4 February 2013 Issue 4 Volume 10
uThe free mnagazine fori Thel Univiersitfy of Meanchester Investing in Success gives food for thought Message from the President
If you haven’t yet heard about ‘MOOCs’, it’s likely that you soon will. Mass, open, on-line courses (MOOCs) were a growing news item in 2012, with articles appearing in the higher education and wider press across the world.
hile there is no widely accepted The potential for MOOCs to deliver distance definition of MOOCs, their key features education to hundreds of thousands who would not W are open access, ie: they are currently otherwise have access to such courses is obviously free to participants, no entry vast – they could be considered as a huge step qualifications are required, they are designed to forwards in widening participation. support an unlimited number of participants and as They also have the potential to provide a unique yet, very few include any form of qualification or window on universities that offer popular and accreditation. This may change in the future. valuable courses, they may attract some participants Some argue that MOOCs are set to radically change to subsequently register for formal fee-paying the nature of universities with a massive growth in programmes at the same or other universities and on-line, distance learning and a concomitant are likely to facilitate innovative new modes of reduction in the numbers of students opting for on-line education. traditional ‘on campus’ education. Several organisations, mostly in the United States, MOOCs present a new form of open education. work with universities to provide MOOCs. Two of Since anyone can register onto a MOOC, without these, Udacity and Coursera, were established from Speaking on a tour of SE Asia charge or any qualifications, they are attractive to Stanford University as ‘for profit’ organisations, those who do not have the financial resources to funded to date from private investors providing meet the growing costs of university education, or venture capital. By contrast, edX is a non-profit who do not have classical qualifications. They also venture arising from Harvard University and All three organisations partner with leading allow participants to study at their own pace. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). universities in the USA and a growing number in the rest of the world. Their courses attract tens of thousands of people, and some boast over 100,000 registered students, though very much lower numbers complete the full course. For example, over 150,000 people globally registered on one of MIT’s electronics courses, most were older than traditional students; but only just over 7,000 completed the course – this is though still an impressive number. Just before Christmas, the Open University led a consortium of British universities which will provide a new platform for free, on-line courses. However, it is still very early days for MOOCs. The quality of the education provision is highly variable, with many courses offering only recordings of lectures and delivery is particularly challenging in disciplines that require practical classes, research projects or extensive library access. Meeting the Equality and Diversity Team
Contact us News and story ideas Mikaela Sitford tel 0161 275 2112 email [email protected] www.manchester.ac.uk/staffnet/news Deadline 13 February 2013 Events and listings information Philippa Adshead tel 0161 275 2922 email [email protected] Deadline 13 February 2013 Ads Ruth Middleton tel 0161 275 2922 email [email protected] News News Deadline 13 February 2013 Everything you want to know University helps BBC reveal the Next issue 4 March 2013 57 about graphene Wonders of Life 2 Visiting Manchester Surgical Skills and Simulation Centre
Most MOOCs do not have examinations, or offer At present, a viable business model has not been On-line learning is increasingly important, even to only peer assessment which does not lead to any identified for MOOCs, though several options are being our own full-time campus-based students. It formal qualification or progression onto degree developed, including free enrolment with modest fees provides opportunities for greater diversity in the programmes, but some MOOCs are now being charged for examinations and certification. ways in which we provide education, ranging from considered for credit equivalency. largely face-to-face, to almost exclusively distance This has the potential to be scaled-up to a range of and open, and there is obvious synergy between The effort and resource required to deliver high fees for different levels of engagement such as the material that we produce for our own quality open courses to huge audiences cannot be library access, tuition and more formal qualification, students and that which might be made more underestimated. An obvious route is to build on potentially leading towards attainment of a full widely available. existing distance learning provision. Many degree. Some providers are considering charging universities, including ours, use several modes of future employers for access to the most talented It is far too early to tell if the predictions that on-line learning for students on campus and offer students enrolled on their MOOCs. MOOCs are set to change the very nature of higher distance learning, normally through a combination education will be true. Some argue that given the The attraction of MOOCs, completely open access of on-line and face to face teaching. challenges, they will soon ‘evaporate’ as many to vast audiences, is also a limitation, since wider previous open education models have done. In total, over 7,300 students participate in distance engagement with participants requires very learning degrees at our University, though many considerable resource. Even limited feedback or But they certainly provide considerable opportunity spend part of their time studying here on campus examination becomes a major task if there are for widening higher education, are a means of or at collaborating institutions. Manchester several thousand students in the class. raising awareness of our University to audiences of Business School Worldwide (MBSW) offers such tens or hundreds of thousands, and are well worthy At The University of Manchester, we have been ‘blended’ and accredited degree programmes to of serious consideration. considering various ways of extending distance, over 3,000 students per annum, normally studying on-line learning and are likely to first test a small Professor Nancy Rothwell, for Masters qualifications, and has offices in number of our programmes as full MOOCs in President and Vice-Chancellor six cities globally. partnership with an established provider.
Contents 2 Message from the President 4 News 12 Feature 14 Research 18 What’s On 20 Treasured
Feature Research Front cover: Dr Andrew Robinson and his ‘PiFace’ mini Investing in Success Surprises in a tadpole’s tail 12 15 computer. Photo by Mark Waugh. gives food for thought 3 News
Artist’s impression of the gallery development
Whitworth breaks ground on 21st century development
he Whitworth Art Gallery broke ground on its new development project, to transform the 120-year-old Gallery and create a new T experience for visitors. The £12 million project includes a stunning glass wing to the north of the building, doubling the display space and connecting the building more directly with the surrounding landscape. In addition there will be an art garden, a new main entrance to welcome visitors directly from Whitworth Park, a new study centre and a promenade gallery leading to the South Wing, comprising a new cafe and a learning studio opening into the art garden. Gallery Director Maria Balshaw says: “It is hugely exciting to be at the point now of beginning the building work. It has taken many years of hard work by many people and of course we are extremely grateful for the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, the University and many other funders to make (l-r) Nancy Rothwell, Maria Balshaw and Sara Hilton, this happen.” head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West
Sharing ideas Scanner benefits for all to help mums atients across Manchester will benefit from a new state-of-the-art MRI scanner, which was officially opened by Professor Ian Jacobs, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Human and babies P Sciences and Director of Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC). Professor Jacobs and Mike Deegan, Chief Executive of Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS With the rate of stillbirth in the UK at one in Foundation Trust (CMFT), unveiled the Philips Achieva 3T MR System, which will be available to a large 200 pregnancies, Manchester recently hosted a number of University researchers. gathering of international experts to share their research on new ways to help mums and babies. The scanner – offering higher resolution and superior quality images – is hosted by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Wellcome Trust Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF), and funded by the A specialist research team from the Tommy’s University and the Department of Health/NHS Capital Investment to the NIHR Manchester Musculoskeletal Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, a Biomedical Research Unit (BRU). partnership between St Mary’s Hospital and the University, gave presentations on research focusing on the placenta alongside leading experts from Norway, USA, Birmingham, Cambridge, Edinburgh and London. The two-day event looked at the causes of stillbirth, ways to identify high risk pregnancies, and new ways to try to prevent stillbirth.
A demonstration of the new scanner
4 Team member Greg Auton at work Everything you want to know about graphene
n event to let University staff find out the It is hoped the event will also encourage greater latest about wonder material graphene is inter-disciplinary research across the University. being held later this month. Astronomical A “Graphene: Unexpected Science in a Pencil The session comes at a good time - with work about Case”will take place on Tuesday 26 February award to start on the £61 million National Graphene in Lecture Theatre B, University Place, from Professor Michael Kramer has been Institute and with the one-atom material never far 4pm-5.30pm. awarded a prize for outstanding merit in from the headlines. If you’d like to attend you need to register in observational astrophysics. Speakers will include Nobel Laureate Professor advance at: His research, which uses the telescopes at Kostya Novoselov and President and Vice-Chancellor https://selectsurveys.humanities.manchester.ac. Jodrell Bank, received the 2013 Herschel Medal Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell. uk/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=92KL4n3K. from the Royal Astronomical Society. There will also be a number of researchers who work You can also send in your questions to the experts with graphene there, on hand to give details of the to: [email protected] latest developments and answer your questions.
First look at new graphene centre Here’s a first look at the National Graphene Institute (NGI) which will be the UK’s home of research into graphene – right here on campus. The NGI will provide a place for researchers and industry to work together on a huge variety of potential applications for graphene. It is hoped the 7,600 square metre building will initially create around 100 jobs, with the long-term expectation of many thousands more in the North West and more widely in the UK. • See how graphene can help beat the drug cheats on page 14 5 News
People in a canoe on Payamino River by Johan Oldekop
Triple delight at biotech Shots from a awards night rainforest dilemma The University celebrated a triple success after taking three top honours at the Bionow awards hese are just some of the stunning images in The exhibition 'All Other Things Being Equal' is based for biomedical organisations in the north. a Manchester Museum exhibition, taken by on Johan's personal research experience and mixes a former University scientist. photographs and sounds with graphical Biomedical project of the year went to Dr Curtis T representations of socio-economic data and specimens Dobson and his team for their ‘Microsensor’ Johan Oldekop originally trained as a biologist at the from the Museum’s natural history collection. initiative, while Phagenesis, a University spin-out University and has written several papers addressing company founded by Professor Shaheen Hamdy, biodiversity issues with Professor Richard Preziosi at Follow Johan on Twitter on won healthcare project of the year. the Faculty of Life Sciences. https://twitter.com/madasascientist Europtec, a spinout respiratory drug development and contract research business - co-founded by Dr Peter Warn from the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences - won the 'service company of the year' accolade, making it a University hat trick on the night.
Contract to spark more research The University has signed a global framework agreement with EDF, the leading electricity producer in Europe. The agreement provides a framework for strengthening and extending the existing research collaborations between EDF Research and Development, EDF Energy and the Dalton Nuclear Institute.
Cock-fighting, town of El Coca by Johan Oldekop 6 C B B
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Professor Brian Cox meets lion cub o h P University reveals the Wonders of Life
he wonderful world of programme team and are science behind some of the ideas biology is taking centre thanked in the credits. the producers already had.” stage on BBC 2 with the T Matthew explains how the Matthew, UCL’s Nick Lane and new series Wonders of University became involved: the team from FLS helped to Life. Not only is the programme “Because Brian was presenting the ensure the science in the series being presented by Professor series he already knew what was accurate and worked closely Brian Cox, the University also had expertise the University could offer. with Brian and the producer on a starring role behind the scenes. the script. “The Faculty of Life Sciences was Professor of Zoology, Matthew approached by the producers and Matthew says: “The final Cobb was one of two we had an initial meeting with a programmes are a wonderful consultants on the ambitious number of academics, including mix of science, natural history series and on the accompanying the President and Vice-Chancellor and stunning images from book. Other Manchester staff Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell. some of the world’s most involved include the Vice- Ellen Wilkinson dramatic landscapes.” President and Dean of the Faculty “We discussed what aspects of of Life Sciences Professor Martin the evolution of life the series • Wonders of Life is currently Humphries, Professor Andrew could cover from a scientific airing on BBC 2 on Sundays Class act Loudon and Dr Bill Sellers, who perspective and looked at the at 9pm. all offered scientific advice to the The University has paid tribute to Ellen Wilkinson, Labour’s first Education Secretary in the 1945 Attlee Government, who studied history here from 1910 to1913. A more recent Education Secretary, Estelle Morris, unveiled a special display put together by pupils of Oswald Road Primary, the school where Ellen trained as a teacher. The display can be seen in the building on campus which is named after Ellen Wilkinson, which houses the current crop of trainee teachers, as well as some of the University’s world leading researchers in education. The Labour MP, who died in 1947, was one of the few working class suffragettes, the organiser of the famous Jarrow March of 1936 and the C B
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Brian and a robber crab on Christmas Island h P 7 News Jobs are the dish of the day
he University’s first ever Skills Academy – an T initiative to help local people find work in the hospitality industry – has been declared a five-star success. Fifteen students have already 'graduated' and twice as many have signed up for the new session, which started last month. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, as ‘graduate’ Jordan Hilton can testify. “I liked the look of this course because it would give me real Stephanie Sparkes work experience and a qualification to work in catering,” the 19-year-old from Longsight, who has been unemployed for Celebrating our two years, explains. “I feel really motivated and look 10,000th donor forward to getting up in the morning so I can get out of the University alumna Stephanie Sparkes, BA(Hons) house and do something that Geography 2011, rounded off her year by will get me off benefits and in donating a gift to support scholarships for to work.” students from the local area – and became the University’s 10,000th donor. The course runs three days a week for seven weeks, and all Stephanie made her gift of £20.11 to celebrate the participants receive support Hospitality ‘graduate’ Jordan Hilton her graduation year during the Your Manchester from a workplace mentor to Fund telephone campaign, which aims to raise guide and assist them. charitable donations from alumni and friends. Martin Smith, the University’s The University’s Assistant HR The students leave with their City And she chose to direct her gift towards Executive Head Chef, says: “With Director Steve Grant says: “There and Guilds in Hospitality and an students from the Greater Manchester area who 40,000 students and almost are thousands of job employability qualification. may not be able to attend university without 11,000 staff to cater for, food opportunities in Manchester’s additional financial support, via an Opportunity Any jobseeker completing and accommodation is a major hotels, restaurants and bars. This Manchester Scholarship. the course is also guaranteed operation. We employ people in unique programme has provided an interview with the all the roles you would find in a these young people with the Stephanie said: “I was more than happy to miss University itself. hotel or restaurant.” knowledge and skills to get one a night at the pub and instead give a donation of these jobs.” that, alongside others, will ultimately allow people to have the valuable educational experience which I enjoyed.” Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Elderly care partnership with China Chris Cox, said, “This marks a real milestone in The University of Manchester’s long history of ur University has TRUSTECH, will focus on Peter Bullock, Managing Director philanthropy. I would like to thank Stephanie secured a £1million exploration of care systems, of The Edward Centre and and the other 9,999 recorded donors over the contract with Yuan technologies and products that Deputy Managing Director of decades for their commitment to helping the O Zhen Limited, a could be developed and adopted Yuan Zhen UK Investment Ltd, University and its students. Chinese investment company for use in China. said: "Manchester is the ideal “The annual fund now provides over £500,000 which specialises in providing location for many reasons. We The Centre’s Honorary Director for student-focused support across campus each health and social care for the are keen to collaborate with Professor Jackie Oldham said: year, which, alongside our major gifts elderly in China. Professor Oldham, who is a "We see this as a great programme, is making a meaningful difference leading expert in rehabilitation The Edward Centre for Health opportunity for collaboration to research and learning.” science, and to access the Care Research, jointly led by with China and sharing expertise resources of Manchester • For more information on the Manchester Academic Health and enabling developments in University and Academic Health Your Manchester Fund, contact Rob Science Centre (MAHSC) Health providing high quality care for Science Centre (MAHSC).” Summers, Annual Fund Manager, on Technology Hub, MIMIT and elderly people.” [email protected]. uk or 0161 275 2192.
8 Second Sunburst for Geoff
Manchester academic Geoff Ryman has won the 2012 Sunburst Award for his collection of stories 'Paradise Tales.’ Geoff is a Senior Lecture at the University’s Centre for New Writing. The jury described his book as: "A terrific collection of stories covering a dizzying range of imaginative possibilities and narrators.” This is Geoff's second Sunburst Award – his first was in 2005 for his novel ‘Air’.
Tim O’Brien shows the President the Cosmic Ray Detector, watched by Mike Perry (left) and Stefano de Capua Public policy is new social media star Working towards the stars A blog by Manchester Professor Colin Talbot, discussing how academics can help shape policy in the UK, has had nearly 5,000 hits in 15 days. n the latest in our series on what happens broadcast trucks, desks, internet connections and Whitehall Watch – thought to be the most ‘behind the scenes’ at our University, Teresa two meals a day for 90 people. popular personal blog by an individual politics Anderson, Director of the Jodrell Bank I There’s also work to do managing the contributors academic in the UK – has 1,400 followers and Discovery Centre, pays tribute to her hard and the studio audiences (and their telescopes!) as has had hits from 156 countries, including the working team as it plays host to the Stargazing LIVE well as setting up science demos, finding props United States, India and China. team from the BBC… and sorting out the essential things like security Colin said: “The blog normally has 5,000 hits a The Stargazing LIVE programmes were amazing and risk assessments. month, which is a good in itself, but has had an again this year – and yet again, the effortless The science at the Observatory does keep going amazing 4,800 hits during the first 15 days of appearance on screen belied the huge amount of during the week with as little disruption as 2013. This is a great start to the year in which I work which went on behind the scenes to make it possible, but the Discovery Centre’s education am posting some other Manchester policy all happen. programme is put on hold while the BBC uses the academics’ posts for the first time.” Work begins on the series long before the 90-strong Space Pavilion as their ‘Back to Earth’ studio – Last year Colin, a Professor of Government and BBC crew arrives, with early planning meetings where presenters Professor Brian Cox and Dara Public Administration at Manchester Business taking place in the summer of 2012. O’Briain front the show that attracts around ten School, founded the Policy@Manchester million viewers every year. Jodrell Bank’s Associate Director, Dr Tim O’Brien, network for University academics who starts script discussions with the producers in And that figure shows just why we do what we do – contribute to public policy. September and the BBC’s technical teams to engage a huge number of people with It has now launched a website to showcase its begin visits with tape measures and site plans astronomy, engage people with the research of the work; providing a platform to share ideas, events soon afterwards. University and inspire the scientists of the future. and other activities highlighting our wide- When the broadcast time comes, the BBC team Colleagues work late into the night making it all ranging areas of public policy engagement and arrives the weekend before – and the Jodrell Bank happen and are all exhausted but very happy with creating new relationships between those team leaps into action finding space for ten the outcome by the end of the week! working on them. Colin added: “One of the things that distinguishes top universities around the world is that, certainly in democracies, they are usually powerhouses of public policy ideas. “Manchester has recognised these developments and is trying something a little different. A survey found we had around 350 colleagues engaged externally in various areas of public policy. Policy@Manchester seeks to capitalise on that.” • To read Colin’s blog visit: http://whitehallwatch.org/ • Visit the website at: www.manchester.ac.uk/policy
Mirza Asif in the Jodrell Bank Control Room, used as ‘Studio 1’ 9 News
Riots spark new arts funding The Whitworth Art Gallery is a partner in a £5 million arts programme for the under-25s, sparked by the 2011 summer riots. The Gallery has been awarded £300,000, given by a family foundation set up by the late publisher Paul Hamlyn. The Whitworth will work with the Tate and other galleries around Britain on a string of events set up by, and run for, young people. David Ward receives his prize The scheme, called ‘Circuit’, was created following discussions held after the riots in 2011 and aims to encourage participation in arts and culture. David named Local Hero Director of the Whitworth Art Gallery Maria Balshaw said: “Offering young people the niversity student David Ward has been Not only that, he has completed a 55-mile opportunity to develop their own creativity and named Local Hero of the Year after a sponsored walk on three occasions to raise funds for shape a festival of youth arts will make a vital U nationwide hunt for the UK's top the project. contribution to the cultural health and wealth community champions. David has also organised Student Action’s homeless of Manchester.” David, a postgraduate in the School of Mathematics, outreach projects, which take food and hot drinks to is involved in a string of projects with people with the homeless in the city centre, and volunteers at a learning disabilities, children from difficult Catholic Fellowship Saturday club for people with backgrounds and the homeless. learning disabilities. Since 2008, David has been volunteering with Head of Volunteering and Community Student Action Manchester, the student-led Engagement Lindsay Gilbert said: “Student Action volunteer organisation at the Students’ Union. would not be in the strong position it is today without David’s amazing work. David never David is one of the co-ordinators for the Ladybarn recognises what he does is so special. He is a Project, which provides activities for a group of purely selfless person and contributes positively to teenagers with learning difficulties from around the community above and beyond what would south Manchester. normally be expected.” He has arranged a number of trips to Typically, the man himself said: “I really don't think theatres, cinemas, restaurants and constantly that I deserve it, however, it is nice for the work of finds new innovative ways to make his project Student Action as a whole to be recognised.” Photo courtesy of Manchester Evening News even more successful.
Sweet success for business ideas
sweet treat to bridge “I would recommend the “It is a good starting point to get the generation gap, a competition to others – it’s not more confidence if you have an A campus pharmacy and just for business students!” idea and you want to start your an anti-bacterial film own business,” Cristian says. Pharmacy students Zoe Phillips that stops the spread of bugs – and Kirsty McFadden won the More than 112 students from the three winning ideas from business category with their idea across the University entered the students competing in the for a student-focussed campus competition, which is run by the Venture Out 2012 competition. pharmacy – something not Manchester Enterprise Centre. MA Social Work students Joanne currently available to Competition Director Dr Martin Worthington and Phil Kerr won Manchester students. Henery concludes: “Manchester the social ideas category with “Kirsty and I had been thinking is producing world-class BakeXchange – an inter- about our business idea for a students equipped with both generational baking project that while,” Zoe recalls. “The the cognitive abilities and helps young people at risk of application form got us to think practical skills necessary to exclusion, whilst reaching out to in more depth about our idea translate those ideas into older people in the community. and it developed from there.” products and services that “I heard about the competition improve the lives of others. ” And Cristian Menzel, studying at a social enterprise event for a PhD in Chemistry, won the • To find out more visit: during Global Entrepreneurship technology category with https://mec.portals.mbs.ac. Week and was inspired by the Biocide – a self-adhesive anti uk/Enterpriseforstudents/Co former students who had been bacterial film that can be applied mpetitions/VentureOut.aspx given support to transform their to many surfaces to reduce the ideas into reality,” Joanne recalls. spread of bacteria. Zoe Phillips and Kirsty McFadden 10 More power to pylon project
niversity spin-out company Arago Technology Ltd has won an innovation award for its insulating cross-arm (ICA), which could U increase the transmission capacity of electricity pylons and reduce their height. The firm was presented with the Power and Energy Award at the IET Innovation awards ceremony. Arago’s revolutionary insulator was developed by engineers at the University in a joint venture with EPL Composite Solutions Ltd in a £2.5 million project funded by National Grid, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc and The University of Manchester Intellectual Property’s Proof of Principle fund. It has been tested at the University’s lightning lab. David Gardner, Director of Transmission for Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc, said: "This innovative technology has the potential to deliver a cost effective way of increasing the power carried on our transmission network.” Meet… Charlotte Alcock Recruitment, Admissions and Marketing Officer, Faculty of Life Sciences
What is the best part of your job? What’s your favourite The variety of my role and the karaoke song? diverse group of people I work with. Any, I am (sadly!) a massive karaoke In the last week alone I have run an fan. I do give a very good rendition event for schools, a careers of Elton John’s Rocket Man. networking activity for alumni and If you could give any advice to helped out at the Postgraduate your 16-year-old self, what Open Day. I have finished off writing would you say? a Life Sciences careers guide, Enjoy being 16 and don’t try to grow planned changes to our website and up too fast, adult life and launched some new student blogs. I responsibilities will come along soon am never ever bored in my job! enough. Also, furry boots, hot pants What is the hardest part of and a sequin vest are not an your job? appropriate winter outfit, put a coat Not having enough time to see on! through some of my ideas. What’s the one gadget you Which teacher inspired you can’t live without? the most at school? My iPhone. I’m not sure how I ever And what law would you bring in? What’s your biggest vice? My Year 6 primary school teacher organised myself without the NHS reforms to encourage people to Cheese! take more responsibility for the effect Miss Copus was a lovely warm calendar. How would you like to be person who made me feel brave of their lifestyle on their health. Who would you invite to remembered? enough to go off to the scary world your dream dinner party? What three things would With love. of secondary school. you need if you were stranded Nelson Mandela and my mum. Tell us the secret to life – What is your proudest moment? on a desert island? What law would you repeal? in six words. So far, graduation (after six years and Books, sunblock and my husband - In Liverpool, it is illegal for a woman Work less, love more, eat well! starting two different degrees!), but he’s pretty good at building things so to be topless except as a clerk in a hopefully by next year it will be the could hopefully build us a log tropical fish store. This is a real law, arrival of my first child. cabin…or even a boat! believe it or not! 11 Feature
Donna Johnson from MOSI discusses the gadget with event visitors
A youngster enjoys the Raspberry Pi game An event visitor takes a close look Investing in success gives food for thought A £1 million initiative to boost staff development - and benefit the University - has resulted in a fascinating array of projects which show just how passionate our people are about their work here at the University.
rom a project telling teenagers about the The initiative was launched in November 2011, with Pi – a tiny, single-board computer, which aims to first signs of cancer, to photographs and film 292 applications being put forward, 160 of which improve the teaching of basic computer science in F footage of Manchester Museum artefacts were successful. schools developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. helping students on a distance learning The number of pupils taking ICT GCSEs and A-levels course, to repairs to a second-hand swimflume for has fallen dramatically, with the knock on effect that zoology students, the calls on the Invest in Success Spotlight on winning ideas applications to computing and telecoms-related funds could not have been more varied. higher education courses in the UK has declined by As President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Throughout 2013, UniLife will be throwing the 44 per cent since 2001. Nancy Rothwell put it: “I could not have imagined spotlight on just some of the projects which gained However, for it to be a success, Andrew knew when we launched Invest in Success how our staff funding, and are now taking shape. making it appeal to youngsters and first-time would respond with such passion and with so many Here we take a look at Dr Andrew Robinson’s dream computer users would be key. He realised it needed different ideas. to turn anyone and everyone into digital makers – to hook into real-life applications, be relevant and “The University’s greatest asset is its staff – our people who create rather than just consume exciting, inspirational, and easy to use. future success depends on our ability to select and technology – currently taking young and old, techie So Andrew developed PiFace, an add on for the retain the right people and invest in their potential and Luddite, by storm. Raspberry Pi, to be one of the simplest and most and development. The response to Invest in Success Andrew, who is based in the School of Computer user-friendly ways for computers to interface with alone has shown us that this is true.” Science, has come up with a project with Raspberry the world.
12 The first spark
Andrew first became interested in science at the age of five, when he and his Dad built a model lighthouse with a circuit for a flashing lamp, and in computer science at seven, when Professor Steve Furber launched the BBC Micro computer. When Steve secured some outreach funding years later, Andrew worked on one of his projects while also doing his PhD. “It was funny meeting Steve Furber for the first time, he was an inspiration to me,” he recalls. “Outreach is important to me – it’s all about opening up the field for anyone to join. Computer engineering is the best job in the world. How many other jobs give you the skills to contribute to just about anything? “At the Manchester Science Festival, and other events, we really fired the kids’ imaginations. After seeing what Raspberry Pi and PiFace could do, we had suggestions including an automated insulin monitor that can dial 999, and another that automatically reorders food when it detects the cupboard is bare. One child even came up with a design for a device that politely reminds you to put the toilet seat down after use! “I was really blown away with what they came up with and it was great to see because I have memories of science festivals like that.”
All our goals, in one project
Back on campus, Andrew’s project has also inspired the School’s own students by feeding back into teaching. Third year undergraduates are using the sets for their own projects, while next year's first years will each receive a Raspberry Pi. The students employed by the project to work on events over the Andrew Robinson and the Tweeting birdbox summer have gained valuable industrial experience. It was hugely enjoyable for them, with one of them describing it as “the best job ever”. So through Invest in Success, in just one project, the PiFace – and the events his team has run to More in the pipeline University is achieving all its goals – teaching and showcase it – has fired up not only youngsters, but learning, research, outreach and social responsibility. adults too: teachers, parents, pensioners and University colleagues, in schools, homes and across More ideas in the pipeline include technology for Andrew says: “Investing in Success was instrumental the campus. New uses for the gadget are coming local people to improve the infrastructure in in the project being as successful as it was. out weekly. developing countries like India. “I could see Raspberry Pi had a lot of potential but I • A talking, tweeting chicken to guard dieters’ Professor Richard Heeks and the Institute of am not going to claim I saw all this coming. I have cupboards by not only barking out orders to Development Policy Management are investigating looked back at my original proposal for Investing in sneaky snackers, but also tweeting your Twitter Raspberry Pi and PiFace as a platform for innovation Success and it has surpassed that. account to publicly shame you if you stray. around the world as it is more powerful and “It’s really exciting – it has ignited something in versatile than the mobile phones they currently • Birdboxes that photograph their feathery visitors people and they are coming up with interesting supply to local communities. then Tweet them. solutions to real world problems.” • A front door messenger that tells you if your The PiFace team plan to send sets to a Kenyan • A video of children using PiFace at the Manchester train is late. orphanage – whose school has an IT suite but no Science Festival can be seen at computers – with team member Tom MacPherson- • Feedback boxes for students so they can let their www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjME3WU7ao0 lecturers know if they enjoyed their lecture (or Pope, who is also on the Student Union group helping the orphanage. • And for a PiFace tutorial visit not), simply by pressing a button. www.youtube.com/watch?v=s02n7juVZaY “There has been a real camaraderie around it,” Other University colleagues are using the sets for • Andrew would like to hear from anyone who Andrew says. “So many different people are fieldwork or to automate experiments. would be interested in learning more about picking it up and doing things with it, which is And London Zoo is interested in collaborating to interfacing with computing, either for their great to see. And they are willing to share ideas – record animal movements, while other sets may be research or personal development. it’s a two-way thing. sent to Africa so wildlife can be monitored remotely Email: [email protected] “It’s the opposite of the sleek, sealed Apple Mac box.” on iPhones. 13 Research
Lesbian and gay history an “invention” Lesbian and gay activists who use historical role models can inadvertently distort our s e
understanding of the sexual past, according to a r u t
cultural historian at the University. a e F
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New archival material on women’s work and s e D
friendships during World War One, discovered /
by Professor Doan, show that masculine women d o o
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The complex chess game h P The reason we lose at games
f you have ever wondered why you never seem However, when games became more complex and to win at skill-based games such as poker or when there are a lot of moves, such as in chess, he I chess, there might be a very good reason. found that players’ actions become less rational and that it is hard to find optimal strategies. Theoretical physicist Dr Tobias Galla has discovered that some games are simply impossible to fully learn, This research could also have implications for the or too complex for the human mind to understand. financial markets. Many economists base financial predictions of the stock market on equilibrium He ran thousands of simulations of two-player theory – assuming that traders are infinitely games to see how human behaviour affects their Gold covered with graphene intelligent and rational. in this latest research project decision-making. This, the academics argue, is rarely the case and In simple games with a small number of moves, such could lead to predictions of how markets react as noughts and crosses, the optimal strategy is easy to being wildly inaccurate. Graphene helps guess and the game quickly becomes uninteresting. beat drug cheats Two potential uses for wonder material graphene have been discovered – detecting the presence of drugs or toxins in the body and Life through a lens dramatically improving airport security. Professor Robert Cernik and colleagues from the School of Materials have developed a camera that can be A team lead by Dr Sasha Grigorenko created a used to take powerful three dimensional colour X-ray images, in near real-time. device which potentially can see one molecule though a simple optical system and can analyse This could radically improve security screening at airports, medical imaging, aircraft maintenance, industrial its components within minutes. This uses inspection and geophysical exploration. plasmonics – the study of vibrations of electrons in different materials. The breakthrough could allow for rapid and more accurate drug testing for professional athletes as it could detect the presence of even trace amounts of a substance. It could also be used at airports or other high- security locations to detect explosives or drugs. Another possible use could be identifying viruses people might be suffering from.
An X-ray of a dongle 14 Tadpoles in the lab
Virtual heart Surprises in a tadpole’s tail sheds new light cientists at the University’s Healing rise in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) following tail Foundation Centre have made a surprising amputation, with levels remaining elevated during on defects S finding after studying how tadpoles re-grow the entire tail regeneration process. A virtual heart, developed by researchers at the their tails. The findings give an insight into tissue healing and School of Physics and Astronomy, is revealing Professor Enrique Amaya looked at the role of the beneficial role that those molecules can have in new information about one of the world’s most chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen in the regeneration process. common heart conditions, atrial fibrillation (AF). the regeneration process and found an unexpected In the UK more than 500,000 patients have been diagnosed with AF, which causes an irregular heart rate and also increases the risk and severity of stroke. Weight loss helps to oust worms The advanced computational model of an anatomically correct sheep’s heart was made by taking a series of very thin slices of the heart, niversity scientists have imaging them in 2D and then using a computer discovered that weight programme to render them into a 3D model. U loss plays an important role in the body’s The study has identified for the first time the response to fighting off roles of erratic electrical waves and fibre intestinal worms. structure in the initiation and development of AF, and that both need to be taken into The findings show that the consideration when developing treatments. immune system hijacks the natural feeding pathways causing weight loss. This then drives the defence mechanisms down the correct pathway to expel the worms. Nearly one quarter of the world’s population is infected with gastrointestinal parasites, often resulting in reduced appetite and thus weight loss. The worm Trinchinella Spiralis Dr John Worthington, from the opposite –the immune driven Professor John McLaughlin Faculty of Life Sciences, said: weight loss was actually added: “This may have relevance “We were surprised. Normally beneficial to the mouse’s ability to why other human diseases weight loss is associated with a to resolve an infection and get rid causing inflammation of the negative immune response but of the worm.” digestive system affect appetite this appears to suggest just the and nutrition.”
Soay twins, picture by Loeske Kruuk 15 Research
Location, location, location Scientists at the University’s Paterson Institute have shown that location is key when it comes to cell division, the process by which cancer cells are produced. Cancer Research UK-funded Professor Iain Hagan and his team have found that the location of a chemical, called mitosis promoting factor, in a cell is critical to how it controls cell division (also called mitosis). Scientists harness immune system to prevent cancer relapse
anchester scientists when used in conjunction with Dr Simon Dovedi, from the hope that lymphoma radiotherapy, the new drug is Institute of Cancer Sciences and M patients could benefit potentially four times more likely Targeted Therapy Group, said: from a new drug that to lead to long-term survival than “Excitingly we think that this triggers the cancer-fighting radiotherapy alone. new approach to treating properties of the body’s own cancer could be capable of Relapse is a common fate for immune system, after highly giving patients a better many lymphoma patients and promising early laboratory results. response to conventional new treatments are desperately therapies. This could be the key University researchers, funded by needed. The research shows that to ensuring long-term survival the charities Leukaemia and the chemical R848 can be used in more patients and reducing Lymphoma Research and Cancer to prime the immune system to the number of relapses after Research UK, have shown that, fight cancer. initial therapy.”
16 17 Listings
The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama
FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERTS Thurs 7 Feb, 1.10pm Hsing-Chwen Hsin Thurs 14 Feb, 1.10pm Trio Atem Thurs 21 Feb, 1.10pm Quatuor Danel Thurs 21 Feb, 2.30pm Quatuor Danel Seminar Fri 22 Feb, 1.10pm MUMs Lunchtime Concert Thurs 28 Feb, 1.10pm Fidelio Trio EVENING CONCERTS Fri 15 Feb, 7.30pm, £10/£5/£3 PSAPPHA Evening Concert Sat 16 Feb, 7.30pm, £10/£6/£3 MUMS Symphony Orchestra Fri 22 Feb, 7.30pm, £10/£4 Quatuor Danel Friday Evening Concert Series MANTIS Spring Festival 2013 Sat 2 Mar, 6pm, £7.50/£5/£3 Sun 3 Mar, 2pm, £7.50/£5/£3 LITERATURE Mon 11 Feb, 6pm, £12/£10 (tickets available from the Cornerhouse) Jeanette Winterson “in Conversation” with Abi Morgan Mon 18 Feb, 6.30 pm, £6/£4 Painted mummy portrait, depicting Literature Live: Michael Hofmann and an unnamed woman. 138-160 AD. Rachel Seiffert From Hawara, Egypt. Manchester DRAMA Museum Acc. No. 2266. Fri 8 Feb, 11am, 7-11 yrs old £4 per child (1 free adult ticket for every 10 paying pupils) John Hegley – Key Stage 2 Interactive Schools Performance Sat 9 Feb, 8pm, £8 John Hegley Weds 20 Feb, 7pm, £5/£4.50/£4 University of Manchester Drama Society Manchester In-Fringe Theatre Awards (MIFTA’s) Thurs 21 Feb, 7pm, £5/£4.50/£4 University of Manchester Drama Society’s Manchester In-Fringe Theatre What’s On Awards (MIFTA’s) Fri 22 Feb, 7pm, £5/£4.50/£4 Sat 9 Feb, 11 – 4pm, Free Thurs 21 Feb, 2 – 3pm University of Manchester Drama Manchester Big Saturday: Discover Archaeology Rock Drop: Geology Identification Society’s Manchester In-Fringe Theatre Museum Mon 18 – Fri 22 Feb, 11am – 4pm Drop-In Session Awards (MIFTA’s) School Holidays: Ancient Worlds Sat 23 Feb, 2 – 4pm The Martin Harris Centre for Fri 22 Feb, 10.30 – 11.30am and 11.30 – Urban Naturalist: Natural Twine Bird Music and Drama All exhibitions at The Manchester Museum 12.30pm, Free Houses Bridgeford Street, Manchester, M13 9PL are FREE Magic Carpet: Dig Every Tues and Thurs (except school 0161 275 8951 NEW GALLERIES For under five’s and their carers holidays), 12 – 1pm email [email protected] Tours of the Vivarium (live animals) Ancient Worlds MUSEUM MEETS www.manchester.ac.uk/ martinharriscentre Three new galleries – Discovering Mon 4 Feb, 6 – 8pm Every Weds and Thurs, 1pm Archaeology, Egyptian Worlds and The Rogue Cell Taster Tours Exploring Objects Weds 6 Feb, 1.15 – 2pm Opening times Breed: The British and Their Dogs until Collection Bites Open: Tues-Sat 10am-5pm Sun-Mon (and Bank Holidays) 11am-4pm April Thurs 7 Feb, 6 – 8pm All Other Things Being Equal until June Frogs in Ecuador FREE admission Looping and Linking 10 Feb – 26 May Sun 10 Feb, 1 – 4pm The Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, Manchester FAMILY ACTIVITIES Looping and Linking Opening Celebration 0161 275 2648 Most activities are free and drop-in, some www.manchester.ac.uk/museum activities may need to be booked and may Thurs 14 Feb, 11.30 – 12.30pm Follow us on Twitter @McrMuseum cost up to £1.50, all ages Herbarium Tours: Looping and Linking www.facebook.com/ Every other Tuesday, 5 Feb, 10.30 – Sat 16 Feb, 11 – 4pm ManchesterMuseum 11.15am, 12.30 – 1.15pm and 1.30 – Discover Islam Drop-In 2.15pm, Free Baby Explorers Sensory play for babies
18 Whitworth International Art Gallery Society
EXHIBITIONS Visit some of the most beautiful and John Piper: The Mountains of Wales interesting locations around England, until 7 April Scotland and Wales. There are visits taking place almost every weekend throughout Michael Landy: Four Walls the year. 9 Feb until 16 June For more information please visit our ADULT EVENTS website. Every Tues, 11 – 12.30pm, Free Sat 9 Feb Oxford (with guided tour) Tuesday Talks Sun 10 Feb North Lake District Every Thurs, 8.30 – 9.45am, £3 (booking visiting Keswick essential) Yoga Sat 16 Feb North Wales visiting the Ffestiniog Railway and Sun 17 Feb, 12.30 – 1.15 pm, Free Portmeirion Village Performance by RNCM students Sun 17 Feb Warwick Castle Sat 23 Feb, 1-3pm, Free (booking essential) Alternative Camera Club Sat 23 Feb York and the Yorvik Viking Festival Weds 27 Feb, 6.30pm, £7 (booking The John Rylands Gig Guide advisable) Sun 24 Feb Liverpool Sarah Price: Landscapes Library Sat 23 and Overnight Trip to Bath To book email: [email protected] Manchester Academy 1, 2 and 3 Sun 24 Feb and Stonehenge FAMILY EVENTS (Deansgate) Mon 4 Feb Kerrang! Tour 2013 feat. Sat 2 Mar Coniston, Ambleside and Black Veil Brides + Windermere 19, 20, 21 and 22 Feb, 1-3pm, Free Chiodos + Tonight Alive + Artists’ Skills: 3D Landscapes EXHIBITIONS Fearless Vampire Killers - Sun 3 Mar Yorkshire Dales visiting Every Weds, 10.15-11.15am and Tony Dyson: A Hidden History of Gay £16.50 Ingleton Waterfalls and 11.30-12.30 pm, Free (booking essential) Rights Campaigning until 30 June Tues 5 Feb We Are The Ocean - White Scar Caves Art Baby An Inventory of al-Mutanabbi Street £12.50 Sat 2 to Overnight Trip to Every Mon, 10.30 – 11.30 am and 6 Feb until 29 July Thurs 7 Feb All Time Low - £21 Sun 3 Mar Edinburgh (SOLD OUT) 11.30 – 12.30 pm, Free (booking essential) Burning Bright 8 Feb until 23 June Opening times Toddlertastic Fri 8 Feb Brad + New Killer Shoes - Mon-Fri 9.30am – 7pm (during term time) EVENTS £22.50 Every Sun, 1.30 – 3.30pm, Free Mon-Fri 9.30am – 5pm (during vacation) Colourful Sundays Thurs 7 Feb, 6 – 7pm, Free, (booking Fri 8 Feb Ryan Leslie - £25 (Please Small World Café opening times essential) note: this show has been Mon-Fri 11am – 3pm For more information on our exhibitions An Evening with Jeanette Winterson rescheduled from 28 Nov and events, please visit our website. 2012. Original tickets 327 Oxford Road (next to Krobar) Sat 9 Feb, 1.30 – 2.30pm 0161 275 4959 Opening times RNCM Concert: remain valid) Mon-Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 12 – 4pm Fri 8 Feb NME Awards Tour 2013 email [email protected] Making Music, Reaching Out www.internationalsociety.org.uk FREE Admission feat. Django Django + Sat 9 Feb, 12 – 4pm Miles Kane + Palma The Whitworth Art Gallery Visitor Portraits Oxford Road, Manchester Violets + Peace - £19.10 0161 275 7450 Sun 10 Feb, 1 – 4pm (tickets are subject to a 50p Booking line 0161 275 7450 Welcome to the Year of the Snake! + VAT donation to Teenage Chaplaincies email [email protected] Mon 11 Feb, 12 – 1pm Cancer Trust) www.manchester.ac.uk/whitworth Collection Encounters: Souvenirs of the Mon 11 Feb Asking Alexandria - £14 St Peter’s House Chaplaincy Wild West Tues 13 Feb The Union - £12.50 Sunday, 11am Holy Communion Fri 15 Feb, 2.30 – 3.30pm Thurs 14 Feb Jake Bugg - £12.50 12.45pm Lunch (1st Sun) Unusual Views: Library Tours for (SOLD OUT) Sunday, 6.30pm Evening Worship Jodrell Bank Photographers Sat 16 Feb Awolnation - £10 (term-time only) Mon 18 Feb Deftones + Letlive + FOYER 10am – 5pm, weekdays Fri 22 Feb, 12 – 1pm Three Trapped Tigers - 12.15pm Wednesdays Eucharist Discovery Centre Here be Dragons! A Tour of the Library £26.50 An area where students and staff can relax for Children Tues 19 Feb The Lumineers - £10 and meet friends. A tea/coffee machine Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre offers a great Tues 26 Feb, 5.15 – 6.45pm, Free (booking Tues 19 Feb The Bronx - £15 available. day out for all the family. Come and essential) RC Chaplaincy Avila House explore the planets using our model of the Weds 20 Feb Walk the Moon - £9 Public Seminar: Private Books for Mass Times (term-time only) Solar System. Find answers to the wonders Thurs 21 and Education Use Sun, 7pm, Holy Name Church the Universe, listen to the sounds of the Big Fri 22 Feb Lawson - £14 Weds 27 Feb, 1.30 – 4pm Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri, 5.30pm, Bang and discover what the scientists are Fri 22 Feb Everything Everything - Whimsical Wednesday Workshop: Chaplaincy Chapel researching ‘Live’ in our interactive Space £14 Drypoint Printmaking Weds, 1.05pm, Chaplaincy Chapel Pavilion. The glass-walled café offers Fri 22 Feb Rock Sound Exposure spectacular views of the iconic Lovell For further details of our events, please visit Tour 2013 feat. The Jewish Student Centre and telescope and fantastic homemade cakes! our website The Ghost Inside - £11 Synagogue 07817 250 557 FREE ADMISSION Sat 23 Feb Taking Hayley - £7 EVENTS Email Rabbi Mati Kos: Sun 24 Feb Of Monsters and Men - Weds 20 Feb, 7.30 – 9.30pm (Sold Out) Public opening times: Sun-Mon 12-5pm, [email protected] £14 (SOLD OUT) Exploring the Night Sky: The Search for Tues-Sat 10am-5pm Muslim Chaplaincy Thurs 28 Feb Double D Tour 2013 – Other Worlds South Campus Mosque, McDougall Centre Reader opening times: Mon-Weds, Fri-Sat The Drills (feat. PhilX) / Jammaat (Group Prayer) Daily Opening times 10am-5pm, Thurs 10am-7pm Dorje (feat. Rob Juma Prayer Friday 1.15pm 10am-5pm The John Rylands Library Chapman) + StormBorn – Honorary Imam: Imam Habeeb, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH £10 For more information and prices please visit [email protected] our website Visitor/Event Enquiries: 0161 306 0555 Fri 1 Mar Disclosure - £10 (Moved Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre General/Reader Enquiries: from Manchester Gorilla) North Campus Mosque Basement of Joule Library, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9DL 0161 275 3764 Fri 1 Mar Steven Wilson - £22.50 Sackville Street Building 01477 571 766 www.library.manchester.ac.uk/ Sat 2 Mar Don Broco - £8 www.jodrellbank.net specialcollections/ Jammaat (Group Prayer) Daily Tickets from Juma Prayer Friday 12.30pm Students' Union, Oxford Road The role of Volunteer Muslim Chaplain is to Piccadilly Box Office @ easy Internet Café (c/c) provide pastoral support, guidance and a 0871 2200260 listening ear to Muslim staff and students Royal Court (Liverpool) 0151 709 4321 (c/c) Chaplains’ email: Students’ Union [email protected] Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL 0161 275 2930 www.manchesteracademy.net 19 Treasured
Way beyond blue
The University is home to by Ebetola, the great just across the road from the some amazing objects. grandmother of the quilter, Nike Gallery and interested in art, Each month in UniLife we Olaniyi Davies, who taught her started to use the Gallery as an the secrets of indigo dyeing. educational resource. ask someone to share with us one of their The quilt is made from pieces of Gallery visits provoked wide- favourite fascinating hand-painted Adire cloth drawn ranging reflections on themes with a bird-feather quill and each such as alcohol and relaxation artefacts. row of squares has two different and the social meaning of such geometric designs. things, and how the beautiful hand-sewn psychological and social meet the In all, including the outer framing indigo cotton quilt that medical world. would cover a living- rows, there are 15 different A designs. And, hanging there in Similar visits to The Manchester room wall is not only one of the Whitworth Art the Gallery’s famed textile hall, it Museum reflected on medicine Gallery’s treasures, but also an just glows indigo, which is a from other cultures such as that inspiration for Dr Avril Danczak. Whitworth speciality. of the ancient Egyptians. “I chose it because it is very How long it may have taken In addition, Gallery staff have arresting and it crosses a lot of Nike and her great grandmother visited nursing homes to carry different worlds,” she says. to make this remarkable quilt, out activities with objects from with its miles of stitching and the Museum, which have been “Quilting was born out of lining, is inestimable. well received by the residents. poverty, yet this one is precious. It links Africa with the West. It Dr Danczak works as a GP in Avril says: “The Gallery staff have brings craft into the heart of the Whalley Range as well as training been very receptive and the artistic world.” other GPs in the north-west doctors are very responsive, so it region. She used to run medical works well.” It also links generations, since the seminars at the MRI and, being two centre panels were created
Next Issue 4 March 2013
M416 01.13 The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL Royal Charter Number RC000797 Cert n o. SGS-COC-3059