University Updates
8 May 2009
News
New report seeks to thaw frozen conflicts
Advice on handling the ‘frozen conflicts’ in Eastern Europe was given to policy makers in Brussels in a new report co-authored by Richard Whitman (European Studies & Modern Languages).
Bath professor appointed to children's advisory board
Ian Butler (Social & Policy Sciences) has been invited to join the Children & Family Court Advisory & Support Service (Cafcass) Board. Cafcass looks after the interests of children involved in family court proceedings, advising the courts on what they consider to be in the best interests of individual children. The vast majority of cases referred to Cafcass are complex and hard to assess and Ian and the five other new board members will play a vital role in making sure the work of Cafcass is child-focused and of the highest standard.
Researchers discover new information about dementia
In a project funded by the Alzheimer's Research Trust, Bath scientists (led by David Brown) have been studying the damaging effects of a protein, called alpha-synuclein, that builds up in the brains of people with Lewy Body disease and Parkinson's disease.
University successful in DWP research framework bid
The Centre for Analysis of Social Policy (CASP) has been successful in its bid to be part of the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) Social & Economic Research Framework. The tender brought together experts from Social Policy, the School of Health and Economics and will enable members of the University to tender for research contracts in a number of different areas.
Coming soon to a campus near you…'Simmy': new generation simulation patient
The Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, as part of the redevelopment of its pharmacy practice accommodation for teaching students on the Master of Pharmacy and AP3T programmes, will soon become the proud owner of a SimMan 3G. This week the Today programme featured an interview with the manufacturers of SimMan 3G, exploring its role in training health professionals.
School for Health launches second Online Open Week this year
Following the success of February's online open week, The School for Health is offering a final chance to 'try before you buy' postgraduate study next week. Over 30 people are already registered for this unique opportunity.
Student news
Enterprising SIFE students to compete in ‘The Berlin Challenge’SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) Bath, a team of enthusiastic and motivated individuals impressed judges with their project portfolio at the National Competition in Canary Warf, London. They reached the final round, seeing off stiff competition from 28 other universities. They will now go to Berlin to compete in ‘The Berlin Challenge’ with the final three runners up of the German teams in October 2009.
Students and residents raise more than £1,000 in annual duck race
Student volunteers helped raise more than £1,000 for WaterAid with its annual duck race along the River Avon on Bank Holiday Monday.
Conflict in Architecture: Visualisations of the 21st century city
Third year students in architecture are taking part in an exhibition in London that identifies and responds to changes that could take place in our towns and cities over the next twenty years.
Information
5 West refurb - Main entrance to close
The summer months will see some substantial works to the 5 West building. The refurbishment of the lecture theatres is the first of three projects and work will commence on Monday 11 May. The main entrance to 5 West will be closed for the duration of the works until September. The new temporary entrance to 5 West & 7 West will be from the side door of the 5W Glaxo annex at the rear of the building. It will be on free-pass during the day so a card for access will not be needed.
Hospitality news: 'Food for the brain' roadshow 12-14 May
To create awareness of the need for healthy eating the Department of Hospitality will be running a Food For The Brain stall where nutritional information and advice on living a healthy lifestyle will be available. The stall will be in the following outlets: 12 May - Claverton Rooms;
13 May - Level 1 Café;
14 May - Blues Café and will give you the chance to taste a healthy smoothie along with an opportunity to give your views on the food you would like to see on campus.
Improving catering services on campus
Hospitality is currently looking at ways to improve the service they provide on campus. Please take part in the Claverton Rooms and Level 1 Café surveys. Other catering outlets will be covered next week.
A lunch offer from our neighbours at the American Museum
From now until November, staff members (on production of their University card) will get free entry into the grounds and gardens, so they can make use of the Orangery Café.
University & College Union ballots its members about industrial action
Ian Cheetham, Director of Human Resources, has clarified that the Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education (JNCHES) only has a remit to negotiate a national pay claim; it does not have a remit to negotiate jobs.
Swine Flu
A message from Mark Humphriss, Chair of the University’s Emergency Management Team, giving advice about Swine Flu.
University Pocket Diary 2009/10
The University Pocket Diary for 2009/10 is now available to order from the Office of the University Secretary.
RICE Memory Challenge
Take the RICE Memory Challenge in May 2009 and help support research into Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Visit Monet's Garden, Versailles & Paris 26-29 June
This UBSA trip is open to all staff and students and at £196 represents great value for a four-day tour.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/job
Consultations
The potential for academic re-organisation 
Campus only
A discussion paper has been prepared in order to inform an internal consultation on the potential for academic re-organisation.Comments should be submitted by email to N.J.Kemp@bath.ac.uk by Wednesday 20 May.
Women working in science, engineering & technology
The University has been a member of Athena SWAN since 2007 and is about to submit an application for a bronze award. We have to show commitment to meet the six principles of Athena SWAN and our application provides brief details about what actions have been taken and future plans in relation to gender equality with SET. Comments are invited on the University's submission. Please send to m.a.bertrand@bath.ac.uk by Wednesday 13 May.
Forthcoming lectures & conferences
View all University Public Lectures
Bath Science Café: Man v superbug – who’s winning? 11 May
Ed Feil (Biology & Biochemistry) will explore the science of superbugs and what it is that makes them 'super' at the next Bath Science Café on Monday 11 May. No tickets or reservations are required - just turn up at The Raven pub in Queen Street in the centre of Bath at 7.30pm for an 8pm start.
Stem cells and their potential to treat diseases or injuries that don’t have a cure will be discussed at a free inaugural lecture on campus next Thursday (14 May). Professor Melanie Welham (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) will explain the function of stem cells in the body and the possibilities they provide for medical treatment and research. The lecture will take place at 6.15pm in 2 East 3.1. For a free ticket please email Lisa Rogers.
Rediscovering the common wealth 20 May
What motivates us towards sustainable behaviour? Professor Geof Wood, University Research Adviser and professor in the Department of Economics & International Development, will examine this question in a free lecture on Wednesday 20 May at 5:15pm in 8 West 3.22.
The Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases (BIRD) is hosting its first free annual Psoriatic Arthritis information day on Friday (15 May). The event is aimed at patients with Psoriatic Arthritis and those that have an interest in the condition, such as their family and friends.
Sustaining future ecosystem services – From understanding to action - 26 June
This is the fifth and final conference in the series of interdisciplinary conferences organised by the Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment (I-SEE), held at the National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, London. Speakers will review our understanding from the four seminars to date, and explore action in terms of policy and practical implications. The conference is being sponsored by a grant from ESRC/NERC and is free to all participants.
In the media
- Candy McCabe (School for Health) was interviewed on Bath FM and Radio Cumbria about her unusual research using mirrors to relieve pain.
- Scott Williams (Student RAG) talked about the annual charity duck race on BBC Bristol.
- Radio 4's Women's Hour featured Shobana Jeyasingh, the award-winning choreographer and artistic director of her own dance company that is coming to ICIA Arts Theatre this Saturday. Listen again.
- Alex Simpson (Architecture student), who runs two successful businesses and is chair of Banter, was profiled in The Guardian.
Training & development
- Introduction to the media for plant scientists 11 May
- Training for Postgrads and GTAs who teach 14 May
- Working with broadcast media 15 May
- IT courses
- Content Management System (CMS) courses
- Summer e-learning staff development programme
What's on next week
More details about events below
Monday 11
13:15 PM BICS seminar: Are networks real?
19:30 PM Curiosity unquenched - Darwin's garden & the never-ending puzzles it presented
Tuesday 12
10:30 AM Agresso 5.5.3 User Familiarisation
12:15 PM Midweek Eucharist/Holy Communion
12:30 PM UBSA merry making bingo
12:45 PM Oxfam lunch
13:15 PM CNM seminar: Well-posed inverse problems
Wednesday 13
12:30 PM Mothers and daughters
19:30 PM Joseph Wright of Derby
Thursday 14
12:30 PM UBSA lunchtime horse races
14:30 PM Agresso 5.5.3 User Familiarisation
Saturday 16
10:00 AM Alumni Reunion
Arts
Concerts and Performances
- Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company | ICIA Arts Theatre | Saturday 9 May, 7.30pm
Highly respected for their imaginative and critically acclaimed work that gives cultural diversity a unique spin, award-winning choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh’s latest piece playfully explores cross-cultural eating. - Bath Dance Forum SHIFT 09 | ICIA Arts Theatre | Saturday 23 May, 7.30pm
Bath Dance Forum presents its annual platform of professional work created by various companies and individual artists from across the south west region. - 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.
Exhibitions
- 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.
Classes - Start next week
- Dance
Classes are available in Contemporary, Ballet, Flamenco, Jazz, Tap and Street Dance and commence week beginning 11 May. Courses are four weeks in duration. - Summer Ceramics Classes
Ceramics classes are available on Thursday evenings (Wednesday class now full) so if you've ever fancied trying you hand at clay, here's your chance. Courses start 14 May and last six weeks.
Sport
Team Bath netballers win Premier League 1 crown
Team Bath’s netballers captured their second major title in four weeks when they added the Premier League 1 title to the Superleague crown. Although Team Bath went down 37-34 to London side Academy in Saturday’s game, they knew that a defeat by fewer than five goals would be enough to earn them the two points that would guarantee winning the title.
Two Sports Performance students to race at Paralympic World Cup
Ben Rushgrove and Katrina Hart will be representing Great Britain in the athletics programme at the BT Paralympic World Cup, which takes place in Manchester later this month.
Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games silver medallist Ben Rushgrove has been named the University of Bath’s Sports Personality of the Year. The 21-year-old Sports Performance student received the award at the annual Blues Awards ceremony.