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AAnnualnnual ReviewReview CoverCover 4 115/11/045/11/04 11:41:4011:41:40 amam

1 RESEARCH 7 INTERNATIONAL 13 ENTERPRISE 17 TEACHING & LEARNING 21 NEWS 27 FACTS & FIGURES contents

ViceChan12_Final 1 15/11/04, 10:27 am VICE-CHANCELLOR’S INTRODUCTION

At the time I am writing I have been the Cascade Fund, to support academics in post for a full calendar year and am seeking to commercialise the outcomes enjoying it as much as I did on the first of their research. The University’s day. It has been a successful year for Knowledge Transfer Partnership, with the University, with strong progress in forty-one programmes, is one of the our core areas of teaching and learning, most successful in the country. research and enterprise. We are leading the newly founded The high standards of teaching and Berkshire Aim Higher: Partnerships for learning have been recognised nationally Progression plus our own Widening and endorsed by awards. Of particular Participation activities, which include note was the joint success of Chemistry highly successful Summer Schools. The student Kate Barrow who was named University has been involved in develop- as the 2003 Science, Engineering and ing collaborative links with local further Technology Student of the Year while education colleges and has established her tutor Dr Andy Russell was given The University of Reading Associate the Best Lecturer Award. College Network. The quality of our teaching is The year has seen increasing contri- reflected in the fact that a high propor- bution from staff and students to vol- tion of our graduates soon find employ- unteer projects in the local community. ment, achieving above-average salaries. Our Community Projects Co-ordinator The employability of our students has matched one hundred student and staff been enhanced by an innovative web- volunteers with twenty-two different based careers management skills pro- voluntary sector organisations. Student gramme integral to our undergraduate volunteers also spend two or three hours degrees. It has now been bought by over of their spare time each week helping fifty British institutions and this year its pupils in twenty-seven local primary website won a national award. and secondary schools. We are in contact with more than Currently, the University is investing 65,000 alumni – over 1,800 recent gradu- over £45m in its infrastructure over the ates attended a reunion here this year. next five years, to improve our facili- A new development function is being ties to support our excellent teaching, established with the aim of involving research and enterprise activities. This alumni more closely in the future of includes the refurbishment of the Bob the University. Kayley Theatre at Bulmershe Court, the The University is hugely attractive to new home for the Museum of English students with a seven per cent increase Rural Life, and a new centre for social in applications year-on-year, as opposed sciences and arts and humanities post- to a national three per cent average. A graduates in Old Whiteknights House. record 24,000 people attended the Open I would like to thank academic, cleri- Days in June and September in 2003. cal, technical and all support staff for This year also saw the award of £13m making my first year so enjoyable and from the Government’s Science Research more importantly, contributing to the Investment Fund to strengthen science continued success of the University. and technology research. The campus Enterprise Hub opened for business and Reading joined four other universities: Brunel, Royal Holloway, Surrey and Sussex to launch a £4m investment fund, Professor Gordon Marshall

ViceChan12_Final 2 15/11/04, 10:27 am ICRC ESTABLISHED WEB WEATHER SEEING THROUGH THE FOG CARBOHYDRATE SYNTHESIS TELLING BONES STARCH CANCER LINK research

RESEARCH 1

Research_18_Final 1 15/11/04, 10:12 am ICRC ESTABLISHED

Teams of specialists from the Equivalent resources from industry School of Construction Management match the £2.5m award from epsrc. and Engineering target research to The construction sector is the third meet industrial demand largest industrial sector in the UK econ- omy with an annual output exceeding The Innovative Construction Research £80 billion. A competitive construction Centre (icrc) was established in January sector is vital to the national economy 2002 with a grant of £2.5m from the and society at large. Construction com- Engineering and Physical Sciences prises a signifi cant component of fi xed Research Council (epsrc). The award capital investment across all industry confi rmed the School of Construction sectors. Management and Engineering as an Government targets for improve- international centre of excellence for ments in housing, health, education and construction research. infrastructure are all dependent on the The icrc is one of fourteen Innovative performance of the construction sector. Manufacturing Research Centres (imrcs) Whilst research support for other more set up to support UK manufacturing high-tech sectors may be fashionable, and is specifi cally dedicated to serving construction is too large and important the research needs of the UK construc- to ignore. Any marginal improvement in tion sector, with a particular emphasis performance would signifi cantly benefi t on competitiveness, productivity and all industrial sectors and the economy at performance. large. The challenge for icrc is to target The Centre possesses a wide portfolio its research so that it makes a difference. of research conducted in close collabora- Projects recently completed include tion with industry. It is currently working ‘Sharing knowledge between aerospace with more than sixty industrial partners, and construction’, comprising a compara- including clients, contractors, consult- tive study of managerial practices in the ants, suppliers, industry bodies, trade two sectors. associations and professional institutions.

2 RESEARCH

Research_18_Final 2 15/11/04, 10:12 am This experiment allows anyone to run a climate model from their computer, helping to improve long-term global forecasts WEB WEATHER

Climate change and our response to it Dr Ellie Highwood from the are issues of global importance, affect- Meteorology Department said: ‘There ing food production, water resources, are many slightly different ways of rep- ecosystems, energy demand, insurance resenting important climate processes in costs and much else. There is a broad computer models. This project will, for scientifi c consensus that the earth is the fi rst time, allow us to test many of likely to warm over the coming century, these different versions and in doing so but estimates of how much vary hugely. to tell you what the climate probably The climateprediction.net experiment was will and probably won’t do. It’s really launched in September to allow a state- exciting that the participants will each of-the-art climate prediction model to be be running their own unique version run on home, school or work computers of the model and will be able to see its by any one who wishes to help improve climate evolving for themselves. In fi fty scientifi c forecasts of twenty-fi rst century years time we’ll know which one of climate. It is hoped that it will eventually them was right!’ be run by millions of ordinary computers The climate model runs as a back- worldwide. ground process on ordinary desktop This collaboration between the computers and will not affect other University’s Meteorology Department, computing tasks. Simulations of present the University of Oxford, the Met climate and past changes will be used Offi ce, the Open University, thecclrc to test different model versions and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, and most realistic will be used to predict Tessella Support Services plc will use the climate of the twenty-fi rst century. the combined power of participants’ per- Participants can watch the climate of sonal computers to generate the world’s their unique model evolve using exciting most comprehensive probability-based visualisation packages that come with forecast of twenty-fi rst century climate. the model.

RESEARCH 3

Research_18_Final 3 15/11/04, 10:13 am SEEING THROUGH THE FOG

Development of these powerful Every year fog and adverse weather ‘One advantage of the pmmw imager cameras should make the flow conditions ground planes and bring is its ability to see through severe of air traffic less susceptible to airports to a standstill because poor vis- weather conditions. Currently, most air adverse weather conditions ibility makes flying and the movement traffic control systems and surveillance of aeroplanes and vehicles on the tarmac cameras use infra-red waves, which are too dangerous. The development of the significantly weakened in poor weather. infra-red camera has allowed pilots and Another advantage of the pmmw imager air traffic controllers to see far better is that objects are not subject to external through mist and fog than they could radiation in order to obtain an image. with the human eye, but it cannot This technology makes it possible to penetrate fog, clouds and light drizzle. detect objects without being detected, Researchers in the University’s which is why it’s called passive,’ Applied Optics Centre in the Department explained Professor Lettington. of Physics have been funded by the nasa The University of Reading is unique in Glenn Research Centre to build a super- having the wide spectrum of knowledge camera that works not with infra-red but needed to carry out research in this field with passive millimetre waves (pmmw) and this pioneering technology has poten- which will produce much clearer pic- tial applications in security and aviation tures in adverse weather conditions. safety. It may provide new ways of hand- The camera operates in the millime- ling airport security and assist aircraft tre-wave portion of the electromagnetic and space shuttle take-off and landing. spectrum to ‘see’ through clothing, dense PhD students Naomi Alexander and fog, walls and other opaque materials, Anas Wabby, led by Dr Denis Dunn and creating visual images of objects, people, Emeritus Professor Alan Lettington, runways, obstacles and the horizon. As spent eighteen months building the cam- millimetre-wave technology can pene- era that has now been sent to Johnson trate fabrics and other materials, it is also C. Smith University, North Carolina as suitable for concealed weapons detection. a model for further research.

4 RESEARCH

Research_18_Final 4 15/11/04, 10:13 am Pioneering research which could lead to more efficient disease treatment and new vaccinations CARBOHYDRATE SYNTHESIS

Dr Helen Osborn in the School of the position and orientation of the bonds Chemistry is currently developing new between the carbohydrate units to be methods for preparing disease-associated controlled. Dr Osborn’s research team carbohydrates. All cells are coated with has developed new chemical and enzy- carbohydrates, but disease cells display matic methods for preparing these build- different carbohydrates to healthy cells. ing blocks and these methods requiring For example, tumour cells show specific fewer synthetic and purification steps cancer-associated carbohydrates. Dr than traditional strategies. Osborn believes that synthesis of these A number of analogues of cancer- carbohydrates will provide new methods associated carbohydrates have been for disease treatment, possibly via vac- prepared using this methodology and cination strategies, or by discovering new their ability to inhibit tumour migration carbohydrate analogues that can disrupt via metastasis is currently being investi- interactions between the diseased cells gated. and their receptors. A series of anti-infective agents with Carbohydrates have extremely large a potential for treating infections caused and complicated structures and prepar- by E .coli has also been prepared, in col- ing them in a laboratory is complex and laboration with Drs Hayes and Rastall laborious. Synthetic methods that only in the Schools of Chemistry and Food allow access to the naturally occurring Bioscience respectively. Collaborations isomer of the target are required. Most with Dr Barclay, from ams, are also in syntheses are multi-step processes that place to prepare specific carbohydrates rely on access to intermediates with that can be used to probe the specificity specific protecting groups – these allow of different strains of the influenza virus.

RESEARCH 5

Research_18_Final 5 15/11/04, 10:13 am Archaeologist Dr Stuart Black was By studying the Upton victim’s teeth, called in to help detectives investigating femur and skin, Dr Black has been able TELLING the murder of a man whose body was to establish some of the victim’s ances- found burning in a fi eld in Upton, near try, recent whereabouts and where he BONES Peterborough. spent the majority of the last four weeks Dr Black, Lecturer in Environmental before his murder. Radioactivity in the School of Human Dr Black said: ‘Dental samples and Environmental Sciences had previ- indicate he most likely grew up in the ously helped carry out groundbreaking Ukraine. Isotope levels from the femur forensic work on the torso of a young indicate that the victim has been a boy which was found in the Thames in resident in the UK for the last three to September 2001. six years prior to his death and further Using isotope analysis on samples tests indicate he was contaminated with taken from bones which showed traces of by-products from the nuclear industry, a particular pre-Cambrian rock from West sourced from the east coast of Britain.’ Africa, Dr Black, with scientists at Royal Levels of isotopes recorded on the vic- Holloway, University of London, was able tim’s hair and skin also indicate that the to establish that the boy came from a victim had not been resident in the UK corridor of Nigeria, which stretches 100 for up to four weeks prior to his death miles by 50 miles. It was the fi rst time and the ratios recorded suggest he may this technique was carried out in Britain. have been in North Germany or Holland.

A previously unknown link between responsible for the colour and fl avour the production of acrylamide, a suspect of cooked food, a process known as the STARCH carcinogen and the frying, baking and Maillard reaction. Acrylamide formation toasting of carbohydrate-rich foods was occurs even at moderate temperatures CANCER discovered by Professor Don Mottram, above 100º c. As acrylamide formation of the School of Food Biosciences is an unavoidable process, Professor LINK and Professor Bronek Wedicha of the Mottram and his team are continu- University of Leeds. ing their research to determine how Reporting in the October 2002 issue the levels of acrylamide in food can be of Nature, the food scientists showed that minimised by the control of the cooking this substance is formed as a result of the process or the selection of raw materials. chemical reaction between sugars and A group of international food industry the amino acid asparagine in particular. companies are now sponsoring a further These are natural components of all collaborative research project in this area plant-based foods, and the reaction involving the universities of Reading, of sugars with amino acids is also Leeds and Nottingham.

6 RESEARCH

Research_18_Final 6 15/11/04, 10:14 am CORAL’S STORMY FUTURE END OF THE GARDEN? ALL FOR BANANAS THE EARTH SIMULATOR RURAL YOUTH LIVELIHOODS

INTERNATIONAL 7 international

International_18_Final 7 15/11/04, 9:54 am The vulnerability of the delicate ecosys- whole areas of delicate branching corals tems of coral reefs to the activities of and the marine life that they support. both humans and nature has been high- But Professor Crabbe, working with lighted by two research projects under- Earthwatch Institute, has now found that taken by Professor James Crabbe and such storms have far-reaching effects on his team from the School of Animal and stouter, non-branching corals as well, Microbial Sciences. Separate investiga- by hampering the settling-out of coral tions on coral colonies in Indonesia and larvae that start, or recruit, new colonies, in Jamaica have revealed two different thus endangering future generations of threats to their future development. coral and local biodiversity. In Indonesia, working with Operation Using a mathematical model of coral Wallacea, the team has been looking at colony growth to calculate the recruit- how human activity through fi shing and ment dates of 438 non-branching corals mining are damaging the coral reefs of from eleven species, the team was sur- Indonesia. Digital image analysis of corals prised to fi nd a signifi cant negative cor- from a number of reefs indicates slower- relation between storm severity recorded than-average growth rates. The scien- over the last sixty years and recruitment tists think that more sediment is being of non-branching coral. In years with washed on to the reefs, cutting out light severe storms, recruitment dropped. and limiting growth. This research has These fi ndings, which have now been implications for the future preservation extended to well over 1,000 individual of these important ecosystems, and could corals, contradict earlier studies which help Indonesia to develop education pro- suggest that in 1980 Hurricane Allen grammes and management policies. created favourable conditions for coral In Jamaica it was already known that recruitment by clearing the reef surface. hurricanes and storms can wipe out CORAL’ S STORMY FUTURE

Professor James Crabbe and his team have revealed two major threats to the world’s delicate coral reefs

8 INTERNATIONAL

International_18_Final 8 15/11/04, 9:56 am As climate change affects our domestic gardens, indigenous plant species may have to make way for more tropical varieties

A major study into the practical impacts could become increasingly diffi cult and END of climate change on gardens in the costly to maintain and some traditional UK was published by Richard Bisgrove garden features may have to be replaced and Paul Hadley of the School of Plant by new ones, more suited to changing OF THE Sciences in November. Gardening in the conditions. Domestic gardeners are in a global greenhouse: the impacts of climate position to adapt to climate change and change on UK gardens was commissioned exploit opportunities as it affects grow- GARDEN? by the National Trust and the Royal ing conditions in UK gardens. For the Horticultural Society in partnership heritage sector, the greatest challenge with the Department for Environment, will be the long-term care of historic Food and Rural Affairs (defra), Anglian layouts, plant collections and planting Water, English Heritage, the Forestry effects, originally developed in climatic Commission, Notcutts Nurseries, the conditions that will no longer exist. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the UK The study has been commissioned Climate Impacts Programme. It revealed at a time when the vulnerability of that climate change will affect millions gardens to the vagaries of the weather of domestic gardens in the UK and could is becoming increasingly apparent. The ultimately threaten the traditional char- impact of climate change is likely to acter and possibly long term survival of lead to reduced frosts, earlier spring, some historic and public gardens and and higher average temperatures all parks and their plant collections. year round. Increased winter rainfall, Within the next fi fty to eighty years, however, may lead to more fl oods, while the quintessential ‘English country hotter, drier summers will mean greater garden’ and the great British lawn risk of drought.

INTERNATIONAL 9

International_18_Final 9 15/11/04, 10:00 am Dr Simon Gowen of the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development is working on trials of a new variety of banana

The world’s favourite fruit, the banana, a only expensive, but presents a serious basic staple food for hundreds of millions threat to workers and the environment. ALL FOR of people, is under severe threat from Panama disease, however, can not be disease that could mean the fruit disap- controlled with fungicides. If this takes BANANAS pears forever in ten years time. This is hold, the Cavendish may disappear all the message that the media around the together. world have recently been declaring. Through research funded by the dfi d Dr Simon Gowen disagrees that Crop Protection Programme, Dr Gowen the banana will become extinct, but he and his colleagues are working on trials says that we are unlikely to be eating in Uganda of a new variety of banana. today’s most common cloned variety. Currently known as fhia 17 it is resist- The Cavendish, virtually the only variety ant to Sigatoka and Panama disease. He western supermarkets stock, took over believes that if people understood that from Gros Michel as the major export the fruit they are currently buying is variety in the 1960s, after the latter was heavily pesticide dependent and is under- decimated by Panama disease. mining the economy and health of its A new form of this disease, ‘race 4’, producers, they would be happy to try is now threatening the Cavendish. There different varieties. Dr Gowen hopes that are more resistant varieties, but there is the mistake of becoming dependent on currently no demand as supermarkets do one variety can be avoided and consum- not buy them. In some central American ers will be allowed to choose from the countries the Cavendish is also under wide range of bananas that are already threat from another fungal disease, Black grown in a more sustainable way in Sigatoka, but is protected by up to forty non-exporting countries. sprayings of fungicide a year. This is not

10 INTERNATIONAL

International_18_Final 10 15/11/04, 10:01 am Reading meteorologists are using the world’s largest supercomputer for meteorological research THE EARTH SIMULATOR

Japan’s Earth Simulator, number one the high international standing of UK in the top 500 list of supercomputers, climate modelling and research. is the world’s biggest and fastest super- The Earth Simulator is ten times more computer, providing opportunities powerful than anything currently avail- to understand the complex interactions able to scientists in the UK. Using the that describe the climate system today Earth Simulator will allow them to run and will determine how human be- mathematical models of the earth sys- haviour will affect the climate in the tem at unprecedented resolutions. This coming decades. will give new insights into the processes Dr Mat Collins at the Hadley Centre that determine climate variability, such and nerc scientists Professor Julia as El Niño, interactions between the Gulf Slingo and Dr Lois Steenman Clark Stream and Atlantic weather systems. at the University’s Centre for Global It will also enable the meteorologists to Atmospheric Modelling have been provide more detailed assessments of granted access to the machine through the regional impacts of climate change, collaboration agreements with the Earth such as the increase in extreme events. Simulator Centre and the University of As a first step, cgam and Hadley Centre Tokyo. This is one of only three interna- scientists have successfully run the tional collaborations established by the Hadley Centre climate prediction model Director General of the Earth Simulator at a resolution high enough to show Centre, Dr Tetsuya Sato, and reflects frontal rain bands and tropical cyclones.

INTERNATIONAL 11

International_18_Final 11 15/11/04, 10:01 am RURAL YOUTH LIVELIHOODS

East Africa’s disenfranchised youth Kevin Waldie of the International and strategies. The Rural Youth Livelihoods can help improve the management Rural Development Department is Project aims to gain a clearer understand- of natural resources involved in a research project focused ing of the livelihood strategies of rural on exploring the positive social and econ- youth, review current policies, institu- omic contributions that young people tions and processes that infl uence the make to their community and country. lives of young people in rural areas and The underlying hypothesis of the establish and disseminate models of good project is that young people are the practice of supporting young people’s major stakeholders of improvement in needs. natural resource management (nrm). For It is hoped that the project will youth to become proactive in investing provide policy-makers, development in sustainable nrm, however, it is essen- practitioners and academics with tial that they have adequate opportuni- a clearer understanding of the present ties to build their livelihoods on their and potential role of nrm in the lives own terms. and livelihood strategies of rural youth. Such opportunities are presently lim- The research project, which began ited by a lack of information and under- in April 2002 and will run to March standing of how young people living in 2005, is funded by the UK Department rural areas of Uganda and Kenya access for International Development (dfi d) and make use of local natural resource through the Natural Resources Systems endowments to shape their livelihood Programme.

12 INTERNATIONAL

International_18_Final 12 15/11/04, 10:02 am £4M CASCADE FUND BLOOD CLOTTING CONTROL CARBON ECONOMY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY enterprise

ENTERPRISE 13

Enterprise_15_Final 13 15/11/04, 9:36 am The University of Reading joined four in those institutions on commercially other universities to launch a £4m viable projects. Academics applying to £4M investment fund, the Cascade Fund, the Fund can expect a rigorous assess- to support academics seeking to ment of their technology by the Fund CASCADE commercialise the outcomes of their Manager, Generics Asset Management research. The Fund, which is shared Ltd. Dr Phillip Carter, Fund Manager for FUND between Brunel, Reading, Royal Generics said, ‘The Cascade Fund is very Holloway, Surrey and Sussex universities, selective and will only invest in those will stimulate entrepreneurial activity projects with genuine commercial poten- and provide fi nancial and business tial and those which are likely to yield a assistance to academics working signifi cant return on the investment.’

The fi rst award made by the Cascade controlled by the reaction of blood cells Fund was to scientist Dr Jonathan called platelets, which aggregate at the BLOOD Gibbins from the School of Animal and site of an injury and form a clot, to stop Microbial Sciences, whose research has the bleeding. However, clots sometimes CLOTTING recently led to the discovery of new form when there is no injury and these mechanisms that control blood clotting. can block major blood vessels and stop It is possible that these discoveries may the supply of blood to vital organs such CONTROL lead to the identifi cation of new drugs as the brain and heart. or drug targets effective in the preven- The investment made by the Cascade tion of thrombosis (uncontrolled blood Fund will enable Dr Gibbins to conduct clotting). a market research exercise to establish Thrombosis is a major killer in the whether the exploitation of his discover- UK: according to the Offi ce for National ies in a drug development programme Statistics in 2000 over 175,000 people would be a viable prospect. Dr Gibbins died as a result of the condition, more commented, ‘Cascade is enabling us to than of cancer. Whilst it can cause major explore the potential of our discoveries. health problems, blood clotting is an It would be very exciting to see our basic essential process, controlling bleeding cell biology research transferred into and repairing injuries. The process is therapeutics.’

14 ENTERPRISE

Enterprise_15_Final 14 15/11/04, 9:39 am Reading scientists are leading efforts to tear the UK economy away from carbon dependency towards environmentally friendly alternatives CARBON ECONOMY

Carbon is one of the fundamental build- and Engineering is helping lead research ing blocks of life and life is one of the in the study of carbon management. fundamental building blocks of the His work is forming part of an initiative global carbon cycle. Over geological to promote carbon management in UK history, this fi ne balance has produced organisations in efforts to move towards a small carbon surplus which has a low carbon economy. He provides been deposited into the earth’s crust. national policy advice and develops com- Paradoxically, since the Industrial plex models for assessing carbon emis- Revolution, humanity has become criti- sions in different sectors and throughout cally dependent on carbon. Ubiquitous the life-cycles of individual products. Dr in our environment, we harness carbon’s Shipworth says forthcoming legislation strength in our materials, and rely on its will require more and more businesses energy for our fuels. We are now disturb- to develop carbon management systems. ing life’s fi ne balance with the carbon ‘While carbon management is cycle by very rapidly releasing historical currently seen as being primarily a deposits of carbon back into the atmos- technical issue it is increasingly appar- phere in the form of carbon dioxide ent that effective solutions for reducing through driving, and through energy carbon outputs lie in overcoming the use in the home and in the workplace. organisational and economic barriers This carbon dioxide is one of the that currently dissuade companies and greenhouse gases and it is the main gas individuals from implementing simple, causing global warming and associated cost-effective solutions in this area. climate change. Forthcoming EU legislation will require Pressure is now increasing at interna- more and more UK companies to audit tional, national and local levels to reduce and manage their carbon emissions, carbon dioxide emissions, making the while simultaneously creating business management of carbon an increasingly opportunities to trade in carbon on the important issue. Dr David Shipworth of UK, EU and eventually global carbon the School of Construction Management markets.’

ENTERPRISE 15

Enterprise_15_Final 15 15/11/04, 9:40 am A new Reading degree programme is designed to meet growing demand for practical computer skills in the commercial and business sectors INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The new Information Technology degree covering areas such as Commercial in the School of Systems Engineering Off The Shelf Software (cots), program- meets both a national and a local need ming and design, software engineer- for the development of degree courses ing, it support (Infrastructure) and in the area of information technology. e-business. The emphasis is on students The course is informed and refreshed developing the diverse range of practical by the University’s applied research and skills needed to succeed in a commercial links with industry and there are now environment. over thirty students taking both the Many of the staff teaching on the Part 1 and Part 2 courses. course have extensive industrial experi- The new practical-based Information ence and combine their teaching duties Technology degree programme is com- with consultancy work, a ‘hands-on’ plementary to the existing theory-based approach from which the students gain Computer Science degree courses. One real benefit. An appreciation of links of the second-year students Paul Sebborn with industry develop their understand- said: ‘The course sets you up with a ings by putting theory into practice. really good base if you want to start your The course has its own laboratory own business. It’s all about the role of where students can do all their practical it in business.’ work, ranging from producing an e-busi- The course contents for the Infor- ness solution to fixing broken hardware. mation Technology degree are themed,

16 ENTERPRISE

Enterprise_15_Final 16 15/11/04, 9:40 am teaching & learning

THE POWER OF SEJANUS SUMMER SCHOOL PARTNERS IN LAW TEACHING EXCELLENCE STUDENT OF THE YEAR

Teaching_16_Final 17 15/11/04, 10:19 am An event of major theatrical and academic importance: Ben Jonson’s play is staged for the fi rst time since the seventeenth century THE POWER OF SEJANUS

Brian Woolland, of the School of Arts The Bulmershe Production (which and Communication Design, directed has been established as a major strand a theatrical production of Ben Jonson’s of research in the Department of Film, Sejanus as part of a major research Theatre and Television) makes a signifi - project, for which he received a cant, though indirect, contribution to Research Leave Award from the Arts teaching. The cast and technical crew are and Humanities Research Board (ahrb). all students, the work on the production Although Sejanus has not been feeding into their own critical work on performed professionally since the theatre and to their practice as directors seventeenth century, there has been a of both theatre and video. considerable revival of critical interest A video record of the production was in it in recent years. This production made and has subsequently been edited at Reading was therefore of major on to dvd. This has now been made theatrical signifi cance. available for teaching purposes to other One of Brian Woolland’s intentions universities where Renaissance Theatre in staging this revival was to examine is taught. The production has also been the play’s contemporary relevance. The used as a case study by Practice As production made extensive use of video Research In Performance (parip), a fi ve- and a specially commissioned musical year ahrb funded project based at the score. Although rarely performed, the University of Bristol. parip’s objectives play is profoundly relevant and surpris- are to investigate creative and academic ingly modern in its concerns about issues raised by performance practice state surveillance and corruption and as research. its analysis of the workings of power and complicity.

18 TEACHING & LEARNING

Teaching_16_Final 18 15/11/04, 10:23 am In July, sixty state school pupils from knowledge of higher education and SUMMER all over the south east enjoyed a hefce led a programme of evening events to funded Summer School organised, by illustrate the benefi ts of the social side the University’s Widening Participation of campus life. The importance of devel- SCHOOL Offi ce. Residential Higher Education oping skills valued by employers was Summer Schools have proved a highly emphasised through personal develop- effective means of encouraging Univer- ment workshops, team building exer- sity applications from young people cises, presentation skills workshops whose backgrounds have little tradition and careers information sessions. of participation in Higher Education. The Widening Participation Offi ce The six–day school was designed has secured funding for three Higher to give pupils an insight into life and Education Summer Schools in 2004. study at university. Around twenty-fi ve In addition to the general Summer academic departments provided work- School for pupils who have just com- shops, lectures, visits and practical pleted gcse, the University will host activities to demonstrate the vast range a National Specialist Summer School of course opportunities. A team of under- for Fine Art and Typography & Graphic graduate mentors assisted participants in Communication, and a Regional Science the week’s activities, provided fi rst–hand Summer School for A-level pupils.

The University has entered into a col- arrangements for them will mirror those laborative arrangement to deliver a LLB for their counterparts at Reading. PARTNERS programme in Law with Taylor’s College, Taylor’s College expect up to fi fty Malaysia, from October 2004. Taylor’s students to register on the programme. IN LAW College is a private education institution Regular visits will be made by Reading located in Subang Jaya, about twenty-fi ve staff to the College to ensure teaching miles from Kuala Lumpur. The College quality standards and it is expected that has several thousand students taking Taylor’s College staff will visit Reading a wide range of courses, with over 400 for staff development purposes. Teaching students from outside Malaysia. materials developed by the School of The fi rst two years of the LLB will be Law will be available to Taylor’s College delivered in Malaysia and students will students via Blackboard. then transfer to Reading for the fi nal The Taylor’s College collaboration may year of their programme. Students study- prove a model for future programmes of ing on the LLB programme at Taylor’s this type involving the School of Law and College are to be treated as Reading other disciplines around the University. students studying in Malaysia and

Teaching_16_Final 19 15/11/04, 10:23 am TEACHING EXCELLENCE

The first winner of the new award for The two runners up at Reading were teaching excellence was Dr Emily Finch Dr Graham Holloway (School of Animal in the School of Law. The award panel and Microbial Science) and Mr Alan were very impressed with what Emily Rowley (School of Business). had achieved in the relatively short time Emily received a £6,000 grant to she has been a lecturer at Reading. It develop her work on the Practical Legal was clear from the nominations Emily Studies module she teaches which received and the case she submitted, focuses on developing key skill areas that her ability to influence and inspire relating to the legal profession. Graham her students was particularly strong. and Alan each received a £3,000 grant. The Award for Teaching Excellence Graham plans to develop the Wildlife is conferred for teaching of any kind, Management and Conservation MSc of undergraduate, postgraduate, part-time, which he is Director with a web-based online or distance. There are two run- journal, while Alan’s prize money went ners-up awards, to be used to develop towards developing online self-learning the individual’s own teaching practice toolkits and ‘mini-modules’ for urban or that within their School. design and property development.

STUDENT OF THE YEAR

Chemistry student Kate Barrow has been laboratories during the production named the 2003 Science, Engineering of other drugs. and Technology Student of the Year Kate, who attended the event with for her work on synthesizing an anti- her parents, said: ‘I wasn’t expecting leukaemia drug. this. I would like to thank everyone Her tutor, Dr Andrew Russell, was at The University of Reading who has given the Best Lecturer Award, recognis- helped me get this far.’ ing the vital role staff play in motivating Dr Russell described Kate as ‘a truly students. Kate also spent a year work- remarkable student’. He went on to ing with Astra Zeneca, a world leading say ‘Inspirational events such as this pharmaceutical company. can make the world of science and This project was looking at producing technology sexy and dispel the notion part of a potent anti-leukaemic natural that chemistry is all about pollution, compound synthetically. Kate made engineering about oily rags and physics impressive advances with this and the about funny people that can’t co-operate compound could ultimately be used with others! The brilliant students here commercially. In addition, two of the tonight would be an inspiration to any compounds made during the project academic.’ may have future uses in pharmaceutical

20 TEACHING & LEARNING

Teaching_16_Final 20 15/11/04, 10:23 am News_18_Final 21 15/11/04, 10:05am news ict research Leverhulme Winning director prize ideas

Professor David Robey Head Dr David Marshall Reader in The newly established of the School of Modern the Department of Meteorology, Certificate in Further Languages, was appointed was awarded the £50,000 Philip Professional Studies in Higher Director (half-time) of an Leverhulme Prize for 2002 in Education Project Prize was important new programme recognition of outstanding awarded to Dr Eleanor for ict in Arts and Humanities research in oceanography. Highwood in the Department Research launched by the Arts Dr Marshall is a leader in the of Meteorology, for her feasi- and Humanities Research Board field in the UK and his work is bility study project entitled (ahrb). As Programme Director, recognised on an international ‘Academic tutorials for BSc he will lead the ahrb’s effort to level. ‘My research is directed Meteorology undergraduates’. encourage, support and enhance towards understanding the Eleanor received £1,000 to use the use of ict across a wide large-scale circulation of the for her further professional range of arts and humanities oceans and the role of the development. research. oceans in climate. The prize will The Certificate programme give me the freedom to develop is the University’s development some innovative approaches to programme for new lecturers my research.’ and the prize is awarded annu- ally for the project entry con- sidered most likely to influence teaching and learning within the School.

Professor David Robey Dr David Marshall Dr Eleanor Highwood Professor David Beever Dr Parveen Yaqoob

22 NEWS

News_18_Final 22 15/11/04, 10:07 am Dairy Nutrition Cost science award engineering

Professor David Beever Dr Parveen Yaqoob of the Professor Ranko Bon and Director of the Centre for Dairy School of Food Biosciences has Dr Will Hughes of Research (cedar), was presented been awarded the prestigious Construction Management with the prestigious Roche Silver Medal of the UK Nutrition and Engineering received National Livestock Nutrition Society. She presented her Silver awards from the Association Award for the outstanding con- Medal Lecture at the Nutrition for the Advancement of Cost tribution he has made to dairy Society’s Summer Meeting at Engineering – International science, particularly in the areas King’s College, London in July, Section for outstanding contri- of ruminant nutrition, milk attended by nutrition scientists butions to the field of construc- secretion and environmental from across the world. tion management research pollution. Dr Yaqoob’s research exam- through their work as editors The award also recognises ines the influence of dietary fats of the international journal, the immense support and in health and disease, looking Construction Management and encouragement he has pro- particularly at the anti-inflam- Economics, the leading journal vided to young researchers matory effects of fish oils and in the field. throughout his career. Professor the way in which they can Dr Hughes was also elected Beever is the author of over 450 help those with inflammatory a Fellow of the rsa (Royal research publications and has diseases, such as arthritis and Society for the Encouragement been a leading figure in building heart disease. of the Arts, Manufactures and cedar to a unit of international Commerce). status.

Honorary degrees

Professor Anthony Kelly (DSc) Mr Paul Orchard-Isle (LLD) Professor Kelly was the Vice An independent property adviser, Chancellor of the University Mr Orchard-Lisle was President of of Surrey from 1975 until 1994. the University Council from 1994 Mr Tim Smit (DSc) until his retirement in July 2003. Chief Executive Officer and Dame Rosalyn Higgins (LLD) co-founder with John Nelson of Judge of the International Court the Eden Project. of Justice since 1995. Sir Dominic Cadbury (DSc) Mr William Alexander (DSc) Chairman of the Wellcome Trust Chief Executive of Thames Water since 2000. plc since 1997. Dr Will Hughes and Professor Ranko Bon

NEWS 23

News_18_Final 23 15/11/04, 10:07 am In the only joint Anglo-German German cities at the end of the war. War venture of its kind, the University’s Psychologists from London and Phoenix, Centre for East German Studies and Arizona, who have specialised in the victims? the Gesamteuropäisches Studienwerk, study of traumas caused by the experi- Vlotho, held their 5th joint international ence of being expelled from one’s home- conference this year. It focused on the land, and the president of the organisa- highly controversial question: should tion in Germany representing women Germans regard themselves as victims who were raped during the expellations, of the Second World War, as well as were among those who took part. perpetrators? There were some very strong differ- The controversy was started by ences of opinion expressed, particu- Günter Grass with his novel, Im larly between different generations of Krebsgang, about the sinking of a refugee Germans, but the concluding session ship off Danzig in 1944 and a book by made it clear that this was a very the historian Jörg Friedrich about the fruitful conference. allied bombing campaign against

It is unusual to have a major academic In the last fi fteen months six new titles English book series, published by a commer- have appeared: Sarah M. Dunnigan, Eros cial publisher, affi liated to a particular and poetry at the courts of Mary Queen of historical institution. That is what has always been Scots and James VI; Anthony Miller, Roman the case with the series Early Modern triumphs and Early Modern English culture; Literature in History. The general editor Sasha Roberts, Reading Shakespeare’s texts is Professor Cedric Brown, Dean and poems in Early Modern England; Mark Director of Research in the Faculty of Thornton Burnett, Constructing monsters Arts and Humanities and the publisher in Shakespearean drama and Early Modern is Palgrave/Macmillan. The series is culture; Elizabeth Heale, Autobiography and published in association with Reading’s authorship in Renaissance verse: chronicles Renaissance Texts Research Centre of the self; James Daybell (editor), Early which is based mainly in the School modern women’s letter writing, 1450–1700. of English and American Literature.

24 NEWS

News_18_Final 24 15/11/04, 10:07 am The ‘Cultures of British Television Holloway, University of London super- British Drama, 1960–82’ research project is vises PhD research on the professional funded by the ahrb and runs from 2002 culture of tv institutions. television to 2005. It involves analytical study using The project is based in the Centre for the resources of the bbc Written Archive Television Drama Studies, established in Caversham and other British televi- at Reading in 2000. Its Director is Dr drama sion archives. Work is being done on Jonathan Bignell, in the Department programmes, the institutions behind of Film, Theatre & Television. The British tv drama and the professional Centre coordinates research projects on context in which drama was made. Television Drama, seeks funding and The project links three universities: disseminates research. It develops links Dr Jonathan Bignell leads the project between academics, acts as a base for at Reading and works with a postdoc- postgraduate research and facilitates toral researcher, Dr Helen Wheatley, dialogue with archives, other resource who studies popular genres of tv holders and practitioners. An extensive drama. Stephen Lacey at Manchester publication and conference programme Metropolitan University supervises is running throughout the 2002–05 PhD research on regional identities in period. tv drama. Professor John Ellis at Royal

Greek consular leaders and the Greek The Centre, unique in Britain, Hellenic Orthodox Archbishop of Thyateira and brings together specialists from seven Great Britain were among those cele- different Schools and Departments studies brating the launch of a unique new within the University: Archaeology, multi-disciplinary Greek research Classics, Economics, Linguistics, Modern centre at the University of Reading. Languages, Philosophy and Sociology. The Centre for Hellenic Studies was The result is teaching and research in offi cially launched at the University in a rich range of subjects including lan- February with a reception in the Ure guage, literature, history, archaeology, Museum of Classical Archaeology, philosophy, religion and art. Its chrono- supported by the Greek Embassy. logical range spans from Prehistoric times to the present.

NEWS 25

News_18_Final 25 15/11/04, 10:08 am This year the University hosted the Students from The University of A bug’s International Entomology Symposium Reading have discovered an impressive on Insect Evolutionary Ecology. Speakers 199 different species of spider within a life from all over the world joined the UK’s ten kilometre radius of the University most eminent entomologists to discuss campus as part of their Biology of topics such as sexually transmitted Spiders course taught by Dr Steve infections in ladybird beetles, mating Hopkin. Dr Hopkin’s course is unique fi ghts between male fi g wasps and sperm in British universities and very popular competition in butterfl ies. Drs Mark with undergraduates who, in addition Fellowes, Graham Holloway and Amanda to attending lectures on spider ecology, Callaghan from the School of Animal anatomy and behaviour, are trained to and Microbial Sciences were the main prepare collections of spiders to add to convenors of the symposium. the Natural History Museum collection.

A team from Veterinary Epidemiology animal movement standstills. The stud- Livestock and Economics Research Unit (veeru) ies were commissioned in response to led by Dr Tony Willsmore carried out a the recommendations made in July 2002 movement study to inform government legislation by the Lessons Learned and Royal Society on livestock movement restrictions. Inquiries and have been carried out for As a result, in July the government defra by Risk Solutions and veeru. announced that the six-day livestock Dr Wilsmore lectures on MSc movements regime which had been in courses in Veterinary Epidemiology and place in response to the foot-and-mouth Livestock Economics and supervises PhD outbreak would become permanent the studies in the epidemiology of livestock following month. diseases, their economic effects and the The decision was based on the design of programmes for their control. fi ndings of the cost benefi t analysis of

26 NEWS

News_18_Final 26 15/11/04, 10:08 am

facts & figures

FACTS & FIGURES 27

Factsnfigures_7_Final 27 15/11/04, 9:52 am student numbers 02–03

0 2 4 6 8 10

9,181 total 3,972

3,284 arts & humanities 1,039

2,824 science 796

788 life sciences 660

economic & social 1,932 sciences 1,041

353 institute of education 436

undergraduates postgraduates

research grants and contracts from reasearch councils, industry, EU, and other sponsors

£ millions 0 5 10 15 20 25

2000–01 20,832,000

2001–02 21,805,000

2002–03 24,108,000

28 FACTS & FIGURES

Factsnfigures_7_Final 28 15/11/04, 9:52 am careers information first destination of 2002 graduates at 3 January 2003

first degree

9,181 percentage 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

employment 67

further study 18

still seeking employment or further study 2

unavailable for employment 7

believed to be unemployed 6

higher degree

percentage 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

employment 77

further study 10

still seeking employment or further study 0

unavailable for employment 4

overseas returners 7

believed to be unemployed 2

FACTS & FIGURES 29

Factsnfigures_7_Final 29 15/11/04, 9:52 am financial summary from the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2003

income total: £137,371,000

£ millions 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

funding council grant 45,582,000

fees and support grants 29,740,000

endowment income and interest 2,198,000

residences and catering 16,794,000

other general income 14,413,000

research grants and contacts 24,108,000

other services 4,536,000

expenditure total: £136,178,000

£ millions 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

academic departments 59,733,000

academic services 7,339,000

premises (excl. residence and catering) 15,696,000

administration and central services 11,770,000

residences and catering operations 15,861,000

research grants and contracts 19,490,000

other expenditures 6,289,000

30 FACTS & FIGURES

Factsnfigures_7_Final 30 15/11/04, 9:52 am Visitor Her Majesty the Queen

Officers of the University as at 2002–03 Chancellor The Right Hon the Lord Carrington, KG, GCMG, CH, MC, PC

Vice-Chancellor Professor R.G. Marshall, BA, Stirling; DPhil, Oxford; CBE, FBA

President of the Council P.D. Orchard-Lisle, CBE, TD, DL; MA; FRICS

Vice-President of the Council G.P. Botting, BSc, PhD

Treasurer D. Luffrum, CPFA

Pro-Vice-Chancellors Professor T.A. Downes, BA, BCL, Oxford Professor M.G. Fulford, BA, PhD, Southampton; FBA, FSA Professor P.J. Gregory, BSc, Reading; PhD, Nottingham; CBiol, FIBiol Deans of the Faculties Arts and Humanities Professor C.C. Brown, BA, PhD, Reading Economic and Social Sciences Professor D.C. Berry, BSc, CNAA; DPhil, Oxford; CPsychol, AFBPsS Life Sciences Professor, R.L. Robson, BA, York; PhD, Wales Science Professor D.A. Rice, BSc, Hull; PhD, DSc, Exeter; CChem; FSRC Registrar and Tutorial Secretary D.C.R Frampton, MA, St Andrews; FRSA

Director of Information Services A.E. Haworth, MA, Oxford; Diploma in Computer Science, Cambridge; FBCS, FRSA

Director of Finance D.C.L. Savage, BA, London; FCCA

Director of Facilities Management P.A. Hackett, BArch, Dublin; RIBA

Auditors KPMG LLP

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