Physics and Astronomy
Reinduction
Prof. Philip Harris,
Head of Department
Welcome back!
Key academics in
Physics & Astronomy
Prof Philip Harris
Head of Department
Prof Barry Garraway
School Director of
Student Experience
Prof Peter Coles
Head of School
Dr Xavier Calmet
Senior Tutor,
Foundation Year, Y1, Y2
Dr Claudia Eberlein
School Director of Teaching
and Learning
Dr Kathy Romer
Careers Tutor
Director of Student Experience
MEC assessment, “reasonable adjustment”
Student experience group
Attendance monitoring at school level
SSPC meetings, actions, letters...
Appeals
School elections
DJC management
Senior tutor oversight
Prof. Barry Garraway
Senior tutor
Attendance monitoring; helping students in difficulty.
Queries, from faculty & students (Oversees academic advisors)
Advise course changes (but talk to your academic advisors first)
Liaison with student representatives: Department Joint Committee
meetings
Troubleshooting
Induction/Reinduction
In charge of year 0,1 & 2 students
Year > 2 see DoSE (Barry Garraway)
Dr Xavier Calmet
Senior Tutor,
Foundation Year, Y1, Y2
New faculty this year
AMO/QT:
EPP:
Dr Jacob Dunningham
Dr Iacopo Vivarelli, EPP
Dr Alessia Pasquazi
Dr Alex Cerri, EPP
Dr Marco Peccianti
Dr Clark Griffith, EPP
Dr Diego Porras
TPP:
Astro:
Dr Veronica Sanz
Dr Mark Sargent
Dr Andrea Banfi
Dr Christian Byrnes
Dr Robert Smith
Dr Stephen Wilkins
Plus an extra post approved.
Other staff changes
Mike Hardiman has now “retired”.
Temporary lecturer Alessandro Ferraro left us in June.
Dr Steve Churchwell has become Chief Technical Officer.
Gemma Farrell (school office) rep. by Matthew Tiernan
Maths has an additional eight new faculty posts.
Total £2m investment by the University in our School – a very
positive sign of commitment and recognition of our success!
Student intake
160
Y1 Cohort Size
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2009
2010
2011
Year
2012
2013
Good news – we are becoming ever more sustainable
Challenge – to maintain our special community atmosphere
(ideas please!)
Student satisfaction
2013 NSS – 100% student satisfaction rating
•
•
•
•
•
100% say staff are enthusiastic about the subject
100% say course is intellectually stimulating
100% say course is well organised and runs smoothly
100% have been able to access specialised equipment when needed
100% are satisfied with the quality of the course
We have a unique and supportive atmosphere in
P&A at Sussex. If there’s a problem – we want to know.
Assessment and feedback
• Faculty encouraged to follow Sebastian J’s problem-sheet approach
• Prob sheets to state: Deadline; lateness penalites; feedback deadline;
marks release date.
• Office hours may be referred to as “feedback hours” (to distinguish
from academic advising) – even though most have “open door” policy.
• More detailed discussion between ATs and convenors, to improve
quality and consistency of feedback.
• Simplified marksheets (where possible).
• Faculty encouraged to release lecture notes
• Faculty encouraged to video-capture their lectures
• Final-year project assessment criteria improved
• Undertaking measures to reduce plagiarism
Feedback
We stay high in NSS by listening to our students.
We need your feedback:
• To lecturers (on their modules)
• MFQs (module-feedback questionnaires – on-line)
• To DJC/student reps, and to senior tutors
• Any time to the study direct forum PASF: joining key
“PASF”
Help us to help you!
“Meet the HoD” forum
Termly open forum for HoD to update you on what’s going
on, and for you to ask any questions.
Do you want it?
Departmental Joint Committee
• Student rep – faculty forum. Crucial!
• DJC chair currently Tom Workman
 Fresh elections: nominations wk 1-2
http://www.sussexstudent.com/studentreps
• Physics & Astronomy Ball:
Sat. 12th April 2014
 Speaker: Prof Dave Wark
Student Study Spaces
Please respect these facilities, and
take care of them so all can enjoy and
make use of them.
Please leave the kitchen
as you’d like to find it!
Future expansion envisioned, or possible
move to Creativity Zone...?
For undergrads:
•Gauss house – social space, computing...
•Wormhole – quiet group work, self-study, ref. library
•Faraday Cage – quiet group work; projector; bookable for activities.
•Pascal’s Pad – quiet computing work
If things go wrong...
Seek help if needed:
- Academic Advisor, Senior Tutor
- For minor colds, injury etc: Take care, seek doctor’s advice etc
- More serious: Student Life Centre (SLC). Let us know
immediately so allowance can be made
- Look on website or ask in school office for relevant phone
numbers
- Make sure our records of your contact details are up to date
MEC: More detail...
• Claims filled in online (SD) within 7 days of affected deadline
• Mitigation only applied if situation is sudden, serious, unforeseen
• Needs to be evidence (doctor’s note etc)
More info/instructions on SD
Make sure you notify School Office if away/ill more than 6 days
Careers
Year 2 students
We are running a careers
course this term (within
Finalists
Deadlines for most graduate
jobs occur this term!
Scientific Computing)
To help you prepare there is a
Sessions are on Wednesdays special session on Monday in
from 1 to 2 pm in Chichester the Careers Centre from 1 to 2
Lecture Theatre
Y3 and Y4 students are also
welcome to attend
pm (see emails from Kathy)
Dr Kathy Romer
Careers Tutor
New! SEPnet Employment Engagement Officer, to be
located within the Department
First-generation scholars: y1 & y2
Weds 9th October events
1.
Get Ahead 13.00 – 17.15, Fulton Building
An afternoon of events, workshops and 1-to-1 advice designed to give First-Generation Scholars a head start when
looking for part-time work, internships and jobs after they graduate as well as helping with university study.
Workshops include:
·
How can I find a part-time job?
·
How can I find work experience and internships?
·
Presentation Skills
·
Team working
Full details at: www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/firstgenerationgetahead
2.
Welcome Event 17.30 – 19.00, Jubilee Building
A chance for First-Generation Scholars to meet each other, discover what the Student Services team have to offer and to be
officially welcomed to the 2013- 2014 Academic year by Clare Mackie.
Full details at: www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/firstgenerationwelcome
Your responsibilities,
our expectations
You are responsible for your own learning.
Buying gym membership doesn’t make you fit!
Help yourself:
• Learn the subject
• Go to lectures; study the material (beforehand if possible)
• Attempt all of your assignments (not just those for assessment)
• Make sure your writing is legible
• Understand and avoid plagiarism and collusion – they are
serious offences.
• Check e-mail and post every day.
Studying is a full-time job. You should aim to spend at least 40
hours per week on it.
Plagiarism
A serious offence – don’t do it. Penalties are severe.
Check it out on Uni web pages: type “Plagiarism” in search box.
See, e.g., “Cite Them Right” for appropriate rules. Basically, if
you copy anything or use any result from anywhere, cite it.
People of different academic backgrounds have different notions
of plagiarism. Think: and if unsure – ask.
Always make clear which parts of the work you
present are your own.
“Cite them right” by Richard Pears and Graham Shields, pub. Pear Tree Books
Collusion
• Distinct from plagiarism, but equally serious offence
• Don’t work too closely with other students on assessed
coursework
• OK to discuss problems and work out algorithms together, but
tear up joint notes – be sure to work out and write up your
solutions independently.
Try this test:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/s3/?id=34
Institute of Physics
The professional body actively working to promote
developments in physics
• careers information and resources
• Members’ room at 76 Portland Place
• MyIOP, social networking for physicists
• Nexus – for 10,000 student members
• www.physicsworld.com magazine
• All for FREE
• Paper copy of Physics World magazine £15/year
SAFETY INDUCTION
Introduction: Responsibilities & Risk Assessments
Lasers
Chemicals
Cryogenics
Electricity
Emergency procedures
With acknowledgements to Malcolm Strong
Health & Safety
Health and safety is all about preventing people from being
harmed at work or becoming ill through work.
Legislation states that we must not put ourselves, other
workers or the public in danger.
The University is responsible for providing a safe working
environment. You are responsible for your own actions
and inactions within that environment.
Your responsibilities
• To take reasonable care of the Health & Safety of
yourselves & others affected by your acts or omissions.
• To co-operate with the requirements and duties
imposed on the employer, to enable those
requirements and duties to be complied with.
• Not to interfere with or misuse anything provided for
health and safety reasons.
Emergency Procedures
FOR ALL EMERGENCIES
DIAL 3333
Or 01273 873333
DIAL 999
(Campus ‘phones)
(from your mobile)
(Off Campus)
This applies to:
• Fire
• First Aid/Medical
• To report serious hazards, threatening or
suspicious behaviour
• Escort across campus after dark
• etc...
Emergency Evacuation
If you discover a fire
• Operate the fire alarm
• Call emergency number 3333 (or 01273 873333)
(NB don’t dial 999 when on campus)
If you hear the fire alarm
• Leave the building by the nearest exit
• Do not stop to pick up belongings
• Report to the nearest assembly point
• away from the building
Emergency Evacuation
Do not tackle a fire unless you are trained in
the use of fire extinguishers
Do not use lifts
Do not re-enter the building until instructed
to do so by the person in charge
Risk Assessments
All practical project work must be risk assessed.
Any task: identify hazards and assess risks.
Record the risks, inform users.
Implement the measures required to remove or
minimise the risk before starting work.
Laboratory experiments have been assessed;
scripts contain safety instructions. Ensure you
are familiar with them and follow them.
You may not work in a lab until you have had
the relevant safety training from the person
responsible for that lab.
Lasers
Lasers in teaching laboratories are safe low
power, but the research labs have high power
class 3R and 4 lasers.
These labs are restricted areas for access by
authorised persons only.
Staff and students in these areas must see the
laser Safety Video before commencing work.
Research lasers are not always in the visible
wavelengths so the beam is not obvious.
Chemicals
• Keep quantities you are working with
to the minimum required.
• Transport with care, in proper
containers.
• Always label containers
• Always wash your hands after
handling chemicals. Do not eat, drink
in the labs.
• Always dispose of waste correctly.
Cryogenic Liquids
Liquid Nitrogen: very cold, –196o C.
Liquid Helium: even colder –269o C.
• Loose fitting insulated gloves, where appropriate
• Appropriate clothing – no sandals/open shoes
• Safety goggles when transferring cryogenic liquids
- always!
• Never travel in a lift with dewars of any cryogenic
liquid.
Electricity
Check that equipment has been tested for electrical
safety (PAT).
Special care when using portable tools, and HV
equipment.
May need RCCB (residual current circuit breaker)
Further Information
The University web site gives access to copies of:
• Safety Policy documents.
• Safety Procedures and Guidance.
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/hso/1-2.html
See also lab scripts and lab safety folders
Reminder:
FOR ALL EMERGENCIES
DIAL 3333
Or 01273 873333
DIAL 999
(Campus ‘phones)
(from your mobile)
(Off Campus)
Prizes
Outstanding Achievement in Year 1 – Lucio Maria Milanese
Outstanding Achievement in Year 2 – Samuel Jones
Outstanding Achievement in Year 3 – Will Astill
Outstanding Year-on-Year Improvement in Performance
Nathan Bayley
Arran Graham-Shaw
Mark Davies
Ryan Hicks
And finally...
Work hard
Good luck
Have a great year!