March message from Juup Stelma, Interim SEED Head of School
28 Mar 2025
Remembering our colleague Julian Williams, and key updates from the School of Environment, Education and Development.
Dear all,
It is with great sadness that I start this month’s message, as we grieve the passing of Professor Julian Williams. Julian joined the University in 1984, spent his entire academic career here, but somehow also completed an Applied Mathematics PhD at the University of Leeds in 1991. Julian has been a major influence and friend to so many of us. An exemplary colleague and intellectual and a credit to MIE, SEED and the University of Manchester, he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and sympathies lie with Julian’s family, friends and our colleagues and students who had the privilege of knowing and learning from him.
As we reach the end of March, it’s promising to see increasing signs of spring across campus, and I’m sure I’m not the only one ready to welcome longer evenings as the clocks go forward an hour this weekend.
While many staff will take some leave over the easter period, others are ramping up activity with our many field courses. This hands-on experience is invaluable for our students. There is a lot of work that goes into ensuring these field courses run smoothly and safely so our students have a great experience. I want to thank all staff involved. Also, given our strict focus on the safety of students and staff, we have had to cancel a field course for a group of PPEM students; they were scheduled to visit Istanbul in early April.
That brings me to an important reminder for all staff in Geography. Yes, we are seeking a new Head of Department, so if you’re still debating applying before the 11 April deadline, a reminder that you are welcome to chat to me or Phil informally.
I’m delighted to welcome Sherry Xu (PPEM) as SEED’s new Associate Director of Research: Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange. Sherry starts officially in the role on 1st May, taking up the mantle from Paul Armstrong (MIE), who recently stepped down from the role. Many thanks to Paul for his hard work and his sustained advocacy of SEED colleagues; it is greatly appreciated.
We have additional school-level opportunities coming up, with four more academic leadership roles starting 1 August. Two in Research are now advertised: Co-Associate Director of Research: Ethics and Associate Director of Research: Internationalisation, with a deadline for expressions of interest of 2 May. Two in Teaching will be advertised soon: Associate Director of Assessment and Associate Director for Widening Participation.
As you can see from other parts of this month’s eNews, there has been a lot of research grant success in the school of late. These many small- to medium-sized research grants are achievements in their own right but may also be positive steps towards future larger grant successes. Congratulations to all including our excellent research support staff. I would like to also take a moment to recognise the School’s performance in the latest QS world rankings. These rankings are a key measure of global success and I am proud to see Architecture maintain its position at No.5, GDI and Development Studies at No. 11 and Geography at No.18.
Finally, our NSS response rate continues to rise. We are still ahead on last year and there is still a month to go until the survey closes. However, with the Easter break coming closer, I hope that everyone will do what they can to encourage even more students to complete the NSS survey.
With my best wishes to all,
Juup