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WINTER 2016 l ISSUE 16 HANDCYCLE WORLD RECORD BREAKERS ALSO IN THIS ISSUE A GLIMPSE OF THE NEW ‘ROBOT HOME’ MARINE SCIENCE AND MICROPLASTICS DOWNLOADING HISTORIES OF THE UNEXPECTED 04 08 10 WELCOME... IN THIS ISSUE A message from our 04 | Rollercoaster ride to world record success Vice-Chancellor 06 | Plastics research under the microscope I mentioned in my speech at Graduation this summer 08 | History Tales of the Unexpected how our academics are pushing the boundaries of knowledge. This is supported strongly by the stories 10 | The launch of iSPER 06 in this edition of CONNECT. The research into marine litter and in particular microplastics is helping to 12 | Robot Home brings together tackle one of the most serious and often hidden family of research environmental dangers that the planet faces. We also 14 see how, through Project Nevada, staff and students 14 | A vision of Optometry combined to push the limits of achievement and break a world record. 16 | The sky’s the limit for Planet Earth II doctor Lucy The University’s mission is to transform lives and there are numerous examples across the campus 18 | Sian Davey: Picture perfect and beyond of our success in this regard. This issue features an MFA Photography student who, on 20 | Spotlight: Professor Tom Hutchinson; completing her masters degree, has gone on to win Dr Haya Al-Dajani; Guy Stevens, Clare Nasir a series of national and international awards. We also learn how empowering women refugees in the Middle 28 | Campus round-up East to be entrepreneurial can alleviate poverty. I am sure many of us have been captivated by the Planet Earth II series on television and this issue features an associate lecturer who was lucky enough to work alongside Sir David Attenborough as a medic in the hot air balloon for the opening scene of the series. Of course, we go into 2017 facing the challenges of both Brexit and the Higher Education and Research Bill but these will not detract from the core of what we do. We are in a good position with a refreshed strategy 18 and a focus on working together as one team. I hope you enjoy this edition and would like to take this opportunity to thank all our staff, students and partners for continuing to inspire and achieve great things. I extend my very best wishes to all for the 22 festive season and for 2017. Judith Professor Judith Petts CBE Vice-Chancellor 20 NEWS NEWS: ROLLERCOASTER RIDE TO WORLD RECORD SUCCESS The University’s association with Sarah Piercy, below, and on her record handcycling started just before it breaking run (right) shot to popularity at the London Paralympics, following an approach by Alan Grace, former chairman of the Handcycling Association of the UK. On the back of that, work started in earnest with a view to taking a University team to the 2015 World Human Powered Speed Challenge. Gaining support from local, national and international businesses, the team designed and built an eye- catching bike, and teamed up with Liz McTernan, ranked in the world’s top eight in her sport, to try and beat the then women’s benchmark of 21.39mph. Human Sciences. In testing at RAF hard work and very little sleep was When it came to the record attempt, St Mawgan, in Cornwall, she was rewarded when Sarah crossed the however, a pre-existing injury meant close to world record pace, and so fi nish line with a maximum speed Liz was unable to compete at full heading out to the United States, that looked to be just over world power, although she was able to set the team were in a positive mood. record pace. But there was still an a new record of 24.72mph on her agonising wait for it to be confi rmed. own conventional racing bike. Adam, More than a day of travelling did who himself proved the design’s little to deter their spirits with the Surrounded by her team, and effectiveness by piloting it to speeds team (who consisted of students fellow competitors, the tension was in excess of 30mph, recalled: “Having Matthew Sharman, Matthew Pearson, palpable. But when the organisers spent many months on the project, Louise Kiero-Watson, James Haslam, read out the mark of 24.85mph, and it was obviously disappointing not Daniel Bristow, William Kemp, Oscar confi rmed the wind speed was also to see it pushed to its full potential. Whitmarsh, and Bradley Smith, and legal, the project’s ultimate dream ROLLERCOASTER But testing gave us enough data to technicians Julian Seipp, Richard of setting a new world record was calculate what might be possible, and Cullen, Rick Preston and Neil Fewings) realised, drawing a standing ovation for an untrained and inexperienced arriving in the remote community of from everyone else in the room. RIDE TO WORLD pilot to reach more than 30mph Battle Mountain to join the rest of the showed us what it could achieve.” competitors who were competing Adam said: “We were all absolutely for leg-powered (rather than arm- thrilled that Sarah broke the world RECORD SUCCESS With that in the back of their minds, powered) records. They included record. It was an incredible effort the team decided to try again in Canadian Todd Reichert, who would and the result of sheer determination 2016, teaming up with Sarah – who go on to set a new overall recumbent on her part, and the whole team The Guinness Book of Records has inspired countless people to strive won the women’s wheelchair race speed record of 89.59mph and 17-year- has worked so hard on the bike to in London in 2000 – and Help for old Florian Kowalik, from the US, maximise its performance. It is that for some of the most iconic – and outlandish – feats of achievement Heroes ambassador Chris Jones. who powered his way to 65.93mph. hard work that has ultimately made They improved the bike, and began the difference between world record and endurance. Now, to that exalted roll call of record breakers, a team a programme of testing to ensure In her fi rst run of the week Sarah success and disappointment.” of academics and students from the University can add their names. both athletes were happy with it. reached more than 23mph, but In July, however, there was another then a succession of technical Sarah added: “Becoming the setback when Chris had to withdraw diffi culties – coupled with inclement handcycle world speed record holder Led by Adam Kyte, in the School of On the long, straight roads of Adam, Lecturer in Mechanical and Marine from the project for family reasons. weather – limited the number of runs has been the greatest sporting Marine Science and Engineering, and Nevada, USA, in a machine designed Engineering Design. “Sometimes it felt they could do. Over the next few challenge of my life. Just a year Undeterred, the team put their full spearheaded – almost literally – by in the workshops of Plymouth, that it was an impossible dream, while at days, she continued to push herself ago, I would never have believed the existing record was beaten other times it has been one of the most support behind Sarah and to ensure and the bike to the maximum, but this could be possible but I owe former London Marathon winner by 0.1mph, and a certain amount fulfi lling projects I’ve had the pleasure she was in the best possible shape when the times came through they everything to Adam Kyte and the Sarah Piercy, the team overcame of cosmic karma was restored. of being involved with. But it has for the record attempt, she worked were consistently below 23mph. Plymouth University engineering near Hollywood biopic levels of enabled hundreds of students to learn closely with physiotherapists, students who have made this happen. disappointment to set a new speed “This record is the result of a fi ve-year about real-world engineering through nutritionists and sports psychologists Going into the fi nal day, it was a real They have been such a wonderful record for women’s handcycling. rollercoaster ride,” said project lead the example of handcycle design.” from the Faculty of Health and case of ‘now or never’ but all the team of people to work with.” 4 CONNECT l NEWS: ROLLERCOASTER RIDE TO WORLD RECORD SUCCESS CONNECT l WINTER 2016 l ISSUE 16 5 NEWS FEATURE NEWS: PLASTICS RESEARCHNEWS FEATURE: UNDER THE ARTICLE MICROSCOPE HEADER that are inside those bags. And He says: “It was a Tuesday after crew out on Plymouth Sound to considering microbeads in cosmetic the May Bank Holiday. I came collect water samples. They then products represents the best step into the offi ce and the red light returned to the Marine Station to toward addressing these products.” was on my phone – there was a fi lm some testing in the labs. dozen messages from journalists. I The summons to the select committee turned on my computer and there “It was a long day for the youngsters, was Richard’s third appearance in were two pages of emails with but the weather was good to us such a forum. Communicating the more enquiries – from the Today and we were able to showcase our outcomes of his team’s research to programme to the World Service. research,” Richard says. “Hopefully policy has become an increasingly the programme will be useful to important aspect of his work, not That educational side of our work students considering studying marine just in the UK, but globally. From is really important, but you need biology, but it also helps us to get the addressing John Kerry, the then US to take care that the message is message about marine litter out to a Secretary of State, to the climate communicated accurately.

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