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UNIVERSITY UPDATE : 5 August 2005

The next University Update will be published on 12 August. Copy deadline 10 August.

Been away on holiday/sabbatical? View previous University Updates online: http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/uniupdates/

NEWS: http://www.bath.ac.uk/news

Scientists crack 40-year-old DNA puzzle and point to ‘hot soup’ at the origin of life A new theory explaining why the language of genes is more complex than it needs to be also suggests that the primordial soup where life began on earth was hot and not cold, as many scientists believe. http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/releases/tripletcode020805.html

Parkinson’s patients get boost from research People with Parkinson’s disease could find it easier to take their medication as a result of a new research project at the University of Bath. Scientists in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology have just received a grant from the Parkinson’s Disease Society to see if the drugs used to treat the disease could be given to patients through a patch, rather than as tablets. http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/releases/parkinsons020805.html

Cannabis-based drugs could offer new hope for bowel disease patients Researchers investigating anecdotal evidence that cannabis relieves some of the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have discovered a potential new target for cannabis-derived drugs for treatment of the disease. http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/releases/cannabisibd010805.html

Mobile “scratchcard” interface creates new opportunities for mobile marketing New application enables “scratch and reveal” content delivery interface on mobile handsets. UK-based company, Telescratch has launched its revolutionary Splash, Scratch and Reveal (SSR) technology for mobile phones. http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/business/telescratchproduct290705.html

Sports handbook expected to become international reference work A handbook written by a Bath academic is expected to have an important impact on the scientific understanding of sport and exercise. http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/sport/sports-handbook010805.html

Conference on Death, Dying and Disposal at the University of Bath, 15-18 September 2005 Two hundred of the world’s leading experts in death, dying and disposal will meet at a conference at the University of Bath next month to present and discuss their latest research findings. http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/archive/ddd7020805.html

Porters receive special recognition for their work The University’s team of porters were presented with the 2005 Staff Recognition Award at a special evening held recently. http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/archive/porters040805.html

New Dean and Heads of Department There is one change of faculty Dean and two changes of Heads of Department in 2005/6. Professor Geof Wood takes over as the new Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, as his predecessor Professor Ian Jamieson becomes full time Pro-Vice Chancellor for Learning & Teaching. Professor Wood is replaced as Head of Economics and International Development by Professor John Sessions, an economist specialising in labour economics and industrial organisation. http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/official/newheads020805.html

New order for Humanities and Social Sciences There can’t be many universities that have a Dean who attended this year’s Glastonbury festival but with Professor Geof Wood, the new Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, the University of Bath may be able to claim a first. http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/campus/geofwood290705.html

Graduation prize giving 2005 The University of Bath School of Management celebrated the graduation of 215 undergraduate students in the splendour of the city’s Abbey on Tuesday 19 July. The graduation ceremony was followed by a special event for graduating students, their parents and supporters during which the graduation prizes were awarded for this year's BSc in Business Administration (BBA) and BSc in International Management and Modern Languages (IMML) students. http://www.bath.ac.uk/management/news_events/news/2005/3-8.html

IN THE MEDIA

• Karen Wright was interviewed on BBC Radio Bristol and GWR on the use of Cannabis-based drugs to treat bowel diseases. • Ed Keogh was interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour about sex differences in pain. • Anthony Smith spoke to ITV West about MRSA • Peter Reader spoke to ITV West about the Green Belt issue on campus • Nick Mitchell was interviewed for BBC Radio 4’s Material World on the radar in Antarctic which monitors the 4,000 meteors a day that travel through the mesosphere. • Christine Griffin was interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour about girls and alcohol.

INFORMATION

The Dental Centre The Dental Centre has closed for new registrations

Printing unit poster service offers best value Local printers have been posting leaflets to departments offering poster printing. We would like to remind our customers throughout the University that the Printing Unit offers the same service but at much lower costs - and on campus. http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/campus/posterprices030805.html

JOBS: Vacant posts: http://.bath.ac.uk/jobs

EVENTS

For venues and further details, see http://www.bath.ac.uk/whats-on

Overview of Anadolu University Monday 8 – 11am A general overview of Anadolu University, an introduction to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and an introduction to ceramic research centre.

The Turkish ceramic industry Tuesday 9 – 11am A detailed account of An overview of the Turkish ceramic industry with particular reference to the tile industry.

Si1ON based ceramic cutting tools Wednesday 10 – 11am

Summer yoga beginner course Wednesday 10 - 5.30pm Summer yoga course starting 10 August on Wednesday evenings at 5.30pm and running for 7 weeks until 21 September (7 classes).

SF Reading Group Thursday 11 - 12.00 Noon Discussing "The Player of Games" by Iain M Banks.

SPORTS

Modern pentathletes net gold University students Mhairi Spence, Katy Livingston and Sarah Gomersall won gold for Britain in the team event at the modern pentathlon Junior World Championships in Moscow. Spence also won bronze in the individual event. Fellow student Louise Helyer also competed for GB.

Netball players called up to England squad Three TeamBath netball players have been added to the senior England squad for the new season after helping the England under-21s win silver at the World Youth Championships in Florida. University students Jo Binns (Sport & Exercise Science) and (Business Administration) were added to the squad, along with .

Football season kicks-off TeamBath FC kick-off their new season by entertaining Cheshunt in the Southern Football League Premier Division. The match takes place at Twerton Park on Saturday 13th August, kicking-off at 3pm.

Janne reaches final Psychology student Janne Schaefer reached the 50m breaststroke final at the swimming World Championships in Montreal. Janne, swimming for Germany, finished eighth in what was her first World Championships.

Bath closes on arch rivals Loughborough Tamara Johnson and Matt Rayner, the new VP Sport recently attended the BUSA Annual Awards Dinner where Tam, outgoing VP Sport accepted the overall second place trophy for the third year running.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

"Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world. Science is the highest personification of the nation because that nation will remain the first which carries the furthest the works of thought and intelligence." - Louis Pasteur 1822-1892 French scientist, founder of the science of microbiology.