Monthly Archives: March 2015

Special viewing of the solar eclipse

Staff and students from the School of Physical Sciences were out in force at a solar eclipse event run by the student Space Society.

The Space Society organised the special event, set at the telescope domes in Parkwood, in association with BBC’s Stargazing Live. Free glasses were given out to help view the eclipse, and academics answered questions while hoping the skies would clear.

The event was scheduled to be from 08:30-10:30 and many were there from the outset. The eclipse itself however – due to peak at 09:34 – remained stubbornly enshrouded in cloud.

Professor Michael Smith, head of the Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences said ‘Clouds are good at eclipsing the Sun but not our spirits. It was a tremendous feeling of sharing a special hour that will not return. On this side of the blanket of the clouds we were warmed while the Universe carried on doing what it does best.’

Rob Cross, one of the Rocketry officers for the Space Society added: ‘We expected the sun to be 80% covered but instead it was 100% covered… shame it was by clouds!’

The next solar eclipse will occur next year in Indonesia. The next one visible in the UK is not until 2026.

For more information, contact Kim Britnell.

 

UV sports night, Wed 25 Mar

Grab some friends, dress up in UV clothes and come play some sport under UV lights!

What’s on :

17:30 to 18:30 UV Dance class – £1

19:00 to 20:00 Beginners UV volleyball and badminton – £1

20:00 to 21:00 Intermediate/advanced UV volleyball and badminton £1

Tickets are on sale at reception, you will be given a ticket and a wristband bring both along with you on the night!

For the best effect, wear white or fluorescent colours and we will be providing UV spray paint, face paint and glow sticks!

Looking forward to seeing lots of you there!

Student in lecture

Rutherford Guest Speaker – The Rt Hon the Lord Boateng

On Wednesday 25 March, 2015, at 6pm in Rutherford Lecture Theatre One, The Rt Hon the Lord Boateng, PC DCL will give a Rutherford Grass Roots Lecture (organised in conjunction with the English Speaking Union).

The lecture title:
‘Unlocking potential, the role of higher education in addressing the global challenges of growth, inequality and environmental sustainability’.

Before joining the House of Lords in 2010, the Rt Hon the Lord Boateng, PC DCL held a range of UK Parliamentary posts. He was a Member of Parliament between 1987 and 2005, and served as a Cabinet Minister and Chief Secretary to the Treasury under Tony Blair. This was followed by four years (2005-2009) as British High Commissioner to South Africa. Lord Boateng, who spent much of his childhood in Africa has extensive knowledge of Africa and African issues and is a frequent public speaker in Europe, Africa and the US. Lord Paul Boateng is a barrister of Grays Inn, a legal consultant and Chairman of the English Speaking Union.

The lecture is free and open to all.

European Regional Development Fund Workshop – Hold the date

A new round of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is coming on stream at the end of March 2015.  ERDF will flow via the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), for Kent this will be via the South East LEP (SELEP).  Kent Innovation & Enterprise (KIE) has been directly involved in the development of the ERDF strategy for SELEP and early information from the SELEP is that expressions of interest will be invited at the end of March.

There will be new opportunities in the 2014-2020 programme for activities focusing on higher level skills, social innovation and the low carbon economy with Universities in a strong position to exploit this new funding stream.

KIE will be holding an ERDF Workshop on Monday 30th March 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. in Keynes Seminar Room KS16 to outline SELEP’s commitment to supporting ERDF and also to update you on the funding call and the process for applying for funding.

If you are interested in finding out more about ERDF register for the Workshop by emailing enterprise@kent.ac.uk or call Ext 7376.

An image of Drill Hall Library with red brick and an arched frontway

Drill Hall Library is now open 24/7 until 5th June

The Drill Hall Library in now open 24/7 (including the Easter weekend and the May Bank Holidays) until the 5th June. This means that books, PCs and the main study spaces can be accessed at any time, day or night. We also have vending machines for snacks and drinks.

Our 24/7 Facts & Reminders and FAQs which will give you useful information of services available in the library and on campus during the 24/7 opening period. Please remember that we have a “No ID, No Entry” policy, and that Day Passes cannot issued after midnight. Also please note that we are operating the Unattended Belongings & PCs Policy, which means that any items left unattended in the library for a long time will be removed by staff and PCs restarted so that other people can use it.

If you have any questions at all please just get in touch with us. You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and we’re now also on Instagram. On behalf of all of the Drill Hall Library staff I’d like to wish all Medway students good luck with your work, research, revision and exams!

 

Changes to USS – Consultation

Changes to future pension benefits provided by Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) have been proposed by the scheme’s Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC). A period of formal consultation begins today, 16 March 2015, with affected employees and their representatives.

Information leaflets and an accompanying notice have been sent to affected employees and full consultation material and other resources are available on the employer consultation website at www.ussconsultation.co.uk where responses to the proposals can be left.

The University will be consulting directly with affected employees through a number of presentations which will be held in April. Towers Watson, independent pension specialists, have been engaged to carry out member presentations aimed at explaining how these proposals will impact you and answer questions you may have. Presentations will be held on 7 April at the Medway campus and 8, 13, 14, 15 April in Canterbury. Venues and times will be publicised shortly.

Several consultation meetings with staff representatives are scheduled in April and May. Questions can be channelled through staff representative for these meetings.

Careers and Employability Service awards prize to Work-Study student

The Careers and Employability Service is delighted to announce that University of Kent 2nd Year Law student Emma Rayfield has been awarded a prize for the high quality of her work as a Student Experience Assistant (Research). Emma’s work involved undertaking a survey of University of Kent graduates to find out what they were doing as part of the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey. The survey is very important to the University and informs Higher Education league tables. Emma is one of a team of students who have been working for the Careers and Employability Service since April 2014. She has developed a range of high quality planning, organisational and communication skills as part of her role.

Emma was recruited via the Work-Study Scheme. This Scheme has been set up to enable students to access paid work on campus, and to undertake employability-related training and mentoring by the Work-Study Scheme Co-ordinator. Students are trained in a variety of areas which prepare them for employment. They are then invited to apply for campus-based jobs. Experiencing the application and recruitment process helps to prepare students for the graduate recruitment process and helps them gain confidence and skills while at university.

Emma said: “I really enjoyed working for the Careers and Employability Service. Phoning people to find out destinations information was challenging at times, but very rewarding. Thank you for the opportunity, and for the prize!”

Festival of Projections – tell us what you think!

Calling all University of Kent staff and students. Tell us what you think and be entered into a prize draw. 

The School of Arts is planning a festival as part of the University of Kent’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The international Festival of Projections will illuminate the University, turning our campus into a beacon of light. A festival where all can engage with contemporary ideas through a unique, risk taking, cross discipline and culturally diverse programme.  

We are conducting a short Audience survey for University of Kent staff and students. To complete the survey click here https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2LY9ZLW 

We have teamed up with the Gulbenkian to offer 3 gift vouchers in our prize draw (one worth £50, and two £25) for the cinema/theatre. To enter the prize draw, make sure you complete Q.10 with your contact details. Winners will be announced at the end of April.  

If you have ideas you would like to put forward for the festival please get in touch with the Project Managers, Sue Jones and Catherine Herbert on S.Jones-339@kent.ac.uk or C.Herbert@kent.ac.uk

 

Magpie Dance: Exhibition & show

The wonderful Magpie Dance are coming to the Gulbenkian next Tuesday. Magpie has led the way in Inclusive Dance for 30 years, and the show celebrates their work and dancers.

To mark their achievements, Keynes is hosting an exhibition of the company’s photographic images in Keynes College Teaching Foyer at the University, and would like to invite you to the preview which will take place at 6pm on the 24th before the show.

Please do let us know if you would like to join us for a drink.

Liberty Quays shuttle changes 23-26 March

Due to overnight road works from Mon 23 to Thu 26 March, it won’t be possible to pick-up at the bus stop nearest to Liberty Quays after 21.00hrs each day.

After 21.00hrs each day, please wait for the Campus Shuttle further up the road to the east, past the Strand – see Google Maps.

The usual day-time services until 21.00hrs will be unaffected.

Alternatively, you can catch the Campus Shuttle from the usual Campus Shuttle stop on the Universities at Medway campus.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Transport Team

transport@kent.ac.uk