From Orkney teacher to first National Director of Children's Neighbourhoods Scotland

Alison Drever is moving from Education Scotland to become the first National Director of Children's Neighbourhoods Scotland (CNS).

Children’s Neighbourhoods Scotland is a collaboration between Policy Scotland and What Works Scotland at the University of Glasgow, and the Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH). It is based at the Social Research Hub at the Olympia building in the East End of Glasgow.

CNS aims to tackle child poverty by bringing people, resources and organisations together in neighbourhoods to improve the lives of local children. Beginning her career as a teacher in Orkney, Alison progressed to spending almost six years at Education Scotland in roles supporting the curriculum and latterly the Scottish Attainment Challenge.

 

Opportunity for Female Graduate Students


Graduate Women Scotland (GWS), formerly The Scottish Federation of University Women (SFUW), is holding an Academic Day on Saturday, 27 April, in Glasgow, at the Doubletrees by Hilton Hotel, at which women graduate students in the West of Scotland are invited to speak about their research.

The aim is to enhance the skills and confidence of women postgraduate students. The emphasis will be on clear, interesting and succinct presentations of up to 15 minutes duration with five minutes for questions at the end. The audience and panel of commentators will be from a variety of backgrounds and feedback on the presentations will be given it in a friendly and constructive atmosphere.

Help towards travelling expenses will be offered. This will be based on a second-class day return rail fare, or equivalent, to Glasgow.

For further information, email  info@graduatewomenscotland.co.uk.

Please express interest by 4 March and submit application forms on paper or online to Dr Fiona Sutherland before 25 March 2019.

Dr Fiona Sutherland
President, GWS
44 Newlands Road
Newlands
Glasgow
G43 2JG
info@graduatewomenscotland.co.uk

 

Registration has opened for the Learning and Teaching conference

Registration for the 12th Annual University of Glasgow Learning and Teaching conference is now open. Our theme this year is "Blended and Online Learning: Where are We Now, and Where Do We Want to Be?", and I would encourage anyone with an interest in learning, teaching and assessment to book their place. Following the success of last year, this will again be a two-day event, on Tue 2nd and Wed 3rd April 2019.

The Conference aims to stimulate discussion and debate about teaching, learning and assessment and is a key opportunity for colleagues from across the University community with an interest in learning and teaching to come together to share experiences and learn about the innovative and exemplary work being undertaken here at Glasgow and in the wider HE community. As in previous years, we will be welcoming a number of external delegates who will bring other perspectives to our work. 

To register: LEADS-LTConference@glasgow.ac.uk

Dr Matthew J Williamson, Director, LEADS

 

Annual University Service

All members of the University are invited to attend the Annual University Service in Glasgow Cathedral on Sunday, 10 March 2019 at 11.00am.

Those wishing to join the academic procession are requested to assemble in the Sacristy by 10.45am. Academic Dress (gown and hood plus white bow-tie for men) will be worn on this occasion.

It is important that all wishing to join the academic procession should email Senate Events (senate-events@glasgow.ac.uk) by Monday, 4 March, 2019 in order that an appropriate number of seats can be reserved.

 

Wee-g – BP Proof of Concept funding for drone testing

Over the past six years, Professor Giles Hammond from the School of Physics and Astronomy and Professor Doug Paul from the School of Engineering have been developing a collaboration to build small yet highly sensitive MicroElectroMechanicalSensors (MEMS) for applications in gravity imaging. This work harnesses expertise within the Institute for Gravitational Research, in opto-mechanical systems, and Engineering, in micro-nano fabrication within the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre.

Supported under the Glasgow-led QuantIC Hub, one of the 4 UK Quantum Technology Hubs, the team developed the world’s first MEMS gravimeter, “Wee-g”, with sufficient sensitivity and stability to monitor the Earth tides. Through the QuantIC programme, the team has developed strong industry and end-user engagement from a wide-variety of sectors including Oil & Gas (Bridgeporth, BP, Schlumberger, Tellus Gravity), Environmental monitoring (US Geological Survey, Institute for Volcanology in Rome), Defence & Security (QinetiQ, DSTL), space (ClydeSpace) and Micro/Nanofabrication (Kelvin NanoTechnology).

The recent award of a BP Proof of Concept study will assess the viability of using the “Wee-g” MEMS gravimeter and “Wee-grad”, a MEMS gradiometer, in an airborne drone. The work aims to measure changes in gravity which could lead to the identification of oil and mineral reserves. This will be a world first using these devices. Kelvin NanoTechnology will be fabricating devices for this project and packaging company, OptoCap, will deliver sealed and packaged devices. Field trials are currently ongoing, with drone-based tests planned for the late 2019.

 

First published: 16 February 2019

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