Oddly specific

The University of York are arranging two York Researchers' Nights, one in September 2014 and one in September 2015. The idea is that on a Friday night, researchers will organise events in the centre of York.

I'm not sure that this is a terrific plan, as whenever I've been in York on a Friday night, discussions about philosophy or physics seem to be the last things on the minds of those who are out and about. There may be philosophical implications of their conversations, in the way that alcohol does tend to induce puzzlement at the meaning and purpose of one's existence. There may be issues of physics to be considered, in the trajectory of objects thrown through the air. But I'm not sure this is the time and place to discuss them.

That is not the concern of this post, however. No, this is about something more trivial. They are advertising for a York Researchers' Night Co-ordinator to help with organising the events. What interested me was this additional duty that will form part of the job.

0.2% of the role is supporting the York Festival of Ideas. Over a 13-month, full-time contract, I reckon that's about 4 hours, or one afternoon. Either that afternoon is so important that it needs a specific mention in the advert, or somebody should suggest organising a short seminar from the maths department. (Although perhaps not on a Friday night.)