JOIN US FOR THE BIG ALUMNI REUNION S AT U R D AY 2 3 R D A N D S U N D AY 24 T H A P R I L 2 0 16
W W W. A S TO N . AC.U K / B A R #ASTONREUNION
WELCOME TO OUR BIG ALUMNI REUNION This is an engaging opportunity for you and your family to join staff, students and alumni back on campus for a weekend of free events and nostalgia in celebration of Aston University’s 50th anniversary. The theme of the reunion is ‘Transforming Lives’, and we have some exciting workshops, talks and other events planned to showcase Aston’s pioneering approach to some of the world’s toughest challenges.
Let our health experts introduce you to state-of-the-art labs and demystify topics such as nutrition, diabetes and the workings of the human brain. Visit our linguists for a taste of distant cultures and cuisines, or learn from our experts in global politics. Join our engineers in interactive workshops and find out how Aston turns waste into energy. Meet entrepreneurial staff and students from Aston Business School, who will give you the inside track on current trends. Or just come back and see the transformation of campus, network with friends (old and new) and help us to celebrate 50 fantastic years of innovation.
We look forward to seeing you all back on campus!
Julia King DBE FREng The Baroness Brown of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive
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CAMPUS MAP 1
Main Building and Reception
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Aston University Engineering Academy
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North Wing
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Aston University Nursery & Pre-school
Walking Route from Millennium Point Car Park
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South Wing
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Car Park 1
Route by Car to Millennium Point
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Library
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Car Park 3 (unloading)
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Aston Business School & Conference Aston
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Car Park 6 (evenings & weekends)
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Aston Brain Centre
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Car Park 12 (inc underground car park)
Health Clinics - Vision Sciences & Audiology
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Car Park (Millennium Point pay parking)
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Gosta Green Pub
Aston University Day Hospital - Optegra - BCH Cochlear - Life & Health Sciences
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Sacks of Potatoes Pub
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Birmingham Metropolitan College
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Old Fire Station
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Innovation Birmingham Campus
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European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI)
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Students’ Union
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Millennium Point and Thinktank
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Lakeside Residences
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Birmingham City Council Offices
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Mary Sturge Residences & Harriet Martineau Residences
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Residences Reception
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James Watt Residences
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William Murdoch Residences
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Martin Luther King Multi Faith Centre
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Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre and Pool
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Gosta Green Sports Pitch
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Sports Pitch
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For information about accessibility on campus, visit: www.aston.ac.uk/about/directions
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H O W T O B O O K / C O N TA C T U S #astonreunion
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RD SATURDAY 23 RD23 APRIL 2016 SATURDAY APRIL WORKSHOPS
ICON
VICE-CHANCELLOR’S WELCOME
2016
LOCATION Great Hall Cadbury Room NX16
BON APPÉTIT SEEING IS BELIEVING!
Vision Sciences Building
I’M ALL EARS
Vision Sciences Building
TAKE THE SMARTPHONE CHALLENGE THE POWER OF YOUR RUBBISH BIN WHAT MAKES MACHINES INTELLIGENT?
AIM Lab MB276 EBRI MB204 and MB206 Library
LIBRARY TOUR SIR DOUG ELLIS WOODCOCK SPORTS CENTRE TOUR CAMPUS AND STUDENTS’ UNION TOUR
Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre Students’ Union Financial Trading Room
LIFE AS A FINANCIAL TRADER ADAPTING TO DIVERSITY
Adrian Cadbury Lecture Theatre, ABS
MADE TO SERVE
Susan Cadbury Lecture Theatre, ABS
PEACE OF MIND
MB644 Sumpner Lecture Theatre, Main Building
COMMUNICATION OVERLOAD LIGHTING THE WAY
The Wright Lecture Theatre, Main Building
THE SKILLS GAME
M241
THE DIGITAL CAMPUS
MB161
GROWING WAISTLINES
G11 Main Building
INSIDE THE SECRET STATE
MB550
WHOSE RIGHTS? WHEN FREEDOMS COLLIDE
MB404
EAT AND MEET AT THE REUNION LUNCH
Conference Aston Meeting Suites, Main Building Aston Brain Centre
THE HUMAN COMPUTER
Susan Cadbury Lecture Theatre, ABS
GOING FOR GROWTH
G11, Main Building
A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR SHOULD WE STAY OR SHOULD WE GO?
MB404
ON CLOUDS, CROWDS AND CYBORGS
MB550 Conference Aston
GALA DINNER
Students’ Union
STUDENTS’ UNION PARTY
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#astonreunion
10.00–10.45
Talk
Tour
Eat & Meet
Fireworks
Exhibition
Demonstration
Meal
Party
11.00–11.45
12.00-12.45
13.00-14.30
10.00–10.45
14.30-15.15
15.30-16.15
19.00
20.00
14.30-15.15 11.00–11.45
14.30-15.15
11.00–11.45 11.00–11.45
14.30-15.15
11.00–11.45
14.30-15.15
11.00–11.45
14.30-15.15
11.00–11.45
10.00–11.00
12.00-12.45
14.30-15.15
11.00–11.45
14.30-15.15
11.00–11.45
14.30-15.15
11.00–12.00
12.00–13.00
13.00–14.00
11.00–11.45
14.00-15.00
15.30-16.15
15.00–16.00
14.30-15.15 12.00-12.45 12.00-12.45 12.00-12.45
15.30-16.15
12.00-12.45 12.00-12.45
15.30-16.15
12.00-12.45
15.30-16.15
12.00-12.45
15.30-16.15
12.00-12.45 12.00-12.45 12.00-12.45 13.00-14.30 14.30-15.15 15.30-16.15 15.30-16.15 15.30-16.15 15.30-16.15 19.00 20.00
#astonreunion
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SUNDAY SUNDAY24 24THTHAPRIL APRIL2016 2016 WORKSHOPS
ICON
WHAT MAKES MACHINES INTELLIGENT? TAKE THE SMARTPHONE CHALLENGE HOW CLEAN ARE YOUR HANDS?
LOCATION MB204 and MB206 AIM Lab MB276 MB 531 Cadbury Room NX16
BON APPÉTIT
Library
LIBRARY TOUR SIR DOUG ELLIS WOODCOCK SPORTS CENTRE TOUR CAMPUS AND STUDENTS’ UNION TOUR
Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre Students’ Union Financial Trading Room
LIFE AS A FINANCIAL TRADER THE BUSINESS GAME
Adrian Cadbury Lecture Theatre
THE DIGITAL CAMPUS
MB161
LIGHTING THE WAY
The Wright Lecture Theatre, Main Building
THE SKILLS GAME
M241
MADE TO SERVE
Susan Cadbury Lecture Theatre, ABS
PEACE OF MIND
MB644
LIGHTING THE WAY
The Wright Lecture Theatre, Main Building
THE SKILLS GAME
M241
TOO MUCH SUGAR
G11
WHO’S AFRAID OF THE INTERNET?
MB644
THE LANGUAGE OF THE OFFICE
Sumpner Lecture Theatre, Main Building
GET ACTIVE
Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre
SWIMMING
Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre Studio 2
BACK TO THE 80s
Hall 2
BADMINTON
Court 1
SQUASH
Football Pitch
WALKING FOOTBALL
G11 Main Building
BIRMINGHAM LIFE IN PICTURES
Campus-wide
ASTON FAMILY FESTIVAL
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Talk
Tour
Exhibition
Demonstration
10.00–10.45
11.00–11.45
10.00–10.45
11.00–11.45
Active
12.00-12.45
13.00-14.30
14.30-15.15
15.30-16.15
12.00–13.00
13.00–14.00
14.00-15.00
15.00–16.00
19.00
20.00
10.00–10.45 10.00–10.45 10.00–10.45 10.00–10.45 10.00–10.45 10.00–11.00
11.00–12.00
10.00–10.45 11.00–11.45 11.00–11.45 11.00–11.45 11.00–11.45 11.00–11.45 11.00–11.45 11.00–11.45 11.00–11.45 11.00–11.45 11.00–11.45 11.00–11.45 SPEND SUNDAY TRYING SOMETHING NEW 10.00–16.45 12.00-13.00
15.30-16.15
11.00-13.00
15.30-16.15
11.30-13.45
15.30-16.15 15.30-16.15
12.00-12.45 12.00-16.00
#astonreunion
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BUY TICKETS ONLINE WWW.ASTON.AC.UK/BAR
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SATURDAY 23 RD APRIL 2016 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S WELCOME
Baroness Brown warmly welcomes all alumni and friends back to Aston. Find out what’s been happening in the years since your studies and hear about your University’s successes and plans for the future. Followed by
Following the radical development of Birmingham New Street station, Andy Street (Managing Director of John Lewis and Chair of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership) gives his view on Birmingham’s capacity to transform lives.
SATURDAY 10.00 – 10.45
Great Hall 10.00-10.45 & 14.30-15.15
14.30 – 15.15
Pioneers for Change in Birmingham and the West Midlands
#astonreunion
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BON APPÉTIT Eat and speak your way around the world Staff and students from the School of Languages & Social Sciences will guide your taste buds through their native cuisine and teach you phrases to enable you to order it yourself. A special poster exhibition will introduce you to the international research amongst the School’s leading linguists.
11.00-11.45 & 14.30 - 15.15 Cadbury Room NX16
SEEING IS BELIEVING ! 14.30 – 15.15
People and places from Vision Sciences Dr Frank Eperjesi and colleagues from Vision Sciences will guide you through their pioneering research and collaborations with international colleges. You’ll have the chance to meet former lecturers and to have a look around lecture theatres and facilities. Find your seat in 903 and see if things have changed since your student days!
SATURDAY 11.00 – 11.45
11.00-11.45 Vision Sciences Building
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#astonreunion
I’M ALL EARS Solving hearing problems An opportunity to visit our state-of-the-art audiology facilities. Immerse yourself in audiology research at Aston and find out how we are leading the way in teaching audiology skills to both students and practitioners. Led by Amanda Casey, Director of Audiology, this is a chance to catch up with your lecturers as well as to meet other graduates from your course.
SATURDAY 11.00 – 11.45
14.30 – 15.15
11.00-11.45 Vision Sciences Building
#astonreunion
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TAKE THE SMARTPHONE CHALLENGE Can you walk and text? Test your skills at this hands-on event in our unique lab. The Aston Interactive Media Lab is our state-of-theart facility dedicated to the research, development and evaluation of innovative interactive media and applications. Dr Jo Lumsden and colleagues from the AIM team will also demonstrate some of its leading research projects. 14.30 – 15.15 SATURDAY 11.00 – 11.45
11.00-11.45 & 14.30-15.15 AIM Lab MB276
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#astonreunion
Turning waste into energy The things we throw away every day don’t have to end up on the rubbish tip. Our world-leading European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI) will show you an alternative solution by using them to create energy and useful products. Join Professor Karen Wilson, Emma Wylde and colleagues from EBRI to see how developments in bioenergy technologies are proving there is a reliable, sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
15.30 – 16.15
10.00 – 10.45
THE POWER OF YOUR RUBBISH BIN
14.30 – 15.15
11.00-11.45 & 14.30-15.15 European Bioenergy Research Institute
WHAT MAKES MACHINES INTELLIGENT?
11.00-11.45, 12.00-12.45 14.30-15.15 & 15.30-16.15 MB204 & MB206
#astonreunion
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SATURDAY 11.00 – 11.45
The work of our unique Aston Lab for Intelligent Collectives Engineering (ALICE) is used every day in applications such as sensor networks, computer-generated art, decision support systems and economic modelling. Meet ALICE’s team of leading researchers and find out how desirable properties such as robustness, adaptability, scalability and creativity can be built into intelligent machines. See first hand examples of the research and test the innovative software developed by research staff and students.
12.00 – 12.45
Computer systems inspired by nature
14.30 – 15.15 SATURDAY 11.00 – 11.45
LIBRARY TOUR An opportunity to visit and explore the four floors of our Library – a bright space for sharing knowledge that reflects the learning styles of today’s students. See how studying has changed since your time at Aston.
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#astonreunion
11.00-11.45 & 14.30-15.15
11.00-11.45 & 14.30-15.15 Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre
#astonreunion
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SATURDAY 11.00 – 11.45
There’s over 100 years of history in the foundations of the Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre. Did you know that our swimming pool is Birmingham’s oldest operating pool and one of the oldest in Britain? This stunning Victorian structure was originally built in 1860 and called Woodcock Street Baths; there has now been a pool on site for 153 years! The Centre was refurbished in 2011 to include a fitness suite, martial arts, fitness and dance studios, refurbished sports hall, new sauna/ steam room, and improved basketball and netball facilities. Come and have a look around our fantastic facilities.
14.30 – 15.15
SIR DOUG ELLIS WOODCOCK SPORTS CENTRE TOUR
CAMPUS AND STUDENTS’ UNION TOUR Rediscover your old haunts and relive your time on campus as we guide you through our much-changed and improved city-centre home.
On the hour 10.00-16.00 Students’ Union
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#astonreunion
LIFE AS A FINANCIAL TRADER Aston Business School’s Financial Trading Room, powered by Thomson Reuters, is the first of its kind in the West Midlands. The Financial Trading Room is laid out classroom-style with four rows of desks supporting 20 computer workstations. At the front of the room is a 21-foot-long wall-mounted Daktronics LCD Ticker Display which provides live market data and news. In addition, there are two Thomson Reuters InfoPoints which provide an exciting and real-life experience of working in the finance industry. Visit the Trading Room, meet our Finance students and get a taster of life as a financial trader.
SATURDAY 11.00 – 11.45
14.30 – 15.15
11.00-11.45 & 14.30-15.15 Financial Trading Room Aston Business School
#astonreunion
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ADAPTING TO DIVERSITY Our societies are defined by difference and diversity. Some argue this diversity brings disharmony, others that it fosters tolerance and mutual respect. In this lecture, Professor Richard Crisp will discuss the psychological science that changes the parameters of this debate. He will show how understanding ‘the social mind’ can help to promote intercultural exchange, and how, in turn, this can have benefits that extend beyond intercultural relations, enhancing individuals’ confidence, creativity, productivity and performance.
12.00-12.45 Adrian Cadbury Lecture Theatre Aston Business School
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#astonreunion
MADE TO SERVE
Professor Tim Baines
12.00-12.45 Susan Cadbury Lecture Theatre Aston Business School
Manufacturers made things and service companies did things for us. Today we realise that these distinctions are artificial and that services can be a high-value strategy for manufacturers. Servitization (technology-enabled services) is about manufacturers (technology innovators) offering services that are tightly coupled to their products. Professor Tim Baines will explain how, by seeing themselves as service providers, manufacturers can exploit the intellectual property arising from design to deliver and improve business processes for their customers.
#astonreunion
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SATURDAY 12.00 – 12.45
The world once seemed simple...
PEACE OF MIND Assessing and managing risks associated with mental-health problems We live in a crowded world but in our minds we can often feel lonely and forgotten. Dr Chris Buckingham, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science, is working to reduce suicide and violence, improve wellbeing, and help us live safely in the community by utilising advice from thousands of mental health experts. Find out how he does this using his innovative web-based applications GRiST and GRaCE. 12.00-12.45 & 15.30-16.15 MB644
15.30 – 16.15
COMMUNICATION OVERLOAD Capacity squeeze on the Internet
SATURDAY 12.00 – 12.45
Mobile networks, smartphones and tablets are straining our existing communications networks. If demand exceeds the bandwidth limit, then a capacity squeeze could affect the future growth of the Internet. Andrew Ellis, Professor in Optical Communications, will explore the impact of communication on society and speculate on the future impact on society and the environment as our desire to remotely engage with others continues to grow. 12.00-12.45 Sumpner Lecture Theatre, Main Building
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LIGHTING THE WAY Harnessing light in the 21st Century
SATURDAY 12.00 – 12.45
15.30 – 16.15
Light is one of our basic needs, nourishing and regulating the lives of organisms on or near the planet’s surface. But light is so much more to us than just a biological necessity. It is also a conduit for information in an increasingly networked world. In addition to forming the backbone of the Internet, light is revolutionising manufacturing, healthcare, lighting, displays and sensing. The Deputy Director of Aston Institute of Photonics Technologies, Professor David Webb, will explain what is happening in these areas and will showcase the pioneering contributions being made at Aston.
12.00-12.45 & 15.30-16.15 The Wright Lecture Theatre, Main Building #astonreunion
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THE SKILLS GAME Games and Computational thinking Can gaming really help to enhance the way you think? Computational thinking is seen as a generic skill that can be applied in multiple contexts. For many, learning to program is the first introduction to computational thinking but are there alternatives? Dr Errol Thompson from Computer Science looks at the way strategy games can be used to explore and develop computational thinking skills. 12.00-12.45 & 15.30-16.15 M241
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#astonreunion
Technology has dramatically changed the world in the last 20 years but has teaching really changed that much since you were at Aston? E-learning specialist Megan Robertson from the School of Engineering & Applied Science takes a look at today’s teaching environments and how distance learning has been supplemented and enhanced by online resources that widen the student experience.
12.00-12.45 & 15.30-16.15 MB161
#astonreunion
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15.30 – 16.15
Technology changes but learning stays the same
SATURDAY 12.00 – 12.45
THE DIGITAL CAMPUS
GROWING WAISTLINES The truth about sugar, fat and exercise Obesity and type 2 diabetes are immediate threats to the health of the UK. These conditions are associated with the food we eat and the exercise we undertake but there are many myths surrounding what is the “best diet” and how we should exercise. Dr James Brown from the School of Life & Health Sciences will demystify the field of nutrition and exercise and highlight how pioneering research at Aston and elsewhere might help to prevent these diseases.
12.00-12.45 G11 Main Building
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INSIDE THE SECRET STATE North Korea and the World: New patterns and new reality
SATURDAY 12.00 – 12.45
Dr Virginie Grzelczyk from the School of Languages & Social Sciences takes an in-depth look at the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and considers the impact of its new foreign policies. These range from building states and monuments in Africa to opening its doors to an increasing number of foreign tourists. However, this new reality is set against a troubling backdrop of strained relations with the United States and areas of northeast Asia, and a continuing nuclear weapons programme.
12.00-12.45 MB550
#astonreunion
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WHOSE RIGHTS? WHEN FREEDOMS COLLIDE Abortion activism in public spaces Anti-abortion groups in the UK have adopted new styles of activism, often based on those used in the US. In response, abortion rights activists and service providers have called for ‘buffer zones’ - protected spaces around clinics to restrict where the anti-abortion groups will operate. Dr Pam Lowe from the School of Languages & Social Sciences will lead you through competing rights such as free speech and free assembly and privacy, to understand how society might respond to this debate.
12.00-12.45 MB404
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#astonreunion
EAT AND MEET AT THE REUNION LUNCH An opportunity to catch up with lost friends over a delicious buffet lunch in our fantastic conference facilities. See if you can spot the lecturers who taught you! £15.00 per person
SATURDAY 13.00 – 14.30
13.00-14.30 Meal Conference Aston Meeting Suites, Main Building
#astonreunion
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THE HUMAN COMPUTER Inside the Aston Brain (Centre) A unique chance to see the latest brain imaging technology in this state-of-the-art clinical research facility. Meet Paul Furlong, Professor of Clinical Neuroimaging, and his colleagues and learn about the new techniques we are developing within the Aston Brain Centre to study the human brain in health and disease. Professor Furlong 14.30-15.15 Aston Brain Centre
SATURDAY 14.30 – 15.15 w w w.a s to n.a c.u k / b a r
#astonreunion
GOING FOR GROWTH The Aston Centre for Growth offers leading growth programmes and other opportunities for SME owners looking to grow their business. Aston is one of only three business schools nationally to hold Small Business Charter Gold status, and we have experience of working with hundreds of SMEs to support their business growth on high profile programmes such as Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. Hear from some of the business owners who have gone through the programmes and how they have subsequently grown their businesses.
SATURDAY 15.30 – 16.15
15.30-16.15 Susan Cadbury Lecture Theatre, Aston Business School
#astonreunion
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A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR Paediatric formulation development: Opportunities and challenges Developing safe and effective medicines for children is a complex issue. Dr Afzal Mohamed, School of Life & Health Sciences, talks through Aston’s pioneering research into the creation of innovative technologies that consider the acceptability of medicines, including issues such as taste-masking, dosing frequency and appropriate dosage form design. 15.30-16.15 G11, Main Building
SHOULD WE STAY OR SHOULD WE GO? The UK’s future in Europe
SATURDAY 15.30 – 16.15
Before the end of 2017 the British people will have the chance to vote on whether they wish to remain part of the EU on the basis of a renegotiated settlement. But what will this renegotiation consist of? Leading expert, Professor Nat Copsey, currently on secondment to The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, looks at Britain’s EU reform and renegotiation agenda.
15.30-16.15 MB404
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ON CLOUDS, CROWDS AND CYBORGS Is there a future for translators?
SATURDAY 15.30 – 16.15
In a market dominated by Google Translate, crowd translation, and decreasing expectations in quality, Frank Austermuehl, Professor in Translation Studies, asks whether translation and professional translators can survive today. Find out whether, as far as translation is concerned, the Cloud giveth as much as it taketh away!
15.30-16.15 MB550
#astonreunion
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GALA DINNER Join fellow alumni and friends for a truly magical and entertaining evening
SATURDAY 19.00
Enjoy an Aston-themed drinks reception followed by a delicious four-course dinner. Professional cricketer, commentator and journalist, Ed Smith, will be our speaker for the evening who will give a special talk, Reaching 50, to tie in with our 50th celebrations. The night will finish with a bang with a spectacular fireworks display. ÂŁ50 PER PERSON 19.00 Meal Conference Aston Meeting Suites, Main Building
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STUDENTS’ UNION PARTY Enjoy a BBQ and pay a return visit to the B4 BAR, which you may remember as Einsteins or The Pit. Grab a drink and a bite before ‘Dancing through the Decades’ starts at 10.30pm featuring tunes from the 1960s up to the present day. £7 PER PERSON 20.00 Party Students’ Union
#astonreunion
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SATURDAY 22.00
Come and join us at the SU (formerly the Guild)
SUNDAY 24TH APRIL 2016
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#astonreunion
WHAT MAKES MACHINES INTELLIGENT? Computer systems inspired by nature The work of our unique Aston Lab for Intelligent Collectives Engineering (ALICE) is used every day in applications such as sensor networks, computer-generated art, decision support systems and economic modelling. Meet ALICE’s team of leading researchers and find out how desirable properties such as robustness, adaptability, scalability and creativity can be built into intelligent machines. See first hand examples of the research and test the innovative software developed by research staff and students.
10.00-10.45 & 11.00-11.45 MB204 & MB206
11.00-11.45
TAKE THE SMARTPHONE CHALLENGE Can you walk and text?
SUNDAY 10.00-10.45
Test your skills at this hands-on event in our unique lab. The Aston Interactive Media Lab is our state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the research, development and evaluation of innovative interactive media and applications. Dr Jo Lumsden and colleagues from the AIM team will also demonstrate some of its leading research projects.
10.00-10.45 AIM Lab MB276 #astonreunion
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Professor Hilton
HOW CLEAN ARE YOUR HANDS? The human body, germs and hygiene strategies Join Professor Anthony Hilton and microbiologists from the School of Life & Health Sciences in the lab to view bacteria living on the human body under the microscope. Find out whether the five-second rule is a myth and explore hygiene strategies to control the spread of infectious disease. 10.00-10.45 MB 531
SUNDAY 10.00-10.45 w w w.a s to n.a c.u k / b a r
#astonreunion
BON APPÉTIT Eat and speak your way around the world Staff and students from the School of Languages & Social Sciences will guide your taste buds through their native cuisine and teach you phrases to enable you to order it yourself. A special poster exhibition will introduce you to the international research amongst the School’s leading linguists.
SUNDAY 10.00-10.45
10.00-10.45 Cadbury Room NX16
LIBRARY TOUR An opportunity to visit and explore the four floors of our Library – a bright space for sharing knowledge that reflects the learning styles of today’s students. See how studying has changed since your time at Aston.
#astonreunion
10.00-10.45
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SIR DOUG ELLIS WOODCOCK SPORTS CENTRE TOUR There’s over 100 years of history in the foundations of the Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre. Did you know that our swimming pool is Birmingham’s oldest operating pool and one of the oldest in Britain? This stunning Victorian structure was originally built in 1860 and called Woodcock Street Baths; there has now been a pool on site for 153 years! The Centre was refurbished in 2011 to include a fitness suite, martial arts, fitness and dance studios, refurbished sports hall, new sauna/steam room, and improved basketball and netball facilities. Come and have a look around our fantastic facilities.
10.00-10.45 Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre
SUNDAY 10.00-16.00
CAMPUS AND STUDENTS’ UNION TOUR Rediscover your old haunts and relive your time on campus as we guide you through our muchchanged and improved city-centre home. w w w.a s to n.a c.u k / b a r
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On the hour 10.00-16.00 Students’ Union
LIFE AS A FINANCIAL TRADER Aston Business School’s Financial Trading Room, powered by Thomson Reuters, is the first of its kind in the West Midlands. The Financial Trading Room is laid out classroom-style with four rows of desks supporting 20 computer workstations. At the front of the room is a 21-foot-long wall-mounted Daktronics LCD Ticker Display which provides live market data and news. In addition, there are two Thomson Reuters InfoPoints which provide an exciting and real-life experience of working in the finance industry. Visit the Trading Room, meet our Finance students and get a taster of life as a financial trader.
SUNDAY 10.00-10.45
10.00-10.45 Financial Trading Room Aston Business School
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THE BUSINESS GAME Aston graduates have always been renowned for their employability and global mobility. A group of our current students will demonstrate how the Aston experience has evolved over the years through integrating law modules, entrepreneurial initiatives and overseas study alongside the traditional placement year, and the dreaded Business Game.
11.00-11.45 Adrian Cadbury Lecture Theatre
THE DIGITAL CAMPUS Technology changes but learning stays the same
SUNDAY 11.00-11.45
Technology has dramatically changed the world in the last 20 years but has teaching really changed that much since you were at Aston? E-learning specialist Megan Robertson from the School of Engineering & Applied Science takes a look at today’s teaching environments and how distance learning has been supplemented and enhanced by online resources that widen the student experience. 11.00-11.45 MB161
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LIGHTING THE WAY Harnessing light in the 21st Century Light is one of our basic needs, nourishing and regulating the lives of organisms on or near the planet’s surface. But light is so much more to us than just a biological necessity. It is also a conduit for information in an increasingly networked world. In addition to forming the backbone of the Internet, light is revolutionising manufacturing, healthcare, lighting, displays and sensing. The Deputy Director of Aston Institute of Photonics Technologies, Professor David Webb, will explain what is happening in these areas and will showcase the pioneering contributions being made at Aston. 11.00-11.45 The Wright Lecture Theatre, Main Building
THE SKILLS GAME Games and Computational thinking
SUNDAY 11.00-11.45
Can gaming really help to enhance the way you think? Computational thinking is seen as a generic skill that can be applied in multiple contexts. For many, learning to program is the first introduction to computational thinking but are there alternatives? Dr Errol Thompson from Computer Science looks at the way strategy games can be used to explore and develop computational thinking skills. 11.00-11.45 M241
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A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR Paediatric formulation development: Opportunities and challenges Developing safe and effective medicines for children is a complex issue. Dr Afzal Mohamed, School of Life & Health Sciences, talks through Aston’s pioneering research into the creation of innovative technologies that consider the acceptability of medicines, including issues such as taste-masking, dosing frequency and appropriate dosage form design. 11.00-11.45 G11, Main Building
WHO’S AFRAID OF THE INTERNET? Digital dependency, cybercrime and what to do about it
SUNDAY 11.00-11.45
How great a threat is cybercrime to businesses and individuals? The development of modern societies has become intimately interconnected with information technologies. Although such evolution is usually applauded from an economic and societal perspective, the likelihood of technology being abused, in particular for criminal purposes, is increased. Dr Helena Farrand-Carrapico from the School of Languages & Social Sciences focuses on the evolution of cybercrime, its different forms, threats to businesses and individuals, and your role in this process. 11.00-11.45 G11, Main Building
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THE LANGUAGE OF THE OFFICE How can linguistics help us to improve effectiveness at work? From contracts to technical documents, from press releases, social media and advertising to meetings and collegial interactions, written and spoken languages intertwine and affect the day-to-day running of every company - yet we pay very little attention to it. Dr Erika Darics, School of Languages & Social Sciences, explains how to make the invisible visible and how can we get a deep insight into organisational communication practices where language plays a complex and increasingly prominent role.
SUNDAY 11.00-11.45
11.00-11.45 Sumpner Lecture Theatre, Main Building
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GET ACTIVE !
10.00-16.45
Spend Sunday trying something new We are offering free taster sessions at our fantastic sports facilities. Choose from: • Swimming – 10:00 to 16.45. Just turn up and swim • Back to the 80s – pop mobility class 12:00 to 13:00, Studio 2 • Badminton – 11:00 to 13:00, Hall 2. Just turn up and play • Squash – 11:30 to 13:45, Court 1 Just turn up and play • Walking football – 12:00 to 13:00, Gosta Green football pitch.
Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre
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BIRMINGHAM LIFE IN PICTURES The History of Birmingham from 1966 to 2016 Vanley Burke’s iconic images have captured the evolving cultural landscape, social change, and stimulated debate in the United Kingdom over the past four decades. He draws strength from remaining a humble man of the community, whose personable character allows him to capture the intimate and private nature of people’s everyday lives. His body of work represents possibly the largest photographic record of the Caribbean Diaspora in Britain - don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear him speak.
SUNDAY 12.00
12.00 G11 Main Building
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ASTON FAMILY FESTIVAL Ever thought of joining the circus? On Sunday afternoon we will hold our very own festival. Alumni, current staff, students, and families will join together for a packed programme of fun and exciting activities. There will be food, music, performances, crafts, and the opportunity to try something new, including a circus skills workshop with CircusMash.
12.00-16.00
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CRAFTY MARQUEE Make and bake something special. Try your hand at arts and crafts. Our creative staff will be on hand to bring out your artistic flair. Help judge the bake-off competition. TAKE CENTRE STAGE Visit the stage near the Students’ Union and enjoy a programme of live performances and music. JAKE LEVER EXHIBITION Jake Lever’s artwork depicts journeys through life. Do you stay on the shore or broaden your horizons? The choice is yours. Come to the Martin Luther King Centre and reflect on your life’s journey. The exhibition will be open throughout the weekend. DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY! Samba and salsa your way to the Students’ Societies space where you can throw some shapes and learn a few new moves to wow your friends on the dance floor. LEARN FROM ASTON ENTREPRENEURS Did you know Aston leads the Birmingham Skills for Enterprise and Employability Network (BSEEN) – a student and graduate start-up programme for those who want to develop enterprise skills and start their own business. Meet our very own entrepreneurs leading these TEDx-style talks. FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY Bring the whole family along to the craft and nursery space where staff will be on hand with fun and creative activities for all.
OUR CREATIVE FLAIR! Aston Graduates’ Association will be exhibiting entries to their art competition in G8. With categories in painting and drawing, photography, and computer-generated art, there’ll be something to suit all tastes. Come and see who’s won and maybe buy a piece of original art to take home.
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SUNDAY 12.00-16.00
FOOD AND DRINK Refreshments a-plenty all over campus. Enjoy a snack or something a bit more substantial from all our catering outlets.
JOIN US FOR THE BIG ALUMNI REUNION:
Aston University Aston Triangle Birmingham B4 7ET UK
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+44 (0)121 204 3200 www.aston.ac.uk/bar www.aston.ac.uk #astonreunion