Issue 269 ▸ 14 February 2014 Reportersharing Stories of Imperial’S Community

Issue 269 ▸ 14 February 2014 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community

Sporting legacy Olympic Park venue to host Imperial basketball as part of exciting new partnership → centre pages

Future proofing Date with New vision Interview with a comet Gene therapy Russ Cummings, Rosetta comes offers hope CEO of Imperial out of her in inherited Innovations slumber ready blindness PAGE 10 for the chase PAGE 7 PAGE 14 2 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 14 February 2014 • issue 269

Final week for safety in the workplace and equality. the 2014 Staff Survey will Staff feedback will be analysed be an important barometer for staff to share by an independent research understanding where we do company, so that individual well and how we can improve. their views staff members’ responses remain I’d encourage everyone to take editor’s corner anonymous. Later in Spring a little time out to share their The Imperial 2014 Staff Survey is Imperial’s Provost, Professor views and help Imperial provide inviting employees’ perspectives James Stirling, will be holding a the very highest standard of More than on the College as a workplace by series of presentations to share workplace that our staff deserve,” 19 February. and discuss the College-wide said Professor Stirling. a game results. The Survey’s responses For every survey completed Over 7,000 members of staff have will also feed into action Imperial will give £1 to the Student As you’re likely to have now received email invitations plans, to be implemented both Hardship Fund, with the donation clocked from the front to participate in the Survey, College-wide and by departments increasing to £1.50 if the overall cover, this issue has a which seeks their views on with local HR support, to help response rate exceeds 65% by the sports theme. As well issues relating to five areas of improve the working environment time the Survey closes. as our main feature on their experiences here: working and practices. For more infomation about the Staff Survery the rise of basketball at life, development and progression “We want everyone to have the visit: bit.ly/1ojxo0I Imperial (centre pages), opportunities, communications, opportunity to have their say and there are two great examples of our academic staff using their expertise to analyse sport in the regular media mentions column (page 5). The STEM disciplines have interesting parallels with sport. Professionals in both fields require single-minded dedication and exquisite attention ARSITY to detail in their pursuit of excellence – which is 12.03.14 perhaps why they tend to work well together. Collaboration often Dyson and Imperial to develop next involves scientists generation robots at new centre developing technology for sport. But there are Enabling robots to work in the real world, through improved instances of sport being vision and computer processing power, will be the focus of a a source of inspiration new collaboration between Imperial and Dyson. for bold new ideas and concepts that could have Currently, robots do not have the ability to understand the ever much broader impact — changing challenges of a real-world environment. This has as anyone who has been meant that they have been confined to working in controlled to the Rio Tinto Sports environments such as on assembly lines in automotive plants. the ultimate battle Innovation Challenge Researchers at the Dyson Robotics Laboratory at Imperial jpr williams cup series of exhibitions in will develop computer vision programs that will enable robots icsm rfc 1st xv vs. ic rfc 1st xv recent years will be aware. to move beyond these controlled environments and successfully The latest, on display now navigate the real world. kicks off at 19.30 at the main entrance is Professor Andrew Davison (Computing), Director of the new at the stoop stadium, twickenham focused on winter sports £5 million centre, said: “The world could be moving towards a (page 13). But ideas like new era where robots for the house and business could be used buy match and travel tickets at a bruising suit for injury to make our lives more efficient, cost effective and easier. We aim www.imperial.ac.uk/sports/varsity detection might conceivably to attract some of the brightest minds to come and work with us at find its way into the clinic. the centre to make this future a reality.” andrew czyzewski, Editor Sir James Dyson added: “My generation believed that the #impvarsity world would be overrun by robots by the year 2014. We have Reporter is published every the mechanical and software capabilities, but we still lack three weeks during term time in print and online. understanding – machines that see and think in the way that we do. Mastering this will make our lives easier and Headline Sponsor Contact Andrew Czyzewski: lead to previously unthinkable technologies.” [email protected] —Colin Smith, Communications and Public Affairs forward to turning our ambitious vision for this collaboration into reality.” world-leaders intheirfields, with aseries of complementary strengths. We look innovations inbig data to benefit all of our lives. Huawei and Imperial are venture will show how collaboration between academia and industry can drive new products and services that will harness thehuge potential of big data.” By bringingits experts together with our engineers we believe we can create Imperial College is aglobal institution with unrivalled knowledge inthis field. collaboration will helpus stay at thecutting edge of data science developments. “Investing ininnovation is central to Huawei’s business strategy and this exciting parties agreed to look at opportunities for collaboration. Understanding between Huawei and Imperial inJuly 2013, under which both — fund, and operational costs for thenewlab. including next-generation cloud computing servers,aresearch and innovation develop newbig data technologies. Huawei will invest incutting-edge equipment new Data Science Institute, which will cultivate multidisciplinary collaborations to smart cities, energy and healthcare. harness data science research and develop newapplications infields such as together experts from across Imperial’s faculties and Huawei researchers to The Imperial College –Huawei Data Science Innovation Laboratory will bring and jointly-investon inadata science lab. Huawei, aleading global ICT solutions provider is to collaborate withImperial innovation lab Huawei and Imperial to opendata science www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter C olin Smith and Andrew Sch eubr, C Professor Yike Guo, Director of theData Science Institute said: “This newLab William Xu, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Enterprise Business Group, said: in brief The announcement of thelab follows thesigning of aMemorandum of The data science lab is thefirst major corporate partnership within Imperial’s in White City.in White translation campus 25 acre research and established at Imperial’s initiatives to be is oneof the first as theLondon Node, Labs UK centre, known and services. The EITICT of innovative products commercial delivery research and the bridge thegap between which will seek to centre for ICT Innovation is to host aEuropean Imperial WestCampus The College’s new Imperial W Euro ITcentre for

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a entrepreneurship Boost for markets, including India. the perspective of emerging strategic leadership from entrepreneurship and will address innovation, The newChair at Imperial focus onentrepreneurship. College Business School to a newChair intheImperial announced support for scooter manufacturer – largest motorcycle and Motocorp, the world’s Managing Director of Hero SunilMunjal –Joint New Delhi last month, At anevent for alumni in research tions and Public Affairs issue

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feedback. to assessment and and learning resources from academic support on arange of topics, seeksstudent views nationwide survey College.the The experience here at to theirstudent of elements related asked to rate arange survey they are being As partof theannual Student Survey2014. views intheNational invited to share their undergraduates are Imperial’sfinal year L eave yourmark

the engagement and support of our staff.” need to beperformed with careful analysis and with task, and findingaset of compatible solutions will into thefuture,” said Sir Keith. “This is achallenging problems, and start to realise our potential growth with amajor opportunity to helprelieve our space teaching. to Imperial West nordislocate research from that there is nowish to move entire departments will also beconsidered. The Cabinet has confirmed teaching and research activities across campuses due to openin2016. The balance of interrelated West’s Research and Translation Hub, which is of transferring someChemistry activities to Imperial aspire to, and which our excellent staff deserve.” suitable forof thesort modernacademic use we Building is not a viable optionand it cannot bemade clearly shown that refurbishment of theChemistry Imperial’s future aspirations. and Blackett, as falling shortof providing for solution after it was along identified, withHuxley the Chemistry Building required themost urgent ongoing process, theCollege Cabinet agreed that master-planning is underway. As partof that for this new25 acre campus, anewphase of in March 2013, and thefurtheracquisition of land letter to all staff on 24 January. said Sir Keith O’Nions,President &Rector, ina growth and development is severely constrained,” Kensington Campus has become congested and our Imperial. “It is widely recognised that the South Space has become anincreasing problem for initial appraisal of theC K activities of theC The C estate for future generations M ensington C aster-plan will helpshape “Our Imperial West Campus has presented us The Cabinet has agreed to examine thefeasibility Sir Keith said, “Themaster-planning process has With thelaunch of the vision for Imperial West ollege is exploring thepotential to move some ampus to Imperial >> hemistry Department from the South newsupdate more confusing.” and definitely scalinga volcano environment than is amore scary re MP Roy week in and Engineerin Dr James ollege’s entire estate. ciproc s al Society and civil Wes Hammond (Earth Scienc al vis Westminster tmins W serv pairing est, following an it s ) af . ter as ant ter schem s tha spending part of t involves

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The UTM Centre for Low Carbon Transport will bring together some of UTM and Imperial’s world-class researchers as they develop the next generation of low carbon transport technologies. The researchers will work on a range of areas to make cars more efficient, which will include reducing the size of engines to improve efficiency without sacrificing performance. Teams will look at ways of optimising Provost James Stirling signed an understanding technologies for advanced hybrid with UTM Vice Chancellor Wahid Omar and electric vehicles to improve their range. They will also develop Malaysian Deputy PM new concepts for energy storage and waste energy recovery technologies launches low carbon to make cars lighter, so that they use research centre less fuel and are more sustainable. Professor Ricardo Martinez-Botas Developing low emission vehicles (Mechanical Engineering) who has Business School of the future will be the focus of a championed the establishment of major collaboration launched by the Centre said: “Vehicles are a major takes teaching global the Malaysian Deputy Prime contributor to global warming and Minister at Imperial. energy consumption. Worldwide CO2 A new Imperial Global MBA will allow students to reductions of around 30 per cent of gain core business knowledge and skills without The Right Honourable Tan Sri Muhyiddin the could be achieved at low cost having to be physically present in the classroom Yassin, Malaysia’s Deputy Prime with technologies such as engine for the majority of the programme. Minister and Education Minister, downsizing and light-weighting. visited Imperial last month to help The establishment of this new Launched by the Business School, the flexible, launch a low carbon transport research Centre with our partners in part-time programme includes a bespoke online centre: a collaboration between the Malaysia will help advance our learning platform, called The Hub, which will enable College and Universiti Teknologi research in this field.” students to study and interact with one another Malaysia (UTM), one of Malaysia’s —Andrew Scheuber and Colin Smith, and with their tutors during live lectures and via leading universities. Communications and Public Affairs online chat forums. Professor G. ‘Anand’ Anandalingam, Dean of the Business School, said: “Online learning has experienced a real surge in popularity. Advancements Imperial outlines reduction and refinement (the 3Rs), in technology have allowed people to effectively learn development of stronger links between and study without having to set foot in the lecture plan for animal researchers and animal facility staff; theatre. Through our innovative software, students research reform of the ethical review processes; will get a cutting-edge online learning experience that and more effective internal and will make them feel that they are on campus. They The College has published an action external communication. will have the chance to really get to know one another plan for world class animal research, “In the past few months we have and feel part of Imperial’s community, despite being reinforcing its commitment to engaged widely in search of best spread across the world.” replacing animal models, refining practice for managing world-leading, Through the Hub, students will be able to track methods to improve welfare, complex multi-site animal research their progress in real-time and benchmark their and using fewer animals. facilities. I am grateful to colleagues work against other classmates. The Hub will enable across the UK for sharing their expert academics to group participants into time zones It builds on the strong foundations advice and hope that our action plan so that they can collaborate on projects and at Imperial recognised in a recent may also help the broader community assignments. Students will also have the independent review into animal care in strengthening its work in this area,” opportunity to network with alumni and corporate and welfare at the College. These said Professor Dermot Kelleher, Dean partners through interactive forums. include good standards of husbandry of the Faculty for Medicine and Vice The programme will combine a mix of online and day-to-day care, provided President (Health). “Our aim remains and face-to-face learning. Students will spend a by committed and engaged staff. to deliver world class research for total of three weeks out of the two year programme The changes that the College the benefit of humans and animals, on campus. will deliver include recruitment of a whilst treating all our animals with —Maxine Myers, Communications and Public Affairs Director of Bioservices to provide full respect and the highest standards overall strategic leadership and of care.” Applications for Jan 2015 intake are now being accepted. direction; activities to promote For more information contact [email protected] Download the full action plan here: bit.ly/1lyal3j full consideration of replacement, 5 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 14 February 2014 • issue 269 >> newsupdate

Join our mailing list media mentions for regular news alerts: —By MAXINE MYERS, Communications and Public Affairs www.imperial.ac.uk/media/jointsignup

Anyone for tennis stats? be used by parent and child at the same time. The science of the rugby tackle It allows parents who may be separated from BLOOMBERG ▸ 24.1.2014 their children to read the same story together, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH ▸ 31.1.2014 making bedtime feel special despite the The increasing numbers of people who enjoy a distance. The makers hope the app will appeal flutter on professional tennis games could be to military personnel deployed in the Middle given a helping hand by a new predictive model East and beyond. Ben Mallett, Phillip Linnemann, developed by Dr Will Knottenbelt (Computing). Si Dhanak and Alvero Sabido met while studying Speaking to Bloomberg he said his tennis at the Business School. algorithm would have made a 3.8 percent return on bets on 2,173 ATP matches in 2011. Tennis is attractive for modelling because there are only Diabetes’ days are two players in a singles match and statistics numbered are freely available, though Knottenbelt adds: DAILY EXPRESS ▸ 28.1.2014 “I’m not sure that any model is going to be able to take every factor into account, because Diabetes could be cured ‘within a generation’ the game has got so many dimensions to it.” thanks to British-led research, says the Daily With the Six Nations championship kicking off, The models could also be used to help players Express. UK teams are leading efforts against The Daily Telegraph has sought to understand understand what aspects of their game they a disease which will hit 6.25 million people some of the forces involved in a tackle. Taking need to improve and to choose coaches. by 2035 – 10 per cent of the population – data from Opta, Harlequins and the University and already costs the NHS £1million an hour. of Bath, Dr Simon Foster (Physics) calculated Bringing soldiers closer One of Britain’s most respected diabetes that the kinetic energy involved in a tackle by a researchers Dr Nick Oliver (Medicine) said moving player on a stationary opponent would to loved ones he was confident the insulin-deficiency be enough to power an energy saving lightbulb THE DAILY MIRROR ▸ 26.1.2014 disease would be wiped out by the time for around 3 minutes – or equivalent to being hit he retires in 25 years’ time. He said: “I am by a fridge freezer dropped from a height of two Army personnel serving thousands of miles reasonably early in my career and there is metres. “When you’re next watching the game away can read a story to their children thanks lots of really exciting work going on behind and you see the amount of tackles it gives you to a ground-breaking iPad video app, reported the scenes. There are lots of avenues that some idea of the amount or force and energy the Daily Mirror. Four students from the College will lead to potential cures for Type 1 and these players’ bodies are going to absorb,” have created Caribu, a storytelling app that can Type 2 diabetes.” Dr Foster said. awards and natural sciences and Engineering natural sciences natural sciences honours ‘Top 100 leading UK Wolfson awards Student gets scientists’ revealed provide funding quantum boost distinction Two Imperial academics have been named in a list of the Three Imperial academics Postgraduate Antony 100 leading UK practising have been presented Milne (Physics) has scientists compiled by the with Wolfson Research been awarded the Sir Science Council. Professor Merit Awards in Peter Knight Prize, after Michele Dougherty (Physics) recognition of their achieving the highest was recognised for her outstanding scientific overall mark during the medicine leadership in space science achievement. Professors 2012–2013 MRes year at Emiri tribute and for her contribution to Miguel Araújo and Jon the Controlled Quantum encourage young women Lloyd (both Life Sciences) Dynamics centre for Professor the Lord Ara Darzi (Surgery and Cancer) has been into science. Dr Ahmer Wadee and Dr Pierre Degond doctoral training. awarded the highest honour available in Qatar to foreign (Civil and Environmental (Mathematics) are among Sponsored by The nationals. Last month, His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Engineering) was recognised 21 recipients across the Taylor and Francis Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani conferred upon Lord Darzi the for his research in the field UK. They will receive 5 Group, the award is Sash of Independence in recognition of his continuing of nonlinear mechanics years of research funding, named after Emeritus contribution to developing the health sector in Qatar. The of structural stability, conferred jointly by the Professor Sir Peter Sash of Independence is awarded only to senior members primarily involving modelling Wolfson Foundation Knight (Physics) a of government, to Qatari citizens for outstanding service instabilities in metallic and the Department for pioneer in the field of to the country and to foreigners for exceptional services and composite material Business, Innovation quantum optics and to the country. structures. and Skills. information. 6 >> scienceroundup www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 14 February 2014 • issue 269

The researchers developed a method of controlling Plastics made the composition of a range of polymers – the large molecules that are commonly used as plastics and fibres (see box). Polymer principles to order The secret lies in understanding and switching Polymer molecules comprise thousands on and off the catalyst used to make the polymers. of repeat units of smaller molecules called monomers. Polymers are naturally A technique developed by chemists at the College The researchers found that by using this catalyst occurring, for example as complex could lead to a new generation of custom-designed control method, it is possible to select the monomers sugars, DNA and protein. The nature materials, with properties ideally suited to certain that will be added to the chain and therefore control and organisation of these monomers within the polymer chain determines applications and industries. the pattern and composition of the final polymers. the material’s properties, such as how In this study, the scientists worked on producing strong or stretchy it is, or how much polyesters and polycarbonates, which are attractive heat it can withstand. materials as they are partially obtained from A homopolymer is a polymer which is renewable resources, such as plants and carbon formed from only one type of monomer dioxide. They are widely used in commodity whereas a heteropolymer, also called a applications such as consumer goods and packaging. co-polymer, contains different types Study lead Charlotte Williams (Chemistry), of monomer. In nature, cells can control the manufacture of polymers with Professor of Catalysis and Polymer Chemistry, exquisite precision – for example in said: “Our research is the first step, but may lead, building a vast assortment of proteins one day, to scientists being able to engineer and enzymes for specific functions polymers with much more desirable properties, using different sequences of amino acids. Synthetic methods used to such as elasticity or toughness, as well as improve make bespoke polymers in the lab their performance in fields such as drug delivery or are considerably less advanced, regenerative medicine.” but researchers are nevertheless Professor Williams’ team has demonstrated making progress. the method, which uses a zinc-based catalyst, using three different monomers, including carbon dioxide – a notoriously unreactive molecule. This chemistry represents a promising approach to adding value to waste CO2, including from waste gas emissions. The next step in the process will be to extend the method to greater varieties and Plastic packaging could be made from renewable resources mixtures of monomers.

Emission were first developed in the 1940s,” potentially help manufacturers says one of the inventors Dr Benjamin to reduce their costs,” said The prototype control Kingsbury (Chemical Engineering). Dr Kingsbury, who now aims to we have developed Dr Kingsbury and collegues have develop a production process for Engineers from the College have advanced an existing manufacturing mass manufacture with the help could make cars designed a new catalytic converter process to improve the structure of the of a special funding grant from the cheaper to run for motor vehicle exhausts that could microscopic channels, increasing the Royal Academy of Engineering. because they cut fuel consumption and overall surface area and enabling the rare —Colin Smith, Communications and manufacturing costs. metal in the device to be distributed Public Affairs use less fuel.” more effectively so that less 80 per A catalytic converter is the component cent less metal is used. The increased in a vehicle’s exhaust system that surface area also makes the catalytic eliminates some harmful emissions. converter’s chemical reaction The conventional design uses process more efficient and it ceramic blocks, honeycombed with deteriorates by only four per cent microscopic channels that are over a distance of 100,000 kilometres, coated in an expensive metal such compared with 35 per cent for a as platinum. Emissions travel from standard catalytic converter. the engine to the exhaust system The new design of the device and through the channels, where the also increases fuel efficiency by around precious metal causes a chemical three per cent because it prevents reaction to occur that eliminates the ‘back pressure’, which is a build-up harmful pollutants. of gases that can make the engine “Catalytic converters are the most work harder, affecting its performance. important component in a vehicle for “The prototype we have developed controlling exhaust emissions. Yet their could make cars cheaper to run design has not changed since they because they use less fuel. It could Catalytic converters are important for controlling exhaust emissions 7 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 14 February 2014 • issue 269 >> scienceroundup

Gene therapy lights way for inherited blindness

The first clinical trial of a gene therapy The gene therapy uses a small, for an inherited cause of progressive safe virus to carry the missing CHM blindness called choroideremia has gene into the light-sensing cells in shown promising initial results. the retina. In an operation similar to cataract surgery, the patient’s retina The researchers at Oxford University is first detached and then the virus and Imperial found that patients is injected underneath using a very showed improvements in their vision fine needle. in dim light and two of the first six A total of nine patients have patients enrolled were able to read now had one eye treated with the more lines on the eye chart. gene therapy in operations at the Choroideremia is a rare inherited Oxford Eye Hospital. The therapy is cause of blindness that affects around given in one eye to allow comparison one in 50,000 people. The first with progression of the disease in signs tend to be seen in boys in late the other eye. childhood, with the disease slowly The researchers will now see if progressing until vision is lost. There vision improvements in patients can is currently no cure. It is caused by been maintained longer than the two The research could also help people practising sports or other physical activities defects in the CHM gene on the X years already seen in some. chromosome, which explains why —Sam Wong, Communications and Public Affairs it is almost always boys that are Practice makes perfect … affected. Gene therapy recipient, Wayne Thompson, Professor Miguel Seabra (National comments on the treatment: (when practising in pairs) Heart and Lung Institute), whose “One night in the summer, my wife called research at Imperial identified the me outside as it was a particularly starry When executing fine, nimble tasks, people tend to perform better protein involved in choroideremia, evening. As I looked up, I was amazed that whilst practising with a partner, according to research that could says: “My team has spent 20 years I was able to see a few stars. I hadn’t seen help people rehabilitating from a stroke. trying to understand choroideraemia stars for a long, long time... For a long time I lived with the certainty of losing vision. and develop a cure, so to finally see Now I have uncertainty of whether the trial In the study, volunteers performed a computer-based task where the rewards reaching patients is will work, but it is worth the risk.” they used a joystick-like device to move a cursor, in an effort to extremely gratifying, both for us track a randomly moving target on a screen. and the families who supported Unbeknown to them, another person was performing the same our research.” task hidden from view, transmitting their movements through a ‘virtual elastic band’. Most of the participants were unaware of these subtle feedback cues from the hidden partner, yet they subconsciously used the information to apparently enhance their performance. The data show that participants achieved noticeably better results in the task when working with a partner than they did working alone. Study co-author Professor Etienne Burdet (Bioengineering) said: “They say it takes two to tango and it seems that for physical tasks, practising with a partner really does improve performance. Our study is helping us to understand how touch plays a vital and very subtle role in helping people to transmit information to one another.” The team also found that when practising a task, the improvement in performance was most prominent when the partners were at a similar level and when the individual was practising with another human rather than an automated robot partner. Robots are increasingly used for rehabilitation and physiotherapy – for example in people recovering from a stroke – but the researchers believe that these robots would be more effective if they could react to patients through touch in the same way that people do. Atsushi Takagi (Bioengineering), PhD student and co-author of the study, said: “Humans are intensely social creatures and it is no surprise that we’ve developed non-verbal communication techniques to help us improve the way we carry out tasks.” Nine patients have now had one eye treated with gene therapy in operations —Colin Smith, Communications and Public Affairs 8 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 14 February 2014 • issue 269

Basketball is growing in breakneck speed and particularly in skills and drills, attracting less popularity globally and South East Asia – with 300 million Basketball experienced players looking to improve. Chinese citizens playing the sport is a global sport Perhaps most excitingly, Sport Imperial is aiming to get regularly. Even in Britain – which has Imperial has a new partnership in on the action with some never truly embraced the sport as and Imperial with the London Lions – the only exciting new developments. have other European countries – is a global professional team in the capital – that there’s been a huge recent rise in University, it’s sees their coaches come over to Ethos For the uninitiated Englishman, more participation and spectator numbers. and even allows our teams to play accustomed to the predictable pace Imperial hopes to mirror that. just a perfect occasionally in the Copper Box arena of football and cricket, basketball can “Basketball is a global sport and fit really.” at the Olympic Park (see side box, seem like something of a whirlwind: Imperial is a global university, it’s just opposite page). slightly dizzying, but absolutely a perfect fit really,” says Neil Mosley, “Universities are really taking captivating. Head of Sport Imperial, who is plotting basketball seriously,” says Neil. Watching Imperial men’s first team a course for basketball at the College. “Many of the top teams in the UK are take on close league rivals King’s The Basketball Club has around based in, or have strong links with, College first team at Ethos Sports 90 members and there are four teams universities – namely, Worcester Centre I’m struck by the cohesion that compete on a regular basis in the Wolves, Durham Wildcats, Plymouth of the respective teams, jostling in British Universities and Colleges Sport Raiders and Leicester Riders. So the unison like bees around the court, (BUCS) South Eastern Division leagues models are out there, and frankly we conscious of one another’s position and cups: the men’s first team; men’s need a piece of that as the top and conspiring to move the ball to second (Medics), men’s third; and sporting university in London.” the opposition end basket. women’s team. There are also weekly The players themselves have This frenetic pace on the court is training sessions running from 4pm also been working to increase matched by the expansion of the sport to 7pm on a Saturday, which include participation and excitement around globally. Basketball is growing at a a new look development session with the sport. Since changing the format of 9 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 14 February 2014 • issue 269 >> featurefocus

the development session they’ve seen since October is starting to pay participation grow from a handful of dividends too. Nick Freer is one hopefuls every Saturday, to 30 people of the stand-out players for the queuing at the door. Lions professional team and has “We want to create an interaction been coming to the development here, really build something up, so sessions and some matches. Vince that students will return to the club Macaulay, Head Coach and Chief each year after the summer, and if they Executive of the Lions, has also show a lot of motivation then they’ll lent his extensive tactical knowledge progress and mabye make the teams,” to the teams. says Club Vice President and first team He has managed to drop in on player Thomas Defferriere (2nd year some games of the women’s team, Materials Science and Engineering). who are currently top of their division So what are some of the raw (BUCS South Eastern 2A). If they hang attributes that make a good basketball on in there they will win promotion to player? Everyone I speak with talks the very top division (1A). about the importance of team unity “He’s been amazing,” Captain and that’s certainly something that Hannah says of Vince. “There’s been was on display when I saw them a few times where we’ve been down Copper lining play King’s. by 10 points, yet we’ve brought it back On 28 February the men’s first team will “Some people come in who are to win by 5, even 10. You do see the take on the medics team as part of the hugely popular annual varsity matches very experienced and are great at difference, not just in tactics but in that Sport Imperial runs across a host of being able to score, but the ability to bringing the team together and sports. While the rugby varsity, hosted at buy into the team concept is one of that’s something those guys are We want Twickenham, has always been the big draw, the major things we try to emphasise; really good at.” spectators are in for a new treat this year to create an with the basketball at the Copper Box when we play games we try to beat the The men’s match I came to Arena (the London Lion’s home) at the opposition with a 5-strong team rather watch was a real nail-biter, with both interaction here, Olympic Park in Stratford. Tip off is at than 5 individual players,” says men’s teams swapping leading positions really build 16.00 on Friday 28 February 2014 and first team Captain Wouter Thijssen throughout the game. But the visitors there will be a London Lions game straight something up.” after the Varsity match. (2nd year Chemical Engineering). King’s College took it narrowly at 56 vs Court awareness and vision is 59 points. It was clearly a hard defeat For details visit: http://www3.imperial. something that’s also incredibly to take, because it could have so ac.uk/sports/varsity/basketball valuable in the context of team easily been the other way round. But play, perhaps even more so in the speaking to coach Nick afterwards, women’s game, as Hannah Barrett he was hugely encouraged: “To be (6th year Medicine), Captain of the in the game and with a chance to team explains: “If somebody naturally win against a great team shows how knows what’s happening on the court, far we’ve come. They guys are starting even if they’re not technically the best, to execute some of the plays we’ve they tend to be in the right place when been working on and there’s a lot to you need the pass.” build on here.” It’s clear that the support that the That seems to be a fitting parallel London Lions have been providing for basketball in general at Imperial. 10 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 14 February 2014 • issue 269 Investing in the future Russ Cummings became Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Innovations in July last year. Reporter spoke to Russ about the company, its links with the College and its future ambitions.

What is Imperial Innovations? What’s in it for the College? in Weeks Hall between 1983 and 1986. I met my Imperial Innovations helps to found companies Imperial benefits through being not only at wife here – she lived in Southside – and we have based on the science and research coming the heart of a thriving spinout ecosystem, but very fond memories of this place. I was sponsored through from Imperial College, but also from also through revenue sharing when successful through university by Rolls Royce Motors and, Oxford and Cambridge University and UCL. companies are sold, as well as the College’s after graduation, started my career in the Innovations invests in and supports these 30% shareholding in Innovations itself. automotive industry. Essentially, I spent my businesses throughout their early growth stages, 20s tinkering with cars and having lots of fun! attracts management teams and co-investors What do you see as the opportunities at I then felt I needed more commercial experience, to build the businesses, and ultimately creates Imperial West? so went into the private equity and venture new value from innovation. We’ve established Imperial West is incredibly exciting. The capital sector working in various roles. In around a reputation for incubating successful spinout Incubator for early-stage companies that we have 2004 I joined the advisory board at Innovations firms, especially in fields like therapeutics, at South Kensington is fantastic but running at and with the initial public offering in 2006 I was medical technology, engineering and ICT. full capacity. It’s great for companies in their first recruited as Chief Investment Officer by Susan 18–24 months while they get up and running, Searle (then CEO). So how do you turn ideas into viable businesses? but at some point we want them to fly the nest In two ways. There is the traditional academic-led and move to bigger premises. The vision for How do you relax outside of work? invention process, normally associated with tech Imperial West would see companies stay as I’m not just a petrolhead anymore. I love cycling transfer, where we help a team or individual part of the family for longer and we’ll have and keep my jersey in the office. Every year I through the invention disclosure procedure more room and stronger support for spin-outs. take a group of staff and management from our (funding the patent and IP protection); provide portfolio companies to go cycling for a week market research; and help to develop a proof What is your driving passion? across France, following part of the Tour de of concept. I have two personal missions: firstly, to France route. demonstrate that we can make money out of —Andrew Scheuber, Communications and Public Affairs In the second case, we act as the catalyst for science, engineering and research in the UK. the formation of a spin-out company, bring This is a good place for investors and I want to in co-investors or attract entrepreneurial attract more capital to the higher education management teams to base their start-ups sector. Secondly, I think science and engineering in our Incubator space. These teams might is a fantastic career for young people to aspire Innovations’ history approach us where there’s a market opportunity to. I have two boys who have embraced their Widely recognised as Europe’s leading to create something in a particular field of studies of science and maths. I want their university tech transfer company, Imperial Innovations traces its origins generation to grow up wanting to become science and technology, whether it’s a drug to back to 1986 when Imperial’s tech treat respiratory disease or software for a mobile scientists and engineers. I don’t just want them transfer office was launched. In 2006, payment system. Then we’ll plug them into the to see academic research as the only STEM the company was floated on the College and pair them up with leading research career path; there is also the opportunity to Alternative Investment Market (AIM), and in January 2011 it raised an teams in that field or with people who can sit become scientific entrepreneurs. additional £140 million to invest on scientific advisory boards. I genuinely believe in intellectual property from three that more new companies are being formed As an Imperial graduate, how did you end up other universities: Cambridge, because we’re acting as a catalyst and bridge back here on Exhibition Road? Oxford and UCL. between the academic world, investment I used to live not far from my current Innovations community and management community. offices as a student of Mechanical Engineering

11 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 14 February 2014 • issue 269 insidestory inside story

mini profile Kate Royle

Dr Kate Royle (Chemical Engineering) is a postdoctoral researcher and splits her time between working in a molecular biology lab The oft-parodied ‘March of Progress’ illustration by Rudolph Zallinger from Early Man (1965) producing enzymes in yeast and in the office, combining science from scratch experimental data with computational modelling. As explained by Aliyah Kovner, MSc Science Media Production She also occasionally gets involved in public outreach and will be at the How well do you really know Bio-Revolution ‘Lates’ event at the Science Museum your family tree? this month. The work we With the recent buzz around the Higgs Boson and innovative new treatments for So what will you be doing do has societal cancer, it is easy to see science as a continuous march towards the future. Yet one at the Lates? of the most important breakthroughs of 2013 shed light on our own past and the I’ll be donning a brightly impact and so origins of humanity. coloured chef’s outfit and it’s important to feeding midget gems to maintain a dialogue When we think of human evolution, we might conjure up that famous illustration – unsuspecting members of the The March of Progress – where an ape starts to walks more and more upright public! It’s all part of ‘the icing with the public.” in several stages, eventually resembling a modern human. In reality things were on the cake’ demo which is actually much complex than this, with various branches and off-shoots of about the intricate patterns has societal impact and so human-like species springing up – sometimes interbreeding with each other of sugars which coat modern it’s important to maintain but often dying off altogether. therapeutic drugs. The sugar a dialogue with the public. In December, an international team announced that they had constructed type and order can alter the It’s also an excuse to eat a complete Neanderthal genome using DNA extracted from 130,000 year-old drug properties providing the midget gems. We’ll be remains in a cave in Siberia. Neanderthals were an ancient branch of humans final flourish – much like icing continuing our sugary – a cousin species if you will – that went extinct some 30,000 years ago. Using on a cake! To explain this we’ve propaganda at the Imperial genetic mutation rates as a sort of calculator, researchers were able to determine got kits of midget gems and Festival in May. that Neanderthals, Denisovians (another ancient species of human) and modern connectors so people can humans diverged from a common ancestor species just under 600,000 years build the quintessential pattern What’s the funniest thing ago, going their separate ways forever. and start to look at how eating someone has said to you Or perhaps not. Comparing modern complete human and Neanderthal certain parts can make the whilst doing a public genomes at certain points suggests that the two species interbred and that traces drug more effective. engagement activity? of Neanderthal genetic code live on today in some humans. However, exchanges “The taxpayer actually between the lineages were highly dependent on location. For example, Oceanic What do people learn from funds this!?” people appear to have between 3–6% Denisovian DNA and non-Africans may have doing these activities? —Simon Levey, Communications and over 2% Neanderthal DNA. As well as providing insights on what it means to be We’re hoping the public will be Public Affairs human, the findings paint a more detailed picture of Neanderthal society. interested in how scientists are Neanderthals show evidence of some surprisingly modern features – such as Bio-Revolution is programmed by the discovering the effects of these Francis Crick Institute and features lupus, depression, pale skin adapted for northern climates, and type II diabetes. sugars and starting to design scientists from its partner institutions. Interestingly, the Neanderthal genes that live on most consistently in us are those better drugs with that It will take place on Wednesday 26 for keratin, which is a protein in our hair, skin, and nails. We may have been better February 18.45–22.00 knowledge. The work we do adapted to life on a changing planet, but Neanderthals had better coiffure. 12 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 14 February 2014 • issue 269

Student blogger Kasifa on: School dinners My first MRes lab for development placement (Frankenstein’s Global leaders met in London on dream project!?) 22 January to discuss how school meal programmes can improve We work on the elusive but educational outcomes and boost exciting field of Transcranial agricultural economies. Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), or what we fondly refer The meeting was co-hosted by the to as ‘brain zapping’. All Party Parliamentary Group on It is a relatively new and Agriculture & Food for Development hot neurophysiological and Imperial’s Partnership for Child technique where we Development (PCD) which is working use a magnetic coil to with governments to help them stimulate a particular develop home grown school feeding children every school day. The O’Meals region of your brain programme (HGSF) and gather programme provides employment to (without cracking open evidence for their effectiveness and over 3,000 women and purchases food your skull, yes). For our sustainability. These programs source from over 1000 local farmers. experiments we are able food from local smallholder farmers Speaking at the event, the PCD’s to, in a systematic manner, thereby supporting local rather than Executive Director, Dr Lesley Drake locate your personal hotspot foreign markets. (School of Public Health) said: for our muscle of interest, In 2013, almost $75 billion dollars “Research shows that when properly where you receive the stimulus. was invested by the governments designed, HGSF programmes can act Using TMS as the core technique, of 169 countries into school feeding as a win-win for both schoolchildren I am investigating upper and programmes. It is estimated that and smallholder farmers alike. lower back muscles in healthy for every $1 spent feeding school “For integrated school feeding people, which is of relevance children, $3 is generated for the programmes to succeed like they since these pathways are local economy. have in Osun, governments and altered in patients with lower Keynote speaker Rauf Aregbesola, development partners alike need to back pain. Governor of Osun state in Nigeria, integrate HGSF into their policies, reported on the success of his state’s strategies and plans for agriculture To find out more about experimental neuroscience visit Kasifa’s blog at: bit.ly/1k2Hlix school meals programme, known as and for education.” O’Meals, which feeds over 250,000 —Francis Peel, School of Public Health

Get involved! This year’s SWV activities are Heather Jeffery (Life Sciences), who coordinated by Imperial Hub’s coordinates the scheme, explains: Our If you’ve always wanted to get involved Local Action Committee (LAC) in “The Soup Run gives students the pupils enjoy in volunteering but never actually collaboration with the Union. opportunity to do something completely got around to doing it – now could be Maddie Maxwell (Medicine) from different to their studies. Volunteering working with the perfect chance, with this year’s LAC explains: “We’re looking forward in the community is personally Imperial Student Volunteering Week (SVW) to showcasing the diverse and rewarding and it makes a difference students.” running from 24 February to 2 March. positive impact that we already have to the lives of those in need.” in our local communities and hopefully Visit the LAC on the Queen’s Lawn on Monday Volunteering is an integral part of the we can highlight how easy it is to get 24 February 12:00–14:00 or at their lunchtime student experience and post-university involved during the week and beyond.” stand in the Sherfield Building on 24, 25 life. Fifty-one per cent of recently One of Imperial Hub’s programmes, or 27 February. employed graduates claim that Schools Plus, involves 150 students volunteering helped them to secure providing some 800 hours of free employment (according to the NUS). tuition each term to disadvantaged While a recent Deloitte industry-wide pupils. One head teacher comments: survey found that 76% of HR “Our pupils enjoy working with executives agreed that skilled Imperial students because they are volunteer experience makes a job passionate about their subjects. candidate more desirable. Having young tutors means that Imperial College Union has over pupils can relate to them and we really 3,000 volunteers involved in delivering appreciate their time and efforts”. its services and activities, with Imperial Another scheme, the Soup Run, Hub engaging another 350 students provides food, drink and company to in social and environmental action. local homeless and vulnerable people. A volunteer on the Schools Plus programme 13 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 14 February 2014 • issue 269 insidestory

Future science leaders Imperial is well known for its high-flying, international doctoral researchers — a community that has recently been given a boost, thanks to the support of the Imperial College PhD Scholarship scheme.

The first 50 recipients, who started their programmes in September, gathered at a celebratory reception last month hosted by President & Rector Sir Keith O’Nions. “I believe that something like 22 nationalities are represented here, which shows how truly global our community of PhD scholars are. We’re delighted to have been able to award 50 of these scholarships and this has been largely dependent on the generosity of our alumni and friends of Imperial.” The prestigious scholarships were first announced in November 2012, and are intended to encourage some of the finest minds from across the globe to pursue their studies at Imperial. The group also heard about the career path of the former head of MI5 and Chair of Imperial’s Court and Council, Baroness (Eliza) Manningham-Buller. She explained her unexpected path to leadership and encouraged the students to instead start thinking about their leadership style now. Staff and students: Get moving!

It might seem like a chore to take the stairs when the Sherfield Building lifts are out of service again or cycle to Campus when the London underground is on strike — but with a new scheme from Sport Imperial you could be earning valuable kudos points and a boost in fitness.

GoFit, which was launched during the College’s Healthy Living Week, is designed to get participants of all fitness levels moving more and increasing their activity levels by making simple changes to their daily routine. Everyday activities such as walking to the station instead of taking the bus, as well as fitness sessions and sports training, will count towards the challenge, which aims to combat lethargy, excess weight and stress across the College community. Over the next 12 weeks, mixed teams of five to eight participants from across the College will log their movement minutes through the online GoFit platform. Team members will be able to set and track Jack Hare (Physics) Marketa Kubankova (Chemistry) their own personal goals, with their performance contributing to the team total. Jack came to Imperial from a graduate Marketa studied biomedical Paul Brown (Physics) is a member of staff giving programme at Princeton University in engineering at the Czech Technical it a go: “I basically got involved because I was asked the US. University in Prague before coming to join a team. My first weeks target is to clock up 150 to Imperial. minutes of exercise. I swam 30 lengths in the Ethos “I’m studying plasmas, which are very Pool (25m) which took me about 18 minutes, hot ionised gases. We use a machine “My research group are using a group a jog to the train station in 3mins and I’m trying in the basement of Imperial that’s of molecules called molecular rotors. to use the stairs (levels 1–8) more in the Blackett about the size of a house. It’s called What I’m trying to do is use these building. The benefits are that it’s always good the Mega Ampere Generator for Plasma molecules to study the proteins and to try and keep fit and healthy and a good way to Implosion Experiments (MAGPIE), protein folding aggregations that meet people who work and study in other areas and turns things that we think of happen during the development of across College, as the teams have to be a mix of as solids, like aluminium, into diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s staff and students.” liquids or even plasmas. Those states and type 2 diabetes. If we understood It is hoped that GoFit will motivate staff and normally only occur in stars and the better what goes on at the onset of students to get involved with One Big Thing – centres of planets, so we’re creating these disorders it could lead to better Imperial’s annual 5K charity challenge to be held things which are truly unique.” treatment and prevention.” on Friday 16 May 2014. 14 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 14 February 2014 • issue 269

Wake up and Chris Carr (Physics), Senior Research Lecturer, has spearheaded the smell the comet College’s involvement in Rosetta since 1996, leading the design and If you struggle to get out of bed in the production of a unit that controls the mornings, spare a thought for the plasma sensors on the spacecraft. Rosetta spacecraft, which last month “It’s started to get really quite woke up after two and a half years exciting now,” Chris says. “With a hibernating in space. project like this that’s been going for so many years, I never really thought The European Space Agency spacecraft this day would come, it just seemed was launched back in 2004 and is so far in the future. We built the aiming to land on a comet – an instrumentation, launched the unprecedented feat – in November this satellite and finally we woke it year. Rosetta has travelled so far away up from its long hibernation. But A flexible resin-based spinal support device which becomes rigid after an accident from the sun that its solar panels were there’s a huge amount of work still not receiving enough energy to keep to be done in terms of planning the all its electrical systems going, so it science mission.” The future of winter sports has been asleep for 957 days in order Comets can reveal much about to preserve vital energy for the comet the key processes that formed our With the Paralympic Winter Games getting underway in Sochi, Russia chase ahead. Solar System and could provide vital from 7 March, a new exhibition in the College’s Main Entrance this Luckily for the team, Rosetta came clues about how life on earth began. month gave a glimpse of the exciting possibilities for winter sports. around, after a tense 45 minutes into Rosetta’s rendezvous with the the hour-long window of opportunity comet should help tackle big The Rio Tinto Sports Innovation Challenge, now in its fourth year, for waking it (anyone who uses the questions such as whether comets focussed on developing technologies to improve the performance snooze function on an alarm clock brought water to earth. of winter paralympians, prevent injuries and envisioning new will no doubt empathise). —Gail Wilson, Communications and Development concept sports for disabled and able-bodied winter athletes. The challenge provides teams, formed of students studying on the MSc Innovation Design Engineering and Global Innovation Design courses, which are run jointly between Imperial and the Royal College of Art, with real world engineering problems to solve. One the projects one display was ‘Nanook Push and Carve’ – a prototype ice skating system to support people with hemiplegia (paralysis down one side of their body). Team designer Koraldo Kajanaku (Mechanical Engineering) explains: “A lot of our inspiration came from a four year old hemiplegic girl we met called Mia. Mia’s mum was a physiotherapist and had been helping her ice skate to develop her strength and muscle memory. “To look at Mia you wouldn’t know she suffered from hemiplegia because of the physiotherapy she gained through ice skating. We saw the benefit it had for her and wanted to expand that to give others the same opportunity. You never know, in 2022 it could be Mia, and people using this technology collecting the first Paralympic speed skating medals!” —Jon Narcross, Communications and Public Affairs

Staff featured in this column 20 years 30 years have given many years of • Dr Paul David Lickiss, Reader in Organometallic • Professor David Campbell Stuckey, Professor of service to the College. Chemistry, Chemistry Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering Staff listed celebrate • Professor Jane Alison Mitchell, Professor of • Dr Simon Peter Walker, Reader, Mechanical anniversaries during the Pharmacology in Critical Care Medicine, NHLI Engineering • Ms Susan Virginia Howard, Assistant Director of • Mrs Ann Elizabeth Halford, General Secretary, period 1 January – 31 January. Admin & Planning, Library Computing The data is supplied by HR • Dr Martyn Francis Biddiscombe, Medical Physicist, • Ms Claire Soulal, Academic Administrator, and is correct at the time of NHLI Mechanical Engineering going to press. • Dr Brian Douglas Robertson, Reader in Systems Microbiology, Medicine • Miss Mary Margaret Naughton, Day Language Teacher, Humanities

Mr Nicholas Kaim, Medicine Mr Richard Ferrier, ESE Life Sciences Dr Isabel Rosa, Duarte Mr Osman Ahmed,Public Health Mrs Stella Ajoku, NHLI Mr Stephen Buranyi, Medicine Chemical Engineering Zhao,Dr Simon Professional Development Dr SusanRyland, Mathematics Miss Claudia Cannon, Public Health AlessiaDr Visconti, Mr Dean Trigg, Estates Division Dr Andrew Telford, Physics Imperial College Union Mr Jack Reichhold, Dr Durga Reddi, Medicine Dr Luigi Nardi, Computing Life Sciences Miss Lenne Lillepuu, Public Health Miss Mojitola Idowu, Hutton,Mr Henry Aeronautics Life Sciences Mr MeirionHopkins, Physics Mr Jose Dominguez Mateos, Faculty of Engineering Ms Kirstie Cuthbert, Medicine Mr Pedro Costa del Amo, Mr Liang Chen, Medicine Human Resources Miss Bridget Butler, Environmental Policy Miss StephanieBrittain, Miss Laura-Jayne Ball, Medicine Business School Miss Katie Archer, Public Health Miss Laura Appleby, Business School Mrs TracyAndrew, Dr Tony Goldstone, Medicine Computing Daniele Sgandurra,Dr new starters Welcome www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter

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14 February 2014• Medicine Dr Laura Lombardero Iturrizaga, Professor Jorge Lobo, Computing Environmental Engineering Dr HaojieLi,Civil and Ms MelpomeniKalofonou, EEE Ms Kelsey Hunter, Climate KIC Ms Yen Holicka, Medicine Miss Sally Gowers, Computing Surgery and Cancer Professor Robert Glen, Miss Karanjit Gill, NHLI Chemical Engineering Dr Esther Forte Serrano, Mrs Anastasia Filia, NHLI Dr Olga Ekkert, Chemistry Computing Mr Pedro da Rocha Pinto, Engineering Dr Aaron Costall, Mechanical Dr Nicola Casali, Medicine Dr Bronwyn Cahill, Physics Medicine Professor David Brooks, Ms Agnieszka Broda, Medicine Dr Ioan Botiz,Materials Business School Dr Giaime Berti, Dr Claudia Battistelli, EEE Life Sciences Dr Paulina Bartasun, Mr James Arram, Computing Environmental Policy Ms Emily Alpert, Clinical Sciences Dr Amit Adlakha, Surgery and Cancer Mr Ryan Callahan, Professional Development Boyle, Mr Martin Surgery and Cancer Mr Duncan Boak, Bioengineering MaximilianMr Wdowski, Dr Wen-Qin Wang,EEE Engineering Mr Isaac Sugden, Chemical College HQ JoannaMrs Soja-Popieluszko, Mechanical Engineering Mr Aleks Ponjavic, Surgery and Cancer Mr Michael Long, issue

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Dr Karin Muller, Materials Miss Anna Monk, Public Health Mrs Julie James, Medicine Faculty of Engineering Mr Gavin Eves, Dr Robert Davies, Materials Public Health Ms Markella Boudioni, Faculty of Engineering Mr Andrew Boston, Mr ThomasPhysicsWhite, Dr Huan Wang, EEE Computing Ms Juliana Vicente Franco, Mr Vladimir Turek,Chemistry Mathematics AliceDr Thompson, Public Health Filippo Tamanini,Dr Dr Ananthram Swami, EEE Mathematics Andrew Strangeway,Mr Mr Anuj ComputingSood, Garcia, Computing Mr Tiago SoaresCogumbreiro Dr Nour Shublaq, EEE Life Sciences Dr Marina Serna Gil, Life Sciences MissLara Selles Vidal, Affairs Development &Corporate DimitrisDr Sarantaridis, Surgery and Cancer Miss Laura Roca Alonso, Miss Azalea Raad,Computing Medicine Miss Antoinette Pimblett, Medicine Miss Aikaterini Petropoulou, Mrs Esther Perea, EEE Public Health Mrs Nicola O’Sullivan, Dr Cher Ooi,Life Sciences Educational Quality Mrs Claire O’Kane, Mr Gian Ntzik, Computing Miss Hannah Nissan, Physics Medicine Nikolayevskyy, Vladyslav Dr Mr Bilal Nasim, Business School Surgery and Cancer Ms Rosie Morland,

Dr Barbara Wild, Medicine Dr Huseini Kagdi, Medicine Dr Agnieszka Falinska, Medicine Public Health Dr Kathryn Mansfield, Dr Akhilesh Jha, NHLI Medicine Dr Nikolaos Gorgoraptis, Surgery and Cancer Dr Edward Costar, Business School Ms Diane Morgan, Ms Lindsey Wu, Public Health Chemical Engineering RobertDr Woodward, Public Health MissPatricia Watber, Mathematics TomaszDr Tyranowski, Chemistry MissEmmanuelle Thinon, Surgery and Cancer Dev Sooranna,Dr Dr Louise Sherlock, College HQ Miss Anusha Seneviratne, NHLI Life Sciences Mr David Pulido-Gomez, Dr Claire Poulet, NHLI Dr Sarah Parisot, Computing Dr Richard Palermo, Medicine Dr Maelig Ollivier, Materials Public Health O’Hanlon, Mr Simon Ms Sabrina Gea-Sorli, NHLI Faculty of Medicine FordMr Henry (43 years), Faculty of Medicine Mr John Cooper, Ms Melissa Collins, NHLI Development &Corporate Affairs Mr Kerry Clough, Surgery and Cancer Mr Vin Chauhan (36 years), Surgery and Cancer Dr Katie Chapman, Miss HonorBixby, Public Health Miss Aparna Ashok, ESE Library Ms Karen Aitken (11 years), moving on Farewell

insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter visit theonline supplement at going to press. For Moving On, data was correct at thetimeof February.15 January–6 This College during theperiod and covers staff leaving the byHR issupplied data This Surgery and Cancer Mr TaliesinWilliams, (29 years),Finance MrsDeborah Whymark Public Health MrsKristie Watkins, Security Institute MrsAli Wastnidge years),(5 Mr David Suciu, Catering Surgery and Cancer Mrs Sarah Short, Dr Nadine Schur, Public Health Surgery and Cancer JasminaDr Saric, Faculty of Medicine Mr ThomasRylett, years),(5 Chemistry Miss SowmyaPurushothaman Dr Alastair Proudfoot, NHLI Environmental Engineering Mr David Pierce, Civil and years),(5 Accommodation Miss Emilia Ordzieniewicz Dr Jad Marrouche, Physics Surgery and Cancer Dr Paola Mapelli, Business School Ms Ammara Mahmood, Konstantopoulos, Medicine Dr Konstantinos Physics Dr StephaneKena-Cohen, Miss Rachel Kelly, Public Health Medicine Ms Joanne Holloway (13 years), Ms Nasrat Harun (6 years), NHLI Dr Natasha Gunawardana, NHLI Mrs Tracey Gregory, Medicine necessary. to edit or amend these as The Editor reserves the right [email protected] retireesEditor tothe at new starters, leavers and and/or comments about Please sendyourimages

moving in. moving on. for complete details: events highlights www.imperial.ac.uk/events February 2014

20 February ▸ Fringe Imperial has to offer. Come to the College take note Main Entrance after work and stimulate The Arts Experiment 2.0 your senses with an evening of hands-on Science and art collide as Imperial’s collaborations involving dancing, medicine, Smart food researchers and student societies team music and physics. Food and drink can now be up their talents with ArtsFest to show that paid for through your smartphone good science and creativity go hand in hand. Interact with the Imperial Fringe events at catering outlets across the ArtsFest is a weeklong celebration of the arts, online: #ImpFringe @ImperialSpark South Kensington Campus and music, dance and everything in between that in participating Imperial College Union outlets. The YoYo mobile payment app, available on 5 March ▸ Public talk of space. Professor Android and iPhone, works Cosmology in the dark Alan Heavens (Physics) on a pay-as-you-go basis and gives his inaugural accrues loyalty points. Is the universe what it seems? Observations lecture as Chair in suggest that we live in a world that is 95% Astrostatistics and unknown dark matter and dark energy. This is Director of the Imperial puzzling enough to physicists, but some think Centre for Inference it could be more complicated still, with strange and Cosmology. unknown energy fields, or extra dimensions

13 February ▸ Wellbeing 19 February ▸ Seminar 26 February ▸ Wellbeing 3 March ▸ Lecture meet the Interfaith Connections Shaping the future of Effective resilience Calcium in the heart: reader New interfaith programme e-learning at Imperial strategies for effective from physiology to organised by the Chaplaincy Discussion with Professor people disease Debra Humphris, Workshop on coping with Physiological Society 13 February ▸ Public talk Vice-Provost (Education) challenging circumstances GL Brown Lecture with Challenges for UK Professor David Eisner, Energy Policy 20 February ▸ Seminar 26 February ▸ External University of Manchester UKERC and Energy Futures Industry Touchpoints Metaphors and science Lab event with Charles lunch Panel discussion with Hendry MP Forum to exchange ideas with Imperial speakers at the corporate partnerships LSE Literary Festival 2014 15 February ▸ Seminar Barnaby Mollett Imperial International 20 February ▸ External Development Rare diseases (Careers Service), Careers Information Assistant Conference 2014 Symposium with Francis 4 March ▸ Public talk

Student-led conference on Crick Institute partners at Cybersecurity and the What are you doing in the picture? science, technology and Senate House modern city – when our I’m in the careers information room, youth power infrastructure goes online restocking some of the periodicals. 26 February ▸ External Laing O’Rourke Centre for It’s an area students can come and use Bio-Revolution Systems Engineering and to do their careers research, find out Join researchers from Innovation 2nd Annual about different occupations and look at Imperial and other partners Distinguished Lecture with previous student interview feedback. of the Francis Crick Institute Mr Mike StJohn-Green at Science Museum Lates What would you do if you were editor of Reporter for a day? 20 February ▸ Music (see page 11) 6 March ▸ Seminar I’d probably introduce a caption 19 February ▸ Public talk Lunchtime piano recital Does crowdfunding competition, to get readers involved Does beauty hold 27 February ▸ Seminar work for entrepreneurs Jessica Chan performs works in the publication. There are some great the key? Building Britain’s and investors? by Bach, Bridge and Poulenc photos taken around Imperial, so I’m sure sustainable energy Rare and fleeting particles Entrepreneurship Special there would be some great captions too! called beauty mesons could 25 February ▸ Seminar future Interest Group event I would also abuse my power as editor, be key to understanding Novel and emerging Imperial Business Insights using far too many puns throughout my the nature of dark matter therapies: Real value with Paul Maher, Siemens Reporter issue. in the universe, according or folly? Infrastructure & Cities to Professor Ulrik Egede Healthcare Special Interest Smart Grid Who would be your cover star? (Physics) in his inaugural Group event It would have to be Lord Robert Winston – Professor of Science and Society and lecture

Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies here at Imperial. I remember watching ‘Child of Our Time’ on TV growing up, which he presented. It’s pretty inspirational to be able to bump into him on campus.

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