September 5, 2013, by Zoë Goodwin

News from the week in brief

Very brief

This week at The University of Nottingham a scientist’s research into the ‘hidden half’ of plants has been recognised by the Royal Society and the best way to use GP ‘fit notes’, is being studied by Nottingham researchers. Also in the news this week, a successful partnership has seen the collaboration of the University and the British Heart Foundation to gather urgently needed stock for its charity shops. And last but not least, The University is hosting its annual Football v Homophobia tournament to help kick homophobia out of football.

Read on for more on these new stories and click on the link if you want to read them in full.

Brief

Director of Nottingham’s Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, Professor Malcolm Bennett has helped revolutionise the way bioscientists think and work. His quest to answer some of the world’s most important plant and crop science questions has now been recognised by the Royal Society with a prestige Wolfson Research Merit Award. The award will support his research into the ‘hidden half’ of plants and help develop a new generation of crops with improved root architecture to help meet the challenge of global food security.

To learn more about this research and to watch a video based on the centre, click here.

Commissioned by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Nottingham researchers are the first to look at the way GP fit notes are used to consider the views of patients, employers and GPs together. The GP fit note was introduced three years ago to replace the old sickness certificate. It allows GPs to recommend whether a patient is not fit for work or may be fit for work. GPs can also suggest adjustments that will enable patients to stay at work or return as soon as possible. Carol Coole, senior research fellow on the project, said: “There is an indirect link between our research and long-term benefit recipients. Most work is good for our health and often people with health conditions can stay at work — or return to work — through quite simple measures.”

To learn more about the GP fit note, click here.

When students move out of halls at the end of term, many leave items behind to be cleared up. This year, rather than leave behind or throw away unwanted belongings, British Heart Foundation (BHF) donation points were set up in student halls. A total of 164 bags were collected from halls over the course of three weeks. As a result, over three quarters of a tonne of goods will be sold, with all proceeds going to the BHF. Jo Bradley, Assistant Hall Manager for Florence Boot Hall and organiser of the scheme said: “We are really pleased to have been able to raise money for a fantastic cause whilst also reducing the amount of waste the University sends to landfill.”

To read how the BHF can save lives, click here.

The University is hosting its annual Football v Homophobia tournament on Saturday 7 September. Organised by the University’s LGBTQ staff network – which stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning – the tournament is part of a national campaign to promote the ideal of ‘football for everyone’. Casey Stoney, England women’s football captain will be attending the event to talk about her long career in the women’s game and the importance of eradicating homophobia from football. She will also be on hand for a question and answer session.

To find out more about the idea behind Homophobia, click here.

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