Noticeboard
Night at the opera
Opera North opens its new season at Leeds Grand Theatre on 11 September with Mozart’s Così fan tutte (‘Women are like that’) a tale of sexual politics set in 18th century Europe. This period piece is sung in English with sumptuous costumes and an enigmatic ‘camera obscura’ set.
Starting from 26 September, the company will also present Massenet’s touching story of impossible love, Werther, featuring award-winning mezzo-soprano Alice Coote. This dramatic 19th century piece is based on Goethe’s semi-autobiographical novel The Sorrows of Young Werther.
The costume designer is Amy Roberts, winner of five BAFTAs, including Elizabeth I – The Virgin Queen and Brassed Off.
For bookings see www.operanorth.co.uk or phone the Grand Theatre on 0844 848 2706.
Building on the past
Discover a wealth of hidden history during a free guided walk around the University’s campus on 13 August, which is open to all staff and alumni.
The one-mile walk, ‘Building on the past’, will be led by Stuart Bravender (Estate Services) and Dr Chris Hammond (PhD in metallurgy, 1968), who will share the thinking behind our three main architectural schemes and discuss new buildings in the University’s future plans.
The tour starts at 5.30pm and will end at 6.45pm with a complimentary drink in the students’ union. To book your place, phone Kathy Isherwood on 0113 343 7520 or email k.isherwood@ adm.leeds.ac.uk. Alternatively, book online at http://tinyurl.com/ltr2uy
Forgotten Things
A darkly comic play fusing puppetry, physical performance and theatrical trickery, Forgotten Things is the story of a teenager’s fight to be heard above the noise of everyday life – yet no-one is listening.
Directed by Bradford playwright Emma Adams (Red Ladder Theatre Company), the play will be shown at Stage@Leeds on 13 October before heading to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Tickets cost £10/£8.50, see www.stage.leeds.ac.uk or phone the box office on 0113 343 8730.
Inaugural lectures
Nearly three billion tonnes of cement is produced worldwide every year.
This ubiquitous substance – and the nanomaterials that bind it together – is the subject of Professor Ian Richardson’s (School of Civil Engineering) inaugural lecture on Tuesday, 8 September, entitled ‘A close look at the built environment’s glue’.
To book your place, see http://tinyurl.com/nvja4q or phone 0113 343 2269.
And at his inaugural lecture on Tuesday, 15 September, Professor Jie Xu (School of Computing) will examine how recent advances in computing power, storage and networking, have allowed significant progress to be made in solving complex real-world problems.
Professor Xu’s lecture is entitled ‘Services and clouds – system-level science for the real world’. To book your place, contact the School of Computing by 7 September, phone 0113 343 5430.
New promotions procedures
New promotions procedures for all staff on grades three to nine have now been approved. Information on how to apply for a promotion, the stages within the process, the criteria and guidance notes can be found at www.leeds.ac.uk/hr/promotions
Work is continuing on the criteria for promotions to grade 10, and it is expected these will be presented to the Senate in October.
The new procedures have been developed in partnership with campus trade unions, as well as consultation with other key parties across the University.
For further details please contact your faculty/service HR manager or officer; email promotions@leeds.ac.uk or phone ext. 31973.
Honorary degree nominations
Members of the University are invited to submit names for consideration by the committee on honorary degrees before the deadline of 11 September.
Honorary degrees may be awarded to distinguished individuals who have a prior connection with the University of Leeds or the region, and whose distinction lies in a field with which we are identified.
Nominations, and any supporting comments, should be sent to Helen Pickersgill in the Secretariat by 11 September under confidential cover.
Learning for Life
The Learning for Life scheme is moving from the Staff and Departmental Development Unit to the LOGIK Centre from 3 August.
The LOGIK Centre already offers a good selection of courses and the merger will allow even more to be offered. Priorities for course provision include ESOL (English for speakers of other languages); IT, numeracy and literacy; CV writing and interview skills; and support for wellbeing, such as tai chi, music and languages.
If you are a staff member on grades 2-4, Learning for Life adviser Eileen Barrett will continue to offer you advice and support with your non job-related learning needs. If you wish to apply for Learning for Life funding after 3 August to pay for a course, please check with Eileen first to ensure that funding is still available. She is available in the LOGIK Centre (near the Staff Centre bar/dining room) on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am to 6pm, phone ext. 34619 or email e.barrett@adm.leeds.ac.uk
For details see http://www.logik.leeds.ac.uk and http://tinyurl.com/ldpplw
International Visual Methods Conference
The University of Leeds will host the first International Visual Methods Conference from 15 to 17 September, featuring a photographic exhibition by Professor Dona Schwartz (University of Minnesota). For full details see http://tinyurl.com/c3kj5y
