The next EDI Forum is scheduled for the 18 May, 13.00 – 15.00  (online via Teams)

The EDI Forum exists to allow all students and members of staff at the University of Kent to come together to discuss topics related to equality, diversity and inclusion that are important to them. This could be raising issues that the University needs to address, highlighting good practice that they have come across or sharing their thoughts and ideas.

The Forum is a safe, neutral space that is chaired by a volunteer member of staff. It feeds any discussions back to the EDI Strategy Group so that real change can be manifested across the University.

Any member of staff or student can raise an item for discussion. If you have something that you wish to add to the agenda, please email Becky Lamyman, Student EDI Officer.

At the next meeting the main topic for discussion will be Menopause Support at Kent; what is available, what is missing, ideas for events and activities to raise awareness, how line managers and supervisors or tutors can be better positioned to support staff and students going through the menopause, what a Menopause Support Policy should include etc.

We particularly welcome members of the Staff and Student representative networks. Trade Union and Divisional / Directorate EDI representatives and student societies to attend.

You do not need to register in advance or book a place; simply follow the link on the day.

The agenda and minutes from previous meetings are available on the EDI Forum webpages

We look forward to welcoming you to the Forum on the 18 May at 13.00.

We are delighted to announce that on 26 and 27 May 2022 an event will take place to celebrate our colleague Professor Adrian Podoleanu’s distinguished career.

About Professor Podoleanu

Professor Podoleanu is a pioneering researcher who helped advance greatly the field of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The University of Kent has benefited for many years from Adrian’s dedication and enthusiasm and the world-leading quality of his research and its application.

The conference will include speakers from across the Division of Natural Sciences including academic staff and current research students. There will be the opportunity to view our current laboratory spaces and to network with a swathe of high-calibre researchers.

Since 2005 Professor Podoleanu has led the Applied Optics Group in the University of Kent (and continues to do so), developing OCT both as a methodology and with applications across a wide range of fields from clinical practice to forensic sciences. He has supervised (and continues to do so) of more than 50 postgraduate and visiting researchers during his career at Kent, many of whom have gone on to lead in their fields.

As members of the Applied Optics Group, we look forward to welcoming in May a number of world leading researchers and also giving Adrian an opportunity to be reunited with many of his alumni who benefited not only from his undoubted research excellence but also from his leadership and training to go on and be high achievers in the field of Optical Coherence Tomography and Photonics in general.

Find out more about Professor Podoleanu and his career

Registration

Registration is open until Monday 23^rd May

To register please navigate to

https://kenthospitality.kent.ac.uk/Register/CC22Conference

To register as a current member of staff or PG student (in possession of a KentOne card) and benefit from the discounted £25 conference fee, please ensure you check the appropriate option and fill in the 6-digit staff number on the back of your card when asked to do so. There is no need to input a discount code.

Former Kent staff can get a discount code by emailing George Dobre – this will enable you to progress through the registration screens.

Influential songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kristin Hersh, leader of the indie rock band Throwing Muses and the noise rock power trio 50 Foot Wave, is back on the road with her highly acclaimed Throwing Muses release, Sun Racket.

Playing here in a solo capacity, this is a rare opportunity to spend an intimate evening alongside one of the world’s most uniquely gifted and compelling songwriters.

” Lean, Immersive, and groove-heavy, tapping the vein of hardscrabble psychedelia that defines their best work ” – Pitchfork

More information on this event and how to book can be found on the Gulbenkian website.

From Lee Fellows | Deputy Director  of Student Services and Head of Student Support & Wellbeing

In September 2021, the University signed up to the Student Mental Health Charter. The Charter Programme brings together universities committed to university mental health to share practice and create cultural change. As part of this programme, the Charter Award, which we intend to apply for in 2023, recognises the promotion of good mental health and practice across all areas of the University.

The award is not just about the wellbeing support we offer students in Divisions and across Student Services but looks at how the university as a whole institution works to improve mental wellbeing across 5 key domains; Learn, Support, Work, Live and Enabling Themes. Each framework area has several themes within it, and as an institution, we will be assessed against each theme for the award.

Within the Learn domain we are beginning to review what wellbeing in the curriculum looks like for the University of Kent. We know that already there will be a variety of interesting and different approaches that Divisions, PSDs and individuals will use and this where we need your help.

To assist us with collating what we already do we would be grateful if you would complete this form letting us know what you do (or would like to do!) within lectures, seminars and outside the classroom environment that promotes wellbeing in the curriculum. We are also asking you to complete this form if you have any ideas on potential University-wide initiatives that we could take on board to incorporate wellbeing into the curriculum. No activity, initiative or idea is too big, small or wrong.

More information on the Mental Health Charter can be found here.  You may also find the AdvanceHE Education for Mental Health Toolkit to be a helpful resource.

You are warmly invited to the REF2021 results presentation which will be delivered by Professor Shane Weller, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, followed by refreshments in the Wolf Foyer. As well as a great opportunity to celebrate achievements, it will be a chance to catch up with colleagues.

Date: 12 May 2022

Time: 11am-1pm

Location: Wolf Lecture Theatre

We would be very grateful if you could confirm your attendance by signing up through the link below:

https://ref2021resultspresentation.eventbrite.co.uk

If you would prefer to join virtually, please email researchexcellence@kent.ac.uk and a Teams link will be sent to you.

We look forward to seeing you.

We’re celebrating the National Day for Staff Networks on Wednesday 11 May and the theme for this year is #ViableVisibleVoices.

Our Staff Equalities Networks provide space for under-represented staff at the University of Kent to feel they can bring their authentic selves to work, to make change with the support of a network behind them, and feel included in their workplace. They are crucial to creating a culture of inclusion across all our campuses.

These are just some of the highlights of their work:

The Disability Staff Network have been working with Estates to improve the accessibility of our buildings by taking Accessibility Tours. These tours aim to give a better understanding of the campus experience for disabled staff and students.

The LGBT+ Staff Network have continued to advocate for the rights and inclusion of trans staff and students here at the University and in the greater communities of Kent and Medway. Co-Chair Lynne Regan has shared her research into the experiences of trans students and shared her findings with Executive Group and the wider community of staff and students at Kent. The network has also re-designed our inclusive lanyards, updating the traditional Pride flag to the Progress Flag, and including a strap with the Trans Inclusion flag.

The BAME Staff network have completed their work on a pivotal report that will inform the University of Kent’s antiracism strategy for years to come. The first of its’ kind, the network surveyed all staff on their thoughts of the culture of the institution and the effectiveness of EDI policies and procedures.

The Women’s Network focus on the professional development and experiences of women who work at the University. They share resources on dealing with menopause while working, and keep their members informed of new policies that might affect them. This year they hosted Professor Jennifer Leigh on International Women’s Day, who gave a talk on Intersectionality, exploring challenges for women in STEM and ableism.

Thank you to all our Staff Networks for their valuable work!

If you’d like to join any of the above Staff Networks, please email equalityanddiversity@kent.ac.uk.

An article by Brenda Brunsdon, Occupational Health and Wellbeing Manager 

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, an initiative organised every year by the Mental Health Foundation. This year’s theme is loneliness.

Loneliness is recognised as a psychological phenomenon which is occurring increasingly in modern society.  However, most people would be shocked to learn that it is a major public health issue which is a factor that leads to premature death.

Research has shown that a person is at the same risk of premature death if they are experiencing stress from loneliness as if they smoke 15 cigarettes a day. Other research has shown that loneliness is a greater predictor of premature death than obesity.

The Covid 19 crisis brought lockdowns and enforced social isolation. Many people are still feeling the effects of this and dealing with more acute, negative feelings of loneliness.

Why does being alone trigger deep negative emotions for human beings?  Humans are intrinsically social animals.  Going back to the roots of human society, being part of the group or the tribe helped guarantee survival against threats.  Being alone was therefore something to be feared.  Feelings of loneliness trigger our fight/flight reaction, which means our bodies release adrenaline and cortisol.  This makes us feel agitated and anxious and can eventually lead to chronic physical health problems and diseases.  Psychologically, perhaps even linked to physiologically, loneliness is akin to feeling hunger or thirst; it stimulates us to rectify a situation which is a threat to our health and safety – in this case, not being part of a group, because there is safety in numbers.

There is evidence to show that living alongside others means that any signs of physical or mental health problems that a person may manifest will be picked up quicker and lead to treatment sooner.  Also, acute medical emergencies, like heart attacks or strokes, can be easily missed when a person lives alone, and this can result in early death.

Loneliness has become such an important public health issue that the Government has produced a strategy to alleviate the problems associated with it.  It uses data produced by the Office of National Statistics to inform policy and action.  Links to information related to both forms of activity can be found below.

We can be alone without being lonely.  It is how we feel about being alone that determines the intensity of the negative or positive reaction.  If we are happy on our own, we don’t perceive it to be dangerous or sad and we don’t trigger the fight/flight response.  If we feel sad about being alone, then it stimulates the stress response.  However, few of us like a completely solitary existence.  Follow the links below to learn more about loneliness and what you can do, if you wish, to feel more connected with others.

Mental Health Awareness Week 09-15 May 2022: Loneliness

Campaign to End Loneliness Website

‘Loneliness’; Royal College of Nursing website

‘Feeling Lonely’; NHS website

‘Loneliness’; MIND website

‘Loneliness Annual Report 2022’ HM Government

‘Loneliness – What characteristics and circumstances are associated with feeling lonely?’ Office of National Statistics

‘7 Types of Loneliness, and Why It Matters’ by Gretchen Rubin on Psychology Today website

‘Feeling Lonely? Discover 18 Ways to Overcome Loneliness’ by Tchiki Davis on Psychology Today website

‘Alone in the crowd – How loneliness affects the mind and body’; Nuffield Health on YouTube

‘Can You Die of Loneliness?’; The Infographics Show on YouTube

‘How to get rid of loneliness and become happy’ by Olivia Remes TED Talk on YouTube