University remains popular
Figures released by UCAS show that the University of Exeter remains a first-choice destination for the best students. Applications to study in 2012/13, the first year since the introduction of £9k tuition fees, are at the same level as last year with an average of more than six students applying for every place. 49 per cent of applicants come with at least three expected grade As at A level (or equivalent). The University has seen an increase in applications for many subjects, including Law (up 19 per cent), Biosciences (up 12 per cent) and Engineering (up six per cent).

Sports investment
£8 million will be invested in new and improved facilities at the Sports Park on Streatham Campus. This includes a new health and fitness studio, two new exercise studios, a new team changing pavilion, hockey pitch resurfacing, covering the tennis/ netball courts and a new entrance. All plans are subject to planning permission and discussions with relevant National Governing Bodies of Sport and other funding partners.

Teaching Awards launch soon
The Students’ Guild is launching the Teaching Awards -your opportunity to nominate a lecturer who has gone the extra mile and inspired you. Now in their third year, the Teaching Awards have received over 3,000 nominations, and last year 321 individual staff members were nominated. Nominations are open to all students from 13 Feb until 1 March. The winners will be announced on 3 May. Keep an eye on the Guild website after nominations open. For further information contact Hannah Maher.

£4.2m for doctoral training
The South West of England is being established as a centre for international excellence in training for bioscience and food security research. The South West Doctoral Training Partnership unites the Universities of Bristol, Bath, Exeter and Rothamsted Research to train future generations of scientists. £4.2 million has been awarded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) for postgraduate training. We are now part of two major doctoral training centres, as last Autumn funding was announced to train PG social scientists.

Postgraduate scholarship
If the story above has inspired you, then you may want to know that University of Exeter graduates progressing directly from undergraduate to postgraduate study here in 2012 will automatically receive a £1,000 scholarship towards the cost of tuition fees. See details of the scholarship.

National Student Survey
Remember that final year opinion is now being sought on The National Student Survey website. The confidential survey is a nation-wide initiative that finds out how universities support the student learning experience. Students’ feedback from previous surveys has been used to develop teaching in each of our academic colleges.

Grad Ball back
This year’s Graduation Ball will be held for the first time on the Streatham Campus. 1,800 revellers will be partying in and around the Great Hall and Devonshire House on Sat 21 July.

Me and my shadow
Fourteen members of senior University staff, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Janice Kay and the Director of Academic Services, Michele Shoebridge, have been paired up with students as part of the University’s new Shadowing Scheme. The scheme gives staff and students the opportunity to gain an insight into each other’s daily working lives and aims to enable students to gain direct insight into leadership roles at the University. The University hopes that in turn senior managers gain valuable and current insights into students’ experiences to enable better informed decision-making. The scheme is part of the University’s Students as Change Agents initiative.

National student volunteer week
20-26 Feb is a national week to celebrate student volunteering. Student volunteering at Exeter is at an all time high, and a week of events aims to recognise the hard work students do both on campus and within the local community. There will be loads of ways to get involved, with daily volunteering fairs and VW campervans promoting opportunities. A new Student Volunteering Charter and guide to getting volunteering accredited will be launched.

Widen your options
Widen Your Options fortnight runs from 27 Feb to 9 March. It gives ideas for careers and what to do after graduation, as well as enhancing your employability skills. A series of events have been arranged on all our campuses, with presentations and panels from industry professionals, including Exeter alumni. Sectors represented include media, marketing, environment and sustainability, the voluntary sector, publishing, event management, the travel industry and more. Widen Your Options is open to all students and selected events will be video linked between the Exeter and Cornwall campuses. Events will soon be listed on the employability website.

Exeter Award numbers swell
Over 1,200 students have signed up to do the Exeter Award so far this academic year, with an impressive 4,659 students now registered overall. The Award provides official recognition and evidence of extra-curricular activities and achievements. If you haven’t registered, don’t miss out on your opportunity to enhance your employability, and don’t leave it to the last minute. Go online for info.

Get the eXfactor
Hosted by the Employability and Graduate Development department, the eXfactor is a two day programme designed to help develop, reflect on and articulate personal and employability skills required for any career path. It gives an understanding of a variety of attributes, beside a good degree, that are commonly sought by employers, and also examines and reflects on your self-awareness, skills and future career. To find out more and to book a place on one of the open sessions on Streatham Campus (9 and 10 Feb or 1 and 2 Mar) or Cornwall Campus (2 and 3 May), see the exfactor website.

Lunchtime Discussions
The University is hosting lunchtime focus groups to listen to opinions and generate ideas for change. All year groups and degree disciplines are welcome, and lunch will be included. Joining a group will also count towards the volunteering element of the Exeter Award. Please email the team or go online for more information. Taking part in a focus group may also provide an opportunity to become a mystery shopper.

Forum focus feedback
In previous focus groups students from across the University have been providing opinions and ideas about planned services in the Forum. Many of the topics raised are already included in current plans by the University. The IT Services Help Desk will be trialing longer opening hours, and when the Forum opens, overall computer availability will rise from 1082 to 1267. In the Library more zoned spaces for silent and group study will be available. Important suggestions from the focus groups have also contributed to the new online Student Information Desk (SID) and the redesign of MyExeter. More info online.

Go Green week
A week of events organised by students to inspire people to take action to prevent climate change is underway. On Thurs 9 Feb at 7pm an energy efficiency pub quiz will be in the Ram and on Fri 10 Feb from 11-4 a Green Fair will be on the Forum Piazza. The Students’ Guild has silver accreditation under the NUS Green Impact Scheme and the University has a first class award for environmental performance in the People and Planet Green League.

Mental Health matters
On Weds 22 Feb, for the first time universities across the UK are holding a Mental Health and Wellbeing day for students and staff. There will be a series of events during the day at the Streatham Campus in Exeter, including a ‘mind apple’ tree in Devonshire House foyer where you can get an apple and pledge what you are going to do for your mental wellbeing.

Offer-holder visit days
You may see large numbers of visitors on campus on Wednesdays in the next few months for offer-holder visit days. As the name suggests, these days are for undergraduate applicants who’ve been offered a place for entry this October. Around 1500 visitors will come each week to visit departments and take accommodation and campus tours.

St Luke’s conference
Expressions of interest are due by the end of Feb for the Weekend Celebration of Research and Research Methodology organised by students on 11 and 12 May on St Luke’s Campus.

Voice can help
Exeter’s student listening service, Voice, is run by students for students. If you need someone to talk to you can call or email Voice safe in the knowledge that you won’t be judged for whatever it is you want to talk about. Voice also provides information about local services and is accredited with National Nightline’s Good Practice Guidelines. The phone service operates 8pm to 8am every night during term time, just call 01392 724000 or email voicemail@exetervoice.co.uk

Exeter Pride
Exeter Pride, now in its fourth year, is open to everyone (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or straight). On Sat 31 March there will be a Rainbow Flag Parade through the city centre and entertainment at Exeter Phoenix and Gandy Street. We are looking for staff and students to represent the University at Pride, either in the parade, on a stall or helping in other ways. Contact equalityanddiversity@exeter.ac.uk

Lock your bike
Police are reporting an increase in bicycle theft in Exeter and suggest our campuses might be targeted. Please take extra care locking bikes and inform Estate Patrol on 01392 723999 if you see suspicious activity.  Subsidised bike locks can be bought – see online for more cycle info.

Room for returning students
The University has a range of living options available to students after their first year. Applications from groups or individuals are welcome. Weekly prices range from £120 and contracts start from 40 weeks. For more info and to watch a video go online.

Dads’ survey
Undergraduate psychology students are conducting a study on the effect of father’s mood on child emotional outcomes. They need fathers of children aged 3-6 to fill in a confidential, anonymous online questionnaire. For info contact Sarah Densham.

Thurs 9 Feb, 1pm
Centre for Ecology and Conservation seminar
The relationship between science and the media
Graham Lawton (New Scientist)
Location: Lecture theatre A, Daphne du Maurier building, Cornwall Campus

Fri 10 Feb, 2.30-5.30pm
Workshop: ‘Ethical Issues in Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops and the Organic Movement’
Professor Paul Thompson, University of Toronto
Location: C501 Amory building, Streatham Campus
Info: b.charnley@exeter.ac.uk

Mon 13 Feb, 3-4.30pm
'Exnovation of Safety Practices in Critical Care'
Egenis seminar with Dr Jessica Mesman (Maastricht University)
Location: Byrne House, Streatham Campus
Info: Claire Packman

Weds 15 Feb
PGCE Open Day
Location: St Luke’s Campus

Weds 15 Feb, 4.30pm
Tremough Seminar Series
Climate change and public engagement in archaeology
Dr Tom Dawson (University of St Andrews)
Location: Peter Lanyon LT 2, Cornwall Campus

Thurs 16 Feb, 1pm
Centre for Ecology and Conservation seminar
Lucy Hawkes (Bangor University)
Unravelling the secrets of the world's highest migrant: the bar-headed goose
Location: Lecture theatre A, Daphne du Maurier building, Cornwall Campus

Mon 20 Feb, 3-4.30pm
Selling genetics online, and the questions this raises
Egenis seminar with Dr Anna Harris (Egenis)
Location: Byrne House, Streatham Campus
Info: Claire Packman

Tues 21 Feb, 1pm
Taking Stock of Argument: Examining Research Trends in Argumentation in Science Education with Implications for Professional Development
Professor Sibel Erduran (University of Bristol)
Location: BC114, St Luke’s Campus

Thurs 23 Feb, 9.30am-12.30pm
introductory workshop in Deaf Awareness
Location: Civic Centre, Rennes Room, Paris Street, Exeter (EX1 1JN)
Booking essential via Fozia on info@signs4life.org.uk

Thurs 23 Feb, 1pm
Darwin Day talk
Nick Davies (University of Cambridge)
Cuckoo adaptations: trickery and tuning
Location: Lecture theatre A, Daphne du Maurier building, Cornwall Campus

Thurs 23 Feb, 5pm
Structure and Scale in the Later Roman Economy: Gold Mining, Currency and the Quantity Theory of Money
George Bevan (Queen’s University, Canada)
Location: Amory 105, Streatham Campus

Thurs 23 Feb, 5-6.30pm
Creative Encounters: Neuroscience meets the Arts
Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE and Professor Christopher Bannerman discuss the interaction between neuroscience and the arts.
This free event is open to all and is being organised by the ‘Creativity from an Interdisciplinary Perspective’ project, funded through Bridging the Gaps.
Location: Amory C501, Streatham Campus, and via videolink to SR8, Peter Lanyon building, Cornwall Campus
Register by email or contact Helen Butler on 01392 726208

Mon 27 Feb, 3-4.30pm
'Metaphors of Medical Migration: descriptive and normative perspectives'
Egenis seminar with Dr Teodora Manea, Visiting Researcher at University of Exeter
Location: Byrne House, Streatham Campus
Info: Claire Packman

Weds 29 Feb, 4.30pm
Tremough Seminar Series
Gender, Theatricality and Spiritualism in Florence Marryat's Fiction
Dr Tatiana Kontou (University of Sussex)
Location: Peter Lanyon LT 2, Cornwall Campus

Wed 29 Feb-Sat 3 March 7.30pm
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
By Bertolt Brecht
Exeter University Theatre Company
Location: Exeter Northcott theatre

Thurs 1 Mar, 1pm
Centre for Ecology and Conservation seminar
Phil Stephens (University of Durham)
What can we learn from long-term data sets on mammals?
Location: Lecture theatre A, Daphne du Maurier building, Cornwall Campus

Fri 2 March, 9am-2pm
Farmers’ market
Location: Forum Piazza, Streatham Campus

Fri 2 March, 6-8pm
Book launch: Riptide volume 7
With music, readings and an address by Ben Bradshaw, Exeter MP
The event is free but, as numbers are limited email editors@riptidejournal.co.uk for tickets.
Location: the newly refurbished Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter.

Tues 6 Mar, 5pm
Imagining Literacy: the Gremlin, the Matrix and other Triumphal Tales
Professor Mary Hamilton (University of Lancaster)
Location: BC114, St Luke’s Campus

Thurs 8 Mar, 1pm
Centre for Ecology and Conservation seminar
Richard Bardgett (Lancaster University)
Linkages between, plant, soil microbes and ecosystem nutrient cycles
Location: Lecture theatre A, Daphne du Maurier building, Cornwall Campus

Thurs 8 Mar, 4.15pm
Human/Cultural Geography Seminar
Experiments in Audio Geography: Sounding Ruins
Michael Gallagher, University of Glasgow,
Location: Peter Lanyon Lecture 1, Cornwall Campus