{"id":1711,"date":"2024-12-16T08:40:04","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T08:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/?p=1711"},"modified":"2024-12-16T08:40:04","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T08:40:04","slug":"our-2024-year-in-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/2024\/12\/16\/our-2024-year-in-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Our 2024 year in review"},"content":{"rendered":"

From life-changing support for our students and researchers, to the alumni reunions bursting with nostalgia, the Advancement Office team shares its highlights from this past year. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Discover the many ways our alumni, supporters, students and researchers helped to further the University\u2019s strategic vision in 2024. <\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/b>January: a new face on campus<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

We began the new year with the news that <\/span>Professor Phil Taylor had been <\/span>appointed as the next Vice-Chancellor and President<\/span><\/a> of the University\"man<\/a> of\u00a0Bath.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Having worked in industry and academia for more than 25 years, Professor Phil Taylor joined the University with a clear commitment to quality in education, student experience and research, and is already helping Bath in the next stage of its development. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His work builds on the strong foundation previous Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian White, fostered. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/b>February: a Bath team used \u2018mind control\u2019 to win international athletics competition<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

While the weather was harsh and bitter in February, this didn\u2019t dampen the spirits of Bath\u2019s\"Man<\/a> NeuroCONCISE team, who <\/span>won an international competition<\/span><\/a> in which cybathletes raced against each other using their brainwaves alone.<\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the <\/span>CYBATHLON Challenge<\/span><\/a>, Owen Collumb \u2013 a spinal-injury athlete based in Dublin, Ireland \u2013 used \u2018movement imagination\u2019 and imagery, along with deep mental focus, to compete in several computer game-like challenges.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With Bath alumnus Nick Hynes having generously donated to the <\/span>Bath Institute of the Augmented Human<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(IAH), we covered NeuroCONCISE\u2019s impressive win, as well as further work being done by the IAH, in our INSPIRE magazine feature \u2018<\/span>Human 2.0<\/a>\u2019<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

March: a\u00a0day of entrepreneurial inspiration for staff, students and alumni\"Female<\/a> <\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Business-minded Bath students and staff, and those at all points on the entrepreneurial journey, were invited to discover and share insight at the University's third annual <\/span>Enterprise Day<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Entrepreneurs from our alumni community, as well as other <\/span>business leaders and academic experts, <\/span>led sessions and networked with staff and students \u2013 all to further the University\u2019s <\/span>Innovation with Impact<\/span><\/a> mission to enable new ideas, innovation and growth.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

April: students pitched their business ideas to our alumni 'Dragons\u2019 <\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

With spring in full swing, Enterprise Bath drew on the season\u2019s theme of new beginnings by giving\"A<\/a> students the opportunity to pitch to \u2018Dragons\u2019 for the chance to win direct investment into their start-ups and build something of their own. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As part of the event, student entrepreneurs impressed two alumni donors, Hubert Velge and Nick Wood, who generously donate funds to the University to facilitate further business support for entrepreneurial students. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Dragon\u2019s Den winners<\/span><\/a> were <\/span>Katie Little with Taigh Companion, Zoe Jeffrey with VibeStride, and Ori Marsh and Lachlan McGrigor with\u00a0FrameSports.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

May: we published the 31<\/span><\/b>st<\/span><\/b> edition of our alumni magazine, BA2\"Teal<\/a><\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

The latest edition of our annual magazine for alumni and friends of the University was published in May \u2013 both <\/span>online<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>in print<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This issue, we discovered the science of sports stars, alumna astronaut Anne McClain shared her journey from campus to the cosmos and we uncovered the hidden histories in Bath\u2019s city streets. <\/span>You can read this edition of BA2 online today:<\/span> https:\/\/bit.ly\/BA2_Issue31<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

June: Pimm's and party hats for the outgoing Vice-Chancellor <\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

The sun made an appearance at the Vice-Chancellor's Garden Party in June hosted at Woodlands on\"man<\/a> campus \u2013 an opportunity to bid farewell to Professor Ian White as VC and to thank our community for their continued support. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

D<\/span>onors, students, alumni and members of council past and present<\/span> gathered to <\/span>meet student competition team members, <\/span>hear from <\/span>Sanctuary Scholar Furat Al Yafi and listen to beautiful musical performances. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

July: the start of a new chapter for our summer graduates<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

We watched with pride as the latest cohort of Bath\"Two<\/a> students graduated this summer in the beautiful Bath Abbey \u2013 with cheers and claps ringing out throughout the week. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But it was not goodbye, as all our graduates join the Bath alumni community where they can access careers advice, library services and sign up to our e-networking platform <\/span>Bath Connection<\/span><\/a> \u2013 among many other benefits. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

August: a sensational summer of sports for our Bath athletes<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

We all watched with\"Image<\/a> bated breath as Bath <\/span>athletes who study, train and graduated from the University<\/span>\u00a0competed in the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games<\/a>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We were thrilled to see Tom Dean, Kieran Bird and Kate Shortman take home medals in the Olympics and <\/span>Dimitri Coutya, Piers Gilliver, Oliver Lam-Watson and Dan Bethell in the Paralympics. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A fantastic achievement for all those who participated; we cannot wait to see what the LA 2028 Summer Olympics bring for our Bath athletes. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

September: a generous donation meant new labs for life sciences<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Local pharmaceutical product manufacturer, Pharmaxo, generously provided <\/span>\u00a3230,000 worth of vital<\/span><\/a>\"Two<\/a> laboratory equipment to support research activity in the Department of Life Sciences, as well as private study booths for use by students across the University of Bath.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking of the gift at the time, Josh Lowth, Head of Marketing at Pharmaxo <\/span>\u2013 <\/span>the parent company of University of Bath spin out, Bath ASU <\/span>\u2013 <\/span>said: \u201cWe hope that this gift in kind will have an immediate and tangible impact on the University...\u201d. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

October: University Radio Bath legends visit campus<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Alongside current University Radio Bath (URB) members,\"A<\/a> the Advancement Office team had the privilege of attending an exclusive premiere of a short documentary \u2013 created by URB co-founder, Stephen Ainger, and station manager at the time, Jonathan White.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The film explores what life was like as a member of URB during their time at Bath, which gave wonderful insight into life as a student in the '70s. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Congratulations to Johnathan and Stephen on their fantastic film!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

November: we witnessed the true impact of Bath\u2019s research <\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

While the snow began to fall here in Bath, the Impact in Action event was taking place at the RSA House in London.\"Female<\/a> <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the event \u2013 chaired by Meri Williams (BSc Computer Information Systems 2005) \u2013\u00a0we heard some incredible discussions on the research at Bath driving positive digital transformation, including human augmentation, digital behaviour, the threat of AI, and visual computing and machine learning.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

December: a new scholarship programme for students was launched<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

To expand the University\u2019s support for Bath students, December saw the launch of the brand-new\"male<\/a> <\/span>Claverton Scholarship Programme<\/span><\/a> (CSP) <\/span>\u2013<\/span> an exciting initiative aiming to enhance student satisfaction and belonging, and enable students to thrive at Bath and beyond.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As part of the CSP, Claverton Scholars will benefit from employability support, inspiring and enriching experiences, and personal and professional development. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The University is grateful to our alumni and individual donors who\u00a0<\/span>support these awards<\/span><\/a> and we cannot wait to see the positive impact it will have in 2025!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From life-changing support for our students and researchers, to the alumni reunions bursting with nostalgia, the Advancement Office team shares its highlights from this past year. \u00a0 Discover the many ways our alumni, supporters, students and researchers helped to further...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1926,"featured_media":1725,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[123,180],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ddar-staff-spotlight","category-features"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/12\/E-newsNC-header-image-800-x-500-px-3.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1926"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1711"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1711\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}