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LOUGHBOrOUGH UNiVerSiTY DPS 51773 OCT 2012 ©

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cover storyThe greaTesT show on earTh – London 2012The summer of 2012 was an incredible time for Loughborough – Follow its Olympic and Paralympic Journey.

Loughborough University

The GREATEST SHOW On EARTH

xThe SciEncE OF SiLEncE

simpLe SOLUTiOnS cHAnGinG LiVES

The MUScLE MOVEMEnT

men, MOnEy & Diy DEbT-SOLVinG

xambassador, cHAMPiOn, LEADER – VicE cHAncELLOR

Lord cOE APPOinTED

reinvenT THE TOiLET

awarded cbE

TabLe OF TAbLES

the sports viewP4-11

the research & enterprise viewP12-13

P14-17

P18-21

P22-25

the campus viewP26-29

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The 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games captivated the world and will be remembered as one of the country’s greatest sporting achievements.

For Loughborough the journey began on 6 July 2005, the day the Interna-tional Olympic Committee announced that London had been selected to host the 2012 Games.

Given the University’s sporting and academic pedigree it was clear Loughborough would play an important role. This was underlined in 2010 when it was selected by

the British Olympic Association as the Official Preparation Camp Headquarters for Team GB prior to the Olympics.

In the years leading up to the Games Loughborough helped train and prepare more than 90 athletes for both the Olympics and Paralympics, and its academic research led to the development of new training aids and competition equipment.

The summer of 2012 was an incredible time for Loughborough – follow its journey.

the greatest shoW on earth London 2012

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Prime Minister visits University Prime Minister David Cameron paid a special visit to Loughborough University to highlight the country-wide economic benefits of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Speaking to national and regional business leaders, representatives from the tourism industry and University staff, the Prime Minister gave a rousing speech focusing on an ‘inspirational’ Games that will deliver a lasting legacy across the UK.

Upon his arrival to the campus the Prime Minister was greeted by the University’s then Vice Chancellor, Professor Shirley Pearce, before addressing more than 150 guests who had gathered at Loughborough’s High Performance Athletics Centre for the event.

Following his speech the Prime Minister visited the Team GB Experience where he met members of the Team GB Volleyball and Basketball squads, and Team GB Ambassador James Degale – a 2008 Olympic gold medallist in boxing.

Medal Makers A key element of having the Preparation Camp sited at the University was the recruitment of 400 volunteers through the Medal Makers programme.

The Medal Makers were on hand to support the delivery of the Preparation Camp. The volunteers worked across all areas of the camp, from supporting the kitting out process and the press operations, providing the security and assistance for the training venues to managing the car parks and assisting with the laundry.

Medal Makers clocked up an impressive 11,642 hours of volunteering during the Preparation Camp. The volunteers ranged in age from 16 to 84 and from all walks of life from students, staff colleagues and members of the community.

the team gB experience 524 of the 541 athletes selected visited the Preparation Camp to be kitted out, alongside support staff, coaches and officials. The process took approximately three and a half hours to complete.

The two suppliers of kit were Next and adidas. The athletes first visited Next in order to be measured and fitted for formal wear and outfits for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. During a six week period Next issued approximately 80,000 items of clothing across 64 different sizes.

After the formal and ceremony wear the athletes moved onto

adidas in order to try on their podium tracksuit, alongside village, training and sports specific competition wear.

Adidas issued approximately 175,000 units of kit across 23 sizes.

As well as kitting out the athletes also had the opportunity to sign up to the five 'One Team GB' core values

of performance, respect, unity, responsibility and pride.

The athletes then spent 25 minutes conducting media interviews and going through the experience of a ‘mixed zone', which was designed to replicate the experience of stepping off the field of play at the Olympic Games and facing media requests.

Thousands of local residents, school children and University staff gathered on 3 July to celebrate as the Olympic Torch Relay wound its way through the campus.

Among those carrying the Flame at the University was Nottingham-based athlete Richard Whitehead, who trains at Loughborough, and went on to win gold in the 200m at the Paralympic Games.

The Flame ended its visit to the campus at the Sir Denis Rooke building. It was met by 180 members of Team GB’s Olympic Ambition Programme – young, talented British athletes who were given a unique opportunity to experience the Olympic Games environment at first hand this summer. Among those also present at Sir Denis Rooke were Team GB Deputy Chef de Mission Sir Clive Woodward,

and Olympic gold medallist and Team GB ambassador David Hemery.

Several of the torch bearers who took part in the relay across the country had links to Loughborough, including: current students Myra Perkins, Jen Jones, Robert Mohan, Stuart Gorman and Oliver Hooper; staff members Myra Nimmo, Ian Henry, Rachel Thomson, Rich Smith, Richard Bebbington and Debs Eagle; and alumni Sue Campbell, Dan Greaves and Rebecca Willison.

For seven and half weeks prior to the start of the London 2012 Games the spotlight was on Loughborough University as the site of the official Team GB Preparation Camp headquarters.

The Preparation Camp had two main purposes: firstly to officially kit out all of the athletes as part of the Team GB ‘Experience’. Secondly a number of athletes chose to spend time at the University to utilise the sporting facilities on campus to prepare for the Games.

Representatives from all of the 26 Olympic sports passed through the camp, based at the Sir Denis Rooke building in Holywell Park.

Other areas of the campus utilised by Team GB included Burleigh Court, where Team GB officials and athletes stayed but also used as their Operation Office. The new Loughborough University Stadium was converted into a media centre, providing a base for journalists and broadcasters and a location for press conferences, team announcements and photo opportunities.

18th June 19th June 3rd July 4th July 5th July 7th July 19th July 25th JulyThe Team GB Preparation Camp opens, with the rowing team the first to pass through the doors.

Media get the first behind the scenes viewing of the Team GB experience.

The Olympic Torch relay visits Loughborough University, travelling throughout the campus.

The Princess royal meets the GB Men’s Basketball team during a visit to the Team GB Preparation Camp at Loughborough.

Prime Minister David Cameron visits the campus to highlight the country-wide economic benefits of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Crowds gather to see Jessica ennis compete at the Loughborough european Athletics Permit meet.

The Taekwondo team pass through kitting out. The squad also use the University as a training base for their final preparations for the Games.

Athletes Dominic King and Johanna Jackson are the last Team GB athletes to be kitted out – 97% of the athletes visit the Team GB experience during the six weeks.

the team gB Preparation camp comes to Loughborough

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olympic Flame lights up campus

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the taekwondo team enjoy their stay

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As well as coming to Loughborough to be kitted out approximately 200 athletes from 13 sports utilised the facilities on campus.

One sport that benefitted from time at Loughborough was taekwondo. As the athletes would not compete until the end of the second week the sport decided to stay away from the Olympic village until the last minute.

Instead, four athletes along with coaches and support staff spent 10 days in Burleigh Court and training out of the David Wallace Sports Hall, which had a purpose built competition mat and stage to replicate the conditions that would face the athletes at the London 2012 Games.

For taekwondo the sport had its most successful ever Olympic Games, with Jade Jones winning a gold medal and Lutalo Muhammad winning a bronze.

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27th July 30th July 2nd august 4th august 6th august 7th august 10th august 11th august 12th augustThe opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games is held. Loughborough has 73 athletes competing in the Games for five different countries.

Loughborough-based gymnast Sam Oldham helps Team GB to win the bronze medal in the men’s team event.

Sir Chris Hoy wins his first gold medal in the men’s Team Sprint at the velodrome. British Cycling worked with Loughborough and adidas to develop ‘hot pants’ for the team.

Mo Farah becomes the first Briton to win an Olympic gold medal in the 10,000 metres. A breathing training device – respiBelt – developed at Loughborough helped him prepare for the Games.

The Team GB Preparation Camp closes, with taekwondo the final squad to leave Loughborough to travel down to the Olympic village.

Former Loughborough College student robbie Grabarz wins the bronze medal in high jump.

Current and former Loughborough Students’ hockey players Hannah MacLeod, Laura Unsworth and Nicola White win the bronze medal after beating New Zealand 3-1.

University graduates Liam Heath and Jon Schofield win the bronze medal in the canoe sprint K2 200 metres event.

The closing ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games is held. Loughborough finishes the Games with seven athletes winning Olympic bronze medals across four different events.

A breathing training device developed at Loughborough helped to prepare Team GB’s Mo Farah to claim double Olympic gold medal success in the men’s 5,000 and 10,000 metres.

The innovative device fits around the lower chest and ribcage to provide a training load to the breathing muscles as the chest expands during breathing. Improved breathing muscle efficiency means more oxygen reaches the exercising muscles leading to increased strength, power and endurance.

The Nike Oregon Project Team, which includes Farah and Olympic 10,000 metres silver medallist Galen Rupp, used RespiBelt as part of the athletes’ training preparations.

The device has been developed over several years at the University and by Progressive Sports Technologies, a spin-out company from Loughborough’s Sports Technology Institute.

device helps Farah to double goldLoughborough olympians at the 2012 games Over 70 athletes with connections to Loughborough competed in the London 2012 Olympic Games across 12 different sports and disciplines, and representing five different countries.

Seven of the athletes won Olympic bronze medals across four different events, alongside a number of notable performances and achievements.

In athletics the stand out performance came in the high jump from former Loughborough Students’ Athletics Club member Robbie Grabarz. Robbie, the current European Champion, cleared 2.29 metres to finish in third place alongside two other competitors to win a bronze medal.

It was a fitting reward for Robbie who has broken through to become a world-class athlete over the last 12 months.

In the women’s hockey a 3-1 victory for Team GB won the bronze medal in the third place play-off match against New Zealand.

Former and current Loughborough Students women’s hockey players Hannah MacLeod, Laura Unsworth and Nicola White all played their part in the Team GB squad that won bronze. It was a great performance from the team, who are coached by University graduate Danny Kerry.

In canoeing two Loughborough University graduates who were given a lifeline in the sport after 2008 found themselves on the podium in 2012.

Liam Heath (Industrial Design and Technology) and Jon Schofield (Human Biology) formed a partnership after the 2008 Beijing Games following an alteration in the Olympic programme for canoe sprint which saw the 500 metre events replaced with shorter 200 metre races.

In the Olympic final Liam and Jon clinched the bronze medal, coming in third behind Russia and Belarus in a time of 34.421.

Loughborough-based Sam Oldham played his part in a tremendous performance by the Team GB men’s gymnasts, which saw them win the bronze medal in the team event.

Sam hails from Nottingham but trains at the University’s Gymnastics Centre.

In the Aquatics Centre there were a number of notable individual performances by Loughborough-based swimmers. A tremendous swim from Lizzie Simmonds in the 200 metres Backstroke saw her finish in fourth place.

The Loughborough Olympians also played their part in basketball, football, handball and volleyball for which the London 2012 Games was an opportunity to showcase their sports to the public.

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‘hot pants’ give British cyclists the winning edgeHeated trousers developed by experts from the University, British Cycling and global sports brand adidas were used by Great Britain’s cyclists in their successful pursuit of Olympic glory.

The ADIPOWER muscle warming pants are fitted with battery-powered heat filaments that sit over the cyclist’s core muscle groups and maintain their temperature between warm-up and the start of an event. They’re said to perform a job similar to tyre warmers in Formula 1 racing, keeping the muscles heated in a bid to improve performance.

The trousers were used by the Team GB’s track sprint cyclists, including Sir Chris Hoy who by winning two gold medals in the team sprint and keirin event became the most decorated British Olympian of all time.

The University’s Environmental Ergonomics Research Centre – part of the Loughborough Design School – worked with adidas for three years on the project, establishing the scientific basis for the trousers. The research was led by Professor George Havenith, PhD student Steve Faulkner and Dr Richard Ferguson.

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Laura Unsworth

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29th august 30th august 1st september 2nd september 4th september 6th september 7th september 9th septemberThe opening ceremony for the London 2012 Paralympic Games is held. Loughborough has 18 athletes competing in the Games for ParalympicsGB.

The women’s wheelchair basketball tournament gets underway, featuring current Loughborough student Laurie Williams.

Loughborough-based richard Whitehead wins the gold medal in the T42 200 metres and psychology student Claire Williams claims bronze in the F11/12 discus.

Loughborough-based athletes Libby Clegg and Stef reid win silver medals in T12 100 metres and the F42/44 long jump.

Danielle Brown wins gold in the women’s compound archery, using a specially developed frame created by the Sports Technology institute.

University graduate Dan Greaves wins silver in the F44 discus.

Ben rushgrove wins the bronze medal in the T36 200 metres. Ben has been supported by the Sports Technology institute and was the subject of the film BeN, directed by University lecturer Dr John edwards.

Current Loughborough College student Aaron McKibbon wins bronze in the table tennis class 6-8 team event.

The closing ceremony for the London 2012 Paralympic Games is held. Loughborough finishes the Games with six athletes winning six medals.

Best seats in the house for wheelchair basketball players Innovative tailor-made seats, developed at Loughborough, were used for the first time by ParalympicsGB for the wheelchair basketball events this summer.

The seats, which were individually moulded for each player to provide the best possible support, helped the athletes to improve their speed, acceleration and manoeuvrability around the court.

The seats were developed with UK Sport funding at the University’s Sports Technology Institute, which is supported by the Engineering and Physical

Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The bespoke seats took the individual’s size, shape and particular disability into account and were developed in close consultation with the British men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams.

The need to revolutionise the seats was identified as part of a partner UK Sport project, led by researchers from the University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, to improve the responsiveness of wheelchairs to basketball players’ needs.

Loughborough Paralympians at the 2012 gamesEighteen athletes with connections to Loughborough competed in the London 2012 Games for ParalympicsGB across seven different sports and disciplines.

Six of the athletes won Paralympic medals alongside a number of notable performances and achievements.

Five of the medals were won in the Olympic Stadium in the athletics events.

Loughborough-based athlete Richard Whitehead started the Paralympic medal rush after coming from behind to win the gold in the final of the T42 200 metres.

University graduate Dan Greaves claimed the silver medal in the F44 discus. Dan broke the Paralympic record with a season’s best of 59.01 metres, but rival Jeremy Campbell threw over 60 metres to win the gold medal.

Stefanie Reid claimed the silver medal in the F42/44 long jump. Stef, who is coached by Keith Antoine at Loughborough, broke the Paralympic record on two occasions, jumping 5.28 metres.

Loughborough-based Libby Clegg also won a silver medal in the 100 metres T12 event. Libby crossed the line with her guide runner Mikail Huggins in a lifetime best and European record time of 12.13.

Current University student Claire Williams won the bronze medal in the F11/12 discus. Claire, who is studying Psychology and is a 2012 Sports Scholar, threw 39.63 metres to claim third place.

Away from the track in the table tennis there was a bronze medal for Loughborough College student Aaron McKibbin in the Class 6-8 men’s team event.

There were a number of notable performances from current University students.

International Relations student Sam Ruddock ran a personal best of 28.75 in the heats on the T35 200 metres. Although

not quick enough to qualify for the final, it was a tremendous performance by Sam who only took up athletics a few months ago.

Finally Geography student Emma Hollis produced a series of gutsy swims in the pool despite having fractured her ankle less than a week prior to the Games due to her condition of brittle bones.

Masters student Crystal Lane was only selected for the Games two weeks before they commenced. But Crystal recorded top ten finishes in her three events during her debut at the Paralympic Games, including a sixth place in the Women’s Individual C 4-5 Road Race held at Brands Hatch.

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technology boost for archer ParalympicsGB athlete Danielle Brown successfully defended her Paralympic women’s compound archery title at the London 2012 Games.

Danielle has been supported by the University’s Sports Technology Institute since 2008, after an approach for assistance in the design and production of a specialist frame which would enhance her performance.

Danielle suffers from reflex sympathetic dystrophy in her lower legs and was previously using a piece of old bicycle frame as a prop when competing.

The Institute’s team of technical experts were able to create a design finely tuned to Danielle’s requirements, with custom features to assist the initial set up and a change of concept to ensure positional consistency of the archer.

The modifications ensured there was consistent positioning of the lower limbs and that the total load was spread over a greater area, making maximum use of the permitted space.

The redesign eliminated the sinking of the frame on soft ground and the wider base made it much more stable on indoor shoots.

Photos: All images courtesy of Press Association

richard whitehead Claire williams stef reid dan greaves

Noise control is big business. Industry and Government spend billions of

pounds every year attempting to protect workers and communities from the damaging impact of unwelcome sound. From the rumble of road traffic to the banging of industrial machinery, solid barriers are often employed to lessen the noise with varying degrees of success. But now a new patented technology, developed by a team from the University’s Department of Physics, looks set to revolutionise noise control and is already attracting a lot of interest.

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When embarking on a joint undergraduate research project for their Physics degree, Drs Daniel Elford and Luke Chalmers had no idea that five years down the line it would see them on the brink of launching a brand new business venture with the University. At just 26 years old the friends seem to be taking it all in their stride.

“We are both really excited about where this is heading,” Dr Elford says. “We have had a lot of support from the department and the University’s Enterprise Office and have been quite shocked by the positive reaction we have had from industry.”

Their undergraduate project focused on a relatively new area of physics called sonic crystals – a periodic array of sound wave scatterers that severely reduce sound in specific frequency ranges. Research in this area was already underway in the department, led by Professor Feo Kusmartsev and Dr Gerry Swallowe.

Following the interesting results of their undergraduate project Professor Kusmartsev and Dr Swallowe invited the duo to continue their research through a PhD.

“The PhD went really well,” Dr Elford adds. “And in our final year we started to realise that what we had been working on could have some real commercial use.”

Noise

Conventional sound barriers are solid structures built around machinery or installed along the sides of road or railway lines. However they are not always effective and can cause problems with ventilation and over-heating when used in an industrial setting.

The sound barriers developed by Drs Elford and Chalmers have built upon the extensive research already carried out by the department. They comprise of a series of cylinders, precisely arranged to absorb the frequency of sound waves in a specific environment. They enable the reduction of unwanted sound, whilst allowing wanted noise such as fire alarms to be heard. The barriers can be constructed from a wide variety of materials and use typically less than half of the matter needed for a solid barrier, making them more cost-effective than current solutions. Their design can also be tailored to cut very specific types of noise.

Dr Chalmers explains: “Basically our design is made from cylinders in a periodic row, similar to a fence but with spaces in between. In spacing the cylinders in a regular pattern you are able to block out a certain frequency of sound. This is achieved by matching the peaks in a sound wave to the spacing between the cylinders – the sound gets cancelled out.

“What makes our technology so unique is the design of the cylinders. A conventional sonic crystal is a solid cylinder and the sound control is only determined by the spacing between each one. To block out the lower frequency noises the spacing increases so your barrier gets bigger, making it unfeasible. The solution we developed involves using hollow cylinders with a slot cut in, which introduces a different mechanism to block out certain frequencies. Using this technique alongside the spacing of the cylinders we are able to block out even more sound frequencies at a useable scale.”

To transform their research into a business venture they have secured commercialisation funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the University’s Enterprise Office, the European Regional Development Fund and the Royal Academy of Engineering. This has enabled them to carry out lab tests at the campus and develop prototypes. They are now at the stage where they are testing the technology in actual industry settings.

“We have our sound barriers in operation at two industrial sites,” Dr Elford says. “To start the process we go out to visit the clients and perform a noise survey. We take noise measurements and then work out which frequencies we need to target. We then tune the barrier to block out those specific frequencies.

“We offer industry a unique solution to noise control that is cheaper, targeted at specific sounds and allows the free flow of air. The ability to allow air to pass through is particularly important to industry, where solid noise barriers enclosing machinery can lead to over-heating and the need for air conditioning.”

The response to the new sound barriers has been incredible, with more that 30 companies spanning the rail and renewable energy sectors interested in the development of the technology and its potential uses.

“They all see the value of the new technology and know that the current options on offer do not work,” Dr Chalmers adds. “In fact the interest has been that great that we have had to turn away some companies until we are at a stage to be able to help them.”

Drs Elford and Chalmers, alongside Professor Kusmartsev and Dr Swallowe, are now working with the Enterprise Office to establish a University spin-out company. Loughborough is renowned for its successful transfer of academic research into commercial ventures and Drs Elford and Chalmers know they are in the best place possible to develop a business.

“We offer industry a unique solution to noise control that is cheaper, targeted at specific sounds and allows the free flow of air.”

“The support we have received from the University has been fantastic,” Dr Elford says. “Loughborough’s reputation has opened a lot of doors for us in the business community and we want to retain our strong links with the University as things progress. Ideally we would like to base the new company at the campus on the Science and Enterprise Park, it is the perfect environment.”

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783 million people

in the world do not have access to safe water. This is roughly one in ten of the world’s population.

2.5 billion people

in the world do not have access to adequate sanitation, almost two fifths of the world’s population.

diarrhoea kills more children every year than AIDS, malaria and measles combined.

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It was 10 years ago that Hazel first started looking at access to water and sanitation for people with disabilities as part of a Department for International Development (DFID) funded research project.

“Rather than inventing new solutions we decided to build on existing good practice,” Hazel explains. “Through the DFID research we were able to go out and document how disabled people themselves were modifying their home environments, the solutions they had come up with to overcome problems accessing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). It was then that we realised that it wasn’t just disabled people who were affected – the elderly, the young, pregnant women, they all faced problems.”

The information gathered during the research was analysed and the technical solutions collated in a picture-led resource book. More than 300 copies were distributed to WASH implementers and disabled people’s organisations working in low-income countries. It was translated into French, distributed on CD and made available to download from the WEDC website. For many it was the first time they had considered the extra barriers facing disabled people and other vulnerable groups in accessing water and sanitation.

“The resource book highlighted just how hard life is for the most vulnerable in low-income countries, where for many going to the toilet involves squatting over a pit in the ground, at best. If you are unable to walk or support your own weight what do you do? It is a similar situation with accessing water – if the hand pump is a kilometre away or difficult to operate and requires a lot of strength what do the elderly or very young do?”

WEDC has a long-established relationship with WaterAid and the DFID-funded research further cemented the partnership. WaterAid is an international non-governmental organisation dedicated to transforming lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world's poorest communities. It works in 27 countries with local partners, providing them with the skills and support to help communities set up and manage practical and sustainable projects that meet their real needs.

Living in the UK it is easy to take the simple things for granted. if you are thirsty you turn on the tap, if you need the toilet you go.

But for so many people in the world accessing safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is a daily struggle. Add to this a disability, old age or even pregnancy, doing even the simple things becomes a battle. Judy Wing went to meet Hazel Jones from the University’s Water, engineering and Development Centre (WeDC) in the School of Civil and Building engineering, whose practical, hands on approach to help and partnership working is changing people’s lives.

“Our resource book struck a real chord with WaterAid,” Hazel adds. “Equity and inclusion in accessing safe water and sanitation became an organisational strategy for WaterAid and at this point they came to us to provide the technical expertise for its staff.”

WEDC were tasked with developing a training course for WaterAid’s employees – the people working on the ground in low-income countries to improve water and sanitation facilities. The distance-learning package

Hazel created is the only one of its kind in the world. It encourages participants to seek out achievable solutions, providing them with examples of what they could do differently and the practical skills needed through a mixed mode format of practical distance-learning, assignments and hands-on workshops.

Today staff from all 27 countries that WaterAid work in have completed WEDC’s CPD distance-learning course. “It is fantastic to know that the research we do here at WEDC is really helping people in low-income

countries,” Hazel says. “The information and training based on our original research is being provided to implementers, disabled people’s organisations and to communities to make them think about the needs of the disabled in their communities, the needs of the elderly, of pregnant women. Things are changing for the better for these people.”

So what next? WEDC has now embarked on a three-year research project with WaterAid and the Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre based at UCL. The purpose of the research is to examine what the problems are that prevent access to clean water and basic sanitation for disabled and elderly people in Uganda and Zambia. It will look at what interventions are effective in improving access and the impact this has on their lives and those of their families, including economic, health and social status.

The first phase of the research will focus on the impact of lack of access in three areas: livelihoods; health; and social participation, and identify the barriers preventing access. The second phase of the research will assess how improved access to water and sanitation facilities affects both individuals with disabilities and their households.

“It is great to be able to continue pushing forward with the work and to keep it in the minds of policy makers,” Hazel adds. “This research project will enable us to get a deeper insight into the real impact lack of access to clean

water and basic sanitation has on people with a disability, and what a difference improving access can make. As with all the work we do here at WEDC, it is about improving people’s quality of life.”

Loughborough University’s Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) is a world-leading education and research institute. Part of the School of Civil and Building Engineering, the organisation specialises in developing knowledge and capacity in water supply and sanitation in developing countries.

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“it is fantastic to know that the research we do here at WEDc is really helping people in low-

income countries”

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18 the research & enterprise view

Loughborough researchers are engineering tissue that looks and behaves like human muscle. There is future potential to implant this tissue into patients who have lost muscle through surgery, accidents, or through sport injuries.

Furthermore, studying these muscle models as they are ‘stimulated’ in the laboratory, could help researchers prescribe exercises for older people, and help those with degenerative and neuromuscular diseases. This science could also address strength questions for elite athletes, and perfect training regimes. Professor Mark Lewis of Loughborough’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences spoke with Ally Laing about the implications of this research for the health and wellbeing of society. And he explains why he believes collaboration is key to future breakthroughs.

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Investment in sport and exercise medicine is on the rise. New multi-million pound institutes of expertise have been established,

including one at Loughborough University. These ‘hubs’ bring together

clinicians, scientists, engineers and researchers, all under one roof, experts such as Loughborough’s Professor of Musculoskeletal Biology, Mark Lewis. Their compelling, collaborative research could result in therapies that will improve the quality of life for millions of people, and help prevent diseases related to inactivity. Professor Lewis explained: “Advances in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and stem cell technology mean we can now ‘make’ a piece of muscle that mimics how human muscle behaves. Our in vitro muscle models are around two centimetres long.

“There is potential to grow muscle for transplants and reconstruction. We are working with orthopaedic surgeons to look at how we can attach muscle to bone for reconstructive surgery and sports injuries. We are also exploring how to grow muscles and nerves together.”

He added: “During the past three to five years we have got to the point at Loughborough where we are really starting to push and interrogate the systems we have built over previous decades. We are moving forward at some pace.”

To make muscle perform in ‘mini gyms’ in the laboratory, the team uses two systems. One is a mechanical system, where a stepper motor is attached to the muscle and ‘stretches’ it. The motor can be set at any variable researchers choose, so they can really exercise the muscle hard and introduce lots of different regimes that simulate different types of exercise or performance. The other system used to test muscle performance is to use electrodes (an electric current) to stimulate it, to make it ‘twitch’.

Researchers can use these models to understand muscle physiology in the laboratory, but transferring this science to the wider population is where the real legacy lies.

Professor Lewis said: “The challenge is to use the huge potential of exercise as a therapeutic tool. Whether it’s a cancer patient, a respiratory patient, a cardiac patient or a diabetic patient, if we can introduce exercise into their treatment programme, they will benefit, but it needs to be prescribed specifically.

“A term that’s used a lot now is personalised medicine. It’s about designing medicines that are specific to an individual. What we need to be able to do is get evidence out there to medics. That’s what we are working towards, a personalised exercise prescription, so people exercise better and live longer.”

Professor Lewis and his team are now in their final year of a three-year research programme which cost £500,000 to fund. He explained that one of the most rewarding

parts of his research in recent years has been collaboration. He has been inspired through working with colleagues in world-class facilities such as the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, which has hubs in the East Midlands (at Loughborough), in London and Sheffield. Also with peers in respected institutions such University College London Hospitals (UCLH), and partnership work with UCL (University College London), Nottingham University and at Keele University, among others.

Professor Lewis said: “You find yourself in a room with electrical engineers, chemical engineers, sport scientists and sports medics, bio-chemists and biologists who historically would never have had the occasion or opportunity to meet and talk. I find these interactions very exciting, and I’ve been surprised at just how well it all works.

“Collaboration is the future. There are too many big issues and not enough resources to give everyone a bit each. I believe collaboration is a paradigm for the way the world is going to be, going forward, certainly in research and development and in ideas and industry.”

He concluded: “It’s people coming together with open hearts and open minds. And when you get the right people in a room, with the right mindsets, you can get lots done.”

The challenge is to use the huge potential of exercise as a therapeutic tool.

want to know more?Visit: www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ssehsContact: professor mark Lewis Email: hos-ssehs@lboro.ac.uk

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23the research & enterprise view 23the research & enterprise view

MEN MONEY & debt solving

22 the research & enterprise view

XXXX charities have long acknowledged that more women than men use their services. Women also

tend to seek that advice early, before a cash crisis spirals out of control. So what’s preventing men getting the debt advice they need? How can debt charities break down these ‘barriers’ and encourage more men to come forward and deal with their debts?

A leading financial charity commissioned Dr Jackie Goode and her team at Loughborough’s Centre for Research in Social Policy, to explore the sociological and psychological factors affecting men and debt. Dr Goode spoke with Alison Laing about the findings.

The UK’s economic woes are well documented. Financial experts say we are in recession with little sign of recovery anytime soon. As a consequence, household debt is on the rise. While debt charities report a slight increase in the number of enquiries from men, this trend is against an underlying background of gender imbalance. Typically, it is still the case that women are the most likely to seek help with their debts, while men need more of a ‘push’.

Dr Goode conducted research into these behaviours on behalf of the Money Advice Trust. It was a project she and her team took on with relish.

Dr Goode said: “There is a whole body of scholarship out there on what happens to money in households. That research has mainly focused on women, for very good reason. In low income households in particular, it tends to be women who manage the household budget on a day-to-day basis. Female partners are also more willing to come forward and discuss their money problems than men.

“But what made this research project so exciting, and quite unique, was that it provided a rare opportunity to hear men’s

voices on the subject of debt. What did they see as their role in managing household finances? And just how did their over-indebtedness occur?”

The £20,000, small-scale, exploratory study took three months to complete. The male volunteers were recruited on the doorstep by a specialist agency. Some were in couple households, some were lone male parents, and one lived in a house share. Just over half were in households in receipt of an income of under £15,000 per annum, a quarter were in receipt of less than £25,000 a year, two

were in receipt of between £30,000 - £40,000, and one was in receipt of £42,000. The interviews lasted on average 90 minutes, and each was personally conducted in

the

individual’s home by either Dr Goode or her colleague, Dr Amanda Waring.

Dr Goode said: “Getting a good sample of men willing to sign-up for the study proved difficult. The specialist agency we employed to recruit volunteers experienced much resistance. A phrase that kept coming up was ‘male pride’. We found this feedback from the agency very useful, as it alerted us to an issue we would later follow up in the interviews.”

Dr Goode continued: “To get an overall picture of over-indebtedness in each individual household we began with some factual questions, such as what kinds of debts they had, at what level, whether they had ever sought professional advice, and if not, why not?

“Then we introduced a set of topics which were more conversational and exploratory. We wanted to understand how men managed on a day-to-day basis and what strategies they employed to cope with debt. It’s simply not the case that you have manageable debts one day, and the next you are over-indebted. It’s an unfolding process, and they began telling us their stories.”

In looking at the routes into over-indebted-ness, Dr Goode and her team found that arrears on bills and rent were most typical, but relationship breakdowns also figured, (either where a man had to manage debts himself for the first time, or where he became liable for a financial settlement). Drug and gambling addiction were also mentioned.

Dr Goode explained one of the research outcomes, and perhaps key to why men leave it so late to seek advice, centered on male identity issues. She said: “Men seem to take a ‘do-it-yourself’ approach to over-indebt-edness. They feel it’s their responsibility to get themselves out of trouble. Women may feel empowered by being able to manage a tight budget, but men often believe they should be the providers for their families and are embarrassed to share their problems with friends, family or professional services, meaning debt frequently worsens over time.”

Dr Goode added: “It’s important to recognise that the provider, or breadwinner, identity is still out there. Men are often judged on the money that they earn, or don’t earn. Traditionally, unemployment has been an attack on men’s identity. If a man is a

high earner, that enhances his identity. This male pride and do-it-yourself attitude – in relation to problematic debt – is a new finding. I don’t think it’s been properly explored in this context before.

“There are clearly many complex psychological and sociological factors at play here. If debt advisors could frame their marketing messages to men as “providers” or as “caring for their family” in seeking advice they may find this appeals, and could encourage more men to come forward.”

New technologies also played their part in how men managed household income.

Dr Goode said: “We noted some men took pride in using technology to keep track of their money. They’d shop around, move

their cash about to secure better

rates of interest, get text alerts when

nearing their overdraft limit. Online banking and

telephone banking gave them a sense of control over their

finances. Some tried to make ‘clever’ investments and saw this as ‘beating the

system’, but the danger here was that this could also lead to over-indebtedness.

“Because men appeared to be both confident and competent at using these new technologies, we suggested to debt charities that some of the products they have developed, such as online self-help tools, may have particular appeal to male consumers.”

Another barrier to men seeking advice was the mistrust that arose from being unable to distinguish between the free and independent advice offered by financial charities, and that of the commercial debt-management companies. The Loughborough team suggested charitable groups emphasise their free and independent status.

Dr Goode said: “From the sample of men we studied, those who had sought advice from debt charities told us they found it extremely useful, which was encouraging.”

Visit: www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ss/staff/goode

Contact: dr Jackie goode

Email: J.e.goode@lboro.ac.uk

Publication: Goode, J. and Waring, A. (2011) Seeking direction: Men, money advice and the road to financial health. CRSP/Money Advice Trust

Dr Jackie Goode

25the research & enterprise view24 the research & enterprise view

“Men seem to take a ‘do-it-yourself’ approach to over-indebtedness. They feel it’s their responsibility to get themselves out of trouble”

27the campus view26 the campus view26 the campus view

Ambassador,

champion, leader -

Vice Chancellor

He has been at the University for a matter of weeks but already Professor Robert Allison – the new

Vice Chancellor – has been bowled over by the ‘Loughborough Experience’.

29the campus view28 the campus view28 the campus view

his appointment follows an incredibly successful career in academia and he brings to the University a wealth of knowledge. Judy wing went to meet Loughborough’s new leader.

BiogrApHy1982 – Graduated from

the University of Hull with a BA in Geography

1985 – Awarded a PhD from King’s College London

1986 – Becomes the Addison Wheeler Research Fellow at the University of Durham

1989 – Appointed Lecturer in Engineering Sedimentology at University College London

1993 – Takes up a lectureship at the University of Durham

1999 – Appointed Professor of Geography

2000 – Becomes Head of the Department of Geography at Durham

2002 – Appointed the Executive Dean of the University’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Health

2006 – Moves to the University of Sussex as Pro Vice Chancellor

2010-2011 –

Serves as the University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor

2012 – Joins Loughborough University as Vice Chancellor

It is clear from the start that Professor Allison is a very charismatic and engaging individual. His desire to learn all he can about his new ‘home’ highlights the passion he already has for the University, and he certainly did his homework before coming to Loughborough.

“I actually met all the available former Vice Chancellors and Chairs of the University Council,” Professor Allison explains. “It was a great way to get a real feel for Loughborough, as well as an insight into what life as Vice Chancellor at Loughborough would be like.”

Has Loughborough met his expectations?

“My first few weeks here have been incredible,” Professor Allison adds. “The welcome I have received has been tremendous. My overwhelming impression from everyone I have met so far, staff and students, is their passion for Loughborough, their dedication to its continued success. There is a real sense of community here.”

So what attracted him to Loughborough?

“Everyone knows Loughborough has something special, something unique,” Professor Allison explains. “We are consistently ranked in the top 20 of national league tables, our research is internationally acclaimed, we attract high-calibre students, our work with industry is the envy of other institutions, and of course our sporting pedigree is second to none. Need I say more?”

But being a Vice Chancellor is not for the faint hearted, as a glance at Professor Allison’s diary highlights – virtually every day for the next six months he has a meeting, conference, visit or event to attend.

“There are a number of planks to being a Vice Chancellor, the first is working with colleagues to set the vision for the University and supporting those colleagues in delivering it. Secondly it is to be the ambassador for Loughborough, and I hope the University community will be proud of the way I am representing them. Thirdly it is helping ensure the University maintains its high standards and can constantly adapt to the challenges that come along.

“Fulfilling all of these roles means I will be incredibly busy, but I know it will be immensely rewarding.”

Professor Allison has taken over from Professor Shirley Pearce, who stood down as Vice Chancellor in July after seven years in the post.

“Shirley has done a fantastic job at Loughborough and given me outstanding support,” Professor Allison adds. “There is nothing here that we need to fix, it is all about building on our existing success.

“That isn’t to say there aren’t any challenges ahead. Universities across the country are facing difficult times. Changes to funding, student admissions and greater competition on a global scale are all issues we will have to face. We need to make sure that Loughborough’s success is increasingly recognised not only in the UK but around the world. We also need to be clear about what we can offer prospective students and

“The welcome I have received has been tremendous. My overwhelming impression from everyone I have met so far is their passion for Loughborough...”

staff. If we get this right, people will want to join the Loughborough family. I believe Loughborough is in a great position to meet all these challenges head on.”

Loughborough is renowned for its strong partnerships with business, and has an enviable track record in commercialising leading edge research from the University. What is Professor Allison’s message to those in the business community yet to come into contact with Loughborough?

“For those who haven’t yet experienced Loughborough first hand, I would urge them to pay us a visit,” he says. “The things that we are good at here, we are really, really good at. Working with industry is something we excel at and the ways in which we can work with industry are diverse. We can provide businesses with access to some of the top academics in their fields and amazing research facilities. Our existing relationships with leading blue chip companies – the Rolls Royce University Technology Centre, the Caterpillar Innovation and Research Centre and a bespoke PhD programme with adidas, to mention just a few – speak for themselves.”

It is clear the next 12 months will be a whirlwind of activity for Loughborough’s new VC. But what does Professor Allison want to achieve over the next 12 months?

“The priority for me at present is to listen, learn and understand as much as I can about the University,” he explains. “Before arriving at the campus I heard the term the ‘Loughborough Experience’ mentioned – the unique experience on offer here. Since starting my role I have been fully indoctrinated into this, we offer students and staff an incredible package and I want to learn as much about it as possible. We also need to reflect on our current position and think about what we want to achieve next, so that we are proactively determining our future. Two questions I have already been asking colleagues are where do we want to be 10 years from now and what will it take to get us there? If we can answer those questions, set a high level of aspiration and if everyone involved in Loughborough works towards a shared vision I don’t think we’ll go far wrong.

“By the end of the year I want to be in a position where I have met as many people as possible at the University, and our many external partners. I want to have consulted widely, sought views from everyone that is passionate about Loughborough and works to maintain us as one of the UK’s leading universities. More importantly I want to give them a chance to meet me. I do not want to be a Vice Chancellor that is known by name and not face also.

VC

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professor awarded Cbe

Harriet Ward, Professor of Child and Family Research at the University,

was awarded a CBE for services to children and families in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Professor Ward is Director of Loughborough’s renowned Centre for Child and Family Research (CCFR), which she co-founded in 2001. She also co-directs the government-funded Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre – a partnership between the Institute of Education, University of London, Loughborough University, and the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) at the University of Kent.

The work of Professor Ward and her CCFR colleagues is influential both nationally and internationally, providing the evidence base for the development of a wide range of policy initiatives, particularly those relating to children in need.

Her leadership of the Looking After Children programme, from which much of the CCFR research programme originally derived, has influenced government policy and practice in the UK and abroad. It also led to a number of research initiatives, which informed the development of the CCFR programmes of research on outcomes for vulnerable children and exploring costs and outcomes.

She is currently directing a major research study on young children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm, and has recently co-authored Safeguarding Children Across Services: Messages from Research on Identifying and Responding to Child Maltreatment, the overview of the Department of Health- and Department for Education-funded Safeguarding Children Research Initiative.

Speaking about her CBE Professor Ward said: “I am delighted to have received this prestigious honour. The work that we undertake at the Centre for Child and Family Research has a real impact on society and I think all the CCFR team should share the credit for its many achievements.”

Loughborough climbs up ‘Table of Tables’

The University has risen a further two places to be ranked 13th in the Times Higher

Education (THE) ‘Table of Tables’, placing it firmly among the very best universities in the country.

The THE table is based on the combined results of the UK university leagues compiled by The Times, The Guardian and the Complete University Guide.

Loughborough’s continued high rankings in national league tables is a reflection of the commitment of everyone at the University to providing the highest quality learning environment and an outstanding all-round student experience. 31the campus view30 the campus view30 the campus view

Lord

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the

London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and one of Britain’s greatest athletes, has been appointed as a Pro Chancellor of the University.As Pro Chancellor, Lord Coe is a member of the University’s Council (its governing body), which is comprised of leading figures from local and national organisations and businesses, as well as elected University staff and representatives from the Students’ Union.

Lord Coe is an alumnus of Loughborough, having graduated with a BSc in Economics and Social History in 1979. He was made an Honorary Doctor of Technology (Hon DTech) by the University in 1985.

As a sportsman he was part of the golden era of British athletics.

Initially coached by his father, who designed workouts specifically for his son, Coe won his first major race in 1977 – an 800m event at the European indoor championships in San Sebastián, Spain. At Loughborough, he met athletics coach George Gandy, who developed revolutionary conditioning exercises to improve his running.

Coe won gold in the 1,500m and silver in the 800 metres at both the 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He also won gold in the 800 metres at the 1986 European Athletics Championships in Stuttgart, and set a total of eight outdoor and three indoor world records.

Following his retirement from athletics in 1990, he served as a Conservative MP and, in 2000, was made a life peer. In 2006, Lord Coe was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Lord Coe played a leading role in winning the bid for the London 2012 Games, with his inspirational presentation to the International Olympic Committee a key moment in the bid’s success.

Of his appointment, Lord Coe said: “I have always had very strong links with Loughborough, and I am looking forward to being able to contribute to the future of the University which provided me with such support, as both a student and graduate and also in my athletics career.”

Lord Coe appointed as pro Chancellor

reinvent the Toilet Challenge awarded prize by bill gates

Loughborough has won a prestigious

prize of $60,000 in an international competition organised by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a reinvented toilet.

The challenge was to create a toilet that is clean, safe, durable and affordable for the poor without the need for connection to electricity or a sewer. The toilet had to be a viable solution in wealthy nations as well as in the developing world, where 2.5 billion people lack access to safe and affordable sanitation.

The prize was awarded to the Loughborough team for its prototype toilet which aims to convert human waste into carbonised material to provide heat, minerals for soil conditioning, and water for flushing and hand-washing. It uses a process called Continuous Thermal Hydrocarbonisation which kills all pathogens to create safe to handle, valuable material and uses power from heat generated during processing. The toilet is designed to work in both single-family and multi-user contexts with daily running costs of just a few pence per person.

Three prototype technologies were recognised for most closely matching the criteria for the

Reinvent the Toilet Challenge. Loughborough was awarded second prize, with the California Institute of Technology and the University of Toronto respectively receiving first and third prizes.

“Innovative solutions change people’s lives for the better,” said Foundation Co-chair Bill Gates. “If we apply creative thinking to everyday challenges, such as dealing with human waste, we can fix some of the world’s toughest problems.”

Almost one year ago, the Foundation challenged universities to design toilets that can capture and process human waste without piped water, sewer or electrical connections, and transform human waste into useful resources. Eight universities from around the world were chosen for the challenge. Loughborough was the only UK university to be awarded a grant, receiving $400,000 for research.

Professor M. Sohail, Loughborough’s project lead, said, “It was the opportunity of a lifetime to present our research to Mr Gates and we are extremely honoured to receive this prestigious award.”

“Loughborough University has an outstanding reputation for applying its cross-cutting research to tackle global issues,” added Professor Myra Nimmo, the University’s Pro Vice Chancellor for Research. “This challenge has brought together our experts in sanitation, chemical, materials and water engineering and design. I am delighted that their expertise has been recognised with this prestigious award.”

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