Lanyon Building

• To facilitate the event, we will close the Lanyon building, excluding the Old Physics building which will remain open and operate as normal, from Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 November inclusive;
• There will be no parking availability to the sides of the Lanyon building for the duration of the event;
• The limited amount of teaching that would normally take place in these buildings will be moved online during the three-day period;
• All staff based in the Lanyon Building, unless directly involved in the event, are encouraged to work from home or another area of the University during this period if possible.

Peter Froggatt Centre and the Bell Lecture Theatre

• A small number of rooms in the Peter Froggatt Centre and the Bell Lecture Theatre will also be used on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 November as part of the event and the Timetabling and Room Booking team will contact relevant staff to advise of changes.

The majority of the campus will remain unaffected and activities will continue as normal. The McClay Library will remain open to staff and students.

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. This is an important and exciting event, and staff and students are encouraged to share in the experience by viewing the livestream. Please keep an eye on the conference website for further details.

More information

Since 2020, Queen's has been a signatory of the Race Equality Charter, which helps universities and research institutes in their work to improve the representation, progression and success of Black, Asian and minority ethnic people in higher education.

The survey is completely anonymous, and your valuable feedback will help us to identify what we are doing well, and crucially, where we can do better in making the university a more diverse, equal, and inclusive place. It will also inform our application to the Race Equality Charter in 2025.

For further questions, please refer to the FAQs or email REC@qub.ac.uk.

Throughout the week, staff, students, and the wider community will have opportunities for hands-on involvement in sustainability and community-building events and activities, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and our goal of achieving net zero by 2040.

Events happening throughout the week include:

• a free pop-up bike check at Freedom Cycles;
• a repair cafe;
• a student swap shop;
• a community-wide litter pick;
• a cookery class;
• a zero-waste vegan breakfast.

These awards provide a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the exceptional contributions and achievements of colleagues across the university during the 2023-24 academic year.

2. Invoices received after 5.00pm on Tuesday 10 December and Requests for Payment or Staff Expenses Claims received after 12.00pm Wednesday 11 December 2024 and before 12.00pm on Thursday 2 January 2025 will be paid by Friday 10 January 2025.
3. Normal payment arrangements will apply for all payment requests received week commencing Monday 6 January 2025.

Whilst Accounts Payable will make every effort to comply with this timetable, due to the volumes of payment requests received at this time of the year, and to ensure payment before the holiday, staff are requested to process all such transactions well in advance of these deadlines.

Further clarification of these arrangements, if required, may be obtained from Accounts Payable by emailing: accounts.payable@qub.ac.uk.

Staff are required to assist with ushering guests to their seats in the Whitla Hall. Volunteers can offer to help at one or more ceremonies. All help is gratefully received.

Please email events@qub.ac.uk with any further queries.

About the W100 Survey

This survey is coordinated by The World 100 Reputation Network, a group of leading global universities, of which Queen's University is a member. The survey is managed by Times Higher Education, who ensure that all responses remain anonymous and confidential in accordance with the UK’s Market Research Society Code of Conduct.

For any questions, staff can contact Rowen Elliott at rowen.elliott@timeshighereducation.com. 

* Please note: anyone who wishes to attend will need to register their own interest so we can share the link individually and are able to gather attendance details.

More information

These 30-45-minute events will provide a run-through of the benefits of Cyclescheme, Cycling to Work, how much money you can save through the scheme, where you can get a bike, how to apply, additional Cyclescheme offerings, and will host a live Q&A session at the end where the organisers will answer as many questions as possible.

This is a fantastic period for staff to consider purchasing a new commuting bike following on from the recent opening of the university’s new ebike facility and PEC shelter, encompassing 80 new secure bike parking spaces.

More information

Communities of Practice aim to bring together colleagues from across the university who share similar roles to exchange knowledge, discuss best practices, and build valuable professional connections. Participating in a CoP is an excellent opportunity to expand your network, gain fresh insights, and enhance your professional skills.

This session will highlight how Communities of Practice can support your professional growth and provide guidance on how to get involved, aligning with the university’s commitment to enhancing staff learning and career development.

To register your interest

Staff submitting an expression of interest should include detailed bullet points indicating how they would meet the criteria outlined in the Award guidelines. These should be sufficiently detailed and include information on the type of evidence you have to support your claims, to allow the internal selection panel to make an informed decision.

About the NTFS and CATE

The NTFS recognises, rewards and celebrates individuals working in UK higher education who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession.

In 2025, the University can nominate up to three individual members of staff who teach and/or support learning in higher education. The NTFS 2025 Guidance document provides details about the Scheme and the criteria.

The CATE recognises and celebrates collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning. The Scheme highlights the key role that teamwork plays in higher education. Each award will recognise a team which has enabled a change in practice for colleagues and/or students at an institutional or discipline level.

The University can nominate one team that can clearly demonstrate its impact on teaching and learning through collaboration. The CATE 2025 Guidance provides details about the Scheme and the criteria.

More information

Further information is available on the CED website. Queries can be directed to e.mcdowell@qub.ac.uk.

To contribute an article to Queen's Policy Engagement, please email Kevin at qpol@qub.ac.uk.

• Many important 20th-century philosophers investigated ghosts – here's how they explained them, by Dr Matyáš Moravec
• AI is just one of the thorny issues facing photography – here's how the industry can prioritise ethics, by Dr Savannah Dodd
• Dr Grace Carroll: The 'bully cats' bred to resemble American bully dogs and how fashion is creating mutant pet breeds / O modismo está criando raças de animais de estimação mutantes: os 'gatos valentões' foram inventados para se assemelharem a cães americanos

During this training session the editor will discuss The Conversation’s unique, collaborative editorial process, give tips on style, tone and structure (with examples), look at how to pitch (with examples) and look at different approaches and article types. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discuss their research with the editor and pitch potential story ideas.

* There are a limited number of places for this session. Colleagues who sign up and then are no longer able to attend are asked to please cancel their registration so that their place can be re-allocated to to the waiting list.

For more information on the AHSS session, please email Zara McBrearty in Queen's Strategic Communications Office: z.mcbrearty@qub.ac.uk. 

About The Conversation

The Conversation is a news analysis and opinion website with content written by academics working with professional journalists. It is an open access, independent media charity funded by more than 80 UK and European universities.

View Queen’s academics’ articles on The Conversation here.

• Ten graduates secure Grade 3 roles at Queen's through Administration Academy
• New senior appointment: Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engineering and Physical Sciences

In these blogs, Michael Gregory, Residence Student Experience and Support Manager, Queen's Accommodation, and Dr Ving Fai Chan, Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, share reflections on their awards at the 2022-23 event.

The Staff Excellence Awards are open for nominations until Friday 15 November at 4.00pm.

• Lecture: Anti-Imperial Epistemic Justice and Rights Politics in Most of the World, Wednesday 20 November, 5.00pm to 6.30pm, Canada Room and Council Chamber
• Workshop: Roman History: Late Republican History in Strange Places, Friday 22 November, 12.00pm to 5.00pm, Mitchell Institute Fellows’ Room, 18 University Square
• Lecture: Resurgent Authoritarianism’s Challenge to Democracy’s Status as an International Norm, Wednesday 27 November, 4.30pm to 6.00pm, Senate Room

* This meeting is in-person, however, a link for Teams can be obtained by emailing Deborah Mitchell d.mitchell@qub.ac.uk.

About the guest speaker

Professor Roska is founding Director and Senior Group Leader at the Institute for Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) and Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and at the Faculty of Science at the University of Basel, Switzerland. He earned his MD in 1995 at the Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, and his PhD from the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2002.

Roska's laboratory aims to find ways to repair visual dysfunction by investigating the function of the retina, thalamus, and cortex at the level of cell types and circuits, and using this knowledge to understand disease mechanisms and to develop treatments. Roska's work has led to robust technology for cell-type targeted gene therapy and vision restoration in retinas. In a breakthrough study published in Nature Medicine in May 2021, Roska and colleagues reported the first blind patient who partially regained vision. They demonstrated the feasibility of partial vision restoration using optogenetic therapy and engineered goggles. His experimental approach is interdisciplinary, combining physiological, molecular, viral and computational approaches to reveal the structure and function of retinal circuits.

The Barcroft Lecture

The Barcroft Lecture was established by the Wellcome Trust after the passing of Professor Henry Barcroft to honour his contribution to medical research. The lecture is awarded by the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen's University Belfast for major contributions to research in the fields of physiology or medicine.

Through this interactive workshop, you will explore the legislative process and how you can work to influence both policy and policy makers. You will discover how to engage with the parliamentary processes from contributing to a committee meeting to preparing briefing notes for MPs.

Please contact d.rogers@qub.ac.uk with any queries.

This event will be an afternoon of music, networking, and inspiring 'Ignite Talks' from expert panelists on six key sustainability themes: Eat, Live, Wear, Waste, Power, and Travel. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in roundtable discussions to crowdsource actionable steps and help shape a manifesto for change.

More information

This event is taking place as part of World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024 (theme: "Educate. Advocate. Act now."). It is aimed at raising awareness about Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and encouraging best practices across One Health stakeholders, offering a platform to engage with the AMR community and be part of the global effort to tackle AMR through education, advocacy, and action.

Highlights:

• Panel discussions with top AMR experts.
• Networking opportunities with researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals.
• Early career researchers including students, postdocs and professionals are encouraged to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations by Tuesday 12 November.

Speakers:

• Hilary Glasgow – AMR Lead, Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA)
• Bronagh McBrien – AMR Programme Manager, Public Health Agency, HSCNI
• Dr Nikhil Bhalla – Lecturer, Nanomaterials and Biosensors, Ulster University
• Dr Mojgan Rabiey – Assistant Professor in Host-Microbe Interaction, University of Warwick
• Catherine Couzens – Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI)
• Dr Lara Wilson (TBC) – BVMS MBA MRCVS, Regional Clinical Lead, CVS Group PLC
• Prof John McGrath – Professor of Environmental Microbiology, Queen's University Belfast (QUB)
• Dr Rachel Wheatley – Vice-Chancellor Illuminate Fellow (QUB)
• Dr Stephen Cochrane – Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology (QUB)
• Dr Ryan Devaney – AFBI
• Dr Beckie Ingram – Reader, Medicine and Dentistry (QUB)
• Dr Maria O Hagan – DAERA

This event is a collaboration between Futures AMR Network (FAN), AMR Hub at Queen's University Belfast, NI AMR Network, Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), the Public Health Agency Northern Ireland, Ulster University, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Applications to take part in FameLab UK opened on 1 October. The regional winner from NI will go on to compete at a FameLab UK Final, hosted live at Cheltenham Science Festival. The live FameLab NI Final will be on Tuesday 18 February in the Black Box in Belfast.

The Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences (FMHLS) Faculty Engagement team is delighted to support the NI Science Festival as the NI National Hub for FameLab UK.

The Crowdhelix platform contains over 50 thematic 'Helixes' across different scientific disciplines. A Helix is a curated international community specifically designed to generate meaningful connections between engaged researchers, innovators, business leaders and investors. Staff can find a demo on Queen's Horizon Europe SharePoint site.

For further information on any aspect of research engagement and impact processes, please contact the Research Impact Manager (Maelíosa Mc Crudden: m.mccrudden@qub.ac.uk) or your Faculty-specific Research Impact and Engagement Officer.

• Small Things Like These
• Kneecap
• Gladiator II
• Bird
• Cinema Rediscovered: Gilda
• BIAF: The Crying Game
• Kiss Me Kate: The Musical
• Outburst: Lesvia

Staff tickets are priced at £6.50 (standard ticket price £8.90). If you are 26 and under join LUMI to get tickets for £5.00 everyday, all year round.

The Naughton Gallery is delighted to present 'Joyful Resistance', the first UK and Ireland solo exhibition by American cartoonist Bianca Xunise.

Open daily from 11.00am to 4.00pm, admission is free, and all are welcome. This exhibition continues until Sunday 1 December.

About JOYFUL RESISTANCE

What does it mean to be punk and how has it played a role in the transformative and restorative justice across the globe? In this bold and innovative new body of work, Xunise explores the thread that weaves together punk rock, DIY, and community change, inviting visitors on a thrilling journey through the intersecting realms of politics, activism, and music. With haunting parallels of resistance from Belfast to Chicago, Xunise utilises humour and illustration to advocate for the beauty of the underground – where grassroots resistance can be a catalyst for global revolution.

• Get Ready for Management and Leadership
• Understanding the Gen Z Perspective as a Manager
• Introduction to Fintech
• Sustainable project management strategies to boost social economic and environmental impact

More information

Through interactive sessions and collaborative discussions, you will gain valuable insights and practical tools to enhance your advising practice. This is an opportunity to connect with fellow advisors, share experiences, and learn from experts in the field, enabling the creation of a supportive network that fosters student success and enriches our academic community.

* Participants will be reimbursed for their time with a £15 voucher and refreshments will be provided at each focus group.

More information

The Assessment Support Hub, a digital site which has been co-created by students, is a one-stop shop for students to access support for their assessments, and aims to demystify assessment, give information about the valuable services which support students, and provide support if things aren't going to plan. The site has over 70,000 visits since launch in September 2023, and this year the project team are focusing on the promotion of the site to ensure that all students can benefit from its valuable resources.

Staff are also reminded about the importance of directing students to the digital site throughout the year, including coming up to assessment periods.

The team have enhanced the Hub project site to assist staff in promoting the site throughout the year. This includes a bank of promotional resources to make it as easy as possible for colleagues to encourage student engagement with the Hub. It also features staff testimonials from across the University on how they have embedded the Hub in their support for students and the benefits they have seen from this.

• AI in Music Education and Research – Professor Franziska Schroeder explores AI's impact on music education and her own research.
• Queen's McClay Library – Norma Menabney and Dr Kath Stevenson reveal how AI is revolutionising library services.
• Careers, Employability and Skills – Eimear Gallagher explains how AI is transforming the careers support at Queen’s.

Russell Group event

On 17 October, Queen’s hosted Russell Group Pro Vice-Chancellors for a workshop on AI’s role in education, led by Professor Judy Williams, Professor Phil Hanna, and Colleen Murray. Discussions centred on supporting staff and students with AI integration, while student Faith Wallace emphasised the need for clear guidelines on AI use in academic work. The event concluded with plans for ongoing collaboration across Russell Group universities. 

AI Self-help Guides

The AI Self-Help Guides are here to support your journey into AI.

• Using AI to Save Time is designed to help both staff and students use AI to become more efficient in everyday tasks such as writing emails, generating ideas, revision and tutoring, data analysis, visualisation, and more.
• Understanding the impact of AI on my assessment has been developed to offer academic staff a practical and efficient way to assess the potential impact of AI on their assessments.

Find more AI guides and resources on the AI Hub.

One-to-one Consultations

Book a 30-minute virtual session with a Digital Learning Developer from your Faculty, School or VLE Pedagogy Support Team (subject to availability).

Panopto – An Introduction

Panopto is a video content management system that will underpin the University’s lecture capture programmes, as well as complement the multimedia approach to supporting learning and teaching. It integrates seamlessly with Canvas VLE and aligns with the University's Microsoft authentication credentials for intuitive access. Panopto supports multi-feed video through its proprietary media player, as well as being able to host a multitude of file extension types, including audio-only content (for interviews, podcasts, etc.). The platform provides capabilities to record, upload, edit and livestream video content all in the one place.

More training

The IT Training Unit's full programme of courses is available to book on iTrent. Additional training materials can be found on the IT Training Unit SharePoint site.

If your School or Directorate requires IT training for staff, geared towards a specific area or set of tasks, email itcourses@qub.ac.uk and the team will arrange a consultation.