Dialogue issue 41

Also in this issue: This summer’s special exhibition at Palace Green Library commemorates the 800th anniversary of one of the most important documents in British history – Magna Carta. / Page 04

Three minute thesis competition

50 years of Durham University Business School

Find out more about Durham’s first ever three minute thesis competition held this year.

Staff and students, past and present, begin celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Business School.

/ Page 12

/ Page 14

Dialogue 41 | June / July 2015

www.thedurhamdiary.wordpress.com @Durham_Uni

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Welcome to the final edition of Dialogue for this academic year, and another issue full of interesting and varied material.

Following the very successful Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition, Magna Carta is another event of great significance for the University. Marking the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, this special exhibition features the only surviving 1216 issue of the charter. You can find out more in the feature on pages 4 and 5 and I encourage you to visit this fascinating exhibition for yourself.

In the last issue we celebrated 50 years of Ustinov College and this time we focus on Durham University Business School who also celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. The Business School has greatly developed over the last half century to become a major presence, attracting staff and students from all around the world.

And finally, back in April a number of you attended the final of the Three-minute Thesis competition, the judging panel for which was chaired by our Chancellor, Sir Thomas Allen. The competition presents an interesting challenge to competitors in compressing an enormous body of work into a very short period of time. Our postdoctoral students did very well and we look forward to tracking the progress of our winners in the regional final later this year.

With all best wishes

03 Commissioning Photography

University Business School

Get Social

04 Magna Carta and the

changing face of revolt

06 Research Insights -

Highlighting County Durham’s wealth of Spanish Art

08 A new base for

Experience Durham

09 Spotlight on... The

Division of Pharmacy

10 English Rose Artwork exhibition

11 Marketing Assets Ray Hudson Acting Vice-Chancellor and Warden

14 50 Years Durham

12 Three Minute Thesis Competition

16 Durham Students Union 17 Library News

Student Barometer Survey

18 Museums and Attractions 19 Event Durham,

Retail & Catering

20 HR News 21 CIS News 22 Procurement 23 Greenspace 24 Under Investigation

What’s On

EDITORS: Rebecca Grundy, Corporate Communications Officer.

Zoë Thomas, Marketing Projects Co-ordinator.

CONTRIBUTIONS: Sharon Battersby, CIS; Tara Duncan, Greenspace; Louise Elliott, Event Durham; Media Relations Team, Communications Office; Rachel Smith, Library; Wendy Woollett, Procurement; Karen Barrie, HR; Shelley McCormack, Durham Students’ Union; John Prichard, Strategic Planning; Andrew Husband, Division of Pharmacy; Christine Bohlander, Centre for Academic and Researcher Development; Naomi Blayney, Strategic Planning Office; Penny Hawley, Durham University Business School.

DESIGN: wearewarm.com PRINT: statex.co.uk FRONT COVER: Magna Carta

Share your story...

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

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

Our favourite image this month was taken outside of The Bill Bryson Library.

The guide also provides advice on hiring a photographer and organising a shoot. Please direct any photographers you commission to this guide, a link to which can be found from the Profile Raising Toolkit: www.durham.ac.uk/communications. office/toolkit Once you have your photographs, don’t forget to upload them to the University’s image bank at www.durham.ac.uk/ims

• # PublicHealth stats crown @ChelseaFC champions too according to @CHIR_Durham Public Health League Table http://socsi.in/ZdBHa • M en who wear red appear more angry and aggressive than in other colours according to our research http://socsi.in/CkAYl • P rof Mark Allen @DurUniEarthSci research can be used to provide useful future earthquake predictions #Nepalearthquake http://socsi.in/D5vkA • W atch Dr Richard Massey talk to @AJEnglish about “interacting” dark matter http://socsi.in/dGBk0 #cosmology #astronomy • T echnology developed by @durham_uni spin-out Reinnervate on its way to International @Space_Station http://socsi.in/aj8zt

VIDEO OF THE MONTH On 23 April, three Durham physicists – Professors Tom McLeish, Charles Adams and Stewart Clark discussed the role of evidence for spiritual belief and the trust placed in scientific evidence. This lecture is part of the Faith, Science and Academia seminar series, jointly hosted by Ustinov College and St John’s College. To watch the video visit https://youtu.be/FpNUDmKz_mg

www.thedurhamdiary.wordpress.com

When choosing photography it is important to consider what you want to achieve, who your audience is and what message is to be conveyed. To help you with this, Marketing & Communications have put together a photography style guide for all commissioned photography for the University, offering rules and guidance to achieve a consistent tone and message through all shots.

TOP FIVE TWEETS DurhamUniversity

Photography plays a key role in both print and electronic communications. Images help engage an audience’s interest and are a relationshipbuilding tool with stakeholders. They need to help a piece of communication attract attention, interest and desire and should also ultimately help achieve a call to action.

@Durham_Uni

IMAGE OF THE MONTH

Palace Green Library, 1 June – 31 August 2015 This summer’s special exhibition at Palace Green Library commemorates the 800th anniversary of one of the most important documents in British history – Magna Carta.

Magna Carta was first sealed in 1215 by King John.

The concession it has come to represent – that all authority can be limited by law – was extracted from the king by a group of barons who chose political engagement over passive obedience. As such they were acting no longer as loyal subjects, but as rebellious citizens.

Magna Carta and the Changing Face of Revolt explores the charter as part of a long history of the

contested identity of the citizen, stretching from the Wars of the Roses to the Great Reform Act and from the Suffragettes to the Occupy Movement.

Who has the right to speak and act against authority?

Are there limits on what citizens can say and do?

Within this broad historical narrative, citizenship has never had a single, fixed meaning and the idea of what makes a citizen, and so what makes a rebel, remains contested even today.

DON’T MISS… The centrepiece of the exhibition is the only surviving 1216 issue of Magna Carta, on loan from the collections of Durham Cathedral. The unique charter will be shown alongside other objects from regional and national museums and libraries.

These include:

• The beautiful Bosworth Cross of Richard III, from the collections of the Society of Antiquities, London

• The draft Declaration of Rights, 1689 (precursor to the Bill of Rights) and the Great Reform Act of 1832 from the Parliamentary Archives

• The Lacock Cup – a rare example of a beautifully crafted medieval feasting cup, from the British Museum.

IMAGE (L-R): Magna Carta, 1216. Reproduced by kind permission of the Chapter of Durham Cathedral, 1.2.Reg.3.

• An impressive set of over 100 coins from the Breckenbrough Hoard, from York Museums Trust

Palace Green Library.

Bosworth Crucifix, 15th Century. Society of Antiquities, London.

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Book your tickets

Talks and lectures

Entry to the exhibition is by timed ticket and advance booking is recommended. Tickets are available:

Magna Carta: The View from Durham Thursday 2 July 2015, 6pm Professor Nicholas Vincent, University of East Anglia

Online: www.ticketmaster.co.uk/magna_carta_2015 Telephone: 0844 844 0444 In person at Palace Green Library

Admission Adults: £7.50 Children (over 5) and concessions: £6.50 Infants (under 5; up to 2 per full paying adult): Free Family (2 paying adults and 2 children): £25.00 Groups (of 9 or more): £6.50 per person

Durham Cathedral boasts one of the finest collections of Magna Carta manuscripts to survive, including the only remaining original of the 1216 issue. But why did Durham retain so rich a haul of manuscripts? What role did Durham or its bishops play in 1215, the subsequent civil war, or in the survival of Magna Carta as a guarantee of English legal custom?

Cost: £10, includes a visit to the exhibition and drinks reception Book your place: www.durham.ac.uk/conference.booking/ details/?id=453

Fun for families Come to our fun Magna Carta events for all the family!

At Palace Green Library, there will be lots of free make and take activities to entertain children. From crowns to coats of arms, and from writing with a quill to making flags, there’s something for children of all ages.

Every weekend - Saturdays and Sundays, 1-3pm Throughout the school summer holidays - Every day, 1-3pm Our family activities are free to attend and there is no need to book.

All children should be accompanied by an adult.

Rebellious Citizens: 800 Years of Citizen Politics Wednesday 8 July, 6pm Dr Christian Liddy, Durham University and academic curator of the exhibition Magna Carta was the product of revolt. At different points in British history the identity, rights and responsibilities of the citizen have provoked resistance to authority. They remain a point of contention today, debated and fought over all around the world. Rebellion was – and is – the consequence of a contested and ever-changing definition of citizenship.

Cost: £10, includes a visit to the exhibition and drinks reception

IMAGE (L-R): Magna Carta family activity.

Draft Declaration of Rights, 12 February 1689, Parliamentary Archives, London – HL/PO/JP/IO/1/403D Hand-made pin cushion listing those executed after the 1745 rising. The Trustees of Ushaw College, Durham Dr Christian Liddy, Senior Lecturer, Department of History.

Book your place: www.durham.ac.uk/conference.booking/ details/?id=454

Find out more... www.durham.ac.uk/palace.green/magnacarta

Dialogue 41 | June / July 2015

It is not widely known, but County Durham boasts a remarkably rich and diverse collection of Golden Age Spanish art.

In fact, between the University, Auckland Castle, Bowes Museum, Durham Cathedral, Ushaw College and Raby Castle the region has the largest concentration of Spanish art on permanent display anywhere in the United Kingdom outside London.

Over the centuries, influential North East figures, such as Richard Trevor, who was Bishop of Durham between 1752 and 1771, and John and Joséphine Bowes, who created The Bowes Museum, were fascinated by Spanish art.

It was Bishop Trevor who brought Francisco de Zurbarán’s larger than life paintings of Jacob and his Twelve Sons – among the most significant treasures of European religious art - to his home at Auckland Castle in 1756.

Unknown artist, Pietà, 17th Century, painted wood, gilding and glass. ©Trustees of Ushaw College/Durham University.

They still hang in the gallery especially created for them at the Castle in Bishop Auckland.

The Bowes Museum boasts around a hundred works by Spanish artists and to this day remains the best single venue in Britain to explore Spanish art after London’s National Gallery.

The University’s Centre for Visual Arts and Culture (CVAC) is part of a developing partnership with Auckland Castle and The Bowes Museum which is bringing the wealth of the region’s Spanish art collections to wider public attention.

The partnership is collaborating to assess the range and significance of the collections, and to promote a better understanding of the region’s remarkable artistic and cultural heritage.

Professor Andy Beresford (Modern Languages and Cultures/CVAC) is a leading authority on early Spanish art, and is working with colleagues in CVAC to develop greater public understanding and appreciation of this heritage.

Professor Beresford said: “From early religious paintings such as the work of the Palanquinos Master, through to household names such as Zurbarán and Goya, County Durham can boast of an almost unparalleled series of resources.

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IMAGES (L-R): Francisco Jose de Goya (1746-1828), Prison Scene, Spanish, 1793-94.

Oil on tin. ©The Bowes Museum.

Francisco de Zurbarán (1598-1664), Jacob, c.1640-45. Oil on canvas. ©Auckland Castle Trust.

Domenikos Theotokopoulis, called el Greco (1541-1614), The Tears of St Peter, Spanish, signed, 1580s. Oil on canvas. ©The Bowes Museum.

“This important developing partnership has provided members of CVAC with an exciting and novel opportunity for interdisciplinary engagement and the development of a range of collaborative research synergies.

“It will also raise the profile of Spanish art in County Durham and of the cultural richness of the North East more broadly.”

To publicise County Durham’s wealth of Spanish art, a three-day symposium in October, jointly organised by Auckland Castle, The Bowes Museum and the University, brought together internationally-renowned academics and museum professionals, who presented a wide range of papers placing the collections within their artistic, cultural and historical context.

The symposium coincided with two exhibitions. In Auckland Castle, the exhibition on Hidden Treasures, showcased Spanish objects and artwork from across the region. The Bowes Museum hosted a complementary exhibition on Seventeenth Century Spanish Painting: The Golden Age. This was followed by the publication of an opulent book, Spanish Art in County Durham, which examines the richness and diversity of the art.

Professor Beresford worked with Clare Baron, assistant curator at Auckland Castle, to edit and contribute to the book’s content, which included contributions by colleagues working in a number of departments across the University.

Fully illustrated, the book focuses on a range of artists from the fifteenth-century Torralba Master through to household names such as El Greco, Zurbarán and Goya, and includes contributions from leading academics, together with eyecatching images from the various collections. The book is available from the Palace Green Library shop and Durham University’s online shop: http://shop.dur.ac.uk/index.php.

13 Durham researchers received training and advice on writing ‘opinion articles’ from editors of The Conversation, which publishes news and views sourced from academic and research communities.

The Conversation’s Culture and Arts Editor, Josephine Lethbridge, and Scotland Editor, Steven Vass, visited Durham to work with academic staff who were invited to attend the training sessions by the University’s Communications team.

Articles on topics ranging from infertility in Bangladesh to Charles Darwin’s contribution to geology were produced, under the expert guidance of the two editors, at a workshop and oneto-one tuition sessions on 23 and 24 April.

Josephine and Steven were continuing to work with those researchers interested in developing their ideas and skills, with a view to publishing their work in The Conversation. “We had a very productive two days and helped people develop some very interesting ideas,” said Steven.

The Conversation was launched in the UK in 2013 and has become increasingly influential, allowing media throughout the world to republish its content under a creative commons licence.

Staff interested in writing an opinion article based on their research should contact the Communications team. A document, ‘Writing an Opinion Piece’, located under the heading ‘Raise your Media Profile’, can be downloaded from the University’s Profile Raising Toolkit (link below).

THE CONVERSATION: theconversation.com/uk Example of a Durham article in The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/why-the-ve-day-narrative-ingermany-is-becoming-even-more-complicated-41113 Profile Raising Toolkit: www.durham.ac.uk/ communications.office/local/toolkit Contact the Communications Team: media.relations@durham.ac.uk

Dialogue 41 | June / July 2015

So…who are we? Experience Durham is made up of four parts: Team Durham – Sport; Music Durham – Music; Durham Student Theatre; and Student Community Action - Community outreach and volunteering.

We are really glad to have moved into our new offices in the Palatine Centre, bringing together the four units which make up Experience Durham for the first time. The office is buzzing with student activity with people dropping in for meetings, trainings sessions and others just to say ‘Hi’, or make use of the various hot desks available. It is great to learn from each other across the teams and, of course, to feel like we are part of something bigger which really affects student experience here.

There have been lots of things going on for us in this busy term…

For Music and Theatre we worked furiously towards our Festival of the Arts – a two week extravaganza of plays and concerts being performed around Durham City which took place from 30 May to 15

June. With over 600 members, Durham Student Theatre (DST) is brimming with creative likeminded individuals who come together to perform a diverse range of shows, some of which were of course featured in the Festival of the Arts. The festival was kicked off with a bang in the Cathedral on Saturday 30 May with ‘A night at the Movies’, a concert which saw over 200 student singers and musicians performing a programme of glorious film music. The programme included music from favourite films such as, ‘Frozen, ‘The Lion King’, ‘The Great Escape’, ‘Harry Potter’ and many, many others.

the 4,000 point team sport league barrier (only the second university in the history of British university sport to do so) our athletes are most definitely enjoying the journey, with Cricket and some individuals still to play for.

For Sport, Team Durham has been focusing on completing what has been an amazingly successful year for the University. Having been named the Times and Sunday Times Sports University of the Year 2015, and having already broken

It is clear that Experience Durham plays an important role within the University and to our students, so being more central and accessible is a great asset to us.

Student Volunteering is such a strength within the University, with over 1,000 of our students involved in over 40 community projects. The sheer number of students dropping into the Palatine Centre office is testament to just how active the volunteering team are – even during this recent season of revision and exams!

Please do pop in – we’re a friendly bunch!

IMAGE (L-R): Luke Russell, Diane Thomas, Rebecca Byrne, Jasmine Oakes, Beth Barratt, Rebecca Dwyer, Emma Grisdale, Jess Lawrence.

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Spotlight on...

Describe the Division of Pharmacy in one sentence We offer a high-quality innovative Master of Pharmacy programme within and alongside an active, dynamic and international research environment.

What are the three main things people should know about the Division of Pharmacy?

We are based at Queen’s Campus, have a growing staff team currently of 34 and a thriving postgraduate research (PGR) community of 10 students.

What three words best describe the Division of Pharmacy?

Growing, dynamic, ambitious.

How can staff and/or students engage with the Division of Pharmacy and its work?

Find out more about our research interests on our website www.durham.ac.uk/school.health/research or join us for our Patient Involvement Group and help act as ‘volunteer’ patients, supporting our students, developing communication skills or giving opinions on the knowledge and skills you expect pharmacists to have. Email us at patient.involvement@ durham.ac.uk

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

To be recognised as an internationally leading provider of pharmacy education and research.

What would you say is the Divisions main challenge?

Spreading the word!

What does the future look like for the Division of Pharmacy?

We are growing rapidly and expect to be a community of over 500 undergraduate students, 40 postgraduate taught students, 60 postgraduate research students, 31 academics with full technical and administrative support teams by 2020 and with a research grant income close to £3million per year.

“Did you know…?”

The Division includes, within its academic team, Dr Stuart Cockerill who is the creator of Lapatinib, one of the most widely used breast cancer drugs. Read more about Stuart here www.durham.ac.uk/ school.health/staffmembers/staffprofile/?username=mrmz68

Do you use social media?

Yes, you can follow us on our official Twitter account @Durham_Pharmacy

Dialogue 41 | June / July 2015

Naomi Blayney is a member of staff in the Strategic Planning Office and an alumna.

Here she tells us about her first ever solo art exhibition which was held in St Cuthbert’s Society throughout May. Cuth’s holds a special place in my heart as it was my college as an undergraduate, quite a few years ago now. They invited me to hold an exhibition and I just couldn’t refuse.

My work has been varied over the years but I gradually narrowed my style to just pen and inks of landscapes and architecture. Living in Durham I couldn’t resist the charm of the cathedral, the river and the beautiful bridges and so these feature in many of the drawings for this exhibition. I also focused on a few details of the cathedral such as the Sanctuary Knocker and the Cloisters. Many hours of work, mainly during my little girl’s nap times, resulted in quite a number of new pieces. There’s nothing like a deadline to give you motivation! After three hours of carefully hanging the pictures, the display was ready.

Having exhibited many times in group exhibitions, a first solo exhibition is a daunting prospect for an artist; to fill a wall with new work and show it to the world, to put yourself out there and invite the inevitable mixture of praise and criticism, to allow your work, and, inevitably, you to be judged by others.

I held my breath as I waited for guests to arrive at the preview evening on 1 May. Time was ticking by, would they all show up? What would they think? I needn’t have worried.

The evening was filled with happy people with such lovely things today. I began to relax when the first few red dots were placed on picture labels. Guests including the Lord Lieutenant of Durham mingled and discussed my work in ways I would never have imagined. Why they preferred the coloured pictures over the black and white or vice versa.

Why some liked pictures with people in them as opposed to those without. Why the mood of the picture spoke to them.

These are all thoughts an artist rarely gets to hear when selling in galleries or online.

The rest of the exhibition went very well and prompted a number of commissions, the icing on the cake. I’d like to thank Professor Elizabeth Archibald and Sharon Richardson at St Cuthbert’s for making it all possible. Hopefully I will be back again in the very near future with an exhibition of new work. In the meantime, if you’d like to see my work, please visit my website www.englishroseartwork.co.uk

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Marketing Assets is an online platform managed by Marketing and Communications to provide access to branded templates of popular marketing materials for nominated users in departments, colleges and professional support services.

The use of asset management systems is widespread across medium to large commercial organisations and they have an increasing presence within the higher education environment as an effective and economical way of managing the production of routine marketing materials, whilst retaining a level of consistency and professionalism befitting of the organisation.

Marketing Assets will: • I mprove the quality of marketing materials we produce across the organisation •R educe design costs across the organisation •A llow the consistent implementation of the Durham University brand

•R educe staff time when producing marketing materials • Improve print-buying efficiency • Link with the University’s Course Database and event listings to allow information to be pulled directly into the templates • Link with our existing Image Management System giving access in-system to highquality photography.

The pre-designed Durham University branded templates allow for local variation and cover marketing and communications collateral such as leaflets, posters and brochures, amongst many others and the user can choose to create items for both print and online-only use. In order to make the process as easy as possible for users, we have 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 which can all be ordered through the system. Print costs for all of the items fall beneath the University’s Corporate Barclaycard single-purchase limit so purchase orders need not be generated in most instances and our print suppliers are able to accept credit card payments.

In the competitive HE environment lowquality 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 print-ondemand functionality and integration with customer relationship management (CRM) systems to generate timely and costeffective printed communications with the aim of improving conversion.

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

Find out more... www.durham.ac.uk/communications. office/local/toolkit

Durham held its first ever three minute thesis competition this year with the final taking place on 22 April. Three Minute Thesis (3MT® ) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland. The exercise challenges research higher degree students (PhD and MPhil) to present a compelling oration on their thesis topic and its significance in just three minutes.

Eighteen Durham postgraduate students were brave enough to take up the challenge and present their research at the faculty heats taking place in February. Three students from each faculty then entered the final competition which was held on 22 April in the Hogan Lovells Lecture Theatre. Friends and supervisors supported the contestants and also about 30 members of the public, the majority of them from schools involved in Durham’s Supported Progression scheme.

The presentations delivered by the nine contestants involved a variety of topics from research into dental traits at archaeological sites in Spain, to the hunt for oil in sand bodies and sexual health care provision for Afghan women, to name just a few. The following list includes all the participants, their departments and the titles of their presentations:

•T om Rodger, (History): Bishops as Legislators: the Lords Spiritual in the twentieth century

SOCIAL SCIENCES & HEALTH •L ena Staudigl, (Business School): Improving the accuracy of employees’ ratings of their supervisors • I ngrid Grueso, (Departments of Anthropology & Archaeology): Peoples of the past, dental traits, and new technologies •D r Manizha Hadi, (Medicine, Pharmacy & Health): Afghan Women’s Life-cycle and Men’s Sexual Knowledge

SCIENCE

ARTS & HUMANITIES

•A listair Bounds, (Physics): What time is it: Using ultracold atoms to measure time

• Katherine Krick, (History): Religious Books and the English Reformation

• Thomai Tsiftsi, (Maths): Statistics and the hunt for oil

• Rachel Dunn, (Philosophy): The Life and Pedagogy of John Dalton

• J ared Parnell, (Physics): Why does the pupil of the eye differ in animals?

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All contestants succeeded in demonstrating how fascinating their research is and how it has an impact on society as a whole. They were engaging speakers and took the audience with them on their research journey in a clear and captivating way.

The competition was judged by a panel which consisted of the Chancellor, Sir Thomas Allen, as Chair, Professor Claire Warwick (PVC Research) and Mrs Claire Whitelaw (Deputy Director of Communications).

After the judging panel had come to a decision, Sir Thomas Allen presented the prizes to the faculty heat winners Katherine Krick from Arts & Humanities, Lena Staudigl from Social Sciences & Health and Alistair Bounds from Science, before congratulating the winners of the final.

The overall winner of the final is Rachel Dunn from the Department of Philosophy. Rachel is in her final year of a part-time PhD. Her thesis title is ‘The Life and Pedagogy of John Dalton: Education within the British Dissenting Tradition 1770-1840’. Her research interests lie mainly in the history

“I enjoyed the Three Minute Thesis competition and am very proud to have won the inaugural Durham event. I thought it gave me (and the other candidates) a chance to reflect on our research and think about the key facts we had learned...”

of science, visual culture, teaching in British dissenting academies and the industrial heritage of the North East.

Rachel is a Public Engagement Ambassador for the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement and has spent the majority of her working life as a teacher in local schools and colleges teaching Maths, English, Science and History - the same core subjects as John Dalton, separated by 200 years!

Outside of academic life Rachel is a Brownie Leader and School Governor and enjoys snooker and cooking. She is a proud Northerner and interested in local history.

Rachel said: “I enjoyed the Three Minute Thesis competition and am very proud to have won the inaugural Durham event.

I thought it gave me (and the other candidates) a chance to reflect on our research and think about the key facts we had learned. It also made me think about how to make it interesting to other people, as I know research isn’t always enticing to those immediately beyond the project; I hope I managed to do that!”

Tom Rodger, a second-year PhD student from the Department of History, was the runner-up and, at the same time, the people’s choice winner. He managed to win over the audience by his compelling talk about the Anglican Bishops’ role in the House of Lords.

Rachel, Tom and Katherine Krick, also from the Department of History, represented Durham at the regional competition held on 11 June. The three Durham presenters competed against students from Newcastle, Northumbria and Teesside Universities and the University of Sunderland and were judged by local business, media and university representatives.

At the time of publication, the results of the regional final were unknown but Rachel will also be taking part in the national semi-final and, if successful, in the final being held during the VITAE conference in Manchester on 8 September.

Congratulations to all presenters and good luck to Rachel for the next round!

Professor John Machin, one of the founding members of Durham University Business School (DUBS), was joined by students past and present on Saturday 11 April at the Mill Hill Lane to begin celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the School. He brought along one of the original brochures for the very first course in modern management techniques which ran in Easter 1965.

Alumni travelled from across the globe, including Nigeria, Barbados, Malaysia, Ghana and Canada, to meet up with their classmates. They were impressed by the new facilities provided by the 2013 refurbishment of the School. It was clear that the school had expanded significantly since many of the graduates studied here. Alumni from the 1980s had lectures in the then library. Some alumni even pre-dated the original 1970s Mill Hill Lane building, recalling a much less formal approach to their studies.

and Dr Rob McMurray warned of Toxic Management. Dr Rebecca Stratling’s thoughts on Corporate Governance were particularly valued by an alumnus who now chairs a major pension fund.

Feedback from the alumni made clear how much they had appreciated the opportunity to step back from their immediate concerns and engage with the broader issues as, mirroring the time they studied here. Lorraine Ellison who gained her MBA from DUBS in 2011 reflected on the morning as, “Thought provoking sessions and an excellent chance to get to know other alumni.”

In his address, the current Dean, Professor Rob Dixon, paid tribute to the School’s four founders, Alan Odber, Charles Baker, John Constable and John Machin, who had the vision that created the institution that continues to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges. He thanked alumni for the continuing support they provide through mentoring, introductions and funding and stressed that they play a crucial role in the ongoing development of the School.

Tony Brook (MBA, 1970) saw the seat in lecture theatre 403 that he had funded through the Take Your Seat campaign. He said, “Durham has contributed a lot to me. It helped me to be able to focus on the things I really wanted and to be clear about what my objectives were and to work in the best way to achieve it.”

The weekend provided an opportunity for graduates to hear some of the School’s current research through attending a series of masterclasses. Professor Kiran Fernandes gave an insight into Big Data: Your Organisation’s Strategic Weapon, while Professor Geoff Moore updated them on developments in Business Ethics

It was clear that other graduates were also reminiscing about the significance of their time at the School. Killick Datta (MSc Management Studies, 1982) launched Nike in Europe as a result of a conversation with Brendan Foster in the School’s Library.

He is now CEO of International Brand partners and came from Singapore for the weekend. He said, “I had lost touch with most of my classmates, moved continents, but it is just a wonderful feeling to come back. I wouldn’t have been in this industry if it

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wasn’t for Durham. I wouldn’t have done my thesis with Nike. I wouldn’t have been exposed to the fashion and sporting wear business. I never would have been doing what I am doing. I credit Durham for giving me that opportunity” During the weekend, the strength of friendships that had been forged at Durham was seen. “It was a real pleasure to meet old classmates” said Stephen Wilkins (MBA, 1996) A formal dinner in Durham Castle provided the perfect end to the weekend’s events. Rob Dixon presented the first Dean’s Award to Sir George Russell, an alumnus who has had a wealth of professional success and has also supported the development of the school.

Robin Smith, the first MBA programme director summed up, “What an amazing weekend! Between us, John Machin and I knew everyone from the intakes 1969 – 1990, though we had not seen many since their graduation. It was fascinating to catch up and find out how the time the spent at the Business School has shaped both their personal and professional lives. It is clear that being at DUBS was the seminal event in their development. We look forward to the 100th anniversary!“ Before then, celebrations are also planned for the Business School staff with an anniversary barbeque on the afternoon of 8 July, followed by an Open Day on 12 September, providing an opportunity for DUBS staff and their families to visit the School and share in the celebrations.

Find out more...

To find out more visit: www.durham.ac.uk/business/50

Dialogue 41 | June / July 2015

Find out more about what your Union has to offer at www.durhamsu.com /durhamSU

@durhamSU

OUR OFFICER TEAM It’s with great sadness we say goodbye to this years’ fab five! They have worked tirelessly to enhance the lives of Durham students and to make your student experience even better. We wish them the best of luck as they start an exciting new chapter.

As the 2014/15 academic year comes to a close, now is a good time to reflect back over the last three terms on all of the fantastic activities, events and things our students have been involved with and pull out some of our key highlights…

WE FIXED INTERNATIONAL FEES! Following campaigning by the Students’ Union, we have now worked together with the University so that international tuition fees will be fixed. This means that students who sign-up to complete a course at Durham University will no longer face unexpected increases in their fees whilst studying.

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

GENERATION VOTE

A highlight for so many students, reaching far beyond the four that competed in the competition! So many of us tuned in with bated breath to see how they would fare. They did us proud, making it right the way to the semi-finals - a massive congratulations to the team!

We found out what you want from your politicians and helped you registered to vote through our voter registration events. We also teamed up with the Politics and International Relations society to present parliamentary candidate debates, so you had the chance to hear from the local candidates in both Durham City and Stockton South.

GIVE IT A GO

STUDENT GROUPS

Our Give it a Go programme gives all students the chance to try different activities and student groups without the need to sign-up. This year the programme was bigger and better! We had activities taking place every week and even teamed up with the colleges, who hosted many activities.

Our student groups have continued to shine this year. From DUCK’s amazing fundraising efforts, to student media providing news and entertainment, through to the diverse range of groups available for students to join. Varying from political and cause societies, through to hobbies and games. One of our real standout events was Big Band’s Jazzy Christmas. They hosted their festive event in the Union’s own Riverside Bar and pulled in a great crowd!

RAISE YOUR VOICE We’ve been making sure we help you to raise your voice. Our Officers have been out and about across both campuses to ask you three key questions each fortnight about the Union, the University and the community, to make sure we know what you want your Union to be prioritising and working on.

So as 2014/15 comes to a close, we feel excited and look forward to what 2015/16 will bring. If you’d like to know more about the Students’ Union, visit our website www.durhamsu.com

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Library news

Library resources that grow as your module develops If you’re leading a module in 2015/16, send your reading list to the Library before 1 July 2015 and we’ll guarantee that the resources your students need are in place for the new academic year.

The Library aims to provide students with access to all taught course reading material. To achieve this we rely on academic staff supplying the relevant information to the Library each year.

PRIZE WINNERS

If your module is new, send your reading list to library. resources@durham.ac.uk, indicating clearly the ‘essential’ titles likely to be in high demand.

If you receive an existing bibliography from us, you only need to describe any changes or additions required. If no changes are required, please confirm this to us.

The Library will: • Buy new publications your students need to refer to •P urchase additional copies of essential texts as your module develops •M ake digital versions of key chapters and articles available via DUO (subject to copyright restrictions) Failing to provide reading lists by the deadline potentially impacts negatively on the student experience and subsequent feedback. Student satisfaction is a top priority for us all and submitting reading list information on time ensures students will be able to find and access materials easily.

Over 6,000 students completed the Student Barometer Survey, providing essential feedback on the non-academic elements of their experience at the University.

The University ran an incentive prize draw to encourage students to participate and Tom Ward, PVC for Education presented the prizes to the lucky winners. Claire Kennedy, Theology, St Mary’s College was drawn at random as the winner of an iPad. Lolita Gendler won the prize of a weekend for two to Edinburgh and Thomas Tam, Lee Simpson, Elizabeth McAdam, Fanchea Daly and Sagar Patel all won Durham University Hoodies.

Find out more...

Visit: www.durham.ac.uk/ library/course_resources

There was also an inter-collegiate competition with prizes to the colleges with the highest participation rate. Jordan Smith accepted a cheque for £500 on behalf of winning College St Chad’s and Amy Simpkins was presented with the runners up prize of £200 for St Mary’s College.

Museums and Attractions This summer at the Oriental Museum Nissan: 30 years on (12 June -18 October) reflects on the impact of three decades of Nissan in the lives of the people of the North East.

A collaboration between photographer James Sebright and writer and audio artist Rachel Cochrane, the exhibition uses photography, written word, audio and film to capture portraits of the people behind the machinery.

Pilgrimage: pathways to enlightenment (22 May - 24 September) explores the journeys to sacred places made each year by millions of people worldwide.

Focusing on the examples of the Islamic Hajj, the Buddhist pilgrimage to Lumbini and the Hindu Kumbh Mela, the exhibition mixes historic and contemporary objects from the Oriental Museum collection together with historic photography from Palace Green Library to examine why pilgrimage remains such an important part of faith for so many people. It is created by our students studying for the MA in Museum and Artefact Studies.

WORLD HERITAGE SITE VISITOR CENTRE

Practical demonstrations by our visiting stonemason, Neil Molloy of Swallow Heritage

There are a number of events taking place at the World Heritage Site Visitor Centre during the summer.

20-23 July

A monthly programme of exhibitions in the Conservatory Gallery:

In the Visitor Centre courtyard: 13-15 and 29-30 August 13-14 September

JUNE The Embroiderers’ Guild An exhibition of members’ traditional and contemporary work

JULY John Scott Martin - Deep Down Recent paintings of copper and tin mining in Cornwall

Monthly demonstrations in the Conservatory The Embroiderers’ Guild: 20 June, 25 July, 1 August Durham Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers: Family Activity Day 12 July from 10-4pm. Open to all ages. Come and try spinning and or weaving, with members of the Guild.

AUGUST Julie Parkinson An exhibition of hand printed mono prints inspired by the local landscape from the Durham based painter/printmaker

SEPTEMBER Bob Watson A return visit by a popular local artist

Find out more...

For more information on these and other events visit: www.durhamworldheritagesite.com or call us on 0191 334 3805.

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Event Durham, Retail and Catering

Catering Stay cool this summer with one of our three new delicious hand crafted iced drinks, available across the Lower Mountjoy Cafés*.

As you take a stroll through the Botanic Garden or a leisurely walk around Palace Green, pop into one of our cafés for a refreshing iced drink.

For those wanting an intense flavour we have a Salted Caramel Frappe: espresso, salted caramel and milk blended over ice, topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle. Decadence re-invented!

If fruit is more your choice of flavour then head straight for a Peach and Berry Blitz, the natural sweetness of peach is sharpened by summer berries blended with ice for the ultimate refreshing drink.

Finally our Iced Salted Caramel Drink is intense espresso coffee, with that delicious combination of caramel sweetness with a hint of salt to give that edge, over ice. Delicious in the sun!

*Please check your local café for availability

Event Durham EVENT DURHAM WINS ‘SILVER’ AT THE VISIT ENGLAND AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2015 Following Event Durham’s success at the North East England Tourism Awards, the team was shortlisted, in the Top 5 in the country, as a national finalist. The awards were announced at the Sage Gateshead on 11 May and, after a nail biting moment when they announced the winners in reverse order, Event Durham received the Silver Award in the Business Tourism category.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Event Durham team and they were also joined by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ray Hudson; Dean and Deputy to PVC (Research), Professor Colin Bain; Principal of Collingwood College, Professor Joe Elliott; and Head of Maths, Professor Anne Taormina.

After the event, Helen Strangward said, “I am incredibly proud of Event Durham. Winning the Silver Award in a national campaign is a fitting testament to the dedication and commitment demonstrated by each and every member of the team. However, the competition had better watch out, we have our sights set on Gold next year!”

Retail The Retail Office has been working hard to make sure our Palace Green Library gift shop is ready for the Magna Carta and Changing Face of Revolt Exhibition which is now open at Palace Green Library. We have a large range of exhibition-themed books, toys, gifts, stationery and memorabilia currently available as well as local interest souvenirs and library-themed gifts. Well worth a visit!

Summer Congregation is also upon us so congratulations to all of our finalists who have completed their degrees. Celebrations will be happening on Palace Green outside the Cathedral so pop along to soak up some of the excitement.

It’s wonderful to see all of our proud graduands celebrating the end of their time at Durham University with family and friends.

Like us on Facebook: Durham University Retail Office Follow us on Twitter: @DurhamUniRetail Follow us on Instagram: @DurhamUniRetail to get all of the latest deals and merchandise!

HR news...

People+ Look out for….online recruitment and expenses The People+ project team is testing two new modules which will be accessed via People+ Portal.

Online expenses will allow you to submit expense claims via People+ Portal. They will be automatically forwarded to your manager for approval. Payment of expenses will be at month end as they are now but as a separate transaction into your nominated bank account.

E-recruitment will replace our iGrasp system and will be fully integrated into the People+ system. For recruiting managers and approvers, this means that the process of recruitment will move from iGrasp to People+ Portal. Both of the new modules are due to be launched in early July.

If you are a Head of Department or responsible for managing staff, special events about the launch of the People+ E-recruitment and expenses modules are being held on 6 and 7 July to ensure that you understand how these changes affect you and your staff.

COME ALONG AND FIND OUT MORE! Monday 6 July 1.30 - 3.30pm at the Calman Learning Centre Tuesday 7 July 10am – 12 noon at the Calman Learning Centre

People+ Portal All staff now have access to People+ Portal. The portal will be used to implement additional online functionality to both managers and staff including, from July: • Staff will be able to claim expenses • Managers will be able to recruit staff • Staff can apply for internal jobs • Managers will be able to view information about their team

LOG ON! Logging into your People+ Portal is easy. Simply enter the following URL into your web browser: https://staffportal.durham.ac.uk, visit www.durham.ac.uk/hr/peopleplus or follow the link from the Staff Gateway. Use your CIS username and password to log into the portal.

Our new Nursery Manager

When you access the new People+ Portal, you can view your personal details and make changes to the information that we hold for you.

Welcome to our new Nursery Manager, Jane Dinsdale.

NO ACCESS TO A PC? Open access computers are available across the University. If you do not use one for your day to day work, computers are available in your areas for you to use. Speak to your supervisor.

CHANGES TO YOUR PAYSLIP All staff can access their payslips through People+ Portal. Paper payslips will not be issued after September 2015.

ANY QUESTIONS? If you have any questions or would like to find out more, please visit www.durham. ac.uk/hr/contacts

Jane joins the Nursery team following more than 10 years as Nursery Manager at Wheatley Hill Community Nursery. She brings with her a wealth of experience and ideas which will benefit children in the nursery from ages six months to five years. To make an appointment to visit the Nursery, please call ext 48153 or visit www.durham.ac.uk/ university.nursery

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CIS news...

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

CIS - collaborative working that delivers results The opportunity The Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology (IPPP) is a leading international centre for research in particle physics phenomenology, and is a joint venture of Durham University and the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

The high performance computing facilities of the IPPP are connected to a world-wide network of similar facilities at over 300 institutions (the IPPP Grid) giving members access to additional resources when their own cluster of computers is busy. The value of this service depends on how quickly the

IPPP clusters can communicate with one another however the data transfer speeds into and out of the clusters were affecting the IPPP’s connections to the other sites.

Data transfer was being constrained by Durham University’s firewall, a tool crucial for the protection of the University’s IT security. The challenge was to find a solution that would improve the cluster’s performance without compromising the security of the University’s IT network.

Combining expertise for a successful solution Building on network improvements implemented through the New World Programme, CIS were able to present initial designs as a catalyst for collaborative discussions with colleagues in IPPP. Combining CIS’ technical skill with the subject-specific expertise of IPPP colleagues, a spirit of cooperation enabled the creation of a design which met the requirements of all concerned, and as a result a solution was successfully implemented on 26 March.

The resulting improvement in performance was immediate and researchers within the IPPP community were quick to use the new capability, improving the University’s status and reputation within this research space.

In the first evening, Durham University’s IPPP cluster moved up the grid’s ranking table from the bottom three to within

the top five for the UK, and this level of performance has continued ever since.

Following these impressive results, a similar solution was implemented for the national DiRAC-2 Data Centric facility (www.dirac.ac.uk), managed by the University’s Institute for Computational Cosmology (ICC). This development and the planned further upgrade to the connection through JaNET (the academic network provider) later this year, puts the ICC and Durham in a position to bid to host a large part of the proposed DiRAC-3 national facility.

This also speeds up the backup of about two petabytes (2 thousand million, million bytes) of valuable research data to Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, one of the largest scientific research laboratories in the UK, making our data transfer rates exemplary.

A model for the future These examples show CIS working in partnership with colleagues to deliver technology that overcomes problems and supports the wider ambitions of the University.

The willingness of colleagues in IPPP and ICC to engage and work with CIS enabled a secure and sustainable solution that delivered the enhanced performance required. As we continue to invest in the University’s infrastructure, CIS will be seeking further opportunities to include colleagues in collaborative decision making to ensure the continued development of IT services that meet the needs of the individuals and the long term goals of the University.

Procurement

STAFFING CHANGES Recent staff changes have included: The promotion of Neil Petch to the position of Senior Category Manager (IT), Catherine Harrison to the position of Trainee Category Manager and Steven Carter has moved to the position of Category Officer.

SSS2 A new Strategic Sourcing Strategy has been created that focuses on the six critical elements of the procurement life cycle as shown at https://www.dur.ac.uk/procurement/local/staff/

SUPPLIER CODE OF CONDUCT We are currently implementing supplier codes of conduct for all contracted work, to ensure that our contracted suppliers act responsibly throughout the supply chain. The introduction of the Modern Day Slavery Bill is also being considered.

For further information on these contracts, and all others, please visit www.durham.ac.uk/procurement/local/buyers_guide

NEW CATALOGUES Two new acquire catalogues have been introduced for new contracted suppliers: • Thomas Kneale and Co Ltd – suppliers of Bedding • Arden Winch and Co Ltd – suppliers of Work Wear, Personal Protective Clothing and Lab Coats Further details are on the Buyers Guide www.durham.ac.uk/ procurement/local/buyers_guide

SUPPLIER EXHIBITION The Procurement Service hosted another Supplier Exhibition event at Earth Sciences in March. This proved to be a great success, both with suppliers and end users benefiting from meeting each other, gaining an understanding of what our suppliers can offer us and suppliers understanding our needs. We hope to be able to run the event again in two years.

EU Regulations Update The new Public Contracts Regulations 2015 commenced on 26 February 2015, which incorporate the following changes: • All information relating to a tender must be issued at the time it is advertised. This includes all tender documentation, specifications, terms and conditions and contract documentation. As suppliers are able to view this information from the outset the opportunity to seek clarification and raise any objections is within the tender time frame and as a result will reduce post tender clarifications and negotiations.

• To reduce administration on suppliers (particularly SMEs) they are now able to ‘self declare’.

Supporting documentation required to evidence their answer is no longer provided within their tender submission although they are required to provide such evidence in order to verify their response prior to contract award. Should the supplier not be able to provide the supporting evidence their response will be deemed to be noncompliant and withdrawn from the process. It is recommended that end users consider the second placed supplier in this situation.

• Tenders advertised in the EU are also to be advertised on the Government’s Contracts Finder website making it easier for suppliers to search for contracts and also support SMEs in gaining better and more direct access to contract opportunities.

• Where we notify suppliers in advance of our requirements between £25,000 and the EU threshold, this is seen as an advertisement and must be advertised on Contracts Finder. This will open the market and potentially give the University access to suppliers that we may not be aware of.

Regular EU updates will be provided in future publications.

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Greenspace...

GREEN MOVE OUT This year’s Green Move Out Scheme started at the end of May, providing our students with the chance to donate any unwanted reusable items to local charities when moving out this summer.

Livers Out are also included in this scheme with over 40 streets covered, thanks to the support of County Durham Furniture Help Scheme and Durham County Council. Thousands of bags were collected last year providing invaluable support to local charities.

Thanks go to all those who make this scheme possible, especially to college operations and housekeeping teams who support the scheme so well and at such a busy time of the year.

MAMMALWEB Wild mammals can be elusive and hard to study.

Working with the Durham Wildlife Trust, ecologists at the School of Biological Sciences have set up MammalWeb (www.mammalweb.org/). A network of motion activated cameras will help capture images of the wildlife around Durham which volunteers can then help identify via the MammalWeb website.

If you’d like be a trailblazer and volunteer for this exciting new project, please email biodiv.monitoring@durham.ac.uk to express your interest.

Full information on the scheme is available at www.durham. ac.uk/greenspace/greenmoveout

ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL OPTIONS TO THE UNIVERSITY Durham University has its own car share scheme available to both staff and students. Shares can be offered as a driver and sought as a passenger for travel to and from the University and for travel between Durham City and Queen’s Campus.

A number of bus services travel to Durham City and Queen’s Campus, Stockton. Bus services are also in operation from Durham railway station to Mountjoy. To aid staff, the University has Corporate Discount Schemes in place for bus travel and schemes are currently being investigated for train travel.

The University also encourages cycling and has a large number of bike stands and secure shelters available across the estate and has set up a security bike marking scheme in collaboration with the Security Office and Durham Police.

Several Park and Ride sites exist across Durham City with access to the University and the bus station.

Further information for all of the above can be accessed via the Greenspace Green Travel website at www.durham.ac.uk/ greenspace/travel

WALK TO WORK WEEK 2015 The University took part in the National Walk to Work Week during May by organising lunchtime walks and events, including access to a ‘Walk Doctor’ from Living Streets. Interesting historical facts were learned about ‘the Wickerman’ at Burnhall Wood and the Botanic Garden. A member of staff commented “what a wonderful break away from my desk, taking in the sights and sounds of the fabulous Botanic Garden. I will definitely try to go out for a lunchtime walk more often”.

The University also signed up to the Living Streets challenge to encourage staff and students to log the number of steps they walked during the week, receiving virtual awards along the way.

Local prizes were awarded to a staff member and a student for the most steps walked during the week. In total, the number of walkers registered was 17 and collectively they burned off 93 muffins, lost 32559 calories and achieved a 313 mile reduction in carbon emissions.

TOP 50 ENVIRONMENTAL TIPS Take a look on the Greenspace website at the Top 50 Environmental Tips. Here you will find quick wins relating to Lighting, Heating and Cooling, Electrical Appliances, Waste, Water and Travel. See what ‘small step’ you can take. https://www.durham.ac.uk/resources/greenspace/ local/50TopEnvironmentalTips.pdf

www.thedurhamdiary.wordpress.com @Durham_Uni

June Nissan: 30 Years On Thursday 11 June – Sunday 18 October Oriental Museum

John Pritchard Director of Strategic (Planning) Have you got any pets?

Two cats, Minstrel and Smartie. They are a dominating presence in the house.

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

5.684.

What are you reading at the moment?

Landmarks by Robert Macfarlane. A fascinating insight into aggy-jaggers, haze-fire, hoarhusk, gruffy ground and zawn. It’s a book about how the power of language shapes our sense of place.

What’s your greatest vice?

Chatwins Eccles cakes.

What was the first record you bought?

Heroes by David Bowie. I borrowed this from Nantwich library when I was 12 or 13 and have been listening to it ever since.

What achievement are you most proud of?

It’s a while ago now, but I was very proud to receive my membership pack for the Dennis the Menace fan club. This year I’ve been pleased that SPO has been shortlisted as Strategic Planning Team of the Year in the THE Leadership and Management Awards.

When was the last time you laughed and why?

Having my picture taken for this interview: a useful reminder not to be too serious!

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

A spy. I was very excited by this idea but my mother explained that it wasn’t a good thing to be.

Where will you be going for your next holiday?

I’ll be walking the last stage of the Camino, the pilgrim trail to Santiago de Compostela.

What skill or talent would you most like to acquire?

To ride a unicycle up the hill in the snow as I witnessed one student doing last year.

Give me a picture of your ideal day: A summer’s day walking in the Howardian Hills with my wife Luana.

What’s your favourite film?

The Wicker Man. Many of the scenes were shot in Dumfries and Galloway, a beautiful part of the world that I’m particularly fond of. Christopher Lee gives one of his best performances as Lord Summerisle.

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

Photocopying Assistant. But all jobs are learning experiences, so it wasn’t entirely bad. It’s important to make the best of every situation that you find yourself in.

What’s your favourite place in the world?

I have an affinity for the sea. The Northumbrian coastline is wonderful and I loved staying on Lindisfarne last summer. My favourite place just now is Spurn Point, East Yorkshire, with its deserted beaches, unusual wildlife and sense of stillness.

What luxury item would you take to a desert island?

An occasional glass of Durham Gin served with Fentiman’s Tonic Water, mint and cucumber. It might not be entirely practical, but ideally this would be mixed by Mike Daly, St Mary’s SCR Barman extraordinaire.

Brian Eno’s Another Green World would be my first choice of desert island disc.

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

Professor Martyn Evans, Principal of Trevelyan College.

This exhibition captures portraits of the people behind the machines, providing a snapshot of the impact of 30 years of Nissan in the lives of the people of the North East, through photography, audio and film.

Congregation 2015 Tuesday 23 – Friday 26 June Durham Cathedral Join the celebrations and wish our students well as they graduate this week.

July Ushaw College Ceilidh Friday 17 July, 7.30pm Ushaw College, Durham Great music and dance with local musicians resonating in the stunning setting of Pugin’s great Refectory. Tickets available on the door.

Adam Bushnell’s Storytelling Day Monday 20 July, 11am – 4pm Botanic Garden Join storyteller and author Adam Bushnell, to hear some of his fantastic tales in the wonderful surroundings of the Botanic Garden. Visitors are recommended to use the kiosk entrance at the park and ride.

Family Fun Castle Tours Monday 20 & Tuesday 21 July, 11.15am.

Durham Castle Children of all ages will enjoy this familyfocused tour around Durham Castle, finding out what it was like to live and work there in Victorian times.

Teddy Bears Picnics Monday 27 July & Monday 17 August, 10am – 4pm Botanic Garden The ever-popular Teddy Bears’ Picnics return to the Botanic Garden in time for the summer holidays. Bring along a picnic and a teddy for a day of bear-related fun.

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