Recognising our resilience
Throughout the pandemic, staff across the University have demonstrated their commitment, perseverance and resilience to ensure that vital research continues, students are taught and supported and that we play a key role in Covid testing and vaccination efforts. Many staff were required to quickly adapt to working from home at the same time as colleagues ensured that essential in-person services continued during this difficult period.
We want to recognise this and celebrate our collective resilience throughout the pandemic so are asking staff to come together for Recognising our Resilience, 18 – 29 October.
Further information on opportunities for you to get involved can be found below:
The Recognising Our Resilience ‘Insight' Series
The Recognising Our Resilience Insight Series will bring together speakers from different areas of University life to reflect on key aspects of decision making, social support, community and education. The series of short events will allow University of Birmingham staff to hear from some of the key protagonists in each of those areas on how they navigated the pandemic and lockdowns.
Gratitude: who we are grateful to and what we are grateful for
UoB School students/staff and the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues providing thoughts on who and what students are grateful to and for over the past 18 months, bookended with a reflection on the importance of practising gratitude
22 October, 8:45 – 9:30
The marquee next to the Law building in Chancellor's Court (Edgbaston Campus)
Book your place
Social support during the Covid-19 pandemic
Thoughts from some of the many social support structures provided by colleagues during the pandemic, including Green Heart Runners and the 'We Are UoB' Facebook group
22 October, 11:30 – 12:30
The marquee next to the Law building in Chancellor's Court (Edgbaston Campus)
Book your place
Decision-making in a crisis: what did it take to keep the University running through Covid?
A panel discussion chaired by Mark Senior (Chief of Staff) featuring:
- Lee Sanders, Registrar and Secretary
- Prof. Kathy Armour, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education
- Dr. Emma Robinson, Academic Registrar
- Simon Bray, Director of Campus Services
10 November, 14:30 – 15:30
This event will be held online.
Book your place
Team Science: How Birmingham has delivered transformative outcomes throughout the Covid-19 pandemic
With speakers from across the University of Birmingham (UoB) and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) this series will explore how Birmingham has delivered transformative outcomes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with topics including test development, viral immunology and vaccination, public health, and a frontline clinician's experience.
Webinar 1: Wednesday 20 October, 2.30-4.00pm
- Frontline experience – Dr Greg Packer (Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Acute Internal Medicine, UHB)
- COVID-19 insights from the HDR-UK PIONEER hub – Professor Liz Sapey (Director of the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, UoB)
- Developing future testing strategies as the pandemic continues – Professor Andrew Beggs (Professor of Cancer Genetics and Surgery, UoB)
- A retrospective look at building the region and UK’s testing capabilities – Professor Alan McNally (Director of the Institute of Microbiology and Infection, UoB)
Book your place
Webinar 2: Date to be confirmed
- Antibody test development – Professor Alex Richter (Professor and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Immunology, UoB)
- Genomics – Professor Nick Loman (Professor of Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics, UoB)
- Viral immunology and vaccination – Professor Paul Moss (Deputy Head of College of Medical and Dental Sciences (UoB) and Lead of the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium)
Register for more information
The 'Reflection Area'
The reflection area is a space within the marquee open to all staff and designed for you to share your stories, chat with colleagues, or take a moment to reflect on your experiences throughout the pandemic.
Drop in from 11.30 – 12.30pm on any of the dates below to:
- hear from peers and reflect on your experiences
- share your story in our Book of Reflection
- add to our Wall of Thought
- join colleagues from areas including the Chaplaincy
Monday 18 October
Wednesday 20th – 21st October
Monday 25th – 29th October
The marquee next to the Law building in Chancellor's Court (Edgbaston Campus). No booking necessary.
If you are unable to get to the marquee, you are welcome to share your story and we’ll add this to the ‘Book of Reflection’.
What's your Covid story?