The way that urban spaces, such as social housing estates, are lit reinforce the increasing levels of inequality faced by cities, says a new report by the Configuring Light research programme, based at LSE.

An LSE expert on happiness and behaviour has launched a free online tool to help people who want to cut down on alcohol.

Professor Paul Dolan used insights from behavioural science to create the innovative and easy-to-use tool. It uses a simple brain-training exercise, known as a ‘cognitive bias modification’ (CBM), to reduce any unconscious preference people may have for alcoholic drinks over non-alcoholic ones.

To celebrate LSE Library’s 120th anniversary in 2016, Graham Camfield begins a new blog series exploring the history of the Library and its special collections - from its opening on Adelphi Terrace in 1896 up to the present day.

Catch up with the first two blogs in the series, which are out now:

• Making space for books and readers
• Sidney Webb the bibliographer

LSE LIFE, the school’s new centre for undergraduate and taught master’s students, will open its doors in September 2016.  You will be able to book places for talks and workshops around academic, personal, and professional development.  Alternatively, you can just drop in - on the ground floor of the Library - for some help with homework or essays, or simply come by with your questions about your studies, your job search, or what kinds of opportunities are available at the School.

Over the past couple of months, students have shared their experiences and observations with the LSE LIFE team to help shape what will be on offer.  Here are some of the key points that came up and how they can be built into LSE LIFE’s programme. 

Be registered to vote by 7 June
Remember if you have moved since you last voted or will change address by 23 June you should register again.

To register quickly have your National Insurance number ready
Don’t have your National Insurance number? Call 0300 200 3502 or visit gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number ASAP so it’s sent to you by 7 June.

Unsure if you’ll be at your home or term-time address?
You can register at both, but can only vote once in the referendum. Register at gov.uk/register-to-vote. Remember, it is an offence to vote twice.

On holiday, unsure where you will be or can’t get to your polling station on 23 June?
Once registered, apply for a postal vote by 5pm on 8 June. Or apply for a proxy vote by 5pm on 15 June.

This spring, we’re launching a fresh new look for lse.ac.uk. If you’re interested in getting a sneak preview of what the new website is going to be like, the Web Improvement Programme (WIP) team is running a 'show and tell' exhibition in the atrium/reception area of the New Academic Building today and tomorrow (Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 May).

The exhibition will feature the new page designs, previews of some of the new features available, and reveal the latest ideas for the School’s new homepage. Members of the WIP team will be on-hand between 12-3pm on both days to answer any questions you may have.

The LSE Volunteer Centre is leading the campaign for universities to stop promoting orphanage volunteering.

We’ve added a pledge to our website promising not to advertise such opportunities and we’ve set out why they can be so damaging. We’re also calling on other universities to add this pledge to their site and sign up to the central campaign with the Better Volunteering, Better Care Network.

Students and staff can make their voices heard by signing the petition calling on organisations to stop offering these trips.

David Coles, Volunteer Co-ordinator, discusses the campaing on the Today Programme on Radio 4 (1 hr 46m) and in the Sunday Telegraph.

The Language Centre has an enhanced programme of short but sweet Arabic, French, German, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Portuguese and Spanish courses available this Summer.

Courses run at various times throughout June - August and range from absolute beginner taster courses to more intensive options.

The LSE Behavioural Research Lab (BRL) is looking for dedicated participants to take part in world-class research.

You will be paid a minimum of £5 for a 30 minute study, or £10 for anything up to an hour. For some studies there may also be an extra incentive or prize draw. 

Participation is open to everyone over the age of 18, so please tell your friends about the BRL! 

To register as a participant visit: https://lsedom.sona-systems.com

Friday 10 June - 11:00-16:00

As some of you will know, LSE GROUPS has been running for six years now, providing undergraduates with a rare opportunity to spend two weeks at the end of Summer Term working in cross-disciplinary, cross-year groups on an original research project.

 
You are warmly invited to join us and your fellow students at the closing conference on 10 June, where the groups will be presenting their research – this year on the theme of ‘Poverty and Inequality in London’. We hope very much you will be able to join us, for any or all of the event. Please use the email address tlc.groups@lse.ac.uk to reserve your place (including a note of whether you will be able to join us for lunch) and to request any further information.

There’s now a new way to book and pay for tennis courts at Lincoln's Inn Fields - camden.gov.uk/active.

Online tennis bookings can now be made for up to five weeks in advance. During the transition to online bookings (until Monday 6 June) cash bookings at the huts for turn up and play customers will still be accepted, but not for advance bookings.  From 6 June, only online tennis bookings will be accepted.

Apple @ LSE

Since 2013, the number of Information Management and Technology (IMT)-managed Apple devices at LSE has grown by a factor of twelve, with over 1,100 Apple devices now in use (approx. 22 per cent of all desktops, laptops and mobile devices at LSE).

Providing you with dedicated Apple support is a priority for the Division as student surveys have consistently highlighted a desire for more Apple products on campus.

Over the last year, IMT has delivered a number of new facilities to support those wishing to use Apple for their studies. These include:

• 72 open access iRoam MacBooks available from two locations in the Library (1^st floor and PhD Academy). iRoam is fully self-service, with laptops available around the clock, seven days a week during term time.
• The PhD Academy features 42 of the MacBooks for use by PhD researchers only via the automated cabinets as well as a mobile unit that can be used as a roaming teaching lab.
• 20 iMacs configured with specialist research applications have been introduced on the Library lower ground floor.

IMT was also involved in the redevelopment of the IT Space in 20 Kingsway.



The collaborative project between IMT, the Estates Division and the Language Centre, saw the renovation of the IT room into a fresh and innovative area that features flexible furniture and brand new iMacs.

IMT will continue to develop the LSE Apple environment, working in partnership with students and staff. We are always keen to hear your feedback on how we can improve IT @ LSE, particularly around our Apple provision. If you would like to help us improve iRoam, visit: http://lseiroamfeedback.weebly.com/ or to give us your thoughts on other IT services, email imt.comms@lse.ac.uk.

LSE PUG Meetup: Data Mining with Python

The next LSE PUG meet up will take place on Wednesday 25 May between 6-8pm in 32L.LG.03. All welcome, light refreshments served. The session will feature demos on how to use Python for data mining. 

For more info, please see the LSE IT News Blog.

Wednesday 15 June, Parish Hall, Sheffield Street

LSE SADL is hosting the Summer 2016 London Digital Student Meet-Up (LDSM).

The LDSM is an informal opportunity for students in the London area, involved in Digital Literacy/Student Partnership projects to share ideas and discuss the benefits of such projects on their studies, as well as on their personal and professional lives. Come along to hear how other student projects are being approached, contribute and collaborate on ideas to inspire and to be inspired.

LDSM is open to all students and aims to provide a platform for student networking. Staff are welcome to attend, provided they are accompanying students from their institution. The event will include games and discussions, along with networking opportunities in a World Cafe format. Refreshments will be provided.

Tuesday 31 May, 5.30pm
LSE Library’s current exhibition Endless Endeavours tells the story of the 1866 women’s suffrage petition, which launched the organised campaign for the vote. Find out more about the stories behind the objects.

The exhibition is at the entrance to the Library. No booking required. Just turn up.

Stop Bombing Hospitals: Medecins Sans Frontieres and the protection of medical space 
Date: Tuesday 31 May 2016  6.30pm
Location: Old Theatre, Old Building
Speaker: Vickie Hawkins

Industrial Development – China and Africa 
Date: Wednesday 01 June 2016  6.30pm
Location: Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building
Speaker: Professor Chang-Tai Hsieh, Professor John Sutton

The UK and Europe: an insider's view 
Date: Thursday 02 June 2016  12.00pm
Location: Shaw Library, 6th Floor, Old Building
Speaker: Jonathan Faull

UN - to be fit for purpose 
Date: Thursday 02 June 2016  2.00pm
Location: Shaw Library, 6th floor, Old Building
Speaker: Igor Lukšić

Growth Challenges in Fragile States 
Date: Thursday 02 June 2016  6.30pm
Location: Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building
Speaker: Professor Sir Paul Collier, Professor Torsten Persson

The Future of Britain in Europe 
Date: Tuesday 07 June 2016  6.00pm
Speaker: Professor Iain Begg, Gordon Brown, Dr Sara Hagemann
Ticket release date: Tuesday 31 May

Rebuilding the Politics of Hope
Speaker: Jeremy Corbyn
Recorded: Tuesday 17 May, approx. 82 minutes

Politics Beyond "Interest": ethics, kinship and the collective self in Argentine labour unions
Speaker: Dr Sian Lazar
Recorded: Thursday 19 May, approx. 55 minutes

Surveillance and the Public Sphere: confronting a democratic dilemma
Speaker: Oscar H Gandy Jr
Recorded: Thursday 19 May, approx. 96 minutes