Dialogue Magazine - Issue 20

NEWS FOR DURHAM UNIVERSITY STAFF AND STUDENTS | NOV / DEC 2011 | ISSUE 20

Also in this issue:

Arise, Sir Thomas, our new Chancellor / Page 4

Volunteering & Outreach SVO celebrates its third year since its pilot in 2008. / Page 8

Brand new facilities at Queen’s Campus A guided tour of the latest developments in Stockton. / Page 11

Dialogue 20 | Nov / Dec 2011

Welcome In this issue of Dialogue there is a most important contribution on pages 4 and 5 which no doubt everyone will rush to read – the introduction of our new Chancellor who will take up the reins in the New Year. The question, “who will succeed the wonderful Bill Bryson?” has been a topic of conversation for months amongst almost everyone connected with Durham University and many who are not.

A lengthy process took place, involving a significant number of staff from across the University and student representation, to narrow down over 1,000 nominations. A joint meeting of Senate/Council then recommended the appointment to Convocation (our annual gathering of staff and alumni) and the new Chancellor was finally acclaimed by Convocation in London on October 11th.

We have, together, done what many considered impossible – appointed a new Chancellor who powerfully represents our traditions and values – he has risen to international acclaim in his chosen field, has strong links to Durham, and is a remarkable person who demonstrates that, with motivation and talent, anything is possible through education. Sir Thomas continues Durham’s great lineage of recent Chancellors: Dame Margot Fonteyn, Sir Peter Ustinov and Bill Bryson OBE. I know all of you will join me in welcoming Sir Thomas Allen and look forward as eagerly as I do to his engagement with the University, formal and informal.

With all best wishes, Chris Higgins, Vice-Chancellor and Warden

Communication 04 Arise, Sir Thomas!

06 In the media...

08 Spotlight on...

03

Staff Volunteering and Outreach

Moving RAG forward 10 Sir Ove Arup honoured 11 New facilities at 09

Queen’s Campus

College choirs 13 Event Durham 14 HR news 15 CIS news 16 Spotlight on...

12

The Change Team

Greenspace 20 Under Investigation 18

and What’s On

EDITOR: Rebecca Grundy, Corporate Communications Officer.

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Michelle Richardson, Acting Marketing Co-ordinator.

CONTRIBUTIONS: Karen Barrie, Human Resources; Sharon Battersby, Computing and Information Services; Naomi Blayney, Strategic Planning and Change Unit; Heather Ewington, Library; Yvonne Flynn, Greenspace; Catherine Glew, Chair of DUCK ; Sharon Gollan, Staff Volunteering & Outreach; Stina Maynard, Event Durham and James Barton, Claire Croft, Louise Hughes and Nicky Sawicki (Communications Office).

DESIGN: warmdesign.co.uk PRINT: hpm.uk.com

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Communication

Open access statement A new Dialogue campaign has been launched to help you find the right way of getting your message out there.

In response to feedback received in focus groups last year looking at how University staff are communicating with each other (see Dialogue issue 16), a new campaign has been launched to raise awareness of University internal communication channels, which mainly fall under the Dialogue umbrella.

As part of this campaign, all staff should by now have received a z-fold card containing information on these channels and how they can be effectively used to involve and engage others.

If you have news or information that you want to share, why not open a dialogue with others around the University, so that at the same time you can learn more about them?

Find out more... ...VISIT DIALOGUE ONLINE AT: www.durham.ac.uk/ dialogue or email dialogue@ durham.ac.uk

The University’s Twitter feed provides an ‘at a glance’ view of the incredibly diverse range of activities, events, discoveries and news stories going on around the University. Importantly, it also allows people to spread the word, and share interesting items with others, often instantly. On the night the appointment of Sir Thomas Allen as Chancellor was announced, the news had been ‘retweeted’ (shared) by 10 people within the first 10 minutes alone!

Sign up for an account today and join the chatter: www.twitter.com/durham_uni

• W here copyright agreements permit, all research outputs published in peer-reviewed journals since 1 January 2008 must be made freely available through the University’s institutional repository, Durham Research Online: http://dro.dur.ac.uk • A uthors are also strongly encouraged to deposit other types of research outputs, including book chapters, reports and grey literature.

• W here embargo arrangements permit, electronic copies of all Higher Degree theses from 1 October 2009 onwards must be made available via Durham’s e-Theses repository: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk

Do you tweet or blog?

Social media is a rapidly expanding communications channel – a great way of keeping up-to-date with what’s going on, and of sharing your own views and ideas.

Durham has long held a reputation for excellence in research and a core part of our mission has always been to share the findings of our world-class research. The University Research Committee has reaffirmed this commitment to Open Access with a Statement declaring:

Writing on the benefits of Open Access, the Vice-Chancellor commented: Facebook provides another great information source. The University’s Facebook page provided a useful forum for our new students over the summer, with students asking questions and making friends before even arriving in Durham and Stockton.

Check it out: www.facebook.com/ durhamuniversitystudents With more and more departments and individuals tweeting, blogging and setting up Facebook pages, there’s a wealth of information out there.

If you would like your social media presence linked to the main University profiles, please get in touch: marketing.team@durham.ac.uk

“Sharing our research increases its visibility and impact and evidence suggests a link between including work in the repository and increased citation rates. Open access also enables the wider community to gain immediate access to our research, ensuring it continues to have a major impact on knowledge, people and the economy, helping to change society for the better.”

A full copy of the Open Access Statement is available at: www.bit.ly/oa_statement

Our new Chancellor

coming home Thrilled to be

After months of speculation and great anticipation, it was announced on 11th October 2011 that Sir Thomas Allen, celebrated opera star, was to succeed Bill Bryson as Chancellor of our University.

Described on his debut with the Welsh National Opera as “surely the best British lyric baritone singing in opera since the war”, Sir Thomas has performed on some of the world’s greatest stages. He has won worldwide acclaim for the many roles he has made his own including Billy Budd, Pelléas, Eugene Onegin, Ulisse and Beckmesser and for his interpretations of the great Mozart roles, Count Almaviva, Don Alfonso, Papageno, Guglielmo and his signature role, Don Giovanni.

Born in Seaham Harbour, County Durham in 1944, Sir Thomas was a child of what he has called “these tightknit, unbeautiful communities”. His route to musical stardom began in the 1960s when, as a pupil at Robert Richardson Grammar School in Ryhope his talent was recognised and encouraged by physics teacher Dennis Weatherley. His association with Durham University began when, aged 18, his school’s headmaster arranged for him to visit Professor Arthur Hutchings in our Music Department who subsequently arranged an interview for him at the Royal College of Music. “I was on my way”, Sir Thomas said of this moment.

Sir Thomas’ connections to Durham have strengthened over the years. In 1988 he was awarded a Doctorate of Music at the University and he is now Vice-President of the Durham University Choral Society (DUCS) as well as an Honorary Patron of the Durham Cathedral Choir Association. In 2007 Sir Thomas performed a recital at the Gala Theatre as part of an event to mark the University’s 175th Anniversary.

Having sung no less than 50 roles at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Sir Thomas has in recent years added directing to his credits, making an acclaimed US debut with The Marriage of Figaro. Outside of opera he is a supporter and patron of many non-profit music-related foundations, choirs and charities.

He spearheads the charitable Samling Foundation, which inspires young people to excel in the world of music and has worked with children from the North East and across the UK. Sir Thomas has said:

“As a County Durham boy I am extremely proud and honoured to be appointed as Chancellor of Durham University. No matter where my life and career have taken me, Durham has always held a special place in my heart so it is a particular privilege for me to accept this prestigious role. I am thrilled to be coming home and I greatly look forward to meeting the students, staff and alumni at Durham and representing this magnificent University across the world.”

Sir Thomas will be the 12th Durham University Chancellor when he takes on the role in January 2012. Durham Chancellors have been world leaders in the arts: in dance (Fonteyn), in theatre (Ustinov), in literature (Bryson), and now in opera; world leaders who nevertheless are open to everyone. Sir Thomas Allen is the perfect embodiment of that tradition and we look forward to welcoming him in his new role in the New Year.

05

According to the playwright Lee Hall, Sir Thomas’s remarkable story was the inspiration for his hit film Billy Elliott

In 1997, Sir Thomas was one of 29 artists involved in a recording of Lou Reed’s iconic track Perfect Day to raise money for BBC Children in Need

Sir Thomas was created a Commander of the British Empire in 1989 and made a Knight Bachelor in 1999

In the 2005 film Mrs Henderson Presents, Sir Thomas starred opposite Dame Judy Dench and Bob Hoskins

In the media...

School children can be great tutors Schoolchildren can boost their reading and mathematics levels when they tutor fellow pupils or are tutored by older pupils, according to new research from the School of Education / CEM.

Results from a project run in 129 primary schools in Scotland show that children as young as seven to eight years old can benefit from a tutoring session as short as 20 minutes per week.

The results of the two year trial, led by Durham University, working in partnership with the University of Dundee and Fife Council appeared in the journal, School Effectiveness and School Improvement.

The findings and the ease of implementation of the scheme indicate that peer tutoring could be an effective way to supplement the work of teachers and classroom assistants, and could be rolled out as a nationwide programme.

COVERAGE INCLUDES: ITV Tyne Tees, BBC Look North, BBC 5 Live, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Express, The Guardian, The Scotsman, La Repubblica (Italy), Suddeutsche Zeitung Nr (Germany), Evening Chronicle, Journal, Northern Echo.

Researchers find recipe for “perfect plastic” Durham researchers in partnership with the University of Leeds have solved a longstanding problem that could revolutionise the way new plastics are developed.

The breakthrough will allow experts to create the ‘perfect plastic’ with specific uses and properties by using a high-tech ‘recipe book’.

It will also increase our ability to recycle plastics. The research was published in the prestigious journal Science.

The paper’s authors form part of the Microscale Polymer Processing project, a collaboration between academics and industry experts which has spent 10 years exploring how to better build giant ‘macromolecules’.

COVERAGE INCLUDES: The Engineer, Packaging Digest, Plastics News, UPI Science News, Green.Blorge, TruthDive, GizMag, The Northern Echo.

07

UK must prepare for extreme weather and ageing population Researchers have mapped areas of England most likely to face more extreme weather events and increasingly elderly populations, and have called on service providers to adjust their planning to meet these challenges.

The new maps produced by the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (IHRR) and Heriot-Watt University suggest that many areas in England projected to see an increase in severe weather, such as floods, heatwaves and coldwaves, over the next 30 years, may also need to care for high proportions of vulnerable older people.

The study highlights the potential vulnerability of older populations in rural regions, often in coastal areas.

Coldwave (0°C) Hazard - 2030s

Professor Sarah Curtis, (Geography and Director of IHRR), said: “It makes sense to plan ahead.

Coldwaves will continue to occur in the future and pose a significant health risk to older people. The 2009/10 coldwave resulted in 25,400 excess winter deaths in England and Wales, the majority amongst those aged 75 and over.”

High Street blood test could help to diagnose diabetes A simple finger prick test during routine eye examinations at high street opticians could help to identify millions of people with previously undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes, according to researchers at the School of Medicine and Health.

The findings are relevant to the whole of the UK and other parts of the world where an increase in extreme weather events coupled with population ageing are also expected, the researchers say.

The researchers suggest earlier diagnosis could set people on the road to better management of the disease, which is the leading cause of blindness in the working age population, and that this could ultimately result in NHS cost-savings.

The first results of the project, Built Infrastructure for Older People’s Care in Conditions of Climate Change (BIOPICCC), were published in the journal Applied Geography.

Lead author and former optician, Dr Jenny Howse, said: “Opticians could provide routine, non-emergency care and simple screening can be done outside usual medical settings, such as GP surgeries.”

Heatwave (T95) Hazard - 2030s

The study suggests that screening for the condition in unconventional settings, such as opticians, chiropodists or dentists, could find people who would not routinely visit their GP. It is estimated that 150 million people worldwide have diabetes but up to 50 per cent of people who have the condition are undetected.

The pilot study, carried out with The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, focused on opticians and the findings were published in the British Journal of General Practice.

COVERAGE INCLUDES: BBC 1 Look North, ITV DayBreak, Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph, BBC Radio Newcastle, BBC Radio Scotland, SunFM, Liverpool Daily Post, Journal, Northern Echo.

Making headlines Durham made the headlines when it was ranked as the UK’s third best University and 15th globally for graduate employability.

This success is supported by continued media coverage for our research output and student experience which has featured in international, national and regional outlets including La Repubblica, Suddeutsche Zeitung, BBC Radio 5 Live and ITV Tyne Tees.

Join media guide to expertise To join our searchable database of Durham University experts go to: www.durham.ac.uk/communications .office/media.relations/media-guide and click on ‘Join Media Guide’.

COVERAGE INCLUDES: BBC Online, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, The Times, The Herald, Sky News Radio, Press Association, Huffington Post, ITV North East Tonight, Evening Chronicle, Journal, Yorkshire Post, Times of India, BBC Asian Network, CBS42 (USA), AOL Lifestyle, Healthy Destination, Boots, Diabetic Live.

Spotlight on...

S TA F F V O L U N T E E R I N G AND OUTREACH This term, Staff Volunteering and Outreach (SVO) is celebrating its third year from its pilot in 2008 as the Phoenix project.

SVO has developed to support an exciting hands-on approach to community engagement in a way that underpins the University’s commitment to working in, and with, our local communities.

The initial interest in SVO came about as a commitment from the University to ‘remain at the heart of and contribute to improvements in the quality of life of the people in North East England’. Since then, and now under the banner of Experience Durham, SVO delivers one of the UK’s leading university staff volunteering schemes, making Durham one of the few universities offering such an innovative community engagement scheme.

Without a doubt, the most successful element of SVO is our staff members’ willingness and enthusiasm to become involved in a wide range of activities within a whole host of local charities and organisations.

We now have over 400 staff members registered as volunteers engaged in activities ranging from mentoring, being school governors or charity trustees, to campaigning or taking part in team events. We also now have over 140 local charities and organisations registered with us as community partners and so we are able to provide a wide variety of opportunities for our staff volunteers, either on an individual basis or as part of a team challenge.

Our community partners provide interesting and creative activities such as challenges to clear pathways and scrubby areas from local walks, building otter holts and bat boxes, decorating new tenancies for homeless people and being the voice for a ‘talking newspaper’ produced by a charity for the blind. At busy times when staff members just can’t find time to volunteer directly within the community, we can bring activities and tasks into the University, keeping them flexible so that staff can take part when it suits them - such as over their lunch hour.

Find out more... ...Contact us via community.engagement@ durham.ac.uk or check out our website: www.durham. ac.uk/volunteer

Since September 2010 we’ve set up and facilitated 25 events across County Durham. Collectively, our teams have now volunteered over 800 hours to good causes, which in financial terms equates to almost £16,000 in donations ‘inkind’ and a conservative estimate of time donated by all of our staff volunteers equates to over 3,000 hours. These are really valuable resources for local charities in these challenging times.

Our recent survey of volunteers shows that taking part has had a very positive impact, with over 80% of respondents saying they felt better about the University because of the scheme.

Through SVO, staff can volunteer for up to five days per annum in work time either on an individual or as part of a team challenge.

Volunteering will require line manager approval (where appropriate) and is subject to operational requirements. Volunteer days are prorata for part-time staff. Whatever your interest, please get in touch and we will do our best to find the right opportunity for you.

09

Durham leads the way in moving RAG forward Durham has taken the lead with a new initiative in student fundraising following this year’s National RAG Conference in September.

Delegates from 45 university fundraising organisations attended the four-day conference, hosted in Durham for the first time by a team of organisers from Durham University Charities Kommittee (DUCK).

The event acted as a platform for discussion about the future of RAG, a term covering a broad range of student fundraising groups. Though most – unlike DUCK – operate under the RAG moniker, there is no official RAG organisation at a national level.

Martin Dorset-Purkis, the outgoing sabbatical DUCK Manager, explained: “A major aim of this year’s conference was to come away with a clear plan for student fundraising going forward.

There is certainly scope for increased communication between RAGs, especially given the challenges faced by the charity sector as a whole at the moment.”

Plans to establish an online forum for RAGs were laid out at the conference AGM, following a meeting of the heads of 20 RAG organisations. The coalition of delegates will take proposals from external organisations willing to host the forum, before deciding on the format of the project in a vote next month.

Though previous attempts to encourage RAGs to share resources online have seen mixed success, organisers are optimistic about the new proposal.

Archie Dallas, this year’s DUCK Manager, was keen to stress that delegates had discussed problems with previous fora and were keen to build on past experience.

Picture © Ian Williamson

“It’s time to move forward,” he explained.

“There was a very optimistic atmosphere at the conference – people are willing to share ideas and resources. As long as the final product is user-friendly, I’m confident that it will be a useful tool to allow RAG to grow and develop further.”

Student fundraising has experienced rapid growth in the past decade. The largest RAGs now fundraise in excess of £1 million per year, and many operate a large portfolio of projects designed to appeal to students.

Expeditions abroad and ‘challenge’ events such as skydives and bungee jumps require extensive planning and risk assessment, and are increasingly coming under scrutiny from university officials.

It is hoped that a new online forum could encourage RAGs to share resources and paperwork, saving time and allowing representatives to discuss potential problems and new ideas more efficiently.

Did you know...

Last year DUCK raised £34,080 for Save the Children from the Kilimanjaro Expedition alone.

If you divide DUCK’s total by the entire student population in Durham, it comes out at £42.52 per head.

We send over 150 people to projects abroad each summer through our nine expeditions.

Find out more... ...…about DUCK and its activities at http://duck.dsu.org.uk

Dialogue 20 | Nov / Dec 2011

S I R OVE ARU P HONOURED In September, Durham Student Union (DSU) hosted an event to celebrate the unveiling of a new bust of Sir Ove Arup, the structural engineer who designed both Kingsgate Bridge and Dunelm House.

The bust is to replace one that was stolen in 2006, and is the result of a joint initiative between Durham University and the City of Durham Trust.

Sir Ove, who was responsible for projects such as the Sydney Opera House, the Barbican Centre and the Penguin Pool in London Zoo, considered the Grade I listed Kingsgate Bridge to be his finest achievement. So strong were his feelings, that when he died in 1988 aged 93, his ashes were scattered from Kingsgate Bridge.

More than 60 guests, including family and friends of Sir Ove, senior staff from ARUP, members of the City of Durham Trust, University staff, students and presidents past and present, attended the event.

Mike King, DSU President, led the guests on a tour of DSU.

Guests were also invited to the premiere of an exhibition of photographs and articles that captured the vision and work behind the construction of Kingsgate Bridge and Dunelm House. Natalie Proctor, a postgraduate student in Museum and Artefact Studies, sourced the materials and coordinated the exhibition.

Sir Ove’s grandson, Justin Perry and great grand-daughter, Mia, were in attendance along with Sir Jack Zunz and Sir Philip Dowson, two of Sir Ove’s former Co-Directors. Mr Perry described the event as a wonderful celebration of his grandfather’s work and was particularly delighted to see the photographs and video footage of his grandfather from the 1960s.

The exhibition is open to all and is on at the Riverside Café, Dunelm House until 12th December.

Top and bottom: Postgraduate study room.

Centre: Café Aroma. Right: Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre.

11

New facilities at Queen’s Campus has seen further significant investment over the last few months.

The addition of new facilities to enhance the services that can be delivered to students has also added to the vibrancy of the Campus, with a real “buzz” being noticeable. Many very favourable comments have been received from staff and students alike who are already appreciating the improved amenities.

Library & PG Room The Library has benefited from space being created for more study areas with a number of additional laptop access points. A special access area for anyone registered with DUSSD has been created within the quiet zone of the Library. It provides specialist software and facilities in an area of natural light. A further study room has been created that can seat up to eight people.

A significant enhancement to Library facilities is a new, dedicated PG study room for taught and research postgraduates, as well as academic staff. Key features include wireless access, a study pod for six people with a PC, TV screen and a wireless keyboard and mouse, high benching and seats with networked PCs and desks with integrated power/data where personal laptops/net-books/iPads can be used.

All of this in a bright and airy environment that provides a great meeting place for the PG community to either come together and work on ideas or enable individual study.

Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre Students can now not fail to notice the CEEC that has opened alongside the new reception area in the Ebsworth building at Queen’s. This is a high profile facility with enhanced resources including an IT suite, a large student information area and confidential interview rooms. The centre has a really welcoming feel, greatly assisted by the vibrant interior.

Already this is proving a big hit with the student community as well as with graduate employers who have visited the centre and business for the Careers Team is very brisk, even early in the new academic year.

Reception Ebsworth Reception has been the subject of an imaginative make-over to provide a very professional looking, welcoming and DDA compliant area that clearly provides a point of contact for all students and visitors.

Café Aroma The Café has been relocated to a larger space on the ground floor of Ebsworth to now provide 80 covers. This has enabled a new servery and counter to be installed that can provide a range of speciality coffees and teas, together with a tasty new range of snacks to tempt everyone. Now accessible from the car park, there is a patio area with outdoor seating to complement the contemporary style inside that creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere making the Café a great place to meet whilst enjoying your refreshments.

Dialogue 20 | Nov / Dec 2011

Find out more... ...visit the college webpages to find out more about individual choirs

Colleges offer a plethora of opportunities for students to get involved in extra-curricula activities.

Whilst all are equally worthy of note, this issue we give voice to college choirs.

The Choir of St Chad’s College is made up of undergraduate and postgraduate students and staff. During term they sing twice a week in the College Chapel and at major festivals.

In addition to regular Evensong, concerts and special services in Durham Cathedral, they have performed within the stone walls of York Minster, Blackburn, Worcester, Lincoln, Manchester, Wakefield, Southwell and Ripon Cathedrals. However, their tours are not confined to English cathedrals. Each year the choir undertakes an international tour which, in the last five years, has seen them visit Canada twice, the USA on three occasions and Ireland. Plans for a European tour are planned for next year. They have also recorded and released three CDs. Wherever they go, the choir enjoy success.

The College Chapel Choir at St Hild & St Bede sings twice a week during term-time in the College Chapel. This summer, having toured New York last year, the choir stayed in Britain to sing Choral Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral on four evenings at the end of August and also at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle for one evening. For these services not only were there regular members of the congregation present but also students from the College and their parents, as well as some College tutors and several alumni. To sing in these places is a great privilege, and there are very high expectations that choirs will sing to a good standard.

But the Hild-Bede choir is used to Cathedral standards as they feel they have a Cathedral all of their own: the College Chapel.

Other college choral activity...

Butler Choir started term with a workshop with a Kenyan choir and the DU African Drumming Society. They will be taking part in a Christmas Carol Service and in late February will sing Evensong in Durham Cathedral.

John Snow’s choir is called Durham Endeavour Voices. They perform at the Waterside, Queen’s Campus Carol Service, ARC Theatre and community events.

The Chapel Choir of St John’s College is an ensemble of 16 Choral Scholars who sing Evensong each Wednesday in chapel. They led worship on 21st November on BBC Radio 4’s Daily Service programme and have collaborated with the Chapel Choir of St Cuthbert’s Society to sing Evensong.

Term will conclude with the College’s Carol Service in Durham Cathedral.

St Mary’s College Chapel Choir recorded a CD last year which is being launched at the College’s Arts Weekend on Friday 25th November. After exams this coming year they will be going on tour to Prague and Vienna.

Trevelyan College Choir sings Evensong annually in Durham Cathedral and St Oswald’s Church. The group consists of around 30-40 singers, non-auditioned, who have fun whilst maintaining a high standard of singing.

Eton Choral Course Not only do we nurture our own talent at Durham, but we also welcome choirs from outside the University. This summer St Chad’s and St John’s Colleges once again hosted a week-long Eton Choral Course; a course initiated and directed by Durham alumnus, Ralph Allwood. The young people on this course also had the privilege of taking part in the BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship programme which was broadcast from Hild-Bede Chapel on 21st August. The service was written and led by Hild-Bede Chaplain, Jonathan Lawson, and the BBC estimated that the service was listened to by 1.8 million people.

Top: The College Chapel Choir at St Hild & St Bede. Below: The Choir of St Chad’s College at the Cathedral of St John the Divine, NYC. June 2011.

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Event Durham, Retail & Catering

Awards for Durham University at the North East Tourism Awards 2011 Each year the North East England Tourism Awards showcase the best that tourism has to offer in our region. The wide range of categories reflects the quality, performance and innovation of our tourism sector and gives businesses the chance to show how they stand out from the crowd.

You will be delighted to hear that, at the recent North East England Tourism Awards Dinner, the University received two Silver Awards.

Event Durham won the Silver Award in the Business Tourism category and the Botanic Garden, for the second year running, won the Silver Award for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year.

This Award is the second received by the Botanic Garden in the last month.

The Garden was also presented with the special Northumbria in Bloom Gold Award and the William Leech Trophy for the best grounds of a college or university.

More information is available at www.northumbriainbloom.org.uk

HR news...

BIG, WET AND MUDDY!

Four intrepid members of HR, successfully completed the Newcastle Stampede in October.

The event – described as a 10k ‘Adventure Run’ – takes place across rugged terrain, with obstacles designed by the Royal Marines, to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

They survived the mud and hay bales… (l-r) Tim Mensley, HR Manager; Catherine Saxton, HR Officer; Kevin Ferguson, Information Systems Manager; Caroline Hall, PA to HR Director.

NEW TALENT

Could you recruit an apprentice? If you are recruiting a member of staff for an administrative role at Grade 2 level, you should consider an apprentice.

Why? Our successful, awarding-winning apprenticeship scheme is an excellent opportunity for candidates to begin their career with Durham University.

The support, training and qualifications (including an

NVQ Level 3 in Business and Administration) gained means you and your team benefit from a fully supported, trained member of staff.

Apprentices can be recruited quickly and your department will benefit from reduced salary costs.

To find out more, speak to Claire Tindale on ext 41649 or go to www.durham.ac.uk/hr/ training/apprenticeships

DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP

A NEW STAFF BENEFIT

HAVE YOUR SAY

The Strategy Academy, successfully developed by the HR training team, has been shortlisted for a Times Higher Award for exceptional contribution to leadership.

Coming soon... you can save ££s on travel by bus.

Please complete your staff survey by 21 December 2011.

Durham University has joined Arriva’s Employer Travel Club which means that all staff can benefit from savings on season tickets for travel on Arriva buses.

For each completed survey, we will donate 50p to Student Community Action.

Our leadership development programme is open to management grade academic and professional service members of staff.

The programme involves modules focused on implementing and managing change, plus the opportunity to work across disciplines on strategic level projects, culminating in a presentation to UEC. Strategic projects are proposed by UEC members and have previously included developing Durham University as a cultural hub, University values and how our strategy is communicated to staff.

For details of future Strategy Academies, contact Mark Crabtree on ext 46530.

The offer gives you money off the cost of your monthly or annual ticket.

For more details go to www.durham.ac.uk/hr/ benefitsplus

Completing the survey means your views will contribute to the reliability of the results and help indicate how staff feel about working for Durham University.

For information go to www. durham.ac.uk/hr/staff.survey

15

CIS news...

Meet the Academic...

...IT Teams A new approach to delivering your IT

As part of the recent structural changes in Computing and Information Services, three Academic IT Teams have been created to provide more responsive and tailored services to their specific areas of responsibility. This represents a new approach to delivering IT in the University and so deserves some attention.

Who are they?

Each Academic IT Team comprises a dedicated group of CIS staff with specific responsibility for the delivery of IT services in their faculty or area. They are led by an Academic IT Team Leader (known by the snappy acronym ‘AITTL’!) who are: • P aul Drummond: Academic IT Team Leader for the Faculty of Social Sciences & Health, the Colleges and Queen’s Campus. Paul has 16 years’ experience in software development, e-learning and medical education.

• M artin Edney: Academic IT Team Leader for the Faculty of Science. Martin has worked in IT for 25 years including time as a web developer at Southampton University and as an IS consultant in the oil industry.

• D oug Kimber: Academic IT Team Leader for the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and Professional Support Services. Doug has worked in IT for 22 years which includes time spent in HE and Local Authority IT departments.

What do they do?

Their primary aim is to provide dedicated local support and delivery of IT (born of an understanding that ‘one size doesn’t fit all’) with accessible and responsive teams of staff working collaboratively with their users to find ways to deliver the service they need. In doing this they will: • Offer more tailored services where appropriate and applicable, whilst utilising the centrally supported systems and support to cover more generic requirements.

• S hare good practice and ‘lessons learned’ between the teams so the whole University can benefit, reducing instances where individuals or groups ‘reinvent the wheel’.

• I mprove the involvement of the wider University community in IT initiatives and projects • A ct as a conduit; representing CIS amongst their constituents and feeding information about IT plans and requirements from their areas back into CIS, all of which contributes to building relationships and fostering more consultative and collaborative working practices with our users.

Whatever area you work in, how you access our services and support is unchanged; just be aware of these teams and if you get the opportunity to be part of any consultative activity or initiative in your area, please take part - we’d really appreciate your input.

Find out more... ...ABOUT CIS, VISIT: www.durham.ac.uk/cis

Spotlight on...

Based in the Strategic Planning and Change Unit in the Registrar’s Division.

We are supported by a network of staff in various academic departments, colleges and professional services.

Our approach is underpinned by three key principles.

UEC decided to establish the Team to help improve the way we work, utilising the skills and creative energies of staff throughout the University. It supports the ‘working efficiently’ ambitions set out in the University Strategy 2010-2020 and is intended to provide many benefits including:

1. Staff are our most valuable asset

• M ore effective use of the skills and experience of the University’s staff • More time for academic activity • I ncreased staff engagement and autonomy • Improved level of service and satisfaction • O perational efficiencies and effective use of resources • E mbedding a culture of continuous improvement.

We will initially undertake several strategic projects approved by UEC and it is intended that later we will use the skills and experience of staff in the Change Network to conduct reviews throughout the University. We hope that these reviews will contribute significantly to improving the way we work.

We will help staff review their own processes by providing a structured review methodology.

Elements from a number of process improvement methodologies have been taken to develop an approach that will suit the Durham University environment.

When reviewing a process, we first identify all the stakeholders and determine their needs and wants. The Change Team facilitate but staff themselves review the process as they know it well and are in the best position to suggest improvements.

2. All our activity should be meaningful We aim to maximise activities that are effective and add value to our work, the things that help us to work well. We seek to reduce those activities that are unnecessary, the things that cause stress and frustration.

Examples could include duplication, unclear instructions, resources not being used to full capacity, poor quality or unnecessary delays. Doing this helps to ensure that the activity staff carry out is meaningful to the University.

3. There is always room for improvement If something in our environment changes e.g. a new member of staff arrives or priorities change, our processes may no longer work as well as they could.

Reviewing a process regularly helps us to recognise where improvements can be made so that we continue to effectively meet the needs of stakeholders.

Find out more... ...Contact Naomi Blayney on ext. 46884, email spcu@durham.ac.uk or visit www.durham.ac.uk/ spcu/change

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STEP 1 As part of a scoping and planning exercise we will speak to the people involved at the various stages of the process to find out what they need and want from the process. At this stage we will choose the review team.

1

STEP 2 Before we can improve a process we need to know how it works at the moment. At a Process Improvement Workshop, lasting between two and five days, we map out the current process step by step, highlighting any issues and suggesting improvements.

STEP 3

5

Who is involved?

Does the process still work?

Who are the stakeholders in the process?

Review and adapt

What do they need and want?

4

2

How do we get there?

Where are we now?

Produce and implement an Action Plan

How does the current process work?

We can now start to create a new process that aims to meet its stakeholders’ needs and incorporates suggested improvements.

This also happens during the Process Improvement Workshop. At the end of the session a new process is produced which flows well, is easy to follow and has clear ownership.

STEP 4 To ensure that the suggested new process is implemented, we produce an action plan that the entire review team is signed up to. Any further approval required is sought at this stage. The changes are then implemented and the Change Team will assist in any way they can.

3 Where do we want to be?

How can we improve the process?

Members of Change Team and Change Network.

STEP 5

Change Team

Change Network

After a few months the Change Team will revisit the process to review progress with its implementation. The owners of the process should also review processes regularly so that they can adapt to the changing environment.

Naomi Blayney, Georgina Lyons, Katie Glass, Steve Chadwick (not pictured), Julia Roberts, Claire McDonald (not pictured), Loraine Pace (not pictured).

Sophie Sowerby, Emma Chapman, Paula Dawson, Antony Dinning (not pictured), Clare Woodward, Clare Zon, Chris Harrop.

Arrange a presentation...

We are happy to make presentations at team meetings or other events.

Contact us to make an arrangement.

Greenspace..

C A R B O N M A N A G E M E N T U P D AT E In 2010, the University partnered with the Carbon Trust to embark on a Carbon Management Programme. One product of this is our Carbon Management Plan (CMP), approved by the University Council and the Carbon Trust in March 2011.

Science and Van Mildert) and work has been carried out to influence building design and energy performance to achieve optimal performance on capital new build and refurbishment projects

In line with Government and HEFCE targets, the University has set a target of a 30% carbon reduction by 2013/14 against a 2008/9 baseline. This must be an absolute reduction achieved against an expanding estate and we all have a part to play in achieving this reduction.

Results produced for 2010/11 show that we have currently saved 3.6% in comparison to our carbon emissions in 2009/10. Although we have not quite reached our target of 7.5% per year, we are moving in the right direction.

Reductions were made in key areas such as: buildings, which includes electricity, gas and water; transport, which at present only includes fleet vehicles; general waste and, in the last 18 months, waste in skips.

This was nearly 7% of our combined emissions savings from last year and again, although slightly below target, it is pleasing to see that recycling is still around 50%, with colleges recycling more than the departments.

A copy of the CMP can be found at www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/cmp/plan

Estates and Buildings works The majority of the work which E&B undertake is carried out behind the scenes and represents 7,419 tonnes of CO2 emissions (67% of CMP reduction target).

Voltage power optimisers (VPO) have been installed in several buildings (Arthur Holmes, Biological & Biomedical

University policy requires new buildings to have a Building Research Establishment Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating and the new Palatine Building will have 17.5% of Energy supplied from Low and Zero Carbon Technologies including; Air Source Heat Pumps, Photovoltaic Panels, Solar thermal and Rain Water Harvesting and integrated low energy building design solutions.

Other examples include the new Main Library Extension (which will have a minimum of 10% of Low and Zero Carbon Energy Supplies, including an Air Source Heat Pump, Solar Thermal, and Photovoltaic Panels) and the Sports Hall at Queen’s Campus (which also has a minimum of 10% Low and Zero Carbon Energy, including a Ground Source Heat Pump, Solar Thermal and Rain Water Harvesting).

Recognising Good Performance Figures for electricity usage across individual colleges and departments show that for the year 2010/11, several colleges and departments have significantly reduced their usage.

St Aidan’s College, for example, have reduced their consumption by 14% tonnes of CO2 from the previous year. St Aidan’s Principal, Susan Frenk, stated: “We are delighted that our ‘Switch Off’ campaign has also helped reduce our carbon footprint. Staff and students collaborated to label light switches and appliances

throughout the College, lowering energy use while raising consciousness.”

Another area which has seen a significant reduction is at Queen’s Campus. The combined data for the Holliday, Ebsworth and Wolfson Research Institute buildings shows that the reduction for 2010/11 was 12.1% of tonnes of CO2.

David Fionda, Operations Director of Queen’s Campus stated that: “These figures are really pleasing. I know that the impact of reducing the opening hours of the Waterside Bar will have helped, but to get such an impressive outcome across all three main buildings at Queen’s is, I think, a result of the way staff, and Champions in particular, have responded to the challenge.”

Staff Environmental Champions and Student Environmental Reps exist in all colleges and departments. They have a key role in assisting us to circulate information to all colleagues and peers.

Environmental Sustainability On-line Training Package An Environmental Sustainability on-line training package to assist with carbon emission reduction is now available. It includes video clips from staff and students talking about work undertaken, schemes in place across the University and information on how people can help.

The training will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and can be found on duo’s training environment at https://duo. durham.ac.uk/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp We hope that every member of staff and every student will take this training course given that carbon emission reduction is a collective responsibility.

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The Green Move Out Scheme

Bins & skips 2010 / 11 GENERAL 1159.7

RECYCLED 1299.7 TOTAL 2459.42 PERCENTAGE RECYCLED

The Green Move Out Scheme has been instrumental in reducing our waste.

The University received an award from ‘Altogether Greener’ for this scheme which is co-ordinated by Michelle Crawford in the Greenspace team.

Thanks go to all staff and students involved in the scheme, who were present at the time of the move out, for the collection of belongings and at the reuse sale events.

This year the winning colleges who recycled the most are: • Ustinov College for Postgraduates

(all weights are in metric tonnes)

• S t Cuthbert’s Society for Undergraduates • S tephenson for the most improved college Nearly £1,700 was raised at two reuse sale events, exceeding last year’s total, and an excess of five tonnes of materials were distributed to local charities.

Dialogue 20 | Nov / Dec 2011

Under investigation

Te Ara: Maori Pathways of Leadership Ongoing until 15th January 2012 Oriental Museum

Gail Stobbart, Cleaning Manager (Science Site), Estates & Buildings Have you got any pets?

Yes, two guinea pigs – Ginger and Jasper, a husband and a son.

When was the last time you laughed and why?

Trying to compose answers for this questionnaire.

What are you reading at the moment?

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

I’ve just finished The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson. I read mostly when on holiday.

A teacher like my father but not of maths.

What would you like you epitaph to be?

Voss in Norway skiing with my son’s school. I went in February 2011 and had a fantastic time. One of the teachers pushed me off a chairlift and the instructor took us beginners down a black run – you can guess the rest.

“I should have put more tonic in it” Which historical figure would you most like to be?

Mrs Beeton, author of Household Management.

She was an extremely resourceful woman.

What was the first record you bought?

It’s that long ago I cannot honestly remember; but it would probably have been either a David Cassidy or The Osmonds.

What achievement are you most proud of?

My son.

What was your best subject?

Home Economics.

Where will you be going for your next holiday?

What skill or talent would you most like to acquire?

I would have loved to learn to play the piano as I didn’t have the opportunity when I was young.

What’s your greatest vice?

Don’t have one!

What’s your favourite film?

I have two: Dirty Dancing and Top Gun Any nicknames?

Not that I will admit to.

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

Working in a bar in Cyprus when I lived there.

What’s your favourite place in the world?

Singapore

‘The Recovery of Beauty’ IAS & Centre For Medical Humanities Public Lecture Series This public lecture series will include speakers from a range of different disciplines, spanning literature, philosophy, theology, art history, architecture and landscape, science, and gender and cultural studies.

I Fake Beauty Monday 28th November 2011 Elvet Riverside, 6.15pm Professor Ruth Holliday, Professor of Gender and Culture, University of Leeds.

What luxury item would you take to a desert island?

‘Elegant Surgery’: The Beauty of Clinical Expertise Monday 30th January 2012 Elvet Riverside, 6.15pm

A juniper bush and sun cream

Professor Jane Macnaughton, Professor of Medical Humanities, Durham University

What’s your greatest indulgence?

Give me a picture of your ideal day:

My car and Guerlain Anti-wrinkle cream (not sure it’s working though).

An ideal day would be to have a leisurely breakfast and then go to Novos Rugby club to watch my son play. The remainder of the day would be spent with family and friends.

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

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

An exhibition by internationally renowned photographer Krzysztof Pfeiffer, with narratives provided by Maori scholars, showcasing aspects of Maori identity in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Lynsey Finnemore, Admissions and Events Officer, International Office.

10, mostly.

Don’t forget to visit www.durham.ac.uk/dialogue

Durham Italian Silent Film Festival 2011 Clayport Library, Durham To celebrate Italy’s 150th birthday, this Italian Silent Film Season combines Durham University’s film collection with that of the Italian National Cinema Museum, to show some of the most fascinating Italian films produced before 1930.

‘Sicily’ - Tues 29th Nov, 7.30pm ‘Imaginary Worlds’ - Tues 6th Dec, 7.30pm

Don’t forget…

Durham Christmas Festival takes place on Palace Green and in Durham City 2nd-4th December, and the following weekend (1011th) is Christmas at the Botanic Garden a fun, family event organised by ‘Friends of the Garden’.