabled me to<br />

concentrate on my studies and purchase<br />

essential books for my course. When I am<br />

Alumni<br />

Scholarships<br />

not studying I play the drums and guitar in<br />

a band and like going to concerts. I think<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> is a fantastic place to study and<br />

I have made lots <strong>of</strong> new friends here in the<br />

city. The scholarship has made me feel<br />

more secure and enabled me to enjoy<br />

university life to the full.<br />

Toby Haslinger<br />

I am a fifth year medical student and<br />

am due to start my first job as a junior<br />

doctor in August. This Alumni Scholarship<br />

has enabled me to concentrate on my<br />

degree and purchase books for my<br />

course. Studying at <strong>Liverpool</strong> has helped<br />

me to develop skills and learning<br />

strategies that will assist me throughout<br />

my career and encourage continued<br />

learning. The scholarship has been <strong>of</strong><br />

enormous benefit to me and has meant I<br />

have not had to worry so much about<br />

money so I could focus on my studies. My<br />

long term ambition is to be a consultant,<br />

and when I am not working I enjoy playing<br />

chess, reading, walking, football, tennis<br />

and snooker.<br />

For more information about the<br />

Benefactors’ Fund, or events planned for<br />

donors to the <strong>University</strong>, please contact<br />

Elizabeth Adams, Stewardship Officer, on<br />

0151 795 4639 or email<br />

elizabeth.adams@liv.ac.uk


Knowledge quarter<br />

generates £1billion Universities<br />

Work commissioned by urban<br />

regeneration company,<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> Vision and its<br />

partners - the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong>,<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> John Moores <strong>University</strong>,<br />

Northwest Regional Development<br />

Agency, <strong>Liverpool</strong> City Council and<br />

Business<strong>Liverpool</strong> - reveals that the key<br />

organisations within the city’s Knowledge<br />

Quarter generate £1 billion in income per<br />

annum, leading the development <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong>’s knowledge economy.<br />

The study, by Regeneris Consulting,<br />

identifies the future development <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Knowledge Quarter as a crucial driver <strong>of</strong><br />

the city region economy, and shows<br />

that the area currently supports over<br />

14,000 full-time jobs, around 7% <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> total - in approximately just 1%<br />

<strong>of</strong> the city’s geographical area. Many are<br />

highly-skilled knowledge based jobs,<br />

the key driver for the development <strong>of</strong><br />

modern cities.<br />

A summary <strong>of</strong> the report has been<br />

published as a ‘Prospectus for<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong>’s Knowledge Quarter’ to<br />

highlight the scale and potential <strong>of</strong> the<br />

city’s key knowledge assets. It calls for a<br />

clear planning and development<br />

framework for the area to help create the<br />

conditions, which will encourage further<br />

growth and maximise value for the city.<br />

Highlighted in the summary as main<br />

priorities for action are the promotion <strong>of</strong><br />

the Knowledge Quarter nationally and<br />

internationally, investment in under<br />

performing areas and the creation <strong>of</strong><br />

opportunities for business incubation<br />

between the universities.<br />

Vice-Chancellor, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />

Drummond Bone, said: “The global<br />

reach <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>’s research and<br />

teaching is vast and the continuing<br />

development <strong>of</strong> the Knowledge Quarter<br />

will increase our economic impact<br />

overseas as well as in the UK. This is a<br />

period <strong>of</strong> unprecedented investment for<br />

the <strong>University</strong> in its 100-year history and<br />

for a modern European city such as<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong>, the strategic importance <strong>of</strong> this<br />

growth cannot be overstated.”<br />

The city’s Knowledge Quarter is<br />

centred around the core university<br />

facilities <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong> and<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> John Moores <strong>University</strong> in the<br />

east <strong>of</strong> the city centre, together with<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> John Moores <strong>University</strong>’s city<br />

campus to the north.<br />

In addition to the universities, it<br />

includes institutions <strong>of</strong> international<br />

significance such as the <strong>Liverpool</strong> School<br />

<strong>of</strong> Tropical Medicine and the Royal<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>University</strong> Hospital and is<br />

further enhanced by <strong>Liverpool</strong> Hope<br />

<strong>University</strong>, <strong>Liverpool</strong> Community College<br />

and <strong>Liverpool</strong> Institute <strong>of</strong> Performing<br />

Arts (LIPA).<br />

Access to Business Gateway<br />

Prize draw winner Wendy England with Mark Ratcliffe, Head <strong>of</strong><br />

Marketing Business Gateway<br />

Staff from across the <strong>University</strong> took time out<br />

<strong>of</strong> their busy schedules to enjoy some valuable<br />

interaction at the latest Business Action<br />

Network meeting.<br />

More than 50 colleagues from various<br />

departments including Engineering, SACE, the<br />

Management School and Medicine attended<br />

the lunchtime meeting where they all had one<br />

thing in common; an interest in knowledge<br />

transfer activities.<br />

The Business Action Network meetings are<br />

organised by the marketing team in Research and<br />

Business Services and provide staff with access to<br />

the expertise available in the Business Gateway<br />

Unique enterprise<br />

for entrepreneurs<br />

in England must do more<br />

to nurture the next generation <strong>of</strong><br />

entrepreneurs states a report published by<br />

the National Council for Graduate<br />

Entrepreneurship (NCGE).<br />

The report, produced on the back <strong>of</strong> the<br />

largest survey ever conducted into enterprise<br />

and entrepreneurship activity and provision,<br />

included 122 universities, serving a total<br />

student population <strong>of</strong> 1.75 million. It maps the<br />

scale and scope <strong>of</strong> provision, engagement<br />

and climate for enterprise and<br />

entrepreneurship in the sector.<br />

According to the NCGE report, engagement is<br />

concentrated in too few subject areas –<br />

business and management in particular – and<br />

universities need to adopt a wider view <strong>of</strong><br />

entrepreneurship, embedding enterprise<br />

across all disciplines. The NCGE report urges<br />

action to scale up engagement across nonbusiness<br />

disciplines so that all students are<br />

exposed to meaningful learning experiences.<br />

Dr Paul Redmond, Head <strong>of</strong> the Career and<br />

Employability Service, said: “Encouraging<br />

students to be enterprising in their careers is<br />

one <strong>of</strong> the objectives <strong>of</strong> the Careers and<br />

Employability Service. Whether our students<br />

aim to become self-employed or work for<br />

organisations, learning how to be enterprising<br />

is an essential 21st century skill.<br />

“This is why we have recently launched ‘The<br />

Next Big Thing’ – a unique enterprise<br />

programme which enables students to learn<br />

how to develop business plans, identify niches<br />

in the market and compete for enterprise<br />

funding. We are also able to link students with<br />

their own personal business mentors – local<br />

business men and women who are committed<br />

to helping our students succeed in business.”<br />

team. Business Managers representing all sectors<br />

across the <strong>University</strong>, including the new BioMedical<br />

team, were at the meeting to answer questions<br />

and provide advice.<br />

The networking lunch was sponsored by the<br />

Northern Leadership Academy and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Fred<br />

Mahoney from the Management School delivered<br />

a short presentation about the Academy and the<br />

benefits it can provide to staff.<br />

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 19<br />

February and will be sponsored by<br />

VentureNavigator. Please contact Business<br />

Gateway if you would like more information. Tel<br />

48350 email business@liv.ac.uk<br />

19


20<br />

Enterprise<br />

Week<br />

Hundreds <strong>of</strong> people took part in<br />

Enterprise Week, organised by the<br />

<strong>University</strong>’s Management School.<br />

Its aim was to promote, inspire,<br />

improve and expand the range <strong>of</strong> support<br />

to individuals who want to develop<br />

business ideas, and challenge those who<br />

influence people, the media and<br />

policymakers to recognise the significance<br />

<strong>of</strong> enterprise.<br />

A number <strong>of</strong> events, workshops and<br />

seminars took place throughout the week.<br />

All were well attended, especially by those<br />

students who were considering developing<br />

their own businesses after graduation.<br />

One <strong>of</strong> the events which took place<br />

was the <strong>of</strong>ficial launch <strong>of</strong> VentureNavigator.<br />

More than 200 people attended the<br />

celebrations, with 80 <strong>of</strong> these registering as<br />

members <strong>of</strong> the<br />

www.venturenavigator.co.uk website.<br />

The initiative has been created to<br />

make valuable resources in higher<br />

education institutions available to the UK’s<br />

business community in order to<br />

encourage innovation and successful<br />

business creation.<br />

An Entrepreneurship Club was also<br />

launched. Around 40 undergraduate and<br />

postgraduate students attended the launch<br />

One <strong>of</strong> the many ways in which computers<br />

are changing our lives is that more and more<br />

decisions are being made by machines,<br />

without direct human involvement.<br />

Already, computers can fly aircraft<br />

automatically, operate power plants, and make<br />

stock-market trades on their own. However,<br />

many human decisions involve multiple<br />

participants or stakeholders, with diverse<br />

objectives and interests, and decisions<br />

between them require trade-<strong>of</strong>fs to be made.<br />

These applications have proven very<br />

challenging to automate.<br />

The Department <strong>of</strong> Computer Science has just<br />

completed two major European Commission<br />

(EC)-funded research projects in collaboration<br />

with partners in Europe and the USA, which<br />

extend the ability <strong>of</strong> computers to make<br />

decisions to some <strong>of</strong> these domains. The first<br />

<strong>of</strong> these projects, Ontogrid, involved the<br />

which was addressed by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jimmy<br />

Hill, Chair <strong>of</strong> Entrepreneurship, Kaysi-Ann<br />

Spence, MBA Entrepreneurship, and Ian<br />

Duckett from the <strong>University</strong> Careers<br />

Service. The Club is a student-run body<br />

and is a forum for the discussion and<br />

presentation <strong>of</strong> business ideas in an<br />

informal and relaxed atmosphere via<br />

business breakfasts, guest-speaker events<br />

and business plan competitions.<br />

Arabella McIntyre-Brown was principal<br />

speaker at another event. Around 50<br />

students heard her recount the stories <strong>of</strong><br />

20 successful local entrepreneurs,<br />

Computers agreeing to disagree . . .<br />

development <strong>of</strong> frameworks and tools to<br />

support ad-hoc negotiations between<br />

organisations sharing computing resources,<br />

such as those on GRID systems, which involve<br />

different organisations to pool their computer<br />

processing resources.<br />

The other EC project completed by the<br />

Department was ASPIC (Argumentation<br />

Service Platform with Integrated Components).<br />

This project aimed to develop frameworks and<br />

s<strong>of</strong>tware to support arguments between<br />

intelligent machines. Different computers may<br />

have access to different data, or have different<br />

objectives, or have access to different<br />

processing capabilities or scientific equipment.<br />

Accordingly, just as humans do, intelligent<br />

machines can disagree with one another. The<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> team focused on the development <strong>of</strong><br />

mechanisms for arguments over action,<br />

including the representation <strong>of</strong> values, in<br />

VentureNavigator was launched during Enterprise Week<br />

captured in her new book Score – The<br />

Secrets Of 20 Successful Entrepreneurs.<br />

Other guest speakers included<br />

representatives from the Royal Bank <strong>of</strong><br />

Scotland and the Steve Stuart Partnership.<br />

Finally, a breakfast ‘round table’ event<br />

<strong>of</strong>fered participants the opportunity to<br />

network with like minded entrepreneurs<br />

and pick the brains <strong>of</strong> three local<br />

entrepreneurs including Nick Jenkinson,<br />

founder <strong>of</strong> Merseyside Environmental<br />

Services, Dave Wright <strong>of</strong><br />

www.interestingimports.co.uk and Chris<br />

Bradshaw <strong>of</strong> Urban Revolution.<br />

medical and legal domains.<br />

One application developed as part <strong>of</strong> the<br />

project was a system for organ transplant<br />

decisions, undertaken in collaboration with<br />

medical authorities in Spain. This system<br />

enables the automated creation and exchange<br />

<strong>of</strong> arguments between computers representing<br />

various hospitals.<br />

By automating the dialogues and the decisionprocess,<br />

the system is intended to expedite<br />

the matching <strong>of</strong> donors and recipients, and<br />

also to increase the number <strong>of</strong> organs actually<br />

finding their way to recipients.<br />

For further information on Ontogrid visit<br />

http://www.ontogrid.net/ or for more<br />

information on ASPIC visit<br />

http://www.argumentation.org/


Work experience<br />

Anew Work Experience Policy is being circulated to staff,<br />

<strong>of</strong>fering guidance for departments providing placement<br />

opportunities for local students.<br />

The <strong>University</strong> has a long-established work experience<br />

programme which helps to build vital links with schools in the<br />

region. The aim <strong>of</strong> the programme is to encourage students to<br />

consider the <strong>University</strong> either to study or as a potential employer.<br />

It also contributes to the <strong>University</strong>’s Widening Participation<br />

agenda by raising the aspirations <strong>of</strong> young people in the local<br />

community.<br />

Arshad Kamal (pictured), a student from Shorefields School<br />

in <strong>Liverpool</strong>, was among the first group <strong>of</strong> students to take part<br />

in the programme this academic year. Arshad spent two weeks<br />

working in the Aerospace department under the supervision <strong>of</strong><br />

Dr Mark White, Flight Simulation Laboratory Manager. He chose<br />

the department specifically because he wants to study<br />

Aerospace at university and during his placement he had the<br />

opportunity to get involved in research with a test pilot.<br />

Sally Middleton, the <strong>University</strong>’s Work Experience Coordinator,<br />

is keen for more departments to <strong>of</strong>fer student<br />

placements. She said: “We really appreciate all the hard work<br />

that departments put in to organising and running the<br />

placements. We get a lot <strong>of</strong> good feedback from both students<br />

and departments - it’s great to know what a positive effect work<br />

experience can have.”<br />

If your department is interested in <strong>of</strong>fering a work experience<br />

placement, or you would like more information, please contact<br />

Sally on 0151 795 4146 or email Sally.Middleton@liv.ac.uk.<br />

Children’s rights<br />

in Europe<br />

Members <strong>of</strong> the Centre for the Study <strong>of</strong> the Child, the<br />

Family and the Law in the <strong>Liverpool</strong> Law School have<br />

been awarded £250,000 by the European Union<br />

Fundamental Rights Agency to fund a research project<br />

into children’s rights across the European Union (EU).<br />

Their research will focus on a number <strong>of</strong> key areas,<br />

including immigration, family welfare, poverty and<br />

participation. The principal aim is to develop a series <strong>of</strong><br />

indicators that all institutions can be monitored against,<br />

to ensure that children are being treated fairly across<br />

the EU. The development <strong>of</strong> a ‘global strategy’ is<br />

crucial, as the rights <strong>of</strong> children are not even<br />

mentioned in the EU treaties and there is consequently<br />

some inconsistency among the member states.<br />

This year long project, which will begin in spring 20<strong>08</strong>,<br />

will explore the subject in depth, drawing on the<br />

expertise <strong>of</strong> charities, academics and practitioners<br />

across Europe and collaborating with researchers in the<br />

Ludwig Boltzmann Institute <strong>of</strong> Human Rights in Vienna.<br />

Law grant<br />

The newly-established European Law and<br />

Policy Research Group, based in the<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> Law School, has secured its first<br />

ESRC grant – Building Capacity in Empirical<br />

Socio-Legal Research.<br />

The 26-month project, starting <strong>of</strong>ficially this<br />

month, is the first ever grant from the<br />

ESRC’s Researcher Development Initiative<br />

to be awarded in Law.<br />

The project, headed by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Louise<br />

Ackers and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Fiona Beveridge,<br />

draws together socio-legal researchers and<br />

academics from six universities, including<br />

Manchester, Sheffield, and Loughborough,<br />

to deliver a series <strong>of</strong> workshops aimed at<br />

encouraging and sustaining capacity in<br />

empirical socio-legal research.<br />

A recent Nuffield Foundation inquiry into the<br />

state <strong>of</strong> empirical research in law<br />

concluded: “The lack <strong>of</strong> skills, together with<br />

the time and cost involved in empirical legal<br />

research, as compared with doctrinal or<br />

purely theoretical and philosophical work,<br />

deters those with an interest in empirical<br />

questions from engaging in empirical<br />

legal research.”<br />

The project responds to these barriers<br />

through developing and delivering a<br />

training scheme to a cohort <strong>of</strong> researchers –<br />

including PhD students, early-career<br />

researchers and mid-career academics<br />

from across the social sciences, and<br />

provides follow-up mentoring as these<br />

participants apply the training in their<br />

own research.<br />

For more details visit:<br />

www.liv.ac.uk/law/elprg/index.htm<br />

21


22<br />

Guild prepares<br />

for quality<br />

assessment<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> Guild <strong>of</strong> Students (LGoS) will be<br />

hosting a student representation<br />

benchmarking event in February as part <strong>of</strong><br />

preparations for a visit by the Quality<br />

Assurance Agency for Higher Education.<br />

The QAA visit is due to take place in Spring<br />

2009. Work is already underway and Alan<br />

Roberts, the Academic Advice &<br />

Representation Coordinator for LGoS, has<br />

made substantial changes to the support<br />

<strong>of</strong>fered to Student Representatives across<br />

the <strong>University</strong>.<br />

By searching the new Student<br />

Representatives database at<br />

lgos.org/coursereps it is possible to<br />

access the details <strong>of</strong> no less than 640<br />

student reps from every department and<br />

school <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>. As well as<br />

enabling students to find their<br />

representatives and contact them at the<br />

click <strong>of</strong> a button, it helps Alan to converse<br />

with them about training, support and<br />

common issues.<br />

The result has been the training <strong>of</strong> 100 new<br />

representatives in two months - with more<br />

sessions planned - and the attendance <strong>of</strong><br />

more than 60 students at monthly<br />

representative forums hosted by LGoS.<br />

The training equips representatives with the<br />

necessary tools in areas such as<br />

communication, negotiation and meeting<br />

tips to enable them to fulfil their role<br />

effectively, and the forums <strong>of</strong>fer them a<br />

chance to discuss headline issues and<br />

areas <strong>of</strong> concern.<br />

Alan said: “Supporting Student<br />

Representatives is just one way in<br />

which LGoS works in partnership with t<br />

he <strong>University</strong> to effect positive change<br />

by improving the quality <strong>of</strong> learning<br />

and teaching.<br />

“But being a representative itself enhances<br />

the overall experience <strong>of</strong> being a member<br />

<strong>of</strong> our <strong>University</strong> community. Effective<br />

representatives reap benefits not only for<br />

their peers and their department as ‘expert<br />

learners’, but also for themselves in terms<br />

<strong>of</strong> personal development and experience.”<br />

Contact Alan via lgos.org/coursereps or<br />

email alan.roberts@liv.ac.uk<br />

Celebrating<br />

20 years at<br />

<strong>University</strong><br />

The <strong>University</strong> has said farewell to<br />

Pauline Hobson, a long-serving<br />

member <strong>of</strong> staff with more than 20<br />

years’ service.<br />

Pauline joined the Department <strong>of</strong> Industrial<br />

Studies in 1985 under Pr<strong>of</strong>essor John Halliday,<br />

helping to launch the first postgraduate<br />

programme in Advanced Manufacturing<br />

Systems and Technology. Following a spell in<br />

Industrial Studies and the Department <strong>of</strong><br />

Engineering, Pauline moved to the newlyformed<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong> Management<br />

School (ULMS) in 2002 where she helped to<br />

create the new undergraduate and<br />

postgraduate programmes in e-business. Since<br />

2004 she has worked as the administrator for<br />

the AIMES Centre within ULMS.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dennis Kehoe, who has worked with<br />

Pauline since those early days in Industrial<br />

Studies, said: “Pauline has helped so many<br />

people during her time here at <strong>Liverpool</strong> –<br />

students, colleagues and visitors alike. Her<br />

positive attitude and pr<strong>of</strong>essional approach<br />

epitomises the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong>. She will<br />

be sorely missed.”<br />

Rebecca and Jade at Wembley<br />

Two student<br />

volunteers have<br />

received national<br />

recognition at the<br />

Higher Education Volunteering Awards held at the<br />

new Wembley Stadium in London.<br />

Jade Weston, a recent Psychology graduate was a<br />

national winner in the student volunteer category.<br />

Jade’s volunteering role with the Youth Offending<br />

Service involves sitting on a panel <strong>of</strong> three<br />

community volunteers to set in place a contract for<br />

young <strong>of</strong>fenders that are subject to referral orders<br />

made by the courts.<br />

Jade also volunteers with the Lifeline project - a<br />

weekly group programme dedicated to reducing<br />

domestic violence in male perpetrators<br />

Sociology student volunteer Rebecca Lynch<br />

Therapist Judith<br />

prepares for round<br />

the world trip<br />

Dr Judith Martin (above), Head <strong>of</strong> the Division <strong>of</strong><br />

Occupational Therapy in the School <strong>of</strong> Health<br />

Sciences, has retired. Judith qualified as an<br />

occupational therapist in 1970 and developed her<br />

clinical speciality in hand therapy before moving<br />

into education in 1980.The pre-registration<br />

programme moved to the <strong>University</strong> in 1992 and in<br />

1996, Judith was appointed as a senior lecturer<br />

and Head <strong>of</strong> Division.<br />

Joy Burrell, who takes over from Judith as Head <strong>of</strong><br />

the Division, said: “She has influenced the careers<br />

<strong>of</strong> many occupational therapists through<br />

undergraduate and postgraduate education. She<br />

has also contributed to the <strong>University</strong> in a wide<br />

variety <strong>of</strong> roles. We wish her well in her retirement<br />

and on her travels around the world in February.”<br />

National recognition for<br />

Jade and Rebecca<br />

reached the national final in the student volunteer<br />

category for her work as the inaugural project leader<br />

at Mildmay homeless shelter for men. Along with<br />

other volunteers, Rebecca visits Mildmay every<br />

Monday evening where she serves refreshments as<br />

well as organising various entertainment such as a<br />

quiz or a painting session.<br />

Volunteering is an important part <strong>of</strong> extra curricular<br />

activities and provides valuable resources for the<br />

local community. These Volunteering Awards<br />

achievements acknowledge the support provided<br />

by the <strong>University</strong> and Guild staff in creating<br />

innovative opportunities which enhance the student<br />

experience here in <strong>Liverpool</strong>.<br />

For further Information visit:<br />

www.liv.ac.uk/volunteering<br />

or www.lgos.org/volunteering<br />

W


INNERS WINNERS WINNERS WINNERS WINNERS<br />

Patient care website<br />

wins innovation award<br />

ANorth West<br />

Innovation award<br />

has been presented<br />

to Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Martin Leuwer<br />

(pictured, centre), who is<br />

Head <strong>of</strong> the Division <strong>of</strong><br />

Clinical Science, for the<br />

development <strong>of</strong> the webbased<br />

Critical Care<br />

Outreach Edutainment<br />

Scenario.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Leuwer was<br />

awarded the first prize in the<br />

Training or Educational<br />

Materials category and the<br />

<strong>2007</strong> North West Innovation Award for the best innovation in all four competition<br />

categories.<br />

The North West Innovation Awards recognise the new ideas, developments<br />

and products developed by local NHS staff to improve care for patients. A record<br />

breaking 200 entries were received for this year’s awards, which were held at the<br />

Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays.<br />

The interactive website with true-to-life simulations is designed to train and<br />

develop staff. The aim is to increase the confidence and skills <strong>of</strong> junior healthcare<br />

staff thereby reducing the risk <strong>of</strong> mistakes being made and continuing to improve<br />

the quality <strong>of</strong> care received by the patient.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Leuwer said: “Junior and inexperienced staff are <strong>of</strong>ten asked<br />

to undertake patient observations at regular intervals. The training provided by the<br />

website will reduce the risk <strong>of</strong> mistakes being made in patient assessments and<br />

will improve the quality <strong>of</strong> care provided.”<br />

Customer service award for Foresight team<br />

Two members <strong>of</strong> the Foresight Centre team have<br />

been nominated for a special award for<br />

excellence in customer service.<br />

The Academy <strong>of</strong> Excellence Awards recognises<br />

outstanding examples <strong>of</strong> customer care<br />

delivered by individuals working throughout the<br />

city <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong>. Janet Wilson and Michael<br />

Weston (right), from the conference centre were<br />

nominated for these prestigious awards due to<br />

their contribution in providing a pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />

business service and ensuring that all clients<br />

receive outstanding levels <strong>of</strong> customer care.<br />

Out <strong>of</strong> a large number <strong>of</strong> nominees, Michael has<br />

been shortlisted and will be competing against<br />

two other finalists to achieve the award.<br />

Lynn Westbury, Head <strong>of</strong> the Foresight Centre,<br />

said: “We have always differentiated ourselves<br />

through our core focus on customer service and<br />

ensuring a pr<strong>of</strong>essional and innovative<br />

approach. The Foresight Centre has continued<br />

to develop introducing new concepts in business<br />

support; however it is our commitment to<br />

providing good customer service that underpins<br />

our whole approach.<br />

“It’s wonderful that Mike and Jan’s contribution<br />

to the Foresight Centre team has been<br />

recognised and we are delighted that Mike has<br />

been shortlisted.”<br />

The winners will be announced at an award<br />

ceremony to be held at the Crowne Plaza hotel<br />

on 14 February.<br />

Biotechnology<br />

showcase<br />

The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong> has triumphed at the annual<br />

Northwest Biotechnology Awards hosted by Bionow, the<br />

Northwest Regional Development Agency’s (NWDA)<br />

biotechnology cluster support group. The event attended<br />

by some 250 guests was a resounding success,<br />

showcasing the very best <strong>of</strong> biotechnology in the region.<br />

Patricia Murray, <strong>Lecture</strong>r from the School <strong>of</strong> Biological<br />

Sciences (below), working on the ESC Substrates<br />

project, won the Translational Technology <strong>of</strong> the Year<br />

Award (sponsored by Avecia) for her translational work<br />

on stem cells. A major obstacle in development <strong>of</strong> stem<br />

cell clinical therapies is the inability to maintain the cells<br />

in a stable and controlled state. Dr Murray’s group has<br />

identified synthetic polymer substrates which provide a<br />

simple, low cost method <strong>of</strong> maintaining stem cells to<br />

enable development <strong>of</strong> therapeutic treatments.<br />

The award for Biomedical Start Up <strong>of</strong> the Year<br />

(sponsored by Addleshaw Goddard) was presented<br />

to IOTA NanoSolutions, based on the quality <strong>of</strong> the<br />

company’s R&D initiative as well as the<br />

potential for growth.<br />

IOTA NanoSolutions, formed from a collaboration<br />

between the Department <strong>of</strong> Chemistry and Unilever, has<br />

developed a range <strong>of</strong> novel approaches and<br />

technologies to generate nano-dispersions <strong>of</strong> poorly<br />

soluble and insoluble API’s. The technologies enable<br />

NCE development, life cycle extension and/or novel<br />

delivery formats<br />

23


6 MARCH AT 7.30PM<br />

Guild <strong>of</strong> Students,<br />

Mount Pleasant, <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />

We’ll put your brain power to the test. Pit your wits against staff and<br />

alumni and bring your friends for a good old fashioned pub quiz<br />

organised by the Alumni Relations team. NB Maximum <strong>of</strong> six people<br />

in each team. Staff who are also alumni will receive a free drink.<br />

Come and try to defeat the reigning champs, Careers for Fears!<br />

Places are limited. To register,<br />

please contact Emma Smith tel: 0151 794 6940<br />

or visit: www.liv.ac.uk/alumni<br />

Honorary degrees for two<br />

world-leading names<br />

Acclaimed biologist Sir Michael Berridge and the<br />

conservationist Dr Jane Goodall were awarded<br />

Honorary Degrees on Graduation Day<br />

in December.<br />

LIVERPOOL PUB QUIZ<br />

Dr Goodall is recognised as one <strong>of</strong> the world’s leading<br />

activists in safeguarding the environment and its<br />

diversity. At the age <strong>of</strong> 23, on Lake Tanganyika (now in<br />

Tanzania), she became the first person to observe wild<br />

chimpanzees making and using tools. The discovery<br />

changed conventional thinking about the place <strong>of</strong><br />

humans in evolution. After completing a doctorate in<br />

Ethology at Cambridge, she established the Gombe<br />

Stream Research Centre to co-ordinate research on<br />

chimpanzee populations in the wild and later founded<br />

the Jane Goodall Institute for Research, Education and<br />

Conservation.<br />

Sir Michael Berridge has achieved significant<br />

advances in the diagnosis and treatment <strong>of</strong> serious<br />

illnesses. He first identified the chemical that plays a<br />

universal role in regulating many cellular processes<br />

including cell growth and information processing in the<br />

nervous system. His discoveries have made major<br />

advances in understanding how cells proliferate,<br />

improved the management <strong>of</strong> cardiac disease and<br />

heart arrhythmia and also been central to our<br />

understanding <strong>of</strong> the immune system.<br />

SO YOU THINK<br />

YOU KNOW A<br />

THING OR TWO?<br />

PROVE IT!<br />

Children’s Centre<br />

Santa visit<br />

Children attending the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> Children's Centre enjoyed a visit<br />

from Father Christmas at their annual<br />

Christmas party.<br />

Each child received a present from Santa<br />

and then enjoyed party games and food.<br />

The event, held at the Crown Street centre<br />

which is run by Local Solutions, was also<br />

attended by many parents and carers.


Alumni deck the halls<br />

Ho, ho, ho<br />

for FM children<br />

Avisit from Father Christmas was the highlight <strong>of</strong><br />

the Facilities Management (FM) Department<br />

annual Christmas party for children <strong>of</strong> FM staff.<br />

Held in the Guild <strong>of</strong> Students, the party was financed<br />

by funds collected throughout the year by selling<br />

monthly lottery tickets and holding raffles.<br />

The 90 children who attended were entertained with<br />

a disco and face painters and there was the usual party<br />

fare. The highlight <strong>of</strong> the afternoon was a visit from Santa<br />

who presented all the children with gifts.<br />

The beautiful surroundings <strong>of</strong> the Foresight Centre chapel were the ideal venue for<br />

a festive alumni event.<br />

As guests enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies, they were treated to readings,<br />

carols and music from staff and students.<br />

The event was hosted by the <strong>University</strong>’s Public Orator Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Kelvin Everest<br />

and speakers included English student Ella Jolly, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Phil Davis <strong>of</strong> the<br />

School <strong>of</strong> English, literature expert and former <strong>University</strong> academic Brian Nellist<br />

and BBC Radio Merseyside Cultural Editor Angela Heslop.<br />

Children from Halewood College sang festive songs, before guests joined a<br />

singalong <strong>of</strong> Deck the Halls, accompanied on the piano by Dr Phil Cox, a<br />

postdoctorate researcher in the Department <strong>of</strong> Human Anatomy and Cell Biology.<br />

Staff celebrate<br />

at Carnatic<br />

Held at Carnatic House, guests enjoyed a<br />

Christmas lunch followed by a casino and<br />

disco. A raffle raised the princely sum <strong>of</strong><br />

£301 for Claire House Children's Hospice.<br />

Opposite: dressed as Disney Princesses,<br />

Conference Office staff welcomed 230 guests to<br />

the <strong>University</strong> Staff Christmas Party.<br />

No party is complete<br />

without Santa<br />

Christmas<br />

get together for<br />

international<br />

families<br />

The International Support Team hosted a<br />

Christmas party for international students in<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> with their families.<br />

The event, held in the International Lounge<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Guild <strong>of</strong> Students, provided the<br />

opportunity for families to get to know one<br />

another. It was also a chance to learn about<br />

British culture at Christmas time.<br />

There was seasonal food to sample,<br />

traditional party games, a Christmas tree<br />

and decorations, and a visit from<br />

Santa Claus.<br />

The International Support Team would like<br />

to thank FACT for donating tickets for the<br />

prize draw and Chris Wells, from the<br />

Division <strong>of</strong> Medical Education for assisting<br />

Father Christmas.<br />

25


Noticeboard ✽<br />

ANGLICAN CHAPLAINCY<br />

✽ Wednesday worship. Each Wednesday in the<br />

Anglican Chaplaincy, Mulberry Court at 1.05pm. For<br />

further information on the Chaplaincy visit:<br />

www.angchap-liverpooluni.org.uk<br />

ART GROUP<br />

✽ The <strong>University</strong> Art Group would like to attract<br />

new members. Membership is open to present and<br />

past members <strong>of</strong> staff, students and the Women’s<br />

Club. Associate membership is open to those with<br />

no affiliation to the <strong>University</strong>. For further information<br />

please contact the Hon Secretary, tel 01704 531709.<br />

CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY<br />

✽ Celebration <strong>of</strong> Mass. Each Sunday, Tuesday,<br />

Wednesday and Thursday during term-time at<br />

12.30pm followed by refreshments. St Philip Neri<br />

Church, 30 Catherine Street. For more information<br />

on all Chaplaincy services and activities visit:<br />

www.cathchap.org.uk<br />

CONTINUING EDUCATION<br />

✽ Continuing Education courses – New Year 20<strong>08</strong><br />

The <strong>University</strong>’s Continuing Education programme<br />

supported by<br />

<strong>of</strong>fers more than 300 part-time courses each year for<br />

members <strong>of</strong> the public. <strong>University</strong> staff and students<br />

are welcome to join CE courses and can pay a<br />

reduced fee for most courses. Courses take place<br />

weekly evening and daytimes, and linked days, on<br />

the <strong>University</strong> precinct, and at other local centres in<br />

and around Merseyside.<br />

New courses start from January and highlights<br />

include:<br />

• Ancient Egyptian Technology<br />

• Learning to Look at the History <strong>of</strong> Photography<br />

• Marketing: Planning and Strategy<br />

• More Writing for Women by Women<br />

• Shakespeare’s Style<br />

• French, Italian and Spanish at Stage 1,<br />

• Reappraising Transatlantic Slavery<br />

• Visual Basic for Micros<strong>of</strong>t Applications<br />

• The Irish in <strong>Liverpool</strong>: Women’s Experience from<br />

1840 to the Present<br />

• Great Classical Composers<br />

• An Introduction to Sanskrit<br />

• Nutrition and Health<br />

CE courses <strong>of</strong>fer <strong>University</strong> credits which can be<br />

accumulated towards a <strong>University</strong> award or as<br />

evidence <strong>of</strong> achievement for personal or vocational<br />

purposes. At 120 credits a Cert HE [120 credits] can<br />

be awarded – in named subjects <strong>of</strong> Archaeological<br />

Studies, Creative Writing, Historical Studies and<br />

Music. For full programme and further information<br />

visit: www.liv.ac.uk/conted/, email<br />

conted@liverpool.ac.uk or ring 0151-794 6900/6952.<br />

LIVERPOOL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY<br />

✽ Friday 18 January, 7pm. ‘Building an<br />

Observatory’ by Steve Reid (Llandrillo AS). Friday 15<br />

February, 7pm. ‘Images <strong>of</strong> the Universe Volume 1’<br />

by Paul Money (BBC Sky at Night magazine). In the<br />

Gibberd Room, Catholic Cathedral. For further<br />

information email ggastro@liv.ac.uk<br />

LIVERPOOL MEDICAL HISTORY SOCIETY<br />

✽ Thursday 31 January, 5.30pm. ‘Protecting the<br />

health and welfare <strong>of</strong> a now forgotten workforce: The<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />

<strong>Inaugural</strong> <strong>Lecture</strong><br />

<strong>Series</strong> <strong>2007</strong>/<strong>08</strong><br />

Next lecture<br />

Wednesday 23 January 20<strong>08</strong>, 5.30pm<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Neil Hall, Chair <strong>of</strong> Comparative<br />

Genomics and Bioinformatics<br />

Decoding infectious disease:<br />

A genomics view <strong>of</strong> the microbial world<br />

Monday 28 January, 5.30pm<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Swapan Chattapadhyay,<br />

Sir John Cockr<strong>of</strong>t Chair <strong>of</strong> Physics<br />

Cockcr<strong>of</strong>t’s Legacy in Sub-Atomic Physics:<br />

Accelerators <strong>of</strong> the 21st Century<br />

In <strong>Lecture</strong> Theatre One, Sherrington Buildings<br />

For future lectures<br />

visit: www.liv.ac.uk/think<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> Clerks Association <strong>of</strong> the 19th and 20th<br />

Century’ by Dr Gregory Anderson (formerly <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Salford). In the Wolfson Room,<br />

<strong>Liverpool</strong> Medical Institution, 114 Mount Pleasant.<br />

For further information contact the Acting Hon<br />

Secretary, email gasflo@btinternet.com<br />

LIVERPOOL WELSH CHORAL<br />

✽ Saturday 1 March, 7.30pm. Aled Jones, the<br />

popular Welsh baritone, star <strong>of</strong> TV and radio, joins<br />

the LWC and the RLPO to celebrate St David’s Day.<br />

Traditional songs and new tunes from Aled’s latest<br />

CD are highlights <strong>of</strong> this culturally rich concert.<br />

Tickets £18. In the Philharmonic Hall. To book tel<br />

0151 652 6374.<br />

LIVERPOOL STRING ORCHESTRA<br />

✽ The <strong>Liverpool</strong> String Orchestra makes serious<br />

music for fun on Monday evenings under Neill<br />

Jackson’s encouraging, enthusiastic baton. Unitarian<br />

Church Hall, corner <strong>of</strong> York Avenue and Ullet Road,<br />

L17. £3 per session, £1.50 FT students. Tel 0151 427<br />

3791 or visit http://uk.geocities.com/mosslea2001<br />

NESS GARDENS<br />

✽ Sunday 13 January, 2pm - 3pm. Music recital<br />

with Matthew Sallis – classical guitarist. Wednesday<br />

16 January, TBA. Snowdrop Walk (tickets booked in<br />

advance) combined with a book sale in the<br />

Education Room, with c<strong>of</strong>fee in the Bulley tearoom.<br />

Saturday 19 January, 10am - 4pm. National Garden<br />

Scheme Day with Snowdrop Walk. Sunday 20<br />

January, 2pm. Friends <strong>of</strong> Ness Gardens lecture<br />

series ‘Slugs – a naturalist’s love/gardener’s hate<br />

relationship’ with Stuart Bailey. Saturday 26 and<br />

Sunday 27 January. Big Garden Bird Watch with<br />

RSPB. For further information tel 0151 353 0123.<br />

PENSIONERS’ CLUB<br />

✽ 1 February, 1pm. Pension Review by Jill Owen.<br />

Meetings held on the first Friday <strong>of</strong> each month in<br />

the large lecture theatre, Continuing Education, 126<br />

Mount Pleasant at 1pm. Bookings and further<br />

information from Rosemary Morris tel 0151 632<br />

5581.<br />

STAFF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP<br />

✽ The Staff Christian Fellowship meets for Bible<br />

study, discussion, fellowship and prayer every<br />

Tuesday during term-time in the Anglican<br />

Chaplaincy, Mulberry Court. The meetings begin<br />

shortly after 1pm and end by 1.50pm but it is<br />

understood that some may have to arrive late or<br />

leave early. All are welcome, whether you can come<br />

regularly or only occasionally. Tea and c<strong>of</strong>fee are<br />

provided. For more information visit:<br />

www.liv.ac.uk/www/qq73/ulscf.htm<br />

WOMEN’S CLUB<br />

✽ Saturday 19 January. Concert ‘Compagnia<br />

d’Istrumenti’ in the Anglican Cathedral. Wednesday<br />

6 February. <strong>Lecture</strong> and guided tour <strong>of</strong> ‘Magical<br />

History Tour’ at the Maritime Museum. Membership<br />

is open to female staff, partners <strong>of</strong> male academics,<br />

female postgraduates, alumni and students. Male<br />

partners are also welcome to join in our varied<br />

programme <strong>of</strong> activities. For a £10 annual<br />

subscription you can make new friends, meet likeminded<br />

members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> community and<br />

take part in a wide range <strong>of</strong> enjoyable activities. For<br />

more information, tel 0151 670 1413. For details <strong>of</strong><br />

all events coming up and for general information<br />

visit: www.liv.ac.uk/womensclub/<br />

MERSEYSIDE IVC<br />

IVC is a mixed social activities club for<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essionals and graduates and like-minded<br />

people to meet, interact and enjoy a wide variety<br />

<strong>of</strong> cultural, sporting and social activities and events<br />

together. For membership enquiries or more<br />

information about the club write to Merseyside IVC,


PO Box 157, Wirral, CH44 3WD or tel 07928 257684<br />

or 07950 258128.<br />

LIVERPOOL RENAISSANCE MUSIC GROUP<br />

Rehearsals take place on Wednesday evenings<br />

7.30-10pm in the Department <strong>of</strong> Music over the<br />

period <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> year. The group’s voices<br />

include the usual soprano, alto, tenor and bass<br />

ranges but counter-tenors and the recently emerging<br />

voice - the female tenor – are welcome. The most<br />

important qualification is a love and commitment to<br />

this splendid body <strong>of</strong> music. Contact Alan Wilson tel<br />

0151 427 3791.<br />

CHILDREN’S LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT?<br />

✽ Are you interested in your child’s language<br />

development? Researchers at the Child Language<br />

Study Centre within the School <strong>of</strong> Psychology are<br />

looking for children aged between one and three<br />

years to take part in a study on very young<br />

children’s understanding <strong>of</strong> language. The study<br />

uses the preferential looking paradigm, which<br />

requires the child to watch a series <strong>of</strong> short cartoons<br />

whilst seated on their parent’s or carer’s lap, and<br />

takes about 30 minutes.The study takes place in the<br />

Child Language Study Centre, located in the Eleanor<br />

Rathbone Building, on Bedford St South. For more<br />

details about the centre visit:<br />

www.liv.ac.uk/psychology/clrc/clrg.html If you are<br />

interested in finding out more, contact Claire Noble<br />

to request a parent pack by calling ext 41109 or<br />

email childlanguage@liverpool.ac.uk<br />

THE UNIVERSITY LODGE OF LIVERPOOL<br />

✽ The <strong>University</strong> Lodge <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong> (English<br />

Freemasonry) is open to staff, alumni and students<br />

<strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>. It meets on the second Monday <strong>of</strong><br />

the month during term time at the <strong>Liverpool</strong> Medical<br />

Institute, Mount Pleasant, <strong>Liverpool</strong>. For further<br />

information contact Mike Jones tel 0151 6<strong>08</strong> 3193 or<br />

email mikejones42@tiscali.co.uk<br />

FOR SALE<br />

✽ Flat screen monitor 17” Ilyama VisionMaster Pro,<br />

plug&play, good condition, £10. CD writer Freecom<br />

SCSI CD-RW, brand new, complete with instructions<br />

and s<strong>of</strong>tware £10. Tel 0151 722 3329 or 07914<br />

803350.<br />

✽ Sym jet 50CC Scooter 05 plate. Taxed Feb <strong>08</strong>,<br />

mileage 8,900, one owner. £675 ono. Contact Gerry,<br />

Tel 07887 506665.<br />

✽ Martial art Kuk Sool Won suits (top and<br />

trousers), black, sizes 2/3/4 (140-170cm). £12. Tel<br />

07914 803350 or 0151 722 3329 (evenings).<br />

✽ Delightful two bedroom penthouse apartment in<br />

quiet area <strong>of</strong> Grassendale, close to Cressington<br />

station. Stunning, uninterrupted views over <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />

Cricket Club grounds towards city skyline from<br />

lounge, picture window and private balcony. Partial<br />

river view from south-facing kitchen window. Luxury<br />

bathroom, fully-fitted kitchen, double glazed, laminate<br />

floor, gsh. Carpeted communal areas with lift.<br />

Communal gardens/parking. £159,950 Email<br />

michellebonner@btinternet.com or tel 0151 427 1310.<br />

✽ Twin pushchair. Urban Detour Alpine threewheeler,<br />

includes raincover, two cosytoes, hardly<br />

used, suitable from birth, vgc. £100 ono. Contact<br />

Stuart email i.s.wood@liv.ac.uk or tel 07775 617454.<br />

✽ Three-wheeler buggy. Cosatto lightweight buggy,<br />

fixed front wheel, blue/grey, vgc, complete with<br />

raincover, cosytoes and parasol, suitable for 6<br />

months+. £30. Contact Stuart email<br />

i.s.wood@liv.ac.uk or tel 07775 617454.<br />

✽ Four bedroom detached house in Childwall,<br />

South <strong>Liverpool</strong>. Quiet, safe cul-de-sac located near<br />

to all amenities. Two bathrooms, large conservatory,<br />

lounge, dining room, kitchen and utility, downstairs<br />

wc and electric garage doors. Low maintenance<br />

gardens to the front and rear. Fitted wardrobes in<br />

three <strong>of</strong> the bedrooms. GCH, boarded and insulated<br />

l<strong>of</strong>t area with pull down ladder. Reduced to £294,950<br />

fqs. Pictures can be forwarded on request. Email<br />

h.gee@liv.ac.uk or tel 07947 169092.<br />

TO RENT<br />

✽ Room with own sink available in large flat in a<br />

redbrick Edwardian semi in Sefton Park, Lancaster<br />

Ave. GCH, dg, two bathrooms, large lounge,<br />

modern fitted kitchen. Communal areas cleaned<br />

weekly. Quiet residential area close to all amenities<br />

and public transport, 1–2 miles to <strong>University</strong> and<br />

hospitals. Rent £250 pcm includes all bills and<br />

council tax. Tel 07803 721 387 or email<br />

livere2@hotmail.com<br />

✽ Fully furnished large room with own en-suite in<br />

Sefton Park, Lancaster Ave in flat for three. Double<br />

bed, settee, desk. Laminate flooring, gch, dg, fully<br />

equipped kitchen, well maintained, secure house,<br />

maintained gardens, communal areas cleaned<br />

weekly. Quiet residential area close to all amenities<br />

and public transport approx 1-2 miles from hospitals<br />

and <strong>University</strong>. Rent £320 pcm includes all bills and<br />

council tax. Tel 07803 721 387 or email<br />

livere2@hotmail.com<br />

✽ Tastefully furnished, modern spacious apartment<br />

in Minster Court, a popular gated estate in Crown<br />

Street, L7. Two minutes walk to the <strong>University</strong>, 15<br />

minutes to Lime Street. GCH, dg, washing machine<br />

and other amenities included. Female owner<br />

occupies the single bedroom in the flat occasionally.<br />

Rent £450 pcm plus bills. Rent includes water and<br />

council tax contribution. Ideal for new female staff<br />

member and for couples. Email<br />

sue_gari@hotmail.co.uk or tel 07709 004393.<br />

YOUR PUBLICATIONS<br />

✽Noticeboard<br />

A range <strong>of</strong> <strong>University</strong> publications are available to all staff for use at conferences, meetings, overseas trips, recruitment and<br />

any other events at which you might want to promote the <strong>University</strong> and its activities.<br />

<strong>University</strong><br />

in Context Precinct<br />

Red Brick<br />

Contact the Publications team, tel 42251 or email precinct@liv.ac.uk<br />

✽ Single room in a spacious furnished two bedroom<br />

flat. Five minutes walk from <strong>University</strong>. £325 pm, bills<br />

not included. Contact Jasna tel 0781 785 1119 or<br />

email jasnam@liv.ac.uk<br />

✽ New luxury two bedroom top floor apartment in<br />

Childwall, <strong>of</strong>f Childwall Road nr Picton Clock. In<br />

unique block <strong>of</strong> eight, fully fitted integral kitchen, ensuite<br />

and separate bathroom, dg, gch. 10 mins from<br />

<strong>University</strong>. Parking. £575 pcm. Contact Julie tel<br />

07958118216 or email ju1@liv.ac.uk<br />

WANTED<br />

✽ Heroes and heroines with cars and a little time to<br />

spare! Rochdale Dog Rescue helps save the lives <strong>of</strong><br />

more than 600 dogs a year in the North West. Run<br />

entirely by volunteers, RDR finds rescue places for<br />

‘poundies’ – strays and unwanted dogs who are<br />

otherwise put to sleep. We desperately need<br />

volunteers to transport these dogs to safety. All you<br />

need is a car and a few spare hours. Visit<br />

www.rochdale-dog-rescue.com for more information.<br />

AVAILABLE<br />

✽ Superb 2 bedroom apartment in La Cala de Mijas<br />

on the Costa Del Sol. Ideal location for the lovely<br />

village as well as all the Costa Del Sol has to <strong>of</strong>fer.<br />

Prices start at £225 per week with a 10% discount for<br />

<strong>University</strong> staff. Contact Chris tel 07725 312311 or visit<br />

www.lacaladirect.co.uk<br />

✽ Leave your worries behind and stay in a typical<br />

Pueblo Blanco in Andalucia in southern Spain. Small<br />

town atmosphere, all comforts and the best weather in<br />

Europe. Well served from UK into Gibraltar, Malaga,<br />

Jerez, Seville and Granada airports. Two bedrooms,<br />

two bathrooms, gourmet kitchen, lounge, two patios<br />

with views <strong>of</strong> the mountains. Available by the week or<br />

month from 250 Euros a week. Email<br />

Carhartjm@aol.com or tel 07970 026184 for more<br />

details.<br />

✽ Restored village house in quiet, peaceful Italian<br />

village located between the Adriatic and the Gran<br />

Sasso Mountain, the highest point <strong>of</strong> the Appenines.<br />

Well served by two local airports, Ancona and<br />

Pescara, and also Rome and Bologna. Two<br />

bedrooms, two bathrooms, gourmet kitchen, lounge,<br />

music room. Friendly neighbours, clean, unspoilt<br />

atmosphere. Available by the week or month at 350<br />

Euros a week. Email Carhartjm@aol.com or tel 07970<br />

026184 for more details.<br />

✽ Dukebox. A quality, inexpensive mobile disco/DJ<br />

available for hire in the North West area. We are<br />

available for all manner <strong>of</strong> functions including<br />

birthdays and weddings. Tailored playlists to meet<br />

customers’ individual musical needs. Call now for a<br />

reasonable quote. Contact Martin tel 07964 182 809.<br />

insight


enlightened<br />

That’s what you are as a non-executive director.<br />

And so are we after getting a strong message from small,<br />

medium and large businesses in the North West. They tell us<br />

they need non-executive directors with the sort <strong>of</strong> experience<br />

that will help them find their way through challenging times in<br />

fast-moving industries which are hindered by issues <strong>of</strong><br />

governance and compliance.<br />

But how do these companies find the right non-executive<br />

director? And how does the right non-executive director find<br />

the right company?<br />

The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Liverpool</strong> Management School presents<br />

a compelling proposition for both parties.<br />

Funded by the Northern Leadership Academy, the Management<br />

School has formed a non-executive directors’ community. It’s a<br />

dynamic mix <strong>of</strong> academia, industry and commerce which will<br />

share knowledge, best practice and deliver placement<br />

opportunities for existing and would-be non-executive directors<br />

in the North <strong>of</strong> England.<br />

They will enjoy:<br />

• A unique e-community providing a gateway to online<br />

communication and support<br />

• A non-executive directors’ programme <strong>of</strong> study to<br />

distribute good practice<br />

• A series <strong>of</strong> networking events to engage regional and<br />

national stakeholders<br />

• Access to placement opportunities as non-executive<br />

directors within our partner organisations.<br />

We are currently developing the community at:<br />

www.northernleadershipacademy.co.uk/neds<br />

For more information, email neds@liverpool.ac.uk

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