University of Leicester Open Journals
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A4_12 Relativity in the Christmas Spirit
Get PDFIn this paper the speed at which Santa’s sleigh travels is investigated with a focus on the relativistic effects. It is found that Santa is not travelling at great enough speeds for time dilation and length contraction to have a significant effect and that the red-shift of Santa and his sleigh causes a ∆λ = 9 nm shift. This is not significant enough to change the colour of Santa to an observer. It is also found that in order for Santa to be shifted from green to red, he must travel at 0.271 c
A5_10 Solar Laser
Get PDFFollowing on from previous work, this paper aims to demonstrate the effect on Earth’s orbit that a solar laser would have (a laser with a power equivalent to that of the Sun), ignoring all physical effects other than the radiation pressure. It is found by simulating this scenario that the Earth’s orbit is expanded at a rate of approximately 40 cm per second. A Sun powered laser is then considered, although this is found to accelerate the Earth to relativistic speeds in an extremely short timeframe
Challenges and Opportunities for Online Practical Work in Sub-Saharan Africa
Get PDFPractical work is an integral part of teaching and learning in STEM. It can help to deliver many learning outcomes - manipulative skills, observation and description, motivation, creative thinking, problem-solving abilities, and critical attitudes, as well as conceptual understanding. In recent years the already weak provision of the STEM practical curriculum in Sub Saharan Africa SSA has been undermined further by pandemic constraints. Online practical work is expanding rapidly in both scale and sophistication worldwide and it offers a credible means of mitigating such problems and improving access in SSA.This study examines issues and prospects for online practical work in SSA. It includes a brief summary of the present position and presents the views of stakeholders gathered using semi structured interviews. These focused on their attitudes towards introducing new learning technologies and related approaches in the teaching and learning of practical work in science.The results showed that many of the educators interviewed are enthusiastic about the opportunities afforded by online practical work and see such innovation as a useful response to the pandemic. They also assert their readiness to embrace new technologies in STEM practical work but warn of the challenges, notably access to resources and the lack of the teaching skills required to engage learners in effective online practical work. The students have been disappointed by online versions of conventional face to face teaching and many are sceptical about online practical work. Resource and cost issues dominate their thinking. Science educators will require extensive training if online learning technologies are to be harnessed successfully to provide practical science activities in SSA
Paradise Lost: Encounters with Australia’s Extinct Parrot
Get PDFThe paradise parrot is mainland Australia’s only bird to have become extinct since white settlement. First named by British ornithologists in 1844, the bird has not been seen since 1927, its population declining rapidly due to changes in land-use. This creative-critical article investigates the history of the bird alongside personal encounters with six paradise parrot skins found in the storerooms of three UK museums, questioning whether the presence of such bodies negates our sense of total absence. It looks at changing taxidermy practices, and ongoing curatorial work to protect specimens from decay, refuting Donna Haraway’s notion that taxidermy animals have ‘transcended mortal life, and hold their poses forever.’This enquiry examines what kind of encounter is generated between the viewer and taxidermy animal, and how this might enable us to bear witness to species loss during an age of mass extinction.
Study Into The Frequency Of Defecation Of Twelve 20-22-Year-Old Males
No full textThis study looks at the defecation rates of twelve 20–22-year-old male subjects and by asking questions about their lifestyle, reveal dietary or behavioural factors that may affect these rates, and how well defecation rates may be predicted. Significant differences in defecation rates occurred during differences in hours slept per night, as well as a linear relationship between mass and yearly defecation rates, suggesting those that need to increase their bowel movements should firstly look at their sleep schedule. It is hopeful that this research will lead to a further understanding of how lifestyle factors can affect bowel movement and help those suffering from gastrointestinal related disorders such as IBS or constipation
The Centenary Community Engagement Fund Working Paper: Partnership working, current community challenges and interdisciplinary research opportunities
Get PDFThe University of Leicester’s centenary celebrations provide a timely opportunity for academics, staff and students to endorse our civic mission and engage anew with partners and stakeholders in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR). The University owes its existence to the foresight and commitment of local people, who in the aftermath of the First World War helped to champion and establish University College Leicester in 1921, in the belief that access to higher education would enable a better future for all in the city and counties. The College was awarded university status in 1957, and its history and fortune has been inextricably linked with the city and local communities in LLR. Over the years, we have worked together passionately, to reap new opportunities, face immense challenges and help to improve lives in communities locally across the UK and internationally. Community partnership and collaboration can readily be witnessed through the hundreds of academics, students and staff who are actively involved with mission driven charities and third sector organisations many of whom participated in the Centenary Community Engagement Fund Workshop in November. Our leading researchers also have very strong links with community facing organisations and major institutions such as the University Hospitals of Leicester Trust. The same is true of multi-disciplinary academic research teams collaborating proactively with charities, businesses, social enterprises and organisations in a wide range of sectors from social care to arts and culture. This paper is concerned with the Centenary Community Engagement Fund just one of the new civic initiatives launched during our Centenary year. This Fund will provide £125,000 in philanthropic funding for novel interdisciplinary research with partners and for more sought after internships for our talented students
P3_7 Charged particles in a magnetic field - an integrator
Get PDFWe investigate the accuracy of using a simple numerical integrator (Euler Method) to find how a charged particle moves in a magnetic field. We find that the error depends on the choice of time step, but is not negligible for even small values, as such it is probably not the best method for this
P1_7 The Supervillain Struggle
Get PDFThis paper investigates the energy requirements to vaporise famous landmarks if a super-villain were to decide to destroy one. By investigating the material composition of landmarks such as the Pyramid of Giza and the Cloud Gate monument, the energy required to completely vaporise them has been calculated. The landmark with the lowest energy value was found to be an Easter Island head but this may not have the largest international impact
Interdisciplinary Walks: Investigating the benefits of walking for research
Get PDFThe Interdisciplinary Walks project was funded by the Leicester Institute for Advanced Studies (LIAS) between May and July 2022. It set out to encourage staff members to think outside their own disciplinary silos whilst getting familiar with University of Leicester surroundings, from the main and north campus to the School of Business at Brookfield, and the Space Park. Consultations with 29 members of staff asking about their interdisciplinary research and favourite walks were conducted via Zoom and recorded for use on the WordPress site <www.leicias.le.ac.uk>. Intended outputs from the Interdisciplinary Walks project included an A5 map booklet (with a print run of c.500 copies) drawn by illustrator Amy McKay, web content including edited audio recordings of consultations and accompanying transcripts, and six visualisations of the audio clips created by visual storytelling agency Nifty Fox Creative. This working paper provides an overview of the project as it progressed, with the final sections reflecting upon the benefits and challenges of interdisciplinary research and the value of walking and thinking as viewed by academic researchers. The consultations recognised the importance of access to parks and green spaces, and identified four key walking behaviours: walking alone, together, to disconnect, and to focus. The project concludes that by understanding individual preferences in how we walk, researchers can harness the potential of walking as a tool to improve mind, body, and research
P3 11 A Mincey Situation
Get PDFWith Christmas coming up, it is always a joy to see and spend time with your family. Although,sometimes they can really make your blood boil as you sit there trying to scoff mince pies andcount Monopoly money. Speaking of mince pies and blood boiling, here we estimate the numberof mince pies an individual would need to eat to make their blood boil to be around 19.5 mincepies, assuming 100% energy efficiency