University Updates
23 January 2009
Academic news
I quit, we quit – what works better for smokers?
A study from the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, led by Linda Bauld, has found that smokers are twice as likely to kick the habit if they use a support group rather than trying to give up alone.
“I’m a scientist, get me out of here” project looking for scientists
Organisers of a national competition are looking for scientists to compete with each other for votes in an online interactive debate with school students. Ian Walker won first prize last year.
SET poster competition at House of Commons
Applications are invited from early-stage and early-career
research scientists, engineers and technologists who wish to exhibit posters in one of the following
areas:
Biological and Biomedical Science,
Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) and
Engineering.
Learning & teaching
Innovations in Learning & Teaching Week 23 - 27 February
The theme of this year’s annual Innovations Week is ‘Feedback to students and engagement with students’. The aim of the event is to support enhancement and development of learning and teaching and to provide opportunities for staff to share good practice.
Proposals are invited from teaching staff for funding of £2,500. The aim is to advance student learning-enhancement practices in the University in relation to the theme 'feedback to students and engagement with students', with staff and students working together on the project. Submission deadline: Tuesday 3 February.
New MSc in Science, Risk & Health Communication
The Department of Psychology's well-established and highly regarded course in Science Communication has been expanded to both Risk and Health Communication contexts. The course offers a winning combination of academic grounding (in communication theory), practical workshops in writing and communication skills and a range of work placements. The launch of the Masters programme in 2009 is subject to final approval.
Awards & accolades
Bath tops the class for university campus safety
Bath is one of only two universities in the country to receive a police-approved Secured Environment award which recognises the safety of its campus.
BUCS receives national award for innovative networking project
Computing Services (BUCS) has been highly commended in the e-Government National Awards 2008, at an award ceremony held at the London Guildhall recently. Shortlisted from 588 nominations, the University was runner-up in the award category of Excellence in innovation at a local level, for its project to use Bath’s waste water pipes as a route to connect city-centre student halls of residence to the campus network.
Recognition from Pharm Res American journal
The University and Richard Guy have received notable recognition from the premier US pharmaceutical journal Pharmaceutical Research: Professor Guy for co-authoring more papers than anyone else and the University for ranking 8th-equal in terms of papers published by institution.
Hon grad nominations sought
The Honorary Degrees Committee is pleased to receive nominations from any member of the University or person associated with it. In particular, it welcomes proposals that reflect the cultural diversity and international character of the University and promotes its commitment to gender equality. Deadline for nominations: Monday 2 February 2009
2009 Green Gown Awards
Now in their fifth year, the awards recognise the exceptional initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges across the UK to become more sustainable. Deadline for stage one submissions: Friday 27 February 2009.
University Chaplain to be made Prebendary of Wells Cathedral
The Bishop of Bath & Wells has invited Angela Berners-Wilson to become a Prebendary of Wells Cathedral. This will mean she must attend meetings of the Greater Chapter, and preach at the Cathedral occasionally. She will have her own 'seat' in the Cathedral, in which she will be formally placed at her installation (during the course of Cathedral Evensong on Tuesday 24 February at 5.15pm in Wells.) The post is an honorary one, and Angela will be continuing in her role as University Chaplain.
Students
Alumni Fund allocates £22,000 to enhance student experience
The Alumni Fund exists to enhance the student experience at the University. Thousands of former graduates have contributed towards the fund, which last year raised £130,000. About half of the money raised is used for scholarships, while the remainder is used to support projects which create opportunities for students, promote enterprise and innovation, and enhance the student experience.
Economics students reach semi-final in IBM Business Challenge
One of the two Bath teams of second year Economics students who were participating in the IBM Universities Business Challenge competition, reached the semi-finals which were held in Farnborough on 22 January 2009.
Student blog: teaching Burmese refugees in Thailand
Steve Gomersall, a Psychology student, spent the summer as a volunteer teaching English to Burmese refugees in Northern Thailand in a project organised in conjunction with Hong Kong University. He recently returned to Thailand and spent another month there.
International student attends prestigious Christmas conference
Every December Cumberland Lodge invites 50 international students studying in the UK to stay there for a weekend, with the aim of facilitating the exchange of ideas and interaction among students from all over the world. Renfred Wong from the School of Management was lucky enough to be offered one of the places.
Links with local community
Survival training for local businesses
The University is offering a series of four practical workshops to help local businesses survive and grow through the current economic challenges.
The first steps to a career in youth work
The University has teamed up with the City of Bristol College to offer a free information afternoon into its youth work foundation degree on Monday 9 February.
Information
Happy Chinese New Year!Monday marks the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Ox. There are various events taking place on campus to celebrate - special menus in Level 1 and at The Terrace; lunchtime food sampling outside Fresh Oriental plus 10 per cent off in the shop; cultural displays in the Library; and a free screening of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
New Post Office paystation installed in Union shop
The new paystation can process quantum gas cards, electricity keys, top up mobiles and scan utility bills with a barcode as a convenient means of payment.
Changes to staff appraisals
'Staff development & performance reviews' have replaced 'Appraisals'. The new scheme harmonises the approach and documentation across all staff groups and departments. It has a sharper focus on what the process is aiming to achieve, and simpler documentation so that people can concentrate on the conversation rather than merely filling out the forms.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
In the media
- Melanie Wellham (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) commented about the approval of the first stem-cell trials in humans on the BBC News channel.
Training opportunities
- Learn a foreign language: lunchtime - £15, evenings - £32.50
- Free staff development courses
- Free IT training courses for staff
Conferences & lectures
Formula 1 lecture
A free public lecture entitled 'Formula 1 motor racing - The introduction and management of innovation' will take place on campus on Thursday 29 January at 8pm. Please contact Chris Brace to reserve a seat.
Researchers' conference
A one-day conference entitled 'Exploring new territories' has been organised to meet the demand of growing interest in national and international interdisciplinary collaboration. Thursday 12 February.
What's on next week
More details about events below
Monday 26
13:15 PM BICS seminar
Tuesday 27
12:15 PM Bishop's talk about USPG
13:15 PM CNM seminar
16:30 PM Sea turtles, biodiversity and sustainable development in Baja California, Mexico
19:30 PM The imperfection of the fossil record - Updating 'The Origin'
12:15 PM Relax, rebalance, rewind: Reflexology for women
13:15 PM Economics in healthcare
13:45 PM Housing Forum - Private sector housing information
17:15 PM Is Islam the true religion?
Thursday 29
15:30 PM Bridging the Gaps seminar
18:15 PM Developing your business plan - the vision
19:30 PM Bath city centre - Competitive or complacent?
Friday 30
12:15 PM The history and conservation of Stourhead
19:30 PM Key stages in the history of life
Arts
ICIA new season - Booking now open!
Classes
Places are still available on music and visual arts courses. Classes include -
- Music: DJ Skills, Bath University Big Band, Pop Choir
- Visual Arts: Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Life Drawing, Stained Glass, Creative Sculpture, Botanical Illustration, Creative Digital Art, Photography, Portrait Studies, Mixing 2D Media
Classes start the week of 26 January 2009 for music and 2 February for visual arts
Concerts and Performances
- Tom Sapsford Regina ICIA Arts Theatre | Saturday 31 January, 7.30pm
A compelling portrait of Elizabeth 1 by Tom Sapsford, acclaimed performer and award-winning choreographer. Fusing dance, drama and projection, Regina explores the many facets of this famous figure. - Singularities: Attab Haddad Oud | Music Room, University Hall | Thursday 5 February, 8pm
Attab Haddad brings a new approach to the age-old traditions of the Oud, an Arabic instrument that precedes the lute. He infuses elements of flamenco, Middle Eastern classical, jazz, classical and experimental music to create spell-binding rhythms.
Exhibitions
- Swindon College Lines of Enquiry 5 ICIA Art Space 2 | Thursday 15 January - Friday 20 March, 10am-5pm
The fifth in a series showing work by graduates of the BA Fine Art Drawing at Swindon College’s School of Art & Design. - Uriel Orlow In This Great Time ICIA Art Space 1 | Until Friday 13 February, 10am-5pm
Uriel Orlow’s new multi-media installation uses video, photography, drawing and text to investigate where history, place and memory intersect and resonate in the present. - University of Bath & Photosoc Student Photography Exhibition ICIA Art Space 3, University Hall Foyer | Until Friday 20 March, 10am-5pm
This lively exhibition showcases selected works from this year’s University of Bath Student Photography Competition which is linked to ICIA’s 2008 theme of arts, spatialisation and memory. This year's winners are Ilyas Kassam, Myrela Bauman, Xun Qiu and staff winner Rachael Eldritch-Böersen.
Sport
Team Bath fitness class explosion!
Team Bath's new schedule of classes starts on Monday (26 January). With an additional 10 classes per weeks, making a total of 34 classes, there really is something for everyone.
Athletes of the Month
Students Takumi Ake (football) and Monique Wood (netball) are the latest winners of the Team Bath Athlete of the Month Awards, which are supported by the Fat Face store in Bath.
New dates for Team Bath FC fixtures
Revised dates for three Team Bath FC league games postponed due to the weather over the festive period have now been confirmed. Team Bath FC will travel to Bishops Stortford on Tuesday 17 February and will host Weston-super-Mare at Twerton Park a month later, on Tuesday 17 March. On Tuesday 24 March they travel to Thurrock.
University of Bath graduate Dale Garland has been honoured by being inducted to the Guernsey Sports Hall of Fame. Garland, who has a degree in Sport and Exercise Science from Bath, becomes the 15th athlete from the island to be added to the list of Guernsey sporting heroes.
Olympic youth festival was incredible experience, says Pearce
Hockey player Harriet Pearce said playing for Team GB at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival and scoring in the final, which Britain went on to win, was ‘the most incredible hockey experience I have ever had’. Sports Performance student Lewis Prosser played for the men’s team that won bronze. Fellow students Jake Sheaf and Adam Smith were also in action for Team GB at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, finishing a creditable fifth in the men’s beach volleyball tournament.