An official event opening the new home for the School of Health and Human Sciences at the University of Essex will allow staff and students to celebrate the work of the School.

The event, on Wednesday 25 February at the Colchester Campus, includes talks and presentations by current students and graduates, as well as external organisations who work closely with the School. Topics include ‘The contribution of service users’, ‘The perspective of a Primary Care NHS Trust’ and ‘GP perspective’. There will also be an opportunity to mark the retirement of Professor Kimmy Eldridge OBE, who was instrumental in setting up the School.

Dr Peter Martin, current head of the School, said: ‘The School is multi-disciplinary so having one building at the Colchester Campus will enable staff and students to work closely together. This event is a great way to launch our new building and a chance to acknowledge the School’s hard work over the years.’

The School of Health and Human Sciences was formally launched in 2002, building on the success of the University’s former Health and Social Services Institute. It is committed to making a difference to the local and national public services through education, research and knowledge transfer. Students at based at both the Colchester and Southend Campuses.

The new building at the Colchester Campus is part of the University’s energy efficiency campaign and has a wind turbine on its roof, which is expected to generate enough energy to power half the building.

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Notes to editors:
The opening of the new School of Health and Human Sciences’ building will take place from 5pm on Wednesday 25 February at the Colchester Campus. You are invited to send a photographer/reporter/crew along. Please confirm your attendance in advance by contacting the University of Essex Communications Office on telephone: 01206 872807 or e-mail: comms@essex.ac.uk

The event will open with a welcome by Dr Peter Martin, Head of the School, and Professor Colin Riordan, Vice-Chancellor of the University. There will then be a series of talks followed by a ribbon cutting for the new building just before 6pm.

For more information, please contact the University of Essex Communications Office on telephone: 01206 872807 or e-mail: comms@essex.ac.uk