November 2011 - University of Worcester

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NEWSTalented illustrator making waves inthe world of children’s booksA talented student at the University of Worcester is making a name forherself in the world of illustration.work illustrating Robert Arley’s book BigBig Secret, for Worcester-based publisher,SevernPix.Just a year after being commissioned toillustrate her first book, Marisa Lewis hasnow had her work published in a secondbook and also in promotional material foran operatic show.The 21-year-old, who studied for a BA inIllustration at the University of Worcesterand is now studying for her Masters inCreative Digital Media, was commissionedto illustrate The Leopard Boy, writtenby Julia Johnson, and published byFrances Lincoln Publishers. She is alsothe illustrator of advertising posters andleaflets for Worcester Gilbert & SullivanOperatic Society’s show, Princess Ida.The commissions came following Marisa’sNairobi visitThe University’s ongoing relationshipwith nurses in Nairobi is going fromstrength to strength.Until starting at the University ofWorcester, Marisa, of Warndon Villages,Worcester, did not realise that her love ofdrawing and illustration could turn into acareer.“I dabbled in illustration at home, but didn’tever think I could do it professionally,” shesays. “However, I managed to use my creditsgained from doing web design courses withthe Open University to secure an interviewat the University of Worcester, and the restis history.”Thanks to her tutor Piet Grobler, SeniorLecturer and Course Leader in Illustrationat the University of Worcester, who put herin touch with his publishers, Marisa wasable to undertake the work as part of herfinal-year Independent Study, and hasn’tlooked back since.“It was great,” she said. “It took severalmonths to complete the work, starting withthe cover and working my way through theother illustrations. I tended to have morethan one illustration ‘on the go’ at the sametime. It was an excellent opportunity.”In 2010 two members of staff fromthe University’s Institute of Health& Society, Judith Davies and RuthPearce, visited Nairobi Hospital. Thepurpose of the visit was to sign a‘Memorandum of Understanding’ toexplore the development of Continuing Professional Development for qualified nurses inNairobi Hospital.Volunteers headto the hillslecturer at the University of Worcester isA helping to create an emotive survey ofMalvern, finding out how local people react toand think about the town centre and its facilities.Using award-winning new research methods,Andy Stevenson is helping Malvern Hills DistrictCouncil (MHDC) to map its new Route to the Hills.The Emotisurvey | Malvern project builds onprevious research projects undertaken by theUniversity of Worcester in central Worcesterwith the City Council’s Landscape Architectand Town Planning teams. As part of themethods used it kits volunteers out with thelatest digital video camera, sound recordingequipment and geographical positioningsystem (GPS) and then asks them to walk a setroute at the same time voicing their thoughtsabout the areas they are walking through.The research phase is being carried out overthe next few weeks with volunteers from arange of different groups including peoplewith disabilities, young people and walkers.Andy Stevenson, Senior Lecturer in Design at theUniversity of Worcester, will then help to analysethe findings and present an online interactiveresource to the Route to the Hills Board. Thefindings will be used to help the project to addresslocal issues and improve the public realm.He said: “It’s been great meeting all the differentpeople involved and there’s already been somefascinating comments made about Malvern, itshistory, architecture, public realm and accessibilityfor visitors and residents with disabilities.”MHDC is one of six partner organisations onthe Route to the Hills. The others are MalvernCivic Society, Malvern Town Council, HighStreet Malvern, Great Malvern Priory ParochialChurch Council and Malvern Hills Conservators.To find out more about the Emotisurvey visit theRoute to the Hills page on the council’s web pagewww.malvernhills.gov.uk/routetothehillsIn June this year, 8 qualified nurses visited University of Worcester, Worcestershire AcuteNHS Trust and Herefordshire Acute NHS Trust to explore nursing practice.Following the report from that visit Rose Omutanyi, Principal of the Cicely McDonnellSchool of Nursing at Nairobi Hospital, and Janet Mathiu, Director of Nursing NairobiHospital, visited the University of Worcester in October to identify educational andresearch opportunities and to develop an action plan for future development, includingboth staff and student exchanges.Speaking about the partnership, Valerie Gorton from the Institute of Health & Societysaid: “We see a bright future ahead for developments with Kenya at this time and in thefuture.”14 / NOVEMBER 2011 / newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
NEWSOctober spooktacular!The University CommunityDevelopment Workers(UCDW) team recentlywelcomed three new members,Emily Gumbrell, John Monksand Jeannie Warmington, whojoin the existing UCDW SiobhanPerry. The UCDWs are hereprimarily to foster a communityspirit within the student bodyand to help students settle in and adapt to university life.We run campaigns and events throughout the yearto highlight issues relevant to students, for instancesexual health, personal safety and bullying. We displayinformation for students on posters and tabletopsthroughout the university; and also hand out leaflets sothat students can access the information at a later date.Halloween is often a major party for students and the UCDWswanted to offer some alternative events to inspire the morecreative students. We held a pumpkin carving competitionand received some brilliant entries. On the evening of the 27October, the UCDWs ran a Zombie Survival Night in conjunctionwith the Spotlight Theatre Group. The event was really wellreceived and over thirty students attended to battle againstthe zombie hoards. The UCDWs used the event to get to knowsome of the students who live in halls of residence on both theSt. John’s and City campuses. We also highlighted safety issuessuch as keeping yourself safe at night. The event encouragedstudents to work together in order to survive the night andwin the game and also gave them the chance to meet otherlike-minded people. It was a successful night with everybodygetting into the spirit of Halloween and enjoying the event.The UCDWs will continue to run similar events and holdcampaigns and awareness days throughout the year in orderto promote a community spirit and support throughoutthe university. We publish a newsletter ‘The WorcesterSource’ every month to publicise these events and to ensurestudents feel part of the wider university community. Ifyou would like to know more about the UCDW team andevents, please contact us at ucdw@worc.ac.uk or visit us inWoodbury 73. We can also be found on Facebook and Twitterand ‘The Worcester Source’ is published online at ISSUU.Mature studentnominated for nationalaward in recognitionof voluntary work withdeaf young peopleRosemary Morgan has been working as a volunteerwith Gloucestershire Deaf Association for the past 13years and now runs its fortnightly youth club. Shehas also been a trustee for more than 10 years.Rosemary, who iscurrently studyingfor her PrimaryPGCE (PostgraduateCertificate inEducation) with thehope of teachingdeaf children, isin the running forthe CommunitySpirit Award fromSignature, the national body for deaf and hearing impaired people.“I’m really humbled to be nominated for this award,” shesaid. “I love the work I do with Gloucestershire DeafAssociation. Working with young deaf people is a dreamand they are so magnificent to be around.”Rosemary, who lives in the Forest of Dean, began volunteeringafter learning to sign. “I come from a family that is heavilyinvolved in volunteering,” said the former civil servant. “I firstlearnt a bit of sign language when I was seven years old.“When I left school I wanted to teach blind children, but it wasn’treally an option due to lack of qualifications in those days. When Ibegan to get more into the sign language and the volunteering, Ibecame more passionate about working with deaf children.”For several years Rosemary has given one to one support toindividual deaf children at school, fighting tirelessly on their behalf.Rosemary was nominated for the award by the ChiefExecutive of Gloucestershire Deaf Association and will findout if she has been successful on Friday 18 November.Racing through a staff-student support tutorialFinal year Sport & Exercise Scienceundergraduate Marc Scriven and SeniorLecturer Dr Paul Castle submitted a lateentry to the ‘Mass Attack’ duathlon at theThruxton racing circuit in Hampshire. Theevent, which took place on Sunday 23October, attracted a highly competitivefield. Competitors entered either asindividuals or as relay teams, so Marc andPaul took the relay option. Still recoveringfrom injury, Marc covered the 5km lapin a time of 00:18.59. Paul’s chain cameoff whilst exiting transition for the 30kmcycle, but despite this, he was able to coverthe 8 laps in a time of 00:49.35, beforehanding over to Marc for the final 5km run.Marc’s second run time of 00:16.51 enabledthe duo to finish in 1:25.25, putting themin first place among the relay teams, byalmost 4 minutes on their closest rivalsand 6 minutes on third place rivals. BothMarc and Paul said it was a pleasure tocompete together, with the common bondfostered by the ethos that runs through theInstitute of Sport & Exercise Science at theUniversity of Worcester. They even manageda ‘productive’ tutorial on the warm-up laps!newsandviews@worc.ac.uk / NOVEMBER 2011 / 15
Page 8 and 9: NEWSUniversity to host World Congre
Page 10 and 11: NEWSUniversity of Worcester Researc
Page 12 and 13: NEWSMike Parker60 th Lovatt Lecture
Page 16: STAFF FEATUREThis month we chat to

November 2011 - University of Worcester

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