Reading Triumph in National Science Competition
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BulletinFortnightly news for staff | 15 January 2009 | 491 Ovega celebrate their win Reading triumph in national science competition A team of bioscientists from the University impressing a panel of judges with their Researchers Dr Abby Kerrin Thompson were rewarded for their exceptional proposal for a hypothetical company and Dr Nadia Abed who were mentored entrepreneurial skills, when they were called Ovega, and its revolutionary new by Dr Samantha Decombel from the crowned winners of a national competition. product which aims to produce vegetarian University’s Technology Transfer Office. Omega-3 oil from food industry waste. The team scooped top prize in the final As well as walking away with the of the annual Biotechnology Young The team consisted of Reading PhD Biotechnology YES 2008 title and £1000 in Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES) held at students Federico Dorati, Joao Lopes, prize money, the team also earned London’s Marriott County Hall, by Cristina Fante and Reading Post-Doctoral sponsored places at the Bioindustry Continued on page 2 The Bulletin can be found online at As a world-renowned research and teaching 491 www.reading.ac.uk/bulletin | institution, the University of Reading is rarely where you can read a pdf of this IN THE NEWS: issue and access archived issues of out of the local, national and international media. This is a selection of media past Bulletins. appearances by members of the University and press cutting summaries which highlight The Bulletin is published in-house the important work being done by the staff and students of the University. fortnightly during term time. Items View all ‘In the news’ items at www.reading.ac.uk/about/about-readinginthenews2008.asp 15 January 2009 are welcomed from every member | of the University and should be 13 November, Reading Chronicle 22 November, The Daily Telegraph 4 December, The Times sent, marked ‘Bulletin’, to The University’s School of A feature on the economic A feature on the rise in the number Bulletin Carol Derham Agriculture, Policy and situation in the Middle East, asking of courses on Islamic finance on Communications, DEA Development recently hosted an whether it will be the saviour of offer. With expert comment from Whiteknights all-day conference, which explored ailing Western economies, or if the Professor John Board, Director of The University of Reading the consequences of EU trade desert states’ outward signs of the University’s ICMA Centre. Reading RG6 6AH policies on food security, wealth are nothing more than a 5 December, Reading Evening Post email [email protected] especially Economic Partnership mirage. With expert comment Reading students recently Please note that we reserve the Agreements currently being from John Dunning, Emeritus showcased their business ideas at right to edit items and not all negotiated. Professor of International Business the Thames Valley Innovation material may be used. Free small 13 November, Reading Chronicle at the University of Reading. Festival. They worked to develop ads from University members will The first phase of the University’s 24 November, Reading Evening Post business ideas in five areas – be included if space permits. plans to redevelop a number of Renowned philosopher Baroness health, the environment, the Copy dates for the Spring term halls of residence began in Mary Warnock visited home, professional services and Copy date Published November with the demolition of Whiteknights recently to give a food technology. Whiteknights Hall. Based on the special lecture on the education of 15 January 29 January 9 December, Radio 4 framework of the Whiteknights children with special needs. The Professor Peter Scott (Management) 29 January 12 February Development Plan 2008–18, the lecture was organised by the appeared on the Radio 4 programme, 12 February 26 February University plans to build a new hall University’s School of Continuing The Long View, which examined 26 February 12 March on the site of the existing Education which is beginning an the austere Christmas retail season Whiteknights Hall as well as a 18-month project which aims to The Bulletin is typeset by of 1930 and its parallels with high second next to the current Childs highlight and discuss the subject. Diana Arnold in Communications, street retailing this Christmas. Hall. DEAO and is printed by Advent 26 November, The Times Other guests included Andy Street Colour, Andover 13 November, Reading Chronicle Terry Karapatzak from northern (Managing Director, John Lewis Professor Phillip Strange Greece is studying for a PhD in Partnership); Jim McCarthy (Chief (Pharmacy) has been named horticulture at the University after Executive, Poundland); Bryan runner-up in a national writing completing an MSc in the subject Roberts of Planet Retail; the competition aimed at making here. Terry tells the Times ‘the MSc journalist Annalisa Barbieri; and science more accessible. Phillip’s exceeded my expectations. I did the actor Trevor Bannister. article looked at the effects of not expect it to be so advanced. It 15–19 December, ITV so-called ‘smart drugs’ which, it was very good value for money’. Dr Martin Parsons (Institute of is claimed, boost mental 3 December, ITV Thames Valley Education) contributed to a performance. Tonight programme entitled Evacuees 16 November, Politics Show ITV report from Grade II Listed Reunited, investigating the lives of The BBC show visits the Wantage Hall, the first purpose- ex-evacuees of WWII. www. University’s Department of built hall of residence in England express.co.uk/posts/view/73749/ Meteorology to interview after those of Oxford and Evacuees-Growing-up-in-the- Professor Averil Macdonald and Cambridge, which celebrated its shadow-of-war host a panel discussion to see centenary in the autumn. Dr Aleks Pluskowski of the what can be done to encourage 4 December, Birmingham Post Department of Archaeology has more people to have careers in Professor Roger Flanagan received a conference science and technology. (Construction Management and organisation grant from the 19 November, BBC Radio Berkshire Engineering) says that the West European Science Foundation to The local station reports on the Midlands construction industry host an Exploratory Workshop: The University’s Blooming Students needs to become smarter and Ecology Of Crusading: The project, which is encouraging more flexible as well as look Environmental Impact Of Conquest students living in the local overseas for ideas to survive the And Colonisation In The Medieval community to plant spring bulbs economic downturn. Baltic. The workshop will take to spruce up their front gardens. place in Poland in 2009. continued from front page Association dinner and the took part in regional heats. economy by generating new they stay in academia or opportunity to give their Minister of State for Science businesses, jobs and wealth. In move into business.’ presentation at a premier and Innovation, Lord Drayson, addition to scientific talent, The competition was run regional US Business Plan said: ‘I would like to extend the development of by the Biotechnology and Competition. my warmest congratulations entrepreneurial skills and Biological Sciences Research Ovega were just one of 14 to Ovega. This scheme is ability to understand the Council (BBSRC) and the teams that made it through to producing a generation of commercialisation of research University of Nottingham the final from a total of 73 commercially-aware scientists are key tools for young Institute for Enterprise and teams of bioscientists that who will be crucial to the UK researchers today, whether Innovation (UNIEI). 491 RAE success for the University | The renowned research strengths of the then classified in units of assessment testament to the ability and dedication University of Reading have been related to the academic area as either of colleagues across a large number of recognised in the outcomes of the 2008 4* (world leading), 3* (international departments and schools, from 15 January 2009 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) excellent), 2* (internationally recognised), Typography and Graphic Communication | published in December, with over 87% of 1* (nationally recognised) or 0 (sub to Construction Management, the University’s research rated as of standard). Archaeology and Philosophy.’ Bulletin international standing. Professor Dianne Berry, Pro-Vice- The RAE results will be used to allocate The RAE 2008 rates the quality of Chancellor for Research said: ‘The RAE over £1.5 billion each year across the research in higher education across the outcomes demonstrate that the Higher Education sector from 2009–10. UK. The University of Reading submitted University of Reading is an international Full results can be found at http://www. the work of over 600 research active leader in research areas that affect reading.ac.uk/about/newsandevents/ staff to the Higher Education Funding people’s lives such as climate research releases/PR18774_resultstable.asp Council for England. This research was and food biosciences. The outcomes are Annual Meteorology Photography Competition The 7th annual meteorology photography competition took place in the Autumn Term. The competition was open to all members of the University, and entries were divided into two categories: “Weather and optical phenomena” and “Sunsets and dawns”. The winning photos were voted for by the members of the Department of Meteorology. Over 50 entries were received, all of a very high standard. The entries consisted of photos taken both in the UK and from many different locations around the world. The winner of the “Weather and optical phenomena” category was Mike Blackburn, a research scientist based in the Department of Meteorology, with his photo of cumulus and lenticular clouds, taken in the Pyrenees. The winner of the “Sunsets and dawns” category was Hong Wei, from the School of Systems Engineering, with her photo taken on the Peak of Hong Kong. Thank you to all those who entered. Laura Baker (competition organiser) 491 | Mini incubator comes to life Crop Science specialist Dr Alistair Murdoch largest ex situ conservation project ever America’, added Nick Tiley, ‘and, is set to benefit from the signing of a ten conceived.