The Felix Sexism Survey
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“Keep the Cat Free” ISSUE 1519 FELIX 25.05.12 The student voice of Imperial College London since 1949 The Felix Sexism Survey: Results We’ve collected together the results of last term’s survey: Page 15 Life Sciences cuts at Silwood TECHNOLOGY Staff depart natural science campus as select courses are suspended Christian Richters Alexander Karapetian Concerns regarding staff shortages have risen as entry to postgraduate courses in the Department of Life Sciences has been suspended. Cours- Sexism in the realm es such as the Entomology MRes and MSc, Integrated Pest Management of technology MSc and Plant Science and Biotech- nology MSc, held in Silwood Park, Page 13 are marked on the postgraduate online course list as ‘’suspended for 2012- 2013 entry’’. An anonymous report alerted Felix to claims that an increasing amount of Life Sciences staff are beginning to FILM leave Imperial and take their courses elsewhere. The closures of courses taught by such staff will affect the reputation of Silwood Park, famous Academic campus Silwood Park is situated near Ascot for Applied Ecology, Pest Manage- ment, Forestry and Entomology, and Imperial as a whole. of my subjects are at stake”, and that the subject to continue to be taught in Sconce spoke to Felix and said “these A suite of closely related Masters regardless, “I’ve enjoyed my time at a healthy environment with the right Applied Ecology courses have been taught postgraduate courses run by Dr Silwood”. people, not for personal progression. held at here at Silwood for a long Simon Leather, including Entomolo- “I feel it’s my duty that when I re- Entomology is a subject which has time, we are seeing the end of a part gy MSc and Conservation and Forest tire”, he continued, “entomology is been taught at Silwood Park for more of Silwood Park and Imperial College Protection MSc have been suspended. still taught in the UK, and if I stay at than fi fty years, and Leather said that history”, adding “as a student on the All you need to know Felix spoke to Dr Leather, who is Silwood, entomology as a taught sub- “the events of the last year have made Entomology MRes it’s really sad to moving to Harper Adams University ject may stop”. Dr Leather expressed people feel less settled”, increasing see my course leave. I also feel that about Cannes in Shropshire to continue teaching the his concerns for the teaching of such fears that the department may be lack- it is very short-sighted of Imperial to courses. He commented that “circum- unique fi elds in Life Sciences and em- ing a strategy. let these courses go, they focus on ar- Page 24 stances mean that the future teaching phasised the intention to move was for Silwood Park President Francisca ...Continued on Page 3 Imperial falls in university ranking TRAVEL Controversy over drop from 10th to 13th in latest Guardian tables Matthew Colvin results from the National Student Sur- results, which ostensibly helps to de- out of 10. The University had an over- vey, expenditure per student, and the termine the effectiveness of teaching at all ranking of 76th on the table. Imperial has dropped from 10th to student to staff ratio. an institution. Imperial scored 4.5/10 Imperial did however see success on 13th place in the Guardian University The continued presence of a ‘Value in comparison to the leader of the the table with relation to the category Guide 2013, the results of which were Added’ category in the results has rankings Cambridge, who scored 5.7 ‘Career Prospects’. The score for this Cruising through published on Monday 21 May. The caused signifi cant controversy. The re- and second place Oxford, scoring 6.7. category is the percentage of graduates guide, which ranks universities across sult, a score out of ten, is formulated The University of Hertfordshire saw who fi nd graduate-level jobs, or fur- Kerala the United Kingdom, saw institutions by comparing a university’s entry re- the highest score under the ‘Value ther study, within six months of gradu- ranked across various areas, including quirements with students’ fi nal degree Added’ category, with a score of 7.7 ...Continued on Page 3 Page 28 2 Friday 25 may 2012 FELIX HIGHLIGHTS Considering a career in CLASSIFIEDS science media? Fancy £12K for your wedding? Don’t Tell the Bride Call for proposals: are looking for couples to get married in 2012! 2012/13 Science on Air – a hands-on in- Email [email protected] troduction to broadcasting about Just so we’re clear, Felix accepts no responsibility Do you make art? research and innovation for unexpected marriages, cool? Cool. This interactive course will give a fi rst-hand Would you like to exhibit in the insight into how the science media works Blyth Gallery? and explore how science and innovation are communicated to the public. It will Lolcat of teh week provide an insight into media careers and a possible fi rst step towards transferring to jobs in broadcast and related creative industries. The course includes a workshop in a fully equipped broadcast studio. Presented by: Gareth Mitchell, Click, BBC World Service With free personalised guidance and LJ Rich, Click BBC World Service support in developing your creative Greg Foot, Secrets of Everything, BBC ideas, from professional artist, tutor Three and curator Mindy Lee. Places are strictly limited. Early booking is Open to all studying and working at advised. Imperial College. Deadline 31 May 2012 13 – 15 July 2012 Please note that the gallery is in very high demand Fees: £875 and not all applications will be successful. Student rate: £500 Blyth Gallery Level 5 Sherfield Building, Imperial College, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ For further details contact: [email protected] Stephanie O’Mahony, School of Professional Development E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 6882 www.imperial.ac.uk/cpd/scienceonair Felix, Beit Quad, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BB. Email: [email protected]. Tel: 020 7594 8072. Fax: 020 7594 8065. Printed by Iliffe Print Cambridge, Winship Road, Cambridge. Registered newspaper ISSN 1040-0711. FELIX Copyright © Felix 2012. Editor-in-Chief Matthew Colvin Editor-in-Prowling Tim Arbabzadah Deputy Editor Charles Betts News Editors Sophia David Alex Nowbar Reporters Alexander Karapetian Aemun Reza Features Editors Katy Bettany Stephen Smith Sports Editor Indy Leclercq Sports Rookies Gabriel Oppetit Johnny Wong Science Editors Kelly Oakes Alexander Karapetian Business & Finance Editors Will Prince Deepka Rana Politics Editors Rajat Jain Joseph Letts Technology Editors Chris Bowers Feroz Salam Comment Editors Tim Arbabzadah Samuel Horti Arts Editors Will Prince Eva Rosenthal Music Editors Mark England Ross Gray Simon Hunter Íñigo Martínez De Rituerto Alex Ramadan Fashion Editors Saskia Verhagen Alice Yang Television Editors George Barnett James Simpson Film Editors John Park Lucy Wiles Games Editor Laurence Pope Books Editor Maciej Matuszewski Food Editors Anastasia Eleftheriou Michael Krestas Travel Editors Dushi Arumuganesan Chris Richardson Online Editors Philip Kent Jonathan Kim Puzzles Admiral James Hook Photo Editor Miles Robertson Copy Editors Carol Ann Cheah Philip Kent Jonathan Peek Annina Sartor FELIX Friday 25 may 2012 3 News Editors: Sophia David Alex Nowbar [email protected] NEWS League table results questioned Deputy President (Education) criticises choice of league table categories ...Continued from Front Page ation. Scoring 84% under the category, this placed the institution above the London School of Economics’ relative score of 82% at the top of the leader- board for this category. Imperial is placed third amongst the London-based universities, with the London School of Economics be- ing placed in 3rd position overall, and University College London placed at 6th position. Deputy President (Education) Jason Parmar was particularly outspoken on Imperial’s position in the rankings, and league tables in general: “I believe that prioritising the stu- dent experience as a criteria for UK league tables is commendable of the Guardian, The Sunday Times and others. However, it is fair to say that the methodology of these tables have meant that they can be seen as doing a complete disservice to the prospective The ‘value added’ score in the rankings (above: left) have been criticised by Deputy President (Education) Jason Parmar (above: right) students who use them” “We should be asking ourselves the question: should career prospects and ian league table doesn’t even consider be hacked by students with very little Parmar was particularly vocal re- simply increase the amount of fi rsts research have greater weighting in research worries me. effort. In addition to this the three garding the ‘Value Added’ category: and upper seconds it awards, lower its modern league tables if we are to pro- “In addition, their analysis and student experience areas taken from “Although in principal the ‘Value entry requirements, and have terrible vide future students with a good ser- measure of the student experience, the NSS are ‘Overall Satisfaction’, Added’ category aims to “show how teaching effectiveness. This is counter vice? In the current fi nancial climate which contributes so heavily in the ‘Feedback’ and ‘Teaching’. But this effective teaching is”, it could easily productive as it lessens the academ- career prospects are crucial to a stu- table, is unreliable as it is based solely doesn’t cover, for example, ‘Learning do the exact opposite. To top the table ic integrity of graduates, and hence the dent’s choice of university, now more on the National Student Survey. We Resources’, which is a very important in this criteria, which is worth 15% table can easily misguide prospective so than ever. The fact that the Guard- even saw in Felix that the NSS could part of the student experience.” of the overall score, a university can students.” Courses end at Silwood Sponsored Editorial Matthew Colvin More student cuts Discount haircuts for Imperial students at Fresh Hairdressers More student cuts for Imperial To book an appointment, students at South Kensington’s call 0207 823 8968.