Issue 14 2012 from space from security food Safeguarding invent a glorious past invent past glorious a Olympics Modern science in Africa Sharing p12 p10 p8 Celebrating research at Reading

new challenges – our new Centre Contents for Literacy and Multilingualism has 2 Research at Reading wide-ranging research from many departments across the University but FACULTY NEWS all with the focus of improving how we speak, how we learn and even our health. 3 Science In this Olympic year, the eyes of the world 4 Life Sciences have been on London. The bywords of 5 Business this highlight in the sporting calendar are respect, peace and international relations 6 Arts, Humanities but our feature on the ancient Greek and Social Science Games suggests these were unfamiliar FEATURES concepts to our athletic forebears, and much of our Olympic tradition is 8 Games without frontiers Welcome to this issue of Research romanticised. We also focus on the work of the University of Reading and the 10 The view from space Review. This is a very exciting time for the University as we invest £50 million international community to reduce the 12 From textbook to reality: in new academic posts. Excellence with impacts of and ensure sharing science in Africa impact is an embedded part of the ethos food security through our new Africa Climate Exchange programme and the PICTURE STORY at Reading and our investment project will have global reach through research research of our earth observation experts. 14 White wonder and teaching. On a personal note, I am delighted to say that I have recently been appointed for a IN FOCUS Some of the areas featured in this issue are central to our international research second term as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for 15 One world, many voices reputation – in climate change, food Research and Innovation. Our work at security, healthy ageing, neuroscience Reading is hugely relevant to society and MEET THE RESEARCH TEAM and sustainable buildings and people’s quality of life and prosperity and I am looking forward to this exciting 16 Human Environments environments. We introduce the first chapter in the University’s research agenda. Research Group (HERG) holder of our Grantham Chair in Climate Science, Professor Ted Shepherd, and I hope you enjoy reading about our IN CONVERSATION meet a research team making a difference research in this Review. As always, it to communities around the world. can only feature a small selection of 18 Welcome to Ted Shepherd In today’s global society, multilingualism our work, and much more information Funding news is becoming the norm and brings with it can be found on our website.

19 New research grants and contracts Professor Christine Williams Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) www.reading.ac.uk/research

2 Research Review NEWS Science news

Research in the Faculty of Science at Reading covers a broad range of subject areas and includes innovative, cross-disciplinary collaboration. Our four Schools span the human and environmental sciences (archaeology, geography, soil science and ), as well as the physical sciences and technology (construction management, , computer science, cybernetics and electronic engineering). 1cm

Student’s idea gives graphic details to the Glastonbury excavations reveal Saxon glass industry visually impaired Research by Professor Roberta Gilchrist, A final-year student in the School of movement and touch, so users can feel from the Department of Archaeology, Systems Engineering has developed the shape of data presented graphically. has revealed that finds at Glastonbury Abbey provide the earliest archaeological technology that allows visually impaired ‘People in science and engineering subjects evidence of glass-making in Britain. or blind people to perceive a graph often need to visualise large amounts through the senses of touch and sound. of data, but for those who are visually Professor Gilchrist has re-examined the Ruth White has designed a low-cost impaired it would be meaningless to records of excavations that took place haptics system, a computer-controlled hear a screen reader read out an almost at Glastonbury in the 1950s and 1960s. robot-like device which responds to endless list of numbers,’ she said. Glass furnaces recorded in 1955–7 were previously thought to date from before the Norman Conquest; however New approach to risk radiocarbon dating has now revealed they date approximately from the 680s. Research from the School of Construction One of the paper’s authors, Dr Samuel Management and Engineering has Laryea, has won the Research Endowment highlighted the need for contractors Trust Fund Best Research Output Prize 2012 New evidence solves mystery to incorporate risk when determining for the Faculty of Science. Other faculty of the ‘eclipse wind’ a bidding price. winners can be seen in the news section Researchers in Meteorology have The researchers adopted a rigorous at www.reading.ac.uk/research found new evidence that the last practice-based approach to the problem Reference: Laryea, S. and Hughes, W. (2011). Risk and full solar eclipse across the UK that showed significant differences between price in the bidding process of contractors. Journal caused changes to the wind speed what occurs in practice and the theory of Construction and Engineering Management, 137 and direction, giving credence to (4). pp. 248–258. ISSN 0733–9364 doi: 10.1061/(ASCE) behind contingency allocation. The findings the mysterious ‘eclipse wind’ CO.1943–7862.0000293 have significant practical implications for reported by some eclipse watchers. the construction industry. Thousands of people flocked to Devon and Cornwall for the eclipse on 11 August 1999, and while the view How maths predicts human behaviour in the South West was obscured by Mathematicians are helping to develop ways of managing the existing power cloud cover, some onlookers reported a ‘smart’ power distribution system to grid, in a future where electric cars an eerie change of wind direction. prepare the street-level electricity grid and micro-generators become more Dr Suzanne Gray, Senior Lecturer for a low-carbon future. Experts at the common, and a greater fraction of total in Weather Systems, and Professor University’s Centre for Mathematics energy consumption shifts towards Giles Harrison, Professor of of Human Behaviour are providing electricity. Researchers will develop Atmospheric , analysed the analytics and modelling expertise data analysis and modelling techniques data from 121 sites across the UK. behind a new £30m pilot project, to understand and predict how people This added new information to an funded by energy regulator Ofgem. actually use electricity at a street-by- earlier analysis published by Professor The project, led by Professor Pete street level. Harrison in 2002. The extra data Grindrod, is designed to find new have given a much clearer regional picture of how the eclipse affected the weather on the day.

Reference: Gray, S.L. and Harrison, R.G. (2012). Diagnosing eclipse-induced wind changes. Proceedings of the Royal Society A, ISSN 1364–5021 doi: 10–1098/rspa. 2012.007

Issue 14 | 2012 3 NEWS Life Sciences news

Life Sciences at Reading cover the breadth of the biological-chemical sciences and their application to the real world: from embryology and child development, through human behaviour (economics and psychology), to ageing. Human well-being is supported directly by agriculture, horticulture, food and nutrition together with biomedicine and pharmacy. Blood cell breakthrough Kinky DNA National recognition Our picture, below, shows how adding for innovative research the metal Ruthenium (in purple) to a could help treat Two scientists at the University of molecule has enabled Dr Christine Cardin Reading have been recognised for heart disease and her colleagues in the Department of their ground-breaking research. Researchers at the University’s Institute Chemistry to see easily for the first time for Cardiovascular and Metabolic how they interact with our DNA. The Dr Vitaliy Khutoryanskiy, from Reading Research (ICMR) have uncovered, for results could help develop more effective School of Pharmacy, has won the 2012 the first time, the mechanism by which treatments for cancer patients. McBain Medal, a joint award from the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Society platelets, the blood cells that cause Many genes are switched on and off of Chemical Industry. Dr Khutoryanskiy’s clots, ‘communicate’ with each other when the right protein creates a kink research is focused on the development of and the inner walls of blood vessels in the DNA double helix, and a drug new materials to help in the administration when clotting. which could do this selectively could of drugs, the treatment of wounds, and Professor Jon Gibbins, ICMR Director, be used to further medical research. innovative treatments which help in the said: ‘This appears to be a very Ruthenium emits a visible light under fight against disease. important communication mechanism the microscope and clearly shows how for blood clotting and thrombosis. molecules bind to DNA and, in this case, Ian Hamley, Professor of Physical Since we have found that molecules link two DNA helices. Chemistry, has been awarded a prestigious that block these channels reduce Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Reference: Hall, J.P., O’Sullivan, K., Naseer, A., Award for his research into Alzheimer’s thrombosis, this may pave the way Smith, J.A., Kelly, J.M., and Cardin, C.J. Structure for potential new avenues for the determination of an intercalating ruthenium disease and new ways of treating wounds. development of more effective anti- complex which kinks DNA by semiintercalation thrombotic therapies to prevent heart of a tetraazaphenanthrene ligand. attacks and strokes.’ Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 108, 17610–17614 (2011) Reading leads on food The research was funded by the British security consortium Heart Foundation. The University of Reading is leading Reference: Sakthivel Vaiyapuri, Chris I. Jones, a consortium of the universities of Parvathy Sasikumar, Leonardo A. Moraes, Southampton, Surrey and Lancaster Stephanie J. Munger, Joy R. Wright, Marfoua S. Ali, Tanya Sage, William J. Kaiser, Katherine L. Tucker, and Rothamsted Research to provide Christopher J. Stain, Alexander P. Bye, Sarah vital research in food security as Jones, Ernesto Oviedo-Orta, Alexander M. Simon, part of the new Doctoral Training Martyn P. Mahaut-Smith, Jonathan M. Gibbins. Partnerships (DTP) scheme, funded Gap junctions and connexin hemichannels by the Biotechnology and Biological underpin haemostasis and thrombosis. Circulation (2012) 112.101246, doi: 10.1161 Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The consortium has been awarded approximately £1.8 million for 18 PhD students who will address the challenges Happiness and well-being in later life of feeding the globe’s population Dr Carien van Reekum, a researcher at misunderstandings about mental healthily and in a sustainable way. the University’s Centre for Integrative health and ageing and inform Partners are matching the BBSRC Neuroscience and Neurodynamics , has governments and public health bodies investment from their own budgets been awarded £465,000 funding from the how to maintain levels of well-being to increase the number of PhD students Biotechnology and Biological Sciences among an ageing population. to be trained under the programme. Research Council to examine how our The project is entitled ‘Emotion regulation Reading has funded a further two brains deal with emotion as we age. and well-being as we age: Implications of studentships with East Malling Research Dr van Reekum said the results of the cognitive decline and prefrontal atrophy and jointly funded a further three research could help to break down for corticolimbic function’. studentships with other sponsors.

4 Research Review NEWS Business news

Henley Business School has research strength across all six of its academic schools with a particular emphasis on research which has Business benefits of real impact on both policy and practice. staff development How many employers can be confident that they are producing the managers and leaders they need for the future? A new report, ‘The Business Benefits The rise and fall of ‘Woolies’ of Management and Leadership The opening of a F.W. Woolworth store in Liverpool in 1909 heralded a transformation Development’, by Dr Richard McBain of British and Irish retailing. The format, which communicated clear, fixed price points and Professor Abby Ghobadian and self-selection of mass-produced goods at lower prices, was revolutionary. By 1959 suggests too few are doing the right the chain dominated the high streets of Britain and Ireland. Yet almost fifty years later, things to secure adequate returns Woolworths collapsed. Within days of New Year 2009 all 800 stores had been closed. on their investment in management A recent conference, organised by Professor Peter Scott, of International Business and leadership. It is the largest study History, discussed the rapid rise of ‘Woolies’, its impact on competitors, and the of its type, surveying almost 4,500 factors which eventually led to its closure just before its centenary. managers, CEOs and HR directors, Professor Scott said: and has generated a wealth of data. ‘Bringing together former The report makes recommendations Woolworth executives, to organisations on how the business retail experts, and the impact of management and leadership authors of two excellent development (MLD) may be increased recent corporate but it also makes a contribution biographies produced to the ongoing debate about the an extremely valuable business case for investment in MLD, discussion – regarding the development of management both Woolworth’s hugely and leadership skills in the UK and successful retail formula how MLD may contribute to future and the reasons why it economic growth. was eventually unable to Reference: Dr Richard McBain, Professor Abby retain its pole position on Ghobadian, Jackie Switzer, Petra Wilton, Patrick Britain’s high streets.’ Woodman and Gemma Pearson. The Business Benefits of Management and Leadership Development. bit.ly/KCVkpD The first British store opened in Liverpool in 1909. Image courtesy of woolworthsmuseum.co.uk Professor takes Bank regulation papers wins top award up key role at RTPI A paper by Dr Simone Varotto, from the of Managerial Finance. It investigates Professor Gavin Parker, Chair of ICMA Centre, on liquidity risk has been the impact of new bank capital regulation Planning Studies and Director of Planning judged as one of the outstanding papers for trading portfolios introduced by Basel programmes within the School of Real for 2012 by the Emerald Literati Network. III, the international regulatory framework Estate and Planning, has been seconded to Dr Varotto has received the Literati for banks. become the new Director of Professional Network Award for Excellence 2012 Emerald Group Publishing is one of Standards at the Royal Town Planning after judges stated it was one of the most the world’s leading scholarly publishers Institute (RTPI). impressive pieces of work the judging of journals and books in business and Professor Parker has joined RTPI on a two- team had seen throughout 2011. management. year secondment to lead on professional education and further develop links The paper, ‘Liquidity risk, credit risk, Reference: Varotto, S. (2011). Liquidity risk, credit market risk and bank capital’, was risk, market risk and bank capital. International between accredited Planning Schools published in the International Journal Journal of Managerial Finance, 7 (2). pp. 134–152. ISSN and the Institute. He said: ‘I want to help 1743–9132 DOI: 10.1108/17439131111122139 champion spatial planning, strengthen the knowledge and skills of planners, and ensure that we set and maintain high ethical and professional standards.’

Issue 14 | 2012 5 NEWS Arts, Humanities and Social Science news

The Faculty’s five Schools and Institute of Education cover a very broad range From gold coins of research areas: arts and communication design, law, humanities, education, to credit cards literature and languages, politics, economics and international relations. What do the Greek Prime Minister and Edward I have in common? Is justice served by closed courts? The University of Reading’s new Dr Lawrence McNamara from the School of Law has appeared before Centre for Economic History is finding the Joint Committee on Human Rights, and on national TV and in the answers to this question as well press discussing the proposals in the Justice and Security Green Paper. as other fascinating links between Lawrence is principal investigator on the ‘Law, Terrorism and the Right to our financial past and present. Know’ project, funded by the Economic & Social Research Council, which The Centre aims to further our explores democratic traditions of media freedom, and the contemporary understanding of economic history demands of national and international security. It looks especially at the and development. Uniquely, the Centre ways governments and courts deal with security-related matters, and the brings together University experts relationships between the state and the media. from a variety of disciplines, from He argues: ‘The Green Paper proposals would allow for much greater archaeologists and economists, closure in court proceedings. Under the proposals, information that is to financiers and historians. not necessarily damaging to national security and which covers matters The Reverend Dr Margaret Yates, of great public interest would be less likely to emerge in court. Open courts Director of the Centre, said: ‘Economic are especially important in security matters, both because information history is an exciting field of research can be revealed and, in turn, it can be used to corroborate or disprove and we are proud to have established statements and information from other sources.’ strengths in all the key sectors of the www.reading.ac.uk/ltrk economy. Our diversity gives the Centre a freshness and originality and, unlike similar centres, Reading’s research is New chapter for forgotten writer continuous in its coverage, running from the classical world, through the The life and works of a long-forgotten The new edition is printed by medieval and early modern periods, Lancashire mill girl turned radical Trent Editions as part of its Radical right up to the present day… and writer have been introduced to a new Fictions. It was typeset and designed a little beyond!’ generation of readers thanks to the by Callum Lewis and Rebecca Kirby, www.reading.ac.uk/economic-history reprinting of her most famous book, two undergraduate students in the This Slavery. Department of Typography & Graphic Ethel Carnie Holdsworth was a Communication at the University of working-class writer and socialist Reading as part of their BA course. activist who campaigned for social and economic justice and the rights of working women. Following her death in 1962 she had been lost from the literary horizon. Dr Nicola Wilson, from the Department of English Language and Literature, has been instrumental in the reprinting of This Slavery, and has written the introduction to the new edition. Dr Wilson said: ‘It is an extremely rare example of a novel written by a working-class woman. Other working-class women had written and published poetry and short stories but the challenges of sitting down to write a full-length novel as a working woman with family were huge.’

6 Research Review Moral reasoning and intuition Princeton painting Dr Keith Hyams has joined the Department of Politics on a mystery solved Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship Art professor Anna Gruetzner Robins to explore the role of intuition in has identified a collection of unsigned moral reasoning. The project, ‘Solving paintings at Princeton University in Moral Conflict’, will debate, among America in albums containing the work other topics, which intuitions can of early 20th Century painter Gwen serve as evidence for moral principles, John, brother of Augustus John. and do people really have the fixed intuitions about moral principles that The albums are in the extensive philosophers often suppose they do? papers of the British poet and critic Arthur Symons (1865–1945), and have been preserved in Princeton National icon unveiled University’s Library since 1951. Professor Robins, a world authority to fresh audience on modern British painting, came The life and works of a national icon in across the watercolours by chance France have been charted through a new while researching at Princeton and book by Dr Sophie Heywood, from the immediately recognised them as the Department of Modern Languages and work of John. Symons’s letters to John European Studies, which has won the revealed that John gave the albums Research Endowment Trust Fund Best to him in June 1920. Output Prize for 2012 for the Faculty Professor Robins said: ‘The discovery of Arts, Humanities and Social Science. of the two Symons albums makes This is the first book-length history a considerable contribution to an of the classic French children’s author, understanding of Gwen John’s greatness. the Comtesse de Ségur, who is virtually ‘She rarely exhibited her work and never unknown in the English-speaking world, dated her paintings but this discovery but famous in her native country. gives us a date.’ The book is based on extensive primary Image courtesy of the Princeton University research, including new archive material, Library, from the originals in the Arthur Symons Papers, Manuscripts Division, Department that offers important correctives to of Rare Books and Special Collections. current knowledge on Madame de Segur’s writing and political ideas. It makes an original contribution to several of the major themes in modern European history: the ‘culture wars’ waged by the Church in the face of secularisation, changing views on children, the development of the modern publishing industry and women’s roles in the public sphere.

Reference: Heywood, S. (2011). Catholicism and children’s literature in France: the comtesse de Ségur (1799–1874). Studies in Modern French History, Manchester University Press, Manchester, pp240.

Issue 14 | 2012 7 FEATURE

Games without frontiers The modern Olympics promote respect, peace and international relations, but was this how the ancient Greeks approached their Olympiads?

In 1897 Baron Pierre de Coubertin, For example, a truce was declared for into the Games – for the competitors the man credited with founding the each ancient Olympic Games, and this the only thing that mattered was winning. modern Olympics, said: ‘The Olympics is often understood to mean that the The modern idea that just taking part is a may be a potent, if indirect, factor in events were inspired by peaceful ideals. good thing, or that sport can foster team securing universal peace… To attain However, history suggests otherwise. spirit, would not have entered the mind this end, what better means are there ‘The modern connection between the of an ancient athlete. Unlike today’s wide than to bring the youth of all countries Olympics and peace is attributed to the open Games, only free Greek men were periodically together for amicable trials ancient Olympic truce,’ said Professor allowed to compete in antiquity. Women of muscular strength and agility?’ Goff. ‘But many people who study the were excluded from competition and De Coubertin claimed to be inspired ancient Greeks will find it hard to believe usually banned from the audience, and by the ideals of the ancient Olympics that they would readily give up fighting non-Greeks were not welcome either. and held that in staging an event that each other. The ancient Olympic truce is De Coubertin agreed with the ancient celebrated mass participation, personal largely a modern invention. There was an Greeks about women not participating excellence, fair play, and cultural and assumption that athletes should be able but he also believed in fostering an international understanding, the world to travel to Olympia safely, but today’s international spirit. Professor Goff said: would become a better place. Olympic establishment has exalted the ‘De Coubertin tapped into the main Yet this is a romanticised version of truce to the status of something like an currents of 19th Century life, which ancient Greece, so does it reflect what ancient anti-war movement.’ included increased international travel. happened at their Games? Not totally, The ancient Greek states were quite For instance, Thomas Cook ran excursions argues Professor Barbara Goff, from insular and generally weren’t friendly to the first Olympic Games in Athens. Reading’s Department of Classics. to each other. This attitude spilled over De Coubertin planned from the outset

8 Research Review Global classics The Department of Classics at Reading is at the forefront of research into classical antiquity and how it has helped shape the modern world.

Empires in history As the US prepares to pull its troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq, a global network of academics debates the role of American imperialism in modern society, and the parallels between the USA and Rome. Dr Phiroze Vasunia co-ordinates the Network on Ancient and Modern Imperialisms.

Arab impact The rapid spread of Islam during the Arab conquests of the 7th Century left an indelible mark on North Africa, the near east and the wider Mediterranean world. Dr Arietta Papaconstantinou’s research interests cover the social and economic history of the region during the transition from Late Antiquity to Muslim rule.

All roads lead to Rome Ancient Rome had to import food from the provinces in large quantities to support its population, which Image courtesy of LOCOG affected communities across the empire. Dr Annalisa Marzano combines that the revived Games would move murdered by terrorists. But such was archaeological data with written from city to city, taking on a slightly the power of the Olympic spirit that in sources to investigate the Roman different identity in each place. By the aftermath the International Olympic economy and its wider social context. contrast the ancient Olympics were Committee President Avery Brundage anything but international, and athletes stated: ‘The games must go on … and we Eastern origins represented only themselves and to must continue our efforts to keep them People often say that civilisation an extent their city states.’ clean, pure and honest.’ The decision was started in ancient Greece, but it In doing so, they were honouring Zeus, endorsed by the Israeli government. is becoming clear that the Greeks king of the gods, and the Games were Many modern Olympic concepts are new themselves drew on the even more firmly rooted in religion. De Coubertin, – women’s participation, the torch relay, ancient cultures of the Middle East, however, was determined that the revived the ideal of peace between nations, and Turkey and Egypt. Professor Ian Olympics should be secular, replacing this the belief in internationalism. However, Rutherford is a leading researcher religious sentiment with internationalism one thing remains the same: the victorious in this area, and has been particularly and democracy – the new guiding athletes of 2012 will be honoured, feted, interested in exploring early links principles of the modern Games. and praised as much as their predecessors between Greece and the early Today, as in ancient Olympia, cases of were; gold medals replacing olive garlands. cultures of Turkey, such as the cheating and allegations of corruption Hittites and Luwians. Professor Barbara Goff is co-editor with Dr do occasionally mar the sporting activities. Michael Simpson of a collection of essays on More Classics research: There have also been political boycotts, the Olympics, called ‘Thinking the Olympics: the www.reading.ac.uk/classics/research and the terrible events of Munich in 1972 classical tradition and modern Games’, published by when members of the Israeli team were Bloomsbury Academic/Bristol Classical Press.

Issue 14 | 2012 9 FEATURE

The view from space How earth observation is safeguarding food security

10 Research Review FEATURE

The first satellites in space were designed to production in the west is also under threat. By the late 21st Century, send back data to enable us to understand more optimal habitats for many plant species about the atmosphere miles above Earth. Now, are projected to have shifted several hundred kilometres to the north and over fifty years later, satellites are telling us more 60% of mountain plant species may face about our own planet – predicting climate and extinction. A combination of the rate of climate change, habitat fragmentation environmental changes. and other obstacles is projected to lead Predicting and monitoring the causes and acting as an early warning to a large decline in European biodiversity. of food security is an urgent need if we system for crises such as famine.’ To counter this Europe needs sustained growth in the agricultural sector (crops, are to be able to feed a future global NCEO Reading is currently part of a livestock, fisheries, forests, biomass, and population of nine billion people healthily NASA project to do just this. Future commodities) to feed the world, enhance and sustainably. Crises such as the recent water resources are a critical societal rural livelihoods, stimulate economic drought in the Horn of Africa, during impact of climate change, and scientific growth and maintain and restore which 12.4 million people suffered from understanding of how such change may ecosystem functions/services. severe malnutrition, are examples where affect water supply and food production is earth observation (EO) could provide crucial for policymakers. The Soil Moisture The Centre for Food Security is working an early warning system. EO satellites Active Passive satellite experiment with partners across Europe to assess allow for detailed, large-scale mapping (SMAPEx) in New South Wales, Australia, climate change risks to agriculture in three of agricultural activities, identifying, for is using remote sensing to collect data on areas: crops, livestock and trade. This is example, hot spots of crop stress or failure how a 100 x 100km tract of agricultural where technologies associated with EO due to insufficient rainfall. land responds to differing levels of can play a major part. Testing the validity The University of Reading is home to irrigation. This information will enable of different models requires consistent both the Centre for Food Security and climate models to agree on future trends data; Professor Tiffin will be working with the National Centre for Earth Observation in water resource availability. the Environmental Virtual Observatory (NCEO), which plays a major role in (EVO), funded by NERC and led partly from steering the Natural Environment ‘Adaptation is the University of Reading, to integrate Research Council’s and the UK’s EO observations and models to ensure an strategy. Together researchers plan to crucial over the accurate picture of European agriculture increase expertise in prediction and data and the risks to its sustainability. assimilation to fill in knowledge gaps. coming decade’ The benefits of EO are clear to see, but Reading is also a member of the there are challenges still to be overcome. International Space Innovation Centre Professor Robert Gurney, Professor The large-scale mapping of vulnerable (ISIC) and uses its expertise in EO and of Earth Observation Science at Reading areas is invaluable but food security space weather to monitor global and and on the NASA SMAP Science Team, experts need much more refined data. regional changes in the environment to said: ‘Improved seasonal soil moisture ‘Adaptation is crucial over the coming predict future environmental conditions. forecasts using SMAP data will directly decade – we need to see how, for example, Professor Richard Tiffin, Director of benefit famine early warning systems Africa is reacting to the risks,’ said the Centre for Food Security, said: ‘It particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Professor Tiffin. ‘To see how individual is evident that an integrated systemic South Asia, where communities are farming practices are changing we need approach to the problems of food security dependent on rain-fed agriculture in data at village level, even images of is required. The UK has one of the most highly monsoonal conditions. Other individual farms.’ technologically advanced food industries benefits include better weather forecasts Just as the first satellite in 1957 heralded in the world and some of the most leading to improved predictions of the start of the space race, so today’s advanced science that could potentially heat stress and virus spreading rates.’ technologies are in a separate space race be brought to bear on the problem. EO is Without doubt countries most to ensure EO data keep up with these a powerful tool, monitoring agricultural vulnerable to climate change are those increasingly sophisticated requirements. production, highlighting potential risks in the developing world, but agricultural

Issue 14 | 2012 11 FEATURE

From textbook to reality: sharing science in Africa

Dr Ros Cornforth, Resilience – how we adapt to these connecting people and creating from the Department crises – is crucial. It has never been more opportunities for cross-discipline, cross- of Meteorology, important, therefore, to address the huge continent collaborations. Its single aim is discusses a new disconnect between scientific research to ensure that all climate-related policy project set to make and the awareness of policymakers and decisions towards improving food security a difference to the communities about these outputs and in sub-Saharan Africa can be made with lives of 800 million people in sub- how to use this knowledge. This maps the access to the best-available scientific Saharan Africa. challenge for AfClix (the Africa Climate information. Initially the programme is The vagaries of the rainfall in sub-Saharan Exchange), whose focus is to communicate working in Senegal and Sudan. Africa have profound and often dire weather and climate information that links Lessons from these exchanges, outlined effects on African society and economy and sustains local people. A key element opposite, and other parallel activities are because of people’s dependence on is securing access to reliable and timely continuously applied in the context of rain-fed agriculture. However, work to information to make informed decisions AfClix to develop early-warning systems in improve the livelihoods of people living about how to absorb impending shocks, Senegal and Sudan that will be developed in the region has been hampered by and ultimately how people can thrive across the region. Learning informs our uncertainty in weather forecasting despite these shocks and long-term change. own research groups here at Reading and and the lack of a joined-up process AfClix is funded through a Natural extends outwards to the international bringing scientists, communities and Environment Research Council Knowledge research communities we work with policymakers together. Exchange Fellowship, with significant through various high profile working The recurrent crises since 2010 additional funding from the National groups and targeted interactions with have been a clear and ever-present Centre for (NCAS)- the UK and African media. demonstration of these barriers. Even Climate Directorate, the Grantham By working together through AfClix as the 2010 East Africa crisis loosens Institute for Climate Change and the local communities can get the expert its grip, another food security crisis is University of Reading and its Walker knowledge they so desperately need to unfolding in the Sahel region due in Institute for Climate System Research. understand climate risk, adaptation and large part to a sporadic and patchy Different from other initiatives, it taps mitigation – in essence moving resilience 2011 West Africa rainy season. directly into the grass-roots science out of the textbook and into reality to community that it has sprung from, make a difference to people’s real lives.

More information is available at: www.afclix.org

12 Research Review FEATURE

From textbook to reality: sharing science in Africa

Since its launch, AfClix activities have grown Other countries in which considerably and resulted in many exciting cross-sector AfClix activities are having collaborations, of which these are just a few: impact include: • In Sudan, AfClix is helping to strengthen between NCAS-Climate, Department • In Kenya, AfClix has been involved in the new Sudanese Meteorological Society of Meteorology (Dr Ros Cornforth) and providing expertise for the Lorna Young (SUMS) through providing a web space Reading’s Human Environment’s Research Foundation as it seeks to extend to and ongoing connections. SUMS will be Group (Director, Dr Emily Boyd). Uganda and Tanzania its successful weekly an important neutral point for subsequent • In Ghana, Dr Ben Lamptey, a lecturer at radio programme linking coffee farmers exchanges with Sudanese policymakers the University of Ghana, will be developing in Kenya to people with climate and and NGOs. Meetings with the SUMS and a project to assess the impact of climate agricultural expertise. the Kenana Sugar Company have led to change on hydroelectric power generation • In the UK, exchange activities new joint Masters projects making use together with new Reading collaborators have inspired multiple and individual of Kenana’s valuable meteorological and working in climate research. collaborations. A new supervised agronomical dataset spanning 30 years. • In Niger, AfClix activities continue Masters project has developed looking • In Senegal, a number of pilot exchange to unite researchers from very different at perceived rainfall trends versus actual, activities have been co-ordinated by areas, all with the common aim to move and a co-authored perspective submitted the Senegalese Red Cross, focusing on resilience from theory to reality and to Nature-Climate Change entitled providing flood alerts to vulnerable to enable policymakers to learn, adapt ‘Weathering the drought: Building communities, employing Red Cross and respond to large-scale extreme resilience in the face of environmental community volunteers as climate events such as drought and flooding. change’, to reflect on the escalating information relays. The primary focus We are working with the West Africa Sahel famine and lessons learned from for AfClix-Senegal is to develop the pilot regional climate body, ACMAD, on the the 2011 East Africa humanitarian crisis. exchange work from a local to national first Forecasters’ Handbook for West • In other African countries, many level to help build stronger relationships Africa (led by Professor Doug Parker individual climate scientists are finding between the Senegalese Met Service and at the University of Leeds) together AfClix online and through other the new Senegalese government. This has with an international team of climate colleagues. We are match-making these been supported by a new collaboration scientists and African forecasters. connections to expertise elsewhere in Africa and in the UK. These countries include Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, Benin, Algeria, Madagascar and the Gambia.

Issue 14 | 2012 13 PICTURE STORY

White wonder This photograph by History of Art student Rebecca Gill shows the interior of the church of Santa Maria Assunta di Carignano (1549–1602), in Genoa, by the Italian architect Galeazzo Alessi. This particular view shows the barrel vaults crossing the church, with its imposing dome rising above, and was taken during a research trip to Genoa as part of Rebecca’s PhD, which considers the ecclesiastical architecture of this under-studied architect. Although designed to resemble white marble, most areas of this church are actually constructed from masonry covered with a layer of white plaster; the effect of this luminous interior is nonetheless stunning.

14 Research Review IN FOCUS

One world, many voices In today’s global society, multilingual- impairment. Professor Theo Marinis, Learning in the classroom ism is becoming the norm. There are from Clinical Language Sciences, has It’s recognised that the sooner one currently around 7,000 different human been researching Turkish, Polish, Indian, learns a language, the easier it will be languages and many hundreds are and Nepalese communities to develop to become fluent. Professor Suzanne spreading around the world as a result tools to help speech and language Graham, from the Institute of Education, of increased mobility and the internet. therapists make earlier diagnoses is leading a study to identify which With this come new language challenges of language impairment and decide teaching methods are more successful which need different approaches – what’s when treatment is not necessary. for younger children (in years 5, 6 and the best way to teach foreign languages? This research has been funded by the 7). The two-year project, funded by the How do you spot language problems in Economic & Social Research Council Nuffield Foundation, will assess teaching children who have English as a second (ESRC) and the Netherlands Organisation methods using literacy (based on writing language? Are bilingual stroke patients for Scientific Research. and reading) and oracy (oral skills). likely to suffer in the same way from The aim is to help prepare children Making sense aphasia (language impairment) as those for secondary school language learning A common assumption is that native with one language? and improve attainment. English speakers will speak the language Professor Graham also has ESRC funding Leading research in these areas, and better and be more intelligible than to report on the results of her previous many more, is Reading’s new Centre someone who has learnt it as a second research on foreign language learning for Literacy and Multilingualism. The language. However research by Dr Jane to teachers, teacher educators and Centre is unique in drawing on existing Setter, from the Department of English policymakers across the country. strengths in the area and working across Language and Literature, has shown this These findings promote the best ways many disciplines – applied linguistics, is not necessarily the case. In an example to engage and motivate children to psychology, neuroscience, education of people from Hong Kong, Singapore learn another language. and speech and language therapy. and England speaking English, the Hong Its facilities include a MRI scanner, Kong accent was more intelligible to the Aphasia and bilingual people Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation rest of the research group. Dr Setter is Aphasia is a common medical condition (TMS) and eye-tracking technology, looking at what features of speech make brought on by neurological disorders, a range of specialist labs and a large it intelligible and what this means for such as a stroke or head injury. It usually library of books and teaching resources. teaching English as a foreign language. affects both the understanding and Language impairment or This research has been funded by a British production of spoken and written delayed development? Academy/Association of Commonwealth language, although patients’ intelligence It can be easy to spot language Universities grant. is not affected. Dr Arpita Bose, in Clinical impairment in a child who speaks just She is going to broaden the project Language Sciences, is researching how one language. However, for children to include people from China, the aphasia affects people who are bilingual. who are bi- or multilingual a delay in the Philippines, America, France, Poland Are both languages affected or just one? development of English could be caused and Germany. The research will help develop treatments by the fact it is not their first language and to improve outcomes not only for they just need time, or it could be due to bilingual aphasia patients but also those with other reading and writing disorders.

Issue 14 | 2012 15 MEET THE RESEARCH TEAM

Meet the research team

The Human Environments Research Dr Emily Boyd Dr Chukwumerije (Chuks) Okereke Group (HERG) has projects across the Emily’s research Chuks’ research focuses globe, looking at how we affect and broadly examines on the relationship are affected by the world around us. the relationship between global Research by HERG reflects the increasing between international climate governance importance of the interaction of human development and and international communities with the environment while climate change, with development. More maintaining a long tradition of excellent a particular focus on specifically he is looking research in social and cultural geography. how to manage for resilience in practice. at the opportunities for low-carbon Here we meet five members of the group Her current work is looking at how development in Africa (currently the most and their current research projects. communities adapt (resilience) to crises vulnerable continent to climate change), and shocks, such as the 2005 floods in and the institutional reforms African Mumbai and the constant flooding threat governments must undertake to make to areas of Mozambique, and build this happen. long-term strategies (sustainability). ‘Climate change can reverse decades of Emily said: ‘There are potential international effort to develop Africa and tipping points in the biophysical other countries,’ said Chuks. ‘Developing system that could lead to large-scale in the same old way will actually increase societal changes; if we can’t stop these the vulnerability of these areas.’ from happening we need to plan how African countries are resource-rich but to adapt to these changes.’ mostly poorly developed. Achieving low- In Maputo in Mozambique this includes carbon growth requires large amounts of ensuring communities have adaptation public, private, national and international plans to guide them through climate finance. It also requires tackling the causes change risks, and have access to of poverty and injustice at the international Also pictured above are Dr Steve Musson, development agencies to help with this. level. Chuks’ research analyses these researcher in political and economic geography, Dr Sally Lloyd-Evans, lecturer in In Mumbai, awareness campaigns about challenges and the policies governments human geography, and Dr Geoffrey Griffiths, how to respond to floods are supported need to put in place to overcome them. lecturer in physical geography by networks of NGOs for example.

16 Research Review MEET THE RESEARCH TEAM

Dr Ruth Evans Dr Jessica Budds Dr Giuseppe Feola Few studies have Research by Jessica How we interact with explored how gender, explores the changes our environment and age and generational to lives, livelihoods and what we must do to inequalities influence landscapes arising from ensure sustainability both inheritance and the increased demand lies at the heart of transfer of assets to for water by the mining Giuseppe’s research. family members in industry in the Andes. The potato is a sub-Saharan Africa. The inheritance of The mining industry has significantly traditional crop for smallholdings in the land, property and other resources can grown in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru as gold Andean region, and second only to coffee break poverty cycles and Dr Ruth Evans and copper have reached record prices for high pesticide use. Giuseppe’s work is looking at how this affects vulnerable on the world market. But mines require is helping policymakers decide the best groups in rural and urban communities large flows of water and poorer indigenous way to encourage farmers to minimise in Senegal. communities can face a severe reduction the impact pesticides are having on their Senegal has experienced rapid in water resources as mining companies local environment and their health. buy up community land, construct dams environmental, economic and social Forthcoming research will focus on and divert supplies. changes in recent years, including the likely effects of climate change in increasing competition for land, climate- These issues open up much wider the Colombian Andes – probably a wider related shocks, economic crisis and questions of how all interested parties spread of drought – and how to support urbanisation. These factors, combined have an equal say in water management, smallholders to make the necessary with the large mean size of households and that solutions such as privatising adaptation to its effects. Giuseppe is also and discriminatory religious and resources are not always the answer. looking at grassroot initiatives, such as customary inheritance practices, mean ‘The global water crisis is not one of the Transition Movement, to see what that widows and orphaned young people quantity but of management and politics,’ factors hinder or help small communities in particular are much less likely to said Jessica. ‘When you change how water deal with climate change and shrinking gain ownership and control of land and is managed, you also make big changes supplies of cheap energy through other assets. Ruth is leading a number to people and ecology.’ individual behavioural change and of workshops to publicise the findings to collective action. participants, policymakers, practitioners and researchers in Senegal. More information is available at: www.reading.ac.uk/ges/shes_HERG.aspx

Issue 14 | 2012 17 IN CONVERSATION

Meet Ted Shepherd Professor Ted Shepherd, one of the care of themselves – but they haven’t. How do we respond to climate world’s leading atmospheric scientists, We call them systematic biases in the change sceptics? has been appointed as the first holder models and they really compromise There are good reasons to question of the University of Reading’s Grantham predictions of climate, not in terms science; we all have to be somewhat Chair in Climate Science. The Grantham of global mean temperature but in sceptical. But part of the problem is that Foundation for the Protection of the terms of regional aspects, such as in as scientists we are used to dealing with Environment seeks to raise awareness the North Atlantic or northern Europe. high levels of certainty – when you publish of urgent environmental issues and I’m interested in trying to figure out why a paper you have to have, for example, 95% supports individuals and organisations we have these errors and how we can certainty of the results. However when you to find solutions. improve our modelling systems. talk about vulnerability even a small risk Professor Shepherd explains why What challenges do you face? of 10% can be serious. If there was a 10% the role of the Grantham Chair is so chance of your plane crashing you would One of the challenges that the scientific important and the challenges facing never board an airplane. If we address community is facing at the moment is a climate change researchers. problems from a risk perspective or lot of funding pressures because of the vulnerability perspective, you realise that What attracted you to world economic crisis. Britain seems to you have an obligation to protect people your new position? have made the environment a priority, and you have to take a different view. I’ve always known that Reading but a lot of measurement programmes Meteorology was a great department – have been cut back elsewhere. Just as I’ve had informal links with the University there is a greater demand for information, over the years – but as my research there is actually a decrease in the key progressed from the more fundamental measurements. You need to maintain to the more applied I’ve become very these measurement networks for more aware of the need for climate information accurate prediction. Another challenge and translating what climate science is that there is a certain level of skill means for social issues, particularly as in weather prediction based on years it relates to predicting risk to vulnerable of experience, but we don’t have that communities. I’ve had quite a lot of history for our predictions of climate involvement with the World Climate change. There is a bit of a worry that the Research Programme, whose aim is to public want a really accurate picture and determine the predictability of climate we don’t have very accurate systems and the effect of human activities on yet, so there’s a question of managing climate. These aims are very important to expectations. me and I was interested in the Grantham Chair as a way to carry that work forward. Which areas will you focus on? The new area that I really want to think about is the biases within climate models. There are some major features with the jet stream, and high and low pressure centres, that aren’t simulated well by models and it’s a mystery why, as there was a belief that as the models reached higher spatial resolution these things would all take

18 Research Review New research grants and contracts

Some of the larger grants awarded from October 2011 to April 2012

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board plus health plus environmental sustainability Professor Peter Jan van Leeuwen from Professor Chris Reynolds from Agriculture (LegumePlus)’. Meteorology has been awarded £401,000 for has been awarded £490,100 for his project Dr Stanislav Kutozov from Geography and his project ‘ initialisation and ‘Establishment of a research partnership on Environmental Science has been awarded improvement using particle filters CLIMIP’. grassland, forage and soil’. £149,352 for his project ‘Dust impacts on Professor Keith Haines from the Environmental glaciated environments’. Systems Science Centre has been awarded AHRC Richard Tranter from Agriculture has been £608,499 for ‘ERror Growth in Operational Dr Kate Allen from Art has been awarded awarded £160,859 for ‘Practical implementation Data Initialised Coupled Systems (ERGODICS)’. £465,673 for her project ‘Interactive sensory of coexistence in Europe’. Professor Ellie Highwood from Meteorology has objects developed for and by people with Professor Julian Park from Agriculture has been been awarded £405,924 for her project ‘South learning difficulties’. awarded £258,278 for his project ‘Assessing and American Biomass Burning Analysis (SAMBBA)’. Professor Anna McMullan from Film, Theatre monitoring the impacts of genetically modified Dr Andrew Charlton-Perez from Meteorology and TV has been awarded £448,847 for ‘Staging plants on agro-ecosystems’. has been awarded £150,546 for his project Beckett: The impact of productions of Samuel Professor Peter Jan van Leeuwen from ‘Stratospheric Network for the Assessment Beckett’s drama on theatre practice and cultures Meteorology has been awarded £177,546 for of Predictability (SNAP)’. in the United Kingdom and Ireland (1955–2010)’. ‘SANGOMA – Stochastic Assimilation for the Professor Rowan Sutton from Meteorology AXA Research Fund Next Generation Ocean Model Applications’. has been awarded £400,000 for the ‘NCAS Dr Suzanne Gray from Meteorology has been Professor Kevin Warwick from Systems earth system modelling’ project. awarded £340,000 for her project ‘Sting jet Engineering has been awarded £133,534 Professor Andrew Wade from Geography windstorm in current and future ’. for his project ‘Regulating emerging robotic and Environmental Science has been awarded technologies in Europe: Robotics facing law £303,497 for his project ‘The multi-scale BBSRC and ethics’. response of water quality, biodiversity and Dr Carien van Reekum from Psychology has been C sequestration to coupled macronutrient European Space Agency awarded £373,502 for her ‘Emotion regulation cycling from source to sea’. and well-being as we age: Implications of Professor Alan O’Neill from Meteorology has Dr Tom Osborne from Meteorology has cognitive decline and prefrontal atrophy for been awarded a total of £1,265,110 for three been awarded £252,720 for a Knowledge corticolimbic function’. projects: ‘LG: Data assimilation projects – Exchange Fellowship in the agri-food sector. Interfacing EO data with atmospheric and land British Heart Foundation surface models’, ‘LG: Data assimilation projects – NHS Oxfordshire Dr Alister McNeish from Pharmacy has been Coupled model assimilation’, and ‘LG: Preparation Dr Catherine Creswell from Psychology has been awarded £179,376 for his project ‘The role of of LTDP – Advanced data assimilation methods’. awarded £249,966 for ‘The treatment of child thromboxane receptors and Rho mediated anxiety in primary care via guided CBT self-help: signalling in regulation of endothelial cell Leverhulme Trust a randomised controlled trial’. calcium activated potassium channels and Professor Christopher Brooks from ICMA endothelium dependent hyperpolarisation’. has been awarded £195,566 for his project Nuffield Foundation Professor Jon Gibbins from Biological Sciences ‘Medieval foreign exchange c1300–1500’. Professor Suzanne Graham from the Institute has been awarded £204,735 for ‘Study of the role Professor Mike Fulford from Archaeology has of Education has been awarded £139,585 for of gap junctions and connexion hemichannels in been awarded £433,580 for his ‘Evaluation of her project ‘Primary modern languages: The the control of platelet function, haemostasis and PPG16 grey literature and the rural settlement impact of teaching approaches on attainment thrombosis’. of Roman Britain’. and preparedness for secondary school language learning’. EPSRC MRC Dr Slawomir Nasuto from Systems Engineering Professor Jon Gibbins from Biological Sciences Sugar Nutrition UK has been awarded £509,000 for his project has been awarded £1,175,779 for his ‘Study of the Professor Julie Lovegrove from Food and ‘Brain-computer interface for monitoring and role of secreted platelet thiol isomerases in the Nutritional Sciences has been awarded £169,175 inducing affective states’. regulation of platelet function, haemostasis and for her project ‘Impact of reformulated sugar- Dr Wayne Hayes from Chemistry has thrombosis’. reduced product consumption on energy and been awarded £387,000 for his project Professor Ian Jones from Biological Sciences nutrient intake, weight and plasma lipid and ‘Supramolecular polyurethanes and their has been awarded £333,148 for his project ‘The glucoseconcentrations’. composites: properties and engineering identification of the disulphide bonds in HIV Scottish and Southern Energy performance’. gp120 whose reduction is required for cell entry Professor Peter Grindrod from Mathematics and their manipulation for immunogen design’. ESRC has been awarded £1,924,872 for his ‘TVV Project Professor Chris Garforth from Agriculture National Centre for Scientific Research – Phase 2’. has been awarded £396,645 for ‘Innovation Professor Rowan Sutton from Meteorology has Technology Strategy Board systems, agricultural growth and rural been awarded £393,469 for ‘PRECLIDE: Decadal Professor Julie Lovegrove from Food and livelihoods in East Africa’. climate predictability’. Nutritional Sciences has been awarded £297,134 European Commission NERC for her project ‘Validating heart health benefits Professor from Meteorology Professor Bryan Lawrence from Meteorology of new and improved broccoli variety’. has been awarded £249,357 for his project has been awarded £585,323 for ‘NCAS: CMS University of Oxford ‘ECLIPSE: Evaluating the climate and air quality 2011/2012’. Professor Lynne Murray from Psychology impacts of short-lived pollutants’. Dr Amos Lawless from Mathematics has been has been awarded £250,000 for her project Professor Irene Mueller-Harvey from Agriculture awarded £355,368 for his project ‘Treatment of ‘Using MEG to study the effect of craniofacial has been awarded £816,894 for ‘Optimising plant model bias in coupled atmosphere-ocean data abnormalities on the early parent-infant polyphenols in legumes for ruminant nutrition assimilation’. relationship and deliver an intervention study’.

Issue 14 | 2012 19 Research Review For more information, please contact: Communications Office University of Reading PO Box 217 Whiteknights Reading, RG6 6AH Research Review is produced [email protected] twice a year by the University of Reading Communications Tel (0118) 378 8408 Office. Designed and produced www.reading.ac.uk/research by the Design & Print Studio.