ISSUE FIVE APRIL 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
Creating a more
sustainable future
Meet Dr Bjoern Elsaesser to find out about
his research in tidal and wave energy.
Full Story on page 09
03
04
15
PRESIDENT CLINTON VISITS QUEEN’S
President Bill Clinton officially names the William J
Clinton Leadership Institute
VICE-CHANCELLOR’S FIRST MONTH
We meet the Vice-Chancellor and find out about
his first month in post
MAKING THE HEADLINES
Find out about colleagues who have been making
the news over recent weeks
04–14
WELCOME TO THE APRIL
EDITION OF QUEEN’S NOW
March was a significant month for Queen’s: Professor
Patrick Johnston took up his post as Vice-Chancellor
and President Bill Clinton visited to officially name the
William J Clinton Leadership Institute.
It was also a big month for sustainability at Queen’s
with Climate Week, Fairtrade Fortnight and the Green
Impact deadline. In this edition, we meet some staff
who are involved in driving sustainability.
QUEEN’S NOW 04 –14
Queen’s Now is a Queen’s University
publication, compiled and published
by the Communications and External
Affairs Office.
The Editor
Claire Patterson
Communications and
External Affairs Office,
Lanyon South,
Queen’s University,
Belfast, BT7 1NN
T: 028 9097 5355
E: [email protected]
02
Professor
Patrick Johnston
President and Vice-Chancellor
The past few weeks have been
a series of remarkable ‘firsts’ for
me. Here is another one: my first
contribution to Queen’s Now as your
Vice-Chancellor.
It’s an honour and a privilege to hold
this distinguished position. I am the 12th
Vice-Chancellor in our university’s history
and I hope I can live up to the great
achievements of those who have gone
before me.
If you have any comments you
would like to make about Queen’s
Now, please send them to
[email protected]
WELCOME
Since I took up post at the beginning
of March it’s been something of a
rollercoaster ride but during that time
we’ve seen some of the best that
Queen’s has to offer.
It was a great privilege to welcome
former President Bill Clinton to Riddel
Hall to endorse the Leadership Institute
that bears his name. In just two years, the
Institute has made a remarkable impact.
It’s honing the skills of the coming
generation of leaders in every aspect of
life – business, the economy, culture and
the arts, as well as public service and
politics.
The following week I was delighted to
welcome delegates to the fourth World
Cyber Security Summit, organised by
CSIT. What an important event that is
– a gathering from more than a dozen
countries of leading figures from industry,
academia and government, teaming
up to address one of the most pressing
problems of modern times.
And then there was ‘Women in Physics’
– an event aimed at encouraging more
women to take up a career in this
traditionally male-dominated subject.
Participants, including school pupils and
students, had the opportunity to meet
some of the UK and Ireland’s leading
female physicists, including Professor
Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell.
Still to come we have a major conference
on food integrity and traceability – Our
Food Is Our Future – under the banner of
our Institute For Global Food Security.
Events such as these and the ambition
behind them are examples of how we
can make Queen’s an international
powerhouse to benefit Northern Ireland
and the wider world.
As you know, I’ve been sharing my
outline vision for Queen’s with staff
throughout the University. Together we
will develop a world-class institution that
supports outstanding students and staff
and is committed to the needs of our
society.
These are early days but they are
important ones. There are challenges
that cannot wait. Under my leadership,
we’ll meet them head on through a
strategy that is focused on leadership,
meritocracy and excellence.
I want our staff and students to be
inspired. I want you to take bold and
courageous steps. I will support you all
the way as we deliver together.
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – 14
President Clinton
visits Queen’s
Last month, President Bill Clinton
was at Queen’s to officially name the
William J Clinton Leadership Institute
at Riddel Hall.
During his visit, the former President
also delivered the inaugural William J
Clinton Leadership lecture at a dinner
organised by the Queen’s Foundation
and hosted in Riddel Hall. The event was
attended by members of the business
community from across Northern Ireland
and beyond.
The Leadership Institute, which now
bears the President’s name, officially
opened its doors in 2012. It delivers
a range of education and leadership
programmes to managers and leaders at
all levels in Northern Ireland. It currently
supports over 200 local companies.
PRESIDENT CLINTON
03
Tom Lynch
Chairman, The Queen’s University of Belfast Foundation
The Queen’s Foundation was privileged to mark the
naming of the William J Clinton Leadership Institute
at Riddel Hall with an event attended by President Bill
Clinton. The naming agreement had been secured by
former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Peter Gregson, and
it was particularly pleasing for us that the venue for the
occasion was Riddel Hall. The Foundation had raised
almost £5m to support the Riddel Hall campus and a
number of the Riddel Hall Founders’ Club companies,
who so generously supported the project, attended to
hear the President deliver the inaugural William J Clinton
Leadership Lecture. Funds raised from the event will
support this lecture in the future.
To watch President Clinton’s lecture, visit
http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/ceao/Qtv/
Anne Clydesdale
Director, William J Clinton Leadership Institute
At Queen’s, it is our mission to be innovative educators,
to engage in research of global significance and to be
a stimulus of growth in Northern Ireland. Queen’s is
viewed as the powerhouse of the regional economy
and as such is central to Northern Ireland’s ambition
to become an internationally competitive region. To
be associated with President Clinton who, during his
Presidency, was also viewed as a powerhouse of the
political world can only help the Institute achieve its
goals of meeting the needs of local and global business.
QUEEN’S NOW 04—14
THE VICE-CHANCELLOR
Vice-Chancellor
Professor Patrick Johnston
Professor Patrick Johnston has been in post for just over one month. Queen’s
Now meets the Vice-Chancellor to find out how he is settling in to his new role.
What made you want
to be Vice-Chancellor?
I never set out to be a
Vice-Chancellor. As most people
will be aware, I’m an oncologist
and a medic and my passion
and commitment started around
cancer patients.
When thinking about applying
for this position, I asked myself if
I was appointed Vice-Chancellor
what would I want to do. And
what I want is to ensure that
what we do as an institution is
developing the economic, cultural,
social and leadership dimensions
for Northern Ireland. It’s about
making a difference, making sure
what we do impacts on society.
That’s really where my passion for
taking on this position came from.
You have been sharing your
Vision with staff across the
University. What are your
ambitions for Queen’s?
Much has been achieved at
Queen’s over the past 15 years.
We are emerging as a global
leader in a number of areas, such
as green chemistry, cyber security,
cancer research, poetry.
There are real areas of
international, global leadership and
we have been consistently raising
our game. But in my view there is
another level to go. We want to
become a global institution, one
that is internationally networked
where our academics are known
all over the world, where we
have students coming to Belfast
from all over the world. One
of my ambitions is to grow the
international student dimension
and to grow the postgraduate
student body within Queen’s.
That will enhance not just our own
university, but society as a whole.
Will you still be involved
in cancer research?
I have a large research group
and I’m going to remain research
active, however, my priority to
Queen’s will be as President
and Vice-Chancellor.
You’ve worked at Queen’s for
18 years. Staff and students will
feel as if they know you, but
what type of Vice-Chancellor
are you going to be?
I’ll be a very visible ViceChancellor, one that is engaged
with staff and students. It is very
important for a Vice-Chancellor
to set the scene, to outline the
vision, but it is important to listen
to what staff and students are
saying. Over the last few weeks I
have been meeting with staff from
across the University in a series of
meetings to outline my vision and
to get their input. I was delighted
with the number of staff who
attended these meetings and very
much valued their constructive
contributions.
Can you tell us something
about yourself that people
might not know?
I’m a keen football fan and support
Manchester United for my sins.
04
QUEEN’S NOW 04—14
THE VICE-CHANCELLOR
The Vice-Chancellor’s
First Month
1
Planting a tree at the David Keir Building as part of the
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering’s Green
Impact Platinum Day
2 MeetingtheStudents’UnionPresidentandOfficers
In his first few weeks, as well as sharing his Vision for Queen’s with staff across
the University, Professor Patrick Johnston has welcomed a US President,
addressed a global summit and done his bit for biodiversity by planting a tree!
Here’s a look at his first month in photographs.
1
05
3
Addressing delegates at CSIT’s fourth annual Cyber Security
Summit along with Finance Minister Simon Hamilton and
Professor John McCanny
4
Addressing the Senior Management Team on his first day
5
Pictured with Dr Iseult Wilson, President Bill Clinton,
RegistrarandChiefOperatingOfficerJamesO’Kaneand
BreegeO’KaneattheofficialnamingoftheWilliamJ
Clinton Leadership Institute
3
5
2
4
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – 14
NEWS
06
Seamus Heaney’s
work commemorated
A major commemoration of Seamus Heaney’s work will take
place during April.
The four day event, organised by the Seamus Heaney Centre
for Poetry at the School of English, coincides with Heaney’s 75th
birthday and the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Centre.
Seamus Heaney: a Conference and Commemoration is the first of
a series of activities to mark Seamus Heaney’s legacy at Queen’s.
As well as a full academic programme, the showcase will feature
a series of readings, two of which are open to the public. These
events, which will take place in the Ulster Hall on Thursday 10 April
and the Lyric Theatre on Sunday 13 April, see some of our finest
poets, including Medbh McGuckian and Michael Longley, read
their own work and as well as their favourite Heaney poems.
Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry at Queen’s,
Professor Ciaran Carson, said: “This commemoration of the
work of Seamus Heaney is unique in that Queen’s University is
remembering one of its own. His presence at Queen’s was an
encouraging force when I was a student here over forty years ago.
At this conference we honour and commemorate his role as a poet
whose work has achieved international renown, but we are also
remembering him as a teacher, as a critic, and as a friend.”
For further information, visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/
heaneyconference
Alumni support students
to the tune of £2m
Over £60,000 has been handed
out to 25 innovative student
projects in this year’s Queen’s
Annual Fund dispersal ceremony.
Among the projects to benefit were
Queen’s GAA Festival, a Leadership
Academy programme to develop
individual leadership skills and stateof-the-art fitness testing equipment
for the University’s four Sports
Academies.
Almost £2.2m in graduate donations
have been directed to student
projects at Queen’s since annual
giving fundraising started in 1999.
This year Queen’s Annual Fund
had a total of £120,000 available
for distribution; in addition to the
£60,000, £30,000 has been assigned
to scholarships and a similar amount
will, in due course, be allocated to
an area of need associated with the
University’s fundraising campaign.
For further information on Queen’s
Annual Fund visit the QAF
webpage.
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – 14
NEWS
07
New online portal
helping to reduce waste
Queen’s included in chemical
engineering roll of honour
Queen’s new Freecycle network,
WARP-it, has been up and
running for just over a month
and already staff have saved
£7,184 and diverted over 1
tonne from landfill.
Queen’s chemists are celebrating
after being named on the
Institution of Chemical Engineers
(IChemE) roll of honour for 2013.
The chemists have been recognised
for their work in removing harmful
mercury from natural gas.
The Nicklin Medal has been awarded
jointly to Queen’s Ionic Liquid
Laboratories (QUILL) and PETRONAS
for the mercury removal project, which
was also the major winner at the
global IChemE Awards in November,
receiving three awards.
Facts about QUILL
WARP-it or Waste Action Reuse
Portal, is a redistribution network
which makes it easy for individuals
in an organisation to give away
or loan unwanted items to others
inside the same organisation.
The award of the IChemE Nicklin
Medal is the latest accolade for the
University’s multi-award winning
partnership with Malaysian oil
and gas giant PETRONAS which
has developed a much more
environmentally friendly and safer gas
production process.
Queen’s and PETRONAS are among
20 individuals and organisations from
around the world being honoured by
IChemE for their achievements and
exceptional work across all aspects of
chemical, process and biochemical
engineering.
It is home to nearly 100 scientists
who are exploring the enormous
potential of ionic liquids or ‘designer
solvents’.
CAPTION: QUILL’s Professor Jim Swindall
receives one of three IChemE Awards from
The Apprentice star Nick Hewer and Paul
Haworth, Sellafield Ltd
Set up in 1999, QUILL is a university/
industry cooperative research centre
and is now a world leader in the
creation of ionic liquids.
Its research on ionic liquids was
named the Most Important British
Innovation of the 21st Century.
Ionic liquids help industry to
reduce chemical wastage and
environmental pollution.
The idea is to reduce waste and
carbon emissions, and make it easy
for staff to reduce unnecessary
purchasing.
The Queen’s site currently has
over 100 members and almost 400
unwanted items have been placed
on it to date. These range from
office furniture and stationery to
electrical and sports equipment.
If you want to find out more about
the items colleagues have placed
on the site, or if you have any
unwanted work items that you
want to find a new home for, check
out www.warp-it.co.uk/qub. All you
have to do is make an account,
have a browse and ‘claim’ any
items you need, and upload any
items you no longer have use for.
You can also create a ‘wishlist’ and
receive a daily/weekly ‘roundup’ of
available items.
If you have any queries about
the site or how to use it, please
contact [email protected]
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – 14
NEWS
08
Queen’s support for
researchers recognised
The University has been
recognised for its continued
commitment to supporting the
personal, professional and career
development of its researchers.
Honorary Graduands Announced
Queen’s has announced details of this year’s honorary
graduands.
well as former Pro-Chancellor Sir David Fell and former ViceChancellor Professor Sir Peter Gregson.
Twelve people from the worlds of business, sport, academia,
science and the arts will receive honorary degrees later this
year. They include Irish rugby player Brian O’Driscoll, musician
Katie Melua and Nobel Prize winning physicist Peter Higgs as
Queen’s awards honorary degrees to individuals who have
achieved high distinction or given significant service in one
or more fields of public or professional life, and who serve as
ambassadors for the University and Northern Ireland around
the world.
Queen’s is one of 50 UK universities
to retain the European Commission’s
HR Excellence in Research Award
after a two-year review. The award
demonstrates commitment to
improving the working conditions
and career development for
research staff, which will in turn
improve the quantity, quality and
impact of research for the benefit of
UK society and the economy.
The full list of honorary degrees to be awarded is as follows:
HR Excellence Facts
•
•
This initiative covers over
500 research staff on fixed
term contracts
•
£100k is invested annually
in training and development
for this group of staff
•
•
•
•
•
Brian O’Driscoll, DUniv
for services to sport
Katie Melua, DLit (Mus)
for services to music
Professor Alice Brown CBE, DSSc
for services to education and social justice
Dermot Desmond, DSc Econ
for services to business and commerce
Sir David Fell, LLD
for services to the University and distinction in public
service and business and commerce
Professor Sir Peter Gregson, LLD
for services to the University and to Higher Education
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ciaran Hinds, DUniv
for distinction in film and drama
Mark Huffam, DUniv
for distinction in film and drama
Professor Henrietta Moore, DSSc
for services to social sciences
Narayana Murthy, DSc Econ
for services to business and commerce
Fintan O’Toole, DLit
for services to broadcasting
Professor Peter Higgs, DSc
for services to science
•
Training attendance for this
group has increased by 47%
since 2006
As part of the award Queen’s
has developed an Action Plan
which includes actions relating
to the management of staff,
recruitment, appraisal, progression,
development, engagement and
creating an effective research
environment.
It is hoped that the award will help
support existing research staff
and promote the University as an
attractive destination for researchers
from all over the world.
For further information, visit www.
qub.ac.uk/research-centres/crs/
•
In the last survey of this group
of staff, 75% agreed that they
are encouraged in Queen’s
to engage in personal and
career development activities
•
Seven school-based
research staff societies have
emerged to drive their own
programmes of development
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – 14
POWERING
THE FUTURE
SPOTLIGHT
Researchers across Queen’s are pioneering new green
technologies and working towards cleaner, more
sustainable forms of energy.
This month, we meet Dr Bjoern Elsaesser to find out about
his work in tidal and wave energy.
What is your role?
I am a senior lecturer in the School
of Planning, Architecture and Civil
Engineering where I teach Coastal
Engineering and Hydraulic design
and communication. I also manage
the University’s wave tank facilities in
Portaferry and the David Keir Building
with responsibility for developing
research and commercial use.
Tell us about your research
My main area of research is in marine
renewable energy. We have a team
of 35 working in this area.
Marine energy refers primarily to
energy carried by the tide and waves
that can be harnessed to generate
electricity to power homes, transport
and industries. It has the potential to
provide a substantial amount of new
renewable energy around the world.
Our research in tidal energy looks
at how much energy there is, how
much can be extracted and the
environmental impact. In terms of
wave energy, the focus is on the
environmental impact of extracting
energy and optimising energy
harnessing.
Do you collaborate with industry?
Yes, we work with a number of tidal
and wave companies, including
Aquamarine Power and SeaGen/
Siemens. This work ranges from
providing a supporting role, such
as testing their technology and
its impact, to being involved from
concept development.
Some of these companies use our
research on sites around the world,
so the work we do has a global
impact.
How do you carry out the testing?
Substantial investment has been
made in wave tank facilities and field
monitoring equipment. We have two
wave tank facilities: one in the David
Keir Building and one in Queen’s
Marine Laboratory in Portaferry.
We also use Strangford Lough to
monitor the environmental impacts
of the technologies we’re testing.
For example, members of our team
observe mammals on the Lough to
ensure marine wildlife is not being
affected.
09
COVER
STORY
Why is sustainability-related
research so important?
When people hear the word
sustainability they often just think
of climate change, but it is so much
more than that. We will run out of
resources regardless of a changing
climate. We need to make use of
what is available but with significantly
less negative impact. It’s about
extracting energy in a way that
doesn’t harm the environment. And
that’s why our work is so important.
Tell us an interesting fact about
yourself
Most people think I am Scandinavian,
but I’m from the Black Forest region
of Southern Germany.
What do you like to do in your
spare time?
Spending time with my kids, Jannik,
Mika and Annika, my wife Antje, and
sailing.
To find out more about Bjoern
and his research, watch his
video on the Staff Gateway
www.qub.ac.uk/home/ceao/
StaffGateway/OurStaff/
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – 14
SPOTLIGHT
10
Meet some staff whose work is supporting sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY FACTS
ABOUT QUEEN’S
01
Queen’s has 12 research
clusters that focus on
sustainability issues
02
We offer degree
programmes related to
sustainability at every
level and have over 10
sustainability masters
courses
03
04
05
We are committed to
sustainable design and
build. A number of our
buildings are recognised
as BREEAM excellent or
very good, including the
McClay Library, Riddel Hall
and Willow Walk
06
07
08
09
Queen’s hospitality uses
local produce as much
as possible and spends
around £500k annually
with local suppliers
In the last four years,
we have invested over
£4million in energy
efficiency and low carbon
technology projects
10
Over 3140 environmental
actions were carried
out by staff as part of
this year’s Green Impact
Scheme
In the last four years,
the number of Annual
Commuter Travel Cards
issued through Queen’s
has increased by 40%
Students are actively
involved in environmental
volunteering. 50
volunteered for this year’s
Green Impact Scheme
Over the past year,
approx 54% of the
products purchased from
Office Depot have been
environmentally friendly.
This includes stationery,
paper and computer
consumables
We recycle over three tonnes
of toner cartridges every
year, that’s approximately the
weight of six cars.
Patrick Mullen
Head Chef
Patrick is the University’s Head Chef
and has worked at Queen’s for over
25 years.
Queen’s Hospitality sources as much
produce from Northern Ireland
as possible and spends around
£500k annually with local suppliers.
For example, guests at the recent
naming of the William J Clinton
Leadership Institute by President
Bill Clinton were served up a menu
consisting of locally produced
ingredients, including Fivemiletown
oakwood smoked cheddar, County
Down beef and Armagh apples – as
well as Fairtrade tea and coffee.
Dr Beatrice Smyth
School of Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering
As well as teaching nuclear
engineering, Beatrice carries
out research in renewable and
sustainable energies.
Her main area of research is
biogas, specifically in the use of
grass to generate renewable gas.
According to Beatrice, the biggest
environmental challenge facing the
world is the growing consumption
of natural resources – energy, food,
water, minerals – and a lack of
planning for the future. For example,
it is estimated that on a global
scale there are less than 60 years of
natural gas reserves remaining.
Find out more about Patrick, Beatrice and Paul on the Staff Gateway site:
www.qub.ac.uk/home/ceao/StaffGateway/OurStaff/
Paul Wallace
Head Gardener
Paul is responsible for the
development and maintenance of
the University gardens. His aim is to
increase biodiversity throughout the
estate by planting native and wildlife
friendly plants where possible. In
the past three years, approximately
500 native trees and 150 metres
of wildlife hedgerow have been
planted.
To make gardening more
sustainable, all of the University’s
waste hardwood is chipped and
reused as mulch on shrubberies,
reducing the need for chemical
weed control. Also, all gardening
waste is removed to a green skip for
composting.
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – I4
RESEARCH
Cancer treatment
breakthrough
Researchers at Queen’s have
made a breakthrough which
could signal new treatments
for women at high risk of
breast and ovarian cancer.
The new discovery by
researchers in CCRCB may
mean women affected with the
BRCA1 gene mutation could
use drugs, which are already
available, to reduce their risk
of developing the disease,
rather than undergo irreversible
surgery. In turn, such treatments
would open up the possibility
of some of these women,
who might otherwise have an
oophorectomy, still being able
to have children.
The new research by Dr Kienan
Savage and Professor Paul
Harkin at CCRCB proves there
is a direct link between high
levels of oestrogen and DNA
damage, which causes cancer,
in the breasts and ovaries.
Specifically, the scientists
discovered that the cells
of women with the BRCA1
mutation cannot effectively
fight the very high levels of
oestrogen that exist in all
women’s breasts and ovaries,
leaving them vulnerable to
DNA damage.
MY RESEARCH
The Queen’s-led research,
which has been ongoing for
four years and was carried
out with funding from Cancer
Focus NI and Cancer Research
UK, has been published in the
prestigious USA-based journal
Cancer Research.
Ruth
Kelly
The researchers are currently
seeking funding to launch
clinical trials and hope to
do so within 12 months. It
is envisaged that, in the first
instance, a small control trial
will be carried out using a
combination of two drugs on
12 women for a period of three
months, using biopsy, blood
and urine samples to track DNA
damage.
School: Biological Sciences
MY RESEARCH:
I work as a post-doctoral research assistant at Quercus in
the School of Biological Sciences.
Quercus is a research group which specialises in conducting
applied environmental research, which informs policy
decisions and furthers our scientific understanding of key
environmental issues such as climate change, invasive
species and the conservation of rare species and habitats.
CAPTION: Dr Kienan Savage from
CCRCB led the research
MY LATEST RESEARCH STUDY:
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I am currently working on a project examining the impact
of wildfires on upland heath and bog. We take a crossecosystem approach, looking at impacts on soils, plants,
invertebrates (primarily beetles and spiders) and birds.
This research will help further our understanding of these
important species and habitats.
11
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – I4
RESEARCH
12
Food safety
under the
microscope
at Queen’s
Queen’s named as one of UK’s World
War One Engagement Centres
Queen’s has been chosen to help
lead a major, international research
project on World War One, as part
of centenary commemorations of
the Great War.
The University has been selected
to become a ‘World War One
Engagement Centre’ with a remit to
support community, academic and
public research into the events of
1914-18.
Queen’s, along with the Universities
of Birmingham, Kent, Hertfordshire
and Nottingham, will form a part
of the First World War Centenary
Partnership, led by Imperial War
Museum. The University stands to
receive £500,000 from the Arts and
Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
in partnership with the Heritage
Lottery Fund, to establish its Centre,
which will be headed up by Dr Keith
Lilley of the School of Geography,
Archaeology and Palaeoecology.
Entitled ‘Living Legacies 1914-18:
From Past Conflict to Shared Future’,
the new research Centre is based
at the Institute for Collaborative
Research in the Humanities (ICRH).
The Centre represents a partnership
with the University of Ulster and
National Museums Northern Ireland.
It will be launched publicly on
Monday 19 May.
For further details about the
Queen’s Centre please contact
[email protected]
CAPTION: Dr Keith Lilley from the
School of Geography, Archaeology and
Palaeoecology will head up the new
research centre
Food safety experts from around
the world will be at Queen’s
this month for an international
conference showcasing Northern
Ireland as a leader in the
production of safe, authentic and
traceable food.
The Food Integrity and Traceability
Conference (ASSET 2014),
organised by in the Institute for
Global Food Security (IGFS) in
partnership with safefood, will
welcome 300 scientists, food
standards regulators and agri-food
producers from over 25 countries.
Featuring experts from IGFS, the
conference will highlight current
and emerging threats to the
integrity of the food chain, and
progress in delivering high-quality
food to consumers – including the
contentious issue of GM food.
Researchers at Queen’s are at the
forefront of scientific advancements
to help minimise risks to the
food chain and work with the
agri-food industry to develop the
latest techniques to detect and
deter food fraud. Many of these
techniques will be discussed during
ASSET 2014.
Alongside the conference, the
front lawn at Queen’s will be
turned into an Artisans’ market,
giving members of the public the
opportunity to sample the finest
local produce.
For more information, visit
www.qub.ac.uk/sites/ASSET2014
CAPTION: Charlie Cole from
Broughgammon Farm in Ballycastle,
whose goat meat burgers and burritos
will be on sale at the Artisans’ Market;
Sarah Campbell from Food NI; and
Professor Chris Elliott, Director of the
Institute for Global Food Security
About the Institute for
Global Food Security
The IGFS was officially launched in
2013.
There are over 100 researchers
working in the Institute to develop
robust techniques to safeguard the
food supply.
The Institute collaborates with a
range of local and international
companies to help ensure
Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector
continues to be competitive in a
global market.
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – 14
ENVIRONMENTAL
13
Green at
Queen s
In this regular feature, find out about some of the environmental
activity taking place around the campus and meet some of the
people making it happen.
Over the past three years, 25% of the University’s carbon savings
can be attributed to the actions of staff and students, so what
you’re doing is making a difference.
GREEN IMPACT
The workbooks have been
submitted, the audits conducted
and now, all the Green Impact teams
have to do is wait until 26 May to
find out the results at this year’s
Green Awards.
Now in its third year at Queen’s, the
Green Impact Scheme continues
to grow with 2014 seeing the
largest number of teams submit
a workbook. Here are some stats
about this year’s Scheme:
•
•
•
•
67 teams registered
340 members of staff involved
3140 environmental actions
carried out
Almost 50 students volunteered
as Green Impact Assistants and
Auditors
TEAMS SHORTLISTED
FOR LAB AWARDS
Queen’s has been shortlisted in
two categories for this year’s S-Labs
awards which recognise laboratory
excellence. The Awards aim to
recognise good practice in lab
design, operation and management
in all sectors.
The School of Chemistry and
Chemical Engineering has been
shortlisted in the ‘Making a
Difference’ Category for their
Student-Based Lab Teams while Dr
Marie Migaud’s group in Pharmacy
has been named in the ‘Laboratory
Effectiveness’ shortlist for its
Chemical and Equipment Database.
Good luck to both Schools.
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – I4
ENVIRONMENTAL
Staff and residents
team up for The Big
Spring Clean
Queen’s staff joined forces
with local residents to help
clean up the Stranmillis area
for The Big Spring Clean.
The staff volunteers and
residents collected over 20
bags of rubbish during The Big
Spring Clean, which is Northern
Ireland’s largest anti-litter
campaign. It aims to encourage
local community groups,
individuals, sports associations,
businesses, councils and schools
to clean up their local areas,
take ownership and set the
environmental quality standards
they want to live by.
14
Meet...
Dr Nuala Tipping
The clean-up was just one of a
number of events which staff
took part in during Climate
Week, the UK’s biggest climate
change campaign.
Other events included: a
film screening; Fairtrade
coffee mornings; a Climate
NI Conference in Riddel Hall;
volunteering opportunities;
and training sessions on
WARPit – the University’s E-bay/
Freecycle network, which allows
staff to redistribute unwanted
and underused assets within
Queen’s.
Nuala is a technician in the Centre
for Biomedical Sciences Education
in the School of Medicine,
Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences.
She has been an Environmental
Champion for four months and
is involved in the Green Impact
Scheme within her Centre.
What does the role entail in your
School?
My role is a point of communication
for current environmental matters
within our Centre for staff and
students. As a technician,
I’m particularly keen for our
laboratories to become Green
Impact laboratories and to embed
environmental actions within them.
CAPTION: Staff and Stranmillis residents
took part in The Big Spring Clean
Why did you get involved in the
Green Impact scheme?
I attended a Good Laboratory
Housekeeping workshop within
Queen’s and some of the speakers
talked about Green Impact. I
was really impressed by both the
enthusiasm of the Environmental
Champions speaking and the
usefulness of the Green Impact
programme itself. I could see how
the programme could work within
our Centre, in particular with our
laboratories, and volunteered myself
for the role.
What type of environmental
initiatives have you introduced
into the Centre?
Earlier this year, we held a ‘Declutter your Kitchen Cupboard’ food
waste reduction campaign. The
idea was to donate food that you
were unlikely to use to a local food
bank charity. We chose the Lisburn
Foodbank charity. We collected
three boxes of food, which instead
of going to waste, went to those in
need of emergency food.
Tell us about an environmental
action you have implemented in
your area which could be used by
other Champions
We have developed ‘Green
Laboratory Guidelines’ which is a
short bullet point communication
to get students thinking and acting
upon Green Impact within the
laboratory. Our module coordinators
now include this document within
their study guides. It can be easily
adapted to suit other laboratories.
Have you an environmental tip
you can share with staff?
Have a look in the back of those
kitchen cupboards! It might only
be a couple of tins but collectively
throughout the University we could
save a lot of food from going to
waste and help local people in need
at the same time.
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – 14
PEOPLE
New Director
of Innovation
appointed
Brian McCaul has joined the University as
Director of Innovation based within the
Research and Enterprise Directorate.
Brian has significant experience as a knowledge
transfer professional with wide-ranging experience
in company creation; business and enterprise; and
innovation policy and practice. He has worked in
both the private and higher education sectors and
has a national profile in the technology transfer
community through his previous roles as Chair
of the Association for University Research and
Industry Links (AURIL) and as a founder member of
the Institute of Knowledge Transfer.
Brian’s appointment follows a comprehensive
review of research commercialisation activities
at the University. This review led to a number
of recommendations which were agreed by the
University Management Board in November 2013.
A critical first step in the implementation of these
recommendations has been the creation of the
new Director of Innovation position and Brian’s
subsequent appointment.
Brian will lead an integrated research
commercialisation process, with oversight of both
existing Commercial Development and Qubis Ltd
teams, reporting to the Director of Research and
Enterprise and Qubis Ltd Board.
15
MAKING THE
HEADLINES
Work by the Centre of
Archeological Fieldwork has
uncovered hidden treasure and
newspaper headlines. In the
past month the excavation at
Carrickfergus Castle has featured
in the Belfast Telegraph and local
papers including Carrickfergus
Today and the Ballymoney
Times. Cormac McSparron was
interviewed on BBC Radio Foyle
about the survivors of the Spanish
Armada.
Clinical researcher Dr Michael
Moran was interviewed on Good
Morning Ulster and Radio Foyle
when he was appointed to the
Miracles panel at Lourdes by the
Catholic Church. He also appeared
on the BBC World News, RTE
news, Lourdes, Irish Catholic and
Irish Examiner websites.
Professor Bob Elwood’s research
into crabs’ sensitivity to pain
gained fresh international coverage
after he was featured in the New
Science Magazine and online news
outlets including the Washington
Post, New York’s Popular Science
and Americus Times. The topic was
also discussed on Ireland’s News
Talk radio.
From lobster pots to honey
pots, Dr Dino McMahon and
Professor Robert Paxton created
a buzz with their work on bee
diseases. Published in Nature, the
research revealed that diseases
among managed honeybees
are spreading to UK’s wild
bumblebees. The story was picked
on up specialist websites including
Physics.org.
Finally, gaining national coverage,
Liam O’Hare wrote an article for
The Guardian on ensuring better
value for the billions of pounds
spent on children’s services in the
UK each year.
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – 14
PEOPLE
16
Staff do their bit for charity
Welcome to new staff
Over the past month, staff from
across the University have been
doing their bit for charity.
complete their 5k challenge in
one of the fastest times recorded
during the weekend.
Over 30 new members of staff joined
Queen’s during March
Raising money for Sport Relief,
several staff teams and individual
staff members took part in the
world’s biggest fundraising swim,
Swimathon 2014 — an event
hosted by Queen’s Sport. The
Swimathon, which took place
from 21—24 March, saw one staff
team, the ‘Systems Sharks’ from
Academic and Student Affairs
Also raising money for Sport Relief,
the School of Law hosted a Coffee
Morning and Bake Sale as part
of the great Sport Relief Bake Off
2014. The event raised over £500
for the charity.
At the end of March, staff from
CCRCB invited colleagues and
students throughout Queen’s to
take part in ‘Wear a Hat Day’ as
part of National Brain Tumour
Awareness Month. Staff in CCRCB
donned headwear and hosted
a coffee morning as part of a
UK-wide Brain Tumour Research/
Brainwaves NI Campaign to
promote awareness and raise funds
to support brain tumour patients,
their families and carers, and
research in Northern Ireland. The
event raised an impressive £567.
Dr Alessandro Ala
Management
Roberta Bajo
KTP and Business
Networks
Michelle O’Connor
Students’ Union
Dr Vikki O’Neill
Centre for Statistics and
Operational Research
Rawan Hakawati
QUESTOR
Malgorzata Bill
Centre for Infection and
Immunity
Adam Henshaw
Sociology and Social
Policy
Dr Tania Bosqui
Institute of Child Care
Research
Dr Sophia Kelaini
Centre for Experimental
Medicine
Aisling Bremner
Marketing, Recruitment
and Admissions
David Kuridze
Astrophysics Research
Centre
James Carruthers
KTP and Business
Networks
Jing-xiao Liang
QUESTOR
Abigail Savage
Centre for Cancer
Research and Cell Biology
Anna Marco-Ramell
Biological Sciences
Louise Taggart
Purchasing
Chris McAfee
Personnel
Dr Maria Tavares
Modern Languages
Brian McCaul
Enterprise Development
Suzanne Turner
Law
Maeve McCooey
Educational and Skills
Development
John Watt
Queen’s Sport
Emma Derleta
Management
Dorothea Donaldson
IS IT Systems and Services
CAPTION: CCRCB staff took part in ‘Wear a Hat Day’. Pictured
are (L to R): Gaurang Patel (Floor Manager), Shahnaz Al Rashid
(Post-doc), and Kelly Redmond (Post-doc)
Sean Gibson
Students’ Union
Sean O’Connor
Centre for Public Health
Dr Paolo Bergamo
Civil Engineering
Fabio De Rosa
QUESTOR
CAPTION: ‘Systems Sharks’ Swimathon team: (Back, L to R)
Conor Ward (Student Services and Systems), Jonny Davison
(Student Services and Systems); (Front, L to R) Tim Crawford
(Learning Development Service), Eimear Nelis (Student Services
and Systems), Ronan Campbell (Student Services and Systems)
Andrea Garland
Development & Alumni
Relations Office
Dr Victoria Durrer
Creative Arts
Kathryn Fee
Mechanical &
Manufacturing Engineering
Dr Andrew McWilliams
Students’ Union
Eamonn O’Reilly
Students’ Union
Alina Rak
Estates Services
Dr Joana Sa Pessoa
Graca Santos
Centre for Infection and
Immunity
Xiaojing Zhang
QUESTOR
QUEEN’S NOW 04 – 14
SOCIAL
WIN
£25
For the chance to win a £25 Amazon voucher,
send us your answers to the following questions
For the chance to win a £25 Amazon
voucher this month, send us your
answers to the following questions.
The questions are all based around
sustainability and the answers can be
found in Queen’s Now.
1 How many research clusters at Queen’s
focus on sustainability?
2 How many teams took part in this year’s
Green Impact Scheme?
3 How many native trees have been
planted at Queen’s over the past three
years?
Email your answers to:
[email protected] or send via internal
post with your name and contact details to
Communications Office, Lanyon South, by
Friday 2 May.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Angela Douglas from
Academic Affairs who won last month’s
competition
Here are some of the tweets that
caught our eye over the last few weeks
The Big Spring Clean
Cancer Breakthrough
Eco-Home NI @EcoHomeNI
Queen’s students clean up the
streets during a BIG Spring Clean
@greenatqueens @QUBSU
@QueensUBelfast
Robin Newton
@RobinNewtonMLA
Research work by Queen’s Uni
re ovarian cancer giving hope
to women carriers of BRCA1
mutation. @duponline
@QueensUBelfast @Lisa_
McMaster
Belfast City Council @belfastcc
Fantastic work - well done! RT
@greenatqueens: Action shot!
Well done team, 20 bags of
rubbish collected!
CSIT’S Cyber Security Summit
Philip Mills @philip_mills
NI Finance Minister, Simon
Hamilton MLA, stresses
importance of @CSIT_QUB
& partners in securing our
digital future. pic.twitter.com/
JSaAhK4ZxN
Good Morning Ulster @BBCgmu
Scientists at @QueensUBelfast
have had a breakthrough in cancer
research into the gene forcing
Angelina Jolie to have a double
mastectomy
For all the news
about Queen's follow
@QueensUBelfast
For staff news follow
@BiteofQueens
17