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LU Text

LU Text is published by the Press Office on Fridays during term time and aims to keep you regularly informed of the University's news and developments. Editor, Vicky Tyrrell. To view previous editions see LU Text Archive.

| 26 June 2009 | Issue 439

› Contents: news; people; notices; people in the news; what's on; ads

NEWS

Mobile game scoops industry prize for innovation

Mobile game developers in InfoLab21, Dr Paul Coulton, and PhD students Mark Lochrie and Kate Lund, have won a coveted industry prize for innovation. Their location-based game ‘Big Game Huntr’ saw off competition from more than 150 entries from all over the world to take the Adobe FlashLite Developer Challenge Innovation Prize 2009. › To view the full story

Business leaders and academics debate tackling sickness in the workplace

More collaboration between workers, health professionals and industry is needed to underpin the efforts of employers to support workers who are ill and return them to work. This was one of the recommendations to come out of the first conference of Lancaster University’s Centre for Organisational Health and Wellbeing this week, attended by a sample of Industry and major employers who met to form a business response to Government commissioned reports on health and work. The conference was also attended by Dame Carol Black, author of 'Working for a Healthier Tomorrow' › To view the full story

Honorary degrees 2009

The head of the global advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi and a leading ballerina – both with Lancashire connections - are among six distinguished names to be awarded honorary degrees by Lancaster University this July. Born in Lancaster, Kevin Roberts is the New York-based CEO Worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi and is currently Honorary Professor of Creative Leadership at Lancaster University. Fiona Chadwick was born in Lancashire and trained at the Royal Ballet School before becoming Principal with The Royal Ballet in 1984. Other recipients of honorary degrees include Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, Chief Executive of Turning Point, Professor Sir James Drummond Bone FRSA, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, author Mary Cadogan and Quaker historian Edward Milligan. They all receive Honorary Doctorate of Letters, except Kevin Roberts and Lord Adebowale, who receive Honorary Doctorate of Laws.› To view the full story

If you think we’re rude – you should have heard the Elizabethans

Notices warning customers not to abuse staff in the post office, acerbic entertainment on TV – you’d be forgiven for thinking polite language is going down the pan. But according to new research from Lancaster University the facts tell a different story. Dr Jonathan Culpeper of the University’s Department of Linguistics and English Language analysed impolite language as part of a three-year Economic & Social Research Council Research Fellowship.› To view the full story

Successful recruitment through InfoLab21’s ICT jobShop

InfoLab21’s ICT jobShop which puts Lancaster University ICT students and employers in touch, keeping much-needed skills in the region has already set up a its first round of successful appointments. Since Lancaster University’s Centre of Excellence for ICT InfoLab21 launched the JobShop last autumn there have been many interactions between InfoLab21 students and companies. Despite the credit crunch, 19 jobs have been posted on the site and five organisations, including ISS and regional web design companies, have successfully recruited through the ICT JobShop. The ICT JobShop is open to any business seeking ICT skills and all kinds of ICT related job opportunities are welcome. Businesses and InfoLab21 students can register with the ICT JobShop at the link below. http://www.infolab21.lancs.ac.uk/ictjobshop/. › To view the full story

Computing workshop helps future-proof businesses

An InfoLab21 Industry Workshop on Trends in Content Networking has helped inform media and content companies including the BBC about developments in technology which may occur in the future and influence the way content is distributed and consumed. Feedback from the workshop, led by academics in the Computing Department with help from the KBC, said that it helped identify potential gaps in the market and areas to develop, which helps with future proofing. See the presentations of this knowledge transfer event here Networking workshop - watch now.

Developments in InfoLab21 are covered by Investment Now.

Eco-Residences Win Green Gown Award 2009

Lancaster University’s Eco-Residences have been awarded a Green Gown award which recognises exceptional initiatives by higher education institutions to become more sustainable. The award, in the Residences category, was made by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), which praises the new build student housing at Grizedale and County for delivering high levels of environmental performance at an affordable cost. The winners of the 2009 Green Gown Awards were announced at a gala banquet at Imperial College London hosted by TV presenter Kate Humble. Other guests included David Lammy MP, Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property, and Baroness Warwick, Chief Executive of Universities UK. › To view the full story

Pupils get a taste for science and technology

Pupils will be rubbing shoulders with professors at Lancaster University on July 1 as part of a Science and Technology taster day. Around 200 pupils from schools across the region will take part in lectures and workshops designed to give them an insight into some of the world-class science and technology taking place at Lancaster. › To view the full story

Success for 68 CELT graduates

The Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching congratulates the following colleagues for their achievement in passing the Certificate in Academic Practice (CAP) and the Associate Teacher Programme (ATP). Both of these programmes are accredited with the Higher Education Academy and recognised by the Staff and Educational Development Association. CELT website.

People

Congratulations to Dr John Quinton (Environmental Science) who has been awarded a Personal Chair with effect from 1 July 2009.

The Students’ Union has recently restructured its sabbatical team and at the start of next week new officers will be coming into post to take up the new roles.

Professor Paul Farley (English & Creative Writing) is involved in an innovative new national writing initiative. The Complete Works is a two year development programme for advanced Black and Asian poets, running between 2008 and 2010, created in partnership with Arts Council England, the Foyle Foundation, the Old Possum’s Practical Trust and in association with the Arvon Foundation. Successful applicants will receive mentoring, access to seminar days, a week at Arvon and other support for the following two years. Find out more at www.spreadtheword.org.uk.
Professor Farley will also be appearing at two festivals over the coming summer. The Latitude Festival takes place near Southwold in Suffolk 17-19th July, and includes many literary and spoken word performances, as well as a music line up headlined by Nick Cave, Grace Jones and the Pet Shop Boys. Paul is performing on the Saturday afternoon. www.latitudefestival.co.uk The Ledbury Festival takes place between 6th-12th July, and Paul’s reading on the Thursday (with Chase Twichell) is part of the launch event for the Summer 2009 issue of Poetry London magazine www.poetry-festival.com

Paul Blackmore, Director of CEEC was invited by the Government’s newly formed Department for Business Innovation and Skills to speak at their North West launch of the Graduate Talent Pool initiative. The event was attended by several multi-national graduate recruiters. Representing University Careers Services in the North West and co-presenting with the NWUA, Paul provided an overview of the wide range of employer-engagement activities delivered by the University and highlighted the benefits of work experience for both students and graduates. Gopal Kapoor, a recent graduate of Lancaster University, also attended and provided an exemplar case study of the benefits of employing University students and graduates. The Graduate Talent Pool scheme aims to provide 5,000 additional internship places through the scheme over the next 12 months. More information is available here: http://graduatetalentpool.bis.gov.uk/

Dr. Michal Krzyzanowski (Linguistics and English Language) has recently presented preliminary results of research on EU Institutions in the EU-FP6 Project DYLAN to the European Commission, Brussels. He was invited to deliver his presentation by the Head of Unit ‘Multilingualism and Translation Studies’ of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Translation. Demonstrating results of the earlier work by the Lancaster team in the DYLAN project (incl. media and policy-analysis), Michal’s presentation also highlighted preliminary findings of extensive fieldwork at the EU institutions undertaken by Lancaster researchers throughout 2009. The aim of this fieldwork is to gain inside and in-depth knowledge about diverse challenges to multilingual communication in the post-Enlargement EU institutions. The fieldwork studies how the key EU institutions practise multilingualism (e.g. within meetings at different hierarchical levels) as well as construct its image in internal and external language policies and regulations. For further information see: http://www.dylan-project.org or contact m.krzyzanowski@lancaster.ac.uk

Notices

Flexible benefits

Enrolment for the next flexible benefits year (commencing 1st October) will take place between 10th August and 9th September. Further information will be sent to staff in electronic and hard copy formats. Please ensure that HR hold details of your current home address by checking your details on “employee self-service” which can be accessed from the HR home page or https://hr.lancs.ac.uk:8643/concerto/Portal/ There will be a flexible benefits roadshow on Tuesday 1st September in the Management School Hub Area, where all benefit providers will be on campus to talk to staff about their products.

HEaTED survey of technical staff

The second national survey of the training and development needs of technical staff in universities is now underway. The survey has been organised by HEaTED (Higher Education and Technicians Education and Development), the HE branch of the Institute of Science and Technology. The Lancaster technicians’ response rate so far is 25%. The survey is open until 17 July so there is still time to take part in this consultation. The on-line form can be found at: http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/heated09/heated09

Video Conferencing Presentation – Wednesday 1st July

As part of on-going green ICT initiative, ISS invite you to a short presentation on the benefits of video conferencing. The presentation highlights how easily you can utilise this resource thereby benefiting you, your department, the University and ultimately, the planet. To do this, the presentation will demonstrate video conferencing equipment and the many ways by which video conference calls can be made. Come along to lecture theatre 8 in the Management School 1pm on Wednesday 1st July.

Pledge to reduce waste

People in Lancashire are being urged to make an online pledge to reduce the amount of waste they currently send to landfill by either recycling more of their household items or reducing the amount of waste they create. Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council are running the waste awareness campaign in conjunction with waste management company Global Renewables. You can register your pledge and enter a free prize draw until the 4th July by going to : http://www.pledgeforlancashire.co.uk

Estates Notices

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

People in the news - Media coverage for Lancaster University.

WHAT'S ON

For a full list of all items submitted for What's On, please see the Arts and Seminars & Lectures LU News web pages.

LEC Atmospheric Science Seminar:"Can we avoid dangerous climate change?"

Dr. Jason Lowe Head of Mitigation Advice, Met Office Hadley Centre. Furness LT1 Friday 3rd July, 11:00am - 12 noon. Note that time/location are subject to confirmation, and full details are posted at http://www.es.lancs.ac.uk/people/oliverw/Seminars.htm

Lectures & Seminars

ADVERTS

All adverts - posted by staff.

Contact Victoria Tyrrell on (01524) 594120 with items for LU text, LU News or for external publicity.
Events information should be sent to Laura Mitchell Press Office Assistant (01524) 592103.

LU text is usually published on Fridays. On occasion it is necessary to delay publication until the following week. ITEMS FOR INCLUSION SHOULD BE EMAILED TO THE EDITOR BY 12PM THURSDAY BEFORE PUBLICATION. Adverts are limited to University members and we are unable to check incorrect contact numbers or email addresses. All attempts will be made to include adverts sent via email, but no guarantee is made. The editor reserves the right to edit copy. The opinions expressed in this bulletin are not necessarily those of the university management.

Design by Lancaster University's InfoLab21, an ICT Centre of Excellence www.infolab21.lancs.ac.uk