| 3 Olympic silver for King’s rowers | 4 Profile: Professor Roger Parker | 7 First GPEP students graduate | 15 Strand: £20m redevelopment

CommentThe College newsletter Issue no 183 | September 2008 Westwood unveils gowns

The College launched its new- was the need for the College to Vivienne Westwood, who was OBE for her services to fashion look academic gowns in July with design our own academic dress. named British Designer of the in 1993 and in 2006 was created a catwalk show featuring King’s The College is most grateful to Year twice in 1990 and 1991, a Dame Commander, Order of students. The 20 new gowns and Vivienne Westwood for the design was welcomed to the event at the British Empire. hoods that make up the stunning and also to Ede & Ravenscroft for the Great Hall, Strand Campus, See more pictures and read academic dress were created by their expertise in the production by the Principal Professor Rick about the graduation ceremonies the English fashion designer of the academic dress.’ Trainor. She was awarded an on page 5. Dame Vivienne Westwood and greg funnell produced by Ede & Ravenscroft. On the gowns Vivienne Westwood comments: ‘Through my reworking of the traditional robe I tried to link the past, the present and the future. We are what we know.’

Stunning new academic dress

The gowns and hoods have been designed with colours to reflect the College’s Schools of study and levels of degree. A unique feature of the gowns is the King’s College London lion button on each shoulder. Students graduating from the College in July were the first to wear these striking new gowns. Vivienne Westwood was approached in 2007 by Baroness Rawlings, the then Chairman of King’s, after the College successfully petitioned the Privy Council for degree-awarding powers in its own right. Brian Salter, Deputy College Secretary & Academic Registrar comments: ‘One of the more noticeable impacts of securing its own degree-awarding powers Dame Vivienne Westwood designed the gowns to ‘link the past, the present and the future.’ News

King’s appoints new Vice-Principal

King’s College London has executive Director of the Carbon confidence that his experience appointed Chris Mottershead Trust, a member of the Advisory and wide range of international as Vice-Principal (Research). Board of the National Center contacts will help develop our Mr Mottershead’s current role for Atmospheric Research (US) research profile significantly.’ is as BP’s Distinguished Advisor and the EPSRC (Engineering Mr Mottershead commented: – Energy Security and Climate and Physical Sciences Research ‘Needless to say, I am very excited Change, and he will be taking over Council) User Panel. at the prospect of joining one of the College’s research portfolio Commenting on the the world’s leading universities: from Professor Sir Lawrence appointment, the Principal said: King’s appears to be making huge Freedman, who will continue as ‘I am delighted that Chris will be advances at the moment, and one of five Vice-Principals. joining the senior management there could be no better time to Mr Mottershead has developed Chris Mottershead team at King’s. Cutting edge get involved in the increasingly his career with BP since 1978, research leads and informs all competitive world of international and since 2004 has advised BP of the College; he has a degree our activities and I have every academic research.’ executive management and in Applied Physics and an MSc governments on a range of strategic in Cybernetics from Chelsea issues, including climate change. College, which merged with Mr Mottershead is an alumnus King’s in 1985. He is a non- Principal’s Column

greg funnell modernise e-communications across the College. £158m received in awards Some members of staff were severely inconvenienced by £157.7 million pounds has been by the solid performance in grant an interruption to service in awarded to the College for new winning from across the College. August and I am sorry for this. or renewed research projects This is the third year in a row in Unfortunately, King’s, along during the financial year 1 August which we have seen significant with a significant number of 2007–31 July 2008. This is made growth and demonstrates the international universities, were up of 806 projects, and represents strengthening of our research base. subject to a major network the highest value of awards ever By comparison, in 2004-5 the security (phishing) attack, and received by King’s. College only managed to bring in Dear Colleagues remedial action had to be taken It compares with the 808 some £80m of new awards.’ The world’s imagination has to ensure that no email accounts awards received last year which These awards, many of which been captivated by the Olympics were compromised in any way. were worth £135.3 million. Fifty- are in themselves prestigious, this Summer, and I am delighted The downtime was not directly nine of this year’s awards were support the whole spectrum of that members of the College linked to the introduction of the worth over £500,000, of which 31 the College’s research activities have played their part in these new email service. A new IT were worth over £1 million and in all Schools and Divisions, and outstanding games. Security Framework will five were worth over £3 million. have been received from a wide In particular, congratulations be launched across the College Professor Sir Lawrence variety of sources, including to student Katherine Grainger in readiness for the new Freedman, Vice Principal Research Councils, charities and for becoming the first British academic year. commented: ‘I am very pleased international foundations. woman to win medals at three As we begin a new academic consecutive games, and to her year, I extend a warm welcome Silver medal-winning rowing to new staff and students who team mates Frances Houghton are joining King’s. The last Funding boost to King’s and Annabel Vernon, both of few years have seen the College whom are alumni (see page 3). go from strength to strength Academic initiatives and Gemma Peters, Director I look forward to congratulating and I have every confidence student activities at King’s will of Development at King’s, them, and College staff and that the results of the RAE significantly benefit from a new commented: ‘The Matched alumni who have achieved so (Research Assessment Exercise) £200 million government scheme, Funding scheme is great news much in so many areas, at the will be positive for the College launched in July, enabling UK for King’s and Higher Education second King’s Awards which when these are released in universities to increase their fundraising as a whole. Being are to be held in mid-September. December. income from voluntary giving. able to match gifts will help us Over July and August, more Finally, I wish I were able to The Matched Funding scheme to encourage alumni, staff and than 6,000 staff and research report conclusively on our plans for the higher education sector former staff to make a gift to the graduates were migrated to the for Somerset House but, at the adds Government money to College. An increase in individual new College email service. This time of writing, contractual donations from individuals to donations will enable us to major initiative, undertaken by negotiations are still underway. universities. Under the scheme, support more academic initiatives, ISS in collaboration with I strongly hope these will be King’s will receive an extra £1 scholarships and student activities.’ School IT Units, is only the first concluded soon. from the Government for every The Matched Funding scheme phase in a significant project to Rick Trainor £3 donated. will run until 2011.

 | Comment | September 2008 News

Olympic silver for King’s rowers

getty images King’s student Katherine Grainger became the first British woman to win medals at three consecutive Olympic Games in August, with silver in the quadruple sculls in Beijing. She won the medal alongside two King’s graduates.

A fantastic achievement

The race took place over 2,000 metres and for 1,700 metres of the race the British team were in the lead, however the Chinese team had a sudden surge and powered through to win the nation’s first Olympic gold medal in the sport. The British team comprises King’s student and alums: Katharine Grainger, Francis Houghton, Debbie Flood and Annabel Vernon rowing for Olympic silver. Katherine Grainger MBE, Frances Houghton and Annie wouldn’t have believed them…To Out warmest congratulations.’ (2003), is also an Olympic Vernon, along with their team be at my third Olympics is just Katherine, currently studying medallist and three times World mate Debbie Flood. absolutely incredible and to win a for a PhD in Law at King’s, has Champion. Katherine and Frances In a BBC blog posted after the second silver medal [is] absolutely won the World Championships rowed together at the 2004 race, Katherine commented: ‘If awesome too.’ four times, achieved Olympic Olympic Games in Athens, where someone had said five years ago Professor Rick Trainor said: success in 2000 and 2004 and they scooped silver medals. that by August 2008 I would be ‘This is a fantastic achievement was awarded an MBE for services Annabel graduated from three-times world champion and and one of which the entire King’s to sport in 2006. Frances, who the College with an MA in double Olympic silver medallist I community is extremely proud. studied for a BA Hispanic Studies International Relations in 2007. £2 million for new Medical Humanities Centre

King’s College Archives The Wellcome Trust has given Trust will significantly boost King’s one of two highly already existing cross-College prestigious awards to support research initiatives in the medical the best research in medical humanities.’ humanities. The King’s Medical Humanities Over five years, King’s will Centre will intensively develop receive around £2 million and collaborations across new Durham University £1.8 million. academic interfaces; between The grants will each be used to Nursing, Film Studies and establish a centre of excellence English, Medicine and Art in the emerging field of medical History, Philosophy, Medicine humanities. and Psychology, Literature and Drawing on research areas in Medicine, and between History philosophy, literature and the arts and Psychiatry. as well as medicine, nursing and Professor Hurwitz explains: psychiatry, King’s will extend its ‘The Centre’s research will be existing research programmes in diverse, but will share some medical humanities and help to academic foci in common, develop the field internationally. including exploration of what Project leader Brian Hurwitz, Learning to bandage – an insight into the history of nurse training. the humanities contribute to Professor of Medicine & the Arts, understanding the subjective, and his colleagues at the newly the umbrella ‘The Boundaries They will explore people’s inner experience of illness emerging Centre for Health of Illness’. The group will be experiences of health and their and study of the personal and Sciences and the Humanities, looking at personal and cultural responses to illness. cultural representations of health will undertake a series of representations of health and Professor Hurwitz comments: and illness and the boundaries multidisciplinary studies under illness and the boundaries. ‘This award from the Wellcome between them.’

September 2008 | Comment |  News

King’s top for MRC funding

King’s has received the highest the most successful institutions by Professor Peter McGuffin), amount of Medical Research along with Oxford, Cambridge, the Centre for Developmental Council (MRC) funding of any UCL, and Imperial, with these Neurobiology (led by Professor university, among the top 20 five institutions receiving just Andrew Lumsden, FRS), the Universities for 2006-7, with an under half the total MRC income MRC-Asthma UK Centre in income total of £23,664,490. in 2006-7 of £256 million. The Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma College is home to five MRC (led by Professor Tak Lee and Centres in total, more than any Professor Tim Williams of Imperial Highest amount of other university, and more than College London) and the Centre MRC funding a quarter of all such centres are for Neurodegeneration Research based at the College. (led Professor Brian Anderton) These include: the Centre and the MRC Centre for The figures inResearch Fortnight for Social Genetic and Transplantation (led by Professor show that King’s tops the list of Developmental Psychiatry (led Steven Sacks). Chief Nursing Officer lectures at King’s

david tett The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), recent report by Lord Darzi, Dame Christine Beasley gave A High Quality Care For All – a lecture at King’s in July to NHS Next Stage Review. celebrate the 60th anniversary In her speech, the CNO of the NHS. The event was also stressed that that there are few attended by government health clinical settings in which either minister Ann Keen MP, who nurses or midwives are not present, spoke on the achievements and or where they do not influence challenges facing the NHS on its the quality of care offered, and diamond birthday. that the aspirations set out by Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, Lord Darzi in his review would Head of the Florence Nightingale have significant implications for School of Nursing & Midwifery nurses and midwives. (FNSNM) said: ‘We are delighted The CNO commented: to welcome the Chief Nursing From left: Dame Christine Beasley, Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, Anne Keen MP and ‘The work represented the most Officer to King’s to celebrate the Professor Rick Trainor. thorough evaluation of its kind, 60th anniversary of the NHS with and generated new proposals for a focus on Nursing and Midwifery, Dame Christine Beasley, audience of academics, directors structuring nursing careers to which has particular resonance for who is also a Visiting Professor of nursing, and practitioners, on reflect future needs of patients our School.’ with FNSNM, lectured to an a comprehensive overview of the and the service. Dual ministerial visits to the College greg funnell King’s received two ministerial laboratories accredited by the Department of Innovation, visits in July to see at first hand World Anti-Doping Agency to Universities & Skills, visited the best the College has to offer in conduct drug testing in sport. the Strand Campus. Baroness terms of cutting-edge research and Annually the Centre analyses Morgan was met by the Principal, high quality student provision. more than 7,500 samples. and Assistant Principal (Estates) Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Minister This year that figures includes Professor Colin Bushnell, for a for Sport, visited the Drug around 1,500 tests conducted on tour of the Campus. Control Centre (DCC), Waterloo every British athlete who went This was followed by a Campus, to find out how samples to Beijing for the Olympic and presentation by Professor Phil from sportsmen and women are Paralympic Games. Whitfield, Vice-Principal, on tested for prohibited substances. Ahead of the Games, the DCC student finance, and a question Mr Sutcliffe was given a tour of also held a media open day to and answer session with students the centre’s laboratories by the show how they are unmasking Baroness Morgan and representatives from KCLSU. Director, Professor David Cowan, athletes who cheat through using Professor Freedman and Dr Alison and Vice-Principal Professor Sir prohibited substances or methods. Morgan, Parliamentary Under Campbell, Director of King’s Lawrence Freedman. On the same day as Mr Secretary of State for Intellectual Business, then gave an overview of The DCC is one of only 33 Sutcliffe’s visit, Baroness Delyth Property and Quality in the the College’s research strategy.

 | Comment | September 2008 News

New academic gowns showcased

The new academic gowns, designed Six of the Graduation This year also saw the first catwalk show and the graduation by Vivienne Westwood, were Ceremonies were held at The students graduate from the ceremonies. showcased at the first graduation Barbican, while three were held War in the Modern World Catwalk show pictures: GReg Funnell Graduation ceremonies pictures: Patrick Barth ceremonies of the summer, at Southwark Cathedral. The master’s programme. Below are following their launch in July. Chairman of the Council, the a selection of images from the Dame Vivienne Westwood Marquess of Douro, and the and former Secretary of State Principal, Professor Richard for Culture, Media & Sport, Trainor, presided. Lord Smith (Chris Smith) were More than 2,500 students among those wearing the gowns attended together with nearly as they received their Honorary 8,000 family, friends and guests Fellowships (see page 10). of the College.

September 2008 | Comment |  Profile

greg funnell Professor Roger Parker Roger Parker, Thurston Dart Professor of Music and graduate of King’s College London, has recently been awarded a fellowship of the British Academy. Here he talks about his passion for Italian opera, his time in the United States and what the future holds.

When did you first become passionate though (and I’m not just saying this!), was about music? coming back to King’s a couple of years ago. Like most people whose lives are immersed in All the people I knew as a graduate student music, immersion started pretty early: in my had of course long gone, but the intellectual case with enrolment in the local church choir stimulation and general atmosphere is certainly when I was about six. There was no formal the best I’ve experienced in the UK. training. The choirmaster just said: ‘Here’s I’m called the ‘Thurston Dart Professor of the music and these funny-shaped things are Music’, which feels slightly odd. Professor called notes, when they go higher on the page, Dart taught me in my first term at university, you sing higher; just follow the older boys and at the very end of his life (he was King Edward you’ll be all right.’ And that’s mostly what I Professor of Music, and we Goldsmiths’ did for a long time, just sing in choirs. I had the students were invited to King’s periodically). occasional attempt at playing the piano, and Even then, although he was very ill, he retained even wrestled nobly with the trombone for a great flamboyance. I remember jaws dropping time but all that was really my older brother’s all around the room as he announced that Saint domain – he won all the prizes. Saens’s piano concertos were obviously so I was also pretty hopeless academically – much better than Beethoven’s. scraped a few O-levels, failed one A-level and got an E in the other. Then something terrible How did you feel to be elected a Fellow of the happened. My brother – a couple of years into British Academy? his Oxford undergraduate career (reading Being elected a Fellow of the British Academy Music, of course) – was killed in a senseless is a great honour. There are only a handful of Fact file accident. I spent a long time not coping well musicologist Fellows, and so I feel that I’ll have with this, but eventually I saw I had to do an extra responsibility to represent the subject Book on my bedside table something, and that something turned out to as best I can, and also to try to encourage good As usual, the one I'm reading at the moment! be studying music. scholarship in whatever form it comes. Today’s answer is Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Perhaps it was compensatory. Whatever it was, everything slotted into place: A-level How do you feel your subject area has Favourite holiday destination Music; Goldsmiths’ as an undergraduate; developed? Bayreuth in August. King’s for the masters and PhD. The greatest During the last 20 or so years, musicology has influence was my PhD supervisor, Pierluigi undergone some quite radical changes. The Proudest work moment Petrobelli, who taught me how to take Italian focus of interest has moved relentlessly forward Being Bloch Lecturer at UC Berkeley. opera seriously, but who also became a (lifelong) in time, so that now people who work on 20th mentor – a person whose human qualities I have and 21st century topics are by far the most tried to emulate. numerous. More importantly, though, a great What does the future hold? many of these people do not work on ‘classical’ I am just finishing a large project, a book on Tell us about your career. music, but have delved into a vast array of opera written jointly with one of my US friends, Almost immediately after the PhD, I secured new areas (world music, popular music, jazz, Carolyn Abbate. It is going to be published a job at Cornell University in upstate New traditional music) and new methodologies by Penguin, and so is (we hope) for both a York. It was an enormously vibrant place (music cognition, ethnography, anthropology, scholarly and general readership, which makes intellectually, and I soon met up with a group gender studies). the tone rather tricky. of US contemporaries who have remained my I look back to my masters’ days at King’s, And after the opera book? Somewhat to closest intellectual colleagues. when the ‘core’ course was devoted exclusively my surprise, I am reading a lot of 19th century I stayed there 12 years, and even after a to medieval notation and the dissertation had English fiction these days, and think that I may further 14 years back here I still feel somehow to be a critical edition – of a work before 1800: want to write a book about music in London in part of the US academic environment. But a lot has changed. I’m getting to the age when the 1830s. coming back was important for family reasons, some of my contemporaries see these changes Coming ‘home’ to London has, I think, and gave me other pleasures: perhaps especially in terms of decline; decline of ‘standards’ or of engendered this new enthusiasm: how could the chance to work with wonderful graduates ‘essential skills’. But I do not read it that way, anyone writing about music ignore the at Oxford and then Cambridge, some of whom and keep being amazed and energized by the experience of working in a city such this, with have since decamped to jobs in the US. range of abilities that the best students can its enormous musical energies still bubbling The best decision I made in a long while, marshal to their various causes. away around every corner?

 | Comment | September 2008 News

First GPEP students graduate greg funnell The first ever King’s medical scientific training. In fact some students from the Graduate/ of the highest fliers have graduated Professional Entry (GPEP) in classics or literature.’ Programme celebrated their All the examinations for the graduation in July at a graduate students are comparable Degree Ceremony held at with those taken by the other Southwark Cathedral. medical students, and they This innovative programme, have consistently outperformed which has been developed by their peers. King’s is designed to enable Dr Poston comments: graduates with honours degrees ‘These students are contributing in arts or science subjects, and significantly to the high overall healthcare professionals with standard of those graduating as equivalent academic qualifications, doctors from the King’s. Indeed, to study for a degree in medicine on The first GPEP graduates celebrate their success. through their dedication and a four-year programme. The course maturity, it is widely considered is by far the most popular graduate Dr Robin Poston, course from a scientific background, that they have a beneficial entry course in the country with convener, comments: ‘It is unlike many of the competing influence on the other medical 1,500 applicants per annum with interesting that the students we courses, and these able students students during their years in 62 applicants per place. take are not restricted to those manage well even without a the College.’

Drug discovery lab established Epilepsy grant boost david tett Two research teams from the version of Cognitive Behavioural Institute of Psychiatry have won Therapy for epilepsy. grants from Epilepsy Research There is currently a lot of UK to fund major research interest worldwide into how projects into Epilepsy. to use brain scans to locate The first team, headed up by memory function in the brain, Professor (currently Dr) Laura prior to surgery for temporal Goldstein, have been awarded a lobe epilepsy. Professor Mark grant worth £79,823 to carry out Richardson and his group have an 18-month pilot study that will been awarded a grant of £85,681 look at the feasibility of recruiting to enable them to compare patients to a trial comparing and contrast the three different the effectiveness of an adapted surgical procedures.

Dr Jonathan Corcoran (right) has established a drug discovery group with funding from the Wellcome Trust. Women in science award Dr Jonathan Corcoran, Senior drug candidates and project The College has won a national SET academic profile Research Fellow in the Wolfson management will be of wider award for the active steps it is • providing positive support for Centre for Age Related Diseases use to other research groups who taking to support the career women at key career transition (CARD) has set up a small are interested in drug discovery. progression and development points molecule Drug Discovery group We have established contacts of women working in science, • changing the culture and funded with a £3.1 million with medicinal chemists who engineering and technology gender balance in decision making grant from the Wellcome Trust can design and make compounds disciplines (SET). to develop a new drug for the and have access in house to The Athena SWAN Charter, A steering group of female treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. molecular modelling.’ a scheme for the recognition members of staff from across This is the first lab of its kind The work on Alzheimer’s of excellence in SET in higher the College was established. at King’s which can carry out drug discovery will take place education, has acknowledged Chair Sarah Guthrie, Professor high throughput screening for over the next three years in the King’s efforts and initiatives in this of Developmental Biology, drug candidates. Dr Corcoran CARD and during this time area with a Bronze Award. comments: ‘I am really delighted said: ‘The expertise we have collaborations across the college To win, the College had to that King’s has won this award, brought together in the laboratory, will be established to take collect and analyse key data and which represents an important in cloning and over-expressing advantage of the expertise then develop action plans on first step in progressing women’s various tagged receptors, and technology available within gender equality for three areas: careers in the science, engineering setting up assays to look for this group. • knowing the base line and the and technology disciplines.

September 2008 | Comment |  News round-up

End of Life Care Strategy Obesity gene influences Research Fund (LRF) and the as well as for our understanding Irene Higginson, Professor appetite Elimination of Leukaemia Fund of how motor neurons develop in of Palliative Care, was a key (ELF). The ceremony was embryonic and foetal life.’ contributor to the Department attended by the Vice-Principal for of Health’s new End of Life Health, Professor Robert Lechler New bacterial species found Care Strategy published in July. who chaired a scientific session in mouth The 10-year strategy is the and spoke on ‘T-regulatory cells in A new study, led by William first comprehensive framework allogeneic transplantation’. Wade, Professor of Oral aimed at promoting high quality Microbiology from the palliative care across the country $232m deal for King’s company Dental Institute, has revealed for all adults approaching end of Proximagen Neuroscience plc, a new species of bacteria, life and is backed by £268 million one of King’s most successful prevotella histicola, could be in public funding. spin-out companies, has agreed a contributory factor to gum Professor Higginson a $232 million worldwide disease and tooth decay. said: ‘The importance of licensing deal with a leading It is hoped that this discovery this announcement and the American pharmaceutical will help scientists better Government’s commitment to company to develop a new drug understand these problems and improving end of life coincides Scientists at King’s and UCL have for Parkinson’s disease. could lead to better treatments. with the construction of the found that the gene associated The agreement with Professor Wade’s team, in Cicely Saunders Institute of with obesity works through effects Upsher-Smith Laboratories collaboration with scientists Palliative Care. We look forward on appetite. This new research Inc is for the development and at the Forsyth Institute, Boston, to continuing our work with helps to unravel the mechanism commercialisation of PRX-1, compiled the first comprehensive the Department of Health in of the genetic basis of obesity. a preclinical stage product for list of oral bacterial species earlier achieving this aim through our The study, published in the the symptomatic treatment of this year. research, education and support Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Parkinson’s disease. The database helps scientists programme at the Institute.’ & Metabolism, strongly suggests King’s Professor of studying the role of specific that the gene works by modifying Pharmacology Peter Jenner, Chief bacteria in human health and Multiple vaccinations not appetite, so that the children in Scientific Officer of Proximagen, disease, and paves the way to to blame the study who had two copies comments: ‘This is an important constructing similar databases for of the higher-risk FTO gene are step forward in the treatment other body sites such as the skin less likely to have their appetite of Parkinson’s disease and also and the large intestine. ‘switched off’ by eating. demonstrates clearly how research The co-author on the in the academic environment can New help for arthritis paper, Claire Haworth in the be translated successfully into sufferers MRC Social, Genetic and commercial success.’ Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry at King’s, Breakthough for Duane commented: ‘It is exciting to Syndrome come closer to understanding An international team of how the FTO gene might affect researchers including Professor Researchers from King’s Centre obesity. This research suggests that Sarah Guthrie’s research group for Military Health Research the genetic risk comes from not from the MRC Centre for have shown that multiple recognizing signs of being full Developmental Neurobiology vaccinations have not been the after eating (satiety), which is at King’s, have identified and cause of ill health in UK service also exciting because it suggests investigated the function of a Scientists at King’s have personnel deployed to Iraq. ways in which this research gene mutated in the eye movement discovered a new and potentially The new study, led by can be translated into treatment disorder, Duane Syndrome. major pain signalling pathway Dominic Murphy and published and prevention.’ The human congenital disorder in inflammatory arthritis that on bmj.com in July, says ‘recall Duane Syndrome affects 1 in may open up new possibilities bias’ is to blame, when people 1000 transplants at King’s 1,000 individuals, and results for pain relief. link a perception of ill-health and beyond in limited horizontal (sideways) Recent research conducted with their memory of having had King’s celebrated ‘1000 transplants eye movements. at the Wolfson Centre for Age- multiple vaccinations. and beyond’ at the College in June. Dr Guthrie said: ‘This is an Related Diseases (CARD), Guy’s The findings add to the The celebration, at the Weston exciting collaboration which has Campus, points to the existence ongoing debate surrounding the Education Centre, marked the allowed us to work closely with of a novel pathway in arthritis impact multiple vaccinations may 1,080th bone marrow transplant at clinical colleagues in a concerted pain perception that is located have had on the health of Gulf King’s College Hospital. effort to apply basic research to in the spinal cord and may be war veterans after the 1991 war. The programme started in 1986 an important clinical problem. blocked by drug therapy. Several studies have found an and the hospital is now the largest The results of our The team at CARD, led by association between self-reported adult allogeneic centre for bone work have wide Dr Marzia Malcangio, Senior multiple vaccinations in service marrow transplant in the UK and implications Lecturer in Cellular Biology, personnel deployed to the Gulf one of the largest in the world for for better have been awarded a three- war and later ill-health. However, unrelated transplantation. diagnosis and year grant of £172,916 by the other studies have not found The day’s events were treatment of Arthritis Research Campaign to these associations. sponsored by the Leukaemia eye disorders pursue this line of research.

 | Comment | September 2008 Focus

Department of Geography Geography has been a key area of research and teaching since the foundation of the College. This article reveals how the Department is evolving with, and adapting to, the changing climate.

eography has been a focus of research and teaching at King’s GCollege London since the College was established in 1829. Currently, the Department of Geography at King’s College London has 42 members of academic staff, 100 research students, 170 taught postgraduate students and 350 undergraduate students. In addition to the support staff, there are 17 postdoctoral research associates working on externally-funded research projects. The department undertakes research across a broad range of areas within the humanities, social, physical and environmental sciences.

An international approach The Department’s research culture is international in its outlook and emphasises geography as an integrative field of study. London’s regeneration is a key research area of the Department. Geography is the subject that is at the cutting edge of work being done on cities, largest group of urban researchers in any UK Academic programmes environmental sustainability and human geography department with expertise on We have recently redesigned our undergraduate security. Members of staff in the department London’s regeneration, its gentrification and degree programme to enable students to follow are leading the research in partnership issues of social justice. pathways not only in human and physical with government, funding bodies and non- A second cluster of expertise focuses on the geography but also the environment and governmental bodies. environment in both the global north and south development, thus reflecting both our research Research is organised around four groups and how issues of consumption and production strengths and major contemporary concerns. involving academic, research and technical come together, for example in relation to fair The Department has one of the largest taught staff as well as research students: the Cities trade, political ecology and eco-tourism. postgraduate communities in Geography in the Group; the Environmental Monitoring & Another group, which encompasses some UK with three new master’s degrees starting Modelling Group; the Environment, Politics physical geographers, is concerned in 2009 (MSc Carbon, MSc Water and MSc & Development Group and the Hazards and with disasters and disaster management, Global Environmental Change). Risk Group. The latter encompasses the King’s such as flood risk, adaptation and change, A new programme in Disasters, Adaptation Centre for Risk Management. and terrorism. and Development under Dr Mark Pelling’s The physical geographers work in a wide leadership begins in September 2008 as does Collaborative working range of areas including desert and tropical the new MA in Terror, Security and Society There is significant cross-disciplinary activity environments and river management. The which is run jointly with the Department of in the area of ‘Water Science, Management department was an early pioneer in the War Studies and is led by Dr Brooke Rogers and Policy’ whose ‘leading light’ is Professor development of computer modelling techniques from the Department of Geography. Tony Allan, winner of this year’s Stockholm under the inspired leadership of the late Water Prize. Professor John Thornes. Continuing success Paul Ekins joined the Department in Finally, two emerging areas of strength The continuing success of the department is January as Professor of Environment & Energy are urban climatology and remote sensing reflected in the diversity of students it attracts policy and leads a team which is responsible in support of which we have been winning from all over the world, its international research for, amongst other things, the UK Energy increasing amounts of research council funding. profile, as evidenced by over £2 million of Research Model. This team is part of the We have developed closed environment research grant income in the last 12 months Environment Politics and Development (EPD) facilities for exploring controls on plant and the high quality of its published material. group. The Department is heavily involved in ecological functioning, while our indoor ground These include leading monographs by developing some of the cross-cutting themes penetrating radar test facility enables us to recognised international leaders in subjects now under consideration in the College. The develop remote methods for sub-surface and spanning the historical geographies of Latin King’s Institute for Urban Sustainability, led soil moisture investigation. America, the regeneration of global cities, by Professor Ekins, is currently based in the The earth surface materials laboratory global ecologies, the carbon economy, and Department. supports the physical and chemical analysis consumption and the environment. The of water, soils, sediments, and other Department considers itself very fortunate to Current and emerging areas of research samples (eg via laser particle sizing and ion have been rehoused in the King’s Building With 30 human geographers in the department chromatography), and a new, bigger laboratory redevelopment which provides a high quality covering a wide range of topics, we have the is currently being constructed. environment for our activities.

September 2008 | Comment |  King’s people

Prize for young 2008 College Fellows and Honorary Fellows researcher Dr Mike Seddon, clinical research fellow in the Department of Cardiology, has won the prize of Young Research Worker of the Year at the annual British Cardiovascular Society conference. He was awarded the prize for his role in the discovery of a fundamental new mechanism that may be crucial for the development of new medicines to tackle high blood pressure, the results of which were recently published in the journal Circulation. Working within a team led by

Professor Ajay Shah and Professor Professor Judith Herrin Dame Vivienne Westwood Professor Susan Standring Phil Chowienczyk, Dr Seddon found that in humans the ‘tone’ of blood vessels – the extent that they’re constricted to maintain healthy blood pressure – is regulated by the enzyme Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase (nNOS). Previously, researchers thought that the control was down to a different form of NOS, Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS). Dr Seddon comments: ‘The particularly novel aspect of the study is that it identifies a fundamental new mechanism in vascular regulation in humans in vivo which may be of significant relevance to diseases such as Professor Brian Holden Reid Mr Geoff Sheperd Rt Revd Dr Thomas Butler hypertension.’ Fifteen Honorary Fellowships Executive of Morgan Stanley King’s College London and ten Fellowships of King’s • Dame Vivienne Westwood, • Professor Leonee Ormond, Honorary lecturer College London were conferred fashion designer, twice named recently retired Professor of in the Graduations Ceremonies British Designer of the Year. Victorian Studies, Department of receives fellowship held in July at the Barbican and English, King’s College London Dr Stephen Keevil, Honorary Senior Southwark Cathedral. The new fellows are: • Professor John Phillips, Professor Lecturer in Imaging Sciences, has • Rt Revd Dr Thomas Butler, of English Law and former Head just been awarded the Fellowship The new Honorary Fellows are: Bishop of Southwark, and of the School of Law, King’s of the European Society for • Mr John McGrath, the first member of the College Council College London Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Chairman of Cicely Saunders • Mr Anthony Evans, recently • Professor Lord Plant of Highfield, and Biology. International and a director of retired Headmaster, King’s Professor of Jurisprudence The award is given for ITV until January this year College School & Political Philosophy, and ‘important contributions to • Mr Geoff Shepherd, Chief • Professor Jonathan Glover, outgoing Head of the School of the Society or to its fields of Executive of the Guy’s and Director of the Centre for Law, King’s College London interest’, and will be bestowed at St Thomas’ Charity Medical Law & Ethics, • Professor Susan Standring, a ceremony during the Society’s • Lord Smith of Finsbury, former King’s College London Head of Department of Anatomy annual congress in Valencia this Secretary of State for Culture, • Professor Judith Herrin, & Human Sciences, King’s October. There have only been Media & Sport (1997-2001), Professor of Late Antique & College London five previous awards of Fellowship founding Director of the Chlore Byzantine Studies, Department • Mr Christopher Wiscarson, by the Society. Leadership programme and of Byzantine & Modern Greek, Alumnus and Chairman of Dr Keevil’s work focuses around Chairman of the London King’s College London the Development Committee, the physics of magnetic resonance Cultural Consortium • Professor Brian Holden Reid, Director of Group IT and imaging (MRI), and he heads • Sir David Walker, former Professor of American History & Operations, Lloyds TSB up the group providing scientific Director of the Bank of England, Military Institutions, [For reasons of space we are unable support to clinical MRI services at and Chairman and Chief Department of War Studies, to print all photos.] Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals.

10 | Comment | September 2008 King’s people

The European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Teaching excellence recognised and Biology is a non-profit Society, which aims to support The winners of the annual King’s Biomedical & Health Sciences Law educational activities and research. Teaching Excellence Awards Dr Barbara Moreland (Biochemistry) Mr Adam Doyle The ESMRMB is open to were announced in May. These physicians, engineers, scientists awards, now in their sixth year, Dental Institute Medicine and other individuals who are provide students from each of the Mr Michael Thomas Dr Alistair Hunter interested in the developments College’s nine Schools of study (Conservative Dentistry) (Anatomy & Human Sciences) or the introduction of magnetic with an opportunity to nominate Dr Sue Peat resonance techniques in the fields staff for the excellence of their Humanities (Cardiovascular Division) of medicine and biology. teaching. This year over 200 staff Dr Peter Adamson (Philosophy) Dr Matthew Smith (Haematology) were nominated for the Award. Professor David Carpenter Schools can either give the (History) Physical Sciences & Scientists win Award to one person or divide it Dr Susan Labelle Engineering between a number of individuals. (English Language & Literature) Dr Nicolas Gold NARSAD awards Congratulations to all Professor John Stokes (Computer Science) Eight scientists from the Institute winners of the 2007-8 Teaching (English Language & Literature) Dr Jean Alexandre (Physics) of Psychiatry have received Excellence Awards, and ‘Young Investigator Awards’ from particularly to Dr Alistair Hunter Florence Nightingale School Social Science & Public Policy NARSAD, a leading charity and Professor David Carpenter of Nursing & Midwifery Dr Michael Goodman (Geography) dedicated to mental health who have received this award Ms Mary Pennell Dr John Mackinlay (War Studies) research. The awards, worth for a second year running and $60,000 each, comprise two year to Dr Barbara Moreland who has Institute of Psychiatry [For reasons of space we are unable grants for research into psychiatric now received the Award on a Professor Edgar Jones to print all photos.] disorders and will be given to: record three occasions. (Psychological Medicine) • Dr Elvira Bramon • Dr Marinos Kyriakopoulos • Dr Julia Lappin • Dr Jonathan Mill • Dr Chiara Nosarti • Dr Kuan-Pin Su • Dr Lucia Valmaggia • Dr Evangelos Vassos NARSAD selected the eight King’s scientists from amongst 220 early-career scientists in the US and 11 other countries to receive funds this year to advance their research. Read more at www.narsad.org

Max Weber

Fellowship Adam Doyle Dr Peter Adamson Dr Jean Alexandre Diego Muro, Lecturer in European Studies, has won a Max Weber Fellowship from the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy. The Max Weber Programme is Europe’s largest post-doctoral programme in the social sciences and is funded by the European Commission. The fellowships are for one or two years and are open to candidates who have received a doctorate in economics, social and political sciences, law or history within the last five years. Over 700 applications were received for this call and 40 awards were made. During his time in Florence, Mary Pennell Dr Nicholas Gold Professor David Carpenter Dr Muro will be mentored by

September 2008 | Comment | 11 King’s people

Professor Donatella Della Porta wanted to explore the sort of over- (Politics Department) and he will HKU Partnership Award privileged but unhappy London start a new research project on david tett families of the type I have worked de-radicalisation. His research will Dr Grainne McAlonan (Department for as a private tutor, giving extra compare the processes that led to of Psychiatry, University of lessons to neglected and over- the disbandment of four terrorist Hong Kong), was the recipient pressured children. groups in Western Europe. of first Hong Kong University ‘These experiences are – KCL Partnership Award, and coupled with my concern over spent a month visiting Professor our surveillance society, with the Professor conducts Declan Murphy at the Institute media fascination with missing of Psychiatry in July. children and the effect of the so- BBC Proms The Partnership Award was called War on Terror. In more George Benjamin, Henry Purcell established to fund one member general terms, the novel is also a Professor of Composition, of staff from each University response to the disillusionment conducted a night at the BBC to spend time at the other among the young in the West, who Proms in August. Professor institution to strengthen links are desperate for an alternative to Benjamin conducted the between the Universities. Dr Grainne McAlonan fear and consumerism.’ Symphony Orchestra in five Dr McAlonan’s research Time Out magazine selected pieces including one of his own. interests are in brain imaging of meeting fellow researchers Dr Miller as one of their three top The BBC Proms Festival is held and preclinical models of autism, face-to-face cannot be novelists of the year and named each year at the Royal Albert Hall and other neurodevelopmental underestimated. The fellowship him as ‘London’s Rising Star between July and September, and disorders. Her visit helped to offered many discussions with 2008’. He was also interviewed by is now in its 114th season. This establish long-term research many researchers in a very the Daily Telegraph about his new concert was the 27th of the 2008 collaborations between her concentrated period. I am now book. Read a synopsis of the book season, out of 76 in total. research group and King’s, and exploring ways to facilitate visits on page 20. A former pupil of Messiaen, to exchange technical expertise. to Hong Kong with my new Professor Benjamin opened On her visit to King’s Dr colleagues at the Institute of with L’Ascension, a sequence of McAlonan said: ‘The value Psychiatry.’ A Choice of Enemies meditations on religious themes. david tett Carolin Widmann then made her Proms debut in Stravinsky’s coolly School of Medicine neo-Classical concerto. Supervisory • Dr Robert Williams, School of Biomedical & Excellence awards Health Sciences RSM honours The Graduate School has announced the results of this Each successful nominee will Professor Eady year’s round of the Supervisory receive a payment of £1,000 into Professor Robin Eady, Emeritus Excellence Awards (formerly their College research account. Professor of Experimental known as Distinguished Commenting on the results, Dermatopathology, St John’s Supervisor Awards). The Professor Vaughan Robinson, Institute of Dermatology, Division awards are designed to recognise Director of the Graduate of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, and reward those postgraduate School said: ‘The quality of has been given an Honorary supervisors who offer their the supervision provided by Fellowship with the Royal Society students outstanding supervision King’s academics is key to the of Medicine for his research into and support. postgraduate experience and to our Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). The overall winner of this year’s achieving the highest qualification EB is a rare genetic disease award was Professor Sarah Cowley, rates of any English University. It characterized by the presence of Florence Nightingale School of also helps us greatly to recruit the extremely fragile skin and recurrent Nursing & Midwifery. The other world’s best students.’ blister formation. winners were: Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman On Professor Eady’s • Professor Gordon Proctor, appointment, Professor David Dental Institute Miller publishes Sir Lawrence Freedman, Professor of Gawkrodger, President of the • Professor Catherine Boyle, War Studies and Vice-Principal Section of Dermatology at the School of Humanities first novel (Research), gave a keynote lecture RSM, said: ‘Professor Eady’s • Dr Loretta Lees, The first novel byD r James Miller, in July to mark the publication contribution has put EB on the School of Social Science & lecturer in the American Studies of his book A Choice of Enemies: medical map and single-handedly Public Policy Department, was published in America Confronts the Middle East. brought EB to the attention of the • Dr Jean-Marc Gallo, July. Lost Boys (Little, Brown) is Professor Freedman delivered public by defining sub-groups and Institute of Psychiatry a gripping apocalyptic fable and the lecture entitled ‘On American refining diagnostics techniques.’ • Professor Robert Plomin, a powerful geopolitical thriller Policy in the Middle East’ to ‘He has developed an Institute of Psychiatry about contemporary society. The a distinguished audience of international framework for the • Professor David Burns, novel has been described as a ambassadors, politicians, policy treatment of patients worldwide – School of Physical Sciences & contemporary Lord of the Flies. makers, strategists, military a service which is recognised as the Engineering Dr Miller comments: ‘The book personnel, College staff, students gold standard.’ • Dr Linda Klavinskis, took about three years to write. I and friends.

12 | Comment | September 2008 Flashback Henry Fawcett Said at the time of his death to have been the most popular man in England after Gladstone, the former King’s student, blind MP and supporter of women’s suffrage is all but forgotten today.

ear Cleopatra’s Needle in marital partnerships of the era. In 1872 they the Victoria Embankment Gardens, published a collection of their articles entitled Nclose to the Strand Campus, is Essays and Lectures on Social and Political a monument which proclaims that it was Subjects, and Millicent later played a leading ‘Erected to the memory of Henry Fawcett by role in the campaign for women’s suffrage his grateful countrywomen’. Almost forgotten and became a public figure in her own right. now, Henry Fawcett (1833-84) was a famous Their daughter Philippa Fawcett was placed blind economist and politician, educated at top in the Cambridge maths tripos in 1890, King’s, who was commemorated by his ‘grateful though women were not officially classed countrywomen’ because of his support for at this time. women’s suffrage and his connection with the Fawcett considered women to be one of suffragist Garratt family. several groups who were unjustifiably denied Fawcett was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, full participation in civic and political life. in the family of a prosperous Whig solicitor He was also sympathetic to trade unions and and local politician. He became a pupil of their request for legal and social acceptance, King’s College School (then at the Strand) in and published The Economic Position of the 1849; was elected a scholar of King’s College British Labourer in 1865. When, however, from the School in 1851, and was a student the threat of competition from cheaper female at the College until October 1852, attending workers was opposed by the Trades Union mathematical lectures with his friend Charles Congress, Fawcett found that his feminism Baron Clarke, later President of the Linnean had compromised his position as an advocate Society. He then went up to Cambridge, where of organised labour, and his relations with the he was gained a first-class degree in maths trade union movement suffered accordingly. and became a Fellow of Trinity Hall. At six feet three inches tall, ‘long of limb and with a Postmaster-General commanding physical presence’, Fawcett was As an independent Liberal MP Fawcett a keen sportsman and rower, and ‘a notable espoused many liberal causes, including the figure among his contemporaries’ (ODNB). abolition of religious tests in universities; the preservation of common land from transfer to Accident private ownership, and the administration of In 1854 Fawcett entered Lincoln’s Inn, but his British India. He had a somewhat fractious career at the bar was cut short by a shooting Memorial to Henry Fawcett in Victoria Embankment relationship with Gladstone, but accepted office accident in 1858 which left him totally and Gardens, sculpted by Mary Grant. as Postmaster-General in 1880, and in this role permanently blind. His father had failed to see he introduced the parcel post; reduced the cost his son and fired at some partridges, sending new academic profession based on merit. His of telegrams and postal orders; improved the two pellets through Henry’s eyes. Henry Manual of Political Economy (modelled on Post Office Savings Bank and opened positions came to terms with his blindness remarkably John Stuart Mill’s Principles) was published in the Post Office to women. quickly, and it did not alter his taste for vigorous in 1863 and he was elected to the Cambridge He died prematurely (of pleurisy) in exercise, nor his plan to enter Parliament. Chair of Political Economy the same year. He November 1884, and his death was followed Since the Law was now closed to him, he built also continued to pursue a political career in by tributes in Parliament, in the press and a political career from an academic base by London and Brighton, where he was elected from the Queen, since he was said to have writing, speaking, and becoming widely known. as MP in 1865, representing Brighton until been the most popular man in England after He became the most famous blind person in 1874 and then Hackney until his death. Gladstone. Leslie Stephen (father of Virginia British public life and advanced the cause of Wolfe, and also an alumnus of King’s) wrote blind people by advocating a royal commission Marriage his biography and the inscription on his on the blind in 1883. He later proved extremely Fawcett’s interest in women’s causes seems memorial in Westminster Abbey, which paid competent as Postmaster-General, but he was to have led him to propose (unsuccessfully) tribute to ‘a memorable example of the power excluded from the Cabinet on the grounds in 1865 to Elizabeth Garrett, later Elizabeth of a brave man to transmute evil into good that his reliance on secretaries would breach Garrett Anderson, the first female physician to and to wrest victory from misfortune’. government confidentiality. train and practise in Britain. In 1867 he married Fawcett returned to Cambridge early in 1859 Elizabeth’s younger sister Millicent (1847– See Lawrence Goldman, ‘Fawcett, Henry and became one of a group seeking to open the 1929, later Dame Millicent Garratt Fawcett), (1833–1884)’, Oxford Dictionary of National University to all sects and classes and build a and theirs became one of the most celebrated Biography, [www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/9218]

September 2008 | Comment | 13 Obituaries

Professor Thomas Pitt His meticulous attention to detail was legendary. Professor Ford 1949-2008 Pitt Ford was credited with superb administration as Tom Pitt Ford, Professor of Director of Education in the Endodontology, Director of merged Dental Institute, (a post Education and Vice Dean of the he held until just before his Dental Institute, and Director of death), as Chair of the Education Institutional and Academic Audit Committee for King’s and his for King’s College London, died last appointment as Director of peacefully at his home in Dorset Institutional and Academic on 17 August, aged 58. Audit for King’s. He has been Professor Pitt Ford was an superbly supported by his wife, alumnus of King’s having qualified Heather, and his three children from Guy’s Hospital Dental throughout his career and will School in 1971 with honours. He be sorely missed. was appointed to the first Chair A memorial service is being in Endodontology at the United held on 3 December at 11.00 in Medical and Dental Schools in Southwark Cathedral. 1997 and became a major world Professor Stephen Challacombe Professor Pitt Ford (left) was presented with the Alumnus Distinguished Service Award in figure in his field. Vice Dean of the Dental Institute March accompanied by Professor Stephen Challacombe.

david tett theoretical studies and computer Professor Janet Professor John modelling. Askham 1941-2008 Thornes, 1940-2008 Professor Thornes returned to the College in 1992 as Head of Professor Janet Askham died Professor John Thornes, the Department of Geography – suddenly on Monday 7 July. She Department of Geography, died a position he held until 1997 – was a much loved on 17 July 2008. One of the most and was pivotal in the growth and and respected colleague who eminent physical geographers of development of the Department. had inspired many with her his generation, Professor Thornes Among numerous other infectious enthusiasm for the had a long history with King’s, achievements, he supervised study of old age. having completed his PhD at the more than 25 PhDs, many of Janet Askham was Professor College in 1966. whom are still carrying out related of Social Gerontology at King’s, His research publications research at universities throughout and was Director of the Institute included 11 major books and more the world. of Gerontology from 1998 to 2004. Health for their Policy Research than 130 journal papers and book His research standing has More recently she was Director Programme on Older People, and chapters covering areas from field been recognised in numerous of Research at the Picker Institute a member of Ofcom’s Advisory observation and monitoring to honours and awards. Europe, where she lead research Committee on Older and Disabled on the experiences and needs of People. She was a sociologist patients as users of health and whose research career covered British Army and, although social care services. topics spanning the lifecourse. Myles McDermott having no formal accountancy Professor Askham was also Professor Askham’s obituary Tempany FKC 1924-2008 qualifications, he moved up scientific adviser to the UK was published in The Times on through Accounts to become government’s Department of 1 August 2008. A memorial service was held in Head of Administration and the College Chapel at the Strand Bursar before succeeding in June for Myles Tempany FKC, Hugh Patterson as College worker and trade union rights. College Secretary of King’s Secretary. He was Vice-Principal Professor Brian He was the author of a number from 1983-85. The service also for External Affairs from 1986 Bercusson 1947-2008 of important books on British remembered the lives of Bill to 1988. and European Labour Law, Euden FKC (1917-2008), Bursar Myles Tempany was a member Professor Brian Bercusson, who including and European Labour of King’s 1960-76 and John of the King’s College Council, died suddenly on 17 August, was Law (1996), a second edition of McCormack FKC (1926-2008), of the Delegacy of the School of appointed as Professor of European which was completed before his Registrar of King’s 1969-82. Medicine & Dentistry and of the Social and Labour Law in 2000, death. As well as being the pre- Myles McDermott Tempany governing body of the University having held positions previously eminent figure in European rose from a clerk in the Accounts of Hertfordshire. at Cambridge, Brunel, QMC, the Labour Law, Professor Bercusson Department to Vice-Principal He was elected a Fellow of European University Institute was actively involved in many of King’s during a 40-year King’s in 1975, in 1986 received (Florence), and Manchester. of the recent EU political career, serving under six different the University of Texas Health Professor Bercusson was controversies as a senior adviser principals. Science Center President’s widely admired for his rich and to the European Trade Union Born in County Mayo, he Award, and was appointed OBE imaginative scholarship, and for Confederation. came to work at King’s in 1948 in 1984. his passionate commitment to KD Ewing after three years’ service in the Stephen Harrow FKC

14 | Comment | September 2008 Around the College

Strand: £20m redevelopment david tett A major refurbishment of the top Estates, comments: ‘This second three floors of the 1970s Strand phase shows how tired 1970s space Building has been successfully can be transformed into sustainable completed. Designed to the flexible modern academic highest standards, the academic accommodation for the 21st environment has been substantially century. Along with Phase One, improved, access enhanced it sets a quality benchmark for and innovative features included to future phases.’ ensure energy efficiency. A number of pioneering, environmentally-friendly features have been adopted, including: Modern accommodation a new over-cladding screen in for the 21st century the form of a folded, perforated, brass ‘veil’ hung outside the building to reduce solar gain; This project represents the movement detectors for lighting second phase of the master and for heating/cooling, and the plan for the development of the installation of new glazing to Strand Campus and included a moderate noise and pollution. new language laboratory for the There is also individual Modern Language Centre, and the climatic control in the offices with re-roofing of King’s Building north virtual metering enabling energy range, representing an investment consumption to be tracked in every of more than £20 million. office, so it can be seen how the Ian Caldwell, Director of building is performing. The 1970s Strand Building has been refurbished for the 21st century.

Could you enter the Lion’s Den? King’s and

King’s College London Business encouraged from across the board include acquiring business and the City and the Graduate School including products, services, social commercial skills and awareness have announced the launch enterprise, technology, creative, which will enhance career On Tuesday 30 September 2008 the of the 2008-9 Business Plan health and lifestyle ventures which prospects. The programme Principal will host the fourth City Competition with a first prize may or may not be related to your will include business training Alumni Networking Reception. of £5,000. research or study programme. and support from business This event is an opportunity for This competition is aimed at Lack of an idea at this early stage mentors. alumni working in industries early career researchers (post is no barrier to competing as there For further information visit such as financial services, law doctoral staff), PhDs and masters will be time to develop an idea www.kcl.ac.uk/business/bussplan and consultancy to meet new students at King’s. Business over the autumn term. or email harriet.robinson@ business contacts and expand ideas (real or hypothetical) are Benefits to participants kcl.ac.uk their networks. As well as hearing a College update from the Principal, guests will also hear from guest speaker Alumni weekend goes down a storm alumnus Sanjev Warna-Kula-

sam strickland Suriya (King’s, Law, 1986), Over 400 alumni, staff and their time to contribute to Partner at Slaughter and May. students gathered for the lectures, give tours of the campus Mr Warna-Kula-Suriya will give Alumni Weekend, the annual and show alumni around their a short talk on ‘Structured reunion event, in June. Former departments. Finance and the Credit Crunch’. staff and students of all ages This year’s event focused As with previous receptions, and disciplines returned to particularly on engineering this event will be held in a special the College for the programme and geography alumni, and venue in the heart of the City at of events, held at various venues thanks to expert staff in those the Armourers’ Hall. The Hall is including Southwark Cathedral, areas, they were able to home to the Worshipful Company the British Film Institute (BFI) attend a number of lectures, of Armourers and Brasiers and the Strand Campus, with for example, the impact and is steeped in history. graduation years ranging from of the Olympic Games on For further information about 1946 to 2007. London and see demonstrations this event please contact Sally Ford There were also a number from the classes of 1983 and 1958. within the Engineering on 020 7848 4342 or email sally. of 25- and 50-year reunions Many King’s academics gave up Department. [email protected]

September 2008 | Comment | 15 Around the College

Art for the Planet competition

Dr IgnaTius Tavares, Department of Surgery (Cancer Division), and Ms Yi Yang have been announced as the winners of the first ever Annual Art Competition. Dr Tavares was the winner of the staff category, whileY i Yang won the student prize. This subject of this year’s competition, which was organised by the Estates & Facilities Directorate with the support of KCLSU, was ‘Art for the Planet’, with the theme of climatic change, the impact on the planet and imaginative ways of solving it. The competition was judged by Sally Taylor, Director of the London Centre for Arts and The winning entries: right, student winner Yi Yang’s entry and, below, Dr Tavares’s winning Cultural Enterprise, Michaela President of KCLSU 2007-8. piece. Crimmin, who runs the Arts Each of the winners received and Ecology programme at the £500, and Miss Yang also won a Royal Society of Art, the President’s Award, which will be Principal, and Adam Farley, a KCLSU event pass for a year. News in brief Top journal Editor. Alison While, Professor of The International Journal of Community Nursing & Associate Joint working with BUiD Nursing Studies (IJNS), whose Dean (External Relations), and editorial office is hosted by the Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, The Vice Chancellor of the Florence Nightingale School Dean of FNSNM, also hold British University in Dubai of Nursing & Midwifery positions on the journal as editor (BUiD), Dr Abdullah M (FNSNM), has recently been and a member of the editorial Alshamsi, and Professor Rick rated as the highest impact board respectively. Trainor, the Principal of King’s, nursing journal in the world signed a significant agreement by the 2007 Thomson Impact Patient Safety Centre of cooperation between the two Factors. The journal, published The King’s Patient Safety & institutions in July. by Elsevier, is the first British Service Quality Research journal to be ranked in the top Centre, was opened in June. five, holding a position of second The centre, funded by the A significant agreement place in the overall nursing National Institute for Health list of 46 journals. Professor Research will bring together The agreement concerns the Ian Norman, Deputy Head of NHS professionals with new MSc course to be offered by FNSNM, is the Editor-In-Chief, academic experts from a wide BUiD, in association with King’s, while Professor Peter Griffiths, range of backgrounds to focus in Construction Law and Dispute Director of the National Nursing on investigating ways to Resolution. It is hoped that the Research Unit, is Executive improve the care of patients. first intake of students will begin in Professor Rick Trainor (front right) and 2009 with numbers of around 15 Dr Abdullah M Alshamsi (front left) sign initially before rising to 30 or more. the agreement of cooperation. At the signing ceremony the Principal welcomed Dr Alshamsi has been offering seminars in MLC commended for course to King’s, expressing the privilege construction law through the The Modern Language Centre the MLC, was presented and honour it was to be associated Dubai International Arbitration (MLC) was highly commended with the certificate by Sir with BUiD and this new course, Centre since March of 2007. for its İQue Alivio! Spanish for Trevor McDonald. The Award which fitted well with the strategic Louise Barrington, Director of Medics blended learning course is a Europe-wide initiative, aims of the College. In response the Centre said: ‘We are delighted at the prestigious European Award supported by the European Dr Alshamsi said the MSc gave that BUiD has chosen the Centre for Languages 2008, which took Commission to promote best great prospects to his university. of Construction Law & Dispute place at the New Connaught practice in innovative and The Centre of Construction Resolution at King’s as its partner Rooms in July. effective Modern Language Law & Dispute Resolution in this exciting project.’ Dominique Borel, Director of learning.

16 | Comment | September 2008 Student news

Showcasing the best of graduate talent

The first Graduate Research and their supervisors.’ Showcase Day took place in July, During the event the best highlighting the best of the work final year graduate research of the graduate students based student, from each of the 15 in the Schools of Medicine and research divisions which make Biomedical & Health Sciences. up the two Schools, presented Five hundred people, including their final PhD projects – all of College staff and students, which Professor Lechler described representatives from NHS Trust as ‘outstanding’. Each presenter partners, industry, funding bodies spoke for 15 minutes and took and other universities, attended questions after their talk. the inaugural event which took A further highlight of the place at Guy’s Campus. day was a keynote lecture In his introduction Professor by Professor Sir John Savill, Robert Lechler, Vice-Principal Head of the College of Medicine (Health), said: ‘This day and Veterinary Medicine and exemplifies the dynamism that Vice-Principal of the University characterises our vibrant graduate of Edinburgh, who spoke on research community. It gives us clearance of cells dying by the opportunity to celebrate the apoptosis and regulation of work of all our graduate students inflammation. From left: Seema Patel, Professor Sir John Savill and Sergio Uribe-Arancibia at Guy’s.

journey by fellow King’s student Student wins Max Tim Catton. The pair completed Nomads to new heights the journey in eight days, and Perutz prize averaged 117 miles a day. Sophie Farooque at the MRC So far, Aran and Tim have and Asthma UK Centre in Allergic raised £6,000 which will go to Mechanisms of Asthma, was a the Aran Kapila Memorial Fund. runner-up in the annual Medical The fund will be used to support Research Council Max Perutz a number of social and medical science writing competition causes, including purchasing a with her paper on understanding high frequency oscillatory aspirin-sensitive respiratory, ventilator for the intensive entitled ‘The cold that never care unit at the Royal Berkshire goes away’. Hospital where Aman was As well as receiving a £500 cared for. prize, Sophie’s paper was also published in The Guardian on 29 July. Furthermore all shortlisted Student wins BDS entrants attended a writing masterclass with Ruth Padel, Gold Medal Students from the King’s highest freestanding mountain in prize-winning poet and chair of the Nikki Tanna, who recently Nomads Society undertook the world, and it took the team UK Poetry Society, and Alok Jha. completed her undergraduate the challenge to reach Uhuru, six days to complete the 5,895 Sophie was presented with her dental programme, has won the the highest peak of Mount metre-climb, during which time prize at an award ceremony on 2008 University of London Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, in July they had to overcome bouts of 23 July at the National Portrait BDS Gold Medal. This is the on the first expedition of its kind altitude sickness, as well as facing Gallery. seventh year running that a by the group. the elements. graduate of the Dental Institute Final year medical students Although not all the group has been awarded this highly Kathy Duong and Alexander were able to reach the summit 1,000 mile cycle in prestigious prize. Kumar, led the team of six due to altitude sickness, all felt The medal is awarded annually which also included Aekta that they had reached, and even memory of brother to the candidate who most Davda (second year medicine), surpassed, their own personal Geography student Aran Kapila distinguishes him or herself in Charlene Malik (second year summits. On her experience, cycled the 1,002 miles from Land’s the final BDS examination in the computer sciences), Angus Hill Aekta says: ‘This expedition End to John O’Groats in July in two London dental schools. (first year medicine) and Ignacio has inspired me. I think each memory of his younger brother Nikki will be presented with Gomez Urquiza (international year I will try one adventurous Aman, who died unexpectedly the Gold Medal along with a environmental studies, Masters holiday to do something like this in January following a brain cheque for £500 at the Dental student). and then leave one holiday for haemorrhage. Institute’s annual prize giving Mount Kilimanjaro is the relaxing afterwards.’ Aran was accompanied on his ceremony in November.

September 2008 | Comment | 17 Media watch

Olympic air Dangerous job Animal testing Reverend relative

Frank Kelly, Professor of Geography PhD student Professor Roger Morris, Arthur Burns, Professor in Environmental Health, Helen Milne was one of three Head of the School of Modern British History, discussed levels of air pollution women selected to take part Biomedical & Health Sciences, showed the actress Patsy in Beijing on the BBC Ten in the Channel 4 programme was interviewed on Radio 4’s Kensit church records on O’clock news. Professor Kelly Dangerous Jobs for Girls in PM and BBC Radio Scotland, her ancestors’ parish in was also interviewed on Radio which she had to work with and discussed the issues Bethnal Green on BBC1’s 4’s The World Tonight, BBC loggers in Canada felling trees. surrounding the rise in the Who do you think you are? London’s Danny Baker Show number of animals used for The Church Times previewed and quoted in The Sunday scientific experimentation. the programme and discussed Times and BBC News Online. Psychotic smokers the Church of England clergy database that Professor Dr Marta di Forti, Institute Women bishops Burns has project managed Drug cheats of Psychiatry, discussed her and that is now available online. research in The Daily Telegraph, The debate at the General Professor David Cowan, Director The Guardian, The Daily Mail, Synod about the ordination of the Drug Control Centre, Metro and BBC Online that of women bishops was the Brain development spoke to the BBC London smoking skunk greatly increases subject of an interview for News about drug testing on the risk of psychosis. the Dean of King’s College Dr Richard Wingate, Department athletes ahead of the Beijing London, Revd Professor Richard of Anatomy & Human Olympic Games. The Drug Burridge, on Radio 4’s Sunday Sciences, was interviewed Control Centre was also Nicotine benefits programme. about his work leading a featured in The Guardian. team of medical researchers Nicotine can be good for the investigating the brain on brain and its effects could Bad medicine Radio 4’s Science in the Making. Oil addiction form the basis for new drugs to stave off Alzheimer’s disease David Armstrong, Professor The Government’s policy researchers from King’s have of Medicine & Sociology, IVF access on fuel costs and possible found. The research was joined a discussion on the alternatives was explored by reported The Times, The efficacy of the medical An article in The Daily BBC1’s Panorama programme. Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, profession since Hippocrates Telegraph on personal lifestyle Paul Ekins, Professor of Energy Daily Record, The Herald, The on BBC Radio 4 Thinking choice and whether it should & Environment Policy, was Scotsman, Metro and BBC Allowed. be a reason to deny someone interviewed. News Online. treatment on the NHS included comment from Douglas Bader Peter Braude, Professor of Lunches unwrapped Bad ballots Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Who downed Douglas Bader Professor Braude also Channel 4’s Dispatches Professor Anatol Lieven, Chair was the subject of a Channel commented on whether programme investigated the of International Relations & 4 documentary in which Philip lifestyle should affect IVF British sandwich industry Terrorism Studies, discussed Sabin, Professor of Strategic access on BBC News Online. and revealed what really is whether bad elections were Studies, took part. in the nation’s popular lunch. better than not having elections Tom Sanders, Professor of on Radio 4’s Analysis: Bad HIV vaccine Nutrition & Dietetics, Ballots. Professor Lieven Right to life discussed health implications also wrote articles for the Professor Barry Peters of sandwiches that were high International Herald Tribune on Penney Lewis, Professor of Law, was interviewed on in salt and fat. Iran, and the Financial Times spoke to BBC Radio Wales Radio 4’s Today programme on Pakistan and South Ossetia. on the legal issues involved about a vaccine he is testing in a case of a girl who has an which is designed to give Dementia rethink incurable brain disorder. HIV patients a prolonged Cancer survivors break from their regular The extent of dementia in medication without side the developing world has The number of cancer survivors Overcrowding issues effects. been vastly underestimated in the UK has hit two million because the standard diagnostic – a big increase on previous Professor Mike Hough, Director technique misses cognitive estimates – researchers from of the Institute for Criminal See www.kcl.ac.uk/headlines impairments in poorly educated the King’s College London Thames Policy Research, discussed the for the latest media coverage people, said Martin Prince, Cancer Registry have found. As problem of overcrowding in or on Campus noticeboards. Professor of Epidemiological reported in The Daily Telegraph, prisons in England and Wales Comment is keen to know of Psychiatry, in the New Scientist, The Sun, The Daily Record and on BBC Radio Wales Good any staff featured in the media, who has a new method. The Herald. Morning Wales. email [email protected]

18 | Comment | September 2008 Research

Talking like a manager Young academic anxiety Researchers from the and linguistic norms of the job Department of Education and interview disadvantage this group. Professional Studies – Celia There is a lack of shared Roberts, Reader in Applied understanding about the purpose Linguistics, and Research of the interview and expected Associates Sarah Campbell responses which leads to and Yvonne Robinson – have frequent misalignments between published a new report for interviewer and candidate. the Department of Work and The research aimed to identify Pensions entitled ‘Talking like a some of the wider organisational manager: promotion interviews, cultures and practices which may language and ethnicity’. act as a barrier to promotion. This research is a follow-up Whilst the report found that to the Talk on trial study (DWP there were many good practices, Research Report No. 344). it also showed that there are ‘Talking like a manager’ enduring barriers to ethnic A new study by Dr Louise Archer, across the UK, Dr Archer found confirms the earlier finding that minority groups progressing into Reader in Education Policy high levels of anxiety over there is a ‘linguistic penalty’ in management positions. Studies at King’s, has revealed academics’ ability to ‘perform’. promotion interviews against Recommendations are given that many young academics are Interviewees revealed instances those ethnic minority candidates on the need to critique the feeling a pressure to perform where ‘non-active researchers’ had who were born abroad. Despite current status of interviews, on and ‘fit in’ in higher education their contracts revoked, and that well-meaning attempts to design the training of interviewers and institutions. ‘success’ is shaped and constrained objective and fair interviews, the preparation of candidates for The paper ‘Younger academics’ by structural locations of ‘race’/ the taken-for-granted cultural the selection process. constructions of ‘authenticity’, ethnicity, social class, gender ‘success’ and professional and age. identity’, published in Studies in Equally, the paper highlights Higher Education, contributes that academics who experienced to ongoing work regarding the greatest doubts about their High soy diet good for the heart contemporary academic identities. ‘authenticity’ as academic writers In a series of interviews with were those from working class Dr Wendy Hall and Professor Tom young academics from universities backgrounds. Sanders, Nutritional Sciences Division, and Professor Phil Chowienczyk, Cardiovascular Sciences Division, have for the Managing hospital infections first time shown that meals containing soya isoflavones Academics from the Florence improves the ability of blood Nightingale School of Nursing vessels to dilate in response & Midwifery at King’s in to stress. collaboration with the Royal This finding confirms an earlier College of Nursing have compiled report from the group published a report on managing infection in in Circulation which found hospitals. that infusing the soy isoflavone The report, (sponsored by genistein into an artery in the the Royal College of Nursing) forearm improves the capacity of (FMD). This measures the ability ‘The impact of organisation and the artery to dilate by increasing of the main artery (brachial) in management factors on infection the availability of the gas nitric their arm to dilate in response to control in hospitals: a scoping It was found that as with oxide which causes the blood stress induced blood flow before review’ identified evidence on risks at patient and procedure vessel wall to relax and protect it and at four and six hours after the organisational and management levels they cannot always be from damage in a manner similar meal. Measurements were also factors affecting infection control eliminated or totally avoided, to oestrogen. made of the levels of isoflavones in in general hospital settings. but appropriate assessment will The latest study published blood and nitric oxide metabolites. The authors, Professors Peter allow targeting of action to protect in the Journal of Nutrition was Maintaining a regular dietary Griffiths, Anna Renz and Anne patients. Factors such as strong carried out on 22 healthy, non- intake of isoflavones over a number Marie Rafferty identified a leadership, appropriate staffing smoking postmenopausal women. of years in postmenopausal number of key findings through levels and better management They received test meals on two women could potentially slow the the analysis, citing organisational of staff workloads should be just occasions containing either the development of atherosclerosis characteristics that should be as important as hand hygiene extracted isoflavones or placebo. but large, robustly designed, considered ‘risk factors’ for and environmental cleanliness in Measurements were made by a randomized controlled dietary infection including high patient the battle to reduce healthcare non-invasive ultrasound technique intervention trials are needed to turnover, staff turnover, and low associated infections (HCAIs), called flow-mediated dilatation confirm this. staff morale. such as MRSA and C difficile.

September 2008 | Comment | 19 Books

Three favourite... Restaurants on www.tastelondon.co.uk As recommended by Laura Clayton, History Department Manager, Strand Campus

Chowki, 2-3 denman Street This award-winning Indian restaurant in the heart of the West End is an absolute gem. There are monthly changing menus which each introduce three regions of India, allowing you to choose dishes by region, community and tribe. The food The People’s University: Spying on the Nuclear Bear: Lost Boys Spying on the is incredibly authentic and is 150 Years of the University Anglo-American Intelligence Nuclear Bear: Anglo- exceptional value for money. of London and its External and the Soviet Bomb American intelligence and The restaurant itself is modern Students the soviet bomb but at the same time homely and sociable. Christine Kenyon-Jones, Dr Michael Goodman, James Miller, Department of Department of External Relations Department of War Studies American Studies le garrick, 10 garrick Street and Department of English This French restaurant sells possibly the best steak in In 1858 the University of London From 1945 until 1958 an After the oil company that employs London! There is a restaurant was the fi rst to open its degrees awareness of the Soviet nuclear Arthur Dashwood fails to protect at ground fl oor level as well to any (male) student who could weapons programme was vital him from a kidnap attempt in as outside seating, perfect for take them, regardless of where he to Anglo-American intelligence Baghdad, he returns to London. a drink in the summer and to had studied. More than a century and military planning. Drawing But everything is not as it should watch the world go by, situated before the advent of the Open on oral testimony, previously be. Having quit Saudi Arabia for as it is in the centre of Covent University, the University of unseen personal papers, and fear of terrorist attack, Arthur Garden. Alternatively you London off ered ‘external’ students newly released archival fi nds that danger is closer to home. can eat in the cozy downstairs the opportunity to continue to information, this book provides Arthur’ young son Timothy is restaurant and choose from a earn a living while studying, to a comprehensive account of struggling in the hostile terrain of simple but delicious a la carte study privately and to take exams British and American his new public school. Bullied by menu with daily changing without coming to London. intelligence on the Soviet nuclear other pupils and neglected by his specials. Try the award-winning This book illustrates the huge weapons programme. preoccupied parents, he withdraws ‘Château Le Gravat’. infl uence the University of London The book charts new territory, into a fantasy world, a hybrid External System has had on revising traditional accounts of of computer-generated guerrilla navajo Joe, 34 King Street higher education. It demonstrates Anglo-American nuclear relations warzone and exotic dreams of Located just off the main piazza the University’s role in founding and intelligence cooperation. his time in Saudi Arabia, a place in Covent Garden, this is a great several Commonwealth universities It reveals how intelligence was where boys can fi ght and escape place to go for cocktails, with in the 20th century, and describes collected: the roles played by their teachers and families. one of the largest collections of the massive expansion of this defectors (such as ‘Icarus’, an As one middle-class boy from tequila outside Mexico. Navajo system of higher education East German with a soft spot for Timothy’s school and then another Joe’s occupies three levels, with worldwide in the last 20 years. ghoulash), aerial reconnaissance, disappears, so evidence emerges a bar and DJ in the basement, a There is a special study of the and how novel forms of espionage of an extreme and disturbing cocktail bar and restaurant on London External System’s role (including the Murmansk fur hat) rejection of the adult world. the ground fl oor, and a loft area in enabling thousands of British were perfected to penetrate the And then it is Timothy’s turn to and catwalk. The staff are very prisoners of war to take exams Soviet nuclear programme. disappear. Haunted by memories friendly and it’s in an excellent in the camps during both world Spying on the Nuclear Bear of post-Saddam Baghdad, Arthur location for pre-theatre dinner. wars, with many examples of the will be of interest to students of embarks on a terrifying search remarkable studies undertaken in intelligence, the development of for his son, one that will reveal Let us know your three favourite these challenging circumstances. nuclear weapons, cold war history his own complicity in the brutal things related to a Campus. Email University of London and Anglo-American relations. consequences of Western power. [email protected] External System Stanford University Press Little Brown

Comment is the College’s regular newsletter, edited by the Public Relations Department and designed by the Corporate Design Unit | Comment is printed on paper produced with 80 per cent recovered fi bre| Articles are welcomed from all members of the College, but please note that the Editor reserves the right to amend articles | Copy for the next issue can be sent to the Internal Communications Offi cer, Public Relations Department (ext 3075), James Clerk Maxwell Building, Waterloo Campus, or emailed to [email protected] by 30 September.

20 | Comment | September 2008