Dialogue Magazine - Issue 25

NEWS FOR DURHAM UNIVERSITY STAFF AND STUDENTS | SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2012 | ISSUE 25

Induction week The start of this academic year will see a new focus on a streamlined and integrated introduction to university life for our 2012 cohort of students.

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Also in this issue: Open for business: The Palatine Centre

Meet the new DSU Student Officer Team

A bold new phase of the University’s development begins as the new facility opens its doors.

A new year, a new team take up positions at Durham Students’ Union.

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Dialogue 25 | September / October 2012

With the new cohort of students beginning to arrive it seems appropriate to introduce key elements of our strategy to ensure the continual improvement of our distinctive student experience.

The Palatine Centre is now complete: an architecturally distinctive, purpose-built facility appropriate for a leading World University, which brings together for the first time all our (non-College based) student-facing support services and adds much-needed catering on the Mountjoy site. Until now, such services have been scattered all around Durham City. It is symbolic that the University Executive has also relocated to an open plan office in the Palatine Centre, which, together with the recently extended University Library, now provides a central heart to the University for students in Durham City.

This issue also introduces the new DSU leadership team. Over the past few years DSU has begun to transform itself with the aim of becoming one of the leading student unions in the country, whilst being sensitive to the distinctive needs of Durham colleges. There is still some way to go but the new leadership is, I know, determined to continue this direction of travel. In addition to student societies, there is now a real focus on representation, welfare and education.

A chief executive Paddy Reilly, is beginning to make a real difference to the operations in Dunelm House and over the summer refurbishment to make the building much more welcoming as a student centre has begun.

In short, this year’s cohort of students will see major improvements in the student experience, something which we must continue year on year.

With best wishes,

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06

04

12

03 Palatine Centre

04 Research highlights

The National Emterprise Educator Awards 2012

Open for Business

06 Welcoming Her

Majesty the Queen

12 CIS news

Honorary Awards

13 Event Durham,

Retail and Catering

Ceremonies and Services

14 HR news

07 Maximising

15 Let’s network!

Research Exposure

The Practical Art of Medicine

08 Spotlight on...

Science Learning Centre North East

09 The GEMS

reporting tool

10 Meet the new Student Officer Team at DSU

Induction Week

11 Global Debate

and Public Policy Challenge win

The Squire Sanders Scholarship Prize

16 Sport Round up 17 Student wins

Paralympic gold

Durham Academic recognised with Social Policy Association Award

18 Introducing the Annual Fund

19 Greenspace 20 Under investigation

Chris Higgins, Vice-Chancellor and Warden

Physics thesis win

What’s On

EDITOR: Rebecca Grundy, Corporate Communications Officer.

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Zoë Thomas and Rebecca Turnbull, Marketing Co-ordinators.

CONTRIBUTIONS: Sharon Battersby, Computing and Information Services; Tara Duncan, Greenspace; Louise Elliot, Event Durham; Media Relations Team, Communications Office; James Bisset; Durham Research Online, Claire Willis; Science Learning Centre North East, Paddy Reilly; Durham Student Union, Caroline Hall; Human Resources, Quentin Sloper; Team Durham.

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

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Update

Palatine Centre open for business

The opening of the Palatine Centre this month sees a new phase in the history of our University as the building represents the first ever purpose-built accommodation for specialist student services.

In addition to student-facing services, the building provides high quality open-plan office accommodation for the University’s Executive and related professional support services.

At the Palatine Centre reception, students will be greeted by trained Student Service Advisers with whom they can complete a wide range of administrative transactions with the University. Specialist support services are on the ground floor where they are most accessible to students. he building incorporates a new T café/restaurant which is available to all staff and students.

Staff in the following departments are located in the building: • University Executive • Academic Office, including: – Academic Support Office – Centre for Academic and Researcher Development – Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre – Ceremonies Unit – Durham University Service for Students with Disabilities (DUSSD) – Student Counselling

n official opening for the new building A will take place on 24th October which will include a reception, tours of the building and a public lecture by Sir Paul Nurse, as well as the official unveiling of a plaque for the building. The new Law School which is adjacent to the Palatine Centre, will be officially opened later in the academic year.

More information on this will be available on Dialogue Signposts in the coming weeks: www.durham.ac.uk/dialogue/ signposts

– Student Immigration and Financial Support Office – Student Planning and Assessment – Student Recruitment and Admissions Office • Communications Office • Computing and Information Services – Service Desk • D evelopment and Alumni Relations Office • Governance Support Unit • International Office • Strategic Planning and Change Unit.

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Research highlights

Mounting evidence of the Higgs boson a “triumph” for particle physics This summer, scientists at CERN, in Geneva, announced that they had found a new particle consistent with the long-sought Higgs.

Mounting evidence that Higgs bosons have been produced and detected at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiment at CERN is “a triumph for particle physics”, according to Professor Valentin Khoze.

Professor Khoze is Director of the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology (IPPP) where experts are providing the theory and analysis behind a number of experiments at the LHC. This summer, scientists at CERN, in Geneva, announced that they had found a new particle consistent with the long-sought Higgs.

Professor Khoze said: “Particle theorists predicted the existence of the Higgs boson almost 50 years ago and it plays an absolutely vital role in our very understanding of fundamental physics.

“Without the Higgs particle, other particles such as electrons and quarks would be massless and the Universe would not be what it is.

“Now, with the amazing results from the LHC, we are finally starting to find the experimental evidence that the Higgs really exists.

“The second part of the story about the Higgs particle is even more exciting as it provides us with a window to new Physics - a tool for the exploration of the truly unknown.

“The next stage will be a detailed and careful study of its properties. Successful completion of this second stage will bring us closer to uncovering new physics, explaining dark matter and other mysteries of the Universe.”

COVERAGE INCLUDES: Widespread national and international media including CBC Canada, The Guardian, The Telegraph, ITV News Online.

Image: Large Hadron Collider.

New version of Jerusalem goes solo and England song rediscovered Professor Dibble found that the first verse of Jerusalem was written for a solo voice The rousing song Jerusalem and other musical classics have been recorded for the first time as they were originally conceived nearly 100 years ago, following work by Professor Jeremy Dibble in the Department of Music.

While researching music for a new CD of the works of composer Charles Hubert Parry, Professor Dibble found that the first verse of Jerusalem was written for a solo voice, as opposed to the grand choral start typical of performances at The Last Night of the Proms. The second verse was then intended to be sung by “all available voices” according to Parry’s original published vocal score.

Composed by Parry and based on a poem by William Blake, the song, originally written for the ‘Fight for Right’ movement in 1916, became a rallying call for the women’s suffrage (right to vote) movement. It has become a standard of big sporting events, is the anthem of the Women’s Institute and was one of three hymns sung at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

The song has been recorded for the first time in its original form by the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales and along with other Parry classics, including music to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee, will feature on a new CD to be released in October 2012.

COVERAGE INCLUDES: Widespread national and regional media including BBC News Online, Radio 4 and The Times.

Above: Jeremy Dibble with Durham University Student Choir.

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An exhibition 1,300 years in the making – Lindisfarne Gospels Durham he countdown has begun to the arrival next summer of one of the world’s greatest books, T the Lindisfarne Gospels, to Palace Green Library.

The unique exhibition is a partnership between Durham University, Durham Cathedral, Durham County Council and the British Library.

It will take the form of a compelling new contemporary interpretation of one of the nation’s most enduring stories, the tale of the North’s most famous saint – St. Cuthbert, and one of the world’s greatest books – the Lindisfarne Gospels.

The exhibition will run from 1st July to 30th September 2013.

Housed in newly refurbished facilities, the exhibition represents the closest and most vivid way for centuries, to experience the wonder of the Lindisfarne Gospels.

The 12-month countdown to the exhibition began with a special performance by the first voices of the newly formed Lindisfarne Gospels Community Choir.

The choir, including children from the Durham Cathedral Young Singers, performed a piece entitled “On Eagle’s Wings” – the eagle is the symbol used to represent St John within the Lindisfarne Gospels.

Dr Keith Bartlett, Programme Director Lindisfarne Gospels, described the exhibition as “the most eagerly anticipated event in the regional cultural calendar for 2013”.

Next year there will be a special performance to mark the opening of the exhibition and there will then follow a region-wide celebration of creativity and heritage in North East England, inspired by the Lindisfarne Gospels.

More information about the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition can be found at www.lindisfarnegospels.com where you can also sign up to the e-newsletter to receive updates on the exhibition and to find out when tickets go on sale.

The Lindisfarne Gospels and the St. Cuthbert Gospel – Europe’s oldest surviving bound book – and other medieval treasures will be on loan from the British Library, following a special partnership that has been agreed between the North East and the national institution.

Find out more... at: www.durham.ac.uk/news/ lindisfarnegospels to watch a video about the launch of Lindisfarne Gospels Durham

Left: Lindisfarne Gospels © The British Library Board. Right: The Dunelm Gallery, Palace Green Library awaits the arrival of the Gospels.

Dialogue 25 | September / October 2012

welcomING Her Majesty The Queen On 18th July, in partnership with Durham County Council, our University hosted Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh as part of their Diamond Jubilee tour of the United Kingdom.

The crowds on Palace Green comprised staff and students as well as school children and other members of the general public, with a brass band keeping them all entertained as they awaited The Queen’s arrival.

Students Madeleine Musgrove & Azeez Siddiqui greet the Queen on Palace Green

Honorary Awards Who do you want to see receiving an honorary award? Do you know someone with a connection to the University or the region who has made a significant achievement in their field or for the University which deserves recognition?

If so, nominate them for an award before this year’s deadline on 28th September.

Find out more... www.durham.ac.uk/ ceremonies/honorary and: www.durham.ac.uk/ ceremonies

The Royal couple visited Durham Castle where they had lunch in the Great Hall with dignitaries and students. Guests included the Vice-Chancellor, The Right Reverend Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham, and Councillor Linda Marshall, JP, Chairman of Durham County Council.

The last time the Royal couple visited Durham Castle was in 2002 during Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

On that occasion The Duke of Edinburgh also visited our Stockton campus to announce that it had been awarded the title of Queen’s Campus.

The Diamond Jubilee tour has seen The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh travel the length and breadth of the UK as part of the celebrations to mark Her Majesty’s 60 years as Monarch.

To watch a video of Her Majesty The Queen’s visit, go to www.durham.ac.uk/tour/queenvisit

Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Higgins greets The Queen

HM The Queen place setting

Ceremonies and Services Over the next few months why not get involved in university ceremonies and services taking place in Durham Cathedral?

In October we will be welcoming new students to the University at Matriculation, we will be holding special Cathedral services in November and in January we will celebrate the achievements of students at Winter Congregation.

You can get involved in any of these events by becoming a marshal or joining the Academic Procession.

Dates for your diary Matriculation: Wednesday 3rd October Remembrance Service: Sunday 11th November Founders and Benefactors Service: Sunday 25th November Winter Congregation: Thursday 10th and Friday 11th January

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Commercial publishers have recommended this practice to authors for some time now, in order to drive traffic to their websites.

Commercial publishers have recommended this practice to authors for some time now, in order to drive traffic to their websites.

However, unless a reader has subscription access to the journal, their access is limited to viewing the article abstract. Linking to the DRO record provides everyone with open access to the peer-reviewed manuscript

The Practical Art of Medicine: dissection, diagnosis and disease in the Early Modern Period Wolfson Gallery, 27th October 2012 – 15th April 2013 The period between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries saw many advances in the study of anatomy, chemistry and physiology. Helped by increased experimentation and broader botanical and linguistic knowledge brought by geographical exploration, awareness was spread through the advent of printing.

Inspired by the collections of physician, historian and bibliophile Dr. C. E. Kellett (1903-1978), this exhibition draws on

collections from the holdings of Palace Green Library, and includes work by Jean Fernel, Andreas Vesalius and William Harvey.

The Wolfson Gallery is open from Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 4.45pm, and at weekends from noon to 4.45pm and entry is free for all Durham University campus card holders.

To find out more about exhibitions at Palace Green Library, go to www.durham.ac.uk/library/asc/exhibitions

deposited in DRO, and an additional route through to the published version for subscribers only.

Recent research suggests that the more ‘inbound’ links to an open access article, the more it is downloaded.1 For help or advice on depositing your research in DRO, please contact Heather Ewington at dro.admin@durham.ac.uk or Academic Liaison Librarian (Researcher Support) James Bisset at james.bisset@ durham.ac.uk for advice on how the library can support you as a researcher.

Kelly, B and Delasalle, J., 2012. Can LinkedIn and Academic.edu enhance access to open repositories? Submitted to: Open Repositories 2012, 9-13 July 2012, Edinburgh, Scotland.

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Illustration showing anatomical structure from ‘De humani corporis fabrica’ by Andreas Vesalius, published 1543 - Cosin T.1.6.

Your institutional repository, Durham Research Online (DRO) (http://dro.dur. ac.uk/), enhances the visibility of your research to a worldwide audience through indexing on services including Google and Google Scholar. But have you considered raising your profile further by linking to your DRO records from your personal blog, LinkedIn Profile, presentation hosted on Slideshare or even a quick mention on Twitter?

Spotlight on...

The Centre offers an extensive programme of science-oriented professional development and outreach activities for colleagues in schools and colleges.

Science Learning Centre North East (SLCNE), in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health, was founded in 2004 as part of a governmentled initiative to enhance the quality of school science teaching and learning. The Centre offers an extensive programme of scienceoriented professional development and outreach activities for colleagues in schools and colleges across the North East. The Centre is located in a purpose-built building on Front Street, Pity Me, just outside Durham City centre.

Currently, the Centre’s activities are sponsored by organisations supporting science teaching, including the Institute of Physics, Royal Society of Chemistry and Association for Science Education. Our programmes promote teaching of separate GCSEs in physics, chemistry and biology; offer coaching to develop physics teaching; support non-specialist teachers of chemistry; and mentor primary teachers, teaching science. In addition, the Centre runs a national teacher professional development programme, funded by the Department for Education, in collaboration with eight other regional centres. Working with the School of Education, we host the university-based component of the Science PGCE as well as supporting primary science.

Outreach work, led by Deputy Director (Operations) Claire Willis, is supported by local industries and businesses. Current projects include Olympics-inspired Designing the Dynamic, a display of sports equipment applying nanotechnology available to schools on loan; and Undress: Redress, displayed at London’s Science Museum, featuring a spectacular dress made from soluble material! Look out for the Centre’s children’s Christmas Lecture programme in the Autumn Term – past guest presenters have included Blue Peter’s specialist scientist Steve Mould and Dr. Jonathan Hare, presenter of Rough Science.

Dr. Krista McKinzey runs the award-winning Climate Change Schools Project from the Centre, an Environment Agency funded project that is contributing significantly to children and teachers’ understanding of climate change issues.

The Centre’s vision is to continue to offer excellent continuing professional development to teachers working, often in challenging circumstances, in North East schools. The aim is to ensure that teachers are equipped to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Director Dr. Vanessa Kind holds a Senior Lectureship in Education, and sees potential in combining University-based academic work with the Centre’s traditional activities, through participation in research impact activities, widening participation and generation of research income.

The Centre’s nine staff contribute a range of outreach, professional development, administration and technical expertise.

Nicola Hall, Centre Manager, has worked at the Centre since its foundation, and is responsible for marketing, administration and reporting functions. Susanne Jackson, Client Services Manager, runs the Centre’s popular and successful Kit Club, an

Left: Director of the Science Learning Centre North East Dr. Vanessa Kind Above: The Science Learning Centre North East

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The Graduate Employment Market Statistics (GEMS) reporting tool Would you like to find out more about the destinations of your recent graduates at the touch of a button? The new Graduate Employment Market Statistics (GEMS) Reporting Tool will allow you to do this – providing you with a wealth of graduate destination information including job titles, salaries, employers and further study destinations.

Finding out what our graduates have gone on to do after leaving Durham is very important as not only does this information impact on our performance in University League Tables, it also provides vital data to our students about potential career paths and provides us with employability figures for our courses which are crucial for recruitment and evaluating success.

equipment loan scheme, to over 100 schools, as well looking after invoicing, reception and office duties.

On the professional development team, Deputy Director (Programmes) Mike Cole leads Carole Stansfield and Debbie Myers in delivering and developing the Centre’s core and regional programme activities. Sean Morris and George Otterson provide technical support in IT and the laboratory respectively.

With a strong team ethos, the Centre has generated high quality professional development consistently and is strategically placed to contribute effectively to the University. Centre Director Vanessa Kind is pleased to discuss possibilities for collaborative working and new projects with University colleagues.

Find out more... visit www.sciencelearning centres.org.uk/northeast tel: 0191 370 6200

The data within GEMS has been obtained through the Destination of Leavers of Higher Education (DLHE) Survey. There is four years worth of data available, from 2007/08 to 2010/11 graduates, and using GEMS you can either look at a single years worth of destination data from this range or undertake trend analysis.

Whilst the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre will still provide employability information based on the DLHE return in terms of the Department Summary Sheets and any adhoc information required, we hope that people will be able to start using GEMS to access the specific employability information they are interested in.

Feedback from staff that are using GEMS has been excellent: “We have used GEMS to update our Open Day presentation to reflect more accurately the sorts of career destinations that our graduates enter” “It was very easy to use!”

GEMS can be accessed from the What Do Durham Graduates do? pages with the Staff section of the CEEC websitewww.durham.ac.uk/careers/password/ durhamuniversitystaff/graduatedestinations/gems Here there is a guidance manual to help you get started but if you need any additional help or would like to arrange an overview training session please contact jemma.mcaloon@durham.ac.uk

Dialogue 25 | September / October 2012

Meet the new student officer team at Durham Students’ Union August saw a new team of student officers take up positions at Durham Students’ Union. Having all recently graduated, Archie, Jenny, Carmen and Jim will spend the year working on behalf of all Durham students as they lead change in the student body.

Archie Dallas, DSU President Archie is serving as President after a year as DUCK Officer and is looking forward to the big challenges in the New Year. “We’re really lucky to be working in a Union that is changing so quickly. We have big plans, and we can’t wait to get started.”

Jim Elliot, Societies and Student Development Officer Jim is looking forward to taking up the role and said “We have over 200 societies at Durham of every conceivable variety; the things that they achieve are remarkable and this year will be no exception.”

Carmen O’Loughlin, DUCK Officer Carmen is hoping to engage more people in charity fundraising across the University.

Aside from students, she is keen to get more staff involved and is currently putting together a staff team for the Three Peaks Challenge – watch this space! Carmen is hoping to beat last year’s fundraising total and to build on DUCK’s recent recognition as Best Fundraising Team at the Institute of Fundraising’s national awards in July.

Jenny James, Education and Welfare Officer Given the ongoing changes in higher education, this is an exciting time to be working in the sector. Jenny said, “I’m really excited about the challenge of working with departments and improving the student experience and maintaining Durham’s high reputation for academic excellence.”

Induction Week for new students The start of this academic year will see the launch of a new focus on student induction. Colleges and academic departments are working alongside student support services to ensure our new students benefit from a more streamlined and integrated introduction to university life.

Introduction activities and welcome events for all new undergraduate, postgraduate and international students are being closely co-ordinated, with information being supplied to students prior to their arrival, via a specific ‘Welcome page’ on the website.

An Induction Information Timetable allows students to plan their academic and social activities and guides them to academic introductions within their departments, meetings with key support services and information providers, and of course, the wonderful welcome activities and events arranged by each college.

The aim is to structure those first days at university, making each student welcome and ensuring they are fully prepared for the start of the academic term.

From left to right: Jim Elliott (Societies & Student Development Officer), Archie Dallas (President), Jenny James (Education & Welfare Officer) and Carmen O’Loughlin (DUCK Officer)

DSU: planning for the future

Durham Students’ Union is going through a period of exciting change with new democratic structures, a new strategic direction and a new senior management team.

To find out more about Durham Students’ Union’s plans for the future contact ext. 41777, email dsu.reception@durham.ac.uk or visit www.dsu.org.uk

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Recent Graduate wins Global Debate and Public Policy Challenge A recent Economics and Politics graduate, Guy Miscampbell has won the first Global Debate and Public Policy Challenge in Budapest. As well as having an expenses paid trip to Hungary he has received $10,000 to use towards graduate school or an internship.

The competition was organised by IDEA in partnership with the European Council on Foreign Relations and Central European University, and received generous support from Open Society Foundations.

The competition attracted 23 finalists from 11 countries including China, United States and India with the aim of attracting Undergraduate students to policy advocacy and encourages students

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to reflect critically on policy questions which present international challenges.

Guy is planning on using the prize to either complete an internship with a think-tank or study a Masters in Public Policy at a London or European University. When asked about the experience he said “I think the best thing about all of this wasn’t actually the prize, but the people, the experience. We’ve all become really good friends and I’m really glad I did it.”

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Two Physics Postgraduate students awarded prestigious thesis prizes by publisher Springer Two recent postgraduate students in the Department of Physics, Elise Jennings and Jonathan Pritchard, have had their PhD Theses selected to feature in the prestigious Springer Theses Series and have each received an associated cash prize of €500.

To feature in the Springer Theses Series a thesis has to be nominated and endorsed by two recognised specialists; both Elise’s and Jonathan’s theses were chosen for their scientific excellence and impact on research. For greater accessibility to non-specialists, the published versions include an extended introduction, as well as a foreword by the student’s supervisor explaining the special relevance of the work for the field.

You can read both Elise Jenning’s thesis Simulations of dark energy cosmologies and Jonathan Pritchard’s thesis Cooperative Optical Non-Linearity in a Blockaded Rydberg Ensemble on the Springer website: www.springer.com/series/8790

1. Guy speaking at the Global Debate and Public Policy Challenge. 2. Finalists at the Global Debate and Public Policy Challenge.

Suzanne Auty from the Careers, Enterprise and Employability Service (CEEC) has been shortlisted as a Society Champion at the National Enterprise Educator Awards 2012.

This is the 4th annual awards run by The National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE) and Enterprise Educators UK (EEUK). The Awards recognises outstanding achievements

in the enterprise and entrepreneurship education field.

The Awards ceremony is being held on Thursday 13th September 2012 at Plymouth Hoe. Winners will receive a glass trophy and £1,000 to invest in current or future projects at their institutions.

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CIS news...

Busy, busy, busy Like other departments, CIS staff work on a number of large scale projects which we’ve reported on in previous editions (i.e. Communications Infrastructure Upgrade, Security Hardening). In addition there is what we class as our ‘business as usual’ activity, which contributes to improving our services.

Find out more... about Computing and Information Services at www.durham.ac.uk/cis

Some of most recent activity has been:

1 Improving the quality of

University email services Exchange 2010: Staff and research postgraduates who use CIS provided email are in the process of being upgraded to Exchange 2010, with DUCAS users to follow. This gives improved compatibility across web browsers and operating systems, enhanced email access via mobile devices, better security and resilience (less downtime), and for many, a bigger mailbox. Find out more at: www.durham.ac.uk/cis/email/exchange/ exchange2010

to protect yours and the University’s data. This is in force and to ensure you’re protected by the changes it implements, update your password before the 30th October 2012. Full details and the password change facility are available at: www.durham.ac.uk/cis/policy/password

3 Helping you protect your data ‘on-the-go’

Office 365: The move from Outlook Web Access to Office365 is delivering enhanced email facilities for our students (UG and TPGs) including similar features to those available via Exchange however this solution will be provided ‘in the cloud’.

If you need to take University data offsite, protect the data you’re responsible for by using an encrypted USB stick. The encryption means that if it is lost or stolen, no one can access the data but you, protecting it from unauthorised access and you from any negative consequences of that. You can purchase these from the IT Service Desk. www.durham.ac.uk/cis/sales/ consumables/secureusb

2 Guidance and clarity

for setting passwords

4 New home for the IT Service Desk:

IT Steering Group recently approved a University Password policy, providing clarity and guidance on minimum standards for creating passwords,

As part of the activity to provide centralised user services in the new Palatine Centre, the IT Service Desk based on the Science Site at Durham City will

move into the Palatine Centre ready for the start of term. The phone and email details are unchanged, but if you’re going to visit them, make sure you go to the right place! www.durham.ac.uk/cis/servicedesk

5 Upgraded Microsoft Office: We recently carried out an upgrade to Microsoft Office on all MDS PCs. This is the latest version of Microsoft Office and provides numerous security enhancements and extra functionality compared to Office 2007.

6 Speeding up network connections During the summer we completed work to increase our bandwidth capacity and though some of you have already seen an improvement, further increases in our capacity are scheduled to improve this even more!

We’ve also improved our links with NetPark, Ushaw College and the Science Learning Centre giving a faster more reliable connection between them and the University.

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Event Durham, Retail & Catering

Retail Durham University Oriental Museum Gift Collection now online!

The Retail Office is pleased to announce that a handpicked selection of Oriental Museum gifts are now available to buy directly from the University’s online shop.

Visit www.durham.ac.uk/shop to view the collection which includes exquisite

Indian leather-bound notebooks, Chinese ceramics, Japanese silk scarves and authentic Egyptian resin figures.

Have your order delivered to an internal address or request to collect it from any of our outlets, both free of charge!

Also keep an eye out for a Botanic Garden Gift Collection coming soon!

Event Durham Durham City Food Festival Event Durham is currently working hard to help organise and promote the Durham City Food Festival, which takes place on Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th October.

The festival will feature a Gourmet Food Marquee on Palace Green and the return of the Continental Market in the Market Place.

Both days will see demonstrations by world renowned Michelin-starred Chef, Jean Christophe Novelli, and quality regional chefs. There will also be a wide range of events and entertainment throughout the weekend, including food related craft activities taking place at the World Heritage Site Visitor Centre.

Durham Food Festival on Palace Green.

Find out more... www.durhamfoodfestival.com

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HR news...

Saving for your future Membership of one of the pensions schemes supported by the University is an excellent benefit of working for Durham University.

As a member of staff, both you and the University pay into your pension scheme and you will receive the benefits on your retirement.

The University makes both USS and RBP pension schemes available through a salary sacrifice arrangement called pensions+.

This enables staff and the University to save on National Insurance (NI) contributions in addition to the income tax relief on your pension contributions.

If you are not already in one of the pension schemes, read on and consider the benefits of paying into a pension.

It is easy for you to start a pension and begin saving for your retirement. www.durham.ac.uk/hr/payandpensions

USS The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) is the main national superannuation scheme in the HE sector. It is open to all staff in Grades 6 or above and members of staff are automatically entered into the scheme unless they opt out.

Retirement Benefits Plan The Retirement Benefits Plan (RBP) is the University’s own pension scheme.

It is offered to members of staff in Grades 1 to 5. If members of staff wish to take up membership of this pension scheme, they must opt in. www.durham.ac.uk/treasurer/ university_of_durham_retirement _benefits_plan_1969

Find out more about pensions+: www.durham.ac.uk/hr/ benefitsplus/ pensionsplus

There are two sections to the USS scheme: Final salary section – a defined benefit based on a member’s final salary. This section applies to staff that joined the scheme before 1st October 2011 or where the member is permitted to rejoin subject to certain conditions.

Workplace Pension Scheme From Spring 2013, staff who are not already in a University scheme (USS, RBP or NHS) may be affected by a new government initiative called Automatic Enrolment. Automatic Enrolment is designed to help more people have an income when they retire.

Eligible staff who are not already in one of the schemes will be automatically enrolled into a new, low cost Workplace Pension scheme to help staff save for their retirement.

We will be writing to all eligible staff who are not already in a scheme between September 2012 and March 2013. There will also be Pensions Drop In sessions during December to give staff the opportunity to ask questions about their personal circumstances.

For more information about Automatic Enrolment, go to: www.direct.gov.uk/ workplacepension

Career revalued benefits section – offers a revalued benefit which means that benefits are worked out at the end of each scheme year and added to any previous benefits built up in the scheme. www.uss.co.uk

NHS The NHS Pension Scheme is only available for clinical academic staff based in the School of Medicine and Health. www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions

Want to save more into your existing pension?

If you are already in one of the University’s pension schemes and would like to make additional contributions or transfer a pension from a previous employer, contact the Pensions Team.

Richard Walters ext. 46951 r.a.walters@durham.ac.uk Dean Lloyd ext. 46888 d.m.lloyd@durham.ac.uk

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PEOPLE + The University has commenced activity to replace the HR and Payroll system: a significant programme with the final decision affecting every member of staff to varying degrees.

The main aim of the project is to remove the time consuming paper based process around people management and provide a more accurate, up-to-date system with levels of access for all. It is anticipated that key system features will include allowing members of staff to access their own personnel record and submit changes of address and bank account details online. In addition, it is hoped that supervisors and managers will be able to access certain aspects of their teams’ records to help in every day management of staff.

The project has commenced with the procurement activity and expressions of interest to tender have been received by a number of potential suppliers. In September a shortlist will be circulated of the most appropriate suppliers will be invited to demonstrate their products during November and December. Following a period of assessment which will include site visits in January 2013, we hope a supplier will be chosen

by March 2013.

The plan is that implementation will commence in April 2013 with the initial phase of the system being in place for April 2014.

We would welcome your contribution to the project and you can get involved by participating in the user groups: to join us please contact the project team on peopleplus.project@durham.ac.uk

Networking is a great way of getting to know colleagues from around the University, putting faces to names, sharing ideas and working together to solve issues.

There are a number of staff networks in place across the institution available for anyone to join and you can now access information on these via the new set of dedicated Let’s Network web pages: www.durham.ac.uk/lets.network Accessible from the Staff Gateway, the new ‘Staff Networks’ link

currently contains information on the Change, Coaching and Mentoring, Communications, LGBT, Professional and Support Staff (PASS) and Project Management Networks. You can access details of what each network aims to promote, dates of future meetings, presentations from past meetings and how to get in touch with each group.

If you are aware of other networks that would like to join or that you think may benefit from inclusion in this area, please email lets.network@durham.ac.uk

Student awarded Squire Sanders Scholarship Prize Undergraduate student, Natalie Ingram (St. Mary’s) has been awarded an inaugural scholarship prize from Squire Sanders for her excellent academic achievements and her positive contribution to the local community during her first year at Durham.

As part of her scholarship she will undertake a placement at the Legal Firm’s Leeds Office as part of their summer vacation scheme.

Durham University have collaborated with Squire Sanders to launch a scholarship

scheme for aspiring lawyers to help fund degree costs and promote collaboration between academia and industry.

Dr James A. Sweeney, Chair of the Board of Examiners, at Durham Law School, said: “The forward thinking approach Squire Sanders are taking by establishing this scholarship mirrors Durham University’s own commitment to developing the employability and skills of its students. We are proud to be working in partnership with Squire Sanders and once again we congratulate all the winners, especially Durham’s Natalie Ingram.”

Sport

The summer months for Team Durham were the icing on the cake for what was a great year for Sport. For the first time in history we finished second in the British University Sport League table, highlighting the hard work of our students, coaches and administrative staff.

The May Bank Holiday weekend saw our rowers make the annual trip to Nottingham for the BUCS Regatta.

Despite difficult conditions the Palatinates retained their Victor Ludorum title for the ninth consecutive year with quite a bit to spare.

Despite the weather, cricket took centre stage. Our women, led by England bowler Holly Colvin, knew that they were the strongest they had ever been and the chance of obtaining the national title was genuinely possible. Victories over Birmingham and Leeds Met Carnegie were enough to see the girls through to the Semi Final stage where they were drawn away to Exeter.

The final, at Lords saw Durham bat first and the opening pair, Helena Stolle and Cecily Scutt got the Palatinates off to a great start. Unfortunately in cold and damp conditions the Durham batting attack literally got stuck in the mud and as the runs slowed up the wickets began to fall. A final total of 184 was never going to be easy for Loughborough but it was certainly achievable. This proved to be the case as Loughborough went into the final over of the match needing three runs to win. Despite a wicket falling they reached the target with two balls to spare. Although our women were defeated, it is testament to how

far the team have come in the last three years having previously competed in the second tier of knockout competition.

Our men also ended the season as runners up in the BUCS Championship.

Defeat in the final against a strong Cambridge side was hard to take but, thankfully, the Palatinates had the opportunity to take on the same Cambridge side two days later at Lords in the final of the MCC University Centre of Excellence Final. This time Durham did not let a perceived early advantage get away from them and the Palatinates recorded another comfortable victory at the Home of Cricket.

Away from cricket and rowing our men’s rugby union team retained their BUCS Sevens title. Having ended the 15 a-side season as Northern Premier League Champions and Championship runners up, the club can reflect on the last two years knowing that they won three of the four major titles.

We were also treated to a great performance on the track with Jennifer Walsh (University College) winning the BUCS 1500 metre title. One of the other highlights of the summer saw our Women’s Canoe Polo team win the national championship whilst our men finished in the bronze medal position.

Find out more... about all the sport facilities available across the University, visit: www.teamdurham.com/ about/facilities

17

Student wins Paralympic Gold University College student and rowing cox Lily van den Broecke is celebrating after winning gold at the London 2012 Paralympics. Lily, who is studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics, guided the Great Britain legs, trunks and arms (LTA) mixed coxed four to victory at Eton Dorney.

She said: “I can’t believe how proud I am of this crew for keeping everything together.

This is two years’ work and it’s incredible.”

Lily (right), her gold-winning crew and in the water at Eton Dorney. Images © Intersport Images GB Rowing Team.

In other sporting success...

Durham alumna, Sophie Hosking (Trevelyan, 2004-07), took the gold medal with team mate Kat Copeland in the Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls at the 2012 Olympics. Earlier this year the pair won silver at the World Cup Series.

The award celebrates the academic contribution in the field of research, teaching and learning, impact on political process and discourse Professor David Byrne of the School of Applied Social Sciences has been awarded the 2012 UK Social Policy Association (SPA) Special Recognition Award which was presented at the Association’s July Annual Conference at the University of York.

The SPA promotes the study of social policy and advances the role of social policy research within policy making, practice and wider public debates.

The award celebrates the academic contribution in the field of research, teaching and learning, impact on political process and discourse; and recognises

their contribution to the establishment of/and editing of academic journals.

David has held positions with the SPA, the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Joint Universities Council for Social and Public Administration.

His main research areas include social exclusion, urban cites and communities and the role of research in policy and politics. David is “delighted to receive this honour from my peers in the SPA which has always been my favourite learned society because it is irredeemably collegiate and supportive.”

Dialogue 25 | September / October 2012

Changing the WAY we fundraise Introducing the Durham University Annual Fund The Durham University Annual Fund is a new way of raising money for the University. The Fund brings together all the fundraising ‘asks’ from across the University under one umbrella. So instead of a number of uncoordinated campaigns from various areas of the University the new arrangement will give our donors a much smoother and joined-up experience of giving to the University.

Most importantly, our donors will still be able to direct their gifts to the part of the University they want to support, and they will still get letters from the Chancellor, from their College Principal or Master, from their Head of Department, and from Sports Team Captains which will champion individual areas of need. But the big difference is that all these ‘asks’ will now be coordinated and, more significantly, the new arrangement will ensure that once a donor has chosen to support a particular area, he or she will not be approached again by any other part of the University for a full year. This is why it has been named the Durham University Annual Fund – it reinstates the idea that the decision to make a regular gift of a small amounts of money (generally under £1,000) is best organised on a yearly basis.

The Durham University Annual Fund will help us to thank our donors, and only ask them to renew their support when appropriate to do so – putting their experience of giving at the centre of the process.

The first letters of the new approach will start hitting doormats in the autumn. If you receive a letter, please let the Development and Alumni Relations Office know what you think. If we can get this right, the Durham University Annual Fund will be the platform on which high profile, sustainable and high earning campaigns can be built.

Find out more...

Contact David Williams via ext. 46319 or david.williams2 @durham.ac.uk

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Greenspace...

WARPit We have signed up with WARPit (Waste Action Reuse Portal) in order to further enhance our current furniture and equipment reuse scheme. The new system will be fully computerised so any department /college can list items themselves that they have for reuse within the University. There is also the function to search for items you want before you purchase new ones.

Staff can sign up to receive a nightly or weekly email showing what has been listed – making it really quick and easy to see what is on offer.

Items are selected from a drop down list and search fields such as dimensions, location can be added and photographs can be uploaded too!

There are many benefits to reusing existing furniture and equipment including lower carbon emissions relating to the manufacture and transportation of new items, reduced waste disposal costs and reduced procurement costs.

The new system will also enable us to offer unwanted items to local charities and local ‘partner’ organisations and we are looking into developing a service to take unwanted items which we need from other local ‘partner’ organisations.

We are looking to introduce the new system in September and are training Environment Champions in how to use the system at the next training session in mid-September. Full details will be available on the Greenspace website once the new system is introduced.

Inter-campus bus service – new timetable A new Arriva X1 bus timetable will be in operation from 28th October 2012.

The inter-campus bus runs between Stockton and Durham using the Arriva X1 bus service. Copies of the new timetable will be available on the University’s Green Travel website at www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/travel/ intercampusbus. Please also note that the bus stop which was removed from Stockton Road (Mountjoy Site) for the building of the Gateway Project, was reinstated during August 2012.

New Visitor Procedures for upper and lower Mountjoy To assist with the increasing numbers of visitors to upper and lower Mountjoy, a new visitor parking scheme is being introduced in early October 2012.

The new procedures see a more robust approach to visitor parking on the Mountjoy Site, including the provision of several marked visitor parking bays. Members of staff can book a date and time slot in one of these bays for their expected visitor using an online form. Full details and access to the form can be found at www.durham.ac.uk/estates/ transportparking/parking Please note that existing arrangements for visitors to other departments within Durham, to colleges and to Queen’s Campus, Stockton, will remain unchanged until advised otherwise.

It is extremely important therefore that any department expecting visitors to upper and lower Mountjoy make themselves aware of and use the new visitor booking scheme.

Dialogue 25 | September / October 2012

Under investigation Sally Ingram

Director, Counselling Service

Have you got any pets?

Fish, lots of little easy to keep tropical fish.

What are you reading at the moment?

Ending Campus Violence by Brian Brunt and Small Man in a Box by Rob Brydon.

What would you like your epitaph to be?

She did all she could to rid the world of Atelophobia.

Which historical figure would you most like to be?

More most admire than most like to be, Mo Mowlam, she achieved so much personally and professionally.

What was the first record you bought?

Sunday Girl by Blondie, you got a free two tone badge with it!

What achievement are you most proud of?

Keeping close relationships with my family despite the physical distance.

What was your best subject?

Psychology.

BBQ with friends at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh and the evening with my hubby cuddled up watching TV.

National Orchid Show Sunday 9th September Botanic Garden & Josephine Butler College The Orchid Show of Great Britain, The British Orchid Growers Association, Darlington & District Orchid Society and Durham University ‘Friends of the Garden’ are hosting this event for the second year.

Heritage Open Days Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th September

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

Depends who they are and how I’m feeling in that moment.

Enjoy free admission to Durham University Attractions to celebrate Heritage open Days.

Many of the University’s colleges will also be open for guided tours of their art collections.

What’s your greatest vice?

Green and Blacks Chocolate and an ice cold Hendricks G&T.

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

What’s your favourite film?

The Conformist. With cinematic brilliance it manages to show the complex and contradictory nature of trying to be authentic and the lengths we will go to, to gain approval.

Any nicknames?

Munchkin (some people think I’m short, in reality everyone else is just unnaturally tall).

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

A filing clerk for an insurance company. I did this while at school, not a great job for a dyslexic. Sorry to those customers whose claims were delayed.

When was the last time you laughed and why?

When reading these questions, the devil in me What’s your favourite place in the world? toyed with telling all sorts of fabulous fibs.

The back waters of Kerala.

What did you want to be when Tell me a secret: you were a child?

Counsellors don’t share secrets!

Velvet Brown, so I could ride in the Grand National.

What luxury item would you take Where will you be going for your next holiday? to a desert island?

A wind up gramophone and a good mix The Scottish Highlands. of Puccini and Nat King Cole on 78’s.

What skill or talent would you What’s your greatest indulgence? most like to acquire?

Handbags.

To be able to draw.

Give me a picture of your ideal day: Wake up without the use of an alarm clock, salmon, eggs and orange juice for breakfast, while reading all of the Sunday papers.

A walk to Preikestolen with my family.

September

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

Jemma Mcaloon, Operations Manager, CEEC.

October Late Summer Lecture Series Tuesday 25th September, Thursday 4th & Tuesday 9th October Alington House, Durham The Late Summer Lecture Series is organised annually to give researchers from the Arts and Humanities a chance to present their work. These are the two remaining lectures in the series.

Durham Book Festival 2012 13th - 30th October Durham City & County Durham Book Festival returns with a host of literary events in venues throughout Durham City and across the county.

St John’s Annual Borderlands Lecture ‘Assisted Dying: Why the Law needs to be changed’ Thursday 18th October, 5:30pm, The Calman Learning Centre, Durham University Professor Raymond Tallis makes the clinical, legal, and ethical case for legalising assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults, who are suffering intolerably and who have expressed a sustained wish to die.

Durham City Food Festival 2012 Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th October Palace Green & Durham City Centre Durham Food Festival promises a weekend of gastronomic delights including the giant Food Marque and Durham City Farmers and Continental Markets in the city centre.

Celebrate Science Tuesday 30th October – Thursday 1st November Palace Green, Durham The popular 3-day festival returns for the schools half term holidays, bringing even more FREE science-themed experiments, activities and events for children of all ages to the heart of Durham.