Contents
Joe Kinrade in an ice cave in Antarctica

Bath Taps 2011 lecture - Matt Parker will present Clutching at Random Straws, as featured on Stephen Fry’s QI show

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK:

"Mathematics consists in proving the most obvious thing in the least obvious way."
George Polya (1887-1985) Hungarian mathematician

 


11 March 2011 - Mike's2nd draft

Community news

Children catapult red noses in the name of science
Children will send red noses flying at the Bath Taps into Science Fair, when they catapult them at targets to find out more about the laws of motion on Friday 18 March. The annual hands-on science fair at the University of Bath campus coincides with Red Nose Day and the organisers are joining in with the spirit of the day to help local school children discover and enjoy science.

Fairtrade Fortnight - Westwood children contribute to Fairtrade Foundation record attempt
Staff and students have been decorating bunting to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight (28 February to 13 March) as part of the Fairtrade Foundation’s world record bunting attempt. The week of events culminated in a prize draw for the best designed bunting, with children at the Westwood Nursery on campus taking the team title for the longest bunting.

Student Entrepreneurs pitch their business plans to experts
Would-be entrepreneurs Stephen Baldwin (Physics), Lena Chudasama (European Studies & Modern Languages) & Luke Tregidgo (Mechanical Engineering) have recently been pitching their business ideas against other universities in the SET squared partnership at Deloitte in London in a competition to encourage student enterprise.

The March edition of Microscopy and Analysis Suite (MAS) newsletter out now
The latest news from the Microscopy and Analysis Suite (MAS) an intergral facility run by the Faculty of Science is now available on their homepage.

Death of Stuart Eglinton funeral taking place today
We are very sad to have to announce that Stuart Eglinton (Estates) died on 3 March 2011, after a period of ill health. Stuart had worked at the University since 2002 and was a member of the postal team for much of that time. He did spend a couple of years with Security as a Parking Warden from 2004 until 2006.

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Important updates

Childcare vouchers - important changes for higher rate tax payers
As you may be aware, last year, the Government confirmed that instead of withdrawing Employer Supported Childcare, they would retain the tax relief at the basic rate of tax from April 2011. This change is being introduced to ensure that the tax savings available to you are similar regardless of the rate at which you pay tax. With this in mind, there will be a change to the care-4 scheme for new joiners with effect from 6 April 2011.

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Other info

Your survey – Your say
From 14 March the University will be carrying out a staff survey to give you a chance to have your say on the issues that affect you in the workplace. The survey contains mainly multiple choice questions but there will also be opportunity to list three good things about working at the Uni and three things that could be improved. Thinking hats on!

Vouchers wanted
Please collect Sainsbury's Active Kids and Tesco for Schools and Clubs vouchers, and send them to the Westwood Nursery. Thank you very much.

Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/

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Learning & Teaching

Howard White appointed as QAA Institutional Reviewer
Howard White (European Studies & Modern Languages) has been appointed as an Institutional Reviewer for the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

Students explore postgrad options at HSS Graduate School open evening
The Graduate School for the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences held its first open evening on Thursday 24 February. Directors of Studies and current postgraduate students from the Faculty’s six departments attended to provide information on programmes and help guide students through the range of study options available.

Innovations Day Thursday 12 May
Dai Hounsell, Vice Principal for Academic Enhancement at the University of Edinburgh, will be this year’s keynote speaker at the Annual Learning & Teaching Seminar.

Support for students affected by global events
Lecturers: If you have an international student that is struggling because of the current political protests in the Middle East, please be aware of the support they can access. Support is also available for international staff.

Comments invited:

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Research news

Uni death expert warns of crisis as baby-boomers reach old age
Kate Woodthorpe (Social & Policy Sciences) an expert in death studies is warning that Britain is not prepared for the death of the post-war baby-boomers. She says that by 2030 there will be an extra 100,000 people dying a year, a 17 percent rise in current figures.

Article awarded hot article status in new chemistry journal Using this link it's quite hard to find where he is featured can we hash tag to the 5 March entry / Don't know if puttign the article title in is overly wordy, but this link does go to a place where you can view a pdf of the article I assume if you're using the uni subscription, which I guess I must have been doing.
Matthew Jones' (Chemistry) paper Investigations into the conversion of ethanol into 1,3-butadiene which examines how we can reduce our dependency on oil has been selected as a 'Hot Article' by the Royal Society of Chemistry's new journal Catalysis Science & Technology.

3rd Researchers’ Conference: Let’s talk about Research - 19 April 2011
Details are now available for this year’s Researchers’ Conference which is all about communication and issues such as how can we communicate effectively with the public, industry, your peers, the media and each other?

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In the media

www.bath.ac.uk/news/bathinpapers/

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Work perks

Spring into Fitness with STV's March offer
Throughout March the STV are offering a three-month membership with no joining fee. There are additional concessions if you are a member of staff.

Eastwood Woodland Nature Trail now open!
The Landscape Section has been working extremely hard over the past five weeks to create a new nature trail behind the Eastwood residences. As the warmer weather approaches, why not venture up and take a look on your lunch break!

Childcare vouchers - important changes for higher rate tax payers
As you may be aware, last year, the Government confirmed that instead of withdrawing Employer Supported Childcare, they would retain the tax relief at the basic rate of tax from April 2011. This change is being introduced to ensure that the tax savings available to you are similar regardless of the rate at which you pay tax.

Learn Spanish in Alicante – free of charge Deadline 1 April 2011
Under the Cooperation Agreement between the Universities of Bath and Alicante, members of staff can attend intensive Spanish language courses free of charge, with free bed & breakfast accommodation.

Omnibus Staff Society

Organic fruit & veg box scheme on campus
Small (£7.50) and large (£10) boxes of organic produce can be ordered from the SU shop. Order by Monday night and your box will be delivered to the Chaplaincy on Thursday for you to collect.

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Nominations & bids

Teaching Development Fund: Call for project bid proposals Friday 20 May 2011
As part of its Learning and Teaching Strategy, the University is continuing its commitment to a Teaching Development Fund (TDF). The University Learning and Teaching Quality Committee (ULTQC) invites bids for the latest round of teaching development funding totalling approximately £60,000, which is due to be allocated for the academic year 2011/12 on 13 July 2011. Bids to Shaun McGall (DEPARTMENT Taken the red lines through this meant no point finding it)

Chancellor's Prize Deadline - 21 April
If you are teaching an outstanding final year undergraduate student, you may want to nominate them for the Chancellor's Prize.

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Training & development

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Dates for your diary

Last chance to register for 2011 Hydrogen Showcase by Friday 18 March
It is the last opportunity to register for the International Hydrogen Research Showcase 2011 which take place from the 13 April - 15 April, the high profile three-day symposium will take place at the University of Birmingham. The event is run by the UK Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Consortium (UK-SHEC) directed by Dr Tim Mays (Chemical Engineering), in conjunction with the UK Energy Research Committee.

Equality Forum 2011 - The inclusive university Wednesday 30 March
A joint Equality Forum taking place at Claverton campus, co-sponsored by the Universities of Bath and Bath Spa. The morning panel session will consist of an informative, lively debate on the inclusive university. The afternoon will consist of facilitated workshops on aspects of the inclusive environment.

Matlab Academic tour 2011 being hosted at the University of Bath Thursday 7 April
Mathworks will be hosting their MATLAB Academic Tour 2011 in the South West at the University of Bath on Thursday, 7 April 2011. This event is free and open to anyone with an interest or current knowledge of Matlab, who would like to learn how to use it to enhance their research and curricula. A complimentary lunch and refreshments will also be provided on the day. As asked duplicated this in T & D

Global Future 2011 4-8 April
Global Future 2011 is a series of events to be held week commencing Monday 4 April 2011, run by University of Bath students and staff to encourage people to act to protect our future. The aim is to provide people with a glimpse of how lives are going to be affected by sustainability issues and to inspire people to embrace these changes. Will you help to organise and run the events happening throughout the week? Please contact Mark Colling or Sally Lampkin.

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Lectures

Bath Science Café: How much does the sun contribute to climate change? Monday 14 March
The next Bath Science Café will look at the contribution to climate change made by the sun, when it meets at the Raven 7.30pm.

Experience an evening of maths ‘stand-up’ style | Wednesday 16 March
A ‘stand-up mathematician’ who says his life goal is to make people more excited about maths will take to the stage in a free event at the University of Bath on Wednesday 16 March at 7pm.

Europe’s Great Witch Hunt | Wednesday 16 March
Professor Ronald Hutton, from the University of Bristol, will talk about witch hunts between the 15th and 18th centuries in a free public lecture at the University of Bath this month (16 March, time).

Clutching at random straws | Wednesday 16 March
‘Stand-up mathematician’ Matt Parker, who says his life goal is to make people more excited about maths, will take to the stage to deliver the annual Bath Taps into Science lecture.

Green Science Talk | Wednesday 16 March | BRSLI
Saiful Islam (Chemistry) will be giving a free talk (with 3D specs!) entitled: 'Watts new with clean energy materials? - batteries included' at the Bath Royal Literary & Science Institution (BRLSI), 16-18 Queen Sq. (Joint RSC / IoP / IoM event). Will update once added to word press

University death expert to take part in public debate about organ donation | Thursday 17 March | Watershed
 John Troyer (Social & Policy Sciences) will be discussing organ donation at a public debate at the Watershed in Bristol this month.

Seamus Heaney - Human Chain | Wednesday 23 March | BRSLI
David Skidmore (Education) will lead a discussion at the BRLSI about Seamus Heaney's latest collection of poetry, which has received critical acclaim from many prominent reviewers.

The crossroads of capitalist globalisation | Wednesday 13 April | Graduate Schools Open Lecture Series
Humanity stands at a crossroads. The era of ‘wild capitalist globalisation’ has drawn to a close, hastened by the global financial crisis. The contradictions of capitalism in the early twenty-first century are, for the first time, global in nature.For tickets Jose DiBella

Public lecture photo galleries:

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What's on

www.bath.ac.uk/whats-on

Tuesday 15 March
12:15 PM L&T paper lunch
12:15 PM Eucharist/Holy Communion
12:45 PM Oxfam Lunch
20:00 PM Comedy stage hypnotist - Adam Night

Thursday 17 March
19:30 PM A theory on the creation of American policy agendas

Friday 18 March
19:30 PM Seeing beneath the waves

Saturday 19 March
10:00 AM Workshop: Guerrilla knitting
10:30 AM Talking & being present

Sunday 20 March
10:00 AM Workshop: Knitting jewellery

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Arts

www.bath.ac.uk/icia

Concerts &  performances:

Exhibitions:   

Talks:

Workshops:

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Sport

Top class tennis tournament comes to STV
Bath’s first ATP Challenger Tour international tennis tournament and home netball fixtures against two of the top teams in the Fiat Superleague are the highlights of a month of stunning sporting action at the Sports Training Village in March. The ATP event will feature among others Wimbledon's marathon man Nicolas Mahut

Jamieson and Tadd land British titles
Michael Jamieson (Sports Performance student) and Stacey Tadd (Sport Development & Recreation) collected titles on the opening days of the British Swimming Championships. With this one is a student one is an athlete who also has a job here as a member of staff

Thunder steal Team Bath’s full-house home show
A devastating second quarter slump played its part in Team Bath Netball’s first home defeat of the 2011 Fiat Superleague season. The reigning champions in the end went down 49-52, to Northern Thunder in front of a capacity crowd.

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