University Updates
21 August 2009
News
Expert questions diabetes drug study
Professor Corinne de Vries (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) urges patients not to stop taking their medication following research suggesting a link between the diabetes drug rosiglitazone and an increased risk of heart failure.
Bath student sizes up David Cameron MP
Conservative Party Leader David Cameron was sized up by a Bath business student, Alex Edwards, when he met the young entrepreneur of Aptus Suits in his Cotswold constituency recently.
Innovative Design & Manufacturing Centre gets £7m for five years
The Innovative Design & Manufacturing Research Centre (IdMRC) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering is one of 16 Research Centres in the UK, funded by the EPSRC. It is currently in the second five-year tranche of funding from the EPSRC, worth £7.35 million from 2006 to 2011. Funding from 2009 to 2011 was conditional on an international review of the IdMRC based on a 'seventh year report' submitted by the Centre. We are the first research centre to complete the review process and so have our £7m funding approved for the full five years.
Working with the local community
Help for people wanting to start their own business
The Division for Lifelong Learning is running a Self Employment Essentials course, designed to guide people through their self employment options and help develop their skills to start a business.
Support for women in business
Women thinking of starting their own business are invited to sign up for the Women into Enterprise Course being run by the Division for Lifelong Learning. Free taster sessions are being held this week and next week at Carpenter House.
Free information day for arthritis patients
The Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases (BIRD) is hosting a free information day on Friday 4 September at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, as well as family, friends and those who have a general interest in the condition.
Information
Death of Professor Mike Rose
We are sad to announce the sudden death of Mike Rose (Social & Policy Sciences) on the evening of 18 August. Mike had been suffering from a heart condition for 20 years. The funeral will take place on Tuesday 1 September at 12.30pm at Haycombe Crematorium, Whiteway Road, Bath,
BA2 2RQ. Refreshments will be served afterwards in Norton St Phillip. (No flowers please.)
Statutes, Ordinances & Regulations of the University - revised with effect from 1 August 2009
The Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations of the University have been reviewed during the past year by Council and Senate. The new versions of the documents, with effect from 1 August 2009, are available online.
Ramadan: 21 August-19 September 2009
The season of Ramadan started today (21 August). This means that Muslim staff and students may be fasting during daylight hours.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Comments invited
Consultation on Corporate PlanMembers of the University community are invited to comment on proposed text relating to the vision, purpose, objectives and values of the University which will feed into the new Corporate Plan for 2009/10, which is currently being drafted. Please send your comments to Nicky Kemp by 9 October.
New Research website
The Web Team has launched a ‘beta test’ version of a new Research website, visible only to the University community, and welcome your comments about it.
Simplifying the EU RTD Framework Programmes
In 2010, the European Commission plans to issue a communication on possibilities for simplifying the implementation of the EU RTD Framework Programmes. To gather ideas, the Commission is holding a first informal consultation.
Grants & funding opportunities
- The Knowledge Transfer Account: A £3.4 million award, initially for three years, developing innovative ways to accelerate translation of EPSRC research outputs into business opportunities.
- Knowledge Escalator South West - Knowledge fellowships for academic staff: This programme aims to further strengthen south-west higher education institutes’ capacity to engage collaboratively with regional businesses to promote innovation and improve regional productivity. Bath is offering six Knowledge Fellowships for academic staff.
ERC call for starting grants for researchers
ERC grants aim to support single research leaders ('Principal Investigators') heading a research team to conduct a frontier research project on the condition that he/she is engaged by a legally established host organisation.
In the media
- John Troyer (Centre for Death & Society) and David Brown (Biology & Biochemistry) did a joint interview on BBC Radio Bristol giving their differing views on whether coroners should be testing for CJD.
- Will Wood (Biology & Biochemistry) spoke on National Public Radio (USA) about the ability to capture the process of bacterial infection on video.
- Tim Bullamore (Centre for Death & Society) was quoted in the Times Higher Education talking about obituary writing.
- Corinne de Vries (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) has attracted considerable coverage in the papers (including the Guardian and the Telegraph) and on web news sites about her editorial in the British Medical Journal that the data in a study of diabetes drugs do not fully support the claims made.
Training & development
- Performance management training 24 August
- Refreshing your teaching: toolkits and approaches for enhancing learning 3 September
- An introduction to HE - A programme for new managers and administrators 2-4 September
- Performance Review - Conducting an effective review of support & technical staff 15 September AM
- Performance Review - Getting the most out of your review (for support & technical staff) 15 September PM
- Workshop for those new to teaching at the Uni of Bath 16 & 18 September
- An introduction to project management 29 September (off-site at Marriott Airport Hotel, Manchester)
- Free beginner’s guide to the media for scientists and engineers 4 November (at the Royal Institution in London)
- New Staff Development programme | Download PDF to print
- e-Learning staff development programme
- Monthly learning & teaching paper lunches
Forthcoming lectures & conferences
The role of religion in human rights in the future Wednesday 16 September
Staff and students are invited to attend a lecture by the Honourable Mary Robinson, former President of the Republic of Ireland, in Bath Abbey. The lecture, entitled ‘Realising Rights: the role of religion in human rights in the future’, is part of the 1100th anniversary celebrations of the Diocese of Bath & Wells. Free tickets are available from Sheila Willmott.
Bath Biosensor Network Wednesday 23 September
The first Bath interdisciplinary meeting on Biosensors will be held on Wednesday 23 September, 11:50am - 5:30pm, in the foyer and lecture theatre of 3WN. Please register your interest.
Cancer Research Symposium Wednesday 30 September
Registration is now open for the first CR@B (Cancer Research at Bath) Symposium. It is open to all academic and clinical staff and students with an interest in cancer research.
Research volunteers wanted
- Rugby players wanted for international research project
Researchers in the School for Health are looking for local first team rugby players to participate in a project looking at evasive running movements and the link to injuries. Participants will benefit from analysis of their lower limb muscle strength, agility and performance of side-stepping movement patterns in two sessions at the world-class sporting facilities at the University.
- Investigating how judgments form in different situations Online survey - 10 minutes
- Exploring your views on Chlamydia Online survey - 20 mins
- Work in HE sector and use Web 2.0 tools? Online survey
- Smokers wanted Join a panel
- How we relate to our thoughts 45 mins on campus - £5
- Relationships between attention and pain experience 45 mins on campus - £5
- How people respond to the use of mental visualisation 45 mins on campus - £5
- Marketing research survey win £25
- Are you looking forward to a positive event in the near future? 30 mins on campus
- The effects of different thoughts and emotions on the experience of pain 45 mins on campus - chocolate & win £50
Arts
Holburne Museum
Picnic in the Park with Masquerade! Bank Holiday Sunday 30 August, 12 noon to 3pm | The Gardener's Lodge,
Sydney Gardens
Bring your own picnic to the Lodge for a Masquerade party on the lawn - rug and a tablecloth too, with a live promenade performance by Face to Face, created with Suited and Booted. Make yourself a Georgian Hat and Mask with our expert help. Dress romantic. Also don't miss the artwork inspired during a three week project funded by the HLF and The Norie Trust using music, film and fashion to interpret the heritage of Sydney Gardens.
ICIA Concerts & Performances
Lone Twin Speeches | Kensington Meadows, off London Road, Bath | Friday 11 September 6.30pm, Saturday 12 September 2pm & 5pm & Sunday 13 September 2pm & 5pm.
Members of the public living around the much-loved Kensington Meadows are invited to work with a professional speechwriter and Lone Twin, to create a speech linked to the area. Presented as public performances, these speeches give voice to their thoughts and passions, creating a forum where people can listen to privately held thoughts in a publicly shared space.
Sport
Bath graduates help GB team win team silver at Modern Pentathlon world champs
Bath graduates Mhairi Spence and Katy Livingston were members of the GB women's team that won silver at the Modern Pentathlon world championships at Crystal Palace last week. They were joined in the team by Heather Fell who trains at the GB Pentathlon high performance centre which is based on campus.
Harris heading for Triathlon World Champs Grand Final
Bath alumnus Aaron Harris has been named by British Triathlon as part of its squad to compete at the Dextro Energy ITU World Championships Series Grand Final in Australia next month.
Team Bath Buccs hockey team to hold open day
Team Bath Buccaneers Hockey Club aim to get the new season off to flying start with a club open day at their HQ, the University's Sports Training Village, on Saturday 5 September.