Welcome to the December 2017 edition of the School newsletter.

This year we have welcomed a much larger number of students than usual to the School, particularly on our MSc courses. Our new Data Analytics programme has attracted a large number of people from across the world, while the new on-line version has also considerably exceeded the target for new recruits. Added to some increases across the board in our teaching numbers, we have the satisfaction of knowing that the courses we deliver are in great demand. However, the efforts required this year to adapt to sudden increases have been very considerable. Those at the sharp end of dealing with this – particularly on the MSc developments – deserve a very sincere Thank you! for the very large amount of extra work which has been involved. We have been able to recruit some very valuable assistance this session, through the GTA positions now filled by Suzy Whoriskey, Diana Giughita and Lida Mavrogonatou. Discussions about how we adapt to the delivery of these courses in future years is underway.

On other fronts, the School is, as ever, engaged in a very busy, and astonishingly varied, programme of activity. The Newsletter gives some insight into grants won, papers published, workshops, talks, schools events delivered – not forgetting our recent Fika. (Read on to discover what that one is about.) I hope you enjoy hearing about these.

I hope you enjoy a very well-earned break over the Christmas season – and very best wishes for 2018 when it comes.

First published: 19 December 2017

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