Understanding Landscape and The Architect 24 Disease 26 the City 28 of SPIN Our drive for enhanced New approaches to Neil Rackham shares patient care and green spaces transform his expertise with our diagnosis. Sheffi eld. students.

You r UniversityALUMNI MAGAZINE • 2017/2018

A PERFECT DAY GRADUATION IS A TIME OF CELEBRATION Contents Welcome FEATURES 24 26 The greatest pleasure of my job is to meet our alumni. You are such a diverse group of people, covering 04 Rooted in Sheffield, this REGULARS a significant range of nationalities, backgrounds, is a Global University careers and ages – as well as subjects studied. But all The President & Vice-Chancellor 28 06 University News with the common bond of the University of Sheffield. reflects on our international A highlight of 2017 has been my conversations with community of scholarship 12 Research in the News Sir Alan Dawtry CBE, TD (LLB Law 1937, Hon LLD 2007), who reached the magnificent age of 102 earlier 18 Talking Migration 16 My Sheffield: this year, during which I learnt of his mother’s Understanding the reasons The Rt Hon the Lord Blunkett connection to the University, or rather to University behind international migration College, Sheffield, the precursor of the University. 33 Alumni Board Kate Kevan trained to be a teacher at the very end 21 The People’s Choice of the 19th century, achieving a certificate in May Foodhall tackles food poverty, 34 Dates for Your Diary 1900. We have included a photograph of her in this food waste and social isolation 26 Landscape and the City magazine (see page 44). How do you ‘do’ urban green 36 In Profile Established in 1897, and created from the Medical 22 A Perfect Day space effectively? School, Firth College and the Sheffield Technical Graduation celebrates our 39 Your Notes and News School, University College was co-educational from graduands’ hard work and 28 The Architect of SPIN the first across much of its provision. The Medical I am sometimes criticised for my many references dedication Meet Neil Rackham, a leading 45 Honours and Awards School caught up with the granting of the Royal to people and events from the University’s past. expert on sales techniques Charter of the University of Sheffield in 1905, which However, I will always defend this interest as the 24 Understanding Disease: 46 A Legacy with Impact stated that, “It is a fundamental requirement of the outstanding success of today’s University is built the next leap forward 30 Keeping it in the Family University to promote equal opportunities.” The first on many decades of excellence and, above all, the Introducing the Exploring multi-generational 47 Alumni Benefits and congregation to award Sheffield degrees took place contributions of our alumni. Yes, I have a great SheffieldScanner campaign families of alumni Services on 2 July 1908, and recipients included 10 women, admiration for the achievements of the past, but almost 40 years before Cambridge followed suit. I also have a great excitement for the present and Prominent Sheffield alumnae from subsequent what the future holds. Within the following pages, years include Amy Johnson (BA Latin, French and you will find references to our latest Nobel laureate, A note from your editor Economics 1925), who also attended engineering Professor Sir J Fraser Stoddart, a former member of Read Your University online! lectures here, and famously went on to become an Chemistry staff, and our drive to fundraise for an It has been a in Chemistry (page 11); and we Your alumni outstanding pilot, flying her De Havilland Gipsy MRI/PET scanner, the latest imaging technology that pleasure to edit launched our major campaign magazine is also Moth solo to Australia in 1930. In recent months, we will give our researchers and clinicians unrivalled the 2017/18 to fundraise for an MRI/PET available online, have been celebrating her achievements on campus insight into the workings of the human body. edition of Your scanner, a game changer complete with as part of the national Amy Johnson Festival. One I encourage you to find out more about the University in the field of medical imaging exclusive videos. focus has been A Moth for Amy, an artist-decorated University by joining us at our reunion events. There following what (page 24). If you would prefer giant moth located in the Diamond building, which is much to be proud of – please share the good news has been a not to receive the print edition has been of great interest to current students. with your friends, family and colleagues. Rather than challenging but exciting year. I hope you enjoy the magazine. please email alumni@sheffield. By a strange coincidence, Kate Kevan also has a trying to recall a hazy memory, come back and find Students voted us the number Thank you for reading. ac.uk with the subject: Your connection to the Diamond. It is built on the site of out what’s happening now and add currency to your one Russell Group University University Online, and include St George’s Terrace, opposite St George’s Church, own degree. Our alumni are, and have always been, in the Times Higher Education details of your preferred email where she lived during her time at University College. our greatest advocates and ambassadors. Student Experience Survey address. We will email you when A dramatic addition to the University landscape, the 2017. Our Students’ Union was next year’s edition is available. Diamond was officially opened by Dr Helen Sharman also voted best in the UK for In the meantime, you can see OBE (BSc Chemistry 1984, Hon DSc 2017) during the ninth consecutive year this year’s magazine at: graduation week this summer. Another pioneering Sarah Hopkins (page 6); a former member (BA English Language with www.shef.ac.uk/youruniversity alumna, this time into space as the first British of staff Professor Sir J Fraser Linguistics 2003) astronaut in 1991. Miles Stevenson, Director of Advancement Stoddart received a Nobel Prize Alumni Communications Manager

2 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 3 Comment

have undertaken collaborative research because we are international. I have to address shared challenges in medicine, been grateful for the support of Sheffield Rooted in Sheffield, energy and food security. There are over graduates of all ages in the UK and around 2,300 Sheffield graduates in India, and I the world for the role our University has this is a Global University enjoyed meaningful discussions with a played in leading advocacy in support of number of them. The issues they face – our international universities, inspired to from affordable healthcare to sustainable speak by the teachers and fellow students President & Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Keith Burnett FRS reflects energy – are the very same challenges who shaped your time in Sheffield. I can on the value of a united community of global scholarship. which confront our graduates from London assure you we will continue to do so. The to Shanghai to Rio. diverse and cosmopolitan character of I found the same in China when I visited the University of Sheffield enhances not am proud to say that the University about the future are challenging the way President Shanghai and Nanjing to develop existing only the city and the region, but also has of Sheffield, during a period of we see ourselves and others. & Vice- collaborations and meet our Chinese influence far further afield. n Chancellor enormous change and challenge for This is the world in which our students partners in our award-winning Confucius Professor the UK and higher education, is an will make their futures, begin their Sir Keith Institute – twice named a Global Confucius Iactive national and global advocate for the careers, create homes, start families and Burnett. Institute of the Year. The UK and China #WeAreInternational values of learning and our international try to make a difference. On graduation also have much to gain from long-term The campaign, co-founded by the President & Vice- community of scholarship. day, young people from around the world partnerships, and we are now working Chancellor and Abdi-Aziz Suleiman (BA Philosophy 2014), We are international to our core. Our join the generation that is addressing together in ways which create opportunity former President of the Students’ Union, now has more work to strengthen society, to create a climate change, international conflict, food and prosperity in both nations. The links than 100 universities and organisations across the UK strong economy and to answer aspiration security, sustainable development and between our University and the world’s supporting efforts to welcome international students, staff, with opportunity has never felt more demographic change. fastest developing economy, where we have research and collaborations in higher education. It is relevant than during the months since the During the past year, I have been some 10,000 Sheffield graduates working in backed by sector bodies including Universities UK, the momentous referendum vote by the British privileged to meet many of our all industries and government, are already National Union of Students, the British Council and the electorate to leave the European Union. international alumni in their own strong. But these are not partnerships in Foreign Office. Our vision and values as a place of global countries. I joined the India UK Tech name only. Our medics and scientists are As part of the campaign, we asked our international scholarship are being put to the test. Summit 2016 in New Delhi that was developing new approaches to medical alumni to share their memories of their time at Sheffield. Throughout our history, we have taken attended by the prime ministers of engineering and novel materials. We are We received more than 150 responses from all over the understanding and put it at the service of our two countries. I believe that the providing manufacturing expertise to the world, with some dating back to the 1950s. A selection society. Our truly international community relationship between the UK and India Chinese space programme and working now appears on the University’s website, on a special of students and staff work together with in our modern times is most positively together on industrial processes, such section focusing on #WeAreInternational, and we welcome a deep commitment to use knowledge found between those who have studied as casting, to create jobs and technical additional contributions for inclusion. for good: we welcome students from 125 together in our universities, and who education for young people who may ● www.sheffield.ac.uk/global/we-are-international countries and 20.4 per cent of our staff are otherwise not have access to university non-UK (European or international). education in both countries. All over the world, this vision of society We have taken our founding mission to be is being challenged. Faced with constraints a university for the people and committed on our economies and unprecedented to putting education at the service of displacement of people due to conflict, society. As we do so, I am deeply proud that our societies are facing real pressures to we are both providing a first-rate education strengthen barriers. The desire for the to our students, which prepares them well perceived certainty of the past and fears for the challenges of their careers, and that we are also demonstrating tangible public good for those who may never study at a university but who benefit from our work. I believe that, if the UK really does want to be open to the world, it should learn We are international something from our universities. We are to our core. places of hope and excellence precisely

4 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 5 Round-Up University News

❘❚ The best student experience ❘❚ Sanctuary in Sheffield ❘❚ New partnerships with Welcome McLaren and Boeing Week. Two of the world’s leading manufacturers have announced new partnerships with the University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing. Luxury sports car producer McLaren Automotive will open a purpose-built Composites Technology Centre to develop and manufacture advanced carbon-fibre Six former asylum seekers joined our The Sheffield chassis for their supercars. Boeing is University community as students at the Walk for creating a new manufacturing facility in Refugees start of the 2017/18 academic year, thanks to the city – their first in Europe. Named contributed fully funded scholarships. These were made to our Boeing Sheffield, it will bring in-house possible in part by the Big Walk fundraising fundraising the manufacture of high-tech actuation events that involved many alumni, students, for components and systems used in Next- scholarships. staff and Sheffield residents in June 2016. Generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aircraft. THE The Sheffield Walk for Refugees, a three- The announcement of these UNIVERSITY mile walk from Forge Dam to the Students’ developments builds on the continued IS RANKED: Union concourse, attracted more than 200 international success of the AMRC he University of Sheffield’s among all institutions surveyed in both 13th in the participants; the Big Walk itself saw staff as an epicentre of regional and Students’ Union is the best in the the International Student Barometer UK and 82nd walking over 120 miles over six days along the national economic impact, a source of TUK – for the ninth year running. and Student Barometer, with an overall internationally Trans Pennine Trail. Over £54,000 was raised. apprenticeship opportunities for young The Times Higher Education Student student satisfaction rating of 98 per cent. in the 2017 In 2004, Sheffield was the first UK city to people in industry and a large-scale QS World Experience Survey 2017 also placed the These surveys, run in autumn 2016 by welcome refugees under the United Nations innovation hub for some of the world’s University University number one in the Yorkshire i-graduate, compare the decision making, Rankings High Commission for Refugees’ Gateway most dynamic businesses. and Humber region and third best expectations, perceptions and intentions resettlement programme. In 2007, Sheffield in Stonewall’s nationally (and the best Russell Group of students from the stage of applying to became the first UK City of Sanctuary and, ● www.amrc.co.uk Workplace university). The University Library was graduation. The Union was also voted the Equality Index since then, the people of Sheffield have in joint first place out of 122 institutions, best in the UK for the fifth year running in 2017 for its continued to demonstrate their commitment and the University was ranked third for the National Student Survey 2016. commitment to to making refugees welcome. The University ❘❚ Time is of the essence both ‘good community atmosphere’ and Union President Dominic Trendall gender equality, is also committed to supporting academics diversity and ‘good social life’. The survey’s categories (BA Politics 2016) said, “These results who are in danger or exile by giving them Researchers from the Grantham Centre inclusion cover academic experience, university are testament to our brilliant services financial and practical help to continue their for Sustainable Futures and Energy facilities, societal experience, student and facilities available to students and as one of careers in a place of safety, and is working 2050 institute shared their expertise on the best UK welfare, accommodation, industry all the dedicated staff, students and in partnerships with the Council for At Risk food security and sustainable energy not-for-profit connections and security. The vote volunteers who work incredibly hard to organisations Academics and other similar international with leaders and delegates from across reaffirmed the status of the University create a truly inclusive community that to work for organisations. the world at the United Nations Climate as an institution giving students an Sheffield students love to be a part of. on The Sunday Change Conference, held in Marrakech in unrivalled, rich experience. I’m proud to think that we offer one Times 100 Best ● The Big Walk 2017 raised funds for the November 2016. Companies list The result was the latest top place of the best university experiences that (and the only SheffieldScanner appeal (see page 24). for the Students’ Union, which also students will cherish for the rest of university on www.shef.ac.uk/alumni/sheffieldscanner/ ● grantham.sheffield.ac.uk/cop22and achieved the highest satisfaction rating their lives.” the list). big-walk energy2050.ac.uk/cop22

6 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 7 Round-Up

University News

❘❚ Memorial honours ❘❚ All the fun of the circus ❘❚ The challenge to Move More award of VC The major donation of the archive of the A city-wide initiative Language and Knowledge A ceremony in memory of Circus Friends Association to the National aiming to make Sheffield Technology in the brave doctor, alumnus and Fairground Archive, based in the Western the most active city in the Department of Computer Sheffielder Major William Bank Library, has resulted in the entire UK by 2020, Move More Science. He has designed Barnsley Allen VC, DSO, collection being renamed the National encourages people to a free app that helps MC and Bar (1892–1933) Fairground and Circus Archive. The NFCA increase their movement participants track their (MBChB Medicine 1914) now holds the UK’s largest publicly accessible in everyday activities. The movement in Move More was held on 3 September collection of circus archives, including posters, catalyst for Move More was Minutes. During Varsity 2016 at the Cenotaph War programmes, handbills and photographs. the establishment 2017, which we won for the Memorial in Barker’s Pool. witness the unveiling of a times…but…he coolly Left to The archive also covers early cinema, fairs, in Sheffield of one of the fifth year in a row, staff The date was significant memorial stone. went on with his work till the right: The magic, wild west shows, menageries, variety, three hubs of the National and students across the memorial as it marked the centenary The London Gazette of last man was dressed and stone at the seaside entertainment and amusement Centre of Sport and campus were encouraged of Major Allen’s actions at 26 October 1916 reported: safely removed.” Cenotaph parks. It is a living archive with close links to Exercise Medicine. The to become more active and Mesnil, on the Somme, on “The first shell…exploded Major Allen is also War companies, show families and performers, centre is a London 2012 take part in the Move More 3 September 1916, which the ammunition and caused commemorated in the Memorial. and contributes to the organisation and Olympic legacy project, and Varsity Challenge, clocking Credit: resulted in the award of the several casualties. Captain Medical School and the Sheffield promotion of shows and festivals. brings together researchers up Move More Minutes in Victoria Cross (VC). The Allen saw the occurrence, and Somme Barracks, on West Star. and institutions from across competition with Sheffield Lord Mayor, Lord Lieutenant, at once, with utter disregard Street, where a selection of Major ● www.shef.ac.uk/nfca the city who are working to Hallam University. High Sheriff, Master Cutler, of danger, ran straight across memorabilia is displayed in William create a culture of physical Barnsley members of the armed the open, under heavy shell the Allen VC Room. In 2014, a Allen. activity in the region. They ● Visit www. forces and the Royal fire, commenced dressing the student competition resulted include Elizabeth Goyder, movemoresheffield.com British Legion joined family wounded, and undoubtedly by in an accommodation block Professor of Public Health to explore the ways in members, representatives his promptness saved many being named William Barnsley in the School of Health and which people in Sheffield from the University and of them from bleeding to Allen Court (or ‘Allen Court’) Related Research, and Fabio are getting involved in the members of the public to death. He himself was hit four in his honour. Ciravegna, Professor of Move More initiative.

❘❚ New campus development

Work is underway to create the Heartspace for the Faculty of Engineering, a quadruple-height atrium between the Grade-II-listed Sir Frederick Mappin Building and the 1885 Central Wing. The atrium will be housed under an impressive curved glass roof and will house new laboratories and offices, creating a dynamic social and research space between two of our oldest buildings. The two existing buildings are also being completely refurbished.

● Visit www.shef.ac.uk/efm/ estatesdevelopment/projects for the latest updates on Estates Development projects One of the posters from the National The Sheffield Sabres, the University’s American football across the campus. An artist’s impression of the Heartspace. Fairground and Circus Archive. team. Credit: Dan West

8 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 9 Round-Up

University News

❘❚ Nobel Prize for former member of staff SIX OF THE BEST Sir Fraser joins a distinguished group of a 100 YEARS further five Nobel laureates connected with the In their centenary year, the Departments of 70 YEARS University: Civil and Structural Engineering, Electronic Lord Florey (Hon and Electrical Engineering and Mechanical The Department of Extramural Studies DSc 1947) (Joseph Engineering have been holding celebration was established in 1947, formalising the Hunter Chair of events and collecting alumni memories on University’s provision for part-time mature Pathology 1932–35) their web pages: students. Today, its successor is the for isolating and purifying penicillin www.shef.ac.uk/civil Department for Lifelong Learning. and discovering www.shef.ac.uk/mecheng/centenary www.shef.ac.uk/dll its therapeutic www.shef.ac.uk/eee/alumni/centenary effect in infectious To mark 100 years since the death of one 50 YEARS diseases. of the great supporters of the University Sir Hans Krebs in its early years, Herbert Hughes CB, The academic year 2017/18 is the (Hon DSc 1959) CMG (Hon LittD 1912), a wreath was laid Department of Landscape’s 50th anniversary Professor Sir J Fraser Stoddart becoming a lecturer, followed Nobel (Lecturer in on his grave in Fulwood churchyard by and a series of events and celebrations FRS, FRSE, FRSC (Hon DSc 2008), by promotion to a readership. laureate Pharmacology Professor 1935–45, Professor Philip Swanson, the Hughes Professor of is being planned: visit www.shef.ac.uk/ a former member of staff in the He left the University in 1990. Sir J Fraser of Biochemistry Spanish, and the Trustees of the Herbert landscape for details. Alumni and former Department of Chemistry, was a The influence and impact of his Stoddart 1945–54) for the Hughes Memorial Fund on 16 January staff are also invited to share their memories joint recipient of the Nobel Prize in work may be drawn from a few delivered development of the 2017. The fund was established in Colonel of their time at Sheffield. Please send your Chemistry 2016, with Jean-Pierre statistics: three of his 1,000 plus the Krebs Krebs Cycle. Lecture Hughes’ honour in 1918 and continues to stories and photos via email: landscape50@ Sauvage and Bernard L Feringa, publications have been cited by 2017 and Lord Porter support the study of Hispanic languages in sheffield.ac.ukor post: Department of “for the design and synthesis other researchers more than is seen (Hon DSc 1968) local schools and at both the University of Landscape, The University of Sheffield, Floor of molecular machines”. It was 1,000 times; he has given more here with (Professor of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University. 13, The Arts Tower, Western Bank, Sheffield, research undertaken at Sheffield than 1,000 plenary/invited President Physical Chemistry & Vice- 1955–66) for his As part of the centenary celebrations, S10 2TN. into a class of molecules known lectures; and 500 PhD and Chancellor discovery of flash Hispanic Studies’ alumni are invited to Over 80 Russian and Slavonic Studies’ as rotaxanes that formed the postdoctoral students have Professor photolysis. contribute their memories of their time at alumni, current and former staff, and basis of his award. Professor Mike passed through his laboratories. Sir Keith Professor Sir the University: visit https://sites.google. students joined in two days of celebration to Ward, Head of Department, said, He is currently the Board of Burnett. outside the Richard Roberts com/sheffield.ac.uk/herbert-hughes/ mark the department’s 50th anniversary in “It is wonderful to see Professor Trustees Professor of Chemistry Diamond. (BSc Chemistry In 1916, the Society of Glass Technology October 2016. www.shef.ac.uk/russian Stoddart’s work in supramolecular at Northwestern University, in 1965, PhD was established by WES Turner (who was chemistry honoured in this way. Evanston, Illinois. He returned to Chemistry 1968, appointed Professor of Glass Technology 30 YEARS He, along with the two other Sheffield in March 2017 to deliver Hon DSc 1994) for his discovery in 1920), ensuring that Sheffield became a winners, popularised the field the Krebs Lecture on ‘The Rise of of ‘split genes’. centre of glass research and development. The Management School was created in 1986 of molecular topology in which Mechanical Bond: From Molecules Professor Sir The society continues to thrive with (then known as the School of Management molecules can be mechanically to Machines’. He also attended Harry Kroto (BSc members in over 50 countries. and Economic Studies). interlinked without a chemical a special poster session where Chemistry 1961, www.sgt.org www.shef.ac.uk/management bond between them, or can be current postgraduate researchers PhD Chemistry folded up into elaborate structures and fourth-year students 1964, Hon DSc 1995) ● And 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of the World Snooker Championship first being such as complex knots.” presented their work to him. for discovering a new form of staged at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Sir Fraser joined the University carbon, known in 1970 as an Imperial Chemical ● www.nobelprize.org/nobel_ as ‘buckminster- Industries Research Fellow before prizes/chemistry/laureates/2016 fullerene’.

10 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 11 Round-Up Research in the News

A selection of research stories that have attracted attention from national and international media.

❘❚ Revolutionary ‘miniature’ MRI scanner for babies ❘❚ The greatest Formula One driver

ground-breaking, Susie Thoms’ Dr Andrew Bell, of the Sheffield Methods Institute, has prototype ‘miniature’ MRI son Toby used statistical analysis to work out that five-times World benefitted from (Magnetic Resonance Drivers’ Champion Juan Manuel Fangio (1911–95) is A the use of the Imaging) scanner, one of only MRI scanner, Formula One’s most accomplished competitor, followed by two in the world, has been after being Alain Prost and Fernando Alonso, once the effects of team installed in Sheffield’s Jessop born six weeks and car quality are controlled out. The statistical model premature Wing Maternity Hospital as part by caesarean revealed that team effects are more important than driver of a two-year research project section and effects (and increasingly so over time), although their into the feasibility and benefits of spending importance may be reduced in wet weather and on street scanning babies in the neonatal a week in tracks. The study also revealed some surprising results. neonatal unit. Paul Griffiths, Professor intensive care. For example, the relatively unknown Christian Fittipaldi is of Radiology and Honorary in the top 20, while three-times champion Niki Lauda is not Consultant at Sheffield Teaching ❘❚ Black Death 'Plague Pit' in the top 100. A similar model could be used to answer a Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, discovered variety of questions in society, such as how much is worker and Martyn Paley, Professor of productivity affected by individuals, teams and companies, BioMedical Imaging, have been A mass burial of bodies, known to be or how much educational attainment is affected by classes, working on the concept and victims of the Black Death, has been schools and neighbourhoods. design of the scanner for 12 building or even another hospital. ● https:// mosaicscience.com/ discovered at the site of the 14th- years. It can be situated within This means scans can be story/baby-mri-premature- century monastery hospital at Thornton ● Research published in the Journal of Quantitative or close to a neonatal unit, performed more quickly, and the brain-scan-tech Abbey, Lincolnshire. A team from the Analysis in Sports, June 2016. and allow new-born babies to risks and difficulties associated Department of Archaeology revealed be scanned without having to with moving vulnerable babies 48 skeletons – the presence of such be moved to another part of a are dramatically reduced. a large burial site, containing both ❘❚ Unlocking linguistic DNA male and female adults, as well as 27 children, suggests the local community A collaborative venture between digital humanities ❘❚ Air-cleansing poetry was overwhelmed by the Black Death experts and linguists, led by Professor Susan Fitzmaurice and was left unable to cope with the of the School of English, is developing sophisticated A revolutionary, air-cleansing poem – In Praise of Air – has removed number of people who died. Teeth algorithms to uncover previously invisible patterns and more than two tons of pollution from the environment as part of a samples from the skeletons were sent to relationships between concepts and ideas in over 60,000 project that has the potential to help fight pollution in cities across the McMaster University in Canada where early modern printed texts. The result will be a set of world. A collaboration between Simon Armitage, Professor of Poetry ancient DNA was successfully extracted automated processes that mine the dataset to reveal in the School of English, Professor Tony Ryan, of the Department of from the tooth pulp. Tests on the DNA the evolving associations between words and concepts Chemistry, and project manager Professor Joanna Gavins, of the revealed the presence of Yersinia pestis through three centuries of English print. The processed School of English, the catalytic, 20-metre-high poem was on display (the bacterium responsible for the data will be converted from enormous, computer-readable on the Alfred Denny building from May 2014 to January 2017. The plague), which is documented to have matrices into cutting-edge data visualisations. These will material on which the poem was printed was coated with microscopic reached Lincolnshire in the spring of allow the team to explore the history, linguistic features pollution-eating particles of titanium dioxide. When light shines on this 1349. Research is continuing into the and characteristics of word formation and vocabulary in photocatalyst, the electrons in the material are rearranged and become individuals buried in the grave and it is the evolution of modern western thinking. “It’s a major more reactive. They break the oxygen in the air apart to make two hoped that aspects of their daily lives will undertaking involving complex data,” said Professor oxygen free-radicals. In turn, these react with water to make peroxide, be revealed. Fitzmaurice. “The possibility of mapping the linguistic and which oxidises pollutants in the atmosphere, making harmless conceptual changes that quite possibly started modernity molecules that can be washed away. has long been a Holy Grail of the arts and humanities.” Professors Simon Armitage ● www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/ and Tony Ryan with In Praise news/black-death-grave-thornton- ● www.catalyticpoetry.org/#science of Air. abbey-1.664963 ● www.linguisticdna.org, twitter @LinguisticDNA

12 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 13 Round-Up

Research in the News

❘❚ Protein helps to prevent inflammation ❘❚ A sustainable power supply ❘❚ Tackling the challenges of energy A team of researchers, led by Dr Nasreen Akhtar the milk supply is no longer required the alveoli die Research into sustainable providing biogas for cooking. The storage of the Department of Oncology and Metabolism, and the breast reverts to a non-pregnancy state. energy is helping Pearson Pally, villagers clear local lakes and have discovered that the Rac1 protein causes cells Gene deletion studies now show that the Rac1 a remote village in West Bengal, woodlands of weeds and other As the demand for energy increases, to gobble up dying neighbouring cells, efficiently protein is crucial both for the secretion of milk and India, to access electricity for plant material and this, along storage systems are needed to clearing them to minimise damaging inflammation, its removal in the drying-up period that follows. the first time. Dr Mark Walker, of with locally collected food waste, balance supply. The University’s which is linked to a variety of diseases including Over 90 per cent of cancers come from epithelial the Department of Mechanical provides the raw material for Centre for Research into Electrical cancer. They made the breakthrough while studying cells, which is why unlocking the mystery of how Engineering, has collaborated anaerobic digestion, which in turn Energy Storage & Applications the female breast to better understand how the they work is essential. with UK and Indian partners produces power. The challenge to has a £4.8 million, 1MWhr battery organ gets rid of dead cells and surplus milk. In to install a sustainable system the scientists was to make such energy storage system research pregnancy, specialised epithelial cells within the ● Research published in Developmental Cell, from biological waste and novel, processes more effective and to facility at Willenhall substation, breast grow to form alveoli that secrete milk. When September 2016. solar photovoltaic technology. integrate them into an electrical near Wolverhampton. This 2MW He led the biogas project, which energy system. This involved grid-connected research facility, is designed to provide basic process modelling so the system utilising a lithium titanate battery, electrical energy needs and can be designed to cope with is designed to offer enhanced ❘❚ Breakthrough in nerve cell transplantation has the additional benefit of sudden changes in demand. frequency response to peaks in demand, and is available to be used A chance discovery during a of Medicine. Dr Sekiya injected connections between the by other academic and industrial transplant experiment on the cells into damaged nerve tissue auditory sensory cells in the ear projects for their research and to ear, using cell lines developed in the ear, using a commonly and the cells in the hindbrain. The test new control methodologies. by Sheffield researchers, could tested procedure known as intra- work revealed hidden properties result in a new, non-invasive neural transplantation. Several of scar tissue following nerve technique to transplant cells weeks later, the team discovered damage, which could have ● www.energy2050.ac.uk into the nervous system. The that some of the cells that had profound implications for treating These two projects come under procedure was the culmination spilled on to the tissue surface neurodegenerative disorders. the umbrella of Energy 2050, of a long collaboration between appeared to have migrated based at the University and Professor Matthew Holley, of into the nerve by themselves ● Research published in the one of the UK’s largest energy the Department of Biomedical and survived. Repeats of the Proceedings of the National research institutes. Over 120 Science, and neurosurgeon experiment resulted in the cells Academy of Sciences of the academics and more than 250 Dr Tetsuji Sekiya, of Kyoto burrowing into the nerve and United States of America, www. Dr Mark Walker (centre) meeting villagers from Pearson Pally to discuss PhD students are undertaking University’s Graduate School then forming functional pnas.org/content/112/26/E3431 the installation of the sustainable energy system. energy research and innovation.

❘❚ Discovery of that a gene called cortex as caterpillars. The colours are in female the gene that controls some of the major extremely variable, and the same insects, controls differences in butterfly warning species of butterfly often has and is very butterfly colour colour patterns. They studied very different patterns. Predators similar to Heliconius, a group of brightly in a particular area will only a gene that A team of researchers, co-led coloured butterflies found in the recognise and avoid the patterns controls by Dr Nicola Nadeau from the rainforests of Latin America and of butterflies found in that cell division in Department of Animal and also known as the passion-vine same area, which stops any one everything from yeast Plant Sciences, have discovered butterflies. Their colours warn pattern from spreading to other to humans. predators that they contain places. The cortex gene was A Heliconius butterfly in captivity toxins, which they get from the previously thought to only be ● Research published in feeds on a flower. passion-vine plants they eat involved in producing egg cells Nature, 1 June 2016.

14 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 15 My Sheffield

The Rt Hon the Lord Blunkett (BA Politics 1972, Hon LittD 2016) is Professor of Politics in Practice at the University of Sheffield. A former Labour MP, he served as Education and Employment Secretary, Home Secretary, and Work and Pensions Secretary. He reflects on his time as a student and subsequent career.

What inspired you to study and work in politics? What advice would you like to give to your I was inspired to both learn about and participate first-year self? in politics by my own upbringing. My grandfather Make the most of university in every possible way read to me from what was then the Daily Herald (a – culturally, socially and personally. But always left-wing daily newspaper somewhat more political remember that this is a privilege, so make the most than the Daily Mirror), a history teacher who taught of the academic opportunity to read, to debate, to me to learn about the past but not to live in it and, of think and to contribute. That makes for a rounded course, the experience of my father’s premature death human being who will look back and think, “That was in a works accident and the struggle that my mother a phenomenal time but I grew up, and I am able to had to survive. make a better contribution to my own life and to the well-being of others because of it.” How does the University compare now to when you started here as a mature student in 1969? Why is it important for alumni to continue a Most obviously, the number of students, and the connection with the University after graduation? range of backgrounds from which they come, has I think it’s very important for alumni both to give changed dramatically. Both in terms of ‘class’ – in something back, for the privilege and support the sense that the massive improvement in the received, and to be able to play a part not just in education system has allowed many more young helping a new generation but also in the work of the people from disadvantaged backgrounds to make it University as a whole. into university – but also ethnically and in terms of gender. The diversity of background, the ratio of men Where is your favourite place in Sheffield? to women and the range of courses on offer have all I would like to say the Hillsborough football been transformed. stadium, where I have experienced so many good and so many disappointing times – but just at the What memories stand out from your time here? moment the disappointments override the hopes! My memories are bound into the circumstances in So, on a day-to-day basis, the wonderful woodland which I found myself; not least because of the struggle that makes Sheffield the place it is – to walk, to hear I’d had through night school and day release to get to birdsong, to relax and to think and still be in Britain’s university. I spent more time ensuring that I did not fourth-largest city. Make the most of waste the three years than might otherwise have been university in every the case. In simple terms, I worked damned hard, had What have been the highlights of your less of a social life and therefore the enjoyable side of career so far? possible way – university life, and was far too serious. In addition, my Walking into the Department for Education and culturally, socially political activity had led me to stand for Sheffield City Employment on 2 May 1997 and to be able to start the Council so I was both practising politics and learning process of transforming education from early years and personally. about theory and practice at the same time. I had to through to universities and skills, to see young people do it that way, and I have never regretted it, but it was getting a job for the first time and to contribute more a shame that I wasn’t able to mix a more balanced widely to Cabinet discussion, has to be the highlight social life with hard work, and a bit more youth with of my public life – although leading the City of my growing maturity. Sheffield for seven years is a very close second! n

16 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 17 Migration

Migration is a Talking constant theme of Migration debate and action.

In today’s increasingly interconnected research on global migration and Europe, North America, South See overleaf for details of the exhibition these images mobility. Its approach is informed America and the Asia-Pacific world, international migration is a accompanied. reality that touches nearly all corners by a broad understanding of region. Is migration viewed in of the globe. According to the United migration encompassing motives the same way in Canada as in for migration, effects on sending South Korea, or Germany as Nations, the number of people living and destination countries, in Australia? Many issues are outside the country of their birth has as well as the broad range of remarkably similar, such as the continued to grow rapidly over the impacts (legal, social, economic move of labour into countries past 15 years, reaching 244 million and political) and experiences of with low birth rates. How do in 2015. In 2016, the total number migration in various geographical perceptions and attitudes of refugees stood at 65 million – regions. The Co-Directors of shape the governance of MRG are Dr Majella Kilkey and migration at state, regional and the highest since records began. Professor Louise Ryan, of the international levels? Understanding the many reasons Department of Sociological A second strand of the research why people leave their homes and Studies. What is being done in coming out of Sheffield is the their subsequent experiences is an Sheffield is seen as important area of forced migration, human expanding field of research. externally. We are one of only four trafficking, slavery and asylum UK universities to be a member seekers. Alongside research of IMISCOE (International activities, staff and students are he University of Sheffield is adding to Migration, Integration and Social also helping to form University our sum of knowledge in exciting and Cohesion in Europe), Europe’s policy towards asylum seekers sometimes surprising ways. A simple largest interdisciplinary research through their knowledge and search for ‘migration’ on our home network in the field of migration, expertise. One example is Tpage brings up hundreds of results, of which a integration and diversity studies. Rebecca Murray, an Economic and good proportion are linked to active research by An international platform is Social Research Council-funded academics and students. The umbrella of ‘migration also provided by membership PhD student in Geography, research’ now covers the entire campus. Topics of a major European Research supervised by Dr Deborah include the earliest global migrations investigated Council-funded project led by Sporton BA Geography 1986, PhD in the Department of Archaeology, the involvement Professor Andrew Geddes, of Geography 1990 and Emeritus of students from Social Sciences in a Global Forum the Department of Politics, Professor Paul White, who is Top to bottom: Gwadar, Pakistan – this port city is the on Migration and Development in Berlin, and a and involving the Head of investigating widening access starting point for many migrant book on UK media coverage of asylum seekers Department, Professor Nicola to higher education for forced journeys towards Europe. and refugees co-authored by a lecturer in the Phillips. Entitled Prospects migrants in collaboration with The Kapikule border between Department of Journalism Studies. for International Migration the Helena Kennedy Foundation. Turkey and Bulgaria, a major crossing point into Europe. One important focus for this work is Governance, the international As a result of the lobbying Odessa, Ukraine – a major the Migration Research Group (MRG), an team are exploring the drivers undertaken by people like seaport and transportation interdisciplinary network of scholars conducting of global migration, focusing on Rebecca, the University ›› hub on the Black Sea.

18 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 19 Foodhall

provided six fully funded isn’t new. Population mobility groups. The latest Students’ scholarships in 2016 for four and the causes of it have been Union elections have seen undergraduate and two the subject of research for a a focus on calls for the postgraduate students. They long time across the University. University to continue to come from countries including It has shifted over time across provide support for refugee Syria, Iran and Sri Lanka, and departments, partly due to students. Migration is, and will made Sheffield their home the pressing issues of the day continue to be, a constant theme after being forced to flee their and also as researchers come of debate and action. n own countries due to war or and go. Students are hugely persecution (also see page 7). interested in migration issues ● Visit mrg.group.shef.ac.uk for Local responses to migration and student societies are very details of migration research at – that affect the provision of active in volunteering with local the University of Sheffield. education, health and housing in Sheffield and the region – form a third strand of inquiry. This is Migrant Narratives of an important dimension, that Citizenship: a topological atlas puts into practice some of the of European belonging Co-directors of Foodhall: (left-right) Samuel Atkinson, Louis Pohl and Jamie Wilde. theoretical arguments made This was an immersive by social scientists, scientists installation by artist, academic and health professionals. How and alumna Dr Nishat Awan (Dip, The People’s Choice do migrants flow into South MA, PhD Architecture 2004, Yorkshire and the city, and what 2005, 2011, PG Cert Learning and Foodhall is Sheffield’s 'pay as you feel' dining room and freecycling food network. is their impact on the population Teaching 2015) in conjunction Sited in a former funeral parlour on Eyre Street, the project has attracted national and already here? Dr Mark Payne, with students from the School international interest in its commitment to taking social responsibility seriously. of the School of Education, is of Architecture, which was on running a five-year study funded display at the Yorkshire Sculpture t won two Sheffield Design Awards in 2016, cooked in the onsite kitchen. Clever use of cheap or by the Academies and Enterprise Park in 2016. It took as its starting including the People’s Choice, and was highly donated building materials has resulted in furniture Trust, which explores the point the historical connection recommended by the Royal Institute of and flexible room dividers that ensure the space nurturing of Slovakian Roma between the way states represent British Architects’ MacEwen Award, which can accommodate anything from reading groups children in a local secondary themselves through maps and Irecognises ‘Architecture for the Common Good’. to NHS addiction groups. The open doors offer an school, and the whole-school how citizens and non-citizens are The brainchild of alumni Louis Pohl (BA implicit welcome. You can just come in and make and curriculum adjustments defined. Using maps, drawings Architecture 2014) and Jamie Wilde (MPlan yourself a mug of tea. and adaptations made in light and photography – documenting Top to bottom: A Syrian activist Urban Studies and Planning 2015), who are now Foodhall has received support from ReNew drawing his journey out of Syria of the new arrivals. He has a two-month journey between co-directors with architect Samuel Atkinson (BA Sheffield, the project that works with ‘meanwhile in 2016. Part of the Migrant also undertaken ethnographic Istanbul, Turkey, and Odessa, Narratives exhibition at the Architecture 2011, MA Architecture 2015), Foodhall uses’, pop-ups, temporary and entrepreneurial start- fieldwork trips to schools and Ukraine – the project included Yorkshire Sculpture Park. is the result of an app designed by Louis to bring ups, and from University of Sheffield Enterprise. villages in eastern Slovakia, refugee experiences of crossing people together to promote food sharing. Jamie Jamie said, “I spent four years of my degree with a focus on the village of borders and interviews with ● www.topologicalatlas.net/ explained, “Feedback from users made us realise considering how planning can improve people’s Bystrany, west of Prešov. Syrian activists. hotglue/migrantnarratives that Sheffield was lacking communal spaces. We lives. I wanted to go on to work on something that Dr Payne’s research provides took the idea forward to help tackle food poverty, could make a positive impact, that was socially an excellent opportunity to food waste and social isolation. We begged and useful. Foodhall is a project that we’ve set up on begin to understand more about Thanks to Emeritus Professor Paul White OBE borrowed to transform the building, and now top of ‘real’ jobs – I’m a town planner for Integreat the impacts of migration and for help in the research for this article. He retired Foodhall is a gathering place for anyone who Plus, a Sheffield-based social enterprise, and Louis settlement in a new country in July 2016 as Professor of European Urban wants company.” and Samuel have set up their own design practice, with a new language and Geography and is now the holder of a Leverhulme Run by volunteers, the building opened as an Studio Temple. In a few years, we want Foodhall to culture, and to do so in the Emeritus Fellowship to pursue research on elite experiment in October 2015, with the ‘pay as you have stability, own the building, be open longer and context of a changing Europe migrants in European cities. He was a member feel’ café launched the following January. It now partner with more organisations.” n and, now, post-Brexit UK. Our of the University Executive Board, latterly as opens three days a week, is available for local events researchers are responding to a Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and is a valued supporter of the work of the and is attracting 150 to 500 people a week. Waste ● FACEBOOK facebook.com/foodhallproject fast-changing landscape. This Development, Alumni Relations & Events office. food is gathered from local supermarkets and twitter @foodhallproject

20 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 21 Graduation

Then and Now

In his speech at the ceremony, A Perfect 1917 (1 ceremo ny) Vice-Chancellor Professor William Ripper reported that 577 men from the University had joined the 26 16 Day Army or Navy since the outbreak Bachelor degrees conferred Masters degrees conferred of war in August 1914, including The University puts on its most public face 518 students. The numbers of degrees conferred show how few 21 women 5 men for two weeks each year, as families, friends 8 women 8 men men remained at their studies and staff come together to celebrate the long enough to graduate in 1917. successful culmination of our graduands’ hard work and dedication. 2016/17 (15 summer & 7 winter ceremonies) ork goes the bloods harmonised ‘The on behind end of a perfect day’.” the scenes Order descended in the Graduates who attended Degrees conferred by Faculty throughout form of Sir Irvine Masson, Wthe year to prepare for Vice-Chancellor from 1938–52. 4,719 2,300 the degree congregations He demanded silence at 1,256 in July and January. The degree congregations and format of these special made strenuous attempts 1,256 1,709 1,402 occasions is drawn from to enforce it. Graduation Summer Winter Arts and Engineering Science Humanities Oxbridge tradition. Our moved to City Hall in 1947 own ceremonies are and it was only then that the distinguished by meticulous required ‘solemn’ atmosphere  professionalism, combined was achieved. The Octagon 951 4,401 372 31 with friendliness and a Centre was first used for the 25,550 10,122 19,316 Medicine, Social International Board of Extra personal touch. ceremonies in 1984. programmes graduation guest Dentistry Sciences Faculty Faculty Provision However, anyone Wendy Hobson, Associate certificates tickets and Health [Lifelong Learning] graduating today would Director and Head of Events, be struck by what their has been involved with the Two paramedics on duty 21 floral arrangements Three cleaners prepare the predecessors of a century ceremonies since 1996 and in the Octagon Centre, hall between ceremonies: the quickest turnaround ago witnessed at their own overseen their organisation refreshed every morning has been just six minutes! ceremony. The Yorkshire since 2003: “It’s a massive Telegraph & Star of 30 exercise and we work with June 1917 reported, “As the people across the University Music dotted through. We helped to alert special mention in the speeches. congregation procession to make sure each ceremony A saxophone quartet has provided the Events team to weed them out It felt really personal, even entered the Firth Hall it was is a celebratory, inclusive music as audiences settle at the and watched them make a though it was slightly odd being greeted by ‘The Animals experience. I think we get ceremonies since July 2007, and last-minute dash back to the on the other side!” Went in One by One’… It was the balance right between Dr Sophie Redfern (BMus Music robing area and then reappear, Two organists have played impossible owing to the formality and warmth. 2007, PhD Music 2014) is the one wearing the correct robes for their at the ceremonies since 2006 – noise of singing, motor horns, Graduation is the end of one original member to have played at big moment walking across the Jonathan Eyre (BMus Music one or more whistles, and chapter and the beginning of every one. She recalled, “We’re stage. I love being part of such a 2008) and Neil Taylor, former other weird instruments, the next for so many of our particularly good at noticing big celebration. And yes, I played Director of Music at Sheffield to hear the names of the students, and we aim to make graduands wearing the wrong at both my own graduations. Cathedral. The most popular graduates presented to the sure that they and their hoods with their robes. Once, in a I performed in my robe, the Events procession music is the Vice-Chancellor… As a fitting families have a day sea of 200 red-trimmed hoods team were cheering me on, and Grand March from Aida by conclusion to the proceedings to remember.” n there were 15 gold ones randomly both times the quartet got a Giuseppe Verdi.

22 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 23 SheffieldScanner

and attract more collaborators and experts us at an early stage whether treatment Left: A prototype from around the world to work with us in is likely to be working or not – at the Understanding Disease: MRI /PET unit the search for, and development of, better present time, we have to do long studies combines MR treatments.” over several years. Fundraising events (left) and PET MRI uses strong magnetic fields and are taking place across the campus, and (right) images the next leap forward of the human radio waves to show detailed information I have enjoyed meeting alumni at special brain in a single of the organs, tissues and structures of events in London and the US to introduce image (centre) the body. A PET scan measures important the campaign. I am also delighted that describes body functions, such as blood flow, oxygen that this year’s Big Walk challenge is both anatomy and physiology. use and sugar metabolism, to evaluate how fundraising for this campaign. This is a Credit: www. well organs and tissues are functioning. compelling project. We have reached a siemens.com/ For example, PET scans can reveal how pivotal moment in our ability to address press cancer cells use sugar or oxygen, while MRI global health challenges. An MRI-PET highlights fine detail such as changes within scanner would help us to answer major the tissues of the brain. questions about disease and overcome The combination of MRI and PET current obstacles to the development of technologies has only been available in new treatments.” n the last two to three years. When used for anatomical imaging, the radiation dose for patients is half that of the next best technology. The combined scanner also reduces the need for patients to make multiple visits, and diagnosis is faster because imaging and overall information We have launched the SheffieldScanner campaign to raise available from the scan is clearer. Professor Please support the SheffieldScanner campaign to help us £2 million for an MRI-PET scanner – the first of its kind in Shaw and her colleagues felt that their create a healthier future for Sheffield, the UK and beyond. The the Yorkshire and Humber region – to transform the way patients were potentially losing out because, University will match all gifts pound for pound towards our goal of £2 million to make our vision a reality. we research and treat diseases. MRI-PET combines the for example, clinical trials testing for new Alzheimer’s treatments rely on this level simultaneous power of whole body Magnetic Resonance of imaging to show what’s happening in “The ambition for MRI-PET has energised our entire scientific Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in a the brain. Patients who require detailed and clinical community, and I hope it inspires other people to Professor single scan, capturing minute details and producing superior imaging prior to surgery to alleviate become involved too.” Dame Pamela three-dimensional images. It is a game changer in the field of Shaw, Vice- epilepsy seizures are being sent to London Tony Pedder OBE, Chairman of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals medical imaging. President and to have the scans. An MRI-PET scanner is NHS Foundation Trust, Chair of Council and Pro-Chancellor of Head of Faculty needed so that patients in Yorkshire can the University of Sheffield (Medicine, benefit from the latest trials and treatments Dentistry and ith this innovative (Medicine, Dentistry & Health). Health). closer to home. Taking a wider perspective, “I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in May technology, our “The University of Sheffield is an the research potential of the scanner will 2016, at the age of 29. Together with the help of family and ambition is to outstanding centre for health research, benefit patients across the UK and beyond. friends, I wanted to do all that we could to help find a cure and to develop new finding new solutions to the significant Professor Shaw added, “We will be able to help those living with MND. You can definitely make a difference “Wknowledge and treatments for patients health challenges facing us today. measure functions in the brain that will tell yourself. For me it’s about doing good and a sense of personal more rapidly. An MRI-PET scanner Our commitment to bring MRI-PET achievement. Without the fundraising and awareness raising would provide enhanced patient care technology to Sheffield was a key factor that comes with it, progress would be much, much slower.” and diagnosis in the hospital, and deliver in securing a prestigious award from the Gemma Middleton insights and impact for a wide variety National Institute for Health Research of serious conditions including cancer, for a Biomedical Research Centre in dementia, heart and lung diseases, motor Translational Neuroscience for Chronic MRI-PET is a game ● www.shef.ac.uk/sheffieldscanner neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease and Neurological Disorders. Investing now Email: [email protected]: +44 (0)114 222 stroke,” explained Professor Dame Pamela in an MRI-PET system will enable us to changer in the field 1071 Facebook www.facebook.com/sheffieldscanner Shaw, Vice-President & Head of Faculty leverage additional research funding, of medical imaging. Twitter@SheffieldScan

24 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 25 Landscape

ur staff, students and alumni Motorists planting schemes for the London Olympic are all having an increasing arriving in Park devised by Professor Hitchmough and Sheffield are Landscape impact locally. We are taking greeted by Professor Nigel Dunnett (PhD Animal and advantage of circumstances a profusion Plant Sciences 1996), Director of External Sheffield is a hotbed “Oand opportunities to develop the outward- of perennial Relations, Engagement and Impact, and the for new ideas. facing nature of the department and get meadow reputation of the department in the field of flowers on a and the City involved with real projects across Sheffield,” urban water-sensitive design. Simon Ogden transformed explained Professor James Hitchmough, Park Square (MA Town & Regional Planning 1976), Head of are now managing the project’s planting. Head of Department. “How do you ‘do’ urban Roundabout. City Regeneration at Sheffield City Council, Chief Executive Officer Sue France (PG green space effectively? Our expertise, based The scheme, decided he wanted to bring something Dip Landscape Management 1998) readily Valuing green space in cities is vital which was but also a challenge, particularly on world-leading landscape education and planted in similar to central Sheffield. acknowledges the benefits of having a research, is helping to answer this question autumn Interaction between the council and the leading university landscape department where there is pressure for space, as our partners are open to taking novel 2015, is a department was already well established. on her doorstep: “Knowledge exchange is approaches and risk something new.” collaboration However, a chance meeting between Simon vitally important, and it’s also important to resources and development. between Sheffield has long promoted itself Once the heart of Victorian Sheffield’s nightlife Professor and Nigel at the Institute of Water Engineers have a critical friend who is neither part of and later the site of the inner ring road, the Nigel Dunnett some three years ago developed quickly into a council or a contractor. They challenge us as England’s greenest city, and the emerging Riverside Business District has been and students a far more integrated collaboration. Simon and that raises the bar. We play an active partnership between the University’s transformed by the first phase of the £3.6 million from the introduced the idea of sharing expertise part in areas of research and provide real-life Department Department of Landscape and Grey to Green Corridor, an eye-catching display of Landscape to transform 1.2 kilometres of redundant projects for students, introducing the field Sheffield City Council is resulting of colourful wildflower beds, trees, public art with Pictorial roads running between West Bar, near the of landscape management and the complex and benches that help to beautify a new urban Meadows (a Combined Courts, through Castlegate to world of place making.” in exciting, dynamic interventions drainage system. This multi-award-winning subsidiary of Exchange Street. The latest transformation in the city Green Estate) across the cityscape. project is a direct response to the nature-like and Enterprise Nigel set the whole project as the main is Love Square, a new community pocket Rent-a-Car. output for a third-year undergraduate park at West Bar, which is being built in The team have design studio, and their artist’s impressions partnership with developer Urbo, local also created and visualisations were used to promote businesses, the local voluntary sector, the a similar transformation the scheme to the wider council for council and the University. Financial support at a further six approval. A further project for postgraduate includes a grant from the Alumni Fund. sites across students, again in collaboration with Simon Again, the design has been conceived by the UK. and the council’s own award-winning staff and students from the Department of Credit: Hannah Whitelam Landscape Team, was used to develop the Landscape. Nigel commented, “Sheffield is a plans, introduce the concept to the local northern city in transition and a hotbed for community, and was part of successful new ideas – and that’s an exciting prospect funding applications to the European for a design-led department such as ours. Regional Development Fund and the I’ve always felt that the role of a department Sheffield City Region Investment Fund. in an applied subject such as landscape The department has provided advice on architecture should make a real difference the design of rain gardens and bioswales to how things are done, beyond the narrow (to protect against flood), which now form academic definition of impact.”n the UK’s largest retrofit sustainable urban drainage system, and on the planting design of the complete scheme. ● Centre for Designed Ecology Across the city, not-for-profit social This new centre is the focus of the enterprise Green Estate has been applying Department of Landscape’s research and new approaches to green space design consultancy for programmes and projects and management since 1998. Increasingly that embrace the Designed Ecology specialising in integrating naturalistic concept – the art and science of creating landscapes into the real world, their richly vegetated landscapes that deliver a Landscape Services helped to develop the holistic package of social, environmental and planting medium used in Grey to Green and ecological urban sustainability. cfde.co.uk

26 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 27 Sustainability The Architect of SPIN

Known as ‘The Professor of Professional Selling’, Neil Rackham (BSc Psychology 1966, Hon DSc 2017) is one of the world’s leading experts on sales techniques. Now based in the United States, he regularly returns to the University, particularly in his capacity as a visiting professor in the Management School. We caught up with him to find out what first brought him to the city, and what keeps him coming back.

eil arrived in Sheffield in 1962 to sales interactions, he was unimpressed: following an intermittent “I said, ‘I’m a respectable researcher! Sales education in the UK and is about stealing, lying and cheating, why Borneo, where his father was a would I do that?’” However, by his early Ncolonial official. What he lacked in formal 30s, he had established a reputation for his qualifications, he made up for with a passion data-led research. From his evaluation of for knowledge. It was this desire to learn that successful sales, he created a memorable convinced Professor Harry Kay of his talent methodology that he entitled ‘SPIN selling’ and secured him a place to study psychology. – based on analysing a client’s situation, Neil credits his unconventional upbringing problems, implications and needs. The with sparking his enthusiasm: “School hadn’t resulting best-selling book, also called SPIN managed to knock out my love of learning,” Selling, involved the largest piece of research he quips. He continued to be an avid student in sales history, analysing 35,000 sales calls in throughout his degree, remembering, “You 20 countries over a period of 12 years. It has weren’t constrained by just going along to been credited with revolutionising the way lectures on your subject. You could go to any businesses approach selling internationally. lecture on anything. And I did! I don’t think I Three of Neil’s books have featured in the would have done that had I not been brought New York Times bestseller list, he has advised up outside ‘the system’.” some of the world’s leading businesses and He was elected Secretary of the Students’ over half of the companies on the Fortune Union for 1964/65 – only the second year of all 500 list train their salespeople using sales officers being given a sabbatical break from models derived from his research. So why their studies. He stood for election because does he choose to come back to Sheffield? He he was interested in serious left-wing politics, is grateful for the chance Professor Kay gave but then found that running an organisation him and of the education he received here: was more rewarding – a foretaste of his “I come from a generation whose university future career spent analysing organisational fees were paid and I was even given a grant to of education is to enable students to be the teams in which they operate, most cultures and practices. His was an eventful live on. That’s a great act of trust and it puts successful and productive in the life that recently with students from the Faculty year at the Students’ Union, including the on many of us a feeling of obligation that we follows university.” Today, students can of Engineering. The findings will benefit President’s resignation and a notable visit by were given an opportunity that’s enabled us Sheffield gain ‘soft skills’ beyond their academic graduates in the increasingly competitive Malcolm X, the American black activist, at to be successful.” learning – skills such as communication, jobs market, where employers expect Neil’s invitation. Neil has chosen to respond to this enabled project management and presenting – and them to be able to work effectively as part After graduation, he continued at the obligation by helping to close a gap that he me to be Neil is sharing his expertise to develop of a team. This is a subject that Neil is University as a researcher, focusing on felt was missing when he studied at Sheffield. successful. these opportunities. passionate about. So much so that, despite human interactions such as teacher-pupil “I had a wonderful time here… but there He is leading a group of researchers in achieving international success, he is most and therapist-patient relationships. When was nothing that taught me how to work the Department of Psychology looking proud of helping the next generation of a colleague suggested he turn his attention with people,” he notes. “After all, the purpose at the effectiveness of individuals and Sheffield alumni achieve their potential. n

28 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 29 Alumni News

Keeping it in the Family The Watson/Bacon Family Lawrence Watson Ruth Watson (née Doodson) Lawrence Watson We asked readers of our winter 2016 Sheffield Alumni Bulletin if they came (Architecture student in 1945): (BA Architecture 1974, Dip from families that could trace their connections with the University through architect, college lecturer and Architecture 1977, Cert head of department Architecture Professional several generations. Thank you to everyone who responded. Practice 1978): architect Jon m Ruth For full quotes please visit www.shef.ac.uk/youruniversity Jon Watson Watson (BA Architecture 1969, Dip Esther Bacon (née Watson) Watson Architecture 1971, MA Architecture (BA Sociology 2006): midwife, The cross-generational memories, The Lee/Roper Family 1972, Cert Architecture Melbourne, Australia and coincidences, include those Professional Practice 1973, Dip Esther Bacon of father and son Nick Young (BSc Professor Peter Lee Town and Regional Planning 1975): Botany and Zoology 1974) and Dr (BSc Physics 1956, PhD Physics Principal, Jon Watson Consulting Tom Young (MBiolSci Ecology 1959): Emeritus Professor of 2010, PhD Biological Sciences Physics, Lancaster University Peter Lee 2014). Nick said, “I was so pleased “I was attracted to a small that Tom chose to read ecology Sarah Roper (née Lee) city that had a reputation at Sheffield, and during his eight (BSc Pharmacology and as a ‘University Town’. The years at the University I greatly Chemistry 1985): Vaccines Sarah Roper enjoyed nostalgic visits to the National Private Account location was close to friends biological sciences building, the Manager, MSD in neighbouring cities, easily campus and the wider city. The sense of continuity was Joseph Roper accessible, but far enough from heightened by the fact that Tom (MEng Civil and Structural Joseph Roper home that I felt I’d made a move.” used the same laboratories, and Engineering student) Ruth, Esther and Jon Watson. met Professor Philip Grime and Esther Bacon worked with Professor Sir David Read, two of my own tutors from 40 years ago.” Dr Helen Davis (MBChB The Graham/Cumberland Family Medicine 2011) followed her father George Graham Dr John Davis (BSc Biochemistry Rev George Graham OBE “Where else can you 1973) to Sheffield. John (Metallurgy 1944): an commented, “I actually think industrial metallurgist before get the bus for £1 to Sidonie m Timothy Helen went to Sheffield despite joining the clergy. He was also the Peak District and Cumerland Cumberland the fact that I went there rather a respected botanist, receiving than because of it, but she had an OBE for services to botany. be climbing in 30 heard me singing its praises over minutes?” Ben the years. She graduated on the Sidonie Cumberland (née Tristan Tristan Cumberland Cumberlamd same date I did, 21 July, exactly 38 Graham) (BA Geography Cumberlamd Professor Peter Lee, Sarah Roper and Joseph Roper. years later. Of course, we both 1986): primary school teacher loved our time at Sheffield!” “I feel very proud that my daughter and Timothy Cumberland (BSc Geology 1986): assistant head ● Several families can trace grandson followed in my footsteps to their links to the University back teacher through three generations, and Sheffield, where we have all made good we have one family with eight friends and lots of happy memories. ” Ben Cumberland (Medical members who are alumni. We also student) and Tristan Sidonie,Timothy, Ben and Tristan have a family of four siblings who Professor Peter Lee Cumberland (Civil Engineering Cumberland. all chose to study law. student) ››

30 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 31 Alumni News

The Beckford Family Diane Howard “As the first in our family Cummins Trevor m Beckford to go to university, I was Alumni Board m Beckford Dr Diane Cummins (née medical m Philip Urszula fairly naïve, lacking in useful Beckford) (BSc Chemistry diagnostics Cummins Telse 1971, PhD Chemistry 1974): industry, most Beckford Beckford knowledge and had no The Alumni Board was established in 2014 to represent retired, most recently Colgate- recently as real help in selecting and the global alumni community within the University of Palmolive Worldwide Director Site Head Sheffield. We are an advisory body, working alongside Oral Care R&D Biologics at applying. Sheffield the Development, Alumni Relations & Events Meike Johann Abbott Labs Beckford was actually my fourth office (DARE) to help develop alumni engagement Dr Philip Cummins Beckford worldwide. The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Alumni (BSc Chemistry 1971, PhD Trevor Beckford choice, but after visiting Board are also members of the University Council. Chemistry 1974): retired, most (LLB Law 1983): solicitor and six universities, I came Over the past 12 months the Board has met three recently Estée Lauder Executive legal enforcement adviser times, twice in Sheffield and once in London. Director R&D to my senses!” Among the items that we have discussed and Telse Beckford (née Hass) Dr Diane Cummins debated are: Dr Howard Beckford (Visiting Erasmus student (BSc Chemistry 1975, PhD 1980/81): German teacher ● Library access and services for alumni Chemistry 1981): retired, career ● The future management and use of the with ExxonMobil with the Meike Beckford “I also met my partner Convocation Fund, following the suspension main area being economics (BA French and Politics while studying there – of Convocation in 2016 (marketing, refining and 2011, MA International Studies there’s clearly something logistics) 2012): Financial Advocacy ● The establishment of University Charter Day Manager, Dosh and Johann in the Sheffield water ● Fundraising and philanthropy, in particular Dr Urszula Beckford (née Beckford (BA History for our family!” the current campaign to raise £2 million for the Witek) (BSc Biochemistry and Politics 2016): charity SheffieldScanner Appeal 1975): retired, worked in the campaigner Trevor, Telse, Johann and Meike Beckford. Meike Beckford ● International Alumni Ambassadors and grant funding of international groups The Shabir Family ● Granting of Awards to Distinguished Alumni. “As we grew older, it became Future items scheduled for consideration in 2017–18 include: Sumera Shabir (LLB Law 2008, more obvious that we all MA Legal Practice 2012): Principal Sumera Misba Naz ● How alumni can provide support for the Students’ Planning Solicitor, Rotherham Shabir Ihtishaam shared the same dreams Shabir Shabir Union Council Shabir and more importantly all ● Developing the Alumni Portal as well as a regular Misba Shabir (LLB Law 2008, PG shared the same passion forum to provide feedback from alumni Dip Legal Practice 2009): Real ● In 2018 we also intend to hold the first Convocation Estate Solicitor, Irwin Mitchell and love for the law, its Lecture, delivered by a well-known alumnus/alumna Solicitors, Sheffield intricacies and its sometimes of the University.

Naz Shabir (LLB Law 2012, MA quirky way of working. The ● A copy of the Alumni Charter and full minutes Legal Practice 2015): In-house of our meetings can be found at www.shef.ac.uk/ Commercial Counsel and Solicitor, traditional LLB degree was alumni/alumniboard. I am always very happy to hear AESSEAL plc, Rotherham the obvious path into the from fellow alumni and we welcome your ideas and suggestions at [email protected] Ihtishaam Shabir (LLB Law 2016): profession. We were born to Property Assistant, PM Law, be a family of lawyers!” Richard Mayson (BA Geography 1983) Sheffield Chair, Alumni Board Sumera, Misba, Naz and Ihtishaam Shabir. Sumera, Misba, Naz and Ihtishaam Shabir

32 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 33 Alumni News

Dates for Your Diary Annual Alumni Reunion 2016

On Saturday 3 September we welcomed over 150 University London, alumni back to campus for the Annual Alumni Professor Sir Paul 2017 2018 Reunion with a special focus for those alumni who Curran (BSc graduated in 1976, 1986 and 1991. Alumni joined us Geography 1976) was from all over the UK, as well as from overseas, with kind enough to join us Open to all alumni, the Pop Tarts Reunited Alumni Fund guests returning to Sheffield from as far afield as as our guest speaker, annual Annual Alumni Saturday 9 September 2017 Celebration Event Spain, Malaysia and Montserrat. The day was sharing recollections Reunion On campus March 2018 (date tbc) packed with tours of old and new landmarks on the of his time at Sheffield Saturday 9 September 2017 All Sheffield alumni are invited On campus campus, and plenty of opportunities to catch up as well as thoughts on On campus back to Bar One to relive memories Alumni, friends, staff and students and reminisce. The evening gave two options – a the current climate in Open to all alumni, the annual from your student days at the join together to thank donors for barbecue in the garden outside the Union’s Bar One higher education and reunion recognises in particular one-and-only Pop Tarts Reunited. their generosity over the past year, or a formal dinner in Firth Hall, hosted by the newly what it means to be part of an alumni community those marking significant recognising and celebrating the appointed Vice-President & Head of Faculty today. The festivities came to a close back at Bar anniversaries since graduating Heritage Circle Lunch achievements made through (Science), Professor Nigel Clarke (BSc Physics 1991, One, where guests took to the dancefloor for a from the University. The classes of Friday 27 October 2017 donations to the University. PhD Physics 1994). The Vice-Chancellor of City special alumni Pop Tarts Reunited. 1997, 1992, 1987 and 1977 are the On campus Email [email protected] or focus for our 2017 celebrations. A special lunch served in call 0114 222 5598. Alumni returning to Sheffield Firth Hall for those alumni who can take part in a selection of are interested in leaving or have Sheffield Alumni Pub Quiz House of Lords Alumni University Quiz Night find out more, emailhelen.rey@ daytime activities and tours, as left a gift to the University in February 2018 (date tbc) Reception Thursday 19 April 2018 sheffield.ac.uk well as a delicious buffet lunch. their Will. London April 2018 (date tbc) On campus In the evening, we are pleased to Email [email protected] The annual pub quiz is back for its London Teams of alumni, staff, students Reunion Luncheon for the announce we will be holding a or call 0114 222 1073. seventh year. Who will beat their Join fellow alumni in the and friends are invited to take part Class of 1968 four-course dinner celebration, fellow alumni to take home the impressive surroundings of in the annual quiz, with prizes for Saturday 23 June 2018 with a live band and special guest trophy? Invitations will be sent by Westminster for this popular the winners and runners-up. On campus speaker, hosted by the President email in late 2017. reception. Guests will also have the More details to follow. Email A celebratory luncheon in Firth & Vice-Chancellor, Professor opportunity to go on private tours [email protected] Hall, to mark the 50th anniversary Sir Keith Burnett. of the Houses of Parliament. of alumni graduating from the Tickets are allocated via a ballot Reunion Luncheon for the University. Invitations will be sent system, details of which will be classes of 1953 and 1958 out in the spring to all those from Alumni Sports Day emailed in the New Year. Wednesday 9 May 2018 this class year for whom we hold On campus contact details. Sport Sheffield saw a record number of football Alumni Sports Day A special event for alumni teams return to the Goodwin Sports Centre April 2018 (date tbc) celebrating 65 and 60 years since Annual Alumni Reunion to take part in one of the favourite and most On campus graduating from the University. Saturday 15 September 2018 entertaining events in the sporting calendar, Meet your friends back in Sheffield Invitations will be sent out in Open to all alumni, the annual the Alumni Sports Day. This year 36 teams took for the annual sports day and the spring to all those from these reunion recognises in particular part in what turned out to be the most hotly compete against fellow alumni in a class years for whom we hold those marking significant contested tournament of the past seven years. variety of sports. Email g.unwin@ contact details. anniversaries since graduating Teams who graduated all the way back to sheffield.ac.uk or call 0114 222 6966. from the University. The classes 2000 participated and the final was between American Alumni Reunion of 1998, 1993, 1988 and 1978 are the Crookslodian Thistle Old Boys and Fly Me To Tournament winners Fly Me To The Moon. Pop Tarts Reunited Saturday 5 May focus for our 2018 celebrations. The Moon (last year’s winners). After a full day April 2018 (date tbc) Boston, MA of football, Crookslodian started to feel the After the Tournament all the teams headed down On campus This flagship event for US alumni ● For a list of all our UK and strain and the youth of Fly Me To The Moon to Bar One to take part in the famous Alumni Quiz, Continue the Alumni Sports Day will take place in Boston, overseas events visit shone through, which saw them crowned and to round off the perfect day with an evening at celebrations with a trip to the Massachusetts in 2018. Invitations www.shef.ac.uk/alumni/ champions for a second year running. Pop Tarts Reunited. Students’ Union for a night of to the evening reception and events/upcoming pop pleasure. dinner will be sent in March. To

34 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 35 Alumni News In Profile Exploring the diverse group of people associated with the University of Sheffield. For longer versions of the profiles visit www.shef.ac.uk/youruniversity

Dr Chris Sexton the end of 2016. She guided experts. I understood enough May Tan May Tan retired in February “I first moved to Hong Kong in 1984. the University through the about IT and what it could do 2017 as Chief Executive Officer This was a turning point for the BSc Genetics 1977, transition from paper to digital – I didn’t need to understand BA Economics, Accounting and (CEO) of Standard Chartered city, during which it transformed PhD Genetics 1983 in the 1990s, the subsequent the technical side. We couldn’t Financial Management 1979 Bank (Hong Kong); she was the itself from a manufacturing to expansion of the network and take risks with the underlying first woman to hold this position a financial hub and secured its After 42 years as a student and a the revolution in student learning network or elements such as since the bank was established position as a gateway to Mainland member of staff at the University, spaces across the campus. One the payroll system. However, we over 150 years ago. She joined China. It was an exciting and Chris Sexton retired as Director of her final ‘acts’ as Director could try something new if we the bank in 2009 as Vice rewarding time to begin my of Corporate Information and was to represent the University saw a benefit. In 1997, we were Chairman, Wholesale Bank Asia. career, and I had an opportunity Computing Services (CiCS) at at Funny Business Sheffield, a the first university in the UK to She was previously the CEO to play an instrumental role in the stand-up competition organised make the student records system of Cazenove Asia, the capital development of equity markets. by Weston Park Hospital Cancer available in a browser so students markets, corporate finance and I’m proud to have broken the glass Charity, which she won! could change their own details. institutional brokerage business, ceiling and paved the way for young And we were also the first Russell where she was the first female women in the financial industry. “I became the Director of CiCS in Group university to give staff and first Asian partner. She is a I’ve gained a lot of knowledge and early 1996. I saw the opportunities and students access to Google council member and the Vice experience during the last 37 years, of delivering services through and cloud computing services. Chairman of Oxfam Hong Kong, and I will continue my involvement the web and wanted to do the job. I’ve enjoyed the excitement of and an executive committee in promoting gender diversity I’m a great believer in talking to helping the University to manage member of Hong Kong Youth within the financial industry people and putting trust in the incredible changes.” Arts Foundation. through mentoring and advocacy.”

Wayne Garvie “When I was at Sheffield I soon Guilherme “Sport management is a very realised that a career in academia Guimarães young science and this is an PhD Economic and Social wasn’t right for me… I had no idea even bigger truth in Brazil. So History 1989 what I was going to do and was so MSc Sport and Recreation it was clear that it would be a Chief Creative Officer, desperate I actually went to the Management 2008 great advantage for me to go International Production at General Manager, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Careers team to ask for advice. abroad and learn from countries That turned out to be really useful Ativa Esporte more advanced in the subject. Wayne Garvie is responsible for as they suggested I go to BBC On top of that, I truly believe driving creative development Radio Sheffield, which had a youth Guilherme Guimarães is the everyone should experience across SPT’s global network access programme. We made a General Manager of Ativa different cultures. I started of production companies weekly programme and there was Esporte, the Brazilian sports researching the best universities outside the US. He joined SPT a great group of people, a mixture marketing consultancy, and in the UK, and Sheffield was in 2012 from All3MEDIA, where of local kids and students, some former Director of Sports one of the few that offered a he was Managing Director of whom have gone on to great for Twitter Brazil, the British Masters in Sport Management. of International Production. careers, at the BBC and Spotify. I Council in Brazil and Geo Professionally, the degree Previously, he was Managing Broadcasting for Granada. He thought, ‘This media lark seems a Eventos. He has worked helped me position myself in the Director for Content and has taken part in our Sheffield good laugh’ and started to apply on major sports projects, sports marketplace, in which Production at BBC Worldwide, Connections volunteering for jobs. I got really lucky with one including the Rio 2016 Olympic I had little experience prior to and has held senior positions programme, returning to the at Granada as a sports researcher. I Games (and bid) and the 2014 going to Sheffield. Personally, a completely different culture, in UK broadcasting, including University to talk to students had the unfortunate job of having FIFA World Cup Brazil. He is it gave me a perspective of and people never (or seldom) Head of Entertainment for about his career and working in to look after Manchester United a member of the University’s viewing things through other judged me for my diverse the BBC and Director of the television sector. and Liverpool.” Alumni Board. people’s eyes, since I was part of attitudes and behaviour.”

36 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 37 Alumni News

In Profile Your Notes and News We are always interested to discover what our alumni are doing now. Here is a small selection of news from people who have been in contact with us or who we have Lisa Burger “One of my happiest memories spotted in the media. of Sheffield is playing piccolo BMus Music 1983 in a performance by the Executive Director, University Orchestra and National Theatre Chorus of Beethoven’s Ninth 1950s On graduating from Sheffield, Symphony in Firth Hall, Lisa Burger trained as an conducted by Professor Garden. Professor Alan Dyer (BSc accountant as she was I loved playing – the flute was Chemistry 1954) received a interested in business but my instrument – and my degree citation from the International her heart was set on a career allowed me to spend three years Natural Zeolite Association in in the performing arts. She doing what I loved. My father recognition of his lifetime of joined Welsh National Opera had done his National Service achievement and contributions as Chief Accountant in 1986, in Yorkshire and I remember to the field of natural zeolites before moving to London and Credit: Matt Humphrey he had fond memories of (hydrated aluminosilicate the Royal Opera House, where trading arm and a more general the place so that could have minerals). she spent 10 years and was management role. In 2001 she influenced my choice: I wanted promoted to Acting Finance became the Finance Director of a music department that was 2nd XI hockey team, 1951/52. Photo supplied by Helen Holmes (née Farrington) Director. A move to the National the National Theatre, then Chief large enough to allow lots of 1960s (BA English Literature, French and History 1953). Gallery as Director of Finance Operating Officer before the performing, and Sheffield was and Operations saw her appointment to her current role also suitably far away from my The Deadwood, which was University of Sheffield, responsible for the institution’s as Executive Director in 2014. home town of Cardiff!” adapted from an article he retiring from these roles in wrote about the plight of 2013. Her portrait, by Keith pensioners in Nigeria. He sadly Robinson, now hangs in In Memory passed away on 6 June 2017. Firth Hall.

Professor Peter Professor of Architecture teaching. You were in no doubt Blundell Jones at the University from 1994 that he had been thinking 1970s and architectural historian out arguments in front of of international repute, students and had invited them Dame Hilary Mantel (BJur Peter Blundell Jones (PhD to participate in this process. (left-right, standing) Bill Matthews, Law 1973, Hon LittD 2005) Architecture (by Publication) He was the toughest critic Graham Bramall, Peter Checkley and received a President’s Medal John Hopkins; (seated) Stuart Martin. 2014) died on 19 August 2016, imaginable, able almost instantly from the British Academy for aged 67. Emeritus Professor to get right to the heart of services to the humanities and Bryan Lawson delivered an any flaws in a student design Graham Bramall (BA German, social sciences. obituary as part of a memorial proposition. There is no doubt Law, Economics and Accounting event organised by the School that students feared his critical 1960), Peter Checkley (BA(Econ) A big-screen adaptation of of Architecture. We quote a ability but, I think, never dreaded 1960), John Hopkins (BA(Econ) one of the Jack Reacher series short extract here: it. He was not harsh, unkind or 1960), Stuart Martin (BA(Econ) of books by Lee Child (LLB unfair but just demanded you 1960) and Bill Matthews Law 1977, Hon LittD 2009) was The portrait of Kathryn Riddle that “If you were lucky enough to lived with his level of argument. (BA(Econ) 1960) have enjoyed now hangs in Firth Hall. Details include released in late 2016 – Never Go attend his [Peter’s] lectures, sit This is research-led teaching at regular reunions since their the Arts Tower and a squash racket. Back starred Tom Cruise. in with him during research it best.” graduation. student supervisions or join Kathryn Riddle OBE (BA Her Honour Judge Anne him in one of the many public ● Visit www.shef.ac.uk/ Dr Gilbert Chigbo (MSc Ceramics Sociology 1967, LLB Law 1986, Molyneux MBE (LLB Law critiques of student design work, architecture/people/pbj for the 1967, PhD Ceramics 1970) won an Hon LittD 2014) was the first 1979) has been appointed a you quite simply recognised the full tribute by students, staff and Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice woman to be a Pro-Chancellor Circuit Judge at the Central highest imaginable quality of colleagues. Award 2014 for the documentary and Chair of the Council of the Criminal Court. ››

38 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 39 Alumni News Your Notes and News

Ambassador for the Harrogate District by the Institute of Directors. 2000s

James Harkin (BA Mathematics and Physics 2000) is head researcher and head writer for the BBC quiz show QI. Relaxing outside the Graves Building, 2006.

A poster from 1971. Photo supplied by Robert Gray (BEng Helen Sharman received the Electrical and Electrical Engineering 1974). Chancellor’s Medal from Lord Dainton Michael Edwards (BSc in 1991. Informatics 2002) has been Scott Woodley (MA Law 2008) is Joel Katz (MA Psychology for appointed the Sporting Director a co-founder of Tutora, an online Musicians 2013) has received at Liverpool Football Club. platform that helps parents and a three-year fellowship from 1980s 1990s Dr Malcolm Butler (PhD Materials families find the best tutors who the Social Sciences and 1993) has been appointed the Arun ‘Arnie’ Singh (BMus Music are local to them. The company Humanities Research Professor Graham Ogden Dr Soultana Maria Valamoti- University’s Director of Global 2002, MA Leisure Management was launched from the co- Council, Canada, to support (BDS Dentistry 1980), Professor Kapetanaki (MSc Environmental Engagement. 2005), Managing Director of working space at University of his PhD research into singers’ of Oral Surgery at the University Archaeology and Palaeoeconomy Sheffield City Taxis, was named Sheffield Enterprise and is still memory processes at York of Dundee, has been appointed 1990, PhD Archaeology and Scott Green (BEng Chemical Sheffield Business Person of the based in Sheffield. University, Toronto. Vice President (Dental) of the Prehistory 2001), an associate Process Engineering 1995), who Year 2016. Royal College of Physicians and professor at Aristotle University of joined South Yorkshire Police in Natalie Jones (MSc Clinical Surgeons of Glasgow. Thessaloniki, has been awarded an 1995, has been promoted to Chief Micha Withoft (LLB European, 2010s Research 2015), a Clinical European Research Council grant Superintendent and appointed as International and Comparative Services Manager in Acute Andrew Hosty (BSc Materials for a project on ‘Identifying the Barnsley District Commander. Law 2003), a senior legal counsel Dr Leandro Berti (PhD Chemistry Therapy Services at Sheffield Science and Engineering 1987, food cultures of ancient Europe’. at Scorpio Group and meditation 2010) has been appointed Head Teaching Hospitals, won the PhD Ceramics 1992) has been Phil Wilkinson (MEng Mechanical teacher, delivered a talk on of Key Enabling Technologies UK Occupational Therapy appointed Chief Executive of Engineering with a Modern ‘How to reclaim control in our of Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Research Foundation Award in the Sir Henry Royce Institute Language 1995), an Executive busy lives’ at a TEDxMonteCarlo Technology, Innovation and recognition of her pioneering for Advanced Materials, based at Manager for the Australian event. Communication. research with stroke survivors. The University of Manchester. Institute for Refrigeration, Air- Its founding partners include the conditioning and Heating, received Universities of Sheffield, Leeds, the Deni Greene Award 2016 for his Rio Olympics and Paralympics 2016 Liverpool, Cambridge, Oxford and work on improving sustainability Congratulations to the six Sheffield alumni who competed Imperial College London. in the built environment. at the Games, with five representing Great Britain and one representing Kosovo: Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill CBE (BSc Chris Hutchinson (BEng Metal Rob Sykes (BA Social History Psychology 2007, Hon LittD 2010) won silver in the heptathlon; Science and Engineering 1987) 1996) has been appointed the Bryony Page (BSc Biology 2015) won silver on the trampoline; is the Headmaster of the Royal University’s Director of Academic Jazmin Sawyers (studied Law and Criminology 2012–13) Russell School, Croydon, a co- Services. competed in the long jump; Hollie Webb (BA Economics educational, independent day 2013) won gold in the hockey; David Wetherill (BSc Biological and boarding school. Andrew Palmer (BA Journalism Chemistry 2012) competed in the table tennis; and Lum Zhaveli From the Students’ Union Handbook, Studies 1998) is the chief executive (BSc Computer Science 2013) competed in the swimming 1982. Photo supplied by Richard of North of England Excellence (50m freestyle). Olympic gold medallist Hollie Webb. Mayson (BA Geography 1983). and has been appointed Credit: GB Hockey.

40 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 41 Alumni News

Sheffield Alumni Alumni Leadership Award Sheffield Connections The Professor Robert Boucher Distinguished Volunteer A member of our alumni Sheffield Alumni Volunteer of the Alumni Awards community who has shown Year Award Awards exceptional leadership skills A member of our alumni These awards give the University the opportunity to honour the memory of Professor Robert Boucher The advice, experience and in their involvement with community who has acknowledge the achievements of alumni who have (Hon DEng 2009), the former Vice-Chancellor support offered by our alumni the University, often juggling demonstrated commitment, made outstanding contributions to business and who set up the Development and Alumni volunteers is greatly appreciated personal, professional and enthusiasm, inspired others, community life. They were established in 2011 to Relations Office in 2002. by the University. The annual other voluntary commitments: and gone above and beyond Sheffield Alumni Volunteer Mirela Arqimandriti (MBA the expected role of a volunteer: Award winner 2017 University Association of Awards recognise their Business Administration 2004) Madhu Rao (MSc Software Brian Wrigley Former Students with outstanding contributions. Systems and Internet (BJur Law 1968, LLM European and Convocation in 2007. He served as Sheffield Alumni Volunteer Technology 2011) Commercial Law 2001) was the alumni representative on Winners 2016 Project of the Year Award honoured in recognition of his Council from 1983 until his Pioneering Alumni Award Recognising alumni volunteers ● Find out more about our alumni tireless support of the University, retirement in 2015, where his For a recent graduate who has and staff involved in delivering winners at www.shef.ac.uk/ its students and alumni. In 1972, he particular interests included demonstrated outstanding an outstanding project, activity alumni/volunteering/why/ joined the executive committee of campaigning for greater gender commitment and enthusiasm as or event that has had substantial volunteer_awards_2016 Convocation, the voluntary body balance on Council and the a volunteer: Catherine Rankine impact on its beneficiaries: that had served alumni since the conservation of the Arts Tower. In (MEng Structural Engineering University was established in 1905. 2014, he became a founder member and Architecture 2013) He served as Secretary and, from of our Alumni Board, which 2009, Chair, and was instrumental replaced Convocation as the in the merger of the Sheffield representative body for alumni. Alumni Honours Ciara Eastell (MA Librarianship Nicholas Lowles (BA Social 1995) Awarded an OBE for services History 1993) Awarded an MBE for Birthday Honours 2016, to public libraries. services to community cohesion Award winner 2016 diaspora. She has been the British New Year Honours 2017 Jessica Ennis-Hill (BSc Psychology and combating extremism. Adeola ‘Ade’ Solanke Film Institute Writer-in-Residence 2007, Hon LittD 2010) Created a Roger Mackintosh (MEng (BA English Literature 1984) was and a Royal Literary Fund Fellow. Professor Paul Curran Dame Commander of the Order of Transportation and Traffic honoured for her achievements as Her debut play, Pandora’s Box, was (BSc Geography 1976) Created the British Empire for services to Engineering 1986) Awarded an a critically acclaimed, award- nominated at the 2012 Off West a Knight Bachelor for services athletics. MBE for services to transport. winning screenwriter and End Theatre Awards. The second to higher education. playwright. She is the founder and part of the trilogy, East End Boys, Clive Furness (LLB Law 1990) Kathleen Slack (BA Geography creative director of Spora Stories, West End Girls, premiered in Sir Roger Bannister (Hon DSc Awarded a BEM for services to 1977) Awarded an OBE for services which produces original plays and London in 2015, and Ade is 1978) Appointed a Companion of young people in Newham. to the economy and the films that reflect family dynamics planning to present the third part Honour for services to sport. Professor Vernon Gibson FRS (BSc community of South East England. and the experiences of the African during 2017. Chemistry 1980, Hon DSc 2010) Barbara Cox (Cert Botanical Professor Carol Smart (MA Law Appointed a Companion of the Illustration 2001) Awarded and Criminology 1975, PhD Order of the Bath for services to a BEM for services to Criminology 1983) Awarded a CBE defence. Hollinsclough School, for services to the social services. Derbyshire, and the Chernobyl Dr Jeremy Grantham (BA Economics 1961, Hon DSc 2012) Hollie Webb (BA Economics 2013) Children’s Project (UK). To nominate one of our alumni for this annual [email protected] with the subject ‘Professor Awarded a CBE for philanthropic Awarded an MBE for services to award, please submit their biographical Robert Boucher Distinguished Alumni Award Paul Doe (BA Geography 1978) service to climate change research. hockey. Awarded an MBE for services information and a letter of nomination (of no more nomination’. The deadline for nominations to be Peter Hilton JP (BEng Anne Western (a student of Social than 500 words) to: Claire Rundström, Head of considered for an award in 2018 is 24 November 2017. to housing and voluntary Engineering 1968) Awarded an Policy and Sociology in 1997) Alumni Relations, The University of Sheffield, service to tackling homelessness. MBE for services to education and Awarded a CBE for services to local Development, Alumni Relations & Events, ● Further details can be found at www.shef.ac.uk/ the community in Manchester. government. 40 Victoria Street, Sheffield, S10 2TN, or email alumni/our_alumni/distinguished

42 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 43 Alumni News Honours and Awards Honorary Degrees The oldest Staff and students from the University continue to be recognised connection? nationally and internationally for their expertise. The University of Sheffield confers honorary degrees (or degrees honoris causa – as a ‘mark of honour’) on people who A conversation have given distinguished service or brought distinction to the between one of Professor Tim Birkhead FRS Dr Joseph Cook (BSc Geography Professor Mark Rainforth University, the City of Sheffield or the region. Alumni who our oldest living (Animal and Plant Sciences) has 2008, PhD Geography 2012) (Materials Science and received honorary degrees from the University in 2017: alumni and received the Zoological Society of (Geography) was named one of Engineering) and Professor Miles Stevenson, London’s Award for the 2016 Rolex Young Laureate Zi-Qiang Zhu (Electronic and Professor Angela Gallop Neil Rackham (BSc Director of Communicating Zoology for his award winners for his Ice Alive Electrical Engineering) have been CBE (BSc Botany 1971, Hon Psychology 1965, Hon DSc Advancement, has book, The Most Perfect Thing, project on glacier microbiology elected Fellows of the Royal DSc 2017): Chief Executive of 2017): an author, consultant uncovered a family which looks at the science behind and climate change. Academy of Engineering. Axiom International and and academic, known for connection back to birds’ eggs.

Forensic Access. ‘consultative selling’. University College, Kate Dawtry Emeritus Professor Tony Crook Sheffield Solar (Physics and Sheffield. In (née Kevan). and Professor John Henneberry Astronomy) received the Smart Dr J Malcolm Gray (AMET Dr Helen Sharman OBE (BSc 1897–99, Kate (MA Town and Regional Planning Solar Industry Award from Metallurgy 1961, MMET Chemistry 1984, Hon DSc 2017): Dawtry (née Kevan) was a student at 1976) (Urban Studies and Smart Solar UK. Metallurgy 1962, PhD the first British astronaut the Sheffield Day Training College, a Planning) received the Excellence Metallurgy 1965, Hon DSc and Operations Manager, part of University College, Sheffield, in Planning Research Award 2016 Dr Chris Stokes (BMedSci Dental 2017): President and Founder Department of Chemistry, the precursor of the University. She for their book Planning Gain: Technology 1999, PG Cert of Microalloyed Steel Imperial College London. was awarded a teachers’ Providing Infrastructure and Teaching (HE) 2002, PhD Institute in Houston, Texas. qualification in May 1900. Her son, Affordable Housing. Engineering Materials 2003, MEd

Professor Simon Tavaré FRS Sir Alan Dawtry CBE, TD (LLB Law Professor Tim Birkhead. E-Learning 2005) (Clinical Dr Lee Elliot Major (BSc (BSc Statistics 1974, MSc 1937, Hon LLD 2007), who celebrated Professor Nigel Dunnett (PhD Dentistry) received a National Physics 1990, PhD Theoretical Statistics 1976, PhD his 102nd birthday this year, recalled, Jason Briggs (BA History and Animal and Plant Sciences 1996) Teaching Fellowship from the Physics 1994, Hon DSc 2017): Probability and Statistics “She joined the Union of Students Philosophy 2009) and Miryam (Landscape) designed the Royal Higher Education Academy. Chief Executive of the 1979, Hon DSc 2017): Director and I believe at the time of her death Prasetyo (BA Management and Horticultural Society’s flagship Sutton Trust. of the Cancer Research UK in 1956 was still on paper a Vice Japanese Studies 2011, MA show garden at the Chelsea Professor Brendan Stone Cambridge Institute. President. She married in 1913, by Multilingual Information Flower Show to mark the RHS (BA English Literature 2000, which date she had become Management 2012) (Development, Greening Grey Britain campaign, PhD English Literature 2004) ● For further information on how to nominate someone for an headmistress of a girls’ school. Alumni Relations and Events) of which he is the national (English) received the Excellence honorary degree, please contact Claire Rundström, Head of This employment, as was then the won the Institute of Fundraising’s ambassador. in Patient Experience Award Alumni Relations, email: [email protected] custom, ceased on her marriage.” Insight Award for their report from the NHS Yorkshire and Philanthropy For Us, which Factory 2050, home to the Humber Leadership Academy in focused on international Advanced Manufacturing recognition of his work to Obituaries fundraising analytics. Research Centre’s Integrated improve support services for Alumni and friends of the University may submit obituaries – for an alumnus/alumna or former member of staff Manufacturing Group, was people with mental health issues. – to Development, Alumni Relations & Events for inclusion on our website. Please email [email protected] Professor Sir Keith Burnett CBE, named Project of the Year at We have been informed of the following deaths of University staff in the past year: FRS (President & Vice- the Constructing Excellence Chancellor) has been appointed Awards 2016. Professor Peter Blundell Jones Dr Alan Watson Malcolm Whyte President of the Science Council; (PhD Architecture (by Publication) Reader in the Department of Head of Information Support in he also received a lifetime An interdisciplinary team of 2014) Professor of Architecture in Civil and Structural Engineering, the Department of Corporate achievement award at The City students – iGem Sheffield – the School of Architecture, and a and a member of staff from Information and Computing Region Business Awards, and a were nominated for Best member of staff from 1994–2016 1973–2002. Services, and a member of staff second Individual Performance Diagnostics Project and won a (also see page 38). from 1978–2008. Ann Watson Excellence Award from the gold medal at the international Dr Terry Pratt Senior Lecturer A technician in the University Professor Peter Wyatt People’s Republic of China for his iGEM Competition 2016 for a in French in the School of Library, and a member of staff Reader in the Department of commitment to increase the device that uses synthetic Languages and Cultures, and from 1979–2004. Chemistry, and a member of staff understanding of Chinese biology to diagnose bacterial Professor Brendan Stone. a member of staff. from 1948–68. language, peoples and culture. infections.

44 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 www.shef.ac.uk/alumni 45 Benefits for Alumni Don’t miss out on the benefits of staying in touch with us.

Reunions and events Business support Exclusive invitations to events both on Do you want to set up a business? Alumni can and off campus. access University of Sheffield Enterprise and their free business services; visit enterprise.shef.ac.uk Library services for alumni members A Legacy with Impact Alumni with undergraduate or higher degrees Careers advice can apply for free alumni membership of the Continue to use the Careers Service and receive University Library: you receive a Library card bespoke careers advice up to three years after Emily Compton. which enables you to borrow books from all graduation; visit careerconnect.sheffield.ac.uk to library sites. The Library card also allows alumni search for jobs. Make a positive difference to the future of the University to access all library sites during staffed service of Sheffield with a gift in your Will. hours, including Western Bank, the Information Discount on sports facilities Commons, the Health Sciences Libraries and the S10health offers a discounted membership Library Connect area in the Diamond, in addition rate for all Sheffield alumni. This membership Fanfare for the New Chancellor to the Western Bank and Health Sciences Libraries provides access to the gym, swimming pool, steam during self-service hours. To find out more, and sauna rooms, and fitness classes all based When The Rt Hon Lady Justice Eileen Sellars (née Walsh) (BA including how to apply for a Library card, visit at the Goodwin Sports Centre; visit www.sport- Rafferty DBE (LLB Law 1971, Latin and French 1943) was “a www.shef.ac.uk/alumni/services/library sheffield.com Hon LLD 2005) was installed lady of immense musical talent as the eighth Chancellor of who inspired so many people Postgraduate discount Discounted hotels and cottage hire the University of Sheffield in towards the appreciation As a Sheffield graduate you can benefit from a 10% Enjoy a 10% discount with cottages.com and 2015, she entered Firth Hall to of music”. discount on tuition fees if you decide to study with receive a discount at several hotels in Sheffield. the uplifting sound of a special Emily expressed her delight in us at postgraduate level. Terms and conditions fanfare composed by Music receiving the prize by writing a apply, visit www.shef.ac.uk/postgraduate/ Inox Dine student Emily Compton. poem, which includes the words: taught/finance/alumni-rewards-terms Situated on Level 5 of the Students’ Union Building, The quality of the piece Inox Dine is an independently run restaurant Eileen Sellars. has been recognised by the Thank you, Eileen, for this International alumni loyalty discounts serving contemporary British food with an award of the Eileen Sellars’ Composition Prize and for further study international twist and Sheffield alumni receive a A lady of Composition Prize, named Thank you, Eileen, for keeping Rewards worth £1,500 per year of study are 10% discount. immense musical in honour of an alumna who the arts alive. available for all University of Sheffield graduates talent who inspired so specified that her legacy to the and their siblings, spouses, sons and daughters for Wedding venue discount many people towards the University of Sheffield be used ● Listen to the fanfare at all years of study. Choose from four stunning wedding venues at the by the Department of Music. www.shef.ac.uk/alumni/fanfare appreciation of music.” University of Sheffield, including Firth Court, and receive an alumni discount.

● To talk through your ideas in confidence or to request a copy of our Legacy brochure, please contact: David Meadows, Development Officer for Legacies, Development, Alumni Relations & Events, The University of Sheffield, 40 Victoria Street, Sheffield, S10 2TN, Tel: +44 (0)114 222 1073, Email: d.meadows@sheffield. ac.uk, www.shef.ac.uk/legacies For full details of what is available to you, please visit www.sheffield.ac.uk/alumni/services The University of Sheffield is an exempt charity X1089 For some of these benefits you may need to show your Alumni Membership Card. If you haven’t received your card yet or need a replacement, please email [email protected] or call 0114 222 5592. 46 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2017/2018 Reasons to be Proud of the University of Sheffield

Over two tonnes of pollution has been A team of Sheffield students has won a removed from the atmosphere thanks to prestigious European Space Agency Simon Armitage’s innovative air-cleansing competition. Their low-cost telescope poem, In Praise of Air, on the side of the design will be lifted into space by helium Alfred Denny Building. balloon to observe the sun.

The Big Walk 2017: Over 260 alumni walked up to 50 miles in just 24 hours, raising money for the University’s A remote village in West SheffieldScanner campaign. Bengal now has a sustainable power supply thanks to a collaborative project with our Energy 2050 research institute.

We welcomed HRH The Duke of York back to Sheffield to open the £43m Factory 2050 at the AMRC. The state-of-the-art research facility will be used by some of the world’s leading manufacturing companies. Over the past five years, 650 undergraduates have received scholarships totalling £2m, all from generous donations.

Students voted us the Leading LGBT We claimed the Former member of Our #WeAreInternational number one Russell charity, Stonewall, Varsity trophy for staff Professor Sir campaign proudly Group University has recognised the fifth consecutive J Fraser Stoddart celebrates the contribution in the Times Higher the University as a year against local was a joint recipient international students Education Student top employer for rivals Sheffield of the Nobel Prize and staff make to the Experience Survey workplace equality. Hallam. in Chemistry – our University, the city and the 2017. Our Students’ sixth Nobel laureate. UK as a whole. It’s been Union was also voted adopted by over 100 other best in the UK for the educational institutions ninth consecutive year. since its launch in 2013.

TWITTER @SheffieldAlumni www.shef.ac.uk/alumni Development, Alumni Relations & Events FACEBOOK University of Sheffield Alumni ✉ [email protected] The University of Sheffield LinkedIn University of Sheffield Alumni 0114 222 1071 40 Victoria Street Sheffield S10 2TN UK