University Updates
19 February 2010
News
A new computer system could help autistic children excel at maths
Researchers at the Departments of Psychology and Computer Science have been awarded almost £500,000 to develop a state-of-the art computer system to help autistic children with their maths skills
Two Bath graduates establish new £100k scholarship fund
Martyn and Fiona Ratcliffe, who are both University alumni, have made a donation to the University that will establish a new £100,000 scholarship fund. The Ratcliffe Scholarship Fund will provide scholarships based on financial need and academic merit to undergraduate students studying Mathematics, Computer Science or Physics.
Language day for sixth-formers
The Foreign Languages Centre at the University hosted an open day on campus for year 12 students who are studying French, Spanish or German on Wednesday 3 February.
Fellowship to help hospital diagnose Alzheimer’s disease
The University’s Knowledge Transfer Account has awarded a Knowledge Transfer Fellowship to the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering to help with the development of diagnosis techniques for people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Architecture & Civil Engineering wins scholarships for Zambians
The MSc International Construction Management (ICM) programme has won two sets of ten Commonwealth Commission full-fee scholarships for Zambian students to undertake the ICM blended distance learning programme.
University celebrates Fairtrade Fortnight the Mad Hatter way
The University is celebrating our second year of Fairtrade status and Fairtrade Fortnight (22 February – 8 March) by hosting a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on campus.
Staff news
University of Bath designer goes to Downing Street
Simon Halsey, a design engineer from BIME is one of a select few who has been invited to Downing Street to celebrate his contribution to the NHS.
Expert to appear on BBC’s Countryfile
Visiting Professor Doug King (Architecture & Civil Engineering) will be appearing on BBC1’s Countryfile programme on Sunday 21 at 6pm, BBC 1, talking about home generation of renewable energy.
Student news
Pharmacy students practise diagnostic skills on robotic patient
A SimMan 3G robot, called Simon, that can be programmed to have a range of medical conditions, from heart disease to constipation, is being used by Pharmacy students at the University to help practise diagnostic skills and treating patients. The robot is a life-sized model that talks, breathes and reacts to medicines in the same way as a real human. He can be examined for blood pressure, heart and lung function, and can even be changed into a female!
Student sets up online ethical beauty magazine
An engineering student at the University has turned her passion for ethical beauty into an online magazine after attending a ‘How to build a website yourself’ course organised by the Division for Lifelong Learning.
Learning & teaching
L&T Paper Lunch: Enhancing the early student experience
The next Learning & Teaching paper lunch is to be held on Thursday 25 February, 12.15 - 1.15pm, in Wessex House 3.36. The discussion will be around 'Enhancing the early student experience'.
New web resource for staff and students interested in student peer mentoring
A new web resource has been developed to provide staff and students with advice and guidance on all aspects of peer mentoring.
Professor Ray Land to speak at Annual Learning & Teaching Enhancement Seminar
This year’s seminar is entitled ‘Overcoming barriers to student understanding: threshold concepts and troublesome knowledge’. The seminar will take place on Wednesday 24 February, 13.30 - 3.30, 6 West 1.1. To book a place please email acdev@bath.ac.uk or telephone extension 4086.
Innovations in Learning & Teaching Week 2010 - 22 - 26 February
- Monday 22 - Innovations Week Launch Event
- Tuesday 23 – Workshop on Peer Mentoring
- Wednesday 24 – Annual Learning and Teaching Enhancement Seminar
- Thursday 25 – Paper Lunch: review of an academic paper on L&T
- Friday 26 – The ‘Dragons’ Den’ presentations and award giving
Information
Be wary of offers of free recruitment adverts
A number of departments within the University have been contacted by a company requesting them to sign and return a proof of a recruitment advert, for which they are subsequently being invoiced.
School for Health Online Open Week
The School for Health's first Online Open Week for 2010 begins on Monday 22 February. The event provides prospective students with information on the School's postgraduate programmes which are delivered by online, distance learning.
New starters in January 2010
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.
Private Flu Clinics – University Medical Centre
The University Medical Centre is able to offer private flu vaccinations to staff who do not automatically qualify for a vaccination for free from their registered GP.
NB! Please keep records of television & radio recordings
During the months of February and May 2010, staff members who record television and radio programmes for teaching purposes (whether on campus or off) must keep records of any recordings they make, and send the details to the Audio Visual Unit as part of an annual survey conducted by the Educational Recording Agency.
Scientists/engineers: Do you want to learn how the media works?
The British Science Association Media Fellowships are intended to create a greater awareness and understanding of the workings of the media among practising scientists, social scientists, clinicians and engineers.
Swap Shop wiki
Save on your departmental budget by asking others for furniture and equipment that they may no longer need.
Jobs
Vacant posts: http://www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/
Deadlines & nominations
Nominations for British Science Festival 2010 Award Lectures
Each year the British Science Association honours five outstanding young communicators with the opportunity to present a prestigious Award Lecture at the British Science Festival. Do you know a brilliant science communicator? Are they a professional scientist or engineer?Then nominate that individual now!
Pilot Sabbatical Leave Scheme - next deadline 7 March
Call for applications for the next Pilot Sabbatical Leave Scheme are now being taken.
Nominations now open for University Teaching Awards
Let us know who you think has made a significant contribution to an aspect of teaching at the University by nominating a member of staff for a teaching award. Nominations are welcome from both staff and students and eligible candidates may be teaching and/or learning support staff. Deadline: 12 March
Training & development
- Presentation Skills Parts 1 & 2 - 22 Feb & 5 March
- Fire Safety Training for Fire Wardens - 26 Feb
- Accommodation Facilities & Resident Tutor Services, an overview - 3 Mar
- Grant Applications workshop (run by Research Design Service - South West) - 18 Mar
- SW Institutions' Middle Managers (Deadline: 20 January) - 24 - 26 Mar
- Introduction to Project Management (Manchester) - 29 Apr /17 June
- Open Programme of Events | PDF to print
- Staff: Improve your IT skills, new timetable available
- CMS training courses
- e-Learning staff development programme
In the media
- Geoff Hammond (Mechanical Engineering) spoke to BBC Radio Bristol about the new biofuel powerplant proposed for Avonmouth.
- Bath FM and Heart interviewed Mark Brosnan (Psychology) about a new research project to develop a maths computer programme for autistic children.
- John Troyer (CDAS) gave his view on the case of film maker Ray Gosling who admitted killing his lover, to BBC Radio Bristol.
- Denise Taylor (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) and three pharmacy students were featured on BBC Points West and ITV Westcountry Tonight and spoke to BBC Radio Bristol about SimMan, the robotic patient and the new Pharmacy suite.
- Bryn Jones (Social & Policy Sciences) was featured in the Guardian disagreeing with 'eminent economists' calling for cuts.
- Alumni Lauren Dolan was featured in the Guardian talking about the University's master's in advanced management practice course.
Lectures & seminars
Public Lecture: Avebury – megaliths & myths
A lecture at the University will explore the theories and myths surrounding Avebury stone circle. Roger Vlitos will give an illustrated lecture that compares and contrasts the beliefs of those who manage the site, with others who claim it as their traditional shrine on Wednesday 24 February.
The Ted Baker Story - How to build a global designer label
Ted Baker is one of the only brands to be built into an international designer label without an advertising campaign. From a Glasgow based specialist shirt maker to CEO of a global lifestyle brand, Ray Kelvin will share his insights and experiences as a successful entrepreneur on Wednesday 24 February in lecture theatre 5 West 2.3.
Faculty of H&SS Research Seminars
Faculty Research Seminars have been arranged for the academic year 2009-2010, starting on Thursday 25 February. In this seminar Jonathan Goodhand from University of London will talk on 'Afghan State-building Viewed from the Margins'.
The Bath Economics Summit 2010
The University's economics society hosts their annual economics summit open to both staff and students on Wednesday 3 March. This years speakers include John Kay, a Financial Times columnist and Chief Economics Correspondent of the BBC, Hugh Pym.
Researchers' conference to take lively look at impact
Researchers are increasingly encouraged to ensure their research has impact. But what is impact? At lecture in Bath on Friday 5 March, Tom Pringle, best known from the TV show Brainiac, will talk about the importance of communicating research to a wider audience and will demonstrate how he does it.
Register now for Cancer Research@Bath conference
Open to all staff and students with an interest in Cancer Research. The conference is on Tuesday 30 March and will include a poster session, talks related to cancer, with a coffee break and an informal networking drink.
Public lectures
The programme of free lectures open for staff, students and the general public is available online.
Podcasts
Catch up on any lectures you may have missed.
What's on
Monday 22
09:00 AM School for Health online open week
12:00 Noon Drop-in session by Chatteris Educational Foundation (until 2pm)
13:15 PM Complexity seminar: Tunnelling: from supratransmissions to mode oscillations
18:15 PM Introduction to fundraising & event management
18:30 PM Presentation by BAE Systems
Tuesday 23
09:00 AM School for Health online open week
12:15 PM Mid week Eucharist/H C Service
12:30 PM Health & Safety Committee
12:45 PM Oxfam lunch 13:15 PM Presentation skills (50mins)
13:15 PM CNM Seminar
13:15 PM Helping international students find part-time work
16:30 PM Sustainable energy for the built environment
18:30 PM Developing & applying commercial awareness
Wednesday 24
09:00 AM School for Health online open week
11:15 AM Aptitude tests (135mins)
13:15 PM Interview success (50mins)
14:00 PM Sorted training: Powerpoint version 2003
17:15 PM Avebury – megaliths & myths
17:15 PM The Ted Baker Story - How to build a global designer label
18:15 PM Volunteering in international development
19:30 PM French film: Modern life
Thursday 25
09:00 AM School for Health online open week
13:15 PM Interview skills for international students (110mins)
13:15 PM Interview success (50mins)
13:15 PM Planning your legal career (50 mins)
13:15 PM How to sell your volunteering 2
16:15 PM Charity sector careers networking event
16:15 PM Sorted training: Using the Web of Knowledge
17:30 PM Sorted training: Excel 2 version 2003
18:30 PM Leadership skills (90mins)
Friday 26
08:30 AM EPSRC Regional Event
09:00 AM School for Health online open week
12:15 PM Numerical reasoning test (50mins)
13:15 PM Get ahead of the game
14:15 PM Collaborative Provision Approval Panel
14:15 PM Assessment centre workshop (110mins)
Saturday 27
09:00 AM Sorted training: Emergency life support
11:00 AM Bath Upchuck juggling convention 2010
11:00 AM Volunteering in international development: Working in development projects
Arts
Concerts and Performances:
Choral & Orchestral Society Recital | University Hall | Saturday 20 February, 7.30pm
Featuring solo ensembles and chamber performances, showcasing the talent of students from one of the University’s most popular societies.
Creative Sound Factory Performance | ICIA Arts Theatre | Sunday 21 February, 7.30pm
Creative Sound Factory is the most exciting music workshop around. Over one weekend up to sixty talented musicians are guided by seven pros through improvising and composing an original piece of music. This final performance takes place on the Sunday evening.
Gravity Vomit Bath UpChuck 2010 | Founders Sports Hall | Saturday 27 February, 11am-7.30pm, | Evening Performance | University Hall | Saturday 27 February, 7.30pmBath UpChuck 2010 is the second annual juggling convention organised by the University’s juggling and circus skills society, Gravity Vomit, followed by an evening performance featuring many professional performers from across the UK. Suitable for all ages and skill levels.
Films:
Modern Life (La Vie Moderne)| Lecture Theatre: 3WN 2.1 | Wednesday 24 February, 7.30pm
Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist and filmmaker, Raymond Depardon casts a warm irreverent eye over a fading rural French community and the legacies that bind them to land and family. Raymond Depardon, France 2008, 87 mins, subtitles (PG)
Music Workshops:
Weekly Samba Drumming Workshops | Studio1, ICIA Arts Barn | Wednesdays, 5pm-7pm 6 Weeks: Until 24 March
Learn those irresistible samba rhythms and have lots of fun! Choose from a range of percussion instruments and simply join in! Robbie Verrechia from Bath School of Samba is an experienced samba drummer, band mestre/leader and workshop teacher. No previous experience required.
Sport
Team GB’s Amy Leads at Skeleton Halfway Mark
Team GB’s Amy Williams goes into the second and final day of the skeleton competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games with a 0.30 second lead.
Zoe finishes eighth at Olympic Winter Games
Team GB’s Zoe Gillings missed out on the medals at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, finishing eighth overall.
Buccs men stretch lead to 12 points
TeamBath Buccaneers men’s firsts stretched their lead at the top of England Hockey League Conference West to 12 points with an impressive 4-2 win at Old Georgians.