University Updates
25 July 2008
News
Student engineers race to become UK winners at Silverstone
A team of our mechanical engineering undergraduates came first in the UK and fourth in the world in the annual international Formula Student competition held at Silverstone. This year's car improved Bath's global ranking by two places on last year.
Student designs prize-winning Olympic starting blocks
Mechanical Engineering student Alex Animashaun has developed a new set of blocks to help sprinters improve their starts. He reached the final eight in the 2008 Ideas 4 Innovation new researchers award competition, winning £500, and he will present his design to the judges in the final at the UK Sport offices in London today (25 July).
Research award honour for Bath professor
Jeff Thompson (Education) has been honoured by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) for his achievements in establishing the research profile of the organisation and for his contributions to research in international education through the IBO for almost forty years.
Biomechanics lecturer to support Team GB at the Beijing Olympic Games
Aki Salo (School for Health) will be providing biomechanical support for the GB Olympic sprint squads. As one of the British Olympic Association's 'Team Officials', he will travel to Macau for the preparation camps in August and then move on to Beijing. Using his expertise in biomechanics, he will be analysing and assessing the performance of the sprinters, providing feedback to the coaches and athletes.
Degree in funeral services offered for the first time in UK
A degree in funeral services is being launched by the University's Centre for Death & Society in September; Bath is the first university in the UK to offer a course of this kind.
News round-up from the School of Management
This monthly e-newsletter brings you the latest news about the School's staff, students and alumni.
Student & alumni news
Bezodis brothers on a winning streak in Seoul
Sport & Exercise scientists Neil and Ian Bezodis have both won prestigious awards at the renowned International Society of Biomechanics in Sport Conference, held last week in Seoul, South Korea.
Silicon South West names Bath student as a 'new rising star'
Six of the South West of England’s top Electronic Engineering students have been presented with Rising Stars Awards from Silicon South West. Bath student Philip Mountifield received a prize for his excellent all round performance, which included a group business design project on electronic automatic train recognition systems.
Alumnus donates new scholarships for African students
Dr Steve Huckvale, an alumnus and honorary graduate, has donated 16 postgraduate scholarships (two per year, for eight years) for African students to study at the University. Two postgraduate scholarships will be available each year, one in Engineering and one in Management, each worth £5,000. The selection criteria are academic excellence and leadership ability.
Information
Technical staff rep sought to serve on Equalities & Diversity Committee
Nominations are requested for the vacancy of Technical Staff representative to serve on the Equalities & Diversity Committee from 1 August 2008 until 31 July 2009. Nominations should be submitted no later than 15 August.
Please tell Purchasing how satisfied you are with their services
In an effort to improve the services that Purchasing Services offer to University departments, they have introduced Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that seek to annually measure departmental satisfaction with the services provided.
In order to be able to do this effectively they would be grateful if you could complete a short survey.
New support arrangements for research and enterprise
Following a review of the functions of the Department of Research & Innovation Services, two new units will be launched on 1 August 2008:
- Bath Ventures (BV) will be responsible for maximising the return on the University’s intellectual assets with IP licensing, spin out companies and consultancy.
- Research Development & Support Office (RDSO) will be responsible for advancing the University’s international reputation for research by growing externally funded research, improving grant application success rates and enhancing strategic and operational support to academic departments.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Training opportunities
- Free IT training courses for staff July & August
- Leadership Foundation course: Intro to project management 21 October
- Intro to Higher Education for new managers & administrators 3-5 September
In the media
- Members of the Team Bath Racing team (Mechanical Engineering) were featured on BBC Radio Bristol's breakfast show about their success in the Formula Student competition. The car also made itself heard - as its engine was revved on air!
Arts
Exhibitions on campus
- Tim Brennan Great Northern Coalfield | ICIA Art Space 2 | Till Friday 1 August
A series of atmospheric photographs taken on a low-resolution mobile phone camera depict the North Sea, where most of the north's un-mined coal still resides. Enlarged beyond clear definition, the images become hazy, impressionistic, glowing with colour. - 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
Be a part of our football club's successful team
Team Bath FC are about to begin their first season playing in the Blue Square Conference – and they’re looking for people to become involved with a wide range of club activities at home match days.
Beijing boost for Bath-based duo
Sport & Exercise Science student Craig Pickering will contest the 100m sprint at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He had already been named in the sprint relay squad but has now been told he will also run in the 100m at his first Olympic Games.
Team Bath netball players make up half of under-21s
Team Bath’s commitment to developing talented young netballers has received further recognition with news that half of the players selected for a forthcoming England under-21 tour train at the University of Bath.
Team Bath netball coaching team to lead England u21 challenge
Team Bath’s new netball coaching partnership of Jess Garland and Anna Mayes have been chosen to spearhead England’s challenge at the 2009 World Youth Championships.