University sporting experts travel the globe on conference circuit 30/09/10

Sport staff of the University of Chichester have spent their summer months travelling around the world to present their research work at national and international conferences.

The variety in contributions reflects the broad expertise of University staff in Sport, Exercise and Health topics:

Dr Elizabeth Pike, acting Head of Sport Development and Management, has been an invited keynote speaker at the International Sport Science Congressin South Korea and the Asociacion Latinoamericana de Estudios Socioculturales (Latin American Society for the Sociology of Sport) in Venezuela. Earlier in the summer, Dr Pike was invited to speak at an International Symposium on Elite Child Athlete Welfare in the UK and was invited symposium speaker at the European College of Sport Science in Turkey.

In October, she will give a keynote at the Taiwan Society for the Sociology of Sport inTaipei, and in November, she is coordinating a symposium on physical activity and ageing at the North American Sociology of Sport Society in California. The presentations focus on Dr Pike's research into thebenefits offered bysports andexercise for the increasing populations of older people around the globe. This work includes a local project that Dr Pike is leading, funded by the University in partnership with West Sussex County Council, which is investigating the improved provision of active leisure services in the Chichester region.

Dr Iain Greenlees, Reader in Sport Psychology, has been invited to deliver a keynote lecture in November on the future of Applied Sport Psychology research at the 11th International Sport Sciences Congress in Turkey. This invitation was very timely because in May this year, Iain took over as editor of the Sport and Exercise Psychology Review, the official journal of the British Psychological Society's Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology. He has also been invited to join the editorial board of the new online journal of sport psychology, Frontiers in Movement Science and Sport Psychology.

Dr Julia Potter and Dr Suzie Everley, both Senior Lecturers in Physical Education, had poster presentations at the International Congress on Obesity in Stockholm, Sweden. Julia's poster was entitled ‘Health Concepts in Action' and Suzie's ‘Children's Perceptions of and Engagement in Physical Activity - Meaning and Action'. Suzie's abstract was selected to compete for the Best Poster Prize. Julia and Suzie have been involved in a unique project which looks at young children's own perception and attitudes towards physical activity.

Dr Marcus Smith, Principal Lecturer and Field Leader in Exercise Physiology, was invited speaker at the international Games for Health conference in Boston, USA, in May May 2010 to talk about the health benefits of drumming. He presented work from the Clem Burke Drumming Project which was officially launched in 2008.

Dr Neal Smith, Field leader in Biomechanics and Research Methods, and Kathleen Shorter (postgraduate research student) travelled to North Michigan University in Marquette for the International Society of Biomechanics annual conference.Two papers were presented: one focussing on Kathleen's area into shoulder injuries in cricket bowling, and another relating to the Biomechanics research cluster on Strength and Conditioning.Kathleen then travelled to Minneapolis and presented work concerning the use of acromion marker clusters for the reconstruction of shoulder joint kinematics at the 8th meeting of the International Shoulder Group.

Dr Mark Willems, Reader in Exercise Physiology, was awarded the International Conference Grant from the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences to present work on downhill walking in older adults at the European College of Sports Sciences in Turkey. As a fellow of the European College of Sport Sciences, he was also invited chair for oral and poster presentations at this conference. Mark contributed as invited speaker to a symposium on Muscle Injury at the World Congress of Biomechanics in Singapore and obtained funding from Maximuscle Ltd to present a poster on supplementation during resistance training at the annual conference of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences in Scotland.

Dr Mike Lauder, Head of the Sport and Exercise Sciences Department, said: “It's important to see the research work of staff affiliated with the recently established Chichester Centre of Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences to be recognised and shared with academic peers. The centre aims to enhance and strengthen the ongoing research activity in areas ranging from Health Promotion, Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Exercise Physiology and Applied Sport Biomechanics and the global contributions of the Sport staff on the conference circuit this year constitute an essential element of the research culture of our University.”

New literary society to be launched on National Poetry Day 29/09/10

The Department of English and Creative Writing at the University of Chichester will be hosting the first event of Chichester Literati (Chic Lit) on National Poetry Day.

The new society offers a forum for everyone with an interest in literature, creative writing and the visual arts. Featuring writers and artists both past and present, it will highlight Chichester’s rich and diverse artistic heritage and its thriving contemporary culture.

To coincide with National Poetry Day on 7 October, Chic Lit presents its launch event, Chichester’s Best Kept Secret: An Evening with Ted Walker.

An award winning poet who died in 2004, Ted Walker was educated at Steyning Grammar School and Cambridge University. He became a major figure in the literary world of the 1960s and 1970s, his poetry regularly appearing alongside that of Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath and Philip Larkin. With the publication of his two autobiographies and his travel guide to Spain, Walker was recognised as one of the outstanding writers of his generation. Born in Lancing, he lived for most of his professional life in the village of Eastergate before retiring to Spain in the 1990s. He is buried in the Parish Church of St George at Eastergate with his first wife, Lorna.

The evening of readings, talks and reminiscences on 7 October begins at 6.30pm at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester. It will accompany the launch of a new selection of Walker’s poetry, Minting the Sun, edited and introduced by the University’s Head of English and Creative Writing, Dr Diana Barsham. The book features poems dealing with family life, the natural world and the land and seascapes of Walker’s native West Sussex.

Anyone who knew Ted Walker or has recollections of him and would like to contribute to this evening in any way is asked to contact Dr Diana Barsham on email at d.barsham@chi.ac.uk or on 01243 816456.

The event will be followed by a short business meeting to establish the constitution of Chic Lit. Forthcoming events include a one-day Shakespeare Conference (29 October), Michael Holroyd talking about writing family memoirs (17 November) and Prof Richard Coates on the Traditional Dialect of Sussex (26 November). Creative Writing workshops will also be available.

For all further information, please contact Lorna Sargent l.sargent@chi.ac.uk 01243 816163.

Head of music reflects on successful inaugural alumni event 28/09/10

Ben Hall, Head of Music at the University of Chichester, looks back on the first alumni event held by the department, in association with the Friends of Chartres group on 12 August 2010:

“Fine weather favoured our first Music Alumni event, and the hot air balloon – until the last minute an uncertain performer in the programme – was able to lift friends, alumni and distinguished guests, including the Mayor of Chichester, Michael Woolley, and our intrepid Executive Dean, Sarah Gilroy, into the summer sky.

“Following two inspiring networking workshops by Alex Mann from the Musicians Union and Rob Nash from the National Association of Music Educators, alumni were able to hear a keynote speech from Simon Hebditch, introduced by Clive Behagg, Acting Vice Chancellor. An alumnus of Bishop Otter College, Simon’s work in the third sector and in parliament has helped and enabled huge advances in UK philanthropic giving over the last 40 years.

“The Alumni event was themed to reflect Chichester’s long association with Chartres, and it was in a Chapel of the Ascension decked out with hundreds of tricolours that a wonderful recital of French song from Susan Legg and Jonathan Plowright delighted all who heard them. Ticklin the Pickle, performing in Zee Bar, brought the day to a typically flamboyant close.

“The music department is grateful to Mrs Elizabeth Bennett, High Sheriff of West Sussex, the Mayor of Chichester, the Acting Vice Chancellor, the Chair of Governors and the Friends of Chartres for supporting the first of what will now become an annual event.”

For pictures from the event, please visit the University’s Flickr photostream.

Literary contest success for creative writing graduate 27/09/10

A novel that began life on the University of Chichester’s MA Programme in Creative Writing has won a prestigious national competition.

The opening of Graham Minett’s novel Legacy, which uses locations from the Chichester area, beat off entries from throughout the UK to scoop the £500 first prize in the Chapter One literary contest, a London-based contest designed to attract work from unpublished novelists.

In her report, the judge, Lorella Belli, a literary agent, wrote: “Although the premise (a woman is left a country cottage by a person who died recently and whom she doesn’t know) is not original or unique, I felt the author has managed to create a good sense of suspense, curiosity and interest in what’s to come.

“The characters are well-rounded and the structure (with the interspersed newspaper articles about the teenage killer and his story) seems to work well; the pace contributes to make this an intriguing and page-turning read. The writing is very polished too, which was not always the case with other entries. This is genre fiction and is a good effort. I will be happy to read the rest of it.”

As part of his prize, Graham, a postgraduate of the University’s MA programme in Creative Writing, will sign a contract with Chapter One to finish the novel in the next two years, working with an editor from the agency. If they like the finished product, it will be re-submitted to Lorella Belli, who will then decide whether to take it to publishers.

Graham was a teacher of languages at Felpham Community College before transferring to the Angmering School, initially as Head of 6th Form and subsequently as Assistant Head Teacher. Four years ago, he switched to an administration role at the school, in charge of curriculum development and responsible for creating the timetable, reducing to four days to create more time for writing.

He studied the two-year MA in Creative Writing, graduating in 2008, and won the inaugural Segora Prize with a short story which had been workshopped as part of the course. The following year another short story was long-listed for the Bridport Prize.

“What I really want, though,” he said, “is to be a published novelist, so this competition win is a big boost to morale. If they ever get to read it, local readers will hopefully enjoy the fact that the modern day part of the novel is set in the Chichester area, based around the fictional village of Ryhill, with several references to local landmarks. It would be even nicer if they simply enjoyed the story itself.

“I know you can't afford to get too far ahead of yourself in this business, so I'm desperately trying to play it all down for now - there’s long way to go! I'm still enjoying my work at Angmering School, so I'm very far from being a full-time writer. It's just nice for the question to be raised and to find there are others who are prepared to take my writing seriously. I suppose I'm a bit closer than I was a few weeks ago but I’ve got to keep my head down and keep working.”

Graham wrote the opening of the novel as part of his dissertation project with English Department tutor Alison MacLeod, gaining a Distinction.

He said: “The idea came from a couple of news items quite some time ago, which I tucked away somewhere and planned to develop into two short stories. It was only later that I realised there was the potential to combine the two and make it into a novel.

“The opening chapter, which needed to be eye-catching, was originally submitted for an MA module. A later chapter owes a great deal to the professionalism and patience of Alison and in particular her eye for detail.

“I've since moved on and have completed 70,000 words, much of which will need to be redrafted. The book has already benefitted immensely from workshopping which started during the MA and which has continued informally since then. I’ve had such fantastic support from my wife, Elaine, and from Jill and Ellie who were fellow MA students. If Legacy ever sees the light of day, it will owe so much to them.”

Lost novel published thanks to labour of love from University staff member 27/09/10

The lost novel of a Chichester man has been published for the first time, more than 20 years after his death, thanks to a University staff member.

Robert Herniman, who works in the Academic Quality and Standards Unit, played a key role in publishing the work of his uncle Richard Herniman. City-born Richard, who was a well-known figure in the city, wrote a novel centred around a fictional London hospital in 1964 when he was practicing surgery in the UK, but it wasn’t until 2008 when Robert’s father John discovered the unpublished manuscript and set about putting it into print.

When John was sadly diagnosed with cancer early last year, Robert continued the task of getting the manuscript published, and thanks to his hard work and support from his family, the book has hit the bookshelves this year.

Robert said: “The work entailed copy typing the novel from the manuscripts, a job shared amongst my siblings, proofing and production of cover art, where I was assisted by my partner Lisa with the cover image. The publication has been a real labour of love for the whole family.

“The novel is published in memory of both my father and uncle, as well as their older brother Peter who passed away later in 2009.”

The novel has been published through AuthorHouse and is available from their website.

New book brings closure for University lecturer 22/09/10

An English and Creative Writing lecturer will reach the end of a 10-year journey of reflection on a former job with the publication of his new book.

The Privilege of Rain is a collection of poems and prose sketches drawing on Dave Swann’s experiences as Writer in Residence at HMP Nottingham, a category B prison, for a year.

The book reflects on the writer’s role in the rehabilitation of offenders, who ranged from petty crooks to lifers. It looks to bring home to the reader what the loss of liberty feels like, what the day to day reality of institutionalisation does to the prisoner and staff, and why prisoners long for ‘the privilege of rain’.

As well as being aimed at producing a collection of work to be enjoyed by others, Dave explains that the writing process was a very personal experience. He said: “I was haunted by the experience of working there. I still wake up in the middle of the night thinking about it. The people I worked with were really interesting, but prison is a scary place.

“Now that the book is in print, it feels like I have a big weight off my shoulders and I can move on after all this time of carrying it around in my head. It was my job to help, but at times I felt helpless. How do you help people in that position?”

The Privilege of Rain has been a decade in the making, and Dave has worked on it while writing other fiction and continuing his lecturing role at the University of Chichester. “When I first sat down to write about the experiences at the prison, it was written in a diary format but I didn’t want it to appear that way. Therefore, I have chipped away at it for 10 years, and there were times when I would question whether it was worth doing,” he said.

“As a result though, I have developed my understanding of ballads, as there were lots written about Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest, where the prison is located. I’m also doing my PhD about writing and prison, so while the experience of working there has haunted me for some time, it has helped to open my mind to other forms of writing, and hopefully deepened the techniques that all writers rely upon.”

The Privilege of Rain, published by Waterloo Press in Hove, will be officially launched at the University of Chichester on Monday 27 September at 5.15pm with a question and answer session with Dave about the writing process and his time at the prison. Discounted copies of the book will also be available.

For more information, visit http://www.waterloopresshove.co.uk/pages/authors/david-swann.php.

University signs up to Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Programme 21/09/10

The University of Chichester has demonstrated its commitment to sexual orientation equality in the workplace by signing up to the Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Programme.

Staff at the University will work with Stonewall associate Dave Small, who is based in Chichester, to identify best practice for the benefit of the University as a whole. While Diversity Champions is a programme designed to support lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) staff at the University, Stonewall will also meet with the relevant LGB student groups to offer their support and advice.

Chichester joins 35 other Universities around the country who have signed up to the programme, and is led by the Human Resources department and the University’s Gender Equality Group. It has the full support of the University’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Clive Behagg, who formally signed the Stonewall document with the University’s Director of Human Resources, Elisabeth Whitaker.

Professor Behagg said: “I welcome the opportunity to work with Stonewall in support of diversity. I want the University to be an inclusive community of learning where staff and students can be proud of their own identity and work in an atmosphere of mutual respect.”

Dave Small, Stonewall associate, said: “By joining the Diversity Champions programme, the University of Chichester has recognised that people perform better when they can be themselves. Our members are forward thinking 21st century employers who want to recruit, recognise, and support the very best staff regardless of background. Good employers understand that providing support for all their staff improves their operational effectiveness.”

Creative Writing graduate chooses University for new book launch 20/09/10

Former Creative Writing MA student Gaby Pritchard returns to the University next month to launch her acclaimed debut novel, His Last Duchess (Little, Brown, 2010), published under the pen name Gabrielle Kimm.

The novel, a passionate love story inspired by a Robert Browning poem, was described by The Irish Times as a “a stunning debut, rich in historical detail, that explores women’s freedom, forbidden love and the passions and people of 16th century Tuscany and Ferrara”.

Gaby, who lives and works in rural West Sussex, graduated with Distinction from the University of Chichester, where, three years on, she still meets regularly with a writing group of fellow graduates.

Her launch event at the University of Chichester on 4 October will take place between 5.15pm-6.30pm in Cloisters Chamber. Entry is free, and open to all staff, students and members of the public. As well as answering questions from the audience, Gaby will read from her novel, which the magazine Now described as “so captivating you’ll wish you owned a lace bodice, waiting to be untied!’

His Last Duchess centres on the romantic ordeal of sixteen-year-old Lucrezia de’ Medici, whose marriage to the fifth Duke of Ferrara is fraught with difficulties from the start.

As the Duke’s problems grow, he begins to plot an unthinkable way to escape his problems… an escape which plunges his young bride into mortal danger.

Kate Furnivall, author of The Russian Concubine, praised Gaby for writing “with a charm that entices us into a world of intrigue and dark undertones. She creates a passionate love story that gets under your skin, intimate and touching, against a backdrop of danger and treachery. Her vivid portrayal of Medici life is rich and wonderfully imagined, as she draws a skilful portrait of a fascinating time and place.”

Gaby, a native of West Sussex, is married, with two teenage daughters and a grown up stepson. As well as writing, she teaches English and Drama part-time at secondary school level. She is currently working on her second novel, ‘The Courtesan's Choice’, which is nearing completion and is due out in 2011.

Visit her website at http://www.gabriellekimm.co.uk/.

Market research expert to open new University Lecture Series 15/09/10

Sir Robert Worcester, the founder of the research company MORI (Market and Opinion Research International), is to be the first speaker in the 2010/11 University Lecture Series.

Sir Robert will visit the University on Thursday 30 September to talk about the current political scene, what happened at the general election earlier this year and what is means for the future of politics in the UK.

The movement in the polls following the first debate on 15 April electrified what had been a dull start to the 2010 General Election. It jumped the Liberal Democrats 10 points, and it was anticipated they would do well on election day. Instead, they lost four seats and had the same share as in 2005.

The opinion polls changed the entire dynamics of the 2010 election. As the founder of MORI and a past President of the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR), Sir Robert is well placed to comment on why public opinion failed to be transferred to the ballot box.

Sir Robert is the first guest in the 2010/11 University Lecture Series. Other speakers who have confirmed their attendance include primary education expert Sir Jim Rose (11 November) and former head of the Civil Service Lord Andrew Turnbull (10 February 2011). All talks begin at 6.30pm and take place in the Mitre Lecture Theatre at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester.

Professor Clive Behagg, Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Chichester, said: “The calibre of speakers for this year’s University Lecture Series underlines the innovative approach we like to take to the programme. We are honoured Sir Robert is willing to be our first speaker and to give his insight to an audience at our University. He is internationally recognised for his work in the research field, and in the current political climate, his views will be of interest to a lot of people.”

All lectures are free of charge to attend, but as space is limited, registration is required. For more information, please e-mail events@chi.ac.uk or call 01243 812155.

University of Chichester moves into top 20 of modern universities list 13/09/10

The University of Chichester has moved into the top 20 of modern universities in UK according to the latest league table published by the Sunday Times.

According to The Sunday Times University Guide 2011, the University has jumped four places in the modern university list to 17th place. In the overall list, the rise up the table has been greater – up 11 places to 72nd.

The level of student satisfaction at the University continues to be at high levels. Chichester is ranked joint second when compared to other modern universities, and scores higher than six of the top ten universities in the overall university league table.

To read the league tables in full, visit www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/universityguide.

Equipment upgrade pushes University to new heights 10/09/10

Research and teaching can now be pushed to new heights at the University of Chichester but stay firmly at ground level thanks to an important equipment upgrade.

Sports scientists can now use their environmental chamber at the University to measure the effects of altitude whilst carrying out physical activity, providing vital data for athletes and high altitude mountain climbers about how their bodies will cope in such conditions. The upgraded chamber works by reducing the amount of oxygen in the air.

The first people to use the upgraded chamber were a group of medical professionals from Southampton Hospital’s Neonatal Unit who are in training for a charity challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in October. The team of doctors, nurses, health care assistants and friends of the unit are aiming to raise £70,000 to provide extra facilities for the babies and their parents.

To prepare them for the challenge ahead, they undertook simple exercises such as walking and cycling to understand the effect of altitude on their bodies and learnt more about how to take care of themselves during the challenge.

Alyson O’Donnell, Consultant Neonatologist and team leader, said: “We would like to say a big thank you for the University for allowing us to use the new chamber; it was a brilliant experience and will hopefully make a real difference to helping us all reach the summit of Kilimanjaro.”

Dr Steve Myers, lecturer in exercise physiology at the University of Chichester, said: “We were delighted to be able to support the staff from Southampton Hospital by giving them an experience of what high altitude feels like before going off to tackle the real thing next month.

“In the past, we have been able to recreate extreme temperature conditions in the chamber for research purposes, ranging from minus 20 to 50 degrees Celsius. With the upgrade to the chamber, we can now simulate altitudes up to 25,000 feet, meaning we are able to reproduce the environmental conditions found just about anywhere in the world, right here in Chichester.”

Dr Myers said that British sailors and boxers training for the Olympics have previously visited the University to use the chamber as part of their preparations for major competitions, but with the added bonus of being able to offer altitude simulation, it opens up other possibilities.

“As well as athletes preparing for competitions in higher altitudes or to enhance sea-level performance, the facility will be helpful for mountain climbers preparing for trips similar to that being undertaken by the staff from Southampton Hospital. We are also able to carry out vital safety research and training, such as preparing pilots on how to react in the event of cabin pressure failure while at altitude,” said Dr Myers.

“Our students at the University will also get great benefits from this upgrade. Our sport and exercise sciences and adventure education students will have access to it, meaning we can give a practical demonstration of what we teach in the classroom, rather than them just reading about it in the textbooks.”

To find out more about the Southampton Hospital fundraising challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/pahneonatalchallenge

University of Chichester Alumni star in Women’s Rugby World Cup Final 09/09/10

Two University of Chichester alumni were part of the England team that came within five points of winning the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final at the weekend.

Emma Croker (nee Layland, Physical Education QTS, 2005) and Claire Purdy (Sports Studies and Sports Development, 2001) both played in the final and featured regularly during the tournament which was held in England between 20 August and 5 September. During the group stages, England saw off the challenge of Ireland, Kazakhstan and USA before booking their place in the final by beating Australia.

However, the strength of New Zealand was too much to overcome, and despite a spirited performance, they went down 13-10, giving New Zealand their fourth title.

Emma plays her club rugby with Richmond, but her sporting achievements are not restricted to the rugby field. She is hoping to represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics in weightlifting, and will be going for gold after becoming the England weightlifting champion last year.

Claire is also no stranger to sporting success either, having represented Surrey and West Sussex Under 21s at stoolball. Claire also has a notable mentor to turn to when it comes to handling success - her father was an international canoeist, representing Great Britain and England in the C2 slalom and white water.

Dr Sarah Gilroy, Executive Dean at the University of Chichester, said: “We’re extremely proud of Emma and Claire and their achievements during the tournament. They both took up the game while studying at the University, so I’m glad that from the opportunities we were able to offer them, it has led to great success for them. Emma and Claire are an inspiration to others, and goes to show that it’s never too late to take up a new sport.

“Women’s rugby continues to be one of our most successful sporting teams at the University. Our team is now established in the Premiership South, having been there for the past four seasons. Three years ago, the side also reached the championship semi-final, one game away from a Twickenham final.”

Sid Fletcher, Sports Development Manager for the University of Chichester Students’ Union, added: “I’m delighted with the success that both Emma and Claire have had since leaving the University. It could have been a different story for Emma, as she joined the University as a netball player. However, she was converted to rugby and became captain and coach of the side in her final year, which saw her lead the team to the final of the British Universities tournament.”

International scholars coming to Chichester this autumn 08/09/10

Scholars and artists from across the world will be coming to Chichester this autumn for the second season of the George Bell Institute’s International Series.

Speakers from Germany, Japan, Norway, Denmark and United States will join others from Britain to talk about art history, modern European and Asian history and music during the series, which runs between September and December.

Dr Andrew Chandler, University of Chichester lecturer and director of the George Bell Institute, said: “The autumn series will seek to build on the foundations laid by the first series this spring and create a distinctive meeting place for University, church and city in the heart of Chichester.”

The last academic year has seen significant progress in the work of the George Bell Institute at large, with the successful establishment of a joint-funded international programme in Chichester running through the year and preparations for an annual public lecture.

Dr Chandler, who teaches courses in Modern British, European and American History, and also supervises dissertation and postgraduate work, is now finding ways in which the research work of the George Bell Institute can make valuable new opportunities available to undergraduate students at the University.

“The institute’s growing relationship with the Krzyzowa Foundation in Poland produced a first visit to Poland by students from the History department in May. This is likely to set a pattern for other students too in the new academic year,” he said.

All meetings take place at George Bell House, Canon Lane, Chichester. Tea and coffee will be available at 6.00pm, with the talk beginning at 6.30pm.

Wednesday 15 September

Dr Jutta Vinzent‘Strings, Space and Sculpture: Naum Gabo, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.’

Tuesday 12 October

Ferdinand Schlingensiepen‘On writing a biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.’
Wednesday 3 NovemberRuth Waterman‘When Swan Lake comes to Sarajevo: a musician's journey into postwar Bosnia.’

Friday 19 and Saturday 20 November

International conference: ‘Intellectual Freedom and the Church’; including lectures by scholars in Germany, Norway, Denmark, the United States and Great Britain. Please contact Andrew Chandler for further details.

Wednesday 8 December

Dr Huamin Toshiko Mackman‘Toyohiko Kagawa: A Japanese Christian in Imperial Japan.’

For more information visit: George Bell Institute

What do our students think of the University? The National Student Survey 2011 tells us 08/09/10

The University of Chichester continues to be one of the top modern universities in the country for student satisfaction.

The endorsement comes from the students themselves through the National Student Survey, an independent survey which has been running annually since 2005 and surveys students in their final year of any course leading to an undergraduate qualification.

The results for 2011 are now available - out of the 71 modern universities in the country, Chichester is ranked 7th highest, with 83% of students saying that overall, they were satisfied with the quality of their course.

Students who undertook the history and creative writing courses have ranked Chichester as the best in the country when compared to all other universities that offer those subjects – there was a 100% satisfaction rate for the history course.

Don’t take our word for it though. Visit the UniStats website, search for the University of Chichester, and see the results for yourself.

Founder of Clem Burke Drumming Project presents findings to Irish audience 07/09/10

A lecturer from the University of Chichester has been invited to Dublin to talk about the results of a drumming project he helped to develop.

Dr Marcus Smith, principal lecturer in exercise physiology, is one of the co-founders of the Clem Burke Drumming Project, a research project involving the Blondie drummer that looks at the physical demands of a rock drummer.

He has worked with Dr Steve Draper from the University of Gloucestershire on the project, and they have both been invited to address the Biorhythm Live event at the Science Gallery in Dublin on 9 September, part of their summer season.

Dr Smith said: “The Biorhythm Live event offers the Clem Burke Drumming Project a fantastic opportunity to share our research findings on the physical demands of the rock and pop drummer with the general public. Our presentation will raise the question of whether the modern day rock and pop drummer should be considered an athlete as well as an artist.

“To provide an insight into the physical demands of drumming, talented Irish drummer Jeremy Hickey, otherwise known as R.S.A.G. (Rarely Seen Above Ground), will perform an incremental drumming test to exhaustion. During the test, we will show in real-time his heart rate response and oxygen cost of performing such activities.

“We’re always looking for new collaborations, so we’re delighted to hear from other people who would be interested in working with us in the future.”

Dr Draper added: “It is a privilege to speak at such a prestigious and exciting event as Biorhythm Live. In addition to presenting previous data and demonstrating the methods we use for physiological assessment of drummers, we will also give an exclusive insight into more recent findings and future directions for our research.”

More information on the project can be found by visiting http://www.clemburkedrummingproject.com/.

The University of Chichester has strengthened its community links in Bognor Regis in a unique partnership with Predators Football Club.

Predators FC has more than 250 male and female players registered, playing in a range of adult and youth teams. Up to now, the club has not had a permanent home and teams played their games at numerous pitches across the Bognor Regis area.

However, thanks to a partnership with the University of Chichester, Predators FC will now be able to use the sports pitches and pavilion building as their playing/training base, while providing an improved facility for University students.

Paul Harris, Predators FC chairman, was joined by Dr Sarah Gilroy, Executive Dean at the University of Chichester, on 3 September at a special training session to meet some of the young footballers who will benefit from the use of the pavilion and the pitches.

Mr Harris said: “We have always strived to create a strong community feel in the club, but that has been difficult because our teams have played in different location. The only way we felt the community spirit could be improved was by having our own home, and thanks to the University, we now have one.

“The pavilion has needed a lot of maintenance carried out, including repairs to its roof. The pitches have also required some work as it has been some years since they were regularly used. All of the volunteers at the club have mucked in to help out, as there was a lot of clearing out to do in the building. We would not have achieved it without the support of South Coast Skips who offered their services for free, supplying the skips to take away the rubbish, and now we are nearly in a position where we can truly call this our home.

“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with the University, which has the potential to last for the next 10 years. We are a big club in the local area, and we are proud to be associated with the institution.”

Dr Gilroy said: “By working closely with the officials at Predators FC, I’m pleased we have come to an arrangement where under-used University land has been put to good use, giving a large football club in the local area a new home.

“We are keen to continue strengthening our relationships with the Bognor Regis community, and through this partnership with Predators FC, there are hundreds of new people using the University and learning more about what we want to achieve in the town.”

At the official opening, the club was also presented with its FA Charter Standard Community Club award by Keveena Mosen, County Development Officer with the Sussex FA. The club reached the required standard in the summer, but there is now a facility in which the plaque has been placed for all members and visitors to see.

New basketball coach has high hopes for University team 02/09/10

The men’s basketball club at the University of Chichester has strengthened its coaching line-up ahead of the new season by appointing former Worthing Thunder Head Coach Gary Smith.
The University of Chichester Thunder narrowly missed out on promotion in their debut season in Division 4 South West of the National League. With Gary’s experience of winning two Division 1 titles with Worthing Thunder, it is hoped this will give the University squad the push it needs to move into higher divisions.

Talking about his appointment, Gary said: “I’m excited to be coaching the University of Chichester Thunder, and looking forward to strengthening our links with Worthing Thunder and our partners in the Sussex community as well as developing new links.

“The priority is to get promoted to Division 3 and see where this will take us.”

Despite missing out on promotion, the University of Chichester Thunder won 13 out of its 16 matches during last season. University student Bud Johnston was also awarded the English Basketball Division 4 Player of the Season accolade, which led to his selection for the English University Men’s Squad in the British University Games. Therefore, Gary has a strong base in which to build from.

Sid Fletcher, Sports Development Manager for the University of Chichester Students’ Union, said: “I am delighted that Gary is joining our coaching set-up to work alongside Emmanuel Davies and Dan Hills. Gary’s extensive experience of winning titles in Division 1 with Worthing Thunder will be a huge asset as we look to gain promotion this season and continue to develop our programme.

“It is an exciting time for basketball here at the University. Off the court, we are continuing to develop our partnership with BBL club Worthing Thunder and the wider community. Aside from on the court success, the programme here is focused on developing and enhancing basketball players, providing National League experience to some of the young talented players in Sussex, and extending the opportunities available in Higher Education.”

International recognition for University lecturer 31/08/10

The work of an English lecturer from the University of Chichester will be reaching international audiences thanks to two projects.

Dr Benjamin Noys (Reader in English) has been invited to present a plenary at a conference on negativity and reflexivity at the Versus Laboratory in Maastricht in The Netherlands. He will be joining other leading philosophers between 10-12 September to reignite the debate about negativity in contemporary theory, something which has been widely contested in contemporary theory but that Dr Noys is keen to rehabilitate.

The invite to the conference in Maastricht is as a result of Dr Noys’ most recent publication, The Persistence of the Negative: A Critique of Contemporary Continental Theory, which will be published shortly by Edinburgh University Press.

In a separate project, an essay by Dr Noys on Werner Herzog’s documentary Grizzly Man has been translated into Polish and published in a leading Warsaw-based journal. The essay was originally published in the UK in 2007 and analyses the philosophical and political stakes of Herzog’s vision of nature. The essay is part of a wider series of works that Dr Noys has carried out on the cultural politics of the image, in particular in film and the graphic novel.

Dr Noys said: “It’s gratifying to see my work in contemporary theory being debated and recognised internationally, and to have the opportunity to contribute to discussions about the future of theory.”

History comes alive at University as part of Heritage Open Day 31/08/10

Members of the public have the opportunity to learn more about the history of the University of Chichester campus through a special event organised for Heritage Open Day.

The campus on College Lane was originally the site of an early 19th century church college founded by William Otter, Bishop of Chichester. Although it is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the UK, it is now one of the newest Universities in the country, having gained this status in 2005.

As the institution was established in 1839, there are a number of historical buildings and features that are not normally open to the public, but Heritage Open Day on 10 September provides people with the opportunity to look behind the scenes.

Two guided tours will take visitors around some of the most beautiful buildings and gardens on the Bishop Otter Campus, with stories being told about the many famous visitors and associates from the University’s past.

History will also be brought to life to tell the story of how the campus played a key role in the D-Day invasion during the Second World War. The Bishop Otter Training College, as it was known then, was taken over by the Air Ministry in 1942, just after the Battle of Britain. Its position in the south of the country made it an important military location and it was used for a variety of purposes up until D-Day.

Visitors on Heritage Open Day will be able to see room E124, which was turned into a control room for 56 squadrons of the RAF that featured in the airborne invasion of Normandy.

The tours take place at 10.30am and 2.00pm on 10 September, lasting approximately two hours. Booking is required because of restricted numbers. To book a place, please call 01243 816132 or e-mail s.tressler@chi.ac.uk.

Creative Writing student wins hat-trick of literary awards 26/08/10

A Creative Writing student from the University of Chichester is celebrating a hat-trick of triumphs in the competitive world of short fiction.

Juliet West, who graduates in October from the MA Creative Writing course, began her flurry of success in the national H.E. Bates Competition, winning the £200 First Prize with Beauty in the Bog, the vivid tale of a poetry-loving teenager on the tough streets of London.

Her prize was awarded in front of a large audience at Northampton Library, the home county of H.E. Bates.

Juliet followed this with success at this year’s Winchester Writers’ Conference, where Fifty Six Minutes of Freedom was Highly Commended in the ‘shorter short story’ competition.

To put the icing on the cake, a third story, Rarely Visits Gardens, has been accepted for publication in a forthcoming anthology from Two Ravens Press, an independent publisher based in Scotland. The stories in the anthology all have a gothic flavour, and a link with birds. The anthology is being edited by the author Nicholas Royle, who spoke at the University of Chichester conference on ‘The Uncanny’ in February 2009.

Juliet, who works part-time as a copywriter, said that she was delighted to see the stories find good homes in the literary world.

As a mother-of-three who now lives in Horsham, she says that Fifty Six Minutes of Freedom is set in her old home town of Worthing, with various mentions of the Downs, while Rarely Visits Gardens is loosely set in her family’s back garden, inspired by the appearance of a redwing during the snow in January this year.

The latter story gained publication after Juliet retained occasional email contact with Nick Royle following his successful appearance at the ‘Uncanny’ event at the University.

“He encouraged me to submit a story for possible inclusion in the anthology,” explained Juliet. “Gothic isn’t a genre which I’m naturally comfortable with, but I learnt a great deal during the ‘Metaphor and the Imagination’ MA module, which gave me the confidence to experiment.

“As for ‘Fifty Six Minutes of Freedom’, it was one of the first short stories I attempted several years ago. I dusted it off and re-drafted earlier this year, changing the tense and the period (from past to present, 1970s to contemporary). This seemed to give the story fresh energy, and I’m pleased with its success!”

Gymnastic coaching success for lecturer 10/08/10

Gymnast coaching success for University of Chichester lecturer

A leading coach and University of Chichester Sport and Exercise psychology lecturer has been presented with an award of coaching merit from the London Gymnastics Federation in recognition of her recent successes.

Dr Melissa Day is head coach of Double Mini Trampoline (DMT) at Kingston Trampoline Academy. Her squad of gymnasts took part at the British National Championships. Three teams competed at National C Level and coming away with two national titles for (15+ men and U15 girls) and one runner-up (15+ women).

The top eight individual gymnasts in each group qualified to compete in the finals. In the National C group, the two Kingston qualifiers placed first and second on the podium, gaining another national title. Another three Kingston gymnasts made it through to the finals with two third places and one fifth place.

After the success of the British National Championships, Melissa has been selected as the DMT Regional Squad coach for London at the English Championships in October.

Melissa also delivers sport psychology sessions to the current England squad. Commenting on her success she said: “these results are the best in the club's history, they demonstrate the hard-work and commitment of the gymnasts as well as the important impact that sport science can have on performance."

Poetry success for Waleed 10/08/10

Poetry success for Iraqi student

A poem written by a former Iraqi academic who is currently studying for a PhD in English Literature at the University of Chichester made the shortlist of the National Poetry Anthology.

Waleed Al-Bazoon, a father-of-four currently living in Bognor Regis, joined the University in July 2009 as part of the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics (CARA) scholarship scheme. His PhD is specialising in literary responses to 9/11.

‘Idigna’ was one of tens of thousands of entries and although it didn’t make it through to the final book the publishers, United Press Limited, have chosen to publish the poem in its next work called Book of Dream which is a showcase of a group of poets.

Waleed said: “I am delighted that my poem has been chosen for this new book of poetry. The poem was inspired by a real incident in the years after 2003. One day people walked crossing the Bridge of Al-Uma to visit the shrine of Mosa al-kadum, one of the prophets descendants buried in Baghdad. A terrorist cried out that there was a bomb on the bridge which caused all the people to throw themselves in the water of the Tigris, dying. It refers to the suffering of Iraqis in Iraq, where there is still no stable security.”

Book of Dreams can be ordered at all good bookshops and copies are available at the British Library and libraries across the UK.

First class student’s academic success spills onto the big stage 09/08/10

First class student’s academic success spills onto the big stage

Frankie Jones, who has graduated from University of Chichester this year with a 1st class degree in English & Creative Writing, has taken her first steps towards a promising playwriting career following the debut rehearsed performance of Spill Me at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley, Kent.
Spill Me, is about an expectant mother and her fears surrounding pregnancy, childbirth and raising a child. Frankie commented; “I wrote it when I was in my final year at Chichester as part of the drama module. I learnt so much about myself as a writer on this course. I am really looking forward to developing my skills as a writer in the aim to write a full length play in the near future.”

Stephanie Norgate, English Tutor at the University added: “This initial success for Frankie so early in her writing career is really promising and again highlights the talent we continually produce here at Chichester, where many of our English & creative writing students go on to publish their work.”

Novel success for Gaby 05/08/10

Novel success for Gaby

Former University of Chichester MA Creative Writing student Gaby Pritchard is celebrating the publication of her debut novel His Last Duchess.

Published by Sphere on 5th August 2010 under the name of Gabrielle Kimm the book is inspired by Robert Browning’s famously sinister poem My Last Duchess.

Gabrielle has woven a fictionalised story around the true facts of Lucrezia de Medici’s life, who was betrothed to the fifth duke of Ferrara at the age of fourteen in 1559, before she mysteriously disappeared from all records three years later. The author captures the mystique and romance of this figure, creating a masterpiece of suspense within an intriguing, artfully-delineated historical setting. Successful historical fiction author Kate Furnivall (The Russian Concubine) said of Kimm’s novel: “Her vivid portrayal of Medici life is rich and wonderfully imagined, as she draws a skilful portrait of a fascinating time and place.”

His Last Duchess is a stunning debut, rich in historical detail that explores women's freedom, forbidden love and the passions, and people, of 16th century Tuscany and Ferrara.

Gabrielle studied for her MA at the university between 2005 and 2007. She now teaches English and Drama at secondary school level and lives in West Sussex.

The book is now available in paperback at all good bookshops priced at £6.99.

Debut novel of author and University lecturer selected for honour at Bridport Literary Festival 04/08/10

The Bridport Literary Festival has selected the debut novel of a University of Chichester lecturer to be one of its star publications.

The Devil’s Music is the work of Jane Rusbridge, who lectures in creative writing at the University of Chichester. It has been selected as The Big Read for the festival, resulting in promotional displays in Bridport Art Centre and a reading at the local Waterstones book store ahead of the festival in Dorset which runs between 29 October-7 November 2010.

At the heart of the Literary Festival is the Bridport Prize, a world-renowned short story competition. After reading Jane’s novel, Bridport Prize organiser Frances Everitt said: “I've spent the last 24 hours engrossed by it. I was completely gripped and on an emotional roller coaster. I was born in 1958 and it's so evocative of around that time - I was transported back by smells and impressions.”

Jane said: “I’m delighted that my novel has been selected as The Big Read for the Bridport Literary Festival. The central character of The Devil’s Music is a little boy whose grandfather teaches him all about Harry Houdini and knots. As Bridport has a rope-making history, once supplying the hangmen of England with their nooses, this provides an interesting link to the novel.”

As well as promoting her work and the festival in Bridport, Jane will be appearing in Chichester this summer as part of Local Authors’ Week. She will be signing copies of her book and chatting to readers in Waterstones in West Street, Chichester, on 16 August between 11am-1pm.

Musicians can learn to perform without fear at the University of Chichester 03/08/10

Musicians from across the South of England can now banish their performance anxiety thanks to experts from the University of Chichester.
Nick Reynolds and Louise Jackson from its music department have run their first one-day course in performance anxiety and it has been given a comprehensive thumbs-up from participants.

A mixture of graduates, students starting music degrees in September and those thinking about applying to university next year came from as far as Gloucester, Bournemouth and London to attend the day course, which took place in July at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester.

Performance anxiety in music is a subject that is often ignored, but it affects many musicians at various stages of their career. The course has been developed as a result of Nick’s experience of teaching and research into the subject.

Louise Jackson, Senior Lecturer of Music at the University of Chichester, said: “We recognise that nerves can be significantly detrimental and more than just a bit annoying: they can damage people’s development and enjoyment of music, but quite often exploring the issues and discovering some recognised exercises can help resolve them.”

For more information on future one-day programmes please e-mail louise.jackson@chi.ac.uk.

University of Chichester Prove their Green Credentials 03/08/10

New recycling records have been set by students at the University of Chichester moving out of their halls of residence at the end of term.

Members of the Students’ Union teamed up with members of staff from the University to drive down the amount of waste sent to landfill at the end of the academic year, traditionally the time when the most rubbish is generated.

During the same period of time last year, 52,000 litres of rubbish was sent to landfill, as students cleared out their rooms at the end of term and prepared to move home for the summer or into rented accommodation in the local area.

This year, with more recycling and charity donation facilities made available and an awareness campaign about the importance of recycling across the Chichester and Bognor Regis campuses, only 32,472 litres of rubbish went to landfill, a 38% reduction.

Margaret Field, environmental officer for the University, said: “This was the first year we had made a targeted effort at the end of term, and the figures show the hard work from everyone has paid off.

“One of our aims is to be a sustainable University in the way we run the institution, but as an educational establishment, we also have a responsibility to make sure that when our students leave with their degrees, they also have a greater environmental awareness and knowledge which they can transfer into the workplace during their careers.”

Brendan McCarthy, University of Chichester Students’ Union President, said: “Our students are very environmentally conscious and aware of their responsibilities. This year saw more recycling facilities and charity bins to donate unwanted clothes and goods, things that would have previously gone straight to landfill. It goes to show that if the right facilities are provided, the students will make full use of them and help protect the planet at the same time.

“Our plan now is to educate our new students who arrive in September about the University’s desire to create a greener campus, meaning even less will be sent to landfill next summer.”