Dialogue Issue 43 by Durham University

The Scottish Soldiers Project In September, a team from the Department of Archaeology announced that they had solved a centuries-old mystery. Read more about this fascinating discovery in the Research Insights feature. / Page 04

Also in this issue: 50 Years of Van Mildert College

Postgraduate Communications Campaign Theme

Find out how the University celebrated the life and development of the College, as well as its vibrant, diverse and inclusive communities.

Discover how the new Postgraduate Communications Campaign Theme communicates with prospective postgraduate students.

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Dialogue 43 | Nov / Dec 2015

www.thedurhamdiary.wordpress.com @Durham_Uni

17 23

When I said in the last issue of Dialogue that I was sure it was going to be another successful academic year in the life of the University, I didn’t quite anticipate the level of achievement we would experience so soon.

The significant rises we have made in the THE and the QS World Rankings have been remarkable and reflect the strength of our position globally, as well as highlighting the world class experience we offer. I would like to thank you all for your hard work in helping us to achieve these outstanding results. I know that we will continue to work together to further improve our rankings in the years to come, cementing Durham’s position as one of the world’s leading universities. As ever our researchers continue to make headlines and exert influence on decision-makers. Of recent prominence has of course been the discovery that the skeletons found in centuries-old mass graves on Palace Green are those of 17th Century Scottish soldiers captured after the Battle of Dunbar. You can read more about the fascinating discovery and its consequences in an interview with Professor Chris Gerrard in the Research Highlights feature. The well-deserved success of this project has been testament to the outstanding work of the Department of Archaeology, supported by other University staff. Finally, I hope that as many of you as possible will be able to get involved with the Winter Congregation ceremonies in January. These are a great opportunity to celebrate the successes of our students, so please consider what role you may be able to play in these ceremonies. I look forward to meeting more of you there.

03 Durham soars in world

12 Academic strategy

13 Student Surveys

university rankings Get Social

04 Research Insights - The

Scottish Soldiers Project - communicating our findings

06 Winter Congregation

Information Security Matters - Look before you click

07 Postgraduate

Communications Campaign Theme

08 British Science Festival 2015

09 Spotlight on... The

Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre

With all best wishes

10 50 years of Van

Stuart Corbridge Vice-Chancellor and Warden

Mildert College

2015-2025

14 How do you rest?

EDITORS:

15 Sir Tim Rice and friends

Corporate Communications Officer.

16 Action on Natural

Marketing Projects Co-ordinator.

Disasters - Chancellor’s appeal

17 Library News 18 Event Durham,

Retail & Catering

19 HR & OD News 20 CIS News 21 Procurement – Buy in 22 Greenspace 23 Under Investigation

Rebecca Grundy, Zoë Thomas,

CONTRIBUTIONS: Sharon Battersby, CIS; Tara Duncan, Greenspace; Daryl Dowding, Event Durham; Media Relations Team, Communications Office; Rachel Smith, Library; Hilary Meehan, HROD; Catherine Harrison, Procurement; Bennett Zon, Department of Music; Catherine Richardson, Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre; Evelyn Tehrani, DEI; Martin Brader, Van Mildert College; Linda Forwood, DARO; Donna Cutler, Ceremonies Unit; Jessica Lawrence, Experience Durham.

24 What’s On FRONT COVER: Members of the Department of Archaeology

Share your story... If you have anything interesting coming up such as an event, lecture, news article, radio/TV appearance, etc. get in touch with zoe.thomas@durham.ac.uk

DURHAM SOARS IN WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS

Do you follow us on our social media channels? We have compiled a list of our favourite posts, tweets and videos over the past two months to show you what has been happening around the University!

Arts and Humanities at Durham is ranked 44th in world, while Natural Sciences (joint 57th) and Social Sciences and Management (joint 86th) also feature in the world top 100.

Both these rankings follow our success earlier this year in the THE World Reputation Review rankings which placed the University in the world top 100 for reputation based on the world’s largest invitation-only survey of academic opinion. Our rise in the world rankings came as Durham also improved by one place in the Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2016 to be ranked 5th in the UK with almost 90% of our subjects ranked in the top 10 and English ranked 1st. Overall a strong position for us all at Durham University.

TOP FIVE TWEETS • Post-disaster rescue excavations with Durham Archaeology team have started @UNESCO site in Kathmandu in Nepal http://socsi.in/BLZ8R • What is normal infant sleep? Use our infant sleep app to track baby’s sleep against range of normal sleep by age: http://socsi.in/HZdKm • Following success in #THEunirankings watch Prof David Cowling talk about the value of Arts & Humanities research - http://bit.ly/1OSBr1O • Need help with evaluating #InterdisciplinaryResearch? Free @DurhamIAS practical guide now available http:// bit.ly/1PBYGhk • #grammarschools don’t help social mobility according to @SGorard @DUSofE http://bit.ly/1GIbPOn

VIDEO OF THE MONTH In this video Dr Pratika Dayal asks if there is life out there? After all, the Earth is just one planet in one galaxy among hundreds of billions that exist across the cosmos. Now a team of scientists are attempting to solve this mystery by building the first cosmobiological model to explore the habitability of the Universe. To watch the film visit https://youtu.be/U2ydbo3JsKE

www.thedurhamdiary.wordpress.com

Our rankings in teaching and research have risen, with the University placed among the world’s leading institutions, recognising our excellence and strengths in these categories. Within the categories of citations and international outlook the University also continues to perform strongly.

One of our favourite photos this month was taken for the #DurhamDays Photo Challenge which ran from 30 September – 31 October. Thank you to everyone who took part in the challenge – we loved seeing so many photos from across Durham City and Queen’s Campus!

DurhamUniversity

In addition to this success, we have also risen 13 places to 70th in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-16. These rankings list the world’s leading universities according to a number of different categories: teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry income.

IMAGE OF THE MONTH

@Durham_Uni

Our rise to 61st in the QS World University Rankings 2015-16 gives us our highest ever overall position in this league table. We are ranked even higher in some categories – for example, we are 54th in the world for research citations, a measure of global research influence. Our new overall position in the rankings, up from 92nd last year, reflects a fairer emphasis on research citations across the broad subject areas.

/durhamuniversity

We have continued to cement our position as one of the world’s leading universities, with significant rises in two major league tables.

Dialogue 43 | Nov / Dec 2015

THE SCOTTISH SOLDIERS PROJECT – COMMUNICATING OUR FINDINGS At a press conference held in September, a team from the Department of Archaeology announced that they had solved a centuries-old mystery. Announcing their findings, the researchers revealed they had identified the resting place of Scottish soldiers who died after being imprisoned in Durham Cathedral and Castle during the 17th Century civil wars.

Professor Chris Gerrard, Head of the Department of Archaeology, describes how he and his team worked with colleagues in Marketing and Communications to ensure that the outcomes of the research work were widely communicated to the world.

The press conference was part of a campaign to communicate the findings to different audiences and interested parties using a variety of methods.

Why did you hold a press conference to announce the identity of the remains?

As the archaeologists responded to questions from the national media including BBC TV and radio news, ITN, Times and The Press Association, a webpage “The Scottish Soldiers Project”, was launched on the Department of Archaeology’s website. Thousands of emails were sent to interested people and organisations, both inside and outside the University, informing them of the discovery. Simultaneously posts were sent from Twitter and Facebook informing followers of the discovery using #ScotsSoldiers and providing links to the new webpage.

This decision was taken by the Scottish Soldiers Project team, which is led by Professor David Cowling, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Arts & Humanities, and includes representatives from the Archaeology department, Archaeological Services and the Marketing and Communications team. We decided on a press conference because we had a lot of information to convey – some of it very technical and some of it very sensitive - and we wanted to manage the way it was presented. IMAGE L-R: Chris Gerrard, Pam Graves, Richard Annis, Anwen Caffell and Andrew Millard.

05 07 How much time did it take to prepare? As lecturers we are accustomed to making presentations but we don’t usually script our talks which we did on this occasion. It was as if we were writing a book, with each of us contributing a chapter. We had a number of rehearsals and the first one resulted in some serious editing to our scripts as we only had seven minutes each. Such attention to detail meant we kept to time and covered everything without any overlap. We also warned the journalists in attendance about the content of the images as they featured human remains and our aim was to be respectful of the subject. Although we talk about “skeletons” we are actually talking about people who died in miserable circumstances and we felt this very strongly on the day.

A dedicated webpage was launched on the day of the announcement – was this useful? Yes - in addition to telling a detailed story of the discovery and identification, we provided links to all of the academic papers, which any interested party can delve into. People have subsequently told me how incredibly positive and rare it is for a university to make so much information available and to be transparent from the get go. A number of popular archaeological and history magazines wrote in-depth articles about the discovery and we were able to direct the authors to the information on the website. If we hadn’t been so well prepared, with the information all in one place, we would have been scrambling around trying to pull the information together. Why was it decided to set up a dedicated Scottish Soldiers email account? We knew that lots of people would want to contact us in response to the news and that a single consolidated line of communication was the right way to go. If we’d allowed people to contact different members of the team directly, we’d now be trying to consolidate those replies from all around the department which would be very time consuming. It’s also provided us with the ability to monitor who the different interested parties are. Did the media coverage result in any feedback or information that will be of use to you and your colleagues? Yes – it has put us in touch with potential descendants of the soldiers which will be invaluable if we want to do anything with the ancient DNA. We know that approximately 150 captured soldiers were sent to America as indentured servants and their descendants are still in the Boston area. Some of those families know that another member of their family was imprisoned in the Cathedral and so they’re interested in whether or not these 28 individuals might be relations.

Find out more... A video of the press conference along with information about the Scottish Soldiers Archaeology Project is available at www.durham.ac.uk/scottishsoldiers

IMAGE: Dr Anwen Caffell examines the remains.

Dialogue 43 | Nov / Dec 2015

WINTER CONGREGATION 2016

LOOK BEFORE YOU CLICK We all send and receive emails on a daily basis and we know that email communication is fast, easy and convenient. Unfortunately this means that it is also fast and easy to send an email to the wrong person or to click on a link which turns out to be a virus – but these are much less convenient. The majority of data breaches in organisations are the result of human error, and in the University our biggest concern is email containing personal data being sent to the wrong person. All staff are invited to join the celebration of student achievements at graduation in Durham Cathedral on 14 and 15 January either as a marshal, in the Academic Procession or the staff seats. Sign up at: www.durham.ac.uk/ceremonies/ congregation/staff

HONORARY DEGREES All staff are encouraged to submit nominations for honorary degrees by 11 February. Further information and nomination forms are published at: www.durham.ac.uk/ceremonies/ honorary

Whilst the University blocks the great majority of spurious emails, it is not possible to block it all and there may be times when you receive a suspect email. By not protecting yourself from such attacks you leave yourself and the University open to the risk of losing valuable information. Email is the most common way to communicate at work but in the middle of a busy day, it is easy to forget to check that the right communications are going to the right people. This is especially important when sending information which shouldn’t be shared with anyone but the intended recipient. By not relying on ‘auto-complete’, taking the time to check you have the correct recipients and checking the information is being sent in the most secure manner, you can reduce the security risk. When sending and receiving emails, be alert and look before you click.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO? •A lways double-check email addresses, content and attachments before you send an email, especially if your message is confidential; •A void sending data files by email but instead send a link to a secure folder if you can; • I f you need to email personal or confidential material, make sure you encrypt it first; • I f you have to circulate personal information, only send it to those who need to have it; • I f you send an email with sensitive data to the wrong person, report it immediately. Go to: www.durham.ac.uk/ infosecurity/report • I f you are at all unsure about an email you receive, delete it. WHERE TO NEXT? Go to the information security toolkit at www.durham.ac.uk/infosecurity/toolkit to find tips and advice on: • t aking the right steps to reduce the risk of sending personal data or commercially valuable information via email; • how to encrypt a file; • how to spot common phishing attacks and the steps you can take to protect yourself. DID YOU KNOW…? Spam, hoax and phishing emails make up more than half of total email traffic.

SEEK EXPLORE DISCOVER FIND To tie in with the start of the 2016 Postgraduate recruitment cycle, we have now launched a Postgraduate Communications Campaign Theme for use specifically when communicating with prospective postgraduate students. This builds on the successful launch of the Undergraduate Communications Campaign Theme earlier in the year.

The new creative theme (which can be adopted across printed materials, web and social media) uses short, sharp inspirational messages to engage the viewer and illustrates the link between research and education. You can see how the new campaign theme is being rolled out by: •V iewing the new 2016/17 Postgraduate Prospectus at http:// issuu.com/communicationsoffice/ docs/postgraduate_ prospectus_2016/1

help you to develop your materials to fit within this new approach. You can share stories that demonstrate the impact that postgraduate students are having by using #DUmakeithappen. Using this hashtag (and applying it to your own social media activities) is a great way to showcase what your students are doing and the impact they are making on the world around us.

•V iewing the updated Postgraduate webpages at www.durham.ac.uk/ postgraduate

For further information on how you can adopt the Postgraduate campaign theme when working on postgraduate recruitment materials see the theme guidelines at www.durham.ac.uk/ resources/communications.office/local/ PGStyleGuide_FINALVERSION.pdf

This campaign theme will be relevant to anyone who is looking to update existing or develop new student recruitment materials. All of the University’s external design partners have been briefed on this and would be able to advise and

If you have any questions, would like to discuss this further, or have ideas for #DUmakeithappen you can contact the Marketing Team, based within the Marketing and Communications Office via marketing.team@durham.ac.uk

POSTGRADUATE COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN THEME

Dialogue 43 | Nov / Dec 2015

British Science Festival 2015:

Can we secure our energy future? Find out more... about the DEI event at the British Science Festival and download the event resources at www.durham.ac.uk/ dei/events/past.events/ britishsciencefest

Durham Energy Institute (DEI) took a team of researchers to this year’s British Science Festival in Bradford to explore the crisis the UK is facing in accessing reliable and affordable energy and whether there are solutions to this problem. The event at the British Science Festival 2015 considered the pressing challenges and questions about the nation’s future energy supply and asked: Are we facing a dark and cold future or do we have viable scientific innovations to help us achieve secure, sustainable and affordable energy supplies within the UK? The event, which attracted a large audience of over 60 people from the general public, and industry inspired a lively discussion and was very well received. Professor Andy Aplin Director of our Centre for Geoenergy began by setting out the difficulties the UK is currently facing. The international energy system is in flux and UK energy supply is becoming less secure. We now import much of our oil, gas and coal after decades of selfsufficiency and our nuclear facilities are reaching the ends of their lives. Sure we have plenty of new wind farms and solar panels are popping up on some buildings but renewables still only make a small dent in the UK’s total energy usage.

So, what new energy solutions are being developed to meet these challenges and ensure we can keep the lights on? What mix of energy technologies might allow us to meet society’s huge demands for power economically and without the danger of losing supply while being mindful of emissions targets? Professor Aplin then passed the floor to the new-generation of researchers at DEI who are at the forefront of developing innovative new energy technologies which can meet the energy challenges we face today and into the future. They painted a more positive picture for the audience arguing that the innovative technologies they are developing are a viable solution to this crisis. The DEI team from Earth Sciences, Physics, and Engineering departments discussed the potential of Nuclear Fusion (Francis Ridgeon), Geothermal energy (Dr Charlotte Adams), Organic Solar devices (Matthew Jones), and alternative approaches to oil and gas such as Enhanced Oil Recovery and Carbon Capture and storage in offshore oil wells (Mark Brodie). While some solutions such as Geothermal energy could make a significance difference right now, we may have to wait 20 years for others such as

nuclear fusion. They all highlighted there is a need for a significant commitment from policy makers now if we are to resolve the problems we will be facing. DEI continues to engage with policy makers on key energy issues through its Policy Expert Group, policy briefings, events and by responding to Government consultations on energy policy. Find out more at www.durham.ac.uk/dei/ partnerships

Find out more... vist www.durham.ac.uk/dei/research for other exciting energy research happening at Durham.

Spotlight on...

THE CAREERS, EMPLOYABILITY AND ENTERPRISE CENTRE Describe your department in one sentence. A professional, quality-assured service which supports students to realise their potential and fulfil their unique ambitions postgraduation whilst also supporting the University in adapting to the changing graduate employment market through maintaining close, collaborative links with employers and alumni.

What is your main objective/what do you want to achieve?

What are the three main things people should know about CEEC?

To support students in realising their potential and making a strong progression into post graduate destinations and beyond.

We are a professional client facing service – our clients include students, postgraduates, the diverse employment community, departments, colleges and the university in its broadest sense.

What would you say is your main challenge?

We have responsibility for supporting and quality assuring the overall employability provision across the university, as well as directly providing a range of learning and development support provision from our pre-arrival Skills Audit, through to our Academic Skills Programme and Durham Award. Our team carry out regular training to ensure they maintain a strong understanding of the world of work, and the graduate labour market/further study options in particular. They apply this at regional, national and international levels.

What three words do you most associate with/ best describe CEEC? Innovative. Collaborative. Empowering.

How can staff and/or students engage with you? All departments and colleges have a named Careers Adviser contact. Our website (www.durham.ac.uk/careers) offers comprehensive student and staff pages covering the breadth of our support. We also have a well-resourced information library with networked computer terminals.

Effectively sharing the message of the range of services and support we provide to ensure we reach those who would benefit from our help the most.

What does the future look like for CEEC? Bright with innovative developments on the horizon in a constantly changing landscape.

Do you use social media? If so, how? Students, staff and employers can follow us to stay up to date with events and new developments via Facebook (Careers@ DurhamUniversity) and Twitter (@careersatdurham)

DID YOU KNOW…? Students have voted us into second place in the national ‘Student Crowd’ Best University Careers Award 2015 www.studentcrowd.com We have over 150 events taking place during Michaelmas term alone and approximately 1,400 vacancies advertised on our Student Portal at any given time.

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

Dialogue 43 | Nov / Dec 2015

Founded in 1965, Van Mildert College is now celebrating its 50th Anniversary. This milestone has provided a unique opportunity to commemorate and celebrate the life and development of the College, as well as its vibrant, diverse and inclusive communities.

Over the course of the past year, the College’s three common rooms have led a suite of celebratory events. The Junior Common Room has hosted over twenty Club, Committee and Society Reunions, ranging from basketball and cheerleading to the JCR Executive, welcoming former members back to the University to hear about recent developments and achievements. The postgraduate community has hosted an interdisciplinary ‘Destination 2015: Personal Research Journeys’ Symposium’, which saw a number of current and former postgraduate students presenting their own research. Topics ranged from wallpaper design to bee foraging behaviour and the origins of life on Earth. The conference demonstrated the breadth of research undertaken by Van

Mildert College’s Middle Common Room and its alumni. In turn, the Senior Common Room has organised an Anniversary Lecture Series, in collaboration with the Climate Impacts Research Centre, focussing on climate change. The Series has attracted guest speakers from King’s College London and the University of Bristol and has highlighted the various aspects of this important topic, including approaches from political geography and Earth sciences. There have also been a number of activities organised for our alumni, including events in London, Liverpool, New York and Washington DC, offering excellent opportunities to re-connect and engage with former and current staff and students.

IMAGES L-R: The Mildert Feather sculpture, Van Mildert opera by the lake, Van Mildert College reunion dinner.

REUNION WEEKEND Our largest event, the Van Mildert College Golden Jubilee Reunion Weekend, took place in Durham in July, where we welcomed back over 400 alumni and friends to the College. The Reunion Weekend included representatives from the founder members, as well as recent graduates, providing a fantastic opportunity to share memories and reflections of the College. Culminating in the Reunion Dinner, the Weekend offered alumni a number of opportunities to meet and share experiences. The highlight of the Reunion Weekend was ‘Opera by the Lake’ with Sir Thomas Allen, organised by the Chair of Van Mildert College Council, Professor Brian

Tanner. Over 200 alumni, SCR members and guests attended the concert, which included a number of arias and duets, with Bridget Tomlinson now herself an alumna of VMC, and featuring a chorus of University staff and alumni, as well as the New Tyneside Orchestra. In September, the College also hosted its own Staff Reunion Afternoon Tea, which saw many former staff from the reception, housekeeping, catering, operations and College Office teams return to Van Mildert College.

LOOKING FORWARD In addition to these events, a number of new initiatives have been launched to mark the College’s anniversary. Two books, ‘A Place of Water’ and ‘The Birth of a College’

have been developed and a limited edition print of ‘The Lake’ by Roar Kjærnstad has been commissioned. There have also been developments around the College estate, including the installation of a commemorative sculpture, The Mildert Feather, by renowned Danish sculptor Erik Heide. The Mildert Feather has been welcomed by the College community, with its own social media presence, and we now have a number of ‘Guardians of the Feather’. In 2015, the College’s motto, Sic vos non vobis – not for yourselves – upon which our community has been built, has never been more relevant. The Junior Common Room is well-known for its outreach projects, including the Young Persons’

Project, Prison Project, Community Visiting Scheme, Carers Respite Committee and Primary School Project. In our anniversary year, a sixth scheme has now been launched – Environmental Conservation Committee – further developing our links with the local community.

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? As our anniversary year draws to a close, there are a number of ways that staff and students can get involved with our celebratory events and initiatives. Full details of our Destination 2015 activities can be found on the dedicated webpages (www.durham.ac.uk/van-mildert.college/ destination-2015) or by contacting the Development Officer (vm.development@ durham.ac.uk).

Dialogue 43 | Nov / Dec 2015

What is the Academic Strategy? The Academic Strategy is an important and complex body of work which will help us to determine our direction of travel over the coming years. It will underpin our decisions and activity with the ultimate goal of creating and maintaining a distinct global positioning on three axes: education, research and engagement and the wider student experience.

Why do we need an academic strategy? Whilst we are globally renowned for our teaching and research and our student experience, and we produce some of the most sought after graduates in the world, in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive global higher education market we cannot stand still. We must be looking ahead to see how we can secure and build on our success for the future.

How is the strategy being developed? The development of the strategy is being taken forward within six workstreams: 1. Education Strategy: Sustainability, Growth and Subject Profile

To deliver a premium educational experience for all students that meets diverse needs and ensures future success 3. Research Excellence and Funding To improve and sustain research excellence in an environment of increased funding selectivity 4. Internationalisation To maximise the reputation and sustainability of research and education through a strategic approach to internationalisation 5. Professional Support To ensure that support for academic activities is effective and efficient in meeting the needs of the University’s primary beneficiaries 6. Infrastructure To ensure fit-for-purpose, affordable infrastructure which is aligned with academic objectives

Find out more... about the workstreams: www.durham.ac.uk/strategic.planning/ academicstrategy

To ensure the sustainable development of the education

What are the timescales for the development and approval processes?

2. Education Strategy: Enhancing the Quality of Education

Extensive research and consultation on the strategy has been carried out

over many months via the workstreams. Initial papers were discussed by Senate and Council in September 2015 who expressed their broad support. The strategy is very much work in progress and we will spend this academic year working through the wideranging practical implications of the proposals. All plans will be informed by consultations with staff and students.

What decisions have already been taken? UEC, supported by Council and Senate, has taken the decision not to maintain our option on a development site at the North Shore adjacent to Queen’s Campus which was due for renewal. This decision does not impact on our existing academic and student operations at Queen’s Campus which will, like many other aspects of University business, be reviewed over time as part of the Academic Strategy work programmes.

What happens next? As work on the strategy continues, further updates will be provided through emails from the Vice-Chancellor and in future issues of Dialogue.

Last year, the University ran a number of student surveys to collect student feedback; the National Student Survey; the Student Barometer and the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey. The University is committed to collecting and responding to student feedback. Collectively, nearly 10,000 students responded to one of our surveys. Thank you!

The National Student Survey, designed to capture feedback on the student academic experience, is targeted at final year undergraduate students. 90% are satisfied with their overall experience at Durham University. The Student Barometer, which explores the student experience at the University, revealed that 93% are happy with their experiences at the University. In the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey, which surveys postgraduate research students studying at Durham, 93% of students felt that their supervisors have the skills and expertise to support them in their studies. In response to student feedback captured through these surveys, the University:

• Has introduced minimum standards on DUO from 2015/16, ensuring consistency and a high quality student experience online; • Has ensured that all Departments and College accommodation have University Wifi; • Is exploring how best to support students in recognising, recording and enhancing their personal and professional development; • I s exploring how to enhance the role of the Academic Advisor; • Is exploring the use of lecture capture. Your department will have also made changes based your feedback captured

through these surveys, your course reps and departmental surveys. The University recognises that student opinion changes over time, so we have launched the Student Barometer again. The survey is open until 27 November 2015 and we hope that you can take the time to provide your feedback. The National Student Survey also launches in January 2016. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all students who provided feedback and members of staff who encouraged students to take part. Thanks to your efforts we can enhance the student experience at Durham University. If you would like any further information on these surveys, please contact Alyson Bird in the Academic Support Office via alyson.bird@durham.ac.uk

All staff and students are invited to share their experiences of rest as part of a national ‘Rest Test’.

The Rest Test, launched on BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind, is an online survey to investigate the nation’s resting habits and their attitudes towards relaxation and busyness. It is part of a collaboration between Hubbub, an international project led by Durham University which is currently in residence at Wellcome Collection, and BBC Radio 4. The survey addresses questions such as: How does rest affect health and wellbeing? How do people vary in what they experience as restful? Does an individual’s personality, health history and caring responsibilities have an effect on how much rest they get or the kinds of activities they find restful? The results, which will be analysed and announced on All in the Mind on BBC Radio 4 in 2016, will increase understanding of people’s perceptions and experiences of rest and the way these relate to an individual’s work or daily habits, as well as their experiences of

health, illness, disability, satisfaction with life and the tendency to mind wander. Everyone is invited to take The Rest Test to contribute their experiences of seeking rest and explore how they compare with others. They are also invited to discuss the topic online and to share images of themselves at rest around the world using the hashtag #Resties. The Rest Test has been designed by Hubbub, an international collective of social scientists, artists, humanities researchers, scientists, broadcasters, public engagement professionals and mental health experts, in residence at the Hub at Wellcome Collection in London, led by academics in the departments of Geography, and Psychology, and Centre for Medical Humanities. Dr Felicity Callard, Reader in the Department of Geography and Director of Hubbub, said: “We want to know how people’s life experiences — of work and worklessness, of health and ill-health —

affect their ability to rest. Data from The Rest Test will allow us to look at, from a whole range of different angles, who rests most, least, and how — and who feels they can’t get rest. “In time, data from The Rest Test might well help us to rethink how work might be re-organised, and how societal interventions might find more creative ways in which to facilitate people’s bodily and mental rest.” The questionnaire is split into two parts, with an initial section taking 5-10 minutes, followed by more in-depth questions which can be completed in stages. To take part, go to resttest.org

Find out more... about Hubbub at: www.durham. ac.uk/cmh/hubbub

IMAGE: Dr Felicity Callard

Following the success of the incredible sell-out Cathedral concert, ‘A Night at the Movies’ last May which entertained over 600 people in Durham Cathedral with an evening of outstanding film music performances, we were invited back as Durham University to perform at the prestigious fundraising event an ‘Evening with Sir Tim Rice and Friends’. We were thrilled to be requested at the fundraising concert at the Sage Gateshead, which supports the honourable work of local charity, Maggies in Newcastle who provide free practical and emotional support to people with cancer and their families. A choir of 40 singers was quickly formed; this consisted of members from Durham University Light Opera Group (DULOG) and Northern Lights (Durham University A cappella). The group, which incorporated many alumni who returned specially for the event, rehearsed in Durham prior to the start of term. In addition to the six songs performed as the Durham Chorus during the concert, we were requested to also provide entertainment at the donor’s reception on the Concourse. This opportunity allowed us both (DULOG and Northern Lights) to shine and we really impressed the audience with original arrangements of music lyricized by Sir Tim Rice. A personal favourite was the Northern Lights arrangement of Prince Ali, which featured Samuel Arrowsmith singing of the seventy-five golden camels and ninety-five white Persian monkeys from Aladdin with excellent backing from the a cappella group. DULOG, of course, never fail to impress and they provided a trio of songs from the Lion King; a particular highlight was Joe McWilliams being a devilish Mufasa in ‘Be Prepared’.

But this half an hour of excellent music was just the warm up act in comparison to what followed. The professionality of the whole show, to a sell-out 1,600 person audience, was an outstanding experience to start off the year. The show was delivered by Sir Tim Rice, explaining the stories behind the songs and sharing anecdotes about his life in music. We were also treated to his own rendition of Teddy Bear by Elvis and the lyrics of a song that never quite made it to the stage. To be singing alongside stars from the west end stage was an incredible experience for everyone involved, as well as the lights and set changes which made the whole concert a real extravaganza. Music Durham certainly seemed to have made an impression, as we were requested back just a week later to feature in another sell-out show; Star Wars in Concert, the iconic soundtrack performed in all its glory! It was a privilege and a pleasure to be requested for this major event at the Sage, and then asked to return soon after. This can only demonstrate the calibre of the performers here at Durham University. Make sure you hear some of the Music Durham performances live throughout the year – with music appealing to all musical tastes, there is sure to be a performance you would enjoy.

Chamber Choir Christmas concert December 4 @ 7:30pm - 10:00pm St Hild and St Bede Chapel

DUOS – Symphony Orchestra December 5 @ 7:30pm - 10:00pm Elvet Methodist Church

Northern Lights Christmas Concert December 8 @ 7:30pm - 9:00pm Elvet Methodist Church

Concert Band Christmas concert December 9 @ 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Mary Stuart (Fourth Wall) 10th – 12th December Castle Norman Chapel

DUPO Michaelmas concert December 11 @ 7:30pm - 10:00pm Elvet Methodist Church

DUOS and Chamber Choir concert December 14 @ 8:00pm - 10:00pm Castle Great Hall

Miss Julie (Pitch Productions) 16th – 18th December

The Assembly Rooms DULOG Gala Show – Kiss me Kate January 19, 2016 @ 7:30pm January 23, 2016 @ 10:00pm Gala Theatre

Action on Natural Disasters recognises that reducing the impact of future catastrophes depends on understanding not only the physical nature of the events that cause disasters, but also the social, economic, cultural, historical and political factors that shape their impact on the communities that are exposed to them.

HOW WILL THE FUNDS RAISED BE USED?

New research-focussed Chancellor’s appeal launched On 16 October, the Chancellor, Sir Thomas Allen, launched his 2015-16 Chancellor’s Appeal – Action on Natural Disasters – through a range of communications including a video, letters to alumni and social media. The Appeal draws heavily on Durham University’s ability to pursue cutting-edge research which has a very real impact on the lives of families and communities in disaster zones.

The aim of this Chancellor’s Appeal is to raise £750,000 to fund the establishment of a new Doctoral Training Initiative housed within the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (IHRR). The initiative will bring together the University’s leading research expertise from across the sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities to train the next generation of hazard professionals to better understand, anticipate, and respond to natural disasters around the world. The funds raised will be used to train the first cohorts of students on the programme.

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? The Chancellor’s Appeal video gives a compelling message to our community. We hope that colleagues will be interested to engage closely with the work of the Action on Natural Disasters initiative within IHRR, and make a donation to the Appeal to ensure that professionals, trained at Durham, will make a difference for years to come. You can: • Donate to the Action on Natural Disasters Appeal at www.dunelm.org.uk/donations/chancellors-appeal or contact donations@durham.ac.uk if you would like to make a donation through the payroll as a non-taxable deduction • View the Chancellor’s Appeal video at www.dunelm.org.uk/donate/ANDchancellorsappeal • Find out more about the Appeal at www.dunelm.org.uk/actiononnaturaldisasters • Follow the appeal @Durhamalumni #chancellorsappeal15

IHRR’s work to date has contributed to preparation, response, and post-event recovery activities – often in consultation with governments, commercial agencies and the international aid community. Over the coming years, this multidisciplinary approach will be applied to train cohorts of students equipped with a new approach to tackling landslides, volcanic activity, earthquakes, floods and other devastating natural events. Dr Ed Llewellin, Director of the Action on Natural Disasters initiative

Library news

Durham University’s Archives and Special Collections are working with Durham Cathedral to launch a digital resource that will open up new research opportunities. Durham Priory Library Recreated will make available online high-resolution images of the books of the Priory. Durham Cathedral’s Priory Library collection is Britain’s best preserved medieval and Renaissance monastic library, and a collection of national and international significance. It is hoped that the Durham Priory Library Recreated digitisation project will increase academic research into this unique collection, leading to a better understanding of the life of Durham’s priory. Judy Burg, Head of Special Collections, said: “We hope that as well as opening up these texts for researchers around the world to explore, this will be a valuable resource for academics and students here in Durham.”

This November, take part in the Library Survey! We want to know which Library services and facilities you value, and what’s not so important. By finding out what you think, we can plan and deliver improved Library and Heritage Collections services that are based around your needs. We’re asking all students and staff to complete our short Library Survey in November 2015. Just follow the links in your inbox!

Find out more... visit www.durhampriory.ac.uk Find out more... visit www.durham.ac.uk/library/survey

BUY A HAT FIT FOR A HERO This autumn, Palace Green Library have been asking crafters to knit, crochet or sew a hat fit for a hero, inspired by our Antarctica: Explorers, Heroes, Scientists exhibition. The project will raise money for Walking with the Wounded’s Head Start programme, which supports service men and women with mental injury. The charity organised a trek across the Antarctic in 2013. In December, the hats will go on sale for £15 each from the Palace Green Library shop and the Durham Winter Festival. Buy a hat and help us fundraise for this fantastic cause!

Find out more...

visit www.durham.ac.uk/palace.green/headstart

Event Durham, Retail and Catering

Like us on Facebook: Durham University Retail Office

Visit our social media sites to get all of the latest deals and merchandise!

CATERING Did you know Our talented chefs in the catering team have been busy creating a delicious seasonal new menu which is now available in our Palatine Restaurant. Bookings are taken by the Palatine Reception (ext. 46110) so contact them to make your booking. Two or three courses are available with vegetarian options also. We have something to everyone’s tastes, from a deliciously light salmon en croûte with fine beans, to an autumnal roast chicken with dauphinoise potatoes, celeriac & pancetta. If a sweet tooth is your preference then walk this way, poached blackberry Eton mess or meltingly oozing hot chocolate & salted caramel fondant, the choice is indeed yours. We look forward to welcoming you in.

EVENT DURHAM

RETAIL

We are busy preparing for the annual Traditional Christmas Festival which takes place on Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December, a perfect start to the festive season. The marquee on Palace Green has nearly 200 stalls selling a wide variety of crafts and gifts, perfect for Christmas presents. Open on Friday from 10am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 4.30pm. Entry charges apply. Durham Cathedral has over 30 regional food producers in the Cathedral Cloisters with locally sourced, highquality food and drink on offer, and there is no charge to access. Open on Friday from 10am to 5pm, Saturday from 9am to 5pm, Sunday from 12noon to 3pm. See www.durhamchristmasfestival.com for further information.

FRI 4TH DEC SAT 5TH DEC SUN 6TH DEC

It’s the start of the new academic year and the Retail Office has been very busy! The Howlands Shop and Queen’s Campus Shop are now back in business, both stocking our new clothing along with a wide range of convenience items. Keep an eye out for our new Flecked Hoodies and the Cranberry Range both available to buy in store and on our website. We also have our Christmas Shopping Event coming up and this is an opportunity for University staff and students to get 20% off in one of our four outlets from 23 November until the 6 December (Botanic Garden, Palace Green Library, World Heritage Site Visitor Centre and Oriental Museum). Our Christmas lines are soon to be featured in store! Finally we had the grand opening of the Antarctica exhibition in October at Palace Green Library. This exhibition focuses on the discovery, exploration and ongoing work taking place in Antarctica. Be sure to visit and take a look at our new themed stock in store.

HR & OD News...

PEOPLE+ UPDATE November has marked the launch of new functionality within the People+ system relating to expenses, recruitment and a new manager self-service area.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? • Expense claims should now be submitted and approved online through People+ Portal; • Paper expenses claim forms will be discontinued from February 2016; • The deadline for submission of approved online expense claims is still the 10th of each month but payments are now made on 15th of each month; • To find vacancies or apply for a post, go through People+ Portal; • If you are a recruiting manager or administrator, all new vacancies should be put onto People+ and managed via People+ Portal. Existing vacancies should be completed using iGrasp; • Managers can now review the details of their direct reports and carry out expenses approvals through Manager Self Service; • User guides are available at www.durham.ac.uk/hr/ peopleplus/portal • Training sessions are available for you to book on under the People+ section of the HR training course booking system: www.durham.ac.uk/training.course

HOW DO YOU ACCESS PEOPLE+ PORTAL?

USS Changes Following consultation, changes to USS will be introduced from 1 April 2016. Members can keep up-to-date by going to USS for the future website at https://forthefuture.uss.co.uk or via our Staff Benefits pages at www.durham.ac.uk/hr/ paypensionsreward/usschanges In the coming months, watch for details of Durham staff seminars to fully explain these changes and how to get advice on your future pension arrangements and options.

Changes will be introduced in two phases: PHASE 1 - from 1 April 2016, the core defined benefit provided by USS will be on a career revalued benefits basis. Your contribution rate will increase to 8% of pensionable salary; our employer contribution rate will also increase from 16% to 18%. PHASE 2 - from 1 October 2016, the scheme will provide benefits at retirement made up of two elements - defined benefit (based on a career revalued basis) up to £55,000 per year, and a new defined contribution section.

Go to https://staffportal.durham.ac.uk or click on the link from the Staff Gateway page.

DON’T FORGET… • To check and update your contact details and other information through People+ Portal. • Printed payslips are no longer being produced. Payslips are available to view and print through People+ Portal. Want more information? Visit www.durham.ac.uk/hr/peopleplus

Benefits earned up to 31 March 2016 are protected in law and in the scheme rules. Members will receive a statement of their benefits as at 31 March 2016. CRB section members will receive a statement this autumn. DB section members have already received their statement for 2015.

CIS news...

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

working with colleagues to save time and improve process! The University makes a variety of payments to our students via the Scholarships and Student Funding Office. As with all financial transactions, accuracy and efficiency are vital to ensuring that our students get what they are entitled to and our staff resources are used effectively. Until recently, multiple systems tracked different types of payments to students which required a significant amount of additional work to maintain up-to-date and accurate records. Mike Parks, a colleague from the Scholarships and Student Funding Office suggested a solution that would allow departments to more accurately check eligibility, make awards, initiate payments and analyse fund usage.

CIS were happy to help and supported the implementation of the Banner Student Aid (BSA) module from Ellucian (who supply the Banner software) which was designed specifically for the Higher Education sector, and could be easily integrated into the students’ records database. It fitted the bill as it is a functional, time-saving system which helps staff process student aid applications effectively. It was decided to focus on postgraduate stipend payments for the first phase, as we already had excellent staff knowledge and a comprehensive database that would benefit from an automated payment mechanism and direct links with student records. By applying the BSA module, the necessary checks to ensure that postgraduates have satisfied all University and funding body criteria were fine-tuned and automated. To enhance these benefits, the Student Systems team made additional bespoke enhancements; a two-stage authorisation process to increase security and the implementation of a direct interface or link to the University’s central finance system which meant that the electronic transfer of payment instructions could be automated to reduce workload and create a more seamless process. The time savings have been considerable! Following the go-live in June, the new procedure has cut quarterly data entry time down from 20 hours to 20 minutes for the Finance department’s Accounts Payable team, significantly reducing the risk of error in the processing of postgraduate stipend payments that total almost £7 million per year. For our students this means hardship funding payments are better managed and can be made more quickly, which is particularly valuable in these situations.

Following the implementation Clare Butcher, Deputy Director of Finance said:

“We are delighted with how the BSA development works. It does exactly what we hoped it would.”

Our next steps will include extending the functionality to allow online entry of bank account information and this will be followed by the provision of tuition fee awards, scholarships, online funding applications, hardship loans and much more. CIS developer Stephen Thompson who was heavily involved in the project stated:

“It’s been a pleasure to work with both the Student Funding and Finance offices on this implementation. With a clear brief and sound business experience to build on, we’ve produced a flexible solution that can be re-used around the University. I look forward to working on the next phases.”

Procurement

BARCLAYCARD SPEND MANAGEMENT (BSM) TRAINING

g together to The Procurement Service and Finance are workin with purchase implement a new reconciliation system for use benefits and travel cards. This will introduce considerable ty of spend, the across the University through greater visibili month and the ability to reconcile purchases throughout the orders in Oracle removal of the requirement to raise purchase have also been at the end of each month. Paper statements t of paper ‘switched off’ which will greatly reduce the amoun scheduled received. For more information, including the rocurement/ training dates, please go to: www.durham.ac.uk/p local/purchasing_cards

Acquire Implementation Update We are very pleased to confirm that the final roll-out of acquire to the remaining Science Faculty departments is underway which means the whole of the University will be using acquire before the end of this year. With Mathematics and Psychology, who went live on the system without a hitch, the next departments to migrate across are the School of Engineering & Computing Science, Earth Sciences and the Faculty Office. Physics will complete the roll out. All in all, a very successful way to end 2015.

Supplier Recognition Event The annual Supplier Recognition Event was held on 16 October at the Lindisfarne Centre. The event recognises suppliers who have made an outstanding contribution to the University during the course of the year. There are a number of award categories, covering all aspects of supply and

service and this year 15 suppliers collected awards, with the Above and Beyond the Call of Duty award going to Alphagraphics. The event proved to be a success and a special Outstanding Customer award was presented to Kathryn Hardy, Financial Controller, Business School and Jayne Pavitt, Marketing Communications Projects Officer, Communications Office. Full details of the award categories along with the successful suppliers can be found on the Procurement Service website at www.durham.ac.uk/procurement/local/ staff. Details on how you can nominate a supplier for next year’s awards will be available in future editions of Dialogue magazine and Signposts.

New Staff Member We have been joined by a new Purchasing Officer, Samantha Browne, who will be working with both current users and the Faculty of Science to help implement acquire across the faculty.

CATEGORY MANAGEMENT: Spotlight on Catering, Domestic and Leisure Who are the Catering, Domestic and Leisure category managers? Liam Glasper predominately handles requirements for Catering whilst Linda Joyce focuses on Housekeeping, Cleaning/Janitorial and Retail. Both category managers deal with clothing; Liam with sportswear and Linda with corporate wear. What is happening? A number of existing contracts terminate over the forthcoming year and work is underway to re-tender the requirements. These contracts include: • Wine for colleges • Delicatessen products • Catering disposables • Water coolers • Maintenance of kitchen equipment • Conference toiletries • Merchandise and promotional items for retail • Provision of laundry services How do I find out more/engage with this category? Contact Liam Glasper on ext. 44528.

Our next edition of Buy-In will focus on ESTATES AND TRAVEL.

Greenspace...

Electric Vehicle Charge Posts

Ring-Fenced Carbon Budget The first round of the ring-fenced budget for the academic year 2015/16 received 13 applications and we are now accepting applications for the second round. Please ask colleagues if they have any ideas for carbon saving projects in your building(s) and bid for the money using the project template which can be found at www. durham.ac.uk/greenspace/cmp/projects. The closing date for the second round of applications is 29 February 2016.

To facilitate elements of the University’s Green Travel Plans and assist members of staff, students and official visitors who use Electric Vehicles (EV), several EV charge posts are installed across the Durham University Estate which can currently be used free of charge (to be reviewed July 2016). Specifications of the posts, including locations at both Durham and Queen’s Campus, are available at www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/travel/ev

University Car Share Scheme The University is keen to promote car sharing and a car share website has been developed to enable staff and students to register sharing opportunities between home and the University and between Durham City and Queen’s Campus as both drivers and passengers. Why should you get involved in Car Sharing?

Before you submit, please ensure that all the relevant discussions have taken place with Estates and Buildings and/ or the appropriate person in your area to determine costs and savings prior to submission. Further information on the Ring-Fenced Carbon Budget along with examples of past submissions and emission conversion factors can be found on the link above. Please return all finalised submissions to greenspace.staff@ durham.ac.uk. All bids will be assessed by a sub-team of the University’s Carbon Management Team and all monies awarded must be spent by 31 July 2016.

•C ar-sharing can be used for any type of journey at any time, making it the cheapest and most flexible form of transport around • It saves you money on fuel and other running costs • I t helps you do your bit for the environment by cutting your carbon footprint • It makes boring solo journeys sociable and fun •Y ou don’t even need a car to sign up to be a car-sharer. Many members are willing to do the driving in return for a contribution to their fuel costs and some friendly company! To register a share or request a share in the University car scheme go www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/travel/carshare

This year’s Environment Week took place from 9-15 November and was an opportunity for all students and staff to engage with environmental issues, to celebrate our environmental progress to date and to explore what else can be done. The week included a local food market, a Dr Bike clinic and bike sale, 20% discount of Fairtrade products and the recycled pen in University retail outlets and environmental pledges were also collected throughout the week. Many thanks to all who took part.

Have you got any pets? None that I know of, unless you consider pet hates pets, in which case lots. What are you reading at the moment? Larry Siedentop’s Inventing the Individual: The Origins of Western Liberalism. What would you like your epitaph to be? Audentis fortuna juvat (‘fortune favours the brave’). Which historical figure would you most like to be? I’d rather meet historical figures than be them. What was the first record you bought? I can’t remember which record it was. But what I do remember is playing LPs on our fantastic 1960s General Electric stereo console. The volume dial clicked satisfyingly when you turned it on.

BENNETT ZON Director, Centre for NineteenthCentury Studies; Professor of Music

What achievement are you most proud of? Founding an academic journal (NineteenthCentury Music Review) when others were going under: Audentis fortuna juvat. What was your best subject? Paradoxically, I always got the best marks in the subjects least obviously connected to music, like biology. Maybe that’s why I came to research connections between music and science.

Northumbrian coast to Dunstanburgh Castle, followed by a visit to Barter Books and a take-away dinner – but only if accompanied by my wife. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you care what other people think of you? 10 and 1, and everywhere in between. I am not brave enough to believe that perception isn’t somehow important. What’s your greatest vice? Ebay. What’s your favourite film? Thunderball, with Sean Connery, the one and only true Bond, James Bond. Any nicknames? No nicknames, but perhaps unsurprisingly people are always spelling my Christian and surnames incorrectly; and my names are frequently reversed as well. What’s the worst job you’ve ever done? I was briefly the lone security guard standing sentry for the Vice President of an international chemical company in Philadelphia. But I wasn’t very good at my job. Not long after I was hired I was caught reading Thomas Merton’s Seven Story Mountain while on duty. I had to move on, and it was a stylish way of resigning: Audentis fortuna juvat.

When was the last time you laughed and why? I can’t remember because my wife and I are the kind of people who (therapeutically) laugh a lot, at words, situations, ourselves, our family.

What’s your favourite place in the world? Nineteenth-century Britain

What did you want to be when you were a child? A great composer and virtuoso pianist.

What luxury item would you take to a desert island? My baby Blütner, an absolutely exquisite 1934 art deco, blonde walnut, Leipzigbegotten (begotten, not made) baby grand piano.

Where will you be going for your next holiday? Italy, as always. What skill or talent would you most like to acquire? Patience, but I need it now. Give me a picture of your ideal day: Reading the weekend newspaper over breakfast, a long walk along the

Tell me a secret: Audentis fortuna juvat only applies to the truly brave at heart.

What’s your greatest indulgence? My baby Blütner. Pass the buck: Finally, who would you like to see in the hot-seat? Richard Pears, Library.

www.thedurhamdiary.wordpress.com @Durham_Uni

NOVEMBER

Christmas Castle Tours Sunday 6 December, 1.30pm Durham Castle Enjoy a festive tour around Durham Castle followed by mince pies and mulled wine in Castle’s Senate Suite.

ANTARCTICA: Explorers Heroes Scientists Until Sunday 7 February 2016, Palace Green Library This winter, Palace Green Library exhibitions consider the Polar Regions, focusing particularly on the discovery, exploration and ongoing work taking place in Antarctica.

With Scott to the Pole Historic photographs of this ill-fated Antarctic expedition, taken by Herbert Ponting, tell an unforgettable tale both epic and human in scale.

Antarctic Witness Chart the dramatic events of Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-16 and experience this extraordinary journey as seen through the eyes of Frank Hurley, official photographer to the expedition.

Antarctic Science Today An exhibition exploring the work of Durham University researchers in Antarctica.

The Empty Chair: Sexual Violence and Rape Culture as Global Barriers to Education Castle Lecture Series 2015/2016

Wednesday 25 November, 7.45pm Great Hall, Durham Castle Annie E. Clark and Andrea L. Pino Cofounders of EROC (End Rape on Campus) ask how many students around the world never become doctors, lawyers, and leaders because their education was interrupted by sexual violence?

An Oriental Christmas Saturday 19 December, 1pm – 3pm Oriental Museum Find out how Christmas is celebrated around the world and make your own festive decorations to take home. www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum

DUOS, Durham University Chamber Orchestra Saturday 28 November, 8pm Great Hall, Durham Castle Enjoy a concert or performance by some of Durham’s talented student musicians.

JANUARY Penguin Puppets

DECEMBER Democracy and Revolutionary Politics Castle Lecture Series 2015/2016

Wednesday 9 December, 7.45pm Great Hall, Durham Castle Professor Neera Chandhoke, Professor of Political Science, University of Delhi will share her thoughts on whether armed struggle, howsoever justified it may be, is politically wise in democracies.

Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 January 2016 Palace Green Library Four types of penguin live in the Antarctic, but which one makes the best puppet? Find out in this fun, activity for all the family! www.durham.ac.uk/palace.green For more information on University events go to www.durham.ac.uk/whatson

Don’t forget to visit www.durham.ac.uk/dialogue