MANCHESTER

           1824

School of Computer Science

Weekly Newsletter

28 September 2009

Contents

News from HoS

This Week

School Events

External Events

Funding Opps

Prize & Award Opps

Research Awards

Staff News

Vacancies

 

Links

News Submissions

Newsletter Archive

School Strategy

School Intranet

School Seminars

ESNW Seminars

NaCTeM Seminars

 

News from Head of School

British Arab University                                                                                                  

Following an approach from the British Arab University (http://britisharabuniversity.com/), a team from the school is visiting Abu Dhabi in early October to explore opportunities at taught masters and research degree level. In general, we need to be looking out for partnerships with overseas universities that might provide regular flows of students to Manchester; as such, if you have contacts that might usefully be followed up, please let me know.

Research Student Best Thesis and Best Paper Prizes reminder        1 Oct 09

Nominations for the 2009 Best PGR Student Paper are due to Jon Shapiro by next Thursday, 1st October. The paper needs to have been published or accepted for publication in the last 12 months, and evidence needs to be provided of its merits, e.g. by including the referee’s comments, or comments by other disinterested parties.

Prize information and rules for entry

The deadline for submission is Thursday 1 October.  This is a hard deadline.

 

Events

RMetS Climate Engineering meeting                                                      29 Sept 09

The Royal Meteorological Society has organised an open seminar on Climate Engineering for Tuesday 29th September 2009.
5.30pm (Tea and coffee from 5pm), Renold Building Room D7.

Prof. Andrew Watson FRS from the University of East Anglia will give a
talk on the current state of research relating to climate engineering.

This meeting is free to attend and there is no need to register.

University Open Day                                                                                             3 Oct

The final University Open Day for 2009 will be held on Saturday 3rd October. As usual, the School will be holding events throughout the day. Academic members of staff will be required to man the Computer Science stand in the Schuster Building, and meet, greet and talk to prospective students and their families. It is really important that we ensure there is a ‘buzz’ about the place for these events. *Volunteers are needed* to help on both days. If you are able to assist - ideally for at least two hours between 09:30am and 3:30pm - please contact Michael Stead

 

Funding Opportunities

Information on EU funding opportunities

If you are interested in the possibility of European funding, UKRO provide a very good targeted information service. If you go to http://ims.ukro.ac.uk/UKRO/login.aspx you can log in and identify a number of keywords for your particular area of research. The service will then send you bulletins at a frequency of your choice which is specifically targeted at the areas you have chosen.

RAEeng/EPSRC Research Fellowships                                          4pm, 5 Oct 09

The RAEng/EPSRC Research Fellowships are designed to promote excellence in engineering. They provide support for high-quality engineers and encourage them to develop successful academic research careers.
Applications are welcomed from outstanding researchers from all branches of engineering who are about to finish their PhD or have up to three years Post-Doctoral research experience. The scheme provides funding for five years to encourage the best researchers to remain in the academic engineering sector. In addition to the direct financial support, the scheme offers:

  • freedom to concentrate on basic research in any field of engineering;
  • time to establish a track record in the field;
  • the services of a mentor (a Fellow of The Academy) to offer advice and to facilitate industrial links as the research progresses; and
  • restrictions on teaching and administrative duties.


For further information, see guidance notes

 

Prizes

EPS Lay Summary Writing Competition                                                  16 Oct 09

This competition is for Research Staff & Postgraduate Researchers. Can you communicate your research effectively to others? Can you engage, inspire, or challenge the reader? Can you explain the science but avoid the jargon? Can you make people care about what you research and why?

Then why not enter the EPS Lay Summary Writing Competition?  Just give us 250 words about your research and you could win prizes of up to £200.  You'll also be raising your own profile, that of your research and the University. Winners will be awarded prizes by Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Deputy Vice President & Deputy Vice Chancellor - an advocate of good science communication at a Faculty-wide public engagement event.

Full details and useful advice

 

Lay summary writing workshops:

 
- Thursday 8th October 2009, 10-12, Sackville Street Building, room G13D, or
- Wednesday 14th October 2009, 2-4, Sackville Street Building, room H8

These two-hour small group sessions will look at what makes an effective lay summary and the principles of writing for non-scientific audiences. You'll also get the chance to review summaries from successful grant applications and get feedback on your own writing for a general audience.

 

To a reserve a place, email your name, school and contact number here