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November 2012

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2 WELCOME

Thank you to those who took the time to get in touch and tell us what you would like to hear about. Please continue to feed back on this newsletter and your experience of visiting our beautiful campus. It will help us to continue to be a good neighbour! You can email us at community@contacts.bham.ac.uk, or phone 0121 414 3312.

It’s been a busy year here on campus with many highlights such as hosting the Jamaican Track and Field Team for their pre-Olympic training camp and seeing the Bramall Music Building finally complete the Aston Webb semi circle. There’s more to read on these highlights inside.

The University was also delighted that the City Council approved its estate development plans, including a new academic library and the city’s first 50-metre swimming pool, and the Department for Education approved plans to establish a new University School and Sixth Form. In particular, these developments remind us of the University’s original civic ambitions. We have global ambition and a local heart.

Kirsty MackHead of Stakeholder Relations

2012: What a year!

Front cover: Alys Fowler at launch of Urban Veg, see page 5

buzz online buzz.bham.ac.uk

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Browse our buzz images flickr.com/photos/buzzunibham

You can read longer versions of these stories at buzz.bham.ac.uk

Welcome to the second issue of Community Buzz; a regular newsletter from the University of Birmingham that aims to keep you up to date with news and events.

University Carol Service 3 December, 6.15pm Great Hall, Aston Webb Building

Please join students, staff, family and friends for this annual event featuring carols, festive readings and poems, organised by the University ecumenical team of chaplains and the Department of Music. FREE entry.

NEWS 3

From 14–26 July, 50 members of the Jamaican Track and Field Team, plus 25 support staff, descended on the University campus for their pre-Olympic camp, jointly hosted with Birmingham City Council.

For their stay, the team had full use of the University’s facilities at the Munrow Sports Centre for training and relaxed at Hornton Grange, part of the University of Birmingham’s conference park (venuebirmingham.com).

At Hornton Grange the team were very well looked after making use of 45 bedrooms – including seven specially made 7ft beds, TV rooms, a relaxation area, a games room and a dining area where all their meals were specially prepared by Jamaican chef Karl Thomas and the University’s catering team.

Along with University staff, 80 volunteers helped to look after the team with 50 on shift everyday covering 24 hours. The main roles

were security and team attachés, who provided support to the Jamaicans during their stay, and helped make the team’s stay here as enjoyable, and beneficial to their training as possible.

The University clearly did a fantastic job in helping the team prepare as Birmingham was thanked not once, but twice, by Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, the fastest men in the world, after their 200m and 4 x 100m wins respectively.

Active Lifestyle

If the Olympics inspired you to get more active we have lots on offer including: fitness classes, Try Sport courses, community sports club, personal training, health and fitness reviews, and gym and swim membership.www.sport.bham.ac.uk

Many of you would have been glued to your television sets this summer as Olympic fever swept the nation, but you may not know that for the most famous sprinters in the world their journey to London 2012 started here in Birmingham.

‘big up Birmingham’

4 NEWS

A recent example was ‘Brum Dine With Me’ on 28 September, which saw researchers getting out and about to communicate their work in fun and interactive ways. Events ranged from dances choreographed by Birmingham Royal Ballet, to a multicultural ‘eat and greet’ in the mac Birmingham, and from eating insects while learning about fair trade and food ethics in Brindleyplace, to a talk by Deborah Cadbury and a personalised ‘calorie maths’ map in the Bramall Music Building. Participants also pedalled to make their own smoothies, learnt about ‘chickenology’ at Winterbourne House and Gardens, made Indian folk art with food in local schools, and took educational tours of supermarkets.

Attracting around 5,000 people from across Birmingham and beyond, it was a chance to show the number of ideas that go into the food we take for granted, and how research is trying to help people live healthier and happier lives through some very simple, practical steps. Thank you to all those who participated and attended; you helped make a wonderfully memorable day, with some fantastic feedback.

Over the past few months, the University has been working harder than ever to open its doors and bring the benefits of its research to the local community.

A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME

We’re not going to stop there! We’re currently working with community representatives to understand how we can establish a better dialogue about health, and the city spaces we should use to achieve that.

We’re also making money available for our researchers to be more innovative in the way that they engage people to design, deliver and disseminate their ideas. We hope to see you all very soon!

WINTERBOURNE 5

Urban Veg is the newest part of Winterbourne. Though not open daily to the public like the rest of the attraction, the garden space is now a hive of activity, with a range of one day workshops, weekly training courses and drop-in sessions all aimed at gearing up the local population to grow their own. A host of expert tutors are helping to deliver the exciting programme, with Alys Fowler, gardening journalist and passionate Urban Foodie, one of the trainers running workshops.

Keen to inspire even the most hesitant horticulturalists, the courses range from absolute beginner to people with more advanced skills.

Perhaps you are thinking of setting up your own local growing club but don’t know where to start? Or are you already growing but want to keep chickens? Urban Veg has the answer.

Prices start at £30 for a one day workshop. For that price, you can expect cups of tea, good company and the chance to develop a life skill that will undoubtedly help you on your merry way to becoming an Urban food champion.

Courses are proving popular and are booking up fast. For further details on upcoming courses, prices and dates visit http://urbanvegwhg.wordpress.com.

You may well be familiar with the beautiful Winterbourne House and Garden but there is also something exciting happening right next door…

You can follow @UrbanVegWHG on twitter or email urbanveg@contacts.bham.ac.uk saying ‘I’m interested in urban veg’ to go on the emailing list.What are you waiting for? Get stuck in!

Students from Lordswood Girls’ School get stuck in

6 BARBER

For the latest Barber news and events visit barber.org.uk or follow @barberinstitute and @barberconcerts

The Barber Institute is a world-class art gallery and concert hall, offering free admission to major works by Rubens, Turner, Monet, Renoir, and many more. The Barber also offers temporary exhibitions, and events and activities for all ages, plus free lunchtime concerts every Friday at 1.10pm.

C E L E B R A T I N G

80 YEARS OF ART AND MUSIC

UNTIL 27 JANUARY 2013

IN FRONT OF NATURE: THE EUROPEAN LANDSCAPES OF THOMAS FEARNLEY

Dramatic landscapes featuring a breathtaking range of Europe’s varied scenery feature in the UK’s first show focusing solely on the work of one of Scandinavia’s most important painters. This exhibition includes iconic large landscape paintings, oil sketches and drawings from major galleries in the UK and abroad. There’s also a packed programme of lectures, gallery talks, and even a concert to accompany the show.

14 DECEMBER 2012 – 24 FEBRUARY 2013

PORTRAIT OF A LADY: THE LIFE AND PASSIONS OF LADY BARBER

The life and collecting passions of the Barber’s founder, Dame Martha Barber, feature in this fascinating exhibition, including portraits of Lady Barber by her favoured artist, Nestor Cambier. Outstanding but rarely seen textiles and lace will also be featured. The lace collection is the starting point for mixed-media textile artist Jacqueline Lawrence’s ‘Inspired by Lace’ which runs alongside this exhibition. A further display ‘The Most Perfect Example of His Work’ explores architect Robert Atkinson’s design and construction of the Barber’s groundbreaking building.

WEDNESDAY 8 MAY 2013, 7.30PM

JAMES RHODES: THE PIANO MAN

Described in The Independent as ‘the Russell Brand of the piano’, James Rhodes has broken down barriers and reached new audiences by giving concerts in unconventional venues. Rhodes will play music that reflects works in the Barber Gallery.

The University has recently celebrated the opening of the impressive Bramall Music Building at the heart of campus, 100 years after the original Aston Webb building was opened.

BRAMALL 7

MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC AND MUCH MORE!

5 December, 7.30pm

Utterly Brassed OffElgar Concert Hall To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the hit British film Brassed Off, the University Music Society Brass Band joins forces with the Midlands Championship section band, Sovereign Brass, in a performance of popular Brass Band music.

Tickets; £8, £6 concessions, £3 students.

8 December, 7.30pm

Gaudete! Elgar Concert HallEx Cathedra returns to its roots with a selection of the most highly favoured Christmas music from the 13th–18th centuries.

Tickets; £7.50–£25. Please book directly with Ex Cathedra on 0121 345 0603 or excathedra.co.uk.

Monthly, 5.00pm

JazzlinesBramall Music Building FoyerThe first Thursday of every month is jazz night at the Bramall with our popular schedule of jazz artists. Jazzlines on 6 December will see saxophonist Andy Isherwood and his ensemble deliver a touch of festive cheer.

Admission is FREE and no booking is required.

In addition to providing our outstanding Music department with state-of-the-art teaching, research, performance and rehearsal facilities; the Bramall has a packed schedule of free and ticketed events; from solo voice,

to a full symphony orchestra, and drama performances. The Bramall Festival of Music runs from 25 November to 8 December and includes 16 performances and events, including the following:

To find out more about Bramall events throughout the year visit birmingham.ac.uk/bramall or call the box office on 0121 345 0492.

8 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S VIEW

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Events at BirminghamThere is a lot going on at Birmingham, from lectures to concerts, and much more in between. Everyone can take advantage of our exciting events programme. These are some highlights and you can learn more at birmingham.ac.uk/oncampus.index.aspx

Dates for your diary!

Community Day 2013

Sunday 9 June

There are a number of regular events that we would

love to see you at, including our annual Community

Day. The packed Community Day programme has

free fun for all the family including culture trails, live

music, climbing wall, dinosaur dig, dance mats,

arts and crafts and much more. Check our website

for further details or follow Community Day on

Twitter @UoBcommunityday.

Baggs Happiness Lecture 2013

Look out for an announcement on our website in

the New Year confirming date and speaker for the

2013 Baggs Memorial lecture. Thomas Baggs was

an alumnus of the University who went on to become

a teacher, journalist and war correspondent. Thomas

bequeathed a sum to the University to provide for an

annual public lecture on the theme of ‘Happiness’.

Running since 1976, speakers have included David

Attenborough, Maureen Lipman, Benjamin Zephaniah,

Alastair Campbell and Jung Chang. The lecture is

free but registration is essential.

Farmers’ Market

Our regular Farmers’ Market is a great opportunity to

meet local producers and pick up homemade chutney,

seasonal vegetables, wine, jewellery, gifts and much

more. Take a walk onto campus and head for the ‘Old

Joe’ campus clock tower for over 20 stalls offering

locally sourced, fairly priced and environmentally

friendly produce; from top quality organic goods to

seasonal fare. Markets all take place in University

Square, and are open 9.00am–3.00pm. Dates are

available on our website.

Alastair Campbell: 2011 speaker