from Staffordshire University Shaping Creative Careers Changing Face Of Spode A Life Behind The Lens Graduates celebrate national Once a factory of fine bone china, With a mission to fix the film industry, 2019 awards and placements with Horizon finds out more about the sought-after producer Julia Verdin is household brands exciting new era for Spode Works making waves in Hollywood PLASTICS: A GLOBAL CRIME SCENE Horizon HDA advert Dec 2018 p.indd 1 21/12/2018 18:56 CONTENTS 06 Plastics: A global 02 - WINTER/SPRING 2019 16 crime scene The forensic scientist leading the way in tackling the plastic Editor pollution crisis. Stacey Barnfield 12 Creative minds with Managing Editor brilliant futures Andrew Riley The talented arts students Sub-Editor notching up national successes, Lisa Piddington placements and awards. Creative Director 14 A life of crime Mike Raven From EDL rallies to Tony Designer Soprano, criminology professor Simon Konaszczuk James Treadwell discusses his Contributors 24 latest research. Will Ashworth, Tom Bird, 18 Why politics matters Philip Ellis, Roz Laws How students are making their voices heard. FOR STAFFORDSHIRE 20 Mental health support UNIVERSITY University resources make Head of Development students’ mental health a and Alumni Relations priority. Deborah Sanderson 24 A platform for creativity Communications Manager The moving image cluster Maria Scrivens putting the region firmly on Development and Alumni the map. Relations Officer 27 Three voices Samantha Nuttall 32 Discover what drove three Development and Alumni former graduates to be Relations Advisor successful in their fields. Nichola Edwards 30 Changing the film industry The former graduate who’s changing Hollywood one On the cover movie at a time. Dr Claire Gwinnett 34 Nurturing the nurses of photographed by RileyRaven tomorrow Ensuring nursing students can meet the medical needs Horizon is of the future. published 38 The changing face of regularly in Staffordshire print and The former Staffordshire online editions. factories offering innovative The opinions space for the region’s creatives. expressed in 46 42 International the magazine Staffordshire University are those of the contributors graduate Jed talks about and not necessarily those of his life-changing adventure Staffordshire University. in Vietnam. 46 News Horizon is created by RileyRaven The latest news and views for Staffordshire University. from campus. www.rileyraven.co.uk 48 Fundraising Find out how you can help today’s students flourish. HORIZON | 3 WELCOME Connected to success s Vice-Chancellor I take enormous in a unique way; by treating it as a crime scene. pride in the continued growth we are Read about Dr Gwinnett’s award-winning A enjoying at Staffordshire University. research inside. This is visible through plans for flagship study spaces Elsewhere, you’ll find features on the importance and ascendency in higher education rankings as we of political engagement in student life, the changing work hard to help our students flourish and succeed. face of our University and new facilities for nursing We are delighted to have made great progress studies to meet the needs of 21st century healthcare. in the league tables, rising to 44th in the Guardian We also interview independent film producer University league tables and 57th in the Times Julia Verdin, a Staffordshire University alumna, and Sunday Times Good University Guide where who has worked with some of the biggest names we also came in at 9th place for teaching quality in Hollywood, and is now using her influence to and 22nd in the social inclusion rankings. address diversity within the movie industry. We have also announced plans for the new Catalyst Finally, congratulations to our creative arts Building, which will take the place of the Brindley Building students and graduates who have enjoyed an on the University’s Stoke-on-Trent campus. The Catalyst outstanding year of high-profile award wins, industry Building will become a hub for students and the local placements and small business launches. community, featuring a new library, digital skills centre As someone who believes passionately in the and study base for thousands of new apprenticeships. transformative power of higher education, reading At Staffordshire University we endeavour to play a these features makes me ‘Proud to Be Staffs’. leading role in global affairs by researching the issues There is a huge amount of positive work happening that affect us all and there are few greater challenges in our University and we are excited to share facing the planet today than plastic pollution. our news with alumni, stakeholders and friends We’ve all been jolted by recent TV documentaries across the world through Horizon magazine. showing harrowing scenes of sea creatures caught I hope you enjoy this issue. up in plastic waste, and the ground-breaking work of Dr Claire Gwinnett, Associate Professor of Forensic Professor Liz Barnes Science at Staffordshire University, is tackling the matter Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Welcome 4 | STAFFS.AC.UK EVENTS Events on campus in 2019 WRITE TO HORIZON Throughout the year, the University hosts a wide range of public events, including lectures, workshops, film screenings, open days, degree shows and exhibitions. They also include our We are always delighted to popular “Profs in the Pav” series of talks from leading academics, in the informal surroundings of the Beacon Building’s Pavilion fusion eatery. receive your letters, emails and Most events are free to attend, but some require advance booking. To see what’s coming messages on social media. If you up, visit staffs.ac.uk/events or contact [email protected] for more information. would like to connect with us to comment on the magazine, share Monday 28 January, 10am – 11.30am impacts on the reporting and prosecution of anecdotes or suggest future HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY 2019 sexual offences. #BalanceforBetter articles, please get in touch. COMMEMORATIVE EVENT Lecture Theatre, Science Centre, Leek Road, Science Centre, Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent Campus Stoke-on-Trent Campus Please contact us by email at [email protected] Thursday 31 January, 12pm – 1:00pm Thursday 21 March, 5.30pm or write to HOLOCAUST AWARENESS ‘LUNCH AND PROFS IN DUDLEYS – ‘THE DOCTOR Horizon magazine, LEARN’ SESSION WITH PROFESSOR WILL SEE YOU NOW’ Graduate Relations, Staffordshire University, College Road, CAROLINE STURDY COLLS ‘Tap your way to Wellbeing ‘by Professor Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DE. T005, Beacon Building, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent Campus Liz Boath introduces you to the self-help technique known as EFT or Tapping and Monday 4 February, 5.30pm research into its effectiveness. PROFS IN THE PAV – ‘THE DOCTOR Dudley’s Cafe, Blackheath Lane, Stafford Campus WILL SEE YOU NOW’ ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ Saturday 23 March, 9.00am – 4.00pm by Associate Professor Dr Rachel Povey UNDERGRADUATE OPEN DAY – STOKE- focuses on children’s eating behaviour and ON-TRENT CAMPUS perceptions of healthy eating. Registration – Science Centre, Leek Road, Pavilion Fusion Café, Beacon Building, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent Campus Stoke-on-Trent Campus Monday 1 April, 5.30pm Wednesday 27 February, 6pm - 8.30pm PROFS IN THE PAV – ‘THE DOCTOR PSYCHOLOGY AND ME WILL SEE YOU NOW’ If you’re happy for your message to be published in a future issue of Horizon, please mark it “for An interactive evening where you can get ‘How to conquer stress like a Roman publication”. Letters may be edited for length. hands-on with some fascinating equipment Emperor: 2000 years of Smarter Thinking’ and hear from experts in the field. by Associate Professor Dr Martin Turner Science Centre, Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent Campus steps back in time to discover how ancient CONNECT WITH US philosophers set the foundations for powerful Monday 4 March, 5.30pm and effective ways to control our emotions. ON SOCIAL MEDIA PROFS IN THE PAV – ‘THE DOCTOR Pavilion Fusion Café, Beacon Building, College Road, WILL SEE YOU NOW’ Stoke-on-Trent Campus The University has a wide-ranging ‘The Exercising Female’ by Associate presence on social media. As well as Professor Dr Jacky Forsyth talks about our official accounts there are research specific to women, trends in special-interest groups covering exercise participation and how to boost everything from the Careers Network sports performance. Save the dates and International Students to individual Pavilion Fusion Café, Beacon Building, College Road, Friday 31 May 5.30pm – 8.30pm subjects such as Engineering, Games Stoke-on-Trent Campus SHOW AND TELL ART AND DESIGN Design and Business. DEGREE SHOW OPENING See staffs.ac.uk/socialmedia for the Wednesday 6 March, 4.00pm – 7.00pm Ember Square, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent Campus. complete list. They’re a great way POSTGRADUATE OPEN EVENT Saturday 1 – Sunday 9 June to keep up with us and network with Registration – Science Centre, Leek Road, fellow Staffordshire graduates. Stoke-on-Trent Campus Week Commencing 3 June GRADEX19 - SHOWCASE OF Thursday 7 March, 5.30pm GRADUATE PROJECTS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Stoke-on-Trent Campus. Venues tbc LECTURE ‘WALKING THE TIGHTROPE’ Week Commencing 8 July Find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Associate Professor Dr Laura Walton- STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY Snapchat, YouTube, LinkedIn and Williams explores how misconceptions AWARDS CEREMONIES other social media channels. arising from bias and gender stereotyping Trentham Gardens HORIZON | 5 THE BIG ISSUE PLASTICS: A GLOBAL CRIME SCENE 6 | STAFFS.AC.UK THE BIG ISSUE Staffordshire University t is three years since the Government introduced a tax on plastic carrier is leading the charge I bags that forced households to think twice about our throwaway culture. against global plastic Since the 5p levy came into force, the number of bags used has gone down by a staggering pollution with forensic 85 per cent in England, meaning nine billion scientist Dr Claire fewer plastic bags are being used.