News in brief
24 May 2013
Learn more about Yorkshire's rare Peregrine Falcons
Local bird watchers are invited to learn more about the history of Yorkshire's first urban breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons at a special talk next month.
The public event will give nature enthusiasts the unique opportunity to talk to members of staff from the University of Sheffield who pioneered the specialist breeding platform at St George's Church which has encouraged the rare birds to nest in the city for the first time.
The Peregrines are currently caring for three chicks who are preparing to fly the nest, after successfully breeding for the second year.
The chicks every movements are captured live on web cam, which has received more than 200,000 visits from bird watchers across the world, while the @peregrines2013 twitter account has more than 1,000 followers.
The talk will be hosted by Professor David Wood, from the University's Department of Hispanic Studies and Chair of the Sheffield Bird Study Group, Energy Manager Phil Riley and Jim Lonsdale from Estates and Facilities Management, who were all instrumental in launching the nesting platform in 2010.
Professor Wood said: "Peregrines are one of the most spectacular species in Britain, traditionally associated with remote sea cliffs and inaccessible sites, and to be able to see them in urban Sheffield is an absolute privilege."
The talk will take place at St George's Church on Mappin Street on Monday June 3, 2013 from 7pm to 8pm. Entry is free and everyone is welcome.
17 May 2013
Innovative research to stop breast cancer spreading to the bone
A leading scientist from the University of Sheffield is investigating why a protein called Lysl oxidase (LOX) increases the risk of breast cancer cells spreading to other parts of the body.
Dr Alison Gartland, Senior Lecturer in Bone Biology at the University's Medical School, has been awarded almost £200,000 by medical research charity Breast Cancer Campaign to discover why the protein increases the chances of secondary breast cancer, in particular to the bones, which can be treated but not cured.
Around 12,000 women and 80 men in the UK lose their lives to breast cancer every year.
Dr Gartland, said:“We know that LOX is over-produced in breast cancer cells that spread to other parts of the body and that patients with high levels of LOX have an increased risk of developing secondary tumours.
"What we don’t know is whether LOX in the bone acts like a fertiliser in the bone which helps breast cancer cells that have spread grow into tumours.”
The three year funding means Dr Gartland and her team can look at the effect of LOX on the bone environment in which secondary breast cancer tumours grow. The ultimate hope is that her findings will lead to new treatments to stop secondary breast tumours growing in the bone, increasing the chances of survival for thousands of patients.
Dr Gartland added: “I believe that LOX is a really important protein in breast cancer and with this funding from Breast Cancer Campaign our aim is to find out why it is so important and what effect it has on helping tumours grow – especially in the bone.”
16 May 2013
£21 million University development topped out
The University of Sheffield’s new Engineering Graduate School took an important step forward this week with a ceremony to mark its officially reaching its highest point.
The topping out marked the completion of the building’s framework and all those in the group made their mark by signing their names on a section of reinforced concrete wall, leaving a permanent memento for the future.
The seven-storey building, scheduled for completion by the end of the year, will provide world class facilities for the Faculty of Engineering and is a vital part of the University’s £154 million investment in its engineering estate over the next ten years.
"As we celebrate the news that the University of Sheffield has now overtaken the University of Cambridge in terms of the research funding we attract, the Engineering Graduate School is a vital element in our determination to create an engineering estate which reflects the quality and expertise of the work we do," said Professor Hounslow.
"Sheffield has an excellent and growing reputation for its engineering excellence and by 2020 we expect an additional 1600 engineering students and around 400 extra staff to support that growth. It is essential that we can deliver the right amount and quality of teaching and learning space to accommodate them. We’re delighted with the progress on the Engineering Graduate School which is such a critical part of our exciting development plans."
14 May 2013
Sheffield graduate to take up prestigious Harvard position
Dr Julia McClure, a graduate from the University of Sheffield’s Department of History, is to take up a prestigious PostDoc position at Harvard University this summer.
Dr McClure, who specialises in medieval, Atlantic and global history, completed her BA, MA and PhD at the University of Sheffield. She said: “The history department at Sheffield provides an intellectually engaging environment for conducting research. At Harvard I’m hoping to contribute to the development of the emerging field of global history through their Weatherhead Initiative on Global History. I will do this by exploring the importance of medieval history to global history, and by advancing my research project: ‘Poverty: an Alternative Global History’.
“I’m going to miss Sheffield” said Dr McClure, adding: “the Peak District, with its excellent biking trails and fell racing calendar, makes Sheffield a great place to live and work.”
13 May 2013
Architecture at University of Sheffield ranked highly by industry
The University of Sheffield’s School of Architecture has been ranked second in the UK by the highly respected trade publication Architects’ Journal.
The School was voted second in the UK by architects in practice, an important mark of distinction that seals its reputation as a place where students gain a broad range of useful skills for a practice environment, including technical ability, team working, collaborative working with clients, as well as the ability to innovate and think outside the box.
Strong links with numerous high profile practices in London, who are keen to recruit Sheffield students, is another asset of the School, setting it above the majority in the UK. The University of Sheffield is the only school outside of London in the ranking’s top four and boasts a more collaborative studio-focused environment than any of the London schools.
Visiting Professor Paul Monaghan's practice, AHMM, won Practice of the Year and Fastest Growing Practice in the rankings and alumni Roger Hawkins' practice Hawkins Brown (who recently restored Park Hill) was named Employer of the Year and Sustainable Practice of the Year.
For more information visit: Architects' Journal
9 May 2013
Online summer graduate recruitment fair
Graduates can step into summer and kick start their careers later this month with the University of Sheffield's online recruitment fair.
The Summer Graduate Recruitment Online Fair is a one-stop-shop packed with a huge variety of graduate schemes from major recruiters to local employers.
The event will take place between 10-21 June 2013. Simply register and log on to access the full employer list, browse their vacancies online, find out more about the companies and even ask them a question.
Graduates and employers can follow all of the action on Twitter via #SGROF with job alerts, updates on new employers and discussions. There is also lots of handy advice available for any students or graduates looking for vacancies during the summer.
The fair will go live on Monday 10 June 2013, to register visit: http://www.sheffieldcareersfairs.ac.uk/recruitment-fairs/2013_sgrof/visitors/
2 May 2013
Downing Street celebrations for charity helping to transform lives
A programme which has been helping bereaved families come to terms with the death of a child for 25 years has been recognised by the Prime Minister's wife Samantha Cameron.
Care of Next Infant (CONI), which is funded through the University of Sheffield and based at Sheffield Children's Hospital, supports grieving families who have tragically lost a baby through Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and gone on to have subsequent children.
CONI is funded by the Lullaby Trust, formerly the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, who launched their new name at the most famous address in Britain whilst celebrating the 25th anniversary of the CONI programme.
Professor Mike Campbell from the University's School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) attended the special event at number 10 Downing Street. He said: "It was a real privilege to attend the celebration. Samantha Cameron spoke briefly and informally to an assembly of people ranging from funders, fundraisers, scientists and staff.
"CONI is important, not just for the support it gives to bereaved families, but also for the unique dataset it is collecting on families at higher risk. With over 10,000 children on the records and careful pathology of subsequent deaths, we can do important work on both quantifying the risk and also looking at the causes of infant death."
For more information about the Lullaby Trust, visit http://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/
1 May 2013
Sheffield's Victorian social and sexual revolutionary celebrated
Edward Carpenter, an unconventional Victorian who lived in and around Sheffield from (from 1870s-1920s) is set to be celebrated with a dramatic performance exploring his life and an exhibition charting his passions - social and sexual equality.
The gay socialist famously founded the 'Commonwealth Cafe' in Shalesmoor, a place of lively debate and public speaking on politics and current affairs. While in the city he worked on a number of projects including highlighting the poor living conditions of industrial workers, writing in Sheffield Independent that 100,000 adults and children were struggling to find sunlight and air, enduring miserable lives, unable to breathe and dying of related illnesses.
The result of an AHRC funded project using new research from the University, three performances by theatre company Dead Earnest will take place throughout the city, accompanied by the exhibition put together by Dr Catherine O'Byrne and Dr Helen Smith from the University of Sheffield from 21-23 May 2013. Tickets are free but booking is required: 21 May, 22 May, 23 May.
29 April 2013
Generous donation creates new student scholarships
Engineers of tomorrow are set to benefit from the best foundation to their careers thanks to a generous grant from the Caterpillar Foundation.
The international organisation, which aims to make sustainable progress possible in our communities, has made a generous donation to the Faculty of Engineering.
The majority of the large grant will be used to establish 10 scholarships for second year students from disadvantaged backgrounds whilst a portion of the donation will be used for outreach activities with local schools to help youngsters discover the importance of STEM subjects.
Simon Collins, EAME Future Talent Development Manager, said: “This investment, which will create Caterpillar Scholars among the undergraduate population at the University of Sheffield, is a manifestation of Caterpillar’s commitment to work with our UK Partner Universities to improve the quantity of undergraduates studying STEM related subjects and the quality of graduates hired by Caterpillar."
If you are interested in making a donation to the University, please contact our Development, Alumni Relations and Events Office on 0114 222 1076. Donations can be made online at https://onlinepayments.shef.ac.uk/donations/