The free magazine for The University of Manchester

7 December 2009 UniLifeIssue 3 Volume 7 Electrifying start to Manchester Science Festival Featured Letter from the President

was bound to be the eventual result of trying to fund all higher education institutions on more or less the same basis, asking them to do more or less the News same things, and allowing them all to offer Top lawyer visits the competing programmes to rapidly-growing numbers Legal Advice Centre of students with an ever-expanding range of intellectual aspiration, ability and educational page 3 backgrounds. So he developed a complex system of essentially different kinds of institutions, ranging from two-year colleges to four-year institutions (offering undergraduate degrees but precluded from With this edition of UniLife you will find a new, undertaking research or offering research degrees), thoroughly revised version of the University’s to a “State System” able to undertake a much wider Strategic Plan. Towards Manchester 2015 has been range of higher education and a research-intensive Research issued recently with the title, Advancing the “elite” (the “California System”) including Berkeley, Manchester 2015 Agenda. This version of the UCLA and San Diego. Triple grant success Agenda is unchanged in the breadth and vigour, and for medical This model of highly differentiated institutional maintains the essential focus of the vision of making researchers types, each supported by quite different funding Manchester one of the finest universities in the arrangements, was not only copied widely in the page 9 world by 2015, and thereafter building on that United States, but has served as a blueprint for achievement. dynamic emerging higher education systems in Looking forward to that evocative date, 2015 – a China and elsewhere. Its genius is to offer very date that we have turned into a metaphor for the different cohorts of students educational hopes and dreams of the new institution that environments suited to their particular levels of emerged from the Manchester “merger” of 2004 - aspiration and ability, to fund very different missions the University faces the sobering reality of having to and functions according to their real needs and (very prepare for a considerably more challenging external importantly) to introduce funding and regulatory operating environment in the years ahead. In barriers to the kind of insidious “mission creep” that Feature retrospect, however, we can simultaneously take tempts all institutions, to take on research agendas for which many are not suited. ”Mission creep” at Manchester pride in the good progress that has been made in lower levels of a higher education system comes at Science Festival the relatively benign operating environment that UK higher education has experienced since 2004. the great cost of diverting precious resources from page 14 the genuinely research-led universities that are trying It is with a mixture of serious apprehension as well to compete with the very best institutions elsewhere. as with “the audacity of hope” that I look forward at this mid point in our journey. That is where the audacity of hope comes in! The difficult choices and severe institutional pressures The reason for apprehension is clear. The relatively that the forthcoming public funding situation in the benign funding environment in which our new UK will impose on universities will largely be wasted University has operated since 2004 is about to give – and terribly wasteful – unless the Government Contents way to something altogether more challenging. uses the crisis to initiate a fundamental reform of the higher education system itself. I’m not talking I hope, audaciously, that in 2015 Manchester will be about imposing social engineering on Oxbridge, but well on the way to weathering the public funding rather on supporting Cambridge and Oxford as 3 News crisis that seems bound to break over UK higher supremely meritocratic institutions. I’m advocating education in 2011-12, when a new Government, 6 Research the kind of concentration of research resources that whatever the party or parties it represents, will have will make it possible for the UK to sustain a few no choice but to tackle robustly levels of public debt 10 Profile: Professor Stefan other institutions as cutting-edge research unprecedented in the UK in peacetime. Söldner-Rembold universities in a world where the “gold standard” is The storm will be hard to weather. Public funding appreciating rapidly in value. I’m arguing for a 12 Reaching Out austerity impacting on all UK universities is likely to highly differentiated funding model, less taxing on endure for much of the decade after 2011-12, the public purse than what we have at present 14 Feature: Manchester although the worst of it may be over by 2015 if because it will be dramatically more efficient in Science Fesival really difficult decisions are taken soon after the providing very different cohorts of students with very 2010 General Election. What we don’t know is how different types of educational experiences. 16 What’s On deep or how prolonged cuts in higher education Manchester will pursue its 2015 vision anyway, with funding will be, and whether they will fall equally on 20 Discover the Whitworth good prospects of success despite public funding all universities. But we must work on the stringency. Pursuing so ambitious a vision is also the assumption that no university will escape very best way to ensure that Manchester will be extraordinarily challenging decisions about how to among the lead pack of world-competitive UK manage severe scarcity. universities should a new Government have the A major higher education crisis was emerging courage to tackle the deep systemic problems of anyway. The rapid, sustained and intrinsically higher education as part of an enlightened approach worthwhile expansion of the UK higher education to reducing public debt. system that has been going on since the 1960s was making the system itself unsustainable. At some stage in the foreseeable future policy-makers were going to have to undertake a root-and-branch review of the way UK universities are funded and regulated. Higher educations systems around the world have been dealing with issues such as institutional diversity, “mission creep” and differential funding Front cover: The high voltage lab by models since Clark Kerr’s brilliant re-thinking of the Chris Foster California system in the 1960s. With extraordinary Professor Alan Gilbert foresight, Kerr understood that systemic mediocrity President and Vice-Chancellor News

‘From molecule to metropolis’ -Manchester Academic Health Science Centre opens for business

The Manchester Academic through to NHS service innovation in Health Sciences Centre (MAHSC) the community. It will focus on five has been officially launched key health themes: cancer, following its designation earlier cardiovascular disease, inflammatory this year with the publication of diseases and repair, human its strategy, ‘Partnership for development and mental health the Patient: Bringing Benefit including neurodegenerative diseases. through Research, Education To support the delivery of health and Innovation’. benefits in these areas MAHSC will also provide cross-cutting activities in The showcasing event for technology, clinical trials and Manchester’s health research implementation of research findings focused on the theme of into patient service. partnership, which is core to delivery of the MAHSC strategy and MAHSC will deliver added value to realisation of the vision to be ‘a the activities of its founding partners leading global centre for the delivery by developing: of innovative applied health research • An integrated health system for and education into healthcare’. improved and accelerated Speakers at the event, including translational medicine. MAHSC Chair, Sir David Henshaw, • A strategic approach to funding and MAHSC Director, Professor Alan proposals, investment in research, North FRS, spoke about: Julian Hartley, Chief Executive, University Hospital of South Manchester with infrastructure, training and members of the MAHSC Board of Governors and guests at the launch. • The MAHSC partnership of The education across the partners. University of Manchester and six • Harmonised processes and NHS Trusts. standard operating procedures. Health Science Centre and Chair, MAHSC is a partnership between The • Partnership with the Department of NHS Northwest said: “The University of Manchester, Central • A single point of access for Health, the Strategic Health Manchester Academic Health Science Manchester University Hospitals NHS external partners and stakeholders. Authority and other Government, Centre now offers us a real Foundation Trust, Manchester Mental regional and local stakeholders. • Cultural change responsive to opportunity not only to drive forward Health and Social Care Trust, NHS research and the uptake of the quality of healthcare for our local Salford (Salford Primary Care Trust), • Partnership with industry. innovation within the whole population through research and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, MAHSC covers the entire spectrum of community. innovation, but to play our role on The Christie NHS Foundation Trust activity from ‘molecule to metropolis’ the global stage and attract the University Hospital of South Sir David Henshaw, Chair, Board of embracing laboratory discovery right finest clinicians to our region.” Manchester NHS Foundation Trust. Governors, Manchester Academic

www.mahsc.ac.uk Top lawyer drops in on legal advice centres

One of the country’s best known lawyers came to Manchester last month last month to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the University’s first Legal Advice Centre and to mark the opening of a second free legal advice clinic in east Manchester. The new clinic on Ashton Old Road, Openshaw will be staffed by students from the University’s School of Law under the supervision of legal practitioners and coordinated by an administrator funded by New East Manchester and employed by the ‘Manchester Settlement’ which was founded by the University in 1895, still with strong links today. The pro bono clinic, is a collaboration with New East Manchester and the charities LawWorks North and Manchester Settlement in association with The College of Law. The Centre is sponsored by Clifford Chance LLP and Barlow Lyde and Gilbert LLP. The new clinic is an addition to School of Law’s existing free legal advice work: The Legal Advice Centre has been giving legal advice to the public since it opened in November 2000. Speaking at the event, Director and solicitor at the Legal Advice Centre Dinah Crystal OBE said:”We are delighted to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Legal Advice Centre by playing host to the distinguished barrister and supporter of pro bono Michael Mansfield. “We are also delighted to launch this venture in East Manchester which will allow our staff and students and local lawyers another opportunity to participate in clinical education and more importantly to put something back into the local community. Mansfield who spoke about his work and new book, has been involved in some of the country’s most high profile legal cases. He represented the `Guildford Four’, Stephen Lawrence's family and Barry George at the inquest into the death of Jill Dando. He also represented Mohamed al-Fayed at the inquest into the deaths of his son Dodi al-Fayed and Diana, Princess of Wales. His book, The Memoirs of a Radical Lawyer, was published last month. 3 News

In brief "Need not greed", University backs world cup bid say Nobel Prize The University is backing Manchester’s bid to be a host city for the world's greatest winners football tournament. Some of the world's leading names in science England is bidding to host the FIFA World and ethics - including two Nobel Prize winners - CupTM in either 2018 or 2022, and Manchester have challenged society to rethink attitudes to hopes to be named as one of the host cities. the commercialisation of scientific knowledge in a ‘Manifesto’ published last month. The President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Professor Alan Gilbert, The renowned group of 50 signatories is led by moral philosopher Professor John Harris and Nobel has written to FIFA President Sepp Blatter to Professor Sir John Sulston and Professor John Harris express his support for the Manchester bid. Prize winning biologist Professor Sir John Sulston, both from the Institute for Science, Ethics and reward for research and development. He said: “As a truly international and multi- Innovation (iSEI) at The University of Manchester. cultural university, with students from 180 Professor Sulston received a Nobel Prize for different nations studying here, we would value Nobel Laureate and Chair of the Brooks World Physiology or Medicine in 2002 and was a key the opportunity to welcome teams and Poverty Institute at The University of Manchester, member of the Human Genome project team. He supporters from around the world to our city. Professor Joseph Stiglitz, is also among the chairs iSEI. signatories. Professor Gilbert said: “Manchester is He said: "It shocks many people when they realise The ‘Manchester Manifesto’ calls for a synonymous with football, and here at the that even our genes fall under intellectual reassessment of the current system of patents and University of Manchester hundreds of our staff property law. intellectual property regulated by national and and students take part in matches every day of international laws. "Genes are naturally occurring things, not the week, from five-a-side kickabouts to our inventions, and part of humanity's rich heritage. highly competitive student teams. According to Professors Harris and Sulston, the system is in desperate need of change because it "We cannot restrict essential research into diseases To find out more visit the web address below. excludes poorer people from access to essential such as cancer to only those who can afford to pay. medicines and expertise. "The current method of managing innovation and www.manchesterworldsport. They both say profit should not override the needs intellectual property has an adverse effect on com/site/pledge-gallery of the public despite it being currently the primary many impoverished people- especially in the developing world. Manchester lecturer was Mozambique election observer

Senior Lecturer in Politics, Andrew Russell, has recently returned from Africa where he was part of the Commonwealth Observer Group in last month’s Presidential, Parliamentary and Regional elections in Mozambique. The invitation to join the Commonwealth Election Observer team came because he runs the Politics MA in Democracy and Elections and much of his research concerns youth engagement; Mozambique, has a young population (according to the UN the life expectancy is only 42). These were to be the fourth multi-party elections since the end Made in Africa: portrait of of the civil war in the early 1990s. an Ife ruler Andrew Russell was the only academic and the only British person in the team which was led by Ahmad A new display launched at The Manchester Kabba the former President of Sierra Leone and Museum showcases the sculpture of an bicycles, motorbikes and cell-phones.” included politicians and civil society leaders from 10 African King. other countries. On election day Andrew sped between 16 polling stations in urban and rural settings. He On loan from the British Museum, Ife head is a Andrew said:”International observer groups are said:”Queues outside stations were often hectic, portrait-like brass cast of the Oni (King) of the invited by the host nation to ensure that its but crowds were mostly well-natured despite the Ife kingdom. A powerful, cosmopolitan and elections meet internationally recognised blistering sun. Some aspects of the process were wealthy city-state in West Africa, Ife lies in what standards of democratic openness and fairness. As clearly held in high regard although the count itself is now modern southern Nigeria. It flourished as the group arrived in the capital, Maputo; the first will forever be the longest night (and most of the a political, spiritual, cultural and economic week was dominated by collecting evidence from next day) of my life.” centre in the 12th-15th centuries AD, and was political parties, NGOs, the media, election an influential hub of local and long-distance officials and the international community on Their report is currently with the Mozambican trade networks. background to the elections. authorities and is available from the Commonwealth website. Andrew added:”Overall Ife head will be at the Museum until 14 “The second week saw the team deployed to this was a fascinating experience; a chance to see February, when it will return to the British various regions of the country. I was sent to Tete, academic issues impact in reality and to apply Museum and star in their exhibition the north-eastern province of Mozambique. Life accepted standards of democratic development to a Kingdom of Ife: Sculptures from here is often harsh although economic and political very different part of the world.” 4 West Africa. development had ensured a proliferation of Scientists celebrate 30 years of prestigious prize

The University recently played host to former winners of the Weizmann Prize for Biochemistry as they celebrated the 30th anniversary of the prestigious award. The Weizmann Prize for Biochemistry is awarded annually to the best final year undergraduate in Biochemistry at the University. It is named in Exonerated honour of Dr Chaim Weizmann, a former Manchester academic known as "the father of death row industrial fermentation". now one of the world's "I am particularly pleased that Dr Weizmann was a Reader in top-ranking multidisciplinary the Faculty of Life Sciences has prisoner shares Chemistry at Manchester when research institutions. now developed a number of strong research links with he became famous for Former Weizmann Prize winner, scientists at the Weizmann his experiences discovering how to use bacterial now Vice President and Dean of Institute, and I hope these links fermentation to produce large the Faculty of Life Sciences, An American death row prisoner whose will expand and flourish. quantities of organic chemicals. Professor Martin Humphries said: murder conviction was quashed after seven Weizmann later became the "We are very proud to mark 30 Professor Humphries was stays of execution visited The University of founder of the state of Israel. He years of such an important joined by 13 other former Manchester in October to talk about his was elected as its first President award. I was honoured to win Weizmann Prize winners from experiences to a packed lecture theatre in in 1949, and served until his the award back in 1980, and as across the world including University Place. death in 1952. a consequence I have always felt leading neuroscientist Professor In 1985, John Thompson, from New Orleans, a direct association with Chaim Michael Hutton, who gave a was convicted of first degree murder and an Weizmann also founded the Weizmann. I want to thank lecture on his research into the Daniel Sieff Research Institute in attempted carjacking three weeks later. The Weizmann UK for their causes of frontotemporal 24-year-old father of two was placed on Israel, since renamed the continued support of our dementia (FTD). Weizmann Institute of Science, death row in Louisiana’s notorious Angola undergraduate programme. prison contemplating the prospect of death by lethal injection. Nearly 600 University staff, students and members of the public attended John’s spellbinding presentation to hear how just Show me the mummy days before he was due to be executed, having exhausted all his appeals, new Professor Rosalie David has evidence which cast doubt on his conviction helped unveil the life, times was uncovered which had been deliberately and even the face of an withheld at his trial. The disclosure was ancient Egyptian mummy in enough to also raise concerns about John’s the BBC N Ireland murder conviction and, at a retrial in 2003, documentary 'Show Me The the jury acquitted him of murder. Mummy: The Face Of Takabuti'. John, who founded the charity Resurrection after Exoneration, which helps the increasing Takabuti (pictured), one of the number of men being exonerated by new Ulster Museum's most beloved developments in DNA analysis, was exhibits, took her second ever accompanied on his visit by lawyer Emily Maw. boat trip across the Irish Sea to Emily spoke about her work as Director of Manchester's KNH Centre for Innocence Project New Orleans, which works Biomedical Egyptology, where to reverse miscarriages of justice in Louisiana Professor David carried out a and Mississippi. series of tests. Professor David, at the Faculty of Professor David was one of a The visit had been organised by Dr Helen They included a CT scan in the Life Sciences, said: "Our research crack team of top scientists and Middleton-Price, Director of the University’s hope that a detailed X-ray of specializes in applying scientific historians that pieced together Nowgen. Earlier this year, Helen spent three Takabuti's skeleton could reveal methods to examining Egyptian the remarkable history of the months working on sabbatical for the charity her age, her diet and whether mummies, which preserve mysterious Takabuti, first brought Reprieve in New Orleans, which represents she had any diseases, and also evidence of disease, diet, lifestyle, to Belfast from Egypt in 1834 by prisoners on death row in the southern states of shed more light on the lifespan, status and religious a wealthy young man named the USA. John and Emily’s presentation, which mummification process. A small practices. Minute samples taken Thomas Greg who had bought took place in University Place on October 13, camera with minute forceps from the inside of the mummy the mummified remains at a was chaired by Mark George QC, a well-known attached was then delicately were examined microscopically 'mummy market' in Thebes (now Manchester human rights lawyer. The visit inserted inside the body to for evidence of disease; the teeth Luxor). On his return home he resulted in substantial media coverage, collect samples of internal tissue were studied; and tiny pieces of donated the mummy to the including interviews with The Independent and for close analysis, while a the hair were analyzed to see if it Belfast Natural History and BBC Breakfast. sample of her hair was taken for had been dyed or if she was a Philosophical Society. Takabuti carbon dating. natural blonde." then went to the Ulster Museum. For more information please contact Helen at [email protected]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8311414.stm 5 Research

Iain’s Excellence Architecture’s impact on Iain Hagan is among leading life scientists Belfast’s Troubles from 16 countries who have been made The stubborn persistence of sectarian attitudes members of the in Belfast can be partially blamed on everyday European Molecular urban features which would be biology Organisation uncontroversial in cities less blighted by (EMBO). conflict, a study has found. EMBO elects new Dr Ralf Brand, from The University of Manchester, members annually on discovered that buildings, fences, parks, footbridges the basis of scientific and even a playground can influence the location, excellence and this year’s elected members intensity and duration of bitter conflict between represent a broad cross-section of researchers Catholics and Protestants. from all field so molecular biology ranging However, Dr Brand’s study also found examples of from evolutionary to computational biology, where architecture can help to heal the wounds of neuroscience and plant science. the Troubles. Iain is Senior Group Leader in the Cell Division As part of the study, Dr Brand handed out Group at the Paterson Institute for Cancer disposable cameras to community workers, Research at the University. teachers and others locals to photograph areas which they felt were trouble spots – giving a revealing picture of the city’s problems. The project - which also examined the architecture Mutant gene of Beirut, Amsterdam and Berlin - was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, Arts Scientists have revealed how a mutant and Humanities Research Council and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. gene that causes a connective tissue He added: “Every city is different with different disease resulting in dwarfism does so by Dr Brand, who is based at the School of problems and solutions. significantly affecting the inside of cells - Environment and Development, said: “There’s no opening up new therapy strategies that doubt that great strides have been made in “But in Belfast, a fence can be tempting to throw a involve drugs already under development. Northern Ireland, politically, but in terms of the stone over it simply to prove how tough you are and that that can trigger a sort of arms race. In disorders such as many forms of dwarfisms urban fabric, considerable problems remain. or brittle bone disease, mutations in genes for “Our study shows that in areas of conflict, there “Some of the heavily fortified structures, such as extracellular matrix proteins were thought to are very few neutral features in a city. police stations and some peace walls - though exert their pathogenic effects because of needed - can reinforce tensions by their mere “In other words, we have seen many examples of resulting defects in extracellular matrix. But Dr appearance. It’s obviously too simplistic to just to how architecture can inadvertently make things Mike Briggs, Professor Ray Boot-Handford and dismantle them. worse. But the good news is that architecture can their team in the Wellcome Trust Centre for also make an important contribution to the “We even found a park in north Belfast which had Cell-Matrix Research have shown in a series of resolution of conflict. been divided with a wall, mainly to separate young recent papers that they also have significant people from the two adjacent neighbourhoods.” effects inside the cell. Professor Boot-Handford, at the Faculty of Life Sciences, explains: "The mutant genes cause stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of Study launched into cells responsible for bone growth. "The increased ER stress caused by accumulation of mutant protein inside the professionalism in pharmacy cells disrupts the cellular processes required to produce efficient bone growth and results The aim of the study is to understand and clarify in dwarfism." how professionalism develops in pharmacists’ early careers – their first two years – and to consider the The study, funded by the European Union, US implications of this development for the delivery of National Institutes of Health and Wellcome quality patient-centred care. Trust and published in open access journal PLoS Genetics, triggered ER stress in normal In particular, the research team will explore early cartilage cells and achieved the same effects career pharmacists’ perceptions about as in the naturally occurring disorder caused professionalism, its relation to patient-centred by the mutant extracellular matrix protein care and its development in pharmacy training (type X collagen) thus showing that the and practice. The views of support staff and intracellular stress response was at the heart of tutors involved in preregistration training will also the disorder. be sought. Professor Boot-Handford adds: "Manchester Dr Schafheutle said: “We have already gained some discovered type X collagen 30 years ago and Researchers have been awarded a grant by the insight into how professionalism is learnt among we were the first to describe the complete Pharmacy Practice Research Trust to undergraduate pharmacy students, and work human gene sequence; subsequently, we were investigate patient-centred professionalism experience seemed to play an important role. one of the first to describe mutations in type X among newly registered pharmacists. “However, little is known about the influence of collagen that lead to the dwarfism Dr Ellen Schafheutle and research fellow Sarah the workplace and early years of practice on (metaphyseal chondrodysplasia type Schmid). Willis, in the School of Pharmacy and recently registered pharmacists’ professionalism. Now we understand much more about the Pharmaceutical Sciences, have been given the The research grant will enable us to explore this mechanism by which the gene affects the £30,000 grant as part of the Trust’s Professionalism with those who are key players in this early period growth of the skeleton." in Pharmacy Practice research programme. of practice and professionalism.” 6 Swine flu study will help understand needs of at-risk groups

People with asthma and other respiratory conditions are to take part in a Government- funded study to explore their needs, behaviour and concerns in the wake of the swine-flu pandemic. The University of Manchester research will examine what information people with chest conditions and their families need about the virus and what concerns they might have about their susceptibility and perceived risks of complications. Professor of Nursing Ann-Louise Caress, who is leading the study, said: “People with respiratory after the current pandemic was declared found • Whether people with chest problems and their problems are at greater risk of developing that 62% of those studied were not undertaking family members have any worries and concerns complications of swine flu but if take-up rates for recommended preventative measures.” about swine flu, and what these are. seasonal flu are indicative then only 45% of individuals are likely to get vaccinated. The researchers will survey a minimum of 200 • Whether people with chest problems and their patients with a clinically diagnosed, long-term family members are doing anything different in “There is a need to raise awareness of the current respiratory condition along with 200 of their their daily lives because of swine flu. pandemic but this must be balanced against the family members. The volunteers will be asked associated risks of creating undue anxiety, The study, which is funded by the National questions in a 30-45 minute telephone interview particularly among at-risk groups. Previous Institute for Health Research on behalf of the along three main themes: behaviour-focused public health initiatives Department of Health, is being run by a team regarding respiratory viruses, which employed a • What information people with chest problems from the University and the University Hospital of range of media and approaches, have met with and their family members want regarding swine South Manchester at Wythenshawe and is part of mixed success, while a survey conducted shortly flu and who they want it from. a national swine flu research programme.

Call for ban on alcohol-industry sponsorship of sport

The alcohol industry’s sponsorship of sport should be banned and replaced with a dedicated alcohol tax modelled on those employed by some countries for tobacco, says a Manchester scientist. Writing in the latest issue of the international journal Addiction, Dr Kerry O’Brien called on governments to outlaw the practice, citing his highly publicised 2008 study that showed alcohol- industry sponsorship of elite and community sport was associated with hazardous drinking among sport participants. Dr O’Brien, who wrote the editorial with his co- researcher, Dr Kypros Kypri, from Newcastle University in Australia. Dr O’Brien, who is based in the School of Psychological Sciences, said: “Sport administrators are sending mixed messages to participants and fans when, on the one hand, they embrace and peddle alcohol via their sport, while on the other they punish individual sport stars and fans when they display loutish behaviour while intoxicated. “Sport is not only being used by the alcohol industry to encourage drinking among sportspeople and fans, it is also the primary vehicle for alcohol-industry marketing to the general public.” In place of industry sponsorship, the researchers suggest that governments use the proceeds of alcohol taxation to sponsor sports via independent bodies. 7 Research

Research funding coup announced

The University's Faculty of Humanities has bagged two out of nine Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding awards. Poverty and Development experts Professor David Hulme and Dr Khalid Nadvi have been awarded ESRC grants worth £57,000 and £89,000 respectively to lead research networks under the ESRC's new 'Rising Powers, Global Challenges and Social Change' programme. Both are based at the School of Environment and Development where Professor Hulme is Director of the Brooks World Poverty Institute and Dr Nadvi is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Development Policy and Management. Biomedical Imaging Institute Jared Ruff, Senior Research Manager for the Faculty of Humanities said: "We are delighted with these awards- it's great news for the celebrates its first year Faculty and The University. Our standing as a The University’s Biomedical Imaging congratulated the BII members for their major world class centre of research in this area Institute celebrated its first year of existence increasing levels of scientific impact. no doubt helped our cause immensely.” with its first annual showcase event last The scientific sessions focussed largely on the "Both projects are now well placed to access month. The event, which was held in The activities of early-stage researchers, providing more substantial and longer term ESRC Egg in the Core Technology Facility on the evidence of the broad activity covered by the investment so it was important that we did well main campus was a great success, with Institute in schools and research groups across in this competition." approximately 100 attendees from across the University. Dr Nadvi's Project, will develop a research the University plus the BII’s International The day was drawn to a close by the award of agenda on how public and private actors in Advisory Panel and representation from the Biomedical Imaging Institute Annual Poster China, India and Brazil are challenging our industry. Prize, which was judged by the International understanding of globalization. Professor Geoff Parker, summarised the progress Advisory Panel. The award of £500 towards and the success of the Institute since its Professor Hulme's project looks at the emerging attendance at an international scientific formation in 2008. The morning and afternoon powers below the fast growing developing conference was made to Mark Dobbs from the scientific sessions were introduced by the economies known as Brics - such as Brazil, India Imaging Sciences Research Group for his University’s Associate Vice Presidents for Research and China. poster on the development of methods for – Professors Matt Lambon Ralph and Chris Taylor measuring kidney perfusion using magnetic – who commented on the value added to the resonance imaging. University’s research portfolio by the Institute and

Mobile technology to improve health

The University is to help establish an m-Health they can help reduce the cost of healthcare as Innovation Centre in Manchester, which will well as create new growth opportunities for the act as a UK focus for this area. mobile industry. It has signed a Memorandum of Understanding The centre in Manchester will encourage with GSMA, an association which represents the innovation by: providing a forum for collaboration interests of the worldwide mobile communications and sharing ideas; providing in-depth analysis of industry. The goal of the GSMA’s m-Health initiative the market for m-Health; signposting key is to foster innovative mobile applications and opportunities; conducting pilot trials; organising services in healthcare that will focus on promoting community-building events; providing m-Health healthier lifestyles and early intervention. education and training; and offering online resources and one-to-one services to support the Hosted by Manchester Informatics at the University, emerging m-Health community. the Manchester m-Health Innovation Centre will conduct multidisciplinary research, bringing Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell FRS, Deputy together researchers, healthcare organisations and President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of industrial partners to conceive, develop and Manchester said:“We very much value the evaluate mobile health innovations. opportunity to work with the GSMA to translate our innovative ideas into practice. Sustainable A major focus will be on citizen-led health and health and wellbeing represent a major challenge wellbeing, using mobile technology to enable for society worldwide, and the transformational people to play a more active role in determining which can utilise mobile technology including potential of mobile technology in promoting their own health, providing a more personalised and ‘assisted living applications’ for example prompting innovative citizen-led health initiatives provides responsive interface to public services. patients, such as people with psychotic disorders, to exciting opportunities.” The initiative recognises that innovative record the medication they are taking, their The Manchester m-Health Innovation Centre will health products are important because symptoms and their mood in real time via their 8 work on a variety of health and wellbeing projects mobile phone. Wiser OWL learns Town planning to unravel doctor talk award puts

A new Internet language developed by bone which is part of a leg then that fracture is a computer scientists in Manchester will enable fracture of that leg, said Bijan Parsia of the School lecturers on computers to unravel the complex of Computer Science. terminology used by experts such as doctors, "It may sound simple to make this connection to the map engineers and life scientists, and understand us, but it’s a great leap forward that computer what they really mean. programs will be able to reason and make Architecture lecturers Drs Andrew OWL 2, which was developed by an international connections in this way.’ Crompton and Frank Brown have been team led by computer scientists from The University A good example of the scale of the problem facing awarded one of town planning’s most of Manchester and Oxford University, is a language medics and computer scientists is the NCI Cancer prestigious awards. like the HTML that makes up most of the web Thesaurus that has swollen from 20,000 medical pages we use. The Michael Breheny Prize went to the terms in 2004 to over 50,000 terms today. researchers based at the University’s School of But OWL 2 is different because it is designed to As new terms are being added all the time, Environment and Development in recognition enable computers to understand and interpret the ensuring that all these terms are described, of their work on fractal environments. contents of its pages rather than just display them updated and linked together correctly is a for the benefit of humans. The academics argue that urban designers mammoth task for humans. should create complicated fractal One of the first and most important applications However, by using OWL 2 definitions can be environments as they are better places to live. for the new language is in helping computers to written in such a way that computer programs can Humans, they say, are pre-adapted to live in a understand and analyse specialised medical terms. tirelessly update these terms, enriching the fractal environment where complex objects "OWL 2 enables computer programs to interpret structure of the Thesaurus and pointing out where such as trees and rocks repeat themselves. these terms in a much more human-like way, for there are errors. Non-fractal environments, such as car parks, instance reasoning that if a fracture is located on a London’s Docklands development, business parks and pine plantations feel alien and http://owl.cs.manchester.ac.uk/ oppressive. Dr Crompton said: “We’re delighted to receive this award – it’s a real honour. One Triple grant success application of our work is the Welsh town of Portmeirion, which was made famous by 1960s cult television series The Prisoner. Sir for medical researchers Clough Williams-Ellis built the village to prove a beautiful site could be developed in a University of Manchester natural way.” researchers looking at potential new therapies for pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction have been awarded £2.4 million. Weeds could Pre-eclampsia – a group of conditions that result in high blood pressure in expectant help feed the mothers – can be fatal, while fetal growth restriction, where world the baby does not grow properly in the womb, results in a greater Plants that cope better with changes in risk of death or handicap. the environment – giving greater crop yields in the face of global warming – The five-year programme grant determine whether the same Working with colleagues at could be developed following a study into from the Medical Research drugs that are useful in those King’s College, London, the the weeds in the cracks in pavements. Council has been given to diseases can be used in treating Manchester researchers will Professor Colin Sibley, Dr Sue pregnancy complications.” investigate a gene called FUS – Dr Giles Johnson and his team at The known to play a role in motor Greenwood and Dr Mark A further £220,000 has been University of Manchester have identified a neurone disease – in dementia Wareing in Manchester’s awarded by the MRC to fellow protein that helps plants ‘track’ the patients with frontotemporal Maternal and Fetal Health Maternal and Fetal Health environment and increase their capacity to lobar degeneration (FTLD). Research Centre based at St Research Centre scientists, photosynthesise (capturing light energy Mary’s Hospital, together with Professor John Aplin and Dr Dr Pickering-Brown said: “Recent through the leaves which enables them to collaborators in Cambridge, Lynda Harris. Their research will research on motor neurone grow). This protein is produced according to Harwell and Alberta. focus on an enzyme called disease and frontotemporal the expression of a particular gene. Professor Sibley said: “Pre- MMP-12 and whether blocking dementia has shown that RNA- Some plants, including important crops, are eclampsia and fetal growth its actions may be a therapeutic processing proteins are less able to track their environment and are restriction are diseases with intervention in complicated deposited in degenerating nerve thus unable to cope with environmental many different causes and are pregnancies. cells and that rare mutations in changes. But if the team is able to help plants three known genes, including the most dangerous pregnancy Meanwhile, Dr Stuart Pickering- to respond to changes in their environment by FUS, cause a genetic form of complications. There are Brown and Professor David traditionally breeding or genetically modifying these diseases. currently no treatments available Mann, in the School of them, crop yields could be increased, especially other than Caesarean section or Translational Medicine, have “Using these discoveries, our in vulnerable land. inducing labour. been awarded £1 million of a team will model key aspects of The study was published in Plant Physiology “Some of the causes of the £4.5 million programme grant by the human disorders in last month. conditions are similar to those in the Wellcome Trust and Medical transgenic mice to allow us to other conditions, such as Research Council to identify explore fundamental disease cardiovascular disease and genetic risk factors in motor mechanisms and identify new cancer, and our research will neurone disease. therapeutic targets.” 9 Profile

Stefan’s Search Searching for a particular particle is a complex and time-consuming endeavour. It can take years. And it may not even exist. But to win the race to find it would be tremendously exciting. Yet perhaps it would be even more exciting to discover that it didn’t exist after all.

This enigma is at the heart of Professor Stefan them all to make sure that they are up to the that analogy, although Stefan did enjoy the Söldner-Rembold’s work. The particle in question is standard required. movie of Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons on a the Higgs boson, named after the Edinburgh flight back from the US recently, despite its Stefan is well-prepared for the responsibility. He scientist who proposed it and believed to be scientific shortcomings. was for two years the Physics Coordinator of the responsible for giving elementary particles mass. Dzero experiment at the Tevatron, and before that The search has the potential either to see evidence Stefan’s search is based at the Tevatron proton- he worked in a similar position at a big experiment for its existence or to exclude it – and there is antiproton collider at Fermilab, close to Chicago, at CERN. healthy competition with CERN to be the first to currently the highest energy particle accelerator do that. “We don’t know what its mass will be,” running in the world. He has just been elected by “I am very honoured to be elected as Stefan says. “We know the range, but is it there as his fellow-physicists to the prestigious post of Spokesperson,” he says. “We are doing complex predicted? It will be very exciting if we find it, but Spokesperson for the Dzero experiment, one of and exciting work. The Dzero experiment has been even more exciting if we discover it’s not there the two large experiments there. running for nearly 25 years. One of the highlights after all and there is something else that’s is the discovery of the top quark – the heaviest In this context, Spokesperson means a great deal unexpected.” (Rather like the Holy Grail?). elementary particle – about ten years ago. To more than merely acting as the front man. His make these discoveries we have to collect a huge For the uninitiated, the scale and complexity of the responsibility is to lead the project and carry amount of data, which takes a lot of complex enterprise is hard to grasp. The Tevatron ring is executive authority over all aspects of the Dzero analysis, since many of a lot of the processes we’re located on restored prairie land west of Chicago Collaboration. He oversees the work of 550 looking for are extremely rare.” and has a circumference of four miles. The 5000 scientists including 150 graduate students from ton Dzero detector inspects about 10 million 89 institutions and 18 countries. Between them, Among them, the search for the Higgs particle is, collisions per second – selecting about 100 the scientists publish a refereed journal one might say, the Holy Grail of particle physics. collisions per second for recording, corresponding paper every week – and he has to read Understandably, the scientists do not care to use 10 to about 300,000 gigabyte of data per year. And CV

Name

Professor Stefan Söldner-Rembold

Position

Professor of Particle Physics The University of Manchester

Spokesperson of the Dzero Experiment Fermilab, Chicago, USA since 2009

Education and Qualifications

Habilitation in Physics, University of Freiburg, 1996

Dr. rer. nat. (PhD), Technical University Munich, 1992

Diplom-Physiker, University of Bonn, 1987

Career History

2007-2009 Physics Coordinator of the Dzero Experiment

2003-2008 Lecturer/Reader, The University of Manchester

1999-2003 Heisenberg Fellow (German Research Foundation, DFG) based at CERN, Geneva, and at Fermilab, Chicago only one collision in 10^12 could reveal a Higgs That enabled him to spend six years moving 2000-2001 boson, but they all have to be analysed. around the world of particle physics – and he Physics Coordinator of the OPAL Experiment ended up at CERN and then Fermilab. at the Large Electron-Positron (LEP) Collider “We expect to be taking data until the end of and Scientific Associate at CERN 2011,” says Stefan. “Hopefully, we will find He first came to Manchester as a student from something by then – or not.” Bonn for a short visit to work with Manchester 1996-1999: physicists on a CERN experiment and he always Privatdozent (Lecturer), University of Freiburg He is certainly a man with a mission and a passion stayed in contact since then. He was delighted to for his work. He even has an apartment on the get the opportunity to come to Manchester 1994-1996: site and spends more time there than he does at permanently – “This University has an excellent Wissenschaftlicher Assistent, University of home in Greenfield. reputation for particle physics and brings together Freiburg OPAL Experiment, CERN But he is never out of touch. “With so many theory and experiment.” people involved from institutions worldwide, we 1992-1994 Graduate students in his group spend a year at do everything by video,” he explains. Research Associate, University of Freiburg the Tevatron, working alongside the international ZEUS Experiment at the electron-proton brigade of scientists. Indeed, the Manchester When in Manchester, he also works on a project collider HERA, DESY, Hamburg designing a new large detector called SuperNEMO group on Dzero consists currently of two to discover another very rare process - neutrinoless professors, one Royal Society University Research 1987-1992: double beta decay. If it exists it can be used to Fellow, one Royal Society Newton Fellow, three PhD Research Fellowship measure the tiny mass of the elusive neutrino. research assistants and five graduate students. Max Planck Institute for Physics, Munich: Deep inelastic muon nucleon scattering at the He comes originally from Munich, where he was Stefan is only the second person from a non-US E665 Experiment, Fermilab born in 1960. “As a boy, I was absolutely institution to be elected Spokesperson – and also fascinated by the moon landing,” he says. “Also, the second from this University. His colleague Terry my grandfather used to show me how the Earth Wyatt held the post from 2004-2007. revolves around the Sun using a globe and his He enjoys life in Manchester. He and his wife, Ana, torch. I loved it.” also a physicist (she teaches at Oldham Sixth Form Not surprisingly then, he was determined to study College), met at the Max Planck Institute. With Physics – “I wanted to do something difficult.” He their teenage daughters Isabella and Daniela, they went to Bonn University – “Like Manchester, an live in Greenfield, in the same neck of the woods institution strong in particle physics”. Then on to as his colleague, Professor Brian Cox. the Max Planck Institute in Munich for his PhD. “I “For me the moors are extremely exotic,” he says. was lucky, because I got the chance to do “I love the hills and the countryside.” But he does something at the frontier, to work on miss his ski-ing and regular opera-going, which he fundamental research.” was brought up with in Munich. In 1996, he got his Habilitation – a sort of second The good news is that they have another physicist PhD and a qualification for an academic position following in their footsteps – Isabella is just about at a German university – at Freiburg, leading to a to start her university career, reading Physics at prestigious Heisenberg Fellowship, comparable to Imperial College London. a Royal Society University Research Fellowship. 11 Reaching Out

Students mobilise for Operation Impact

students helped to transform local “Students across Manchester are an eyesores by creating a new important part of the community and community garden, a usable school events like this show they’re just as playing field and transforming keen as residents to demonstrate local streets. their pride in the city. “ More than 40 students began the Local resident Temipope Yussuff who week in Moss Side clearing a park lives in Victoria Park said: "Thank which had become overgrown and you to all the students for all the used by fly tippers. The University's hard work cleaning our alleyway, Volunteering and Community painting the gates and making it Engagement Team will now ensure look good for everyone that lives that the project is sustained by here. We really appreciate what you providing regular volunteers. have done here." Others painted and tidied an MLP is a credited unit that has been alleyway in Victoria Park, to create a developed to help University of tranquil community space for local Manchester students understand the residents, whilst another group tidied importance of leadership that up streets and alleyways in embraces social, economic and Fallowfield Brow. environmental sustainability. The MLP includes voluntary work within Lindsay Gilbert, Head of Volunteering the community. Neighbourhoods across south Park armed with bin bags and paint and Community Engagement at The Manchester have been spruced brushes, in order to make a University of Manchester, said: Janet Melling, an MLP student said: up after hundreds of students difference to residents. The “These events enabled our students “Volunteering on Operation Impact embarked on a huge volunteers have vowed to keep to make a positive contribution to the has been fantastic. We have really volunteering project. returning to the area to make sure it areas they live in and we’re delighted seen a visible result from all our hard stays in a good condition. More than 200 students – all enrolled to have worked with the City Council work. It has been great volunteering on the University’s Manchester Operation Impact is a large scale to make a difference.” alongside other MLP students as well as making such a positive Leadership Programme (MLP) - volunteering initiative in partnership Councillor Paul Andrews, Manchester contribution to the community.” descended on areas of Moss Side, with Manchester City Council. City Council’s Executive Member for Fallowfield, Rusholme and Victoria During the week-long ‘blitz’ the Neighbourhood Services said:

Moonwatching Award for rising star of science

A young scientist in the in Manchester Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research has won Astronomers from the Jodrell Bank Centre a prestigious award which for Astrophysics headed out into the recognises her efforts to streets of Manchester to show passers-by bring science to the public. close-up views of the Moon and the planet Jupiter. Ceri Harrop has include writted and presented a short television About 250 people took the opportunity to series, presented a radio show use one of the Jodrell telescopes to study and is an ambassador for her craters on the Moon and see the four largest subject in the national EPSRC- moons of Jupiter. The vast majority had never funded New Outlooks In Science looked through a telescope before. & Engineering (NOISE) campaign, The event took place in late October but as well as founding and chairing Jupiter will be visible for several months - it the Wellcome Trust Centre for appears like a bright star in the southern Cell Matrix Research (WTCCMR) evening sky. public engagement committee. The event was part of the International Year The Society of Biology's `Science of Astronomy's (IYA) Moonwatch week, Communication Awards’, interested in health, the are dedicated to employing staff during which a Jodrell Bank Jodcast video was sponsored by Pfizer, recognise environment and other science and producing graduates who shown on the BBC Big Screen in Manchester's research-active bioscientists issues and we, as scientists, are not only outstanding Exchange Square. from UK universities or should make research accessible professionals but also informed, institutes who make an to the public. ethically aware, socially The International Year of Astronomy marks outstanding and consistent responsible citizens. The 400 years since Galileo first used a telescope "Secondly it's both highly contribution to communicating WTCCMR has responded to this to look at the Moon and Jupiter. It is also 40 rewarding and enlightening to science to the public. challenge by elevating public years since the Apollo 11 astronauts landed take your research to a different engagement activity to a high on the Moon. Ceri, who won the award's ‘New audience. It gets you away from priority, and over the last few Researcher’ category, said:”"The the lab bench, and helps you see years we have assembled a large taxpayers, or charity donors, your work from a different network of lab staff and fund our research. It is public perspective." money and they have a right to academics who now see PE as a The Faculty's Vice President and know what we are doing with it. core aspect of their job. Ceri has Dean Professor Martin Plus I don't think we give people played the principal leading role Humphries, who nominated enough credit - they are in driving these developments." 12 Ceri, said: "In Manchester, we Student reps Two local beneficiaries of the Manchester’s widening participation work were recently nominated to represent the University at a high profile national conference organised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT). Amarpreet Kaur (right) has recently applied to Nursing and Midwifery at Manchester through the University’s Manchester Access Programme (MAP). She is currently in her upper sixth year at Whalley Sport volunteers give back Range High School. Sara Zaheer (left) is a former pupil of Whalley Range High School and Loreto College, and has recently begun to the community studying Medicine at Manchester having completed MAP in 2009. Neither of the students’ parents had benefitted from higher education A team of 25 student volunteers children and teachers, as well as building and they spoke to delegates and senior Civil Servants about the recently organised and officiated a on key skills such as teamwork, initiative difference MAP had made to their aspirations and confidence. very successful netball and football and negotiation.” Targeted as bright local sixth formers from underrepresented tournament for 16 local schools at backgrounds, students on MAP are mentored, undertake campus- The Sport Volunteer Scheme is extremely the Armitage sports centre. The based activities and complete an extended academic assignment popular and allows students to volunteer volunteers were on the Sport worth 40 UCAS points towards entry to Manchester. their time in the community with sports- Volunteer Scheme or the Manchester related activities such as coaching an Julian Skyrme, Head of Undergraduate Recruitment and Widening Leadership Programme (MLP) and for after-school football team or building a Participation, accompanied them and said: “Both Amarpreet and many of them it was their first website for a local hockey club. David Sara did themselves, their School and College and their families experience in volunteering. Jones, a final year Chemist, describes his proud in speaking so persuasively about their learner journeys Kirsty Hutchison, Volunteering and volunteering as “a way to give into higher education. At a time when there is an increased focus Community Engagement Manager said, something back” and in return for his on social mobility and fair admissions to leading universities, it “The tournament is a great way for MLP hours helping local children play football, was particularly timely that Sara spoke about how the students to help fulfil their volunteering the University has supported his FA Level programme’s targeting and special admissions processes were key commitment. The students had a 1 coaching qualification. to her being able to enter Manchester and fulfil her aspirations to rewarding time interacting with the become a doctor”.

Lunch with the neighbours The University hosted an event the opportunities available to people last month offering previously in the Oxford Road area. We hope homeless people the chance to that this will be the first of many explore employment successful events which will improve opportunities in the Oxford the prospects of local people.” Road area. Also represented at the event were Organised by the Corridor Aspire, Business in the Community, Manchester Partnership and Business Greater Manchester Employer in the Community, the workshop Coalition, Jobcentre Plus, Manchester entitled `Lunch with the neighbours’ Metropolitan University, Pathfinder. was for previously homeless people Corridor Manchester is the first who are now settled and job ready. partnership of its kind in the UK. It Those who attended are taking part in brings together Manchester City Prince’s Trust schemes which give Council, The University of support to young people in developing Manchester, Manchester key workplace skills. The workshop’s Metropolitan University and the aim was to give an overview of The Central Manchester University University of Manchester and its Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to partners as employers. build on the partners’ investments in the 243 hectare area running south Steve Grant, the University’s Assistant economy for the benefit of the Pictured at the event from left are from St Peter's Square to Whitworth Director of Human Resources city region. Yoras Kabtimer, Daniel Kinsey, Steve Park along Oxford Road, Manchester. (seconded to Corridor Manchester), Grant and Jorge Correia. The partnership is committed to There are 55,000 people currently said:”This was an excellent generating further economic growth employed in Corridor Manchester, opportunity for the University, other and investment in the knowledge which is 25% of the city’s workforce. employers and agencies to present 13 Feature

2

1 2 Manchester Science Festival

Manchester Science Festival 2009 ran from 24 Chris has worked with professional actors from Professor Geim, who discovered the world’s October to 1 November and included more the 24:7 Theatre Festival and a script writer. thinnest material in 2004, gave a rare insight into than 150 exciting science, engineering, his pioneering work and possible future In Rutherford's case the character used golf balls technology, engineering and maths - mostly developments in the field of graphene research. and a plum pudding to demonstrate the scientific free - events for families and adults in breakthrough that he and his colleagues made in Professor Furber is ICL Professor of Computer venues across Greater Manchester, including relation to the nature of the atom. Alan Turing Engineering in the School of Computer Science. the University campus asked people on the walk to take the Turing test. He is currently spearheading the SpiNNaker project, which is aiming to build a computing The Festival brings together universities, During the walk, Chris also introduced the system that incorporates one million embedded organisations and key cultural partners from pioneering work that goes on in these fields at ARM processors and mimics the human brain's across the region. It is coordinated by the The University of Manchester today. Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and is biological structure and functionality. The walk began at Manchester Museum and supported by the Northwest Regional Professor Rothwell, Deputy President and Deputy winded its way to relevant locations around the Development Agency and Siemens. Vice-Chancellor at The University of Manchester, University campus. Here is a taste of just some of the events held on currently oversees a research group of about 20 campus during the week: Professor Steve Furber from Computer Schools scientists. Her current research focuses on the role dropped in on one of the walks to chat to the of inflammation in brain disease. 1 Off To Electrifying Start actor playing Alan Turing. To mark the start of the week-long festival, Professor Marshall is Emeritus Professor in Physics. engineers at the National Grid High Voltage The walk was supported by Corridor Manchester. His recent research includes studying electron Laboratory at The University of Manchester used a 3. Lecture offers insights into proton collisions, preparing for ATLAS at CERN in Tesla Coil to put millions of volts of electricity pioneering research Geneva and astro-particle physics. through the Festival's star shaped logo. Leading researchers from the University” The individual lectures were followed by a general Huge sparks of electricity flew out of the edges of Professors Andre Geim, Steve Furber, Dame Nancy discussion on where current research in life the star and into the Festival banner, looking for Rothwell and Robin Marshall gave the audience sciences, computer technology, particle physics the quickest route to the earth. some exciting and inspiring insights into their and nanotechnology is heading, and prospects for work at a special lecture during the Festival the future. 2 Take a walk with Turing attended by more than 200 people. A campus walk was brought to life by actors Engaging Manchester’s public in debating playing the parts of luminaries of the past, Ernest The Bright Ideas lecture at University Place childhood obesity Rutherford and Alan Turing. Manchester Tourist launched the Royal Society 350th Anniversary A fascinating public debate into childhood obesity Guide Chris Norwood devised the walk to ‘Local Heroes’ events programme in the in England was held in the John Rylands Library as explore what the giants of the past have North West. part of the Festival. Nowgen – A Centre for 14 contributed to the pioneers of today. Genetics in Healthcare, organised the event to Teaching and Learning

Film gives new insight into nine-year-old’s asylum victory

A documentary made by two Masters students as part of their course was screened at the Imperial War museum last month. `Displaced’ gives new insight into the emotive story of a nine- year-old boy, Tony Lola, saved 3 from deportation to an uncertain future in his native Congo. It follows his plight surviving imprisonment in his native country, and that of his mother Mireille. Staff and pupils at Didsbury C of E primary - where the youngster is a pupil - organised a high profile campaign to help him. Manchester students Ella Cummins and Charli Allen followed Tony and his mother Tony Lola Mireille and campaigners to the doors of the Home Office, where they handed in a petition Ella Cummins said: “I think that degree in history and a career in to ministers. The filmmakers the film provides us with a the media. also caught on camera the fantastic example of a Course Director Dr Ana Carden 3 moments following the news community coming together, Coyne said: "The MA in History, that they had finally won their which is something that we sadly War and Culture reflects the battle to stay. don't see very often anymore. intellectual challenge of truly explore attitudes towards this serious health Their work was one of five films “We felt that asylum was one of grasping the serious impact of issue which has gained increasing focus in to be screened at The Imperial the most contentious topics in war on peoples and cultures. recent years. War Museum made by students Britain today and realised that Film is a powerful way to express The audience discussed wide-ranging issues as part of their MA course in asylum seekers are not given a this - and our students find the War, Culture and History at The with an expert panel, and electronically voted voice very often. The course for course life-changing.” on key questions throughout the evening. University of Manchester. me was a vital bridge between a Possibly the most controversial finding was that, 22% of the audience said that obese people, rather than taxpayers, should pay for their treatment on the NHS. Talking pictures Led by Dr Chris Steele, GP from ITV’s This Morning, the panel of experts included Dr Catherine Hall, paediatric consultant, from Last month, Michael Manchester’s Biomedical Research Centre, Winterbottom, the renowned Professor Andrew Hill, obesity psychologist British film director, came to from The University of Leeds, and Vicki The University of Manchester Swinden, Founder of Fat is the New Black. to speak to students on the LEAP course, British Culture Dr Hall researches childhood obesity and has through Film. Students from recently involved young obese people in Screen Studies also attended. developing a regional obesity service tailored to their needs. Her presentation discussed the The Blackburn-born director link between obesity and genetics. “We now answered questions on 24 Hour know that the condition can be a result of the Party People, one of the set films interaction between environmental factors and on the LEAP course, and talked a genetic predisposition. 84% of overweight about his many other films, children have a family history of obesity and including Welcome to Sarajevo there is more to it than just eating too much and In this World. He also spoke and exercising too little.” about his current project, a film set in 1930s Palestine. There were As well as the general public, the audience many fascinating insights into the included members of University staff, NHS film-making process, along with staff, local city councils, NHS Direct and the some interesting anecdotes. National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). It provided a great opportunity Commenting on the event, Nowgen’s for students to talk face-to-face Director of Public Programmes, Bella Starling with the director of one of the said: “These debates provide a valuable films they study, and to hear forum for a range of voices to be heard and more about the colourful a variety of opinions to be expressed. characters involved in the Sharing dialogue ensures public views Manchester music scene of contribute to medical research.” the time. 15 What’s On

Music and Drama Chaplaincies Gig Guide St Peter’s House Chaplaincy MANCHESTER ACADEMY 1, 2 and 3 at Manchester 11am Holy Communion 12.15pm Bible Study Wed 2 Dec - £15 Adv Thursday 10 Dec, 6.30pm The Tragically Hip Poetry Reading with James Fenton 12.45pm Lunch (1st Sun) James Fenton has worked as political journalist, drama 6.30pm Evening Worship (term-time only) Wed 2 Dec - £17.50 Adv critic, book reviewer, war correspondent, foreign FOYER 10am – 5pm Julian Plenti correspondent and columnist. An area where students and staff can relax and meet friends. A tea/coffee machine is available. Thurs 3 Dec - £12 Adv Thursday 10 Dec, 1.10pm Buddy Whittington & Aynsley Lister The Dessibelles Vocal Trio -Songs from Bulgaria RC Chaplaincy Avila House Thrilling crunchy Bulgarian harmonies and fiery beats. Mass Times (term-time only) Fri 4 Dec - £10 Adv Sun, 7pm (in the Holy Name Church) next door to The Doors Alive (A Tribute to The Doors) Friday 11 Dec, 7.30pm Chaplaincy The University of Manchester Big Band Fri 4 Dec - £10 Adv Mon, Wed, Fri, 6pm in the Chaplaincy Chapel The Lancashire Hotpots Xmas Cracker Thursday 17 Dec, 7.30pm Tues, Thurs, 12.15pm in the Chaplaincy Chapel Sat 5 Dec - £12.50 Adv MUMS Celebrates Christmas The Jewish Student Centre and Synagogue Hollywood Undead Manchester University Music Society Celebrate Hillel House, Greenheys Lane Christmas 0161 226 1139 Mon 7 Dec - £12.50 Adv Thursday 17 Dec, 1.30pm Email [email protected] Reggie Watts www.rabbiyy.com Quatuor Danel Lunchtime Concert Tues 8 Dec - £10 Adv A rich and dramatic five-movement masterpiece from Muslim Chaplaincy Frankmusik the late years of the Soviet Union, by Shostakovich’s South Campus Mosque, McDougall Centre favourite pupil of the 1960s, Boris Tishchenko. Jammaat (Group Prayer) Daily Weds 9 Dec - £15 Adv Friday 18 Dec, 7.30pm Juma Prayer Friday 1.15pm Monster Magnet Quatuor Danel Evening Concert Honorary Imam: Imam Habeeb, [email protected] Thurs 10 Dec - £10 Adv Another meeting of early Haydn and mature Mozart, North Campus Mosque, Basement of Joule Library, Electric Six this time followed by the last and darkest of Sackville Street Building Tchaikovsky’s three quartets, with a deeply felt funereal Fri 11 Dec - £15 Adv Jammaat (Group Prayer) Daily Skin slow movement at its core. Juma Prayer Friday 12.30pm The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama Sat 12 Dec - £5 Adv The role of the Volunteer Muslim Chaplain is to provide From The Jam Aftershow Bridgeford Street, Manchester M13 9PL pastoral support, guidance and a listening ear to 0161 275 8951/8950 Muslim staff and students Sun 13 Dec - £10 Adv email [email protected] Set Your Goals www.manchester.ac.uk/martinharriscentre Chaplains’ email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], Mon 14 Dec - £11 Adv [email protected] Goldie Lookin Chain Weds 16 Dec - £18.50 Adv Jodrell Bank Michael Schenker Group Throughout the year you can view the telescope from Thurs 17 Dec - £6.50 Adv many angles on the Observation Pathway, take a International Society Heaven’s Basement Journey to Mars or tour the Solar System in the 3D Sat 19 Dec - £10 Adv WINTER TRIPS theatre. You can also discover the history of Jodrell Amplifier Bank in the small indoor exhibition area or take a walk Sat 5 Dec in the tranquil setting of the 35 acre Arboretum. Lincoln's Christmas Market Tickets from: Saturday 12 Dec, 7-10pm Sun 6 Dec Students' Union, Oxford Road Geminid Meteor Shower Party Lake District visiting Keswick Traditional Christmas Piccadilly Box Office @ easy Internet Café (c/c) Watch the Geminid meteor shower and use telescopes Market 0871 2200260 to view the planets, weather permitting. Talks and 3D Sat 12 Dec Royal Court (Liverpool) 0151 709 4321 (c/c) presentations are included in the ticket price, along Chester Zoo Frost Fair Students’ Union with soup, roll and hot drink. Tickets are limited. Adults Sun 13 Dec Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL £10, Children £5. SOLD OUT Yorkshire Dales visiting Bolton Abbey and 0161 275 2930 www.manchesteracademy.net Tuesday 1 to Wednesday 23 Dec Skipton's Medieval Market and Castle Christmas at Jodrell Opening hours Visit Jodrell Bank, take a journey to Mars and then Mon-Fri 9.30am – 7pm (during term time) enjoy a two or three course Christmas lunch. Mon-Fri 9.30am – 5pm (during vacation) http://www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/visitorcentre/e Small World Café opening hours Centre for New Writing vents/2009/christmas.html Mon-Fri 11am – 3pm Monday 7 Dec Please call 01477 571339 to book tickets or to get 327 Oxford Road (next to Krobar) The Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, 6.30pm, £5/3 further information. 0161 275 4959 Martin Amis Public Events: Literature and Ageing Jodrell Bank Observatory Visitor Centre email [email protected] In these hugely popular public events, Martin Amis and Macclesfield, Cheshire www.internationalsociety.org.uk guests discuss how literature faces up to major issues 01477 571339 of the day. www.manchester.ac.uk/jodrellbank/viscen Thursday 10 Dec The John Rylands Library Deansgate, 6.30pm, Free Poetry Reading with James Fenton James Fenton has worked as a political journalist, drama critic, book reviewer, war correspondent, foreign correspondent and columnist. Website: www.manchester.ac.uk/arts/newwriting Online journal: www.themanchesterreview.co.uk The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama Bridgeford Street, Manchester M13 9PL 0161 275 8951/8950 email [email protected] www.manchester.ac.uk/martinharriscentre

16 The Manchester John Rylands Library The Whitworth Museum (Deansgate) Art Gallery As well as our permanent galleries, the Museum has a EXHIBITIONS DISPLAYS/COLLECTIONS varied programme of temporary exhibitions. Mapping Manchester: Stories of the City The Manchester Indian: Thomas Wardle and India The Evolutionist until 17 Jan 2010 until summer 2010 Who was Charles Darwin and what's all the fuss about Maps can tell us many different stories about the places This exhibition celebrates the centenary of the death of his theory of evolution? All will be revealed during our where we live and work. This exhibition shows how Sir Thomas Wardle (1831-1909). Still perhaps best Darwin Extravaganza. Part of Darwin 200 which is a mapping is particularly ingrained into urban life; it known for his collaboration with William Morris, the national programme of events honouring his scientific demonstrates how maps work and how they have exhibition focuses on Wardle’s efforts to reinvigorate ideas and their impact. evolved over time - reflecting changes in technology, the silk industry in India as well as the impact that India society and economic conditions. had on his work. After Life As well as discovering the ancient Egyptians' beliefs Designer Bookbinders Annual Competition 2009 Deep Rooted, How Trees Shape Our Lives until May about the after life, find out about some personal until 31 Jan 2010 2010 reflections, and potential options, for funerals and The 34th annual Designer Bookbinders Competition, What do trees mean to you? Drawing from the remembrance today. The After Life exhibits are giving visitors the opportunity to see a marvelous Whitworth’s internationally important collection of displayed within the Ancient Egypt gallery. variety of interpretative styles and the use of different watercolours and drawings, this exhibition explores techniques and materials. how trees and woodland shaped our lives. Made in Africa: Portrait of an Ife ruler Be awed by this sculpture of an Ife head, on tour from I am Christina Rossetti! until 7 Feb 2010 The Complete Roberta Breitmore: Lynn Hershman the British Museum. The Kingdom of Ife was a An intimate display of material from the collections Leeson until summer 2010 powerful, cosmopolitan and wealthy city-state in West which shed light on the remarkable life and work of In San Francisco in the mid-Seventies, Lynn Hershman Africa. It flourished as a political, spiritual, cultural and Christina Rossetti. Leeson created Roberta Breitmore and performed this economic centre in the 12th-15th centuries AD, and Collection Close-Up with Library Tour every third persona as a work of art over a four year period, was an influential hub of local and long-distance trade documenting it through artifacts, photography, film networks. Thursday in the month, 12.15pm With one of our curators, enjoy a closer look at and sound. This extraordinary body of work, which FAMILY EVENTS material from the Library’s world famous collections raises questions about the complexities of identity and and find out more about this magnificent building. the nature of the work of art, has been purchased by Friday 11 Dec, 11am-12pm the Whitworth in its final edition and is shown here for Magic Carpet: Polar Animals EVENTS the first time in its eternity. Get comfy on our magic carpet and enjoy stories and activities. Sat 5 & Weds 16 Dec, 12-1pm EVENTS The Devil’s in the Detail – exploring medieval Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 Dec, 2-3pm manuscripts Beautiful medieval manuscripts, from both Tuesday 8 Dec, 6pm Victorian Gentleman Tour eastern and western traditions and written in over fifty Reflections on The American Scene Discover the wonders of the world with our Victorian different languages, take a closer look and learn about by Douglas Tallack gentleman guide, Graeme Pye Esquire. Ask him for an their histories – how they were made, who made them 'I've spied Mr Pye' sticker. and why. Tickets £2.50, contact The Library’s Visitors Saturday 12 Dec, 2-5pm Services on (0161) 306 0555 or Pimp and Primp! ADULT EVENTS [email protected] Get ready for the festive party season! Bring along your glad rags to style, swap or customise with expert Tuesday 1 Dec, 6-8pm Tues 8 Dec, 12-1pm guidance from our creative team. Ideas Café: Darwin's Work, Use and Abuse Unusual Views: Library tours for Photographers Discover how Darwin's scientific discoveries were used Take the opportunity to photograph the Library Every Sunday 1.30pm - 3.30pm, Family Friendly, Free and abused to support political agendas. Part of The building from spectacular viewpoints not normally open Colourful Sundays Evolutionist, our Darwin extravaganza. Book on 0161 to the public! Guided by Library Staff you will be given Drop into the gallery any Sunday afternoon for free and 275 2648, Free unique access to the galleries hidden gems. Tickets fun creative activities at Colourful Sundays. Suitable for £2.50, contact the Library’s Visitors Services on (0161) Wednesday 9 Dec, 3-5pm all ages no need to book. 306 0555 or [email protected] Showcase Seminar: The Psychodynamics of Every Tuesday 11am -12.30pm, Free Museums Sat 12 Dec, 11am 12.15pm, 2pm and 3pm, Free Tuesday Talks with Myna Trustram, Renaissance North West. Printing Press Demonstrations with Graham Moss Drop-in, Free Each week an artist, thinker or critic talks about their Graham Moss, founder of the Incline Press in Oldham, work, influences and inspirations. returns to the Library to lead a series of printing press Tuesday 15 Dec 12-1pm demonstrations. Learn about the history of printing, see Climate Change Tour of The Manchester Museum Collection Exhibitions Archive Now Online the Library’s historic presses in action and have a go Polar Bears, penguins and fossil records. These are The Whitworth’s online ‘Collections Catalogue’ now yourself. some of The Manchester Museum's many collections allows you to browse and search selected exhibitions that throw light onto the issues surrounding climate Sun 6 & 20 Dec, 3-4pm, Free held at the Gallery over the past 10 years. Follow the change. Join us for a tour of The Manchester Museum HARK! Carol singing in the Library link from homepage: to find out more. Part of Manchester's Climate Change Join us for an afternoon of traditional carol singing in www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk Festival. Drop-in, Free the beautiful surroundings of our Historic Reading The Whitworth Art Gallery Room. Most activities are free and drop-in. Some activities may Oxford Road, Manchester need to be booked on the day and may cost up to Public opening hours 0161 275 7450 £1.50 Mon 12-5pm, Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-5pm email [email protected] Reader opening hours Opening hours Mon-Wed 10am-5pm, Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-5pm Open: Tues-Sat 10am - 5pm FREE ADMISSION Sun-Mon (and Bank Holidays) 11am - 4pm FREE Admission The John Rylands Library 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH The Manchester Museum 0161 306 0555 Oxford Road, Manchester email [email protected] 0161 275 2634 www.manchester.ac.uk/library www.manchester.ac.uk/museum

17 Small family run nursery Mature qualified, experienced and knowledgeable staff Caring and friendly atmosphere - Secure, nurturing environment Open from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday - 3 months to pre-school Happy children - Outdoor play area 88 Carmoor Road (off Hathersage Road/Upper Brook Street), Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester M13 0FB For information, please telephone Sharon on 0161 248 5340 or visit our web site www.ciarastots.com 18 19 Discover the Whitworth

MUMA chosen for Whitworth’s building designs

MUMA has been selected as the development include an art garden stage of the Whitworth’s Heritage new £30m Medieval & Renaissance architectural practice which will and second entrance, a new informal Lottery Fund bid in 2010. Galleries for the Victoria & Albert give shape to a vision for the ‘cafe in the trees’, a landscape Museum in London, to open on 2nd MUMA (McInnes, Usher, McKnight future of the University’s gallery and and study area allowing December. All of MUMA’s work has Architects) is a collaborative Whitworth Art Gallery. visitors and researchers to get closer been secured through architectural architectural design studio established to the collections even when they are design competitions and their projects Over 130 RIBA competition entrants in 2000. They have undertaken not on public display. Plans will be have received international awards were whittled to a shortlist of five numerous public sector and arts worked up during the next year and and recognition. firms that submitted detailed designs projects, most recently the creation of will be presented as part of the final for the gallery’s Heritage Lottery Fund bid. These were subject to public scrutiny as well as being considered in depth by the judging panel chaired by Chancellor of the University of Manchester, Tom Bloxham MBE. He said: “All the shortlisted designs were outstanding and had unique strengths, however MUMA’s design shone in its thoughtful and sensitive response to a complex brief. Amongst many delightful touches the prospect of visiting a cafe in the tree canopy was particularly enjoyed”. MUMA will now work with the University on a detailed design for the new second entrance and extension for the Whitworth, connecting it more directly with Whitworth Park in which it is situated at the southern gateway of campus. Plans for the

www.manchester.ac.uk/whitworth

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Next Issue Monday, 1 February 2010

J2739 11.09 The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL Royal Charter Number RC000797 Cert no. SGS-COC-3059