January 2001
University Research Launched at St
James’s Palace
HRH The Prince of Wales has given his support to the findings of a new study by the
University of Essex into the potential of sustainable agriculture to feed the world.
HRH the Prince of Wales
talking to (anticlockwise) Professor Jules Pretty, Per Pinstrup Anderson, one of the
speakers at the conference and researcher Rachel Hine
The findings of the ‘Feeding the World with Sustainable Agriculture: A Summary of
New Evidence’ research project were launched at an international conference on Monday
15 January in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales in the magnificent surroundings of
St James’s Palace.
Last year there were 790 million people hungry across the world and with gloomy
predictions about growing populations and increased demand for food, new ways to increase
food production must be found.
Sustainable agriculture seeks to make the best use of nature’s goods and services
as functional inputs. It does this by integrating natural and regenerative processes, such
as nutrient cycling and soil regeneration into food production processes. It minimises the
use of non-renewable inputs, such as pesticides and fertilisers, that damage the
environment or harm the health of farmers and consumers. It makes better use of the
knowledge and skills of farmers and it seeks to make productive use of social capital -
people’s capacities to work together to solve common management problems, such as
pest, watershed, irrigation, and forest management. Professor Jules Pretty, Dr James
Morrison and Rachel Hine from the University’s Centre for Environment and Society
investigated the effect of sustainable agricultural methods in 208 projects in 52
countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America.
HRH The Prince of Wales spoke of the clear need to create sustainable livelihoods in
developing countries and how sustainable agriculture was very much a part of this. He
noted that how the results of Professor Jules Pretty’s research ‘provide a
pointer to what can be achieved through alternative approaches.’
The Prince of Wales also mentioned how fascinated he had been by the case studies and
how sustainable agriculture provided a ‘valuable and low cost range of options to
help poorer communities to feed themselves and stay on the land.’
Professor Jules Pretty, leader of the research, commented, ‘This is the largest
single collection of data on improvements to food production using
environmentally-sensitive methods anywhere in the world. It shows there is great promise
– we may be able to find new ways of feeding people without ruining our environment
at the same time.’
In the 208 projects, some 8.98 million farmers have adopted sustainable agriculture
practices and technologies on 28.92 million hectares - equivalent to 3.01% of the 960
million hectares of arable and permanent crops in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
More than 100 participants from around the world listened to details of successful
stories from Bangladesh, Brazil, Cuba, India, Kenya and Madagascar. Farmers in these
countries are taking the lead in showing how the food system can be improved without
damaging the environment.’
The findings of the research show that the biggest yield increases are in those
countries missed by past development. Many projects have seen yields double and even
treble.
The project was funded by the Department for International Development, Bread for the
World and Greenpeace.
New Centre for Lifelong Learning launched
Educational providers from around the county joined members of the University community
during December to celebrate the launch of the new Centre for Lifelong Learning.
Previously known as the Centre for Continuing Education, the Centre has developed a
range of university level courses for adults across Essex and South Suffolk, in
partnership with the Workers’ Educational Association and adult community colleges.
These include two-year part-time certificate courses, weekly one and two term courses, day
schools, residential courses and study tours. Students may, if they wish, work for higher
education qualifications or, if they prefer, simply study out of interest.
Staff from the Centre in one
of their new seminar rooms, left to right: Sue Pemberton, Stella Heath, Susan Rhodes,
Caroline Cordeiro
With its new Lifelong Learning title, the Centre now has its own premises in a building
specially adapted for the purpose. Although it will continue to run courses throughout
Essex and South Suffolk, the new Centre will provide accommodation for more courses to be
offered on the University Campus. These will include professional up-dating courses and
other types of vocational opportunities as well as offering more of the Centre’s
popular general interest courses.
The Centre was officially opened by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivor Crewe who
highlighted the importance of the new centre to the University and wider community.
‘The opening of this new centre demonstrates the institution’s commitment to
providing high quality and easily accessible learning opportunities, not just for
traditional undergraduate and postgraduate students but for a diverse range of learners
with differing educational backgrounds and needs.
To mark the widening scope of the Centre’s work, a new Director has been
appointed. Stella Heath was appointed in the autumn and joins the University with an
established background in adult education, having previously worked in the Faculty of
Continuing Education at Birkbeck College and most recently as Head of Partnerships at Edge
Hill College of Higher Education, where she had specific responsibility for developing
provision for adult students returning to education.
The new Centre includes comfortable well-equipped seminar rooms and office
accommodation. Adult learners will be able to study in a friendly accessible environment.
More information about the Centre for Lifelong Learning and its current programme of
courses can be found on the Centre’s website at http://www2.essex.ac.uk.cce or by
telephoning 01206 872519.
Awards for two ESE Professors
Professor Brian Ridley (pictured below)  from the Department of
Electronic Systems Engineering has been awarded the Paul Dirac medal and prize by the
Institute of Physics in recognition of his influence on semiconductor theory. This highly
prestigious award marks the invaluable contributions Professor Ridley has made to both
theoretical and experimental semiconductor physics over the past four decades.
During the 1960’s his work on negative differential resistance opened up a new
area of research on novel transport phenomena. In the 1970’s his research into
electronic structure transformed current thinking and during the 1980’s his
‘lucky drift theory’ transformed theories on impact ionization in
semiconductors. Over the past decade Professor Ridley has developed novel continuum
theories of optical phonon confinement.
Professor Mohammed Ghanbari, (pictured below) 
also from ESE, has been elected as a Fellow of the Institute of Electronics and
Electrical Engineers (IEEE). Professor Ghanbari joined the University in 1988 and is well
know for his pioneering work on two-layer video coding for ATM networks. His Fellowship is
a prestigious honour, earned only by the most internationally-renowned electronic
engineers. Professor Ghanbari joins Professor Don Pearson, ESE’s only other FIEEE, in
the most senior rank of the profession.
Acting School and University merge with
£1.3million Dowry
December saw the official celebrations to mark the merger of the University with East
15 Acting School. Caroline Nunnerley, from External Relations, was one of the
co-ordinators of the launch and gives this account.
‘You are cordially invited…’
After months of planning, the University of Essex and East 15 Acting School have
finally tied the knot. In a star-studded musical reception, the merger of the two
institutions took place. The reception was held at the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden; a
fitting location to a dramatic beginning.
Actress and East 15 graduate
Alison Steadman with a student from East 15 at the launch
Among the East 15 alumni celebrating the occasion were Alison Steadman, recently seen
in the TV series ‘Fat Friends’; Oliver Tobias, currently appearing in ‘La
Cava’ in the West End and Margi Campi of ‘Brookside’, not to mention faces
from ‘Casualty’ and ‘Emmerdale’ and the hit film ‘Snatch’.
Actor Oliver tobias (left)
and John Baraldi, Director of East 15
‘Do you take …?’
The programme began with drinks and canapes as students, past and present, mingled with
East 15 and University of Essex staff, before the University of Essex Vice-Chancellor,
Professor Ivor Crewe, was invited to say a few words on behalf of the University. He
expressed his happiness at the union, but was keen to emphasise the need for the two
institutions to keep their identity; preferring terms such as ‘adoption’ or
‘marriage’ rather than ‘merger’.
Professor Crewe had great praise for John Baraldi, Director of East 15, describing him
as a man of ‘vision’ and ‘dedication’.
‘I do!’
John Baraldi then spoke about the excitement and relief he feels about our union with
East 15.
He hopes, as we all do, that the union will be a happy and profitable one. Support from
the University of Essex will enable East 15 to continue to train actors in their
pioneering style. He talked about how East 15 actors are beginning to make their mark on
British Theatre. For the last 2 years, East 15 students have won both the top place in
Olivier bursaries awarded by the Society of London Theatres and top honours in the coveted
Macintosh Foundation Scholarship auditions. The first The Stage scholarship was
awarded to an East 15 student in 1999 and East 15 students were amongst the top recipients
in the BBC Radio Carleton Hobbs Awards in 2000.
The Wedding Reception.
A fitting toast to the happy couple could only be a musical cabaret, performed by four
second year BA students, along with Colin Sell at the piano (Head of Music at the school
and well-known BBC radio personality). A tongue-in-cheek performance with songs and short
sketches provided a super opportunity to see the calibre and style of performers that East
15 turns out.
Happy ever after…
There was a good level of press attendance, including representatives from
‘Spotlight’ and ‘The Stage’. The pictures show a happy coupling of two
institutions which are outstanding in their own fields. It is hoped that each will grow
from one another’s individual successes rather than attempting to become one
organisation. As Professor Crewe said, ‘Together we will both be strengthened, and it
will be good for the staff and the students of both institutions.’
Campus in the Snow
Terry Felgate, Senior Library Assistant in the Albert Sloman Library, captured these
beautiful scenes of the University during the Christmas vacation.
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