University Updates
7 September 2007
News
£1M project to investigate tumour growth molecules
Ravi Acharya (Biology & Biochemistry) has been awarded a Wellcome Trust grant of more than £1 million to investigate the structure and function of the proteins implicated in helping new blood vessels to grow.
Selection on genes underlying schizophrenia during human evolution
Several genes with strong associations to schizophrenia have evolved rapidly due to selection during human evolution, according to new research co-authored by Steve Dorus (Biology & Biochemistry).
Lack of money keeps poorer children from out-of-school activities, says research
Children from poorer families do not take part in organised out-of-school activities as much as their more affluent classmates because of financial difficulties, research by the departments of Education and Social & Policy Sciences shows. This means that children miss out on a chance to relate to adults in a less formal environment than school and stops them developing better relationships with teachers.
Latest green energy research to be showcased at prestigious BA Festival
Research projects by the Department of Chemistry into cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels have been chosen to be showcased at the British Association for the Advancement of Science’s Festival next week.
Anita Roddick to celebrate 10th anniversary of business responsibility degree at Bath
Body Shop founder (and Bath honorary graduate) Anita Roddick will be returning to the University next Thursday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ground-breaking MSc in Responsibility & Business Practice degree she helped set up.
Delegation from Japan visits campus to find out about staff development
A delegation from a Japanese university has visited the campus to find out how Bath develops its staff and delivers a high quality education in a research-intensive environment.
Open day to launch new autumn part-time courses
People in Bath are invited to call in to an open day at Carpenter House in the city centre on Saturday 15 September, to find out more about the University’s new autumn programme of part-time day and evening courses. Term begins on 8 October with enrolment closing at the end of September.
Local women encouraged into enterprise
Women who want to become their own boss can now get expert tuition to turn their ideas into businesses, through new courses launched by the University in Bath and Swindon.
Staff from Wiltshire schools invited to find out about foundation degrees
Local teachers and careers staff can find out about vocationally-focused higher education on offer in the region, in an event organised by the University of Bath in Swindon on Thursday 13 September.
Westwood Nursery’s anniversary
Westwood Nursery celebrated its 30th anniversary with a party for past and present pupils and parents.
Four students are shortlisted for prestigious SET Awards
Four University of Bath students have been shortlisted for the prestigious Science, Engineering & Technology Student of the Year Awards.
Successful end to summer internships
Six students recently completed their summer internships working in departments across the University as part of a pilot scheme run by the Careers Advisory Service. The scheme provides students with the opportunity to gain two months of paid work experience during the holidays.
Engineering graduate commemorated by stained glass panel
A stained glass window panel has been unveiled in the internet café in 4 East as a memorial to engineering graduate Andrew Carter, who died recently.
Information
Announcement of the death of Sue Bates
We are sorry to announce the death of Sue Bates, Personal Assistant to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, on Monday 3 September 2007.
New staff who joined the University in August 2007
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.
Copies of the University Pocket Diary are still available
A few copies of the University Pocket Diary are still available.
Book your Christmas lunch early
Wessex Restaurant is now taking Christmas bookings. The Christmas lunch menu is available from 3 December until 21 December. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Call ext: 5345.
The RICE Memory Trail
The Memory Trail takes place on Saturday 16 September to coincide with World Alzheimer’s Day and helps to raise valuable funds for Alzheimer’s research charity RICE (The Research Institute for the Care of the Elderly). This year’s walk starts in the village of Kilmersdon - the home of Jack and Jill Hill where the nursery rhyme is set. There is a choice of 3 walks a short level walk of 5 miles, a medium one of 8 miles and a long walk of 12 miles. Entry fees Adults £5 (£4 in advance), Child £3 (£2 in advance) Families £12 (£10 in advance) Entry Forms are available from RICE tel 01225 835866
Run for RICE - Bath Half Marathon 2008
The Research Institute for the Care of the Elderly (RICE) has ten places available for the 2008 Nationwide Bath Half Marathon which will take place on Sunday 16 March. To guarantee a place, please email t.mugridge@bath.ac.uk
Information on switch from Lawson to Agresso
Agresso has replaced Lawson as the University's live Finance System. Useful tips and information for users are available on the Finance website. Users are advised to check the Agresso information page for regular updates.
Wessex House stairwell reopens
The Wessex House stairwell at the south of the building has now reopened after the refurbishment of levels 1-4.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Training & development opportunities
- Workshop: Personal tutors supporting students
14 September - Staff development programme
The autumn programme of training courses run by Staff Development is now available.
- Enrol now on reduced rate part-time courses
Song writing, yoga, drawing, garden design or photography - these are some of the courses on offer in Bath in the autumn. Reductions are available for staff. There is also a range of courses taking place at the Swindon campus. - Learn a language with 75 per cent discount
The Foreign Languages Centre is now enrolling for its autumn term language courses on both the community programme and the lunchtime programme. Staff who work at least 0.5 FTE are entitled to a 75 per cent discount which means 11-week courses cost £31.25 and lunchtime courses cost £13.75.
What's on next week
Monday 10
10:00 AM Pleasure Gardens: past, present & future
15:30 PM Seminar: Digital deception
19:30 PM Science cafe: The Nanoworld - benefit or danger?
20:00 PM Cliffe Badminton Club on campus
Tuesday 11
19:30 PM Mackintosh's Hill House
Wednesday 12
12:30 PM Poems by Mawlanda Jalaladdin Rumi (1207-1273)
18:00 PM Margareta Kern exhibition opening - Clothes for death
Thursday 13
19:30 PM Britain & Islam: partners or protagonists?
In the media
- Tony Walter (Social & Policy Sciences) was invited to comment on the social impact of the death of Princess Diana on BBC Radio Bristol, Bath FM & BBC Radio Wales. He also spoke about death and society in general on the Radio 4 programme:You & Yours.
- Julie Turner-Cobb (Psychology) discussed the connection between stress in parents and children and the transition to school on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales and Newstalk.
- Hanna Diamond (ESML) spoke about events in France in 1940 on Kera-FM Radio and Trans World Radio.
- Kate Bullock (Education) addressed the issue of poorer children being excluded from organised extra-curricular activities on GWR and Bath FM.
- Philippe Blondel (Physics) was featured in an article entitled "Water equals life, or does it?" in the Institute of Physics' magazine Physics Education.
Conferences
Pleasure Gardens, Past, Present & Future |
The Holburne Museum, 10 September 2007
An interdisciplinary symposium exploring the 18th century
pleasure garden and examining its legacy and future is to be held in September. The topics to be covered in the symposium complement the current exhibition at the Holburne Museum,
which explores the phenomenon of the Georgian pleasure gardens.
The symposium will also launch the new MSc/Diploma
in the Conservation of Historic Gardens & Cultural Landscapes,
which will commence at the Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
in October 2007.
Annual BASES Conference | University of Bath, 12-14 September
More than 500 sport and exercise scientists will descend on the University for the annual national BASES conference (British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences) in September. Top international speakers are programmed for the three-day event; they will concentrate on three key themes - Physical Activity for Health, Sport and Performance and Education and Professional Development. The conference is staged at the same time as the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France and precedes the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games so the air will be crackling with health and sport! Limited places are still available; if you are interested in attending see: http://www.bath.ac.uk/health/bases2007
8th
International Conference on the Social Context of Death, Dying
& Disposal | University of Bath, 12-15 September
2007
A major multi-disciplinary conference covering all aspects of death, dying and bereavement,
including a rich range of arts-related contributions, DDD8 will draw together established and new scholars and practitioners from around the globe. DDD8 is a collaboration between the Centre for Death & Society
and the Institute for Contemporary Interdisciplinary Arts at the University.
International conference on photobiology takes place at University
Around 380 scientists took part in the international congress of the European Society for Photobiology on campus this week.
Exhibitions
Judith
Tucker - Resort | ICIA Art Space 1, Claverton Rooms foyer, till
12 October
Judith Tucker's haunting drawings of the Baltic seaside resort of
Ahlbeck are inspired by photographs her grandmother brought with her
when she fled Nazi Germany to England in 1938. The charcoal drawings are infused with a sense of loss that shimmer with regret and yearning. Through melancholic coastal settings, the exhibition evokes memories of a vanished past.
Margareta Kern - Clothes for Death | ICIA Art Space 2, 12 September-4 January
Interdisciplinary artist presents powerful and intimate photographs as a personal response to a tradition in Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina of women preparing clothes for their own burial.
Canaletto & the
English Pleasure Garden | Holburne Museum, till
30 September
Two magnificent paintings by Canaletto form the centre-piece of an exhibition which explores the phenomenon of the Georgian pleasure gardens. The Holburne's building was the gateway to Sydney Gardens where Jane Austen once strolled and this exhibition both celebrates its position and offers an enticing glimpse into eighteenth-century leisure.
Arts
New arts complex design competition enters final phase
In June 2007 five architects were selected to put forward their concept ideas for the planned Interdisciplinary Arts Complex at the Claverton Down campus. Next week the design competition moves into the final stage when proposals arrive on campus. Members of staff and students are encouraged to give feedback on the proposed plans either by email to ICIAfeedback@bath.ac.uk or by completing a ballot card at the exhibition of designs displayed in the Claverton Rooms from 11-14 September and the University Hall foyer from 17-21 September. All feedback will be submitted to the jury before the formal presentations to be made by the architects on Thursday 20 September. The jury includes representatives from the University and relevant external experts.
ICIA classes and workshops for all levels
Classes open to all include:
Music: DJ Skills, Bath University Big Band, University Choral Society
Dance: contemporary, street dance, jazz dance, ballet, samba
Visual Arts: ceramics, drawing, painting, life drawing, stained glass
Booking opens Monday 10 September and classes start the week of 8 October. See the website for further details
Sport
Bid for signed England shirt to raise funds for Zambia project
Rugby fans have an opportunity to own a piece of sporting history and help a good cause by bidding for an England rugby shirt signed by members of the 2007 Six Nations squad. There is also a pair of tickets for the Wales v Australia Rugby World Cup match up for grabs. Money raised from both auctions will go towards Team Bath’s Zambia project.
Come and join in the fun at the Sports Training Village
Team Bath is hosting a Family Fun Open Day at the Sports Training Village on Sunday 9 September when members of the public will have an opportunity to take part in a wide range of activities.
Team Bath FC 1 Clevedon Town 1
Team Bath FC drew 1-1 at home to Clevedon Town in the British Gas Business Football League Premier Division on Tuesday.
Pickering and Okoro win medals at World Champs
University of Bath student Craig Pickering and graduate Marilyn Okoro both helped Great Britain win medals as the World Championships drew to a close in Japan.