University Updates
5 June 2009
Updates on internal issues
Proposals for change to academic structure: consultation & open meeting
We have recently undertaken a campus-wide consultation on the potential for academic re-structuring. Thank you to everyone who contributed their views. This second consultation paper invites feedback on proposals to improve specific aspects of our efficiency, effectiveness or competitiveness. Once again, we are seeking feedback from all members of our community. Please email comments to Dr Nicky Kemp by noon on Thursday 18 June. There will be an Open Meeting at 3.15pm in 8 West 1.1 on Tuesday 9 June 2009. All members of staff welcome. The Vice-Chancellor will introduce the current proposals and would welcome feedback on them.
Social & catered space for staff & students - update
Plans are now underway to remodel the dining room and lounge areas of the Claverton Rooms and to improve access for the disabled to the social space in 6 West South (also known as the UBSA building).
Report of University Council Meeting - 21 May 2009
A number of items were considered at the recent meeting of University Council including SCR/UBSA changes, the impact of the budget, concerns about redundancies & appointment of new Heads of Department.
4 West Café Update & new Fairtrade coffee supplier
This month's Hospitality newsletter explains the progress to the 4 West Cafe being constructed on the Parade; and introduces the new coffee supplier - Matthew Algie - who was selected based on a successful tender and feedback from the coffee taster day.
Prizes
Young Bath chemist praised for ‘most meritorious & promising original investigations’
Dr Petra Cameron, a research fellow and lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, has won a Harrison Meldola Memorial Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry. The prize is awarded to chemists under the age of 32 for the 'most meritorious and promising original investigations in chemistry'.
Postgraduate awarded International Women in Science Fellowship
Biology & Biochemistry postgraduate student Mareike Posner is one of only 15 researchers worldwide to be awarded a fellowship by the UNESCO-L’Oreal Women in Science Programme.
VIPs
CEO of 3M visits Mechanical Engineering Design Exhibition
George Buckley, Chairman, President and CEO of 3M Corporation, gave the keynote address at the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s 2009 Design and Project Exhibition on Wednesday 27 May.
Bob Wigley interviews Justin King at BBA reunion event
Over 130 BSc in Business Administration (BBA) alumni and students attended a School of Management reunion event last week to hear alumnus Bob Wigley, former Chairman of Merrill Lynch (EMEA), interview his fellow Bath classmate and friend, Justin King, CEO of Sainsbury’s.
Outreach to youngsters
Chance to experience technology
The University of Bath’s Division for Lifelong Learning is running four free Experience Technology Summer Schools aimed at raising awareness of, and participation in, foundation degrees. Local young people will get the chance to design their own website; learn about motorsports; find out about the practicalities of how a combustion engine works; and learn about robotics.
It's not rocket science! - Well, actually, it is...
Teams of school children from Bath and Wiltshire will put their physics skills to the test next week when they come to campus and compete to build the best water rocket.
On Thursday 11 June thirty teams of primary school children will be competing to manufacture the fastest racing car over 20m. Up to 150 children will be taking part in the event which will be held in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 4E 3.40 and 4E 3.44 from 10am to 2:30pm. Why not stop by and see what primary school children can achieve?
Other news
Bath up two places in Times Good University Guide
We are ranked 13th in the UK by The Times Good University Guide 2010, up two places from our position last year. Analysis of applications shows that we are one of the top ten most popular universities in the UK.
Conservation project success as first chicks hatch in the UK
Researchers from the Department of Biology & Biochemistry working as part of the Great Bustard Consortium are delighted to announce the hatching of the first Great Bustard chicks in the UK for 177 years.
Images of research - an exhibition
The University is holding a photography exhibition with a difference. Do you have an image of your research that is eye catching or attractive, and can act as a starting point for you to talk about your research to the general public or other non-experts?
Language day offers a delicious flavour of Italy
Do you have a passion for Italian food? Would you love to learn the language? Spend a day combining the two, in a lively language and cookery course on Saturday 13 June.
Inaugural University of Bath Alumni Golf Day
Staff & students are welcome to join graduates at the first ever University of Bath Alumni Golf Day, which will take place on 18 September.
Greener travel
National lift share Day - why not give it a go?
The aim of National lift share Day is to encourage staff and students to try car sharing on Tuesday 9 June in the hope that they will realise the benefits of sharing cars on a more regular basis, thereby reducing congestion and pollution in the local area. The University operates its own car share scheme.
Jam Busting June competition
Each time during the month of June that you share a journey or travel by a more sustainable modes of transport, you can earn points, and every 30 points you are awarded then qualify you for one prize draw entry. Eligible journeys are made by bus, car sharing, cycling, scooter, train, park and ride, and walking earn five points for each journey. Travelling by motor cycles earns three points for each journey.
Get on your bike and get more out of life...for less money
During the month of June, anyone who cycles up to the Sports Training Village can join and get their joining fee waived (normally £25). Evidence of having cycled is all that is sufficient (cycle helmet, lycra clad or similar!) to qualify.
New secure cycle store at bottom of Bathwick Hill
The secure cycle store located at Canal Wharf, is operated by a programmed library card. The 36 spaces in the store will be allocated to the first 36 staff who apply. If you are interested in having an allocated space, please contact Sarah Haigh, Estates Officer.
National Bike Week: 13-21 June 2009
Bike Week is the UK’s largest mass participation cycling event and provides an annual opportunity to promote cycling as a source of fitness and fun, not to mention an alternative form of transport. Team Bath Sales & Marketing Manager Miles Peyton is organising a bicycle challenge on 20 June to raise money for Dorothy House Hospice. He is leading approximately 20 riders from Dorothy House to the Brecon Beacons.
Information
Do you have caring responsibilities?If you are a carer (for children, dependent relatives or other adults), you could be entitled to financial, practical, or emotional support. Come along to a display in the Claverton Rooms to find out more information and to ask questions of experts: Thursday 11 June, 12-2pm.
STA Travel change opening hours
New opening hours are Monday-Friday 9am-5:30pm, (Saturday term time only) 10am-4pm.
The changes are being made to reflect the needs of our customers, especially University staff, who would like to buy train tickets before 9:30am.
Want to process at graduation ceremonies?
Staff are reminded that the deadline for returning their forms to process in the Summer Awards Ceremonies at Bath Abbey is Friday 12 June. Unfortunately any late forms received after the deadline cannot be considered.
New starters in May 2009
The New Starters update gives the name, job title and department of all new members of staff at the University who started in the previous month.
Pensions Officer Bob Bane retires
The Finance Office staff are organising a get-together and would like as many of Bob’s friends and colleagues from across the University to join them in wishing him well over a coffee and pastry in the Claverton Rooms from 10.30-11.30am on Thursday 11 June 2009. RSVP to a.j.milsom@bath.ac.uk if you would like to attend. There is a card and collection in Angela’s office (Wessex House 4.04) for anyone wanting to make a contribution towards a gift.
Nominations for Council
Nominations are requested for the vacancy for one member of non-academic staff to serve on the Council of the University from 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2012.
Greener computing - Reduce your carbon footprint when home-working
BUCS greener computing initiative has introduced Wake on LAN (WoL) a service that enables you to boot your work computer from any remote location. You no longer need to leave your work PC turned on if you want to remote access; WoL enables you to boot your computer yourself whenever you need to and, once you have finished, you can also close the computer down, saving energy and money.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
In the media
- Richard Whitman and Brian Neve (both ESML) discussed the European elections on the BBC World Service and Radio Bristol respectively.
- Kilter theatre company, currently performing Roots on the allotments in Royal Victoria Park, were interviewed on BBC Radio Bristol during a discussion on green spaces in Bath and were also interviewed in Venue Magazine. Their performance received a 5 star review in the Metro.
- Nigel Johnson's (Mechanical Engineering) research into improving fuel efficiency in aircraft by informing the future design of valves, pumps and control systems was featured in The Engineer.
- Linda Bauld (Social & Policy Sciences) was quoted in an article about how much smokers cost UK businesses Daily Mail .
- Laurence Hurst (Biology & Biochemistry) talked about 'silent' DNA mutations and how they can be more dangerous to human health than was previously thought - Scientific American
Training & development
- Enhancing learning through feedback 9 June
- Writing a grant proposal - Anatomy of a research grant 11 June
- Managers' Forum 16 June
- Consultancy in academia - an overview 22 June
- Developing management skills June 2009-May 2010
- Management skills for researchers 1 & 2 July (off-site at Bailbrook House)
- An intro to HE - A programme for new managers and administrators 2-4 September 2009
- Agresso familiarisation courses
- IT courses
- Content Management System (CMS) courses
- Summer e-learning staff development programme
Forthcoming lectures & conferences
View all University Public Lectures
Bath Science Café: from hip dysplasia to hip surgery Monday 8 June
People in Bath have a second chance to hear the story of Bath woman Victoria Wells (aged 39) and her life-changing hip surgery at the next meeting of the Bath Science Café.
Knowledge Management Market Place Wednesday 10 June
The University together with the UK Council for Electronic Business is co-hosting a one-day event focusing upon Knowledge Management within engineering, including keynotes and a panel session involving eminent practitioners, and a marketplace with industrialists and academics hosting stands to share best practice and the latest thinking in knowledge management. Taking place in the Faculty of Engineering & Design, the event is intended to provide a forum for all those involved in Knowledge Management in engineering to interact to foster the exchange of ideas and to provide opportunities to establish networks across the domain.
At the Court of the Great Moghul Wednesday 17 June
Author and academic Nicholas Fogg will give a public lecture about Jala ud-din Muhammad Akbar, the 16th century Moghul Emperor.
Equality Forum Wednesday 17 June
This event aims to involve others in the preparation of a single equality scheme for the University. Simon Fanshawe, a writer, broadcaster and a non-exec director in the public and private sector, will be the keynote speaker.
Sustaining future ecosystem services – From understanding to action - Friday 26 June
This is the fifth and final conference in the series of interdisciplinary conferences organised by the Institute for Sustainable Energy & the Environment (I-SEE), held at the National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, London. Speakers will review understanding from the four seminars to date, and explore policy and practical implications. The conference is being sponsored by a grant from ESRC/NERC and is free to all participants.
Internationalisation of Higher Education and Higher Education Management - Friday 3 July
This third annual seminar will provide the opportunity to discuss the Internationalisation of Higher Education. It will take place in 6 East 2.2. Please refer any queries to Joanna Al-Youssef
What's on next week
More details about events below
Monday 8
16:30 PM CSAT seminar: Critical discourse analysis in trans-disciplinary social research
19:30 PM An artist in the Galapagos
Tuesday 9
10:15 AM CSAT Workshop: Critical discourse analysis: methodological issues
16:15 PM Sustainability & Environment: a humanities & social science research perspective
Wednesday 10
12:30 PM Spanish poet: Luis de Gongora
Thursday 11
12:00 Noon Carers week drop-in
12:30 PM UBSA 's quiz of quizzes
13:15 PM Organisations and culture
17:30 PM UBSA rounders tournament & summer party
19:15 PM Geology of Bath's Water Supply
Friday 12
19:30 PM Tales of the Red Queen
Saturday 13
19:00 PM Bath Poetry Cafe
Exhibitions on campus
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Architecture exhibition
Students from the Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering are showing their work at an exhibition in 6 East. A film project set in Bristol will be shown by the Fifth Year together with individual projects from the Fourth and Sixth Years. -
Life, Environment and People | First floor landing of Building 3 South | Until mid June
The annual exhibition of artwork submitted by students on the 'Life, Environment and People' course is now on view. -
Tea Brown Fields, Blue Skies | ICIA Art Space 1 | Until Friday 12 June, 10am-5pm
Tea is a collaborative group of visual artists who search for the unfamiliar in familiar places. In this project they document their ‘occupation’ of a wasteland, Widnes Waterfront poised for regeneration. - Pam Skelton Dwelling in the Space of Conspiracy | ICIA Art Space 2 | Wednesday 29 April - Friday 5 June, 10am-5pm
Using video, photography and mapping, Skelton plots out patterns of surveillance to retrace the stasi spy network in the last decade of the German Democratic Republic. She constructs an unsettling portrait of a city with 483 spy cells for monitoring citizens.
UBSA trips - open to everyone
- Day trip to London 13 June | £12.50
- Trip to Cotswold steam railway & Cheltenham 25 July | £20
- Four-day tour of Ireland through County Cork / County Kerry / Killarney and the Ring of Kerry 4 September | £269
Arts
Concerts and Performances
- Kilter Roots- A tale of love & vegetables | Bath Organic Group, Lower Common Allotments, Royal Victoria Park, Bath | Thursday 28-Sunday 31 May, Thursday 4-Sunday 7 June
Kilter invites you to grab a spade and elope to the allotment for a theatrical contemplation on the future of food. Kilter, Bath’s unique outdoor theatre company, plants the seeds of change with a playful, engaging show.
Sport
New Summer Fitness Class Timetable
As the warm weather approaches and you start thinking about your summer holiday, what better way to get in shape than to join one of our group exercise classes that take place in the STV?
Guys as well as girls can enjoy netball – and they’ll have the chance to try it out at the Sports Training Village on Monday (8 June) night.
Sportsister interview with Katrina
Bath student Katrina Hart discusses her sprinting progress in an interview with the Sportsister website.
Katrina, who represented Great Britain at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, tells Sportsister how she loves training at the University.
Bronze for Marcon in Cyprus
Sport Performance student Marcon Bezzina has won her sixth medal at the Games of the Small States of Europe.
TeamBath Futsal go down to England
The TeamBath Futsal side went down 6-2 in a friendly against the full England Futsal side in Hereford.
Buccaneer Matt is new Wales captain
TeamBath Buccaneer Matt Ruxton has been named the new captain of the Wales senior men’s hockey team.
Hundreds of people are set to celebrate the Olympic ideals by taking part in the annual Olympic Day run at the University of Bath at 12.30pm on Friday 12 June.