President’s Weekly Update
20 October 2016
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate) visited the University last Friday, accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. I greeted them and introduced them to Edward Astle, Chair of our Board of Governors, Professor Martin Schröder, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and our two Nobel Laureates, Professors Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov.
Our guests heard presentations on science and engineering at the University from Martin and on graphene and other two-dimensional (2D) materials from Andre, then saw a number of demonstrations on the applications of 2D materials. The press took particular interest in the BAC-mono car in which the diffuser had been enhanced by graphene to improve impact resistance and reduce weight. I gave the Duke and Duchess gifts from the University of two 3D printed model cars incorporating graphene for Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and a further small car which the Duchess later placed in a time capsule.
The Duke and Duchess then crossed the road (to a large cheering crowd) to the site of our new Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD), where they met our own staff and those of our project partners involved in delivering MECD, saw a model of the new building and had a ‘virtual tour’ of MECD. I gave a formal welcome to the University, then the Duke and Duchess placed objects into a time capsule and unveiled a plaque, both of which will be displayed in MECD when it is opened. The event was attended by many students, staff and visitors who lined the street to wave and cheer and it received extensive press coverage. You can find more detail and a film of the visit at:
We held our annual Foundation Day, presided over by our Chancellor, Lemn Sissay. This year’s brilliant Foundation Lecture was given by one of our alumni, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International, on: “Advancing Women’s Rights in an Unequal World: A Personal Perspective.” It was followed by many great questions and answers.
The Chancellor then conferred honorary doctorates on Lord David Alliance, Professor Dame Sue Bailey, Mr Anil Ruia, Sir Norman Stoller and Winnie. Anil, who chaired our Board of Governors from 2010 until 2016, spoke on behalf of all the honorary graduates. During the ceremony, our student-run Chamber Choir, Ad Solem, sang Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus and our anthem Cognitio Sapientia Humanitas which was composed by Professor Camden Reeves, Head of Music, last year. A record of the whole event is online at:
I met the new Chinese Consul, General Sun, and discussed the important and growing links the University has with China in education, research and business and the opportunities to work with the Consulate on China partnerships.
At the Social Responsibility Governance Group, which I chair, we reviewed progress against our targets, the great success of our Ethical Grand Challenges event for first year undergraduates, plans and future strategy for environmental sustainability and actions we are taking to improve diversity and inclusion, including a film that was shown at Foundation Day. The latter was considered to be of even more significance given the vote for the UK to leave the EU, and we are renewing our programme with the Students’ Union - known as ‘We Get It’ - to signal zero tolerance in the University for any forms of bullying, harassment or discrimination. You can find out more at:
Several colleagues and I visited the Salford Royal Foundation Trust to meet senior executives; our students who are studying there; and staff who have positions jointly between the Trust and our University. The students, mostly in their fifth and final year before they become junior doctors, were positive about their experiences, with some helpful suggestions to enhance oversight and continuity of their training. The staff were keen that hospitals, naturally under significant pressures on healthcare, also recognise the great value of research and education - there is much evidence that both attract the best doctors and other health professionals and improve patient care.
We had a great event to thank the many people who contributed to the remarkable success of ESOF (EuroScience Open Forum), which was attended by over 3,500 people in Manchester in July. Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council (the co-sponsor with the University), and Manchester’s Mayor, Carl Austin-Behan, who was a fantastic supporter of ESOF, both attended along with several senior sponsors and many who helped to deliver ESOF.
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor
Feedback
Please send comments to: president@manchester.ac.uk
President’s Weekly Update
20 October 2016
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate) visited the University last Friday, accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. I greeted them and introduced them to Edward Astle, Chair of our Board of Governors, Professor Martin Schröder, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and our two Nobel Laureates, Professors Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov.
Our guests heard presentations on science and engineering at the University from Martin and on graphene and other two-dimensional (2D) materials from Andre, then saw a number of demonstrations on the applications of 2D materials. The press took particular interest in the BAC-mono car in which the diffuser had been enhanced by graphene to improve impact resistance and reduce weight. I gave the Duke and Duchess gifts from the University of two 3D printed model cars incorporating graphene for Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and a further small car which the Duchess later placed in a time capsule.
The Duke and Duchess then crossed the road (to a large cheering crowd) to the site of our new Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD), where they met our own staff and those of our project partners involved in delivering MECD, saw a model of the new building and had a ‘virtual tour’ of MECD. I gave a formal welcome to the University, then the Duke and Duchess placed objects into a time capsule and unveiled a plaque, both of which will be displayed in MECD when it is opened. The event was attended by many students, staff and visitors who lined the street to wave and cheer and it received extensive press coverage. You can find more detail and a film of the visit at:
We held our annual Foundation Day, presided over by our Chancellor, Lemn Sissay. This year’s brilliant Foundation Lecture was given by one of our alumni, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International, on: “Advancing Women’s Rights in an Unequal World: A Personal Perspective.” It was followed by many great questions and answers.
The Chancellor then conferred honorary doctorates on Lord David Alliance, Professor Dame Sue Bailey, Mr Anil Ruia, Sir Norman Stoller and Winnie. Anil, who chaired our Board of Governors from 2010 until 2016, spoke on behalf of all the honorary graduates. During the ceremony, our student-run Chamber Choir, Ad Solem, sang Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus and our anthem Cognitio Sapientia Humanitas which was composed by Professor Camden Reeves, Head of Music, last year. A record of the whole event is online at:
I met the new Chinese Consul, General Sun, and discussed the important and growing links the University has with China in education, research and business and the opportunities to work with the Consulate on China partnerships.
At the Social Responsibility Governance Group, which I chair, we reviewed progress against our targets, the great success of our Ethical Grand Challenges event for first year undergraduates, plans and future strategy for environmental sustainability and actions we are taking to improve diversity and inclusion, including a film that was shown at Foundation Day. The latter was considered to be of even more significance given the vote for the UK to leave the EU, and we are renewing our programme with the Students’ Union - known as ‘We Get It’ - to signal zero tolerance in the University for any forms of bullying, harassment or discrimination. You can find out more at:
Several colleagues and I visited the Salford Royal Foundation Trust to meet senior executives; our students who are studying there; and staff who have positions jointly between the Trust and our University. The students, mostly in their fifth and final year before they become junior doctors, were positive about their experiences, with some helpful suggestions to enhance oversight and continuity of their training. The staff were keen that hospitals, naturally under significant pressures on healthcare, also recognise the great value of research and education - there is much evidence that both attract the best doctors and other health professionals and improve patient care.
We had a great event to thank the many people who contributed to the remarkable success of ESOF (EuroScience Open Forum), which was attended by over 3,500 people in Manchester in July. Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council (the co-sponsor with the University), and Manchester’s Mayor, Carl Austin-Behan, who was a fantastic supporter of ESOF, both attended along with several senior sponsors and many who helped to deliver ESOF.
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor
Feedback
Please send comments to: president@manchester.ac.uk