University Updates
15 February 2008
News
Changes to the management structure of the University
In view of the forthcoming retirement of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and vacancies in the posts of Director of Human Resources and Director of Marketing & Communications, the management structure of the University has been reviewed. Expressions of interest are invited for various posts.
Updated information about A36 closure
Two sets of roadworks will take place from 31 March. The first will close the road junction from Winsley to Brassknocker Hill for three weeks, followed by seven weeks of single lane traffic. The second will close the viaduct section of the A36 for 12 weeks. Information for motor vehicles, bus users, cyclists & pedestrians is available.
Inaugural lecture: Hard cases make good mathematical laws
Geoffrey Burton will give his inaugural lecture as professor of mathematics in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at 6.15pm, on Wednesday 20 February. Admission is free but tickets must be reserved from Sheila Willmott.
Academics receive awards for UK-India initiatives
David Tosh (Biology & Biochemistry) and Darryl Almond (Mechanical Engineering) have both received collaborative research awards from the UK-India Education & Research Initiative (UKIERI).
Health psychologist advises B&NES on starting school
Julie Turner-Cobb (Psychology) this week addressed a conference organised by Bath & North East Somerset Council on the issues surrounding the ‘transition’ children go through as they start primary school.
Andrew Pettigrew named new EFMD Vice-President
The European Foundation for Management Development is recognised globally as a leading accreditation body of quality in management education. As Vice-President for the academic network, Professor Pettigrew will represent the 450 member business schools and will be key advisor to the Director General and CEO.
New chair for College of Academicians
Ian Gough (Social & Policy Sciences), who has been a member of the Academy of Social Sciences since 2002, was recently elected as Chair of the College of Academicians, one of the two central bodies of AcSS. He is also a member of the Academy Council and of its Nominations Committee.
Richard Guy appointed to Altea Therapeutics Scientific Advisory Board
"Altea Therapeutics has recently made several significant advances in the transdermal delivery field," said Professor Guy. "The PassPort Transdermal Delivery System has the potential to expand the classes of drugs that can be painlessly delivered from a skin patch. I am looking forward to working with the scientific team at the company."
Free online courses and courseware
Bai Xiao (Computer Science) has been appointed as Campus Ambassador for the University by Sun Microsystem Ltd. Sun offers 'OpenSource' technologies free to students and staff. Currently there are 16 universities in the UK involved in the Sun Academic Initiative.
Information
Simulated fires in South Car Park: please don't call fire brigade
The Students’ Union Transport Office will be carrying out Minibus Emergency Evacuation Plan (MEEP) training from 18 February to 29 February, every day from 2.15pm to 3.30pm. If you are at all concerned, please don't phone the Fire Brigade, contact Security on 666 (or 01225 383 999 if on a Mobile).
Wessex House - disconnection of electrical supply
Due to essential metering works the Department of Estates will be disconnecting the electrical supply to Wessex House from 8am until 2pm on Saturday 23 February. Estates apologises for any inconvenience caused, however the work is necessary.
Innovations in Learning & Teaching Week - 14-21 February
This year’s Innovations in Learning & Teaching Week is now underway. The aim of the annual event is to support enhancement and development of learning and teaching by offering staff opportunities to disseminate and share good practice. The programme of events and activities includes poster displays, discussion events (on Friday 15, Monday 18 & Tuesday 19 February) and a chance to participate online through a blog.
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.
New staff at the University
The New Starters update gives the name, job title and department of all new members of staff who started at the University in January 2008.
February is Celebrate Diversity Month
The University is celebrating diversity during February with many different events planned throughout the month - seminars, a book club, a comedy night and live music. Next Wednesday's seminar will introduce Haile Selassie, the Living God for Rastas and the late Emperor of Ethiopia. The presentation will focus on his time living in Bath and his later visit to the city. It also locates Haile Selassie in the context of the Rasta faith before giving a brief history of Rastafari in Britain.
Do you use e-books? You could win £200 Amazon vouchers
The University is taking part in a national survey which aims to find out about your experience of using e-books. It should not take more than 10 minutes to complete and you can opt to enter a prize draw for £200 Amazon vouchers. The deadline for responses is Friday 15 February.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Nominations
Innovation, innovation, innovation!
Nominations for the 2008 Innovations in Learning & Teaching Award are now open. Jos Darling has shared some thoughts about receiving the award in 2007: "Winning the award was a great honour and confirmed that trying new approaches to teaching was appreciated both by the student community and the University as a whole. The support I received from my department to make this project possible was most encouraging and countered the generally held view that research is the only activity valued by the University."
University of Bath teaching awards
Nominations are now open for the 2008 teaching awards, which encourage and recognise significant contributions by staff to the academic lives of students. Nominations are welcome from both staff and students. The deadline for nominations is Friday 7 March. There are three awards which focus on different aspects of teaching.
Chancellor's Prize – your chance to nominate a final year student
The nominated student should have demonstrated academic excellence, together with a contribution to the life, academic reputation and general work of the University.
Clerical staff rep wanted to serve on Equalities & Diversity Committee
Nominations are requested for the vacancy of a clerical staff representative to serve on the Equalities & Diversity Committee until 31 July 2009. Deadline: Thursday 28 February.
In the media
- Roger Orpwood (BIME) was interviewed on Radio Europe, a radio station based in Spain, about the work at BIME to develop autonomous smart homes for people with dementia, and the recent year-long evaluation it carried out in London.
Training & development opportunities
- Appraisal briefing for appraisees - 20 February
- Training for the occasional trainer - 29 February
- Investigating accidents & incidents - 5 March
- An introduction to the Mediation Service - 6 March
What's on next week
Monday 18
13:15 PM BICS seminar
13:15 PM A computational approach to solvent selection
15:15 PM L&T Innovations Café 2
19:30 PM Gardening Club: Hellebores, a passion
19:30 PM Re-thinking agriculture
Tuesday 19
12:15 PM Mid week Eucharist
12:15 PM Directors of Studies forum (taught provision)
12:30 PM UBSA 12 red roses bingo
12:45 PM Oxfam Lunch
13:15 PM CNM seminar
13:15 PM Mass transport at the nanoscale: Carbon nanotubes for nanofluidic applications
13:15 PM CANCELLED: Women's Studies Centre seminar
17:15 PM Shaping crochet workshop
Wednesday 20
11:00 AM SPS Placement Conference 2008
12:15 PM Learning & leadership
13:00 PM Holburne exhibition lecture
13:15 PM Haile Selassie - Celebrating Diversity seminar
13:15 PM The God Delusion
14:30 PM My Beautiful Launderette - Celebrating Diversity
17:30 PM Climate Change and the Ozone layer
17:30 PM The natural world – celebration and Christian concern
18:15 PM Inaugural lecture by Geoffrey Burton
Thursday 21
12:00 Noon SF Reading Group is celebrating diversity
12:30 PM UBSA lunchtime horse races
20:00 PM Abnormally Funny People - Celebrating Diversity comedy event
Friday 22
11:15 AM Science Communication Seminar: Religion and science
13:15 PM Coming out of the broom closet: An introduction to contemporary Paganism
14:15 PM Regulation of substrate utilisation in human skeletal muscle
16:15 PM Maths Landscape talk
19:30 PM Sit back, switch off. Proprioception, biomechanics, attention & cognition
Exhibitions
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
Workshops
Making large scale work Studio 2, ICIA Arts Complex | Saturday 16, Sunday 17 February & Saturday 1 March, 10am-4pm
A chance to explore ceramic hand-building techniques and produce pieces for the garden and for interiors.
Concerts
- Lunchime Concert Holburne Museum | Tuesday 19 February,
1.10pm to 1.50pm
Music by Schubert and Schumann. Niall Hoskin (baritone), Alistair Smith (horn) and Clare Wilding (piano). Free admission to staff & students. -
Lunchtime Concert Studio 1, ICIA Arts Complex | Friday 22 February, 1.15pm-2pm
Brighten up your lunch hour with these solo and chamber ensemble performances. Open to all and free admission. - Recital Performance University Hall | Sunday 24 February, 7.30pm
Advanced music students perform a mixture of pieces in this intimate performance, celebrating music making on campus. Presented by the Choral and Orchestral Society. Open to all and free admission.
Performances
- Carol Brown dances Dancing Aloud ICIA Arts Theatre | Saturday 16 February, 7.30pm
Internationally regarded choreographer Carol Brown moves through memories, re-drawing a map of choreographies from Philadelphia to Finland, and from Cork to Calcutta. -
Joanna MacGregor University Hall | Saturday 23 February, 7.30pm
Internationally renowned classical, jazz and contemporary pianist, Joanna MacGregor is one of the world’s most wide-ranging and innovative musicians. Renowned for defying categorisation, she links classical masterpieces with 20th century cultural icons. - Artists’ Talk: Rachel Lichtenstein BRLSI | Saturday 23 February, 2.30-4.00pm
Author and visual artist Rachel Lichtenstein discusses her latest book On Brick Lane, a journey through the history of East London's most famous street, capturing living memories of the street prior to the rapid changes that are now taking place. - re:sounds - Ecosonic Ensemble Studio 1, ICIA Arts Complex | Friday 29 February, 7.30pm
re:sounds returns with the latest in a series of experimental music and sonic art nights. Ecosonic Ensemble explores new ways of using both electro-acoustic and traditional instruments to unleash the dynamic between sound, movement and emotion.
Sport
Super seven in England Euro challenge
Seven TeamBath netballers feature in the England under-21 squad to compete at this weekend’s Netball Europe Open Championships in Glasgow.
Green selected for World Indoor Champs
Maths PhD student Steve Green has been selected to compete at his first World Indoor Athletics Championships. He will be running the 400m and has also been selected for the GB 4×400m squad.
A last-minute goal by James Kellock earned TeamBath Buccaneers a share of the spoils against Old Georgians.