COMMENTTHE COLLEGE NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO 147 | MAY 2003 TOM WHIPPS DNA pioneers: The surviving members of the King’s team, who worked on the discovery of the structure of DNA 50 years ago, with James Watson, their Cambridge ‘rival’ at the time. From left Ray Gosling, Herbert Wilson, DNA at King’s: James Watson and Maurice Wilkins the continuing story Prize for his contribution – and their teams, but also to subse- A day of celebrations quent generations of scientists at King’s. ver 600 guests attended a cant scientific discovery of the Four Nobel Laureates – Mau- unique day of events celeb-rat- 20th century,’ in the words of rice Wilkins, James Watson, Sid- ing King’s role in the 50th Principal Professor Arthur Lucas, O ney Altman and Tim Hunt – anniversary of the discovery of the ‘and their research changed attended the event which was so double helix structure of DNA on the world’. oversubscribed that the proceed- 22 April. The day paid tribute not only to ings were relayed by video link to Scientists at King’s played a King’s DNA pioneers Rosalind the Chapel and lecture theatre 2C. fundamental role in this momen- Franklin and Maurice Wilkins – tous discovery – ‘the most signifi- who went onto win the Nobel continued on page 2 2 Funding news | 3 Peace Operations Review | 5 Widening participation | 8 25 years of Anglo-French law | 11 Margaret Atwood at King’s | 12 Susan Gibson wins Rosalind Franklin Award | 15 Focus: School of Law | 16 Research news | 18 Books | 19 KCLSU election results | 20 Arts News continued from page 1 myself alone, working below the level of the Thames and piping hydrogen into the camera. I think The day began at the Strand it’s safe to say I was quite worried! campus where the original research There was no circulation of air was undertaken. A presentation and I was sure the chemistry by BBC science correspondent, department would come in the Fergus Walsh, not only gave a next day to find little Ray all over stimulating and informative the walls! insight into the history of the dis- ‘I realised that the hydrogen covery, but also an opportunity to was leaking out of the camera and hear abut the work in the 1950s at we sealed the base of it with seal- first hand with his on-stage ing wax. This still left the collima- conversations with Ray Gosling tor leaking gas which was a TOM WHIPPS and Herbert Wilson, who worked problem until Maurice produced Celebrations commence: Principal Professor Arthur Lucas starts the proceedings closely with Franklin and Wilkins. a condom and suggested using to the day of events commemorating King's role in the discovery of the double helix They revealed just how they structure of DNA that!’ achieved the first clear crystalline DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) we take for granted today. Indeed, been working on this event for image of DNA using a handy con- has two forms, A and B, depend- Photo 51 has a very strong claim to over two years so it was tremen- dom to seal hydrogen gas inside ing on how moist it is. In order be the most important photograph dously satisfying to see so many the camera. to see how much hydrogen was ever taken. people enjoying themselves on Crystalline X-ray photos take being fed into the camera, Gosling Following the historical presen- the day. An astonishing amount of bubbled the gas through water. tation in the Great Hall were con- work went into the event, not One of the most Serendipitously this humidified it tributions by current King’s only from the Public Relations to 75 per cent, which switched it to scientists – Adrian Hayday, Ellen Department, but from people all important days in the the A form and resulted in a clear Solomon, Andrew Lumsden and over the College. Many thanks to College’s history image. When Franklin arrived at Carla Molteni – whose research is our speakers, and also to the King’s she modified the tech- only possible as a result of the dis- porters, AV services, caterers, nique, suggesting bubbling the covery of the DNA structure. security, cleaners and other staff gas through salt water, which In the afternoon a one-act play and students who pulled together up to 100 hours to develop so the meant the humidity of the gas at The National Theatre explored to make this, fittingly, one of the scientists realised that a gas was could be changed at will. Humidi- the ethical implications of the most important days in the Col- needed to fill the interior of the fying up to 95 per cent produced discovery, and this was followed lege’s history.’ camera in order to lose the foggy the B form and now famous Photo by a debated, chaired by Joan effect created by air. Hydrogen 51, the image that gave away the Bakewell held, appropriately, at was chosen and fed into the old double helix structure, producing the Franklin-Wilkins Building. camera through a tube. biomolecular science, and much Chris Coe, Director of Commu- Professor Gosling explains: of the understanding of the world nications, commented: ‘We have ‘There were many nights I found The overall Hefce block grant allocation for purposes, and of particular note is the £0.9 mil- teaching and research has been provisionally lion allocated for improving student retention set at £96 million, an increase of £2.6 million and the £3.6 million allocated to support the Funding or 2.8 per cent over the current year. This is College’s human resources strategy. made up of an increase in Hefce quality The total Hefce recurrent grant for 2003/04 research (QR) funding of £3.3 million or 8.9 per including the block grant and specific funding cent to £40.8 million offset by a reduction in allocations is £101.2 million. news baseline Hefce teaching (T) funding of £0.7 mil- Finally and on a more positive note the Col- lion or 1.2 per cent to £55.2 million. lege separately received notification of addi- The reduction in the baseline T funding tional Hefce capital funding under the Science Stephen Large, Director of follows a change in the Hefce funding formula Research Investment Fund round two (SRIF II) Finance, explains the recent to set aside funds earmarked for widening of £36.8 million with a matching funding funding allocation. access and improving retention programmes, requirement of 10 per cent. This needs to be and equates to a cash reduction in baseline spent over the period April 2004 to March The College has now received the annual funding per student of £181 or 3.4 per cent 2006 in support of science research and the grant letter from Hefce setting out recurrent over the current year. College is currently considering how best to funding allocations for the academic year The grant letter also provides details of spe- invest this funding in accordance with its over- 2003/04. cial funding allocations earmarked for specific all strategic objectives. 2|COMMENT | May 2003 News Virtually King’s UN’s role as peace- rospective students can now look round the College with- Pout even leaving their desks. A virtual web tour, with supporting keeper reviewed text, of three King’s campuses plus the Maughan Library has been launched by the Student ollowing the end of military to produce as comprehensive a report is both to provide analysis Recruitment & Exchanges Office. operations in Iraq, attention review of peace operations as pos- and to make practicable and con- As well at being able to view Fis now focused on the peace- sible. We undertook a compara- crete recommendations for action. the Strand, Waterloo and Guy’s keeping operation and the issues tive study analysing what works Ms Dahrendorf explained: campuses, students can, amongst that face the Coalition in order and what doesn’t work, and came ‘The question as to whether UN other things, experience small to stabilise and reconstruct the up with very practical recommen- peacekeepers are still relevant is group teaching, look into a lab, country. dations of how things could be obviously enormously topical at see the splendour of the Strand A substantial and incisive changed.’ the moment but I think the ques- Chapel and glance into a PAWS review of UN peace operations tion has to be broader – is the UN room. The use of arrow buttons entitled: A Review of Peace Opera- still relevant? I think what this means the viewer can control tions: A Case for Change was Up-to-date assessment report advocates very strongly is how they see the rooms. launched by the Conflict Security of the realities of that the UN has a terribly impor- Not to be left out on any tour of & Development Group at King’s tant role to play but it’s really only the College is the opportunity to on 30 April. It is funded by peacekeeping operations as good as the governments that find out what the Union offers. the governments of Canada, Ger- empower it and enable it to func- The Waterfront Bar, K4 Fitness many, Norway, Sweden and the tion properly. It’s not a body by and the Resource Centre all fea- United Kingdom. The analysis and recommenda- itself it’s a forum of member states ture on the trip round the College. As events in post-war Iraq tions in the report are based on and I think that mustn’t be forgot- Claire Gascoigne, Higher Edu- unfold, the questions being asked reviews of the operations in East ten.’ cation Marketing Officer, led are precisely those to which this Timor, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, as Two of the key areas addressed the project.