University Updates
13 November 2009
News
Diversity is key to the future success of Higher Education
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glynis Breakwell, has told a meeting of the AUA (Association of University Administrators) that the sustainability challenges faced by the HE sector can only be met by individual institutions developing their own diverse plans to tackle them.
National HE STEM Programme Universities announced
Bath is one of six universities working as part of a major initiative to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) throughout England and Wales. The six partner universities will develop and initiate activities in their regions as part of the Higher Education STEM Programme.
New UKOLN Open Science report released
A new Open Science report written by Liz Lyon, Director of UKOLN at the University, reports key research trends that could have far-reaching implications for science, universities and UK society. The report looks at how technologies can support the open movement to share data, workflows, methods and research outputs.
Sport & Exercise Medicine doctors increase the prescription of exercise
Doctors who are studying Sport & Exercise Medicine are prescribing more exercise to their patients, a survey carried out at the University's School of Health suggests. GPs also said that in order to motivate patients to change their exercise behaviour they needed more time for individual consultations and more information about specific local services on offer.
Staff news
Professor Harry Daniels to direct Global Challenges & Social Change Initiative Network
Harry Daniels (Education) is to direct the Global Challenges & Social Change Initiative Network which aims to explore the likely futures for education, well-being and human security as new economic conditions emerge in Brazil, Russia and South Africa.
Professor Andrew Stables to give lecture series in Taiwan
Andrew Stables (Education) will be going to Taiwan as a Visiting Professor sponsored by the Taiwan National Science Foundation from 14-22 November. He will be giving a series of lectures and workshops on conceptions of childhood and on semiotics as a foundational discipline.
University participates in celebration of Japanese university’s anniversary
Maggie Ward Goodbody, Director of the English Language Centre, was an invited guest representing the University at Fukuoka University’s 75th anniversary celebrations in October.
Christine Bone to speak at Transition Bath Big Event
Christine Bone (School of Management) is running a workshop on ‘compacting’ at an event called the Big Event, run by Transition Bath, on Saturday 14 November. Christine will be sharing her experiences of ‘compacting,’ a movement which started in America.
Professor invited to sit on on the ESRC commissioning panel
Chris Griffin (Psychology) has been asked to be a member of the commissioning panel for the ESRC 2009/10 large grant scheme. The panel will be made up of around 15 senior academics across a range of disciplines and will have a key role to play in assessing the applications on behalf of the Research Grants Board and Council in identifying the very best candidates.
Student news
Bath student named ‘World Masters Games Champion’
Sandra Smith-Vokroi, a final year student in Social Work & Applied Social Studies, has just returned from the World Masters Weightlifting Championships in Sydney as ‘Games Champion’ after coming first in the ‘snatch’ and ‘clean & jerk’ categories.
Students bring Apprentice-style business to an empty shop in Bath
Ten teams of students from the University are finalising business plans that will see them bring new life to an empty shop in the city centre for ten days from Tuesday 10 November.
RAG fireworks event raises almost £5,000 for charity
Thank you to everyone who attended Bath Rag Family Fireworks on Saturday 7th November. This year's total was around £5,000 which is a massive increase on last year's takings.
Information
ParkingPlus gets go ahead
We are pleased to announce that the University is going ahead and implementing ParkingPlus with effect from 1 November 2009. The Project Board would like to thank all members of staff who participated in the consultation process for their valuable input.
Photosoc Photography Competition
This year’s photography competition is linked to ICIA’s 2010 theme the place of work, entrants can submit up to three photographs that are inspired by, or relate to the phrase 'the place of work' which is open to individual interpretation. The judges will be looking for work that is powerful, evocative, original, and experimental.
Wanted: Interesting stories about Winter graduands
Do you know a student who has had to overcome challenges in order to graduate this winter? The University Press Office is looking for moving or unusual stories in the run up to the winter graduations, as part of its publicity plans for the December event. If a student you teach has an interesting story alongside their academic achievement and you’d like to share it, please contact Faye Lockier on ext 4220.
Mediation service for staff and students
Mediation is an informal, structured process in which an independent, impartial third party- a mediator- helps people in a disagreement to create for themselves a way forward in a dispute or other conflict situation. Requests for mediation support may arise from a number of sources: the individuals themselves, line managers, trade unions, or from HR.
Interim Linux (LCPU) is available via SSH
BUCS has put in place an interim Linux (LCPU) that is available via SSH or any X-terminal (e.g. Exceed on a PC) and any Public Access Computers (PACS) such as those in the library. You can access this as before through the windows start menu/ Programs/ UNIX applications.
New starters in October 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.
Closure of Bath NHS Research Ethics Committee – seeking the views of users
As part of a national streamlining plan, the National Research Ethics Service is proposing to close Bath NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC) by March 2010. This would mean the nearest committee to Bath would be in Bristol.
UBSA Christmas shopping trip to London
See the sights, go Christmas shopping in the West End, take in a show the choice is yours! This trip is open to all staff and family & friends from outside the University.
How satisfied are you with Purchasing Services?
In an effort to improve the services offered to departments across campus, Purchasing Services has introduced Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that seek to annually measure customer satisfaction with the services provided. If you deal with Purchasing Services, please could you complete their survey?
Changes to 20A & 20C timetables
As of 2 November there have been some alterations to the timetables which may affect you.
Swap Shop wiki
Does your department need to get rid of something that might be useful to another department? Why not use Purchasing’s Swap Shop wiki to swap it (or possibly just give it to them!)
Pilot Sabbatical Leave Scheme - call for applications
Individuals wishing to apply for sabbatical leave should submit an application for sabbatical leave via their Head of Department/School by 27 November.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobsto
Alumni & Development News
Alumni Stewart Till buys UK Icon
Stewart Till (BSc Economics & Administration 1973) has just bought the UK operations of Icon (Mel Gibson's LA based Icon Group). The transaction comprises Icon’s international sales company, the distribution operation based in the UK, and the Majestic Films & Television library.
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.
Inaugural Blues Reunion Dinner
The first ever large-scale event for sporting alumni of the University was held on 12 November in the prestigious Thomas Lord suite at Lord's Cricket Ground. 120 alumni, staff and guests gathered together for a glittering black-tie dinner, which included a speech from Justin King, (BSc Management 1983, Hon DBA 2009) CEO of Sainsbury's.
DEK Solar adds Bath alumni George Foot to their team
DEK Solar has extended its team with the addition of new Solar Project Manager, Bath alumni George Foot. Designed to support the growing demand for the company's services, George's new role is focused on the development of next-generation solar solutions.
Research volunteers wanted
- 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. - Win £25 voucher: Survey on safety of cervical cancer vaccine
A group of Pharmacy researchers are looking into the safety of the HPV vaccine in the prevention of cervical cancer since this is currently a topical issue that is being debated amongst the general public and health professionals alike. Please help by completing a short online survey.
- Judge how well six scenarios describe privacy (5-minute survey)
- School for Health researcher David Moore is offering £5 to all staff and students who volunteer to participate in an experiment which takes no more than one hour and involves computerised reaction time tasks, questionnaires, and a mildly painful heat or pressure sensation.
- 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
- Richard Whitman (ESML) was interviewed by an Iranian TV channel, Press TV and featured in Austrian weekly Die Presse, commenting about the implications of the Lisbon treaty. He was also interviewed by a Japanese daily newspaper, Hokkaido Shimbun, and Bloomberg News.
- Students Priyesh Patel, Qing Li, Monica Cheng, Mona Matei and Siobain Hone (Student Union enterprise coordinator) were interviewed by Radio Bristol about the SU enterprise student shop in Bath. Priyesh Patel was also interviewed by Bath FM.
- Simon Roberts (School for Health) was filmed by ITV West Country about his research into rugby injuries.
- James Bilzon (School for Health) spoke to Bath FM about about how more GPs are encouraging exercise instead of medication.
- Gary Fooks (School for Health) spoke to BBC Radio 4's 'Thinking Allowed' about his research into mis-sold endowment mortgages.
- Richard Elliott (School of Management) commented on food-label-style tags for degrees. Guardian
- Former student Kieran O’Neill features in the Sunday Times after a £1.3m backing for his new venture.
- Paula Smith (Psychology) speaks to The Times about changing the attitudes of children to make dying less scary.
- Manuel Souto-Otero (Education) was interviewed by Spanish National radio station, Radio Nacional de Espana, regarding the decrease in numbers of Erasmus students in France, he was also interviewed by Spanish newspaper, Faro de Vigo about his current research activities.
Training & development
- Chairing recruitment panels 11 or 17 November
(It will be mandatory for Chairs to have attended this course from 1 January 2010) - Women’s Development Network lunch - Women & Fitness 20 November
- GTA/PGR intensive teaching course 24 November
- Leading research teams 24 November
- Publishing in academic journals: tips from the experts 25 November
(Only open to academics and research staff) - ILM Level 2 team leading award January-February 2010
- CMS training courses
- Staff Development programme | PDF to print
- e-Learning staff development programme
- Monthly learning & teaching paper lunches
Forthcoming lectures
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
I-SEE seminar - 'From chaos in marine habitats to fingers of sound in space'
Jacques Yves Guigné, Visiting Professor (Physics) is to present 'From chaos in marine habitats to fingers of sound in space - A journey into connecting ideas' on Tuesday 17 November
Lady Miller of Batheaston, the origins and achievements of her poetical assemblies
A free public lecture about the elusive 18th century Lady Miller of Batheaston, and her poetry gatherings, will take place on campus on Wednesday 18 November.
The cosmic web
We have so much more to learn about the Universe that surrounds our world but a public lecture on campus on Thursday 19 November will give people the chance to find out how physicists are weaving together ideas to explain how it came to be.
Dates for your diary
- University Carol Service 9 December
- Winter graduations 15/16 December
What's on
More details - www.bath.ac.uk/whats-on/
Monday 16
Global Entrepreneurship Week
12:15 PM Verbal Reasoning Test only
13:15 PM
Interview Techniques
13:15 PM
Complexity/BICS seminar - Singular solutions of the Korteweg-de Vries equation
18:30 PM Leadership Skills
19:30 PM Sustainable energy - Scope & limitations
19:30 PM Elements of laughter
Tuesday 17
09:45 AM Audit Committee (Special)
12:15 PM Mid week Eucharist/HC Service
12:45 PM Oxfam lunch
13:15 PM Top Tips for Passing an Assessment Centre (by a Bath Alumnus)
13:15 PM CNM Seminar
18:30 PM Negotiation Skills
19:15 PM Views of Contemporary Latin America: Session 2 - Cuba
19:30 PM Mark Twain & exaggeration
Wednesday 18
10:00 AM Women's Enterprise Day Event
01:15 PM Interview skills for international students
13:30 PM Mock Assessment Centre
17:15 PM Lady Miller of Batheaston
19:00 PM String Orchestra Workshop
19:30 PM French film: Cleo de 5 a 7
Thursday 19
13:15 PM How to be an Enterprising Employee
14:30 PM Research Methodology
19:00 PM Herschel lecture: The Cosmic Web
19:30 PM Countdown to Copenhagen
Friday 20
12:15 PM Women's Development Network
13:15 PM Priority Management
14:15 PM Assessment Centre Workshop
15:15 PM Maths revision/Tuition for numeracy tests
Saturday 21
10:00 AM Throwing on the wheel - 3 day course
14:30 PM North and South and the condition of the English novel
18:00 PM Samba Workshop
19:30 PM University of Bath Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir
Arts
Full details: www.bath.ac.uk/icia
Concerts and Performances:
bgroup about around | ICIA Arts Theatre | Saturday 14 November, 6pm & 8pm
Paying reference to the timeless tradition of a circular gathering, about
around places its audience in an intimate ring of 50 seats. The dancers enact a sequence of events that chart the passing of an hour, exploring ritualistic conventions from primitive to modern day.
University of Bath Philharmonic | Orchestra & Choir St Stephen's Church, Lansdown Road, Bath | Saturday 21 November, 7.30pm
A joint concert of beautiful classical music brought to you by the University Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir.
Mem Morrison RINGSIDE A Celebratory Performance | Guildhall, High Street, Bath | Friday 27 November, 7.30pm
Mem Morrison requests the pleasure of your company at the Guildhall, Bath.
Take a front row seat, join the family and meet the many potential brides at
this long overdue wedding reception. Ringside draws on a lifetime of remembered Turkish Cypriot family weddings.
Exhibitions:
Lucy Harrison Remains | ICIA Art Space 2 | Until Friday 18 December, Monday - Saturday, 10am-5pm
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, Monday - Saturday 10am-5pm
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.
Films:
Cléo de 5 à 7 (PG) | Lecture Theatre: 3WN 2.1, University of Bath | Wednesday18 November, 7.30pm
A French new wave classic, Agnès Varda eloquently captures 1960s Paris with this real-time portrait of a carefree young singer set adrift in Paris. Dir Agnès Varda, France 1962, 89 mins, subtitled.
Sport
American Football Club 'The Sting' kick off season
Building on the success of last year's season ending event ‘The Sting’, the American Football club are set to hold another showpiece event to kick off their home ties in the upcoming season when they face the Team Solent Redhawks on Sunday 15 November.
Brits secure bronze medal and two top-six spots in opening round of Skeleton World Cup
Britain’s skeleton sliders made a strong start to their 2009/10 Skeleton World Cup campaign with a bronze medal and fourth and sixth place finishes in Park City, the USA yesterday (Thursday).
TeamBath Netballers prepare for new Superleague campaign
TeamBath’s netballers will begin the defence of their Co-operative Superleague crown with a home fixture against Northern Thunder that will be televised live by Sky Sports.