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University of Essex in the press...

Below are examples of recent University press and broadcast coverage. Please note that all websites are external and will take you out of the Communications website.

Members of the University community can receive an electronic daily alert with links to press coverage by contacting Sandy Hart in Information Systems Services (e-mail sandy@essex.ac.uk) and asking to be subscribed to presscuttings@essex.ac.uk.

An archive of recent coverage is available online. A full archive of media coverage is also held in the Communications Office.

Broadcast Digest

Video clips on-line

BBC Persian
Professor John Packer, Director, Human Rights Centre
Contribution for Human Rights Day.
View the clip here - forward to 12:12 minutes.

Parliament Live
University of Essex report on care farming was discussed as part of an adjournment debate on Care farming and disadvantaged groups by Mr Mark Todd in Parliament on 24th November.
Discussion starts at 7hrs 11 and finishes at about 7hrs 45.

BBC
Flagship University Building open
Teaching has begun in the new flagship building for the recently created university in Suffolk. University Campus Suffolk (UCS), in Ipswich, was established by the University of East Anglia and the University of Essex last year. View the clip here.

The University of Essex in the Press

April 2010

30 April

Workers putting in extra leg work
Walking fever has spread through Colchester. Staff at the University of Essex were encouraged to get healthier and greener by leaving their car at home for National Walk to Work Week and around 15 staff walked from the Castle Gates to the Wivenhoe Campus on Wednesday.
Essex County Standard

Poet makes varsity visit
Novel Prize-winning poet, Derek Walcott will be at the University of Essex this weekend discussing his life and work at a public event in the Lakeside Theatre.
Essex County Standard

New Cycle Path
A new £70,000 cycle path has opened on the University of Essex's Wivenhoe campus. Children from the University's Day Nursery joined the Mayor of Colchester, Henry Spyvee to formally open the path.
Gazette

Ideology wars
Professor Prem Sikka explains how Lord Cashcroft's millions are bankrolling the Tories. Read his article here.
Chartist

29 April

Scholar wages Fol battle for bank collapse data
Professor Prem Sikka, Professor of Accounting at the University of Essex is battling to obtain access to Treasury documents relating to past banking failures, five years after he first asked to see the material under the Freedom of Information Act. Read the article here.
Times Higher Education

Race for Life rally call
Women are reminded that there are still places available in two of the Race for Life events being organised in Colchester. One of these events is taking place at the University of Essex on 25 July.
Gazette

Brown ‘Bigoted’ Gaffe Undermines Trust Argument for Last Debate
Gordon Brown is aiming in tonight’s final leaders’ debate to convince U.K. voters that only his Labour Party can be trusted to safeguard the economy. The person with the most to lose is Gordon Brown because his job is on the line,” said Paul Whiteley, Professor of Government at the University of Essex said “Brown will reiterate that the Tories will put the economy at risk and he is right to do that, but it’s not very easy.”
Bloomberg.com

A Field Guide to Preserving Childhood
For generations, children grew up outside. They walked to school, rode their bikes and walked barefoot through the grass. Childhood was characterized by innocence, imagination, wonder and laughter. According to a 2005 study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, today's children spend over five hours each day plugged into some kind of electronic medium. There's mounting evidence that all of this electronic input is affecting our children's ability to think for themselves. A study at the University of Essex in England concluded that nature helps recovery from pre-existing stresses or problems, has an immunizing effect that protects from future stresses and helps concentration and thought clarity. Read the article here.
Indy's Child
Cinncinati Parent

Social mix 'not important in schools'
Academic attainment levels have little to do with the balance of pupils from different socio-economic backgrounds in schools, it has been claimed. Nick Seaton, Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, was responding to a new report conducted on behalf of the Sutton Trust, which concluded that social mobility among pupils depends heavily on their parents' educational achievements.  Research for the Sutton Trust report was carried out by John Ermisch and Emilia Del Bono from the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex.
Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Alumni profile: Masters degree in International Economics
Angela Bulgari graduated from the University of Essex with a degree in Financial Economics and then went on to do a Masters degree at HEI. Three years ago, Angela graduated from HEI and is now working as a Financial Application Support Specialist for Thomson Reuters SA, a subsidiary of news agency Reuters.
Business Education

28 April

Robofish dives in to fight water pollution
They look like fish, swim like fish and live underwater - but that's where the similarities end. Meet the robofish - the latest tool being lined up to fight pollution in Welsh waters.
The futuristic-style gadget is being tested in northern Spain, but could be heading for Wales.
Developed by engineering and technology consultancy BMT Group, a marine science conference next month will reveal the robofish is ideal to operate in some Welsh waters.
The fish have been built by Professor Huosheng Hu and his robotics team at the University of Essex at a cost of £20,000 each. Professor Hu, who has worked on the robofish for three years, says the device will be used to detect the location of oil slicks and metals leaked into the sea.
The Western Mail
WalesOnline.co.uk
North Wales Chronicle

And fish chips
Futuristic robotic fish could soon be policing North Wales harbours to detect water pollution.
Bridge Marine Science Group, based in Menai Bridge, plans to discuss bringing the groundbreaking shoal of metal marvels to this region at a marine sustainability conference. One of the main speakers at the May event will be the BMT Group, who helped develop the £20,000 carp-shaped robofish, currently being built by Professor Huosheng Hu and his robotics team at the University of Essex.
The Liverpool Daily Post

Pinta London: A New Chapter in the Expansion of Latin American Art
Following the three preceding shows, which established the prestige of Pinta New York, Pinta London participates in the process of globalization of modern and contemporary Latin American art through a program that includes around fifty renowned galleries, as well as curatorial strategies and visions that broaden the artistic projection of the continent.
The inauguration of the first Pinta London Art Show, from 4-6 June 2010, at Earls Court Exhibition Centre, in London will open a new chapter in the global expansion of Latin American art. This year, following the precedent established by Pinta New York, Tate Modern, the University of Essex Collection of Latin American Art, the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid, the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Barcelona, MACBA, and the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, MIMA, England, will enrich their permanent collections through the incorporation of new Latin American artworks.
Artdaily.com
Art Knowledge News

Studies in the area of life sciences reported from University of Essex, Department of Psychology
A new study, 'Crossmodal visual-tactile extinction: Modulation by posture implicates biased competition in proprioceptively reconstructed space,' is now available. "Extinction is a common consequence of unilateral brain injury: contralesional events can be perceived in isolation, yet are missed when presented concurrently with competing events on the ipsilesional side. This can arise crossmodally, where a contralateral touch is extinguished by an ipsilateral visual event," investigators in Colchester report.
Biotech Week

Social mobility in England 'lagging behind'
Social mobility in England lags behind many other developed countries, when measured by educational achievement, says an education charity's survey.
The Sutton Trust's research found children's exam results in England were more strongly linked to their parents' education than in many other countries.
But it found that this social gap was narrowing for a younger generation.
And this research, carried out by John Ermisch and Emilia Del Bono from the Institute for Social and Economic Research at Essex University, looks at the relationship between the achievements of children in school and their social background - comparing different age groups and different countries.
It found that when looking at people in England now aged in their 50s, 40s and early 20s, that the "attainment gap" between children from graduate and non-graduate parents had begun to narrow for this younger group.
BBC Online
News Portal

 Adriano Adewale's sound journey
A virtuoso fusion of music, theatre and dance, by the Afro-Brazilian master percussionist Adriano Adewale. Also Jamaica for Sale – a free premiere of documentary about the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism and unsustainable development in Jamaica.
The Gazette

27 April

Music and film events honour acclaimed poet
Nobel Prize-winning poet Derek Walcott will be at the University of Essex this week as part of his tenure as Professor of Poetry in the University's Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies. As well as working with student, a number of events are taking place during his visit.
Gazette

Young Entrepreneur of the Year
The University of Essex Business Hub have sponsored the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award which has been won by Matthew Norris who has opened the first exclusively male grooming salon in Essex.
Gazette

Students say gay blood donor ban should end
Students from the University of Essex are demanding that gay and bisexual men are allowed to donate blood. The students will be seeking support for their cause at the University campus today and tomorrow.
Gazette

3,750 sign up for runs
More than 3,750 women have signed up to take part in the Race for Life in Colchester. Two runs are taking place in Castle Park on 16 May and one at the University of Essex on 25 July.
Gazette

Festival of Culture
A Spring Festival taking place at the University of Essex will celebrate human rights, arts and cultural diversity on Friday. Highlights will include a Hindu-style Holi festival, which gives participants the change to smear each other with brightly-coloured paint.
Gazette

Neo-Pangaea: An Exploration of Cultural Hybridity
MA Gallery Studies and Critical Curating students from the University of Essex have curated ‘Neo-Pangaea’, an exhibition of international contemporary artists exploring issues of cultural integration, the accompanying conflicts and the potential for new conceptions of identity. Neo-Pangaea will present works by internationally renowned artists; including Rasheed Araeen, Roderick Buchanan, Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Adnan Charara, Sama Alshaibi, and Eduardo Padilha which visually document the process of cultural integration. The artworks explore ideas connected to migration, identity, displacement, adaptation and illustrate personal experiences. These artists work in a variety of media including film, installation, painting and literature reflecting the diverse nature of the artworks themes.
Halstead Gazette
Brentwood Weekly News
Harwich and Manningtree Standard

Britain's voting system explained
In the 2010 general election, Britain's traditional first-past-the post voting system is under strain.
Defended by its advocates as a guarantor of strong government, critics maintain that it discriminates unfairly against smaller parties. In this election, predictions of a hung parliament, in which no party would have an overall majority, and changes in electoral boundaries, have both heightened the excitement and complicated the picture. "The sheer arithmetical probability of a stalemate is greater than at any times in the last 100 years," according to Anthony King, Professor of Government at the University of Essex.
dpa International Services in English

New research published by the Department of Psychology
Dr Stefan Kennett and colleagues from the Department of Psychology have had their study titled Crossmodal visual-tactile extinction: Modulation by posture implicates biased competition in proprioceptively reconstructed space published in the Journal of Neuropsychology.
Life Science Weekly

26 April

0.14% tax rate for super rich 'obscene', says STUSC
The Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (STUSC) have branded the 29.9% increase in earnings over the last year by the super rich “obscene” and called on voters to “make the rich pay” for the bank bailout. The 30% rise was revealed in the publication of the Sunday Times’ annual ‘Rich List’. Solidarity co-convenor and STUSC candidate for Glasgow South West Tommy Sheridan said: “According to research by Professor of Accountancy at the University of Essex, Prem Sikka, the multi-billionaires who reside in the UK pay only a tiny percentage of their obscene incomes in tax. “In 2007 the 54 registered billionaires made an incredible £126 billion between them and should have paid £50 billion in income and corporation taxes. The actual amount they paid was £14.7 million. A tax rate of 0.14%.”
STV (North)

Children of university-educated parents likelier to excel at school
Researchers from the Institute for Social and Economic Research have found that being born to a parent with a university degree is more likely to guarantee a child top grades at school in England than in the US, Australia and Germany. Read the article here.
The Guardian
Birmingham Wired News
London Wired
Yorkshire Post
Daily Post
Daily Mirror

Politics is no laughing matter for students
Students of all political persuasions gathered to watch the second televised stand-off between the main party leaders. Around 100 students packed into the student union bar to watch the second debate - some having made their minds up already and others seeking answers or inspiration.
Gazette

Young ones seeking your vote
Three Colchester teenagers are having a first go at getting elected in next month's council elections. Two of the candidates are Mo Metcalf-Fisher and Grant Mitchell - both of whom are first-year politics students at the University of Essex and are standing for the Conservative party.
Gazette

Funny girl Hazel is writing about middle age
The Echo  have written a feature on former Essex student and staff member, Hazel Humphries who set up a comedy club at the University of Essex in 2004. Read the article here.
Echo
Gazette

Putting lipstick on ICT
The Gorgeous Geeks charter aims to provide mentorship and support for women in the ICT industry and to inspire all women to use technology as part of their lifestyle. With the catchy tagline Putting Lipstick on Technology, the group's mission is to create an open environment that promotes learning, sharing, networking, mentoring and support for ICT girl geeks. One member is Anne Abraham who is managing director of Cisco Malaysia, one of few women who holds a top job at a multinational company.  Anne has a degree in mathematics from the University of Essex and prior to Cisco Malaysia, she was country manager of SAP Malaysia, another global giant in the ICT industry.
Tech and U
New Straits Times

23 April

Election will end in hung parliament, claims expert
Professor Paul Whiteley, Professor of Government at the University of Essex and co-director of the British Election Study believes the country will see a hung parliament. He predicted four years ago that the next election would result in no party enjoying an overall majority.
Essex County Standard

Newell puts uni funding on agenda
Labour candidate for Colchester, Jordan Newell, has discussed the borough's issues with Higher Education Minister David Lammy. He discussed issues surrounding funding for the University of Essex.
Essex County Standard

Socialist success in NUS elections
The National Union of Students yesterday announced the results of elections for its executive, which were held at its recent conference. Mark Bergfeld from the University of Essex, standing as part of the "For a strong, campaigning and democratic union" slate, was elected to the “block of 15” executive members with the second highest vote.
Socialist Worker

Campaign trail hots up as would-be MPs vie for Herefordshire voters
Leominster’s Green stalwart Felicity Norman goes into yet another campaign with daughter Daisy doing the same. Daisy, a student at the University of  Essex, is contesting the nearby constituency of Braintree and Witham for the Greens. The 22-year-old former Minster College and Hereford Sixth Form College pupil made her political debut for the party against Herefordshire Council chairman John Stone at the last local authority election. Daisy, then just 19 and one of the youngest candidates in the country, was publically praised by Councillor Stone for the way she conducted her campaign.
Hereford Times

22 April

Students told: 'terrify' main parties or be 'screwed over
Students face being "screwed over for generations" unless they ensure that politicians are "terrified" of their influence at the ballot box, student leaders have warned. The Tories are the front-runners at 20 of the 30 universities surveyed by polling firm High Fliers Research, while Labour is the top choice at seven and the Lib Dems at two. The survey's findings suggest the continuation of a trend identified in a separate analysis of student polls between 2004 and 2008. The study by Paul Whiteley, professor of politics at the University of Essex, found that while students polled over the period were most likely to back the Lib Dems, support for the party fell over the period while backing for the Tories grew. Read the article here.
THE

More than money is at stake
A "very ill-founded, ill-judged and irresponsible set of allegations". This is how Colin Riordan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex, described British Council claims that some overseas students in the UK "are not having as good an experience as they expect", and that some universities were "not so good" in their approach to foreign students. Read the whole article here.
THE

21 April

Screenlit Four Lions star Arsher Ali
Arsher Ali is one of the stars of Four Lions, the new film directed by British satire legend Chris Morris about a group of bumbling would-be bombers. He attended the East 15 Acting School where he won the Laurence Olivier Student Award. He began his acting career mostly on the stage, with stints at the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Nottingham Evening Post

How voting in Essex could change after this
The national resurgence of the Lib Dems has "electrified" the run-up to the general election, a politics experts at Essex University believes.
In the past few months, all the talk has been about how the election, on May 6, will be the closest in a generation.
Following Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg's performance in the first ever leaders' debate, now it actually is. So, what are the Lib Dems' chances, and what will be the effect locally?
One man who will have a better idea than most is Paul Whiteley, Professor of Government at Essex University, and co-director of the British Election Study, based at Colchester's campus.
Gazette

Evidence of high registration suggests high turnout
Electoral commision says high numbers have registered to vote
Turnout at the general elections could be high as many more voters have downloaded registration forms from the internet compared to 2005.
The Electoral Commission says that by the end of last week almost 300,000 people downloaded registration documents in comparison with 49,000 forms downloaded in the last general elections, a six times increase.
One reason may be that the internet has made registration easier, and the expenses scandal has had only a short term effect on voters’ political engagement.
Professor Sanders of Essex University told a conference at the London School of Economics recently that levels of trust in politicians and parties plummeted in June 2009 – the peak of expenses scandal – but picked up again by November 2009 and remained stable since then.
politics.co.uk

20 April

Research from University of Essex provide new insights into life sciences in adolescents
Professor Amanda Sacker and colleagues have published their study on 'Transitions to adulthood and psychological distress in young adults born 12 years apart: constraints on and resources for development' in the journal, Psychological Medicine.
Life Science Weekly
Drug Week

Data on botany discussed by researchers at University of Essex
Professor Phil Mullineaux from the Department of Biological Sciences has had an article on 'The role of reactive oxygen species in signalling from chloroplasts to the nucleus' published in Physiologia Plantarum.
Life Science Weekly

19 April

Oliver to fund healthy school meals
Jamie Oliver plans to spend millions of pounds of his own money over 10 years to improve food education and meals in UK primary schools, he has revealed. Individual schools could bid for "literally hundreds of thousands of pounds" to take measures including "building gardens" and "new kitchens". He said he wanted to "touch 1,000" of the UK's 20,000-plus primary schools.  Last month, a study by Oxford University and Essex University found that Oliver's campaign for healthy school dinners had boosted pupils' test results. He started his Feed Me Better Campaign in 2005 because he was appalled by the junk food being served at many schools in England.
RocketNews

Campus campaign to woo new voters
Commenting on trends amongst student voters, Professor Paul Whiteley, Department of Government, said: “Although the Conservatives overtook Labour as the most preferred party among students some years ago, Labour voting intentions have recovered well in recent months, so much so that the parties went into the general election campaign with Labour ahead by a small margin.
“However, the two major parties do less well among students than among voters in general and this is particularly true of the Conservatives. Students are significantly more likely to support the Liberal Democrats than voters in general.” To view the full story click here
Times Online

Dating Study Says Singles With Options Go For Hotties
Scientists already know people's brains can be overwhelmed by choice, say when shopping for electronics, detergent - even chocolate. Too many options can lead to much confusion, often followed by indecision or snap judgments.
Psychologist Dr Alison Lenton wanted to find out if the same psychological state of being overwhelmed happens when we're choosing people -- like someone to date. Lenton, who studies experimental social psychology at the University of Edinburgh, and Professor Marco Francesconi of the University of Essex's Department of Economics, decided to study this by looking at speed dating.
NPR
and covered in over 20 media outlets world-wide

16 April

How ready is Colchester for the Olympics?
The Colchester Partnership for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games was formed to lead the way in ensuring the town secures the best possible legacy from the milestone event and it comprises Colchester Council, University of Essex and the Garrison and is chaired by University of Essex Registrar and Secretary, Dr Tony Rich.
Essex County Standard

There's a lot going on behind the scenes
Training facilities are being offered by the University of Essex for basketball, football, paralympic archery, boccia, goalball, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby and the University is marketing its conference facilities and accommodation for the games.
Essex County Standard

Do you fit the description?
It is a dream job...for anyone who happens to have a PhD in ethnomusicology. The University of Essex has advertised for a research  officer to investigate the roots of the Brazilian dance martial art Capoeira.
Essex County Standard

Happiness hinges on the lives of others
Sociologists at the University of Cambridge found that although men and women give different answers when asked about what affects their quality of life, many in fact associate personal happiness with the welfare of families and loved ones at a deeper level. It drew on data from the British Household Panel Survey, which periodically tracks the changing lives of 10,300 people from 5,500 sample households. In 1997 and 2002, the respondents were asked what they considered important for their own quality of life, and then encouraged to explain their answer.
Cambridge News Online

Pinta London - Europe’s Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art Show
Like its New York counterpart, PINTA LONDON is becoming established as an unmissable venue for the exhibition of the best of Latin American art. The fair’s exclusive Pinta Museum Acquisitions Program is a unique mechanism that incentivates the purchase of works from participating gallery through a matching funds program. The guest institutions that will benefit from this mechanism provided by PINTA LONDON to enhance their collections are Tate Modern, MIMA – Middlesbrough, the Institute of Modern Art, Essex University Museum, Centre Pompidou , MACBA, Barcelona and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid.  Read the article here.
AbsoluteArts.com

15 April

Kaplan Open Learning Launches Joint Business and Management Award
Kaplan Open Learning, the distance learning and online higher education college, has announced the launch of a Business and Management degree from University of Essex combined with an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) qualification. The course, launched on 1 April, is aimed at current or aspiring managers or other leaders who are seeking to gain a degree to advance their careers and who will find it useful to obtain a professional qualification in management and leadership. Read the article here.
PR Web
PR-GB
EMediaWire

Hold the phones, it's fine
Researchers have found no evidence that short-term health problems such as headaches, rashes and nausea are caused by exposure to a type of mobile phone mast. A two and a half year study, carried out at at the University of Essex's Electromagnetics and Health Laboratory is the first to report on the short-term effects of emissions from TETRA masts.
THE

Dishonourable members
Researchers at the University of Essex and Royal Holloway, University of London has found that attitudes towards politicians and their levels of honesty and integrity have changed surprisingly little despite the high-profile MP's expenses scandal.
THE

Race for Life is filling up
Just over 1000 runners are now signed up for the third Race for Life in Colchester. The event takes place at the University of Essex on 25 July.
Gazette

Newell's chat
Labour candidate for Colchester, Jordan Newell, has discussed local issues with Higher Education Minister David Lammy. He discussed issues surrounding funding for the University of Essex and the ability of poorer students to get places there.
Gazette

Communicative dads can help cut smoking among teens
One of the strongest protective factors for reducing the risk of experimenting with smoking in early adolescence is how often fathers talk with their children about ‘things that matter’, scientists have pointed out. Dr James White from Cardiff University undertook a three-year-study, involving some 3,500 11 to 15 year-olds, as part of the British Youth Panel Survey - a self report survey of children in the British Household Panel survey. He will present his report to the British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference today.
Gaea Times
News-Medical Net
Science Daily
Eurek Alert
First Science
Daily Post
UK Parents Lounge
and over 60 other publications around the world

James Duddridge
Parliamentary Candidate for Rochford and Southend East
James Duddridge is the Parliamentary Candidate for Rochford and Southend East.
He was first elected in May 2005, and was appointed to David Cameron’s frontbench team in January 2008 as an Opposition Whip.
James’ special interests in Parliament include Africa, pensions, taxation and the environment. After completing a degree in Government and Politics at Essex University, James went on to pursue a successful business career in the private sector.
Conservatives.com

A look around new Essex University student accommodation
The striking, multi-coloured ten-storey university accommodation block being built in Southend town centre does not fail to grab the attention of anyone nearby.
The Hollybrook Development, which is taking shape in London Road, is due to open its doors to University of Essex students on September 1.
With its colourful exterior and three-faced large red clock, it has become the talk of the town and looks set to become a Southend landmark.
Southend Standard

12 April

Web 2.0: the new election superweapon
From Twitter and Facebook to viral ads and crowdsourcing, technology appears to offer parties powerful new ways to engage voters. The Liberal Democrats have their own election software, EARS, to log canvass returns and plan polling-day action. Sophisticated software is one of the most expensive weapons in the new media armoury, putting the cash-starved Libs at a disadvantage, but a University of Essex study earlier this year still found more voters reporting direct contact, such as phone canvassing, from the Lib Dems than from Labour (with the Conservatives outgunning both other parties). Read the article here.
The Guardian

10 April

Gambling on experience
A growing body of research indicates that people making decisions interpret the chances of encountering rare events, such as a child developing tragic complications from a vaccine, in dramatically different ways. Read comments made by Dr Tim Rakow from the Department of Psychology here.
ScienceNews

Cell bio-imaging research
Researchers from the Department of Biological Sciences have had a study published  in Reproductive Biomedicine Online looking at 'Cell bio-imaging reveals co-expression of HLA-G and HLA-E in human preimplantation embryos'.
Obesity, Fitness and Wellness Week

Curb top pay in the City as well
Professor Prem Sikka and other colleagues from academic institutions from around the country write to The Guardian to say that it is right for government to take the moral lead, but the root cause of excessive pay is in the City of London, not in Whitehall. Politicians of all parties should be more concerned with the excesses of bankers and FTSE 100 CEOs than those of public servants. Read the letter here.
The Guardian

9 April

Evidence in abundance
The International Institute of Colorimetry is a new non-profit making organisation made up of professionals from different disciplines. It seeks to raise public awareness that patients who suffer from various conditions, including dyslexia, migraine, visual stress, photosensitive epilepsy and autism, may have their symptoms alleviated through the use of coloured overlays or precision tinted lenses (PTL). At a recent conference, Professor Arnold Wilkins, Psychologist, the inventor of the Colorimeter and Head of the Visual Perception Unit at the University of Essex, briefly explained that within the visual system, spatial information and colour are not processed separately.
Optician

Meet the Candidates
The General Election is nearly here and 4 of the candidates have University connections. Priti Patel who is standing for the Conservatives in Witham is an Essex graduate. Peter Lynn who is standing for the Green Party in Colchester is a Professor of Survey Methodology in ISER, Chris Fox who is standing for the Green Party in the Harwich and North Essex Constituency is a Lecturer in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering and James Raven also standing in the same constituency for the Liberal Democrats is a Professor in the Department of History.
Essex County Standard

No health risks from radio masts
University of Essex researchers have conducted a 2½ year study to probe claims that exposure to Tetra masts can cause headaches, rashes and nausea. Participants were not able to sense when then signal was switched on or off. The researches have concluded that the masts do not cause short-term health problems.
Essex County Standard

Daisy is the green choice
University of Essex student Daisy Blench has been nominated as the Green Party candidate for Braintree in the forthcoming general election.
Gazette

Cafe talk on science
Scientists at the University of Essex have launched a new event in Colchester to debate topical issues. Café Scientifique is being held at the Minories Cafe and will debate scientific issues such as climate change and advances in intelligent robots.
Essex County Standard

Catalyst's £400k to care for the sick and suffering
The Colchester Catalyst Charity has awarded £84,000 to the University of Essex to help fund research into the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. The money will be awarded over three years for a PhD studentship at the University's Biomedical Sciences Institute.
Essex County Standard

Students help choose name
Sir Charles Lucas Arts College will become an academy from September and the community, including the students will be involved in key decisions such as uniform and the academy's name. The academy will specialise in Health Sciences and English and Literacy and is co-sponsored by the University of Essex and NHS North East Essex.
Essex County Standard

Changes in Social Capital
Researchers from Lund University, Sweden have published a study, using data from the British Household Panel Survey looking at how temporal changes in social capital, together with changes in material conditions and other health determinants affect associations with self-rated health over a six year period.
Drug Week

8 April

Internet cut-offs, website censorship about to drop on UK
"Wash-up" is the name of a UK legislative process in which bills can become law through a quick process that bypasses normal debate. Wash-up happens at the end of a parliamentary term, just before new elections, and it is designed to finish non-controversial outstanding business. But is it appropriate to use wash-up to make major changes to UK Internet access, giving copyright holders tremendous new power to go after P2P pirates and even block entire websites? Read comments made by Chris Marsden, a senior lecturer in Law at the University of Essex.
Ars Technica
ONTD Politics

Get inside the i-Lab
The Newsdesk at the Yellow Advertiser went to the i-Lab at the University of Essex Southend Campus for an afternoon session for a 'fun afternoon, a better understanding of how we work as a team (good or bad) and improved working relationships’. Read about how they got on here.
Wickford Today and 14 other local publications

Breaches hold key to cut custody
With the government and the Youth Justice Board (YJB) increasingly keen on keeping young offenders out of custody, the use of community orders has grown in recent years. Antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos), criminal justice orders and the granting of bail can all produce positive results but often create a headache for youth justice agencies and sentencers if they are breached. Carolyn Hamilton, director of The Children's Legal Centre, says children regularly turn up on the day and are dealt with by the duty solicitor rather than seeking legal advice beforehand and preparing a case. "It is about making young people aware that if there is a breach they need to seek a lawyer," she says.
Children and Young People Now

The banks and the disappeared
Academic experts from the University of Essex's Transitional Justice Network and its Business and Human Rights Project have intervened in a legal case and called for an investigation into the role of banks in financing those who committed human rights violations in Argentina between 1976 and 1983. They are collaborating with an Argentinian non-governmental organisation, the Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales.
THE

New head is keen to rise to challenges
University of Essex Electronic Engineering graduate, Simon Summers will be taking over as Principal of Lowestoft College in September.
East Anglian Daily Times
Lowestoft Journal

Quake and Doom
Recent interdisciplinary research into what determines the death toll from major earthquakes, undertaken jointly with Philipp Keefer, an economist with the World Bank, and Thomas Plümper, a political scientist at the University of Essex, finds that earthquake mortality is systematically higher in countries where quakes are rarer. The effect is stronger in richer than in poorer countries, which can expect to save many more lives by tackling undernourishment, infectious diseases and other problems than by preparing for earthquakes.
New Scientist

GENERAL ELECTION 2010: Mountains the Tories CAN climb
This general election will be simultaneously one of the most predictable and one of the most unpredictable since the last war. The predictable bit is easy. Short of a near miracle, Labour is most unlikely to win the election outright or even to survive as the largest single party in the Commons. Far harder to predict is whether the Tories, although they will almost certainly emerge on May 6 as the largest single party in parliament, will command a working majority or find themselves forced to rely on other parties for support. Read Professor Anthony King's article here.
Daily Mail

Innovation Conference opens in Bahrain hosted by EDB and Tamkeen
Professor Jay Mitra, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Research, and Head of the School of Entrepreneurship and Business, at the University of Essex, Southend is one of the speakers at a national conference on innovation in Bahrain.
The two-day event is hosted by two of Bahrain's leading enablers of progress, the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and Tamkeen.
AME Info

7 April

New life sciences study findings have been reported by researchers at University of Essex
Report on research in the Department of Biological Sciences on the role of HLA-G receptors
Biotech Week
Immunotherapy Weekly

6 April

Essex Book Festival goes out with a bang
The Essex Book Festival has wrapped up for its 11th year following a succession of best-selling authors, sell-out events and thought-provoking debates. Amongst the diverse programme was a discussion on identity, migration and diversity with Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Riordan, Germaine Greer and Sarfraz Manzoor.
Saffron Walden Reporter
Dunmow Broadcast and Recorder
Cambridge Times
Essex Chronicle

Deputy premiere to promote Innovation Bahrain conference
Professor Jay Mitra, Essex Business School, is one of a panel of speakers taking part in the Innovation Bahrain conference organised by the Bahrain Economic Development Board.
Bahrain News Agency

999 radio masts wont make you ill, Uni proves
Researchers at the University have found that TETRA radio masts do not cause short term health problems.
Gazette
The Engineer

Mixed beats liven up an older crowd
Review of DJ performances at SubZero.
Gazette

5 April

Raise your glass to new nights out...with a twist
Academics from the University will be leading fortnightly discussions on topical scientific issues at the Minories Cafe in Colchester. Read the full article here.
Gazette

2 April

Report find radical change needed for global agriculture
Professor Jules Pretty, Biological Sciences, comments on a new report, Transforming Agricultural Research for Development, about to be released at a global meeting on agriculture.
AgroTimes.com

You have lost your war in war
Minister for Armed Forces, Bill Rammell, visited the Colchester Campus for a discussion on the war in Afghanistan
Essex County Standard

Actress Georgina gets council approval
East 15 student, Georgina Periam, has been awarded a grant by Epping Forest District Council to help her set up a children's theatre company once she finishes her studies.
Ilford Recorder Series

1 April

Warshaw co-authors molecular cell study on DNA-repair proteins in motion
Repair proteins appear to efficiently scan the genome for errors by jumping like fleas between DNA molecules say researchers at the Universities of Essex, Pittsburgh and Vermont.
Health Canal

It was fun while it lasted
The THE have published their annual review of Vice-Chancellors' salaries. Read the article here.
THE

Smells like the spirit of 1968
Professor Peter Dews from the Department of Philosophy was one of the speakers at the Roundhouse Conference on critical theory and education. Most of the contributors at the Conference reported a deep and widening gulf between a University as it is and a University as it should be. Read the article here.
THE

Hearing event
A free public lecture on hearing loss is to take place at the University of Essex later in the month and will be given by International Hearing Expert Professor Ray Meddis from the Department of Psychology. The lecture will also include sound demonstrations and displays to help the audience understand hearing impairment.
Essex Chronicle

March 2010

31 March

The amazing brain
The news that scientists can switch off our morals with a magnet illustrates how much we still have to learn about our little grey cells, says Richard Gray. Read the article here.
Daily Telegraph

Denham: New reports challenge broken Britain
New quality of life scorecards for every local authority that offer a unique insight into the state of the nation and challenge the notion that Britain is broken have been published today.
The reports are contained within Our Nation’s Civic Health a new report which measures the strength of modern democracy in England and the connections people have to their communities. The reports are published alongside new guidance that will support people who want to get more involved in their communities. One of the sources of data used for the report is the British Household Panel Survey. Read the article here.
News Distribution Service
M2 Presswire

Raising the bar
The Westminster Consortium programme is funded by a £5 million grant over five years from the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development Governance and Transparency Fund. The programme will operate in six countries, including Ukraine, Georgia, Uganda, Mozambique, Lebanon and a sixth country to be determined. Led by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the Westminster Consortium has brought together leading expert organisations in the fields of parliamentary practice, financial oversight and communications. The University of Essex's Centre for Democratic Governance is one such partner. Read the article here.
International Bar Association

Essex researchers give TETRA clean bill of health
Researchers from the University of Essex have found no evidence that short-term health effects like headaches, rashes and nausea are caused by exposure to TETRA mobile radio masts. The two-and-half-year study, carried out at the University's specially-designed Electromagnetics and Health Laboratory, is the first to report on short-term effects of TETRA mast emissions on human health and well-being. Read the article here.
Business Weekly

Global summit seeks to transform agricultural research
An unprecedented mix of agriculture ministers, farmers, heads of international organisations, civil society groups, community development organisations and private sector innovators met in Montpellier in France to discuss a new roadmap for international agricultural research. The meeting, which involved the world's 20 leading economies, also aimed to set up a monitoring system to track commitments and whether agricultural research is leading to progress in alleviating poverty. The meeting occurs during a time of "urgency and common purpose", said Jules Pretty, Professor of Environment and Society at the University of Essex. Read the article here.
SciDev Net

Politicians' reputations are so low it doesn't matter what they do
According to research carried out by Dr Sarah Birch at the University of Essex and Dr Nicholas Allen of Royal Holloway, University of London, people are more worried about politicians not giving them "straight answers" than their expenses claims. Read the article here.
The Independent

'Trust will stick to its guns over football ground'
The Gazette interviewed the University of Essex Estates Manager, Andrew Nightingale about his role as Chairman of the Wivenhoe and District Sporting Facilities Trust and the recent dispute with Wivenhoe Town Football Club over its alleged non-payment of rent.
Gazette

Serve me some humble pie, Jamie
Telegraph columnist Liz Hunt concedes that Jamie Oliver was right to persevere with his healthy eating mantra as he now has the results to prove it works. The researchers from the University of Essex and University of Oxford said that the positive effects of the campaign were impressive because they emerged in a relatively short period of time.
Daily Telegraph

30 March

Knauf supplies spray plaster for student walls
The Knauf Airless spray plaster machine is saving valuable time as contractors prepare new rooms for students at the University of Essex, for the next academic year. The team from County Decorating Contractors is spraying precast concrete walls and ceilings at the rate of 1,500m2 a week with Knauf Airless Readymix Plaster in preparation for final decoration. The University of Essex is procuring 561 new rooms in a new landmark building for students at its third and newest campus, in the Southend town centre. The new accommodation on London Road consists of seven multi-storey buildings, constructed with precast concrete panels manufactured by Bell and Webster of Grantham.
Building Talk

Kaplan Open Learning Launches Joint Business and Management Award
Kaplan Open Learning, the distance learning and online higher education college, has announced it will begin offering a Business and Management degree from University of Essex combined with an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) qualification, starting 1 April, 2010. Kaplan Open Learning was launched in 2007 by global education and training company Kaplan and the University of Essex and offers online degree courses. The course is aimed at current or aspiring managers or other leaders who are seeking to gain a degree to advance their careers and who will find it useful to obtain a professional qualification in management and leadership. Read the article here.
StreetInsider.com

Dinner He Do Well?
Jamie Oliver's healthier school dinners have also had a hearty effect on pupils' exam results.
Research out yesterday shows that the 10 and 11-year-olds who took part in his Feed Me Better campaign boosted their chances of reaching Level Five in science by eight per cent. They also had a six per cent higher chance of reaching Level Four in English than those pupils who ate regular school dinners. Jonathan James, of the Department of Economics at the University of Essex which conducted the study, said: "It is possible that the programme will continue to have an effect on children's education and health. "But even if only these short-term benefits are taken into account, the campaign was very cost effective."
Daily Mail
The Guardian
Daily Mirror        
and over 40 other publications around the UK

Findings from University of Essex in life sciences reported
Professor Chris Cooper and colleagues from the Department of Biological Sciences have published a study in Advances In Experimental Medicine and Biology on the Comparison of local adipose tissue content and SRS-derived NIRS muscle oxygenation measurements in 90 individuals.
Life Science Weekly
Health and Medicine Week
Biotech Week

Vital role for bacteria in climate-change gas cycle
The Colne Estuary in Essex is where the first coastal marine isoprene degraders were found. Isoprene is a Jekyll-and-Hyde gas that is capable of both warming and cooling the Earth depending on the prevailing conditions. At the Society for General Microbiology's spring meeting in Edinburgh, Dr Terry McGenity reveals the identity of some crucial players in the gas cycle; isoprene-degrading bacteria that are able to intercept the release of isoprene into the atmosphere. Read the article here.
EurkekAlert!
PhysOrg.com
Science Daily
ScienceCentric
Red Orbit
Scientist Live

Immersive Education 2010 Summit Attendees to Receive $2,500 in Permanent Virtual World Land
The Immersive Education Initiative today revealed that it will provide permanent virtual world land for one year to every school and non-profit organization that has at least one teacher, administrator, or student in attendance at the 2010 Boston Summit. At the 2010 Boston Summit a series of workshops and presentations will teach educators how to copy or move their existing Second Life objects and worlds onto the virtual land they receive, and they will also receive free pre-made virtual worlds designed for education. The University of Essex will be at the Immersive Education Initiative Summit in April.
Computer Graphics World

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