Teaching Java to Thirteen-year-olds
Last week, John Latham, Marjahan Begum and David Thorne ran an experimental two day workshop at the Manchester City Learning Centre. Ten thirteen-year-old students, from four schools, had the opportunity to work with introductory first year undergraduate material on programming in Java. Remarkably, the students progressed at a pace comparable with that expected of a first year student, demonstrating an impressive ability to cope with challenging computing tasks. Thanks go to those involved, including also Amanda Banks and Pete Jinks who helped out, and especially the staff at the City Learning Centre who enthusiastically hosted the event.
NaCTeM Follow-on Funding
Congratulations to Sophia Ananiadou and colleagues who have secured funding of over £1.8M from JISC to support the National Centre for Text Mining for another three years. NaCTeM is an important vehicle for building collaboration with colleagues in other disciplines, and its continuation is a major fillip for the School.
Events this Week top
TAMBIS 2 12 Nov 07
Bringing up to date and building upon an excellent concept that was years ahead of its time
Brian Donnelly, CEO, Semantic Discovery Systems 1230-1330, Atlas 1, Kilburn
A fragment-based approach to noise-robust audio and audio-visual speech recognition
Dr Jon Barker. University of Sheffield Lecture Theatre 1.4, Kilburn
More Information
GeoVisualization Perspectives and Examples
Jason Dykes, City University London 2-3pm BST Room 1.10, Kilburn Building
5th Annual Computer Science Charity Book Sale 16 Nov 07
Proceeds to Children In Need and Christies Hospital.
If you have any unwanted books (any kind), CDs or DVDs that you'd like to donate to the sale, please bring them in, and either leave them with ACSO (Kilburn Room 2.127), or with Toby (Kilburn Room 2.93). We welcome other things too: computers, foot spas, golf clubs, cars, etc, which we will sell by Web auction. Please help us make this year's Charity Sale another roaring success! Contact ACSO with any enquiries.
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
Embedding Text Mining Solutions in Pharmaceutical Research 23 Nov 07
Dr Ian Harrow, Senior Principal Scientist, eBiology Group, Pfizer
13:00 – 14:30, MIB Lecture Theatre
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School Board Dates
Wednesday 21st November 2007 (UG Report)
Wednesday 20th February 2008 (PG Report)
Wednesday 19th March 2008 (External Affairs Report)
Wednesday 21st May 2008 (Research Report and Dean attending)
Wednesday 2nd July 2008 (Resources Report)
All meetings take place 15:30-17:00 in IT 407.
Future External Events top
Faculty Meeting - Postponed 28 Nov 07
The Faculty Meeting with the Dean, Associate Deans, and HoFA scheduled for 28th Nov has been postponed until early 2008.
PBL in Maths and Physics: What is the problem? 14 Nov 07
An afternoon of presentations and discussions dedicated to implementing Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in the Maths and Physics disciplines. Presenters include Sarah Symons and Derek Raines from the University of Leicester's piCETL (Physics Innovations Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning), Louise Walker (University of Manchester) and Brian Bowe (Dublin Institute of Technology).
More Information and Registration
Up-Skilling the Hybrid Manager for the 21st Century 21 Nov 07
Larry Hirst CBE, General Manager, IBM United Kingdom Ltd What is a hybrid manager? We often hear that business and IT speak different languages so there is a growing need for people who can bridge the gap: people with excellent technical skills and knowledge who also are fully conversant with business needs and have a flair for management. This is a unique opportunity to hear one of the most eminent business leaders talk on an extremely important and topical subject. To reserve a place, please e-mail Jackie Fisk before 14 November
Grantsmanship Training Course/EPSRC Mock Panel 14 Dec 07
Run by Professor Helen Gleeson, Associate Dean for Research and Academic Lead for NAP, Dr Alex Hulkes and a colleague from the EPSRC. This course is available to staff who may benefit from a re-introduction to writing grant applications and seeing how grant-selection panels work. Priority will be given to new academic colleagues. 1045 - 1600
Email Alex Gribbin for more information and registration.
Supporting Scientists in Science Communication 13 Feb 08
The Partnerships for Public Engagement (PPE) Award scheme, run by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), is a great opportunity for researchers to promote their work and engage in dialogue with the public about science and engineering. The BA is running a series of regional workshops, on behalf of EPSRC, to make the application process as straightforward as possible. Schedule of workshops (all 10:30-18:00) Oxford - Science Oxford - 22 November 2007 London - Dana Centre - 24 January 2008 Manchester - Manchester Museum - 13 February 2008 Glasgow - Glasgow Science Centre - 19 March 2008 Leicester - National Space Centre - 8 April 2008
More information and Registration
Genomes to Systems’ 08 17-19 Mar 08
Manchester International Conference Centre at GMEX
Six plenary lectures including one from a Nobel laureate, 15 academic sessions each containing 4 high-level presentations by world authorities, lunchtime workshops from the European Bioinformatics Institute, several poster sessions and a product exhibition featuring over 50 companies. There are two sessions on proteomics, three on systems biology, two on bioinformatics, and new sessions on text-mining, metagenomics, chemical genomics, etc. Registration fees have been minimised with early-bird and group discounts are available if you hurry.
More Information & Registration
Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2008 30 Jun-3 Jul 08
Call for exhibit proposals - The Royal Society's selection Committee, selects around 20-25 teams to share the excitement of their research with a wider audience. The deadline for proposals is 5 November 2007.
More information & on-line proposal form
Funding Opportunities top
UoM Knowledge Transfer Challenge Open
The KT Challenge offers small grants for concept studies and feasibility studies. If you are interested in developing ideas in collaboration with an industrial partner – developing new technology, or applying existing technology in an industrial setting – please contact Constantinos Astreos.
EPSRC Encouraging Postdoctoral Mobility Between Disciplines Open
EPSRC would like to encourage the transfer of outputs of research between different research disciplines as well as aiding the career development of EPSRC funded PDRAs. In the first instance an extra year of support will be offered. Transfers between the engineering and physical science disciplines and the life sciences are encouraged. There are no closing dates for proposals.
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EPS Teaching & Learning Innovation Fund 26 Nov 07
The fifth round of bids for T&L funding for Schools is now open. Schools may submit bids of up to £10,000 by the deadline of 4pm, Monday, 26th November 2007. See the Guidelines and Application Form. Please let Graham Gough (UG) or Roger Hubbold (PGT) know if you have any ideas.
RAEng Research Exchanges with China and India 3 Dec 07
Enables engineering researchers at UK Higher Education Institutions to travel to a Chinese or Indian Institution, and China/India-based researchers to spend time at a UK Institution. The main objectives are to promote collaboration between high quality engineering researchers in the UK and China/India, strengthen relations between leading partners in these countries and support the expansion of international Networks of Excellence in engineering research, and allow researchers to gain international experience and access world-class expertise.
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EPSRC Partnerships for Public Engagement 4 Dec 07
The scheme is designed to enable active researchers to engage with the public, including young people. It aims to communicate the excitement of fundamental and applied research in science and engineering. Awards are aimed at active researchers, in partnership with their research teams and outside specialists or partner organisations that can provide communication expertise.
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Toshiba Fellowship Programme 7 Dec 07
Offers outstanding European scientists the opportunity to join a high-technology research team in Japan for up to two years.
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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.
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Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chairs Open
Full-time professorial appointments, in any engineering-related subject. The academy particularly welcomes proposals of a multidisciplinary nature. Funding is provided for 5 years.
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RAEng Industrial Secondment Scheme Open
An opportunity for university lecturers in engineering to gain state-of-the-art industrial experience.
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BBSRC International Scientific Interchange Scheme (ISIS) Open
To help scientists make and establish new contacts with their international counterparts.
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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.
None this week
Research Awards top
NaCTeM Phase 2
Funding Body: JISC PI: Sophia Ananiadou Award Amount: £1,365,492 this is in addition to the £476,492 awarded to NaCTeM by JISC earlier in the year
MyExperiment 2
Funding Body: Microsoft PI: Carole Goble Award Amount: $229,657
KSS CASE AWARD
Funding Body: KSS Limited PI: Xiao-Jun Zeng Award Amount: £19,821
Wellcome: Helen Hulme
Funding Body: Wellcome Trust PI: Andy Brass Award Amount: £23,575
