The response of Physical Science post-graduates to training courses and the connection to their PhD studies

Training in both employability and discipline-specific skills has been provided and expanded over a number of years for post-graduate research students, (PGRs) in the Faculty of Physical Sciences administered by the Physical Sciences Graduate School (PSGS) at the University of Glasgow. This project explored the training provided in 2005/06 with a view to further developing a programme that students and faculty alike consider appropriate, timely and developmental for the needs of research students. The training provided by the PSGS had grown over a number of years in response to suggestions from academic staff in the Faculty of Physical Sciences. Data were collected from Postgraduate Research students (PGRs) from all the stages of the 3 year PhD process to enable a complete map of views to emerge. In particular, the way PGR students perceive the training they undergo in relation to their core PhD research and career progression was examined. The students in our study also identified clearly where they perceived they were developing such transferable skills, and training sessions are not seen as the sole or even major source; the research group itself would appear to play a major role. The authors believe the finding could inform the provision of PGR training in other UK institution

Analysis of drongo, a new Drosophila zinc finger gene expressed during oogenesis and neurogenesis

This thesis is an investigation into the function of the drongo, a novel gene with a zinc finger motif, orignally isolated via enhancer trapping from its expresssion in the embryonic neuroectoderm. Drongo has previously been shown to be expressed during oogenesis, neurogenesis and eye development. In this project, sequencing of a Drongo cDNA clone, shows homology to human nucleoporin protein hRIP; and a lesser extent to other proteins including the mammalian ARF-l GTPase activating protein (ARF-l GAP), a protein involved in vesicular transport across the cell; and family of yeast zinc finger genes GTSI/GCSI/GL03, members of which have also recently been shown to have GAP activity. Overexpression of drongo during early oogenesis results in egg chambers with supernumary nurse cells, probably as a result of a delay in follicle cell migration; a phenotype similar to that of braniac mutants. Overexpression during late oogenesis causes a mislocalisation of Oskar, producing embryos which lacked denticle belts and which often had posterior defects, suggesting that ectopic expression of the gene at different times in development can have different consequences. A mutagenesis screen carried out generated a number of potential mutant alleles, although none as yet have identified a mutation in the drongo gene. The use of an peptide antibody to the protein on S2 cells and western blots has identified a possible localisation of the Drongo protein to the endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting a role in vesicle transport. Drongo has also been shown to be developmentally expressed and the gene appears to encode two proteins which may or may not be functionally distinct. The role of Drongo as a possible ARF GAP, are discussed

Student engagement in an engineering ethics course

This case study has been developed from data gathered through observations of the teaching component, interviews with the tutor and a student focus group (the focus group was made up of students from different departments at different stages of the course: some had completed the course in the autumn term and some were half way through the course in the spring term). This case study outlines the development and implementation of an Engineering Ethics course across a number of engineering departments at Imperial College London. It explores students' experiences of the Engineering Ethics course and reflects on Esat's wider engagement with colleagues across the engineering departments to involve them with this course and also to embed components of engineering ethics across the different programmes

Prácticas artísticas difractivas: la informática y los complicados enredos entre el arte contemporáneo convencional y el arte de los nuevos medios

Adoptem la noció de difracció proposada per Karen Barad (2007) per reavaluar les relacions entre l'art contemporani convencional (ACC) i l'art dels nous mitjans (ANM), sobre les quals s'ha discutit durant molts anys com a part d'un debat un xic controvertit. La nostra lectura difractiva posa en relleu diferències, grans i petites però conseqüents, entre aquestes pràctiques artístiques. No suavitzarem les tensions que destaquen en anteriors debats sobre ANM i MCA, sinó que utilitzarem el terme de Barad, «embolic», per suggerir que hi ha «embolics» generatius, així com diferències productives, entre aquestes pràctiques. Ampliem el debat considerant quines diferències importen, per a qui (artistes, galeristes, científics) i com aquestes diferències emergeixen a través d'intraaccions materials i discursives. Propugnem un nou terme, «pràctiques artístiques difractives», i suggerim que aquestes pràctiques artístiques van més enllà de la bifurcació d’ANM i MCA per a reconfigurar parcialment les pràctiques entre art, informàtica i humanitats.We engage with Karen Barad’s notion of diffraction (2007) to re-evaluate the relations between mainstream contemporary art (MCA) and new media art (NMA) that have been discussed for many years as part of a somewhat contentious debate. Our diffractive reading highlights both large and small but consequential differences between these art practices. We do not smooth over the tensions highlighted in earlier discussions of NMA and MCA. Instead we use Barad’s term ‘entanglement’ to suggest that there are generative ‘entanglements’, as well as productive differences, between these practices. We extend the debate by considering which differences matter, for whom (artists, gallerists, scientists) and how these differences emerge through material-discursive intra-actions. We argue for a new term, diffractive art practices, and suggest that such art practices move beyond the bifurcation of NMA and MCA to partially reconfigure the practices between art, computation and humanities.Adoptamos la noción de difracción propuesta por Karen Barad (2007) para reevaluar las relaciones entre el arte contemporáneo convencional (ACC) y el arte de los nuevos medios (ANM), sobre las que se ha discutido durante muchos años como parte de un debate algo controvertido. Nuestra lectura difractiva pone de relieve diferencias, grandes y pequeñas pero consecuentes, entre estas prácticas artísticas. No suavizamos las tensiones puestas de relieve en anteriores debates acerca de ANM y MCA, sino que utilizamos el término de Barad, «enredo», para sugerir que existen «enredos» generativos, así como diferencias productivas, entre dichas prácticas. Ampliamos el debate considerando qué diferencias importan, para quién (artistas, galeristas, científicos) y cómo dichas diferencias emergen a través de intra-acciones materiales y discursivas. Propugnamos un nuevo término, «prácticas artísticas difractivas», y sugerimos que dichas prácticas artísticas van más allá de la bifurcación de ANM y MCA para reconfigurar parcialmente las prácticas entre arte, informática y humanidades

Courage and co-creation: Cultural transformation in an academic library

University libraries are transforming to be vibrant and distinctive online and physical spaces that, at their heart, continue to foster the connection of people to ideas. Rapid and continuously changing expectations of clients in the range of services that are delivered by libraries, combined with increasingly demanding resourcing environments are challenges for all library leaders. A library staff culture that is energised, focused and resilient is essential to ensure that service expectations are met or exceeded and that the library retains its valued position in the university. The University Librarian at Curtin University in Australia has initiated and led a library staff culture transformation program over an 18-month period. The program has adopted an empowerment mindset to increase commitment, involvement and optimism amongst library staff. The need for such a transformative program was identified following a particularly difficult period of staff disruption. The ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ dialogic method was used to facilitate a whole of library engagement and activity program that commenced with a two day ‘Library Challenge’ event. The event brought together library staff, students and academics to identify the desired culture along with a roadmap to meet that goal. The Your Voice Satisfaction Survey (Your Voice), a research validated employee satisfaction and engagement survey, was used to evaluate the Curtin University Library culture program with the survey being run before, and during the program’s implementation. Results show significant shifts in staff engagement as the culture program has been rolled out, particularly in the areas of commitment, involvement and positive outlook. This paper will outline the staff culture transformation program at Curtin University Library with an emphasis on the skills and attitudes required by library leaders to ensure success in this critical area of leadership

How Differing Diagnoses Impact Patients\u27 Views on Eating Disorder Recovery

We surveyed 143 former eating disorder patients about what being fully recovered from an eating disorder means and what factors helped them attain recovery. In addition to basic demographic information, participants were asked eight key questions, such as: “How would you personally define the concept of being fully recovered from an eating disorder?” There were differences by diagnosis in what eating disorder patients believed being “fully recovered” meant as well as what treatment factors they felt were most helpful. For example, those diagnosed with anorexia nervosa were most likely to report that life changes/focusing on something more important/ having purpose were the factors that most affected the maintenance of their eating disorder recovery. Those who were diagnosed with bulimia nervosa were most likely to report that support and accountability affected their recovery the most. Those diagnosed with binge eating disorder equally reported that the factors life changes/focusing on something more important/ having purpose, support and accountability, and skills/intervention most affected their recovery. Those diagnosed with other specified feeding and eating disorders equally reported that the factors continuation of care/therapy, support and accountability, and skills/intervention most affected their recovery

Inter-group communication between baby boomer leaders and generation Y followers: a cultural reasoning perspective

This study investigated the inter-group communication between Baby Boomer Leaders and Generation Y Followers. This qualitative study, set in the Energy Utilities industry in Australia, pioneered two models, cultural reasoning and ServQual as ways of increasing understanding of how these very different generations prefer to communicate. The findings showed that Baby Boomer Leaders were more formal, compliant and rational in their communication methods whereas Generation Y Followers were more informal, questioning and intuitive and socio-centric