Warwick PhD student Rebecca White won the student poster prize at the national astronomy meeting in St Andrews, the annual conference of the Royal Astronomical Society which brings together scientists from astronomy, solar, space and solar system physics.

The Higher Education Academy has conferred the status of Senior Fellow on Professor Seán Hand of the Department of French Studies. Fellowship recognition at the HEA is designed around a Professional Standards Framework that benchmarks teaching and learning within HE.

Congratulations to the History Department's Sarah Richardson, this year's recipient of the third annual arts impact award. Sarah regularly appears in the media on shows such as Who do you think you are? and BBC Radio 4 Document bringing her research on women in nineteenth-century British politics to mass audiences.

Warwickshire Open Studios, the county’s largest free visual arts event is now taking place annually and University employee Amanda Glanville, a glass bead maker (Arts Centre Box Office) will be joining artists in 15 other Coventry venues as part of the new Coventry Art Trail.

On 16 May, Shirley Crookes, Head of Student Support, became Lady Mayoress of Coventry. Her husband, Counsellor Gary Crookes, became Lord Mayor of Coventry 2013-14, following a ceremony in Coventry Cathedral. Shirley has worked for the university for 30 years.