Daily Archives: Friday December 8th, 2017

#Wetoo-NOT!

How is the situation regarding sexual harassment at our department?

Our very own university rector was very bold stating to the press “no he did not know any such incidents”, but soon had to correct and confirm that this issue had led to the termination of a UiB professorship, and that ten other cases were registered.

Not surprising. What characterizes an environment with increased risk of sexual harassment: gender inequality and power imbalance, as well as temporary working conditions. Anyone who recognizes this? Male Professors / Leaders / Teachers and Female Fellows / Subordinates / Students, adding a significant age difference between groups; this is us!

Sadly, we are in “good” company: search for university and sexual harassment, and there are several reports from universities in both Europe and the United States. The Guardian characterized this as “at epidemic levels” in March 2017.

What is considered sexual harassment? In general, harassment is defined as repeated unwanted actions over time, or a single serious act. Sexual harassment can range from sexual commentaries / whistling or “pawing” to sexual advances / suggestions to psychologic / physical pressure to achieve sexual “favors”. In an asymmetric working relationship, where a subordinate is dependent specifically on the superior (such as a mentor), she is vulnerable. As a general, a superior has a special responsibility to “keep his path clean”, but as colleagues, we also have a responsibility to speak out if witnessing unwanted behavior! Every one of us should contribute to a culture where harassing comments / actions are not accepted.

What to do if unwanted situations occur? Report! – primarily to your nearest leader, but if this is difficult, please contact a different superior or the formal human safety representative (“verneombud”) for formal inquiries, alternatively the union representative or the corporate health service for more informal advice / assistance. The University’s staff manual provides the following advice in case of harassment: make your own notes of what happened, time and place, and how you reacted. From 1.1.2018, students will have a specific report service at UiB: “Sifra”.

Even though we tend to find the difficulties and possible negative aspects of the now implemented regulations limiting temporary employments, such job protection will help shift the asymmetry / power imbalance in working conditions in the right direction. If this reduces the risk of sexual harassment, it must be regarded as an added benefit.

Jone

Project proposals for the Medical Student Research Programme

The Medical Student Research Programme at the Faculty of Medicine seeks research projects and supervisors for students who started studying medicine in 2017.

The Faculty is currently recruiting students from this group to the research programme, starting in the autumn of 2018, and you can now submit project proposals using the template found here (in Norwegian).

Deadline for submission: 10 January 2018.

Please send project proposals by email to Marianne Stien.

More information can be found here (in Norwegian).

Guest speaker | Professor Tim J. Cole | 11 December

Professor Tim J. Cole

We have the pleasure hosting Professor Tim J. Cole, Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK. He will present the lecture “Growth charts and growth models for paediatrics and epidemiology”.

Time: Monday 11 December, at. 15:30–16:30.
Venue: BUS1, ground floor, the main auditorium.

Looking forward to seeing you at the lecture!

Kind regards, Pétur B. Júlíusson

 

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Midwayevaluations week 50

Ragnhild Haugse
Time: 13.12.2017, 10.00–11.00
Place: The Laboratory building 8th Floor, room 8.1/8.2
For more information (only in Norwegian)

Hilde Halland
Time: 13.12.2017, 11.00–12.00
Place: The Laboratory building 8th Floor, room 8.1/8.2
For more information (only in Norwegian)

Libin Shi
Time: 13.12.2017, 13.00–14.00
Place: The Laboratory building 8th Floor, room 8.1/8.2
For more information (only in Norwegian)

Dag Harald Skutlaberg
Time: 13.12.2017, 14.00–15.00
Place: The Laboratory building 8th Floor, room 8.1/8.2
For more information (only in Norwegian)

Jannicke Slettli Wathne
Time: 13.12.2017, 15.00–16.00
Place: The Laboratory building 8th Floor, room 8.1/8.2
For more information (only in Norwegian)

New publications

Here are recent publications with contributions from K2 based on last week’s search on PubMed (and optionally articles that have not been included in previous lists). This time the list includes in total 17 recent publications. The entries appear in the order they were received from NCBI. If you have publications that are not included in this or previous lists, please send the references to Johnny Laupsa-Borge.

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