University Updates
28 March 2008
News
Leading scientists receive prestigious merit awards
Laurence Hurst and John Toland have been given prestigious research merit awards
by the Royal Society and the Wolfson Foundation.
Have your say on University campus development
Local residents and businesses are invited to the second-stage of a public
consultation on the development of a new masterplan for the campus.
First ‘rule’ of evolution suggests that life is destined to become complex
Scientists have revealed what may well be the first pervasive ‘rule’
of evolution. In a study published in the Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences researchers have found evidence which suggests that evolution
drives animals to become
increasingly more complex.
Crab-like robot could benefit undersea exploration
Underwater exploration may become easier in the future thanks to a new prototype
crab-like robot invented by a postgraduate student.
Red tape hits workers, study shows
Regulations that restrict the entry of new firms into a market and place
a large bureaucratic burden on enterprises increase unemployment and lower
employment rates - particularly among young people - suggests a study of
74 countries.
Dr Peter Ford presented with MBE
Dr Peter Ford, who retired from the Department of
Physics last year, was presented with an MBE by
the Queen.
Mike Lewis chairs Defra supplier conference
Mike Lewis, Professor in Supply Strategy at the University of Bath School
of Management, chaired and facilitated the second annual Department for
Environment,
Food & Rural Affairs supplier conference entitled ‘Building a relationship
within a sustainable supply chain’.
UK doctorate course kick-starts Swiss nurse practitioner training
An innovative doctorate-level course offered by a UK university has
helped kick-start the development of nurse practitioner training in Switzerland.
Engineers recognised for outstanding work
Two research teams from the Department of Mechanical Engineering have
picked up prestigious awards from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Chris Mundell wins first prize at young researchers' conference
Chris Mundell, a Research Officer in the Department of Civil Engineering & Architecture,
has won first prize for his presentation at a high profile international
conference for young researchers.
University works hard to cut false alarm calls
The number of automatic false alarms attended by firefighters has fallen
by more than a half compared with last year, thanks to the efforts of Avon
Fire & Rescue Service and local organisations including the University.
Young people to get creative at University this Easter starts 7 April
Young people will be encouraged to let loose their imagination during
a free Creative Arts Week running from 7-11 April 2008 at the Oakfield Campus
in Swindon.
Beautiful Young Minds nominated for BAFTA
A documentary about children with autism which Geoff
Smith (Mathematical Sciences) took
part in, has been nominated for a BAFTA. The film narrowly
missed out on the 'Best Observational Documentary' prize at the Royal
Television Society Awards this week.
Using ‘Learning History’ to achieve carbon reduction
Margaret Gearty, a PhD student in the School of Management, welcomed
around 30 local authority innovators, sustainability champions, academic
partners and other interested stakeholders to a two-day workshop in Bath
to explore carbon reduction in local authorities.
Innovation Centre ‘graduate’ teams up to improve IPTV broadcast
A company that has graduated from the Innovation Centre is
teaming up to improve Internet Protocol TV.
Fruit Aid project wins student business plan competition
Nilima Ajakumar has won the University of Bath’s student business plan
competition with her project entry ‘Fruit Aid’. Gavin Eddy from ForwardSpace,
the chair of judges, presented Nilima with £1,000 prize money in the final
held at the Innovation Centre, Carpenter House, Bath.
Information
Easter University playscheme
The Easter 2008 playscheme will run from Monday 7 to Friday 11 April at St Martins
Garden Primary School.
Latest funding opportunities
Details of the latest funding opportunities have been published by the Research
Support Unit.
Find out more about the Moodle upgrade
Moodle is being upgraded and all existing courses will be migrated
over to the new version, Moodle 1.9, which will be available from summer
2008. To publicise the upgrade, the e-Learning team is holding a series of
awareness-raising presentations.
Retirement of Ray Dickson
On 31 March Ray Dickson will be retiring from the post of Laboratory
Superintendent in the Department of Biology & Biochemistry after more than
38 years service to the University.
Spring blooms on campus
Spring images from around campus have been published on the Department
of Estates website.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Nominations & deadlines
Staff Recognition Award
All staff other than academics are eligible to receive this award which 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. Please consider nominating a colleague. Deadline: Wednesday 30 April.
Teaching Development Fund
As part of its Learning & Teaching Strategy the University has continued its commitment to a Teaching Development Fund. Bids are invited for the latest round of funding totalling approximately £60,000, which is due to be allocated for the academic year 2008/09 on 10 June. In support of current developments at the University, the themes of this year's allocation will be: academic induction; assessment and feedback; employability; work-based and placement learning. Deadline: Friday 2 May.
In the media
- Geoff Smith (Mathematical Sciences) took part in a debate on BBC Radio 5 Live on why we should stop boasting about our lack of mathematical skills. He was also interview by BBC Radio Bristol about a documentary that he was involved with that has been nominated for a BAFTA.
- Charles Gage was interviewed by ITV West about a robot crab he developed whilst studying for an MSc in Biomimetics & Technical Creativity (Mechanical Engineering). The project was also featured in the Western Daily Press, Daily Mail and The Engineer.
- Research by Matthew Wills (Biology & Biochemistry) which has suggested a first rule for evolution - that life is destined to be complex - was highlighted in The Herald Sun (Australia), Daily Telegraph (Australia) and AFP.
Training & development opportunities
- Step up to management (parts 1, 2 & 3) - 3 April, 17 April & 1 May
- Appraisal briefing for appraisees - 4 April
- Appraisal refresher training: support staff - 9 April
- Communication skills for IT support staff - 18 April
- Team leading (ILM level 2) - April/May
- South West Institutions' Middle Managers' programme (SWIMM 2008) 14-16 May (deadline 4 April)
What's on next week
Monday 31 March
14:30 PM Writing for the web
Tuesday 1 April
12:30 PM Health and Safety Committee
19:30 PM Popular Music: 1900-1930
Wednesday 2 April
12:15 PM Airfields: A phenomenon of the 20th century
19:30 PM Goodrich the Greek: the birth of the Picturesque in Bath
Thursday 3 April
10:00 AM Cancer Research UK Grants Workshop
Exhibitions
- Polly Gould's
Peninsular | ICIA Art Space 1, until 20 June
In Peninsular, international artist Polly Gould explores mourning, melancholia, and the romantic theme of the artist’s lonely journey into awesome and sublime nature. Peninsular documents Gould’s journey to the Antarctic Peninsular taking with her the drawings she made of her father as he lay dying among the white expanse of the bed sheets. - Lines of Enquiry 4 | ICIA Art Space 2, until 4 April
A showcase of work by graduates of BA Fine Art Drawing School of Art & Design, Swindon College, investigating drawing and its role in contemporary art. - Tim Brennan's
Great Northern Coalfield
| ICIA Art Space 2, Saturday
19 April - Friday 1 August, 10am-5pm
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.
Arts
Theatre
-
POLLY GOULD Libraries and Landscape: Or what is it that I have lost? | ICIA Arts Theatre | Saturday 19 April, 7.30pm | £7 University Staff
Polly’s engaging, intimate piece explores memories, and the relationship between performer, audience and setting, and our desire for stories, both to tell and be told them.
Performances
-
BODYSOC Saligia: Seven Sins | ICIA Arts Theatre | Wednesday 9 - Saturday 12 April, 7.30pm
Produced by students from the University’s effervescent dance society, it features a variety of performances from guest societies, including the Breakdancers, the Cheerleaders, Latin and Ballroom and the Salsa Society. -
The Radio Science Orchestra with special guest Ken Hollings Memories of the Future | ICIA Arts Theatre | Friday 25 April, 7.30pm
The Radio Science Orchestra performs a live score to a series of short films of ‘radio scientific’ subjects. The Orchestra line up includes performances by the theremin, the world’s first practical electronic instrument, the only one today to be played without being touched.
Symposium
-
so far…Arts, Spatialisation and Memory | University of Bath | Saturday 19 April, 10am-5pm
Space is a central interest to many contemporary arts practitioners, and spans many other disciplines. ICIA’s Symposium unites academics, students and those working in the visual arts, music, theatre, dance, cultural studies, architecture, cultural geography and literature areas. Speakers include Dr Anna Fenemore, Pigeon Theatre & University of Leeds; Tim Brennan, artist & University of Sunderland; Dr Peg Rawes, The Bartlett, UCL; and Dr Axel Goodbody, University of Bath.
Sport
Bath researcher tipped to win ultra endurance run
Tim Holsgrove (Mechanical Engineering) is due to defend his Jurassic Challenge
title when he runs three marathons in
a
gruelling
24 hour
period along the Dorset coastline on 28 March 2008.
Swimming: Schaefer strikes gold
Swimmer Janne Schaefer is celebrating striking gold at the
European Championships in Eindhoven.
The 26-year-old Management student won the 50m breaststroke title – and she
did it in style, setting a new championship record of 31.08 seconds in the
final.
Athletics teams win BUSA champs
University of Bath teams won the men's and women's
indoor athletics championship titles for the first time at the weekend.
Judo team produce outstanding results
Students were in emphatic form as they dominated the weekend's
British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) Judo Championships.