University Updates
6 June 2008
Due to staff resourcing issues in the Communications Office, the next University Update will be published on 27 June. Apologies for any inconvenience.
News
Prototype of machine that copies itself goes on show
Adrian Bowyer (Mechanical Engineering), who oversees a global effort to develop an open-source machine that ‘prints’ three-dimensional objects, is celebrating after the prototype machine succeeded in making a set of its own printed parts. The machine, named RepRap, has been exhibited publicly this last week at the Cheltenham Science Festival.
Bath academic to share knowledge on Paraguay
Peter Lambert, Senior Lecturer in Spanish & Latin American Studies, has been invited to provide expert analysis at a forthcoming discussion on the outcome of the recent Paraguayan elections.
Free GCSE Physical Education summer school
The University is again inviting local pupils to attend its popular two-day PE summer school on 9-10 June 2008. The free, non-residential programme has been designed to support the GCSE PE curriculum and allows pupils to look at the options for studying sport in higher education and to explore what career options are open to them.
Talented school pupils to design and build rockets on campus
The University is to open its doors to gifted and talented year 9 and 10 pupils in Bath and Wiltshire for a free Physics Extension Day on Friday 13 June 2008, which aims to encourage pupils’ enthusiasm and understanding of the science.
Students, graduates & alumni news
Chemistry postgraduate wins prize in Strasbourg
Jonathan Scragg, a second year postgraduate in the Department of Chemistry, was awarded the prize for the best poster during the European Materials Research Society Spring meeting in Strasbourg last week.
Bath graduate Justin King named UK’s most powerful marketer
Justin King, chief executive of Sainsbury's, and an alumnus of the BSc in Business Administration at Bath, has been named the UK's most powerful marketer, after rising to the top of Marketing magazine’s annual Power 100 list.
Bath honorary graduate wins prestigious award
Professor Dr Bruno Buchberger who was became one of Bath's honorary graduates in 2005 has been awarded the 2008 Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award by the Association for Computing Machinery. Professor Buchberger’s work has resulted in automated problem-solving tools to address challenges in robotics, computer-aided design, systems design, and modelling biological systems. The award honours specific theoretical accomplishments that significantly affect the practice of computing.
Behind the scenes at the museum
The Alumni Relations Team organised a private tour of the Holburne Museum with its Director, Dr Xa Sturgis, for Bath alumni. Twenty alumni enjoyed a talk and tour of the Holburne which is soon to close for an extensive programme of building work.
Information
If you buy travel tickets on behalf of the Uni, please complete survey
Purchasing Services are currently evaluating the University’s travel requirements so that they can ensure that future provision is made in the most appropriate way. If you travel, or arrange travel, on behalf of the University, could you please complete this survey by midday on Friday 13 June. Thank you for your help.
Progress report on new residences
The Woodland Court R5 project is on schedule to be completed in time for the September 2008 intake of new students. View the latest photos to see the progress.
New starters in May 2008
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.
Hospitality newsletter: new loyalty card, summer opening & healthy recipe
Hospitality on Campus is the monthly newsletter which gives you up to date information on what is happening in catering outlets on campus. Every issue has a healthy recipe which you can make yourself at home along with offers and information about the services that we provide.
National liftshare Day
As part of the national Green Transport Week being held in mid-June 2008, the University would like to draw everyone's attention to liftshare day on Monday 9 June. Car sharing is a simple and effective way of increasing individual mobility, helping motorists keep down their travel costs, making more efficient use of space on the UK 's roads and helping the environment by cutting harmful exhaust emissions. The University encourages car sharing between its staff and students and operates its own car share scheme.
Jam Busting June
As an employee or student of the University you can take up the challenge of commuting to the University without your car, or by car sharing during June. For every three days you achieve this (five by motorcycle over 400cc) you earn an entry into a free prize draw. Walking, cycling, scooter, motorcycle, bus, park and ride, train and car sharing are all eligible modes of transport, as is wroking from home. Simply register on the Jam Busting site and complete the travel diary.
Calling all carers
Staff, students and people from the local community who have caring responsibilities for another person have the opportunity to find out about their rights and the wealth of help and support that is available at a drop-in session organised as part of National Carers Week and hosted by the University (11am-2.15pm on Wednesday 11 June in the Claverton Rooms). There will be a range of organisations on hand to answer questions, including: the Citizen’s Advice Bureau; childcare specialists from BANES Family Information Centre; Rethink, which supports those with mental health problems; and the Peggy Dodd Centre, which focus on confused older people and runs a sitters’ service. There will also be information from The Care Network, Crossroads – Caring for Carers and the Care-4 childcare employee benefit scheme.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
In the media
- Ken Bray (School for Health) has been interviewed about Euro 2008, which kicks off in Austria and Switzerland this weekend. The interview on BBC Radio Wales' Science Cafe slot is due to be broadcast this Sunday.
- The unveiling of Adrian Bowyer's RepRap self replicating machine has received coverage in the Telegraph, the Mail, the Mirror and on Channel 4 website.
Adrian talked about his invention on Radio 5 Live and was filmed at the Cheltenham Science Festival by ITV West.
Training & development opportunities
- Free IT training courses for staff
- Preventing aches and pains in the office - 19 June
- Leadership & building teams - 24 June
- Assistive software - drop in session - 7 July
- Forum: Disseminating good practice at the University of Bath - 9 July
Forthcoming lectures & conferences
Bath Science Café: ‘Healthy’ chocolate and beer could solve obesity crisis
Obesity is a major 21st century disease which threatens to overwhelm the health service. Do we understand enough about food and digestion to design healthy foods that taste as good as the unhealthy foods we consume in such quantities? Professor Peter Fryer will discuss the challenges of the modern diet at the next Science Café (9 June at 7.30pm in The Raven pub, Queen Street).
Arthritis sufferers invited to hear about a new treatment
People with psoriatic arthritis and their families are invited to a presentation on a new treatment that has dramatically improved symptoms in sufferers. The talk will be held at 7pm on 12 June, in the lecture hall at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases.
Nation State Strategies towards Globalisation
ESML are hosting a half-day seminar at the University which will compare how five different countries are approaching globalisation. (20 June).
Structural Analysis of Historical Construction
The Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering is organising a major international conference which will be of interest to everyone involved in historic building conservation. The Sixth International Conference of Structural Analysis of Historical Construction is to be held at the Assembly Rooms (2-4 July).
Recent Appointees in Materials Chemistry
Matt Jones and Petra Cameron from the Department of Chemistry have been asked by the Royal Society of Chemistry to organise a networking conference for recent appointees in the field of materials chemistry. (2-4 July).
Sustaining Future Ecosystem Services -
From understanding to action
The University is hosting the second conference in its "Sustaining Future Ecosystem Services" series funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The conference entitled: "Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a tool for evaluating the sustainability of ecosystem services?" will consider the application of Environmental LCA for evaluating the environmental consequences of products and services and its utilisation in supporting and developing national and international legislation to ensure sustainability for future generations. (9 July).
What's on next week
Monday 9
19:30 PM Herbs & men of war
Tuesday 10
13:15 PM CNM Seminar
19:30 PM Population growth in the UK
Wednesday 11
14:15 PM Senate
Thursday 12
17:30 PM UBSA rounders tournament (and live band)
Saturday 14
UBSA Coach trip to London - non members welcome
Arts
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) | Saturday 7 at 2pm & Sunday 8 June at 7.30pm | Museum of Bath At Work, Julian Road | £7/£5 concs
Bath University Student Theatre performs at the Bath Fringe Festival. Cut out all the plot and jokes from all of Shakespeare's 37 plays, add a robotic Godzilla, and you are left with 90 minutes of almost passable theatre. ICIA box office: ext 6777 - Theatre Binge Mission Theatre, Bath | Friday 6 June and Saturday 7 June 5.30pm
A brand new student theatre festival taking place as part of the Bath Fringe Festival 2008. Student theatre companies present four exciting, contemporary pieces in two separate double-bill performances. Featuring work by BUST.
- Jonathan Lunn Dance Company presents Reading Room featuring Bodysoc | Merlin Theatre, Frome | Thursday 12 June 2008 - 7.45pm
Reading Room is the new performance from award-winning and critically acclaimed choreographer and Director, Jonathan Lunn. The show is performed by five dancers, guest actress, Miranda Richardson, and performers from our very own Bodysoc.
Exhibitions on campus
- Polly Gould Peninsular ICIA Art Space 1 | Till Friday 20 June
Peninsular documents Gould’s journey to the Antarctic Peninsular taking with her the drawings she made of her father as he lay dying among the white expanse of bed sheets. - Tim Brennan Great Northern Coalfield ICIA Art Space 2 | Till Friday 1 August
A series of atmospheric photographs taken on a low-resolution mobile phone camera depict the North Sea, where most of the north's un-mined coal still resides. Enlarged beyond clear definition, the images become hazy, impressionistic, glowing with colour.
Exhibitions at the Holburne Museum
- Vincent Brown Painting Aardman | 7 June - 6 July
The exhibition will explore the development of of how Vincent Brown creates a portrait from initial studies to finished work and will also include wonderful pieces from the Aardman archive. - The Bath Spa School of Art and Design Degree Show | 7 - 15 June
Using the Museum's recently emptied galleries to their full advantage students from Bath Spa University's School of Art & Design will display the art works that they have made for their final year projects.
Sport
Bath graduate Katy wins bronze for modern pentathlon in World Championships
Bath graduate Katy Livingston won her first senior World Championships medal to strengthen her prospects of competing at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.