Northumbria University News - Autumn 2021 edition

#TakeOnTomorrow

Autumn 2021 • northumbria.ac.uk

Issue 24

Our people Our planet Our future There is no bigger challenge to the sustainability of our planet and the world as we know it than climate change. Global temperatures have risen faster in the last 50 years than in the 2,000 years before. Ice sheets are melting and sea level is rising. Severe heatwaves are causing devastating wildfires and hurricanes are wreaking havoc across communities. Natural habitats are being destroyed by pollution and many countries face either extreme droughts or catastrophic flooding. Without immediate, collective and focused action to limit greenhouse gas emissions, global warming will cause irreversible damage to the planet in the next few decades and we will face climate breakdown. As the climate crisis continues to demand global attention, we look at the many ways in which the Northumbria University community is leading the fight against climate change. From innovative research teams bringing multidisciplinary perspectives to a huge range of studies, through to institutional and individual commitments, Northumbria University is taking action to address the impact of climate change and help ensure a safer, more stable future for our planet. Sustainability is at the forefront of the University’s activities and Northumbria is committed to delivering on the UN Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs). Whether through academic research, teaching, or partnerships forged with regional, national and international organisations, the University is determined to lead the way in driving change within our society to create a more sustainable future. In 2021 the University was ranked 50th in the world for sustainability in Times Higher Education’s Impact league table; the only global performance table that assesses how universities manage research, outreach and teaching, set against the United Nations’ SDGs. Northumbria researchers are actively leading the

way in modelling, predicting and understanding the impact of climate change. They are investigating how and when the effects of climate change will affect our society. They are helping communities affected by the impact of natural disasters. They are developing new technologies and optimising existing infrastructure to drive a more energy efficient society. And they are doing much, much more to help individuals, businesses and communities reduce their collective carbon footprint and create a more sustainable way of living. Northumbria is committed to operating sustainably and has reduced its carbon emissions by a

massive 58% across its Newcastle campuses over the past five years. The University helps give students the confidence they need to actively address climate change – whether through education, green initiatives on campus, or extra-curricular activities organised by societies within the Students’ Union. The institution is also developing a broad portfolio of sustainability initiatives, one of which is a commitment by Newcastle Business School at Northumbria to embed sustainability within its curriculum. Northumbria is one of 38 higher education institutions from around the world to have signed up to be a United Nations Principles

for Responsible Management Education (PRME) champion in business and management. The initiative aims to raise the profile of sustainability and equip students – the business leaders of the future – with the understanding and ability to deliver change for tomorrow. Turn to pages four and five to discover more about how Northumbria University is taking on climate change.

EXPLORING SPACE

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

TAKA’S ROAD TO SUCCESS

From the health of astronauts to unlocking some of our galaxy’s longest-held scientific mysteries, find out more on pages 8-9.

Read about the latest awarding of prestigious Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships on page 26.

Read about Northumbria student Taka Suzuki’s world recordbreaking Paralympic journey, on page 43.

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

IN THIS EDITION AUTUMN 2021 NEWS

CLIMATE CHANGE

Thousands of students return to celebrate their graduation ceremonies at Northumbria, Page 7

BIG INTERVIEW Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Andrew Wathey CBE, reflects on the past 18 months and looks ahead as we emerge from the pandemic with renewed optimism, Page 11

Page 15

FOCUS ON SPACE Pages 8-9

SUSTAINABILITY State-of-the-art equipment helps find new ways of making electronic devices more energy efficient, Page 16

INNOVATIVE VIRTUAL REALITY DEVICE SHOWCASED TO WORLD LEADERS AT COP26

FEATURE

SOCIETY

ECONOMY

Northumbria empowers writers to develop creative projects and connect with the writing industry, Page 24

Northumbria student and graduate entrepreneurs fuel the North East’s economic growth, Page 39

HEALTH

JUSTICE AND SECURTY

Selected to be one of five national training centres, Northumbria helps to bring new nurses to the frontline, Page 30.

Do we trust the Government with our data? Northumbria researchers tell us more, Page 41

SPORT Student Taka Suzuki talks about his inspiring medal haul at this year’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Page 43

Keep up to date with the latest news from Northumbria University at www.northumbria.ac.uk/news

Celebrating success at the StudentCrowd awards Northumbria has ranked in the top 20 universities across three categories at this year’s Best Universities awards by StudentCrowd. The StudentCrowd awards are unique as they are based solely on student reviews written throughout the year, providing students with the opportunity to share their opinions on topics such as their university experience and the city they are living in. The Best Universities awards cover several categories including, but not limited to: Campus and Facilities, Clubs and Societies and Students’ Union. In each of these categories Northumbria ranked within the top

20 universities across the UK. Northumbria University has invested almost £300 million in world-class facilities such as Sport Central and Digital Commons in recent years, creating a buzzing, safe and supportive environment for students. Gaz Smith, President of Northumbria Students’ Union, commented on the awards: “Our mission is to have a positive impact on all our students’ lives. This can mean anything from providing

independent academic advice, to building communities on campus through accessible social spaces and supporting our societies as they explore students’ passions and interests. “We listen to what students want and need and we develop our services in line with what they tell us - so it’s fantastic to see that this is recognised with these awards.” In addition to Northumbria’s success at the awards, Newcastle upon Tyne was voted ‘Best Student

City in the UK 2021’, according to over 6,000 students and achieving an average rating of 4.62 out of 5. Find out more about the student experience by visiting www. northumbria.ac.uk/studentlife

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/campus

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Creating opportunities for thousands of young people A new learning centre designed to support more young people to fulfil their potential and secure a place at university has opened in Newcastle.

Teaming up for Newcastle Northumbria and Newcastle Universities have announced an innovative new partnership to support the city’s economic and social recovery post-Covid. The Collaborative Newcastle Universities Agreement brings together the world-leading expertise of the City’s two universities for the benefit of the communities of Newcastle and the wider region. Both institutions have a longestablished tradition of working collaboratively to improve the health, wealth and wellbeing of the region. The past 20 months have brought into sharp focus the importance of this close working relationship: educating the medical and healthcare professionals who have supported the NHS throughout the pandemic; driving forward world-leading research that will help us to combat Covid-19; supporting the local community and contributing to the economy. Through the new agreement, the aim is to formally bring together the collective ‘power’ of both organisations – over 10,000 staff and 50,000 students – to work with other key institutions to support the health, wealth and wellbeing of people living in Newcastle and beyond. Professor Andrew Wathey, ViceChancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, said: “Given the challenges of the last 20 months, it has never been more important that we work collectively to take on the opportunities and challenges of

a post-pandemic future. This agreement combines the strengths of Newcastle’s two research-rich universities, together with the other key institutions in the city, working together to address the needs of Newcastle and the North East. “Through this collaboration, our collective world-leading research, ability to attract outstanding students from all walks of life, and support for talented and highly-skilled graduates will have an even greater impact on our communities, as well as on the national and international reputation of Newcastle.” The partnership will be the driving force behind various projects, in areas such as improving public health, helping the City become net zero and supporting more young people to fulfil their potential. Professor Chris Day, ViceChancellor and President, Newcastle University, added: “We know that by working together we can be greater than the sum of our parts, providing greater benefits to communities not just to support economic and social recovery, but to build a sustainable and more inclusive future.” The new University Agreement is a key component of Collaborative Newcastle - a unique city-wide partnership bringing together the NHS, local government,

“GIVEN THE CHALLENGES OF THE LAST 20 MONTHS, IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK COLLECTIVELY TO TAKE ON THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF A POST-PANDEMIC FUTURE.” PROFESSOR ANDREW WATHEY CBE

higher education, voluntary and community sector to work in collaborative and creative new ways to improve health, wealth and wellbeing for everyone in the city.

The new IntoUniversity centre, based in Monkchester Community Centre in Newcastle, is a partnership between Northumbria and Newcastle Universities and IntoUniversity-the UK’s largest university-access charity. Supporting young people aged between 7-18 the centre enables young people to engage with higher education more easily and see education as a possible future for themselves. The centre provides invaluable academic support, softskill developmentbuilding interpersonal behaviours, attitudes and values-and experience of the world of work, all of which will help to enable young people to achieve a university place or another chosen aspiration. Funded by the two universities, together with the Buffini Chao Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation and other philanthropic backers, the new centre aims to provide support to over 1,000 students a year. Five full-time members of staff have been recruited and trained to deliver free afterschool academic support sessions to primary and secondary school children, as well as workshops with

partner schools during the daytime throughout the week. Aspiration-building workshops and a mentoring programme are also being delivered by current university students and professionals. Reflecting on the collaboration, Northumbria’s Director of Strategic Planning, Dan Monnery, said: “Northumbria University has an excellent track record for attracting students from all backgrounds and supporting them to succeed at university. IntoUniversity demonstrates our commitment to enabling young people to engage with higher education. It will open doors to underrepresented groups and help deliver life-changing outcomes.” IntoUniversity Newcastle will operate alongside the community projects that already take place in the community centre and is also a keystone project of the Collaborative Newcastle Universities Agreement, launched in July 2021. Find out more at intouniversity.org

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/news

In 2019-20, IntoUniversity supported more than

across 31 centres and projects in 13 towns and cities.

For more information about Collaborative Newcastle, visit: www.collaborativenewcastle.org

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/ collaborative-newcastle

who attended IntoUniversity centres gained a place at university, compared with 26% of students from similar backgrounds nationally.

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

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WAYS THAT NORTHUMBRIA IS TAKING ON CLIMATE CHANGE

1. Creating living buildings:

8. Promoting responsible management:

Working together on a joint initiative, Northumbria and Newcastle Universities are building the world’s first experimental biological house. Through the £8m Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, the University will drive the development of a new generation of sustainable living buildings, known as the ‘OME’, which convert domestic waste into fuel, electricity and other useful products.

Northumbria University is a PRME Champion within the United Nations’ climate change and environment working group. The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) campaign aims to embed sustainability and responsible management practices into business leaders of the future.

2. Championing renewable energy:

Desalination processes remove salt from sea water to make safe drinking water in countries with limited rainfall. But this can be energy intensive and have a significant impact on the environment. Northumbria experts have devised a way to harness solar power in the process and avoid the use of fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, which result in harmful emissions.

Northumbria University has installed more than 1,500 solar panels across its campuses generating 300,000 kWh annually – the equivalent annual electricity used by 75 homes in the UK, saving 66 tonnes of CO2 per year.

3. Studying Antarctica’s ice sheets: Northumbria has the biggest team of glaciology researchers in the UK working on world-leading studies into how Antarctica’s ice sheets are changing and how this will impact global sea level in the decades to come.

4. Catalysing clean energy: Northumbria University is part of the North East Energy Catalyst, a groundbreaking partnership established to unite the North East’s leading energy innovation, demonstration and delivery capabilities. Its mission is to catalyse an integrated energy system which grows a productive, clean economy for prosperous communities. 5. Promoting cycling: Northumbria’s Cycle 2 Campus programme encourages students and staff to travel by bike rather than driving or using public transport. The programme includes over 1,000 cycle spaces across the campuses, free maintenance checks, pre-loved cycle sales, bike security tagging, access to lockers and showers and more. 6. Training the next generation: Northumbria will educate future climate and sustainability scientists through two major doctoral training centres. The ONE Planet Doctoral Training Partnership provides world-leading training to tackle major challenges in climate and environmental sciences, while the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (ReNU) enables researchers to create and develop new materials and devices that will convert energy into power at the point of use. 7. Reducing digital hoarding: Did you know that hoarding emails and documents on computers is harmful to the environment? Digital clutter increases the need for large servers that use a lot of energy to keep them cool and maintained. Experts from Northumbria’s Hoarding Research Group are working with organisations to address data hoarding and reduce their digital footprint.

9. Cleaning water:

10. Building green infrastructure: Northumbria is a leading voice encouraging governments, councils, planners and construction companies to integrate green and natural spaces into urban developments, making them more environmentally friendly, improving access to nature and maximising the climate benefits of green spaces. The University has been awarded a three-year Natural Environment Research Council Fellowship to do this work. 11. Working collaboratively: The Collaborative Newcastle Universities Agreement brings together the worldleading expertise of Northumbria and Newcastle Universities for the benefit of the local community and wider region. A key project within the agreement is NetZero Newcastle, to reduce greenhouse gases and improve the sustainability of operations to support the delivery of the Newcastle Net Zero Action Plan. 12. Protecting bees and biodiversity: In Britain alone, a third of wild bee and hoverfly species are in decline. Northumbria experts in urban pollinators are helping local authorities to manage their local land and planting choices to help bees to thrive in urban environments.

13. Cleaning up our industries: Named as part of the multimillion-pound TransFIRe research consortium, Northumbria will help develop greener technologies to support the UK’s manufacturing and construction sectors’ efforts to achieve the United Nations’ ambition of being net zero by 2050.

14. Reconstructing history: Northumbria is one of just four universities in the UK able to undertake detailed tests to reconstruct past temperature conditions over millions of years. This helps researchers to understand and learn from how the climate responded to periods of change in the past and will help us to prepare for and adapt to future changes

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#TakeOnTomorrow

15. Making fashion sustainable:

22. Preventing global water shortages:

Northumbria has signed up to the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action to both embed sustainability within the education of the next generation of industry professionals and help drive sustainability innovation within the fashion industry.

It is estimated that by 2050 water shortages could affect as many as five billion people globally. Researchers from Northumbria University’s Law School are supporting the United Nations to foster and facilitate better water cooperation between nations around the world.

16. Renovating houses:

23. Bringing environmental justice:

Many houses aren’t designed for changing temperatures and use air conditioning and heaters to help deal with extremes of weather. Northumbria researchers are looking into how buildings can be ‘deep renovated’ in order to capture the full economic energy efficiency potential of an existing structure, to reduce energy use by more than 75%.

Environmental disasters often hit poorest communities the hardest. Northumbria researchers in environmental law and sustainability are helping to bring justice to those affected and provide expert comment to organisations such as the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

17. Integrating solar power: As a leader in renewable energy technologies Northumbria is looking into new ways to harness solar power – from integrating solar panels into windows and building cladding, to solar paint that could be used on cars. 18. Responding to disasters: Northumbria experts in disaster management are working with communities around the world to assess and support responses to natural disasters, including floods in Bangladesh and landslides in India. Work in this area focuses on gathering evidence around hazard and risk reduction, sustainable development and resilience to help inform new policy and practices. 19. Collaborating on battery power: The University has secured a partnership with leading battery cell technology specialist BritishVolt to provide education, research and development to enhance innovation within their business to further the UK’s battery industry. 20. Investigating cryptocurrencies: While many people may think Bitcoin and NFTs are a great investment, they also leave a significant carbon footprint. Northumbria experts are working to both raise awareness of and reduce the environmental impact of energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining. 21. Exploring space weather: Northumbria experts are working with the likes of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Met Office to understand the impact that space weather events will have on the Earth’s climate. Improved monitoring and prediction of space weather is critical to reduce the significant risks that exist to our global infrastructure, including risks to our communications systems, power grids, pipelines and satellites. Understanding and forecasting these space weather events is vital to help us plan and build resilience.

24. Supporting student action: The University is working hand in hand with Northumbria Students’ Union to support students in learning about and driving sustainability – from Northumbria’s Green Zone and EasyEco society to its in-house Sustainability Ambassadors programme, as well as a series of annual events and activities. 25. Developing greener businesses: Northumbria delivers Continued Professional Development to help business professionals develop their understanding of environmental management systems and carbon management, such as NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental Management, Carbon Champion: Carbon Foot-printing, Management and Reporting or IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management. 26. Managing our environmental impact: Northumbria’s Sustainability Management Group oversee the ISO14001 Environmental Management System and performance against the targets set out in the University’s Environmental Sustainability Policy. This is further supported by a network of dedicated Sustainability Goalkeepers – staff volunteers who oversee sustainability activities within their department. Visit the Northumbria website to hear first-hand from academic experts about their climate and sustainability research; discover stories showcasing the work happening to make campuses more eco-friendly, and read more about the ways the University is working with students and communities to make a difference:

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/livesustainably

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

Opening up a world of opportunities for students

Northumbria signs up to new Mental Health Charter Programme

AT NORTHUMBRIA THE TURING SCHEME WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OVER 200 STUDENTS TO WORK AND STUDY ABROAD.

Northumbria has received significant funding from the new Turing Scheme to help students gain valuable life experience by working and studying abroad. As a replacement for Erasmus+ (European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport), the Government-funded Turing Scheme will provide £100 million to support up to 35,000 UK students looking for overseas learning and study opportunities this year. At Northumbria the funding will provide the opportunity for over 200 students, more than half of whom will come from disadvantaged backgrounds, to work and study abroad, developing workplace and language skills and improving their understanding of other cultures. Speaking about the programme, Lucy Winskell OBE, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Employability and Partnerships at Northumbria, says the new Turing Scheme offers the same benefits as Erasmus+, enhancing the learning experience and career potential for students. She adds: “As a university with a global reach and outlook, the Turing Scheme will help us to develop highly skilled graduates with

an international mindset, so valuable to their employability.” Gabrielle Scotchbrook, a Northumbria student who took part in a semester-long virtual internship in Japan in 2020, believes the opportunity to work overseas was hugely beneficial, explaining: “Being able to work with a global firm based in Japan allowed me to develop international marketing understanding in an environment full of different cultures, races and ethnicities. This significantly heightened my emotional and cultural intelligence, in turn giving me a competitive edge that will most definitely contribute to my effectiveness as part of a team.” If you are a student interested in studying abroad, you can find more information at www.northumbria.ac.uk/ studyabroad

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/ international

“THE TURING SCHEME HELPS US TO DEVELOP HIGHLY-SKILLED GRADUATES WITH AN INTERNATIONAL MINDSET, SO VALUABLE TO THEIR EMPLOYABILITY.” LUCY WINSKELL OBE

Northumbria, along with 32 other institution across the UK, has signed a new University Mental Health Charter Programme to improve support for staff and students in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Charter Programme, led by Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, brings together universities committed to making mental health and wellbeing a university-wide priority and driving cultural change. Universities on the Charter Programme form part of a UK-wide practice sharing network with access to events and guidance – encouraging institutions to support one another in improving their approach to student and staff mental health. By joining the Charter Programme, Northumbria has committed to working towards a set of evidence-informed principles of good practice. This includes a commitment to working with staff and students to provide adequately resourced and effective support services, as well as creating an environment and culture that addresses issues that negatively impact mental health and promoting positive wellbeing opportunities. This new initiative runs alongside Northumbria University’s current sector-

leading project to use data capture and student facing analytics to help generate early warning signs for students’ mental health and wellbeing. All outputs from the project will be scalable sector-wide, giving institutions the ability to make positive interventions and the tools to engage their whole student community. Ellen Smith, Northumbria’s Head of Student Mental Health and Wellbeing said: “At Northumbria we take our students’ mental health and wellbeing extremely seriously and we have worked tirelessly to provide the best support possible during the pandemic. “In joining the University Mental Health Charter Programme, it shows, not only our commitment to tackling issues in our own students, but it also reaffirms our focus on working with our peers to share best practice with the sector as a whole.” Michelle Donelan, Universities Minister said: “The past year and a half has been an unprecedently difficult time for students

and staff, and I am personally committed to ensuring they receive the consistent, effective mental health support they deserve. This is why I strongly support the University Mental Health Charter, which aims to drive up standards in promoting student and staff mental health and wellbeing on campuses across the country. “I thank all those providers who have already signed up to the Charter Programme. I hope all universities will work towards the principles of good practice set out in the Charter, as part of their whole university approach to mental health and that all universities will apply for the Programme in the coming years.” Find out more about mental health and wellbeing support at Northumbria by visiting www. northumbria.ac.uk/mhsupport

DISCOVER MORE www.universitymentalhealth charter.org.uk

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#TakeOnTomorrow

Students return to celebrate their graduation at Northumbria Students return to celebrate their graduation ceremonies in-person at Northumbria.

Thousands of students had the opportunity to formally celebrate the culmination of their studies, as Northumbria University returned to holding in-person graduation ceremonies following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions by the Government. Working within the redefined guidance to ensure the safety of staff, students and guests, Northumbria was among the first UK universities to hold graduation ceremonies in September this year, for those who completed their studies in both 2020 and 2021. In 28 ceremonies, over the course of 10 days, more than 6,000 students were finally able to celebrate their graduation at Newcastle Cathedral with their family and friends. Baroness Tanni GreyThompson, Chancellor of Northumbria University, said: “Celebrating the success of all our graduates in such an extraordinary venue was especially rewarding given the challenges we have all faced since March 2020. It was a privilege and pleasure to share this special

occasion with our graduates and congratulate them on their extraordinary achievement.” The University will hold its next graduation ceremonies in March next year. Summer congregations will take place in July when Northumbria plans to award Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, the UK Government’s Chief Medical Adviser and head of the public health profession, with an Honorary Doctorate of Science. An alumnus of Northumbria University, Professor Whitty is a globally recognised physician and epidemiologist and has become one of the UK’s most trusted

figures on the Covid-19 pandemic following his numerous Downing Street briefings. He studied for the LLM in Medical Law at Northumbria University, graduating in 2005. Professor Andrew Wathey CBE, ViceChancellor and Chief Executive at Northumbria University, said: “Graduation marks an important milestone in our students’ lives. Having welcomed our graduates to Newcastle Cathedral at our most recent ceremonies, it is clear to see how important it is that we are once again able to formally recognise their hard work and academic achievement.

“HAVING WELCOMED OUR GRADUATES TO NEWCASTLE CATHEDRAL AT OUR MOST RECENT CEREMONIES, IT IS CLEAR TO SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE ARE ONCE AGAIN ABLE TO FORMALLY RECOGNISE THEIR HARD WORK AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.” PROFESSOR ANDREW WATHEY CBE “We are delighted to invite Professor Whitty, one of Northumbria’s most distinguished alumni, to our summer congregations, to accept the honorary degree of Doctor of Science in recognition of his outstanding contribution to healthcare, science and society.” The University awards honorary degrees to individuals of high distinction who have earned national or international recognition and standing in their field. Alongside his role as Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Whitty is a practicing NHS Consultant Physician at University College London Hospitals and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and Gresham Professor of Physic at Gresham College.

As an epidemiologist, Professor Whitty has undertaken research in the UK, Africa and Asia and was Professor of Public and International Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Professor Whitty was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2015 New Year’s Honours List, for services to Tropical Medicine in the UK and Africa. Interested in joining Northumbria’s Alumni Association? Be part of the University’s global learning community of over 217,000 graduates in 171 countries. Find out more at www.northumbria.ac.uk/ alumni

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/alumni

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

Unlocking Jupiter’s secret Experts have solved the 40-year-old mystery behind spectacular natural light displays on the planet Jupiter and say it will help physicists around the world to better understand other space environments. Northumbria University’s Professor Jonathan Rae is part of the international research team that has uncovered an explanation for the X-ray light flares on the planet, first discovered in the 1970s. The auroral displays, which are the most powerful in the solar system and stronger than the famous ‘Northern Lights’ on Earth, are now known to be caused by particles called ions colliding with plasma waves in Jupiter’s atmosphere. Data gathered by the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton telescope, which orbits the earth and carries out remote observations of Jupiter, was combined with readings from within Jupiter’s magnetic field collected by NASA’s Juno spacecraft over a period of four years. The research was led by Zhonghua Yao, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Bejing, and William Dunn of UCL, in collaboration with Northumbria’s Professor Rae, as well as other academics from the UK, Spain, Belgium and the USA. Their findings have been published in the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s prestigious journal, Science Advances. The team discovered that Jupiter’s X-ray aurorae could be linked to planetary-sized electromagnetic waves travelling along the planet’s magnetic field lines for millions of kilometres. Energetic heavy ions become trapped in the expanded magnetic field lines and, from time to time, planetarysized electromagnetic waves could expel them into Jupiter’s atmosphere, producing the stunning light show. During a 26-hour observation of Jupiter in July 2017, the XMM-Newton telescope saw X-ray aurorae pulsating every 27 minutes. Professor Rae is a member of Northumbria’s internationally renowned Solar-Terrestrial Science research group and is involved in a number of other high-profile research projects. These include playing a key role in the UKRI SWIMMR Project which provides £20m support to operational space weather forecasting and mitigation in the UK, in support of the UK Met Office.

Speaking about the research, Professor Rae, said: “Jupiter and Earth are very different environments, but this research is a wonderful example of how the knowledge that we’ve gained from Earth about fundamental plasma physics can be used to understand other space environments. “If you know how aurorae are made, then you can use it as a remote sensing tool to help gather information and understand more about Jupiter’s huge space environment from afar.” Now the process which causes Jupiter’s X-ray aurorae has been identified, it opens a wealth of possibilities for where it could be studied next, including on Saturn where the moon Enceladus jets water into space, filling Saturn’s magnetic field with water ions. “It’s fantastic to finally see an explanation to the 40-year-old mystery of Jupiter’s beautiful X-ray light show,” said Professor James McLaughlin, who leads Northumbria’s Solar-Terrestrial Science research group. “I am delighted that Professor Rae is playing a leading role in this area, and this ground-breaking result has been achieved by a strong international team, combining NASA and European Space Agency data. I am constantly amazed that fundamental plasma processes, including those studied at undergraduate level, can be used to explain and predict these highlyenergetic space environments.” The expertise in Solar-Terrestrial Science at Northumbria has been supported with core funding from a number of international organisations, including the European Space Agency (ESA), UK Space Agency, the US Air Force, the National Solar Observatory (USA) and the Royal Astronomical Society.

“JUPITER AND EARTH ARE VERY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS, BUT THIS RESEARCH IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE’VE GAINED FROM EARTH ABOUT FUNDAMENTAL PLASMA PHYSICS CAN BE USED TO UNDERSTAND OTHER SPACE ENVIRONMENTS.”

Find out more at northumbria.ac.uk/sts

PROFESSOR JONATHAN RAE

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/mpee

THE MYSTERY BEHIND JUPITER’S STUNNING ‘X-RAY LIGHT SHOWS’ HAS FINALLY BEEN EXPLAINED.

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One giant leap for space research Space health experts at Northumbria University are leading research into how astronauts’ bodies decondition while living and working on the International Space Station (ISS). Orbiting the Earth at an average altitude of 250 miles, astronauts on board the ISS experience deconditioning of their bodies due to the reduced gravity environment. Their muscles become smaller and weaker, and their bones lose density. A team from Northumbria University’s Aerospace Medicine and Rehabilitation Laboratory, led by Professor Nick Caplan, has secured funding from the UK Space Agency to explore the decline in size, quality, and strength of spinal muscles among astronauts after spending six months living and working on the ISS. They will also assess changes in astronaut spinal posture, their walking technique, and any pain once the astronauts are back on Earth. An intense reconditioning programme is put in place during the astronauts’ first month back on Earth

and then measurements to evaluate the effects of this programme are taken. Northumbria’s research will benefit life on Earth, too. Mitigating astronauts’ spinal deconditioning will help to treat people with lower back pain and agerelated spinal issues. Professor Caplan and his team are interested in spinal postural deconditioning, an issue relevant not just to astronauts, but also to people on Earth with low back pain and agerelated declines in spinal posture. There is also likely to be a growing number of people with spinal deconditioning following the Covid-19 lockdowns because of increased sedentary behaviour. “Our research will provide this information and hopefully help astronauts stay injury free as they venture further out into the solar system to the Moon and, one day, to Mars.

We are really excited about recruiting our first astronauts onto the study,” said Professor Caplan. “Understanding the changes that take place in the spinal muscles and bones following exposure to microgravity is vital so that effective interventions can be developed to maintain spinal health here on Earth.” This latest study at Northumbria is one of five new projects set to receive a share of £440,000 of UK Space Agency funding in its first year. These research projects will support much bigger space missions needed to explore the Moon and further afield. Other research projects include a study into the prolonged effects of isolation on physical and psychological health by Manchester Metropolitan University , and an investigation into the effects of space flight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) – a condition that

can have severe consequences for astronaut health - by the University of Birmingham. The UK Government’s Science Minister, George Freeman, believes space science is about life science, not just rockets and satellites. “The UK is at the heart of state-of-the-art biomedical monitoring, providing huge potential insights into human health,” he said. “This research could allow astronauts to safely embark on longer and more challenging missions, for the benefit of us all.” Tim Peake spent six months orbiting Earth on board the International Space Station as Britain’s first, governmentsupported astronaut. He is excited to see this level of cutting-edge research taking place in the UK. “We can learn so much about the human body from spaceflight, especially the ageing process,” said Tim. “This research could enable astronauts to carry out longer missions and explore further into space, while benefiting everyone on Earth.” The Aerospace Medicine and Rehabilitation Laboratory, based at Northumbria University, conducts world-leading research in the fields of aviation medicine, space medicine, and on-Earth healthcare. The team collaborates with a number of highprofile partners including the European Space Agency, The Royal Air Force and NASA. For more information about the Aerospace Medicine and Rehabilitation Laboratory at Northumbria, visit www.aerospacemed.rehab

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/ser

“THIS RESEARCH COULD ENABLE ASTRONAUTS TO CARRY OUT LONGER MISSIONS AND EXPLORE FURTHER INTO SPACE, WHILE BENEFITING EVERYONE ON EARTH.” BRITISH ASTRONAUT, TIM PEAKE

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FEATURE

Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

The Conversation is a collaboration between news editors and academics to provide informed news analysis and commentary that’s free to read and republish. At Northumbria, our academics have been working with The Conversation to produce independent, quality current affairs journalism on some of the latest topics to hit the news.

CALLING ALL ACADEMICS! If you have a great idea for an article, the Communications team at Northumbria can help you pitch it to The Conversation. Please email media.communications@northumbria.ac.uk

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR TOP PICKS OF RECENTLY PUBLISHED ARTICLES

Covid smell loss can have profound effects on your life, from weight change to intimacy barriers

Olympics: why new Olympic sports won’t all return at Paris 2024 – but breakdancing will make its debut

It’s now widely acknowledged that Covid-19 has a unique effect on smell receptors - Vincent Deary, Professor of Applied Health Psychology at Northumbria, and Duika Burges Watson at Newcastle University discuss the impact that loss of smell and taste has had on people.

Never in the history of modern Olympics have so many new sports made their debut than at Tokyo 2020. Mikhail Batuev, Lecturer in Sport Management, explains why some of the new additions will feature at Paris 2024 while others have kinks that need to be ironed out before they return.

Monkeying about: Getting to know ‘ugly’ animals better could be the key to their conservation

Why thieves using e-scooters are targeting farms to steal £3,000 quad bikes, and what farmers can do to prevent it

The current threat to the Earth’s biodiversity is no laughing matter, but Mike Jeffries, Associate Professor of Ecology, examines how raising a smile might help some vulnerable species dogged by unfortunate looks or bad reputations.

Farm vehicles have long been considered an easy target for thieves because of poor security measures, but while security is starting to be upgraded, criminals are also embracing new technology. Kate Tudor, Senior Lecturer in Criminology explains how these criminals work and how farmers could protect themselves.

Paying with a palm print? We’re victims of our own psychology in making privacy decisions

Aphra Behn: a perfect example of why we need to have more statues – of women

Using a handprint rather than a credit card to make a purchase might offer more convenience, but there are several complex issues involved in sharing your biometric data. Pamela Briggs, Research Chair of Applied Psychology discusses the potential privacy issues of our future transactions.

Statues allow us to look at a projected vision of an ideal “us”, but also to question the ideas and structures that support such a view. Claudine Van Hensbergen, Associate Professor of Eighteenth-Century Literature, discusses how we can use statues as a tool to think and to reflect.

Discover more articles on The Conversation’s website at www.theconversation.com, or check out our newsroom to keep up to date with the latest news from the University: www.newsroom.northumbria.ac.uk

FEATURE

#TakeOnTomorrow

As we now focus on the future, what do you feel we have learned and what are the opportunities for Northumbria and the wider Higher Education sector?

THE BIG INTERVIEW: PROFESSOR ANDREW WATHEY CBE, VICECHANCELLOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY Northumbria University News asks Professor Andrew Wathey to reflect on the past 18 months and to look ahead as we emerge from the pandemic with renewed optimism.

In what has been a testing time for the University, what do you feel have been the biggest achievements for Northumbria – and what are you most proud of? Covid has disrupted every life and every plan. It has exaggerated the differences in peoples’ lives, and for many it has been a time of significant personal anguish. So, I think we can be extremely proud simply of how our students and colleagues have managed to get through it in their own way. Collectively, we have also continued through the pandemic to deliver the best possible student experience that we could under the circumstances. This is a real testament to the determination and dedication shown by so many throughout the

pandemic. Paradoxically, while remote working due to Covid-19 arguably drove so many of us apart, I think our sense of connectedness actually grew stronger and teamworking improved despite the enforced isolation. This was certainly something I observed at Northumbria. Coming together to organise, implement and deliver online teaching in little over a weekend was certainly an impressive achievement. As a society, I think we also learnt a lot from working remotely. People adapted quickly to online meetings, and I think the experience left many feeling more empowered and willing to engage. These are strengths and qualities that all organisations can seek to capture and take forward as we return to more normal working patterns.

The pandemic has accelerated a number of developments that were already in train, in some cases by five or more years. An example would be the value offered by online teaching. Students had made it clear to us for some time that they welcome the greater flexibility online learning can provide alongside face-to-face teaching. Covid simply accelerated its development and availability. We have discovered more about managing disparities in areas such as student access to IT and Internet connectivity. While student wellbeing and mental health has been a critical part of our strategy for many years, during the pandemic our capacity and ability to offer support developed further and faster. At the same time, we have established alternative and often more efficient ways of working, which have acted as a catalyst to re-think our basic activity. In research, increased online capabilities have made it easier to attract visiting speakers and collaborators to take part in seminars. This has had considerable benefits, offering new connectivity and ways of interacting. While we will not move away entirely from how we did things in the past, we can capitalise on and crystallise these opportunities and replicate them as we begin to put the pandemic behind us and look to the future. Now that restrictions have eased how important is a return to campus – and is blended learning the right approach? Students have told us they welcome the flexibility provided by online learning, but it is also clear that returning to campus and face-to-face teaching is extremely important. Along with the rest of the sector the aim must be to offer a full oncampus experience for students and staff in a safe and supportive environment as soon as we can. We must of course continue to manage this effectively ensuring all safeguards are in place, regularly reviewed and in line with Government and health and safety guidance. However, as the pandemic subsides our primary focus will be face-to-face teaching supported by excellent online learning that students positively value. Classroom and in-person teaching, along

with access to interactive group sessions, seminars, workshops, libraries, digital hubs and our other campus facilities are all central to the student experience. At the same time, we can see that blended learning captures the benefits of face-to-face teaching, while also allowing the best of online to add to the experience by offering the convenience and flexibility that many students need. With a return to normality in mind, why is it important for Northumbria to create research with impact? It is important that Northumbria undertakes as much top-rated research as it can, but we must also demonstrate how our research has a positive impact economically, culturally or on wider society. This is clearly part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) – the official system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions and for allocating up to £2 billion of research funding. While there are different criteria used to measure the overall quality, value and strength of research, impact is beneficial because it makes the results of research easy to demonstrate. So, the key is to create impact from world-leading research carried out by our academic staff, and to make sure where possible that it can deliver results locally, nationally and globally. Building on research, why is the REF important for Northumbria, the Higher Education sector and the UK? REF is a very full demonstration of the quality and value of research, carried out in universities, which is detailed and accessible for public scrutiny. For the UK as a whole it demonstrates the power and nature of the nation’s universityled research and where potential partners can look internationally for strong collaborations. Positive results in the REF can provide encouragement to university research teams, and of course it also drives research funding. The reputational impacts are also as important, if not more important, than the financial dimension. This is because it can raise the profile and international standing of a university, help bring other worldclass researchers to the institution and attract high-quality partners and collaborators. Importantly, the REF is also a system through which an institution, department or group can easily demonstrate the quality and value of their work.

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How important are universities to the health, wealth and wellbeing of the North East? Our universities are fundamental to the success of the North East – something that has long been recognised by local government and a broad range of regional stakeholders. The research strengths of the region’s universities help to shape the economic landscape of the North East, while the graduates we put into professional and managerial roles are a critical source of enterprise, innovation and growth. Our universities also attract world-class talent– academics and researchers with internationally–recognised expertise and excellence who can help drive the regional economy forward. If you consider the areas of strength selected for the region’s industrial strategy; energy, health, IT and culture, these are all areas of research strength here in the North East. The close alignment between the region’s needs and university skills, knowledge and research, is something we must continue to build on. Indeed, the role regional universities play will be even more important in the future with the growing and now nationally significant concentrations of researchers we have in the North East. You could say a Northern powerhouse of research becomes a possibility, with Northumbria playing its part as it emerges as a fully-fledged research-intensive modern university. What are you most looking forward to this academic year? I would say it is the return to normal operations and the unleashing of energy and innovation which has been pent up for the last 18 months, and what that can do to drive the University forward. After an extraordinarily difficult time for everyone we can now look forward with real optimism.

“OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE NORTH EAST – SOMETHING THAT HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNISED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND A BROAD RANGE OF REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS.”

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

SKILLS BOOTCAMPS PROVIDE LEARNERS WITH BEST-IN-CLASS DIGITAL SKILLS EDUCATION

IN CONVERSATION WITH TIM BAILEY

“WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING TO PLUG THE DIGITAL SKILLS GAP AND SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF THE DIGITAL CONSTRUCTION SECTOR IN OUR REGION”

The ‘Construction Data Scientist’ and ‘Software (Engineering/Architectural Technician Plus)’ bootcamps are supported by Constructing Excellence in the North East (CENE) Chair, Tim Bailey. Tim is an architect and founder of xsite architecture in Newcastle.

LUCY WINSKELL OBE

Construction bootcamps build route to employment Northumbria University has been awarded £800,000 to deliver a series of two, 16-week Skills Bootcamps to connect people into employment in construction. The new skills bootcamps in Construction Data Scientist and The Skills Bootcamp in Software (Engineering and Architectural Technician Plus), form part of an Institute of Coding-led (IoC) programme of 20 Skills Bootcamps. Skills Bootcamps are flexible courses of up to 16 weeks that provide learners with best-inclass digital skills education. The courses deliver resilient pathways to work, with learners receiving the opportunity to interview with an employer upon the successful completion of their Skills Bootcamp. Speaking about the Bootcamps, Lucy Winskell OBE, Pro ViceChancellor (Employability and Partnerships) said: “Northumbria’s expertise in digital construction research, combined with our reputation for innovation and entrepreneurism, and our strong industry partnerships, means we are extremely well-placed to provide this vital training.

“We look forward to helping to plug the digital skills gap and supporting the expansion of the digital construction sector in our region.” The Skills Bootcamp in Construction Data Scientist is targeted at those working within the construction industry, with a focus on digital construction. The Bootcamp will teach data science technologies and techniques, covering the role of coding in the construction industry, understanding building information modelling and artificial intelligence algorithms among other things. Alternatively, The Skills Bootcamp in Software (Engineering/Architectural Technician Plus) is aimed at architects, engineers, technicians, technologists, and anyone interested in advanced digital model authoring and manipulation. It will cover industry-specific software training with an introduction to coding as well as workforce,

presentation and employability skills training. Northumbria University is a leader in digital construction training and heads up the International Centre for Connected Construction, fostering world leading research and innovation in collaboration with industry and public sectors. It will capitalise on expertise in digital construction and a £10 billion global market opportunity with a vision to create 426 jobs and add £133 million to the economy by 2026. If you are a prospective learner or employer and are interested in learning more about the IoCled Skills Bootcamps, please visit IoCSkillsBootcamps.co.uk

In your opinion Tim, where are the biggest skills shortages in the industry and why? There are skills shortages in virtually every area of the industry, from traditional roles to emerging roles and skills. If I was to pick key areas, they would be in digital transformation of processes and practices across all strata, decarbonisation related roles and product innovation. Collective behaviours to improve knowledge and capabilities across the sector would bring with it higher levels of value to competition, rather than the more usual race to the bottom. Why is it essential that staff working within the sector are digitally efficient? Everything is digital in some aspect and lack of skill in this area excludes growth as an individual or a business. Digital construction will continue to increase in influence and remit and every role needs more and better digital skills in their area. This would lead to positive innovation, improved productivity and safety and likely improved profitability, making the sector more widely attractive at entry point. Is there a demand for staff with these digital skills and why? Digital workflows promise - and are already delivering improvements in all areas of the industry and because that is recognised, demand is high. The fragmented nature of the industry has so far prevented a cohesive, united, and visible effort to address these issues. How do you think the Skills Bootcamps will benefit those working within the sector? Skills Bootcamps have the potential to jump start this essential change in focus for the industry. It will create change of direction and emphasis for some, and certainly challenge traditional thinking about processes and career progression. It could herald a quiet revolution within this key and important sector for tackling the big issues facing society today. Will these courses make people more employable and help them to progress their career?

DISCOVER MORE northumbria.ac.uk/loc

They will. I also expect them to spawn some start-up activity and diversification in certain parts of the construction industry. This should lead to high-quality jobs, pay and satisfying career progression.

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Academic honoured for outstanding service to computing community Professor Mohamad Kassem, from Northumbria’s Mechanical and Construction Engineering department, has been awarded the 2021 Scherer Award for outstanding service to the computing community as part of ongoing work for The European Council for Computing in Construction (EC3). EC3 is made up of construction professionals, academics, researchers, and national professional bodies from across Europe. Together they advance professional knowledge and improve engineering practice in the built environment through research. This work informs education and emerging policy in computing and information technologies. Established in 2018, the Scherer Award honours Professor Raimar Scherer, the founder of the European Conference on Product and Process Modelling. Professor Kassem, who is chair of the EC3 Human Data Interaction technical committee, was recently presented with this prestigious award for his extensive knowledge, research, and experience in the computing community. His research has had a significant impact around the world within academia and practice through his unique approach which merges technical research on digital construction with real world solutions to support the digital transformation in the construction sector. Commenting on the award he said: “I’m honoured to receive this award and thank all

Northumbria professor lands second major prize for voluntary efforts

PROFESSOR JOHN DEAN

Northumbria University academic, Professor John Dean, has been recognised by the Royal Society of Chemistry for his outstanding service to society, just 12 months after being honoured with an Inspirational Member Award.

PROFESSOR MOHAMAD KASSEM

“I’M HONOURED TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD AND THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME.” PROFESSOR MOHAMAD KASSEM those who have supported me, including the award committee led by Dr Ioannis Brilakis, Laing O’Rourke Reader in Construction Engineering at the University of Cambridge. “The EC3 organisation has grown quickly over the last four years from a desire to create an international community, to advancing understanding of all of the subjects surrounding computing in construction, and forming links with the professional associations in those areas. “We do this across the whole of Europe, from east to west and

north to south, and I am very proud to be part of it.” At Northumbria, Professor Kassem is Head of Subject for Construction Project Management and helps lead the Built Environment: Digital Futures research group, ensuring students are kept up to speed on the latest developments in the sector.

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/ builtenvironment

Professor Dean, Head of Chemistry and Forensic programmes at Northumbria University, has been granted the 2021 Award for Exceptional Service by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) for supporting the analytical science community and the development of the Schools’ Analyst competition. The national competition, run by the RSC, encourages students across the UK and Republic of Ireland to demonstrate and expand on their knowledge of chemistry, competing against students in their region. Professor Dean has been a Fellow of the RSC since 1993, which aims to advance chemistry for the benefit of society and has one of the most prestigious prize portfolios in the world. Additionally, he has volunteered for the Atomic Spectroscopy Group since 1986, an interest group within the Society’s Analytical Division. He said: “I’m delighted to have received the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Exceptional Service Award 2021.” “I have been actively engaged with the professional body through supporting and developing professional development opportunities and taking a role in governance

committees at both national and regional level for over 35 years, after originally joining as a student member of the Society in 1981.” Professor Dianne Ford, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, said: “The award of this prize is due recognition of the outstanding contributions John has made to advancing the work of this prestigious society through applying analytical chemistry in multiple, timely contexts.” Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, added: “The contribution of volunteers to support and inspire others should rightly be recognised at the highest level. “Professor Dean’s efforts are humbling and a fantastic example for others to look up to.” To find out more about Professor Dean and his work for the Royal Society of Chemistry, please visit: www.northumbria. ac.uk/royalsocietychemistry

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/ appliedsciences

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

Using virtual reality to ‘see’ carbon emissions A Northumbria University academic joined 20,000 global experts and influencers in climate change at the COP26 Climate Change summit to showcase his innovative virtual reality device that could help the construction industry become more environmentally friendly. The building and construction sector is responsible for almost 40% of the world’s energy use and process-related carbon emissions. Efforts to decarbonise it are critical in limiting the rise in global temperature. Inspired by his children’s immersive online gaming, Dr Zaid Alwan, from Northumbria’s Department of Architecture and Built Environment, believes the visualisation of the impact of carbon in homes and buildings caused by day-to-day energy use is the next step forward for the construction industry. An expert in sustainable construction, Dr Alwan has developed the VR-enabled Digital Energy Estimation Tool (DEET) to recreate the 3D immersive reality environment used within virtual reality applications. It will enable people to virtually navigate spaces and see for themselves how much carbon is being used in buildings – helping architects, construction professional developers, planners, and even members of the public, assess where energy is being used within buildings and make changes to make them more environmentally friendly. Beating off stiff competition from hundreds of researchers across the UK, Dr Alwan was selected by the COP26 Universities Network to exhibit at the conference. He believes

the use of VR gaming in helping people to understand and evaluate carbon emissions has potential huge impact in this area. He hopes that when people can physically see the effects of climate change within a room or building, they will be more inspired to take action to address it. “A lot of people associate climate change with natural habitats but in fact, a lot of the damage that comes is actually from the buildings themselves and the energy we use in our day-to-day activities,” he explains. “We have the embodied carbon impact from the materials used within the construction of the building, and the process to manufacture them, and we also have the operational carbon impact which comes through the energy we use for heating, cooking and powering household appliances.” As the DEET tool analyses the energy going into building materials, anyone renovating a house or kitchen could evaluate the space and the materials used and consider alternative ways to develop the building that may have less environmental impact. It can also be applied to larger scale developments, including at a city planning and infrastructure level.

Dr Alwan hopes his time at the conference will inspire him with fresh ideas to bring back to Northumbria students and staff working in the architecture and construction sectors on how to challenge climate change.

DISCOVER MORE northumbria.ac.uk/livesustainably

“A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSOCIATE CLIMATE CHANGE WITH NATURAL HABITATS BUT IN FACT A LOT OF THE DAMAGE THAT COMES IS ACTUALLY FROM THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES AND THE ENERGY WE USE IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES.” DR ZAID ALWAN

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#TakeOnTomorrow

Left: Dr Zaid Alwan with his former research assistant Mingyu Zhu Below: Prime Minister Boris Johnson at COP26

COP26 KEY FACTS:

COP 26 is so-called because it’s the 26th United Nations’ annual global summit on climate change.

COP is a summit

COP26 has been described as

that are part of the UN’s climate change treaty.

to get runaway climate change under control.”

of all the 197 countries

“the world’s best last chance

It is the biggest summit

More than 20,000 world leaders

the UK has ever hosted and is the largest gathering of world leaders ever to take place on British soil.

negotiators, climate experts, and government representatives attended.

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

State-of-the-art equipment will boost research power High performance machinery to help researchers discover new ways of making mobile phones, laptops and TV screens more energy efficient, has been the focus of new investment at Northumbria University. A new Fluorescence Spectrometer – the first to be installed in the UK – will help shape the next generation of electronic devices by helping Dr Marc Etherington to identify light emitting materials which consume less power for use in the display technology of digital devices. Analysing the properties of Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs), which are commonly used to light the display screens of devices including mobile phones and tablets, is one of the key aims of Dr Etherington’s Fluorotonix project, supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The past two decades have seen an explosion in sales of portable electrical devices. Tech giant Apple sold 194 million iPhones and 71 million iPads in 2020 alone. It is hoped using the Spectrometer to study materials such as quinine, which is found in tonic water and naturally emits blue light in an efficient way, will help advance knowledge on how to make OLEDs more energy efficient. “We want to know if we can take inspiration from nature, capture that efficiency, and use it to address this blue OLED challenge that the industry is facing,” said Dr Etherington. “We want to work with industries to create a better product, while also reducing energy consumption, which includes having to charge phones and electrical devices every day.”

Above: Professor John Woodward. Right: Dr Marc Etherington.

Above: Dr Marc Etherington and HORIBA UK Service Engineer, Wayne Twigger, with the state-ofthe-art Fluorescence Spectrometer which is now in a lab within Northumbria’s Engineering and Environment Faculty.

“IT’S THANKS TO CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DELIVER IMPACTFUL RESEARCH PROJECTS AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE COLLABORATIONS ALONGSIDE HIGHQUALITY TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR OUR STUDENTS.” PROFESSOR JOHN WOODWARD

The spectrometer, developed and installed at Northumbria by Northampton-based HORIBA UK, is the latest in a series of investments in new equipment and facilities to support pioneering research activity within the University’s Faculty of Engineering and Environment. The Ion Chromatography System is a high-precision instrument for detecting the chemical ions dissolved in water. Geochemist Dr Joseph Graly plans to use the system to analyse the chemistry of waters from glaciated regions including Antarctica, Greenland and Jan Mayen in Norway. This will help increase understanding of the chemical and physical processes occurring beneath the world’s large ice sheets. Northumbria is also leading major studies into Siberia’s

permafrost, or frozen ground, examining how it has expanded and contracted in response to the changing climates of the past, and how the cold glacial and warmer interglacial periods contributed to its forming and thawing respectively. Thawing permafrost is considered to be one of the key climate tipping elements that would lead to long-term irreversible changes to the global climate. Following the installation of a new clumped isotope lab, Northumbria becomes one of just four universities in the country to be able to undertake the detailed tests required to reconstruct historic temperature conditions. The research forms part of the IsoPerm project, led by palaeoclimatologist, Dr Sebastian Breitenbach.

Acquisition of a Fouriertransform infrared spectrometer is also supporting work by Professor Mike Rogerson. The machine will help facilitate the search for exotic types of carbonate mineral being precipitated in steel waste affected streams in part of the North East. Predictions can then be made on future water quality and pollution. Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor John Woodward, said Northumbria University’s research volume and quality have grown substantially in recent years. He added: “It’s thanks to continued investment in equipment and facilities that we are able to deliver impactful research projects and knowledge exchange collaborations alongside high-quality teaching and learning for our students.” Northumbria offers its facilities and specialist equipment for use in consultancy or research. Information on how to access and hire the kit available can be found online at www. northumbria.ac.uk/business

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/ researchimpact

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Prehistoric homes would have failed modern air quality tests Left: Experiments took place at one of the replica Neolithic homes built at Çatalhöyük in Turkey. (credit Newcastle University)

Research into the link between air quality and respiratory health has shown the negative impact open fires and poor ventilation would have had in prehistoric communities. Working with environmental engineers, researchers from Northumbria, Newcastle, Durham and Copenhagen universities used modern air quality monitoring methods to assess the impact of domestic fuel burning inside Çatalhöyük, in Turkey, one of the world’s earliest settlements. A typical house at Çatalhöyük, a UNESCO World Heritage site, had a domed oven set against the south wall, located beneath an opening in the roof. And although previous studies have shown that burning biofuels - derived from biological material such as trees, agricultural wastes, crops, or grass - has significant negative consequences on health,

especially in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation, the relationship between fuel use and health in prehistory had never before been explored. Different types of fuel were burned in the hearth of the replica house, as part of the research funded by the Wellcome Trust. The experiment revealed that the average levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) over a two-hour period were extremely high and that concentrations continued to remain high up to 40 minutes after the fires had burned out. Though invisible to the naked eye, the air we breathe is loaded with chemicals, allergens, dust, smoke or soil in the form of microscopic solids, liquids or

gases. One of the most miniscule categories of these airborne hazards are called particulate matter, PM2.5. Professor Anil Namdeo, Professor of Air Quality Management at Northumbria University, said: “This work has important implications for the current era. “Many communities all around the world still use biomass for cooking and heating, and in poorly ventilated houses, resulting in more than four million deaths each year associated with indoor air pollution. Our study highlights this issue and could pave the way for developing mitigation measures to minimise this.”

“MANY COMMUNITIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD STILL USE BIOMASS FOR COOKING AND HEATING, AND IN POORLY VENTILATED HOUSES, RESULTING IN MORE THAN FOUR MILLION DEATHS EACH YEAR ASSOCIATED WITH INDOOR AIR POLLUTION.” PROFESSOR ANIL NAMDEO

Dr Lisa-Marie Shillito, Senior Lecturer in Landscape Archaeology at Newcastle University, added that anyone inside buildings like those at Çatalhöyük, with a single small room and no proper chimney, would have been exposed to unsafe levels of particulates as a result of everyday domestic activities. Studying air pollution and respiratory health in the past can be challenging because human remains do not always provide clear signs due to inadequate preservation. Small particles of PM2.5 can travel deep into the lungs where they become embedded in the tissue and can even enter the blood stream, triggering an inflammatory response outside the lungs. The remains of many of the inhabitants of Çatalhöyük show signs of osteoperiostitis, or bone lesions, which can occur in response to infection. The research team suggest that this may be explained by the chronic exposure to PM2.5 that this community would have had. Professor Namdeo is a member of Northumbria University’s Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment. Discover more at www. northumbria.ac.uk/ges

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/geography

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

Meet the academic – Dr Lucy Whalley

Dr Lucy Whalley, a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow specialising in scientific computing at Northumbria University, explains why batteries are a critical piece of the jigsaw on our journey towards net zero. Tell us about your area of research I specialise in computational materials science and use supercomputers to investigate why certain materials perform particularly well when integrated into energy technologies. For example, why is it that some materials can efficiently generate energy from sunlight? And can we engineer new materials which will make even more efficient solar cells? What led to your interest in this field of research? Both of my parents are very socially minded. My father was a nurse and my mum worked in welfare rights, so I always felt, like them, I wanted to contribute and give something back to society. My degree was an MSc in Theoretical Physics. I loved it but wasn’t clear how I could convert my passion into helping answer some of society’s most challenging questions. After spending time as a maths teacher, I recognised that within the field of photovoltaics, which

includes solar cell materials, there is an overlap between the challenge of climate change and condensed matter physics. This provided a clear direction and renewed focus for me. I knew I wanted to concentrate on addressing the challenge of achieving net zero. I went on to study a PhD at Imperial College London in new and sustained photovoltaics, which is the direct conversion of light into electric power and, following a very brief spell as a postdoctoral researcher, came to Northumbria University for my current role. What do you ultimately hope to achieve? Batteries are a critical piece of the jigsaw on our journey towards net zero. Green energy sources such as wind power or solar energy are intermittent so any energy generated needs to be stored efficiently for future use when it’s needed. After all, you can’t expect people to wait for their cup of tea until it’s windy or sunny outside!

My experiments are done on a computer and look at a very basic level of how individual atoms and electrons combine in particular ways. It’s a quick way of identifying materials which might improve the efficiency of solar cells or the storage capacity of batteries and can be used to guide the work of my colleagues who make the materials. Being able to see some of the materials I’m working on now being produced and used in real life applications that will make a positive difference to climate change within my lifetime would make me extremely happy. Who or what inspires you? I’m inspired by the people who put their lives on the line for the net zero target. I love working in this sector, but I recognise that I am well rewarded for my work. As well as a regular salary, I receive recognition and support from the scientific community and wider society. There are people out there who want to make a difference but don’t get any reward. People like Greta Thunberg

and Leah Namugerwa, who are putting enormous pressure on governments across the world to mitigate against climate change, but who have also received a substantial backlash of criticism from certain quarters. They carry on anyway and it’s this spirit of determination that I admire, and which inspires me to carry on with my own work. Tackling climate change is not just about developing new technologies. Science can only take us so far – we need a fundamental cultural change. We need people to embrace and adopt new technologies and we need governments to help finance and support these new technologies to help us achieve net zero. What attracted you to Northumbria? Northumbria has an incredibly strong relationship with industry and works closely with employers so that its research has more impact on the critical problems facing the world today. The University takes a wideranging approach to research,

covering the initial stages of development right through to the industrial application. This approach appeals to my desire to make a difference and very much attracted me to my current role. For more information about Northumbria’s work to help tackle climate change visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/ livesustainably

“WE NEED PEOPLE TO EMBRACE AND ADOPT NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND WE NEED GOVERNMENTS TO HELP FINANCE AND SUPPORT THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP US ACHIEVE NET ZERO.”

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/mpee

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Glaciologist transforms understanding of climate change in Antarctica The International Glaciological Society’s Seligman Crystal is only awarded to those researchers whose work has a long-lasting impact on the understanding, direction or focus of a glaciological discipline. Professor Adrian Jenkins has spent the last 35 years at the forefront of research into ice-ocean interactions. Having formerly worked with the British Antarctic Survey, he moved to Northumbria University in 2020 to join the University’s world-leading Cold and Palaeo Environments research group. He was named recipient of the Seligman Crystal for his outstanding interdisciplinary work at the boundary of glaciology and oceanography. Critically, Professor Jenkins led the team that discovered an unknown world beneath West Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier in 2009. Scientists had previously believed the seabed beneath the ice shelf to be flat, but Professor Jenkins’ research revealed this was not the case. Professor Jenkins was keen to use new submarine technologies to observe the ocean beneath the ice shelves. Using an Autosub –

an autonomous underwater vehicle – he was able to detail features of the ice shelf base and seabed, exposing that the seabed rose to a 300-metrehigh ridge that bore the marks of earlier glacier flow. These findings completely changed scientific understanding of the thinning and retreat of Pine Island Glacier, telling a different tale of how the glacier had changed over time. As a result, scientists now have a far better understanding of how climate change is driving ice sheet retreat in the region and are continuing to build on this research. The International Glaciological Society said that Professor Jenkins’ research has

been “fundamental to quantifying melting and freezing patterns under ice-shelves and in analysing marine ice deposition.” Speaking about his award, Professor Jenkins said it was a huge honour. “I’ve looked up to the previous recipients of the Seligman Crystal with a sense of awe and admiration,” he said. “They really are a select bunch, including the very founders of the subject as we now know it. It is a surreal feeling to be joining them, and I’m still not really sure it has sunk in.” Hilmar Gudmundsson, Professor of Glaciology and Extreme Environments said: “We were delighted to welcome Adrian to our team last year.

His work has been the foundation for much of our understanding around global climate change, ice-ocean interaction and sea level change and I am so pleased that he has received such recognition for his outstanding efforts in climate research.” Northumbria’s Cold and Palaeo Environments research group is now believed to be the largest team of cold climate researchers in the UK. They are involved in major international studies including playing leading roles in the £20 million UK/US International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration and a £4 million EU-funded study assessing tipping points in the Antarctic climate system.

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/cape

“HIS WORK HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATION FOR MUCH OF OUR UNDERSTANDING AROUND GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, ICE-OCEAN INTERACTION AND SEA LEVEL CHANGE AND I AM SO PLEASED THAT HE HAS RECEIVED SUCH RECOGNITION FOR HIS OUTSTANDING EFFORTS IN CLIMATE RESEARCH.” PROFESSOR HILMAR GUDMUNDSSON

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

FASHION FORWARD: NORTHUMBRIA CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF GRADUATE FASHION WEEK

Left: Gwyneth Paltrow in custom G. Label for The Avengers Movie premier, designed by graduate Shaun Kearney.

Left: Graduate Alec Maxwell’s British Vogue December 2019 cover featuring American singer and performer, Lizzo.

While 2021 has heralded the return to the runway for in-person fashion shows internationally, it also marks the 30th anniversary of an event which has become one of the world’s most important sources of new talent for the global design industry. Graduate Fashion Week was founded in 1991 to unify UK, and later international, universities, creating a stronghold for the industry to help find the best creatives of the future. Northumbria is one of just a few universities whose Fashion programme staff and students became involved in the Londonbased event from the very beginning. Since then, more than 80 universities around the world have become involved with the annual showcase and 100,000 graduates have been supported to show off their skills. In June, a hybrid approach to comply with Covid-19 guidelines saw the 30th event go ahead with design exhibitions, a livestreamed runway show and a digital portfolio platform to make the work of up and coming designers more accessible all year round. Northumbria School of Design has an established reputation at Graduate Fashion Week, with students winning over 40 awards in the last few years, including New Designer of the Year, the Fashion Innovation Award and the Ethical Award. Emma Jane Goldsmith, Senior Lecturer in Fashion at Northumbria, said the event helps to bridge the gap between

graduation and employment and is responsible for launching the careers of some of the most successful designers of our time, including Stella McCartney and Christopher Bailey. “What is most impressive is the platform Graduate Fashion Week gives students to be recognised within the industry,” she explained. “We support them through the event to understand what employers are looking for in ways which remain relevant to current trends. “There’s a lot of nostalgia around Graduate Fashion Week for me. I’m one of a number of Northumbria alumni who now teach here. “We remember the event as students and recognise the excitement of being able to showcase something so personal to you – that doesn’t go away.” Douglas MacLennan is Chairman of the Graduate Fashion Foundation which organises Graduate Fashion Week, and former Design School Director - International Development and Recruitment at Northumbria. Reflecting in the past 30 years, he said: “In 1991 the vast majority of the UK high street fashions were supplied by UK manufacturers and Graduate Fashion Week was seen as a ‘one

“THERE’S A LOT OF NOSTALGIA AROUND GRADUATE FASHION WEEK FOR ME. I’M ONE OF A NUMBER OF NORTHUMBRIA ALUMNI WHO NOW TEACH HERE.WE REMEMBER THE EVENT AS STUDENTS AND RECOGNISE THE EXCITEMENT OF BEING ABLE TO SHOWCASE SOMETHING SO PERSONAL TO YOU – THAT DOESN’T GO AWAY.” EMMA JANE GOLDSMITH stop shop’ for industry to engage with Higher Education and source the best UK-trained fashion talent. “The event started out with involvement from just 12 University Fashion and Fashion marketing programmes, including Northumbria, and has grown considerably to become the world’s biggest showcase of BA Fashion talent, attracting global attention and participation from industry, including Ralph Lauren, Gap Inc. and LVMH. “The last two years have brought a unique set of challenges. Covid-19 had a huge impact but, crucially, it never succeeded in quelling the incredible creativity and

innovation our Fashion graduates are world renowned for. “We are proud to state that in the darker days of 2020 we were the only art and design subject area to retain and deliver a national graduate exhibition. Showcasing and elevating the work of our graduates has been the focus of the foundation for 30 years and we were determined not to deliver any differently for those working and graduating in the midst of Covid restrictions. “As we move forward towards 2022 and beyond, I am delighted to see that the global fashion industry is once again reviving catwalk shows, and no doubt providing huge inspiration for those that are embarking on a

new academic year.” Emma Jane added: “To celebrate three decades of Graduate Fashion Week, we wanted to showcase a retrospective of our alumni and their current roles in industry. Here, we celebrate their success and the past graduate collections of these former Northumbria students, who have excelled across all fashion disciplines and genres since graduating.” Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/ fashion to discover more about studying Fashion at Northumbria.

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/fashion

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#TakeOnTomorrow

Left: Nicola Morgan’s BA (hons) Fashion graduating collection, captured by Chris Moore.

Right: BA (hons) Fashion graduating collections by Hannah Donkin, Miranda Poppy Kale and Rosie Janes, all captured by Chris Moore.

OLIVER MOORES’ BA (HONS) FASHION GRADUATING COLLECTION, CAPTURED BY CHRIS MOORE.

30 NORTHUMBRIA FASHION ALUMNI – 1991 TO 2021 1991 Louise Trotter – Creative Director at Lacoste 1993 Sasha Kelly – Senior Vice President of Design at Purple Label and Polo Brands Outerwear 1994 Julian T. Roberts – Subtraction pattern cutting inventor and British Fashion Council collaborator 1996 Shaun Kearney – Chief Design and Merchandising Officer at Goop.com, Gwyneth Paltrow’s design company

Below: Graduate Melissa Dick has worked with Jennifer Lopez during her time at Coach. Credit, Coach Campaigns by Juergen Teller, Stuart Vever and Melissa Dick.

1996 Melissa Dick – Vice President Global Head of Creative Strategy and Studio at Coach 1999 Sophie Cranston – Creative Director and owner at Libelula 1999 Thomas Walker – Global Design Director for Football at Nike 2004 Alec Maxwell – Founder of fashion film company, KLOSS Films, and Digital Creative Director at large of British Vogue 2006 James Lawrence – Head of Menswear Design at ASOS.com 2006 Kate Ablett – Design Lead at Berghaus, Pentland Brands Ltd 2009 Miriam Sucis – Senior Menswear Designer jersey/sweat/active/fleece at Marks and Spencer 2009 Dulcie Dryden – Menswear Designer at Next Ltd 2009 Nicola Morgan – Creative Director at Perfect Number, Los Angeles 2010 Naomi New – Womenswear Design Controller at River Island (womenswear, outerwear, knitwear, tailoring, jersey, lounge, active and studio)

2011 Charis Younger – Senior Womenswear Designer at H&M 2012 Hannah Harrison – Senior Accessories Designer at Paul Smith 2012 Oliver Moores – Head of Menswear Design at Paul Smith 2013 Miranda Poppy Kale – Print Designer at Dries Van Noten 2013 Rosie Janes – Product Developer for Knitwear and Jersey at Alfred Dunhill 2013 Adam Hogarth – Associate Director of Design at Filson, Seattle 2014 Hannah Donkin – Product Developer and Production Manager at Simone Rocha 2014 Katrina Wagster – Multi Product Technologist at Burberry 2015 Bethan Schad – Product Developer for Outerwear and Wovens at Belstaff 2016 Samuel Beaumont Perkins – Menswear Designer at Hackett, Aston Martin range 2017 Katie Linacre – Senior Assistant Designer for Reclaimed Vintage at ASOS 2017 Harriet Eccleston – Founder of Harriet Eccleston 2018 Niran Blues Nair – Lot 1 Tailor at Levi Strauss & Co 2018 Penny Gibbs – Junior Womenswear Outerwear Designer at Tommy Hilfiger 2019 Jasmine Bennett – Junior Designer for Girls’ Knitwear at H&M 2020 Katie Gedling – Design Assistant for Outerwear at J. Barbour & Sons Ltd

22 When Northumbria University student Max Telford found a small tin while clearing out his grandmother’s house, he never dreamt its contents would provide him with the inspiration for his award-winning final year project. The tin contained photos and records going back to the Second World War and documenting his family’s Danish heritage. Among them were accounts of his great uncle William’s time on the front line, including diagrams of plane engines and sketches of maps, as well as passports, and a postcard of his grandmother’s birthplace Hjørring, in northern Denmark. During Max’s time as a final year Fashion Design and Marketing student, he combined textiles traditionally used during WW2 with sustainable design practices to share his unique family history. The result is a collection of stunning designs which impressed judges so much at this year’s Graduate Fashion Foundation Awards – the world’s largest showcase of undergraduate fashion talent – that Max was named winner of the Zandra Rhodes Fashion Textiles Award. The award is presented to a student who has created a distinctive and thoughtprovoking exploration of the creative textile process, and who has challenged the established boundaries of technical excellence. “Winning the award was very emotional because this work carries the memories of my family within it,” said Max, who has since graduated. “It is a story-driven project that homages my past and those who have led me to be here today.” Max was one of two Northumbria University students recognised at the prestigious Graduate Fashion Foundation Awards this year, with fellow Fashion Design and Marketing graduate, Victoria Archer named winner of the Tu Challenge 21. The £5,000 prize, awarded by Sainsbury’s Tu Clothing, challenges students to create a

Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

Drawing on the past to fashion the future

Below: Designs by Fashion Design and Marketing graduate, Max Telford.

sustainabilityfocused product. As one of two winners of the Tu Challenge 21, Victoria will work alongside Tu’s in-house design team to see her idea come to life. Students from across Northumbria’s three Fashion programmes impressed across the board at this year’s awards, with a total of 15 students shortlisted and five named as finalists. Naomi Pugh was named finalist in the Fashion Digital Portfolio Award, Reuben Neill in the Fashion Photography Award, Gabrielle Kayley in

the Sportswear & Leisurewear Award, and Sara Carney in the Fashion Concept Award. Meanwhile Conor McLaughlin was a finalist in both the Fashion Innovation Award and

the Fashion Illustration Award. Reflecting on the challenges presented by Covid-19, Max explained: “All the students supported each other and took what was a barrier and

channelled it into something to be proud of, and that in itself is a skill. “Our tutors have also been a huge support network and, although we had to manage through a computer screen, they’ve been really supportive in helping us realise our ideas.” Gayle Cantrell, Head of Subject for Fashion at Northumbria, said this year’s cohort had showed exceptional creativity and determination. Speaking about the students’ success at this year’s Graduate Fashion Foundation Awards, she said: “We are so proud of our students and their thoughtful, imaginative approach to their final projects. Their recognition at this level is well-deserved, and we anticipate great things from them as they launch their professional careers.” Find out more at graduatefashionfoundation.com

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/fashion

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DR ALANA JAMES

Sustainable fashion pledge backed by academics An agreement designed to limit the impact clothes and home textiles have on climate change has been signed by academic staff at Northumbria University.

As a signatory of the Textiles 2030 voluntary agreement, Northumbria academics have pledged to share their expertise to work collaboratively with government, brands and retailers, recycling leaders, innovators, academics and communities, to tackle the issue of sustainability within the textiles industry. The initiative aims to bring together brands and recycling organisations as they work towards national sustainability targets. The agreement aims to help achieve net zero by 2050 and reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of products sold by 50%, in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change. It aims to reduce the amount of water used during all stages of production of products, or water footprint, by 30%. It is hoped that the agreement will also set a new vision for the industry in which products are designed to be circular, meaning they are used for longer, can be recycled at the end of their lives, and can be re-used or repaired where possible. Among those involved is Dr Alana James, Programme Leader for the MA Fashion Design programme at Northumbria’s School of Design. Reflecting on Textiles 2030, Alana said: “Our collective efforts towards fighting climate change are needed now more than ever. “The traditional fashion system creates significant environmental and social impact, meaning that systemic change and alternative methods of design and manufacture are needed going forward. “The Fashion Department at Northumbria is committed to creating new innovative ways of working, educating the next generation of industry professionals towards a sustainable future.” The Textiles 2030 agreement which is aligned to both the Paris Agreement and the UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action is also supported by the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow of Defra said: “Thousands of tonnes of unwanted clothes and textiles end up in landfill and incineration each year, wasting precious natural resources. “That is why we must shift away from this ‘take, make, use, throw’ approach to a more circular system where clothes are kept in use and re-used, recycled fibres are used in new products and the climate and water impacts of the sector are reduced. “Textiles 2030 will help drive this transformation, to shift to greater circularity and innovation in the UK – and help in our mission to build back greener from the Covid pandemic.” The fashion and textiles industries provide employment for millions of people around the world. However, in recent years their impact on climate change has come under the spotlight, with a particular focus on ‘fast fashion’ – clothes made and sold cheaply and discarded after a short amount of time. There has been increasing pressure for the industries to adopt new ways of working, both from customers looking for more sustainable options, as well as government and investors. Textiles 2030 will work to identify opportunities to reduce the impact of the fashion industry, carry out groundbreaking pilot schemes, share knowledge and innovations, influence policy making, and engage with consumers along the way. Northumbria University has strong expertise in sustainability and ethical fashion practices, incorporating this into its undergraduate Fashion programmes, as well as offering a dedicated Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Design master’s course. Find out more at www.northumbria.ac.uk/ design

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/ livesustainably

“WE MUST SHIFT AWAY FROM THIS ‘TAKE, MAKE, USE, THROW’ APPROACH TO A MORE CIRCULAR SYSTEM WHERE CLOTHES ARE KEPT IN USE AND RE-USED, RECYCLED FIBRES ARE USED IN NEW PRODUCTS AND THE CLIMATE AND WATER IMPACTS OF THE SECTOR ARE REDUCED.” ENVIRONMENT MINISTER REBECCA POW OF DEFRA

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

Empowering northern storytellers A pioneering writing programme, supported by Northumbria University, will empower writers to develop creative projects and connect with the writing industry. The Northern Writers’ Awards were founded in 2000 by New Writing North, an agency established in 1996 to help writers in the North of England fulfil their creative ambitions. The Northern Writers’ Awards support both new and established writers as they develop their work towards publication by offering mentoring, financial support, career opportunities and introductions to agents and publishers. The Awards are sponsored by Arts Council England, Northumbria University and Durham County Council, alongside other publishing, media and higher education partners. After a record-breaking 2,000 applicants entered this year, awards worth over £46,000 were shared between 27 writers of fiction, poetry, prose, children’s fiction, narrative non-fiction and television writing. Katy Shaw, Professor of Contemporary Writings and Faculty Director of Partnerships at Northumbria University, said: “For more than a decade, Northumbria has been the proud sponsor of the Northern Writers’ Awards, which profiles the best new talent in writing from our wonderful North of England. The events of the last year have made us acutely aware of how much we rely on writing – whether that be novels, plays, TV or film – both for our entertainment and wellbeing and to bring us together in shared experiences at times when we are physically far apart.” The Northern Writers’ Awards are renowned for identifying some of the country’s best unpublished writing, as well as assisting aspiring television writers through a successful partnership with Channel 4. “Our nurturing approach to working with writers gives them the opportunity to enrich their craft and make meaningful connections to the publishing and broadcasting

industries,” said Senior Programme Manager at New Writing North, Will Mackie. “The Awards have an extraordinary track record of not only identifying talented writers based in the North but also of helping to develop work-in-progress into exciting and adventurous finished books. “We are massively grateful to our partners for their continued support. Each one of them contributes to deepening and diversifying the rich portfolio of opportunities that we offer. We believe strongly that collaborations between the literature sector, publishers and broadcasters are needed more than ever in such uncertain and challenging times.” Find out more at northernwritersawards.com

“OUR NURTURING APPROACH TO WORKING WITH WRITERS GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS TO THE PUBLISHING AND BROADCASTING INDUSTRIES.” WILL MACKIE, NEW WRITING NORTH

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/studyenglish

THE PORTICO PRIZE Twenty-first century literature expert Professor Katy Shaw, of Northumbria University, was invited to join the Society of Readers and Writers for The Portico Prize for Literature. The Society of Readers and Writers is a group of literary enthusiasts appointed by the Portico Library to collectively draw up a longlist for the Portico Prize. The Portico Prize is a £10,000 biennial award, open to new works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry that best evokes the spirit of the North of England. Eligible books have a central theme or subject that engages with some aspect of the North, whether through place, character, or sensibility. Submissions to the Portico Prize were divided between the Society of Readers and Writers, who selected a longlist of 14 books that explore multiple themes including family, friendship, class, race, identity, masculinity, sexuality, the meaning of place and memories of the past. A judging panel will narrow these down to a shortlist of six books, the result of which will be announced on Tuesday 7 December. The winner of the Portico Prize will be announced in January 2022. Professor Shaw was among an appointed group of 21 writers, academics, poets, critics, librarians, and editors, invited to be part of this year’s Society. All

members receive a one-year honorary membership of the Portico Library. As Professor of Contemporary Writings within Northumbria University’s Department of Humanities, Professor Shaw is a strong advocate for opportunities for Northern writers. Last year she published the Common People report, which called for major changes to the publishing industry to make it more accessible for writers from diverse and working-class backgrounds. Lynne Allan, Chair of The Portico Library, said: “The Portico Prize makes a welcome return in 2021. We’re thrilled to be working with this year’s Society of Readers and Writers, whose passion and dedication to reading and writing will help us to shine a spotlight on the most important new writing about the North, in all its diversity.” Find out more at theportico.org.uk

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#TakeOnTomorrow

Graduate named as one of the top 50 women in engineering Engineering may be a sector where women remain under-represented, but a Northumbria University graduate has been named in a list of the top 50 trailblazing females driving change and making an impact. Samidha Anand has been selected by the Women’s Engineering Society as one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering in 2021 as part of the annual Engineering Heroes (WE50) awards. The awards aim to showcase the diverse and rewarding career options engineering offers. Samidha’s work as Engineering Manager for world-leading manufacturer Caterpillar in the UK helped to put her firmly in the frame. She has immersed herself in helping others take an interest in STEM, not least by overseeing work experience for young people through her role as the company’s Apprentice Manager. Samidha is also a Caterpillar in the UK ambassador for the Society of Women Engineers and a member in the company’s employee resource group for their Internal Women’s Initiative Network. Samidha, who joined Northumbria in 2007 to undertake an MSc in Mechanical Engineering, acknowledges that she works in a male-dominated environment but has never seen it as a barrier. “As a child, I was always keen to know how things work, I’ve always loved maths, science and computing and spent a lot of time writing codes and drawing shapes.” But it wasn’t until she’d completed the Indian equivalent of A-levels in high school that Samidha really began to consider her career options. She added: “It was true then and I think, in many ways is still true now, there wasn’t

SAMIDHA ANAND’S WORK AS ENGINEERING MANAGER FOR CATERPILLAR IN THE UK HAS HELPED HER STAND OUT AS ONE OF THE TOP 50 WOMEN IN ENGINEERING IN 2021.

much awareness of the job routes available from studying engineering. “But I decided on Mechanical Engineering and sat an exam to get a place at engineering college in India.” Conversations with a friend about furthering her studies in the UK led Samidha to make contact with Northumbria, and she was supported with the visa application process for her move to Newcastle. From designing the components and assessing the strength of materials, to 3D printing and rapid prototyping skills, Samidha says the knowledge she picked up on her Master’s degree course was vital

to her kick-starting her career in the UK. “So many of the basics from the modules on my course, I still use every day in my work,” she explained. “I was lucky enough to be given details of a contact at Caterpillar by one of the tutors on my course and I applied for most of the jobs advertised on their website as my studies were coming to an end.” By August 2008, Samidha had relocated to Peterborough to take up her first role with the international organisation and she has continued to climb the ranks ever since. And more women seem to be following her lead, with a recent

“IT WAS TRUE THEN AND I THINK IN MANY WAYS IS STILL TRUE NOW, THERE WASN’T MUCH AWARENESS OF THE JOB ROUTES AVAILABLE FROM STUDYING ENGINEERING.” SAMIDHA ANAND report by UCAS and Richard Nelson LLP law firm suggesting that the number of female applicants for engineering courses has almost doubled in the past ten years. Samidha said: “It’s an honour to have this recognition and I do everything I can to raise awareness of the range of opportunities studying engineering or any STEM subject can bring.” Professor Laurent Dala, Head of Department for Mechanical and Construction Engineering, said: “It’s so important to get the message out that engineering offers lots of rewarding and

exciting career paths for women, as well as men. “I hope by sharing her story and successes from her career journey to date, Samidha helps to inspire other young women to consider an engineering career in the future.” To find out more about engineering courses at Northumbria and the career options available, visit www. northumbria.ac.uk/mce

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/alumni

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

Recognising reputation for excellence in research One of the UK’s leading research funders has awarded prestigious fellowships to four early career researchers embarking on their careers at Northumbria University. The Leverhulme Trust prides itself on supporting only the most talented researchers carrying out projects of the highest originality which will have significance and relevance outside of its field. It has selected four new Fellows who will join Northumbria this autumn to work on their innovative studies, supported by expert mentors. Professor Louise Bracken, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, said: “These Fellowships are highly sought after and only go to the best early career academics working on exciting projects in universities with the best research environments, and with renowned mentors in their field to support the work. “I am especially pleased to see that four awards have been made to researchers at

Northumbria. This is clear evidence that the supportive and stimulating environment we have for early careers researchers is being recognised externally.” The Fellows will investigate new technologies and emerging and historic issues affecting society. Dr Kunyapat Thummavichai plans to develop a new form of self-powered switchable glazing to make buildings more energy efficient. She hopes to embed glazing with photovoltaic solar cells that can change the colour of the glass and reduce heat generation from sunlight. Her project will lead to a reduction in carbon emissions caused by heat within buildings. As a Fellow in English Literature, Dr Samraghni Bonnerjee will analyse fictional and non-fictional texts to

investigate how South Asian soldiers who were fighting for Britain during the First World War had unequal access to medical care.

hope within marginalised groups. Dr Harry Pettit will look at how entrepreneurs building online platforms for the emerging gig economy in

In the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, two Fellows will focus on the experiences of

Cairo are creating visions of Egypt’s new digitalised future for taxi drivers and domestic workers. Meanwhile, Isabel

Meier will explore critical issues for migrants across European borders in Germany, Greece and the UK. She aims to reveal the role that hope plays in the everyday survival and politics of a range of migrant communities and will also look at the impact of Covid-19 and its related legislation on different groups of migrants. Since 2018 the Leverhulme Trust has awarded £2.5 million to Northumbria to undertake world-leading research. The latest Fellowships are a clear sign that Northumbria is becoming known as one of the best environments for research excellence in the UK.

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/research

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#TakeOnTomorrow

Design of the times A new report reveals ways in which arts practice and performance research methods can provide vital new approaches to city pandemic planning, both in the context of Covid-19 and for future crises.

Above: Bristol’s ‘parks with hearts’. Left: Rainbow’s End by Zoe Allen and Allan Dixon.

Covid-19 has transformed the ways in which we live and work in cities. As a result, there is an urgent need to understand how to sustain city life in the context of pandemic prevention measures. At the same time, emergency planning professionals are calling for new and innovative approaches to preparedness and response planning. Directly addressing these needs, Dr Patrick Duggan from Northumbria University and Dr Stuart Andrews from Brunel University London are investigating the ways in which arts and performance can open up new perspectives on city emergency and resilience strategy and practice. The 18-month project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as part of UK Research and Innovation’s rapid response to Covid-19 fund, began in December 2020. Over the first nine months of the project, Dr Duggan and Dr Andrews teamed up with strategic decision-makers in hazard mitigation, sustainability and resilience. Working with colleagues from Bristol, Glasgow and Newcastle City Councils, as well as with artists and arts

organisations, they explored ways that artistic practice and research might inform hazard mitigation planning in UK cities for the ongoing pandemic and potential future crises. In an interim report published in September, the academics explained their findings so far, highlighting how performance practices can respond creatively, swiftly and engagingly to changing crisis situations, while also offering ways to sustain communities’ emotional wellbeing. The academics identified several instances of spaces being reworked - one powerful project was found in Bristol, where the city’s ‘parks with hearts’ – giant, socially distanced hearts painted on the grass – proved an engaging way of encouraging people to enjoy green spaces safely. This simple yet appealing intervention sparked a flurry of social media engagement and helped to promote physical distancing in the city. Simple circles painted in other cities’ public spaces were found to be less effective at generating engagement. Dr Duggan, Associate Professor of Performance and Culture at Northumbria University,

explained: “Performative, playful and creative interventions in cities during the pandemic invite new ways of connecting with public safety protocols that are engaging and, potentially, even fun. This offers opportunities for innovative thinking in emergency planning.” Discovering that conventional municipal Covid-19 signage was not always effective, the team explored examples of arts practice that reworked public health messaging, making the call to action to engage with such messaging more creative. Outside BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, for instance, words from public messaging have been included in a public artwork painted on the flagstones: ‘Hands, Face’, ‘Save’. Participants can observe the signs but also engage with them by following the swirling lines of the artwork. The artwork, Rainbow’s End by Zoe Allen and Allan Dixon, features familiar public health messaging while also inviting new readings of the words by placing them alongside other messages about climate emergency. As well as unveiling emerging findings and prompting conversations, the report offers city councils in the UK,

and internationally, a series of ‘invitations to innovate’ that suggest ways of addressing five pandemic challenges: reaching communities; re-designing places; engaging people with public health messaging; managing perceptions of Covid-19 and vaccinations and finally, connecting people to alleviate isolation and loneliness. Helen Hinds, Head of Resilience Planning, Newcastle City Council, said: “This report is exciting because it reveals new ways of thinking about arts practice in a city. Such work is important to the Emergency Planning community because it promotes innovation which develops and changes our professional practice. This can give us better tools to provide a more nuanced response for our communities if an emergency happens.” For more information about the project please visit www. performingcityresilience.com

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/arts

“THIS REPORT IS EXCITING BECAUSE IT REVEALS NEW WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT ARTS PRACTICE IN A CITY. SUCH WORK IS IMPORTANT TO THE EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT PROMOTES INNOVATION WHICH DEVELOPS AND CHANGES OUR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE.” HELEN HINDS, HEAD OF RESILIENCE PLANNING, NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

Joining forces with Marie Curie to support final wishes

Academics at Northumbria are evaluating Rapid Response Services to improve end-of-life care at home in new research funded by Marie Curie. When people reach the end of their lives, it is important that they can be where they want to be. While research indicates that the vast majority of people would prefer to die at home, nearly half of deaths took place in hospitals prior to the pandemic. To help make their preferred choice possible for patients, it is vital that the services delivering endof-life care are available at a time and place when the patient and their family need support. Academics at Northumbria University recognised that there is a need to understand better what people require at the end of their lives, when they need it and how health and social services can support them. Patients are particularly vulnerable at the end of life and, when they need help, they need it to be timely and accessible. Rapid Response Services are one way

of supporting people to die at home – but there has been very little research to evaluate them. To address some of the gaps in research, a team of experts from Northumbria will look at their effectiveness for patients, carers and the cost implications of these services. Funded by Marie Curie, the two-year project will enable the team to make recommendations regarding further implementation of Rapid Response Services. This will help to influence policy and the ways in which end-of-life care is commissioned, planned and delivered. Professor of Nursing Amanda Clarke, who is co-leading the research, said: “It is essential that the services delivering end-of-life care are available at a time and place when the patient and their family need support. Contributing to the

evidence that shows us how best to do this is of great importance; we have just one chance to get it right at the end of people’s lives.” As part of the new study, the team will evaluate two different Rapid Response Services in the North of England, identifying if and how each service helps patients and their families, how they work with other community

teams and the cost of the services to the NHS. By looking at the different approaches used by these two services, the team will be able to highlight what works best, for who, in what circumstances and why. With an ageing population meaning more people are living for longer with multiple and complex conditions, the demand for palliative and end-of-life

care was already set to increase rapidly – a demand that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. While the number of people dying at home has increased significantly since the onset of the pandemic, survey results published by Marie Curie in April 2021 suggested that as many as 76% of people whose loved one died at home felt they were not offered the care and support they needed as carers. The research team will therefore also examine the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on Rapid Response Services, which will help to develop the services in a way that best supports patients and their carers during the pandemic and beyond. Sabine Best, Head of Research at Marie Curie, said: “For every person we care for at the end of their life, there are many more missing out on the conversations, support and care they rightly deserve. We know that the most important knowledge gap in palliative and end-of-life research is about how to best provide palliative care outside of working hours, avoiding crises, and helping people stay in their place of choice. This research will help us gain a better understanding of the part Rapid Response Services play in end-of-life care and enable us to make recommendations and influence change where it is so vitally needed.” Learn more about our research at www.northumbria.ac.uk/ref.

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/nmh

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#TakeOnTomorrow

Teenagers take the lead in wellbeing research

Practitioners and policy makers across the North-East and North Cumbria will have access to wellbeing research conducted by young people providing insights into what kind of wellbeing support they think should be made available, and how it should be accessed.

“YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SHOWING US JUST WHAT THEY CAN DO WHEN THEY ARE SUPPORTED TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR INSIGHTS IN CREATIVE WAYS AND ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.” DR IAN ROBSON

The value of engaging young people in service design is championed by Northumbria University academics Dr Ian Robson and Dr Emily Henderson, from the University’s Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing. In a project funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) and North East and North Cumbria (NENC), teenagers in Cumbria were supported to design and conduct their own research projects. Academics from Northumbria and Cumbria Universities worked with a group of 35 young people from William Howard School Sixth Form in Brampton, and eight members of the Carlisle Youth Zone youth project. The team used a research method called ‘participatory action research’ which equipped the young people with their own research skills, empowering them

to carry out their own projects. The method places communities and groups right at the heart of a research topic which could have a direct impact on them. Dr Robson explained: “Young people are showing us just what they can do when they are supported to contribute their insights in creative ways and are taken seriously. “The Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing department values approaches to research that build trusting relationships and promote social justice. “It’s at the heart of what our academics do and this is one example of the work we can do with people experiencing and working in health, education and care services.” Some of the first pieces of research by students at William Howard School have already been published, covering topics including self-image and wellbeing in lockdown.

The focus on self-image revealed society, communities, the media and individual psychology all played a part in how young people view themselves and believe they are viewed by the world around them. Recommendations from the students suggest several opportunities for change which could help improve self-image, including education on the factors that might lead to poor selfimage. The research on wellbeing in lockdown asked questions about the impact of online learning during the pandemic, at a critical point in the education of many young people. It also found that many students experienced a lack of motivation, excessive stress and a dread of workload.

During the second part of the project, involving young people from Carlisle Youth Zone, subjects such as girls playing football, homophobia, racist abuse, music and medications for chronic mental health issues all emerged as important issues. Across the course of a week, the Youth Zone group reflected on their own experiences to generate insights for research through the development of an innovative multimedia installation and film. The students have now shared their findings with a wide audience from across the region during an online presentation and celebration event. Alongside the project work, the academic team have been looking at the process of youth participatory research and have

produced a set of resources, which are available online, to support the delivery of future youth-led research, both regionally and nationally. The team are also working with the National Youth Agency to produce a national certificate for young researchers. The project has been recognised by children’s human rights organisation, Investing in Children, with a Dialogue and Change Award. Northumbria’s Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing takes commissions from organisations who would like to research and evaluate aspects of their own activity. Discover more online at www.northumbria.ac.uk/ socialwork

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

Bringing more nurses to the frontline

Below: Senior Lecturer Mike Kelleher teaching nursing students.

Northumbria University’s reputation as one of the top training centres for nursing in the UK has been reinforced after being selected to be one of five national training centres helping to bring new nurses to the frontline. All new nurses in the UK must complete an Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as part of their ‘Test of Competence’ before they can be registered to practice. This face-to-face examination engages actors as patients, simulating a variety of medical conditions or ailments. Nurses are assessed on how they care for and communicate with the patient to ensure they demonstrate the required standards, skills and knowledge to care for people safely and effectively. The OSCE is part of the degree programme for newly qualified nurses, but those recruited from overseas or who have taken a significant break from their nursing career must take the exam before they can join or rejoin the nursing register. Until now, these new and returning nurses had to travel to Northampton, Ulster or Oxford to take their OSCE. However, recognising the need to improve both testing capacity and accessibility to bring people onto the UK nursing register as quickly as possible, the Nursing and Midwifery Council selected Northumbria University to become one of two new national OSCE testing centres. The announcement means that up to 7,000 new nurses and midwives will complete the final stage of their training at Northumbria each year.

Having a national centre based at the University will be of significant benefit to the NHS locally, regionally and nationally as trusts will no longer need to send their new staff hundreds of miles to complete their training. It will also bring a financial boost to the wider regional economy. Approximately 30 permanent jobs are expected to be created to successfully run the centre and there is likely to be a connected uplift in tourism as thousands of nurses’ travel to the city from around the UK to take their test. The University worked in partnership with the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS

Foundation Trust and Newcastle City Council to submit the bid for centre status. Staff are working closely with partners and the Nursing and Midwifery Council to be ready to receive the first OSCE candidates in February 2022. Professor Debra Porteous, Head of the Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health says: “We are delighted to be chosen as the main university centre in the North of England. It is a great achievement for the region to be able to contribute to the registration of nurses and midwives who have trained overseas or are returning to the profession and who play a vital

“IT IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE REGION TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE REGISTRATION OF NURSES AND MIDWIVES WHO HAVE TRAINED OVERSEAS OR ARE RETURNING TO THE PROFESSION AND WHO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE UK’S HEALTH AND CARE WORKFORCE.” PROFESSOR DEBRA PORTEOUS role in the UK’s health and care workforce.” Maurya Cushlow, Executive Chief Nurse at Newcastle Hospitals, adds: “The opportunity to have a national centre right here in the City will not only benefit local, regional and national organisations, but help to address a growing need and have a positive impact on the local economy.” Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet member for Education and Skills, Cllr Paula Holland,

says: “This great news further bolsters the city’s growing reputation for health and life sciences, adding: “Nationally we have a shortage and urgent need for more nurses and care staff so it’s great that Newcastle will be playing a part in getting more of them qualified and deployed as quickly as possible.”

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“THE MOD ARE GRATEFUL TO NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY FOR THE RESEARCH CARRIED OUT IN THE KNOCK ON THE DOOR STUDY. WE ARE CONSTANTLY SEEKING TO EXAMINE OUR APPROACH TO BEREAVED FAMILIES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES AND THIS RESEARCH IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT.” COLONEL CLARE WATERWORTH MBE

IN NUMBERS

One third of participants were on their own when they were notified of the death of their partner or family member

Half of participants said they did not receive all the information they needed when they received the news

Only 29% of participants felt that they received sufficient guidance and support to handle media interest

The knock on the door military families never forget A report launched by researchers at Northumbria University has revealed the true experiences of bereaved military families, following a first-of-its-kind study exploring the impact of death in military service on surviving family members. While losing a loved one is devastating at any time, the sudden nature and circumstances surrounding the death of a member of the armed forces can pose unique challenges for family members. There is an increased likelihood that the deceased will be relatively young, therefore in this case leaving young families behind. As well as often being sudden, death can be traumatic, and in the public eye with significant media intrusion. If it is an operational death in combat, there may also be mixed feelings as to whether the death was a ‘just cause’ or not. Recognising the lack of research on the impact on military families of a sudden loss, the War Widows Association, an advocacy group campaigning to improve the conditions of war widows and their dependants, identified a

need for an investigation into how bereaved military families are notified and subsequently cared for. Over the last two years, and working in collaboration with the Armed Forces Covenant Trust and the War Widows Association, academics from Northumbria University’s Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research have explored the impact that death in military service has on the surviving family. A report which reflects the personal experiences of more than 270 people and the findings of the study was launched in partnership with the Ministry of Defence through an online public lecture in September. The report specifically explores how families are informed about the death of their loved one, the long-term financial, housing and

emotional impacts of their loss and how families are affected by media interest. Reflecting on the study, Gill McGill, a Lecturer in Health Policy and Research at Northumbria University and a Principal Investigator on the study, said: “The ethos of the Hub is to provide an evidence base for policy change and to make improvements that will benefit the wellbeing of veterans and their families. “Whilst the results demonstrate recent improvements in the type of support and resources that the participants in this study experienced, it is evident that further improvement is required.” The Ministry of Defence provides bereaved family members with an information pack after being notified of a death in service. Known as ‘The Purple Pack’, it provides family members with

practical support with registering the death, as well as guidance on housing and accommodation, funeral arrangements, entitlements and benefits and details of bereavement and welfare support organisations. “The hope is that we can work with the MOD, key stakeholders and with the families to review the guidance and the Purple Pack in light of the research findings”, added Gill. Colonel Clare Waterworth MBE, Head of Armed Forces Welfare Policy, Armed Forces People Support, Armed Forces People Policy and Defence People Team in the Ministry of Defence, said: “The MOD are grateful to Northumbria University for the research carried out in the Knock on the Door study.

A third of the family members received financial support without seeking it for themselves

47% of respondents who lived in military accommodation received advice or help with moving home “We are constantly seeking to examine our approach to bereaved families to improve outcomes and this research is a valuable resource that will allow us to do that. We are particularly indebted to those individuals who took part in the study with a view to improving our approach to this incredibly difficult experience for families in the future.” To read the full report, entitled War Widows ‘Knock on the Door’: An Exploratory Study of the Experiences of Bereaved Military Families, please contact gill. mcgill@northumbria.ac.uk.

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/ veteranhub

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

Senior lecturer set to advise global policy makers in new role

Tackling real-world problems in public health The regional Fuse partnership, comprising academics from the North East’s five universities, has received a share of £25 million funding as part of a prestigious collaboration bringing together England’s leading public health research expertise. Established in April 2012, the NIHR School for Public Health Research is an extended partnership between nine leading centres of academic public health research excellence across England, including the University of Cambridge, Imperial College and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. It aims to build the evidence base for effective public health practice by bringing together expertise in one virtual organisation. The School conducts applied public health research to increase the volume and quality of evidence on cost-effective interventions and supports local public health practitioners and policy makers to engage with

research and seek out research evidence to inform their decisions. Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, has retained its membership of the NIHR School for Public Health Research, for the School’s third five-year term. The £25 million funding has been awarded to advance and extend the Schools’ current research themes of children, young people and families, public mental health, and places and communities and will be shared among its partners from April next year. Reflecting on the funding, Susan Carr, Professor of Public Health Research from Northumbria’s Department

“BEING A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL FOR PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH, THROUGH FUSE, ENABLES ACADEMICS FROM NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY, AND ACROSS THE NORTH EAST, TO WORK WITH COMMUNITIES AND PRACTITIONERS TO TACKLE REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS.” FUSE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AND PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH, SUSAN CARR

of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing, and an Associate Director of Fuse said: “Being a member of the School for Public Health Research, through Fuse, enables academics from Northumbria University, and across the North East, to work with communities and practitioners to tackle real-world problems and create solutions that make an impact on people’s lives. “From looking at food through to thinking about mental health, the range of public health is broad but all of it applies to our everyday lives. “We are very excited that we have the opportunity to continue to develop our research in the School over the next five years.” Find out more about Fuse by visiting www.fuse.ac.uk

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/ socialwork

DR VIKKI PARK

One of Northumbria’s academics has joined the board of a globally influential charity which advises leading policy making organisations such as the World Health Organisation. Dr Vikki Park, Adult Nursing Lecturer, has been appointed as a board member of the Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education (CAIPE) where she will advise on government and professional policy. The charity works to develop the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities by developing highly trained staff through interprofessional education, collaborative practice, research and policy. Dr Park specialises in Interprofessional Education (IPE), which involves students from different professions in health and social care, learning together during their professional training to cultivate collaborative practice for providing patient-centred health care. Together with colleagues from the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Dr Park organises IPE activities for more than 2,500 Northumbria students from nine professional fields each year. Speaking about her appointment, Dr Park said: “I am passionate about the learning that occurs between health and social care staff

and students and have been involved in interprofessional education and collaborative practice throughout my nursing and academic career. “Appointment to the CAIPE national board will enable international networking and partnership working with regional and emerging interprofessional global networks, which will enhance IPE provision at Northumbria University.” Richard Pitt, Chair of CAIPE, said: “We are delighted to welcome Vikki to the Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education board this year. We look forward to having her on our board and the contribution she will make to CAIPE from her wealth of interprofessional education and collaborative practice experience.” Find out more about Northumbria’s Nursing and Midwifery courses, ranked Top 15 in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2022, by visiting www. northumbria.ac.uk/nmh

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/nursing

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Academics from Northumbria are developing new methods for detecting Covid-19 ‘Variants of Concern’ (VOC) and identifying potential ‘Variants of Interest’ (VOI) after receiving funding from the national genome sequencing consortium, COG-UK. The University has been working alongside other partners in the government-backed Covid-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) consortium to map how Covid-19 spreads and evolves since April 2020. Consortium members have made major contributions to the pandemic response, helping to better understand the virus and equip public health agencies, the NHS and UK government with the tools to combat Covid-19. But there is a wealth of research and development still to do, especially around variants, which have increasingly become one of the biggest concerns of the pandemic. As part of an expansion of the COG-UK research portfolio, Northumbria University has been awarded a grant to further improve the way scientists monitor and map Covid-19. It will enable the team to develop a computer programme to screen mutations for potentially increased transmission and potential immune escape – when certain variants of the virus evolve to evade our natural or vaccine-induced resistance to it. Dr Matthew Bashton, ViceChancellor’s Senior Fellow in the Department of Applied Sciences and project lead on the research, likened the programme the team are creating to an anti-malware program for your computer. He explained: “Using information from existing studies and computer-generated simulations, we will be able to highlight what could become potential ‘Variants of Concern’ and flag them for a heightened infection control response and contact tracing. This will avoid allowing these new variants to spread and it then being too late

Early warning system for Covid-19 variants

to intervene most effectively. Although this can’t replace public health decision-making and lab studies, the aim is to better inform it in an automated way which compliments the UK’s widespread genomic surveillance program pioneered by COG-UK.” All viruses, including SARSCoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, change over time. Most changes – known as mutations – don’t affect how the virus behaves. However, occasionally, mutations can change the properties of the virus and potentially lead to a new ‘Variant of Concern’. A VOC may be scientifically proven to spread more easily, be associated with more severe disease or affect the performance of vaccines, medicines, diagnostic tools or other public health and social measures. Before a variant is categorised as a VOC, it may have been labelled as a ‘Variant of Interest’ – a variant with specific genomic mutations linked to established or suspected negative implications such as causing enhanced community transmission or

cluster outbreaks, being detected in multiple countries or being predicted to affect transmission, diagnostics, treatments or vaccine performance. It is therefore vital that changes to the virus are monitored so that if significant mutations are

Professor Rafael Najmanovich at the University of Montreal, whose work helped shed light on why the Kent variant was more transmissible, as well as the wider COG-UK network. Computational techniques offer faster, easier, more reliable and efficient

and we hope that our techniques can act as an early warning system, especially in nations that don’t have the depth of surveillance the UK has.” Professor Darren Smith, COGUK Deputy Director and the consortium lead for Northumbria University, said: “This is an exciting area of research being taken forward by Matthew and colleagues. The ability to detect, determine and possibly flag future ‘Variants of Interest’ in sequencing data, drawing in information from other existing studies, will be important in the future of genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.” For more information about Northumbria’s NU-OMICS DNA sequencing facility, visit www. northumbria.ac.uk/nu-omics

identified, public health agencies, the NHS, government and the public can be informed about any changes needed to react to the variant and prevent its spread. The project sees the Northumbria COG-UK team working in collaboration with

ways of solving mathematical, scientific, engineering, geometrical, geographical and statistical problems via the aid of computers. Dr Bashton added: “Genomic surveillance of Covid is a worldwide collaborative effort

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/ appliedsciences

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

Innovative partnership for smarter manufacturing A collaborative research project driven by The NBT Group, Northumbria University and Senseye has been awarded over a quarter of a million pounds to support the digitisation of UK manufacturing. North East based supply chain management company NBT Group Ltd, along with academic experts from Northumbria University and leading industrial software business Senseye Ltd, are conducting a feasibility study to evaluate new and emerging ‘smart’ technologies, helping to digitalise and transform manufacturing supply chains. The award is part of the £18 million of funding granted through the Digital Supply Chain competition, which forms part of UKRI’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) Made Smarter innovation challenge. The Digital Supply Chain competition supports the development of innovations designed to help manufacturing supply chains become more productive and sustainable. Laying the foundations for what could be a game-changer in the Industry 4.0 journey – the fourth industrial revolution – the study is looking at the way in which manufacturers could use intelligence-based technologies to connect predictive maintenance software to stock management software. The project findings will pave the way for further research and development, with the ultimate aim of exploiting new technology to help manufacturers increase productivity, create more highly skilled roles and become more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Northumbria University’s

Dr Alireza Shokri, Associate Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Management and academic lead on the project, said: “In order to take on the challenges of tomorrow, knowledge exchange and enterprise development is pivotal. This Innovate UK funded project has enabled academics from different disciplines to collaborate with professional leading organisations such as The NBT Group and Senseye with innovative and openminded leadership.” The NBT Group provides a range of innovative technology solutions to manage complex supply chains. It enables organisations to manage their maintenance parts effectively, via automated, self-service stock management technology. The initial phase of the study is assessing the feasibility of using intelligence-based technologies to connect NBT Group’s stock management software to Senseye’s predictive maintenance software - a

platform that allows industrial maintenance teams to predict upcoming issues with machinery so that failures can be avoided. Human intervention has, and continues to be, prevalent in manufacturing to connect and control various production processes and systems. But connecting these systems digitally could eliminate the requirement for manual intervention and reduce unnecessary stock holdings, thereby freeing up space for production and driving down costs. It would also create efficiencies among a wider manufacturing supply chain, providing for improved scheduling of work. Chief Technology Officer at

Senseye, Robert Russell, said: “At Senseye we’re always looking to innovate and partner with similarly minded organisations. This Innovate UK funding enabled us to deepen our relationship with both The NBT Group and Northumbria University in an exciting opportunity to bring together very different aspects of asset management that is only made possible by advancing digitisation of the manufacturing sector. This study is accelerating our vision for advanced technologies and generating new business opportunities.” Commenting on the funding announcement, Toby Bridges, Executive Chair at The NBT Group, said: “This funding

allows us to work closely with a leading predicative maintenance company in Senseye and Northumbria University’s Global Operations and Supply Chain Competitiveness (GLOPSCO) research interest group to widen our thinking on how we integrate our own supply chain technologies into other systems and technologies across the manufacturing plant.” Northumbria has a long track record of successfully collaborating with small and large businesses through Knowledge Exchange activities, facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology to increase competitiveness and to promote an innovation culture. For more information on collaborating with Northumbria University please visit www. northumbria.ac.uk/business

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Tuning in to a digital future Northumbria University has been named as a partner in a multi-million-pound investment programme that will help boost the region’s tech and digital sector. Under the initiative, led by the North of Tyne Combined Authority, £12m will be injected into the tech and digital sector spanning across Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland. Plans include £5m to support start-up businesses operating in the digital and tech sector, plus opportunities for them to work with Northumbria and digital technology support networks such as Dynamo NE, Innovation Super Network, Ignite, Digital Catapult, TEDCO, NGI and the Academic Health Science Network to help grow their businesses. A further £7m will go towards a 5G and Future Connectivity fund - which is largely intended to help improve mobile and broadband connectivity in rural areas. This investment will help create 600 jobs and safeguard a further 140 in the region’s digital and tech sector. It will also unlock support for over 500 enterprises

and 450 residents, helping to improve their digital knowledge. This latest funding announcement underpins the Combined Authority’s ambition to be a hub for inclusive innovation and world class research. Northumbria plays a significant role in this ambition, not only by developing graduates and post-graduates with advanced digital skills, but also delivering relevant research that contributes to the growth of the region’s digital economy. For example, the Northumbrialed International Centre for Connected Construction (IC3) is a centre of excellence for digital construction, fostering world leading research in collaboration with industry and the public sector. “We are delighted to be part of this investment to expand the region’s digital sector,” said Northumbria’s Professor of Digital Technology and Education, Rebecca Strachan. “Northumbria will

particularly focus on using our digital construction expertise and the International Centre for Connected Construction to support spin outs and digital innovation among both new and existing construction businesses.” North of Tyne leaders said the investment would future proof the region’s economy, laying the foundations for further investment and growth. It builds on previous multi-millionpound investments to improve rural internet connectivity and access to digital expertise that is already unlocking data-driven innovation and the adoption of new technologies by local businesses. North of Tyne Cabinet Member for Clean Energy and Connectivity, Councillor Richard Wearmouth, said the investment was an example of ‘levelling up’ that would build the foundation for tomorrow’s digital economy. “This will be a game-changer

for the region,” he said. “It will accelerate investment in infrastructure and connectivity in the North of Tyne, supporting the industry-led innovation of our rapidly growing tech sector. From Artificial Intelligence to data clouds, from Digital Innovation Hubs to ‘deep tech’ start-ups, innovation, growth and productivity, and technology will go hand in hand.” A report by Tech Nation in 2018 highlighted Newcastle as the seventh fastest growing tech hub in the UK. Reports by Tech Nation and the UK Tech Cluster Group in 2021 highlighted Newcastle and the wider region as a major tech hub in the UK. For more information on The North of Tyne Combined Authority, visit www. northoftyne-ca.gov.uk

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/news

“THIS WILL BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR THE REGION. IT WILL ACCELERATE INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONNECTIVITY IN THE NORTH OF TYNE, SUPPORTING THE INDUSTRYLED INNOVATION OF OUR RAPIDLY GROWING TECH SECTOR. COUNCILLOR RICHARD WEARMOUTH

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

CLARE TALBOT-JONES

New Pro Vice-Chancellor joins elite group of global scholars

Winning the public’s trust A Northumbria University business student has impressed her lecturers by winning recognition through a prestigious national award. Clare Talbot-Jones, a parttime Master’s degree student in Strategic Leadership, has won the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Building Public Trust in Insurance Award. Previous winners include MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis. The award recognises the work of Clare and her team at commercial insurance brokers Talbot Jones Ltd in providing the highest levels of customer service, and investment in professional skills and knowledge development. Their success is especially rewarding for the course tutors at Northumbria who are carrying out leading research in responsible and ethical business practices. Clare was also recognised for her numerous volunteering roles. These include supporting women to financial freedom at The Millin Charity based in Newcastle, mentoring through career support group Northern Power Futures, providing careers guidance to young people at Founders4Schools, and her role as Centre Manager at the Christians Against Poverty Life Skills Centre at Holy Trinity Church, Gateshead. Talbot Jones Ltd is one of just three chartered insurance brokerages headquartered in

the North East. The business has been particularly active in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including advocating for over £1m worth of business interruption claims. Thrilled with the award, Clare explains: “Much of my university work has been centred around building public trust in the insurance industry. This award is a massive encouragement that our business is already playing an important part in that. This recognition from our professional body bears testament that you don’t have to have big budgets or longestablished traditions to make a positive impact.” Professor Ron Beadle, who leads the University’s Responsible Business research added: “This achievement is a tribute to Clare and her excellent North East business. It demonstrates once again that responsible business is good business in every sense.” For more information on studying for a Master’s Degree at Northumbria please visit www. northumbria.ac.uk/study

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/nbs

“MUCH OF MY UNIVERSITY WORK HAS BEEN CENTRED AROUND BUILDING PUBLIC TRUST IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.” CLARE TALBOT-JONES

PROFESSOR ROBERT MACINTOSH

Northumbria University’s newly appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Business and Law, Professor Robert MacIntosh, has recently become a Fellow of the internationally renowned British Academy of Management (BAM). Professor MacIntosh, who took up his role at Northumbria in September 2021, becomes one of only 92 Fellows of BAM. The aim of BAM is to promote high calibre research in management and business on a global stage, advance research-based teaching and support excellence in all areas of management education. As a Fellow, Professor MacIntosh joins an elite group of academics who have been recognised for making significant contributions to the community of scholars within business and management education. He is also the first representative from Northumbria to become a Fellow of BAM -reinforcing the University’s leading role and growing influence in management education and research. Professor MacIntosh says he is honoured to the receive the fellowship, adding:

“BAM is a truly inspiring academic community. I have benefited from the support and development available through BAM, and as a Fellow I now have the opportunity to offer similar support to others in the business school community. Business and management education and research are vital – both here in the UK and internationally. I am also delighted to have joined Northumbria, a university with a global reach and whose values and qualities mirror those of BAM.” Before joining Northumbria, Professor MacIntosh was formerly the Head of School for Social Sciences at Heriot-Watt University where he oversaw 15,000 students and 300 staff at the University’s campuses in Edinburgh, Dubai, Malaysia and online. As a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering

and Technology and of the Academy of Social Sciences he has an interest in multidisciplinary research and has published books on strategy, organisational change, research methods and impact over the last two decades. Professor MacIntosh is an elected member of the Council of the British Academy of Management and chairs the Chartered Association of Business Schools. He has extensive experience working with, facilitating, and researching strategy in a range of publicly traded firms, large public organisations and third sector organisations and has supervised a number of senior leaders from the US, Canada, Europe and the UK through their doctoral degrees. Outside academia, Professor MacIntosh is involved with the social care charity Turning Point Scotland which provides services to over 8,000 of society’s most vulnerable citizens. He joined the board in 2013, was elected Chair in 2019 and ended his tenure in September 2021. For more information on business research at Northumbria please visit: www.northumbria.ac.uk/ research

DISCOVER MORE www.northumbria.ac.uk/nbs

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Grow your business with a graduate intern A graduate internship funding scheme, launched by Northumbria University in March this year, is supporting the growth plans of an increasing number of small businesses and start-ups in the North-East. The Northumbria Enterprise and Business Support 2 (NEBS2) scheme is available for up to 120 small businesses, graduate start-ups and third sector organisations in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. Support includes a financial contribution to help recruit and pay graduates, typically on six -month internship programmes, with funding from the European Research Development Fund (ERDF) worth up to £1.9 million available until June 2023. The scheme is proving particularly popular with businesses and organisations who are looking to rebuild and re-invent after the challenges of

Covid-19. Almost 100 applications have already been received, with around 40 internships in place to date. NEBS2 is also mirroring a previous ERDF-funded scheme in place between 2015 and 2018, where a significant number of businesses who took part in the scheme planned to retain their graduates as full-time employees following completion of the internship. One business to recently recruit from the current NEBS2 scheme is career guidance specialist, CareerWave. Having reached the mid-term point of the internship arrangement, CareerWave director Richard Allnutt said he recognised the long-term

LAUREN BROWN AND THEA MITCHEL-WREN, RECENT NEBS2 GRADUATE INTERNS WITH CAREERWAVE

benefit for his organisation. He explained: “There is a real shortage of qualified careers advisers, so we really need to attract new talent to the profession. Therefore, we were delighted to have this opportunity to bring in an extremely talented Northumbria University graduate and give them the support needed to ensure they become a top-quality career guidance practitioner.” Businesses and organisations accepted on the NEBS2 scheme will receive a financial

contribution of up to £4,050 towards paying the salary of a graduate on a six-month internship. Pro-rata funding is also available for shorter internship durations. Businesses interested in NEBS2 and potentially recruiting a longer-term or permanent member of staff can visit www. northumbria.ac.uk/nebs

“THERE IS A REAL SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED CAREERS ADVISERS, SO WE REALLY NEED TO ATTRACT NEW TALENT TO THE PROFESSION.” CAREERWAVE DIRECTOR RICHARD ALLNUTT

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Partnership power delivering results Northumbria University is collaborating with global professional services provider Ernst & Young (EY) to develop and nurture business talent in the North East. Northumbria and EY previously worked together to develop a threeyear Chartered Management degree apprenticeship. Building on the success of this collaboration, the programme has been expanded to offer more places enabling EY’s Newcastle office to grow and retain even more local talent. The apprentices, who are employed by EY, spend one day a week at the University to complete their studies. The approach makes higher education more accessible, with students working part time with EY to develop their careers while simultaneously working towards a degree. Vincent Robson, Business Development Manager at Northumbria, said: “We launched the apprenticeship

degree with EY in 2017 with six employees. As our collaboration has matured, this number has grown to 55, across all year groups. It’s an excellent example of working together to co-create strong degree apprenticeships that have real benefit for employees, employers and the regional economy through the sustained development of a highly skilled workforce.” As part of its growing collaboration with Northumbria, EY is also supporting the University’s Business Clinic and start-up Incubator. Northumbria students in the Business Clinic develop valuable learning and employability skills by providing consultancy services to local businesses. Through the partnership, these students

now have the opportunity to be mentored by experienced managers at EY. Northumbria’s start-up Incubator has been designed to help entrepreneurial students and graduates launch new businesses, which EY now supports by providing training sessions in business skills. Since developing the degree apprenticeship with EY and securing the firm’s ongoing support, Northumbria University has opened the programme to other businesses. Organisations can employ apprentices based on their own business requirements, ensuring the programme is attractive to firms across the North East. For more information on degree apprenticeship programmes at Northumbria please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/business

“IT’S AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE EXAMPLE OF WORKING TOGETHER TO CO-CREATE STRONG DEGREE APPRENTICESHIPS THAT HAVE REAL BENEFIT FOR EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYERS AND THE REGIONAL ECONOMY THROUGH A HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE.” VINCENT ROBSON

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

AHMED ELNAZIR, RIGHT, RECEIVING AN AWARD FOR TRANSLATION AGENCY OF THE YEAR IN APRIL 2021.

Fluent in the language of success Northumbria entrepreneur and International Business Management graduate, Ahmed Elnazir, built a successful translation agency during his final year at university after securing just £500 in start-up funding. During his studies, Ahmed spent three semesters travelling, studying and working abroad on placement in the translation industry, where he developed many of the skills he uses today. When he returned to Northumbria to complete his degree, he launched Global Translations UK. The awardwinning agency offers a translation service in over 900 language combinations, across 11 sectors. Just one year from launch the agency was recognised for its first-class service and accurate translations winning Translation Agency of the Year 2020/21 at the North England Prestige Awards, an awards programme which acknowledges small to medium sized businesses for being the best in their market. Having completed projects in 18 countries around the world,

Global Translations UK has now achieved a five-star rating on Google and 4.7 rating on Trustpilot. Commenting on his success so far, Ahmed said: “When I finished studying in Mexico City and had completed my placement year across Sudan and Greece, I couldn’t wait another

year to graduate and start my own business. “I felt like the timing was right. I met with the Student and Graduate Enterprise team at Northumbria who arranged a meeting with a fantastic lawyer that looked at my business from

a legal perspective, to make sure Global Translations UK was protected. We discussed important documents that needed to be added to the website and they offered great advice on getting the business name trademarked. “A few months later, I found myself in the midst of a pandemic and recession. However, some of the most successful companies in the world were born during a recession. I encourage people to take that risk and go for what they want.” Northumbria has been ranked among the top ten universities for graduate start-ups in the UK, based on estimated turnover, including five years in first place since 2011/12. Find out more about how Northumbria supports student and graduate start-ups by visiting www.northumbria. ac.uk/sge

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Leading out of the pandemic Leaders of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region are being encouraged to sign up to a 12-week management course providing critical skills and networking opportunities to help them innovate and thrive beyond Covid-19. Help to Grow: Management is a practical training programme being rolled out nationally by the UK’s leading business schools, including Newcastle Business School at Northumbria, in partnership with Government and the Chartered Association of Business Schools. Delivered by a range of experts, including entrepreneurs, business leaders and respected academics with commercial experience, Help to Grow combines practical learning with 1:1 support from a business mentor, alongside peer-to-peer sessions. Participants will build their own networks and connections, and benefit from ongoing access to an extensive alumni network and a range of future events.

John Wales, who is leading the Help to Grow programme at Newcastle Business School believes it is vital that SMEs in the region continue to receive support as they recover from the pandemic. He added: “We’re keen to spread the word and would encourage SME leaders in any sector to sign up for this invaluable new programme which will help them to tackle challenges, hone their leadership skills and really drive innovation and future growth.” As part of its commitment to support business recovery postpandemic, the Government is also subsidising the programme by 90%, so the £7,500 programme will cost just £750 per participant.

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Student and graduate entrepreneurs from North East universities are making a significant impact on the region’s social, cultural and economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic through the success of their business startups, SMEs and social enterprises. The latest results from the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey by the Higher Education Statistics Agency have revealed the entrepreneurial output from Northumbria, Durham, Newcastle and Sunderland universities. Data from the survey shows that the four universities have produced over 450 active start-ups, including close to 100 new businesses across 2019 and 2020, that have generated £188.7 million in turnover, almost £36 million in external investment and 1,935 full-time equivalent jobs. The data collection exercise also brought to light countless inspiring stories of resilience and adaptability against the barriers to small business over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the impact and contributions the start-ups are making to local communities and society overall. Northumbria University graduate Greg Miles founded digital marketing agency Bumbl in 2015, to help businesses in the region use social media to build audiences and grow their customer base. Bumbl has grown as businesses have started to take social media more seriously as a marketing tool. Now a team of six, the agency expects to add two new members this year. While its client base expands to London and beyond, NorthEast businesses still make up the lion’s share-from local independents like Jesmond Dene House to global brands such as Mayborn Group. Greg and the team are confident that Bumbl can make a positive impact on

Graduates fuelling economic growth “NORTHUMBRIA HAS BUILT A STRONG RECORD IN STUDENT AND GRADUATE ENTERPRISE OVER MANY YEARS, DRIVEN BOTH BY OUR ENTREPRENEURIAL AND BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES, AND NOW INCREASINGLY THROUGH GREATER CAPACITY IN WORLDLEADING RESEARCH.” PROFESSOR ANDREW WATHEY CBE

MULTI-MILLION POUND BOOST FOR NORTH EAST COMPANY CREATION the regional economy by helping their clients win business and grow. In addition to supporting start-ups, the four universities also combined forces via the North East Covid-19 Economic Response Group, established by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP) at the start of the pandemic to ensure the region has strong economic leadership to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic. As part of this collaboration each university will continue to equip their students and graduates to develop sustainable, growthorientated businesses. Professor Andrew Wathey CBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, said: “Northumbria has built a strong record in student and graduate enterprise

over many years, driven both by our entrepreneurial and business support services, and now increasingly through greater capacity in worldleading research that has impact on key regional growth sectors such as the digital economy, engineering, renewable energy, design, social enterprise and culture. These areas are all providing exciting start-up opportunities and we will continue to invest in our enterprising graduates and in research to ensure the North East economy has a strong and sustainable future.” For more information on Northumbria’s support for student and graduate enterprise please visit: www.northumbria. ac.uk/sge

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A pioneering collaboration between North East universities, which turns academic research into successful businesses, has expanded regionally and will take its model to other parts of the country after receiving a £3.6m boost in government funding. Northern Accelerator is an exciting collaboration between Northumbria, Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland and Teesside Universities. Set up to develop the ecosystem for the creation of spin-out businesses from the North East’s universities, the collaboration is strengthening the region’s knowledge economy - its intellectual capital - and helping to address regional imbalance. Funded by Research England’s Connecting Capability Fund and the European Regional Development Fund, Northern Accelerator brings together academics and business leaders with funding and support opportunities, to form sustainable businesses

that create jobs and boost the local economy. To date it has helped launch an impressive 34 businesses, supported the training of over 200 academics in entrepreneurship and helped academics to secure £2.1m in funding, enabling 50 research projects to progress towards commercialisation. The most recent University to join was Teesside, meaning the partnership now covers the whole of the North East. Northern Accelerator’s successful flagship support model is also being rolled out to universities in the South of England.

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

Investigation into home data privacy secures a share of £3.6m award scheme Northumbria University-led research, investigating the potential risks posed by household data sharing technologies, has won a share of the £3.6 million award scheme from the PETRAS National Centre of Excellence. Smart meters and energy monitoring devices offer convenience and economic savings for us all, but they do this by tracking the activities we carry out in the privacy of our own homes. The project will seek to identify and help find ways to protect against the potential hidden threats posed by small, connected devices exchanging data in the background. Under the PrivIoT project, Dr James Nicholson from Northumbria’s Computer and Information Sciences department will collaborate with researchers from Royal Holloway, Manchester and Nottingham Universities to analyse potential privacy and security threats from devices linked to the internet used within smart homes or smart energy meters.

“WE WILL BE LOOKING TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE TECHNICAL LANDSCAPE OF CONCRETE THREATS BEFORE EXPLORING HOW BEST TO COMMUNICATE THESE TO CITIZENS” DR JAMES NICHOLSON

Researchers in computer science, engineering, criminology and psychology at the four universities will join forces with a number of partners, including Toshiba, OTASKI Energy Solutions and CybSafe, to gain an understanding of the issue and how it may be tackled. Dr James Nicholson, who specialises in research on human-centred security, explains: “With the roll out of smart meters expected to be

completed by 2025, devices which share personal data between different providers are becoming much more common. So, it’s important we consider the security and privacy problems which could arise. “We will be looking to truly understand the technical landscape

of concrete threats before exploring how best to communicate these to citizens and encourage open discussions among communities.” The academics behind the project, which include Professor Lynne Coventry from Northumbria’s Psychology department,

Moving up in Society for law academic Northumbria University Associate Professor Russell Hewitson has been elected to the Council of the Law Society as Council Member for Commercial Property. The Council is the governing body of the solicitors’ profession and sets the strategic direction of the Law Society. Its role involves representing the views of solicitors, setting the practising certificate fee and compensation fund contributions, and approving the annual business plan budget. Additional responsibilities include determining the Law Society’s position on significant

policy issues, making changes to rules, and fulfilling the Law Society’s functions as the approved regulator of solicitors. Mr Hewitson took up the role in October and will be in the post for four years, but with the option to stand for re-election. Having gained 64% of the total votes cast, his appointment is also

seen as recognition of his standing within the profession. Mr Hewitson says he is looking forward to working with other members of the Council in representing the interests of the profession, explaining: “I am honoured to be elected

to the Law Society Council, especially for a sector as wide and diverse as commercial property. Key references for all of us on the Council are to assist the profession in adapting to regulatory change and to promote solicitors’ firms as the leading providers of quality.” Professor Michael Stockdale, Head of Northumbria Law School, adds: “This is a highly prestigious appointment,

believe that only by fully understanding the risks these technologies could pose, will it be possible to propose new technology solutions and improve users’ awareness. For more information about our computer and information science research visit: www. northumbria.ac.uk/cis

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not just for Russell and Northumbria Law School, but for the wider University as well. Having representation from Northumbria on such an important and influential industry body reflects the quality of academics we have in the Law School and the enhanced learning and teaching opportunities this brings for our students.” For more information on studying law at Northumbria please visit: www.northumbria. ac.uk/law

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DO WE TRUST THE GOVERNMENT WITH OUR DATA? The UK’s data-driven response to the Covid-19 pandemic has relied heavily on the public’s willingness to share personal information, leading many to consider the risks to this strategy if people lose trust in the system. Researchers from the Observatory for Monitoring Data-Driven Approaches to Covid-19 (OMDDAC) have published a report on a study, part-led by academics at Northumbria, to understand public attitudes toward sharing data and personal information. A key part of the research also focuses on children and young people, and whether they feel their views on the use of data have been overlooked. The findings of the report will help inform key decision-makers in Government on national data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategies. OMDDAC is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council as part of the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) rapid response to Covid-19. Led by Dr Marion Oswald from Northumbria Law School, in partnership with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), the research focused upon legal, ethical, policy and operational challenges of using technology and datadriven solutions to the pandemic. Informed by this research, the OMDDAC report makes a number

of recommendations aimed at ensuring data analysis and use is conducted ethically, with integrity and under clear rules of governance. These include the appointment of an independent oversight body and legally binding limitations on the use of data by the Government and other official bodies. Commenting on the findings of the report, Dr Oswald says data and technology-driven solutions have been central to the UK’s response to the pandemic, but that out of necessity these were developed at speed. She goes on to explain: “Our research found that it cannot be assumed the public are comfortable sharing their data across all sections of the public sector. For example, participants we interviewed were significantly less willing to share data with police as compared with their local authority or public health body. Indeed, we found little difference in participants’ preference for sharing data with their Regional Police Force, as compared with a commercial company.” Fellow OMDDAC researcher and

Northumbria Law School academic Rachel Allsopp warns: “Without safeguards such as this in place, public confidence in sharing data could diminish significantly. She adds: “Our research also found that children and young people believe their views have not been considered enough during the pandemic, despite feeling they have something meaningful and valuable to contribute to the debate around the use of data to tackle emergencies such as Covid. They suggest the Government could do more to ensure young people can access information, particularly information about policies which will impact directly upon them. They also suggest various routes Government could use to improve engagement, including through schools, surveys, social media, and youth organisations.” OMDDAC is a collaboration between Northumbria and RUSI, including researchers with technology law, data protection law, medical law, practical ethics, computer science, data science, applied statistics in

health, technology studies and behavioural science expertise. Project partners and advisers include the Ada Lovelace Institute, CDEI, medConfidential and Lord Jonathan Evans of Weardale. The full report, including recommendations, can be found on the OMDDAC website www.omddac.org.uk

“OUR RESEARCH FOUND THAT IT CANNOT BE ASSUMED THE PUBLIC ARE COMFORTABLE SHARING THEIR DATA ACROSS ALL SECTIONS OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR.” DR MARION OSWALD

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Northumbria University NEWS • Autumn 2021

“THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT INVESTIGATION THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE LONGSTANDING DEBATE ON THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE HOME ADVANTAGE IN SPORT.” DR SANDY WOLFSON

Fans make the difference Playing professional football games in empty stadiums had a hugely negative effect on the success of home teams, with home advantage almost halved, new research shows. Home advantage describes the benefit a sports team playing at their own venue is said to have over the visiting team. This could be attributed to the effect of fans on the players or the effect on the referee, playing in familiar surroundings and the effects of travel on the visiting team. Dr Sandy Wolfson, a sport and exercise psychologist from Northumbria University and Dane McCarrick, from the University of Leeds’ School of Psychology, used the unique opportunity presented by the Covid-19 pandemic to test whether home advantage applies when fans are not present in the stands. Data from 4,844 games across 11 countries, including the English Premier League and Championship, revealed that home teams accrued significantly fewer points and scored fewer goals when crowds were absent. Working with the English Premier League and the Football Association, Dr Wolfson has undertaken extensive research exploring the psychological aspects of football for players, referees and fans. She explains: “This is a really important investigation that contributes to the long-standing debate on the main reasons for the home advantage in sport - a worldwide phenomenon affecting

team sports at all levels, from recreational to elite.” Previous studies into home advantage have considered how goals scored and points awarded at home games compared with performance at away matches. This study is the first to consider whether home advantage affects a team’s dominance over a game. The researchers measured dominance by the number of corners, shots, and shots on target they had in any given match. The study showed home teams were less dominant without their supportive fans, with an average per game of 0.7 fewer corners won, 1.3 fewer shot attempts and 0.4 fewer shots on target. The researchers also discovered that teams’ dominance had a much greater influence over referees’ decisions than the presence of home fans. ‘Home advantage during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analysis of European football leagues’ is published in the September issue of Psychology of Sport and Exercise and is available to read online at www.sciencedirect.com.

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KEY FACTS Referees gave more fouls against the home team in empty stadiums Referees gave a similar number of fouls against the away team in empty stadiums Referees gave far fewer yellow cards against away teams in empty stadiums Referees gave similar numbers of yellow cards against the home team in empty stadiums – even though they fouled more Red cards followed a similar pattern which was less pronounced, yet still significant

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“I WOULD LIKE TO WORK FOR THE PARALYMPIC SPORTS ORGANISATION OR PARALYMPIC SWIMMING. IT’S MY AIM TO FIND A JOB IN THAT AREA AND NORTHUMBRIA HAS HELPED ME ON THE ROAD TO FULFILLING THOSE AMBITIONS.” TAKA SUZUKI, FIVE TIMES PARALYMPIC MEDALLIST.

Taka’s road to success After securing five medals at this year’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japanese swim star and Northumbria student Taka Suzuki looks back at his time at the University and the important relationship he has cemented with his coach. Taka, who was born with a congenital limb deficiency, competed in five events at this year’s Games, winning medals in every final, including gold in the Men’s 100m Freestyle, where he set a new Paralympic world record. He also claimed two silver medals in the 50m and 200m Freestyle events and two bronze medals in the 50m Breaststroke and 150m Individual Medley event. The elite Para swimmer attributes much of his success to his time spent in Newcastle, particularly training and working alongside Northumbria University’s Head of Aquatics, Louise Graham. Louise has developed a close working relationship with Taka, who first arrived at Northumbria to study for a degree in Sport

Management, but has since gone on to complete a Masters, and is now embarking on a PhD. “I am incredibly honoured to be Taka’s coach and to have helped facilitate him on this extraordinary journey,” she said. “He is positive, he listens, he is easy to coach as he is willing to put in the work. “He came here just with the intention of learning English so the whole package of achievement both academically and within his sport has been unbelievable. He is a great student to have around and represents what it is really like to have got the most out of a university sporting experience here at Northumbria.” Taka and Louise’s relationship has gone from strength to

strength during his time at the University, and she continues to push the talented athlete to fulfil his potential. Louise and Taka have an enviable dynamic, with communication between the two being vital. Taka said: “I first met her (Louise) seven or eight years ago and in my first year, I couldn’t really speak English, so it was hard to communicate with her, but she would write the sessions on the whiteboard so I could understand. She coaches logically so it’s important for me to understand and trust what she does.” Not only has Taka worked closely with his coach Louise throughout his time at Northumbria, but he has also formed a closeness and affinity

with the University’s staff and students, in particular Northumbria Sport. He also rates the standard of the sports facilities at Northumbria highly as well as the accessibility and convenience of them. “Everything is in the same building at Sport Central so I can train at the pool, at the gym and I have my massages in the same building, so it is very good for me,” said Taka. “When I was in Japan all of the facilities were in different places, so it wasn’t easy to get to all of them.” Taka highlights that the opportunities the University environment provides to balance both his study and training have been one of the main reasons he has stayed in the UK.

Progressing through from undergraduate to postgraduate study has impacted positively on Taka’s professional career aspirations, while allowing him to continue to develop within the pool. When looking ahead to what the future holds, Taka knows he is keen to remain involved in Para sports, beyond his competitive career. “I would like to work for the Paralympic Sports Organisation or Paralympic Swimming,” he said. “It’s my aim to find a job in that area and Northumbria has helped me on the road to fulfilling those ambitions.”

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Autumn 2021 • northumbria.ac.uk

Issue 24

ELLEN BUTTRICK, GIEDRE RAKAUSKAITE, JAMES FOX, OLIVER STANHOPE AND COXSWAIN ERIN KENNEDY OF TEAM GREAT BRITAIN PR3 MIXED COXED FOUR CELEBRATE AFTER WINNING GOLD.

Taking on Tokyo Students – past and present – from Northumbria University took on Tokyo in inimitable style, bringing home seven medals for their respective countries at this year’s Paralympic Games. The biggest medal haul came courtesy of Taka Suzuki, who is currently studying for his PhD at Northumbria after completing undergraduate and masters degrees in Sport Management at the University. The Japanese swimmer won an astonishing five medals on his home soil, including a world-record breaking gold, at this year’s Paralympics. Taka’s swimming coach, Louise Graham, who is Head of Aquatics at Northumbria University, says she is incredibly proud of the highly decorated athlete. “Taka has shown resilience and determination throughout his preparation and somehow managed to keep his composure under what must have been immense pressure, to deliver a gold medal at his home Games in Tokyo,” she said. “Since the last Paralympics

in Rio 2016 where he was disappointed to finish fourth and come home without any medals, he has delivered five world championship medals, graduated from both his undergraduate and postgraduate courses, signed up for his PhD, and split his training between Tokyo and Newcastle; all while the world has been rocked by a global pandemic. He is an example to us all, that if you have a goal and you commit to it, you can achieve unbelievable results.” Great Britain’s Ellen Buttrick, who completed her geography degree at Northumbria in 2017, also won gold at the Paralympic Games as part of Team GB’s PR3 Mixed Coxed Four rowing team. Claire Cashmore, who completed a Master’s in Leadership and Management at Northumbria, took bronze in the women’s

PTS5 triathlon, an event for standing athletes with a limb impairment. Claire won a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke event at the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016 but made the switch to triathlon in time for this year’s Games. Northumbria Sport Management graduate, Lyndon Longhorne, made his Paralympic debut in Tokyo and set a new British record in the S4 200m Freestyle swimming heat, but missed out on a medal finishing ninth overall. The previous month, Northumbria history graduate Bryony Pitman finished ninth in both the Women’s Team and Women’s

“AT NORTHUMBRIA WE ARE IMMENSELY PROUD TO HAVE OLYMPIANS AND PARALYMPIANS AS PART OF OUR STUDENT BODY AND ALUMNI.” PROFESSOR ANDREW WATHEY CBE Individual Archery events at the Olympic Games, also in Tokyo. Professor Andrew Wathey CBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, said: “At Northumbria we are immensely proud to have Olympians and Paralympians as part of our student body and alumni. Taka Suzuki’s phenomenal performances in the pool at Tokyo, resulting in five Paralympic medals and a new world record, provide an inspiration for many and will continue to be celebrated here at the University. “As well as excelling in competitive and elite sport,

Northumbria has real and developing strength in our sport-related research, in our degree programmes, in our exceptional facilities, and in our work with partners. The success of Taka Suzuki and our former students in Tokyo are testament to the ambition and aspirations of the University as a whole.” Northumbria University’s triumph in the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics builds on success celebrated five years ago at the Paralympics in Rio, where four Northumbria students brought home an impressive six medals from the Games.

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