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Physics and Astronomy Reinduction

Physics and Astronomy Reinduction. Prof. Philip Harris, Head of Department. Welcome back!. Key academics in Physics & Astronomy. Prof Philip Harris Head of Department. Prof Peter Coles Head of School. Dr Claudia Eberlein School Director of Teaching and Learning. Dr Xavier Calmet

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Physics and Astronomy Reinduction

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  1. Physics and AstronomyReinduction • Prof. Philip Harris, • Head of Department Welcome back!

  2. Key academics in Physics & Astronomy • Prof Philip Harris • Head of Department Prof Peter Coles Head of School Dr Claudia Eberlein School Director of Teaching and Learning Dr Xavier Calmet Senior Tutor, Foundation Year, Y1, Y2 Prof Barry Garraway School Director of Student Experience Dr Kathy Romer Careers Tutor

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. New faculty this year • AMO/QT: • Dr Jacob Dunningham • Dr Alessia Pasquazi • Dr Marco Peccianti • Dr Diego Porras • Astro: • Dr Mark Sargent • Dr Christian Byrnes • Dr Robert Smith • Dr Stephen Wilkins • EPP: • Dr Iacopo Vivarelli, EPP • Dr Alex Cerri, EPP • Dr Clark Griffith, EPP • TPP: • Dr Veronica Sanz • Dr Andrea Banfi • Plus an extra post approved.

  6. 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!

  7. Student intake • Good news – we are becoming ever more sustainable • Challenge – to maintain our special community atmosphere • (ideas please!)

  8. 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.

  9. 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

  10. 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!

  11. “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?

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. Careers Year 2 students Finalists Deadlines for most graduate jobs occur this term! To help you prepare there is a special session on Monday in the Careers Centre from 1 to 2 pm (see emails from Kathy) • We are running a careers course this term (within Scientific Computing) • Sessions are on Wednesdays from 1 to 2 pm in Chichester Lecture Theatre • Y3 and Y4 students are also welcome to attend Dr Kathy Romer Careers Tutor New! SEPnet Employment Engagement Officer, to be located within the Department

  17. First-generation scholars: y1 & y2Weds 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

  18. 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.

  19. 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

  20. 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 

  21. 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

  22. SAFETY INDUCTION Introduction: Responsibilities & Risk Assessments Lasers Chemicals Cryogenics Electricity Emergency procedures With acknowledgements to Malcolm Strong

  23. 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.

  24. 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.

  25. Emergency Procedures • FOR ALL EMERGENCIES DIAL 3333 (Campus ‘phones) • Or 01273 873333 (from your mobile) • DIAL 999 (Off Campus) • This applies to: • Fire • First Aid/Medical • To report serious hazards, threatening or suspicious behaviour • Escort across campus after dark • etc...

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. 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.

  29. 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.

  30. 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.

  31. 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.

  32. 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)

  33. 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(Campus ‘phones) • Or 01273 873333 (from your mobile) • DIAL 999 (Off Campus)

  34. 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 

  35. And finally... • Work hard • Good luck • Have a great year!

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