eNews 6 September
eNews: Life-saving collaboration, Celebrate Our Staff, employee engagement survey update, personal tutoring, and more.
In this week’s eNews:
- Celebrate
- Feedback
- Thought pieces
- Community
- Campus life
- Digital developments
- Research
- Learning and development
- Events
Celebrate
Life-saving collaboration honoured
“During the past three-and-a-half years, there has been such a collegiate effort to tackle the unprecedented challenge of a pandemic.
“The Gabor Medal is for leadership of a multidisciplinary approach, but I feel this award really belongs to the huge number of people I’ve had the pleasure of working with in the UK and internationally, who helped save countless lives during an extremely difficult time.
“Every time I look at it, I’ll think of those who worked alongside me. I’ve learned so much from my work in recent years to know that it’s important to reinvest this kind award from the Royal Society into another collaborative study.”
Professor Cath Noakes has been awarded the 2023 Gabor Medal by the Royal Society – its highest distinction for interdisciplinary work between life sciences and other specialties – for her collaborative efforts to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the full story on For Staff.
Celebrate Our Staff – August 2023
Fellowships, a presentation to Parliament and a ride for freedom feature in our regular series celebrating colleagues across the University. Contact internalcomms@leeds.ac.uk to make a submission for the next roll of honour.
Student recruitment success
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Simone Buitendijk wrote to all colleagues on 1 September thanking everyone for their contribution to the University hitting its institutional student recruitment target.
Feedback
Employee engagement survey update
Chief Operating Officer Rachel Brealey updates on the University's response to the employee engagement survey.
Thought pieces
Inside Track | A community-led approach to academic personal tutoring
Academic personal tutoring is a vital component of our student education offering at Leeds. Rachael O’Connor, the University’s new Academic Lead for Personal Tutoring, explains how she intends to support personal tutoring at Leeds and ensure it’s at the heart of our community.
Community
Technician Survey
4-29 September
The Technician Survey was launched ‘for technicians, by technicians’ on 4 September and will give us a greater understanding of our invaluable technical community here at Leeds. The survey forms part of the Technician Commitment, which the University signed up to in 2018. Watch a new video to hear from technical colleagues across the University who explain why they will be completing the survey this month.
Book now | Ilkley Literature Festival
6-22 October
Tickets are now on sale for the Ilkley Literature Festival, with a host of Leeds colleagues taking to the stage as it celebrates its 50th year. With discussions on topics including Dickens, sugar and genetics, as well as several poetry performances, Leeds colleagues will once again be sharing their work across the town during the Festival, which has had strong links to the School of English since it started in 1973.
Nominate | British Council Study UK Alumni Awards
Nominations for the British Council Study UK Alumni Awards are now open. Open to all alumni based outside the UK who have graduated since 2008, the awards are looking for global applicants you feel deserve to be recognised for their work around the world in a range of fields – including science, sustainability, social impact and culture. Email alumni@leeds.ac.uk to share your recommendations or to find out more. For more inspiration read the success stories of Leeds' finalists and winners from this year.
Vote | miaList Awards 2023
The University’s Conferences and Events team has been shortlisted in three categories at the prestigious Meetings Industry Association (miaList) Awards 2023, including in the ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Leading Positive Change category’, which recognises outstanding effort in these areas within the UK business meetings and events industry. Voting is on the miaList website and closes on 8 September.
Campus life
ESA Fringe Conference 2023
11-15 September
The University will welcome 500 visitors from the space industry to campus as we host the 12th International Workshop on ‘Advances in the Science and Applications of SAR Interferometry and Sentinel-1 InSAR’ which has been organised alongside the European Space Agency. Using radar waves to penetrate tough weather conditions, InSAR uses satellites to map ground deformation with potentially life-saving benefits.
Ten minutes with our Interior Designer
Meet Alex Lilley, Interior Designer in the Facilities Directorate. Alex is currently working on projects in the EC Stoner building and The Edge, as well as other multifunctional spaces across campus.
Ending soon | Leeds Bear Hunt
The Leeds Bear Hunt draws to a close on 9 September but there’s still time to find Spectrum Bear on campus. The family-friendly art trail has been raising money for Leeds Hospitals Charity with 35 bears having popped up all over the city.
New disability-related books added to campus libraries
Carly Miller from the Disability Services team recently worked with Josh Sendall, the Deputy University Librarian, to add to the University's selection of books about disability. 14 new books are now available across libraries on campus. Read the full list of books and where to find them.
Donations welcome | Careers Centre ‘Interview Wardrobe’ project
Do you have workwear you no longer need? Student Careers, in partnership with the Leeds University Business School, are creating an ‘Interview Wardrobe’ to help students and graduates in need. Formally launching this month, the Wardrobe will be accepting donations from 10am to 4pm at 5-7 Cromer Terrace and will be open to all students, in particular those from underrepresented and widening participation backgrounds.
Digital developments
Do you want to engage with 3D insect models?
Fancy contributing to our scientific understanding by learning how your brain activity changes as you perform different actions? Maybe you’d like to engage with 3D, fully textured insect models? Or perhaps you’d prefer to discover how gaming technologies can increase student engagement? These and many other fascinating events are being hosted by the University as part of our sponsorship of Leeds Digital Festival (LDF) 2023. Check out our full LDF 2023 programme and find out how you can get involved.
HELIX | Discover our brand new digital learning hub
11am to 3pm, 28 September
HELIX is a brand-new digital learning hub for students, staff, the wider University and the local community. As part of Leeds Digital Festival 2023, we’re delighted to welcome you to this exciting space for a celebration of all things digital at the University. Either drop-in to explore HELIX and discover the latest digital innovations across teaching and research (no booking required), join a guided tour of the space or participate in a hands-on demonstration by booking a free ticket for your chosen time slot.
Identity and Access Management project testing
The Identity and Access Management (IDAM) project is now entering a testing phase before going live at the end of September. Once live, new staff will automatically get their username to securely log on to University systems, removing the need to apply separately. Email IDAM-Project@leeds.ac.uk if you have any questions.
Research
Digital dentistry firm receives £2m seed funding
Mimetrik, a spin-out company from the University, has received investment to accelerate the development of AI dentistry products.
Apply | Research England funding
Applications are now open for funding for policy and participatory research projects in 2023-24. Visit the 2023/24 Research England SharePoint site for details, guidance and application forms relating to all three funding calls. The submission deadline is 13 September for the two policy-related calls and 22 September for the participatory research-related call. Contact knowledge-exchange@leeds.ac.uk if you have any questions.
Horizons Institute Connect Fund
The Horizons Institute launched the Horizons Connect Fund on 4 September. This provides awards of up to £4,000 for research-focused staff to explore early-stage, challenge-led partnerships with a third sector organisation. An online application surgery is taking place to answer any questions on 26 September.
Register | Research Network for Time launch event
Solving today’s global challenges depends not only upon the actions we take in the present, but on how we view yesterday and how we plan for tomorrow. Time plays a fundamental role in our lives, so why not join the Research Network for Time launch event on 14-15 September. The network will operate during the coming academic year to tackle questions around understanding and measuring time, how the past informs our understanding in the present and future, and how technology and globalisation have changed our experiences of time.
LGBT+ Staff Network | Call for academic guest speakers
The LGBT+ Staff Network is planning to showcase examples of active research from across the University on LGBT+ focused or associated themes, as part of its programme for LGBT+ History Month in February 2024. The Network is inviting early expressions of interest from colleagues who would like to participate. To register your interest in speaking, please fill out the call-out form.
Learning and development
Technicians Week
18-22 September
Check out the programme for Technicians Week 2023 if you haven’t already, featuring tours of technician-run spaces, career development workshops, sustainability events and more. Several events are open to all colleagues, creating a fantastic opportunity to find out more about the amazing work of our technicians in research and student education. You’ll get the chance to explore different facilities and equipment on campus whilst meeting other colleagues from across the University.
Build your Scholarship Practice: Impact in and through Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
10am to 12 noon, 18 September
Book your place at the final workshop of the 2022/23 Build your Scholarship Practice programme. The session will feature a panel of high-profile Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) researchers who will share their experiences of planning and delivering impact. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and work with peers to explore practical examples and resources for delivering impact.
Development drop-in session (Grades 2-5) and Macmillan Coffee Morning
10am to 12 noon, 26 September
Attend the next drop-in session at the LOGIK Centre to find out more about personal and professional development for colleagues in roles graded two to five and for the Macmillan Coffee Morning. There’s no need to book for the event and all colleagues are welcome - including those who support colleagues in roles graded two to five.
Policy Engagement Kickstart programme
Book your place on the autumn Policy Engagement Kickstart programme. It takes place in person on 24 October, 7 November, 21 November and 5 December. Aimed at researchers and research support staff, it will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to engage with policy makers. The winter Policy Engagement Kickstart programme will run online from February 2024 and is available to book now.
Events
Exhibition | Any work that wanted doing
From 8 September
A new artwork by writer and Lifelong Learning Centre Teaching Fellow Becky Cherriman, in collaboration with textile artist Becky Moore, will be exhibited for Leeds Museums and Galleries as part of the Leeds 2023 Year of Culture. Entitled ‘My Sisters Hugged Me to Work’, the piece will be displayed as part of the ‘Any work that wanted doing’ exhibition at Leeds Industrial Museum, which consists of work made by disabled artists and highlights the hidden histories of disabled textile mill workers and their contributions to heritage and contemporary culture.
Cycle to Work webinars
11.30am, 14 and 28 September and 12 and 26 October
The Cycle to Work scheme, Cyclescheme, is hosting open-to-all webinars during September and October. Providing a run through of the benefits of the scheme, how much money you can save and how to get started, as well as offering the chance to ask questions, you can sign up for the Zoom sessions online.
Tickets now available | TEDxUniversityofLeeds
19 September
Join us at TEDxUniversityofLeeds to hear from twelve inspiring speakers, including Paralympian Kadeena Cox OBE, Dean for Online Education Dr Margaret Korosec and Jamie Crummie, Leeds alum and founder of waste reduction app Too Good To Go. Tickets for the event, which will inspire and empower attendees to make a positive impact on the world, are now available. Follow TEDxUniversityofLeeds on social media for the latest updates.
Register | HealthTech Showcase
27 September
Showcasing the breadth of HealthTech research at the University, this one-day event will highlight the work and perspectives of Early Career Researchers, take a look at the development of people and ideas in the industry, and offer the opportunity to share expertise between academics, clinicians and business through presentations and a networking tea.
Tell us your story
We’d like to hear about the great work you’re doing. Contact internalcomms@leeds.ac.uk to share your stories.
Keeping up to date
You can keep up to date with our latest news on the For Staff website and by following the staff Twitter account.
With best wishes,
The Internal Communications and Engagement team