AUGUST 2009 | ISSUE 3 The Graduation Special Roundup and pictures from this year’s ceremonies BRUNEL HONOURS OLYMPIC STARS Honorary Degrees for Dame Kelly Holmes and Kelly Sotherton DESIGNS ON THE FUTURE How Made in Brunel students are tackling the challenges of tomorrow
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August 2009 | Issue 3
The Graduation SpecialRoundup and pictures from this year’s ceremonies
Brunel HonourS olympic STarSHonorary Degrees for Dame Kelly Holmes and Kelly Sotherton
DeSiGnS on THe FuTureHow Made in Brunel students are tackling the challenges of tomorrow
creditsExpress is available to read on our website at: www.brunel.ac.uk/news/express
We’d love to hear from you with ideas for news items, stories or features, as well as any feedback. Please email your ideas or comments to [email protected]
alumni campaign raises £105K for Brunel annual Fund
Improvements in Brunel’s Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and National Student Survey (NSS) results have helped propel the University further up the national league table rankings. Our best result was in the Times Good University Guide, where we climbed five places to 47th overall, overtaking City University, one of our London rivals. In The Independent and The Guardian guides, we were ranked 41st and 53rd, respectively.
The University also performed well in many of the subject area rankings. Design maintained its reputation as one of the best courses of its kind, reaching either 4th or 5th in the three guides. Sport Sciences, General Engineering and Information Management also appear in the top 10. But English is this year’s big success, rising from a fairly unremarkable spot in the 40s to 19th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide. This is an immense achievement, and is a testament to the expertise and quality of their teaching programme.
Our position in the graduate starting salaries rankings has also jumped. According to The Times, we have the 13th highest starting salaries in the UK, averaging £21,934 a year.
One of Britain’s greatest ever athletes, Dame Kelly Holmes, joined former Brunel student and Olympic heptathlete Kelly Sotherton to hand out advice to the next generation of sporting stars in a special Olympic-themed ceremony on campus.
On Monday 20 July, just before the launch of Graduation
proper, Brunel hosted a special sporting event: Reaching
for London 2012: How athletes prepare for the ultimate
sporting challenge. The event provided a chance for
the University to recognise the achievements of two of
athletics’ biggest names, Dame Kelly Holmes and Kelly
Sotherton, who both received honorary degrees from
Brunel. But the event was also a chance to look ahead to
the next Olympic Games, now just three years away, and
the part Brunel hopes to play in what will be one of the
biggest sporting events in Britain’s modern history.
During the evening, the two Kellys chatted with BBC
sports commentator Paul Dickenson (another Brunel
graduate) about just what it takes to become an
Olympic medal-winning athlete. They also passed on
a few tips to the next generation of sports stars vying
for a medal in 2012.
Dame Kelly’s advice was born out of her own experiences
of winning the 800m and 1500m golds in Athens 2004,
after 11 years of struggling with injuries: “Never live with
regrets. I always say, ‘get knocked down seven times,
stand up eight’, because on that eighth time, you never
know what will happen.” Kelly Sotherton, who cited
Brunel as having been important for her development
as an athlete, said her key to success was to keep
persevering – and to laugh in the face of adversity.
She is still on course for another Heptathlon Olympic
medal in 2012, and is hoping to better her bronze
performance at the 2004 Olympics.
Paying particular attention to these words of wisdom were
seven of the 16 former Brunel students who competed
in the Beijing Games, many of whom are now hoping
for 2012 glory. The guests, who were there to collect
‘Outstanding Achievement in Sport’ Awards from the
University, included five-times Paralympian basketball
player Ann Wild, British 100m record holder Montell
Douglas, and Paralympic and Olympic rowers, Vicki
Hansford and Beth Rodford.
The event was also an opportunity for Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Professor Ian Campbell (pictured above left) to highlight
Brunel’s four 2012 Olympic programmes in: Sports
Facilities and Services; Academic; External Relations and
Communications; and Community Engagement. The
programmes aim to raise the University’s profile in the run-
up to the 2012 Olympics, and exploit every opportunity
available. We are already on course to host a major
national team for training purposes prior to the Olympics,
and will also lead a major pre-games sports conference,
The International Convention for Science, Education,
Medicine in Sport.
“Never live with regrets”
Pictured oPPositeBack row, l-r: Beth Rodford, Neil Young, Vicki Hansford, Laura Turner, Montell Douglas, Professor Ian Campbell, Paul Dickenson. Front row: Julie Hollman, Kelly Sotherton, Dame Kelly Holmes.
Brunel graduate Alastair Curtis is one of the UK’s most successful designers. Shortly after graduating with a degree in Industrial Design in 1990, he joined Nokia as a design engineer and was promoted to a senior position within just three
years. His career continued to go from strength to strength – he moved to LA to help establish the Nokia Design Center and was promoted to Design Director.
After eight years in the US, he returned to Britain as Nokia’s Chief Designer, the role he continues to hold today. He is responsible for several design classics, including the original Nokia 3210 – a hugely popular phone that sold an incredible 160 million units.
Jenni Murray oBeAwarded Doctor of Letters
Jenni Murray is known to millions of radio listeners as the voice of Woman’s Hour on Radio 4. She began her broadcasting career in local radio in Bristol and joined Newsnight in 1983, before moving to Radio 4 as a presenter
for the Today programme. She eventually inherited the Woman’s Hour chair from Sue MacGregor in 1987.
Jenni was awarded an OBE for radio broadcasting in 1999 and received a lifetime achievement award from the Media Society. Jenni is also the author of several books, including a history of Woman’s Hour, and writes for various newspapers and magazines, including The Daily Mail.
The Rt hon lord Douglas hurd Ch CBeAwarded Doctor of Laws
Lord Hurd is a retired politician, best known for his roles in the Thatcher and Major governments of the ‘80s and ‘90s. In particular, he served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 1984-1985, Home Secretary from 1985-1989 and Foreign Secretary 1989-1995. He was created a Life Peer in 1997.
Since his retirement from politics in 1995, Lord Hurd has been Chairman of the Prison Reform Trust Charity, co-President of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, a Member of the Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords and a Member of the Appointments Commission.
Brunel awarded nine honorary doctorates this year for outstanding scholarly achievement or outstanding service to the local, national or international community.
The honorary Graduates
who else?Margaret Burgess Nurse and Brunel
graduate
Jeffrey Ellwood Businessman and ex-Chair of Brunel Council
Peter Galloway OBE Reverend and Scholar
Sir Craig Reedie CBE Ex-chair of British Olympic Association
Malcolm Wicks Member of Parliament
James Younger CBE Chair of the Electoral Commission
The T io system increases chi ldren’s awareness of the energy their l ights consume and the effect this has on the environment. The system consists of two main components; a wall-mounted light switch and a computer programme.
The wall-mounted light switch, which can be installed in the place of a standard light switch, controls the lighting in the child’s room. Tio is soft and tactile, thus encourages user interaction. The character of ‘Tio’ displayed on the light switch encourages children to turn their lights off: Tio is happy when the lights have only been on for a short period of time. The longer they are left on, the angrier he becomes. This acts as an emotional reminder to turn the lights off.
The Tio system gives children instant and cumulative feedback on their energy saving performance. The recommended ‘lights-on time’ is influenced by the child’s age, their daily activities and the time of day.
The T io system increases chi ldren’s awareness of the energy their l ights consume and the effect this has on the environment. The system consists of two main components; a wall-mounted light switch and a computer programme.
The wall-mounted light switch, which can be installed in the place of a standard light switch, controls the lighting in the child’s room. Tio is soft and tactile, thus encourages user interaction. The character of ‘Tio’ displayed on the light switch encourages children to turn their lights off: Tio is happy when the lights have only been on for a short period of time. The longer they are left on, the angrier he becomes. This acts as an emotional reminder to turn the lights off.
The Tio system gives children instant and cumulative feedback on their energy saving performance. The recommended ‘lights-on time’ is influenced by the child’s age, their daily activities and the time of day.
Brunel was proud to host the 33rd Annual Conference of the International Association of Philosophy and Literature, a major event in the literary calendar that brings together scholars from the philosophical, historical, critical, and theoretical disciplines.
One of the largest conferences of its kind in the world, it attracts over 350 delegates from 30 different countries. It is certainly the largest event of its kind ever to be organised by the School of Arts and Social Sciences jointly, and it is also the first such venture between the two schools.
The week-long conference was co-ordinated by Professor William Watkin, in conjunction with the IAPL’s Executive Director Hugh Silverman. Focusing on interdisciplinary topics, the IAPL has represented and participated in many of the vital developments in philosophy and literature since the mid-1970s, and provides a unique opportunity for the exchange of new ideas. This year’s overarching theme was Double Edges: Rhetorics Rhizomes Regions.
The conference began with a spectacular art installation, directed by Professor Johannes Birringer and featuring Brunel arts students. One participating student was Caroline Wilkins, an interdisciplinary drama and music researcher, who performed live music at the event. “I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with someone as influential as Birringer at such an acclaimed occasion – he creates laboratories and takes risks.”
Another highlight of the conference was the showing of London Orbital, a fascinating film that follows one man’s voyage of discovery as he travels the perimeter of the M25, revealing the hidden geography and history of the satellite towns through which the ring road passes. The showing was followed by a discussion with its acclaimed author Iain Sinclair, the director Christopher Petit, and Fay Weldon, Brunel Professor of Creative Writing.
The fact that Brunel was chosen to host this year’s IAPL conference is a testament to the quality of the research carried out within the two Schools. Following the recent Research Assessment Exercise, the size and reputation of the event is also in keeping with the Schools’ ambitions, and in particular for the English subject area, where Professor William Watkin is based.
He commented: “With English now ranked 19th in the UK*, we should be regularly hosting research events of this calibre and we believe that the success of the conference has improved our visibility around the globe. There is no doubt that the School of Arts at Brunel is unique within the UK; post-IAPL we are also coming to appreciate it may be close to unique within the world.”
Incentives for saving energyEstates are installing a remote energy consumption data collection system to identify the energy use of individual buildings and set target reductions. Incentives to meet or beat these targets will then be devised. The Computer Centre is also trialling a project to reduce IT power.
Reducing unnecessary lightingEfficient lighting control is now one of the University’s priorities. Internal lights in some communal areas, such as the Central Lecture Building, have sensors that turn off lights when no movement is detected. Under Brunel’s Green Policy, the University will distribute advice on energy efficiency and other green issues, and we are developing an interactive website for reporting successes and providing feedback.
Recycling office equipmentA new website will be launched soon to help staff advertise or claim unwanted office furniture. The site will also be available for local charities. More information will be made available on IntraBrunel nearer the launch date.
Cheaper drinking waterFixed mains water supply coolers, instead of expensive bottled water coolers, are now being used. These offer considerable environmental and cost benefits, and are around 75% cheaper to run (after installation). Contact [email protected] for more information.
Reducing landfillThe University is considering buying a composter this year to reduce the level of food waste transferred to landfill from catering. The compost can be used on the campus gardens.
Car hireThe University currently provides hired cars through Enterprise Rent-A-Car, who will deliver and collect cars from campus. On a journey of, say, 90 miles, it is more cost-effective to use a hired car than a private one.
Brunel also launches a ‘Car Club’ this autumn – a self-service, pay-by-the-hour car hire scheme. The cars will be parked on campus and, once you’ve created an account, you can book your car just minutes before you need it, for as little as £3.95 per hour.
Please contact [email protected] (Procurement) for more information.
last autumn, the university asked staff for new ideas to help Brunel save money, run more efficiently and be a better place to work and study. But what happened to all those ideas?
here are some of the suggestions and what’s being done to address them.
The Very Idea
Brunel express | issue 3 | page 19
The University has reopened the ‘Ideas’ website for yet more of your suggestions.
If you have a bright idea that could benefit the University, visit
http://intranet.brunel.ac.uk/ideas and make your contribution.
1. The 37 STAR Award winners receive their certificates. Awards were given to staff in recognition of the exceptional level of commitment they demonstrated beyond the scope of their normal roles.
2. The sun shines on the campus concourse during the last few weeks of term.
3. A brick head sculpture, part of the ‘Reveal’ exhibition in the Beldam Gallery. The exhibition runs until 21 August 2009.
4. England trounce the USA in the final of the Women’s Rugby Under 20s Nations Cup, held at Brunel University on 18 July. The scoreline was an impressive 110-0!
5. Practice-based PhD student Louie performing her drama piece, Moth, which explores the themes of liminality, death and mourning.
The Gallery
See more Brunel photos on Flickr: www.flickr.com/Bruneluniversity
Or why not submit your own Brunel photos to the Brunel Flickr Community Group? www.flickr.com/groups/Bruneluniversity
a selection of photos capturing activities in and around Brunel
For copies of campus photos, contact Sally Trussler, University Photographer.