Invasive insects and trees conference

Invasive insects and trees: detection, management and policy

A two-day conference incorporating the Expert Meeting on Oak Processionary Moth

19th & 20th February 2015, University of Hull

Our forests, woodlands and trees, along with many other important plants, are facing an increasing range of damaging pests and diseases as a result of international trade and the effects of a warmer, wetter climate. In order to effectively respond to these challenges, it is now generally accepted that new, integrated approaches to detect and mitigate plant pests and diseases are urgently needed.

The aims of this two-day conference are to i) identify the existing and emerging insect pests of forests, woodlands and urban trees; ii) evaluate early detection methods; iii) examine the resilience of communities and individual trees to invasive insects; iv) explore emerging technologies that could be developed for understanding and managing invasive insect species and v) consider policy implications in a warmer, wetter climate.

Please note places are limited, earlier registration for the conference is advised.

For more information and to register, please visit the University of Hull website.

REF 2014: Outstanding results across the Faculty of Science and Engineering

The Faculty of Science and Engineering have received outstanding results in REF 2014, underpinning much of the University’s performance across the board.

The University’s best result was in the area of Allied Health (led by Professor John Greenman), where an outstanding 87% of research submitted was awarded three or four stars.

There are some other excellent returns across the Faculty:

 

Ranked 3^rd for impact across the UK: Geography and Environmental Sciences

Geography and Environmental Sciences (a joint submission of The Department of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences and the School of Biological, Biomedical and Environmental Sciences), were ranked third for research impact across the UK (and joint 1st in England), with 70% of submitted research receiving four stars.

 

Joint 5^th for impact nationally: Computer Science

Computer Science are ranked in joint fifth position for impact nationally (out of 89 submissions to this unit), with 80% of submitted research receiving four stars.

 

Research deemed internationally excellent or world-leading: Chemistry and General Engineering

Chemistry and General Engineering also performed extremely well, with more than 75% of research submitted to each of these units achieving three or four stars.

 

Biggest improvement in GPA across the University: Sport, Health and Exercise Science

The Faculty also saw the biggest improvement in GPA across the University, where the Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Science went from 1.55 in 2008, to 2.36 in 2014.

 

The University as a whole has a top 50 position for Research Power.

The results across the Faculty of Science and Engineering reflect the work of our researchers pushing the boundaries of science and engineering to make a difference in the world.

Onwards to REF 2020!

REF 2014 – Top 50 for Research Power

The results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 show that the University of Hull has improved in every area in which it was assessed, compared to the last evaluation in 2008.

Streetlights change the role of moths in pollination

We tend to give all the credit to bees and butterflies as pollinators. However moths are important pollinators too, nocturnally carting pollen between flowers. Research carried out by PhD student Callum Macgregor has begun to reveal the importance of moths as pollinators, and how street lighting may be compromising this process.

Research Funding Office hot desk – every Monday

From January, Gethin Owen from the Research Funding Office (RFO) will be hot-desking in the Faculty of Science and Engineering every Monday.

Gethin is available to discuss your research ideas, how to progress to an application, identify possible funding opportunities and future funding strategies.

It will also allow Gethin to direct you to the most suitable individual within the RFO who may need to support you further.

If you would like to talk to Gethin please contact him on G.Owen@hull.ac.uk

Cancer specialist from Iraq awarded prestigious UK government scholarship

A talented young clinical cancer specialist from Iraq, Dr Mohammed Saleem Mohammed, has been awarded a prestigious Chevening scholarship to study oncology at the University of Hull.

Chevening scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarship scheme, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and partner universities. Chevening scholars, like Dr Mohammed, are chosen for their ambition, drive and leadership potential, their commitment to organisational development, and their talent for innovation and creativity.

Grants awarded in November 2014 (over £10k)

Dr Sally Little, £22,313, Scottish Natural Heritage, Identification of factors to inform the condition assessment of Annex 1 estuaries in Scottish waters

Scientists engineer cyborg cells in the fight against pathogens, poisons and pollutants

We have all watched sci-fi movies with robots and cyborgs that are stronger than humans. Some of us have played computer games with special goggles that replace our environment with virtual reality.

Now imagine if we can make cyborgs out of single cells. It sounds like something from the distant future but actually it is already a reality which started more than five years ago in a research lab at the University of Hull.

H2020 grant signed by the University of Hull

INFINITY – Indium-Free Transparent Conducting Oxides for Glass and Plastic Substrates.

This three year programme will explore the replacement in indium-based materials that are currently used in display technologies.

It will bring together the sol-gel chemistry developed at The Welding Institute in Cambridge with the laser interaction expertise of the University of Hull, to produce printed patterns of material that are laser sintered to form conducting tracks.

This work falls into the H2020 main pillar “Societal Challenges” and is a response to the call for a “sustainable supply of raw materials” as indium has been classified as an at-risk material.

Other partners include INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials in Germany, L’Urederra and Tecnan in Spain, Epivalence Ltd in the UK and end users Flexenable (formally Plastic Logic) and Belectric.  The total value of this EU action exceeds €4m.

Dr Howard Snelling (PI) and Dr Chris Walton (CI) from the Department of Physics and Mathematics have been awarded a total of €620k to complete this work.

Conference: Invasive insects and trees: detection, management and policy

Save the date!

Invasive insects and trees: detection, management and policy

A two-day conference incorporating the Expert Meeting on Oak Processionary Moths

The University of Hull, in collaboration with Forest Research, are pleased to announce a two-day conference on 19th and 20th February 2015 exploring the invasion biology, management and policy for tree insect pests. The conference will incorporate the Expert Meeting on Oak Processionary Moth, but we aim to consider a wide range of invasive species.

The conference is free to attend and will include a dinner at the Guildhall in the city of Hull.

Full details of the conference, registration, an invitation for talks and posters, travel and accommodation options will be posted very shortly.

For programme enquiries please contact Dr Darren Evans (d.evans@hull.ac.uk) and for general enquiries contact Linda Love (l.a.love@hull.ac.uk).