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Welcome to our weekly in Focus update...... |
Past Issues << | Issue 86: Weds 23 January 2008 |
There's just under a week to go before the official opening of our Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy, Complementary Medicine and Sports Science (Tues 29 January).
Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall will get to meet many of our Health and Bioscience colleagues as she tours the Centre and finds out about our exciting health provision. While our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Martin Everett leads the tour with HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, other colleagues will lead tours of guests from industry, including those from health and sports.
This very special event marks the official opening of a wonderful facility not only for us but the whole of London. It also provides an opportunity for us to showcase our excellent work and talented staff to senior professionals from many partner organisations. Before arriving at our Stratford campus, Her Royal Highness will visit The SCORE centre, an innovative community sports facility run by our partners Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme, and a base for many of our sports coaching and development programmes.
The Centre for Clinical Education also houses orthotics laboratories, minor operations suite, and state-of the art teaching laboratories for Physiotherapy, Complementary Medicine, including acupuncture and herbal medicine, and Sports and Exercise Science. With the advent of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are working in partnership to improve health and fitness among local residents, and to identify and nurture talented young people in schools and sports clubs.
We were the first in the UK to develop degree programmes in Physiotherapy, originally run at the Royal London Hospital in the 1970s, and many of our physiotherapy staff are also alumni. In 2003, we successfully bid for the NHS training contract to deliver Podiatry in London, previously held by University College London. Our clinical facilities for podiatry, run in partnership with Newham Primary Care Trust, are among the best in the country, and co-locating clinical and professional education has created a number of innovations in the design and layout of the Centre. Her Royal Highness is particularly interested in this field as she is Patron of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists.
For more information visit: http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/personalprofiles/theduchessofcornwall/
Commissioner Danuta Hubner, a senior Member of the European Commission, will visit our Docklands campus on the morning of Tuesday 29 January. She will tour the Knowledge Dock, and speak with a number of our staff and partners who are managing innovative facilities and projects which have received support from the European Regional Development Fund.
Knowledge Dock, UEL’s enterprise development service, drives our vision to encourage enterprise and innovation and act as a catalyst for social, cultural and economic development in East London and the Thames Gateway. Now working with over 1,000 companies and entrepreneurs across the region, Knowledge Dock provides a wide range of facilities, training, consultancy, and funded programmes. It opened in May 2006 supported by funding from ERDF, the London Development Agency and the Department for Communities and Local Government, and the new Knowledge Dock Centre was formally opened by her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh in February 2007.
Commissioner Hubner, who is responsible for the Regional Policy Directorate at the EU, will tour key Knowledge Dock facilities. For more information about Danuta Hubner visit: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/hubner/index_en.htm
Barking and Dagenham Council is to honour four of the borough's sporting icons with the installation of spectacular larger-than-life sculptures. England World Cup winning manager Sir Alf Ramsey, his captain and West Ham United legend Bobby Moore, England rugby world cup winner Jason Leonard, and celebrated Paralympian Beverley Gull will be commemorated when the specially commissioned artwork is unveiled later this year. Beverley Gull (pictured left) is a former member of our staff and currently a Photography student.
Beverley worked with us for over twenty years until she left in 2005. Her last post with us was working within the Equality and Disability Unit. Beverley is currently one of our photography students and hopes to graduate this February. Her stunning photographic exhibition in last year's AVA Degree Show focused on sportsmen and sportswomen with disabilities. Beverley first began her degree, part-time in 2002 and was completing one module a semester until she went full time in 2006.
Throughout her sporting career Beverley won forty-one gold medals and beat thirteen world records in swimming. She participated in the Seoul (1988) and Barcelona (1992) Paralympics and won three gold and five silver medals respectively.
Beverley said: "It's absolutely amazing. For a statue to be made of me putting me up there with the greats like Sir Alf Ramsey and Bobby Moore feels like the highest honour. I congratulate Barking and Dagenham Council for their belief and commitment in celebrating Paralympian achievement and I am also personally grateful for the support they've shown to me throughout my sporting career."
The figures will be situated on grassland at the junction of the A13 with Gale Street, on Castle Green, opposite Barking Rugby Club. They will appear as dramatic steel silhouettes, measuring 4 metres in height and 2 metres in width, with a depth of 30cm. They will also be mounted onto a steel column, ensuring they tower above spectators and dramatically stand out against the skyline along the A13.
For more information visit: http://www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/2-news-events/latest-news/2008/news-sporting-legends.html
The Hearing Voices Network conference takes place on Tuesday 29 January, Duncan House.
The conference is a collaboration between our School of Psychology and the Hearing Voices Network, a national charity that offers information, support and understanding to people who hear voices and those who support them.
A wide range of speakers, including academic psychologists, mental health professionals, and voice hearers themselves, will debate the causes and effects of the experience and attempt to develop constructive ways in which to manage and understand it outside of psychiatric services.
Dr David Harper, Reader in Clinical Psychology at UEL, will be among the conference’s key speakers. Dr Harper said: “Mainstream psychiatry understands the experience of hearing voices as a "symptom" of "severe mental illness", and provides little more than drug treatment in response.
“There is now a growing body of research that challenges this traditional account and shows that there are many explanations for hearing voices. As the limitations of a solely medical approach to the experience become better known, it is crucial that voice hearers are offered a forum in which to make sense of their experiences outside of psychiatry.”
For details on the event how to register, plus costs , visit http://www.hearing-voices.org/ or contact Professor Mark Rapley on 020 8223 6392 or m.rapley@uel.ac.uk.
Our Postgraduate Showcase takes place on Wednesday 13 February at our Docklands Campus, 4 - 8pm.
To take part contact Karen O'Connor Email: infocus@uel.ac.uk
For information visit: http://www.uel.ac.uk/openday/
Public Lectures Weds 13 February 2008
HOW NEUTROPHILS ELIMINATE BUGS FROM THE HUMAN BODY – THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF ION CHANNELS [Part of Postgraduate Showcase 2008] 6pm - 7pm Docklands Campus, Lecture by Dr Jatinder Ahluwalia
GLOBAL E-SECURITY: NEW THREATS FROM CYBER-CRIME [Part of Postgraduate Showcase 2008] 6pm - 7pm Docklands Campus Dr Hamid Jahankhani, School of Computing and Technology
TEN YEARS AFTER PINOCHET: The future of universal jurisdiction 6pm – 7.30pm Duncan House Lecture Theatre 001 A panel discussion hosted by the Centre on Human Rights in Conflict Panelists: Alun Jones QC, Great James Street Chambers, Jordi Palou-Loverdos, Lawyer, mediator, Veritas Rwanda Forum,
Dr. Víctor M. Sánchez, Professor, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Michael Caplan QC, Partner, Kingsley Napley.
For more information about Public Lectures please visit: http://www.uel.ac.uk/lectureseries/
The LEVERHULME TRUST 2008 EARLY CAREER FELLOWSHIPS
(Tenable for two or three years starting between the beginning of 2008/09 academic year and 1 May 2009)
Deadline: 12 March 2008, 4.00 pm
Fields: From all subject areas
The Fellowship Scheme aims to develop career opportunities for those with a proven record of research at an early stage of their academic careers. Applicants should not yet have held a full-time academic post in a UK university/institution, nor may they hold such a post concurrently with the Fellowship. Applicants must normally hold a degree from a UK higher education institution. In the opposite case, they should be holding an academic position in the UK at the time of application. Applicants should be under age 35 and must hold a doctorate or have equivalent research experience. Candidates over 35 may apply if they began their academic studies at a later age or have had a break. Those with no doctorate yet may apply only if they have submitted their theses by the closing date. The Leverhulme Trust will contribute 50% of the Fellow's total salary (up to £22,000); gradually increasing each year. The host institution must confirm providing the necessary financial balance and the facilities for the Fellow.
For detailed information about the Scheme and application procedures please go to
http://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/grants_awards/grants/early_career_fellowships/
EPSRC Assisted Living Innovation Platform: Call for Business and Economic Modelling of Assistive Technologies
Deadline: 26 March 2008, 4.00 pm
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), together with the Technology Strategy Board, the Economic and Social Research Council and the National Institute for Health Research have agreed to fund a number of activities in the area of assisted living, under the umbrella of the TSB’s assisted living innovation platform. Proposals are invited to take forward interesting and creative research ideas about how the market for assisted living can be developed in a commercially viable and sustainable way. This call seeks to generate new knowledge in business and economic modelling for assisted living. Economic analysis of assisted living reveals a complex value chain and further work is needed to develop business and economic models in this area. For example, business/ economic modelling of cost benefit in the public sector; business/economic modelling of cost benefit in the private sector including insurance based systems; and changes to the business/ social care model, including engaging with the professions, stakeholder management.
For more information please go to http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/CallsForProposals/ATModelling.htm
Dr M Aylwin Cotton Foundation (UK)
Publication Grants and Fellowship Awards
Deadline: 28 Februrary 2008
The Dr M Aylwin Cotton Foundation invites applications for the £10,000 fellowship awards. Applicants should be engaged in personal academic research, normally showing a level of achievement comparable to a British or an American PhD (although no formal academic qualifications will be necessary). Fellowships will normally be up to one year's duration, commencing on 1 September following the award. The grants will each have a maximum value of £10,000, and will be expected to cover the costs of accommodation, travel, photography, photocopying and all other expenses relating to the work for which the fellowship is awarded. For more information please go to http://www.cotton-foundation.org/fellowshipawards.html
For more information on publication grants please go to http://www.cotton-foundation.org/publicationgrant.html
European Commission DG Research
B-Brussels: on the critical mass of public R&D programmes - a potential driver of joint programming (2008/S 1-000061)
Deadline: 29 February 2008, 5.00 pm
The Directorate-General for Research at the European Commission has issued a call for tender for the B-Brussels: on the critical mass of public R&D programme - a potential driver of joint programming opportunity. One of the core assumptions underlying the ERA is that economies of scale and scope matter in research funding and execution, and that therefore coordination and collaboration in research funding and execution are beneficial for, and fragmentation and dispersal have a negative impact on Europe's science and technology performance. Because of gaps in the relevant research, this assumption remains largely to be validated. The purpose of this call for tender is to start filling those gaps and obtain a much better insight into when and where in research, economies of scale and scope matter. Specifically, its objective is to achieve a better understanding of the conditions under which it might be beneficial for member states to engage in the joint programming of research activities. The focus of this study is on the critical mass of European public R&D programmes. The estimated value of this programme ranges between EUR400,000 and EUR500,000 for a duration of 19 months.
For more information please go to http://ted.europa.eu/Exec?DataFlow=ShowPage.dfl&Template=TED/N_one_result_detail_curr.htm&docnumber=61-2008&docId=61-2008&StatLang=EN
For the latest news and up to date information about the UEL Alumni Network please visit the link for our current e-newsletter:
http://www.uel.ac.uk/alumni/newsletter/index.htm
Pictured left: Dr Paul Smith congratulates prizewinning alumnus Damian Masters.
Academic Board: http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/committees/acaboard.htm
Board of Governors: http://www.uel.ac.uk/governors/board.htm
Good news from the CMT: http://www.uel.ac.uk/vcg/news/index.htm
ExCeL in London is the place to go on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March if you want to find out more about the fantastic sport of scuba diving.
The London International Dive Show is the UK’s longest-running and most successful diving exhibition and this year over 250 companies will be taking part. Everything from the latest diving kit and dive clothing right through to training opportunities and exotic holiday destinations will be on show.
There’s a free Try Dive Pool for novices, a Rebreather Pool for experts and also a free presentation programme featuring many of the sport’s top names.
You could WIN one pair of tickets for FREE. Email infocus@uel.ac.uk. Winner selected at randon on Wednesday 30 January.
Save £3.00 by booking tickets in advance. Visit www.diveshows.co.uk for more information and to order your tickets online, or call the ticket hotline on 020 8977 9878. Tickets cost £10.50 on the door. Children under 14 go free.
Pictured left: Photo taken by our Dive Club on a trip to the Red Sea.
Friday 25 and Saturday 26 January, 8pm
Voulez Vous ABBA: The story
Our lucky winner for tickets to see Voulez Vous is Nicole Redman of Student Services. Congratulations Nicole Ah - ha!
To find out more about the varied and exciting programme, and to book tickets, at Barking Broadway,
visit:
www.thebroadwaybarking.com Tel: 020 8507 5607
E-learning, blended learning and distance learning are increasingly important in Higher Education and in teaching and learning generally; however, to take full advantage and make the best use of them you may need to acquire new skills.
The MA in Online and Blended Learning is a flexible, online professional development programme that will help you take full advantage of 21st century pedagogic practice and online technologies.
All course activities happen online and are facilitated within UEL Plus, our Virtual Learning Environment.
Deadline for applications: 14 January.
For further information and an application form please go to: http://www.uel.ac.uk/dl/programmes/module_info/ma_obl.htm
Alternatively, contact the Distance Learning Advice Team on: distance.learning@uel.ac.uk / tel: +44 (0)20 8223 2564
First Aid at Work: 4 Days Tue– Fri 2008, 22 – 25 April, 10– 13 June, 9– 12 Sept, 18– 21 Nov. Fee: £185
Requalify course: 2 Days Thurs and Fri 2008 13 and14 Mar, 22 and 23 May, 10 and 11 July, 16 and 17 Oct. Fee: £110.00
Venue: Docklands Campus
December dates can be added if required. For further information or to book a course: Please contact: Frances Bronzite, 020 8223 4368 or Email: f.s.bronzite@uel.ac.uk
To find out more about the wide range of E-Learning applications available to us in our everyday work, visit:
E-Learning Resources: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/e_learning/resources.htm
SDEL staff development: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/staff_development/index.htm
UEL Plus info: http://www.uel.ac.uk/uelplus/index.htm
Brush up your IT skills and get an internationally recognised qualification online. Contact Greg Price, Organisational Development Manager on ext 4361 or email g.price@uel.ac.uk
Key figures from libraries and businesses across the UK gathered at our Docklands campus on Thursday 17 January for a conference exploring the crucial role of information professionals in business sustainability.
Over forty delegates attended the ‘Knowledge for Business’ event to share and increase their understanding of the wide range of physical and virtual collections and services that are now available to support librarians, businesses and researchers.
Key speakers included Kevin Saunders, of the Chartered Management Institute, Goretti Considine, of City Business Library, and Neil Infield, Business and IP Centre Manager at the British Library.
Neil said: “Information professionals are increasingly recognised as a key factor in business success. It’s wonderful to have an opportunity like this to get together, share best practice and inspire one another.”
The delegates enjoyed a tour of our innovative Library and Learning Centre, officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen in February 2007. In the Library's trading-floor style computing centre, Angela Joyce, of Intute, led a hands-on introduction to her organisation's new tutorial, Internet Business Manager.
Chris Seow, Senior Lecturer in Operations and Sustainability at our Business School, organised the ‘Knowledge for Business’ conference in partnership with Library and Learning Services.
Chris said: “Understanding how to create and capitalise on new knowledge is a crucial factor in business sustainability and success. The whole business community are constantly searching for free and accessible information for their organisations and the clients they serve. This conference has provided a timely and extremely useful insight into what new services and collections are available.”
For further information, visit www.uel.ac.uk/business or call Carole Flanagan on 020 8223 3356.
Pictured above: Angela Joyce (far right) leads her interactive session in UEL's Library and Learning Centre
On Monday 14 January Dr Akhtar Badshah (Senior Director, Global Community Affairs, Microsoft Corporation) attended a SMARTlab reception and gave a talk about the sustainable development of technology in underdeveloped and developing nations. Clearly, when some countries lack electricity and connectivity through much of their territories, operating ICT equipment is a huge challenge. The enormous costs of buying computers, software and mobile phones, compared to the average income of many throughout the world, thus excludes some nations, and many smaller communities, from participating equally in the digital revolution. The resulting gap is often called ‘The Digital Divide’. What Microsoft is actively trying to do is to find out what the needs are in each region - and then to design relevant products for people's lives, needs and incomes.
Dr Badshah said: "What we are trying to do at Microsoft is find the added value of ICT for people living in often deprived and impoverished communities throughout the world, so that although there is a cost attached, it will lead to greater economic security for families and individuals.. It's not about teaching a man how to fish anymore for sustained economic development , it's about teaching him or her how to make many products, and then how to take them to market."
The Microsoft ClubTECH Project has partnered with SMARTlab, UK to invent the next generation of creative technology tools, for roll out in the UK and the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region from 2008 - 2010. Results of the SMARTlab review on the USA ClubTECH project (2000-5/6), cinducted by Professor Goodman at UEL, led to the conclusion tha the ClubTECH programme could be adapted and extended to add real value to the communities of East London, the UK and the EMEA region as a whole. The findings of the SMARTlab report have now been used as a catalyst for an exciting new textbook of value to all readers interested in community empowerment, education for at risk youth, and sustainable community models for the future.
A new book – ‘Seeding Informatics & ICT Greenfields: Digital Inclusion Through New Models of Innovation, Education and Job Creation’ by Dr Badshah and Professor Lizbeth Goodman, with Dr Esther MacCallum-Stewart et al – is forthcoming later this year. SMARTlab is currently in discussions with UK and international partners about plans and locations for pilot phase European roll out.
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If you would like items included in In Focus Update please send them to me by Wednesday of the preceding week at infocus@uel.ac.uk
Please print off a copy of In Focus Update for those of your colleagues who may not have easy access to email.
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