Issue 276 ▸ 1 october 2014 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community

Introducing Alice Gast Getting to know the 16th Head of Imperial → centre pages

Unconquered Price to pay Touching The inspiring Calculating the tribute journey of cost of saving Celebrating the Masters student Brazil’s Atlantic life of the late Dave Henson rainforest Dame Julia Polak Page 10 Page 7 Page 14 2 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276

Movember campaigns help establish new prostate cancer research centre

editor’s corner Imperial, UCL and the Institute Movember and Prostate Cancer of Cancer Research have launched UK are investing a total of £10 million Beyond the The London Movember Centre of over five years in the London centre Excellence, funded by the Movember and a second centre based in Belfast ordinary Foundation and Prostate Cancer UK. and Manchester. Professor Charlotte Bevan (Surgery The overall focus of the centre is to and Cancer) said: “The Centre will enable During the break from redefine and personalise the care given scientists and clinicians from each of the the Reporter schedule to men with prostate cancer. three partner institutes to work together this summer, I was keen Prostate cancer is the most common to really make an impact. It is a great to find out about some cancer in men, affecting around vision that Movember and Prostate of the exciting things 250,000 men in the UK. Movember is Cancer UK have, to bring together that our staff and students a global movement that challenges men complementary expertise to expedite get up to between terms. to grow moustaches during November, results and change for patients and The incredible and varied to spark conversation and raise funds we are excited about being part of it.” response to my queries for men’s health programmes. –Sam Wong, Communications and Public Affairs ranged from researching crocodile attacks in Northern Australia (Dr Simon Pooley) to doing a 13,000ft skydive for Imperial College Swift action needed to curb Ebola outbreak, study warns Healthcare Charity (Hayley Osborn, page 16). Unless Ebola control measures in West I managed to interview Africa are enhanced quickly, more than a few people including 20,000 people will have been infected Stuart Whitelaw, who in by early November, experts predict. his role as Team GB coach, guided two of our students Researchers from the World Health to silver at the World Organisation (WHO) and Imperial warn Rowing Championships that numbers of cases will continue to in Italy (page 13). climb exponentially. It constantly Public health epidemiologists and amazes me how our statisticians reviewed data to determine staff and students can the scale of the epidemic, better understand fit in activities that go the spread of the disease, and explore what above and beyond their it will take to reverse the trend of infections. primary roles and courses. The first cases were reported in the forest It certainly helps to have areas of Guinea in December. By May, the a good community spirit Volunteers for the Red Cross Society of Guinea disinfect a hospital in Conakry focus of the outbreak in Guinea expanded and support network. to Sierra Leone and in June it took hold All new students and in Liberia. and Modelling at Imperial. “In Nigeria, for example, staff joining Imperial this There are challenges in this region where health systems are stronger, the number of term can look forward that exacerbate efforts to contain the virus, cases has so far been limited, despite infection into to an environment that most importantly the years of conflict that the large cities of Lagos and Port Harcourt.” encourages them to have shattered health systems and left The critical factor determining how big the pursue a breadth of a shortage of health workers. In addition outbreak could get appears to be the speed of activities. I know I’ve the populations of these countries are implementation of rigorous control measures. certainly benefited from it highly interconnected, with extensive “Forward projections suggest that unless control since I’ve been here. andrew czyzewski, Editor cross-border traffic and easy connections measures – including improvements in contact between rural towns and villages and the tracing, adequate case isolation, increased quality Reporter is published every densely populated cities. of care and capacity for clinical management, three weeks during term time “The large intermixing population greater community engagement, and support from in print and online. has facilitated the spread of infection, but international partners – improve quickly, these three Contact Andrew Czyzewski: a large outbreak was not inevitable,” said countries will soon be reporting thousands of cases [email protected] study co-author Professor Christl Donnelly, and deaths each week,” said Dr Christopher Dye, from the MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis Director of Strategy for the WHO. 3 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276 >> newsupdate

Brevan Howard financial research R esearch and Translation Hub centre launches at Imperial construction underway

C onstruction of the flagship research and translation centre on the College’s new campus, Imperial West, began last month.

On completion in 2016, the £200 million Research and Translation Hub will form the centrepiece of the new Imperial West innovation district in White City, delivering world-class education, research and A new research hub set to help Speaking at the launch event, translation activities. understand and prevent financial Chancellor Osborne said: “This centre Professor David Gann CBE, Vice-President crises, was launched by the UK’s will help us both learn from the (Development and Innovation), said: “The Research Chancellor of the Exchequer, mistakes of the past, so we can build and Translation Hub provides the physical environment the Rt Hon George Osborne MP, a safer banking system, and to seize to enable world-class research and knowledge at Imperial on 23 September. the opportunities of the future, so transfer at scale – driving innovation and growth. we lead the world in new financial “Imperial West already hosts scores of innovative The Brevan Howard Centre for Financial technologies and innovation. That’s spin-outs and start-ups, and is highly connected Analysis at Imperial College Business right at the heart of our long term to London’s TechCity and MedCity ecosystems. School is funded by one of the largest economic plan to provide jobs and The Research and Translation Hub allows us to take gifts in business education history: growth and economic security for this to the next level.” £20.1 million from hedge fund Brevan our country.” The Research and Translation Hub, being delivered Howard on behalf of its co-founder Professor G. “Anand” and built by Voreda and Laing O’Rourke, includes and Imperial alumnus Alan Howard. Anandalingam, Dean of Imperial a 23,000 sq m translation centre and a 25,000 sq m The Centre is led by two of the College Business School, added: research centre. Incorporating 50 new scalable units world’s most respected economists: “The Brevan Howard Centre is a major for university and industry spinouts and new ventures, Professor Franklin Allen, formerly of step forward for the Business School. the translation centre will serve the needs of London’s the Wharton School at the University Franklin Allen and Douglas Gale are growing enterprise community. It will be run by of Pennsylvania, and Professor Douglas genuine pioneers in our understanding Imperial College ThinkSpace – a dedicated team that Gale, who came to Imperial from NYU. of systemic risk, corporate governance works with entrepreneurs and companies large and A key goal of the Centre will be and interbank liquidity. Under their small to provide innovative, high quality workspaces to reach out beyond the academic leadership, the Centre’s potential and relocation support. The research centre will community to engage policymakers, is enormous.” provide high specification, multidisciplinary research financial services professionals —Andrew Scheuber, Communications space for 1,000 scientists and engineers. and Public Affairs and the wider public. –Andrew Scheuber, Communications and Public Affairs

New CEO at T om Welton LKCMedicine attracts Imperial West to head up collaboration award Enterprises Natural Sciences Imperial has been Dr Eulian Roberts has Professor Tom shortlisted for International become the first Chief Welton, FRSC, Collaboration of the in brief Executive of Imperial currently the Head Year in the 2014 Times West Enterprises. of Department of Higher Education Awards. Dr Roberts will work with colleagues Chemistry and Professor in Sustainable The award recognises across Imperial and beyond, to ensure Chemistry, will become Dean of the exceptional projects that Imperial West becomes a dynamic Faculty of Natural Sciences from that are carried out and productive innovation district for 1 January 2015. Professor Welton will jointly between a UK world-leading academics, innovative succeed Professor Maggie Dallman, institution and one companies and entrepreneurs. Dr Roberts who has led the Faculty since 2008, or more international partners. Imperial has made was most recently Chief Executive of and who will take up appointment the cut thanks to its collaboration with Nanyang Dhahran Techno Valley Company in Saudi as Associate Provost (Academic Technological University (NTU) on the Lee Kong Chian Arabia and, prior to this, he held the Partnerships). Professor Alan Armstrong School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) – an undergraduate position of Managing Director at Qatar will succeed Professor Welton as Head medical school in Singapore which was established Science & Technology Park, Qatar. of the Department of Chemistry. jointly by the institutions in 2010. 4 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276

Imperial launches R ecord-breaking year for Imperial donations new Success Guide

The number of people donating to Imperial has more than doubled since 2009

A new milestone in the history of charitable giving at Imperial has been set, as end-of-year figures showed that a total of 5,400 people had donated more than £54 million during the 2013–14 financial year. That is the greatest number of people ever to give in a single year, and the most ever raised for the College. The funds donated will further the work of leading researchers and will provide prestigious scholarships for the brightest students. Angela Bowen, Deputy Director of Development, said: “It’s been an absolute privilege for us to make contact with so many of Imperial’s alumni and friends over the last year, and to tell them about how their support can advance the College’s life-changing research and scholarships. Our donor community is the foundation for our fundraising mission, and we are profoundly grateful Imperial has launched a new online guide to support for their commitment and support.” new students as they adjust to university life. The number of people donating to Imperial has more than doubled since 2009, rising from around two thousand to over five thousand in 2014. The Imperial Success Guide is an online resource, The total amount donated to the College in 2009 was £6.6 million. featuring a range of hints, tips and advice on –Daniel Mapp, Development Division everything from effective study to health and wellbeing, which aims to give new undergraduate students the information they need to succeed at the College. It will be supported by a new blog providing São Paulo research Imperial’s Provost, Professor extra information throughout the term on topics such James Stirling, said: “We are very as exams and preparing for your first assignments. partnership hails pleased to be working alongside The Success Guide was created through the exciting new projects FAPESP, one of our key international College’s work on Academic Transitions, as part partners, to foster a new host of joint of the Education and Student Strategy. The project, Imperial and its Brazilian initiatives with some of São Paulo’s led by Professor Mary Morrell, was tasked with partner, the São Paulo Research leading research institutions and I am developing a programme to support new students Foundation (FAPESP), have announced delighted to see such a diverse and as they transition from school to university. the first projects to be jointly funded exciting range of projects.” Professor Morrell, Chair of the Transitions through a recent agreement. Dr Cristina Banks-Leite Working Group, said: “The first year of university Seven projects involving Imperial (Life Sciences) heads one of the is a dramatic time of change. We have some of the researchers and collaborators in successful projects, looking at how brightest students in the world here at Imperial and São Paulo institutions – including rainforest ecosystems work, including the Success Guide is designed to make sure they the University of São the effects of changes start out well and make the most of their time here Paulo and the National “I am delighted in land-use such as at the College. Research Centre for Energy to see such deforestation. “We’ve had a lot of feedback from staff and & Materials – have been a diverse and She said: “Many students on the Guide so far and we’ll be drawing selected to receive matched exciting range of the UK team haven’t on this to further develop it as the year goes on. seed-funding up to the of projects.” yet been to the rainforest There’s a lot of useful information out there and equivalent of £6,000. and this provides us we’ll be regularly producing new content on the They range from with the opportunity blog and across social media.” a project assessing and guiding to spend some time getting to know −Jon Narcross, Communications and Public Affairs sustainability in Brazilian sugar cane the field of study and the challenges to one looking at the transmission it presents.” For more information visit imperial.ac.uk/success-guide or visit the Success Guide stand at Fresher’s Fair during of the malaria-causing parasite –John-Paul Jones, Communications and Public Affairs Welcome Week. plasmodium vivax. 5 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276 >> newsupdate

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Studying a North Korean Health Innovation, said: “Reckless prescribing volcano of antibiotics is increasing drug resistance and threatens to turn common infections into The Washington Post ▸ 08.09.14 untreatable diseases. We risk creating a world where patients entering hospital will gamble A team of scientists has returned from its third with their lives and routine operations will field trip to a volcano on the border between become too dangerous to carry out.” North Korea and China, which more than a thousand years ago was the site of one of the biggest eruptions in human history. Fears that Expert lauds carbon Mount Paektu might be unstable began in 2002, capture feats Rewilding Britain following increased seismic activity and ground Gulf Times ▸ 21.09.14 The Guardian ▸ 19.09.14 swelling. “That sparked a lot of interest both in China and North Korea but also internationally,” Research by the Qatar Carbonates and Reintroducing extinct species to the landscape said Dr James Hammond (Earth Science and Carbon Storage Research Centre (QCCSRC) at is called rewilding and is a controversial issue, Engineering). He added that fears of a major Imperial is making a vital contribution to mitigate as a feature article in The Guardian explores. eruption soon are probably unfounded. climate change, but the science will need to be Advocates enthuse about the benefits, for ‘It’s certainly very tranquil at the moment.’” matched with financial and legislative measures. example, citing that wolves help keep Martin Blunt (Earth Science and Engineering), deer numbers in check enabling woodlands Professor of Petroleum Engineering, said: to expand. However, wolves are a threat to ‘Reckless’ antibiotic “At the moment there is no financial incentive to sheep and possibly hikers. Other species might prescribing fuelling superbugs inject carbon dioxide. Capturing carbon dioxide be less controversial. Jamie Wyver (Life Sciences) The Telegraph ▸ 23.09.14 and piping it to the facilities is rarely worth the is a masters student looking at public attitudes amount of extra money you get back whether towards the reintroduction of the lynx in GPs in some areas of England are prescribing for carbon trading schemes or the additional the Scottish highlands and Forest of Dean. almost 25 per cent more antibiotics than recovery.” But he pointed out – “There are no records anywhere in Europe others, an investigation has found. Former it is a price worth paying of anyone ever being attacked by a Lynx.” health minister, Lord Darzi (Surgery and when compared to the cost Cancer), Director of the Institute of Global to the environment. awards and natural sciences natural sciences support honours Queen’s Medal for Morris ‘Outstanding work’ services

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pushed the McCulloch design work has 14 03 Reunion Invite Playing Card 105x148_TP.indd 5 wins plaudits 3/12/14 10:04 AM boundaries (Chemistry) been recognised at both the A team of MBA students has won of mass spectrometry has been has been HEIST education marketing £10,000 of start-up investment in awarded the 2014 Royal Society presented Awards and the University and a Dragon’s Den style competition Royal Medal. Research by Emeritus with the College Designers Association for their idea to improve access Professor of Biological Chemistry Wolfson Research Merit Award Competition. At HEIST, the College to healthcare in Uganda using Howard Morris FRS (Life Sciences) in recognition of his outstanding was awarded a Gold prize for mobile phones. Team SasaDoc has improved our understanding work on organic semiconducting Best Postgraduate Prospectus, won the I&EStart! Challenge held of living systems at the molecular materials. The Royal Society following a collaborative revamp at Imperial College Business level, in health and disease, announced 14 new award by Student Recruitment, Outreach School with their premium text by using advanced spectrometry winners who will each receive and Communications and Public and voice message service which to elucidate the structures of five years’ funding. Jointly funded Affairs. At the University and would allow Ugandans to receive newly discovered, biologically by the Wolfson Foundation and College Designers Association doctor consultations over the active materials. The Royal the Department for Business, Competition, the College picked phone. A portion of the revenue Medals, which are also known as Innovation and Skills, the Awards up nine awards against stiff US will be used to fund projects to the Queen’s Medals, are awarded were established in 2000 to competition, including prizes improve access to doctors and annually for the most important attract and retain respected for the Imperial Festival and the healthcare for Ugandans who contributions in the physical, and talented scientists with playing-card themed Alumni cannot afford to pay. biological and applied sciences. exceptional potential in the UK. Reunion invitation. 6 >> scienceroundup www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276

Fossil fuel alternative created with the help of bacteria

R esearchers have engineered the harmless gut bacteria E.coli Qi u ck Facts to generate renewable propane.

The development is a step towards commercial production of a source 33.6 million of fuel that could one day provide an alternative to fossil fuels. Indian households (28.5%) use LPG as cooking fuel Propane is an appealing source of cleaner fuel because it has an existing global market. It is already produced as a by-product during natural gas processing and petroleum refining, but both are finite resources. In its current form it makes 13 million+ vehicles are fuelled by propane gas up the bulk of LPG (liquid petroleum gas), which is used in many applications, worldwide from central heating to camping stoves and conventional motor vehicles. In a new study, the team of scientists used Escherichia coli to interrupt the biological process that turns fatty acids into cell membranes. The researchers used enzymes to channel the fatty acids along a different biological pathway, so that the bacteria made engine-ready renewable propane instead of cell membranes. Their ultimate goal is to insert this engineered system into photosynthetic bacteria, so as to one day directly convert solar energy into chemical fuel. Dr Patrik Jones (Life Sciences) said: “Although this research is at a very early stage, our proof of concept study provides a method for renewable production of a fuel that previously was only accessible from fossil reserves. Although we have only produced tiny amounts so far, the fuel we have produced is ready to be used in an engine straight away. This opens up possibilities for future sustainable production of renewable fuels that at first could complement, and thereafter replace fossil fuels like diesel, petrol, natural gas and jet fuel.” –Gail Wilson, Communications and Public Affairs

First gene therapy trial launched for heart patients with mechanical pumps

Patients with advanced heart failure who rely The new trial, a world-first, is led by Imperial on a mechanical heart pump to keep them alive and funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) could benefit from a new type of gene therapy and Celladon Corporation and will explore whether being tested in a clinical trial. this gene therapy could help these patients’ hearts recover. This particular gene therapy is designed to increase levels of SERCA2a – a protein in heart muscle C ase study cells that plays an important role in contraction. Lee Adams, 37, from Hertfordshire, Genes are inserted into the heart muscle cells using has been living with an LVAD for a harmless engineered virus. The research team will over two and a half years and take small biopsy samples of the heart muscle six is on the waiting list for a heart transplant. He is the first such months after treatment for further analysis. patient in the world to be on Professor Sian Harding (National Heart and Lung this new gene therapy trial. Institute), Head of the BHF Centre of Regenerative “It took some getting used to Medicine, who helped develop the treatment, said: living with an LVAD,” he says. “You can’t just jump in the bath “We will be using state-of-the art methods to gain or the shower and it’s difficult Heart failure occurs when the heart no longer pumps detailed information on how and where the gene sleeping. Everywhere I go I have blood effectively. Some individuals with advanced therapy takes effect, which will potentially help us to carry the power supply and spare batteries in a backpack. heart failure can be fitted with a Left Ventricular Assist develop and improve the therapy.” “Of course the best thing Device (LVAD), which supports the failing heart and The research team plan to evaluate how this that could happen would be for aims to restore normal blood flow. These pumps are therapy works in 24 patients with advanced heart my heart function to show signs often fitted to keep patients alive until a suitable donor failure who are fitted with LVADs. Of the patients of improvement. But I’m not building up my hopes too much heart becomes available for transplant. However, enrolled in the study, 16 will be treated with the gene because, for all I know, I might a shortage of donor organs in the UK means that therapy and eight will be treated with a placebo. have had the placebo.” many patients will die on the transplant waiting list. – Francesca Davenport, Communications and Public Affairs 7 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276 >> scienceroundup

Less than $200m would conserve Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, say researchers

Brazil could conserve its valuable Atlantic Forest by investing just 0.01 per cent of its annual GDP, according to a new study. Method R ediscovered ceramic has To calculate costs the researchers The Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) first had to record what and how many potential in hypersonic flight is one of the most important and species are currently living in pristine threatened biodiversity hotspots in and degraded areas of the Atlantic the world, containing the only living Forest. Over a period of nine years, A structural ceramic that can withstand temperatures a team of more than 100 researchers examples of nearly 10,000 species collected data on birds, mammals three times hotter than lava shows promise in of plant and more bird species and amphibians living in the forest. hypersonic air travel, say researchers. than all of Europe. Using mist nets to capture birds as well Situated along the Atlantic as pitfall traps to capture mammals Teams around the world are working on prototype and amphibians, they painstakingly coast of Brazil, it once covered recorded information on 25,000 technologies that could enable aircraft to travel an area of nearly 1.5 million square individuals, made up of 140 species at hypersonic speeds – five times faster than the kilometres. Today, the forest is home of birds, 43 species of mammals and 29 speed of sound. These planes would leave the to more than 130 million people and species of amphibians. They estimated Earth’s atmosphere and fly through space, that to maintain biodiversity and it covers only 160,000 sq km, because ecosystem functions, a minimum of 30 before re-entering to arrive at their destination, of deforestation. per cent of native habitat needs to be dramatically cutting travel times. A team of international scientists preserved. To evaluate overall costs of One of the big maintaining minimum forest cover the have calculated that it would cost challenges is developing scientists combined current estimates US$198 million per year to pay of existing forest cover with average 2 hours a material that can shield private owners to set aside land for costs paid to private land owners. planes from extreme reforestation. This would be enough Time taken to travel re-entry temperatures to conserve the majority of species. from London to of over 2000°C. US$198m is equivalent to only 6.5 per cent of what Brazil already invests in Tokyo in hypothetical To this end, researchers agricultural subsidies and less than 0.01 per cent of the country’s annual GDP. hypersonic plane at the Centre for Advanced There are already some schemes in Brazil to pay private land owners to set Structural Ceramics at aside land for conservation but these have been local-scale initiatives that have Imperial are carrying out research into ultra-high had little impact on maintaining and improving the conditions of the whole forest. temperature ceramics (UHTCs). Lead researcher Dr Cristina Banks-Leite (Life Sciences) said: “The Atlantic Earlier this year, PhD student Omar Cedillos Forest is smaller and far more degraded than the Amazon rainforest, but it also (Materials) carried out experiments on UHTCs at contains a vast range of biological diversity. The forest is a crucial habitat that is the Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU) in home to more than half of Brazil’s threatened animal species. Karlsruhe, Germany. He used a high powered laser “Our study shows that it would be relatively cheap to secure the future of the to create the intense, focussed heat required to melt forest by paying land owners on a large scale to set aside land for conservation. the ceramics and a second laser to analyse how Local communities and land-owners will benefit not only from regular payments the material melts as it is being heated. but also from the benefits that a flourishing ecosystem brings. We need to start They found that hafnium carbide, a ceramic to put such a scheme in place now, before it becomes too late.” first experimented with in the 1960s, can withstand –Gail Wilson, Communications and Public Affairs temperatures of more than 4050°C – higher than previously reported. Commenting on the work Omar said: “Friction between the craft and the atmosphere on re-entry generates enormous amounts of heat, which could destroy the craft if it is not protected properly. Our results are promising and suggest that hafnium carbide may be a material that could shield these planes from heat generated by friction between air and the plane’s surface.” The next step will see Cedillos and colleagues investigating coatings and additives that might prevent hafnium carbide and other UHTCs from The Green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon) Brachycephalus crispus is endemic to reacting with oxygen in the atmosphere at high is one of the most colourful birds in forests the Atlantic Forest. Individuals are smaller temperatures, which causes degradation. of Southeastern Brazil than 2mm –miColin S th, Communications and Public Affairs 8 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276

Introducing President Alice Gast

Reporter sits down with President Alice Gast, Imperial’s 16th Head, to find out about the journey that led her here and what drives her.

When I meet Alice, on the morning The joy of discovery of Friday 19 September, the news has just come through that Scotland will She completed her postgraduate remain part of the United Kingdom. work at Princeton University, While we don’t discuss the result receiving a Masters and PhD in or politics in any detail, she admits chemical engineering setting up a to being drawn in by the intense successful research career focussed campaign and build-up. Interestingly, on the exciting and often surprising Alice says she often likes to observe interactions that take place at the other leadership styles. surface of small particles. It’s an area “For example, it might be that that laid the foundations for what is I admire the way they present now called nanotechnology. While something or work through a problem; Alice has been fully occupied with but then of course there are those academic leadership for many years instances where you think, ‘I definitely now, she looks back at her lab days wouldn’t want to do it in that way’.” with obvious fondness and pride. Reaching across borders and “There have certainly been disciplines is certainly something moments in my research career where that is in vogue at the moment the sheer excitement of things working whether in politics, science, art or and coming out well is just euphoric. music. But for Alice it’s been a lifelong I remember doing neutron scattering career habit, and even seems to have experiments at NIST in Maryland been hardwired from an early age. studying these polymer micelles, “My father was a biochemist which are essentially particles and I used to tag along to the lab with hairy surfaces that interact in occasionally to see what he was interesting ways. We turned the beam There have doing. We’d often look at images from on and started getting the image and been moments early electron microscopes. But I also as it built up we saw the result we remember helping him repair the car expected and it was beautiful really.” in my research and taking apart my bicycle, painting For Alice though, there was always career where the it and putting it all back together – a pull to explore new avenues and sheer excitement so I had that mechanical focus too.” horizons and that meant looking further At high school Alice most enjoyed afield. At graduate school in Princeton of things working chemistry, physics and maths and so she learned to speak French, studying is euphoric.” it made sense to “pull those together” early in the morning, and went on to when opting to take a degree in successfully apply for a postdoctoral chemical engineering at the University NATO fellowship at ESPCI in Paris – of Southern California. returning to the city as a Guggenheim 9 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276 >> featurefocus

Memorial Foundation Fellow in 1991 C ampus life Q&A while on sabbatical at Stanford University. She also spent time in Alice has spent much of her working Munich on sabbatical where she moved life at universities around the world, Who have been your main mentors? into the field of biophysics, studying and clearly has a love for campus life. Certainly the late Chuck Vest and Bob Brown, protein crystallization on membranes. “It’s just a wonderful environment; who were President and Provost, respectively there are always arts, music and at MIT. I learned a tremendous amount about Leadership lessons sporting events going on. Also there’s academic leadership from both of them. Also a real community spirit I think too – I would say that Shirley Tilghman, President It was during her 16 years at Stanford at Stanford my kids were in the of Princeton University, has been a mentor. University that Alice started to take on childcare centre which really benefited more leadership roles in overseeing me and other academics and I know Are you currently reading a book or novel? projects. The university had, and we have something similar at Imperial Strides by Benjamin Cheever. It’s about the still has, a Synchrotron Radiation with the Early Years Education Centre.” history of running from antiquity onwards, with Lightsource, producing high energy While the expansive campuses some of the author’s own personal running X-rays for scientific research. Alice of Stanford and Lehigh might be experiences thrown in there. As a runner myself, became a faculty member for the a far cry from our own tightly-knit it’s quite fascinating. facility and led a faculty design London homes, Alice sees that as consultation for a new building that an opportunity to get out and about Is there a gadget you couldn’t do without? would bring medical and science meeting academic and support I have my ipad and iphone with me most of the researchers together in mixed labs – staff and students. time and I find that certain apps can become a space now called the Clark Centre. “Being compact actually has quite addictive. I use ‘Log my run’ and now I “That was really stepping out of my its benefits I think, you do bump feel like I don’t get any credit for a run if I don’t scientific and teaching role and looking into people more, and have those log it properly! I already use Yoyo to pay for at how physical space influences serendipitous encounters and refreshments on campus. It’s a great system. the way people collaborate and how conversations from which great people from very different fields can new ideas spring.” I understand you’re a keen hiker, work together. I think it took some real Alice plans to spend the next few any favourite destinations? bravery and boldness on the part of months visiting different Departments That’s tough, there are so many. Some that many of the researchers – who were with the Provost and Faculty Deans, spring to mind include the Sawtooth Range in comfortable in their own reputation – getting to know academic and support Idaho (1), the Swiss Alps and the Penang National to move beyond their area of expertise.” staff better. With her extensive Forrest in Malaysia – we saw lots of wildlife From Stanford it was onto the experience driving interdisciplinary there and some monkeys stole our apples (2). Massachusetts Institute of Technology collaboration Alice is keen to host a where Alice served as Vice-President for series of receptions and breakfasts The last time you were in awe? Research and Associate Provost for five with divergent groups – encouraging When I visited CERN in June (3) and the years and then the office of President a broader mix of staff to get together. detectors were open to view. I’ve worked in at Lehigh University for eight years Impressed at the huge range of some impressive beamline facilities in my from where she came to Imperial. Alice student clubs and societies, she career but CERN is something else. It will be had very successful tenures leading also suggested this might be a new exciting as it goes to full power later this year. and growing both these institutions, way of connecting with our student and just as when she was a junior community – through something they professor, she looked for opportunities have a real passion for. 1 2 that would take her down new avenues. So what should the wider Imperial In 2006, Alice co-chaired a community expect in the months and National Academies committee years to come from their President? advising the government on the topic The overriding impression is of of science and security before being someone bold and brimming with appointed as a Science Envoy for the new ideas, who values the breadth Department of State in 2010. of opinions that are part and parcel 3 Speaking about that period Alice of university of life. says: “It was post 9/11 and it was an “I think my leadership style has important time in striking the balance evolved over time as I’ve matured; between openness and sharing and the I certainly hope so since I’ve learned need to keep certain information secure so much along the way from so from those who would do us harm. many different people. I do feel it’s I got very involved in international important to get all the voices around student visas and making sure we had the table and have a discussion that a flow of talent from overseas and that moves everyone forward, so that they export issues with regards to sharing each see the benefits of a certain information and collaborating among decision even if it is not exactly how research groups were thought through.” they wanted it to go.”

10 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276 the warrior

Captain David Henson is a soldier, athlete, student and recently a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). But when I sit down to chat with him, he tells me he never really thought he’d be anything other than an engineer when he was growing up.

“If you think in a certain way, focused on developing better that’s just how you think – it informs prosthetic knee joints. how you approach problems and Needless to say Dave has a overcome them.” vested interest in seeing this technology Dave studied mechanical succeed for his own benefit and those Dave led Team GB at the engineering at university before going of other amputees. While his carbon Invictus Games and even onto the Royal Military Academy fibre blades allow him to run 200m on squeezed in a gold medal Sandhurst. He then joined 22 Engineer a track faster than most people, they himself in the 200m IT2 Final Regiment and was subsequently do have major limitations in terms of deployed to Afghanistan. flexibility of movement and the stress Part of his role was to lead a they place on the back and hips. “Sport is a big part of the army, but I personally detachment force clearing improvised “That is a constant driver for me. never trained to be good at sport. It was only during explosive devices (IED). He was doing I really miss being able to do things my recovery phase that I found the benefits that just that on Sunday February 13 2011, I did before like climbing mountains, came with competition, namely the focus and hoping to make an area safe for playing basketball and squash, doing drive it gives you. Nothing else matters when Afghan families to set up homes. They leisure activities with my wife. So the you’re training.” successfully cleared the first of two question is what can we do about it? Dave has experienced incredible pressure when compounds; but whilst in the second, That’s the way an engineer thinks. he was clearing IED fields in Afghanistan. But does the unthinkable happened as Dave Rather than sitting around being he still get pre-race jitters? stepped on a hidden IED. His right leg miserable, let’s find a solution.” “Oh yes. The nerves are huge. On the first day of was amputated above the knee and In the case of Dave’s work the 200m, because I’d been in the BBC documentary his left leg through the knee and what that solution is an internal knee beforehand a lot of people were recognising me followed was a period of long physical reconstruction that could be fitted and I sort of felt like the face of the Games.” and psychological rehabilitation. inside a residual limp and connected Dave hopes to stay on at Imperial working in the While Dave doesn’t shy away from to tendons and muscles, making for same line of research. While that remains his primary talking about that time, we focus on a more mobile joint that has better focus he hopes to carry on training and competing recent positives. He is fresh from a long term outcomes. and doesn’t rule out a tilt at the World Championships successful campaign as GB Captain in Doha next year, and possibly Rio in 2016. at the Invictus Games, leading a team Faster, higher, stronger Does he ever look back at how remarkable events of injured personnel and veterans in in his life have unfolded? sporting competition with counterparts Dave sees the Invictus Games as a “Sometimes it feels like this is what was from armed forces around the world. chance to show spirit and a refusal to supposed to happen, and certainly that makes it Dave is also in the process of finishing be broken, as well as an opportunity easier to accept. Also it’s nice not to always have his dissertation project for his Master’s to thank the general public for their the future planned out in great detail, if a left turn Degree in Biomedical Engineering, ongoing support. comes up, you just go left.”

11 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276 insidestory inside story

mini profile C hris Hankin Imperial’s Bo in collision course Professor Chris Hankin, with CERN Director of the Institute for Security Science On 1 September Imperial mascot Bo called in at CERN during his tour of and Technology (ISST), Switzerland. Stephanie Hills of the CERN Press Office reports on the visit. celebrated his 30th year at the College this Summer. “It is not every day that CERN welcomes a 112 year old member of its university community. Boanerges (‘Son of Thunder’) is one of Imperial’s mascots and is You’ve been in many looked after by volunteer students of the City and Guilds College Motor Club, roles here, can you talk otherwise known as Team Bo. They visited CERN as part of a wider tour of France us through some of the and Switzerland and were welcomed by James Devine (MEng Electrical and highlights? Electronic Engineering 2005), an alumnus and former president of the club. I was Deputy Head of A 1902 James and Browne, Bo is thought to be one of only two remaining Computing for almost 10 years, centres of excellence for cyber examples of this manufacturer. The car is in full working order – if you ignore so I have an enduring interest security research in the UK. the small pools of water and oil that accumulate beneath when he stands in the Department. A major The ISST has also been involved for any length of time! He can manage a death-defying top speed of 27 mph juncture was being elected as in the creation of three new and turns heads wherever he goes. Bo completed most of the tour on the Dean of City and Guilds College research institutes – including back of a trailer with excursions in selected locations such as a drive along in 2000, which has become an the Research Institute into the shore of Lake Geneva. important ongoing part of my Trustworthy Industrial Control Of course, a car this age requires constant maintenance, and European activity here. I also served as Systems, which I am Director of. tours don’t happen every year; James recalled that he “inherited the car in Pro-Rector (2004 to 2006) a thousand pieces.” For the current tour, the support vehicle was packed with and enjoyed being part of What function will tool boxes, spares, greasy rags, and copious amounts of Brasso. a team working with the then that Institute serve? Back in 1902, Bo was the epitome of engineering excellence, and as Rector Sir Richard Sykes and It’s looking at how we part of the visit to CERN, it was important to introduce him to a modern day Deputy Rector Sir Leszek might protect against and equivalent, the CMS experiment. Petrol heads Austin Ball (CERN) and Professor Borysiewicz developing the first mitigate cyber threats to the Tejinder (Jim) Virdee (Physics) were on hand to make the introductions, and articulation of a College-wide infrastructure that controls a Austin gave Team Bo, minus Bo himself, an impromptu underground tour research strategy – remnants range of processes, including of the experiment. of which are still visible in manufacturing, energy Valued at £250,000, only the club’s today’s strategy. distribution and the national rail president is insured to drive Bo. “He’s a bit Did you know? network. The threat has arisen of a handful,” said this year’s President, How have you found your because industrial control Sam Esgate (Computing). “Bo’s doing fine, Another College mascot, Directorship of the ISST? systems are increasingly using it’s me that’s letting him down!” Jezebel, also featured It’s been an incredibly exciting off the shelf components, which Throughout Bo’s visit to CMS, in an episode of Downton Abbey recently time, an opportunity, towards are essentially full powered a succession of technicians, security the end of my career, to find real computing elements. These guards, engineers and physicists applications for some of the can be and often are connected came to take a closer look at the car. ideas I’ve been working on as to the internet because that Fortunately, that provided many a theoretical computer scientist makes maintenance easy, extra pairs of hands when it for the previous 25 years. but at the same time it makes came to helping this elderly gent We’ve done a lot of work on them vulnerable to the same back onto his trailer.” data analysis to support major kind of cyber threat as This article and photos investigations into criminal desktop machines. from Bo’s visit featured activities, and we’re one of in the 23 September issue For the full interview visit: of UK News from CERN the government’s academic bit.ly/ChrisHankin 12 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276

inventor’s corner The spidery start-up combating advertising fraud

Imperial Computing graduates Ashley Brown (pictured) and Simon Overell talk about their online fraud-busting start-up spider.io, recently acquired by Google.

What does your company do? MSc Engineering Geology student Leo Peskett in Rwanda Simon: We focus on combating online advertising fraud. Display advertising has historically been built on trust and on direct relationships between advertisers and publishers. Hot rocks: the promise of That worked fine in 1999, but as the industry has become more complicated it’s become easier for people to cheat the system – geothermal energy in Rwanda often with the help of automated software programs or ‘bots’. For most people, Rwanda is synonymous with the terrible What’s the most interesting case of fraud that you’ve genocide that afflicted the country 20 years ago.T he country come across? is now relatively stable politically, has good roads, a high Ashley: In 2013 we revealed the chameleon botnet – we’d seen standard of education and excellent healthcare. But being traffic committing ad fraud on a huge scale. By disassembling it densely populated and landlocked with no fossil fuel, we were able to see what it was doing, which was basically to energy security is a major issue. run lots of windows in the background loading websites. “They’re currently relying on massive generators on the outskirts How do you know when you’ve conquered something? of the major cities which run on expensive fuel, driven in from Simon: You don’t, it’s basically an arms race. Whenever you over the border,” says Leo Peskett, who recently completed his stop a particular attack, a new attack will spring up as they try MSc in Engineering Geology at Imperial. “It’s not economically to work around what you’ve identified. The ultimate aim is to make or environmentally sustainable.” advertising fraud uneconomical. I think that’s feasible, but there During his course, Leo heard about the annual Basu Prize – will always be something that people with access to thousands a competition that funds the best proposal for an overseas MSc of PC’s can do to make money. dissertation project in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He successfully pitched an expedition to investigate How difficult was it to build the company up? geothermal energy in Rwanda and flew out to the capital Kigali Ashley: It was hard – I had a few 24-hour days in the year on 15 June for three weeks. running up to the acquisition! I was setting the computer off Geothermal energy involves drilling “There are lots to do something for a few hours, going to sleep for two hours, deep into seismically active regions of signs you can waking up and starting it all over again. We had an idea of what with the aim of finding groundwater at look for in the we wanted to achieve and we needed to do it quickly. high temperatures and pressures that different types can be used to produce steam to drive of surface rocks. How did it feel to be acquired by Google? a turbine. Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains That’s what we’ve Ashley: All you want to do when you’re running a small company are a series of dormant volcanoes that been training at is make a big difference with the resources that you have, sit on Africa’s Great Rift Valley and Imperial to do.” and I feel like we made that difference. are a prime candidate location for –Jessica Adams, Communications and Public Affairs geothermal energy. Leo’s first job out in Rwanda was to access survey data stored in the capital Kigali. He also was able to get out into the field in the Virunga Mountains and do some field-based structural geology. “That’s what we’ve been training at Imperial to do. There are lots of signs you can look for in the different types of surface rocks, particularly large faults and smaller fractures. That gives you an idea of permeability of the underlying rock, which is essential for geothermal energy as it means there could be circulating water.” With this work Leo has built a more detailed geological model of the area. He hopes others might continue using similar methods to help inform future drilling operations. “There was of course a limit to what I could do in the three weeks I was there, but I hope to recommend things that may be of help to the Government of Rwanda.” 13 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276 insidestory

River rapid

Imperial’s Head of Rowing Stuart Whitelaw recounts a summer of successful competition and exciting times ahead for the Boat Club.

“It’s been an enthralling but rather exhausting summer for rowing at Imperial, which culminated in an intense week in Varese, Italy for the Under 23 World Rowing Championships, which I was involved with as one of Team GB’s coaches. In all, Team GB took away medals in four different boat classes. Three members of Imperial Boat Club (two of them students) won silver medals: Wilf Kimberley (Life Sciences), Timothy Richards (Medicine) and Georgia Francis. But it’s not just the elite group where things are happening. Prior to the start of term I was showing round some new students. We pair them with older Imperial’s Wilf Kimberley (far left) celebrates silver in the lightweight men’s pairs race at the U23 World Championships rowers from the same course who give them tours of all the labs and facilities at Imperial which works really well. We’re keen to attract rowers at all levels – Some good news for the wider a gathering of Boat Club alumni who were it’s important to have a diverse community. club is that Sir Richard Sykes, a former all reminiscing and sharing stories from And we’re already seeing the fruits of that Rector of Imperial, recently agreed a their time here. Interestingly there’s quite approach. At Henley in early July, two first year request by the club captain to become a range of experiences from different students Ollie Hines (Physics) and Tristan Vouilloz the President of the Boat Club, which is generations but there’s always been (Mechanical Engineering) made it to the semi-finals – fantastic. He also generously donated a a strong sense of community I think. theirs was the top student boat as well. new boat, named the John Galley, after Anyway if you’re a new to the With the new season starting we’ve just been an alumnus, former Imperial academic Boat Club this October – welcome! on a cycling camp to the French Alps to train in the and long-term supporter of the Club I’m certain you’ll enjoy your time here. mountains while we wait for the Boat House in who sadly passed away last year. And if you’re an existing member – Putney to be refurbished. At the naming ceremony there was best of luck in racing this year.”

Sailing to success: business lessons from the America’s Cup

The 150 year-old America’s Cup So what can businesses learn What can businesses learn from competitive sailing competition combines a long from the Cup as a whole? interactions in sailing competitions? and prestigious history with cutting D S: The parallels between business JMR: Similar to the America’s Cup teams, edge technology and big money. and sport are strong: both involve businesses are forced to make short-term and According to researchers from Imperial selecting the right people to form long-term decisions under challenging conditions. College Business School, the Cup teams, and getting them to develop Market environments can be highly uncertain. can provide businesses with ideas their leadership and motivational You never know what the next move of the competitor for developing technologies and in skills, and learning how to allocate is going to be. Businesses have to make decisions improving their strategic and tactical resources effectively. Just like considering the moves of the competitor and their decision making. Ahead of the launch business, the captain and crew need own abilities to use given technologies. event for the 35th America’s Cup we to make good strategic and tactical caught up with Business School decisions while rivals are trying Can you tell me about your upcoming work researchers Dr Jan Michael Ross to get ahead of them. The America’s around this topic? and Dr Dmitry Sharapov. Cup is particularly interesting D S: We have been looking at the effectiveness because the participating teams, of a “follow the follower” imitation strategy, in which which often involve more than 100 the leading boat imitates the moves and positioning people, are faced with a competition of the follower in order to stay ahead. that involves both sport and JMR: We believe that this work has relevance technological development. In a for a broader management audience. The insights similar way, businesses develop from this study help to explain, for example, why or acquire technologies, design Apple decided to imitate Samsung’s decision to their products, and launch them on release phones with larger screens. Our findings to the market in the hope that their will be published soon in the Academy of products are better selling than Management Journal. their competitors. –maxine myers, Communications and Public Affairs 14 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276

Staff featured obituaries in this column have given Julia Polak many years of Emeritus Professor Dame Julia Polak (Medicine), service to the former Director of the Tissue Engineering and College. Staff listed celebrate Regenerative Medicine Centre, died on 10 August anniversaries during the period 2014, aged 75. Her friends and colleagues Professors 1 October–31 October. The data Sara Rankin (National Heart and Lung Institute) are supplied by HR and correct and Steve Bloom (Medicine) pay tribute. at the time of going to press. “Julia’s incredible life story is well known throughout 20 years the College and beyond – and has inspired many • David Traske, Quality Audit newspaper articles and even a book and play. and Compliance Manager Whilst already established as a leader in the • Adri an Hawksworth, Assistant field of histochemistry, Julia contracted pulmonary Registrar (Placements), Registry hypertension – one of the illnesses she was studying – • Pr ofessor Martin Buck, Professor, Life Science and subsequently underwent a heart and lung • Pr ofessor Andrea Crisanti, transplant aged 56. Professor of Molecular For most people that might have been a sign Julia was an amazing influence Parasitology, Life Science to slow down, but not for Julia. She became resolved for good. She worked non-stop and all • Dr Scott Fraser, Research Fellow, Life Science to help the many patients not as fortunate as she, she did was a direct benefit to others. • Dr Laurence Bugeon, who die whilst waiting for a suitable transplant. Her discoveries are leading to new Research Fellow, Life Science A chance encounter with Professor Larry Hench, treatments and new cures as we speak. • Dr Emma McCoy, Deputy HOD then a material scientist at Imperial, introduced her She was as effective with people as of Mathematics and Senior Lecturer, Mathematics to the field of tissue engineering, setting her on she was with science and educated • Stephen Kellock, the ambitious quest to make artificial lungs. Julia literally thousands of students, all of Senior Research Officer, Physics quickly recognised that this problem could not be whom will no doubt remember her as • Pr ofessor Ralf Toumi, Professor of Atmospheric Physics, Physics solved by any one scientist working in a specific a key influence in their lives. She had • Professor Stephen Warren, discipline and therefore in 1998, together with the highest ethical standards and the Professor of Astrophysics, Physics Larry, she set up the Centre for Tissue Engineering greatest insight of anyone I know. • Dr Garry Perkins, and Regenerative Medicine at Imperial. The Centre Julia is survived by her husband Research Fellow, Physics • Dr Kenny Weir, Associate HoD propelled the field forward and led to the founding Daniel and their sons, Sebastian and Senior Lecturer, Physics of the Tissue Engineering Society in the UK. and Michael.” • Mic hael Pearse, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Surgery and Cancer • Mi ss Cheryl Costello, Cardiovascular Sciences Janice de Abela-Borg Administrator, National Heart Janice de Abela-Borg, Safety Manager in the and Lung Institute Faculty of Natural Sciences, died unexpectedly on • Professor Francesca Toni, 16 August after recuperating from surgery.S he was Professor in Computational Logic, Computing 55 years of age. Stefan Hoyle, Head of Health and • Pr ofessor Michael Lowe, Safety for Natural Sciences, pays tribute. Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical “Jan gave almost 25 years of service to the Engineering College as a dedicated safety professional – 30 years joining what was then the Kennedy Institute in • Dr Michael Schachter, January 1990 as Chief Technician and subsequently Senior Lecturer, National Heart Senior Laboratory Manager. She then moved to and Lung Institute the Faculty of Natural Sciences, as Faculty Safety • Dr Robert Edwards, Research Manager, in October 2007. Lecturer, Medicine • Dr John Gibbons, Reader I was lucky enough to have worked with in Applied Mathematics, Jan for the past seven years and regarded her not Mathematics only as a supportive and dedicated work colleague • Professor Murray Selkirk, but also a very good friend. Many others at the She was generous and had a Head of Life Science and Professor of Biochemical College felt the same way, which was reflected by fantastic memory, always surprising Parasitology, Life Sciences the presence of so many members of the Imperial friends and colleagues by sending • Dr Anthony Field, Reader in community at her funeral. them or their children small gifts and Performance Engineering, Jan will be remembered as being someone that cards each year on their birthdays Computing you could always go to with any problems or issues and at Christmas. 40 years that you were trying to deal with, whether personal Jan will be greatly missed, but her • Professor Geoffrey Hall, or work related. Many people will remember her legacy and dedication to improving Professor of Physics, Physics mantra of ‘let’s have a cup of tea and a chat’ which safety in Chemistry, the Faculty and the proved an effective strategy for many such issues. whole College will always be with us.” 15 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 October 2014 • issue 276 insidestory

Dr Andree Delahaye-Duriez, Mr Matthew Haddrill, School Mrs Joanna Kuska, Miss Olivia Ogle, Mr Alberto Sanchez Pinilla, Dr Geraldine Torin Ollarves, Clinical Science of Professional Development Sport and Leisure Surgery and Cancer Mechanical Engineering Chemical Engineering Welcome Dr Francois Demoures, Dr James Hall, Mrs Julie Lade, EYEC Dr Amirhoushang Omidvari Miss Lucinder Sandhu, Dr Matthew Towers, Mathematics Chemical Engineering Abarghouei, Public Health Sport and Leisure Mathematics Ms Efna Lafortune, Dr Eleonora Di Nezza, Dr Belinda Hall, Life Sciences Sport and Leisure Dr Denis O’Sullivan, Ms Bruna Santandrea, Mr Stephen Townsend, Mathematics Surgery and Cancer Estates Division Faculty of Engineering new starters Mrs Anne Harbitz, Finance Mr Bo Lan, Mechanical Mr Abdoul Diaby Aziz, EYEC Engineering Mr Mustafa Othman, Dr Paramita Sarkar, Miss Anna Townsend, Mr Nicholas Harper, Miss Nihaad Abbass, Faculty Miss Emma Branch, Sport and Leisure Medicine Business School Mr Michael Drake, Medicine Mr Walter Lawson, of Medicine Centre Medicine Human Resources Sport and Leisure Miss Kayleigh Ougham, Mr Alex Savell, Dr Konstantinos Tsilidis, Mr Rhys Harris, Dr Lucille Abrahams, Ms Charlotte Breeze, ICT Medicine IC Student Union Public Health Mr Edward Durbridge, Sport and Leisure Dr Kuen-Bae Lee, Public Health Ms Ann Brew, Library Finance Mechanical Engineering Dr Emiliano Pagnotta, Mr Michael Schaub, Mr Jeremy Turcaud, Physics Mr Dariush Hassanzadeh- Ms Chloe Ackerman, Business School Mathematics Miss Maria Briana, Ms Sophie Dymond, Baboli, IC Student Union Mrs Tanisha Lewis, Dr Samuel Turton, Medicine Sport and Leisure Faculty of Medicine Centre Sport and Leisure Faculty of Engineering Dr Panagiotis Mr Christoph Schlegel, Dr Johannes Hattula, Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh, Dr Ildem Akerman, Medicine Papathanasiou, Materials Surgery and Cancer Dr David Briggs, Life Sciences Miss Hannah Edwards, Business School Mr Lucas Lieber, Public Health Dr Nasrin Al Nasiri, Materials Human Resources Life Sciences Dr Jin Park, Aeronautics Dr Chowdary Seemulamoodi Dr Alex Brogan, Miss Rebecca Heath, Miss Fatima Valencia Agudo, Yellappa, Public Health Miss Rosie Al-Adwani, Chemical Engineering Dr Ed Egan, Business School Medicine Mr Martin Lisboa, Mr Gregory Parkinson, Medicine Development Business School Sport and Leisure Mr Shaun Sehmi, Dr Neil Browning, Mr Mohammed el Bhiri, Dr Thomas Heinis, Computing Miss Helena van Velthoven, Sport and Leisure Miss Sarah Al-Beidh, Public Health Faculty of Engineering Miss Wai Loo, Mrs Pauline Parkinson, Public Health Dr Kathrin Heinzmann, Chemistry Business School Sport and Leisure Dr Sneh Shah, Mr Scott Buckley, Mr James Ferguson, Surgery and Cancer Dr Stefaan Verbruggen, Surgery and Cancer Mrs Melanie Albright, Sport and Leisure Life Sciences Mr Pascal Loose, Ms Bhavita Patel, Bioengineering Mr Matthew Hennessy, Bioengineering IC Student Union Surgery and Cancer Mr James Sholto-Douglas, Mr George Buckman, NHLI Mr Terance Fernandes, Chemical Engineering Ms Sabine Vuik, School of Professional Dr Samer Aldhaher, EEE Sport and Leisure Dr Fiona Lucas, Mr Rajan Patel, Medicine Surgery and Cancer Mr Masis Bugoz, Dr Lucy Hicks, Medicine Development Surgery and Cancer Dr Ben Almquist, Business School Mr Magno Ferrao, Dr Brijesh Patel, Ms Helen Wadsworth, Mr Chong Ho, Public Health Dr Nataliya Shiraz, Bioengineering Sport and Leisure Mr Rohde Lucero, Surgery and Cancer College Headquarters

Dr Edward Burgin, Chemistry Business School on. in. moving moving Ms Susan Hodge, Sport and Leisure Ms Eunice Anderson, Finance Dr Michael Field, Mr Jacek Pawlak, Civil and Mrs Shiqi Wang, Dr Emma Burke, Sport and Leisure Mr Hugh Simpson, Mathematics Mr Aldrin Lucero, Environmental Engineering Chemical Engineering Mr Christopher Andrews, Bioengineering Public Health Mrs Lisa Holdaway, Sport and Leisure Sport and Leisure Miss Julie Fitzpatrick, Miss Lucille Pearce, Mr Yinan Wang, Aeronautics Mr Raj Burman, Sport and Leisure Dr Ajit Singh, ESE Medicine Dr Heidi Makrinioti, NHLI Grantham Institute Mr Delfim Araujo Ferreira, Faculty of Engineering Mr Anthony Webb, Dr Margaret Holme, Mr Abhinav Singh, EEE Medicine Ms Jessica Floyd, Mr David Mann, School of Dr George Pelios, NHLI Sport and Leisure Mr Javier Cambiasso, Materials Public Health Professional Development Mr Akos Skobrics, ICT Mr Federico Armata, Physics Physics Dr Bjoern Penning, Physics Ms Susie Wen, Medicine Ms Susanne Horn, Dr Jens Foell, Public Health Mr Joseph Manto, Miss Nathalie Skrzypek, Ms Hannah Arnell, Mr Stephane Camuzeaux, Mathematics Mr Fidelis Perkonigg, Mr Tom Wheeler, Human Resources Physics Sport and Leisure Surgery and Cancer Dr Fabrizia Foglia, Computing IC Student Union Dr Samuel Humphry-Baker, Chemical Engineering Dr Kazunobu Maruyoshi, Dr Patrick Smadbeck, Mr Tom Ash, Mr Paolo Capriotti, Materials Mr Bastian Pfeifer, Mr Thomas Whelan, Physics Life Sciences Sport and Leisure Life Sciences Mr Gianluca Fontana, Life Sciences Computing Dr Linda Ibeto, Surgery and Cancer Mr Deepak Mawar, Ms Denise Snaith, Mr Muhammad Ashraf, Dr Alessandro Carlotto, Surgery and Cancer Miss Carissa Phipps, Ms Nicola Whiffin, NHLI Sport and Leisure Sport and Leisure Business School Mathematics Miss Sarah Fort, Sport and Leisure Ms Joanna Ivison, Ms Angela Whitehead, Public Health Mrs Mahsa Mazidi, Professor Stuart Solin, Mr Yashir Atewala, Mr Sean Carroll, College Headquarters Ms Joan Phipps, School of Professional Public Health Physics Business School Business School Dr Yan Francescato, Physics Sport and Leisure Development Miss Milaana Jacob, Dr Julie McDonald, Medicine Dr Chara Stavraka, Dr Stephen Atkinson, Dr Catherine Carter, Dr Arie Gafson, Medicine Public Health Ms Stacy Pietrusinski, Miss Rosalind Whiteley, Surgery and Cancer Medicine Chemistry Dr Joanna McGarry, Sport and Leisure Human Resources Miss Rachel Galassini, Dr Ashley Jacobs, Medicine Communications and Mr Iain Stenson, Mr Nathaniel Ayres, Ms Marta Casanovas Medicine Dr Sebastian Pike, Chemistry Dr Elizabeth Whittaker, Mr Sakda Janla-or, Public Affairs Surgery and Cancer Business School Espinar, Medicine Medicine Miss Danielle Gallagher, IC Student Union Dr Raquel Prado Garcia, Dr Andrew McKeown, Dr Mark Stillwell, Computing Dr Minas Bacharis, Physics Ms Meg Cassamally, School Life Sciences Chemistry Mr Nathan Whittaker, Mr Vincent Jarlaud, Physics Public Health of Professional Development Dr Korbinian Strimmer, Finance Mr Thomas Bailey, Dr Juan Garcia De La Cruz Mrs Ruby Prasad, Mr Paul Jennings, ICT Ms Grainne McNamara, Public Health Human Resources Ms Sophie Charleson, Lopez, Aeronautics Sport and Leisure Mr Stephen Williams, Clinical Science Human Resources Ms Rosemarie John, Mr Michael Sullivan, Surgery and Cancer Mr Jim Bailey, Physics Mr Malcolm Gardner, Miss Gemma Pryor, Estates Division Mr Wayne Merritt, Registry Mr Po-Yu Chen, Computing Sport and Leisure IC Student Union Mrs Gillian Williams, Miss Rosie Baker, Sport and Leisure Mr Roland John, Dr Aline Tabib-Salazar, Public Health Campus Services Ms Charlotte Chester-Tatten, Mr Louis Gare, Registry Mrs Barbara Przybojewska, Human Resources Dr Lamia Mestek Boukhibar, Medicine Public Health Sport and Leisure Professor Laurence Mrs Beate Baldwin, Professor Alice Gast, Life Sciences Mr Edward Johns, Computing Mr Yad Tahir, Computing Williams, Materials Business School Mr Alan Cheung, College Headquarters Dr Jennifer Puetzer, Dr Cornelia Metzig, Sport and Leisure Miss India Jordan, Materials Professor Kalyan Talluri, Mr David Wood, Physics Mr Dylan Banahene- Dr Ektoras Georgiou, Public Health IC Student Union Business School Sabulsky, Physics Dr Marta Ciechonska, Surgery and Cancer Dr Balaji Purushothaman, Dr Jennifer Wood, Miss Alina Miedzik, Life Sciences Dr Sudha Joseph, Materials Chemistry Mr Rohan Tamrakar, Life Sciences Miss Simi Bansal, Ms Daniela Giampa, Surgery and Cancer Sport and Leisure Sport and Leisure Dr Richard Clegg, Computing Sport and Leisure Mr Manoj Joshi, Physics Mr Ji Qi, Surgery and Cancer Mr Christopher Woodsford, Dr Sven Mikolon, Mr CT Tang, Life Sciences ESE Mrs Hannah Barclay, Ms Ellen Clegg, Medicine Miss Mary-Ann Gilbert, Dr Peter Jourdan, Business School Dr Phyllis Quinn, Human Resources Medicine Public Health Faculty of Medicine Centre Dr Anna Tascini, Chemistry Mr Richard Woodward, Dr Dario Colombo, Ms Irene Mittermayr, Mechanical Engineering Dr Anna Barnard, Chemistry Research Office Ms Jaswinder Gill, Business Dr HeeJung Jung, Sport and Leisure Dr Reka Ratkaine Jablonkai, Dr Paolo Taticchi, School Business School School of Professional Business School Dr Jiahua Wu, Mr Jonathan Barnes, Mrs Pauline Consiglio, Dr Zameer Mohamed, Development Business School Sport and Leisure Physics Ms Amy Gilligan, ESE Miss Marika Kaakinen, Medicine Mr Steve Tauroza, School of Public Health Miss Iqrah Razzaq, Professional Development Mrs Sharlene Yardley, Dr Cedric Beaume, Miss Emma Cooper, Mr Mark Gleeson, Dr Aruchuna Mohanaruban, Life Sciences School of Professional Aeronautics Public Health Sport and Leisure Mrs Lalitha Kambhammettu, Surgery and Cancer Dr Upasana Tayal, NHLI Development ICT Mr Gary Reader, School of Dr Maxwell Benjamin, Mr Jez Cope, Library Mr Simon Goff, School of Mr Thomas Monk, NHLI Mr Sydney Teles, Professional Development Ms Sky Yarlett, Public Health Professional Development Mr Niraj Kanabar, Sport and Leisure Mr Josh Cornish, ICT Mr Matthew Moore, IC Student Union Bioengineering Mr David Richards, Mr Paul Bennett, Dr Paul Golby, NHLI Mathematics Ms Didi Thompson, Dr Jian Cui, Physics Faculty of Engineering Dr Liang Zhao, Computing Faculty of Engineering Mr Nicholas Katona, Surgery and Cancer Dr Noemi Gonzalez Abuin, Mrs Akposeba Mukoro, Mr Robert Cunliffe, Development Miss Maria Richter, Physics Dr Qiyuan Zhao, Miss Federica Bernardini, Medicine Library Miss Phoebe Tickell, Life Sciences Life Sciences Life Sciences Mrs Beril Kavukcuoglu, Ms Hazel Ridgers, Medicine Life Sciences Dr Miguel Gonzalez Ms Jean Murch, Miss Rose Curtis Marof, Aeronautics Dr Liya Zheng, Mr Tomass Bernots, Gonzalez, Chemistry Sport and Leisure Mr Luca Rigovacca, Physics Dr Serena Tommasini Ghelfi, Surgery and Cancer Chemical Engineering Mathematics Dr Steven Kealey, Chemistry Surgery and Cancer Mr Chai Gopalasingam, Mr Matthew Riley, Dr Rocco Cuzzilla, Medicine Dr Jennifer Murphy, Miss Alison Bettis, Life Sciences Miss Skye Kelly-Barrett, NHLI Surgery and Cancer Sport and Leisure Public Health Dr Anish Cyriac, Chemistry Miss Emma Grant, Mrs Kelly Kent, Development Miss Jayshree Naik, Mr Paul Rinne, Miss Aleksandra Dabrowska, Mr Abiali Bhaisaheb, Public Health Dr Younis Khan, Medicine Human Resources Bioengineering Sport and Leisure Surgery and Cancer Mr Paul Greenslade, Mr Worawut Khunsin, Ms Ratisha Narayan, NHLI Miss Catherine Robb, This data is supplied by HR and Mr Debarshi Bhattacharya, Dr Tarik Dahoun, Sport and Leisure Public Health Physics Mr Sathish Natarajan, ICT ICT Clinical Science covers staff joining the College during Mr Henry Gregor, Miss Emma Robbins, Dr DoYeon Kim, Miss Marina Natoli, Miss Rebecca Birch, Dr Nicolo Daina, Civil and Public Health Surgery and Cancer the period 15 July – 30 September 2014. Chemical Engineering Surgery and Cancer Medicine Environmental Engineering Dr Aurelien Grolet, Dr Eulian Roberts, This data was correct at the time Mr Michal Klosowski, Dr Gemma Nedjati Gilani, Dr Ines Biscaya Semedo Dr Melanie Dani, Medicine Mechanical Engineering College Headquarters Chemical Engineering Public Health Pereira Da Graca, of going to press. For Moving On, Ms Olivia Daniel, Life Miss Whitney Grossett, Dr Stuart Roberts, Medicine Chemical Engineering Mr Roman Kolcun, Mr John-Poul Ng-Blichfeldt, Sciences (Silwood Park) Aeronautics visit the online supplement at Computing NHLI Dr Emma Robinson, Mr Oliver Blandy, Medicine Mr Konstantinos Daskalakis, Mr Marcel Guenther, Computing www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter Dr Katri Konturri, Dr Nicoletta Nicolaou, EEE Miss Katrin Blondrath, Physics Computing Chemical Engineering Dr Gabriele Rocco, Medicine Mr Brian Daughton, School Dr Philip Noonan, Medicine Dr Florence Guida, Dr Viola Kooij, NHLI Aeronautics Mr Martin Boddy, of Professional Development Public Health Ms Gaye Norris, Mr Jaypal Rooprai, Sport and Leisure Mr Larry Koomson, Medicine Sport and Leisure Ms Jennifer Davies, Mr Guy Gumbrell, Sport and Leisure Ms Anais Bompard, Human Resources Business School Mr Luke Koschalka, Dr Daniel Nucinkis, EEE Mrs Tina Sadler, Please send your images and/ Public Health Public Health Dr Elizabeth Day, ESE Dr Jia Guo, Medicine Mr Dennis Nuernberg, Sport and Leisure or comments about new starters, Mr Thomas Bond, Dr Andriy Kozlov, Life Sciences Miss Lisa Day, Medicine Dr Yingying Guo, Miss Louise Sadler, Human Resources Bioengineering leavers and retirees to the Editor Dr Angela De Carlo, Civil and Mechanical Engineering Mr Thomas Nutz, Physics Sport and Leisure Mr Matthew Boot-Handford, Miss Sina Krokowski, Environmental Engineering Mr Benat Gurrutxaga Lerma, Dr Bennett Nwaobi, Mrs Rituparna Saha, at [email protected] Chemical Engineering Medicine Mrs Orquidea De Castro Mechanical Engineering Life Sciences Chemical Engineering Ms Kathleen Bouanane, Dr Nishanth Kulasekeram, Ribeiro, Life Sciences Mr Redha Haddad, Mr Samuel O’Connell, Ms Zareen Saleem, Medicine EEE The Editor reserves the right to edit Mr Nicola De Laurentis, Sport and Leisure Medicine Faculty of Medicine Centre Dr Kristelle Bougot-Robin, Dr Naveenta Kumar, Mechanical Engineering Mr Farhang Haddadfarshi, Ms Sasha Oelsner, Outreach Mr Carl Salton-Cox, or amend these as necessary. Chemistry Medicine Physics IC Student Union for complete details: events highlights www.imperial.ac.uk/events October 2014

8 October–7 November take note On innards Artists Amanda Couch, Andrew Hladky and day-long event on 11 October bringing Baby Imperial’s own Mindy Lee explore changing together researchers and practitioners from conceptualisations on digestion, innards the fields of gastroenterology, cultural theory, show and the interior body. Alongside an exhibition art history, yoga, performance and fine art, discount of paintings, objects and prints at the Blyth with participants encouraged to share their Gallery, there will be a free experiential own knowledge and experiences. The Genesis Research Trust – a charity based at Hammersmith Campus that funds research in gynaecology and 21tober Oc , 18.15 obstetrics – is supporting The Baby Show, the UK’s biggest pregnancy and parenting Systemic risk: a challenge for mathematical modelling event at the Olympia Conference Centre The recent financial crisis has made Quantitative Finance. He will discuss from 24–26 October. The Genesis Trust the monitoring and regulation of systemic how mathematical modelling can provide will be exhibiting at stand E100. risk a major concern. Professor Rama Cont insights on systemic risk, financial regulation (Mathematics) delivers his inaugural lecture and financial stability. Interact with this Visit: thebabyshow.co.uk using as Chair in Mathematical Finance and founding lecture on Twitter using #systemicrisk. the code ‘GEN1’ to get a 40% discount Director of the CFM-Imperial Institute of in advance

6 October, 18.30 7tober Oc , 18.00 16 October, 19.30 meet the Exhibition Road Choir HR Vision 2020 Auto-Biology reader The first performance by The 5th EDF Annual Launch of a new exhibition singers from Imperial, Royal Lecture following the human in the Centre for Co-curricular Albert Hall, Victoria & Albert and social dimensions Studies by Dr Neil Dufton, Museum, the Science Museum of business. Presented featuring artworks inspired by 29 October, 17.30 and the Royal College of by Marianne Laigneau, his own research in the NHLI Music, at St Stephen’s Church, Group Senior Executive Quantum theory:

Gloucester Road. Entry is Free. Vice President, Human 22tober Oc , 18.00 it’s unreal Resources at EDF Energy Hybrid, PHV and fuel cells Find out how to construct a better narrative over 9tober Oc , 13.00 Katsuhiko Hirose, Project General Manager at Toyota, what really goes on in the L unchtime concert talks about the company’s subatomic world, at the Hayley Osborn, Senior Fitness The Belcea Quartet plays commitment to a more Inaugural lecture of Professor and Exercise Practitioner, Alban Berg’s Lyric Suite sustainable future Terry Rudolph (Physics) St Mary’s Campus

7 October, 9.00 13tober Oc , 17.00 23tober Oc , 13:00 What are you doing in the picture? London Farmers Market I’ve just completed a skydive with my T eaching and education L unchtime concert Fresh meat and vegetables, leadership friend Elisha. We have known each other The Badke Quartet plays takeaway lunches and for 17 years having previously played Dr Dilly Fung, Director Haydn Op 77 No 2 and Ravel’s football for Leyton Orient Ladies. Sadly cakes available from more of the UCL Centre for String Quartet Elisha has a benign tumour on her spine than fifteen market stalls. the Advancement of and is now unable to walk, although we The Market visits Princes’ 29tober Oc , 17.30 Learning and Teaching, have been working together in the gym to Gardens on 7 October then discusses challenges and The dark net: inside the improve her mobility. Elisha told me she the Queen’s Lawn every opportunities for Russell digital underworld regretted not doing certain things whilst Tuesday subsequently. Group universities Explore the world of she was able, but we decided disability dark internet subcultures, should not be a barrier and arranged 7 October, 16.30 16tober Oc , 13.00 crypto-currencies and hidden a skydive! We’ve raised over £870 for Imperial College Healthcare Charity Black History L unchtime concert web with Jamie J Bartlett Month Lecture 28tober Oc , 18:30 at the Vincent Briscoe that will go towards spinal research. Pianist Margaret Fingerhut Software engineer Tunji Being smart with energy annual security lecture plays Schubert; Liszt/ What would you do if you were editor Akintokun talks about his Schumann, Liszt/Chopin E lectrical engineer 30tober Oc , 13.00 of Reporter? journey to become a director and Chopin Professor Tim Green gives Share stories of the amazing people we work at Cisco, including his work his introductory lecture L unchtime concert with here St Mary’s Energia gym including with the company’s network as Director of the Energy Chloë Hanslip performs cancer, lung and cardiac patients as well for black, Asian and minority Futures Lab works for solo violin by as students and NHS staff. We’re actually ethnic (BAME) staff Bach and Hindemith involved in research into the role of exercise in post-operative recovery rates in cancer.

Who would be your cover star? Elisha. Seeing her develop mentally and physically over the past year is such Stay in the loop → Visit www.imperial.ac.uk/events for more details about these events an inspiration. and others. To sign up for regular updates about Imperial events please Want to be the next reader featured in email: [email protected] Reporter? Send in a picture of yourself to: [email protected]

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