Guardian Student Media Awards 2005 Best Magazine Nominee

I,Thes Imperialci Collegeence Science Magazine

Issue 2 Summer 2005

, As science magazineience for Imperial College Science and ReligionI c Robert Winston’s Story of God ‘Syked’ about Science

Issue 3 Winter 2005

Cover-Contents-Editorial-BackCover2.indd 1 25/11/05 3:08:57 am IssueI, s 3c Winterience 2005 Editor-in-chief From the Editor Mun Keat Looi Section Editors Imperial Features Letitia Hughes CIENCE, LIGHT of our lives, fire of our minds. Science seeks Helen Thomson to explain our existence and purpose, but in doing so strays into the territory of religion. So the conflict began. You know External Features the story: two households, both alike in dignity... Amber Bauer S Stella Papadopoulou Here at I, Science we see little difference between the frying pan and the fire. The row over Intelligent Design theory has reignited Interviews the debate on both sides of the Atlantic. Google, the new ultimate Chris Miles source of knowledge, finds an astonishing 118 million hits for the Lilian Anekwe term “science and religion”. Is there a place for science in religion, or religion in science? News and Events There is plenty of opinion at the Imperial College of Science, David Brill Technology and Medicine: the Rector, Sir Richard Sykes (p18), the Laura Middleton Chaplain Andrew Willson (p25), Professor Lord Robert Winston (p10) and the Reverend Sir John Polkinghorne (p12). Of course, we Opinion take the opportunity to wax lyrical ourselves (p25). Duncan McMillan Permit me my two cents worth. Professor Sir Richard Dawkins, Daniela de Angel one of the major voices in the debate, spoke at Imperial recently. Professor Dawkins once said that science is not a religion because Reviews Alex Antonov it “is free of the main vice of religion…faith”. But not everyone Helen Morant understands the many facets of science. Yet a good proportion of the public trust in the logic of scientific reasoning. “But science is Web Editor different!” I hear you cry. Everyone thinks they know what science Laura Goodall is. Everyone thinks they know what religion is too. Neither should be masquerading as the other. Science may not be a religion, but it is Graphics and Layout nevertheless something people believe in. Amber Bauer Alex Antonov Having stoked the fire, I leave you to discuss. Stella Papadopoulou Mun-Keat Looi Liv Hov-Clayton Meera Senthilingam P.S. Congratulations to I,Science writer Zoe Corbyn, named Laura Middleton runner-up in the Best Student Features Writer at the 2005 Guardian Nikki Manomaiudom Student Media Awards. This very magazine was nominated in the Elizabeth Connor Best Student Magazine category. Kudos to everyone involved. We Advertising Manager didn’t win, but there’s always next year. Viviane Li Contributors Kerri Smith I,Science is your student science Alex Johnson Dominique Driver magazine. We need your comments, João Medeiros suggestions and contributions. If you Becky Coe Michael Marshall like to write for I,Science please contact Jonathan Black us at [email protected] Francesca Young Katherine Nightingale Greg Foot Illustrations Katherine Antoniw FRONT COVER ART by Andrew Carnie I, Science is produced and published in association with Felix, the student Image: Disperse, 2002 newspaper of Imperial College © Andrew Carnie

Felix Newspaper Courtesy of SciCult, London Beit Quad Prince Consort Road ‘Disperse’ was produced for London SW7 2BB ‘Hygiene – the art of public health’ at London School of Hygiene and Tel: 020 7594 8072 Tropical Medicine in London. It Email: [email protected] explores ideas around ‘removal’ and Registered newspaper thoughts about the departure of ISSN 1040-0711 the human body at death, looking at processes by which the body Copyright © Felix 2005 might be physically ‘dispersed’: be Printed by St Ives Roche Ltd., rendered back to atomic particles. Victoria Business Park, Roche, St. Austell, Cornwall PL26 8LX

2 I, science Winter 2005

Cover-Contents-Editorial-BackCover2.indd 2 25/11/05 8:17:06 am Issue 3 Winter 2005 I, science 22

10 24

Features Interviews 8 Use it or lose It 10 The Story of Bob Get out your GCSE French books ’cause Robert Winston on the science and religion debate. knowing a second language might keep you sane 12 Cousins under the skin in your old age. 13 Where are all the women? The Rev John Polkinghorne on the latest episode of Helena Cronin says women can’t do science. Family Guy. Or maybe science and religion. Helen Richens disagrees. 16 Moving in the right direction 14 A Christmas treat The Rector, Sir Richard Sykes, talks bacteria, The history of the Royal Institution Christmas science education and Intelligent Design. Lectures. 19 Popularising Palaeontology 15 SciArt Professor Richard Fortey on Trilobites, the Natural It’s science, but it’s also art. It’s messing with History Museum and Marilyn Monroe. our minds! 20 Surely you’re joking Mr Isham 18 Boy or Girl What exactly is theoretical physics? I can’t tell you, The ethical issues surrounding sex selection but Professor Chris Isham can. in the UK. 21 Nanotechnology Regulars Nanobots: tiny, little, wee things. Is the iPod Nano actually small enough to qualify for the 4-6 News and Events word ‘nano’? How about the iPod Wee? All the latest from Imperial and around the world. 22 Dancing to a different tune 25-27 Opinions It’s Einstein – expressed through dance! Everyone likes to wax lyrical, whatever that means. Whatever next? Darwin, the opera? 28-30 Reviews 24 I want my freedom! Books! Television! Exhibitions! Oh my! Smoking: the big public health issue. Tell me, if nicotine gum is so great, why aren’t we all 31 One more thing... chewing it? Psst. You’ll never guess what so-and-so said.

Winter 2005 I, science 3

Cover-Contents-Editorial-BackCover2.indd 3 25/11/05 3:00:09 pm NEWS & EVENTS OPINION INTERVIEWS REVIEWS Imperial News Give the doc a bone Lack of sex can lead to extinction OCTOBER: Imperial’s Dr Edward Draper and colleagues have developed a new laser imaging technique which can more fully NOVEMBER: Asexual organisms can assess the strength of bones. It could help reproduce rapidly and initially prosper ahead detect the likelihood of future osteoporosis of their sexually active relatives. But new in young women. research suggests that these benefits may be Dr Draper said “Traditionally, the only way confined to the short term. to predict bone strength has been through X- The work was carried out on the P. marneffei rays, but these can only measure part of the fungus, which is dangerous to people with bone’s strength. Using this new technique weakened immune systems, such as AIDS we can get a more complete measurement, patients. The researchers found that although allowing us to predict better the risk of spores were able to travel far and wide, they fractures as a result of osteoporosis.” were unable to adapt to new environments. X-rays can be used to measure bone Without sex, there is no mixing of genes and mineral density, which only accounts for therefore no adaptation. part of the bone’s strength. The new Raman One of the authors, Dr Bill Hanage, spectroscopic technique allows scientists concluded: “While becoming asexual may to measure the collagen, which also affects provide short term advantages to a species, bone strength by eliminating the spectral in the long term they are likely to end up in components of overlying tissues. evolution’s ultimate dustbin : extinction.” Dr Draper hopes the technique will develop Readers should note that this work was into a national screening programme used done on fungus, and humans should not be © Nick Veasey by GPs. worried about facing extinction if they are “By identifying the risk of any problems currently experiencing a “dry spell”. developing early enough, this could not only Untitled make an enormous difference to the health How brainy is of individuals, but could help the NHS by negating the need for more extreme and your phone? costly interventions later”. Student binge drinking reaches new lows We want your SEPTEMBER: Your mobile phone could New TB test: one day have the memory size similar to a desktop computer thanks to a microchip that brain mimics the functioning of the brain. faster, cheaper Lead researcher Russell Cowburn, SEPTEMBER: Fed up of having a brain Professor of Nanotechnology at Imperial’s and easier you barely use? Want someone to benefit Department of Physics, explains: “The new from it after you die? video mobile phones are very popular, but NOVEMBER: A standard test for TB Dr. Kirstin Goldring of Imperial College they desperately need more memory so takes three to four weeks and costs £17-£23. has called for more people to donate their that people can take longer videos and store However, a new test has been developed brains to medical research, suggesting that: them. This technology has the potential to which takes just one week and costs only £1 “Your brain could play a vital role in helping transform mobiles into fully functioning to perform. develop better drug treatments or even video cameras, in addition to a range of other The new test, called MODS (Microscopic cures for diseases such as Parkinson’s and applications.” Observation Drug Susceptible Assay), does Alzheimer’s.” This new nanotech microchip enables large not require extensive training to perform amounts of data to be stored in small volumes and its speed and low cost mean it could be by using a complex interconnected network of massive benefit across the world. of nanowires, with computing functions and “TB is a major cause of mortality in the decisions performed at the nodes, in similar developing world, and eradicating it has been function to neurons and axons in the brain. made difficult through a lack of inexpensive The team is now working with commercial diagnosis equipment which can be deployed partners to develop the technology. quickly and easily. The MODS test provides a simple solution to this,” said Professor Jon Friedland of Imperial College, who was involved with developing the test. The MODS test won first place in the Best Innovation to Improve Global Healthcare category at the Medical Futures Innovation Awards. The award was given to Dr. David Moore, also from Imperial College. Brain for sale, only slightly used New phone unable to write dissertations

Meanwhile, staff and students at Imperial have been busy...... Imperial physicist Prof Donal Bradley wins prize for outstanding research in flat panel displays... Dr David Moore wins Innovation in Healthcare award for cheap and rapid tuberculosis test... Two Imperial students, Paul Bilokon and Ian Pong, win Science, Engineering and Technology Students of the Year... Researchers from Imperial receive $28.8 million grant to tackle TB and malaria in developing countries... Dr Simon Barnes wins entrepreneurship category of 2005 Business Week European Case Awards... Profs Gordon Conway and Peter Knight receive knighthoods... Prof Chris Toumazou receives award for his contribution to education...

4 I, science Winter 2005

News and events.indd 2 25/11/05 7:08:19 am REVIEWS INTERVIEWS OPINION NEWS & EVENTS Other News The Tao of brain Scientists create science Danger Mouse

NOVEMBER: The Dalai Lama was the NOVEMBER: Mice are not normally unusual keynote speaker at the annual renowned for their boldness. Geneticists, Society for Neuroscience’s conference in however, appear to have created a fearless Washington last week. The society hoped mouse by knocking out a single gene. the talk would help their members to think Unlike puny lab rats, these super-mice are more deeply about their role in a broader seemingly indifferent to electrical shocks social context. and, in a slap in the face to Pavlov and his More than 500 of the society’s members dogs, even ignored a tone associated with signed a petition to stop his speech, arguing the shocks. Normal mice, when conditioned that it would blur the distinction between T-Rex: not so scary after all in this way, become frozen with fear upon science and religion, but the charismatic hearing the tone. The mice also showed an Buddhist sage charmed thousands of Ju-grass-ic Park unusual willingness to explore wide open attendees with a talk on his preference for spaces in a new environment, areas where scientific inquiry over religious dogma. normal mice would fear to tread. The Dalai Lama’s presence prompted NOVEMBER: Years of bad publicity Fear stems from a part of the brain called a focus on meditation research, which have finally reached an end for dinosaurs. the amygdala. Researchers led by Gleb some scientists believe is controversial. Fossilised dung has revealed the surprising Shumyatsky of Rutgers University, New Researchers presented findings on the topic fact that some dinosaurs actually ate grass, Jersey, knocked out a gene called stathmin at the meeting. Sara Lazar, a psychologist not people on toilets as many have now come which regulates the development of at Harvard Medical School, found that to believe. structural molecules in nerve cells. Stathmin areas of the brain associated with attention The team, led by Caroline Strömberg, a is predominantly expressed in the amygdala, and sensory processing were thicker in palaeobotanist at the Swedish Museum of and without it, neurones do not form normal meditators than in non-meditators. Natural History, collected 65 million-year- connections with one another and memory Other research presented at the conference old droppings from the Deccan Traps of of fear is affected. found that the intensity of certain brain central India. The aim was to investigate “Understanding the molecules that impulses, associated with activities such as the diet of titanosaurs, a group that includes regulate fear would allow us to characterize attention and learning, increased with a type Diplodocus. the basic mechanisms of memory formation,” of meditation geared at generating loving Subsequent investigation found said Shumyatsky. compassion towards mankind. microscopic silica structures, characteristic Rumours that the mice are planning a So are the researchers now shifting their of grass remnants. Grass was previously daring revolt against their captors have not focus to develop a surgical technique to not thought to have existed until some ten been confirmed. eliminate jealousy and hatred from the million years after the dinosaurs, but it now human mind? His Holiness joked that he’d appears that they did indeed coexist. be the first to sign up for it if they could. “It was very unexpected,” says Strömberg. “We will have to rewrite our understanding of [grass] evolution … we may have to add grass to the dioramas of dinosaurs we see in museums.” Paul Barrett of the Natural History Museum, London, added: “It’s not good dinner party conversation to say you work on fossilized dinosaur turds, but they are the best way to find out what dinosaurs ate.” Opinion is divided as to whether the Spielberg movies would have been more or less exciting had the dinosaurs refused fresh The Dalai Lama as neuroscientist meat in favour of some tasty turf. You looking at me?

Winter 2005 I, science 5

News and events.indd 3 25/11/05 8:19:44 am NEWS & EVENTS OPINION INTERVIEWS REVIEWS Events Global Catastrophes: A Punter’s Guide Stella Papadopoulou

NOVEMBER: Rising seas, violent earthquakes, monstrous lava emerging from a crack in the earth’s crust, colliding asteroids and acute climate changes were highlights of The Annual Science Lecture at the Natural History Museum by Professor Bill McGuire, head of the Benfield Hazard Research Centre at University College London (UCL). Will bird flu take over the world? The fragility of our planet has never been so apparent. Last year we surfaced bleary- R.I. not afraid to talk risks | Amber Bauer eyed from the Christmas festivities to the first news of the Indian Ocean tsunami, one of the greatest natural catastrophes of modern OCTOBER: With all the headlines Morley was quick to point out, however, times. This year, the US was crippled by shouting about a potential bird flu pandemic, that as a government official you have one of the most costly natural catastrophes the media and government’s roles in to “think the unthinkable” in order to ever, Hurricane Katrina. “In the aftermath of assessing and interpreting risk have come protect the people. The government has Katrina, the city of New Orleans looked like under intense scrutiny. Accordingly, a panel to pay attention to the ‘what-ifs’ – making a scene from a post-apocalyptic Hollywood at the Royal Institution of Great Britain led contingency plans and informing the public film,” said Professor McGuire. a discussion concerning this issue, focusing of the danger – because, as shown with BSE, On average, according to the Professor, mostly on the current handling of bird flu. there is more danger in not taking the risk about 50 volcanic eruptions, 100 earth- The panel was composed of Bill Durodié, seriously enough. quakes, 40 to 50 tropical storms and a dozen professor at Cranfield University; Elliot The lack of substantial facts surrounding tornadoes occur during a single year. In the Morley MP, Minister of State for Climate the possible bird flu pandemic has caused a last 12 months alone natural disasters yielded Change and Environment; Mary Riddell, a problem in the media, according to Riddell. a death toll of 400,000 and $2 trillion worth columnist for The Observer; and Matthew There is really no “objective truth” to report. of damage costs. Wright, a Channel 5 presenter. Sheena Most of the stories are based on guesswork. How likely are we to experience events like McDonald, an award-winning broadcast Thus, according to Durodié, the this during our lifetime? “They are all much journalist and presenter, chaired the government, the media and the public have more likely than winning the jackpot on the discussion. been lured into “worse case speculation”, the UK National Lottery, which is around 14 Most of the panel agreed that both the majority of debates centring on vaccines and million to 1,” pointed out Professor McGuire. media and the government had probably government preparedness. Odds include an asteroid impact at 8,750 to exaggerated the risk of bird flu. It was There was no consensus reached on how 1; an ocean-wide mega-tsunami due to an pointed out that there was no guarantee that risk should be communicated by both the ocean island or submarine landslide (most the virus would mutate to become capable of media and the government, although Riddell likely at La Palma in the Canary Islands) at person-to-person infection. said that in her experience, “The greater the 143 to 1; a climate-altering volcanic eruption “I’m more worried about dying in a car fuss, the smaller the risk – eventually.” at 14 to 1 and a staggering 3 to 1 for an crash to tell you the truth,” Wright said. earthquake (probably in Tokyo), with world- wide economic effects. However, “Disaster prediction is an imprecise science,” reassured Professor McGuire. Art, just beyond the visible|Elizabeth Connor The lecture closed with a picture of McGuire’s son Fraser under a hot and inviting NOVEMBER: If you were on the fifth twenty years as a change specialist, sun. The Professor expressed his hope that floor of Imperial’s Sherfield building in manager and leader. In 2001, in search “this lecture will help allay, at least partly, our mid-November, you may have stumbled of a simpler life he bought a house in a fears about global natural catastrophes.” into a peaceful enclave of Spanish mountain mountain village in Andalucia, Spain where solitude. The walls of the Blyth Art Gallery most of the photos for the exhibition were were adorned with the enchantingly taken. Andrew feels that art and science lucid tones of Andrew Machon’s infrared are intimately linked. “Maybe art and photography. The exhibition, “Just Beyond science grow from the same seed – the the Visible”, gave a glimpse into the strange vital inquiry to discover and express who world of infrared. A stream of warm light we essentially are as human beings”. surged from a vine-laden Spanish window on the far wall, a translucent snail hung Next exhibition precariously by a thread of slime to the Slow Forming right, wheel barrows, chairs mountains, Artists vases, trees – all familiar objects but aglow Claudia Sarnthein, Yukako Shibata with an eerie foreign light. and Amy Woolley Andrew, the photographer, is a scientist and an artist, with a PhD in Biochemistry Until 15 December 2005 and an MA in Psychosynthesis (a type of Blyth Gallery, Level 5, counselling). He has worked for almost Sherfield building Annual science lecture: a heated debate

6 I, science Winter 2005

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News and events.indd 5 25/11/05 4:46:22 am FEATURES Use It or Lose It: How speaking in tongues helps you keep your marbles

Learning a foreign language might help you in business or on holiday, but recent studies have shown that it might also help protect against age-related mental deterioration. Kerri Smith looks at how learning languages affects the brain.

HE SMELL of coffee and freshly baked and strength increases when you exercise. finding the genes that programme language baguettes permeates the Parisian Mechelli and his team conclude that the into this part of our brains? Could keen morning, where locals and tourists earlier you start learning, and the longer you linguists have gene therapy to enhance their alikeT sit at spindly-legged pavement tables have to practise, the larger the amount of linguistic aptitude? Or will companies who munching croissants and watching the world grey matter you will build – less mind over need top-notch linguists start to headhunt pass by. An Englishman attempts his order matter than mind from it. people, quite literally, by investing in a brain in slow, deliberate French, the unfamiliar Keeping the brain speaking in tongues scanner and only interviewing those with tones sticking to his tongue as he tries them might even guard against the biggest scourges abnormally well-developed brains? I can out, while at the next table two elderly local of growing older – devastating afflictions like hear the director schmoozing an interviewee gentlemen continue a raucous and emphatic Alzheimer’s disease and senile dementia. The now: “My dear, what an impressive left dialogue about the latest political storm-in- increase in grey matter (our information- inferior parietal area you have…”. a-teacup, their conversation overflowing with colloquialisms and peppered with gallic shrugs. Although most of us would jump at the chance to speak another language fluently enough to understand what the two gentlemen were discussing so passionately, there is a tendency to get stuck at the level of the halting Englishman, stumbling through his phrasebook to procure a café au lait. But no matter how inspired we may be to book those evening classes, whether by the romantic sounds of French when whispered, or the emphatic tone of the choicest Spanish phrases, the chances are that many of us will remain firmly monolingual - quietly jealous of those who can switch effortlessly between tongues, those who have had bilingual upbringings, and those who have picked up a second language later in life. For all of us experiencing this kind of frustration, a reason for our struggle has © Katherine Antoniw finally been pinned down. It does not promise a miracle cure, but it does go some processing brain tissue) observed in We needn’t start worrying about these way to explaining just why it’s so difficult to bilingual people might be responsible for the visions quite yet. What is emphasised in learn another language as an adult. I have protection offered by speaking two languages these studies is that any structural differences always been convinced that my own lack of against the inevitable decline in mental between a bilingual and a monolingual brain authentic accent and frustrating forgetfulness processing ability with aging. Research by are a result of experience, not of any genetic with phrases was a result of my laziness and Ellen Bialystok at York University, Toronto, dissimilarity. It’s not a case of winning the lack of practice. I’ve recently hit upon a suggests that being bilingual can attenuate genetic lottery so much as getting the right better excuse: my brain, as a monolingual, the negative effects of aging, which include experience at the right time. And the earlier might actually be structured differently from a deterioration of faculties such as working you get this experience, the better your those belonging to bilingual folks. memory. Bialystok compared middle-aged prospects. Last year, a team of researchers led by and older adults. Half the participants were Exercise your brain with languages as you Dr. Andrea Mechelli at the Institute of Canadian and spoke only English, and the would your body with a daily jog through Neurology, University College London other half were from India and spoke both the park, or a few lengths of the local pool, discovered that acquiring a second language Tamil and English fluently. “It appears…that and you may end up better at staving off boosts the density of grey matter in a certain bilingualism helps offset age-related losses” the ravages of an ever-increasing vintage. part of the brain called the left inferior she says, adding that “the bilingual advantage Admittedly, those who have been ‘exercising’ parietal region. “The structure of the human is greater for older people”. their grey matter since childhood still outstrip brain is altered by the experience of learning So speaking in tongues should mean you latecomers to language-learning. But at least a second language”, explains Dr. Mechelli. can worry less about losing your marbles on for me and my French, it turns out, all is not What is more, the degree of change in the slippery slope to senior status. But what lost. It’s just a small matter of time, effort, and this area increases with your proficiecy does it mean that scientists have pinpointed befriending some francophones…et voilà! ■ at a second language, just as muscle size the brain region responsible? Are we close to

8 I, science Winter 2005

bilingual_brains.indd 2 25/11/05 8:21:55 am FEATURES

FACULTY OF MEDICINE, KENNEDY INSTITUTE OF RHEUMATOLOGY

PhD STUDENTSHIPS at The Kennedy

The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology carries out research into the basic science and disease mechanisms of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, supported by a substantial core grant from the Arthritis Research Campaign (arc). The Kennedy is based in well-equipped laboratories on the Charing Cross campus of Imperial College London. The studentships are available from the 1st October 206. Applications invited from UK or EU nationals who are recent graduates or final year undergraduates and have or expect to obtain a first or upper second class honours degree (or equivalent). The stipend for Kerri Smith each studentship will be £16,000 per annum.

Project 1 Kerri’s article “FOXhunting” won first prize ‘‘The molecular mechanism of collagenase triple helicase” in the 2005 New Scientist/Wellcome Trust Supervisor: Professor Hideaki Nagase Contact: [email protected] Science Essay Competition. She talks to Project 2 Laura Goodall about how she did it. “Temporal and spatial regulation of cell surface What made you enter the competition? metalloproteinase during cell invasion.” The prizes! I knew that the two week media placement with New Supervisor: Dr Yoshi Itoh Scientist would really be a great experience in science writing. Contact: [email protected]

How did you decide what to write about in your essay? Project 3 The essay competition was for postgraduate students to write about “Role of basic fibroblast growth factor and chondrocyte the work they were doing, so I just used my research project for my modulators in preventing progression of experimental MSc in Neuroscience and wrote a shorter version of it. osteoarthritis” Supervisors: Dr Tonia Vincent, Dr Richard Williams & How long did it take to write? Professor Jeremy Saklatvala I just wrote it over a weekend, I think. I only found out about the Contact: [email protected] competition pretty close to the deadline but luckily, I already had my research as a framework and so it was much quicker than starting Project 4 from scratch. “Modulators of bystander-activated T cell effector function.” Supervisor: Professor Fionula Brennan Did you choose a particular style of writing for the competition? Contact: [email protected] I tried to get the reader’s interest by relating my topic to them and using light humour to make it more enjoyable to read. I also had a Project 5 look at the style of New Scientist articles and tried to keep my writing “Regulation of inflammatory gene expression by MAP kinase at the same level as them. phosphatase enzymes” Supervisor: Dr Andy Clark What did you want the readers to get from the article? Contact: [email protected] During my project, I enjoyed reading the papers more than doing the lab work and loved finding out about our relationship to apes through Project 6 language, so I really wanted to express my enthusiasm about this to “From injury to arthritis; proteomics of inflammatory signalling the readers. in articular cartilage” Supervisors: Dr Robin Wait & Professor Jeremy Saklatvala How did you feel when you found out that you had won? Contact: [email protected] Completely shocked! The Wellcome Trust didn’t phone me when they were supposed to announce the winners so I just assumed that Project 7 someone else had won. But then they called a week later completely “Investigating the genetic basis of IL-10 inhibition of tumour out of the blue! necrosis factor” Supervisors: Dr Lynn Williams & Professor Brian Foxwell What effect does winning the competition have on you now? Contact: [email protected] I had to make a winner’s speech to some big science writers and editors, so itís great that those people know my name now and it’s For more details see our website a foot in the door for me. Winning also justified my career choice http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/about/divisions/ as a science writer and has helped me to become more confident in kennedy/studentships myself. Applications consisting of a Curriculum Vitae and the details of two referees should be sent to You can read Kerri’s article in New Scientist (8 Oct 2005, p.55) Helen Bull, Divisional Administrator, Kennedy Institute of or access it online at the Wellcome Trust’s website (http://www. Rheumatology, 1 Aspenlea Road, London W6 8LH or to wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTX027280.html). If you would like to have [email protected] a go at entering a science writing competition, Oxford University currently has one open until 27th Jan 2006. See http://www.ox.ac. uk/publicrelations/nsw/writing.shtml

Winter 2005 I, science 9

bilingual_brains.indd 3 25/11/05 8:21:31 am NEWS & EVENTS OPINION INTERVIEWS REVIEWS

The Story of Bob David Brill and Helen Morant met Professor Lord Robert Winston to discuss science, religion and his new book, The Story of God.

T’S LUCKY that the reception area me if I believe in something irrational and that they can explain the world - but it’s only of Hammersmith Hospital has very inexplicable that may contribute to us then their world. As physics develops, on the other comfortable sofas. We were kept waiting yes, I do. But if you’re asking me whether I hand, it uncovers more and more irrational, thereI for an hour. We then found out that the believe that there’s a white coated, bearded inexplicable and unbelievable things which hour we had been promised could only be figure, up there in the clouds who dictates make up the universe we’re in. And I find it half that due to a later engagement with the what’s going to happen to me when I walk interesting that for that reason, “belief” is BBC. Our opening question was described out of this building and will stop a brick probably more common amongst physicists as “very bad”, and a later one dismissed falling from the scaffolding, I don’t believe than it is amongst biologists. And I think that as something every journalist asks. It is that, no.” physicists are actually a bit more humble, to a testament to the charm and reassuring see the moment we look at the universe and manner of Lord Robert Winston that not one realise that we probably will never explain it. of these offences registered any damage. The “I do believe that humans I think biology will become like that too. I ease with which he spoke left us feeling that think that biology, far from getting more and we could have covered virtually any subject have a divine spirit more explicable, will become less explicable.” and not run out of interesting material. We which is not explicable in concentrated on the relationship between evolutionary terms” “I’ve always thought science isn’t that science and religion, beginning with the objective, a lot of the time. It should be existence of God. objective but it isn’t. Religion isn’t objective Lord Winston does not shy away from either, of course.” But should religion be “Each of us will have a different notion of discussing some deep ideas about science objective? “No. Because they’re different what we mean by God, even if we’re atheists. and the world around us: “It seems to me systems, they’re different ways of looking I do believe that humans have a divine spirit that as we discover more and more about at the natural world. Science, of course, has which is not explicable in purely evolutionary the universe we understand less and less to test by experiment. Theologians on the terms, although I do think that there is about the universe. And I think that what’s whole do not test things. They try to but possibly a genetic basis for much religiosity interesting about biologists is that they tend generally their tests are inadequate and by and spirituality … I think that if you’re asking to be so narrow that they arrogantly think our standards they are very imperfect.”

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Story of Bob.indd 2 25/11/05 5:16:27 am REVIEWS INTERVIEWS OPINION NEWS & EVENTS

“The fallacy of some clerics, Muslim and Sabbath for example - I don’t Lord Winston on… Catholic for example, explaining the tsunami generally work on religious in terms of God destroying something festivals, so-called holidays, which was evil or wrong, or trying to give and I don’t work on Saturdays. Richard Dawkins: “Lovely man, a message to the world (or indeed the same I think actually that frees me for the earthquake in Pakistan) is to my up for work because having one of the best science writers of mind completely irrational. I don’t think you one day of the week when you our time. Deeply religious in his explain the irrationalities of nature by the don’t do any work is a hugely approach to evolution” irrationalities of providence.” healthy thing. I think it’s been a saving grace - it’s a great John Polkinghorne: “Delightful man…..much more spiritual than “I take issue with the institution, actually.” me” fundementalist Christians Writing this book has taken Magdi Yacoub: “He’s a workaholic” who take the literal word Lord Winston on something of a personal journey. “I think it His iMac Powerbook G4: “PCs are of the Bible as absolute changed my views about both for inadequate people” truth and nothing can be science and religion. I think I became somewhat more Sunday Trading: “I’m not sure it’s changed” sceptical of both and about my really healthy” own religion too.” Some critics When asked whether religion is ever have suggested that in writing misused, Lord Winston is remarkably frank this book he is dealing with an I,Science: “It’s a better science with his answer: “I think that’s something I area outside his expertise. But glossy than New Scientist” say in great detail in the book. I’m interested he strongly refutes this idea: in fundamentalism and I argue that both “I think that is such a conceit, religion and science are, to my mind, actually. It’s a really arrogant thing to say essentially about uncertainty. We do science that of somebody else, because of course because we are uncertain about what we are we all have the ability to look at the whole going to find. We don’t really understand the world, not just narrow bits of it. I don’t set natural world, but our genetic imperative is myself up as an expert in the book - I say inquisitive, so we want to try and understand that I’m coming at it from a fairly particular it. I think that what we do in science is try to perspective.” underpin our uncertainties, and that’s exactly what religion does. It’s also essentially about As well as tackling his critics, he showed a uncertainty, and humans are very bad at willingness to make bold predictions: “I think dealing with uncertainty. So, consequently, that we will find out that we can’t always religions often offer certainty, and so does predict how genes are going to express, science. And I think that science and religion, and we may even find out that genes aren’t when they become certain are at their most the only unit of inheritance.” Our interview dangerous.” concluded with a walk to BBC Television Centre for another interview with Radio Five Live. Ignoring the occasional glances “I argue that both religion from passers-by, we spoke at length about and science are, to my a wide range of subjects from Jewish ethics and teachings to the atheism of Richard mind, essentially about Dawkins. Whatever the critics may have uncertainty” to say about Lord Winston, it doesn’t take long in his company to realise the immense “I take issue with the fundamentalist depth of his knowledge on religion, science Christians (and there are a few fundamentalist and, well, just about everything. An hour in Jews who are admittedly of the same thought reception was a small price to pay. And they Robert Winston’s book “The Story of proces) who take the literal word of the were damn comfy sofas. ■ God” is reviewed on page 28. Bible as absolute truth and nothing can be changed. What’s bizarre about those people living in Kentucky is that they think the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon were formed at the time of Noah’s flood, and that Win a copy of the Story of God God put the fossils there to confuse men. They claim that this is what they get from the absolute literal word of the text. Why that is I,Science has a signed copy of Professor Lord so inconsistent with any kind of rationalist Robert Winston’s new book to give away. behaviour is of course that they read the text, which is imperfectly translated from Greek, For the chance to get your hands on this lovely which in turn was imperfectly translated from the Hebrew. At least they should read prize, tell us which is better: Science or Religion. the original Hebrew manuscript. Now unless you go back to the original texts you cannot understand them. It isn’t actually possible Send us your answer in 25 words or less. The to do it - you get completely the wrong view of what the phrase is about … I think best answer gets the book. fundamentalism of that sort is flawed and dangerous.” Answers marked “Story of Bob” to: The religious aspect of Lord Winston’s life also affects his work on a practical level: [email protected] by 7th January 2006. “Whatever I believe - I certainly don’t believe I’m going to be punished if I don’t keep to the

Winter 2005 I, science 11

Story of Bob.indd 3 25/11/05 5:17:04 am NEWS & EVENTS OPINION INTERVIEWS REVIEWS Cousins under the skin

According to the Rev Dr John Polkinghorne, the search for truth is common to religion and science. Duncan McMillan speaks to the respected theologian and physicist to find out more.

’M A SUCKER for nice people. So it’s a the world. [whereas] Biologists see a more question, [but] I don’t think Michael Behe pity Rev Dr John Polkinghorne wasn’t a ambiguous and messy slice of reality.” has the answer... I don’t think they’re good less likeable man, because then I would It is those slices to which the Rev refers in listeners.” The Darwinists aren’t completely haveI had more cause to disagree with him. his book - ‘Exploring reality: The intertwining blameless, however: “Francis Crick has an The Reverend has written over twenty of science and religion’. He describes taking agenda too. People like Dawkins and Crick books to date. Roughly coinciding with the “slices of reality” from the sciences, human on the one hand and the Creationists on the release of his latest one, Exploring Reality: nature, religious encounters and Christian other deserve each other.” The intertwining of Science and Religion, thinking; but, he cautions: “The great he addressed a large and diverse Imperial temptation for everybody is to take your College crowd on the subject of “friendship own particular ‘slice’ and try to make it the “God had made between science and religion”. whole story.” By this reckoning the biologists creatures that could The Reverend’s talk was about the have been making their own messy slices “crossover between the questions and the whole story, as they “are in a pretty make themselves. This answers that science gives and the questions triumphalist mood at the moment; [but they is a more fitting form and answers that religion gives.” He has spent will] come out the other side.”. the past 20 years exploring this area. Had any one of those six universal constants of creation, instead of a Reverend Polkinghorne is more qualified been even slightly different, the universe divine puppet theatre.” than most to claim to know what lies on either would not look even vaguely like it does and side of that oft-disputed border. Fellow of the life would have been an impossibility. One Instead Polkinghorne stands somewhere Royal Society, Professor John Polkinghorne way around the sheer improbability of this in-between those warring camps, believing resigned his chair in Mathematical Physics universe having come about is to posit that that “God had made creatures that could in 1979. Two years later plain Dr. John there is instead an infinity of other universes, make themselves. [This is] a more fitting Polkinghorne could add ‘Rev’ to the front of each of which is run according to a slightly form of creation, instead of a divine puppet his title, and in 1997 was able to add KBE to different set of rules – the ‘multiverse’ theatre.” the end of it. theory. According to the Reverend choosing Rev Polkinghorne describes himself as a between that and God as a way of explaining “bottom-up” thinker. I wondered if he ever “Physicists are our miraculous universe is “...six of one and finds himself thinking top-down, of starting half a dozen of the other. But it seems to with general beliefs and working down. impressed with the me that the multiverse only does one piece “Everybody has to think a bit top-down. It’s wonderful order of the of explanatory work... it is ontologically a question as to what initiates your thoughts. prodigal, a meta-scientific speculation.” To Some people begin knowing certain general, world. Biologists see a him, God has more explanatory power, and self-evident principles about the world more ambiguous and he takes this divine involvement further: which tend to end up being neither general, “The world seems shot through with the nor self-evident.” messy slice of reality.” science of mind. I suggest that at least it’s a The Reverend’s approach is to “look at the hypothesis worth thinking about, that this is world with the eye of science and... with the To many, such a career move might seem because the mind of the Creator lies behind eye of religion or theology”. After talking with utterly unexpected, but there has been a minor it. That, to me, is the most intellectually him you can’t help wondering if you shouldn’t tradition of physicists and mathematicians satisfying explanation of why science is see it this way too. Maybe it is possible, as who have tended towards the spiritual - possible.” he puts it, to have “binocular vision”, but in with Einstein, pioneering cosmologist/priest But does this mind imply design? Yes and the end, I fear, we’d all end up cross-eyed. Georges Lemaitre and (Polkinghorne’s own no. Regarding the hot topic of ‘Intelligent There is too much unsaid in Polkinghorne’s teacher at Cambridge) Paul Dirac, amongst Design’ and Michael Behe’s assertion argument to convince me that science and others. I asked him, later that week, if he that ‘irreducible complexity’ can only be religion can ever be bedfellows, but I don’t thought it was a coincidence that there were explained by ID, Polkinghorne says: “To ask think that either is any the worse for having so many prominent religious physicists. the question “Is there irreducible complexity him around. ■ “No, it’s not a coincidence. Physicists are at the molecular level?” is actually a scientific impressed with the wonderful order of question. Behe asked an entirely sensible

12 I, science Winter 2005

Polkenhorn 2.indd 2 25/11/05 6:37:06 am FEATURES Where are all the Women?

Do men have an evolutionary advantage in the world of Science? Helen Richens investigates.

ANDER INTO parts of the not affect women’s capability to do science, underbelly of Imperial College and and in some cases enhances it. What has you will be forgiven for thinking proved most controversial is the claim by Dr thatW you have stumbled upon some men-only Cronin that ‘male’ skills are the ones which club. Women comprise close to half of the are vital to science. staff and student body in biology, whereas “[Dr Cronin] assumes that science is in other disciplines, such as electrical and all about 3-D visualisation and aggressive mechanical engineering, the proportion of competition” states Dr Williams. “The idea women is a lot lower. So is evolution the that science is done by one person sitting cause of this imbalance? alone, competitively pondering the meaning That’s the argument voiced by evolutionary of machinery is just wrong. The very best biologist Dr Helena Cronin, from LSE. science is done by those with huge creativity, if I would have emotionally distanced myself “Men, on average, have an advantage in imagination and inspiration and the ability more from my children (a feat that is easily certain quantitative and spatial abilities to work successfully with their teams” done by most men but comes more difficult – particularly intuitive mechanics and “3-D Dr Cronin claims that the women for women - I call it the “mum” feeling),” says thinking”- that are key for engineering and scientists at Imperial “are extremely one female engineering lecturer at Imperial. maths,” explains Dr Cronin. “These skills fortunate that they are at the high end of This difference between men and women is enable you to do science and make you a the skills distribution curve. They already voiced by Dr Cronin: “Women’s disposition better scientist. have the skills that enable them to do science differs to men when they have children. and are fortunate enough to add to that the Women become less interested in their job, skills associated with females.” Does singling men often become more interested. They do “The claim that ‘male’ successful women out as being ‘lucky’ solve their bit by working more.” skills are the ones which matters? In both sexes there is a distribution That women can succeed in science is not of skills and ways of thinking. How easy is it under question. The view that men have are vital to science has to distinguish which approach is best? evolved skills which give them an advantage Science, in itself, judges merit solely on the over women in science only stands firm if proved controversial” basis of research output. But therein lies a you believe in a single approach to science. problem. “The years of early independent Skills such as spatial awareness and 3-D So are these skills more attributed to men? research critical for establishing a reputation visualisation can be taught and developed in It is a commonly held view – go into the as a promising group leader, publishing good women. Yet these are by no means the only Wellcome Wing at the Science Museum or research papers in high impact journals, skills which are needed to become a good onto the BBC Human Body and Mind web coincides with the period in a woman’s life scientist. Innovation and flexibility, coupled pages and you can test which ‘brain sex’ when she is biologically programmed to turn with incredible motivation, are also essential you are by your ability to solve spatial and her mind and body to child-bearing and to long term success in science. ■ visualisation problems. nurturing,” says Dr Jane One female mechanical engineer spoke Saffell, a molecular cell of how she initially found certain modules in biologist. her degree difficult: “At first I found it really Taking time off to have hard to do spatial and rotational problems. children can make it very The boys could just see it straight away but difficult for women to get I really struggled and it took a long time to back into research. “The get it. But once I got it, that was it, I never reduction in publications lost it.” that will inevitably result Dr Charlotte Williams, a chemistry from having children lecturer at Imperial, does not think that men will leave them at a necessarily have more of a grasp in this area. competitive disadvantage “I teach a course in molecular symmetry when it comes to gaining and 3-D visualisation and I can definitely permanent positions (e.g. refute the notion that men are innately lectureships) and research more talented in this area – some are, plenty funding,” explains Dr aren’t.” Saffell. Irrespective of how difficult, or not, women Women may be equally find these skills, they do appear to be attracted able as men to be good to different scientific disciplines than men. scientists, but they might “Often the chemical, environmental, and bio- not get the opportunity to engineering departments are 50% women. I produce the only accepted do not believe these fields are easier than evidence of this ability – a electrical or mechanical engineering, just good publication record. of more interest to women,” says Dr Sandra This issue is heightened Shefelbine, a lecturer in bioengineering. by compromises women “Women work and think differently than may make between home men. [They] are more likely to collaborate, and work once they have seek advice, and attack a problem from many children. “Having three viewpoints.” children has slowed [my] It has been continually emphasised, career progress which however, that this different approach does would not have happened Susan Greenfield, the lioness of science.

Winter 2005 I, science 13

women in science.indd 1 25/11/05 7:39:40 am FEATURES

sensational demonstrations. Admittedly there were occasions when he mismanaged his displays; one attempt to demonstrate the A Christmas Treat effects of inhaling nitrous oxide descended into anarchy when the unfortunate volunteer, a Mr Underwood, lost control until the The Christmas Lectures are the Royal Institution’s breathing bag was forcefully removed. Such events were mercifully rare, and the flagship event, attracting top scientists to share their Royal Institution maintained its refined and expertise and enthusiasm. Alex Johnson goes back in time respectable reputation. Despite its popularity, the institution did to unfold the chain-reaction of events that marked the not avoid the financial trouble that plagued many nineteenth-century London societies. birth of the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. By 1825, the members decided it was time for a review of the lecture programme. One “Be fit to compare to a candle; that you may, like it, shine as lights of the new features was a set of Twenty two Lectures on Natural Philosophy suited to a to those about you; that, in all your actions, you may justify the Juvenile Auditory, during the Christmas, beauty of the taper by making your deeds honorable and effectual Easter and Whitsuntide recesses. The chosen lecturer was John Millington, Professor in the discharge of your duty to your fellow men” of Mechanics at the institution. He was a - Michael Faraday in “The Chemical History of a Candle”, well-known character, and therefore a safe choice, although his lecturing style was Juvenile Lecture of 1848 and 1860 rather dull; his emigration to Australia in T IS December 1848. An excited hum and the gentry in the foyer. This noble plan was 1830 due to financial trouble suggests he did an air of great anticipation fill the lecture short-lived. The bourgeoisie caught a bloody not pull huge crowds. Still, the new lecture theatre of the Royal Institution on Albe- whiff of revolution from France and feared course must have enjoyed modest success, marleI Street. Gentlemen exchange pleasant- that educating the lower classes would give as it was repeated the following year, albeit ries, ladies gossip, the youngsters fidget. Two them the power to rebel. To avoid trouble, in a revised format. Instead of one long ageing professors converse intently. A lawyer, the Royal Institution’s architect quietly course, two six-lecture courses were offered, red-faced after his lunchtime tipple, laughs demolished his outside staircase. Instead, the one at Christmas and one at Easter. The too loudly; the earl in the front row frowns elegant building on Albemarle Street became Easter course was poorly attended and not disapprovingly before resuming his discus- a philosophical club where only the wealthy, repeated; it seemed the secret to success sion with the philosopher by his side. Gradu- eminent or learned could enjoy stimulating was to offer the lectures as an additional ally, the noise subsides. Children are given fi- conversation and the finest tea and coffee. Christmas season entertainment, to join the nal whispered warnings to behave. A doctor The Royal Institution’s greatest attraction, numerous exhibitions, operas, pantomimes, puts on his spectacles. There is a rustle as the however, was its lectures. In the early and concerts. ladies readjust their skirts. All attention fixes nineteenth century visual entertainment At this time Christmas celebrations upon the character on the stage. Michael was limited. Panoramas and other cinematic were changing. In the eighteenth century, Faraday is casting his eye around the room, spectacles were yet to come and impractical hospitality was widely extended to friends waiting to begin his first Christmas Lecture printing technology limited the illustration and the community. By the early nineteenth on ‘The Chemical History of a Candle.’ of books. However, theatrical performances century, it became more common to observe The exclusive audience in all its finery were mistrusted by many for dangerously the festival within a smaller family unit is a far cry from the vision in the minds of arousing the passions. Lectures provided a so there was a great demand for suitable the distinguished gentlemen who founded respectable alternative to the theatre, though events. Few could be more appropriate for the Royal Institution half a century earlier. still promising a visual element, and, often, a respectable family than an enlightening They had pictured a society that would not the chance to see some celebrity du jour. lecture on simple principles of natural only establish a scene for research but also Nonetheless, the parallels between philosophy. So although the lectures were form a centre for educating all social classes dramatic performances and lectures were advertised as ‘suited to a Juvenile Auditory,’ in the practical applications of science. realised and exploited, not least in the theatre their appeal extended beyond the juveniles They had even gone so far as to construct of the Royal Institution. Humphry Davy had with boys and girls of all ages attending, an outside staircase, to allow labourers to impressed the crowds from the beginning accompanied by their parents. Everyone was reach their gallery seats without distressing with polished oratory, accompanied by equally entertained. Over Christmas 1827, Michael Faraday delivered his first series of Juvenile Lectures. He quickly became heavily involved in the programme, delivering nineteen out of thirty-four courses between 1827 and 1861. He was the first to deliver his explainations of everyday phenomena in a lecturing style that was accessible to the younger members of his audience. So genuine and irresistible was his enthusiasm that his friend, Lady Pollock, remarked: “One could fancy that he had never seen the experiments before, and that he was about to clap his hands with The Faraday boyish glee at the unexpected result!” Theatre has His legacy was impressive. Nowadays, served as the millions tuning into the Christmas Lectures home of the from their living rooms can join the audience Christmas packed into the Royal Institution’s theatre. Lectures since Faraday’s 1848 audience might have frowned their inception upon the intrusion. Yet, it seems a fitting in 1847. tribute to the Royal Institution’s founders and to Faraday himself that these events continue Image courtesy to inspire and entertain so many through the of the Royal wonders of science. ■ Institution.

14 I, science Winter 2005

Xmas lectures.indd 2 25/11/05 5:22:33 am FEATURES

Twins by Andrew Carnie, chemist and artist, zoologist and psychologist. At a first glance this photographic image appears to be two foetuses. Take a closer look; it is in fact two portions of bacon carefully organised. This piece was part of a series based on scientific specimens, playing with aesthetic ambiguities. What is real? what is scientific? How much can you take out of an object before it becomes another one. SciArt Fusing science, art and imagination Daniela de Angel T MIGHT seem awkward to find science nature’s creative, inventive and imaginative by artists’ representations. and art blending into a single realm. It magnificence. Talented scientists passionate SciArt is a project for scientists interested is thought by many that science is bril- about their field inspire you and make you in creating new forms of expression, artists liantlyI objective and art a delightfully subjec- see art in science. inspired by scientific research, or anyone up tive representation. Is SciArt then a passion As bizarre as it seems, artistic for a rather stimulating challenge. for facts blending into a passion for artistic representations of science are extraordinarily If you feel compelled, then let the images expression? SciArt has as many meanings as common throughout history. A good speak for themselves and share the splendour there are SciArtists. example is Leonardo Da Vinci and his famous of your own view of the scientific world. Imagination is usually attributed to painting Proportions of Man (aka Vitruvian The Wellcome Trust provides a unique artists. However, who hasn’t encountered a Man) - the logo for our own Imperial Union opportunity for scientists and artists to lecturer, supervisor or colleague enormously bar. This great thinker did not discriminate research in collaboration through SciArt ingenious and passionate about their field? between art and science. projects. It offers £500,000 a year to support The amount of imagination in science is The connection between science and art and encourage innovative arts projects utterly underrated. has proved a useful tool for overcoming investigating many aspects of science, its For those who claim that science and our limited senses and visualising strange social contexts and emotional implications. technology are too dull, that they are a worlds. Concepts of microscopic scales, Applications are available online at threat to nature and only an impersonal human anatomy, complex technology, tricky www.wellcome.ac.uk/sciart version of it, SciArt resolves this conflict. conceptual representations, even alien Science describes nature, and nature is art; environments like asteroids or a remote Images: courtesy of SciCult. therefore SciArt is the perfect description of period of geological time, are often shaped

Winter 2005 I, science 15

sciart3.indd 1 25/11/05 5:27:14 am NEWS & EVENTS OPINION INTERVIEWS REVIEWS

“We’re always at war with bacteria and always will be. If you remember HG Wells’s story, The War of the Worlds, it wasn’t the bloody machine guns that killed the people from Mars, it was the bugs because they had no immune systems.” Asked to draw similarities between managing GlaxoSmithKline and leading Imperial, he replies “If you’ve got good ‘Moving in the people, if you’ve got smart, intelligent and creative people and you look after them and provide the right environment in which they’ll operate, then it’s no different to whether you’re in a university or in a business. People right direction’ are the key to success.” “I’d get a liver, I’d get an Chris Miles talks to Sir Richard Sykes, Rector of eye, I’d get this, I’d get that and I’d go to school Imperial College, about his corporate past, Imperial’s and cut it up.” future and encouraging more students into science. Nevertheless, exactly which groups of students the Rector defines as smart is HE PROSPECT of meeting the Rector the stomach acid inhibiting drug, Ranitidine. another matter entirely. Referring to some filled me with a sense of trepidation However, his leading personal achievement institutions as ‘third rate’ back in 2004 and his and an unwillingness to venture as far as pharmaceuticals are concerned was comment which sparked much controversy, intoT the unknown. Sir Richard’s reputation introducing a new group of antibiotics, the “a penny spent here [Imperial] is a hell of a for being forceful and ‘imperialistic’ can be monobactams. lot better than a penny spent at Luton for considerably off-putting, especially when the economy,” Sir Richard remains adamant combined with the intimidating modern “Inevitably, you’ll that Imperial should excel as far as student interiors of the Faculty Building. Stereotypes funding is concerned. “It’s more expensive aside, few would disagree that the Rector’s always get drugs that are to teach bright kids than it is to teach those time at the helm has resulted in significant going to be resistant... people, because bright kids are a challenge,” changes to the college’s direction; our recent he says. position as the leading University in Europe therefore you’ve got to use I couldn’t resist questioning the Rector’s for Technology is testament to that. antibiotics sensibly” well publicised views on university tuition Famed for his chairmanship of fees, although unlike the majority of students GlaxoSmithKline before taking on Imperial, I don’t instinctively flinch whenever the Sir Richard started his pharmaceutical When confronted by the “all bacteria mention of increasing tuition fees arises. As career in 1972 as head of Glaxo’s Antibiotic which cause disease will be resistant to the man himself believes, the money’s got to Research Unit. “I studied Microbiology at all antibiotics by 2015” views of Ulster come from somewhere. “If we charge the full university and got involved in drug resistance University’s Professor McGavoc, Sir Richard economic costs of going on the course then mechanisms in the late 1960s, when a lot explains: “every time you put selection we can obviously give a lot of that money to of drug resistance was being seen against pressure on a population, you get a response.” people who can’t afford it,” says Sir Richard. antibiotics. The pharmaceutical industry Leaning back into his chair, he astutely retorts It soon becomes clear that the Rector is was quite interested in that and so I became “Inevitably, you’ll always get some bugs that an ardent admirer of America’s university involved with Glaxo.” are going to be resistant; that’s evolution, it’s system, not limited to the financial aspects The Rector is arguably best known in the going to happen, so therefore you’ve got to but also the opportunity to transfer skills and drugs world for leading the introduction of use antibiotics sensibly.” ‘upgrade’ universities. “If you can come out of school in America not having done too well for all sorts of reasons, you can then go to a community college, you can then do well and go to Harvard if you’re smart enough.” In spite of this, encouraging the study of science in university is no easy task. When I suggested a few proposals to encourage interest in science at school, such as using multimedia in classrooms, he clearly acknowledges that there is no quick fix and that we have some fundamental issues which need dealing with first. Referring to his own school days compared to the ‘environment’ of today, I get the feeling Sir Richard isn’t impressed with the ways in which teachers convey science: “Even in the junior school people would take you out for nature walks, they’d explain new things, show you things. They themselves, the teachers, took a great interest.” How a current science teacher might respond to this is best left to the imagination! One of Sir Richard’s extra-curricular school activities (my words, not his!) was collecting items for dissection at the butchers, “As I went to grammar school, one of the things

16 I, science Winter 2005

Richard Sykes take 2.indd 2 25/11/05 5:33:31 am REVIEWS INTERVIEWS OPINION NEWS & EVENTS

I’d do twice a week would be to call in at the butchers, I’d get a liver, I’d get an eye, I’d get this, I’d get that and I’d go to school and cut it up.” Make from that as you will but for the Daily Mail readers amongst you, who think the only things kids cut up these days are the teachers, it’s interesting to compare enthusiasm rates amongst youngsters, and especially science teacher recruitment between the current day and when the Rector was growing up. Sir Richard also isn’t someone who likes to criticise people such as Lord Robert Winston who try to popularise science, “I mean it’s very important that you put it across to the public in way that they can understand it and it does get complicated”. To start get the public to interact with science and seeing beyond the equations and textbooks might be a significant step forward in encouraging future study. Since the theme of this issue centres around religion, I decided to ask whether Sir Richard has views on intelligent design, or for the less buzz-word savvy people amongst us, creationism. “They now call it intelligent design so some states are actually encouraging schools to talk about intelligent design along with evolution. I mean, in my opinion, it’s absolute nonsense. It’s just another way of imposing religion on to what is scientific understanding and theory.” The Rector agrees with Richard Dawkins in the sense that there are a lot more science based controversies we could challenge children with, instead of proverbially teaching stork theory in a sex education class. Steering back towards Imperial, my final questions were geared around the failed merger proposal with UCL and what the future holds for the college. Expecting the Rector to still be supportive of such a merger, I was surprised to learn his power of hindsight when questioned about possible redundancies. “On reflection, I think the damage you might inflict in the process of getting from A to B isn’t actually worth it.” He did, however, reiterate the college’s desire to withdraw from the University of London as soon as possible, “I think students come to Imperial College because they now want to be part of the College, so we will be taking that to council in December and then progressing from there.” “Intelligent design... it’s just another way of imposing religion on to what is scientific understanding and theory”

As the interview drew to a close, I reassessed my feelings of apprehension and realised that they were, for the most part, ill-founded. Certainly a man who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, I found myself actually starting to like the Rector, something which probably shouldn’t be uttered within a 2 mile radius of the Student Union. “We’re certainly moving in the right direction. There is no other institution in the world like it,” he says. His friends describe him as a man who gets results; well, it’s half term and his report card is looking pretty good to me. ■

Winter 2005 I, science 17 Photos: Imperial College Press Office

Richard Sykes take 2.indd 3 25/11/05 5:34:00 am FEATURES

Boy or girl?

News of a US study, launched to investigate the social effects of allowing parents to choose the sex of their child, has re-focused attention on the contentious issues surrounding sex selection. Dominique Driver delves into the UK government’s current policy on the use of reproductive technologies, and asks how the public in the UK feels about sex selection.

ANDRA CARSON and her team recourse to a growing body of evidence of its to assemble conclusive evidence on the needed nine years to gain approval from absence…the bonus should be on those who effects of social sex selection, something their review board at Baylor College of oppose sex selection for social reasons using the US trial will hopefully go some way MedicineS in Houston, Texas. The study will PGD to show harm from its use.” towards providing. Dr Peter Mills, Policy be made possible by a technique known as Although the committee recognised that Development and Co-ordination Manager Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). the majority of the British public are currently at the HFEA agrees that the US study may PGD involves extracting the DNA of a single against sex selection, they concluded that: “on help to shed light on these issues: “Although cell of an eight-cell stage embryo created by balance we find no adequate justification for the Authority has indicated that it does not In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) for determining prohibiting the use of sex selection for family regard sex selection by PGD for non-medical the sex as well as checking for genetic balancing”. However they steered clear of reasons as an appropriate use of reproductive abnormalities. After result evaluation, the recommending the more controversial uses technology and would therefore be unlikely ‘desired’ embryos can then be implanted into of sex selection, such as in helping rebuild to licence it in the UK, the results of any the mother’s uterus. At least fifty couples are a family that has suffered the loss of a child, well-designed follow-up research may well currently lined up to take part in the trial, or to support economic, cultural or social advance some of the arguments around this but only those who already have a child of preferences for one gender over the other. contentious use of the technology”. the opposite sex will be enrolled, a practice These are often considered more problematic known as ‘family balancing’. because of the possible psychological effects “People have had on the families, the view that these practices may be sexually discriminating, and the preferences about the “By allowing sex potential they have to skew the gender ratio sex of their children selection for social in certain communities. Together with social and demographic for centuries” purposes we are considerations, social sex selection raised an array of ethical concerns. Some fear that by Where does that leave us now? In no longer valuing allowing sex selection for social purposes we response to the recommendations of are no longer valuing children for who they the House of Commons Science and children for who are, and may be leaving the door open to Technology Committee, the government they are” the selection of further non-medical traits, issued a statement maintaining that: “The creating so-called ‘designer babies’. government has no plans to alter this The use of PGD for sex selection is legal Dr Rony Duncan, Researcher in the position to allow sex selection other than for in the US, though, the American Society Medical Ethics Unit at Imperial College, compelling medical reasons.” But as part of for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and believes that although there is an ethical its review of the HFE Act, the government the American College of Obstetricians and distinction between sex selection for medical has also conducted a public consultation into Gynecologists (ACOG) have openly stated reasons and sex selection for social purposes, whether sex selection should be permitted their opposition to using PGD in this way. both are ethically acceptable. “Some people for family balancing purposes, the results of Across the Atlantic, at the UK front, social with two boys want a girl. Some people want which should be available next year. Dr Mills sex selection is currently banned and the a boy first. Others only want girls. People of the HFEA insists that in the meantime: Human Fertility and Embryology Authority have had preferences about the sex of their “The Authority will continue to keep (HFEA) who regulate the all reproductive children for centuries. We now simply have emerging evidence and argument under technology will only licence PGD for serious an accurate way of helping them”. He explains review, including information about the risks medical conditions. that in ethical terms the difference lies in the associated with the techniques and about the Yet not everyone is in agreement over the motivation for each, but argues that there is consequences of their use.” HFEA’s decision to invoke the precautionary nothing inherently wrong with wanting to So should we be embracing this potential principle when it comes to reproductive have a child of one sex over the other. “There use of reproductive technology? The jury is technology. Earlier this year, after reviewing is no evidence that having a preference for still out, but if pressure from the government the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology the sex of your child makes you a bad parent, continues to grow, the HFEA may be forced (HFE) Act, the House of Commons Science or harms the future child. Parents should to rethink its position, or provide compelling and Technology Committee tentatively be able to choose the sex of their children, justification for standing by its current recommended that the ban should be whether it’s to increase the chances of them policy. The assertion that the bulk of the withdrawn. The committee contended that having a healthy child or simply because they general public oppose social sex selection there was little evidence to support the want to”. may simply not be enough. ■ HFEA’s position: “It concerns us that the However, while the current ban remains in potential for harm is often quoted without place it will be impossible for UK researchers

18 I, science Winter 2005

boy or girl.indd 2 25/11/05 5:39:47 am REVIEWS INTERVIEWS OPINION NEWS & EVENTS

Richard Fortey is pretty confident that Marilyn Monroe will be remembered a century and a half hence, having named a trilobite with an hour-glass-shaped head after her. Since 1989 Fortey has been Popularising working, in part, on the development of diversity, focussing on the start of what is known as the ‘Cambrian explosion’ – the apparently sudden appearance of diverse new invertebrate species, petrified in the famous Palaeontology Burgess Shale of British Columbia. It is that curiously sudden flowering of life that has recently given ammunition to proponents of Duncan McMillan spoke to Professor Richard Fortey Intelligent Design seeking to undermine the Darwinian explanations for the development about trilobites, the Natural History museum and of life. Marilyn Monroe. “There we have something that’s a genuine problem for the scientist. And I watched with T TAKES a flight of stairs, a lift, a a few years ago, which I’d never got round interest how Creationists, and now Intelligent short corridor, another flight of stairs to writing up… This is a new discovery of Designers, had done fancy footwork to kind and another corridor to reach Richard a fossil fauna of this kind, so it ought to be of reposition themselves continuously. Fortey’sI office from the Natural History made note to the world. So that’s the last The Cambrian explosion of course is much Museum’s Earth Galleries. So it comes as thing I sent off to press.” debated… Fossils do appear quite suddenly a pleasant relief when you get there to find in variety, low in the Cambrian and yes, you yourself in an airy office stuffed with the “Some popular cannot point to late Precambrian fossils and rocky remnants of a lifetime’s palaeontology, say “this was the ancestor of that.” But to sitting at the centre of which, smiling warmly, science books are make the claim that this means that there was is the man himself. really scientific papers some kind of guiding hand, or something, at A doyen of the Natural History Museum’s with rather bad jokes” that particular time, is sheer nonsense.” academic arm, Fortey has found recognition This diversity has taken some fascinating from his peers in the shape of a Royal Clearly the pressures on bringing a forms, as Fortey demonstrates with a paper Society fellowship, the Zoological Society discovery to the attention of the world are of his about a Devonian trilobite that of London’s Frink Medal and the Geological somewhat less in the world of palaeontology featured tiny sunshades over each enormous Society’s Lyell Medal; yet the success of his – it turns out that those Welsh trilobites eye. Such elegant evolution might incline popular science books makes it almost easy have been out of the ground for over ten the weak minded to resort to an un-named to forget that he is an active geologist and years. If palaeontologists aren’t rushing for designer, but Fortey is conciliatory about palaeontologist. Those books have variously recognition, it may well be because so many religion: covered the origin and development of life, have given their names in Latinized form to “…there is no necessary incompatibility the geological history of the Earth and the ancient species of plant and animal. As Fortey between religion and science. That is, I know 300-million-year span of Fortey’s favourite points out, you can’t name a new discovery some very distinguished scientists who are fossils – trilobites – and have yielded two after yourself, so it must be a measure of his also religious and the two seem to sit quite Aventis Prize and one Samuel Johnson Prize standing that he has been immortalised in so happily side-by-side.” shortlistings and one award from Rockefeller many species of trilobite: Fortey’s religion still seems to be the University. But it seems the scope of his next “There are various others who have beloved trilobites around which his career book will be somewhat more modest and named things for me, so there are some has revolved. As he leads us out of the warren closer to home: Forteyiis around and there’s a genus called of offices he stops to show us a 2-cm long “I’m planning to do a Natural History of the Forteyops, I think. It’s only a nomenclatorial specimen with a sweeping, crescent-shaped Natural History museum. It seems to me that [immortality], and it’s quite possible in a head. There, staring back through hundreds nobody out there in the world at large really hundred and fifty years time, if the same of millions of years is a good enough reason knows what goes on behind the scenes at the rules of naming organisms still apply, that for a career spent digging up the past and museum – by which I mean the research that somebody’ll say “Who the hell’s Fortey?” writing so wonderfully about it. ■ goes on here. And the place is full, and has been full, of the most remarkable characters, people and stories.” To Fortey, those stories are paramount: “The problem with some popular science books (and I name no names here) is that what they are really is the scientist writing a scientific paper and spicing it liberally with rather bad jokes. And this is the idea that this will somehow make it more accessible – I don’t think it is. Most readers actually relate to narrative… What a lot of people don’t realise, they tend to think that science is a sort of business conducted with white coats in labs. But the actual narrative of how the science is done is all too human. It involves individual biographies and rivalries – all the stuff of human life.” However, it seems his enthusiasm for storytelling has to be put on hold; there’s a reason for the accumulation of years’ worth of findings in his office: “I’m at a stage where my actual retirement date is approaching, so I’m really desperately trying to finish things off that I’ve been starting. I’ve been for years working on trilobites from Wales that were discovered Richard Fortey and his favourite fossil, the Trilobite

Winter 2005 I, science 19

Richard Fortey Final.indd 1 25/11/05 5:48:20 am NEWS & EVENTS OPINION INTERVIEWS REVIEWS Surely you’re joking

I was a student I used to go to concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and I would sit right at Professor Isham? the back. I would look at the orchestra and found myself asking what it is between me and them? It’s this thing called space, but Theoretical physicist Professor Christopher Isham what actually is this thing?” He worries that there is fair amount believes there is a lot more to quantum reality than of naivety in the way physicists intend to represent the world. nonsense and a lot more to life than science. “I noticed how passionate people can get João Medeiros meets the Dean. about certain things. I also found out that the interpretation that people have of quantum ROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER Isham the universe. theory seems to be reflecting in some way receives me in the office which, 35 On the other hand, quantum theory is their actual personality in an unexpectedly years ago, he visited weekly as a the physics that takes hold at the atomic deep way.” postgraduateP student. He now occupies it as scale and below. The physics of materials His aim is to steer clear from any personal the recently appointed Dean of the Faculty of and high energy particle accelerators all rely contexts and to build a theory with clear Natural Sciences (“They give me lunches and on quantum equations. However, quantum mathematical principles in order to avoid they give me dinners”, he says laughing). mechanics has no logic at all: particles pop the usual bullshit factor spurred by wild Isham has been a theoretical physics up and disappear out of nothing, positions imaginations. This leads Isham to the rather professor at Imperial for more than twenty and energies are ruled by uncertainty. As unique position of being as rigorous with years. Hs research concerns quantum Niels Bohr once put, “Anyone who thinks maths as he is with the physics. gravity; a highly speculative part of physics, they can talk about quantum theory without Over the last decade he has been applying which has provided work for scientists since feeling dizzy hasn’t yet understood the first a mathematical theory called topos theory Einstein’s time, when physicists first realised word about it.” That’s what Isham is trying to to quantum mechanics. “In topos logic you that the theory of gravity and quantum change. can get statements which are partially true, theory provided completely different views which in normal logic doesn’t make any of the physical world. sense. When I realised this, I thought “My The theory of gravity is built upon “One of my frustrations goodness, things can partly exist as well! geometrical ideas, the token view being that is that hardly any of my That’s certainly how quantum theory is like!” space-time behaves like a fabric that becomes Partial existence? Neither yes nor no? My curved by the presence of mass. With it we colleagues understands face distorts into puzzlement. Yeah…maybe, can, in principle, explain the planetary orbits, what I am doing” I say. He then gives me his first paper on the the spread of galaxies and the expansion of subject, clearly expecting too much of me. Reasoning that The difficulty of such matters is not ultimately there should overwhelming for me alone. “One of my only be only one frustrations is that hardly any of my colleagues theory to explain the understands what I am doing” We’re very bad workings of the universe, at reading each others’ papers anyway and physicists set out to when it involves a completely new branch of find a larger theory mathematics it takes a long time to learn it that can encompass the so why bother? So people will only take the two theories as mere perspectives for different “Partial existence? situations. There have been as many ideas to Neither yes nor no? solve the conundrum My face distorts into of quantum gravity as there are degrees of puzzlement” imagination, but progress has been slow. Some think time to read about this stuff if I come up with that the fundamental a truly spectacular application.” particles are made up These days, Isham seems to have become of strings of finite but a maverick of all things metaphysical. indescribably small size, Philosophers call him a great thinker, others that space is not a theologians invite him to their conferences continuum but discrete, and theoretical physicists hail him as a unique even that we live in two influence. His main interest, although, is far dimensions as holograms. more earthly. “What really counts is how you Physicists have ideas relate to other people, that’s by far the most and do the calculations important thing”, he says with sincerity while in the hope that a new the last of the physicists’ stereotypes goes perspective can put out of the window. gravity and quantum Aiming to quickly recover the scientist in

© theory together. him, I shoot: “So Professor Isham, what is a Meilin Sancho Isham’s approach is thing?” different. He has a keen “We can’t say what is a thing, but you can inclination to ask what say what is not.” is, rather than what if. “I “What is not?” always found the notion “Not what people think it is”. of space and time very Surely you must be joking Professor. Isham with fellow theoretical phycisist Stephen Hawking strange things. When Isham? ■

20 I, science Winter 2005

Chris Isham final.indd 2 25/11/05 6:00:03 am FEATURES Nanotechnology: Making big waves in a tiny world In the expanse of London, Imperial and UCL are venturing into the smaller world of nanotechnology. Lilian Anekwe visits the London Centre for Nanotechnology. ANOTECHNOLOGY STRIKES Centre for Nanotechnology was born, as the in new materials processing in new types me as one of those scientific words brainchild of Sir Richard Sykes and Sir Derek of optical devices and display screens, such that I ought to know the meaning of, Roberts, the rectors of Imperial College and as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)” butN in fact, don’t. Intuitively the word makes UCL, respectively. “The London Centre explains Dr Khan. “But in the longer term, me think of the technology of really small for Nanotechnology’s quite a novel beast”, the major applications will be in medicine. things, but I’m at a loss to provide a defini- explains Dr Khan. “It’s unique in that it is In fact, there are drugs with nano-structured tion more insightful than this. In today’s one of the few centres for nanotechnology delivery mechanisms that have gained world this problem is easily solved; a quick in the world to unify teams across different US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Google search reveals that nanotechnology disciplines – in medicine, chemistry, physics approval, and others are currently in Phase is “The science and technology of building and engineering. Overall, there are more III trials”. It is only a matter of time before electronic circuits and devices, of less than than 200 researchers involved across the two we see the benefits of nanotechnology all 100 nanometres, from single atoms and mol- institutions”. around us then? “What most people don’t ecules”. 100 nanometres; that’s less than a realise is that nanotechnology is already billionth of a metre, so I was right to think out there in a big way, it’s already worth that it involved really small things. But how “The London Centre billions of pounds. There are nanoparticles useful can experimentation into entities this for Nanotechnology is in pregnancy tests. Cars have nanostructures small really be in the big wide world? in the paintwork. Digital camera memories My initial reservations notwithstanding, quite a novel beast” use nanotechnologies”. It seems even though nanotechnology is in fact booming. The we can’t see the technology, we can see its interest in manipulating single atoms and As you would expect of a multi-million innovations all around us. ■ molecules in order to give them newer and pound project that draws on the expertise more useful properties began with a lecture of two of the country’s leading universities given by the theoretical physicist Richard (including Imperial College’s own Professor Feynman in 1959. Feynman predicted that Tim Jones, head of the Centre for Electronic there was nothing in the laws of physics that Materials and Devices), there are exciting meant that manipulating individual atoms research applications in the pipeline. Dr Khan and molecules was impossible, but rather the is clearly enthusiastic about the potential only limit was the development of sufficiently uses of the research currently underway at dextrous tools. the LCN, not least because of the lucrative research grants the LCN has attracted, including a £2.3m award for a new type of “Most people transmission electron micrograph for use at don’t realise that Imperial – of which there are only around 10 in the world. nanotechnology is out “Certain sites specialise in certain there in a big way” things”, Dr Khan explains. “For example, an important project currently going on at Since then, nanotechnology has made Imperial is the development of solar cells, remarkable progress and has spawned backed by BP Solar. These are light, flexible new branches of research in physics, solar cells made with nano-structured chemistry and biology. Dr Abid Khan, the materials that can be used over much wider deputy director of The London Centre for areas than current solar cells, which use Nanotechnology, is well placed to comment more expensive semiconductor technology. on the possibility of nanotechnology being Theoretically, they could be made large the panacea to all of our futuristic society’s enough to cover the roof of a house. On ills. The London Centre for Nanotechnology the other hand, at UCL, they are working was created in 2002 at a cost of nearly £14m, on some of the fundamental mechanisms and has a new £20m facility opening in behind neurodegenerative disorders and January 2006. It aims to provide a “hub for detectors for disease”. In keeping with the a UK wide [nanotechnology] network”. As a cooperative spirit of the LCN there are joint, integrated venture between Imperial further joint ventures underway, including College London and University College the new Bio Nano Centre, where Imperial London, the centre is rapidly developing and UCL researchers will work together to a reputation as one of the world’s leading build prototype products for the medical centres for nanotechnology research. industry. The successful application of the Amongst the state-of-the-art facilities offered fruits of nanotechnologists’ labours could be at the centre is a ‘clean-room’; when working the solution to problems the majority of us with nanoscale molecules, contamination by haven’t even thought of yet. a single dust particle can spell disaster. Where will the LCN lead the nanotechnology Dr Khan is keen to stress the spirit of industry in the future? “In the medium mutual collaboration in which the London term, the major movement is going to be

Winter 2005 I, science 21

nanotech.indd 1 25/11/05 6:13:58 am FEATURES

Dancing to a Different Tune

© Ram Shergill “We all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” -Albert Einstein

Undoubtedly so. To commemorate the centenary of Einstein’s just 27 minutes long, over far too quickly. It does not, thankfully, attempt to literally seminal papers the Institute of Physics commissioned an original represent Einstein’s seminal papers but does piece of contemporary dance from the celebrated Rambert make oblique references to some of the ideas through movement, set, costume and Dance Company. Becky Coe went to see the results of this effort, lighting. “You have to be very careful not to Constant Speed, and caught up with Ray Rivers, Professor of be too naff,” says Rivers. “Occasionally you see people in yellow suits pretending to be Theoretical Physics here at Imperial, who provided the dancers quarks, and it just makes you cringe. That’s with background on the pioneering work of the eminent father of not it!” This is certainly not “Einstein: The Ballet.” modern physics. The references to physics are subtle and, T WAS with some sense of trepidation without reading the program, could be missed that I set off to see Rambert Dance entirely. However, a brief consideration ICompany’s Constant Speed – partly of the inspiration for this piece leads to a because I had to travel to the concrete greater insight, depth of understanding and capital that is Milton Keynes, but also ultimately, enjoyment. because I was concerned that as a mere The most dance-friendly of Einstein’s 1905 biologist the complexity of physics portrayed ideas was that of Brownian motion – often as dance would go over my head. I needn’t demonstrated to students by the apparently have worried as I was quickly assured that random motion of pollen grains suspended in under no circumstances was this going to water. The phenomena, originally identified be a physics lecture. As Professor Ray Rivers by biologist Robert Brown, could only be explained: “It’s a celebration, a fanfare. If it’s a understood when Einstein’s calculations soup there’s a bit of Einstein in the herbs but established the existence of atoms and the actual meat is in the choreography.” molecules: the pollen grains are jostled and In fact Constant Speed could be considered moved by water molecules too small to be the antithesis of the average physics lecture: seen. it is colourful, quirky, witty, sexy and, at Rivers introduced the concept to the

22 I, science Winter 2005

constant_speed.indd 2 25/11/05 6:06:41 am FEATURES

Dancing to a Different Tune choreographer of Constant Speed, Mark have benefited from the venture. Although say as an exquisite piece of art that takes Baldwin, with the use of a “bumble ball.” This Rambert did not take the project on as an scientific ideas as its muse, it most definitely is a battery-operated toy (originally designed exercise in publicity, it has reaped rewards does. If however, you were anticipating a for children but now promoted to dogs) from the attention surrounding Einstein Year. pedagogical work to furnish you with a resembling a brightly coloured landmine – its Similarly, theatre-goers, who probably buy deeper understanding of Einsteinian physics, centre of gravity constantly shifts, causing it tickets based on the reputation of Rambert you would be disappointed. Rivers declined to to mimic the erratic movement of a molecule with little regard for the particular content speculate on whether Einstein himself would have been impressed by Constant Speed, but I feel it might be a fitting tribute to a man who It’s a celebration, a fanfare. If it’s a seemed to hold such a special place for the creative side of scientific thinking. Einstein soup there’s a bit of Einstein in the said in an interview in 1929, “inspiration is herbs but the actual meat is in the more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited, imagination encircles the world.” choreography. If nothing else this collaboration between science and art exudes imagination and bombarded by unseen forces. Part of the of the program, are introduced to some encourages it too. ■ final choreography incorporates the dancers’ potentially unfamiliar ideas. “It alerts them improvisations based on playing with the to the fact that this is Einstein Year and there bumble ball, Baldwin uses the randomness is something called the Institute of Physics - of the body movements to great effect. and if it gets just one or two other ideas over Einstein’s revelation that light could act as in a simple way, then that is marvellous.” packages of energy, photons, which behave Rivers said. like particles inspired another section of the So does Constant Speed work? I would dance. The energy of the photon depends on its colour, and we see weak, red men capering with strong, blue women – a comic aside which Rivers describes as “pure Mark.” This leads into the spectacular rainbow finale, which, complete with a two-tonne disco ball, flirts delightfully with the kitsch. Baldwin intended the disco ball to simultaneously suggests the cosmos and the concept that light arrives in packets. This was lost on me, but the random scattering of light and the dancers’ reflections was stunning. The choreography is energetic, daring and at points even acrobatic; the physicality is irresistible. This is all set off by the music of Franz Lehar, a Viennese composer and a contemporary of Einstein. Baldwin had the fanciful idea of Einstein dreaming up his physics whilst listening to the pop music of his time. Rivers comments that although the content of physics and dance are poles apart they share the same “intensity of individual visions and the quality which goes into the work – and the uncertainty as how to actually create something.” Similarly, in the programme notes, Baldwin comments that he has learnt that physicists can be charming and obsessive – just like artists. The concepts of energy, space and time, so integral to Einstein’s ideas are also a common currency in dance. The energy is never lacking in Baldwin’s choreography, and Rivers feels this is why dance is a much more appropriate medium for representing physics than a static form of visual art. There might also be other similarities between physics and contemporary dance, like the necessity for a different mind set with which to view them. Physicists often understand things in mathematical equations, unintelligible to many outsiders; dance aficionados learn to read movements, rhythm and pace. Perhaps this makes contemporary dance a sympathetic medium to portray physics as © Ram Shergill both are a bit misunderstood by the public at large. Although there are many overt physics references in “Constant Speed”, many In the case of Constant Speed, it certainly references are far less obvious, existing like a private joke between the physicists seems that both sides of the partnership and dancers involved.

Winter 2005 I, science 23

constant_speed.indd 3 25/11/05 6:07:35 am FEATURES I Want My Freedom!

Smoking: a right or a public health menace? The Government couldn’t decide. Meera Senthilingam scrutinizes the issues.

at least one hospitality employee a daily basis we’re exposed to a dies every day. This evidence is substance deemed as hazardous. pretty conclusive, but hundreds The smoking campaigning of theories have been passed group FOREST argue that the around on the health problems case against passive smoke has associated with passive smoking. not been fully proven, but the What are the real concerns for evidence backing the concerns us to be aware of? against passive smoking is Tobacco smoke is made continually increasing. up of over 4000 chemical It must be noted that while compounds and it is thought at only 59% of the Irish population least 60 of these are potentially supported the ban before it was carcinogenic. In the short-term, introduced, over a year on 93% just thirty minutes exposure to now back it. There is worry that HOPPING CENTRES, to get your views on the matter. passive smoke can reduce blood trade in the hospitality industry museums, and cinemas… 87% of all the students I accosted flow through the heart. will suffer, though in Ireland they’ve all done it! What said they thought the ban should In the long-term, the Scientific a small fall in trade was soon haveS they done you say? They’ve go ahead, while 13% thought it Committee on Tobacco and followed by a rise and stands at all declared a vendetta on ciga- was unnecessary. However, 90% Health concluded that passive present with an overall loss of rettes and banned smoking on of the people I stopped were smoke was involved in many only 3%. their premises. Pubs and bars non-smokers, which obviously cases of lung cancer, heart disease Bringing the issue into context, are now to follow, stoking fur- biased my outcome. and respiratory problems. would a ban from smoking in ther debate nationwide. To even out these stats I hit my The US Environmental the union bar result in a loss Why pass a law to ban local and asked the opinion of Protection Agency (EPA) of revenue, a loss of student smoking? The sight and smell of the patrons. In this environment has classified Environmental drinking? I think not. smoke is a common occurrence 52% said they didn’t agree with Tobacco Smoke (ETS) as a class So all this considered, maybe to us students who venture out the ban. Considering that 2/3 A carcinogen - in the same class it’s time to follow the trend and into London nightlife but do we of these people were smokers, as asbestos. We all know the fuss clear the air. ■ really know what we are being this is not as high as you would kicked up about asbestos, yet on exposed to? Every patron of presume. bars and smoky restaurants is So what were the reasons exposing themselves to passive justifying these opinions? The smoke. This is the combination majority of non-smokers felt of side stream smoke, coming it was unfair for them to be from the tip of a lit cigarette; subjected to smoke when it’s and mainstream smoke, exhaled not a habit they have picked from a smoker. up. They felt it forced them CiS is an international network of those into somebody else’s lifestyle. concerned with the relationship between I’m sure all girls have woken up science and Christian faith, open to “87% of Imperial after a big night to the lovely Student students thought aroma of tobacco on their hair. scientists, teachers, students and all those offers the ban should This stale odour after a night out with an interest in this dialogue was a main reason among non- One year’s go ahead” FREE online smokers. Literature and resources The smokers on the other membership Countries such as Ireland and hand felt that passing such a law Keep up to date with the journal ������� ��� FREE online Norway have already completely would be almost totalitarian. ��������� ������, newsletters, and book reviews. access to the banned you lighting up in their They felt that too much in life journal workplaces, bars and restaurants. is being regulated and the ban Conferences Will England follow in these giant would remove freedom. Yet Book discounts footsteps? England is planning to non-smokers could argue for Annual and local conferences aiming to address ban smoking in workplaces that their right to go out in a smoke- current issues in science and Christianity. Conference serve food, therefore including free environment. bursaries all restaurants and many bars. Whilst agreeing that it Fellowship and support However, they are letting private wasn’t fair to non-smokers, the Join our growing network of local groups. Just send your members’ clubs decide for smokers I met felt that divided name, and details themselves. You may think this areas within pubs and bars of your course, sounds more reasonable than would be a better alternative CiS membership includes: year and a complete ban, but the British allowing choice for both parties. university to A subscription to ������� ��� ��������� ������ Medical Association (BMA) The problem with such divisions [email protected] states that enforcing this partial however, is that most bars that 10% discount on books ban will prove much harder than provide this have not installed implementing a comprehensive adequate ventilation systems Free registration for first conference ban over all communal areas. resulting in very little benefit. To ban or not to ban…who Research here at Imperial actually cares about the outcome College has shown that 700 of this legislation? I took to the people die every year from the Online resources at www.cis.org.uk ‘streets’ of Imperial’s walkway effects of passive smoking and

24 I, science Winter 2005

smokingban advert edit.indd 2 25/11/05 6:18:42 am REVIEWS INTERVIEWS OPINION NEWS & EVENTS Science and Religion

observations. By introducing an all-powerful Designer, ID fails They’ve got no IDea this basic test. Obviously, conventional evolution also relies on ‘assumptions’, like genes, mutations and changes in the environment; however, all of these have been observed, defi ned and studied in Intelligent Design: just how intelligent detail. Th e Designer has not been observed or defi ned, and he certainly has not been studied. It becomes clear why the American is it? Michael Marshall fi nds out. Association for the Advancement of Science claims that ID “has not been demonstrated to be a scientifi c theory”. ONTROVERSY CONTINUES to rage in America over One wonders why, if there truly is an all-powerful Designer guiding Intelligent Design (ID), an ‘alternative’ view of the theory of the process of evolution, humans have an appendix. His machinations evolution. Evolutionary scientists across the globe are up in have created several species of dark-dwelling mammals with residual Carms, claiming that ID isn’t even a theory. Are they right? eyes that don’t work, birds that don’t go near water but nevertheless One of the problems with tackling such a contentious issue is that have webbed feet, and multitudinous unfortunate creatures that are the debate has been polarised, over-strong claims are made on each manifestly ill-equipped to survive their environment. side. Th e spokesmen for ID have complained repeatedly that their I await an explanation with interest. ■ claims are being misrepresented as ‘creationism by any other name’. ID, however, does not deny the advances of modern science. Several key fi gures in ID are working scientists, urging a reinterpretation of the evidence regarding evolution. So, here is their defi nition of ID, Religion has a place taken unadulterated from www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org “Th e theory of intelligent design (ID) holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent In November Rev Dr John Polkinghorne cause rather than an undirected process such as natural selection. ID is thus a scientifi c disagreement with the core claim of evolutionary spoke at Imperial about ‘Th e Friendship theory that the apparent design of living systems is an illusion.” Andrew Willson In spite of this new wording we are back in familiar territory. of Science and Religion’. Historically, opponents of the theory of evolution have argued that explains why he invited him. complex features such as eyes could not have arisen by a mindless process such as natural selection. Th ere must therefore have been a HERE SEEMS to be an unnecessary gap between the areas higher power, i.e. God, controlling how life developed. of science and religion. Over my four years as Chaplain ID’s proponents, however, are very keen not to bring the word at Imperial I have had some great conversations about ‘God’ into the discussion. Th ey refer simply to the ‘Designer’, whose howT science connects with religious practice and ideas. Th ese identity and nature is left unspecifi ed. Th is smacks of re-branding, conversations however have been with individuals rather than in intended to give creationism more of a scientifi c feel. public meetings. Where the connection has arisen in public debate it has been in meetings where the explicit agenda was the promotion “Th e Designer has not been of Christianity. In this instance the relationship between science and religion becomes a football to kick about in an inconclusive debate observed or defi ned, and he about the existence or otherwise of God. certainly has not been studied” I was pleased when John proposed the title for his talk, ‘Th e Friendship of Science and Religion’. I wanted the talk and the Let’s think it through. Th e Designer is required to be aware following dialogue to address the wide area that exists between the of the detailed circumstances of every life-form in the universe. extreme positions of fundamentalist secularists and fundamentalist Conservatively, that’s 6 billion humans, all the rest of the mammals, Christians. Between these two extreme points of view there seemed all the rest of the vertebrates, all the invertebrates, plus the trillions of to be a huge area for dialogue. plants, fungi, bacteria, cyanobacteria and viruses. Furthermore, the My view is that the supposed confl ict between science and religion Designer is supposed to be able to continually and precisely adjust is a false binary opposition. Making sense of our lives and the world in all these life-forms at a genetic level, without any visible indications which we live can not be reduced to the simplistic question: “Which of this process, such as hands coming out of the sky, telekinetically- is right, science or religion? You decide!”. controlled pipettes, or the like. Th e over-simplifying seems to occur at the extreme end of both Th at is one hell of a supposition. Scientifi c theories are expected sides of the relationship. On the religious side there are Christians to use the fewest assumptions possible to explain a wide range of who, because of a false and fundamentalist view of their faith, fail to recognise that the Bible texts are not doing early 21st century science. Th ere are also those of an intensely secularist pro-science view who fail to look at the phenomenon of religion with the same kind of curiosity and dispassion that they use in science. So between these extremes I felt that there was need for a good, academically sound and scientifi cally credible voice arguing the case that science and religion both look at the world but focus on diff erent things, or are asking diff erent questions. Clearly John understands both religion and science from the inside. What he was able to describe with authority were the ways in which the two areas are both distinct and overlap. Th is is nuanced and un-dramatic stuff . However, it is this area that proved to be of such interest to over 200 people. Th is I guess is where the questions actually lie for those who are themselves aware of the questions that can be asked about the limitations and virtues of both science and religion. Th ere seem to be opportunities for both science and religion to admit what they cannot answer; to admit the points at which the models are only models, or that the scriptural images and Who’s the intelligent designer? metaphors about God are just that – metaphors and images. Here God, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster? lies the beginning of interesting dialogue. ■

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Opinionlayout2.indd 1 25/11/05 6:34:01 am NEWS & EVENTS OPINION INTERVIEWS REVIEWS The Creativity Drain

Science is being taught in a way that stifles creativity and the sciences are suffering as a result, argues Katherine Nightingale.

OU DROPPED science, I would guess, because it was doled out to you in spoonfuls of distilled boredom.” The author David Lodge got to the root of the problem “Ywith science education in his recent novel Thinks. Is the way science is taught in our schools, and the way science is perceived in general, putting off creative young minds? The number of students taking A Levels in science subjects is dropping. This has knock-on effects in the science departments of universities. Applications for degree courses in the physical sciences, along with maths and engineering, have fallen by as much as 30% in recent years. “There is a great deal of Perhaps one of the problems facing the education of science is that creativity in scientific research, science itself is so embedded in the facts. Its very purpose - to find out about the world - is often translated into a dull, fact-laden subject it is simply rarely talked about” in the classroom. The parrot-fashion learning of chemical equations, for example, is not exactly stimulating. National Curriculum time It has been said that the ultimate aims of the artist and scientist constraints can make it hard to emphasise the investigative and are alike; both are trying to understand and represent for others the pioneering aspects of science. reality that lies beyond appearances and both have the ability to look I don’t think I’ll ever forget the principle of evolution by natural at situations in a different way to an established norm. selection, illustrated by my GCSE biology teacher roaming the Acknowledging the more creative aspects of scientific research classroom pretending to be one of the first fish to take a gasp of air, could lead to a deeper understanding not only between science and complete with slurping noises and a look of wide-eyed confusion. the arts, but between science teachers and the scientists of the future. Explaining the principles behind the science in just such a way would Whether this could ever be addressed in our education system surely be more rewarding than the repetition of facts. Spoonfuls of remains to be seen. ■ distilled boredom my biology classes were not. The objective nature of science can make it appear detached and dispassionate, an immediate turn-off for students who think of themselves as creative and want a connection with their subject. I certainly remember feeling bewildered at having to write up Humanities science experiments in the passive voice. In trying to emphasise the objectivity of science, and laying down the guidelines for the experimental rigour that is undoubtedly the basis of ‘good science’, Graduate... science education almost deceives its students. There is no talk of the motivations and passions of scientists, save the most famous historical figures. It seems strange that we can learn about Darwin and Einstein as humans, yet rarely do the same for contemporary And Proud scientists. This detachment from human activity dissuades some students from pursuing science further; many give it up for more humanities-based subjects at the first opportunity, subjects in which Should arts graduates stay away from the they perceive there to be more personal freedom and creativity. sciences? Jonathan Black (BA English Lit.) “I don’t think I’ll ever forget my doesn’t think so. GCSE biology teacher roaming F YOU’D LIKE to be a science communicator, I highly recommend the classroom pretending to be English Literature as a course of study. Now don’t all leave at once. one of the first fish to take a gasp It’s brilliant fun, and you get to spend the rest of your life bothered Iby the sense that everything happening to you you’ve read somewhere of air, complete with slurping before. One downside, however, is that it tends to inspire some pretty noises and a look of wide-eyed beetled looks from scientists, especially when you tell them you want to write about science. My own science credentials are really not confusion” much: a bit of calculus, a bit of physics, and I got really irritated that a guy I was going out with in second year had Walt Whitman’s love Yet there is a great deal of creativity in scientific research, it is simply poem to scientific ignorance When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer rarely talked about. While the creative process itself is an important stuck to his door. Read it, it’s barge-rinse. part of the arts and evidently impregnates the final product, in science I don’t come with expert knowledge in a scientific field, but that’s the most important aspect is the end result. Science has created a not what you need to write about science for a general audience. The culture for itself where emotion is frowned upon and any admittance experts themselves are only experts in the small corners of their field. of a creative, personal journey in the process of scientific research A science writer needs to know who the expert is and why his or her would undermine the final product. findings are believed (or not) by others in science. That’s the same There is no use in denying the personal and creative exertion a for everyone who communicates science, regardless of how much scientist can go through in order to gain results. Alan Lightman - time they’ve spent at the business end of an Erlenmeyer flask. I’m not both a physicist and novelist - claims that the feeling of the creative saying that I don’t need to go and find things out. Each day there’s moment in both scientific research and fiction writing is the same: “a more to get wrong about science than there was the day before, and I stunning surprise joined with a feeling of rightness and inevitability”. don’t want to get things wrong.

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I promise to do my homework. I will also put this, my first published piece of writing about science, in a handsome and heavy frame. If you’ve done some science that I get wrong then you, yes you, can come over and whack me with it. If my head is still vaguely spherical after a few years, hopefully you’ll agree I can carry on. “All of us, humanities graduates, made fun of the hardline postmodernist view that knowledge is myth. Then we went to het pub.” But maybe I don’t want to get my facts right: it seems I may have other, darker purposes to my scribbling. The Guardian’s Ben Goldacre recently decided that once humanities graduates join the media they’re consumed with antiscientific thoughts. Oh yes: “…humanities graduates in the media, who suspect themselves to be intellectuals, desperately need to reinforce the idea that science is nonsense: because they’ve denied themselves access to the most significant developments in the history of western thought for 200 years, and secretly, deep down, they’re angry with themselves over have been inspired to talk about science is a sign of its success, not that.” This potted bit of pop psychology isn’t true, but I do admire its failure. Some of their portrayals will be suspicious in intention its resemblance to the origins of a comic book villain. Goldacre can or quality, and I’ll be around to spot the silly ones and applaud the dream up paintpot monsters to give you all nightmares if he likes, but truthful ones. If science is meant to be for everyone, that should what he’s saying bears no resemblance to the humanities graduates include little old me - you’ll find the party’s better if not everyone who are my friends. All of us made fun of the hardline postmodernist brings the same thing. I’m sorry to be so goody-goody about all this, view that knowledge is myth. Then we went to the pub. but trust an English grad. It worked out for the Montagues and the There are benefits to having humanities kids like me hanging out Capulets in the end, but it will be better to try and resolve things around science. The fact that artists, playwrights and others of the ilk without quite so many of us taking, or talking, poison. ■

drip-feeding the renewables sector - barely keeping it alive,” Will the lights It’s the UK’s fragmented policy and lack of joined up thinking that has resulted in us facing an enormous shortfall in electricity provision compared to other European countries such as Germany, which last year installed 100 times more solar capacity than the stay on this UK. Climate Change Science has never been more robust. There is widespread scientific consensus that C02 emissions from humans are increasing the earth’s average temperature and the debate has winter? moved on to examine how society must respond. Science has developed state-of-the-art climate “scenarios” which look at how climate change impacts vary with different government policies. Were they on in the first place? Despite These scenarios can also be used to see what mix of policies would political rhetoric on the strength of the be required to reach a 60% reduction in carbon emissions. Recent advances in economic computer modelling have demonstrated UK’s Climate Change Programme, we that we can have economic growth but at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions. still have a long way to go, argues Science provides clear pathways towards a clean, decarbonised, Laura Middleton. yet growing economy, but the call for leadership on climate change that Blair triumphantly advocated during the recent G8 meetings IKE MANY, I cringed when I heard Tony Blair’s backtrack has not translated into real action. Recent research by the Tyndall speech to the G8 environment ministers last week. It was Centre for Climate Change Research points to how planned airport George W Jr. speaking when Blair said that the “blunt truth expansions would mean that by 2050 aviation would be responsible aboutL the politics of climate change” was that no country wants to for 90% of all carbon emissions, yet the government still refuses to sacrifice its economy to meet the challenge and that focus needs to be tax aviation fuel or curb expansion. on technology, not binding international targets and agreements. The UK Government structure is too weak to respond to Blair’s new focus on technology comes exactly when his own climate change because its agencies are disjointed and do not scientific adviser announced that UK is unlikely to meet its 2010 communicate. Defra are primarily responsible for the UK Climate target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20%. He insists that Change Programme (UKCCP), but the impacts of climate change the UK will catch up to reach its 2050 target of a 60% reduction but go beyond Defra’s remit. This requires policy integration and most policy research suggests the opposite. consensus between DTI, DFT, the Treasury and the ODPM - Robust, measurable targets are exactly what we need - not just something which certainly won’t take place without clear targets. vague aspirations. The technology to reduce energy demand and Similarly the UKCCP, which mainly consists of the Energy supply, together with energy efficiency measures is already available. Savings Trust and the Climate Change Levy, is itself disjointed If we launched a national wind, solar and combined heat and power and fragmented. The roles, responsibilities and pathways between (CHP) programme along with energy conservation measures we funding bodies, strategies and research organisations are not clear. could really make a difference to the amount of carbon dioxide Much of the liaison between Defra, the UKCCP and other research produced in 2010. The challenge is to provide regulations and enough bodies is entirely ad-hoc and based-upon personal relationships. economic incentives to persuade industry and households to take up There is little formal coordination or communication between these technologies on a mass scale. the many bodies contributing to it. Government departments and “Too many senior officials just don’t believe that you can get the programme itself need an overarching, holistic framework energy this way,” said Jeremy Leggett of the solar power company to integrate information, avoid duplicating efforts and share Solarcentury. “They believe that you get it from building a big box and knowledge. We need interdisciplinary government for an putting in it a nuclear reactor; it’s just the culture. “The government is interdisciplinary problem. ■

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regulation of levels of different mood-controlling neurotransmitters in the brain, linking these to a sense of peace achieved in spirituality. The divine idea These genes could have been favoured by natural selection if they helped humans form cohesive societies based on religious codes. Katherine Nightingale finds there is less to However, Winston discounts this idea later, because cohesion within groups can be achieved by other means. “Religion does not God’s story than she had hoped. seem to be produced by a specific part of our psychological make- up”. He makes no further mention of these genes yet describes more evidence for a genetic component to religion. The Story of God His discussion of the birth and development of modern science by Robert Winston is engaging, and charts the complexities of science becoming a BANTAM PRESS / ISBN 0-593-05493-8 valid world-view alongside, and often in contention with, religion. While traditional, organised religion is in decline, the personalised ‘supermarket of faiths’ and religion for ‘the here and now’ have OBERT WINSTON is a brave become increasingly popular. It would seem that while science, man. He has written a book about deeply rooted in observation and experiment, is explaining more the history of religion: from its and more, the human mind cannot let go of the Divine Idea and beginningsR in the minds of our prehistoric continues to seek something more than science can give. ancestors to its status in society today, Winston says that science will never completely answer the threatened by science. Written from his questions behind human existence, yet he doesn’t offer an perspective as a highly regarded scientist alternative. He suggests instead that the search for the meaning and a practising Jew, this work is unlikely of life itself is sufficient meaning for man’s existence. He has posed to be entirely respected by either scientists or theologians. possibly the most important question for humanity and yet doesn’t The subject is undoubtedly compelling. It raises questions tell us what he thinks the answer is. Indeed, though there are many central to human existence and consciousness: now that we have references to both his professional life and his Jewish faith, he science, do we need God? Why did we ever need God? What never expresses an overt opinion. This is disappointing. He is in makes us seek not only an explanation of the world around us, but an almost unique position, effectively spanning both sides of the a why, something beyond perceptible human life? And how has argument, but despite this denies us the personal journey promised this ‘religiosity’ survived? in the tagline of his book. The Story of God takes us through a narrative that anyone “Winston poses the most important interested in human history will enjoy. The book explains many of the disputes between science and religion with style and clarity, question and yet doesn’t tell us what yet the overall tone is descriptive rather than investigative. It is he thinks the answer is” certainly illuminating about the issues surrounding the debates of science and religion. Perhaps Winston’s greatest skill is taking such Winston charts the history of religion, which he calls the “Divine a massive topic and presenting it in a digestible and entertaining Idea”, from the earliest civilisations to question what happened way. He is never patronising and there is a sense that he is learning after death, through organised religion, to the present day. The along with us. Yet the fact that this book has been written by a prehistoric evidence he uses is understandably speculative and scientist may not work in its favour. Should scientists, religious or shaky, and though Winston recognises this himself, his arguments not, be embarking on this kind of study? There is no doubt that this may still attract derision from his fellow scientists. will provoke further debate in the science versus religion battlefield. His arguments are occasionally muddled, especially the idea of As Winston himself concedes, “As a scientist writing about religion a ‘gene for religion’. He describes candidate genes involved in the I will inevitably be venturing onto contested ground.” ■

their own lighting rigs, delve deep into insect’s nests. Time-lapse photography shows bee flight 4,000 times slower than the naked eye Creepy-crawlies could see it. Tiny lenses, mounted on an automated miniature robot, march with an ant army during the invasion of a termite nest. In a welcome addition to the standard natural history programme format, Greg Foot gets down and dirty with the pioneering technology behind such pictures is presented in the final ten minutes of each programme. a few billion invertebrates. The series is at the cusp of scientific and technical knowledge. It shows thermal imagery of insect antics that have never been seen before, recording even the tiny sounds produced by larvae that Life in the Undergrowth purposefully imitate red ants. This footage is being used to further presented by David Attenborough research, and papers based on it have already appeared in Nature. Life in ihe Undergrowth highlights not only the incredible beauty of the invertebrate world but also its importance: “If we and the rest AVID ATTENBOROUGH returns of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of to our screens with Life in the the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to Undergrowth, a series probing deep disappear, the land’s ecosystems would collapse.” Dinto the lives of the invertebrates hidden One memorable sequence sees Attenborough using a pin to point underneath our feet. to a springtail, whilst the latest ‘deep focus’ technology enables us to At a preview hosted by the Royal Television see both Attenborough and the animal together without the use of Society, Mike Salisbury, the series producer, digital trickery. Attenborough, however, is as brilliantly understated took an invited audience through some of as ever, giving the tiny insect centre stage. the footage. I will never again look at the world in the same way. We The series is a delight to watch, and it is difficult to describe in saw a snail’s tentacle unravel with an eye opening from its end. We words how inspiring this footage is. Attenborough’s approachable saw a springtail, a flea smaller than a full stop, keep itself moist using style and infectious enthusiasm will absorb everyone into this an inflatable grooming arm. We saw beetles re-packing their wings fascinating miniature world found deep in our undergrowth. ■ using what can only be described as expert origami. Life in the Undergrowth films the often-neglected creepy-crawlies Attenborough’s undergrowth living in our hedgerows. The series is a visual feast: screens are filled with colourful shots of stunning organisms that have never Life in the Undergrowth is a five-part series produced by before been exposed in this way. Minute cameras, accompanied by Mike Salisbury. Watch it on BBC1 Wednesdays at 9pm.

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Moth Surprise, Carlo Delli, Italy. (The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition is organised by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine. The images are for one use only and must not be archived.)

In the Animal Portraits category, the expressions of the animals really spoke for themselves. Take the Glare of the Great Owl who Wild creatures clearly did not want to be photographed (Scott W Sharkey), or the majestic gorilla sitting unperturbed in the torrential rain (Joe The Natural History Museum’s wildlife McDonald, Gorilla in the Rain), or even the comic genius of the Red Deer who had acquired a stylish bracken headdress after a fight with a photograhy exhibiton is an annual treat. rival (Danny Green, Red Deer headgear). The Composition and Form category showed a close-up of what at first glance appears to be a Letitia Hughes picks out some gems. furry mammal’s eyes but is in fact a moth’s defensive markings (Carlo Delli, Moths Surprise). A final eye-catching image was found in the S I STRUGGLED through the Natural History Museum, Wild Places category in a scene that looked like something out of full of screaming toddlers and school children brandishing The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, with monochromatic frosted clipboards, the sanctuary of the Wildlife Photographer pines juxtaposed against a sunlit backdrop (Christophe Sidamon- ExhibitionA came as a welcome release. I won’t bore you with the details Pesson, Frosted Pines). of my visit here – I’ll leave you to visit yourself. In the meantime, here You can see all these images and more if you visit the exhibition. All are some highlights to whet your appetite. the winners are displayed, as well as the runners-up and the highly If you think this exhibition is just walls of arty, useless photographs commended entries. And if that is not enough, there is also a movie of people’s pet bunny rabbits, you are wrong. The photos come from of winning and commended entries from the past twenty years of the all over the world, from places as diverse as the depths of the ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award. and the top of a volcano. The text accompanying each photo helps the The overall winner was Manuel Presti’s Sky Chase, an action shot viewer discover some of the science behind it. The Animal Behaviour of a dynamic peregrine falcon attack among a myriad of starlings. category includes images of a Japanese macaque, selflessly acting as The blurriness of the image only accentuates the speed and power a snowplough to help the other macaques to get past the deep snow of nature. In his own words, it is “a stark dramatic picture of one of (Yukihiro Fukuda, Snow Trails) and a snake eagle eating a snake (José the world’s greatest natural spectacles”. But don’t take his word for it B Ruiz, The Snake Eagle Family). A particularly impressive photo had – see it for yourself and pick your own favourite. ■ a swift diving behind a powerful waterfall to the ledge underneath, a difficult journey bearing in mind its small size (John Aitchison, Swift Dive). The photographer describes how in order to leave the ledge The Wildlife Photographer Exhibition the swifts had to fly down behind the wall of water until they gained enough speed to punch through it. Penguins always amuse me and Visit the exhibition at the Natural History Museum here they are even more laughable as they attempt surfing. (Andy in South Kensington until 23 April 2006. Rouse, Surfing Gentoo). Tickets are £6 and £3.50 (concs)

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Nobel Prize, she was not even allowed onto the podium to receive it. However, in the experience of her daughter Eve, her almost obsessive Obsessive genius traits made her a very single-minded and cold mother with little understanding for pursuits other than scientific knowledge. Goldsmith’s story of Madame Curie’s life is also an intriguing Liv Hov-Clayton learns about a woman account of the scientific community a century ago. The pursuit of scientific discoveries with the fame, honour and vital funding that whose achievements came at a price. followed was a merciless, though surprisingly courteous race. Scientists would lend each other vital pieces of equipment, chemicals or data, knowing well it might cost them the credit of a discovery. Obsessive Genius: The Inner Mass media hotly pursued any breakthrough, and Goldsmith gives astonishing accounts of the usages radium was put to, most notably World of Marie Curie as a beauty product, with the gruesome deaths that inevitably by Barbara Goldsmith followed. PHOENIX / ISBN 0-753-81899-X The fact that Madame Curie was a woman and a foreigner made her an object of particular interest for the media. Her fame helped secure important funding for her research, but also worked against ADAME CURIE made her mark on her, particularly when a decade after the death of her beloved husband history as the woman who braved and research partner Pierre Curie, Marie had an affair with a married the fantastically male-dominated fellow scientist, Paul Langevin. The newspapers did not think twice Mworld of science to discover radioactivity, about splashing this all over their front pages, and overnight her radium and polonium and win two Nobel reputation tumbled from being an object of admiration to one of prizes. The myths surrounding this legendary contempt. This is perhaps not so different from today, apart from the woman are certainly romantic: she overcame childhood adversity fact that her male counterparts were left in peace. Goldstein points and Russian oppression in her native Poland, studied at the Sorbonne out how Albert Einstein fathered a child out of wedlock without in Paris, met the love of her life and discovered radium in a rundown, suffering similar consequences. draughty shack in a Paris backyard – a discovery which made her Goldstein’s book is easy to read, accounts of experiments and world-famous. theory are intermingled with vivid descriptions of public hysteria, Barbara Goldsmith adds new details to this myth, while debunking infighting and Marie Curies’ well-concealed emotional life. Goldstein others. The true story is richer, more complex, and much more draws parallels with the present by focusing on the dilemmas that scandalous. Madame Curie suffered bouts of deep depression big scientific discoveries bring. Most scientists, including Madame throughout her life, and only intense work and study could distract Curie, want their work to be only of benefit, but once “the genie is out her from them. As reflected in the book’s title, she possessed an of the bottle”, it is difficult to control, and compromises are made to extreme sense of purpose in her scientific work; to prove her point attract further funding. Madame Curie’s daughter took her mother’s she often set out on exhausting scientific studies, which could take findings further by unwittingly discovering fission, which has brought years, rather than directly confront her critics. This was probably about nuclear bombs as well as nuclear energy. a sensible approach since her womanhood only helped to diminish Barbara Goldstein reveals some surprisingly emotional, at times her credibility in the male-dominated scientific circles. Any credit shocking, aspects of an apparently grey, single-minded scientist, she received for her work was hard won; when she was awarded the brilliantly portraying the interactions of scientists a century ago. ■

Call me a university patriot (Lane studied biochemistry at Imperial College) but his enthusiasm for the subject is infectious, Sex and suicide? and it is as much his writing ability as the subject matter that turns this book into “popular” science. There’s more to mitochondria than The “Power, Sex, Suicide” part of the title is an excuse for Lane to describe the intricate workings of mitochondria. But the book is Francesca Young realised. not all hardcore cellular biology and evolution. Lane tells the story of how theories about mitochondria evolved and the controversies that surrounded them, concluding with Peter Mitchell’s 1978 Nobel Power, Sex, Suicide: Prize winning discovery. Mitchell proposed that mitochondria carry Mitochondria and the within them the secret of aging and thus also that of postponing death. Even the most sullen arts student would find it difficult to Meaning of Life deny that this makes for charged reading. by Nick Lane OUP / ISBN 0-192-80481-2 “Mitochondria might carry the secret of aging and of postponing death” DRAMATIC TITLE like this may lead biology fanatics to expect However, amongst this praise, it is only fair to issue a warning. the secrets of the world to unfold Funfairs have signs saying, “please do not board this ride unless you beforeA their eyes, while cynics would are this tall”, posted on the most dramatic of rides. Mitochondria’s expect a big let down. The man on the jacket should ideally warn, “please do not attempt to read this book street probably thinks this book belongs on the self-help shelves, unless you have a biology A-level”. And even if you do have one, not too far from Jilly Cooper’s latest romp. Nick Lane’s unusual it’s fairly hard going. Explanations of biological processes essential history of mitochondria is something in between the first two and to understanding the text are given but sometimes not until much nothing of the last. further on. Non-scientist readers could be left wondering if there Mitochondria are those tiny things that use oxygen to create was a salient point they have missed in their ignorance. And yet, so power, jammed inside living cells. But do they live up to the much detail is embedded in this eccentrically arranged history of book’s title? Lane does a good job of convincing us that they do. mitochondria that even the most die-hard mitochondria enthusiast Mitochondria were once considered to be merely the nucleus’ would be tempted to make a cup of tea. backing singers, creating the power for it to do the ‘real’ work, but Whether you are an A-level biologist or hardcore mitochondria are now considered the key ingredients of the complex life we enjoy. enthusiast, this is a book worth reading. It might not be as useful The remarkable evolutionary miracles that brought us here only as Men are from Venus, Women are from Mars in solving your happened because of the symbiotic relationship that developed troubles, but in return for your perseverance you’ll be rewarded between the freely living mitochondria and other cells. with one of the most dynamic stories in biology. ■

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“Science is the record of “The only way to reconcile dead religions” science and religion is to Oscar Wilde set up something which is “In a certain sense, science is not science and something myth-making just as religion is” that is not religion” Karl Popper, philosopher H L Mencken, journalist “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind” “I do not feel obliged to Albert Einstein believe that the same God “Isn’t it enough to see that a who endowed us with sense, garden is beautiful without reason, and intellect intended having to believe there are us to forgo their use” fairies at the bottom of it too?” Galileo Galilei Douglas Adams, writer

These courses are designed to provide science and engineering graduates with the skills and knowledge to switch to media or writing careers. Science Communication is a general MSc in Science preparation programme. Science Media Production is designed for those who want Communication to go into television or radio, while Creative (FT/PT) Non-Fiction Writing is for those aspiring to write serious non-fiction for popular audiences. MSc in Science For more information contact Wynn Media Production Abbott, Science Communication Group Administrator, Room S508, Sherfield (FT) Building, Imperial College London SW7 2AZ, tel: 020 7594 8753, fax: 020 7594 8763, email: [email protected] MSc in Creative web: www.imperial.ac.uk/ Non-Fiction Writing sciencecommunication (FT/PT) Closing date: 24 February 2006. Valuing diversity and committed to equality of opportunity

one_more_thing.indd 1 25/11/05 8:52:12 am Issue 3 Winter 2005

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