In association with the Royal Geographical Society, Mr Hempleman-Adams will give his lecture, ‘Grand Slam’, on the 15 year odyssey which put him into the record books as the first person to complete the explorers’ ‘Grand Slam’. The challenge saw him conquer the North and South Geographic and Magnetic Poles, as well as scaling the highest mountain in each of the seven continents, including Mount Everest. 

He was the first man to reach the geographic and magnetic North and South Poles, as well as climbing the highest peaks in all seven continents; the explorers’ ‘Grand Slam’.

The lecture is part of the University’s General University Lecture Programme (GULP). Others in the series include:

15 February- Photographer and writer Roger Vlitos examines the causes and outcomes of the cultural craze ‘Greco Mania’.

22 February- Dr James Bilzon from the University of Bath’s Department for Health focuses on the use of physiological and biomechanical measurements to inform physical training regimes and athlete preparation.

29 February- Professor Ronald Hutton looks at the way in which historians can study the famine and disease suffered during the Tudor and Stuart period and their effects, and how they were perceived and experienced by people at the time.

7 March- University of Bath librarian Howard Nicholson considers how publicly funded libraries are adapting to changing needs and, where supported, are finding new ways to engage their communities.

14 March- Urban Peregrines – Bath’s very own Speed Hunters! Ed Drewitt, learning officer for the Bristol Dinosaur Project will reveal a different side to Peregrines- not only as majestic, aerial hunters but as opportunistic falcons living often nomadic lives.

21 March- Protecting Architectural World Heritage from Seismic Hazard- Some of the fundamental concepts of earthquake engineering and recent research developments in the field of earthquake protection will be illustrated by way of examples of retrofit of heritage structures in Europe and Latin America.

The lecture is taking place in the University Hall on the Claverton campus at starts at 5.15pm. Free parking is available in the West Car Park after 5pm.

Academics from the Centre for Death & Society (CDAS) are examining the current Funeral Payment Scheme to find out if it is enough to cover the costs of a funeral.

The Funeral Payment Scheme is part of the Government’s Social Fund, which supports the poor and vulnerable who cannot afford the costs of some necessities.

The National Association of Funeral Directors is currently lobbying Parliament for a review of the scheme, stating that the amount available to claimants has not increased with inflation and is now inadequate for a basic funeral.

To date, very little information has been collated and documented regarding the scheme, despite concerns being raised about the feasibility of other aspects of the Social Fund, such as winter fuel payments and maternity grants.

Now the researchers are building on this by investigating the processes and experiences of applying to the scheme from those who have been both successful and unsuccessful in their applications.

People are being recruited from around the UK to take part in a series of interviews which will form the basis for part of the study.

Dr Kate Woodthorpe, the project’s leading researcher, said: “In an age of austerity where challenging economic conditions are plunging more people into poverty and, with the UK death rate due to rise over the next 20 years, this is an area which requires immediate attention.

“We aim to provide evidence to policy makers and stakeholders in regards to the difficulties people face when it comes to paying for a funeral after a loved one has died.

“Changes are planned to the current Social Fund as part of the Welfare Reform Bill, currently working its way through the House of Lords, and it is our hope that this research can inform and guide local authorities when addressing these changes.”

Previous research by the National Audit Office found that by 2030 there will be an extra 100,000 people dying a year and that around 35 per cent of people in Britain have no will or savings.

The team will be talking to Funeral Directors and agencies including Job Centre Plus, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Bereavement Advice Centre, Quaker Social Action and Age UK to understand how the system currently works for them, and how they would like to see things change.

A further part of the research will look at how other countries around the world manage and fund funerals for those on low incomes.

The project is being carried out in conjunction with Sun Life Direct.

A full report will be launched in Dying Matters week, 14-18 May 2012.

If you enjoyed this article you might also like:

University death expert warns of funeral crisis as baby-boomers reach old age

Jade tributes reveal a renewed belief in angels

Led by Professor David Brown, the scientists from our Department of Biology & Biochemistry will study a protein called alpha-synuclein, which accumulates in the brain in dementia with Lewy bodies, as well as other diseases such as Parkinson’s.

Dementia with Lewy bodies is the third most common cause of dementia, affecting about 100,000 people in the UK. People with the disease experience distressing symptoms such as hallucinations, problems with movement similar to Parkinson’s disease and ‘cognitive fluctuations’ – variations in alertness, attention and thinking skills.

Until recently, the normal role of alpha-synuclein has been poorly understood, but Professor Brown and his team have discovered that the protein helps convert iron into a form that can be used by cells. Cells need a certain amount of iron to function properly, and the scientists believe that alpha-synuclein’s normal activity may help protect brain cells. They now want to find out what happens to this activity when the protein begins to accumulate.

One theory suggests that as the protein builds in the brain, it may stop working properly, leading to a lack of iron that can be used by cells. Alternatively, as the amount of alpha-synuclein increases, its activity may also increase, leading to a surplus of iron in the brain. By finding the answers to these important questions, the scientists hope to gain new insight into the chain of events that causes cell death in dementia with Lewy bodies.

Professor Brown said: “We’re extremely pleased to have secured this funding, which will allow us to gain a much better understanding of some of the processes that occur as alpha-synuclein builds in the brain. Discovering this protein’s normal role was a crucial step forward, but this funding will enable us to investigate what goes wrong in this process. If we can understand what goes wrong in cells as diseases like dementia with Lewy bodies take hold, we stand a much better chance of finding ways to stop those diseases in their tracks.”

Dr Simon Ridley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting this important project, which could bring us vital new information about a disease that has so far been under-researched. This study could greatly enhance our understanding of the causes of dementia with Lewy bodies, potentially giving us new clues for the development of treatments that could really benefit people.

“It’s especially pleasing to be able to work with such a well-regarded local charity to fund this project, and we hope this partnership could help us make real progress towards our common goal of defeating dementia. With more than 2,000 people affected by dementia in Bath and North East Somerset alone, there is an urgent need for research projects like this one.”

Mark Poarch, Chief Executive of BRACE said: “It’s wonderful to be able to partner Alzheimer’s Research UK and to fund this vital work at the University of Bath. Some of the most ground-breaking research into dementia is being undertaken here in the South West. BRACE is proud to be helping some of the brightest minds in medical research beat this terrible disease.”

……………………

Listen to Professor Brown being interviewed by BBC Radio Bristol:

http://www.bath.ac.uk/play/video/1328543640

If you enjoyed this article you might also like:

Fellowship to help hospital diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, February 2010

New technique detects proteins that cause aging, December 2009

Bath scientists uncover new clues in dementia mystery, May 2009