University Updates
28 August 2009
News
Bath student ready to swim the Channel
Rob Archer, a 30 year-old postgraduate chemistry student, is waiting for fair weather and the right tides to embark on his 21-mile swim from Dover to Calais. Rob and his younger brother, Phil, have so far raised £3,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Welfare reforms improve quality of life for single mothers and their children
Susan Harkness (Social & Policy Sciences) together with researchers from the University of Bristol are suggesting that single mothers are more likely to be employed, to enjoy greater financial security and to have improved mental health, thanks to a decade of government reforms.
Superbug expert to present at World Summit on Evolution
Ed Feil (Biology & Biochemistry) has been presenting his latest research on the evolution of the superbug MRSA at the World Summit on Evolution on the Galapagos Islands this last week.
Bath experts contribute to government credit crunch report
Sarah Dixon, Klaus Meyer and Steve McGuire (School of Management) have been part of a specially convened think tank of nine eminent UK business experts, brought together recently by the government to advise on how firms can deal with the current economic crisis.
UKOLN researcher shortlisted for Remote Worker Awards
UKOLN research officer Marieke Guy has been shortlisted as a winner in the Remote Employment & BT Business Remote Worker Awards. Marieke is one of five shortlisted winners in the ‘remote worker award’ category.
Uni offers doctorates in special effects and computer animation
Students will be working with top industry experts developing special effects for films and creating cutting-edge computer games animation at the new Centre for Digital Entertainment (CDE) based at the Universities of Bath and Bournemouth.
Working with the local community
University asks for holiday “fish melba” moments
The Foreign Languages Centre is asking people to share their linguistic holiday gaffes, in a competition to launch a new term of language courses.
Bath woman who underwent double hip operation to swim Serpentine
Victoria Wells is training to swim one kilometre of the Serpentine on 13 September along with two orthopaedic surgeons and former University of Bath PhD student Hazel Boyd to raise funds for research into her condition, congenital hip dysplasia.
Free information day for arthritis patients
The Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases (BIRD) is hosting a free information day on Friday 4 September at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, as well as family, friends and those who have a general interest in the condition.
Information
Repairs to pedestrian crossing points near STV on Convocation Avenue
Work will commence on Tuesday 1 September 2009 for approximately ten working days to undertake repairs to the main traffic control ramps/crossing points on Convocation Avenue. Work to the road sections will be carried out between 12 midnight and 6.45am to incur minimum inconvenience.
Dol•cHe Vita says farewell & thanks
Dol•cHe Vita on the Parade closes today (28 August).The staff thank all customers for their custom and look forward to welcoming you to the 4W when it opens in early September. The same benefits of Wi-Fi and freshly prepared food and beverages will be available in the new café on the other side of the Parade.
The School for Health is very sorry to report the death of Mrs Pauline Smith, undergraduate administrator for the BSc in Sport & Exercise Science. The funeral will take place on Wednesday 2 September, 11am at Holy Trinity, Combe Down, followed by a private cremation.
Ramadan: 21 August-19 September 2009
We are currently in the season of Ramadan. This means that Muslim staff and students may be fasting during daylight hours.
Consultation on Corporate Plan
Members of the University community are invited to comment on proposed text relating to the vision, purpose, objectives and values of the University which will feed into the new Corporate Plan for 2009/10, which is currently being drafted. Please send your comments to Nicky Kemp by 9 October.
Statutes, Ordinances & Regulations of the University - revised
The Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations of the University have been reviewed during the past year by Council and Senate. The new versions of the documents, with effect from 1 August 2009, are available online.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
In the media
- Isabella Stefanutti (Foreign Languages Centre) gave details about a competition to find the best holiday foreign language gaffes on BBC Radio Bristol.
- Aki Salo (School for Health) was interviewed about 100m sprinting on the eve of the Berlin World Championships by a Finnish newspaper Aamulehti. He also received personal thanks from bronze medal winner Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (who ran the fourth leg of the relay) in a BBC interview (interview starts at 3hr 07min).
- Cathryn Mitchell (Electronic & Electrical Engineering) was mentioned in the Times Higher Education because she has been honoured by the Royal Society, with a Wolfson Research Merit Award for her research in tomography, a data-processing technique she has used to study the Earth's upper atmosphere.
- Delia Slucutt (Lifelong Learning) did an interview for Bath Heart FM radio promoting the Self Employment Essentials course for new businesses.
Listen again:
- BBC Radio Bristol: a joint interview with John Troyer (Centre for Death & Society) and David Brown (Biology & Biochemistry) discussing whether coroners should be testing for CJD.
- National Public Radio (USA): Will Wood (Biology & Biochemistry) talks about capturing the bacterial infection process on film for the first time. (Will's is the third interview)
Training & development
- An introduction to HE - A programme for new managers and administrators 2-4 September
- Performance Review - Conducting an effective review of support & technical staff 15 September AM
- Performance Review - Getting the most out of your review (for support & technical staff) 15 September PM
- Time management 16 September
- Workshop for those new to teaching at the Uni of Bath 16 & 18 September
- An introduction to project management 29 September (off-site at Marriott Airport Hotel, Manchester)
- Free beginner’s guide to the media for scientists and engineers 4 November (at the Royal Institution in London)
- Leadership, research & you - Various dates: September-December
- New Staff Development programme | Download PDF to print
- e-Learning staff development programme
- Monthly learning & teaching paper lunches
Forthcoming lectures & conferences
The role of religion in human rights in the future Wednesday 16 September
Staff and students are invited to attend a lecture by the Honourable Mary Robinson, former President of the Republic of Ireland, in Bath Abbey. The lecture, entitled ‘Realising Rights: the role of religion in human rights in the future’, is part of the 1100th anniversary celebrations of the Diocese of Bath & Wells. Free tickets are available from Sheila Willmott.
Bath Biosensor Network Wednesday 23 September
The first Bath interdisciplinary meeting on Biosensors will be held on Wednesday 23 September, 11:50am - 5:30pm, in the foyer and lecture theatre of 3WN. Please register your interest.
Cancer Research Symposium Wednesday 30 September
Registration is now open for the first CR@B (Cancer Research at Bath) Symposium. It is open to all academic and clinical staff and students with an interest in cancer research.
Research volunteers wanted
- Rugby players wanted for international research project
- Investigating how judgments form in different situations Online survey - 10 minutes
- Exploring your views on Chlamydia Online survey - 20 mins
- Work in HE sector and use Web 2.0 tools? Online survey
- Smokers wanted Join a panel
- How we relate to our thoughts 45 mins on campus - £5
- Relationships between attention and pain experience 45 mins on campus - £5
- How people respond to the use of mental visualisation 45 mins on campus - £5
- Marketing research survey win £25
- Are you looking forward to a positive event in the near future? 30 mins on campus
- The effects of different thoughts and emotions on the experience of pain 45 mins on campus - chocolate & win £50
What's on
More details - www.bath.ac.uk/whats-on/
Wednesday 2
12:00 Noon Women's networking session: Sales techniques for people that don't like selling
Thursday 3
13:00 PM Low carbon cars: fact, fiction or folly?
Friday 4
09:30 AM UBSA trip to Ireland
13:15 PM Extra BICS Seminar
19:30 PM The Herschel Space Observatory - The coolest science you'll ever see!
Monday 7
19:30 PM Desolation Island by Patrick O'Brian
Tuesday 8
13:15 PM BICS seminar
Wednesday 9
19:30 PM Poetry - George Trakl
Arts
ICIA Concerts & Performances
Lone Twin Speeches | Kensington Meadows, off London Road, Bath | Friday 11 September 6.30pm, Saturday 12 September 2pm & 5pm & Sunday 13 September 2pm & 5pm.
Members of the public living around the much-loved Kensington Meadows are invited to work with a professional speechwriter and Lone Twin, to create a speech linked to the area. Presented as public performances, these speeches give voice to their thoughts and passions, creating a forum where people can listen to privately held thoughts in a publicly shared space.
Sport
Students volunteering in Zambia send reports home
BA Coach Education second year students, Isabelle Noel-Smith and Helen Wagstaff, are currently volunteering in Zambia as part of IDEALS, an international development project working in a sports development capacity in the capital of Lusaka. The girls have sent some blogs back home talking about their experiences.
Bath graduates perform well at World Championships
Bath alumnus Craig Pickering returned home from the World Championships in Berlin with a bronze relay medal, despite not running at the championships; although Pickering didn’t run in the heats or final, he collected a medal as a member of the GB relay squad. French & Politics graduate Marilyn Okoro came eighth in the 800m final, after finishing third in her heat and then second in her semi. Meanwhile, Civil Engineering graduate James Brewer just missed out on a place in the 1500m final on his world championships debut.
Team Bath Buccs hockey team to hold open day
Team Bath Buccaneers Hockey Club aims to get the new season off to flying start with a club open day at their HQ, the University's Sports Training Village, on Saturday 5 September.