Iain Bertram Farewell
I have only been back for a few weeks and it is time to fly off to Australia again. I leave after I have finished my teaching on the morning of Friday 25 March.
After some reflection after my recent health problems (which I have started recovering from) I plan to resign my post at the University (I will work remotely over the summer).
This means that this is likely to be my last visit to the UK while working for Lancaster University.
I would like to offer some refreshments in C36 on Wednesday 23 March at 4pm to say good bye before I go followed by a drink at the White Cross.
If you cannot make it drop me a line and we can arrange an alternative (Friday evening drinks).
If you cannot make the Wednesday 23 March gathering drop me I cand meet up at the White Cross on Friday 18 March from 6pm.. Drop me an email if you are interested…
Iain Bertram
LUniverse planetarium will be at FST Science Week on April 1st
We’re pleased to announce that LUniverse will be hosting planetarium shows on campus on Friday 1st April as part of FST science week. So if you’re interested in the inflatable planetarium experience now’s your chance!
You can book your space on libcal, by browsing the FST calendar for 1st April, or searching for “LUniverse” in the libcal landing page.
Note that there are multiple libcal links for the different show times, so please pick the one that suits your schedule best.
Julie Wardlow
Looking for potential candidates for research grants in physics (Nuclear and Particle)
I am writing to you with regards to our Physics Foundation, aiming to locate potential candidates for research grants in physics (Nuclear and Particle). Our association aims to promote research on open problems in Nuclear and Particle Physics, and we are looking for relevant candidates for our grants in the fields listed on our website, https://oprassn.org/grants/
Deadline 14th April 2022
Hagar Kedem
Grainne Wilkinson
The Mysterious Growth of Cold Quasars
Online (MS Teams)
Monday 21 March 2022
3:00pm to 4:00pm
Astrophysics Webinar
Speaker: Dr. Allison Kirkpatrick (University of Kansas)
Izzy Garland
Condensed Matter Seminar
Physics C036
Friday 25 March 2022
3:00pm to 4:00pm
Title to follow
Speaker: Kyle Ballantine (Lancaster University)
Michael Thompson
FREE Health Assessments for all Staff
At the start of Term 2, the Sports Centre provided free Health Assessments and due to the popularity and success, we have decided to bring the Health Assessments to campus, to all the various Departments.
What is a Health Assessment?
Health Assessments are completed using a Tanita Body Scan machine. The Tanita is a scale that sends a very small electrical current through your body that will tell you not just your weight but also measures muscle, fat, bone, water, leaving you with up to 21 different results.
After only 20 seconds the calculations made can tell you lots of details about the composition of your body. The information gained can help you progress to an improved, healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
A qualified Instructor will take you through the assessment and talk through the results, all which will take around 5-10minutes.
(Please be aware a reading if you are pregnant or have an electrical implant)
What do you need to do?
The readings will appear on the MyWellness app, so if you can download this app before, it will save you some time.
5 easy steps on how to set up your MyWellness Account
- Go to your app/play store and download the MyWellness app (app description: yellow cloud with a black background)
- Create a MyWellness account, following the steps
- To ensure you get access to all of the features of the app, tick all of the consent boxes
- Select ‘continue’
- Insert code – lancsuni (all lowercase)
No appointment needed, just turn up on the day during the time specified – Where: Ground Floor FASS Building Date: 31/03/22 Time: 11.30am – 1.30pm
What to expect?
You will be asked to remove your shoes and socks, to get an accurate reading. Those in tights, do not worry, it will still work with them on, you will just need to remove your shoes.
You will hold on to the hand grips and a reading will take place.
You don’t feel anything and it should take no more than 20seconds.
The Instructor will discuss some of the readings with you
Any questions feel free to get in touch with Sam Cadwallader s.cadwallader@lancaster.ac.uk
Philip Simpson
Staff Awards 2022
The awards are currently open for nominations with a deadline of 31st March and they provide an opportunity to recognise colleagues who have done something amazing in the past 12 months.
For 2022 there are six award categories:
- Apprentice of the Year Award
- Pilkington Teaching Award
- Outstanding Contribution Award
- Research Impact Award
- Environmental Impact Award
- International Impact Award
You can nominate any member of Lancaster University staff, no matter their role.
This year, you can nominate an individual, team or community – any team nomination for more than 20 individuals will become a community award.
All winners will receive a prize package including a monetary prize and an invitation to a special Staff Awards celebration event. This year’s event will host winners of the 2020 and 2021 Staff Awards too.
As all employees of the University have made a huge contribution over and above their normal efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A separate event to recognise this contribution will be announced soon.
Please visit the Staff Awards webpage for more information and to make your nomination.
If you have any questions, please email staffawards@lancaster.ac.uk.
Philip Simpson
Workshop: how to write an Expression of Interest (EOI) in response to research funding calls
Thursday, 5th May 2022 – 2:00-4:00 pm
Due to popular demand it has been decided to run the above workshop again.
This Workshop will run on Thursday, 5th May 2022 from 2:00-4:00 pm. The workshop will be held in MAN – Mngt School Dormer LT14 WPA002.
Purpose: EOIs are an increasingly important stage in the process of acquiring funding for research. Calls involving EOIs are often highly competitive and can be reviewed by panellists who are not domain experts, therefore it is important that researchers approach the writing of EOIs with this in mind. This workshop is designed to help you write a competitive EOI.
The session will be organised jointly between LUMS and FST and will be led by Professor Nick Race (Dept of Computing & Communications) who has a strong track record of funding success from UK Research Councils, the European Commission and Industry. In preparation, you will be provided with a set of example EOIs and asked to review these prior to the workshop.
We only have limited availability, so please confirm your place ASAP.
Participants will be asked to work in groups, therefore attendance in person will be required.
Should you like to attend, please contact me, Teresa Aldren (t.aldren@lancaster.ac.uk) to register for the workshop.
Teresa Aldren
MSI Workshop – How has the pandemic affected your research?
You are invited to a workshop to discuss how the pandemic has impacted your research.
Whilst this event is open to all MSI researchers, from post doctoral workers through to established research leaders, the focus will be on those earlier in their career.
Beyond providing an opportunity for discussing common issues and identifying easily implementable solutions, this event will frame an MSI call for research proposals (ca. £2-5k) that will be launched immediately, with the aim to give a further boost to materials research across the University.
We are open to what we will support, e.g. you may need to build or to test a piece of kit; to travel somewhere; or to generate a paper or grant application. Or something entirely different. We need to know what you want to do, so that we can find a way to support it. You may know already what you want to do, or that may become clearer on the day when we consider the possibilities together. But either way, if you pitch something to us, we’ll make sure we get back to you with a response within a day or two. Indeed, we are hoping that we can make at least one commitment of funding on the day!
Please come along to the Reading Room at the Storey Institute on Wednesday 23 March at 12pm where we’ll give you a good lunch, find out what’s needed and between us come up with a way to make that happen.
We’ll be finished no later than 4pm.
Register early with Rachel by email (r.lyon@lancaster.ac.uk or msi@lancaster.ac.uk) as we will be restricted by space.
Grainne Wilkinson
Support in difficult times
While the conflicts between nations are between governments, individuals are affected (and may have strong feelings). May I take this opportunity to remind people that individuals in the Department may be deeply troubled by events, not least because of their concerns for friends and family. Please take this into account in your interactions and expectations, and to the extent where we can help as a Department we will. If you need help, including counselling and emotional support, this can be accessed through the Employee Assistance Programme
https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/staff-wellbeing/be-aware/eap/#d.en.440840
With emotions likely to be running high, please also remember that we expect that individuals will be treated with respect within the Department.
Roger Jones
Dolphin Pod (6th of April ) open for health related research ideas- sign up now
Reminder that the next Dolphin Pod (6th of April 1pm) for health related research is now open to sign up for across the University to all academic staff and post-grad students. https://livelancsac-my.sharepoint.com/:x:/g/personal/lobban_lancaster_ac_uk/EXC5eOx-zQVHsri2MAsb31QBA9OcWB2wb-j8xyOm2cBmkg?e=C4Y8r0
Last month we had fish from across FST, FASS and FHM. The 20 minutes went very quickly so feel free to sign up for a double slot it’s a new project or a broad question.
There is no pod happening in March due to the strike
The Dolphin Pod is safe space to get support with any health related research ideas or grant applications. We have been running this for a while in DHR but we are opening it up across the Uni due to popular demand and to encourage more inter-disciplinary working. The Dolphin Pod is a monthly event (first Wednesday of the month 1-2pm).
Each month, we would like to see 3 “Dolphins” sign up to offer feedback and suggestions on the research ideas presented by 3 “fish” swimming towards research success. All research active staff are welcome to sign up as a fish to get support – but are also encouraged to have a go at signing up as a Dolphin to offer their support to others. I am signed up as a Dolphin for all sessions so would be delighted for you to join me.
Each fish is allocated 20 mins to swim with the Dolphins and can use the time as they wish. Fish may have a very early broad idea you want to help shape, or find potential collaborators, or identify appropriate funding, or address feedback on a rejected application. You can visit the pod as many times as you like, and even book a double slot (40 mins) if you need it. The only rule is that the Dolphins will not be asked to do any reading in advance or have any homework tasks. The Dolphins commit for the whole hour, and talk to 3 fish, but nothing more.
For more info and to sign up please go to
(It has been pointed out that Dolphin eat fish, but this was meant to be a friendly version of a Dragon’s Den and I promise it is very supportive!)
Philip Simpson / Fiona Lobban
EPSRC CASE Awards: Call for applications
EPSRC CASE Awards: Call for applications
Submission date: Friday April 22nd, 2022
Please send applications to: Simon Vaukins – s.vaukins@lancaster.ac.uk
EPSRC continue to encourage industrial collaboration through CASE awards in science and engineering. These awards are a type of doctoral studentship designed to incorporate an element of collaboration and industrially related training to broaden experience. As part of delivering economic impact and increasing company involvement in provision of doctoral training, the EPSRC are committed to increasing impact by increasing the proportion of collaborative studentships within the DTP. To support this, institutions in receipt of DTP have a target of converting 10% of the funds into CASE awards (DTP CASE-conversion).
Further details can be found here: EPSRC CASE Award guidance 2022
If you have any further questions, please contact Simon Vaukins – s.vaukins@lancaster.ac.uk
Philip Simpson / Simon Vaukins
EPSRC Vacation Internships: call for applications
Deadline for applications: Friday March 25th, 2022
Decisions to be confirmed by: Friday 22nd April, 2022
The EPSRC Vacation Internship scheme is designed to give undergraduate students a taste of what it is like to do research. The students should be given practical, first-hand experience of working on and carrying out research in a UK university.
Eligibility
The selected students should be undertaking an undergraduate degree, which must be within EPSRC’s remit, and should be able to fulfil EPSRC’s doctoral training grant eligibility requirements at the end of their undergraduate degree. The nominated student should be at the end of their second year of study, or the third year of study if on a four year programme, by the summer of 2022. The scheme may not be used as a bridge between the undergraduate degree and doctorate or other work, therefore students who are currently in their final year and who will have completed their degree by the summer of 2022, are not eligible.
The projects undertaken by the students must be clearly defined, within EPSRC’s remit and must not be part of a normal degree course.
Timing and Payment
The internship should take place in the summer vacation before the student’s final year of study and should be ten weeks in duration. Students will be employed as interns during the period of their internship. All students undertaking Vacation Internships will receive payment equal to at least the national living wage even if they are aged below 25.
Applications for Vacation Internships should be made using this form: EPSRC Vacation Internship application
Questions on Vacation Internships can be sent to Simon Vaukins, Faculty Graduate School Manager: s.vaukins@lancasterac.uk
Simon Vaukins