University Updates
29 February 2008
News
Transport Survey 2008 - Please and thank you
Many thanks to the 1,092 staff who have completed the survey to date. Together with the 1,586 students who have responded, this brings the total to 2,678. However, we would still like to hear from more people so that we have a better picture of your current travel preferences and longer term aspirations where transport issues are concerned. We are therefore extending the deadline of the survey to 7 March (next Friday) to give more people a chance give their views. Your participation is very much appreciated https://www.survey.bath.ac.uk/transport-survey
Latest news about A36 closure
Two sets of roadworks will take place from 31 March. We have been told new dates for the first scheme that will close the road junction from Winsley Road to Brassknocker Hill. The junction will still close completely for three weeks, but the single lane phase will only last five weeks. The second scheme will close the viaduct section of the A36 for 12 weeks. We have learnt this week that the road will be impassible for everyone including cyclists and pedestrians due to the extensive works and the large machinery to be used.
Presentations: A team from InterRoute will give two presentations to University staff and students on Friday 7 March at 12.30pm and 1.30pm in 6East 2.1. There will be time for questions after each 20-minute talk.
Staff with difficult journeys to work: [A message from the Director of HR] The University is conscious that the A36 closure will cause many staff to have longer and more difficult journeys to work during this period, especially during the three weeks when Winsley Road and Brassknocker Hill are closed as well as the A36. Departments are being asked to be as flexible as possible, such as by accommodating different work hours or some working from home where the job allows. If you will be substantially affected, you are encouraged to discuss the position with your line manager.
Advance warning: No network services available 15-16 March
To enable necessary engineering work to be carried out, there will be no network services available throughout the weekend of 15/16 March.
This means that a number of services will be unavailable from 7am Saturday till 5pm Sunday, including remote access, webmail and the University website.
Research
Funding award helps scientists target cancer progression
Researchers from Pharmacy & Pharmacology and Biology & Biochemistry have been awarded more than £450,000 by Cancer Research UK to investigate a new way of preventing the division and growth of tumour cells. Mike Threadgill (Pharmacy & Pharmacology) will be leading the research.
Bath-China collaborations boosted by £10,000 grant
Tony James, in the Department of Chemistry, and Professor Jianzhang Zhao, from Dalian University of Technology - one of China’s leading science and engineering universities - have been awarded a prestigious China-UK Networking grant of £10,000 to co-host a workshop at the University later this year.
Acne may prevent people from participating in sport and exercise, says research
Acne patients who are highly anxious about their skin condition say they are less likely to participate in sport or exercise, according to new research from Martyn Standage and Tom Loney (School for Health).
Local news
Bath Taps science fair to be held on campus for first time
The first day of the ‘Bath Taps into Science’ fair will be held on campus for the first time on Friday 7 March (11am-3pm). On Saturday 8 March the fair will take place at Green Park Station as usual.
Bath pupils challenge UK schools to monitor local pollution
Pupils from Hayesfield school in Bath have challenged other schools from around the country to monitor the level of pollution in their local areas. The pupils are taking part in a project with researchers from the Department of Psychology which aims to enthuse pupils about science.
MSc in Management celebrates 10 years of success
Alumni and students from the School of Management’s MSc in Management programme gathered to celebrate ten successful years of the programme at Bath’s Assembly Rooms earlier this month.
Bath International Music Festival – full brochure & staff discount available
The full brochure for the Bath International Music Festival 2008 is now available. Staff are eligible for a ten per cent discount on all events, except all-day workshops. The festival, which runs from 21 May-7 June, resents a range of events including orchestral, chamber and contemporary classical music, contemporary jazz, world music and electronica.
Information
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.
Learn Spanish in Alicante free of charge
Under the Cooperation Agreement between the Universities of Bath and Alicante, there are opportunities for members of staff to acquire basic language skills, or to improve those that they already have, whilst learning about Spanish culture. The courses and accommodation are free of charge and run in July and August. For information and application forms, email S.Stanford@bath.ac.uk Closing date for applications is 21 March.
Jobs
Vacant posts: www.bath.ac.uk/jobs
Nominations
University teaching awards
Nominations are now open for the 2008 teaching awards, which encourage and recognise significant contributions by staff to the academic lives of students. Nominations are welcome from both staff and students. There are three awards which focus on different aspects of teaching. Deadline: Friday 7 March.
Chancellor's Prize
The nominated student should have demonstrated academic excellence, together with a contribution to the life, academic reputation and general work of the University. Deadline: Monday 17 March.
In the media
- Ian Walker's cycling research was quoted in The Economist.
- Maria Balarin and Hugh Lauder's Primary Review report about primary school teaching was quoted in the Daily Mail.
Training & development opportunities
- Investigating accidents & incidents - 5 March
- An introduction to the Mediation Service - 6 March
- Managing a diverse team - horses for courses - 12 March
- Handling difficult situations - 13 March
- Team Leading (ILM Level 2) - April/May
- South West Institutions' Middle Managers' Programme (SWIMM 2008) 14/15/16 May
What's on next week
Monday 3
10:30 AM ‘To know each other’ exhibition
10:30 AM ‘Discover Islam’ posters exhibition
13:15 PM BICS seminar
18:30 PM ‘The Fog is Lifting’ - groundbreaking new film on Islam
Tuesday 4
12:15 PM Mid week Eucharist
12:45 PM Oxfam Lunch
13:15 PM CNM seminar
13:15 PM Human rights and the Qur’an
17:15 PM Cultures, politics & territories: remapping identities. Workshop on France
18:30 PM Seminar: Revealing the truth about Islam
Wednesday 5
12:15 PM Women's Development Network - flexible working patterns
13:15 PM Islam: a religion of peace or a religion of war?
13:30 PM Biomimetics - Learning from nature
16:00 PM Religious values in a troubled world
17:15 PM Regenerative medicine: From stem cells to lab-grown tissues & beyond
17:30 PM Was there a historical King Arthur?
18:15 PM Inaugural lecture by Nicolai Vorobjov
19:00 PM Music to your ears: the 2008 Bath Taps into Science lecture
19:30 PM Bath University Student Musicals Society - Godspell
19:30 PM Doris Langley Moore - visionary & founder of the Museum of Costume
Thursday 6
12:00 Noon SF Reading Group
13:00 PM The art & history of Scottish dancing
18:30 PM Muhammad, legacy of a prophet
Friday 7
11:00 AM Bath Taps into Science 2008 on campus
11:15 AM Science Communication Seminar
Saturday 8
10:00 AM Bath Taps into Science 2008 at Green Park
10:00 AM African drumming dayschool
11:00 AM The politics of history & memory in Europe and beyond
14:00 PM Mosque Open Day
15:00 PM Politics & Equality
Sunday 9
10:00 AM Felt making dayschool
Exhibitions
Polly Gould's
Peninsular | ICIA Art Space 1, 1 March-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.
Seventy Years of Penguin Design | Holburne Museum, until 24 March
This fascinating exhibition from the Penguin archives examines the history of the Penguin book cover, tracing its design from the iconic triple-banded and colour-coded early covers to the multifarious covers of today. Free entrance to University staff.
Arts
- Bath University Student Theatre Spiders Web Mission Theatre, Bath | Thursday 28 February - Saturday 1 March, 7.30pm
As terror descends and suspicion rises, Agatha Christie's classic whodunit keeps you on the edge of your seat, and guessing right to the end. - re:sounds - Ecosonic Ensemble Studio 1, ICIA Arts Complex | Friday 29 February, 7.30pm
re:sounds returns with the latest in a series of experimental music and sonic art nights. Ecosonic Ensemble explores new ways of using both electro-acoustic and traditional instruments to unleash the dynamic between sound, movement and emotion. - Bath University Student Musicals Society Godspell ICIA Arts Theatre | Wednesday 5 - Saturday 8 March, 7.30pm
This sensational show turns the gospel into an all-singing, all-dancing comic musical starring Jesus, with his disciples portrayed as the seven deadly sins. - Alexander Balanescu & Ada Milea The Island ICIA Arts Theatre | Fri 14 March, 7.30pm
Ada Milea gives a startling stage performance, capitalising on her unique story-telling abilities alongside Alex Balanescu’s extraordinary violin performance and gift for melody. Raising questions about identity and memory, they create a moving parable, totally outside of normal music performance.
Sport
Team Bath FC go down in top of table tussle
Team Bath went down 4-0 in Tuesday's top of the table clash against King’s Lynn.
Cousins and Hotchen triumph at under-19 champs
Sports Performance student Laura Cousins maintained the tradition of TeamBath players in the women’s doubles competitions at last weekend’s Yonex English National Under-19 Championships.
She and her partner, Sarah Walker, beat Alyssa Lim and Kate Robertshaw 22-20, 16-21, 21-17 to win the women’s doubles final.
Netballers secure win over Leeds Carnegie
Team Bath's netballers stayed on course for place in the end of season Co-operative Superleague play-offs with an emphatic 69-36 away win over Leeds Carnegie last Saturday.
Buccs hockey players suffer Southgate setback
Team Bath Buccaneers’ promotion push suffered a setback when they conceded a flurry of late goals against top of the table Southgate.
Southgate scored three times in the last 11 minutes to defeat Buccs 4-2 in last Saturday’s fixture.