University Updates
26 March 2010
Research
Researchers aim to help pregnant mums quit smoking
Researchers at the University are using new Government funding to look at ways to help pregnant women quit smoking.
Passive smoking in homes and cars remains major hazard to the health of children
Parents need to be better informed about the risks to their children of passive smoking according to a report from the Royal College of Physicians and backed by the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies (UKCTCS).
Research to make car fuel from thin air
A research project, led by the University, is working on a £1.4 million project that could take carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into car fuel. The project aims to develop porous materials that can absorb the gas that causes global warming and convert it into chemicals that can be used to make car fuel or plastics in a process powered by renewable solar energy.
Images of Research
Images of Research is an annual event for research staff, students and academics to communicate their research using photographic images. All entries will be displayed in a public exhibition to be held at the Octagon in Milsom Place from Thursday 13 May. An exhibition opening reception will be in the evening of Thursday 13 May.
News
Engineering graduate awarded James Rennie medal
The Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering is very proud to announce that George Oates has been awarded the highly prestigious 2010 ICE James Rennie Medal for his Chartered Professional Review (CPR) project.
Collection of images and comments from Bath Taps 2010
On Friday 12 March over 650 school children explored the link between science and art at a two-day, hands-on science fair that opened at the University. You can now view a film and a selection of images from the event.
Staff news
Academics appointed to the ESRC Peer Review College
Seven University academics have been appointed to the ESRC Peer Review College.
Opportunities to attend workshops at Ivy League university
Early career academics from the University are invited to apply for scholarships to attended courses taking places at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. The deadline is Thursday 1 April.
Student News
Frozen yoghurt student takes business know-how to Iceland
A student from the University is set to speak at a global entrepreneurship conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, run by the world renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) this week (24-26 March).
Student Go Ono wins placement poster prize sponsored by BP
Third year MEng Electronics with Space Science & Technology student, Go Ono, has won the BP sponsored prize for his placement poster.
Formula Student car goes on display in London
One of the Formula Student racing cars designed and built by engineering students at the University has gone on display at the London Headquarters of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) in Birdcage Walk.
Information
Is your PAYE code correct?
HMRC is issuing PAYE notices of coding for 2010/11. Make sure that yours is correct. Errors in a tax code mean that you will pay too much or too little tax. It is the taxpayer’s responsibility to check the code.
Bath International Music Festival discount for staff
University staff can buy tickets for the Bath International Music Festival (26 May to 6 June) in advance of the general availability and at a ten per cent discount. Call the Box Office on 01225 463362 and quote ‘University of Bath staff member.’
Learn Spanish in Alicante – free of charge
Under the Cooperation Agreement between the Universities of Bath and Alicante, members of staff can attend intensive Spanish language courses free of charge, with free bed & breakfast accommodation. Apply by Friday 2 April.
Interested in using Moodle on an iPhone?
The e-Learning team has recently come across an exciting development that is likely to take the Moodle community by storm, namely Moodle for the iPhone.
Implementing Proposals for Re-organisation: Heads of Department
Council and Senate approved a number of proposals for re-organisation last summer. The implications of these proposals are being worked through.
Swap Shop wiki
Does your department need to get rid of something that might be useful to another department? Why not use Purchasing’s Swap Shop wiki to swap it.
Jobs
Vacant posts: http://www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/
Deadlines & nominations
Chancellor's Prize
The Chancellor's Prize is awarded annually to the best final year undergraduate student. It was established in 1992 through the generosity of Lord Kearton, the University's second Chancellor. 29 March
Nominations now open for Ede & Ravenscroft Prize for postgrads
The Ede & Ravenscroft Prize is awarded annually to an outstanding postgraduate research student by Senate on the recommendation of the Ede & Ravenscroft Prize Committee. 21 April
Bids for Teaching Development Fund
As part of its Learning & Teaching Strategy, the University has continued its commitment to a Teaching Development Fund. The Learning & Teaching Committee invites project bids for the latest round of teaching development funding (approximately £60,000). 30 April
The 2010 Staff Recognition Award
Do you know someone who has shown initiative, innovation or creativity? Then nominate them for a Staff Recognition Award. The Award recognises either individual members, or small groups, of support staff who have shown excellence in the way in which they have undertaken their duties, and who have contributed to the broader life of the University. 30 April
Training & development
- Chairing Recruitment Panels - 30 Mar
- Show me the money - 12 Apr
- Research and Industry - 14 Apr - 29 Oct
- Coaching Conversations - 14 Apr
- Preparation for Leading Sessions - 16 & 26 Apr
- How to build a website yourself - 19 Apr
- Introduction to Project Management (Manchester) - 29 Apr /17 June
- Performance Management: Part 2: Skills and Techniques - 9 Jun
- Open Programme of Events | PDF to print
- Staff: Improve your IT skills, new timetable available
- CMS training courses
- e-Learning staff development programme
In the media
- Fiona Shaw (Natural Sciences) spoke to BBC Radio Bristol about the garden-sharing initiative with students and local residents called "Growing together".
- Chris Martin (Economics) was interviewed by Heart FM about the pre budget report.
- Matthew Jones (Chemistry) spoke to Heart FM about capturing CO2 from the air and converting it to car fuel or plastic.
- Linda Bauld (Social & Policy Sciences) spoke to Heart FM about the new funding to help pregnant women give up smoking.
- BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio Bristol spoke to Anna Gilmore (School for Health) about the support of calls to encourage parents not to smoke in cars and their homes. Anna was also interviewed on the current political scenario in Italy and the policies and prospects of the Berlusconi government, by Australia’s ABC Radio National.
- Gian Gardini (European Studies & Modern Languages) was interviewed by The Politics Show on Italian politics.
Lectures & seminars
Register now for Cancer Research@Bath conference
Open to all staff and students with an interest in Cancer Research. The conference is on Tuesday 30 March and will include a poster session, talks related to cancer, with a coffee break and an informal networking drink.
LabVIEW seminar for inexperienced users
A technical Labview Academic Field Engineer (Adam Bakehouse) will be at the University on Monday 19 April. He will be giving two free half-day seminars aimed at inexperienced LabView users.
Public lectures
The programme of free lectures open for staff, students and the general public is available online.
Podcasts
Catch up on any lectures you may have missed.
What's on
Monday 29
Mapping Lives
08:00 AM Reduced Seating in 6West South
Tuesday 30
09:00 AM openMIC#5
10:15 AM Web expenses for Agresso users
19:30 PM Secrets of the French Truffle
Wednesday 31
14:15 PM Web expenses for Agresso users April
Thursday 1
07:30 AM Witnessing the birth of a new ocean
12:15 PM Preparing for Transfer
19:30 PM Changing faces of anxiety
Arts
Concerts and Performances:
BATH UNIVERSITY STUDENT THEATRE -You Never Can Tell by George Bernard Shaw | Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Rd, Bath | Thursday 25 – Saturday 27 March, 7.30pm
Written in 1897, You Never Can Tell is a four act comedy of errors. Set in a seaside town, it tells the story of the Clandon family following their return to England after eighteen years in Madeira.
Lone Twin Theatre - The Festival | ICIA Arts Theatre | Saturday 27 March, 7.30pm
Lone Twin Theatre’s new piece forms part of the Catastrophe Trilogy; a series of touching, comic and resolutely hopeful work that share a common interest in acts of heroism.
Exhibitions:
Margareta Kern Guest | ICIA Art Space 1 | Residency: Until 18 June. Open Monday -Saturday 10am-5pm
Over the next few months, artist Margareta Kern takes up residence in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences. The residency is organised by ICIA and is presented as part its 2010 programme of events that explore ‘the place of work’. Whilst in residence, Kern uses Art Space 1 as a site of production for her new installation, Guest, which will develop and change over the course of exhibition. Kern will engage staff and students of the University community to explore, compare and contrast her own artistic methods of enquiry with those used in the sociology of work.
Reviews:
Read the World Music Central review of Spirit Talk Mbira's performance at the ICIA on Thursday 11th March.
Sport
Prentice and Burke achieve World Cup bests
University students Freyja Prentice and Katy Burke both produced their best World Cup Modern Pentathlon performances competing for Great Britain in Cairo at the weekend.
Curtis captures Under-21 title in big week of tennis in Bath
There was local success at the big week of tennis at the University with British number nine Jade Curtis winning the women’s singles title in the TeamBath Under-21 Challenge.
Team Bath hit buffers against Mavericks
Team Bath’s run of six Superleague netball wins hit the buffers tonight (Monday) in a 34-44 defeat to Mavericks at the Sports Training Village.