Nic Ashton | University of Brighton Alumni Association

Painting Oxbridge’s first female professor

A Brighton graduate has been commissioned to create a portrait of the first female Oxbridge professor. Sara Lavelle was selected by a management committee at The University of Cambridge’s McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research to paint pioneering archaeologist Professor Dorothy Garrod. The painting, which is on display at the Institute, marks the 80th anniversary of…

United Nations appoints Brighton graduate

A University of Brighton alumna has been appointed United Nations Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All. Damilola Ogunbiyi, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency, has also been selected as Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy which promotes “coherence within the UN family of organisations in the energy field”. The appointments were…

The rise and rise of a Brighton graduate

A TV producer and director behind some of the UK’s biggest shows revealed today how his “invaluable” time at the University of Brighton helped kick-started his meteoric career journey. Winston Gallagher graduated with a Media degree in 2003 and has since worked with the likes of Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe and on some of…

The Brighton Effect: Serge Attukwei Clottey

Ghanaian artist Serge Attukwei Clottey’s performance installations highlight Ghana’s soaring levels of pollution and help draw attention to social injustice… In Ghana, jerrycans play a vital role in transporting water in times of drought but leave behind an environmental catastrophe, lying discarded by the side of the road, on city dumps and beaches and clogging…

The Brighton Effect: Hair of the Dog

Textiles graduate Jade Evans reveals how she’s creating home furnishings from dog hair as told to Alice Leader. “I grew up with long-haired German Shepherd dogs for pets and I remember their hair being everywhere. When you brushed them you’d end up with these massive bundles of hair. I’ve never forgotten that image, so when…

The Brighton Effect: Scales of Justice

The long-standing partnership between the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) and the University of Brighton continues to play a vital role in the protection of the sustainable marine environment along the Sussex coast. Collaborative research projects, guest lecturing and student field trips all help in the conservation and restoration of local marine and…

The Brighton Effect: Business with gumption

Design graduate Anna Bullus’s company recycles chewing gum waste into a range of new products –everything from frisbees and rulers to trainers and gumboots (naturally). Making products out of waste chewing gum is a brilliant solution to a sticky problem. How does it work? Our Gumdrop bins (above) are the first in the world specifically…

The Brighton Effect: I wouldn’t be a writer if it wasn’t for Brighton

New children’s laureate and bestselling author of the ‘How to train your dragon’ series, Cressida Cowell’s books have been published in 38 languages and adapted into a Hollywood film and tv series. But it all started at Brighton. It’s not often children’s author-illustrator Cressida Cowell is lost for words. But, the prolific writer of over…

The Brighton Effect: Sound thinking

Brighton graduate Tom Meades’ bright idea was creating portable loudspeakers from non-recyclable plastic waste – now it’s a thriving business. Plastic waste makes up 85% of the pollution on our beaches, and every year the UK alone throws away 300 million kilos of flexible plastics which aren’t accepted by UK councils for recycling. Thankfully, Tom…

International experience fund winner Agnes visits Uganda

Agnes recently visited Mutungo, Uganda as part of her International Experience. The International Experience Fund is a fund per annum, kindly supported by Santander Universities, and other generous donors, which exists to help eligible undergraduate students take advantage of opportunities overseas, such as work placements, volunteering or studying abroad. Enabling students to access such opportunities…