Stranded academics rescued by technology

PA 97/10 Academics left stranded by ongoing travel delays have been rescued by teaching and learning technologies at The University of Nottingham. Despite the resumption of flights following the volcanic eruption in Iceland, backlogs and delays mean many academics have been unable to fly. Professor Fiona Broughton-Pipkin, an expert in obstetrics and gynaecology based at City Hospital, was due to lead an important research conference in Chile, until her flight was cancelled because of the ash cloud. "I was due to give the lead lecture in Santiago, around which there was to have been a full day research meeting. I was very concerned to learn I couldn't travel, since I knew that it would disrupt the work of colleagues at the conference." Professor Broughton-Pipkin was helped by the University's learning team to use an Interactive Teaching Room (ITR) to capture her lecture and deliver it to the conference on time. ITRs automatically record lectures in audio and video, and make them available online, helping students to revise and prepare for exams. There are five Interactive Teaching Rooms across the University's campuses.