Dialogue issue 39

| FEB / MARCH 2015 | ISSUE 39

Upping the Andes

Also in this issue:

Four Durham alumni cycle the length of South America unsupported for charity.

50 years of Sociology and Social Policy at Durham

/ Page 16

Celebrating 50 years of Sociology and Social Policy at Durham - from the origins to the present day. / Page 04

REF2014 - The Results!

The REF2014 results were announced at the end of last year find out how Durham was assessed. / Page 12

Dialogue 39 | Feb / March 2015

www.thedurhamdiary.wordpress.com @Durham_Uni

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Dear Colleagues,

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A lot has happened since the previous edition of Dialogue and this is reflected in this issue which I’m sure you’ll find both informative and interesting.

Following on from Issue 38, there is an article reflecting on the University’s performance in REF2014, highlighting that Durham research was assessed as “world-leading” across all three Faculties, Sciences, Social Science and Health, and Arts and Humanities, with world-leading research in every department. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who helped make this achievement possible.

It is now fifty years since Sociology and Social Policy was first established at Durham. During this time the University has carried out important research in and for the region, relating to this particular area, including work on the demise of the coal mining industry, community development in Benwell and the Prison ‘Inside Out’ project.

Durham is of course a collegiate university and in this issue Professor Martyn Evans reflects on the first global Collegiate Way Conference held at Durham in November 2014. The aim of the conference was to bring together representatives from a wide range of colleges from across the world, to share experiences, and to think about how best the collegiate model can be advocated, extended and sustained.

With all best wishes

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03 Winter Congregation

15 National Student Survey

16 Upping the Andes

EDITORS:

17 Library News

Corporate Communications Officer.

2015

Get Social

04 50 Years of Sociology and Social Policy

05 Paralympic Sport Festival 06 Research Insights - The Sleep Lab

08 Spotlight on...

Biophysical Sciences Institute

19 Event Durham,

Retail & Catering

20 HR News 21 CIS News

10 The Collegiate Way

22 Procurement

12 REF2014 - The Results

23 Greenspace

Conference

Studies

14 Durham Students’ Union

Zoë Thomas, Marketing Projects Co-ordinator.

Attractions

comes to Durham

13 Supporting Students’

Ray Hudson Acting Vice-Chancellor and Warden

18 Museums and

Rebecca Grundy,

24 Under Investigation

What’s On

CONTRIBUTIONS: Sharon Battersby, CIS; Tara Duncan, Greenspace; Louise Elliott, Event Durham; Media Relations Team, Communications Office; Rachel Smith, Library; Nicky Ord, Procurement; Karen Barrie, HR; Shelley McCormack, Durham Students’ Union; Richard Bruce, School of Applied Social Sciences; Alex Probert, Biophysical Sciences Institute; Martyn Evans, Trevelyan College; Alyson Bird, Academic Support Office; Eleanor Loughlin, CEEC; Deborah Cairns, Experience Durham.

DESIGN: wearewarm.com PRINT: statex.co.uk FRONT COVER: Durham Alumni, Archie Innes, Toby MacKean, Guthrie Fenton, and Thomas Lawson.

Share your story...

The Winter Congregation ceremonies this year were once again a real celebration of the achievements of our students with so many of the families and friends of those graduating in attendance.

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

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

Thanks go to everyone involved in making congregation such a successful event and a memorable occasion for our alumni, our honorary graduate and their guests.

NEW YEAR HONOURS 2015

• P rof Fiona Measham @durham_uni talks to @guardian about the increased purity of #ecstasy http://socsi.in/1UnLt • Professor Andy Aplin from @CeREES’ says a clearer picture needed if UK is to develop its shale gas resource http://socsi.in/nyf0b #fracking • Research @TheLancet shows combining insecticide sprays & nets no more effective in cutting #malaria than nets alone http://bit.ly/1zmWQbq • A synthetic #universe with realistic #galaxies has been created by our @DarkerMatters #cosmologists http://socsi.in/3YGXF #cosmology • T he excavation of a Buddhist temple http://socsi.in/ GLS0z features in top 10 world discoveries by @archaeologymag #lumbini

VIDEO OF THE MONTH We have recently launched a series of new short films showing some of our leading early career researchers discussing the world of opportunity on offer to students and academics at Durham. You can watch the series of short films here http://bit.ly/1yffgeQ

www.thedurhamdiary.wordpress.com

Congratulations to those of our alumni and other University stakeholders who received awards in the Queen’s New Year Honours 2015. Awards given this year ranged from MBEs to a knighthood and were given for a wide variety of services, including for those to Children and Families, the UK Defence Industry, Music in the North East and Homeless People in the UK and Abroad.

TOP FIVE TWEETS

DurhamUniversity

He said: “To receive this unmerited honour is yet another gift from one of the Church of England’s main partners and greatest supports in theological education, I am hugely grateful.”

Our favourite photograph was taken at Winter Congregation. To see more photographs from the event visit our facebook page.

@Durham_Uni

Those at the final ceremony on the Friday were also able to witness the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, being presented with his honorary degree. The Archbishop, who studied at Cranmer Hall and was formerly Bishop of Durham, received an honorary Doctor of Divinity in recognition of his ministerial achievements and devotion to his parish communities.

Dialogue 39 | Feb / March 2015

This academic year Sociology and Social Policy are celebrating their 50th year at Durham University.

They were originally taught in the Department of Social Theory and Institutions, established in October 1964 with the appointment of the first Chair Professor John Rex. The decision to form a new Board of Studies was taken alongside the decision to form Boards of Studies in other areas of the Social Sciences, and in many ways marks the beginning of a significant expansion in the subject area at Durham. Boards of Studies in Anthropology, Economics, Law and Politics were also formed at this time. Initially, there was some reluctance to the idea of delivering degree programmes in Sociology, although modules in Sociological Theory, Criminology and Social Research methods were offered at honours level. These subject areas are central to the identity of today’s School of Applied Social Sciences.

By 1966 Joint Honours programmes in Sociology with Politics, Economics and Law were available and subsequently the then Department began to deliver a Single Honours degree programme in Sociology.

“We are proud to report that the School continues to deliver this undergraduate degree programme to this day with plans for further development in coming years.”

Throughout its history, the work of the department has been situated firmly within the life and history of the region. Professor John Rex himself was a keen champion of the need for the University to recruit its undergraduates regionally and this

commitment to what we would recognise now as widening access is still evident. The School’s regional research focus is reflected in projects on Social Change within the region, notably around the demise of the coal mining industry and community development projects in the Benwell area. Prison research emerged in the early 70s with the well known work of Taylor and Cohen’s ‘Psychological Survival’, which continues to be recognised as a key text in the Criminological canon. The School’s work with prisons within the region has continued throughout its time, including work around prisoner mental health and well-being and currently with an innovative pilot project entitled ‘Inside Out’ whereby Criminology undergraduates and Prisoners at HMP Durham and Frankland Prison are co-taught a Level 3 module in the prison setting on Criminal Justice.

From its initial focus around Social Theory and Institutions, the School has grown throughout its history to develop professional programmes in Community and Youth Work, Social Work and most recently full undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Criminology. While Social Work initially grew out of the associated Centre for Applied Social Sciences, and Community and Youth Work developed as a separate Unit, all constituent parts of the school came together in 2004 as the School of Applied Social Sciences. It was at this point that the University’s undergraduate Sport programme became a part of the School’s portfolio of taught programmes. Education in sport celebrates its 20th year in 2016 and this forms a core part of the School’s undergraduate community which maintains its commitment to community engagement notably through a Level 3 community placement.

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PARALYMPIC SPORT FESTIVAL COMES TO DURHAM

If yo u ’tn live Paraly do neS

The Paralympic sports festival is a fabulous opportunity in which disabled members of the public can try a range of different sports in a safe and secure environment.

A vast array of National governing body coaches will be descending on the north east with equipment to try anything from Boccia to sailing, table tennis to horse riding and many more. Get inspired when you meet and speak to medallists from both Sochi Winter Find out more...

Olympic Games and London 2012. Hold the torches that lit the country and pose for a photo with your favourite Olympian.

Today, the Research interests of the School are anchored around four interdisciplinary centres: The Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse; The Centre for Sex, Gender and Sexualities; The Centre for Social Justice and Community Action and The Centre for Methodological Research in the Social Sciences. While these reflect many of the key interests of the School, as we plan for activities beyond our 50th year we remain committed to the interests and values which drove the School’s establishment and continual development.

The Paralympics sport fest was born out of the legacy of the London 2012 Paralympic games. It is not about looking for future potential medallists, it is about giving people the chance to see what is out there that works for them. Other opportunities could include coaching, officiating or volunteering, for others just the joy of taking part.

The Paralympics GB Sports Fest, which is free to attend, will be held at The Graham Sports Centre, Maiden Castle, on Thursday 5 March 10am – 5pm.

Our 50th anniversary celebrations have included a formal dinner, research showcase and retirement seminar for Professor Dave Byrne (who rates 38 years of involvement in sociology and social policy at Durham). A booklet on our history has also been published and this includes recollections from student and staff alumni.

Find out more...

For more information on the 50th Anniversary celebrations and for more information on the history of the School, see the link below:

STEPHEN MILLER FIVE-TIME PARALYMPIAN TRIPLE GOLD MEDALLIST

www.durham.ac.uk/sass/50th

sportsfest.uk.com

Dialogue 39 | Feb / March 2015

Over 90 per cent of our impact case studies for the Research Excellence Framework were assessed as having outstanding or very considerable impact on society. One of those came from Professor Helen Ball and her team in the Parent-Infant Sleep Lab. We caught up with her to find out more.

She said: “If they would just come and talk to us because we know what’s happening to babies at night.

We could give them the evidence and change things.”

It’s only after 20 years of badgering away at people that fortunately we are now in that position.

TELL US ABOUT THE PARENT-INFANT SLEEP LAB We look at issues around babies’ sleep at night-time, particularly around the safety of babies when they sleep and how their sleep develops. This means we find out what happens to babies at night, what parents are doing, where babies sleep and how the different elements affect babies’ health and safety.

We conduct some of our research in the lab at Queen’s Campus, which consists of a bedroom wired up with night-time vision cameras and an observation room, and some of it within hospitals or in people’s homes.

YOUR RESEARCH WAS SUBMITTED AS AN IMPACT CASE STUDY FOR REF2014. DID YOU HAVE A STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING IMPACT? No, we didn’t; it’s just what we have always done. I always wanted the research to be useful in some way. From the beginning, we set out to conduct research which we could share with health practitioners and change their ways of working where needed.

I remember chatting to one of my PhD students in relation to a new Department of Health policy which did not have our involvement.

HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO GET YOUR RESEARCH IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE? It has been all about raising the profile of our research by doing lots (and I mean lots!) of talks and presentations to health professionals at conferences and study days.

However, there was a key turning point as you can’t invite yourself to these events. It was a presentation at a conference by the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (now The Lullaby Trust) where I pointed out that their ‘never bed-share’ advice on the one hand and the ‘encourage closeness between mum and baby’ approach by UNICEF’s Baby Friendly Initiative on the other, were working in opposition to each other. However, they were both interested in babies’ health so to me, it made sense for them to work in concert. It was after that presentation that our working relationship with UNICEF started and has continued ever since.

It was about finding a key relationship with an implementer of research that was crucial for us, and it snowballed from there.

07 DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR OTHER ACADEMICS? This is quite a hard thing to get right, and I don’t know whether people would agree that I have always accomplished it, I think it is important to stay close to your evidence, and to be a researcher rather than an advocate.

It is a very fine line and it’s tricky to know which side of the line you’re on sometimes. I have certainly always tried to do this in my talks, interviews and research papers.

I would also say it is important to stand up for your evidence and don’t be scared to be controversial. I always advised everyone in our team to separate the research message from the personal beliefs of potential critics, and to be confident in our evidence. That’s not to say we haven’t had our fair share of criticism so developing a thick skin is pretty vital.

IN TERMS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has just issued new guidance for parent-infant bed-sharing.

For the first time, it recommends that health professionals need to give parents balanced information about co-sleeping and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and any risks, but crucially does not tell parents to never sleep with their babies. This new guidance is consistent with our research outcomes and it’s what we have been emphasising for years. For us, this is a major step forward.

Spotlight on...

It is now widely recognised that to understand and answer today’s major challenges requires a multidisciplinary approach. This is particularly relevant for many biological and life science questions ranging from understanding heart disease, improving crop production, tackling the challenge of increasing antimicrobial resistance, through to comprehending how the optics, biology and mind work together to provide vision. The Biophysical Sciences Institute (BSI) provides a focus and driving force behind such research in Durham.

OUR INSTITUTE

AREAS OF RESEARCH

THE BSI THEME

From its origin in 2007, the BSI has developed into a community of 150 interdisciplinary academics, researchers and students who have research interests at the boundary between the life sciences and the other sciences including physics, chemistry, psychology and pharmacy, as well as mathematics and engineering. The aim of the BSI is to help answer complex biological questions by applying physical science tools and stimulating new ideas for all researchers involved. Key features of the BSI community are effective communication across scientific specialities and providing a forum for open and free exchange of ideas.

The BSI’s members are involved in a wide range of evolving research priorities and multidisciplinary groups which can be divided into four key areas:

The BSI’s current theme is ‘Stress’. This theme encompasses a wide range of lengths and time scales, from stress at the cellular level to the human experience of anxiety and pain. Stress is normally considered to play a negative role in life but controlled mechanical stress frequently plays a vital role in the formation of complex biological structures. From microbes to mammals, the key role played by the cytoskeleton together with protein chaperones is important in maintaining healthy cells in balance. In the eye the combination of internal cellular mechanical stress is balanced against external forces to enable accurate formation of the lens and subsequently the ability to focus. We also seek to understand the molecular basis of how stress responses feature in plant acclimation to drought, salinity and elevated temperature. This is vital to the development of sustainable agriculture in terms of food security and enhancing yield.

The growing significance of the biophysical sciences has driven the development of an MSc in Biophysical Sciences. For 2015/16, postgraduates starting this MSc will be offered a specialist course tailored to their research interests and experience.

For more information about the MSc in Biophysical Sciences, visit www.durham.ac.uk/bsi/postgraduates

OUR VISION It is the vision of the BSI to become an internationally recognised multidisciplinary centre of excellence that inspires and delivers groundbreaking research in the biophysical sciences, which lead to scientific breakthroughs with impact on fundamental ideas, technologies and society.

Quantified imaging and Visualisation Involves the development and application of novel physical methods including atomic force, electron and visible light microscopy, infrared and THz imaging, X-ray crystallography, fluorescence and magnetic resonance are used to probe the structure and function of biological systems. Once the data and images have been collected there is significant expertise in extracting biologically relevant information from the data sets.

Modelling of Biological systems Mathematical and computational methods are used in combination with data gathering and analysis, to deliver an understanding of complex biological processes. These range from looking at population growths through to nerve fibre loss in glaucomatous patients.

Bioactive Chemistry Includes the function of the components of biological systems and the design and synthesis of novel materials and molecules that influence biological processes.

Bioactive chemistry has very strong links through to pharmacy and small molecule interactions both for therapeutic and research purposes.

Biological Soft Matter Institute members are developing novel materials such as porous polymers and peptide-based hydrogels that have uses in drug delivery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

For humans, stress has many different guises that are psychological (anger management), environment (e.g. sun and water), inherited or disease related (e.g. diabetes) and finally self-inflicted (e.g. alcohol, cigarettes and drugs). Exciting multidisciplinary collaborations at Durham University are also addressing how eating and pain disorders and stress hormones influence functional brain organisation.

For more information about Stress, and previous BSI themes visit: www.durham.ac.uk/bsi/theme

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Multidisciplinary Research for Impact (highlight) Many industrial challenges cross traditional scientific boundaries and the BSI has demonstrated the role that world leading, multidisciplinary research can play in solving these. Many of the projects that the University has with the multinational company P&G have a strong BSI multidisciplinary component following work on open innovation in Durham with P&G, led by the BSI (Physics World February 2013). For more information about business engagement visit the Business Gateway (www.durham.ac.uk/business.gateway).

BSI Structure and Leadership The Institute is led by the Director, CoDirectors and Executive Committee with the direction of the Institute being provided by the members themselves through the Steering Group. The current Director of the BSI is Professor John Girkin (Department of Physics) and the current BSI Co-Directors are Dr Ehmke Pohl and Dr Jun Jie Wu. All the departments and schools involved in BSI related research have representation on the Steering Group and external guidance is provided by a board of internationally recognised scientists and industrialists in this field.

Find out more...

To discover more about BSI events and research, please visit www.durham.ac.uk/bsi If you would like to join the BSI community and receive advance notice of biophysical science events, please contact the Institute’s Administrator at admin.bsi@durham.ac.uk

Programme of Events The BSI hosts a rich programme of events covering the spectrum of the biophysical sciences, designed to stimulate discussion and collaboration and are typically open to anyone who would like to attend. In addition the BSI links its members to interdisciplinary seminars that take place across the University’s departments and schools.

For a calendar of events visit www.durham.ac.uk/bsi/events

IMAGES (top row left-right): Visualisation of complex networks, Ribbon diagram of the crystal structure of the heat shock protein MjHSP16.5 R107G, The cell membranes within a live Zebrafish lens taken with a single plane illumination microscope, (bottom row left-right) A microgripper for single cell manipulation, Cytoskeletal network thickness estimation using a gray-scale granulometry, Image showing the focal ability of a mouse lens.

Dialogue 39 | Feb / March 2015

DURHAM FIRST TO HOST GLOBAL COLLEGIATE WAY CONFERENCE

From the 18 – 22 November the first global Collegiate Way Conference was held at Durham. Professor Martyn Evans, Principal at Trevelyan College reflects on the conference.

In late November it might truly have been said that all collegiate roads led to Durham – appropriately enough on two counts. The conference’s theme of the ‘Collegiate Way’ refers among other things to our favoured educational road of transition into life through learning, and also that this genuinely global conference was the first of its kind. Delegates made their way to Durham from five continents for a residential conference experience that probably has no close precedent, but whose resounding success suggests that it will be followed by others.

The aim of the conference was to bring together representatives from a wide range of colleges from across the world, and to provide an opportunity to share experiences of the collegiate model, identify and share good practices, celebrate our common collegiality, and to think about how best the collegiate model can be advocated and extended.

This purpose was announced in early 2014 by its co-convenors, Professor Martyn Evans (Trevelyan) and Professor Tim Burt (Hatfield). It received a tremendous response, with 100 delegates from over 40 different colleges, within 20 different universities from nine countries attending. This response was also reflected in the quality of the contributions, from six keynote lecturers and forty session and panel presentations, as demonstrated by the opening keynote speaker, author of A Collegiate Way of Living and leaders of collegiate thought, Dr Mark Ryan of Yale University.

‘It was great to be able to listen and talk to colleagues from collegiate universities around the world. Whilst our universities are all very different many of the positives and the challenges are the same and it is good to share solutions.’

Amanda Chetwynd, Lancaster University, UK

There was a marvellous response on the home front too. The Durham Colleges welcomed and accommodated seventy external delegates in term-time. During the conference the delegates became temporary members of their host colleges’ Senior Common Rooms, taking part in college and university life. Eleven colleges were involved and in addition Collingwood College hosted the academic sessions.

Durham students and alumni alike supported the conference as guides, entertainers, hosts, photographers and as academic panellists. Millie Tanner, St Cuthbert’s JCR President, stole the show in the conference’s closing panel debate, which was expertly chaired by Durham alumnus and BBC presenter Jeremy Vine (Hatfield College). For good measure, Jeremy himself brought the house down with his after dinner speech at the gala dinner in the Great Hall of the Castle.

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‘Collegiate Way 2014 was a wonderful opportunity to reinforce the relevance and impact of the collegiate university, to listen to esteemed colleagues and yes, make new friends.’

Bob Taylor-Vaisey, Trent University, Canada

The outcomes of the conference include gathering the proceedings for publication, and – looking ahead – the very significant formation of an international association of collegiate universities to champion collegiate models.

To demonstrate the success of the Collegiate Way Conference 2014, three universities on other continents are now interested in hosting Collegiate Way 2016 and we hope that a firm choice of the next venue will be made shortly.

‘Thank you once again for a phenomenal conference and all around experience. We had the time of our lives in Durham, and the conference exceeded even my highest hopes.

John Hutchinson, Rice University, USA

‘This was one of the most impactful conferences I have had the pleasure of attending in many years. Not only did I learn more about the college system but I met wonderful colleagues from around the world.’

Gay Perez, University of Virginia, USA

Durham University REF2014 - The results!

The Research Excellence Framework (REF2014) results were announced at the end of last year and at Durham our research was assessed as “world-leading” across the sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities.

The University submitted more than threequarters of staff from all three faculties across 22 Units of Assessment (subjects) for REF2014, which measured the quality and impact of research of UK universities.

83 per cent of our research was assessed as “internationally excellent quality” or “world-leading”, that is, graded either 3* or 4*. Overall, 98 per cent of our research was assessed as international quality, or 4*+3*+2*.

The University’s research environment was found to be of international quality across the board, and 98 per cent of it was assessed as “internationally excellent” or “world-leading” (3*+4*).

Here are a few examples of our impact case studies: • Millions of mobile devices are protected from water damage by super-repellent nanocoatings – so they still work after being used in the rain or dropped in a puddle.

• Research into the criminal law on extreme pornography played a major part in Scotland’s decision to outlaw possession of images of rape.

• Billions of pounds of funding to raise the educational attainment of children from disadvantaged backgrounds is being targeted more effectively by schools using the Pupil Premium Toolkit developed at Durham.

• An open access tool used to search databases of classical Latin and Greek texts has offered enthusiasts worldwide unprecedented access to ancient literature.

We submitted 89 ‘impact case studies’ to demonstrate the wider societal benefits of our research and over 90 per cent of these were graded 3* and 4* - as having “outstanding” or “very considerable” impacts in terms of their reach and significance.

• The Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition in Durham, based on research into how the role of this iconic book evolved over time, increased public understanding and appreciation of Anglo-Saxon manuscripts and culture.

REF results are one indicator of a university’s reputation in the UK and internationally.

Around £2 billion of research funding is distributed by the higher education funding councils per year on the basis of these results.

More than 25 per cent of our subjects entered for REF2014 were in the top five subjects nationally for grade point average (overall score). Areas of particular strength included Law, Education, Anthropology, Theology,

Classics, Music, English, Chemistry and Physics. For research impact, Chemistry and Education were top amongst their respective subjects in the country and Theology was second nationally.

Professor Ray Hudson, Acting ViceChancellor, said: “We had world leading research in each of the units of assessment, and this translates into a societal impact through impact case studies which demonstrate the way in which research has a beneficial effect on economy, society, community and the environment more widely.

“The message I’d like to give to staff is one of thanks. A large number of people right across the University, for example in the academic departments, professional services and colleges, have made a tremendous effort in order to prepare and submit our REF entry and they can be justly proud of the outcome which confirms Durham’s position as a research intensive leading university.”

Professor Claire Warwick, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), added: “Our students are learning from some of the best researchers in the world.”

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

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SUPPORTING STUDENTS’ STUDIES Recently launched by the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre (CEEC), the Academic Skills Programme supports undergraduate students to develop their academic writing, maths and general study skills, with a mixture of workshops, online resources and one-to-one support. The choice of workshops covers a wide range of academic skills, so whether students are looking to gain new expertise or improve performance, there is support available.

The Academic Skills Programme is open to all undergraduate students – from any year and any department and students are welcome to attend as few or as many sessions as they need.

Workshops are run at Durham and Queen’s Campus and are offered at various times, including lunchtimes and early evenings, with sessions ranging in length from 50 minutes to three hours.

The 2014/15 programme includes resources, support and workshops provided by the Careers Service, English Language Centre, Library, Mathlab, Disability Support, Foundation Centre, Counselling Service and CIS, in six thematic areas.

IT SKILLS Making the most of IT in learning and research.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS Developing good speaking and listening skills to help students to express ideas clearly and confidently in presentations and group situations.

LITERACY SKILLS Supporting the development of academic reading and writing skills.

INFORMATION SKILLS

Developing information skills to help students to locate, evaluate and use information effectively and ethically.

PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS Being self-aware, making the most of individual strengths and working efficiently to improve personal performance.

MATHS AND STATISTICS The Mathlab team of experienced mathematicians provide online resources and one-to-one help with any mathematics or statistics based problems. The drop-in sessions, offered three times a week, are friendly and informal. No need for students to make appointments.

Find out more...

If you have questions about the workshops, resources or one-to-one support outlined in the Academic Skills Programme, contact academic.skills@durham.ac.uk

For more information visit www.durham.ac.uk/academic.skills

Dialogue 39 | Feb / March 2015

DURHAM STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTIONS Find out more about what your Union has to offer at www.durhamsu.com /durhamSU

@durhamSU

STUDENT OFFICER ELECTIONS During Epiphany term, the Union holds the Student Officer elections where students are elected for five positions: PRESIDENT: chief spokesperson and figurehead, liaises with the University, common rooms and the National Union of Students, encourages students to participate in the democratic process.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER: represents you on education matters, supports the course rep system and encourages you to get involved in academic evaluation.

ACTIVITIES OFFICER: supports student groups, campaigns for student groups and creates opportunities for you to get involved with student groups.

COMMUNITY OFFICER: promotes health and wellbeing, champions equality and diversity and advocates the Union’s work in the local community.

DEVELOPMENT OFFICER: develops training programmes, enhances students’ employability and delivers skills training.

Nominations for this year have closed and elections have taken place. Find out more about the successful candidates and the roles on the Students’ Union’s website www.durhamsu.com

Durham Students’ Union is your Union. Students are at the heart of everything the Union does. This is achieved by students being elected by other students into a range of leadership and representation roles. Elections are your opportunity to shape and direct the Union, the University and the overall student experience.

NUS CONFERENCE ELECTIONS NUS conference elections take place towards the end of Epiphany term.

Along with the Union’s President, four students are elected to represent Durham University at the annual National Union of Students (NUS) Conference, joining students from across the UK. Elected delegates will spend three days voting on NUS Policy, listening to reports from officers and committees, electing a new NUS President and five vice-presidents and participating in union zone development sessions.

STUDENT TRUSTEE ELECTIONS Trustees are the decision-makers of Durham Students’ Union and sit on the Board of Trustees. Trustees are not involved in the day-to-day running of Durham Students’ Union, but oversee the performance of the Union, in terms of finances and delivering services to students. They help to set the direction of the Union and keep it on track. The Union’s Board of Trustees is made up of thirteen members, including four elected Student Trustees, who are elected during Easter term. They hold the position for the following academic year.

COURSE REP ELECTIONS Course rep elections will be held during Easter term for all current students, and then a subsequent election will take place during the start of Michaelmas term for incoming students. Course reps are students’ first point of contact for any course-related issues. They will represent the collective views and interests of students, highlight best practice, encourage students to feedback on their course and play an active role in the quality enhancement of the academic provision at Durham University.

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CALLING ALL FINAL YEAR STUDENTS CAST YOUR VOTE, SHAPE YOUR UNIVERSITY Casting your vote in the Union’s elections is a vital part of ensuring that students are effectively represented here in Durham University. The elected individuals will be your spokespeople and will play a vital role in enhancing and developing the student experience. Find out more about various elections, including any forthcoming elections, by visiting the Union’s website www.durhamsu.com

As final year students reach the end of their undergraduate degree, The National Student Survey (NSS) provides the perfect opportunity to let us know about their experience at Durham University.

This includes feedback on your course, your overall university experience and what you think could be improved. The results will be used to help prospective students decide if Durham is the right university for them and it will help us to continuously improve our offering to our students.

As an institution we must achieve a threshold of both a 50% response rate and responses from a minimum of 23 students in each subject area in order for our results to be published.

As a result we would like to invite all final year undergraduate students to take this opportunity to have their say, and remind staff to encourage your students to complete the survey.

Through taking part you can potentially win money for your college or department as the department with the highest response rate will receive £500 to spend on its students and the college with the highest and second highest final response rates will also receive £500 and £200 to spend in their JCRs. The survey can be completed online from Monday 26 January 2015 until Thursday 30 April 2015 at www.thestudentsurvey.com

RAISE LES AND £80,000 TO EIGHT LEGS, 8,000 MI amount to us. We are supporting Cancer Research UK’s fight against Prostate cancer; the Mark Donegan Fellowship for research into Head of the feet the r ove er gath ds As we watch ominous clou and Neck cancers; the dley in city ost n-m the souther abilitation Centre at Hea Andes behind Ushuaia, the MOD Medical Reh ng Tryi do. to ut l Trust’s amazing abo oria are Mem we t ler wha Wal of k rlie world, we take stoc Court; and the Cha , we are depression after months of planning adults who suffer from to grasp the reality that work supporting young both efforts is our t ssey tha ody ud ling pro cyc very mile We’re about to begin our 8,000and mental ill-health. in equal measure. We se brilliant causes. me the riso ing wor help and to g itin way e exc incredibly will go som amazing ity in 2011 and had an discovery all met at Durham Univers sports pitches ’s llenge and a voyage of ham Dur on lry riva This is an incredible cha three years of friendly could we You can follow us le h.

Litt relis s. will ack we esh Lov that t nigh for us all, and one d on our and religious Wednesday -together by reading our blog foun years later we would team across social media and have guessed that four we here s, m eles ndes.co the Andes! Neverth website, www.uppingthea to take on the might of s and we biggest journey of our live we are all are about to begin the ham preparations in Ushuaia to the mind-set that Dur Having made our final awaited journey. Please owe much of our ambition long our and in ls beg goa s to h itiou nort set to head of setting amb regular has instilled in us; one and Facebook page for have a look at our website your support all for achieving them. you nk Tha . updates on our progress a kilometres a day through thus far!

Cycling an average of 100 w thro to South America is certain continent as diverse as of winds ges. From the notorious up a multitude of challen Andes to the heat of the the of ks pea icy the Patagonia, vast range will have to adapt to a Atacama Desert, the team Upping the Andes have to carry up will we d orte upp uns of conditions. Cycling weight rage ave the t’s (tha ipment, to 50 kilograms of equ r road @UppingtheAndes s – and they are big). Poo of a Giant Pacific Octopu climates, and indeed eme extr in ping cam , quality, altitude stern test of ge itself will make for a Uppingtheandes the scale of the challen ce. uran end cal logi our physical and psycho m e of www.uppingtheandes.co es to the limit in the hop ving.

We are pushing ourselv ate via: uk.virginmoneygi Don e hug a n mea t tha charities raising £80,000 for our com/uppingtheandes

y MacKean Innes (St Aidan’s), Tob Durham alumni, Archie mas Tho and ton, Fen hrie Gut (St Hild and St Bede), d the length are to cycle unsupporte prep d) tfiel (Ha son Law the Mark of Cancer Research UK, of South America in aid Court, and the Charlie dley Hea RC DM hip, Donegan Fellows Waller Memorial Trust.

17

Library Library News

Library/Durham Students’ Union Revision Planner

Drop in to the Subject Support point!

The Library and Durham Students’ Union have teamed up to bring you a 2015 Revision Planner!

Our Academic Liaison Librarians are available at the Bill Bryson Library’s Subject Support point on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm – there’s no need to book an appointment, just drop in!

Use our free Revision Planner to plan your revision schedule, find out about Library 24/7 at the Bill Bryson and Queen’s Campus Library in the Epiphany and Easter terms, and get a ‘Survival Guide’ to help you through your exams.

Pick up your Revision Planner at the Bill Bryson Library, Queen’s Campus Library, Durham Students’ Union or talk to your college welfare rep!

Journals area inaccessible at the Bill Bryson Library The £7million refurbishment of the Bill Bryson Library is ongoing and the printed journals in the North part of Level 1 are currently inaccessible whilst the latest phase of renovation work takes place.

Unfortunately there is no alternative space available in the University or the Library’s external store to accommodate these printed journals. Work will continue until 27th March 2015.

If you need a specific articles from a journal located in the area being refurbished, you can obtain a replacement scan at no charge using the Document Delivery Service journal request form at library.dur.ac.uk/illj

The Subject Support point offers students a great opportunity to speak to the person who knows all the best resources for their course. Speak to one of our Academic Liaison Librarians who can provide information and advice on how to find books for your assignments, search for e-journal articles using Discover or request a resource you’re struggling to get hold of.

The Subject Support point is located opposite the Help & Information Desk on Level 2.

You can also request the whole print issue of a journal using the Document Delivery Service journal request form library.dur.ac.uk/illj. To request a loan of a whole journal write “Please loan whole issue” in the article title and the article author fields (since these fields are compulsory). Ensure that the year, volume and part required are specified.

This work does not affect access to online journals, which will be available as normal throughout this period. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

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

Museums and Attractions

THE INSTITUTE OF MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN STUDIES (IMEMS) LECTURE SERIES Each year IMEMS holds a series of seminars and public lectures, which include the annual Durham World Heritage Site, History of the Book and Wilhelm Levison lectures. In 2015, a number of public lectures will be held in conjunction with Palace Green Library’s Magna Carta and the Changing Face of Revolt exhibition.

IMEMS plays a key role in the University’s research environment with over 100 members drawn from 14 departments across all three faculties. It also supports and fosters the activities of a student group, the Medieval and Early Modern Student Association (MEMSA), which mirrors its

interdisciplinary ethos across the postgraduate student community.

As well as being the research arm for Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, IMEMS has a number of other peaks of research excellence: History of the Book; The Senses; The Ordered Universe; Cities in History; French Books and their Readers; History of Performance; Seventeenth-Century Studies; and Digital Humanities.

For more information about IMEMS and for a full events calendar visit www.durham.ac.uk/imems

CELEBRATE ENGLISH TOURISM English Tourism Week is a celebration of events to showcase the value of the tourism industry. The visitor economy is worth £106bn a year to England and supports thousands of businesses and jobs.

EXHIBITIONS AT PALACE GREEN LIBRARY On Seeing the Author: Portraits in Libraries from Antiquity to the Present 30 January - 26 April 2015 For millennia, people watching plays, listening to songs and poetry, and reading books have understood that an author was responsible for the words they are experiencing. Thinking about the author has always been important in thinking about the words themselves.

The ‘Living Poets’ research project in the Department of Classics and Ancient History explores how people have imagined ancient authors over time. It also considers how readers and listeners imagine authors look, as a way of thinking about their works.

This research is brought together in a fascinating new exhibition at Palace

Green Library. The exhibition considers Bishop Cosin’s Library; a seventeenthcentury building decorated with the portraits of important authors. Many books in the library also include portraits of authors and offer a valuable opportunity to explore how people in the past imagined the faces of the authors they read. This leads us to think about how we view modern authors through their portraits and personalities.

The exhibition concludes with a new commission of author portraits by photographer Julian Germain who contributes to this exploration of what we experience ‘On Seeing the Author’.

Also on show from 30 January – 26 April, Vietnam: A Nation not a War www.durham.ac.uk/palace.green

Our Museums and Attractions are fully on board with this national campaign, so come along and join in the fun.

Details of events can be found at: www.durham.ac.uk/whatson

19

Event Durham, Retail and Catering

TEAM MEMBER RECOGNITION AWARDS The fourth annual Team Member Recognition Awards, held by University Catering, Event Durham and the Retail Office took place at St Mary’s College on Friday 9 January.

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

Congratulations to all award winners outlined below: ATTENTION TO DETAIL Darryl McNary – Hatfield College

IMAGES (left-right): Phillip Atkinson, Emma Athey, Sarah Lumley, Darryl McNary, Phillip Andrews

IMAGES (left-right): Poppy Jones, Wendy Bell collecting award on behalf of Christine Connelly, Michael Waring

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO TEAM Toni Wilkinson – St Cuthbert’s Society NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Poppy Jones – Event Durham UP SELLER OF THE YEAR Elaine Pragnell – Retail catering BEHIND THE SCENES Laura Eglinton – Retail BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE Pauline Roberts – Hatfield College IMAGES: Event Durham team, Palatine Café team and Collingwood College Front of House Team

ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION Jamie Short – Durham Castle BEST LEADER Richie Metcalfe – Durham Castle GOING THE EXTRA MILE Nikki D’Arcy – St Aidan’s College BEST TEAM Collingwood College Front of House Team SPECIAL RECOGNITION Nicola Gittins – Grey College

IMAGES (left-right): Nicola Gittins and Professor Graham Towl

HR news...

CELEBRATING LONG SERVICE Members of staff with 25 years of service for Durham University were invited to a dinner at Durham Castle in December. Long serving staff and their guests enjoyed a tour of Durham Castle followed by drinks in the Tunstall Gallery before sitting down to a dinner prepared and served by Castle staff.

The celebratory dinner was also attended by members of UEC and Acting Vice-Chancellor, Ray Hudson. Director of Human Resources, Clare Curran said; “This is my first year hosting the University’s long service Dinner. Our staff celebrating their long service all greatly appreciated this opportunity to come together to celebrate with their invited guests and their managers in the wonderful surroundings of the castle and enjoy an excellent meal. For me, it was a very special event.”

During the evening, a choir of students entertained guests with carols before joining them for dinner.

PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH Our New Staff Induction Programme was launched at the end of 2014 with 170 new members of staff attending three induction events during October and November.

Team Durham’s fitness classes and staff walks. Advice was available from the NHS plus hand massages were available from New College students.

As part of our refreshed induction, we are holding a Staff Information and Well-being Fair three times a year so that all staff have the opportunity to find out more about the many benefits available here at Durham.

Find out more at www.durham.ac.uk/hr/staffinduction

Last month, over 80 staff attended the Staff Information and Well-being Fair hosted by St Aidan’s College and the HR Training Team. Together with information exhibits from a number of university departments, Durham County Council’s Check 4 Life Team came along to give free, confidential health-checks. Other exhibitors spoke to staff about wellbeing and opportunities to improve their health – such as cyclescheme, counselling, occupational health, volunteering,

Our next Staff Information and Well-being Fair will be held on Friday 17 April 2015 from 12 noon at St Aidan’s College. Please come along.

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH PEOPLE+ In September last year, we successfully introduced phase 1 of our new HR and Payroll system, People+.

A further phase of development is planned in 2015 and you can keep up-to-date with changes on our dedicated webpages at www.durham.ac.uk/hr/peopleplus

21

CIS news...

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

New year - New challenges 2014 was a busy year for the New World Programme and CIS made great progress in improving University IT services and structures. We’re not yet in a position to rest on our laurels, so 2015 will see us increasing the momentum with more ambitious and challenging activity.

2014

A quick look back •W ireless coverage has increased: around 2,600 wireless access points (2,100 more than when we started) were installed, giving the University wireless coverage of 95% •T hanks to this, 30,000 student devices connect securely to this expanded network •T o give you help close by, a major restructuring of our support teams has given us nine locally based IT field teams •T o bring Durham’s IT Service Desk closer to our customers, we’ve relocated to the Bill Bryson Library •T o ensure resilience, security and make University IT a lot simpler, we’ve worked with departments to migrate a number of generic services (such as email, file store) from locally-managed servers to our own (giving departmental staff more time to focus on their specialities!)

2015

Time to look forward Whilst we’ve made great progress on the IT infrastructure (the foundations upon which University IT runs), we’re still not in a position to take it easy! We’re 18 months into a five year programme of work and there’s still a lot to do so that the University has the stable, secure and reliable IT infrastructure it needs to support its ambitions.

To get us closer to our goal of delivering more of the services you need, when you need them, the next set of fundamental and necessary changes will gather pace during this coming year: •P lanning is under way for the new University data centres – stateof-the-art repositories for the many types of data the University collects as part of its activities •V ital to ensuring that you have access to robust, high-bandwidth IT networking, the installation of new network infrastructure equipment across the entire University will commence – not a quick job but crucial for delivering new services

•S o you can access the IT you need securely and appropriately, we’ll begin to replace/upgrade the systems which manage everyone’s user accounts and improve the processes for making access requests •T o enable flexible working for students and colleagues we’re introducing new collaborative tools so you can connect to each other more quickly and easily, wherever you are, whenever you want This is just a taster of our plans this year; although some of it won’t be visible, it will be crucial in providing building blocks for the improved IT experience you need. Your support has played a big part in enabling our progress this far and we’re going to need that to continue for a little longer as we intensify our focus on delivering activity to support the University’s long term strategy for IT. See our updated New World Programme web pages: www.durham.ac.uk/cis/nwp

Procurement

WENSLEY ROOFING SUPPLIER RECOGNITION AWARD Wensley Roofing were successful in winning an award at our Supplier Recognition Event in the ‘Most Innovative Solution or Proposal’ category for this Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) initiative along with runner up in the ‘Outstanding Communication’ category.

They researched and developed the use of an UAV in relation to surveying roofs. This development will have an outstanding contribution to the University in relation to cost effectiveness, health and safety, and operational effectiveness. They are also looking to develop this further so that it has thermal software, which will be a benefit to the Energy Team.

VIATOR WORKSHOPS The Insurance Service will be running quarterly workshops on how to use the Viator system to obtain University travel cover.

These will be advertised on the Staff Training website under Procurement, so keep an eye out for these workshops to book a place.

SUPPLIER EXHIBITION The Procurement Service will be hosting a Supplier Exhibition focusing on the University’s Scientific suppliers.

If you are responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching as well as research, whether your interest is microscopes, laboratory consumables or spectrometers, this is a really good opportunity for you to meet and engage with our contracted suppliers to gain a better understanding of the contracts that you can use. Some of our more general suppliers will also be in attendance. The event will be held in Earth Sciences (S228-S229-S230 Teaching Rooms) on 26 March 2015. Further details will be posted in due course on our website: www.durham.ac.uk/procurement/local/staff

MITIE FM CONTRACT Mitie has been awarded a further three year contract, commencing January 2015, to deliver a full range of Facility Management services to Durham University. Services include security provision at both Durham and Queen’s Campus, cleaning, janitorial and grounds maintenance at Queen’s Campus and pest control and portable appliance testing at both sites.

Fully committed to transforming Facility Management services here, Mitie has added value through altering work routines, providing supportive management to the facilities teams and offering expert advice and recommendations on service delivery. Mitie were also successful in winning an award at our Supplier Recognition event in the Outstanding Corporate Social Environmental Responsibility category along with being runner up in the Above and Beyond the Call of Duty category.

PRINT AND DESIGN CONTRACT Working in partnership with colleagues in the Marketing and Communications Office and other key stakeholders across the University, the Procurement Service has put in place a new framework for design and print services.

The framework has been undertaken in line with EU Procurement Regulations and will be in place until September 2018. There are three areas covered; Design, Printed Stationery and Print and Fulfilment. Suppliers awarded to each lot and the ordering process are described in the Procurement Service Buyers Guide at www.durham.ac.uk/procurement/local/buyers_guide/ contract/?id=124 and the Communications Framework pages at www.durham.ac.uk/communications.office/marketing/framework No other suppliers should be used for the provision of design and print services. Should you believe that the work you are commissioning cannot be undertaken by any of the contracted suppliers then please contact Lyndsay Glasper in the first instance for discussion and guidance. The benefits of working with the contracted suppliers include improved choice, value for money, creativity, innovative ideas, time-saving, high quality, brand integrity and professionalism.

PROCUREMENT ACTIVITIES Further details of procurement activities can be found as detailed on our website at the page below: www.durham.ac.uk/procurement/local/staff

23

Greenspace...

ENVIRONMENT WEEK The University’s sixth Environment Week ran from the 17 - 23 November 2014. The week focused on raising environmental awareness and there was a great range of activities on offer.

Under the slogan of ‘Go Green for Environment Week’, groups of staff and students sported an imaginative range of green outfits (including a Christmas tree costume and a Kermit the frog onesie!).

YUM served delicious green Environment Week cupcakes, colleges hosted fantastic Green Formals, DUO displayed the Greenspace logo and green bunting celebrated the week in a number of catering outlets.

Staff and students enjoyed samples showcasing the produce of the University’s Catering’s suppliers, as well as having the opportunity to buy fresh local vegetables and eggs – this generated over £100 for St Cuthbert’s Hospice. Support was given to all those looking to green their mode of travel with bike sales and a Dr Bike Clinic, drop in sessions from local bus companies and even a driving simulator to teach efficient driving techniques. Colleges competed for the Love Food Hate Waste trophy by trying to reduce plate waste and students at Queen’s Campus enjoyed smoothies created by their own pedal power. With additional talks, walks, film screenings and volunteering opportunities, there was something for everyone.

Amid all the fun was the important theme that ‘every small step leads to big change’. Thanks go to the numerous university members who submitted their pledge as part of the ‘Every small step’ competition. These commitments, from ‘implementing

paperless systems’ to ‘using the bus at least once a week’, will collectively make a huge difference.

Thanks go to all involved in Environment Week – let’s keep up the good work and continue to take multiple steps to support environmental sustainability here at Durham University.

BUS TRAVEL

AWARDS SUCCESS

Don’t forget, the Arriva X1 changed its number to the X12 with effect from 5 January 2015, the timetable remains the same.

November saw the University triumph in a number of Environment Awards. We won Gold for ‘Sustainable Tourism’ at the North East Tourism Awards.

Free bus travel is available to staff and students on Arriva’s 56 and 57 services between Durham Bus Station and Coxhoe, via New Elvet and Mountjoy, using the same bus stops as the X1/X12, between the set points.

A revised U1 bus timetable, between Durham City and Ushaw College, commenced Monday 12 January 2015.

Students can also travel on the Arriva 6 service between Durham Bus Station and just beyond Howlands, at a reduced rate of £1 for an all-day ticket, seven days a week.

Full travel details available on the Greenspace website at www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/travel

The Business School refurbishment project won its category at the Durham County Environment Awards which also saw University Catering receive an award for its local food hub and its ‘Green Watch’ behavioural change campaign.

University Catering also received a Gold Award at the Green Apple Environment Awards in the national campaign to find Britain’s greenest companies, councils and communities. Congratulations to all involved.

www.thedurhamdiary.wordpress.com @Durham_Uni

February On Seeing the Author: Portraits in libraries from antiquity to the present until Sunday 26 April Palace Green Library

James Bisset Academic Liaison Librarian (Research Support) Have you got any pets?

I’m a dog person so it remains a mystery how I have ended up in a household with neurotic cats and over-sized guinea pigs.

What are you reading at the moment?

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn and Wraith

by Joe Hill.

What would you like you epitaph to be?

I’ll leave anything witty to someone else as by then I’m sure I’ll be far past caring Which historical figure would you most like to be?

I don’t think I’d like to be any. I’d be much happier being the person sitting close to big events without having to be involved or worry about how I’d be portrayed by future generations.

What was the first record you bought?

Blur’s Parklife.

What achievement are you most proud of?

I have a two year old son; the fact he has survived two years and seems reasonably well rounded despite having me as a father is quite an achievement.

What skill or talent would you most like to acquire?

Some artistic talent would be nice.

Give me a picture of your ideal day: A walk along the coast or in the countryside, followed by tea and cake in a café, with a good book, pretending to read whilst eavesdropping on other peoples conversations.

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

It really depends on the person. I probably care more than I should; an 8 perhaps.

What’s your favourite film?

Probably Heathers or Dark City. Anything dark is good in my books.

Any nicknames?

Jammy Biscuit in first school. Since then, probably more than I am aware of – ignorance, I’m sure, is bliss.

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

Without hesitation, being a member of parttime Christmas staff in a Topshop store.

When was the last time you laughed and why?

I hope I laugh most days otherwise life is a bit meaningless isn’t it?

What’s your favourite place in the world?

I went sea kayaking with seals off the coast of New Zealand’s South Island.

That was beautiful and very peaceful. I’d go back there any day.

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

An RAF pilot; I am terrified of flying, so I probably wouldn’t have done too well.

What luxury item would you take to a desert island?

A good bottle of port and a comfortable chair to watch the world go by.

Where will you be going for your next holiday?

We have a new arrival in May, so I suspect nowhere too exotic – anywhere which provides some opportunities for peace, fresh air and relaxation would be nice.

What’s your greatest indulgence?

Probably books and comics I have no space for and little time to read. That is probably an appropriate answer for a librarian.

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

Hannah Francis - Policy Support Officer (Equality and Diversity).

This exhibition explores the fascinating history of portraits in libraries, including Palace Green Library’s own Bishop Cosin’s Library (1669), coming face to face with classical poets and other notable writers.

The Marriage of Figaro Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February, 7:30pm Gala Durham Durham Opera Ensemble presents Mozart’s comic opera, The Marriage of Figaro. Filled with its glorious music, The Marriage of Figaro is widely regarded to be one of the greatest comic operas ever written.

Chinese New Year Celebrations Thursday 19 February – Thursday 5 March Oriental Museum Enjoy a range of family activities to celebrate Chinese New Year, the Year of the Sheep, culminating in the Chinese Lantern Festival with dragon dancing and the lantern parade around the museum on 5th March.

March Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell - ‘The Universe and Us’ Durham Castle Lecture Series 2014/15 Wednesday 4 March, 7:45pm Great Hall, Durham Castle Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, visiting Professor, Astrophysics, University of Oxford, will look at how our understanding of the universe has changed/ grown, our relationship to the universe and what the future might hold.

An Evening of Music Saturday 7 March Durham Cathedral The Choral Society, Chamber Choir and Symphony Orchestra present a work by former student Patrick Hawes in the stunning setting of Durham Cathedral.

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