University Updates
9 May 2008
News
Bath academic invited to become a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining
Irene Turner (Mechanical Engineering) has been invited to become an elected Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining. Dr Turner will become one of just 64 female Fellows amongst a total of 3,350 Fellows.
Gender-integrating sport helps improve men’s attitudes toward women, study shows
Encouraging men and women to play sport together could help overcome sexist locker-room attitudes and bring wider benefits to society, according to Eric Anderson (Education), the author of new research published in the journal Sociological Forum.
Bath expert invited to contribute to sustainability education debate
William Scott has been invited to a breakfast roundtable discussion taking place at TES offices in London next week to discuss whether sustainability education at primary and secondary levels currently gets enough support in the classroom and beyond.
The debate is sponsored by Generation Green, a new community-based schools programme to support sustainability education and to make it easier for Britain’s schools and consumers to save energy and adopt responsible green behaviour.
Salters' Festival arrives on campus with a whizz and a bang
Around 120 school pupils aged 11 to 13 from 30 schools in the west of England are being invited to enjoy the renowned Salters’ Festivals of Chemistry, which will be held on campus on 13 and 15 May 2008.
A winning combination: people, technology & info
save £35k pa in 3WN
Harry Bone, the 'energy champion' for the Department of Physics, together with Technical Manager Alan George, has worked with key staff in the 3WN building to try to cut the annual electricity bill of £70,000. By implementing changes to the operating regime (without risking the integrity of the research conditions), usage has been halved, saving 380,000 kWh and 160 tonnes of CO2 every year, plus £35,000 pa. Could your department improve its energy efficiency?
Information
Difficulty getting across the A36 at the Viaduct?
If you feel that the timing of the traffic lights at the Winsley/Brassknocker junction is weighted wrongly during the rush hour, please email customercare@area2.interroutejv.co.uk . We have been informed by Interroute that only an increase in the number of complaints/comments will get the situation reviewed.
Successful Away Days
The Staff Development Unit have published some guidelines
to help departments get the most out of Away Days.
Foreign languages - Courses start next week
The Foreign Languages Centre is enrolling for its summer term language courses on both the community programme and the lunchtime programme. Members of staff who work at least 0.5 FTE are entitled to a 75 per cent discount which means the six-week summer term evening classes cost £17 and lunchtime courses cost only £8.25.
Message from Christine Allgood, Union Shop Manager: "The Union Shop runs a 'use a recycled plastic bag' rather than opting for a new one when shopping in the Union Shop. It's a hugely popular scheme which sadly I have to keep withdrawing due to lack of second hand bags. Please could I ask more people to bring in your old plastic shopping bags so we can recycle them for you? Thanks."
Vacancies
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Expressions of interest are invited for the full-time post of Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) from 1 August 2008. Deadline for applications: 27 May.
University Research Adviser
Expressions of interest are invited for the part-time post of University Research Adviser. Deadline for applications: 27 May.
Senior Resident Tutor (off-campus)
Are you keen to play a part in enhancing the whole student experience for both undergraduates and postgraduates during their vital and challenging years here, whilst developing your own leadership skills? We are looking for an enthusiastic, committed member of staff with the relevant skills, aptitude and motivation to undertake the role of Senior Resident Tutor.
Closing date for applications: 14 May.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Award winners
- Innovation in Learning and Teaching Award
...recognises significant contribution to innovation in curriculum design, content or delivery: Momna Hejmadi (Biology & Biochemistry) - John Willis Award
...recognises dedication to the academic and personal lives of students combined with a significant contribution to teaching and accomplishment in research. It is intended for academic staff with ten or fewer years in an academic post. Andrew Heath (Architecture & Civil Engineering) - Mary Tasker Award
...recognises excellence in teaching in the University. It is open to all members of academic staff.
This year, the Committee was pleased to make a joint award to two candidates who were particularly well supported by their students:
Tim Ibell (Architecture & Civil Engineering)
Alex Wright (Architecture & Civil Engineering)
Chancellor's Prize
The winner of the 2008 prize is Jack Mitchell (ESML).
The Chancellor's Prize Committee was impressed by Jack's first-class marks and successful placement with Voronezh State University in Russia. His volunteer work with children in care in Samara, Russia, was considered to have further enhanced his excellent ambassadorial role for the University. As Editor-in-Chief of the Students' Union newspaper Impact and contributor to the general management of the Students' Union, he was acknowledged to have played an important part in the general life of the University.
SHE Inspiring Women Award
Araxi Urrutia Odabachian (Biology & Biochemistry) has won one of five SHE Magazine awards presented to the most deserving women in Britain.
She was nominated by beauty firm L'Oreal, which she is currently working with, and which is keen to promote the role of women in science. The magazine asked its 176,000 readers to nominate women they felt were most worthy of the awards.
Dr Urrutia Odabachian, aged 30, won the award in the innovator category which searches for a woman who has made a massive and/or groundbreaking impact in medical science and development for her research in the field of functional genomics.
Funding opportunities
Funding opportunities - updated today
The latest set of new grants, fellowships, travel bursaries and studentship opportunities taken from the current ResearchResearch listings can be viewed online.
Funding opportunity for new academics
EPSRC wishes to encourage new academics to build industrial collaborations early in their research career. Although CASE for new academic appointees was discontinued on 1 April 2008, this financial resource has been transferred to the Industrial CASE scheme. Deadline: 5 September.
Grants for groundbreaking health research
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is now accepting grant proposals for Grand Challenges Explorations, a US$100 million initiative to help scientists pursue innovative ideas for solving major global health problems. Deadline: 15 May.
In the media
- John Fossey (Chemistry) appeared on BBC2’s 'Great British Menu' with local Michelin-starred chef Chris Horridge from The Bath Priory Hotel. Chris Horridge has been working with John Fossey and Tony James together with undergraduate students from the Department of Chemistry for about a year on a number of projects concerning nutrition and the health implications of diet and food combinations. After visiting the research laboratories here at Bath, Chris was inspired to equip his kitchen with some laboratory apparatus including the rotary evaporator he used to extract flavours for his dish on Thursday’s show. More details
- Yukteshwar Kumar (ESML) was recently interviewed by the BBC Chinese service about Africa-China-India triangular relations
- The Radio Science Orchestra's concert at ICIA Arts Theatre achieved very positive reviews in the Bath Chronicle and Venue Magazine.
- Eric Anderson (Education) talked to Bath FM about the advantages of males and females playing alongside each other in sport.
- Glennys Howarth (Centre for Death & Society) was interviewed on BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Radio Wiltshire about a proposed new course for Funeral Directors to be run at the University.
Training & development opportunities
- New programme of free IT training courses for staff
- Admissions & funding - 21 May
- Appraisal training for support staff - 30 May
- GTA intensive training & development programme - Course spread over two days, various dates
Forthcoming lectures
Former Chairman of HM Revenue and Customs to give lecture
Sir David Varney will be discussing the social and economic challenges facing the UK in a free public lecture at the University on Tuesday 13 May at 6.15pm (3WN 2.1).
Expert from Kew Gardens to talk on saving the rarest plant species
A free public lecture at the University will explore safe seed storage techniques developed at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London (Wednesday 21 May 2008 at 5.15pm in 5W 2.3).
Bath Science Café: CO2 and cars: what's the problem?
Can technology alone significantly reduce CO2 levels from transport or do we have to accept that ‘transport’ is not sustainable? Professor Gary Hawley will discuss the challenge of CO2 emissions at the next Bath Science Café (7.30pm Monday 12 May in The Raven pub, Queen Street).
What's on next week
Monday 12
Southwest Special Schools Athletics
19:30 PM The World of Oaks
19:30 PM Science Cafe: CO2 and cars
Tuesday 13
12:15 PM Eucharist/Holy Communion
13:15 PM CNM Seminar
16:30 PM Moral courage in an empire of surgery
18:15 PM The economic and social challenges facing the UK and their implications
Wednesday 14
12:30 PM Universe with Dr Natasha Paul, writer & poet
19:30 PM The battle for China's past - Mao & the Cultural Revolution
19:30 PM Impressionism in England: Whistler, Steer & Sickert
Thursday 15
12:30 PM UBSA springtime quiz
Saturday 17
7 A-Side Hockey Tournament
Arts
Performances
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Pigeon Theatre The Rehearsal (a trilogy) Claverton Rooms Bar | Saturday 10 May, 7pm
Performed live in the bar - first drink free!
In a bar, at the end of a long night's drinking, two performers get together with the audience to plan and rehearse a theatrical event. This unique trilogy, with its three versions, is performed by a different ‘couple’: two 20-something women, two 50-something men and a 70-something year old couple. -
Bath Dance Forum SHIFT 08 ICIA Arts Theatre | Saturday 17 May, 7.30pm
BDF’s annual platform of new work, created by various companies and individual artists from the Bath area. Includes a variety of new and recent work incorporating a mixture of styles, including some work for camera.
Exhibitions
- 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.
Classes
- Summer Dance Classes ICIA Arts Theatre | Classes start Monday 20 May
Four-week courses are available to book now: Contemporary, Urban Fusion, Flamenco and Street Dance.
Sport
Team Bath FC win promotion to Conference South
Sean Canham’s dramatic last-gasp winner earned Team Bath promotion to the Blue Square Conference South for the first time in their short history.
TeamBath netballer Pamela Cookey, who is studying Business Administration, scooped the top player title at the inaugural Co-operative Superleague Player of the Year awards.