apex

Alumni Magazine Issue 18 Autumn 2006

a plumb job Moving into a new career All change at Birmingham New Street An insight into the redevelopment plans for Birmingham New Street Station you must autumn ’06 apexfeatures 4 one of the best in the country contentS 5 Aston’s new Vice chancellor announced remember this... 11 A race across the Atlantic 12 A plumb job 19 into the dragon’s den 20 new minibus arrives on campus thanks to alumni generosity apexregulars

2 You must remember this... 5 profile on... 10 jpA recruitment 17 10 21 All change at new Street Station 22 where are they now? 2 reunion 30 news from Aston graduates’ Association 31 in touch 32 gifts apexnews

 Aston honours ’06 14 School of engineering & Applied Science Aston and Biffa tackle changing landfill mix “The Time of Your Life” has been written on the back of this archive photo and we’re sorry but it’s all we have to 15 Aston Business School A reputation for excellence go on! It looks like we used it for a campaign to show how great student life is at Aston, maybe it was for one of our 12 1 School of life & health Sciences prospectuses. We don’t even know who these people are – if A lecture... but not as we know it! it’s you, where are you now? Can almonds help your heart?

1 School of languages & Social Sciences Meet the team... Today’s youth, tomorrow’s sports stars? New postgraduate course announced

18 combined honours Top of the class: learning for life through interdisciplinary studies

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sarah Pymm Caroline Broome stephanie Meek All the latest news from the Alumni relations office, the head of Alumni relations Alumni relations Assistant Alumni relations executive Students’ guild and the Societies and Sports clubs. Send in your photos and share your memories of your time at Aston.

how to contact the Aston Business school Alumni relations office: MBA and Msc graduates:

www.aston.ac.uk/alumni For details on your bespoke alumni Special thanks go to everyone who contributed to this issue of Apex. Apex is published twice a [email protected] programme please contact: year for alumni of Aston university. letters, photographs and news are very welcome but we reserve the right to edit any contributions. please address all correspondence to the Alumni Stephanie meek t +44 (0)121 204 3000 relations office. the opinions expressed in Apex are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Alumni relations office or Aston university. F +44 (0)121 204 4783 e [email protected] t + 44 (0)121 204 4556 Apex is also available via the website in pdf format, but please contact us if you experience Alumni relations office any difficulties accessing the publication. Aston university, Aston triangle or join the online community: Designed by linney Design. printed by linney print. Birmingham, B4 7et, uK www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/mba photo credits: huw meredith – pages 17, 27 and 30 ed moss – pages 14, 15, 19 and 20

2 Autumn 06 Autumn 06 3 Aston’s new one oF the Vice Chancellor BEsTin the countrY announced Aston’s success in the national league tables the 2007 league table ranks professor graham hooley, universities by measuring pro-Vice chancellor at Aston is continuing as the University has recently nine aspects of their activity, said: “this outstanding result including student satisfaction, for Aston bolsters our already The university is pleased to been named as one of the best in the the quality of the institution’s strong position as one of the announce the appointment country in The Times newspaper’s annual research, its entry standards, uK’s leading universities. our of Professor Julia King CBE, student-staff ratio, library/ graduate employment record FrEng as its next vice le on... profi Good University Guide. Aston is ranked computing spend, facilities is excellent and our research Chancellor in succession spend, the percentage of and teaching quality is also to Professor Michael wright 13th out of 109 higher education institutions students achieving a first or rated very highly which ensures FrEng. she will take up chris langlEY upper second class degree, we can provide a top quality in the Guide, coming ahead of the likes of her appointment in graduate prospects and the learning experience for our December 2006. Nottingham, York and Manchester. number of students who students. we are very proud Chris Langley has been linked, in one way or complete their courses. of this latest recognition.” another, with Aston university for the past professor King was educated at new hall, cambridge where she gained a first class BA honours Degree in natural Sciences 13 years. he first came to Aston in 1993 as (metallurgy) in 1975 followed by a phD (in the field of fatigue and an undergraduate pharmacy student and fracture) in 1979. She then held academic posts at the university of upon graduation in 1996 undertook a year’s nottingham and at cambridge university before moving to rolls- pre-registration training at st Peter’s hospital royce plc in 1994 to take up the post of head of materials at the in Chertsey. once qualified, he returned to the Statistician enjoys rolls-royce Aerospace group. She was Director of Advanced Pharmacy Department at Aston to undertake engineering, rolls-royce industrial power group from 1997-1998, PhD research with the Medicinal Chemistry managing Director of rolls-royce Fan Systems from 1998-2000 and research Group. then Director of engineering and technology marine from 2000-2002. THE HIGH LIFE She moved from rolls-royce in 2002 to become chief executive of chris submitted his thesis in 2000 and then moved the institute of physics. Since 2004, professor King has been over to the pharmacy practice group, initially as a with roof-top tour principal of the Faculty of engineering at imperial college london. research Fellow and then a year later as a lecturer in pharmacy practice, where he has been ever since. professor King has been recognised for her work by many awards During this time, his research has resulted in a number and honours during her career, including the Fellowship of the royal of published research papers and reports and he has Aston Business school statistician Jeremy Dawson has been making headlines up and down Academy of engineering in 1997 and the cBe in 1999 for services to given over 45 research presentations at conferences the country with his unusual fund-raising idea. As one third of The Extreme Cellists, he took materials engineering. She has published more than 160 papers on all over the world, including estonia, malta and time out over the summer to raise more than £4,000 with a whirlwind tour of cathedral roofs. fatigue and fracture in structural materials, materials issues in aero- new orleans. currently, he is also involved in the engines and advances in marine propulsion technology. supervision of a phD student who is also a fellow jeremy formed the trio in 2003 with friends james rees and clare wallace in response to a Aston pharmacy graduate.

documentary about the ‘sport’ of extreme ironing. “why did we do this? well, there are two geoffrey john, Aston university’s pro-chancellor and chairman of main reasons. Firstly, because we’re mad, and we like a challenge! But secondly, and more the Search committee for the Vice chancellor said: chris’ teaching surrounds the legal and practice importantly, because we want to raise money for two very worthwhile charities,” explained Aston’s

aspects of the pharmacy degree and he has completed jeremy, a research fellow with the School’s work and organisational psychology group.

architecture the university’s postgraduate professional certificate in learning and teaching in higher education. other “ We are delighted to have been able to work has resulted in the recent publication of a

Aston university has been student textbook supporting extemporaneous given national recognition in appoint professor julia King as Aston’s next dispensing, which he wrote with three colleagues By visiting every cathedral in England in just 12 days we one of the leading guides to from the pharmacy Department at Aston. architecture. Details of the Vice Chancellor. She has an outstanding “ also raised the profile of ASpIRE and Shelter and entertained a main Building, the library A few years ago, chris also undertook the role of “record of academic and industrial the university Senior residence tutor, living on the few members of the public along the way. and lakeside residences are included in Pevsner’s achievement which is in line with Aston’s university campus and overseeing the welfare and “ discipline of over 2,000 resident students. During this Architectural Guide to Birmingham by Andy Foster focus on subjects of professional and time, chris met Kath moffitt (1998 BSc French) a fellow (Yale university press 2005). Aston graduate who was visiting friends at Aston while the charity Shelter helps provide practical support and advice for the homeless while ASpire works there is a brief history of vocational relevance. living and working in France. chris and Kath married with people with spinal cord injury to provide rehabilitation and independence. the university as well as in may 2005 in the lake District and now live references to the architects in north Birmingham. Kicking off in truro, the tour covered 2,400 miles and a lot of stone steps. members of the public were involved in the design of commenting on her appointment, professor King said: “Aston has invited to listen to the performances, which lasted around 10-15 minutes. not content with breaking Away from Aston, chris’ interests include walking and our buildings. For further been very successful in recent years and i am looking forward new ground in musicianship, jeremy also became the Business School’s first official blogger keeping cycling and he has recently taken up badminton. information about the guide immensely to working with all its staff and students to take the everyone up to date with his online tour diary. For more information on the extreme cellists and a visit www.yalebooks.co.uk university through the next phase of its development.” chance to catch their next tour visit www.extreme-cello.com

4 Autumn 06 Autumn 06 5 For ten years she taught part- and slapstick humour created by studied Theatre at Dartington time at the Leo Baeck College Chris and fellow presenters Sally College of Arts, receiving for the study of Judaism and the James and Lenny Henry made a BA(Hons) degree in Ged Fisher At this year’s Degree Training of Rabbis and Teachers. it a winner and it ran until 1982. 1981. In 1996, her College Congregations, Aston welcomed new honorary Since September 11th, however, Chris is probably best known awarded her an honorary ’ degree of Doctor of Arts. graduates as members of she has become chiefly known today in his role as host of the Ast Convocation, acknowledging n for her work on Islam and hugely popular gameshow Who Josie has numerous theatre their achievement and Fundamentalism. She has Wants to be a Millionaire? which credits including Moll Flanders contribution to their addressed members of the started in 1997. His show Tarrant in Moll Flanders, Eliza Doolittle respective fields. United States Congress on on TV is now in its fifteenth year. in Pygmalion, Beatrice in Much three occasions, as well as the Chris’s Capital Radio breakfast Ado About Nothing and Gabby State Department, the Central show, which ran for 17 years, in Picasso’s Women. For the H nours Intelligence Agency and the was also a huge success and Royal Shakespeare Company, Council for Foreign Relations. won the Sony Radio Academy Josie performed the role of Kate in the Taming of the Shrew She has participated in the Breakfast Show Gold in 1995. Ged Fisher is a Chartered (Dame Peggy Ashcroft award 6 World Economic Forum in In 2004, Chris was awarded Member of the Chartered for Best Actress), Dunyasha New York and Davos and was the OBE for his services to Institute of Personnel and recently appointed by the in The Cherry Orchard and women in rock in the VH1 As a member of the Regional broadcasting and charity. He is Development and a Fellow of Secretary General to the United Helen of Troy in Faust. poll at the end of 1999 and Skills Partnership, he is ensuring an ambassador for the homeless the Royal Society of Arts. He Joan Armatrading Nations initiative ‘The Alliance received a platinum CD for John Edwards that the region is addressing the charity, Centrepoint, as well as In 2001 Josie played Anna in is a graduate of the London of Civilizations’ with a mandate patron of the Headway Thames her participation with other needs to upskill the workforce. The King and I at the London School of Economics and has to give practical guidelines to Valley and Phoenix Centre for Palladium and enjoyed a highly attended a Senior Management artists in the Lou Reed song John also has a very strong member states to prevent the children with special needs successful nine-month run. Programme at the Sloan Perfect Day by the BBC for personal and professional build-up of tension and hatred. and of Milly’s Fund, set up Josie was in the all-female School MIT, Boston, USA. sales of over one million. commitment to ensuring ever Karen has published numerous in memory of Milly Dowler. production of Much Ado About stronger links between West After working in the electricity Joan received her BA(Hons) books including international Nothing at Shakespeare’s Midlands universities, research and brewing industries, he Open University degree in bestseller A History of God. Globe Theatre playing the bodies and businesses. He sits spent the last 25 years of 2001 and in 2005 was elected Her books have been translated lead male Benedick! on the West Midlands Innovation Professor his employment with Severn President of Women of the into forty languages. In March and Technology Council Lisa Li Yue’e In 2005 she played Mrs Overall’s Trent Plc where he became Year in the United Kingdom 2006 she published The Great focusing on joint initiatives by evil daughter in Acorn Antiques head of the personnel function for a term of five years. Transformation: The Beginning Professor Li came to universities and businesses in England in 1988 and took in the West End. Amongst many in 1980 and retired as Group of Our Religious Traditions areas such as energy, advanced her Master’s degree in TV roles, Josie has starred Personnel Director in 1999. Joan Armatrading has been an John Edwards joined which immediately became a materials and automotive. Applied Linguistics at Reading in The Green Man with Albert Ged was a member of the CBI outstanding singer/songwriter Advantage West Midlands bestseller in the United States. Elspeth Insch John is also a member University before studying Finney, Norbert Smith with National Education and Training for 33 years. Effortlessly as Director of Regeneration Elspeth Insch has a BSc in of the Council of Aston for her PhD in Discourse Harry Enfield, Swalk & Lunch Committee, Chairman of the eclectic, her music ranges from in August 1999. He was University and a Governor Analysis at Aston University. In The Park with Paul Merton, Board for Education and Training soul to sophisticated pop – an Geography from Birkbeck appointed Chief Executive of Staffordshire University. Chris Tarrant Fat Friends, three series of the in the Water Industry and a apt mix for a performer born College, London University After returning to China in 1993, of Advantage West Midlands award winning Outside Edge non-executive member of Water on the island of St Kitts in and an MPhil from Edinburgh she gained rapid promotion and in November 2000. and her own series, Josie. Training International. He was the West Indies and brought University. She has been moved from Shanxi Agricultural He is a Quantity Surveyor and Josie is perhaps best known also a member of the ‘New up here in Birmingham. Headmistress of King Edward Karen Armstrong University to a Chair at Shanxi Deal’ Task Force for Birmingham. VI Handsworth School since has held senior appointments in University and, in recognition of for her skill at comedy By the early 1970s Joan had Karen Armstrong spent land and property development her international experience and improvisation and appeared Before privatisation of the water moved to London and released 1989 having been Deputy Head seven years as a Roman and business support. John very remarkable administrative in seven episodes of the industry he was a member of her debut Whatever’s For Us. in Sleaford and previously Catholic nun in the 1960s. has extensive experience ability, became the University’s BAFTA award winning Whose its national negotiating bodies. The career that followed has a geography teacher in in urban and rural economic She studied English Literature Vice-President in 1998, having Line Is It Anyway? She has He is currently a member of seen the birth of classics – Love Leicester and Nottingham. at the University of Oxford, regeneration and, prior to joining already successfully served as also been a member of the employment tribunals and the and Affection, Down to Zero, From 1970-1979 she worked as earning the degrees of BA Advantage West Midlands, he Deputy Dean of Languages. Comedy Store Players for Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Drop the Pilot and Me, Myself, I. a consultant geomorphologist and MLitt. Since then she has was Director of Operations and She became Director of the the last nineteen years. He is also a member of the Joan has been a long time for a sand and gravel company. taught modern literature at Central Arbitration Committee Chief Executive at the Rural Chris Tarrant is one of the Foreign Affairs Office of Films include Enchanted April supporter and performer for In 1980 Elspeth was awarded the University of London and and the Regulatory Decisions Development Commission. UK’s most popular television Shanxi Province, has a very with Joan Plowright and the the Prince’s Trust and played headed the English department Committee of the Financial a Fellowship from the presenters and broadcasters. demanding international travel Sineater with Rhys Iffans. Josie for Nelson Mandela on his 70th John plays a key role in leading in a girls’ public school. Winston Churchill Memorial agenda and is the effective also writes, directs and works Services Authority. He sits birthday and wrote a tribute the West Midlands in improving He was born in Reading Trust to lead an expedition to In 1982 she became a full Province Ambassador. on many radio productions. as a Chairman/Member of song entitled The Messenger its economic prosperity. He in October 1946 and was Iceland and in 1998 an OBE time writer and broadcaster. the Disciplinary Panel for the backed by The Kingdom Choir. is closely involved in the educated at King’s School Professor Li has helped to In 2003 Josie spent eight for Services to Education. Her television work includes Institute of Legal Executives and management and delivery in Worcester and the facilitate the Partnership months walking across China, She was nominated Best The First Christian, a six-part is a Member of the Disciplinary In 2002 she was one of the of European funding as University of Birmingham, Agreement that the School Cuba, Peru and Tanzania for Female Vocalist twice for the documentary series on St Paul Panel of the Chartered Institute of Languages & Social Breakthrough Breast Cancer and first people in the country Vice-Chair of the Programme which she wrote and presented where he graduated with of Public Finance Accountancy. Brit Awards and twice for the Sciences now has with Shanxi to be awarded Chartered Monitoring Committee and two interview series a BA(Hons) in English. helped to raise over £550,000. American Grammy Award. She University, enabling up to He is also a member of the Geographer (CGeog) status. responsible for over £800m of entitled Varieties of Religious He became a familiar face for In 2005 she climbed Mount received the Ivor Novello Award 20 young students annually Disciplinary Committee of the Elspeth has been a Fellow of EU expenditure in the region. Experience and Tongues of Fire. many people in Birmingham Kilimanjaro for Sunfield – a for Outstanding Contemporary to come to Aston for a year Royal Pharmaceutical Society. the Royal Geographical Society when he joined Associated school for children with learning Song Collection in 1996 and He led the executive team She now regularly appears of study in the School. Ged joined the Council of Aston has numerous platinum, gold since 1979 and is currently that devised and delivered on radio and television to Television (ATV) in 1972 as a difficulties – of which she University in November 1999 and silver albums. Joan Vice-President of the Society the strategy of the MG Rover comment on religious affairs in writer/presenter on the daily is patron. and has been Chairman of the released a CD of Lullabies and Chairman of its Education Task Force in 2005 and is England and the United States. news programme ATV Today. In 2006 she will be appearing Personnel and Employment Committee. She is a trustee Josie Lawrence With A Difference in December a member of the Midlands Karen is a frequent contributor Two years later he became in Miss Marple and an episode Committee since then. He of the Grantham Yorke trust 1998 for a children’s cerebral Automotive Partnership which to conferences, panels, a front man on the popular Josie Lawrence, acclaimed of The Last Detective. In April is also Chairman of the palsy charity called PACES. and the Frederick Soddy Trust. develops strategies to ensure newspapers, periodicals and Saturday morning children’s TV actress of stage and screen, Josie started work on a new University’s ICT Committee and Joan was nominated as one Elspeth is currently a member of a competitive automotive is a regular columnist for programme Tiswas. The show’s was born in Old Hill in the series, Easy Peasy, playing was appointed Vice Chairman of of the 100 most influential the Council of Aston University. sector in the region. the Guardian newspaper. blend of anarchy, custard pies West Midlands in 1959 and the wife of Peter Davidson. the Council in February 2004.

 AUTUMN 06 AUTUMN 06 

8 9 Autumn 06 Autumn Autumn 06 Autumn

relation to the accuracy or reliability of advertisements placed by them and accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever in relation to such services. such to relation in whatsoever liability or responsibility no accepts and them by placed advertisements of reliability or accuracy the to relation

All offers are subject to terms and conditions. the university provides no guarantees or warranties in relation to the quality or suitability of any services offered by third parties, nor in in nor parties, third by offered services any of suitability or quality the to relation in warranties or guarantees no provides university the conditions. and terms to subject are offers All

employees with an annual turnover below a specified amount. specified a below turnover annual an with employees

Visit www.j-p-a.co.uk/ for more information. information. more for www.j-p-a.co.uk/ Visit *Sme (small and medium sized enterprise) – employs 250 or fewer fewer or 250 employs – enterprise) sized medium and (small *Sme [email protected] for an information pack. information an for [email protected]

company aXccessten. company

of the leading niche market recruitment specialists. specialists. recruitment market niche leading the of woodcock Sports centre on +44 (0)121 204 4623 or email email or 4623 204 (0)121 +44 on centre Sports woodcock

employment & training programme with warwickshire based based warwickshire with programme training & employment

to offer alumni the opportunity to register with one one with register to opportunity the alumni offer to to stop you leading a healthier lifestyle! to join, contact the the contact join, to lifestyle! healthier a leading you stop to

james merrix (2006 BSc computer Science) on the graduate graduate the on Science) computer BSc (2006 merrix james

agreed with recruitment specialists, the jpA group, group, jpA the specialists, recruitment with agreed membership costing £35.00 for Aston alumni, there’s nothing nothing there’s alumni, Aston for £35.00 costing membership

A partnership has been been has partnership A rECruITMENT: JPA

activities such as swimming, aerobics and badminton. with with badminton. and aerobics swimming, as such activities

and qualifications. and

member you can take advantage of vast reductions on many many on reductions vast of advantage take can you member

sports facilities at Aston. once you have joined and become a a become and joined have you once Aston. at facilities sports information about my skills, interests interests skills, my about information

All Aston graduates can now use the the use now can graduates Aston All FACILITIEs: sPorTs take advantage of all the great offers that perkz has available. has perkz that offers great the all of advantage take or email [email protected] email or

relevant profile which brought out out brought which profile relevant

to complete the registration process and you can then log in to to in log then can you and process registration the complete to management and psychology) on +44 (0)121 204 4763 4763 204 (0)121 +44 on psychology) and management

says ‘if you are a first time user click here’. Follow the instructions instructions the Follow here’. click user time first a are you ‘if says

services, contact Aston alumna etta parkes (2003 BSc BSc (2003 parkes etta alumna Aston contact services,

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sent a code. then, go to www.perkz.com and click on the link that that link the on click and www.perkz.com to go then, code. a sent For more information on any of graduate Advantage’s Advantage’s graduate of any on information more For contact the Alumni relations office for an application form. application an for office relations Alumni the contact

course you were on. once this information is verified you will be be will you verified is information this once on. were you course you will be sent an application form in the post. Alternatively Alternatively post. the in form application an sent be will you

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an external borrower, send an email to [email protected] and and [email protected] to email an send borrower, external an

to expand and develop your company’s skill base, graduate graduate base, skill company’s your develop and expand to

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subject to the usual rules of copyright. to join the library as as library the join to copyright. of rules usual the to subject specifically for graduate positions in in positions graduate for specifically to stay in the west midlands, or a local employer seeking seeking employer local a or midlands, west the in stay to

(1989 BSc computing). to register for perkz you will need a a need will you perkz for register to computing). BSc (1989

in the library and use of the library’s photocopy services services photocopy library’s the of use and library the in

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managerial and Administrative Studies) and paul ireland ireland paul and Studies) Administrative and managerial The project is designed very very designed is project The web catalogue is available. printed material can be used used be can material printed available. is catalogue web

autumn with further courses being rolled out across the region. the across out rolled being courses further with autumn

was developed by two Aston graduates David tedford (1989 BSc BSc (1989 tedford David graduates Aston two by developed was subject to the library’s normal loan rules. Access to Aston’s Aston’s to Access rules. loan normal library’s the to subject

midlands. our first course will take place at Aston Science park this this park Science Aston at place take will course first our midlands.

from leading high street retailers and online specialists. perkz perkz specialists. online and retailers street high leading from

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first management position, within companies across the west west the across companies within position, management first

is an online employee discount scheme featuring offers offers featuring scheme discount employee online an is PErKZ use the university library for just £24.50 a year. this entitles entitles this year. a £24.50 just for library university the use

very recent managers and also those aspiring to move into their their into move to aspiring those also and managers recent very

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subsidised training courses (available for Smes). for (available courses training subsidised •

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MANAGEMENT AND LEADErshIP TrAINING TrAINING LEADErshIP AND MANAGEMENT Sandra johnston at [email protected] at johnston Sandra

“ administration; recruitment and advertising online free • 5490 and quote 4970/11788 or email email or 4970/11788 quote and 5490

or to find out more, please call 0121 695 695 0121 call please more, out find to or peter roberts, Aston graduate. Aston roberts, peter achieved. be can it how and team. the get programme offers three main services: main three offers programme get the team.

Bupacare. to take advantage of this offer offer this of advantage take to Bupacare. The course has made me more focused on what I want to do do to want I what on focused more me made has course The develop their new graduate into a valuable member of the the of member valuable a into graduate new their develop

are offering Aston alumni 10% off off 10% alumni Aston offering are BuPA companies make a successful new appointment and and appointment new successful a make companies

employability. the course runs at Aston university, three times a year. year. a times three university, Aston at runs course the employability.

the get programme provides support in order to help help to order in support provides programme get the

course which offers graduates a unique opportunity to boost their their boost to opportunity “unique a graduates offers which course

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gradSkills is a highly interactive, two-day transferable skills skills transferable two-day interactive, highly a is gradSkills

‘Aston alumni’. ‘Aston

skills. they do this via the following four key initiatives: key four following the via this do they skills.

GrADsKILLs

subject to availability. to book, please call 0121 606 9000 and quote quote and 9000 606 0121 call please book, to availability. to subject

region and to provide local Smes with access to high level level high to access with Smes local provide to and region

breakfast included. the offer is available Friday through to Sunday, Sunday, to through Friday available is offer the included. breakfast

and colleges. the project aims to retain graduate skills in the the in skills graduate retain to aims project the colleges. and

forever! here been has she like seems it – seamlessly in discounted rate of £68.00 for a single occupancy room with with room occupancy single a for £68.00 of rate discounted

Aston university and supported by ten further local universities universities local further ten by supported and university Aston

management of information in the team. Naila has fitted fitted has Naila team. the in information of management “ a alumni Aston offering currently is it centre. city Birmingham of

graduate Advantage is a west midlands initiative based within within based initiative midlands west a is Advantage graduate

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Bob peapell supervised naila Akhtar, an Aston undergraduate undergraduate Aston an Akhtar, naila supervised peapell Bob

more details about their conference facilities, please visit visit please facilities, conference their about details more

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central reservations on 08457 73 73 73 and quote quote and 73 73 73 08457 on reservations central

and quote ‘Aston Alumni offer’. Should you wish to see see to wish you Should offer’. Alumni ‘Aston quote and operates throughout the autumn and spring terms. terms. spring and autumn the throughout operates

prove an increasing deterrent. It’s time for both employers and and employers both for time It’s deterrent. increasing an prove

uK and 4,000 worldwide. to book, simply call call simply book, to worldwide. 4,000 and uK

Business School conference centre on +44 (0)121 204 3011 3011 204 (0)121 +44 on centre conference School Business run in the summer vacation, plus a part-time scheme scheme part-time a plus vacation, summer the in run

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for Aston alumni at all their hotels – over 300 in the the in 300 over – hotels their all at alumni Aston for

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to undertake paid project based work experience within within experience work based project paid undertake to

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to exist ‘beyond’ the M25. However, an Aston University based project, Graduate Advantage, is is Advantage, Graduate project, based University Aston an However, M25. the ‘beyond’ exist to

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booked* with them or at lakeside conference centre. they they centre. conference lakeside at or them with booked* are offering a 10% discount on your next next your on discount 10% a offering are CoTTAGEs4you A common perception, often reinforced by the media, is that the graduate labour market ceases ceases market labour graduate the that is media, the by reinforced often perception, common A

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Aston Business School School Business Aston FACILITIEs: CoNFErENCE

off-campus benefits off-campus benefits on-campus wITh wITh go far go

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Alumni sTAy CLosE & CLosE sTAy a race across jpA the atlantic

recruitment crossing the pond home comforts? ‘Crossing the pond’ “Pretty thin on the I’m Anthony Tuite (2004 BSc Public Policy and Management and took on a whole ground really! A Business Administration). You may remember me – I was elected new meaning for bucket, no more as the Aston Students’ Guild President for the 2004-2005 George Simpson than two feet academic year. (2001 BEng away from the I’d like to think that I took the most I possibly could from my Aston Communications other three guys. experience and that culminated with me finding a job at long last! I Engineering and It still makes me say ‘finding a job’, it was actually down to a company called JPA 2005 PhD Optical shudder now.” Recruitment. They took me on as a key graduate candidate and it Fibre Sensors) Despite trying to was this organisation that put me forward for an opportunity with when he rose to the challenge of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean sell Kylie to a passing yacht three weeks into the voyage, the team Computer Futures Solutions (Birmingham office). in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust. The Woodvale-Events Atlantic rowed on battling against the worst weather on record for CFS is the founding company of the STHREE Group (a FTSE 250 Rowing Race 2006 hit the headlines this year, in part due to the December and January. The mid-Atlantic was hit by three low organisation) and the market leader in IT recruitment. Additionally first celebrity entry, but the message that didn’t get in the press pressure systems, two tropical revolving storms and a hurricane. they have recently come 13th in the Sunday Times 100 Best Places was that they came in behind George and his crew who raised Nineteen boats capsized and six were lost, fortunately all survived. to Work, are Investors In People and are always on the lookout for around £10k for their charity! Apex recreates some of the race talented graduates. here, but the full story can be found at www.Atlantic4.co.uk I can honestly say I would not have gone into recruitment as a visitors welcome career had it not been for the guys at JPA. I didn’t even know recruitment was an established industry and a very dynamic and why oh why? With a 360˚ lucrative one at that! horizon of “It’s a cliché, but if you have to thousands of miles Based on JPA’s careful character analysis of me through our ask ‘why?’ you’ll never of water, it was conversations, they were able to expertly direct me to an industry understand the answer,” easy to see and a company that now suits me very well. explained George. “Challenges visitors arriving. If you are currently looking for work why not see what the guys at like this one grip some and terrify “Pilot whales were JPA can do for you. Without a doubt, they have opportunities that others. I’m both, curiously frequent visitors you won’t even know about yet. Good luck with the job hunting! enough. Speaking retrospectively, because they’re I like the self confidence that naturally curious, as are huge families of wild dolphins. The goes with knowing what you’re interesting distinction in the deep ocean is that they watch you. Oil capable of.” tankers are the things to look out for, they can be over 100,000 tonnes and the smaller vessel has to give way.”

the atlantic4 finishing post

The race started 11pm on 19 from La Gomera January 2006, as tropical storm David, Neil, Glynn, Delta hit the George and Kylie Canary Islands. For arrived at Antigua the next 49 days in second place, a home was a 24ft few hours in front fibre glass rowing of the celebrity boat – officially named Atlantic4, but affectionately known as ‘Kylie’ entry of Cracknel to the boys. Because the boat had space for only two people to and Fogul. “Finishing was excellent, as you’d expect after so long sleep at once, they rowed opposite shifts of one hour on/one hour at sea. I don’t remember all that much really, conditions were hard off for the entire crossing. George comments: “People usually ask in the last few miles. It was quite a difficult technical approach in if it was hard to cope with so much exercise and so little sleep. I’d the dark without an engine. It was fantastic to spend time in like to say it wasn’t. In fairness though, the effort and sleep JPA is one of the leading niche market graduate recruitment Antigua and see the other competitors finish, we made good deprivation is only half the story. Isolation is a killer and cabin fever specialists placing inexperienced candidates as well as those friends with them all over the last three years. It’s all about the could easily have become a problem; it’s a psychological battle first with up to five years experience into sales, recruitment, people for me.” business & finance, Engineering & IT, Design & Multi-Media and foremost.” and Graduate Recruitment Programmes. George and the crew rowed for Anthony Nolan Trust, a charity founded in 1974 as the first register of volunteers willing to donate bone marrow in circumstances when a match cannot be found in a patient’s family. For full details of the charity, or to register as a For more information see: j-p-a.co.uk volunteer, please visit www.anthonynolan.com George now works as a laser scientist for BAE Systems in Bristol and can be contacted on [email protected]

10 AUTUMN 06 AUTUMN 06 11 aplumb Probably many of us, disgruntled at some point with our career, have thought about the possibility of starting our own business. When job faced with an opportunity, how many of us are brave enough to accept such a challenge? Reacting to recent publicity about a shortage of plumbers in the UK, Janet Rivers (1977 BSc Maths and Architectural Studies) launched her just like buses I received offers Does she think people are One question that couldn’t Tony Goodhead (1981 BSc own domestic plumbing business Girls on Tap, from three different businesses becoming more used to go without asking is if there Civil Engineering) to tackle the all at the same time. After that, females entering previously have been any really horrible mucky pipes on his beautiful Ladies who Plumb, in 2005. We met up with things started to look up.” male dominated professions, in jobs she’s had to deal with. old wooded boat which her to find out more about the challenges of this case, plumbing? “Obviously “Mercifully I haven’t yet had to he hires out for corporate Janet’s business, Girls on if people call my business sort out a blocked toilet. One entertainment events, www. running her own business and just whether or Tap, was established in 2005 they know they are going to of my most memorable jobs heritageboatcharters We not plumbing is as lucrative a career as we have and was given the strapline get a woman, so I only really so far has been when I had didn’t meet at University Ladies who Plumb to prevent notice a reaction when I park to take a sink out of a work but were introduced a few all been led to believe. it from being confused with my van somewhere. I’ve surface to get the tap out years ago by a mutual friend, an escort agency! Janet deals been accosted in car parks on because it was so badly rusted Martyn Wheatley (1982 BSc Janet worked for Barclays Bank as an Implementation Manager only in domestic plumbing, several occasions by people in place. Before I had decided Mechanical Engineering).” in charge of IT projects earning £40K a year when she decided serving parts of Surrey and who are interested in using to do that, I had spent several to retrain as a plumber. She explains: “I found my job satisfying Berkshire, and has plans to me, so obviously people hours lying on my back in the Finally, does plumbing earn but I wanted to work for myself. I planned to become a freelance franchise the name in the hope aren’t put off by the idea. I dark cupboard under the sink people the huge salaries we IT Consultant until I realised that IT projects are subject to budget that more women will enter hate to admit though that I with my arms in the air trying are all told about? “No. It’s a cuts in difficult times, so I thought about doing something practical plumbing in the future. This is was rather offhand to one to saw that tap off – it wasn’t myth that plumbers earn huge that could ride the ups and downs of the economy. I decided to something actively promoted man who was asking me so pleasant! I never know what salaries. To do so you have to become a plumber having noticed all the publicity surrounding by the Institute of Plumbing many questions that I thought situation I am going to face, but do emergency work charging a national shortage. I figured that a blocked toilet or a nasty and Heating Engineering he was a market researcher so far I have managed to rise high rates and working long, leak will need fixing regardless of the state of the economy.” (IPHE) through their Women – in fact he turned out to be a to every challenge and I always unsociable hours. I don’t in Plumbing Group (WPG), really good customer! Overall, keep a pair of long, heavy duty earn as much money as I Janet took voluntary redundancy from Barclays in 2003 and joined an which offers support both to I think people are generally rubber gloves to hand for the did, but in time I will – and I NVQ Level 2 plumbing course in Oxford, which was held one day a women already in the industry pleased to see women entering day when I will eventually have really enjoy my new career.” week for two years. With plumbing considered by some to be one of and to those considering it as the profession and in some to unblock someone’s toilet!” the last male bastions, was Janet not deterred slightly upon realising a career. Every year the WPG circumstances would be keener that there were to be only two other women on the course to 13 hold an annual conference to hire a female plumber than Talking to Janet it’s obvious to men? “No, not at all. In fact the men were all very supportive. If where women (and men) in a male one.” Janet goes on see that she is truly passionate they ever saw me struggling with something they would frequently the profession can meet and to explain that most of her about her work and holds no show me a better technique. To be honest, the male to female discuss issues relevant to clients are older ladies who regrets about her change in ratio I experienced on the course was similar to that of my degree their work. Janet attends every seem to prefer to deal with career. “I love my job and I love at Aston, so I really wasn’t overly concerned by it. The only real year and aims to become another woman. A lot are also meeting all my clients. It’s just difficulty I experienced during the course was getting the relevant more involved once her older gentlemen, one of whom so rewarding to know that I am work experience. In my view, when doing a course like plumbing, it’s business is fully established. presented her with a lunch of earning my living by providing vital that you are also working in the industry. I don’t know if it was home-baked bread, cheese such a clearly needed service. One thing we were particularly my age, my sex, or if it was just because many smaller businesses and pickles when the job she I now have a very flexible way interested to find out was don’t need extra staff, but it seemed to be one “no” after another. was doing for him went on of working and am looking how the general public have That was the only time I got despondent and wondered if it was for longer than expected. forward to helping my fiancé, really meant to be. I did eventually get work experience – reacted to Janet’s new career.

12 AUTUMN 06 AUTUMN 06 13 Aston Qualification chool cience aston and biffa S

S in Global TACKLE changing a reputation Top Three pplied pplied A qualification from Aston

A Business School is one of the first in the world to be

for excellence Business ston LANDFILL mix recognised by a new quality

award. The Aston DBA (Doctor A of Business Administration) has been accredited by the Association of MBAs.

Designed to appeal to ‘high flying’ directors and senior managers who already hold an chool of Engineering & & Engineering of chool MBA, the DBA is a professional S doctorate where students undertake an independent The internationally acclaimed Aston Studies, a programme of research project into a real business and management research launched in the 1960s and still lauded in the 21st century, issue. ABS was recognised provides Aston Business School with a unique bequest. alongside programmes from Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Kingston ooking back at 40 years include a look at the way supported by an Advice Centre Business School in Surrey. of excellence, Professor leaders play a crucial role in available to all NHS staff. Michael West, Head of the cross-border transfer of ‘Triple crown’ ABS is already L The quality of all the research ranked amongst the top 0.4% Research at Aston Business knowledge and how they can School, said the legacy be helped to best manage conducted in the Business of business schools worldwide. left by the Aston Studies this. This GLOBE (Global School is reinforced by the In June, the School was again cannot fail to inspire today’s Leadership and Organisational fact that the Business School awarded EQUIS accreditation generation of researchers. Effectiveness) Programme is has received QAA teaching by the European Foundation for The significant impact of a worldwide organisation of ratings of 24/24 in the most Management Development. ABS is also recognised by The the weight of material some 170 scholars from 60 recent assessment exercise. Association of MBAs – the MBA produced by those early nations who investigate the Assessors’ reports specifically programme is already accredited – teams remains and Aston cross-cultural forces relevant and consistently cite the and the American Association to Business School continues to effective leadership and research-led culture of the Advance Collegiate Schools to assign research the organisational practices. Around School and the international challenging but essential if the from waste and reduce our of Business, AACSB. highest priority in planning 17,300 middle managers standing of its research as key Aston University’s Bio-Energy Research Government is going to meet dependence on fossil fuels,” and resource allocation. from 950 organisations in distinguishing features. For Group (BERG) and Biffa, one of the UK’s ‘big its target to recover 67 per cent said Stamatios Dacey, the Professor John Saunders, Head 61 countries participated more information on research of Britain’s waste by 2015. BERG PhD student, who was of ABS, said: six’ waste companies, have teamed up to find “Diversity is one of our in the first two phases of degrees at Aston Business awarded the CASE studentship. School go to www.abs.aston. An innovative conversion hallmarks,” said Professor West. the GLOBE Programme. new ways to recover energy from a changing ac.uk/newweb/programmes/ method called fast pyrolysis Fast pyrolysis heats up biomass “As well as a diverse student The Business School is also RDP/ and for an overview of all mix of domestic, commercial and industrial could provide the answer. to very high temperatures population, 36% of our staff currently leading the way in research activity, visit www.abs. BERG and Biffa have been for only a few seconds in the group is not from this country, Accreditation is core landfill waste. research into health provision aston.ac.uk/newweb/research/ selected to research the absence of oxygen to convert so the University as a whole and in the UK. The research carried

The Government’s pledge to cut that generate electricity which technology’s potential under a it into a gas or liquid fuel. The the Business School in particular to our determination out by Aston staff shows how the amount of biodegradable feeds into the national grid. Co-operative Award in Science technology can also separate reflects the diverse nature of Key ABS the UK can manage health to be a leading waste going to landfill by 50 But, as more biodegradable and Engineering (CASE) by valuable metals and other Birmingham. Our research looks research themes:

service organisations to improve per cent from 1995 levels by waste is diverted away the Engineering and Physical products, which can then be at a variety of issues, such • performance “international staff morale, patient care and 2013 means that UK landfill from rubbish dumps, the Sciences Research Council. re-used in building and as how we can maximise the measurement and operators face a very different amount of landfill gases they benefits of diversity within a even reduce patient mortality Using its fast pyrolysis construction materials. BERG management – people, business school; we “ as well as demonstrating how pile of rubbish than in the past. produce declines, making rigs, BERG will investigate will characterise different team or an organisation. We organisations, markets to cut errors in hospitals and the process less efficient. converting the organic fraction waste streams, test them have shown that teams and and economies; want to excel in all Biffa operates over 30 landfill reduce medicine waste in of various waste streams into in its pyrolysis reactors and organisations with a diverse • diversity, knowledge sites across the UK including Landfills will, however, remain the community. Government we do and this a gaseous or liquid fuel to evaluate their potential to make-up are often more efficient and innovation; Poplars, Waresley and Wilnecote a key part of Britain’s waste and the services and goods they policy measures in the health power the existing engines. be used on landfill sites. • leadership, ethics pushes us to keep in the West Midlands. Most management strategy for produce are of a higher quality.” service have been informed and governance; of these sites recover landfill years to come. Converting the “Fast pyrolysis is a technology by the findings of the NHS on learning. gas – mainly methane – to remaining fraction of organic with promise. It offers an Current research projects National Staff Survey – this • strategy, partnerships power reciprocating engines waste into energy onsite is innovative way to recover energy enjoying a similar worldwide is produced annually by the and organisation. reputation to the Aston Studies school up to 2010 and is

14 AUTUMN 06 AUTUMN 06 15 school of life & health sciences 1 the second strand of the initiative is ‘vodcasting’ ‘vodcasting’ is initiative the of strand second the and lectures and practicals record will they to podcasting start will team psychology the and technology existing taken has team the Almonds are one of the richest natural sources of ‘tocopherols’ ‘tocopherols’ of sources natural richest the of one are Almonds Autumn06 A lecture... virtual Pedagogy Initiative, a five-strand teaching teaching five-strand a Initiative, Pedagogy virtual cells involved in blood vessel function. group’sfunction. initial the vessel blood in involved cells change in terms of the way students learn. students way the of terms in change of the way it could accelerate the process of of process the accelerate could it way the of it undergraduates. for methods learning new of series a create to before than scale different a on Can almonds Can help yourheart? only for the school but for the whole university. whole the for but school the for only A series of exciting new teaching initiatives in the the in initiatives teaching new exciting of series A (video on demand). the beauty of vodcasts is that that is vodcasts of beauty demand). the on (video students can stream onto an i-pod or watch online. watchonline. or i-pod an onto stream can students and ways new in together them put and software you’re talking about something that is both at the the at both is that something about talking you’re they can capture both the lecture and the audience audience the and lecture the both capture can they that stream audio quality a into results the turn School of life & health Sciences led by professor helen griffiths have been awarded funding by the the by funding awarded been have griffiths helen professor by led Sciences health & life of School Students can subscribe to the podcast service service podcast the to subscribe can Students reduced body weight in some people who took part in the study. the in part took who people some in weight body reduced improved snack almond daily a eating that shown have results new students from the start of the new term. term. new the of start the from students new forefront of broadcasting and highly fashionable. fashionable. highly and broadcasting of forefront more likely to have a heart attack before the age of 50 than women), is is women), than 50 of age the attackbefore heart a have to likely more disease. cardiovascular developing of risk the reduce can months making it more like a radio show and, as such, as and, show radio a like more it making antioxidant function, tocopherols can reduce the activity of of activity the reduce can tocopherols function, antioxidant an having as well as that, believes group Aston the and health. vascular future safeguarding of effectiveway but simple a are (who men of particularly people, young of diet the in improvement and a more effective and dynamic way to learn. to way dynamic effectiveand more a also will podcasts updates. automatic get and will be a permanent record of what they have learnt. have they what of record permanent a be will participation. Students can keep these films and they they and films these keep can Students participation. mention the phrase ‘podcasting’ and you know know you and ‘podcasting’ phrase the mention Food Standards Agency to investigate whether eating a daily almond snack for two two for snack almond daily a eating whether investigate to Agency Standards Food project with enormous long-term potential not not potential long-term enormous with project next time you tuck into a packet of almonds you may be helping your heart. researchers in the the in researchers heart. your helping be may you almonds of packet a tuckinto you time next with technician Jon wood, have developed the the Jon developed technician havewood, with Diseases like cardiovascular disease are known to arise over several decades decades several over arise to known are disease cardiovascular like Diseases the way that Aston students learn. Psychology Psychology learn. students that wayAston the school of Life & health sciences could change could sciences health & Life of school is already attracting attention, not least because because least not attention, attracting already is lecturers Pete reddy and Carl senior,Carl together and reddy Pete lecturers blood vessel function, reduced blood pressure and even and pressure blood reduced function, vessel blood be used in the weekly psychology newsletter psychology weekly the in used be BuT NoT As wE KNow IT! “ pedagogy flexiblepusha initiative. forstudentsour infrastructure underpinsthe betweenstaffthe Our desireOur to entirevirtual studentstheand communityof createsensea alsotoand distance learning “ ‘mini-pods’ (high-quality, short video files that the the that files video short (high-quality, ‘mini-pods’ the fourth strand is the ‘campus cam’ which will will which cam’ ‘campus the is strand fourth the 30 a with students provide will ‘mini-pods’ these the third strand of the initiative has captured the the captured has initiative the of strand third the jon wood added: “we are proactively reaching out out reaching proactively are “we jon added: wood enable events at one part of the campus to be be to campus the of part one at events enable our students, giving them more responsibility and and responsibility more them giving students, our will which lecture, the Virtual is initiative the of distance learning infrastructure for our students and and students our for infrastructure learning distance lectures. these in involved become can students a of points salient most the of snapshot second set of valuable skills to take into employment.” into take to skills valuable of set these about learn and use they As product. quality virtual entire the underpins students the and staff carl Senior says: “our desire to push a flexible flexible a push to says: “ourdesire Senior carl to provide students with what they need. need. what they what with students provide to new technologies, they will be well versed in them them in versed well be will they technologies, new all and website Aston the on internet the on run mobile phones using mmS or Bluetooth technology). technology). Bluetooth or mmS using phones mobile also to create a sense of community between the the between community of sense a create to also attention of the national press. this is the use of of use the press. is this national the of attention psychology team will push out to individual student student individual to out push will team psychology perhaps most importantly flexibility in their studies.” their in flexibility importantly most perhaps formal taking is do we everything initiative. pedagogy is also important is that we are offering them a them offering are we that is important also is lecture, which they can then refer to at a later date. later a at to refer then can they which lecture, lectures out of the classroom and into the hands of of hands the into and classroom the of out lectures broadcast to another location. the final strand strand final location. the another to broadcast before they leave Aston, giving them an additional additional an them giving Aston, leave they before T Newpostgraduateannounced course with sport at the forefront of of forefront the at sport with As if the the wasn’t if worldCup As many people’s minds – the the – people’sminds many toDAY’S Youth and languages, which received which languages, and for this summer, this invited for Aston Birmingham and solihull to a to solihull and Birmingham enough of a sporting event event sporting a of enough graduates will gain a knowledge and and knowledge a gain will graduates Midlands top football clubs. football top Midlands across schools six from pupils exercise of political and economic power economic and political of exercise stage. international The the on actor Germany. Contemporary in MA and support from some of the the of some from support sport to devoted day special 60 enthusiastic year eight eight year enthusiastic 60 complement the existing and highly highly and existing the complement successful MA in in MA Translationa successful in understanding of the Eu’s role as an an as Eu’s role the of understanding German. There is also a suite of MAs MAs of suite a German. also is There studies for for studies offeredTeachers be will Contemporary Modern Language Language Modern Contemporary European union (Eu) and International International and (Eu) union European in studies MA Context, TEsoL European relations. Through this programme programme relations. this Through in MA an and Linguistics in Applied and French and French, German in of new MA programmes to programmes MA new of sciences has developed a series a developed has sciences he school of Languages & social social & Languages of school he sPorTs sTArs? tomorrow’S the students experienced a experienced students the taster lesson in mandarin, in in mandarin, in lesson taster pupils show to opportunity the world cup dominated much dominated cup world games to be held in Beijing, Beijing, in held be to games language could take them a step step a them take could language honour of the next olympic olympic next the of honour additional an speaking how career in the world of sport. of world the in career dream their achieving to closer of june and july – Aston took took Aston – july and june of and also discussed the the discussed also and the suite of mAs in contemporary modern modern contemporary in mAs of suite the will linguistics Applied in mA the experience in classroom practice but that that but practice classroom in experience concepts these apply to them enable created because many foreign language language foreign many because created occurring spoken and written data. written and spoken occurring and there is a strong policy focus. policy strong a is there and they struggle to maintain their fluency fluency their maintain to struggle they considerable acquire they that feel teachers language Studies for for Studies teachers been language have provide graduates with a grounding in in grounding a with graduates provide in the foreign language. moreover, their moreover,their language. foreign the in naturally of range a of analysis the in key linguistic concepts and models and and models and concepts linguistic key busy schedule may leave them unable to to unable them leave may schedule busy in a globalised world will be explored explored be will world globalised a in who are multi-lingual. are who welfare and liaison officer liaison and welfare lorna mcclelland, who is the the is who mcclelland, lorna several languages has helped helped has languages several speaking how about students those to open are that sport range of job opportunities in in opportunities job of range her work closely with the the with closely work her players and their families. their and players attended the event to talk to the the to talk to event the attended club, Football Aston Villa at explained: “these new programmes, run programmes, new “these explained: can also explore developments in the the in developments explore also can countries the of economics and culture of translation Studies in the School the of in translationStudies german or French speaking world. world. Frenchthey speaking or german departments, meet the precise needs of of needs precise the meet departments, to language teaching and the politics, politics, the and teaching language to theory and practice of language teaching.” language of practice and theory the in events with date to up themselves bring and competence language their experienced give they that in teachers where the foreign language is spoken. is language foreign the where postgraduate programmes/Director programmes/Director postgraduate practitioners the opportunity to refresh refresh to opportunity the practitioners Dr christina Schaeffner, Director of of Schaeffner, Director christina Dr jointly by our French, german and english english and French,german our by jointly keep up to date with both new approaches approaches new both with date to up keep “we were really pleased to to pleased really were “we and French,german speak “i the event was also supported supported also was event the valuable in so many professions professions many so in valuable who help make an event like like event an make help who and huge is sport of world to sport and languages. i am am i languages. and sport to the see can we and world the the world cup a success.” a cup the world day a that think i world. that Spanish,” “the explained. she executive, roy whalley,executive, who Aston, Annie Bannerman, said: said: Bannerman, Annie Aston, languages for life officer life for languages Football club has welcomed welcomed has club Football useful for professional sports sports professional for useful sure the pupils had a fantastic fantastic a had pupils the sure years, “over walsall said: the they are only not sport. in don’t people as idea great a is speaking so international languages are really useful useful really are languages help spread the message that that message the spread help connection the highlighting to passport unique a having benefit of Aston university university Aston of benefit over all from staff and players by walsall Football club chief chief club byFootball walsall but athletes, as such players, languages and sport between opportunities within sport.” within opportunities devoted event an organising opportunity to promote this.” promote to opportunity having two. the connect often day and learnt a lot about job job about lot a learnt and day also to the hundreds of people people of hundreds the to also at event the of organiser and great a is cup the world and be can language second a like bit a is language another Autumn06 1

school of languages & social sciences top oF the clASS: into the LEArNING For LIFE DrAGoN’s Spaghetti service through DEN interDiSciplinArY StuDieS nets charity money combined honours combined

Interdisciplinary study is becoming increasingly popular with new entrants and the achievements of our graduates highlight just why! More than 200 students graduated from combined honours this year and more than 300 new students will be enrolled for this academic year. The employment rate for combined honours has increased to 80 per cent.

There are many advantages he has recently completed an he loved at degree level. to studying a combined mSc in operational research According to robert one of the honours degree. students and management Studies best things about combined who study two subjects and he is just about to start a honours at Aston is the 50/50 tend to gain multiple skills phD in management. when split between psychology and which is very beneficial he completes his research, Sociology: “i think combined In my experience, sophie stevens (2006 Bsc Applied and human Biology) when they are looking for he hopes to work around honours students are better has recently returned from the usA where she gave a

employment. It appears the world as a management prepared for a hectic work employers like presentation at Disney world on research she carried out that some employers favour consultant before embarking life than other students, as “ during her placement year at Twycross Zoo. The project was

those who have studied a on a career in academia. you have to very quickly learn combined honours in the field of reptile environment and enrichment, which combined honours degree to manage your time and is a relatively new field of research and looks at how the over single honours graduates. combined honours subjects projects effectively – a skill i graduates as it living conditions for reptiles in captivity can be improved so Aston students often opt for allow students to have a strong need in my employment as shows a“ degree that they can be as happy in their enclosures as possible. vocational focus, putting into studying a familiar subject a teacher of Sociology and Aston’s answer to Jamie oliver, David Koulakis (aka ‘spag Bol practice what they have learnt. Sophie wanted to create an to present a paper at an alongside a new one. psychology,” said robert. of all-round Dave’, 2006 Bsc Accounting for Management) cooked up a An example of this is the environment for the Bearded international conference and storm on campus during his final year with his highly original latest annual statistics show Business game where students in many universities this Dragons at twycross that would it shows the value that taking knowledge. way of raising money for Cancer research uK. the employability rate for are required to work in teams balanced syllabus is not on offer. make them stop exhibiting a placement year adds to the Business Administration has to run a company. the Business Since robert started, however, the stereotypical behaviour student experience. twycross he has almost reached his target of raising £2,000 for charity since been excellent – 87 per cent of game uses computer simulation some major/minor combinations associated with animals in Zoo and Aston university co- he first shared his culinary skills in September 2005 by establishing students went into employment to track how decisions affect have become available within captivity. this would help them funded the trip. Sophie says: “i a home cooking pasta service. the popularity of his spaghetti or further study. our graduates the business and student teams combined honours, although to express the normal behaviour feel extremely privileged to have bolognese empire resulted in him making the dish for up to 30 now work for top businesses are compared with others most students still opt for the that they would display in the been given the opportunity to students a week, with all proceeds going to cancer research uK. such as hSBc, Kpmg as well in the university who are 50/50 split. “in my experience,” wild. Sophie redesigned their present my paper at the rAte as many others. Similarly high taking part. As well as being he continued, “employers like enclosure (totally changing conference. without the help the fun and quirky service (together with a little help from his rates for computer Science an excellent way to acquire combined honours graduates the original exhibit) to create a of twycross Zoo and Aston in friends) established ‘Spag Bol Dave’ as a popular choice for many have been reported – 95 per new skills such as teamwork, as it shows a degree of naturalistic environment. She allowing me to carry out my students around the campus fancying a takeaway or their own cent of all graduates went into presentation and other ‘soft all-round knowledge.” changed the lighting, added research during my placement visiting chef. Dave also captured the media’s attention appearing in employment with companies skills’ that gives them an edge rocks and wood, altered the year and providing funding this numerous articles and broadcasts from BBc midlands today to the such as iBm and Barclays on their career, students also Dr roy Smith, Director of temperature and supplied the would not have been possible.” evening Standard (london). or on to further study. find the module great fun. combined honours, says: “we optimum amount of water. are always striving to enhance Sophie’s project has had such an the success of his home cooking service was certainly not the gary preece (2005 BSc the employability rates for the employability of our Sophie noticed a conference impact that she has been asked only money making venture of ‘Spag Bol Dave’s’. he also recently computer Science and Business Sociology and psychology graduates. contact with advertised in Zoo News asking to return to twycross Zoo to took part in the london marathon, completing it in four hours Administration) explained: have also increased with 90 alumni is vital for this for papers to be sent for the give another presentation about and 53 minutes. “i chose a combined honours per cent of graduates entering and we appreciate rAte (reptile and Amphibian her work and plans are in hand degree as it gave me the employment or further study. any feedback from training and enrichment) to publish some of her work cancer research uK is a charity very close to Dave’s heart. After the flexibility to study two subjects graduates work for top our graduates about conference, which was to be in a special reptile enrichment diagnosis of his father’s cancer, Dave felt the need to do his bit to i was interested in. i had companies such as Deloitte, how their degrees held at Animal Kingdom in book. Sophie admits she’s not help others: “looking back on the whole experience – training, not decided on a firm career natwest, microsoft and have helped their orlando, uSA. She sent an sure yet what she’d like to cooking and the marathon – i can proudly say i accomplished what path before studying at Aston Vodafone amongst others. career development.” abstract from her work and was specialise in, so whether it’s i set out to at the start of the year and that was to achieve and the combined honours astounded when she received making reptiles happy or home something out of the ordinary. the kindness and support people on programme allowed me to robert Snelson (2004 BSc a reply asking her to give a improvements for other animals, campus gave to me through the ‘Spag Bol Dave’ scheme really kept keep my options open.” Since psychology and Sociology) presentation at the conference. the Alumni relations office me focused and motivated and got me through the 26.2 miles of completing his degree, gary feels that choosing a combined wishes Sophie many further the marathon.” has chosen to stay on at Aston honours course allowed him to it is a real honour for an successes in her future career. if you would like to donate to ‘Spag Bol Dave’s’ quest to raise money for postgraduate study. carry on studying two subjects undergraduate studying for their first degree to be invited for cancer research uK, visit www.justgiving.com/spagboldave

18 Autumn 06 Autumn 06 19 New minibus arrives on campus thanks to alumni generosity

Gifts come in many shapes conditions. Sports © Network Rail

and sizes and one that arrived clubs and societies on the campus recently was a depend heavily on

minibus for the students’ these minibuses for All chAnge At Guild – a donation from Aston travelling to matches, alumni through the 2005 going on trips and excursions or telefundraising campaigns taking members to courses and organised through the office “ conferences. in fact, they would The minibuses are vital for the of Advancement. within struggle to function without NEw sTrEET sTATIoN minutes it was placed into them. Guild as a whole. They are even used for service ferrying students to Martin Chambers (1981 Bsc Station is, in my opinion, the one importantly, ‘gateway’ will the ongoing railway and the Tamworth for their ski and “the minibuses are vital for the picking up new international students at Building Economics and thing in Birmingham that hasn’t provide for an increase in the ‘on pallasades Shopping centre, will snowboard lessons. Needless guild as a whole. they are even used for picking up new “ Measurement) could be changed for the better. i don’t station’ passenger handling be no easy feat! As martin to say, the Guild and the the start of the academic year. forgiven for wondering what want graduates in twenty years capacity of more than 15 per explains, phase two, scheduled students are delighted. international students at the 0 start of the academic year. he has done to deserve his to be saying the same thing.” cent on top of today’s numbers, for development between march gill clark, guild Student having a new bus means that latest challenge, the improving the lives of 2011 and june 2013 will be more A station on the new Street site Development co-ordinator, said: more students can participate in redevelopment of Birmingham passengers. it will include a challenging still! “we will deliver For the students involved in last cultural nature – were ecstatic was first opened in 1854. this “the guild is delighted to have a student activities and the guild New street station. But, in stunning atrium, bringing natural concourse and operations areas year’s calling campaigns the with their success. As student was followed by a major brand new 17-seat minibus saves money because we don’t reality it’s a challenge that he daylight flooding down on to the that are again more than double purchase of the minibus was caller, rafi mendelsohn, said: expansion in 1885, with the courtesy of Aston alumni. have to hire so many. good appears to be relishing! main concourse, and even the the size of those currently on great news. these students – “calling for Aston university was current station being opened in news all round! we are all platforms, for the first time in the station.” from across the four Schools, really rewarding. not only did i many of you may well recall 1967. it was designed to cope “it joined the ‘fleet’ recently and extremely grateful for this very over 50 years. As martin both undergraduate and get to do something i enjoyed, that martin was the leader of with just 640 train movements a looks very impressive with its generous donation. it will be put explains, the project is not martin seems unfazed by the postgraduate programmes, and but it was for such a great the team responsible for the day, but today it handles 1,350 new livery. we now have three to good use!” limited to physical construction size of the task ahead. indeed, minibuses of varying ages and who reflect Aston’s diverse cause too.” successful delivery of trains – by comparison heathrow works, it will see the creation of as a result of his involvement Birmingham’s £114m millennium airport currently handles just three new concourses operating with new Street Station, martin point, a nearby neighbour of the 1,300 flights! the fact that new has moved to position 76 in the university. Since millennium Street has been able to cope as ‘airport style’ departure top power100, as recently listed point opened, martin has not with such a phenomenal growth lounges so that passengers can innoVatiVE Blog in midlands Business insider exactly been idle. As well as in volume is nothing short of a remain at concourse level until StAte-oF-the-Art hElps alumni magazine. As if the challenge of remaining a member of the Board miracle. the time has now come their train is ready for boarding. connEct with rebuilding new Street isn’t at millennium point, he notably to make the station ‘fit for PrEsENTATIoN suITE studEnt callErs Following some 18 months of enough, in june 2007 martin played the lead role for Bovis purpose’ in the 21st century. train movement and timetable will also be installed as the the spring telemarketing lend lease in securing project plAnneD For the guilD planning, construction of the president of the chartered campaign saw the launch of a SlAm, the moD’s £1Bn uK wide martin is leading a team that will oversee the creation of a fourth first phase will begin in 2008. institute of Building. it sounds responding to urgent student demands about the need for presentation and study areas within blog, or online diary. the first accommodation modernisation. generation new Street Station, A new station concourse will be like Birmingham and Aston the university, the Aston students’ Guild, along with the office of Advancement, is working to of its kind in the uK, the blog now his attentions have turned known as the ‘gateway’ project. built ‘offline’ whilst the current university have a great redevelop the second floor of the Guild building. contained details of the station continues to operate ambassador in martin. we wish progress of the four week to new Street Station. the investment on the station site, According to nathan Shane,Vice-president Finance and Advancement: “the project is still at an early campaign, plus photos of the Station has a long history but including the construction of normally. At twice the size of him all the best for what looks stage. An area will be emptied and all electrical and wireless points installed as part of a larger project. callers themselves, which has been neglected for too long. two of the highest towers ever the current concourse area, like a very exciting few years the AV equipment and furnishings will be added at a later stage when funding has been received were posted on a daily basis. As martin puts it: “Since leaving to grace the city skyline, will delivering phase one by march and look forward to further

through the office of Advancement. the presentation suite will be free to use by all students of the to view the spring blog, log Aston in 1981, new Street total more than £500m. most 2011 with minimal disruption to updates in due course.

university to help improve key skills which are required by employers. the cost of the AV equipment and onto www.teamadvancement. furnishings is £30,000. we are hoping that alumni will respond to this project in the same generous way blogspot.com “ that they helped to fund the minibus, which arrived on campus earlier this year.” “ the autumn campaign’s blog – I first saw New street in 1972 on my arrival to Aston. My initial impression of the station still holds today. It has the Aston Students’ guild presentation suite is one of several projects being undertaken by the office of 21 october to 19 november – It’s both comforting and disconcerting that nothing much to be the most depressing and unlovable of any major city Advancement’s autumn student phone campaign. other projects include student bursaries and can be found at “ has changed in the past 34 years! “ station – not a place to linger! placement grants, e-workstations located in convenient locations in the university providing 24-hour www.give2aston.blogspot.com Keith Austin (1976 BSc civil engineering) Adrian clarkson (1972 BSc pharmacy) computer access for students and grants for research students to allow them to attend essential academic workshops outside the university.

20 Autumn 06 Autumn 06 21 Peter Sexton be married next July. Anne and 1974 PhD Metallurgy I have both been volunteering for the NGO, Habitat for “After graduating I returned Humanity International, leading to the USA with an English volunteer groups to South Africa, girlfriend from Four Oaks, Anne Botswana, Chile, Paraguay and Wilson, and an Aston PhD! We Bolivia to build housing for the married in 1975. Since our family disadvantaged. I have been able has travelled extensively, Anne to keep in contact with many and I chose Bhutan as a location from my course, including Joe to celebrate our 30th wedding Littleton, Bob Phillips, Henryk anniversary. We were struck Pisarski, Prof Terry Barnby.” where by the people, culture, history are they and scenery. Currently I am the Business Development Manager at Technic Inc. We produce and Did you market a full range of precious metal powders which are used graduate Itching to find out whatnow your friends from Aston are up to? Looking to see in a wide variety of electronics applications including plasma in the 70s? who’s up to what and with whom? Well look no further because ‘Where are displays, photovoltaic (solar) We’d love to find out ? cells, ceramic capacitors, etc. I they now?’ is the place to find out the latest news from Aston’s thriving alumni what you’re up to! travel extensively to Asia and network. You never know, you might just spot someone you want to get in Europe on business. Anne and I Email: touch with. If you want your face noticed in the spring edition, contact us at the live in Cohasset, Massachusetts, [email protected] half a mile from the Atlantic usual address with your news – and, go on, send a photograph! Ocean and 18 miles from or write to: Boston. We both enjoy skiing, Alumni Relations Office mountaineering, and the Aston University cultural activities of Boston. I Aston Triangle also sail, though Anne has yet Birmingham SPRU Sussex University for 25 Kollengode to show much enthusiasm B4 7ET years and, for nearly a decade Narayanan for this! We have a 29 year 1960s Professor of Environmental 1970s old daughter, Alissa, who is Deadline: 1967 BSc Chemical Regulation and Director of resident in Manhattan and will February 2007 Engineering the Global Environmental Mike Griffin Thomas Whiston 1966 Postgraduate Programme at “My last job was as Vice- 1970 BSc Behavioural BSc Applied Chemistry Roskilde University, Denmark. President ITC (Agribusiness), Bob Dunning Science Quite a bit of industrial and Calcutta. I am currently 1976 BSc Production Engineering “I obtained my degree in other research was also a Consultant for Numico “I misbehaved with Margaret “For the last twenty years or so I have worked in the 1966 when Aston got its undertaken in several national International, Holland and Wadeson (1970 BSc aerospace industry. In the early ‘90s I was managing director charter, but studied at the research labs. I have lectured Roche Diagnostics, India. Behavioural Science) until we of a sizeable company that many may know, TI Accles and College of Technology on and researched on all five I live in Bangalore.” married in 1987. My career Pollock in Oldbury. During this time I did a great amount Suffolk Street. I left in the continents over the past forty has spanned a range of HR of travelling to the US, the Middle and Far East, selling the early 1960s and undertook years which has taken me to and manufacturing roles in company’s products. Since graduating I have worked in a few more postgraduate more than 40 countries. At Bowater, Glaxo, Dairy Crest Birmingham, Leeds, London, Cheltenham and France. For degrees at several universities one stage I was fortunate to and the NHS. Currently I the last five years I have been MD of a company based in in physical chemistry, be asked to write a national Did you am HR Director for Kings Derbyshire and am travelling much less now, thankfully! ergonomics, cybernetics and blueprint for a new system College Hospital, London. The company was recently sold by the French owners to a cognitive psychology. This led of higher education and graduate We live In High Wycombe UK-based company. I will miss the trips to France and my to my undertaking numerous research policy for South in the 60s? where Margaret teaches French boss. I now live in North Warwickshire. My daughter, academic, governmental and Africa following the fall of psychology and sociology in from another existence, is 21 and starts her final year at international agency reviews apartheid. I am presently We’d love to find out a local secondary school. We Birmingham University doing a Sociology degree. Only one of higher education policy, Emeritus Professor and what you’re up to! have three sons, the last of more year of payments – yes! I still foolishly support Walsall national science policy issues, Adjunct Professor at Roskilde whom is just embarking on his Football Club through good, bad and worse times. I also still innovation and forecasting University and Honorary Email: A-Levels. We’re mad about the have a love of music that was developed at Aston, namely studies, global environmental Professor at Sussex University [email protected] theatre and music. We would ‘Yes’ (even been to the US to see them), ‘Kinks’, blues and studies for such bodies as and an Active Member of the be delighted to hear from jazz. I also still have a love of good quality beer, as you can NESCO, IIEP, OECD, NRC, Club of Rome. After all those or write to: former chums, nay comrades tell from my picture! I also have a passion for walking, the NSF, ICSU and most of the years and all that travel my Alumni Relations Office Aston University (this was the pre-modernist only exercise I have now. In October I am starting to study UK Research Council bodies, heart is still in Brum where Aston Triangle era of Biggles and Trotsky).” again but will not say what or where. At Aston I was Chairman the work being summarised in my family have lived for the more than 150 books, journal Birmingham Contact the Alumni of the Production Engineering Society. Most of the events past two hundred years.” B4 7ET articles, governmental studies Relations Office for Mike seemed to involve beer and women – nothing educational at and research reports. I have and Margaret’s details. all! At the time it was fun, but I have to say I now look back Deadline: been a Lecturer in Psychology and cringe a little! Can you guess where I am walking?” February 2007 at Manchester University; Senior Research Fellow at

22 AUTUMN 06 AUTUMN 06 23 Development Agency (SiDA) and in pakistan with the 1980s Asian Development Bank (ADB). Before this, Kevin was lecturer for Business english at the otto-Friedrich universität, Bamberg, germany. spotlight on... Kevin has also completed a postgraduate Diploma in Applied economics and, more recently, a master’s in international and Development economics. he says he’d be happy to share a beer with anyone passing through from the ‘old country.’ JamEs daViE 1984 Bsc managerial and administrative studies

“After graduating, i went on to qualify as a chartered Accountant. my career progressed into training and recruitment and i worked for over two years in the middle east. returning to the uK in 1995, i focused my career on KatiE lomas spotlight on... recruitment and since 2001 199 Bsc applied have worked for lord Search & piErs mClEish, miKE audis, roB parKinson, and human Biology Selection recruiting executives KEt chauhan and chris BaYnE and senior management across “After spending several years Bsc 1993 computer science founded Armstrong Acl identified the need to open a northern office. this is a range of disciplines and working in retail and recruitment consultants ltd in 1993. Specialists in the development, supply situated in runcorn and managed by yet another Aston graduate, industry sectors. Based in the i decided to have a complete and implementation of a comprehensive range of integrated piers mcleish (2003 BSc international Business and French). west midlands, i work on a change of direction. last year service, finance and crm solutions, Armstrong consultants Despite the growth, the directors still consider themselves national and international basis, i started a two-year training are now uK leaders in their sector. the business started in a ‘hands on’ and are very much a part of the day-to-day running with a significant amount of Yaohua Zhu course to become a probation spare room at chris’ parents’ house in harpenden, but has of the company. their philosophy is to ‘work hard, play hard’ work in hong Kong and china. i officer. i am studying for a BA since grown to six directors, employing over 60 employees and have won numerous industry awards in recent years. 1983 phd metallurgy and materials am married with two daughters in community justice alongside in two uK offices, with a turnover of £6m last year. in 2003, Engineering and 200 dsc Engineering and aged eleven and seven. i an nVQ in community justice applied science continue to follow leeds linked to work-based learning united (despite their fall from Yaohua has worked as a Senior research Fellow at hong and it keeps me very busy! i grace!) and my other passion Kong polytechnic university since 1998. he was recently will qualify in october 2007 is a 1989 tVr, which makes awarded the degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) from Aston and then the fun begins! on a noise that always brings a in march 2006 after the Senate of the university assessed a personal note i now live smile to my face! i would love 2000s his selected 69 published academic journal articles (where in leeds (having bought a to hear from anyone who is Dr Zhu appeared mostly as the first author). the DSc house last year) with my considering a career move or is a higher doctorate and one of the highest academic cat and housemate.” claire Barker Jerry talandis Jr. who needs to recruit someone!” recognitions any researcher of science can obtain. it carries (née taylor) 200 msc teaching great prestige and acknowledges the holder’s achievements sarah gilEs 2001 Bsc maths and English to speakers through distinguished, substantial and original contributions 1998 Bsc french Business administration of other languages to the advancement of science. Dr Zhu graduated from the north-east university of china in 1965. he is considered an and german “on graduating from Aston (tEsol) authority in his subject because of his painstaking research 1990s i returned to Deloitte, my “After graduating i worked in the on microstructure, phase transformation and processing in placement year employer, “my mSc dissertation involved field of european politics and materials science. to complete my training creating a website that KEVin chadwicK funding, both in the uK and in contract and i qualified as a archived messages sent to our 1993 Bsc international Brussels. in 2003, however, i chartered Accountant in july program’s email discussion Business and german had a bit of a career change – i 2003. on 6 September 2003 Email: list. my aim was to provide am soon to be ordained into i married craig Barker (2000 BSc computer Science). in may Did you [email protected] Kevin joined the cie (centre access to our community’s discourse history and enable past, the church of england. i am 2005 i qualified as a chartered tax Adviser and am now practising for international economics) present, and future participants to benefit from the accumulated now working in the centre of as a corporate tax manager for Deloitte in Birmingham. craig graduate or write to: in canberra, Australia as an insights and wisdom. After a period of rest and rejuvenation, i telford – and still get to use set up his own it contracting company in june 2005, which Alumni relations office economist in 2005. prior to this, hope to continue this project at the phD level at Aston, where my languages in the field of is doing really well, and we are now both enjoying spending in the 80s? Aston university he successfully established i will investigate how this resource can grow into a more Aston triangle ecumenism. i wonder what the time with our son Samuel who was born on 25 january 2006. we’d love to find out and managed his own online interactive, self-sustaining enterprise, one that takes advantage Birmingham next ten years will bring...!” what you’re up to! translation business. Kevin of capabilities provided by emerging ‘web 2.0’ technologies.” B4 7et has worked in the lao pDr with the Swedish international

24 Autumn 06 Autumn 06 25 Did you graduate in the 2000s? union we’d love to find out what you’re up to! re: One of the highlights of the alumni year is the AGM of Convocation – a weekend of Email: [email protected] activities, talks, food and fine company. This year we welcomed almost 200 people back BEn pusEY to campus for a varied programme which proved to be a lot of fun. KatE sEagrott or write to: 2001 BEng 2002 BEng chemical Alumni relations office there was also the chance to hear directly from the Vice chancellor, professor mike wright, about Aston’s vision and forward strategy, meet Electromechanical some of our current students to get an idea of life on campus today and visit the newly-furbished psychology labs. For those of you who Engineering Aston university Engineering Aston triangle weren’t able to join us – and for those of you who did! – here’s a reminder of the event. spotlight on... Birmingham B4 7et Both briefly worked in engineering before becoming self-employed; stand for Ben as a plumber and Kate as a clothes designer. Kate’s clothing Deadline: company, Kate’s clothing, quickly expanded and Ben has now February 2007 the standing given up his job to work with her full-time on the business. the company is based in Birmingham and employs two Aston students Committee of part-time. Both former rockSoc committee members, Kate and pEtE matthEws Convocation Ben design specifically for the goth and alternative clothing if you like the idea of being market. their designs can be viewed at www.katesclothing.com 200 Bsc Business involved more closely with administration and Aston and want to join computer science A relaxed lunch for all. others who care about the “Since completing my degree welfare of the university, morning coffee set us (which was spread over an its students and graduates, alastair toYnton (aka allY) off on the right foot! amazing seven years and two then consider a nomination 2003 Bsc translation studies different Schools) life has been for election to the Standing with french and german both hectic and fantastic. After committee of convocation. “i was taken ill at the end of my year abroad and had to go rEBEcca worlEdgE working over the summer in the the Standing committee through my final year whilst on dialysis, which meant four thirty- 2005 msc information Alumni relations office, i went is the official university minute sessions every day in my room. i finally received a kidney technology to italy for nearly two weeks committee that represents transplant in December 2005 after a couple of serious scares with 5,500 european Scouts at a the views of Aston’s alumni. “i spent my final term at Aston and recently completed my first week of work since university big tri-annual camp in Florence. members are kept up to date studying as an exchange student as a barman at the world rowing championships in eton for a here i helped as part of the with current decisions on at the university of oulu in the corporate events company. i found i had enough strength and international service team with Aston’s strategic direction north of Finland. i chose to study energy to complete nine days in a row – a major step in my long people from ireland, Finland, and issues that directly in Finland because i reasoned road to recovery. i now have a job working at the hinds head italy, portugal, Spain, etc. A chance to get back into affect alumni are debated that i would never ever go there hotel Bar and restaurant in Bray, which is owned by heston coming back from a fantastic the guild – the social heart of and discussed. members otherwise, which is a shame Blumenthal and is next to his the Fat Duck restaurant.” trip like that is always a bit of Aston. we had a glimpse of regularly receive reports because it is a wonderful country a comedown, especially when student life today whilst we from the guild, reports from – the people are warm, the you realise you have to get a Visit to the newly-furbished psychology labs: experiments grabbed partners and clicked Aston graduates’ Association scenery is fantastic, and there job! reluctantly i signed on and into the effect of driver behaviour and hazard perception and our heels with the moves and reports from both want to be in Apex? is a thriving it industry. i liked eye trackers and their role in consumer psychology. a week later was off again on of the Salsa Dance group. academic Schools and support it here, so i stayed on and got another Scout trip, this time to service departments around If you would like to be featured in a job working for a company north Devon to run activities for campus. the committee ‘Where are they now?’ called mentor graphics. mentor my local explorer Scouts from chancellor, Sir michael CoMPETITIoN meets six times a year in in the spring edition of Apex, please send some aren’t a household name but Sutton coldfield. on my return Bett, hosted the Annual the early evening. members information about yourself either by email to: are pretty big in the embedded i found that i was invited to general meeting of university council also software business. we write a host of interviews and was BuDDING ArTIsTs of convocation and sit on Standing committee [email protected] simulation software up in oulu, the AgA prizes for even being head hunted (degree Following the success and feed comments back which is interesting work – it is contribution to the social or by letter addressed to: obviously doing its job there of last year’s Aston into the decision-making desktop software, but i have life of the university Alumni relations office, Aston university, then!) After a few phone calls i graduates’ Association Art hub of the university. learned a huge amount about the were presented. was offered a job over the phone competition we will again You will find nomination forms Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET. actual hardware and software without even meeting anyone. be calling for entries from for the Standing committee Should you wish to send a photo to accompany your profile, of embedded devices. Being this was turning out to be an alumni, students and staff. in with the information about please either post an original, which we will return, or email an expatriate and living outside excellent summer! i’ll miss not look out for details on the Agm – so keep an eye one at high resolution (250-300 dpi). of the uK is a lot of fun. my returning to Aston this october, how to enter your on the letterbox in early We are waiting to hear from you – don’t be afraid! Finnish has improved a lot, but i do appreciate that Aston two-dimensional print, january. in the meantime, (Deadline for receipt of information is February 2007.) although i find myself forgetting has given me the skills, ability photographs, textiles, if you want to know any common english phrases or Next year’s AGM will be on 17 March and the full programme and confidence to get out there paintings, drawings, etc. more about the important (worse) using Finnish instead. will be sent out to alumni in early January. Please visit and live life. i’d like to say hi to work of this committee, no, elämä on! people from Aston www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/update.jsp and update your contact everyone i knew at Aston and contact Sarah pymm on are welcome to email me, my details so that you don’t miss out on the information! wish you all the best of futures!” [email protected] address is [email protected]

2 Autumn 06 Autumn 06 2

Diary date 1980s pharmacy Reunion those who remembered Birmingham Need our help with city centre in the 1980s were extremely on the weekend of 13 may a group pleased to discover that we could remain an event? of 1980s pharmacy graduates held here until 4am and therefore proceeded if you’re confused about how the Alumni a reunion in Birmingham. Alison to take full advantage. As you can imagine relations office could help you to organise tennant (1987 BSc pharmacy) told the a somewhat subdued group met up the an event, then you’ll be pleased to know unionS Alumni relations office all about it: following morning before heading off we’ve made it a little bit clearer by adding separate ways but firm promises have re: a page to our website about our reunion been made to repeat the experience.” “A small core party unofficially kicked off the services at www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/ Fondue Memories Reunion reunion in a pub on the Saturday, watching reunions/help.jsp in short, our Silver Service football, but they must be maturing since on 22 july over 300 graduates from the offers you as little or as much help as you they made it back to the hotel to change Fancy going ‘up the pub’? years 2001-2005 returned to Aston for would like with your event, such as helping before the evening meal! the meal was the annual Fondue memories reunion want to meet up with old classmates but you to find ‘lost friends’, sending out held at la tasca where some very helpful at the Students’ guild. A good night was are put off by the formality of an organised mailings, publicising the event and offering staff kept the table continually supplied with enjoyed by all, but not by the Alumni reunion? then why not attend one of our venue and accommodation suggestions sangria, beers and food. there was a spread relations office – we’re still on the hunt pub reunions – our new, more relaxed etc. our gold Service, on the other hand, of representation from the early 1980s to for the person who sneakily ate approach to reunions. we are hosting two means we will organise the entire event for the more youthful end but the banter was caroline’s chocolate bar on such events both in london (pitcher and you as part of the Alumni relations event as loud and non-stop as you would expect the reception desk! piano, trafalgar Square) and Birmingham programme, providing you give us at least from a group of Aston graduates – including (All Bar one, Brindley place) on the six months notice and that we believe the spouses who have learnt to talk 5 and 13 December respectively. So, if you the event has a good chance of success. aspirin and paracetamol with the best are living or working in either the west For more information, please visit our of us. in order to prove our stamina was midlands or the Southeast, why not come website or email [email protected] as good as in the 80s, and because we along for a pre-christmas drink and meet were nowhere near finished talking, we with fellow alumni and members of the adjourned to the tap and Spile on the canal Alumni relations team. Free to attend, side to continue lubrication of our throats. Tokyo reunion there’s absolutely no commitment on your the Aston mSc in teSol distance learning part. we’ll be there from 5.00pm onwards participants in japan gathered in tokyo in and we hope you will be too! For more june for a two-day workshop held by nur information, email [email protected] hooton from the School of languages & Social Sciences. the attendance of graduates from the same course was welcomed by all. one participant commented: “the workshop provided a sense of connection and excitement calendar ’06-’07 Forthcoming reunions and regarding (my) future studies.” Another said: “it was great to meet tutor and participants, events for 2006-2007 new and old.” the workshop proved to 29 noVEmBEr: be a social event as well as a medium for Shining a light in Beijing mBa EVEnt honorary graduate, Sir peter rigby, returns to Aston to give a sharing ideas and experiences. You can Dr matthew hall and professor David lecture entitled entrepreneurialism in a high tech industry... how to JunE (datE tBc): visit www.aston.ac.uk/lss/academicgroups/ wEst midlands EVEnt Bennett of Aston Business School’s survive. email Stephanie meek for details on [email protected] english/ for information on teSol and Aston Business School mSc Alumni event. operations and information management related english programmes offered by the group met the Aston Beijing Alumni (ABA) 5 dEcEmBEr: School of languages & Social Sciences. london puB rEunion 28 JulY: earlier this year when they visited china. fonduE mEmoriEs All graduates living or working in the Southeast are invited to join From time to time, our alumni in Beijing graduates from 2003-2006 are invited back to members of the Alumni relations office for a pre-christmas drink gather together for dinners and seminars this yearly event at the Students’ guild. at the pitcher and piano, trafalgar Square from 5.00pm onwards. and ABA president peter thong (1970 Shanghai reunion email caroline on [email protected] for more details. BSc production engineering) has created JulY (datE tBc): on 14 September, 23 Aston alumni met in london EVEnt a banner to serve as a backdrop for guest along the dark narrow lanes Shanghai to hear developments of Aston 13 dEcEmBEr: please contact the Alumni relations office for details speakers and alumni. many scholars claim with his walking stick and a torch. he Birmingham puB rEunion university. Alumni commented how much about any of these events. call 0121 204 4543 or email that the ming Dynasty period (1368-1644) believed that a walk after dinner is good All graduates living or working in the west midlands are invited to they appreciated the effort Aston was [email protected]. Details are also available at was the height of china’s sophistication for health. neighbours took his age-old join members of the Alumni relations office for a pre-christmas www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/reunions/events.jsp making to bring them together and and supremacy. this was when the great habit of walking with a torch for granted. drink in All Bar one from 5.00pm onwards. keep them close. wall was built and the blue and white But one evening lau Fu met a visitor email caroline on [email protected] for more details. ming china was invented. ABA’s banner from england, professor cat, who was in the village to study chinese culture. 1 march: has the picture of the great wall in Beijing agm of conVocation with the blue and white colour of the on realising that lau Fu was blind, he All alumni of the university are invited back to Aston for this ming porcelains. the great wall depicts asked: “why do you carry a torch when annual event. information will be mailed out in the new Year Please contact the you cannot see?” lau Fu replied: “Ah, you Alumni relations office for further the passage between Birmingham and along with details on how to enter the AgA art competition. Beijing. “naturally Aston’s logo is right on know that there is a reason behind every details about any of these events. Call 0121 204 4543 or email top, shining like a sun over Aston university action. i am no doubt blind and cannot [email protected] and its alumni,” explained peter who went see, but i carry the torch so that others Details are also available at on to elaborate a moral through a story. can see me in the darkness.” the moral www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/reunions in a little village in the outskirts of Beijing, of peter’s story: “Aston is the torch of there lived an old, blind man named lau Fu. our fine education. we keep our torch each night after dinner, lau Fu meandered aflame so that others can see the light.”

28 Autumn 06 Autumn 06 29 News from Aston Graduates’ Association Jenny Martin updates readers on the recent activities of AGA intouch WILLIAM ANGUS JOHN AJONGWEN- RICHARD NUTT Visit to the Birmingham You’d like to find (1973 BSc Systems Analysis) NUMFOR (1997 MEng Chemical Graduates go organic (1989 PhD Chemical Engineering) Museum and Art Gallery A number of you take advantage of our FUAAD BURAS Engineering) On a very cold day in April in touch service to track down long lost friends. (1992 MSc Software DAVID BETTISON We opened our new season of events with a Saturday morning AGA members visited Ryton Whilst many are happily reunited, others Engineering and Applications) CAMERON HAY (1974 BSc Electrical visit to the BMAG. The Art Gallery has a very fine collection of Organic Gardens near Coventry remain far more difficult to locate. Do you know (1973 BSc Systems Analysis) Engineering) Pre-Raphaelite paintings by William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones to learn about recent advances any of the following? If so, let us know! in organic gardening. We and Rosetti amongst others. Our guide was able to highlight gathered in the coffee bar the major innovations of this genre by reference to paintings in the collection. Hopefully this visit has whet the appetite of for hot soup to fortify us for MUSTAFA JORNAZ PAUL NUNNERY WING TING the excursion even though it members and they will return to the BMAG to see more of the We’d like to find (1984 BSc Production (1991 MSc Information (1979 BSc Mechanical was late spring. Ryton boasts world famous masterpieces held by the gallery on our doorstep. Technology and Management Technology) Engineering) and 1991 PhD Production over 20 examples of small The Alumni Relations Office has lost touch with WILLIAM OCONNELL THOMAS TSE Engineering) gardens each using recycling the following graduates. Do you know any of (1983 BSc Safety and Health) (1989 BSc Pharmacy) MUHSIN JWEEG ideas in a different way. Of them? We need your help to track them down… WYNFORD OLDBURY PETER TURNBULL (1983 PhD Mechanical (1979 BSc Civil Engineering) (1979 BSc Managerial and particular interest were the composting ideas, the use of recycled Engineering) ELNUR ABUSABAH IAN GOULDING SENG ONG Administrative Studies) rubber, paper, wood and rubble in the production of garden Dates for your diary (1983 PhD Chemical (1978 BSc Environmental GEORGE KALOUTAS (1982 MSc Mechanical ANDREW TURNER furniture, paving and building materials. Gardens specifically 19 October Visit to Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve Engineering) Health and 1983 PhD IHD) (1980 MSc Process Analysis Engineering Design) (1985 BSc Chemical and Development) designed to cater for children, the disabled, the visually impaired PAUL ADAMSON STEPHANIE GOVEIA HULYA OZTEL Engineering) and the elderly provided interesting ideas for each of us to try at This is one of the Midlands’ most important wetland nature (1989 BEng Civil Engineering) (1985 BSc Business MOSTAFA KAMEL (1995 MSc Management) LISA TWEEDIE reserves and our guide will help show how the area, which (1982 PhD Management) home. After the tour of the gardens members had an excellent Administration and French) (1991 BSc Human Psychology) was originally a centre for mining and quarrying, has now JOHN BARKER KALA PARMAR (1993 PhD Pharmacy) JUSTIN GRIFFITHS CATHERINE KIMBERLEY organic lunch in the restaurant and completed the visit by buying been converted into a home for an extensive variety of (1992 BSc Biology and KAREN UNGER (1988 BEng Chemical Process (1982 BSc Business Psychology) (1990 BSc Human Psychology) supplies of organic vegetables, bread and fruit in the shop. marsh, reed-bed, grassland and woodland habitats. WENDY BROOME Administration and French) (1989 MBA) Engineering) NICOLA PRIDHAM ENEAS VALDIVIESO Some members also purchased seeds of rare plant varieties ANDREW KYRIACOU STUART CAVILL DEBORAH GRIMMETT (née Denness, 1983 BSc CEDENO from the seed library and we await details of their success. 9 December Christmas Dinner at the (1985 BSc Pharmacy) (1982 MSc Process Analysis Managerial and Administrative (1982 PhD Chemistry) (1985 BSc Chemical and Development) Banqueting Suite in the Council House Engineering) GYLLIAN GRINDEY Studies) BRIAN VINCENT PETER LAWRENCE ANDREW CHAPMAN (1982 MSc Environmental NOSHEEN QURESHI (1979 BSc Business March 2007 Art Exhibition (1979 BSc Civil Engineering) Joint meeting with Birmingham (1990 BSc Managerial and Planning and Design) (2003 MPharm Pharmacy) Administration and French) Administrative Studies) PETER HALE RACHEL LAWRENSON PAL RAAN SUSAN WALDEN After last year’s very successful art exhibition, AGA Guild of Graduates (1980 BSc Mechanical (1991 BSc Ophthalmic Optics) (1978 BEng Electrical and (1980 BSc Behavioural members will again have the opportunity to enter this CHRISTOPHER CHURCHILL Engineering) SIMON LE MAISTRE Electronic Engineering) Science) On Friday 9th June AGA members joined Birmingham Guild of competition. Three prizes will be awarded by a panel of (1980 BSc Production Technology and Management) CATHERINE HAMMOND (1993 BSc Managerial and SHEILA RABY CATHERINE WALMSLEY Graduates at Birmingham University for the annual meeting. judges. Time to get out the paint box that you had for a Administrative Studies) retirement or Christmas present and see what you can do. SUKHAMOY DAS (1991 MBA) (1978 BSc French and German) (1993 BSc French) Frank Pearce gave a talk entitled ‘Under the Red Eagle’, in which (1976 PhD Electrical and REBECCA HINDLEY WENG LEE KIMBERLEY READ HOWARD WIDDICOMBE he told of his experiences in the RAF as a pilot with the air Electronic Engineering) (1983 BSc Behavioural (1986 BEng Electrical and (1992 BSc Opthalmic Optics) (1972 BSc Behavioural Electronic Engineering) force in Italy. The meeting was followed by a buffet super and ALEXANDRA DAVIES Science) TERESA REILLY Science) members were able to renew old friendships and catch up on (née Merrick, 1998 BSc EDWIN HOLMES YVONNE LENAGAN (1991 MSc Teaching English) XIANSHENG XING (1995 BSc Pharmacy) the gossip. We look forward to hosting this event in 2007. Pharmacy) (2002 MSc Financial DAVID ROSE (1992 MPhil Chemical BRUCE DEBENHAM Management and Control) PAK LEUNG (1979 MBA) Engineering) (1990 BSc Managerial and RICHARD HOOTON (1979 BEng Electrical and MARTIN YEATES Electronic Engineering) PETER SANDERS Administrative Studies) (1984 MSc Occupational (1982 MSc Computer Science (1978 BSc Metals and Pétanque LISA DORN Health and Safety) PETER MIDDLETON Applications) Materials Technology) (1981 BSc Transport and On a very pleasant warm evening in July, AGA members set out for (1987 BSc Human Psychology) VICTORIA INGE LAURENCE YOUNG Business Administration) SIMON SLOAN the annual competition against the Hints village team. This match MARY DORNHORST (1989 BSc Managerial and (1987 BEng Electromechanical (1983 BSc Behavioural Administrative Studies) JITENDRAKUMAR MISTRY Science) has become a traditional end of year event and AGA members are (1979 MSc Applied Psychology) Engineering) NICOLA JEFFERIES (1987 BSc Maths and LUTHER ZOGANG always pleased to win and collect the prize of the box of doughnuts, PAUL ELWORTHY Computer Science) CLARE SMETHURST (1991 MSc Information (1995 MSc Personnel (1993 BSc Managerial and (1983 MSc Teaching English for which we generously share with the home side. This year, however, Technology) Management and Business SIEW NG Administrative Studies) Specific Purposes) something went amiss and, whilst AGA members were not Administration) (1979 MBA) ANDREW GALE ANDREW STOKES DONNA ZURKOWSKI concentrating properly, the Hints village team comprehensively (1984 BSc Geological Sciences) CATHERINE JOHNSON KARINE N’GOALA (1979 PhD Electrical and (1981 BSc Managerial and won the match. As Gerald Blackburn, the organiser of the Hints (1981 BSc Mathematics) (1996 PhD Chemical Electronic Engineering) Administrative Studies) ELISABETH GOULD Engineering) village team is moving from Hints this autumn, it was only justice (1981 BSc Biology Man and ROSALIND STRANGE that their team should win. However, we have been invited to Environment) HAZEL NIXON (1988 BSc Applied Chemistry) (1994 BSc Psychology and compete again next year and we are hopeful that a more effective Business Administration) AGA team can be gathered together. Your committee feels that Ady Yong Art Competition Winner 2006 new signings are needed and your events organiser has offered to stand down from the team as she scored no points. Our thanks go again to the Hints village team and catering staff, who make this event into such a fun evening each year. (We will be back!) Looking for somebody from Aston?

If they aren’t listed on our email directory on the website us when they move on, we cannot guarantee the person www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/contactsdb then contact the you are looking for will still be at that address. We would Aston Graduates’ Association committee meet at Aston about eight times a year. If you would like to help in any way at all Alumni Relations Office and we will see if we are in touch like to hope, however, that you all keep in touch with us and with them. If we have a current address you will be invited let us know of any changes to your address. The in touch please contact the chairman via the Alumni Relations Office at Aston. The treasurer in particular is looking for help. to write a letter or leave your contact details. We will pass service does not give out individual names and addresses to these on to the address we hold. As we rely on alumni telling enquirers and all mail is treated in the strictest of confidence.

30 AUTUMN 06 AUTUMN 06 31 gift shop

Tie and Cufflink Set Sweaters Scarf Mug Parker Rollerball

Bookmark Lapel Badge Calculator Alarm Clock Shot Glass (Engraved with Crest Keyring University crest)

To order your Aston University gifts, please complete the order form and return it to: Alumni Relations Office, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK. All prices include postage and packaging.

Item Description Price Quantity Total Item Description Price Quantity Total 1 Tie and Cufflink Set £15.00 6 Bookmark £2.00 Pink Sweater S M L XL £25.00 7 Lapel Badge £1.00 Grey Sweater S M L XL £25.00 8 Calendar Calculator £11.00 2 Light Blue Sweater S M L XL £25.00 9 Alarm Clock £13.00 Navy Sweater S M L XL £25.00 10 Shot Glass £4.00 3 Scarf £20.00 11 Crest Keyring £2.00 4 Mug £4.00 Total 5 Rollerball £6.00

Payment can be made by credit card or cheque made payable to Aston University, in sterling and drawn on a bank in the UK. All orders must be accompanied by full payment. Refunds will only be given if the goods are faulty. Please allow 28 days from receipt of order.

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32 AUTUMN 06 32