News

University heads for top slot in UK coral reef research

Three exciting new projects have just begun that firmly establish the University as a leading centre for coral reef science.

The long-term vision for making the University’s Coral Reef Research Unit a flagship for UK and international coral research has been given a major boost thanks to a recent £440,000 research grant from NERC (Natural Environmental Research Council) to Drs David Suggett, Tracy Lawson and David Smith.

The research will focus on how the environment regulates coral growth. Light, temperature, CO2 and nutrients individually affect coral growth in various ways, however, how these various factors interact to regulate long-term coral growth and ultimately viability is unknown. Combining these data with knowledge of how future reef environments will change is a critical step in predicting what will happen to coral reefs in the future.

Lecturer Dr David Suggett, of the Coral Reef Research Unit, said the findings will ultimately be key in formulating reef management policies.

The funding of this pivotal work will be supported by the construction of a new £50,000 aquarium facility which will greatly enhance the quality of research that can be undertaken on campus. The facility will include a series of holding tanks, nursery areas and experimental tanks, the environments of which can be manipulated to mirror past, present and future climates. It will be unique to UK research institutions.

Finally, NERC have funded Drs Smith and Suggett via a knowledge exchange fellow - Ms Pippa Mansell - to bring together aquarists from around the UK to share their knowledge on how to best use the environment to grow coral.

‘It is an exciting development as this is the first attempt to bring together researchers and aquarists who grow coral into one community to share information,’ stressed Dr Suggett.

Promoting sustainable transport

Working with the University community and partner organisations to promote and develop sustainable transport options is the challenge facing Charlotte Humphries.

The University’s new full-time Transport Policy Co-ordinator is well prepared for her role, having previously worked as Travel Plan co-ordinator for Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and Sustainable School Travel manager for Essex County Council.

Charlotte Humphries and Marc Dean in one of the Colchester Campus car parks

Charlotte said she was looking forward to working with the wide range of interest groups inside and outside the University.  ’I’m taking over from Jo Leyland, who has done a tremendous job, and whose groundwork only increases my excitement about taking on this new challenge,’ she added.

Two new University of Essex Traffic Officers, Marc Dean and Eddie Lovell, have also been appointed at the Colchester Campus to implement the new parking management system and provide assistance in the car parks.

The new system provides for a first warning notice on drivers’ vehicles, explaining how they have broken the rules and the penalty they will face if they do so again. A second offence will result in a civil penalty with fine, and subsequent offences will lead to clamping. More serious offences could lead to an immediate civil penalty notice or clamping.

Anyone with concerns or interest relating to travel at the University can contact Charlotte by e-mailing: travel@essex.ac.uk.  For further details, see: www2.essex.ac.uk/estates/Pages/Transport.htm.

Southend train naming to celebrate University links

A train has been named after the University to celebrate its contribution to Southend and the county as a whole.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan was invited to unveil the ‘University of Essex’ nameplate on the Class 321 electric train at a special ceremony at Southend Victoria Station. The train will serve many of the key stations in Essex including Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton, Colchester, Harwich and Southend Victoria.

National Express East Anglia chose to name a train after the University in recognition of its significance as a seat of learning in Essex.

Andrew Goodrum, Customer Service Director, National Express East Anglia, said: ‘We are delighted to play our part in recognising the significant contribution the University of Essex makes to the county-wide community.’      

Professor Riordan added: ‘As we approach our 50^th anniversary the development of our Southend campus truly demonstrates the University of Essex’s commitment to the economic, educational and cultural life of the region.

‘We are grateful that National Express has recognised this contribution and chosen to name a train the “University of Essex”.’

Also in the printed November edition of Wyvern:

• New student intake increases by 17 per cent
• Ghandi award for CLC
• VC warns against complacency on standards
• Food for thought on campus