Radiotherapy and Machine Learning for Head and Neck Cancer

Calendar entry: 10th March 2020, Lancaster University
Details: This one day workshop aims to provide a platform to exchange ideas, raise awareness of recent developments and stimulate discussion on data oriented research into Head and Neck (H&N) cancer. This is a free event funded by Research England through the Quality-related and Innovation’s Strategic Priorities Fund (QR-SPF).

The day will introduce clinicians to some basic Machine Learning and statistical techniques with a focus on the importance of clinical expertise being embedded into these models. The need for large datasets and the ongoing dialogue required to improve and fine-tune models will also be explored. H&N cancer is an identified target area of improvement for the Northwest, therefore, it lends itself to increased impact and methodological benefit of the interacting expertise. Support from the northwest cancer research charity will highlight funding opportunities and the heightened problems with H&N cancer in the area.

For more information and to register please visit the workshop website http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/rt-ml-head-neck-cancer/ and the Eventbrite booking page https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/91620151339

Grainne Wilkinson

 

Facilities works

Fire door interface inspections will take place in Physics on 2nd March 2020 from 9am.
Every month the University is required to test the interface between the fire alarm system and door control systems in all buildings with access control and/or automatic doors.

This work is undertaken by Honeywell Control Systems Ltd and requires the physical inspection of all doors controlled by the access control system while the fire alarm is active and the doors are locked. This check is to ensure that all doors on escape routes will allow evacuation in the event that the fire alarm is activated. In most cases the alarm will be silenced during the inspection, but for some older systems, where it is not possible to silence the alarm, the checks have to be conducted while the alarm is sounding. Owing for the requirement for the doors to be locked during this test some buildings, where access is required during the week, will be tested at the weekend.

Shonah Ion

 

Safety Induction

The next safety Induction will take place on 5th March at 2pm in B24. Please ensure that any new members of staff attend as part of their general induction to Lancaster.

Shonah Ion

 

Safety Audit – 2 weeks away

The Department will be audited by the University safety office starting on the 16th March. Please ensure  you have assessed the hazards associated with your work and have them suitably controlled and that this is documented on the correct forms, available from   https://portal.lancaster.ac.uk/intranet/services/people/health-and-safety/risk-assessment/

Shonah Ion

 

MSI Small Grants Scheme – call now open

The call for the MSI Small Grants scheme is now open. The deadline for applications to be submitted to msi@lancaster.ac.uk is 5pm on Friday 13th March. Please find the full call details below.

Funds are available to stimulate cross-disciplinary research across the MSI with the objectives of pump priming research activities that lead to outputs that raise the profile of the MSI and/ or generate new research funding or new research projects.

One of the outcomes of the MSI “mid-term” five-year review is the finding that new research activities and collaborations are being limited by road blocks such as a lack of funds to meet modest access charges for facilities; or a lack of funding for a “pair of hands” (e.g. intern students) to undertake short projects to generate data. One of the focuses of this call is to help early career researchers navigate these unnecessary blockages to getting new research started.

Over 2 separate calls, up to £16,000 will be released (in approximately equal blocks) to support cross-disciplinary research activity (involving researchers in 2 or more departments) where the research activity can be aligned to one of the four MSI themes on the MSI website: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/msi.  All proposals must be consistent with the aim to strengthen future materials science and engineering within the MSI and Lancaster.

Funding will be in the range of £500-£1500 and is eligible to academics within FST and FHM (or even more broadly) for research to support any of the following:

•       Access to equipment (where charges apply)
•       Applications for a number of days access as opposed to one-off access are preferred
•       Small items of equipment – in full or as leverage
•       Travel and accommodation (for new collaborations, but not conferences as these are subject to a different call.)
•       Intern students (e.g. summer projects)
•       Workshops

Other ideas may be supported.

Proposals must address (a template for responses is attached to this email):

• What is that activity to be supported
• Why it can’t be undertaken currently
• A short biography on the applicants
• A short background to the research topic demonstrating interdisciplinarity
• A description of the nature of the research/activity to be undertaken and why it is important
• The anticipated outcomes of the research / activity and how these will be turned into outcomes;
  • E.g. the outcome is data and the output will be the data will support a grant application
• A workplan, with at least one deliverable (against which the project can be assessed after completion)

All successful applicants will be expected to:

• Complete a one-page report to explain how the funding was used
• Present outcomes at a future MSI colloquium if requested

Proposals will be reviewed by a panel comprising MSI Theme Leaders and Deputy Directors.
Please note that any applications must be submitted to msi@lancaster.ac.uk

If you have any queries please direct them to the MSI email account or get in touch with Rob, it is hoped that we would be able to indicate if applications were successful before the end of March 2020.

Lizzie McAdam

 

Physics Colloquium

County South Lecture Theatre (A70)
Thursday 5 March 2020
3:00pm to 4:00pm

Quantum time-crystals

Speaker: Prof. Rosario Fazio

Sergey Kafanov

 

Physics Colloquium

Frankland LT
Friday 6 March 2020
3:00pm to 4:00pm

Revision of the International System of Units

Speaker: Prof. JT Janssen

Sergey Kafanov

 

University Safety Audit of the Department

The Department will be undergoing a safety audit from the University’s safety office beginning on the 16th March. This will be lead by Alan Deane, assisted by Wendy Guest. They will interview people and ask to see examples of risk, COSHH, manual handling assessments and other documentation.
Please give them every assistance and of course make sure your “own house is in order.” All existing documentation from the Departmental safety files on BOX is now on the S drive under Safety and then similar headings to what we had on BOX. So you can check and update as necessary.
Please, please, please use the current risk assessment form which is available from the University’s safety web pages ( under “Health and safety “ from the A – Z index on the staff intranet) in the risk assessment section.

Shonah Ion

 

Safety Induction

The next safety induction will take place on Thursday 5th March at 2pm in B24. Please ensure any new members of staff attend.

Shonah Ion

 

All staff need to complete the new Diversity on-line module

A new Diversity module, launched last term, means the recorded completion rates for EDI mandatory training has been reset to 0%.
This means that all staff need to complete the new Diversity module, and then any of the other mandatory courses as necessary.
Dashboards are being developed for HoDs and PS Directors to be able to monitor the mandatory training completion rates for their teams around Information Governance, Health and Safety, EDI and, in time, mental health awareness. HoDs and PS Directors will receive a separate communication informing them of how to access the dashboards, once live.

Shonah Ion

 

Java

Just a reminder, if you’ve got Java on your computer you’ll need to uninstall it as it now carries a licence fee from Oracle.

Rob Lewsey

 

A better place? Fostering inclusion in academia and industry

A one-day event to discuss best practice for supporting the career progression of underrepresented groups in STEM, with the aim of sharing best practice between academia and industry.

Wednesday, March 4th –
Private Dining Room, Lancaster University

https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/a-better-place/

Follow the website for updates on the program of the event!

Elisabetta Boella