Sarah Swift Impression

College of Social Science moves

Zoe Homes / / Administration

The Schools within the College of Social Science will start their summer of moves next week. 

The moves are as a result of the completion of the new Sarah Swift Building, the Bridge House summer works, the hand over of Think Tank to the College of Science, and the hand over of Minerva Building second floor to general teaching space.

The first moves will begin on Monday 19th June, with the last moves being in early September:

Social Science Office Moves

If you are unsure where the College, School or an academic office is at any point this summer, please call the College reception on 01522 835509 and you will be pointed in the right direction.

Consultation on future of Monks Road NHS Walk-in Centre

Ian Richards / / News

NHS Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has launched a public consultation around the future of Lincoln’s NHS Walk-in Centre on Monks Road.

The consultation will run for eight weeks (from Monday 12 June until Sunday 6 August 2017).

Patients, including students from the University of Lincoln, are being encouraged to share their views on the proposals by the CCG.

To read the consultation document in full, visit: http://www.lincolnshirewestccg.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Lincoln-Walk-in-Centre-Consultation-Document.pdf

Fill in the consultation survey online at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/wic-consultation

 

Deciphering the past in Lincoln’s inaugural Roman Lecture

Laura Jones / / Events

Roger Tomlin deciphers the Bloomberg tablets MOLA BloombergSecrets of Roman Londinium will be uncovered this June when classicist and cursive Latin expert, Dr Roger Tomlin, visits the University of Lincoln, UK, for its inaugural Roman Lecture.

The free public lecture will uncover some of the very latest news in Roman archaeology, including the discovery of the ‘Bloomberg Tablets’, Britain’s largest, earliest and most significant collection of Roman waxed writing tablets.

More than 400 writing tablets were uncovered during the archaeological excavation of the company Bloomberg’s new headquarters in central London, including the first hand-written document known from Britain and the first reference to London.

During the lecture, Dr Tomlin will discuss his involvement in deciphering and translating over 80 of the writing tablets and some of the problems associated with reading tablets which have lost their wax.

He will also share some of the best examples of writing tablets from the Bloomberg collection, revealing the formal, official, legal and business aspects of life in the first decades of Londinium.

The lecture will take place at 6pm on Tuesday 20th June 2017 in the Stephen Langton Building on the University’s main Brayford Pool Campus.

Professor Paul Stephenson, Head of the School of History and Heritage at the University of Lincoln, said: “It is an honour to have Roger join us and share his unparalleled knowledge of epigraphy in the University’s first annual Roman Lecture.

“His direct involvement in deciphering the Bloomberg Collection will provide fascinating insights into the lives of those living in Roman London, and he promises a brief look at the only tablet (not yet published) to name people in Roman Lincolnshire.’

Dr Tomlin has written about his involvement in deciphering the Roman writing-tablets found at the Bloomberg site in his book, ‘Roman London’s first voices: writing tablets from the Bloomberg London excavations, 2010–14’.

For more information, or to book a place at the Roman Lecture, visit www.lincoln.ac.uk/events, email events@lincoln.ac.uk or phone 01522 837100. Admission to the lecture is free but prior booking is essential.

Journey through social media hysteria in new digital artwork

Laura Jones / / News

Histolyrical train journeyThe latest creative commission for the 1215.today digital arts project will be revealed today (Wednesday 7th June 2017) in a new work examining the effect of social media storms on people’s political ideas.

Named ‘Histolyrical’, the online commission explores how social media influences our thought processes and asks the question: is the hysteria of social media compromising freedom of thought?

1215.today is a unique online platform that enables young people to explore the legacy of Magna Carta through the lens of contemporary art.

Led by the University of Lincoln, UK, in collaboration with regional arts organisations, businesses, schools and the city and county councils, 1215.today is supported using public funding from the National Lottery through an Exceptional Award from Arts Council England and a host of national and international partners.

It launched in June 2015 at Lincoln Castle as part of the international celebrations on the 800th anniversary of the sealing of ‘the great charter’ and culminates in November 2017, marking the 800th anniversary of the Charter of the Forest and coinciding with Lincoln’s Frequency Festival of Digital Culture.

Histolyrical is the latest digital art commission for 1215.today and arrives on the two-year anniversary of the platform’s launch. It has been created by artists Ben Peppiatt and Stephanie Bickford-Smith, who collaborated with a group of young people from Lincoln to develop the work.

Tracking the Facebook activity of volunteers from across the UK in the days leading up to the European Referendum in June 2016, the artists explored social media consumption, tone of voice and content positioning in those pivotal days before the vote, considering how social media influences thought processes through subliminal messages.

The online experience takes the viewer on a metaphorical train journey, where they gaze out of the window and are lulled by trance-inducing soundtracks. They must decide whether or not to allow their thoughts to be interrupted by those of others as words appear on the screen, either abandoning themselves to these random musings or banishing them with a click of a button.

Artist Stephanie Bickford-Smith said: “Social media sites are super-efficient platforms that aid connectivity and information exposure. Increasingly they are becoming our gateway to the internet. However these sites are designed for consumption rather than contemplation. With HistoLyrical we are interested in questioning the impact this has upon our ability to think and process information coherently and what a more contemplative solution inspired by offline behaviours could look like.”

The online experience is the fourth of five artistic commissions planned for 1215.today. It follows the success of ‘The Empty Throne’, a featurette on Magna Carta created by Lincoln School of Film and Media filmmaker Phil Stevens and Lincolnshire scriptwriter Laura Turner, ‘Time for Rights’ live video event by Tim Kindberg and ‘spaceREC’ soundscape project by Kathrin Böhm.

Dr Sarah Barrow, Deputy Head of the College of Arts at the University of Lincoln and 1215.today project lead at the University, said: “All the artworks produced for 1215.today have examined themes of freedom, liberty and democracy in interesting and insightful ways and this latest work tackles one of the most pressing questions facing democracies today: the influence of social media on how we think and interact with one another.”

Histolyrical will be released on www.1215.today at 12 noon on Wednesday 7th June. For the full experience, Histolyrical is best accessed on a tablet or a computer. The website also features an interview with the artists and the story behind their commission.

Police witness appeal

Zoe Homes / / Administration

Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault which happened near the railway lines just outside the Engine Shed at around 3am on 11th May 2017. 

The assault happened after the last “Quack” and CCTV shows that there were numerous witnesses passing at the time.

There was also a taxi which passed during the fight, and we would like the driver to come forward to assist with enquiries.

The victim suffered severe injuries and will have to endure a long recovery period.  This was a completely unprovoked attack on a male who was making his way home from a student night.

If you have any information, no matter how unimportant to you, please call 101 and quote incident 39 11/5/17.

Karting competition puts young engineering talent to the test

Laura Jones / / News

Go KartsCould you be a future racing engineer? Are you craving a career in a Formula 1 pit lane? A new karting competition that will test up-and-coming talent could give young engineers their first taste of life in the fast lane.

Young speed enthusiasts have the opportunity to team up and pit themselves against each other in the competition, which will offer a unique opportunity to work alongside industrial engineers and university experts.

Hosted by the University of Lincoln, UK, the November SPARKler! Go Kart Competition invites schoolchildren, members of the public and university students to create small teams that will each build a bespoke racing kart and take part in a number of exciting trials.

Each team will be led by a local SPARK! member company such as Siemens or Dynex, and each will receive an essential kit to help develop key aspects of the karts such as seats, steering, braking systems, and wheels. They will also be supplied with a helmet and gloves for the racer, and can make use of a £100 budget for specialist parts to give their kart the edge.

Karts must be made from reclaimed materials, be human-powered only, and feature at least four wheels. They must also have a rollover hoop for safety.

Karts will be built over the coming months and the competition will culminate in three trials held indoors at the University of Lincoln’s Brayford Pool Campus on Saturday 4th November 2017: a drag race and brake test, a slalom, and a time trial. Teams will be assessed on their creativity, reasoning, design process and budgeting.

A team of judges from academic, industrial, educational and racing backgrounds will score the racers to determine the winner. Dave Harvey, the 2008 British Division 1 Superkart Champion, will also act as safety scrutineer for the event. The project is being funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering’s INGENIOUS Award.

The competition is open to secondary school pupils, college students and University students. Up to 10 teams will build karts in the their schools or the company which is acting as ‘team sponsor’, and space can be made available at the new Isaac Newton Building on the University of Lincoln campus during the summer months for design work to take place. Teams can also make use of specialist design software at the School of Engineering. Each team will have a maximum of eight members of the general public and their lead engineers will receive formal public engagement and safeguarding training from the EBP.

Mechanical Engineer Dr Colin Dowding, from the University of Lincoln’s School of Engineering, said the competition is a chance for people to explore their creative side and put school science to use.

“If you have always been fascinated in understanding how things work, or solving practical problems, this design and build competition will be a great way to express yourself in a friendly atmosphere,” Dr Dowding explained. “Team members will learn from real engineers and get to use some of their specialist equipment.

“We decided to base the competition around go-karts because they are accessible and there is plenty of inspiration out there, from Soap Box competitions and racing karts to children’s toys. They are fun to play with and there’s loads of scope for people to be creative and innovative.”

The competition is a SPARK! Legacy project, an off-shoot of Lincoln’s SPARK! Festival, which aims to inspire young people to get involved in science and engineering. The goal is to enrich the education of young people and undergraduates while challenging industry professionals to broaden their perspectives and think in new ways about problem solving.

It was established by the University of Lincoln, Oakwell Management Services Limited, and the City of Lincoln Council as a way to develop the already-successful SPARK! Festival.

The companies currently confirmed to be involved are Siemens, which will support two teams, Dynex Semiconductor, J.A. Harvey Limited, Lincoln Hack Space, and LEDA Suspension. Each of the teams will be named after their company sponsor, but they can give their karts inventive monikers.

To apply and to receive information about the project kick-off event, email cdowding@lincoln.ac.uk.

Minerva Building Summer Works Programme

Zoe Homes / / News

As part of the University’s strategic objective to improve the learning environment the Estates department will be carrying out major reconfiguration works on the second floor of the Minerva Building during the summer in support of an improved student experience.

The south west and south central floor plates, formerly the home to the School of Psychology, will be reconfigured to deliver twelve new teaching spaces with and a central social learning lounge.

At the same time the Vice Chancellor’s Office will be reconfigured to deliver additional office space to support the growth in this area and the University in general.

Key Dates

SECOND FLOOR AREA START DATE COMPLETION DATE
South West Plate 5 June 2017 15 September 2017
South Central Plate 19 June 2017 15 September 2017
Vice Chancellor’s Office 26 June 2017 11 August 2017

 

For the duration of the works Psychology will be temporarily relocated to the first floor of the Minerva Building pending their ultimate move to the Sarah Swift Building from 19 June 2017.  The Vice Chancellor’s Office will be temporarily relocated to the third floor of the Media, Humanities and Technology (MHT) Building.

The Minerva Building will therefore be subject to disruptions. The red line drawings below show the areas that will be cordoned off for health and safety purposes resulting in certain toilets and fire escape routes within these lines being inactive during the key date periods. Signage will be in place to assist with identifying facilities located on other floors and nearest escape routes.  The social spaces on the east and west end of the building will also be out of action during this time.

Minerva Building Second Floor:

Minerva Works 1

Minerva Building First Floor:

Minerva Works 2

The Estates department apologies for the inconvenience this may cause over the summer months and any questions/queries should be directed to the Estates Helpdesk on 01522 886777.

Lincoln film to feature at the EIFF

Laura Jones / / News

Natalie PosterThe Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has revealed a host of movies with Scottish connections set to play at its 70th anniversary edition, with one coming all the way from Lincoln!

The festival will see the world premiere of ‘Natalie’, a short film directed by Dr Mikey Murray, from the Lincoln School of Film and Media, and exec produced by his partner Angela Waddell who also works at the University.

The film, which stars renowned actress Kate Dickie, well-known for her portrayal of Lysa Arryn in Game of Thrones, is in competition at the festival in the Best Short Film category.

In the film, Natalie, a determined woman in her forties returns to the village of her troubled childhood for her father’s funeral. Compelled by the prejudice her family has shown towards her and painful memories of her upbringing, she confronts her past in order to be at peace with her future.

The pair were inspired to create the film to expose some of the casual prejudices they witnessed growing up in ‘small-town’ Scotland, and returned to Dr Murray’s hometown of Carnoustie in North East Scotland to shoot the film. They were joined by LSFM graduate, Tara Clements, who took on the role of Production Assistant.

The Lincoln connection continued when the group returned to the University, drawing on the expertise of several members of academic staff to complete the film. Chris Hainstock took care of post-production sound on the film, while Jon Holmes graded the film and Jack Shelbourn shot additional pick-up cinematography. The original music to the film was written and performed by David McSherry.

Dr Murray has previously won four awards for his films, including the New Talent Scottish BAFTA Award for Best First Time Writer in 2008.  He has also been selected for this year’s ‘Talent Lab’ at the EIFF, a coveted four-day industry networking event for ‘up-and-coming’ filmmakers.

For more information visit: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6596938/

Lincoln success in British Council Showcase 2017

Laura Jones / / News

A MachineAn academic at the University of Lincoln is celebrating after his company is selected for the British Council Showcase 2017.

Dr Andrew Westerside, from the School of Fine and Performing Arts, is the Co-Artistic Director of Proto-type Theater, a company of multi-disciplinary artists based in the UK who make and produce original work that is diverse in scale, subject and medium.

The company has been selected for the 20th anniversary Edinburgh Showcase, the British Council’s biennial platform of contemporary UK performance alongside the Edinburgh Festivals in August.

As one of the most prestigious platforms for touring theatre and performance in the UK, it is one of the biggest opportunities for theatre and dance companies to introduce their work to international promoters.

Speaking after the announcement, Dr Westerside said: “Being in the Showcase feels like a really big stamp of approval for your work. There’s only 30 pieces of work selected, and to be part of that, out of a whole industry’s worth of work, is fantastic.

“Being selected means that programmers and presenters from all over the world get to see your work, and that can mean making new international partnerships and touring opportunities.

“In 2011, when we were last selected, we were lucky enough to travel to Armenia and Zimbabwe as a result of the showcase. It’s an incredible way to bring your work to wider audiences, because being part of the showcase is a recognition that your work is of an international standard.”

The play that will be performed at the showcase, ‘A Machine They’re Secretly Building’ has now been published by Oberon Modern Plays. To find out more, visit: www.oberonbooks.com/a-machine-they-re-secretly-building.html

Vigil at the Grandstand on Friday – staff and students welcome

Cerri Evans / / News

In light of what has happened in Manchester the faith communities of Lincoln are coming together tomorrow (Friday 26thMay) at 1.20 pm, meeting at the Grandstand on Carholme Road after Muslim Friday (Jumu’ah) prayers.

It will be a time for all faiths and none to come together and remember those who have lost their lives in Manchester, pray for those who are in hospital, remember their families, be thankful for the emergency services and community and pray and hope for peace.

The University of Lincoln’s Multi Faith Chaplaincy is supporting this vigil. The University chaplain, Subash Chellaiah, and volunteer chaplains/faith advisors will attend. If staff or students wish to attend, please assemble at the Grandstand at 1.20 pm. Friday prayers will conclude at about 1.30pm.

The vigil will begin once everyone has vacated the hall and will last approximately 15-20 minutes, so the event should conclude by around 2pm. The Multi-Faith Chaplaincy supports this and continues to build good relations across communities in the city of Lincoln.

The University Chaplain is walking to the Grandstand, leaving campus at 12.45 pm from outside the Minerva building main entrance, next to the Student Support centre. Students and staff are welcome to join on the walk or meet at the Grandstand.

You can contact the Chaplain by email: schellaiah@lincoln.ac.uk