blueprint Staff magazine for the University of | May 2016

Trinity Chapel transformed | Food for thought | Migration illuminated news in brief

u A fifth University nursery will be opening to Harwell Campus staff. Details about the this summer in the Triangle Building on the service, including timetables and fares, will Old Road Campus. The nursery, which will be be available shortly at www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ managed by nursery provider Bright Horizons, estates/ourservices/travel. will offer 98 full-time equivalent places and open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, u What’s the key to success for women who for 50 weeks of the year. Staff on the Childcare work in science? A new website launched last Services waiting list have been contacted month aims to support women making career and offered the option of changing one of decisions by offering them the opportunity to their nursery choices to the Triangle. Online delve into the various experiences of successful applications for new applicants will be available female scientists at Oxford. The collection of shortly at www.admin.ox.ac.uk/childcare/ 39 video interviews tell an inspiring story of nurseryinformation. an ongoing culture shift for women working in science, where – according to those interviewed u The recently launched Oxfordshire Green – the work is fun, interesting and exciting. Visit Paper (www.ox.ac.uk/oxgreenpaper) looks www.womeninscience.ox.ac.uk to find out ahead 20 years and asks how the county, more. which already attracts new businesses, serious investment and the world’s best and brightest u The Radcliffe Science Library has launched students and researchers, can build on its status its third Parallel Universe poetry competition. as one of Europe’s leading ‘innovation engines’. Science and Medicine is the theme for The signatories, who comprise leading figures submissions and the competition is open to all

from local government, education, health, Moreno Munuera Images/Silvia University Oxford members of the University – students, staff and science, enterprise and innovation, hope the alumni – until 19 September 2016. The ten paper will stimulate discussion about how to winning poems will be displayed around the make Oxfordshire even more dynamic and offer library and featured on the library’s website. an even better quality of life. The winners will also be invited to a reception, u A new shuttle bus service, linking the launch and reading in October. For more details Harwell Science and Innovation Campus with visit www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/science. the University Science Area and the Old Road Campus (ORC) in Headington, commences u Need an event venue? The University’s on 18 July. The Science Transit Shuttle service Facilities Management team has launched a will provide a weekday minibus connection new website bringing together information every 30 minutes between 7am and 7pm. for five of their managed sites and the services From South Parks Road, journey times are that they offer. The Examination Schools, expected to be around 50–60 minutes to the Sheldonian Theatre, William Osler House, Harwell Campus and 15–25 minutes to ORC. St Luke’s Chapel and the University Club are The service, initially funded for one year by suitable for a variety of meetings, conferences, the and the Science & receptions and dinners and can cater for Technology Facilities Council, will at first only between 10 and 750 guests. Visit www.venues. OxfordUniversity Images/Rob Judges be open to University staff and students and ox.ac.uk for more details.

u Widening the range of people represented in portraits across the University is the aim of a new project, Diversifying Portraiture, supported by the Vice-Chancellor’s Diversity Fund. The first stage blueprint| May 2016 Staff magazine for the University of Oxford

for thought | M igration illuminated Trinity Chapel transformed | F ood has been to find and highlight existing portraits, illustrating the diversity of the University’s past and present. Among the 250 highlighted to date is the portrait of Marie Beazley (left), wife of Oxford archaeologist Sir John Beazley. Marie (1885–1967), a skilled photographer and artist, who was known for her imposing and sometimes eccentric presence in the University’s cultural and social life, took many of the pictures now in the Beazley archive. In the second phase, 25 new portraits are to be commissioned

and exhibited. Staff, students and alumni will be invited to Oxford University Images/Whitaker Studios Images/Whitaker University Oxford nominate people to be the subjects of this new set of commissions. Harry Bloomfield, 1923 Bloomfield, Harry Subjects should be living at the time of nomination, have a significant link to the University, and have made a major contribution to Oxford or to the wider world. To find out more visitwww.admin.ox.ac.uk/ From top: Nursery news; building a eop/inpractice/portraiture or email [email protected] and watch out for the call for better county; all aboard the Science nominations which will be sent out soon. Shuttle; hold your event here

2 | BLUEPRINT May 2016 www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint research round-up

area reduced the odds of patients receiving the operation. The team say the operation cannot be performed by all orthopaedic surgeons, so the availability of suitably experienced staff might explain the reduced use of the procedure at weekends. However, this does not account for more deprived patients being less likely to get a THR.

u Oxford academics and students have reconstructed a 15th-century church service using music which they believe has not been heard or studied since the Reformation. Earlier this month, Dr Matthew Cheung Salisbury of the Faculty of Music performed Face your fears with the piece with members of the choir at virtual help Worcester College in St Helen’s Church OCAP/Department of Psychiatry of OCAP/Department in Ranworth, Norfolk. It is believed that this is the church in which the original u Virtual reality can help treat severe like a particular species justifies conserving composition was intended to be sung. Dr paranoia by allowing people to face it, regardless of its ecological importance. Salisbury edited the manuscript, which situations they fear, an Oxford University But although this idea of some species being contained music from the Middle Ages, after study with patients from the Oxford “culturally valuable” has been around for taking digital images of it using equipment Health NHS Foundation Trust has found. some time, it has been difficult to measure from the University’s Digital Image Archive The simulations of a crowded lift and a and define.’ of Medieval Music. ‘Only rarely do we tube journey allowed people to learn that have the opportunity to study and perform u situations they feared were actually safe. New research by Oxford economist liturgical music in the actual venue for About 1–2% of people have severe paranoia, Dr Climent Quintana-Domeque has which it was designed,’ he says. typically as a central feature of mental health measured the ‘wealth effect’ of upgrading disorders such as schizophrenia. However, infrastructure in poorer parts of cities. coping strategies – like avoiding eye contact Revamps, such as surfacing roads – actually reinforce paranoid fears. Professor and connecting them to the city grid, Daniel Freeman’s team at the Department of dramatically push up land and property Psychiatry wanted to test whether patients prices. The study, published in the journal could ‘relearn’ that a situation was safe, The Review of Economics and Statistics, by experiencing it without using their shows that in just three years (the period defence behaviours. Virtual reality was for the work to be completed), prices for used to overcome the intolerable anxiety plots of land connected by resurfaced roads of attempting this in real life. Over 50% of rose by an estimated 72% when compared patients who fully tested out their fears by with similar plots connected by dirt tracks, lowering their defences no longer had severe based on real estate agents’ appraisals. paranoia at the end of the testing day. The study in Mexico also shows that

residents who benefited from the higher John C Mittermeier C John u Oxford scientists have ranked the world’s property and land values could obtain most ‘popular’ reptiles, revealing the species more credit for spending on home that capture the public’s imagination and improvements, cars and household goods. providing valuable data towards the debate surrounding conservation priorities. Using u Poorer patients and those who require data taken from Wikipedia, the research surgery at weekends are less likely to receive team – comprising zoologists, geographers a total hip replacement (THR), despite clear and computer scientists – found that national guidelines. A team from the Nuffield fearsome species such as the Komodo Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology dragon, saltwater crocodile and king cobra and Musculoskeletal Sciences found that just were of greatest interest to website users. 32% of those eligible for a THR actually got Study author John C Mittermeier, a DPhil one. 42% of those undergoing the procedure candidate at Oxford, says: ‘There is a debate did not meet eligibility criteria. Being in conservation as to whether the fact we admitted at the weekend or living in a poorer

For more information, visit www.ox.ac.uk/news Top: Popular, if not friendly – the and www.ox.ac.uk/staffnews Wagler’s pit viper; bottom: music from the Middle Ages www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint May 2016 BLUEPRINT | 3 abel prize for people and prizes Sir Sir Andrew Wiles, Dapo Akande, , Principal Royal Society Professor of Public of St Edmund Hall Research Professor International Law, has and Professor of of Mathematics, has been appointed as a Molecular Biology, been awarded the 2016 member of the African is to be awarded the Abel Prize, regarded as Group for Justice and 2017 Biochemical mathematics’ equivalent Accountability, an Society Award. His A Z Goriely of the Nobel Prize, ‘for Rob Judges Rob independent group of research focuses his stunning proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem 12 senior African experts on international on the biochemistry of the microtubule by way of the modularity conjecture for criminal law and human rights, which cytoskeleton, cell motility and division; semistable elliptic curves, opening a new era supports efforts to strengthen justice and he was also commended for his service on in number theory’. accountability measures in Africa. government, learned society and medical Widely regarded by mathematicians charity committees and his interests in as seemingly intractable, the theorem Alexander Betts, graduate education. formulated by French mathematician Pierre Professor of Forced de Fermat in 1637 states that there are no Migration and Peter Neary, Professor of Economics, whole number solutions to the equation International Affairs has become President-Elect of the Royal xn + yn = zn when n is greater than 2. and Director of the Economic Society, and will serve as Sir Andrew, who was fascinated by the Refugee Studies President 2017–18. Founded in 1890, the equation from the age of 10, announced he Centre at the Oxford society is the premier representative body had found a proof in 1993 that combined Department of for UK economists in academia and in the three complex mathematical fields – International Development, has been named public and private sectors. modular forms, elliptic curves and Galois one of the Young Global Leaders – Class of representations – and in so doing created Professor Louise 2016 by the World Economic Forum. entirely new directions in mathematics. Richardson, the Stephen Broadberry, Professor of Economic Vice-Chancellor, has History, has been appointed as President of been elected to the the Economics History Society for 2016 to American Academy of 2019. Arts and Sciences. The bodley Medal for academy, one of the OUI/John Cairns OUI/John Andrew Carr, oldest learned societies Mary Beard Nuffield Professor of and independent policy research centres in Classicist and TV Orthopaedics, has the US, convenes leaders from the academic, historian Professor received the Arthur business and government sectors to respond Mary Beard has been Steindler Award of the to the world’s most pressing challenges. awarded the Bodley Orthopaedic Research Medal, the Bodleian Association for his Alan Rusbridger, Principal of Lady Libraries’ highest outstanding global Margaret Hall, chair of the Reuters honour, which

contribution to orthopaedic research. His Institute and formerly editor-in-chief of Cormack Robin recognises people work focuses on improving evidence for the Guardian, was recognised for his who have made outstanding contributions the effectiveness of surgery generally and outstanding contribution to British media at to areas with which the Bodleian is closely translating new surgical techniques and the 2016 British Media awards. connected. implants into the clinic. Dr Clive Siviour, associate professor in Professor Beard holds a chair of Liam Dolan, Sherardian Professor of Engineering Science, has received the 2016 classics at the Botany, has been appointed to the Board of JSA Young Investigator Lecturer award and is classics editor of the Times Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. from the Society of Experimental Mechanics Literary Supplement. She is well known for ‘outstanding early-career contributions for her numerous books and television Horst Eidenmüller, to experimental mechanics’. documentaries on the classical period Freshfields Professor including the Wolfson Award-winning of Commercial Law, George Smith, Emeritus Professor of book Pompeii: The Life of a Roman has been elected as an Materials, has been honoured as the 2016 Town and her BBC series Meet the ordinary member of Distinguished Scientist in Physical Science of Romans with Mary Beard. the European Academy the Microscopy Society of America. of Sciences and Arts.

Dr Rob Style of the Mathematical viewfinder found

. es c ien c s h t heal are John Geddes, Professor of Epidemiological Institute has been awarded the 2016 c

),

ary m pri of e m ho new he t is h c whi building s t ien t pa t

Psychiatry, has won the 2016 European Adhesion Society Young Scientist Award ou

RI ( B C P R er m for he t uilding are ary m ri liffe c ad he t

College of Neuropsychopharmacology for his fundamental contributions to our on

, P 1931 ures t fea now t i one t s land t or of ade m and in

B L C . radshaw e c auren or t ulp c s he t by ed t rea Award in recognition of his ground-breaking understanding of the coupling of surface building

’ I R y t erni t a m s ary m nfir liffe c ad he t o t hed c a tt

work on the psychopharmacology of bipolar tension to elastic deformation. a

C M T 20) ( originally was p ue t a t s hild and her t o

disorder. his

4 | BLUEPRINT May 2016 www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint new of the Royal Society This year’s new Fellows of the Royal neutron and X-ray powder diffraction important advances in the foundations Society include seven Oxford academics – techniques, and has made substantial and experimental realisations of quantum more than any other university. contributions across a broad range of communication and computation. materials research from lithium batteries Steven Balbus, and high-temperature superconductors to , Savilian Professor of fullerenes and pharmaceutical compounds. Chair of Astronomy and Head He pioneered time-of-flight neutron powder Pharmacology of Astrophysics, diffraction, and is a key figure in establishing and Head of the is distinguished powder diffraction as a routine technique Department of for studies of for the structure determination of molecular Pharmacology, has astrophysical fluids. compounds. His materials research focuses transformed our He established how on low-carbon chemical energy storage. understanding of accretion discs work calcium signalling pathways. He established and showed how an accretion disc can enter , the concept of multiple calcium mobilising a limit cycle in which periods of high and Simonyi Professor messengers, and identified their target low viscosity alternate. He also showed that for the Public channels and organelles. He showed that restriction of heat conduction to magnetic Understanding of cyclic ADP-ribose regulates calcium- field lines creates buoyant instabilities and by Science and Professor induced calcium release and globalisation using ‘residual entropy’ gained insight into of Mathematics, of calcium signals, and that NAADP is the sun’s convective zone and analytic fits to is one of science’s a ubiquitous trigger for initiating and

the results of helioseismology. Sessious OUI/Joby most successful coordinating calcium signals. By developing ambassadors, novel pharmacological, molecular , communicating the importance, excitement and physiological approaches, he has Whitehead Professor and relevance of both mathematics and demonstrated that these novel messengers of Pure Mathematics science to the general public worldwide. His selectively control many fundamental cellular and Head of the mathematics research straddles areas such as processes. Mathematical group theory, number theory, model theory Institute, has and algebraic geometry, and has completely Gil McVean, played a leading transformed the study of zeta functions of Professor of role in establishing groups. Statistical Genetics geometric group and Director of the theory as a major field and co-authored , Professor Big Data Institute, the seminal text on spaces of non-positive of Quantum Physics Li Ka Shing curvature. He has provided deep insights at the Mathematical Centre for Health into the nature of the word problem for Institute, is a Information and finitely presented groups and has proved pioneer of quantum Discovery, is distinguished for research into remarkable structure theorems for residually- information science. the nature and causes of molecular genetic free groups. His invention of variation. He developed a sophisticated entanglement- statistical method for estimating fine-scale Bill David, Professor based quantum recombination rates from data documenting of Chemistry, is cryptography triggered an explosion of genetic variation and produced the first a leader in the research efforts worldwide and continues fine-scale genetic maps of the human genome experimental, to inspire new research directions. As He has made substantial contributions to computational well as discovering that Bell’s inequalities our understanding of mutation and natural and theoretical can be used to test for eavesdropping, selection, and played a central role in the development of he has contributed to many of the most HapMap and 1,000 Genomes projects. vietnam honours medical collaborators Two Oxford tropical diseases experts, outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Professors Peter Horby (on the left) and Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, followed by avian Heiman Wertheim, have been awarded the influenza A/H5N1 in 2004. He established Vietnam Ministry of Health’s Medal for OUCRU at the National Hospital for Tropical the People’s Health at a ceremony in Hanoi Diseases in Hanoi in January 2006, and celebrating 10 years of collaboration between opened research facilities at the National the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases and Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit 2007. (OUCRU). Professor Wertheim continued to build on Professor Horby, who is now the director of the unit’s successes, expanding and improving drug resistance in the area and set up a national the Epidemic diseases Research Group Oxford its laboratory facilities. As well as focusing on surveillance network for antibiotic use and (ERGO), started working with Vietnamese respiratory infections, he was instrumental resistance in Vietnam and for hospital-acquired colleagues to investigate and control the in highlighting the incidence of antimicrobial infections on 16 Vietnamese intensive care units.

www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint May 2016 BLUEPRINT | 5 academy of Medical Sciences Eight Oxford medical researchers have been elected as Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Christopher Butler, Martin Maiden, combining the development of methods Professor of Primary Wellcome Trust Senior for analysing high-throughput sequencing Care and Clinical Research and data, theoretical work and empirical Director of the Professor of Molecular analysis. University of Oxford Epidemiology, studies Primary Care Clinical the population biology Andrew Pollard, Trials Unit, researches and evolution of Professor of common infections, bacterial pathogens, Paediatric Infection especially the appropriate use of antibiotics aiming to translate the insights obtained into and Immunity, and antibiotic resistance, and health benefits for human health. Director of the behaviour change. Oxford Vaccine Timothy Maughan, Group and Honorary Georg Holländer, Professor of Consultant Hoffmann and Clinical Oncology Paediatrician, is currently working on Action Professor of and Deputy Director clinical trials of new and improved vaccines Paediatrics and Head of the CRUK/MRC for children, invasive bacterial diseases in of the Department of Oxford Institute for children in Nepal, studies of cellular and Paediatrics, studies Radiation Oncology, humoral immune responses to glycoconjugate the development undertakes research vaccines, and development of a serogroup B and function of the on the treatment of patients with colorectal meningococcal vaccine. immune system in health and disease. cancer. He is also involved in clinical trial design and execution in gastrointestinal Elizabeth Robertson, Sarah Lamb, Kadoorie cancers. Professor of Professor of Trauma Developmental Rehabilitation and Gil McVean, Biology and Wellcome Co-Director of the Professor of Statistical Trust Principal Oxford Clinical Genetics, Head of Research Fellow, Trials Research Bioinformatics and is using mouse Unit, undertakes Statistical Genetics genetics to investigate research focused on and Director of the key signalling cues and transcriptional clinical trials and medical statistics. She is the Big Data Institute, regulators governing cell fate decisions in chief investigator for a number of trials of investigates several the developing mammalian embryo. rehabilitation interventions. areas in the analysis of genetic variation,

university films rIBA recognises win awards excellence The Blavatnik Two University-related films have won School of national prizes. Government, the Oak Tree: Nature’s Greatest Survivor, Weston Library, which was conceived by Dr Keith Kirby of the Investcorp Plant Sciences and filmed at the University’s war film winners Building at St Wytham Woods, has won the Science and Museum’s 2016 Short Film Festival. Antony’s College Natural History Programme Award at the The Forgotten Army of WWII: (pictured), Wolfson 2016 Royal Television Society awards. West Africa’s Soldiers in Burma was College’s Academic

The film – a BBC4 documentary made by made for the Guardian and tells how Cairns John Wing and the Furnace Productions – focuses on a year in the some 90,000 West African soldiers, the Ruskin School of Art’s site in east Oxford majority of them Nigerians, were deployed life of an oak tree, which has been flourishing have all been given regional awards for to Southeast Asia after 1943 as part of the in the woods for around 400 years. The architectural excellence by the Royal Institute British army’s 81st and 82nd (West Africa) Wytham team was involved in setting up of British Architects (RIBA). Divisions. But while the role of Indians and maintaining the time-lapse cameras that The Weston Library, designed by and Gurkhas in the campaign to drive the filmed for the entire period. WilkinsonEyre, was named Regional Building Japanese out of Burma is well known, the In addition, a short film about West of the Year; the Blavatnik School, designed role of their African colleagues has never African soldiers in World War II, by Herzog & de Meuron, won Regional been fully recognised. directed by Dr Oliver Owen (on the left) Client of the Year; and Wolfson’s Academic The film won the Annie Dodds Award for of the Oxford Department of International Wing, by Berman Guedes Stretton, won the Best Documentary and the award for Best Use Development, has been named best Conservation Award. of IWM Archive Material at the film festival. documentary at the Imperial War The buildings are also eligible for RIBA national awards, to be announced on 23 June.

6 | BLUEPRINT May 2016 www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint somerville shines arrivals board Two members of Somerville’s housekeeping staff have received awards from Activate Nuffield Professor of Population analysis of cardiovascular disease as a Enterprise (an organisation which delivers Health tool to define disease mechanisms and training, apprenticeships and consultancy). Rory Collins, therapeutic targets. He has a long-standing focus on inherited heart muscle diseases, Oluwaseun (Seun) Head of the particularly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Alabi, Somerville’s Nuffield a relatively common condition which Housekeeping Department of puts affected individuals at risk of sudden Supervisor, who Population Health cardiac death. He also leads a research manages a team of over and British Heart group investigating susceptibility 20 housekeeping staff, Foundation for coronary artery disease, now the main was named Apprentice Professor of cause of premature mortality worldwide. of the Year out of Medicine and He is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical 1,500 learners in the Thames Valley. She was Epidemiology, University of Oxford, Sciences. commended for being ‘highly motivated to as well as Principal Investigator and achieve her apprenticeship – she applies 100% Chief Executive of UK Biobank, took up Professor of Internet Studies to whatever she needs to do and has worked this post in the Nuffield Department of hard to achieve Level 2 ICT Functional Skills.’ Population Health on 1 April. He also Philip N Howard, became a fellow of St John’s College. Professor in the Teresa Walsh, Professor Sir Rory Collins is a leading Department of Somerville’s figure in the establishment of large-scale Communication, Housekeeping epidemiological studies of the causes, University of Manager, was chosen prevention and treatment of heart attacks, Washington; out of 1,000 employers other vascular disease, and cancer. He was Egyetemi Docens in the Thames Valley as knighted in 2011 for his services to science Professor, School Employer of the Year. and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Policy, She was nominated in 2015. and Director of the Center for Media, for the excellent support she offers her staff, Data and Society, Central European Radcliffe Professor of Medicine taking great interest in their progress and University, Budapest; and Research Fellow seeing employees completing courses as Hugh Watkins, at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism, positive for both the learner and the employer. Head of the , New York, has Radcliffe been appointed to this post in the Oxford Department Internet Institute from 1 July. He will also of Medicine, be a fellow of Balliol College. lifesaving lunch break University of Professor Howard’s research investigates Oxford, and the use of digital media for social control Andrew Waligo, who Honorary and political activism in both democracies works in the Facilities Consultant in and authoritarian regimes and considers and Events team in Cardiology and General Medicine at the its impact on political life around the the Examination John Radcliffe Hospital, took up this post world. Recent research projects have Schools, was last in the Radcliffe Department of Medicine also looked at social media bots, global month awarded a on 1 May. He also became a fellow of information access, and political Islam. Royal Humane Society Merton College. His most recent book is Pax Technica: resuscitation award for Professor Watkins’ chief research How the Internet of Things May Set Us saving a man’s life. interest is in using molecular genetic Free or Lock Us Up (2015). As he was walking back to work after a lunch break last August, Mr Waligo noticed a man desperately trying to wake the occupant of a parked car. Concerned, he introduced himself as a first aider. ‘I was shocked to see noticeboard the colour of the man in the car,’ he says, ‘so I immediately asked a passerby to help me u Isobel Hughes, currently Head of Conservation & Buildings, carry him from the car and onto the pavement will take up the new role of Director of Operations in Estates where I wanted to try and resuscitate him.’ Services in June. She will be responsible for the day-to- Realising that there was no response and the day leadership and management of the Strategic Facilities man was becoming paler, he began CPR and Management team, the Repairs & Maintenance teams continued until an ambulance arrived. A few (comprising Building Services, Conservation and Buildings days later he heard that the man had survived. and the Direct Labour Organisation), and the Environmental Mr Waligo’s boss, senior facilities manager Sustainability team. She will also act as the lead for emergency George Day, nominated him for the award. planning/preparedness and crisis management, working in ‘I thought what Andrew did was not only conjunction with the Head of Security Services and other remarkable but very brave… this has not only Estates Services senior managers. made me as his manager very proud, but he is a credit to the University,’ he commented.

www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint May 2016 BLUEPRINT | 7 let there be light Oxford researchers are explaining the complexities of migration, reports Maria Coyle Shutterstock.com/ blvdone Shutterstock.com/

As campaigns intensify in the run-up to the COMPAS boasts a multidisciplinary out just before a parliamentary debate about EU referendum, one topic fuelling the debate team of researchers, who often enter a whether immigration levels should be reduced is migration. Researchers at the University’s somewhat polarised debate. Those involved and outlined the ‘trade-offs’, including the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society with the Migration Observatory frequently potentially damaging effects on universities and (COMPAS) aim to shed light rather than heat do media interviews, communicating their business. ‘It was quite a moment to see MPs on on the issues discussed. analyses as clearly as possible to a non-academic all sides in the House of Commons brandishing Some research staff work for a high-profile audience. There are graphs, charts, briefings the Migration Observatory report on TV,’ says project known as the Migration Observatory, and videos on their website, as such technical Rob McNeil. a web-based portal set up to provide impartial, COMPAS research is driven by the independent, evidence-based analysis of data academics’ own interests, covering a spectrum on migration and migrants in the UK. They ‘We want the Migration of global migration processes: from the painstakingly pick their way through the latest Observatory to be viewed conditions where migrants come from, to raw data collected by the Office of National institutions and activities affecting their Statistics to find trends or give some context in as the voice of reason in a mobility, to the social and economic conditions their briefings and analyses on the website. debate driven by politicised of the host countries. COMPAS has particular As well as carrying out their own original positions’ expertise in relation to migration and the labour research, they analyse the findings of NGOs, market. One publication, the book Who Needs think-tanks and other relevant groups. ‘We Migrant Workers?, edited by Professor Bridget want the Migration Observatory to be viewed data might otherwise seem incomprehensible Anderson and Dr Martin Ruhs, was highly as the voice of reason in a debate driven to those other than academics or policy wonks. acclaimed by many working in the field and by politicised positions,’ says the Head of Crucially, they try to present as balanced a received national media coverage. Media and Communications at the Migration picture as possible, providing the flipsides to ‘Discussing the theory behind policy is really Observatory, Rob McNeil. ‘Our aim is to multifaceted arguments and drawing attention important,’ says Professor Anderson. ‘At a show that, whatever it concludes, its objectivity to ‘gaps’ in the evidence too. recent COMPAS workshop on begging, police can’t be disputed.’ Examples of where the Migration officers who attended were really excited by an Bridget Anderson, Professor of Migration Observatory has influenced the debate explanation of theories of political thought.’ and Citizenship and Research Director at include work by Dr Scott Blinder on public COMPAS recently started the Global Exchange COMPAS, identifies Tony Blair’s government attitudes towards migrants. He found that on Migration and Diversity to encourage as the first to show real interest in looking British people surveyed in 2011 most often more information sharing between academics, at the evidence behind migration policies. thought of migrants as asylum-seekers; policymakers and professionals, and led a Shortly before COMPAS was set up in 2003, attitudes were less negative than the polls at drama project in schools where pupils put Oxford researchers did some work for Blair’s the time suggested when the public were asked on performances exploring migrant issues. government, looking at the issues around about other types of migrants, such as students. While the migration debate may remain the integration of immigrants in the UK. Later, in 2012, the Observatory produced a toxic, the researchers hope conversations are Michael Keith was a commissioner on the Blair report that questioned whether government now ‘more complicated’, with more talk of government’s response to the 2005 London attempts to stabilise the UK population below what is ‘known’ or ‘unknown’ amid the bombings – the Commission on Integration 70 million would even be possible. It came claims being made. and Cohesion – and is the current Director of COMPAS. The Migration Observatory is keen to involve people of all political persuasions; To find out more, visit the COMPAS website at www. indeed, the then Migration Minister and a compas.ox.ac.uk and the Migration Observatory pages at Conservative MP, Damian Green, was the guest of honour at its launch. www.migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk

8 | BLUEPRINT May 2016 www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint maths, minions and maps Dr Zamin Iqbal tells Tom Calver how his computing background helps him develop tools to track disease strains and determine drug resistance

‘I used to like everything – arts and sciences and everything,’ says Dr Zamin Iqbal. It’s this enthusiasm for everything that has underpinned his career. The desire to understand things took him from a Cambridge maths degree – ‘it offered lots of puzzles to solve’ – to leading an Oxford lab researching computational genetics. He did his doctorate at Oxford before joining software firm Symbian, attracted by a three-month training period in which to learn the business of programming. ‘I learned a lot,’ he explains. ‘Programming for phones which, especially then, didn’t have powerful processors meant I learned to programme efficiently.’ After eight years he wanted more of a challenge: ‘Software engineering is challenging but a lot of it is about how to meet business goals. I wanted to answer questions that are more fundamental.’ That desire led him to the European Bioinformatics Institute, working on the 1,000 Genomes project as a programmer but learning about genetics on the job and through intensive spare-time study. Then came the offer of a postdoc research post with Professor Gil McVean at the Oxford- based Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, a man Zamin Iqbal describes as ‘fundamental to the rest of my career’. Judges Rob

background in efficient programming,Mykrobe enable individual strains of diseases to be ‘A “tube map” of a genome can even run on a Raspberry Pi microcomputer, tracked in a global surveillance network, while could be used to very quickly producing a visual output to make it easier we could understand how particular strains and for busy doctors to understand and act on the the drugs used to treat them affected patient identify new strains of a results. recovery. disease, or for improved Zamin’s research group is working on That solution means tying together genetic vaccine design’ improvements, including adding the ability data, drug resistance data and patient data. to analyse other bacteria. A further project Zamin likens it to producing a ‘tube map’ uses Oxford Nanopore’s pocket-size MinION of a genome – one student in the Iqbal lab is sequencer to provide data directly into currently doing this for malaria. Such ‘maps’ He turned to methods for how to analyse Mykrobe, delivering analysis in near parallel could be used to very quickly identify new genomes, creating an alternative to the existing with sequencing. The ultimate aim is a result strains of a disease, or for improved vaccine technique of selecting a baseline genome and the same day a sample is taken. Another project design. then identifying where other genomes varied will sequence 100,000 TB genomes to provide a As for the future, Zamin sets out some from that. While the technique is useful for clearer picture of the genes that cause resistance. intriguing facts. Bacteria evolve very fast. some areas of the genetic code, other areas The data will refineMykrobe’s analysis, but will Our immune systems evolve extremely fast in show far more variation between individuals. also be openly available. response. Eventually, by analysing a sample Zamin’s method enabled comparison between Such data sharing is a key research area. from a person you could be able to see their groups of people, and he has since focused on If you are analysing an infection, Zamin entire history of infection, or provide real-time how to identify differences and similarities in explains, you want results that are useful to the information on the health of children in a genomes. patient and to researchers and public health nursery. One product of this is Mykrobe, software staff. A data-sharing solution that works both There’s a long way to travel before we get to that can analyse a file of genetic sequence data computationally and for patient privacy could that point. But someone’s working on the map. from a TB or MRSA bacterium and identify which drugs it will resist. Traditional techniques to establish drug resistance are time-consuming so anything that can speed up identifying the Further information at www.well.ox.ac.uk/iqbal right treatment is welcome. Revealing Zamin’s

www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint May 2016 BLUEPRINT | 9 the future of food What we eat affects the social, economic, environmental

iStock.com/Baloncici and health dimensions of our lives, discovers Stuart Gillespie

A worldwide switch to diets that rely less on in most regions are not in line with even meat and more on fruit and vegetables could the most minimal health guidelines, nor save up to eight million lives by 2050, as well with the aim of averting dangerous global as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by two- warming of more than two degrees Celsius,’ thirds, according to Oxford research. Such says Dr Springmann. ‘In our recent study, a switch could also avoid global healthcare we therefore tried to bring together the costs of up to US$1,000 billion. environmental and health aspects related The news story that resulted from this to dietary change, as well as offering an research – fittingly for a truly global issue – economic assessment. was covered by major media outlets all over ‘We found that changes towards more the world. The lead author of the report that plant-based diets that are in line with global sparked the story was Dr Marco Springmann, dietary guidelines could avert between five a James Martin Fellow at the Oxford Martin and eight million deaths in 2050, which is Programme on the Future of Food. a 6–10% reduction in global mortality. It The programme has been running since could also reduce food-related greenhouse gas

2012 and – in common with similar projects emissions by more than two-thirds compared Anna_Shepulova iStock.com/ based at the Oxford Martin School – aims to with what would otherwise be expected, and address one of the most pressing challenges have a value to society of US$1–30 trillion – facing the world in the 21st century: how up to a tenth of global GDP in 2050.’ to feed the global population sustainably, But the relationship between diet, health Food for thought: should we change healthily and equitably. and the environment goes both ways. our eating habits? The Future of Food programme thus Another recent study led by Dr Springmann, has four main aims: to act as a focal point published in The Lancet, found that climate programme and Hope Professor in the for food-related research at the University change could kill more than 500,000 adults Department of Zoology, has noted. of Oxford; to fund and coordinate a small worldwide in 2050 as a result of changes ‘The recent volatility of food prices has number of innovative, interdisciplinary in diet and bodyweight from reduced moved the topic of food up the political research projects that will help find solutions agenda, as has the increasing realisation of to the challenges of feeding a fast-growing the health effects of poor diets,’ says Professor population; to facilitate interactions between ‘Climate change could kill Godfray. ‘The world faces numerous researchers and policymakers; and to help challenges relating to food: for example, build interest in this area among Oxford’s more than 500,000 adults how do we make food production more undergraduate and postgraduate students. worldwide in 2050 as a sustainable, what is going to bring about Dr Springmann, who is also a postdoctoral result of changes in diet and dietary change, and how do we stress-test and researcher in the Nuffield Department shock-proof the global food system?’ of Population Health, is clear about the bodyweight from reduced Dr Springmann offers his own take: ‘Food importance of food as a topic – and the crop productivity’ is a very intimate part of our lives. Everybody role the Oxford Martin programme can eats, every day, multiple times. At the same play in tackling it. ‘The food system is time, we are beginning to understand what tightly connected to the social, economic, crop productivity – particularly fruit and effects our dietary choices have – not just have environmental and health dimensions of our vegetables. The research provides the on ourselves, but also on the environment. lives,’ he says. ‘Thus, studying it requires strongest evidence yet that unless urgent One well-publicised example of this is the multiple perspectives and an interdisciplinary action is taken, climate change could have high impact that the livestock system has on research approach. This is where the Future damaging consequences for food production climate change.’ of Food programme comes in: it connects and health worldwide. According to the For Professor Godfray, the Future of different departments and research groups study, China and India will be among the Food programme is well placed to make a across Oxford with the aim of approaching worst-affected countries. telling contribution to this important topic. questions about the food system in a more Food, then, is going to be a crucial factor ‘I believe the added value of the Oxford comprehensive and holistic way than would as we seek to mitigate the damage we are Martin programme rests in its capacity to be possible in a traditional department.’ doing to the planet and to ourselves. That’s work across the academic divisions and One of the questions being addressed by reflected in the increasing number of column its ability to bring people together,’ he Dr Springmann and colleagues is the impact inches and amount of airtime devoted to says. ‘The programme has certainly helped our current dietary habits are having on the the issue – something Professor Charles the University respond to calls for more planet. His recent paper, published in the Godfray, Director of the Future of Food interdisciplinary research.’ journal PNAS, explored our fondness for red meat and the positive effects that could be brought about by a switch to a more plant- More information at www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/research/ based diet. programmes/future-food ‘It is clear that current and future diets

10 | BLUEPRINT May 2016 www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint iStock.com/emholk rediscovery of a radiant gem The year-long restoration of Trinity College’s chapel has returned the space to its original 17th-century aesthetic, finds Charlie Tyson

Staff and students at Oxford and elsewhere elegant whirls of flowers and palms – were have long grown accustomed to the tangled stained black, in line with design tastes of the yellow tape and mounds of dirt that mark the time. A team led by Alan Lamb, a sculptor construction and redesign projects that are who oversaw the restoration of the Gibbons nowadays constant fixtures around a university. pieces, used an ethanol-based chemical stripper The renovation of Trinity College’s chapel, to work away the layers of black varnish and which reopened on 23 April after a year of restore the carvings to their original rich brown. closure, was, however, no ordinary construction Woodworm tunnels had devastated the effort. The project was a painstaking historical limewood carvings behind the altar, Lamb reclamation that has left the inner sanctum and says. His team used 19th-century photographs its famed woodcarvings by Grinling Gibbons to replace missing pieces of carvings and (1648–1721) looking much as they did when plasterwork. the chapel first opened its doors in 1694. The restoration involved exhaustive cleaning, ‘The renovation exchanged repair and conservation of the building’s ceiling, an austere Victorian colour HammersleyBruce windows, plasterwork and woodcarvings. The scheme for a warmer A chapel revived: (bottom left) the work cost just over £1m and the college had antechapel screen before and after cleaning; raised roughly £600,000 in donations by the appearance that accents (above) restored limewood carvings on end of April, according to Tom Knollys, the the grains and hues of the the reredos; (right) looking west to the college’s alumni relations officer. The renovation antechapel screen and organ gave college officials a chance to alter the original wood’ chapel’s overall aesthetic, exchanging an The year-long project put some strain on austere Victorian colour scheme for a warmer The renovated chapel diverges from its the college’s religious life – Percy’s office became appearance that accents the grains and hues of original appearance in at least one crucial a temporary prayer room – but it’s all been the original wood. respect: its stained-glass windows. The 17th- worth it, Percy says. ‘It’s been exciting for In the mid-1860s, most of the Grinling century chapel would have been built with plain people to see something they’ve loved as a kind Gibbons’ woodcarvings that the chapel houses glass. Conservators cleaned each of the chapel’s of familiar and important space just becoming – eerily lifelike faces of seraphs and saints, stained-glass windows, gingerly swabbing with glorious,’ she comments. ‘It’s like seeing an old small cotton buds, explains the Reverend Emma and loved friend being revived.’ Percy, Trinity College’s chaplain. ‘Before, we Slip through the chapel door now, and you’ll couldn’t see through the windows, they were find yourself in a small antechapel flanked by so dirty,’ she says. a carved screen that divides the entrance from The college has reinstalled a brightly the chapel’s main chamber. From the screen coloured stained-glass window crafted in the the faces of cherubs gaze forward, resting upon 1870s in honour of Isaac Williams, a fellow looping tendrils of wood. On sunny days the of Trinity and a prominent figure in the Oxford entrance is flooded with light, and the wooden Movement. Because the Williams window does walls glow like warm chestnut. When students not match the other seven in the chapel, it had play the piano in the foyer, under a stained-glass rested unseen in an attic since the 1940s. (All window of the Venerable Bede, tones of Chopin of the chapel’s stained glass was removed and Liszt well up and drift toward the ceiling. during World War II to avoid damage from The renovation, says Emeritus Professor Trinity CollegeTrinity bombs and shrapnel.) Martin Kemp, an art historian and honorary The chapel is unusual in that it contains fellow of Trinity College, is ‘radiant, a tomb with the remains of Thomas Pope, exhilarating, but in a very subtle way’. Kemp the college’s founder. College officials believe has long admired the chapel, and published a the tomb contains the remains not just of short book on its history and design in 2013. Pope but also of his first wife, Margaret, whom The chapel’s achievement, Kemp feels, is its he outlived, and his second wife, Elizabeth, union of painting, sculpture, and architecture who survived him. The college considered into a dynamic, baroque ensemble. ‘With the opening up the tomb during the renovation restoration’, he says, ‘there’s been a general but decided against it, Percy says. uplift of the light, the tone, the legibility.’

For more information, visit www.trinity.ox.ac.uk/chapel-renovation The chapel is open to visitors on weekdays from 10am to noon and 2pm to 5pm,

Trinity College Trinity as well as weekend afternoons.

12 | BLUEPRINT May 2016 www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint what’s on

Exhibitions

Microsculpture – the insect portraiture of Levon Biss From 27 May to 30 October 2016 Museum of Natural History www.microsculpture.net Insect specimens from the museum’s collections, shown in large-format and exquisitely-lit detail.

Storms, war and shipwrecks: treasures from the Sicilian seas From 21 June to 25 September 2016 Chamber Group: Piano, Clarinet, Violins rama Ashmolean Museum D Saturday 11 June, 1.30pm www.ashmolean.org/exhibitions The Queen’s College Love’s Labour’s Lost Tickets £10 / £9 / £5 free for members and www.eglesfieldmusic.co.uk/?Events 28 June – 18 August under-12s Free concert (with retiring collection) from the Wadham College Gardens Extraordinary discoveries made by underwater Eglesfield Music Society, comprising musicians www.oxfordshakespearecompany.co.uk archaeologists. from across the University and run by a Tickets £13 / £18 / £23 Enjoy an interactive open-air performance of oncerts committee of students. C this popular Shakespeare comedy. Music Faculty Recital Series Classical & Jazz with Benet and Viv McLean amily friendly Thursdays 2, 9 and 16 June, 12.30pm Thursday 30 June, 7.30pm F St John the Evangelist Church Denis Arnold Hall, Faculty of Music Wild fair www.sje-oxford.org/events www.music.ox.ac.uk/calendar/upcoming Saturday 4 June, 10am to 4pm Tickets £20 / £17/ £10 Listen to students performing pieces for their Museum of Natural History A classical/jazz extravaganza including upcoming examinations. Feel free to bring www.oum.ox.ac.uk/visiting/whatson.htm Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. your lunch. Drop in to celebrate Oxford’s biodiversity Lectures and talks with crafts, conservationists and family friendly talks. Shakespeare Oxford 2016 lectures Every Wednesday (until 29 June), 1pm Mammal detectives at Wytham Woods Weston Library Saturday 11 June, 10am to 2pm (age 7+) www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whatson/whats-on Wytham Woods A series of hourly lunchtime lectures www.facebook.com/WythamWoods celebrating the work and times of Shakespeare. Book a place to join Oxfordshire Mammal Group and look for signs of badgers, deer and The European refugee crisis: what is to be small mammals and to hear from University done? researchers working in the woods. Friday 10 June, 5pm Pembroke College Bate family gamelan concert www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/fulbright2016 Sunday 19 June, 3pm Professor Michael Ignatieff discusses the Holywell Music Room European refugee crisis and how to address it. www.bate.ox.ac.uk/family-friendly-concert Tickets £5 (children free) Observing the observers Discover the bronze gongs and metallophones Tuesday 28 June, 7pm of the Javanese Gamelan. Museum of the History of Science www.bit.ly/mhs-events Dancing the tree of life Lee Macdonald reveals new research on the Saturday 2 July, performance 4pm; talk remarkable story of Kew Observatory, dating 5.15pm back to King George III’s private observatory. Museum of Natural History www.bit.ly/mnhevents Join evolutionary biologist Yan Wong, choreographer Joëlle Pappas and dancers to see how evolution works – as they dance you through the tree of life. A selection of stunning insect portraits (top) and treasures recovered from Sicilian seas Visit www.museums.ox.ac.uk/content/family- (left) are on view this summer friendly-events for more family activities

14 | BLUEPRINT May 2016 www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint a guide to Encaenia Matt Pickles shines a light on the University’s honorary degrees ceremony

Once a year, on a Wednesday in June, a for many years. Her speech was very moving. procession of men and women in colourful ‘During the most difficult years, I was upheld academic gowns walks in line through the by memories of Oxford,’ she told the audience. centre of Oxford. This procession is part ‘These were among the most important inner of Encaenia, the ceremony at which the resources that helped me to cope with all the University of Oxford awards honorary challenges I had to face.’ degrees to people who have achieved But the ceremony is only one part of

distinction in a range of fields. Encaenia. The night before, the honorands OxfordUniversity Images/John Cairns Encaenia – the name is a Greek word for have dinner with the University’s Chancellor, a festival of renewal – is always held on the Vice-Chancellor and Public Orator. The next Wednesday of ninth week during Trinity term. morning, the honorands, heads of house and For readers who use a normal calendar, this other senior University members assemble at year’s ceremony takes place on 22 June. Exeter College in full academic dress for a ‘The procession is one of the most iconic reception called Lord Crewe’s benefaction, at sights in Oxford,’ says Clare Woodcock, which peaches, strawberries and champagne Deputy Head of the University’s News and are served. Lord Crewe, the Rector of Information Office, who organises the media Lincoln College and subsequently Bishop of arrangements for each year’s ceremony. ‘To get Oxford, left a significant sum of money to the a good view of the procession, the best place University for Encaenia after he died in 1721. for people to stand is in Radcliffe Square.’ Suitably refreshed, the honorands and officials then walk in procession to the ‘The procession is one of the Sheldonian Theatre for the ceremony – a walk

which can be seen on postcards in shops across Cairns Images/John University Oxford most iconic sights in Oxford’ Oxford. As the procession enters the Sheldonian Members of staff from all over the Theatre, it is accompanied by ceremonial University are involved in putting Encaenia officials of the University called Bedels. Janet together. The University’s security services Avison, a picture researcher in the University’s accompany the procession. Fortunately, Design and Publications Office, has just there has never been a real-life repeat of the been appointed the University’s Bedel of the Inspector Morse episode in which an honorand Arts. She says the chance to be involved in was murdered. Encaenia is one of the reasons why she applied This year’s honorands include director and to become a Bedel. ‘It’s such a well-known screenwriter Pedro Almodóvar, opera singer ceremony, and it has happened for centuries, Jessye Norman and Apple’s head designer so this is a chance to be part of Oxford Sir Jonathan Ive. Before the ceremony at the University’s history,’ she says.

Sheldonian Theatre, the honorands will wait After the ceremony, All Souls College in the Divinity School where they sign their hosts the honorands for a lunch, then a Cairns Images/John University Oxford names in the Honorary Degrees Book. ‘With garden party for the honorands, their guests all the names that have received honorary and members of Congregation is held at one degrees in the past, this must be one of the of the colleges. Encaenia in action: (from top) Approaching most incredible collections of autographs in the Unsurprisingly, the logistics of the day the Sheldonian; Lord Crewe’s benefaction world,’ says Ms Woodcock. are complicated. ‘We start planning for at Exeter College; back yoke of VC’s In the ceremony, each honorand is Encaenia six months prior to the day, and new robes, created in 2015 to introduced with a speech in Latin by the everyone in our office is involved in some replace the fragile 1899 garment University’s Public Orator, following which the part of the event,’ says Lisa Seddon, Head of Chancellor admits them to their degree. The the University’s Events Office. ‘It is a lot of apparently often ‘scandalous’ speech by an Public Orator then delivers a speech called the work, but it is always very rewarding when it anonymous speaker known as the ‘Son of the Creweian Oration about the events of the past all comes together. Personally, it was a thrill Earth’. The ceremony was originally held in year and to thank benefactors. In alternate seeing Hilary Mantel in 2015 and I’m pleased the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, years, the second part of this speech is given by Pedro Almodóvar has been nominated.’ but was moved to the Sheldonian Theatre in the Professor of Poetry. Encaenia is the surviving part of an unusual 1670. It is thought the first honorary degrees Unlike in honorary degree ceremonies at historical ceremony in Oxford called ‘the to be awarded at a ceremony in Oxford were most other universities, Oxford’s honorands Act’, which used to include music and an in 1566. do not give a speech. But an exception was made for Aung San Suu Kyi in 2012. Daw Suu, a former undergraduate at St Hugh’s College, For more information on Encaenia and how to apply for a ticket, was returning to Oxford for the first time visit www.ox.ac.uk/Encaenia after being held under house arrest in Burma

www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint May 2016 BLUEPRINT | 15 advertisements

INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISERS BEGBR KE SCIENCE PARK WHERE SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY MEET

Office and Laboratory Accommodation OPENING SUMMER 2016 Tel: (01865) 848770 Fax: (01865) 849543 NEW mixed-use flexible offices and wet/dry labs e-mail: [email protected] website: www.oxfordadvisory.com

Our association with the University of Oxford is now in its 23rd year. We have extensive practical knowledge of

placed to assist those who wish to maximise their pension and tax-free cash from either USS or OSPS. Please contact us to arrange an initial consultation at no charge or obligation to take further action.

just some of the areas where we can provide advice include:

Retirement Planning Savings & Investments Critical Illness Cover Stakeholder Pensions Ethical Investments Income Protection Inheritance Tax Holistic Financial & Life Assurance RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW! Guaranteed Funds Trust Planning Mortgage Broking Call us on YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP 01865 283700 UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

E-mail: [email protected] For mortgages, we can be paid a fee; usually 0.75% of the loan www.begbroke.ox.ac.uk @BegbrokeScience subject to a minimum of £1,500, or by commission.

Bringing Isis Innovation Plant closer to researchers Sciences Biochemistry Isis Innovation has hot desks in a number of Oxford University departments. Old Road Campus Sir William Computer Research Physics Dunn School Science Isis staff at these locations are available to discuss intellectual property, Building of Pathology (ORCRB) technology transfer, software commercialisation, business ideas or academic consultancy services with Oxford researchers, students and support staff. Weatherall Joint Research Institute of Office Churchill Maths Chemistry Molecular (JRO) Medicine See www.isisinnovation.com/hotdesks for a full list of all locations of (WIMM) new and existing hot desks and when Isis staff will be available. Research Research Engineering Services Services Saïd Business Science Worcester Robert School Street Hooke

Radcliffe Botnar Begbroke Isis Innovation Limited, Buxton Court, 3 West Way, Oxford OX2 0SZ Wellington Science Research Science Square Library Centre Park T 01865 280830 E [email protected] W isis-innovation.com @IsisInnovation linkedin.com/company/isis-innovation-ltd

16 | BLUEPRINT May 2016 www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint advertisements

Summer School and Conference Discount Card Thinking of selling

Suorting te Uniersity or letting? Card

. Discount twork Expiry Date: 30/09/2016ed ar Discover how we 10% nd commission ers a al off promotion 106 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4BW Tel: 01865 247414 e items, consistently exceed Sal Exclusions: client expectations

Don’t miss out on 10% discount cards for your students and delegates to use at the University of Oxford Shop. Book your free valuation now

To order your discount cards please email: [email protected] LETTINGS SALES SUMMERTOWN 01865 554577 01865 553900 HEADINGTON 01865 761111 01865 759500 106 High Street, EAST OXFORD 01865 244666 01865 244666 WITNEY Oxford OX1 4BW 01993 777909 01993 705507 www.oushop.com scottfraser.co.uk

Technology just got more flexible.

1000+ part-time classes and programmes for adult learners www.conted.ox.ac.uk DEPARTMENT FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION Professional development courses in the health sciences, telecoms, nanotechnology, sustainability and many other subjects, offered part-time.

www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint May 2016 BLUEPRINT | 17 advertisements

Children - Adults - GCSEs - A levels We buy academic and Private tuition - Events non-academic used books

If you are moving office or home, leaving the University or just need more space, we can help. We are most interested in arts, history and social Learn sciences and also buy classical or jazz CDs. French with the experts

AllianceFrançaise d'Oxford Beadle Davies, Book sellers d'Oxford Good prices paid for large or small collections and we collect from anywhere in the Oxford area. www.af-oxford.org [email protected] Please contact Ross on 07720 288774 or [email protected] tel. 07724243687 registered charity no. 1163206

PACKING AND SHIPPING SERVICES SPECIAL RATES FOR STUDENTS FREE BOXES WITH SHIPPING

• Free collection from OX postcodes. • Excess Baggage, Domestic & International Relocation. • Antiques & Fine Art. • IT & Laboratory Equipment. • Books, DVDs, Files, Papers, etc ... • Rowing Oars, Musical Instruments, Any and All Personal Items. AIR, SEA AND Next day delivery service within the UK & EU. ROAD FREIGHT

WE SEND ANYTHING, ANYWHERE! www.packsend.co.uk/Oxford 3 Botley Road, Oxford OX2 0AA | Tel: 01865 260 610 | Email: [email protected]

18 | BLUEPRINT May 2016 www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint advertisements

New College ChoristerDo you Openlove singing? Day

For boys who love singing! Join our choristers for an afternoon of music and fun – and find out everything about life in New College Choir. Meet the director, Robert Quinney, and talk to choir and school staff, and current chorister parents.

Games, information sessions, dressing-up, singing, and tea - followed by Do you love singing? a special ‘family friendly’ evensong in New College’s medieval chapel.

A New College choristership unlocks the door to an extraordinary life for musical boys: they sing to professional standards, experience at first hand the unique treasure- house of the choral tradition, and benefit from a musical education which lasts a lifetime. Choristers receive substantial scholarships at New College School.

To register: download a form from the website or contact: [email protected] / 01865 279108

Photo: Nick Rutter Saturday 18 June at 4.00pm for boys aged 2-6

for more details see www.newcollegechoir.comor phone 279519

www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint May 2016 BLUEPRINT | 19 why am i here? Lesley Paterson Senior Facilitator and Coordinator, Public Engagement with Research, Research Services

What is Public Engagement with Research? So how do you come to be doing this? It’s where researchers involve the public in I started life wanting to be a marine

part or all of the research process – from biologist, working with dolphins, but ended RobJudges shaping the direction of research, taking up slightly down the evolutionary scale with part in the conduct of research, through a PhD in marine worms. I became interested to sharing the results of the findings. The in public engagement and did a Science and activities that have been developed and ultimate aim is to improve the quality or Communication postgraduate degree. delivered by staff. The winning entries will impact of the research but there are many I’ve worked in public engagement receive recognition at an awards ceremony on other benefits including access to additional and communications for over 15 years. 1 July and the overall winner will receive a funding, professional skills development, Immediately prior to Oxford, I was the cash prize of £1,500. hearing new perspectives and profile- Royal Academy of Engineering’s first Head raising. Many researchers report that it of Public Engagement before becoming the

is a rewarding and motivating experience. Head of Communications and Engagement Blueprint is published bimonthly for the staff of the responsible for all the ‘pubs’ – public University of Oxford by the Public Affairs Directorate How is the University approaching this? engagement, public relations, public Editor: Sally Croft I work closely with Professor Sarah affairs and publications. Designers: Laëtitia Velia/Pippa Havenhand Whatmore, the University’s Academic Picture research: Janet Avison Champion for Public Engagement Any striking memories? Items for possible inclusion are welcome and should be sent to [email protected] I was really intrigued when I first started with Research. The aim is to equip Subscriptions and support academics, researchers and at Oxford (June 2015) to find out that To subscribe to Blueprint either in print or online, visit staff benefits include a 10% discount in www.ox.ac.uk/staff/staff_communications/ graduate students to develop and deliver subscriptions the ukulele store! I had an image of all my high-quality public engagement activities Advertising embedded within their research activities. colleagues strumming away at home… For details of how to advertise in Blueprint, visit www.ox.ac.uk/staff/staff_communications/ Oxford’s world-class research portfolio, Give us a taste of events being planned blueprint/advertising together with its outstanding museums, We’ve worked closely with both the The opinions expressed in Blueprint are those of the contributors and are not libraries and collections, creates an Oxfordshire Science Festival and the Oxford necessarily shared by the University of Oxford. Advertisements are vetted, but the University extraordinary environment in which Festival of the Arts this year and over 60 of accepts no responsibility for them and their inclusion does not imply endorsement by the high-quality Public Engagement with Oxford’s researchers will be taking part in University of the goods or services advertised. Research (PER) can really flourish. We these festivals in June and July. We’ve also want public engagement at Oxford to submitted a grant proposal for a European have the same high reputation for Researchers’ Night in September 2017 that excellence as does its research. would enable us to deliver the biggest PER viewfinder It’s important to think carefully about event that has taken place at Oxford, with which public audiences or ‘constituents’ you activities in all four museums, the Bodleian Where’s this caring Madonna? Answer on p4. should engage – it should be those with the Libraries, the Botanic Garden, Wytham potential to improve the quality or impact of Woods and the city centre, with over 200 the research taking place. I’m really interested researchers taking part. in how we can support our researchers So how can staff become involved? overseas and how public engagement may Two excellent initiatives to explore are differ in different countries. Oxford Sparks (a portal for science What does your own job entail? engagement) and TORCH (The Oxford My role is to facilitate, coordinate and Research Centre for the Humanities) for support PER at the university-wide level. engagement opportunities and training. I work with colleagues across the collegiate Staff can also sign up to the PER Digest, University and, as facilitator for the a monthly email with news, updates and development of the University’s recently details of public engagement training, events approved strategic plan for PER, oversaw and opportunities available – email me at a ten-month consultation process gathering [email protected] with ‘Start the views of nearly 100 staff. I also develop PER Digest’ in the subject header. We’re also and deliver activities to help create a climate creating PER webpages. in which public engagement can flourish. Finally, isn’t there a new University For example, I’m currently administering award in this area? the proposals that were submitted to the Yes, the new Vice-Chancellor’s Public University’s PER grants scheme which Engagement with Research Awards, provides seed funding for academics announced last April, aim to find and and researchers. celebrate the high-quality PER projects Oxford University Images/PAD University Oxford

20 | BLUEPRINT May 2016 www.ox.ac.uk/blueprint