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Monday January 16. 2012 |
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FrOM THE HEAD OF
DEPARTMENT
Long-time budgeting has
been and still is important for our activities in order to be able to plan
and fulfill the job we are set to do. Although a large part of our
department’s framework within the faculty is now dependent on various tenders,
predictability is still an important factor in making the long-term financing
possible. But it is not easy to relate to and deal with the long-term
planning and financing of department’s activities unless the university
council in a later meeting gives clearer guidelines on how the income from
and the expenses for externally financed activities will be divided between
the various levels of UoB. The way things are
functioning now, we see to a large extent which extra expenses we have to
cover in this forthcoming year, but it is very difficult to see the
consequences of this over the next couple of years. If it all adds up to a
policy where the departments are bound to cover the negative gap between the
income from and the expenses of externally financed positions, then that is
indeed a very bad message sent to the research groups. It is particularly
challenging for IFT which has relatively ’’many” externally financed annual
projects in relation to the number of permanent scientific positions. This
means that it is often important that there is a sufficient financial
contribution named in the project proposals we intend to send out. NEWS AND generell informasjon Registration of absence from the department
We would like to remind
you that ALL employees with a position of over 20% working hours should ALWAYS
announce their absence from the department if it is to be 1 day or more. For
these purposes you SHOULD use the department’s absence form – and that does not take too much time to
fill out. This refers to all types of absence such as holidays, business
travels, illness, work from home or other locations in town. When possible,
you should also leave a phone number through which you may be reached, except
in case of holidays or illness. Mobile phone number is preferable, although
the hotel phone is an acceptable alternative, as well as the number of the
institution you are visiting. This is just in case the department has to
contact you or forward to you the matters of utmost importance or urgency.
This also means that it is important to name your travel destination, so as
to keep in mind the time-zone differences. The start of work on the new computer
network
The start of work on the
new computer network in Bjørn Trumpys
building is now just around the corner. Phase 1 of this work includes the
entire north wing, while the central and south wing will be dealt with in
phase 2. The date for the start of these works is set for January 23, with
some preparatory works set for January 18. Due to budget limitations, the
work has to be dividedinto two phases, the first
phase covering only the north wing. We still haven’t
received the finances for phase 2. This work will
provide new network for
for computers and telephones,
including new outlets and conduits (cables, installation cables and shafts), along
with new terminal room (on the 4th floor) with cooling devices.
The existing network will be dismounted after the new network is installed
for use. Related to this work
there might be some
drilling of the concrete constructions and walls. The noisy
work will be conducted before 08:00 a.m. or after 03:00 p.m., Monday – Friday.
In case you intend to do some special work in the period between 08:00-15:00
which does not tolerate noise (e.g. exams and similar) you need to inform the
administrative staff about it, so that it can be taken into consideration. The work is planned to be conducted in sub-phases (where each floor
forms a sub-phase), and we will try to inform the affected parties right
before the start of each sub-phase. (The level of intervention / disturbance
will vary from room to room, but all rooms with in some way affected). Clearing of
access (to the facade canals) will have to be done in close cooperation with the
user. The preliminary plan for this work is: 6th floor: week 5-6, 5th floor: week
7-8, 4th floor: week 8-13, 3rd floor: week 13-19, 2nd
floor: week 19-23, 1st floor: week 23-25 and ground floor: week
25-26. Enforcement of routines regarding procurement
and reimbursement
As most of you know, UoB
is obliged to follow the Norwegian State’s regulations regarding procurement.
Since the last year, the accounting department has been enforcing the
routines regarding procurement and personal refunds, and this can have direct
economical consequences for the individuals in case they do not comply with the
regulations. To summarize, the most important points are: ·
All procurement
shall be made by the employee who has the bookkeeper role at the relevant
department. The framework agreement shall be used in case there
exits one. All orders shall be made through UoB’s
electronic procurement system. Use of personal refunds should,
if possible, be avoided. · As an example, all computer supplies (not only computer equipment)
must be ordered by Magne (or
another bookkeeper) via the procurement system. In case individuals purchase
necessary equipment or supplies using their private funds and request a
refund, in the worst case they may risk not being able to receive the requested
refund. Equivalently, all books should be ordered from Studia,
and not from, for example, Amazon. · We
would especially like to bring personal reimbursement issue to your
attention. We have, within the last year, been receiving several reimbursement claims
back from the accounting department. The message from the accounting department
was that one cannot expect to receive this type of
reimbursement in the future. We are aware of the fact that the new
regulations could be experienced as cumbersome in many cases; however, we
must make sure that the procurement regulations of UoB
are complied with. In case of questions regarding this issue, please contact Harald or Grete. See also the letter from the accounting
department on this issue. Open meeting at the Norwegian Technical
Science Academy
NTVA invites
to a meeting in Bergen with the previous director Ola M Johannessen, The Nansen Center for environmental and remote measurements:
Tuesday, January 25. at
19:00 in the Nansen Center at Marineholmen,
Thormøhlens gate 47. After the meeting fish soup will
be served, and this will be followed by a social gathering.
The price
is 100,- NOK per person. Registration within
15:00 on Thursday January 19. Registration is, however, only necessary if you
would like to joint he dinner. Announcement of funds under UoB’s Akademia agreement with
Statoil
1) Travel to conferences etc. related
to petroleum research for up to NOK 25 000 (Funds are not for educational
purposes - participation with presentation will be given priority) 2) Visiting guest researchers (travel
and stay) The
activity must take place in 2012. Scientific
staff and PhD-students can apply. To be evaluated the application MUST
include: • Your name and position and where
you are employed • A specification of
purpose /aim • Conference participation • Oral Presentation/Poster • The title of the presentation/
lecture • Information regarding
supervisor/research group (name, position) • Estimated expenses with details
including travel budget, conference fee etc. • Whether you have applied
other funding • Whether you have received money
through the Akademia mobility scheme before. Everyone must give acknowledgment to Statoil on
the talks or posters that are made to the conferences funded by “Akademia” agreement. Regarding
visiting scientists UiB applicant should ensure
that the guest is introduced in the relevant Statoil environment.
You are encouraged to propose guest lecture at
Statoil, in addition to guest lecture at the University of Bergen will be
announced for Statoil. Scientific
staff and PhD students can apply.
Applications
and travel claim forms must be marked "SH2011" and sent by email to
Katrine
Kristiansen (Katrine is located at CIPR Unifob, Allegt. 41., tel.
83645). APPLICATION DEADLINE: 26. JANUAR 2012. The committee will use
approximately two weeks to evaluate the applications. All applicants will be
informed as soon as the evaluations are ready. Announcement of research funds under VISTAThe Norwegian Science
Academy and Statoil are collaborating on the basic research program VISTA. At any time, approximately 25 projects, within
the fields of exploration , increased oil-recovery,
oil and gas processing, environment and bio-technology, are financed. Relevant
academic environments at Norwegian universities are invited to apply for
project support to PhD studies or Post doc. candidates. Also, it is now
possible for individual researchers to apply for project funds through the
VISTA program. Annually there will be
four announcements and the first application deadline is February 1. 2012. See
here for information and application form. Otherwise the VISTA coordinator Trine Gerlyng can give you more detailed information about the
funds through email or by calling 22 12 10 93. International day at the faculty
On Wednesday, January 18 an international day will be arranged at the
faculty of mathematics and natural sciences. This arrangement is a part of UoB’s international week 2012. On this day,
our focus will be on studies abroad as an exchange student and the related
application process. We will have a very dense program on this day. The arrangement will
start in Auditorium 2 at Realfagbygget with a
musical performance. The day’s first lecture will be on: "Are the
foreign experiences important for employers?" We will
be visited by a representative from an international company who will
be talking about the importance of international thinking and global
understanding and experience. There will be lecture about and presentations
of universities and university colleges abroad from 12:15 until 15:00. Previous
exchange students will tell about their experiences and will provide useful
recommendations and tips. In the common area in the first floor, an application workshop will be
arranged between 11:00 and 13:00 where it will also be possible to ask
questions. Here you will be able to meet study supervisors from your study
program in case you have questions regarding exchange during your studies. You
can also get an answer to everything you may be wondering regarding the
application process. Also, you may find useful information on approval and
financial support schemes from Lånekassen in
regards to studying abroad. At 11:45, spring rolls will be served to all participants of the
international day. In the canteen, between 15:00-17:00, there will be COFFEE and EXCHANGE.
Here you will be able to meet students who have been abroad as exchange
students as well as foreign exchange students who are currently studying at UoB. You will be able to get lots of good advice and tips
on being a student in another country. For more information and details on the program, see our web pages. Hearing: New electives on research and
technology in secondary school
The Norwegian Education Agency has now suggestions regarding electives
on research and technology in secondary school. These will be presented
during an open hearing. All are
welcome to share their thoughts/comments on the matter. Study plans for eight
new electives will be ready to be offered to students as of fall 2012. Among
others, there will be an elective on technology in practice and another one
on research in practice. The subjects are thought to promote motivation and
mastering and support theory weary students as well as providing competence. The University Library has purchased backfiles from Springer Publishing
UB has purchased backfiles (earlier editions) of the following series from
Springer: ·
Advances in
Biochemical Engineering Biotechnology Chemistry
and Materials Science ·
Advances in
Polymer Science Chemistry
and Materials Science ·
Progress in
Colloid and Polymer Science Chemistry
and Materials Science ·
Structure &
Bonding Chemistry
and Materials Science ·
Topics in
Current Chemistry Chemistry
and Materials Science ·
Advances in
Solid State Physics + Halbleiterprobleme Physics and Astronomy ·
Lecture Notes in
Physics Physics and Astronomy ·
Lecture Notes in
Physics Monographs Physics
and Astronomy ·
Springer Tracts
in Modern Physics Physics
and Astronomy ·
Topics in
Applied Physics Physics
and Astronomy ·
Lecture Notes in
Computer Science Computer
Science ·
Lecture Notes in
Control and Information Sciences Engineering ·
Lecture Notes in
Earth Sciences Earth
and Environmental Science ·
Lecture Notes in
Mathematics Mathematics
and Statistics ·
Mathematical
Programming Studies Mathematics
and Statistics ·
Reviews of
Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology Biomedical
and Life Sciences IFT iN THE media
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Institutt
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