Dialogue issue 46

| JULY / AUGUST 2016 | ISSUE 46

Sports Round Up It has been another outstanding year for Durham University Sport, including wins for the women’s lacrosse team and men’s tennis. / Page 12

Also in this issue: How research can help recovery from natural disasters

Staff Volunteering

Find out how Durham University research is supporting the response and recovery effort following the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal.

See the Vice-Chancellor join one of our Staff Volunteering Team Challenge days, to support the work of the Friends of Stockton Road Cemetery (FSRC).

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Dialogue 46 | July / August 2016

@Durham_Uni

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Welcome to the last issue of Dialogue of this academic year, a year in which I have been very pleased to visit all of our colleges and academic and professional support departments. During the course of the year we have said a fond farewell to Paulina Lubacz and Ray Hudson as members of the University Executive, but I was delighted to announce in May that Jane Robinson will be joining us in September as the new Chief Operating Officer. Jane will be responsible for the effective leadership, alignment and delivery of the Professional Support Services in order to underpin the delivery of the University Strategy. Other new members of the Executive will be announced over the next few months.

On a more personal note, I have recently enjoyed taking part in my first summer congregation and would like to thank everybody who had a role in making the ceremonies such special events for our students and their families. I also enjoyed participating for the first time this Spring in the University’s volunteering programme: in glorious sunshine I joined with staff and student volunteers to help return a wonderful graveyard and nature area to its former glory. I would encourage everyone to see how you can get involved in our volunteering programme.

Finally, I would like to thank you all for your hard work this academic year and for your engagement with the development of the University Strategy.

For now, though, enjoy the summer!!

Let’s hope for some fine weather.

With all best wishes

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03 Congregation Get Social

04 Research Insights 06 University Strategy Update

07 Forging new links 08 Staff Volunteering 09 Durham Clinical Trials Unit

10 Intellectual Property 11 Alumni Volunteers

Centre for Academic, Researcher and Organisation Development

17 Library News 18 Museums and Attractions

19 HR & OD News 20 CIS News 21 Procurement – Buy in

12 Sports Round Up

22 Greenspace

14 Sexual Violence

23 Under Investigation

Task Force

Professor Stuart Corbridge Vice-Chancellor and Warden

16 Spotlight on...

15 Marketing Assets

24 What’s On

EDITORS: Editor: Ulrike Klaerig-Jackson, Communications Coordinator; Assistant Editor: Mark Tallentire, Communications Coordinator.

CONTRIBUTIONS: Karen Barrie, HR&OD; Sharon Battersby, CIS; Steph Dawson, Library; Tara Duncan, Greenspace; Louise Elliott, Event Durham; Melinda Polidario-Maddock, Mick Warwicker, Karen Frost & Nicky Sawicki, Marketing & Communications; Sexual Violence Task Force Group; Louise Hughes, Marketing & Communications; Teresa Hogg, Procurement; Andy Cattermole, Experience Durham; Rebecca Maier, School of Health; David Williams, DARO; Quentin Sloper, Team Durham; Bob Matthew, CAROD; Jo Peterkin, Earth Sciences; Professor Brian Tanner & Mike Bath, University Enterprise.

FRONT COVER: Men’s lacrosse team celebrating their eighth successive national title.

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

CONGREGATION Congratulations to all Durham University Graduates 2016.

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!

/durhamuniversity

IMAGE OF THE MONTH A beautiful sunset shot taken by our researchers from the roof of the Nepal’s National Society for Earthquake Technology, looking across the Kathmandu Valley.

@Durham_Uni

Find out more about how Durham University research is supporting Nepal’s recovery from the earthquakes at www.durham.ac.uk

TOP FIVE TWEETS

• Read Sophie’s blog about her favourite places in Durham to visit - http://community.dur.ac.uk/blogs/ taking-a-break-in-durham/ … #DUmakeithappen • E xcellent article on #foodbank use by @KA_ Garthwaite featuring people she met as a foodbank volunteer & researcher • Study by @FMeasham @DurhamSASS finds young people don’t see e-cigarettes as smoking & are attracted by the flavours http://bit.ly/1sqYnOF • Tom Robinson from @_IHRR & @GeogDurham has written @ConversationUK about why #earthquake fatalities are increasing http://bit.ly/1WlAcf9

VIDEO OF THE MONTH In this video Dr Christine Merrell from the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring at Durham University explains new research shows that young children with mild attention problems can go unnoticed at primary school and fall behind their peers academically. To watch the video go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH7UxoqFHr0

DurhamUniversity

• Congratulations @DurhamChemistry Prof Jas Pal Badyal who has been elected as a Fellow of @RoyalSociety http://bit.ly/1SUHbfW #RSFellows

How research can help recovery from natural disasters

Dr Nick Rosser from the Department of Geography and the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience explains how Durham University research is supporting the response and recovery effort following the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal.

Tell us about the work that you have been involved in over the last year in Nepal.

In the immediate aftermath of the first earthquake in April 2015 we joined forces with partners including British Geological Survey and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development to map resultant landslides using satellite imagery.

This helped to guide response and recovery efforts on the ground.

Since then our work has focused on the ongoing and future risks posed by earthquake-triggered landslides. As a longer-term hazard these landslides are often overlooked and we do not have a good handle on the science that explains their behaviour.

As such they present a significant challenge for communities looking to rebuild their lives after an earthquake.

We have been working with a partner in Nepal to measure the stability of cracks that have opened up on mountain-sides following the earthquakes. We want to see whether these cracks are affected by ongoing aftershocks or the monsoon and whether they could lead to more landslides.

My colleagues Katie Oven and Alex Densmore are also working with the Overseas Development Institute and UK Government’s Department for International Development

(DFID) on projects to understand how this and related science can help countries like Nepal prepare better for disasters.

We have also been working closely with the Nepali Government and DFID-Nepal to ensure our work on mapping areas affected by landslides can be fed into response and recovery efforts.

There is also the challenge of gaining the trust of local communities. Some of our research has involved installing monitoring equipment on mountain-side locations and we need to ensure that we have the support of the people who live and work there. Our research also draws on local knowledge of landslides, both to understand how people adapt to living in high-risk areas and to understand the locations that are particularly important for the communities living there.

This relies on building positive, trusting relationships with communities. This takes time and sustained engagement, to show communities we are not simply there to collect data and then to disappear back to the UK. We also need to demonstrate that our research can bring benefits - for example, by connecting communities with local NGOs for long-term support and advice, or by advising on locations for reconstruction or further investment.

What are the biggest challenges with this type of research?

What difference do you hope your research will make?

Access to sites can be challenging! The earthquake-triggered landslides blocked, damaged and in some cases totally destroyed roads, which can pose a real difficulty in getting to the worst-affected areas. This often means long hikes around or above the damaged roadways.

On the ground the hope is that our research will provide a greater understanding of the on-going risks from landslides, both for local communities and for government and aid agencies. For instance, our research aims to help identify areas most at risk of landslides following an earthquake, and therefore guide response and relief efforts.

Who have you worked with in Nepal?

One of our main partners in Nepal is the National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET), a non-government organisation specialising in earthquake risk reduction.

We have worked with NSET to install equipment to monitor the stability of mountain-side cracks. NSET is now taking over the data collection and analysis, developing a unique capacity in Nepal for landslide hazard assessment.

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ARCHAEOLOGY AND UN CULTURAL HERITAGE PROTECTION Professor Robin Coningham, UNESCO Chair in the Department of Archaeology, and his team have been undertaking UN-sponsored post-disaster surveys and excavations across the Kathmandu Valley’s World Heritage Site of Outstanding Universal Value.

Its monuments are central in the daily lives of thousands of Hindus and Buddhists and a key source of tourism and foreign income for Nepal. After sustaining heavy damage during the earthquakes, it was recognised that rescue excavations and surveys were needed to inform the reconstruction.

Robin’s work, in conjunction with the Nepali Government, is aimed at building a detailed understanding of the archaeological features below the surface and evaluating the stability of foundations. This will guide the architects and engineers undertaking the rebuilding work.

It is also hoped that this research will inform the approaches and techniques used to rebuild other heritage sites damaged by natural and human disasters in the future.

Dialogue 46 | July / August 2016

UNIVERSITY STRATEGY UPDATE In the coming weeks, University Council will be reviewing and approving the Academic Strategy part of our overall University Strategy – the culmination of a huge volume of work by many members of staff across the University.

The focus of our new University Strategy will be on our overall vision of producing world leading and world changing research across all academic departments and research institutes, education that is challenging, difficult, enabling and transformative and a student experience unsurpassed in Europe.

The full Academic Strategy, which runs to 103 pages, went to Senate in June and was then made available to the University community for comments via the University Strategy web pages for two weeks.

In May, Council made a number of important decisions about the future of Queen’s Campus, including relocating most academic departments to or near Durham, commencing in September 2017. The Business and Management, and Marketing programmes will relocate from 2017, followed by Education, Psychology and the remaining Business School programmes in September 2018.

Work is now well underway on transition planning, with a working group bringing together staff and student representatives from the relevant departments, colleges and PSS departments. John Snow and Stephenson Colleges will establish new homes in Durham and operate across the two campuses during the transition. The final location of the colleges in Durham will be determined as part of the University Estates Plan, which is under development.

Council also approved a proposal to seek to repurpose Queen’s Campus in part as an International Foundation College (IFC),

offering specialised foundation courses preparing students for entry onto undergraduate programmes. A procurement process is underway for the IFC and it is expected that further updates on a proposed model will be available in Autumn 2016.

The review to determine the future location of the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health (SMPH) has now concluded and a final decision will be made by Council this month (July).

In terms of the wider University Strategy, our Estates Plan is under development and will include both new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings on many parts of the University estate. There will of course be consultation, both within the university and the wider public, on plans in due course.

The Operations workstream has been looking at our current administrative functions’ structures and processes and has received ideas from colleagues about how systems might be made more effective in future for the benefit of all. Further activity in this area will continue next term once the new Chief Operating Officer, Jane Robinson, has taken up her post.

Town Hall meetings for staff held at Durham and Queen’s Campus in June were well attended and there will be further opportunities for engagement in September and throughout the next academic year.

Find out more... www.durham.ac.uk/about/local/unistrategy

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FORGING NEW LINKS The University has been invited to join the Coimbra Group, an association of European universities committed to creating academic and cultural links to promote internationalisation, academic collaboration, excellence in learning and research, and service to society.

Several of the Group’s 38 existing members already have research or teaching links with us including Aarhus, Bologna, Heidelberg, Jena, Siena, Uppsala, the eponymous Coimbra and existing UK members Edinburgh and Bristol.

Our membership will bring mutual benefits in terms of research collaboration, influence over European policymaking, staff and student exchanges between members and intelligence on funding opportunities.

We also aim to increase our participation in impactful research that drives economic growth and Europe’s global competitiveness.

Established in 1985, the Coimbra Group has three policy pillars, research, education and outreach, and has working groups on topics that include student mobility, education innovation, heritage and STEM (sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics). It enjoys strong links with a sister network in Latin America.

The Group ratified Durham’s membership on 10 June 2016 following negotiations led by the Dean for Internationalisation, Professor Danny Donoghue.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart Corbridge, said:

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Durham’s participation in high quality international networks is vitally important to our future in an increasingly globalised world and is conducive to our status as a World Top 100 University.”

“Joining the Coimbra Group is a significant development in Durham’s internationalisation strategy. Over the next few months, I will be working with colleagues to consider how we can strengthen relationships with other members of the group in the areas of research, teaching and outreach.

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Durham University is also a member of the Matariki and University of the Arctic international networks.

Dialogue 46 | July / August 2016

STAF F VOLU NTE E RI NG

The Vice-Chancellor recently joined one of our Staff Volunteering Team Challenge days, to support the work of the Friends of Stockton Road Cemetery (FSRC), one of the many community partners that the Staff Volunteering team works with each year.

Working alongside the Vice-Chancellor was a team comprised of staff from Student Community Action, the Business School, Finance, Estates & Buildings and Experience Durham as well as a number of students. The task for the day was to continue FSRC’s work in tidying some of the plots and planting new trees and shrubs as part of their wider conservation and management plan.

Roz Layton, Secretary for the Friends of Stockton Road Cemetery said:

“We have worked with the University since soon after the FSRC was established and the support that they have given us has been invaluable. We rely on a very small number of regular volunteers so when teams of staff visit for a day, the work that they achieve in just a few hours is immense.”

IMAGES: (Top) - The Volunteer Team, including staff, students and Vice Chancellor, Professor Stuart Corbridge, at the end of a productive day.

(Bottom left) - Jillian McGuren from the Business School, Staff Volunteer of the Year 2016.

(Bottom right) - Rebecca Byrne, SCA, replants a newly refurbished plot.

Professor Corbridge said:

“I am extremely proud of the high levels of staff and student volunteering at Durham University.

I am also pleased to say that I have now participated for the first time, in glorious sunshine, helping to return a graveyard and nature area to its former glory. It was a great day and the work was worthwhile, fun and it was good to get muddy for a change!

The volunteering team was terrific with good banter and a shared commitment to do our best. I’m looking forward to the next time!”

Since its inception in 2009 the University’s innovative Staff Volunteering programme has grown to become one of the most established, generous and successful programmes in any UK university, twice attaining the national Investing in Volunteers for Employers quality standard for 2012-15 and 2015-2018.

A reminder that all staff have the opportunity to volunteer for up to five days in work time, subject to Line Manager approval. If you are interested in volunteering either on your own or as part of a team, please get in touch with the Staff Volunteering team via community. engagement@durham.ac.uk or visit our web page www.durham.ac.uk/volunteer

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DURHAM CLINICAL TRIALS UNIT Durham Clinical Trials Unit (DCTU) is a growing specialist research group focused on excellence in the development and delivery of applied health clinical trials and clinical studies.

The Unit, led by Rebecca Maier and Dr Helen Hancock is based within the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health and works closely with clinical and academic staff from universities and NHS Trusts. DCTU’s aim is to support the design, development and delivery of nationally funded trials and clinical studies to improve outcomes for patients, the public and the NHS. DCTU collaborates and provides expertise in the conduct, management and monitoring, analysis, interpretation and reporting of trials and studies in accordance with the standards required by regulations and best practice. This is achieved through strong academic leadership, operational expertise and management infrastructure. DCTU has a strong track record in randomised controlled trial (RCT) design and surgical trials, with a particular focus on cardiac surgical and cardiovascular trials.

A recent example of grant success is the UK Mini Mitral trial. Alongside Mr Enoch Akowuah (Lead Clinical Researcher and

Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon) from The James Cook University Hospital, DCTU has secured a significant National Institute for Health Research (NIIHR) Health Technology Assessment grant of ÂŁ1.5 million to undertake a multicentre RCT in patients requiring mitral valve repair. The trial will start recruiting this Summer and will be the largest in the world in this patient population. Patients will be recruited and treated at cardiac centres across the country and findings will provide definitive evidence on the use of minimally invasive surgery in this population. This trial builds on the successful collaboration between Mr Akowuah and DCTU for the nationally funded MAVRIC trial, involving patients requiring Aortic Valve Replacement.

MAVRIC, the largest trial in Aortic Valve Replacement in the world is on course to recruit 270 patients and is nearing completion, with outcomes to be reported in 2017. Results from both trials will enable patients and the NHS to benefit from optimal surgical treatment and improved outcomes.

DCTU works closely with the statistical team, led by Dr Adetayo Kasim, in the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, and with the Health Economics Group at Newcastle University, led by Professor Luke Vale. The Unit has close links to the NIHR Research Design Service North East. The RDS provides advice to investigators preparing research proposals for submission to national peer-reviewed funding competitions for applied health or social care research.

It comprises a team of experienced researchers able to advise and provide methodological and practical advice when developing grant applications.

DCTU welcomes opportunities to collaborate with teams from the NHS and from Universities planning trials or clinical studies. Find out more www.durham.ac.uk/school.health/ centres/dctu

Dialogue 46 | July / August 2016

What has intellectual property got to do with

YOU?

Just over a year ago, a team of academics and students from Durham University were successful in winning a grant of £34,000 from the Intellectual Property Office to raise awareness of the importance of Intellectual Property issues amongst students, especially budding entrepreneurs.

Fast forward a year and the team led

by Professor Brian Tanner, Dean for University Enterprise, and including Abhinav Dawar, President of student society, Entrepreneurs Durham, are launching a five minute film, produced as part of the project. The film is a part of a series of interactive teaching materials that will be used to deliver training workshops for students.

Following research with student groups, it became clear that the topic of Intellectual Property had a lot to do with all students, even if they were not thinking of starting their own business. It also became apparent that students were extremely interested in case studies and examples but uninterested in stories of global companies having legal battles with each other.

•D id you know that copyright is automatic on your dissertation?

•D id you know that you can trademark a colour?

The film is designed to give a brief introduction to trademarks, copyright, patents and design rights. Viewers may not become experts by watching the video but in an engaging way actress Yemisi Oyinloye describes the key rights

of authors and inventors with just enough detail for viewers to understand the basic principles and to want to know more. The aim of the film is to leave residual memories to encourage students and graduates to query “Is there an Intellectual Property angle here?” when they meet a new professional situation.

Professor Tanner said:

“The major prize from the Intellectual Property Office recognised the efforts we put into ensuring that our graduates can succeed in the world of work. Through this project we have created an informative, entertaining and simple introduction to a complex topic; one that is of major importance to us all.”

Abhinav Dawar added:

“We hope students will be able to utilise this resource and incorporate their new found knowledge of Intellectual Property into their ventures.”

Watch the Intellectual Property film online at www.durham.ac.uk/undergraduate/life/ experience/news For students interested in enterprise and business start-up, the University’s Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre offers numerous options, including business advice mentoring and workshops to help develop ideas, including the University’s Blueprint Enterprise Challenge which offers students the opportunity to turn their ideas into reality.

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ALUMNI VOLUNTEERS

150th Anniversary Celebrations Durham University is an extraordinarily thriving community. I don’t think we collectively realise how thriving. The University has many hundreds of active alumni volunteers who support the student and alumni community through mentoring, through organising reunions and other events, and through returning to the University to support staff and students in various ways.

As part of the 150th anniversary of the formation of the first alumni society, the Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO) wanted to gather together as many of the University’s alumni volunteers as possible in order to thank them for their contribution.

We chose the first weekend in June, both because it was the closest to the actual date of the anniversary, 31 May 1866, and because it also fell in National Volunteer Week.

This was the first time the University has created such an event, to thank all the people who contribute their time and energy to the University communities that matter to them.

The main aim was to invite these alumni back, offer them a celebration dinner, and create some opportunities for them to reconnect with the University in a new way.

We also wanted to give our alumni volunteers the chance to meet each other and share their perspectives and thoughts about how the University can better work with its alumni communities, both through the informal networking that naturally happened during the event, and, more formally, through the Dunelm Society AGM. The Dunelm Society is the official and independent society for all Durham alumni and this was the first time it had held its AGM in Durham for 15 years.

Finally, as the development of the new University Strategy means that this is such an exciting time to be part of the Durham community, we wanted to give the attendees a chance to hear directly from the Vice-

Chancellor and to give them an opportunity to question him about the plans.

More than fifty alumni came to the weekend, and the formal part of Saturday ended with the celebratory dinner. This included the presentation of the Dunelmensis Award by the Vice-Chancellor to alumnus Patrick Salaun.

The Dunelmensis Award is given by Senate to a Durham alumnus or alumna for meritorious and exceptional service in support of the University, particularly for our institutional advancement and for enhancing the University’s reputation nationally and internationally. Only six Awards have ever been given and Patrick’s nomination cited his five decades of support for the University, which include his being the current President of the Hatfield Association and formerly Chair and President of the Dunelm Society.

We are hoping to organise a bigger event next year. If you have alumni volunteers helping out in your area of the University, please do let DARO know about them so that they can be recognised, be given the opportunity to be part of the volunteer network, and be invited to any future events.

David Williams Head of Alumni and Supporter Engagement

Patrick Salaun:

“We are a top university with a distinctive brand offering: a great student experience, teaching and research, founded on an intimate collegiate membership and wrapped up within an amazing cultural, spiritual and architectural landscape. This I think is the magic of Durham and explains why it engenders in us such a strong sense of community and belonging. As volunteer alumni, we have a strong feeling of gratitude to our colleges and to the University for the benefits and opportunities that were opened to us. This is why we are happy to pass on our experiences, skills and time to the next generations in order to keep the Durham Difference alive and well.”

Dialogue 46 | July / August 2016

SPORTS ROUND UP It has been another outstanding year for Durham University Sport, capped off with the 2016 Palatinate Dinner, at which women’s lacrosse won the Club of the Year award and men’s tennis won the Team of the Year prize.

Having recently been selected for the England Senior and Great Britain squads it was no surprise that Durham’s women’s hockey captain Mollie Rawnsley won the Sports Woman of the Year award whilst Milan Pokrajak, who won the BUCS men’s tennis singles, doubles and team championships, was the obvious and deserved winner of the Sports Man of the Year trophy.

Although the final points table is not complete we look to have secured second place behind our old enemy Loughborough in British University Sport for the fifth successive year. Edinburgh has significantly closed the gap on the Palatinates, getting within 200 points, so there will be no room for complacency in 2016/17. The great news is that Durham also retained the Number 1 Team Sport title, recording more league and cup points than any other university and, indeed, in both categories broke the all-time record for points scored in a season in league and cup matches.

There were Premier League titles for men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s football and men’s water polo. There were national titles for men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s tennis and men’s water polo. Overall, out of the 103 teams that we entered into BUCS Leagues 25 won league titles and a further 30 finished as runners up.

volleyball and women’s water polo will all look back on the past twelve months and reflect upon what might have been if Lady Luck had been with them at the key moments of their knockout fixtures. There is still room for improvement next year!

However, to focus solely on winners would be to do the season an injustice. The Palatinates had more final four teams than ever before, and more than any other university in Britain. Men’s basketball, men’s canoe polo, women’s cricket, men’s fencing, men’s and women’s football, women’s futsal, men’s hockey, men’s rugby union, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s

This season has also been defined by outstanding results from many of our developing sports. Athletics and cross country, badminton, clay pigeon, cycling, judo, orienteering, sailing, squash, triathlon, ultimate frisbee and windsurfing all recorded very impressive performances and their collective results were crucial to the Palatinates’ second placed finish.

Looking at the year as a whole Durham won 1,446 fixtures out of 2,382 matches, with a win rate of 61% compared to Loughborough’s 57%, Edinburgh’s 56% and Nottingham’s 52%.

College Sport has also continued to develop and grow with more teams and more students playing than ever before. New clubs ratified this year include handball, baseball, polo and wheelchair basketball. Once again Collingwood dominated the College League programme, winning the overall league table by over 1,000 points with Grey in 2nd and Van Mildert 3rd place. The College Festival of Sport was back to its very best with over 2,000 students playing in 289 fixtures in one day!

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We played our usual varsity against York and for the first time, in a ground-breaking event, Durham took on Loughborough with our Colleges taking on their halls of residence. The Colleges will have been disappointed to lose out in this first encounter but at least we know what we will face in the future.

Many of our Colleges and University teams play end of year fixtures for charity and much of the support goes to our charity in Zambia. A special thank you must go to Hill/Bailey rugby who raised over £8,000 on one day, taking their total support of Sport in Action, Zambia over the last four years to over £30,000. This is a wonderful achievement and goes to make a huge difference out on the ground in a number of desperately poor areas of Lusaka.

2015/16 will live long in the memory as another great year for the Palatinates and we look forward to the summer where we hope to be able to support a number of our former students competing in the Rio 2016 Olympics.

IMAGES L-R: Women’s lacrosse team on their way to defeating Birmingham in the national championship final, Men’s football team celebrating their quarter final shoot out victory against Bath University, Men’s lacrosse team celebrating their eighth successive national title, Kirill Sinitsyn competing for the men’s tennis first team.

Dialogue 46 | July / August 2016

SEXUAL VIOLENCE TASK FORCE – An update from the Sexual Violence Task Force

Since the Task Force was launched last July, we have held a number of consultation events which have involved engagement with key partners such as the police, the Students’ Union Feminist Society, ‘It Happens Here’ and Nightline. It has been interesting and valuable to hear a range of views from students, staff and stakeholders at these events.

The most recent consultations in May provided the opportunity for us to share our draft principles and recommendations and receive feedback on them. The comments we received have been most helpful in shaping our report which will go to the University’s governing bodies in June and July.

In addition to the consultation process, a range of other initiatives have taken place: • RAPID EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT The Sexual Violence Task Force commissioned the Durham University Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA) to conduct a Rapid Evidence Assessment of research in the area of sexual violence at universities. The work took place between July and September 2015. The report mainly covers interventions and policy responses: www.durham.ac.uk/resources/ svtf/DUSVTFRAEfinalpdfversion.pdf ADDITIONAL SUPPORT We have increased the availability of specialist counsellors working in partnership

with Rape Crisis. We are also currently recruiting a new Student Support Officer (Sexual Violence and Misconduct) and the appointed individual will work to facilitate the effective delivery of the recommendations from the final report.

• UUK CONFERENCE In April 2016, Professor Graham Towl presented some of the Task Force’s work to a conference organised by Universities UK about tackling violence and harassment.

In terms of prevention, he mentioned the contribution that educational programmes on bystander interventions, consent workshops and student safety talks by local police can make. Following the event he contributed to the Universities UK blog, with a post entitled “How universities are tackling sexual violence” which focused on the wider issue and how we can work together as a sector to share learning and best practice.

• NEXT STEPS An initial report on the work of the Task Force went to Senate, the Academic Governing Body, in late April. Following the consultation period in May, the Task Force is now producing a final report which will go to the University’s governing bodies in June and July. There will then be an implementation phase.

The members of the Sexual Violence Task Force are: Professor Tom Allen, Courtney Caton, Sam Dale, Sophie Daniels, Caroline Dower (from April 2016), Esther Green, Professor Clare McGlynn, Professor Graham Towl, Professor Nicole Westmarland (until April 2016).

For more information about the Sexual Violence Taskforce, visit: www.durham.ac.uk/svtf If you would like to contact the Task Force with any comments or queries, please email durham.svtf@durham.ac.uk.

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MARKETING AS SETS

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A new online platform to provide access to branded templates of popular marketing materials was launched by the Marketing and Communications office in May. The Marketing Asset Management system (MAMs) is available to nominated users in all departments, colleges and professional support services.

MARKETING ASSETS WILL: • I mprove the quality of marketing materials produced across the organisation • Reduce design costs across the organisation •A llow the consistent implementation of the Durham University brand • Reduce staff time when producing marketing materials • Improve print-buying efficiency The pre-designed Durham University branded templates allow for local variation and cover a range of marketing and communications collateral such as leaflets, posters and brochures.

The system links with the University’s Course Database and event listings to allow information to be pulled directly into the templates. Likewise, images are pulled through from our existing Image Management System, giving users access to thousands of high-quality photographs to illustrate their marketing materials.

The user can choose to create items for both print and/or onlineonly use. In order to make the process as easy as possible, pre negotiated print prices with our Design and Print Framework partners for volumes of 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,500 and 5,000 units can all be ordered through the system.

Print costs for all of the items fall within the University’s Corporate Barclaycard single-purchase limit, so purchase orders are not needed and in most instances our print suppliers are able to accept credit card payments.

Alternatively, the high resolution pdfs can be emailed to stakeholders, uploaded to the website or for small numbers, printed off locally.

In the competitive HE environment low-quality materials can damage our reputation and brand image, and provide a poor user experience. By introducing the Marketing Assets system to the University we have taken away the costs associated with professional design; the only cost to users will be if you choose to have an item printed.

The system gives us the flexibility to consider future improvements to our communications, for example printon-demand functionality and integration with customer relationship management (CRM) systems to generate timely and cost-effective printed communications with the aim of improving conversion.

The system forms part of the Profile Raising Toolkit; a resource that helps individuals, groups and departments raise their profile through effective marketing and engagement.

For further information or to arrange a training session for your department, please email marketing.team@durham.ac.uk

Dialogue 44 | Jan / Feb 2016

Spotlight on...

THE CENTRE FOR ACADEMIC, RESEARCHER AND ORGANISATION DEVELOPMENT Describe your centre in one sentence.

What would you say is your main challenge?

The Centre for Academic, Researcher and Organisation Development (CAROD) has evolved following the bringing together of a number of functions and supports and delivers training and development activities for all University staff as well as our postgraduate research staff.

We appreciate that finding time to attend our events can be challenging given other demands on your time, so we’re working to develop online alternatives to our courses so that training can be accessed at any time. Our challenge is finding the resource (time and people) to do this.

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

What does the future look like for CAROD?

• CAROD offers bespoke training opportunities tailored to each category of staff and post-graduate research students which provide the opportunity to enhance skills, develop professionally and enhance employability.

• Our courses are free and easy to access through the training booking system (apps.dur.ac.uk/tcbs).

• We support and help people and teams to reach their potential through a wide range of services and interventions.

What three words do you most associate with/ what three words best describe CAROD?

Exciting and very busy, which is just how we like it. Since the University is going through some exciting changes, we’ll continue to review and enhance what we deliver against the University’s new strategic plans, and ensure that all staff and PGR students feel supported in their professional development.

DID YOU KNOW…?

In a typical year (if there is such a thing) approximately 9500 people attend an event offered by CAROD. This isn’t even the full picture, as it doesn’t include one-to-one coaching or bespoke development events for teams and departments. So we are a busy lot.

Motivational, Accessible and Caring (MAC).

Do you use social media? If so, how?

How can staff and/or students engage with you and your work?

Our researcher development program has a blog which you can have a look at, community.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate.training/blog.

We are looking at developing our social media presence further; keep a look out for new twitter profiles for each of our user groups.

Staff and students who need development or support can engage with us in person, over the phone or by email (www.durham.ac.uk/hr/contacts), so we can get an idea of how we can help you and your team.

Or alternatively, you can engage through the training course booking system (apps.dur.ac.uk/tcbs) or via the regular training emails that go out to our user groups.

What is your main objective as a centre? What do you want to achieve?

Our aim is to provide development and support to individuals and teams (staff and post-graduate researchers) to underpin the strategic priorities of the University. We also provide support to people to enable them to develop and be the best they can be in their professional lives to benefit themselves and society.

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

17

Library News

SOMME TALKS & EVENTS

Reading Lists Course convenors for 2016/17 please

Palace Green Library is hosting a series of lunchtime and evening talks. Speakers will cover a broad range of First World War themes; some specifically focussed on aspects of the Battle of the Somme in order to complement the exhibition.

check that Library provision of reading materials for your modules is sufficient.

For new modules please submit a full bibliography and highlight ‘essential’ texts with expected student numbers.

For modules that ran last year, just state any changes required to the existing

Wednesday 13 July 2016, 6pm – 7.30pm

provision and the ‘Library Resources’ list

TUNNELLERS ON THE SOMME: LA BOISSELLE - A CASE STUDY

in duo. An acknowledgement to library.

Jeremy Banning, Military Historian and Historical Consultant for the BBC

resources@durham.ac.uk is needed for every module even if a reading list is not

Monday 25 July 2016, 1pm – 2pm

required or no changes are to be made.

‘WHATEVER CHEERS THE WARRIOR HELPS TO WIN THE WAR’: MUSIC AND MORALE IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR

Full details are available at www.durham.ac.uk/library/course_resources

Emma Hanna, Senior Research Fellow, University of Kent Monday 22 August 2016, 6pm – 7.30pm

THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF COMMEMORATION: THE SOMME IN BRITISH MEMORY Mark Connelly, Professor of Modern British Military History, University of Kent Monday 12 September 2016, 1pm – 2pm A BATTLEFIELD DEBUT: THE TANKS ARRIVAL, EMPLOYMENT, AND IMPACT, ON THE SOMME BATTLEFIELD IN THE AUTUMN OF 1916 Stuart Wheeler, Archive Manager, The Tank Museum Wednesday 28 September 2016, 1pm – 2pm

THE SERVICE BATTALIONS OF THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY, FROM FORMATION IN 1914 TO THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME IN 1916 John Sheen, Independent Military Historian Additional events include REMEMBERING THE SOMME on Saturday 2 July and a concert, NO PETTICOATS HERE by Louise Jordan on Sunday 14 August. Please visit our website for more details about our talks and events programme: www.durham.ac.uk/palace. green/whatson/events/somme1916

Find out more...

www.durham.ac.uk/library

Museums and Attractions

SOMME 1916: From Durham to the Western Front 26 March – 2 October 2016 Palace Green Library 100 years on, this commemorative exhibition explores the Battle of the Somme through the eyes of people from County Durham who were there.

Somme 1916: From Durham to the Western Front tells the stories of the people from County Durham caught up in the battle: the men who fought and died on the battlefield; the women who nursed the wounded and comforted the dying; and the workers who toiled in factories, mines and shipyards across the county to support the war effort.

Daily Life in Ancient Lebanon A major new international exhibition, is now open at the Oriental Museum.

The people of Ancient Lebanon played a fundamental role in shaping the history of the Mediterranean and yet, despite their importance in antiquity, they remain unknown to most people today. Based on the latest research being undertaken by Dr Mark Woolmer, in Durham University’s Classics Department, this exhibition offers an accessible introduction to the culture and society of Lebanon in the ancient world.

The displays centre around significant loans from the British Museum and the National Museum of Beirut. Many of the objects being presented have never been seen in the UK before. They range from highly decorated ivory objects and silver bowls, to cooking pots and burial urns.

The exhibition runs until 25 September 2016.

Entry is free for DU Campus Card holders.

IMAGE: Phoenician copper alloy bowl, 9th century BC, © Trustees of the British Museum

The exhibition has been developed by Durham University in partnership with Durham County Council and the trustees of the former Durham Light Infantry. It showcases items from the DLI Collection alongside other items specially loaned by other museums and archives.

Exhibitions and Events at the Museum of Archaeology Living on the Hills is the permanent gallery of the Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library. The gallery uses objects from across Durham University and other regional museums to explore the last 10,000 years of Durham.

In addition to the permanent display there is a community archaeology programme which features exhibitions from local groups, organisations and volunteers. This summer’s exhibition Munitionettes & Miners: County Durham Heroes of the Great War has been curated by students of Durham University’s MA Museum and Artefact course to complement Somme 1916: From Durham to the Western Front downstairs in Palace Green Library.

The exhibition uncovers the important roles of County Durham men and women during WWI by exploring the local women who worked in munitions factories and the miners who fought tunnel warfare on the Western Front.

In addition to the permanent and community archaeology display there are activities and events throughout the year. Visit www.dur.ac.uk/ archaeology.museum for more information.

We are delighted that our venues have once again been recognised for delivering high quality visitor experiences.

The Oriental Museum, Durham Castle and Palace Green Library have each earned 2016 TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence.

The achievement celebrates tourism businesses that have earned great traveller reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year.

19

HR & OD News...

Upcoming Staff Information and Well-Being Fair 28 September 2016 including free health-checks Durham County Council’s Check 4 Life team will be on hand to once again support the next Staff Information and Well-Being Fair on Wednesday 28 September throughout the day from 9am to 3pm to offer free, confidential and convenient healthchecks. There are timeslots available for the healthchecks which must be booked in advance online (available from 1 August). Please ensure that you plan or co-ordinate your health-check slot with your manager before booking.

Options are a mini check (15 minutes) or a full check (30 minutes) which includes height, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol test and a cardiovascular disease risk score.

Also don’t forget to call in to the Staff Information and Well-Being Fair which runs alongside the health-checks and takes place on the top floor of the Calman Learning Centre. It is open to all University Staff from 12pm to 2pm. This is an ideal opportunity for staff to network and remind themselves of other departmental functions and the support that they can gain, as well as raise any questions they might have regarding a particular issue on a face to face basis. Please come along and support the event, no booking is necessary to attend, but please register on arrival in the Calman Reception.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES:

New Training Programme available online from 8 July The new 2016/17 training programme for the new Academic year will be launched on the Training Course Booking system from Friday 8 July. Look out for the website link in the Dialogue Signposts to book your places and get your training organised for the forthcoming year. Remember if there is a waiting list; please do register as places become available nearer the time. Please try to avoid cancelling within four days of the course date as there is a cancellation policy in place.

Annual Staff Training Celebration Event Tuesday 12 April 2016 The Annual Staff Training Celebration Event, which took place on Tuesday 12 April, was an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and achievements of staff who gained a recognised qualification. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Stuart Corbridge, presided over this “staff graduation ceremony” and presented certificates to over 70 members of staff who attended along with their guests. This year 57 of those members of staff who received a certificate achieved a qualification ranging from Level 2 to Level 5 including the ILM Level 2 Certificate in Leadership and Team Skills, Diploma in Business and Administration Level 3, ILM Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring all of which were supported by the Human Resources and Organisation Development Training Team during 2015/16. The event also acknowledged the achievements of the Accommodation and Commercial Services team who organised three qualification programmes in the year resulting in 42 members of their staff achieving a Level 2 qualification.

Two additional awards were also presented, the “Apprentice of the Year Award” and the “Realising Your Potential Approach Valuing Contribution Award”. We currently have 23 apprentices across the University and line managers were asked to nominate an apprentice for the Apprentice of the Year Award. It was difficult to judge the award and due to the high standard of nominations it was decided to give this award to two people, Jack Strangward from CIS and Kerry Strong from Chemistry. Both winners excelled in their NVQ and the way in which they applied the learning in their workplace. The Realising your Potential Approach Valuing Contribution Award was awarded to Frances Paylor, Senior Programme Manager (Research) at the Business School as an acknowledgement of how she has embedded the Realising Your Potential Approach within the development of all professional services staff at the Business School.

The Annual Staff Celebration Event is an example of the Valuing Contribution aspect of the Realising Your Potential Approach for the whole of the professional services and support staff. It is a way of acknowledging the commitment to personal development of those colleagues who gained qualifications. It is also interesting to note that during the year 2015/16 over 2,100 members of staff attended an event organised by Human Resources and Organisation Development.

IMAGES: (TOP L-R) The Apprentice nominees, The Winners of the Apprentice of the Year Award – Jack Strangward and Kerry Strong, (BOTTOM): The Winner of the Realising Your Potential Approach Valuing Contribution Award – Frances Paylor.

CIS News...

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

New World Programme (NWP) is moving at pace:

WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU

From summer 2016 until the end of 2017, the University’s New World Programme moves to a new stage as changes and additions to key IT services are made to deliver the programme’s objectives. After three years of improvements to the University’s IT foundations, there’s lots going on over the next 18 months as we update and implement the user facing services that will deliver benefits to you. Plenty of thought and planning is going into how these activities will be delivered around the day-to-day activities of the University, however the scale and volume of the work means that some impacts will be inevitable.

NWP IS DELIVERING: • flexible, easy access to applications when and where you need them • better service availability through improved network resilience • increased capacity for data storage and new IT services • improved protection for the University’s IT services and data.

WHAT YOU WILL SEE OVER THE SUMMER: •D elivery of a single, consistent University desktop. Following a successful pilot, the roll out of the Durham University Desktop Environment (DUDE) to Networked PC Service (NPCS) computers in open access areas, teaching classrooms and meeting rooms will start in summer 2016.

This is the first phase to implement an improved, modernised desktop experience that will eventually enable access to the applications and services you need wherever you are, whoever you are; regardless of the device or platform you use.

•V ital IT network updates to increase security and resilience. This update and expansion activity started some time ago with works to replace and lay new cables (to carry the network around the University) and the refurbishment and creation of new internal spaces to house updated network equipment.

This will continue, and from August 2016 we will start to connect you to the new network. We will be contacting departments directly with

details specific to them, including any unavoidable disruptions to IT access and a schedule of works will be published on our web pages.

• Commencing relocation of University IT services to the new data centres; a new home with modern flexible equipment and additional storage space (with room to grow!). This will start this September and is anticipated to complete in March 2017. Over 500 servers need moving so the schedule is rigorous, with a goal of five services moving each day. As services need to be turned off to move them, we are planning to limit disruption as far as possible, however some will be unavoidable. Details of the schedule and any resulting disruption will be published on our webpages, so take a look so you know what is happening to the services you use.

In addition to publishing information on our web pages (www.durham.ac.uk/ nwp), we will be sharing schedules, plans and updates via the University’s weekly Dialogue Signposts mailer: check it frequently for pieces about NWP and keep up to speed!

21

Procurement

Dawson and Sand erson New

sletter A new monthly ne wsletter is now ava ilable from our Travel Managemen t provider, Dawson and Sanderson.

The aim of this ne wsletter is to pro vide the latest information on cu rrent and upcom ing changes and improvements to travel.

Please visit Procu rements’ travel bu yers guide web page to view these newsletters.

NEWS FROM THE IT AND LABORATORY CATEGORY TEAM Supplier Recognition Event The University’s annual Supplier Recognition Awards will take place in September 2016. As the nomination process draws to a close on 29 July 2016 there is still time for you to inform the Procurement Service of any outstanding service you have received from a supplier.

More information along with the ability to nominate can be found online at durham.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/sra16

Charity Procurement had a cake sale on 18 March in aid of Sports Relief and managed to eat their way through £225 of goodies, thanks to everyone who helped them achieve this.

ACQUIRE The University uses an automated eProcurement system called ‘acquire’.

For invoice payments, this means once an invoice is entered onto acquire, if the goods or services have been ‘receipted’, the invoice will match automatically without intervention and be paid on time. Contact the acquire Helpdesk on 44534 if you need assistance in receipting orders.

ACQUIRE Punchout catalogues Following extensive discussions with Sigma-Aldrich Company Ltd and VWR International Ltd, the Procurement Service is pleased to announce we will shortly have fully integrated Punchout catalogues with both suppliers.

Fully integrated Punchout catalogues electronically send the approved Purchase Order directly into the suppliers ordering system without the need for any manual intervention, reducing the risk of errors or omissions and will speed up ordering and delivery of your goods.

Punchout catalogue news will be added to the acquire News Widget so please check regularly for updates.

The Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales (HEPCW) has awarded a new agreement for Apple Equipment and Services. As a result, the way in which the University purchases Apple products has changed.

Apple Education took the decision to step away from the HE market and declined to take part in the tender process. This resulted in the new framework agreement being awarded to four suppliers, with numerous ways in which we can engage with them. Effective from 1 April 2016, the University will directly award all Apple requirements to the first ranked supplier Stone Computers. This will be reviewed over an initial 12 month period to ensure the agreement is fulfilling end user requirements and offering best value for money. If for some reason Stone were unable to supply the required product we would move to the second ranked supplier.

Pricing for the agreement will remain fixed for the first 12 months.

The ordering process will remain the same, orders will be directed to CIS who will place the order to the appropriate supplier as usual.

There are a number of benefits for using this framework which includes three years warranty as standard on OSX and iOS devices, savings of up to 6.28% compared with the previous agreement and average savings of approximately 1.26%.

Stone Computers have also confirmed that as part of this new agreement, the pricing and benefits offered will also be made available to staff and students at no additional cost. Further details relating to personal purchases and payment methods will be available in due course.

The Procurement Service welcomes any feedback, both positive and negative, so that we can action this as appropriate.

Greenspace...

We switched off for Earth Hour

Sustainable Travel Plan Surveys

Between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Saturday 19 March we took part in Earth Hour to show our commitment to tackling climate change. As well as asking all staff and students who were in our buildings during this time to switch off any nonessential lights we also switched off the exterior illuminating lights to Durham Castle. This dramatically altered the night skyline of Durham City, as the public were not able to see this iconic building illuminated for this hour.

The University undertook staff and student surveys as part of its Sustainable Travel Plan and would like to thank everyone who responded. The results and feedback from the surveys will be used to review the University’s progress against the targets of the Plan and assist with developing new ideas. The results of both surveys will be published in due course on the Greenspace website at www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/travel/ greentravelplans/ where a copy of the Sustainable Travel Plan 2014-20 can also be found.

Being part of Earth Hour brings everyone together in a united action helping to demonstrate that small actions undertaken by lots of people can make a difference. Thank you to all who took part.

Car Parking Update Durham University recently engaged ‘First Parking’ as its new car park enforcement company and parking enforcement is now applied across the whole University estate. New signage has been installed to include previously unregulated car parks: Maiden Castle, Oriental Museum, Green Lane, Elvet Waterside and several College sites. There has also been a reduction of the Parking Charge Notice (PCN) fee (formerly referred to as Civil Parking Notice) to £70 which, if paid within 14 days is further reduced to £35. A map highlighting all accessible car parks is available at www.durham.ac.uk/estates/transportparking Existing parking permits remain valid until the date of expiry.

An updated University Parking Policy is available at www.durham.ac.uk/estates/transportparking

The Greenspace Travel website www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/travel contains information about the many alternative travel options available to staff and students including:

Alternative Travel Options to the University

• The University car share scheme available to both staff and students. Drivers can offer car shares and passengers can seek them for travel to and from the University and for travel between Durham City and Queen’s Campus.

• The University Corporate Discount Schemes for bus and rail travel.

• Bus services travelling to Durham City and Queen’s Campus, Stockton including the 40B Durham Railway Station to Mountjoy Service and the free inter-campus X12.

• Cycling initiatives including the staff Cycle+ scheme, bike stands and secure shelters available across the estate.

• Durham City Park and Ride which includes access to the University and the bus station.

23

Have you got any pets?

Yes, a cockatiel who I have had for 14 years.

What are you reading at the moment?

My favourite author is Kate Mosse as I love her style of writing. I’m currently reading The Taxidermist’s Daughter.

What would you like your epitaph to be?

‘Always smiling’.

Which historical figure would you most like to be?

Florence Nightingale or Emmeline Pankhurst as both have contributed to changing things for the better.

JO PETERKIN Geochemical Research Laboratory Technician

What was the first record you bought?

I’m not sure if I should admit this but it was Rick Astley ‘Together Forever’. I was only eight or nine years old and bought it from the bargain bin in Woolworths for 50p!

What achievement are you most proud of?

Passing my driving test first time….it was a miracle as I nearly ran over a security guard who stepped out in front of the car.

What was your best subject?

Biology…which is concerning as I work in Geology.

When was the last time you laughed and why?

A few hours ago at my brother making fun of me, which he often does.

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

A vet or a teacher.

Where will you be going for your next holiday?

Not sure yet…hopefully somewhere warm and relaxing.

What skill or talent would you most like to acquire?

The ability to mind-read but this may cause more problems than it solves!

Give me a picture of your ideal day: Early morning horse ride on the beach with the sun beaming down, followed by a relaxing picnic with friends and a lovely long walk along the coast, a trip to the cinema and then a lovely restaurant meal to finish the evening.

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

10.

What’s your greatest vice?

Lazy Sundays!

What’s your favourite film?

I have lots of favourites but my all-time favourite classic is International Velvet.

Any nicknames?

I had one when I was younger but it might be best if I keep that one to myself!

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

I was a barista many years ago…I hated the job but loved the free coffee and sandwiches.

What’s your favourite place in the world?

Anywhere outdoors, I love the fresh air!

Tell me a secret: I can’t…it’s a secret.

What luxury item would you take to a desert island?

Factor 50 Sun cream…I burn very easily.

What’s your greatest indulgence?

Praline chocolate.

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

Laura Haswell, Postgraduate Admissions Co-ordinator, Business School.

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

JULY

AUGUST Teddy Bears’ Picnic Monday 1 and Monday 22 August, 10am – 4pm Durham University Botanic Garden The ever popular Teddy Bears Picnics returns to the Garden this summer – bring your bear and join in the fun!

Walk Like an Egyptian Wednesday 27 July, 1pm – 3pm Oriental Museum Join one of our museum curators and handle some real ancient Egyptian objects. A must for any budding archaeologist. This is just one of the regular, family-friendly activities taking place at the Oriental Museum this summer.

Marko’s Circus Workshop Thursday 28 July, 10am – 4pm Durham University Botanic Garden The Botanic Garden kicks off a summer of events and activities with another visit from Marko. Learn circus tricks, including how to juggle and spin plates, at this fun workshop.

Self-guided tours of Durham Castle Tuesday 19 & Wednesday 20 July, 11.15am – 4.15pm Munitionettes & Miners: County Durham Heroes of the Great War until 26 October Palace Green Library Discover more about the women who worked in munitions factories and the County Durham miners who fought tunnel warfare on the Western front with a visit to this exhibition.

Tuesday 26 & Wednesday 27 July, 11.15am – 4.15pm Tuesday 2 & Wednesday 3 August, 11.15am – 4.15pm Tuesday 16 & Wednesday 17 August, 11.15am – 4.15pm Tuesday 23 & Wednesday 24 August, 11.15am – 4.15pm Durham Castle Durham Castle will be open for visitors to take a self-guided tour on several dates throughout the summer, allowing you to stroll around at your own pace.

Knowledgeable guides will be on hand to answer questions share some of the stories and hidden history of the Castle.

Nominal charges apply.

KEY Botanic Garden WARM/06/16/320

Palace Green Library Oriental Museum

Durham Castle Other venue