University Of Leicester Homecoming 09

Alumni Association

Homecoming 27 June 2009 Full details of the programme are inside but for a taste of what else is in store…. There is also something to suit everyone in our range of hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations: learn how to make great-tasting ice cream in minutes (Chemistry); experience a virtual 3D “flight” (Geography); meet Jane, a life-sized dinosaur (Geology); learn how to extract DNA then follow the clues at the CSI crime scene (Genetics) or choose from a host of demonstrations in Engineering. All Change at the Percy Gee

Whether you are interested in the past, present or future, this year’s Homecoming includes some of the most exciting research projects in the country today. In addition to the keynote lecture on one of the latest discoveries in forensic research, there is a choice of seven mini-lectures, reflecting the diversity and wealth of research throughout the University. From helping the police to solve gun crime, getting to grips with the complexities of international migration, taking a look at the evolution of life or weighing up the pros and cons of using social networking websites, the Homecoming will give you an insight into all this, as well as taking a look at contemporary social and health problems.

You will be amazed at some major improvements to the campus. This summer, the Percy Gee Building will undergo a major transformation to create one of the best Students’ Union facilities in the UK. Many of the day’s activities will centre on the building – which has changed very little since you were here. Among the highlights there will be an opportunity to hear about the redevelopment plans, take part in a debate between current and former Student Union sabbaticals and take home your own little piece of Leicester history at an auction in the Redfearn Bar. Last Orders! This popular venue is closing down but not without a fight – EVERYTHING must go. Why not book table service, have a go at pulling your last pint or bid for the chance to ring the last orders’ bell? And just like your student days, everyone who buys a drink will take home their own commemorative Redfearn pint glass – only this time, it’s allowed!

www.le.ac.uk

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HOMECOMING · 27 JUNE 2009

Important Programme Information At the 2009 Homecoming you and your friends have a wide choice of FREE activities to suit all ages and tastes. For graduates with young families, there is plenty to keep the children occupied, such as free rides, face painting and a balloon modeller (no age limit). Plus a free packed lunch for the under 12s (advance registration required). When you arrive, make sure your first port of call is the information desk in the Charles Wilson Building. In your welcome pack there is everything you need to enjoy the whole day, including the time and location of each activity and staff will be here all day to help and answer questions.

Eating and Drinking A free breakfast – tea/coffee and a pastry – will be available in the Café Piazza behind the information desk before the first event. A hot lunch will be served between 12.30pm – 2.00pm on the 5th floor of the Charles Wilson Building (payment in advance is required) or you will be able to purchase refreshments without reservations throughout the day in the Piazza and Library Café. Free rides on campus for children

Breakfast in the Piazza

Activities for the under 12s

Tours Our selection includes both physical and virtual reality tours. Library Tour – the award-winning David Wilson Library was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen in December 2008; Geography SPLINT (Spatial Literacy in Teaching) Tour – a virtual 3D “flight” to local or exotic destinations where the world revolves around you; Clinical Sciences Facility and Library – based at the Leicester Royal Infirmary (about 15 mins walk away), an opportunity to practice your bedside manner on life-like models or see the latest practice techniques for the next generation of doctors and nurses; Geology – Come and meet Jane, a life-sized model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex or join the group visit at 3.45pm; Percy Gee Tours – join the construction team for a ‘hard hat’ tour of the site before the bulldozers move in! Campus Tours – student-led campus tours available on request at the information desk.

Keynote Dr John Bond, member of the University’s Forensic Research Centre will deliver the keynote address on “Fingerprints Forever”. Leicester’s researchers have discovered a way of visualising a fingerprint which has been deposited onto metal after the deposit has been removed. Named in Time Magazine’s 50 greatest inventions of 2008, Dr Bond will guide you through the process of retrieving fingerprint details from the casing of used bullets to help the police solve previously unsolved cases. It will be of particular interest to those who enjoy watching crime dramas such as CSI or Waking the Dead.

Pioneering research by Dr John Bond

Sculpture Exhibition Homecoming also marks the official opening of the 2009 Sculpture Exhibition at the Botanic Gardens. Entitled “A Celebration of British Sculpture”, this Exhibition is open daily between 10.00am – 4.00pm, is free and open to the public. The entrance to the Botanic Gardens is on Stoughton Drive South in Oadby and graduates are warmly invited to visit on any day until Sunday 27 September 2009.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Programme of Events Graduates and their guests are welcome to a FREE day of activities, excluding meals. A full description of each lecture and its location will be included at the front of your Welcome Pack available at our registration desk in the Charles Wilson Building. See online at percygee.org/homecoming

Activities 9.00 onwards

Register and collect your welcome pack from the foyer of the Charles Wilson Building

9.00-9.45

Free tea/coffee and pastry in the Café Piazza

9.30-10.30

Keynote Lecture: Fingerprints Forever: how to find fingerprints after they have been removed – Dr John Bond (Forensic Research Centre)

10.45-11.30

Mini Lectures: • Dietary Agents which Prevent Cancer – Professor Andy Gescher (Cancer Studies & Molecular Medicine) • The Cutting Edge: using engineering techniques †o analyse weapons used in crimes – Professor Sarah Hainsworth (Engineering) • Social Media: uses and abuses of the web as a social space -Jennifer Jones (Media and Communications)

11.30

Annual General Meeting of the Alumni Association Exhibition and display of the Percy Gee Redevelopment, followed by Hard Hat Tour (optional) Library Tour

1.30

Library Tour

12.30-2.00

Lunch is served from 12.30 on the 5th floor of the Charles Wilson Building – a seated, two-course hot buffet, followed by tea or coffee. Advance payment required.

2.00-3.00

• Demonstration and tasting spectacular: The Cool Chemists Make Ice-Cream • Tour of the new Clinical Sciences Facility and Medicine Library at Robert Kilpatrick Building – a 15 minute walk from campus • Virtual Tour (Geography) – enjoy a virtual 3D “flight” to local or exotic destinations Exhibition and a choice of the 10-15-minute demonstrations below (Engineering): A water turbine that extracts energy from flowing water – Professor Abdelwahab Aroussi; Autonomous Robots – Dr Tim Pearce; High Voltage Arcs and Sparks – Professor John Fothergill; Embedded Computing – Professor Michael Pont; Flight Demonstration – Dr Emmanuel Prempain; Squeezing Liquids and Solids – Mr Graham Clark/Mr Simon Lawes

3.00-3.45

Mini Lectures: • Earth Women and Eagle Warriors: gender and human sacrifice in Aztec culture – Dr Caroline Dodds Pennock (Historical Studies) • International Migration and the Pursuit of Prosperity: dream or nightmare? – Dr David Bartram (Sociology) • What makes your heart beat faster? – Dr Fernando Schlindwein (Engineering) • Flying Dinosaurs and Exceptionally Preserved Fossils: windows on the evolution of life unknown to Darwin – Professor David Siveter (Geology) To be followed at 3.45pm by a visit to the department’s newest addition, Jane, a life-sized Tyrannosaurus Rex

3.00-4.00

• Detective DNA: hands-on discovery on how to extract DNA from any biological material – eg. banana – and use DNA profiling to tackle a CSI crime scene (Genetics) • Exhibition, model and informal talk on the Percy Gee Redevelopment by Professor Helen Atkinson and SU Chief Executive, Trevor Page

4.00

Vice-Chancellor’s Review of the University

4.45

Mock debate: Students aren’t what they used to be

5.00 onwards

Last Orders in the Redfearn Bar and auction of Percy Gee memorabilia – everything must go!

Tick ( ) No.

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HOMECOMING · 27 JUNE 2009

Booking Form Options You can register on line at percygee.org/homecoming or complete and return the booking form below.

About the Day 1. Please tick the events overleaf that you are interested in attending, but please note that some activities do overlap with others. Your interest in a particular session helps us to plan for the Homecoming but does not commit you to attend a particular event – you may change your mind on the day.

About You

(Please use BLOCK CAPITALS.)

2. (a) Your details Name:

Daytime Phone:

Email:

Degree/Subject:

Graduation year:

Address: 2. (b) Your guests Degree/Subject/Graduation Year (if applicable)

Age (if under 16)

Meals

Hotel Accommodation

3. (a) If you wish to book a meal please indicate the number of guests (including yourself) who will be participating.

5. A list of local hotels is available on request from Kathy Whitehurst, tel. 0116 252 2195 or email: [email protected]. Please confirm the details personally before making a reservation.

Price

Lunch

£15

Lunch: 1940s graduates (By Invitation Only)

£15

Number

Total (£)

Booking form with cheques made payable to “University of Leicester” to be returned to the Development and Alumni Relations Office, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH by Friday, 22 June. To book by credit card please phone 0116 252 2195.

Under 12s packed lunch Free 3. (b) Please indicate if any member of your party has any special dietary requirements. Vegetarian:



Other: ......................................................

4. Overnight accommodation on 27 June is available at John Foster Hall, Oadby. The price is based on single room only and breakfast. No. of Rooms (en suite)

Parking Car parking will be available on campus. Please notify us in advance if you require disabled access to facilities.

Information

Accommodation

Price:

Payment

Total Cost (£)

Data protection: The information you provide on the booking form will be used for the administration of the Homecoming and to maintain the Alumni Association membership database. For further information please phone 0116 252 2931 or 0116 252 2195, email: [email protected]

£27.50 Special offer: Reservation of 2 rooms or more at £25.00 per room.

Total Cost (£):..........................................................

The University is unable to guarantee events and reserves the right to make amendments to the programme as necessary. If there should be a need to cancel any event we will endeavour to make a suitable replacement.




Meal

1298_05/09

Name