University Updates
16 October 2009
Academic news
Bath academics contribute to major report on primary schools
Nine academics from the departments of Education and Social & Policy Sciences have contributed to the largest review of primary schools that has taken place in the last 40 years.
Care for patients with dementia should be more holistic, says research
New research suggests that care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia needs to be more holistic in its approach and that the assessment tools used for treatment options are not sensitive enough. Denise Taylor (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) explored patient and carer perspectives whilst using medicines for dementia, and their impact on coping with day-to-day life.
University researchers are first to use new beamline at Diamond
A team of scientists from the Department of Chemistry became the first researchers to use the UK’s national synchrotron facility’s latest experimental station this week. The researchers will use the X-rays at the Diamond light source to study hydrogel films that in the future could be used in contact lenses that sense glucose levels in the body.
Workplace mental health first aid...
A pilot project is being run in Wiltshire to enhance staff awareness of mental health issues, develop their ability to identify signs of mental health problems and provide guidance on what steps to take when people begin to experience such problems. Wiltshire Council, Selwood Housing and NHS Wiltshire will take part in the project and researchers from the School for Health will evaluate the findings.
...but health expert suggests the phrase 'work stress' should be banned
The Metro reports: Giving a speech to the Royal Society of Medicine, David Wainwright (School for Health) outlined how a 'generational shift' has made people today softer than their grandparents. 'The way people think about their problems at work isn't very helpful. The engineering metaphor that we will get to breaking point and snap isn't a useful one. It has made people have a heightened sense of vulnerability where they doubt their ability to cope.'
Sustainable energy researchers win prestigious award
Three members of the Sustainable Energy Research Team (Mechanical Engineering), postgraduate Stephen Allen, Geoff Hammond, and Marcelle McManus have been awarded the prestigious George Stephenson Prize by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for their research on wind turbines.
Steve Culley and Chris McMahon (Mechanical Engineering) were elected to the Advisory Board and Board of Management respectively of the Design Society at its general meeting in Palo Alto, California this summer. The Design Society is an international society comprising some 400 design researchers and practitioners from around the world.
Hitting Hollywood
Four staff from Bath (Nigel Johnston, Andrew Plummer, Cliff Burrows and Necip Sahinkaya), together with two postgraduates, are currently in Hollywood attending the Bath/American Society of Mechanical Engineers Symposium on Fluid Power & Motion Control. The event has taken place annually in Bath since 1988 and this is the first time it has been held abroad. The symposia are well known and respected by the international research community and are attended by delegates from both industry and academia.
SPS academics head to India to speak about poverty
On 18 October 2009, Geof Wood and Joe Devine (Social & Policy Sciences) will be making a keynote presentation to an international conference organised to mark 'Extreme Poverty Eradication Day'. The conference will take place in Dhaka, Bangladesh and other contributors include Amartya Sen, Jonathan Sachs and Robert Kaplan. A number of Ministers from the Government will also attend.
Students
Students scoop a deal to sell frozen yogurt on campus
Two students, Chris Hannaway (business administration) and Will Hammersley (physics) are celebrating after signing a deal that will see their frozen yogurt go on sale to fellow students and staff in the Students’ Union shop on campus. This follows swiftly on the heels of signing a contract with Harrods.
Latest blog from students in Zambia
Read the lastest blog which covers the last couple of weeks of the team’s time in Zambia and how they feel now their six weeks there have gone.
‘Scholarships: Changing lives’ Donor Report 08/09
The University of Bath’s Donor Report for 2008-9 is now available on the web. The Donor Report is published annually and sent to all those who make a gift to the University to show them how their money is being used to make a real difference to students, staff and facilities. To receive a hard copy of the Donor Report, please email alumni@bath.ac.uk
Thirteen students who were awarded University enterprise bursaries have been presented with the final instalment of their funding by Diane Hay, Head of Careers. The bursary scheme was set up to develop the employability and entrepreneurial skills of students, particularly those who are not on a degree programme which includes a work-based placement. It funds students to undertake vacation work or projects which would otherwise be very difficult to afford.
Learning & Teaching
Bath PVC to participate in debate on higher education funding
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching) Ian Jamieson is to participate in a panel debate discussing higher education funding. The debate will take place in Bristol on 22 October 2009, and is being held as part of a campaign run by the National Union of Students.
New project supports collaborative programme with Chinese university
The Academic Staff Development team and Dr Christine Edmead have been working closely with the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering over the summer to support staff and students involved in their joint 2+2 education programme with North China Electric Power University.
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 the 27 November (first deadline).
Information
Swap Shop wiki - save on your departmental budget!
Does your department need to get rid of something that might be useful to another department? Why not use the Purchasing’s Swap Shop wiki to swap it (or possibly just give it to them!)
Changes to waste collection & recycling on campus
Some of you may have noticed changes occurring to the way waste is collected at the University, and others will notice the changes over the coming weeks.
Personal safety of cyclists and pedestrians
Please can all cyclists ensure that when using shared paths with pedestrians they keep their speed down and give way to pedestrians when the need arises. A plea is also made to drivers of vehicles that, when overtaking, you give cyclists at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car.
Do you book coaches for transport to/from campus?
When you book a coach to collect on campus please give clear instructions that their drivers must wait/pick-up/drop-off only in the designated coach bays in the East Car Park; it is also important that Security are informed. If coaches park in the turning circle, it causes hold ups and congestion for the local buses, and the bendy bus cannot reverse easily. It could also lead to health & safety issues and delay commuters using the bus service. Thank you for your co-operation.
Invitation to attend Continuing Professional Development (CPD) launch event
All staff are invited to attend the CPD@Bath launch event which will take place on Wednesday 4 November at 1.45pm in 3WN 2.1.
The launch event, to be opened by Vice-Chancellor Glynis Breakwell, will celebrate the approval of the CPD academic framework and will showcase activity across the University as well as the newly-established support mechanisms.
Student Services is holding an Open Afternoon for staff to visit the new Student Services Centre in 4 West on Wednesday 21 October between 2pm and 4pm.
Printing and photocopying in your department
The University is currently reviewing departmental printing and photocopying. Please could you complete a short five-minute survey sharing your views about current provision. This will provide an opportunity for your input into future requirements.
Private flu vaccinations for staff
The University Medical Centre (UMC) is able to offer private flu vaccinations at a cost of £15 to University staff who do not automatically qualify for a vaccination for free from their registered GP. Flu Clinics will be held on various dates throughout October and November. Please note the jabs are only available to staff who are not registered patients of the UMC.
Cycle Hub mobile shop comes to campus: free safety checks
Due to its popularity last week, the Cycle Hub mobile cycle shop will be on campus again on Monday 19 October from 10am to 4pm. The Cycle Hub offers a range of services from free safety checks to repairs and services. Advanced booking necessary.
Research volunteers wanted
- Want to vent about a privacy violation that kept you up at night? Fill out our survey and tell us how you feel!
- 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.
University wins Bronze Athena SWAN award
The University has been presented the Bronze Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) award, recognising the University’s commitment to women’s career progression in Science, Engineering & Technology (SET).
New starters in September 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.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
In the media
- Denise Taylor (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) spoke on Bath FM about her research which suggests care for dementia patients should be more holistic, and there should be more information and support for carers.
- Harry Daniels (Education) talked to Heart FM about Bath's role in the Cambridge Primary Review, which is the biggest review of primary schools for the past 40 years.
- David Wainwright (School for Health) was interviewed on BBC Wales & Radio 5 Live about his study into work related stress that was reported in The Metro.
- Sheila Harper (CDAS) appeared on BBC Radio 4's Thinking Aloud programme discussing what objects we bury with the dead and why.
Training & development
- University of Bath 2009/10 UKRO Event 19 October
- Enhancing learning through motivation 22 Oct
- Managing skin exposure risks to chemicals at work 23 October
- VAT - the basics 30 October
- Extra date added for GTA/PGR intensive teaching course 24 November
- Leadership, research & you - Various dates: September-December
- ILM Level 2 team leading award January-February 2010
- CMS training courses
- Staff Development programme | Download PDF to print
- e-Learning staff development programme
- Monthly learning & teaching paper lunches
Forthcoming lectures & conferences
Public lectures programme
The new programme of free lectures open for staff, students and the general public is now available online.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh – the Glasgow Legacy
Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the Glasgow-born architect, designer and artist is celebrated around the world as one of the most creative figures of the early 20th century. Stuart Robertson, Director of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, will give a personal view of Mackintosh in a GULP lecture on Wednesday 21 October.
Against the flow
The developing technology for managing the daily challenges of incontinence will be the subject of the 41st Bath Institute of Medical Engineering (BIME) annual lecture on Friday 23 October. Free tickets: s.j.marshall@bath.ac.uk
Assisted dying: rights, choices and palliative care
Lord Joel Joffe CBE will present the first lecture in a new series of open events addressing major global issues and challenges. The lecture will take place on Tuesday 27 October. Free tickets: S.D.Willmott@bath.ac.uk
The University is running a series of three lunchtime lectures and tutored tastings aimed at enhancing the enjoyment of wine. They will be held at Carpenter House in Broad Quay, Bath. Advance booking required.
New lecture series on researching human behaviour in engineering & computer science
Over many years researchers from the Social Sciences and Management communities have developed robust techniques by which to research human behaviour. This new lecture series aims to transfer knowledge across disciplines to improve research rigour.
What's on
More details - www.bath.ac.uk/whats-on/
Monday 19
13:15 PM Complexity/BICS Seminar
13:15 PM Effective applications
17:15 PM )New location): Iyengar Yoga classes for absolute beginners
19:30 PM Saving our soils - The case for conservation agriculture
Tuesday 20
11:30
AM Academic Assembly Chair's Coffee Time
12:15 PM Numerical reasoning test only
12:15 PM Mid week Eucharist/HC Service
12:45 PM Oxfam lunch
13:15 PM CNM Seminar
16:15 PM Physics Colloquium
16:30 PM Biodiversity loss & ecosystem change: Consequences for people & environment
19:30 PM The English Haydn: Joseph Haydn in London in the 1790s
Wednesday 21
10:15 AM Aptitude tests
13:15 PM CVs & cover letters (international students)
14:00 PM Student Services Open Afternoon for staff
14:15 PM SENATE
Thursday 22
09:15 AM One day session for Council members and COUNCIL Meeting
11:00 AM Autumn Careers Fair
18:15 PM Understanding the interview process (for international students)
Friday 23
11:00 AM Bath Soundscape - workshop
12:15 PM Verbal reasoning test only
14:15 PM CV workshop
19:30 PM Molecules & the Tree of Life - surprising relations
Saturday 24
19:30 PM Vauxhall Pleasure
Arts
Concerts and Performances
Bath University Student Theatre All in the Timing by David Ives ICIA Arts Theatre | Friday 16-Sunday 18 October 7.30pm
This collection of five hilarious short comedies by contemporary American playwright David Ives takes us from a man hopelessly trying to pick up a date to a trio of caged monkeys attempting to retype Hamlet.
Exhibitions
Lucy Harrison - Remains ICIA Art Space 2 | Wednesday 14 October - 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 of Bath campus. Harrison’s work combines photographs, observations and chance encounters with published documents.
Workshops
Bath Soundscape Carpenter House | Friday 23 October, 11am-2pm
Composer Paul Whitty leads the first of two sessions introducing you to the ideas and processes involved in the making of Vauxhall Pleasure on 24 Oct. This workshop takes you on location. The practical focus is on site-specific recording – exploring the unique soundscape of Bath’s urban environment via a walking tour of the city.
Re-Readings University Hall | Thursday 29 October, 6pm-8pm
Composer Paul Whitty leads the second of two sessions introducing you to the ideas and processes involved in the making of Vauxhall Pleasure on 24 Oct. A workshop for instrumental players exploring how pre-existing music scores can be used as stimulus for experimentation, improvisation and composition.
Samba Studio 1, ICIA Arts Complex | Wednesday 21, Wednesday 28 October and Wednesday 4 November , 6pm-8pm
A fun activity for everyone. Learn the infectious rhythms of Samba using drums and other percussion.
Sport
Tom and Lucy are Team Bath athletes of the month
Judo player Tom Reed (a business administration student) and beach volleyball player Lucy Boulton are the latest winners of the TeamBath athletes of the month awards, which are sponsored by Oakley and Vousden Opticians.
Nathan and England badminton team ready to withstand Japan challenge
Nathan Robertson will make his first home appearance since reaching 100 caps when he represents Team England in the international badminton match with Japan at the Sports Training Village tonight (Friday, 6.45pm).
Silver Ferns topple battling England in extra-time
England went down 59-65 to New Zealand in Thursday's Co-operative International Netball match – but the Silver Ferns needed extra-time to secure victory over a determined England side in a pulsating contest at the Sports Training Village.
World Champions Australia ran-out 55-44 winners over England in a thrilling Co-operative International Netball match at the University on Tuesday.