Dr Andrew Levan, Associate Professor, has been awarded the Philip Leverhulme Prize for Astronomy and Astrophysics for his research into Gamma-ray bursts, supernovae and high redshift galaxies.

Dr Vasilios Stavros, Associate Professor, and Nick Barker, Outreach Officer, both from the Department of Chemistry, recently returned from Outreach in Georgia. Together with their US collaborator, Professor Susanne Ullrich, they visited local schools delivering Nick Barkers' famous 'Flashes and Bangs' lecture.

Professor Valery Nakariakov, Department of Physics, has been elected President of the European Solar Physics Division (ESPD) of the European Physical Society.

Congratulations to Professor Jianfeng Feng, from the Department of Computer Science, who has been awarded a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award. The Wolfson Research Merit Award, one of the most prestigious UK awards, is supported by the Royal Society, the UK's national academy of science. The scheme provides up to 5 years’ funding after which the award holder continues with a permanent post at the host university.

Congratulations to Professor Pam Thomas who takes up the role of Chair of the Faculty of Science and Professor Simon Swain who takes up the role of Chair of the Faculty of Arts from today, 1 September 2011. This followed a new appointment process reflecting the recommendations of the Harris Review (approved by Senate in March 2011).