Dialogue Magazine - Issue 24

Peru expedition

Also in this issue:

John Snow College students set out in an attempt to raise money for the Rainforest Alliance and The Woodlands Trust.

The School of Education

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Spotlight on... / Page 12

Durham University Day Nursery Getting in the swing of the summer’s national celebrations / Page 18

Dialogue 24 | July / August 2012

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One of the greatest pleasures of being at Durham University is our students.

Not only are they amongst the most academically-able in the UK and, indeed, from around the world, but they seem to excel at almost everything else as well (including, as I can hear whilst writing this, post-exam partying!).

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This issue of Dialogue features some of the remarkable things our students get up to at Durham that gives them the transferable skills which make them so employable (Durham graduates are ranked 15th in the world by leading global employers). Our students excel as individuals and as teams in international competition in music and the Arts, sport and volunteering – the three strands of student experience emphasised in the University’s strategy.

Our final year students, undergraduate and postgraduate, left us for their life beyond university at the end of this academic year and we congratulated them and celebrated with them at Congregation at the end of June. In addition to our congratulations, we, the University staff, should also thank those who graduated for all they have done to contribute to, help build and enliven our University and City communities through their Departments and Colleges. We should also remember our collective responsibility to provide ongoing mutual support as part of the continuing and world-wide Durham University alumni community.

So, from all staff, congratulations and good luck to all our graduates – thank you for all you have contributed to the University and be sure to keep in touch in the years to come.

With all best wishes,

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Gateway update

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Spotlight on...

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Durham leads the way

Research highlights 06 Spotlight on...

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Queen’s Campus Central Administration

Installation of Sir

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Thomas Allen

Short story

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competition winner

Young composer

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award winner

Peru Expedition 11 S tudent launches 10

The School of Education

Research

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Administration Conference

Event Durham,

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Retail and Catering

CIS news 16 Olympics round-up 18 Durham University 15

Day Nursery

Greenspace 20 Under investigation 19

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; Stina Maynard, Event Durham; Media Relations Team, Communications Office; Avril Brown, Queen’s Campus Central Administration; Holly McLellan, St. John’s College; Peter Tymms, The School of Education.

DESIGN: wearewarm.com PRINT: hpm.uk.com

What’s On

iPad cookbook

Chris Higgins, Vice-Chancellor and Warden

Front cover: The eight student strong expedition to Peru from John Snow College

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Update

DURHAM LEADS THE WAY

G A T E WAY U P D A T E Work on the Palatine Centre and Law School is moving close to completion, despite delays caused earlier in the Spring. Increased labour resources were brought to site to mitigate against the untimely insolvency of a contractor and, with now in excess of 250 operatives working across all aspects, the programme completion date has moved from 3rd August to 17th August 2012.

We have recently been ranked fifth in The Times Good University Guide 2013 which is based on a number of criteria including student satisfaction, research quality, entry standards and graduate prospects.

As a consequence of this, the Move Schedule has been revised and this will now see the first moves taking place on 31st August 2012, with subsequent moves throughout weekends in September.

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2 The Guide also ranked Durham in the top 10 UK universities most targeted by key employers and 19 of our departments are in the top five for their subject area.

Durham is also ranked third in the country in the prestigious Sunday Times University Guide 2012 and fifth in The Complete University Guide 2013.

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In another recent league table, The Complete University Guide 2013 named Durham as the third safest university in England and Wales, stating that Durham had the third lowest incidence of student -relevant crime within three miles of its campus. Compiled from official police data, the ranking gives the clearest picture possible of the crime rates for 103 universities.

Images: 1. View down the atrium. 2. Main entrance to the Palatine Centre. 3. Atrium glazing to Executive offices. 4. The Law School Entrance and the view from Stockton Road.

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Learn more

about the building works or the move visit www.durham. ac.uk/durham.project/ gateway

Our involvement in a number of schemes and partnerships ensures that our students enjoy a safe stay at the University including close liaison with police, provision of personal safety advice, and community patrols provided by University Security.

Durham Students’ Union also runs a Nightbus service providing students with a safe and secure way of getting home on an evening.

Research highlights

Gene involved in sperm-to-egg binding is key to fertility in mammals A new gene has been identified that could help the development of fertility treatments in humans in the future.

A team of researchers, led by Dr Adam Benham from the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, looking at fertility in mice, has discovered for the first time that the gene, which makes a protein called PDILT, enables sperm to bind to an egg, a process essential to fertilisation.

In conjunction with Osaka University, Japan, they found that when the gene was “switched off” in male mice, less than three per cent of females’ eggs were fertilised compared to more than 80 per cent when the gene was left switched on.

It is the first time that a gene of this type has been linked to fertility.

Although the research and findings are at an early stage, the researchers now hope to look at how the gene affects sperm-to-egg binding in humans.

The discoveries could pave the way for the development of new fertility treatments for humans that could help to reduce the cost and improve the effectiveness of in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

COVERAGE INCLUDES: Widespread national and regional media including specialist online media.

Right: Dr Adam Benham

Modern dog breeds genetically disconnected from ancient ancestors Cross-breeding of dogs over thousands of years has made it extremely difficult to trace the ancient genetic roots of today’s pets, according to a new study from the Department of Archaeology.

An international team of scientists, led by evolutionary biologist Dr Greger Larson, analysed data of the genetic make-up of modern-day dogs, alongside an assessment of the global archaeological record of dog remains, and found that modern breeds genetically have little in common with their ancient ancestors.

Dogs were the first domesticated animals and the researchers say their findings will ultimately lead to greater understanding of dogs’ origins and the development of early human civilisation.

Although many modern breeds look like those depicted in ancient texts or in Egyptian pyramids, cross-breeding across thousands of years has meant that it is not accurate to label any modern breeds as “ancient”, according to the researchers.

Dr Larson said: “Both the appearance and behaviour of modern breeds would be deeply strange to our ancestors who lived just a few hundred years ago.

And so far, anyway, studying modern breeds hasn’t yet allowed us to understand how, where and when dogs and humans first started this wonderful relationship.”

The researchers added that DNA sequencing technology is faster and cheaper than ever and could soon lead to further insights into the domestication and subsequent evolution of dogs.

COVERAGE INCLUDES: New York Times, China Daily, Voice of America, Fox News, BBC News Online, Daily Mail, and specialist online media.

Image © Keith Dobney

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Professor Clare Bambra

Government plans to allocate NHS resources by age only would disproportionately benefit areas of England that are the most healthy, most affluent, and most likely to vote Conservative, according to Clare Bambra, Professor of Public Health Policy and Director of the Wolfson Research Institute.

In a speech last month, health secretary Andrew Lansley promised that when the new clinical commissioning groups are up and running, areas with lots of old people will no longer be penalised by the way the NHS allocates resources.

“will lead to a considerable shift of healthcare funding away from the neediest, poorer areas of the north and the inner cities towards the least needy, most affluent, and most elderly areas of the south”.

At present, funds are allocated to primary care trusts by a complex formula that takes account of age, deprivation, health need, and the local cost of providing care.

It also means more money for areas voting Conservative and less for those voting Labour, she added.

In a letter to the BMJ (British Medical Journal), Professor Bambra warned that focusing only on age and severing the link with deprivation and health need

COVERAGE INCLUDES: The Independent, The Guardian, BBC Radio 5 Live, Times Higher Education, and widespread regional media coverage.

Durham University to be Church of England’s sole validation partner for ministerial training Durham University has been chosen to partner with the Church of England to validate ordination training of its ministers across England.

The decision, which has been endorsed by the Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, will see Durham build a strong relationship with the Church’s training institutes via its Department of Theology and Religion - ranked as the top Department of Theology and Religion in the country by The Times Good University Guide 2013.

Durham will be the Church of England’s single validation partner. Currently the Church provides higher education for ordinands through validation links with 19 different universities.

The partnership will continue a long tradition of ordination training within Durham that stretches back more than a Century.

It will see the University actively engage with the Church’s staff and students to share and enhance research-led developments in ministerial training.

Go to...

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

During Summer and Autumn 2012, work will continue on the development of a suite of common awards, and a contract governing the partnership arrangements will be agreed.

New academic appointments will be located in a research centre for practical theology and the first students will be admitted onto the new programmes in Autumn 2014.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Higgins said: “Durham is exceptionally well placed to work with the Church in this way because of our world position in theology and religion and our considerable experience over 100 years of close partnership in ministerial training through St. John’s College and indeed, at an earlier stage, St. Chad’s College.”

COVERAGE INCLUDES: Specialist church media including The Church Times and Christian Today

Spotlight on...

’S QUEEN NTRAL E C S U CAMP AT I O N R T S I ADMIN Our team, although not always visible, plays an important part in ensuring that the Campus runs effectively and smoothly.

Our aim is to ensure that support activities operate efficiently and assist the Dean for Queen’s Campus in taking forward actions to help underpin planned developments, including the introduction of the new Pharmacy programme from 2013.

The services delivered by the team range from finance, community events, office services (including a reprographics facility), looking after the inter-campus bus contract, through to support for open days and other Campus events. The workload is varied and interesting and the team enjoys the contact with students and staff that their roles entail and being part of a small close knit group of people that provides assistance wherever possible.

As well as their “day jobs”, the team have committed themselves to helping the local community by carrying out a number of volunteer team challenges. In addition to the usual gardening projects, the team works through the night to serve bacon buns and drinks to women doing the annual Butterwick

Fortunate to be locate d in a striki overlookin ng waterfr g the stun ont setting, ning Infinit Administrat y Bridge, th ion Team (p e Central art of the R responsible egistrar’s D for providin ivision) is g a broad services fo assortmen r students t of suppor , staff and t visitors to Queen’s C ampus.

Hospice midnight walk, and a particularly innovative pilot scheme provides work placements for adult returners to work and people with disabilities.

A major highlight in the annual calendar of events run by the team is our own take on University Challenge. We work with the Student Recruitment & Admissions Office to get local 6th forms and colleges on Campus and showcase University programmes and facilities. The school teams have their own qualifying heats night before finding themselves up against students from John Snow & Stephenson Colleges, Medsoc and Bio-Medsoc as well as teams from the local community. It’s a fun event but with the serious side in terms of student admissions.

A key priority for us is to raise the profile of the University in Stockton, and University Challenge helps with this objective. Another way in which we are trying to achieve this is by taking a small shop unit in the town and using it to showcase our history and development both in Stockton and in Durham. By providing a plasma screen presentation we can highlight the contribution to society that the University makes through world-class research taking place at both locations, as well as the opportunities for students.

The team plays a role in sustainability issues by promoting ‘green’ measures across the Campus, fostering recycling, monitoring paper usage, leading on green travel matters and working with ‘Champions’ from other areas to ensure we contribute to achieving our carbon reduction commitment. Queen’s has the advantage of modern, energy efficient buildings but we also need to focus on changing our attitudes if we are to get close to meeting the difficult targets.

Back Row – L to R: Katharine Aspey (Admin Assistant), Sue McMaster (Wolfson Receptionist), Pam Brewer (Snr Finance Assistant), Elaine Whyte (Finance Assistant), Jan Young (Student Services Adviser), Marie Fallows (Finance Assistant), Kendra Mulligan (Finance Assistant), Maria Clarke (Ebsworth Receptionist), Vicky Anderson (Clerical Assistant).

Front Row – L to R: Richard Gladstone (Holliday Receptionist), Avril Brown (Campus Services Manager), Emma Cuthbertson (Accommodation Adviser – Private Sector), Andrea Hagan (PA to Dean of Queen’s Campus/Campus-Community Co-ordinator), Kim Walker (Reprographics Supervisor), David Fionda (Campus Operations Director).

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On Tuesday 26th June Sir Thomas Allen was officially installed as the University’s 12th Chancellor. He received his Chancellor’s robes and cap and took the oath of office at a special ceremony in Durham Cathedral attended by staff, students and friends of the University.

Also honoured at the ceremony were Philip Pullman, author of the critically acclaimed trilogy His Dark Materials, and the artist David Inshaw who is particularly known for the impressive painting The Badminton Game which now resides in The Tate Gallery.

Both were presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Letters after being nominated

by Sir Thomas to receive honorary degrees as part of his installation celebrations.

Sir Thomas said: “I feel hugely humble to be Chancellor of Durham University and yet I have immense pride. It’s the most extraordinary accolade. I’m aware that it’s an honorary role, a celebratory role, a role where you get to wear a nice uniform, but I have a part to play and I want to play it to the best of my ability. There’s a vibrancy here that I think is second to none, which really presents a wonderful opportunity for students and the entire University community. I look forward to being part of that and in extolling the virtues of this great University wherever and whenever I can.”

Left: The view of the ceremony within Durham Cathedral. Above, from top: Sir Thomas Allen in his robes and cap of office. The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor with the Honorary Graduates.

The academic procession.

Awards & Competitions...

S H O RT STO RY COMPETITION WINNER Back in May, postgraduate student Samantha Lin won the UK International Short Story Competition with her entry – Lily of the Valley. The competition explores the experience of international students living and studying in the UK and gives them an opportunity to assess and translate their experience creatively.

On my first day in Durham, I visited my college, St. Chad’s, to enquire about joining its choir. I love music and I allowed the lack of neither singing ability nor experience with chapel choirs to deter me.

As a Chinese-Australian, I also had not been privy to Durham’s deeply Anglican atmosphere.

Admittedly, my excitement quickly turned into mild terror during the first rehearsals and services: all the musical elements were familiar, but the religious context was completely alien to me.

I filed all those conflicting feelings away, knowing I’d like to someday write a story inspired by Chad’s choir.

That opportunity came when I discovered the International Students Short Story Competition and decided to write Lily of the Valley. The story is about a Japanese exchange student who finds herself at odds with many aspects of English culture: religion, language, and etiquette, to name a few. But I wanted to explore those tensions through sacred music, so I threw the protagonist into a liturgical choir and assigned an integral narrative role to her singing.

Of course, Lily of the Valley is very much a work of fiction, as I absolutely adore every moment spent with St. Chad’s college choir – in fact I’ve recently returned from a choir tour in Rome which I greatly enjoyed.

In terms of what’s next for me, I have rough plans of embarking on another literary project involving the University, the Cathedral, and one of the choirs. I’ll also continue to tweet various musings about Durham and beyond!

Samantha Lin outside St. Chad’s College © Nicoletta Ascuito

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YOUNG COMPOSER AWARD WINNER Second year Music Student, Ben Rowarth (University College), won the 19-25 age group category in the National Centre for Early Music 2012 Composers’ Awards.

Ben Rowarth & Peter Phillips

Find out more... about ‘Renaissance’: www.durham.ac.uk/ music/about/life/ musicsocieties

This national competition attracts many high calibre entries from young composers across the nation. His winning composition was performed in concert at Durham Cathedral by Peter Philips and the Tallis Scholars on 2nd June over the Diamond Jubilee Weekend. The concert was recorded

by BBC Radio 3 and featured in The Early Music Show on 1st July.

Ben said: “I am just unbelievably flattered to have won the competition and would like to thank the Ebor singers and Christopher Fox for all their help in the workshop and indeed Peter Phillips and the Tallis Scholars for performing it so beautifully. For someone who loves choral music, singing, conducting and composing it and has followed the Tallis Scholars from an early age, this is an unbelievable experience.”

Ben was also proud to have another one of his pieces premiered in Durham Cathedral the following Saturday by the choir that he founded a year ago and currently conducts - ‘Renaissance’. The choir is made up of students, staff members and alumni and specialises in the performance of Renaissance and Contemporary music.

Reviewer Ralph Allwood said of Ben’s piece that it “demonstrated an impressive new voice, showing a remarkably effective harmonic flow, exploiting the range, vocal dexterity and colour of this outstanding choir.”

He added, “I have never been more impressed by choral singing in Durham.

Such excellent student enterprise drives standards and enthusiasm.”

Dialogue 24 | July / August 2012

Peru expedition On 17th March 2012, eight John Snow College students set out to Peru in an attempt to raise money for the Rainforest Alliance and The Woodlands Trust.

Chloe McKeown, Jordan Little, Guillaume Aubourg, Elisabeth Gram, Stuart Flegg, Natasha Elson and Jack Dixey were fronted

by John Snow’s Charities Officer, Holly McLellan, for the four day long Inca trail which demanded seven hours of trekking a day at high altitudes. The team, who all safely returned on 4th April, commented on the trek as, “The most physically demanding but most rewarding challenge of our lives”.

The team were lucky enough to spend some time working in a school in Cuzco where students suffer severe learning disabilities, including profound deafness and Downs Syndrome. The team headed a sports day for the children as well as running and participating in other activities including basketball.

First year Biomedical Scientist Jack Dixey commented on the visit to the school as being one of his most “amazing experiences and emotionally draining.”

He is determined to return to the school one day.

John Snow College were happy to donate hundreds of pens to the school and the team also invested in sporting equipment for the school while out there. All money raised from the expedition will be going directly to helping the preservation of rainforests in Peru, South and Central America. It is thought that the total currently raised will cover around 15 acres of protected land and contribute towards other charitable causes.

School sports day organised by the students

Students with children at a school in Cuzco

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Second year Combined Honours student Alex Yandell has shown his enterprising nature with the launch of a revolutionary multi-touch summer cookbook for iPad which has recently been featured on the ‘new and noteworthy’ section of the Apple iBookstore.

Alex, who is at Trevelyan College, has created this cookbook along with his friend Ed, an engineering student at Cambridge.

As the book is designed exclusively for iPad they believe it to be far more interactive and intuitive than other electronic books and have focused on simplicity, elegance and essential features, with an offering of a concise 30 seasonal recipes.

Alex’s story...

For a couple of years now, I’ve wanted to produce and publish my own recipe book.

I’m a passionate chef and constantly write down and develop new recipes. However, the cookbook market is extremely competitive, and I had always thought that it would be impossible to get published - after all I have no name or celebrity status! When I saw that Apple were offering a new, free design program for self-publishing, I immediately downloaded it and became excited about the possibility of producing and releasing my own electronic book. My friend Ed, an engineering student at Cambridge, is a passionate designer and keen photographer, and was keen to join in the project. We are both extremely interested in technology, and Apple products in particular, and saw an opportunity to enter into a new, rapidly growing market.

Because the software and publishing are almost completely cost-free, unlike the traditional process, we didn’t need to worry about fundraising or other costs, and could focus entirely on the creative aspects of the project. www.cooktastesmile.co.uk

Alex [right] and Ed [left] the creators of “Cook. Taste. Smile”

Spotlight on...

T H E S C H O O L O F E D U C AT I O N The School of Education was formed in 1979 following the merger of the Institute of Education and the Department of Education.

In the same year the College of St. Hild and St. Bede was fully incorporated into the University, and many members of the two former independent teacher training colleges taught in the new School. Indeed, part of the old Bede College, which dates back to 1839, is now the main building of the School of Education. Thus the School of Education has links with teacher education stretching back nearly 175 years.

Over that time we have trained thousands of teachers, the majority of whom have worked in the region.

The School of Education continues to educate teachers both at Queen’s Campus on a three year undergraduate degree and on the Durham site we also run the one year postgraduate certificate in education working in partnership with over 200 local schools as well as the International School of Geneva.

We run Masters programmes with vibrant part-time courses operating on evenings and weekends. We have many overseas students working alongside full-time home students on masters, professional doctorate programmes and PhDs. The school has 50 academic staff, about 400 undergraduate students and 700 postgraduate students. Additionally all the work on the University’s Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) is based in the School in the Centre for Academic Practice.

In terms of externally funded research the School of Education has gone from strength to strength this year with major research grants being won in the last 12 months from ESRC (£773k), AHRC (£23k), and educational charities such as the Education Endowment foundation (three awards totalling over £250k) and Esmée Fairbairn, Gatsby, the Sutton Trust and the Campaign for Learning (about a further £330k). These projects are wide ranging, from physical activity and well being in schools, to improving learning of disadvantaged young people through peer-tutoring or parental engagement and the challenge of multilingualism in higher education. A number of these awards have been in collaboration with the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM), which tracks the educational progress of more than a million children world-wide. We also have close links with the Science Learning Centre and the Wolfson Research Institute.

We are influential in the educational world, where we can show impact on education policy throughout the UK and a wider impact internationally in areas such as educational assessment, the use of technology in schools, the curriculum (especially STEM subjects), working with children with special educational needs, and initial teacher education.

In the last two years we have made more than a dozen academic appointments helping us to build on our excellent work and look forward to the challenges of the future.

We have over the last two years achieved and exceeded all of our targets including research funding, research applications, postgraduate numbers, Ofsted ratings (outstanding in all categories), and NSS survey returns with the highest return rates in the university, when Durham has the highest return rates of any UK university.

Yet we still face challenges, both external and internal. The government proposes to move the central focus for initial teacher education to schools and we are working on extending our partnerships with key groups in the region to maintain our position. We also face a challenge over finances for research. Although we have increased our funding this year we expect it to become increasingly difficult to win large grants.

Our greatest internal challenge relates to the buildings we occupy on the Hild/Bede site.

They comprise 1960s brick and Victorian stone buildings which have been simply maintained over the years. The University’s commitment to new builds is very welcome.

From left to right: Postgraduate students at one of the School of Education’s ever popular and highly acclaimed summer workshops

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Professor Peter Tymms, Head of the School of Education www.durham.ac.uk/education

Key personnel: Professor Ray Land Ray Land joined the School of Education in January as Professor of Higher Education and Director of Durham’s Centre for Academic Practice.

The Centre runs the University’s Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) which new members of staff undertake to gain Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.

Ray has published widely in the field of educational research, and is particularly known as the co-founder of the learning theory ‘Threshold Concepts’.

RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE The Research Office recently held an informative half-day Research Administration Conference. The theme was ‘Enabling Successful Collaboration’ and delegates consisted of administrative staff from across the University.

Guest speakers included Sarah Jackson (Director of the N8 Partnership); Professor Veronica Strang, (Executive Director in the IAS) together with Professor Barbara Graziosi (Director of Arts and Humanities in the IAS); and Professor Richard Davies (Director of the Durham Energy Institute).

The event gave delegates an insight into how research collaborations work and what is available within the University to support it.

It was a great success and was enjoyed by all.

Professor Ray Land

For any further information or to propose a topic for a future event please e-mail: researchgrants@durham.ac.uk

Event Durham, Retail & Catering

Retail Let the University Retail Office kit you out for Summer!

The University Retail Office is gearing up for Summer and preparing for the sunshine with the launch of their new Durham University flip flops.

Visit their online shop to view the full summer range which also includes shorts, vests and t-shirts. www.durham.ac.uk/shop Please note wellies and umbrellas are also available!

Event Durham Relocation Manager Appointment As a University we have embarked on a major academic investment and development strategy to cement our position as a leading but distinctive university for research and education of global impact. A programme of investment in senior academics was recently launched and the University is now in the process of recruiting for up to 50 new posts, the majority at Professional level.

To support the recruitment drive, Stina Maynard, based in Event Durham, has been appointed University Relocation Manager.

This is a new post, which will involve Stina performing a fundamental role in supporting

new senior academic staff with their move to Durham. She will be working closely with each of the faculties and Human Resources to ensure a smooth transition.

Stina has been an employee here for over seven years. She has extensive knowledge of both the University and the surrounding Durham area, and has worked closely with Academics from across the University supporting on conferences.

For more information please contact Stina on x49251 or stina.maynard@durham.ac.uk

Event feedback “I was very, very satisfied with Event Durham and the staff at Castle, Grey and Collingwood.

It took a lot of organisation to make everything happen but overall the event was a huge success and everything ran very smoothly.

I am grateful.”

Judicial Conversations Conference.

Dr Gleider Hernandez, Durham Law School

“I’ve run events before at different venues in Durham (i.e. not run by Event Durham), and would certainly use Event Durham and Collingwood College for events again in future, rather than other venues. The service and professionalism were excellent, and Collingwood is a great venue for a conference.

I didn’t hear a single complaint about the event management at all. I’d enthusiastically recommend Event Durham and Collingwood to colleagues thinking of organising an event in future.”

Romosexuality: the reception of Rome and the construction of western homosexual identities Conference.

Dr Jennifer Ingleheart, Department of Classics and Ancient History

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CIS news...

Looking to the future

Over the coming 12 months CIS will be making a concerted effort to review and update our IT training offering which is currently limited to staff and research postgraduates. There is a need, not only to assess and improve those areas, but also to extend the range and reach of our IT training to include more of the student population too.

Our broad aims are to: • U nderstand more about your training needs so we can provide what you need • I ncrease the availability and opportunities to access training, for both staff and students • E xplore different routes for delivering training to maximise its reach, through a combination of methods including face-to-face contact and online options

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

• T o update our feedback mechanisms to provide us with information for continual review and refinement, so we can respond appropriately as technology and your requirements change.

A wide range of university images are available through the Image Management System (IMS). The IMS acts as a central source to help departments and colleges to access images and provides an opportunity to upload and store images.

Over the coming months we will be launching activities to gather your feedback so we can understand more about the applications and packages you use, whether there are any areas you feel you need training on and how you would prefer to access that training. The information you provide will give us valuable indicators to help us refresh and update our IT training to better meet your needs.

IT is ever-increasingly prevalent in our day-to-day work and is ever-changing. We aim to provide training that is up-to-date, relevant and useful to you – whether you are a novice or an experienced user looking to refresh and update your skills.

We will be gathering information via a number of different mechanisms which may include questionnaires, focus groups or pilot schemes, and details will be published via the weekly Dialogue Signposts email. When the opportunity arises, please do participate: the more information you are able to provide, the better able we will be to tailor our training to suit your needs.

All members of staff can access the IMS by using their CIS username and password.

To access, store and upload images to the IMS visit: www.durham.ac.uk/ims

Paralympics & Olympics

Ones to watch at the Olympics…

// WOMEN’S EIGHT EMILY TAYLOR (Economics with French, Hatfield, 2005-09) LOUISA REEVE (Natural Sciences, Hatfield, 2003-06) LINDSEY MAGUIRE (Developmental Psychopathology, Ustinov, 2003-04)

// MEN’S QUADRUPLE SCULL STEPHEN ROWBOTHAM (Business Economics, Collingwood, 2000-03)

Key dates • 2 8th July Start of Olympic Regatta

Gemma Colis, St. Cuthbert’s Society Law student and wheelchair fencer, Gemma Collis, has been selected to represent Team GB at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

At 19 years old, Gemma will be making her Paralympic debut as part of the Wheelchair Fencing Female Epée Team.

She said:“Shortly after starting my Law degree, whilst training for basketball, I was approached by Professor Laszlo Jakab, the GB Wheelchair Fencing Head Coach and University Head Coach, who asked me if I’d like to try wheelchair fencing. I did and really enjoyed it.”

Growing up, Gemma competed at a high level in a number of sports, but in 2008, she got a condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, which affects the functioning of the nerves in her right leg, causing altered sensation and extreme pain.

Since then, Gemma has been on crutches or used a wheelchair.

Gemma said: “I’m incredibly proud to have been selected to represent Great Britain.

Competing in the Paralympics is a dream in itself, but getting the opportunity to do so in front of a home crowd makes it more special.

• 1 st – 4th August Olympic rowing medal events • 2 9th August – 9th September The London Paralympics

Lily van den Broecke, University College Lily van den Broecke has also been selected to represent Team GB at the London 2012 Paralympic Games as a rowing cox for the mixed coxed four.

Did you know...

This year Durham finished 2nd in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) championship – their highest position ever and with their highest ever total points score.

Lily’s selection comes only a couple of weeks after winning Gold at the Munich World Cup. She said “I’m beyond excited to be part of the Paralympics Games. Not only is it an honour to be coxing with top athletes but the experience will be made even more special when shared with our home nation”.

When I started fencing six months ago, I never would’ve thought I’d be in this position now.”

Professor Jakab, said: “It’s not common for someone to get selected for the Paralympics after such a short sport history in fencing. She deserves this because her progress is rapid and promising, she is a very disciplined and committed player with great potential and I’m sure she will make her country proud in years to come.”

Early this year we opened the only world-class standard fencing specific facility in the country. The fencing facility is part of British Fencing’s National Academy - Sports Universities North East England (SUNEE) and used by the Regional Fencing Centre - Durham (RFCD), which offers training to all ages and abilities, supporting fencing throughout the North East.

Lily van den Broecke

• 4 th – 8th September Paralympic fencing

Paralympian and Durham student Gemma Collis

With the Olympic Regatta due to start on 28th July, four Durham alumni have been confirmed as part of Team GB’s rowing squad:

STU DE NTS S E LECTE D F O R P A R A LY M P I C S

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Over the weekend of 16/17th June, thousands of people celebrated the arrival of the Olympic Torch in Durham City on the University’s Racecourse.

Staff and students came out in force to be part of this unique opportunity to welcome the Olympic Flame and were entertained by performances from various local groups.

TV presenter Matt Baker carried the Flame onto the Racecourse and lit the celebration cauldron.

On the Sunday, County Durham cricketer Paul Collingwood set off on the first leg of the relay from Palace Green and on the same day, our

Main: Paul Collingwood outside Cathedral. Right: Matt Baker lighting the cauldron. Far right: Naomi handing over the torch.

three torchbearers, Naomi Hoogesteger, Kira Roberts and Steph Elliott, did the honours on behalf of the University.

Naomi said: “Although I am a firm believer that true inspiration to achieve must come from within, the support that I have received during my time at Durham University, and in particular from my academic department and college, is unparalleled. Along the various sporting paths that I have taken, I have come to realise that having such a rock to rely upon is of utmost importance in order to achieve ambitions and dreams.”

News in brief

Durham University Day Nursery has been entering into the swing of this Summer’s national events and celebrations by holding a Diamond Jubilee party and a getting its children involved in a sponsored ‘Torch Toddle’.

On Friday 1st June staff, children and babies, clothed in red, white and blue, enjoyed their Jubilee celebrations. Children had made their own crowns and joined in party games and dancing before sitting down to a special party tea. Much fun (and cake) was had by all.

A few weeks later, following the weekend’s Olympic Torch celebrations in Durham City, the children took part in a sponsored ‘Torch Toddle’ to raise funds for the Day Nursery.

Carrying their paper torches, they toddled with carers and helpers around Hild-Bede and back up the steep hill to the nursery – no mean feat for little legs! Later this summer the annual sports day will also have an Olympic theme.

Durham University Day Nursery is a diverse community, open to children of University staff, students and members of the public.

Find out more... about the nursery, visit: www.durham.ac.uk/ university.nursery

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Greenspace...

RING-FENCED CARBON BUDGET 47 applications were submitted for the ring-fenced carbon budget These ranged from replacing energy inefficient appliances to installing solar panels.

Of these applications, 19 projects were awarded with a total spend of £100,376. The successful bids came from both colleges and departments and demonstrated the creative thinking of our staff towards saving carbon in the University. The successful projects can be viewed on the Carbon Management pages of the Greenspace website.

The fund for next academic year will be advertised from the 1st August. There will be two application rounds: one ending on the 31st October and another (if there are any remaining funds) ending on the 28th February. Why not start thinking about what your College or Department could apply for to save carbon in the University?

SHOWER TIMERS

CAR SHARING The University is keen to promote car sharing between staff and students.

A car share website has been developed to enable staff and students to register, sharing opportunities as both drivers and passengers. You don’t even need a car to sign up to be a car share passenger – most members are willing to do the driving in return for a contribution to their fuel costs and some friendly company! To view available car shares within the University go to www.durham.ac.uk/ greenspace/travel/carshare

Why should you get involved in car sharing?

• i t can be used for any type of journey at any time making it the cheapest and most flexible form of transport around • i t saves you money on fuel and other car running costs (See how much you can save by using the online lift share cost calculator at www.liftshare.com)

2,500 shower timers...

• i t helps you do your bit for the environment by cutting your carbon footprint

...were donated free of charge from Northumbrian Water and have been distributed to all of our 16 colleges and some of our departments.

• i t makes boring solo journeys sociable and fun

These timers are set to five minutes and are designed to encourage shorter showers and the saving of water. This idea came from Josephine Butler College, who installed 400 of the timers with very positive feedback from students.

• i t reduces stress by allowing you to be chauffer driven.

Find out more...

National Lift Share Week 1st – 5th October 2012 why not give it a go?

about how you can get involved, visit: www.durham.ac.uk/ greenspace

Dialogue 24 | July / August 2012

Under investigation Carolyn Summerbell Have you got any pets?

One dog, one cat. We have other animals (sheep, chickens, bees) but they are not pets.

What are you reading at the moment?

Recently finished ‘I Left My Tent in San Francisco’ by Emma Kennedy – hilarious.

I have ‘The Tent, the Bucket and Me’ on my bedside table waiting to be read.

What would you like you epitaph to be?

The nurturing of virtue, wisdom, wit, courage and style are as important as the teaching of facts.

Which historical figure would you most like to be?

Dr John Snow – of course What was the first record you bought?

Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits What achievement are you most proud of?

Supervising a number of PhD students who have gone on to great things.

What was your best subject?

Maths When was the last time you laughed and why?

Last night over dinner when my 14 year old described what one of her less favourite teachers was like.

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

From the age of 12 I only ever wanted to be a nutritionist.

July Meet the Young Curators Saturdays throughout July & August Oriental Museum

Principal of John Snow College

Where will you be going for your next holiday?

Wells-next-the-Sea. First holiday with my husband but without children for 16 years.

What skill or talent would you most like to acquire?

To be able to understand how much I have left in a FP7 budget at any one point in time.

Give me a picture of your ideal day: Wake up at 5.30am feeling sparkly. Look at emails. One paper accepted in BMJ, and a NIHR programme grant in the bag. Wander out of a glorious apartment in Nice and peruse the market and patisseries for breakfast items. Have a late and lovely breakfast with the family. 1 hour on the beach. Time travel to Orrery in London. Lunch with HC. Pop into Hobbs to buy a new outfit.

Afternoon of fun with GC. Time travel to Crater Lake to join the family. Wander around the lake, and enjoy evening meal and drinks in the Crater Lake Hotel, watching the sun go down. Quick look at emails.

One from JDD to say the JCR Summer Ball went well and no outstanding issues to pick up, and another from HD to say that he has bought me an original by Beryl Cook.

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

Depending on who it is.

It ranges from 0-10

What’s your greatest vice?

More of a bad habit than a vice – looking at emails too regularly, even on holiday.

Enjoy a guided tour of the Stories of the World Exhibition: ‘Made in China: Experiences and Exports’ by the students from local schools who designed and curated it as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. These tours are suitable for all the family and are included in the museum admission price.

What’s your favourite film?

Hannibal.

Any nicknames?

Some senior male staff have called me Tinkerbell in the past.

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

I worked in a shoe shop when I was 16 for two weeks. I hated having to touch other people’s feet.

What’s your favourite place in the world?

Tricky. Nice, France or Crater Lake, Oregon, US. Tell me a secret: I had a brief ‘relationship’ with a member of Haircut 100.

What luxury item would you take to a desert island?

A 5* hotel with a sky bar.

If you consider that cheating, then a first class day return ticket.

What’s your greatest indulgence?

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

Sally Ingram, Director, Counselling Service.

August Teddy Bear’s Picnics Wednesday 1st & Wednesday 8th August Botanic Garden All day event with special activities.

Enter your bear into the most loved teddy competition, enjoy a bear story and create some bear-y good artwork on this special day.

Jays Animal Encounters Wednesday 15th & Wednesday 29th August Botanic Garden The zoo comes to the Botanic Garden!

From cute and cuddly, to smooth & scaly, meet the incredible range of friendly animals from Jay’s Animal Encounters who will be visiting the Garden this summer.

September 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 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.

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

Don’t forget to visit www.durham.ac.uk/dialogue WARM/07/12/11