C Gull flies the Atlantic

The university's flagship primary schools project acts as a guide to university for younger children and is part of the university's work to widen access to higher education for people from non-traditional backgrounds.

Illustrator and author Chris Riddell, winner of the University of Brighton’s Alumnus Award in 2013, created Professor C Gull for the university. Chris graduated from the University of Brighton in 1984 with a degree in graphic design.

Now the idea has been taken up by Texas A&M University which is working with an elementary school. Jeffrey F. Levine, Assistant Professor, Sport Management, said: “Our entire class found inspiration in the Professor C Gull project, so thank you for developing the programme.

“You folks are the authority on the topic! I found this programme to be incredibly powerful, and I hope to continue doing similar, modified programmes in the future.”

Author Chris Riddell

Professor C Gull

Michelle Tarling, the University of Brighton’s Widening Participation Outreach Manager, said other universities around the world including one in Australia were showing interest in the programme: “We are delighted the word is spreading. The project has proved a big hit with children and a major success with schools – we now work with over 20 primary schools in our local area.”