University Updates
14 March 2008
News
No network services available - This weekend
To enable necessary engineering work to be carried out, there will be no network services available throughout the weekend of 15-16 March.
This means that a number of services will be unavailable from 7am Saturday till 5pm Sunday, including remote access, webmail and the University website.
University Reception desk to open in Library
Commencing on Monday 31 March 2008, initially for a trial period, a University Reception will be opened alongside the security desk in the Library. The Wessex House Security Office will close to all but car park and electronic access control enquiries; all other general or security enquiries including key and cash collection will be dealt with at the library desk by either the Security Officer or University Receptionist.
Staff Survey Report now available online
The report covering the results of the Staff Survey is now available on the University’s website. Many thanks to everyone who provided their views. As promised at the time the survey was launched, the results are being taken seriously. Work has already started in a number of areas identified by staff and there will be consultation as this work progresses.
University of Bath placed ninth in new quality-of-life index
Times Higher Education ranks the University of Bath ninth in a new UK university quality-of-life index. The index is intended as a tool for job-hunting academics. Our University is one of only two UK universities to appear in the top ten in both the new quality-of-life index and the Guardian University League Table 2008.
Sensors & Sensing networking event - an opportunity for new University collaborations
Academics and researchers interested or working in fields requiring sensors and sensing input are invited to a themed networking event on 16 April 2008. Participants from ten departments have already signed up to attend.
Researcher wins early career award for high impact science
Dr Araxi Urrutia Odabachian, (Biology & Biochemistry) has been awarded the Biochemical Society's Early Career Research Award.
Bonfire of the brands
Neil Boorman, journalist and author of Bonfire of the Brands, gave a guest lecture to students at the School of Management.
Words v The Word
Indian-born novelist and journalist Farrukh Dhondy came to campus this week to give a talk in the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences as part of their research seminar series.
Students organise wine/beer tasting to raise funds for Prince's Trust
A team of five students is participating in this year’s Profitunity! competition and will be competing against other student teams from across the UK to raise money for The Prince’s Trust. They held their first fundraising event this week, with more to follow.
Ceremony to mark completion of design phase of Woodland Court
Despite gale force winds and torrential rain the Topping Out Ceremony to mark the completion of the design phase of Woodland Court, took place on Tuesday. Approximately 30 guests attended, including members of the University Council and various representatives from companies involved in the project. Vice-Chancellor Professor Glynis Breakwell was invited to unveil a plaque to mark the occasion.
Information
Consultation: Research Practice
Comments are invited from staff and students on:
a)
Revision to the Procedure for Inquiring into Allegations of Misconduct in Research and Scholarship
b) Good Practice Code for Research
Please respond by email to: researchpractice@lists.bath.ac.uk by noon on Thursday 10 April.
New online plagiarism awareness tutorial - Epigeum - for staff & students
Epigeum aims to develop awareness of good academic practice in academic referencing, using a variety of online resources including videos, practical scenarios and quizzes.
Joyce Friend is new clerical staff rep on Equalities & Diversity Committee
Joyce Friend has been elected unopposed as the representative of Clerical Staff on the Equalities & Diversity Committee for the period ending 31 July 2009.
Office moves
The Student Accommodation Finance Office has moved location to 6W1.3 and joins the Student Accommodation and Private Sector Accommodation operations. Beds@bath has moved to the Accommodation Services Centre (ASC). All beds@bath enquiries, bookings, payments, arrivals and departures will all be dealt with at the ASC. In particular please note that payments for beds@bath bookings will be taken in the ASC.
Construction activity at Claverton Down continues to be dominated by the two major projects, 4 West and Woodland Court housing. The particularly noisy activity in 4 West at present is the final piece of demolition of the original staircase. This is being taken down to make way for the new atrium, which is an essential part of the new building's design and will link the Parade frontage to the new 4 West building to the south.
A36 closure
Two sets of roadworks will take place from 31 March. The road junction from Winsley to Brassknocker Hill will close completely for three weeks from 31 March. This will be followed by five weeks of single lane traffic. Another scheme of roadworks will close the viaduct section of the A36 for 12 weeks. The road will be impassable for everyone including cyclists and pedestrians due to the extensive works and the large machinery to be used.
Staff with difficult journeys to work: [A message from the Director of HR] The University is conscious that the A36 closure will cause many staff to have longer and more difficult journeys to work during this period, especially during the three weeks when Winsley Road and Brassknocker Hill are closed as well as the A36. Departments are being asked to be as flexible as possible, such as by accommodating different work hours or some working from home where the job allows. If you will be substantially affected, you are encouraged to discuss the position with your line manager.
Easter Playscheme
University of Bath Easter Playscheme will run 7-11 April at St Martin's Garden Primary School.
Hours: 8.30am-5.30pm.
Cost: £8 a day for students; £15 - staff; £16 - community. Parents are welcome to use the Care4 Voucher Scheme.
Learn Spanish in Alicante free of charge
Under the Cooperation Agreement between the Universities of Bath and Alicante, there are opportunities for members of staff to acquire basic language skills, or to improve those that they already have, whilst learning about Spanish culture. The courses and accommodation are free of charge and run in July and August. For information and application forms, email S.Stanford@bath.ac.uk Closing date for applications is 21 March.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Nominations & deadlines
Chancellor's Prize
The nominated student should have demonstrated academic excellence, together with a contribution to the life, academic reputation and general work of the University. Deadline: Monday 17 March.
Staff Recognition Award
All staff other than academics are eligible to receive this award which recognises either individual members, or small groups, of support staff who have shown excellence in the way in which they have undertaken their duties, and who have contributed to the broader life of the University. Please consider nominating a colleague. Deadline: Wednesday 30 April.
Teaching Development Fund
As part of its Learning & Teaching Strategy the University has continued its commitment to a Teaching Development Fund. Bids are invited for the latest round of funding totalling approximately £60,000, which is due to be allocated for the academic year 2008/09 on 10 June. In support of current developments at the University, the themes of this year's allocation will be: academic induction; assessment and feedback; employability; work-based and placement learning. Deadline: Friday 2 May.
In the media
- Robert Heath (Management) joined celebrities in The Hard Sell, a BBC TV documentary which examined advertising for drinks and cigarettes.
- Beautiful Young Minds, a TV film about children with autism which Geoff Smith (Mathematical Sciences) took part in, has been nominated for 'Best Observational Documentary' at this year's Royal Television Society Awards.
- Sheila Harper (PhD student in the Centre for Death & Society) was interviewed about her research into death rituals on Radio 4’s Thinking Allowed programme.
- ICIA's Joanna MacGregor was top pick of the week in The Guardian
Guide music section. It was also reviewed in the Bath Chronicle.
Training & development opportunities
- Emergency Life Support - 17 March
- Team Leading (ILM Level 2) - April/May
- Step Up to Management (Parts 1, 2 & 3) - 3 April, 17 April & 1 May
- South West Institutions' Middle Managers' Programme (SWIMM 2008) 14-16 May
What's on next week
Tuesday 18
10:00 AM Annual UKRO visit
Wednesday 19
12
:15 PM School based approaches to mental health problems in children
17:30 PM How to become a space traveller
18:15 PM Inaugural lecture by Chris McMahon
19:30 PM Stanley Spencer, Bristol, Balkans & Burghclere
Thursday 20
12:00 Noon SF Reading Group
19:15 PM Living with earthquakes: Know your faults
Friday 21
Saturday 22 19:45 PM Latin Dance Night
Exhibitions
- Polly Gould's
Peninsular | ICIA Art Space 1, until 20 June
In Peninsular, international artist Polly Gould explores mourning, melancholia, and the romantic theme of the artist’s lonely journey into awesome and sublime nature. Peninsular documents Gould’s journey to the Antarctic Peninsular taking with her the drawings she made of her father as he lay dying among the white expanse of the bed sheets. - Lines of Enquiry 4 | ICIA Art Space 2, until 4 April
A showcase of work by graduates of BA Fine Art Drawing School of Art & Design, Swindon College, investigating drawing and its role in contemporary art. - Seventy Years of Penguin Design | Holburne Museum, until 24 March
This fascinating exhibition from the Penguin archives examines the history of the Penguin book cover, tracing its design from the iconic triple-banded and colour-coded early covers to the multifarious covers of today. Free entrance to University staff.
Arts
Performances
-
BODYSOC Saligia: Seven Sins | ICIA Arts Theatre | Wednesday 9 - Saturday 12 April, 7.30pm
Produced by students from the University’s effervescent dance society, it features a variety of performances from guest societies, including the Breakdancers, the Cheerleaders, Latin and Ballroom and the Salsa Society. -
The Radio Science Orchestra with special guest Ken Hollings Memories of the Future | ICIA Arts Theatre | Friday 25 April, 7.30pm
The Radio Science Orchestra performs a live score to a series of short films of ‘radio scientific’ subjects. The Orchestra line up includes performances by the theremin, the world’s first practical electronic instrument, the only one today to be played without being touched.
Symposium
-
so far…Arts, Spatialisation and Memory | University of Bath | Saturday 19 April, 10am-5pm
Space is a central interest to many contemporary arts practitioners, and spans many other disciplines. ICIA’s Symposium unites academics, students and those working in the visual arts, music, theatre, dance, cultural studies, architecture, cultural geography and literature areas. Speakers include Dr Anna Fenemore, Pigeon Theatre & University of Leeds; Tim Brennan, artist & University of Sunderland; Dr Peg Rawes, The Bartlett, UCL; and Dr Axel Goodbody, University of Bath.
Sport
Three ‘finals’ stand between TeamBath and Superleague title
TeamBath’s netballers must win three finals in as many weekends if they are to retain their Co-operative Superleague title, says head coach Jan Crabtree.
Will the next Tsonga be discovered at international tennis tournament on campus?
Some of the world’s most promising young tennis players will be in action at the Sports Training Village next week when the University of Bath hosts a Lawn Tennis Association International Futures tournament.
Team Bath FC returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Cirencester Town on Tuesday.