International crises
The distressing situations in Japan and in Libya have been widely documented. There has also been serious unrest in other countries. We are mindful of the potential anxiety this may be causing. Please remember that the University offers counselling and a Multi-Faith Chaplaincy, while the Guild has Voice, a telephone listening line. Affected students who are having difficulty with academic work should contact staff in their College for advice about mitigation.

KPMG extends school leavers’ programme to Exeter
Professional services firm KPMG has agreed in principle to include the University in its school leavers’ scheme, from September. Under the scheme, students will enter a six year programme that includes work experience at KPMG, a relevant honours degree and a professional accountancy qualification. They will also receive a salary and have their fees and accommodation costs paid. For further information, please visit the Business School's news page or contact Sue Hudson.

Red Cross Japanese appeal
Dr Tetsu Kudoh, a Japanese lecturer in the College of Life & Environmental Sciences, wishes to raise awareness of the Red Cross Japanese Tsunami Appeal. More than 500,000 people have been evacuated to emergency centres, many of which are insufficiently equipped.

Noise nuisance and refuse
Many students are already celebrating as we approach the end of term - but we ask that students be wary of noise levels, particularly if living off-campus. Please remember that such disturbances can lead to statutory conviction. If you have missed your bin collection and have a 'backlog' of waste, you can arrange for a refuse collection (for a modest charge) by calling 01392 665010. Refuse build-up can quickly lead to the involvement of Environmental Health so it is best dealt with immediately.

New self-study resources for undergraduates
To help students study more effectively the Education Enhancement team has launched three new online resources: ‘Strategies for Reading’, ‘Critical Reading’, and ‘Note Making for Reading and Research’. They can be accessed in ELE under Student Resources – Undergraduate Skills. For more details, please contact Kellie Cox.

Masters scholarships
The University offers a range of scholarships for undergraduates that stay on to study for a Masters. These are typically offered as a reduction in fees. To find out more, please visit: www.exeter.ac.uk/pgprogression.

Holiday arrangements
The Main Library will remain open 24/7 throughout the vacation period. Staffed hours will be 8.30am-8.30pm weekdays and 10am-6pm on weekends and Bank Holidays. All other libraries will open every day, including all Bank Holidays - please check individual library web pages for details. For revision purposes, all libraries will revert to term time opening hours (except on Bank Holidays) from Monday 18 April. Please note this is earlier than the official start of term.

Arts and Culture update
The new Arts and Culture Team started 1 March. It comprises: Dominic Jinks, Arts and Culture Manager, Gina Cox, Visual Arts Curator, and Naome Glanville, Arts and Culture Assistant. Along with Professor Helen Taylor, University Arts and Culture Fellow, the team will co-ordinate the University’s arts and culture programme and strategy, and create new opportunities for cultural engagement across campuses.

MA Writing, Nature and Place scholarships
The College of Humanities is offering up to three Dean's Scholarships of £1,000 towards tuition fees for October 2011 entry applicants to its MA Writing, Nature and Place programme. The deadline for applications is 1 May. For further details, please visit the University funding pages or contact Gemma Wiggins.

Paddon Award deadline
The annual Paddon Competition was established in memory of two alumni and reflects their interest in the arts. This year entrants are invited to submit an original piece of music around the theme,‘New horizons – music in a cross-cultural landscape.’ The deadline for entries is 5pm on 11 April. The competition is open to all former or current students and staff, other than those who are currently (or recently) professional musicians.

Mindfulness studies: volunteers needed
Researchers at the Mood Disorders Centre are seeking volunteers for two studies on Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy. The first study, ‘Does mindfulness alter a person’s ability to recover from a sad mood?’ is looking for adults who have previously suffered from depression but are not feeling low at the moment. Exeter psychology students will receive course credits for the ‘PSY1206 Introduction to Research Methods’ module, if eligible; others will receive £10 for attending a one-off assessment of approximately two hours. The second study involves a Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy course for parents who have previously experienced depression and have a child aged between 2 and 6. For further information about either study, please contact Jessica Cardy.

New destinations for Commonwealth students
Postgraduate students in Commonwealth countries can apply to several new destinations, following the launch of additional scholarships by the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan endowment fund. The first scholarships, set to start between September 2011 and February 2012, include study in Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania, the South Pacific, South Africa and Nigeria. Further details are available at www.csfp-online.org.

Free bike tune-ups
Dr Bike will offer free tune-ups in front of the INTO building, Stoker Road, Streatham, today, Friday 25 March, 11.30am-2.30pm. Cycle locks will be sold for £10 between 12 noon and 1pm. For further information, please contact Julia Jack.

D Bus Changes
The bigger D buses now used are unable to turn around in the Magdalen Street car park. As a result, the short route for D buses that operate between Streatham and St. Luke’s via the City Centre has changed slightly. The 'long D' (Digby to St. Luke’s to Streatham) route remains the same. Stagecoach has produced a revised timetables and route map. For further information, please contact Julia Jack.

Food and drink festival
Event Exeter, the University’s events management team, is one of the official sponsors of the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink. The annual festival takes place 29 April to 1 May and will showcase local food and produce.

Sat, 26 March, 8.30pm-9.30pm
Earth Hour: Support this global initiative managed by WWF, the University’s partner in its new One Planet MBA programme by switching off your lights for an hour. Please send photos of the creative things you did during the hour to Liz French. A selection will be posted on the University website. Further information: www.earthhour.wwf.org.uk.

Mon, 28 March, 3-4.30pm
Seminar: Dr Nadire Ali, Imperial College London, 'Human ES and iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes: Challenges in their potential uses in medicine'. Further information: egenis@exeter.ac.uk.
Location: Egenis, Byrne House, Streatham.

Tues, 29 March, 7.30pm
Lecture: Professor Gordon Campbell, University of Leicester, 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible. The first in a series of events. www.kingjamesbibletrust.org. Further information: Dr. Karen Edwards, English Department.
Location: Exeter Cathedral Chapter house.

Wed, 30 March, 12.45-1.45pm
Lecture: Peter Randall-Page, Honorary Graduate, on sculpture, including his work on loan, Flayed Stone II. Further information: gina.cox@exeter.ac.uk and Fine Art website.
Location: LT2, Queen’s Building, Streatham.

Wed, 30 March, 4.45pm for 5.15pm
POSreF seminar: Dr Jane Carré, PMS, ‘Mitochondrial function in the systemic inflammatory response and sepsis’. Professor Simon Jackson, University of Plymouth, on ‘Lysophospholipid acyltransferases – novel regulators of the inflammatory response’. To register: susan.westoby@pms.ac.uk; other queries: paul.winyard@pms.ac.uk.
Location: Lavender House Hotel, Ashburton.

Thurs, 31 March, 1pm
Centre for Ecology & Conservation Seminar Series: Dr Jon Slate, University of Sheffield, ‘Heritability and selection of individual recombination rate in a wild mammal’. Further information: Dr Nick Royle.
Location: Lecture Theatre A, Daphne du Maurier, Tremough.

Tues, 5 April, 10.30am-5pm
Psychology of Sustainability seminar series: Identity and Communication. Further information: a.rabinovich@exeter.ac.uk.
Location: Room 105, Washington Singer, Streatham.

Tues, 5 April, 5.45-9pm
Business Leaders Forum: Professor Dragan Savic –‘Water: Demand is escalating - what are the implications for business?’ More information from theBusiness School’s event page.
Location: Holland Hall, Streatham.

Thurs, 7 April, 10.30am-4pm
Conference: Impact & Knowledge Transfer in the Arts & Humanities. A one day conference aimed at early careers researchers and PhD students studying subjects in the arts and humanities. Keynote speech: Susan Amor, Head of Knowledge Transfer, AHRC. Reservations: Pete Hodges, 01392 722321.
Location: XFi Building, Streatham, with video-link to Chapel Lecture Theatre, Tremough.

Wed 4 May, 4.15-5.45pm
Communism and Post-Communism Seminar Series: Professor Katharine Hodgson, ‘Preservation versus Selection: Revising the Canon of Twentieth-Century Russian Poetry since 1991’.
Location: Rm 315, Amory, Streatham.

Tues, May 10, 6-7pm
Inaugural lecture: Professor Declan Bates, Biological Systems Engineering, ‘Coping With Uncertainty’. Further information: Vetri Shivakumar.
Location: Harrison Building, Theatre 04, Streatham.

Northcott Spring highlights
Until Sat, 26 March
English Touring Opera – Spring 2011 highlights

Mon, 28 March, 7.30pm
Take Orff: Hour long concert, presented by Exeter University Choral Society. Replaces Carmina Burana, which has been rescheduled for Wed 15 and Thurs 16 June. Tickets: £8, concessions £5. Suitable for all ages.

Fri, 1 April, 7.30pm
The Devil Has Quentin’s Heart: new production from one of the UK pioneers of Hip Hop theatre. Presented by Breaking Cycles. Tickets: £12, concessions half price. Age: 15+.

Sat, 2 April, 7.30pm
Shore to Shore: folk concert from Wren Music in association with SingSong. Tickets: £12, concessions half price. Suitable for all ages.

Mon, 4 April, 7.30pm
Here Comes the Sun: Big Noise Chorus, the community choirs network, presents an evening of singing. Tickets: £8. Suitable for all ages. All proceeds to the BBC Radio Devon Air Ambulance Appeal.

Wed, 6 to Sat 9 April, various times
Private Peaceful: Scamp Theatre presents Michael Morpurgo’s story of a WW1 soldier. Tickets: £12 all seats, concessions half price. Age: 8+. Post Show Talks: Thurs 7 April (matinee and evening)