University Updates
19 September 2008
Research news
Thanks for making it such a success!
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Professor Jane Millar, has expressed her gratitude to all those involved in making the University's first Research Showcase such a success on Wednesday.
University to showcase cutting edge environmental research
The global problem of climate change hit the spotlight this week as researchers from across the University met to showcase our research on environmental sustainability.
New research to help cars kick the fossil fuel habit
Researchers led by Saiful Islam (Chemistry) are helping to develop new rechargeable batteries that could improve hybrid electric cars in the future.
Houses made of hemp could help combat climate change
Houses made of hemp, timber or straw could help combat climate change by reducing the carbon footprint of building construction, according to Peter Walker (ACE) who is leading research into eco-friendly building materials.
University of Bath conference tackles the health of the nation
Teenage mental health, childhood obesity and the dangers of an over-indulgent lifestyle were amongst the topics discussed at the annual School for Health Research Matters conference today (Friday 19 September).
National positive thinking trial aims to prevent childhood depression
More than 7,000 school pupils from across the UK will be taking part in the trial of a new positive thinking programme led by Paul Stallard (Health) designed to prevent children developing problems with depression.
Academic invited to oversee Irish research funding
Laurence Hurst (Biology & Biochemistry) has been invited to join the Life Sciences Principal Investigator Executive Panel of the Science Foundation of Ireland (SFI). The SFI was created by the Irish government to invest significant funds in leading researchers working in fields of science and engineering that underpin the key sectors of Ireland’s economic and scientific advancement.
Pharmacy professor becomes an Academy Fellow
John Staniforth, a long time member of the Pharmacy & Pharmacology Department, has been made a Fellow of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Other news
University of Bath in The Sunday Times “elite top ten”
The University has been named ‘best in the South West’ in the latest league table to be published by The Sunday Times.
East meets West: latest developments with Shandong University
During 2008 there has been several new developments in Bath’s partnership with Shandong University (SDU) in Jinan, China, including student exchanges, staff visits and the impending arrival of the first new dual degree students.
Three recent graduates shortlisted for Student of the Year Awards
Three students who graduated this summer have been shortlisted for the 2008 Science, Engineering & Technology (SET) Student of the Year Awards, prestigious awards open to all final year undergraduates in Britain and Northern Ireland.
Information
Freshers arrive on campus - disruption to parking
Freshers will be arriving from the morning of Saturday 20 September 2008, throughout Sunday 21 September and they should all be on campus by the end of Monday 22 September. We anticipate some traffic congestion and increased parking problems. However, with your co-operation, we hope to minimise these problems and ensure the arrivals process runs as smoothly as possible.
Blackwell opens temporary bookshop on campus
Blackwell will be opening a temporary bookshop on campus from 24 September to 7 November in 3West 2.8(a), as well as offering a full online book ordering service.
New website planned for the University
The Vice-Chancellor's Group has accepted a proposal from Web Services to re-develop the external facing website to ensure it is audience focused and in line with the web presence of our competitor institutions (both nationally and internationally). Following the development of the external site (due for release in summer 2009), internal channels will also be enhanced to provide easier access to information for our staff and students. Briefing sessions will be held in October to outline the project more fully.
4,000 attend University Open Day
Thank you to those who contributed to the Open Day on Thursday 18 September, which was well-attended as usual. 4,000 students came to meet departmental staff and look around the campus with their parents. Hopefully many of them will have liked what they saw enough to apply to Bath!
Staff capability and disciplinary procedures
New procedures have been introduced to deal with cases where performance falls below expected levels or where there is misconduct:
- Poor performance resulting from a lack of skills, abilities or knowledge - capability procedure
- Behaviour breaching the rules of conduct expected by the University - disciplinary procedure
Enrol on a foreign language course - reduced rates for staff & students
The Foreign Languages Centre has started enrolling for its Autumn term language courses on both the community and lunchtime programmes. Courses cater for complete beginners to proficient polyglots!
RICE's annual Memory Trail through Longleat estate
Join RICE on their 15th Annual Memory Trail on Sunday 28 September 2008. Starting at Horningsham Village Hall and walking through the beautiful Longleat Estate, the Memory Trail aims to raise funds and awareness of RICE's work which focuses on memory problems, in particular Alzheimer's disease and others dementias.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Conferences, workshops, courses
Psychology conference resounding success
Karen Rodham (Psychology) acted as Conference President at the largest health psychology conference that has ever been held in Europe. The second joint conference of the Division of Health Psychology (DHP) and the European Health Psychology Society (EHP) recently held on campus was an enormous success with over 760 delegates from 43 countries. The scientific standard of the 174 papers, 15 symposia, one workshop and 480 posters was extremely high and resulted in considerable media interest.
ESML hosts a workshop on controlling biological weapons
The Department of European Studies and Modern Languages (ESML) has been hosting a workshop this week for invited experts from the Europe and the USA to discuss a new framework for controlling the development and use of biological weapons.
The University is holding the third conference in the ESRC-NERC sponsored "Sustaining future ecosystem services - From understanding to action". The conference entitled "Carbon and environmental footprinting - Thinking globally, acting locally" will bring together leading figures to discuss the development, use and impact of carbon and environmental footprinting as a tool for sustaining future generations.
Metals in Synthesis 15 October
As well as speakers from Bath, Oxford and Birmingham, Professor Masakatsu Shibasaki from the University of Tokyo will deliver an RSC Endowed Lecture entitled "Recent Progress in Asymmetric Two-Center Catalysis". Enquiries to John Fossey.
In the media
- Paul Stallard (School for Health) was interviewed on Bath FM and GWR about the new cognitive behavioural therapy trials to be carried out in schools. The research was also reported in The Guardian.
- Peter Walker (Architecture) explained his work designing low carbon building materials on Bath FM.
- Saiful Islam (Chemistry) talked on Bath FM about the new materials that are being developed to improve rechargeable batteries.
- Mechanical Engineering students will be appearing on Sky Sports 3 on Saturday after displaying their award-winning car from the Formula Student competition at the British Hillclimb Championship at Prescott, near Cheltenham.
Training opportunities
In-house:
- Mediation training - Info session 15 October
- Presentation skills - 24 October
External:
- Free training at Science Media Centre: Monday 29 September, 1-5pm, Royal Institution in London
A beginner’s guide to the way the UK news media works. Much of the tension between scientists and journalists is caused by a lack of mutual understanding and this event will give you an insight into a day in the life of a journalist. You will get a whistle-stop tour of news media, hearing from journalists, scientists and press officers. - Leadership Foundation course: Intro to project management 21 October
What's on next week
Monday 22
19:30 The Levellers: Radicalism in the English Revolution
Tuesday 23
09:00 Carbon & environmental footprinting - Thinking globally, acting locally
Wednesday 24
19:30 Ebenezer Elliot (1781-1849) One Honest Song for Immortality
Arts
Workshops and Classes
Classes start the week of 6 October 2008.
- Classes and workshops in music, dance and visual arts for all levels:
Music: DJ Skills, Bath University Big Band, Pop Choir
Dance: Contemporary, Street Dance, Jazz Dance, Ballet, Flamenco, Tap
Visual Arts: Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Life Drawing, Stained Glass, Creative Sculpture, Botanical Illustration, Creative Digital Art, Photography, Portrait Studies, Pastel, Watercolour, Gouache & Oils. - Ceramics Taster Sessions Studio 2, ICIA Arts Complex | Saturday 4 October, 11am-1pm or 1.30pm-3.30pm
Learn some basic techniques, such as hand building and how to throw clay on the wheel to make pots.
Concerts and Performances
- Choral and Orchestral Society Freshers’ Concert ICIA Arts Theatre | Sunday 28 September 7.30pm
The University of Bath’s Philharmonic Orchestra, Concert Band and Choir join forces to welcome freshers to campus life. - Bath University Student Theatre My Mother Said I Never Should ICIA Arts Theatre | Thursday 2nd - Saturday 4th October, 7.30pm
One of the most popular plays of the 80s, this is an insightful look at four generations of women from the same family, as they try to cope with different problems of their own times.
Exhibitions
- Alison Marchant Charged Atmospheres | ICIA Art Space 1 | Till Friday 31 October
Alison Marchant’s fading photographs of once grand interiors, now abandoned and decaying, emphasise the passing of time.
Sport
Brian Ashton becomes Director of Coaching at University
Talented current and future University of Bath-based athletes and their coaches will be able to work alongside one of the big names in sport from today onwards. Brian Ashton, who led England to the finals of last year’s World Cup rugby tournament after a hugely successful playing and coaching career in the sport, has taken up a post as Director of Coaching.
McNulty to undertake head coach role at Bath ITC
Olympic medal-winning coach Dave McNulty has been announced as the head coach of the soon to be established British Swimming Intensive Training Centre (ITC) at the University of Bath.
Team Bath netballers face Wales
Team Bath’s netballers will take-on Wales at the University of Bath Sports Training Village tonight (Friday 19 September) in a curtain raiser to the new Superleague season.
Bircher retires after illustrious career
University of Bath swimmer Alan Bircher used the Great North Swim to bring down the curtain on a career in open water swimming that delivered both international medals as well as renewed interest in the sport.