University Updates
11 December 2009
News
Get ahead of the competition with an online management course
People wishing to develop their management skills and increase their chances of promotion are being invited to sign up for an online course at the University. The Professional Skills Management Course, which is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute, is being run by the University’s Division for Lifelong Learning.
Winter graduation ceremonies to take place at the Assembly Rooms next week
The University’s 2009 winter graduation ceremonies take place next week, with more than 700 students receiving their degrees next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Bath helps to launch new £4 million scholarships scheme
The University is one of a number of universities across the UK which are launching a groundbreaking £1,000 scholarship for students who wish to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.
Did economists contribute to the global financial crisis?
Last weeks Paul Ormerod’s lecture, ‘Have economists gone mad?’ attracted considerable interest from across the University community, when he spoke as part of the ‘Research in the World’ lecture series. The podcast is now available to download.
UKOLN Director invited to speak at modernisation of public libraries conference
Liz Lyon, Director of UKOLN, has been invited to speak at the MLA/LGA Conference on the modernisation of public library services. The Conference will take place on 14 December 2009 at the Local Government House Conference Centre, Smith Square, London.
Staff news
Bath team selected to present display at Royal Society’s Summer Exhibition
A team led by Chris Budd (Mathematical Sciences) and Giles Hunt (Mechanical Engineering) has been selected to present a display at the Royal Society’s Summer Exhibition, which will mark its 350th anniversary and will be taking place in the Year of Science (2010).
Academic gives evidence to House of Commons Select Committee
Geof Wood (Social & Policy Sciences), gave evidence on Tuesday 1st December to the House of Commons Select Committee for International Development on DFID’s Programme in Bangladesh.
Student news
Paralympian to cross the academic finishing line
Bath Paralympian Ben Rushgrove will cross the academic finishing line next week when he graduates at the University’s winter award ceremonies (Tuesday 15 December and Wednesday 16 December).
'My disability is my strength' says inspirational James
Mathematics student, James Gower has received an Individual Achievement STAR Award from the Shaw Trust charity and landed himself a job with accountancy firm Ernst and Young.
Alumni & Development News
G4S appoints new regional boss
Adam Miller who recieved a degree in Manufacturing Engineering and Management at Bath has been appointed G4S' regional Managing Director for East Africa.
Alumni Survey
The Alumni Relations Team is currently carrying out a survey of all graduates of the University. Over 900 have responded so far, and the results will be used to help determine the Alumni Relations Programme of events and communications for graduates.
Information
Best practice & guidelines for developing high quality research proposals
The Research Development & Collaborations (RD&C) Team is one of three teams within the Research Development & Support Office (RDSO). It has three focused activities, one of which is embedding best practice and guidance so that all academic staff have some information and tools to use to assist in the preparation of high quality research proposals.
Do you know the symptoms of meningitis?
A student has been admitted to hospital suffering from bacterial meningitis. She is receiving treatment and is recovering well. This notice is to give you some information about the disease, explain what is happening as a result and to remind you of the symptoms of bacterial meningitis.
New Starters - November 2009
The new starters update gives the name, job title and department of all new members of staff at the University who started in the previous month.
SET for Britain: Poster competition for early-career researchers
The overall aim of SET for BRITAIN is to encourage, support and promote Britain's early-stage and early-career research scientists, engineers and technologists. Deadline is Monday 21 December.
Times Higher to change their rankings methodology - have your say
Times Higher have signed an agreement with Thomson Reuters, the world’s leading research data specialist, to provide all the data for their annual World University Rankings from 2010 and beyond. You can tell them what you think about the change.
Consultation on extending the NFA to PGT programmes
The extension of the New Framework for Assessment to postgraduate taught (PGT) programmes is currently being considered (winter 2009/10). Principles for doing this were recently considered by Senate and approved at its meeting on 2 December 2009.
Postgraduate researcher training has positive impact
An online report is now available that presents an evaluation of the first year of the central Postgraduate Researcher skills programme ‘PGSkills’, which began in October 2008. It presents statistics on the number and variety of skills sessions, attendance and student feedback on sessions.
6 West South unavailable on Tuesday 15 December, 10am-12pm
6 WS is booked for an Accommodation & Hospitality Staff function from 10am to 12pm on Tuesday 15th December. The function will finish promptly so that staff and students can use the area for lunchtime as usual. Details of other functions taking place in 6WS in the lead up to Christmas will be posted on the homepage.
Nominations for David Parkin Professorship
Submissions are being taken for the David Parkin Professorship. The deadline for Heads of Departments to put forward one nomination to their Dean/Head of School is Friday 22 January 2010.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Christmas Information
Send free Christmas e-cards (login required)
Send a free Christmas e-card to family and friends this year. All five images have been selected from the University's 'inPictures' snow on campus gallery.
Have you booked your christmas lunch yet?
Celebrate the festive season with your colleagues and friends and indulge in one of the delightful Christmas Lunch Menus.
Research volunteers wanted
- Volunteers needed for study into the function of deliberate self-harm
Psychology PhD Student Peter Bandalli is looking for volunteers for his study aimed at those who have had personal experience with deliberate self-harm. - Pregnant women needed to take part in labour pain study
The Pan Bath & Swindon Primary Care Research Consortium based at the University hopes to recruit 225 pregnant women from the Bath, Wiltshire and Bristol area to take part in a study into labour pain drugs.
- Judge how well six scenarios describe privacy (5-minute survey)
- Want to vent about a privacy violation that kept you up at night? Fill out our 10-minute survey and tell us how you feel!
In the media
- Anil Markandya (Economics) spoke to Heart FM about his research in to the economics of climate change, which he presented at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this week.
- Guy Standing (Social & Policy Sciences) was featured in the Guardian arguing against cognitive therapy for the unemployed.
- The Brazilian magazine Veja featured Ken Bray (Mechanical Engineering) talking about the World Cup.
- Geoff Hammond (Mechanical Engineering) spoke to the Daily Mail about the climate change talks in Copenhagen.
- David Collard (Economics) was featured in the 'letters' section of the Guardian to talk about how Darwin and Wallace were inspired by Malthus.
Training & development
- 'Creative teaching & learning' seminar by US professor Wednesday 16 December
- Writing for publication workshop Monday 14 January
- Scientists are you capturing and analysing your data effectively? Tuesday 15 January
- ILM Level 2 team leading award January-February 2010
- Introduction to Project Management (Manchester) 29 April 2010/17 June 2010
- CMS training courses
- Staff Development programme | PDF to print
- e-Learning staff development programme
- Monthly learning & teaching paper lunches
Forthcoming lectures & seminars
Public lectures
The programme of free lectures open for staff, students and the general public is available online.
Podcasts
Catch up on any lectures you may have missed.
Bath Science Café: the evolution of disease
What Darwin didn’t know: the evolution of disease is the topic for discussion at next week’s Bath Science Café on Monday 14 December. The talk will be held in The Raven pub in Queen Street in the centre of town. No tickets or reservations are required - just turn up at 7.30pm for an 8pm start.
I-SEE seminar - 'Towards Local Costing of Climate Change Impacts for Decision Making in Adaptation'
This seminar, presented by Alistair Hunt (Economics) on Tuesday 15 December at the University, will outline the extent to which current methods have succeeded in estimating the impact welfare costs (equivalent to the benefits of adaptation) of climate change, and the limitations of such efforts.
What's on
More details - www.bath.ac.uk/whats-on/
Tuesday 15
09:00 AM NB Reduced seating in 6 West South (Ex-UBSA)
10:00 AM Award Ceremonies
12:15 PM Mid week Eucharist/HC Service
12:30 PM CANCELLED: UBSA tacky tinsel bingo
12:45 PM Oxfam lunch
13:15 PM SORTED: Revision & exam techniques
16:30 PM Towards local costing of climate change impacts for decision making adaptation
19:00 PM Race to Zambia
19:30 PM Samuel Johnson - 'That great cham of literature'
Wednesday 16
10:00 AM Award Ceremonies
13:15 PM SORTED: Networking for postgraduates
Thursday 17
12:00 Noon UBSA quiz
16:30 PM Reduced seating in 6 West South ex-UBSA)
Arts
Full details: www.bath.ac.uk/icia
Concerts and Performances:
Bath University Student Theatre - Twelfth Night | ICIA Arts Theatre | Wednesday 9 - Saturday 12 December, 7.30pm
In Shakespeare’s light-hearted romantic comedy love is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, as tricks are played and identities are mistaken.
Choral and Orchestral Society with special guests Bath Spa Band - Christmas Concert | ICIA Arts Theatre | Sunday 13 December, 7.30pm
A festive programme of carols, hymns and joyful music at this annual Christmas Concert by the University of Bath Philharmonic Orchestra, Concert Band and Choir with a special guest performance from The Bath Spa Band.
Exhibitions:
Lucy Harrison - Remains | ICIA Art Space 2 | Until Friday 18 December
Remains is a new body of work which explores demolition sites and brings
together material from East London, East Germany and the University
campus. Harrison's work combines photographs, observations and chance
encounters with published documents.
Alex Pearl - Goodbye to most of the daydreams | ICIA Art Space 1 | Until Friday
19 February
Alex Pearl applied to the British Antarctic Survey proposing not to go to
the South Pole. He then documented his non-journey. Both haunting and
humorous, his mini epic films, texts, drawings and sculptures carry an
acceptance of failure and disappointment as important parts of the human condition.
Sport
Bath student appears on Sky Sports as TeamBath prepare for Superleague opener
Pharmacy student and TeamBath netballer Amanda Trounce featured on Sky Sports News ahead of Thursday's (10 December) opening contest in the Co-operative Superleague.
Champions TeamBath off to a winning start
TeamBath made a winning start to the defence of their Co-operative Superleague netball title with a 54-41 victory over Northern Thunder at the Sports Training Village on Thursday 10 December.
STV fitness offer - Join now, pay nothing until 1 Jan 2010
If you join this month and quote ‘Team Bath Web Offer’ you’ll pay nothing until the 1st January 2010. That’s potentially a saving of up to £76.