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Engineering
inequality
(Rik Brydon & Chris Hammond, SPEME)
– In presenting the University’s
annual report for 2001-02, the Vice-Chancellor
stated that the University would work to attract
more students to unpopular areas of study
– such as mathematics-related subjects
and interdisciplinary programmes (Yorkshire
Post, 27 November 2002). For staff in
such mathematics-related areas, such as the
school of process, environmental and materials
engineering, this statement was particularly
welcome. There is, however, no evidence that
it has, or is being, put into practice. On
the contrary, the University’s financial
model is clearly weighted against those departments
which (a) have difficulty in attracting undergraduates,
and (b) require extensive laboratory and workshop
accommodation.
In attempts to reduce the burden of space
charges (and to reduce the notional financial
deficit), research laboratory and office accommodation
has been reduced to such an extent that we
would be unable to accept the numbers of research
students that we had only 10-15 years ago
– indeed in materials, we can hardly
accommodate those we presently have. The capacity
for expansion has been taken away. There is
also a corresponding pressure to reduce the
numbers of academic staff. The model takes
a wholly inadequate account of the fact that
(a) academic staff in SPEME achieved a grade
5 in the recent RAE exercise (only three out
of a total of 52 submissions achieved grade
5*), (b) brought in £5m in research
contracts in 2002 (perhaps the highest per
capita in the whole University) and (c) have
recently initiated a substantial number of
new undergraduate programmes to combat declining
numbers. It will be impossible to deliver
these achievements in the future if further
staff and space reductions are forced upon
us.
To retain its status as a University of international
standing (and its membership of the Russell
group), it is essential that the University
maintains a strong and expanding science and
engineering base. Unless the financial model
is radically changed to address these medium-
and long-term objectives, it appears to us
that, despite its great size, the University
may well lose such status.
Complex
numbers
(Dr Syd Donald, German) – Am I
alone in thinking that there must be a simpler
way of quoting our new telephone numbers,
such as in the format 0113 34 33511 –
rather than using the prefix 343 and constantly
having to attach and detach the initial 3
from the internal number?
It’s
a dog’s life
(Dr Bridget Matthews, Microbiology)
– Many people around the University will
know the little black and tan collie, often
seen rolling happily on the grass, by the
orange zone car park on a sunny summer’s
day. He’s known as ‘Civic’,
and has been stray in Leeds, living on his
wits, for nearly 7 years.
For many years an elderly lady in Clarendon
Place fed him, and more recently, Brian Wheelhouse
of Whitehall Dog Rescue has kept an eye on
him. Civic also has a number of friends around
campus (including Janet Hindle, Maureen Clapham,
Barbara Bennett and Linda Shepherd), from
LMU and from the hospital and city, who have
fed him daily for many years, even during
holidays. However, we were each ‘working’
in isolation and couldn’t get him off
the streets.
Civic was recently hit by a car, and this
prompted his various ‘friends’ to
get together and try to catch him before something
more serious happened. He is now safe and
receiving care and attention at Whitehall
Dog Rescue Centre in Wortley. He will be found
a suitable loving home, once he is ready.
The Whitehall Centre is a voluntary operation
run and funded by Brian. At the moment he
is overwhelmed with abandoned, neglected and
ill-treated dogs and cats from the Leeds area.
If anyone can offer a loving home to one of
his charges or would like to help out, Brian
can be contacted on 0113 279 8889.
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