Dialogue Magazine - Issue 29

Lindisfarne Gospels Durham

Also in this issue: Sky high achievements in low gravity

Find out about a momentous journey from Lindisfarne to Durham retracing St Cuthbert’s steps, inspired by one amazing book

Undergraduate Physics student prepares for blast off after competition win

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/ Page 09

Spotlight on The Centre for Social Justice and Community Action Find out more about the research centre with a big difference / Page 10

Dialogue 29 | May / June 2013

@Durham_Uni

/durhamuniversity

DurhamUniversity

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One of the most important cultural events in the North East of England for many years, and arguably one of the leading exhibitions in the UK this year, will be centred around the display of the Lindisfarne Gospels in Palace Green Library from July to September this summer.

The Lindisfarne Gospel book, one of the greatest of all cultural icons from the first millennium, which contains the oldest surviving translation of the Gospels into the English language, and the St Cuthbert Gospel the oldest intact Western book and the personal copy of St Cuthbert from the seventh Century, will be together on Durham’s World Heritage Site alongside St Cuthbert for the first time since, it is believed, 1104! These books represent the golden age of Northumbrian design and craftsmanship and are in almost perfect condition, remarkable after well over 1,000 years.

These items will be part of a much larger exhibition which will include some of Britain’s most significant and precious AngloSaxons artefacts and medieval manuscripts, including gold pieces, Celtic silver and amber, and stone sculpture; drawn from the British Library and other national collections as well as Durham Cathedral and Durham University collections.

There will also be interactive displays for young people and a major educational outreach programme to local schools have been organised around the visit of the Gospels.

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The North East as a whole will welcome the Lindisfarne Gospels with a three-month festival of events, workshops and activities inspired by the 1,000 mile journey St Cuthbert’s body took en route from Holy Island to its final resting place in Durham.

The programme will feature exhibitions and performances, concerts, pilgrimages, retreats, and activities for all the family from as far afield as Holy Island, York and Cumbria.

The University is hosting the Gospels, in partnership with the British Library, Durham Cathedral and Durham County Council, with significant support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Arts Council and others bodies.

I recommend everyone books tickets for themselves, friends and family as soon as possible – they are going fast – at www.lindisfarnegospels.com/ tickets.

With best wishes,

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03 The Governance Review 04 Lindisfarne Gospels 06 Research highlights 08 News highlights 10 Spotlight on...

The Centre for Social Justice and Community Action

12 Agents International Office Annual Conference

C hris Higgins, Vice-Chancellor and Warden

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13 Event Durham,

Retail and Catering

14 HR news 15 CIS news 16 The Durham Story 17 Experience Durham 18 Nest boxes

Durham’s baby rhino

19 Greenspace

Hail fellow well met

20 Under investigation

Get Social

What’s On

FRONT COVER: Images from Richard W Hardwick’s journey from Lindisfarne to Durham inspired by the Lindisfarne Gospels Durham. Paul Alexander Knox.

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News

Honorary awards All staff are invited to submit nominations for honorary awards.

In the last issue of Dialogue you were invited to participate in the Request for Views and Information process of the Governance Review Project.

Would your department like to recognise and enhance links with a leader in your field or are you aware of a local person who has achieved great things eg Sir Thomas Allen former honorary DMus and now Chancellor?

The closing date is 23rd October 2013 so there is plenty of time to get your thinking caps on.

The principal objective of this process was to invite feedback and discussion on the effectiveness of the current governance arrangements, and to encourage suggestions for future structures and roles.

This process is now complete and we would like to thank those of you who took part in a focus group and/or completed the questionnaire.

Feedback on the focus groups suggested that the process had been useful to highlight issues for further investigation and that participants had appreciated the opportunity to be part of the process.

The next stage of the Project is for the Project Board to consider and analyse the feedback gathered, which is now underway. Timescales have been pushed back to allow more time for the Project Board to do this and allow greater engagement with staff and students about actions and proposals in the coming months.

Find out more...

Further updates and information on progress to date can be found on the project web pages. Visit https://www.dur.ac.uk/ governance.review

Find out more... visit www.durham.ac.uk/ ceremonies/honorary

What do you want from your

Here at Dialogue we want to make sure you are getting the most out of your magazine. We would like to hear from you to find out more about which articles you enjoy, what you would like to see less/ more of and how to make it more relevant to you.

EDITOR: Rebecca Grundy, Corporate Communications Officer.

ASSISTANT EDITOR: ZoĂŤ Thomas, Marketing Projects Co-ordinator.

CONTRIBUTIONS: Sharon Battersby, Computing and Information Services; Tara Duncan, Greenspace; Louise Elliot, Event Durham; Media Relations Team, Communications Office; Caroline Hall, HR; Vicky Ridley; Experience Durham; Professor David Held, University College; Alex Morgan, St Hild & St Bede; Michele

McCallion, Lindisfarne Gospels Durham; Ioana Ciuca, St Cuthbert’s; Rachel Pain, Centre for Social Justice and Community Action; David Thornber, International Office; Dr Steve Willis, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences.

DESIGN: wearewarm.com PRINT: statex.co.uk

Give us your feedback... visit www.durham.ac.uk/dialogue/ feedback or email your comments to dialogue@durham.ac.uk

Exhibitions

Lindisfarne Gospels Durham: one am This summer, one of the world’s greatest books, the Lindisfarne Gospels will be on show in a unique exhibition in the world-class exhibition facilities at Palace Green Library.

The Lindisfarne Gospels will be the centrepiece of an unmissable exhibition which tells the tale of St Cuthbert, and this beautiful manuscript – its creation, its journey and its special symbolism for the people of the North.

The exhibition is a once in a lifetime opportunity to view a selection of St Cuthbert’s treasures including his jewelled cross, sapphire ring and travelling altar, alongside the book that was written in his honour.

On display will be stunning Anglo-Saxon artefacts and medieval manuscripts from the collections of Durham University, Durham Cathedral and national collections.

In Palace Green’s Wolfson Gallery, there are plenty of hands-on opportunities for visitors to discover how medieval manuscripts were created and to use technology to virtually turn the pages of the book to explore the beauty and detail of the book’s illuminated pages.

In April, Richard W Hardwick, writer-inresidence for the School of Applied Social Sciences and award winning photographer, Paul Alexander Knox embarked on a momentous journey from Lindisfarne to Durham. The intrepid pair visited the 47 places the community of St Cuthbert took refuge in, after they fled from Viking invaders. Aided by Durham University students and local historians, Richard wrote a history of each location from the time of St Cuthbert’s Community’s journey to the present day and documented their travels in a blog: www.stcuthbertsfinaljourney.com The project has been designed to leave a legacy in the form of a website, book and exhibition, and it is hoped that Durham University students, who come from all over the world, can learn more about the culture, industry, history and people of the North of England through the project.

The inspirational journey, funded by The Leverhulme Trust is part of a very special programme of regional events and activities including art and music, workshops and conferences, pilgrimages and retreats, exhibitions and performances.

The Lindisfarne Gospels and St Cuthbert Gospel, Europe’s oldest surviving bound book, will be on loan from the British Library. Durham University is hosting Lindisfarne Gospels Durham in partnership with Durham County Council, Durham Cathedral and the British Library.

The exhibition takes place from 1st July – 30th September at Palace Green Library. Tickets are on sale now priced at £7.50/£6.50 concessions.

To purchase your ticket today, visit: www.lindisfarnegospels.com

@gospelsdurham

/LindisfarneGospelsDurham

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mazing book, one incredible journey Richard W Hardwick answers a few questions about his journey from Lindisfarne to Durham…

1. What inspired you to take part in the project?

The chance to travel again, like I did before I had children, the chance to explore the history that lies beneath our feet that we drive past and trample upon but hardly notice. The story of the Community of St Cuthbert is an adventure too; an adventure story that saved the body of a Saint and one of the world’s most beautiful and important books. We wouldn’t have the Lindisfarne Gospels if the Community didn’t carry it all over ancient Northumbria. The Lindisfarne Gospels shows us how integral the North East was to European culture, how Lindisfarne and Wearmouth-Jarrow were leading lights in literature, religion and culture.

2. What was your highlight of the journey?

There were three places that particularly inspired me to write... i. The causeway at Lindisfarne We stayed there for two nights, one more than we intended to, because it was so beautiful and calm. It was amazing to be able to stay and watch the sun go down and the sea come in and isolate the holy island. ii. Long Meg and her Daughters stone circle in Cumbria We stayed right by it and I watched the sun go down whilst stood in the circle, the third largest in England, by myself. Certain stones take in energy from the sun and slowly release it. I stayed there until after midnight and walked around touching each stone and I felt completely energized. iii. Hawnby Moor, Cleveland Hills The Vikings loved Cleveland and settled there because they saw the landscape for what it was and still is - not as remote as the dales and fells, hills that are rolling and edged, smaller but still dramatic, with perfect small sheltered valleys.

3. What’s next for the project?

We will be holding an exhibition as part of the Lindisfarne Gospels Exhibition in the centre of Durham in July, in the old tourist information building next door to the Gala Theatre. This will include an exhibition and launch event at Durham University to say thank you to everyone who made this journey possible.

IMAGES: From Richard W Hardwick’s journey from Lindisfarne to Durham inspired by the Lindisfarne Gospels Durham. Paul Alexander Knox.

Find out more...

visit stcuthbertsfinaljourney.com

The response from the public, including the media, has been fantastic so I’d like to continue writing articles for the site. There was so much writing I wanted to do on the journey, but couldn’t because I didn’t have enough time. Now I can devote my time to improving and rewriting the website to help Paul and I to produce a hardback book about our journey. The North East Libraries have also expressed an interest in taking the exhibition around their libraries for the next year.

Research highlights

Access to Russell Group universities ‘far from fair’, according to new research Research by Dr Vikki Boliver in the School of Applied Social Sciences shows that applicants from state schools and from black and Asian ethnic backgrounds are less likely to be admitted to Russell Group universities than their peers with the same A-level results from private schools and white ethnic backgrounds.

According to an analysis of Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) data for about 49,000 university applicants over the period 1996-2006, barriers to admission to elite universities are due partly to unequal rates of application to elite universities, but also appear to involve some form of differential factor during the admissions process.

For applicants from state schools the analysis showed that unfair access was rooted equally in barriers to applying as well as in relation to admissions.

Compared to private school applicants with the same A-level grades, state school applicants were shown to be less likely to seek places at Russell Group universities in the first place, and to be less likely to be offered places at Russell Group

universities when they did apply.

For ethnic minority applicants, the unfairness appeared to stem entirely from some form of differential factor during the admissions process.

University applicants with the same A-level grades were found to be equally likely to apply to Russell Group universities regardless of their ethnic background, but those from black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds were shown to be significantly less likely than white applicants to be offered places at Russell Group universities even when they had achieved the same exam grades at A-level.

Dr Vikki Boliver said: “In this study, we were only able to look at the actual grades applicants achieved in their A-levels.

Of course, admissions selectors often base their decisions on applicants’ predicted rather than actual A-level grades together with a range of other indicators of merit and potential.

These findings however, highlight the inadequacy of ‘fair access’ policies which focus almost exclusively on eliminating barriers to university application. We need not only to continue the widening participation work already being undertaken, but also to take a closer look at the admissions process to identify where access could be made fairer.”

COVERAGE INCLUDES: Times Higher, The Independent, The Telegraph, The Guardian as well as international press.

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New Fracking Research finds it is ‘Not Significant’ in Causing Earthquakes A new study of hundreds of thousands of hydraulic fracturing (or ‘fracking’) operations has found that the process has only caused earth tremors that could be felt on the surface in three cases.

The research, led by Durham University, found that almost all of the resultant seismic activity was on such a small scale that only geoscientists would be able to detect it.

Furthermore, it was discovered that the size and number of felt earthquakes caused by fracking is low compared to other manmade triggers such as mining, geothermal activity or reservoir water storage.

activity - since 1929. It is worth bearing in mind that other industrial-scale processes can trigger earthquakes including mining, filling reservoirs with water and the production of oil and gas. Even one of our cleanest forms of energy, geothermal, has some form in this respect.

But the study also established beyond doubt that fracking has the potential to reactivate dormant faults and described the probable ways in which the pumping of fracking fluid underground could trigger this.

By comparison, most fracking-related events release a negligible amount of energy roughly equivalent to or even less than someone jumping off a ladder onto the floor. Of the three fracking-related quakes that could be felt, even the largest ever, in the Horn River Basin in Canada in 2011 had a magnitude of only 3.8.

Professor Richard Davies from Durham Energy Institute, said: “We have examined not just fracking-related occurrences but all induced earthquakes - that is, those caused by human

So we have concluded that hydraulic fracturing is not a significant mechanism for inducing felt earthquakes. It is extremely unlikely that any of us will ever be able to feel an earthquake

caused by fracking. But theoretically, it cannot be ruled out completely; we cannot see every fault underground and therefore cannot completely discount the possibility of the process causing a small felt earthquake. But there are ways to further mitigate against the possibility; the oil and gas industry can avoid faults that are critically stressed and already near breaking point. We hope our analysis can help provide important context and inform the current debate on this.”

COVERAGE INCLUDES: Sky TV, ITV, BBC Breakfast, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, The Financial Times, Independent and print media across Europe and the Middle East.

Dr Thom Brooks provides thought leadership in the national and international media on the diverse topics of citizenship and polyamory As an expert on citizenship and immigration, Dr Brooks said the Government’s new Life in the UK test, based on the third edition of its handbook Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, needed urgent wholesale revision.

He continued: “The new citizenship test is unfit for purpose. It is also too limited and goes too far to include information about British culture and history at the expense of practical knowledge.”

“I welcome the inclusion of British culture and history in the test because it is important that prospective citizens demonstrate awareness of Britain’s cultural narrative. But the government goes too far in making this narrative the main subject of the test.”

Dr Brooks said: “I am disappointed by the failure to consult more widely with recent immigrants. As an American academic with expertise in this area and who has successfully earned Indefinite Leave to Remain and, more recently, British citizenship, the experience of immigrants like me should be invaluable to informing how the ‘Life in the UK’ test might be better revised.”

The recent trail and subsequent conviction of Mick and Mairead Philpott and Paul Mosely brought the subject of Polyamory into the public arena.

Dr Brooks, who published a book on the subject in 2009 said: “Polyamory probably best describes the relationship between Mick Philpott, his wife Mairead and his ‘former mistress’ Lisa Willis.

Polyamory is different from polygamy in that the former is a lifestyle involving three or more people in a relationship together,

but the latter often seeks the public and legal recognition of marriage – with its benefits.

Both almost always have one man at the centre and two female partners on the periphery and should be understood in terms of unequal power between men and women.

We need not oppose polygamy or polyamory because they are nontraditional, but we should be concerned about the inequality between men and women that both perpetuate and the known problems for women, children and men.”

COVERAGE INCLUDES: BBC Online, The New Statesman and significant social media coverage.

News highlights

The Durham Castle Lecture Series has sought this academic year to bring to Durham eminent speakers on topics of global concern.

The speakers have included Anthony Giddens, Justin Welby, Martin Wolf, Danny Quah, and several others. And the topics have ranged from climate change and the ways in which the global financial crisis has changed the world to the role of faith in politics.

The programme for the academic year 2013/14 is already shaping up and speakers who have agreed to come include: Sir Thomas Allen, Rowan Williams and Gayatri Spivak.

To help the University maintain its reputation it is hugely important now to have public lectures available both for our staff and students, and for a wider global audience. This has led to the filming of lectures to add a real global dimension to the series.

All the lectures have featured live tweeting to add a social element to the series.

This has helped to increase awareness, engagement levels and inform individuals

who were unable to attend lectures. The importance of adding a social element to the series was recently brought home to me in two instances. A Durham alumnus in Hong Kong said he was glad to be following the Martin Wolf lecture via Twitter, he subsequently watched the video and shared it with individuals in his company. Just as important was a moment in the Great Hall servery when a member of the kitchen staff commented on how great it was to follow the Durham Castle Lectures on Twitter.

The lecture series will vary each year in terms of topics and focus and range of speakers. But this year the focus on global challenges has brought superb people to Durham has created some memorable evenings of discussion and debate. In addition, using the Great Hall and social media in combination has been a winning formula for impact!

Thank you to the speakers, everyone who attended lectures, staff involved in the lecture series and Santander Universities

for their generous gift, all of which made the Durham Castle Public Lecture Series possible.

What people thought...

‘The lecture series has been fantastic.

I especially enjoyed hearing Justin Welby talk about the relationship between faith and politics - who better to hear speak on the subject than the Archbishop of Canterbury?’

Danielle Oliver-Wakeley (3rd Year Undergraduate - Theology) ‘The aspect I have enjoyed most is listening to speakers from outside my own subject.

It’s very interesting to hear a range of different perspectives on big issues, and on topics which I simply wouldn’t have had a chance to engage with otherwise.’

James Day (3rd Year Undergraduate - Music).

Find out more...

view the lectures at: www.durham.ac.uk/castle.lectures

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Sky high achievements in low gravity First year Physics student Ioana Ciuca, describes the moment she found out her project was space-bound.

VEY ERIENCE SUR

STUDENT EXP

The team was so silent you could hear a pin drop as we couldn’t quite believe what had just been said.

I still remember the moment when our team leader Sorina Lupu announced to the team that our LOW-Gravity experiment was going to fly into space. There was a moment of silence amongst the team as we couldn’t quite believe what had just been said, “What do you mean, they selected us?”. Sorina continued to explain that the European Space Agency (ESA), The German Aerospace Center and The Swedish National Space Board panel members all agreed to take our experiment on the board of their REXUS rocket, next March from Kiruna in Sweden.

The silence quickly transformed into joy, and then panic settled in as we realised the amount of work ahead of us. We decided to do the impossible and put all our efforts into finalising this incredible project, alongside completing our degrees. Although combining the two could be viewed as a daunting experience, it is quite fun to challenge yourself, and in the end achieve something great and the whole team agrees on that!

Currently we are still challenging ourselves, although we have completed a lot of the work, there is still a lot more to be done.

This summer we are going to work in Bucharest, on the electronics and mechanics of our experiment.

We have an incredible mentor from ESA who will be visiting to see how the project is coming along. We met up with him at the Preliminary Design Review Week in Germany this Winter, where we discussed Pink Floyd, Space Engineering, Cosmology and Philosophy while drinking coffee on the hallways of the German Aerospace Center. It was indeed a perspective-changing experience to meet people with such extraordinary views on science, on music, on life actually.

On a personal level, I have had the chance to meet extraordinary people from the Physics Department, here in Durham.

I cannot thank them enough, without their support, their patience and their confidence we would not have made it this far.

This, alongside working with a brilliant team, for me, I guess this is one of the most rewarding parts of the REXUS Competition.

As the exam period is approaching, we really feel like we are brothers in arms, I joke with them telling them that we are ‘rocket-brothers’, and I guess in some way we really are. What will the future bring? We don’t really know, but what we hope for are more of these insanely exciting experiences.

Academic and support staff are being encouraged to remind students to complete the online Durham Student Experience Survey 2013 and submit their feedback on life at Durham.

The survey was successfully launched last year with over 5,000 students sharing their views on all the aspects of extra-curricular activity that make up the student experience here at Durham.

This is a joint annual project between the University and Durham Students’ Union with the aim of helping the University identify how it can continue to improve what it offers to students outside of their academic studies.

All student responses to the survey are strictly confidential, so answers and opinions can be as honest as possible.

In order to gather as much feedback as possible, everyone who completes the survey will automatically be entered into a prize draw with the chance to win an iPad. There will also be prizes of £500 to the college with the highest percentage of submissions and a further £200 to the runner up college. Last year Hatfield College won the first prize, with St Chad’s College coming a close second.

Results will be available in real time on the website, so students can monitor response rates college by college.

Find out more... visit www.durham.ac.uk/student.survey

Spotlight on...

T HE CEN T RE FOR SOCIA L JUS T

The Centre for Social Justice and Community Action (CSJCA) is a research centre with a big differe It promotes research and related activities conducted jointly across the University and the wider community. The Directors, Professor Sarah Banks (SASS), Professor Rachel Pain (Geography) and Dr Andrew Russell (Anthropology) are supported by Research Associate Dr Andrea Armstrong.

In an age where impact, corporate social responsibility and widening participation are the new buzzwords, the Centre is helping to solidify Durham University’s national and international reputation in these fields.

As Professor Rachel Pain explains, “The Centre promotes and uses Participatory Action Research (PAR). Instead of people outside the University being involved in research only at the stage of data collection, we work collaboratively throughout a research process with community groups, activists

and public sector organisations – they share in the design of research questions right through to dissemination and impact.”

CSJCA was founded in 2009, when Durham University’s commitment to public engagement was in its infancy.

As Dr Andrew Russell reflects, “in a short space of time, the Centre has gone from connecting staff and students who want to direct their research in this way, to become an international centre of excellence for PAR.” Part of the ground-breaking work has been impacting on institutional procedures and wider national debates around the governance of research, making it easier for community partners to work alongside academics as co-researchers.

IMAGE Speed dating: Durham researchers meeting community research partners.

The Centre has successfully attracted research grants from funders including The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the British Academy.

One longstanding partnership is with Thrive Teesside, who are currently working with CSJCA on an action research project funded

by Northern Rock Foundation on debt in poor households, involving research, mentoring and campaigning.

What our partners say “The process of facilitating both academics and non academics in mutual days of enquiry was productive and fascinating. Everyone seemed to be engaged and creative. I think both sides of this process have learned from each other” (Transition Research Network member)

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T ICE AND COMMUN I T Y AC T ION

ence. It is run by a steering group of community partners, academic staff and postgraduates.

“This [PAR] is a very useful tool to actually get people round the table, sit down, decide what the issues are in there, and then prioritise your action plan to address the pressures. I think it corrects things at the moment that are top down, driven from the top” (co-researcher, Lune Rivers Trust) “I know that I can make a change because I’ve got the experience. I think people tend to listen more when they know you’ve been through it. It’s good to give something positive back and help others” (Thrive community mentor) Some of our projects • A project involving members of the Transition Towns movement has created open access guidance for research collaborations www.transitionresearch network.org/research-guidelines.html IMAGE Participatory action research training day.

• A toolkit for Participatory Action Research developed with Lune Rivers Trust in an ESRC-funded project can be found here: www.durham.ac.uk/ resources/beacon/PARtoolkit.pdf • An AHRC research project on ethics in participatory research developed guidelines that are being taken up across the UK: www.durham.ac.uk/resources/beacon/ CBPREthicsGuidewebNovember20121.pdf

Find out more... visit www.durham.ac.uk/beacon /socialjustice and email socialjustice@durham .ac.uk to join our mailing list

As well as individual projects, CSJCA builds collaborative research capacity and knowledge within the voluntary and public sectors as well as Universities, through a programme of conferences, events and training days (www.durham.ac.uk/beacon/ socialjustice/events).

CSJCA also supports placement learning, and students who want to conduct participatory research with local community organisations.

Share your story...

Dialogue 29 | May / June 2013

We are always looking for new content to share with our fans so if you have anything interesting coming up such as an event, lecture, news article, radio/TV appearance, etc. get in touch with zoe.thomas@durham.ac.uk

AGENTS International Office Annual Conference The International Office recently hosted its second annual conference for overseas education agents at Collingwood College.

Do you follow us on our social media channels?

We have compiled a list of our favourite posts, tweets and videos over the past two months to show you what has been happening around the University!

The conference was aimed at a small, select group of the University’s top performing education agents from around the globe.

This year delegates came from Nigeria, China, India, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Russia, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Mexico and Colombia. The aim of the conference was to provide delegates with a greater insight into the city of Durham, its University and the ‘Durham Difference’.

The conference included a packed programme of faculty and support department briefings, and visits to colleges on both the Durham and Queen’s Campus sites.

The gaining of Fellowship is a probationary requirement for staff new to teaching and can be achieved by completion of two modules of the PGCAP programme offered through the University’s Centre for Academic Practice (CAP).

Staff interested in gaining Fellowship should contact Mrs Heather Booth at CAP on ext. 48318.

Our favourite photograph with 244 likes is of Durham University Rugby Football Club (DURFC) after they beat Cardiff Met in the rugby final at Twickenham 26-17, retaining their title as BUCS Champions for the third year running – congratulations!

Top 5 Tweets • Researchers @ durham_uni make a significant step forward in combating antibiotic resistance http://ow.ly/kpgcW #antibioticresistance • Durham scientists prove an exotic ‘big cat’ prowled Britain more than a century ago http:// ow.ly/kpkOC #lynx • ‘Donor fatigue’ in the West threatens the future of malarial control

says Prof Steve Lindsay #worldmalariaday http:// ow.ly/kpfz7 • Interested in #newborn #infantsleep and parent expectations? Read Prof Helen Ball’s invited editorial in @bmj_latest http://ow.ly/kbvwj • Read Prof Justin Willis’ comments on what the Kenyan coast can tell us about the 2013 elections http://ow.ly/jMr1J #kenyaelection2013

Video of the Month Durham alum, journalist, radio and news presenter, Jeremy Vine agreed to share his Durham experience with us, including sitting on Hatfield’s rooftop reading Milton’s Paradise Lost, working on the student newspaper Palatinate and how his time here helped to shape his career. If you haven’t yet seen this film visit http://youtu.be/k_vUkkA8g1I to watch it now!

DurhamUniversity

A drinks reception and dinner was held to mark their achievement at Josephine Butler College. This was followed by the presentation of the Fellowship Certificates

by Professor Tom Ward, ProVice Chancellor (Education).

48 staff from all three Faculties were successful in gaining the award this year.

It is hoped that the positive experience of our delegates during their time in Durham will lead to an increase in overseas student applications and enrolments.

PHOTOGRAPH OF THE MONTH

@Durham_Uni

On the evening of 20th February members of Durham staff met to celebrate their award of Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

From providing initial advice on selecting countries and institutions - relevant to their academic achievements, assisting students to prepare university applications, advising on visa issues, organising pre-departure briefing sessions and advice on cultural issues, and some cases organising travel arrangements, the role of the agent is all encompassing.

/durhamuniversity

Education agents offer a wide range of counselling and

support services to students interested in pursuing studies overseas.

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Event Durham, Retail & Catering

Event Durham This Easter vacation, Durham University hosted a number of key academic conferences, with delegates attending from across the globe.

Retail The Retail Office has been busy preparing for the start of Easter term and the re-opening of our convenience shops at Howlands and Queen’s Campus.

Howlands Shop is located in between Josephine Butler College and Ustinov College and is open 9am – 9pm Monday to Saturday and 10am – 4pm on Sundays during term time. It is perfectly situated for students and staff to pick up their daily essentials, such as milk and bread, to grab a sandwich at lunchtime, or to stock up on some revision snacks of an evening; it’s only a 5 minute walk from most hill colleges.

Remember to keep an eye out for our meal deal offers!

Our Queen’s Campus Shop, is located within the Holliday Building and opens from 8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday during term time and stocks a full range of snacks and essentials so you don’t have to go far to grab refreshments in between lectures or meetings. It is also the only place at Queen’s Campus where you can buy Official Durham University Merchandise in person!

We look forward to seeing you in our shops soon!

Event Durham offers a complete Conference and Event Management Service, providing you with essential support for all of your event arrangements.

You provide the conference content and our Event Management Team will provide the extensive knowledge of the facilities available within the University.

Conferences opting to take advantage of our Conference and Event Management Service this Easter vacation included: • SIMRIDE conference, Department of Mathematical Sciences • CM13 conference, School of Engineering and Computing Sciences

Calman Café Menu

• Association of University Chief Security Officers Conference, Estates and Buildings • Protein Dynamics and Function workshop, Biophysical Sciences Institute If you are interested in hosting a conference here at Durham or our Conference and Event Management Service please contact Louise Elliott via ext. 42883 or email louise.elliott@durham.ac.uk IMAGE Top: The Association of University Chief Security Officers event at Durham Castle.

+ SAVE O UP T

70p

+ Salad Meal Deal £3.75*

Any boxed salad, piece of fruit and a bottle of water YUM is part of * takeaway price

HR news...

NEW STAFF DISCOUNTS We are pleased to announce the arrival of some exciting new staff discounts, including Hilton hotels, the Beauty Centre at the Marriott and Cotswold Outdoor.

Please visit www.durham.ac.uk/hr/ benefitsplus/staffdiscounts to view the full list of discounts available.

If you have any suggestions for suppliers you would like to see added to the scheme, please email the reward team at reward.team@durham.ac.uk or call ext.

46521.

Data Protection E-Learning – now on DUO We are committed to providing data protection training to our employees in order to help protect the rights and freedoms of individuals in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Our aim is to:

To help us achieve this there is an interactive e-learning module on DUO which covers not only data protection but also records management, information security and freedom of information. Any member of staff with a CIS user name and password has access to this module.

• Help you to avoid breaching the Data Protection Act 1998.

The module can be found by logging on to DUO and scrolling down to the “training course” section; there you will find a link to the course. Clicking the link will take you to the introductory page.

All members of staff (grades 3 and above) whose work involves accessing personal data are required to undertake the module and successfully pass the end of course test within 6 weeks of commencement of employment.

• Make you aware of your responsibilities and the University’s responsibilities towards compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998

By completing the course you can expect to: • Become familiar with the legal requirements of Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation.

• Understand the principles of good records management and information security.

• Understand the relationship between good records management and information security and compliance with Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation.

• Understand how to apply what you have learnt to your everyday work activities.

The module takes 30-40 minutes to complete.

If you haven’t completed the Data Protection training, please log on to DUO and do so today.

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CIS news...

Find out more about CIS

CIS’ New World Programme Transforming University IT (The Re-boot!)

We introduced our new Chief Information Officer, Dr Carolyn Brown, in the last issue of Dialogue. Since joining Durham late last year, she’s been busy working with CIS and University colleagues on an action plan to take CIS and University IT forward.

As well as the views of University colleagues and students, the plan took account of assessments of our IT provision from the University, Business Assurance and KPMG. These highlighted the key risks and the foundations needed to provide the sustainable and flexible IT services Durham University needs now and in the future.

Since January, the CIS leadership team has worked intensively on an action plan, called the New World Programme, which was reviewed by ITSG and UEC and approved

by Council on the 19th March. This gives Carolyn and the CIS team the remit to transform University IT services over the next three years.

To change services and provide new ones we have to deliver projects however because CIS is undertaking so much change to infrastructure and culture, we have to limit some project work. The set of projects we are currently working on would be considered ambitious by many organisations: it includes a new HR and Payroll system, projects to support Research Management Information and REF, all our web work and various projects in corporate data security (The Application Stream).

The scope and ambition of the programme is such that we must avoid over-stretching ourselves and putting these much needed benefits at risk.

The New World Programme has three main streams which aim to provide the University with the following:

The New World Programme will take three years to deliver and will bring changes to CIS services and our working practices. These include:

• A CIS team fit for 2013 and the future, with a management team aligned to University stakeholders and their priorities (Research, Education and Administration), a fully skilled CIS, with a strong service ethos and agile enough to flex resources to meet University needs. (Foundation - People Stream)

• A single email and calendar system for us all

• A programme of infrastructure rebuild that provides flexible foundations to support the University’s priorities and help Durham gain essential funding.

These foundations will support secure, accessible and reliable systems that you can be confident in, with responsive service delivery and support, improving your day-to-day IT experience (Foundation – Infrastructure Stream) • New and improved services to support Research, Education and Administration

• The ability to access your files and core University applications securely from anywhere in the world • Wireless availability across University (including all college accommodation) • Easier, on-demand printing.

Many new services will be developed as we move forward and start to deliver the programme. CIS is at the beginning of a challenging and exciting time and we’re looking forward to delivering these benefits to you. Keep a look-out for regular progress reports which we’ll publish in the Dialogue Signposts email as well as in future editions of Dialogue.

visit www.durham.ac.uk /cis

Dialogue 29 | May / June 2013

University is an adventure, and no-one knew that better than Edward Bradley, Alex Morgan writes.

Joining University College as a young and impressionable undergraduate in 1845, Bradley recorded the antics and adventures of Durham’s early students in a series of cartoons. These drawings provide an unrivalled first-hand account of their lives: where they lived; how they dressed; what they ate; and how much they drank!

Bradley’s artwork is one of the perspectives re-discovered and retold as part of ‘The Durham Story’; Durham University’s first documentary, set for release this June. The film recounts the story of those first students alongside modernday tales, reaching behind the façade of official history to shed light on the more mischievous origins of our University.

Writing under the pseudonym ‘CuthbertBede,’ the young Bradley took up his sketch-pad to preserve a window into the student world of the 1840s. He captured the period which saw Durham transformed from the seat of the mighty Prince-Bishops to home of a fledgling University.

As a first year student myself when writing ‘The Durham Story’, I was struck by both the continuity and notable differences between this period and our own.

New students in the 1840s were dubbed ‘Freshmonne,’ from which we derive ‘Fresher.’ Gowns were mandatory at matriculation as they are now, but Bradley’s drawings confirm that early students were required to be gowned at all times.

College gates were locked at 10pm to enforce a strict curfew. If, like, Bradley you were a resident of Castle Keep, this would have left you faced with two choices: you could ring the bell to gain admittance and face the Warden the following morning; or, if you were feeling brave, you could attempt to climb the wall. Needless to say, there are accounts of students scaling the walls in a desperate bid to sneak back undetected.

Bradley wasn’t the only colourful character in Durham’s history; I was spoiled for choice when writing ‘The Durham Story’, and I was delighted when figures such as Bill Bryson, Jeremy Vine and Sir Thomas Allen shared their stories.

The Durham Story has been directed

by Danford Showan (St Cuthbert alum) and features an original score form Guy Hughes (Grey alum). The team consisting of current students and alumni has been working for the past year, alongside Seif El-Rashidi, Co-ordinator at Durham World Heritage Site to bring this project to fruition.

The aim of this project has been to shed light on undergraduate life in those early years. It joins the dots with the student experience of today whilst appreciating the roots of our best-loved traditions, and recording the character of Durham University. The project is set to mark a new chapter in the way we tell our story, moving beyond the history books and into the dynamic world of film.

Watch the trailer...

visit http://youtu.be/jBIbSBoP1r8

Find out more...

about attending a free screening of the film www.durhamworldheritagesite.com

17

Experience Durham...

Staff and students of Durham University are engaged in a wide variety of volunteering and outreach activities, through two nationally accredited volunteering schemes.

TEAM DURHAM COMMUNITY... ...ran highly successful Easter Sport Camps for children aged between 4-16 years, with hundreds of young people attending activities at Maiden Castle.

Camps included ‘Bounce and Shout’ and multi-sport activities for primary school aged children and rowing camps for those at secondary school. Student volunteers and coaches supported the camps, providing them with a great experience of working with children. A range of sports and activity camps are planned for the summer holidays, which are open to all children.

To find out more contact Harriet Tebbs on ext. 44628.

An inaugural talent spotting event for disabled athletes gave participants the opportunity to try new sports and work with coaches from National Governing Bodies. Organised by students and staff from Experience Durham, the event hopes to help find the next Paralympian.

Student Community Action... ...volunteers involved in the Children Achieving through Student Support (CATSS) took ten looked after children away for a week long residential during the Easter holidays and this summer 15 students from Duke University in North Carolina will spend a month in Durham volunteering and working with local community organisations.

Several staff members have recently become Durham Business Ambassadors, volunteering in schools throughout the county to support young people in career support and enterprise based initiatives.

Staff members from any department are welcome to join the scheme. A UniversityCommunity allotment is also underway, and we’re looking for green fingered members of staff to support this project.

Many groups of staff from a number of departments have also taken part in oneoff Team Challenge days. These events provide the opportunity to get away from your day-to-day routine and contribute to a local community organisation. For more information visit www.durham. ac.uk/volunteer or contact community. engagement@durham.ac.uk

Spotlight on Sport The winter sport season ended on a high with the Men’s Rugby team triumphing in their third successive BUCS final at Twickenham. Cardiff Met were this year’s opponents and Durham played impressively to secure a 26-17 victory.

The team and several of their players have only lost a single match in the last three years! In other BUCS finals Men’s Lacrosse comfortably beat Loughborough to secure their championship title and women’s Hockey came from behind to beat Birmingham 3-2 in their final.

The Durham Wildcats Basketball team also finished their season in style, with

10 wins and 10th place in the British Basketball League – a huge improvement from last year. Fingers are now crossed that Durham can hold on to their 2nd place in the British University and Colleges Sports (BUCS) points table during the summer sports season.

Don’t misS University Chancellor Sir Thomas Allen in concert with Durham University Chamber Choir and Symphony Orchestra at Durham Cathedral on Saturday 1st June at 7:30pm. Tickets are available on the door or contact tel: 0191 3341206. Or, if you prefer comedy to music, don’t miss the Durham Revue ALLSTARS show at the Gala Theatre, featuring alumni including The Gentlemen of Leisure, Kieran Boyd, Naz Osmanoglu and Nick Mohammed.

Tickets are available from www.galadurham.co.uk

Find out more...

visit www.durham.ac.uk/ experiencedurham

Supported by:

Dialogue 29 | May / June 2013

Durham University, as part of an ongoing programme of encouraging biodiversity around the University estate have teamed up with Durham Prison to install 100 nest-boxes throughout the University woodlands.

Although the University has biologists that are keen to enhance the area’s biodiversity, it didn’t have the resources to manufacture the large number of nest-boxes required, which is where the collaboration with Durham Prison originated.

The prisoners used their wood-working skills to produce nest-boxes for small holenesting birds such as Blue Tits and Great Tits and also for larger species such as Barn Owls. The boxes have already been a resounding success

A South Africa wildlife reserve has named a newly born rhino after a Durham biologist in acknowledgment of the long-term support that the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences has provided to the reserve..

with the local woodland birds.

Barn Owls nested for the first time in 2012, using a new nest-box, and over a third of the newly erected smaller boxes already have birds nestbuilding in them.

Dr Stephen Willis, from the School of Biological And Biomedical Sciences said ‘This has been a great example of a collaborative effort between the University and the wider community, which has enhanced the biodiversity of the woodlands for the benefit of everyone.’

The baby rhino has been named ‘Willis’, after Dr Stephen Willis who, with colleagues in Biology, has led undergraduate field courses and research at the site for the last ten years.

More than 200 rhino were poached in South Africa in the first three months of 2013 and almost 700 were killed in 2012.

With a world population of fewer

than 20,000 individuals, at this rate white rhino could be extinct in a few decades. So a new-born rhino is a welcome addition to the declining population. The reserve currently protects a healthy population of rhinos and the field course module that the University runs at the site provides muchneeded income that helps fund poaching patrols to protect the valuable wildlife.

19

Greenspace...

CARBON TRUST STANDARD RING-FENCED CARBON BUDGET The ring-fenced budget for the academic year 2012/13 received 39 applications ranging from fitting more energy efficient light bulbs to starting a bike-loan scheme and buying energy efficient equipment for experiments.

In total, 26 initiatives were awarded finance and a full list of these can be viewed on the Greenspace web site on the Carbon Management Plan Projects page.

The next round of funding will be open for applications from the 1st August until the end of October 2013. Please look inwards within your departments and colleges and see how the ring-fenced budget could help to streamline your processes.

X1 Inter campus BUS Service to stop AT Rialto Court With effect from 22nd April, the X1 bus service will include the bus stop at on Victoria Bridge, Rialto Court for all students residing in Mezzino.

Travel on this service is free for both students and staff on the production of a valid campus ID card.

We have retained our Carbon Trust Standard for a further two years thanks to our commitment to reducing our carbon emissions.

Not only have we retained the Standard but the Carbon Trust scored us higher than they did two years ago which demonstrates our year on year environmental sustainability improvements.

The qualitative scoring process is split into three themes: Governance Accounting Carbon Management We scored 60% or more in every category (76% overall).

The quantitative scoring process saw us making an absolute carbon reduction of 6% since 2009/10.

Having the Carbon Trust Standard demonstrates that Durham University has made significant reductions in carbon emissions against a background of a growing estate and has policies and procedures in place to satisfy a leading authority on carbon reduction that we can deliver savings in a sustainable manner.

We are always examining our processes to see where we can make more carbon savings. As well as focussing on our electricity and gas usage we must also apply a heavier focus to our travel emissions, in particular our business miles. Carbon reduction in the University needs the help of every staff and student member in order to realise maximum savings.

Find out more... visit www.durham.ac.uk/ greenspace

STAFF CAR PARK AUDIT In advance of the new Car Parking arrangements being implemented by Greenspace, an audit and refresh of staff parking permits will be taking place over the summer with new permits being issued to all current staff. This aims to reduce the amount of illegal parking by people who no longer have any connection to the University.

If your current permit holds incorrect information, please visit the link below to make any changes required prior to 31st May 2013.

www.durham.ac.uk/estates/ transportparking/applications/ changeofvehicle New staff permits will be issued by 1st September, from which time old ones will become invalid. In the meantime should you lose your permit, please contact car parking on ext.46002 or car.parking@durham.ac.uk to request a replacement.

/durhamuniversity

@Durham_Uni

DurhamUniversity

Under investigation Kate Bell

Nursery Nurse, University Day Nursery

Have you got any pets?

How would you describe your ideal day?

No, but I did use to have a dog called Tara.

We had her for 18 years.

Having a long lie in, spending time with my family during the day and going out for a lovely meal and drinks with my friends on the night.

What are you reading at the moment?

Horrid Henry – my nephews live with me and that’s all I ever read. However, when I do get a chance to read anything, it’s by Paige Toon.

What would you like you epitaph to be?

“She was the one and only” Which historical figure would you most like to be?

Princess Diana – a lovely lady, just like myself.

What was the first record you bought?

On a scale of 1-10, how much do you care what other people think of you?

I’m not really bothered about what people think.

What’s your greatest vice?

Facebook, just because I’m really nosey!

What’s your favourite film?

Mamma Mia – I love a good chick flick.

Any nicknames?

Bellabushnut…

Chesney Hawkes - The one and only. I loved it, still do!

What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?

What achievement are you most proud of?

I’ve only ever had three jobs and I know it might sound sad but I’ve loved them all.

Completing the Great North Run in 2010.

What was your best subject?

Art. When was the last time you laughed and why?

I laugh everyday with Diane at work. We are like the female Ant and Dec; the children love us!!

What did you want to be when you were a child?

A police woman.

Where will you be going for your next holiday?

Legoland, if my nephews Harry and Riley get their way.

What skill or talent would you most like to acquire?

I’d love to be a florist.

What’s your favourite place in the world?

York, it’s a lovely place.

June ALLSTARS - The Durham Revue Saturday 1st June, 7pm Gala Durham ‘The Durham Revue’ is very excited to host their biggest comedy event of the year. See some of the biggest comedic alumni returning for one night only to perform. Alumni include The Gentlemen of Leisure, Kieran Boyd, Naz Osmanoglu and Nick Mohammed.

Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls Wednesday 5th – Saturday 8th June, 8:30pm Durham Indoor Market After the SELL-OUT success of Another Soup’s original March 2013 run, Sweeney Todd & the String of Pearls returns to Durham’s Indoor Market, with just as much gore, pastry, and Victorian debauchery.

Tales from The Thousand and One Nights Sunday 9th June, 7:30pm Durham Cathedral Enjoy an evening with internationallyrenowned story-teller Chirine Al-Ansary.

Organised by the World Heritage Site and Durham University’s School of Government & International Affairs.

Inaugural Lecture Series: Counter-Terrorism Everywhere Thursday 13th June, 6pm Hatfield College In this public lecture, Prof Fiona de Londras will explore the omnipresence of counterterrorism in the contemporary world.

Tell me a secret: I love a game of Bingo!

What luxury item would you take to a desert island?

A television. You can’t beat a good drama on the telly.

What’s your greatest indulgence?

Spending money on my nephews; I just can’t help it.

Pass the buck: Finally, who would you like to see in the hot-seat?

Sue Bock in Sport.

July Lindisfarne Gospels Exhibition Monday 1st July – Monday 30th September Palace Green Library The Lindisfarne Gospels is the centrepiece of this contemporary exhibition on Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site which tells the tale of our famous Saint Cuthbert, and this beautiful manuscript – its creation, its journey and its special symbolism for the people of the North.

Botanic Garden 25th Anniversary Garden Party Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th July, 10am – 5pm Botanic Garden, Hollingside Lane, Durham Celebrate 25 years of the Botanic Garden with a fun-packed weekend of family activities.

For more information on University events go to www.durham.ac.uk/whatson