Theoretical Particle Cosmology Group Seminar – Monday

Date: Monday, 6 February 2017 @ 14:00 hrs

Venue: C36

Speaker: Antonio Racioppi
Title: Classical scale invariance and inflation

Abstract:

Classical scale invariance was applied to inflationary model building already from the very first papers. Recently the use of dynamically induced inflaton potentials à la Coleman-Weinberg became again fashionable. In the light of this, we study different applications of classical scale invariance to inflation. Depending on whether classical scale invariance is a property of the full action or just of the scalar potential, we consider three different realizations of Coleman-Weinberg inflation in presence of a non-minimal coupling of the inflaton to gravity. For each realization, we present the most relevant inflationary predictions and distinctive features.

Grainne Wilkinson

 

Use of cryogens and liquid gases

Can we remind people that if you are working with cryogens or liquid gases, you must either have an oxygen depletion monitor fitted in the area or be carrying a portable oxygen depletion monitor wth you. This includes when you are transporting the materials inside the building. You cannot travel with such materials in any of our lifts.
You know it makes sense.

Roger Jones

 

Astrophysics Seminar – Supernovae/Dark Energy – 7th Feb

Title: The Transient Universe: Cosmic Explosions and Dark Energy

Speaker: Mark Sullivan (University of Southampton)

Time: 3pm on 7th February 2017

Venue: Physics C36

Grainne Wilkinson

 

Departmental Library Representatives
Termly Briefing, Lent 2017

This briefing provides a digest of key information from the Library for the Lent term 2017. Please take a few minutes to update yourselves by reading the summary below and help us to communicate by sharing relevant information with staff in your departments.

Annual Departmental Library Reports

We have begun to draft this year’s departmental library reports that will provide an overview of provision over the past year. The reports will include details of progress against the range of actions agreed with departments last year. As previously, we would like to use these reports as the basis for discussion with Library Representatives and Heads of Department to plan for the year ahead.

Please could all Departmental Library Representatives arrange for a meeting to be scheduled with their Heads of Department during March or April. Please contact Phil Cheeseman, Head of Academic Services in relation to this.

 

Departmental Library Representatives Lunch

We would like to invite all Departmental Library Representatives to join members of the Academic Services team for lunch on Wednesday 1st March, between 12:00 and 13:30. A separate invitation will follow this briefing.

Trial of new system for online resource lists

A project has recently begun to evaluate a potential replacement for Talis Aspire, the system currently being used to provide online Resource Lists. The product being reviewed is called Leganto (http://www.exlibrisgroup.com/category/Leganto ), part of the suite of tools that also includes OneSearch. Between now and the end of March the Library will be exploring the potential benefits offered by Leganto and will be approaching a number of existing users of Resource Lists as part of the investigation.

Any Library reps or other academic staff interested in finding out more should contact Phil Cheeseman ( p.cheeseman@lancaster.ac.uk )

Library & Information skills programme

The Library & Information skills programme continues on through the Lent term, providing interactive workshops and talks aimed at staff, postgraduates and undergraduates at Lancaster University. This term’s sessions are open for registrations and offer in-depth guidance on finding information sources including company information, grey literature, visual sources and historical primary sources. There are also research focussed sessions covering data management and open access.

Research Bites

The Research Bitesprogramme focusses on open research in February with sessions on publishing data, ResearchFish, Pure and open access. Research Bites are short, informal sessions aimed at the research community at Lancaster University, which includes postgraduates, research students and staff. These sessions are also now live streamed, extending access to those that are unable to attend the sessions including staff and students off-campus.

Details of the wide range of sessions that were offered over the past year, including some recorded sessions and additional materials, are available on the Research Bites blog.

Learning development

The Learning Development team has been extended with the arrival in December of Nel Boswood as Learning Development Manager. In February Elena Luchinskaya will join the team as Maths Advisor. Elena will continue to provide support for FST as well as extending provision more broadly across the University.

Student Learning Advisors are offering a broad range of activities in faculties this term. Together with the Academic Liaison Librarians, they are additionally providing drop-in sessions for all students in the Learning Zone.

Details of both faculty and central provision can be found on the Learning and Skills Development website together with information on learning development opportunities provided by ISS, the enterprise team and a number of other services.

Open Access, Research Data Management and ORCID

If you have any questions on Open Access, Research Data Management or ORCID, Library provides support and training sessions on a 1-1 or group basis. Please get in touch with openaccess@lancaster.ac.uk for Open Access and rdm@lancaster.ac.uk
for Research Data Management enquiries. If you would like to find out more on how your department can develop an Open Access, Research Data Management or ORCID strategy, especially in the light of REF consultation, please contact Masud Khokhar (masud.khokhar@lancaster.ac.uk)

 

Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) audit and digitisation service
At the beginning of this academic year the Library launched a central digitisation serviceto provide high quality licence-compliant scans from print originals for your students to access on Moodle. The scans are accessible for students with disabilities and comply with our licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency which governs how scanned material can be made available in higher education.
Requests for digitisation can be placed online at:http://lib-digitisation.lancaster.ac.uk/
In November 2016 the University was audited by the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) to assess use of and compliance with the licence. The audit highlighted a number of areas of good practice and particularly endorsed the introduction of a central service as an effective measure to assist academic staff in making best use of the licence for scanning.
An action plan addressing actions and recommendations identified during the audit is currently being developed with further details to follow.
If you would like more information about the audit or the digitisation service please get in touch at academicliaison@lancaster.ac.uk .

Library – LUSU considerate working campaign

Student use of the library continues to exceed that seen in previous years. With this high demand for study space there are frequently concerns raised by students about the behaviour of other users. As part of a response to this the Library is working with the Students’ Union on a considerate working campaign to tackle issues of noise, mess and space-hogging.

Jonathan Gratus

 

Physics Refurbishment – Weekly Update

Please see below details of scheduled works on the Physics refurbishment project for week commencing Monday 30th January.

Physics scheduled works:

• New toilet block drainage – complete
• Demolition to level A toilet block – complete
• Re-roofing works – low noise, no vibration
• Window installation – medium noise, minimal vibration
• Scaffolding – minimal noise, minimal vibration
• New toilet block façade works – medium noise, minimal vibration
• M&E builders work – high noise, medium vibration
• M&E 1st fix – medium noise, medium vibration
• M&E 2nd fix – medium noise, minimum vibration
• 1st fix partition works – medium noise, medium vibration
• 2nd fix partition works – medium noise, minimum vibration
• 1st fix joinery works – medium noise, minimum vibration
• 2nd fix joinery works – medium noise, minimum vibration
• Plastering – minimum noise, no vibration
• Mist coat decoration – minimal noise, no vibration

Should you have any queries regarding the project please contact the Senior Project Manager, Helen Wood, via the Facilities Helpdesk on facilities.helpdesk@lancaster.ac.uk or 01524 593333.

Louisa Duff

 

VC Visit

The VC will visit Physics on Tues 21 February from 1300-1500hrs. The format and venues for the visit are given below and I’d be grateful if you could make a note in your diaries.

Part One (1300 – 1345hrs)               Venue – B10
Head of department and their leadership/management team
The two questions Mark wants to discuss are:
1. Their reflections on the NSS 2016 outcomes, the strengths and weaknesses and work they have done ready for NSS 2017.
2. In the strategy refresh what they as department they would like to see added/updated.

Part Two (1345 – 1500hrs)               Venue – C36
Whole department
Mark will talk for approximately 25 minutes followed by general questions from the department.

Gráinne Wilkinson