Question Time-style debates mark launch of Impact: The Nottingham Campaign

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Big names join students, academics, business leaders and the public for series of prestigious Question Time-style events

Member of the public are invited to join TV stars, students, academics and leaders from the worlds of business and higher education for a series of Question Time-style debates hosted by The University of Nottingham.

Award-winning broadcaster and writer Adam Hart-Davis, Sky News presenter Jeff Randall, serial entrepreneur Bruce Savage, Phil Hammond, GP, broadcaster and comedian, TV presenter Maggie Philbin and Mike Stroud, best-known for his record-breaking expeditions with Sir Ranulph Fiennes, will be taking part in the Nottingham debates.

The prestigious events will mark the launch of Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, the biggest fundraising campaign in the University’s history.

The first debate - “Pills, potions and prescriptions, or care, community and lifestyle? What works best for health and well-being today” - will be chaired by Nottingham alumnus Jeff Randall, Sky News presenter and editor-at-large at The Daily Telegraph.

Phil Hammond and Mike Stroud will join Professor Ian Hall, Dean of Medicine at the University, and Jane Todd, chief executive of Nottingham City Council for the event, which takes place at Nottingham Contemporary on Tuesday 18 October.

Former Labour MP Paddy Tipping will join Bahram Bekradnia, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, Rachel Carr, chief executive of IntoUniversity, and David Harris, principal of Nottingham University Samworth Academy for the second debate.

“What is the role of universities in nurturing talent?” will be chaired by Alex Corck-Adelman, president of The University of Nottingham’s Students’ Union. It will be held at Business School South, Jubilee Campus, on Wednesday 19 October.

Adam Hart-Davis joins seasoned technology reporter Maggie Philbin, Bruce Savage and Professor Keith Campbell to discuss “From mind to market: where do good ideas come from?”

The debate will be chaired by Professor Martin Binks, Dean of Nottingham University Business School, and will be held in the Keighton Auditorium, Mathematical Sciences Building, University Park, on Thursday 20 October.

All events are open to the public and take place between 6.30pm and 8pm. Admission is free but places are limited so must be booked. Please register at: events [a] nottingham.ac (p) uk

Biographies of speakers/chairs:

Adam Hart-Davis is a writer and radio and TV presenter, having worked on Local Heroes, Tomorrow’s World, What the Romans (and others) Did For Us, The Cosmos: a Beginners’ Guide and more.

Phil Hammond is a GP, writer, broadcaster and comedian. He is also Private Eye’s medical correspondent.

Jeff Randall is an alumnus of The University of Nottingham. He presents Jeff Randall Live every Monday to Thursday on Sky News. The show takes a look at the big business stories of the day, with exclusive guests and hard-hitting s. He is also The Daily Telegraph’s editor-at-large.

Bruce Savage is a serial entrepreneur with experience of the biosciences sector and an honorary professor at the Nottingham University Business School, honorary fellow at Cass Business School, London, and a member of Vince Cable’s Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

Mike Stroud, OBE, is perhaps best known for his record-breaking expedition with Sir Ranulph Fiennes. The qualified doctor is a member of the Royal College of Physicians and works in the NHS. He has been heavily involved in research around endurance fitness and nutrition and was, until recently, the senior medical officer at the Army Personnel Research Establishment in Farnborough.

Maggie Philbin has worked in TV and radio for 30 years on a range of science, medical and technology programmes. Currently providing analysis and comment on technology and a regular reporter on BBC1’s Inside Out. In November 2008 she pioneered Teen Tech, a lively interactive event, which brought 400 teenagers together with scientists and technology companies. She sits on the panel of the New Engineering Foundation, the board of Swanswell, and is patron of the Daphne Jackson Trust.

Bahram Bekhradnia is the director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, one of the most widely referenced and influential think tanks in the sector. He has provided advice to 16 governments.

Rachel Carr is the chief executive and co-founder of IntoUniversity, a charity that offers an innovative programme that supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attain a university education or another aspiration.

Paddy Tipping is an alumnus and was the Labour MP for Newark and Sherwood from 1992 until he retired at the 2010 General Election. He was Deputy Leader of the House of Commons. He is trustee of Nottinghamshire Community Foundation, chair of Nottinghamshire LIFT Companies, and director of REalliance, a national recycling charity.