University Updates
27 November 2009
News
Engineers get the measure of the larger things in life
The University has opened a new state-of-the-art laboratory in the Department of Mechanical Engineering that allows the measurement of large objects, such as aeroplane wings. The facility, named the Laboratory for Integrated Metrology Applications (LIMA), has several partners including the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), metrology company Renishaw and other metrology vendors, five other Universities and a wide range of advanced engineering and aerospace companies including, Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Vestas.
UKOLN report helps to launch new JISC research campaign
Research organisation UKOLN, based at the University of Bath, has written the ‘Open Science’ report which forms a cornerstone of a new campaign launched by JISC, which debates how digital technologies are changing not only what research we do, but how it can be carried out.
Local pupils put their robot designs to the test
Teams of pupils from across the South-West took part in an international robotics contest organised by the University of Bath this week.
Uni celebrates another gold Bath in Bloom award
The University has won another award in the annual Bath in Bloom competition; the award this year is a Gold Award in the Community Groups category. The four areas that were judged were the Arrivals Square and herbaceous border, lakeside plantings, the new Woodland Court student residences and the Japanese Garden Courtyard.
Kevin McCloud visits Uni’s very own grand design
Grand Designs presenter and property developer Kevin McCloud visited the University yesterday to officially open the BaleHaus@Bath, a house built of straw and hemp panels as part of a research project to assess the performance of these low carbon building materials.
Institution of Civil Engineers focus on new bridge strengthening approach
Researchers in the BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials (BRE CICM) have developed an altogether new approach to strengthening structurally-deficient concrete bridges.
School of Management news round-up
The School of Mangaement gives the latest news about stass, students and alumni in the school.
Staff news
Bath academic advises top Italian Diplomats
Scott Thomas (European Studies & Modern Languages) has just returned from Italy after speaking at a national conference on international relations and religion.
Bath Professors discuss EU Grand Strategy in Brussels
Professor Adrian Hyde-Price and Jean Monnet Professor Jolyon Howorth (ESML) discussed at a recent conference in Brussels whether or not EU member states needed to define a ‘grand strategy’ to give greater coherence to their actions and aims.
The sound of science: using acoustics in space and under water
Visiting Professor Jacques-Yves Guigné described how technology used to survey the ocean floor is now being used on the International Space Station, in a seminar organised by the Institute for Sustainable Energy & the Environment (I-SEE) earlier in November.
Influential Chinese academic awarded fellowship at Bath
Chinese academic Professor Xifan Wang has been awarded a prestigious and highly competitive Distinguished Fellowship by the Royal Academy of Engineering. He will work in the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering alongside Dr Furong Li (Reader in Power System Economics) in developing a new philosophy for the transmission of distant offshore wind power and new commercial models for power infrastructure networks (such as the National Grid).
ESML Senior Lecturer receives grant from Riksbanken Jubileumsfond
The Swedish Riksbanken Jubileumsfond has recently awarded Alexander Kelle a planning grant of SEK 425,000 (approx £36,000) for a project on 'Europe and the Global Challenge of Biological Controls';.
Student news
Trowbridge student awarded prestigious Jeremy Fry Memorial Scholarship
Engineering student Matthew Sellick, from Trowbridge, has been granted a prestigious £5,000 scholarship to help fund his studies at the University.
Bath student wins one of 12 national STAR Awards
James Gower, undergraduate Mathematics student, has been presented with a STAR Award which recognises individual achievement in the development of employability in spite of disability. Only 12 awards are available nationally and James is the first Bath student to win an award.
Krispy Kreme team wins Student Enterprise shop competition
First place in last weeks student enterprise competition went to Team SIFE and their Krispy Kreme doughnut idea, which made £440 profit.
Information
Implementing proposals for re-organisation
An update from the Working Group on Business Processes which has been set up to implement the proposals for academic re-organisation approved by Council and Senate in the summer. The group is focusing a review of the current division of responsibilities being undertaken between central professional services, faculties/schools and departments.
Agresso user satisfaction survey - answer & win Amazon vouchers
Every year in November the Agresso Team run a satisfaction survey of Agresso users. This provides the project team with an invaluable view of what people think of the system and how it could move forwards, and offers individual users an opportunity to let the team know their feelings. To thank you for completing the survey, Amazon vouchers of £25, £10 and £10 will be drawn.
New website: promoting our research
Web Services have launched a research website as part of the new external website project. The research site is the first top level section to be launched and will be followed by a new study area in December.
Launch of postgraduate governance research network
The Department of Social & Policy Sciences has launched the Postgraduate Governance Research Network, an international web-based network for research students and early career researchers, founded and run by research students.
Third call for bids to CPD Development Fund
Established in October 2008, the fund seeks to encourage University staff to work with external employers to investigate and develop CPD opportunities which meet the needs of their staff. So far 16 bids have been funded and the CPD Support & Development Office is now inviting further proposals. Deadline - 15 January 2010.
Nominations for David Parkin Professorship
Submissions are being taken for the David Parkin Professorship.The deadline for Heads of Departments to put forward one nomination to their Dean/Head of School is Friday 22 January 2010.
Table-top counter-terrorism exercise
Avon and Somerset Police and the University of Bath have joined forces to offer employers and staff of bar and restaurants in Bath the chance to participate in an interactive counter-terrorism tabletop exercise on campus.
A colourful tour of autumnal trees on campus
There are a series of photographs available online showing some of the trees and shrubs around the campus in full autumnal colour.
Latest news & offers from Abbey Santander (pdf)
See what the University and Abbey Santander have done together in the last year as well as a look at their latest offers.
How satisfied are you with Purchasing Services?
In an effort to improve the services offered to departments across campus, Purchasing Services has introduced Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that seek to annually measure customer satisfaction with the services provided. If you deal with Purchasing Services, please could you complete their survey?
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Alumni & Development News
Alumni explore Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum
Over 130 University of Bath alumni and guests enjoyed a special atmospheric drinks reception in this fascinating WWII underground bunker, hosted by Vice-Chancellor Professor Glynis Breakwell.
Deborah Baker, 1949-2009
Deborah Baker, a world-renowned expert on inequalities in health, has died. Deborah completed a doctorate at the University of Bath in 1985 and then worked as a lecturer in Psychology at Bath.
Alumni Survey
The Alumni Relations Team is currently carrying out a survey of all graduates of the University. Over 900 have responded so far, and the results will be used to help determine the Alumni Relations Programme of events and communications for graduates.
Research volunteers wanted
- Volunteers needed for study into the function of deliberate self-harm
Psychology PhD Student Peter Bandalli is looking for volunteers for his study aimed at those who have had personal experience with deliberate self-harm. - Pregnant women needed to take part in labour pain study
The Pan Bath & Swindon Primary Care Research Consortium based at the University hopes to recruit 225 pregnant women from the Bath, Wiltshire and Bristol area to take part in a study into labour pain drugs.
- Judge how well six scenarios describe privacy (5-minute survey)
- School for Health researcher David Moore is offering £5 to all staff and students who volunteer to participate in an experiment which takes no more than one hour and involves computerised reaction time tasks, questionnaires, and a mildly painful heat or pressure sensation.
- Want to vent about a privacy violation that kept you up at night? Fill out our 10-minute survey and tell us how you feel!
In the media
- Katharine Beadle and Pete Walker (Architecture & Civil Engineering) were featured on BBC Points West, ITV, BBC Radio 4, Heart FM, Bath FM, BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Radio Somerset about the opening of the BaleHaus and how they are testing the house to see if this could be the house of the future. Simon Bond (Bath Ventures) was also interviewed by UK Technology about Low Carbon South West involvement with the University's BaleHaus project.
- Bath FM interviewed Delia Slucutt (Lifelong Learning) about Global Entrepreneurship Week.
- Richard Whitman (ESML) was interviewed by BBC Wales and filmed by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation about the appointment of the EU president.
- Ajit Nayak and student Alex Edwards (School of Management) were filmed by BBC Points West about Alex's company, Aptus Suits.
- John Trickett (Wessex SETPOINT) spoke to BBC Radio Bristol about the ‘Smart Move’ international robotics contest.
- The Times interviewed Stuart Miller (School for Health) and ran a feature about the University's postgraduate diploma and MSc in sports and exercise medicine for qualified doctors.
- Helen Haste (Psychology) was a participant in the BBC Radio 4 programme, 'Aping Evolution', presented by geneticist Steve Jones, commenting on evolutionary psychology.
Training & development
- Chairing recruitment panels Friday 4 December
(It will be mandatory for Chairs to have attended this course from 1 January 2010) - Building Effective Relationships in a Research Environment Tuesday 8 December
- ILM Level 2 team leading award January-February 2010
- CMS training courses
- Staff Development programme | PDF to print
- e-Learning staff development programme
- Monthly learning & teaching paper lunches
Forthcoming lectures & seminars
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
I-SEE seminar - 'Biofuels: Sustaining Alternatives to Fossil Fuels' | Tuesday 1 December
Public Lecture: Have economists gone mad?
The author of 3 best-selling books on economics will speak on what mainstream economists have to say about the turmoil of world economy at a public lecture on Wednesday 2 December at the University of Bath.
I-SEE seminar - 'Towards Local Costing of Climate Change Impacts for Decision Making in Adaptation' | Tuesday 15 December
Dates for your diary
- University Carol Service
The University Carol Service will take place at Bath Abbey on Wednesday 9 December at 7.30pm; doors open at 7pm All staff and students and their families and friends are welcome.
- Winter graduations 15/16 December
Winter Graduations will take place in the Assembly Rooms in Bath - UBSA Christmas shopping trip to London
See the sights, go Christmas shopping in the West End, take in a show the choice is yours! This trip is open to all staff and family & friends from outside the University.
What's on
More details - www.bath.ac.uk/whats-on/
Monday 30
13:15 PM Complexity/BICS seminar: better operation of personal rapid transit & taxi systems
December
Tuesday 1
12:15 PM Mid week Eucharist/HC Service
12:45 PM Oxfam lunch
13:15 PM Gender & Sexuality Research Network open meeting
13:15 PM Personality at work: an introduction
16:30 PM Biofuels: Sustaining alternatives to fossil fuels
18:15 PM BANTER: Developing your business plan - The numbers
Wednesday 2
12:00 Noon Women's networking session: From editor to inventor
14:15 PM Senate
18:15 PM Research in the world: open lecture and discussion
18:15 PM SORTED: Problem solving & decision making
Thursday 3
SORTED: Effective group thinking (The ‘Six Hats’ technique)
16:15 PM The Holburne lantern procession
Friday 4
10:00 AM Postgraduates who teach psychology: Marking & giving feedback effectively
14:15 PM Assessment centre workshop
Saturday 5
08:00 AM UBSA London Christmas shopping trip
Arts
Full details: www.bath.ac.uk/icia
Concerts and Performances:
Mem Morrison RINGSIDE A Celebratory Performance | Guildhall, High Street, Bath | Friday 27 November, 7.30pm
Mem Morrison requests the pleasure of your company at the Guildhall, Bath.
Take a front row seat, join the family and meet the many potential brides at
this long overdue wedding reception. Ringside draws on a lifetime of remembered Turkish Cypriot family weddings.
SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) Strictly for Charity | ICIA Arts Theatre | Saturday 28 November, 7.30pm
A fundraising variety show with performances of dance and song from members of various University societies.
John Foxx - The Quiet Man | University Hall | Saturday 5 December, 7.30pm
The former Ultravox! front man and electronic music pioneer presents his multi-media event The Quiet Man exploring modern city life. Performing with grand piano, electronics, and sampled sounds, Foxx improvises with visuals cut together from images and film clips on multiple screens.
University of Bath Chamber Choir - Music for advent & Christmas | St Nicholas Church, Winsley | Saturday 5 December, 7.30pm
An evening of carols, anthems and readings celebrating Advent and the Christmas season.
Exhibitions:
Lucy Harrison - Remains | ICIA Art Space 2 | Until Friday 18 December
Remains is a new body of work which explores demolition sites and brings
together material from East London, East Germany and the University
campus. Harrison's work combines photographs, observations and chance
encounters with published documents.
Alex Pearl - Goodbye to most of the daydreams | ICIA Art Space 1 | Until Friday
19 February
Alex Pearl applied to the British Antarctic Survey proposing not to go to
the South Pole. He then documented his non-journey. Both haunting and
humorous, his mini epic films, texts, drawings and sculptures carry an
acceptance of failure and disappointment as important parts of the human condition.
Talks:
John Foxx & Iain Sinclair in Conversation | University Hall | Saturday 5 December, 9.30pm
This discussion follows the multimedia event The Quiet Man and brings together Foxx and acclaimed author, Iain Sinclair to explore its conceptual issues.
Competition:
Student & Staff Photography Competition 2009
This year's photography competition ties in with ICIA's 2010 season theme 'the place of work'. Entrants can submit up to three photos. Full details and entry form at the ICIA website Entries must be received by Tuesday 1 December.
Sport
Seventh for Kate and Jan
University of Bath students Kate Walker and Jan Gosiewski both finished just outside the medals in seventh place at the European Under-23 Judo Championships in Turkey.
University of Bath swimmers in world record-breaking form
University of Bath based swimmers were in world record-breaking form at the Disability Sport Events Nationwide Short Course Championships in Sheffield at the weekend.
University-based athletes feature on awards shortlists
Athletes, coaches and teams based at the University of Bath feature on the shortlists for half of the awards at the BBC West Sports Personality of the Year ceremony. The winners of the awards will be announced at a ceremony which, for the second year running, takes place at the University.