BIOENGINEERING NEWS Issue 7:3

Bioengineering Bioengineeri news ng news

March 2013 Volume 7 Issue 3

Issue Date THE LEADING DEPARTMENT OF BIOENGINEERING IN THE UK IN THIS ISSUE

Head of Department’s message by Professor Anthony Bull

Bioengineering - A cultural During one of the coldest and wettest winter on record, why not ensure that your work experience? takes you to Australia? These opportunities Most academics at Imperial College all arise out of being at the heart of a great Life as we know it are driven, busy, hard-working, focused, and city, in a great university, with great Read all about the Department’s participation in the successful. It is, therefore, refreshing to see colleagues and students. Please don’t take latest Imperial Fringe event. that some in this Department manage to find my word for this; this week the three a balance between this success in strict external examiners for our undergraduate Page 2 academic terms, and their wider contribution degrees visited the Department. They spent through academic-related activities. A a day meeting with staff and students and number of these are recorded in this provided rich feedback to the Department newsletter. For example, the Department is that can be summarised as this: seen to be a strong supporter of the Imperial Fringe series of events, yet this is not top-  We have great students who are happy down support as our colleagues have with the courses, course management, themselves taken the initiative to engage and teaching. with these public events. I am sure that they,  The Department is highly responsive to like I, see the knock-on benefits far students and the external examiners. outweighing the cost in terms of time.  Our new initiatives this year are Rock royalty From Australia to Queen working, including, in particular our new Undergraduate Aislinn Hayes met with rock gods Brain Bioengineering can also take you to many approach to first year maths teaching. May and Roger Taylor when they visited College to different unexpected places and meet some accept a music heritage award from the Performing interesting people. For example, Imperial’s Right Society for Music. Read all about her evening. long-standing connection with Queen is Thank you all for making this a fantastic Images courtesy of Slobodan Radosavljevic. known, yet how many of us get to meet the place to work and study. Page 4 band? BIOENGINEERING NEWS | Issue 7:3 2

Visitors experience frontier science at latest Fringe event by Maxine Myers

How synthetic biology can be used to improve our everyday lives was the theme of the fifth in the series of free Fringe events at the College.

Synthetic biology is the manufacture of biological materials, such as chemicals or enzymes, through engineering processes. It is predicted that by 2016 the world market for synthetic biology products, will be £16 sensors could be stuck onto food packaging Synthetic Biology and Innovation at Imperial, billion and could have the potential to aid like plasters to detect when food is spoiling talked about what synthetic biology is, how it the growth of the UK’s economy. to safeguard food quality and minimise is done and the importance of innovations in waste. this field for future generations. “Life as we know it” was a public evening drop-in event that took place at Imperial’s Students Nicholas Kral and James Field Professor Richard Kitney, said: “This is such a Main Entrance on Exhibition Road. from the Departments of Life Sciences and new field of science and we want the public

Bioengineering also discussed how to get a basic understating of what synthetic Fringe-goers had the opportunity to synthetic biology could be used to prevent biology is and how it can be applied to their participate in a range of interactive soil erosion. They talked about how everyday lives. From developing new types demonstrations at the festival including a harmless bacteria could be re-engineered of therapies for patients to manufacturing presentation about the difference between to produce a plant hormone that would more sustainable tyres for cars, the use of modified and natural tomatoes. Dr Stuart promote root growth to protect plants synthetic biology is wide-ranging.” John Dunbar, from the Syngenta University from being upturned and washed away in Innovation Centre at Imperial, gave visitors flash floods. Professor Paul Freemont added: “We want to the chance to taste three different varieties share with the community just how amazing of tomatoes with varying sweetness and Other demonstrations included synthetic synthetic biology is and show them how this asked them to rank the tomatoes in order biologist Dr Tom Ellis, from the field of science has the potential to impact on of their preference to explain the varying Department of Bioengineering looking at all our lives in a positive way. Synthetic tastes of shoppers. The sweeter tomatoes changing the texture and taste of beer by biology has a transformative potential and proved the most popular with visitors. The engineering yeast, so that it is easy to here at the Centre we are working with a Centre is looking to replicate the genes in extract in order to make beer crisper and range of companies to develop the the sweeter tomatoes and implant them in clearer. This new process could potentially technology and turn our vision into a reality.” conventional tomatoes for a better save breweries money. flavour. Dr Dunbar also treated visitors to some of his tomato trivia, including the fact Benjamin Reeve, from the Department of that tomatoes lose 50 per cent of their Bioengineering, also demonstrated ways of flavour within 15 minutes of being placed in turning compost into biofuels, which is the fridge. important for improving their sustainability ANY NEWS ITEMS? and cost effectiveness. In another display, students from the If you have any items for the next newsletter Department of Life Sciences created a Professor Richard Kitney (Department of please get in touch! mock fridge to show how synthetic biology Bioengineering) and Professor Paul can be used to conserve food in the fridge. Freemont (Division of Molecular EMAIL They discussed how microscopic biological Biosciences), co-directors of the Centre for [email protected]

BIOENGINEERING NEWS | Issue 7:3 3

Rio Tinto Sports Innovation Challenge heads to Australia by Dr Dominic Southgate

 The Rio Tinto Sports Innovation Challenge / GoGlobal project, a collaboration between the Royal College of Art, and the University of Technology Sydney, has gone fantastically well so far with 13 groups of IDE and UTS students busy working together on innovative sports projects. The concept phase has now finished and they are now into prototyping their devices. The ideas so far include an EEG monitoring and warning system to improve cycling safety in people with epilepsy, a new prosthetic for lower-limb amputees that can switch between land and water, and a transformable vehicle featuring arm and leg propulsion for low impact cardiovascular training. The end-of-module exhibition is taking place on the 27th March in Sydney but projects will also be on display at the Imperial Festival in May. Progress can also be seen on the Facebook Students hard at work in the UTS labs page for the module - “Rio Tinto Sports Innovation: Sydney 2013”.

Second year design projects as part of the Rio Tinto Sports Innovation Challenge by Drs Dominic Southgate and Helen Findon

On 20 March the 2nd year Bioengineering All of the groups undergraduates presented their prototypes received much from the Engineering Design Projects course praise from the to academic staff and visitors. The theme for external visitors, the projects was again sports related as part the best overall of the Rio Tinto Sports Innovation Challenge. group will be Specific briefs were identified in judged in the communication with athletes this year and coming weeks and the eight groups were then tasked with the winners will finding solutions to meet athletes’ receive a prize at requirements. the departmental research day at the The projects included a posture monitoring end of June. system for wheelchair athletes, a device to allow wheelchair basketball players to right More photos from themselves following a crash, a feedback the event can be system for visually impaired athletes during seen on the shotput, a safety device for officials in javelin, Department’s a torque limiting device for intraosseous Facebook page, prosthetics, an instrumented prosthetic they’re worth a One team of second years designed and built a device component to measure running forces, look – this album achieved the Department’s to allow users to right themselves following a crash in adapted bicycle handlebars to allow highest ever like, comment and share rate wheelchair basketball standing-starts for upper-limb amputees and reaching 2000 people! adapted rigging to allow upper-limb amputees to compete in sculling. BIOENGINEERING NEWS | Issue 7:3 4

Staff promotions

The Department is delighted to announce effect in August two academic promotions. and has been made in Simon Schultz has been promoted to recognition of Reader. This will take effect on the 01 August Professor 2013. Many congratulations to Dr Schultz on Burdet’s leading this well-deserved recognition of his status in his burgeoning international status in academic fields neurotechnology. of endeavour in research and Etienne Burdet has been promoted to education. Professor. This promotion will also take

Many congratulations to Dr Schultz (left) and Professor Burdet (right)

Footballing heroes by Michele Tonutti, second year undergraduate

On 10 March, 10 of our brave Biomedical The two wins had Engineering students proudly represented galvanized us, and we the Department in the yearly CGCU went back onto the departmental football tournament. Pulling muddy pitch thinking off some extremely fashionable pink we could conquer the Bioengineering Department shirts (and whole world. showing once again that our sense of style is clearly superior to all the other engineers), Unfortunately, despite our courageous players ignored the horrible them playing with one conditions of the Hyde Park pitches and less player than us, we started a very efficient warm-up amid the couldn't go further laughter of the other teams for our colorful than 0-0. In the kit. The enthusiasm was very high — the meantime, news came skills and the physical shape not so much. that Mech Eng, one of the major opponents After an easy win against EEE (7-3), helped for the title, had by their lack of players, we went on to face dropped out, clearly the first big obstacle: the fearsome Civil scared by our Engineers. Playing in their shiny reflective unstoppable successes. The mighty and almost victorious (pink) jackets, they started the game overflowing This granted us with an bioengineers! with confidence. Their confidence was automatic 3-0 win. At that point, there was misplaced however, and crashed hopelessly only one team between us and glory: Chem against our brilliant defense, more solid than Eng, the favourite for the title. Despite their any of the buildings they will ever build. And superiority on the pitch, the Bioengineers when, on a majestically constructed counter fought tooth and nail for a point, but the attack, we scored what would be the goal of match ended 0-0. Chem Eng then went on to the final (1-0 FT), their hopes collapsed faster beat Civil Eng by 1-0, and despite the same than the Tacoma Bridge. Their cheeky number of points as us, finished first due to attempts to claim non-existent goals and goal difference. In second place, unbeaten corners were of no use. and with the same number of points as the first team we’re proud as punch! The following game was against Aero Eng. BIOENGINEERING NEWS | Issue 7:3 5

NEWS IN BRIEF The day I met rock royalty Welcome to the Department by Aislinn Hayes, third year undergraduate This month we welcome Miss Marta Garcia Bellmunt

(Laboratory Technician), Miss Shanas Choudhury (Laboratory Technician) and Mr Harry Lamble, IBME I’m not being dramatic, but I think my life ridiculously eager that they really had no Research Development Director. probably peaked sometime around 4pm last choice but to call on us. Check out my radio Tuesday afternoon. Am I too young to say show to hear the full audio of George’s We also welcome Dr Kate Hobson back from maternity hilariously brave invitation to Queen to pop leave and wish Mrs Paula Smith a fond farewell. that? Maybe, but to be honest, shaking hands with rock legends Brian May and down for a live session at IC Radio, and also Outreach events Roger Taylor is most likely the coolest thing check out the sound bite that we recorded of Brian May endorsing IC Radio! Many thanks to all those who participated in school that will happen to me in my life. outreach activities this month. So why were one half of one of the most We wandered around the venue when we Dr Warren Macdonald attended a ‘Meet the Engineers’ influential rock bands in history at our had exhausted our time with Brian May and event at Thomas Hardye school in Dorest (pictured humble ? Well, PRS Roger Taylor, and actually met some below with his fellow participants and an Aston Martin!), for Music is the company that provides incredibly interesting people along the way. Drs. Angela Kedgley and Jennifer Siggers took part in licences to all public establishments to play Audio editing is still ongoing, but we ‘Careers Speed Dating’ at Waldegrave School for Girls in copyrighted music, and then distributes the interviewed Queen’s Universal Music Group Twickenham and Drs. Rob Learney and Helen Findon representative, some hard-core fans who’ve attended St Paul’s School careers day in Barnes. royalties to the songwriters, publishers, and composers of this music. For example, IC never missed a gig or tour and subsequently Radio buys a licence from PRS every year for get invites to all these special events, PRS the music that we play. Anyway, since 2009 chair Guy Fletcher OBE, and even Imperial PRS has been awarding UK superbands with College’s Press and Communications officer Heritage Awards to commemorate the Lucy Handford who sent us the invitation in location of their first performance. Turns out the first place. As if that wasn’t enough, we Queen’s first London gig was in our very own cemented our place in IC Radio legend by Union Concert Hall! The plaque is going to getting the official IC Radio sign autographed have a brief stint at Metric before it’s placed by May, and an original vinyl signed by both permanently on for all May and Taylor. the world to see, have a looksie below right. This will be my final year as IC Radio president, next year I’m taking the back seat The unveiling was attended by Queen guitarist Dr Brian May, who holds an and going for supporting actress in Assistant What does it take to be a undergraduate degree in Station Manager. We even had our Bioengineer? mathematics and physics AGM on the evening after this Published this month in IEEE’s ‘The Institute’, an article from Imperial and event where George was on the skills and qualifications required to become a completed his PhD in elected for next year, so it biomedical engineer. Take a look. astrophysics in 2007, was an amazing experience and drummer Roger for me to “end” on and for Conference news Taylor, who met May George to start out on. But Professor Jimmy Moore has been invited to speak at never fear! My final year in th through an advert for a the 11 International Symposium in Computer Methods drummer on a bioengineering (assuming I in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. This noticeboard in the Union. can squeeze my way past conference will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA the rest of this year of course) this April. Needless to say, this caused great excitement throughout might have to take priority over Viva success the college, and when IC Radio my radio aspirations for now, but I received an invitation to attend the press will forever treasure this image of us Dr Mehdiye Sradarlou successfully completed her PhD rockin’ with the Croc in our grown-up clothes viva last month with very minor corrections (supervisor event, the committee got the closest it has at our official press event. Professor Peter Weinberg). Congratulations! ever gotten to complete barbarity. We had an application and vote based process to Of course, I wasn’t the only one there. Read Bake off! decide who would attend, and luckily for me George’s excellent account of the day here! A huge thank you to staff and PhD students who baked and my blog, myself and the next president- And of course, the old reliable student and scoffed so generously for Comic Relief. We raised elect of IC Radio, George Butcher, were newspaper covered it too! But if you still £152.68! chosen to attend. Enter my first ever press don’t believe me… Check out Dr Brian May’s pass! own blog post! Long live the Croc indeed. Some very elegant speeches were made by Plaque photograph and main newsletter Union president Paul Beaumont, the chair for image kindly provided by Slobodan PRS Guy Fletcher OBE, and of course, Brian Radosavljevic. and Roger themselves. When the floor was opened up for Q&A, George stuck his hand Read more from Aislinn on her blog. straight up and I threw the IC Radio sign up in the air, and we made ourselves look so

BIOENGINEERING NEWS | Issue 7:3 6

Events

Departmental Seminars 25 April 2013 Come and find out how a century of medical Ali Neishbouri, Imperial College London. research has changed all of our lives. Imagine All seminars will be on Thursday 13:00-14:00 Third year PhD talk. Title TBC. what will happen in the next 100 years. in room RSM 3.03 unless otherwise stated. A full list of seminars can be found on the 02 May 2013 Play with video game technology used by events page. Professor Nancy Allbritton, University of TODAY lab scientists to study the brain and treat neurodegenerative disease. This lab is For further details please contact Chiu Fan North Carolina. Title to be confirmed. based on the research of our very own Dr Lee. If you know of someone who would like Aldo Faisal. Watch live demonstrations in to be on the email distribution list for these Strictly science the YESTERDAY lab of century-old seminars please guide them to sign up list. Please try and attend the forthcoming free experiments on war-wounds, the nervous 11 April 2013 interactive exhibition, Strictly Science: system and nutrition. Experience a 3D sound Oshiorenoya Agabi, Imperial College keeping one step ahead, which celebrates 100 sculpture exploring our hopes and fears for London. Third year PhD talk. Title TBC. years of the Medical Research Council with a the future in the TOMORROW lab and share series of peopled laboratory-inspired your views. 18 April 2013 installations. The event brochure can be Vee San Cheong and James Field, Imperial downloaded here. Book free tickets for Strictly Science lates at College London. Third year PhD talks. Title www.strictlyscience.mrc.ac.uk TBC. 05-14 April 2013, 10.00-18.00 daily www.facebook.com/strictlyscience www.youtube.com/strictlyscience Exhibition Road Foyer, Imperial College @Strictly_Sci London.

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