Category: Student life

Perfect roast dinner – on a budget!

Posted on by emily-may.roberts

Veggie, vegan or meat-eater, we can all enjoy a classic Sunday roast. There are only four essential components of a roast, protein, roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy. Yorkshire puddings are another roast staple, but these may be harder to obtain for vegans unless you’re willing to go the extra mile and make them yourself.

Get the flat together, prepare your ingredients, and indulge in a British classic.

 

Protein

Your protein can be whatever you fancy, you want quick and easy? Sausages will do the trick. We especially recommend Richmond’s meat-free sausages for a tasty but conscientious choice. Any joint of meat works wonders when you season to your taste, just remember your staples, like salt and pepper! This easy roast chicken recipe is a great starter if you’re new to the world of roast dinners.

Meat-free alternatives are just as tasty an addition as any meat option. Check out Quorn’s Roast for the veggie route, found in the chilled aisle in Sainsbury’s, or head to Waitrose for a vegan nut roast that the whole flat can enjoy.

Roast potatoes

Everyone has their own ‘perfect’ roast potato recipe. A second place spud is unheard of. If you want low-maintenance roasties, you can always go the frozen route, just don’t let your British mates see. Making your own is just a few extra steps and really boosts your standing in the Sunday roast community. Any potato will do, but common favourites are Maris Pipers and King Edward potatoes.

For a nice simple spud, simply peel your potatoes, chop them into medium consistent chunks and cook in the oven at 180 degrees with some oil and salt until golden brown. These should go in for around an hour, or until they’re golden on the outside, and soft in the middle.

Adding additional seasoning will help to level up your potato game. Oregano, thyme, rosemary, black pepper and garlic are all classic ways to elevate your dish, but you can really use anything that you think will work

If you have the time and patience for it, there are several ways to boost your average roastie. Par-boiling your potatoes, pre-heating your oil and using fresh seasonings like garlic gloves are just a few examples. Have a look at this crispy roast potatoes recipe if you want to nail those crispy spuds.

 

Vegetables

There’s a whole world of vegetables to put on your roast. You can pretty much use any that you think of and cook them however you prefer. Boiled broccoli, peas, cabbage and carrots are cheap and easy veggies to include in your meal. You can also boil cauliflower, parsnips and Brussels sprouts for more variety. Roasting veg takes slightly longer but offers entirely different flavours, roasted carrots, parsnips and swede are tasty additions to any roast, just peel, chop and drizzle in oil, salt and pepper and roast for 45 minutes to an hour. You can even just pop them in next to your potatoes. For a sweet take on roasted veg, try adding a few teaspoons of honey drizzled over top before you pop them in the oven.

 

Yorkshire puddings

For the meat-eaters and veggies, Yorkshire puddings will be the easiest side dish to handle. Grab a frozen bag of Yorkshire puds from any supermarket and cook as the packet entails. Aunt Bessie’s are known to be tasty and veggie!

For vegans, you may want to skip the Yorkshires, making your own can be difficult and time-consuming, but if you’re willing and able to give it a go, here is a vegan Yorkshire pudding recipe to follow. You can skip the food processor for a hand whisk, but you will need a muffin tray for this one.

For those who want a traditional Yorkshire pudding, try this one.

 

Gravy

No roast is complete without gravy. Instant gravy is a great affordable option, with choices of beef, chicken or vegetable (usually) and there are vegan alternatives available in most supermarkets (Bisto onion gravy is a popular choice). But again, there are always ways to up your gravy game. A lot of people opt to put leftover meat/veg juices and flour. There are so many gravy options out there that we could never list them all, so check out this BBC Good Food list here.

 

The first few weeks of Uni are exciting and new, the flatmates you have now are going to be with you for a whole year (at least!), so make sure you take that time to get to know each other.

We’d love to see your first flat roast! DM us on Instagram or tag us in your dinner pics and we’ll shout out our favourites on @bristolunistudents.

Moving in weekend

Posted on by emily-may.roberts

Moving in weekend

Students at Wills Hall during moving-in day

 

Moving for the first time can be stressful. What do I bring? Who will my roommates be? How many forks will I need?

We’ve put together some advice as you prepare to settle into life at Bristol.

What do I bring?

Badock Hall.

Firstly, if you’re staying in halls, make sure you check to see what is already provided. You can find this out here – Bedroom essentials include your bedding (don’t forget the quilt and pillows), towels, laundry bag, hangers and extension leads if you need the plug space (no more than 13 amps load). If you have an ensuite, make sure to remember a bath/shower mat and some bathroom accessories (toothbrush holder, soap dispenser, as many toilet rolls as you can sneak out of the house, etc).

 

If you’re a Marlborough House resident, no need to worry about kitchen equipment as this will be provided! For everywhere else though, here are some things to remember. All residents should bring plates, bowls, mugs, cups, cutlery and a bottle/can opener. If you are a self-catered student, you should also bring frying pans, saucepans and other cooking accessories you may need. Don’t forget you are just one person, so no need to bring four of everything!

You also shouldn’t feel the need to rush to the Wilko sales this week, as this year the SU’s ‘Take a Plate’ campaign could save you some cash.  You can expect to find mugs, plates, bowls, glasses, pots, pans, cutlery, graters, baking utensils, oven trays, cafetieres, reusable cups, water bottles, food containers and peelers, all for free in these locations:

Student kitchen at Clifton Hill House

This is the start of a new campaign introduced to limit the amount of waste going into landfill and saving you a pretty penny.

Cleaning supplies are also a must have. Washing up liquid, sponges, cloths and tea towels (don’t forget to wash them regularly) are a good start! As these things are all used communally, you may want to wait till you arrive so you can share the costs with your roommates and avoid bringing duplicates.

 

Roommates

It can be pretty intimidating moving in with strangers, especially if you are also moving to a new city or area. Try to remember that you’re all in the same boat! Whether you are the type to kick start introductions, or prefer to let others do the talking, there’s room for all personalities here. Why not arrange a group activity for you and your new roommates? You could hunker down for a movie night, cook a meal together or check out a local café or park! A really simple thing to do is leave your door open as you move in, it lets people know you’re open to talk and introduce yourself.

If you do find yourself struggling to settle in, you can always talk to the people around you. You may find that one of your roommates is going through a similar situation and can help each other through it. You can also reach out to the University wellbeing services if you feel unable to turn to anyone else. This friendly team has loads of advice and resources to support you and there are some great tools to help you manage your own wellbeing as well.

 

 

 

Pride events for students and staff

Posted on by Dan Cragg

Bristol Panthers Pride 5-a-side

Saturday 24 June, 10:15 am – 4 pm, Imperial Sports Ground, West Town Lane, BS14 9EA

Bristol City Panthers FC (City’s affiliated LGBT+ team), is hosting a 5-a-side tournament for Pride

You make your own teams (max team size 8, each player signs up individually) or join individually to be matched with a team. Players of any experience, ability, sexuality, or gender identity are welcome!

Panthers players will be spread out among the teams to even things out. Bring shin pads, astro boots (no studs), sun cream, and plenty to drink! Here’s the booking link: https://www.trybooking.co.uk/41812

Film screening: Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth

Wednesday 5 July, 4:30 pm, Biomedical Sciences Building

A film screening organised by the University LGBTQ+ Staff Network. Seahorse is a poignant film charting the path to parenthood for transgender man Freddy McConnell as he carries and delivers a child. Open to staff and students, book your free ticket now.

Tips on reducing your plastic waste

Posted on by yl22363

Swap disposable plastic bottles/coffee cups for re-usable

Café Nero, Costa, and Starbucks all have offers when you get your coffee in a re-usable cup, so instead of adding to the 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups that are thrown away each year (estimated by Costa), save money by taking your own!

Save yourself that £1.50 for a plastic bottle of water, and invest in a steel water bottle. It keeps your water cool throughout the day, and you can fill up at home, in your local coffee shop, or at one of the University’s water fountains around campus, for free! Find your nearest campus water fountain here.

 

Take your own bags to the shops

Did you know that bags for life use up to three times more plastic than single use carrier bags? They’re also sturdier, making them much more detrimental when getting into natural environments. Make sure you’re getting the most of your bags for life, remember to take them to the shops with you and avoid buying more than you need. Or, take your backpack with you to shop, or any other bags that you use in your day to day life to avoid the plastic option completely!

 

Say no to plastic cutlery when you order in

Plastic straws, forks spoons, are included in many fast food options, and many can’t be recycled. However, most places on Deliveroo or UberEats let you choose whether or not they include plastic cutlery. Whenever you’re able, make sure you’re saying no to these single-use plastic items.

 

Cling film can’t be recycled, but tinfoil can!

Clingfilm is made from polyvinylidene chloride (PVC) and does not degrade. Manufacturing PVC releases dioxins that is toxic to humans. Swap out cling film for tinfoil, which (once clean) can be recycled! Even better, use reusable lunch boxes or beeswax wraps. Either way, make sure you’re avoiding clingfilm wherever you can.

 

Ditch the glitter

Glitter is made from aluminium or plastic coated in paint or metal and it’s everywhere. You can find glitter in body lotions, bath bombs, eyeshadows, and generally all over the beauty industry. Glitter is made of microplastics and microplastics never dissipate. It wreaks havoc on biodiversity and marine life.

 

Did you know there’s no limit on how long it takes a product to break down when it’s labelled ‘biodegradable’? Or that some biodegradable material require specialist treatment in order to do so? That means even when products like glitter are labelled such, it doesn’t guarantee that the product is eco-friendly. By the time some biodegradable plastics have broken down, they’ve already caused harm to the environment.

Some eco-friendly glitter alternatives are coloured sand, salt, coloured rice, certain face paints, sugar, and crushed glass. Of course not all of these can be used cosmetically, but options like glass can work great for craft projects.

 

Controlling waste at the University

Did you know that less than 5% of the University’s overall waste ends up in landfill? This is because the University is committed to maximising reuse, recycling as much as possible, and reducing the amount of waste produced.

 See more on the University’s sustainability efforts here.

 

MHAW – Managing stress this exam season

Posted on by Dan Cragg

Mental health awareness week (MHAW) 15 – 21 May 2023

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Managing stress this exam season

By Sophia Crothall

Exams can often bring stress which can have an impact on both our mental and physical health, which is why it is extra important to take care of yourself, ensuring you’re happy and healthy too. Here are some ways in which you can do that:

Taking breaks

As much as you may want to finish your essay in one sitting, or feel the need to complete your exam as soon as possible, you need to take a break. Taking breaks helps to refresh your mind and allows you to come back to your work with a clear head and fresh perspective. So, put your laptop away and get yourself out there. Go for a walk, have something to eat, grab a drink or watch an episode of your favourite TV show. Just make sure you take time away from staring at a screen.

Eat healthily

Don’t just rely on ready meals or meal deals over the next few weeks. As they say, ‘healthy body, healthy mind’. Ensure you are having three good meals each day, especially a nutritious breakfast which will set you up for the day. Bring some snacks with you too such as blueberries which are great for the brain. If you have some time, create a meal plan for the week and then you will know each day what you are eating and what you need to prep.

Staying social

Keep your social life up this exam season. Surrounding yourself with your friends is essential for keeping the morale high. Whether that is seeing them in the evening for a drink at the pub, a daytime coffee or studying together, don’t isolate yourself. You could even impose a rule that you don’t talk about university and exams when you see each other. If you are a part of any clubs and societies that are still running events, push yourself to go to them and see others.

Exercise

Finally, get yourself out there and get active. Whether you love the gym or hate it, there is some form of exercise for everyone!

One of my favourite things to do is to go on a nice long walk. Bristol has so many open, green spaces which are essential for clearing the mind. Some of my favourites include The Downs, Harbourside, Ashton Court and the Suspension Bridge. If it’s a rainy day, have a look at what B: Active programmes are running at the gym or in halls of residence, these are free for all students.

Remember to take care of yourself this exam season and not let the stress take control.

If you need to speak to someone, a range of support is available such as the Wellbeing team, Student Health Service or even your Personal Tutor.

Check out Lottie’s Instagram Reel too for more ideas!

 

MHAW 2023 – What are mental health boosters?

Posted on by Dan Cragg

Mental health awareness week (MHAW) 15 – 21 May 2023

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What are mental health boosters?

By Jennie Soh

As students, maintaining a healthy mental state is essential for success, not just in university, but in life. To do this, we may use mental health boosters, which help to manage stress and maintain a positive mind. While many of us are familiar with mental health boosters such as meditation, healthy eating, and socializing, this blog will explore novel mental health boosters that might offer a fun and refreshing experience and go beyond the typical suggestions!

  1. Create a Self-Care Kit

A self-care kit is a collection of items and activities that bring you comfort and help you re-centre. They can be physical objects, like a stress ball or a soft blanket, or activities, like listening to a favourite song or engaging in a creative hobby. Choose something from your kit whenever you feel like giving your brain a much-needed break!

  1. Practice Gratitude Journaling

Set aside a few minutes to list three things you’re grateful for each day. They can be simple, like a delicious meal, finishing an assignment, or a kind gesture from a friend. By focusing on positive experiences, you can cultivate a more optimistic outlook and better manage stress! Plus, keeping a gratitude journal can help you reflect on your growth and accomplishments throughout your time at university.

  1. Create a Worry Window

Instead of being preoccupied with worries throughout the day, designate a specific time for them. Set aside a few minutes each day as your “worry window” – a period when you allow yourself to acknowledge your concerns and fears. During this time, write down your worries and possible solutions. Then, once the window closes, allow yourself to let go of your stresses and focus on your tasks.

  1. The Pomodoro Technique with a Twist

You might have heard of the Pomodoro Technique, which involves breaking your work into intervals (usually 30 minutes) with short breaks in between. But have you tried combining it with mindfulness? In this approach, instead of taking a usual break, take a 5-minute mindfulness break. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing or do a body scan. Then, return to your tasks with renewed energy and clarity.

Remember that your mental health is just as important as your academic performance. By incorporating these mental health boosters into your routine, you are not only taking care of yourself but also preparing yourself for success!

The Borgen Project

Posted on by yl22363

The Borgen Project

The Borgen Project is a non-profit organisation raising awareness for global poverty by mobilizing ordinary citizens and pushing for positive change.                                                                          Student Comms caught up with Mohammed Farrash, third year International Social and Public Policy student, currently interning for the organisation.

Mohammed, how did you find The Borgen Project?

It was an accident really, I was looking for some work experience, as I’m now in my third year, and I kind of found this project through other organisations.

What are the main beliefs of the project?

The Borgen Project aims to tackle global poverty. The belief is that tackling this massive concern will impact other global issues, such as public health, overpopulation, and national security, as well as creating more jobs for the future.

So, what work do you do with the project?

I get set tasks weekly, usually sending emails to MPs and helping to mobilise others to do the same. I also research current world events, help fundraisers, network, and investigate current bills going through Parliament. All the work is done online, as there isn’t an office in Bristol. I usually spend around 8 hours a week completing work for them.

Are there any surprises that have come up in this work? What successes have you been able to enjoy?

This has been my first work environment, so it’s been interesting to see just how much you can accomplish from just talking to people. Just getting the internship was such an achievement, the acceptance rate is quite low. It’s been great to connect with people within my community.

Is this something you’d like to focus on in your future career?

Honestly, I’m not sure yet. There’s so much that I would like to explore in the world, but I wouldn’t rule it out. In terms of career, I am originally from Saudi Arabia, and I would love to be able to contribute to The Vision 2030 and help bring Saudi Arabia into the future. One of the main objectives of the Vision 2030 is to strengthen national identity by sharing our culture with the rest of the world.

And what brought you to Bristol?

So, I graduated from school during COVID-19, my exams were cancelled, and I didn’t end up with the grades that I wanted. I originally wanted to apply to study finance but didn’t meet the requirements. I ended up going through clearing to just try and find a spot doing something. I planned to get onto a course and then change programmes, but after a few weeks in International Social and Public Policy, I realised I was really interested and decided to stay. I don’t regret that decision. Bristol was so helpful when I emailed in during clearing and made me feel that this place would value me. My mother is an Alumna here – she did a masters in Blood Banking; she’ll hopefully be coming over from Saudi Arabia for my graduation soon.

What’s been your favourite thing about Bristol?

The food! I’ve discovered so many cuisines that I haven’t experienced before. I love the local food markets and I’ve now discovered vegan food. I never really liked vegan food before, but now it’s one of my favourites. Living alone has really let me work on my cooking skills, my favourite food to cook is definitely Indian dishes.

What do you need to do now that you’re nearing the end of your internship?

I’ll be filling out my feedback survey and sending that in. This blogpost will probably be the last thing I do for it. I’ve enjoyed my time as an intern with the project and would recommend internships to other students.

You can learn more about The Borgen Project at The Borgen Project.

To get advice on internships, volunteering and career opportunities, get in touch with The Careers Service. 

New campus Wi-Fi network coming in 2023 and 2024

Posted on by yl22363

Work begins this month on a new high-performance network for our world-class campuses. The work will assess the Wi-Fi coverage of the current network before its upgraded on a building-by-building basis at the end of 2023 and throughout 2024.

As the single biggest investment ever made into IT infrastructure, University of Bristol Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Evelyn Welch believes, “Our capital investment is not about shiny new buildings, but about providing the right environment…particularly our digital infrastructure”.

When the current network was originally designed, no one could have anticipated the extent to which digitisation would transform teaching, research and learning in the decade that followed. Many replacement parts to the current network are no longer manufactured, making the structure in its current state vulnerable. Our new network has the potential to move us permanently towards more interactive learning and inquisitive teaching in the future.

Post-pandemic, we increasingly access the connected world through our fingertips. COVID-19 accelerated the need to exist online, so much so that traditional face-to-face teaching has been enhanced by shifting the student experience to a virtual space. Our University now promises an in-person education enhanced with the very best of blended.

Upgrading our network will…

  • Enable an academic to live stream lectures on campus with fluid, stable connectivity to thousands of students around the world.
  • Mean that a student can link multiple devices securely to support their study, social and entertainment platforms anywhere on campus.
  • Allow a researcher scalable connection to conduct experiments and store data autonomously on a secure service.
  • Empower a member of Professional Services to seamlessly join meetings and carry out tasks on the move, or from their desks, on a network that is sustainable.

The benefits of a new network will be felt by all 30,000+ members of our community. Anyone who joins the local network on, or away from, campus will experience a seamless, secure, sustainable, and fully supported digital environment.

Chief Digital Information Officer Keith Woolley says, “We’re excited by the possibilities this investment will bring and can’t wait to see the full potential of our new next generation network. With this transformation the University of Bristol will be better connected to one another, our partners, and our communities… it will provide a platform for innovative global research, creative teaching and facilitate options for inclusive learning for years to come.”

If you have any questions, we’d love to hear from you. Please email modern-network-project@bristol.ac.uk  or visit our SharePoint pages to find out more.

This scope of work is part of the Digital Strategy, which feeds into the objectives set out in the 2030 Vision and Strategy. 

Written by Aggie Hewitt, Communication Officer, Digital strategy

Spring is upon us

Posted on by Dan Cragg

By Amy Salmon, Philosophy and Politics student.

Spring is finally here! I think it’s fair to say that we are all looking forward to the lighter nights. Leaving lectures at 5 pm to find that it is already pitch-black for the walk home is certainly a bleak part of the winter term. And the lighter mornings will be welcomed too, making those 9 am classes a little more bearable. The days have been getting longer since December but after March 20th we will have more hours of daylight than of darkness every day. Now that’s something to look forward to.

The spring equinox marks the official start of spring in the northern hemisphere and 20 March marks that point this year. So, what is the equinox? Well, roughly translated, it means equal nights so on this particular night all countries around the world will have nearly equal hours of day and night. It is also one of only two times in the year that the sun will rise due east and set due west for everyone in the world. So, it is one of very few times in the year when we can feel connected to the other side of the world. And, of course, it kicks off the season of spring.

So, what is so great about spring?

As a March baby I pride myself on being born in the spring. It seems, to me, the most perfect time of year. None of the pressure for scorching temperatures that the summer months have but a tenfold improvement from the icy cold and dark days of the winter. The increased daylight encourages more birds to sing and, of course, spring brings us special occasions including Easter and Passover. In Scotland, where I am from, we have an Easter tradition that is perhaps a little different to the usual Easter egg hunt. We decorate boiled eggs in the most elaborate way that an egg can even be decorated and then go egg rolling. This is a game which simply involves rolling your egg down the hill and hoping that it will get to the bottom first. Though trivial it has brought mountains of fun for my brother and I.

Moving away from modern-day traditions, there is an ancient tradition that exists in Chichen Itza in Mexico whereby the spring equinox is known as the return of the sun serpent. The Mayans built a huge pyramid in 10000 AD that signalled the start of the seasons by the way the light landed on it. On the spring equinox, when the light touches the pyramid, it looks like a snake slithering down the steps. This phenomenon is as old as they come and it is certainly a spectacle.

So, all in all, spring is definitely something to be excited about and the spring equinox perfectly brings in the light nights and brighter days.

 

International Women’s Day

Posted on by tom.cooper

8 March is International Women’s Day, an annual day to celebrate women’s achievement, raise awareness about discrimination, and take action to drive gender parity.

The theme of the event for this year is Embrace Equity.

In honour of International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting some recent stories featuring women from our own community.

Record 45% of funding raises led by women

 at SetSquared Bristol

International Women's Day logo

People who identify as women raised £15 million of the total £33 million raised by the 85 companies at the University of Bristol-led incubator. Kimberley Brook, director at SETsquared Bristol said: “It’s a testament to the entrepreneurialism and resilience of our women-led companies that they are raising more funding than ever before.”

Olympic-level student fundraiser receives MBE at Windsor Castle

A student who raised £185,000 doing all 102 Olympic sports over the 17 days of the Tokyo Games, received her MBE from Princess Anne.

From eating disorder to Ironwoman: The amazing student who loves helping others

Megan Hamill, a final year student overcame an eating disorder to complete a half Ironman. Now she’s aiming for the podium at Ironman Austria, which would give her spot at the world champs. This will require her to swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 miles and run 26.2miles.

Philosopher Queens: New course is diversifying the philosophy canon

Dr Alix Dietzel, the leader of the new Philosopher Queens unit, discusses her inspirations, and the new course which is diversifying the male-heavy, western-centric philosophy curriculum.

Dr Dietzel said “Traditionally most philosophy courses include a slew of white men, sometimes with one token woman.

“The way the ‘canon’ of important philosophers is presented is that there is a particular type of person who is a philosopher. Students would say to me ‘I can’t do philosophy, I don’t have that sort of brain’ – which simply isn’t true.

“This course has raised the confidence of my students, who felt at home in a philosophy course for the first time.”

If you have more inspiring stories to highlight for International Women’s Day, let us know in the comments.

#EmbraceEquity