Contents
Dr James Bilzon will be discussing sports science research in a free public lecture at the University on Wednesday 22 February.

 

 

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK:

 "We are under exercised as a nation. We look instead of play. We ride instead of walk. Our existence deprives us of the minimum of physical activity essential for healthy living."

 
John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) Thirty-fifth President of the United States.
 

 

Friday 17 February 2012

 

News

Welcome to staff who started at the University in January
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.

Vacancies for Heads of Department: invitation for expressions of interest
Expressions of interest are now invited from eligible members of staff who wish to be considered for the Head of Department vacancy in their department.

University hosts delegation from the occupied Palestinian Territories
On Tuesday, Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Jane Millar hosted a group from the occupied Palestinian territory lead by HE Lamis al-Alami, Minister of Education & Higher Education.

Want your research to reach a wider audience? Watch this film
Working with the media to publicise your academic research can bring great benefits. The Department of Corporate Communications has the expertise and contacts to help your research reach a wide audience.

Suspension of industrial action by University & College Union
The University & College Union (UCU) has informed the Vice-Chancellor that their members have decided to suspend the current action short of a strike which they have been undertaking since 10 October 2011.

Library creates new student workrooms
Through a recent refurbishment, the Library has created three new student workrooms, two of which are available for students to book for group work. Please make your students aware of this additional space.

Study exploring the experiences of people who have known someone who has self-harmed Volunteers needed
Do you know someone who has self-harmed? Are you interested in talking about these experiences? Hannah Heath (PhD researcher) is looking for participants for a study which aims to explore the experiences of those who have known someone who has self-harmed.

Do you suffer from headaches? Volunteers needed
Researchers at the Centre for Pain Research are interested in seeing how headaches may affects how well people can concentrate and perform tasks. They would therefore like to hear from healthy adults who experience occasional headaches, but are not on any prescription medication or seeking medical help for your headaches.

Placements – Business Process Review
The University has begun a Placements Business Process Review, with support from Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS) Consulting. The aim is to define and agree a common framework for placement provision across the University by September 2012.

Two postgrads land prestigious science communications placements
Two PhD students have secured prestigious placements, giving them the opportunity to communicate science to a wider audience. Kathryn Wills and Jenny Crabtree will build on skills learnt during their public engagement module with Kathryn undertaking a three month fellowship at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology and Jenny starting an internship at the Science Museum in London.

I-SEE hosts visit by EPSRC energy team
The Institute for Sustainable Energy & Environment hosted a visit to the University on the 2 February by the energy team at the Engineering & Physical Science Research Council.

Holburne Museum in the running to win £100,000
The Holburne Museum has today been longlisted for the Art Fund Prize 2012, the UK’s annual ‘museum of the year’ award, and the biggest prize for arts and cultural organisations in the country. Ten museums in total across the country are in with the chance to win £100,000 and the prestigious award, which will be announced on 19 June.

Holburne’s historic book collection returns to Museum
The Library’s cataloguing team has recently completed a project to catalogue Holburne’s historic book collection in conjunction with the re-opening of the Museum in May last year. This effort has unlocked the Library’s collections after years of being in storage.


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Research

Watch: New KTA film about BRE's low impact building materials
Andy Sutton from BRE and Professor Pete Walker discuss their project which disseminated the University’s research on low impact building materials to the construction industry.

Mobile ringtone musical composition set to go global
An artist in residence at the Institute of Contemporary Interdisciplinary Arts (ICIA) and the University’s Department of Computer Science will be opening Bath Digital Festival at 6pm on Thursday 15 March with a new musical composition scored for ring tones and an open, worldwide orchestra of mobile phone users.

Could local digital research result in our fridges ordering milk?
The Technology Strategy Board, the UK’s national innovation agency, has awarded one of ten pots of £50k research funding to a project at the University, in a Government-backed initiative which looks at the ‘Internet of Things’.

Smart DC power proven a success in south-west
Researchers from the University in collaboration with engineers from RWE npower are calling a truce to a century-old ‘War of the Currents’ having proven the value of direct current (DC) power in a world of widespread computer use, low energy LED lighting and renewable energy technologies.

Researcher-led innovation fund
The deadline for applications for the next round of the researcher led innovation fund is Friday 30 March 2012.

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Staff training & development

Internal

Programme of staff development courses for 2012
 Dates for staff development courses throughout 2012 are now available.

Don’t miss the Leadership@lunchtime workshops! Tuesday 24 January - Tuesday 15 May
This comprehensive programme of lunchtime workshops looks at aspects of leadership in the context of research or academia in general. Designed as a series of workshops, participants are welcome to attend just one or two sessions or book for the complete series.

Staff development and performance review for academic and research staff: conducting an effective review Tuesday 28 February
The session will work chronologically through the SDPR process, explaining the aims of the different steps, and discuss some case studies that illustrate the kinds of issues and conversations that may arise.

HEA STEM plagiarism seminar Wednesday 29 February
The University will be hosting a seminar on plagiarism in the STEM disciplines, sponsored by the Higher Education Academy.

Managing stress at work - for individuals Wednesday 29 February
Are you stressed at work? Learn how to recognise the signs of stress and discover how to keep your stress levels under control.

Fire safety training for fire wardens Thursday 1 March
This course will explain the way in which fires start, how the construction of buildings helps prevent fire spreading, why escape routes need to be 'sterile' and what sort of things should never be put in protected stairwells and corridors. The recent SENDA legislation has highlighted the need and importance of identifying means of escape for people with disabilities and this will also be covered in the session.

External

ESRC media training days
The ESRC has organised a series of media training days for ESRC funded researchers who are beyond their first five years as a researcher.

Media Fellowships: Learn how to turn the latest science into news
The British Science Association runs a Media Fellowship scheme for researchers to spend a summer working for media hosts such as the BBC, Guardian or Nature to get communication skills and confidence working with the media. The scheme is open to researchers from PhD level upwards.

Free beginner’s guide to the media for scientists and engineers
The Science Media Centre is holding a free ‘Introduction to the Media’ event for scientists and engineers event on Thursday 22 March at the Veysey Building, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Exeter from 1.30pm to 6pm with drinks afterwards. To register for this event, please send an e-mail with your name, job title, institutional e-mail address and phone number to introduction@sciencemediacentre.org

Standing up for science media workshop Friday 23 March
This full day event, held at the University of Manchester, is free and for early career researchers in all sciences, engineering and medicine (PhD students, post-docs or equivalent in first job).

IT skills

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Learning & teaching

Physics transforms student workroom
The Department of Physics has recently completed the successful refurbishment of a previously under-used room to provide students with a light, well equipped open workroom.

Call for teaching development fund bids 2012/13 Deadline - Monday 16 April
The University’s Learning & Teaching Quality Committee is pleased to invite bids for the latest round of teaching development funding for projects in academic year 2012/13.

Don’t miss this year’s University Teaching Awards! Deadline - 5pm Friday 16 March.
Nominations for the University Teaching Awards 2012 are now invited from both students and staff to recognise significant contributions by staff to learning and teaching.

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Information

Sabbatical leave scheme – second call for applications Deadline - Thursday 1 March
The deadline for applications for leave commencing 1 February 2013 is fast approaching. Applicants and Heads of Department are asked to ensure that all applications conform to the requirements that have been set out.

THE Outstanding Leadership & Management Awards 2012 Deadline - Friday 16 March
This award will go to the institution that demonstrates the greatest breadth and depth of leadership and management skills, including many of those recognised by other award categories. Apply now!

Chance to enter the Race for Life
Entries for Cancer Research UK's Bath Race for Life have opened. Organisers are issuing a rallying cry to mums, daughters, sisters, grandmothers and friends, encouraging them to sign up as soon as possible for the event which will take place at University on Sunday 17 June.

Apply to become a Resident Tutor
Resident Tutor positions are for members of staff or postgraduate students. Being a Resident Tutor entitles you to furnished accommodation without charge.If you are interested then follow the link to find out more.

Most lecture recordings are now able to be viewed
The issue with lecture recordings not being able to be viewed has now been largely fixed. However, there are still a few Moodle modules which students are not able to view in which Computer Services are continuing to investigate.

Jobs
Visit the Jobs page

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In the media

Would you like to receive a daily email of news stories that feature the University? Please email press@bath.ac.uk and include the word 'Headlines' in the subject box. A selection of HE stories in the national media is also included. For a more comprehensive list of the University's media coverage, visit the bathinthemedia page.

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Events

Public lectures: Spring term dates confirmed
The full list of the Spring term public lectures is now up so have a look and come along.

'Good news about autism' lecture
The Department of Biology & Biochemistry’s annual postgraduate inspirational lecture is taking place on Tuesday 21 February at 1.15pm in 3WN 2.1.

The science of sports performance and injury prevention
 Dr James Bilzon will be discussing sports science research in a free public lecture at the University on Wednesday 22 February.

Subtracting sexuality: icons of black history in perspective
Places are still available for this session, taking place on Wednesday 22 February from 12.15pm to 1.45pm, which will present case studies of icons of Black protest and the ways in which their sexuality or the sexuality they explore has been suppressed or hidden in order to present a hetrosexist myth of African American/Caribbean activism for consumption by a Black and White public.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers careers fair
On Thursday 23 February, the Institution for Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) will be hosting two rail engineering-focused events on campus.

LGBT history in the Bath area
Places are still available for this session, held on Tuesday 28 February from 12.15pm to 1.45pm, which will explore the national background as well as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender scene and movement in Bristol and Bath. It will then look at civil society, community and equality issues. The presenter will discuss his book ’Gay West’ which explores local and national LGBT history.

Showcase lecture highlights University research in action
A showcase public lecture to be held on Thursday 1 March at the University, will explore three outstanding projects that highlight the research progress achieved through academia and industry collaboration. 

Joint Equality Forum 2012 - creating opportunities for success
Dr Alun Thomas (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Bath Spa University) and Mark Humphriss (University Secretary) will give delegates an overview of achievements over the year, and look to the future in this forum taking place on Thursday 15 March (10.00am to 3.15pm)

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Work perks

Omnibus staff society

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Alumni News

Felicity Newman swaps England for Africa
Felicity Newman (BSc Chemistry with Management 2011) has swapped her home comforts for three months to work with a human rights charity in West Africa.

Richard Maru returns business control back to locals
Richard Maru (MBA 1999), manager of The National Development Bank, has launched a new campaign to return control of the nation’s small business sector to Papua New Guineans.

Peter Caffall follows in footsteps of Argentinian legend
Peter Caffall (BSc Business Administration 2006) has followed in the footsteps of Argentinian rugby legend Hugo Porta by helping one of South America's most famous clubs pick up silverware.

Nadia Assaf's Lebanese girls football academy helping aspiring female footballers
Nadia Assaf (MA Coach Education & Sports Development 2010), who set up the GFA (Girls Football Academy) has been helping Lebanese female footballers have the chance to compete to represent their country.

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Arts

ICIA

Spring season is now open for booking for all classes and events. Classes include: street dance, ballet, illustration, drawing skills, landscape painting, DJ skills and samba drumming. Book now www.bath.ac.uk/icia

Upcoming events:   

Sign up for the ICIA's e-bulletin for all the latest news or keep up to date on Facebook or on Twitter @iciabath

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Sport

Teambath netballers beat Loughborough 56-31
Team Bath recorded the first victory of their 2012 Fiat Netball Superleague campaign with an emphatic 56-31 win at Loughborough Lightning on Monday night.

Uni of Bath are runners-up at BUCS swimming champs
The University of Bath swimming team finished runners-up at the overall British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Long Course Championships at the weekend.

Megan scores best World Cup finish yet
Team Bath judo player Megan Fletcher achieved the highest World Cup finish of her career to date when she came seventh in Budapest at the weekend.

Pozzi secures first senior national title
Andy Pozzi collected his first senior athletics national title at the weekend’s Aviva UK Trials and Championships in Sheffield.

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