Computing at School

Conference for Teachers 2009

University of Birmingham, 19 June 2009

Local arrangements

Venue

The conference is hosted by the School of Computer Science of the University of Birmingham. The conference starts with registration and coffee at 9:00am in the atrium of the Computer Science Building (marked Y9 in the yellow zone on the campus map). You may also find the sketch of the three venues we'll be using helpful (a copy will be in the conference pack).

Talks

Talks and workshops take place in lecture rooms close to the Computer Science building. See here for a schedule with room assignments (though some last-minute changes may become necessary). Descriptions of the various workshops are available, as well as the discussion groups.

Breaks

Refreshments during coffee breaks will be offered in the atrium of the Computer Science building. For lunch we will use the University's facilities in the Noble Room of Staff House - a short walk from the department. Expect to spend about £5 for your meal.

Directions - if you travel on the 19th

By rail: The Computer Science building is 150m from the "University" railway station: Turn left as you leave the station and you will see the department behind a large (sitting) figure.
By car: Note that the visitor car parks are off campus (though within easy walking distance from the department). The most convenient for you is the "South Car Park" off Edgbaston Park Road. Set your SatNav to "B152TT" or to "Barber Institute" to get there but I recommend that you familiarise with the campus map as well. It costs £1 to park your car all day. It shouldn't happen but if you find the South Car Park full then I suggest you carry on to the "North Car Park", off Pritchatts Road. To get there, continue on Edgbaston Park Road past the East Gate of the University and turn left into Pritchatts Road.
If you need to drive onto the campus then contact the local organisers so a permit can be arranged for you.
General instructions for reaching the University by rail, bus, or car are available on this page.

If you need accommodation

Most participants stay at the ETAP Hotel. Contact them at 0121 622 7575 (fax 7576) to reserve a room, or use their online site. You can expect to pay around £41 for B&B.

Directions to the ETAP Hotel

By rail: Travel to Birmingham New Street from where you have the choice of walking or taking a taxi to the hotel.
By car: See the hotel's location map. Note that you have to travel north on the A38 in order to turn into Great Colmore Street. There is ample parking space behind the hotel.
A map of the area surrounding the ETAP Hotel.

Directions from the ETAP Hotel to the University

By bus: Leave the hotel and cross Bristol Road (the big dual carriageway) via the underpass. Turn right on the other side and walk along Bristol Road until you reach the next bus stop. The numbers 61, 62 and 63 are all equally useful. Take any of these and stay on the bus for about 15 mins until you reach a pub on the right, called the Gunbarrel Pub. Next you pass a gate which leads to the University on your right hand side and shortly afterwards a Tesco Express combined with a petrol station. Leave the bus at the next bus stop after the petrol station, which is called Dawlish Road. Cross Bristol Road (at the traffic lights, about 50m behind you), turn left along Bristol Road and turn into Grange Road after about 20m. Follow this street into the University campus via the Grange Road gate. A map which highlights this route (and the onwards walk towards the department) is available here.
By car: Note that you have to go north when you join Bristol Road from Great Colmore Street, so drive to the next roundabout to turn around and go south towards the University.
On foot: Don't - it's too far.

Reception on the evening of the 18th

If you are in Birmingham on the 18th then you are invited to join us for an informal gathering in a local pub, The Green Room, from 7 to 10pm. One of us will be at the ETAP Hotel at 6:30pm and we'll walk from there to the Green Room. If you are late then here are the instructions: Leave the hotel and cross the Bristol Road via the pedestrian tunnel, turn left along Bristol Road (towards the City Centre) and take a right turn after about 150m into Essex Street and then after a few metres left into Inge Street. You are now walking directly towards The Green Room.

Internet access (if you must)

During registration we'll distribute guest logins that you can use on departmental machines and also to connect to the campus wireless network.

The local organisers

Justine James: 0121 414 2791, j.james@cs.bham.ac.uk
Achim Jung: 0121 414 4776, a.jung@cs.bham.ac.uk