Two aboriginal women from the Yukon territory in Northern Canada are coming to the University to talk about legends, myths and the importance of oral traditions. Yukon elder Ida Calmagne comes from a long line of storytellers from her Tlinget/Tagish heritage and Louise Profeit-LeBlanc (pictured above) is a member of the aboriginal arts secretariat in the Canada council. A teller from the the Northern Tutchone, her work is inspired by a love for the art of storytelling and the responsibility of the teller as informer, healer and teacher. The joint presentation, this year’s Arthur Ravenscroft Memorial lecture on Commonwealth literature, takes place on Monday 1 December at 5.30pm in the Rupert Beckett lecture theatre, and admission is free.

Behind the mosaic
Photos, videos, and artwork documenting one hundred years of teaching art and design in Leeds is on show at the City Art Gallery until January 11. The exhibition includes pieces by famous artists who taught at the University or the College of Art, including Terry Frost, Jacob Kramer and Herbert Read, and works by their students. Also on show are items from the National Arts Education archive, held at Bretton Hall.

Looking at limestone
Phillip Murphy in earth sciences has written a new guide to Upper Wharfedale for walkers, cyclists and drivers. ‘Exploring the limestone landscapes of Upper Wharfedale’ details eight routes and, as you would expect from a geologist and cave diver, includes plenty of background to the geology of the area. The book is on sale in Yorkshire Dales National Park shops for £4 or contact Phillip Murphy in earth sciences on phillip@earth.leeds.ac.uk

Christmas money
Christmas is pushing some December deadlines and payments closer: travel expense claims must be made before December 10 and salaries for staff normally paid at the end of the month will go into their bank accounts on Tuesday 23 December.
The December payment will include a 3.44% pay increase, backdated to August 1, for clerical, technical, ancillary and support staff following national agreement between employers (UCEA) and trade unions AMICUS and UNISON. The AUT and UCEA have failed to reach agreement for academic and related staff. For more details, see campusweb.
Further pay information is on campusweb

Discussing infinity
Cast off your fear of maths! There’s no blackboard and chalk – just interesting ideas at the next Café Scientifique, when Dr David Salinger from pure mathematics will speak on ‘To infinity and beyond’. The mathematical idea of infinity often seems paradoxical, yet is vitally important in diverse areas such as quantum theory, population dynamics and how long it would take a monkey to type out the complete works of Shakespeare. Infinity also crops up in religion, philosophy, cosmology and science fiction. Are they all talking about the same thing? Why is this mathematical concept so critical for our thinking about the world around us? Find out on December 2 at 8pm in the Old Police Station, 107 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton.

Choirs and carols
The University carol service, with music from the newly formed University liturgical choir, takes place at 4pm in the Great Hall on Sunday 7 December. All are welcome, with friends and family.
For further information, see the events website