10 June 2011
News
Bath scientists in stem cell breakthrough
Scientists, co-supervised by Melanie Welham (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) and David Tosh (Biology & Biochemistry), have discovered a new way to create precursor liver cells from stem cells, with the potential to impact on the testing of new medicines.
University to benefit from new James Dyson Foundation scholarships
The University is due to receive a scholarship from the James Dyson Foundation for a Phd student to study in the Faculty of Engineering & Design. The scholarship will be worth £25k each year for three years.
Ties strengthened between Bath and Argentine Chamber of Commerce
Delegates of the Argentine-UK Trade Mission 2011, visited the University in May as part of their business tour organised by the British–Argentine Chamber of Commerce in Argentina. Since 2002 the Chamber has hosted a number of our IMML Spanish students on placement in Buenos Aires.
Architecture Department introduces cross-cultural peer mentoring scheme
The new Architecture Cross-Cultural Peer Mentoring scheme was launched last week in conjunction with the International Student Advice Team and the Students' Union.
British and international students from as far afield as the Philippines, Nigeria, Lithuania, China, Malaysia, Poland and beyond, met to discuss cultural differences and define their roles in building bridges with new first year students when they arrive in September.
Santander Universities announces another three-year partnership with Bath
We are delighted to announce a gift of £390,000 to support students from all over the world as part of another three-year partnership with Santander Universities. The gift is to be used for undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships, travel awards, entrepreneurship awards, academic exchanges, volunteer awards, prizes in arts and media and developing Bath's Iberamerican Film Bank.
Awards
SU shortlisted for HE Students' Union of the Year
Judges including Shami Chakrabarti CBE, the BBC’s Sean Coughlan and Endsleigh Managing Director Ian Passmore have shortlisted our Student's Union along with five others, for the NUS's Student's Union of the Year award. The gongs will be presented at a special ceremony in Leeds on Monday 20 July.
Students celebrate extra-curricular success
More than 50 of the University's students have received Development & Achievement Awards which commend students who have taken on part-time jobs, completed skills training workshops or succeeded in the University’s extra-curricular recognition scheme, known as the Bath Award.
South West Regional Talent Centre needs your votes!
With an eye on the 2012 London Olympics, our Southwest Regional Talent Centre aims to assist multi-talented young sportsmen and women by providing access to top strength & conditioning coaches. They are now hoping to be successful in the National Lottery funding awards and are looking for your support.
Information
Natwest campus branch to close Friday 10 June 2011
Natwest customers may already be aware of the bank’s intention to close its branch on campus for the duration of the student vacation. However, we have now been informed that this branch is to close permanently. Therefore the bank will cease trading today, Friday 10 June 2011.
Student mailing lists - courses.bath.ac.uk - 'frozen' until Thursday 1 September
From this week course student mailing lists have been frozen and will continue to reflect only last year’s students until the end of August 2011. This means this year's students will remain contactable via these lists until the end of August. They will be updated to show next semesters students on 1 September 2011.
Agresso Marketplace now launched
The new Agresso Marketplace has been launched across the University, changing the way staff purchase goods and services. Orders to Lyreco, Sigma, Fisher and VWR should now be placed through the new process. If you place orders for goods and services and don’t know about the Marketplace, come along to our next demo on Wednesday 7 June to find out more.
Motorcyclist parking
In order to encourage the greater use of Green transport including motorcycles, the Security and Estates Departments, together with a representative from the Scooter & Motorcycle Users' Group (SMUG) have conducted a survey of available motorcycle parking and made provisions for additional parking in the under-deck. It is proposed to add additional parking at 3 South and the Estates Ramp in the near future.
Upcoming deadlines
Call for bids: HEA Development Funding - Deadline Wednesday 15 June 2011
The Higher Education Academy is offering bid-based development grant funding to stimulate evidence-based research and encourage innovations in learning and teaching that have the potential for sector-wide impact. The first phase begins with an open call for individual grant scheme bids. If you are intending to submit a bid, you are encouraged to contact the Learning & Teaching Enhancement Office who can provide advice and feedback on your proposal.
Last chance to process in the Summer Award Ceremonies - Deadline Friday 17 June
If you are eligible and would like to process in the 2011 Summer Award Ceremonies, held at Bath Abbey on Tuesday 5, Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 July, this is the last week you will be able to return your form to the Events & Ceremonies Office in East Building 2.2.
ESRC demand management measures - Comments by Saturday 16 June
The ESRC is introducing an initial programme of measures of improved self-regulation and change to its existing peer review practices and submission policies. It would welcome your views on the potential options.
Events
Watch video capturing highlights of our Alumni Reunion
Highlights from the University’s latest Alumni Reunion, which took place on Saturday 7 May 2011, have been made into a short film. The film, commissioned by the Alumni Relations Team and made by Bath company Suited & Booted, captures some of the best bits of the day when nearly 300 alumni and friends of the University gathered on campus to celebrate the anniversary of their graduation.
Interdisciplinary First Great Western CO2 Conversion meeting - Monday 13 June
A one-day meeting will be held with international guests and visitors and all PDRA and PhD students giving presentations about their work in the project. The meeting will be held in 3WN 2.1 starting at 10am.
Do you want to know more about dementia? - Wednesday 22 June
A series of short talks for the public will be hosted by the University and the University of Bristol's Alzheimer's Research UK Network. The talks take place 6:30pm - 9pm and will cover memory and dementia, current treatments and latest research. Attendance is free of charge, but space is limited so please reserve your place in advance by contacting Jo McTiernan on 0117 3402385 or by emailing dementia-research@bristol.ac.uk.
Work perks
- Second-hand book sale Hopefully the first of many and a chance to meet some of the Omnibus Team. Come along to the Parade for a browse and a chat on Wednesday 15 June from 12.30pm, between 4W/3W entrances unless it's raining.
- We have almost sold out of the Wizard of Oz/London Shopping trip on Wednesday 21 September. If you want one of the very last places contact M.Pickering@bath.ac.uk.
- Don't forget to sign up for the latest Omnibus Quiz 'Around the World in 80 Questions….. or maybe fewer!' The date for your diary is Tuesday 28 June. New teams particularly welcome.
- The Petanque Team is going strong, meeting once a week for practice and playing on Tuesdays in Queen's Square at 6 pm. Why not drop by and show your support even if you don't want to play? Alternatively contact Kate Woodthorpe if you would like to join in.
In the media
Would you like to receive a daily email of news stories that feature the University? Please email press@bath.ac.uk and include the word 'Headlines' in the subject box. A selection of HE stories in the national media is also included. A more comprehensive list of the University's media coverage is available at www.bath.ac.uk/news/bathinpapers.
- Christine Griffin (Psychology) discussed children as consumers with Mark O'Donnell on BBC Radio Wiltshire [00:10:47].
- Research co-supervised by Melanie Welham (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) and David Tosh (Biology & Biochemistry), into simplifying the process of using stem cells to create liver cells, was covered by BBC Bristol. Others to feature the news were the BBSRC, InSciences and Media News Wire.
- Gregory Schwartz (Management) was part of a group of scholars who wrote a letter featured in the Guardian under the headline "Coalition's spending plans simply don't add up".
- Guy Standing's (Social & Policy Sciences) letter about the problems of using randomised trials in third world countries appeared in the Guardian.
- The James Dyson Foundation Scholarship to be offered in the Faculty of Engineering & Design was featured in Times Higher Education as well as in the Manufacturer & BBC News Wiltshire.
Alumni:
- Tom Pellereau (MEng Hons. Innovation & Engineering Design, 2002) returned to Bath after his team won the latest round of the BBC programme The Apprentice. The story was featured by the Bath Chronicle.
- Ian Thwaites' (BSc Hons. Sport & Exercise Science, 2003) unusual career path was featured in the Financial Times.
- Stuart Rhodes (BSc Hons. Business Administration, 2003) was named as part of the next generation of rising star fund managers by the Financial Times.
- Helene Laverdiere's (PhD Sociology, 1990) attendance at the first question period of the Canadian Parliament was heavily covered in the Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette & on Canada.com
- Charlie Harry Francis (BSc Hons. Business Administration, 2006) who is in the business of using liquid nitrogen to make any ice-cream flavour you want was featured by Wales Online.
- Mike Novels (BSc Hons. Engineering Metallurgy, 1970) CEO of Preactor International was the subject of the Plan of Action interview in European Supply Chain Management.
Lectures
Bath Science Café: Perfect wound repair – lessons from embryos Monday 13 June
On Monday the Bath Science Café will look at tissue repair in embryos and what this can teach us about wound repair. The talk begins at The Raven in Bath city centre at 7:30pm.
Dragon’s Den star to inspire academics Wednesday 15 June
Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Doug Richard is presenting a lecture to University academics on how to turn research into business ventures. It will be held in the brand new 350-seat lecture theatre located in the recently opened East Building. Places are still available if you would like to register for one.
Expert talks about how US policy in the Caribbean nearly caused the end of the world Wednesday 15 June
Historian Alex von Tunzelmann will talk about the largely secret war fought by the US against communism in Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. To attend simply turn up at 5.15pm to 8W1.1.
Monte Carlo or bust: smart simulation for serious science Wednesday 15 June
In his inaugural lecture Professor Nigel Wilding will explore the computer simulation of changes of state in models for atoms and complex molecules. For free tickets, please email the Faculty of Science on extension 3647.
Drinking, music, having fun and stuff: The importance of identity and belonging in young people's lives Thursday 30 June
Christine Griffin (Psychology) will discuss how the activities of young people have often been the focus for adult anxiety, disapproval – and fascination - in her inaugural lecture. Drawing on material from several collaborative research projects she'll consider how adult concerns about young people’s alcohol consumption, sexuality, appearance, unemployment, mental health and taste in music, are not always shared by the young people themselves. The lecture takes place at 6.15pm in 5W 2.1.
Training & development
- Managers' Forum - Monday 20 June
- Recruiting casual student staff - Tuesday 21 June
- Retirement - planning for the future - Wednesday 22 June
- Visit of the EPSRC - Wednesday 22 June
- IT skills
- Staff development
- e-Learning courses
- Training opportunities for researchers
Arts
www.bath.ac.uk/icia
Exhibitions:
- Artist-in-Residence Janek Schaefer | ICIA Art Space 1 | Until Friday 17 June
Janek Schaefer is a sound artist, musician and composer. As the Olympics approach, Schaefer explores the University’s Sports Training Village via his camera lens and microphones to create a mixed-media installation that responds to ICIA’s 2011 theme Set in Play. - Artist-in-Residence Tom Marshman | ICIA Art Space 2 | Until Friday 17 June
This multi-media exhibition marks the conclusion of Tom’s residency. Inhabiting the gallery space, Tom creates a domestic dwelling; combining real furniture from students’ rooms with simple, life-size, wall drawings of interiors, interwoven with video and photography from interactions on campus. - Photography Exhibition University of Bath & Photosoc | ICIA Art Space 3, University Hall Foyer | Until Friday 17 June
A chance to see the winning entries and runners-up from the University’s competition based on ICIA’s 2011 theme “Set in Play…” - Heart of Darkness exhibition sponsored by the ICIA | North Vaults, Green Park, Bath | Until Sunday 12 June
Taken from the title of the classic work by Joseph Conrad, this exhibition aims to explore the various forms of darkness that may be encountered regarding some thing, act, or event that one has witnessed or been involved in.
Workshops:
- Zimbabwean Music Course with Chartwell Dutiro | ICIA Arts Barn Studio 1 | Starts Monday 11 July
Zimbabwean musician and ethnomusicologist of SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) in London, Chartwell Dutiro delivers a one-week course specialising in the music traditions of his native Zimbabwe. Chartwell teaches through community singing, dance and mbira playing.
Sport
Greene to captain GB at Euro Team Champs
University of Bath-based hurdler Dai Greene said he was surprised and honoured to be asked to captain the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team to compete at the Spar European Team Championships in Sweden this month. He is joined in the GB team by Danny Talbot (Sports Performance student) and Craig Pickering (Sport & Exercise Science graduate).
Mayor teams up with Amy
Outgoing Mayor of Bath, Shaun McGall (Learning & Teaching) teamed up with Amy Williams (Sports Performance Graduate), Bath’s Olympic Winter Games gold medallist, at a training session at the University's push-start track. The Mayor hosted a Civic Reception for Amy as she became the first female Honorary Freeman of the City of Bath a year ago – a celebration that took place the same day that Shaun became Mayor.