Faculty News & Events Autumn 2009

New for 2009/10 - New and updated short courses and CPD in Biological & Biomedical Science.
 
Following the successful introduction of a range of half and one day professional development courses last year, new dates have been added to the programme for the forthcoming year and 2 new courses are being introduced.  The new courses are a one day Identification of anaerobes course and a workshop on the laboratory diagnosis of blood borne viruses.  All courses are CPD accredited by the Institute for Biomedical Science and are held at the Faculty of Sciences conveniently located close to Stoke on Trent railway station.  These courses are aimed at anyone requiring theoretical and practical updating in the course topic areas and may be of particular relevance to those required by the IBMS to evidence the portfolio leading to the award of the Specialist Diploma.  For further information please see the attached flyer (PDF, file size: 178.28KB) .

The IESR 2009 conference on Creative Industries and Creative Communities was held on November 11th 2009. The aim of the conference was to focus on a wide a range of creative sectors, including ceramics, art, media, film, music, and the performing arts. The conference brought together a wide range of groups with an interest in promoting and growing creative industries and communities, including academics, businesses, policy managers, planners, local authorities, other public sector organisations, and creative workers.

Keynote speaker: Professor Calvin Taylor, Chair in Cultural Industries, School of Performance and Cultural Industries, University of Leeds.

The Faculty has Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF4) for a project that aims to provide a sustainable scientific focus to interest, engage and inspire our local community. Working with Stoke on Trent College and the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth form college the Faculty are developing a range of activities, case studies and resources that will soon appear on a dedicated portal.  Local organisations are setting problems that can be solved by students from local schools, colleges and Staffordshire University.  The projects hopes to inspire students to follow a career in science and to increase the number of science graduates and scientists in the local community.  There are activities focused on subject enhancement, practical skills and careers information.  A press release for a recent collaborative activity with the Sixth Form College and Biological Sciences at Staffordshire University can be downloaded here (PDF, file size: 192.43KB) .
 
We would like Science Working to become the first port of call for anyone in our locality with an interest in or question about science. If you would like more information or to see how science can work for you please contact Sara Buckley or Dr Kevin Reiling at s.l.buckley@staffs.ac.uk / k.reiling@staffs.ac.uk.

On 30th September 2009 the following members of the Faculty received recognition at the Celebrating Staff Success Event! 
 
Prof John Casella
For attaining Fellowship of the Forensic Science Society
 
Rob Boast, Jon Fairburn and Fiona Tweed
Winners of the new 'Sustainability Innovation in the Curriculum' award
 
Qualification Successes
Mark Jennings                Certificate in Counselling
Pavlos Filippopoulos     Masters in Counselling Psychology
Liz Deakin                        MSc Forensic Science
Sarah Fieldhouse           PhD Forensic Science
Claire Gwinnett                PhD Forensic Science 
Stephen Gallagher          PhD Psychology
Paul Jenkinson                PhD Psychology
Rachel Povey                   Certificate of Continuous Professional Development - Research Supervision
Anja Rutten                       Postgraduate Certificate in Higher & Professional Education
 
Customer Service Awards
Judy David                                                                                              Individual Faculty award
Graham Barlow, Sharon Crawford, Liz Deakin & Jayne Francis            Team Faculty award (Sciences Work-Based Learning Team)

The ERASMUS programme allows both staff and students to study at partner Universities, one of the links we have is with Oldenburg University in Germany.
Students from geography, biology, ecology and forensic science would all fit into the programme of study well.

Please see associated word document (DOC, file size: 41KB) with full details.

Other resources

There is a box file in the Learning Resource Centre 4th Floor Mellor Building, marked Oldenburg – ERASMUS with more information.

Key contacts

Jon Fairburn from the Geography has been to Oldenburg and you can have an informal chat with him or email him at Jon.Fairburn@staffs.ac.uk.

Ingo Mose head of the Regional Science group ingo.mose@uni-oldenburg.de

Katja Kaboth responsible for incoming international students at Oldenburg University katja.kaboth@uni-oldenburg.de

Susan Lloyd International Office, Staffordshire University 01782 294838 s.r.lloyd@staffs.ac.uk 
 

Please download the current Biology Newsletter (PDF, file size: 231.59KB) here.

Student Union Council Rep: Faculty of Sciences Appointed.

Hi my name is David Reardon, I’m a student studying Human Biology & Psychology and I have been elected to represent your opinions to the council of our Union. I hope to be adequate in expressing your opinions so that they are addressed appropriately and with due diligence to enhance your experience here at university and for future students. I implore you to express your opinions, as they are the very best means to improving your experience here.

You can e-mail me at scirep@staffs.ac.uk with any suggestions, complaints or queries and I will do my best to communicate those to the council to get the best possible experience for you students at Staffs.