Movies in the classroom: lessons for curriculum design

There is a burgeoning body of literature (Johnson and Jackson 2005; Cornett, 2006; Jensen and Curtis, 2008; Smith, 2009; Edwards et al, 2015) which suggests that, by incorporating into our teaching the humanities, including film, we can enhance the learning experience of our students and help lay the foundations for greater sensitivity, understanding and empathy, as well as make the learning more ‘real’

Gas Accretion and Star Formation Rates

Cosmological numerical simulations of galaxy evolution show that accretion of metal-poor gas from the cosmic web drives the star formation in galaxy disks. Unfortunately, the observational support for this theoretical prediction is still indirect, and modeling and analysis are required to identify hints as actual signs of star-formation feeding from metal-poor gas accretion. Thus, a meticulous interpretation of the observations is crucial, and this observational review begins with a simple theoretical description of the physical process and the key ingredients it involves, including the properties of the accreted gas and of the star-formation that it induces. A number of observations pointing out the connection between metal-poor gas accretion and star-formation are analyzed, specifically, the short gas consumption time-scale compared to the age of the stellar populations, the fundamental metallicity relationship, the relationship between disk morphology and gas metallicity, the existence of metallicity drops in starbursts of star-forming galaxies, the so-called G dwarf problem, the existence of a minimum metallicity for the star-forming gas in the local universe, the origin of the alpha-enhanced gas forming stars in the local universe, the metallicity of the quiescent BCDs, and the direct measurements of gas accretion onto galaxies. A final section discusses intrinsic difficulties to obtain direct observational evidence, and points out alternative observational pathways to further consolidate the current ideas.Comment: Invited review to appear in Gas Accretion onto Galaxies, Astrophysics and Space Science Library, eds. A. J. Fox & R. Dav\'e, to be published by Springe

Movies in the classroom: lessons for curriculum design

In this workshop, we will describe two approaches to using film to supplement teaching and enhance learning within the Faculty of Education and Health at the University of Greenwich. The first involves use of an extracurricular film club for BSc Public Health and BSc Health and Wellbeing students to introduce a range of contemporary public health and wellbeing issues in an entertaining way as an adjunct to traditional teaching and learning, e.g. the link between cancer and environmental contaminants (Erin Brockovich) and using epidemiology to map communicable diseases (Contagion). The second involves use of an eclectic mix of feature films to bring leadership theory to life, e.g. transformational leadership (Dead Poets Society) and trait theory (Gladiator), as part of the mandatory taught element of two post-experience leadership courses. Drawing from the literature on the use of films as a teaching and learning tool, the two approaches will be compared and the pedagogical benefits identified with a view to establishing a simple framework to guide the use of film in curriculum design

Thigh-length compression stockings and DVT after stroke

Controversy exists as to whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in patients with invasive bladder cancer, despite randomised controlled trials of more than 3000 patients. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of such treatment on survival in patients with this disease