School of CS newsletter

The building work around the courtyard is continuing: before new windows can be installed around the courtyard and the (currently unused) walkway be turned into new usable meetings space, work is to be undertaken to remove asbestos which currently sits above the courtyard windows. All this will be done from outside, in the courtyard, but require some sealing off of these windows, hence some plastic sheeting will be applied to the inside of these windows.  This work should take around 8 days and will affect all 4 sides of the courtyard (including the common room). It is good to see the work progressing and the end of the courtyard work is in sight; this leaves the walkway to come back into use as social space. As usual, we will have to crave your tolerance and patience.

The President will visit the school on Tuesday 28th November.  There will be an open meeting with Undergraduate and PostgraduateStudents at 3pm in Kilburn 2.15, then at 15:30 there will be an open meeting with staff to include opening address by the President and Vice-Chancellor followed by Q&A session also in Kilburn 2.15.

Between 4th-10th December Blackwell's will be increasing the University staff discount from 10% to 15% (so it's a good week to come and grab anything you've had your eye on/do some Christmas shopping).

School Christmas Party will be on Wednesday 13th December in the Staff & PGR Common Room - there will be the usual mix of socialising, festive quiz, music and pizza - from 3.30pm

The University of Manchester, along with Manchester City Council and Clicks & Links invite you to a drop in session between 9.30 and 12am on Wednesday 29th of November at the Central Library to discuss and explore the concept of Manchester-I, the long-term vision for a City Data Management system.

There are an increasing number of data sources producing real-time data within Greater Manchester. Exploiting these data sources gives us opportunities to maximise the performance of the city infrastructure and improve the experience of residents, visitors and businesses.

The availability of open data can stimulate the creation of digital products and services that enhance people’s lives. Data can also inform the long-term development of a city, with planners able to better understand the constraints resulting from the existing infrastructure.

This event will introduce the concept of Manchester-I, a portal for city-related data that aims to improve the different aspects of the city life through a data-centric approach to governance, business and community.  In this early stage of the development of Manchester-I we are leveraging smart-city projects currently run in Manchester to collect and offer access to data from a number of different sources.

A short presentation introducing Manchester-I at 9.45 will be followed by a chance to discuss the vision and explore the current system.

If you would like to attend please register your place using this link

Light refreshments will be provided during the session.

Manchester-I has been developed by the University of Manchester, and is funded by Triangulum, a European Research and Innovation project based in the Manchester Oxford Road Corridor, exploring innovative solutions to energy efficiency, sustainable urban transport and ICT challenges.