University Updates
2 October 2009
Research
Chemistry strengthens partnership with Chinese University
Dr Tony James and Dr Steven Bull in the Department of Chemistry together with Professor Xuhong Qian and his team at East China University of Science & Technology (ECUST) have instigated a successful symposium series to explore how chemistry can be used to help the environment.
Dying alone - is it all that bad?
Professor Allan Kellehear, head of the Department of Social & Policy Sciences, challenges popular opinion that dying alone is bad in a paper he will present to the National Cancer Research Institute Conference next week (5 October).
Staff news
Academic leads UK team to success in International Mathematics Olympiad
The UK team for the International Mathematics Olympiad, led by Geoff Smith (Mathematical Sciences), celebrated this summer's achievements at a reception at the Royal Society in London on Monday 21 September. James Davenport (Computer Science) presented the medals (1 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze), and the Ashes, before giving a lecture. A full report of their success is here (PDF).
Alan Hayes awarded National Teaching Fellowship
Alan Hayes from the Department of Computer Science was presented with a National Teaching Fellowship at an awards ceremony in London.
Professor Adrian Hyde-Price wins award for EU article
Adrian Hyde-Price from the Department of European Studies & Modern Languages has been awarded the Annual Journal of European Public Policy prize for the most downloaded article.
Dr Momna Hejmadi is recognised for excellence in teaching
The Learning & Teaching Enhancement Office would like to congratulate Momna Hejmadi of the Department of Biology & Biochemistry for being one of six individuals shortlisted for this year’s UK Centre for Bioscience Ed Wood Teaching Award.
Professor on expert panel to help write United Nations environmental report
Suzanne Skevington (Psychology) has been invited to a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) meeting in Paris next week to contribute to an expert panel that is being convened to write the UNEP Yearbook for 2010. She is currently working on environmental quality of life and health.
Professor to chair pharmaceutical conference
Marjorie Weiss (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) is to be the Practice Chair for the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) 2010, to be held next September. This major national conference will focus specifically on the needs and views of practising pharmacists.
Student news
Student exhibits Bath street life on city hoarding
Mechanical Engineering student Tim Holsgrove is exhibiting ten large-scale prints that capture moments, emotions and people in Bath on hoardings around Bath’s Gainsborough Building opposite the Thermae Bath Spa. Tim has taken photos every day for the past 15 months and this exhibition features some of his best images of life on Bath’s streets.
PhD graduate reaches semi-finals of national song contest for second year running
Patrick Stacey, a graduate from the University’s School of Management, has reached the semi-finals in two categories of the prestigious UK Song Writing Contest (UKSC) 2009.
Hitchhiking students encourage others to sign up for challenge
Second year students Peter Markowski and Mark Bond have been made representatives of the charity Link Community Development and are urging other students to take part in the charity hitchhikes they run.
Biology field course has an unexpected twist
A group of third year BSc Biology students had an unexpected additional ‘adventure’ during a recent field course trip to Honduras. The two members of staff and 11 students were taking part in Bath’s second ever International Field Course in Ecology, but when they descended the mountains after two weeks in the field to begin their journey home they walked into a political crisis!
Information
Pay negotiations for 2009-10: Update
There is an update from Ian Cheetham, Director of Human Resources, on the ongoing pay negotiations for 2009-10 between the University & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), representing 153 higher education employers, and the five unions representing staff in the HE sector (Unison, Unite, UCU, EIS and GMB).
Consultation on the Single Equality Scheme
You are invited to give your feedback on the University’s Single Equality Scheme, which brings together gender, disability and race equality issues in one document. Please send your responses to equalsdiv@bath.ac.uk by 9 October.
New look BUCS service desk opens in Library level two
The BUCS service desk in Library level 2 has been renovated over the summer and repositioned next to the Computer shop (ITP). The new larger helpdesk now combines the MIS (Management Information Services) helpdesk and student helpdesk in one space.
American march on campus
On Sunday 11 October a team of American Civil War re-enactors will be staging a practise march around the campus to prepare for the Adidas half-marathon at Silverstone race track on 14 March 2010. The team is raising money for the Army Benevolent fund (ABF) - a charity which raises money for soldiers, former soldiers and their families in times of need.
Paper prototyping for metadata testing
Students and staff are invited to contribute to metadata testing activities organised by UKOLN. £10 book tokens are offered to 10 lucky volunteers. Library L4.14 Meeting Room, 2pm, Monday 5 October 2009. Tests should take around one hour.
Register at University Medical Centre
New patient registration is available at the University Medical Centre for University staff and students.
ParkingPlus and car park changes
A number of questions have been raised about the proposed introduction of ParkingPlus. A webpage to explain certain issues together with the revised Questions & Answers, which deals with specific queries, will hopefully clarify the situation. If you have further questions, please email parkingplus@bath.ac.uk or attend the next 'surgery' at 12.15pm on Friday 16 October in 5 West 2.1.
Ongoing work on Individual Mitigating Circumstances (IMCs)
The IMC-Transition wiki contains information about changes that could be made to the University's procedures relating to Individual Mitigating Circumstances and assessment. By following the links on the wiki, you can find background information on how a final decision will be made.
New version of University PowerPoint presentation now available
The University has updated the template for PowerPoint presentations that can be used and adapted by staff and students giving lectures and talks. The presentation contains facts and figures agreed by Executive recently as both correct and representative of the University’s work. The template presentation can be downloaded from the Corporate Communications website. Staff and students can then adapt the text and images for their own purposes.
Consultation on Corporate Plan
Members of the University community are invited to comment on proposed text relating to the vision, purpose, objectives and values of the University which will feed into the new Corporate Plan for 2009/10, which is currently being drafted. Please send your comments to Nicky Kemp by 9 October.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
In the media
- Glennys Howarth, former director of the Centre for Death & Society (Social & Policy Sciences), featured in a BBC 1's Two feet in the grave, talking to actor Richard Wilson about how the Victorians took photographs of the dead to help the grieving process.
- The contributions of Geof Wood and Joe Devine (Social & Policy Sciences) to a book about Non-Governmental Organisations in Bangladesh were highlighted in one of Bangladesh's top newspapers, the Daily Star.
- School of Management student Jon Alexander was interviewed by BBC Radio Somerset about his forthcoming attempt to be the greenest ever ironman.
- Pete Walker (Architecture & Civil Engineering) spoke to the radio station Voice of America about the BaleHaus at Bath project.
- Philippe Blondel (Physics) talked to BBC Radio Bristol about what causes a tsunami and how they can be predicted, following recent devastating events in Samoa.
- Andrea Taylor (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) was interviewed by the Pharmaceutical Journal about the University's new continuing professional development courses for practising pharmacists.
Training & development
- Key Legal Issues affecting the HE Sector 8 October 2009 (Leeds)
- Interview Skills for Academic & Research Staff Friday 16 October
- Fire safety awareness 9 October
- University of Bath 2009/10 UKRO Event 19 October
- Free beginner’s guide to the media for scientists and engineers 4 November (at the Royal Institution in London)
- Leadership, research & you - Various dates: September-December
- ILM Level 2 team leading award January-February 2010
- New IT training timetable
- New Staff Development programme | Download PDF to print
- e-Learning staff development programme
- Monthly learning & teaching paper lunches
Forthcoming lectures & conferences
Research in the world: open lectures and discussions
Lord Joel Joffe CBE will present the first lecture in a new series of open events addressing major global issues and challenges. Entitled Assisted dying: rights, choices and palliative care, the lecture will take place on Tuesday 27 October.
New lecture series on researching human behaviour in engineering & computer science
Over many years researchers from the Social Sciences and Management communities have developed robust techniques by which to research human behaviour. This new lecture series aims to transfer knowledge across disciplines to improve research rigour.
Research volunteers wanted
- What do we mean when we use the word privacy? Online survey 15-20
- Rugby players wanted for international research project
- Exploring your views on Chlamydia Online survey - 20 mins
- Work in HE sector and use Web 2.0 tools? Online survey
- Smokers wanted Join a panel
- How we relate to our thoughts 45 mins on campus - £5
- Relationships between attention and pain experience 45 mins on campus - £5
- How people respond to the use of mental visualisation 45 mins on campus - £5
- Marketing research survey win £25
- Are you looking forward to a positive event in the near future? 30 mins on campus
- The effects of different thoughts and emotions on the experience of pain 45 mins on campus - chocolate & win £50
What's on
More details - www.bath.ac.uk/whats-on/
Tuesday 6 October
10:15 AM Learning and Teaching Committee
16:30 PM An evaluation of the environmental impact of the European Parliament
Wednesday 7 October
09:45 AM Audit Committee
12:00 Noon Women's networking event: How to do business effectively whilst on the move
13:15 PM Graduate jobs in UK for international students
17:15 PM How to amaze your friends
Thursday 8 October
13:15 PM Graduate jobs - how to get one
13:15 PM Presentation by Government Economic Service
17:15 PM Employer selection tests explained
18:15 PM Understanding the interview process (for international students)
20:00 PM Singularities: Attab Haddad - Arabic Oud instrument
Friday 9 October
12:15 PM Wines from the Old World
14:15 PM Aptitude tests
19:30 PM Bath University Student Musicals Society - Edges
19:30 PM Hungarian film evening - 'Fateless'
Saturday 10 October
15:30 PM Welcoming party by Bath Chinese Christian Fellowship
19:30 PM Bath University Student Musicals Society - Edges
Sunday 11 October
19:30 PM Bath University Student Musicals Society - Edges
Arts
Concerts and Performances
Singularities: Attab Haddad Oud Music Room, University Hall | Thursday 8 October, 8pm
Attab Haddad brings a new approach to the age-old traditions of the Oud, an Arabic instrument that precedes the lute. He infuses elements of flamenco, Middle Eastern classical, jazz, classical and experimental music to create spell-binding rhythms.
Bath University Student Musicals Society Edges by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul ICIA Arts Theatre | Friday 9 - Sunday 11 October, 7.30pm
This contemporary show confronts the trials and tribulations of moving into adulthood and follows the four characters as they search for love, grapple with emotions, try to escape expectations and attempt to decipher complicated relationships.
Exhibitions
Lucy Harrison - Remains ICIA Art Space 2 | Wednesday 14 October - Friday 18 December, Monday - Saturday, 10am-5pm
Remains is a new body of work which explores demolition sites and brings together material from East London, East Germany and the University of Bath campus. Harrison’s work combines photographs, observations and chance encounters with published documents.
Talks
Lucy Harrison & David Pinder in Conversation. ICIA Art Space 2, 3WN 2.1 | Wednesday 14 October, 7pm-8pm
To mark the opening of her exhibition, artist Lucy Harrison talks to Urban and Cultural Geographer, Dr David Pinder, Queen Mary, University of London.
Booking now open for all ICIA classes and events - Autumn 2009
ICIA runs classes and workshops in music, dance and visual arts for all levels. Classes open to all include:
Music: DJ Skills
Dance: Contemporary, Street Dance, Jazz Dance, Ballet, Flamenco, Tap
Visual Arts: Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Life Drawing, Stained Glass, Creative Sculpture, Botanical Illustration, Creative Digital Art, Photography, Portrait Studies, Mixing 2D Media
Classes start the week of 12 October - Check out the website for further details www.bath.ac.uk/icia
Sport
Surprise celebration pays tribute to 17 terrific years
Leading figures from Bath and the sports world turned out in force to pay tribute to Ged Roddy MBE, the University of Bath’s Director of Sport, who leaves to take up a new role of Director of Youth with the Football Premier League. Ged has been Director of Sport since 1992 a period that has seen the University establish itself as one of the leading sports universities in the UK.
Strong Team England badminton squad named to face Japan
Athens 2004 Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson is named in one of Team England’s strongest badminton squads for the forthcoming international match against Japan at the University of Bath. The squad features all four of the six-strong Great Britain badminton team at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games who are still playing competitive badminton.
Get fit for autumn
A new timetable of exercise classes for the new season is now available online.