University Update

Friday 22 February 2013

News

New funding schemes to strengthen research–led relationships with international partners
Professor Colin Grant, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Internationalisation) has announced a series of funding schemes to provide practical support to academics wishing to collaborate with international partners and help to attract talented researchers to Bath.

University to be a partner in Futurelearn
We have partnered with Futurelearn, the initiative set up by the Open University and other leading UK Institutions using innovative technology to increase accessibility to higher education for students both here and in the rest of the world.

Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences – applications invited
Applications are invited for the post of Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences by 4 March.

Institute’s first public lecture makes national headlines
The first public lecture for our new Institute for Policy Research has been a great success – a packed audience and national headlines as a result.

Staff survey update – Professional Services
In the build-up to the 2013 Staff Survey launching on 15 March we are looking back at what has changed in response to your feedback from the last survey. This week we’re focusing on some of the actions taken by Professional Services.

ACE lecturer honoured with Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) outstanding service award
Dr Richard Ball, Lecturer in the Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, has received an Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) outstanding service award

Health & Safety update – Risk Assessment
Read the February edition of the monthly Health & Safety update. This month we look at Risk Assessment.

New student accommodation building update
The new student accommodation building took a step closer to completion this month when Laing O’Rourke was awarded the construction contract.

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Research

University in €5 Million European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Consortium
The University is to be part of the €5 million ERDF funded research consortium to focus on Materials for Energy Efficiency in Transport, known as MEET.

Professor warns UK drug research is falling into Valley of Death
Professor John Hudson from the Department of Economics is warning that universities are failing to get an adequate financial return on their research and that in the UK in particular this is accompanied by a failure to fully exploit that research to the advantage of the British economy.

Traffic light system for activity could redefine how we exercise
The traffic light system used as a guide to health information in food could be used in a similar way to help people become more active.

Attitudes to Knowledge Exchange and Pathways to Impact: Survey Results
The 137 responses help us to understand the issues and concerns facing staff applying for pathways to impact funding, so we can help address these through our Impact Acceleration Account.

Knowledge Exchange Forum makes Feasibility Awards for Industry Events
The Forum has made Impact Acceleration Account awards to staff in the dept of Architecture & Civil Engineering and dept of Chemical Engineering to encourage pathways to impact.

New appointment strengthens media technology research
Professor Brian Wyvill has joined the Department of Computer Science from the University of Victoria in Canada, where he was a Canada Research Chair.

Manual wheelchair users needed to help understand link between physical activity and health
The DisAbility Sport & Health (DASH) research group is offering free health checks to manual wheelchair users who take part in a study designed to assess the accuracy of devices used to monitor physical activity levels.

Final call for volunteers for study into breakfast’s impact on our health
Researchers from the Deprtment of Health are making a final call for volunteers to take part in a study to find out how important breakfast is to our health.

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Learning and Teaching

University Teaching Awards 2013 - Closing date Fri 1 Mar
Nominate your lecturer or colleague by no later than Friday 1 March 2013

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In the media

Prime Minister welcomes Futurelearn expansion, University Business UK
Nemesis project to explore energy harvesting, Electric Light & Power
New report claims CCS plants won’t deliver predicted emission reductions, Gasworld
The latest breakthroughs in adaptive designs to be disclosed, Life Science
Study: Calcium Is The Initial Trigger In Our Immune Response To Healing, Nutrition Horizon
Royal Society award boosts micro energy generation, Sustainability Matters

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. For a more comprehensive list of the University's media coverage, visit the bathinthemedia page.

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Events

Fairtrade Fortnight 2013 - 25 Feb to 10 March
Events across campus will be celebrating what Fairtrade represents and the values behind the movement.

RAG Week 2013 – 25 Feb to 1 March
Lots is planned for RAG Week 2013. There will be something for everyone from the new RAG Delivery Service to the Fashion@Bath Clothes Swap.

Open Cafe event: Riot! Young politics and antipolitics in Britain – Monday 25 Feb
A talk given by Ben Bowman, a MPhil/PhD Student.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans (LGBT) History Month 2013 Display
LGBT History Month 2013 is dedicated to science, technology, engineering maths and medicine (STEMM) - a display will be in 4W level 1.

From Poverty to Power: How Active Citizens and Effective States can Change the World - Monday 4 March
Duncan Green (Senior Strategic Adviser, Oxfam GB) argues that a radical redistribution of power, opportunities, and assets rather than traditional models of charitable or government aid is required to break the cycle of poverty and inequality.

Richard Stallman: Copyright vs Community - Thursday 21 March
Dr Stallman, Founder and President of the Free Software Foundation, will present at the University as part of Bath Digital Festival.

Public lecture: Downsizing for fuel efficiency - Tuesday 9 April
Dr Chris Brace celebrates his appointment as Chair of the Automobile Division of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers with a public lecture.

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Information

The summary notes of the 16 January Executive Committee
Subjects covered included BIS Grant Letter to HEFCE, University Strategy and Annual Planning, Open Access Publishing, Staff Survey: 2011 and 2013, the Health and Safety Committee and the Microscopy and Analysis Suite Management Committee.

Effectiveness Review of Senate consultation – we need your views
The Senate has recently commissioned a review of its effectiveness. It has been six years since our last review so it is important that you let us know what you think.

Jill Parker (Graduate School Manager for the Faculty of Science) is retiring after 21 years
After 21 years at the University, Jill has decided to retire at the end of March. To mark her long and distinguished career, we intend to celebrate this in style!

Can you make a difference to a student with Asperger's?
The Student Disability Advice Service and Students' Union Volunteer Centre are seeking postgraduate volunteers who have studied as an undergraduate at the University.

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