Society of Oxford University Engineers

August 2013: Jenkin Day 2013 Invitation

SOUE Jenkin Meeting, Saturday 21 September 2013

The Jenkin Lecture, as previously announced, will be on Saturday 21 September 2013, at 2.30 pm, entitled:

Weather and climate prediction: science and application across timescales

by Dr Andy Brown of the Meteorological Office

Synopsis: Dramatic improvements have been made in the quality of weather and climate predictions over the last two decades. For example, three day weather forecasts are now as accurate as one day forecasts were twenty years ago. Complex numerical models are at the heart of the prediction systems. This talk will focus on the science behind these models and the commonalities and differences between the challenges faced for weather and climate prediction. The wide and increasing range of applications for weather and climate intelligence will also be discussed.

Timetable

(Click here to view or print the reply slip; please reply by 16 September)

SOUE News

The latest issue, number 11, is now on the Society's website, www.soue.org.uk.

Proposed change in SOUE's Constitution

The University's relationship with its alumni has changed since the Society was founded in 1988. All colleges and many departments now maintain relationships with their alumni through their own administrative organisations, rather than through an independent body such as the SOUE has hitherto been.

Many colleges regard all their alumni as belonging to a "college society", whose committee and officers are drawn partly from their alumni and partly from the college itself, though the society is based in and run from the college. This seems a useful model to follow.

It is therefore proposed to amend the constitution to:

1. include all alumni automatically as Full Members, and all students as Associate Members;
2. abolish entry subscriptions (the committee has already done this, as it is entitled to do by the present constitution);
3. rely on e-mail for all communication with our members, since posting things to an increased number of them would be impossibly expensive;
4. make some other minor amendments, including a reduction in the period of committee service from six years to three.

A revised constitution has been drafted by the committee, but still needs some refinement. The version to be put to the AGM will be posted on our website in advance, and paper copies distributed at the meeting.

Society of Oxford University Engineers, Annual General Meeting, 2013

In the Department of Engineering Science, Lecture Room 1, on 21 September 2013, 12 Noon

Agenda

1. Minutes of last year's meeting (appended).
2. Head of Department's Report.
3. Secretary's Report.
4. Accounts and Treasurer's Report.
5. Revision of the Constitution (see note above).
6. Election of Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary.
   Clark Brundin and Simon Turner have indicated that they are willing to stand for further terms as Treasurer and Membership Secretary respectively, and are proposed by the Committee.
7. Election of three committee members.
   The Committee proposes the election of Adam Cary, Douglas Craig and Lynsey Thomas as full members. They are currently co-opted members.
8. Any other business.

Minutes of the SOUE Annual General Meeting, 15 September 2012