Dear all,

Welcome back after the all too short and wet summer holidays. Lots of changes this coming year, some of which you are all aware of and some of which may come more as a surprise to people, including a record-breaking 46 new students (which surprised me at least).

One important change effective soon is that the much discussed new course "Practical teaching for biochemists" (4op) will almost certainly start this year (see attached pdf for more details).

No timetable details confirmed yet, but Jari was careful when drawing up the 3rd year timetable to ensure that there would be no clashes with the required teaching on the Biomolecules practical classes. There will be teaching on the biomolecules practicals, 2 sessions of teaching on English for Biochemists I before Xmas (and 2 after), along with some pre-teaching sessions with myself, Jolene and Eva and pedagogical training from Asko Karalainen (we are aiming for a full day session on Friday 3rd October as the initial date, but this may well change).

This still needs to go through departmental council and to get assigned a (biochemistry department) code and hence it will not appear on web oodi until very late.

To do the planning we need to know student numbers by the start of week 39 (22nd September). If you want to do the course please email me as soon as possible and before that date. Places are limited to a maximum of 12 participants. Please only sign up with me if you will be doing the course i.e. do not email to tentatively hold a place that maybe, perhaps, there is a slight chance you will want to do it.

I will see all of you over the next week or so.

Very best wishes,

Lloyd