To mark the end of World Innovation and Creativity Week on the 21 April, representatives from local businesses and organisations arrived on the Canterbury Campus for the Annual Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise Showcase.

During the morning the guests enjoyed inspirational talks from Dr Dan Lloyd from the School of Biosciences and Professor Aylish Wood from the School of Arts, as well as Dalia Halpern-Matthews from local arts organisation Nucleus Arts. From crocheted DNA to high heels to animated pandas, guests were given a unique view into how art and science can work together.

Following the talks the guests were able to find out more about how they themselves can work with the University to develop their own businesses in breakout sessions on funding support, student talent and new initiatives emerging from the University.

Guests who joined one particular breakout session were given the opportunity to help shape a brand new programme, which aims to be the bridge bringing women from all walks of life together to effect positive change, being launched by Kent Innovation and Enterprise later this year.

The day concluded with a performance of Cellular Dynamics, a collaborative science-music project curated by Dr Dan Lloyd and performed by Dan Harding, Deputy Director of Music. The project fuses music from composers Philip Glass, Tarik O’Regan and John Cage with specially selected images and video taken from research data from the School of Biosciences. The performance gave guests an exclusive and remarkable insight into cutting-edge biological research, and created a suitably meditative atmosphere to close the event.

Kent Innovation and Enterprise would like to thank all the presenters, performers, support staff and delegates for making this year’s showcase truly special.

If you have received funding from one the members of Research Councils UK (RCUK), you need to make sure that details of your publications are in the Kent Academic Repository (KAR) and ResearchFish.

For items published between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017, you should report these by Tuesday 9 May.

To find out which publications this applies to, and what you need to do, read [this post by the Information Services Research Support Team.

Following the successful launch of our first courses on FutureLearn funding has now been made available to help develop up to three MOOCs – Massive Open Online Courses – over the next year. We are holding a special elearning forum at UELT on Thursday 18th May, 12.00-13.30, UELT Seminar Room to share our experience and reflections on our first courses, and invite proposals for courses to be developed.

At this event we will provide an overview of the project and our work so far with FutureLearn, explain the process for proposing a MOOC, and clarify the commitment expected from any successful proposer. UELT will provide advice and support as required to those wishing to write proposals, which are to be submitted in June.

The available funding will cover the costs of media production and teaching assistants, while academic time and expertise will be provided by Schools/Centres and project management by UELT. There is also some limited funding to help Schools/Centres in enabling academic staff to contribute.

If you would like to find out more about this exciting opportunity, or just want to learn more about our MOOCs project, please book your place on the elearning forum by emailing us or contacting Dr Mark O’Connor (Distance Learning Technologist.)

You can try the journal Science Robotics until 30 June.

Science Robotics is a new journal in the Science family, covering all aspects of robotics: technology, theoretical advances, practical applications, and social, ethical and policy issues.

Should we keep this resource?
We need your feedback to decide: email your comments to eresources@kent.ac.uk

The Kent research support event will focus on how to maximise the impact of academic research at the University of Kent.

What’s on?
A series of innovative and interactive workshops will be hosted by external, research impact specialists alongside senior academics and experts from Kent. There will also be an opportunity to present your work at a poster exhibition that will run throughout the day.

• Workshop 1: ‘Impact: What is it all about?’ – with Dr Julie Bayley
• Workshop 2: ‘On the road to impact: planning your journey’ – with Professor Mark Reed
• Workshop 3: Building Blocks of Impact: networking, external organisations and public engagement
• Workshop 4: ‘Get Connected for Impact’

The event will end with a drinks reception where the best poster will be announced, with a prize of £300 awarded to the winning attendee.

Who should attend?
The event is FREE and will benefit all staff and postgraduate students involved in research and research support or administration. The day will be particularly useful to those who will be involved in a future REF impact case study or those just starting out who would like to find out what it’s all about.

Once you have registered we will contact you directly to ask which session(s) you would like to attend.

Submitting a research poster
The deadline to register your intention to submit a research poster along with a brief abstract is Friday 5 May, and a PDF poster should be submitted by Friday 12 May. You will be required to bring an A1 printed poster to Woolf College on the morning of the event.

To register your interest and submit an abstract, email j.hurst-853@kent.ac.uk.

Sent in by J.Hurst

During the summer term, the Templeman Library is hosting the JISC Digital Classroom Roadshow.

The roadshow is part of the Future Learning Spaces work being carried out by Information Services, UELT, and Estates. It will inform teaching space developments at the University and act as a pilot for development of innovative teaching spaces during the 2017-18 academic year.

The roadshow will be onsite from 8-26 May 2017, allowing staff and student to experience a technology-rich active learning environment, and investigate technologies and pedagogies that can enhance student learning.

We have prepared several events, and there is an opportunity for schools and departments to book the roadshow room themselves to come and explore teaching and learning. These events will be supported by UELT and Information Services staff.

One highlight is a lecture on developments in active learning at Canterbury Christ Church University.

For more details, visit the Digital Classroom Roadshow website and check out the programme of events. If you would like to book onto any sessions, learn more about the roadshow, or book in your own session, please email us.

Kent Hospitality would like to thank all participants who provided feedback via their Mystery Diner scheme in the spring term.

The catering team aim to deliver a diverse range of outlets across both the Canterbury and Medway campuses, offering friendly service and delicious food to suit all tastes. Kent Hospitality are delighted that their customers have left such positive feedback, and will strive to improve their services to ensure their outlets continue to be of the highest standard.

Here is an outline of the results:

• 76% rated food quality as good or excellent
• 84% rated customer service as good or excellent
• 80% rated outlets as good or excellent overall
• 91% of respondents would recommend Kent Hospitality outlets to someone else

Customer feedback included:

• ‘All your staff are cheerful and friendly, and welcoming. Lovely.’
• ‘The food is of an excellent standard, the staff are friendly and efficient and the food in Rutherford dining hall is good value for money.’
• ‘I’ve eaten here several times, the food is always good and the staff are very friendly!’

Information about Kent Hospitality’s Mystery Diner scheme can be found in their catering outlets.

Sent in by Hannah Brazier

The Careers and Employability Service are offering the following summer workshops:

CV writing – Wednesday 17 May 12.00-13.00, PK101 Pilkington Building
Get your CV in shape with our workshop. We’ll be offering tips on creating a good quality CV.

Job Searching – Wednesday 24 May 13.00-14.00 PK101 Pilkington Building
This workshop will show you a range of job searching methods including the use of vacancy websites, networking and social media.

Making applications – Wednesday 31 May 12.00-14.00 SCL210 Sail & Colour Loft
Get to grips with job applications. Learn the STAR approach and get noticed by employers.

Bitesize Interview Skills – Tuesday 6 June 13.00-13.30 PK101 Pilkington Building
Have a go at a practice interview in a safe environment. Overcome nerves and build confidence.

Book your place on these workshops here.

Student and staff members of Kent Sport have an amazing opportunity to win personalised summer term fitness training and support to help tone up for the summer and get ready for fun at the beach. Participants will be training one-to-one focusing on each individual needs and fitness levels in Kent Sport’s very own fitness suite.

Student and staff Kent Sport members along with public members are all invited to apply. All you have to do is complete the application form and return it to the fitness suite in the Sports Centre or email it to instructor Darius explaining why you want to get fit this summer. Please don’t forget to send us your self beach portrait as this is a vital part of your application.

The Kent Sport Health and Fitness Team will select the lucky participants. The deadline for applications is Sunday 7 May 2017.

Last year’s Fit 4 the Beach winner, Anna Cole said, “Fit 4 the Beach has been one of the best challenges I have been involved in, it has taught me a lot about myself and my abilities and also that a lot of things is mind over matter and if you tell yourself you can do it the likelihood is that you will! I feel that my confidence has grown and I have done classes that I wouldn’t have dreamt of doing before starting this. I am seeing results too and so are other people which is a great feeling. Thank you to everyone for their support and encouragement!”

If you are not yet a member, you can find more details and keep up to date with Kent Sport news and promotions by following UniKentSports on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Join Julia Peters, a PhD student in the Department of Classical & Archaeological Studies on a walk on the historic Via Francigena pilgrimage route through the beautiful Kent countryside from Canterbury to Dover.

The mini pilgrimage experience includes a walk from Canterbury to Eythorne (14 miles) on Saturday 6 May, an overnight stay at Eythorne Community Centre and on Sunday 7 May the walk continues to Dover (10 miles).

The mini pilgrimage costs £10, which includes an overnight stay in Eythorne, dinner and breakfast. Return travel from Dover is not included.

This event is part of the Centre for Heritage project ‘Canterbury and the Via Francigena: Promoting Heritage through Cultural Routes’ and is supported by the Kent Opportunity Fund.

For further details and to register please visit www.kentontheviafrancigena.com/events/