Essex in top 10 of universities for library
spending
Spending on books and journals per library user
in Essex’s Albert Sloman Library is among the highest of any university in the UK,
according to new figures.
The statistics for 1997/98 place Essex fourth in the
country when it comes to expenditure per user on books, periodicals, and electronic
resources. This puts Essex above the London School of Economics (LSE) and University
College London (UCL), and only slightly behind Cambridge, Oxford, and Newcastle.
The new figures confirm a long trend in the annual set of tables, from the Standing
Conference of National & University Libraries (SCONUL) and the Higher Education
Colleges Learning Resources Group (HCLRG). For many years, Essex has consistently been
placed among the top ten universities. In 1996-97 Essex was fifth.
As a result of this consistent expenditure on information resources throughout the years,
the Albert Sloman Library currently has 628,500 books and periodical volumes on its
shelves. It can also boast microform holdings amounting to 137,000 items. In addition, an
ever-increasing range of electronic databases and databanks are being made available for
the benefit of students and academics.
Second celebration of Latin
American community at Essex
This year the focus is on Columbia
Staff and students across the University are
joining forces to organize the second University of Essex Latin American Month.
Following last year’s successful programme about Chile, this year’s Latin
American Month (15 November-9 December) will be dedicated to Colombia with the focal point
being an exhibition of the work of the Colombian London-based artist, Ofelia Rodríguez.
The four-week wide-ranging and insightful programme has been organised by the Latin
American Centre, together with the Latin American Society, the Gallery and the Latin
American Art Collection.
Other events planned include seminars on oil mercenaries and peace in Columbia, and the
development of popular music in twentieth century Colombia.
There will also be a screening of My Macondo in which Colombian journalist Julio Roca sets
out in search of Macondo – the site of fantastic events in One Hundred Years of
Solitude by Nobel Prize winning author Gabriel García Márquez. After the screening, the
director Dan Weldon and the producer Ben Woolford will take part in a discussion of their
work, which seeks the truth behind stories of a strike against the United Fruit Company
and the terrible massacre which followed.
The month will also include a party featuring the vibrant Latin and Colombian sounds of
Conjunto Saboroso, one of the most original Latin bands in this country.
Indonesian venture
for Essex marine biologists
This year’s University of Essex marine
conservation expedition took marine biologists to the other side of the world and the
spectacular underwater diving sites off the Indonesian coast.
The 20-strong team of students and staff from the University flew more than 10,000 miles
to take part in the scientifically important project. Students from other universities,
who were already there, asked to join the Essex team.
Prior to arriving at the marine station, some members of the expedition party embarked on
a week of jungle survival, whilst others went on language courses to learn the local
dialect of Indonesian. However, for the majority of the eight-week trip, the team was
based on Hoga Island in the Wakatobi marine park.
The main aim of the expedition was to investigate the effects of a local village of
indigenous people, the Bajio, on the coral reef, and its implications for the
sustainability of local fisheries.
One of the amazing pictures
taken by Essex students on the marine research expedition to Indonesia. Some were
also taken by Zafer Kizikaya (a professional underwater photographer whose work has been
published in the National Geographic magazine), who joined the team.
Expedition leader, Dr David Smith,
who lectures on Marine Biology in the Department of Biological Sciences, said: ‘This
site has been recognised as one of the best dive sites in the world, and members of the
expedition were not disappointed with underwater visibility reaching 50 metres on a
good-day. Students dived with dolphins, manta rays, sharks, sea snakes and were surrounded
by a huge diversity of pristine corals.’
The importance of the study, the lack of this type of research, and the superb location
mean that Dr Smith is already planning a return trip to the same location next year.
Report predicts big social changes
by 2010
Shifts in the structure of society combined with
rapidly advancing technology are set to transform the way that Britain does business by
the year 2010, according to new research published by Professor Richard Scase (pictured
below).
More single people, a booming consumer market among the
over 50s and a major expansion of home working are key trends predicted in a report
commissioned by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Foresight
Programme.
The author, Professor Richard Scase, (pictured above) who is a Visiting Professor at
Essex’s Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) bases his views on research
into social trends as well as the data collected in the ESRC British Household Panel
Study, also based at Essex.
He said: ‘To be competitive in the future global economy will require a revolution in
the culture and practices of British management.’
He looks forward to an era of creativity and innovation in business, delivered by a
mobile, highly-skilled workforce, but argues that outdated ‘low trust’ corporate
cultures which value compulsion over creativity must be overcome.
The report ‘Britain towards 2010: the Changing Business Environment’ underlines
the importance of demographic and other social changes in shaping the ways that
information and communication technologies will impact on business and the wider economy.
Awards pay tribute to
inspiring Essex Physicist
A
n Essex Physics Professor has received a national award
for achieving outstanding success while bravely battling against a debilitating illness.
Professor Phiroze Kapadia was named as the winner of the Leadership and Diversity Award
1999 for ‘Achievement through Adversity,’ at a glittering ceremony at the London
Hilton on 26 October.
The awards, instituted by The Asian Marketing Group, were set up to recognise and promote
high achievers from the Asian community and the organisations they work for.
Leading personalities from various different fields attended the gala dinner celebration
of Britain’s rich multicultural society, where the Rt Hon Mo Mowlan MP, Minister for
the Cabinet Office, was the chief guest.
Professor Kapadia is a retired Professor of Physics who now works part-time as a Research
Professor in the Department of Mathematics.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivor Crewe, who nominated Professor Kapadia, described him
as someone whose ‘courage and academic leadership in the face of enormous physical
disability are a constant inspiration to all his university colleagues.’
Unfortunately, Professor Kapadia, now 68, was too ill to attend the Gala Dinner so
Professor John Dowden, of the Department of Mathematics, accepted the award on his behalf.
Sixth formers gain
insight into science at Essex
More than 140 scientists of the future had the
opportunity to see the University’s laboratories in action during an immunology
conference for sixth formers on 29 September.
The themes of the day’s programme were
designed to be suitable for prospective BSc Biologists and Biochemists and also for
would-be medics, vets, dentists and nurses.
There were a number of immunology lectures, workshops and laboratory demonstrations.
The event was organized by the Science Centre of the University and sponsored by the
British Society for Immunology.
The nine schools/colleges represented included the Colchester Sixth Form College, Chelmer
Valley School (Chelmsford), the Plume School (Maldon), Woodbridge School, Colne Community
School (Brightlingsea), Palmer’s College (Grays), Thurston Upper School, Hartesmere
School (Eye) and Sudbury Upper School.
Feedback from both students and teachers suggests that the conference was very successful
and much appreciated.
