Issue 217 • 30 March 2010 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community

Understand this How the Reach Out Lab is inspiring Imperial’s future students > page 3

creative ideas mini profile on rwanda How e-learning Professor Business supports Altmann School student flexible on anthrax shares cultural learning research traditions centre pages PAGE 11 PAGE 12 2 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217

HEFCE grant 2010–11

Imperial has been advised that it will receive Rector, Sir Keith O’Nions, said: the sixth largest total recurrent grant in the “HEFCE’s allocation of funding for editor’s corner country from the Higher Education Funding 2010–11 sends an important message Council for England (HEFCE) for 2010–11. The with its increased support for institu- grant for 2010–11 sees an increase tions carrying out research On the in funding for research of £3.1 “Universities with top-rated (4*) in the 2008 ­million and negligible change to the a critical mass of RAE. Universities with a move College’s share of total ­sector fund- excellent ­scientific critical mass of excellent ing for teaching. However, overall research groups ­scientific research groups the College’s HEFCE ­funding has are essential to the are essential to the long- While I was doing some dropped by 0.7 per cent, equat- long-term health of term health of the nation, ­universities. London has research for the e-learning­ ing to around £1 million, due to the the nation.” economic competitive- two of the world’s top 10 feature on pages 8–9 of ­withdrawal of moderation fund- ness and improving quality universities, and the UK as this issue, I stumbled­ ing of £3.9 million, which was of life, and it is encourag- a whole has four; that is across a news article received in 2009–10 to prevent that year’s ing that the Council recognises that a situation we should be from the Times Online grant decreasing compared with the equiva- scarce resources should support the proud of and strenuously published in 2009 which lent, unmoderated figure in 2008–09. UK’s world class research intensive seek to maintain.” revealed that half of ­all British children aged five to nine own a mobile phone. Given that mobile New partnership with Sainsbury’s to phones are no longer just help reduce its carbon footprint for making calls but are now massively impressive multifunctional gadgets Imperial and Sainsbury’s have announced a partnership to offering internet access, a work together over the next five years on Sainsbury’s plans for photo library and music- future stores. Volunteers wanted playing capacity, children The partnership aims to are used to getting the research and deliver innova- for ‘project information they want, tive and practical solutions to when they want it, from a mitigate the future impacts parakeet’ young age. To keep up with of climate change and help expectations, e-learning­ Sainsbury’s reduce its carbon is becoming a popular footprint. The work involves approach with students. Imperial researchers from the Using technology such as Faculty of Engineering and the interactive slides, which Grantham Institute for Climate A research group in the make a lecturer’s commen- Change. Division of Biology is tary available online along- Plans are underway to New partners: (L to R) Professor Sir conducting a study into Brian Hoskins (Director of the Grantham side PowerPoint resources, investigate how Sainsbury’s Institute), Neil Sachdev (Commercial the effects of the ­­ring- means students get the stores in the future might Director for Sainsbury’s), John Ashford necked parakeet on native classroom experience even ­provide heat and recycled (Sainsbury’s Head of Engineering) when they are out and water to customers’ homes, and Professor Nilay Shah (Chemical bird species. If you’d like Engineering and Chemical Technology). about with their laptops. as well as help customers to to help the group collect See the centre spread to ­manage their waste. Other accurate estimates of the find out more. ­initiatives include the use of current population size of Emily Ross, Editor ‘smart grid’ technology to help reduce the supermarket’s energy the parakeets there will be a demand, with the potential for eventually taking stores completely Reporter is published every simultaneous count across several off the national grid. three weeks during term time roost sites in Greater London on in print and online at www. Commenting on the collaboration, Professor Sir Brian Hoskins, imperial.ac.uk/reporter. Director of the Grantham Institute, said: “This new partnership will Sunday 11 April. The next publication day is bring cutting edge research to mitigate some of the most press- 29 April. Contact Emily Ross: [email protected] ing climate change issues in the consumer retail sector. I welcome +44 (0)20 7594 6715 the opportunity to work with Sainsbury’s, and look forward to the advances that they can make with our input.” Cover photograph: Ten-year- The collaboration aims to deliver real outputs and provide the old Tina Ahang, from Salisbury To volunteer or to give information Primary School, at the official partners with a commercial legacy; the intellectual property of any on a roost location contact: opening of the Reach Out Lab products or research jointly developed will be commercially owned [email protected] on 23 March. She wants to be by the partnership. a doctor! —Natasha Martineau, Communications 3 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217 >> newsupdate

UK university research Mandelson opens worth £45 billion Reach Out Lab A new economic impact assess- ment of university research, Lord Mandelson, Secretary of ­presented at a British Acad- State for Business, Innovation and emy and Economic and Social Skills, visited the College on 23 Research Council innovation March to open Imperial’s Reach seminar on 16 March, suggests Out Lab – a unique new laboratory that the £3.5 billion a year cur- specifically for school pupils. rently spent on publicly funded The new facility, developed by research generates an additional Professor Lord Robert Winston, annual output of £45 billion in Professor of Science and Society, UK companies. University research represents a good is a high tech space where children The new measure, devel- return on public investment. aged from seven to 18 can go to oped by researchers in the get practical experience of experi- Business School and other col- ments and activities, which also laborators, called private sector ­Professor Haskel. “Second, support science teaching within Lord Mandelson conducts an experiment total factor productivity (TFP), the private sector also invests in the Reach Out Lab, assisted by Lord the National Curriculum. Sub- Robert Winston. To hear Lord Winston captures for the first time the in developing new knowledge, ject experts guide pupils through talk about the new facility, visit: www3. contribution to output of ‘intan- so we also need to account for experiments in the five key STEM imperial.ac.uk/news/reachout gible’ activities such as new these investments before look- (science, technology, engineering technology, knowledge, skills ing at effects from universities.” and mathematics) areas: physics, and design. Research Councils UK chemistry, mathematics, biology Lord Winston will also use the The study shows a strong (RCUK) has welcomed the find- and engineering. Reach Out Lab to conduct research correlation between public ings of Imperial’s paper and said Lord Winston said: “What on the effect that attendance and spend on research (through the it is “encouraged that the find- we know from research is that participation may have on the long- research councils) and increased ings support the case for sus- hands-on, practical work, doing term opportunities and choices TFP over 21 years (1986–2007). tained investment in research by ­experiments, making explosions, of the pupils involved, by track- Economist Professor highlighting the exceptionally is what gets children excited about ing their progress over a 10-year Jonathan Haskel, co-author of high rate of return achieved by science. Unfortunately many state period. The research will also look the study from the Business Research Council funding.” schools don’t have adequate lab- at whether involvement in the Lab School, noted that there are two Supporting the findings of oratories or resources to support develops the science communica- main challenges to working out the study, a report published by this level of practical science. That tion skills of teachers, and whether how university research con- the Russell Group this month will inevitably have a knock-on Imperial students volunteering as tributes to productivity: “First, has found that a sample of effect on the numbers who go on Lab mentors become more likely to universities openly publish new 66 breakthrough discoveries to study science at A-level and uni- consider teaching as a career. findings and make them freely at Russell Group institutions, versity, putting the UK at a disad- ­­—John-Paul Jones, Communications available for use anywhere in including Imperial, have gener- vantage at a time when science the economy, so it’s hard to ated combined wealth of almost See page 10 to read the story of Reach and innovation is of enormous Out Lab volunteer PhD student Florencia ­follow a payment trail from £2 billion. social and economic importance.” Tettamanti (Mathematics). idea to application,” explains —Natasha Martineau, Communications

Imperial Medicals University ­Challenge Sabbatical elections remain unbeaten knock-out The results of ­Imperial We really hope to Hundreds of energetic Despite an impressive perform- ­College Union’s 2010 show everyone that we’re students turned out to ance over six programmes, ­sabbatical elections fight for their respective Imperial’s University ­Challenge have been announced. not a bunch of people in brief side in Varsity matches team was knocked out of the ­Alexander Kendall will hidden in a basement between ­Imperial competition on 22 March. The take over as President, ­College and ­Imperial team notched up 170 points and the ­following Dep- somewhere but that we Medicals on 17 March. but St John’s, Oxford won with uty ­Presidents have been really try to integrate well The day ended with a 260. Rector Sir Keith O’Nions elected: Heather Jones bittersweet victory for Imperial College, who won the said: “Many congratulations (Clubs and Societies), with other societies at overall competition but lost once again to Imperial for making it to the semi-final. Meera Ganeshadevan Medicals in the event finale, the rugby match compet- You entertained us, kept us on (Education), Ravi Pall Imperial, both interfaith ing for the J.P.R. Williams Cup, which took place at the the edge of our seats and gen- (Finance and Serv- and others” Old Deer Park, Richmond. The Imperial College side uinely made us proud.” ices), Victoria Masding ­(Welfare).The new Felix received medals from Rector Sir Keith O’Nions, whilst Islamic Society President Salman Butt on organising the Medicals’ Captain, Andrew Mowat, was presented Read an interview with the Editor is Kadhim Shubber. Islam Awareness Week at Imperial earlier this with the cup by alumnus J.P.R. Williams. team: www3.imperial.ac.uk/ The sabs will take up their month. To read more on the aims of the event: news/universitychallenge posts on 1 August 2010. www3.imperial.ac.uk/news/islamawareness 4 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217

Transforming Exhibition Road

The project is being led by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in partnership with TfL and South African state visit Westminster City Council. During the President of South ­Africa’s state visit to the UK this month, Mrs Zuma with Consultant in Clinical Oncology, Alexandra Taylor. Thobeka Zuma, his wife, paid a visit to the team at West ­London Gynaecological Cancer Centre at Queen ­Charlotte’s and ­Chelsea Hospital, The transformation of changes will include the part of ­Imperial College NHS Trust. The Cen- ­Exhibition Road is under- introduction of a 20 mph Advice when using tre ­specialises in cervical way, with repaving work speed limit on ­Exhibition Exhibition Road: ­cancer, which is the most taking place outside the Road, the reallocation common cancer in women South Kensington ­Campus. of parking provision and During the current phase of Brachytherapy in South Africa. Mrs Zuma The vision for the £25 mil- revised traffic flows, repaving, traffic is flowing in both directions in the west lane is a form of spent the morning ­hearing lion project is to make some of which are already (closest to the Main Entrance) radiotherapy about ­prevention and treat- ­Exhibition Road the most in place around South and vehicles are unable to stop where a radiation ment of the disease, and accessible cultural desti- Kensington underground along Exhibition Road. Specific source is placed was shown the Trust’s nation in the world, revi- station. advice for staff and students is inside or next to as follows: ­cutting edge ­radiotherapy the area requiring talising the streetscape The road will remain treatment. and ­brachytherapy and ensuring it can accom- open to traffic and • Look both ways when crossing equipment. modate the 11.5 million ­pedestrians throughout to the central reservation from Mrs Zuma said she was ­visitors that flock to the the project, which is due the Main Entrance. struck by the large ­differences between South area each year. to be completed in early • Pre-booked taxis should African and UK treatments for cervical cancer. The new distinctive 2012. The phases of repav- be instructed to pick up “At home, you have to wait up to six months for street design will see the ing work taking place out- passengers from the Taxi Point on Imperial College Road by the ­treatment,” she said. This is compared to the introduction of a ­single side the Main Entrance will Library. 31-day wait at Hammersmith. “We will surface with large, clearly be completed by June 2011. ­eventually get there,” Mrs Zuma added, “but defined pedestrian zones, • Taxis dropping off passengers For further information on the and delivery drivers should be it’s a big challenge.” and will use dark and Exhibition Road project, visit: advised to drive into Imperial —Imperial college healthcare Nhs trust press office light granite to create a www.rbkc.gov.uk/ College Road. chequered effect. Other exhibitionroad

Ten medals for Imperial at the BUCS Championships

Imperial has leapt up the British Universities and year medical student interviewed in Reporter issue ­Colleges Sport (BUCS) leagues to fourteenth place, 216), who became player of the tournament, and thanks to over 200 points gained in the championships ­second year engineering student, Marcello Colombino, held in Sheffield between 9–13 March. who was awarded the fair play award. Imperial students competed in over 12 sports, gain- Judo was the highlight of the weekend for ­Imperial, ing 10 medals – six of which came from the judo team. with both male and female representation in the indi- The championships kicked off with futsal, a variant vidual and team competitions. First year engineering of football that is played on a smaller playing surface, student Alex Murphy dominated the men’s under 66kg mainly indoors. After battling their way through a number kyu class, while fresher Ualikhan Yesbolov, a post- of tough matches Imperial’s men’s team lost out in their graduate in the Department of Earth Science and Engi- last game to Leeds Met 7–6 on penalties but finished neering, brushed away challenges in the 90kg class. The Imperial College Fencing Squad with their with a place in the national top eight. Both won gold medals and were joined in their success silver medals and Sport Imperial mascot. The The women’s and men’s fencing teams made it by Tom Zamacinski who won the third judo gold for team will hear the final results of the BUCS rankings at the end of the year. through to the finals but lost out on the gold medal. How- ­Imperial in the under 81kg kyu class. ever success was in store for Hannah Bryars (a fourth —Samantha Bell, Sport Imperial 5 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217 >> newsupdate

Join our mailing list for regular media mentions news, information and website alerts: —colin smith, Communications www.imperial.ac.uk/media/jointsignup

daily mail • 23.2.2010 new scientist • 25.2.2010 financial times • 1.3.2010 tce today • 8.3.2010

Why one HobNob just World’s most Dragon’s Den turning Imperial spin-out is isn’t enough! sensitive neutrino scientists into sold off experiment begins entrepreneurs Why is it so hard to stop eating just Membrane Extraction Technol- one biscuit and so easy to finish off An intrepid subatomic ­particle A Dragon’s Den competition, mod- ogy (MET), an Imperial spin-out the packet? Speaking to the Daily has travelled through the bed- elled on the popular venture capital- company that makes membranes Mail, Dr Carel Le Roux (Medicine) says rock of Japan and triggered a ist ­television format, was the climax for separating liquids and gases that ­fructose, which is a sugar derived detector on the other side of of a Business in industrial processes, has been from fruit, may be to blame. Fructose the country, heralding a new of ­Science pro- acquired by the German chemi- is mixed with corn syrup and used in attempt to probe the mystery gramme put on cals company Evonik. The deal was ­processed foods such as fizzy drinks of neutrino oscillations. The by the I­mperial finalised on 1 March and will see and biscuits to make result could take researchers College ­Business Evonik gain MET’s separation tech- them sweet and last closer to answering one very School for the nology, which will be used for the longer. Fructose gives big question – why is the uni- Royal ­Society’s pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals us confused mes- verse full of matter? Explain- University industries. Speaking to TCE Today, sages about satiety, ing the approach researchers Research Fellows at the beginning Professor Andrew Livingston (Chem- explained Dr Le Roux: are taking , Professor David of March. “It is not just about turn- ical Engineering and Chemical Tech- “When we eat sugar, Wark, Chair in High Energy ing ­scientists into entrepreneurs,” nology), MET’s CEO, said: “The our body releases Physics in the Department of said Professor David Gann ­(Business synergies between MET ­insulin which tells the Physics, said to New ­Scientist: School) speaking to the Financial and Evonik make brain that we have had enough to eat. “We will be able to look for the Times. “Many of the Royal Society a compelling High insulin levels are one of the ­factors appearance of electron neutri- ­fellows will not be interested in ­setting case for this that dampen the appetite.” He said: nos in a muon neutrino beam up businesses themselves but they excellent deal “However, fructose doesn’t ­trigger as much more sensitively than need to know what questions to ask and will make much of an insulin response as regular has been done before. [The when others want to commercialise the combina- sugar, so the brain doesn’t get the mes- new ­experiment] is 10 times as their research – or what to do when tion company sage that you are full.” sensitive­ as previous ones.” they make a ­patentable discovery.” a leading player in organic solvent nano­filtration.”

awards and standing Achievement 2010 for efforts in body sensor networks, and PhD student, Chloe Child. honours her inspirational leadership within which use miniature wireless tech- Ellie Ogilvie, from St Paul’s Girls’ ­science, engineering and technol- nology that can be used to monitor School, was a runner-up with her ogy. In ­honour of her achievements, vital signs in the body, and for his summer project on water soluble ­Professor Dame Julia’s portrait was work in robotic surgery. metal compounds for applications engineering unveiled at the launch of an exclu- in catalysis, which she also com- Professor Higgins sive exhibition at the Royal Acad- natural sciences pleted in the Department of Chem- recognised for emy of Engineering on 18 March. Chemistry summer istry with Dr James Wilton-Ely and outstanding work students recognised PhD student, Saira Naeem. engineering ­Professor Peer recognition in US A sixth form student, who Also... Dame ­completed a summer research Driver recognised for social Julia Professor Guang-Zhong Yang (Com- project in Imperial’s Department of ­sciences contribution • ­Professor ­Higgins puting) was inducted into the Chemistry, has won a prestigious Ciaran Driver, Professor of (Chemical American Institute for Medical and award at the Big Bang UK Young ­Economics (Business School), has Engineer- Biological Engineering’s College of Scientists’ and Engineers’ Fair held been named as an Academician of ing and Fellows on 5 March 2010. Professor on 11–13 March in Manchester. Hat- the Academy of Social Sciences­ for ­Chemical Yang was nominated by his peers tie Jones, from the Abbey School in making a distinguished ­contribution Tech- for his contributions to magnetic Reading, received the science prize to social sciences. Professor Driver nology), former Principal of the resonance imaging, which is a tech- in the National Science and Engi- specialises in capital investment Faculty of Engineering, has been nique used in radiology to visual- neering Competition’s intermediate and the political economy and announced as one of the UK ise the inside of the body. He was age category for her four weeks’ external effects of investment. Resource Centre’s Women of Out- also recognised for his pioneering work with Professor Nick Long 6 >> scienceroundup www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217

Asteroid killed off the dinosaurs

(KT) extinction, which happened around 65 mil- lion years ago. The extinction wiped out more than half of all species on the planet, includ- ing the dinosaurs, birdlike pterosaurs and large marine reptiles, clearing the way for mammals to become the dominant species on Earth. The new review of the evidence shows that Targeting respiratory the extinction was caused by a massive asteroid diseases in pigs slamming into Earth at Chicxulub in Mexico. Dr Joanna Morgan (Earth Science and Engi- A research consortium has been neering), co-author of the review, commented: awarded a £5 million grant from the “We now have great confidence that an aster- Biotechnology and Biological The Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction, which oid was the cause of the KT extinction. This trig- Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) wiped out the dinosaurs and more than half of gered large-scale fires, earthquakes measuring to develop a way to diagnose key the species on Earth, was caused by an aster- more than 10 on the Richter scale, and continen- ­respiratory ­diseases in pigs and create oid ­colliding with Earth and not massive volcanic tal ­landslides that created tsunamis.” a new vaccine. activity, according to a comprehensive review Dr Gareth Collins (Earth Science and Engineer- The BBSRC Longer and Larger of all the available evidence, published in the ing), another co-author of the review, added: “The (LoLa) grant was awarded to research- ­journal Science on 4 March. KT extinction was a pivotal moment in Earth’s his- ers at ­Imperial, the University of Cam- A panel of 41 international experts, including tory, which ultimately paved the way for humans bridge, the Royal Veterinary College researchers from Imperial, the University of Cam- to become the dominant species on Earth.” and the London School of Hygiene and bridge, University College London and the Open —Colin Smith, Communications Tropical Medicine for a six-year project. University, reviewed 20 years worth of research The researchers will be target- To see a video about the new research visit: to determine the cause of the Cretaceous-­Tertiary www3.imperial.ac.uk/news/asteroid ing four of the most common bacterial infections in pigs: Actinobacillus pleu- ropneumoniae, Haemophilus ­parasuis, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Streptococcus suis, the last of which Some morbidly can also cause septicaemia and men- ingitis in humans, especially in people obese people are who work with pigs. At the moment, these bacterial dis- missing genes eases, which are a major animal welfare issue and cost the pig industry mil- A small but significant­proportion of morbidly obese lions of pounds every year through both people are missing a section of their DNA, according morbidity and mortality, are hard to to research published in Nature on 3 February. The diagnose. Some strains of a particular authors of the study, from Imperial and 10 other Euro- bacterium cause disease while others pean ­centres, say that missing DNA such as that iden- do not, but there is no reliable test to tified in this research may be having a dramatic effect distinguish between them. Current vac- on some ­people’s weight. ers do not yet know the function of the cines are poor because they only work missing genes, but previous research has against a few strains and do not prevent According to the new findings, around seven in every suggested that some of them may be associ- bacteria spreading from pig to pig. 1,000 morbidly obese people are missing a part of ated with delayed development, autism and Commenting on the need for the their DNA, containing approximately 30 genes. The schizophrenia. research, consortium coordinator Pro- researchers did not find this kind of genetic variation in Professor Philippe Froguel (Public fessor Paul Langford (Medicine), said: any people of normal weight. Health), lead author of the study, said: “It is “The worldwide economic and welfare People inherit two copies of their DNA, one from becoming increasingly clear that for some burden of bacterial respiratory diseases their mother and one from their father. Sometimes, morbidly obese people, their weight gain in pigs is enormous, but controlling missing one copy of one or several genes – as in the has an underlying genetic cause. If we can infection is hampered because we have individuals identified in this latest study – can have a identify these individuals through genetic neither an effective vaccine, nor good drastic effect on the body. testing, we can then offer them appropriate diagnostic tools.” The new research is the first to clearly demonstrate support and medical interventions, such as BBSRC introduced LoLa grants in that obesity in otherwise physically healthy individu- the option of weight loss surgery, to improve 2006 to encourage multidisciplinary als can be caused by a rare genetic variation in which their long-term health.” research proposals. a section of a person’s DNA is missing. The research- —Lucy Goodchild , Communications —University of cambridge press office 7 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217 >> scienceroundup

Immune cells use Insight into failing heart cells bungee of death

Researchers have been able to see to kill dangerous cells how heart failure affects the surface of an individual heart muscle cell in Immune cells can ensnare dangerous minute detail, using a new nanos- cells that are on the run with a bungee- cale scanning technique developed like nanotube, according to research at Imperial. The findings may lead published in the Proceedings of the to better design of beta-blockers, National Academy of Sciences on the drugs that can slow the devel- 8 March. The study by Imperial research- Natural killer cells create a connection called an immune opment of heart failure, and to ers shows that natural killer (NK) cells synapse, through which they pass improvements in current therapeutic use this bungee to destroy cells that toxic molecules to kill their targets. approaches to treating heart failure could otherwise escape them. and abnormal heart rhythms. NK cells are our first line of defence called scanning ion conductance­ against dangerous cells, such as tumour ­previous assumptions: “Nat- Heart failure is a progressive and microscopy, which gives an image of cells and cells infected with bacteria ural killer cells are cells that serious condition in which the the surface of the cardiac muscle cell and viruses. Researchers are keen to are really good at ­killing heart is unable to supply adequate at more detailed levels than those ­understand how NK cells tumours and blood flow to meet ­possible using con- work because they help “They also virus-infected the body’s needs. ventional the body to fight infec- tether cells with cells. It was ­Hormones such as We can get a live microscopy. tion and stop tumours long membrane thought they adrenaline, which real insight into Dr Julia from ­growing. It is thought connections and can kill these are activated by the how individual Gorelik (NHLI), that it may ultimately be pull diseased cells ­diseased cells body in an attempt to ­corresponding ­possible to design drugs back into ­contact.” only by sticking ­stimulate the weak cells are disrupted author of the study, that harness the cells’ to them tightly heart, eventually pro- by heart failure” said: “Our new ­ability to fight disease. for­ ­several duce further damage ­technique means Prior to the new study, it was already minutes. These new ­movies and deterioration. we can get a real known that NK cells can kill their target show that, in fact, they also In the new study, ­published in insight into how individual cells are cells by attaching to them and forming a tether cells with long mem- the journal Science and funded by ­disrupted by heart failure. Using our connection called an immune synapse, brane ­connections and can the Wellcome Trust and the Leducq new nanoscale ­live-cell microscopy which they use to pass toxic molecules pull ­diseased cells back into Foundation on 25 February, research- we can scan the surface of heart into their target. However, sometimes ­contact. We think they may ers were able to analyse individual muscle cells to much greater accu- the target cells move away from the NK also use these nanotubes to regions on the surface of the heart racy than has been possible before cells to escape being killed. kill them from a distance.” muscle cell in unprecedented­ detail, to see tiny structures that affect how Professor Daniel Davis (Cell and —Lucy Goodchild, Communications using live nanoscale­ microscopy. the cells function.” Molecular Biology) describes how new To see videos of the NK cells: They used a new ­technique —Laura Gallagher, Communications video footage of NK cells challenges www3.imperial.ac.uk/news/bungee

Imperial paper voted a ‘must read’ of 2009

A study explaining how thou- new directions in practice and inves- ­inferiority trial, the paper revealed so that patients in rural areas have sands more people in Africa could tigation in clinical research. the results from one of the largest access to treatment and therefore be treated for HIV if The paper, ever trials of HIV therapy in Africa. adhere to drug regimens, despite ­routine expensive lab ­published online on It found that with existing ­funding living far from a clinical laboratory.” “I hope the trial tests were abandoned 9 December 2009, ­levels, up to a third more people —Colin Smith, Communications will influence HIV has been highlighted was authored by the could be effectively treated for HIV programme policies, as one of the ‘must ­Development of Anti- if expensive laboratory tests are so that patients in read’ papers of 2009 Retroviral Therapy used only when there is a clini- rural areas have by readers of medical in Africa (DART) trial cally indicated need. At present, access to treatment.” journal The Lancet. team, which included these tests are routinely used for The study, which Professor Gilks, from ­monitoring anti-retroviral therapy, was co-authored by Imperial’s Depart- toxicity, patient side effects and Imperial’s Professor Charles Gilks ment of Medicine and now UNAIDS. ­disease progression. (Medicine), was runner-up out of Entitled Routine versus ­clinically Professor Peter Piot, Director eight international research papers driven laboratory monitoring of the College’s Institute for Global The study reveals the results from one of shortlisted for The Lancet’s Paper of HIV antiretroviral therapy in Health, said: “I hope the trial will the largest ever trials of HIV therapy in Africa. of the Year award, which celebrates Africa (DART): a randomised non- influence HIV programme policies, 8 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217

among the ‘digital natives’

Professor Julia Buckingham, Pro ­Rector able tool for students to enhance their A recent survey has found that (Education), explains that today ­e-learning understanding at their leisure.” Mark says plays an important role in the College’s he finds the process helpful as he is able young people are spending strategy and it is an area she is keen to get immediate feedback on his perform- seven hours and 38 minutes to see developed. “E-learning goes far ance. “Every week we’re given online tests beyond just posting lecture notes on that have to be done by a certain time. every day consuming all types of media – almost the an interactive blackboard. It encour- You choose from multiple choice answers ages ­students to be independent as they on the screen, but there are also sections same amount of time that most adults spend at work have immediate and autonomous access where you have to type your answer and each day. In order to appeal to these ‘digital natives’, to materials. This means teaching and the software’s advanced enough to mark ­learning is no longer confined to a fixed these bits, meaning you get your score as lecturers across the College have introduced a range place and time.” soon as you’ve finished.” Last year, the Mark Lethby, a third year medical College ranked 92nd in the feedback sec- of online learning resources. Reporter discovers how student, explains how the flexibility of tion of the National Student Survey – a creative use of e-learning is helping to encourage e-learning is particularly pertinent to his national census of students in the final degree: “As clinical medics, we are spread year of higher education courses. E-learn- collaborations, provide flexible learning and instant across a range of hospitals. We’re often on ing could provide one avenue to improve call at different times, so as a group, we the College’s performance. feedback, and make learning more fun. end up with totally different ­timetables. In addition to e-learning programmes With e-learning that doesn’t that students use to progress their indi- matter though because vidual learning, lecturers are we can pick and choose also using online network- when we have our lec- ing and discussion tools tures; they’re waiting for 7 hours to support and encour- us online.” Using Impe- 38 minutes age collaborative learning rial’s online learning across the globe. Stephan platform, ­Blackboard, Reichenberger, who is students are able to studying for an MSc in Man- access PowerPoint slides agement at the Business alongside audio tracks School, explains that the which feature the lecturer Young people are e-learning component of talking about each slide. Stu- spending seven his course helped to pre- dents can pause and rewind hours and 38 pare him for his MSc by the lecture, to spend longer minutes every day i­ntroducing him to the sub- on the slides they find hard, consuming all types ject and his fellow students. and they can also go back of media – almost Three months before the and relive the lecture when the same amount MSc started, all the stu- it’s time to revise. of time that most dents were given course Professor Buckingham adults spend at materials to study online, comments: “While e-learning work each day. with introductory videos is no replacement for face-to- ­—Kaiser Family by tutors and a series of face tuition, it is a very valu- Foundation interactive slides, where 9 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217 >> featurefocus

E-learning explained

Your guide to e-learning ­initiatives students could click on certain bits for more Education Day across the College detailed explanations. “Another really use- ful feature of the e-learning package was the Professor Omar Matar (Chemical Engineer- online forums open to everyone who would be ing and Chemical Technology) is the ­College’s • Articulate is a software starting the course in October and their future e-learning Strategy Committee Chair and, while package which provides a quick and simple way of producing mentors,” he says. “It was great as you had he is a keen supporter of online resources, interactive Flash-based quizzes, people around the world logging on to start he says: “The goal should never be to apply assessments and surveys using preparing for the course. All the questions e-learning technology indiscriminately, but templates that can be easily we’d be putting on to the forum were answered to identify where it can bring real improve- customised. The Faculty of Medicine is currently using Articulate to create e-modules within a day and as we started chatting online, ment in order to deliver the highest quality for undergraduates. we ended up making friends before we’d even of ­education.” In order to share best prac- arrived,” Stephan adds. tice and to identify some of these opportu- • Blackboard, the Another benefit of e-learning is that it nities, e-learning has been chosen as one of College’s VLE (virtual learning environment), allows lecturers to use the focuses of ­Imperial’s Education Day at the is used widely across the ­popular websites, such South Kensington Campus on 20 April. The day, College as a portal for as video sharing organised by the E-learning Strategy Commit- finding electronic bulletins, website YouTube, tee and the Educational Development Unit, will lecture notes and PowerPoint slides, discussing work via chat rooms and forums, and submitting to make learn- focus on the role of teaching in the College cov- work for assessment. ing more fun ering topics such as supporting PhD students, and relevant to the role of undergraduate teaching assistants • Clickers are versatile electronic ­students. Finlay and how best to engage students. The second multiple choice devices that McPhail, a second half of the day will feature talks on creating help provide instant feedback on what students are learning. “We were divided year student in reusable digital course content and classroom The system allows students to into teams and civil ­engineering, technologies and there will be exhibition of respond to questions posed by a lecturer, and lecturers to view sent off with mini describes how, for learning technology running all day in the Sir student feedback in real time, giving the first project Alexander Fleming Building. This will provide video cameras to them a chance to modify instruction based on make three-minute on his degree, an opportunity for people curious about dif- individual student or group responses. films...” Results his lecturers set ferent technologies, such as flip videos, online were posted using the class a chal- peer assessment and Virtual Learning Envi- • Interactive the video sharing lenge to look at ronment – a software system often used for whiteboards can the engineering assessment such as automatic marking – to be used to display your website YouTube. computer on a board behind some of drop in and try out things for themselves. They at the front of the the major ­London will also be able to talk to learning technolo- classroom. Everything landmark buildings using YouTube. “We were gists who will be on hand to demonstrate and that is used on that computer can be shown on the board to a class, from CD ROMs and Word divided into teams and sent off with mini video documents to PowerPoint files, the internet or cameras to make three-minute films from the specialist software for a subject area. buildings themselves, with the help of stu- E-learning provides the dents in the year above. Thinking about that perfect platform for [teaching • Second Life is a virtual reality learning tool visual side, and trying to squeeze everything which users operate through an avatar and which into those three minutes, was a really useful staff] to use their creativity in creates new learning opportunities for Imperial medics. The virtual Imperial campus contains introduction to communicating and explaining the way they educate” teaching hospitals, lecture theatres and a virtual research effectively.” Sir Alexander Fleming Building. Game-based learning is another method answer ­questions to show how accessible Imperial lecturers are employing to engage e-learning is. “We don’t want people thinking, ­students, providing them with an all important ‘Oh God, what is this e-learning?’ with mental appreciation for what it will be like working in images of it being boggy and complex”, says their chosen field in the real world. For example Omar. “On Education Day we want to showcase in the Faculty of Medicine, students are able a number of exciting ways we are already using to assess patients in the free 3D virtual world ­e-learning at Imperial and show how easy it is of Second Life and in the Business School to apply these resources. We have a lot of really ­students are using a project management simu- ­innovative staff at the College. We want to lation, where they are put in a workplace sce- show that e-learning provides the perfect plat- nario and have to make decisions, like how form for them to use their creativity in the way many staff to hire or what the biggest spend- they educate.” ing priority is, all of which have an effect on the —John-Paul Jones and Emily Ross, Communications project’s success. For more information about Education Day, including a timetable, visit www.imperial.ac.uk/edudev/ edday2010 or see Events Highlights on page 16 of this Dave Taylor (Surgery and Cancer) ‘pictured’ with Lord Darzi’s issue of Reporter. Da Vinci robot in Imperial’s Second Life. 10 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217

activities and pass on her ­enthusiasm for science to oth- ers. She remembers being really impressed by the undergraduate mentors who helped out with the summer schools, as they were the ones who really brought science alive for her. Since she started at Imperial Florencia has helped out on a number of summer schools, has volunteered in local schools on Wednesday afternoons to do maths workshops as part of the Pimlico Connection, and has now started volunteering in the Reach Out Lab. Before the Lab was set up, ­Outreach struggled to find space to accommodate school pupils during term time. Florencia thinks it’s really important that activities will now be able to happen throughout the year. “It’s one thing to be told that 14,000 students study at Imperial but it’s another thing to see all the stu- dents rushing around. It really helps put into perspective just how many people love science.” Having benefited from outreach Coming full circle activities Florencia finds it easy to relate to the school children. She enthuses about the high tech equipment in the Reach Out Lab Inside the new Reach Out Lab on the South Kensington Campus, school children with and the AV screens which enable­ saucer-wide eyes take in all the high tech equipment, brightly coloured lockers, labelled the children to see what is going on wherever they are sitting. “Eve- with elements from the periodic table, and lab coats lining the wall as they embark upon rything in the Reach Out Lab is so new in comparison to what the kids a day full of inspirational experiments with the help of Imperial mentors. have at school. When the students come in they spend some time look- ing around in shock! Not to mention Reporter speaks to PhD stu- the kind of scene you might see in a news report but the fact they can actually touch and dent Florencia Tettamanti could never actually imagine yourself being inside,” have a go at using all the equip- ­(Mathematics), one of the she remembers. “This was all topped off with the need ment and do science experiments ­mentors in the Reach Out Lab, to wear safety glasses and lab coats at all times, which too. It is really exciting – from the who first experienced life at the made me feel like it was the ‘real deal’!” pristine white lab benches to the ­College when One of the activities which stood out for noise of the experiments – these she was 14 Florencia during the summer school involved are the type of details which really and attended Until I came DNA fingerprinting. The group was given make an impression on a child.” a­ ­summer out- to the College I DNA extracts taken from fish and had to Once she has finished her PhD reach programme for year nine students sequence them, to decide whether or not a Florencia plans to go on to do a in 1999. had no idea how company was selling the fish it claimed to postdoc and continue to enthuse Florencia was offered a place on dynamic science be selling. She remembers proudly taking others about mathematics and Imperial’s three-day residential summer could be” home Agar gel (a gel used in microbiology) ­science. “I want students to feel outreach programme ‘Reach For the Sky’ with her DNA fingerprints on it to show her that science is a worthwhile ­subject as part of the Gifted and Talented Pro- ­parents what she had been up to. and, even if we can’t ­convert all of gramme at Holland Park School – a scheme established Florencia says that her experience convinced her to them to choose to study science at by the UK government to improve education for gifted pursue science at a higher level and to apply to ­Imperial a higher level, I hope they will gain and talented young people. to study mathematics. “Until I came to the College I an appreciation for the subject and Unlike her experience of science at school, where had no idea how dynamic science could be – the work- the advancements it enables that there was limited lab space and sparse opportunity for shops showed me just how many things are still open for are essential for society.” experiments, at Imperial she was given the opportu- debate and gave me a focus for the future.” —Emily Ross, Communications nity to work in a high tech lab with advanced fume cup- When Florencia started at the College in 2003 she If you want to volunteer in the Reach Out boards, glass equipment and micro-pipettes. “It was was keen to get involved in extra-curricular ­outreach lab contact [email protected]

11 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217

Technology in Medicine and Surgery conference inside On 13 February the first everT echnol- ogy in Medicine and Surgery event was held at the College, bringing together story students from a wide range of disci- plines to help them see how doctors, engineers and scientists can work together to improve healthcare. Claudia Craven, a third year medical student, mini profile and Joseph George, a fifth year medi- cal student, who helped organise the Jitin Verma (fifth year medical student) using the event, report: lens-free ophthalmoscope on its inventor, Danny Mr Roger Armour, a retired vascular surgeon. “Whilst Cupid was at play on Valen- Altmann tine’s weekend, Imperial College School of Medicine Surgical Society hosted park up anywhere, providing immedi- Professor Danny Altmann the first ever Technology in Medicine ate on-the-spot treatment facilities for heads the Human Disease and Surgery conference on the South patients), and a 3D anatomy demonstra- Immunogenetics group in ­Kensington Campus. Students from tion, care of Primal Pictures Ltd, which the Department of Medicine, around the UK and Europe attended a helps to show patients where their which includes both scien- series of talks and exhibitions, includ- ­problem is and why they are experienc- tists and clinicians work- ing work from Imperial research- ing pain when they move. ing on questions of basic Are there other contexts for ers Dr ­Antonio Vilches and his team, The day finished with an inspira- immunology. He speaks your anthrax research? an ­innovation workshop courtesy of tional talk on the pioneering work of to Reporter about tackling One of the postdocs in the lab, ­Imperial Innovations, plus a student single incision laparoscopic surgery (an ­bioterrorism and anthrax in Beckie Ingram, travelled to the Dragon’s Den competition. operation performed in the abdomen or goat herders. mountainous Kayseri region Dr Roger Armour, a retired vascular pelvis ) by St Mary’s-based ­consultant in rural Turkey to look at the surgeon, spoke of his love of the retina surgeon, Mr Paraskevas from the Can you describe the type ­immunity in shepherds and goat and his user-friendly lens-free ophthal- Department of Surgery and Cancer. We of research your group herders who’d been ­hospitalised moscope. This invention proved popular, really hope the conference motivated conducts? with anthrax skin infections with students examining each others’ students into realising their vision for The group looks at two types caught from their livestock. retinas at the post conference dinner! the future of medicine and surgery.” of white blood cells involved Beckie linked up with infec- Other inventions included Smart Pods For more information about the event visit: in the body’s defences, T lym- tious disease doctors there, (ambulances of the future designed to www.imperialtims.org phocytes and natural killer cells, collecting blood samples from and the ways in which their the patients and then doing ­receptors recognise their tar- detailed ­analysis on T-cell mem- gets in ­various settings to turn ory responses in a makeshift lab science from scratch the cells on. The researchers she set up. Her work on this has work on a range of conditions just been published and sheds As explained by Seil Collins, MSc Science Communication from the ­autoimmune disease new light on our understand- ­multiple sclerosis to looking ing of how anthrax affects the at the immunology of bacterial immune system. infections, such as anthrax. Electrolysis What’s next for your research? Is your anthrax research We have just received In the early nineteenth century, whilst attempting to reproduce Alessandro Volta’s linked to bioterrorism? $5.5 million from the experiment to create the first electric battery, English chemist­ ­William In 2001 the US government National Institutes of ­Nicholson added water to facilitate the connection between the metallic ­allocated a large amount of fund- Health in America for a plates and the electroscope. To his surprise, hydrogen gas appeared. ing to research microorganisms follow-on programme. He then connected the battery plates to a sample of water and that were perceived as a poten- Our new award is to ­oxygen appeared. This was how Nicholson discovered ­electrolysis. tial threat if harnessed for use in study the T-cell immu- ­Electrolysis is the process of using an electric current to drive a bioterrorism. Multi-million dollar­ nology of sepsis ­chemical reaction. The electric current passes through two metal grants went to two European caused by a bacterium plates into a liquid ionic substance. Atoms and ions interchange as labs, ours being one of them. The called Burkholderia they remove or add electrons from the external circuit. Electrolysis has programme of work ended up which is common in Thai- been found to have many applications. In 2005, a Japanese scientist found encompassing infections such land, Laos, Cambodia and that electrolysis could simulate the natural process of wine ageing. as anthrax, plague, Ebola virus, parts of Northern Australia. Is there a phrase or term you would like us to explain? Email the editor: [email protected] Dengue virus and West Nile virus. —emily ross, Communications 12 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217

Imperial students share their experiences of life at the College on the student bloggers website. Professor running for charity in 2010 London marathon Student blogger Corrie on presentation Professor Steve Matthews (Life Sciences) will be ­running skills: in the 2010 London marathon on 25 April in memory of Dr Emmanuelle Caron, a former colleague in the Finally! The design study has been ­Department of Life Sciences. Emmanuelle died last year handed in! This doesn’t mean we after a brief and sudden illness. Steve reports on his are finished with the project by any ­training progress: means – the final deadline is 6 May, eep! Friday is the deadline “This is my first ever full marathon. Training is going well; for a business plan and a so far I have run over 500 kilometres this year, largely presentation (which I should be between home and Imperial and picking my kids up from writing now, but the pressure of not school! I’m aiming for my longest training run this month, having written a blog for like three taking in all the Imperial west days is seriously getting to me). My ­London campuses (about 22 miles “I’m aiming group were a bit astonished when I – apologies to Silwood Park!). Steve is running in memory of for my ­longest Dr Emmanuelle Caron. told them they were Running allows my thoughts to training run this only allowed one wander freely and often my best month, taking in slide per minute, ideas come during a long session. which supports the health and all the Imperial but experience I am particularly passionate about education of children all around west London shows that this is running in memory of Emmanuelle the world ­suffering the effects of campuses” more than enough. as she was not only an expert in extreme poverty. I am ­hoping to rack If you don’t believe her field, but a true ambassador up more than just miles; so far I’ve me, the next time of the human side to scientific discovery – an often under- raised over £2,000 and I am hopeful you try to talk for valued element. for more before the big day. three minutes with 10 slides, tell I’m raising funds for the Royal Marsden Cancer To sponsor Steve please visit: www. me how it goes for you. ­Campaign which supports the treatment and care of virginmoneygiving.com/stephenmatthews patients with cancer. Donations will also go to UNICEF, www.imperial.ac.uk/campus_life/studentblogs

cross culture lex Rwanda according to A Music and dancing • Music and dancing are very important to us. Our dances show great acts of bravery and excel- lence from our history and folklore. The most famous of our dancers are the Intore, with their distinctive mane-like headgear. The Intore dancers are usually strong young men and their traditional dances were performed in the Rwandan royal courts of the Rwandan king for hundreds of years.

culture Weddings • Wedding ceremonies are jovial times in Rwanda when relationships About cross culture by Dr Alex Kabahizi, MSc student, between families are strengthened and cemented. Prior to the actual wedding Cross culture is a International Health Management ceremony, we embrace the tradition of the Gusaba (intro- duction ceremony) in which the skills and wits of the scrapbook for staff and (Business School) students to fill with groom’s family are put to the test to judge if he is able to their local recipes, “I am Rwandan by birth and have lived protect and take care of the bride to be. If the bridegroom cultural traditions and in the UK since 2005. Before coming to is found worthy, traditionally he has to honour the family experiences of moving the UK, I studied medicine at Makerere from another part of of the bride with a gift. University Medical School in Kampala, the world to work or Uganda, where I specialised in infectious study at Imperial. diseases. I then worked in Mulago Future • I feel very proud to be Rwandan. My country has Hospital, gaining valuable experience of Before a Rwandan had some terrible times, but we have worked hard to To contribute to treating infectious diseases. I recently wedding the bridegroom cross culture please joined Imperial’s International Health overcome our past and become stable. I am very optimis- often makes a gift to the send your ideas to Management MSc. When I complete my bride’s family – cows are a tic about Rwanda’s future – our economy is growing, and reporter@imperial. studies, I would like to return to Rwanda popular choice. the government has invested heavily in education, allow- ac.uk or another country in Africa and use my expertise and experience to contribute to ing many children to go to school who couldn’t before. the health services there. 13 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217 insidestory

inventor’s corner course review Fractal thinking

Professor Christos Vassilicos ­(Aeronautics) on how he is creating ‘bespoke turbulence’­ to address a range of problems from ­ventilating ­buildings more efficiently to reducing the noise of aircraft.

What’s the basis of your research? By course attendee Susan Brace, My team has developed a way to design Senior Research Group Administrator turbulent flows by using fractal grids – (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) structures made of repeating shapes that continually fit inside themselves. Spanish for beginners

What applications could your research are more environmentally friendly but Why did you go on the course? have in our homes? are typically harder to burn. I’m working I have worked at Imperial for many years and every October I I’m working with Dr Gary Hunt (Civil and alongside Dr Frank Beyrau, Professor Alex have thought about taking one of the Humanities courses to learn a new language, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to commit Environmental ­Engineering) to address the Taylor and Professor Yannis Hardalupas to evening classes for a whole year. When I saw the five-week problem of ventilating buildings without ­(Mechanical Engineering) on using ­fractal intensive courses advertised, I thought this would be the wasting the energy created within them. combustors to mix fuel more efficiently perfect solution. I chose Spanish, as I was taking a holiday We’re looking at creating a new style of and aid combustion. there last summer and thought it would be useful. window or opening, using fractal grids to develop the shape as that has a major Are there other projects benefiting What did you learn? influence on how the air moves through from your fractals research? There was lots of class participation, which helped us gain the opening. This will help save energy. Another related line of research is with the confidence to actually speak the language, and the class size was just right. Our teacher, Celia Martin Perez, was Dr Bharathram Ganapathisubramani excellent. She made the classes interesting and fun by using How might industry benefit from ­(Aeronautics) where we are focusing on lots of different resources and techniques for remembering using fractal grids? the development of silent air brakes or vocabulary. One example is in the way companies mix spoilers using fractal grids. We’re aiming food or liquids, which can be a huge drain to shift the aero-acoustic noise to higher, Would you recommend the course? on a company’s resources. Working with Dr ­quieter frequencies, without damaging The course content was perfect for someone wishing to visit Hunt I am looking at using fractal stirrers drag or lift properties. Spain and find their way around. I did use some of the helpful phrases we learnt on my trip to Spain, and would recommend (pictured top right) to provide maximum this course to anyone looking for a taster of a new language mixing using minimal power. What lies ahead? and a bit of fun. Imperial Innovations is helping to license Are there applications for how the technology to designers of gas tur- For details of the summer evening courses being run energy is generated? bines and manufacturers of inline mixers from the week beginning 24 May visit: www.imperial.ac.uk/humanities/eveningclasses Today there is a move towards using lean (components which mix liquids or gases). mixtures for combustion. These mixtures —anoushka warden, Imperial Innovations

Sticking to convention

Hilary Glasman-Deal teaching graduate students at Imperial. how good native speakers write. Verb tense is an English teacher “When your language skills aren’t perfect, it confusion is particularly problematic for non- in the Department of is important to organise your native English ­speakers. I sometimes see Humanities where she information in a conventional “It is important researchers ‘losing’ chunks of their own helps ­non-native ­English way and use conventional lan- to organise your work because their carelessness with verbs speaking MSc and PhD guage so that the science can information in has released ownership of their research students to actively be easily ‘decoded’ by research- a conventional to another researcher. Through my work ­participate in the interna- ers worldwide. My book offers a way…so that the teaching at ­Imperial I’ve seen you don’t tional ­academic research template for research writing as science can be need to spend ages learning English to do community. Hilary well as a section which provides easily ‘decoded’” it well, you just need to be able to iden- describes a new book students with the grammar and tify and operate the conventional writing she has written called vocabulary needed to oper- ­patterns in your field.” Science Research ­Writing for Non-Native Speakers ate that model. It has a descriptive rather than a Hilary’s book can be purchased from Imperial College Press: of English, based on material she developed from ­prescriptive approach and focuses on ­describing www.icpress.co.uk/general/p605.html 14 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 March 2010 • Issue 217

obituaries Reporter shares the ­stories Spotlight of staff who have given Professor Dan Bradley many years of ­service to the Dr Dave Hartley, Lecturer (Cell and Molecular Biology) 20 years Professor Dan Bradley, who died in ­College. Staff ­featured ­celebrate Dublin on 7 February, was Head of ­anniversaries in the period 23 March– the Department of Physics at Impe- 14 May. Data is supplied­ by HR and is rial from 1976–80. Roy Taylor (Phys- correct at the time of going to press. ics), who worked with ­Professor —amna siddiq, Communications Bradley, pays tribute: “Dan, born in Derry in 1928, 20 years obtained a PhD from Royal Holloway­ in 1961 and com- • Professor David Firmin, Professor of menced a meteoric research career. From 1961–64 he was a ­Biomedical Imaging (NHLI) lecturer in physics at ­Imperial. He was promoted to Reader • Ms Ann Kealy, PC Support Analyst (ICT) at Royal Holloway in 1964 and by 1966 he had accepted a • Professor Andrew Livingston, Head of Department (Chemical Engineering and Dave began his career at Imperial Chair and been appointed Head of Department at Queen’s Chemical Technology) in April 1990 as a lecturer in the University Belfast.­ There, he established one of the larg- • Miss Karen Lyle, Centre Manager Department of Life Sciences. From est research groups in Europe in the field of lasers and ­(Environmental Policy) 1999–2004, Dave was Director applications. • Mr Eyo Oku, Divisional Finance of Undergraduate Studies for ­Administrator (Surgery and Cancer) Biochemistry and in 2007, he was In 1973 Dan returned to Imperial, setting up a world • Mr Jeremy O’Sullivan, Supervisor of appointed Senior Tutor for Life leading group researching ultrashort-pulse laser physics ­Forward Delivery (Medicine) Sciences, with responsibility for and pioneering a technique to measure pulses of less than • Mrs Jacqueline Simmonds, Purchasing the pastoral care of students. Dave Officer (NHLI) one picosecond. currently teaches a number of courses • Professor Peter Taylor, Professor in Experi- within the Biochemistry degree He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1976. mental Rheumatology (Kennedy Institute) programme, including Molecular By 1980, Dan foresaw the potential that laser techniques • Ms Melanie Thody, Director of Access and Biology and Molecular Cell Biology offered to the biosciences and was also researching semi- Head of Outreach (Registry) for first year students and Molecular • Mr Nick Young, User Support Analyst (ICT) conductor sources in telecommunications. He accepted the Basis of Development for third year students. “What I enjoy most about the post of the inaugural Chair of Optical Electronics at Trinity 30 years job is working with young students and College in Dublin. Sadly Dan’s achievements were cut short • Mr Hugh MacGillivray, Senior Research being able to captivate them with my by a serious stroke that led to his early retirement in 1984. Officer (Mechanical Engineering) teaching,” explains Dave. “Knowledge spreads like a virus amongst students Dan was an inspirational teacher and an international and it is a most rewarding experience leader in the field of lasers and non-linear optics. 40 years seeing it happen,” he adds. Outside the College, Dave is a keen Queen’s Dan is survived by his wife Winefride, a daughter • Mr Francis Wright, Technician (Biology) and four sons, one of whom, Donal, followed his father’s Park Rangers fan. ­footsteps as Head of the Department of Physics at Imperial from 2005–09 and is now Deputy Principal of the Faculty of Natural Sciences.” Mock interview

Dr Jenna Murdoch the mock interview was by telephone with a (NHLI) describes her panel of two interviewers. We covered a broad ­experience of having­ range of questions looking at how I have used a mock interview, skills such as ­persuasion, judgement and dif- ­conducted by the ferent methods of communication to get my ­Postdoc Development point across, as well as where I see myself Centre, to help her pre- in five or 10 years’ time. This made me really pare for an ­interview for examine my skills and achievements, and a fellowship in industry. work out how to provide the best evidence of these. Afterwards I received feedback, which Long servers’ party “After completing my PhD in immunology, helped me think about key messages that I I realised that I had no idea what to expect wanted to get across. I would recommend a Linda Casey, Editorial Coordinator (Medicine), attended from an interview at postdoctorate level. I mock interview to anyone thinking about their the celebration on 2 March for staff who marked 25 wanted to maximise my chances in a tough next position. I’ve been called for a second or 30 years of service to the College in 2009 (some of job market and sought help from the Postdoc interview for the fellowship I applied for, so whom are pictured above). She describes her expe- Development ­Centre. I’d applied for a fellow- fingers crossed!” rience: “Having been based at the Hammersmith ship in industry and the interview was going ­Campus for 25 years, a visit to 170 Queen’s Gate was Visit the Postdoctoral Development Centre website to be on the telephone – a format I’d had for information on all the support and development a rare opportunity to enjoy the company of so many no experience of. In the practice run, organ- opportunities available for postdocs: www.imperial. distinguished members of Imperial College London in ised by the Postdoc Development Centre, ac.uk/staffdevelopment/postdocs remarkable surroundings”. Biology Biology Mr Stanley Huang,CellandMolecular Miss Lisa-MarieHolbrook, NHLI Mrs NaomiHayward, ClinicalSciences Dr UllrichHannemann,Physics Dr JasonGo,ESE Dr DanaGheorghe, Biology Cancer Dr Panagiotis Georgiou, Surgery and Registry Miss DominiqueGanase, Dr DiegoFontaneto, Biology Dr JingyunFan, MechanicalEngineering Engineering Mr NathanEng,Mechanical Engineering Mr AlessioDore, Biomedical Mr AdamDobson,HumanResources Resources Miss Rosemary Dalton,Human Mr AntonioConti,SecurityServices Dr AlexanderChroneos, Materials Dr Navpreet Chhina,ClinicalSciences Miss MinminChen,HumanResources Mr JohnCharnley, Computing Mr DavidChapman,Physics Engineering Miss Rosalba Carandente, Mechanical Mr DanielBrookes, Medicine Miss Leigh Brody, Medicine Miss IsobelBlake,Public Health Dr Vineet Bhakhri,Materials Dr CamillaBenfield,Medicine Dr Travis Bayer, MolecularBiosciences Mr AdamBaxter, HumanResources Miss ElizabethBatty, HumanResources Environmental Engineering Mr Vasileios Avgerinos, Civiland Dr Vitali Averbukh, Physics Dr HolgerAuner, ClinicalSciences Mr DagfinnAune, Public Health Dr ArmandoAriasEsteban,Medicine Engineering andChemical Technology Dr MohamadAl-Jeboori,Chemical Cancer Mr Rajesh Aggarwal, Surgery and Dr Ekundayo Adeosun,Medicine Cancer Dr HassanAbdulrazzak, Surgery and Ms MiriamAbdulRazak, EYEC Miss KhadijehAbboud,Reactor Centre new starters Welcome

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30 March 2010 • Issue217 Dr JessZhao,ClinicalSciences Mr Alex Will, Catering Dr Elizabeth Whittaker, Medicine Ms Vana Wardley, ClinicalSciences Environmental Engineering Mr Konstantinos Velis, Civiland Mr Vijay Vaja, Medicine Dr SuntharUmasunthar, Medicine Dr Kazunori Tomita, Medicine Biology Dr Tara Stanne, CellandMolecular School Mr DimitriosSpyridonidis,Business Miss Kellie Smith,Medicine Miss HaileySmith,HumanResources Miss JenniferSkinner, Registry Mr NicholasRoach, Bioengineering Dr Bhargavi Rao, Public Health Biosciences Miss Rohini Rana, Molecular Mr SumanPrem, Catering Dr AndyPhotiou,Surgery andCancer Engineering andChemical Technology Miss Frances Pereira, Chemical Mr Patrick Orson,HumanResources Dr SofiaMuses,Medicine Cancer Miss Yasmin Mowat, Surgery and Miss CarlyMorris,HumanResources Mrs DeeMoore, CollegeHeadquarters Cancer Ms MichelleMetcalf, Surgery and Biology Mrs Sarah Martin, Dr JuliaLyubina, Physics Mrs MariaLounes, Registry Dr HongqianLiang,Medicine Mr SainathLakshminarayanan, ESE Engineering andChemical Technology Dr Kamal Kuriyan, Chemical Cancer Mrs Yvonne Konieczna, Surgery and Cancer Miss NatashaKhalife,Surgery and Dr Laura Kenny, Surgery andCancer Engineering Dr SimonKamel, Mechanical Dr Eleni Bitziou, Bioengineering Dr EleniBitziou,Bioengineering Dr GlynBall,CellandMolecularBiology Molecular Biology Dr ManolisAntonoyiannakis, Celland Bioengineering Dr ConstantinosAnastassiou, moving on Farewell

Dr SileidaOliveros Delgado,Medicine Dr SimonNewman,Medicine(10years) Mr Jovan Nedic,Aeronautics Dr ManuelaMura, Medicine Dr Leonardo Mostarda, Computing (19 years) Professor Bernard Morley, Medicine Sciences Miss Alexandra McAleenan,Clinical Engineering Ms Patricia Luna, Faculty of Miss Kathryn Luckett, Engineering Mr DavideLucchesi, Medicine Mrs EllenLey, EYEC Dr IschaKummeling, NHLI (6 years) Dr ElenaKulinskaya, Public Health Dr EllaJohnson,NHLI Mrs JaneJohn,EYEC Mrs NinaGrabov, Biology(13years) Medicine Dr ChristopherGale, Mr SamuelFranzen, Medicine Dr Paul Foster, Medicine(5years) Dr Howard Foster, Computing Dr AnaFonseca, Surgery andCancer Mr ChristophEngl,NHLI Mrs LisaElliott,ICT (8years) Cancer Miss HeatherDorricott,Surgery and Dr Lucinda Denness,Biology Miss Sarah Davis,NHLI Mr Felix Daniel, HumanResources Dr DenisCumming,ESE Environmental Engineering Dr Bradley Clarke,Civiland Cancer Ms MeenaxiChavda, Surgery and Buscemi,Chemistry Dr Gabriella Dr CarlaBurrows, Surgery andCancer Dr Gerald Bove, Public Health Dr JamesBoardman, ClinicalSciences of noisearound Heathrow airport. continue toworkonthehealtheffects project.” Hewill to NoiseNearAirports EU-funded Hypertension and Exposure health effects of noise, in particular the “One highlightwasmyworkonthe Area HealthStatistics Unit.Hesays: as Assistant Director for the Small Imperial. HejoinedtheCollegein1998 Health (Public Health),hasretired from Medicine and Public Medicine andPublic in Environmental Emeritus Reader D r L ars Jarup,

retirements Dr Wei Yao, Surgery andCancer Dr Thomas Wyss, Surgery andCancer Dr Gavin Thomas, Biology Dr Saranya Sridhar, NHLI Dr Carole Smadja,Biology Leisure and Sienkiewicz,Sport Mr Hubert Mr JosephSerrano, HumanResources Ms Chiara Scoccianti,Public Health Resources Miss AmandeepSahota,Human Dr GiselleRowlinson, NHLI Dr JohnReynolds, Medicine(21years) Reed, HumanResourcesMr Gavin Dr CharlotteRamsay, Engineering Ms MichelleQuaye, Medicine Dr BethanPsaila,Medicine Dr Marco Pautasso, Biology Dr Stephane Paulus, Medicine Dr Thomas Parker, Computing Molecular Biosciences Mr Konstantinos Papapaschalis, continue toplayanactive role inCollege life. years. Asterisk (*) indicates where an individual will ual has been a member of College staff for over five to press. Years are given ofservice where anindivid- February–13 March. It was correct at the time of going This data is supplied by and HR covers the period 21 Engineering (19years) Mr PhilipProctor, Mechanical (37 years) Mr JohnLaker, Mechanical Engineering Contact EmilyRoss: www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter term time in print and online at is publishedevery three weeks during publication dayis29April.Reporter across the College. The next We welcome contributionsfrom S speak out imperial.ac.uk or amendtheseasnecessary. The Editor reserves the right to edit [email protected] leavers and retirees to the Editor at or comments about new starters, tory tory ideas?

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moving in. moving on. for complete details: events highlights www.imperial.ac.uk/events 30 March 2010

take note

31 march • inaugural Lecture Professor Vincent Savolainen (Biology), pictured left, will show how ideas about speciation can Help prevent Understanding the origin be disentangled, with particular attention to of biodiversity to help plants from Mediterranean and tropical regions. opportunist He will also show how knowledge of evolutionary preserve its future relationships, as well as DNA data, can guide thefts global conservation efforts, from ‘barcoding’ The origin of species diversity has challenged Following an increase in biologists for more than two centuries despite the life and prioritising protected areas, to trying to control biological invasions. opportunist thefts on the large amount of literature written on the subject. South Kensington Campus this year, staff are asked to be extra vigilant and to note the following advice: be wary of 20 April • themed day of College Awards for Excellence in Teaching, people tailgating when you enter a building Pastoral Care and Research Supervision. Staff via access-controlled doors, report any Education Day are invited to drop in to sessions on podcasting, suspicious persons or activity immediately plagiarism detection, peer assessment tools Education Day aims to provide a forum for sharing to security on the emergency number 4444, and how to involve industry in undergraduate good practice across departments and faculties. always lock valuables away before leaving teaching, amongst other topics. Speakers include The day will focus on the role of teaching in the offices or labs, and lock doors where Professor Diana Laurillard, Chair of Learning with College, in particular e-learning and engagement, possible. Register valuable personal items Digital Technologies, Institute of Education, and and will conclude with the Rector’s presentation to assist the police in recovering stolen Mr Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive of the QAA. property at: www.immobilise.com

voluNteering 31 March • Inaugural lecture 20 April • themed day 5 May • graduation Understanding Education Day Postgraduate Awards Ceremonies the origin of Workshops and talks focusing on Royal Albert Hall Scout biodiversity to e-learning and engagement help preserve its 6 May • Lunchtime concert future volunteers 21 April • Open Day Florileqium Professor Vincent Project ID: 1871 Savolainen, School of Medicine Read Lecture Theatre, Organisation: The Scout Association Professor of Organismic Biology undergraduate open day South Kensington Campus Dates: Ongoing For prospective students Times: A couple of hours per week 9 April • Lecture 18 May • Lunchtime concert Location: Flexible The human vascular mapping 21 April • Inaugural lecture Lendvai string trio project: translational updates and Making molecules – from Wolfson Education Centre, Volunteers are needed to support a wide nanomedicine applications new method Hammersmith Campus variety of scouting activities. There are over Professor Renata Pasqualini, University of development 100,000 adults who volunteer for the scouts Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre to applications in the UK. Volunteers come from all walks 19 May • Conference in cancer and of life but the one thing they share is the asthma Complexity and networks – enjoyment of helping young people reach 13 April • Lecture neuroscience their potential. Volunteers are given training Professor Alan on the job and learn new skills as they go Read Lecture Theatre, The earth Spivey, Professor of along. All you need is to give a couple of South Kensington Campus systems and the Synthetic Chemistry hours a week. The Scout Association will origin of animals find you a scout group that is local and Professor John 28 April • Friends of Imperial 19 May • Special Lecture convenient for you, and will help you Grotzinger, special event complete a CRB form. Professor of Energy, climate, action: what next in Geology, California Behind the scenes @ Grantham a world of denial Institute of Technology Institute for Climate Change Professor Chris Rapley, Director, Grantham Institute, South Science Museum Kensington Campus 16 April • Seminar Mechanisms and consequences of 1–11 June • coherent neuronal activity 29 April • Conference Exhibition Professor John White, Brain Institute, Ultrafast vibrational dynamics of Outreach For more information University of Utah biomolecules exhibition To take part in a scheme or to hear more Clore Lecture Theatre, Huxley Building, Blyth Gallery, South about volunteering in general, contact South Kensington Campus Kensington Campus Petronela Sasurova: 020 7594 8141 [email protected]

For full details of over 250 volunteering opportunities please visit: www.imperial.ac.uk/volunteering Stay in the loop > Visit www.imperial.ac.uk/events for more details about these events and others. To sign up for regular updates about Imperial events please Subscribe to the weekly newsletter by emailing [email protected] email: [email protected]

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