In my final newsletter of this academic year: the Transport AI Innovation Centre, Dame Angela McLean becomes Honorary Distinguished Professor, the summer graduation ceremonies, Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, new Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities, and reflections on 2023/24. 

Have a good summer – I hope you’re able to have a good break. 

New interdisciplinary transport AI centre launched

Encouraging collaborative and interdisciplinary working underpins our strategic aim to be more ambitious in our research and innovation endeavour. By combining our collective expertise and knowledge, we can reinforce our position as global leaders within our areas of research strength. 

Our new multi-disciplinary Transport AI Innovation Centre, or TRAICE, which launched this month, is a perfect example of how we’re harnessing our University-wide academic power to address critical global challenges.  

More than 70 staff from all nine of the University’s Schools and a community of PhD and postdoctoral researchers will work together to advance smart, safe, efficient, equitable and sustainable transport. The new Centre, which originates from the successful transport and urban planning group in the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, draws together expertise in planning, engineering, mathematics, economics, and social sciences.  

The Centre’s researchers will work together, and with external partners, to drive innovation that impact a range of fields, from healthy living to decarbonisation.

It’s an exciting new development within our research and innovation portfolio and I look forward to seeing the impact of the team’s work on society and on the planet. 

Government Chief Scientific Adviser becomes Honorary Distinguished Professor 

Last week I was delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Dame Angela McLean DBE FRS, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, as an Honorary Distinguished Professor at the University. 

As GCSA Dame Angela is responsible for providing scientific advice to the Prime Minister and members of cabinet, advising the government on aspects of policy on science and technology, and ensuring and improving the quality and use of scientific evidence and advice in government. Her research interests lie in the use of mathematical models to aid understanding of the evolution and spread of infectious agents.  

It is a great privilege to be able to appoint Dame Angela as an Honorary Distinguished Professor. We have previously worked together on a variety of government initiatives and I know that staff and students will benefit greatly from the expertise she will share with us.

We are planning Dame Angela’s first visit to campus and will share details with our University community in due course. 

Thousands celebrate at our summer degree ceremonies

Graduation is always a time for celebration and it was wonderful to see so many of our 2024 graduates with their families and friends on campus this month for our summer ceremonies. These graduations also mark the end of my third academic year in post – how time flies!

As well as recognising the success of our students, the graduation ceremonies also enable us to honour the achievements of individuals who have made a significant contribution to fields the University has close links with. This summer we recognised six honorary graduates who were all were awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the University (DUniv). 

On Tuesday we honoured fitness coach Joe Wicks MBE and Dame Vera Baird DBE KC, who is the former Victims Commissioner for England and Wales. Joe’s dedication to improving public health matches that of the University, whose researchers champion healthy eating and movement as medicine, for everyone. Dame Vera’s contribution to criminal justice policy and legislation and her work for women and equality align to both our Vibrant and Inclusive Communities theme and our work towards Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).  

Loughborough alumna and England Netball International Ama Agbeze MBE was recognised for her sporting achievement and for championing diversity in sport, reflecting the aims of our Sporting Excellence and Opportunity core plan. Community and business leader Nana Badu uses sport as a vehicle to educate, empower and uplift young people and tackle social inclusion, which chimes with our sport and EDI plans and our Vibrant and Inclusive Communities theme. 

And artist Michael Landy CBE RA and Miriam Escofet, who is a Figurative Painter, were honoured for their contributions to the world of art and the development of new artists. Our Culture and Creativity Strategic Plan recognises the important role that participation in all forms of the arts plays in so many aspects of society, from skills development to mental health and wellbeing.

At the ceremonies we also recognised the services of four members of staff by awarding them University medals.  

Professor Tony Thorpe’s career at Loughborough has spanned more than 40 years. He served as Dean of the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering from 2003 to 2017, with the introduction of the Architecture programme one of his enduring legacies. 

Emeritus Professor Roger Smith’s Loughborough career began in 1971 as a maths lecturer. He was the driving force behind the MSc in Industrial Mathematical Programming, which has run for more than 30 years. 

Sandra Freeman has worked as a cleaner in Domestic Services for more than 50 years. On the day she was presented with her medal, her granddaughter, Molly Jackson, graduated from her Textiles degree at Loughborough.

And we awarded our fourth University medal to Professor Chris Linton, who joined the Department of Mathematical Sciences more than 30 years ago. Chris has served three very successful terms as the University’s Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, during which he has been at the heart of our successful rise as a university. Chris will step down as Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor from tomorrow and I am sure you will join me in thanking him and wishing him all the very best for the future.

Keep up to date with our athletes in Paris

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are now underway, and I’m delighted that Loughborough has already enjoyed some much-deserved success! On Sunday evening, Adam Peaty won joint silver in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke and last night, Loughborough student Daniel Wiffen became the first athlete from Northern Ireland to win an Olympic gold in 36 years after competing in the Men’s 800m Freestyle final. I’m delighted to say two more Loughborough-based athletes, Cassandre Beaugrand and Alex Yee MBE, won Gold in the Women’s and Men’s Triathlon this morning, and Beth Potter also achieved Bronze in the Women’s Triathlon.

More than 90 Loughborough-linked athletes and support staff are involved in the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, representing Great Britain, Ireland, France, Belgium, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Greece, and the USA. At the last Games in Tokyo our athletes won an impressive 35 medals and we’re aiming to top that this year.

We’re also the host venue for ParalympicsGB Kitting Out. Kitting Out is an important milestone for both athletes and support staff, as they’re presented with all their official Games kit, including training, competition and ceremonies wear. Earlier this month I was honoured to be given special access to the venue. With around 50,000 items to dispense it’s a huge operation. 

Our dedicated website is following the progress of Loughborough-linked competitors at the Olympic and Paralympic Games through news updates, academic research, video features, athlete profiles and medal tables, as well as in-depth interviews with Loughborough athletes, researchers, support staff, and coaches.  

You can also keep up to date with the latest news by following @lborosport and @lborouniversity on X and can join the conversation by using the hashtag #Lboro2Paris as our athletes compete for podium places on the global stage.

New Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities appointed

This month we announced the appointment of Professor Justin Waring as our new Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). Professor Waring, who is a world-leading medical sociologist, will join us in November from the University of Birmingham. 

Professor Waring is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Science and the Royal Society of Arts, and Director of the National Institute for Health Research Birmingham, RAND and Cambridge Rapid Evaluation Centre (BRACE). BRACE provides decision makers and stakeholders with time-critical evidence and learning about new ways of organising and providing care.  

I look forward to welcoming Professor Waring to Loughborough in the autumn.

Recruitment for the Dean posts in the other four academic Schools is continuing, with Loughborough University London scheduled to take place in the autumn, and recruitment to the Dean posts in the Schools of Design and Creative Arts; Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering; and Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences due the following year.

Reflections on the academic year

As the 20234/24 academic year draws to a close, it’s an opportunity to reflect on everything we have achieved over the past 12 months and at the annual Senate and Council dinner last month, I shared my review with the invited guests. There is, however, one significant update since I gave my speech: it’s now been confirmed that we have won an unprecedented 43rd consecutive British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) title, with a new sector-leading record of 9,492 points. It’s a truly phenomenal achievement. Congratulations to our students, and to the many staff who support them. 

2023/24 has certainly been a busy year and we have made good progress against the aims of our strategic plan, but the year also brought us challenges. As I said in my email a week ago though, we remain in a strong position relative to the sector and we should face the coming academic year with optimism. 

I hope you all have a lovely summer.