EPS Team Brief Newsletter July 2014

Our Gorgosaurus makes its London debut—page 6 Welcome News and achievements What’s happening? Our staff Get in touch

Welcome!

Welcome to your Team Brief for July I hope you enjoyed last month’s staff survey special—as we look ahead in the next academic year we will be featuring more actions that have taken place at a Faculty and School level to show how your responses really have made a difference.

Keeping in the same vein, in the staff survey many of you said you would like more two-way communication opportunities with senior managers. Therefore, I am encouraging you all to attend Colin Bailey’s next Faculty Open Meeting which is taking place on 16 July at the Rutherford Lecture Theatre, Schuster building, 13:00–14:00. This is your opportunity to ask our Vice-President and Dean any questions you have and also hear what’s happening and what’s planned across the Faculty.

Thank you for your continued feedback on Team Brief, there will be no August edition but we will be using the time to work to improve our communications channels for all staff.

Find out more on page 6.

Rachel Brealey

Director of Faculty Operations.

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News and achievements

Green Impact 2013/14 Awards

EPS had another great year at the University’s annual Green Impact Awards which were held on 11 June with our Faculty earning 15 Awards, including seven Gold Awards. School of Computer Science—Working Towards Award School of Mathematics – Working Towards Award Dalton Nuclear Institute—Bronze Award EPS HR—Bronze Award Structured Fluids Laboratories—Bronze Awards Electron Microscope & XRD Laboratories—Silver Award Organic Geochemistry Laboratories—Silver Award School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences—Silver Award The Cosmochemistry Cleanroom Suite, laboratories—Gold Award Corrosion and Protection Centre—Gold Award D29 AkzoNobel, laboratories—Gold Award Geochemistry, laboratories—Gold Award Geomicrobiology, laboratories—Gold Award H Floor Pariser, School of MACE—Gold Award Analytical Geochemistry Unit, laboratories—Gold Award

Daniele Atkinson, Social Responsibility Manager, said:

The Green Impact Awards are a great opportunity for cross-team working and even in the older laboratories and buildings it is possible to make positive changes to reduce our impact on the environment.

As part of the Faculty’s Social Responsibility actions we are aiming to have 20 teams in total in 2014/15 and 12 labs teams. If you would like to get involved next year, even if you are not sure about going for an award, but would just like to try and make a difference, please contact me to find out more.

3 Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Team Brief Newsletter June Welcome News and achievements What’s happening? Our staff Get in touch

Distinguished Achievement Awards Rachel Brealey, Director of Faculty Operations, and Colin Bailey, Vice-President and Dean, hosted a lunch on 26 June for PSS staff that were nominated for the University’s Distinguished Achievement Awards to thank them for their contribution to the Faculty over the last year. The nominees were as follows: Large team »» Research Support Services Team »» Faculty Web Team »» Research Excellence Framework Administration Team (award winners at University level, this has pan-University membership—EPS members are Victoria Holt and Rupa Sharma) Small team »» UNIX and Computer Science IS team »» Maths admissions team Individual »» Mike Hughes, Laboratory Technician, Chemistry (award winner at University level) »» Cath Davies, School Safety Advisor, Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science »» Richard Cutting, Technical Services Manager and School Safety Advisor, Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences Rachel Brealey, Director of Faculty Operations, said: The Awards recognise outstanding performances and significant contributions to the University. Having so many nominations is a great achievement which deserved recognising at a Faculty level.

The Distinguished Achievement Awards is one way the University is addressing your feedback from the 2013 Staff Survey. There are also many other way you can recognising and reward hard work or a job well done from sending a Thank You card and achievements News to applying for a gift from the Thank You Scheme which allows managers to arrange gifts, from flowers to vouchers, to say thank you.

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Welcome to our new apprentices Our new business administration apprentices started their one-year employment with us last month.

Diane Masterston-Kerr, Head of School Administration for Maths and Adrian Parker, Director of Operations at the Dalton Nuclear Institute have been leading this new initiative. Adrian said:

EPS are trailblazing again, hosting the University’s first wave of Business Administration apprentices. Their recent induction day, a mix of introduction to the University and Faculty together with some light-hearted construction activity, got this new initiative off to a great start.

Each young person will undertake two six-month placements during this year-long programme, commencing in Physics, CEAS, Maths, MACE and Dalton. If you work in one of these areas do look out for your department’s apprentice and take time to explain your role and how we work together, as well as using the opportunity to find out how they’re doing.

The group of five will be studying for a NVQ in Business Administration whilst completing their placements.

Our apprentices and their first placement are:

»» Ramez Karim, Mathematics »» Nathan Mannion, Dalton Nuclear Institute »» Melody Mahan, Chemical Engineering & Analytical Science »» Nicole Burke, Mechanical, Aerospace & Civil Engineering »» Horiya Chishti, Physics & Astronomy News and achievements News Our apprentices will begin their second placement after the 2014 Christmas break. Information about other apprenticeships offered within EPS are available here. Group shot from left to right names: Ramez Karim, Nathan Mannion, Melody Mahan, Nicole Burke and Horiya Chishti.

5 Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Team Brief Newsletter June Welcome News and achievements What’s happening? Our staff Get in touch

Our Gorgosaurus makes its London debut Coming soon For those who attended May’s Celebration of our Queen’s Anniversary Prize you may have spotted a 7.3 meter Gorgosaurus dinosaur nestled in the corner of the ... simplified Team Brief and a new internal room. Our researchers, led by Professor Phil Manning, have been using our award communications channel for all EPS Staff! winning 3D x-ray imaging facility to unpick the life story of this 70 million year old relative of the Tyrannosaurus rex.

Our Gorgosaurus will be making its London debut at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition (1–6 July). Visitors will be able to play dinosaur CSI, piecing together the life of what seems to have been a very accident-prone Gorgosaurus. The dinosaur appears to have survived a brain tumour, broken The Communications and Marketing Team have received some very fibula and a growth inside one of its legs, among other injuries all of which has constructive feedback on the Team Brief over the recent months. Although staff been uncovered by our researches. find the new format and content really interesting, Managers and Team Leaders Visitors will also be able to take a #dinoselfie with the gruesome creature to are finding it difficult to present during their staff meetings. In response to this, share on social media. from the next edition (September 2014) Team Brief will be transformed into a more simple document, written for easier presentation and will include all of After its trip to London our Gorgosaurus will take up permanent residence at the the ‘need to know’ information for PSS staff. . The content that’s had the most encouraging feedback is mainly stories that all staff, PSS and Academic, would find interesting. Therefore, over the summer a new all staff channel for EPS Got a seminar, event or will be piloted. Its current format is workshop to promote? still to be decided and a few different Rather than sending an all staff email approaches may be tested until the via ListServ forward your message right one for our Faculty is found. to Rachel Hobson who will include it in the new channel. By reducing As always, your feedback on the the number of all staff emails and Faculty’s internal communications is combining them into one channel we extremely valuable. Please send any hope to reduce the frustration that comments or ideas to Rachel Hobson, many staff feel about the quantity of News and achievements News Internal Communications Manager. emails they receive, and thus your The new channel will be fortnightly so message is more likely to be heard. please give as much notice as possible. Phil Manning with the Gorgosaurus

6 Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Team Brief Newsletter June Welcome News and achievements What’s happening? Our staff Get in touch

UK National Women in Engineering Day EPS celebrated the first UK National Women in Engineering Day with an event held in late June at the Concorde Hangar at Manchester Airport.

Dr Helen Ryder, Athena SWAN Co-ordinator, said: This was a great event with students, research staff, academics, and industrialists covering science, technology and engineering disciplines being able to meet women who are already in successful Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers coupled with the opportunity to hear inspirational stories, discuss challenges and share personal experiences.

The keynote speech was delivered by Dr Danielle George, Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning and Reader in EEE, who shared her passion for research and journey in academia. She also covered the challenges faced and offered hints and tips on how to be a successful woman in STEM.

Other University contributors on the day included representatives from CEAS and MACE, as well as the Business Engagement Team and the EPS Researcher Development Team. Industrialists and external contributors included AkzoNobel, Amey, Atkins, BP, Cargill, Mexichem, Stemette, The Galbraith Muir Consultancy, UK Trade and Investment (Northwest), and Unilever. News and achievements News

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Primary Science Sparkles Over 40 teachers and 140 children took over Sackville Street Building’s Great Hall on 17 June to celebrate the successful achievements of young primary scientists across Greater Manchester. The spectacle of work resulted from a range of school based projects linked to the Science Education Research & Innovation Hub whose campaign is to fascinate children, teachers and school communities.

Since January, Dr Lynne Bianchi has been working with researchers and scientists from across EPS and other faculties to collaborate with local schools to excite children about science. Working in partnership with teachers they have explored ways to enhance the Science National Curriculum and make science more enquiry based and practical.

This work is inspirational—we’ve been impressed with how the children and teachers have responded to working with our research scientists, and vice versa. This type of work cuts to the heart of how we at the University can help develop the next generation of young scientists in our region!

Commented Professor Carl Percival, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences.

This engagement activity supports the University’s wider social responsibility agenda which aims to make a real difference to the social and economic well-being of our local communities.

The conference was run in association with Primary Science Teaching Trust, the Comino Foundation and the Ideas Foundation.

Find out more about the UoM Hub Fascinate.

Contact: Lynne Bianchi. and achievements News

8 Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Team Brief Newsletter June Welcome News and achievements What’s happening? Our staff Get in touch

School of Chemistry outreach events Become a Dementia Friend Champion

Staff in the School of Chemistry have been very busy in June hosting a number Dementia Friends, run by the Alzheimer’s Society, is an initiative which aims to of school outreach projects including: raise awareness of dementia and by doing so, increases the potential for creating dementia friendly communities. Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Chromatography Day directed at year 12 Students. We have an opportunity to train some of our staff and students to become STEM Teachers’ Conference (Chemistry) which engaged teachers with cutting- Dementia Friends Champions. This one-day course, provided free of charge, edge research. equips you to become a Dementia Friends Champion, and ‘qualified’ to conduct one hour briefing sessions for colleagues and your local community groups. Discover Chemistry day which provided hands-on experience of chemistry courses to give students the chance to see and use scientific instrumentation The University has committed to support the training of at least 30 Dementia (IR, NMR etc) that they only would have heard about in school or seen on Friends Champions during 2013/14 which, in turn, will lead to awareness television. sessions for a target of 1000 Dementia Friends via briefing sessions. So far only two potential Dementia Friends Champions have volunteered across the The school is now looking ahead to the annual Salters’ Camps in July. This is for students in Year 10 and includes a residential three-day camp with four half- Faculty. days of laboratory activities. Activities range from making chemiluminescent To find out more, please go to our social responsibility site or log on to Dementia materials, to investigation of reaction kinetics (oscillating reactions) to making Friends. paracetamol, designed to give students a taste of university life, including chaperoned evening social and scientific activities. News and achievements News

9 Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Team Brief Newsletter June Welcome News and achievements What’s happening? Our staff Get in touch

Blast from the Past Do you have contacts in the nuclear UoM-PAs network industry The School of Earth, Atmospheric and The UoM-PAs network, led by Maria Marsh in our Environmental Sciences has published Applications for new Nuclear-PDP continuing Dalton Nuclear Research Institute, is growing Department and School photographs from 1961 professional development programme are from strength to strength. The group held a onwards! currently being taken in the run up to the launch of network and development evening earlier this this new MSc course. year at the Manchester Art Gallery. Guest speaker You can view the images at the school’s website to Victoria Darragh from Hays – London talked see if you recognise any old colleagues. If you know of any professional or personal about the Power of Internal Networks. Victoria contacts who made be interested please pass on is the organiser of the Hays PA Conference, an the course details. international speaker and blogger.

Feedback from the staff survey showed that you wanted inter-team working to improve and progression and skill development opportunities

School of Earth, Atmospheric and EnvironmentalSchool Sciences of Earth, 2008Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences 2008 - Joining EPS and University Staff Networks is a , DepartmentUniversity of Geology of Manchester, 1961 Department of10 Geology minutes 1961 of your time to support great way to get to know colleagues from outside research into social responsibility of your teams and buildings. Up to eight hours per Manchester Business School has ask if you could year can be dedicated to network group activities spare 10 minutes to complete a quick online survey from your standard working hours and these to test the relationship between a commitment to networks offer a multitude of opportunities to social responsibility and the levels of commitment share best practice, learn new skills and take away staff have to their organisations. new ideas.

It is part of the postgraduate research and it is UniversitySchool of Earth, of Manchester, Atmospheric Departmentand Environmental of Geology Sciences 19612008 hoped that it will allow the University to benchmark itself against other types of employers. Front Row : Prof. W.S. MacKenzie, Dr R.A. Howie, Mr E. Morton, Prof W.A. Deer, Dr I.M. Simpson,Front Row Dr J. : Zussman,Prof. W.S. Mr MacKenzie, C.W. Isherwood, Dr R.A. MrHowie, W.H. Paterson.Mr E. Morton, Prof W.A. Deer, Dr I.M. Simpson, Dr J. Zussman, Mr C.W. Isherwood, Mr W.H. Paterson.

Second Row : Miss J.H. Mundie, Miss M. Bragg, Mr J.K. Cutner, Mr J.J. Fawcett, Mr M.H. Mason,Second Mr S.D. Row Hamad, : Miss J.H. Mr Mundie,P.J. Woodrow, Miss M. Miss Bragg, J.I. Norcott, Mr J.K. Cutner, Miss N. al-Qaraghuli,Mr J.J. Fawcett, Mr Mr A. M.H.Livingstone. Mason, Mr S.D. Hamad, Mr P.J. Woodrow, Miss J.I. Norcott, Miss N. al-Qaraghuli, Mr A. Livingstone.

Third Row : Mrs J.C. Chase, Miss J.E. Brocklehurst, Mr M.E.L. Fleet, Mr D.W. Abbott, Mr J.C.Third Rucklidge, Row : MrMrs A.F. J.C. Tinnion, Chase, Mr Miss N. Bradshaw,J.E. Brocklehurst, Mr M.T. Mr Frost, M.E.L. Mr Fleet, R. Chester, Mr D.W. Mr Abbott, E.K. Henderson. Mr J.C. Rucklidge, Mr A.F. Tinnion, Mr N. Bradshaw, Mr M.T. Frost, Mr R. Chester, Mr E.K. Henderson. News and achievements News

Front Row : Prof. W.S. MacKenzie, Dr R.A. Howie, Mr E. Morton, Prof W.A. Deer, Dr I.M. Simpson, Dr J. Zussman, Mr C.W. Isherwood, Mr W.H. Paterson.

Second Row : Miss J.H. Mundie, Miss M. Bragg, Mr J.K. Cutner, Mr J.J. Fawcett, Mr M.H. Mason, Mr S.D. Hamad, Mr P.J. Woodrow, Miss J.I. Norcott, Miss N. al-Qaraghuli, Mr A. Livingstone.

Third Row : Mrs J.C. Chase, Miss J.E. Brocklehurst, Mr M.E.L. Fleet, Mr D.W. Abbott, Mr J.C. Rucklidge, Mr A.F. Tinnion, Mr N. Bradshaw, Mr M.T. Frost, Mr R. Chester, Mr E.K. Henderson.

10 Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Team Brief Newsletter June Welcome News and achievements What’s happening? Our staff Get in touch

What’s happening?

Faculty Open meeting Email Hell to Email Heaven - in just 60 minutes! This is the last Faculty Open meeting for 2014/15. The Open Meetings are your opportunity to ask questions directly to our Vice President and Dean, Colin Is your inbox always full? Do you receive a lot of unhelpful messages? Would you Bailey. like to save time and reduce stress? If so, this could be the session for you.

Date: Wednesday 16 July 2014 Following your feedback in the staff survey and a CoreMunicate discussion topic these training sessions are full of practical hints and tips to help you manage Location: Rutherford Lecture Theatre, Schuster building your email. The next event will be taking place as follows: Time: 13:00-14:00 Date: Monday 28 July 2014 Contact: Rachel Hobson x64045 Location: STDU Training Suite, 2nd floor, Humanities Bridgeford Street More details: WWW Time: 10:00–11:00 All questions are welcome on the day but if you’d like to pre-submit a question please email it to Rachel Hobson. Please book your place via the online training catalogue.

Godlee Observatory Summer Tours

The Manchester Astronomical Society, who operate the Godlee Observatory in Sackville Street Building, have kindly agreed to run tours throughout the summer for staff. For your chance to see this unique part of Manchester and the University’s heritage contact Christine Twigg to reserve your place.

Location: Godlee Observatory, Sackville Street Building, Floor G What’s happening? Time: Thursdays, 14:30+ Contact: Dr Christine Twigg x65902

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What’s happening?

University to mark WW1 centenary The University of Manchester is to mark the 100th anniversary of Britain entering World War One with the launch of a commemorative website.

The site will go live on August 4 and will reveal how the University community was impacted by the conflict - and how the organisation played a critical role in the war effort.

Individual stories of students, staff, and alumni will be featured and all types of experiences will be covered, from life in the trenches to the home front. Content from the Thomas Tout archive, which features poignant letters from the front line, will be an important resource supplied by The John Rylands Library and a roll of honour will also be made available.

An official University commemorative event is also planned for November 25 plus a proposal to plant snowdrops on the grassed areas on the opposite side of Oxford Road to the .

James Hopkins, University Historian and Heritage Manager, said:

This August marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War - a terrible conflict that had a significant impact on our University community. The then Faculty of Technology – a forerunner to the modern Faculty of Engineering and

Physical Sciences – itself lost 196 students, including 63 who had been members What’s happening? of the Manchester University Officers’ Training Corps.

A story highlighting the contribution to WW1 by engineering and physical sciences at Manchester can found on page 25 of the recent EPS Alumni Magazine Your Manchester.

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Our staff

New starters Raising money for good causes

Alex Gaskill will be joining the Academic Services team Carole Webb a Technician in Chemistry held a home baked charity cake sale and raised £156 for the in the Faculty Office as International Project Officer in Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust. Carole’s daughter, Katherine, took part in a charity cycle from Leeds July 2014. Alex will be working with Professor Steve Flint to Berlin in aid of the charity and completed this within a week. (Associate Dean for Internationalisation) on a number of international projects including a forthcoming EPS visit to India. Alex previously worked as the Student Scholarship/ Bursary Award Officer in the Student Services.

The School of Chemistry has two recruits. Michael Carroll joins in early September as their new Technical Services Manager. Michael is currently the Technical and Estates Coordinator from the School of MACE.

Dr IIya Strashnov will start work on 1 August as the Head of Mass Spectrometry Experimental Officer. IIya is currently a Research Associate for CERN, part of the Nuclear Physics group from the School of Physics and Astronomy.

Don’t forget our new apprentices—see the story on page 6.

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Get in touch!

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Got something to tell us? If you have any news or events you’d like to share with your colleagues via team brief email: [email protected] or contact:

Rachel Hobson Internal Communications Manager Tel: 0161 306 4045.

What should we feature next? This edition’s cover image features the Gorgosaurus (page 6). If you have any ideas of what to feature next please contact Rachel. Past issues

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