- An unlikely bunch of larger-than-life characters have come together to save the Earth from destruction. No, its not the plot for the new Marvel superheroes blockbuster but a task force put together by Lord Rees of Ludlow, the Astronomer Royal, to conduct research into what to do in the event of disasters that threaten the entire human race, The Independent reported on 13 September. Presently a loose coalition of scholars, the Cambridge Centre for the Study of Existential Risk hopes to announce major funding and more research into various doomsday scenarios. Despite a distinct lack of special powers, Lord Rees team is stellar, with fellow cosmologist Stephen Hawking, Huw Price (Bertrand Russell professor of philosophy at the University of Cambridge) and Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn on board. Among the low probability but catastrophic disasters under consideration are bioterrorist attacks, food shortages and fast-moving pandemics. There is no word yet on Hollywoods favourite plot: alien invasion.
- Almost 瞿18,000 was spent on a farewell party for former University College London provost Sir Malcolm Grant, London Student reported on 16September. About 瞿2,000 went on 880 bottles of sparkling wine for the send-off on 19June, although pictures suggest the bottles far outnumbered the guests, the paper observed. Another 瞿260 was spent on 200 moustache-shaped cookies in honour of Sir Malcolms famous facial hair, with the overall biscuit spend totalling 瞿563, according to figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request. The Abba tribute band Bj繹rn Again was paid 瞿8,225 to entertain guests (though a private donor contributed 瞿3,500). UCL students union officer Hannah Webb called the expenditure ludicrous, especially when cleaners are still not being paid aliving wage. UCL said that all staff were invited to the event and that spending on food and drink equated to less than 瞿5 ahead.
- Queens University Belfast has waived a fine of more than 瞿8,500 after a professor returned alibrary book that was 47 years overdue, The Independent reported on 16 September. John Jack Foster, emeritus professor at Queens Institute of Irish Studies, found the book by Victorian poet Arthur Hugh Clough when he returned to Vancouver to clear out his locker at the University of British Columbia, where he had been teaching for several years. With a due date stamp of 11October 1966 and charges of 50p per day, the Queens alumnus was pleased that the university agreed to write off the 瞿8,577.50 fine. Isuppose the moral of the story if you discover an overdue book is make sure its really, really overdue before you think about returning it, Professor Foster said.
- A postgraduate at the University of Lagos has claimed that his observations of magnets provide proof that homosexuality is unnatural. In a lengthy interview with Nigerias This Day Live website, chemical engineering student Chibuihem Amalaha said he made the scientific breakthrough after noticing that poles of magnets repel those of the same type. It means that man cannot attract another man because they are the same吋hat is how I used physics to prove gay marriage [is] wrong, he said. Mr Amalaha then turned to biology to confirm his theory. Cockerels tend to mate with hens, not other roosters, he noted, so QED. His work has apparently been lauded by his supervisors; he says they have told him that he may one day win a Nobel prize. Such claims and their uncritical and uninformed reporting are likely to add to the ignorance and prejudice surrounding homosexuality inNigeria, Luiz DeBarros, of South African LGBT website Mambaonline, told 捩勳紳域泭捧梗滄莽 on 16 September.
- The University of South Wales has been criticised for filming a promotional video over the border in Somerset, The Daily Telegraph reported on 17 September. In the 90-second film, actor Ioan Gruffudd, star of Fantastic Four and King Arthur, gives a speech as he strides across the Mendip Hills, rather than the Brecon Beacons near to USWs Treforest campus, the paper said. It seems odd the university would choose a well-known Welsh actor to front their ad campaign but made it in England, said Lindsay Whittle, a Plaid Cymru Welsh Assembly member. A university spokesman said filming had taken place in Somerset to avoid typically Welsh rainy weather.
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