Latest news with #UniversityofDerby
ITV News
3 days ago
- Health
- ITV News
How can you make sure your sunscreen is 'reef safe'?
Sunscreen is the must have summer holiday item, but while it may protect your skin, there's growing research it could be harming the ocean and marine life. Each year, about 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen ends up in the sea this way, threatening the health of marine life and coral reefs. It's led to many people buying 'reef safe' sunscreen but there is currently no regulation of these products. Now, a group of researchers from the University of Derby want to change that with proper accreditation of reef safe sunscreen that could be regulated globally. So which sunscreen should you use to protect your skin and the ocean? How does sunscreen harm coral reefs? When we swim or shower, sunscreen can wash off our skin and enter waterways. Each year, about 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen ends up in the sea this way, threatening the health of marine life and coral reefs. As the sunscreen breaks down, the coral absorbs these chemicals and it can harm its reproduction and growth and contribute to bleaching. "It just directly kills it as well," Professor Michael Sweet from the University of Derby told ITV News. "Sometimes in the tests we've undertaken, we put the sunscreen in the water and within a few hours you can see tissue completely sloughing off the coral skeleton." What is the 'toxic' sunscreen? Oxybenzone and octinoxate are chemical compounds found in many common sunscreens and are known to have a more significant impact on coral health. Sunscreen containing these ingredients is often dubbed 'toxic'. While oxybenzone is approved globally as a sunscreen ingredient, it has been banned in seven places including Hawaii, the US Virgin Islands and parts of Thailand in a bid to reduce the impact on reefs. What sunscreen should I buy? Several sunscreen companies market their products as 'reef safe' or 'reef friendly', but there is no regulation of these claims so you'll have to check the ingredient list on the packaging. It's best to look for mineral active ingredients, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and to avoid any products containing oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene. Lotions are also better for the environment than spray or mist products, as the aerosol particles often end up on the sand and washed out to sea . The other option is to wear your SPF protection instead. Swim shirts and rash vests protect your skin from UV and can last longer than a bottle of sunscreen. How would 'reef safe' regulation work? Professor Sweet said 80 per cent of sunscreen marked as 'reef safe' had never been tested. He said it was very difficult to actually determine whether a product is 'reef safe' from ingredients alone and the industry needed "a shake up". Researchers at the University of Derby want to create a Reef Protection Factor (RPF) certification to help people buy products - including sunscreen, cosmetics and surf wax - that have been proven to be safe for use in the ocean. Under the proposal, products would have to have undergone rigorous testing with adult corals at an accredited independent testing centre to receive RPF creditation. If there was any evidence of tissue loss in any of the coral tested, the product would not pass and could not be branded 'reef-safe'. The university has developed a facility that can test a sunscreen's impact on coral and have used that to create their own reef-safe sunscreen. Professor Sweet said there should be a visible reef safe trademark on items so consumers could easily identify safe products on the shelf. "Bronze standard is as good as nothing in the water, silver means you're having a positive impact to some degree but gold is your gold standard where you're having a clear positive impact," he said. "In the concept of things like climate change, many people would say it's a relatively small drop in the ocean. "But it's something that in theory that we can change overnight."
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
ARIU, University of Derby celebrate 22nd graduation ceremony in style
Satyendra Pathak Pathak In a glittering ceremony held in Doha, Al Rayyan International University College (ARIU), in academic partnership with the University of Derby (UK), marked a significant milestone with the graduation of 52 accomplished students. The occasion, ARIU's 22nd graduation ceremony, celebrated academic excellence, personal achievement, and the university's steadfast commitment to advancing Qatar's national development goals. This year's graduating class received degrees across four flagship academic programmes: MBA Global, BSc (Hons) in International Business Management, BA (Hons) in International Hospitality Management, and BA (Hons) in International Tourism Management. The diversity of these disciplines reflects ARIU's focus on equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead in key sectors of Qatar's evolving economy. The event brought together an esteemed assembly of dignitaries, faculty members, students, and their proud families. Among the distinguished guests were HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, owner and founder of ARIU, chairman of the board of governors, and a revered figure in Qatar's education and business landscape; Professor Ibrahim Al Naimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; Professor Ivan Ninov, executive dean of ARIU; Professor Khalid Al Sulaiti, general manager of the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara); and Isobel Stockdale, head of discipline of Applied Management at the University of Derby. In his inspiring keynote address, Sheikh Faisal congratulated the graduates on their achievements while highlighting education as a fundamental pillar of Qatar's sustainable future. 'Education is not only a personal asset but a national imperative. Through institutions like ARIU, we continue to uphold this vision — empowering our youth with knowledge, values, and purpose. As you move forward, I encourage you to carry the values of integrity, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence,' he said. Reaffirming Qatar's long-standing commitment to education, Professor Al Naimi applauded ARIU's role in fostering future-ready talent. The event concluded with a celebratory group photograph, capturing the unity, pride, and collective success of the Class of 2025. With more than two decades of academic legacy, ARIU continues to serve as a beacon of educational excellence in the region. The institution remains at the forefront of international academic collaboration, preparing students not only to succeed in Qatar but to thrive in the interconnected global economy.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Pioneering' Derby green energy project awarded £23.2m
A major project to heat university, college and hospital buildings in Derby from a source several miles away in Spondon has received government source heat pumps will be used to warm hot water pipes laid between the suburb and the city centre in the project, which is scheduled to be completed by generated from businesses will be used by the heat pumps, although the company behind it, Energy1, is yet to reveal which businesses are firm has now been awarded £23.2m towards the scheme from the government's Green Heat Network Fund. Project director Nick Johnston said: "People [in Derby] should be delighted as it represents a really long-term investment in the city that is backed by both public and private finance."It's part of the UK's long-term transition towards energy security and net zero and it really positions the city as a pioneer on this journey."So we're absolutely delighted to be awarded the grant and we're really excited to take the project forward."Mr Johnston said a similar scheme in Bradford was 75% complete and is due to start running next year. There are also plans for heat networks in Exeter and Milton Keynes. The plan in Derby is to heat up to 47 buildings in this way including the Royal Derby Hospital and the Florence Nightingale Hospital, located about seven miles away from College and the University of Derby are also signed up to the project.A University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust spokesperson said: "We have ambitions to become a net zero organisation and are proactively looking at opportunities that will help us to reduce our carbon footprint and become more sustainable, which is better for the environment as well as the taxpayer."We look forward to working alongside partners as a part of this project, which could see two of our Derby hospitals provided with pre-heated water to significantly reduce how much gas we use and will offer one of the most cost-effective heating solutions available."The government's Green Heat Network Fund has been set up to help cut the country's carbon Fahnbulleh, the minister for energy consumers, said: "Heat networks will play an important role in our mission for clean power by 2030, helping us to achieve energy independence and lower bills."
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb's replacement's life amid family feud
Clarkson's Farm has returned for a new series on Amazon Prime Video and while Kaleb Cooper takes a step back from Diddly Squat, there's a new glamorous farmhand After four series of Cotwsolds shenanigans, Clarkson's Farm has welcomed a new star into its hands-on cast with manager Kaleb Cooper on his nationwide tour. The new series sees the arrival of brutally honest young farmer Harriet Cowan at Diddly Squat after Jeremy Clarkson begins to struggle while Kaleb is away - and it's fair to share that she shakes things up on the Chipping Norton land. While Harriet proves to be Jeremy's saviour at Diddly Squat, she's not just a farm hand – the 24-year-old is also a full time nurse and TikTok star as well as a farmer. Born in Derbyshire, Harriet grew up on her grandad's livestock far, which is now run by her father. As well as her farming expertise, Harriet is also a trained nurse, having studied at the University of Derby and graduated in 2023. She now works full time as a nurse and lives with her partner James, who is also a third-generation farmer. Away from farming and nursing, Harriet regularly posts on social media. She boasts 41,500 followers on TikTok currently, with some of her videos reaching almost one million views on the platform where she documents her farming work. Harriet is brought in by contractor Charlie Ireland to help Jeremy at Diddly Squat after Kaleb sets off on his nationwide tour, leaving Jeremy struggling with his farming tasks. However, she makes a bold first impression on Jeremy when she admits that she's never seen an episode of Clarkson's Farm. "I ain't got time to watch all that," she tells him when they first meet. Earlier this month, Harriet's estranged stepsister spoke out about Harriet appearing on Clarkson's Farm, telling the MailOnline: "She loves to be the centre of attention, often at others' expense." She then sent out a warning to Jeremy, saying: "She is fake in the way she behaves, so Jeremy Clarkson, beware!" Elina Clifford spoke about her complicated family history with Harriet, claiming that she has a fraught relationship with her mum Vicky, who is married to Harriet's dad Eddy Cowan. "Not many people we know like her and our family has never liked her. My mum finds her behaviour unnecessary," she said. While Elina's older sister Maddie added: "We don't have a good relationship with her. Our mum is with her dad now, and there was a lot of drama a couple of years ago. "There is a family feud, and Harriet was not being very nice to mum, and it was very upsetting."
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Nurse tackles Everest but mountaineering challenge continues
A nurse has scaled Mount Everest and plans to tackle more mountains to showcase how tough the profession Rowberry, 34, a nurse and lecturer in nursing at the University of Derby, has ticked off the highest peak in the world in her challenge to scale the highest mountain in each of the seven Everest was number four and she has three left left to to the BBC minutes after she completed her descent, Ms Rowberry said: "I'm exhausted and a little bit broken but I'm just so glad to be back at Base Camp and back to safety. " She said she was aiming to raise money for the Royal College of Nursing Foundation and shine a light on the hardships of Rowberry, whose journey started in January 2024, is not planning to stop still aims to climb the Puncak Jaya in Indonesia, Denali in Alaska, USA and Mount Vinson in has already scaled Kilimanjaro in Kenya, Mount Elbrus in Russia and the Aconcagua in Argentina. Celebrating with a can of beer and some pizza, Ms Rowberry said: "It felt very surreal... Everest has a lot up summits so you think you're nearly there and you turn a corner and you see more hills to climb."It was utterly gorgeous and the views were absolutely outstanding... I can't quite believe I've done it, it will take a few days to sink in. "At one point there was just me and my [mountain guide] Sherpa at the top, we were the only two people at the highest part of the earth."Her group of four climbers and Sherpas set off at 02:00 local time (21:15 BST) on Thursday and got about five hours sleep in total on the way Rowberry made it to the summit at 09:45 on Sunday and had about six hours sleep of sleep on the descent, finally hitting Base Camp just before 15:45 on Monday. She said she had "never seen horizons that big" and could see into China from the it was not all plain sailing, despite a relatively decent climb, she battled back spasms on the descent."I feel battered and bruised, mentally and physically exhausted," she said."I really did struggle on the way down and if it wasn't for my amazing Sherpas who kept encouraging me... they were the real machine into making this happen. "There's so much I've been through and I don't think I would have been able to do this if I hadn't had some of the qualities nursing has given me."I wanted to shine a light on the profession and show what we can do."On her next challenge, Ms Rowberry said she "doesn't want to climb a flight of stairs never mind another mountain" at the moment.
