Summer 2011

Come and explore your local university

The University of Birmingham is proud of its roots as a civic university. We are a world-renowned university with a brilliant mix of staff and students, but we know that without the people of Birmingham we would never have existed and our continuing relationship with you, our local community, is vital to us.

To celebrate this we are throwing the doors open for you to see for yourselves the great things that the University is doing for people here in the Midlands and around the world.

Our world class research has global reach and we strive to make an impact on the issues affecting the world today and in the future. From breakthroughs in cancer treatment to developing greener,

On Sunday 19 June, from 11.00am–4.00pm, the University will hold its second annual Community Day. I am again delighted to invite you to come and explore our beautiful, historic campus, whether you’re a regular visitor or will be visiting us for the first time.

more sustainable energy, our research is making a real impact on people’s lives.

Our students achieve tremendous things and they go on to use their skills in all areas of society, from classroom teaching to space research. We also provide a service to many local and national businesses, who rely on our knowledge and state-of-the-art facilities to develop, diversify and strengthen their position in the marketplace.

The Community Day is a day of fun that all of the family can enjoy. You will be able to get involved in our latest research, learn how our students support the local community, find out incredible facts our researchers have discovered and enjoy fun activities throughout the day.

You can explore the campus by taking in our museums, gardens and art gallery, then enjoy the fun fair, craft and farmers’ market, with workshops on offer throughout the day; from building your own lego robot to digging for dinosaurs.

We want you to know what is available to you on this campus – after all, this is our city’s great university.

Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham

Digging for dinosaurs

It’s good to talk

Energy at Birmingham

There’s lots going on down at the Lapworth Museum of Geology. Buried within the historic corridors of the Aston Webb Building, the museum is home to the finest and most extensive collections of fossils, minerals and rocks in the Midlands.

The collections contain in excess of 250,000 specimens. In addition to rocks and fossils, there are large collections of early geological maps, equipment, models, photographic material and also zoological specimens and stone axes.

This year’s Community Day will give children the chance to make their own replica fossils from moulds and plaster of paris, under supervision by students who can tell them about the fossils they are creating.

The Lapworth team will recreate a dinosaur excavation and children can help to excavate fossil-dinosaur remains alongside a number of students from the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences who have been on dinosaur excavations in Utah. You can learn to identify the fossil remains and try to create an ancient environment from the remains uncovered.

Alongside the dinosaur digs, the museum will be displaying some of its objects from volcanic eruptions such as lava, ash and volcanic bombs and you can even witness a ‘homemade’ volcanic eruption…

You can find the Lapworth information stand on Community Day, within the Aston Webb foyer.

Learn morewww.lapworth.bham.ac.uk

Our recently launched Birmingham Speakers Programme, a free resource for community groups and schools, will be showcasing some of the fantastic talks on offer during Community Day.

You can find out what’s on offer and how to book as well as enjoy a ‘lucky dip’ selection of academic speakers introducing their topics and talks.

Learn more www.birmingham.ac.uk/speakersprogramme

Energy is one of the University of Birmingham’s major areas of education and research. From the design of national electricity grids to the efficiency of railways; and from future biofuels to aircraft design and power stations, the work carried out on our campus is creating sustainable technologies that will light our homes and power our cars in the future, without damaging the environment.

Our Centre for Railway Research and Education has helped design train systems across the globe, including the Hong Kong Metro System, and we have one of the UK’s leading centres in materials research, creating products that can withstand temperatures of thousands of degrees in the next generation of power stations.

We’re also looking into the impact of technology decisions on ordinary people and the environment. We have projects investigating fuel poverty among pensioners as well as the behaviour and attitudes of teenagers towards saving energy and how they can be shaped and influenced by new software, games and products.

Our geographers are also looking into the impacts of emissions and other industrial processes on our air, water and health.

On Community Day, look out for the Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles – instead of eating expensive petrol and giving off potentially poisonous fumes, these cars run on hydrogen and emit only water. It may not be long before you’re driving one of these on the streets!

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Ironbridge Live!

That child has the plague!

Birmingham is proud of its heritage, both as a university and within the city’s history. You can explore the history of our campus by enjoying the heritage and sculpture walking tours, taking in the sights across our beautiful Edgbaston campus.

What’s more, you can also follow our brand new Blue Plaque Trail, taking in the buildings that nurtured some of the greatest minds in history, collecting clues along the way to learn amazing things about the University and its students.

And as you make it back to the Great Hall, you can experience some of the objects from our collections first hand during handling sessions. There will be lots of opportunities to see, hear and feel the impressive collection of artefacts, books and treasures in our possession as you discover the cultural treasures of the Midlands.

The team at Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust will be on hand to show you the treasures of the Midlands and an exciting showcase of activities and artefacts from Ironbridge.

The Trust will present a selection of the events and exhibitions run at the museums, including rag rugging, porcelain flower making, tile painting and a chance to try on a corset as part of the Historic Costume Project.

Our student volunteers will be welcoming visitors for a second year to offer guidance and assistance to budding golfers. Students will be offering 3D swing analysis and putting instruction for keen golfers to absolute novices.

Our volunteers work with schools and children between 8 and 15 years old in the community to encourage golf participation and the accompanying

skills that this can offer. Sessions help children to develop both their golfing ability and life skills such as team work, communication, confidence, problem solving and motivation.

Coaches work hard to deliver these tuition sessions, both indoors and outdoors, in a fun and safe way.

Why not try your hand at golf this Community Day?

After creating lots of scary faces at our last Community Day, we will again be welcoming our resident make-up expert from the History of Medicine Unit.

Julia will be bringing the history of disease to life with ‘Medical Effects’ make-up, showing you conditions that include the Bubonic Plague, Smallpox and Anthrax, to name a few.

You can walk away with your very own unique face painting and experience history with all its gory detail...

Swinging into action

TREASURES OF THE

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For campus locations go to www.birmingham.ac.uk/contact/directions Next issue out Winter 2011

Community Day isn’t the only event you can enjoy on our Edgbaston campus. You’re welcome to join us at any of these events and activities in the coming months.

The Barber Institute of Fine ArtsLearn more www.barber.org.uk

Court on Canvas: Tennis in ArtThe first ever art exhibition to explore the subject of tennis in art.27 May–18 September.

Saturday Art School for AdultsOur monthly practical classes over the summer feature painting, drawing, print-making and photography.23 July, 20 August, 17 September, 11.00am–4.00pm.

Sacred and Profane: Treasures of Ancient EgyptStatuettes of mortals and gods, mummy masks, jewellery, pottery and papyri. Until 18 January 2012.

Leisurely pursuits: Recreational Culture in Victorian BritainTechnologically advanced comic art portrayed many sporting images which provide us with an intriguing insight into the surge in popularity of leisure in Victorian Britain.1 July–8 January 2012.

Winterbourne House and GardenOffering weekend workshops which include photography, flower arranging, silk painting, sculpture, carving and drawing.Learn more www.winterbourne.org.uk/education/adult-education

Term dates 2011–2012Although the University is open throughout the year, the following dates mark the beginning and end of undergraduate teaching at the University each term. This can lead to congestion on local roads at these times as some students travel home for the holidays.Summer: 3 May 2011–24 June 2011Autumn: 26 September 2011–9 December 2011

Public events: join us on campus

Big ideas for societyIn 2009–10, our students gave 36,550 hours of their time to volunteering

Big ideas for the futureOur researchers have discovered a sweet way of producing hydrogen by providing bacteria with the waste produced from chocolate production. The bacteria then creates clean hydrogen giving us an emission-free fuel that can be generated sustainably

Big ideas for businessOur scientists have discovered a way to extract tiny amounts of precious metals from roadside dust, allowing them to be recycled and reused by companies

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Let us know what you think by contacting us on community@contacts.bham.ac.uk. For information and to download the Community Day programme, visit: www.birmingham.ac.uk/community

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