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Department of Physics and Technology |
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A
Word from the Head of Department
An era is over at the Department of Physics and
Technology.
Yesterday we thanked Kjell Br¿nstad
for his prolonged efforts at our department. He began as a student in 1959 and
since then he has done a formidable job within experimental space physics and more
generally for the department.
Kjell is
the last one of the scientific pioneers within the field of space physics in
Bergen. The activity in space physics, which is previously known as cosmic
geophysics, has been one of cornerstones at the department from which many
other groups bloomed. This must be one of UoBÕs important examples on
scientific restructuring with regards to both process and result.
Kjell was
today called as the last of the Mohicans with regards to Arne BendiksenÕs
song in which the lyrics go Óthe
wild west is not the same as beforeÓ ( Óville vesten er ikke som f¿rÓ). There is no doubt that this is also
valid for experimental physics with respect to science and methods. In space
physics, it has been a journey from experiments with huge balloons via rockets
to satellites, from soldering iron with discrete components to computers and
programmable circuits, and of course from data analysis with limited equipments
to modeling with todayÕs computer power. But scientifically, this development
in space physics has made it possible to acquire new and important knowledge. There
is also no doubt about the fact that Bergen conducts excellent research in the
field of space physics. It is our purpose to continue the activity by
strengthening the space physics staff.
The fact
that much is not the same as before was more of a reference to frames and
conditions. It is a significant challenge to continually unify making efforts
on experimental fields and a compressed economy, but it is necessary. One can
get annoyed by the Norwegian Research Policy and wish to put an effort for
changes, however, one has to relate himself/herself to the reality and try to
do the best out of it. This requires research management and co-operation among
researchers and among departments as it is pointed out in the recent evaluation
of the Norwegian basic research in physics. Here we are talking about real co-operation, not only
co-operation on paper. I think that we can learn a lot from the space physics
group and their collective approach to both scientific and practical
challenges. We will then be successful when all these challenges are dealt with.
News and General Information
Research ethics seminar at the
University of Bergen
Time: October
14. 08:00-12:05
Place: Aud. Student Center, ÓEggetÓ University of Bergen
REGISTRATION within October 11.
The seminar is free of charge and open to everyone.
WUN Research Development Fund
Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) invites researchers from member
universities to apply for seed funding from WUN Research Development Fund for
initiation of new WUN research co-operation projects with connection to the
thematic Global Challenges fields. The five thematic WUN Global Challenges
fields are:
o
Adapting
to Climate Change
o
Furthering the Frontiers of Cultural Understanding
o
Opportunities
and Challenges of Globalisation
o
Global
Public Health
o
Information
and Communications Technology
An application must include participation of researchers from at least
three WUN member universities where the UoB researcher shall be Óprincipal
investigatorÓ and coordinator of the research co-operation. More information
can be found here.
EXTERNAL
CENSORSHIP IN ORAL EVALUATIONS
The Educational Board at the Faculty
of Mathematics and Natural Sciences decided on the following guidelines for use
of censorship in oral evaluations on September 29.:
o
External
censor shall normally be present at all oral evaluations of ordinary 100- and
200- level courses.
o
External
censor needs only to be present at final oral evaluations and not at evaluation
of obligatory parts/tasks which do not affect the final grade or where the
obligatory part/task constitutes
less than 30 % of the final grade.
o
An
external censor shall normally be present at oral evaluations of 300-level and
PhD level courses, as well as at evaluations of special topics for PhD, M.Sc. ,
joint degree or ERASMUS-project
for individual students. In cases where it is not possible to find a
scientifically qualified external censor, the Program Board can choose an
(internal) censor who has not participated in the teaching activities and is
considered as scientifically qualified and is impartial with respect to the
students who are to be evaluated.
o
Use
of web-based solutions (such as video conferences, Skype) to ensure
participation of external censor will also be authorized as long as safe
accomplishment of the evaluation is ensured.
Offshore Technology Days October 13. and 14. 2010
Offshore
Technology Days is NorwayÕs largest annual oil fair which is arranged for the
10. time in Arenum fair center. In this event, the students get the opportunity
to establish a network within the most significant actors in the oil industry.
A technical seminar will also be arranged where the senior students will have the opportunity to meet junior staff from companies and participate in technical lectures. This event will be arranged in Kranen at Arenum Fair Center October 13. and 14. at 09:00 - 15:30.
OTD
Consert is a social arrangement where Postgirobygget will be
giving a concert. The tickets can be
collected at PSW GROUPÕs stand in hall B. There are 200 available tickets and these will be given away
based on the Ófirst come first servedÓ principal. The age limit is 20 years. The concert will be held at Banco Rotto October 14. at 20:00.
There will be free lunch, sponsored by Statoil, for all students who visit the fair in SPE Bergen Student ChapterÕs
stand in Hall B at Arenum Fair Center at
11:00 - 13:00 both days. Registration
can be done here.
Funding for doctoral training activities
Candidates accepted to the PhD-study
at the Department of Physics and Technology may apply for funding for research
education activities in 2010.
The applicants must be registered as
PhD-student the present semester in order to apply. Applicants without any
external economical support (Quota, University scholarships, Self-financing
PhD-students) will be prioritized.
Funding
for the following activities can be applied for:
A)
Research
stay at a foreign University or research institution
B)
Participation
at advanced courses, workshops, symposia, conferences etc.
C)
Purchase
of training/teaching at the Ph.D.-level
D) Participation in
courses/subjects/field courses resulting in credits and that are part of the
individual study.
E)
Research
courses in science subjects.
The doctoral training activity must
be completed within 31.12.2010.
See more information and find the application form here. Deadline
is 14.10.2010. Please fill out the
application form and return it to one of the student advisors at the
department.
S¿knadsfrist for felt- og seminarst¿tte for
masterstudenter 2010
Har du reist eller planlegger du Œ reise pŒ feltarbeid, konferanse/seminar i 2010? Da kan du s¿ke om st¿tte (maks. kr. 5000,-). Du finner informasjon og s¿knadsskjema her. Reisen det s¿kes st¿tte for mŒ avsluttes innen 31.12.2010. Ferdig utfylt s¿knad kan leveres til en av studiekonsulentene ved instituttet innen torsdag 14. oktober.
Economic support for field work or
seminar/conference for master students 2010
Have you done or are you planning field work or travelling to a
seminar/conference in 2010? Then you can apply for economical support (max. kr.
5000,-). You find guidelines and application forms here (only in Norwegian). The activity
must be completed within 31.12.2010. The application form can be returned to
one of the student advisors at the department at the latest 14.10.2010.
Suggestions regarding purchase of books
This year, the Mathematics and
Natural Sciences Library has set aside 57.000 NOK for purchase of physics books.
So far 37.000 NOK has been used. Therefore, 20.000 NOK still remain to
be spent. If you have any
suggestions regarding purchase of books, I would like to ask you to send these
to me as soon as possible, preferably as an answer to this message. In case you
wish to be the first to loan the book(s), you should also let us know about
that.
Best Regards
Dag Vaula (Vaula@ub.uib.no)
Mediation
We would
like to thank the Nano-Physics Group for their great efforts on the Research
Days 2010. PŒ H¿yden is reporting from the event in the article Curious Tora.