JUNE/JULY 1997

PRINCESS OPENS UNIQUE CENTRE AT UNIVERSITY TIN

OFFICIAL OPENING: Richard Attenborough CentreThe open. Princess unveils the plaque to declare the http://www.le.ac.uk/ LE

WELCOME: The Vice-Chancellor greets the Princess and Lord INSIDE Attenborough outside the Centre. WINNING LINES: Student More fundraisers in pictures and telephone full story, see appeal praised by Michael special Nicholson. Page 3 supplement in centre pages.

CURRENT RESEARCH: Report of a study into the SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER: effect of waves on climate. The Princess greets Aamena Hajee Page 9 who slipped past the crush barriers outside the front of the Richard

BUL Attenborough Centre.

MALAYSIAN MAGIC MOMENT: The Princess CONNECTION: meets Mrs Margaret Gray inside the Sunway College’s 10th Centre. Anniversary. Page 20

BULLETIN: Your award-winning newsletter - Heist Marketing Awards 1996 NEWS

VOLUME 29 PROFESSOR IN NUMBER 9 PRESIDENTIAL MEETING JUNE/JULY 1997 NEWS...... 1-11 BUSINESS...... 12-13 OUT & ABOUT....14-17 FEATURES...... 18-22 ACADEMIC SERVICES...... 23-24 ARTSTOP...... 25 CUTTINGS...... 26 BOOKS...... 27-28 PEOPLE...... 28-31 MEETING: The President of Ireland Mary Robinson, former Director of the School of Cosmic RESEARCH...... 31-33 Physics Professor Brian Jacob and Professor Khan at Dublin Castle. A.O.B...... 33 PROFESSOR Aftab Khan and other members of the Geology Department NOTICES...... 34-35 have recently returned from an international conference which was Back Page followed by a reception at Dublin Castle with the President of Ireland. CROSSWORD Professor Khan, whose meeting with the President of Kenya was BULLETIN reported in the Annual Report three years ago, was at the Dublin Institute The Bulletin aims to publish news and features which inform for Advanced Studies for the conference on continental rifts. staff and students of developments affecting the University, and Professor Khan has specialised in the study of the East African Rift to report on the decisions of Council and Senate. Tell us your news! We welcome stories and pictures from where he is part of an international project carrying out controlled source individuals and departments, so send your copy to the Editor in seismic experiments in Kenya. He chaired a workshop on the subject at Press and Alumni Relations, Registrar’s Office. The closing date the conference. for the next issue is Wednesday 9 July for publication in early August. The Editor reserves the right to amend or abbreviate Professor Khan is also the Chairman of the School of Cosmic Physics copy without notice. which is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year. The School was The Bulletin is edited in Press and Alumni Relations. established in 1947 as the third constituent school of the Dublin Institute Small advertisements (up to 30 words in length) should be for Advanced Studies. accompanied by cheques, payable to University of Leicester, at the The primary duty of the School is theoretical, observational and following rates: House sales and lettings: £5.00 experimental investigation of the problems of cosmic physics, including Other sales and services: £2.00 astronomy and astrophysics, cosmic rays, geophysics, meteorology and Prices for display advertisements are available on request. oceanography. Please contact Julie Franks, Marketing Officer LUSU, extn 1168, to whom all adverts should be sent. Private, non-commercial announcements are carried free of charge, subject to space. Editor: Ather Mirza (Extn 3335) The University of Leicester Bulletin includes advertising to e-mail: [email protected] Deputy Editor: Barbara Whiteman (Extn 2676) offset production costs. It should be noted that the e-mail: [email protected] University of Leicester does not necessarily adopt or People, Books, Research, Cuttings, Notices, Artstop. endorse the products and services advertised in the Reporters: Judith Shaw/Jane Pearson Bulletin. The Bulletin cannot accept responsibility for any Design and layout: Graphics, AVS Pictures: Central Photographic Unit, errors in advertisements. Leicester Mercury, members of staff The Editor reserves the right to refuse any advertisement Printed by Central Reprographic Unit. Newsline: 0116 252 3335 ON-LINE BULLETIN Advertising: 0116 223 1168 Issues of the Bulletin in 1997 are accessible on CWIS via the following web address: http://www.le.ac.uk/bulletin/

2 NEWS BELLS ARE RINGING FOR JUBILEE CAMPAIGN

PLEDGES for the alumni have been able to telephone fund-raising chat about old times and appeal, launched in August learn how the campus has 1996, have now topped the changed, and parents have £600,000 mark. The been able to hear news of appeal, headed by Leicester the forthcoming graduation graduate and ITN Senior ceremonies. Foreign Correspondent, It is also an opportunity Michael Nicholson, is for them to commemorate raising vital funds for their children's graduation improvements to the with a gift that will benefit library and sports facilities students in the future. for students and staff at Plans are now well Leicester. advanced for a direct mail Michael met up with campaign to around 16,000 some of the student callers alumni who have not been when he visited the telephoned. It is hoped that University to give a lecture, support from the remainder and he was quick to of the alumni will bring the congratulate them on their campaign total closer to £1m. GOOD NEWS: Michael Nicholson with members of the student calling team and programme director, Andrea great work. Development Manager Greenwood, left.. From Monday to Peter Allen commented: “It Thursday, every week in term around 30, all of whom are reasons for the campaign and would be fantastic to raise £1m time, 10 students gather at the managed by programme director, asking for support through a with this appeal and I am remaining calling room in the New Building to Andrea Greenwood of IDC. substantial covenant over four cautiously optimistic. The campaign begin contacting alumni and They follow up two letters that years. The experience has been has already surpassed our parents. They are part of a team of have been sent out detailing the very positive for all concerned; expectations which is great news .” ‘ROBOT OLYMPICS’ AT UNIVERSITY

A TOTAL of 120 students took part in a ‘robot Olympics’ in the University’s Department of Engineering. Student Tom Harrison, one of those in the competition, said: “Eight robots were entered into the race which involved flat sprint as well as THOUGHT PROCESS: Engineering students discuss strategies for the race. climbing up inclines. “The fastest sprint time was 23 seconds for covering a distance of nine feet, while one robot almost managed a sheer face climb. “Many different types of robot were produced from a multi-legged caterpillar design to a hovercraft creation utilising a bicycle pump. “The day was great fun and CREATION: Another second year design project the majority of the was a winch control. Chong Yen Tan is pictured Engineering Department with fellow students. were there cheering loudly.” ACTION: The ‘robot Olympics’ saw contraptions of various sorts in competition. Pictures: Paul Smith

3 NEWS INAUGURATION OF THE GEZA VERMES LECTURES IN THE HISTORY OF RELIGIONS

THE University hosted a lecture by Academy in 1985 and has one of the world's foremost LECTURE received honorary doctorates authorities on the Dead Sea Scrolls LAUNCHES NEW from the Universities of 50 years after their discovery in the CENTRE AT Edinburgh, Durham and Judean Desert by young Bedouin UNIVERSITY Sheffield. He has been shepherds. director of the Forum for Professor Geza Vermes, FBA, Qumran Research at the Professor Emeritus of Jewish translations of all the texts Oxford Centre for Hebrew Studies at the University of Oxford, sufficiently well preserved to be and Jewish Studies since delivered the first of an annual translated into English. It includes a 1991. lecture named in his honour to number of hitherto unpublished The Lecture, part of the inaugurate the University's new texts. Of particular note are University's Jubilee series, Centre for the History of Religions, documents relating to the Essene took place on May 28 in Inter-Faith Dialogue and Pluralism. Community's liturgical calendar, its the Rattray Lecture The Discovery of the Dead Sea rules and observances. There is also Theatre. Scrolls: 50 Years On assessed the a crucial newly-discovered impact of the discoveries and fifty inscription from 1996 found among years of research on the Dead Sea the Qumran ruins. Scrolls; provided an up-to-date During the lecture Professor verdict on the Scrolls for a study of Richard Bonney, who is director of DIRECTOR: Professor Bonney is head of the new the Hebrew Bible; discussed other the new Centre, displayed Centre for the History of Religions, Inter-Faith contemporaneous Jewish religious selections from Oxford University Dialogue and Pluralism in the Department of literature; identified and Press’s complete visual History. characterised the Qumran community; and considered the relevance of the Scrolls for a better understanding of early Christianity. LEICESTER GRADUATES - The scrolls, and the ruins at Qumran, a complex of DID THEY GET YOUR structures located on a barren terrace close to the cliffs where the caves are found, VOTE? have been dated as coming AS THE dust settles on the recent General Election you will from the late Second Temple be interested to know that Leicester graduates were once Period, a time when Jesus of more in the thick of it, fighting seats, advising politicians or Nazareth lived, and are almost a covering the election in the media. thousand years older than other One of our best known graduates, Michael Jack (BA surviving biblical manuscripts. Economics 1967) was re-elected as MP for Fylde. For The extraordinary manuscripts Professor Geza Vermes Labour, Bruce Grocott (BA Social Sciences 1962) retained appear to have been deposited or INAUGURATION: his seat at Telford. He previously represented Tamworth hidden in the caves at Qumran by edition of the Dead Sea Scrolls on and the Wrekin in the 1970s and 80s. members of the Essene community, CD-ROM. "Since the value of this Three more Leicester graduates claimed Labour victories a Jewish sect in existence before item is some £1,400, it is unlikely in long standing Conservative constituencies. Michael and during the time of Jesus. that many private individuals will Foster, a graduate of the 60s, gained Hastings and Rye The lecture coincided with the have seen this," he said. while Linda Perham (BA Classical Studies 1969) gained publication date of Professor Professor Geza Vermes was born Ilford North. Closer to home, Philip Sawford (BA Applied Vermes' eagerly awaited The in Hungary in 1924. He studied in Sociology 1985) gained the Kettering seat. Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English Budapest and Louvain and in 1953 Beyond the two major parties, the Independence party (Allen Lane/Penguin) which is a obtained a doctorate in theology were represented by graduate Richard Squires, who fought completely revised and much- with a dissertation on the historical the Surrey Heath seat without success. For the record, all expanded edition containing all the framework of the Dead Sea Scrolls. the Leicester seats are now held by Labour MPs. scroll texts, including those which He has been teaching in England A former member of the Politics Department, Keith Hill, were released to scholars only in since 1957, first at Newcastle and was re-elected as Labour MP for Streatham. 1991. since 1965 at Oxford where he is Congratulations to all of the successful candidates, perhaps The book is the most complete now Professor Emeritus of Jewish one day a Leicester graduate will become Prime Minister! and authoritative Scrolls' edition Studies. Professor Vermes was Peter Allen available and it contains superb elected a Fellow of the British

4 NEWS

GAME THEORY QUESTIONS ‘PRISON WORKS’ PHILOSOPHY HOW THE GAME OF ‘CHICKEN’ HELPED TO EXPLAIN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR

RESEARCH by University prevalence of APD in diverse one involving many people thugs until the stable equilibrium is psychologists using game theory societies despite increasing interacting with one another, restored. This suggests that the has suggested that an attempt to resources devoted to reducing rather than just two, and we slogan “prison works” may be pie eliminate crime by imprisoning antisocial behaviour. examined how antisocial and in the sky.” increasing numbers of offenders “We began with the game of cooperative behaviour evolves in Dr Colman added: “An may be futile - because others will chicken, which such a society. unexpected and rather sad finding simply take their places. has often been We found that of our analysis was that with the Dr Andrew Colman, Reader in associated with the population stable proportion of APD as low as Psychology at the University, and antisocial and evolves to a it is, the reward for an antisocial Dr Clare Wilson, formerly of the dangerous stable act must on average be much less University Department of behaviour. In equilibrium, than the cost to the victim. That’s Psychology, used a mathematical its most where a fixed just how the maths works out. A game—based on a whole society familiar form, proportion of mugger may gain only a few of people playing `chicken’ with two drivers people behave pounds from a mugging, but the each other—to study the speed towards antisocially. victim’s life may be quite evolution of antisocial behaviour. each other on “Antisocial devastated, as happened to an Their study, funded by the a collision behaviour elderly woman who lives near me ESRC, coincides with increasing course unless probably evolves in Leicester recently. attention being paid to `zero at least one of mainly socially “Instead of locking up ever tolerance’ policing, credited by them chickens rather than greater numbers of young people, some for the drastic crime out by biologically— our research suggests that a more reduction in New York city. A swerving. more through promising approach would be to major conference last month “In our learning and try to make antisocial behaviour ANALYSIS: Dr Andrew Colman involving the University’s Scarman research, the imitation than less profitable, cooperation more Centre for the Study of Public strategy of driving straight ahead through inheriting rewarding, and victimisation less Order also examined issues of equates to the dangerous, genes. If so, then locking away traumatic. Re-building a sense of crime and punishment. antisocial behaviour characteristic antisocial people merely creates a community, especially in The results of the Colman- of APD, and swerving equates to vacuum that is quickly filled by anonymous inner-city areas of Wilson study were recently the more cooperative, cautious others. As soon as the proportion society, could shift the equilibrium published in Legal and Criminal behaviour of ordinary people. drops below the critical level, so that there would be fewer Psychology and were featured in “We scaled up the game into potential thugs turn into actual antisocial individuals in society.” New Scientist and in Pour la Science, the French edition of Scientific American. The study focused on the REACHING OUT FOR CHARITY evolution of a behaviour pattern called Antisocial Personal Disorder (APD). People with this MEMBERS of the disorder— commonly described University Rag as sociopaths—tend to engage in have helped to persistent criminal behaviour and to be deceitful, manipulative, raise £200 for the impulsive, aggressive, Laura Centre. The irresponsible, unable to hold down cheque was jobs, reckless to the safety of presented to Mrs themselves and others, and lacking Dana Simons, third in remorse. from right, People with APD make up only pictured with 2 per cent of the population, but members of the more than half the prison Rag committee. population. They are responsible for a large proportion of reported and unreported crime. Dr Colman said: “The purpose of our research was to try to explain the relatively stable

5 NEWS FOCUS ON ZOOLOGY PRAISE IN PARLIAMENT FOR UNIVERSITY PROJECT

PRAISE for a unique conservation the lake to the water's edge leads data to computers, and project in Kenya by University to the rise of potentially dangerous carry out a host of other zoologists has been voiced in the chemicals such as pesticides and tasks that scientists could House of Lords. fertilisers entering the lake directly not achieve alone in the The Earl of Enniskillen, making during storms, and concentration time available to them. his maiden speech in the House on of agriculture and settlement lead The project is one of the contribution of young Earthwatch's most people to society, popular, usually highlighted research by the filling with University's Department of volunteer Zoology as "a unique enrolments initiative throughout the several months in world." advance. Most volunteers Lord Enniskillen said the are American, but usually 3-4 University, in partnership on each team are British or with other organisations, European. Between 1982 and was involved in a pilot 1987 Dr Harper ran the scheme 'of a sufficient project in a similar fashion, quality to attract Kenya LAKE WATCH: Project in Kenya. using adult students from the ■ Further details of the project government and international University's Department of Adult are at: support and by example has to direct conflicts between people Education where Dr Harper also http://earthwatch.org/x/Xharper.html encouraged other initiatives.' and 'dangerous' large animals - teaches. ■ Out and About features news of He said the success had been hippopotamus from the lake and Dr Harper's research is also Sandy Davis from Genetics, who achieved 'by voluntary work and buffalo from the plains. supported by The Elsa has recently received an consensus building at community "Once again, ecologists alone can Conservation Trust, endowed by Earthwatch fellowship (p17 ). level with support from the World never provide the complete Joy and George Adamson. Conservation Union, the UK ODA solution to the problem, but an and Leicester University understanding of the ecology of the researchers among others.' lake ecosystem offers the first The University is involved in a essential step in formulating a number of projects in Kenya, management plan for its long-term BREAKTHROUGH IN including environmental work use: only the people who live and spearheaded by Dr David Harper, work around the lake can provide DEFENCE OF BADGERS senior lecturer in the Department the effective guarantee to its A DNA breakthrough by University zoologists could help of Zoology. His research group future." ensnare cruel badger baiters and diggers. has been working in Kenya since David Harper's research is made Research by Dr Terry Burke of the Department of Zoology 1982, and its main focus is Lake possible by long support - since can help match microscopic samples of badger blood and hair Naivasha - one of the few 1987 - by Earthwatch, a charity found on clothing or dogs with individual animal corpses. To freshwater lakes in the Rift Valley. originally US-based but now date, some diggers and baiters have managed to avoid Dr Harper said: "Lake Naivasha worldwide in its operation. This conviction by claiming they were digging for foxes. provides irrigation water for the unique organisation gives ordinary Dr Burke said: “This technique is an important weapon in rich volcanic soils of its hinterland, people - its membership of 75,000 the armoury against offenders. People digging for badgers is a and their cultivation leads to the come from all walks of life - direct major problem. There is a problem of people suspected of that world's largest site for carnation experience of field research. activity claiming they were digging for some other animal. production, as well as vegetables Earthwatch approves some 100 “Now we have a breakthrough in getting forensic evidence. for export by air to Europe. field research projects each year, Any blood stain or hair on clothing or on a dog can be matched "The problem, all too familiar, is and members then join the project with a corpse.” one of over-use of the basic of their choice for a two-week The development has come after years of research during resource, with more water taken spell, paying their own expenses which the zoology team worked closely with geneticists, out of the lake than is replenished and a share of the project's costs. including Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, the pioneering University by rainfall. This leads to instability Dr Harper's project in Naivasha scientist behind the revolutionary discovery of DNA genetic in the biology of the lake's food takes 48 Earthwatch members fingerprinting. web, a complex pattern of changes each year in groups of 12, training Dr Burke said the crimebusting finding stemmed from an in plant and animal abundance them over the first few days as field ongoing study into badger behaviour. The team is investigating which affect other uses of the lake assistants and then using them for how badgers interact and breed, and the DNA discovery will such as commercial fishing and the remaining 10 days to count help further this study. Dr Burke added: “We are very keen to tourism. birds, record oxygen and help protect badgers.” "Cultivation of the shoreline of temperature in lake water, input

6 NOTICES

7 NEWS

PERSONAL ‘ZERO TOLERANCE’ POLICING ON TRAGEDY SPURS ON GRADUATE AGENDA EXPERTS in crime prevention met at a top level conference in Leicester to see if trans- Atlantic "Zero-tolerance" policing which has brought about a dramatic fall in crime in New York can do the same here. The conference on May 20 was organised by the University's Scarman Centre for the Study of Public Order. It brought together speakers from New York, British police forces the Commission for Racial Equality, and Liberty. A UNIVERSITY graduate is Participants discussed the 'broken- MEETING: John Benyon and Eli Silverman. gearing up for an ambitious windows' thesis which suggests that one personal challenge in June in aid broken window leads to further vandalism and then of the Cancer Relief Macmillan more serious criminal acts follow. Intervention against apparently mundane acts of anti- Fund. Rowena Thakore (22) has social behaviour can arrest a neighbourhood downward spiral of increasing criminality and disorder and diminish taken on the challenge of cycling fear of crime. 500 km in just 5 days across the While zero tolerance policing has some measure of political support, critics are concerned it only tackles the harsh terrain of Iceland in symptoms of a more deep-seated malaise, and may also erode civil liberties and adversely affect police- support of what she regards as a community relations, particularly in ethnically-diverse neighbourhoods, and diminish public support. very personal cause. After "The examined the different dimensions of a zero-tolerance strategy, and considered the best ways of Rowena lost her grandmother to promoting crime prevention, public safety and the policing of different communities," explained Dr Alice Hill, cancer, and very nearly lost her lecturer in policing and public safety in the Scarman Centre, who was one of the organisers. mother to the same disease, she Delegates from the police, local authorities, social services, education, shopping malls, chambers of commerce, has supported the valuable work and academics heard what zero-policing entails for different police forces and sectors of the community. They of the Cancer Relief Macmillan were told that zero-policing had led to a 38 per cent drop in crime in New York in three years. Fund and is committed to raising over £2000 for the charity. "Spending over 7 hours cycling SARAH GETS GOLD up to 50 miles a day for 5 days, whilst camping at night in the LOTS of hard work and determination paid off for When you get over harsh conditions of Iceland has History and Politics student Sarah Jones who has the barrier it to be the most crazy challenge I achieved the Gold Award in the Duke of Edinburgh teaches you a lot - have ever accepted!" said Award Scheme. She received the award at a ceremony if you can cope Rowena, of Cranleigh, Surrey. in London last month. with that then you "However, the motivation to However, for the 20 year old from Mansfield in can do anything.” know that I am able to help raise Nottinghamshire, completing the award scheme to Having as much money as possible for Gold level was not a high priority when she first got completed the the charity keeps me on my involved through her school. scheme, Sarah bike! It is a challenge in itself to “I started by doing the Bronze Award with no went to St James raise the funds, but so far I am AWARD WINNER: intention of going any further. My teacher then Palace in History and Politics student Sarah Jones. very grateful to have received suggested I continued on to Silver and then said ‘well London where she really good support and have now you’ve got the Bronze and Silver, you might as received her award and met the passed the half way marker.” well go for the Gold Award.” She continued: “What Duke of Edinburgh and radio presenter Ned Sherin. A sports enthusiast, Rowena was helped was that I was already doing things that By coincidence, three members of Sarah’s school captain of the University happened to fit into the Award requirements.” group that took part in scheme are now also studying badminton club and former The Duke of Edinburgh Award requires the use of at Leicester. treasurer of the Sports skills in three areas: service, physical and residential. She found taking part in the scheme very rewarding Association, and a member of Sarah explained: “The physical part was easy as I play and strongly recommends it. “It teaches a lot of skills the University swimming and hockey for the University. The service section such as team work and perseverance. It also builds netball teams. She gained a involved teaching and training other people and for the confidence. It takes time but it’s a worthwhile thing to degree in Combined Science residential element I did a history course for a week.” have.” from the University. The final test was a 50 mile expedition on a North Sarah’s next aim is to go travelling after she ■ Anyone interested in Yorkshire moor which involved being self sufficient for graduates later this year. “Doing the award has given contributing to Rowena’s cause four days. me the confidence to go out and do things I would can contact her on 01483 “It was at the end of October and very cold. You never previously considered.” 274673. reach the point where you either stop or carry on. Chris Smith

8 FOCUS ON PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY NEWS

SPACE MISSION THE STARS ARE L OOKING YOUNGER PROVIDES Already Hipparcos seems to cure a headache concerning the ages of stars. As recently as last year, astronomers were perplexed by a contradiction between their estimates of the age of the Universe, ‘ASTONISHING RESULTS’ and stars that seemed to be older. An early Hipparcos result concerned the winking stars called Cepheids, used to measure INFORMATION about the stars that has come from the European Space cosmic distances. Corrections to the Cepheid distances made the Agency’s Hipparcos satellite has been described as ‘astonishing’ by Universe bigger and increased its age to 10-13 billion years, even Leicester scientists working on the project. according to the shorter of two rival scales from the Hubble Space Hipparcos is a milestone in the history of astronomy. In 1985 the Telescope. At the same time the Hipparcos Cepheid scale American physicist Freeman J. Dyson hailed Hipparcos as the first major drastically reduced, from 14.6 billion years to about 11 billion years, new development in space science to come from outside the United the ages of the most ancient stars, occurring in globular clusters of States. stars that orbit independently around the centre of the Milky Way The spacecraft operated in orbit from 1989-93, measuring the angles Galaxy. between stars in the sky. Over a further three years, computing teams Astronomers have been anxious to know if Hipparcos results on across Europe generated a consistent, high-precision plot of 118,000 stars other kinds of stars would support these novel and reassuring in the Hipparcos Catalogue and somewhat less accurate (but still conclusions from the Cepheids. A broad consensus seems to be unprecedented) data on a million stars in the Tycho Catalogue. emerging, although there may well be adjustments to make when Dr Martin Barstow, of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, said: more results are in and the discussion is carried further. “The distances, motions, pairings and variability of stars are now known Martin Barstow and his colleagues at Leicester University have far more accurately than ever before. Hipparcos will make an impact on examined Hipparcos data on white dwarfs, which are the embers of every branch of astronomy, from the Solar System to the history of the burnt-out stars. At the time of their formation, white dwarfs glow Universe, and especially on theories of stars and their evolution. For at temperatures of hundreds of thousands of degrees C, and then almost a year, astronomers most closely associated with the mission have spend billions of years cooling down, before they disappear from had an early view of the completed catalogues and in Venice they view. Good Hipparcos data on the distances of white dwarfs makes summarised their initial results. The Hipparcos data will be published this the theoretical picture of their evolution much more precise. month, as an extraordinary contribution from Europe to astronomy all For example V471 Tauri is a double star, in which a white dwarf around the world. and an ordinary star, similar in size to the Sun, orbit around one “Historically, astronomers have never been able to measure the vast another. distances to stars very accurately. The unprecedented precision of the Both objects emit X-rays -- the sun-like star from its atmosphere Hipparcos observations will revolutionise what we know about and the white dwarf from its surface, which glows at 32000 degrees interstellar distances.” C. The Hipparcos distance of V471 Tauri (153 light-years) prompts calculations showing that the white dwarf is only 30 per cent wider EXPERT MAKING WAVES than the Earth. Yet it is 230,000 times more massive, and its gravity is a million IN CLIMATE RESEARCH times stronger than at the Earth's surface. From the diameters of this and other white dwarfs a cooling rate appears, and an age for the oldest and coolest white dwarfs which is less than 11 billion years. Although this age is about the same as that suggested by the Cepheid distance scale, visible white dwarfs are not the oldest stars in the Galaxy. Those examined by Barstow and his Leicester colleagues exist in the disk that makes the band of the Milky Way across the sky. Astronomers believe that some stars on independent orbits, among the so-called halo stars and the globular clusters, are older than the disk.

MAKING WAVES: Dr Lawrence is using satellite pictures to study waves and their effect on climate. only centimetres high, are thought Dr Lawrence said: to give rise to adverse weather by “These waves have been known NEW research at the University He believes that the waves - indirectly influencing the storm about for some years. They could provide revolutionary which can be thousands of tracks from North America to provide a driving engine for the answers about how massive waves kilometres wide and carry heat Europe, which form the very basis whole climate. They are hard to influence our climate. around the oceans - may well have of our regional climate. measure and we are using space Dr Sean Lawrence, of the an effect on the climate in distant Dr Lawrence is using satellite technology to achieve that.” Physics and Astronomy Britain. pictures, along with state-of-the- Dr Lawrence has been studying Department, has received a His research should provide art computer simulations, to aid the phenomenon since 1989. The £115,000 grant for an in-depth new information about the understanding how the waves are substantial grant from the Natural study of large-scale waves in the mysteries surrounding our generated. The work is helping to Environmental Research Council is tropical Pacific and Atlantic changing weather patterns. predict how they affect the phased over three years. Oceans. The wide waves, which may be atmosphere across the globe.

9 NEWS NEW BOAT IS SIMPLY 'MAGIC'

DELIGHTED students at the University have taken possession of a new £8000 rowing boat. Members of the University's Rowing Club have just acquired the new vessel which was launched officially on May 7 by the Vice-Chancellor Dr Kenneth Edwards. It will benefit the club's 150 members, many of whom take part in national rowing competitions across the country. Former club captain Mr Luke Cox said:"We are very grateful to the University and the Union's sports association for sponsoring the new boat. Members of the club also raised a total of £2,500 towards the final IN ACTION: Members of the University’s Rowing Club in action on the new boat. cost of the boat. "Our previous boat was bought eight years ago and Hide said: "The University's rowing club is was quite dilapidated. Now we are off to a racing very successful indeed and has done well in start in any competition with this latest boat." several competitions. The members are Luke, a third year Geology student, said the boat very hard working and train in all weathers. would be named The Magic Sponge after the We were delighted to be supporting them." University's sports retail outlets which put profits towards the boat. "The boatclub has been revamped through a lottery CONGRATULATIONS : The Vice-Chancellor with grant and now, with this new boat, we have excellent captain Norman Byrd, a medical student, at the facilities," he added. naming ceremony for The Magic Sponge at The University sports and recreation manager Mr Colin Leicester Rowing Club, Upperton Road, Leicester.

LESLEY REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

THERE seems to be no limit to the number of ways members of University staff try to ‘escape’ from the University. Lesley Dexter, of the Department of Engineering, is pictured abseiling down the Attenborough Tower. Lesley was among 30 volunteers who went on the sponsored abseil in aid of Rainbows, the East Midlands Children’s Hospice. She raised more than £200 towards the total of nearly £3,500 for the charity. The sponsored abseil was conducted under Picture: Paul Smith strict Army supervision despite gale force winds - and lightning! Lesley said: “It was pretty scary- but I enjoyed it.”

10 NEWS DEDICATED STUDENTS DEVOTE TIME TO HELPING OTHERS

TWO dedicated students from the has been transformed from just two students University have rejuvenated a two members at the start of the rejuvenated Contact, volunteer organisation which links academic year to 150 volunteers brought in new the campus with local community and a full committee. members and, in charitable projects. Contact's difficulties at the start addition to an overhaul Contact (Student Community of the year arose because the of the group's structure Action) provides a variety of leadership had consisted of third and administration, new placements for students. This years who had graduated en masse, equipment was bought includes working with the elderly, leaving only two members. The for the office. ID cards LOCAL LINK: Angie, left, and Bal, the with children in playgroup and students who rejuvenated Contact, in action reading activities, helping the at a local school. homeless, working with people with disabilities and student were introduced in the interests of shadowing - providing security and to reassure the opportunities for school students organisations the students work who may never have considered with, such as those involving going on to university a chance to children. experience university life. A special Everard Foundation Thanks to the hard work of Community Award has been president Ms Angie Jones, 31, a presented every year to Contact to politics and economic history help fund the organisation. This student, and vice year Richard Everard, on behalf of president/treasurer Ms Bal Panesar, RECOGNITION: Representatives of the University and Union gathered for the presentation the Trustees of the Foundation, a 20-year-old law student, Contact of a cheque for £500 by the Everard Foundation to Contact. presented the 1997 award on 1 May. "Contact is very grateful to the NEW STUDY ADVANCES RESEARCH Everard Foundation for supporting our activities. Not only does its INTO COT DEATHS funding allow us the scope to do things we are otherwise unable to THE Department of Child Health will be able to make repeated do, it also reminds our volunteers at the University is involved in a measurements on the babies as that our work is appreciated in the new study into how babies control they develop, to see if they do local community," said Angie. their breathing. indeed go through a period of From their office in the The Department has a long- vulnerability. University of Leicester's Students' established interest in this area, “We would like to study a small Union volunteers are organised for with much of the research number of babies before the end working with groups such as programme being funded by the of the year, to help us decide if a Menphys Saturday Morning Foundation for the Study of Infant major study is justifiable. Playgroup - for children with Deaths. The new project will look “Babies will be studied during a disabilities, the Anchor Association for changes in how closely babies nap, in their own surroundings, so for ex-offenders, schools, Age can control their breathing we will be causing minimal Concern, Mencap and Leicester between the ages of 6 and 18 disruption. Every parent knows Nightshelter, an emergency hostel weeks, which encompasses the age that babies do not go to sleep on CARING: Dr Caroline Beardsmore with a project in the community. at which Sudden Infant Death order, so patience is essential for young volunteer from an ongoing project. Clare Taylor, the University's Syndrome (Cot Death) is most this work!”. senior welfare officer, said: "The common. There is a theory that Information about the breathing is students get a lot of very useful ■ Anyone who is expecting a baby babies may transiently become less collected onto computer from two experience by joining Contact. during the summer and who is sensitive to changes in oxygen stretchy bands worn around the This year has been particularly interested in finding out more levels, and it is this theory which chest and stomach while the baby is successful. By working in such a about the project is asked to will be examined. asleep. These signals are annualised, wide variety of areas, with the contact Dr Beardsmore at the Dr Caroline Beardsmore, and the resulting data subjected to elderly, children, homeless and Department of Child Health, lecturer in Child Health, explains: rigorous statistical testing by Dr John sick, it can lead on to a full time Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester “We are able to measure the Thompson, senior lecturer in the career after they graduate. Most Royal Infirmary. control of breathing in the Department of Epidemiology and importantly, however, is the way laboratory, but now we are going Public Health and an expert medical that the students spend their free to mobilise our test so can take it statistician. Results are expected time putting something back into into the home. This means that we early next year. the community."

11 Business Bulletin examines some of the main business stories from the University, and is compiled each month by BUSINESS LUCENT, to whom any stories or ideas should be sent (ext.2696, E-Mail: [email protected]).

MUSIC AND SHOPPING BEHAVIOUR analysed fully as yet, one clear asked explicitly to state whether finding is that customers were they thought the music had ‘Which Wine Goes on Your Chopin Liszt ?’ unaware of the effect that music influenced their choice then only The Effect of Musical Appropriateness on In-Store Wine Selections apparently had on their behaviour. two people thought that it had. Dr Adrian C North, Dr David J Hargreaves, and Ms Jennifer For example, in response to the In conclusion, people are more McKendrick question 'Why did you select that likely to select particular products Department of Psychology, University of Leicester particular type of wine ?', only one when the background music `fits' This study is part of a series which examines the effects of music customer cited the music. them, although this effect may be on consumer behaviour. Future studies will be funded jointly by Similarly, when customers were unconscious." the Performing Rights Society and Phonographic Performance Ltd

PSYCHOLOGISTS at the music was played on the first The Effect of Music on Atmosphere and University have tested a theory Monday whilst German music was Purchase Intentions in a Cafeteria that music can influence product played on the second Monday. choice - with startling results. We then measured the sales of THIS study by the same team of psychologists investigated the They set up a wine display at a French and German wines from effect of music on the perceived characteristics of a commercial superstore in Leicester, and the display." listening environment and on customers' purchase intentions. discovered that playing French or The researchers discovered "We played classical music, Britpop, easy listening and also German music influenced the that appropriate music guided no music in the University Student Union cafeteria over the choice of wine bought by wine choice. Dr Hargreaves, course of four days. Different types of music produced different customers. Reader in types of 'image' for the cafeteria," explained Dr North. The team from the Psychology, "Classical music led Department of Psychology's Music said: "The to the cafe being Research Group followed up a results were perceived as small number of earlier studies clear. When upmarket, which suggested that music might French music whereas Britpop prime the led to the cafe selection of NUMBER OF BOTTLES SOLD being perceived as certain French German lively. Customers products if it Music Music were also asked to 'fits' their say how much French Wine 40 12 image. they would be Dr Adrian German Wine 8 22 prepared to spend North, a for 14 different lecturer in psychology, said: "To was played items that were on test this theory, we set up an then sales of sale. Classical aisle-end display in a superstore. French wine music and Britpop On one side of the display were outnumbered SOUND RESEARCH: Dr David Hargreaves, left, and Dr Adrian North commanded again led to the four different French white wines, sales of German considerable media attention for their notable study. highest amounts. and on the other were four wine by 3.33 to 1; when German Finally there was different German white wines. music was played then sales of some evidence that The wines were matched for German wine outnumbered sales classical music and Britpop increased actual sales." price and also their degree of of French wine by 2.75 to 1." Some of the potential of this research is discussed in the sweetness/dryness. Dr Hargreaves added: "We also book by David Hargreaves and Adrian North, The Social "Over two weeks we played approached shoppers after they Psychology of Music, which was published last month by French and German music from a had selected one of the wines Oxford University Press. small tape deck on the display. from the display, and asked them Music presentation was counter- to complete a short questionnaire. balanced such that e.g. French Although this data has not been

12 BUSINESS

EPIC PROJECT THAT LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

SCIENTISTS from the University four countries - Italy, France, are hopeful for a successful launch Germany and the UK. of Ariane V in June - following the The responsibility of the UK is disaster of the Ariane V Cluster to provide the sensor heads and mission last year. analogue electronics for two of Dr Martin Turner of the the EPIC cameras. Leicester Department of Physics and University has linked up with EEV Astronomy said a new £10 million Ltd in the development of this space camera system had been technology. Said Dr Turner: developed and was due to go into “The X-ray CCDs have taken a orbit on the Arian V in 1999. The decade to develop to the point European Photon Imaging where they provide a unique Camera, or EPIC, will form part resource to science. of the European Space Agency’s “The CCDs are fabricated at £450 million XMM project - a EEV and then calibrated and massive satellite the size of a lorry tested at Leicester using special which will circle the earth every facilities built up over the years 48 hours, reaching one third of of collaboration. This the way to the moon. collaboration is a genuine It will be equipped with a trio partnership between University of telescopes which will feed and Industry, with each images to the £10 million camera providing the elements it does system, EPIC, made at the best. Applications of these University. Dr Turner said: “The CCDs, for example to whole satellite is an X-ray materials analysis, are being telescope, and our cameras explored.” determine the X-ray colours of Dr Turner added that whatever we look at, from an CCDs have to be cooled to exploding star to a whole cluster about minus 100 degrees for of galaxies. X-ray work, and the camera “The X-ray colours tell us what designed and made at elements the object is made of, so Leicester cools the CCDs we can look deep into the using only the cold of space. universe and find out what it is To do this using radiators made of.” (which are the most obvious EPIC TASK: The European Photon Imaging Camera developed using University expertise EPIC consists of three CCD external feature of EPIC) cameras placed at the foci of the required careful thermal design, a Birmingham while the cameras XMM mirrors; the cameras are joint activity of Leicester and are designed and assembled at ability to make components to the means by which XMM takes Birmingham universities. The Leicester University with much of Space quality into SMEs. its images of the X-ray sky. EPIC radiators and some other parts the metal working being done in has been made by a consortium of are designed and made at small industry - spreading the

FROM OUTER SPACE TO DENTISTRY DERIVATIVES of the Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) developed and manufactured by EEV Limited in conjunction with University space scientists for use as detectors in advanced space telescopes, are now being used by dentists for X-rays as a replacement for film. CCDs, which are also used in video cameras and other imaging equipment, are small silicon chips with a two-dimensional array of pixels (sensors) that detect light and translate it into an electronic charge which can then be recorded electronically. They are much more sensitive and much faster than photographic film. The higher sensitivity of CCDs means that the patients need only receive 20% of the X-ray dose associated with traditional techniques. An additional significant advantage is that the image is provided instantly, with no waiting to get the picture developed. The new CCD devices are being marketed to a number of dental equipment manufacturers in several countries worldwide. The University has been involved in the development of CCDs for the past 10 years. Working with EEV, a subsidiary of GEC plc, CCDs have been developed for two major space telescopes, the Joint European X-ray telescope (JET-X) and the X-ray Multi-Mirror (XMM), both of which are due to be launched this decade. These CCDs offer uniquely high detection efficiencies on a large area format to provide efficient focal plane coverage. The University also collaborated with Cambridge Consultants (CC) to develop the on-board CCD and data processing electronics for these space telescopes. The electronic systems provide the correct drive inputs to the CCD detector arrays and also process the CCD X-ray data into a format that can be transmitted down to the ground for analysis. CC have also developed a novel way of processing the CCD data to achieve lower noise levels.

13 OUT & ABOUT

Bulletin is pleased to funded by Warwick University, receive contributions the Economic and Social Research from across the University Council, the Institute of Fiscal for Out and About. Studies and the Barents Group Drop a note about what’s which is a policy analysis happening in your subsidiary of KPMG Accountants. department/unit to Janet Wimperis

Out and About, Bulletin, SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Press and Alumni Report on Socrates Relations. Programme Visit to Finland, April 1997 – A link with ADULT EDUCATION Professors Pekka Niemi and The Rise and Fall of Towns in Katri Sarmavuori at Abo Roman Britain Akademi and Turku Living in towns was not an entirely University, Turku, Finland new experience for the This second visit aimed to develop indigenous population of a newly- further the work begun on a first conquered Roman Britain, but Erasmus exchange in August 1995 doing it the classical way was an to the University of Turku Centre acquired taste. During Leicester’s European Commission ACE- labour market decisions. for Learning Research. At that ‘holiday fortnight’ the Department TACIS Project. Professor Clive Fraser time a series of action research of Adult Education offers a chance Professor Stephen Pudney of presented a paper entitled projects was communicated to to savour Roman town life. On the Department recently “Revisiting the Club: Second best teachers and researchers in Monday 30 June participants will presented a paper at the Royal Provision of Congestible and Turku. get to know what life was like in Economic Society Conference at Excludable Goods” during the 3rd The visit included an invited Leicester, with a tour of Jewry Staffordshire University. The Annual Institute of Fiscal guest lecture in Helsinki to Wall Museum and site, followed paper by Professor Pudney Studies/Warwick Public introduce research on Family on Tuesday 1 July by a trip to entitled “Employers, Workers and Economics Weekend (25-26 Reading Groups to a Aquae Sulis (Bath), and a look at Unions” is part of an ongoing April) at the University of multidiscipline group of the Amphitheatre and Corinium project funded by the ESRC and Warwick. The 50 presenters, professionals with a shared Museum at Cirencester. Course the European Commission, discussants and participants were interest in promoting the study of tutor is Nick Cooper, from the looking at survey data to leading Public Finance specialists literature and children’s love of School of Archaeological Studies. investigate the role of union from the UK, America and reading. More details can be obtained by recognition and membership in Canada. The Conference was ringing Vaughan College (0116 251 7368). CAREERS ECONOMICS Careers Week 9 June - 13 June, including At the beginning of April Careers Information and Recruitment Fair Professor Wojciech Charemza of (Tuesday 10 June) the Economics Department and Leicester University Careers Service will be Professor Victoria Parkhomenko holding its now well established annual Careers of the University of Kiev, Week from 9 June to 13 June 1997. There is a organised a Conference at the whole range of workshops, presentations and University of Kiev, Ukraine insight courses for students to attend run by (formerly part of the USSR). The employers, careers advisers, and student learning Conference brought together centre officers. researchers from Western and Additionally there is a Careers Information Fair, Eastern European countries which this year is expanded to include the working on the project entitled collaboration of De Montfort University for an IN SIGHT OF A CAREER: “Econometric Inference into the enhanced event encompassing both information Careers Week and Fair - coming shortly. Macroeconomic Dynamics of CIS and recruitment. A wide range of employers will be taking part. Last Economies” and included sessions year around 700 Leicester University students attended so even higher figures will be expected for this year on the modelling of national with the inclusion of De Montfort University students. economies, inflation, exchange Workshops during the week include sessions on applications and interviews, career choice, teamwork skills, rates and other issues. Dr David assertiveness, and presentation skills. There are insight courses on accountancy (run by the leading firm Pyle, Dean of the Faculty of the Coopers and Lybrand), and retailing (Marks and Spencer) and the selling profession (also run by employers in Social Sciences, gave a paper the field). In short, we hope, something for everyone. entitled “An economic In addition to poster publicity and broadcasts on student radio, the Careers Service organises a mailshot to explanation of crime levels in all penultimate, final year and postgraduate students with information about all the activities that are taking Russian and Ukraine”. The place. Conference was funded by the John Constantinou

14 OUT & ABOUT

Main Events and Outcomes have been brought back from the EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT CENTRE The busy schedule for the eight Centre for Learning Research, and Teaching and Learning Unit days included a substantial these may be borrowed, by number of school visits in both arrangement with Morag Hunter- Helsinki and Turku, talks with Carsch. teachers, teaching pupils, collaborative discussions with INTERNATIONAL CENTRE researchers, guest lectures with FOR MANAGEMENT, LAW teacher educators in Turku’s AND INDUSTRIAL Normal School (Teacher-Training RELATIONS school) and the main invited guest Anniversary Celebrations lecture in Helsinki at the Reading This year, the International Centre in the Villa Kivi, the city’s Centre celebrates its 10th Writers’ House, which is in a Anniversary, with a Dinner to be protected old style wooden held on the evening of Saturday 5 building on the lake-side July at the Grand Hotel, Leicester. FOCUS ON WRITING: Richard Clark, Assistant Director, introducing the first maintained as a cultural centre for The 10th Anniversary Dinner session of a year-long initiative in April 1997. meeting of writers and teachers marks the beginning of a 1997/98 and housing an exhibition of programme of events designed to Representatives from more than twenty University portraits of Finnish writers. meet continuing professional departments and services gathered last month for the launch of The school visits were to both development needs of the the Teaching & Learning Unit’s Focus on Writing programme. elementary and secondary schools graduates from the MA/LLM in The launch marked the beginning of a year-long initiative to in Helsinki and Turku, and to a Law and Employment Relations explore the development of students’ writing skills across the nursery/early education centre and the MA/LLM in European University. The full programme of events will include sessions attached to an ‘all through’ school Management and Employment for both staff and students, drawing upon the considerable in Helsinki. On all visits, the idea Law courses, whilst at the same expertise that already exists within the University, developing of Family Reading Groups (FRGs) time endeavouring to keep new resources and promoting collaboration between academic was welcome and, in particular, graduates in contact with the departments and the central support services. the idea of having a Parents’ Centre and the University. Richard Clark, the Assistant Director of the Teaching and Room in schools was considered Centre Newsletter Learning Unit, described the aim of the Focus on Writing to be a helpful suggestion, possibly Newly launched, the Centre’s initiative as being to “encourage staff from across the to be adopted. The FRG idea was Newsletter aims to provide University to talk about the current standard of students’ anticipated by one school as likely current news and information written work and to share effective ways of developing to be helpful for including about its activities, its staff, students’ writing skills.” Commenting on the launch, Annie ‘godparents’ for pupils whose own students, and graduates. Issue No Grant, Director of the Education Development and Support parents might not be in a position 1 was published in the Spring, and Centre, said “it was very reassuring to have so many to attend FRGs with them. In this includes a programme of events departments represented at these important discussions. We proposed adaptation of the from Summer 1997 to Spring hope that the launch has paved the way for more activity in this model, the school staff suggested 1998. area.” that the local Residential Home Centre Internet Site A report of the launch session, together with details of the for the elderly, already a part of The Centre has had its own full programme is available from the Teaching & Learning Unit the school community life, would World Wide Web internet site for (Tel: 5232, email: rpc3@le). become involved in FRGs. the last year Richard Clark Finland’s largest circulation daily (http://www.le.ac.uk/depts/ic/), newspaper, the Helsinki Sanamat giving information about the published a full report and picture, current postgraduate courses and which further assisted in regular programme. Internet disseminating in Finland, the users can also obtain details about findings of research on FRGs in the wide range of research the UK. Visits to the Abo activities, as well as information Akademi Psychology Department about recent publications by staff and Turku University’s Centre for and graduates. The International Learning Research built on Centre also hosts the World Wide previous work, furthered the Web site for the European writing of joint papers and laid the Association of Labour Court foundations for future CPD links Judges. in addition to continuing exchanges between researchers CENTRE FOR LABOUR and teacher educators. Copies of MARKET STUDIES Four final-year students from the School of Modern Languages some recently published papers Course members from South have been accepted on the JET Scheme, to teach English in Japan on reading; decoding, Africa commenced the Centre’s next year. From left: Laura Griffin, Alex Allan, Tanya Race, Sophie comprehension and motivation; MSc Course at the end of Longstaff-Tyrrell. writing; and on language learning February. Associate Professor

15 OUT & ABOUT

Georges Economides, from the POLITICS DEPARTMENT Institute of Training Management The Elsie & Barnett Janner Travel Scholarship in Politics 1997 (South Africa) CC, provides local This scholarship, awarded annually for a travel project by a student studying Politics, has been won jointly by Jill support to a total of 17 course Murdoch and Zoë Brooks, both of whom are second-year students. Jill is a BA Politics student and Zoë a members, the first intake of which Combined Arts student. have just completed their first The students will be travelling to Strasbourg and Brussels to study the effect of “the Workings of the European year and are submitting Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights”. The award, which is funded by the Elsie and Barnett Janner dissertation proposals. Margaret Charitable Trust, is worth £1,000. Black, MSc Course Leader for Renie Lewis South Africa, says “we are eagerly anticipating that the dissertations will produce interesting and ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING UNIT valuable insights into training and human resource management in Language Services Unit within the normal working day. the new South Africa, and we are Languages for All For details of the above courses and all other looking forward to working with Students on ERASMUS/SOCRATES study courses offered (eg lunch-time classes for all-comers, course members on their programmes are coming to Leicester University in inc. staff), please contact the Secretary (telephone: research.” increasing numbers each year, and anyone who has 2845 or e.mail: [email protected] been involved with students on the ERASMUS Throughout the month of May, the English programme will have noted their high levels of Language Teaching Unit ran an intensive English STUDENTS RUN proficiency in course for two English. In groups of FOR CHARITY contrast, the teachers from THIRD-YEAR medical student number of home Seine-Maritime Michael Simms (22), from students in France. The Hertford, was one of several spending time in programme, students to run in this year’s other EU funded by London Marathon. He and countries is LINGUA, was considerably arranged in smaller, and conjunction with there is evidence Leicestershire to suggest that County Council one of their Education reasons for this Department, is their lack of and consists of confidence in language tuition speaking a in the mornings, foreign language. Opting out of such a valuable study followed by an extensive afternoon programme of period abroad is not only unfortunate but potentially visits to places of interest in Leicestershire. The damaging to future career prospects within the EU. teachers each stayed with a host family in Leicester The University is anxious to remedy this situation, so that they could practice their language skills and and has expressed commitment to a languages for all experience the British way of life. policy in its mission statement. The Language The visitors were all teachers in primary education Services Unit is therefore offering a range of 10- in France, and were here as a result of educational credit courses in French, Spanish, Italian and initiatives in France to offer English tuition at primary Charlie Taylor, a first year German. These are specifically aimed at attracting level. In some schools in Seine-Maritime, English has languages student, secured out-going SOCRATES students, but are open to all been taught to 10-year-olds since 1990, but the plan their places on the run students interested in gaining credits in a foreign is now to offer English from the age of eight. The through a charity. He said: language. Classes will run in the early evening so that visit, aimed at training the teachers needed, was the “Running a marathon for those with heavy day-time lecture/lab commitments first step in the implementation of the programme. charity is something I have may attend. The emphasis will be on the In addition to improving language skills, the ELTU always wanted to do. I raised development of oral skills and will be related directly course offered insights into British culture and £250 for a Parkinson’s Disease to the language needed to cope on a day-to-day basis training in the teaching of English to young learners. charity group.” Michael in a foreign country. Students will also have use of The teachers were particularly keen to improve their finished in 4 hours 23 minutes the excellent facilities of the Self Access Centre. pronunciation, and found the new facilities in the Self while Charlie Taylor, a former These include satellite TV, computer-assisted Access Centre invaluable. international athlete for Wales, language learning and audio/video packages. The French co-ordinator, Mme Leone Hamel, is finished in 3 hours 56 minutes. Departments throughout the University are keen to maintain the Leicester link, and plans are Other students that ran this invited to think about the language learning underway to run a similar course here next year. year included Joanne Cook and opportunities they offer to their students as part of Martin Kenworthy Jaish Mahan, both medical their degree programmes. The LSU would be students. delighted to discuss requests for specific courses, Melanie Taylor particularly if provision can be made for time-tabling

16 OUT & ABOUT

DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL PRACTICE GENETICS Sandy Davis, Departmental Secretary, has been awarded a three-year Earthwatch Millennium Fellowship. This award will enable Sandy to work alongside scientists as a field assistant on an Earthwatch field project lasting two weeks in September. The project which Sandy has chosen will take her to the Caribbean to study the Manicou crab, DISCUSSING STRATEGIES: Dr Richard Baker (far left), Dr Francine Cheater (second an amphibious freshwater left) and Professor Robin C Fraser (far right) welcome Dr Graham Winyard and Yvonne crustacean of the tropical rainforests of Trinidad and Tobago. Moores to the Eli Lilly Centre. The Millennium Awards, set up by the Millennium Commission, are Mrs Yvonne Moores, Chief Nursing Officer, and Dr Graham Winyard, grants which enable individuals to make a real contribution to their Medical Director, NHE Executive, visited the Eli Lilly National Clinical communities whilst fulfiling their own personal aspirations. Audit Centre, Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care Earthwatch is a Millennium Award scheme partner and was awarded on 2 April. The purpose of their visit was to hear about the work being around £1.4 million to reward and motivate over 500 teachers and undertaken at the Lilly Audit Centre. The discussions centred on education officers by involving them in hand-on scientific field methods to support the development of an evidence-based audit to research. Sandy is a part-time post-graduate student and also teaches improve the quality of health care, with particular attention being paid to adults GCSE Environmental Studies one evening a week at Wreake the programme of trials the Centre is undertaking to evaluate strategies Valley Community College. for improving the performance of health professionals. WHAT’S IN A NAME?

SO, you’ve had the good news - particularly sadistic, Ethel is not once again.” ten - is it coincidence that all in nine months’ time the ultimate likely to be your first choice. This year’s ‘top ten’ list of these names have featured in responsibility is yours to cherish Yet how does a fashion begin? names published by the Office of Australian soaps recently? Let’s as the proverbial stork pays a Dr Hargreaves suggests that National Statistics in January hope that there aren’t too many visit; in nine months’ time you will “Some names shows that the Posh or Scary Spices taking their finally reach the Rubicon of stem from choices for boys’ first breaths this year. inescapable adulthood, and during popular names are However, there is a flip side to these nine months you must face culture, for generally more famous names. Dr Hargreaves the anguish of bestowing a name example: in conservative than comments that “For obvious upon your little bundle of joy. the eighties, those for girls. reasons, the name Adolf is not the Where then, can you seek while Jamie While Jack is first choice of every parent, and inspiration for such an important Lee Curtis, number one, the Idi (Amin) or Saddam may also be decision? Do you flick through and Jamie majority are unpopular.” the obligatory books of names? Summers biblical - Daniel, No matter how you look at it Peruse a list of recent royal (TV’s bionic Joshua, James, the choice is never an easy one. choices? Consult the Bible? woman) were Samuel, and The name may go out of fashion, Nominate a favourite celebrity? popular, Jamie Joseph are all in or a certain Neighbours star may Or forever cast embarrassment became a the top ten. The be written out of the series. For upon the innocent victim by fashionable top seven are boys, the decision is easier - a christening it after auntie Ethel? name.” unchanged since solid biblical name is the most According to Dr David Dr 1995, and it’s likely choice. For girls, if you are Hargreaves, Reader in Psychology Hargreaves’ only through the going to go with popular culture, “...I see a future in newspapers for a child at Leicester, names, like the work on names biggest rock band for their sake, try to avoid Paula named Rupert...” clothes we wear, are subject to was part of a in the country, Yates’ choice of Heavenly Hiraani the cycles of fashion. “If you are larger study of people’s everyday Oasis, that influence by popular Tiger Lily! called Susan, Judith, or Janet, the likes and dislikes. “People feel culture can be found as Liam chances are that you were born in more comfortable with the makes its first ever ‘top ten’ Stephen Lakelin the fifties, and, while these names familiar; names come into fashion entry. The girls’ list is less formal, are less popular now, they may and grow in popularity because with Sophie topping the chart, well surface again in a number of they become known, in short, and with Chloe, Lauren, Hannah, years.” So, unless you are they snowball and then decline Megan, and Shannon all in the top

17 FEATURES 5* SUCCESS IN NEW DEPARTMENT

are funded by grants awarded by top department of Pharmacology been genetically modified to Professor Stefan Nahorski MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust, with that at University College, probe their function," explained talks to Jane Pearson about Royal Society and other London. It reflects the Professor Nahorski. the development of one of sources. "The restructuring in part, but "Three major areas of research the University's youngest Department has particularly, the exist in the new department. departments which also been outstanding Researchers are exploring the obtained the top rating in successful in overall responses of receptors and cell the recent RAE. attracting a contribution signalling. Cells 'talk' to each other number of of all members by way of chemical 'messengers', T was a restructuring exercise longer-term of the and receptors are the specific within the Faculty of Medicine Research Department." proteins which receive these Iwhich gave birth to the new Fellows who are developing The focus of research in the messages," Professor Nahorski Department of Cell Physiology independent programmes here Department is to understand the explained. "We are interested in and Pharmacology in 1993. Like and these are crucial to a mechanisms of cell function how they respond and the Pre-clinical Sciences, it evolved mechanisms of regulation of the from elements of the departments responses". of Physiology, Anatomy, and Research teams in Cell Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Physiology and Pharmacology are as a result of changes in research also interested in the movement strategy coupled with curriculum of ions across cell membranes changes in medical teaching at the which again is fundamental to University. signalling. In particular, there is The reasons for this were much emphasis on the nature and twofold. In relation to research, regulation of ion channels, it was felt appropriate to draw particularly those that regulate the together researchers working at movement of K+ (charged cellular and molecular levels as species of potassium) through distinct from those working on such channels. intact tissues and/or the whole Thirdly, they are exploring how organism. This coincided with a these systems relate to the revision of the medical teaching function of various specified cells programme, involving less formal e.g. smooth muscle and various RECEPTORS: Professor Stefan Nahorski with Dr Ken Young examining receptor signalling in lecturing, an integrated curriculum nerve cell systems in the brain. single cells. and more task-related work for "Hopefully, this basic work will students. successful research department", provide clues to Four new appointments since Professor Nahorski continued. its inception have brought the "Since 1993 we have also tried to total number of academic staff in develop a strong body of research the Department to 12. Speaking support staff, several laboratories of staffing, Professor Stefan have been refurbished and we Nahorski, Head of Department, have centralised and developed said, "We have appointed specialist areas." relatively young staff who we The Department celebrated the believe are entering the 'fast-track' culmination of its success with a in research. 5* rating in the Furthermore, in ‘There has been a very big most recent each case, the increase in external Research new research funding which has allowed Assessment complements us to appoint more Exercise. This and enhances research fellows and rating is defined existing research assistants’ by HEFCE as strengths. We "research quality CHANNELS AND NEUROSCIENCE: were lucky to be able to make that equates to an attainment of cells. Dr Ian Forsythe detecting signals between brain good key appointments for the international excellence in a future." majority of subject areas of activity (physiology) and to identify understanding Although the total department and attainable levels of national potential targets for drugs mechanisms in cardiovascular now comprises approximately 70 excellence in all others.” (pharmacology). "Some people disease and various brain people, it is dominated by Professor Nahorski added: "We focus on smooth muscle cells, disorders. For example, in two research staff, many of whom are are obviously delighted with this some on nerve cells and others projects staff are involved in on short term contracts. These outcome which puts us as equal work on model cells that have understanding the mechanisms

18 FEATURES underlying arthritic pain and other schemes such as Technology teaching with not only course is planned to start by 1999. work may shed light on epilepsy, Foresight. This does not mean contributions to the new medical We believe it will be an excellent stroke and perhaps schizophrenia direct contract work but also a curriculum but a major input to recruiting course that will also and depression". rather broader partnership with Biological Sciences courses. "The forge links in the general area of Research grant income for the industry. In the future it is very Department alone contributes 5 neuroscience. department has trebled between clear that major funding initiatives courses to science students in “Also, by the turn of the 1992 and 1996. "There has been will be linked increasingly in this physiology and pharmacology. century, we hope to run a degree a very big increase in external way. We already have links with We have introduced a new in Physiology and Pharmacology. funding which has allowed us to the bigger pharmaceutical second year course in We would be very interested in appoint more pharmacology for advice from industry on the types research next year and of students and skills they look fellows and there are strong for. Students could work for a research plans afoot for whole or half-year in industry, and assistants", closer teaching our links with Astra Charnwood Professor links with would be important here.” Nahorski Psychology, There is no doubt that the pointed out. developing a Department of Cell Physiology "We have also degree in and Pharmacology is growing in all doubled the psychology and directions. It may still be thought number of our neuroscience, in of as a new department, but PhD student. which the newly Professor Nahorski leaves no That has appointed doubt as to the energy and drive contributed to Professor of behind its expansion into the new our 5* rating Behavioural millennium. and this in Neuroscience, turn helps us Michael Joseph, to recruit new INSIGHT: Pam White, from the department, brought her daughter Gemma to work during will be involved, people. We are Take Your Daughter to Work Day in April. Gemma was able to get first hand experience of as well as the getting a lot of what goes on in cell culture. Department of enquiries, and I feel we can now companies like Roche Bioscience Pre-Clinical Sciences. This new get the best post-graduate and and Glaxo Wellcome. Fisons in post-doctoral researchers. As a Loughborough has recently been smallish department, we depend taken over by the Swedish heavily on external research company, Astra and we are funding. Our current research forging links with them. Swedish income is now about £5 million, companies are more used to some of which is long term but it university partnerships than UK means we have to remain very companies and they have agreed competitive." to fund several laboratories in the One result of the growth in Medical School. They will again research staff and research support basic research and not income is that almost all research just research linked to the based in the department now has company's products. There are, international links, with a constant of course, pros and cons to basic stream of visiting scientists staying research operating hand-in-hand in Leicester from 6 months to 2 with industry, but on the whole I years. In addition, staff are think it is an important way represented on the editorial forward." boards of no fewer than 12 Internally, too, the Department international journals. collaborates with other INKS are not only with departments and centres, such as other university the Centre for Mechanisms of Lresearchers. Cell Human Toxicity, and the Physiology and Pharmacology is Departments of Biochemistry, also now receiving an increasing Medicine and Therapeutics and number of unsolicited enquiries Psychology. "Gone are the days from industry, as Professor when we can hide behind Nahorski explained. departmental fences and hope to "The funding of research in compete internationally," areas such as biology and concluded Professor Nahorski. medicine is increasingly being In addition to research, the linked to industry by the past and Department has a strong present governments under commitment to undergraduate

19 JUBILEE FEATURE ANNIVERSARY TWINNING BY DR LES BOOTH, LEICESTER UNIVERSITY RESIDENT DIRECTOR

N June 1987 Sunway College, with the same syllabus, a privately owned college, first course outlines, tutorial Iopened its doors in Petaling sheets and laboratory Jaya, a suburb of Kuala Lumpur, work. The Malaysia. examinations taken by Created by the then Dato the students are the Jeffrey Cheah, Group Managing same papers taken by Director of the Sungei Way Group, students in Leicester. predominately a construction From the outset, company, the purpose was to the post of Resident provide “twinning” education for Director was built into INTERNATIONAL LINKS: Malaysian students, a new concept the University’s Sunway College in Malaysia has strong links with Leicester in which Dato Cheah was one of contract with the the pioneers. Students could College, to be filled by a member Department. The College has an follow the first year of an overseas of the University on secondment. Academic Board of Governors accommodation and now the university undergraduate course in The duties are to ensure the which meets once a year. The students number more than 4000. the College and then transfer over smooth running of the programme Vice-Chancellor or his Future plans see growth to over to the parent university for the and maintain standards, recruit representative attends this Board. 8000 and a second building has second and third years. qualified teaching staff, recruit HE original twinning been erected for this expansion. The big advantage is the saving students to standards laid down by concept has been Over the years 210 Sunway in cost through much lower tuition the Leicester participating Tbroadened and now pre- students in Law, 156 in fees and living costs in that first Departments, possibly teach and university courses, such as A level, Engineering and 6 in Economics year. It is also believed that generally to liaise between the and professional and financial have graduated from Leicester. students can cope with the University and the College. The courses such as CIMA and ACCA We hear of our graduates opening transition from school teaching to post has been filled variously by are offered. At the end of 1992 the their own legal firms and holding university-type teaching responsible positions in while still with their family, industry. Currently there are and then only have to cope 32 students in the Law with possible culture shock Department and 89 in when going overseas. Engineering in their second Leicester University was or third years. In the current one of the three original programmes in Sunway there partners in this venture are 110 students. The along with West Michigan in University has been well America and Curtin in satisfied with the quality of Australia, these three the students transferring countries being the popular over from Sunway, and its overseas destinations for decision to join with the Malaysian students. fledgling College in 1987 has In June 1987 Foundation been vindicated. courses in Engineering and At a Degree Congregation in Economics began, in July 1996 the University followed by the first intake conferred on the now Tan to the LLB course in Sri Dato Seri Dr Jeffrey October. Cheah, President of the The following year, in Sungei Way Corporation, an October 1998 the first year RECOGNITION: The University conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws on Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr Honorary Doctorate of Laws Jeffrey Cheah, President of the Sungei Way Corporation, (front left) at the July 1996 degree congregations. of the degree courses in in recognition of his Engineering and in contribution to business and Economics started, though the Tony Pearson, now the Director College had grown from an initial education developments in Economics course was of the International Office, John 250 students to over 2000 and the Malaysia. As Sunway College discontinued after the 1989/90 Baker, formerly of the Education original premises were more than celebrates its first ten years the session due to lack of numbers. Department, Les Booth and Tony bulging at the seams. Early in 1993 University looks forward to further The student work in Sunway Corbett from Engineering and Sunway College moved to a new collaboration in the future. parallels the courses in Leicester Richard Stone, formerly of the Law building with student residential

20 JUBILEE FEATURE SHARING A NATURAL VISION

much of my brother Richard’s friends. He was On the day of his visit to Leicester to an absolutely dedicated actor - all he wanted formally open the University’s was the theatre, and the Little Theatre which Arboretum, Sir David Attenborough was, and probably still is, a very distinguished was questioned about his childhood amateur theatre, was one of the focuses of his and career by BBC Radio Leicester’s life, far more than school or anything else. I got Martin Ballard. Barbara Whiteman dragged along to see shows, and indeed selects extracts from that interview, dragged in to take part. Dick was and still is a reproduced here by kind permission very good actor. But, as I say, I was more likely of Radio Leicester... to be on my bicycle looking for dragonflies and fossils than backstage in the Little Theatre. Martin Ballard began by asking Sir David about his Sir David’s involvement with the BBC began in childhood in Leicester, and how interested he was 1952 (he eventually went on to become Controller in nature at that early stage... of BBC2). He traces the events prior to joining as Sir David: I think all children are interested in a trainee, when BBC Television’s programmes nature. I lived in what was then called College were all studio-based and it was the only House which was the residence of the Principal television company in Europe... of University College, and so we had a big Sir David: I thought I was going to become a garden and I was also next door to Victoria scientist - and wanted to become a scientist, so Park. I ran around there, but mainly one got on took my degree. That was just at the end of a bicycle and just bicycled out of the City. I the war, and then there was still conscription, don’t know how far you have to bicycle from so I went into the Navy. When I came out of College House and Victoria Park to see a good the Navy, I couldn’t bring myself to go back to nice hawthorn hedge these days, but certainly I a laboratory. It sounds odd now, but again in could do that when I was eight or nine - and did the forties and early fifties, Zoology was very - watching foxes, grass snakes, great crested much a laboratory-based subject, and I wasn’t newts, dragonflies... So, yes, I saw a lot of particularly interested in cutting up dead natural history in Leicester. animals, or indeed watching pink rats Martin Ballard: Was that childhood a major wandering around mazes. I wanted to be out influence on you in career terms later on? Do there! You know, I wanted to watch elephants. you think that perhaps if you had lived In those days, watching elephants wasn’t somewhere else you may not have been so science. That was something you did if you interested? were a big game hunter and writing letters in Sir David: No. I think that if you are born The Times. So I decided not to take an with an interest in natural history, it will out, academic career, and I thought I would go into wherever you are brought up, and I suppose in publishing, since I had a Science degree I an ideal world, if I had been brought up on the thought Science publishing would be OK. I did Galapagos, I would have been even more that for a couple of years, and then answered interested in natural history! But Leicester gave an advertisement in The Times for a job in the me a very good basis. BBC, which was a radio job, in fact - for which I Although his family moved away, Sir David was immediately turned down! Then a month enjoys returning to Leicester. He was present later I got a letter saying that they had a new several years ago at the opening of the thing going called television, and people are Attenborough Building, when both he and his NEW VISTAS: Sir David continues to make new very rude about it, but we think if we brothers, Richard and John, were delighted to see programmes on nature for the BBC. persevere something worthwhile might come that their father’s work was recognised in that out of it. Would you like to join us as a trainee? way. Since then, he has become an honorary months before you went to University, and it I said, No, certainly not. Who would want to graduate of the University. During his Leicester was during that period that I went to University join a flibberty-gibbit fly-by-night organisation years, his path towards a scholarship involved a College Leicester and boned up a bit on like television - good heavens! But they were period of study at University College... scientific subjects in order to try and get a very persuasive. Sir David: I was a student at Wyggeston scholarship, which fortunately I did. Martin Ballard: Regarding programmes - I don’t Grammar School and I wanted to go Martin Ballard: As children, did you spend a know how many people would remember Zoo somewhere where I could learn about Zoology lot of time together - because obviously in Quest, but certainly The Living Planet, The Trials and Botany, and University College did not career terms you have all gone in very different of Life and others in more recent years... Do have those subjects available and in any case my directions? Did you share the same interests as you remember the first location filming you father was ‘the boss’. My father said that he children? ever did? could not afford to pay for my studies if I did Sir David: Well, we hit one another, you Sir David: Yes, the first time I managed to get not get a scholarship, so I had to work for a know! - the way that brothers do. But we had away from these shores out to the Tropics was scholarship. After taking what would now be different friends. When you are 10 or 12, you in 1954. We went to Sierra Leone in West called your A levels, there was a period of 6-9 don’t mix with boys of 15, so I did not see Africa. I managed to persuade the BBC that

21 JUBILEE FEATURE

JUBILEE PLAY INVOKES COLLEGIATE SPIRIT

Forty years on when afar and asunder Parted are those who are singing today, When you look back and forgetfully wonder What you were like in your work and your play… Staff who remember the early days of the University tend to recall it as a more sociable and closely-knit community. Leicester University Theatre presents a chance for members of the University to unwind after exams and rediscover that sense of community. Alan Bennett’s aptly named comedy, Forty Years On, takes the form of an end-of-term production at Albion House School and casts an ironic but affectionate eye over England’s changing fortunes since the turn of the century. PLEASED TO BE BACK: Sir David Attenborough with the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Kenneth Edwards, and school children at the Fresh from his success in Beyond the Fringe, formal opening of the University Arboretum. Bennett stuffed this, his first play, with parodies the London Zoo should send a collecting audience and was popular was a great pleasure and one-liners, and a characteristically hilarious expedition to collect animals for the Zoo, and to me. mangling of familiar phrases. wouldn’t it be a good idea if we went along and Martin Ballard: Obviously the profile of In a deliberate move to create a we could then film the background as to how natural history has been lifted tremendously by representative and retrospective celebration of this thing was done. the environmentalist movement in various drama in the University, this Jubilee production Martin Ballard: There can’t be many parts of areas. We are more conscious I think now involves not just students but also stalwarts of the world that you haven’t been to, but I know than ever before of our environment, but are the days when staff regularly played an active that on occasions you have almost taken your we doing enough, do you think? part in campus theatre. Accordingly, Robert life into your hands. Have there been any Sir David: No - of course we aren’t. How Kenny (French) will take on the part of the particularly risky moments? could any naturalist sit here and say we are Headmaster (a role created by Gielgud in Sir David: No. I’m a died-in-the-wool doing enough, and of course we are still 1968) supported by Roger Scoppie coward - I don’t take undue risks. I’m not sent continuing the damage, and as long as the (Administration) as his Senior Housemaster out to South Africa or anywhere else in order human race goes on increasing in numbers, we and Ann Taylor Davies (now retired from the to come back minus an arm, or limping, or with will be demanding more and more living space, Department of Psychology) as Miss Nisbitt, the a broken camera saying “Yes, we were charged more and more food, and the natural world (by school secretary. Margaret Dunn (Careers and by an elephant, but we were terribly brave, which I mean the world that is independent of Welfare) - for many years the in-house alto in but... we haven’t got any film”. Our job is to humanity) will be pushed further and further the regular summer Gilbert & Sullivan make programmes. I have friends who enjoy back. And that in the end, if it goes too far, will productions - returns as the indomitable danger - they think it’s absolutely terrific if they be catastrophic because the climate and our School Matron. can get just that little closer to the elephant so food and the whole of the living on this earth The show also features new student faces - that it does charge - that’s not my game at all. I will be damaged - gravely damaged, and so I Gareth Williams plays the junior master, think it’s my job to minimise risks, not to have been working for conservation Tempest, a role Bennett wrote for himself (and maximise. organisations almost as long as I have been for which he reserved some of the best lines). Sir David is particularly proud of the Life on Earth making natural history films. The University has gone to local Lancaster Boys series. As far as he was concerned, it represented Returning to local memories, Sir David recalls School, originally sited directly next to University a milestone in television... the famous fossil ammonite found at Tilton-on- College, to cast the 20 or so pupils of Albion Sir David: It was a new kind of television the-Hill and named after the village - House. The School has been enthusiastic in its programme and it was a very serious one - 13 Tiltonicerus. He has seen Jurassic Park, in which support of the project and will be celebrating its one-hour programmes about evolution - not a his brother stars, and wishes he had its film own 50th anniversary later this year. lot of organisations would have commissioned budget to bring fossils to life. When asked if it This is an opportunity to celebrate the that sort of thing, and it did have a very big could ever become reality, he replies... collegiality which, for many, lies at the heart of impact world-wide. But I suppose the things I Sir David: It’s great entertainment and an University life: and if the Jubilee can do that it am most proud of are the ones where it was enjoyable movie, but the chances of will have really achieved something. not an obviously easy subject. Making films resurrecting an extinct life form, particularly of about lions catching wildebeests and so on - it the Jurassic period, from a fragment of DNA is Forty Years On Fact File is very easy to be very excited because it is pretty well discounted, I think. • Performance dates: Thursday 12, Friday very exciting. Making films about the 13, Saturday 14 June development of a blackberry is not necessarily ■ Sir David is currently involved in the • Time & Place: 7.30, Queen’s Hall quite so exciting, so the last big series I did, preparation of a new series for BBC Television. • Tickets £3 (£2 concessionary rate) from which was the Private Life of Plants was entirely Charles Wilson Bookshop or at the door. about plants and nobody had made that kind of • Contact for further information: Roger programme before. That it got a good Scoppie (0116 252 2416)

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ACADEMIC SERVICES

S E RV I C AL E U S S for any inconvenience to customers and hope the service will shortly be I

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E A V I a N Services t L E U I C E S T E R CHIEF TECHNICIAN RECYCLING OF USED TONER CARTRIDGES RETIRES For a number of reasons, AVS can no longer act as a recycling point for Doug Crisp, Chief Technician in AVS for used toner cartridges. Less money has been passing to the NSPCC as eighteen years, will be retiring this June. older types of cartridge become obsolete. We thank you very much for Formerly Chief Technician in the AVS your support of this project to date and trust you will able to make your at Loughborough University, Doug was own arrangements for the disposal of these items in future. involved from the beginning with OPEN DAY educational television. His move to AVS is recovering from Open Day preparations, which included provision Leicester in 1979 brought him into of 871 presentation items, mostly display boards, televisions and various contact with the Medical School where he helped to develop types of projector, the use of 157 metres of Velcro by departments new technologies to teach students. mounting displays, and midnight working on several occasions by AVS Most academic departments will have used Doug’s expertise, staff. Thanks go to departments for responding to the tight schedule. from advice and help with equipment to the making of audio and video programmes. As well as his technical duties, Doug has FUTURE INVESTMENT contributed to a commercially successful series of Counselling Ian Hickman, Print Manager, has been visiting in-plant units around the country to get a picture of the feasibility of networking our high-speed programmes. copiers to enable customers to send jobs for copying down the line. A Since 1993, he has worked for us on a part-time basis, arriving great deal of work by AVS and Computer Centre remains to be done, but at 7.00 am to check the equipment in the main lecture if anyone is interested in this and would like to be kept informed of theatres. developments, please contact Ian on 2443. There will be a formal goodbye to Doug in the Belvoir We have been investigating the possibility of installing equipment to Annexe, Charles Wilson, at 4.00 pm on Friday 13 June. Anyone enable us to do most types of photographic colour printing in-house. At wishing to contribute to a gift, probably some golf clubs, should the moment, any such work has to be subcontracted, making this one of contact Avril Vilcins (2917). the few services where our prices are not considerably lower than outside. The relevant equipment is very expensive, the equivalent of one year’s turnover for the Photographic Unit. Any contributions will be welcome. USER AREA We are now in a position to help with Web design work, and the MORE STRESSES AND STRAINS designers will be happy to convert existing logos into a format suitable for Work in the Reprographics Department may have to stop for a couple of the Web or to design new ones specifically for this purpose. You are also days while several serious cracks in the floor are repaired. We apologise reminded that you are welcome to use the scanners in the User Area.

A bid has been submitted against phase 2 THE INGRES ComputerComputer of the HEFCE networking initiative. If DATABASE successful, it will enhance bandwidth provision on the campus network by SERVICE deployment of ethernet switching and The Ingres database service is the introduction of fast ethernet to be moved off Silicon GROWTH OF THE CAMPUS NETWORK (100Mbps). Graphics equipment by The last 12 months have seen further extension of the campus computer summer 1998. A new NT network to off-campus locations. Thanks to funding secured from a IRIX CHANGES based Ingres service should HEFCE sponsored initiative to enhance Local Area Networking, and our The central irix service was procured in become available during the relationship with Diamond cable, the network has been extended to the 1991. After some painful ‘teething next few months allowing following: problems’ it has provided a reliable and users to migrate to this new Fraser Noble (School of Education) well used UNIX service. However, rising system during the 1997/8 2 University Road (School of Education) maintenance charges and significant session. This move is 103 and 105 Princess Road (Museum Studies) hardware developments mean that the precipitated by a number of 108 Regent Road (Urban History) original systems now need to be factors, not least being the 152 Upper New Walk (Public Order) replaced. lack of support for Ingres on 3 and 5 Salisbury Road (English Local History) During the next few months ‘hawk’ the Silicon Graphics platform. Glenfield Hospital (Clinical Sciences Block) and ‘eagle’, which run the general Academic, administrative and research colleagues in each of these interactive and batch services, will be locations now have access to the same wide range of IT services as their replaced by two Silicon graphics Origin 200 systems. counterparts on the main campus. These services are provided via a Although this is essentially a cost containment exercise it brings a CPU 10Mbps ethernet link to the main campus. enhancement of between 50% and 200%. The lower figure is expected The connection to Glenfield Hospital is the most recent of the for Integer operations, the higher figure for Floating Point. The Computer installations and broke new ground for us in terms of the distance Centre is exploring the possibility of running these two machines as a involved. An initiative at the General Hospital has provided various single service with day time usage being reserved for interactive use and University staff there with a 2Mbps ethernet link to the campus. night time being predominantly batch. 23 ACADEMIC SERVICES

to scholars nationally, especially through their inclusion in catalogues and databases which are accessible over the JANET network and the Internet. In Leicester’s case the catalogue records are being included in the Library’s online catalogue, which is available widely within the University and also accessible both nationally and internationally via JANET. Library The cataloguing team have been working their way steadily through the county sequences, and have now reached the milestone of the 10,000th catalogue record created. This happened to fall in the county sequence of NEW ELECTRONIC Northumberland, and the actual 10,000th item was The Roman Wall; a RESOURCES IN THE LIBRARY description of the mural barrier of the North of England, by Rev J Collingwood Bruce, 3rd edition, 1867. The project still has to cover the MEDLINE ON CD-ROM 1966 TO DATE rest of the alphabetical sequence of English counties, the general local history books, and the English Local History books in the Special The Clinical Sciences Library now has the full electronic dataset of Collections store. There are also smaller collections on Scotland and Medline from 1996 to date. Wales. There is therefore much more work to be done, but the project THE NATIONAL RESEARCH REGISTER is expected to be completed in the allotted time. The Clinical Sciences Library also has available the pilot version of the The condition of every book in the collection is also being checked, and National Research Register. This is a database of information about such repair and conservation measures as are needed are being taken as research and development projects taking place in, or of interest to, the the work progresses. Other benefits of the project have been the placing National Health Service. It includes research projects funded by the of the open access stock on fixed shelving for greater availability, the Department of Health, NHS Executive HQ and Regional Offices, and acquisition of a special photocopier with an angled platten for copying projects funded by other bodies such as the MRC. from delicate books, and the provision of specially trained staff to provide The Library is taking part in a pilot project to disseminate the Register an extended hours service for the Library as a whole and the English Local across the UK; please help us to evaluate the database by filling in a short History Collection in particular. questionnaire for Trent R&D. Joanne Dunham (ext 3102/ jd1@le) has It was perhaps appropriate that The Roman Wall should become a further details. significant item in the project, because the title page bears the inscription: The workstation for both the above electronic resources can be “I do love these ancient ruins, booked in advance in person or by telephone (ext 3104). We never tread upon them, but we set THE ENGLISH POETRY FULL-TEXT DATABASE Our foot upon some reverend history.” Paying tribute to the dedication and skill of the small team of Library Chadwyck-Healey’s English Poetry database on CD-Rom is now available on the stand-alone workstation in the Main Library. The five discs contain staff involved in the project, University Librarian Dr Timothy Hobbs said, the entire text of over 165,000 poems by more than 1,250 poets. The “The non-formula funding programme is of vital importance for collection is based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature specialised humanities collections in university libraries around Britain. and covers the period 600-1900. The database can be searched for any Some very ambitious and exciting projects are taking place, and I am word or phrase in the text, title or first line of any poem contained in it, pleased with the way Leicester’s project compares in terms of its steady and also provides lists of poets, titles and first lines for browsing. progress and the quality of its work. It is of enormous value to the academic community, within the University and beyond, to have easy NINETEENTH-CENTURY SHORT TITLE access to the Library’s holdings, and the addition of the project’s 10,000th CATALOGUE catalogue record marks a significant achievement, in an area which is of All three series of this database can now be consulted on the CD-Rom great importance to the University’s research.” workstations in the Main Library. Series I and II contain all catalogue records from the Bodleian, British Library, Cambridge University Library, Trinity College, Dublin, National Library of Scotland, and the University of Newcastle upon Tyne for books published between 1801 and 1870, plus all records from Harvard University and the Library of Congress for 1816- 1870. Series III has begun continuation of the catalogue to 1919. The project aims to provide increasingly complete listing of British books (defined as books published in Britain, its colonies and the United States, all books in English and all translations from English) printed between 1801 and 1919. The database is a valuable adjunct to The Eighteenth Century Short Title Catalogue on CD-Rom.

LIBRARY’S ENGLISH LOCAL HISTORY PROJECT REACHES MILESTONE In Autumn 1995 the Library was awarded a four year grant under the Higher Education Funding Council’s “Non-formula funding programme for Specialised Research Collections in the Humanities”, for the complete cataloguing and conservation of its English Local History Collection. The The Librarian, Dr Timothy Hobbs (centre) with the NFF cataloguing team. Left to right, Mary objective of these awards is to make research collections more accessible Claxton (Chief Catologuer), John Smith, Karen Garland and Lynda Chapman.

24 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENTS IN THE REGION ARTSTOP

by Dr Nick Measor (Mathematics and Computer Science) De Montfort Hall on 19 June. At Howson, official British War Artist the Richard Attenborough Centre, for Bosnia, until 15 June. This is the piano duo, David Nettle and followed from 21 June at the same At last the hectic pace of the inaudible? Richard Markham are booked to venue by Nottingham University’s academic year is winding down in Closer to home, the play an exciting programme of annual summer exhibition of work June, and there’s time to enjoy the enterprising local Bardi orchestra works for double piano on 24 by its own members. Meanwhile artistic life of the region without is performing an ambitious June, which includes their large- at the University of Warwick’s the shadow of exams obscuring programme at the De Montfort scale transcription of scenes from Arts Centre, Ken Kiff is exhibiting the landscape. Hall on 18 June, including Brahm’s West Side Story by Bernstein. his recent prints - for a taste of his The visit of Opera North to the Double Concerto and Vaughan The City Gallery is a splendid work you can always visit the first Theatre Royal in Nottingham Williams’s atmospheric A London centre for contemporary visual floor of the Fielding Johnson from 17 to 21 June is the Symphony. Our own university arts in Leicester. From 5 June to Building. centrepiece of a varied musical music programme is still active in 5 July they are showing Under In Leicester itself theatrical diet. The new production of June. A highlight for the members Construction, an exhibition of activity is winding down for the Wagner’s Tannhäuser has of the Proteus Chamber experimental pieces by seven summer, so you will probably attracted national media attention Orchestra is 11 June, when they textile artists. This is a touring have to go further afield for a as one of the few fresh Wagner are performing twice: at exhibition from the Crafts thespian experience. Choices stagings outside the capital in lunchtime they perform Council, and has associated with it range from Everyman at the recent years. The conflict in this Krommer’s Double Clarinet a construction workshop on 21 Other Place in Stratford, staged work between sanctity and Concerto and Beethoven’s Eighth June which gives you a chance to by Kathryn Hunter and Marcello eroticism produces some of the Symphony (the venue for this try your hand at textile artwork. Magni, familiar in Leicester for most thrilling moments in the concert is dependent on It’s easy to overlook the fact that their recent starring roles in King composer’s early work and gives a meteorological conditions), and in the De Montfort Hall also mounts Lear at the Haymarket, to Les foretaste of already well-known the evening they move to Sutton- exhibitions in association with the Misérables at the Birmingham for his Wagnerian roles, and there in-the-Elms Baptist Church, City Gallery. From 3 June to 19 Hippodrome (19 June to 4 is a strong supporting cast. where they add Haydn’s ‘Marie July they are showing the one October). Purists, however, may not Thérèse’ Te Deum to the person show by Roger Bradley, Finally, if the June weather appreciate the fact that the opera, programme with members of the well-known hereabouts for turns really hot, you might want like all the works in the Opera University Choral Society. running the Lansdowne House to audition for the Chippendales, North season (which includes Middle-aged members of the resource centre in University who appear at the De Montfort Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte and university community will be Road for many years. Hall on 20 June. Monteverdi’s The Return of intrigued that musicians of a Outside the city, the Djanogly Ulysses), is sung in English. Am I slightly more recent era than Gallery at the University of alone in finding the words in Haydn and Beethoven, the Everly Nottingham is showing intriguing translated operas almost invariably Brothers, are performing at the figurative paintings by Peter

DYNAMIC DUO: Nettle and Markham - ‘... brilliantly fleet and entertaining ... performed with infectious verve and spirit’ (Music & Musicians)

25 We are looking for contributors to this section. If you wish to CUTTINGS review the cuttings, please contact Barbara Whiteman on ext 2676. WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Hundreds of cuttings pour into the Press Office at Leicester boost by an University from around the world chronicling the activities of Australian study staff and students. ROSEMARY PATTERSON, (Department published in the of Politics) reviews a selection of cuttings from recent weeks. British Medical Journal, and outlined in the Pride of place in the press things have changed from the Leicester Mercury, extracts recently must humble origins of the medieval which reinforces unquestionably go to the ‘great alehouse, then the meeting place the discovery by and the good’ in The Express, of the poor with no fireside of Leicester which features the select their own, a place to find a job, University’s Dr company of top achievers borrow some money, or pick up a Simon Maxwell that drinking red usually awarded the Order of Merit - the woman. The wine can have a beneficial calms him personal gift of the Sovereign. effect and may minimise the down”, he Leicester University is doubly incidence of coronary disease. was quoted represented in this eminent group Tipplers may be further as saying in of expert people by the present encouraged by the recognition the Chancellor, Sir Michael Atiyah, since biblical times of the Leicester and a former Chancellor, Lord health-giving properties of Mercury. Porter of Luddenham. The Order wine. The Apostle Paul’s “Some of of Merit ranks among the highest injunction to Timothy was to the orders of chivalry and is restricted ‘take a little wine for your island’s to 24 people who are judged to stomach’s sake and for your giant-toothed bull elephant seals be leaders in their field. often infirmity’. More can weigh up to two tons, grow From this sublime pinnacle of recently, Louis Pasteur to 16 feet in length, and can kill eminence, most other topics advised ‘Wine is the most with one swipe of their powerful appear to be mundane. In the healthful and hygienic of flippers.” Puts moaning about the pursuit of happiness, Men’s beverages’. Dr Maxwell lack of public conveniences into Health, reporting on a study by does however issue a timely perspective, doesn’t it? Dr Brian Parkinson from the and sobering temperance Also featured in the Leicester Psychology Department, states warning - ‘Don’t drink it all Mercury is a grant award from the four ways to deal with depressing on a Saturday night’. National Environmental Research problems: avoid them, accept The inevitable result of Council to enable Dr Sean them, confront them, or give drinking causes a headache Lawrence of the Physics and them a heady ‘get stuffed’ and do modern pub can for marine biologist Iain Stanland, Astronomy Department to something more fun. One detects now provide the venue even for a who gained a PhD at Leicester. research the effect of ocean a certain preoccupation with drink marriage ceremony. A pub in He is part of the British Antarctic waves on changing weather of the alcoholic variety as the Cambridge establishes a Survey, and tells of the everyday patterns. On a similar tack is the adjacent article in Men’s Health precedent by appointing its own dangers posed by giant seals headline in the Glasgow Herald - gives a step-by-step guide to chaplain and the Bishop of during trips to the loo in the ‘High and dry and all at sea’. This uncorking a champagne bottle. Huntingdon supervises the taking freezing and statement refers to Scotland’s Perhaps this activity provides of marriage remote water supply, most of which runs ‘something more fun’, or perhaps vows in the Antarctic copiously into the sea. It seems not, as one’s goal in life is to presence of a observation that political reasons rather than control the extraction of the cork, drinking station of technical reasons are the main as the 80-85 pounds per square congregation. Bird Island. constraint in exporting this surplus inch of pressure is twice the This, we are “To get to water to England. The water pressure of car tyres. If this told, is made the toilet, companies would prefer to invest pressure is too much, then this possible by the you have to in desalination plants - Paul magazine offers relief on the same relaxation of walk down Herrington from the Economics page in the heading ‘a new angle the marriage to the Department sees the use of these on colonic irrigation’ (is there laws. stream plants as a short-term measure. really a choice of angles?). Presumably, we with a We seem to have turned once Back to the alcoholic beverage. can expect that a broom again to the subject of drink. The pub reinvents itself as the top future handle called a Perhaps the most constructive social institution, reports the requirement will be to take a bodger. If one of the large suggestion for conserving water Oldham Evening Chronicle. breathalyser test before slurring territorial males charges you, the supplies comes from Sir David Drawing on Professor Peter the vows. stick can be used to tickle him Frost - dilute it! Clark’s knowledge of urban Those seeking to rationalise under the chin. This mimics the history, it goes on to say that their drinking habits receive a behaviour of the females, and

26 BOOKS

CAP AND THE REGIONS: Building a multidisciplinary J J THOMSON AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE framework for the analysis of the EU agricultural space ELECTRON Edited by Catherine Laurent and Ian Bowler by Professor E A Davis (Department of Physics & (Department of Geography) Astronomy) and Dr Isobel Falconer Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (Paris), Taylor & Francis, May 1997, £16.95 (paperback), £45 April 1977, £20 (hardback) (hardback)

Available from the Bookshop (IBSN 2-7380- Available from the Bookshop 0715-5) 1997 sees the centenary of one of the most important moments in modern physics - the discovery of the electron. This volume maps the National and EU policies need to take into life and achievements of J J Thomson, with particular focus on his ideas account the extreme diversity of the and experiments leading to the landmark discovery. A foreword by agricultural sector from region to region. In Thomson’s grandson provides valuable insights into Thomson’s addition, policy makers now have to deal not personality, while the reproduction of original papers only with the productive functions of allows an appreciation of Thomson’s own style and ‘An accessible agriculture, but also the sector’s way of thinking. The book describes and carefully- contribution to economic development and Thomson’s early years and researched the management of natural resources and education. It then follows his historical survey the environment. To help decision making career, first in Cambridge as a of the discovery in this complex situation, there is a need to fellow of Trinity, later as the of the electron’ analyse in depth the processes leading to head of the Cavendish spatial diversity in the structure and dynamics of agriculture in Laboratory, and finally as Master of Trinity and the EU and to build appropriate tools for this analysis. national spokesman for science. The core of the This book marks a step in this direction. It brings together the book concerns the work undertaken at the research work of a group of scientists from diverse backgrounds Cavendish, culminating in the discovery of (agronomy, ecology, economics, geography, political science, soil science) ‘corpuscles’, later named ‘electrons’. The who share these concerns. A multidisciplinary regionalised database final two chapters describe the (AGRIREG) has been built which incorporates several European immediate aftermath and implications of databases. The various components of the database are described, the work, and include the creation of the J J THOMSON: Before his including the interface for interrogating the database, mapping AGRIREG discovery, the atom was thought to subject of atomic physics as well as the data using Geographical Information Systems, and theoretical research on be indivisible. broader long-term developments, from the problems of multiscale spatial databases. The potentialities and limits vacuum valves and the transistor through of applying the database to the empirical analysis of regional agricultural the microelectronics revolution. adjustement patterns and processes within the EU are demonstrated and ■ The above entry was incomplete in the last issue of the Bulletin, as discussed. In a final section, the data needs of further analyses are the illustration was omitted. This was due to an error at the time considered, especially as regards incorporating environmental data from of printing. different sources. PSYCHOLOGY AND YOU: AN INFORMAL TEACHING IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL: A Learning INTRODUCTION (Second Edition) Relationship by Julia Berryman (Department of Adult Education) & Edited by Neil Kitson & Roger Merry (School of David Hargreaves (Department of Psychology), Kevin Education) Howells (formerly Department of Psychology, now (Contributors Janet Moyles, Linda M Hargreaves, Sylvia University of Leeds) & Elizabeth Ockleford (Department McNamara, Susan Cavendish, Jean Underwood, Maurice of Adult Education/Department of Galton, Martin Cortazzi (School of Education), and Psychology) David J Hargreaves (Department of Psychology) The British Psychological Society, Routledge, January 1997, £12.99 (paperback) Mid June 1997

Available from the Bookshop Can be ordered from the Bookshop (IBSN 1-85433-226-0) It is now recognised by many professionals that what is learned by children is not necessarily the same as what is taught to them. The Now well established as an introduction to writers in this book recognise that the successful learner needs to be an psychology, this book has been fully revised and active participant in a learning relationship with other people. expanded to reflect current changes and The book offers a coherent introduction to primary education and child developments in the subject. It starts from development. Its focus is on learning relationships rather than the more issues which are of interest to us all, rather traditional content and delivery approach. The first part of the book than covering any particular syllabus, covering emphasises the child’s contribution to this relationship, and the second such topics as body language, emotions, on looks at what the teacher brings to it. being male or female, growing up, how we Topics covered include active learning; child development; special learn, styles of loving, uses and abuses of psychological tests, the educational needs; observation, assessment and recording; classroom differences between humans and other animals. culture; being a reflective practitioner; communication between children In a readable and informal style, this book (illustrated throughout) and teachers; primary school management; teacher training. presents a thorough overview of modern psychology’s approaches to

27 BOOKS PEOPLE human behaviour and emotion, with examples drawn from real-life MAN WITH X-RAY VISION experiences. Since psychology is first and foremost a practical subject, the authors have included 21 exercises to challenge the reader to think further on topics discussed. Years of unstinting and notable public service have The book has sold extremely well, and is published in a number of distinguished the career of Trevor Griffiths, who languages. The new edition has already been accepted for publication in recently celebrated 40 years of involvement with the Chinese, Russian, and Dutch, and an Australian edition by Allen and University. Judith Shaw reflects upon the highlights Unicorn is forthcoming. It is expected that students and non-students alike will find this a lively introduction to the subject. of his career in this special report.

GETTING THE MEASURE OF TRAINING Trevor Griffiths, as an discovered the invisible rays which by Dr Alan Felstead (Centre for Labour Market undergraduate student at could penetrate the body. In the Studies), Professor Francis Green (formerly University of North Wales, same year, he showed that x-rays Department of Economics), and Ken Mayhew Bangor, learned about x-rays from would pass through the body and The Centre for Industrial Policy and Performance, his tutor Professor Edwin Owen. print a shadow picture of the University of Leeds, May 1997, £10 Edwin Owen had studied and bones on a sensitive photographic worked at the Cavendish plate. Available by cheque (+ 50pp) from The University of Leeds Laboratories at Cambridge in the early years of x-ray development. Despite the prominence of work-based training in national policy debate, It was no surprise, therefore, that the published statistics are poor. They fail to give solid information on on leaving Bangor Trevor either the volume or the quality of training. In this report, three leading Griffiths, fascinated by the subject, experts in the study of training in Britain subject the existing statistics to an went to take up a post at the in-depth analysis. teaching hospitals in Birmingham, The first part examines the quantity and quality of training, using working at the Queen Elizabeth information from various repeated surveys. The Labour Force Survey is Hospital in the Radiotherapy commonly used to give a picture of increasing training, by concentrating Department. on the frequency of training participation in any 4-week period. The He transferred to the small report shows that choosing only this measure of training gives a department at Leicester Royal misleading picture as to the real trend in the volume of training in Britain. Infirmary in 1956 as physicist in The second part of the report gives the findings from two new surveys charge. A few months after his of training that examine the quantity and the quality of employee training appointment, Trevor Griffiths in Britain. One survey looks at training from the point of view of began his long association with individuals, while the other elicits the responses of member firms of the the University of Leicester. He CBI. Both surveys focus on economically meaningful aspects of training, was recruited by the late including: who sponsors the training, whether the training leads to Professor Stewardson of the MAN OF COMMITMENT: improved skills and to qualifications, and the objectives and outcomes of Physics Department to carry out Trevor Griffiths the training. radiation dose measurements in The report suggests how, at little extra cost, official training statistics the University Library, which was "At one stage the x-ray was could be improved to yield greater information on trends in the quantity then situated over the thought to have a ‘cure-all’ ability, and quality of training. It will be highly relevant to policy analysts, experimental Van de Graff but its indiscriminate use created researchers, practitioners and academics interested in the field of training machine. “The fear was that 2Mev serious risks to those coming into studies. x-rays could be travelling from the contact with the rays - patients machine to the students studying and hospital staff alike”, explained in the Library”, explained Mr Mr Griffiths. Griffiths. “By using x-ray machines on DISCOUNT OFFER children’s feet as a way of Sensitive measuring them, differential or During the month of July, Leicester University Bookshop is Increasing emphasis was being stunted growth could occur in one offering all University staff members, on production of placed on the safe usage of foot. Following the production of identification, 10% off publishers’ recommended prices. This Ionising Radiation in clinical my report, I was asked to offer applies to all books in stock. situations. This was formalised continue to carry out more when a National Survey of measurements, and this led Radiation, headed by Lord Adrian, subsequently to the establishment Loughborough University’s Engineering Faculty was conducted in the early 1960s. of a regular radiation monitoring Daphne Jackson Fellowships The Report arising from this service, which I carried out quite survey aided progress towards the informally. Film badges and later Well-qualified local engineers wanting to return to their profession safe use of x-rays in today’s clinical TLD were in use for 20 years.” after a career break of at least three years are invited to apply for environment. With the acquisition of two-year fellowships worth around £15,000 on a half-time basis. It was just over a century ago, radioactive sources in the During this time, a tailor-made programme and guided research in 1895, when Wilheim K Rîntgen, Chemistry Department, Trevor project is undertaken. The closing date for applications is 17 June. For a German physicist with an Griffiths’ work began to include initial enquiries, please telephone Patricia Ellis on 01483 259166. interest in photography, other University departments

28 PEOPLE using such sources. He Leicestershire County Council, OBITUARIES comments, “In 1962, as honorary Councillor Trevor Griffiths was radiation protection officer, I nominated to serve on University The University has learnt with regret the deaths of the following: received a small honorarium from Council and Court in 1981. the University, but as I was Included in his lifetime of public employed by the NHS, I was service are membership of the EMERITUS PROFESSOR claimed must have been one of required to hand over this fee to county's Police Authority, of which J H PATERSON the longest words ever compiled, the Leicestershire Hospital he was vice-chairman for four even in German! Management Committee”. years. He has been chairman of Professor of Geography, In 1950 he returned to Britain "I very much enjoyed working Barwell Conservative Association died 2 May 1997 and worked for six years as a with University staff and this for the past 12 years. University Demonstrator and informal arrangement helped to Committed to serving Professor John Paterson has died Assistant Lecturer at the establish useful links between educational interests in at the age of 73 after a short University of Cambridge. In 1956 departments. Ultimately, the work Leicestershire, he is chairman of illness. John was educated at John was appointed lecturer at the at the University as well as at the the governors of many colleges Monkton University of St hospitals expanded considerably, and schools, he also sits on Combe School, Andrews, where so that I had eventually to Leicestershire Local Government Bath and St he remained, terminate this work.” At that Advisory Committees, is Catharine’s apart from time, John Baker was appointed to Chairman of the Standing Advisory College, another year in the first post of radiation Committee on Religious Cambridge, the USA, as a protection officer. Education, and a member of where he was Fellow of the Nevertheless, Mr Griffiths' Leicestershire Community Health awarded a first American involvement with the University Council. class honours Council of continued. In 1973, as chief His services in various forms to degree in 1948. Learned physicist at the Leicester Royal the University have been His Socieities, until Infirmary, he helped to establish invaluable during his long undergraduate appointed to a the Medical Physics course, which association, and, fortunately, he is career was Chair of provided a link between the NHS still a vital part of its success. Even interrupted by Geography at Department of Medical Physics more importantly, many people five years of Leicester from and the University’s Physics have reason to be grateful to a military service, January 1975. Department. He retired in 1989. man who has dedicated his life’s much of it with He succeeded His public and political activities work to ensuring the best possible the Leicestershire Yeomanry, Professor Norman Pye to the began in 1976, when he became a health care with the safe use of during which he rose to the rank headship of the department in Desford parish councillor. The radiotherapy and diagnostic x-rays of Captain. After graduation he 1978. During his period as Head next year he was elected a county as well as the safety of the spent two years as a of Department he was councillor for Leicestershire, professionals who care for them. Commonwealth Fund Fellow at instrumental in bringing the annual becoming vice-chairman in 1990- the University of Wisconsin, conference of the Institute of 1992 and chairman in 1992-1993. Madison. While there, he studied British Geographers to Leicester As an elected member of the under the eminent political and for the first time. He would surely regional geographer, Richard have been pleased that it will be Hartshorne. He was awarded an returning in 1999. John took early RETIREMENT MA degree in 1949 for research retirement in 1983 and, after on the then controversial subject three years on a teaching contract, JOYCE HICK of Contributions of the German he and his wife, Evangeline, left geopoliticians to the concepts of Leicester and moved to be closer Joyce Hick, part-time telephonist, retired on 16 May after eighteen geographic regions. This was an to their family in the North East. years’ service in the University. extension of an interest he had John had an outstanding Although probably not known to staff by sight, her voice would have formed while working on the academic career. To many his been recognised by many who have benefited from her assistance over denazification programme in the name will always be synonymous a long period of service. Joyce was the telephonist who opened the British zone of Germany, and with his famous book, A Regional switchboard each morning at 8.30 a.m. - a duty in which she never which he was to revive nearly Geography of North America, first failed. forty years later with a measured published, to world-wide acclaim, She has seen many changes in her years at the University. In her critique German Geopolitics in 1960 and now in its ninth own working environment, the most significant was the progression Reassessed in Political Geography edition. ‘Paterson’s North from old plug switchboard to the present digital exchange. No doubt Quarterly 1987. His fluent America’ is a synthesis of both she will have many pleasant memories of the telephone exchange and knowledge of German was an John’s own research and that of her friends and colleagues. asset to him in this specialised others and has been a major Joyce will be devoting more time to her grandchildren in her work, and he was able to speak source for generations of students retirement years whilst indulging her love of travel abroad. She is also confidently about in all parts of the world. To this a member of the Departmental Staff Common Room Association and Kirchturmschattenbeschränktheit day even Americans regard this enjoys fell walking. (the parish pump spirit) which had book as the definitive text on their Linda Duncan been criticised by the continent. geopoliticians, and which he However, this magnum opus

29 PEOPLE should not overshadow John’s memorable of his presentations North America. Colleagues and students alike will other considerable contributions were those jointly with his John was a loyal colleague and a always be thankful for his readiness to the discipline. Land, Work and Evangeline, an acclaimed poet, on good friend. A man of great to listen, advise and support. Resources: An Introduction to the cultures and landscapes of integrity, sincerity and patience. Despite his many commitments he Economic Geography, published in 1972, also received laudatory EMERITUS PROFESSOR 1950. It was followed by his Emile Zola (1953), a reviews and went into several F W J HEMMINGS critical study which did much to establish his editions. Of his numerous papers, reputation and was extensively updated in 1966. those such as The poet and the Professor of French Literature, His eleven further books included a life of Zola metropolis, published in Images of died 9 May 1997 (1977) and monographs on Stendhal (1964), Balzac America in 1964 and The novelist John Hemmings, who (1967), Dumas pére (1979), and Baudelaire (1982). and his region: Scotland through has died at the age of His work on individual authors led him into the the eyes of Sir Walter Scott, 76, was one of the study of movements and socio-cultural phenomena published in the Scottish foremost and most in general, and he went on to write two Geographical Magazine in 1968, influential scholars of considerable volumes, Culture and Society in were particularly significant since French of his France, covering the periods 1789-1848 and 1848- they foreshadowed the emergence generation. Through 1898. In his retirement he turned to the relatively of a ‘new’ cultural geography. At his Oxford tutors unexplored territory of the theatre world in the time of his death John had just (including Gustave nineteenth-century France, bringing out, in begun work on a new book, Rudler and Herbert addition to a series of articles, The Theatre concerned with the grasslands of Hunt), he benefited Industry in Nineteenth-Century France (1993) and North America, and, which had, from the oldest traditions of French teaching in Theatre and State in France 1760-1905 (1994). according to the reviewers of the British universities. In the 1950s he was one of the Work on a third volume concerning the theatre original proposal, the makings of first English-speaking academics to work on newly- was near completion when his health began to fail another major contribution to our accessible manuscripts and produce substantial at the end of 1966. understanding of the American work on Emile Zola. He soon came to be His devotion to his own specialist research was environment. acknowledged as a leading authority on literature unswerving, but this never stood in the way of A good teacher is and other aspects of culture in nineteenth-century other, broader types of commitment to the knowledgeable, lucid and France, continuing to enhance this reputation by academic world and its values. For two years in approachable, but a great teacher publishing major volumes until shortly before his the 1960s he regularly reviewed current English inspires. John was a great as well death. fiction for the New Statesman, and in 1966 he as a good teacher, and had an Frederic William John Hemmings was born in helped to bring to England one of the first enormous influence on several Southampton, where his father, the headmaster of intellectuals to be permitted to leave the Soviet generations of students who Taunton’s School, encouraged his interest in Union, Valery Tarsis - an event that attracted passed through the Geography France from an early age. He took a First in extensive publicity. In the 1970s and early 1980s departments of Cambridge, St French and German at Exeter College Oxford in he made a number of trips to Canada, to advise on Andrews and Leicester. He had an 1941. After basic infantry training for the Army the setting up of a centre for Naturalist Studies and uncanny knack of making complex Intelligence Corps, he was posted to Bletchley on the publication of a series of French-Canadian processes understandable, and the Park for the remainder of World War II, being texts. He always took great pleasure in his contact enviable ability of being able to involved in deciphering communications traffic with students in Leicester, collaborating with them maintain the attention of his between German SS Army headquarters and Army for a number of years in the production of French audience throughout the whole of Corps. Word-of-honour security was tight and plays and teaching even the least gifted with an hour’s lecture. It was a fitting only later did he learn that he had contributed to inexhaustible patience and kindness. tribute to his reputation as a the work on Enigma. He was a softly-spoken, deeply modest man, teacher that his final lecture was Appointed as assistant lecturer in French at the who inspired enormous respect and lasting marked by a presentation from the University College of Leicester in 1948, he was to affection in most of his undergraduates, students of the Department of a play a significant part in the processes by which the postgraduates and colleagues. His quiet framed print of one of Ansel institution became an independent university and competence in university administration was Adam’s atmospheric photographs expanded nearly tenfold during his 37-year career arguably greater than that of many who actively of an American landscape. It is there. He was briefly the first non-professorial seek out such responsibilities, and his humanity in little wonder that he was in Dean of Arts in 1963, before becoming the first carrying out all of his duties examplary. He looked constant demand to make holder of a personal chair at the University. Having upon the expansion of university provision without presentations outside the spent the 1966-67 session at Yale, it was with hostility, but also without illusions. In his total University, whether it be to an some reluctance that, in the middle of a particularly devotion to his subject and to quality in all international conference, a local fertile research period, he took on the headship of intellectual endeavour, as well as in his society or a sixth form. It is said French at Leicester in 1970. During a nine-year unselfishness and his ability to keep the extraneous that he lectured to more branches spell of imaginative leadership, he considerably and the secondary in perspective, he represented of the Geographical Association broadened the base of undergraduate programmes much that risks disappearing from British academic than any other Professor, and and encouraged the development of many life. these visits resulted in large academic careers. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and a numbers of highly qualified His first publication, building upon his earlier daughter and son from his first marriage. students being attracted to learning of Russian and his Oxford DPhil, was The Professor Terry Keefe Leicester. Yet, probably, the most Russian Novel in France, 1884-1914, issued in

30 RESEARCH always had time to talk to Michael and Caroline, and four GRANTS FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES individuals. An active Christian, John grandchildren. As an appreciation ANAESTHESIA £ 154,364 MRC was a lay-preacher at Charles Street of John’s contribution to the Prof D J Rowbotham Baptist Church and broadcaster on discipline and to Leicester in Dr A Maxwell Opioids and transmitter release local radio in the ‘Thought for the particular the department proposes A study of DNA Gyrase: - Energy Day’ format. He is survived by to introduce an annual John H £ 25,000 (supp) Leicester Royal coupling & coumarin drug action Infirmary NHS Trust Evangeline, three children, Ronan, Paterson Prize. (Prize Studentship - Miss C V Smith) BIOCHEMISTRY £ 549 (supp)Wellcome Trust JOAN KNOPP Dr C R Bagshaw Vaughan College student, died 7 May 1977 Leverhulme Trust Senior Research BIOCHEMISTRY (MEDICAL) Mrs Joan Knopp died in hospital on 7 May, shortly after hearing the Fellowship Dr S A Prigent news that she had won a major prize in a nationwide Italian Essay Dr Bagshaw received one of eight Identification of signalling pathways Competition, organised by the Association for Language Learning. grants awarded across the UK by the utilised by the vascular endothelial Besides making assiduous use of the Language Centre’s self-access Royal Society to academics in mid- growth factor receptors KDR and career to relieve them of teaching FLT1 facilities, she was a regular attender at a course on Shakespeare at duties for one year to concentrate on £ 98,044 British Heart Foundation Vaughan College, which formed part of the Certificate in Combined research. The principle work Studies. undertaken will involve studying BIOCHEMISTRY (NMR Joan was also a reliable and enthusiastic reader in a small team of molecular interactions of muscle CENTRE) volunteers working for the Study Support Centre, recording material proteins at the level of single molecules using highly sensitive fluorescence Prof G C K Roberts onto cassette for students who are blind or have a visual impairment. methods. This project stems from the Study of zinc b-lactamases: metal Her funeral was held on 14 May at St Denys Church, Evington. development of a total internal binding and catalytic mechanism - reflection fluorescence microscope Fellowship Dr C J F Damblon originally assembled by a former b-lactamases are enzymes which collaborator, the late Professor David ALAN GAYTON, OBE destroy b-lactam antibodies such as Gingell, University College London. penicillin and cephalosporins and are Member of Council, died 14 May 1997 Following his untimely death, the responsible for bacterial resistance to apparatus was reconstructed in Alan Gayton, who died at the age of 73, these antibiotics. A class of b- Leicester and the sensitivity of was a long-serving lay member of the lactamases which is becoming of detection was improved to the single increasing clinical significance is that in University’s Council, first appointed in 1981 molecule level with sub-second time which the enzymes contain an essential and serving without a break until 1996 when resolution. new membership regulations made his zinc atom at the active site. The aim of £ 23,436 Royal Society this project is to use NMR retirement obligatory. spectroscopy to study the environment Prof E Cundliffe A man of great energy and charisma, Mr of this zinc atom , its role in catalysis Gayton was particularly associated on Strategies for producing novel and the binding of substrate analogues macrolides Council with developments in the and inhibitors. The information management and marketing of the University’s £ 56,156 (supp) Eli Lilly & Co obtained will contribute to the design of antibiotics which are not as residential accommodation. He served for a number of years on the BIOCHEMISTRY (MEDICAL) susceptible to cleavage by these Accommodation Committee and its sub-committees. He also served on the enzymes. Prof R C Liddington University’s original Planning Committee, the Finance and General £ 50,720 Wellcome Trust Purposes Committee and the Bookshop Management Committee, always Crystallographic studies of a protein translocation machine making informed and practical contributions to their business. Prof G C K Roberts Many types of bacteria secrete protein He studied briefly at the University College, but went on to the LSE, Structural studies of an effector toxins which target human cells. The protein of the G protein RAC - where his studies were interrupted by war service. After the war, instead present studies are aimed at Prize Studentship - Mr M Wright of completing his degree course, he joined the family firm, Frank Gayton determining the atomic resolution £ 56,975 Wellcome Trust Advertising, and was Chairman of its successor company Gayton Graham crystal structures of one of these from 1986. The companies were responsible for the University’s staff toxins, from Bacillus anthracis. The BOTANY recruitment advertising for many years. Mr Gayton and his colleagues were toxin consists of three proteins, one of which is responsible for transporting Prof J Draper also responsible for the development of the University’s visual identity, the other two across the human cell Assess anti-fungal activity of Agrevo including the tactful modernisation of the logo introduced in the late 1980s membrane into the cell interior. This chemicals for activation of SAR and still in use now. protein can also translocate human £ 16,474 Agrevo UK Ltd His public service was not confined to the University. An enthusiastic proteins, and is being evaluated as a amateur actor, he became general secretary of the Leicester Dramatic general Õprotein translocation Dr M R Grant machineÕ. Many applications of such a Society and, together with the late Geoffrey Burton and Professor Philip Characterisation of mutants in the system to molecular medicine Collins, helped create the Phoenix and Haymarket theatres. He served for plant disease resistance defence immediately suggest themselves, response - Acciones Integradas 30 years on the Leicester bench of magistrates, and became Chairman of including treatment of genetic disorders the Magistrates’ Court Committee. In 1982 he became a part-time by replacing essential cellular proteins, This project involves the as an alternative to gene therapy. For characterisation of genes involved in member of the Commission for Racial Equality. His contribution to the plant resistance. Putative Arabidopsis judiciary system resulted in the award of an OBE in 1994. example, muscular dystrophy is caused by the production of a single defective mutants showing differences in the A Thanksgiving Service at Leicester Cathedral was attended by senior protein. The information from our levels of expression of pathogenesis representatives of the University and former colleagues of Mr Gayton on work will allow the development of related genes have been isolated by our Council. The bidding prayer recalled “his zest for life and enthusiasm for all engineered toxins that can target Spanish partners in the laboratory of Dr Carmen Castresana. A member of this he undertook ... his friendship and kindliness, his generosity and hospitality”. specific cell types and deliver proteins with greater efficiency. laboratory will visit Leicester to map Nigel Siesage those putative mutants.

31 RESEARCH

A member of the Leicester Laboratory substitution GENETICS (MEDICAL) sediment movement in the small, will visit Spain to screen the New avenues built on a mechanistic Dr R C Trembath discontinuous ephemeral streams that mutagenised lines for individuals which develop on the surface; (ii) conducting approach The molecular pathology of fail to recognise known resistance gene field experiments to determine £ 139,856 EPSRC Pendred syndrome specificities which reside on different infiltration characteristics of the surface chromosomes. This approach may Exactly 100 years ago a British doctor, and the small stream channels; and (iii) identify genes involved in a common CHILD HEALTH Vaughan Pendred wrote of two sisters developing relationships between the plant disease resistance signal Dr U Frey who both suffered from profound surface hydrology and topography. The hearing loss and substantial swellings of transduction pathway. Prof M Silverman future development of the project will the thyroid gland in the neck. We now concentrate on using the field £ 1,100 British Council The effect of risk factors for infant recognise this important cause of experimental data to develop a model mortality upon physiological Dr M R Grant deafness to be inherited disorder but for predicting runoff and sediment development the connection between these organs Equipment Grant responses of the instrumented sites and £ 1,215 (supp) Society for Protection remains unclear. We have used genetic on integrating this model into a larger This grant is specifically designated of Infant Life techniques to locate the Pendred scale model for the whole bajada towards building a highly sensitive, syndrome gene and we now plan to surface. thermally cooled luminometer capable identify the gene itself. This research is ENGLISH LOCAL HISTORY £ 1,919 Research Foundation of of measuring low level photon likely to lead to both new and rapid Prof C V Phythian-Adams State University of New emissions. tests for Pendred syndrome and shed York, University of Buffalo The elevation of cytosolic calcium Research Associate Costs light on the inner ear mechanisms concentrations initiates a multitude of £ 3,000 British Library leading to the abnormalities of hearing. MASS COMMUNICATIONS cellular events which are fundamental to Value reported in May Bulletin the viability and natural ontogenic EPIDEMIOLOGY & PUBLIC Action Research Dr A Hansen process of plants. Ca2+ is implicated in HEALTH Local media reporting of the plant disease resistance. Using a model A gene causing primary pulmonary Dr S Ablett community sentence demonstration pathosystem comprising the model plant hypertension: Refinement of genetic project Arabidopsis thaliana accession Col-0 SIOP study of the treatment of localisation and physical mapping of £ 49,925 Home Office (carrying the resistance gene RPMI) hepatoblastoma & hepatocellular the disease gene ectopically expressing aequorin and a carcinoma in children Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPP) collection of isogenic Pseudomonas £ 1,707 Cancer Research Campaign is a disorder characterised by MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER syringae lines containing various abnormally high blood pressure, SCIENCE avirulence genes (avr) we will use the GENETICS affecting blood vessels from the heart to Prof W A Light luminometer to measure in vivo changes the lungs. By placing excess strain on Prof G A Dover Dr J Levesley in intracellular calcium levels during a the heart, the condition is usually fatal. Approximation problems arising in resistant interaction. These studies are Book proposal : Genetic As the triggers for PPH are unknown, geodesy & earth observation undertaken in collaboration with Dr Redundancy & Biological Novelties - we initiated genetic studies to locate the science Marc Knight, of the Plant Sciences Dept, Research Fellowship defective gene. The gene has recently Oxford. The last 10-20 years of research into the been placed on the long arm of £ 105,071 EPSRC £ 8,682 Royal Society behaviour of genes reveals that chromosome 2 as part of an Dr M Marletta evolution is a more complex process international collaboration we plan to Collaborative Research Grant CELL PHYSIOLOGY & than that defined solely by the contribute to the detailed analysis of the Darwinian mechanism of natural This collaboration between Malcolm PHARMACOLOGY PPH region including the generation of a selection. Genes are in a continual state map of the DNA segments thereby Brown and Michael Eastham of the Prof S R Nahorski of flux due to a variety of molecular proving a framework to isolate the Department of Computer Science of Prize Studentship - Ms E C Akam rearrangements of DNA, leading to high defective gene itself,. These findings the University of Wales at Cardiff, and £ 1,044 (supp) The Wellcome Trust levels of genetic redundancy and the have immediate application to the Marco Marletta of the Department of spread of variant genes through management of PPH families and will Mathematics & Computer Science in Prof P R Stanfield populations. This internal turbulence of herald entirely novel research into the Leicester, will examine eigenvalue Studies of selectivity & gating of DNA (giving rise to the evolutionary treatment of PPH. problems for differential equations posed over semi-infinite intervals. The cloned & mutant inward rectifier process of ‘molecular drive’) coupled to Value reported in May bulletin aim of the project is to obtain potassium channels (IRKI) the external turbulence of the ecology British Heart Foundation expressed in mammalian cell line (giving rise to the process of natural eigenvalue approximations with (Prize Studentship - Mr C J Abram) selection ) leads to biological novelties guaranteed and computable error GEOGRAPHY bounds. Using a mixture of £ 549 (supp)The Wellcome Trust and the inception of new species. Prof A J Parsons Professor Dover’s book will review the asymptotics, automatic differentiation Dr A B Tobin new discoveries of the behaviour and Hydrological modelling of the and interval arithmetic, we aim to show Role of receptor phosphorylation in functions of genes and incorporate them Jornada Basin that for certain numerical methods, the eigenvalue error bounds which have the regulation of phospholipase into a comprehensive theory of The overall aim of this project is to hitherto been regarded as purely coupled receptors evolution. The book may take the form develop an understanding of the theoretical can actually be evaluated. £ 56,975 The Wellcome Trust of a series of letters to Mr Darwin processes of runoff and infiltration on a The techniques to be used are often explaining our late 20th Century bajada surface. Such surfaces are referred to by the collective name CHEMISTRY observations on the wonderful world of created within closed basins in dryland validated computation and involve a genes and their significance for environments as a result of runoff Dr E G Hope bootstrapping process in which one development and evolution. transporting sediment into the basins Low-valent metal fluorides assumes a value for the error bound from the surrounding mountains. Their £ 14,974 Leverhulme Trust and, based on this assumption, one uses £ 1,478 CLRC hydrology is complex, shows evidence interval arithmetic to compute intervals Dr E Orr of dynamic change, and is intimately Dr E G Hope in which all the quantities appearing in Israel Science & Technology Fund related to patterns of vegetation Catalysis in the fluorous biphase the formula of the error bound must lie. Project growing on them. The project is being This then allows one to compute an £ 820 CLRC conducted within a larger framework £ 45,000 British Council Israel interval in which the error bound must concerned with understanding lie. This interval can then be compared environmental change and its impact on with the initial assumed value of the Dr P Kocovsky drylands. Research so far on this error bound: agreement implies validity Molybdenum catalysis in allylic project has focused on (i) establishing of the original assumption. The grant instrumental sites to measure water and 32 A.O.B from the LMS is to fund visits to Cardiff PYSCHIATRY to carry out the initial groundwork. Prof J Lindesay AS YOU BIKE IT £ 300 London Mathematical Research & Information Officer Society £ 43,862 (supp) Leicestershire Mental FOR years now my lovely wife and I have been keen walkers, rambling Health Services MEDICINE & THERAPEUTICS through many a Shire in the South and passing breathless hours Prof D P De Bono scampering up and down the mountains of wildest Scotland. Operating SOCIAL WORK Discretionary Chair Fund with the minimum of equipment - cheap boots, my old painting trousers Prof P J Aldgate and a hole-riddled waterproof - I have tramped hundreds of miles £ 7,506 (supp) British Heart Report on research findings on Foundation fuelled only with a crushed egg sandwich and a Cupasoup but rewarded work with children and families many times over by a communion with nature, an increased fitness and a where adult mental health, Dr R I Norman general sense of wellbeing. Shortly after settling in this Shire we call Dr R F Bing alcoholism and substance abuse and domestic violence are issues Leicester, we both felt a yearning for challenges new, something that Membrane properties in would enable us to continue our love of the outdoors but be more hyperlipidaemia The School of Social Work has been commissioned to investigate the impact physically punishing, involve less climbing over stiles and, dare I say it, be £ 13,171 (supp) Glenfield Hospital of domestic violence, mental illness, a bit sexier. Dr N J Samani alcohol and substance abuse in parents We didn’t have to look far for the answer for, switching on the on children’s well being. This is an Mapping of genetic loci predisposing gogglebox one night, what should we see but Jill Dando peddling her important commission within the to traits of the insulin resistance way round the ring of Kerry - on a bicycle. No sooner had the credits Department of Health new initiative on syndrome refocussing children’s services which rolled than we were on our way to an “Irish cycling safari” - I’ve got the £ 75,058 British Heart Foundation suggests that the different services T-shirt to prove it in fact - but that’s for another time. The main point is responsible for children’s welfare, such I left the painting trousers behind and converted to lean mean, lycra clad PATHOLOGY as Health, Education and Social Services cycling. Prof I Lauder should work more closely together. Just as we had purchased slim amateurishly-produced walking guides, Q Probe Audit Furthermore, because of the current now we found a smaller, more select range of slim amateurishly- split of Social Services into adult £ 8,000 (supp) Royal College of produced cycling books. One in particular has been our recent bible provision and services for children, the Pathologists needs of the family as a whole are not featuring as it does “serious” rides of 30 miles or more. The only slight always adequately addressed. The drawback is the author seems to be related to an old testament prophet POLITICS (CSPO) Department of Health’s overview of of doom and damnation. Prof J Benyon studies on child protection, to which the If you’re looking for incentives to do the ride you’ll be hard pushed to Grants in Aid of Research School of Social Work contributed two find them. Perhaps you fancy some picturesque villages, think again key studies, showed that the problems £ 25,783 (supp) Private Sector of domestic violence, mental illness, “small village with little of interest”, “small isolated village”, “small Companies alcohol and substance abuse in parents unspectacular village”, “of no note”, “has a shop” are some of the were not fully appreciated. Another mouthwatering enticements with which our author teases us. PRE-CLINICAL SCIENCES ongoing study at the School of Social Similarly, his idea of basic concepts such as “flat”, “mountainous”, Dr C Ockleford Work (Department of Health) on the “steep” and so on would not, I believe match everyone else’s. “Very needs of children in the community has Molecular & cellular mechanisms of easy riding throughout with no hills to justify dismounting” is a involvement of extracellular matrix added further evidence about the need commonly invoked description. Imagine our guilt then, when we degradation in the process of for social workers to define risk to implantation & parturition children in wider terms than direct collapse purple-faced at the top of a mountain, sorry “undulation”, harm. For example, children may be at The Wellcome Trust have provided having pushed our bikes for the last three miles. risk from witnessing physical violence £149,295 to support the continuation of It’s not as bad as that of course - I haven’t got time to mention the between parents although they are not research on a Royal Society Chinese tea rooms, the ridiculous helmets, the mysteries of changing gear, or oil themselves being assaulted. Academy of Sciences Link grant - its part in my downfall. All I will say is that we are now super-fit people This study will provide guidance for between Dr Colin Ockleford’s who will, no doubt, soon be looking for an even bigger challenge - if laboratory in the Department of Pre policy makers and practitioners on the anyone knows a place that does tiger wrestling, could they please let me Clinical Sciences at Leicester and that of impact of parents’ problems on the Professor Liu at the state Key children. The results will be widely know? Laboratory for Reproductive Biology at disseminated nationally in collaboration Peter Allen the Chinese Academy of Sciences in with the Social Services. Beijing. This productive link has been in Value reported in May bulletin. existence for 3 years. The new research aims to provide opportunities SOCIOLOGY (CLMS) Dr D M Harper Dr D M Harper for the parental control of reproduction Dr M Powell Blue/green algae monitoring Marine Biologist (post 5) and to reduce perinatal mortality. This support is mainly for a talented young Dr A Felstead £ 17,254 (supp) Environment Agency £ 19,982 (supp) Environment Agency visiting Chinese worker, Dr Quiang Prof D Ashton Dr D M Harper Feng, who will carry out studies of the A holistic approach to working Marine Biologist (post 7) Prof R Smith molecular and cellular processes by together which tissues are degraded in a £ 18,841 (supp) Environment Agency Conservation studies of the £ 4,941 Government Office for East controlled manner during the crucial amphibians & reptiles of GOA Midlands Dr D M Harper periods of physiological change at the £ 2,000 (supp) Mr E P Killips beginning and end of pregnancy. He will Humber Officer ZOOLOGY continue the development of methods £ 21,194 (supp) Environment Agency initiated in the Leicester Laboratory and Dr T A Burke then return to Beijing for the last two Parental Investment in Birds Dr D M Harper years of the 5 year programme to set £ 9,961 Royal Society Ferric dosing monitoring up an independent laboratory. £ 16,284 (supp) Environment Agency £ 149,295 The Wellcome Trust

33 NOTICES

ESTATES & BUILDINGS OFFICE NEW FRONTIERS SUMMER VACATION - BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE WORKS IN SCIENCE During the summer vacation, the Estates and Buildings Office will be undertaking a substantial series of EXHIBITION building and major maintenance works, including further schemes funded under Phase II of the Backlog Maintenance Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 Programme. Colleagues will remember that this programme, funded from part of the proceeds of the sale of the Oadby June 1997, 10.00 am - 4.30 pm, playing fields and by a 25% grant from HEFCE, is designed to bring buildings and services into compliance with the most at The Royal Society, 6 Carlton recent legislation, in terms of Health and Safety and facilities for the disabled. House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG The following is an outline of the work that is planned for each building and the dates, where known. Detailed specifications This annual Exhibition is designed to are being prepared for competitive tendering, and the actual timing will depend on the workplan to be provided by the demonstrate recent advances in successful contractors. This outline is provided here in order to inform all who may have an interest, but detailed discussions basic research and, where on the implications of the work for the operation of each building will be held with building/department representatives as appropriate, their application. Among the exhibits are Brain appropriate. Scanners by the Bed The discussions with building representatives will aim to reduce the impact of this work as far as is possible, but some (Addenbrooke’s Hospital, disruption and noise cannot be avoided. We shall keep everyone affected by the major schemes fully informed via the Local Cambridge); Messengers from Mars Contacts as the work progresses. (The Natural History Museum); Staff wishing to raise matters relating to any works should contact Stella Moore (ext 2506/7). How to Look Cool: Controlling the Infrared (Defence Research Agency). All are welcome to this Adrian Building Replacement of fume cupboards free Exhibition (last entry 4.00 pm) Structural fire precautions ] Start July 1997 and refreshments are available. Completion of HV upgrade Enquiries: 0171 839 5561. Adrian Link Building Structural fire precautions Start July 1997 Completion of HV upgrade Astley Clarke Building Alterations to basement August-September 1997 External redecoration July-September 1997 EQUAL Attenborough Building Redecoration of lecture theatres and OPPORTUNITIES renewal of lecture theatre concourse ceiling August 1997 External redecoration July-September 1997 COMMITTEE Bennett Building Upgrading of passenger lift for Expressions of interest are sought from University staff who would like disabled persons June-September 1997 to be considered for membership of Completion of HV upgrade the University’s Equal Opportunities Bridge - Adrian/MSB External redecoration Committee, which will have two July-August 1997 Internal redecoration ] vacancies from September 1997. The terms of reference of the College House External redecoration July-September 1997 Committee are to advise the Vice Engineering Building Structural fire precaution work and new Chancellor and relevant Boards of fire alarm and pressurisation systems Start June 1997 Senate and Council on the Percy Gee Building External redecoration implementation of all aspects of the ] July-September 1997 University’s equal opportunities Part internal redecoration policy and to monitor progress. Physics Building Conversion of goods lift to passenger Informal enquiries may be made to lift for disabled June-September 1997 either Fiona McPhail, Staff Welfare Recovering of roof Start June 1997 and Equal Opportunities Officer and Secretary to the Committee (ext R Block Reslating of roof Start August 1997 2747), or to Professor R C A White, Charles Wilson Building Extension to coffee shop July-September 1997 Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the Part internal redecoration July-September 1997 Equal Opportunities Committee (ext 2323). 108 Regent Road External redecoration June-July 1997 3/5 Salisbury Road External redecoration July-August 1997 7/9 Salisbury Road External redecoration July-August 1997 Sports Hall, Manor Road External redecoration August-September 1997 GRADUATE Vaughan College External redecoration July-September 1997 REUNIONS 161 Welford Road Redecoration of areas occupied by The forthcoming London Reunion is doctors’ practice June-September 1997 to be held at the RAF Club, Piccadilly, Northampton - 6/12 on the evening of Thursday 19 June. Leicester Parade Alterations and upgrading June-September 1997 August sees a gathering of graduates Beaumont Hall Upgrade including rewiring, ensuite from the 1940s, with lunch and an evening meal on Wednesday 13 facilities to 84 bedrooms, 12 study August in the University’s Charles bedrooms for disabled students and Wilson Building. general improvements June-September 1997 The Annual Reunion in Leicester is Charnwood Cottage External redecoration being held on Saturday 20 September September 1997 Internal redecoration ] - a special invitation goes out to Glenfield General Hospital graduates of Stamford Hall and graduates of the years 1978-82. - Clinical Sciences Wing Internal redecoration June-September 1997 For details on any of the above events, please contact Peter Allen on 252 2195, or Abi Skeggs on 252 2931. 34 NOTICES

PRESS COVERAGE FOR GRADUATING DATES FOR YOUR DIARY STUDENTS

After graduation ceremonies (to which the media is invited), the Press & EVENTS ARE ALSO LISTED ON CWIS Alumni Relations Office sends out details of graduating students to the local JUNE THURSDAY JUNE 12 Press across the UK. However, it is very useful if the Press & Alumni University Library Public Lecture: Relations Office can be alerted to matters that may be of interest to the SUNDAY JUNE 6 Connectivity, Content and media. These are often the so-called ‘human interest’ stories, e.g.: Siobhan Davies Dance Company: Competences. Margaret Haines, Siobhan Davies will introduce two Principal Advisor, Library and • achievements in the face of difficult circumstances works, White Man Sleeps (1988) and Information Commission. 5.30 pm. • stories about members of the same family/different Lecture Theatre 2, New Building. Bank (1997) in a Studio Performance generations getting degrees (without costumes and sets). 7.00pm. • exceptional results by a candidate The Richard Attenborough Centre. For WEDNESDAY JUNE 18 ticket details, telephone 0116 252 2455. Lunchtime Concert: Philip Herbert and • unusual/groundbreaking research topics Anthony Pither. Piano duet. Music by • exceptional achievements by international students SUNDAY JUNE 8 Schubert, Brahms and Debussy. 12.45 Jubilee Bike Ride. Further details from pm. Richard Attenborough Centre. Photographs of groups of international students at graduation - Admission free. Manor Road Sports Hall - Telephone particularly by country of origin - are also welcome. 0116 271 9144. THURSDAY JUNE 19 The names of students together with a contact number (if available) TUESDAY JUNE 10 The Frank May Prize Lecture: Like should be sent to Ather Mirza, Press & Alumni Relations Office. The Inaugural Lecture: ‘Take an Aspirin’: Father Like Son: The Era of Molecular consent of students selected for public relations purposes will be sought. Salicylates, Signalling and Cell Suicide in Cardiology. Dr N J Samani, Senior Plant Defence. Professor J Draper, Lecturer in Cardiology and Honorary Botany. 5.15 pm. Lecture Theatre 1, Consultant Cardiologist. 5.00 pm. UNPREDICTABLE The New Building. Lecture Theatre 1, Maurice Shock Medical Sciences Building. Reception in The outcome of the Politics Department staff sweepstake on the THURS/FRI/SAT 12, 13, 14 JUNE the Foyer after the Lecture. Open to recent General Election results may amuse Bulletin readers. Entrants the public and free. University Theatre joint production had to predict the number of seats to be won by Conservatives, with Lancaster Boys’ School and Labour, Liberal Democrats and Others, as well as the size of the SATURDAY JUNE 21 Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I overall winning majority. Evening Concert: Cantamici, conducted College. Alan Bennett’s ‘Forty The academic members of the Department were soundly beaten by by Phillip Gilbert. The programme Years On’. Further details from the Departmental Executive Secretary, Renie Lewis, who not only 0116 252 2416. Tickets from the includes Britten’s Flower Songs, came closest to getting the majority right, but predicted precisely the University Bookshop. spirituals, opera choruses and folk songs, together with Bernstein’s Best of number of Labour seats (418)! WEDNESDAY JUNE 11 all Possible Worlds and Kosma’s Autumn Leaves. 7.30 pm. Fraser Noble Building. Lunchtime Concert: Proteus Chamber Tickets: £5 (£4). Orchestra. Daniel Heard & Ewen Bell (clarinets) conducted by Anthony Pither. TUESDAY JUNE 24 Krommer Double Clarinet Concerto in E flat major, Op.35. Beethoven Evening Concert: Nettle & Markham Symphony No. 8 in F major. 12.45 pm (piano duo). Music by Mozart, Open Air or Charles Wilson Building, Schumann, Brahms, Walton, Ravel, KPMG 10th Floor. Admission free. Berstein, Milhaud, Coates, and Grainger. 7.30 pm. Richard Attenborough WEDNESDAY JUNE 11 Centre. Tickets £10 (concessions £7.50). Telephone 0116 252 2455. TAX AND Evening Concert: Proteus Chamber Orchestra with members of the JULY PERSONAL FINANCIAL University Choral Society and Singers, conducted by Anthony Pither. Haydn MONDAY JULY 7 - FRIDAY ADVISORY SESSIONS Te Deum “Marie Thérèse”; Krommer JULY 11 Double Clarinet Concerto, Opus 35; Degree Congregations - Leicester and Beethoven Symphony No. 8 in F major. Northampton. 7.30 pm. Sutton-in-the Elms Baptist Church. Tickets: £3.50 (£2.50). FREE INITIAL ADVICE is available on Proceeds to The Laura Centre. personal tax, investment planning and any area of personal finance. ACADEMIC OFFICE Temporary staff are required in the Academic Office for the following periods: Post 1: Higher Degrees Office - full-time from 23 June to mid For an appointment at KPMG October. telephone David Norman on 0116 256 6000 Post 2: Registry - full-time from 4 August to mid October. Post 3: Admissions - full-time from 4 August to 19 September. Post 4: Admissions - full-time from 4 August to 29 August. KPMG - Accounts and Business Advisers Posts 5,6,7,8,9,10: Registry/Higher Degrees Office - up to 6 full-time from 6 Peat House, 1 Waterloo Way, Leicester LE1 6LP October - 17 October. Applications in writing to include CV, giving details of post applied for, dates of availability, plus dates of any holiday booked, to Registry, Academic Office by KPMG Friday 13 June 1997. KPMG is a trading name of KPMG Peat Marwick which is authorised by the Institute of Charted Accountants in England and Wales to carry on investment business.

35 Bulletin competitions are open to all readers except those involved in its production. Entries on photocopied paper please. Only one entry per person. CROSSWORD

PRIZE CROSSWORD 15 by Seivador A THREE-COURSE LUNCH FOR TWO IN THE CARVERY WILL BE AWARDED TO THE SENDER OF THE FIRST CORRECT ENTRY PICKED IN THE DRAW.

1 2 3 4 5 6 Clues Across 1. Unseen quality of Herbert George’s man (12) 7 8. Direction of the reaction? (5) 9. See the old poet who made harness (7) 8 9 10. ‘Grocer’ finally defeated (3) 11. When disturbed, loves to do crossword (5) 10 12. Ed’s opinions expressed here, and bosses’ (7) 11 12 13 14 15. Perhaps King in play, or overthrown (5) 17. Legally without a function (4) 15 16 18. Namely a sailor breaks strike (4) 19. True male domain (5) 17 18 22. Beg Eric to prepare the lettuce (7) 23. Repeated a profit (5) 19 20 21 24. Scoff, in theatrical language (3) 25. Light, with nothing on, is ‘skittish’ (7) 22 23 27. Affair I should extract e.g. from Limerick (5) 24 28. Wife’s girl may be pert, and hugs date (12)

25 26 27 Clues Down 1. Is terrible, is terribly overpowering (12) 2. Unofficial cop dispatches evil giant! (9) 3. The dog does pose a problem (6) 28 4. How to go with Enterprise! (6) 5. Peacock’s earlier form was of particular value (6) 6. Kit’s dad’s test coming up (3) PRIZE CROSSWORD 14 SOLUTION 7. Pass over lawyer for neutral member (12) 13. Peer into rear light (4) Across: 1 Crambo. 5 Apache. 9 Ounce. 10 Bursar. 11 Ethics. 12 14. Sacrament his curate could purvey (9) Scandalmonger. 16 Thy. 17 Ere. 18 Ninth. 19 Fad. 21 Eta. 23 16. Surplus deliveries (4) Epiphenomen. 24 Campus. 26 Schism. 27 Sepia. 28 Dulcet. 29 Pliers. 19. Require coupon-filling to make good (6) Down: 1 Cubist. 2 Airway. 3 Boardinghouse. 4 Our. 5 Ace. 6 20. Things to do - and badly after time (6) Petrochemical. 7 Cringe. 8 Ensure. 13 Cheap. 14 Linen. 15 Erato. 19 21. Periodical embraces can, and union (6) Fenced. 20 Dismal. 21 Endive. 22 Animus. 25 Set. 26 Sip. 26. Kit’s dad’s come up with witticism (3)

WINNER OF PRIZE CROSSWORD 14 Rita Denton, University Bookshop

PRIZE GIVEN BY LEICESTER UNIVERSITY CATERING SERVICES Entries in a sealed envelope - clearly marked PRIZE CROSSWORD COMPETITION, C/O LUSU RECEPTION, PERCY GEE BUILDING BY NO LATER THAN NOON ON FRIDAY 20 JUNE. NAME: ______DEPT: ______EXT. NO: ______

EYE SPY COMPETITION DEPARTMENTAL STAFF COMMON ROOM A corner of the campus is captured by a photographer from the ASSOCIATION Central Photographic Unit. Don’t be negative, try to identify its TRIP TO PARIS - “THE ROMANTIC CITY” location and send in an entry to Barbara Whiteman, Press & Alumni Relations, by Friday 20 June to secure your chance of winning a £10 From Friday 8 August - Sunday 10 August, a trip to Paris, organised by book token. A draw from correct entries determines the winner. the Departmental Staff Common Room Association, will take in a sightseeing tour of the capital and a visit to Versailles. The party will WINNER OF LAST MONTH’S EYE SPY COMPETITION: be staying at Hotel Ibis in Paris after a Dover-Calais crossing, returning Simon Marlow, Porter, Fielding Johnson Building via the Le Havre-Portsmouth ferry. An optional tour to Disneyland is Last month’s photo featured the light over the main entrance of the offered at a cost of £30 per person, including entrance. The cost of Fielding Johnson Building. this trip is £99, inclusive of two nights’ bed and breakfast, ferry and tours. For further details, telephone Chris Day (Engineering) on 2565.

36