News

MPs support a greener and healthier planet

Seven Essex MPs were among the guests at a House of Commons reception last month to launch the University’s Guide to a Healthy Planet and re-launch of Guide to a Green Planet.

The reception aimed to raise awareness of many of the health and environmental issues facing the planet. More than 60 people attended, including alumni, peers, senior civil servants, health practitioners, academics, and sixth formers from the Philip Morant College in Colchester, who displayed some of their health-related work.

Bernard Jenkin MP (left) and James Duddridge at the House of Commons launch

The event was hosted by North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin and Rochford and Southend East MP James Duddridge, an Essex graduate, representing the two campuses at the heart of the developing programme of healthcare education and research.

Free trees for a greener campus

Children from the campus Day Nursery planted 12 trees last month as part of a Council initiative to grow a greener Colchester.

Twelve trees were donated to the University by Colchester Borough Council through the Trees for Years project.

The Trees for Years project saw 2007 trees given away to residents and organisations in the borough. The 12 trees donated to the campus were three field maple, three silver birch, three ash and three pedunculate oak.

Robert Glenny and Daniel Hazelton help Day Nursery Manager Elaine Dixon plant one of the trees

Grounds Manager at the University, Paul Hance, said: ‘The University is very pleased to be taking part in this initiative to plant a green future for the town. The campus already provides a wonderful green space, and has more than 2,200 mature and semi-mature trees including 26 different species of Oak. However anything that will create more natural habitats for the campus wildlife, and enhance Wivenhoe Park for the campus and wider community is very welcome.’

Library receives human rights collection

The human rights archives in the University’s Albert Sloman Library received a boost last month with an important collection of books and papers belonging to Bernie Hamilton (1945-2005), renowned human rights scholar and activist.

Mr Hamilton, who taught in both UK and US universities, is best known for his work with organisations such as Doctors for Human Rights, Minority Rights Group International and the Leo Kuper Foundation, a body dedicated to eradicating genocide.

He was associated with the Human Rights Centre (HRC) at Essex and it was at the suggestion of Professor Paul Hunt, who worked with him in both Geneva and London, that his widow approached the University with the generous offer of his books and papers.

The collection contains many of rare and hard-to-find documents collected by Mr Hamilton. The books are currently being catalogued and added to the general stock of the Library and some 14 metres of specialist documents, papers and reports will shortly find a permanent home in the Special Collections.

The papers will provide a major research resource for students and scholars of human rights - both within the University and beyond - for many years to come.

Professor Sir Nigel Rodley, Chair of the HRC, said: ‘I thought of Bernie as both colleague and friend. It is some comfort to know that we will be able to house his valuable collection and archive.’

Also in the printed March edition of Wyvern:

• Honorary degrees announced
• Legal eagle to receive graduate award
• Lecture hall naming
• Fellows announced
• Swedish post for sociologist
• International architect gives Colchester Lecture
• Music hall magic
• Essex businesses look for investment
• Japanese students sample British life