SPace
Bath Spa University’s monthly magazine JANUARY 2015
FEATURES 20
Talking Point
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My Student Experience Rebecca Price, Business and Management student
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Review Illuminate 2015 lights up the streets of Bath
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Professor Michael Pennie: Making and Teaching
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SPACE OCTOBER 2014
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contents 6
Update from the Vice-Chancellor
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Food photography
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Success in REF 2014
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International Quarry Life
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New student accommodation
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Further improvements to A4 cycle route
16 Successful HEFCE bid for science facilities
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Media Buddy scheme
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Shear delight
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Raising money for WaterAid
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17 Commercial Music graduate Joe Schiavon 18
Spotlight on‌ Suzanne Harris, Bath Spa Live Events and Venues Manager
SPACE JANUARY 2015
SPACE magazine is published every month and is aimed at staff and students of Bath Spa University. SPACE welcomes contributions from all members of the Bath Spa community. Want to get involved? Contact Anya Clifton – a.clifton@bathspa.ac.uk
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Editor Anya Clifton Features Writer Rob Breckon Design and layout Lorna Harrington Photography Chris Wakefield Contributors Naomi Box Sara Cundy Rebecca Price Scott Rogers
Suzanne Harris Faye Williams Front cover Illuminate 2015 taken by Chris Wakefield www.crescent-photography.com
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Talking Point… Professor Michael Pennie: 27 Making and Teaching My Student Experience…Rebecca Price, Business and Management 29
Development and Alumni Relations -Alumni Reunion weekend -Creative Thinking Award
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Review: Illuminate 2015
International update
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In the News 33 Sustainability and Environment - Attacks on schools in Pakistan - The quasi-religious significance of Elvis 35 Staff news - A tribute to PD James - Labour’s attack on tax breaks for private schools
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What’s On
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Professor Christina Slade, Vice-Chancellor
Update from the Vice-Chancellor Welcome to the first issue of SPACE for 2015 and to the new academic term. 2014 ended on a high note with the University’s best ever results in the Research Excellence Framework (REF), the UK programme which assesses the quality and impact of higher education research. These results reflect the many years of hard work by academic colleagues and creative practitioners across the University. This year started with eight nights of projection, performance and installation as Illuminate 2015 lit up the streets of Bath. The artworks displayed on venues such as the Roman Baths, The Holburne Museum and Pulteney Bridge showcased the talents of both international and local artists, as well as our students. The University also exchanged contracts for the purchase of new student residential accommodation, opposite Green Park in Bath city centre. This will allow more first-year students to be housed in dedicated student accommodation. Finally, the National Student Survey opened in January and runs until the end of April for all final year students. I encourage all eligible students to participate in the survey, which last year placed us in the top 20 UK universities for student satisfaction. The quality of the student experience is very important to the University, and I want all students to not only fulfil their academic potential and be prepared for their future careers, but also to have an enjoyable time as part of the Bath Spa community. Student feedback is a key part of this process, and by listening to students, we can make sure that we continue to do things well, and that we improve where necessary.
Professor Christina Slade Vice-Chancellor
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UNIVERSITY NEWS Success in REF 2014 Bath Spa has secured its best ever results in the Research Excellence Framework (REF), the UK programme which assesses the quality and impact of higher education research.
The University has tripled its volume of internationally excellent and world leading research, since the previous Research Assessment Exercise in 2008.
The University’s submission to REF 2014 featured research in Art and Design, Education, English and Creative Writing, History, Music and Performing Arts, and Communication Culture and Media Studies.
Highlights of the results include: • Excellent research environment in creative subjects, reflecting sustained investments in staff and facilities, • Tripled amount of world leading research in English and Creative Writing, • Doubled amount of world leading research in Art & Design, • Outstanding impact score for Music and Performing Arts case studies in Songwriting and Multi- media Performance, • Cross disciplinary research excellence reflected in outcomes for Communication Culture and Media Studies, • Improvement in output quality and impact of Education research. Vice-Chancellor Professor Christina Slade said: “I’m extremely proud of these results which reflect many years of hard work by academic colleagues and leading creative practitioners across the University. Our distinctive, practice-based approach to research draws disciplines together boosting the quality of our published work and enhances our global relevance and impact. “These results follow recent successes in the National Student Survey and Which? University Student Survey 2014 consolidating our position as a leading UK liberal arts University.”
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Artist’s impression of Green Park House
Bath Spa announces plans for new student accommodation in Bath city centre The
University recently exchanged contracts for the purchase of new student residential accommodation opposite Green Park in Bath. The new development will be known as Green Park House and will consist of 461 new student homes alongside a new café and management suite. The property will be constructed by Berkeley Homes, part of the Berkeley Group, which acquired the land for development at the end of 2013. This acquisition continues the development programme which has seen a new state-of-the-art academic building and student residential accommodation being built at the University’s Newton Park campus. Vice-Chancellor Professor Christina Slade said: “I am delighted that we have secured Green Park House for the next phase of our development plans. This new development will allow more first year students to be housed in dedicated student accommodation, and provide more choice of on-campus and off-campus housing. The University is making significant investments to enhance the quality of our student experience, and this is a very welcome addition to the facilities available to Bath Spa students.” Work on the residential development is scheduled for completion in summer 2016. SPACE SPACE JANUARY NOVEMBER2015 2013
Artist’s impression of Green Park House
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UNIVERSITY NEWS Support for further improvements to A4 cycle route The University has contributed £40,000 to support Bath & North East Somerset Council as it
continues with its £420,000 scheme to improve cycle access between the University’s Newton Park campus and the City of Bath. The Council has already created a new cycle path alongside the A4 from the campus entrance to The Globe roundabout and from the roundabout to the A4/ A36 Twerton Fork; this was completed in spring 2013. The next stage will involve putting in place a new crossing for cyclists and pedestrians to safely navigate the dual carriageway section of the A4 Bristol Road, near the roundabout. This will also make it safer for bus passengers travelling from locations to the west of the University such as Saltford, Keynsham and Bristol, who currently have to cross the busy dual carriageway. Alongside this a new ramp is being put in place at the Twerton fork junction. 1,200 tonnes of stone will be re-used from the Kelston Road site to create the new ramp which will provide a new connection between the A4 shared use path and the Bristol and Bath Railway path. Work began on 5 January and is expected to last around 10 weeks. Both the existing Bristol and Bath Railway path and A4 Bristol Road cycleway / footways remain open during the works and disruption is intended to be kept to a minimum. Temporary bus stops will be provided at The Globe roundabout during the works and the current informal crossing point near the roundabout will be retained until crossings have been sufficiently completed. Commenting on the University’s support of these improvements Chief Operating Officer, Neil Latham said: “This is very welcome news for the University. Not only will these plans enable safer access for students travelling to and from Newton Park campus, but I hope it will continue to encourage staff and students, as well as the general public to use sustainable methods of transport.”
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‘Media Buddy’ scheme growing through support Following on from the success of last year’s Media Buddy scheme, October saw the continuation of the scheme to a new cohort of enthusiastic third year Creative Media Practice and Media Communication students.
The latest students and mentors with Dr Dan Ashton.
The scheme, which allows students to have one to one contact with industry professionals to help shape their career plans and develop their network of contacts, began with a stimulating launch event in Commons where students met their mentor for the first time. Academic coordinator of the scheme Dr Dan Ashton, described it as “a great opportunity for students to help build stronger links with a range of media industry professionals in the South West.” Through the scheme, students have access to mentors with a wealth of experience including studio directors, international journalists, documentary producers, TV reporters, PR and marketing specialists, cinematographers and website designers working for high profile establishments such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sue Ryder. Stephanie Winnard, Enterprise and Employer Liaison Coordinator at the University said: “The calibre of mentors engaging in our Media Buddy scheme is a testament to the industry’s desire to nurture new and upcoming talent. It also provides an opportunity for our mentors to engage in a new unique network through their fellow mentors and the University.” The event also provided a platform for the University to network with industry professionals and was concluded with a tour of the University’s new studios and post-production facilities by Studio Facilities Manager, Johnny Barden. The success of Media Buddy is driven by collaboration between the Department of Film, Media and Creative Computing and the Enterprise and Employability Department.
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Shear delight for Bath Spa University Shaun the Sheep sculptures
The University is pleased to announce it is a sponsor of the London Shaun in the City sculpture trail which will take place from March 2015.
Led by the team that created the multi award-winning Gromit Unleashed campaign in 2013, Shaun in the City will see 120 giant sheep sculptures individually designed by celebrities and artists herded on the streets of London and Bristol in 2015 in two eight-week ‘baa-rilliant’ arts trails. The trails will culminate in a public exhibition and charity auction to raise money for sick children in Bristol and across the UK in autumn 2015. Vice-Chancellor Professor Christina Slade said: “As a leading creative university, we are proud to be associated with a project that celebrates creativity and supports a worthy charitable cause. We are particularly excited to be working with our chosen artist for Bath Spa’s Shaun, who we look forward to announcing soon.” Bath Spa will be joining an impressive line-up of sponsors in London including The Big Bus Tours Company, the British Council, Broadgate City of London, China Eastern Airlines and One New Change. Nicola Masters, Director of Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Charity said: “Next year, Shaun in the City will bring a trail of two cities to the UK, showcasing the finest local, national and international artists. “For our sponsors this is a fantastic opportunity to be involved with the world’s first Shaun in the City trail, designed to draw international attention and visitors from across the globe, whilst raising vital funds to support children in hospitals.” Shaun the Sheep is one of Aardman’s best loved characters with over five million fans on social media and TV series which are broadcast in 170 territories world-wide and was recently voted the nation’s all-time favourite BBC children’s TV character.
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Bath Spa and its University Chaplains team up to raise money for WaterAid A total donation of £2,776.48 was recently
presented to international charity WaterAid following an ongoing fundraising initiative between Bath Spa University, and the Catholic and Anglican Churches. £1,776.48 was raised by the Ecumenical Chaplains’ Soup Lunch and a cheque was presented by the Students’ Union Sabbatical Officers Bruce Galliver, Nick Cox and Robert Gould. This funding was supported by the University and a cheque for £1,000 was presented by Vice-Chancellor Professor Christina Slade. The Soup Lunch initiative has been running since 2001 and offers students and staff at the University a chance to replace their usual lunch with a quick lunch of homemade soup, bread and cheese and have a chat with the Ecumenical Chaplains at Bath Spa. It takes place in the Students’ Union every Thursday during term time and aims to remind people how lucky we are to be able to drink clean, unpolluted water from a tap and think of those people in the world who are not so fortunate.
From left to right. Students Union President Bruce Galliver, Vice-Chancellor Professor Christina Slade, Catholic Chaplain Father Bill, OSM and Eva Janosova from WaterAid.
Father Bill, OSM, Catholic Chaplain at Bath Spa University said: “We are delighted to have once again worked closely with Bath Spa University to support such a worthy cause. My thanks go to all the different University staff who have made the weekly soup lunch possible, from the catering team providing the soup to the Students’ Union staff who have helped bank the takings and provided us with a space to sell the soup.”
The money raised by the Soup Lunch initiative has been matched by the University every year since 2006. An impressive £19,590 was raised in that time. This money has allowed WaterAid to help over 1300 people access safe, clean water and sanitation.
Eva Janosova from WaterAid added: “WaterAid’s vision is of a world where everyone everywhere has access to safe water and sanitation. Yet there are currently over 748 million people in the world without clean water and over 2.5 billion people living without adequate sanitation.
The Soup Lunch is also a good way for students to have contact time each week with Father Bill, OSM and the Anglican chaplain Prebendary Jan Knott as well as the Students’ Union. Both chaplains were very glad to see students on the day and hope there will be continued support for this weekly lunchtime event.
“I would like to thank Father Bill and everyone at Bath Spa Ecumenical Chaplains’ Soup Lunch for their continued commitment to supporting us in our aim to help people living in extreme poverty gain access to clean water and safe sanitation. It is truly inspiring to know we are all working together to transform lives.’’
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Publishing students learn food photography industry secrets Publishing students recently enjoyed a unique masterclass in
food styling and photography from industry experts, Guardian food photographer Jonathan Cherry and cookbook stylist and co-founder of lifestyle book specialist Harris + Wilson, Caroline Harris. Students found out about location scouting, photography styles, and how to make food the ‘hero’ of your shot through careful choice of plate colour and size, camera angles, framing and focus point. Caroline Harris, coordinator of the popular third-year Food Writing and Editing module, said: “I was impressed by the high level of engagement in the students’ workshop preparation and the thought they put into experimental shots.” Students took to social media to discuss the masterclass: Joele Forrester tweeted: ‘great food photography workshop today’ alongside her vintage-style photo of cookies, while Chelsea Brown posted a shot of treacle tart scattered with sea salt, commenting ‘it was a fantastic day, real highlight for @BSUPublishing’. Publishing students have previously had work experience on Caroline and Jonathan’s titles, such as bestselling brands Ella’s Kitchen and Dorset Cereals: The Breakfast Book. Course Leader, Katharine Reeve added: “The food and cookery publishing category across print and digital has proved extraordinarily successful, offering excellent opportunities for our graduates.”
Examples of the food photographed 14
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Success at International Quarry Life Awards A team of staff and students in Biology and Environmental Science has won a prestigious international award for biodiversity research.
A project which examined biodiversity enhancement in woodlands at Whatley Quarry near Frome in Somerset was joint winner with a project from the Czech Republic in the ‘Biodiversity Enhancement’ category of the biennial HeidelbergCement Quarry Life Awards. Head of Department: Science, Dr David Watson represented the research team and was presented with a trophy and the €10,000 prize money at the award ceremony in Prague. Dr Watson said: “I’m delighted that we have won this award, it’s been a brilliant opportunity to research biodiversity restoration. It was great to represent the research team at the awards ceremony and I’m sure the whole team will be really thrilled at the outcome. “We plan to use the prize money to support student research. This may involve continuing student research placements at Whatley Quarry or we may seek further funding to secure a fully funded PhD award.” Dr Michael Rademacher, one of the international jury members and Biodiversity and Natural Resources Director at HeidelbergCement added: “This project is very practical and identified woodland management practices that might be applied, and species that might be transplanted to increase plant and butterfly diversity. This has a considerable relevance to quarry restoration activities in the UK and elsewhere in Northern Europe, and for woodland management more generally.” Over 200 delegates from 22 countries attended the ceremony including other prize winners from Russia, Ghana, Germany, Australia, and Poland, who won the overall award for the 2014 competition. The competition and research projects allow HeidelbergCement to improve its biodiversity management practices as well as share best practice examples with the public. This international recognition follows on from the University’s recent success at the UK finals of the Quarry Life Award in which the project came second place and received £2,400 prize money.
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Bath Spa successful in bid to HEFCE to enhance science facilities The University has been successful in a bid for STEM capital funding to enhance science facilities at Newton Park campus.
The bid for ÂŁ160,000, matched by the University, was led by Professor Paul Davies in conjunction with Chief Operating Officer Neil Latham, the Department of Science, and the Estates Department. The funding will ensure state-of-the art equipment in the new Low Hazard lab in Stanton and enable reconfiguration of the Wellow laboratories to improve the teaching environment. Both of these developments will help to meet an increasing demand for high quality science courses. This funding adds to substantial investment, already seen through the Commons development, in the learning environment provided by Bath Spa.
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Joe Schiavon with founder of the Glastonbury Festival Michael Eavis
What goes on Tor stays on Tor Commercial Music graduate Joe Schiavon has been appointed as the new Booking Assistant for Glastonbury Festival. Since graduating in 2006 Joe has been working in live music promotion and now runs his own company Transmission Music.
“I got an email from Glastonbury out of the blue in April saying they were looking for a young independent promoter to join the team as a Bookings Assistant, and asking if this something I would be interested in” said Joe. “I nearly fell off my chair!” He then met up with Emily Eavis after this year’s festival and shortly after that they offered him the job.
Joe Schiavon
“We had an initial bookings meeting at the farm discussing potential acts. It was genuinely one of the most surreal experiences of my life, having a very serious conversation about booking some of the biggest artists in the world! “It’s a brand new role so we’re still figuring out exactly what it will involve as time goes on, but at the moment I’m spending my time listening to new acts that have been submitted by agents for the John Peel and Park stages, or going to their London shows, but also playing a role in discussing potential options for acts further up the bill, which is amazing to be honest. I feel very lucky indeed.” SPACE NOVEMBER 2013 SPACE JANUARY 2015
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spotlight ON...
Bath Spa Live Events and Venues Manager Suzanne Harris for the safety and comfort of all our customers. “I also work with staff in all Schools to schedule the external artists and the student work on campus and in a variety of other venues across the region. I look after contracts, payments, licenses and staffing. We have Technicians, Duty Managers and Events Staff working at various venues which equates to about 16 people in total.” Bath Spa Live plays an integral part in ensuring the University’s music and performing arts students have opportunities to demonstrate their talents to their peers and the wider community.
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spotlight on...
Suzanne comes up to her three year anniversary, she looks back on her time so far at Bath Spa and is excited for what the future holds for the University. Suzanne is the Events and Venues Manager for Bath Spa Live, a part of the University which promotes creativity and enables innovation by engaging students in the professional world of music and performing arts. Suzanne’s list of responsibilities is wide ranging as she explained: “Bath Spa Live is the production house for the University’s cultural and artistic events. I manage Box Office, Front of House and Bar operations at our venues, and I’m responsible 18
Suzanne said: “Bath Spa Live is one of the ways in which the University shows the wider community just what our values really are. We’re creative, energetic and inclusive and coming to a BSL-produced event might be the first contact someone has with the University. “People come into our venue on London Road - Burdall’s Yard, to enjoy comedy, jazz or listen to our fantastic singer-songwriters. It is sometimes only when they leave they discover they’ve been in a University venue, and some of the performers they’ve been enjoying are students, not (yet) professionals.” The University is constantly evolving to ensure it is providing a comfortable teaching environment for its staff as well as an engaging and interesting place of study for its students. However, what are the most significant changes Suzanne has noticed?
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She explained: “At the start of this academic year, Bath Spa Live moved out of the School of Music and Performing Arts and became a service to all the Schools. That’s been a very exciting expansion for us. We’re still very attached to our music and performing arts colleagues and students, but we now get involved in exhibitions, lectures and events across the whole University. “There have been smaller changes too. I bought some mannequins to display costumes made by our talented Theatre Production students, and it makes me happy every time I pass the University Theatre and see them. In our bars, I changed some of our suppliers so our cider and apple juice now come from local Somerset orchards and I added another flavour of Pringles. Never overlook the significance of Pringles!” And what is it Suzanne most enjoys about working at Bath Spa? “I really enjoy spending time with our customers at the venues, but undoubtedly my favourite thing is working with the Bath Spa Live Events staff. They are almost all current or former students and I just love the energy, enthusiasm and humour they bring to everything they do. I hope I’m giving them a grounding in a career (Events Management) at which any one of them could excel, and in return they inspire me and keep my spirits up if we are all having a difficult evening.” Alongside her role at Bath Spa Live, Suzanne is also part of the Internal Coaching Network (ICN). But what exactly is the ICN and why does it exist? Suzanne explained: “That’s a rather grand name for a group of enthusiastic and committed people who are building their skills as coaches and bringing coaching to anyone who feels it could be of benefit,” she said. “There are currently six of us: Nick Sargent, Michael Budmani, Mark Hill, Warren Cole, Katy Mugford and myself. We are working towards a professional qualification with the Institute of Leadership and Management and we’re all actively coaching within BSU and beyond. I think I can speak for all the coaches when I say we’re passionate about the benefits of coaching - once you’ve experienced it, you’ll see why.” And how did Suzanne get involved in the ICN and why would someone want to join the ICN? Suzanne said: “We arrived at the network by different paths. I wanted to be involved because I’d done a coaching qualification a few years ago and wanted to build on that. Some people came to the group as a result of a leadership initiative within BSU. We work with external professionals to build our skills, and we receive coaching ourselves, so we’re on the other end of the process too.” “Coaching is for everyone; you might want to make changes in your life or work - large or small. You may be facing challenges at work or at home and need some time to talk things through. You won’t get advice from a coach; we know you already have everything you need to succeed. “A coach will ask questions to help you to focus your thoughts, we’ll help you to set goals, refine your thinking and move forward. Coaching is very different from counselling or mentoring. If you feel overwhelmed by changes, or if you just feel a bit stuck, coaching gives you a safe place in which to think.” For any staff interested in getting involved with the ICN, please visit The Hub for more information.
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talking point Professor Michael Pennie Considering the long and successful career
Professor Michael Pennie
that Professor Michael Pennie has had, you wouldn’t think that, in part at least, he chose Art because he got better marks at school than in any other subject.
talking point
Thankfully it was a gamble that paid off, and Michael has since become an internationally renowned sculptor whose work has been displayed in collections both in Britain and abroad. Michael’s progression to art school meant an initial foray into painting and graphic design but he was “uncomfortable with both” and moved onto to sculpture. Here there was only one other student and no-one to teach them, so Michael was quite happy to be left to his own devices. It was here that Michael chose to carve in wood, and this has been the medium he has used for the majority of his artwork, though more recently he has made bronzes and ceramics.
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Michael joined Bath Spa University (then the Bath Academy of Art) as a Senior Lecturer in 1962 , became a Professor in 1996. He was based in Corsham Court in the 1960s, moved to Sion Hill in the 1980s and 1990s, and then went back to Corsham Court. Despite retiring from teaching in 2001, Michael still works, splitting his time between his studios at Chapel Plaister and Corsham Court. His continues to draw inspiration from these historic surroundings – he has recently completed Carving when the sun shines which was made from a piece of 350 year old cedar tree from the grounds at Corsham Court.
Making and Teaching or How I became a peculiar person, takes the form of a treasure box of individual memories, written about his work, his exhibitions, former students and colleagues, all of which are gathered alongside rich images of artists and their work. Initially produced as a tiny print run of 25 copies, this memoir is now available online here and will bring Michael’s memories of the ‘old days’ to life to the public, and especially art students of whom Michael has “the greatest regard”.
To these art students, Michael’s advice is simple: “Looking is working. Always make the time and effort to see and study the real thing.” And as Michael continues to work through his ‘retirement’, there is still the chance to see new work from him. He is currently working towards an exhibition called ‘Sculpture for Furniture’ a not-for-profit venture which will include sculpture, carvings, bronzes, drawings and Another of Michael’s most recent projects has prints in seven venues across Wiltshire from been a personal memoir of a life in art. This May to October 2015. work, entitled Michael Pennie: Sculpture SPACE JANUARY 2015
MY STUDENT EXPERIENCE Rebecca Price Business and Management When
Rebecca Price embarked on her Business and Management course she didn’t imagine that she would end up producing a radio advert with former ITV presenter and star of Bath Theatre Royal’s Christmas Pantomime, Jon Monie.
Early on during our degree, lecturers and career advisors repeatedly stressed the importance of work experience. Having had so much work experience I initially ignored this advice, until the opportunity arose for a work placement at Sirona Care and Health. Sirona Care and Health provide services which aid the prevention of ill health and the promotion of healthy lifestyles in and around the Bath Area. The Sirona ‘Stop Smoking Service’ work placement was advertised through the Career Hub and consisted of two phases. The initial phase involved working remotely during the summer with the support of my mentor, Sarah Bloomfield (Senior Lecturer Business and Management), to research smoking campaigns and produce a research document. Phase two of the project was to write a creative brief for a radio advert to promote the Sirona Stop Smoking Service to a local audience. At this point my role changed to a more challenging and exciting role of Project Manager. The project involved working with students from different degree courses to ensure delivery of the radio advert before the deadline of December. Creative Media Practice student Tom Dickinson was assigned the task of writing scripts which SPACE NOVEMBER 2013 SPACE JANUARY 2015
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“Starting my degree was an exciting moment for me, although it was 24 years later than my original plan! But after a full and varied career with Tui Travel and three children, I decided it was time to return to education.
would appeal to the target group of smokers. Psychology students Kaya Thompson, Alice Cresswell and Rachel Jones conducted their own research on the scripts using their knowledge of psychology. Creative Media Practice students Nicole Boulton, Lewis Killick and Mark Churchyard facilitated the production of the advert as well as drama student Imogen TaylorHaroun who starred in the advert. The role of project manager involved the co-ordination of meetings between Sirona and the students involved in the project. The objective of the initial meetings was to enable collaboration in the sharing of ideas between students and Sirona. The meetings enabled the selection of the most appropriate script and discussions on how we wanted to portray the advert to our target audience. An exciting development was that Sarah managed to source local actor Jon Monie who would take the lead role. Jon Monie has extensive professional experience as a former presenter for ITV and more recently starred as ‘Buttons’ at Bath Theatre Royal’s Christmas Pantomime. We were also able to use the studio facilities in Commons, which ensured the radio production was to the highest technical standards. The advert was aired throughout January on Smooth FM. It was really exciting to gain this type of work experience, but I also feel that I have also contributed towards the wellbeing of the local community. If this means that at least one person seeks support in giving up smoking then we have achieved something really worthwhile. From a personal point of view, this project has sparked an interest in both marketing and project management for future career consideration, which are both areas I had not previously considered. It has been invaluable to be able to relate my work experience to my academic work, and be able to work collaboratively with students from different departments.“
Lewis Killick - Production, Thomas Dickinson - Script Writer, Mark Churchyard -Production, Richard Merrett -Health Development Manager -Sirona, Jon Monie - Actor,Rebecca Price - Project Manager, Nicole Boulton -Production and Kaya Thompson- Camera operator 22
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Review ILLUMINATE 2015 The buildings of Bath were once again lit up during January as part of Illuminate 2015. The eight
day event brought together work by international and local artists alongside art created by Bath Spa students. Led by Anthony Head, Creative Director of Illuminate 2015 and Senior Lecturer at BSU, over 20,000 people saw the illuminations and projections at venues throughout the city centre including The Holburne Museum, Abbey Church Yard, Pulteney Bridge and the Roman Baths.
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Illuminate 2015 was presented in partnership with Bath and North East Somerset Council, and has been supported by Arts Council England, The Osbourne Group, Enlightened and Nicholas Pearson Associates.
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In the News In Conversation with… Education under fire: the world has lost many more Malalas in Pakistan school attack Senior lecturer in the School of Education Ghazala Bhatti wrote an article for The Conversation following the attacks on a school in Pakistan in December 2014. Read the article here
The quasi-religious significance of Elvis, king of rock ’n’ roll Senior Lecturer in Music and Performing Arts Richard Parfitt recently wrote an article in The Conversation celebrating the life and achievements of Elvis ahead of an exhibition of his life at The O2 Arena. Read the article here
Long live the work of PD James, crime fiction pioneer Lecturer in English Literature Rebecca Stewart has written an article in The Conversation paying tribute to crime fiction pioneer PD James. Read the article here
Labour’s attack on tax breaks for private schools is timely Dean of Education Dr Kate Reynolds has written an article in The Conversation about shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt’s suggestions that private schools need to contribute more to state education or face the removal of their tax breaks. Read the article here
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Development and Alumni Alumni Reunion weekend At Bath Spa University we are very lucky to have many of our former students working for us, which is why we are very excited to officially announce the first Bath Spa University Alumni Reunion Weekend on 21, 22 and 23 August 2015. The weekend will start on Friday 21 August with a drinks reception and live music at Burdall’s Yard, giving everyone the chance to catch up with old friends and get into the party spirit.
DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI NEWS
On Saturday Corsham Court and Sion Hill will be opened up to guests and the main event will take place on Saturday afternoon at Newton Park, where one of our most well-known alumni Mary Berry will be speaking in Commons. Please spread the word to your former classmates that this event is taking place and encourage them to purchase their tickets quickly, as we only have a limited number of places available! You can find out more about the event and buy tickets on our dedicated Alumni Reunion Weekend webpage
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Creative Thinking Award Third year Religions, Philosophies and
Ethics student Alex Fermor has been announced as the winner of the Creative Thinking Award for his idea ‘The Authentic Mind Machine’. The Creative Thinking Award established by Bath Spa University in partnership with Ark Data Centres, was launched in September and aimed to challenge students to develop new concepts and ideas that demonstrate 21st century creative thinking with ideas involving some form of imaginary technological solution. Alex was awarded the £1,500 prize money for his imagined idea ‘The Authentic Mind Machine’ (AMM) which would identify triggers in a person’s mind when a decision they have made, or a thought occurs, is connected to their deeper self.
(From left to right): Professor of Creative Computing Andrew Hugill, Alex Fermor, Jeff Thomas and Huw Owen from Ark Data Centres
The award was open to any student undertaking an undergraduate or postgraduate course at Bath Spa. The judging panel was looking for lateral thinking, originality and innovation, whatever the area or field within which they occurred.
Huw Owen added: “A great final with great ideas across a wide spectrum of topics; I congratulate all of the finalists on their achievement. Alex demonstrated genuine creative thinking, made a great presentation and displayed an open, quick, non-defensive wit under questioning. Ark is proud to sponsor this prize and encourage bright young people in a really positive way to stretch how they think and come at issues in everyday life and then to present and act as advocates for their resulting ideas.” Commenting, Alex said: “It feels fantastic to win. I was a little overwhelmed at first and couldn’t quite believe it, but it is encouraging to know my creativity has been recognised.”
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Bath Spa Live Bath Spa Live upcoming events February opens with photographic exhibition ‘Somerset Floods: One Year On’, which documents the plight of those affected by the traumatic floods of early 2014. ‘The Moving Exhibition’ brings dance and music to the Holburne Museum. ‘Pilot’ brings dance to the University Theatre. Poetry comes to Burdall’s Yard with ‘Rhyme and Reason’, ‘Poetry Centre’ and ‘Count me in’. Music in February starts with commercial music series ‘These Beautiful Things’ and jazz from Mercury Quartet. The first big acting performance of 2015, Arabian Nights, will be performed at the egg. We close February with the premier of the third year acting students’ sitcoms, in our ‘Sitcom Showcase’.
Reflections: Somerset Floods, One Year On -Tue 3 Feb, 10:00am BRIDGWATER ARTS CENTRE Tickets: FREE A photographic exhibition that documents the landscapes and communities of the Somerset Levels affected by the traumatic floods of early 2014 using the stunning photography of Matilda Temperley and the reflections of families visited by Bath Spa researchers whose lives, homes and businesses were devastated by the waters. The exhibition opens on the 3 February and closes on the 28 February
Pilot - Wed 11 Feb, 7:30pm - UNIVERSITY THEATRE Tickets: FREE PILOT is an informal choreographic sharing for graduate Dance Artists to platform their creative ideas in progress before a live audience. The project is a joint venture between Bath Spa, Bath Dance and Theatre Bristol and is specifically targeted towards artists who have a connection to the South West region. The performance will be followed by a feedback session with the audience.
Count Me In - Wed 11 Feb, 8:00pm - BURDALL’S YARD Tickets: £8; CONCESSIONS £6; BSU STUDENTS £5; FREE to Bath Spa Live Members Will it be your lucky night? Maureen and Judi hope it will be. Every week, they place their trust in Don, the glamorous Bingo Master, to make their dreams come true. But what are the real stories behind the magic numbers?
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Featuring performance poets Sara-Jane Arbury, Glenn Carmichael and Lucy English, Count Me In is a spoken word theatre show exploring the special numbers in our lives. Set around a game of Bingo (which we will all play for the star prize!), the characters reveal uplifting and uncomfortable truths about themselves as the numbers are called. Eyes down for a full house!
Arabian Nights - Thu 12 Feb to Sat 14 Feb, 7:00pm ( 10:00am and 2:00pm on Sat) - THE EGG Tickets: £7.50; CONCESSIONS £6.50 Bath Spa University’s OnSet Productions presents this colourful and inventive adaptation by Dominic Cooke. A vivid re-imagining of the world’s most magical and spellbinding tales. King Shahraya has decreed that whenever he marries, the following morning his new wife must die. On her wedding night, Shahrazad‘s only hope is to enchant the King with her tales of magic and adventure. Bewitched by dazzling characters like Ali Baba, Es-Sindibad the Sailor, giants, beasts, menacing ghouls, scheming thieves and birds that can talk, the King defers the execution for a thousand and one nights. Will he spare Shahrazad’s life forever?
These Beautiful Things - Thu 12 Feb, 8:00pm - BURDALL’S YARD Tickets: £3; Free for BSU Students Featuring Bath Spa Commercial Music student Ellie James. Ellie has been Artist of the Week and play listed on BBC Radio Wales, as well as played on Amazing Radio, BBC Radio 2, BBC6 Music, Nation Radio and many more. Ellie’s song ‘Company’ is the soundtrack for Peacocks 2015 Christmas TV commercial. See the advert and read more about her here. Also Anna O’Mally & Chiara Braggion will be performing.
Jazz Night: Mercury Quartet - Fri 13 Feb, 8:00pm - BURDALL’S YARD Tickets: £7; CONCESSIONS £5; BSU STUDENT £4; Free to Bath Spa Live members The musical world Mercury inhabits lies in the murky edges between genres. Always attempting to find new interpretations of the jazz quartet format, Mercury makes improvised jazz music which reaches into the worlds of grunge, dub-step, folk and ambient house. Seeking new and subversive textures from the classical avant-garde and blending them with the jazz voices of the greats of ECM and the feel and gestures of electronic music.
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Gamelan - Wed 25 Feb, 7:30pm - MICHAEL TIPPETT CENTRE Tickets: £5; CONCESSIONS £3; BSU STUDENTS £3; Free to Bath Spa Live Members Gamelan performers from Bath and Bristol join forces to present a concert performance of traditional Javanese shadow puppets, dance, and instrumental and vocal pieces. The concert will include traditional pieces for Gamelan with dancer Gill Roberts, performed by the Bristol Community Gamelan and pieces played by Bath Spa Gamelan First Year Group. In the second half, Dave McKenny (Puppeteer) and Pete Smith (Musician) will lead the Bath Spa Gamelan Group in a Wayang performance. Including storytelling, song, music and drama in a unique fusion of elements that are traditional and new.
Sitcom Showcase - Fri 27 Feb, 7:30pm - MICHAEL TIPPETT CENTRE Tickets: FREE Come and join the cast and crew at the world premier screening of four sitcoms devised and filmed as part of the Level 6 Situation Comedy. The project aims to introduce students to the contemporary ‘real world’ creative and management processes of studio-based situation comedy development and production in the UK. (16+ age guidance)
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Chinese New Year Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival in China. The new year begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese lunar calendar. It always falls in late January or early February, which is early spring time. Therefore, the Chinese New Year is also known as Spring Festival. The celebrations run from the Chinese New Year’s Eve and continue for 15 days until the 15 January in lunar calendar, which is called the Lantern Festival. The festival is for family members to gather for celebration. It normally involves a very large reunion dinner, putting up red paper cuttings or New Year scrolls, giving out red packets with money to younger children, setting off fireworks and fire crackers. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Bath Spa Chinese Student & Scholars Association (CSSA) is working with the Student Union to organise a Chinese New Year’s party on Newton Park campus in February 2015. On the day, there will be a presentation about Chinese New Year, music from a Chinese traditional instrument – the Erhu and also singing, paper cutting display, Chinese calligraphy display and more. You will have the opportunities to get into the festival spirit and try some of the activities! More information about the day will be published nearer the time and we look forward to seeing you all at the festival party!
international UPDATE
Business and Management Summer School – University of Technology, Sydney The University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) is offering students the opportunity to participate in the UTS Business School short course in International Marketing, a three-week intensive subject open to Exchange and Study Abroad students, in July 2015. This is ideal for anyone seeking to develop skills in marketing and business communication in an international context. Students will study for academic credit with students from Australia and around the world. For full details on the course programme and how to apply click here
International Summer School – University of Graz, Austria The Graz International Summer School is designed for students who want to deepen their understanding of current European and international affairs by studying and discussing global developments and challenges. Taking place over two weeks in July, the summer school will be based at Seggau Castle, Australia, and will consist of lectures, discussion and seminars as well as networking opportunities with international lecturers and guests. Full details and how to apply are available here
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Sustainability and Environment
Green Week, Fairtrade Fortnight & Student Volunteering Week The end of February is going to be a busy time. Not only is it BSU’s second Green Week, it’s also National Student Volunteering week and the start of Fairtrade Fortnight! We’ve got lots of events planned during the week, with activities being held at Newton Park and Sion Hill campuses and the UNITE halls of residence. A full calendar of events will be online from the 9 February. The popular Dr Bike service will be running on a drop-in basis on Wednesday 25th February. They’ll be outside the Refectory at Newton Park from 8:00am-1:00pm before heading to the UNITE halls of residence, Charlton Court, Lower Bristol Road from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. This is also open to students and staff living in the area. The Careers Team will also be showcasing Green jobs and careers with advice on how to plan a career in the Sustainability sector. The Students’ Union will be hosting a number of volunteering opportunities as part of Student Volunteering Week. Finally, we will have a Fairtrade Cacao producer visiting the University from Nicaragua, sharing her story on how she produces cocoa for one of our most loved products, chocolate. She will show how as consumers in the West we can make a dramatic difference by choosing Fairtrade products and why it is still needed. The Students’ Union and The Refectory will be running promotions on Fairtrade products during the week.
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BSU’s food waste helps power UK’s first ‘poo bus’ Ever wondered what happens to the food waste collected around campus that goes for recycling? Members of staff visited Geneco (a subsidiary of Wessex Water), to discover how our food waste is processed into biomethane. On the day of the visit Geneco began the first export of biomethane to the gas grid. The following day Genco launched the ‘poo-bus’ which you might have read about in the national media. It’s the first bus to run on biomethane produced from sewage and food waste and runs between Bristol airport and Bath. Further trips to the various waste reprocessing plants are planned later this academic year, if you’re interested in attending please email environment@bathspa.ac.uk
Coming soon – Travel Survey This year’s travel survey takes place between the 23 February and 6 March. Your contribution is vital to help inform improvements for travel to and from the University. Feedback from past travel surveys have led to improvements with First Bus and the frequency of the number 15 service; negotiation with BANES for the upgrade of the cycle path and securing Nextbike for student and staff use. Taking part in the survey only takes a few minutes and you could be in with a chance to win one of two iPads minis (one for students and one for staff). The survey is open to all students and staff, on all campuses. For more information visit our webpages, follow us on twitter and facebook or email us. 34
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Starters and Leavers In December we welcomed‌ Starters Lisa Berney, Cleaner, Domestic and Portering Services Amy Lobl, Student Housing Advisor, Student Services Claire O’Brien, Lecturer in Textile Design, Bath School of Art and Design Chris Barham, Technical Demonstrator: Lighting and Sound, School of Music and Performing Arts Louise Chapman, Postgraduate Administrator, Research and Graduate Affairs Anna Holbrook , Senior Lecturer in Secondary Science Programme, School of Education Kayla Rose, Research Fellow - Design History, Research and Graduate Affairs Roger Apfelbaum, Senior Lecturer in Performing Shakespeare, School of Music and Performing Arts Alex Williamson, Senior Lecturer in Illustration, Bath School of Art and Design Christopher Smith, Senior Lecturer in Business and Management, School of Society, Enterprise and Environment Michael Grace, Student Housing Advisor, Student Services Naomi Smyth, Technical Demonstrator: Film and Media Production, School of Humanities and Cultural Industries Marcin Kosin, Cleaner/Porter/Driver, Domestic and Portering Services Philip Holley, Recruitment and Events Assistant, Marketing and Communications Anna Hill, Technical Demonstrator, Bath School of Art and Design Samantha Child, Widening Participation Research and Evaluation Officer, Marketing and Communications Will Harries, Junior Developer/Developer, Planning Support Holly Clark, Marketing Administrative Assistant, Marketing and Communications Kay Carpenter, Admissions Assistant, Student Services Mark Leake, Technical Demonstrator - Film and Media Production, School of Humanities and Cultural Industries Charlotte Newman, Administrator - Department of Design and Critical Studies, Bath School of Art and Design SPACE JANUARY 2015
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We also said farewell to‌ Jodi Anderson, Research Fellow in Education Studies (Global Citizenship), School of Education Tom Johnson, Technical Demonstrator: Sculpture, Bath School of Art and Design Emiliya Rakhaviya, Global Leader, Bath Spa Global Joanna Prestidge, Admissions Manager, Student Services Kelsey Ford, Resident Tutor, Student Services Sarah Parkes, Department of Design and Critical Studies, Bath School of Art and Design Tom Finding, Demonstrator: Three Dimensional Design, Bath School of Art and Design Nirmal Borkhataria, Chief Operating Officer, Chancelry Celia Jones, Library Assistant, Library and Learning Services Fiona Gardner, Counselling, Psychotherapy and Practice, School of Education Dan Davies, Head of Research, School of Education Maureen Fenner, Cleaner, Domestic and Portering Services Christine Eden, Assistant Dean Staffing and Resources and Professor, School of Education Katie Brewer, Building Surveyor, Estates Gerrard Berney, Cleaner, Domestic and Portering Services Daisy Voake, Student Support Admin Assistant, Student Services Catherine Tideswell, Partnership Administrator, School of Education Susan Cherrett, Enterprise and Employer Liaison Manager , Enterprise and Local Partnerships Rob Breckon, Communications and PR Coordinator, Marketing and Communications Debra Turner, Account Administrator, Finance Ron George, Director of Development, Hartham Park
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