University Updates
19 October 2007
News
Nobel Prize winner is "delighted" to receive award
Anil Markandya (Economics & International Development) has spoken of his delight at learning that his work on climate change had shared this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Major US grant awarded to School for Health
Chris Riddoch (Health) is heading a consortium awarded more than £1.1 million by the US Government to examine how exercise and obesity affect the health of local schoolchildren.
Research links with Californian universities are strengthened
Firm links between Bath and universities in California have been established to develop research into the latest high technology in the fields of wireless communications, stem cell & biomedical engineering, and sustainable environments & biofuels.
Flexible PG programmes appeal to a growing international audience
The autumn intake for the School for Health’s postgraduate programmes has a distinctly international flavour.
Bath academic chosen to host a visit by HRH Princess Anne to Prague
Alan Butt-Philip (Management) has been specially chosen to host a visit by HRH The Princess Royal to Charles University, Prague.
Mute iguanas grab limelight for PhD student
James St Clair, a second year PhD student (Biology & Biochemistry), has had a research paper he co-authored highlighted in some of the world’s most respected science journals.
Student wins prize in business ethics competition
Final year BSc Business Administration student Sam Manly has won second place in the undergraduate category of a student competition organised by the Institute of Business Ethics (IBE).
New 'town and gown' partnership is set up
The Student Community Partnership, set up by Bath’s two universities and B&NES Council, replaces a similar scheme that was ended after last May’s local government elections.
Enterprising school students enter Dragon’s Den
Bath and Wiltshire school students with a flair for enterprise are to face a Dragon’s Den-style panel in a competition to find the best idea for an innovative, ethical product.
Summer school pupil wins national award
A college pupil who attended this year’s Aimhigher Summer School at the University has received an award for the Most Inspirational Student Success Story in recognition of his exceptional character and organisational skills at the first national Aimhigher awards.
School of Management newsletter
The e-bulletin contains a round-up of recent news stories about School staff, students and alumni.
Professor Robert Eisenthal dies
It is with great sadness that the University records the death on Tuesday 16 October 2007 of Professor Robert Eisenthal (Biology & Biochemistry), one of the longest serving members of the University. His funeral took place on Thursday. A memorial event will be held on campus in the near future. Further details will be published on the University homepage.
Information
Please complete the Staff Survey 2007
Due to an administrative error by Capita (the company carrying out the survey for the University) on Monday, some members of staff were sent a link to the wrong online survey. However, everyone should now have received an email with a link to the Bath survey and a personal password. If for any reason you no longer have the email containing your survey password, please email staffsurveys@capita.co.uk or call Capita's helpline number 0800 587 3115 supplying your BUCS username. The University is very keen to learn how staff feel about working here, so please try to find time to complete the questionnaire. Thank you to those who have already done so.
Personal Data Statement project - thank you for your input
The electronic Personal Data Statement facility is now closed. Thank you to everyone who made this a noteworthy success. Over the past month 2400 staff looked at their personal details, and made over 2100 changes to their information. This is approaching a 75% response rate for core staff.
Publications - please return unwanted copies
The Press Office receives regular requests for copies of the 40th anniversary publication 'University of Bath: a history' and the 'Research' magazine. To ensure we have them available, please return any unused copies to the Press Office, where they will be available on request. Please address returns to Claire Hornshaw, Wessex House 8.1.
Wanted: staff who use the 18/418 bus
Estates are looking for 12 staff volunteers to keep a short travel diary/log of their journey to and from the University on the bus, over a two-week period. Please contact Sarah Haigh by the 25 October 2007.
Faculty of HSS launches generic skills training programme
On Tuesday 23 October the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences launches its 2007/08 Faculty Generic Skills Training programme for research students.
Refurbishment of 8 West 1.1
Estates has refurbished lecture theatre 8 West 1.1 over the summer. The lighting system has been replaced with more energy efficient fittings; the main projection screen has been recessed into the ceiling to help improve
viewing visibility; a new self-contained AV lectern has been installed which incorporates a PC, visualiser
and full touch screen sensitive control of all the lighting, sound and AV
functions; and new carpets, seats and writing ledges have been fitted to complete the redecorations. As funding permits, Estates are working on a programme of continuous updates and improvements to all lecture theatres with the aim of maintaining similar standards throughout GTA teaching spaces.
Message for owners of mailing lists
Over the summer Computing Services launched a new system for managing mailing
lists. The new lists system and the two older lists systems have been running
in parallel since August to allow time for people to move their lists; however
the old lists systems are due to be switched off at the end of the October. Please move your lists to the new system if you have not already done so.
Membership of the University Court
Nominations are invited for one full-time member of technical
or research staff to serve on the Court of the University.
Consultation on academic staff appraisal
The University is beginning a consultation on the appraisal of academic staff
following clear signs of dissatisfaction with the current system. A consultation
paper plus a draft of a new form has been sent to all academic departments.
This is also available online so that any individual members of academic
staff can also make a response. Responses should be sent to Professor Ian
Jamieson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Learning & Teaching, Vice-Chancellor's Office.
Deadline: 26 October 2007.
Westwood Nursery collecting Tesco vouchers
The University nursery is taking part in the Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs
2007 scheme, which will run between September and November 2007. It hopes
to collect as many vouchers as possible to receive free sport
equipment
for the nursery and would like to thank everyone in advance who will be helping
collect vouchers.
Fitness Suite Offer
TeamBath is offering a reduced membership fee for the fitness suite of
£199 per year, which works out at less than £4 per week. For more information
email Miles Peyton on m.j.peyton@bath.ac.uk or call ext 3597.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Training & development opportunities
- IT training courses - autumn term
- Effective appraisal: Support staff - 22 October
- Sexual orientation - the business case for non-discrimination - 23 October
- Excelerated performance international: work smarter, not harder - 30 October
- Leading research teams - 13 November
Longer courses:
- First line management: for supervisors/managers
- Team leading (ILM level 2): for manual, craft, technical, & clerical staff who have responsibility for others
In the media
- Horst Feldmann (Economics & International Development) spoke on BBC Radio Somerset about the impact of strikes.
- Leon Watts (Computer Science) talked about using video conferencing facilities to help settle disputes on GWR Radio.
- Geof Smith (Mathematical Sciences) discussed his involvement making a TV programme on the 'beautiful young minds' of children with autism on Bath FM.
- Margareta Kern was interviewed about her ICIA exhibition Clothes for Death for an article in The Big Issue
- The ICIA publication The Nature of the Beast: Cultural Diversity and the Visual Arts Sector, A Study of Policies, Initiatives and Attitudes 1976-2006 was reviewed in Variant Magazine.
Lectures
- Couch potato children: destined for obesity and chronic disease - Monday 22 October, 6pm
- Sedentary lifestyles: the major public health issue of the 21st century? - Monday 22 October, 7pm
- Lowering our carbon footprint - Wednesday 24 October, 5.15pm
- The science of blood flow: from Harvey to the present day - Friday 26 October, 7pm
- Chaplaincy lecture: Modern slavery & children's rights -Thursday 25 October, 7.15pm
Father Shay Cullen is a dedicated activist for children's rights in the Philippines, working to rescue them from exploitation in the sex industry. His lecture will look at what is being done in practical terms to mobilise world opinion and challenge authorities to address the situation. The lecture will take place during One World Week in 2E 3.1. For more information and to request a free ticket, email catholicchaplain@bath.ac.uk
What's on next week
Monday 22
13:15 PM BICS seminar
19:30 PM Oliver Cromwell & the Protectorate Parliaments
Tuesday 23
12:15 PM Eucharist/Holy Communion
12:45 PM Oxfam Lunch
13:15 PM CNM seminar
20:00 PM PG Book Club: Aldous Huxley's Eyeless in Gaza
Wednesday 24
13:15 PM Solo and Chamber Lunchtime Concert
16:10 PM Centenary Lecture
17:30 PM Forgotten Wiltshireman: Thomas Stephens and the mission to the East
19:30 PM Robert Frost: The English Years
19:30 PM Civilians killed in war
Thursday 25
12:30 PM UBSA Lunchtime Horse Races
13:00 PM Silent Zone
Friday 26
17:00 PM Vegetarian Society: free meal
Exhibitions
Judith
Tucker - Resort | ICIA Art Space 1, Claverton Rooms foyer, until
16 November
Judith Tucker's haunting drawings of the Baltic seaside resort of
Ahlbeck are inspired by photographs her grandmother brought with her
when she fled Nazi Germany to England in 1938. The charcoal drawings are infused with a sense of loss that shimmer with regret and yearning. Through melancholic coastal settings, the exhibition evokes memories of a vanished past.
Margareta Kern - Clothes for Death | ICIA Art Space 2, until 4 January
Interdisciplinary artist presents powerful and intimate photographs as a personal response to a tradition in Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina of women preparing clothes for their own burial.
Arts
MUSIC
Polar Bear & The Blessing
Sat 20 Oct, 7.30pm
ICIA Arts Theatre
£9, £7 concs & Uni
of Bath Staff
One of the most creative bands on the UK jazz scene, Polar Bear
mixes raw jazz, cool grooves, funk, drum ‘n’ bass with an electronic soundscape.
Features Mercury-nominated Seb Rochford. Top Bristol jazz outfit The Blessing
support.
DANCE / THEATRE
Hofesh Shechter - In Your Rooms
Sat 27 Oct, 7.30pm
ICIA Arts Theatre
£9, £7 concs & Uni
of Bath Staff
Edgy energy and gritty physicality in this double bill of explosive
and intense dance from an Israeli-born choreographer – now one of the rising
talents of the UK dance scene.
VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOPS
Raku
Sat 27 Oct & Sat 3 Nov, 10am-4pm
Studio 2, ICIA Arts
Complex
£68, £48 concs & Uni
of Bath Staff
A chance to make, fire and glaze pots traditional Japanese rapid
firing process where pots are removed red-hot from the kiln.
Sport
Upgraded hockey pitch to make weekend debut
Team Bath Buccaneers Men’s First will kick-off their play their first match on the newly upgraded synthetic hockey pitch at the University of Bath when they host top of the table Southgate on Saturday (20 October).
Mariana wins Yorkshire National Elite Open title
University of Bath student Mariana Agathangelou won the women’s doubles title in the opening round of badminton’s HEAD National Elite Open Circuit.
‘On Camp with Kelly’ athletes and coaches get-together in Bath
Last weekend
23 athletes and 14 coaches met up at the Sports Training Village at the University for the second of the ‘On Camp with Kelly’ Get-Together Weekends in 2007.
Team Bath FC must overcome AFC Hornchurch for a place in the first round proper of the FA Cup. The University of Bath-based side are due to make the trip to Essex to play the Ryman Premier Division side on Saturday 27 October.