Things in the library 6th Dec...

Things to read...

We had our Reading group Christmas Party this week with a bumper attendance of 14 people. The books for next year are all chosen and will be announced shortly when we have confirmed which book will be read when. I can tell you however that the book we will be reading over Christmas and discussing in our meeting on 8th January will be 'The Snow Child' by Eowyn Ivey set in Alaska in 1920.



Things to attend...
ScHARR are running a course in May next year on 'The Identification and Review of Evidence to Inform Cost Effectiveness Models' there is an early Bird booking fee available until March 6th. The course will enable participants to develop an understanding of the methods available for the identification and review of evidence to inform cost effectiveness models. The course will meet the needs of those involved in health technology assessments and is particularly suited to:

• Health economic modellers wishing to extend their knowledge of how to identify and review evidence

• Information specialists who wish to advance their skills in identifying evidence for cost effectiveness models

• Systematic reviewers who wish to extend their reviewing skills related to cost effectiveness models

Alice Roberts (illus)

Things of beauty (and to use)...
Professor Alice Roberts makes programmes and write books about human anatomy, physiology, evolution, archaeology and history. She is also a medical doctor, and now a university lecturer. She taught human anatomy to students and doctors, and did research into human origins and disease in ancient skeletons - her talents also include watercolours and illustrations. This week she has uploaded many of her anatomy illustrations to her flickr page and says they are free to download and use for private use or any sort of teaching - please credit her as the illustrator.

Things about microbes...
The Annual Christmas Lecture on antimicrobial resistance by pioneers in the field, Professor Simon Foster and Professor David Hornby of the University of Sheffield is taking place Mon 9th Dec at 18:30 Man vs Microbe: Battle to the Death in Lecture Theatre 2 ,The Diamond Building. Whilst everyone is welcome, this event is suggested for those 16 and over, the event is free and open to the public The event is first come first come first served.

Things to make...
Today is Sinterklass in the Netherlands - last night shoes would have magically been filled with biscuits and sweets. My eldest son was born in the Netherlands and is staying with us at the moment so we thought we had better make an effort this year - courtesy of Tesco! However much nicer is to make your own Kruidnoten, Pepernoten or Speculaas. These biscuits are spiced with ginger, cinnamon, white pepper, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg, with a hint of molasses. The origin of these traditional treats is intricately linked to the history of the Netherlands. The Dutch controlled the spice trade with the East in the 17th century, making the use of spices more accessible to ordinary Dutch people. Spices were still expensive, however, which is why their use was reserved for the holidays.

...and read

An interesting read around the history of this time is Nathaniel's Nutmeg by Giles Minton an adventure story of unthinkable hardship and savagery, the navigation of uncharted waters, and the exploitation of new worlds, not always easy to read but is it a remarkable chapter in the history of the colonial powers of that time.




Things to sing...
The local carol workshop will be held again this year for University staff and friends - a chance to sing some well known and lesser known Christmas carols, many originating from the villages to the north of Sheffield. These workshops were originally put on for staff in what was LeTS, and expanded quickly to include friends in other parts of the University as well as family members and friends.
There will be one session this year:  Friday 20 December  from 12.30-1.50pm  (come and go as you please - no need to book)

The venue is St Andrew's URC Church on Upper Hanover Street (the church with the spire near University tram stop). Supported by members of Worrall Male Voice Choir (Musical Director: Nigel Russell-Sewell) and Broomhall Community Choir (Musical Director: Stephen Vickers), due to popularity the workshops have grown from a few people meeting in the Union TV studio, to Firth Hall, to moving five years ago to St Andrew's.

If you have a copy of "The Blue Book-The Joy of Christmas" please take that with you, otherwise the carols will be available on the day (and copies of the Blue Book will be available for purchase).