In the news: 15-21 October 2021

A round up of mentions of our students, graduates, staff and the University in the media over the past week.

October is Black History Month and our Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) Network hosted their second Black in the Ivory conference, which this year included awards for those who have advanced race equality in education across Northamptonshire. GEM Co-Chair Marcella Daye spoke with BBC Radio Northampton’s Mark Dean about the event.

The stories of some of the awardees featured in the media: Morcea Walker’s in the Northamptonshire Telegraph and Chronicle and Echo and a BBC Radio Northampton archive interview with Rev. Elaine Roberts was replayed during the Sunday, religious affairs programme (starts 1hr 52mins in).

ITV Anglia reported on measures being taken across the town to reduce drink spiking and keep drinkers safe, and spoke with Zoe Boyer, Vice President for Student Welfare at the Students’ Union.

This story was also published online.

Early Childhood studies graduate Margaret Hubbard’s story about getting a good degree features in the Early Years Eye magazine.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council have extended the contract for the University’s Competence Test Centre and awarded contracts to two, new centres, as reported in the Nursing Times and the Chronicle and Echo.

For Northamptonshire Week BBC Radio Northampton spoke with Senior Lecturer in Footwear and Accessories Jane Schaffer about how our Fashion degree is creating shoe design stars of the future.

UNIC science and engineering lecturer Adam Gregory has embarked on an epic series of endurance events to raise £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, all of which will culminate in a gruelling Iron Man challenge. His story features in the Chronicle and Echo.

Associate Professor Dr Eunice Lumsden’s work and research about early years was recognised, when she was invited to the recent Women of the Year Lunch, as reported by the Northants Chamber.

UK coronavirus rates, hospital admissions and deaths continue to rise, with Northamptonshire above the UK average. Our Covid expert, Visiting Professor of Nursing Dr Steve O’Brien was back with BBC Radio Northampton’s Annabel Amos talking about the main issues behind this.

Steve was back in the BBC Northampton studio later in the week, to offer his view on whether the Government should start its ‘Plan B’ as Covid cases have reached a peak of 40,000 for two weeks in a row.

Dr O’Brien’s comments were also featured on the BBC News website.

The Chronicle and Echo report on how funding from the Thriving Communities Fund is helping improve the health of people in Northamptonshire. UON research that helped establish a new, directed walking route around Delapré Abbey is referenced in the article.

Journalism graduate Kady Wardell, a senior journalist working on the BBC’s social team, has switched beats to join the broadcaster’s visual journalism team, as reported by Talking Biz News.

Ahead of COP26 in November Dr Simon Sneddon, Senior Lecturer in Law, was one of the signatories to an open letter in The Independent, experts asking the Prime Minister to consider not agreeing to new oil and gas investment.