JCB engineer to mentor Loughborough students
A former Loughborough engineering student is returning to the University to act as an ‘informal mentor’ to current students.
Alan Curtis, who now works for industry giants
JCB after graduating in 2006 with a first-class
degree in Mechanical Engineering, has been
given the role of a Visiting Teaching Fellow, in
a scheme which has been implemented by the
Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng).
Alan, who has worked at JCB Power Systems for three years, will support engineering design teaching in the Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University.
The scheme engages engineers who are handson practitioners at industry leaders. A total of 15 Visiting Teaching Fellows will be placed by RAEng at universities around the UK.
Since graduation, Alan has developed a good working relationship with Loughborough University by supporting several engineering design modules. In his role as a Visiting Teaching Fellow, he will act as an informal mentor to students, offering advice for academic and personal development throughout their degrees and in the early stages of graduation.
The appointments are only usually given to engineers with four years post Chartered Engineer qualification, however Alan’s exceptional application, which reflected the contribution he has made to date, was accepted – even though Alan has only recently been made a Chartered Engineer.
Adam Crawford, manager of Loughborough University’s Engineering Centre for Excellence (EngCETL) said: “Alan will be a great asset and support to Loughborough’s staff and students.
“Alan will be dealing with students and their design projects hands-on, preparing them for a dynamic future career in engineering.
“Industry-based input into the curriculum through alumni and industrial partners like Alan, along with companies like JCB, is invaluable to us here at Loughborough and we hope this will encourage other partners to engage in engineering teaching and learning.”
Alan Curtis added: “I am thrilled to have received this appointment, in recognition of the work I have been doing with the department.
“The students are all working on real projects and the results are outstanding. The mutually beneficial relationship for the University and JCB allows me to give something back to Loughborough and I hope the students will benefit from the industrial involvement in their degree.”
[Photo shows, left to right: Alan Curtis (JCB, New VTF); Peter Willmot (Director of Undergraduate Studies, Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering); Adam Crawford (Manager – Engineering Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (engCETL); Rob Parkin (Head of Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering); Bob Pendlebury (Visiting Professor, Former JCB Research Director)]
Millie tackles anti-social behaviour
A lecturer from Loughborough University’s Department of Social Sciences has had two books published on anti-social behaviour and its assumed impact on society.
Andrew Millie, who teaches Criminology and Social Policy, has
undertaken research over the last five years into anti-social behaviour,
where it is allegedly found and how the social norms of behaviour
sometimes need to be challenged.
In the first book which was published in January, entitled simply “Anti- Social Behaviour”, Andrew uses lively case studies and examples, introducing the concept of anti-social behaviour and examining its implications for society in the 21st Century. In this book, he discovers that causes are not simply poor parenting or bored children and that prevention and support should be tried before enforcement.
Andrew’s second book, which was published in April, is called “Securing Respect: Behavioural Expectations and Anti-Social Behaviour in the UK”. This book unpicks the political agendas surrounding perceived anti-social behaviour and contains a collection of essays on the subject, including contributions from the leading academics in this field.
Andrew believes that people’s perceptions of anti-social behaviour need to be challenged. “There has been a big emphasis on antisocial behaviour of late, which the media has certainly picked up on,” says Andrew. “There seems to be a common concern as a result of this coverage that the country is in decline.
“My research has found that it’s true that some places – such as poorer or inner-city areas – are affected by anti-social behaviour. However, it does not affect as many people as it is perceived to.
“For example, if there was a group of youths in a town centre, the common misconception could be that they were up to no good. However, this isn’t always the case and we have to break the stereotypes surrounding anti-social behaviour.”
Andrew is now continuing his research internationally and in April, he completed a Visiting Fellowship at Toronto University’s Centre of Criminology. Here, he built on his research on ‘respect’, exploring different behavioural expectations within urban Toronto, as well as looking at the place of aesthetics in determining what behaviour is deemed acceptable and what is not.
LEAP forward in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa
Researchers at Loughborough University’s Centre for Research into Eating Disorders (LUCRED) have developed a new treatment for Anorexia Nervosa aimed at tackling the reliance on excessive exercise by patients.
Under the supervision of Dr Caroline Meyer, LUCRED Director, the work of PhD student Lorin Taranis has led to a recent pilot trial of a new psychological treatment – LEAP, which stands for Loughborough Eating disorders Activity theraPy. LEAP is currently the focus of a large ‘Randomised Control Trial’ (RCT) funding bid in collaboration with the University of Sydney and Leicester NHS Eating Disorders Service.
Dr Meyer said: “Current treatments for Anorexia Nervosa are limited in their effectiveness. Even the world’s most eminent clinicians, delivering the current best practice treatments only achieve a good clinical outcome with approximately 50 per cent of their patients.
“One of the factors that predicts poor outcome is the reliance on exercise as a means of controlling weight, shape and mood. Patients for whom exercise is a characteristic of their eating disorder are more likely to require hospitalisation, have a longer length of inpatient treatment and are more likely to have poor therapeutic outcome or relapse.
“Previous research suggests that up to 80 per cent of anorexic patients excessively exercise during the acute phase of their disorder. However, prior to LEAP there have been no focussed attempts at reducing an individual’s use of exercise.”
In addition to their commitment to conducting research into clinical and sub-clinical eating disorders, LUCRED is currently undertaking numerous research studies aimed at understanding a broad range of eating-behaviours. Further information about these studies can be found at the LUCRED website.
Barack Obama inspires Loughborough student’s award-winning artwork
A striking piece of artwork by Loughborough University Illustration student Simon Yewdall has won a national competition and is now being used in an advertising campaign for the new Ford Fiesta.
In partnership with Ford, The Sunday Times’ Style magazine challenged its
readers to create a work of art that represents the essence of ‘here and
now’. Hundreds submitted their work, but the judges believed that Simon’s
simple yet powerful interpretation of the election of Barack Obama, with its
fresh, pop art, Andy Warhol-type feel, captured the spirit of the age.
Simon’s work includes the words ‘Yes We Can’, positioned on a two-coloured background of homemade kaleidoscope patterns made using mirrored triangles.
“I wanted to represent the climax of Barack Obama’s victory speech,” explains Simon (24), who originates from Uppingham in Rutland. “I tried to make the text work almost as an abstract symbol, to reflect political power. The kaleidoscope background represents ‘new ways of seeing’, while the red and blue represent the two different political parties.”
Simon’s artwork was debuted in The Sunday Times’ Style magazine on 25 January and is also being used in the latest TV ad for the car.
“I was extremely pleased to win the competition, and having my artwork printed in The Sunday Times was a huge thrill,” says Simon. “It was a real stroke of luck that the advertorial was released the weekend of Obama’s inauguration – I’m now a great believer in doing the right work at the right time!”
In addition to the advert, Simon received £2,000-worth of vouchers for Eyestorm, an online retailer of limited edition contemporary art by established and emerging artists and photographers, including Simon’s ‘Yes We Can’ work.
Nissan refuel at Loughborough University
Loughborough University was one of only three stops made by Nissan’s Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) in a special trip to the Midlands in February.
The custom-modified Nissan X-TRAIL, which is powered by
hydrogen fuel cells, visited campus to use the University’s
hydrogen refuelling station in a specially-arranged trip to see
Loughborough’s ground-breaking facilities.
The FCV has been in use in a number of Japanese cities, as well as undergoing real-world trials in Canada and the United States as part of the California Fuel Cell Partnership. Apart from a series of media workshops in 2008, it has rarely been driven on European roads.
The march towards series production of the zero-emission fuel cell vehicle is an integral part of the ambitious Nissan Green Program 2010. The Program aims to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in all of the company’s endeavours with the ultimate goal of reducing the environmental effects caused by the manufacture and use of its vehicles.
Professor Rob Thring, Chair in Fuel Cell Engineering at the University, was on hand to fill the vehicle with hydrogen and also had the opportunity to take the X-TRAIL for a drive. “The Fuel Cell Vehicle drove very well, it was very smooth and powerful and arguably better than a conventional vehicle,” said Professor Thring.
“We are delighted that Nissan visited Loughborough and decided to use the tremendous facilities we have here, which we feel really help to underline our status as a leader in the development of fuel cell vehicles.
“Nissan have agreed to return in April and we would encourage other car manufacturers to bring along their vehicles for refuelling.”
Loughborough University’s hydrogen refuelling station opened in October. It will enable the University to drive forward research in this area, as well as providing a refuelling service to non-polluting vehicles used by campus-based organisations.
Based at Holywell Park, the facility is part of a cluster of hydrogen refuelling stations being set up across the region by the British Midlands Hydrogen Forum.
Fuel Cell Vehicles aim to reduce CO2 emissions, which are believed to be a major cause of global warming. A typical FCV is driven by motors powered by the electricity generated on board by a fuel cell stack, using hydrogen as the reactant and oxygen as the oxidant. Performance is augmented by batteries which are used as an extra power source when accelerating, while energy generated under braking is stored in the battery.
The visit emphasises Loughborough’s position as a green university. In 2008, the University was ranked 5th in The People and Planet Green League and was awarded a First Class degree for its solid environmental performance.
Loughborough University teams up with Leicester City Football Club
Loughborough University and Leicester City Football Club have initiated a ground-breaking partnership. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed in which both parties will work together in a broad range of research, consultancy, training and other areas of mutual benefit.
The agreement is thought to be the most extensive of its kind
between a football club and an academic institution – consistent
with the Foxes’ vision of being at the forefront of technology in a
cutting edge industry. Both organisations will draw on each other’s
experience with one key area of collaboration being the Club’s
rapidly expanding Sports Science operation.
Leicester have this season employed the services of highly-qualified Performance Consultant Paul Balsom – the Swedish National team’s assistant coach, Data Analyst Andrew Blake, Power Coach John Cross and Loughborough University Sport and Exercise Science student Matt Reeves. The Sports Science staff work alongside the experienced Physiotherapy team.
City Chief Executive Lee Hoos is delighted to have teamed up with Loughborough University.
He said: “In this day and age the technological aids available are a big help on the tactical as well as medical front and Loughborough University’s knowledge will be of great benefit to us.
“Hopefully, with their assistance, our Sports Science operation will continue to progress even further the excellent levels of performance and positive results for the Club which have already been achieved.”
Professor Myra Nimmo added: “Loughborough University is delighted with this strategic alliance which will benefit both partners.
“It will ensure that the University’s staff and students are addressing issues relevant and current to football clubs.
“For Leicester City Football Club it ensures that they have access to the world leading research and knowledge of Loughborough University staff.”
The MoU will initially run for five years.
[Photo shows, left to right: Professor Mike Gleeson (Loughborough University), Jordan Milsom (LCFC Sports Scientist), Dave Rennie (LCFC Head Physio), Milan Mandaric (LCFC Chairman), Nigel Pearson (LCFC Manager), Dr Chris Cushion (Loughborough University), Matt Reeves (Loughborough University Sport and Exercise Science student)]
