Physics refurbishment update
Please see below details of scheduled works on the Physics refurbishment project for week commencing Monday 3rd April.
Physics scheduled works:
- Mechanical works – low noise, low vibration
- Electrical works – low noise, low vibration
- Plastering works – low noise, low vibration
- Ceiling margins – medium noise, low vibration
- Joinery items – medium noise, low vibration
- Window installation – medium noise, low vibration
- Roofing works – medium noise, medium vibration
- Cladding – medium noise, medium vibration
- Scaffold strip – low noise, low vibration
- Fixed furniture to super lab – medium noise, low vibration
- Floor coverings – low noise, low vibration
- Paint works – low noise, low vibration
- Ground works around Isolab – low noise, low 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.
Marketing and Communications
Water Hygiene Testing
We have been informed by Facilities that water hygiene testing for the Science and Technology building will take place week commencing the 8th of May 2017 from 9am daily.
Two Lancaster University engineers will require access to kitchens and shared bathrooms to test hot water temperatures. The engineers will not test every kitchen/bathroom just a sample from different locations within the building. This brief survey will take approximately five minutes, and is to ensure that the hot water is maintained at the correct temperature to prevent any instances of legionella. There will be no shutdown of service.
Shonah Ion
Safety Induction
The next safety induction will take place on 1st June in A26 at 2:30pm.
Shonah Ion
Physics Knowledge Exchange #1
Title: Talk on “Pure”
Speaker: Dr Claire Tinker-Mill
Venue: B24 Physics
Date and time: 23rd May 2017 – 11am – 1 hour
About: “Take a guided tour through Pure and learn where you information comes from, where we send it. I’ll show you how to showcase your research using the Research Directory, link your profile with ORCID and log important activities related to your research.”
The session will be roughly half an hour with a 15 minute Q&A at the end. If you’re interested in coming can you let me know? This session is limited to 10 places.
Rob Lewsey
Energy Lancaster Seminar
Title: Combinatorial Synthesis and High Throughput Screening of Solid State Materials and Catalysts in the Electronics and Energy Sectors
Speaker: Prof Brian Hayden
Venue: Frankland Colloquium
Date and time: 09th May 2017, 16.00
Abstract: Combinatorial synthesis and high-throughput screening methods for the discovery and optimization of solid-state materials and catalysts have their routes in the pharmaceutical industry, but were slower to develop for solid-state systems because of the difficulties of reliably synthesizing such materials, and the challenges in developing fast and reliable screening methods. There are several approaches that have been taken centred on thin film materials, however a step change in the development of new functional materials has taken place with the introduction of high-throughput synthesis based on MBE based evaporation sources combined with plasma atom sources. The advantages of this synthetic approach, which provides a low kinetic barrier to compound formation, the direct synthesis of amorphous materials and of complex ion compounds, and the synthesis of supported nano-particles will be emphasized. Strategies for “on-chip” screening, materials characterization and integrated informatics with the goal of understanding the function/composition/structure relationship will be exemplified.
Compositional gradients of both amorphous and crystalline materials including alloys (phase change memory and super-alloys), oxides (functional ceramics), ion conductors (lithium ion batteries) and crystalline sulphides (photovoltaics) will be presented to demonstrate the versatility and advantages of the synthetic approach. The application of the methods to the development of fuel cell and heterogeneous catalysts will also be highlighted.
Figure: Lithium Ion Conductivity in a Solid State Lithium Ion Conductor: Hayden et al : ACS. Comb. Sci. 4 (2011) 375-381.
Nuno Bimbo
Library & Information Skills: Summer term
These sessions are open to staff and students at the University. Feedback from the last two terms has been really good, with participants enjoying the hands on activities and the opportunity to ask questions and get one-to-one advice.
Please find full details of each session from the links below, and register to secure your place.
Tips for writing a Data Management Plan
This is a short session open to all research staff (including postgraduate researchers) who are interested in finding out about data management plans (DMPs) and creating a data plan for their grant applications.
Date: Monday, May 8, 2017
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: Library B107, Taught Session – For Staff & Postgraduate Research students only
Register! – 4 seats left
Copyright for teaching staff
This session is aimed at members of staff and postgraduates who develop and deliver teaching materials.
Date: Monday, May 8, 2017
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Library B107, Taught Session – For Staff & Students
Register! – 12 seats left
Finding unpublished information or grey literature
This interactive workshop is aimed at researchers, particularly in the social sciences and health, who are interested in going beyond published academic literature for their literature review.
Date: Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Library Training Room 2, Taught Session – For Staff & Students
Register! – 12 seats left
Scholarly publishing in Arts and Humanities
This interactive workshop is aimed at postgraduates, researchers and academic staff in Arts & Humanities who are planning to publish journal articles or academic books.
Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Library Training Room 2, Taught Session – For Staff & Postgraduate Research students only
Register! – 6 seats left
Everything you need to know about depositing your thesis
This session will guide you through the process of depositing a print and electronic copy of your thesis, and will cover how to deal with copyright and restrictions.
Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: Library B107, Taught Session – For Staff & Postgraduate Research students only
Register! – 12 seats left
Understanding Academic Impact with Bibliometrics: Journals, Articles and Authors
This interactive workshop is aimed at research students and staff who wish to learn about the most common bibliometrics and the tools used to measure research impact and influence.
Date: Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Library Training Room 2, Taught Session – For Staff & Postgraduate Research students only
Register! – 12 seats left
If you have any questions about the programme please contact academicliaison@lancaster.ac.uk or contact the workshop presenter.
Jonathan gratus & Tanya Williamson
Dean’s Visit – Friday 12 May
The Dean’s Group will visit Physics on Friday 12th May. The focus of this year’s visits will be on UG recruitment and teaching.
As usual there will be two meetings and both will be held in C36:
Part 1: Whole department (0930 – 1030hrs)
- Brief introduction from the Dean (5 minutes)
- Brief presentation from the department on undergraduate recruitment and teaching, to cover:
- (for those departments that have completed the UG portfolio review) What are the most important findings of the UG portfolio review and how does the department plan to respond?
- What are the 2 or 3 areas where the department feel they are doing very well? Are there things that the department thinks can usefully be shared with other FST departments?
- What are the big challenges for the department in terms of UG recruitment and/or teaching, and how do you plan to respond to these?
(Please make sure that the department’s approach to assessment and feedback, retention, the NSS and employability is covered as part of this presentation; other areas to consider could include degree outcomes).
- Presentation from the Associate Dean for UG Teaching providing an update on University/Faculty activity relating to UG, outcomes of recent reviews and highlighting the importance of consumer and markets authority (CMA) law as related to degree programmes.
Part 2: PEC members (1030 – 1130hrs)
This session will be discussion based and will focus on:
- the department’s financial performance and position relative to the Tribal benchmarking data;
- one KPI related to UG activity: recruitment (UK and international).
Grainne Wilkinson
IOP Carers’ Fund
There are still some grants available for IOP members who wish to attend a physics related conference or event and would find it helpful to have some financial assistance towards the additional caring costs that may result from attending such an event. The application process is straightforward and decisions are usually communicated in under seven days.
Any IOP member can apply for up to £250 to help with the costs of additional caring for children or other dependents that may be required if you were to be attending a physics related conference or event.
Full details can be found on this page.
Isobel Hook
STFC Events
STFC is planning a series of events on Oct 31st as part of an international dark matter day. The events will target both traditional outreach audiences and government to raise the profile of dark matter research in the UK and beyond. I’m looking to organise some activities related to non-WIMP dark matter searches but I know that various members of the department are also involved with dark matter research from a variety of different perspectives. If anyone else is already planning an event for dark matter day or would be interested in being involved with one then please get in touch so that we can coordinate.
Ian Bailey