Monthly Archives: August 2018

Kent academic inspires new research methods at university in Ecuador

Academics and students at a university in Ecuador have been inspired to employ new interdisciplinary research methods and seek greater international collaboration following a visit by Kent Law School Senior Lecturer Dr Luis Eslava.

Dr Eslava was visiting the Universidad del Azuay, in Cuenca, where he delivered a presentation to students at the Faculty of Juridical Sciences on Kent’s distinctive critical approach to studying and teaching law. He also delivered a lecture to academics from across the university, had informal conversations with researchers and met with key Faculty and Law School staff.

During his visit, Dr Eslava ran a three-day workshop on ethnographic research methods and interdisciplinary perspectives for academics. The workshop on ‘Global (Dis)order and Critical Thought: Ethnography, History and Law’ included a short fieldwork exercise held in the city centre and was attended by staff from the schools of economics, medicine, engineering, psychology, architecture and law.

Faculty of Law Vice Dean Dr Sebastián López Hidalgo said that whilst critical approaches to law are beginning to be employed across the curriculum and in research projects at the Universidad del Azuay, interdisciplinary methodologies are still new: ‘Our institution is pursuing the professionalisation of faculty, and is particularly interested in creating international networks to put researchers in contact with experienced academics all over the world. In this context, Dr Eslava’s visit was a great opportunity to support junior faculty members in positioning their perspectives and methodologies.’

Dr Eslava has research expertise in international law. He is,Co-Director of the Centre for Critical International Law (CeCIL) at Kent, a Senior Fellow at Melbourne Law School in Australia and an International Professor at Universidad Externado do Colombia. He also serves as a core faculty member of the Institute for Global Law and Policy at Harvard Law School.

Kent Sport saver membership

Students, get ready for the new academic year by pre-purchasing your Kent Sport membership (https://kentsport.kent.ac.uk/OnlineMemberships/introduction.aspx), and save £20 with the Student Saver discount! Purchase your membership online or at the Sports Centre and Pavilion receptions from 1 August 2018.

Become a member of Kent Sport and enjoy all the amazing sport, fitness and recreation facilities and activities available. Play badminton with friends, cycle the Crab and Winkle, challenge your housemate to a game of squash, try classes from BodyPump to Zumba or get active in social and competitive sports like football and hockey.

The Sports Centre has a fitness and dance studio, indoor netball, badminton, basketball and squash courts, table tennis and a recently refurbished fitness suite linked to the Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic.

At the Pavilion there are indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a cycle hub, cricket pitches and our all-weather floodlit football, rugby and hockey pitches along with a terrific social space at the Pavilion Cafe Bar, which overlooks the outdoor sports facilities.

Join Kent Sport before 11.59pm on Saturday 30 September to get the Student Saver discount. Student membership is valid for use from 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2019. Stretch your body, not your wallet!

Take advantage of this Student Saver sports, fitness and recreation membership offer. To find out more, please visit our Kent Sport website and to stay up to date with Kent Sport news, Like Kent Sports on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @UniKentSport and visit the Kent Sport events calendar to see what’s on.

Extremely hot weather

‘It’s a scorcher!!!’ to quote The Sun, (even more appropriate!).

The temperatures have been rising for some weeks now. Many of us love this hot weather, but all of us find it’s very different having to work in these temperatures rather than simply lazing on a sun-lounger with occasional dips in the pool.

Here are the NHS Tips for ‘Coping in Hot Weather’:

  • Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. You can open the windows for ventilation when it is cooler.
  • Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and don’t go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you’re vulnerable to the effects of heat.
  • Keep rooms cool by using shades or reflective material outside the windows. If this isn’t possible, use light-coloured curtains and keep them closed (metallic blinds and dark curtains can make the room hotter).
  • Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water.
  • Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water and diluted fruit juice. Avoid excess alcohol, caffeine (tea, coffee and cola) or drinks high in sugar.
  • Listen to alerts on the radio, TV and social media about keeping cool.
  • Identify the coolest room in the house so you know where to go to keep cool .
  • Wear loose, cool clothing, and a hat and sunglasses if you go outdoors.
  • Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.
  • Plan ahead to make sure you have enough supplies, such as food, water and any medications you need.

Links to other advice on managing health in the hot weather:

Met Office Heat Health Watch

Public Health England Hot Weather Health Warnings 2018

NHS Choices: Heatwave: How to Cope in Hot Weather

Sports Ready Clinic

Did you know the University offers Sports Therapy appointments for just £20?!

 The Sports Ready Clinic based in Medway Park, Gillingham is a student-run clinic offering assessments, treatments, rehabilitation and injury prevention to members of the public, regardless of sporting ability.

So whether you’re suffering with an annoying everyday niggle, struggling to start or progress your training or wanting to prevent injuries get in touch, were here to help.

To book an appointment, please contact sportinjury@kent.ac.uk and we can get you booked in!

To keep up to date with the latest events and offers, follow @SRCKent on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or visit our website for more information.

 

 

Jennison Clean Air Suite

Refurbishment of Jennison Clean Air Suite

The clean air laboratory suite in the Jennison Building, on Canterbury campus, has been extensively refurbished with a redesigned main laboratory layout.

The suite has HEPA filtered air conditioning and the services include nitrogen, high purity argon and compressed air.

The clean air laboratory facility provides enhanced facilities for researchers and students. It is used by both the School of Engineering and Digital Arts (EDA) and School of Physical Sciences (SPS).

The Applied Optics Group in SPS has produced highly acclaimed applied research including patents held by UoK for biomedical instruments using Optical Coherence Tomography, which are currently deployed in clinics worldwide for diagnosing ophthalmic conditions. The facility also accommodates unique glass producing equipment for optical fibres as well as laminar flow hoods that can be hired out.

The refurbished main laboratory area will allow EDA to expand its use including surface mount PCB development and high quality 3D printing.

The spatial planning of the main laboratory area and services was carried out by the School of Engineering and Digital Arts with Mark Ellis (EDA Director IT Tech Services) and Paul Sinnock (EDA Manager IT Tech Services), with overall design, project procurement and site supervision by the Estates Department  (Projects) with Ronald Wooldridge (Project Manager) and Jason Patrick (Electrical Engineer).

The clean air suite was closed for ten weeks while the work took place.