University Updates
16 May 2008
International relations
University of Bath donates text books to students in Malawi
A successful two-year project between the Department of Economics & International Development and the University of Malawi has come to an end, with the University donating over 500 text books to the Malawi students.
IMML develops new placements partnership with KPMG Luxembourg
The BSc in International Management & Modern Languages programme (IMML) has developed its relationship with KPMG to include student placements at its offices in Luxembourg. Bath is now one of only two universities in the UK to have placement opportunities with KPMG Luxembourg, which started in September 2007.
Sharing knowledge with China
Yukteshwar Kumar (ESML) recently visited Beijing Central University of Nationalities to give a lecture on Translation & Interpreting Skills in Chinese. He also delivered a lecture on Noble Laureate Tagore's Philosophy and Sino-Indian Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Science.
Research news
Rise in ketamine use among young people despite drug ban
Use of the illegal drug ketamine is increasing among young people worldwide, particularly within the electronic dance music scene, according to joint research by the Universities of Bath and Lancaster.
Biologist collaborates with RUH to find causes of oesophageal cancer
Doctors at the Royal United Hospital are collaborating with scientists at the University of Bath in ground-breaking research into the causes of oesophageal cancer. David Tosh (Biology & Biochemistry) is working alongside Dr Ben Colleypriest, a Cancer Research UK clinical research fellow, to conduct research into Barrett's Oesophagus.
Conferences
Lean experts meet in Ireland
Andrew Graves (Management) gave a presentation entitled, 'Lean in aviation: The voice of the customer & the voice of society' at the third Lean Flight Initiative (LFI) Conference, which took place last month at Dromoland Castle, in Shannon, Ireland.
Inaugural conference on importance of environmental economics
The International Centre for the Environment hosted the inaugural conference in the series: Sustaining future ecosystem services – from understanding to action at the National Liberal Club in Whitehall, London on the 16 April. The event was chaired by Lord Christopher Tugendhat, Chancellor of the University, and Peter Vass (Management) presented a ten-point-plan for tackling dangerous climate change in a cost effective manner.
Teaching
University of Bath’s MPharm gains reaccreditation for five years
At its last meeting on 1 May 2008, the Education Committee of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain accepted an accreditation team’s recommendation to reaccredit the University’s MPharm for a full period of five years, provided it meets certain conditions and recommendations.
Professional Doctorate in Health - discount for staff
Following confirmation by Senate last month, University staff can now qualify for a 75% fee discount for the Professional Doctorate in Health. This brings the Doctoral programme in line with other University programmes, where staff pay just 25% of the part-time, home students' fees, under the 'Staff Method A' scheme.
Apply for sabbatical leave
Any academic who wishes to submit an application for sabbatical leave starting February 2009 should do so by 23 May.
Information
Hoax email sent to University accounts
A fraudulent email, claiming to be from "Web comm..ac.uk" and asking for people's username, password and date of birth, was sent to nearly 5,000 University email accounts. This email was detected by BUCS staff within 12 minutes of its arrival. The return address was blocked, and anyone attempting to reply since that time has been informed of the scam.
Je-S unavailable
The Research Council's Je-S submission system will be unavailable from 23-28 May. Research Councils will be reviewing proposal closing dates as a result.
New starters in April 2008
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 the University’s Holiday Play Scheme
We regret to announce that the University’s holiday play scheme for older children during school holidays is to close because of the low take up of places during the last year and the increasing availability of schemes elsewhere in the Bath area.
UBSA coach trip to London
This day trip on 14 June costs
only £10 and all staff & students welcome. Plenty of time for shopping, sightseeing, or why not attend a matinee performance of one of the West End shows. Please contact: w.l.e.mackie@bath.ac.uk
Let us recycle your carrier bags
Message from Christine Allgood, Union Shop Manager: "The Union Shop runs a 'use a recycled plastic bag' rather than opting for a new one when shopping in the Union Shop. It's a hugely popular scheme which sadly I have to keep withdrawing due to lack of second hand bags. Please could I ask more people to bring in your old plastic shopping bags so we can recycle them for you? Thanks."
Vacancies
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Expressions of interest are invited for the full-time post of Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) from 1 August 2008. Deadline for applications: 27 May.
University Research Adviser
Expressions of interest are invited for the part-time post of University Research Adviser. Deadline for applications: 27 May.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
In the media
- The BBC broadcast a news item on Points West about research led by Rob Price (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) to develop a new inhaler which allows medication to get deeper into the lungs.
- BBC Points West came and filmed at Charareh Pourzand's (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) lab on campus to learn more about a significant breakthrough in the treatment of skin cancer.
- Christine Griffin & Yvette Morey (Psychology) were interviewed on GWR and Bath Fm respectively about the increasing use of the drug ketamine by young people
- Ken Bray (School for Health) was asked to review the Bristol City semi final on BBC Radio Bristol.
- The University's foundation degree in funeral directing has received extensive coverage in the papers including articles in The Times, The Independent, The Mirror, The Daily Mail, and was featured on the BBC website.
Training & development opportunities
- Free IT training courses for staff
- Admissions & funding - 21 May
- Appraisal training for support staff - 30 May
- Fire extinguisher training - 4 June
- Preventing aches and pains in the office - 19 June
- GTA intensive training & development programme - Course spread over two days, various dates
Forthcoming lectures
Expert from Kew Gardens to talk on saving the rarest plant species
A free public lecture at the University will explore safe seed storage techniques developed at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London (Wednesday 21 May 2008 at 5.15pm in 5W 2.3).
What's on next week
Monday 19
13:15 PM BICS seminar
19:30 PM Wellbeing & democratic challenges in Bangladesh
Tuesday 20
12:30 PM UBSA's Spring-has-sprung bingo
19:30 PM Better cycling in Bath
Wednesday 21
North Wiltshire Schools Outdoor Athletics
12:15 PM The General Practice research database
17:15 PM The science behind seed storage & Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Project
18:30 PM UBSA Evening guided tour of City of Bath
19:30 PM Opera dramaturgy explained
Thursday 22
10:30 AM Writing for the web
12:15 PM Eucharist/Holy Communion
Friday 23
12:15 PM On being a 'new media' digital artist
12:30 PM UBSA lunchtime horse races
19:30 PM Colour alchemy - By standing Newton on his head
Arts
Performances
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Bath Dance Forum SHIFT 08 ICIA Arts Theatre | Saturday 17 May, 7.30pm
BDF’s annual platform of new work, created by various companies and individual artists from the Bath area. Includes a variety of new and recent work incorporating a mixture of styles, including some work for camera.
Exhibitions
- Polly Gould Peninsular ICIA Art Space 1 | Till Friday 20 June
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 bed sheets. - Tim Brennan Great Northern Coalfield ICIA Art Space 2 | Till Friday 1 August
A series of atmospheric photographs taken on a low-resolution mobile phone camera depict the North Sea, where most of the north's un-mined coal still resides. Enlarged beyond clear definition, the images become hazy, impressionistic, glowing with colour.
Classes
- Summer Dance Classes ICIA Arts Theatre | Classes start Monday 20 May
Four-week courses are available to book now: Contemporary, Urban Fusion, Flamenco and Street Dance.
Sport
Team Bath FC win promotion to Conference SouthSean Canham’s dramatic last-gasp winner earned Team Bath promotion to the Blue Square Conference South for the first time in their short history.
Celebrate summer with a new qualification
Team Bath National Fitness Academy's Summer School gets underway on Monday 23 June 2008 offering people an opportunity to gain a wide range of nationally recognised vocational qualifications required for the sport, health and fitness industries.
Bath graduate becomes third Team Bath player in world's top club netball competition
Team Bath and England shooter Rachel Dunn (a Biology graduate from Bath) has become the sixth England international netballer to join the ANZ Championship after replacing pregnant Silver Fern shooter Jodi Brown in the Tactix squad, based in Christchurch, New Zealand.