University Updates
10 July 2009
Research news
Battle of the sexes benefits offspring, says research
Freya Harrison and Tamás Székely (Biology & Biochemistry) have found that birds compensate for a lazy partner by working harder to bring up their offspring, but not enough to completely make up for the lack of parenting. Their study will help them understand how animals like birds and primates have evolved the tendency to share their parental duties.
Dialogue between disciplines: two academics speak at smoking conference
Linda Bauld (Social & Policy Sciences) and Sue Wonnacott (Biology & Biochemistry) gave plenary lectures at the UK National Smoking Cessation Conference that took place in London on 22 & 23 June 2009. It is a good example of communication and cross-disciplinary collaboration between scientists and social scientists.
Community news
Somerset pupils triumph in construction challenge
Pupils from Frome in Somerset took top prize in the South West Bloodhound K’Nex Challenge, held at the University on Wednesday.
Pupils perfect French pop at University
Local school pupils from Trowbridge, Chippenham and Midsomer Norton had a go at performing French pop last week in a three-day language workshop at the University (1-3 July).
Acclaimed band runs free workshop for young people
Young people interested in music, video and performance are invited to attend an exciting free workshop with top electronic band members at Swindon College.
Student news
Bath PhD student wins Silver Medal at underwater acoustics conference
PhD student Melanie Keogh (Physics) won the Young Scientists Silver Medal for her presentation and paper given at the third Underwater Acoustic Measurements conference in Greece in June 2009.
Student scoops top prize for essay on disfigurement
An essay on “Coping with Disfigurement” has earned a Psychology gratduate a joint first prize in a national competition. Natalia Kucirkova’s essay ‘Intimate memoir of a journey to an embodied self’ scooped the prize in the competition organised by Changing Faces, a charity which supports and represents people with disfigurements of the face or body.
Other news
Summer graduation photos now available to view online
Photographs of the summer graduation 2009 can now be viewed online.
Announcement of the death of Professor David Bailey
The University regrets to announce the death of Professor David Bailey. He was Professor of Mathematics at Bath until his early retirement in January 1981, following twenty years’ service to the University and its predecessor institutions.
Bath Venturers wrestle cricket shield from Bristol after 10 years
University of Bath Venturers Cricket Club - the University’s staff and postgraduate side - came out as victors when they took part in a quadrangular Universities Twenty20 cricket competition at the University of Bristol Come Dingle sport facilities last Sunday (5 July).
New starters in June 2009
The New Starters update gives the name, job title and department of all new members of staff at the University who started in June 2009.
Psychology professor elected to Royal Society of Medicine
Suzanne Skevington, Professor of Psychology and Director of the WHO Centre for the Study of Quality of Life,
has been elected as an Associate Member of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Professor amongst the most highly cited authors in Europe
A recent published analysis of citations has identified Laurence Hurst (Biology & Biochemistry) as one of the most cited authors in the area of evolutionary biology.
Information
Swine Flu: new website updated
A very small number of University staff are reporting flu-like symptoms. Due to the recent decision made by the Government not to automatically test for swine flu it is not known whether the University has any confirmed cases. However, the individuals concerned have informed their respective line managers and are now recovering at home.
Appointment of new Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching)
Professor Ian Jamieson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching), will be retiring from the University in December 2009. A Search Committee has therefore been convened to begin the process of appointing his successor.
Report of University Council Meeting - 2 July 2009
A number of items were considered at the recent meeting of University Council, including proposals for academic re-organisation.
New starters in June 2009
The New Starters update gives the name, job title and department of all new members of staff at the University who started in June 2009.
Remember to re-set your voicemail message
Work carried out to the University telephone system last Thursday deleted any voicemail recorded on individuals' telephones. You may wish to re-reord a personalised message.
Claverton Rooms open for packed lunches
The Open University will be using 6 West South for their lunches in July and August and during this period the space will not be available to staff and students from 12 noon till 2.30pm. Therefore, those wishing to use a social space to eat their own lunch will be able to use the Claverton Rooms during the period up to 14 August.
Sandra Newell is retiring
Sandra Newell joined the University in August 2000 as Secretary to the Dean of Students, now Head of Student Services, and is due to retire on 24 July. Margaret Pickering has a card.
RICE Memory Trail
Take part in the 16th annual Memory Trail and help support research into Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Starting in the pretty village of Rode and following the River Frome as far as Tellisford the two longer routes then take you to Farleigh Hungerford and its 12th century castle and as far as the weir at Avoncliffe.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Research volunteers wanted
- Are you looking forward to a positive event in the near future?
- The effects of different thoughts and emotions on the experience of pain
- Do you Twitter?
- Smokers wanted
- Could everyday situations pose privacy concerns?
- How we relate to our thoughts
- Relationships between attention and pain experience
- How people respond to the use of mental visualisation
In the media
- Jollbot the leaping robot featured in the Daily Express
- Laurence Hurst (Biology & Biochemistry) featured in Science magazine talking about his research into the evolution of DNA.
- Ken Bray (Mechanical Engineering) was interviewed by Radio 5 Live about the science of goal scoring, following the recent signing of Michael Owen to Manchester United.
- Tony Walter (CDAS) featured in BBC World Service's Analysis programme talking about the public obsession with celebrity deaths, in the context of Michael Jackson's recent death.
- Vasanta Subramanian (Biology & Biochemistry) spoke to BBC Radio Somerset about news that sperm cells have been made from stem cells.
Training & development
- Theory & practice of grant writing - Optimising the approach 22 July
- An intro to HE - A programme for new managers and administrators 2-4 September 2009
- An introduction to project management 29 September (off-site at Marriott Airport Hotel, Manchester)
- Agresso familiarisation courses
- IT courses
- Content Management System (CMS) courses
- Summer e-learning staff development programme
- Opportunity to be involved in project to integrate Intute with Moodle
Forthcoming lectures, conferences & exhibitions
Food security on the menu at Science Café
The next Bath Science Café will meet on Monday 13 July to discuss the growing demands on food production and the challenge to find a sustainable solution.
Snapshots of research: University of Bath research captured through a lens
An exhibition of photographs taken by researchers which reflect the work they do at the University will be held at Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution (BRLSI), Queen Square, Bath on Wednesday 15 July.
Former President of Ireland to give lecture at Bath Abbey Wednesday 16 September
Staff and students are invited to attend a lecture by the Honourable Mary Robinson, former President of the Republic of Ireland, in Bath Abbey. The lecture, entitled ‘Realising Rights: the role of religion in human rights in the future’, is part of the 1100th anniversary celebrations of the Diocese of Bath & Wells.
What's on next week
More details about events below
Monday 13
19:30 PM What makes a petal? Mysteries of the Perianth
Tuesday 14
19:30 PM The hidden treasures of genomes - Adventures in DNA archaeology
Wednesday 15
13:00 PM Images of Research Photography Exhibition
Thursday 16
12:30 PM UBSA lunchtime horse races
Friday 17
14:30 PM Shakespeare's Sonnet
UBSA trips - open to everyone
- Trip to Cotswold steam railway & Cheltenham 25 July | £20
- Four-day tour of Ireland through County Cork/County Kerry/Killarney & the Ring of Kerry 4 September | £269
Sport
Gibbons wins bronze at World University Games
TeamBath judo player and Sports Performance student Gemma Gibbons has won bronze at the 2009 World University Games at Belgrade in Serbia.
Mini & junior tennis camps on campus this summer
TeamBath’s tennis coaching team are running mini and junior tennis camps for children aged 4-16 at the University this summer until the end of August.
Golds galore for student Katie at Island Games
Sport & Exercise Science student Katie Speller is celebrating winning eight medals at the XIII Natwest Island Games. The 20-year-old swimmer collected four gold medals and four silvers representing Jersey at the Games, which took place at Aland, a Swedish-speaking region of Finland.