Performance Development Reviews for 2016/2017

The 2016/17 Performance Development Review (PDR) cycle is drawing to a close. All Lancaster University staff employed for more than 12 months continuously, including those on fixed-term contracts, are expected to take part in the PDR process. Staff who are on probation do not need to have a PDR but new starters in support areas should have objectives set using an ‘Initial PDR form (for new starters)’.

For full information on PDR policy, guidance and PDR forms please visit http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/hr/pdr/ The PDR forms were updated quite recently so please ensure you use the current version from the webpage. The period of review will generally be from the beginning of August 2016 to the end of July 2017.

When forms are complete and signed by both reviewer and reviewee please could they be passed to me.

Grainne Wilkinson

 

Final IOP Branch talk

Wednesday 14 June
6pm for 6:30pm
Cavendish Lecture Theatre

Speaker: Prof Monica Grady (Open University)

Landing on a Comet

ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft was launched in 2004, arriving at its target comet, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, in July 2014. The Philae lander was deposited onto the comet’s surface in November 2014, operating for 70 hours before its battery failed. In September 2016, the Rosetta mission ended, having achieved almost all its goals of thoroughly exploring one of the most primitive of Solar System objects.
Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences at the Open University, was scientific advisor to the lander’s Ptolemy instrument team. In her talk, she will relate what it was like to land an instrument on a comet, and discuss some of the results from the mission

All welcome, especially teenagers.

Chris Bowdery

 

Runners (and joggers) !

The 40th annual Physics Relay will take place this year on Wednesday 21st June.
Rules unchanged since the year dot.  For more information and to enter
a team go to  http://www.hep.lancs.ac.uk/relay/2017/. Same route as last few
years starting from the sports centre and using the woodland walk.

This annual fun run is open to teams of four. The course consists of
four unequal length legs making up  a circuit of campus. It is open to
all. There are four (alcoholic) prizes on offer, Mens, Womens, Mixed and “Age
Corrected”. Enter a team now!

Alex Finch, and Rob Henderson – (aka The Physics Relay Committee)

 

July Safety Induction

July’s safety induction session will be held on Thursday 6th July at 2:30pm in B24 Physics. If you are a new member of the Department, just want a refresher or to ask a question come along.

Shonah Ion

 

Re occupation of Phase II Physics

We expect to be re-occupying phase II of the Physics building during the week commencing 1oth July. The first day will be ISS working confirm networking is as it should be and establishing the wi fi system for the building. We plan to be moving people and equipment up from the Science & technology building during the rest this week. The following week (Graduation week) we will move people internally within the building.

Shonah Ion

 

Fire Door Interface Inspections

Fire door interface inspections will take place in Science & Technology Building on Wednesday 21st June 2017 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

 

LUPhyS end of year BBQ

LUPhys end of year BBQ and Staff vs Students football match to be held on 16 June

BBQ will open from 13:00 hrs at the Lonsdale BBQ station, football match will kick off at 13:30 on one of the pitches near the BBQ station

All staff welcome, to confirm any details, please email the society president Marcin Kaminski

Deborah Dunne

 

Physics Building – room bookings for 31 July 2017 onwards

As recently reported at the Physics Committee, Physics will not have exclusive use of the following rooms from 31st July 2017:  A27, B9, B24, C29 and C36. We can continue to use our departmental system for now but any room bookings that relate to 31st July onwards will need to go on the LU web Room Booking System, (https://timetabling.lancaster.ac.uk/wrb2017-18/book.aspx). I have replicated any bookings that we currently have on the departmental system for these rooms for the 31st July 2017 – 29 July 2018 on the LU system and will forward these bookings to the individuals concerned.

B10 is also on the centralised room booking system but only Physics staff will be able to book this room and only until September 2017. After then all staff across campus will have access to this space.

A7 will not be centrally bookable for the time being.

We have not really done this in the past but I suggest that we continue to use the departmental booking system for events in the Physics Atrium.

Gráinne Wilkinson

 

Annual Staff vs Students football match

This years annual staff vs student football match and accompanying BBQ is set for the 16th of June from 1-4pm. In preparation for this the PhD students and Staff practice football sessions are at 6:30pm on Wednesdays on the far astroturf pitch near the sports center. If you would like to join us, you can either request to be added to the emailing list for weekly reminders or search for the Facebook group “Lancaster Physics Postgrad sport”.

All abilities are welcome, if there are any questions/if you’d like to be added to the emailing list please email me at: s.malzard1@lancaster.ac.uk

Simon Malzard

 

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.

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