Issue 468, 4 June 2001

Main news stories

• Wool is latest 'green' building material
  A revolutionary new building product using wool from British sheep has been developed through collaboration between textile engineers at the University of Leeds and a Cumbrian sheep farmer.
• Five candidates in PVC election
  Unprecedented interest has been shown in the election of a new Pro-Vice-Chancellor, with five candidates contesting the vacancy created by the departure of Professor John Macklin to become Vice-Chancellor of the University of Paisley.
• Evolution disrupted by global warming
  Many rare and localised species may die out as a result of global warming, warn researchers from the centre for biodiversity and conservation. Their research, published in last week’s Nature, shows that climate change is having a direct impact on the process of evolution.
• Toolkit tackles racism in HE
  The first full-scale audit looking at institutional racism within a university in the light of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry is under way at Leeds.
• University's third arm gives helping hand
  A changing world is forcing change upon higher education as universities look beyond their traditional roles of teaching and pure research for ways to stimulate change in society and commerce through the extensive intellectual and physical resources at their disposal. The University of Leeds is responding creatively to these changes through the formulation of a ‘third arm’ to enable the transfer of knowledge to, with and between business and the wider community.
• Soyinka's new work showcased at Leeds
  Nobel prize-winning playwright and Leeds graduate Wole Soyinka will be discussing his new play, King Baabu, with drama and theatre studies Professor Martin Banham and West Yorkshire Playhouse artistic director, Jude Kelly at the Creative Cultures conference at the University in June.
• Prestigious grant for groundbreaking 'visionary' research
  A prestigious grant has been awarded to the University for ground-breaking work in industrial process tomography.
• Senate news
  Formal dining facilities in the Senior Common Room are to be replaced by a café-bar offering a bistro-style service, following a vote by Senate on staff catering options.
• Obituaries

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