06 May 2011
Rankings & Awards
Bath in top ten in latest University Ranking
The University is ranked tenth in the UK in the 2012 Complete University Guide league table. We are ranked fifth in the UK for completion rates and nine in the UK for graduate prospects. The Accounting & finance and Social work degrees were both recognised as the best courses of their type in the UK.
Accommodation & Hospitality achieve Environmental Management Standard
The Accommodation & Hospitality Services Department have achieved certification to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard. The Department has been working towards achieving the Standard since March 2009. The project team, led by Sara Hickman (Facilities & Services Manager), has successfully implemented a comprehensive and robust environmental management system that focuses on a large range of areas including compliance with legislation, aspects and impacts, auditing and training.
Students' Union bars win Gold in Best Bar None awards
The Plug Bar and Elements have won the Gold award at this year’s Best Bar None ceremony in Manchester. The Best Bar None awards aim to reward, promote and recognise the huge efforts that students’ union bar outlets put in to corporate social responsibility and in particular the wider effects of selling alcohol.
Research
Scientists unveil ‘switch’ that could help design new vaccines and treatments for auto-immune diseases
Jean van den Elsen (Biology & Biochemistry) and Dr David Isenman (University of Toronto) have determined a new structure of an important complex in the human immune system that could be the key to designing vaccines and treatments for auto-immune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis. The paper, to be published on April 29, will show how a new understanding of the structure of this immune system complex has important medical implications.
Study finds that diversity can trump ability
Dick James (Physics), working with colleagues from Germany and the UK, has found that decision making among groups can be significantly better than that of individuals. The paper detailing the research, titled ‘Swarm intelligence in humans: diversity can trump ability’, was recently published in Animal Behaviour journal and has now been selected as a Nature Research Highlight.
Jade tributes reveal a renewed belief in angels
Online tributes to the former reality TV star Jade Goody have revealed a resurgence in the belief in angels, according to research by Tony Walter (Social & Policy Sciences, CDAS). Tony studied online tributes to the mother-of-two who died two years ago following a highly-publicised battle against cervical cancer.
Research from Architecture & Civil Engineering wins award
A journal paper authored by John Orr, Antony Darby and Tim Ibell (Architecture & Civil Engineering) and Steve Denton and Jon Shave of Parsons Brinkerhoff (Bristol) have been awarded a diploma of the Institution of Structural Engineers Henry Adams Award. The paper, entitled ‘Shear design of circular concrete sections using the Eurocode 2 truss model’, was published in The Structural Engineer and uses a combination of experimental data and theoretical analysis to address how the current European model for shear in concrete structures should be applied to elements with a circular cross section, such as bridge piers.
Staff news
Professor who ‘makes maths fun’ gets top award
Chris Budd (Mathematical Sciences) has been made a Fellow of the British Science Association for his work in making maths accessible and fun. He received the accolade for his work in organising ‘Bath Taps into Science’ - an annual science and maths fair aimed at making the subjects interactive and enjoyable for school children.
Event at Toppings book shop in Bath to launch Professor Guy Standing's new book - Tuesday 10 May
Guy Standing's (Social & Policy Sciences) new book 'The Precariat: the new dangerous class' is being launched at Topping's bookshop in Bath on Tuesday 10 May at 7.45pm. In the book, he focuses on the growing number of people across the world living and working precariously, usually in a series of short-term jobs and without recourse to social or occupational stability.
Classical Indian music concert in memory of Senior Lecturer Nandu Kamat - Sunday 5 June
Regretably the death of Kamat Ramanand (Economics), known as Nandu, has been announced. He died at the age of 80 and a classical Indian music concert is being held in Bath on Sunday 5 June in his memory.
Vacancies for Heads of Department: Social & Policy Sciences and Mechanical Engineering
Two further vacancies have arisen for Heads of Department. Expressions of interest are requested from eligible members of staff for the Head of Department posts. Please contact Ian Cheetham – i.c.cheetham@bath.ac.uk, by 13 May 2011. Your expression of interest will consist of a statement of relevant experience, aspirations for the role and a full curriculum vitae.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/
Information
University Travel Survey 2010/11
The University recently launched a Travel Survey to find out how staff and students usually travel to campus. The findings will support the upcoming resubmission of the University Masterplan, and also assist a PhD Project. A chance to win £150 STA Travel Vouchers is on offer to those who complete the survey.
So far, 766 staff have completed the survey, but there's still time to participate. To complete the staff travel survey, or for more information, visit http://go.bath.ac.uk/2010-11StaffTravelSurvey
Pay negotiations 2011/12
The Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) and the Higher Education trade unions convened on 19 April 2011 for the first meeting of the pay negotiating round for 2011-12. UCEA received the unions’ joint claim which included an increase on all pay points with reference to the Retail Prices Index (5.5% in March 2011), or a lump-sum, plus support for the low paid. The claim also includes a number of additional elements both pay-related and otherwise, which the employers and unions are now reflecting on before returning to the next scheduled meeting on Thursday 26 May 2011.
Computer Science has moved to the East Building
Computer Science are now occupying the new £16 million East Building. Over £100,000 of computing equipment, including £25,000 of specialist equipment and a 6 terabyte server, is being installed to support Computer Science's three new teaching labs. In addition there are seminar and meeting rooms with smart whiteboards, lecture rooms with the latest audio-visual facilities, several comfortable social areas and brand new specialised research labs, one equipped with green-screen and cameras, another with digital audio facilities and a third for experimental work on interaction.
Printer problems
Staff and students may be experiencing difficulties when trying to use the University’s managed print service; reported problems include delays when logging on and print jobs disappearing when sent to the printer queue.
Canon are working with Print Services and BUCS to identify the cause of these issues and hope to resolve them as soon as possible.
Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
New Agresso screen to make catering orders easier
The Agresso team and Accommodation & Hospitality Services have developed a new custom made requisition screen. Designed specifically with Accommodation & Hospitality Service users in mind this should help make ordering internal catering much easier. Please note that when ordering catering in future you should use the catering requisition screen and not the advanced requisition screen. A quick guide for the catering requisition screen is now available.
Student awards
Bath students win prestigious national awards
Students William Ramsay (Mechanical Engineering) and Craig Wells (Aerospace Engineering) have been awarded ‘Undergraduate of the Year’ awards in a recent national ceremony. William, who is in his second year, won the Engineering Undergraduate of the Year award, sponsored by E.ON. Craig Wells did equally well in his category, winning the accolade of ‘Structures and Systems Undergraduate of the Year’, sponsored by Airbus.
Bath student wins Google award at Lovelace Colloquium
Eleanor Mitchell (Computer Science student), has won the Google Excellence Award for Best First Year Undergraduate Poster at the 2011 BCSWomen Undergraduate Lovelace Colloqium held in Birmingham on Thursday 14 April. The Lovelace Colloquium is an annual event for female computer science undergraduates and taught Master's students enrolled in UK universities. It is named after Ada Lovelace, a computing pioneer and the daughter of the poet Lord Byron. Our Lovelace Laboratory is also named in her honour, and we will be hosting the event in 2012.
Students recieve Mayor of Bath awards
Naomi Mackrill (Chemistry, third year student) has received one of the Mayor of Bath’s Citizen of the Year 2011 awards for her work with the university Guides and Scouts group, Student Community Action group and Rag. Another student, Victoria Jones (Computer Science), was presented with the Mayor's Volunteer of the Year award.
MBA students gather for BP presentation
The full time Bath MBA cohort, along with faculty and staff, recently gathered for the presentation of the BP Prize for Best Team in Managing Operational Processes. The prize, sponsored by BP since 2009, was awarded to the group of students with the highest marks for their team report and presentation in that module. This year's winning team (Harry Brock, Steven Swan, Srinath Logasubramanian, Alice Xia Qiu, Mee Supisara Charoenvidhya, Luis Alphonso Garica Ruiz, and Ester Igohe) chose to define and analyse process bottlenecks within the Fresh grocery store on campus and shared a prize of £250.
In the media
Would you like to receive a daily email of news stories that mention the University? Please email press@bath.ac.uk and include the word 'Headlines' in the subject box. A selection of HE stories in the national media is also included.
- Ian Walker (Psychology) commented on how we are becoming immune to the sound of car alarms this week in the Daily Mail.
- Chris Budd (Mathematical Sciences) was featured in the Times Higher Education magazine for becoming a Fellow of the British Science Association.
- John Troyer (Social & Policy Sciences, CDAS) discussed whether the excess heat from cremation should be recycled in the Guardian this story was also featured on Spanish language website BBC Mundo.
- Tony Walter's (Social & Policy Sciences, CDAS) research into how tributes to Jade Goody reveal a belief in angels was quoted in The Sun.
Work perks
- Interested in Pentaque or Boule? Fancy trying something a little different? Why not while away a summer evening in the beautiful Queens Square in Bath learning how to play Petanque or Boules? We would like to put together a University team to meet every Tuesday evening for a league games. It is a lot of fun, and hopefully will finish in a nice nearby pub. The Pentaque league starts May and details about the sport are available. We would need a regular team of around 6 players, but the more the merrier. Contact Kate Woodthorpe if you are interested. Omnibus are also negotiating the setting up of a court on campus, so email us if this interests you.
- Omnibus summer quiz 'Around the world in 80 questions ….. or maybe fewer!' - Tuesday 28 June 12.30pm. A note for your diaries, this quiz will take place in Elements.
- Thorpe Park - Saturday 25 June We still have places on this trip so why not enjoy a fun day at the UK's premier theme park, with over 30 extreme rides and attractions including SAW – The Ride, the world's most terrifying rollercoaster and 'thrill seeker' rides for younger children. £40 per adult, £28 per child (under 12). Interested? Contact Simon Fenne on ext 5037 - open to all.
Blue sky thinking at the Foreign Languages Centre Starts 9 May
Have you booked your summer holidays yet? Now Easter has passed you are surely looking forward to your summer break! Think how much more you would enjoy your holiday in France, Italy or Spain if you booked a ‘language for holidays’ course through the Foreign Language Centre and took advantage of the great staff discounts available.
Community involvement
Get involved - volunteer runners required - 22 May
Researchers led by Mahnaz Alsharif (Health) are loooking for volunteers to help assess the genetic limitations to human performance during a 15-km track race. Up to 56 volunteers, with running experience, are required from the University community to run alongside members of the Bath Athletics Club. Participants will be required to undergo a series of short pre-race tests. Personal data and a briefing will be provided after the event. Please contact Mahnaz in advance (mahnazalsharif@yahoo.co.uk) for a participant information sheet and consent form.
Dyrham Park 10km outdoor series launched
Relish The Great Outdoors events company, in partnership with the National Trust, have announced a new series of events due to take place at Dyrham Park less than 10 miles from the University on Sunday 10 July, Sunday 7 August and Sunday 18 September. Events range from a 300m fun-run to a 10km multi-terrain race and the stunning grounds and post race jazz concert provide something for everyone.
For more information visit www.relishrunningraces.com.
Barnardos egg appeal
Westwood Nursery would like to thank all those who contributed to their Easter egg collection for children's charity Barnardos.
Learning & Teaching
Innovations Day 2011 - do you have something to contribute? Thursday 12 May
Examples of effective and innovative practice in learning and teaching are required for a swap shop-style seminar by Thursday 21 April. Presenters will share their examples in small groups, with 10 minutes presentation time per person. Entries are also sought for the Images of Learning' poster competition by Thursday 21
April.
HEA Fellows @ Bath Forum Thursday 9 June
This new forum will be launched at its first workshop to be held on Thursday 9 June 2011 - 12.30 - 2.00 pm. Further information from Helen King is available.
Training & development
- Performance management 2 - skills and techniques - Thursday 12 May
- Mental health first aid Two-day course - Friday 13 & Friday 20 May
- Slips & trips - Wednesday 18 May
- TSB event: engaging with stakeholders - Wednesday 25 May 2011
- Visit of the EPSRC - Wednesday 22 June
- IT skills
- Staff development
- e-Learning courses
- Training opportunities for researchers
Nominations, bids & consultations
Nominations for Off Campus prize by 19 May
If you know a student who has taken part in an immense amount of voluntary work and has given a lot to the community, make sure you nominate them for the Off Campus prize which recognises a student who has maintained a high level of community involvement throughout the academic year.
ESRC demand management measures by 16 June
The ESRC are introducing an initial programme of measures of improved self-regulation and change to their existing peer review practices and submission policies. They would welcome
your views on the potential options.
Lectures, Seminars & Events
Bath Science Café: What the Large Hadron Collider will (not) tell us about the universe? - Monday 9 May
This Monday's Bath Science Café will focus on the much-publicised Large Hadron Collider. The session will be presented by Dr Alan J. Barr, lecturer in particle physics and Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, who works with the enormous and hugely powerful particle accelerator. One year into the machine’s full operation, he will take us behind the headlines and separate the fact from the fiction as well as answering your questions.
Mourning & memory Friday 13 May 2011
This three part seminar, taking place in 3 East 2.20 at 10.15am, explores:
- How British and Japanese mourners materialise loss: a narrative analysis with Christine Valentine
- Memorial benches with Chris Daniell
- Representing national loss: Israeli & Palestinian modern visual arts with Ann Malamah-Thomas.
To book a place email cdas@bath.ac.uk
Promoting positive adolescent and adult functioning through social development intervention in childhood - Tuesday 17 May
Richard F. Catalano (Bartley Dobb Professor for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Washington) will be visiting Bath to give a special seminar organised by the Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy which will be hosted in 3East 4.17 on Tuesday 17 May. He will discuss prevention science and the Seattle Social Development Project, more details about the seminar can be found in the abstract.
Coalition 'law and order' politics - Monday 23 May 2011
Visiting Professor Rod Morgan (Social & Policy Sciences) will be visiting Bath to discuss the Coalition Government's current response to 'law and order'. Rod is a prolific author and commentator on the policy process and practice in relation to the criminal justice system in England and Wales. The open seminar will take place on 23 May 2011 at 13:15 in 3 East 2.1.
Previous Lectures:
Professor Peter Nolan delivers lectures on ‘the crossroads of global capitalism’
The Humanities & Social Sciences Graduate School invited professor Peter Nolan from the University of Cambridge to give a public lecture, on 13 April. He argued that Western countries need to put far more effort into understanding China and other rising powers. The lecture was the first of new series of public lectures entitled ‘ways of thinking’ that aim to challenge and stimulate new ideas and debate across the University. They are to be hosted by each Graduate School in turn, with the next to be hosted by the Graduate School of Science, this autumn.
Listen to a podcast of Sir Paul Nurse's lecture on the 'great ideas' of biology
For those who missed or would like to listen again to Sir Paul Nurse's (president of the Royal Society) Founders' Day lecture discussing the great ideas of biology, it can now be found on our podcast page.
What's on
www.bath.ac.uk/whats-on
Monday 9 May
09:30 AM Introduction to Moodle
Tuesday 10 May
10:15 AM Exam anxiety workshop
12:30 PM Academic Assembly
14:15 PM Web expenses demonstration
19:30 PM Folk song and British composers
Wednesday 11 May
13:00 PM Contemporary Polish poetry - Wislawa Szymborska
19:30 PM University of Bath Gardening Club
Thursday 12 May
09:00 AM NIHR, MRC & EPSRC event: Health & healthcare technologiesFriday 13 May
10:15 AM CDAS seminar: mourning and memory
11:00 AM Images of research
Arts
www.bath.ac.uk/icia
Exhibitions:
-
Artist-in-Residence Janek Schaefer | ICIA Art Space 1 | Until Friday 17 June
Janek Schaefer is a sound artist, musician and composer. As the Olympics approach, Schaefer explores the University’s Sports Training Village via his camera lens and microphones to create a mixed-media installation that responds to ICIA’s 2011 theme set in play. -
Artist-in-Residence Tom Marshman | ICIA Art Space 2 | Until Thursday 21 April
This multi-media exhibition marks the conclusion of Tom’s residency. Inhabiting the gallery space, Tom creates a domestic dwelling; combining real furniture from students’ rooms with simple life-size wall drawings of interiors, interwoven with video and photography from interactions on campus. Join Tom for a party in Art Space 2 on Friday 8 April 7pm-10pm -
University of Bath & Photosoc Photography Exhibition | ICIA Art Space 3, University Hall Foyer | Until Thursday 21 April
A chance to see the winning entries and runners-up from the University’s competition based on ICIA’s 2011 theme “Set in Play…”
Classes:
- ICIA Summer Classes | Start 9 May
Classes available include: Experimental Drawing, Portrait Photography, Developing Skills: Drawing & Painting, Handmade Prints, Drawing Skills: Observation, Samba Drumming and Ballet.
Sport
Student Freyja Prentice has won the first Modern Pentathlon World Cup medal of her career
Twenty-year-old Freyja Prentice (Biology, student) won the first Modern Pentathlon World Cup medal of her career when she took bronze at Sassari in Italy. It means Freyja continued her impressive record of finishing in the top-10 in each of the six rounds of the World Cup in which she has competed to date. Her previous best was a fifth place at the Cairo World Cup in March last year. ITV Westcountry also recently did a feature on Modern Pentathlon at the University which is available via our play site.
Late try denies University of Bath in varsity match
The University of Bath men’s rugby XV were cruelly denied victory in the rugby varsity match against Loughborough at the Rec, in a contest between two of the powerhouses of university sport. Joe Atkinson’s converted try four minutes from time was enough to earn the visitors a 17-16 win in a game that the University of Bath team had led for most of the match.
Coles wins European Junior crown
Chris Coles (Sports Performance student) has collected the badminton men’s doubles title at the European Junior Championships. He took the title at Vantaa in Finland partnering Matt Nottingham.
Netballers cement Superleague play-off
The University's netballers have secured a place in the end of season play-offs of the Fiat Netball Superleague. Saturday’s 52-49 victory over Leeds Carnegie, combined with a defeat for Loughborough Lightning (who are fifth in the table) ensured TeamBath will finish at least fourth in the Superleague.