Student success in FXU awards
The first FXU awards ceremony on 1 March celebrated students’ contribution to the wider community. Stephen More, CSM, was given a special Volunteer of the Year prize for his work leading the St John’s Links society. Katrina Wells and Izzy Brandon, CLES, were also honoured for volunteering work, and further awards went to Kelly Horrigan, CLES, Yoston Montoya Garcia and George Trafford, CSM. Full details online.

Russell Group
The University of Exeter has accepted an invitation to join the Russell Group of leading research-led universities. This is great news for staff, students and graduates and reflects all the hard work that has gone into strengthening the University over the past ten years. Being part of the Russell Group will add to the value of our students’ degrees in future careers and aid recruitment of the best students and staff.

Teaching awards record nominations
A record 2,021 individual nominations have come in for 588 individual members of staff for the 2012 Teaching Awards. This compares with 905 nominations last year for 321 individual members of staff. Now in its third year, the Exeter Teaching Awards recognise, celebrate and promote excellence by both teaching and support staff. The shortlist will be announced by the end of March, and winners on 3 May.

Holiday opening hours
The Library/LRC will be open every day during the vacation: 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 1-5pm Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. The library will be open 24/7 from 16 April for revision. Other services provided by the Tremough Campus Services Group on the Cornwall Campus are temporarily changing their opening hours over the holiday period. This includes both campus facilities (including Accommodation) and Student Support Services. Details of all opening hours are available online.

Exam timetable
The timetable for exams taking place 1-28 May on the Cornwall Campus is now available. Students are advised to check the timetable carefully and read the Guidance to Candidates before sitting any exam. Queries or questions about the exam timetable (or exams in general) should be emailed to the Cornwall Exams Office.

Summer Graduation
Summer Graduation ceremonies will take place on Mon 23 July 2012 in Truro Cathedral and from Mon 16 July to Fri 20 July in the Great Hall, Streatham Campus, with three ceremonies per day. Programme specific dates are available online and all students eligible to graduate will be emailed.

First ESI Lecture now online
The first in the new series of Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) lectures took place on Wed 14 March. Entitled ‘Managing badgers and controlling TB’ the lecture was led by the ESI’s Professor Robbie McDonald. A film of the lecture is now available. For details of forthcoming lectures visit the ESI website, Twitter or Facebook pages.

FXU elections
Joachim (Jay) Bjorkmann has been elected FXU President-University of Exeter Cornwall Campus, Scott Pearson has been elected FXU President-University College Falmouth, Rich Pearson retains his position as FXU Vice President Welfare, Exeter student Kasia Drinkwater will be Vice President Participation and Eleanor Clarke will represent the FXU at the NUS National Conference. Full details here.

China Summer School
INTO will be visiting the Cornwall Campus on Weds 28 March to speak to students about their Chinese Language programmes in China this summer. The INTO summer schools take place in one of three Chinese Universities and are a unique opportunity to study the Chinese language and experience the culture first hand, whilst also gaining a valuable insight into the world of work in China. Find out more on Wed 28 Mar, 3pm Peter Lanyon LT 1, go online or email Josie Turner.

International mining games
On 31 Mar and 1 Apr, a team from Camborne School of Mines (CSM) will battle it out to be named world champions in the International Mining Games. 36 teams from Kentucky to Jakarta will compete at King Edward Mine, Camborne. The Games, hosted by CSM, are coming to Cornwall for the first time in their 34 year history - to the mining landscape where many of the techniques on show were developed. Spectators are welcome on both days from 10am-4pm, with women, mixed and alumni teams competing on Sat 31 Mar and men on Sun 1 Apr.

Top careers workshops
A survey found that the top five career aspirations of our students are to work in the fields of education, PR and marketing, environment and conservation, media, and volunteering and charity. A series of one day experiential workshops is based around each of these careers. They offer a chance to learn new skills and meet professionals. Full details and dates for Cornwall and Streatham Campus sessions are on the employability website.

Summer internships
Local, regional and national employers have are now contacting the University to recruit students as Summer Interns. They are offering paid internships to undertake specific projects or short-term roles in a variety of settings, such as Marketing, IT and Business Development. To receive a vacancy alert for summer internships please register on My Career Zone and select internships as a preference.

Preparation for work award
The University of Exeter has been voted the winner of the prestigious ‘Preparation for Work’ award by the Association of Graduate Recruiters. The award recognises the University’s impressive achievement in embedding career planning sessions and the eXfactor programme across the undergraduate curriculum.

National Student Survey
So far, 57% of our final year undergraduates have filled in the National Student Survey. Students responding can take part in a prize draw to win one of five Amazon kindles. The prize draw closes on 30 March. The survey remains open until the end of April. Have your say at the National Student Survey website.

Do more online with My PGR
From 2 April all PGR students will be able to apply online for interruptions, upgrades and continuation status requests. It’s not just the application form that’s online - the whole process is electronic, making it quicker, simpler and more efficient.

Green fingers
Eight UoE and UCF students spent a day volunteering at Chyan Community Field in Halvasso. They braved a storm to build a new path and growing bed.

Mood Disorders Centre opens
The Mood Disorders Centre on the Streatham Campus opens next week. Funded by the Wellcome Trust Capital Awards in Biomedical Science initiative, the new £3.6 million Sir Henry Wellcome Building for Mood Disorders Research (to give it its full name) provides state-of-the-art facilities to carry out experimental and applied clinical research into mood disorders. A public engagement event on Sat 31 Mar, which is free and open to all, offers sharing of experiences with others and advice on mental health and wellbeing.

Burglary prevention
Devon and Cornwall police have issued advice to prevent burglaries. Keep doors and windows secure when you are not in - all day and night. Keep back gates bolted. Keep valuables out of sight of windows. Keep a record of electrical goods serial, mobile phone IMEI, and bike chassis numbers and take photos of them. Get to know your neighbours so they can report and suspicious activity during vacations.

Cycle across Europe
16 students are in training to cycle across Europe. They will be travelling more than 4,400km through the heat of summer in a mammoth 45-day expedition. They hope to raise more than £19,000 for Help for Heroes – support them online.

Guide to Gambia
Celia Butler, fourth-year Physics post graduate student and Girl Guiding leader, will travel to Gambia this Summer to take part in a community development project. Celia, 27, is working hard to raise funds ahead of her trip including doing the Three Peaks Challenge – support her here.

Online surveys
Yuri Kork, PhD student in the Business School, is researching the relationship between film genres and tourist behaviour. Fill in a survey online, there are prizes for respondents. Dale Weston, a current PhD student in psychology, has an online survey concerning Exeter students understanding of sexual health information, in particular relating to safe sex and gonorrhoea. Read more here.

Thurs 22 Mar, 1pm
Centre for Ecology and Conservation seminar
Mark Chase (Kew Gardens)
Chromosome number and polyploidy in angiosperms: perspectives from genomic studies in Nicotiana (Solanaceae)
Location: Lecture theatre A, Daphne du Maurier Building, Cornwall Campus

Thurs 22 Mar, 5pm
Caroline Digby (Eden Project)
The Eden Project: social enterprise, environment and sustainability
Location: Daphne du Maurier Building, Cornwall Campus, Lecture Theatre A
Contact: j.m.moore@exeter.ac.uk

Thurs 22 Mar, 7pm
CSM/Institution of Engineering & Technology Talk
The Power behind the Dockyard 
Jack Aust (Babcock Marine),
Location: Chapel Lecture Theatre, Cornwall Campus, (6.30pm for coffee in the Stannary),
Contact: g.a.kennedy@ex.ac.uk

Friday 23 Mar, 4.30pm
Tremough Seminar Series
The Fool and the Physician: poetry and ekphrasis
Dr Andy Brown (University of Exeter)
Location: Peter Lanyon LT 2, Cornwall Campus

Weds 28 Mar, 3-4pm
INTO China Summer school talk
Location: Peter Lanyon LT 1, Cornwall Campus
Contact: Josie Turner

Thurs 29 Mar, 1pm
Centre for Ecology and Conservation seminar
Andy Gardner (University of Oxford)
Inclusive fitness and sociality
Location: Lecture Theatre A, Daphne du Maurier Building, Cornwall Campus

Fri 30 Mar, 2-3.30pm
Big Dilemmas Symposium
The future of land use in the South West: food, water and energy security in the face of environmental change
Reservation is essential. Email bigdilemma@exeter.ac.uk
Location: Amory C417, Streatham Campus (videolink to Peter Lanyon Seminar Room 5)
Minibus will be included on request for students travelling from Cornwall Campus.

Thurs 3 May, 7pm
ESI Lecture Series
A mathematical journey through a changing environment
Professor Stuart Townley, Chair of Mathematics
Location: The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (The Poly), Falmouth, TR11 3EG
Free but you need to book: esienquiries@exeter.ac.uk or call 01326 255795

Weds 9-20 May
www.dumaurierfestival.co.uk
11 University of Exeter academics are involved in chairing or speaking
Location: Fowey, Cornwall

Tues 15 May
Shaping the future lecture
Professor Dame Sally C Davies, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health
Register by email or contact Margaret House-Hayes 01392 72576
Location: University of Exeter Cornwall Campus, Chapel Lecture Theatre
(videolink to the University of Exeter Streatham Campus, Streatham Court, Lecture Theatre A, Rennes Drive, Exeter)

Sun 20 May, 10.15am-6pm
Tremough Campus Culture Festival in association with the Daphne du Maurier Festival
One day culture festival featuring academics and visiting speakers, poets and musicians
Location: Cornwall Campus (Tremough)
Tickets: £5 for students
For info and booking: www.duMaurierFestival.co.uk or call 01726 879500