The free magazine for The University of Manchester
2 April 2007 Uni LifIse sue 8 Volume 4 The scientists who are walking with dinosaurs Features Letter from the President
News Boost for Chemistry page 5
Research Spotlight Walking with dinosaurs page 7
Many Jewish students are deeply offended by a in On Liberty, “…comprises … liberty of conscience, in Profile Resolution passed recently by the Students Union the most comprehensive sense; liberty of thought which committed the Union to a partnership with and feeling; absolute freedom of opinion and Director of Sport Al-Najah University in Palestine, and characterised sentiment on all subjects, practical or speculative, Alison Odell educational deprivation in Palestine as a denial by scientific, moral, or theological …without impediment page 12 Israeli occupiers of a fundamental human right. from our fellow creatures, so long as what we do does not harm them, even though they should think Several external Jewish organisations have joined our conduct foolish, perverse, or wrong.” Jewish students in alleging that Al-Najah University is allied to Palestinian extremism, and in calling on Granting freedom of expression to others is not the University to intervene to stop this controversial about tolerating views that we disagree with, development in student politics. or find mildly offensive. The liberal credentials of Contents an individual, a society or an institution are only To some Jewish students, the passing of this truly tested when the opinions being expressed call resolution is indicative of an intensifying climate of into question the very deepest social and personal intimidation against them on the Campus. values and beliefs of others, and when what is 3 News Let me make absolutely clear that the intimidation of being advocated in their place strikes others, not 6 Research some members of the University community by just as wrong, but as outrageous, reprehensible others will not be tolerated. We will act decisively and pernicious. 11 Teaching and Learning should any instances of such behaviour be brought A majority of students present at a Union meeting to our attention, both to protect victims of 12 Profile adopted a set of resolutions that other students find intimidation and to ensure that serious and/or deeply disturbing and offensive. That was their right. Alison Odell repeated acts of intimidation are severely disciplined. Equally, however, the responsibility that accompanies 14 Reaching Out In terms of the Resolution, I should point out that that right is that they in turn must respect the rights the Students Union operates under a Constitution of those with whom they disagree, allowing them to 16 What’s On approved by the University’s Board of Governors, we advocate alternative views, and champion conflicting will not – in this or any other case – be intervening social, political, philosophical or religious ways of 18 Feature to curb freedom of expression or limit the canvassing understanding the world. Trying to still controversy or silence criticism is antithetical to the very idea 20 Museum Piece of controversial political, social, religious or other opinions or activities, unless the opinions and/or of a university. activities in question are clearly unlawful. Both the Let us therefore determine to make Manchester a University and the Students Union are bound to act place where any lawful opinion can be voiced and lawfully at all times. any course of political or social action advocated, Front cover photo: With that single caveat, there must be no censorship without fear or favour. For in an environment where rational, disciplined inquiry is sovereign, that is the Dr Bill Sellers, Dr Roland Ennos or suppression of free speech in The University of Manchester. No institution has a greater beginning of wisdom. and Dr Jonathan Codd responsibility than a university to remain adamant Photo by Ed Swinden and vigilant in resisting any erosion of freedom of opinion and expression, even when wise and powerful interests, including on occasion Government officials, try to rein in views that disturb or challenge their sense of what is best for British society. In saying that, I am reminded of some of the most important words ever written in the English Professor Alan Gilbert language. “Human liberty,” John Stuart Mill wrote President and Vice-Chancellor 2 News
Dinosaur Day Stampede
Dinosaur Day at The Manchester Museum was an astounding success recently attracting a record breaking 2,000 visitors! The Manchester Museum has been attracting Velociraptor, who was on display for the first time Council and was part of the BBC Nest Box record numbers of visitors, partly due to their in ten years, handle objects and minerals, learn Challenge/BBC Breathing Places. programme of family events. The Museum about the Tentontosaurus conservation project, organised a variety of events as part of National listen to dinosaur stories and take part in Anna Bunney, Curator of Public Programmes at Science and Engineering Week, including the Plesiosaur reconstruction activities and fossil The Manchester Museum said: "I'm new to The Blast Off Big Saturday (10 March) where all the rubbing. There was also a gallery tour and family Manchester Museum and it has been a fantastic planetarium shows and physics tricks for kids talk with Dr Phil Manning. introduction to public programmes, both the fact sessions were packed out. that we've been so busy and we've been able to Brilliant Bird Boxes (Friday 16 February), part of feature the work of Museum scientists as well as Dinosaur Day at the Museum (Saturday, 17 the half term programme of events was also having the wonderful opportunity to reflect the February) attracted a record breaking 2,000 extremely busy, with about 1,800 visitors. This world of The University of Manchester." visitors. Visitors had the opportunity to get their event was run in association with the BBC and own fossil identified, meet and draw Eric the the Wild About Manchester team of the City
Government appointment for President President and Vice-Chancellor, The Council for Science and Technology (CST) has Professor Gilbert is one of three new members Professor Alan Gilbert, has been a remit to advise the Prime Minister, the First appointed to the CST. The 16 independent appointed to the Government's top- Ministers of Scotland and Wales and the members of the CST are senior people active in responsible Minister at the Northern Ireland the worlds of academia and business, and from level advisory body on science and Office on strategic science and technology policy charitable sponsors. Their appointments run for technology policy issues which reports issues that cut across the responsibilities of three years from 1 March 2007. directly to the Prime Minister. individual government departments.
www.cst.gov.uk 3 News
In brief
From Abacus to Algorithm Professor Charles Burnett FBA will be delivering a public lecture on the discovery of Arabic Mathematics in the West at the John Rylands University Library at Deansgate. This is part of the AHRC Rylands Genizah Project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The lecture will be held in the Reading Room at Deansgate on 30 April at 5.30pm. Seating is limited, so to reserve a place, please call 0161 275 8737 or email [email protected] Reds treat for high-flying students When University of Manchester student win the Champions League,” said Patrick, a former Patrick Murphy finished top of the year pupil at St Bede’s in Alexandra Park, Manchester. Your Memories of Lindow Man in his first-semester exams he was Enjoying the match with Patrick were fellow Life In February’s edition of Unilife , we featured an understandably delighted by such a Sciences students Natasha Bray, Daniel Ng, Regina article on Lindow Man, who will be returning to notable achievement. Forrester and Ruth Watkinson, a recipient of the The Manchester Museum for a temporary prestigious £10,000 President’s Awards. But the lifelong Reds fan never dreamt his hard exhibition next year. The Museum asked people work would be rewarded with a VIP trip to Old The President's Award, a prestigious £10,000 a to send in their memories and thoughts on Trafford to watch his beloved Manchester United year scholarship to study at Manchester, is Lindow Man, so they can reflect a range of take on Lille in the UEFA Champions League. awarded to up to 10 students each year. The different points of view in their interpretation of awards are reserved for 'the best of the best'. Only Nineteen-year-old Patrick, who hails from the body. Many thanks to those who have sent the very highest academic credentials are Rusholme, was one of five high-flying, first-year in your views – here are just a couple of them. considered, with eligibility depending not only on students in the Faculty of Life Sciences to be at least three "A" grades at A-level, including grade “This is my first memory of Manchester invited to watch the crucial second-leg tie. 'A' in every module, but also on the results of a Museum and I remember coming to see this “It was a good game and judging by that 'Thinking Skills Assessment,' a special examination exhibit when I started at University in 1989. I was performance I have no doubt United will go on to and an interview. fascinated and I keep coming back to the Museum time after time because of this.” “I remember going to see Lindow Man when I was at primary school about 20 years ago. It must have made a big impression as I still remember his leathery skin now and I couldn't understand how he had been kept so well. This kind of thing really captures kids' imaginations. Personally I think he should be back up north forever!” If anyone has any further memories or thoughts on Lindow Man, please send them to [email protected]
Pathway to legal career for poorer families launched A £1.5 million educational programme will help hundreds of students from non-professional and poorer families to enter the legal profession. The University of Manchester - along with Leeds, Southampton, Warwick and the London School of Unique semi-final for challengers Economics - have teamed up with The College of Manchester has reached the semi-finals of Law and the Sutton Trust in a five-year project. University Challenge for the third year in a row, an achievement unprecedented in the Assistance will go to state school sixth formers programme's 45-year history. who want to pursue a legal career and satisfy a range of criteria. After semi-final defeat in 2004/05, and series victory in 2005/06, the University's The criteria includes coming from schools with a 2006/07 team beat Wadham College, higher than average proportion of children on Oxford, 230-190 in the quarter-final free school meals and being the first in their broadcast last month. They now face family to enter higher education. Durham in the semi-final, to be broadcast on BBC2 at 8pm tonight (2 April) Leading law firms, the Law Society and the Bar The all-undergraduate team comprises Council will also provide each student with Ciaran Lavin (English and Philosophy) work experience. (captain), Adam Clark (Ancient History), David Elliott (Mathematics and Physics) and Tim Hawken (Music). 4 Chemistry school celebrates £14m building boost The University’s School of The first and second floors house Chemistry got a £14 million spacious teaching laboratories and boost recently, as expansive supporting facilities, which are already being used for the practical training new research and student of chemistry undergraduates. teaching facilities were Each laboratory is designed to cater officially unveiled. for up to 100 students. The 2,400-square metre extension to The building was officially opened by the Chemistry Building on Brunswick Professor Dame Julia Higgins of Imperial Street was conceived to accommodate College – the recently retired Foreign the requirements of the new School Secretary of the Royal Society. following the merger. The ground floor accommodates the The completion of the extension mass spectrometry and separations project has allowed academics and laboratories, and also houses a large their research groups to relocate synthetic research laboratory and from the Faraday Building into the reading rooms. main Chemistry Building.
New masters launched A new masters degree This multidisciplinary approach biomechanics will be crucial in in biomechanics – is an important research area at helping us to develop the next Manchester and bucks the generation of scientists able to believed to be the first trend that has led to some apply multidisciplinary of its kind in the UK courses in the physical sciences approaches to the biomedical has been launched at being dropped by institutions. and scientific questions of the Last year the University opened future." the University. the £38 million Manchester The masters was launched last Interdisciplinary Biocentre (MIB) The Faculty of Life Sciences has month at a special research day - a cross-discipline institute one of the largest biomechanics by world-renowned expert on that brings together experts groupings in the UK and the dinosaur locomotion zoologist from a wide range of subjects in launch of the new masters Professor McNeill Alexander, order to tackle major challenges degree will give students whose own research dismisses in quantitative, interdisciplinary training in both the physical the notion that tyrannosaurus bioscience. and biological sciences. It will rex could chase down fast- investigate how organisms Dr Roland Ennos (pictured) who moving motor vehicles, as the move, support themselves will lead the course said:" Our film Jurassic Park would have us and develop. new masters degree in believe. See Research Spotlight on page 7
New service guides small businesses through recruitment maze A comprehensive new service aiming to navigate which runs the service, said: “Our experience tells us effectively; and how best to shortlist and small businesses through the potentially tricky that although SMEs are usually keen to recruit interview candidates. process of graduate recruitment - to reach graduates, they frequently find the recruitment Up-to-date information on related University services the wealth of talent at the University - is being process daunting. They are often not used to and events will also be available on the SBZ website: launched. marketing their business on campus and need www.manchester.ac.uk/smallbusiness. An advice The Small Business Zone (SBZ) will encourage small guidance on how to effectively use graduate-level line will offer tailored assistance for specific and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to create and skills in the workplace. recruitment queries. promote new employment opportunities for our Online toolkits will cover the broad spectrum of For further information, call the Small Business Team: University's students and graduates, including recruitment, retention and business development 0161 275 2828. international students. activities, including: information on recruitment Anne Milligan, Head of Regional Development at the legislation; hints on writing job descriptions; advice University's MLP, Careers & Employability Division, on harnessing student and graduate talent 5 Research
In brief
Food safety leadership role Antifungal drugs kill TB bug Professor Sarah O'Brien of the Gastrointestinal Scientists hoping to find new treatments characteristics. In particular, we noted the presence Sciences research group in the Division of of a very large number of enzymes called P450s, Medicine and Neurosciences has been appointed for one of the world's most deadly which are usually associated with more complex Chair of the National Advisory Committee on the infectious diseases say drugs used to treat organisms. Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF). common fungal infections may provide the answer. “In humans, P450s help us detoxify and dispose of Sarah has been a member of the ACMSF since Tuberculosis, or TB, is a highly contagious disease of countless chemicals and toxins that enter our 2001, and will lead it for the next three years. system. Most bacteria have few, if any, P450s but we The Committee provides the Food Standards the lungs that was thought to have been virtually eliminated by the 1960s, but is now resurgent and discovered that the TB bacterium has 20 different Agency with independent expert advice on the kills nearly two million people worldwide every year. types.” microbiological safety of food, and the risk to humans of micro-organisms found in or Of equal concern is the dramatic rise in the Even more exciting for the team was the knowledge around food. incidence of new strains of TB that are resistant to that existing anti-fungal drugs already target P450s traditional antibiotics. as a way to treat, for example, systemic and more But biologists at The University of Manchester have superficial infections caused by fungi such as New Professor shown that chemicals called azoles - the active Candida albicans (the causative agent of thrush). agent in many antifungal drugs - kill the TB bacteria, Professor Colette McKay has joined the “The class of drugs called azoles are able to kill off and could be effective in tackling the emerging drug- Audiology and Deafness Research Group within fungal infections by blocking the actions of one of its resistant strains. the School of Psychological Sciences as Professor P450s that is essential for maintaining the cell of Applied Hearing Research. Funded by the EU's NM4TB (new medicines for structure,” said Professor Munro. “We were able to tuberculosis) project, the Manchester team set show in laboratory experiments that various types of Colette joins the University from Aston University about trying to find alternative drugs that could be these azole drugs were also very good at killing the in Birmingham, and has worked across a broad used to treat these multi-drug resistant varieties of TB bacterium.” range of fields relating to deafness, audiology TB, known as MDR-TB. and communication. She has particular Professor Andrew Munro who has led the research in The research - published in the Journal of Biological accomplishments in central auditory processing, the Faculty of Life Sciences said: “We knew that the Chemistry - offers the potential of a whole new language development in children and mental TB bacterium was a clever organism but when we approach to fighting the TB bug and has already health, and her two key focus areas will be began looking at the bug and its DNA content in attracted interest from one major pharmaceutical auditory psychophysical research and improved more detail we noticed it had some unusual company. speech perception with cochlear implants. Bumper idea is smash hit Investigations by engineers into an Using computer-controlled vehicles extendable car bumper could help could potentially increase motorway speed along the arrival of computer- capacity, reduce congestion and bring controlled motorways. down fuel consumption. An award-winning paper presented at The system proposed by the University the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) of Manchester team would use a World Congress and Exhibition 'bridging damper' - an intelligent recently, offers a glimpse of how a bumper, which would extend to touch high-tech, environmentally-friendly the car in front, should the main and efficient motorway network could communication system break down. operate safely in the future. Computer simulations have indicated Dr Alasdair Renfrew and Dr Aurelio that a group of at least 20 cars could Gonzalez-Villasenor (pictured) from the continue to travel safely by detecting School of Electrical and Electronic the status of the car immediately in Engineering and co-author Dr Paul front through their extended bumpers. Brunn scooped Best Scientific Paper at the meeting of key decision makers The authors of the paper have and technical experts. investigated a system that would see bumpers adjust to compensate for Automated Highway Systems (AHS) varying road conditions such as uphill and Co-operative Vehicle Highway and downhill stretches. Systems (CVHS) have been under development for many decades. The Dr Renfrew said: " A vast amount of vision is that vehicles would not be further research is needed to explore independently driven, but regulated the viability of the proposed system. and controlled via information beamed But we do hope that by tackling the from transmitters at the side of the issue of safety and presenting our road. Cars would also communicate ideas for discussion and further and co-operate with the vehicles investigation, intelligent transport around them to ensure a safe and fast systems may arrive just a little bit 6 journey for everyone. quicker." Research Spotlight
How do birds manage to fly and breathe themselves reflect the nature of the subject – Dr Sciences with Materials Science, Mathematics, at the same time? How - and how fast – Roland Ennos, Reader in Ecology, Dr Jonathan Codd, Computer Science, Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering did a dinosaur run? Why do we have Lecturer in Integrative Biology, and Dr Bill Sellers, and the Manchester Museum. And there is fingernails – and how are they formed? Lecturer in Vertebrate Biology and the team’s extended collaboration with other universities in computer specialist. As they say “We approach the How do trees stand up to the wind and the North-West, bringing together about 50 people same problem from different directions – to form the biggest integrated Biomechanics how do they defend themselves against comparative physiology, biological structures and research group in the country. being eaten? computer simulation, complementing each other and producing a rounded picture.” Perhaps the most immediately popular focus of the The list of fascinating questions, from the exotic to group’s work is the Museum’s favourite dinosaur, the everyday, are the very stuff of biomechanics – Dr Ennos, Programme Director for the new Tyrannosaurus rex. By feeding their research – and the University has a leading group of interdisciplinary MSc in Biomechanics (see page 5), Roland on skeletal structure, Jonathan on breathing researchers in this exciting interdisciplinary, cross- says: “This is an exciting and fascinating field of mechanics – into Bill’s evolutionary robotics Faculty area of study. study, which develops our fundamental program, they can simulate the great beast’s Biomechanics is all about how animals and plants understanding of the mechanical design of bipedal locomotion. are built and operate, a meeting place of biology organisms. It is increasingly important, since it and engineering, underpinning such fast-growing underpins applied technologies and innovative “It’s great fun,” says Roland. “We also work a lot industries as tissue engineering, biomaterials and industries such as biomaterials and tissue with balsa wood models that we have to make. sports science. engineering.” So, we get the chance to play around – with a serious purpose.” The three academics from the Faculty of Life It is also a prize example of the benefits of Sciences, who are at the centre of the group, collaboration across a large University, linking Life
New research Chair will build world-leading team
The Audiology and Deafness Research Group within grow as the population gets older,” group leader the School of Psychological Sciences has received Professor John Bamford (pictured) said. funding for a new Chair, in Amplification and “There have been huge advances in digital technologies Rehabilitative Audiology. to address the problem and large numbers of hearing The world-leading Swiss hearing instruments company instruments are in use worldwide, but this is the first Phonak, which already funds projects within the group, time academics and industry have come together to will provide £250, 000 over an initial period of three develop a specialist research capacity.” years to support the development of a world-class Phonak will also fund individual research projects research team. alongside additional funding sources, and the team's “World Health Organisation figures show that adult development is expected to facilitate cross-Faculty R&D hearing loss is the world's biggest disability, in terms of with colleagues in Engineering and Physical Sciences. both numbers and impact, and the problem will only 7 Research
In brief
Nobel Laureate to give Faculty of Life Sciences Annual Lecture Nobel Laureate, and genome research pioneer Professor Sir John Sulston will give the Faculty of Life Sciences annual lecture on 24 April 2007. The lecture entitled `Genetic equity and global medicine: what is science for anyway?' is a unique opportunity to hear Sir John discuss the bioethical implications of modern day genetic research.
Sir John was awarded the Noble Prize in 2002 in recognition of his research on the nematode worm. He mapped the entire genome of this animal thus opening up the possibility of mapping the human genome. In 1992 he was appointed director of the Sanger Institute which led the UK arm of the human genome project. A working draft of the human genome was announced in June 2000 by the international research consortium.
Sir John stepped down as director of the Institute in 2000, he is currently vice-chairman of the Human Genetics Commission and sits on the Royal Society working group on intellectual property. Drive to cut cost of The event starts at 5.15pm with a pre-lecture reception in the Manchester Museum followed by the main lecture at 6.15pm in the Whitworth solar power generation Hall. All staff and students are welcome to attend but are asked to register by Friday 13 April. Academics at the University are The cells will be made from both organic Registration forms are available from embarking on a £1.5m project to develop polymeric carbon-based materials and small [email protected]. new and potentially cheaper ways of particles of inorganic semiconductors. generating solar power. Most designs are expected to draw on nanotechnology, with researchers planning to The project will investigate a number of new and use so-called PbS nanorods - small cylinders of Fellowship for GP study novel solar cell designs, in an attempt to produce a lead sulphide that are around 100 times smaller more efficient system for generating green energy. Dr Ruth McDonald from the National Primary than a human hair. Care Research and Development Centre at The Led by Professor Paul O'Brien (pictured) from the Professor O'Brien said: "The widespread University of Manchester has been awarded a School of Chemistry and Professor Jenny Nelson implementation of solar electricity requires a from Imperial College London, researchers will prestigious Harkness Fellowship in Health Care significant reduction in cost and a successful investigate new designs that utilise intrinsically Policy to take forward her work on the UK's new outcome to this project has the potential to inexpensive materials and cheap fabrication GP contracts. provide a step-change solar cell technology." methodologies. The project is funded by the EPSRC's Materials Dr McDonald will use the funding to study the The project team are aiming to build and Energy programmes. equivalent of GP contracts in California, which demonstration hybrid solar cells that have the has a similar system but with incentives for GPs long-term potential to be mass-produced and to Research will involve academics from the Schools to take note of the costs of the treatments and achieve an energy conversion efficiency of Chemistry, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, referrals they are ordering for patients. approaching ten per cent. Materials and Physics and Astronomy.
Swell gel could relieve back pain
Scientists at The University of Manchester believe their mechanical properties. This development opens He added that future work will investigate injections of tiny sponge-like particles could provide up the possibility of human patients being able to biodegradable microgels that release additives to an alternative to major surgery in the treatment of regain full mobility and flexibility after receiving stimulate regeneration of intervertebral disc tissue. chronic lower back pain. spinal injections. The research was funded by the Engineering and Dr Brian Saunders from The School of Materials and Professor Freemont, who works in the Division of Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and The Professor Tony Freemont from The Faculty of Medical Regenerative Medicine in the School of Medicine, University of Manchester Intellectual Property Ltd and Human Sciences have developed tiny gel said: "This research was motivated by the urgent (UMIP). particles that swell and stiffen when injected into a need for a non-surgical method for repairing damaged area. intervertebral discs. Our approach has the advantage Dr Saunders and Professor Freemont hope to secure of restoring spinal mobility whereas spinal fusion extra funding with a view to conducting clinical trials. Investigations have revealed that surgery results in a significant loss of mobility at the degenerated animal intervertebral discs fused and adjacent discs.” 8 containing the injected 'microgels' regain Back in 2004, a research team is not the right word to describe led by Professor Andre Geim these new membranes," said In the news and Dr Kostya Novoselov a Professor Geim, who is the Researchers in the School of Physics and Astronomy have been making discovered a new class of Director of The Manchester materials called two- Centre for Mesoscience and headlines following the publication of papers in two prestigious journals. dimensional atomic crystals. Nanotechnology. These one-atom-thick materials Other researchers involved in and in particular graphene - a this work include Dr Kostya gauze of carbon atoms Novoselov and Dr Tim Booth resembling chicken wire – have from the University. rapidly become one of the hottest topics in physics. The second article in Nature Materials reports that Prof Geim However, it has remained and colleagues have managed doubtful whether such to create the world's smallest materials can exist in their free transistor – a breakthrough that state, without being placed on could spark the development of top of other materials. a new type of super-fast Now an international research computer chip. team, Professor Geim and Dr Jannik The progress article gives details Meyer of The Max-Planck Institute of the successful demonstration in Germany and has managed to of graphene transistors that are make free-hanging graphene. only one atom thick and less Writing in the March edition of than 50 atoms wide. Nature , Prof Geim and It is believed this innovation colleagues reports they have could allow the rapid used graphene to create a new miniaturisation of electronics to kind of super-thin membrane. continue when the current It's believed this structure can be silicon-based technology runs used to sieve gases and make out of steam. miniature electro-mechanical Professor Geim does not expect switches. that graphene-based circuits will Researchers believe it will allow come of age before 2025 – but the imaging of individual believes graphene is probably molecules with unprecedented the only viable approach after accuracy. This has significant the silicon era comes to an end. implications for the The news was reported in The development of medical drugs. Times , The Telegraph , the Daily Dr Leonid Ponomarenko holding a "This is a completely new type of Express , The Sun and the New chip containing a graphene transistor technology - even nanotechnology Scientist amongst others.
Oral Health Unit research changes national dental policy
Results of a recent Oral Health The results showed that only a where NHS dentistry for children Unit (OHU) study have led to a quarter of children identified by was freely available did not change in Government policy on screening as having decay in their improve dental attendance, the dental care of school children permanent teeth went on to and it is probable that the in England and Wales. receive appropriate treatment. screening programme may even Further, whilst higher numbers of exacerbate inequalities in the use Screening school children for children from disadvantaged of dental services.” dental disease has been a long- backgrounds had tooth decay, standing requirement of local those from affluent backgrounds The UK National Screening NHS organisations, yet little with decay were more likely to Committee has now advised evidence existed to show it visit the dentist and receive Chief Dental Officers that there improved their dental health. The treatment after being screened is no evidence to support the OHU, the academically at school. continued use of dental independent national forum OHU Research Director Dr Martin screening. New guidance was established to discuss and inform Tickle said: “We found no issued to the NHS in January policy on dental research, differences regarding increases in recommending that “PCTs therefore undertook a trial of tooth decay levels - in either the consider whether or not to 17,000 children to find out first or permanent teeth - continue local screening whether screening reduced levels between children who did and programmes and, if not, how best of untreated tooth decay and didn't receive screening. Also to address inequalities in oral increased dental attendance. school dental screening in an area health in other ways.”
www.ohu.ac.uk 9 Research
Teams from the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences were nominated in two categories at the Department of Health's Health and Social Care Awards in February, which celebrates the UK's pool of talent and initiative in the provision of frontline care. The Eyes and Tobacco Study Team, led by the School of Medicine's Dr Judith Thornton and Dr Simon Kelly of Bolton Hospital NHS Trust, was nominated in the 'Improving Health and Wellbeing' category, for a programme designed to reduce smoking- related eye disease. The MRC Hearing and Communications Group, based in the School of Psychological Sciences and led by Professor Adrian Davis, was also nominated - in the 'Innovative Technology' category (pictured). The Group was recognised for the Hearscreen Health teams show device it has developed in collaboration with engineering company Siemens, which was designed to screen adults for hearing impairment their initiative in clinical settings and is expected to significantly cut patients' waiting times.
www.healthandsocialcareawards.org
A unique event has been created as a result of lifeblood of Manchester, did it matter how it got close collaboration between Drama (the Centre there? The powerful promenade performance for Applied Theatre Research) and Manchester explored these issues, and looked into the Museum. Transatlantic slave trade through the eyes of the "This Accursed Thing" was a specially commissioned people who were there. professional performance that took place at the A unique element of the event was that the museum in late March/early April, looking at aspects performance was itself a significant element in a of the Transatlantic Slave Trade through the eyes and major AHRC-funded research project ‘Performance, voices of people of the time including abolitionists, Learning and Heritage’. it will test some of the slave traders, freed slaves and Manchester cotton hypotheses emerging from the data accumulated workers. This year marks the 200th anniversary of over the past 5-6 years by the research team in the abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Act. Drama (in collaboration with the Centre for The event addresses a range of issues: in 1807 the Museology). The performance and responses to it by British Government abolished the slave trade in the a variety of audiences will be documented in a British Empire. Did it make any difference? If slavery number of different ways (incl filming, observations, was the foundation of prosperity and Empire, what interviews, focus groups) and over a period of up to This Accursed Thing does that mean to us today? If cotton was the 10 months after the event.
Women are best at being buddies
A four-year study by sociologists at The Of the 10,000 individuals studied who took Dr Tampubolon, who is based at the School of University of Manchester has found that part in the 1992 to 2002 British Household Social Sciences, said: " Friendship between women are much more likely than men to Panel Surveys, women are much more likely to women seems to be fundamentally different make deep and lasting friendships. stay with the same friends. to friendship between men. The investigation into social networks by the Single people, older people and white collar " It' s much deeper and more moral: it' s about University' s Research Centre for Socio- workers are also good at paring up. the relationship itself rather than what they Cultural Change found that men are more can get out of it. Women tend to keep their fickle and calculating about who they should Middle class people are more likely to cast friends through thick and thin across be friends with. their net of friendship far wider, whereas the geography and social mobility. working class tend to stick to their own kind. Women on the other hand, stand by their " Men, on the other hand are more fickle with friends through thick and thin. Dr Gindo Tampubolon said the findings on their relationships and seem more interested female friendship were doubly significant in ' what' s in it for me” . Adding to the bad news for male prestige, the because the data suggests we are much more study confirms the stereotype that men are likely socialise with people from our own likely to base their friendship on social gender - 75 per cent of best friends were with drinking. the same sex.
10 Teaching and Learning
In brief
Egyptology Students celebrate success The KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology recently hosted a reception for successful participants of the Certificate in Egyptology.
At the event, Course Director, Professor Rosalie David, congratulated students on their success before presenting each participant with a memento certificate written in hieroglyphs.
The course, which has been delivered at the University for the past 30 years, is available both as a face-to-face taught course and through online distance learning. The latter is currently proving to be very popular, with students from as far afield as Australia and Mexico as well as from Europe and the UK being able to pursue their interest in Egyptology under the direction of a leading academic in the field.
Blackpool Graduates A process consultancy programme developed by the Centre for Educational Leadership (CEL) at The University of Manchester is being piloted by Blackpool Council to better meet the needs At the HeLM of children in the borough. from, help them map their progress towards the Medical students are set to benefit from CEL was commissioned by Blackpool Council to new technology which will help them desired curriculum outcomes, and encourage reflection on learning. produce a bespoke version of their Postgraduate with their work-based studies. Certificate in Process Consultancy in response to An Assessment Integration workpackage has two A research group based in the Manchester Medical the government's Every Child Matters campaign. components. One is to support formative School is starting work on the Horus e-Learning assessment. Another, more technically orientated, The Centre has just seen its first wave of Management (HeLM) Project. links Medlea with the Universities Medical participants complete the course and graduate A grant of £200,000 from the Joint Information Assessment Partnership database (an assessment and it is the first time this course has been used Systems Committee (JISC). will extend the Medlea item bank). in the UK within the children's context. Learning environment which is used by all Medical With the Service Generalisation work package, the Students and integrate it with Horus, a It is hoped the course will help children's leaders emphasis is to extend the services beyond medicine, sophisticated technology to support work-based - including social workers, headteachers, addressing both technical and pedagogic issues learning. The combined strength of the two educational advisers and aftercare managers - to entailed in their wider use. technologies is novel and has wide potential to implement the new children's agenda, which support vocational higher education. The work of the group consists of identifying user was prompted by the Victoria Climbie Inquiry. requirements, writing “use cases” (descriptions of The project has a number of discrete the processing of teaching and learning), using This new national approach demands that `workpackages’. The Student Portfolio workpackage modelling techniques to identify roles and processes public authorities team up in new ways to share is extending the e-technology services to support that reside therein, and produce a specification for IT information and work together better to protect portfolio learning; in doing so, it builds on a services to support those processes. Dr Jim Petch of sophisticated reflective learning project in Phase I of children and young people from harm and give the University Distributed Learning Unit is leading the Undergraduate Curriculum. them the best opportunities in life. that part of the project, together with Dr Hilary The Teacher Portfolio workpackage builds on a Dexter, an expert in modeling. University tutors will now be researching the technology that has been in place at Hope Hospital impact of the programme on the service and The final work package, involving the overall project for some years, which provides clinical teachers with making the outcomes known to other authority management, is being performed by Dr Iain information about the quantity and quality of their Campbell, Head of Information Systems at the groups. It may then be rolled out to other educational contribution. HeLM will reprovide the Manchester Medical School. councils. services using updated technology, extend them, and support teachers’ own reflective learning. Professor Tim Dornan, said:”As with all JISC projects, it is fast-paced. Medical students in the second half A particularly innovative feature is the link between of Year 3 will begin to reap some benefits of the this technology and the Certificate Course in Work- project imminently, and the project will begin to based Education that is due to start within the impact on the experience of teachers by the end of Manchester Medical School this autumn. the next academic year. The project has also helped The Learning Management in Workplaces the Medical School make progress with its workpackage. A pilot project will be conducted to ambitious project to evaluate the entire length and strengthen and evaluate the ability of Horus breadth of the programme using previously services to support students’ workbased learning, validated evaluation techniques.” . give them a wider variety of workplaces to choose 11 Profile
Achiever Alison Winter Games in Torino, Summer Games in Bangkok, world championships in China…it all sounds pretty exotic, especially when you list “travel” as one of your interests. But for Alison Odell, the University’s Director of Sport, Executive Board member of FISU (governing body for world university sport) and vice-chair of FISU’s Educaton commission and of its Co-ordination and Planning Group, such events in such places merely reflect her standing in the world of university sport. She is by nature an achiever, driven by the energy, enthusiasm and competitiveness which have seen her through her 30 years of experience in the field, nearly all at this University.
12 CV
Name Alison Odell Current Post She is not one for self-promotion or hot air (except, Commonwealth Games, and working with the City Director of Sport, of course, in the sporting sense, in those big of Manchester we can become a world leader in the The University of Manchester balloons, which took her to 5th place in the 2003 development of knowledge and expertise around Women’s World Cup and, in 2002, won her an sport and major events. Sport can contribute Education international award through the Royal Aero Club for significantly to community engagement, to 1969-1973 her services to the sport of Hot Air Ballooning). But, developing leadership, and to the physical and BA Hons in French she is one for promoting sport and its place on the mental health of students and our staff alike…..and University of Birmingham University’s agenda, as well as its recognition by above all, to having some fun!.” governmental and sports bodies. Little wonder that 1973-1974 Looking back to her early years, Alison, being tall and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Postgraduate Certificate of Education in athletic, always seemed destined for a sporting life, got her to chair their policy-defining Higher French and Physical Education if not a career. Her father was a county badminton Education Sport Advisory Group, which resulted in University of Birmingham player for Worcestershire – and she was to follow his the establishment, amongst other things, of the path, representing the county for eleven years and, Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS). The 1992-1994 later on, playing for Cheshire as a veteran until just scheme is funded by the DCMS to the tune of £5 MSc (Distinction) in Sociology of Sport last year. million a year – and Alison is Chair of its and Sports Management Implementation Advisory Group. At school, the Alice Ottley in Worcester, she was in University of Leicester the tennis and lacrosse teams. But she was also In the summer of 2006, she received the prestigious academic and went on to university in Birmingham 1995-1997 AD Munrow Award “for outstanding contribution to to read French: “When I got there, I discovered that I Diploma in Management Studies Higher Education Sport”, having served as chair of could combine French with sport, ultimately with PE Manchester Metropolitan University both BUSA and UCS in the last 10 years. She was also in my PGCE, which was ideal.” And she did. She appointed as a Mentor (one of only nine) to UK became university badminton captain and Chair of Brief Career History Sport’s 400 international representatives at world- the Athletic Union. She also indulged her other – 1993-98 wide events and she has been made a Fellow of the and continuing -great interest, music. She played Deputy Director of Sport, World Academy of Sport, based at MBS and offering piano and violin, and joined the university orchestra. The University of Manchester management training for sports executives. She graduated in 1973, did a PGCE, and “started 1979-93 So, she certainly is an achiever. And her list of looking round for a sports-related job, which was Athletic Union Administrator and commitments goes on…..and on. Yet, quietly tucked not so easy in those days”. So, she began by teaching Manager of Outdoor Sports Facilities, away in her office on the second floor of 333 Oxford French and PE at Henley-in-Arden High School, but The University of Manchester Road, which she first entered in 1979, she remains within a year she was back at Birmingham, having self-effacing, amusing and clear-headed. 1979 successfully, rather to her surprise, applied for a job Administrator, Joint Matriculation Board, She has lived through the history and development as Athletic Union Administrator at the university. “I Manchester of university sport, starting back in the days when was responsible for the admin of all student the Men’s and the Women’s Athletic Unions in this competitive sport, intra-mural sport and outdoor 1975-78 University were quite separate, like the Men’s and sports facilities – just what I wanted,” she says. Athletic Union Administrator, Women’s Student Unions. University of Birmingham In 1979, she moved to Manchester and got a job “It is all very different now, coherent and well- with the Joint Matriculation Board. But, again, 1974-75 structured,” she says. “Sport, fitness and healthy life- things turned out right. Within months, the job Teacher of French and Physical Education styles generally have a much higher profile in of Secretary to the Men’s Athletic Union was university life – and we have an excellent support advertised – and she got it. Then, the two Unions Professional Memberships system at all levels, running from our Olympic and came together, and Alison became AU Administrator UCS (University and College Sports Association) elite athletes to those who simply want to keep fit.” and Manager responsible for all outdoor sports facilities. She also became very active and, Other Past and Current Areas of Service Two major developments in particular have boosted increasingly, much in demand at national and to Sport the place of sport on the agenda – Project Unity and international level in the development of Sports Council: member of HE advisory group the successful Olympic bid for 2012. “The last two university sport. to Sport England on Sport Development years have been fantastic,” she says. “The merger Policy 2001-03 gave me the rare opportunity of being able to create In the early years, however, sport was rather on the and put in place a fully integrated structure for periphery of the University mainstream. “I took pride UCS Representative to Sport England Sport.” Of course, there was the small matter of in the independence of the AU, but I felt like a lone Partnerships Forum, April 2004 - 2006 sorting out the rivalries of fiercely partisan teams ranger sometimes,” she says. She was pretty Local Football Partnership member 2002- from the two universities – and with more than effective as such. She got some key administrators present 2,000 students actively involved in 41 clubs that was on her side, who recognised the need for the quite a challenge. Now, all is well and last year saw University to provide an umbrella. And, in 1993, the Manchester City Badminton Development the University attain its best standard ever in the first Director of Sport, Tony Sainsbury, Manager of Group – July 2003-present British Universities (BUSA) Championships, climbing the British Paralympic Team, was appointed, with Government/DCMS: member of HE/FE into the top ten. Alison as Deputy Director. “Tony brought things advisory group (Chair of HE Sport together and managed change very effectively,” she As to the challenges and opportunities offered by Development for DCMS 2001- 2002) says. New facilities like the Sugden Centre and the 2012, Alison says: “It is a catalyst for the whole of Aquatics Centre opened up, as old ones, like the Chair TASS Operations and Management sport in the UK and the universities have a McDougall Centre, were closed. Board (IAG), December 2003- present significant role to play at many levels – producing athletes, training volunteers, providing facilities and After a progressive five years, he moved on – and (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme: DCMS accommodation around training and holding camps Alison took over. It has been quite a journey – and it £5m pa for 2004-08) for visiting teams and cultural/educational events.” goes on. She looks forward enthusiastically to the This University already has to its credit the challenges ahead and even more achievement?. Mentor to UK Sport International Reps successful housing of athletes during the 2002 Programme: one of 9 mentors appointed July 2006 to support newcomers to programme for about 400 international representatives. 13 Reaching Out
Brain Awareness National Science Week 12-18 March and Engineering Week Running alongside NSEW was Brain Awareness Week when some of the University’s finest brains came together to arrange a variety of activities 9-18 March all related to grey matter. Brain Awareness Week is an international effort The British Association’s National In the Faculty of Engineering and Physical organized by the Dana Alliance for Brain Science and Engineering Week saw two Sciences (EPS), highlights of the week’s activities, Initiatives to advance public awareness about the of the University’s Faculties and the which were aimed at Year 9 pupils and upwards, progress and benefits of brain research. included an explosive chemistry demonstration Shoppers to Asda’s Eastlands store were given the Manchester Museum organise an array from Dr Sarah Heath and a session from Dr David chance to learn about the human brain as part of of exciting events aimed at Moore explored nature’s colourful – and an initiative to promote science to the public using sometimes deadly – creations in his Funky Fungi schoolchildren. hand-on activities and scientific experiments sessions. The museum launched its own take on the Week organised by Faculty of Life Sciences scientists. with Blast Off Big Saturday, where visitors were Not to be outdone, Life Sciences organised On 17 March, visitors to the Manchester Museum invited to step inside the Jodrell Bank mobile their own activities including three fun science could `Make Sense of Your Brain’ with hands-on planetarium and see day turn to night and take sessions for Year 9 and 10 pupils from across activities, fool your brain and senses, try a brain part in physics tricks for kids, including powering the North West to highlight the work of the quiz and win brain-related goodies. a rocket with Alka Seltzer and creating a tornado Wellcome Trust for Cell Matrix Research. Pupils in a bottle. from three schools in Oldham, Bramhall and Psychological scientists from the University Chester built a three-dimensional helix from explained their work to local secondary school They also held an Ideas Café on Jodrell Bank at 50, Liquorice Allsorts, learnt what cartilage comprises pupils at an interactive event on 14 March. where Ian Morison presented a history of the and investigated the properties of mucus using Jodrell Bank Observatory and Dr Sam Alberti tubs of glue! 200 pupils took part in activities and talks with revealed the story of the piece of moon rock researchers from the School of Psychological exhibited in the Museum for one week in 1969 Sciences, including renowned autism expert Dr which attracted 24,000 visitors. Dougal Hare and brain-imaging specialist Dr Daniela Montaldi.
University brings net gain to community
The University of Manchester is helping to bring the information super highway to its inner city neighbours . A new internet café supported by the University was officially opened last month and was celebrated with a Chinese banquet, and a display of ceremonial dragons and fireworks. It is hoped that the café will be used by the local Ardwick communities as an IT training and job search facility, as well as an after-school homework club by pupils at Medlock County Primary School. The University, in conjunction with Manchester City Council, has been involved with a number of initiatives to improve relationships with its neighbouring communities over the last two years. The University has reinforced its commitment by supplying computers and furniture for the internet café and users. Basic computing courses will also be offered to local residents and volunteers working in the café. more productively with our neighbours in the The Ardwick area is one of the most economically Ardwick communities. We hope that the internet disadvantaged in Manchester, with high levels of Lord Mayor of Manchester Cllr David Sandiford café will be widely used and will be seen as a unemployment and low levels of academic (pictured) who officially opened the café, said: valuable resource that will improve employment achievement. Access levels to information "This internet café is an excellent example of a and training opportunities." technology and in particular the internet are low. community empowering themselves to access information and learning. It's a wonderful The internet café situated in the Grosvenor The University of Manchester has worked with example of committed residents and public- Centre, Justin Close, Chorlton-on-Medlock, will the following local associations on the project: spirited partners coming together to improve function the same as any other café on the high Chorlton-on-Medlock Tenants and Residents services for the whole community." street, but the emphasis will be on helping local Association, Manchester Digital Development residents to search for employment and training Agency, South Manchester Regeneration Team, Steve Grant, Assistant Director of Human opportunities on-line. Formal after-school Ardwick Ward Co-ordination and Wai Yin Chinese Resources at the University said: "We see homework sessions will also be run by Medlock Women's Society. 14 this as an excellent opportunity to engage County Primary School. Manchester students dig deep
More than 100 University of Manchester students region. Twenty-four tonnes of litter were cleared by were excellent ambassadors for the University, recently took part in a range of local community the students at High Town, Merseyside, in bitter making a meaningful contribution to the local activities as part of Student Volunteering Week. temperatures. community.” Many of the students who participated are on the These events, as well as First Aid training, were * Community-conscious students also ensured that Manchester Leadership Programme (MLP), which organised by Manchester Student Volunteers (MSV), the annual Kaleidoscope Fair in March was a huge involves 60 hours of volunteering. part of the MLP, Careers & Employability Division. success. Run by the Careers Service, this event The students planted trees, made and took hanging Some were held in partnership with Manchester City Council. focused on careers and volunteering opportunities baskets to a children's nursery and an elderly within not-for-profit organisations and the public persons' home, built bird boxes and participated in Andrea Rannard, MSV Manager, said: “Student sector, and attracted around 1,000 students. the annual North West Regional Beach Clean, which Volunteering Week was more popular than ever, attracted around 150 students from across the with all events filled well in advance. The students
Pushing back the frontiers A course run by the University’s Courses for the Alison Scott who is responsible for science courses, Public has proved so popular that the University has said: “The interesting part has been the change in been asked to take it out to the community. dynamics. The students were obviously used to sitting quietly at school or college but I noticed that Frontiers of Medicine comprised seven weekly after a few weeks they were joining in asking very lectures by leading researchers: Professors Tony pertinent questions. Freemont, Bill Ollier, Tim Hardingham and Dame “Some of them have really caught the excitement Prof Nancy Rothwell from the University; Professor that the adults have for finding out and I think it Adnan Custovic of Wythenshawe Hospital; Dr Tom has give them confidence in themselves and a little Southgate of the Paterson Institute and Dr Daniel insight to how they might be able to learn in a Brison of St Mary’s Hospital who all spoke about lecture situation.” their areas of research. Now Urmston Grammar with Science College The course was aimed at the public and recruited status has asked for the course to be run again at over 40 adults then it was opened it to AS and A2 the school for the community and students and will students and within a week was full at 80 people. kick off again in the autumn. 15 What’s On
The Whitworth Chaplaincies Contact Theatre Art Gallery St Peter’s House Chaplaincy Thur 12 - Sat 14 April, 8pm SUNDAY WORSHIP Contact presents Contact Young Actors Company in DISPLAYS/COLLECTIONS 11am Holy Communion Close Up 12.15am Bible Study Directed by John E McGrath Indigo: A Blue to Dye For to 15 April 2007 12.45 Lunch (1st Sunday) Tues 17 - Thurs 19 April, 8pm With exhibits ranging from Egyptian burial 6.30pm Evening Worship (term-time only) clothes to William Morris chintzes and iconic People Show 118: The Birthday Tour brands of denim jeans, Indigo tells the story of FOYER 10am - 5pm Thu 19 - Sat 21 April, 7.30pm one of the world's oldest and most magical An area where students and staff can relax and Madrugada presents dyestuffs. meet friends. A tea/coffee machine is available. Mr Sole Abode The Uncertainty of Identity: Precinct Centre 0161 275 2894 For information on other events please The Biographies of Things to March 2008 email: [email protected] visit our website. This exhibition explores the contexts in which RC Chaplaincy , Avila House the identity of an art or design object is formed Oxford Road, Manchester Mass Times (term-time only) and destabilised - creating its `life history' or Tickets/Info: 0161 274 0600 SUNDAY: 7pm (in the Holy Name Church) next `biography'. Where does the object come from www.contact-theatre.org door to Chaplaincy and who made it? Mon, Wed, Fri: 6pm in the Chaplaincy Chapel Featuring Walls: celebrating three centuries Tues, Thurs: 12.15 pm in the Chaplaincy Chapel of wallpaper decoration to 30 Sept 2007 Oxford Road (opposite the Students’ Union) Featuring Walls shows off some of the Gallery's 0161 273 1456 Jodrell Bank most visually stunning and inventive decorations email: [email protected] to explore wallpaper as a signifier of social The facilities at Jodrell Bank are going through a www.rc-chaplaincy-um.org.uk status, a source of imaginative inspiration and a period of redevelopment. The Visitors Centre reflector or our cultural preoccupations. The Jewish Student Centre and Synagogue currently has a café, an exhibition space and a Hillel House, Greenheys Lane. 3D theatre open, and visitors can still explore the The Textile Gallery 0161 226 1139 various trails and the natural habitats of the The new displays are arranged thematically email: [email protected] Arboretum's 35 acres with its 2000 species of around subjects such as Rites of Passage, www.rabbiyy.com trees and shrubs and National Collections . Inspiration for Design and Recycling, with each highlighting the wide geographical and Jodrell Bank Observatory historical range of the collection. Macclesfield, Cheshire 01477 571339 www.jb.manchester.ac.uk TOURS AND EVENTS Every Saturday at 2pm there is either an International Society Exhibition Tour or an Eye-Opener Tour. Saturday 7 April North Wales visiting Llangollen and Powis Castle Opening hours John Rylands Mon to Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun 2pm - 5 pm Sunday 8 April FREE Admission Castle Howard and Knaresborough University Library Collection Exhibitions Archive Now Online Saturday 14 April (Deansgate) The Whitworth’s online ‘Collections Catalogue’ Lake District visiting Keswick now allows you to browse and search selected The John Rylands Library, Deansgate is coming to exhibitions held at the Gallery over the past 10 Sunday 15 April the end of a three year, £16.5 million years. Follow the link from homepage at: Peak District visiting Speedwell Cavern and Lyme transformation. The Library is due to re-open to www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk Hall the public in spring 2007. The temporary Special Collections Reading Room which has been Opening hours Oxford Road, operating from the Main Library is now closed to Mon-Fri 9.30am – 7.00pm (during term time) 0161 275 7450 readers. Special Collections reader services will Mon-Fri 9.30am – 5pm (during vacation) email: [email protected] re-open on Tuesday 10 April 2007 in the John 327 Oxford Road (next to Krobar) Rylands Library, Deansgate. During the closure 0161 275 4959 period we shall do our best to meet the needs of email: [email protected] readers who require urgent access to specific www.internationalsociety.org.uk items and would appreciate advance notice of Burlington Society such requests whenever possible. If you have any The Society of Mature Students and queries about Special Collections reader services, Postgraduates in the Universities of Greater please telephone 0161 275 3764 or visit our Manchester. website at www.manchester.ac.uk/library Burlington Rooms, Schunck Building, Burlington Street (next to JRUL) 0161 275 2392 16 www.burlington.man.ac.uk Music and Drama The Manchester Gig Guide at Manchester Museum Manchester Academy Friday 20 April, 5pm SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS MANCHESTER ACADEMY 1, 2 & 3 Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall Wild Britain extended until 27 Aug 2007 Wed 11 April Psappha Ben Hall is rapidly developing a reputation as Within Temptation Beat the Rush-Hour Concert one of the UK's best young wildlife Tickets: FREE photographers. In this, his first major exhibition, Thurs 12 April Lagwagon Thursday 26 April, 7.30pm you will see the outstanding quality of his pictures of Britain's wildlife and also learn Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall Fri 13 April something of the craft of nature photography. The University of Manchester Brass Ensemble Rebecca + Bye Bye Johnny + A concert featuring a wide variety of original and Alchemy Artists to 29 April Frame of Midn + Waiger arranged brass music, including small character Exhibition of past work by the artists selected for Sat 14 April ensembles. Tickets: £8/£5/£3 Alchemy Fellowships. Goldblade Monday 30 April, 7.30pm FAMILY EVENTS Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall Wed 18 April Richard Casey - Piano Recital Monday 2 - Friday 14 April, 11am-4pm (excluding Explosions in the Sky Friday 6 and Monday 9 April) Richard Casey returns with another dazzling Thurs 19 April Plantastic! display of pianistic virtuosity featuring Debussy's Ugly Duckling lesser-known piano Etudes, Diablo Canyon by Discover amazing facts about our natural history Manchester-based composers Camden Reeves specimens and take part in activities inspired by Sat 21 April and Xenakis's ferocious modern masterpiece, the Museum's Botany collections. Classic Manchester Night: Evryali. Tickets: £8/£5/£3 Tickets: FREE. All ages. The Clone Roses v Re:Order (tributes) + Guest DJ Clint Boon BIG SATURDAY Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 May, 5pm Keith Urban John Thaw Studio Theatre Saturday 21 April, 11am-4pm New Writers, New Writing Fri 27 April Step into Spring! A festival of new writing from students on the Low Get in shape with museum-inspired sport Writing for Performance course at the University activities and also take part in especially themed Sat 28 April of Manchester, in conjunction with the Royal art and craft drop-in workshops. The Children Exchange Theatre. Tickets: £2 Tickets: Most activities are free but some may Tues 1 May cost £1.50 Thursday 3 and Friday 4 May, 5pm The Ataris John Thaw Studio Theatre Friday 27 April, 11am-12pm Living Room Tickets from: The Magic Carpet A video installation created by Drama students Students' Union, Oxford Road Story telling for under 5s with a birds and under the direction of Rachel Davies, 2005 Piccadilly Box Office @ easy Internet Cafe (c/c) mammals theme. winner of the Grand Prix IMZ International 0871 2200260 Tickets: £1 Dance Screen Award and John Thaw Fellow in Royal Court (Liverpool) 0151 709 4321 (c/c) Drama. Tickets: FREE Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April Students’ Union Victorian Gentleman FREE For further information contact: Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL Collect an `I've spied Mr Pye' sticker from The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama 0161 275 2930 Graham Pye Esquire, somewhere in the Museum Bridgeford Street www.manchesteracademy.net today. Manchester M13 9PL Tickets: FREE 0161-275 8951/8950 email: [email protected] Prebooked Family Events (0161 275 2648) www.manchester.ac.uk/martinharriscentre Drop-in Family Events (£1 per child, unless Courses for the Public otherwise stated. For group bookings please call 0161 275 2648. Children must be accompanied by The Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) runs a an adult). large and varied programme of courses designed for adults studying part-time whether for Tabley House Opening hours pleasure or personal/professional development. Small conference and meeting rooms available Open: Tues-Sat 10 - 5pm Most are open to beginners and no prior year-round. Licensed for weddings and baby- Sun-Mon (and Bank Holidays) 11- 4 pm knowledge is assumed unless stated. naming ceremonies . FREE Admission Concessions are available to staff and graduates of the University of Manchester. Tabley House Oxford Road, Manchester Brochures/application forms available. Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 0HB 01565 750151 0161 275 2634 email: [email protected] www.manchester.ac.uk/museum CCE, 1st Floor, Humanities Devas Street www.tableyhouse.co.uk 0161 275 3275 www.manchester.ac.uk/continuingeducation 17 Feature
Emily’s culture commission
Manchester postgraduate student Emily Howard is to receive a billing alongside Mahler and Beethoven when her specially commissioned work is performed as a world première at an event to celebrate the Liverpool European Capital of Culture Programme this December.
Although Emily, who has been composing since but says there are many similarities between the of everything I have been doing while at the age of five and achieved Grade 8 cello at the thought processes of maths and composition as Manchester and it’s been fantastic to make use of age of 10, has had her work performed on well as another of her hobbies, chess. She was the superb facilities in the Martin Harris Building, numerous occasions, this will be her largest scale British Junior Girls Chess Champion for six especially the Concert Hall which is a great venue. and highest profile performance yet, performed by consecutive years, she says a chess match certainly I’ve enjoyed working with Psappha, the University the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and led helps to focus the mind. of Manchester’s Ensemble in Residence and I’m by their newly appointed principal conductor really looking forward to writing a string quartet On top of her studies, Emily manages to find time Vasily Petrenko in a concert that includes a for the amazing Quatuor Danel.” to fulfil various roles including Composer in performance from soprano Amanda Roocroft. Residence for Liverpool City Council Music Service, Professor Casken said: "It's so important for young Emily, who hails from Liverpool, says:” I was Tutor in Composition at the Junior Department of composers to hear their works performed in commissioned to write the piece after being the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) and public, and the RLPO commission will give Emily a noticed through my work with the RLPO’s New Visiting Lecturer in Composition at the University golden opportunity to realise her ideas on a large Music Group Ensemble 10/10. It’s such an honour of Leeds. In 2004 she completed a Masters in scale. Writing for the different colours of the to be asked! I am really excited about the work Composition at the Royal Northern College of orchestra is an enormous challenge and I look being performed - I’m still working on it but Music with Adam Gorb, gaining a double forward enormously to hearing the finished work." things are going very well. It’s so inspiring to be distinction. She is now part way through her PhD The RLPO event at which Emily’s work will receive writing for such a wonderful orchestra.“ in Composition with John Casken at The University its premiere is`Vienna Connections’, a concert to of Manchester. Despite her obvious musical talents Emily took her celebrate the Capital of Culture 2008 and will be first degree in Maths and Computation at Oxford Emily adds “John Casken has been very supportive held on 6 December 2007.
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40 million year old Gaming Counters
These Prussian Victorian Gaming Counters are made of 40 million year old amber. Amber is fossil tree resin that often traps insects as it oozes from the tree. The counters have been cut from a large lump of amber and then been carved and decorated. Their delicate nature and value means they would probably have been used in gentlemen’s clubs (not for a hearty game of snap!) Large lumps of pure amber and such detailed carved pieces are very rare. Most of the Museum’s amber specimens have insects trapped inside them and are very valuable for insect research. The amber used to make these counters is very pure and free of inclusions and highly sort after by jewellers. These Gaming Counters were part of Professor Friedrich Adolf Paneth’s collection. A German Professor of Chemistry, born in 1887, Paneth fled Nazi ruled Germany whilst on a lecture tour to Britain and was Director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry before his death. He collected Baltic amber in his spare time.
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