As part of some collaborative work with Dolby labs in America, the University of Salford is trying to improve the clarity of speech on the TV.

Many hearing impaired listeners find it difficult to understand what is being said by people on the television - particularly in the presence of background noise or music.

The researchers' goal is to make things better and clearer. We are looking for a panel of hearing impaired volunteers to take part in a test which lasts about 1 hour 30 mins.

The test involves watching some clips from the TV and rating how clear the speech is in each clip. Travel expenses of £15 can be provided for each participant.

If you are interested in taking part, please contact Rob Oldfield by email:
r.g.oldfield@pgr.salford.ac.uk or tel: 0161 2954669 by 26 March.

A masterclass for budding journalists, hosted by the Guardian, will be held at the University on Wednesday, 10 March 2010.

Experts from the national newspaper will visit the School of Media, Music & Performance to discuss the finer points of journalism with students - and offer them the chance of a lifetime.

The event is part of the Guardian's International Development Journalism Competition 2010 (www.guardian.co.uk/journalismcompetition). It will include accounts of journalistic issues from experienced writers and offer valuable advice on how to write stories that people want to read.

A main aim of the masterclass is to encourage our student journalists to enter this year's competition. If shortlisted, they have the chance to be one of the 16 finalists taken out on an assignment to Africa or Asia to write a special feature that will be published in a special Guardian supplement later this year.

The guest speakers will include Natalie Bennett, editor, Guardian Weekly; Sue George, editor, the Guardian International Development Journalism Competition, and Luke Tredget, an amateur finalist from last year's competition.

The Guardian masterclass will take place at 1.30pm in the Adelphi House lecture theatre, University of Salford.

Next week, an exhibition at the University of Salford is set give people the chance to see computer design come off the screen and into reality, by being turned into sculptures by an artist.

Peter Mountain creates 3D images using computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacture (CAM) and, during the course of his exhibition at the University's Chapman Gallery (8-26 March), will turn these designs into objects using natural materials.

Constructed from white plastic, and composed of multiple layers of interlocking sheets, the sculptures initially appear as unfinished skeletal forms. The artist intends to counteract the sterile, impersonal nature of the plastic during the course of the exhibition, enriching each piece through the application, by hand, of natural materials.

Peter became artist in residence at the University's Centre for Virtual Environments in 2006, utilising technology not usually associated with the arts. This included advanced scanning equipment, 3D design software, computer numerically controlled (CNC) industrial cutting equipment and digital 3D projection systems.

The exhibition is being run by the University's Arts Unit which puts on exhibitions, performance, live literature and music for the public.

Runs 8 - 26 March 2010
Late Opening 16 March, 6 - 8pm

Chapman Gallery, University of Salford, M5 4WT
Open weekdays 10am - 4pm
Admission is FREE

To receive the weekly events e-newsletter from the University of Salford, please email 'events' to press-office@salford.ac.uk

Throughout the exhibtion Peter will be updating his blog, and you can find out more about his work on his website.

It was announced this week that the 39th Two Cities Boat Race, the annual rowing regatta between the Universities of Manchester and Salford, will take place on Saturday 8 May.

The rowers are now in full training for this year's event, combining rigorous land training, weight training and regular water sessions.

The crews will compete along the traditional River Irwell course, starting at Sam Platt's Pub and finishing at the Lowry Bridge at Salford Quays.

Money raised throughout the event will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support. Laura Bailey, Fundraising Manager for Greater Manchester said: "Macmillan Cancer Support is thrilled to be the chosen charity partner for this year's Two Cities Boat Race.

"Macmillan improves the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support and pushing for better cancer care. We rely on voluntary donations for our income and so without the generosity of others we simply couldn't do what we do.

"We hope the Two Cities Boat Race will be a fantastic fundraising opportunity and the money raised will help us support people living with cancer. We wish both University teams the best of luck on the day!"

The Two Cities Boat Race is considered a key event in the region's sporting and social calendar and hundreds of spectators are expected to line the quays to watch the spirited spectacle.

It is an exciting day out for all, starting with dragon boat racing in the morning, followed by the student rowing regatta and an awards ceremony will conclude the day. Quayside entertainment and food and drink will be available throughout.

Admission is free. For more information on the Race, visit the website.

More photos from the launch event can be seen on our Flickr page

To receive the weekly events e-newsletter from the University of Salford, please email 'events' to press-office@salford.ac.uk

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS STUDY IS NOW FULL.

The University of Salford's Acoustics Research Centre is seeking volunteers for a study into the effect of low frequency outdoor noises.

The study will involve testing each volunteer's hearing sensitivity at low frequencies, and comparing how different types of outdoor noises would affect them if they were heard at home.

Volunteers will take part in three one-hour sessions and the sounds will not be played at harmful levels.

Eligible volunteers will be paid £10 an hour for each session.

People who are over 18 years old and have normal or corrected hearing are asked to apply. Applicants will be asked some questions for screening purposes.

For more information or to apply contact Andrew King by emailing a.king@pgr.salford.ac.uk or call 0161 295 4669.

The University of Salford has signed a two year partnership agreement with Guinness Premiership rugby union team Sale Sharks - providing the team with access to Salford's state-of-the-art fitness labs.

The partnership features a number of opportunities which will help both organisations to benefit from each other's expertise.

The Sharks players and coaches will be able to use the University's multi-million pound facilities which include a strength and conditioning room, podiatry clinic and physiotherapy areas.

They also include human performance labs which feature the latest technology to assess fitness. Experts can study running and movement and suggest more effective ways for the players to gain more speed and agility and help reduce injuries.

Assisting the University's sports scientists will be students gaining invaluable experience of working with professional sportsmen. Furthermore, students from a range of courses such as physiotherapy, sports medicine, and even events management will be offered the opportunity to undertake placements at Sale Sharks.

Students will also be able to undertake voluntary work in the Sharks community programmes and coaches will provide sessions for the student rugby team.

The University, which also goes out into local schools and colleges to encourage young people to think about a future in higher education will be able to take star players along on visits during the course of the year. The visits are also used as an opportunity to promote the benefits of physical activity to young people.

In addition, two of the Sharks' medical staff, Doug Jones and Nicola Cahill, will undertake PhD programmes to be at the forefront of the latest developments designed to prevent injuries and return players to fitness after treatment.

Head of the School of Health, Sports & Rehabilitation Sciences, Sue Braid welcomed the new partnership. She said: "Alongside our existing partnerships with Salford City Reds and Lancashire County Cricket Club, this new deal offers our students unrivalled opportunities to gain experience and also helps one of Greater Manchester's top sports teams to benefit from our expertise and facilities."

Dr Dave Jones Sale Sharks' head of medical said: "The University has expertise across a whole range of sports science and medicine. From a club point of view we are expecting to see significant benefits in terms of injury prevention and rehabilitation. The inclusion of two of our staff, Doug Jones and Nicola Cahill on PhD courses reflects our interest in research to improve the evidence base to support our day to day work."

Saturday (27 February) is the last day you can see the eerie Changelings, an exhibition of macabre puppets by Teresa Wilson, resident artist at the University's Chapman Gallery.

The striking puppets, made from old rags and re-used materials, explore the theme of the 'changeling' - traditionally defined as a faerie child substituted for a human child.

Teresa, who graduated from the Visual Arts degree at Salford in 2008 and is currently an Artists Access to Arts Colleges (AA2A) artist at Salford, said: "I began making the human puppets as a means to re-enact real and imagined emotional traumas.

"The puppets invite pity in the viewer and the desire to reach out to the damaged little people. The strange 'otherworld' they inhabit, however, appears both inviting and sinister - a metaphor for our own uncertainties about death."

The free exhibition is open daily from 10am-4pm until Saturday, 27 February.

Changelings is part of a wide range of Arts Unit campus events open to the local community. They include exhibitions, performances, live literature and music by Salford staff, students and visiting professionals.