Summer term events announced

LSE’s public events programme from April to July is now online. Events include lectures, debates, discussions and exhibitions which are free and open to all.

Changes to fire assembly points

Due to the building works to Towers One and Two, the fire assembly points for Clement House, St Clement's Building and The Anchorage have been changed.

Ingeborg Michelsen

MSc student Ingeborg was one of 20 students from the Department of Geography and Environment to go on a self-organised field trip to Scotland recently, with the help of the LSE Annual Fund.

The first major university guide of the year has ranked LSE as the second best university in the UK and the best university in London.

The Complete University Guide sees LSE rise from fourth in last year's 2012 rankings to second for this year.

The Guide also places LSE in the top ten for all twelve of the subjects it offers and rates it as the top place in the UK to study accounting and finance, economics and social policy.

Professor Janet Hartley, pro-director for teaching and learning at LSE, said: 'We are pleased that LSE is highly regarded in so many areas, including both teaching and research quality. The School puts a lot of energy and investment into the student experience, as well as making sure we keep producing some of the very best social science research in the world. We are also delighted that so many of our students go on to the rewarding jobs which they deserve. Although league tables come with a health warning, it is always nice to be appreciated.'

LSE Review of Books launches with a mission to share serious learning and good writing with the world

The best writing in the social sciences is the focus of a new LSE Review of Books blog which launched this week with the aim of increasing public engagement with all the social sciences.

The blog publishes free and timely reviews of scholarly and serious books and ebooks. Its reviewers not only have academic expertise from LSE, but also include ‘thinkers and doers’ from business, the media, government and beyond - many with alumni or other LSE connections.

Professor Patrick Dunleavy, the blog’s general editor, said: 'Modern academic communication is becoming faster, more interactive and more open. A growing, well-read and well-informed public is now consuming masses of serious non-fiction about how our increasingly globalised societies work. As yet there has been no effective free-to-read forum to stimulate and respond to this demand in the digital age.'

Amy Mollett, the blog’s managing editor, said: 'This project will thrive on public engagement - from writers, readers, reviewers, and practitioners using social science ideas in business, government and civil society. We already know there is an appetite for bold ideas and good writing and the LSE Review of Books will bring them together for the benefit of us all, with new reviews every day.'

Find the blog at http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/.
 

Two LSE students have created an app that allows people to replace all coupons and loyalty cards with their phone. The app - called Stocard - has been featured by Apple as one of the best apps of 2011 in Germany and Austria and has just been launched in the UK.

Postgraduates Björn Goß and David Handlos (pictured) aim to help people remove clutter from their wallets, while still receiving loyalty prices, with the help of their phone. The free app uses your phone’s camera to scan the card’s bar code. Stocard will then create a new card for you, thus turning your phone into a digital loyalty card. At the checkout, you just show the phone to the cashier and have the digital loyalty card scanned to receive discounts.

The two students developed the app with the help and feedback of fellow LSE students, mentors and professors. 'The weekly events of the LSESU Entrepreneurship Society proved to be especially helpful. We were able to get feedback and exchange ideas with like-minded entrepreneurs, who helped us refine our idea and encouraged us to keep up the entrepreneurial spirit when we hit inevitable bumps in the road,' said David.

Professor David Marsden, vice chair of the Academic Board and chair of the Academic Nominations Committee, has announced that Dr Peter Howlett (pictured), Department of Economic History, has been appointed as Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are taking place this summer and many LSE students are getting involved:

• Hoa Doan, Department of Economics, is working as a member of the Airport Protocol Team at Heathrow Airport.
• Angela Ebiner, Department of Geography and Environment, is volunteering as a performer in the opening ceremonies.
• Tapinder Ghuman, Department of Government, is volunteering as an escort leader at the victory ceremonies, which involves leading and briefing the presenters and athletes, and assisting the venue producers and coordinators.
• Rachel Gregory, Department of Social Policy, is volunteering as a London ambassador for the Paralympics.
• Manjula Kalliat, Department of Media and Communications, is volunteering as a member of the Event Services Team based at the Olympic Stadium.
• Eleanor Scott, Department of Accounting, is working as a venue protocol team leader at the Velodrome, looking after the International Olympic Committee, the National Olympic Committees and heads of states.
• Neil Shah, Department of Economics, will be a medal/flower bearer for the Games. He will be based at the Aquatics Centre for the Olympic Games and Greenwich Park for the Paralympics.
• Kaylie Sim, Managerial Economics and Strategy Group, is volunteering at the Horse Guards Parade as a member of the Catering, Cleaning and Waste Team.
• Chetan Varsani, Department of Economics, is working as a venue entry team leader at ExCeL London.
• Tao Yang, Information Systems and Innovation Group, is volunteering as a cast member for the Olympic ceremonies.

Winner of Library survey announced

The Library would like to thank everyone who gave their time and completed the survey this year. With more than 1,400 participants, we had a brilliant response and some very constructive feedback. Hearing what you think about our services helps to ensure our continued improvement and development, so we really do appreciate you taking part.

Congratulations to undergraduate Noemie Chomet (pictured), who won the top prize of a Kindle, and also to the following winners who were awarded Amazon vouchers: Garrick Hileman, Catherine Flanagan, Yoke Suen Kan, Nikoletta-Izampella Tsirmpa, Antonios Maropoulos, Nimisha Dua, David Jenkins, and Sebastian Walker.

Changes to fire assembly points

In order to avoid congestion during the building works to Towers One and Two, the area outside Tower One will no longer be used as a fire assembly point for Clement House, St Clement's Building and The Anchorage.

With effect from Thursday 12 April, the new assembly points for these buildings will be:

• Clement House - outside the Three Tuns on Houghton Street
• St Clement’s Building - John Watkins Plaza
• The Anchorage - outside Waterstones on Clare Market.

Any queries should be directed to the Health and Safety Team at Health.And.Safety@lse.ac.uk.
 

LSE Garrick
8am-7pm Monday-Friday

Fourth Floor Restaurant
9am-7pm Monday-Friday

Fourth Floor Café Bar
11am-8pm Monday-Friday

Plaza Café
9am-10pm Monday-Friday
12noon-6pm Saturday and Sunday

Café 54
8.30am-6pm Monday-Friday

NAB Mezzanine
10.30am-4pm Monday-Friday

Staff Dining Room and Café Bar (members only)
Café Bar 10am-4.30pm Monday-Friday
Dining Room 12.30-2.15pm Monday-Friday

Courses scheduled for next week include:

• Exam Writing Skills
• English Through Film
• Exams: revise and de-stress

Part-time vacancies for students

IT Services is recruiting students to work part-time as student training advisors during the Michaelmas and Lent terms in the 2012-13 academic year.

The closing date for applications is Monday 30 April with interviews on Thursday 10 May. Pay is c. £13/hour.

LSE Catering will be promoting another Feel Good Food Day on Wednesday 2 May in the Fourth Floor Restaurant.

The menu will aim to demonstrate that using healthier ingredients, seasonal vegetables and limited meat, dairy or egg-based dishes can benefit your health, the environment and animal welfare.

Software Surgery

The Software Surgery is a drop-in service where both students and staff can get training on specific software and web applications. We cover:

• Statistical software: SPSS and Stata

• Qualitative analysis: Alceste, Atlas.ti, and Nvivo

• Microsoft Office: Access, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Word

• Learning technologies: Moodle, lecture capture, electronic voting systems, etc

• Library technologies: Endnote, e-journals and online data sources

To avoid disappointment, book in advance via the Training and Development System and you can be sure that your question will be covered. A member of the team will be on hand to help you learn what you need to solve your particular problem.

LSE Annual Fund funding deadline

Get your student led project off the ground with an Annual Fund grant. Visit apply for funding where you will find details on applying, including guidelines, contact details and the link to the online application form.

Please submit your application by Wednesday 9 May at 5.30pm - late submissions will not be accepted.
 

This summer the Estates Division will be replacing all of the chairs in the library. Two different designs have been shortlisted but we are keen for LSE students to have the final say in which chairs are chosen.

On Thursday 17 and Friday 18 May between 11am and 4pm both chairs will be available to view and try out on the lower ground floor of the Library.

Everyone who provides feedback on the chairs will stand a chance of winning one of three Amazon vouchers worth £50, £20 and £10.

Asia Research Centre Thailand Government Scholarship

Applications are invited from LSE PhD students for mobility bursaries to visit one of the School's institutional partners (Columbia University, New York; The National University of Singapore (NUS); Peking University, Beijing; Sciences Po, Paris; or the University of Cape Town, South Africa) in order to work informally with an advisor on their PhD thesis, research and/or on related publications and presentations, and to introduce them to the academic culture, professional contacts and employment opportunities of another country/region.

For 2012-13, up to ten bursaries are on offer to visit one of the above five partner institutions. For any one partner institution, up to two flat rate bursaries of £2,500 are available.

Students registered for PhD studies at any LSE department and who have already been upgraded to full doctoral student status are eligible to apply. Each visit should be a minimum of two months and a maximum of three months in duration.

New Students' Centre news

The LSE Estates April newsletter for the New Student Centre project is now available, click here.

The newsletter includes progress information and photos and details of the Centre achieving BREEAM Outstanding Status.
 

Any LSE Catering customer using their card as a method of payment and spending £30 or more a month will be entered into a prize draw with five lucky winners each month getting £10 added to their loyalty purse.

The winners of the prize draw for March were:

• Nandini Mathur
• Vicente Cunat
• Gerd Inger Aarnes
• Daniel Cramer
• Keith Tritton
   

National Student Mental Health Survey

The University of Southampton is conducting a national Student Mental Health Survey to see whether factors such as finances, alcohol use and demographic variables affect students’ mental health.

The online survey takes around 20 minutes to complete and you will then be invited to re-do this survey every three or four months. All information is completely confidential.

By completing the survey you will also be placed in a lottery to win a number of £50 book vouchers.

Visit https://www.isurvey.soton.ac.uk/2725 for more information or email studentmentalhealthsurvey@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Summer term Events Leaflet published

The full programme of LSE public events from April to July is now online. Events include lectures, debates, discussions and exhibitions which are free and open to all.

Speakers include: Dr Philipp Rösler, German vice chancellor and federal minister of economics and technology; Professor Paul Gilroy, the Anthony Giddens Chair in social theory in the Department of Sociology at LSE; Ahdaf Soueif, author of The Map of Love; Professor Sheri Berman, professor of political science at Columbia University; Professor George Akerlof, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2001; Damibsa Moyo, author of Dead Aid and How the West Was Lost; and Professor Joseph E Stiglitz in discussion with Professor Amartya Sen.

A PDF of the leaflet can be downloaded from the LSE Events website, where more information on individual events can also be found.
 

New events just announced....

Dial M for Murdoch
On: Wednesday 9 May at 6.30pm in the Old Theatre, Old Building
Speakers: Martin Hickman, news editor at The Independent, and Tom Watson (pictured), MP for West Bromwich East.

Advancing Global Trade and Employment Together: shared opportunities and responsibilities for the United States and the European Union
On: Tuesday 22 May at 12pm. The venue will be confirmed to ticket holders.
Speaker: Ambassador Ron Kirk (pictured), United States trade representative.
LSE students and staff can request one ticket via the online ticket request form after 10pm on Monday 14 May.

End This Depression Now!
On: Tuesday 29 May at 6.30pm in the Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street
Speaker: Professor Paul Krugman (pictured), professor of economics and international affairs at Princeton University.
LSE students and staff can request one ticket via the online ticket request form after 10pm on Thursday 17 May.
 

Other events include....

Breakout Nations: in search of the next economic miracle
On: Monday 30 April at 6.30pm in the Old Theatre, Old Building
Speaker: Ruchir Sharma, head of emerging markets at Morgan Stanley.

After the Arab Spring: power shift in the Middle East?
On: Tuesday 1 May at 6.30pm in the Old Theatre, Old Building
Speakers: Dr Amnon Aran, senior lecturer at the Department of International Politics, City University, Roger Cohen, columnist for the International Herald Tribune and New York Times, and Professor Anoush Ehteshami, professor and joint director of the ESRC Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World, University of Durham.

Come and watch our talented students and staff perform at the LSE Chill open performance evening. The next session is this Friday (27 April) from 5.30pm in the Fourth Floor Café Bar and the event is open all.

The line up for the evening is as follows:

6-6.30pm David Lewis
Described by Sing Out as 'a writer and singer worth getting to know', and his work as 'smart song-craft' (CD Now), David Lewis has recorded and released three CDs of acoustic folk-rock since the early 1990s. His most recent release is 'Ghost Rhymes' (2007).

6.45-7.15pm The Teesside Specials
The Teesside Specials are a three-piece student pop rock band that have played at a number of LSE events and several LSE Chills. They call themselves 'the best (and possibly only) pop-rock trio at LSE'.

7.30-8pm Konni Deppe and Martin Slade (Le Swing Electrique)
Konni Deppe (Vocals) 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.

On: Tuesday 1 May from 6.30-8pm in the Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House
Speakers: Dr Robin Murray, co-founder of Twin Trading, and Dr Gavan Titley (pictured), a lecturer in media studies at the National University of Ireland.

Like desperate King Canutes, our political leaders continue to implement austerity cuts and trumpet the free market, despite an apparently worsening global financial crisis. Their reasoning? There is no alternative.

Academics and activists, Dr Murray and Dr Titley argue otherwise, countering the dominant discourse with examples of existing alternatives from the social economy and from the perspective of the alternative media.

The Politics of Squares

On: Wednesday 2 May from 6.30-8pm in the Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House
Speakers: Professor Helmut K Anheier, dean at the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, Professor Mary Kaldor, director of the Civil Society and Human Security Research Unit, LSE, Ahmed Naguib, activist and co-founder of the Council of the Trustees of the Revolution in Egypt, and Laurie Penny (pictured), journalist and feminist activist.

To mark the launch of the tenth anniversary edition of the Global Civil Society Yearbook, two of the founding editors will discuss this blossoming radicalisation of civil society with Ahmed Naguib and Laurie Penny, and ask what is new about the current Politics of Squares. More
 

On: Thursday 3 May from 1-2pm in room 2.14, New Academic Building

Speaker Rapahel Mokades is the founder and managing director of Rare Recruitment, an organisation whose mission is to 'help the best employers in the world build workforces of brilliant people that reflect society's diversity.' His clients include Barclays Wealth, Google, EDF Energy, City Year and L'Oréal.

To hear his thoughts on this subject and to pose your questions, email Embrace@lse.ac.uk by Monday 30 April to book your place.

Tents or Technocrats: successful civil society in the 21st century

On: Friday 4 May from 1-3pm in the Alumni Theatre, New Academic Building
Speakers, Thomas Nash (pictured), director of Article 36, Richard Moyes, head of policy at Article 36, and Sarah Smith, Channel 4 News business correspondent.

In this special seminar to mark the tenth anniversary edition of the Global Civil Society Yearbook, Thomas Nash and Richard Moyes will offer a primer on building successful global civil society partnerships, tracing the path from initial idea to the securing of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Reflecting on the challenges at the heart of the global system, Sarah Smith will then take Nash and Moyes to task, in a debate that asks whether working within the international system can really effect substantive change - or whether NGO coalitions can only tinker at the edges, legitimising the very structures they seek to change.

Please note this is a student-only event and places are limited. If you would like to register, RSVP by 5pm on Monday 30 April to e.j.may@lse.ac.uk, stating your name and student number (from your ID card). For more information, click here.
 

International Student Reception

On: Wednesday 30 May at 5pm in London’s Living Room, City Hall

The Mayor's Office and Study London invite LSE students to City Hall for an International Student Reception.

Be a part of a record breaking attempt in this Olympic year, become a London Ambassador and meet other international students from across London. You can also enjoy 360° views of the city from the top of the Mayor of London’s office at City Hall.

Places are limited so register your interest now at www.studylondon.ac.uk/event-registration/detail/mayors-reception-2012.
 

Podcasts of public lectures and events

Citizens' Privileges or Human Rights? The Great Bill of Rights Swindle
Speaker: Shami Chakrabarti
Recorded: Tuesday 20 March, approx 87 minutes
Click here to listen

Poor Economics: barefoot hedge-fund managers, reluctant entrepreneurs and the surprising truth about life on less than $1 a day
Speaker: Professor Abhijit Banerjee
Recorded: Monday 26 March, approx 85 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 Student News is on Wednesday 9 May. Articles for this should be emailed to me by Monday 7 May. Student News is emailed on Wednesdays, on a weekly basis during Michaelmas and Lent term and fortnightly during Summer term.