Contents

Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes will work with coaches and athletes this weekend at the STV

  • QUOTE FOR THE WEEK:
    It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.

    Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)
    Chinese philosopher & reformer

University Updates

12 October 2007

News

Discovery offers hope of halting Motor Neurone Disease progression
Scientists have discovered a causal link between the gene for a small protein involved in the formation of blood vessels and the development of some forms of Motor Neurone Disease.

Rugby kick success may come down to swing of the arm, shows research
Johnny Wilkinson’s prodigious kicking success may come down to what he does with his arms - it is not just his trademark preparation stance that does the trick.

University signs agreement with Abbey bank
An agreement between Abbey, part of the Santander Group, and the University has been formally signed.

Dame Kelly Holmes at the STV this weekend
Double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes will be at the STV this weekend as part of the On Camp with Kelly initiative, which is supported by Norwich Union.

Honorary graduate awarded Nobel Prize
Professor Sir Martin Evans, who received an honorary doctorate from the University in 2005, has this week been awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine.

Video conferencing could help resolve conflicts at work and at home, researchers say
The latest video technology could help to resolve conflicts between employees at work, neighbours or even family members, researchers believe.

TV documentary highlights ‘beautiful young minds’ of autistic children
A Bath academic who works with the UK’s brightest young mathematicians is taking part in a TV documentary that will highlight the special abilities of some children with autism (BBC 2, 9.00-10.30pm on Sunday 14 October 2007).

Weekend courses in October
The chance to explore the myths and legends of the Lord of the Rings, learn African tribal drumming and understand the British weather is on offer as part of a new programme of weekend courses on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October.

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Information

Coming soon, staff survey 2007: your survey - your say
From mid-October to mid-November the University will be carrying out a staff survey which will give staff the opportunity to have their say on issues that affect them in the workplace. The University, the trade unions and Capita's Survey & Research Unit have worked together in partnership to create the questionnaire.

The death of Sylvia Richardson is announced
The death has been announced of Miss Sylvia Richardson, who worked in the University Registry from 1965 until her retirement in 1988, for most of that time as Examinations Officer.

List owners must move lists over to new system by the end of october
Over the summer Computing Services launched a new system for managing mailing lists.The new lists system and the two older lists systems have been running in parallel since August to allow time for people to move their lists; however the old lists systems are due to be switched off at the end of the month.

Membership of the University Court
Nominations are invited for one full-time member of technical or research staff to serve on the Court of the University.

Mindmatters website helps promote student health
Student Services has recently launched its new 'mindmatters' website to help students better understand what mental health is, and what they can do if they experience mental health difficulties.

Changes being planned as a result of campus study
A report from the consultants Pragma, who were engaged by the University to conduct a study into how the central campus area could be made as attractive, accessible and pleasant an environment as possible, was received in July.

School for Health grows and sets future challenges
The School for Health has made a number of appointments during the summer. Dr Anna Gilmore, public health expert formerly of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Dr Millicent Stone, consultant rheumatologist at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, both bring a wealth of research experience to the school.

Success for mechanical engineering students
Keri Collins, a PhD student the Department of Mechanical Engineering, was one of 35 students in the UK chosen to exhibit a poster during the BA Festival of Science at the University of York. The festival aims to encourage young scientists to communicate the social and ethical issues that arise from their research. Undergraduate students, Elwish Raut and Gail Watts, have been awarded scholarships from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The scholarships are awarded to students who have obtained excellent A-level results.

Enterprise Bursary students given final funding
Eighteen students who were awarded University Enterprise Bursaries have been presented with the final instalment of their funding by Ian Jamieson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Learning & Teaching, at a reception in the Wessex House Restaurant.

Two new podcasts of science lectures given this week are now on the University's website
Podcasts of Dr Ken Bray's lecture: 'The science of the swerving free kick' and 'Fifty years since Sputnik' by award-winning space historian Piers Bizony are now available on the University website.

Seminar on the sustainability of biofuels
Postgraduate and postdoctoral students are invited to a seminar on 'Sustainability implications of biofuels for transport in the UK. The seminar, which is free of charge, will be held at the Myddelton Conference Suite in east London between 1.45pm-5pm on 1 November 2007. For more information contact William Mezzullo.

Fellow to help students and staff write
Trevor Day has been appointed as the University’s Royal Literary Fund Fellow and will be available on Mondays and Tuesdays from 15 October to offer writing coaching to science or engineering & design students and staff.

Staff who started at the University in September
A list of staff who joined the University in September

Reminder of the smoking ban
Staff and students are reminded of the smoking restrictions on campus.

Students to collect glasses for world sight day
Students taking part in Bath Rag will be collecting spare spectacles as part of a 'Glasses amnesty month'.

Fitness Suite Offer
TeamBath is offering a reduced membership fee for the fitness suite of £199 per year, which works out at less than £4 per week. For more information email Miles Peyton on m.j.peyton@bath.ac.uk or call ext 3597.

Yoga courses on campus
Yoga classes for all abilities are now on offer at the campus, taught by staff member Dr Jon Hunt from Research & Innovation Services.

Consultation on academic staff appraisal
The University is beginning a consultation on the appraisal of academic staff following clear signs of dissatisfaction with the current system. A consultation paper plus a draft of a new form has been sent to all academic departments. This is also available online so that any individual members of academic staff can also make a response. Responses should be sent to Professor Ian Jamieson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Learning & Teaching, Vice-Chancellor's Office. Deadline: 26 October 2007.

Westwood Nursery collecting Tesco vouchers
The University nursery is taking part in the Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs 2007 scheme, which will run between September and November 2007. It hopes to collect as many vouchers as possible to receive free sport equipment for the nursery and would like to thank everyone in advance who will be helping collect vouchers.

Book your Christmas lunch early
Wessex Restaurant is now taking Christmas bookings. The Christmas lunch menu is available from 3 December until 21 December. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Call ext: 5345.

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

Lectures

Public lectures at the University
The programme for 2007/8 has been published. Members of the general public, staff and students are all very welcome to attend the lectures, which are usually free. The list will be updated as more lecture titles become available.

Misunderstanding Sustainability: Don't conserve, innovate - learning from Keynes and Schumpeter
As part of the ICE series, Dr Adrian B Winnett, Department of Economics & International Development, looks at contrasting economic models of sustainability, the traditional model and a newer, less conventional approach, and the work of the two greatest economists of the twentieth century: John Maynard Keynes and Joseph Schumpeter. The talk will be held at 4.30pm, Tuesday 16 October

Public lecture: the ancient art of sacred geometry
The geometry of local Christian architecture in the Diocese of Bath & Wells will be explored at a free public lecture on Wednesday 17 October at 5.15pm.

Lunchtime lecture: the people of Neolithic Britain
The lives of the people who built monuments such as Stonehenge and Avebury will be discussed in a lunchtime lecture on Neolithic Britain at the University on Friday 19 October.

Chaplaincy lecture: Modern slavery & children's rights
Father Shay Cullen is a dedicated activist for children's rights in the Philippines, working to rescue them from exploitation in the sex industry. His lecture will look at what is being done in practical terms to mobilise world opinion and challenge authorities to address the situation. The lecture will take place during One World Week on Thursday 25 October at 7.15pm in 2E 3.1. For more information and to request a free ticket email catholicchaplain@bath.ac.uk

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Online resources

Websites take on new corporate look
The Learning and Teaching Enhancement Office website has been updated to bring it in line with the University template, and to ease navigation for students and staff. Student Support Services and the departments of Mechanical Engineering and European Studies & Modern Languages have also moved their sites to the new look recently.

 

Training & development opportunities

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In the media

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Exhibitions

Judith Tucker - Resort | ICIA Art Space 1, Claverton Rooms foyer, until 16 November
Judith Tucker's haunting drawings of the Baltic seaside resort of Ahlbeck are inspired by photographs her grandmother brought with her when she fled Nazi Germany to England in 1938. The charcoal drawings are infused with a sense of loss that shimmer with regret and yearning. Through melancholic coastal settings, the exhibition evokes memories of a vanished past.

Margareta Kern - Clothes for Death | ICIA Art Space 2, until 4 January
Interdisciplinary artist presents powerful and intimate photographs as a personal response to a tradition in Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina of women preparing clothes for their own burial.

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Arts

Booking now open for ICIA classes and performances
All classes start week commencing 8 October. Classes in dance, art and music. Sign up at ICIA box office (1E2.1) or call ext 6777

MUSIC
Polar Bear & The Blessing
Sat 20 Oct, 7.30pm
ICIA Arts Theatre
£9, £7 concs & Uni of Bath Staff
One of the most creative bands on the UK jazz scene, Polar Bear mix of raw jazz, cool grooves, funk, drum ‘n’ bass with an electronic soundscape. Features Mercury nominated Seb Rochford. Top Bristol jazz outfit The Blessing support.

DANCE / THEATRE
Hofesh Shechter - In Your Rooms
Sat 27 Oct, 7.30pm
ICIA Arts Theatre
£9, £7 concs & Uni of Bath Staff
Edgy energy and gritty physicality in this double bill of explosive and intense dance from Israeli born choreographer – now one of the rising talents of the UK dance scene.

VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOPS
Raku
Sat 27 Oct & Sat 3 Nov, 10am-4pm
Studio 2, ICIA Arts Complex
£68, £48 concs & Uni of Bath Staff
A chance to make, fire and glaze pots traditional Japanese rapid firing process where pots are removed red-hot from the kiln.

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Sport

Townley named FA Cup Player of the Round
Team Bath FC midfielder Matt Townley has won the prestigious Player of the Round award for scoring a six-minute hat-trick in his side’s 8-1 victory in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup, sponsored by E.ON.

“The Beach” in Bath
The University’s contractors will begin the task today of creating 'a beach' on campus as the city’s world-renowned Sports Training Village gets a new national beach volleyball training centre.

Alison secures doubles title
Student Alison Marr won the women’s doubles title at Badminton Scotland’s Bank of Scotland Under 19 National Junior Championships in Edinburgh.


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