• LSE identifies 'happiness gene'

People tend to be happier if they possess a more efficient version of a gene that regulates the transport of serotonin in the brain, a new LSE study has shown.

• The five-a-side football challenge

ODAR has formed a staff five-a-side football team and is issuing an open challenge to other departments around the School.

• Dr Jill Stuart

Dr Stuart, a fellow in global politics, has been at LSE for almost 10 years and often 'babysits’ people’s pet birds when they go on holiday.

• Message about tuition fees and financial support

On Wednesday 11 May, LSE's Academic Board met and voted on two alternative packages for Home/EU undergraduate tuition fees and financial support for 2012 onwards.

The two options presented were for an annual fee of £8,000 or £9,000. The result was extremely close with just one vote separating those in favour of a £9,000 fee (67) and those against (68).

The Council will make the final decision, and will take into account the full range of views expressed at Academic Board.

• British Politics and Policy at LSE blog going from strength to strength

Throughout the recent AV referendum campaign, the British Politics and Policy at LSE blog has provided extensive coverage of the campaign, with experts' comments from all angles and points of view.

In the week of the referendum, the blog nearly doubled its traffic, with almost 10,000 visitors and over 15,000 pages viewed. It has now risen to the eighth most popular economics blog in the UK according to Wikio’s rankings, and is the only academic entry in the top 100 most popular political blogs.

• LSE fellow launches new policy brief on rethinking EU justice

Dr Iavor Rangelov (pictured), global security research fellow at LSE Global Governance, has launched his new policy brief A Regional Approach to Justice? Rethinking EU Justice in Conflict and Transition at a top think tank in Brussels.

Dr Rangelov joined a panel of speakers to promote the Coalition for RECOM: a major regional, bottom-up initiative set up in 2008 to mobilise support for the establishment of a regional truth commission in the countries of the former Yugoslavia. The proposed commission (RECOM) would be mandated to establish the facts of war crimes and resolve the problem of the remaining 17,000 missing persons from the Balkan wars in the nineties. The Coalition for RECOM has conducted hundreds of consultations with civil society actors across the region, including many survivors of atrocities, and most recently has launched a public campaign to collect one million signatures from citizens.

In the policy brief, Dr Rangelov argues that the EU's experience in the Balkans shows both the need for a regional justice approach and its promise. 'The EU has become an important player in global efforts to bring justice to victims of human rights abuse in conflict and transition. But the EU could really add value in the justice field by drawing on its experience in the Balkans to pioneer a regional approach to justice for mass atrocity and abuse,' he says.

Further information about the RECOM campaign can be found on Facebook.
 

• LSE Enterprise partner ranked world number one

LSE Enterprise's joint venture partner, Duke Corporate Education, has been ranked the world's number one provider of customised executive education by the Financial Times for the ninth year running.

LSE Enterprise and Duke Corporate Education have worked together since 2003 to provide specialised custom executive education aimed at the business needs of companies throughout the world. The joint venture draws upon Duke Corporate Education for a business focus and the academic resources of LSE for a geo-political and economic focus. Together, the partnership has designed and delivered several hundred successful programmes covering numerous industries across Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle East.

'It is an honour to receive this recognition, not only for us, but for our many talented educators and great partners,' said Duke Corporate Education's CEO, Michael Canning.

• Doing the Moonwalk for breast cancer

Nicola Serle (pictured), project co-ordinator for LSE Housing and Communities, will be attempting to walk 26.2 miles this Saturday as part of the 2011 Moonwalk to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. If this wasn’t daunting enough, she will be doing it wearing a decorated bra.

Nicola said: 'I have wanted to do this for years and was successful in getting into the 2008 Moonwalk, but then had to pull out at the last minute as I was pregnant with my third child and advised that it wouldn’t be a good idea. So I was delighted to get a place this year and have been training since January in all weathers and on all terrains.

'I am walking as part of a team called the New Forest Ponies and we will be decorating our bras accordingly - still to decide what that entails! It is described as "the world's only, largest, sassiest, brightest, boldest Power Walking Marathon" and I’ve been told it is an amazing experience, so if you are in London on Saturday night look out for me and the other 15,999 people walking and please give us a cheer.'

• Run the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge

For the past few years, a small team from LSE has run the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge, a 5.6k (roughly 3.5 mile) walk/jog/run in Battersea Park which raises money for charity.

This year the race is on Thursday 7 July and is raising money for the charity Barnardo’s, and we’d love to get as many people as possible involved.

Many LSE staff members are active runners, and for those of you who don’t already run or jog, nine weeks is more than enough time to train to survive the distance! The run is in lovely surroundings and the atmosphere is really good. It is definitely not a run only for ‘serious’ runners; there are plenty of people walking, run/walking and jogging. Why not join us, and represent your Department or Division in the team?

• LSE academic to advise Finnish doctoral programme

Dr Alec Morton (pictured), lecturer in management science at LSE, has been appointed to the advisory board of the Finnish Doctoral Programme in Systems Analysis, Decision Making and Risk Management.

The programme is organised by a consortium of Finnish university units and promotes research in the field of operations research. The units' research is characterised by problem-oriented development and application of mathematical models to the decision support and model-based research and analyses of planning and decision problems in business, governmental and other organisations. More
 

• Academic abroad

On Thursday 5 May, Professor David Lewis of the Department of Social Policy addressed the Annual Conference of Dóchas, the Irish Association of Non-governmental Development Organisations, in Dublin (pictured).

His address was on the subject of emerging lessons for Irish development NGOs from the ongoing health and education policy reforms in Bangladesh.
 

• Goodbye from LSE

The School is sad to announce the death of former LSE staff member, Dorothy Williams, who died on Monday 18 April.

Dorothy worked as the admin secretary for the Department of Economics in the 1970/80s. Her funeral is on Thursday 12 May at the All Saints Church, Warlingham.

• Old Building main entrance opens its doors again

Estates are pleased to announce that the refurbishment of the Old Building main entrance on Houghton Street has been completed this week and the main doors are open again.

The reconfigured entrance area provides an enlarged reception, creating a more generous circulation and waiting space, together with a new secure cloakroom and larger toilet facilities for both students and visitors.

The new finishes are now dominated by the contemporary glass cabinets that provide improved way-finding, information and display areas. The Old Theatre green room has also been improved and now incorporates a dedicated make-up and prop store for the Drama Society.

We hope you agree that this work has produced a front of house area appropriate to this important and historic building.

Please see Building and Construction for photos and information on campus improvements.
 

• Your chance to contribute to the 2011-16 Strategic Plan

The Planning Unit is currently working with colleagues across the School on the Strategic Plan 2011-16.

The Strategic Plan is a statement of the School’s purposes, aspirations and intended actions over a five year period and is designed to guide every member of the LSE community.

Given the extensive consultation and revamp undertaken for the 2009-14 version of the Strategic Plan, on which the 2010-15 version of the plan was based, it is a working assumption that the 2011-16 Strategic Plan will be an update of that plan rather than a fundamental change of its structure and direction.

However, we welcome your feedback and comments on the current Plan, which will play a role in the formulation of the new 2011-16 Plan, which will be submitted to Council for approval in June. All responses will be considered.

• Summer rowing on the Thames Tideway

Fancy getting away from central London for summer evening or weekend rowing from the University of London boathouse in Chiswick?

The University of London Tyrian Rowing Club is organising ‘taster sessions’ for those who have never rowed before, or have not done so for some time. If you enjoy it, you can then take up rowing on a more regular basis and receive expert coaching.

The sessions are open to adults of all ages and abilities, provided you can swim at least 200 metres in sportswear. They are run by competent coaches, many of whom are among the best London University rowers. Tyrian provides rowing in all kinds of boats, from eights to single sculls, and with a bit of experience you will be able to row the course of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race from Putney to Chiswick, or more peacefully, from Chiswick up to Kew and Richmond. After a bit more coaching, you might try some races or just row for recreation.

After the sessions, you can relax in some of the riverside pubs at Strand-on-the-Green.

• Student advice and support

The LSESU would like to inform LSE staff members that its Advice and Support Service provides students with guidance on academic issues including mitigating circumstances.

They have a team of full time, professional members of staff who can advise students on how to prepare their statement and what type of documentary evidence is required. They also provide advice on a range of areas including housing, money and post study work visas.

Students can contact the service for advice on 020 7955 7158 or by emailing su.advice-centre@lse.ac.uk. Alternatively if staff would like to refer students, please email or phone the service with the student's contact details and a brief description of the issue and they will contact them within two working days.

• Research opportunities

• Research e-Briefing

• Latest opportunities from LSE Enterprise

LSE Enterprise offers you the opportunity to undertake private teaching and consultancy work under the LSE brand. We help with bidding, contracts and other project administration, enabling you to focus on the work itself. To see the latest opportunities click here or visit http://twitter.com/lseenterprise.

• LSE IDEAS forthcoming events

African Revolutions and Political Transitions: the view from Paris
Tuesday 17 May at 6.30pm in KSW.G1, 20 Kingsway Building
Speaker: Stephane Gompertz, head of Africa and the Indian ocean desk, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

An Analysis of the Singapore General Elections 2011
Tuesday 17 May at 6.30pm in COL.B212, Columbia House
Speakers: Mustafa Izzuddin, PhD candidate in international relations at LSE, and Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid, head of the South East Asia programme at LSE IDEAS.

• EMBRACE chocolate master class and tasting

The EMBRACE staff network is holding a chocolate master class and tasting on Thursday 19 May from 6-8pm in the Parish Hall.

The event will include a talk by Paul Wayne Gregory followed by a chocolate making demonstration and a chocolate tasting session.

The event is open to all staff. To attend, please email embrace@lse.ac.uk by Thursday 12 May.
 

• Navigating the New Green Economy: the challenges of climate change and the opportunities for clean energy

Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 May, LSE campus

This international conference organised by LSE, the American Bar Association and the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA), will discuss the intersection of climate change policy and politics, and the incentives, economics, and finance for clean energy.

The programme will allow participants to interact with government and industry leaders, academic scholars, and finance and legal experts from the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Learn the latest developments and go beyond how to navigate the complexities of policy and regulations to a sophisticated exploration of the enormous opportunities available in a global green economy. Topics will include:

The main speaker is former LSE director Professor Lord Anthony Giddens.

This event is open to all but registration is required. Information about ticket prices and how to register can be found on the conference website Navigating the New Green Economy. More
 

• Excellence in Public Policy: a celebration of Julian Le Grand’s forty years as a leading academic and policy analyst

Tuesday 24 May, 3-5pm, Old Theatre, Old Building
Speakers: Professor Julian Le Grand (pictured), LSE, Professor Carol Propper, Imperial College, Professor Peter Taylor-Gooby, University of Kent, Nick Timmins, Financial Times, and Professor Albert Weale, University College London.

For excellent public policy, it is necessary to have a clear idea of both the ends to be achieved (including equity, quality and efficiency), and the means for achieving those ends (including the structure of motivation and incentives, and the appropriate balance between market and state).

Professor Julian Le Grand has made major contributions in all of these areas, and this seminar is an opportunity for the speakers to reflect on his work while developing their own ideas.

• EMBRACE Black History tour

The EMBRACE staff network is hosting a Black History Tour on Tuesday 24 May from 6-8pm in the St Paul's area.

The St Paul's/Bank walk takes in side streets and back alleys that one would never see from the main road. The walk will focus on the hidden connections between Africa, the Diaspora and the infrastructure of ancient and modern London. It will disclose how certain fraternal societies benefited from African wealth and invested that wealth in academic institutions and charities, disclose how African names came to be given to streets and areas and look at the visual imagery of London and African architecture.

To attend this event, please email embrace@lse.ac.uk by Wednesday 18 May so that your name can be added to the list of attendees.
 

• LSE Chill - Final Session

LSE Arts’ next performing night, which is open to staff, students and alumni to perform, will be held on Friday 27 May from 5.30pm in the 4th Floor Café Bar, Old Building.

This will be the final LSE Chill session this academic year so make sure you come along and enjoy some great performances.

The line up for the evening is as follows:

• 6-6.30pm Konni Deppe and Martin Slade 'Le Swing Electrique'
  Konni Deppe (vocal) and Martin Slade (guitar) will be performing an eclectic range of jazz standards. Konni shares her time between working for LSE Residential Services and a professional singing and teaching career in the UK and Germany. Martin has spent many years gigging in indie, rock, blues and jazz bands when not whizzing across campus to fix broken network outlets. A lucky chance encounter at the Grosvenor House reception led to a first rehearsal, then one thing to another.... Konni and Martin, guitar and voice, bossa nova to blues.
• 6.45-7.15pm Veronique Mizgalio
  Veronique will be performing a selection of standards and classic pop ballads. She has a classical singing background, having sung with a number of choirs, most notably the London Philharmonic Choir and the English Chamber Choir, and has given numerous recitals. In search of a new challenge she is exploring jazz and less mainstream popular music. On campus she can be found in the Directorate. She will be accompanied by Andy Thornes, who is a professional musician and songwriter.
• 7.30-8pm The Funktionalists
  Making a return to LSE Chill (by popular demand), the Funktionalists are comprised of staff and students from the Department of Anthropology. They play a mixture of cumbia, son and rock.

• Conference on Investigating Academic Impacts

Monday 13 June, LSE campus

Academics are increasingly being pressed to provide evidence of impact from their research on the world outside academia, and universities will have to provide evidence of impact as part of the new Research Excellence Framework.

But there is confusion about the different definitions of impact that exist amongst funding bodies and research councils, and also about methods of measuring impact.

This conference will look at a range of issues surrounding the impact of academic work on government, business, communities and public debate. It will discuss what impact is, how impacts happen and innovative ways that academics can communicate their work. Practical sessions will look at how academic work has impact among policymaking and business communities, how academic communication can be improved and how individual academics can easily start to asses their own impact.

Speakers will include:

• Professor Paul Wiles, former government chief social scientist
• David Sweeney, director of research, innovation and skills at HEFCE
• Jill Rutter, programme director at the Institute for Government

• Podcasts of public lectures and events

Zero Degrees of Empathy: a new theory of human cruelty
Speaker: Professor Simon Baron-Cohen
Recorded: Tuesday 3 May, approx 89 minutes
Click here to listen

The Future of Power
Speaker: Professor Joseph Nye
Recorded: Wednesday 4 May, approx 71 minutes
Click here to listen

Nicole wants to hear from you!

Do you have some news, an achievement, or an aspect of LSE life that you would like to share? If so, then I would love to hear from you, contact me at n.gallivan@lse.ac.uk or on ext 7582.

The next edition of Staff News is on Thursday 19 May. Articles for this should be emailed to me by Tuesday 17 May. Staff News is emailed every Thursday during term time and fortnightly during the holidays.