The Magazine for Alumni and Friends June 2011 yourManchester Reaching for the stars Stargazing Live with Professor Brian Cox New President’s Vision Double Nobel Prize Boost for Jodrell Bank Coronation Street Stars Magazine The magazine for alumni and friends University news 4 New President’s vision 8 An age old problem 10 Election experts 12 Our students: simply the best 14 Coronation Street stars 16 Cancer: a wound that will not heal 19 Nobel Prize Double Nobel Prize 20 Professors Andre Geim and New breast cancer scanner 23 success Konstantin Novoselov p20 In the groove 24 Two of our physicists are recognised for their discovery of the first two-dimensional Love Manchester 26 substance: graphene – a new super-strong, super-thin material which has the potential Alumni Association events 29 to revolutionise a range of applications such as electronics and aircraft design. Alumni Association news 30 Primetime Physics 32 Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre 33 Your starter for ten... 34 Stargazing at From Hogarth to Hockney 36 Jodrell Bank Alumni in the spotlight 38 Professor Brian Cox presented Stargazing Live for a massive television Manchester Access Programme 40 audience from Jodrell Bank. He was joined by Professor Dame Nancy Professor Alan Gilbert 42 Rothwell and comedian Dara O’Briain. Medicine mission 46 Alumni benefits 48 Your Manchester is published by the Communications, Media and Public Relations Division in conjunction with the Division of Development and Alumni Relations, The University of Manchester. Simply the best For further information concerning any of the articles in Our students are excelling themselves this issue please telephone +44 (0) 161 306 3066 or email [email protected] and not just in their studies; Joseph The articles printed here, to the best of our knowledge, Akinnagbe (above) scooped the were correct at the time of going to press. We cannot guarantee that all articles submitted will be printed and prestigious National Union we reserve the right to edit material where necessary. of Students Student of the p Furthermore, the views expressed in this magazine are not Year Award 2010. 32 necessarily those of The University of Manchester, The p14 University of Manchester Alumni Association, or the Editor. 2 YOUR MANCHESTER Welcome to Your Manchester p 42 Welcome to the latest edition of Your only a distinguished, but also a distinctive, Manchester which covers a very university. We are developing a stra tegy and eventful year for the University. detailed plans that will build on our many successes in this area, such as the Professor I want to begin by paying tribute to my Manchester Access Programme (see page predecessor, the late Alan Gilbert. You can 40), the Whitworth Art Gallery (page 36) Alan Gilbert read more about Alan’s achievements and and the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre (page We remember the great achievements how to contribute to the Alan Gilbert 33) featured in this magazine. of this University’s inaugural President Memorial Fund on pages 42-45. and Vice-Chancellor. This University, like all British higher Alan handed over to me a University that is education institutions, faces a period of in great shape and I welcome the uncertainty and severe financial pressures, opportunity to build on this legacy. The core but we are in a relatively strong positi on driver for all of our activities continues to be thanks largely to the collegiality and the our 2015 Agenda, but we are now looking commitment of our staff and students and beyond 2015 to identify our future priorities the wonderful support of our quarter of a in the fields of Research, Higher Learning million alumni around the world. and Social Responsibility. Meeting Manchester alumni on campus As a University, we face increasing pressures to and on my international travels has been undertake research that is of economic one of the real pleasures of my early benefit. This is important, but we also p16 months as President. I have been really rigorously defend the value of fundamental impressed by your affection, pride and research such as that which led to the award support for the University. Coronation of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics to Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov for their discovery Your continued support will be the key to Street stars of graphene (read more on page 20). our future success. We continue to work hard to improve the Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell student experience through better personal President and Vice-Chancellor support and feedback, improved co-ordination of support services and greater use of online learning. Construction is well advanced on the ‘Learning Commons’, a new student learning facility at the heart of the campus, which will be named in honour of Alan Gilbert. We particularly welcome our outstanding students from across the world, who add to the diversity of the University. p Love 26 I am determined that public engagement Manchester and social Prince William and Catherine Middleton responsibility will be weren’t the only ones to meet at a defining feature of University. Read about our Mancunian this University, such romances. that we will be not News Breaking news and discoveries at your University New fee accompanied by investment John Rylands University in access Library is revamped Alongside the announcement of plans to charge a headline fee of £9,000 per year to The recent redevelopment of the Main Study facilities on Blue Floor One were UK and EU undergraduates from 2012, the Library ground floor has transformed the improved at the same time thanks to generous University has committed funds to help facility into a bright, open space with support from Manchester alumni through Your ensure that talented students have the flexible seating for individual or group Manchester Fund. opportunity to study at Manchester, study, quick access PCs and dedicated areas for self-issue, return and enquiries. The Library is delighted that so many alumni regardless of background or ability to pay. have given generous support through schemes University plans include provisions for financial The £1.8 million investment from the such as Adopt a Book. For more information support of up to £3,000 per year in fee-waivers University, the Wolfson Foundation and the visit: www.manchester.ac.uk/ and bursaries for less well-off undergraduates. Higher Education Funding Council for library/adoptabook England (HEFCE) was welcomed by staff and Alumni will also continue to play their part with students alike. generous support through Your Manchester Fund. Graduates of the University’s pioneering University Librarian and Director of The Manchester Access Programme (MAP) will John Rylands Library Jan Wilkinson benefit from additional alumni-funded said: “The need for the refurbishment scholarships on top of the standard University was overwhelming following feedback bursary schemes (you can read page 40 for from students and staff. The Library more information including about how you can has now significantly furthered its lend your support). commitment to provide an innovative, flexible and accessible library space.” The University already has one of the highest proportions of students from low income Sara Zaheer, studying Medicine said: backgrounds and one of the most extensive “My first reaction was ‘Wow, it's really programmes of engagement with schools and modern!’ – It looks great and is really colleges from disadvantaged areas. There are comfortable to work in.” plans to triple investment in outreach work to £1.2 million per year and to increase the number of students progressing through the MAP by 50%. Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell said: “The University’s Board of Governors agreed to the headline fee of £9,000 very reluctantly, but we believe that this is necessary to ensure and improve the quality of teaching and the wider experience that we offer to all of our students.” The University’s fee proposals for 2012/13 are subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access. To read more about changes to fees visit: www.manchester.ac.uk/ un dergraduate/fees/changes 4 YOUR MANCHESTER Nuclear Energy Technology Jodrell Bank to be showcased home to world’s The Centre of Nuclear Energy Technology largest radio telescope (C-NET) was launched earlier this year, showcasing the centre’s expertise in research, Jodrell Bank Observatory has been testing, simulation and skills development in selected as the headquarters for a £1.1 nuclear fuels and reactor technology. billion project to build the world's biggest radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Professor Tim Abram, Director of C-NET, said he Array (SKA), an international project management of international science projects. was pleased to have welcomed so many people which is designed to answer many It is great news for Britain, Jodrell Bank and from industry to the launch event: “The idea of mysteries about the Universe. C-NET is to produce great science and The University of Manchester in particular." It is hoped that the SKA will reveal secrets such academically-excellent engineering, but also to Professor Richard Schilizzi, Director of the as how planets and galaxies are born, the meet the needs of industry and to place SKA, said: “The move to Jodrell Bank nature of dark energy and will help to detect Manchester at the forefront of this technology.” Observatory comes at a crucial time as this signs of alien civilisations. It will precisely grows from a concept to an international “It’s important that we are engaged strongly pinpoint the positions of the nearest 100 mega-science project. The new location and with industry and use our expertise to drive value million galaxies. facilities will support the significant expansion for industry – and to bring them to the North that’s planned.” West region,” Professor Abram added.