2 April 2001
HOUSE OF LORDS OPENS ITS DOORS TO UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD

Academics from the University of Bradford mixed with experts from the world of Environmental and Archaeological Sciences in a high profile event at the House of Lords.

Key opinion formers, well-known faces from television and representatives from foreign embassies converged on the terraces of the famous building beside the River Thames.

Over 180 guests were greeted by Chancellor of the University, Baroness Lockwood of Dewsbury, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Bell. Professor Bell later introduced the speaker Professor Martin Jones, of the University of Cambridge, who congratulated Bradford for its successful work in the areas of research and science.

Professor Jones (pictured above) is an archaeobotanist, with research interests in biomolecular archaeology of early crops, ecological theory and archaeological method, and prehistoric and early historic agriculture in Europe.

He said: "I have always held Bradford in high regard because of its contribution in Archaeological Sciences and Environmental Sciences. It is a very exciting time for Bradford. It is a great honour to be here and to help celebrate it."

The event was attended by leaders in the fields of Archaeological and Environmental Sciences, including Lord Perry of Walton, who is on the Science and Technology Select Committee, and Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe, who is Chairman of the Sub-Committee for Energy, Industry and Transport. Visiting Professor in Occupational Health Surgeon Commodore Grant McMillan told organisers he had benefited from the reception.

He said: "The logic of the merger of the Departments of Archaeological and Environmental Sciences is now much clearer in my mind - it is a marriage of convenience and synergism. I was left in no doubt that the change has generated even more enthusiasm among the staff for the work of the DepartmentS to strike a 21st balance between the needs of the community and their personal scientific interests."

Professional Archaeologist and Presenter of the popular BBC programme 'Meet the Ancestors' Julian Richards, also praised the University's researchers.

He said: "Bradford is somewhere our programme makers have turned to a lot because our programme depends a lot on Archaeological Sciences for reconstruction. Meetings such as these give me a chance to catch up with people I know and to meet new people and talk about ideas we have.

"Bradford is the obvious choice for us to turn to. A lot of universities have experts within them looking at scientific areas in Archaeological Sciences but one of the greatest concentrations is at Bradford, so it is somewhere which enables us to access different sorts of specialism."

For pictures of the event click here.

For more information contact Rachael Ellis in Corporate Communications on (01274) 233084/0787 9437986 or Lynda Isaac on (01274) 233089. Alternatively, email r.ellis1@bradford.ac.uk or fax on (01274) 235460.

For further information contact Rachael Ellis in Corporate Communications on (01274) 233084/0787 9437986 or Lynda Isaac on (01274) 233089. Alternatively, email r.ellis1@bradford.ac.uk or fax on (01274) 235460.