Issue 277 ▸ 30 october 2014 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community Spark of inspiration
The new Imperial partnership supporting UK primary science → centre pages
Equality in Cosmology for Kick off enterprise the people Imperial’s new New prize for Roberto Trotta’s Heston sports entrepreneurial refreshing new ground opens female students addition to pop Page 13 Page 2 science literature Page 12 2 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277
Imperial and Houston Methodist explore medical collaborations
editor’s corner London Boris Johnson visited Imperial to launch MedCity: an initiative to position London and the greater south Opening east as a world-leading region for life science research, development, manufacturing and commercialisation. doors Imperial’s Professor David Gann, Vice President (Development & Innovation), and Professor Dermot Kelleher, Vice President (Health), signed the I have a strong memory Memorandum of Understanding with Houston Methodist from when I was younger Research Institute President and CEO Dr Mauro Ferrari of my father telling me after a tour of Houston Methodist’s clinical and scientific that everything around facilities. Imperial’s Provost Professor James Stirling also us – including the chairs signed the MoU. we sit on, air we breathe Professor Kelleher said: “Houston Methodist Research and even our bodies – is Institute has outstanding strengths in the clinical and made up of tiny particles translational medical areas and Imperial is excited to be called atoms, so small that Houston Methodist, one of the United States’ most exploring the development of new collaborative research millions of them would fit prestigious medical centres, is to explore joint education and education programmes. in a pin head. and research opportunities with Imperial. “There is great synergy between our biomedical, The notion that there science and engineering strengths that potentially was something going on The aim of the collaboration is to develop new medical unlocks new clinical and scientific student exchange ‘behind the scenes’ from technologies, as well as educational opportunities programmes, new clinical trials capabilities and what we can see in everyday for Imperial medical students, postgraduates and new approaches to therapeutic and medical device life really captivated me. postdoctoral fellows to study in Houston. development.” I was lucky that my father The news comes six months after the Mayor of –Andrew Scheuber, Communications and Public Affairs was a chemist, but every child, no matter their background, should be able to walk through that door of discovery whether they intend to be scientists New programme to inspire future female entrepreneurs or not. As a world leading Imperial has teamed up with the Althea Foundation science institution, quite to invest $100,000 in a three-year pioneering simply it makes sense for entrepreneurship programme and prize for Imperial to get involved women students. with school science education as early as Female undergraduates and postgraduates across the possible. That’s the aim of College were invited to submit their business ideas. a new online resource for The Althea-Imperial programme will now help them primary school teachers develop these ideas through a range of mentoring developed through sessions and workshops featuring business leaders a pioneering College before pitching to a judging panel in May 2015. partnership. It’s early Leading figures and supporters of women in days, but there’s some entrepreneurship gathered on 24 October to celebrate Dame Stephanie Shirley, British businesswoman and real excitement about the launch of the Althea-Imperial programme. philanthropist what it, and schemes like Entrepreneurs and keynote speakers Sherry Coutu it, might achieve and Dame Stephanie Shirley joined Imperial’s President to inspire, invest in and unlock the talent of the UK’s for future generations Alice Gast and programme champion Professor Maggie next generation of women entrepreneurs.” (centre pages). Dallman, Associate Provost (Academic Partnerships) Alexsis de Raadt St. James, Founder and Chairman andrew czyzewski, Editor Designate. They talked about their experiences, shared of The Althea Foundation, added: “Although more their entrepreneurial wisdom, and encouraged female women are studying for STEM degrees than before, Reporter is published every students to apply to the programme. over 70% of them drop out of STEM careers. This new three weeks during term time Professor Alice Gast. “If we are serious about programme aims to reverse this loss of investment in print and online. economic growth, we must find more ways to support and talent by providing support for female Imperial Contact Andrew Czyzewski: women in STEM fields and encourage them to pursue students to pursue their entrepreneurship ambitions, [email protected] their ideas and start their own businesses. We look and become the business leaders of the future.” forward to working with mentors and business leaders −Natasha Martineau, Communications and Public Affairs 3 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277 >> newsupdate
Flying robots lab gets Singaporean President visits Imperial the go ahead as collaborations grow
The Singaporean President Tony A new £1.25 million arena for Tan Keng Yam visited Imperial on flying the next generation Friday 24 October as the university of aerial robots will be celebrated and strengthened its constructed at Imperial thanks deep links with Singapore. to a generous donation. As well as Singaporean students The global market value forming one of the College’s of unmanned aerial robot largest groups from overseas, manufacturing is expected to Imperial’s connections with reach an estimated $US 89 the city state include the billion in the next ten years. joint medical school with These robots have a range Nanyang Technological of potential applications University, LKCMedicine, and including search and rescue, a new cybersecurity research wildlife conservation and agreement signed this week (see inspection and repair of below, in brief). President Tan meeting some of industrial facilities, particularly in hazardous environments. President Tan’s visit marks Imperial’s 400 Singaporean students Imperial aims to capitalise on its position as one of the the second occasion that Imperial UK’s leading centres for aerial robotics research with the has hosted a State Visit within a “By working together, the UK development of a new state-of-the-art laboratory at its South year, after President Park Geun- and Singapore can greatly extend Kensington Campus – made possible thanks to a gift from Mr hye of South Korea visited in their capacity to produce high- Brahmal Vasudevan, an Imperial alumnus. Based in Malaysia, November 2013. quality research, tackle grand Mr Vasudevan is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of one At the end of President Tan’s challenges and commercialise of Asia’s leading private equity firms Creador. four-day visit to the UK, he viewed new technologies. Together we Imperial’s President, Professor Alice Gast, said: “Aerial some of Imperial’s education are driving innovation for the UK, robotics has a tremendous range of applications, and Imperial and research accomplishments, Singapore and the whole world.” is well-equipped to play a pivotal role in this nascent industry. including the College’s four- During a State Banquet Brahmal Vasudevan’s generosity and vision will allow our storey Carbon Capture Pilot Plant for President Tan on Tuesday students, academics and industrial partners to rapidly advance – the most advanced of its kind evening, Her Majesty The Queen research and innovation in this exciting field.” in the world. Both the British and highlighted LKCMedicine’s work, The Brahmal Vasudevan Aerial Robotics Lab will consist of Singaporean governments have saying: “Today Imperial College is a two storey laboratory and workshop, hosted by the City and made carbon capture technology helping to train a new generation Guilds building, on its roof. It will have teaching facilities for national priorities of Singaporean doctors, just one undergraduates and postgraduates, housing a workshop for President Tan was welcomed of many important partnerships manufacturing aerial robots and an enclosed arena for safely by Imperial’s President Alice Gast, that it and other UK universities carrying out test flights. Dr Mirko Kovac (pictured above) will serve who also sits on the Singaporean are building with Singapore.” as Director of the new Brahmal Vasudevan Aerial Robotics Lab. Ministry of Education’s Academic –Andrew Scheuber, Communications and –Colin Smith, Communications and Public Affairs Research Council. Public Affairs
Protecting industrial student programmes at Institute were both infrastructure the PhD level. At Imperial, successful in renewing It took years Making infrastructure the partnership will be their Silver Awards, of unrecognised more safe and secure led by the Institute in while the Department of will be the focus of a new Industrial Control Systems Surgery and Cancer and effort classified as partnership between in conjunction with the the Institute of Clinical in brief Imperial and the Singapore Institute for Security Sciences & the MRC ‘Friday afternoon’ University of Technology Science and Technology, Clinical Sciences Centre research – considered and Design (SUTD). The both headed by Professor achieved Bronze. Athena two have signed a five-year Chris Hankin. SWAN awards recognise so unpromising that agreement that aims to and celebrate good it was not backed as improve the trustworthiness Athena SWAN success practice in recruiting, of critical infrastructure, Four Imperial Departments retaining and promoting an official research and to protect the devices have been recognised women in STEMM for regulating them called with Athena SWAN awards (Science, Technology, project.”
industrial control systems, for their work to promote Engineering, Medicine PROFESSOR DONAL BRADLEY, vice from cyber threats. The female academics. The and Mathematics) in PROVOST (RESEARCH) HAILS THE NOBEL relationship will enmesh Department of Chemical higher education, with PRIZE FOR PHYSICS AWARDED TO JAPANESE PROFESSORS ISAMU AKASAKI, HIROSHI the two universities via Engineering and the each award lasting for AMANO AND SHUJI NAKAMURA FOR academic research and National Heart and Lung three years. INVENTING THE BLUE LED. 4 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277
Main animal research President Gast’s first address allegations against Imperial to graduates not upheld
More than 2,200 undergraduate Centre in Abu Dhabi, which since 2006 students gathered at the Royal Albert has helped more than 100,000 people Hall on 22 October to receive their afflicted by the condition. degrees at Imperial’s Commemoration Professor Jenny Higham, Vice Day ceremonies. Dean (Education and Institutional Affairs) for the Faculty of Medicine, The ceremonies, attended by some was presented with an Imperial 6,600 guests, were the first for College Medal to mark her outstanding Imperial’s new President Professor contributions to the establishment of Alice Gast. the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine Congratulating the students she in Singapore, a partnership with said: “I hope that you take all that Nanyang Technological University. An extensive Home Office investigation has not you have learned and experienced Six members of staff also received substantiated the main allegations made in April at Imperial and put it to work for President & Rector’s Medals at the 2013 by the anti-vivisection organisation that yourself, your family, your community ceremony, including Professor Mary infiltrated Imperial. and the world.” Morrell (Faculty of Medicine) Dr Imperial also honoured others William Knottenbelt (Computing), Dr The Animals in Science Regulation Unit Inspectorate who have made contributions to the John Gibbons (Mathematics), report found no evidence to substantiate the main College, research and wider society Dr Rudiger Woscholski (Chemistry), claims of the allegations by BUAV that there was with honorary degrees and Imperial Dr Maria Toro-Troconis, (School of “appalling animal suffering on a very large scale” or College medals. Medicine) and Mr Ian Gillett “wholly inadequate care of animals by Imperial staff”. Imperial staff among them (Safety Department). The report also notes that during Home Office included Her Excellency Professor Student Awards for Outstanding inspections there was “evidence of researchers Maha Barakat, who was awarded an Achievement were also presented making innovative refinements to procedures to Imperial College Medal in recognition to Caroline Wood (Chemistry) reduce distress to the animals and of researchers of the outstanding contribution and Alireza Tahmasebzadeh being trained… to reduce pain and distress”. she has made as co-founder of the (Bioengineering) for excellence in Of the 180 individual allegations made by Imperial College London Diabetes extracurricular activities. BUAV, 175 were found to be unsubstantiated and five instances of individual non-compliance were substantiated. These were classed as categories A and B, on a scale of A-D where A is the least severe, and they have now been addressed. The report also details institutional shortcomings in the management and culture around animal research, which were raised with the College earlier this year. The Home Office has confirmed that it is satisfied with the College’s Action Plan to address the issues identified, which includes revising its governance structure, improving its ethical review process, strengthening support for operational management and implementing better systems for training and sharing good practice through stronger communications. Provost James Stirling said: “We are pleased that the investigation recognises the quality of care provided by our staff and the work of our researchers. We recognise that there have been problems with the culture and management around our animal research. We are sorry for these shortcomings and we have addressed them through considerable efforts and investment in our animal research infrastructure, to improve our culture of care and to ensure that we meet the very highest standards in our animal research.”
–Laura Gallagher and Natasha Martineau, Communications Imperial’s President Alice Gast (left) and Chair Eliza Manningham-Buller speak with graduates and Public Affairs 5 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277 >> newsupdate
Join our mailing list media mentions for regular news alerts: www.imperial.ac.uk/media/jointsignup
Face of woe behind expert says. Professor Jim Skea, a vice-chair the gold mask of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, says the EU’s plan to cut CO2 SUNDAY TIMES ▸ 19.10.14 emissions by 40% by 2030 is too weak. “I don’t think many people have grasped Scientists have produced the just how huge this task is,” he said to most detailed images yet of BBC News. “It is absolutely extraordinary the face and body of the ancient and unprecedented. My guess is that 40% for Animal rights exposés Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, which 2030 is too little too late if we are really serious ‘nothing of the kind’ suggests that he had an overbite, feminine hips about our long-term targets.” and a club foot. The research, which is based THE GUARDIAN ▸ 7.10.14 on than 2,000 computerised tomography (CT) UK life sciences seek scans and a study of Tutankhamun’s lineage, The UK Home Office recently published the forms the basis of a forthcoming television angel investors findings of its investigations into allegations documentary. Hutan Ashrafian (Surgery and FINANCIAL TIMES ▸ 21.10.14 of animal suffering, made after undercover Cancer) who worked on the programme, told infiltrations at animal research facilities including The Sunday Times that there is clear evidence City professionals will be Imperial. “We now know that the stories were of a hereditary illness. “Only his immediate line urged to pour some of their largely untrue,” writes Fiona Fox, Chief Executive were dying early and they were dying earlier personal wealth into medical of the Science Media Centre, in The Guardian (also each generation,” he says. “The one thing that research and technology this week as part of see page 4 Reporter). “There is no excuse for any links them all is a hormonal imbalance.” a push to attract more angel investment into lapses in animal welfare and I fully support the UK life sciences, the FT reports. Launched on right of activists and the media to uncover and EU emission targets Wednesday, the latest scheme is part of the expose abuses,” Fox says, adding: “However, ‘will fail to protect climate’ broader MedCity project aimed at establishing the huge discrepancy between the allegations London and the southeast as Europe’s top life reported prominently in national newspapers BBC NEWS ▸ 20.10.14 science hub. MedCity was launched in April by and the truth should worry anyone who cares Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, to increase about the accurate reporting of Europe’s leaders are about to consign the Earth collaboration between Imperial College, King’s science in the media.” to the risk of dangerous climate change, a UN College and University College London. awards and these went to Imperial students at the Medical Research Council NATURAL SCIENCES honours Henrik Hagemann, Bianca de Clinical Research Centre, which Quantum Knight honoured Blasi, Matthew Murchie and has evolved over the years into Teodora Negoita. what is now the Glycosciences Laboratory of Imperial, holding ENGINEERING the largest and most diverse Boost for stand-out MEDICINE student engineers Glycobiology pioneer library of carbohydrate materials in the world. Four Imperial students have Professor been awarded a prestigious Ten Feizi is MEDICINE grant of £1,000 each from the recipient Faraday Medal for the Institution of Engineering of the 2014 Toumazou and Technology (IET). The IET Rosalind grants are part of its awards Kornfeld A leading inventor of medical Quantum physics expert and prizes scheme, which, in Award for device technology has been Professor Sir Peter Knight has 2013, provided over £1,000,000 Lifetime awarded the highest honour from become an Honorary Fellow to celebrate excellence and Achievement the UK’s Institution of Engineering of the Institute of Physics, its innovation in the sector and in Glycobiology. The honour and Technology (IET). Professor highest honour. Sir Peter, an encourage the next generation of is bestowed by the Society of Chris Toumazou, Regius Professor Emeritus Professor at Imperial engineers and technicians. This Glycobiology in recognition of of Engineering, has been awarded and its former Deputy Rector for year, the IET awarded ten grants her many achievements in the the IET’s 2014 Faraday Medal for Research, has been recognised of £1,000, for students starting fields of structure analysis, his pioneering work in inventing for his major contributions to their second, third or fourth immunology and function of semiconductor DNA sequencing physics, as well as his influential year of an IET-accredited degree glycans over nearly 50 years. She with the ability to revolutionise leadership roles and his service course in autumn 2014. Four of developed her research group healthcare and save lives. to the Institute of Physics (IoP). 6 >> scienceroundup www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277
First images of breast cancer susceptibility protein aids understanding
Scientists have taken pictures microscopy to reveal its effectively to prevent cancer. of the BRCA2 protein for the first structure and how it interacts We can also think about how time, showing how it works to with other proteins and DNA. to make the repair process less repair damaged DNA. The study was led by effective in cancer cells, so that Professor Xiaodong Zhang they die.”
Mutations in the (Medicine) and Dr Stephen West The study found that BRCA2 In the genes gene that encodes at the London Research Institute. proteins work in pairs – which Around one in 1000 people in the UK BRCA2 are well “This study improves the researchers found surprising have a mutation in the BRCA2 gene. The known for raising our understanding of a since BRCA2 is one of the largest lifetime risk of breast cancer for women with BRCA2 mutations is 40 to 85 per the risk of breast fundamental cause of proteins in the cell. cent, depending on the mutation, cancer and cancer,” he said. “It’s our BRCA2 works in partnership compared with around 12 per cent for other cancers. first view of how the protein with another protein called the general population. Many women Although the looks and how it works, RAD51. BRCA2 helps RAD51 who test positive for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations choose to undergo surgery protein was known and it gives us a platform molecules to assemble on to reduce their risk of breast cancer. to be involved in to design new experiments strands of broken DNA and form Mutations can also raise the risk of DNA repair, its shape to probe its mechanism filaments. The RAD51 filaments other cancers, such as ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer. The BRCA1 and mechanism have in greater detail. Once then search for matching and BRCA2 genes encode proteins been unclear, making we have added more strands of DNA in order to repair involved in DNA repair. The DNA in our it impossible to target detail to the picture, the break. cells undergoes damage thousands of with therapies. we can design The research was funded by times a day, caused by toxic chemicals, metabolic by-products and ultraviolet Now researchers ways to correct the Medical Research Council radiation. Repair mechanisms correct have purified defects in BRCA2 and the Wellcome Trust. most of this damage, but unrepaired the protein and and help cells damage can lead to cancer. –Sam Wong, Communications used electron repair DNA more and Public Affairs
Understanding how the cold virus can trigger asthma attacks
Researchers have identified a molecular from the lungs of asthmatics to cells from mechanism that could explain why the common healthy volunteers and demonstrated that, cold can bring on life-threatening asthma when infected with a rhinovirus, asthmatic lung attacks and also suggest potential targets for cells produce around 10-fold higher levels of new drugs that could be more effective than IL-25. To examine IL-25 expression directly in the existing treatments. airways the researchers then infected asthmatic and healthy volunteers with a rhinovirus and Although illnesses caused by rhinoviruses found that asthmatics had a higher level of IL-25 are usually relatively mild for most people, in nasal secretions. they can also infect the lungs and, in people Professor Sebastian Johnston (NHLI), with respiratory diseases such as asthma, joint lead author, said: “Asthma attacks are they can trigger severe attacks, sometimes still a huge healthcare problem. Existing leading to hospitalisation. medication containing inhaled steroids, are Quick Facts The new study confirmed that a small molecule highly effective at controlling regular asthma or cytokine called IL-25 may play a central role in symptoms, but during an attack the symptoms 235 million the effects of rhinoviruses on asthmatics. worsen and can lead to the patient going to people suffer from asthma Dr Nathan Bartlett (National Heart and hospital. This new study provides exciting worldwide and asthma Lung Institute), joint lead author, said: results about potential ways to address this is the most common “IL-25 appears to trigger a chain of events that big unmet medical need.” noncommunicable disease causes attacks. By targeting this molecule at The next steps are to test blocking IL-25 among children the top of the cascade, we could potentially in humans, and to investigate other possible discover a much-needed new treatment to pathways that could be important in asthma 5.4 million control this potentially life-threatening reaction attacks and pool this knowledge to develop people in the UK are currently in asthma sufferers.” effective treatments. receiving treatment for asthma The research team compared cells taken –Francesca Davenport, Communications and Public Affairs 7 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277 >> scienceroundup
Wearable sensor warns of respiratory disease
Researchers have developed a wearable, wireless device which sticks onto a person’s neck or chest to detect sounds emanating from the heart and respiratory system.
AcuPebble uses advanced algorithms to sift through a range of sounds to determine only the ones that may indicate deteriorating health or illness in patients. The researchers believe that AcuPebble could be used to improve the diagnosis of a range of respiratory and cardiac conditions, including sleep World record laser heralds new apnoea, whooping cough, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. data communication potential Dr Esther Rodriguez-Villegas (Electrical and Electronic Engineering), who has led the research Scientists have designed a record- measure their speed.” and development for the past five years, points out breaking laser that could potentially Senior author Dr Rupert Oulton that hundreds of millions of people suffer every day open up applications in fast, optical (Physics) added: “This work is so from chronic respiratory diseases. data transfer. exciting because we are engineering “It is almost certain that many of us will be the interaction of light and matter to faced with these health conditions in our lives,” he A team from Imperial and the Friedrich- drive light generation in materials said. “However, there aren’t sufficient resources Schiller-Universität Jena, in Germany, much faster than it occurs naturally. for doctors to give an early and quick diagnosis used semiconductor nanowires made When we first started working on this, to everyone. We need accurate and reliable of zinc oxide as a laser medium and I would have been happy to speed up technologies that can speed up diagnosis and free placed them on a silver surface to switching speeds to a picosecond, up resources in hospitals, while also improving the create ultra-fast lasers. which is one trillionth of a second. But quality of life for patients. We believe that AcuPebble Key to their setup was the ability we’ve managed to go even faster, to can provide an easy-to-use diagnostic tool, making to shrink their nanowires down to just the point where the properties of the personal health information accessible to trusted 120 nanometres in diameter – around a material itself set a speed limit.” sources anywhere in the world, ultimately improving thousandth the diameter of human hair —Gail Wilson, Communications and Public Affairs how we look after ourselves.” – by using surface plasmons, which are AcuPebble could be used in a range of clinical wave-like motions of excited electrons settings including as a diagnostic tool, a health found at the surface of metals. monitor and as an early warning device. The hope Using these surface plasmons they is that the sensor will collect data in real-time and were able to squeeze light into a much transmit this information to an application that could smaller space inside the laser, which Laser basics be downloaded onto any smart device, so that doctors allowed it to interact much more strongly The are several different types of can monitor their patients anywhere in the world. lasers that use different types of laser with the zinc oxide, increasing the speed medium – either solid, gas, liquid or –Colin Smith Communications and Public Affairs the laser beam could be switched. semiconductor – to create light with The research group, known as team GUES, are now in the final different characteristics. But all have The researchers believe that theirs round of the $US 2.25 million Nokia Sensing XCHALLENGE, an certain essential features in common. is one of the fastest lasers recorded to international competition to develop breakthrough medical When operated, the laser medium must sensing technologies. To vote, visit: http://bit.ly/teamgues date, in terms of the speed at which first be ‘pumped’ to get its atoms into it can turn on and off on demand – an excited state, typically done with recording in the terahertz frequency very intense flashes of light or electrical range (1012 times per second). discharges. The laser medium now contains a collection of atoms with their One of the uses of this technology electrons sitting in excited levels. Just as could be to improve communication the electrons absorbed some amount of technology by generating faster data energy to reach this excited level, they can connection speeds and speeding up the relax back and in doing so release this energy. This emitted energy is released in transfer of information, as lead author the form of photons of light energy that are Themis Sidiropoulos (Physics), who is of a very specific wavelength (colour), are currently completing his PhD, explains. coherent (each photon is organised and moves in step with the others) and very “Turning a laser on and off quicker directional (a tight, concentrated beam). In means more information carrying 1s the new lasers the researchers designed, and 0s per second, allowing much light is squeezed into a compact space faster data communications. In fact, where it interacts more strongly with the atomic excitations. This allows the laser to these lasers are so much faster than emit its energy faster than it would if used conventional electronics that we had to in a larger laser system. The AcuPebble device is slightly larger than a pound coin develop an optical switching method to 8 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277
A Spark of inspiration
More than 40 members of “When I was a child in South Africa, my Dad As a step towards addressing this need, loved looking at the planets, and he built his own Imperial has recently partnered with primary Imperial staff have helped telescope – so the first view I had of Jupiter and science resource Tigtag to provide continuing create a unique online Saturn was from my front garden. I always thought professional development (CPD) support to primary it would be really cool to get involved in planetary school teachers. resource to aid primary school science, but I never thought I would be able to do it.” Known as ‘Reach Out CPD’, the web-based That child grew up to lead an experiment on programme will equip teachers with resources and teachers spread the wonder a space mission currently orbiting around Saturn ideas to support their teaching and engage primary of science in their classes. and is leading another experiment heading to school children across the UK in the wonder of Jupiter in 2022. Professor Michele Dougherty’s early primary science. experiences are not uncommon among successful The scheme is being led by Professor Debra scientists – many can recall a moment when they felt Humphris, Vice Provost for Education, and Professor that first kindling of discovery. Maggie Dallman, Associate Provost for Academic Clearly what followed for Michele and Partnerships Designate (see Maggie’s piece, others was a lifetime of hard work and opposite page) and is championed by Lord Robert dedication, but those early influences Winston, Professor of Science and Society. shouldn’t be underestimated. Indeed, Debra says: “Our staff and students already fostering such inspiration in as many undertake a huge amount of outreach work with children as possible is an important schools. We’ve traditionally done this with the aim for us as a society, laying the path secondary sector but there’s evidence that we need for future professional scientists, to start at a much younger age to inspire children engineers and medics – but also about science.” developing an entire generation Lord Winston adds: “If you’re going to single that is able to think more out one of the most important jobs in our society critically about an ever more it has to be teaching. We need to nurture, value complex world. and promote teachers. To give them the career 9 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277 >> featurefocus
professional development and support they need is so important. If you really want to change your society, BACK TO SCHOOL you’ve got to invest in the youngest children.” More than 40 members of Imperial academic staff – including Michele Dougherty, Lord Winston and Professor Sir Steve Bloom as well as more junior researchers – have been involved in the production of Reach Out CPD, explaining their work alongside key scientific concepts in specialist films produced by Tigtag. One such academic is Dr Peter Vincent (Aeronautics), Senior Lecturer and EPSRC Early Career Fellow. He appears on film in Imperial’s Honda Wind Tunnel, describing how understanding patterns of air flow over racing cars and aircraft can translate into a better understanding of blood flow in the human body, which can be used to tackle clinical challenges in patients. It was the first time Peter had ever undertaken any dedicated outreach activities. “We had to do a number of re-takes, with the producers telling me to bring the difficulty level down As part of the launch of Reach Out CPD, project lead Professor Maggie each time! But it was fun and certainly worthwhile. Dallman returned to her former primary school, Hayes School in Bromley, Clearly the technical details won’t be there at primary to promote the initiative and carry out some of the experiments detailed level, but if we can introduce the principles of scientific in the online toolkit. Maggie recalls the experience below. inquiry and an element of quantitative and rational thinking, that’s the key. “Being the first time I’d ever returned to the school, it was rather strange. “Also it would be good to challenge preconceptions in My overriding memory was of the big beautiful playing fields, since I was some quarters that science is boring and art is creative. very sporty at both primary and secondary school. My fear was either that Both my parents went to the Royal College of Art and I they’d been sold off, as so many have, or that they were much smaller grew up making things, so for me it was perfectly natural than I imagined. But thankfully they were there in all their glory. There to then move into science – I’ve always viewed research was also a jolting memory as I was walking down the corridor of warming as an extremely up our milk bottle provisions on the radiators when they were frozen in creative process.” the winter. I can still taste that luke-warm icicle-laced mush! The first 20-minute After explaining to a class that I had attended the school when I was If you really Reach Out units to a girl, I posed perhaps a rather dangerous question in asking the children want to change be released cover how long ago they thought it had been. After a lengthy silence someone topics ranging tentatively put up their hand: ‘...about 120 years ago?’ Luckily the next your society, you’ve from energy to the suggestion was nearer the mark at 40 years. got to invest in the digestive system. Each On a serious note though, it does bring it home the point that it’s youngest children.” includes videos and difficult for children to think about the future – what they will be doing and interactive elements how the future will affect them. That’s part of why we wanted to go back to that highlight the the school because Reach Out CPD is all about the future engagement of applications of children with science and if we don’t capture their excitement at that level, science and encourage learning through peer discussions we might have lost them as potential scientists of the future. and reflective self-analysis. By early 2015 units covering all Not all of those primary children are going to turn out to be of the UK curricula will be available. scientists. But increasing the general level of science literacy is really “The joy of the resources being online is that they important, because we’re making decisions every day in our lives – can be accessed anywhere and at anytime,” says about what we eat and drink, our behaviour and lifestyle – that are Debra Humphris. “So, while we can’t reach all teachers made on the basis of very difficult to interpret and often contradictory physically, we hope to be making an impact in primary evidence from the media. I’m not saying we’re going to change things schools across the UK.” overnight, but we want to engage across the lifespan of an individual to There’s evidence that teachers have already responded try and get them questioning more. enthusiastically to the resources. Sam Sims, Headteacher We carried out some very simple experiments, replicating aspects of of Meadows Primary School in Ipswich, says: “I’ve just digestion, with basic kitchenware and ingredients. The really important taught a lesson on rocks and was able to use some of the part was that each and every child got to do some part of the experiment examples I saw in the films. I’m not a science specialist so – and it’s that hands on aspect of science that can really capture their it’s great to have that information at your fingertips that imagination. They loved it obviously, as it’s revolting, but at the same time you can use in the classroom that same day.” you’re explaining how it relates to what’s going on in their own bodies. At the end of Michele’s film piece she talks about Lastly, we went through the online resource with some of the teachers how future generations of scientists will explore the outer on screen. Once they realised that they could use this to form a lesson edges of the solar system and even other galaxies. Who plan and that there was a facility to make notes, they became even more knows, perhaps the primary school children benefiting positive about the resource and could see immediately how it could help from this latest initiative might be among those them in a very practical way. We’ve got a long way to go to get it being pioneering adventurers. used in every primary school, but there’s been lots of enthusiasm so far.
10 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277 Making excellence routine
Imperial’s Operational Excellence (OE) initiative is well underway at the College, with more than 75 staff trained to use the method to improve the processes they work with
OE is a College-wide programme that Faculty. We check them to make aims to establish more joined-up, sure they are valid and meet various systematic and efficient processes compliance requirements before to support the College’s academic they are handed over for academic mission and better meet the needs of consideration – for example staff and students. ensuring that students have the There are two projects currently appropriate English language running under the OE banner – the requirements or immigration status. Student Information Management After the academic decision about Programme (SIMP) – which examines whether to admit an applicant has the processes around how student been made, we then process the information is managed across the offers to our prospective students. student life cycle at Imperial, and the Staff Recruitment Project – which How are you involved with looks at the administrative procedures Operational Excellence? involved in staff recruitment activities. David Parrott, Admissions Officer I sit on an admissions user group for in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Student Information Management shared his experience of OE training Programme, which at present is those involved in the processes SIMP project, the perspective and how he is putting the skills to use. considering how to ensure that we being reviewed are heard. I gained from the OE training provide the best service possible for has allowed me to see my What is your role at the College? prospective students and applicants. What was the Operational own team with a fresh pair I have been involved with mapping Excellence training like? of eyes, and has already I’m the Admissions and reviewing current admissions helped me to spot ways we Officer for the processes across the It was an intense but very can improve in our day-to-day Faculty of valuable three days. We work. Principally this involves Natural Sciences began by learning the theory ensuring that we are working – my team is The perspective behind OE and models that as effectively and efficiently responsible I gained from the underpin it. One such example as possible – by tackling for the receipt involved a methodological duplication of work and and processing Operational Excellence approach to identifying those ensuring consistency in our of all student training has allowed processes which add value practice across the team. applications me to see my own team and eliminating those that to the aren’t needed or waste our What happens now? with a fresh pair time and resources. Like many of eyes.” of the methodologies behind We’ll be piloting some of the OE, this approach began in proposals to come from the industry or manufacturing, SIMP admissions user group College – identifying and it was interesting to see over the next few months, best practice and areas how it could be translated to and I’ll be interested to see for improvement and complex organisations such how these develop and affect considering how these as Imperial. With this in mind wider change across the processes should we then considered how we College. This doesn’t mean look going forwards. could apply OE to analyse the that the task is over though – These groups provide processes and procedures that we’ll be continuing to review a valuable forum we work with. the work that we do to make for debate and sure that we are providing discussion, ensuring How have you used this the best possible service that the views of knowledge? to our colleagues and prospective students. As well as allowing me –Deborah Evanson, Communications contribute to the broader and Public Affairs
11 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277 insidestory
The really wild Silwood show inside On a sunny September Saturday, scientists at the Silwood Park campus invited the public to connect with the nature on their story doorstep. Gail Wilson, Research Media Officer for Natural Sciences went along to explore mini profile for herself. Whether it was hunting for bugs in the woods, fishing for crayfish in the Silwood pond, holding crested geckos or identifying species caught in Tim Green camera traps in the Kenyan countryside, there were lots of activities on offer, to entertain visitors of all ages. The event was co-hosted by two Imperial Professor Tim Green is the initiatives – Grand Challenges in Ecosystems and the Environment and Open Director of Imperial’s Energy Air Laboratories (OPAL). Futures (EFL) Lab in addition to Professor E.J. Milner-Gulland (Life Sciences), Director of Grand Challenges serving as Deputy Head of the said: “Scientists are not the only people who can help to conserve species. Department of Electrical and The public can also play a pivotal role in helping our natural world to thrive. Electronic Engineering. I’m absolutely thrilled that so many people have come to visit Silwood Park to not only have a fabulous family day out, but also find out more about how to What are the main challenges monitor and protect our wildlife.” in bringing sustainable energy to the UK? Fishing for crayfish in Imperial’s Silwood Park pond There are several, but perhaps the biggest challenge will be “How big are the crayfish?” asked an excited 7 year taking the population with us not going to suddenly stop using old boy – “Big enough to give you a nasty nip on the on that journey. That will mean fossil fuels, but what we need to finger,” replied PhD student Sam Lloyd, leading the significant changes in lifestyle, do is start using carbon capture fishing trip to Silwood Park’s pond. Sam explained such as adapting to modes of and storage technology to lessen to the audience that the crayfish he had captured, transport that are less emitting the climate impact. a species called Pacifastacus leniusculus, were and thinking more about when an invasive species that had outcompeted native and where we use energy so Can the EFL have crayfish originally found in the pond. it matches when and where a global role? sustainable energy can be Clearly moving to sustainable Monitoring species from your laptop or smartphone produced. The technology energy is not something an challenges are enormous, but individual nation can do on its In another exhibit the public got the chance to monitor species as far away as I think the policy and social own. I think it’s important that Mongolia, Indonesia and Kenya without leaving the grounds of Silwood Park. challenges are at least as big if the UK takes a leading position Instant Wild, a conservation project run by the Zoological Society of London not larger. and Imperial has a strong role (ZSL), saw children and adults helping scientists to identify rare species in influencing what the UK pictured in camera traps in the rainforests and great plains of our planet earth. What’s your vision for does. We also need to work the UK’s energy mix in 20 with partner organisations Conserving the countryside in Western South Africa years’ time? around the world. I think the UK has been Showcasing a documentary film about conservation in South Africa, Dr extraordinarily lucky with energy. You’ve an interest in old Andrew Knight (Life Sciences), a Senior Lecturer in Conservation Practice at The economic strength of this steam trains, why? Imperial, said to visitors: “Conservation is not just about animals, it’s about nation can be traced back to the It’s the combination of the people too”. Dr Knight explained why focusing on animals is simply not industrial revolution of the 19th romance of travel from an era enough to save endangered species. Century, founded on coal. This when travel was glamorous good fortune continued when with the moving parts of the oil and gas were discovered in steam train being on display – the 1970s in the North Sea and it’s almost like the art now we enter a new era where of engineering. we find ourselves with quite -Colin Smith, Communications abundant wind and marine and Public Affairs energy resources, so we’ve got to exploit that. But it’s going to For the full interview visit: be a mixed energy picture; we’re bit.ly/ProfTGreen 12 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277
Feast for the senses
Take a moment to ponder how often you are at the behest of inner bodily functions, particularly digestion. Are you hungry right now, fantasising about a certain food, or perhaps even in discomfort? How is that affecting your mind-set and sense of self?
Author and physicist Dr Roberto Trotta
All you need to know?
Could you explain the long and complicated story of our universe using only the most common thousand words in the English language?
Sounds like an almost impossible task, but in his first book, The Edge of the Sky: All You Need to Know About the All-There-Is, Dr Roberto Trotta (Physics) does exactly that. Dr Trotta tells the tale of the big bang and the birth of the universe all the way through to theories of its destiny. These are just a few questions posed by a recent multidisciplinary creative Following a young female scientist project, On Innards, by artists Amanda Couch, Andrew Hladky and Imperial from sunset to sunrise, the story staff member Mindy Lee, who curates the Blyth Gallery, where some of the explains what she sees through her work was exhibited. telescope, or what Dr Trotta refers to in Around a year ago the three, who knew of each other professionally, his book as ‘Big-Seer’. realised that they had a common interest in exploring the changing Writing a book about an expanding universe, conceptualisations of guts and digestions. Together they presented some early planets, alien worlds, particle physics, galaxies ideas at the International Body Horror Conference in Athens last November. and telescopes without being able to use any That set in motion a period of research and artistic development – they of these words, creates a unique science story were fascinated to discover recent medical research suggesting a more that is entertaining, metaphorical and magical prominent role for the digestive system as sensory organ and even second in places, but educational and enlightening at brain which facilitates complex interactions with the external world. the same time. “We try very hard to keep this part of our lives and our bodies hidden and “For more than a decade I’ve been private – it is partly hidden of course and we strive to keep it that way. So I see looking for a language to communicate my excitement this work as a sort of creative disembowelment,” says Andrew. about my science – dark matter, dark energy, the The three artists cut across media, with Mindy creating a large universe, the big questions about why are we here – smorgasbord platter of images regurgitated from art history – “the remnants of with the public. At the beginning it was very frustrating a feast”. Meanwhile, Amanda looked to provoke a visceral audience reaction because I had all these words, which are the bread and from her tall vertical pillar of knitted of salami skins. Lastly, Andrew painted butter of cosmology, that I wanted to use but couldn’t. with oil and cocktails sticks invoking bodily functions, building up layers in a “But little by little I started coming up with a texture that grows out of the board and shifts as you move around it. different vocabulary and different ways of expressing Acknowledging the challenging nature of the work Mindy says: “When you’ve cosmology. So a planet became a ‘crazy star’, galaxies transformed the ideas into a piece of art, that then provides a safe environment to became ‘star crowds’, and our Milky Way galaxy became explore them further in your own imagination and in doing so you can cut across the ‘White Road’. And so little by little a new voice taboos and boundaries that you tend not to discuss in real life situations.” started to emerge from the format that I’d given myself. The three also led a participatory and experiential day-long event on 11 I started to think about it as some sort of poetic straight October. It brought together researchers such as Dr Simon Gabe (Surgery and jacket that forced me into expressing cosmology Cancer) a consultant gastroenterologist who talked about his experiences with concepts in a new, and hopefully refreshing, way, that patients and artificial nutrition – and yoga practitioner Kerry Gallagher who led gave me childlike new eyes on the universe.” a session aimed at strengthening and cleansing the digestive system. Amanda also delivered an artistic performance which involved feeding audience members tripe and gauging their responses and feelings, whilst she talked The Edge of the Sky is published by Basic Books and available from about the cultural history of offal as a celebratory delicacy. most high street book stores and online retailers.
–Gail Wilson, Communications and Public Affairs On Innards runs at the Blyth Gallery until 7 November 13 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277 insidestory
Walking the In the UK Tiffany Circle members have already raised over £850,000 to ensure the corridors of power British Red Cross can be there for those who need them the most – whether helping Dr Ling Ge is Process and Systems women in crisis in the UK, communities Manager at Enterprise, Imperial’s severely affected by HIV in South Africa dedicated division for industry or supporting children affected by war in interactions and business ventures. She Sierra Leone. recently spoke at a reception for the I chair the newly formed Young Tiffany British Red Cross Tiffany Circle at Number Circle and we’re currently planning a 10 Downing Street, hosted by Samantha number of fundraising events, so it was Cameron, wife of the Prime Minister. great to network and speak to potential benefactors. The reception and venue were “Being a scientist by training, I never great fun – Number 10 had such an air of thought my career would take me to the elegance and grandeur, and there were corridors of power in Westminster; but classical and modern artworks all over the this year I’ve been lucky enough to go walls. During the reception and dinner I there twice! I was invited by the Speaker spoke to Dames, CBEs, FTSE directors and of the House of Commons, John Bercow an Indian princess and business heiress! I to attend a reception for Women of the also chatted to the chairman of British Red Future Awardees at the State Rooms of the Cross David Bernstein CBE who is also the Speaker’s House in March, which was a chairman of Ted Baker, a director at Tiffany fascinating eye-opener. Then in October I & Co., and a director at Burberry who was asked to go to Number 10 to celebrate promised to support our upcoming fashion the 2nd anniversary of the British Red show fundraiser of the Circle. Cross Tiffany Circle. It’s a leading women’s My primary role with the Circle is to philanthropy group and members join a drum up support with events here in the long line of women who have played a key UK, but you never know, someday I might role in the British Red Cross since it was get out there with Red Cross workers in the Dr Ling Ge at 10 Downing Street founded in 1863. field on humanitarian missions.”
Imperial celebrates the opening of its new sports ground
Staff and students gathered on 15 which saw student teams taking performances from student teams gathered for the official October to mark the opening of to the new pitches as they societies including cheerleading opening of the new Teddington the College's new 27 acre sports competed in football, rugby and ballroom dancing. Bar. The bar, one of three on the ground in Heston. and hockey. There was also an Debra Humphris, Vice Provost site, features a photographic opportunity for attendees to (Education) welcomed the guests, tribute to the College's old The occasion was marked with an see the site’s indoor facilities saying: “Today has been a long Teddington Sports Ground. afternoon of sport and activities, in use, with a number of time in the making but it’s great Tom Wheeler, Imperial College to finally be here and to open this Union President, said: “It was great amazing new facility. It is just the to see the facilities at Heston filled latest phase in the evolution of with student sport and activity sports facilities at Imperial.” today. I’m excited for the future of The site’s facilities include student sport here at Heston, and tennis and netball courts, cricket look forward to the achievements pitches as well as grass space that take place in the future. for 5 football and 2 rugby pitches “The ground at Teddington and a shooting range. had an incredibly rich heritage While indoors there and history in the hearts of is a large theatre and many students and alumni at the dance hall, squash College and it’s great that these and basketball associations are preserved courts as well at Heston through the as bars and Teddington Bar.” social spaces. –Jon Narcross, Later in the Communications and afternoon sports Public Affairs 14 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277
Staff featured obituaries in this column have given Colin Besant many years of Emeritus Professor Colin Besant (Mechanical service to the Engineering), died suddenly on 19 July, aged 78 College. Staff listed celebrate whilst on holiday in Canada. His friend and colleague anniversaries during the from the Department, Dr Mike Ristic, pays tribute. period 1 November–30 November. The data are Colin obtained his PhD from Imperial in 1965 in supplied by HR and correct at nuclear reactor engineering – a field of research he the time of going to press. would make his name in during the ensuing decades. Working for Rolls Royce and Associates he helped 20 years design pressurised water reactors used in nuclear • Andrew Priest, Research Services submarines, before going on to join the UK Atomic Administrator, Faculty of Natural Energy Authority as Senior Scientific Officer designing Sciences experimental reactors at Winfrith. • Professor David Dexter, Professor He returned to Imperial as a Lecturer in Mechanical of Neuropharmacology, Medicine • Dr Lidia Lonergan, Reader in Engineering in 1968, researching, amongst other Geotectonics, Earth Science & things, fast breeder reactors. Notably, he was one of commercialised through Turbo Genset Engineering the first engineers in Europe to become involved in (now Turbo Power Systems). Computer Aided Design and Manufacture, pioneering As Emeritus Professor, Colin 30 years the use of mini-computers in design applications and devoted much of his time to supporting • Sukwinder Singh, Campus building up a large research group. new British engineering companies and Health & Safety Manager , Faculty Colin was highly respected in industry, which of course encouraging new research in of Medicine supported much of his group’s research and his Department and across the College. participated in the commercialisation of several Throughout his career he has been Spotlight spinout companies specialising in CAD and robotics. an inspiration for numerous young He was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of engineers and researchers, many ANDREW PRIEST, RESEARCH SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR, FACULTY Engineering in 1997. of whom have gone on to become OF NATURAL SCIENCES 20 years Such was Colin’s versatility and vision, he highly successful industrialists and switched focus in the early 1990s to research high- entrepreneurs. speed permanent magnet electric machines with His enduring optimism, wisdom, applications in hybrid electric vehicles and distributed good humour and support will be power generation. This technology was subsequently deeply missed by many at the College.
From the archives: early physics research at Imperial and at CERN
Former student Dr Colin Physics Department, so it West (Bsc Physics 1960, was housed in a large tent PhD 1965) recently attended behind the building on a specially-organised Prince Consort Road and I’ve worked in Research Services for the full 20 years. Looking back Imperial alumni trip to remained there when the to my first week I remember that it Geneva over the weekend new Blackett Laboratory was seemed all I did was filing, since the of 10–12 October 2014. He opened in October 1960. group produced a lot of printed data A few years later the finished, the cloud chamber for cataloguing and being the new had an additional reason for member of office staff I was the one wanting to attend – to the students working on it were was replaced by spark to perform this riveting job. I nearly best of his knowledge he reassigned and I went to chambers and it was used died of boredom, but thankfully I was the very first Imperial CERN to work initially on the to study a series of K meson stuck to it and soon was trained to do more challenging work! The role student to work at CERN. CERN/ETH cloud chamber scattering experiments. I has changed beyond recognition experiment on neutral read somewhere that the from what we used to do. I remember “I was involved in an early K-meson decays. This was glass cloud chamber was standing next to our latest Fax particle physics project with my PhD supervisor subsequently used as an machine listening to counterparts over in Russia getting all excited at Imperial in which we Peter Astbury. The cloud aquarium in CERN – at the that they were getting a Fax from constructed a liquid chamber experiment was alumni event I went looking ‘Imperial’. Now we think nothing of hydrogen bubble chamber. measuring the branching around the restaurant area emailing anyone anywhere. The size of it meant that ratios of K02 decays. to see if I could find it, there was no room in the When this was but I couldn’t!” 15 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 30 October 2014 • issue 277 insidestory
Mr Tobias Fischer, EEE Mr Wing-Kit Leung, Medicine Miss Caroline Roney, NHLI Welcome Mr Shane Fleming, EEE Dr Stefan Leutenegger, Computing Mr Ewan Ross, Medicine Farewell Miss Jessica Fleminger, Medicine Miss Tingting Li, Faculty of Engineering Mr Henry Rothery, Communications and Public Affairs Dr Cecilia Flori, Physics Miss Ziwei Liang, Clinical Science Miss Kirsty Roy, Materials new starters Ms Kimberley Foley, Public Health Miss Hannah Lines, Student Recruitment moving on Miss Jonata Sakalauskaite, Catering Services Miss Ying Fu, Miss Hannah Lishman, Public Health Mr Abdulshakur Abdullah, Public Health School of Professional Development Ms Almudena Sanchez-Villen, School of Mr Zijing Liu, Chemistry Dr Dafne Accoroni, Accommodation Professional Development Ms Aliza Abeles, Surgery & Cancer Miss Andrea Galanska, Catering Services Mr Charles Luzzato, Aeronautics Miss Tahira Arshad, Public Health Ms Camilla Sanger, Medicine Ms Ololade Adeniji, Chemistry Mr Yang Gao, Computing Dr Artem Lysenko, NHLI Dr Alison Atrey, NHLI Miss Sukhpreet Saran, EYEC Ms Mojisola Akintoye, EYEC Dr Almundena Garcia Sanchez, Miss Natasha Madge, NHLI Mr Zaid Awad, Surgery & Cancer Chemical Engineering Dr Ory Schnitzer, Mathematics Dr Jade Alglave, Computing Dr Victor Magron, EEE Ms Georgia Bergson, Miss Ella Garnham, HR Miss Daiane Segalla de Souza, Mr Chanpreet Arhi, Surgery & Cancer Communications and Public Affairs Dr Christopher Malone, School of Catering Services Mr James Garvie-Cook, Physics Dr Hajra Ashraf, Surgery & Cancer Professional Development Mr Sean Carroll, Business School Dr Matthew Shun-Shin, NHLI Ms Siobhan George, NHLI Dr Mark Attard, Medicine Ms Henrietta Martin-Fisher, Finance Mr Marco Castelli, Medicine Dr Cristoforo Silvestri, Bioengineering Ms Slavina Georgieva, Imperial College Union Ms Jennifer Ayers, Surgery & Cancer Mr Mihai Matei, EYEC Mr Alan Cheung, Sport and Leisure Ms Sophie Sim, Chemistry Dr John Gibbons, Mathematics Mr Daniel Ayres, Mechanical Engineering Dr Mazo Vega, Materials Mrs Valentina Cimaroli, Centre for Miss Philippa Skett, Imperial College Union Dr Steffen Gielen, Physics Environmental Policy Miss Hafsa Aziz, NHLI Miss Erin McAlister, Medicine Miss Anita Solanke, Catering Services Mrs Britta Giersche, Dr Thomas Cundy, Surgery & Cancer Mr Hakan Bagci, Clinical Science Mr Gary McDermont, Sport and Leisure School of Professional Development Miss Eleonora Steinberg, Life Sciences Miss Punam Dahya, NHLI Mr Guillermo Barinaga, Medicine Dr Paul McFadden, Physics Ms Jacqueline Goddard, Catering Services Ms Ekaterina Stoeva, Catering Services Mr Christopher Davie, Physics Mr Nathan Barlow, Chemistry Dr Ailsa McKay, Public Health on. in. moving moving Mr Erik Goeke, Catering Services Mr Mladen Stojanovic, Chemistry Mr Christopher Douse, Chemistry Mr Iain Barr, Physics Dr Parul Mehta, Life Sciences Dr Sunir Gohil, Surgery & Cancer Miss Amna Suliman, Surgery & Cancer Ms Sarah Dupras, NHLI Dr Emily Barrow, Surgery & Cancer Mrs Komal Mehta, HR Mr Marton Gonter, Catering Services Mr David Sunkersing, Public Health Dr Julia El-Sayed Moustafa, Public Health Dr Heather Battey, Mathematics Mr Luis Melgar Del Pozo, Physics Mr Jevgeni Gordejev, Catering Services Miss Kelley Swain, Rebecca Sally Geary, Public Health Dr Sean Bello, NHLI Miss Krystle Merino, Catering Services School of Professional Development Ms Michelle Goritzka, NHLI Dr Margarida Gouveia Sancho, NHLI Dr Adrian Benito Mauricio, Surgery & Cancer Mr Thomas Mickleburgh, Chemistry Mr Dominic Swift, Dr Martin Gould, Mathematics Mrs Mutsuko Grant, Life Sciences (6 years) Dr Victoria Blackmore, Physics Dr Michael Mielewczik, NHLI Life Sciences (Silwood Park) Mr Grzegorz Grabe, Medicine Dr Simon David Guest, Mathematics Dr Francesca Boem, EEE Miss Toma Mikulskyte, Catering Services Miss Christine Tabano, Surgery & Cancer Mrs Rama Greenfield, Public Health Dr Stephen Anthony Hodge, Chemistry Dr Nicholas Bristowe, Materials Mr Hemel Modi, Surgery & Cancer Dr Olivier Taibi, Mathematics Dr Tom Griffin, Physics Ms Ann-Marie Howell, Surgery & Cancer Miss Abigail Brobbey, Medicine Miss Sara Mohtashami, EEE Dr Mattia Terenghi, Chemistry Dr Giulia Gubitosi, Physics Miss Victoria Jones, NHLI Miss Susann Bruche, NHLI Mr Wouter Mooij, Chemistry Mr Quentin Thiburce, Physics Miss Paulina Gutierrez Cortes, Miss Genevieve Timmins, Medicine Mr Murtaza Kaderbhai, Surgery & Cancer Ms Roisin Buckley, Catering Services Ms Cerys Morgan, Computing Civil and Environmental Engineering Dr Joanne Tonkin, NHLI Mr Xiaoran Lai, Mathematics Mr Bo Han, Civil and Environmental Dr Thomas Morris, Medicine Mr Joshua Buckman, Public Health Mr Martin Lisboa, Business School Engineering Mr Dominic Moseley, Physics Mr Antonio Torres Mendez, Life Sciences Ms Cristina Budau, Catering Services Dr Suyu Liu, Surgery & Cancer Dr Gareth Hardy, Medicine Ms Kathryn Nehemiah, Centre for Ms Tammy Tran, Public Health Dr William Burns, Faculty of Engineering Miss Melanie Hargreaves, Civil and Environmental Policy Mr Henry Travers, Miss Toni McCloggan, Catering Services Ms Mariah Bush, Environmental Engineering Dr James Newton, Mathematics Life Sciences (Silwood Park) Dr Imran Patel, Materials Communications and Public Affairs Ms Chieko Harms, Catering Services Miss Rumyana Neykova, Computing Dr Sana Usman, Surgery & Cancer Dr Anna Reynal Verdu, Chemistry Ms Helene Butz, Dr Julia Harris, Life Sciences Ms Joanna Nicholls, Surgery & Cancer Miss Karin van Veldhoven, Public Health Dr Craig Ritchie, Medicine (7 years) School of Professional Development Miss Yasmin Hassen, Surgery & Cancer Dr Laura Nicolaou Fernandez, Dr Marta Vazquez-Ortiz, Medicine Dr Nataliya Shiraz, Business School Dr Adam Byrne, NHLI Dr Tobias Heinrich, Mechanical Engineering Dr Isabel Wagner, Mr Pritam Singh, Surgery & Cancer Mr Stephane Camuzeaux, Surgery & Cancer School of Professional Development School of Professional Development Ms Elizabeth Noble, Chemistry Dr Kate Skinner, Medicine Mr Samuele Cani, Catering Services Miss Laura Heseltine, Mr Kamal Wahab, Public Health Mr Daniel Nolte, Bioengineering Mr Jeremiah Smith, Computing School of Professional Development Dr Elliot Carr, ESE Miss Josephine Wales, Mr Christopher Novakovic, Computing Dr Aivar Sootla, Bioengineering Mr Ivan Carromero Manzano, Ms Patricia Ho, Chemistry Communications and Public Affairs Dr Naomi Nowlan, Surgery & Cancer Ms Anna Spragg, Faculty of Engineering Catering Services Dr Jessica-Rose Holley, Medicine Dr Lu Wang, Mathematics Dr Miguel Nunes Da Costa Da Graca Matias, Dr Joseph Challenger, Public Health Dr Ioanna Stamati, Chemistry Ms Bidan Huang, Computing Life Sciences (Silwood Park) Dr Zihua Wang, Chemical Engineering Dr Rama Chinnam, Materials Dr Izabela Szostkiewicz, Life Sciences Miss Emma Hudson, Surgery & Cancer Mr Ciaran O’Driscoll, Public Health Mr Gerben Wedekind, CHECK INDIVIDUAL Dr Ann Chu, Faculty of Medicine Centre Dr Naomi Walker, Medicine Ms Sarah Huf, Surgery & Cancer Ms Etsuko Okahisa, Mr Ahmad Wehbi, Catering Services Ms Lindsey Wu, Public Health Dr Stefano Ciammaroni, School of Professor Alan Hughes, Business School School of Professional Development Mr Paul Whelan, Business School Professional Development Dr Sebastian Wuestner, Physics Dr Lucy Irving, Dr Dominic Orchard, Computing Ms Jocelyne Winter, Dr Alexander Clark, Physics School of Professional Development Mr Juan Orjuela Mendoza, Centre for School of Professional Development Mrs Sharlene Yardley, School of Professional Development Mr Valerio Converso, Chemistry Mr Nazmul Islam, ICT Environmental Policy Miss Chantalle Woolner, Communications and Public Affairs Mr Rodney Coppard, Estates Division Mr Roman Ivanovs, Catering Services Dr Thomas Ouldridge, Mathematics Dr Yungui Xu, ESE Mr Willoughby Cosgrove, Medicine Mr Omar Jarral, Surgery & Cancer Dr Bryn Owen, Medicine Dr Jie Yang, Public Health retirement Mr Luke Crook, Catering Services Miss Elita Jauneikaite, Medicine Mr Mitchell Pallett, Life Sciences Ms Alice Yao, Professor Michael Crawley, Mr Joseph Crowdy, Library Mr Mayuka Jayasekera, Surgery & Cancer Mr Nikolaos Papachristou, Public Health School of Professional Development Life Sciences (Silwood Park) Dr Xianjin Cui, Materials Miss Bhavika Jessani, Business School Mr Christos Papatakis, Catering Services (35 years) Mr Qi Yuan, Chemistry Dr Daniel D’Andrea, Medicine Dr Keisuke Jindai, Miss Tereza Pashaj, Catering Services Mrs Morag Zelisko, Medicine Mr Robert Davidson, Chemistry School of Professional Development Miss Laura Payne, Medicine Miss Yue Zhang, Life Sciences Ms Berengere Decroux, School of Mr Thomas Johnson, Mathematics Dr Teresa Peiro-Salvador, NHLI Professional Development Miss Zhe Zhang, Life Sciences Dr Euihun Joung, Physics Mr Nicholas Penney, Surgery & Cancer Miss Ayse Depsen, Surgery & Cancer Mr Heng Zhang, Chemistry Mrs Michele-Andree Kaba, Catering Services Mr Christopher Pettengell, Surgery & Cancer Mr Georgios Deskos, Mr Robert Zielinski, Ms Okdeep Kaur, Medicine Miss Jenni Phillips, Sport and Leisure Civil and Environmental Engineering Sport and Leisure Ms Barnabas Kazari, Catering Services Mr William Pitchford, Chemistry Mr James Dilley, Surgery & Cancer Mr Tarun Khanna, Chemistry Dr Daniel Pomerleano, Mathematics Dr Sophie Doran, Surgery & Cancer Miss Roulin Khondoker, ESE Mr Joram Posma, Surgery & Cancer Mr Robert Doran, Chemistry Mr Bulat Khusainov, EEE Dr Matthew Prime, Surgery & Cancer Mr Justas Dovydaitis, Catering Services This data is supplied by HR and covers staff joining the College Ms Erika Kibildiene, Catering Services Mr Stefan Pszczolkowski Parraguez, Mrs Teodora Dukova, Catering Services during the period 1 – 22 October 2014. This data was correct Dr Astrid-Caroline Knall, Chemistry Computing Ms Julia Dunn, Public Health at the time of going to press. For Moving On, visit the online Miss Romi Korotana, Chemistry Ms Erica Pufall, Public Health Miss Azuka Ezeaniefuna, Catering Services supplement at www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter Mr Evangelos Koutanis, Catering Services Dr Martin Rajchl, Computing Miss Khatra Farah, Catering Services Mr Panagiotis Kouvaros, Computing Reina Dr Ramirez, Chemical Engineering Dr Joy Farnaby, Chemistry Mr Michael Kyriakides, Surgery & Cancer Mr Pedro Ramirez Torrealba, EEE Dr Daniel Farrell, Grantham Institute Please send your images and/or comments about new Dr Gerald Larrouy-Maumus, Life Sciences Dr Prasun Ray, Mathematics Dr Jessica Farren, Surgery & Cancer starters, leavers and retirees to the Editor Mr Andrei Lascu, Computing Mr Fabian Renn-Giles, Physics Mr Roman Fedoryshchak, Chemistry Dr Din-Houn Lau, Mathematics Mr Nicholas Roberts, Medicine at [email protected] Mr Sidney Fernandes, Catering Services Dr Christoph Lees, Surgery & Cancer Dr Salvador Rodriguez-Lopez, Mathematics Ms Ivona Filovkinova, Catering Services The Editor reserves the right to edit or amend these as necessary. Mr Daniel Leff, Surgery & Cancer Mr Jorge Roldan-Real, Catering Services for complete details: events highlights www.imperial.ac.uk/events November 2014
12 November, 17.30 take note Shedding new light on Schrödinger’s cat Nobel Laureate Professor Serge Haroche molecules, photons or superconducting Fireworks delivers the annual Erwin Schrödinger microchips. These advances open fascinating Lecture, in the Great Hall, South Kensington perspectives for new applications in which at Heston Campus. Recent technological advances in quantum strangeness could be directly Staff and students quantum science have allowed us to control harnessed to achieve tasks that are are invited to a and observe isolated systems such as atoms, impossible with classical physics. Fireworks Display at the newly acquired Heston Sports Ground on 12 November, 18.00 Wednesday 5 November from 17.30 The road to Paris 2015 (display starts at 19.30). Tickets cost £4 for children, £8 for adults and £22 for families Join this Franco-British conference to discuss Canfin, Senior Adviser for International of four and can be purchased in advance or what needs to be done to secure a successful Climate Affairs at the World Resource on the night. Hot food will be available on global deal at the UN climate conference Institute, and Professor Sir Brian Hoskins, the night and bars will be open. in Paris in December 2015. Speakers Sir Chair of the Grantham Institute, will be led David King, UK Foreign Secretary’s Special in their discussions by Damian Carrington, Visit: tickets.baclubs.com Representative for Climate Change, Pascal Head of Environment at The Guardian.
5 November, 12.30 6 November, 12.30 7 November, 16.00 13 November, 18.00 meet the Imperial 600 TITLE An analytic approach to Battlefield to South reader network lunch Dr Sheila Lecoeur the sound generated by Kensington: blows, Opportunity for LGBT+ staff (Centre for Co-Curricular aeroengines bombs, blast, and postgraduates to meet Studies) presents this Dr Lorna Ayton, University biomechanics, Muir Sanderson Imperial’s lunchtime seminar about of Cambridge, talks about bioengineering and Chief Financial Officer and the deportation of Jews the sound generated by better care this Equality and Diversity from Rhodes and Kos in the interactions between Professor Anthony Bull network’s executive sponsor. July 1944 and the Italian high-frequency gusts and (Bioengineering) delivers administration of the aerofoils in this Department the Consort Club lecture, 5 November, various Dodecanese Islands. of Mathematics seminar. open to members of staff times from Imperial, the Royal
Stress: the balancing act 6 November, 13.00 College of Art and the Royal National stress awareness Lunchtime concert College of Music. day themed events running Maggini Quartet Dr Marion Watson (Medicine) throughout the day, including 13 November 18.30 perform Haydn Quality Assurance Manager meditation, healthy living, Digital communication – String Quartet in and awarding of the prize for changing landscape for F minor Op 55 No 12 November, 13.00 What are you doing in the picture? best dressed stress cow. 2; Mendelssohn the future of business? Messages from the field Volunteering for a day in October to assemble String Quartet Colin Byrne, UK CEO of and plant remembrance poppies at the 5 November, 17.30 Talks on the uncertain in Eb major global PR company Weber Tower of London. When completed there will outcomes of agricultural Op 12. Shandwick, discusses the be 888,246 ceramic poppies covering 60 development, with Dr Carol extent to which digital has acres – one poppy for each British fatality Ellison, CABI UK Invasive 6 November, 18.30 impacted the communications during World War 1. It is a spectacular sight Species Group, Dr Jennifer The Greenergy and marketing functions of the when looking down from the observer rails Baka, London School of experience world’s largest firms. but actually in the moat the enormity of the Co-founder of a £15billion Economics, and Lee collection hits home. The thought that each
company, Andrew Pearson (Centre for 20 November, 13.00 poppy represents a person really emphasises Owens talks about Environmental Policy) the human cost of the war. Lunchtime concert Choral Evensong his novel approach to with Imperial College Onyx Brass perform Jason What would you do if you were editor entrepreneurship funding 13 November, 18.00 Chamber Choir Rebello Inevitable Outcome; of Reporter? at this Imperial Business Modelling the Tchaikovsky (arr Hollings) I would spend the day at Imperial sites Choir anthems and musical Insights Series lecture. molecules of life Miniature Overture` outside of South Kensington to find out settings for bible texts at Ernst Chain Lecture with more of about activities in research and Holy Trinity Church, Prince Nobel Laureate Professor education plus social and cultural events Consort Road. Michael Levitt, Stanford Find out more about our new happening across the community. programme of public events University (event full) online at www.imperial.ac.uk/news Who would be your cover star? My cover star would be Emeritus Professor Raanan Gillon (School of Public Health) and his experience of medical ethics; how
has it changed during his career – or are ethical principles constant? Stay in the loop → Visit www.imperial.ac.uk/events for more details about these events and others. To sign up for regular updates about Imperial events please Want to be the next reader featured in Reporter? Send in a picture of yourself to: email: [email protected] [email protected]
Designed and produced by Communications and Public Affairs, Imperial College London // Principal photography: Imperial College London