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Aston University bioenergy expert appointed to Department for Transport Science Advisory Council
Professor Thornley is director of the Energy and Bioproducts Institute at Aston University and the national Supergen Bioenergy Hub She is an international leader in assessing the sustainability of energy systems The Science Advisory Council provides independent, strategic advice and challenge to the Department for Transport. Bioenergy expert and director of the Energy and Bioproducts Institute at Aston University, Professor Patricia Thornley, has been appointed to the science advisory council of the Department for Transport (DfT). Professor Thornley is an international leader in assessing the sustainability of energy systems. Her work contributes to the understanding of how to best use low-carbon technologies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change. Her work is particularly influential in advising government on energy policy and supporting engineering deployment of low-carbon energy solutions in the UK and worldwide. The Science Advisory Council is a council of external experts who provide independent, strategic advice and challenge to the DfT on science and technology – speaking directly to decision-makers on some of the most important issues of the day that are relevant to the department’s policy and operations. Speaking on her appointment, Professor Thornley said: “I am delighted to take up this role and further develop the links between Aston University and the Department for Transport. "We already engage closely with departments across Whitehall to ensure policy is sustainable and fit for purpose in a net zero world. I’m excited to work with such esteemed colleagues on the DfT Science Advisory Council and to deepen the important relationship between policy and research.” The council examines how science and innovation can support policy in specific areas, working with officials to frame the policy issue and consulting additional subject-specific experts to bring new thinking and evidence into DfT. As a member of the Science Advisory Council Professor Thornley will support the Chief Scientific Adviser in ensuring departmental activity is informed by the best external expertise and evidence, advising and challenging the nature and quality of the DfT’s use of science and technology and identifying relevant emerging issues and trends. Professor Thornley has been recruited alongside four other new members and a new Chair, joining six continuing members. Department for Transport Chief Scientific Adviser, Sarah Sharples, said: “I’m pleased to welcome the new members appointed to the Science Advisory Council. They bring significant additional expertise in key areas that will support DfT’s effective use of science and engineering. "I look forward to working with them.” Professor Thornley’s appointment is for a four-year term ending in 2025.
Aston University partners with Shoosmiths to open up opportunities to study a law degree
Pathways to Law in partnership with Shoosmiths will launch in September 2022 Up to 30 Year 12 students per 18-month cohort will complete the initiative Aston University will host information, advice and guidance sessions as well as law taster sessions at the University as part of the programme. A programme to support students from under-represented backgrounds towards a career in law has been launched by Aston University in partnership with leading law firm Shoosmiths. The Pathways to Law will launch in September 2022 with up to 30 Year 12 students taking part in an 18-month programme of activities to give academically-able, disadvantaged students the chance to develop important key skills in preparing to study a law degree. The government made an announcement about its plans for improving access, participation and outreach initiatives in November 2021, calling for more work style pathways from universities, schools and companies in the West Midlands. Aston University will host several information, advice and guidance sessions as well as law taster sessions on campus over the 18-month programme. Shoosmiths will host three core events: Routes in to Law (Year 12 Feb 2023), Professional Skills and Employability (Year 12 June 2023) and a networking event hosted by Shoosmiths (Year 13 October 2023). Saskia Loer Hansen, Interim Vice-Chancellor of Aston University, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for prospective law students from across the West Midlands. “Aston University is proud of its track record on social mobility. Research by the UK government’s Social Mobility Commission shows that even when those from working class backgrounds gain access to professional occupations, they go on to earn an average of £6,000 less per year than colleagues from more advantaged backgrounds – a ‘class pay gap’ that persists even when they have the same education, training and experience. “We hope that initiatives like this will help close the class pay gap further and look forward to opening applications in summer 2022.” Alex Bishop, Partner and Co-head of Shoosmiths’ Birmingham office said: “Initiatives like Pathways to Law are an important part of our firm’s continued commitment to advancing social mobility. “It is wonderful to see Victoria Potts, one of our stellar Birmingham lawyers so passionate about driving forwards social mobility through this new programme to offer more potential opportunities for young people in our city who might otherwise feel a career in law is beyond their reach.” Victoria Potts, Associate at Shoosmiths who is leading on the creation and delivery of the programme said: “I am looking forward to partnering with Aston University to work to open up the legal profession for students who would not normally see their career within it. “All of the students who will be selected for the programme will meet widening participation criteria set by the higher education regulatory body, the Office for Students, and be based in the West Midlands area. “We are keen to develop a pathway which widens the social profile of candidates in the legal profession and is representative of the community it serves. “These activities will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students and will help level the playing field for their progression into higher education and the legal profession.”
University chaplaincy celebrates 50th anniversary
Aston University chaplaincy marks 50 years of delivering pastoral care 12 months of celebration activities and events to be launched on Martin Luther King Day (MLK Day) MLK Day is a federal holiday in the USA to mark the birthday of Martin Luther King The chaplaincy team at Aston University is celebrating 50 years of delivering pastoral care with a series of celebration events and activities being launched on Monday 17 January to coincide with Martin Luther King (MLK) Day. Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday in the United States to mark the birthday and honour the achievements of Martin Luther King Jr who advocated the use of non-violent means to end racial segregation. The Aston University chaplaincy team, based at the Martin Luther King Multi-Faith Centre on the University campus, offers pastoral and spiritual guidance, prayer, support and friendship to all – regardless of background. Chaplains are also available to any group concerned with issues of a religious, international, social or political dimension which wishes to explore - like Martin Luther King - the great themes of justice, peace, mutual understanding and the search for the meaning of life. The chaplains, drawn from different religions and denominations, work together in an atmosphere of inter-religious understanding and cooperation. Alongside other support services in the University, their purpose is to assist all staff and students whether they profess a religious belief or not. Jan Scott, Christian chaplain and spokesperson for the team, said: “The next few months are intended to celebrate the 50th anniversary, looking back on the history of the chaplaincy and how it has developed over the last 50 years. “We want to use it as an opportunity to connect and reconnect with individuals, groups and organisations who have links to the chaplaincy, as a chance for reflection on how to continue to support staff and students of any and all faiths and no faith, and to look forward and set a vision for the chaplaincy for 2022 and beyond.”
Aston University encourages SMEs to sign up to Innovation Workshops to support business growth
SMEs with a registered or trading address in Birmingham, Solihull, Redditch, Bromsgrove or the Wyre Forest are invited to attend The full series consists of three workshops hosted by academics from Aston Business School and Birmingham City Business School The workshops are part of the Innovation Vouchers scheme to help drive innovation and business growth SMEs with a registered or trading address in Birmingham, Solihull, Redditch, Bromsgrove, or the Wyre Forest have been invited to attend Aston Business School’s Innovation Workshops. The free1 workshops are part of the Innovation Vouchers project, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The full series consists of three workshops hosted by academics from Aston Business School and Birmingham City Business School on 2, 9 and 23 February 2022 running from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm at The Eastside Rooms in central Birmingham. The academics include Innovation Vouchers project director Professor Nick Theodorakopoulos and head of Aston Business School Professor Pawan Budhwar. The workshops are on three key areas: 2 February 2022: Envisioning Growth through Innovation 9 February 2022: Leadership & Strategy for Innovation 23 February 2022: Marketing for Innovation Attendees who attend all workshop sessions will receive a ‘Managing Innovation in Business’ certificate from Aston Business School. Nick Theodorakopoulos, professor of entrepreneurship development and Innovation Vouchers project director at Aston Business School, said: “The Innovation Workshops support small-and-medium sized businesses to build their capacity to innovate and grow. “Independent evaluations from the previous project phases have showed that workshops have a positive impact on attendees, resulting in substantial increases in gross value added and new job creation. “The staff who deliver the workshops are experts in their field with excellent industry experience. I would encourage businesses owners to attend the Innovation Workshops and grow their business.” Tickets for the Innovation Workshops are available HERE. Notes to Editors 1The workshops are free for eligible businesses. However, de minimis rules apply. The support we plan to provide through the workshops will comply with the State Aid rules using the de minimis exemption (in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1407/2013, OJ L 352/1). Under this exemption a single undertaking may receive up to the limit of €200,000 of De Minimis aid from the Member State within which it does business and which provides the aid over any period of three fiscal years. To attend the workshops, you will be asked to complete a Statement of Previous Aid received under the De Minimis exemption and arrange for a director of your business to sign it. Using this information we will assess your eligibility to receive assistance. About Innovation Vouchers European Regional Development Fund The project is receiving up to £803,273 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding Workshop Times and Dates All Innovation Workshops start at 9.30am and end at 5pm.
Aston University to host livestream event with Holocaust survivor ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day
Aston University’s Department of Politics, History and International Relations will host the livestream on 20 January It is a collaboration with the Holocaust Educational Trust Holocaust survivor, Dorit Oliver-Wolff, will share her experiences as part of the panel discussion. Aston University will host a livestreamed event with a holocaust survivor ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day. The event will see 86 year old holocaust survivor Dorit Oliver-Wolff talk about her traumatic experiences as a child under the Nazi regime. The University’s history experts and students have organised the panel discussion which will take place on 20 January, one week before Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January). Holocaust Memorial Day is an annual reminder of one of the biggest crimes against humanity in the twentieth century. Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe, around two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population. Dorit Oliver-Wolff was given a British Empire Medal for services to Holocaust education and awareness in 2020. She has been giving talks to schools, community groups and businesses about her experiences for more than a decade. Ms Oliver-Wolff was born in Novi Sad in Serbia - formerly Yugoslavia. In 1941, she and her mother fled and travelled from place to place within Hungary, creating new identities before hiding in a cellar, from where her mother would sneak out at night to look for food in bombed-out shops. Her talk will be followed by questions from British and German students, as well as the general public, who can submit questions by 17 January. Dr Brian Sudlow, lecturer in history at Aston University, said: “We like to think of the perpetrators of the Holocaust as completely different from ourselves. Yet this is not true. “Today, in commemorating these events, we are not only listening to history. We are trying to ensure humanity never sinks so low again.” You can sign up to the free event and submit a question for consideration HERE. Subscribe to the Aston Originals YouTube Channel and follow on Twitter.
Aston University opens applications for Midlands’ Pitch Up investment competition
The Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up Competition is aimed at small business leaders looking for support with gaining investment Ambitious business leaders can improve their ability to win investment while boosting their profile The final will take place at Venturefest on 24 March 2022 at Eastside Rooms. Applications to Minerva Birmingham’s Pitch Up 2022 competition have opened. Formerly known as ‘Pitchfest WM’ and now in its 7th year, participating businesses have the chance to pitch head-to-head to a variety of investors to win a cash prize, and the ultimate accolade of Pitch Up Champion. Pitch Up is a collaboration, co-delivered by the Aston Centre for Growth, University of Birmingham Enterprise, and Minerva Business Angels, part of the University of Warwick Science Park Ltd. The competition provides the opportunity for ambitious business leaders to improve their ability to win investment while simultaneously boosting their business profile. Interested business leaders can apply here, applications close on 28th February. Shortlisted applicants will be supported through a workshop to refine their pitch deck, sharpen their pitching skills and receive valuable feedback in order to improve. The first workshop will take place on 20 January 2022. A select number of successful applicants will then advance to the next stage of the competition and have the opportunity pitch to an investor-led panel to gain more practice and receive more feedback. The best performing businesses will then be selected to pitch at the prestigious Pitch Up Final. This will take place as part of Venturefest WM on 24 March 2022 at Eastside Rooms, Birmingham. Venturefest attracts some 300 delegates including investors, entrepreneurs and innovators. The overall winner will be decided by audience vote and crowned Pitch Up Champion 2022, they will receive a cash prize and the option of additional support from Minerva Birmingham. Last year’s winner, Mark Platt Founder and CTO of Figura Analytics, said: “I was really amazed to win last year’s competition and delighted at the new connections and networks I made as part of the process. “The support received through the competition was fantastic; each workshop I attended allowed me to meet new people, learn new skills and left me energised and eager for more. Our winning pitch was definitely the result of some really insightful advice and feedback from the team and panel members.” The event has put more than 125 entrepreneurs directly in front of investors and helped bring in excess of £40,000,000 of investment to the region's small businesses to date. Paula Whitehouse, director of Aston Centre for Growth, said: “We are delighted to continue this collaboration, Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up exists to boost access to finance for the region’s most exciting and innovative young businesses. “The competition continues to play a crucial role in unlocking opportunities and investment for the future of high growth companies within the region.” Alex Toft, head of Minerva Business Angels, part of the University of Warwick Science Park Ltd. said: “It’s great to be part of such a collaborative relationship building not only support for our entrepreneurs but helping to build that support structure of finance and experience provided by investors. “This is a great opportunity for those earlier in their development cycle who would otherwise struggle to get noticed. We also continue to call on those who have never considered angel investing to join to reach out to us to find out more.” David Coleman, CEO of University of Birmingham Enterprise said: “Within the Midlands, there is a clear disparity between the large proportion of the UK's high-growth companies that are based here, and the investment secured. “That's why collaborative programmes like Pitch Up, which engage a diverse range of investors, are so important to increasing the likelihood of companies securing the funding they need.” Find out more about Pitch Up, by contacting centreforgrowth@aston.ac.uk, visiting Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up or apply now here.
Ask an Expert: Should Gaming Companies Release Their Latest, Greatest Platform Updates Early?
Late last year, Emory Business published an excellent article featuring research by Emory’s Ramnath K. Chellappa. An excerpt is included below and an attachment to the full article is attached as well. In June 2016, Xbox executive Phil Spencer told technology blog The Verge that it might be “crazy to announce something this early” as he unveiled the release of Xbox One X. It was a full year before the gaming console was set to hit the market. But Spencer, executive vice president of gaming at Microsoft, did so to arm customers with “as much information as possible.” He also wanted to communicate to developers what tools they’d have at their disposal. However, new research by Ramnath K. Chellappa, professor of Information Systems & Operations Management; associate dean and academic director for the MS in Business Analytics at Goizueta Business School, and Rajiv Mukherjee, assistant professor of information and operations management, Texas A&M University Mays Business School, shows that these types of preannouncements, no matter how informative, may not always be in a company’s best interests. According to Chellappa and Mukherjee, the value of preannouncing the latest and greatest features of a gaming console isn’t nearly as straightforward as the value gained by alerting customers to a new version of a Ford F150. While it may sound counterintuitive, as Chellappa and Mukherjee explain in their recent paper, “Platform Preannouncement Strategies: The Strategic Role of Information in Two-Sided Markets Competition,” sometimes the best way to announce new features in a platform-based world is by saying nothing at all. “We’re dealing with an ecosystem when we buy platforms,” Chellappa explains. “There’s a big difference between how products provide utility to an end-user versus how platforms provide utility to two sides of a market, one of which might be end-users.” When a company unveils a new version of a bicycle or television, there isn’t an ecosystem associated with those products. “But when you buy a gaming console, the value of you owning that console goes up as more of your friends play the same console,” Chellappa says. In their paper, the authors refer to this type of value as “same-side network effects.” In the platform world, Chellappa adds, there are also “cross-side network effects” in play—that the value of the gaming console goes up as more games are developed for that console. While many studies in marketing have focused on product preannouncements, the pair’s paper, published in Management Science earlier this year, is the first to study the use of preannouncements as a strategic lever for platforms rather than products. To conduct their research, the authors used game theoretic analysis to study three specific preannouncement strategies: formal (advertising, participating in tradeshows, developer training programs); informal (releasing information on a user or developer forum); and no announcement at all. The authors use Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation gaming consoles as the primary setup in their paper (although their findings are generalizable to similar platforms). What Chellappa and Mukherjee found was that there were scenarios where it made sense to preannounce, but other scenarios where companies would be better off making either a lackluster preannouncement or none at all. “You would think that if I’m going to put out a new platform that has a lot of new features, I should inform the market about all those things,” explains Chellappa. “But what we find is that sometimes the competitive effects can force you not to announce much about the products you’re releasing because it might create a kind of a price competition.” For instance, a headline in an August 2020 blog in tomsguide.com comparing Xbox One X to Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro, stated: “The Xbox One has more power than the PlayStation 4 Pro, but Sony fights back with an incredible game lineup and a lower price.” The article also includes insight including: Agents and Developers Create Business Model for Two-Sided Markets and Strategic Preannouncements Push Prices and Licensing Fees Higher The article is attached here – it’s well worth reading the entire piece. Gaming is a billion-dollar business – and if you are looking to know more about this subject – then let our experts help. Dr. Ramnath K. Chellappa is Associate Dean and Academic Director of the Master of Science in Business Analytics program. He is also the Goizueta Foundation Term Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management at the Goizueta Business School, Emory University. Ramnath is available to speak with media regarding this topic – simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
Georgia Southern University was selected as a finalist for the Chapter of the Year awarded by Student Veterans of America (SVA), an organization focused on advocating for and advancing resources for veterans in higher education. The University has SVA chapters on the Statesboro Campus and Armstrong Campus in Savannah, both of which were recognized with the award. “I am so proud of both of our SVA Chapters,” said Col. George Fredrick, Ed.D., director of Military and Veteran Services. “They offer truly outstanding support to our military-connected student population at Eagle Nation.” While this is the first time Georgia Southern has been a contender for this acknowledgement, the University has a tradition of being recognized for its investment in the military community. The Army ROTC program was established in 1980, and has won the MacArthur Award four times since 2009 for being one of the nation’s top ROTC programs. The Military Times publication named Georgia Southern as a Top 15 Best for Vets 4-year school for five consecutive years, including in 2019 when the University was ranked No. 1. Because the University operates near Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah and Fort Stewart in Hinesville, a number of students, faculty and staff are enlisted, retired or spouses of military members. Richelle Keilholz, Ed.D., is the staff advisor for SVA-Armstrong, and she believes this makes the campus community and military community deeply intertwined. “They become part of the campus culture, and I think that’s where you start to see that excellence comes when you have that kind of devotion,” said Keilholz. “You want to see our military service members, our family members and our spouses succeed in the military community and in higher education.” Georgia Southern’s relationship with veterans isn’t common among other universities, said military veteran project coordinator Rudy Duero. Many veterans feel overlooked and are an “untapped resource,” but not at Georgia Southern. “It’s awesome to have a group of individuals at the executive level who care and respect the opinions of the veteran students,” Duero said. “Veterans are being heard and they know that they’re being heard when they have good leadership representing them. The communication is always open.” Georgia Southern is one of five schools to be named a finalist for the award. The University sent a delegation to Orlando to attend the awards ceremony on Jan. 7. Academic and financial resources for veterans looking to pursue a degree can be found here. And if you’re a journalist looking to cover how Georgia Southern is working to support our veterans and the university’s military veteran project – then let us help. Rudy Duero is available to answer your questions - simply reach out to Georgia Southern Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.
Georgia leaders to speak as part of Georgia Southern’s 2022 MLK Jr. commemorative events
Rev. Francys Johnson, J.D., (‘01) and Amir-Jamal Touré, J.D., will serve as speakers during Georgia Southern’s 2022 Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Celebration Dinners on Jan. 25 in Statesboro and Jan. 26 on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah, respectively. Johnson is a civil rights attorney, public theologian, educator and advocate who succeeded Stacey Abrams and Raphael Warnock as chair of the New Georgia Project. Johnson will speak at the MLK Celebration Dinner on Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. in the Nessmith-Lane Center Ballroom on the Statesboro Campus. Touré is the resident scholar for Geechee Kunda Cultural Center and Museum in Riceboro, Georgia, and a Djeli (chronicler of Gullah Geechee history). He has performed internationally in sharing history and culture and is known for his work in socioeconomic, politics and social justice areas. Touré will speak on Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah. During the celebration dinners, the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) will hand out inaugural Drum Major of Justice Awards, which will be given to student leaders and student organizations that OMA leadership determine best exemplify MLK’s commitment to social justice. In addition to the evening events, student, faculty and staff volunteers will join OMA and Office of Leadership and Community Engagement for a weekend of community service from Jan. 15 through Jan. 17 as part of the Eagles in Action: MLK’s Legacy of Service initiative.
Research offers larger implications for health care environments Some of the most dangerous contaminants aren’t visible to the naked eye, but Georgia Southern University researchers are working to protect construction workers from this invisible danger. In the construction world, chronic exposure to crystalline silica, which is present in dust particles created from drilling, grinding and sawing on job sites, can lead to serious medical issues and preventable fatalities. Atin Adhikari, Ph.D, associate professor in Georgia Southern’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, has been awarded a $28,400 grant from Poma 22, LLC, to test new air curtain technology that could protect construction workers from hazardous fine dust particles. As the principal investigator (PI), Adhikari will work with co-PIs Aniruddha Mitra, Ph.D, professor of mechanical engineering, and Saman Hedjazi, Ph.D, assistant professor of civil engineering and construction management, from Georgia Southern’s Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing. “This research is important and innovative because we will test a revolutionary technology against fine dust exposure in construction sites that integrates a filtered air duct system into a hard hat, creating an air curtain or armor,” said Adhikari. “If we get a promising result, then this technology can be applied against other types of particles including bioparticles present in healthcare work environments.” Graduate research assistant Victoria Clower, who is earning a Master of Public Health in environmental health sciences, values her involvement in life-changing research. “This study of new technology on dust exposure control in construction sites will be very valuable with the quantifiable results showing the effectiveness of the air curtain technology,” she said. “As someone who is interested in occupational health, I am excited to work on a study that may provide an opportunity for other innovations for workplace safety to improve.” The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational and Safety Health Administration estimates roughly 2.3 million people in the U.S. are exposed to silica at work. Workers at risk can develop lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease. In addition, approximately 500 preventable silica-related deaths occur each year. As an environmental public health researcher, Adhikari has published numerous peer-reviewed studies on air quality and filtration. This project will focus on testing a newly developed respiratory protection technology, the Z Flow Pro helmet, which provides a downward draft through the front of the helmet, creating an air curtain in front of the worker’s face. Previous research has found that the air curtain is strong enough to deflect larger, visible particles. Adhikari and his team will conduct comprehensive field testing of this new technology to determine if it is also effective protection against fine particles, providing valuable information and justification on the readiness level of this product to protect construction workers. If you’re a journalist looking to cover this new testing that Georgia Southern is a major part of – then let us help. Atin Adhikari is available to answer your questions - simply reach out to Georgia Southern Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.