Hi-tech languages
Language students at Leeds now have access to some of the world's best digital interpreting facilities. The training laboratory in the school of modern languages and cultures uses technology found in the United Nations and European Parliament. Students can practise simultaneous interpreting from mock conferences and learn to keep pace with speakers.

For more information see the centre for translation studies website at www.smlc.leeds.ac.uk/cts/cts_content/about/introduction.asp

Bioscience gathering
Yorkshire’s biggest bioscience networking event takes place in November and is an excellent opportunity to catch up with the latest developments in the bioscience community. Organised by the White Rose University Consortium, the two-day event will include a series of investment pitches where regional companies present their business propositions to an audience of investors and advisers. For more information see www.whiterose.ac.uk/events/bioscienceforum

Alumni fund success
More than a quarter of a million pounds has been raised for the alumni fund from two pilot campaigns over the last year. Alumni head Jayne Glennon said: “We are really pleased with this result. The income provides support directly to our students. This is a great platform for developing alumni giving and building the fund into a sustainable and significant source of student support.”

Maps float
A University spin-out which maps areas targeted for oil exploration by industry giants including Shell and BP is to float on the alternative investment market, valuing the firm at £10.8m. Getech's float will help the firm expand its operations, make acquisitions and get involved in joint ventures. Managing director Dr Derek Fairhead is also professor of applied geophysics and one of the world's leading geophysics experts.

Building bridges at Westminster
A University scientist is to spend a week at Westminster in a Royal Society scheme to build bridges between top researchers and MPs. Molecular medicine research fellow Dr Carmel Toomes (see Reporter 502) is to be paired with Leeds North-west MP Greg Mulholland, and will spend a week this November learning how science policy is formed and gaining an understanding of the working life of an MP. This will be followed by reciprocal constituency/laboratory visits.

Lifelong leader welcomed
The University’s lifelong learning centre opened on August 1 and welcomes its new leader Dr Stella Cottrell this week. The centre provides specialist support for learners new to higher education, those who need to study part-time and others who could benefit from specialist pathways into higher education.

Dr Cottrell, who joins the centre from the adult learning inspectorate in York, said: “The centre is an excellent opportunity for the University to make a real difference to the lives of individuals and communities. This is absolutely the right time for the University to be looking at its social inclusion agenda, and to build on its current innovatory work with adult learners.”

The centre replaces the University’s school of continuing education and office for part-time education.

For further information, see
reporter.leeds.ac.uk/press_releases/current/cottrell.htm
www.leeds.ac.uk/lifelonglearningcentre/index.html

What do you think, Prime Minister?
Professor Andrew Thompson from history is to address members of the Prime Minister’s strategy unit, policy specialists and senior civil servants in a seminar on October 5. Professor Thompson will advise on how a ‘British’ identity has emerged among Britain’s Asian communities, the forms it has taken, and how such identities may develop in the future (see Reporter 506).

The seminars are intended ‘to stimulate discussion and promote for consideration new ideas and perspectives’. Previous speakers include Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Ian Blair and Alastair Campbell.

Research project gets funding
A clinical trial to be run by community physiotherapists in collaboration with the University’s academic unit of musculoskeletal disease aims to prove that Leeds sufferers of painful shoulder problems receive the highest-quality treatment in the country. If researchers are successful in demonstrating that treatment techniques used in the study – injections quickly followed by physiotherapy and exercise – are more effective than current practice, the local methods could be taken up nationally. The arthritis research campaign has awarded almost £100,000 to fund the two-year trial, which begins this month.
See the press release for further information

Enterprising appointment
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for research Professor John Fisher has been appointed to the board of the West Yorkshire Enterprise Partnership (WYEP), which aims to transform the local economy through integrated and inclusive support for enterprise, business and people. WYEP chief executive Eddie Rodgers said: “Professor Fisher brings over 20 years’ experience of working with both large and small companies and I know he is keen to develop higher education’s contribution to enterprise in the region.”

Sensitive issue
Nanospheres could help dentists fill the tiny holes in our teeth that cause sensitivity, according to research from the institute of materials research. Findings presented to the institute of physics conference EMAG-NANO 2005 showed that creating tiny spheres of a ceramic material called hydroxyapatite could be a long term solution or cure for sensitive teeth. For more information on this and other research into sensitive teeth at the University see the press release and Reporter 507.

Miraculous!
A one minute video by professor of contemporary art practice Ken Hay is the only UK film to be shown at the inauguration of the 2008 Chinese Olympics.

The film shows fishermen’s waders appearing to dance as they are hung up to dry over a Venice canal. “My inspiration came from a desire to document naturally occurring phenomena which appeared to be miraculous or beautiful in a simple and direct way rather like the ‘plastic bag’ sequence in ‘American Beauty’” said Professor Hay.

For more information see www.theoneminutesjr.org

Careers schemes scoop the prizes
The University was named as agency of the year in the recent award scheme held by the Shell Technology enterprise programme (Step).

Step is a national work placement programme which offer penultimate year undergraduate students eight-week summer work placements where they can apply their knowledge in a genuine work environment. The award is a tribute to Step staff Darren Scott, Anna Kennan and Joanne Birkett.

Meanwhile diversity and employability programme Impact was presented with the national diversity award by the association of graduate careers advisory services.

Impact, a collaboration project between six Yorkshire universities, aims to enhance the employability of, and opportunities for, groups under-represented in higher education. Widening participation funds have supported Impact in Leeds, where project officers are Linda Holdsworth and Ingrid Bale.