News for Durham University Staff & Students
July | August 2017
UNDERSTANDING HUMAN NEEDS IS KEY TO WILDLIFE ECOLOGY RESEARCH R E A C H I N G O U T: C O M M U N I T Y OUTREACH AND VOLUNTEERING AT VAN MILDERT COLLEGE
DIALOGUE MAGAZINE SURVEY
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welcome
Welcome to the last issue of Dialogue of this academic year, which has been another busy but successful one for us as a University community. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your hard work and continued support.
We will see the first big changes of The Queen’s Campus transition programme happening over the summer. The School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health (SMPH) will transfer to Newcastle University on 1 August 2017 and, shortly after that, Study Group will arrive at Queen’s Campus to establish the International Study Centre. You can read more about the transition programme on page 5. Over the past few months, we have recruited two new senior members of staff. Professor Claire O’Malley, currently Vice Provost (Research and Knowledge Exchange) at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, has been appointed as our first Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global). Claire will take up her position on Monday 15 January 2018. Professor Ann MacLarnon, currently Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Roehampton, has been appointed as Master of Hatfield College. Ann will take up her position in September this year, following the retirement of Professor Tim Burt. I am sure you will join me in
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welcoming Claire and Ann to Durham and in wishing Tim well in his well-earned retirement. On a more personal note, I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting and working with many staff and students during the past year, and have many happy memories from numerous events, occasions and conversations. A particular highlight was to line up alongside colleagues from Collingwood College, Experience Durham and elsewhere for an “All Stars” football match staged to celebrate the opening of a new rubber crumb surface at Collingwood back in March. Finally, I would like to thank everybody who had a role in making the ceremonies at summer congregation such special events for our students and their families. For now, though, enjoy the summer! Let’s hope for some fine weather. With all best wishes
Professor Stuart Corbridge Vice-Chancellor and Warden
DurhamUniversity
DurhamUniversity
Tell your story. Please continue to send your contributions and feedback to dialogue@durham.ac.uk News for Durham University Staff & Students
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Image: Leopard in bush, Durham University
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Editor Ulrike Klaerig-Jackson Communications Co-ordinator Assistant Editor Mark Tallentire, Communications Co-ordinator Contributors Harriet Williamson, HR&OD; Sharon Battersby, CIS; Claire Smith, Library; Yvonne Flynn, Greenspace; Daryl Dowding, Event Durham; Claire Hall, Karen Frost, Nicky Sawicki and Angela Gemmill, Marketing & Communications; Vicky Brown, Van Mildert College; Adam Harwood, Procurement; Naomi Blaney, Durham DOES; Rachel Archbold, Equality and Diversity; Matthew Wright, Estates and Buildings Cover image Chacma baboon, Benny Rebel
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Jul | Aug 2017
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GET SOCIAL
16 GREENSPACE
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QUEEN'S CAMPUS
17 SCOTTISH SOLDIERS
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RESEARCH INSIGHTS UNDERSTANDING HUMAN NEEDS IS KEY TO WILDLIFE ECOLOGY RESEARCH
18 NORTHERN INK
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OUTREACH AND VOLUNTEERING AT VAN MILDERT COLLEGE
10 MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS
19 LIBRARY NEWS 20 SPOTLIGHT ON 21 BUY IN 22 CIS NEWS
11 DIALOGUE SURVEY
23 AN INSIGHT INTO
15 HR & OD NEWS
24 WHAT’S ON
Durham University and Durham University logo are registered Trade Marks of the University of Durham. Unless otherwise stated, all material in this publication is copyright of the University of Durham. The University makes every effort to ensure that the information contained here is accurate. Please note that the University’s website is the most up to date source of information and we strongly recommend that you always visit the website before making any commitments.
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YOUR VIEW
Our favourite posts, tweets and videos over the past 2 months to show you what has been happening around the University!
TOP
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@durham_uni reaffirms position as one of the top UK Universities, ranking 4th in @guardian University League Table http://fal.cn/uFUg
The way we talk about terrorist attacks can help the extremists' cause warns @DrAlanGreene http://fal.cn/uvhd
Are 1/2 million children really being taught in super-size classes? @profstig examines the facts #durhamresearch http://fal.cn/ u3XW
Our students are moving out in an eco-friendly way & helping charity @CountyDurhamFHS @DurhamCouncil @DurhamPolice http://fal.cn/uvG5
In 3 days Colin Bain, Tim Clark & Robert Gillespie cycled from @edinburghcastle to @durhamcastle in memory of @DurUniEarthSci's Jon Davidson
STUDENT COMMUNITY ACTION
VIDEO OF THE MONTH
https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=H2qhemm7-40 Find out more about our Student Community Action volunteers who tutor local 6th form students, offering help and support throughout their studies.
PHOTO OF THE MONTH BLUEBELLS https://www.instagram.com/p/BTqnNxCl5mB/ The bluebells on the University estate looked stunning this spring.
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@Durham_Uni
DurhamUniversity
DurhamUniversity
News for Durham University Staff & Students
QUEEN'S CAMPUS
Durham University Strategy 2017-2027 As those of you directly involved will know, the Queen’s Campus transition programme is a significant logistical challenge. Over the course of this summer, the first big changes of the programme will start to happen; in particular the transfer of the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health (SMPH) and the establishment of the International Study Centre (ISC) at Queen’s Campus. Members of staff and student reps have been working closely with Newcastle University and Study Group respectively to try to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for all staff and students involved.
School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health SMPH will officially transfer to Newcastle on 1 August 2017 and so will be the first big change to happen at Queen’s. A physical move of work location for the majority of SMPH will happen before this date. Though SMPH is transferring this summer, the second year of the Medicine programme will continue to be taught at Queen’s in 2017/18. Some of this teaching will be done by existing Newcastle University academics so there may be some new faces to welcome on campus in this year of transition.
International Study Centre Shortly after the transfer of SMPH, Study Group will arrive at Queen’s Campus and will begin to set up the ISC. For their first year of operation, Study Group will establish their administrative base in the Wolfson Building, although they will be teaching across the whole campus in 2017/18. Study Group has recently made two key appointments to the ISC – Anna Fenge, who will be Head of Centre, and Rowena Harrison, who will be Head of Professional Services. Activity is likely to start escalating for the ISC from August onwards as they prepare for their first cohort of international students who will arrive for the start of their term on 11 September.
Business and Management / Marketing programmes Plans are also on track for the move of two of the Business School courses (Business & Management and Marketing) which will be taught in Durham City from the start of 2017/18. The students on these courses will be able to access college support from either Queen’s Campus or from one of the dedicated college bases in Durham City for 2017/18. John Snow will be at Elvet Hill Cottage, (near Trevelyan and St Mary’s Colleges) and Stephenson will be at Hilton Cottage, (near the Racecourse). If you would like more information on this programme of work please go to the dedicated transition web pages at: www.durham.ac.uk/queens-changes
Recruitment to the ISC is extremely strong and we will be significantly ahead of our original plans for student numbers in the first year of operation. For more information on the ISC, go to: www.durhamisc.com
Jul | Aug 2017
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RESEARCH INSIGHTS
Understanding human needs is key to wildlife ecology research The Primate and Predator Project based in the Soutpansberg mountain range of South Africa, aims to better understand the ecology of local species and the threat that human activity poses to their conservation. Project Director Professor Russell Hill, Department of Anthropology, discusses the challenges of managing a research project abroad and successfully engaging with local communities.
Image: Leopard in bush, Durham University
How did the Primate and Predator Project come about? In some respects it came about by chance! A PhD student and I went to South Africa in 2007 to look for a field site to study vervet monkeys. The airline lost his bags, forcing us to change our plans a bit. On trying to visit a specific nature reserve the local tourist information office recommended we instead visit a ‘man in the mountains who has monkeys’. That man was Prof Ian Gaigher who ran a field site within the Soutpansberg Mountains and did indeed have monkeys on site! It was a perfect set up and Ian has remained a long-term collaborator
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who helped us establish the predator side of our research. In 2011 we established our own field station at the site, formalising our research as the Primate and Predator Project (PPP), and the project has now supported a large number of PhD students, as well as our undergraduate field course.
What are the main challenges for establishing and running a research project abroad? Financially supporting a permanent presence on site has been a real challenge and in the early days there were often gaps. It was only
after we developed a grant partnership with the conservation organisation Earthwatch that we were able to establish our own field station and a permanent presence there. Being Durham-based is also challenging. I rely heavily on the field team to manage many of the important relationships with the local community and undertake the data collection. How do you and your field team cultivate and continue those successful relationships with the local community? Our starting point is to try to understand the problems the local community faces rather than implementing solutions we think are right. Understanding the
News for Durham University Staff & Students
RESEARCH INSIGHTS human dimension of human-wildlife conflict is most important. The farmers experience very real economic losses from wildlife. Leopards kill livestock and baboons can remove an entire crop field in one to two days if it is left unguarded. It is vital to understand these problems from the farmer’s perspective. Building long term relationships and trust is vital to ensure the land owners accept that we’re not just there to implement a conservation strategy. We support South African nationals to join the research team as they are well-placed to engage with local land owners. We work with farmers to design solutions that are practical, feasible and avoid lethal measures, and integrate them as partners in our research.
How have these relationships helped to improve and inform your research? When we started conducting research in the area we didn’t plan to work on a conservation project or study human-wildlife conflict. Our original interest was in studying how predators influence primate behaviour. However, we quickly realised that a key concern for the local landowners was the problems these animals caused for their livelihoods, and that we could not work successfully in this area without addressing the questions that were important to the local community. It is very much the case that we develop our ideas in tandem with the local community as they are best placed to tell us what the major problems are, but also to guide us on the solutions that are acceptable in the local context.
Image: Soutpansberg Mountain Range, Benny Rebel
Jul | Aug 2017
Image: Chacma baboon, Benny Rebel
Image: Samango monkey, Benny Rebel
Image: Leopard at night, Durham University
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Reaching Out:
Community Outreach and Volunteering at Van Mildert College
Outreach and volunteering has been a way of life for the whole Van Mildert College community for over 20 years. Prison visits and efforts to widen participation commenced nearly 30 years ago and have since evolved into six well-established studentled projects involving over 200 Mildertians each year. Indeed, in 2016 /17, Van Mildert students contributed over 6,300 hours per year to the University-wide volunteering agenda. Outreach and volunteering activities at Van Mildert College support local families, young people, schools, the elderly, and promote environmental conservation. Mildertians also work with an expanding range of community partners including St Oswald’s Church, Aycliffe Secure Centre, the County Durham Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service along with a range of local primary and secondary schools. The projects are all student-led and participation is based on an application and interview process to find the outreach programmes that best suit each student. The dedicated JCR Outreach Officer leads the outreach and volunteering along with the six project directors. Their professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment to their work is hugely impressive.
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Beyond the significant impact on the local community, the projects provide Van Mildert students with experience of the voluntary sector, fund-raising, entrepreneurship and leadership skills, amongst other key capabilities. Indeed, the skills gained through community outreach and volunteering at Van Mildert College undoubtedly complement and enhance the students’ academic pursuits, not only through their participation but also their unique genuine leadership and direction of the projects. Having been delighted to win two awards at the recent Durham University Volunteering Awards – ‘Most Improved Project’ for Environmental Conservation Committee, and ‘Best Educational Project’ for Primary School Project - Van Mildert College Outreach has also been shortlisted as a Finalist in the Green Gown Awards 2017.
We are so proud of our students and the work they do in local communities, in addition to their academic and other commitments. They make a huge difference, doing it for the local communities, Van Mildert College, and the Bishop! We continue to be most grateful to all those who support out projects. Indeed our SCR, among others, have contributed substantially to the projects by driving the College minibus on almost a daily basis and persistently supporting our outreach financially. It is a truly College-wide experience. We hope that Mildertians will retain this ethos of ‘reaching out’ (and the College motto sic vos non vobis – not for yourselves) throughout their careers and lives. We are one of the largest colleges but undoubtedly the one with the biggest heart.”
Professor David Harper
Principal, Van Mildert College
News for Durham University Staff & Students
VAN MILDERT
Mildert students really do care! Giving back to the wider community is recognised as important so students volunteer year after year to help families, inspire young people and educate children because they truly believe in the impact that it can have! We can't wait to celebrate the anniversaries of our longest running projects over the coming year.
Setting up a new project is an exciting and rewarding experience. Building community partnerships seems daunting at first, but once you have laid the foundations it’s surprising how many people want to help! Without our community partners ECC would not be able to run as a project. With their help we have expanded in the past year, and with their help we hope to expand again in the future!
YPP has been the most unforgettable experience, one so unique and special to Van Mildert students! Knowing that the work our volunteers do has such a long-lasting impact on the young people of the North East is incredibly rewarding. Encouraging, guiding and inspiring the pathways of our younger generation is the best experience I could ever have involved myself with! Rhianna
Young Persons’ Project Director
VAN MILDERT OUTREACH IN BRIEF Young Persons’ Project - YPP.
Established - 2002 An aspiration raising project for Year 10 pupils at two North-East Schools.
Primary School Project - PSP.
Established - 2008 Provides Teaching Assistants & runs after-school clubs in County Durham.
Carers Respite Committee - CRC.
Sophie
Outreach Director 2016/17 JCR President Elect 2017/18
Callum
Environmental Conservation Committee Director
Established - 2011 Supports local families with children with physical or mental illnesses.
Community Visiting Scheme - CVS. Established - 2006 Combats loneliness by visiting the elderly in the local community.
Secure Centre Mentoring Scheme SCMS. Established - 2008 Supporting the rehabilitation of young people in a local secure centre.
Environmental Conservation Committee - ECC. Established - 2015
Promotes environmental awareness and education.
Jul | Aug 2017
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MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS
A GOOD REPUTATION ENDURES FOREVER: THE CHINESE LABOUR CORPS ON THE WESTERN FRONT Until 24 September The Oriental Museum, Durham University During the First World War 96,000 Chinese men volunteered to work as part of the Chinese Labour Corps (CLC). Serving under British command, they undertook essential and dangerous work behind the lines on the Western Front. Many lost their lives, whilst others won awards for their courage. The exhibition’s title - A Good Reputation Endures Forever - recalls one of the inscriptions used on the gravestones of the men of the CLC who rest forever beneath Flanders Fields. No exhibition devoted to the subject has ever been staged in Britain and the members of the CLC have rightly been described as the ‘forgotten of the forgotten’. This exhibition seeks to right an historic wrong and increase public awareness of the contributions made by these Chinese volunteers to the campaigns in France and Flanders.
DRAW DURHAM Saturday 26 August and 27 August 2017 How would you draw Durham? Can you draw what it means to live in Durham? Taking place at locations across the city, Draw Durham presents a family friendly interactive trail of drawing activities led by artists to inspire creativity, whilst you explore the city. Drawing is something we all do. From doodling to draughtsmanship, it is one of the most generous ways to communicate, requiring only a pencil, iPad or just our bodies. This event is part of the North East wide International Drawing Biennale, a series of events and exhibitions exploring the role drawing plays in our lives through art, architecture, design, illustration, education, science and engineering. More information coming soon at www.durham.ac.uk/whatson
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This summer at Durham Castle FAMILY FUN TOURS Wednesday 2 August and Thursday 17 August between 10.15am11.30am Enjoy a family-focused tour around Durham Castle, with activities for children throughout the tour. Explore what it was like to live and work in Durham Castle in the past and find out more about some of the characters who have made Durham Castle their home over the centuries.
SELF-GUIDED DAYS Wednesdays and Thursdays in August between 11.15am and 4.15pm Experience a self-guided visit to Durham Castle this August and stroll around Durham Castle at your own pace. Our knowledgeable guides and volunteers will be around Durham Castle to answer your questions and share some of the stories and hidden history of the Castle.
News for Durham University Staff & Students
SURVEY
survey The following questionnaire has been designed to gain feedback on the new look and feel of Dialogue magazine and we would really appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey here or online at www.durham.ac.uk/dialogue/survey. There are only 11 short questions. If you would like to enter the free prize draw to win a ÂŁ25 Amazon voucher please also fill in your email address at the end.
Have you noticed a change in the front cover design of Dialogue magazine? Yes No Jul | Aug 2017
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If you have noticed a change, what is your opinion?
What do you think about the new layout of the magazine? Great, really like it
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Do you like the new format of the magazine? Yes, I prefer the new format
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News for Durham University Staff & Students
SURVEY
How often do you read Dialogue magazine? Every issue
Most issues
2-3 issues a year
1 issue a year
Which sections of Dialogue do you find most interesting? VC’s welcome Get social Library News Research Insights Retail/ Event Durham/Catering Museums/ Attractions HR&OD News
Greenspace Spotlight on Procurement – Buy in CIS News An insight into What’s on
Which sections of Dialogue do you find least interesting? VC’s welcome Get social Library News Research Insights Retail/ Event Durham/Catering Museums/ Attractions HR&OD News
Greenspace Spotlight on Procurement – Buy in CIS News An insight into What’s on
What other features would make you more inclined to reading the magazine?
Jul | Aug 2017
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survey Where do you pick up your copy of Dialogue magazine? Hard copy / location Online
Do you think Dialogue magazine should be online only? Yes, it should be online only
No, I like to pick up a hard copy
Thank you for taking the time to fill in our short survey. If you would like to be entered into our prize draw please fill in your email address below:
Please send your entry to: Marketing and Communications, c/o Dialogue survey, Palatine Centre The closing date for entering our prize draw is Friday 8 September 2017. The winner will be notified by email no later than Friday 15 September 2017.
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News for Durham University Staff & Students
Recruiting the Best Academic Recruitment Campaign 2017/2018 An academic recruitment campaign will be launched with adverts in the Times Higher and Chronicle for Higher Education, as well as a social media campaign in September 2017. The campaign will be based on the concepts developed for the ‘So Much More’ campaign and will include refreshed recruitment webpages and a new candidate brochure. We anticipate advertising c.115 jobs and will be working with colleagues involved in each of the posts to plan the key dates from the advert going live to interviews (which will be held during the first quarter of 2018). A key component of the campaign is a set of template job descriptions, which align to the new progression criteria across the academic, research and teaching tracks, providing a consistent platform for colleagues to outline the role and attract candidates; while ensuring that equality, diversity and inclusion is promoted for each post. We will also work with departments to ensure that a thorough search process is undertaken for each post to take advantage of the networks and knowledge held by colleagues across the department/discipline to its full potential; thereby engaging with the widest possible field of candidates.
New Academic Progression Process – to be launched for 2017/18 academic year The new academic progression arrangements are an important part of the academic strategy. The new arrangements were agreed by Senate in January 2017, following its consideration of the report produced by the Working Group on Progression and Promotion, ‘The Bulkeley Report’ (for details see www.durham.ac.uk/resources/hr/ APWGReportforSenateJanuary2017.pdf) The new progression process will apply to all academic, teaching and research progression from Grade 7 upwards, for all those on the career tracks, including professorial band changes within Grade 10. A website is available explaining the full process - www.durham.ac.uk/hr/ academicprogression Following feedback from members of staff the new process moves away from a process of self-nomination, to one in which all academic and teaching staff submit a standard CV for consideration annually, initially by a Department Progression Committee (research staff will be considered by this process, by exception). The new progression process involves a new CV, which is brief and factual. It is required in a standard form for each track. The new CV focuses on the most recent and significant achievements that are most relevant to progression. In addition, and to supplement the CV, full details of publication records should be available and up to date via the online CV. A set of University-wide benchmark criteria has been agreed by Senate and the Academic Progression Committee for each of the career tracks. These are available at: www.durham.ac.uk/hr/academicprogression
Jul | Aug 2017
HR & OD NEWS
2nd Durham University Learning and Teaching Conference
“Student Engagement in Learning and Teaching” Thursday, 14 September at St Aidan’s College This year’s Durham Learning and Teaching Conference will build on the success of last year’s inaugural conference, which showcased the wide range of innovative approaches to learning and teaching going on across the University. This year’s event will focus on student engagement and share, celebrate and discuss the diverse learning and teaching practices which are taking place across the institution. As last year, it is intended to be stimulating and inclusive, involving an even wider range of individuals, departments and relevant services.
Last Year’s Keynote Professor Dai Hounsell (Edinburgh) being introduced by Professor Graeme Small (Durham) Contributions are invited to explore the many different ways in which students are being actively involved in the activities that lead to high quality learning and how we as academic staff shape our learning environments to enhance student engagement. The conference is aimed at all staff teaching, assessing and supporting Durham students regardless of role and will provide plenty of opportunities for informal dialogue and networking. All members of staff with an interest in learning and teaching as well as students working in partnership with academics are invited to attend the conference with registration available via the website http://community.dur.ac.uk/it.conference
Our Nursery Manager I’m Kim Roberts and I’ve recently been appointed as Manager of the Durham University Day Nursery. It is an exciting time for the University with many changes taking place and I look forward to playing a role in achieving their vision. My aim is to work with an enthusiastic and experienced nursery staff team to establish this nursery as the best in the area. We certainly have the drive and commitment. We continue to offer our service to a host of international families.
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GREENSPACE
Live-View Blue Tit Nest Boxes
Reusable Cups Reduce Waste In March, all disposable cups were removed from use at Durham University Business School in an effort to reduce waste and promote environmental sustainability. Students and staff now bring their own mug or water bottle for all takeaway drinks, including those served from the Fusion Restaurant. The Business School designed a travel cup and water bottle, which were gifted to staff to support behavioural change. The reusable cups are also available for visitors to purchase from the restaurant. Professor Susan Hart, Dean of Durham University Business School, said: “Leading on environmental and social responsibility is integral to everything we do at the Business School, as well as ensuring we promote high standards of individual behaviour and personal accountability across the School. Making this simple change by introducing reusable mugs and bottles has already had such a positive effect from the perspective of our carbon footprint but also the behaviour of staff and students.” Over the academic years 2014/15 and 2015/16 the drinks stations alone used 189,850 disposable cups, which could not be recycled and therefore were sent to an energy-from-waste incinerator facility as part of the general waste stream. The impact of this small change will therefore be large in reducing the amount of waste at the Business School.
Two live-view nest boxes proved even more popular this year with over 54,800 viewers. Two families successfully reared their young and the last fledglings left the Biosciences nest box over the weekend of 10-11 June. From the 51,640 and 3,236 viewers of the Biosciences and Engineering and Computer Science nest boxes, over 8,000 daily views were recorded on YouTube and there were viewers from 16 different countries, all watching the trials and tribulations of these wonderful birds. Thank you to all staff involved in the respective departments, including CIS. Watch out next year for additional nest boxes.
Fairtrade Reaccreditation The University has successfully maintained its Fairtrade status for a further two years. Since we were last assessed we have introduced new Fairtrade products and every year we celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, which includes the Big Fairtrade Bake. The Fairtrade Foundation said we had an incredibly detailed set of policies that extensively illustrate our commitment to Fairtrade and they were impressed by our drive and motivation. Visit www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/fairtrade/ for further details.
Launch of WARPit WARPit, the new waste and reuse electronic portal, was launched on Friday 5 May and replaces our current furniture and stationery reuse procedure. The reason for changing to WARPit is to make the process of reusing furniture and equipment within the University more efficient. Staff can view and claim available items and also create wish lists. Details on WARPit, including the ‘Rules for using WARPit’ can be found on the Greenspace website at www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/waste-management/warpit.
New Arriva X12 Bus Timetable A new timetable for the Arriva X12 inter-campus bus service commenced on Sunday 23 July. Copies of the timetable can be found at key reception areas and on the Arriva App which also gives access to live data regarding the location of the next bus at all bus stops. Full details can be found on the Greenspace website. www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/travel/intercampusbus.
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News for Durham University Staff & Students
SCOTTISH SOLDIERS Image: North News and Pictures
Scottish soldiers
commemorated in Durham On Friday 12 May 2017 a series of events were held to commemorate the 17th century Scottish soldiers, who were imprisoned and died in Durham following the Battle of Dunbar in 1650.
Research on the remains is ongoing and has so far revealed fascinating details about the early lives and health of the soldiers. Once research on the remains is completed they will be reburied at the Elvet Hill Road Cemetery in Durham City, close to where the remains were originally found.
Professor Stuart Corbridge, Vice-Chancellor and Warden of Durham University, led speeches and a minute’s silence to dedicate a new plaque in memory of the soldiers. The plaque has been installed in the courtyard of the café at Palace Green Library and is mounted on stone cut from the quarry which now operates on the site where the Battle of Dunbar took place in 1650. It was during construction of the courtyard that the remains of the soldiers were found in 2013. An existing plaque within Durham Cathedral, installed in 2011 to commemorate the Scottish soldiers, was also rededicated on the 12 May, with special prayers and a blessing during the Cathedral’s Evensong service. In the evening a public lecture about the Scottish Soldiers Archaeology Project was also held at Palace Green Library. The events brought the Scottish Soldiers Archaeology Project team together with stakeholders, including direct descendants of survivors of the Battle of Dunbar, to remember those who lost their lives in Durham.
Jul | Aug 2017
Image: Jeff Veitch Durham University
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NORTHERN INK
Northern ink Naomi Blayney, an alumna (1997 – 2000) and a member of University staff, is a pen and ink artist and is hosting a solo exhibition at Durham Cathedral.
When I was invited to exhibit my work at Durham Cathedral I jumped at the chance. And to be given the two busiest months of the year is a fantastic opportunity. I worked very hard over the last few months to create new work, around my day job and two small children. It hasn’t been easy but I managed it and was proud to launch my exhibition at a preview event on Monday 3 July 2017. Guests including the Mayor and Mayoress of Durham, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Durham and many university staff attended the launch event. There were many familiar faces at the preview, many who had attended my last exhibition at St. Cuthbert’s Society, but also many new faces. It’s always lovely to see people viewing my work and appreciating different aspects of it. Selling through galleries, this feedback is something I rarely get. My work has continued its North East theme with new work featuring Hadrian’s Wall, Ray Lonsdale’s Tommy sculpture and the iconic Tyne Bridge. I also focused on a few details of the Cathedral itself including the Rose Window and the columns. I’m delighted that the exhibition has been received so well and I’ve already been asked to exhibit again in the future. There is still time to see the exhibition which runs until Friday 1 September in the Undercroft Restaurant. The Open Treasure exhibition is on at the same time so there is a lot to see in the Cathedral. Hopefully you will all stop by the restaurant and take a peek. Perhaps make an occasion of it and have lunch or coffee in the restaurant and see the exhibition while you're there.
In the meantime, if you’d like to see my work, please visit my website www.nbfineartist.com. If you would like to get in touch, please email me at info@nbfineartist.com 18
News for Durham University Staff & Students
LIBRARY NEWS
A reminder of some services available to research staff and students PGR Study room Are you a postgraduate research student? Are you aware we have a study room with a range of desks for up to 60 PGRs? Find out more at: http://bit.ly/2ryfnq5
Open Access (OA) funding for RCUK researchers: Discover the benefits of going Gold! Does your peer reviewed research article acknowledge RCUK funding? Apply to the University’s block grant to cover your publication costs. Don’t miss out – find out more at: http://bit.ly/2rn8S5q
Jul | Aug 2017
Are you REF OA compliant? Do your publications include journal articles and published conference papers? Were they accepted for publication on or after 1 April 2016? Check if they comply with HEFCE’s OA policy using the ‘Publication Reporting’ tool available at: http://bit.ly/2statKd For further support, contact us at dro.admin@ durham.ac.uk or ext. 41586
Reminder – we now have Scopus! Durham University users finally have access to Scopus! You can make use of this via the Library web pages at: http://bit.ly/1CBBLrw
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SPOTLIGHT ON...
Above: Rachel Archbold, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager Left: Linda and Bradley; two members of the network
Bullying and Harassment Network Rachel Archbold our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead tells us about the importance of the Bullying and Harassment Network. The network acts as a first point of contact for those who feel they have experienced, or have been accused of, harassment or bullying. Bullying and Harassment of any kind are in no-one’s interest and should not be tolerated in the workplace. But if you are being bullied or harassed, it can be difficult to know what to do about it. The network enables both staff and students to talk in confidence about any intimidating behaviour they have experienced or observed, in order to discuss the options available to resolve the problem and decide what action to take. The decision to progress a complaint will always rest with the individual. We want to develop a culture in which bullying and harassment are known to be unacceptable, and where people are confident enough to bring complaints without fear of ridicule or reprisal. Our network is made up of volunteers from across both academic and Professional Support Services staff within the University. All have received training to support them
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to undertake these roles. A list of contacts is available on the website, where you can find out more about where they are based and how to get in touch.
What do we mean by bullying and harassment? Although the terms are used interchangeably, sometimes people are unsure whether the behaviour that they are experiencing would be considered bullying or harassment. For example, sometimes it’s hard to know where bullying differs from banter, and it can be hard to know what to do about it. Bullying is behaviour, usually repeated over time, where there is a deliberate intention to hurt or humiliate. It can happen in many forms including the use of written communications, phone conversations and supervision methods. Harassment relates to unwanted conduct, which affects or violates a person’s dignity. Or when a person, or groups’ behaviour creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual. It’s important for staff and students to know who to contact if they want to discuss their experiences in order to decide what steps to take.
unsure if you have experienced either bullying or harassment, the network contacts can offer confidential advice and guidance. They can also provide guidance on the University’s policies, procedures and services, as well as signposting to resources which can offer further support.
Further advice and guidance You can find out more about the Bullying and Harassment Network at: www.durham.ac.uk/equality.diversity/ positiveworking/harassment
You can access the relevant policies and procedures at: Respect at work policy www.durham.ac.uk/hr/policies/ respectatwork Respect at study policy www.durham.ac.uk/university. calendar/volumei/codes_of_practice/ respect_at_study Or learn more about the work we do to promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at: www.durham.ac.uk/equality.diversity
If you just want to talk things through, or are
News for Durham University Staff & Students
PROCUREMENT SERVICE
Buy in
Procurement and Insurance Information Point
NETpositive Futures
Most of the information you may need about buying can be found on the Procurement pages of the Durham University website. Here are the most popular addresses:
The University has adopted a new supplier engagement tool called NETpositive Futures. This allows suppliers to complete an action plan focusing on key areas of their social, economic and environmental impact. Suppliers can pick “issues”, types of impact their business has on the environment or socially, from a pre-defined list or create their own and then set “actions”, to mitigate their impact. This is a free platform, available to all contracted suppliers to the University, and is being rolled out by other institutions within the Higher Education Sector. The Procurement Service recently held a seminar to demonstrate the system to companies contracted to the University. This allowed the Procurement Service to outline the intended uses and gave suppliers the opportunity to raise questions. As part of ongoing supplier development, the University will continue to engage and work with suppliers to identify potential issues and encourage the completion of actions. The system will provide a useful reporting tool on issues relating to modern slavery and CSER. The NETpositive Futures website can be found at http://netpositivefutures.co.uk/
Jul | Aug 2017
www.durham.ac.uk/procurement Details of the Procurement and Insurance services. Links to other relevant pages.
www.durham.ac.uk/procurement/local/staff Information for staff including the buying thresholds and links to: Insurance The Buyers guide – including a search tool to find a contract or framework Purchasing cards Acquire – including the link to the acquire system
The acquire helpdesk is available Monday-Friday 9.00am-5.00pm acquire Helpdesk contact details: Telephone: 0191 33 44534 Email address: acquire.helpdesk@durham.ac.uk 21
CIS NEWS
The Cloud@Durham:
the new campus-wide Wi-Fi service for visitors Visitors to Durham University can now benefit from a new Wi-Fi service when they are anywhere on our campus.
Connecting to ‘TheCloud@Durham’ in six easy steps:
If you have visitors coming to the University, you can now make sure they will have both free and convenient internet access as soon as they arrive on site.
1 Switch on your smartphone, tablet or other Wi-Fi device and check that Wi-Fi is enabled.
The Cloud@Durham, our new guest wireless service provided by Sky, offers simple, fast and reliable access for your business guests, conference delegates and open day attendees.
3 Open your web browser - 'TheCloud' landing page will appear. Click 'Get Online’.
No more requesting temporary usernames and passwords! The Cloud@Durham replaces DU Guest, the previous service where wireless access had to be requested in advance of a visit so a temporary username and password could be supplied upon the guest's arrival. Using ‘The Cloud@Durham’, visitors can instead quickly and easily connect to Wi-Fi in much the same way they would connect to guest wireless offered in other public places, such as cafés, bars and hotels. It will work across the whole Durham campus whenever they visit us, plus anywhere else there’s a Sky Wi-Fi hotspot – so guests will find it useful in a variety of other locations too.
Make sure your guests are ready in advance Let your visitors know they can pre-register for the service before they get here, so they can get online and start working as soon as they arrive on site. They can do this simply by creating an account at: service.thecloud.net/service-platform/login/registration They can also download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
Once your guests are on-site First time users will need to register for the service if they have not already done so.
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2 Select 'TheCloud@Durham' from the available network list.
4 You will see the service selection screen. Select ‘The Cloud Wi-Fi'. 5 Once this is done you can either login with an existing 'TheCloud' account, or click on the 'Create Account' button to register for a free account. 6 Once you have logged in or registered, you will be able to access the internet using 'TheCloud@Durham'. Once registered and logged in for the first time, users will automatically connect when they are in the coverage area of the wireless network.
Staff and students should continue to use DU Wireless and DU Student respectively. Visiting academics should continue to use Eduroam.
Find out more about ‘TheCloud@Durham’ at www.durham.ac.uk/cis/wireless/thecloud For more information about our different wireless services, visit www.durham.ac.uk/cis/wireless News for Durham University Staff & Students
What are you reading at the moment? I always have a couple of books on the go, at the moment they are ‘The Sign of Four’ by Arthur Conan Doyle and ‘Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl’, an autobiography by Harriet Jacobs. What would you like you epitaph to be? He was liked. Which historical figure would you most like to be? Captain Cook - Explorer, surveyor and from Middlesbrough. What was the first record you bought? Hand in Glove – The Smiths.
NAME: Matthew Wright JOB TITLE: Estate Surveyor DEPARTMENT: Estates & Buildings
What achievement are you most proud of? My team mates voted for me as Players’ Player of Season. It was as unexpected as it was appreciated. What was your best subject? I enjoyed History the most but was best at Maths. When was the last time you laughed and why? I work with a great team in Estates and they make me laugh every day. What did you want to be when you were a child? While watching the local news I turned to my family and announced ‘When I grow up, I want to help the Police with their enquiries’. There’s still time. Where will you be going for your next holiday? Four nights in Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival.
Have you got any pets? We adopted a stray cat and being unaccustomed to pets shortly after we also got four kittens. We kept one and have since bought a Bearded Dragon and I’m trying to limit it to that. Jul | Aug 2017
What skill or talent would you most like to acquire? At school I was told my language ability was more suited to 'Allo 'Allo! than making myself understood abroad, so I would like to speak a foreign language. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you care what other people think of you? Seven, far more than I know I should. What’s your greatest vice? Chocolate biscuits. What’s your favourite film? I have terrible taste in films but Elf is a modern day classic. Any nicknames? Only one, Chopper, it was given to me when I joined the University staff football team and it stuck. What’s your favourite place in the world? Roseberry Topping. Tell me a secret: I can't watch scary movies.
Give me a picture of your ideal day: Rising early to clear skies I get out on my bike into the Durham Dales for a quick spin. Returning home the family and I go to the coast for the rest of the day, rounding it off with fish & chips and a pint of beer. What luxury item would you take to a desert island? A bike and a road to ride it on. What’s your greatest indulgence? After my daughter, upgrades for my bike. Pass the buck: Finally, who would you like to see in the hot-seat? Dr Steven Poulter, Psychology Department.
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what’s on at the University
july
FESTIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY
/durhamuniversity
@Durham_Uni
TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC
Visit the Oriental Museum and take part in family activities celebrating the national Festival of Archaeology
DATE: Monday 31 July and Monday 21 August
CHINESE TOMBS
TIME: 10am – 4pm
DATE: Wednesday 26 July
Teddy Bears' Picnics will be held at the Botanic Garden this summer, bring a bear and your picnic to join in the fun.
TIME: 1pm – 3pm Pop along to our object handling station and explore objects found in ancient Chinese tombs.
DATE: Friday 28 July TIME: 1pm – 4pm A mini archaeological dig for children. All equipment provided. Be prepared to get muddy!
TIME MACHINES FILM SCREENINGS VENUE: Gala Cinema, Durham We've teamed up with The Gala Cinema Durham, to show special screenings of classic time travelling movies, linking to the Time Machines Exhibition in Palace Green Library. Coming soon to a cinema near you…
BILL AND TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE DATE: Saturday 25 July TIME: 6pm
BACK TO THE FUTURE DATE: Saturday 5 August TIME: 3pm
H.G. WELLS DOUBLE BILL – THE TIME MACHINE AND TIME AFTER TIME DATE: Saturday 13 August TIME: 6pm
DurhamUniversity
august
VENUE: Oriental Museum
DINKY DIG
DurhamUniversity
september HERITAGE OPEN DAYS Venues across the University will open their doors to welcome the public as part of Heritage Open Days
DURHAM UNIVERSITY ART TOURS Enjoy a free guided tour of Durham’s art collections housed in the Palatine Centre or the Business School. Spaces are limited and prebooking is required. Visit www.durham.ac.uk/conference.booking or call +44 (0)191 334 2883 VENUE: Palatine Centre DATE: Thursday 7 September TIME: 3pm VENUE: Durham University Business School DATE: Friday 8 September TIME: 3pm
USHAW COLLEGE GUIDED TOURS DATE: Thursday 7 September – Sunday 10 September TIMES: 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm daily Spaces are limited and should be booked in advance, visit www.ushaw.org for details
For more information on University events go to www.durham.ac.uk/whatson