Year: 2014

An engineering student from the School of Engineering has been declared the overall UK winner at the prestigious Sir William Siemens Medal awards.

Jan Van Der Lubbe, who is currently in the second year of a Mechanical Engineering degree, was presented with his medal and a cheque for £1,000 at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

Jan’s submission included how he would benefit from an internship at Siemens and his detailed company knowledge.

Siemens deemed his submission to be the best due to not only his all-round exceptional academic ability, but also his clearly demonstrable passion for engineering.

Jan, who previously attended De Aston School in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, said: “It’s a great honour to win the award for both myself and the University of Lincoln. Now with the constant support and training from Siemens, I can work with others who strive to solve the most challenging problems with excellent, innovative and responsible solutions.”

Jan was joined by eight young engineers from other leading UK universities (Cambridge, Imperial, Newcastle, Loughborough, Newcastle, Nottingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Strathclyde) who were also recognised as being the most outstanding students in their year.

They all received the Sir William Siemens Medal, specially designed and struck by The Royal Mint, and a paid internship with Siemens.

Andrew Hislop, a second year student from Lincoln, was also shortlisted.

On the students’ success Michael Gallimore, Director of Education at Lincoln’s School of Engineering, said: “This is a remarkable achievement for Jan and the School of Engineering. Being recognised as the best student from among these leading universities is fantastic and a real testament to Jan’s hard work and enthusiasm for engineering. The School of Engineering was founded with a commitment to producing industry ready graduates and Jan’s success is recognition of the impact this ethos is having on the development of our future engineers.”

In addition, students from 10 colleges and university technical colleges were also rewarded for their achievements in their engineering studies with the Sir William Siemens Certificate award, as well as a cheque for £100, with their college being awarded £200 to invest in STEM activities.

Siemens has a long-standing association with many of the UK’s leading higher and further education establishments, including the University of Lincoln. Its UK university partnering programme represents a major part of its commitment to the UK engineering skills agenda. Collaboration ranges from joint research programmes, to providing industry placements as an integral part of education programmes, to recognising and rewarding undergraduate excellence as the Sir William Siemens Medal Award does.

Juergen Maier, Siemens UK CEO, said: “At Siemens in the UK we are investing heavily in skills and training and we have a strong commitment to working with universities and colleges, to recruit top graduate engineering talent. Through the Sir William Siemens Medal and Certificate Awards we can work more closely with our target universities and colleges to encourage more students to take an interest in a career in engineering, to reward engineering excellence and to try to ensure that more of the world’s leading technology is developed within the UK.”

Pupils at a primary school in Grimsby are being given a unique opportunity to design their dream learning environment thanks to a fun project led by the University of Lincoln.

Pupils at Woodlands Primary School recently moved into brand new facilities on the Bradley Park Estate. The new building, which was constructed using an innovative modular design mainly built off-site, was largely funded by the Government’s Priority School Building Programme for schools in deprived areas and in need of repair.

The new school opened in April 2014, however at its heart is a large Atrium which is currently a vacant space.

Guided by students from the University of Lincoln’s School of Architecture & Design, the young pupils are now being invited to help create a fun and educational multi-functional Atrium design.

The 24 University students, currently studying on the second year of Lincoln’s Interior Architecture & Design programme, will form groups and meet with the pupils later this month to develop their ideas, before compiling final proposals, detailing recommended materials, costs and processes.

The students will then return to Woodlands Primary School in January 2015 to present their ideas and ask the staff and pupils to select their preferred design. The winning proposal could then be put into development, and the young design teams could see their plans come to fruition next year.

Rosie Elvin, Programme Leader for Interior Architecture & Design at the University of Lincoln, said: “We are delighted to be working with Woodlands Primary School to create and implement an exciting new Atrium design. The students will be working with staff and pupils to ensure the space meets all of their educational and recreational needs.

“We very much enjoy undertaking socially conscious projects, particularly when they provide great benefits to the local region. It is extremely valuable for our students to work on live ventures such as this, where they gain experience of the commercial world of architecture while working closely with local communities.”

Throughout the project, the designers will look to utilise sustainable products and engage local suppliers and construction companies.

Assistant Head at Woodlands Primary School, Sarah Forrester, said: “We want the Atrium to be the ‘heart’ of the school and we are very excited to be working with the University of Lincoln to design this. We envisage that the space will be used for whole school gatherings, small group work and provide a welcoming and interactive reading zone.

“Our children are always central to everything we do so it is fantastic that they, together with our dedicated staff team, will be so involved with the design project. The school environment is one of our most powerful learning tools, and most of all, we feel an obligation to future generations of children to make this school the best it can be.”

The design process will begin on Wednesday 17th December 2014 when the University of Lincoln staff and students visit Woodlands Primary School to discuss initial design ideas.

The students have worked hard to create some beautiful pieces that would make the perfect gift for Christmas.

Takes place at the Project Space Plus AAD East Entrance on Wednesday 17th December from 10.30am–4pm.

The work will then be available for sale from the Maker Lab first floor AAD1E24 on the 18th and 19th Dec.

‘A Celebration of Christmas’ in music and readings is being presented by Siren Voices – The University of Lincoln Community Choir and the Silverwood Quintet.

You’re warmly invited to enjoy our concert in the University Atrium (Minerva Building) on Thursday 18^th December.

Please arrive no later than 6.45pm as the event will be broadcast live on Siren FM 107.3 at 7pm.

Please stay for a festive reception of mince pies and mulled wine afterwards.

Book your free place by emailing numbers (no restrictions) tochristmas@sirenonline.co.uk

Happy Christmas from everyone at Siren FM

Does your dog find Christmas stressful?

Christmas time brings with it the noise of crackers, changes in routine and who is at home alongside new visitors.

In addition, New Year’s Eve celebrations may involve fireworks and other loud celebrations that may be difficult for some dogs to cope with.

For those dogs with an anxious temperament, the festive period is an additional burden.

A new study, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, at the University of Lincoln’s Animal Behaviour Clinic may be able to help.

The team is looking at the new use of an established medicine to help dogs with these types of problems.

The medication to be trialled is a safe drug currently licensed to control epilepsy and seizures in dogs, which in the process of its development was reported by owners to have beneficial effects in some of the dogs also displaying anxiety.

The clinic is offering free advice and support to help individuals with these problems if they meet a series of inclusion criteria.

To qualify for the study your dog must be healthy, over six months of age, greater than 5kg in bodyweight and show signs of a fear/anxiety related problem at least twice a week.

If you think your dog might qualify and would like to take part please go to http://www.lincolnanimalbehaviourclinic.co.uk/new-study.php or contact Kevin McPeake at kmcpeake@lincoln.ac.uk or call 01522 835425 for further details

A talented designer from the University of Lincoln, UK, has been highlighted as one of the most exciting young creatives in the country after winning a major competition run by global software company Adobe.

Tom Watkins, a second year undergraduate studying Creative Advertising in Lincoln’s School of Architecture & Design, was named winner of the Creative Jam at the Adobe Education Summit 2014.

Entitled ‘Creativity for Education’ the summit welcomed inspirational guest speakers and international delegates to discover the latest in creative innovations developed to place education institutions at the forefront of design.

As part of the event, Adobe invited 10 students from across the UK to respond to a design brief using Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Adobe Creative Jams have an established reputation for offering an exciting glimpse into the future of global design talent.

The ‘Creativity for Education’ event gave the designers two and a half hours to respond to the brief on ‘Your Creative Muse’. Tom designed a print inspired by his muse – risk takers and forward thinkers, personified by Felix Baumgartners’ space jump. The best two designs in the competition were chosen by a panel of expert judges, before an audience vote awarded Tom the Creative Jam title.

Tom said: “It was amazing to win the Adobe Creative Jam. As the winner I was awarded a Microsoft Surface Pro 3, which is a great prize, but the most satisfying feeling was having people approach me after the event to say they would like a print of my work.”

Tom was also recently awarded the title of ‘Behance Project of the Month’. Owned by Adobe, Behance is a network of consulting and online portfolio sites and services used by professional designers, creatives and agencies around the world.

Each month, the Behance team recognises an inspiring portfolio of work and November 2014 saw Tom’s unique collection of animal logos receive the prestigious title.

Justin Tagg, Senior Lecturer in Creative Advertising at the University of Lincoln, said: “Tom, like so many of our students, is not just a talented designer but also an entrepreneurial spirit. He’s managed to make a name for himself within the industry whilst still studying here and that shows the most important qualities of all: tenacity, guile and hunger for success.”

Tom’s Behance page, which features his celebrated animal logos collections as well as artwork for The Body Shop and pieces inspired by international footballers, has now received almost one million views.

To view Tom’s work, visit: www.behance.net/tomanders

The students have worked hard to create some beautiful pieces that would make the perfect gift for Christmas.

​Takes place at the Project Space Plus AAD East Entrance on Tuesday 16th December 4.30pm–8pm + mince pies, mulled wine and Bucks Fizz! and on Wednesday 17th December 10.30am–4pm.

The work will then be available for sale from the Maker Lab first floor AAD1E24 on the 18th and 19th December.

The University of Lincoln has celebrated the academic excellence of its highest achieving first year students with a number of prestigious scholarship awards.

The scholarship winners came from schools and colleges across the UK, with a presentation event bringing parents and teachers together with their students to celebrate their achievements. The occasion provided an opportunity to recognise the outstanding academic success which saw the students secure a place at university.

Lincoln’s annual Excellence and Vice Chancellor’s Scholarships were presented by Vice Chancellor, Professor Mary Stuart, and the new Earl of Yarborough Scholarship for Chemistry was also awarded for the first time to a recipient from the University’s new School of Chemistry.

The flagship Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship recognises exceptional academic ability and commitment. Worth £9,000 over three years of study, the scholarship rewards an applicant who demonstrates academic talent, proven commitment to their subject discipline and a personal impact on their community.

It is awarded to a single overall winner from among the nine recipients of the University of Lincoln’s Excellence Scholarships, which recognise the accomplishments of the highest achieving new undergraduate students joining the institution. Students who attained the greatest total entry qualifications of all new undergraduates within their College earned a scholarship of £1,000.

Professor Mary Stuart said: “The Vice Chancellor’s and Excellence Scholarship Awards represent a highlight in the University of Lincoln calendar. The ceremony enables us to congratulate our newest students on their outstanding academic achievements and to celebrate the fantastic talent we have here at Lincoln. It is wonderful that so many parents and teachers are able to join us here on campus for this special moment.

“The experience of higher education is one to be celebrated, and these scholarships support commendable recipients so that they can continue to progress and reach their full potential.”

The winners of the Excellence Scholarships discovered at the awards ceremony which of them had been selected to receive the Vice Chancellor’s award. This year’s recipient was named as Nicholas Jennett, originally from Downham Market in Norfolk, who will now receive a total of £10,000 in scholarship funding. Nicholas, who studied at University Academy Holbeach, is now in the first year of his MComp Computer Science degree in Lincoln’s School of Computer Science.

The awards ceremony also included the presentation of the first Earl of Yarborough Scholarship for Chemistry, an award recognising excellence in the subject. The new scholarship was presented to MChem Forensic Chemistry student, Victoria Hugill, who previously studied at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington.

The University of Lincoln’s School of Chemistry, led by Professor Ian Scowen, welcomed its first students in September 2014, with a primary focus on integrating multi-disciplinary academic research with applied science and industry. They will be joined next year by students starting at the new School of Mathematics and Physics, which will open its doors to undergraduate and postgraduate students in September 2015.

The School of Chemistry is based in the new state-of-the-art Joseph Banks Laboratories on the multi-million pound Lincoln Science and Innovation Park – a pioneering collaboration between the University and Lincolnshire Co-op.

The Earl of Yarborough Scholarship for Chemistry, the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship and the Excellence Scholarships run in addition to other scholarships and bursaries provided by the University of Lincoln. These include the University of Lincoln Scholarship, which supports students from less wealthy backgrounds and is worth up to £3,000 in the first year for eligible students. The numerous support packages are designed to ensure that all students can benefit from higher education, regardless of background or financial circumstance.

Nicholas Jennett, the winner of this year’s Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship, said: “It is a great honour to win the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship, and it was certainly a big surprise. The financial support will prove to be extremely useful throughout my university studies.”

​Challenging gender-based violence through prevention education.

Stand Together is an action research project that is taking place at the University of Lincoln to tackle the issue of gender-based violence within the UK. Gender-based violence is behaviour that hurts, threatens or undermines people because of their gender or (perceived) sexuality. It can include everyday sexism, homophobic/transphobic bullying, sexual harassment, sexual violence and domestic abuse.

The ‘Stand Together’ programme at Lincoln is one of the first university-wide prevention education programmes in the UK. It entails peer education programmes with student volunteers, a poster campaign and a theatre project facilitated by Scottish Women’s Aid, White Ribbon Campaign and Tender.

To mark the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, we are holding ‘5 days of activism against gender-based violence’ from Thursday 4th December to Wednesday 10th December at the University. Events taking place across the University include:

• Thursday 4th Dec – Atrium event (12pm-2.30pm) with stands from the local police, Students’ Union and the Stand Together team and activities to raise awareness about gender-based violence within the UK
• Friday 5th Dec – Launch of our campaign posters designed by a Lincoln student
• Monday 8th Dec– ‘Changing the story’ presented by ‘Performance in social and community contexts’ students at Studio 3, LPAC at 3.30pm. To book a place please email awalsh@lincoln.ac.uk
• Tuesday 9th Dec – ‘Image theatre’ by ‘Performance in social and community contexts’ students at the Atrium at 1pm, and then travelling across the campus; followed by ‘Changing the story’ at Studio 3, LPAC at 3.30pm. To book a place please email awalsh@lincoln.ac.uk
• Wednesday 10th Dec – Day of social media activism against gender-based violence, so get tweeting on this issue – our twitter hashtag for this will be #StandTogetherUL

The project is led by Dr Sundari Anitha, working with a team of researchers from different schools within the university and in partnership with third sector organisations and student societies/ students’ union at UoL.

For more information on the Stand Together project and details of how to get involved please visit: http://standtogether.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/

Free Great Minds lecture: Baroness Susan Greenfield, neuroscientist and writer – University of Lincoln on 12 December

Mind Change: How 21st Century Technology is Leaving its Mark on Our Brains

Humans occupy more ecological niches than any other species on the planet because of the superlative ability of our brains, compared with those of any other animal, to adapt to the environment. Although a generic and standardized part of the human body, the brain becomes highly personalized post-natally by the development of unique configurations of connections between the brain cells that characterize the growth of the human brain after birth, personalizing it into a ‘mind’ that is in constant dialogue with the environment.

5.30pm Registration; 6pm start in the Jackson Lecture Theatre, Minerva Building, Brayford Campus.

Book your place via events@lincoln.ac.uk