UCLNEWS Issue 05 Volume 02 20 April 2005

NIMR relocates to UCL 1 OFFA approves access agreement 1 Observatory fundraiser 2 Bartlett widening participation 2 Study into minority suicides 2 Campus Questionnaire 3 Reassessing Cleopatra 3 Streets and patterns 3 Centre for the Evolution of Cultural Diversity 4 Provost’s moustache 4 UCL tops HEFCE funding 4 Lighthill Institute launched 4 People 5 In the News 6 Everest expedition 6 Defeating deafness prize 6 Future of the University of 7 Dictionary of scientific quotations 7 Alumni Matter 7 Public View 8 Shows and Exhibitions 8 NIMR relocation UCL has won its bid for the new National Institute for Medical Research

In February 2005, the Medical Research Council for the NIMR, although the institute is also institutions. (MRC) and UCL announced the unanimous supported by other sources including medical The NIMR will benefit from its new proximity to decision by the MRC Council that UCL is to be research charities, the EU, commerce and the many major hospitals associated with UCL, the preferred partner for the development of the industry. NIMR has an international reputation as along with the enormous investments in basic full Science and Business Case for the renewal a centre of excellence in areas such as infection science and translational medical science that of the National Institute for Medical Research and immunity, developmental biology and UCL has made in recent years. In turn, UCL (NIMR) in February. This means that NIMR will neuroscience, underpinned by the disciplines will reap the rewards of a partnership with an now relocate to the main UCL area; an exciting of structural and cell biology and genetics. institution of exceptional reputation in major development that will serve as an opportunity to Considerable synergies already exist between areas of biomedical research. build on the outstanding, world-class medical the two institutions and close physical proximity “We shall develop a new relationship research at both NIMR and UCL. will enable extant collaborations to be expanded with NIMR that not only builds on our existing The UK MRC is a national organisation and new partnerships to be developed. collaborations, but also breaks new ground for funded by the UK taxpayer that promotes UCL, together with its associated hospital both institutions. UCL will do everything in its research into all areas of medical and related trusts, offers an environment within which power to ensure the relocation proceeds as science with the aims of improving the health fundamental biological, biomedical and clinical smoothly and as quickly as possible to enable and quality of life of the UK public and research are integrated, and in which translation everyone involved to pursue their research contributing to the wealth of the nation. Its into advances in diagnostics, therapeutics and activities with the minimum disruption.” research institute, the NIMR, comprises of four patient care is the driver as well as the outcome major research groups, containing 19 divisions of such research. and over 200 scientists, 100 postdoctoral UCL’s President and Provost, Professor fellows and around 100 postgraduate students. Malcolm Grant, said: “This promises to be a The MRC is the main source of research funding fertile marriage between two powerful

New bursaries on OFFA

The government’s university regulator, the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), has approved UCL’s access agreement, which sets out how the university proposes to help students who might be deterred for financial reasons from applying to university. The university has stretched far beyond the minimum level of £300 per year set by OFFA, with some students eligible to receive £5,000 in support. From 2006/2007 onwards, UK/EU students at UCL will be charged a tuition fee of £3,000 for all undergraduate programmes. Payment of tuition fees will be deferred until after graduation and government-funded Higher Education Maintenance Grants (HEMG) will be introduced. In addition, all UCL students receiving HEMGs will receive a non-refundable maintenance bursary worth at least 50 per cent of the HEMG. The bursaries are specifically targeted at students from lower income households. However, the agreement states that UCL is also keen to support those with relatively modest incomes who are often overlooked by schemes of this kind. UCL will also offer enhanced bursaries to students pursuing certain programmes who could receive a bursary worth 100 per cent of their HEMG, or double their UCL bursary, whichever is greater. It is anticipated that 45 per cent of UCL’s UK undergraduate students will benefit from the bursary scheme. Prospective students will be able to determine before they apply what they would receive from UCL if their applications were successful. A new financial matters publication will also be sent to all newly enrolled students. For a link to more information about the bursary scheme, see UCL Newslink at www.ucl.ac.uk/news Your news

Story suggestions for future issues of UCL News are welcome; the deadline for the next issue – to be published on 18 May 2005 – is 2 May 2005. Contact details and a link to guidelines on suggesting story ideas are provided on the back page

The observatory at Mill Hill New study Reach for the stars aims to prevent An event at UCL’s Dr Peter Thomas, the Observatory Observatory has marked a new stage in the Manager, explained: “We aim to purchase a one suicides in Campaign for UCL in March 2005. A ‘starlight metre alt-azimuth mounted reflecting telescope. reception’ held at the observatory in Mill Hill, This would be the largest operational telescope North London raised the profile of the in Britain today and has the potential to facilitate minority groups observatory’s development drive to UCL’s research quality observations.” alumni and friends. The starlight reception introduced the need Founded in 1925 through the gift of a for the telescope to a mixed group of business telescope, the observatory is part of the leaders, UCL alumni with an interest in A joint study between academics at UCL and Astrophysics Group of UCL’s Department of astronomy, contacts from professional and Queen Mary, University of London, will aim to Physics & Astronomy, providing a vital teaching amateur astronomy circles and local Mill Hill reduce the rates of black and ethnic minority resource to undergraduate students. The residents. Attendees had a chance to look at the suicides in this country. The review is the largest observatory also offers a service to its local current equipment in the observatory, and guest ever to be conducted in the UK, and will provide community with school and special group visits, speaker and UCL alumnus Professor Richard greater insight into the subject. and regular open evenings where the public can Ellis (now Director of Caltech Optical Around 5,000 people commit suicide in visit and use the facilities. Observatories in the USA) talked about the UK every year, and the government has set However, the range of telescopes at the developments in astronomy over recent years, a target of reducing this figure by one fifth by observatory will soon no longer be sufficient to emphasising the importance that the telescope 2010. As part of this initiative, the Department meet the needs of modern astronomy students, would have as a teaching resource. “The of Health with the National Institute of Mental explained Nina Caton from UCL’s Development reception went very well, and there was a great Health in England (NIMHE) has produced a & Corporate Communications Office: “In order deal of interest in the project and enthusiasm for National Suicide Prevention Strategy. for UCL to provide the training needed for future the development of the observatory,” explained Despite these measures by the careers in commercial environments, the Nina. “The only issue with the ‘starlight’ government, very little is known about suicide observatory needs to install a new professional reception was the fact that it was a very cloudy rates among different ethnic groups. It is unclear grade telescope, which will cost around night and the stars were not visible!” who is at risk, and why. This is partly due to the £500,000.” To find out more about the Campaign for fact that racial and cultural details are not With teaching observatories closing across UCL and the observatory, see UCL Newslink at recorded on death certificates in the UK. the UK due to a lack of funding, the new www.ucl.ac.uk/news In support of the national strategy, this telescope will help to ensure that this remains research will draw on a number of sources to one of the best facilities within the UK, said Nina: identify groups that are at increased risk, and “But unless the observatory at Mill Hill can offer develop culturally specific approaches to reduce up-to-date facilities, it is at real longer term risk.” the rates of suicide in those groups. UCL psychiatrist Dr Kwame McKenzie is conducting the study with Queen Mary’s Professor Kamaldeep Bhui. Dr McKenzie is an expert in mental illness among different Widening participation cultural groups and has published a number of papers on the subject. He said: “The UK’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy is one of the best in the world. It is built on evidence, in architecture but the evidence of who is at risk and what works to decrease the risk is lacking for ethnic minority groups. This project should plug that A new research project by UCL’s Bartlett School applicants, their educational qualifications and knowledge gap.” of Architecture will investigate issues of widening backgrounds. Led by Ms Susan Ware and Mr To find out more about the study, see participation in architectural education. The two Ben Campkin, the project will look at three UCL Newslink at www.ucl.ac.uk/news year study – jointly funded by and cohorts of undergraduate Bartlett students, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) – tracking them from their first year to the will examine the selection processes of completion of their degree. architecture schools and question who succeeds The researchers will also examine how in architectural education and why. decisions are made at interview and review With recent research from the RIBA and relevant work in other professions, such as the the Commission for Architecture & the Built introduction of standardised admissions tests. Environment (CABE) highlighting poor minority Mr Campkin said: “Architecture is still very much representation in the architectural profession, the a privileged profession. This study will ask how study will investigate a number of themes diversity amongst applicants to architecture relating to access and success in architectural courses might be encouraged in the future.” degree courses, such as the profile of

02UCLNEWS Campus The Virtuous Scholar Questionnaire

Dr Marco Federighi is Sub-Dean and Faculty Tutor in UCL’ s Faculty of Engineering Sciences

Dr El Daly

What is your greatest extravagance? Dining out

With which historical figure do you most identify? Samuel Pepys The modern perception of the legendary emphasises that the fascination on the part Egyptian Queen Cleopatra as a beautiful and of the Arab writers was with the conducts and What has been your most memorable experience at UCL? Can’t think of any manipulative diva is being challenged by a new achievements of the Queen rather than with study which suggests that Cleopatra was in fact her appearance.” What is your claim to fame? My record for cutting corners to get things done speaks far more respected for her intellectual prowess Dr El Daly continues: “The most interesting for itself than for her physical beauty. In his new book aspect of her image is that of a scholar who Egyptology: The Missing Millennium. Ancient made significant contributions in the fields of Where would you most like to live? California Egypt in Medieval Arabic Writings published alchemy, medicine and mathematics. She is by UCL Press, Dr Okasha El Daly (Institute of shown conducting courtly seminars attended What is the biggest threat facing humanity? Humanity Archaeology), presents substantial new evidence by scientists from different fields, at which she from studies of a neglected thousand-year period contributed to the discussions as a polymathic What is the last book you read? Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic of Arab scholarship which uncovers a Cleopatra scientist.” Friendship by John Meacham in stark contrast to the popular image of a The book examines a hitherto neglected hedonistic, deceiving and over-ambitious ruler. period in the study of Egyptology, from the What is your greatest fear? No longer seeing myself clearly The Arabic sources newly uncovered by Dr Muslim annexation of Egypt in the 7th Century El Daly often refer to Cleopatra as “The Virtuous CE until the Ottoman conquest in the 16th What characteristic do you find most attractive in other people? A ‘can do’ attitude Scholar,” and cite scientific books written by her century. The commonly held view among as the definitive works in their field. These European scholars was that there was no If the world was due to end tomorrow how would you spend your last half hour? sources focus on her many talents but make not body of knowledge of Ancient Egypt, outside With Elizabeth (my wife) one reference to sexuality or seductive power, the context of European literature, from the instead admiring her scientific knowledge as a Classical to the Enlightenment periods. What is your favourite part of UCL? The Housman Room scholar, and her administrative ability. “It is quite clear that the study by “One remarkable omission from all the medieval Egyptians and Arabs, its language, Where did you last go on holiday? Inverness medieval Arabic sources that I have studied is religion, monuments and general history any reference to Cleopatra’s seductive physical flourished long before the earliest European What is the most important lesson life has taught you? That Talleyrand war maxim: beauty,” writes Dr El Daly. “This absence perhaps Renaissance contact,” writes Dr El Daly. “Et surtout, Messieurs, pas de zèle!” (Gentlemen, above all, don’t be too keen)

What is your idea of perfect happiness? A sunny afternoon, Elizabeth, the cats and me

What is your favourite film and why? The Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman. Because it reminds me that one should never give up Streets and Patterns What single thing would most improve your life? A radical change of job

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Doing the 12th in 3

For what cause would you die? Cause, none. For my country, yes

Who at UCL most influenced you? My former head of department, John Midwinter

What makes you depressed? People who make things unnecessarily difficult

What do very few people know about you? That would be telling

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My reluctance to take risks

What is your favourite building and why? UCL’s Henry Morley Building – because of the garden setting Dr Stephen Marshall of UCL’s Bartlett School to anti-pedestrian high-speed roads. Dr Marshall of Planning has just published his new book, explained: “The main street is a missing link that How would you like to be remembered? ‘As someone who tried his best’ Streets and Patterns (Spon Press) which could unite the best of traditional and modern challenges the assumption that ‘sustainable urban forms. Changing the guidelines would What is your favourite pastime? Reading communities’ can be created without tackling promote those traditional-style main streets and the problems of main roads in urban areas. If boulevards that create effective public transport What has been your most embarrassing moment at UCL? Colliding with the Medical the government’s vision for more traditional-style networks and provide a focus for local facilities. School – the one corner that I couldn’t cut urban development is to come to fruition, current This could help create the new kind of suburb plans and policies must be changed to allow for that the Sustainable Communities programme What was the last CD you listened to? Highlights from Les Miserables a new kind of main street, or even the return of would like to roll out across the land. Urban the boulevard, claims Dr Marshall. design for residential streets needs to be Which living person do you most admire? Either Bill Gates or Steve Jobs The government now favours a return to integrated with main road layouts and public grid-like structures of mixed-use streets where transport links if effective, joined-up planning What would you most like to be doing ten years from now? Writing communities can flourish, as opposed to is to be achieved.” separate zones for housing, shopping and industry clustered around car parks and linked

UCLNEWS03 UCL IN FOCUS

A record grant from the AHRB will ensure the Centre for the Evolution of Cultural Diversity’s future for another five years Cultural evolution

The Arts and Humanities Research Board Stephen Shennan, the current Director: think culture is transmitted, and then (AHRB) has announced that it will fund the “There are clear analogies between the compare these against real data. It’s just Centre for the Evolution of Cultural Diversity way that culture is passed on and genes as interesting when we get it wrong as (CECD) for another five years with a £1.25 are passed on. Biologists have developed when we get it right.” million grant, one of the largest it has ever sophisticated theories of how genes are Over the next five years, the new A selection of images from the CEACB. awarded. transmitted through populations, and CECD will embark on a number of exciting From left to right; Genes, Memes and Set up in 2001 and initially known methods to analyse gene transmission. new research areas, and will also use the Human History, Professor Shennan’s as the Centre for the Evolutionary Analysis We’ve imported these ideas into cultural AHRB funding to fund outreach work; book on neo-Darwinian evolutionary ideas of Cultural Behaviour (CEACB), the centre studies.” disseminating their evolutionary perspective in archaeology; Professor Shennan in his carries out research on the evolutionary Academics working at the CEACB on culture to academics in other disciplines study; Why some dog breeds are popular underpinnings of human culture. The new come from a variety of disciplines, including and to the public at large: “We are keen to – the dalmation; How culture transmits grant and the new name will take effect in anthropology, archaeology, biology and produce materials for the National Curriculum – the global spread of cereal growth January 2006, when Dr James Steele of mathematics. They draw on vast reservoirs using our approach, and to explain what we the University of Southampton, currently of ethnographic and archaeological data, do to a young audience.” the centre’s Associate Director, moves to using models taken from mathematics and UCL and takes over as Director. statistics to make sense of the data, said Although there have been many Professor Shennan: “Traditional approaches individual research studies over the last 20 to anthropology have been qualitative, but years which have examined culture from an the trouble with these approaches is that is evolutionary perspective, the CEACB was has been hard to evaluate the implications the first centre in the world to be dedicated of hypotheses. By contrast, at the CEACB to this approach, explained Professor we can make predictive models of how we

Close UCL tops Lighthill shave for HEFCE Institute Provost research launched funding The Provost with the charity-minded and persuasive staff of his office, Jo Wilby, Lucy Sanderson and Shirley Collins

Professor Malcolm Grant, President and In 2005/2006 UCL will receive more research A week of celebratory events marked the Provost of UCL, ended a close 33-year funding from the Higher Education Funding launch of the Lighthill Institute of Mathematics personal relationship on 11 March 2005 by Council for England (HEFCE) than any other (LIMS) in March 2005. Named in honour of shaving off his renowned moustache in aid university, a reflection of the quality and volume UCL’s former provost and distinguished of Comic Relief. Described by the THES as of its research. The HEFCE funding was mathematician Sir James Lighthill, the institute “Another momentous development on the announced on 10 March 2005, with UCL’s intends to establish a critical mass of vice-chancellor front”, the event raised more research funding set at £92,990,000, more mathematicians, statisticians and mathematical than £1,500 from the UCL community. than 7.4 per cent of the total HEFCE research scientists to collaborate through a series of To the cheers of onlooking staff and funding. The total resource for UCL from seminars, workshops and joint research students, Professor Grant conducted the HEFCE will be £162,321,000, 6.5 per cent programmes. shave in front of UCL’s Portico. He was more than last year. Director of LIMS, Professor Lord Julian aided by members of the Cheese Grater Professor Malcolm Grant, President and Hunt, said: “UCL enjoys an enviable reputation Psyching up for the shave student magazine, which instigated the Provost of UCL, welcomed the funding as an for its great strengths in the wider applications Cash-for-Tach charity challenge. indication of UCL’s leading position among of mathematics in many areas of science, The Guardian, who described Professor research-intensive universities: “It is a tribute engineering, technology and social sciences, Grant as “the smooth-talking, silver-haired to the excellent, groundbreaking work by UCL’s including geography. Initially the primary aim provost of UCL”, lamented the loss saying: researchers, who are tackling the world’s of LIMS will be to encourage and enhance “we can’t imagine him without it.” intellectual, cultural, scientific, economic, interaction among the groups of research environmental and medical challenges.” workers whose work involves the study and application of mathematical theory. Besides embracing UCL staff, it is the intention that LIMS should reach out to a wider participation for the exchange of knowledge among other institutions in the /Central London area and among those working in industry The freshly shorn Provost and government.”

04UCLNEWS What’s in a name? Pastoralism and patriarchy Population patterns and cultural change From ancient history to cybertechnology Dr Alex Bentley has conducted one of the The CEACB’s Professor Ruth Mace and A new area that the CECD will focus on The Darwinian approach to cultural CEACB’s most intriguing pieces of research Dr Clare Holden have used mathematically using the AHRB grant is the relationship transmission applies just as well to complex to date. Working with an international team, based tree-building techniques, similar to between how culture has evolved and past societies as to hunters and gatherers and he has used a mathematical model to look those used to demonstrate relationships population patterns; an area of growing small-scale farming groups, and the CECD’s at cultural transmission, showing that, just between species in biology, in order to importance, said Professor Shennan: Dr Roger Matthews will be examining urban as cynics claim, fashions and fads may be build pictures of relationships between “We now know that anatomically modern culture by looking at the process of meaningless. The team’s research has cultures. Their work has analysed linguistic humans are 200,000 years old, but innovation diffusion in early cities and shown that the popularity of some dog data to show the relationships between modern culture took off only about 50,000 states. Using the AHRB grant, he will breeds, pop music albums and baby names different languages of the Bantu family years ago. However, long before this time, analyse innovation diffusion in the Bronze is down to random copying rather than the in sub-Saharan Africa and the resulting we know that flashes of modern human Age societies of Western Asia by importing intrinsic value or symbolic importance of our tree of relationships has provided the culture, for example the use of beads as methods from modern network analysis, choices. Their analysis has demonstrated basis for demonstrating how the growth body decoration in Africa, occasionally which are used to understand, for example, that the rise and fall of trends in all of of cattle-herding is related to a shift appeared and then simply disappeared why certain sites on the internet attract these areas follows a neat mathematical towards a male-centred society. Once a again. There is increasing evidence that much more traffic than others. distribution that is predicted by a random group starts keeping cattle, property starts the extinction of the population groups copying model. This distribution pattern to be passed down in the male line, partly who had these cultural attributes may be is called a power law, a mathematical because men who are cattle-rich can use an important reason for why these cultural formula seen in many areas of life, their herd to obtain more wives for their practices died out.” Researchers at the explained Dr Bentley. sons, increasing their reproductive success; centre will analyse population patterns to and partly because cattle-centred societies find out how important the rise and fall of require aggressive protection of the herds population groups has been in determining from other groups, a task generally carried cultural change. out by men.

Read it first – People online

Awards, appointments, elections and Foundation IPSEN Longevity Prize 2005, Vodafone Commendation Award Top 10 For the latest honours for outstanding work in social sciences and poster presentation at the House of Commons: American Geophysical Union Fellowship for longevity: Professor Sir Michael Marmot Dr Shi Zhou (Centre for Advancement of news and Excellence in Geophysics: Professor David Price (Epidemiology & Public Health) Learning & Teaching) (Earth Sciences) comprehensive Institute of Physics & Engineering in UCL appointments ARVO/Pfizer Ophthalmics Inaugural Medicine Chartered Scientist award from the Human Communication Science Chair of events listings, Translational Research Award Fellowship: Science Council: Professor David Delpy Sign Language & Deaf Studies: Professor Professor Peng Khaw (Institute of (Medical Physics & Bioengineering) Bencie Woll (City University), with effect from see ‘News’ and Ophthalmology) 1 August 2005 Ministry of Health (Brazil) Science & Blackpool Urban Regeneration Company Technology Incentive for the National Health Laws Chair of European Law: Ms Joanne Scott ‘Events’ at Chair: Sir Peter Hall (Bartlett) System Award 2004 for most important paper (University of ) with effect from 1 July on public health in Brazil: Dental Public Health 2005 www.ucl.ac.uk British Medical Association 1st Prize, BMA Group (Epidemiology & Public Health) Medical Book Competition, Radiology category: Physics & Astronomy Readership in Physics: Professor Paul Tofts (Institute of Neurology) Particle Physics & Astronomy Research Dr Andreas Zumbusch Council Chief Executive and Deputy Chair: British Society for Disability and Oral Professor Keith Mason (Space & Climate Health President Elect: Professor Crispian Physics) Scully (Eastman Dental Institute) Seventh World Congress of Chemical European Association of Environmental Engineering Technical Programme Director: & Resource Economists Outstanding Lifetime Professor David Bogle (Chemical Engineering) Achievement Award: Emeritus Professor David Pearce (Economics) for services to environmental University of Barcelona Honorary Doctorate: economics. To be presented in Bremen, Germany, Professor Peter Ell (Nuclear Medicine) June 2005

UCLNEWS05 In the News

Professor Zeki Professor Borden Ms Guha Professor Penn UCL makes headlines all year round. Here are a few recent highlights; for much more see ‘UCL in the News’ at www.ucl.ac.uk/news

Love’s not only blind but mad, say scientists Forget safety – cities need skateboarders The new face of women’s cricket: English, Crush that was waiting to happen People who feel compelled to behave irrationally Fear of rapacious lawyers seeking compensation Asian and a winner The riot at the opening of a north London on Valentine’s Day tomorrow may not entirely be for clients is forcing architects and designers to At little more than 5ft tall Isa Guha [Biochemistry branch of Ikea last week may have shown to blame for their actions. Scientists have found try to eliminate all risk from public spaces, 2] does not strike you as the most likely of human behaviour at its most unappealing and evidence that love really is blind. Scans of according to a report published today. “The very secret weapons. However, when the England uncivilised, but not at its most unpredictable. lovers’ brains show that they lose their critical things that make our streets, parks and squares women’s cricket team begin their World Cup The crush at the entrance when the store faculties when smitten, making them less able interesting places are being stripped out for fear campaign against Australia in Pretoria next opened its doors at midnight, as shoppers to spot flaws or potential problems. The blackout of causing an accident or injury,” writes Julia week, the 19-year-old medium-fast bowler from fought to get at the bargains, was precisely the could be the reason lovers are said to behave Thrift of the Commission for Architecture and Berkshire will be one of their main reasons for kind of event simulated in a computer model by impulsively and why incompatible couples make the Built Environment in the report. “The hope. “People say that because I’m short I get a researchers in Germany and Hungary five years whirlwind marriages they later regret. Professor willingness to create new and exciting features lot more skid off the pitch,” says Guha, the first ago. They found that the faster people in a Semir Zeki [Anatomy & Developmental Biology] in public spaces is being subdued for fear of woman from an Asian background to play for crowd try to pass through a single doorway, the of UCL has been studying lovers’ brain scans future liabilities.” In four essays, writers suggest England. “They say I’m quite deceptive. I’ve slower they move, and the greater the pressure and will present a paper on the research later that making streets safer does not make them never played against the Australians, so I hope build-up at the bottleneck. Professor Alan Penn this year. “The scanning shows that love better, and that cities need fewer shopping malls I can surprise them. If you look back over the [Bartlett School], an urban modeller at UCL, and activates specific regions in the reward system and more skateboarders, fewer streets from last two years the improvement in our team has his graduate student Farah Kazim have used a of the brain, while reducing activity in the which pedestrians are “protected” by barriers been amazing. Everyone’s game has improved.” crowd simulation scheme that uses the rules of systems involved in making negative judgments,” and more like Kensington High Street in The emergence of Guha has personified the “space syntax”, developed by Bill Hillier [Bartlett he said. “Our research shows that the brain London, recently stripped of excessive signs. team’s revival. Having pioneered the game, School] at UCL, to model the movement of deactivates the networks used for critical social Professor Iain Borden, the director of the Bartlett England’s fortunes had plummeted to such an people through the Brent Park Ikea store. The assessment and negative emotions while it School of Architecture, says there is “an extent that a victory at home to South Africa two model, in which people navigate using their bonds individuals through the reward circuitry. essential tension in the public space – whether summers ago was their first Test win in eight forward-looking lines of sight, reproduces the This explains the power of love to motivate to remove risk, and so erase danger, or to years. A win over Ireland in the last World Cup winding path followed by real shoppers with and exhilarate.” The scans showed that, in tolerate or even encourage risk and so enjoy the had been followed by nine successive defeats, uncanny accuracy. people involved in romantic relationships, the unexpectedness of our cities and fellow citizens”. while Australia recorded a clean sweep of Test Philip Ball, The Guardian, most activated parts of the brain were those David Ward, The Guardian, and one-day international victories in England 17 February 2005 which respond to oxytocin and vasopressin, 15 February 2005 in 2001. Guha, the player of the series against hormones involved in the forming and New Zealand, grew up in High Wycombe, her maintaining of relationships. father and mother having emigrated from India. Roger Dobson and Sarah-Kate Templeton, Paul Newman, The Independent, Sunday Times, 14 February 2005 16 March 2005 Defeating Medicine on Everest Deafness

A group of UCL doctors are set to climb the people cannot survive without support. The same UCL student Jonathan Bird is the first recipient world’s tallest mountain to look death in the face happens to many intensive care patients. And of the Pauline Ashley Prize, a unique award – and take its pulse. The team will make the first just as certain individuals cope with high altitudes aimed at encouraging young scientists ever measurements of blood oxygen in the better than others, or find it easier to acclimatise, to undertake research into hearing conditions. ‘death zone’, at altitudes above 8,000m where some patients are better than others at surviving The prize was established in memory of Lady the human body has struggled, and frequently trauma. Ashley of Stoke, founder of the charity failed, to survive. Dr Montgomery said: “If we can understand Defeating Deafness. Mr Bird (Physiology) is UCL’s Centre for Aviation, Space & how some patients are able to cope with that low studying for a PhD in Cellular Physiology and Extreme Environment Medicine (CASE) team will oxygen level, and why others are not, then we received the £5,000 award for his research lead the expedition to Mount Everest’s 8,850m may be able to make a large difference to levels into the repair and regeneration of the avian peak in 2007. At the summit, clinicians will of survival. The answer, we think, is to look at inner ear at UCL’s newly opened Ear Institute. measure the amount of oxygen in their own people climbing the highest mountains of the “Understanding how some animals regenerate blood along with running tests to see how well world, where oxygen tension is as low as can be their hearing will give us important clues into how their brains, lungs and metabolisms are working found on the Earth’s surface.” this might be triggered in the mammalian ear,” at extreme altitude. The experiments alone entail said Mr Bird. “I would like to thank Defeating a risk of thrombosis and other complications; Deafness for this wonderful opportunity.” combined with the harsh mountain conditions, only the toughest are likely to finish the job. Dr Hugh Montgomery, who leads a research group in cardiovascular genetics, told The Guardian that oxygen levels in the blood plummet at high altitudes to a point where most

Dr Montgomery scaling an ice wall

06UCLNEWS Future of the University of London

Professor Malcolm Grant, President and strengthened to the benefit of the colleges and future of the University of London is a matter of Provost of UCL, has published a consultation their staff and students. However, Professor national and international importance. This issue paper that poses fundamental questions about Grant poses a set of more fundamental questions, deserves to play a central part in the debate the the organisation of higher education in London, including whether, given the significant changes Vice-Chancellor has launched, and this paper and in particular the future role of the University in the University’s functions over the past 20 years, is intended to extend the scope of that debate of London. it actually has a continuing role in its present form. accordingly.” The paper welcomes the consultation The Provost writes in the paper: “This To download Professor Grant’s paper, see that has been launched by the Vice-Chancellor paper argues that it should not be simply UCL Newslink at www.ucl.ac.uk/news of the University around the future role of the assumed that the present role and structure of University, which is concerned with ways in the University (of London) is the best model for which the federal University of London can be higher education in the UK or in London. The Professor Grant

Rave reviews for dictionary of scientific quotations

After 15 years in the making, the Oxford Charting the progress of the great ideas wanted, too, a generous representation Dictionary of Scientific Quotations has been of science, the dictionary includes quotations of other voices – poets, novelists, critics, published to rave reviews. A labour of love for not just by scientists, but also by non-scientists theologians – who had things of substance the UCL team who created it, the dictionary about science, offering a wider picture of the to say about science and its ambitions.” was edited by Professor Bill Bynum and the late metaphysical, social, cultural and artistic The volume also offers insight into the Professor Roy Porter, with assistant editing by standing of science down the ages. thoughts of some of the great figures associated Dr Sharon Messenger and Ms Caroline Overy Professor Bynum said: “This project was with UCL from its founding to the present day, from UCL’s Wellcome Trust Centre for the born in the heyday of what was sometimes including UCL’s spiritual founder Jeremy History of Medicine and contributions from called the Bynum and Porter Industry. We Bentham, UCL alumnus Francis Crick and a 10-strong team of distinguished specialist wanted the dictionary to reflect the richness of current UCL Professor of Genetics, Steve Jones. advisors, including UCL’s Dr Hasok Chang the history of science: scientists reflecting on (Science & Technology Studies) and Professor their craft, and reporting key moments they Robert Sharples (Greek & Latin). had had on nature and nature’s laws. We

Alumni Matter: Tim Rice-Oxley Greek & Latin 1998

After cleaning up at this year’s Brit Awards, rock band Keane’s future looks bright. Keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley talked to UCL People’s Marianne Miles about songwriting and success

In January 2004 Keane are voted ‘Most with such verve that it seems they might come roots. He explains that – next to being in a Promising New Music Act’ by a panel of UK out of their sockets. Tim Rice-Oxley (Greek & successful rock band – it was the most positive music critics for the BBC News Online ‘Sound Latin 1998) is almost unrecognisable from the experience of his life. Chris Martin (from of 2004’ survey. Fast forward 11 months to humble, pensive man I spoke to backstage just Coldplay) and Tim were in the same classes and December 2004 and British music bible, prior to the concert. used to hang out together listening to demos, in Qmagazine bestows its ‘Band of the Year 2004’ With the group receiving a lot of adulation what Tim calls: “the tiny Department of Greek & title upon them, followed in February 2005 by in such a short space of time, I wondered if Tim Latin”. He continues: “Now for us to be in two their biggest honour to date – winners of ‘British felt pressurised by it all, but he remains English bands that are doing quite well globally, Breakthrough Act’ and ‘Best Album’ at the 2005 optimistic: “The only pressure we have is the to come from the same little place in the Brit Awards. All the plaudits are well deserved. pressure we put on ourselves and we do that a universe, is just really weird.” After signing their recording contract mid-2003, lot. We were always trying to get better, do new Tim is well aware of all the other successful their first album, Hopes and Fears, went things and create new sounds, and were always alumni that have passed through UCL’s doors straight to number one in the charts. It’s clear spurring each other on.” Tim is Keane’s pianist and has an interesting explanation as to why that Keane have garnered a strong following of and songwriter. Although the group share UCL has the ability to produce such seminal listeners, drawn to their thick piano chords and songwriting credits, the songs are essentially British bands: “I think the fact that it’s in London romantic, reflective lyrics. Tim’s compositions and he doesn’t have a for a start is a good thing. It’s not on a nice cosy This article first appeared in As bands go, the polite, unassuming trio problem with taking on the extra workload: campus somewhere out in the lush countryside. the Spring 2005 edition of from East Sussex are not obvious rock-god “Obviously there is a certain amount of pressure It’s a load of buildings spread around one of the UCL People, distributed to material. Yet they are tipped as successors to on me to write good songs but that’s what I love world’s greatest cities, so you’re living and more than 80,000 alumni. the only recent British group to make waves in doing – it’s one of my favourite things in the breathing real life from the moment you get If you know of a former UCL America – UCL alumni Coldplay. Tonight is their world and I wish I had more time to do it.” there. Another thing I love about UCL is the student involved in interesting, last gig of the year and it is sold out, as were all The group formed in 1998 when the trio non-religious ethos it has, which is something exciting or unusual activities, their other national dates. As Keane launch into started playing Beatles, Oasis and U2 covers. I completely agree with. Also it has a very arty please let us know. Contact their first song of the evening, the energetic It was their mutual love of U2 that made them atmosphere what with the Slade and the Bartlett; Bend and Break, the pianist can be seen decide to form a band – and all of them wanted it’s just a great place. Or it could be something in details are on the back page rocking on his stool, arms and legs swinging to be like Bono. Tim is very proud of his UCL the tea and biscuits!”

UCLNEWS07 Public View A series featuring artefacts around UCL’s public areas

What are they? allowed him to export the fragments to England, Limestone representations of lions and they lay in crates awaiting reconstruction. Petrie never found the funds to do this himself, Your Where are they from? and they were sent to Henry Wellcome in the A prehistoric temple at Quft (Koptos), hope that the great medical pioneer would be in Upper Egypt able to have them reconstructed for his own favourite collection. In the event, they stayed in their How old are they? boxes, and their location was lost to Egyptologists More than five thousand years old until 1980, when Barbara Adams was asked by If your favourite isn’t here, the officers of the Wellcome Collection whether it may be because we didn’t Where are they? the words chalked on the crates – ‘Koptos lions, hear about it from you. If you Limestone lion Guarding the Provost and President’s office 1894’ – meant anything to her. As a specialist have an object that the UCL in the prehistory and early history of Egypt, Who put them there? she knew at once that these were the lost community should know about, UCL, after the reconstruction from fragments Koptos Lions tell UCL Communications, by the conservator Richard Jaeschke, with the using the contact details at the Who made them? historical and archaeological information provided foot of this page. by the late Barbara Adams, the then Curator of Anonymous Egyptian sculptors of around the Petrie Museum 3000 BC Catch up with previously How did they get there? What makes them special? featured artefacts online. Petrie found the fragments – and there were They are the oldest sculptures of lions life-size For a link to Private View literally thousands of fragments – during his or larger anywhere in the world – a third lion is Archive, see UCL Newslink excavations at Quft in 1894 (just a year after he preserved in the Ashmolean Museum Oxford at www.ucl.ac.uk/news became England’s first Egyptology Professor here at UCL). The Egyptian Antiquities Service

Shows and Exhibitions at UCL

Advancing London’s Global University Department of Earth Sciences Grant Museum of Zoology – the Campaign for UCL Infinite Possibilities: The Past, the Present & Comparative Anatomy To mark the launch of Campaign for UCL, an and the Future of Earth Sciences at UCL A diverse natural history collection covering exhibition featuring examples of what students Exhibition drawing on UCL’s Geological Sciences the whole of the animal kingdom, including and staff at UCL have achieved through the Collection cases packed full of skeletons, mounted generosity of donors – Rock Room, South Wing; 1–2pm, Wednesday; animals and specimens preserved in fluid – Torrington Space, outside 1–19 or by appointment – Department of Biology, Darwin Building; Torrington Place 1–5pm, Monday to Friday Department of Electronic & Electrical Institute of Archaeology Engineering Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology Through Ancient Eyes: Art and Image in the Sir John Ambrose Fleming Housing an estimated 80,000 objects, making Ancient World A tribute to UCL’s first Professor of Electrical it one of the greatest collections of Egyptian Drawing on objects from Ancient Greece, Engineering, who invented the thermionic valve, and Sudanese archaeology in the world Rome, Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean, making radio and modern electronics possible – DMS Watson Building; 1–5pm, Tuesday to this exhibition investigates the nature of art and – 7th Floor, Engineering Building Friday; 10am–1pm, Saturday; or by appointment whether ancient people saw their creations as masterpieces of art in the same way as modern Ethnographic Collection Building UCL: Pioneers, Principles and audiences do Fabric of Life: Materials & Culture Progress – Institute of Archaeology, 31–34 Gordon Examining the attitudes behind collecting Exploring significant milestones in the history of Square; until May 2005; 9am–5pm, Monday artefacts at the turn of the 20th century, and UCL with particular reference to individuals after to Friday how those attitudes have changed whom UCL buildings have been named, under – Department of Anthropology, Foster Court; the themes of: Foundation; Invention, Innovation UCL Art Collections by appointment & Discovery; Diversity; Physical UCL; Today & Petrie Museum of Slade prints of the 1950s: Richard Hamilton, Tomorrow; and Firsts Egyptian Archaeology Stanley Jones and Bartolomeu dos Santos The Galton Collection – North Cloisters; until May 2006 Curated by MA History of the Print students, the Featuring Sir Francis Galton’s pioneering work show examines how Slade students in the 1950s on fingerprint investigation, his studies of For further events information and contact details had the freedom to experiment with new biometry and developing the field of eugenics see ‘Events’ at UCL Online: www.ucl.ac.uk practices and themes in the printmaking studios – Department of Biology, Darwin Building; – Strang Print Room, Wilkins Building; from by appointment 25 April to 30 September 2005; 1–5pm, Monday to Friday

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