From: Chris Taylor
Sent: 20 November 2006 02:30
To: 'allstaff@cs.man.ac.uk'; Carole Twining; Jim Graham; Neil Thacker; Susan Astley; Tim Cootes
Subject: CS_Newsletter_2006-11-20.doc
For pdf and html versions of this newsletter, click no the 'Newsletter Archive' link below

 

 

MANCHESTER

           1824

School of Computer Science

Weekly Newsletter

20 November 2006

Contents

News from HoS

This Week

School Events

External Events

Funding Opps

Prize & Award Opps

Research Awards

Staff News

Vacancies

 

Links

Newsletter Archive

School Strategy

School Intranet

School Seminars

ESNW Seminars

NaCTeM Seminars

 

News from Head of School

Media Coverage of School Research

Congratulations to Steve Pettifer and Toby Howard for the extensive media coverage this week of their joint project with Craig Murray in Psychological Sciences.  The work explores the application of virtual reality in rehabilitating amputees, and has produced encouraging results in controlling phantom limb pain.  There is more detail in a press release.  The story was featured on both the BBC NW and Granada news on Tuesday and Steve and Craig travelled to London on Thursday for an interview with BBC Radio 4.  The story has also been picked up by the BBC World Service, with a piece due to be aired on the 23rd November. Newspapers from as far afield as Spain and Israel have also contacted us for details and quotes.

School Plan

Version 1 of the School Strategic plan for 2007/8 was completed this week, and we had our initial planning meeting with the Dean and Associate Deans.  The document is still something of a work in progress, but it is much more mature than the version discussed at the School Board.  The Dean and ADs made some useful points that we will need to take on board, and reactions from across the School would be valuable.  We will arrange for the draft plan to be circulated for comment over the next few days.

 

Events this Week                                                             top

Setting Online Assessments New                                                              21 Nov 06

Dr Rod Cullen & Dr Alan Fielding, MMU

Organised by the EPS Teaching Support Unit.  Following on from the last, general session on setting exam questions this meeting will specifically address the topic of multiple choice question design and delivery for on-line assessment.  Please book at least two days in advance (for catering purposes) by emailing EPS-TSU or Monica Cullen.

Formal Design Patterns to Improve System Development New        22 Nov 06

Using formally defined design patterns to improve system developments   

Prof Jean-Raymond Abrial. ETH Zurich

1415, Lecture Theatre 1.5, Kilburn Building

More Information

Technology, Media, Communities and Learning-Workshop 2          22 Nov 06

Workshop 2 is on learning and social learning theory. To find out more about the series of workshops, please contact: Mark Van Harmelen

More Information

Regular Seminar Series

See links in contents bar for information on seminar series organised by the School of CS, E-Science North West and National Centre for Text Mining.

 

Future School Events                                                        top

EA Games Event                                                                                            29 Nov 06

The Technology Behind the Computer Games Revolution

Fred Gill, Chief Technical Officer, EA Games NW Development Studio

An event for year 11 and 12 secondary school students to raise awareness of computer science and motivate them to take an interest in the subject.  Intended to be informative and fun.  Help required – please contact Mahalia if you are prepared to participate.

1600-1830, Lecture theatre 1.1 and the Lower First area, Kilburn Building

Children in Need/Christies Book Sale                                                        1 Dec 06

The 4th Annual (!) Computer Science Charity Book sale will take place this year on Friday 1 December, with proceeds going to Children In Need and Christies Hospital. This year has a new twist, in that we are holding the event in conjunction with Manchester Computing. Please bring donations to ACSO, Room 2.127.

Postgraduate Open Day                                                                                6 Dec 06

An all day event with centrally organised activities in the morning and School presentations and demos in the afternoon.  Demos required.

President’s Visit                                                                                             28 Feb 07

The President and Vice-Chancellor will be visiting the School.  Please make a diary note – more details nearer the time.

1400-1600

 

Future External Events                                                      top

IST 2006 Event Helsinki                                                                         21-23 Nov 06

This year's edition of the most important European event in the field of Information Society Technologies will coincide with the launch of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development.

More Information

Grantsmanship Workshop                                                                         29 Nov 06

This popular one day course is aimed at both new staff and more established members of staff who have not had recent interactions with the EPSRC either as applicants, grant holders or referee/panel members.  To register your interest please email Louise Rogers

Text Analytics & Drug Discovery - NaCTeM New                                     1 Dec 06

Dr Ian Dix, AstraZeneca

1300, MIB building, LG0.10

More Information

Mathematical and Statistical Aspects of Molecular Biology         29-30 Mar 07

With participants from mathematics, statistics, computer science, bioinformatics, biology and related fields, the MASAMB meetings provide an intimate setting for exchange of ideas in methodological and applied research. Research students and scientists newly entering the field of genomic research are particularly welcome. To be considered for a talk or poster, authors should submit a one page abstract describing their research. This abstract will be used to select presentations and should provide an overview of the research objectives, methods and results.

More Information

 

Funding Opportunities                                                       top

Teaching & Learning (T&L) Innovation Funding                                  20 Nov 06

The third round of bids for Teaching and Learning Funding for Schools is now open. Please contact Pete Jinks (the School’s Learning Enhancement Officer) if you are interested.

More Information

BBSRC Systems Biology (SABR)                                                            27 Nov 06

Recently, the BBSRC announced a new Systems Biology call.  As Manchester already has a Systems Biology Centre (MCISB, see www.mcisb.org), we are in a very good position to apply for funding.  Dieter Weichart, on behalf of Prof. Doug Kell (Director of the MCISB), would like to take the initiative in coordinating potential SABR bid(s) from the University (but not bids to the related ESB initiative).  If you are interested in participating in a proposal please send a brief (few sentences) response to Dieter Weichart, cc to Douglas Kell outlining your proposed research.

More Information

International Research Mobility Scheme                                                30 Nov 06

Research opportunities from one week to six months in the US, China and mainland Europe for staff and postgraduate students.

More Information

IBM-UoM Partners Programme                                                                  30 Nov 06

Last year Kung-Kiu Lau became one of the first “University of Manchester-IBM Partners”. Academic staff are now invited to apply for the 2007/8 scheme.  It is important to the School that we grasp this opportunity to engage with the company, who have much to offer all our activities.

More Information

University CTA Studentships                                                                    30 Nov 06

Part funding for PhD studentships, in collaboration with industry or other qualifying organisations.  2007 deadlines: 24 Jan, 28 Mar, 30 May, 25 Jul, 26 Sep, 28 Nov.  Decisions are normally announced in less than three weeks.

More information (or by contacting Simon McKenna).

Royal Society Conference Grants                                                               1 Dec 06

The conference grants scheme supports UK based scientists to either present their own paper/poster or chair a session at an overseas conference, where conference participation is the main or sole purpose of visit. The objectives of this scheme are to enable scientists to disseminate research findings, establish collaborations and build international reputations.

More Information

Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Awards                                   1 Dec 06

To support researchers confronted with the task of building a research team of sufficient scale to tackle an identified but distinctive research objective.  Each award will be at a level of up to £800,000 in total for up to five years of work. The intent is that the funds be used to provide each awardee with ten 'post-doctoral assistant years' and ten 'research student years' for the grant period, though other patterns would be permissible.

More Information

EPSRC ‘Follow-on-Funds’ New                                                                    8 Dec 06 

The deadline for the University’s internal competition for EPSRC ‘Follow-on-Funds’ is 1600 Friday December 8th 2006. Grantholders interested in applying for this funding should contact the CS Research Office for further information and the two page application form and send it to Richard Price.

Toshiba Fellowhips                                                                                      15 Dec 06

Toshiba in association with the EPSRC invites applications from European scientists to join one of its high technology research teams in Japan.

More Information

DTI Technology Strategy - Competitions for Funding                         08 Jan 07 

The Autumn 2006 Competition for Funding was launched in London last week and the Technology Priority Areas are as follows: Network security; Moving towards the zero emission enterprise; Emerging energy technologies; Bioscience and healthcare; Sensors and imaging for medical, security and environmental applications; Plastic electronics

More Information

UoM Simon Industrial and Professional Fellowship New                        1 Jul 07

The regulations and faculty financial allocations for the Simon Industrial and Professional Fellowship appointments during the 2006/07 academic session are available here.  Any applications should be sent to Helen Gleeson initially (not the Dean as stated).  Nominations must be received no later than 1 July 2007.

EPSRC ICT Platform Grants                                                                               Open

EPSRC invites outline proposals for its information and communication technology platform grants. Platform grants aim to provide world-leading UK groups with continuity of funding for strategic development, longer-term research and international networking.

More Information

Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chairs                                        Open

The Royal Academy of Engineering invites applications for its research chairs. 
Research Chairs are full-time professorial appointments, in any engineering-related subject. The academy particularly welcomes proposals of a multidisciplinary nature. Funding is provided for 5 years.

More Information

RAEng Industrial Secondment Scheme                                                          Open

An opportunity for university lecturers in engineering to gain state-of-the-art industrial experience.

More Information

BBSRC International Scientific Interchange Scheme (ISIS)                       Open

To help scientists make and establish new contacts with their international counterparts.

More Information

RAEng Global Research Awards                                                                      Open

Projects in centres of excellence overseas focussing on stimulating wealth creation and improvements in the quality of life.

More Information

EPSRC Engineering Visits                                                                                  Open

Support for salary costs and travel subsistence for scientists and engineers of acknowledged standing, either from within the UK or abroad, to visit the investigator's organisation.

More Information

 

 

Prize and Award Opportunities                                          top

We have acknowledged the need to raise the profile of the School both nationally and internationally.  Nominating individuals for awards, and working actively with others to ensure that deserving individuals are nominated is one way of doing that.

EPSRC Computer Science Writing Competition 2006/07                   31 Jan 07

We want unpublished articles of up to 750 words about research that’s part of any EPSRC-funded computer science project.  For this competition, computer science means the study of methods for acquiring, storing, processing, communicating and reasoning about information, and the role of interactivity in natural and artificial systems through the implementation, organisation and use of computer hardware, software and other resources.

More Information

Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award                              31 Jan 07

The UK's premier award for innovation in engineering. The Award, first presented in 1969, honours the winning company with a gold medal and the team members with a prize of £50,000. The presentation of the Award recognises the successful development of innovative ideas in engineering. It seeks to demonstrate the importance of engineering and the role of engineers and scientists in contributing to national prosperity and international prestige.

More Information

ERCIM Cor Baayen Award                                                                         15 April 07

The Cor Baayen Award is awarded each year to a most promising young researcher in computer science and applied mathematics. The award was created in 1995 to honour the first ERCIM President.  Nominations should be made by a staff member of the university or research institute where the nominee is undertaking research. Self nominations are not accepted.

More Information

 

Research Awards                                                               top

None this week

 

Staff News                                                                           top

Awards and Promotions

None this week

Academic Arrivals

None this week

Technical Arrivals

None this week

Academic Retirements

None this week

Research Arrivals

None this week

Research Departures

None this week

Administrative Arrivals

Chris Gardiner – temporary staff, Student Resource Centre

Emma Dixon – temporary staff, ACSO

Administrative Departures

None this week

Sabbatical Leave

Alasdair Rawsthorne: 80% secondment to Transitive Technologies
Oct 06 – Sep 07.

Alvaro Fernandes: IBM Almaden Research Centre US
Jul 06 – Dec 06.

Milan Mihajlovic: University of Maryland, College Park

Jul 06 – Dec 06

 

Vacancies                                                                            top

Academic Staff

None

Research & Technical Staff

None

Management & Professional Staff

None

Administrative Staff

None