Pulse

• What is an e-portfolio?
• How can it work with PDP/LEAP?

The next ‘Lunch and Learn’ session will explore the answers to these and other questions, show some examples and provide some very tasty sandwiches.

Date & Time: Friday 7^th March 1-2pm
Venue: Staff Development Unit

To secure your place book with Staff Development  C.A.David@swansea.ac.uk

Chris Cardew

E-learning Technologist and PDP Co-ordinator

(In collaboration with Trinity Carmarthen, Swansea Institute and Swansea University)

Based at Swansea University

Singleton Park
Swansea University
SA2 8PP

01792 602428

http://oremi.swan.ac.uk/lscardcj/

http://oremi.swan.ac.uk/leap/ 

Computing Reviews is pleased to announce the release of its new Hot Topic, “The Critical Need for Computational Intelligence in Human Genetics.” Hot Topics are a series of essays on emergent areas of computer science, and can only be read in the online version Computing Reviews. To read the latest Hot Topic, click here: http://www.reviews.com/hottopic/hottopic_essay_07.cfm

Written by Jason H. Moore of Dartmouth College, this Hot Topic outlines how data mining can help identify genetic risk factors for common human diseases. In diseases such as cancer, essential hypertension, and schizophrenia, many genes and many environmental factors interact in non linear ways. To understand the enormous complexity of these interactions and isolate those responsible for a particular disease, computational intelligence is needed. Moore outlines possible approaches and foresees software that will evolve to meet the challenges of human genetics.Hot Topics include links to related web pages, articles, and books, and are updated on a regular basis. Computing Reviews is a collaboration between Reviews.com and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and can be read daily at www.reviews.com.

We have placed new learning resources for teaching information literacy on ICS HEA Subject Centre Website: http://www.ics.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/rlos/information-literacy/

You are free to use or adapt these in your teaching. However, it would very useful to have feedback from you if you do so.If you think that your Department would benefit from the development of other free resource-sharing teaching materials then please do contact me with suggestions.With best wishesAnne Morris ILS Director of HEA ICS Subject Centre

The Swansea Science Café offers opportunities for anyone to find out more about new, exciting and topical areas of science. Designed to be informal and entertaining, the café typically runs on the last Wednesday of every month at the Dylan Thomas Centre. Entry is free and talks start at 7:30pm.

Plumes and hotspots: Are they just mind over mantle?

Prof Gillian Foulger, Earth Sciences, Durham University

Wednesday, 19^th March at 7:30pm Dylan Thomas Centre 

Gillian’s research interests include: The origin of “hot spots”, tectonics & dynamics of
Iceland, volcanic & geothermal seismicity, geothermal exploration (http://www.dur.ac.uk/g.r.foulger/ ).  More details about her talk to follow shortly.

I have changed the books in the book-sale today. Come along and have a look. They are situated just inside the doors to the Study Hall, on level 3 of the Library & Information Centre.

These books are either items that have been withdrawn because they are out of date or unused duplicates, or they are unwanted donations. This month’s sale comprises mainly of Physics, Chemistry, Social Policy, Sociology/Anthropology and some donations.Please could you take the time to inform relevant students.

Regards

Lynne Tithecott

Please encourage students to come along on 7^th March and find out how to generate ideas that might even lead to a successful business venture in the future.

Students of all disciplines welcome.

Innovator Alex Tew is leading a search for hidden entrepreneurs in colleges and universities across the UK as the face of the Ideas Igloo roadshows, coordinated by the Make Your Mark national campaign in partnership with Microsoft UK. 

You will find the Ideas Igloo in the Atrium of the Digital Technium building at Swansea University on March 7^th.

Come and visit the igloo on campus for workshop sessions on Friday morning 7^th March. The roadshow is designed to help students generate ideas and think about how to turn them into a reality.  Later in the day they will get the opportunity to pitch their idea in front of a panel of judges, including entrepreneur Alex Tew, for the chance to win a prize of £150.  The winners will go forward to a national final, where they will compete to win £2,000 plus a package of Microsoft products to help them get their business underway. Register interest in this event at research-innovation@swan.ac.uk 

Corina Edwards

Entrepreneurship Development Officer 

Department of Research and Innovation   Digital Technium

Swansea UniversitySingletonPark

SWANSEA SA2 8PP 

Tel:        +44 (0)1792 513709

Fax:       +44 (0)1792 513398

Email:     c.j.edwards@swansea.ac.uk Web:      www.swansea.ac.uk/research-innovation

One day course 11th March 2008,
Swansea University-

Suitable for people who design brochures, banners and print

QuarkXPress is a Universal tool used by just about every designer for the page layout aspect of electronic publishing.It’s user-friendly and can be used for putting together anything from a promotional flyer to a film poster or magazine. This one day course introduces beginners to QuarkXpress, providing an insight into the different formats that are used for successful image creation.During this one day course we’ll show you how to use QuarkXPress even if you have little or no previous experience of QuarkXPress or desktop publishing. Starting from first principles, you’ll will be led through the procedures for creating new documents and modifying existing ones.

Welcome to the latest issue of itwales.com.In the new issue we aim to get to grips with the very real problem posed by mobile devices in the workplace. With mobile phones, USB sticks and iPods becoming ever more cost effective, smaller and more portable, it’s pretty likely that your employees, visitors and contractors have at least one device on them right now. A disgruntled staff member, nosey contractor or simply a poorly trained employee could be your company’s worst enemy.Robert Earls tackles the issue in this month’s mobile security feature, and also interviewed two leading security experts (http://itwales.com/997507.htm) for their insights into the subject. Last week saw the annual Technology for Marketing & Advertising conference and exhibition take place in London, and ITWales went along to find out what the industry big hitters had to say for themselves. Fresh from his keynote address at the show, Google’s UK marketing director Dan Cobley took time out to share his thoughts about SMEs and the internet with itwales.com, and gives some great examples of local businesses that are taking advantage of what the internet has to offer them. Whether you’re in business or not, chances are you have a bank account, but do you take advantage of your bank’s online services, or are you fearful of the security risks? Believe it or not, an offline fraud is likely to cost you more than double that of online fraud, so you could well be better off banking online. Rob Rachwald of Fortify Software looked into the issue, and in his article discusses the pros and cons of each method and delivers a considered conclusion for itwales.com.Some ITWales news for you - we’re delighted to announce that ITWales Director Beti Williams has become the first technology professional in Wales to be awarded a position on the prestigious Strategic Panel of the British Computer Society (BCS) Women’s Forum. Beti joins just 15 other women nationally on the panel, which is tasked with stimulating dialogue and discussion on fully-inclusive IT policies and practices within business throughout the UK.In the new issue:Mobile Security

Wales takes on the world - How the internet is changing small business Fresh from his keynote address at the recent 2008 Technology for Marketing & Advertising show in London, Dan Cobley, Google’s UK marketing director shares his thoughts with itwales.com about the ways in which the internet is changing the business landscape for small businesses, and offers examples of Welsh businesses that have embraced the medium to their advantage.http://itwales.com/997512.htmIs banking online safer than banking on the corner?Banking online has become extremely pervasive and is becoming more and more common. But has it reached a point where it’s actually safer than going to your local branch? According to Credit Union an offline fraud will cost almost double that of an online fraud. So it’s far safer to bank online, right? In this article Rob Rachwald of Fortify discusses the pros and cons of both methods of banking, and offers his conclusions to itwales.com.http://itwales.com/997509.htmEmail Marketing Clinic: How to recover from a marketing disaster Email is among the most flexible and cost effective tools at a marketers disposal. However, before diving in and sending emails to your customers and prospects, there are several things that should be taken into account. In this month’s email clinic, email marketing experts Pure discuss the ways in which email can be used to help you not only prevent marketing mistakes or recover from an oversight but how to use these little glitches to your advantage. http://itwales.com/997513.htmEvents:

Library & Information Services is running its annual survey this week.I know that this is a busy time of year for everyone, but I’d be very grateful if you could spare two minutes to complete our survey:

http://www.priority-research.com/wbs/SwanseaLIS2008/ 

If you have any problems in completing the web version of the survey, paper versions of the form are available in the Library. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to provide a Welsh version of the survey this year, but we’ll be talking to our suppliers to see if this can be done for next year.

Thank you for your time. 

Institute of Welsh Affairs,  Swansea Bay Branch

Science and Government: Options for Wales

Professor Christopher Pollock CBE,   Welsh Assembly Government.

Former Director,Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Aberystwyth

Thursday 13 March 2008 6.00pm for 6.30pm start

Faraday Lecture Theatre,Swansea University

Over the past three years, the Welsh Assembly Government has been attempting to develop various policies for Science in Wales.  The process has generated some controversial and heated debates. Most recently, in October 2007, at a meeting of the Institute of Welsh Affairs in Swansea, Rhodri Morgan, the First Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government, announced the appointment of Professor Chris Pollock to a one-year “pathfinder position”, designed to examine the role of scientific expertise and advice in the government of Wales and, indeed, some wider issues for Science within Wales.  Chris Pollock will be reflecting on this task.  The occasion will provide an opportunity for consultation with scientists, educators and the general public and free discussion of some options and problems at this early stage of his appointment. 

There is no charge for this event 

6.0        Registration

6.30  Introduction by Professor J V Tucker Chair of Swansea Bay Branch

6.35  Presentation by Professor Chris Pollock

7.0      Short panel discussions on a wish list for Science in Wales, including presentations

            from eminent scientists including Sir John Cadogan and Professor Julian Hopkin

7.20    Closing remarks

7.30    Buffet in the Robert Recorde Room

­To register for this event please contact Clare Johnson, Administrator and Company Secretary,Institute of Welsh Affairs, 1-3 Museum Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BD

Phone: 029 2066 0864,  Fax: 029 2022 1482,  Email: clarejohnson@iwa.org.uk