Community buzz - issue 2 November 2012 by University of Birmingham

COMMUNITY

buzz

002

November 2012

WELCOME

2012: What a year! Welcome to the second issue of Community Buzz; a regular newsletter from the University of Birmingham that aims to keep you up to date with news and events. Thank you to those who took the time to get in touch and tell us what you would like to hear about. Please continue to feed back on this newsletter and your experience of visiting our beautiful campus. It will help us to continue to be a good neighbour! You can email us at community@contacts.bham.ac.uk, or phone 0121 414 3312. It’s been a busy year here on campus with many highlights such as hosting the Jamaican Track and Field Team for their pre-Olympic training camp and seeing the Bramall Music Building finally complete the Aston Webb semi circle. There’s more to read on these highlights inside.

The University was also delighted that the City Council approved its estate development plans, including a new academic library and the city’s first 50-metre swimming pool, and the Department for Education approved plans to establish a new University School and Sixth Form. In particular, these developments remind us of the University’s original civic ambitions. We have global ambition and a local heart. Kirsty Mack Head of Stakeholder Relations

buzz online buzz.bham.ac.uk Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/buzzunibham Find us on Facebook facebook.com/buzzunibham Browse our buzz images flickr.com/photos/buzzunibham You can read longer versions of these stories at buzz.bham.ac.uk

Front cover: Alys Fowler at launch of Urban Veg, see page 5

University Carol Service 3 December, 6.15pm Great Hall, Aston Webb Building Please join students, staff, family and friends for this annual event featuring carols, festive readings and poems, organised by the University ecumenical team of chaplains and the Department of Music. FREE entry.

big up ‘ Birmingham’

NEWS

Many of you would have been glued to your television sets this summer as Olympic fever swept the nation, but you may not know that for the most famous sprinters in the world their journey to London 2012 started here in Birmingham. From 14–26 July, 50 members of the Jamaican Track and Field Team, plus 25 support staff, descended on the University campus for their pre-Olympic camp, jointly hosted with Birmingham City Council. For their stay, the team had full use of the University’s facilities at the Munrow Sports Centre for training and relaxed at Hornton Grange, part of the University of Birmingham’s conference park (venuebirmingham.com). At Hornton Grange the team were very well looked after making use of 45 bedrooms – including seven specially made 7ft beds, TV rooms, a relaxation area, a games room and a dining area where all their meals were specially prepared by Jamaican chef Karl Thomas and the University’s catering team. Along with University staff, 80 volunteers helped to look after the team with 50 on shift everyday covering 24 hours. The main roles

Active Lifestyle If the Olympics inspired you to get more active we have lots on offer including: fitness classes, Try Sport courses, community sports club, personal training, health and fitness reviews, and gym and swim membership. www.sport.bham.ac.uk

were security and team attachés, who provided support to the Jamaicans during their stay, and helped make the team’s stay here as enjoyable, and beneficial to their training as possible. The University clearly did a fantastic job in helping the team prepare as Birmingham was thanked not once, but twice, by Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, the fastest men in the world, after their 200m and 4 x 100m wins respectively.

NEWS

A TASTE OF

THINGS TO COME

Over the past few months, the University has been working harder than ever to open its doors and bring the benefits of its research to the local community. A recent example was ‘Brum Dine With Me’ on 28 September, which saw researchers getting out and about to communicate their work in fun and interactive ways. Events ranged from dances choreographed by Birmingham Royal Ballet, to a multicultural ‘eat and greet’ in the mac Birmingham, and from eating insects while learning about fair trade and food ethics in Brindleyplace, to a talk by Deborah Cadbury and a personalised ‘calorie maths’ map in the Bramall Music Building. Participants also pedalled to make their own smoothies, learnt about ‘chickenology’ at Winterbourne House and Gardens, made Indian folk art with food in local schools, and took educational tours of supermarkets. Attracting around 5,000 people from across Birmingham and beyond, it was a chance to show the number of ideas that go into the food we take for granted, and how research is trying to help people live healthier and happier lives through some very simple, practical steps. Thank you to all those who participated and attended; you helped make a wonderfully memorable day, with some fantastic feedback. We’re not going to stop there! We’re currently working with community representatives to understand how we can establish a better dialogue about health, and the city spaces we should use to achieve that.

We’re also making money available for our researchers to be more innovative in the way that they engage people to design, deliver and disseminate their ideas. We hope to see you all very soon!

WINTERBOURNE

Students fro m Lordsw ood Girls’ School ge t stuck

You may well be familiar with the beautiful Winterbourne House and Garden but there is also something exciting happening right next door… Urban Veg is the newest part of Winterbourne. Though not open daily to the public like the rest of the attraction, the garden space is now a hive of activity, with a range of one day workshops, weekly training courses and drop-in sessions all aimed at gearing up the local population to grow their own. A host of expert tutors are helping to deliver the exciting programme, with Alys Fowler, gardening journalist and passionate Urban Foodie, one of the trainers running workshops. Keen to inspire even the most hesitant horticulturalists, the courses range from absolute beginner to people with more advanced skills.

Perhaps you are thinking of setting up your own local growing club but don’t know where to start? Or are you already growing but want to keep chickens? Urban Veg has the answer. Prices start at £30 for a one day workshop. For that price, you can expect cups of tea, good company and the chance to develop a life skill that will undoubtedly help you on your merry way to becoming an Urban food champion. Courses are proving popular and are booking up fast. For further details on upcoming courses, prices and dates visit http://urbanvegwhg. wordpress.com.

You can follow @UrbanVegWHG on twitter or email urbanveg@contacts. bham.ac.uk saying ‘I’m interested in urban veg’ to go on the emailing list. What are you waiting for? Get stuck in!

BARBER

CELEBRATING

80 Y EARS OF ART AND MUSIC The Barber Institute is a world-class art gallery and concert hall, offering free admission to major works by Rubens, Turner, Monet, Renoir, and many more. The Barber also offers temporary exhibitions, and events and activities for all ages, plus free lunchtime concerts every Friday at 1.10pm. 14 DECEMBER 2012 – 24 FEBRUARY 2013

PORTRAIT OF A LADY: THE LIFE AND PASSIONS OF LADY BARBER UNTIL 27 JANUARY 2013

IN FRONT OF NATURE: THE EUROPEAN LANDSCAPES OF THOMAS FEARNLEY Dramatic landscapes featuring a breathtaking range of Europe’s varied scenery feature in the UK’s first show focusing solely on the work of one of Scandinavia’s most important painters. This exhibition includes iconic large landscape paintings, oil sketches and drawings from major galleries in the UK and abroad. There’s also a packed programme of lectures, gallery talks, and even a concert to accompany the show.

The life and collecting passions of the Barber’s founder, Dame Martha Barber, feature in this fascinating exhibition, including portraits of Lady Barber by her favoured artist, Nestor Cambier. Outstanding but rarely seen textiles and lace will also be featured. The lace collection is the starting point for mixedmedia textile artist Jacqueline Lawrence’s ‘Inspired by Lace’ which runs alongside this exhibition. A further display ‘The Most Perfect Example of His Work’ explores architect Robert Atkinson’s design and construction of the Barber’s groundbreaking building.

WEDNESDAY 8 MAY 2013, 7.30PM

JAMES RHODES: THE PIANO MAN Described in The Independent as ‘the Russell Brand of the piano’, James Rhodes has broken down barriers and reached new audiences by giving concerts in unconventional venues. Rhodes will play music that reflects works in the Barber Gallery.

For the latest Barber news and events visit barber.org.uk or follow @barberinstitute and @barberconcerts

BRAMALL

MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC AND MUCH MORE!

The University has recently celebrated the opening of the impressive Bramall Music Building at the heart of campus, 100 years after the original Aston Webb building was opened. In addition to providing our outstanding Music department with state-of-the-art teaching, research, performance and rehearsal facilities; the Bramall has a packed schedule of free and ticketed events; from solo voice,

to a full symphony orchestra, and drama performances. The Bramall Festival of Music runs from 25 November to 8 December and includes 16 performances and events, including the following:

5 December, 7.30pm

8 December, 7.30pm

Monthly, 5.00pm

Utterly Brassed Off

Gaudete!

Jazzlines

Elgar Concert Hall To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the hit British film Brassed Off, the University Music Society Brass Band joins forces with the Midlands Championship section band, Sovereign Brass, in a performance of popular Brass Band music.

Elgar Concert Hall Ex Cathedra returns to its roots with a selection of the most highly favoured Christmas music from the 13th–18th centuries.

Bramall Music Building Foyer The first Thursday of every month is jazz night at the Bramall with our popular schedule of jazz artists. Jazzlines on 6 December will see saxophonist Andy Isherwood and his ensemble deliver a touch of festive cheer.

Tickets; £8, £6 concessions, £3 students.

Tickets; £7.50–£25. Please book directly with Ex Cathedra on 0121 345 0603 or excathedra.co.uk.

Admission is FREE and no booking is required.

To find out more about Bramall events throughout the year visit birmingham.ac.uk/bramall or call the box office on 0121 345 0492.

VICE-CHANCELLOR’S VIEW

Events at Birmingham There is a lot going on at Birmingham, from lectures to concerts, and much more in between. Everyone can take advantage of our exciting events programme. These are some highlights and you can learn more at birmingham.ac.uk/oncampus.index.aspx

! Dates for your diary Community Day 2013 Sunday 9 June would regular events that we There are a number of unity mm ing our annual Co love to see you at, includ has e mm gra unity Day pro Day. The packed Comm live ls, trai ture cul ing includ free fun for all the family ts, ma ce dan , dig ur osa music, climbing wall, din te more. Check our websi arts and crafts and much on y Da ty ow Communi for further details or foll day. nity mu com oB @U Twitter ture 2013 Baggs Happiness Lec ent on our website in cem oun ann an Look out for date and speaker for the the New Year confirming was lecture. Thomas Baggs 2013 Baggs Memorial ome bec to sity who went on an alumnus of the Univer s ma Tho t. den pon war corres a teacher, journalist and an for e vid pro to sity Univer bequeathed a sum to the s’. the theme of ‘Happines on ture lec lic pub ual ann vid Da ed akers have includ Running since 1976, spe iah, han Zep min nja Lipman, Be Attenborough, Maureen is ture lec The . ang Jung Ch Alastair Campbell and ential. ess is n atio istr reg but free Farmers’ Market to rket is a great opportunity Our regular Farmers’ Ma y, tne chu pick up homemade meet local producers and ch mu and s e, jewellery, gift seasonal vegetables, win d pus and head for the ‘Ol cam o ont lk wa a more. Take ring offe lls sta 20 r ove er for Joe’ campus clock tow ed and environmentally locally sourced, fairly pric ds to top quality organic goo friendly produce; from sity iver Un in ce all take pla seasonal fare. Markets are tes Da m. 00p –3. 0am Square, and are open 9.0 te. available on our websi

ll: 2011 speaker Alastair Campbe