The report, a collaboration between Bupa Global, India & UK (BGIUK), Swagֱ�� and The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, aims to tackle the issues faced by the healthcare sector, currently responsible for almost

The report explores the financial, operational and logistical challenges of reducing organisations’ environmental footprints, plus opportunities to reduce emissions, update clinical practices to reduce environmental impact, engage employees and work with supply-chains.

Included is a showcase of best practice from hospital and technology providers, NHS trusts, insurers and industry and sustainability associations. It adds to a growing body of work and pulls together best practice examples with practical actions for healthcare providers.

The report also features a practical scorecard that allows organisations to measure progress against carbon reduction best practice and take forward practical actions in five key action areas:

• Supply chain – the largest proportion of a healthcare organisation’s carbon impact
• Healthcare estates – which make up 18% of all healthcare provision emissions
• Travel and transport – which makes up 4% of an organisation’s emissions footprint
• Clinical practice – including reassessing clinical pathways to provide care that’s best for patients and the planet
• Governance and staff – the importance of high quality governance and engagement when making change

The launch took place in central London at an event attended by over 100 healthcare leaders, providers and industry partners who had a chance to hear in depth about the recommendations of the report and see the scorecard in action.

Also in attendance were suppliers and collaborators Bupa is working with as part of its aims to become a net zero business by 2040, including Upcycled Medical (medical uniforms made from recycled plastic and wood pulp), Sagetech Medical (anaesthetics gases capture and recycling system) and Naked Energy (solar energy providers).

The report is available to download .

Anna Russell, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Director for BGIUK said: “At Bupa, we believe that the health of people and the health of our planet are inextricably linked, and this means we have a big responsibility to make a better world for the generations to come.

“Across the healthcare sector we share a responsibility to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare while upholding high standards of patient care. We hope that this report will serve as a useful roadmap for organisations and that we can work together on common challenges to reach our environmental goals.”

Lou Cordwell, Professor of Innovation and Special Advisor to the President & Vice-Chancellor at Swagֱ�� said: “We're delighted to launch this first project as part of the University's strategic innovation collaboration with Bupa. This report leverages the incredible sustainability expertise of the Tyndall team to create a valuable tool that we're confident will be hugely impactful across the Bupa business and partner network as well as the wider industry.”

City of Trees is an independent charity that plant, look after and promote a culture of trees across Greater Swagֱ��. They work with volunteers across the region, as part of their ‘Citizen Forester’ programme to enhance green skills, boost health and wellbeing, and to help tackle the climate and biodiversity emergency.

Aligned closely with the University’s values and social responsibility agenda, both City of Trees and Swagֱ�� are passionate about making the region even better, one tree at a time.

In the University's special bicentenary year, it is partnering with City of Trees on several initiatives:

• The University's International Relations team signed the first agreement City of Trees earlier this year, kicking off the partnership which has been growing throughout the bicentenary year. The new agreement and initiative is a positive step in looking at the small changes with big impact that we can make as an institution
• The new agreement and initiative was officially launched at the International Friends of Swagֱ�� Day on 10 October, whereby the University made a donation on behalf of each international delegate to City of Trees. City of Trees will then plant a tree in Greater Swagֱ�� to represent each international delegate who attended the event - signifying that international colleagues continue to be a crucial part of the growth and development of both the University and the city.
• For our 200th year specifically, the University is working with City of Trees to plant 200 trees across new woodland sites in Greater Swagֱ��.
• From 7-9 October the University hosted the THE World Academic Summit and chose to make a charitable donation to City of Trees on behalf of each delegate attending, to the total of £1,500.

Swagֱ�� is truly excited to be supporting City of Trees and partnering with them on these activities, which will foster into the future.

Raphi Bloom co-founder and current co-Chair of North West Friends of Israel will share the floor with Abdullah Al Andalusi, co-founder of the discussion forum The Muslim Debate Initiative (MDI). 

Our speakers are members of the Jewish and Muslim communities and have expressed opinions on either side of this debate. We recognise that not all members of these communities share the same views on these issues.

The pair will discuss the opinion that antizionism is the same thing as antisemitism, in a debate chaired by Joseph Timan, politics writer at the Swagֱ�� Evening News. 

The discussion will take place at Swagֱ��’s Whitworth hall, Oxford Road, on 31 October between 7pm and 9pm. 

The debaters hope to unpack what antizionism and antisemitism means to them, and the impact of the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

An airing of the issues will, they hope, clarify the complexities of the conflict and promote respect and understanding for both Jewish and Muslim communities.

In his professional career, Raphi Bloom is Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at The Fed, the largest Jewish social care organisation and charity in Greater Swagֱ��.

He is also a member of the management board of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Swagֱ�� and Region.

Abdullah Al Andalusi is head of the department for Occidentology at The Quran Institute, a researcher for the i3 Institute, an international speaker, and intellectual activist for Islam and Muslim affairs, and co-founder of the Muslim Debate Initiative (MDI).

Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility at the University of Swagֱ�� will be introducing the speakers on the night with a welcome from Duncan Ivison, President and  Vice-Chancellor of Swagֱ��.

Professor Thakkar said: “Swagֱ�� is deeply committed to free speech and open debate, and this is the ethos which underpins the Whitworth Debates.

“Open and measured discussion about Israel and Palestine is important because it allows for a more nuanced, informed, and compassionate understanding of a complex and ongoing conflict.

“And being able to understand each side’s position can only be empowering for individuals and communities who so often feel marginalised and threatened by polarised views.”

The Whitworth debates are a series of discussions held at the University of Swagֱ��’s historic Whitworth Hall in which a range of seemingly intractable issues are debated by people with well informed but differing and strongly held viewpoints.

The debates will be based on the format of the very successful animal research debate held in November 2023 at The Whitworth Hall in which three panellists debated questions from audience members.

If you are a member of staff or a student and would like to attend the event, register

In the latter part of the debate, the speakers will debate questions sent in by attendees so to send in your questions, email michael.addelman@manchester.ac.uk

• If you are affected by the issues in the discussion, you can access the student  support services or the staff wellbeing pages

The networks will share £4.8 million from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), awarded as part of its tackling infections strategic theme. This programme will continue next year with a new opportunity for ambitious new transdisciplinary research programmes, drawing on a dedicated budget of at least £7 million.

The People AMR Network, led by  Sarah Tonkin-Crine at  The University of Oxford  will consider how communities might use antibiotics in the best possible ways to minimise AMR through changing behaviour.

The network will explore ways to help people make decisions about antibiotic use, develop new strategies and tools, and to study these to ensure they target the right people, the right behaviours, and the right settings to have maximum and timely impact at the lowest possible cost. The community will include representatives from the public as well as GPs, dentists, pharmacists, vets and business leaders.

Co-lead Dr Wendy Thompson from Swagֱ�� said: “'From antibiotics for a dental abscess through to antifungals for mildew in the bathroom, we just take antimicrobials for granted. Yet the more often we use them for things where they are not strictly necessary, like toothache, the less often they will work when they are vital, like sepsis.

“It's my pleasure, therefore, to lead the dentistry part of this people-centred approach to helping ensure future generations continue to benefit from antimicrobials that work.”

The Fungal One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance Network, led by Darius Armstrong-James at Imperial College London  will focus on the emergence of anti-fungal resistance and the development of countermeasures to it, with collaboration from the University of Swagֱ��.

The network will cover healthcare, agricultural and pharmaceutical industries, as well as key government departments and end users in these settings. It will tackle the underlying causes of resistance, surveillance, agricultural waste and water-based hotspots, the development of countermeasures and interventions to mitigate resistance.

Co-lead Dr Michael Bromley from Swagֱ�� said: “Fungal pathogens cause devastating losses to all of our staple foods such as wheat, rice, corn, soybean and sugar cane. To combat these losses, which alone are sufficient to feed around half of the world’s population, millions of tonnes of fungicides are sprayed. This widespread and sometimes illegal use has caused drug resistance to emerge in many fungal pathogens of plants, placing pressure on our food security.

“Worse still, these fungicides have caused drug resistance to emerge in human fungal pathogens too. I will be leading a group to understand how we may balance the critical need for fungicide use in crops with the negative impacts they have on driving resistance and how we can work better with Governments to prevent resistance emerging to new the next-generation of antifungals.”

The Accurate, Rapid, Robust and Economical One Health DiagnoSTics for antimicrobial resistance Network will focus on diagnostic tools. It will coordinate and develop practical solutions for diagnostics in both animals and plants, across various settings and is led by Led by Mark Bradley from Queen Mary University of London, with collaborators from the University of Swagֱ��.

This will be addressed by identifying needs across sectors, developing research and innovation, standardising evaluation, supporting implementation, and cross-pollinating findings.

The new networks will support diverse teams of AMR researchers, ranging from specialists in agriculture, food and the environment to human and animal medicine, policy and behavioral studies, engineering and social science. Together they’ll develop new partnerships and approaches to tackling AMR across sectors and disciplines, including culture, economics, behaviour, biomedical and physical sciences, design and engineering, environmental sciences and more.

Dr Colin Miles, Head of Strategy, Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Growth at UKRI, said:

“Tackling the creeping pandemic of anti-microbial resistance – increasing resistance to antibiotics – is a large, complex problem. Ten million people each year are expected to lose their lives to it by 2050.

“Rather than taking single-discipline approaches, we need researchers from across disciplines to come together and look at all aspects of the problem – from human behaviour and how we grow crops and rear animals for consumption to how we manage the environment or use technology, clinical management strategies or challenge established cultural norms.”

Professor Alejandro Frangi, Bicentennial Turing Chair in Computational Medicine says new approaches for product development, including computational modelling and simulation, could realise the huge potential of new technologies in regulatory and product innovation.

The report authored by KPMG UK Life Sciences Regulatory Solutions, commissioned by Swagֱ��, is based on the findings of a detailed literature review, surveys and structured interviews with life science sector stakeholders.

Professor Frangi said returns on investment is an important barrier, arguing that although relevant skills are in short supply, they can be sourced from other traditional sectors transformed by the digital revolution, such as the aerospace, automotive industries, or manufacturing.

Another challenge is to build trust among stakeholders for these new technologies and do so in co-creation with the broader sector and society.

In the report’s foreword, he said: “Computational Modelling and Simulation (CM&S) technology and In Silico Evidence (ISE) stand poised to revolutionize the future of healthcare.

“These cutting-edge methods offer a thrilling opportunity to expedite research and development (R&D), spark unprecedented innovation, and usher life-changing pharmaceutical and medical device products to market with remarkable speed and enhanced safety. The healthcare industry can easily recoup its investment in in silico methods during the R&D phase of a product’s life cycle.

“But progress is being hindered by misconceptions, which largely stems from regulatory uncertainty and a lack of incentives for adopting these technologies. This report, however, provides much needed evidence that we already have the skills and financial incentives to push forwards with this agenda, added Michael Kipping,  Honorary Research Fellow on Regulatory Science and Innovation at Swagֱ��.

The technologies have the potential to reduce research sample sizes and the reliance on animal testing in pre-clinical trials.

Access to novel medicines and medical devices could be democratised by employing virtual patient cohorts mirroring diverse populations, including those previously marginalized by traditional evidence approaches.

The costs of bringing a new pharmaceutical to market are currently estimated at around £2 billion. 

If new technologies are employed, they have the potential to accelerate market entry for innovative products by up to two years and reduce the number of patients required for clinical studies potentially saving up to £7.8 million.

Professor Frangi said: “To fully harness the transformative potential of these new technologies, manufacturers must navigate the complex landscape of global regulatory acceptance criteria. There is a pressing need for a cross-sector effort to develop clearer regulatory guidelines, international standards, and best practices. Such initiatives will pave the way for the global harmonization of in silico technologies, if not their regulation by worldwide regulatory agencies.”

“Those who dare to embrace innovation are poised to set new standards and lead the industry forward.”

Anusha Foy, Partner at KPMG said: “The potential benefits for patients and global healthcare systems with the utilisation of CM&S, MIE and ISE technology is enormous and transformative and is an area we will be following closely in the next few years”.

The report In Silico Regulatory Evidence Utilisation within the Life Science Sector is available for download here

He will record his experiences during all four events using a GoPro camera, and plans to compile a video towards the end of the summer. 

To support Jonathan in his series of challenges, visit .

Two children died following a stabbing in Southport at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Stockport yesterday.

Nine more children were injured, with six in critical condition. Two adults were also injured according to Merseyside Police.

The free leaflet, from the University’s Parenting and Families Research Group available here was developed for the Swagֱ�� Arena bombing and then for the Grenfell fire, with trauma experts from around the country.

It is designed to  help those affected through the critical first few days after the  trauma, but also in the months that follow.

The leaflet is  designed to help parents and caregivers cope with their own emotions and stress and  will help them to understand common reactions in children and how best to care for them.

Professor Rachel Calam, who helped develop the leaflet said: “ This is a tragic incident; parents, children and teachers will need good psychological support to help the navigate through the coming days and months.

“What they are going through might include difficulties sleeping, thoughts and memories of what has happened popping into mind, bad dreams, irritability, feeling low, behavioural problems and avoiding activities they used to enjoy.

“This leaflet is advises them how keep going in such difficult times, and that experiencing some distress like that is entirely normal. There is no one way of feeling after a trauma.

“We developed this information to help anyone wondering how best to help their child through such a frightening and upsetting experience. We hope you find it helpful.”

For more For more family advice, visit the NHS  MindEd website .

Download the advice

In total 68  of the most promising research leaders will be funded £104 million to lead research into global issues and to commercialise their innovations in the UK.

UKRI’s flagship Future Leaders Fellowships allow universities and businesses to develop their most talented early career researchers and innovators and to attract new people to their organisations, including from overseas.

Dr Fiona Whelan is a Senior Lecturer in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics at Swagֱ�� whose research focusses on combining classical microbiology techniques with cutting-edge bioinformatic methodologies.

Fiona was previously a University of Nottingham Anne McLaren Fellow (2020-3) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Independent Fellow (2018-20). She moved to the UK from McMaster University, Canada where she conducted her PhD research on the human microbiome.

She said: “I am so excited to join this cohort of UKRI Future Leaders Fellows. My research programme – focussed on understanding how bacterial interactions within mixed microbial communities contribute to pathogenicity and disease progression in cystic fibrosis – is interdisciplinary in nature.

“This Fellowship gives me the unique opportunity to assemble a world-leading, interdisciplinary team who will have the experience and expertise to answer these important questions and – ultimately – hopefully improve the lives of individuals with cystic fibrosis.”

Dr Laura Richards, a Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow based at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Swagֱ��, has been awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship to launch a project called AQUAROAD.

AQUAROAD aims to create a roadmap towards improved groundwater quality management in the context of the Global South by bringing together interdisciplinary approaches to understand (bio)geochemical controls and to support evidence-based decision making for effective remediation strategies for water supplies used for drinking.

The approach, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, will be developed and demonstrated in contrasting areas in India and East Africa, with flexibility for future adaptation.

Dr Richards said: “I’m thrilled and deeply grateful to have been awarded a Future Leaders Fellowship. This fellowship is an exciting springboard for ambitious research with an excellent network of collaborators and potential for positive impact on society.”

UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said: “UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships provide researchers and innovators with long-term support and training to develop ambitious, transformative ideas.

“The programme supports the research and innovation leaders of the future to transcend disciplinary and sector boundaries, bridging the gap between academia and business.  

The fellows announced today demonstrate how these awards continue to drive excellence, and to shorten the distance from discovery to prosperity and public good.”

The collection touches on a number of issues of vital importance to towns, cities features over 40 essayists from  across the political spectrum and across different sectors – including education, business, healthcare, local government, think tanks, charities and the arts – who all advocate for universities to have a stronger voice in place-making. Each essay includes policy ideas for the new Government to enable the local civic role to thrive.

Included in this is a contribution from Dr Julian Skyrme and Professor Richard Jones, along with Bev Craig (Leader of Swagֱ�� City Council) with . The essay demonstrates the important role universities play in innovation and productivity growth across their regions. 

There is also a on Developing skills and innovation and the importance of universities’ civic roles.

Dr Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement at Swagֱ�� said: "Lord Bob Kerslake was one of the most distinguished public servants of his generation and made a critical contribution to the higher education sector with his Civic University Commission. As the original civic university, Swagֱ�� has been delighted to contribute to this collection of essays by civic leaders, which has been written with a new government firmly in mind". 

The collection touches on a number of issues of vital importance to towns, cities and regions, including local economic growth, raising educational attainment and opportunity for disadvantaged groups, the local supply of the NHS workforce, improving the local environment, and access to culture and te arts. Following the launch at the National Theatre, the full collection is available from kerslakecollection.org.

Several prominent public figures have also signed an open letter to the new Prime Minister calling for actions including support for the creative sector, investment in the NHS workforce and a review of how the the post-16 educational sector can overcome the current funding crisis effecting it - all of which would continue Bob's legacy.

Among many other leadership roles, Lord Kerslake was Chair of the UPP Foundation Civic University Commission supporting over 70 universities in developing Civic University Agreements and the creation of the Civic University Network. The groundbreaking work championed by Lord Kerslake has transformed the relationship between universities and their local communities across the UK.

This stands as one among many other achievements across a lifetime of public service. As a former head of the civil service, a prominent figure in local government, housing and higher education and a regular media political commentator, Lord Kerslake and his vision for society touched thousands of lives. His impact is reflected in the breadth of the essays brought together in the collection, with reflections on everything from the future of English devolution to the role of universities in tackling homelessness.

Richard Brabner, Director of the UPP Foundation, said: “It has been an honour to orchestrate this collection to celebrate the legacy of our late great friend Bob Kerslake. It was the privilege of my career to work closely with Bob, his passion, insight, and hard work were crucial to the success of our Civic University Commission, and I know that everyone involved in the collection has benefitted from Bob’s wisdom over the years. We hope that this collection provies the inspiration to the new Government to build on Bob’s work to ensure the civic role is truly recognised.

Professor Sir Chris Husbands, Former Vice Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University said: “Bob was one of the most gifted and committed public servants of our time. It's fitting that we launch this collection this evening, just a few days into the new government.  Bob was respected across the political spectrum, but there is no doubt that had he lived he would have been a powerful resource for a progressive government embarking on national renewal. It falls to those of us who remain to rise to the standards he set, to play our part in shaping and doing policy for the common good”.

With a unique commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Swagֱ�� is the only institution in the world to rank in the top ten for social and environmental impact in every year of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. 

Swagֱ��’s top ranking comes from a record assessment of 2,152 universities from 125 countries and regions, which is 26 per cent increase on last year where 1,705 universities were ranked. This year 72 UK universities participated in the ranking, 11 more than last year (61). 

The ranking, now in its sixth year, is the world’s only one that measures universities’ contributions to the and assesses their commitment to sustainability across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching 

Dr Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement at Swagֱ��, who leads the institution’s entry to the ranking, said: “Each year we submit over 300 pieces of evidence for this ranking covering our cultural institutions, sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion, widening access, research impact, public and civic engagement, external partnerships, innovation, the student experience and reporting on the SDGs. Everyone in our University community should be proud of this independent measure of our commitment to social responsibility.” 

Swagֱ�� came top in the world for SDG11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities. Initiatives supporting this include the Platinum Watermark for Public Engagement, the investment made in four public-facing cultural institutions and initiative, a commitment to sustainable travel and world-leading research across all three Faculties into the effects of on health. 

The University was also ranked first in the world for SDG15 – Life on Land. Initiatives supporting this included research by the into soil microbial diversity, work to enhance and map our nature on campus and the commitment the University places on sustainable food procurement. 

Other areas where the University was shown to be a world leader include research impact towards SDG9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; the number of citing university research; the number of university the quality of the University’s SDG reporting; and on the commitment to educational for sustainable development through the School of Health Science’s free and interdisciplinary UCIL . 

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of Swagֱ�� said: “Retaining the number one rank in the UK and Europe, as well as coming second in the world once again in this year’s THE Impact Rankings is a great achievement for the whole of Swagֱ��. Being recognised for our commitment to Social Responsibility is especially important during our bicentenary year in which we celebrate 200 years of our incredible people and community and look toward the future.” 

Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility at Swagֱ�� said: “Social responsibility is, of course, a core goal for us so we’re delighted to be ranked top in the UK, top in Europe and second in the world in the 2024 THE Impact Rankings, which are based on our performance against the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. 

“These rankings cover our full range of functions – across research, students, public engagement and university operations – and we’re proud to be part of this growing community of universities who want to improve our society, economy and environment in all that we do.” 

Phil Baty, Times Higher Education’s chief global affairs officer, said: “With universities in the UK facing a funding crisis, and dozens making cuts and some predicted to close, this new data provides a very timely evidence base to demonstrate that the UK has a great diversity of global-leading universities, right across the country, way beyond the more traditional research elite.   

“Universities on the whole are offering clear, real-world impact for society – they are a powerful public good worthy of public support. Excellence in international higher education comes in many forms and this ranking very clearly demonstrates the UK has an abundance of excellence – world leaders – on many fronts.  

“There is a lot of talk in Westminster about how many international students the UK should welcome and which universities they should be allowed to study at. This new data shows that a very diverse range of universities from across the country are attractive to the ‘brightest and the best’ from around the globe and can deliver real impact.”  

THE’s Impact Rankings 2024 - World Top 10:   

View the full  

For more information about how Swagֱ�� is contributing towards the UN SDGs please see: /discover/social-responsibility/sdgs/

Throughout the year, teachers of 5-14 years olds have the chance to upskill in their own knowledge and skills of teaching science enquiry, using innovative resources and ideas related to the theme of Sustainable Science to involve their pupils in asking and investigating scientific questions that matter to them.

Now, on Tuesday 11 June, teachers and their pupils will come together in celebratory events both in-person and online, across the UK and beyond, to share what they have learnt with their peers, family, industry professionals and the general public.  

This year’s theme is Sustainable Science, with a focus on the Some of the questions shared this year, include:

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; How could we prevent the polar ice caps melting? 

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Which fruit or vegetable is most likely to be able to power an electric car? 

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; What effects does plastic pollution have on wildlife? 

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Which fabrics shed less fibres and are therefore better for the environment? 

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Can we increase the biodiversity in our school? 

The Great Science Share for Schools (GSSfS) campaign was launched by Professor Lynne Bianchi, Vice Dean for Social Responsibility at Swagֱ��, to provide a unique way to elevate the prominence of science in the classroom, focussing on learner-focussed science communication, inclusive and non-competitive engagement, and promoting collaboration.

Supported by a team of specialists, they have an approach that is supported across the STEM sector, and actively involves research from a range of fields including quantum science, fashion materials, computing and the creative industries.

Earlier this year, the campaign was granted the prestigious patronage of the , in recognition of its status as a beacon of excellence in science education and its pivotal role in shaping the next generation of scientists, innovators, and global citizens.

The team’s growth strategy, which monitors the reach and quality of the campaign, sees it develop year on year. Now, in its ninth year, there will be more than 650,000 pupils registered across 40 countries, with schools in Montenegro being some of the latest to join.

Professor Lynne Bianchi added: “GSSfS is a powerful and purposeful way to engage young people with science related to real-world contexts. It offers teachers and school leaders the chance to raise the profile of science at a time where our economy relies so heavily on STEM skills and innovation.”

Professor Bianchi, recently advised on the new Education Endowment Foundation’s Improving Primary Science Guidance and is researching the purpose and effectiveness of practical work in science as part of a Nuffield Foundation research study. In this way, the knowledge and awareness developed within the Great Science Share for Schools informs leading practice by sharing best practice and insights to make a wider impact.

An exciting addition to the Great Science Share this year is the release of the brand-new which publishes 200 questions shared by pupils.

Professor Bianchi said: “This has been an ideal opportunity to celebrate Swagֱ��’s Bicentenary, and to inspire more teachers and young people across the world to ask, investigate and share their questions with each other.”

In a first for the world-famous event held from Tues 21 to Sat 25 May 2024, Dermatologists and specialist nurses will be welcoming visitors to the Burma Skincare Initiative ‘Spirit of Partnership Garden’ during the week.

The charity, co-founded by Chris Griffiths OBE, emeritus professor at Swagֱ��, is an innovative global partnership providing research, education, and clinical services to dermatologists working in one of the world’s poorest health care systems.

Currently fewer than 50 dermatologists and three dermatology centres serve 55 million people in the impoverished country.

It is also the first time a Burmese garden has featured at Chelsea and in another first, it is a debut design by someone not in the profession.

The designer, the charity and the sponsors behind the first Burmese and skin-themed garden at the world’s most famous flower show say it’s a unique opportunity to put Burma and skin health in the spotlight.

Professor Griffiths said: “Skin disease has a major impact on a person’s quality of life and mental health and can impose severe limitations on their ability to work. In Myanmar, we met many people, including hundreds of children in orphanages, with skin diseases.

Their suffering and resilience motivated us to improve access to skincare in the country through partnerships between international and local dermatology communities and industry.”

Co-founder, Dr Su Lwin, a Burmese-born dermatology registrar and honorary lecturer at St John’s Institute of Dermatology and King’s College London, added: “My beautiful country faces many challenges. We are focussed on creating opportunities in education and research for our colleagues in Myanmar so that together, we may achieve our vision of equal access to quality skin care for its people. I am absolutely thrilled that through the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, we are able to put Myanmar and skin health on the world stage. This is also the first time a garden at Chelsea tells the story of skin disease, and the importance of partnership in its management, and we hope people love it.”

Garden designer Helen Olney, working with landscaper Conquest Creative Spaces, has juggled her day job, to create her Chelsea debut.

She said: “The garden is full of texture, including timber from a Thames jetty, crumbling red bricks and weathered stone with moss and lichen. Along with plants such as Acer davidii and Betula utilis (Himalayan birch), they represent skin disease.

All the plants are found in Burma and grow happily in the UK and many have value for wildlife. The planting is naturalistic in a palette of greens, lilacs, yellows and whites. The diversity of Myanmar is shown through different planting zones and features. That includes the part-ruined ‘stupa’, a spiritual structure found across Myanmar, which symbolise the challenging environments in which the BSI work.

A stilt house, above a water lily pool, indicates the sanctuary the charity provides. Seating is inspired by a letter in the Burmese alphabet meaning ‘coming together’. This is how this garden came about, and how the charity works,” added Helen.

For more information about the BSI visit the website

Images:

• L-R Prof Chris Griffiths OBE, RHS's Esta Morris and Doctor Su Lwin on the plot where the show garden will appear in May.
• The BSI garden uses education research and clinical care to support Burmese health Credit The3DGardener

“Laura’s life - and her selfless dedication to improving the lives of others - were an inspiration to the many staff and students who knew her,” said Professor Claire Alexander, Head of Swagֱ��’s School of Social Sciences. “We are proud to be part of continuing Laura’s legacy through this new scholarship, and we thank Laura’s family for partnering with us in this new venture in Laura’s name.” 

The scholarship was introduced at an event on campus where Laura’s Mum Nicola also launched the publication of ‘, her heartbreaking and inspiring account of helping her daughter to make the most of her remaining time while dealing with her own pain along with that of husband Mark and younger daughter Gracie. 

To find out more about Laura’s legacy and her family’s ongoing work, visit . 

In a major move towards achieving its 2038 zero carbon ambitions, the University has partnered with leading UK clean energy company Enviromena to buy electricity generated from its brand-new solar farm based in Medebridge, Essex.

Once complete, Medebridge Solar Farm will comprise 104,000 solar panels across 175 acres of low-grade agricultural land, the equivalent of around 70 football pitches.

The site will also create a significant biodiversity net gain. With enhancements to the existing hedgerows and planting of native grassland and wildflower meadow beneath and around the solar arrays, the site will encourage nesting opportunities for wildlife and improved habitat connectivity.

The contract that secures this investment, known as a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (cPPA), commits the University to purchase 80% of Medebridge’s total annual generation capacity (58 GWh) for the next decade, reducing University carbon emissions by 12,000 t/co2 every year - enough to power 21,000 homes.

Lee Barlow, Finance & Administration Manager, and Project Lead at Swagֱ��, said: “After nearly three years of rigorous procurement and negotiations, we are proud to announce this landmark agreement, which reinforces our commitment to sustainability whilst delivering best value to our students and stakeholders, in the form of price certainty and supply stability.

“The journey has been marked by unprecedented challenges in the energy and renewables sector, first with the 2022 energy crisis, and later complicated by geopolitical events in Eastern Europe. Securing this 10-year cPPA despite such adversity is a huge accomplishment and holds special significance as we celebrate the University’s bicentennial year.”

and Academic Lead for Carbon at Swagֱ��, added: “The really important thing for us in developing this relationship was that our commitment would add new renewable energy capacity to the UK electricity system. Through our long-term purchasing commitment, we have played a key role in bringing this development forward – maximising the positive impact of our purchasing power.”

Dr Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility at Swagֱ��, added: “As consumers many of us may have ‘green’ or renewable energy tariff. These are important, but they don’t put ‘additional’ renewable power into the grid in the same way as a power purchase agreement. By signing a PPA we’re supporting not only a greener University of Swagֱ��, but also a greener energy grid across the UK. This PPA is part of a much wider transition away from burning fossil fuels and towards generating significantly more cleaner, electrified forms of power.”

This milestone achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of a multidisciplinary implementation team from the University, complemented by the expertise of its energy consultant, Inspired PLC, and Eversheds Sutherland acting as external legal counsel.

Enviromena develops, builds, owns and operates renewable energy assets and currently manages over 300MW of renewables projects. In addition, Enviromena is currently working on a 3GW+ pipeline of renewable energy projects in the UK and Italy that will significantly decarbonise electricity networks, reduce emissions and support the global drive towards net zero.

Lee Adams, Enviromena’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Enviromena is leading the charge towards a world powered by clean energy and our teams are delivering high volume projects that make a massive contribution to lowering carbon emissions. This significant partnership with Swagֱ�� demonstrates the shared commitment between ourselves and an influential, large-scale organisation, which, at the time it celebrates its 200-year anniversary, is taking steps towards reducing its carbon footprint through the technologies of tomorrow for a cleaner future energy supply."

Chris Marsh, Enviromena’s Chief Executive Officer, added: “We’re delighted to partner with the University to support their zero carbon ambitions. In addition to reducing the University’s carbon emissions over the next 10 years, the site itself will benefit the local habitat over its useful life until mid-2060.” 

Construction of Medebridge commenced in April 2024, with energisation expected in autumn 2025.

The University has set ambitious goals to reduce its environmental impact, in line with its core goal of social responsibility. In 2022 it ended investments in coal, oil and gas and reduced the carbon intensity of its investments by 37%.

All degree programmes are kite-marked against the (SDGs) and the University is rated top in the UK and Europe and second in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings global performance table (2023). Swagֱ�� also top in the UK and Europe and third in the world in the independent QS World University Sustainability Rankings (2024)

The research platform brings together the unique depth and breadth of internationally leading research at Swagֱ�� and builds on the University’s track record of successful interdisciplinary working, to produce integrated and truly sustainable solutions to urgent environmental challenges. This includes the , which helped create the University’s Zero Carbon Goal.

The gift, which is the most recent donation to the University from the Foundation, will deliver an ambitious programme of work aimed at redefining the role of global development research in the 21^st Century. This supports the GDI’s overarching mission of addressing global inequalities and promoting a socially just world for all.

The gift aims to build equitable partnerships between the GDI, one of the foremost development studies research institutions globally and Universities across the developing world. The GDI aims to reshape, and lead by example, the way that leading North-based universities work with Global South partners to ensure knowledge creation is co-created.

Activity funded by the gift includes a new policy lab – aimed at translating academic research into policy change – and the creation of new PhD studentships focused on climate change and poverty reduction.

Recent GDI research has encouraged the UK government to launch new development programmes worth £270 million, catalysed improved gender equality for one million women working the supply chains of companies such as Nike and Marks & Spencer, and has resulted in improved life expectancy for over 3,750 Indonesians at risk of cardiovascular disease.

, Head of the GDI said: “The gift from the Rory and Elizabeth Brooks foundation will enable us to transform the ways in which global development institutes like ours operate.

“We want to do this by targeting new Global South partnerships. This is where we move beyond very short-term income-led forms of partnership, to much more durable and equitable relationships. The aim is to ensure that scholars in the Global South have a larger and louder voice in setting research and teaching agendas around global development, which has previously been captured very much by northern based academics.”

This new activity will build on the GDI’s track record of learning from and amplifying academic voices from across the globe. Gig economy workers in Ghana and Bangladesh are who are helping to rank platforms like Uber and Upwork. These rankings are driving up pay and conditions for workers in a wider range of low-income countries.

 

, a PhD researcher based at the GDI, is using his research to drive policy change in order to ensure that communities in his home country of Ghana benefit from prosperity brought to the country from the mining industry.  

“The people who are really short-changed are often the local people. In order to make sure the local people benefit, it is important that their views are elevated to a level where they have a greater say in governance,” said Gerald.

“The University is number one in terms of research towards sustainable development goals. I have no doubt in mind that the nature of the GDI is contributing immensely towards this.”

The Brooks’ extraordinary contribution reflects a deep commitment to promoting sustainable development and social justice worldwide.

Rory Brooks is co-founder of the international private equity group MML Capital Partners. Rory graduated from UMIST (now Swagֱ��) in 1975 and serves on the Charity Commission.   He was the donor member of the Pearce Review into philanthropy in Higher Education in 2012 and was awarded the CBE in 2015.

Rory Brooks said: “Philanthropy, at its best, should be used to catalyse new and bold activity that is less likely to be funded through traditional channels. We are very encouraged and pleased to be able to support the ambitious plan of the GDI to recast global development research in partnership with Institutions around the world.”

The gift follows a recent £1.5 million gift to Swagֱ�� from alumnus and businessman Simon Sadler, which will provide life-changing financial support for care leaver students.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor said: “Swagֱ�� owes its very existence to philanthropy. As we step into our third century, philanthropic gifts play a critical part in delivering our goal of creating a healthier, fairer and more sustainable future.”

Swagֱ��, renowned for its commitment to excellence in research and education, is the home of the Global Development Institute. This significant donation underscores the University's position as a leader in addressing complex global challenges and underscores its ongoing dedication to making a positive impact on society.

For more information about the Global Development Institute at Swagֱ��, please visit

This recognition underscores the event's profound alignment with UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) values, solidifying its status as a beacon of excellence in science education.

Patronage granted by the UK National Commission for UNESCO serves as a hallmark of quality, signifying an event's contribution in advancing UNESCO's mission in promoting education, scientific research, and cultural understanding. The GSSfS has been acknowledged by the UKNC for its exceptional contributions to these crucial areas, affirming its pivotal role in shaping the next generation of scientists, innovators, and global citizens.

The GSSfS is a campaign for everyone to involve young people from 5-14 years in asking, investigating and sharing a scientific question they care about. First launched as part of the European City of Science in 2016, the campaign is centred around an annual programme of activity culminating in a large scale sharing event on the second week of June each year.

Since its inception, GSSfS has been dedicated to empowering young people to ask-investigate and share a scientific question with new audiences. The event has reached over 500,000 young people across 33 countries to spark curiosity about the world around us. Through teacher professional development, tailored resources aligned to global issues and engaging events, the campaign has, nurtured creativity, and inspired a lifelong passion for discovery in young people across the globe.

"We are deeply honoured this year to receive the esteemed patronage from the UK National Commission for UNESCO," said Professor Lynne Bianchi, Swagֱ��.

“This endorsement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in making this initiative a resounding success. I hope that every supporter and participant will acknowledge that this has only been achieved through authentic collaboration across the sector.  With UNESCO's support, we are poised to expand our reach, amplify our impact, and inspire even more young learners to embrace the transformative power of asking scientific questions.”

As a UKNC-patronised event, GSSfS will continue to uphold the highest standards of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity in science education. By leveraging this prestigious endorsement, the initiative aims to forge new partnerships, enhance its offerings, and empower teachers, educators, pupils and whole school communities worldwide to engage meaningfully with science enquiry and its applications.

Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility, said “Swagֱ�� is already a world-leader in social responsibility and sustainable development. This prestigious partnership with UNESCO will help even more young people around the world see science as a force for good in the world.”

James Bridge, Chief Executive and Secretary General, United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC), said: “We are delighted to grant the UK National Commission for UNESCO Patronage to the Great Science Share for Schools campaign in 2024. Education, Science, and Communication and Information are three fundamental pillars of UNESCO’s global work, so it is great that the UK National Commission can support an initiative here in the UK that brings these together in such an imaginative and collaborative way.

“By engaging and encouraging children to choose a scientific question that they personally care about, and then gather and share their evidence to ‘solve’ that question, is a wonderful mechanism to develop enquiring minds.”

The Great Science Share for Schools extends its heartfelt gratitude to the UK National Commission for UNESCO for bestowing this honour and looks forward to continuing its mission of igniting passion, unlocking potential, and transforming lives through the wonders of science.

For more information about The Great Science Share for Schools, please visit .

Simon and his wife Gillian are also supporting Cancer Research UK’s More Research, Less Cancer campaign with a gift to the CRUK National Cancer Biomarker Centre in Swagֱ��. The Biomarker Centre is housed in the CRUK Swagֱ�� Institute, a partnership between Swagֱ��, CRUK and the Christie NHS Foundation Trust. 

“I would personally like to thank Simon for this generous, life-changing programme of support for students leaving care, which will play a pivotal role in our mission to create a more inclusive and accessible academic environment,” said Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of Swagֱ��. “We are committed to ensuring that students from all backgrounds are able to fulfil their potential and succeed here at our University, and this new bursary is another tool in our arsenal to enable that to happen.”

Our University is committed to supporting care leavers and estranged students throughout their studies, and offers tailored support to these students. This includes various financial packages such as The Swagֱ�� Bursary, the  and the  - which are all generously supported by donors. The Access & Success Fund also provides accommodation grants for care experienced and estranged students, ensuring they are not left without somewhere to go during the summer break.

Students are also provided with named contacts who help them to navigate and access university support services, assist with accommodation, finances and settling into university life, provide career guidance, put them in touch with other care experienced or estranged students, and provide a listening ear whenever they would like to speak to someone.

Care experienced and estranged students are also offered paid work at the University as a Student Ambassador, which is a great opportunity to access to flexible, paid, part-time work, meet other students and develop people skills. Ambassadors are also offered the chance to act as role models on the projects that we run with looked-after young people by talking about their experiences of education.

Swagֱ�� is one of 64 cities, from 35 countries, to join the (GNLC).

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is an international network comprising of 356 cities that successfully promote lifelong learning across their communities.

A key feature of UNESCO learning cities is the connections between education and skills, communities, employers and the public sector. Swagֱ��’s lifelong learning application was co-designed with 150+ organisations.

Swagֱ�� is leading on digital skills as part of Swagֱ��’s lifelong learning approach, a movement of people, services and place, to connect, validate and nurture learning, to support the city economy and to promote high quality and inclusive learning, for all aspects of our life.

Professor Danielle George, Associate Vice President Blended and Flexible Learning at Swagֱ��, said: “Swagֱ�� is a city that creates and reinforces social cohesion, economic and cultural prosperity, and sustainable development. Swagֱ�� is so proud to be part of this exciting network and to support our wonderful city facilitate lifelong learning for all and help realise the universal right to education.”

The University’s Flexible Learning Programme contributed to the successful bid and continues to focus on delivering flexibility in terms of place, pace and pathway. We aim to develop inclusive and accessible education to be a learning partner for life. To address the challenges around accessing talent and sector-specific digital skills, our Flexible Learning Programme, supported by Turing Innovation Catalyst Swagֱ��, will lead on the development of Swagֱ��’s Digital Skill Framework (MDSF). This ecosystem will bring together industry, training providers and relevant stakeholders together to co-design a user-focused digital skills framework.

Professor Ang Davies, Academic Lead for Flexible Pathways and Lifelong Learning at Swagֱ��, said: “Swagֱ��’s ambitions to become a global city of digital innovation are evident in the city’s digital strategy. Building a strong talent pipeline and addressing digital skills gaps in areas such as data science and AI will be critical. We are delighted to be working with the city on its lifelong learning programme to develop Swagֱ��’s digital skills framework, allowing us to address the gaps and match provider expertise with employer demand.”

Find out more: manchester.ac.uk/discover/teaching-and-learning-excellence/flexible-learning 

The $500k gift from the will be matched 100% by the University and will be used to support both early-career and returning researchers from the University’s Photon Science Institute in partnership with the Royce Institute, the UK’s national institute for advanced materials research and innovation.

The partnership was announced today (29 January) during the SPIE Photonics West conference in San Francisco.

Photonics is the study of light and its interactions to develop technologies that impact our daily lives, from fibre optics for communications, microscopy for medical applications, light sources for displays such as smartphones, to next generation quantum applications.

With a goal of increasing diversity in the subject, the SPIE-Swagֱ�� Postgraduate Scholarship will have a particular focus on funding individuals returning to research following a career break or time in industry, and those pursuing unconventional career pathways or part-time study (situations often necessitated by caring responsibilities, for example).

Aligning current research and industrial needs for a robust training pipeline, an additional unique feature of the scholarship is an optional final-year placement of up to 12 months, during which students can develop industry-relevant skills in collaboration with local optics and photonics companies.

SPIE CEO Kent Rochford, added: “For many researchers and engineers, the traditional educational paths are barriers to their success.

“The SPIE-Swagֱ�� Postgraduate Scholarship in Photonics aims to remove those barriers and provide exciting opportunities for early-career researchers and those who may be pursuing unconventional career paths. Working internally at the University’s Photon Science Institute with the option of an industry-focused placement, promises to benefit young researchers as well as our future diverse workforce. I very much look forward to meeting the leaders in optics and photonics technologies who will emerge from this dynamic partnership between SPIE and Swagֱ��.”

The scholarship is the 11^th major SPIE gift to universities and institutes as part of the Society's ongoing program to support the expansion of optical engineering teaching and research.

The  was established in 2019 to increase international capacity in the teaching and research of optics and photonics. With this latest gift, SPIE has provided more than $4 million in matching gifts, resulting in more than $11 million in dedicated funds. The SPIE Endowment Matching Program supports optics and photonics education and the future of the industry by contributing a match of up to $500,000 per award to college, institute, and university programs with optics and photonics degrees, or with other disciplines allied to the SPIE mission.

The initiative, funded by a Defra Air Quality Grant, seeks to understand the motivations behind burning solid fuels in homes and gardens, improve community knowledge and influence behaviour and improve public health in Greater Swagֱ��.

Smoke from log burners, domestic fires and garden bonfires contain tiny particles called particulate matter (PM2.5) that can damage people’s health, increasing the risk of respiratory conditions, such as asthma, and lead to more serious health conditions. 

The study – led by Swagֱ�� on behalf of Greater Swagֱ��’s 10 councils – aims to understand the link between household burning practices (indoor and outdoor) and local air quality.

Over the next two years, the research partnership will help inform a public health campaign across the city region to raise awareness around the negative impacts of domestic burning, with the aim to reduce particulate matter emissions through reduced and cleaner burning habits.

The survey will run until February 2024 and invites both people who burn at home and those that do not to take part.

Those that complete the survey can enter a draw to win one of five food vouchers. The link to the survey can be found

In conjunction with the study, Greater Swagֱ�� has launched an to educate residents about the health impacts and regulations surrounding domestic burning. Over 40 air quality monitors will be strategically placed across the region to better understand the link between domestic burning and PM2.5 air pollution.

The study is one of many research projects at the University which is looking into the

Residents who do need to burn this winter are being encouraged to follow these guidelines:   

• Find out if you are in a – if so your stove needs to be Defra-exempt and you must only use approved fuel.    
• Only burn clean seasoned wood with a moisture content of less than 20% or dried for a minimum of two years, or use ‘Ready to Burn’ approved manufactured solid fuels.   
• Do not burn rubbish or general waste.   
• Get your chimney swept each year and your stove checked.   
• Do not let your fire smoulder overnight. 

Take part in the survey

The qualitative study - led by Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno from Swagֱ�� - is published today  in the journal of social welfare and family law.

The mothers had taken violent partners to court only for some of them to lose custody and residence of their children over counterclaims of parental alienation.

Parental Alienation is a that asserts when a child has a negative stance towards one parent, typically the father, the child’s preferred parent, typically the mother, is to blame.

When victim-survivors report abuse and violence, parental alienation is often used to denounce and disqualify reports of abuse, implying that mothers are lying and manipulating children.

A law introduced in Brazil in solidified the concept into legislation.

The current Government under President Lula da Silva shows no sign of a revoking it. In fact, the country is on track to making so-called parental alienation a criminal offence, .

Speaking publicly about this abuse in the family court and inability to pay child support can result in a prison sentence for mothers in Brazil, whereas child rape and other acts of violence including illegal firearms possession and associated violence by fathers did not, the study found.

In the study, all the mothers reported multiple health conditions associated with family court proceedings, conceptualised by the researchers as Court and Perpetrator Induced Trauma (CPIT).

Eight of the 13 cases included child sexual abuse. Five mothers reported that police-led criminal investigations into child sexual abuse were closed due to allegations of parental alienation in family court.

Some mothers were being sued or threatened with being sued for slanderous defamation, and another was propositioned by the state prosecutor to withdraw the criminal charges of domestic violence and child sexual abuse , in exchange for the father’s custody application to be withdrawn.

All the mothers had been accused of Parental Alienation and all the fathers had been accused of domestic violence by the mothers.

The mothers reported being subjected to much harsher treatment by the courts than fathers accused of DV, and reported maternity problems, musculoskeletal, autoimmune, and respiratory conditions and a broad range of mental health implications including suicide and other trauma responses.

The study also found:

• Irrespective of the abuse or violence reported by mothers and children, the fathers maintained some form of direct contact with the children.
• Three mothers lost custody of their children with one having no contact at all.
• Five out of eight criminal investigations into child sexual abuse, child rape and domestic violence by fathers were closed following parental alienation claims in the family courts.
• None of the mothers’ allegations of violent crime raised in court by mothers and children were passed on to police and criminal prosecutors.

Lead author Dr Dalgarno said: “There are growing concerns around the world about the weaponisation of the pseudo-concept ‘Parental Alienation’ in the family courts against women.

“In a country which has one of the highest rates of femicide in the world, it’s fair to argue that Brazil is a very difficult country to be a victim of domestic abuse .

“, around one-third of Brazilian girls and women were found to have suffered Intimate Partner Violence with more than half of the perpetrators current or former ‘partners’.

“The family courts in Brazil provide an opportunity for this violence to increase, where perpetrator fathers use ‘Parental Alienation’ and similar variations, to penalise mothers and children.

“We call on the Brazilian government to urgently investigate links between harm to health and the family courts and to strengthen human rights protection for women and child victims.”

Quotes from some of the women in the paper:

Helena: “It is a feeling of injustice, helplessness . . . I understood that you get into that [court] to lose. We don’t have any chance, any chance. That’s just staging, you are going to lose it, you can be sure about it. We are only used to fill the experts and the lawyers’ pockets, our own lawyers . . . we don’t have any chance . . . I felt betrayed”.

Vania : “I think that what hurts me the most is the fact that, despite I knew I was a victim-survivor, just like my son was, I was feeling like a criminal. . .I never had criminal incidents, I had never been involved with drugs, I always had a straight life. On the other hand, the father already had criminal records, but they haven’t even taken that into consideration. Nothing, nothing, nothing . . . the more we report the more we are punished. That was my fear. I would say, by using an expression “Swim, swim and die at the beach”.

Beatrice: “It’s like you’re the prey for years . . . No animal could survive that, I think, would die of stress, I don’t know, if you put in a small cage a zebra, and a bunch of lions around about, what would happen to the zebra in the cage? I don’t know.”

Helen: “I think it was also due to stress, cortisol, stress hormone, gastritis, nightmares . . . for there were so many petitions accusing me of so many nonsense things. I was called a hooker, then a bad wife, then a murderer . . . there was no point in proving in the Family Court that that was not like that for they would just keep going “No, it is”. We become the dead dog that everybody kicks.”

The paper Swim, swim and die at the beach’: family court and perpetrator induced trauma (CPIT) experiences of mothers in Brazil is available

Over the last year, Swagֱ�� has been working on a bid to be a funded Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), which is a local-government led partnership, to increase research capacity in areas where there are high levels of need or deprivation. 

Swagֱ�� submitted a proposal to the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) where every part of the Council’s work and decision-making can plug into HDRC findings to influence decisions and change how services work – especially by listening to less-heard voices in the community. 

The proposal also linked to a wide spread of other key players including voluntary and faith organisations, public and private sector partners, so that they too, can routinely use its research to inform current and future planning. 

And, now, the city has just heard that it has been identified as one of a number of areas that the NIHR would like to see undertake further development from January 1, 2024, with the expectation of becoming a full HDRC a year later in January, 2025. 

Councillor Thomas Robinson, Executive Member for Healthy Swagֱ�� and Social Care at Swagֱ�� City Council, said: “This is a unique bid because it means that local people are at the heart of shaping policy and connecting with academia based on their own experiences. Too often communities are presented with pre-set solutions that they don’t relate to. The HDRC brings a new era in trust where local people can make their own health priorities the subject of research - and will then see the impact on local decisions. 

“Not only is that right, but it is key theme of our Making Swagֱ�� Fairer Programme. That’s our five-year action plan to address health inequity and preventable deaths by looking at all the social factors that mean that some people in the city die earlier than others.  

“Swagֱ�� is an incredible world-leading city and that’s why we want to make sure that those opportunities and expectations can be experienced by everyone who lives here.” 

, Academic Lead for the HDRC, said: “This is a unique opportunity to build on our inclusive research for the full HDRC in 2025.   

“Swagֱ�� has a proud record of partnership work to bring together communities, voluntary organisations and policy partners. Our evaluations have demonstrated how including communities helps in all aspects of tackling inequalities and making sure that we don’t leave anyone behind. 

“Putting people at the heart of this exciting new initiative is vital for inclusive research and improving health and wellbeing. We look forward to building on our research-active communities and research-responsive policies to tackle inequalities together.” 

Mother of three Eliza Varga is also the first recipient of the Sally Bradley Memorial Prize, given to high achieving students studying public health.

Dr Bradley, a former GP, Director of Public Health in Swagֱ�� and Medical Director was tragically killed in a terrorist attack while holidaying in Sri Lanka.

Her brother Lord Keith Bradly – a Labour Party politician and honorary special advisor to Swagֱ�� - created the award in his sister’s name.

Lack of funds forced Eliza to abandon a degree in Hungary, and a few months later she found herself living in a tiny room in Wilmslow.

She immediately found work and, as her language skills improved, so did her job opportunities, eventually moving to Stockport where she met her husband Josh.

In 2010, she enrolled at Swagֱ�� and graduated in zoology in 2015.

Eliza said: “I always loved animals as my family kept some livestock in Hungary, so I studied Zoology. Being a mature student posed its challenges, but the university's foundation year program offered me a gateway to a new life.

“My journey wasn't smooth; but The University supported me throughout, allowing me to graduate with good results and people wanted me to succeed.”

In 2021 Eliza enrolled in the Master of Public Health programme at Swagֱ��, because she said, of its reputation for trying to better understand and address health inequalities.

Swagֱ�� was one of the first  Universities to run an online public health programmes, and now has have over 2000 alumni from 80 countries over the 20 years it have been going.

Eliza added: “As a mother of three young children, I had to study at night, managing a household, and facing financial and other challenges. It was a Herculean task.

“The online option was brilliant: online is so much more inclusive to people with other commitments in their lives.

“My university journey was as much about personal growth as it was about academic achievement. I discovered my resilience and ability to keep going despite the challenges in the hope of one day being able to help others. 

“I would like to thank my family, friends and my wonderful teachers at the University, especially, Professor Arpana Verma, I am so grateful they believed in me.”

When asked what Sally Bradly Memorial Prize meant to her, Eliza said: “This award symbolises the intersection of my personal journey with the legacy of an inspiring figure in public health, Dr Sally Bradley.

“It motivates me to continue making meaningful contributions to the field, honouring both Sally's memory and the support I've received throughout my studies.”

Building on her journey, Eliza now has a job focusing on inclusive research and intends to pursue her research career with a PhD, here at The University.

Professor Arpana Verma, who leads the Master’s programme in public health was a colleague of Sally Bradley.

She said: “We are so incredibly grateful to Lord Bradley and Sally’s family for this prestigious award. Being able to celebrate Sally’s life and achievements through the prize that is given to one of our own masters student who has excelled in the programme and lives and works in the city that Sally was so proud of.

“Sally was a mentor to me and so many of my colleagues during her time as Director of Public Health in Swagֱ�� and Medical Director of Pennine Acute NHS Trust.

“Eliza has not only gained a distinction in her degree, she produced a high quality dissertation for Swagֱ�� City Council and we thank David Regan, Director of Public Health for his help with both the research and the development of the prize.”

She added: “We are proud of our flexible online learning Masters in Public Health that facilitates higher education for students who have to juggle work and caring responsibilities.

“Our University’s Flexible Learning Strategy exemplifies the vision and progress for lifelong learning we embody through bringing online education to a population that may not previously have been able to study.

“We celebrate today’s graduation ceremony as a tribute to Sally’s legacy, Eliza’s achievements and the achievements of all our students.”

Lord Keith Bradley said: “I am extremely grateful to the University for approving this new award in memory of my dear sister Sally.

“Sally made a huge contribution to health in Swagֱ�� and Eliza is a very worthy recipient of this award in Sally’s memory.

“Eliza will contribute to the work of public health which is so vital to the wellbeing of our local population.”

Images: Eliza's children Zack (6.5), Eli (4.5), and Evelyn (3)   with Husband Josh; Eliza

Sophie Duncan, Co-director of the NCCPE said: “At the NCCPE, as well as challenging the sector and campaigning for change, we champion excellent practice. We’re delighted to be able to award Swagֱ�� a Platinum Engage Watermark for their sustained and deep-rooted commitment to public engagement, which has been informed by consultation with staff, students and partners”.  

Winning a Platinum Engage Watermark is a significant achievement. It is the highest honour that can be awarded to an institution and recognises exceptional strategic leadership of public engagement; high standards of professional support; and excellence in partnership working.  It also evidences that the institution has a profound grasp of challenges ahead and of areas of relative weakness, with a commitment to addressing these. 

Key features of Swagֱ��’s approach which drew special praise from the assessors included its efforts to open up the campus and cultural institutions to become more welcoming and accessible for community use, the involvement of partners and communities in shaping the research and teaching at the university, and the very significant commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Dr Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility at Swagֱ�� said: “We’re delighted to receive this prestigious Platinum award for public engagement. We’ve prioritised new forms of public engagement through our emphasis on civic partnerships, our cultural institutions and in creating a local Citizens’ Panel. We’re grateful for the support and constructive challenge throughout the Watermark process and the commitment our staff, students and community partners play in delivering our core goal of social responsibility.”  

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of Swagֱ�� said: “As a passionate advocate for public engagement, I’m proud that we have embedded a culture of high-quality practice through our core goal of . We are delighted to be recognised nationally with a prestigious Platinum Watermark for our sustained excellence and leadership in public engagement.” 

Cllr Bev Craig said: “As the leader of Swagֱ�� City Council and lead for greater Swagֱ�� Combined Authority for economy and Inclusive growth, I am proud that we have Swagֱ�� as a civic partner. This award is great recognition for the University’s collaborative work with local communities, councils, business and civic partners to address to address real priorities and realise mutual benefit through the GM Civic University Agreement.” 

The Green Gown Awards celebrate the innovative and change making initiatives and projects in sustainability across the further and higher education sectors, and the University of Swagֱ�� claimed the top prize for work supporting its new Environmental Sustainability strategy, which launched in July 2023.

The judges said that they were “impressed with the honest, forward looking, innovative, transferrable, scalable and holistic approaches involving carbon budgeting to help deliver the University’s Zero Carbon Masterplan with effective ongoing evaluation and realistic assessment of outputs yet to be realised.”

The team collected their award at a ceremony at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool on Thursday, 30 November.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “Winning the prize is a powerful signal to our community about the seriousness with which we are working to our zero carbon target. Our entry is a great example of academic and professional services staff working together and success would be valuable recognition for them.”

Richard Smith, Head of Environmental Sustainability at Swagֱ��, added: “We are thrilled that the University has been recognised at this year’s Green Gown Awards.

“We pride ourselves on basing everything we do on what science demands of us. Our target was devised by our colleagues at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and achieving it requires consistent, urgent action.  

“The work on this initiative has been shared with other HE institutions and city neighbours as we rise to the challenge of climate change together. This award is testament to the hard work and dedication of all our colleagues involved in putting this initiative together and making it come to life.”

So far, the University has secured £157.3m of funding from internal and external sources to deliver its sustainability goals.

It has already begun implementing the strategy with its first air-source heat pumps now in operation, and its first heat pump-only building in construction ready to go live early next year, with much more to come. 

The Environmental Sustainability strategy builds on the University’s core goals of Teaching and Learning, Research and Discovery and Social Responsibility and stresses the need for all decisions to be taken in the light of our existing carbon commitments.

It also highlights six priority operational areas, all linking back to the United Nations Sustainability Goals: Construction and Refurbishment; Risk and Climate Resilience; Responsible Procurement; Resource Management; Valuing Nature; Travel and Transport.

Charlotte Bonner, CEO, EAUC, who deliver the Green Gown Awards, said: “The Green Gown Awards celebrate the most innovative and impactful work being done by those working in the post-16 education sector. The projects, initiatives and people showcased through the awards this year are, as ever, inspirational – it’s been a privilege to be part of the judging. I look forward to seeing them flourish in future and to using their examples to springboard further action for sustainability.”

The 2023 UK & Ireland Awards are held in association with UK Research and Innovation. Now in its 19th year, the 2023 results showcase 20 Winner and 17 Highly Commended institutions.

Read more about and the other .  

Find out more about environmental sustainability at Swagֱ��.

This collaborative study between the University of the Witwatersrand’s and the University of Swagֱ��’s programme will analyse the programme’s  impact  on their development. It is funded by the UK's Medical Research Council.

Prof Claudine Storbeck  Primary Investigator: South Africa said: “Around 6,000 deaf children are born in South Africa each year, but the lack of universal newborn hearing screening means that the average age of diagnosis of hearing loss in South Africa is 28 months old.

“The availability of data on deaf child development and impact of early intervention is sparce and structured early intervention programmes to promote early childhood development in the first three years of life are minimal

“Those offering South African Sign Language (SASL) as a language option are very rare and largely unavailable to families.”

“As a result, the linguistic, communicative, cognitive, and socio-emotional development of deaf and hard-of-hearing children in South Africa can be delayed, often significantly.”

Prof Alys Young – Primary Investigator said: “Results from high-income countries show that identification and diagnosis by 3 months of age with family support and early intervention by 6 months of age drastically improve the developmental progress of deaf children.

“The project will investigate the extent and character of the impact of such a home-based early intervention programme, alongside an understanding of what might mitigate the effectiveness of such a programme of intervention.

“This is important because home-based early intervention for deaf infants is not universal and the case for its effectiveness is not proven within the wider context of school readiness in South Africa.”

The researchers will investigate the HI HOPES early intervention and family support programme, which supports families with deaf and hard of hearing children

Founded in 2006 by the Wits Centre for Deaf Studies as a non-profit programme, it provides families with specialised home-based early childhood development  programme for children from birth to 6.

The project also aims to provide large scale data on the development of deaf children in South Africa that will help to inform the South African Government/UNICEF National Early Learning and Development Standards (NELDS) from birth to four years.

It will also support, age-normed and standardised Early Learning Outcomes Measure (ELOM) 4 & 5 Years assessment tool, developed by South African early learning charity .

An important part of the  work will be the adaptation of the ELOM to ensure suitability for deaf children as well as developing a standardised South African Sign Language (SASL) version to ensure the validity of all items for children who are SASL users.

Prof Storbeck added: “It will be possible for the first time in South Africa to accurately evaluate deaf children’s developmental progress and needs in all domains (not just language) at point of school entry.

For more information on the overall research project, contact: Prof Claudine Storbeck – Primary Investigator: South Africa,  The University of the Witwatersrand,  claudine.storbeck@wits.ac.za  and Prof Alys Young – Primary Investigator: UK,  Swagֱ��, alys.young@manchester.ac.uk

The audience at the event, called Culture of care or culture of concern: let’s debate animal research, will put questions to a panel.

On the panel is Wendy Jarrett CEO of Understanding Animal Research (UAR), Penny Hawkins Head of the Animals in Science Department, RSPCA Science and Policy Group and  Celean Camp from CEO of the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME).

The event will kick off with the signing of a public pledge to a culture of care at Swagֱ��’s animal research unit by Dr Maria Kamper, Director of the unit.

Register if you would like to take part and send a question you’d like the panel to debate to animal.research@manchester.ac.uk .

The panel will be by chaired by Mike Addelman, communications lead for animal research at Swagֱ��.

He said: “For centuries, scientists have worked with animals to help answer some of the most important questions in biomedical science.

“But nowadays, more than 115  million animals are used in research across the world every year.

“And though the UK sector is the most tightly regulated in the world, some of those animals still experience pain, suffering and distress.

He added: “So what’s the future for animal research? Are we able to replace it with more humane alternatives? And how important is a culture of care, not just to the animals themselves, but also the people who work with them?

”Join us to consider the issues.”

Gold for Student Outcomes is a well-deserved accolade for our hard-working graduates. It also pays tribute to staff across the university who help prepare our students for fantastic careers nationally and across the globe. Swagֱ�� is ranked 42 in the world for graduate employability by . In the UK, we're the most targeted university by the nation's top graduate employers (). We take immense pride in being ranked number 2 university in the world for our global impact (THE, 2023) and 28 in the world for our overall quality (QS). 

As the UK’s largest single site university, with a strong sense of place and deep commitment to Greater Swagֱ�� and social responsibility, we are proud to be very popular with undergraduate applicants, and to offer a unique and supportive student experience. Schemes such as Stellify help our students stand out in a competitive world with volunteering, and masterclasses on global issues, social responsibility and leadership. Our dedicated teaching and support staff across the University are unquestionably enthusiastic about their roles in enabling students to succeed, and fostering dynamic, hybrid and valuable learning experiences. Their passion and commitment contribute to delivering excellence in the areas that students care about the most.

We remain committed to continuous improvement and providing exceptional teaching and learning experiences to all our students, regardless of their backgrounds, We look forward to reflecting more on the TEF Panel feedback to celebrate the quality of our teaching and learning, and identify areas requiring further focus. 

April McMahon, Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students at Swagֱ��, welcomed the TEF outcomes: 

“The staff and students of Swagֱ�� will be delighted with these results, having overcome so many challenges and made such positive progress in the last four years. Gold for Student Outcomes is a fitting accolade for our fabulous graduates as they step out into the world. It also recognises the support we give to our Swagֱ�� students, helping them secure amazing careers. Silver for Student Experience shows the progress made in flexible learning, support for teaching, curriculum and resources, as well as everything our student body does to make Swagֱ�� the wonderful place it is.” 

, showcasing some our leading work in teaching. Our new campaign , also highlights some of our most inspiring teachers. 

The University is one of three new universities chosen to partner with the Martingale Postgraduate Foundation to support passionate and talented students facing financial barriers to pursue postgraduate degrees at leading research institutions in the UK.

A Martingale Scholar will receive a fully funded scholarship to pursue a master's degree in Mathematics at one of the partner universities along with tailored support to apply for a Martingale PhD scholarship. The funding includes all tuition fees and research expenses, including a tax-free stipend for living costs.

Swagֱ�� has been at the forefront of mathematics for more than a century and the University has been home to some of the biggest names in the subject during this time, including Alan Turing, Max Newman, Louis Mordell, Violet Cane, and Hanna Neumann.

Martingale Scholarships will enable students from low-income backgrounds to pursue and excel in a master’s and PhD at the leading School of Mathematics.  

Professor Andrew Hazel, Head of Department, Department of Mathematics, said: “The Department of Mathematics at Swagֱ�� is delighted to be partnering with the Martingale Foundation to offer scholarships allowing talented students facing financial barriers to pursue higher degrees in mathematics. The Scholarships complement the Department's existing initiatives to provide access to mathematics education for all students, irrespective of their background, and support the University's commitment to Social Responsibility, one of its three core goals. We are looking forward to welcoming the Martingale Scholars to our Department in 2024.”

Incoming Martingale Scholars will have the opportunity to apply for a number of MSc courses offered by Swagֱ��. These are MSc Pure Mathematics, MSc Applied Mathematics, MSc Statistics and MSc Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Logic. Students can experience a sense community in the purpose-built Alan Turing building and develop excellent networks through annual maths-specific careers fairs and employer interview programmes.

Martingale Scholars also join a prestigious development programme that provides training and experiences beyond their university offer to build a pioneering community of STEM leaders.

Swagֱ�� joins The University of Bristol and The University of Edinburgh as new Martingale Foundation partners this year. In 2022 Martingale was launched with the founding cohort of five universities: University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, Kings College London, University of Oxford, and University College London, with the inaugural cohort of scholars taking up their place this autumn, leading a new generation of STEM postgraduates.

Applications for the 2024 Martingale Scholarships are open until the 25th of October 2023. Incoming Martingale Scholars now have the opportunity to pursue postgraduate degrees in maths at the University of Swagֱ��.

For more information on how to apply, application guidance and deadlines, please visit www.martingale.foundation.

The is an incredible opportunity open to exceptionally talented Black men from less socially mobile backgrounds who show potential to succeed in a career in commercial law and other careers in the City of London. Open to first-year students at participating UK universities, the scholarship offers a remarkable chance for eligible students to showcase their potential beyond academic achievement.  

Among a competitive pool of candidates, Ethan and Binham showcased their capabilities throughout the rigorous selection process which included a two-day assessment center at Freshfields in London. Their selection as Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholars is a testament to their remarkable commitment, the opportunities they have received at our university, and the potential within our student body. 

Student Access Success and Development Manager Alex Jackson said: ‘I’m delighted that Ethan and Binham have been selected as Freshfield Stephen Lawrence Scholars. Moreover, we are proud of all of our candidates who attended assessment centres in London. All are excellent students and have represented themselves and the institution admirably throughout the selection process.’

As recipients of this scholarship, working with professionals of all seniorities at Freshfields and beyond, the expert support Ethan and Binham will receive will include career guidance, skills development, mentoring, interview coaching and if they wish, an alternative route to a guaranteed training contract interview at Freshfields. 

We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and wish them continued success in their future endeavors.

The analysis of the small-spotted catshark, zebrafish, European seabass, and the three-spined stickleback is published in the journal .

Though scientists already know that the warming of our rivers and oceans causes direct physiological stress to fish, this study shows the impact on their developing embryos has a deep-seated effect on their gene expression patterns as adults.

These changes may also affect their capacity to respond to future changes in temperature, having consequences for surviving climate change in their adult life.

Scientists have failed to find consistent differentially expressed genes implicated in biological changes linked to global warming.

However, the University of Swagֱ�� analysis suggests different phenotypes identified in later life may occur through changes in the organisation of the transcriptome - the genetic code as it is read – one crucial element of life itself.

Their findings, using sophisticated modelling, show that transcriptomes of developmentally warmed fishes are characterised by an increased disorder in the way genes interact, implying a less structured, more ‘random’ set of gene interactions.

Professor Holly Shiels, from Swagֱ��, said: “Climate change is a major threat facing animals. As the world’s oceans and rivers continue to warm the physiological and population level stresses exerted upon fishes will continue to grow.

“If we are to predict and mitigate the consequences of global warming, it is crucial we understand how it influences an animal’s biological capacity to respond to future environmental challenges.”

Dr Dan Ripley, from Swagֱ��, said: “Our findings suggest that exposure to elevated temperatures during the development and growth of an embryo may influence the ability of fish to respond to future challenges they face in later life.”

Dr Adam Stevens, from Swagֱ��, added: “In our study, we found that developmental warming influenced the relationships between genes. The ‘plumbing’ of the system was changed, with knock-on consequences for how it then functions in adulthood.

“This was absent in animals reared under ‘control’ conditions.”

The embryos were held in either control conditions, representing everyday temperatures, or warmer treatment conditions, representing future conditions under climate change.

Following embryogenesis, all fish were moved to control conditions, simulating adult fish in the wild moving to find areas at their preferred temperature.

Despite living in their preferred temperature range as adults, genomic differences were found between the groups related to the temperatures they experienced as embryos.

These differences were associated with an altered capacity to respond to future warming as adults.

• The study was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Higher Education Innovation Fund through the University of Swagֱ��’s Knowledge and Innovation Hub for Environmental Stability, and the pump priming fund through the University of Swagֱ��’s Cardiovascular Division.

The UK disposes of one million tonnes of textiles every year, 300,000 tonnes of which end up in landfill or incineration. Some figures suggest 10% of global CO2 emissions come from the fashion industry. 

The football sector is a huge contributor to this - approximately 2.45 million Liverpool and 1.95 million Swagֱ�� United sports shirts were sold worldwide in 2021 alone. 

The new project, KIT:BAG by RÆBURN, will work with local sportswear suppliers and the local community transform surplus football shirts into unique reusable tote bags, while educating them of the environmental impacts of textile waste and how we can extend the life of our garments. 

It aims to provide a fun, responsible way to keep kits in circulation while shining a light on the large-scale problem in the industry. 

Lindsay Pressdee, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Fashion Marketing & Branding Communication at Swagֱ��, said: “Developing meaningful sustainable business models and consumer behaviours remains a key issue within the fashion sector and raises serious environmental concerns.  

“This project focuses on the overlooked area of sportswear; how we can extend the life of these polyester garments and avoid them going into landfill or incineration, through the key principle of community education. 

“The initiative aligns with Swagֱ��'s objectives of promoting sustainability and social responsibility and by collaborating with Raeburn Design, which follows the REMADE sustainable ethos, we have an excellent opportunity to raise awareness and address this issue.” 

Christopher Raeburn, Creative Director at RÆBURN, added: “As our business has evolved, we’ve tried, tested and proven our “Remade, Reduced, Recycled” motif can be scaled and translated into other industries outside of fashion, such as architecture, furniture design, film and cultural placemaking. 

“KIT:BAG by RAEBURN marks our newest venture: bringing circular design solutions to the sports industry. We’re excited to have the University of Swagֱ�� on board as our research partner for this project. Together, we’ve set out a roadmap and a masterplan, now we’re inviting industry leaders to join us on this journey.” 

While many solutions are emerging to tackle the problem of sustainable fashion, the size of the problem relating to official sportswear remains unknown.  

As research partners, academics from the Department of Materials at Swagֱ�� will focus on advancing current knowledge and generating new knowledge in this area. The researchers, including Lindsay Pressdee, Dr Amy Benstead,  Dr Jo Conlon and student intern Lena Bartoszewicz, will look at post-consumer waste, diverting it from landfill and repurposing it into a new usable product - a key part of the circular design model. 

Lindsay added: “The waste of sportwear is a hidden problem – we know that football teams can have on average three kits per season, but we do not know how many people have in their homes, shoved in their wardrobes, or put away in their lofts.  

“The problem requires a multifaceted approach and any change requires collaboration with consumers, sports clubs, garment recycling schemes, sports brands and producers. 

“It is difficult to distinguish who is responsible, so we must consider both the sustainable production and consumption of products – a key principle of which is education.” 

KIT:BAG by RÆBURN will launch on Thursday, 27 July with a party at The Lab E20 – Raeburn’s creative workspace in London. This will be followed by a community event for children and families on Saturday, 29 July.  

The team plan to extend this to Swagֱ��, where they will invite the local community to various workshops and have a go at making their own reusable bags.

The new strategy builds on the University’s core goals of Teaching & Learning, Research & Discovery and Social Responsibility and stresses the need for all decisions to be taken in the light of its existing carbon commitments.

The strategy highlights six priority operational areas, all linking back to the United Nations Sustainability Goals:

• Construction and Refurbishment
• Risk and Climate Resilience
• Responsible Procurement
• Resource Management
• Valuing Nature
• Travel and Transport

The strategy has been approved by the University’s Board of Governors and is endorsed at the highest level of the University. It was developed following extensive consultation with colleagues and students, who shared their views on the actions the University needed to prioritise and where it needed to improve.

The University’s operational carbon footprint has fallen by 35% since 2007, from approximately 81,000 tonnes CO2e to under 53,000 tonnes in 2022, but more needs to be done across all areas of activity to reach zero carbon by 2038, while cutting emissions as sharply as possible in the run-up to this date.

Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility, wants the new strategy to act as a guide for everyone who is part of the University’s community. “Achieving this strategy is a challenge which we must all work towards,” he said. “The University will be allocating significant funds to this, but we must all contribute through the things we do every day at work and by talking to students and colleagues about the things we are doing to make a difference.”

Action already taken by Swagֱ�� includes ending investments in fossil fuel companies and reducing the carbon intensity of other investment holdings. The campus runs on 100% renewable electricity and 94% of the University’s waste is diverted from landfill. The University has also recently committed to limiting its business travel emissions to no more than half of pre-COVID levels and so far is with this.

Action planned for the future includes proposals to increase energy efficiency, make changes to the Old Quad that promote biodiversity and to shift more of its buildings away from gas boilers to heat pumps.

The strategy also contains commitments to further embed sustainability in the curriculum and take advantage of the world-class expertise of its researchers. Training will be developed for all colleagues including leaders to give them the tools to make changes.

Professor Thakkar added: “The future that this strategy lays out is one where we have a campus that is rich in nature, with cleaner air and a lighter footprint on the planet. Some of the measures to achieve this are going to be hard, but everyone in the leadership of the University is committed to making the necessary changes and if we all contribute, we have the ability to be far greater than the sum of our individual parts.”

You can read the full list of commitments in the strategy which has now been published as a document .

The Environmental Sustainability Team at Swagֱ�� has been shortlisted for in the 2030 Climate Action category. The awards ceremony will take place in November.

Branko Kovacevic, Samantha Grieve, Lewis Mosey and Alisha Quinn each tell their stories of how they came to work at the University through some of our socially responsible recruitment routes. The University will also be launching a new Apprenticeship strategy in Autumn 2023. 

The full feature and accompanying film can be seen at: 

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Alisha and Lewis both joined as apprentices. Alisha is now a workshop technician in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, while Lewis is an IT service business analyst. 

He says: “What gives me the most job satisfaction is that it is such a calm, collected and empathetic place to work. As an employee, you really want to be cared for by your employer and we are.”  

Samantha joined through Kickstart, a government scheme to support people into work, initially as an apprentice before gaining a permanent role as a recruitment support assistant in the People and Organisational Development team.  

And Branko joined the University eight years ago through The Works, our innovative employment and training initiative at the heart of our local community in Ardwick, and now works in the Beehive Cafe in Oddfellows Hall.

More information 

Find out more about the benefits of working at our University: 

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A range of roles and opportunities are available: 

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The University has therefore hit its target of reducing the weighted average carbon intensity (WACI) by 50% by 2027 ahead of time. The University also ended investment in fossil fuel companies in 2021, as part of its .

Carbon intensity is a measure of carbon efficiency, in which the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions by a company are divided by the level of its activity (as measured in value of sales). The University aims to reach net zero carbon in its investments by 2038 at the latest.

The Endowment Investment Portfolio Climate Change report for the year ended 31 July 2022 has been prepared with support from Mercer, the University’s investment adviser.

As well as updating on progress, the report explains how the University considers climate-related risks in relation to its endowment investment portfolio, how it adopts governance processes and investment strategies, and assesses relevant metrics and targets in order to manage these risks.

Asset owners like the University sit at the top of the investment chain and, therefore, have an important role to play in influencing the organisations through which they invest (such as asset managers) and companies in which they ultimately invest to provide better climate-related financial disclosures.

Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility, said: “I’m really pleased with the progress we have made on this, as it brings us much closer to our ultimate ambition of net zero-carbon in our investments. Publishing this report is part of demonstrating our ambition in a transparent way.

“This work, and our efforts to decarbonise our campus operations, helps us make a contribution to tackling the climate crisis, alongside our important teaching, research and social responsibility activity.”

One highlight was the stall organised by Swagֱ��’s Biological Services Facility (BSF) – otherwise known as the animal research unit.

Over the course of two days, the BSF engaged with hundreds of people including schoolchildren, teachers, parents and the public, who were wowed by what was on show.

The youngsters tried their hands at building mouse cages and learning about the types of enrichment the unit provides, while their parents and teachers asked detailed questions about animal research and the type of studies the BSF carries out.

Visitors got to try their hand at a ‘match the animal with the research’ mini game, guessing which species of animal help scientists understand and develop treatments for different diseases, including cancer, diabetes and stroke.

In another interactive game they learned that mice were the most commonly used species in research.

They also tried out the virtual tour of the unit, available on the University website and learned what an embryonic Zebrafish looks like under the microscope

British Science Week is coordinated by the British Science Association and is funded by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI).

It is a ten-day celebration of thousands of events running throughout the whole of the UK with the aim of celebrating science, technology, engineering, and maths.

The organisers aim to make science relevant to everyone and help them discover their own connections with a series of inspiring activities, events and content.

Zach Bowden Communications, Data and Quality Assurance Officer at the BSF said: “British Science Week was a brilliant experience and a vital opportunity for us to engage with the public about Animal Research.

“Our aim was to highlight our proud record on animal welfare and the contribution animals make to scientific research.

“The mini games were particularly popular and our visitors were really fascinated to learn about the types of research carried out and why.

“We’re certain we changed the viewpoints of many groups  with our ‘Which animals are used most in research game’.

“Many people still thought rats and monkeys were common species used by scientists, but we were able to change that and explain how we now focus on alternative species such as Zebrafish.”

Rachael Bowden, a Deputy Manager in the unit said: “It was really lovely to see so many people both school children and the public - actively engaging with discussions on animals in research and the technician’s role in this industry.”

Also on the team was Deputy Manager Natasha Allen. She said: “I did not anticipate the amount of engagement we would receive from the public, so it was a very positive experience.

“Kids of all ages got really stuck into the activities, and they asked a lot of questions. People left our stand feeling more informed, and I really enjoyed the openness of it all.”

To donate to Road to Relief, visit . You can also donate via bank transfer to Memon Association UK (sort code 30-98-97, account number 67538462). 

To donate to Round Table Malawi, visit .

The move will help to promote the development of a Centre of Excellence for Healthcare Education and Training in western and central Kenya by the Ministry of Education.

The Centre will have its hub in Kisii University and its spokes in Maseno, Masinde Muliro, Egerton, Bomet and Kibabii Universities.

The approval of the programme by the Kenyan Cabinet will see the Ministry of Education seek just short of £1 billion from UK Export Finance and other Development Partners to build six new healthcare campuses in western and central Kenya and licence the Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nursing programmes from the University of Swagֱ��.

The Educational Hub will create a workforce capable of dealing with the challenges of providing patient-centred healthcare for non-communicable diseases in the region.

Professor Keith Brennan, Vice Dean for Internationalisation said: “By 2030 non-communicable diseases are set to overtake communicable, maternal, neonatal and nutritional diseases combined as the leading causes of death in Kenya.

“Associated with this rise in mortality is an exponential increase in the morbidity burden associated with cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic diseases even amongst the rural communities.

“That is why establishing an education pipeline that can deliver a modern, flexible and resilient healthcare workforce capable of responding to the rising tide of non-communicable diseases is an urgent priority within Kenya.”

He added: “The WHO predicts by 2030 that the only continent to see an increasing deficit in healthcare workers will be Africa and that 40% of the global shortfall in healthcare workers, approximately 6 million, will be within the continent.

“That is why developing a resilient and flexible multi-professional health workforce, with strong inter-professional working in Kenya and East African Region is so important.

 “New models for health education and training based on modern pedagogical methods, distance learning and competency based in-service training and assessments need to be explored systematically, so that this collective experience may drive further changes in Kenya and the wider region.”

Prof John Akama, Vice Chancellor of Kisii University. Said: “I would like to most sincerely thank Swagֱ��, for the strategic role it has played in the conceptualisation and realisation of the Centre of Excellence in Healthcare Education and Training.  This will be a transformative project for the people of Western Kenya and Kenya in general.”

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization said: “"NCDs are becoming an issue of equity. They disproportionately affect low-and lower-middle-income countries, and in all countries the poorest and most vulnerable are the most at risk and the least likely to have access to treatment."

Image: Professor Graham Lord, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health in the Statehouse with HE President William Ruto and HE Simba Arati, the Governor of Kisii County

The University has worked in a close relationship with the Students' Union since summer 2022 to . Today, we are announcing the next stage in this support: an additional payment to 10,000 students, which comes from the £9million package announced in November 2022.

We understand that the rising cost of living is a major concern for our students, and we're committed to providing support to help.

Sam Bronheim, Union Affairs Officer at the Students’ Union, commenting on behalf of the elected SU Officer Team, said: “We are delighted to announce this second targeted payment to 10,000 students and we’ll continue to collaborate with the University to support the wider student body with the rising cost of living. We’re also lobbying local and national government, on students’ behalf, to introduce greater financial support for the student community”.

Eligible full time students will receive £230 and eligible part time students will receive £115.

The payment will be made to:

• Students who received a contextual offer from our University, for example because they lived in an area of disadvantage when they applied.
• Students who declared during University registration that they were care experienced, estranged, have caring responsibilities or dependents.
• Students who are seeking asylum in the UK.
• Recipients of the following scholarships and bursaries:
   
• The Swagֱ�� Bursary
• Foundation Year Bursary
• Undergraduate Access Scholarship
• Humanitarian Scholarship
• Equity and Merit Scholarship
• Swagֱ�� Master’s Bursary

Eligible students will receive an email by Wednesday, 8 March confirming that they will receive the payment and asking them to update their bank details on the student system.

We’re proud of the cost of living support package we’ve developed with the Students’ Union, but we recognise that there are still significant challenges facing the student community. We’re committed to advocating on behalf of our students to government to improve the situation. For example:

We agree that that the 2.8% increase in the student maintenance loans provided by the UK Government is insufficient. We're actively working with other universities to encourage a review of this and our President and Vice Chancellor, Professor Nancy Rothwell, has been lobbying government ministers on this issue.

The Students’ Union is making sure that students’ concerns are heard by Mayor Andy Burnham through the Greater Swagֱ�� Student Assembly and is collaborating with other students’ unions to lobby central government.

We’re advocating for affordable rents and when Swagֱ�� City Council ask us to comment on planning applications, we won’t support any new student accommodation unless it offers good value for money.

Our Cost of Living support doesn’t stop with these payments to students. We also have a support fund that can provide, depending on a financial assessment, non-repayable grants up to £2,000; trained advisors on hand to help with a range of money matters; an emergency loan scheme; and mental health and wellbeing support.

The payment will be made through our own finance system, any students with queries should be directed to our .

Robina’s statue was unveiled in Swagֱ�� Central Library by Mayor of Greater Swagֱ��, Andy Burnham, Lord Mayor of Swagֱ�� and Deputy Mayor of Stockpport at a ceremony on 24 February. Following its exhibition at the library it will become part of the permanent collection at Mancheter Town Hall when it reopens.

At the start of 2018, only 158 of the 925 public statues in the UK were of women, and of these only 25 were of non-mythical, non-royal women. The put her forward project was a collaboration between and artists’ group that set out to double this figure.

From June to July 2018 the put her forward team travelled around the country asking the public to nominate women they found inspirational. Hundreds of nominations were gathered through workshops, online nominations and live interviews.

Robina was nominated in recognition of her personal and professional achievements and her ability to compassionately engage with people from all walks of life. During 2018 she was appointed High Sheriff for the County of Greater Swagֱ�� by her Late Majesty, The Queen and her statue is dressed in the High Sheriff’s uniform.

In 2003 Robina was awarded am MBE in the late Queens Birthday Honours list for services to Children with Disabilities. In 2023, Robina was awarded the title Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE), in the King’s New Year’s Honours list for services to patient care. Robina is the first woman of colour in Greater Swagֱ�� to be awarded this accolade.

Born in Swagֱ�� and an alumnus of the University, Robina is a Professor of Medical Education and Psychosocial Medicine in the School of Medical Sciences. She is also the Director of the School’s Doubleday Centre for Patient Experience. She is an Honorary Fellow, Royal College of General Practitioners and Past President of the Society and Medicine Section at the Royal Society of Medicine.

Robina is an established academic/author with a diverse professional and public service portfolio spanning more than 25 years. She has been shattering stereotypes from an early age through ground breaking research and published work in medical education, disability hate crime and health care policy. She has held several prestigious leadership roles in the NHS, Department of Health, Ministry of Justice and World Health Organisation. She is also passionate about ‘Football for All’ and is a member of the FA Council, Deputy Chair of the Disability Football Committee and Past Non-Executive Director of the FA Women’s Football Board.

She said: “I feel very humbled to be recognised in this way and I would like to convey my sincere thanks to all those who have supported my life’s journey.

“Support from my family, friends, and colleagues has been incredible, however, the contribution of patients, carers, and service users over decades has been exceptional. Their willingness to share their lived experience has shaped, influenced, and continues to transform how we deliver health and care services for all our people. It has been a team effort and this accolade is for all of us.”

Stonewall is Europe’s largest charity for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people and each year ranks organisations for their LGBTQ+ inclusion practices against other organisations.

Swagֱ�� scored 113 out of 200 in its Workplace Equality Index submission. Ranking in 30^th overall, the University also achieved a Gold award for meeting specific criteria around a number of identified measures for LGBT+ inclusion.

In addition to this, the University has been awarded a Highly Commended Network Group award, to celebrate the achievements of its LGBTQ+ network group, . The network is fully inclusive and welcomes all lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and non-binary staff as well as anyone who may have an interest or wish to support colleagues, friends and relatives. 

ALLOUT organises awareness-raising events throughout the year, works with the University on policy development and review, and runs the successful Allies programme which provides training to staff who do not identify as LGBTQ+ but wish to support their colleagues. The network co-chairs are Dominic Bilton, Megan Johnston and James Lea.

The University uses benchmarking tools as part of its inclusion performance metrics, and taking part in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index has supported this. The submission is compiled by Lead Equality Diversity and Inclusion Partner, Paul Marks-Jones, who also coordinates the University’s staff networks. The overall sponsor is Patrick Hackett, Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer.

Adèle MacKinlay, Director of People and Organisational Development at the University said: “We have been consistently strong in the Stonewall Index over a number of years; it’s great to see this trend continue.  It’s vital to create a culture in which everyone can thrive. We all benefit from diverse viewpoints and perspectives. This is why I’m very grateful to ALLOUT for their continued feedback and engagement.”

Banji Adewumi, Director of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at the University added: “The Stonewall ranking is a great indication of our inclusivity in practice. This is one of the key measures for our new EDI strategy, which we are working hard to progress. The actions we are taking now, will make our University better for staff and students, and more successful, and hopefully we will continue to move up in this Index as a result.”

February is LGBT+ History Month and ALLOUT have organised lots of events. Further details can be . There are also many events .

The facility, located in The Beacon Centre, is a collaboration between the , Swagֱ��, and national education charity to provide long-term educational support to young people facing disadvantage and who are typically underrepresented in higher education.

The launch event brought together young people who will benefit from the centre, their parents and guardians, donors, organisers and local supporters. Guests were also surprised by a special video message from award-winning comedian and Salford alumnus Peter Kay, who himself had a life-changing experience by going to university to study Media and Performance.

Working closely with local schools, businesses and universities, the centre offers long-term support to young people aged 7-18, helping them to discover their focus, build their capabilities and ultimately have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Support offered at the centre includes after-school academic support, mentoring with local university students and professionals, in-school aspiration-raising workshops and enrichment and work experience opportunities. Once established, the centre will support over 1,000 students per year.

Salford was found to be the 18^th most deprived local authority in England, out of 317, according to the Government's . Figures suggest around 22% of children in Salford are living in poverty (, 2022). Pupils facing disadvantage in Salford are now 22.9 months of learning behind their peers by the time they finish their GCSEs (EPI, 2020), making it a high-priority area for this additional educational support.

IntoUniversity centres have a strong track record of improving outcomes for young people in England. 66% of school leavers who attended IntoUniversity centres in 2021 went on to progress to university, compared with 26.6% of students from similar backgrounds nationally.

In attendance at the launch were around 25 students aged 7-18, all set to benefit from the centre for the next academic year and beyond, with some of them delivering speeches.

Primary school students took part in a variety of activities during the event replicating the type of activities they will be engaging with in the year ahead during after-school academic support sessions. Secondary school students came up with questions about future study and careers to survey attending guests.

Peter Kay offered some sound advice for students at the centre, telling them: “There’s a lot on offer at IntoUniversity to help young people achieve their potential and realise ambitions they may have never even considered. For all the children benefitting from the centre, my advice would be to take every opportunity you’re offered. You’re never going to know what will come up in life and you might fall in love with something you’ve never thought of. You’ve got time to explore many new subjects - keep your options open because you never stop learning.”

Professor Helen Marshall, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Salford, said: “As a university, we have a strong track record in the area of widening participation and are motivated to helping students realise their full potential. We are proud to make a major contribution to providing access to higher education across Salford, the North West and nationally.

“I am delighted to support the launch of a new IntoUniversity right here on our doorstep in Salford. The new centre will engage traditionally under-represented groups and aid our mission to give all students the best possible opportunity in life to succeed.”

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of Swagֱ�� said: “University education is a transformative experience for individuals, and for the prosperity of our local communities, so we are really enthusiastic about this new partnership with IntoUniversity in Salford. It adds to the existing IntoUniversity centre we support in North Swagֱ��, which has already supported more than 2,500 students with their academic work since autumn 2018. I’m very grateful to the staff, students and donors who have helped make the Salford centre happen and who will ensure its ongoing success.”

Dr Rachel Carr, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of IntoUniversity, said: “We are delighted to have officially launched this centre in Salford Central, building on our existing work in the Greater Swagֱ�� area. The young people of Salford have so much to offer, but circumstances can mean they don’t get the same opportunities as other young people to reach their potential. We’re delighted that through this unique collaboration between local universities, we can provide many young people in the area with the support they need to succeed. We’re looking forward to continuing to build partnerships with schools and families in the local community and supporting students to achieve their ambitions.”

To find out more about IntoUniversity, visit

The experts from three Indian teaching hospitals: AIIMS, New Delhi, AIIMS Kalyani, West Bengal and PGIMER, Chandigarh along with Swagֱ�� estimate that 57 million - or  4.4% of the 1.3 billion people who live in India - are likely to be affected.

The comprehensive review of data from over 400 published academic articles is published in the journal .

Vaginal thrush - or yeast infection - they found, affected around 24 million women of reproductive age, with repeated attacks.

Hair fungal infection - known as tinea capitis - in school-age children affected a similar number. It causes a painful infected scalp and leaving many with hair loss.

Major contributors to death were mould infections affecting lungs and sinuses, affecting over 250,000 people.  Another 1,738,400 people had chronic aspergillosis and 3.5 million with serious allergic lung mould disease.

Over 1 million are thought to have potentially blinding fungal eye disease and nearly 200,000 with had mucormycosis (so called ‘Black mould’).

Dr Animesh Ray of AIIMS in Delhi, the lead author of the article, said: “The total burden due to fungal diseases is huge but under-appreciated.

“While tuberculosis affects less than 3 million people in a year in India, the number of Indians affected by fungal disease are several times higher.”

Professor David Denning of Swagֱ�� and Global Action For Fungal Disease added: “There have been major diagnostic improvements in recent years, with public health services in India catching up with private hospitals in terms of capability.

“H�Ƿɱ𱹱��, fungal disease continues to be threat to  public health and a cause of significant  morbidity and mortality representing a considerable socioeconomic burden to those who are infected by them.

“And there remain large parts of India with limited diagnostic capability, as evidenced by our inability to estimate some important diseases such as histoplasmosis and fungal asthma in children.”

“My lifelong career objectives are to enhance self-sufficiency and to ensure dignified access to basic services among vulnerable communities - despite how aspirant these goals might seem, I truly believe that passion, hard work, and the opportunity to study at Swagֱ�� will assist me to go steps further towards this goal,” Sally added.

Another recipient is Alona Deriabina, a Clinical and Health Psychology student who fled to Poland after the Russian invasion forced her to leave her hometown near Kyiv. “Despite becoming a refugee, I remain desperate to continue my education no matter the circumstances,” said Alona. “My dream is to gain deep knowledge and skills in the field of clinical and health psychology, so I can promote mental health in Ukraine and abroad, particularly for Ukrainian refugees who are spread now all over the world.”

Electrical Engineering student Yefym Lunev is from Kharkiv in Ukraine, and he had to flee with his family as the city was being destroyed by Russian bombs. “Russia has been bombarding my city, especially residential areas, day and night since the war began,” he said. “More than 1100 high rise residential buildings, 60 schools, dozens of nurseries, hospitals, libraries and even our famous opera house and fine arts museum are in ruins. Several of my university buildings were destroyed by bombs, and some students and faculty members are reported to have been killed.”

“I want to graduate with high marks and gain a deep knowledge of engineering. I am really interested in renewable energy and global warming problems, and want to focus on mastering my knowledge in this sphere – I am sure the university will help me to achieve this,” Yefym added.

Syrian Medical Microbiology student Mahmoud Komy is another recipient - he is now able to study for a Master's Degree after his family were twice displaced during the ongoing civil war, and he and his father were both imprisoned for belonging to a minority group associated with the opposition. He has previously worked for Syrian Arab Red Crescent as a humanitarian field doctor, helping to treat his fellow countrymen wounded in the conflict.

“Epidemiology and microbiology affects everyone around the world, which was evident during the COVID­-19 pandemic when microbiologists were on the front line fighting the virus and making crucial decisions – however, the Syrian health system allocates little interest to epidemiology and microbiological studies,” said Mahmoud. “After more than ten years of a brutal war, securing a future inside Syria became a dream that could never come true - now, the only solution is to look for opportunities abroad. Therefore, I need to take this path to fulfil the needs of my country.”

“It means a lot for me to be here, and I will do my best to give back to this city - I will always be grateful.”

The University would like to thank Gian Fulgoni for his financial contribution to the scheme. It is one of many programs supporting the University’s social responsibility agenda - these include our Equity and Merit Scholarships for students from sub-Saharan Africa, and our Undergraduate Access Scholarships for UK applicants who have been in care or estranged from their parents. 

For more information, visit .

Professor Alys Young, who is also s deputy lead for the Outcomes programme in the Hearing Health theme for says she’s delighted to have made  the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 .

She follows in the footsteps of Jess Boland, Senior Lecturer in Functional Materials and co-chair of The University’s disabled staff network, who was on the list last year.

Professor Young is a co-leader of the Social Research with Deaf People research group which works in British Sign Language focussing on inequalities in health and social care affecting d/Deaf people.

She said: “Having lived with a serious debilitating condition most of my adult life, a great deal of my research work and academic teaching and student support is driven by a commitment to social justice, in all its forms.

“Anything I am able to do to unlock the latent potential and talents of others is a key motivator in redressing the consequences of structural and interpersonal inequalities.”

A former Academic Lead for Disability Equality at the university of Swagֱ��, she is also a distinguished visiting professor at the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

She was conferred a fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences in 2016 in recognition of her contribution to the field of social research with d/Deaf people, and to social work.

In 2016, she won the Times Higher Award for Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year and is also a Senior Fellow of NIHR SSCR.

She currently leads the national longitudinal study of deaf youth in transition to and the first study of the impact of interpreter mediated Mental Health Act

The Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 aims to showcase the capabilities and strengths of Disabled People and the prejudice they often encounter.

Nationally and internationally recognized, it celebrates the most influential disabled people in the UK, nominated by the public and judged by an independent panel.

More than 20% of people have an impairment and too often society sees disability before capability, unintentionally excluding Disabled People, muting their impact and limiting inclusion.

Disabled people navigate an inaccessible world, equipping them with unique perspectives, expertise and experience that is often overlooked.

The unique partnership between Swagֱ��, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, and Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) will raise awareness of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus (OSCC) in Kenya and increase engagement in public screening opportunities using mobile detection units that travel across the country.

It will link the early detection of cancer using a digital transformation in cancer detection and outcome data through a “hub and spoke” system linking cancer hospitals and local healthcare authorities.

The funding will help establish a central cancer specialist “hub” at KUTRRH in the capital Nairobi which will support local cancer care delivery ’spokes’ in five regional counties: Meru, Kiambu, Kisii, Nakuru, and Nyeri.

According to the International Agency for Research in Cancer, OSCC is the third most common cancer in Kenya and the most lethal: 99% of patients die from their disease within 5 years.

The poor prognosis is directly related to OSCC patients being diagnosed too late when they have advanced, incurable disease. Instead, this initiative will establish early detection as a part of the Kenyan healthcare system by training healthcare workers to recognise early symptoms of OSCC.

The NIHR Global Health Research award will co-train Kenyan clinicians and healthcare workers in NHS Trusts. It will provide continuous, bespoke training in state of the art cancer diagnosis and molecular pathology where the initial trainees from Kenya travel to Swagֱ�� and subsequently return to Kenya to become the trainers future cancer researchers and carers.

The award will also use molecular assays to help identify Kenyans at greatest risk of OSCC.

Using next generation genetic and cell biology approaches, tissue samples taken for patient diagnosis will undergo sophisticated molecular pathology studies to document the abnormal cancer genes and proteins which drives the initial growth, unique biology and aggression of Kenyan OSCC cancers.

The genetic results will be obtained from all 5 Kenyan counties and matched with clinical data and county level information to try to understand the differences which cause the variable rates of OSCC seen across Kenya.

Robert Bristow is the study’s UK Co-Lead, Professor of Cancer Studies at Swagֱ��, Chief Academic Officer at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust  and Director of the Swagֱ�� Cancer Research Centre (MCRC).

He said: “We are excited to be working side by side with our Kenyan partners to optimise a national Kenyan Cancer Early Detection network to diagnose and understand the biology squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus at an early stage and design new strategies to improve survival.

“Our joint study is designed to increase accuracy of data across the diverse geography of Kenya to use to develop early detection intervention strategies for Kenyans living in rural areas with very low incomes.

“Many are cut off from cancer care since around 80% of cancer treatment centres are in the capital city Nairobi and a hub and spoke model will benefit both rural and urban populations.

“The project also is an example of inclusive cancer research as the data from the molecular research in OSCC and other Kenyan cancers will improve our understanding and appropriate individualised treatment of cancers in Africa and UK patients who come from Africa. Despite Africa being between 15-20% of the world’s population, only 2% of the genetic sequencing and information have been completed on African cancers”

Professor Keith Brennan, Vice Dean for Internationalisation at Swagֱ�� said: “This work is about helping to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals by supporting the provision of Universal Health Coverage within Kenya.

“As the world’s number one university in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings last year, we take this responsibility very seriously.”

Professor F. George Njoroge is study’s Kenyan  co-principal investigator,  Chief Scientific Officer at  Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH),  Board director at Kenya Medical Research Institute(KEMRI) and chairman of the council at Daystar University

 He commented: “The unique collaboration between  Kenya and  United Kingdom in this oesophageal cancer study will go a long way in establishing ways  that would tilt the balance whereby oesophageal cancer could be detected at the potentially curative stages 1 and 2 rather than the late stages 3 and 4. This will be a game changer in diagnosis and management of that disease”

These long-term twinning partnerships will provide vital support in the short term, so students can continue their studies, and researchers can carry on with their research. In the longer term, this collaboration will help the Ivan Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University to rebuild their campus and play an important role in the rebuilding of Ukraine.

“When the opportunity to support a fellow medical school came along via the UUK twinning scheme, we were keen to help,” said Professor Margaret Kingston, Director of Undergraduate Medical Studies at Swagֱ��. “It has meant an awful lot to colleagues in Ternopil to receive our support, as their main concern was losing their faculty and students.”

“They have lost many students and staff as people have left the country or joined the fighting, funds have been diverted and accommodation is housing displaced persons. Their request to us was to help them to continue delivering medical training so their supply of future doctors is maintained, and they do not suffer an even worse “brain drain” in addition to everything else.”

The university is also supporting Ukraine in other ways. In June, the University and the Ukrainian Student Society worked together to organise participation in a live question and answer session with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which he thanked universities for their support and spoke of the deep historic links Ukraine has with British academia. There was such high demand for tickets that a second location had to be secured at extremely short notice to broadcast the session to students.

A team of volunteer medics from UK-Med - a charity based at the university which provides healthcare assistance during humanitarian crises around the world – is currently working across Ukraine to provide care for the many people in need. The charity is also providing support and training for local healthcare staff, who are having to respond to situations far beyond anything they’ve ever dealt with before.

Soon after UK-Med launched their , Joe Stafford from the university’s news and media relations team embarked on a marathon cycle ride in The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium to raise funds for the charity. He was able to raise over £3000 by riding 1600km in 14 days, as well as raising the profile of UK-Med by appearing in the media both here in the UK and in The Netherlands. 

An expert from the university is also helping Ukrainians by repurposing her research activities to create a system which provides a running account of atrocities taking place in the country. Working with colleagues in the USA, Dr Olga Onuch established the project which analyses Twitter data using machine-learning algorithms to highlight humanitarian needs, displaced people, civilian resistance and human rights violations. This is helping aid agencies to direct their resources, as well as permanently documenting abuses and atrocities in order for justice to be sought after the war ends.

Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive, Universities UK said: “I’m really proud of the way that the UK university sector has stepped up to play its part in the global response to enabling Ukrainian universities to get through this war and hopefully emerge stronger.

For more information about the campaign, visit .