University of Manchester

The University of Manchester in Manchester, England is a university that was formed from the merger of the Victoria University of Manchester (commonly known as the University of Manchester before the merger) and UMIST (University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology) on 1 October 2004. The university was officially launched on 22 October 2004 when Her Majesty the Queen handed over the Royal Charter.

Campus and Facilities

The Main Campus of the University consists of two parts. The northern part, the former UMIST campus, is near Sackville Street, and the southern part, which was mainly the campus of the Victoria University of Manchester, in the vicinity of Oxford Road. In addition there are a number of further university buildings located throughout the city, and throughout the further region (such as Jodrell Bank Observatory and Tabley House, a stately home, both of which are in the nearby county of Cheshire).

Related Topics:
Jodrell Bank Observatory - Tabley House - County - Cheshire

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The university has adopted a policy of moving almost entirely to the Oxford Road site, with new buildings being constructed to accommodate staff and students from UMIST departments. It is not yet clear what will happen to the old UMIST sites, though there has been speculation that the BBC may occupy some of the space as it begins to implement recommendations of a review in 2004 which included the relocation of some key services from London to Manchester.

Related Topics:
BBC - A review in 2004

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John Rylands Library

The University's library, John Rylands University Library of Manchester is the largest non-legal deposit library in the UK, and the country's third-largest academic library after those of Oxford and Cambridge.

Related Topics:
John Rylands University Library of Manchester - Legal deposit - Oxford - Cambridge

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Of particular note is the John Rylands Library itself, founded in memory of John Rylands by his wife Enriqueta Augustina Rylands, situated in a very fine Victorian Gothic building. This site, on Deansgate in Manchester city centre houses an important collection of historic books and manuscripts, including the oldest extant New Testament document, Rylands Library Papyrus P52, the so-called St John's fragment. The Deansgate site is currently closed for major improvements and renovations, including the construction of the pitched roof originally intended.

Related Topics:
John Rylands Library - John Rylands - Enriqueta Augustina Rylands - Victorian Gothic - Deansgate - Manchester - New Testament - Rylands Library Papyrus P52

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Jodrell Bank

Jodrell Bank is the University's observatory, situated near Macclesfield. It has played an important role in the research of quasars and pulsars. In 1979, scientists at Jodrell Bank announced the first detection of a gravitational lens, which confirmed one of Einstein's theories.

Related Topics:
Jodrell Bank - Macclesfield - Quasar - Pulsar - 1979 - Gravitational lens - Einstein's

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Whitworth Art Gallery

Whitworth Art Gallery is home to internationally famous collections of British watercolours, textiles and wallpapers, as well as a range of modern and historic prints, drawings, paintings and sculpture. A programme of temporary exhibitions runs throughout the year, with the Mezzanine Court serving as a venue for showing sculpture.

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Old Quadrangle

The buildings around the old quadrangle date from the time of Owens College, and were designed in a Gothic style by Alfred Waterhouse (and his son Paul Waterhouse). Today, the museum continues to occupy one side (including the tower) and the grand setting of Whitworth Hall is used for the conferment of degrees. The old Christie Library now houses Christie's Bistro, and the remainder of the buildings are used by administrative departments.

Related Topics:
Gothic - Alfred Waterhouse - Paul Waterhouse - The museum

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Manchester Museum

Manchester Museum provides access to about six million items from every continent of the globe. Butterflies and carvings from India; birds and bark-cloth from the Pacific; live frogs and ancient pottery from America; fossils and native art from Australia; mammals and ancient Egyptian craftsmanship from Africa; plants, coins and minerals from Europe; art from past civilisations of the Mediterranean; and beetles, armour and archery from Asia. The museum recently acquired a fossilised Tyrannosaurus rex called "Stan", which was unveiled on 4 November 2004.

Related Topics:
Manchester Museum - Tyrannosaurus rex - 4 November - 2004

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Contact Theatre

The University's Contact Theatre stages largely modern live performance and participatory work for younger audiences. It is housed in an interesting fortress-style building on the Oxford Road, with a unique energy-efficient system, using its high towers. The colourful and curvaceous interior houses three performance spaces, the Deluxe lounge bar and Hot Air, a reactive public artwork in the foyer space.

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University of Manchester Students Union

The University of Manchester Students' Union represents many students in Manchester, including those from the former UMIST. There are now two Union buildings - the Steve Biko building inherited from the Victoria University of Manchester, and the Barnes Wallace building from UMIST. Manchester Academy, its own music venue, hosts top quality bands most nights of the week. The student newspaper is called Student Direct. The radio station, Fuse FM, broadcasts twice-yearly and also over the internet.

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NHS Hospitals

The university's Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences has stong links with a large number of NHS hospitals in the north west of england and maintains presences in its four base hospitals. The base hospitals are Manchester Royal Infirmary (located at one end of the main university campus on Oxford Road) and Wythenshaw Hospitals, Salford's Hope Hospital and the Royal Preston Hospital and all are used as hospital's for clinical medical training for doctors and nurses.

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Fallowfield Residential Campus

The Fallowfield Campus, situated 2 miles south of the main university campus, is the largest of the university's residential campuses. The Owens Park tower lies at the centre of it.

Related Topics:
Fallowfield Campus - Owens Park

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