In the News: 4 – 10 May

Our weekly roundup of University news stories.

In the wake of several shootings in London over the bank holiday weekend, Radio 4’s Today programme asked our gun crime expert Dr Helen Poole how firearms were getting onto the streets of the UK (starts 53mins in ). The BBC website followed it up with a similar article, also featuring Helen.

Research showing teaching assistants are afraid of undermining teachers when it comes to managing behaviour was picked up by papers across the country, including the Scotsman, Yorkshire Evening Post and Sheffield Star.

News that the University’s chamber choir is to open this year’s Northampton Music Festival was reported by the Chronicle and Echo. The performance of Mozart’s Requiem will take place in the Market Square on June 16.

The antics of Coco, the publicity seeking, biscuit loving, Chihuahua have put her owner (photography student Aurélie Walder) in the running for a major photography award, according to both Dog Monthly and K9 Magazine.

Professor of Biomechanics, Tony Kay appeared on Radio Northampton to update listeners on a study into whether chair based exercises could combat leg muscle loss and improve balance in the elderly. Whilst there, he also appealed for more volunteers to take part in the second phase of the study (starts 8 mins in).

The Chronicle and Echo, Telegraph and Daventry Today all reported on University research carried out for the NCF that shows the most deprived people in the county are lacking the skills sought by employers.

And finally, the Chron also reported on an Interior Design student and her idea for stress relieving ‘pit stops’ for NHS staff which is up for a coveted RSA award.