News in brief, 8 April, 2019

Published: 8 April 2019

A round-up of news across the University

Ferguson Bequest applications

The Ferguson Bequest was left to the University by Professor Tom Ferguson to foster the social side of University life.

The Ferguson Bequest Committee would like to encourage applications for funding to be considered at its meeting in May. The Committee is keen to promote any type of activity that encourages staff to socialise together and some suggestions so far are:

• Campaigns across campus that might encourage staff participation in sport/relaxation activities
• A wider range of ticketed events with emphasis on celebrating the culture of Glasgow
• Gaelic language events
• Events and initiatives with a sustainability theme

Applications forms can be found at: 

https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/courtoffice/fergusonbequest/applicationforfunding/

For more information, please contact Rhona Little in the Court Office: Rhona.little@glasgow.ac.uk

Important Information Regarding Examinations and other Assessments

Sent on behalf of Professor Jill Morrison, Clerk of Senate and Vice Principal

To: All Staff

Dear Colleagues

Information for students on examinations has been circulated to students and is available at https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_194090_en.pdf. This reminds students about prohibited materials in examination rooms and also about procedures relating to illness or other circumstances which either prevent students from attending examinations (or handing in assessments), or affect their performance in them.

We are continuing to reinforce the importance of submitting this information on time (within five working days of the date of the affected assessment) to try and reduce the numbers delaying release of information on mitigating circumstances until after Exam Boards. I would therefore be grateful if you could support us in conveying this message by reminding any of your students who may be affected by adverse circumstances of the University's procedures. This will help to ensure that students are treated consistently.

Thank you.

Jill Morrison

Im/Material event #1: Place and Performance.

Virtual Encounters with Material Worlds

When: 15 April, 2019, 16.00018.00

Where: Kelvin Hall Lecture Theatre

Speakers: Stuart Jeffrey (Glasgow School of Art); Malath Abbas (Biome Collective); Catherine Clarke (School of Advanced Study, University of London).

Moderator: Rachel Opitz (University of Glasgow)

What impact will immersive experiences have on public space? Public places are where we interact with one another; where we gather to perform our daily social rituals, observe our neighbours, and interact. Our use of space is shaped by a range of organisational, aesthetic, and functional factors. The materiality of space overtly and subtly shapes our interactions with and within these environments. The impact which immersive experience will have upon our experience of places remains poorly understood.

Understandings of the interplay between place and human behaviour underpins a wide range of fields, from marketing to architecture to anthropology. This event brings together speakers from research and industry to focus on the key research areas and drivers related to place and performance.

The im/material Place and Performance event will be based around a series of questions including: what happens when we introduce immersive technologies that add a new set of immaterial cues to public spaces? How do individual digital experiences, AR or XR experiences in public spaces affect interactions that have developed assuming a shared place-based context? Can immersive technologies and experiences be used to affect positive changes in public interactions? How might immersive experiences help us to understand social and performative uses of built spaces?

Im/material event#2 : Playing in Im/material worlds, will be held at the same time in Abertay University.

Walking the West Highland Way for SAMH

ISS, GUSA and SPORT have teamed up to organise a sponsored walk for the charity the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH). We will be walking the first day of the world-famous ‘West Highland Way’.  This event will bring together home students and international students to demonstrate the physical and mental health benefits of enjoying the great outdoors (and show off our especially beautiful Scottish countryside). A few members of staff have asked for details of the WHW Walk we are doing with students.

These are the three walks we will be doing:

Option 1- Milngavie to Beechtree 8 miles
Option 2- Milngavie to Drymen 12 miles
Option 3- Milngavie to Balmaha 19 miles

We will be doing the walk on Thursday, 18 April 2019, during the SRC ‘Exam De-Stress’ campaign. We have around 70 students taking part and we would like your positive thoughts for good weather on the day!!

If you have walked the WHW and have any photos or experiences/tips you would like to share please pass them on as many of the students have expressed their interest in grouping together and walking the entire walk - sometime in the future (!!)

If you or anyone you know supports SAMH, donations can be made via our link: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/uofgwhwwalk19 

Lisa Milne

International Student Adviser

Glasgow Science Festival shortlisted for Scottish Hospitality Awards 2019

Glasgow Science Festival has been shortlisted for ‘Best Scottish Festival’ at this year’s Scottish Hospitality Awards.

In 2018, Glasgow Science Festival brought fun, innovative STEM events to over 50,000 people across the city. 854 partner staff and volunteers took part and over 90% of events were free to attend, giving the public the chance to explore everything from astronomy to zoology.

This is the second time Glasgow Science Festival has been recognised at these awards, after picking up a win for the 2017 festival last year.

Festival Director Dr Deborah McNeill said: “After last year’s win, we are thrilled to once again be shortlisted for Best Scottish Festival at the Scottish Hospitality Awards. This recognition is testament to the hard work of hundreds of staff, students and volunteers, who make our festival a success year after year. We look forward to the ceremony in May and to another round of quality science at this year’s Glasgow Science Festival from 6-16 June.”

The Scottish Hospitality Awards will take place on 27 May at the Crowne Plaza.

Glasgow Science Festival will run from 6-16 June this year. The programme is launched on 24 April at: http://www.glasgowsciencefestival.org.uk


First published: 8 April 2019