insight summer 2012

InsightSummer 2012

British sea powerHow Hull’s research

spans the oceans

Welcome to the latest edition of Insight, which highlightsrecent successes at the University of Hull.

This year we celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. TheUniversity is proud to display a photographic history ofvisits made to the University by various members of theRoyal Family since our foundation in 1927. A selection ofthese images is also presented in this edition of Insight.

This year almost 7,000 new graduates will gainqualifications from the University of Hull, having learned,developed, made friendships for life, gained excellentskills for employment and had an outstanding studentexperience. We welcome them as members of the HullAlumni Association.

Our Chancellor, Baroness Bottomley, hosted a verysuccessful reunion of our alumni in the House of Lordson 17 May. Our graduates play a vital role in spreadingthe word about the University’s achievements and, alongwith staff and current students, are our mostenthusiastic ambassadors.

Once again the National Student Survey ranked us jointeighth among mainstream English universities, and weare delighted to have climbed the Complete UniversityGuide and the Guardian University Guide rankings by sixplaces and to have regained our place in the Times GoodUniversity Guide’s top 50.

This edition of Insight highlights a number of theUniversity’s recent achievements, such as the pioneeringresearch being carried out by scientists in our Institute ofEstuarine and Coastal Studies and the Department ofPsychology, the dedication to local engagement shownby our Faculty of Science, and the creative outputs ofthose at our Scarborough Campus. This edition alsoincludes a message from Liam Cotter, the President ofthe Hull Alumni Association, and interviews with anumber of our graduates who have achieved success onthe African continent.

Professor Calie PistoriusVice-Chancellor

Welcome ContentsSummer 2012Issue 5

University newsBuilding a stronger economy | 1Don’t dodge the difficult conversation | 2Talking reform | 3HumberPort partnership | 4HUBS news round-up | 5Investigating diversity in the classroom | 6Satellite campus | 6Diamond Jubilee | 7Discovering the golden age of polar exploration | 8Royal musical conference | 8News in brief | 9The science of fun | 10Friends across the globe | 11Alumni newsHouse of Lords reception | 12Exploring the art of the oceans | 13Let’s keep in touch | 14London Alumni Group | 15Making wanderlust worthwhile | 16Building on the past | 17

Energy and the environmentTurning the TIDE | 18Sustainability conference | 18Sound check | 19Tracking alien invaders | 20Creating the ‘tingle factor’ | 21

Graduation ceremoniesCongratulations to our newest graduates | 22Honorary graduate – Dr Lee Karen Stow | 23

Health and wellbeingUnlocking the secrets of the mind | 24Glimpsing the future | 25Professor Lord Winston | 25

Creative economiesNew Chemical Engineering programmes launched | 26Counting the value of science | 26Deep insight | 27The poetry of science and vice versa | 27Milestones for Chemistry and Drama | 28Theatre with social vision | 28

SportsCelebrating sporting success | inner back cover

Front cover image: figurehead of the Royal Yacht Royal Charlotte,1824 (FHD0097; National Maritime Museum, Greenwich).

The visit was organised by ‘For Entrepreneurs Only’, a group of Hull and the East Riding’s most successfulentrepreneurs whose mission is to encourage greaterlevels of entrepreneurship to build a stronger localeconomy. The organisation is based at theUniversity’s Enterprise Centre and enjoys a closeworking relationship with the University and itstenant businesses.

The Business Secretary said that effectivecollaboration between industry and education wasessential for economic growth, and he praised Hullas a ‘far-sighted’ university which exemplified thiskind of synergy.

He congratulated the University on its clear andvaluable relationships with business and particularlypraised its partnership with For Entrepreneurs Only,which, he said, was ‘untypical and pioneering’.

Dr Cable also spoke of his support for the Humber’saspirations around offshore renewable energy,stating that it would be a key driver for the area andthat the University had an important role to play inworking closely with industry to deliver the skills,training and expertise required.

Bill Walker, Director of the University’s EnterpriseCentre and Knowledge Exchange, said: ‘Vince Cable’svisit was extremely positive. He was genuinelyinterested in the feedback he received from the city’sbusiness community, and he recognised theUniversity’s valuable partnership with ForEntrepreneurs Only.

‘He is committed to supporting innovation and tocreating a skilled workforce, so it was useful to havediscussions with him about how partnerships likeours might be a valuable resource to help him andthe Government going forward.’

Building a stronger economyThe Secretary of State for Business, the Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable, MP, made a special visit to the University in April 2012 to meet leading local entrepreneurs and hear their thoughts onenterprise and economic growth.

Insight Summer 2012www.hull.ac.uk/insight 1

Left to right: Bill Walker, the Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable and Professor Terry WIlliams (Dean of the Hull University Business School)

The study, published in the British Journal ofCardiology in May 2012, brings together data fromtwo areas in Yorkshire where palliative care and heartfailure services are fully integrated – Bradford andAiredale and, closer to home, Scarborough. Theresults show that integrated teamwork can reduceunwanted hospital deaths for heart failure patients,enabling many to die where they prefer.

The study was led by Dr Miriam Johnson, Reader inPalliative Medicine at the University of Hull and HYMSand Honorary Consultant at St Catherine’s Hospice,Scarborough. She said: ‘There’s long been aperception that you can’t talk to heart failure patientsabout death, mainly because it’s seen as difficult topredict when patients are close to the end of life.However, our work shows that many heart failurepatients are able to have honest discussions withtheir clinicians about their prognosis and appreciatethe opportunity these provide for them to make plansand set their affairs in order.’

The team found that specialist heart failure nurseswere able to recognise when patients were nearingthe end of life in the vast majority of cases anddiscuss the issues with them. More than two-thirds ofpatients put plans in place for the end of life andstated where they wished to die – most choosing tobe at home. Their preferred place of death wasachieved in 61% of cases.

In the services assessed for the study, the role of thespecialist heart failure nurses was crucial.

Dr Johnson said: ‘The specialist nurses hold a pivotalposition within the integrated services. They have anongoing relationship with patients both in hospitalsettings and in the community and so are best able tojudge when patients are nearing end-stage disease,are best placed to have those difficult conversationswith patients – bringing in specialist palliative careclinicians where necessary – and are on hand to helpensure that patients’ preferences are taken intoaccount.’

Don’t dodge the difficult conversationPalliative care for cancer patients in the UK is well established, but the situation is starklydifferent for those suffering from heart failure. A study led by the University of Hull and theHull York Medical School (HYMS) shows that this doesn’t have to be the case – particularlyif clinicians have the courage to talk with their patients about dying.

Insight Summer 20122

Dr Miriam Johnson

The Rt Hon John Bercow, MP, the Speaker of the Houseof Commons, argued that change is ‘natural, desirableand essential to continuity’ during a lecture given aspart of the 50th anniversary celebrations of theDepartment of Politics and International Studies.

Mr Bercow shot to prominence when he was elected asSpeaker in the wake of the expenses scandal in 2009and quickly set about using his powers to enablebackbenchers to have more of a voice in scrutinisingthe executive.

At the University he spoke about the ‘UrgentQuestion’, a device which allows any Member ofParliament to ask the Speaker to summon a minister tothe House to answer a matter of importance which hassuddenly emerged. Before Mr Bercow became Speakerit was a rare occurrence – only two such questionswere granted in the 12 months prior to his takingoffice. Since then, however, the Speaker has brought itback into focus and has permitted 89 UrgentQuestions.

Mr Bercow also highlighted the work of the Reform ofthe House of Commons Committee, which was createdafter the expenses scandal. One of the notablerecommendations made by the committee was thatchairs of select committees should be elected bysecret ballot in order to make them truly independent.The achievements of the Culture, Media and SportSelect Committee in their investigation of NewsInternational was cited as an example of how effectivethe new system is.

Lord Norton, Professor of Government, said: ‘It was ahuge pleasure to welcome the Speaker to theUniversity as part of the celebrations surrounding the50th anniversary. As well as his commitment toparliamentary reform, he is to be admired for being atrue ambassador for the House of Commons. Heencourages greater engagement with the public andfacilitates the use of the chamber for such things asyouth parliaments. He is a real inspiration, and hisvisit was a rare opportunity to hear him speak on thefascinating issue of reform.’

Talking reformOne of the country’s most influential political figures shared his views on parliamentary reform during a visit to the University in February 2012.


Left to right: Dr Assem Allam, Lord Norton, the Rt Hon JohnBercow, MP, Justin Morris, Professor James Connelly, ProfessorJack Haywood

The Rt Hon John Bercow, MP

Created to generate business wealth through effectivepromotion of the Humber as the heart of Britain’sinternational trade, HumberPort will coordinate thepromotional activities of port businesses around theestuary. It was launched, to an enthusiastic response,at the NEC in Birmingham on 2 May.

The organisation is based at the University’s LogisticsInstitute, and Bill Walker, Director of the KnowledgeExchange, is the interim Chair.

He said: ‘The Humber has a unique geographicallocation which provides a natural gateway to and fromthe north of England and northern and eastern Europe.It is also on a trade and transport corridor along theaxis from Ireland to the Netherlands and theContinent.’

‘The organisation will highlight all the benefits of theestuary to an international audience in an orderedway. By keeping HumberPort in the singular, we areemphasising the view that, to be internationallycompetitive, ports on both sides of the Humber shouldbe promoted as one entity.’

‘The Logistics Institute has an important role to play inthis. As an impartial body, its role is to be the centralpoint of contact for businesses choosing to use theHumber.’

As well as the major port-based businesses, theinitiative has the support of many smaller businessesin the region that are involved in the ports. It is alsoworking with the four local authorities, the HumberLocal Enterprise Partnership and organisationsincluding the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerceand the World Trade Centre.

By encouraging greater use of the Humber, theorganisation will bring significant economic benefits tothe region, ports being a core driver of growth.

Mr Walker continued: ‘This is an exciting time forYorkshire and Humber. The region is emerging as aworld-leading centre for offshore wind and is drivingforward the development of the broader renewable-energy sector.’

‘So we are keen to contribute to the campaign to provethat the Humber is greater than the sum of its parts –and that it is a destination of serious internationalsignificance.’

HumberPort partnershipThe University is involved in an exciting new partnership that will promote the Humber onthe international stage. HumberPort brings together major organisations on the estuary,including Associated British Ports, Able UK, Danbrit and DFDS Seaways plc, to promotethe largest and busiest port complex in the UK.

Insight Spring 20124


Economic league tables under the microscopeBasing economic league tables on local authorityareas could be a mistake, according to academicsfrom HUBS.

Research initially focused on Hull itself, where thevery tight boundaries can be seen as a factorcontributing to the city’s poor position in the recentlypublished Index of Multiple Deprivation leaguetables.

The local authority area for Hull is very tightly drawncompared with other cities. For example, Leeds isnearly eight times the geographical size of Hull foronly three times the population.

Dr Michael Nolan, Senior Lecturer in Economics andthe lead researcher on the project, said: ‘Wideningcity boundaries alters the demographic in terms ofincome and affluence levels, house prices and crime,all of which tend to be diluted as more space isincorporated. Using another definition of the localitysuch as the “travel to work” area makes the picturesignificantly different.’

The study – published in the Local Economy journal inJune 2012 – also looked at other cities of comparablepopulation and offered the prospect of fresh leaguetables based on similar-sized geographical areasrather than administrative boundaries.

The research was undertaken by Dr Michael Nolanand Dr Stephen Trotter of HUBS and Dr MichaelReynolds of the University of Bradford.

Logistical cost of aidInternational scholars and practitioners met inNovember 2011 to discuss the skills and methodsneeded to deliver humanitarian aid.

Hosted by the Logistics Institute, the forum wassponsored by Coca-Cola, Kogan Page and Unipart. Itwas chaired by Visiting Professor Martin Christopher.

The forum provided a review of the current globalcontext and provoked those involved to identify thepriorities for the development of appropriate logisticsskills and capabilities in disaster-hit and disaster-prone countries. A white paper follow-up to thediscussions is expected to be released at a later date.

Inspiring creativity

The Business School has brought in a ‘writer inresidence’ to help students and staff become morecreative in their communication methods.

Char March, a professional poet, playwright andshort-story writer, has been encouraging individualsand groups to explore how they could be bettercommunicators and give themselves an extra boost inthe jobs market.

HUBS plans to track the progress of those underMarch’s tutelage to see how thinking more creativelyaffects their work.

Char March

Humanitarian aid trucks

HUBS news round-upLatest developments at Hull University Business School.


To begin with, a precisedefinition of ‘satellitecampus’ was developed:there has to be a main sitefor the institution, aminimum travelling timebetween main and satellite,and a critical mass ofstudents at the satellite bothin absolute terms and as apercentage of theinstitution’s full-timestudent body.

An initial analysis revealed a number of core themesand trends. There was a clear indication that thosebased at the satellite had a different view of theinstitution, and the importance of understanding thisat a senior institutional level was highlighted. Campusvoice, representation and approaches to governancevaried, including the approach taken by the students’unions. Students tended not to travel betweencampuses, although staff travel was more common,and there was some evidence of gravitational pulltowards the main site for academic staff.

Dr Gaskell said: ‘This project has opened up manyinteresting angles and has proved to be a usefulopportunity for institutions to come together andshare best practice. We would be interested to hearfrom others in the sector and from any colleaguesinterested in participating in the network.’

The study was funded as a Small Development Projectby the Leadership Foundation and published in itsjournal, Engage, last winter.

SatellitecampusA research project looking at highereducation ‘satellite’ campuses has beencarried out by Dr Craig Gaskell, Principal ofthe Scarborough Campus, to increaseunderstanding of how universities withmore than one campus operate acrossdifferent and often distant sites.

Investigatingdiversity in theclassroomResearchers are looking at how teacherscan best educate the increasingly diversepupils in their classrooms.

The University of Hull is leading a major Europeanproject to examine the impact of rising numbers ofmigrant children, as well as those identified as havingspecial educational needs or from economically poorbackgrounds, on how teachers actually teach.

The three-year project involves secondary schools inLisbon, Madrid and Manchester, as well as ArchbishopSentamu Academy and Newland School for Girls inHull.

This work is supported by the Lifelong LearningProgramme of the European Union and is funded by agrant of more than €231,000.

Dr Kiki Messiou, who is coordinating the project, said:‘Our work with schools in Hull has demonstrated howchildren and young people can help teachers to thinkof new ways to improve their practices.

‘The problem is that we have underestimated theirrole, and until now their voices have been largelyunheard.’

The researchers will work with teachers and pupils toexperiment with different ways of supporting learning.These experiences will eventually be shared withschools across Europe.

In addition to the eight participating schools, theUniversity’s partners in the project are the AutonomaUniversity of Madrid, the University of Algarve andManchester University.

Dr Craig Gaskell

Diversity in the classroom


The images on this page are taken from the exhibition and plot the history of the University, from the laying ofthe foundation stone by The Duke and Duchess of York in 1928 to the most recent Royal visit by The Duke ofEdinburgh in 2008.

Diamond JubileeAs Britain and the Commonwealth commemorate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee thissummer, the University is staging an exhibition of images from Royal visits since itsfoundation. The same images have been published in a commemorative brochure.

20 June 1960: The official opening of the University library. HerMajesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother chats with theUniversity’s Librarian, Mr Philip Larkin (left), while the RightHonourable Lord Middleton, Lieutenant of the East Riding ofYorkshire and the first Chancellor of the now-independentUniversity, looks on. Mr Larkin had been Librarian for only fiveyears at this time but would eventually complete 30 years in therole. He later famously declined a Royal invitation to succeed SirJohn Betjeman as Poet Laureate, being wary of the level of mediaattention associated with such a public position

18 May 1957: Her Majesty made her first official visit to theUniversity, which had been granted its Royal Charter (and thepower to award its own degrees) in 1954. The Queen is picturedhere with Dr Brynmor Jones, the University’s Vice-Chancellor.Some years later, the two met again when Dr Jones received aKnighthood from Her Majesty

11 December 2008: The official opening of the Enterprise Centre.His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, signs theUniversity’s visitors’ book, watched by the Vice-Chancellor of thetime, Professor David Drewry

28 April 1928: The laying of the foundation stone of UniversityCollege Hull. Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess ofYork (second and fourth from the left) with the College’s foundingbenefactor the Right Honourable Thomas Robinson Ferens(centre). Also pictured are the Most Reverend and RightHonourable Dr Cosmo Gordan Lang, Archbishop of York (extremeleft), and the college’s first principal, Mr Arthur Eustace Morgan(in academic dress)

A copy of the full Jubilee commemorative brochure can be purchased as part of our memorabilia range.


Jean Cannon, whose father had worked at GooleShipyard and rescued the blueprints from possibledestruction in the 1980s, had kept the rare documentsat home. After starting a course in regional and localhistory at the University of Hull, she decided to showthe blueprints to her lecturer, Dr Robb Robinson, amaritime expert.

She said: ‘I am incredibly proud that my family havebeen the guardians of something of such historicalimportance. We always knew they were special, but itis fascinating to know more about the links betweenScott’s polar expeditions and this region.’

Dr Robinson has researched the region’s role in polarexploration for many years, as well as maritime historymore generally. He said: ‘I was amazed by theseblueprints. They really are beautiful and may be theonly set in existence. Certainly the experts I havespoken to have never seen any others. These are theblueprints which built the ship that launched thegolden age of polar exploration.’

Jean’s father, Harry Smith, kept the blueprints safeduring his career as a draughtsman, at a time whenother documents were being destroyed. After Harry’sdeath the blueprints came to Jean.

She said: ‘I inherited my love of history from my father,and when my daughter Sophie came to the Universityof Hull to study, she suggested I try a course here. Ionly started this semester, and after reading DrRobinson’s book, which talks about Scott and his linkswith this area, I thought he might like to see theblueprints.’

Discovering the goldenage of polar explorationThanks to a Hull student, a set of remarkable original blueprints of Scott’s polarexploration ship Discovery have come to light.

Dr Robb Robinson and Jean Cannon

Royal musical conferenceThe University of Hull hosted the 44th Royal Musical Association (RMA) Annual ResearchStudents’ Conference in the Middleton Hall from 5 to 7 January 2012.Attended by more than 120 international delegates, itincluded the Jerome Roche Prize Lecture by Dr DavidIrving (Cambridge), the Peter Le Huray Lecture byProfessor Martin Cloonan (Glasgow) and a round tableled by Professor Christopher Wilson (Hull). The eventfeatured advisory workshops on publishing,postgraduate training, RMA activities and funding.Composition workshops were held over two days andculminated in a concert of new works, sponsored bythe Larkin Society.

Founded in 1874, the Royal Musical Association is thesecond-oldest society of its kind and a hub for othernational and international organisations concernedwith the study and practice of music. The historicalsignificance of this year’s prestigious conference wasnoted: the 1st RMA Research Students’ Conferencetook place at the University of Hull in 1967, and now, inits 44th year, the event returned to its inauguratinginstitution. Dr Elaine King, Conference Director,commented: ‘It was a real honour to host theconference and, thanks to the hard work of staffbased in the Department of Music and elsewhere inthe University, it was a huge success.’


Learning and teaching conferenceAcademics and students gathered in March 2012 tocelebrate good practice in learning and teaching andto discuss ideas in the light of forthcoming changesto the higher education landscape.

Led by the keynote speaker, Professor CraigMahoney, Chief Executive of the Higher EducationAcademy, the 2012 University Annual Learning andTeaching Conference offered academics anopportunity to share best practice and explore newways of improving the student experience. Among thethemes discussed were the introduction of newtechnologies, student employability, and innovationand enterprise.

Strong levels of graduate employability, as well as acommitment to the provision of advice on careers andenterprise, have always been hallmarks of the Hullstudent experience and are increasingly important topotential students as the job market becomes morecompetitive. These issues were high on theconference agenda.

The conference also discussed how the University’snew Strategic Plan will enhance learning and teachingand further reinforce the high-quality studentexperience, which is always at the heart of what theUniversity does.

Masters of green energyThe UK’s first Masters degree programme focused onadvanced skills in project management for therenewables sector has been launched here at theUniversity of Hull. Developed in cooperation withindustry and supported by the University’s Centre forAdaptive Science and Sustainability (known asCASS), the MSc in Environmental Technology(Renewable Energy) will prepare students for theonshore and offshore wind, wave and tidal powersectors. It starts this September.

HUU wins gold awardStaff from Hull University Union (HUU) werepresented with a prestigious award at the House ofCommons in December 2011 for their commitment toimproving the student experience.

HUU is only the fourth students’ union in the countryto receive a Gold Award in the nationwide Students’Union Evaluation Initiative. Executive members andstaff attended the awards ceremony at PortcullisHouse, including the University’s Vice-Chancellor,Professor Calie Pistorius, and its Registrar, FrancesOwen.

The HUU President, Aiden Mersh, said: ‘This awarddemonstrates the hard work and dedication of thestaff and volunteers to provide our students with afantastic experience during their time here at Hull.’

Presenting the awards was Ed Marsh, a former HUUPresident and now NUS Vice-President (UnionDevelopment).

Happy birthday, Asylum

The Hull University Union nightclub, Asylum,celebrated its 10th birthday in May, with studentspast and present attending a champagne reception.The venue, which has welcomed more than a millionstudents since it opened, has hosted live bands suchas the Arctic Monkeys, Razorlight and the KaiserChiefs, as well as comedy and its popular club nights.Asylum recently hosted the Radio One Takeover,which saw the DJ Trevor Nelson broadcast live to thenation. It has received numerous accolades,including a coveted Gold Standard at the Best BarNone awards earlier this year.

News in brief

The University has long-nurtured links with its localcommunity and with educational partners such asschools and colleges.This commitment to outreachwork has seen staff and students take to the streetsand even shopping centres of Hull to show the hugeimpact that science has on our everyday lives.

Recent activities have included a ChristmasChemistry Lecture, complete with explosions, whichwas broadcast live to the public via a video webcast.

And in March staff from across the Faculty of Sciencehosted events around the Hull area as part ofnational Science and Engineering Week. Shoppers inHull city centre were treated to demonstrations of thepioneering lab-on-a-chip technology beingdeveloped at the University, and school children tookpart in experiments illustrating everything from thedrug-testing of athletes to the measurement of theirown brainwaves.

Throughout the year the University hosts a variety ofpublic lectures and seminars exploring scientificthemes. It also runs a popular programme wherebystaff visit schools or welcome young people into labson campus.

Dr Mark Lorch, a lecturer and public engagementofficer in the Department of Chemistry, said: ‘We arecommitted to sharing our successes with the public,and the best way to do that is to get out into thecommunity ourselves. The schools and otheraudiences we interact with are always amazed andentertained by our “shock and awe” demonstrations,but there is of course a very strong educationalelement to what we do.

‘The University of Hull has some excellent scientificresearch and academic expertise, and it is great thatwe can show people what we do here in an engagingand accessible way.’

The science of funWhat links brainwaves, liquid nitrogen and pioneering research? The University’sprogramme of events and activities to engage the public’s interest in science, of course.


Dr Mark Lorch demonstrating pioneering technology toshoppers in Hull city centre


Hull’s links with countries around the world arestrengthened and maintained through such visits,which also give our overseas partners a chance to seewhat the University has to offer.

In February, to help mark the Chinese New Year, adelegation from the Chinese Consulate in Manchesterattended themed events on the Hull Campus. Theycommented on how delighted they were with efforts topromote Chinese language teaching at the Universityand were encouraged by plans for a Chinese degreeprogramme in the near future.

Also in February, the Wilberforce Institute for the Studyof Slavery and Emancipation (WISE) was visited by theArchdeacon of Cape Town Diocese, the ReverendHorace Arenz. As well as engaging in discussions ofcontemporary slavery, he learned about the work ofWISE and received copies of educational toolspublished by the institute.

In January the University welcomed visitors from theThai Office of Educational Affairs (OEA), the decision-making body for student sponsorships. In recent yearsthere has been a steady increase in the number ofsponsored students from Thailand studying at Hull,and this visit was organised to establish direct links

with the OEA. The visitors met with faculty deans fromacross the University, as well as the Vice-Chancellor.

A delegation from the Saudi Arabia Cultural Bureau inLondon also visited in January. The University has along-standing relationship with the bureau, and thevisit by Professor Ghazy Almakky, the Cultural Attaché,and his Adviser on Academic Affairs, Dr AimanMomenah, will help this to continue.

Mrs Yosr Gado, from the British Council in Egypt, andProfessor Amin Malaty, Adviser to the President ofAlexandria University on International Affairs, visited inDecember as part of a tour of UK universities. Duringthe visit, which was organised by the British Council,Professor Malaty and Mrs Gado had discussions withUniversity staff and were shown around the campus.

A Vietnamese delegation attended a short course onThe Law of the Sea in November. The group includedsenior officials from the Department of Justice and theDepartment of International Cooperation, as well asrepresentatives from the country’s legal institutions.The course was delivered by Dr Richard Barnes, VassilisTzevelekos and Carmino Massarella, from the LawSchool, and Sunil Shastri, from the ScarboroughCampus’s Centre for Environmental and MarineSciences.

Friends across the globeThe University has had the pleasure of hosting visits from a variety of internationaldelegations in recent months.

The visit of the Cultural Bureau for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the UK. Left to right: Professor Calie Pistorius, Vice-Chancellor;Professor Ghazy Almakky, Cultural Attaché for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in London; Professor Glenn Burgess, Pro-Vice-Chancellor forLearning and Teaching; Dr Aiman Momenah, Adviser to the Cultural Attaché in London on Academic Affairs; Mrs Perihan Cousins, formerInternational Recruitment Manager

Organised by the University’s Alumni team, the eventwas attended by more than 160 alumni and guestsand was hosted by the University’s Chancellor,Baroness Bottomley.

The Chancellor welcomed everyone and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Calie Pistorius, presentedsalient points from the University’s Strategic Plan –which highlights the importance of Hull’s alumni asits ambassadors. The Vice-Cancellor also told of anumber of key appointments to the University staffwhich will help drive the plan forward.

The President of the Hull Alumni Association, LiamCotter, emphasised how vital it is for alumni to keepin touch with their alma mater.

Among the invitees were Dr Assem Allam and hiswife, Fatima; the London Alumni Group leader, DrJane Bennett-Powell; the MP Helen Grant; JeremyHyde, CBE; Dr Judith Donovan, CBE; and the Brain ofBritain winner Ray Ward.

Janet Pearce, Alumni Communications and EventsManager, said: ‘The evening was a fabulousopportunity for alumni to network, catch up with oldfriends, meet staff and hear about exciting newdevelopments at the University. The event was verywell received, and a similar event is planned for 2014.’

Hull alumni are very important to the University andcan contribute in many ways.

Maureen Brunton, Development and Alumni RelationsManager, said: ‘We are indebted to our alumni, whoremain proud of and loyal to the University as acontinuation of their student experience.

‘Our plans for the future include significantlyenhancing our interaction with alumni. An improvedoffice for Development and Alumni Relations willwork to increase communications and events in theUK and will establish special awards that willrecognise the achievements of our alumni.’

Graduates can help promote the organisation and itshigh-quality learning, research and careerpreparation. They can also provide individualsupport, advice and mentoring to current students.

Fundraising efforts are also being enhancedsignificantly, to ensure that the University continuesto benefit from the goodwill of donors andphilanthropists, whether alumni or not.

See more at www.hull.ac.uk/alumni.

House of Lords reception Graduates from six decades were brought together at a reception at the House of Lords inLondon in May 2012.


Left to right; Helen Gibson (Business, Class of 2007); LiamCotter, President, Hull Alumni Association (Economics, Class of1982); Baroness Bottomley, Chancellor; Dr Andrew Gibson(Psychology, Class of 1973); Mrs Elaine Gibson (French, Class of1975); Mrs Sharon Cotter (Classical Studies, Class of 1982)

Left to right: Dr Keith Brooker (alumnus and member of the HullAlumni Association Advisory Group); Dr Jane Bennett-Powell(notable alumnus, honorary graduate, member of the HullAlumni Association Advisory Group and leader of LondonAlumni Group); Wendy Daniel (guest of Jane Bennett-Powell)

Exploring the art of theoceansLaunched last year by the Development and Alumni Relations Office, the PhDScholarship Appeal has raised £350,000 to date. So far, three scholarships have been approved. One of them will fund a PhD student to participate in a unique study of the beautiful and fascinating world of maritime sculpture.


As Britain’s empire peaked in the 18th and 19thcenturies, its ships became statements of its wealthand power. Adorned with figureheads, sculpture andother embellishments, they proclaimed the intentionsof British power. The ships’ rich decorations thereforehad great symbolic resonance.

The research project explores maritime sculpture asan art form, integrating it with other historicalevidence to discover why, how and by whom it wascreated. The study will analyse the sculptures’meanings and political contexts, and even theirimplications around gender (ships’ figureheads wereusually of the female form, while their crews werealmost exclusively male).

The impact of technological change will also beconsidered. As the sailing vessels of the 18th centurygave way to ships powered by steam, the project willask whether the sculpture on ships reflected the new‘modernity’ or offered a nostalgic depiction of the past.

By producing new interdisciplinary interpretationsand publicly accessible catalogues and resources, the project aims to engage the wider public as well as scholars.

The PhD scholarship student will work alongsideProfessor Alison Yarrington, Dr Douglas Hamilton andDr Julia Kelly, the lead researchers on the project,which is based in the University’s Maritime HistoricalStudies Centre at Blaydes House. A further doctoralscholarship is being funded by the Arts andHumanities Research Council from 2012, incollaboration with partners at the National MaritimeMuseum, Greenwich.

To contribute to the PhD Scholarship Appeal, or tofind out more, see the enclosed form or visitwww.hull.ac.uk/alumni.

Figurehead of HMS Ajax (National Maritime Museum, Greenwich)

As summer graduation approaches and the nextcohort prepare for life after ‘studentdom’, it is a goodtime to remind graduates of how they can keep intouch with their university.

You may have noticed an emphasis on graduatesthroughout Insight, and this reflects the pride withwhich the University views its alumni.

Some have become leading lights in their fields, suchas the late Anthony Minghella, an Oscar-winningdirector who taught and studied here; or MuhtarKent, who graduated from Hull with a BSc inEconomics and is now Chairman and CEO of TheCoca-Cola Company.

Many more are making their mark in other ways, incountries and careers around the globe.

The University and the HAA are keen that graduatesshould stay in touch, and you can do so by filling inthe form enclosed or by visitingwww.hull.ac.uk/alumni.

Of course, you will benefit by keeping up with fellowgraduates with whom you spent some of the bestyears of your life, but did you also know that theUniversity Careers Service continues to offer itsexpertise and networking opportunities for the restof your graduate life?

The University also encourages alumni to offer helpto the next generation of students, throughmentoring or even just the occasional lecture toinspire a future career. Not just a way of givingsomething back to your university, it might help yourown career – and be thoroughly enjoyable too!

Finally, by receiving communications such as Insight,you not only keep up to date with what’s happeningon campus but also learn how pioneering researchprojects at Hull are having an impact on the worldaround us.

I hope you are as proud of your university as it is of you.

Let’s keep in touchNote from Liam Cotter, President of the Hull Alumni Association (HAA)


Liam Cotter graduated from Hull in 1982 with a BSc in Economics. During his time at the University heserved as President of the Athletic Union. Aftergraduation he went into the field of accounting,specialising in business recovery, and is now aDirector at RSM Tenon, the UK’s seventh-largestaccounting practice.

As well as being involved with the HAA, Liam is a laymember of the University Council. He is also a donorto the University.

Liam is married to Sharon (nee Bateman), who isalso a Hull graduate (Classics, Class of 1982), havingmet her at the University in 1980. They have twodaughters, Grace and Faith, and a son, Patrick.

‘London is a mecca for Hull graduates. There’s AdrianLukis (Drama), who played George Wickham in “that”TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. We reminiscedrecently about his talk to the group a few years agowhen he was appearing in The Philadelphia Story,and about his being a pupil of Anthony Minghellawhile at Hull.

‘Anthony (student, staff member and multi-Oscar-winner) had also held us spellbound a couple ofyears earlier. He was generous enough to leave theediting of his film Cold Mountain to come andentertain the London Group. We learned that buildingan American Civil War town from scratch in Romaniaand directing a thousand of the country’s soldierswere just part of his skill set.

‘While he was off filming, his assistant CassiusMatthias, a former art student and a budding short-film maker, would be helping to hold the fort back inthe South Hampstead chapel which was home to theMinghella production business. Cassius talked filmsand film-making.

‘There have been more informal evenings too. Oneinvolved meeting for a drink on the Tattershall Castle,the former Humber ferry which I boarded at the startand end of many terms in the 70s – before the days ofthe Humber Bridge – and which is now moored onthe Thames Embankment. Now, instead of British Railtea, it serves cocktails and trendy bar food. Membersof our alumni group have also walked London’sOlympic sites with Steve Levinson, a journalist friendand Blue Badge guide.

‘Our most recent gathering was at the 18th-centuryOld Mitre pub post-Christmas, where Ray Wardhinted about his progress in the BBC’s Brain ofBritain competition. He was recently crowned the2012 champion.

‘The group is always happy to welcome new members,whether brains of Britain or not, and any ideas formeetings. Just [email protected].’

London Alumni GroupThe London Group of the Hull Alumni Association has been active for more than 10years, organising events and keeping graduates in touch with one another. Thetelevision journalist and producer Jane Bennett-Powell, who graduated from Hull in1976 with a BA in French, leads the group and here she tells Insight about its activities.


Jane Bennett-Powell (seated first on the left) and the London Alumni Group on the Thames walk

‘It may seem like a world away from what I used to do,but the skills do transfer,’ he explained. ‘I still spendtime looking at spreadsheets and in budget meetings.’

Richard graduated from Hull in 1989 with a degree inModern Dutch Studies, which may have been the startof his wanderlust. ‘It was a four-year course with a yearin Rotterdam,’ he explained. ‘I had always been veryindependent, but the practicalities of working inanother country may well have planted the travel bugfor me.’

He has fond memories of studying at Hull and living atThe Lawns and is still in contact with many friends fromhis university days, despite his globetrotting.

After graduating Richard worked for the National AuditOffice, following a recommendation from John Franksof the University Careers Service. He completed hisaccounting qualifications there and then moved intolocal government management.

He said: ‘After 10 years I felt I wanted to do somethingmore worthwhile, so I answered a VSO advert forvolunteers and I was offered a posting in Ghana. I wasthere for two years and enjoyed it immensely.

‘When I returned to the UK in 2009 the recession wasstarting. I was keen to use my new skills, but it washard even to find a job back in local governmentfinance. I applied for a temporary position at Oxfam,which I thought would be a good way intohumanitarian and development work.

‘But they suggested I apply for a different role, whichinstead of being UK-based would mean I spent all mytime overseas. I started in October 2010, and the firstplace I was sent was Haiti after the earthquake.’

In Haiti, Richard made sure that donations were spentwisely, providing clean water and education on thecholera outbreak which was sweeping the area.‘Conditions were very poor,’ he said. ‘Cholera waseverywhere, and the earthquake had affectedeveryone in some way. Many of those I worked withhad lost loved ones, and my predecessor had beenkilled.’

Richard’s role is to provide financial management andevaluation to support aid projects in the absence ofbanks, clean water or even regular electricity. SinceHaiti he has been based in various parts of Africa,including Ivory Coast and the Somali border, and he iscurrently on a drought response project in Ethiopia.

So, after his own varied career, what is his advice fortoday’s graduates?

‘We know there is no such thing as a job for life anymore, and local government is having a tough time,’said Richard, ‘whereas sadly there will always be aneed for humanitarian responses. My advice is not toget hung up on finding a career that will last forever –you can always take your skills with you.’

Making wanderlust worthwhileRichard Atkinson’s career has taken him from the corridors of English councils to theaftermaths of earthquakes and floods. After a career in local government, he has appliedhis skills as a finance manager by helping the charity Oxfam ensure that its funding isproperly spent in disaster zones across the globe.


Below and left: Richard Atkinson helping Oxfam in disasterzones across the globe


Building on the pastDr Alimi Abdul-Razaq, a distinguished lawyer and educator, on keeping in touch.

What are your memories of Hull?I came to Hull in 1982 for my LLM and returned for myPhD (Law) in 1986. That I returned underscores myappreciation of Hull’s academic repute, the sereneenvironment and the very friendly people. Myfavourite pastime was riding my bike – on weekendsI enjoyed journeys through the lush country lanes toBeverley and the magnificent Humber Bridge.

What attracted you to the University and, sincegraduating, what path has your career taken? The fact that some distinguished Nigerian judges andlawyers studied at Hull was a great pull. Furthermore,as a student of human-rights law in myundergraduate days, I admired the courage of WilliamWilberforce, the Hull-born anti-slavery crusader.

Since I left Hull, my career has taken manyinteresting turns. In politics, I fought for democraticrule in Nigeria until the military relinquished powerin 1999. I managed Nigeria’s largest iron ore plant,and I was one of the first to serve on the NigerianElectricity Regulatory Commission. I am now on thecommittee overseeing privatisation of government-owned enterprises.

I was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978 and amManaging Partner of the family law firm establishedby my father in 1955.

I have served on the boards of several companies,but my most fulfilling role yet is as Chairman of theboard of Bridge House College, established by mywife Foluke and me in 2005.

How have your studies aided your later career? To be a good lawyer, you must be capable ofindependent study. At Hull I did the LLM by researchrather than by examinations only. I strongly believethat this aided my PhD studies and also developedmy skills in preparing for legal cases.

Furthermore, my PhD thesis was on ‘TheOrganization of African Unity and the Promotion andProtection of Human Rights in Africa’. It found thatthe Charter of the African Commission on Human andPeoples’ Rights was deficient in not providing for acourt to enforce compliance through sanctions. Ifollowed this up with a campaign that I hopecontributed to the eventual establishment of theAfrican Court of Human Rights in 2004.

How have you kept in touch with the University? My wife and I established Bridge House College inresponse to the yearning of Nigerian parents whowanted their children to study in UK universities.Naturally, one of the first universities we establisheda formal relationship with was Hull, which has kindlyoffered an annual scholarship to our best student.Since its foundation, not less than 850 of ourcollege’s students have been admitted to UKuniversities, and many of them have studied at Hull.

Any advice for postgraduate students?As a postgraduate, you are no longer tied by thestrict guidance of the lecturer. My supervisor, SteveDavidson, was very cooperative and resourceful,though very tough on deadlines. One of the majorcriteria for assessing a university is the depth andquality of research and the extent of investment inresearch resources. Hull is among the top UKuniversities in this area. So I say spend most of yourtime mining the massive data resource bank of theUniversity, meet your deadlines, but find time to letoff steam and appreciate the verdant Yorkshirecountryside or enjoy some ‘Goodfellowship’ at thelocal inn!


The 18th International Sustainable Development Research Conference, held in June, attracted delegates from morethan 25 countries.

The University won a competitive bid to hold the conference on behalf of the International SustainableDevelopment Research Society, which aims to foster and communicate the importance of sustainable developmentin a global economy.

The conference, previously held in Hong Kong and New York, was run jointly by the University’s Department ofGeography and the Centre for Adaptive Science and Sustainability (CASS).

Dr Pauline Deutz, a lecturer in Geography, and Professor Stephanie Haywood, Director of CASS, co-chaired theconference.

A team of internationally renowned speakers fromacademia, government and industry addressedthe conference on issues relating to the themeProgress, People and Environmental Protection.Past and present developments in the Humberregion and offshore were featured, alongsidetalks addressing progress towards sustainabledevelopment in Brazil, Germany and elsewhere.

The conference was supported generously byVivergo Fuels and SMart Wind Ltd.

The Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies (IECS) hostedthe four-day event in November 2011 as part of TIDE, an EU-funded research initiative that is examining new integratedtechniques for managing estuaries in Germany, Belgium, theNetherlands and the UK.

Professor Mike Elliott, Director of the IECS, said: ‘The TIDEmeeting brought together some of Europe’s leading expertson estuarine science with port authorities andenvironmental agencies.

‘The aim is to create new tools for managing estuaries sothat the needs of industry, the natural environment and localcommunities can all be met.’

Turning the TIDEIssues relating to the management of theHumber Estuary came under the spotlight at amajor meeting at the University.

Sustainability conferenceThe University is hosting a major international conference this summer.

Professor Mike Elliott

Dr Stephanie Haywood (left) and Dr Pauline Deutz


Sound checkThe UK’s marine environment provides a rich habitat for many different types of wildlife, but little is known about the impact of noise created by human activity, such as shipping,fishing and wind turbines. Two research projects at the University are examining this issue.

Studying noise pollution at sea …Dr Rafael Perez-Dominguez is collaborating withcolleagues at the University of Newcastle and in thecommercial organisations Loughine Ltd andSubacoustech Ltd on a project funded by theDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs(DEFRA). The project aims to provide an evidence-based tool for forecasting the effect of noise on fishand invertebrates.

Sound waves operate differently in marineconditions, and weather and tidal conditions havemade this a technically challenging study. The teamhave had to develop extremely specialisedequipment to gather data out at sea.

Dr Perez-Dominguez said: ‘We’re filling a gap incurrent knowledge. Organisations such as DEFRA andNatural England – and others concerned withensuring the balance between protecting the naturalenvironment and meeting human need – can’t makedecisions based on robust scientific data because itdoesn’t exist.’

And in our estuariesBack on shore, Nick Cutts is examining the effects ofnoise and human activity on bird populations inestuarine areas – vital places for feeding androosting. If birds such as geese, ducks and wading

birds are disturbed, they may not feed enough, whichcan affect their ability to migrate and breed.

As a response to the EU Wild Birds Directive, whichrequires planners to consider the impact of humanactivities on bird populations in estuaries such as theHumber, Mr Cutts’s project aims to provideinformation on how different species react todisturbance.

Funded by the Environment Agency and the EUInterreg IVb TIDE project, his research examines theimpact of human activity on the behaviour of birds, inparticular their responses to different levels of noiseat varying distances. He aims to create a databasethat will be useful to a range of parties – fromestuarine management and environmental protectionorganisations through to commercial developersengaged in the planning process.

‘My work is about trying to develop an evidence-based approach to estuarine management,’ he said.‘We clearly need to be able to protect ourenvironment, and to ensure that international legalrequirements are met, but also allow commercialuses of the estuary wherever possible. Thisresearch aims to assist in creating the necessarybalance between nature and human needs.’

Dr Perez-Dominguez Nick Cutts

The Observer chose Hull because its Department ofBiological Sciences has an excellent reputation inthis area of research. The research team aredeveloping innovative approaches to some importantquestions: what makes non-native species becomeinvasive, how rapidly they spread and what can bedone to limit their impacts on native biodiversity.

In collaboration with the Natural EnvironmentResearch Council’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology,the University’s Dr Darren Evans has identified 10 ofBritain’s non-native invasive species. The public arebeing asked to look out for these species in theirlocal areas and to photograph and catalogue themwhenever they can, sending this vital data off topartner organisations via The Observer’s website.

The species that people should look out for are greysquirrel, muntjac, ring-necked parakeet, red-earedterrapin, harlequin ladybird, horse chestnut leafminer, rhododendron, floating pennywort, Himalyanbalsam and signal crayfish.

Dr Evans, Lecturer in Conservation Biology, said:‘One of the major causes of biodiversity lossworldwide is invasive species. In the UK, scientistsare trying to determine the distribution, rate ofspread and impacts of alien invasive species. Byasking members of the public, up and down thecountry, to help us with our project we canpotentially build an invaluable resource of data thatwill allow scientists to test all sorts of hypotheses.’

Tracking alien invadersThe University has teamed up with The Observer to develop an exciting ‘citizen science’project whereby members of the public can help scientists to monitor the spread ofinvasive species and their effects on the environment.


‘One of the major causes of biodiversityloss worldwide is invasive species. In theUK, scientists are trying to determine the

distribution, rate of spread and impactsof alien invasive species.’

Dr Darren Evans


Dr Christopher Newell from the School of Arts andNew Media at the University’s Scarborough Campus,in conjunction with colleagues at the Universities ofNewcastle and York, is looking at how the soaringmelodies of opera could help make the voices soundmore ‘appealing’.

He was inspired to conduct the project after speakingto an expert in synthetic speech, Professor DavidHoward at the University of York, while he wasresearching child vocal development.

Dr Newell said: ‘We are looking at the “tingle factor”,the sensation you feel when listening to an aria inopera and you get goosebumps. While we don’t

expect to come up with a simple algorithm forcreating “tingle”, we are hoping that we can identifywhat people are experiencing when listening tomusic. We may then be able to apply that to thedevelopment of artificial voices and make them moreattractive to listen to.’

The researchers have studied audience responses tolive performances of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, whichDr Newell himself directed for Co-Opera Co.

The project is supported in part by SiDE, the ‘SocialInclusion through the Digital Economy’ Research Hubat Newcastle University, which is funded by ResearchCouncils UK’s Digital Economy Programme.

Creating the ‘tingle factor’The flat, robotic tones of computer-generated voices could be a thing of the past thanks toresearch being led by the University of Hull.


Dr Vanessa WhitburnDr Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Dr Johnny Whiteley, MBE

Dr Lee Karen Stow Dr William Walsh

In January 2012 the University broadcast its ceremonies live via video webcast for the first time, allowing familyand friends who could not attend in person to watch from around the world. It is hoped that this will now be aregular part of the ceremonies, which are always extremely popular and colourful occasions.

Receiving honorary degrees from the University were the international photographer and journalist Lee KarenStow; the former Operations Director of Reckitt’s and educationalist Dr William Walsh; the round-the-worldyachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston; the editor of The Archers, Vanessa Whitburn, who is a Hull alumna; therenowned cellist David Chew, OBE; and the rugby league legend Johnny Whiteley, MBE.

Video and photographic highlights from the ceremonies are still available to view on the University’s website atwww.hull.ac.uk, under the News and Events heading.

Congratulationsto our newest graduatesThe University held its winter degree ceremonies in late January, with hundreds of studentsgraduating alongside honorary graduates from the worlds of business, the arts and sport.

Dr David Chew, OBE

Hat throw at the winter degree ceremonies

Lee was born and raised in Hull before going on tobecome a freelance journalist and photographer.She has worked for several newspapers, includingthe Hull Daily Mail, The Times and the DailyTelegraph. Her work has taken her to more than 60countries, and she has been able to use her positionto highlight important issues such as socialexploitation and injustice.

During her graduation speech, Lee told how she hadenjoyed the most compelling career and way of lifeshe could ever have imagined. She said that she hadbeen a ‘wandering soul’ before one story stoppedher in her tracks. She visited Sierra Leone – whosecapital, Freetown, is officially twinned with Hull – andwitnessed abject poverty and despair first-hand. Shelearned that the life expectancy of a woman in thatcountry was 41, as compared with 83 in the West.She felt strongly about the violation of human rightsand sought to reveal the lives of the people behindsuch statistics. ‘If it isn’t documented,’ she said,‘then in the eyes of the world it doesn’t exist.”

Lee initiated a project entitled ‘Women with Cameras’and taught digital photography to a group of SierraLeonean women hungry for new skills. They were

keen to learn anything that would help them adapt toa fast-moving digital world, and they began todocument their lives through photography. Theproject – which was designed to last two weeks butis now in its fifth year – helps women to start theirown photography businesses, feed their families anduse pictures to advocate change in areas that affectthem.

Lee spoke of three of the women she had workedwith: one now has her own laptop, one can nowafford to send herself to University, and the other haspublished a book on photography.

Lee’s ‘42’ exhibition, documenting the lives ofwomen in Sierra Leone, can be seen at theInternational Slavery Museum in Liverpool and at theUniversity of Hull’s Wilberforce Institute for the studyof Slavery and Emancipation (WISE).

She had some advice for her fellow graduands: ‘Nomatter how difficult life is, never underestimate whatyou are capable of achieving. And be thankful forwho you are and the wealth of opportunity that nowlies before you. If you don’t find the career that isright for you, do what I did and create your own.’


Honorary graduate – Dr Lee Karen StowThe esteemed journalist Lee Karen Stow washonoured at the University’s winter graduationceremonies for her contribution to human life and public welfare.

Professor Giuliana Mazzoni, of theUniversity’s Department of Psychology, isconducting fascinating research into theworkings of the human mind.

Professor Mazzoni, who is Director of the University’sHuman Memory Lab, has recently led two importantpsychological studies – one of them looking at a rarememory recall ability which allows people to remembervirtually every day of their lives in remarkable detail,the other at people who can hallucinate colours at will,even without the aid of hypnosis.

Both studies have attracted national media coverage,and her work makes a valuable contribution to theUniversity’s expanding portfolio of distinguishedresearch in health care.

The memory study is examining whether there arecases of superior autobiographical memory – alsocalled hyperthymesia – in the UK (so far the conditionhas only been documented in the USA). People withhyperthymesia are able to recall details from mostdays of their lives, including what they ate and wore,whom they spoke with and what was said. If thecondition stands up to scrutiny, Professor Mazzonibelieves it could overturn established theories abouthow we store and access our memories.

Professor Mazzoni’s work on hypnosis and colourhallucination, in collaboration with Dr WilliamMcGeown, was published in the journal Consciousnessand Cognition in June 2012. It used an MRI scanner tomonitor brain activity.The ‘suggestible’ subjects wereasked to look at a series of monochrome patterns andto see colour in them. They were tested in and out ofhypnosis, and both times reported that they were ableto see colours. When they claimed to see colours, MRIresults showed a clear activation of brain areasinvolved in colour perception.

The study showed that some people have the ability tochange their perception and experience of the worldwithout undergoing hypnosis. An ongoing study is alsolooking into how pain perception can be similarlymodified. The findings could have wider implicationsfor the ways in which suggestion and hypnosis areused in medical treatment.


Unlocking the secrets of the mind

Professor Giuliana Mazzoni

Insight Summer 2012 25

Modern 3D ultrasound scanning, which (as the namesuggests) shows the fetus in three dimensions, canproduce some extraordinary images of unbornfoetuses, but 3D information is not usually requiredby health professionals for medical reasons.

Instead, these types of scans are more often offeredby private clinics and marketed as ‘bonding scans’ or‘reassurance scans’. Four-dimensional scans, whichadd the dimension of time and include a video of theunborn child, are also offered.

Initial results from the study, being carried out in theUniversity’s Faculty of Health and Social Care, showthat these scans are not simply the choice of well-offfamilies who can easily afford the additional expenseof a private clinic. Parents from a wide range ofsocioeconomic backgrounds are opting for the 3Dscans.

Franziska Wadephul, who is leading the research,said: ‘Early findings show that expectant parentsseem to like being able to choose when and where tohave the scan, and the 3D images tend to provideclearer images of the foetus – making it easier topicture what he or she looks like. Many parents seemto choose 3D scans for reassurance, and many saythey simply like seeing their baby.

‘Our aim is to find out more about what actuallymotivates parents to choose these additional scansand what impact they have on parents’ experiencesof pregnancy.’

Anyone interested in taking part in the study shouldvisit www.3dscanstudy.com.

Glimpsing the futureThe reasons why expectant parents choose 3D ultrasound scans and their psychologicaleffects are the subject of a research project being carried out at Hull.

He delivered the keynote lecture at the conference, entitled Listento Me – My Feelings Count, which was held in November 2011.The event was organised by the University’s Inter-professionalServices Centre (ISC) for Children, Young People and Families, apioneering interdisciplinary group which provides training andsupport for those working with children and young people.

In an engaging and inspirational address, Professor Lord Winstonsaid that nurturing the next generation is the ‘single mostimportant thing we can do’ as a society. He also said that it was apleasure to be in Hull and praised the University for itscommitment to working with partners in the community.

The annual conference was attended by people professionallyinvolved with children and young people, including childminders,teachers and paediatricians, as well as academics and students.It aimed to show that children’s feelings matter and that adultsshould listen and respond to their concerns, wishes and needs,ensuring that services remain focused on their interests.

Professor Lord WinstonThe esteemed surgeon, scientist, peer and broadcaster Professor Lord Robert Winstonvisited the University to speak at a major conference on children and young people.


From this September, the University will offer anoption to study towards a Bachelors or Mastersdegree in Chemical Engineering. These programmeswill complement the Foundation degree alreadyoffered.

The new programmes result from a collaborationbetween the Department of Engineering and theDepartment of Chemistry, and they build on theUniversity’s excellent links with industry.

The Humber region is a centre of engineeringexcellence, with a particularly high concentration ofchemical processing companies, and studyingchemical engineering at the University is expected tobe a popular choice for the next generation ofengineers.

It is also hoped that students on the newprogrammes will have access to one of the besttraining facilities in the UK – the Centre for theAssessment of Technical Competency (CATCH). The£8 million centre provides realistic equipment,environments and operating procedures to givetrainees first-rate hands-on experience.

New Chemical Engineeringprogrammes launchedSir William Wakeham, President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, and Dr DavidBrown, its Chief Executive, visited the University in April 2012 to launch a new set ofcourses to educate and train the next generation of chemical engineers.

Coming into existence on 1 August 2012, thedepartment will offer undergraduate courses fromthis September and will then expand its offering from2013. It will build on the excellent reputation alreadyenjoyed by physics courses and staff.

Professor Steve Kelly, Dean of the Faculty of Science,explained: ‘This is a response to the growing numberof students who are taking “STEM” subjects,including physics and maths, at A level and who arelooking to continue their studies in higher education.

‘It also reflects an increase in career prospects in thescience sector, as well as an increase in thepopularity and understanding of science and mathsin wider society. The contribution of science andscientists is becoming recognised by the public.’

The new department will offer a degree in Physicswith Mathematics from September 2012, and it ishoped that courses in 2013 will include Maths withChemistry and Maths with Philosophy. There are alsoplans to work cross-faculty, with a degree in FinancialMaths in the pipeline.

To complement the expansion of the course offering,recruitment of new staff is under way.

With the establishment of the new department, theformer Department of Physical Sciences will cease toexist and Chemistry will become a department in itsown right.

For more details, please visit the Faculty of Sciencewebsite at www.hull.ac.uk/science.

Counting the value of science The University is to create a new Department of Physics and Mathematics.

The poetry of science and vice versaA Leverhulme Artist in Residence at the University’s Scarborough Campus is helping students at the Centre for Environmental and Marine Sciences to use language more effectively.

In a unique project that aims to bring togetherdifferent disciplines, the poet Dr John WedgwoodClarke will create a dialogue between science and art.

The proposal for a Leverhulme residency wasdeveloped in collaboration with Dr Magnus Johnson,Lecturer in Marine Biology.

Among the projects that Dr Wedgwood Clarke hasworked on are Sea Swim (above) and an anthology of poetry and prose inspired by Philip Larkin’s visionof Hull, which was launched in June.

Dr Wedgwood Clarke responded: ‘I think thatpowerful poetry and effective science arise out ofconversation with practitioners; the more youcollaborate and share, the richer the results.’


Dr John Wedgwood Clarke

Laptop ensembleIn March 2012, Dr Mackay led members of therecently established Scarborough ElectroacousticLaptop Ensemble (SEALE) in a collaboration with theHull Philharmonic Orchestra and local school childrenentitled Sounding the Deep.

As well as creating sound material, the students havebeen sharing their new skills and deliveringelectroacoustic workshops in schools across NorthYorkshire and the East Riding so that they too cancreate music using laptops.

Dr Mackay said: ‘We were thrilled to be part of thisexciting project, bringing together so many youngpeople from across the region to be part of thisforward-thinking musical collaboration. I am veryproud of our students, who have added their ownmusical voice while maintaining sensitivity to theproject overall.’

Sea SwimIn another novel project, Dr Mackay has beenrecording sea swimmers in all weathers to combinethe sounds of the sea with the words of JohnWedgwood Clarke, poet-in-residence at theUniversity’s Scarborough Campus.

‘Sea Swim’, as it is called, is a part-arts and part-sport project culminating in an exhibition. Itencourages people to take to the sea and then sharehow it makes them feel using words, pictures or, as inDr Mackay’s case, sounds.

The exhibition has already been on show at theWoodend Gallery in Scarborough and Shandy Hallnear York and will enjoy a two-month spell at York ArtGallery from September to the end of 2012.

Deep insightDr Rob Mackay, Lecturer in Creative Music Technology at the University’s ScarboroughCampus, is encouraging his students to create music by unconventional means.

Middle Child Theatre aims to show what a vital rolethe arts can play in modern society. The companybrought their adaptation of The Snow Queen to theUniversity’s Donald Roy Theatre over Christmas andincluded current students in the cast.

Edward Cole, of Middle Child, explained: ‘I don’t seeit as a coincidence that all our company membersstudied at Hull and now share such a strongdetermination to create important, quality theatrewhich feeds off and reflects society on both a localand a national scale.

‘We all believe fundamentally in the importance oftheatre – that a society’s voice is its theatre. Despitemany of us going separate ways after our graduationin 2009, we all maintained the beliefs and viewpointswhich continue to unite us – the seeds of which wereplanted while studying together at Hull.’

As well as performing at the University’s HullCampus, the company recently took their productionof When You Cure Me – by Jack Thorne, writer of ThisIs England – to the renowned Hull Truck Theatre.

Theatre with social visionHull drama graduates have returned to the city to found a theatre company with a strongideological focus.


The results of the pioneering work of ProfessorGeorge Gray and colleagues are now seen in homesand offices across the globe. Liquid-crystal displaysare used in televisions, computers, mobile phones,scientific equipment and many other applications.

Next year sees the 40th anniversary of the inventionof the first commercial liquid crystals. The Universityhopes that this will be marked and celebrated bothwithin the Department of Chemistry, where ProfessorGray was based, and among the wider community.

Professor Stephen Kelly, Dean of the Faculty ofScience, said: ‘We are tremendously proud of thework done here, which helped take liquid crystals outof the lab and into people’s living rooms.

‘One aim of our celebrations will be to show howProfessor Gray’s work lives on, with research into thenext generation of liquid crystals and other ground-breaking projects, and how successful ourDepartment of Chemistry is as a whole, as itcontinues to grow and attract the scientific minds ofthe future.’

In 2013 it will be 50 years since our Department ofDrama was founded. This makes it one of the oldestin the country.

Drama’s presence on campus has grown from oneoffice in the Venn Building, through the old ‘TheatreLab’, to the purpose-built Gulbenkian Centre and,more recently, the addition of the Old Boilerhouseand Loten.

More than 2,000 students have graduated fromDrama’s courses, and our alumni occupy roles acrosstelevision, theatre, broadcasting and film.

Plans are in hand for a variety of events to mark thegolden anniversary, including lectures andworkshops delivered by returning and honorarygraduates. The celebrations will culminate in June2013 with a special ‘birthday’ event. More details willbe announced nearer the time.

Milestones for Chemistry and DramaTwo major anniversaries will be marked over the coming year at the University of Hull: the development of liquid crystals, and the founding of one of the UK’s first universitydrama departments.

The University’s Get Active team, which has benefitedgreatly from alumni donations in recent years, iscelebrating a successful year of providing sport oncampus for staff and students. Since its launch inSeptember 2011, Get Active – part of the SportEngland Active Universities project – has engagedwith 1,788 participants in a range of activities fromintramural leagues to one-off events.

Steve Curtis, Sports Development Manager, said:‘Our participation figure this year highlights thedemand for more recreational sport at the Universityacross both campuses and the halls of residence. Wehope to improve the programme for the nextacademic year, adding new sports and activities tothe calendar.’

Among the team’s highlights of recent months hasbeen the Sport on the Beach event, held inScarborough as part of national Universities Week(30 April to 7 May 2012). On the town’s picturesqueSouth Beach, students and staff battled it out ingames that included beach cricket and tag rugby.

The University hosted the Allam Humber Junior Opensquash tournament in March, utilising the recentlyrenovated squash courts in the Sports and FitnessCentre to showcase sporting talent of the future.(Work is also under way on a multi-use sports facilityat The Lawns, and plans are in hand for a new sportscentre at the Scarborough Campus.)

Since last September the HUU Athletic Union hascelebrated student success in sports as diverse asbadminton, ice hockey and rugby. Several studentshave reached the top flight in their chosen fields,including Crawford Matthews (representing Scotlandat rugby league), Rachel Burke (representing Irelandat hockey) and Tim Webster (placed second in thenational BUCS championships for clay pigeonshooting).

Students from the University also took part in theBUCS Visa Test Event, held in May 2012 as part of thepreparations for London 2012 at the OlympicStadium.

Finally, in a sport of a very different kind, a team ofinventive Hull students are preparing to take theUniversity’s first entry to the finals of the FormulaStudent race car competition this summer.

Celebrating sporting successStudents and staff have contributed to a series of sporting successes at the University.

Playing rugby on the beach in Scarborough as part of theSport on the Beach event.

ww

w.hull.ac.uk© University of Hull

Published June 2012

The University has an illustrious history whichincludes pioneering developments in scienceand engineering, health, business, humanitiesand social sciences as well as performing arts.The University today is a vibrant and future-oriented institution, recognised for excellence inlearning and teaching as well as a commitmentto research, enterprise and engagement. TheUniversity is known for its friendliness and highstudent satisfaction as well as the employabilityof its graduates.

The University regularly features in the topbracket of national teaching quality leaguetables and has consistently performed well inthe National Student Survey, which reflects thefact that the University places a high premiumon the quality of the student experience. Staffand students frequently win prestigious nationaland international awards and accolades. Hull iscurrently placed among the top 350 in the TimesHigher Education (THE) World UniversityRankings.

Research and enterprise are core academicactivities of the University. Among its best-known achievements are the discovery of liquidcrystal displays and the development of a bonedensity scanner which revolutionised thedetection of osteoporosis, both of which werefeatured in Eureka UK’s list of ‘100 discoveriesand developments in UK universities that havechanged the world’. The most recent ResearchAssessment Exercise revealed that 80% of theUniversity’s submitted research is ofinternational standard in terms of originality,significance and rigour.

For more information visit www.hull.ac.uk.

About the University of HullThe University of Hull is an institution with a long heritage of academic excellence and is rich in tradition. Established in 1927 as England’s fourteenth university, it received aRoyal Charter in 1954 and has campuses in Hull and Scarborough.

insight summer 2012

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