Sir Paul Smith visited the University of Nottingham today (Monday 12 November) to deliver the first in a new series of Vice-Chancellor’s public lectures to over 250 students, staff and members of the public and business community.
The lecture was also live-streamed to the 12,000 students studying at the University of Nottingham’s campuses in Ningbo, China and Malaysia.
Sir Paul talked about his career and the inspiration he finds in everyday things. He also explained his belief that inspiration can be found in everything, sometimes you just have to think a little laterally in order to find it.
Sir Paul said: “Growing up in Beeston, my father was a keen amateur photographer. I very vividly remember a photograph he took of the original Nottingham University campus mid-construction. Although I had no higher education, the University has been part of my subconscious for my entire life. Having a University in the city I grew-up in was always something I was very aware and proud of and so I’m really honoured to be returning to Nottingham and visiting to the University to meet some of the students.”
Ahead of the lecture, the Nottingham-born designer visited the University’s Ingenuity Lab to meet young entrepreneurs and learn more about the Ingenuity 19 competition which launches this week. Ingenuity19 is the University of Nottingham’s annual innovation event designed to discover and develop enterprising ideas to transform our future. It’s a brilliant opportunity for disruptors, entrepreneurs and community innovators to come together, and explore key challenges facing society and compete for a £150,000+ prize.
This year, the focus is on two major issues – Future Communities and Future Tech. And for the first time ever, the event is open to members of the public and businesses as well as students.
Steven Chapman, Head of Ingenuity Lab said: “Sir Paul symbolises ambition, quality and success; Ingenuity19 aims to harness that spirit, and by utilising the resources of the University of Nottingham, create new partnerships, generate ground breaking ideas, and establish a structure where future leaders can thrive.”
President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham Professor Shearer West said: “The University and Paul Smith are both Nottingham institutions known the world over for a commitment to excellence, innovation and, of course, style! I’m delighted to welcome Sir Paul to the University to deliver the first of a new series of Vice-Chancellor’s public lectures that will bring some of the world’s most exceptional individuals back to the University, celebrating their achievements and their connections to Nottingham”
As global brands the University of Nottingham and Paul Smith are recognised the world over and have a significant presence in Asia.
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Notes to editors:
The University of Nottingham is a research-intensive university with a proud heritage, consistently ranked among the world's top 100. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our 44,000 students - Nottingham was named both Sports and International University of the Year in the 2019 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, was awarded gold in the TEF 2017 and features in the top 20 of all three major UK rankings. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement. We are ranked eighth for research power in the UK according to REF 2014. We have six beacons of research excellence helping to transform lives and change the world; we are also a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally.
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