Dialogue Issue 45

| MARCH / APRIL 2016 | ISSUE 45

170 Years of Hatfield College Celebrating 170 years of Hatfield College, reflecting on its progressive past and present and looking forward to the future. / Page 12

Also in this issue: Ancient Egyptian treasures at the Oriental Museum

How ‘REF fatigue’ led to a prize-winning novel

The Oriental Museum is showcasing the North East’s largest and most important collection of Ancient Egyptian material in a newly repurposed gallery.

Find out why Dr Catherine Dousteyssier-Khoze’s first novel La logique de l’amanite was published to critical acclaim in France.

/ Page 11

/ Page 4

Dialogue 45 | March / April 2016

@Durham_Uni

As another term draws to a close I feel we have a lot to feel positive about. We have just had news of this year’s QS Subject Rankings and I’m pleased to say that we have been ranked in the Top 50 in the world for seven of our subject areas, increasing from three last year.

The rankings also put Geography as 3rd in the world for the first time while Archaeology, as a new subject for the QS rankings, secured 5th position.

Of course another of our University’s great strengths is its college offering and this year sees two of our older colleges – Hatfield and Hild-Bede – celebrating milestone anniversaries. I hope to attend some of the commemorative events planned myself and would encourage you to get involved in the celebrations.

With all best wishes

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Work on the new University Strategy is moving at pace with all of the draft core academic strategies currently being taken through our governance processes.

I am really encouraged by the level of engagement from staff and students and I will of course continue to keep you informed of progress.

Away from the academic side, you will see in this edition that the cultural offering at the University continues to flourish. The Oriental Museum has just opened its refurbished Thacker Gallery which is home to highlights of the Ancient Egyptian collection. On page 8 you can read about the success of this year’s Durham Drama Festival which took place in February. I am sure you will join me in congratulating the students involved in the three productions which have been selected to perform at the 60th National Student Drama Festival in Scarborough – a wonderful achievement.

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03 Information

12 170 Years

14 Military Scholarships

Security Matters Get Social

04 Research Insights 05 National Student Survey 06 University Strategy

Development Update

07 Estates Update 08 Durham Drama Festival 2016

09 CEM at the BETT Awards 2016

College of St Hild and St Bede 175

10 Holocaust Memorial Day 2016

11 Ancient Egyptian Treasures at the Oriental Museum

Professor Stuart Corbridge Vice-Chancellor and Warden

of Hatfield College

15 WorkFit North East: University Catering

16 Spotlight on...School of Modern Languages and Cultures

17 Library News 18 Event Durham, Retail and Catering

19 HR & OD News 20 CIS News 21 Procurement – Buy in 22 Greenspace 23 Under Investigation 24 What’s On

EDITOR: Rebecca Grundy, Corporate Communications Manager

CONTRIBUTIONS: Karen Barrie, HR&OD; Sharon Battersby, CIS; Steph Dawson, Library; Tara Duncan, Greenspace; Louise Elliott, Event Durham; Claire Hall, Karen Frost & Nicky Sawicki, Marketing & Communications; Bradley Skeen, Procurement; Rachel Barclay, Oriental Museum; Alyson Bird, Academic Support Office; Jan Clarke, Hild-Bede; Ricky Cohen, University Catering; Stefano Cracolici, MLAC; Georgie Franklin, Durham Drama Festival; Gayle Haywood, CEM; Claire McDonald, Strategic Planning Office; Harriet Rawet, St Cuthbert’s; Eleanor Spencer-Regan, Hatfield; Dr Marek Szablewski, Physics; Bernie Taylor, E&B; Beth Upex, Archaeology.

FRONT COVER: Hatfield College.

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 marketing.team@durham.ac.uk

Information security incidents & weaknesses reporting

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!

WHAT IS AN INFORMATION SECURITY INCIDENT? This is a sudden event causing the accidental or malicious destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, information which is Confidential (Personal); Confidential (Commercial) or Secret.

IMAGE OF THE MONTH Our favourite picture is of Engineering student Harriet Vickers, talking about winning the Range Rover Evoque WISE Scholarship and encouraging other women to get involved in a career in Engineering.

TOP FIVE TWEETS

• Report any loss/theft of a device (e.g. laptop, mobile, USB) if it stores or is used to store or access University information, even if it is your own property;

• We’ve been named as one of the world’s most international universities by @THEworldunirank #GlobalUni - http://bit.ly/1Q7qeMe

• Take any action you can to reduce consequential risk.

• How do you breathe? May seem simple but not for everyone - @lifeofbreath research hopes to find out more: http://bit.ly/1R6VXhV

HOW DO YOU REPORT AN INCIDENT OR WEAKNESS? • Complete an Information Security Incident and Weakness Reporting Form at www.durham.ac.uk/ infosecurity/report • Email itservicedesk@durham.ac.uk • Ring the IT Service Desk on (0191 33) 41515.

Please notify your Head of Department/College/Section at the same time.

WHERE TO NEXT? Read the full Information Security Incidents & Weaknesses Reporting Procedure at: www.durham.ac.uk/infosecurity/policies/incidents Go to the Information Security toolkit for tips and advice on how to keep your information and devices safe: www.durham.ac.uk/infosecurity/toolkit

• The origins of some fairytales are over 1000 yrs old according to @JJTehrani http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ uk-35358487… @AnthDurham1

• The 2017 Undergraduate Prospectus has just been printed and should be hitting the stands next week! #DUmakeithappen • Read how student volunteers @DurhamNightline are helping support other Durham students http://wp.me/p3VWkU-4F #DUmakeithappen

VIDEO OF THE MONTH A new analysis of satellite data by a team of scientists led

by Durham University shows that the world’s largest canyon may lie under the Antarctic ice sheet. Although the discovery needs to be confirmed by direct measurements, the previously unknown canyon system is thought to be over 1000 km long and in places as much as 1 km deep, comparable in depth to the Grand Canyon in USA, but many times longer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vujZIcJ8LQE

DurhamUniversity

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO? • Always report any incident, weakness (or potential incident or weakness) immediately – early reporting can often enable the University to take preventative measures;

@Durham_Uni

WHAT IS AN INFORMATION WEAKNESS? This is where a threat to the security of information has been identified, for example as a result of existing systems, services or practices.

/durhamuniversity

Nobody sets out to lose confidential or secret information, but unfortunately information security incidents are more common than you might realise. Not only must you do everything you can to minimise information security incidents or weaknesses, but as soon as you become aware of one, you are responsible for reporting it.

Dialogue 45 | March / April 2016

How ‘REF fatigue’ led to a prize-winning novel

Dr Catherine Dousteyssier-Khoze is director of French studies and senior lecturer in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

In August 2015 her first novel La logique de l’amanite (Mushroom Fever) was published to critical acclaim in France. Written in her first language, French, but filled with a number of English expressions and idioms, the novel was described by Le Figaro Magazine as “un premier roman délicieusement vénéneux” – “a deliciously poisonous first novel”. The book is about a grumpy old man, and self-proclaimed scholar, called Nikonor who is writing his memoirs. As he tells his story it is soon apparent that he is a highly unreliable narrator and that he is hiding dark family secrets.

Why did you decide to write the novel?

It was not long after taking part in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) I wanted to write something creative but related to French Studies. While doing research in the Bill Bryson Library I discovered by chance a three volume 17th-century Italian Encyclopaedia on mushrooms. It was full of the most beautiful watercolours, in really vivid colours, and catalogued all the many different species of mushrooms to be found in Umbria. I found it inspiring. As a result, my main character Nikonor is very interested in mushrooms – fly agarics (from an aesthetic point of view), and the deathcap, for practical reasons.

How did your academic research influence your novel?

Nikonor holds forth on many topics, including literature and language, and he makes numerous references to some 19th-century writers I am very familiar with, including Zola, Chateaubriand, Baudelaire and Edmond de Goncourt. I’ve also worked on the theory of parody and mystification in my academic research so I’m particularly sensitive to language and how, if used in different contexts, some expressions can resonate in different ways. This influenced my portrayal of Nikonor as sometimes you are not sure if he is being serious or not and whether you should take what he says at face value.

As an undergraduate and MA student in France you studied 19thcentury English literature and you have spent most of your adult life in the North East of England. Did these factors influence your novel?

Yes – my main character is bilingual and he uses a lot of English puns and expressions. He often can’t be bothered to translate, or he translates them literally, rendering them, at times, rather incomprehensible to French readers. The French critics commented on the ‘Britishness’ of the book and particularly on the dry wit and black sense of humour.

05 How did you go about getting your novel published?

In France there are no literary agents – you send your manuscript directly to the publisher. I sent my manuscript to the ten publishers with the highest profiles and was lucky enough to get a phone call from Grasset in December 2013. My editor wanted me to remove a substantial amount of the English language and I fought hard to keep some of it because, in my view, it is part of the style and originality of the novel. It was a tough negotiation but she persuaded me that we would lose a big part of the potential readership if there was too much English so I sacrificed three or four pages altogether. She also asked me to remove a section where Nikonor talks about how awful Brittany is, as the Bretons are apparently the biggest readers in France and she didn’t want to offend them!

800 novels) in the lead up to the numerous literary prizes. So although my novel was ready at the end of 2014, its publication was delayed until August 2015, which allowed it to be in the run for the Prix André Dubreuil which I was awarded in November 2015. This annual prize is awarded to a debut novel by the Société des Gens de Lettres, an association of leading French writers.

Will it be translated into English?

The realities of the market are such that very few debut novels written in French do get translated into English – unless it’s a huge bestseller. Even high-profile French novelists do not automatically get translated into English. It’s a tough market. Of course, my dream would be to see it translated into English (that is, what is not already in English...).

In French publishing there is a tradition called la rentrée littéraire, which runs from August to October each year and is when all the main publishing houses put out their new titles (approximately

The National Student Survey (NSS) is an opportunity for final year undergraduates to feedback on their experiences of Durham University and we would like to take this opportunity to encourage students to complete it.

The survey is completed every year by final year undergraduate students across the country, and is supported by the National Union of Students and Durham Students’ Union. The results are used by the University to respond to student feedback and by prospective students about to enter higher education to inform their choice of institution and course.

As an institution we must achieve a threshold of both a 50% response rate and responses from a minimum of 10 students in each subject area in order for our results to be published. The department with the highest response rate will receive £500 to spend on its students. In addition, the colleges with the highest and second highest final response rates will also receive £500 and £200 respectively to spend in their JCRs.

The Prix André Dubreuil is an annual prize awarded to a debut novel by the Société des Gens de Lettres, an association of leading French writers. The society was founded in 1838 by writers including Honoré de Balzac, Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas.

IMAGES L-R: Catherine Dousteyssier-Khoze, Plates from Royal Collections © Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016, Book cover.

We would like to invite all final year undergraduate students to take this opportunity to have their say, and to remind staff to encourage your students to complete the survey. The survey can be completed online now until Saturday 30 April 2016 at www.thestudentsurvey.com

Dialogue 45 | March / April 2016

Durham University’s strength lies in its capability of competing at the very top end in all of Education, Research and Engagement, and the wider Student Experience. In order to continue to be an excellent, sustainable university over the next years and beyond, our core goals of delivering in these areas must be underpinned by improvements in our estate, operations and the way in which we are financed. To reflect this holistic approach, the strategy is no longer simply an Academic Strategy, but we are now referring to a University Strategy.

Work on the development of this new University strategy is progressing well. A number of drafts on the core areas of Research and Engagement, Faculty Quality and Internationalisation have now been reviewed

by UEC and Senate, and drafts on Education and Student Experience will be taken to Senate in April.

Proposals on the future size and shape of the University are being refined taking into account considerations of critical mass and the self-evaluations which have been produced by all academic departments. A principle underpinning the development of all of the strategies is the robust and thorough consideration of evidence and data, as well as analysis of peer institutions.

UEC and Senate and will be taken to Council in April in the first instance.

A Student Experience workstream has been set up to bring together thinking on all areas of the wider student experience including sport, music, drama, community and culture, chaired

by Professor Simon James.

The aim for all of the core strategies is to seek approval at Senate and Council in June and July 2016. At that time, the core strategies will be supported by outlines of the major enabling strategies and frameworks which will underpin our ability to achieve our strategic objectives, i.e. infrastructure, estates and accommodation, support operations, people and finances. A Support Operations group has been established to make progress in that area, chaired by Professor Tim Clark.

The initial recommendations on the future of Queen’s Campus – to move some core academic activities to Durham or its vicinity and to repurpose the Campus – have now been endorsed by

The culmination of this large and complex body of work will be a new strategy which sets out our direction for the years ahead and equips us to deal with changing times.

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Among a huge range of services provided which relate to the estate, the Estates Team is responsible for the delivery of both major capital schemes and more modest projects which are designed to improve the built environment for staff, students and visitors to the University – to provide high-quality buildings and landscapes in which to learn and live.

THE REFURBISHMENT OF PACE BUILDING AT HATFIELD COLLEGE Until 2015, Pace building had not been given a major overhaul since construction and comprised 36 single bedrooms and two shared three-bedroom flats – all serviced by communal bathroom facilities.

Following the refurbishment completed in January 2016, the bedroom accommodation is now fully ensuite and students in Hatfield will also

ST MARY’S COLLEGE NEW RAILINGS A recent inspection of the grounds around the main building revealed that safety could be improved by the design and

benefit from upgraded gym facilities, an improved music practice room, a fully refurbished TV room and a new communal kitchen with cooking and dining facilities. In addition to the refurbishment of the bedroom and communal accommodation, the building has undergone extensive repair to its fabric, including window replacements, restoration of feature oak staircases, roof repairs, stone cleaning and repair, drainage infrastructure upgrades and the complete replacement of the mechanical, electrical, IT and audio visual services installations. installation of new railings to prevent falls around entrances to below ground areas. These were designed to be in-keeping with others originally installed elsewhere around the College and were manufactured by a local craftsmen and installed by the Estates Operations Team in November 2015.

ON SITE NOW – FOR COMPLETION IN AUTUMN 2016 A NEW BUILDING FOR THE OGDEN CENTRE FOR FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS Those of you who enter the Lower Mountjoy site via the South Road entrance will no doubt have noticed a strange shaped structure emerging from what used to be the Physics Car Park. This will be the new building for the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics – designed by Daniel Libeskind, the internationally-acclaimed architect behind the master plan for Ground Zero, New York. The project has been made necessary by the rapid growth and academic success of the two institutes who will occupy the new building: the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology and the Institute for Computational Cosmology.

Taking a responsible stance in terms of sustainability, the University has asked for an exemplary environmental approach to be taken with the design which includes the following measures: • BREEAM rating of excellent • Energy Performance Certificate ‘A’ rating • 15% of energy requirements obtained from renewables (including the use of a ground source heat pump and photovoltaic panels) The project has been made possible thanks to generous donations from the Ogden Trust and the Wolfson Foundation. The construction of this challenging design is currently proceeding on target with completion expected Autumn 2016.

Dialogue 45 | March / April 2016

The 41st Durham Drama Festival (DDF) took place 7-13 February 2016 and reflected the huge wealth of creative and theatrical talent at Durham University.

Nine new student written shows were premiered across three consecutive evenings, interweaving a wide range of themes from the fraught internal politics of a cereal marketing agency, a musical exploring the relevance of fairy tale clichés, to the poignant struggles of those battling terminal illness or suffocating relationships.

To kick off this unique theatrical highlight in the Durham Student Theatre (DST) calendar, audiences were treated to a fundraising live lounge set organised by the Durham Drama Outreach Zambia team, followed by the brilliantly witty Durham Improvised Musical, who devised an hour long musical based purely on audience suggestions.

The first day of performances heralded our popular promenade ‘Site-Specific’ evening

which saw audiences led between three venues in Durham City to witness the intimate settings of Mr. Sparks and His Nighttime Larks: A Love Story, Your Grace and Auditions. Thursday and Friday saw audiences visiting our custom-built Black Box studio and The Assembly Rooms to watch the antics of a barely functioning boy band, a surreal comedy featuring chess puns in abundance and to be charmed by a bittersweet glimpse into the cruelty of memory.

Alongside three evenings of exceptional theatre, the festival also offers writers and actors the chance to receive industry feedback from professional theatre makers.

With an incredible panel made up of script readers, dramaturgs, directors and actors (including former Durham students Oscar Blustin and Alex Bhat), Jude Christian, Laura Lomas, Steven Gaythorpe and Nika Obydzinski delivered standout feedback sessions and inspiring workshops dealing with Non-Naturalistic Staging, The Writer in the Devising Process and Thinking outside the Black Box: Site-Specific Theatre.

IMAGES: Top left - The Addams Family © Sam Kirkman, Bottom left - One Small Step, Below - Auditions © Sam Kirkman.

The festival concluded with the well-loved D’Oliviers on Saturday night, where prizes were awarded for Best New Writing and Best Show amongst many others and saw new judges’ awards created to commend exceptional contributions for Sound Design, Costume and Musical Direction. The evening was a massive success and the perfect way to round off a jam packed festival!

In addition to the achievements of students showcased as part of the Durham Drama Festival, DST is also proud to announce that DULOG productions The Addams Family and Kiss Me Kate, as well as Battered Soul’s production of Mark Bartlett’s Cock have all been selected to perform at the 60th National Student Drama Festival in Scarborough. Alongside the three selected shows, many other individuals have also received company invites to attend the festival with its weeklong programme of workshops and mentoring opportunities.

Huge congratulations to all involved and we hope to see you back next year for DDF!

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The Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM) is proud to announce that its governmentaccredited reception baseline assessment, BASE, was ‘Highly Commended’ in the category of web-based ICT Tools for Learning, Teaching and Assessment at the Bett Awards 2016.

Bett brings together industry leaders, practitioners, professionals and inspirational figures to share ideas and inspiration on how to support learning together through technology. The Bett Awards are a celebration of the inspiring creativity and innovation that can be found throughout technology for education.

INFLUENCING POLICY CEM attended the show to promote the BASE assessment – our computer-delivered assessment for use with children starting school. This assessment has been accredited by the Department for Education as one of the three systems that schools must choose from under new accountability arrangements in England.

CEM’s work on the assessment of young children has been very influential in the development of this policy with Professor Rob Coe, Dr Christine Merrell and Professor Peter Tymms being consulted initially by Michael Gove’s office and then by Nicky Morgan’s staff.

Nicky Morgan opened the Bett Show and highlighted CEM in her opening speech, before visiting CEM representatives at the exhibition stand. We were delighted to have the opportunity to talk to her and reinforce the role CEM plays for schools and pupils and to showcase Durham University.

2016 marks the 175th anniversary of the arrival of the first students at the College of the Venerable Bede and the start of our longstanding commitment to excellence in education and the student experience. As part of our celebrations, an exciting series of lectures has been planned to run throughout the year. Entitled ‘From There to Here’, all of the speakers are distinguished alumni of the College(s) and will be reflecting on how they got to where they are today from where our students are now, as well as the challenges faced by young people in the current world of work.

Our first two lectures were given by Nick Gibb, MP, Minister of State for Schools, and Professor Joe Elliott, Principal of Collingwood College. Future talks in the series are as follows:

THURSDAY 5 MAY Gabby Logan BBC TV presenter The Juggle: Work/Life Balance for Women and Men

THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER John Ryley Head of Sky News The Future of News and All That

JUDGED BY EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS The judges for the Bett award are all educational professionals and focus on what works in the classroom or the school setting in terms of design, cost-effectiveness, support of higher order thinking skills and effective learning and teaching styles.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank staff in the University for their support with our work, without whose help we would not have experienced this prestigious achievement.

MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER Sir Bob Burgess Former VC, University of Leicester When I Grow Up I Want to Be…

The lectures are open to all members of the University and the general public. They are free of charge and will take place in the Joachim Room at 5.30pm unless otherwise specified. Places will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. To book, please email hildbede.175@durham.ac.uk

Dialogue 45 | March / April 2016

By Dr Marek Szablewski

Many of us have old family photographs tucked away at the back of a cupboard. After my father’s death in 2008 I came across a few photographs of him as a young man. He came to Britain after World War Two with few possessions. He had endured the Nazi occupation of Poland, witnessed the Holocaust, fought in the doomed 1944 Warsaw Uprising and survived as a POW. This photograph shows him aged 17 on a bicycle with a friend on Grzybowska Street, Warsaw, next to where he lived. It was taken between November 1939 and October 1940. If you look closely at the pedestrians you will see that one man is wearing a white armband on his right arm. Jews were forced to wear Star of David armbands from November 1939 onwards. In October 1940 the Warsaw Ghetto was enclosed by a wall, cramming 400,000 people, the Jewish population of the city and surrounding area, into 1.3 square miles.

As the family home was inside the Ghetto, my grandfather swapped apartments with a Jewish doctor. All my grandfather’s Jewish in-laws found themselves inside the Ghetto, and probably perished in the Treblinka Death Camp. However, he managed to hide his Jewish wife and daughter on the outskirts of Warsaw. His wife assumed the identity of her husband’s daughter from his first marriage.

My father worked as an apprentice toolmaker in a metalwork factory in the Ghetto. He often talked about the years of destruction and his activities in the Polish resistance. He recalled the horrors he saw in the Ghetto, his

confrontations with the Gestapo hunting for his step-mother, and his attempts to smuggle out his step-mother’s sister. I thought all families had histories like this.

After my parents died, I resolved to find out more and was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship, which allowed me to carry out research in Warsaw in 2011. I filled in some of the blanks by visiting archives and museums, and talking to experts. I found my step-grandmother and aunt on a list of Holocaust survivors, and learned of the courageous bravery of a lady who gave her life for others, including them.

of the horrors. I try to get over to young listeners that the people I speak of were real and wanted normal, happy lives, just like them. I tell them that hatred begins when we define people as ‘other’, ‘different’, ‘a threat’, not one of us. If this helps the Holocaust Memorial Trust’s fantastic educational work, it’s worth trying.

Since then I have given talks and led Holocaust Memorial Day workshops in the Cathedral for schoolchildren from across County Durham. In January 2016 I was privileged to be the main speaker, as the Holocaust survivor who was due to speak fell ill.

I am not a Holocaust survivor. I am not Jewish or even the son of a Holocaust survivor. But I am the son of a Holocaust witness. As the survivors of WW2 pass away, it is the turn of the next generation to speak

IMAGE: Above - Dr Marek Szablewski

11 The University’s Oriental Museum is home to the largest and most important collection of Ancient Egyptian material in the North East of England. After being closed for a period of eight months, the Museum has recently reopened the gallery dedicated to showcasing the most significant objects in this collection.

The old gallery has been completely refurbished and redesigned and the new layout has created more space for large parties of visitors such as tour groups and schools. At the same time new purpose-built, state of the art cases allow visitors to see previously hidden treasures much more clearly, while also greatly improving the environmental conditions and security of the objects on display.

The oldest objects on display are more than 6000 years old and the newest date from the Roman Period, in the early centuries AD. They range in size from tiny gold amulets to a two metre high royal obelisk carved in granite for a temple gateway.

The Thacker Gallery of Ancient Egypt is named in honour of Professor TW Thacker, the first Head of Durham University’s School of Oriental Studies. Professor Thacker was responsible for bringing the first Ancient Egyptian collections to Durham as part of his dream of creating an Oriental Museum. Thacker believed that students could only really understand a language if they also understood the relevant culture and he wanted a museum to support the Department’s teaching and research.

Today the collection is still used extensively to support teaching from first year undergraduate to taught Masters level. Equally importantly, it is used as the basis for research by students and academics in Durham and around the world. Ancient Egypt is also by far the most popular visit for schools coming to any of the University’s attractions. Almost 4000 children a year come into the gallery to see the collections and have an opportunity to handle real ancient Egyptian objects.

In 2008 the importance of the Egyptian collection was recognised when it received ‘Designated Status’ from the UK government because of its ‘national and international importance’.

Entry to the Museum is free for all campus card holders. The Oriental Museum is open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 12 noon to 5pm at weekends and on bank holidays. Come and see the new Egypt gallery and find out what you are missing.

For more details visit www.durham.ac.uk /oriental.museum or phone 0191 334 5694.

IMAGES: T-B: Thacker Gallery, Obelisk of Amenhotep II around 1420 BC, Coffin for a cat mummy, around 600 BC.

Dialogue 45 | March / April 2016

THE PAST… Durham’s second oldest college was founded in 1846 by the Reverend David Melville, initially welcoming just 21 students of Theology and Arts. Named after Thomas Hatfield, Prince Bishop of Durham from 1345 to 1381, and known until 1919 as Bishop Hatfield’s Hall, the College now numbers over 1000 undergraduate, postgraduate, and parttime distance learning members from over 40 different countries At the time of its founding, Bishop Hatfield’s Hall was a progressive, even experimental, institution. Melville’s vision of a student community based on affordable shared living accommodation and communal dining facilities was the blueprint for the unique collegiate system for which Durham University is famous today – and indeed for the halls of residence model seen today across the world.

In the 1920s a lack of accommodation at Bishop Hatfield’s Hall led to the start of a 20-year relationship with University College, whereby meals were taken in common by members of the two colleges in the Great Hall at Durham Castle. This relationship was to become even closer during WWII as Hatfield’s buildings were loaned to a local teacher training college, and Hatfielders moved up on to Palace Green. In 1946, amidst growing calls for the College to regain its independence, the Hatfield Association was founded, dedicated to the futurity and flourishing of Hatfield College (‘Floreat collegium!’).

best views in the UK coupled with some of the highest-quality student accommodation in the University, in the recently refurbished Melville and Pace buildings.

THE PRESENT…

Today, we continue Melville’s example of combining the best of the traditional with a progressive approach to pastoral support and personal development, with the aim of providing an unparalleled student experience.

Occupying a large site above the River Wear on North Bailey, next to Durham Cathedral on the World Heritage Site peninsula, Hatfield College nowadays offers students one of the

THE FUTURE… In 2016 we celebrate the College’s 170th anniversary and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the College’s alumni organisation, the Hatfield Association. The year will, appropriately, be marked with celebrations of our rich history, foremost amongst them, the Lion in Summer Ball on 2 July; but it must also serve as an opportunity for us to look ahead to all that we wish to accomplish in the future.

At the start of this year we launched a new fundraising project for the Hatfield Trust, the David Melville Fund. Honouring

The same ‘Hatfield Spirit’ that was born in those uncertain interwar years is in clear evidence today. That sense of community, camaraderie, and College pride drives our students to ‘be the best that they can be’ not only in the lecture theatre or laboratory, but also on the sports pitch, in the debating chamber, on the stage, and in their varied volunteering and outreach activities at home and overseas.

Melville’s vision of a vibrant community in which every member is given the opportunity to ‘be the best that they can be’, this Fund will enable the Trust to better support the co-curricular endeavours of its students. In 2016 we aim to raise £100,000 for the David Melville Fund. This may seem an ambitious target in the current economic climate, but as you will know, Hatfielders are nothing if not determined and ambitious!

We have already identified the first beneficiaries of our fundraising efforts. Hatfield College Boat Club’s (HCBC) Women’s Squad has achieved considerable success in recent years, qualifying for the Academic IVs at Women’s Henley in

IMAGES L-R: HCBC making waves at the Womens’ Eights Head of the River Race (WEHoRR) in 2014 [ © Jet Photography], Hatfield College LGBTQ+ at Durham Pride in 2015, C and D Stairs at night.

2013 and 2014, and finishing 82nd (2013) and 52nd (2014) at Women’s Eights Head of the River (WEHoRR), making them the fastest College crew outside of London. Our women are in urgent need of a new coxed IV in order to continue their winning streak and to further develop the raw talent in the squad. This will require investment of approximately £20,000, but we think that their hard work and determination to date shows that they are fully deserving of our support.

If you would like to donate to the new David Melville Fund, please donate online at https://www.dunelm.org.uk/donations/ colleges/hatfield

THE LION IN SUMMER BALL 2016…

We invite Hatfielders of all vintages to ‘party like it’s 1846’ on Saturday 2 July! Whether you graduated five months, five years, or five decades ago, we hope that you will be able to join us to relive your fond memories of Hatfield College and to create some new memories, too!

If you would like to join us at the Lion in Summer Ball 2016, please book online at https://www.dunelm.org.uk/events/booking

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Dialogue 45 | March / April 2016

In order to help members of the armed forces who have been honourably discharged because of physical or psychological injury, or their immediate dependents (spouses or children), to refocus and transform their lives, the University is fundraising for Military Scholarships.

St Cuthbert’s Society has a particularly strong connection with the armed forces, since it was refounded after World War Two by returning ex-servicemen. The first Military Scholarships started there through the generosity of two alumni.

Alumnus Tom Wilde graduated in 2014 with a Theology degree. He explains: “When my leg was shattered in an explosion in Afghanistan after eight years of service, I thought my working life was over. I felt called to become a military chaplain. I found the Durham prospectus in the middle of a camp in Afghanistan.

“Coming to Durham has transformed a big part of my life, and the Military Scholarship made that possible.”

I am the first person from my family to go to university, so it’s a huge personal achievement.

I now work for a charity dealing with ex-service personnel in prisons and out on licences, and intend to pursue my calling to chaplaincy.”

This year two more Military Scholars have arrived. Stephanie Atkinson (Cuth’s) is studying Law through the Lt Dougie Dalzell Scholarship. She said: “Studying at Durham has been a fantastic experience so far – far better than I could have imagined! After a turbulent year following my husband’s medical discharge from the Armed Forces, the Military Scholarships Programme has not only given me the financial means to attend Durham University, but also the confidence and motivation to achieve as much as possible while I am here.”

John Aba (Stephenson) is studying Pharmacy, funded by ABF The Soldiers Charity. He describes: “I was injured whilst serving in Afghanistan and this meant my army career had to come to a premature end. This put me in a trough both mentally and physically as the future looked bleak and I was facing being jobless with a lifechanging injury. Being a pharmacist has been a lifelong dream but I could not afford the high university tuition fees. Durham made this a reality by giving me not only a place, but also significant funding.”

A number of other charities also support this campaign, including Help for Heroes, Walking with the Wounded, 3Ts, the Borrows Charitable Trust, the Stuart Halbert Foundation, Sir James Knott Trust, D. S. Smith Charitable Foundation, the Liz & Terry Bramall Charitable Trust and the Reece Foundation, as well as generous alumni. A fundraising event was held at the Cavalry Club in London last year, with another to come this spring.

The North East has a long tradition of strong links with the armed forces and Durham is proud to be the only British university offering such a scheme.

For more information see www.dunelm.org. uk/news/article/military-scholarships

IMAGES Top-Bottom: Alumnus Tom Wilde, Lord Dannatt with Tom and Prof. Elizabeth Archibald, Principal at St Cuthbert’s Society at the Military Scholarships event in London, Scholar John Aba, Scholar Stephanie Atkinson (pictured with her husband).

15

University Catering has recently been working with WorkFit North East to offer 12 week work experience placements to people with Down’s Syndrome, therefore assisting individuals to access meaningful work opportunities that can benefit the rest of their lives, whilst enhancing their student experience.

Catherine and Gary began their placements at the start of October 2015, working for two shifts each week. They were involved in setting up food service and dining areas, serving food and drinks, re-stocking food counters, cleaning, storing equipment and completing washing up by hand and using a dishwasher.

Gary was based at St Mary’s College. Mustafa Gun, Food & Beverage Service Manager, was delighted with Gary’s contribution and the whole team have enjoyed working with him.

Mustafa said “Everyone loves Gary and he gets on well with everyone.

He always gives 100% effort and completes one job at a time to make sure he has done it well.”

Catherine was based at Hatfield College. Darryl McNary, Food & Beverage Service Manager, was impressed by the way that Catherine fitted into the team and how diligent she was about completing tasks: “It’s been a pleasure to have Catherine here with us; she is a lovely young lady.”

Catherine has enjoyed all of the aspects of the role and feels as though she has developed lots of new skills “I feel as though I have come on a lot. I like it when the students say hello to me. I wash and iron my uniform at home so that I am smart at work and I am always on time because that is very important. I really like working with Pauline and Arizu (Durham colleagues and work placement mentor).”

IMAGES Top-Bottom: Gary with Mustafa Gun, Food & Beverage Service Manager and Margaret Youll, Food Service Assistant, Catherine at work

For more information about WorkFit, including providing work experience placements, please contact the Down’s Syndrome Association’s WorkFit team on 0333 1212 300 or email alison.thwaite@downs-syndrome.org.uk

Dialogue 44 | Jan / Feb 2016

Spotlight on...

What would you say is your main challenge?

Externally: making the case for the pressing ethical imperative to study other cultures and languages in our increasingly globalized world.

Internally: coping with the current state of Elvet Riverside and the need for extensive refurbishment, technical upgrade, and chronic ‘lack of space’.

Describe your department in one sentence.

A leading centre for teaching and research in diverse languages and cultures, spanning Europe, the Arab World, Russophone Eurasia, Hispanic America and the Far East, and their mutual historical, socio-cultural, and intellectual relations

What are the three main things people should know about the School of Modern Languages and Cultures?

1. We are proud of being the inheritors of a long and distinguished tradition of teaching and researching Modern Languages and Cultures at Durham University, and of being consistently ranked in the top five in all national league tables.

What does the future look like for Modern Languages and Cultures?

We are strongly committed to exploring the cultural diversity of our world not only in its verbal configuration, but also in its multifaceted non-verbal expression (both visual and performative). Our ambition for the future is to drive the research agenda in Modern Languages and Cultures internationally by promoting cultural diversity in its tangible and intangible dimensions, challenging the hegemony of Anglo-American thought and practices, and intensifying our collaborative partnerships at the global level.

2. We are structured as a coherent unit comprising several disciplinary fields and research groups across eight language areas (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and Russian), with internationally acknowledged strengths in medieval and early-modern studies, visual and performance studies, and transcultural relations including between the sciences and the humanities.

3. We firmly believe that languages are not only formidable tools for enhancing communication and generating knowledge but also fundamental attributes of cultural identity and empowerment, for both individuals and groups.

What three words do you most associate with/ best describe Modern Languages and Cultures?

Diverse, multilingual, transcultural.

How can staff and/or students engage with you?

They can actively participate in our growing programme of events, featuring internationally acclaimed scholars and cross-disciplinary debates (www.durham.ac.uk/mlac).

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

To develop and draw upon our research expertise to provide high-quality education that fosters a nuanced and critical understanding of diverse cultures and languages, placing it in the vanguard of the University’s aim of preparing students for international employment and citizenship with an understanding of cultures, languages and belief systems other than their own.

DID YOU KNOW…?

Foreign languages (especially French, German and Italian) have been taught at Durham University since its very foundation, pioneering the investigation into their cultural, historical and political dimensions. As witnessed by recent grant successes, research in photography and the visual arts, constitutes an established area of excellence of our School.

Do you use social media? If so, how?

We have just started developing our social platform with Facebook and Twitter (and also exploring the dissemination opportunities offered by Pinterest and Instagram); our goal is to use social media to build up a community of actively engaged colleagues, students, alumni and friends of our School, both locally and internationally.

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

17

Library News

We had a tremendous response to the Library Survey last term with over 2100 students and staff taking part, a rate that compares very well with comparator university libraries. Our survey enabled you to tell us what you like about the Library and where we need to improve.

Participants answered 22 core questions, relating to collections, customer service and our Library buildings, with over 800 of you also providing us with comments we are now addressing.

As part of the exhibition Antarctica: Explorers, Heroes, Scientists, Palace Green Library asked craft enthusiasts to make and donate hats fit for heroes, inspired by Antarctic explorers.

With the aim of having 100 hats donated, Palace Green Library overwhelmingly received over 600 hats from local knitters, community craft groups and even from as far away as the USA. The hats went on sale at the Durham Christmas Festival and at Palace Green Library’s shop with all the proceeds being donated to Walking with the Wounded’s Head Start programme to help those with mental injury.

With Barclays Bank also kindly matching the first £1000 raised, Palace Green Library managed to raise a grand total of £4298.

Dr Christopher Skelton-Foord, Head of Policy and Planning for the Library and Heritage Collections said: “Listening to students and staff is central to providing the right policies and strategies to support their academic needs.

We are pleased customers perceive the quality of the Library to be even higher than when we ran the survey two years ago, whilst at the same time their expectations of us have also risen.

Respondents’ delight with our group study provision and physical buildings and our customer care is really gratifying. As the University develops we need to work hard to continue to ensure satisfaction in these important areas.

Customer expectations are highest and most challenging to fulfil in terms of the breadth, depth and accessibility of the collections, digital and print, that they need for research and learning. Ensuring that we acquire the collections our customers want and that we make those easy to access is vital.

We are grateful to all students and staff who helped us by taking part in the Library Survey.”

IMAGE: Rowan Penfold, a Chemistry undergraduate student, won top prize in our prize draw, here receiving his iPad mini 3 from Dr Christopher Skelton-Foord, while nine runners-up won Amazon vouchers

Palace Green Library would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been knitting, crocheting, sewing or buying hats for this project.

Find out more... www.durham.ac.uk/library

Like us on Facebook: Durham University Retail Office

Event Durham, Retail and Catering

Follow us on Twitter: @DurhamUniRetail

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

CATERING

The annual Team Member Recognition Awards, held by University Catering, Event Durham, Reception Helpdesk and Retail took place at St Mary’s College in January.

These awards are designed to recognise individuals and teams who have made an outstanding contribution over the past year.

Congratulations go to all the award winners listed below:

ATTENTION TO DETAIL Debra Fidler (Retail) OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO A TEAM Gary Gelder & Dan Morris (Van Mildert College) NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Laura Gessey (Event Durham) UPSELLER OF THE YEAR Event Durham Team BEHIND THE SCENES Andrew Morris (Retail Catering) BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE Julie Burnip (Reception) ENVIRONMENT Grey College Catering Team GOING THE EXTRA MILE Collingwood Catering Team BEST LEADER Glen Heslop (Queen’s Campus) BEST TEAM Reception Helpdesk Team SPECIAL RECOGNITION Hatfield College Catering Team St Mary’s College Catering Team

IMAGES Top - bottom: Best team – Reception Helpdesk. Best Leader (L-R Gillian Naylor, Glen Heslop, Lesley Simpson, Philip Atkinson). Behind the scenes – Andrew Morris with Jennie Brownlow.

Follow us on Instagram: @DurhamUniRetail

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HR & OD News...

Keeping you informed...

CHANGES TO PENSION SCHEMES Proposed changes to the Durham University Pension Scheme (DUPS) were announced last month when members received a pack of information detailing the proposed changes. The consultation period runs until 15 April 2016 and members can find out more from a series of roadshows, webpages and FAQs. Please take the opportunity to give your views and comments during the consultation period, go to www.durham. ac.uk/treasurer/university_of_durham_retirement_benefits_ plan_1969/dupsschemechanges Announced phase 1 changes to USS come into effect from April. Staff seminar presentations on the changes delivered by USS last month are available to view online at www.durham.ac.uk/hr/paypensionsreward/usschanges Membership of one of the available pension schemes continues to be an excellent benefit of working at Durham University. When you pay into a scheme through Pensions+ you save on tax and NI contributions and the University also contributes on your behalf (from April, this is 18% for USS members). To find out more, speak to a member of the University Pensions Team.

Our staff can access a range of benefits, details of which are available in our online staff benefits booklet www. durham.ac.uk/resources/hr/ staffbenefitsbooklet.pdf A new benefit, recently added and already accessed by many staff, is the availability of discounted Microsoft products for home use. Microsoft Office and Windows can be purchased for just ÂŁ10 by eligible members of staff. Go to www.durham.ac.uk/ hr/benefitsplus/microsofthomeuse for more details or to apply.

To find out more about our staff benefits, contact us on reward.team@durham.ac.uk or ext. 46521.

NOW Pensions Automatic Enrolment is a government initiative to encourage more people to have an income when they retire. All employers must assess staff each month and enrol those who are eligible into a workplace pension. We are required to do this every three years and confirm that we have done so to the Pension Regulator. A contribution was made from the February salary of affected staff.

Staff may also be affected by a government change to State Pensions that comes into effect from April 2016.

If you are a member of a defined benefit pension scheme (DUPS, USS or NHS), your NI contributions may increase with the end of contracting out. This change may affect your take home pay from April onwards. You can check your payslip online via People+ Portal www.durham.ac.uk/hr/peopleplus/portal More details about this change are available at www.durham.ac.uk/treasurer/ local/staff/currentnews

A recent change to our Shared Parental Leave policy means new parents can benefit from an enhanced rate of pay when taking shared parental leave. Eligible staff who opt to share the care of their child during the first year of birth or adoption, will receive the equivalent enhanced rate of payment as maternity pay. For details and applications go to www.durham.ac.uk/hr/policies/leave/sharedparentalleave or speak to your HR team.

CIS News...

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

In January 2016, Paul Featherstone was appointed interim Chief Information Officer (CIO), taking the helm at Computing and Information Services. He brings a wealth of experience of senior transformation and CIO roles in the public and private sector where he has realised improvements through the defining of strategy and delivery of transformation programmes.

His background is in business consulting (with Capita) and as an independent consultant and interim manager. His journey to Durham University has included sojourns at Cumbria County Council, Balfour Beatty (IT Director) and Cofely (Director of Operations). Immediately prior to joining Durham University, Paul consulted at a London borough supporting the leadership team in realising savings and increasing service satisfaction.

As a CIO he focusses on customers as well as IT services, improving customer service and engagement, and delivering strategies that support the organisation’s overall vision.

We gave Paul the opportunity to share some thoughts in his own words:

So Paul, what brought you to Durham?

I came to Durham because I was attracted to working with an organisation approaching exciting times, especially one with the history and stature of the University. There are exceptional opportunities for technology to transform how learning and research takes place, and to extend our reach in effective and engaging ways with improved support services.

What are the most exciting things on the horizon for CIS? The chance to take our future in our hands and continue our transformation into an effective partner for the University: technology is pervasive and there are real opportunities to exploit our information in innovative ways to support the University in achieving its ambitions. The New World Programme is a crucial enabler for this, with the next 12 months seeing us step up delivery of the capabilities to facilitate that.

Where would you like to see CIS at the end of your tenure?

What struck me most about CIS was the skills of the talented individuals working here. Their passion and desire to deliver the best possible service to staff and students is inspiring, so I would like to see CIS as a confident and trusted partner in the organisation. By that I mean a department controlling the work it handles and having open and honest relationships with colleagues, customers and consumers of our services: I see all that as eminently possible!

What would you be doing if you weren’t here?

I think I would be doing the same thing: helping organisations to deliver value through change.

It’s something I am passionate about and I can’t help myself from getting involved.

As an alternative, possibly sitting on a hot, sunny beach doing nothing other than reading – but I know I would get bored quite quickly!

21

Procurement Did you know…

...when raising req uisitions in Acqu ire using catalogues, these will bypass buyer approval? This means your requis ition will go direct ly for value approval and gen erate a purchase order, speeding up the process for you and reducing the time taken to order goods! There are over 30 catalo gues available in the Acquire sys tem to search fro m in one location which are regularly , updated by our sup pliers.

VIATOR TRAINING – University travel cover The Insurance Service is running a training course on the Viator system on 20 April 2016 between 09.30 and 10.30am in the Anne Galbraith Board Room in the Palatine Centre. You can book a place on the training through the HR training portal.

The Insurance Service team looks forward to seeing you there.

CATEGORY MANAGEMENT: Spotlight on Corporate and Professional Services Who are the Corporate and Professional Services Team?

Lyndsay Glasper heads up the category and is supported by Rachael Devlin and Steven Carter. The team is responsible for supporting Professional Support Services with their contracting needs. This includes a diverse set of requirements including Finance, HR, Library, Marketing & Communications and Legal Services.

Great North Air Ambulance You may remember Procurement carried out some fundraising activities back in July 2015 on behalf of the Great North Air Ambulance, with some of our contracted suppliers donating prizes for the raffle.

Enterprise – the University’s contracted supplier for car hire – has raised £1000 to the Great North Air Ambulance through their internal foundation, a combined effort between us resulting in £3320!

ACQUIRE TRAINING – eProcurement system training A reminder about the training sessions we regularly run. Places on our training course for Acquire users can be booked via the HR training website. For further details, please visit www.durham.ac.uk/ training.course/procurement

(L-R: Lyndsay Glasper, Rachael Devlin, Steven Carter)

What is happening?

Currently the team is working closely with Marketing & Communications to put in place a media framework which will deliver a number of services including filming and photography, and with colleagues in Finance to review and renew the provision of pension services to the University. Work is also underway with colleagues in the Centre for Academic, Researcher and Organisation Development (CAROD) to put in place a new framework for the provision of training to University staff, utilising a managed service provider.

How do I find out more/engage with this category?

Contact Lyndsay Glasper on ext. 44530.

Greenspace...

Did you know that there were over 2300 e-cards sent from the Greenspace website during December 2015? www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/ecard As well as Christmas e-cards we also have a selection of e-cards which can be used for any occasion throughout the year. The images have been provided by staff and students.

If you want to send an e-card, click on the image you wish to use and you will be taken to a screen to write a message.

Please note that all cards are sent at 8.00 am every day. If you send a card after this time, it will be sent the next day.

When entering the date for the card to be sent please make sure you enter it in the following format dd/mm/yyyy.

Remember, sending an e-card saves the production and transport costs associated with sending paper cards.

Cycle+ is possible due to the Government’s Green Transport Plan and Cycle2Work Scheme. The Government scheme was launched to help increase access to more sustainable means of transport to work and to improve traffic congestion.

Durham University, in association with Cyclescheme Limited, can help you cycle to work. There are obvious health, wellbeing and environmental reasons to cycle to work for all or part of your journey.

You can order the bike and equipment of your choice from one of 1600 independent bike retailers. All eligible members of staff can participate in the scheme with some great benefits: • s ave money on a bike and cycling equipment to cycle to work; • pay monthly through salary reductions; • choose any make and model of bike (up to £1,000).

For more information go to www.durham.ac.uk/hr/ benefitsplus/cycleplus

GREENSPACE Keeping you dry this spring!

Greenspace is launching a new initiative as part of our Sustainable Travel Plan, to promote walking and keeping you dry on a rainy day. A number of umbrellas are on loan from key receptions including Mountjoy, Palatine Centre, Durham University Business School and Queen’s Campus.

23

Have you got any pets?

Yes, I have a mad miniature Schnauzer called Sukey.

What are you reading at the moment?

And when did you last see your father by Blake Morrison What would you like your epitaph to be?

No idea – I’ve not really thought about it!

Which historical figure would you most like to be?

I think there are too many amazing people to choose from.

What was the first record you bought?

The Verve – Urban Hymns.

BETH UPEX Archaeological Science Technician

What achievement are you most proud of?

I guess my PhD has to come fairly high up the list.

What was your best subject?

At school Art was definitely my best subject – and my favourite.

When was the last time you laughed and why?

Just now in the office with my two colleagues. We have a lot of fun. I can’t even remember why we were laughing!

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

An archaeologist – I’ve never wanted to be anything else.

Where will you be going for your next holiday?

Jersey, joining my husband on a conference trip.

What skill or talent would you most like to acquire?

I’d love to be able to speak German, but languages have never been a strong subject for me.

Give me a picture of your ideal day: Most Saturdays! I get a little lie in while my husband gets up with our daughter, then I get up and we go out for breakfast and take her to messy play. Then a nice walk in the afternoon with our dog.

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

Assuming that 10 is I care a lot, and 1 is I don’t care at all, I think I’m about a 6.

What’s your greatest vice?

Doughnuts – I love them!

What’s your favourite film?

I haven’t got one.

Any nicknames?

Betty & Bep are probably the two most commonly used ones!

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

I’ve never done any jobs that I really disliked.

What’s your favourite place in the world?

Difficult question, I love being with my family – wherever that might be.

What luxury item would you take to a desert island?

Hmm…a really comfy bed I think.

What’s your greatest indulgence?

I don’t drink a lot but when I do I like a Marlborough Sauvignon blanc – yum!

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

Joanne Peterkin, Research Laboratory Technician, Earth Sciences.

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

MARCH

MARCH

Continued

APRIL/MAY Castle Lecture Series 2015/16 Great Hall, Durham Castle The final lectures in this year’s series bring three fascinating speakers to Durham Castle, including the University’s own Professor Carlos Frenk.

Somme 1916: From Durham to the Western Front

Life and Evolution, as Physics

25 March – 2 October 2016 Palace Green Library

Professor Adrian Bejan J.A. Jones Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University.

This year’s special exhibition at Palace Green Library commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

Somme 1916: From Durham to the Western Front will be on display at Palace Green Library from 25 March – 2 October 2016.

Wednesday 27 April, 7.45pm

Why the World Does Not Exist Wednesday 4 May, 7.45pm Prof. Dr Markus Gabriel Chair for Epistemology, Modern and Contemporary Philosophy, Director of the International Centre for Philosophy, University of Bonn.

APRIL Newly Refurbished Thacker Gallery of Ancient Egypt Oriental Museum Visit the newly refurbished Thacker Gallery, displaying the highlights of the Oriental Museum’s magnificent collection, the largest and most important collection of Ancient Egyptian material in the North East of England.

See page 11 for more information on this permanent gallery.

World Heritage Site Weekend Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 April, 10am – 4pm World Heritage Site Visitor Centre Visit Palace Green for a fun weekend of family activities and tours around to celebrate Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wednesday 18 May, 7.45pm Great Hall, Durham Castle Professor Carlos Frenk Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics, and Director of the Institute for Computational Cosmology (ICC), Durham University; Principal Investigator of the Virgo Consortium.

Easter Holiday Family Activities Friday 25 March – Sunday 10 April, 10am - 5pm daily Oriental Museum Museum trails and craft activities for children aged 5-11 years old will be going on every day of the school holidays. Perfect for a family day out!

For further information visit www.durham.ac.uk/castle.lectures

KEY Botanic Garden WARM/03/16/307

Everything from Nothing, or How our Universe was Made

Palace Green Library Oriental Museum

Durham Castle Other venue