Issue 275 ▸ 1 august 2014 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community

On a high note Sir Keith O’Nions bows out as President & Rector → centre pages

PATHWAYS TO SOLAR POTENTIAL ON SILENCE MEDICINE Connected IN SCIENCE Smoothing the solar could The role that journey into meet up to silence plays in medicine for 80% of energy the processes school students demands of science Page 2 Page 5 Page 8 2 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 August 2014 • issue 275

LKCMedicine appoints new Dean

Professor James Best has University – admitted its first cohort of students been appointed dean of in August 2013. He will work closely with Professor EDITOR’ S CORNER the Lee kong chian school Best in the future to ensure the activities of both of Medicine (LkcMedicine) institutions remain aligned. in singapore. Under the supervision of Imperial’s Professor Logging Jenny Higham, who is Senior Vice Dean for LKCMedicine, Professor Best, the School has transformed medical curricula and, off a distinguished medical alongside Professor Best, she will play a leading role leader, who has dedicated in the School’s further development. For many staff at the his career to improving Professor Best was selected after an extensive College the summer treatments for diabetes and kidney disease, is currently international search led by President & Rector months spell a change the Head of Medical School at the University of Sir Keith O’Nions. of routine. As a science Melbourne in Australia, and has 30 years’ experience Taking up his new role in Singapore on 29 July, journalist I used to in research, teaching and medical leadership. Professor Best said: “I am joining a School that has dread this time – few He succeeds Professor Dermot Kelleher who a highly skilled and dedicated team from NTU, Imperial academics were available has been Dean of both LKCMedicine and Imperial’s and partner health organisations and I hope to build for comment or help on Faculty of Medicine for the past two years. Under on the strengths of these institutions as the School articles, often working Professor Kelleher’s leadership, LKCMedicine – a joint moves towards fulfilling its ambitious goals to redefine off site or at conferences. venture between Imperial and Nanyang Technological medicine and transform healthcare.” As our feature on page 8 explores, making time and space to withdraw and reflect is part of the Boost to equality in scientific process – and

Issue 271 ▸ 10 april 2014 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community indeed should help us medicine training all to be more productive imperial has launched a pioneering outreach programme in our work and lives. to guide school students along a three year journey to The need to switch medical school. Issue 272 ▸ 15 may 2014 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community off from the pressures of modern life and Pathways to Medicine will be delivered in partnership Eye to the future The new postgraduate centres training more specifically the with the Sutton Trust, an organisation which works to improve the next generation of science leaders → centre pages

digital realm also came social mobility through education. The programme aims to FIGURE HEADS GIVING BACK BEAUTIFUL Data Science Students explore BRAINS Institute not-for-profit Neuroscience to harness careers and art combine information PAGE 10 in new exhibit up in an interview with improve opportunities for state-school students from low and revolution PAGE 14 PAGE 3

Cathy Mulligan of the middle-income homes by providing them with subject-specific Reporter 271 Artwork TP.indd 1 Imperial09/04/2014 12:57 2.0 Rebooting the College’s web presence to reach a growing global audience of mobile users Business School support and guidance as they take their first steps towards → centre pages

FESTIVAL FOR ALL SAVVY SCIENCE SAFETY SAGE Issue 273 ▸ 5 june 2014 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community (page 9). Her research a medical career. Third Imperial Dr Ling Ge Ian Gillett, Festival proves on boosting Safety Director, huge hit with enterprise retires record numbers and public PAGE 10 PAGE 12 engagement focuses on the benefit Running throughout Year 11 and Sixth Form, activities PAGE 11 that digital technologies will include informative talks by admissions tutors and Reporter272 Artwork TP.indd 1 14/05/2014 13:42 can have in making our medical students, e-mentoring with current Imperial medics, cities more sustainable a summer-school at the College and personal statement for example – but she’s advice. All students on Pathways to Medicine will also be certainly not shy of guaranteed access to work experience in a healthcare setting. Life changing gift Imperial alumnus gives £40m to transform biomedical engineering research drawing attention to the Beginning with a cohort of 60 → PAGE 3

OROBOT REVOLUTION OLIGHT MATTERS OMARKET LEADER oBehind the oScientists close oDiane Morgan, scenesO at the inO on quest to AssociateO Dean pitfalls which include students, the programme aims to new Robotics turn light into of Programmes Network matter at the Business CENTRE PAGES PAGE 6 School privacy issues and even reach 180 young people over the PAGE 10

Reporter 273 Artwork TP.indd 1 04/06/2014 13:25 internet addiction. next three years. Professor Jenny Reporter’s advice this Higham, Vice Dean for Education summer is to put those and Institutional Affairs in the Faculty Readers – ipads and laptops down of Medicine, said: “We want to attract and immerse yourself students with the talent, qualifications have your say! in this issue. and potential to thrive on our competitive, exciting courses. Recruiting the best and brightest students from all backgrounds andrew czyzewski, editOr Share your views on our news and is essential to the future of medicine and healthcare. shape the future of Reporter. “We are proud to be pioneering Pathways to Medicine Reporter is published every as part of our ongoing commitment to removing barriers and If you’re interested in joining focus three weeks during term time ensuring a level playing field for all applicants.” groups over the coming months in print and online. Dr Kevin Murphy, Admissions Tutor for Widening Participation to inform a reboot of Imperial’s Contact Andrew Czyzewski: in the Faculty of Medicine, is leading the project at the College newspaper, please contact: [email protected] alongside Annalisa Alexander, Head of Outreach at Imperial. [email protected] —deBOrah evansOn, cOMMunicatiOns and PuBLic affairs 3 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 August 2014 • issue 275 >> newsupdate

Data science collaboration Visions of 2034 explored launched during Imperial at Imperial event China tour the trends, emerging technologies and big ideas of the next two decades were explored by innovators from industry and academia some of the uk and china’s leading data scientists will team up at imperial earlier this month. at a new London lab thanks to a partnership between imperial and zhejiang university (zJu). Imperial’s 2034: Tech Foresight event enabled experts to take a long view of technological shifts and emerging challenges, while discussing The announcement of the Imperial ZJU Joint Lab for Applied Data Science how scientists, technologists and innovators can shape these trends. was made at a major ZJU-Imperial conference ‘Big Data: Healthy Citizens, The theoretical limits Smart Cities’, held at ZJU’s campus in Hangzhou, China, over 18 and 19 July. of materials, smart cities, President & Rector Sir Keith O’Nions delivered the Qi Zhen digital identities and networked lecture on ‘Globalisation and the 21st Century University’ during the science were among the conference. He said: “Bringing together data scientists from two of the themes covered at the one- world’s great universities will spur creativity and innovation as we use day conference for Imperial our respective strengths to push scientific discovery forwards. Business Partners, the College- “In an increasingly data rich world, collaborations like this help the led network of companies academic community to convert data assets into useful knowledge and with a strong interest in valuable products. Data scientists are making profound contributions research and innovation. to the development of new medicines, solutions to environmental The programme, delivered by experts involved in Imperial’s challenges, and helping create better ways to live in smart cities.” Foresight Practice initiative, was designed to prepare the minds Sir Keith and other leading Imperial academics led a delegation to of business leaders, industrial scientists and R&D chiefs for the future China to promote research, innovation and education ties. of today’s breakthrough lab discoveries and encouraged debate During the trip, which around how these may impact on business. covered Hong Kong (16 and Among the 2034: Tech Foresight speakers were Professors 17 July), Hangzhou (18 and 19 Donal Bradley, Vice Provost (Research), who delivered a keynote on July) and Beijing (21 and 22 innovation ecosystems, serendipity in research and dealing with the July), Sir Keith and colleagues unknown; Eric Yeatman (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) who also: held the first ever Imperial presented on putting intelligence into future cities and Chris Hankin, graduation ceremony in China, Director of the Institute for Security Science and Technology, who spoke as Professor Chen Zhu, vice- about digital identity, privacy and security in an age of big data. chairman of the Standing Vice Provost (Education) Professor Debra Humphris, who Committee of the National chaired 2034: Tech Foresight, said: “The event gave academics and People’s Congress received industrialists a unique opportunity to take a step back from the day- an honorary doctorate at to-day and think long term, way beyond our next research projects the British Embassy in Beijing; met with leading Tsinghua University or quarterly results. This stimulated a diverse range of new ideas and academics to explore further collaborations in healthcare, big data, connections, leaving the Foresighters feeling challenged and inspired, and entrepreneurship and innovation; and presented the College’s and we hope, better prepared for the future.” vision for Imperial West at the largest ever gatherings of Imperial —andrew scheuBer, cOMMunicatiOns and PuBLic affairs alumni in Hong Kong, Hangzhou and Beijing. Foresight Practice is a focal point for people interested in exploring the future. To find out —andrew scheuBer, cOMMunicatiOns and PuBLic affairs more about becoming an academic foresighter, please contact [email protected]

teaming up getting to the heart of Boost for brain science KPMG and Imperial have sudden arrhythmic death Imperial’s research into new announced the launch of a major Imperial has received a £50,000 treatments for neurodegenerative new partnership to create the donation from charitable foundation conditions is to be accelerated, KPMG Centre for Advanced Business Dan’s Trust to support a research thanks to a £3 million gift from

in brief Analytics. KPMG will invest over project into sudden arrhythmic Lily Safra and the Edmond J. £20 million, with the aim of putting death syndrome (SADS). Dan’s Trust Safra Foundation. The donation the UK at the forefront of data was set up in memory of Daniel establishes the Edmond and science. The project will focus on Bagshaw – a 27 year old lawyer and Lily Safra Chair in Translational five key areas – analysis of business cycling enthusiast who collapsed Neuroscience and Therapeutics, capital, growth opportunities, suddenly on the finishing line of with Professor Paul Matthews people, operations and resilience. the Hong Kong triathlon in 2011 (Medicine) taking the inaugural The Centre will be led by researchers after suffering a fatal cardiac arrest Dr Fu Ng from the National Heart Chair. The gift will also support at the Business School as part caused by SADS. The three year and Lung Institute, will harness the Edmond and Lily Safra of the College’s Data Science Imperial project, which is being led state-of-the-art genetic testing Neuroscience Scholars Programme Institute, which is developing by Dr Amanda Varnava, a consultant and novel electrical mapping tools for early-career scientists new data science methods and cardiologist at Imperial College to investigate the harmful rhythms researching neurodegenerative technologies and supporting world Healthcare NHS Trust, alongside that give rise to SADS, and ways conditions such as Alzheimer’s class data-driven research. Dr Prapa Kanagaratnam and to identify those at risk. and Parkinson’s Disease. 4 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 August 2014 • issue 275

JOIN OuR MAILINg LIST media mentions for regular news alerts: www.imperial.ac.uk/media/jointsignup

What are the chances of that… to account for a fifth of production, as newly- built plants came on stream. “Even if the latest WIRed ▸ 03.07.2014 figures were helped by the mild, wet and windy weather, such a high level of renewable energy When ten-year-old Laura Buxton released would have seemed almost inconceivable a a balloon with a message asking the finder to decade ago,” said Dr Robert Gross (Centre for write to her, the response came from another Environmental Policy). “Renewable energy Laura Buxton 225km away, writes Professor is now on a par with nuclear in terms of its David Hand (Mathematics) in Wired. John importance as a power generator.” Ironmonger’s new novel, The Coincidence Authority, published around the same time as my own book on the theoretical basis How many cyclists does it take for coincidences, features a London-based to power a TV? Help hero soldiers find a job professor studying coincidences. And his The dAIly TelegRAPh ▸ 07.07.2014 evenIng STAndARd ▸ 08.07.2014 birthday was on June 30, the same as mine. I describe how chance explains extraordinarily With the Tour de France having kicked off in Prince Charles has urged businesses to make unlikely events through a set of laws, which, Yorkshire this month, The Telegraph was eager ‘fortune favour the brave’ by helping hero together, I call the improbability principle. to find out just how much power is generated soldiers into work. A former serviceman who These laws show how we underestimate by the cyclists. Equipped with a blackboard lost both legs above the knee in Afghanistan the chance of coincidences. and a piece of chalk, Dr Simon Foster (Physics), told how sport had helped turn his life around. explained how all the cyclists competing in the Royal Engineer Captain David Henson MBE UK switches on to green power Tour de France will generate enough energy to (Bioengineering), pictured above right, has The IndePendenT ▸ 26.07.2014 power a television for 20 years. Using physics competed in the Warrior Games in the US and equations that many will fondly recall from their plans to take part in London’s Invictus Games, Britain is in the midst of a green energy school days, Dr Foster calculated that the power led by Prince Harry, in September. He said revolution after production soared to record generated by each cyclist is roughly 450W/s. sport helped him make both a physical and levels, according to new figures from The Office “That’s huge,” he said adding that one cyclist, psychological recovery and gave him a “focus”. for National Statistics. The amount of electricity travelling at his maximum speed, could generate Captain Henson is living between Southampton generated from sources such as wind, solar and enough energy to enough to power “10 LED and Battersea while studying for an MSc in hydro has soared by 43 per cent in the past year televisions” per second. biomedical engineering at Imperial in the hope of becoming a prosthetic designer. awards and ENgINEERINg ENgINEERINg BuSINESS SCHOOL honours Pioneering postgraduate Fuel cell leader Fashion app in computing win recognised impresses judges

MEDICINE PhD student Professor Nigel Brandon OBE A smartphone app idea that Fighting for every Nathan has been recognised for his acts as a personal shopper for heartbeat Chong work in fuel cells with the users has propelled a student (Computing) Francis Bacon Medal, named team to second place in the A researcher in the National has won in honour of the eponymous European Business Plan of the Heart and Lung Institute has the ICT British engineer who developed Year Competition. The Business been awarded a prestigious Pioneers competition, run by the the first practical hydrogen- School team also secured £1,000 grant to investigate the Engineering and Physical Sciences oxygen fuel cells, which convert seed money for the fashion app inherited condition hypertrophic Research Council (EPSRC). The air and fuel directly into electricity called Pickniq. It is designed to cardiomyopathy (HCM) – the most competition recognises the most through electrochemical reduce the amount of time spent common cause of sudden death exceptional UK PhD students processes. Professor Brandon scrolling through pages of clothes in young people. Dr Claire Raphael in ICT-related subjects who is Director of H2FC Supergen, on websites. Users of the app are has received more than £115,000 are able to communicate and an Imperial-led hydrogen sent suggestions on new clothing from the British Heart Foundation demonstrate the excellence and and fuel cell research hub. products that they can approve (BHF) as part of its Fight for Every commercial potential of their The award recognises its or disapprove, thereby building Heartbeat campaign. Dr Raphael research. Nathan’s work centres fundamental and applied up a purchasing history. The will be assessing patients with around static verification, which scientific contributions to the team comprised: Sheldon Chuan, the disorder using sophisticated is concerned with the correctness field as well as education, Doreen Chuang, Schahab Golchin, heart imaging techniques. of software. outreach and leadership. Linus Hinzmann, John Kerins. 5 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 August 2014 • issue 275 >> scienceroundup

Secrets of tsunami earthquakes come unstuck

new research has revealed the causes and warning signs of rare tsunami earthquakes.

Tsunami earthquakes happen at relatively shallow depths in the ocean and can be relatively small in terms of their magnitude. However, they create very large tsunamis, with some earthquakes that only Solar power… even when measure 5.6 on the Richter scale generating waves that reach up to ten metres when they hit the shore. the sun don’t shine A global network of seismometers enables researchers to detect even the smallest earthquakes. However, the new analysis of large-scale concentrating solar power (csP) plants suggests challenge has been to determine which small magnitude they could meet 70-80% of electricity demand if they are linked together. events are likely to cause large tsunamis. Study co-author Dr Rebecca One problem with deploying solar energy on a large scale is that the sun Bell (Earth Science and does not shine all the time, so the energy must be stored in some way. Engineering), said: “Tsunami Unlike photovoltaic cells, CSP uses the sun’s energy to heat up a liquid earthquakes don’t create that drives turbines. This means that the collected energy can be stored massive tremors such as the as heat, and converted to electricity only when needed. one that hit Japan in 2011, In a new study the Grantham Institute at Imperial, Stellenbosch so residents and authorities University and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in the past haven’t had simulated the construction and operation of connected CSP systems. the same warning signals They found that in the Mediterranean region, for example, a connected to evacuate.” CSP system could provide 70-80% of current electricity demand – The team believes that the comparable to energy production levels of a nuclear plant. root cause of tsunami earthquakes Study co-author Stefan Pfenninger (Civil and Environmental might be extinct undersea volcanoes that create a physical Engineering) said: “This solar energy system can satisfy up to 80% ‘sticking point’ between two slow moving tectonic plates, of our hunger for electricity, at not much more cost than traditional where one is sliding under the other. This causes a build-up sources. This is the first study to systematically examine the potential of energy, which when eventually released, shifts the plate of CSP to overcome the inherent variability of solar energy.” and squashes the volcanoes under the Earth’s crust – The researchers also showed that by doubling the surface area to trap in turn causing large movements of the sea floor the sun’s energy in each plant, connected CSP plants are able to create and very large tsunami waves. large enough heat reserves to compensate for times when the sun is not “We are beginning to understand for first time the shining. This means that if one plant goes offline because of poor weather factors that cause these events. This could ultimately conditions, energy stored at another CSP plant could be used. save lives,” said Dr Bell. —gaiL wiLsOn, cOMMunicatiOns and PuBLic affairs —cOLin sMith, cOMMunicatiOns and PuBLic affairs

Biological basis for ‘mind scanner. Volunteers were also scanned when Study co-author Dr Carhart-Harris (Medicine) they had been injected with a placebo. said: “Learning about the mechanisms that expanding’ drugs revealed The study found that under psilocybin, underlie what happens under the influence of new research shows that people’s brains display activity in the more primitive brain network linked psychedelic drugs can also help to understand a similar pattern of activity when dreaming to emotional thinking became more pronounced, their possible uses. We are currently studying as during a mind-expanding drug trip. with several different areas in this network the effect of LSD on creative thinking and we will – such as the hippocampus and also be looking at the possibility that psilocybin Psychedelic drugs such as anterior cingulate cortex – active may help alleviate symptoms of depression LSD and magic mushrooms can at the same time. This pattern by allowing patients to change their rigidly profoundly alter the way people of activity is similar to that pessimistic patterns of thinking.” experience the world. To explore observed in people who are Subsequent analysis of the data also the biological basis for this dreaming. Concurrently, revealed a remarkable increase in entropy in experience, researchers recruited volunteers on the drug also the more primitive brain network. It seemed the 15 volunteers who were given showed disjointed and volunteers had a much larger range of potential psilocybin (the active drug in uncoordinated activity in the brain states that were available to them, which magic mushrooms) intravenously brain network that is linked to may be the basis of ‘mind expansion’ reported while they lay in a functional high-level thinking, including by users of psychedelic drugs. magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) self-consciousness. —francesca davenPOrt, cOMMunicatiOns and PuBLic affairs 6 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 August 2014 • issue 275 Fitting finale

How best to mark the departure achievements as President. He cited in particular the roles Sir Keith has played of a leader who has steered in shaping the vision for Imperial West, Imperial towards bold new overseeing the development of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in frontiers both at home and Singapore and cultivating global links with alumni, research partners and industry. SEPTEMBER 2010 Nanyang Technological University and Imperial announce overseas? Sometimes music He added, “Leadership is hard to a partnership to jointly establish the Lee Kong Chian School Medicine in Singapore says it best. define. Some of our Business School academics spend years studying what makes a great leader. But I know it On 23 June the Imperial community when I see it. And Keith has got it. I can marked the retirement of Sir Keith honestly say that Keith’s qualities as a O’Nions as President & Rector with leader are among the most outstanding a concert. Staff, students and friends I have ever come across in my career. of the College attended a musical tribute It is a privilege to work alongside to Sir Keith and his wife Rita given by the someone so talented. I know that most Imperial College Symphony Orchestra people in this room – like me – will have and the Imperial College Choir. learned a lot from him.” The concert opened with Brahms’s Before cutting a special cake model Academic Festival Overture, ending of the Queen’s Tower Sir Keith thanked with the tune Gaudeamus Igitur, the orchestra and the choir for a terrific which has been performed at all evening and praised colleagues for their of the graduation ceremonies over remarkable work. He said, “Imperial’s which Sir Keith has presided. respect of its academic heritage, Speaking before the choir sang combined with its willingness to embrace Verdi’s Choris of the Hebrew Slaves and define the future, have made it (from Nabucco) and one of the world’s greatest Britten’s ‘Old Joe has gone institutions. Notwithstanding “Leadership fishing’ (from Peter Grimes), the great things that have is hard to define. Richard Dickins, Director happened at Imperial, there But i know it when of Music, expressed the is more greatness to come. i see it. and keith musicians’ gratitude to The best days, I believe, has got it.” Sir Keith and Lady O’Nions are still ahead of us.” for their support of music Eliza Manningham- at Imperial. He said, “On behalf Buller, Chair of the Imperial College Court MARCH 2013 Sir Keith presents the vision for developing Imperial West of Imperial’s 3,000 musicians, it is and Council, paid tribute to Sir Keith’s into a major research and translation campus a huge honour to say thank you,” academic excellence, recognised with noting that Rita has attended many a Fellowship of the Royal Society while of Imperial’s weekly lunchtime concerts he was still in his 30s, and his long career over the past four years. devoted to public service in government Following a performance of the and university leadership. She praised second movement of Rachmaninov’s his energy, focus and enthusiasm, 2nd Piano Concerto, with third year noting his in particular how he has built Physics student Jonathan McNaught relationships round the world with old playing the solo parts, Mr Dickins and new friends of Imperial. called for assistance. He said, “It’s She said, “Keith is a dear friend time I handed over the baton to who has done an enormous amount for someone more qualified and better the College. Rita, always smiling, has looking…” then invited Sir Keith to the given magnificent support to Imperial. stage to conduct Tchaikovsky’s 1812 They will both be very much missed.” Overture, the concert finale. Sir Keith steps down as President MAY 2014 Alumnus Michael Uren OBE donates an unprecedented £40 million gift Speaking at a reception following on 31 August and will be succeeded by to create the Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub at Imperial West the concert, Provost Professor James Professor Alice Gast, currently President Stirling highlighted Sir Keith’s of , Pennsylvania. 7 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 August 2014 • issue 275 >> featurefocus

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT & RECTOR

Dear Colleagues,

It has been an enormous privilege to lead since January 2010 and a pleasure to work alongside a talented community of staff, students, alumni and supporters.

DECEMBER 2011 Sir Keith and alumnus Dr Hiralal Imperial is one of the few truly global universities: OCTOBER 2010 Sir Keith presides over his first of 22 Patel reunite at a reception in Delhi – one of over around the world you will find a growing presence graduation ceremonies while leading Imperial 40 overseas alumni events between 2011–14 of Imperial and its alumni networks. I am proud to have been at the College to witness this period of increased international presence, such as the Lee Kong Chian Medical School in Singapore and greatly increased research collaborations in China, India, Brazil, and Malaysia to name a few. Members of the College community, whatever their position, display the same passion for Imperial and its reputation for excellence. All share the motivations which have enabled the College to grow into one of the world’s great universities. I am delighted that through events such as the Imperial Festival and alumni reunions around the world, we have created opportunities to bring the Imperial community, past and present, together. The College has a compelling future ahead of it. Imperial West offers an opportunity unprecedented in the College’s recent history to create a new and innovative environment for research, education and translation. The generosity of Michael Uren OBE and his Foundation will enable the College to create a pioneering biomedical engineering centre at Imperial West. I hope that this is the first of many headline projects which will pave the way for the College to grow for generations to come. On a personal level, my family and I will take away many fond memories of College life. Rita and I were honoured that the College Choir and Symphony Orchestra performed at my leaving event. Other highlights of my time at Imperial include the annual Varsity rugby game where I never cease to be amazed by the ability of Imperial students to combine sporting JuNE 2013 Sir Keith launches the second Imperial Festival with a bang – the event attracts more than 10,000 members of the public and alumni visitors to the South Kensington Campus excellence with academic achievement. I will watch the College progress with great interest from the sidelines. I would like to conclude by offering my thanks to all of my colleagues who have worked with me during my time as Rector, and later President & Rector, and I wish the College every continuing success.

Best wishes,

JuNE 2014 At a reception marking his JuLY 2014 Sir Keith hosts a reception in Beijing retirement, Sir Keith cuts a special cake attended by 200 alumni – the largest ever Keith O’Nions model of the Queen’s Tower Imperial alumni gathering in China President & Rector 8 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 August 2014 • issue 275

of science Earlier this term, an unusual workshop concluded a series of events and artistic collaborations developed to explore the role that silence might play in the processes of science.

Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Silences of Science network was set up to investigate any discord that might exist between the constant drive to communicate and engage with as many people as possible about research, and the need for scientists to withdraw sometimes It is perhaps somewhat ironic the number of science PhD students from the public sphere and reflect on their work, that in order to understand silence who actually attended our events,” or perhaps protect its intellectual property. better, the network had to convene says Dr Stephen Webster, Director Over the course of three workshops, a group people to generate yet more noise. of Imperial’s Science Communication of experts from fields as diverse as religion, law and But not all the events have been noisy. Unit, who has also contributed to the music joined science historians, philosophers and And when silence has been invoked, development of the network. communicators of science to get to grips with different it has often been done in creative “These are people at the start ways of talking about silence and considering patterns and sometimes unusual ways. of their scientific careers, who will of contemplation in the work of the scientist in For example, the first workshop be asking themselves whether they the 21st century. included a silent tea break, where went into science in order to be “What has been fascinating is to engage with participants were surprised to be hyper-productive or to think more. people from different professions, where silence is invited to mingle as usual, but If the project has given them a route an absolutely essential part of the work, and to see without the high energy networking to create and protect a space for how this might resonate with the working practices conversations that so often accompany contemplation, then it will have served of today’s scientists,” reflects project lead Dr Felicity such breaks in the programme. And an important purpose.” Mellor, who also leads Imperial’s MSc course in the most recent event opened with There are also plans for the Science Communication. a commissioned installation by ‘sound- project to feed into more practical “The priest with his prayerful silences, the maker’ Edward Prosser, designed to approaches for communicating science, musician with the all-important rests between her challenge everyone’s ideas about such as the programming ideas for notes, and the poet who established a new level what sound means to them. next year’s Imperial Festival. “As the of attentive quiet from the audience as he sat down The project has covered a huge Festival attracts more and more people, to read some of his work – they all provoked us into amount of ground, from philosophical we might usefully explore how to create reflecting in different ways about what silence is and political angles, such as a highly more peaceful and contemplative and what it can help us achieve.” polarized discussion on who is being spaces for our visitors to think and silenced in the climate change debate, to reflect on what they have seen to more practical considerations such and heard,” says Stephen. as the time-honoured arguments about “Silence is an important part what music, if any, should be played of the process of science, and we in the lab. need to reflect that in the way we tell The network leaders hope to the story about the science we do. publish a report based on the workshop This year we gave our visitors the hugely presentations aimed at research policy popular Robot Zone. Maybe next year makers. But a more tangible legacy may we can surprise them with an equally There are many examples of scientists developing their most lie in the direct effects on the working exciting Silent Zone.” important ideas when they retreat, even temporarily, from practices of some of the participants. — natasha Martineau, cOMMunicatiOns the push of professional life — as Darwin suggested in his “Although this started largely as a and PuBLic affairs autobiography, avoiding the rush to publish can help you project for humanities researchers, develop a better understanding of your work. you can listen to edward Prosser’s sound the surprise and pleasure for me was installation here: bit.ly/silencesofscience 9 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 August 2014 • issue 275 insidestory

Staff soirée

support staff from across the college came together on 8 July for inside a summer fête held on imperial’s south kensington campus.

The Queen’s Lawn played host to an story assortment of games and activities for the evening including bowling, a fast- reaction challenge, and giant versions of table-top favourites such as Jenga, mini profile Connect Four and playing cards. In the Queen’s Tower Rooms more adventurous members of staff faced up Dr Catherine to the rodeo bull, which swung willing participants around to a backdrop Mulligan of music performed by party-band Cheescake, followed by staff karaoke. catherine Mulligan has This year’s festivities had a ‘Mad been a research fellow Hatter’ theme, and staff were invited to in the innovation and get creative with their headgear, with entrepreneurship group at a prize awarded for the best hat. the Business school for two Over 1,500 staff registered for the years. a computer scientist fête, which is organised by the Support and engineer by training, You’ve also written Staff Social Committee. The event cathy worked for ericsson extensively about the was held for the first time last year for 10 years before completing negative implications in response to survey feedback that her Phd at cambridge of digital technology? support staff had little opportunity to Marcus Rees-Roberts from the university. she is Principal Yes. And I do worry about meet people from other areas of the Development Division was one of the investigator on two rcuk where we’re heading as College doing similar jobs to their own. attendees. He said: “It was great to see projects: scaling the rural a digital society. People tend Louise Lindsay, Director of Human such a good turnout at the fête, and it enterprise and sustainable to focus on the positive aspects Resources, said: “We wanted to have an was nice to have the opportunity to meet society network+. of technology but there opportunity to celebrate the important staff from across the College’s campuses are always unintended contributions of Imperial’s support staff and hospitals, many of whom I had How can digital consequences – be it privacy and also to bring people from different never met before. Watching people on technologies make us and insurance issues, areas of the College together. I was the rodeo bull was certainly a highlight – more sustainable? plagiarism, even addiction. delighted to see so many staff attending an excellent spectator sport.” We’re seeing mass migration Take the very popular Fitbit from all the campuses, meeting — deBOrah evansOn, cOMMunicatiOns to cities the world over on Tracker and mobile app, which colleagues and enjoying themselves.” and PuBLic affairs a scale unprecedented in the measures your movement, history of humanity and that sleep, and other personal brings with it many challenges – metrics. Their business model perhaps the biggest one is to aggregate that data and being food. We think digital sell it to insurance companies and data technology can who can then change their help with things like food models based on real data. distribution and combating With Facebook and Google waste. The Food and we also have the emergence Agricultural Organisation of global data monopolies, of the United Nations although nobody is calling (FAO) recently asked us them that yet. to develop a tool that will visualise data on food So do you ever take yourself production and shortages. offline and escape? This could help policy Definitely! When I go on makers in developing countries vacation I make a point of more rapidly identify and finding accommodation with fix problems in the supply no internet, no phone signal chain so that people living and is just nowhere basically. in cities get better access I have to switch off but it takes to healthy food. me a couple days. A member of staff enjoying the fast-reaction challenge, put on by the Finance Division 10 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 August 2014 • issue 275

Empowering patients facing surgery

imperial researchers and clinicians have launched a new smartphone app, Mysurgery, to help patients get the best outcome from their surgery.

The app combines simple, jargon-free information about coming in to hospital for an operation with very practical step-by-step advice on the actions that patients and their family can take to optimise surgical outcome, safety, recovery and satisfaction. In recent months, parts of the NHS have been under particular scrutiny regarding the occurrence of avoidable patient harm and systemic failings in care delivery, such young people ready for work by helping as the issues highlighted at the Mid Staffordshire hospitals. Easing interview them develop interview skills and MySurgery is a new and innovative approach to reducing risk providing guidance on applications, in surgery, which is unique in that it gives the patient and nerves CVs and their career aspirations. their family a role in making their care safer. Burlington Danes Academy is Creator of the app, Many of us still fear interviews, even a secondary school situated between Dr Stephanie Russ after years of experience doing them – Hammersmith Hospital and Imperial (Surgery and Cancer) some might even still recall the dread West. The Academy delivers A-Levels came up with the idea of that first interview. as well as vocational courses to almost for MySurgery as a 200 sixth form students. method for empowering In the fierce competition for jobs Gerard Haliti, a Year 12 student at patients to play a more today, young people feel particularly the school, said: “I found the feedback active role with their under pressure. That’s why members really valuable. My interview panel healthcare team. of Imperial’s Human Resources explained the importance of knowing Stephanie says: Division leant their experience and my CV and giving specific examples “MySurgery is a expertise to students at a West London of skills and knowledge gained in the user-friendly, animated secondary school last month. past to prove I have them.” app that takes patients through the entire surgical journey At Burlington Danes Academy’s Louise Lindsay, Director of HR highlighting the actions they can take to reduce risk according first Mock Interview Day on 23 June, at Imperial, said: “It was clear that to four categories: Do, Ask, Check and Inform. The app covers 12 members of HR joined employees just a couple of hours of our time everything from preparing for surgery, knowing what to expect, from the likes of KPMG, Bloomberg, made a real difference to the identifying warning signs, providing necessary information ARK and the BBC to sit on practice preparation the young people were and asking the right questions from the professionals.” interview panels for 94 sixth form undertaking for the world of work MySurgery, which is supported by NHS organisations, students – helping to boost their and further study. Most had never can be downloaded for free and takes roughly 10 minutes confidence and give them experience experienced an interview before so we to work through. of interview processes. were able to guide them on planning The app was released by DigitalStitch, a spinout Imperial’s participation formed part for their next ‘real life’ interview to from Imperial, formed with support from , of the Chartered Institute of Personnel ensure they were in a good position which is focused on using mobile device technologies to and Development’s ‘Inspiring the to show their full range of talents. ” deliver effective and cost-efficient healthcare solutions. Future’ initiative, which aims to get — deBOrah evansOn, cOMMunicatiOns —francesca davenPOrt, cOMMunicatiOns and PuBLic affairs and PuBLic affairs

Staff featured in this column have given many years of service • Jackie Sime, MSc Cluster Administrator, Civil and Environmental Engineering to the College. Staff listed celebrate anniversaries during the • Dr Teresa Sergot, Academic and Alumni Relations Manager, Faculty of Engineering • Professor Tim Green, Director of the Energy Futures Laboratory period 1 August–30 September. The data are supplied by HR and correct at the time of going to press. 30 years • Professor Chris Hankin, Director of the Institute for Security Science and Technology, 20 years Computing • Professor Yannis Hardalupas, Professor of Multiphase Flows, Mechanical Engineering • Charlotte Soteri, Early Years Educator, Early Years Education Centre • Chrissy Stevens, Secretary, Mechanical Engineering • Professor Maggie Dallman, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences • Professor Paola Piccini, Professor of Neurology, Medicine 40 years • Dr Gareth Tudor-Williams, Reader in Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Medicine • Dr Karen Mosley, CRF General Manager, Medicine • Shirley Baker, Student Fees Officer, Finance Division • Dr Matt Lee, Programme Director and Departmental Manager, Medicine • Alan Bolsher, Technician, Civil and Environmental Engineering 11 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 1 August 2014 • issue 275 insidestory

Professor Douglas Gale, Mr Raj Patel, Computing Mr Brian Daughton, Mr Ahmadur Rahman, Medicine Business School Professional Development Welcome Dr George Pelios, NHLI Dr Paul Randell, Medicine Mrs Kelly Goodrich, Registry Mr Daniel Davidsson, Medicine Dr Javier Pereda Torres, EEE Dr Vanessa Raymont, Medicine new starters Mr Daniel Green, Mr John Demello, Dr Aiswarya Prabha, Chemistry Faculty of Engineering Professor Tamas Revesz, Miss Sun Ahn, Accommodation Medicine Dr Layal Hakim, Computing Miss Chloe Pyle, NHLI Mr Nikolaos Diangelakis, Dr Nicolas Alferez, Chemical Engineering Ms Lorna Richardson (19 years), Mechanical Engineering Miss Mariel Harrison, Miss Maryam Qurashi, Chemistry Registry Life Sciences Miss Catherine Edeam, Dr Giuliano Allegri, Aeronautics Dr Huw Rees, Faculty of Medicine Mr Diogo Rodrigues Feleciano, Miss Alison Harrod, Professional Development NHLI Professor Franklin Allen, Surgery and Cancer Mr Philip Elliott (12 years), Business School Mr Christopher Reynolds, Finance Miss Caroline Royle, Medicine Mr Petr Hosek, Computing Life Sciences Dr Elizabeth Atkins, Medicine Miss Helen Evans, Dr Despoina Sarridou, Dr Ashleigh Howes, NHLI Mr Euan Roney, Registry Surgery and Cancer Surgery and Cancer Dr Elisabetta Aurino, Public Health Mrs Seema Jagdev, Development Dr Antonia Rotolo, Medicine Dr Cailong Fang, NHLI Mr Peter Saunders (8 years), Mechanical Engineering Miss Sophie Austin, Mrs Rebecca Jenkins, Ms Charlie Royle, Dr Jake Foster, Clinical Sciences Development Faculty of Natural Sciences Surgery and Cancer Mr Sahil Shah, Accommodation Dr Ebubekir Avci, Computing Dr Surrinder Johal, Dr Javier Rubio Garcia, Chemistry Dr Alison Gaudion, Medicine Mr Efstratios Skordos, EEE

Health and Safety on. in. moving moving Dr David Bell, Life Sciences Dr Delwen Samuel, Miss Karanjit Gill, NHLI Dr Joe Smallman, Physics Miss Hannah Jones, Faculty of Medicine Ms Jo Birch, Registry Faculty of Medicine Miss Justyna Glegola, Dr Benjamin Smith, Physics Dr Arick Shao, Mathematics Faculty of Medicine Mr Jason Bishop, Finance Miss Victoria Jones, NHLI Ms Lisa Smith, Public Health Dr Somnath Shinde, Chemistry Miss Louisa Gnatiuc (5 years), Miss Laura Brett, NHLI Dr Eleni Korompoki, Medicine NHLI Dr Martin Spitaler (8 years), NHLI Miss Namrita Shukla, Finance Dr Carlos Bricio Garberi, Mrs Ewa Krakowiak, Miss Rachel Harris, Medicine Dr Tesha Suddason, Medicine Bioengineering Accommodation Miss Cleo Silvestri, Business School Dr Maud Henry, Life Sciences Dr Kelly Sutton, Public Health Miss Caroline Bridgwood, Miss Stefanie Kuenzel, EEE Faculty of Engineering Ms Konstantina Spanaki, Mr Stuart Higgins, Physics Ms Negar Tadayon, Mr Christopher Kwan, EEE Business School Surgery and Cancer Mr Adam Burke, Sir Tom Hughes-Hallett, Surgery and Cancer Miss Folasade Labiyi, Mr Clement Stevens, Institute of Global Health Mr Ho Tang, Public Health Chemical Engineering Professional Development Innovation Miss Jenn Bywater, Ms Kaori Taniguchi (6 years), Comms and Public Affairs Mrs Sarah Lane, Dr Andrew Strangeway, Dr Michiyo Iwami, Medicine Professional Development Faculty of Medicine Mathematics Dr Emilie Cauet, Public Health Dr Shichina Kannambath, Dr Hannah Taylor, Medicine Dr Victoria Leitch, Medicine Dr Christian Struber, Physics Medicine Ms Andreea Cetateanu, Miss Bora Trimcev (5 years), Public Health Mr Benjamin Lester, Life Sciences Dr Claire Sweetenham, Dr Christina Kanonidou, Medicine Business School Outreach Office Dr Mohammed Chakrabarti, ESE Dr Michael Liu, Medicine Miss Natasha Khalife, Mr Kostas Tzortzis, Medicine Ms Delphine Thizy, Life Sciences Public Health Dr Stephen Chambers, Mr Ross Manson, Miss Maria Vlachopoulou, Bioengineering Health and Safety Dr Leonora Velleman, Chemistry Mr Tesilimi Koko, EYEC Environmental Policy Mr Kai Chang, Surgery and Cancer Mrs Amanda Marshall, Registry Miss Caroline White, ICT Dr Matthew Laffan, Aeronautics Dr Thomas Walpuski, Mathematics Miss Laura Coates, Dr JP Martin-Flatin, Computing Dr Dylan Williams, Public Health Miss Charlotte Lemaigre, Surgery and Cancer Public Health Dr Jane Warwick, Public Health Mr Nicholas Mason, Chemistry Dr David Woodward, Mrs Ghazaleh Cousin, Bioengineering Mrs Diane Lewis (8 years), Miss Natalie Watt, NHLI Faculty of Engineering Dr Adam Masters, Physics Finance Miss Maria Xenou, Medicine Miss Nikki Whitelock, Dr Tiago Cravo Oliveira, Mr Mohammed Mazid, ICT Miss Clare Loane (5 years), Public Health Business School Dr Joe Yu, Life Sciences Medicine Mrs Pam McCarthy, Mr Gary Wilkes, Physics Mr John Crook, Estates Division Business School Mr Hua Zhang, Dr Maria Lopez Heras, Materials Surgery and Cancer Ms Laura Williams (11 years), Miss Molly Davey, EYEC Dr Jed McDonald, Bioengineering Dr Liang Lu, Aeronautics Medicine Miss Alex Dawes, Mr Alastair McIntosh, Chemistry Mr Dan Marston, Mr Joe Witts, Registry Faculty of Medicine Imperial College Union Dr Orla McLaughlin, Life Sciences Dr Melanie Wood, Medicine Miss Lauren Devereux, Farewell Mr Cal McLean, Medicine Estates Division Miss Alina Miedzik, Dr Hongshi Yan (8 years), ESE Surgery and Cancer Mr Miguel Miranda (6 years), NHLI Mrs Maria Dickinson, moving on Grantham Institute Mr Byrone Mitchell, Mr Mark Atkinson, ICT Dr Beinn Muir, Physics Accommodation Miss Ana dos Ramos Rodrigues, Dr Susannah Bloch, NHLI Dr Samuel Murphy, Materials Life Sciences Dr Michi Miura, Medicine Dr Paddy Brock, Public Health Dr Shoma Nakagawa, Miss Maureen Driessen, Dr Francesco Montomoli, Surgery and Cancer Bioengineering Aeronautics Dr Federico Calboli (9 years), Public Health Mrs Alison Nicholson, Dr Andrew Duncan, Mathematics Dr Simon Moore, Life Sciences Faculty of Engineering Dr Alessandra Carriero, Mrs Nidaa Eldosougi Nounou, Miss Sibel Narin, Bioengineering Dr David O’Connor, Medicine Finance Surgery and Cancer Mr Michael O’Shea, Mr Alan Chandler (16 years), Please send your Dr Benjamin Evans, EEE Dr Nelofar Obaray, Medicine Finance Accommodation images and/or comments Dr Iliana Fauzi, Ms Sasha Oelsner, Dr David Charles, Life Sciences Mr William Otter, EEE Chemical Engineering Outreach Office about new starters, leavers Dr Ciara Clarke, Mr Paul Pahiti, Finance and retirees to the Editor at Mrs Chinwe Floerchinger, Dr Harriet Palfreyman, Faculty of Medicine [email protected] Surgery and Cancer Surgery and Cancer Miss Loredana Pellegrino, Dr Vasa Curcin (12 years), Surgery and Cancer Dr Fung Foo, Surgery and Cancer Dr Bhopal Pandeya, Public Health The Editor reserves the Grantham Institute Miss Mireille Rack, Mr Khari Fraser, Accommodation Mr Michael Cutler, NHLI Environmental Policy right to edit or amend Mr Bhavish Patel, these as necessary. Chemical Engineering Mr Lateef Raheem, EYEC FOR COMPLETE DETAILS: events highlights www.imperial.ac.uk/events august 2014

26 SEPTEMBER ▸ ExTERNAL take note Science Uncovered Imperial researchers present their interactive Get stuck into the latest research on pandemic Hopping exhibition ‘How to catch flu’ at the Natural flu with scientists from the National Heart between History Museum, alongside other science and Lung Institute (NHLI) and brought to life exhibits, debates and behind-the-scenes tours by the renowned illustrator Steven Appleby campuses? as part of European Researchers Night. and film maker Pete Bishop. From next term a free hourly minibus service for staff and students will run from South Kensington to Wood Lane Studios at Imperial West and Hammersmith Campus. 12 NOVEMBER ▸ LECTURE Erwin Schrödinger Lecture The pilot service, delivered by Imperial Estates Facilities Team, will operate Joint recipient of the 2012 Nobel Prize between 08.00 and 18.00, Monday to in Physics, Professor Serge Haroche, Friday throughout the Autumn term. College de France, speaks about how to trap, and experiment on, The service is being trialled in response to photons of light. feedback from last year’s Travel Survey.

7 OctOber > lecture EDF Annual Lecture Energy Futures Lab lecture about the human and social dimensions of business, presented by Marianne Laigneau, Group Senior Executive Vice President, Human Resources, at EDF Energy.

29 OctOber > lecture Vincent Briscoe Lecture Institute for Security Science and Technology annual lecture presented by Professor Dennis S Mileti, University of Colorado, Boulder covering the social impact of terrorism and extreme natural events. PHOTO ExPO The heart and lung Repair Shop at hammersmith’s Kings Mall attracted curious shoppers and members of the public last month. The science 13 NOvember > lecture engagement project was Ernst Chain Lecture Professor Michael Levitt, devised by nhlI researchers , joint recipient of the 2013 in collaboration with artists Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and designers with funding speaks about modelling the molecules of life. from the Wellcome Trust

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 email: [email protected]

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