PRESENT
Alumni News
Alumni produce environmental magazine to spread hope and share solutions
In 2023, several alumni came together – alongside other colleagues – to start Viridis Magazine, with a focus on intersectional environmentalism and solution-based journalism. These include Head of Social Media, Bethany Pihama (Conservation Biology and Ecology, 2019); Head of Editorial, Emily Gilford (BSc Zoology, 2019 and MSc Evolutionary Ecology, 2020); Editor, Ross Clifton (BSc Conservation Biology and Ecology, 2019 and MSc Conservation and Biodiversity, 2020), and Head of Art, Leoni Fretwell (English, 2021).
The motivation behind the magazine was a dream to revolutionise how people consume news stories – specifically environmental news – moving away from doom and gloom, as well as the monotony of most mainstream media outlets. With a quarterly publication schedule taking place, four volumes have been published so far. The key questions they always lay out at the start are: what is important (and relevant) to write about, what do they want to inspire their readers with, and how can they best tell these stories in a way that makes readers feel hopeful for the future?
Alumnus saving lives as A&E doctor and winning titles as Team GB
For most people, either saving lives in a hospital or representing your country in the boxing ring would be enough pressure, but alumnus Ike Ogbo (Medicine, 2018) not only manages to combine the two but is excelling in both.
It was during his time at university that Ike started to shine as a boxer, having come to the sport late whilst at school in Bolton, but taking it even more seriously during his degree. Ike now works as an A&E doctor in Birmingham, constantly dealing with life and death situations and ultimately trying to heal people. Meanwhile, as a boxer his overall goal is to outscore his opponent and potentially deliver a knockout blow. Ike admits it may seem like a “paradox” but says the two areas of his life actually complement each other.
For Ike, boxing also provides an outlet away from work. Sticking on a pair of gloves and going toe-to-toe with the world’s best fighters might not be for everyone, but Ike says it is incredibly important that doctors find something away from the medical environment to help them de-stress. Ike hopes to compete at the Commonwealth Games in 2026.
Alumnus-produced TV show spotlights unique side of Tokyo
Alex Boden (German and Drama, 1994) is a Film and TV Producer and Chair of the Production Guild of Great Britain, and recently produced the TV series Tokyo Vice: one of the biggest international series to film in Japan to date. The first season was filmed entirely on-location during the covid lockdown, showing a unique side of Tokyo that has never been seen before, and season two is due to be released in Spring 2024.
Tokyo Vice is an exciting original series inspired by the memoirs of American Jake Adelstein, who worked as a crime reporter in Tokyo in the late 1990’s and became enthralled with exposing crime. It is immersive and set in the worlds of the police, organised crime (the Yakuza), the Press and the ‘mizu-shōbai’ – the nightlife entertainment business. It stars Ken Watanabe, Ansel Elgort and Rinko Kikuchi. Alex has worked on production in more than 30 countries and loved Tokyo Vice’s scripts, so when the opportunity came up to get involved in this project, he jumped at it and rode out the challenges that came along with filming during the pandemic.
Alex Boden. Photo credit Robert Viglasky.
Celebrating alumni winner in the Study UK Alumni Awards 2022/23
The British Council’s Study UK Alumni Awards take place in several countries and recognise outstanding international alumni, who studied in the UK for all, or part of, their degree. The winners and finalists of the prestigious awards are leaders in their respective fields and have used their experience of studying at a UK university to make positive contributions to their communities and professions. On 17 February 2023, we had the pleasure of celebrating alumna Michelle Szydlowski (MA Anthrozoology, 2017 and PhD Anthrozoology, 2021) who won the Social Action award that recognises alumni who have made an exceptional contribution and commitment to creating positive change and improving the lives of others.
Michelle was presented with her award at the prestigious international event, which was held at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. The British Council noted that she received this award as she is “leading the way in redefining anthrozoology by ensuring that marginalised communities of human and non-human animals are equal participants in research and beneficiaries of conservation practices.” We were delighted that several other alumni also placed as finalists within other countries award ceremonies in the 2022/23 round and look forward to hopefully celebrating more of our alumni in the 2023/24 awards season.
Alumna awarded in Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2023
Kim Hillyard (Drama, 2007) was crowned winner of the Illustrated Books category at the 2023 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for her picture book Gretel the Wonder Mammoth. Kim received a £2,000 prize and the promise of ongoing commitment to her writing and illustrating career.
After completing her degree at Exeter, Kim spent nine years working as a music journalist for various publications, including NME, Time Out and the BBC. She has also worked as a drama and arts facilitator, delivering assemblies, storytelling and workshops, in schools, bookshops, and community spaces on everything from phonics to creative writing.
Gretel the Wonder Mammoth is a positive and encouraging picture book which helps little ones to embrace their feelings and inspires children and grown-ups to talk about anxiety. As the last woolly mammoth on earth starts to get a bit nervous about her place in the herd, this book teaches young readers that perhaps the bravest act a person (or mammoth!) can do is ask for help.
Alumnus completes superhuman rowing challenge across the Pacific Ocean
Captain Chris Bailey (BSc Zoology, 2013 and MSc Survey and Land / Environmental Management, 2014), of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, completed a rowing challenge – the Great Pacific Race – of 2,800 miles with three fellow soldiers in July 2023. Raising funds for their charities: St Michael’s Hospice, Give Them a Sporting Chance and Young Minds.
Chris prepared for the endurance race for four years and he and the Pacific One team – Maj. Simon Farley (Skipper), Capt. Chris Barnes and Capt. Sam Morris – set off on 12 June from Monterey Bay, in one of 14 identical boats taking part in the race. Facing sea sickness, sore hands, and daunting conditions during their journey, the quartet rowed unaided from California to Hawaii – covering half the width of the Pacific Ocean – in 35 days, arriving on the shores of Hanalei, Kaua’I on 17 July.
Alumna helps lead a policy brief on pharmaceutical pollution
Alumna and current PhD student Emily Stevenson (Conservation Science and Policy, 2021) alongside Julze Alejandre, both British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) senior parliamentary interns for Green Party Peer Baroness Bennett, led the development of policy recommendations to reduce pharmaceutical pollution in the UK.
Pharmaceutical pollution is considered a One Health and Planetary Health concern that impacts water quality, contributes to biodiversity loss and links to the development of antimicrobial resistant organisms in the environment. The policy brief proposes a number of ‘eco-directed and sustainable’ interventions in the prescribing of pharmaceuticals, and features contributions from Dr Aimee Murray, Dr Kelly Thornber and Professor Ed Wilson of the University of Exeter. It was launched during July 2023 at an event hosted by Baroness Bennett at the House of Lords.
Exeter Hon Grad shines on Strictly
In July 2022, we were delighted to award Channel 4 News anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy (DLitt, 2022) an Honorary Doctorate as part of our graduation ceremonies. It was wonderful then in the autumn of 2023 to watch him shine in the 21st series of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One. During the competition Krishnan was paired with professional dancer Lauren Oakley and danced his way through eight weeks before exiting following a bottom two dance-off with television journalist, newsreader, writer and presenter, Angela Rippon. We loved seeing Krishnan on our screens on a Saturday night and he did incredibly well to get so far in the competition!
Alumnus wins Rising Star award at the 2023 StartUp Awards
In 2023, Dr Nicholas Gaunt (PhD in Physics, 2019) set up Acorn Scientific Marketing to provide marketing services for scientific communications with the goal of helping customers grow their businesses and make a positive impact in the scientific community.
In that same year, Nick then received a Rising Star Award in the StartUp Awards (North West) which recognises businesses under three years old. It has helped them amplify their voice and spread their message.
Upon receiving the award, Nick expressed his delight, saying: “It’s just so wonderful to be recognised so early in our existence. Just being nominated was great, but this could take Acorn to heights I didn’t dream we’d hit for years!”
