The Summer Issue 2014 WELCOME

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THE MAGAZINE OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON The Summer Issue 2014 WELCOME |

summer 2014 From the President & Rector inside ➜ issue 39 It has been an enormous privilege to lead Imperial College London since January 2010. Staff • Editor-in-Chief: Tom Miller (Biology 1995) • Creative Director: Beth Elzer • Editor-at-Large and Features Editor: Natasha Martineau (MSc Science Communication 1994) One of the most rewarding 28 • News Editor: Laura Gallagher and enjoyable aspects of my • Managing Editor: Pamela Agar role has been meeting Imperial • Sub Editor: Tess O’Neill alumni and supporters. In all 24 Feature • Distribution: Elizabeth Swift those I meet, whether at the CATALYST FOR CHANGE • Designers: Beth Elzer, annual Imperial Festival in Chemistry alumnus Les Ebdon Abby Lloyd-Pack South Kensington, or at one of discusses his career and • Contributors: Jessica Adams, our many alumni events around life at the head of the Georgia Bergson, Andrew the world (see p32), three strong Office of Fair Access Czyzewski, Caroline Davis, feelings consistently come John-Paul Jones, Simon Levey, across: a sense of connection, 28 Picture this Dominic McDonagh, Maxine pride and optimism about GOT THE BOTTLE? Myers, Maddi O’Brien, Andrew our future. Dip into the competitive Scheuber, Colin Smith, 18 history of the Royal School Elizabeth Swift, Gail Wilson, These feelings unite an of Mines Bottle Match Sam Wong (MSc Science Imperial community which Communication 2009) spans many generations. 30 Going public From alumni in their tenth 3 President & 17 Campus life FRINGE BENEFITS The magazine for Imperial’s decade who remember lectures Rector’s welcome EASTERN PROMISE Explore what happens when friends, supporters and interrupted by Second World Medical student Jia Ying researchers and students get alumni, including former War air raid warnings, to recent A record-breaking 800 alumni from 26 countries joined 4 Inbox Tanoto Lim shares her creative as part of the Imperial students of Imperial College graduates, about to embark on FESTIVAL FUN Sir Keith at the 2014 Imperial Festival and Alumni Reunion. Editorial, letters experiences of being one Fringe programme of events London, the former Charing their careers, every alumnus and contributors of the first students at the Cross and Westminster Medical I have met has a story which Lee Kong Chian School of 32 Good reception School, Royal Postgraduate is a privilege to hear. The sum 6 What’s on Medicine in Singapore Alumni, friends, supporters Medical School, St Mary’s of those stories is nothing less The College has a compelling On a personal level, my family and I will take and staff at College events Hospital Medical School than the reputation of Imperial. future ahead of it. Imperial away many fond memories of College life 7 In brief 18 Feature around the world and Wye College. West offers an opportunity beyond the core academic activities for which Spotlight on recent events WHO DIES OF THE FLU? Imperial is one of the few truly unprecedented in the College’s Imperial is renowned. My wife Rita and I and discoveries Two people catch the same 34 Alter ego Subscriptions global universities: around the recent history to create were honoured that the College Choir and flu virus: one dies, and the PITCH PERFECT If you would like to subscribe world you will find a growing a new and innovative Symphony Orchestra performed at my leaving 14 Technique other doesn’t even get sick. Members of Imperial’s to Imperial magazine please presence of Imperial and its environment for research, event. Other highlights of my time at Imperial GLASS ACT Catch up with what we a capella group test their voices email imperialmagazine alumni networks. I am proud education and translation. include the annual Varsity rugby game where Imperial’s resident scientific learnt from the 2009–2011 in the Centre for Bio-Inspired @imperial.ac.uk to have been at the College to Our vision for Imperial West is I never cease to be amazed by the ability glassblower drives chemistry pandemic Technology’s anechoic chamber witness this period of increased taking shape at a thrilling pace. of Imperial students to combine sporting research forward Online international presence, such Last summer we seized the excellence with academic achievement. 22 Behind the scenes 35 Obituaries www.imperial.ac.uk/ as the Lee Kong Chian School opportunity to increase 15 Travel TALL ORDER imperialmagazine of Medicine in Singapore and our landholding at this new From September 2014, I join the distinguished FUEL FOR THOUGHT Chemical Engineering 36 In memoriam greatly increased collaborations campus to 25 acres. In two ranks of the Imperial alumni community. I will Brazilian research associate students get their hands Published by the Communications in China, India, Brazil, and years’ time, the campus’ flagship watch the College progress with great interest Alexandre Strapasson on on the College’s £2 million 38 Alumni dispatches and Public Affairs Division. Malaysia to name a few. Research & Translation Hub from the sidelines and I hope you will, like global thinking for bioenergy Carbon Capture Pilot Plant [email protected] will open, bringing together me, keep in touch, stay connected and carry research Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints industrialists, entrepreneurs on being brilliant ambassadors and supporters expressed by authors in Imperial and researchers to co-locate of this great university. 16 Careering ahead magazine do not necessarily reflect with our academics. THE CUTTING EDGE those of the College. Best wishes, Meet Mechanical Engineering Furthermore, the generosity alumnus Roubi L’Roubi, No part of Imperial magazine of Michael Uren OBE and his bespoke tailor to the glitterati, may be reproduced in any form Foundation will enable the at his Savile Row studios without permission. College to create a pioneering ©Imperial College London 2014 biomedical engineering centre GAME CHANGER at Imperial West. I hope that SIR KEITH O’NIONS FRS is President & Rector of Imperial ON THE COVER Alumnus Michael Uren this is the first of many headline College London. He is a geologist who has worked at Oxford, Grab your pencil and complete OBE donated £40 million projects which will pave the Cambridge and Columbia Universities, and has served the UK the maze illustration by artist to transform biomedical way for the College to grow for government as Chief Scientific Advisor to the Ministry of Defence, Kyler Martz 16 engineering research generations to come. and as former Director-General of the Research Councils. PHOTOGRAPHY: (FLU) SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; (RSM TEAM) WILL TURNER; (PATTERNS) LAYTON THOMPSON LAYTON TURNER; (PATTERNS) WILL TEAM) LIBRARY; (RSM SCIENCE PHOTO (FLU) PHOTOGRAPHY: ANGUS THOMAS (FESTIVAL) ANGUS; THOMAS (UREN) FINN-KELCEY; MIKE (RECTOR) PHOTOS:

Sorry to say the story under Theta’s “last EXPLOSIVE SCIENCE violated” is incorrect. I was part of the Looking at the Queen’s Tower reminds me dynamic bearer duo with Bob Leman on the that in 1965, I viewed it as a place we might fateful evening in 1991. Steve Dorman was emulate a “high” strain rate metal compres- part of the team defending Theta and was sion apparatus then at Oxford where they unfortunately run over before Bob, Theta dropped weights beside a lift shaft. It turned and I left the Union. Being a resourceful out that I could get much higher rates using pair Bob and I took Theta on the next bus to detonators and a gun, and located them in Hammersmith and it remained inviolate! A a disused rail tunnel that went under the lucky escape for all but Steve. Theta did visit Royal School of Mines. him in hospital the next day, have a look When we first visited the tunnels, we FROM THE EDITOR through the Felix archive for a photo. found apparently normal light bulbs and The whole thing sparked a root and connected then up. The bulbs all exploded branch review of Mascotry chaired by Zoe, — perhaps from an era when a lower voltage Ahoy there! the ICU President at the time, and set me on was used! the path to succeeding her in the role. I once paced As this edition lands I hope all Imperial out the point in readers have some holiday refreshment CHRIS DAVIDSON the tunnel that close to hand. Like miners with a lot of (Physics 1994) we used and did bottle (p28) we aim to help you reach the same outside, the parts other universities can’t. We’ve Read more memories and share your own at finding that where got tattoo artist Kyler Martz inking this www.imperial.ac.uk/mascots we exploded over summer’s cover, featuring Sir Keith and the 300 detonators ‘Imperial Amaze-Whale’. It’s for future the INBOX was under Prince FACEBOOK COMMENT Imperial alumni and the puzzler in us all. REMEMBERING FELIX Consort Road. And as we say a fond farewell to Felix Weinberg, FRS was Emeritus We closed the door In my days as a student at Sir Keith, we also prepare to welcome Professor of Combustion Physics at to the tunnel and the RSM (1957–60) the RSMU Professor Alice Gast to the Imperial family COMPETITIVE SPIRIT A lunchtime expedition was launched to Imperial until the time of his death in not much was heard in the main building. had a purloined Michelin Man as (p9) from September. In our last issue, we asked for your retrieve it. Somehow, a large number of December 2012. His story — Boy 30529: Then the geology department set up a creep a Mascot, appropriately named On dry land in May, over 12,000 joined tales of Imperial’s mascots us entering, buying drinks and standing A Memoir — recounts his childhood machine in the adjacent tunnel and they “Mitch”, in honour of Professor in the third Festival and Reunion weekend. in front of the bar, to defend if necessary, in concentration camps and on forced did notice! We stored our detonators in a J C Micheson, the then Dean of Many met Professor Peter Openshaw and Given that there was a bunch of seemed to raise no suspicions. marches during the war. But the story in safe under the watchful eye of the CID. the Royal School of Mines. our brilliant researchers behind Debora students in RCS who claimed (quietly) Suddenly, the SWAT team burst the book stops with his arrival in England He was sometimes known as Mackenzie’s flu detective story (p19). that they could get into any room in any through the door into the serving area, as a 16 year old, for whom any schooling DR NIGEL FITZPATRICK “the orange juice Dean” in Back on the high seas, a little bit of building at IC, it could be thought of as snatched the spanner and rushed out. was a distant memory. That he, from this (Metallurgy 1965, PhD 1968) recognition of his sober Imperial came to South East Asia and China naive for RSM Union officials to think We all innocently joined in with the distinctly unpromising beginning, would bonhomie. For one year, I held in July. Many old friends reconnected at that the Davy Lamp was safe in the natives wondering what had just had go on to achieve an FRS and a Professorship, Editor’s comments ➜ See more tales from the tunnels the office of “Keeper of Mitch”. these alumni reunions, but with a 21st RSM Union office. happened, supped up, and returned to constitutes another, currently untold, story. and share your own at www.imperial.ac.uk/tunnels Mitch was never violated — century twist. In Hangzhou, an Imperial Once we had it, we filled it with South Ken. Job done. Some of us, who were his research students, the RSM yielded to no-one, then WeChat social media group formed spon- cement and painted it wonderful want to explore and document this part and now — but when we carried taneously. Within 30 minutes most in the RCS colours and laid a trail of clues. MIKE PELLATT of his life. CORRECTION him from the RSM building to room had joined in. One of the clues was stuck to the inside (Electrical Engineering 1976) We’d really like to hear from alumni We would like to apologise for posting Exhibition Road one day via Two days later, 200 Beijing alumni of Big Ben, the big bronze bell at the who worked with, and have memories the demise of Mr Ivan Hiscox (MSc Earth the interior of the connected watched a video about the new Imperial top of the Clock Tower at the Houses The best security feature for Mike when of Felix during half century from 1960 Resources Engineering 1995) in the City and Guilds building, West campus. They greeted it with applause of Parliament. However, RSM were I was President was the tendency of to his death. previous issue’s In Memoriam. This was an it was a close run thing. and laughter. Applause for the College’s clueless and ended up having to pay a the lifts in the Union building to break error caused by incorrectly labelled returned JIM PLATT ambition. ‘The most exciting and important ransom to charity to the get the now- down. Bouncing him down the stairs DR BILL AFFLECK mail. Imperial magazine is pleased to advise (Mining 1960) thing for Imperial since merging with medi- much-heavier Davy Lamp back. tends to attract too much attention and (PhD Chemistry 1962) Ivan considers himself in rude good health ➜ ‘Like us’ at www.facebook.com/ cine 25 years ago,’ said one afterwards. But a nasty bill… and was touched by the all concern! imperialcollegelondon laughter? This was unexpected. RALPH CORNFORTH Editor’s response ➜ If you would like to contribute, Then theWeChat app began to ping. (Physics 1967) DR ASHLEY BROWN email us at [email protected] Alumni were posting pictures of the video (Computing 2005, PhD 2009) as London’s Mayor Boris Johnson was Sometime during my time in EE speaking. Professor Yike Guo (PhD (1973–76) a (presumably replica) Computing 1993), Director of the Data spanner was spotted behind one of the Science Institute, translated from Mandarin. UCL bars. No-one seemed to know SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ▸ This is so cool. where it came from or how it got there. Since we relaunched Imperial magazine, we’ve featured By post to • Alumni Office, SALC Mezzanine, ▸ ▸ What is he saying? SHARE YOUR the College’s beloved mascots and the fierce rivalries Level 5 Sherfield Building, South Kensington ▸ I don’t know, I’m just watching his hair! STORIES OF between them. We’ve explored the subterranean world of the Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK We look forward to bringing you the full, WE’RE TWEETING! STUDENT tunnels under campus, enjoying the brilliant memories of our alumni By email • [email protected] serious and exciting story of Imperial West, PRANKS who found their way around them when they were students. Now we want By online comment • www.imperial.ac.uk/ in Issue 40. to share some of the best student pranks from the College’s history! imperialmagazine #ImpCol President Sir Keith O’Nions From Morphy Day to RAG week antics, we want to hear all about your best TOM MILLER cuts Queen’s Tower cake to mark hijinks. Email tales and photographs to [email protected] (Biology 1995) his forthcoming retirement and we’ll send you a limited edition t-shirt as a reward (while supplies last). @IMPERIALCOLLEGE ➜ + ONLINE EXTRA: Watch the new Imperial West video at For inspiration, watch a cheeky video of flying pie mayhem at the 1979 Morphy Day Battle at Putney: http://tiny.cc/f4odix bit.ly/imperial-west-update ➜ Doing something brilliant? Tell us about it at @ImperialCollege or @ImperialSpark PHOTOGRAPHY: (TOM MILLER) MARTIN BEDDALL; (MASCTOS) DAVE GUTTRIDGE/THE PHOTOGRAPHIC UNIT; (RECTOR WITH CAKE) THOMAS ANGUS; (MICHELIN MAN) JIM PLATT JIM MAN) (MICHELIN ANGUS; THOMAS CAKE) WITH (RECTOR UNIT; PHOTOGRAPHIC GUTTRIDGE/THE DAVE (MASCTOS) BEDDALL; MARTIN MILLER) (TOM PHOTOGRAPHY:

4 | IMPERIAL | SUMMER 2014 SUMMER 2014 | IMPERIAL | 5 WHAT’S

UNDERGRADUATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING OPEN DAY 20 September Prospective undergraduates in brief ON and their parents are invited to find out more about studying at Imperial at our next Open Day. EVENTS + DISCOVERIES Guests can visit our departments, explore our accommodation and speak to staff and current students. Find out more at: www.imperial.ac.uk/visit/ ugopenday/september POSTGRADUATE OPEN DAY There she ERWIN SCHRÖDINGER 10 December LECTURE Our Postgraduate Open Day 12 November is for anyone who is interested blows in taking their education to the Professor Serge next level at Imperial – whether Haroche of the College through a taught Master’s YOU DON’T NEED JEFF GOLDBLUM de France, joint winner or research course. All of TO MAKE A GREAT MOVIE ABOUT of the 2012 Nobel Prize our departments will have A FLY – A FILM BY IMPERIAL in Physics, will deliver information stands and RESEARCHERS TAKES US INSIDE the 27th Annual opportunities to visit. Find out A LIVE BLOWFLY IN FLIGHT, Schrödinger Lecture. more at: www.imperial.ac.uk/ USING HIGH-SPEED X-RAYS. visit/pgopenday Autumn sees yet another class IMPERIAL VISITS YOU Various dates internationally of bright minds cross the stage Keep an eye on the College’s 22 of the historic Royal Albert Hall alumni website for details OCTOBER for Commemoration Day — of reunions and special events SIR ERNST CHAIN around the world as they are where graduands formally become LECTURE confirmed:www.imperial.ac.uk/ graduates, joining a 170,000-strong 13 November alumni/events global alumni community. Imperial did not become

Professor Michael Members of Imperial staff also one of the world’s great universities by letting its Levitt from Stanford make regular student recruitment students off lightly. Studying at Imperial requires University, joint visits overseas, and in many remarkable intellectual prowess, hard work and recipient of the cases make arrangements to 2013 Nobel Prize in meet prospective students creative thinking. Our graduates have truly excelled A BLOWFLY WALKS INTO Chemistry, will present on these trips. See the calendar in these abilities, and their efforts will be rewarded A BAR AND ASKS: this year’s lecture on of global recruitment events “IS THAT STOOL TAKEN?” the modelling the at www.imperial.ac.uk/ by the exciting and distinguished careers on which molecules of life. international/prospective/visit they will soon embark. Congratulations!

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE In the time that esearchers from Imperial and the University of Oxford have developed Tap into the big ideas Talk nerdy to me Prick up your ears it takes a human to blink, a blowfly can beat a technique for filming inside a bluebottle, or blowfly, while it is beating its Stay up to speed with Imperial’s cutting edge Join our vibrant online community — be the first Get the headlines through your headphones. its wings 50 times, controlling each wing beat wings. By rotating the flies in a dedicated setup at the Swiss Light Source, research and the latest thinking by catching up to know about Imperial news and events and tell Download the Imperial podcast for research using numerous tiny steering muscles — a powerful x-ray facility, they reconstructed the 3D layout of the power and with our lectures online. Download talks, explore us what you think. Get in on the action online by straight from our scientists and news from some as thin as a human hair. steering muscles in flight, giving insights into how the fly performs aerial the archive, watch interviews with top researchers talking to our Research Communications group around campus, presented by Gareth Mitchell feats. The work is part of a project by Dr Holger Krapp (Bioengineering) and his team to and more: on Twitter: of the BBC World Service and Imperial’s PIN HEAD The study aims to uncover how the fly controls its sophisticated flight engine Runderstand how flies have evolved into such agile acrobats. The researchers have also Science Communication Group: www.youtube.com/imperialcollegevideo @ImperialSpark using the signals from different sensors uncovered how nerves in the fly’s body help it to maintain a level gaze during intense www.imperial.ac.uk/media/podcasts and a brain no larger than a pin head. manoeuvres without the need for energy-sapping brain computations. Their work could help with the design of new micromechanical devices and miniature unmanned 300 MILLION YEARS A fly’s wing hinge is one of the most complex joints in nature, aerial vehicles that attempt to mimic flies’ aerial skills. ➜ For more details on Imperial College events and to sign up to receive the e-Bulletin every fortnight, visit: www.imperial.ac.uk/events and has been refined over more than 300 million years of evolution. + ONLINE EXTRA: Watch a video of the fly muscles in action at bit.ly/imperialflyfilm PHOTOGRAPHY: (SERGE HAROCHE) NOBEL FOUNDATION 2012 PHOTO: ULLA MONTAN; (MICHAEL LEVITT) ALEXANDER MAHMOUD. NOBEL FOUNDATION 2013; (COMMEMORATION) THOMAS ANGUS. THOMAS (COMMEMORATION) 2013; FOUNDATION NOBEL MAHMOUD. ALEXANDER LEVITT) (MICHAEL MONTAN; ULLA PHOTO: 2012 FOUNDATION NOBEL HAROCHE) (SERGE PHOTOGRAPHY:

6 | IMPERIAL | SUMMER 2014 SUMMER 2014 | IMPERIAL | 7 Alumnus SNAPSHOT Welcoming donates £40m Alice Gast

mperial is to build a pioneering Alice P Gast Ibiomedical engineering centre thanks succeeds Sir Keith to an unprecedented £40m gift from TIP TOP O’Nions as 16th Michael Uren OBE and his Foundation. The American Institute The donation will support the of Chemical Engineers President of Imperial construction of the Michael Uren named Professor Gast College London this In effect, what we Biomedical Engineering Research Hub at as one of the September. are creating here is Imperial West. This will house life-changing ‘top 100 engineers of a new Silicon Valley research that advances new affordable the modern era’. A distinguished London, which is medical technology, helping people affected chemical engineer, bound to succeed.” by a diverse range of medical conditions. Professor Gast was President of Lehigh —Michael Uren OBE Imperial’s world-class engineers, scientists and clinicians will work together University from 2006 to 2014, and held in the new space and facilities alongside GLOBAL CITIZEN senior roles at MIT and Stanford before that. spin-out companies, helping to create a vibrant Professor Gast became innovation district. The Hub will also incorporate Can statins slow a US Science Envoy At Lehigh, Professor Gast concluded an clinical areas, providing patients with direct the progression of in 2010, advising the unprecedented $550 million fundraising access to innovations in healthcare. White House, campaign, oversaw a 47% increase in the The building and its location will cement multiple sclerosis? State Department and Imperial and the UK’s position as world scientific community. university’s estate, and greater integration leaders in biomedical engineering research between undergraduate and postgraduate and application. Doctors hoping for a treatment teaching and research. President Sir Keith O’Nions said: that can abate the advanced “Imperial is profoundly grateful to Michael Uren stages of multiple sclerosis “I have always been excited by what goes and his Foundation for this remarkable gift, (MS) may already have one on at Imperial, one of the world’s greatest the most generous it has ever received.” in their medicine cabinets. BOARD SERVICE scientific universities,” said Professor Gast on Michael Uren (Mechanical Engineering, Statins, which millions Professor Gast has 1943) founded Civil and Marine Ltd which take daily to lower cholesterol, been actively involved her appointment. “With its unique focus on became one of the UK’s foremost innovators appear to have a beneficial in a number of science, engineering, medicine and business, in cement manufacture. His previous support impact in patients with prominent organisa- and its integrated mission to teach, research for Imperial includes funding for the College’s secondary progressive MS, tions including the and translate its work for the benefit of society, MSk Lab, which focuses on joint disease and according to findings American Association the surgery needed to restore function. from Imperial. for the Advancement Imperial has a great leadership role in the In a two-year clinical of Science, the US world. I am therefore deeply honoured by this trial involving 140 patients, National Research opportunity to serve as its President.” simvastatin was found to Council, the New slow brain shrinkage, which York Academy of As President, Professor Gast will lead the is thought to contribute Science, the Council College’s strategy, including the development HEALTH STUDY Babies born by caesarean section are more likely to patients’ impairments. on Competitiveness of Imperial West, and links to government, to be overweight or obese as adults, according to Supporting this finding, and the Academic analysis by Imperial researchers. patients on simvastatin Research Council of industry, philanthropists and alumni. Imperial’s Heavy After combining data from 15 studies with over 1 in 4 births achieved better scores Singapore. She is a Provost, Professor James Stirling, focuses on the 38,000 participants, they found that the odds of being Approximately one in three to on movement tests and Director of Chevron College’s core academic mission of education, labour overweight or obese are 26 per cent higher for caesarean four births in England are by questionnaires that assess Corporation. babies than those born by vaginal delivery. Caesarean caesarean section today. disability than patients research and translation. babies have a higher BMI by half a unit on average. taking a placebo. The researchers said they couldn’t be sure that higher “At the moment, we don’t body weight was caused by caesarean delivery: the 26% have anything that can stop association might be explained by other factors that Increased odds of being patients from becoming more Idle strands weren’t recorded in the data they analysed. But there overweight or obese for adults disabled once MS reaches the We need to are plausible mechanisms that could explain the link. born by c-section than those progressive phase,” said Dr UNEMPLOYMENT MAY ACCELERATE AGEING OF DNA IN MEN understand the long- One is that the method of delivery influences the born by vaginal delivery. Richard Nicholas (Medicine), term outcomes in types of healthy bacteria in the baby’s gut, which can who featured in the cover story Telomeres, which buffer the ends of chromosomes ➜ Short telomeres order to provide the have broad effects on health. Also, the compression of the last edition of Imperial. and protect genetic material from being are linked to higher best advice to women of the baby during vaginal birth may influence “Discovering that statins can degraded, get shorter over a person’s lifetime. risk of age-related who are considering which genes are switched on, and this could help slow that deterioration When researchers from Imperial and the diseases such caesarean delivery” have a long-term effect on metabolism. is quite a surprise. University of Oulu studied telomere length as type 2 diabetes —study author Some previous studies have suggested that “We need to do a bigger in 31-year-old men, they found that those and heart disease. Professor Neena Modi the odds of other conditions, such asthma study with more patients, who had been unemployed for two of the (Medicine) and type-1 diabetes, are higher in children possibly starting in the earlier preceding three years were more than twice born by caesarean. phase of the disease, to fully as likely to have short telomeres compared establish how effective it is.” to men who were continuously employed. PHOTOGRAPHY: (GAST) THOMAS ANGUS THOMAS (GAST) PHOTOGRAPHY: PHOTOGRAPHY: (IMPERIAL WEST) WADSWORTH 3D/PLP ARCHITECTURE; (NEENA MODI) LAYTON THOMPSON LAYTON MODI) (NEENA ARCHITECTURE; 3D/PLP WADSWORTH WEST) (IMPERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY:

8 | IMPERIAL | SUMMER 2014 SUMMER 2014 | IMPERIAL | 9 A case of the munchies SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT VISITS Some of the bunnies bouncing around Imperial’s $ Park Geun-hye, President of the Silwood Park campus have been offsetting nitrogen Republic of Korea, addressed leading pollution and helping to halt biodiversity loss figures from science, industry and while they eat their greens. government at Imperial in November 2013, when the College hosted a With continued use of fertilisers and increased burning of fossil landmark science and innovation event The world’s two leading experts on financial The Brevan fuels, the amount of nitrogen travelling through ecosystems has as part of her visit to the UK. During her Two contagion will head Imperial’s new Brevan Howard Centre will doubled over the past 50 years. Good news for crops that use tour of Imperial, President Park viewed Howard Centre for Financial Analysis. make our financial nitrogen for growth; bad news for plants on the forest floor that an ‘invisibility cloak’, demonstrating heads Frequent collaborators, Professors system work better struggle to find light as bigger plants flourish, and bad news the potential of metamaterial Franklin Allen and Douglas Gale are and make financial for the wider ecosystem. technology, and witnessed a live renowned for their pioneering research into policy much wiser. But rabbits have come to the rescue at Silwood Park, surgical simulation. financial crises and market contagion – that is, when relatively I have no doubt where Professor Mick Crawley (Life Sciences) let the local bunny President Park said: “It gives me small shocks in financial institutions spread and grow, severely that it will make population loose on test sites of grassland, as part of a global study. great pleasure that we have gathered damaging the wider economy. profoundly important He and his fellow scientists demonstrated that increasing the number at the world-renowned Imperial College The new centre has been launched thanks to a £20.1 contributions to the of herbivores in an area, so that they can eat some of the flourishing London – famous for its cutting edge million donation. The gift comes from Brevan Howard, discourse on global growth, can increase light levels and promote biodiversity. Where research in science and technology – the world’s third largest hedge fund, at the behest of its finance.” there were no herbivores present, this caused substantial loss together with scientists, businessmen co-founder Alan Howard, an Imperial alumnus (MEng Larry Summers, former of plant biodiversity over a period of three years. and experts from the UK and Korea Chemical Engineering & Chemical Technology 1986). US Treasury Secretary Professor Crawley said: “Silwood’s wild rabbits are a vital part to discuss the future of the of the campus landscape. They’re so prolific here that we can only creative economy.” grow plants that they don’t like, because otherwise they eat their INTRODUCING hungry way through everything. + ONLINE EXTRA: Watch the Korean herbivores to certain President hailing UK science at Imperial at “In our study, our long-eared neighbours helped to demonstrate areas could make a bit.ly/imperial-korea that the relatively simple measure of introducing herbivores to difference to reducing certain areas can make a difference to biodiversity. We hope biodiversity loss. that ultimately this strategy could be widely adopted as part of conservation efforts.” ELECTRIC AVENUE: 7.5% OF BRITAIN’S ELECTRICITY IS GENERATED BY WIND POWER

LONG WINDED ON THE RADAR PRINCE HARRY OPENS BLAST CENTRE Meanwhile, Wind turbines can remain productive HRH Prince Harry paid a visit to for up to 25 years, making wind farms a the universe Imperial in October 2013, to officially keeps on open the Royal British Legion Centre good long-term choice for energy investors, for Blast Injury Studies (CBIS). Funded according to a Business School study. expanding… by the Royal British Legion, Imperial College and the Ministry of Defence, Researchers carried out a comprehensive Recapping some LAKE PLACID NEW WAVE A LONG TIME AGO... the CBIS aims to mitigate damage and analysis of the UK’s fleet of wind turbines, recent discoveries to develop and advance treatment, using local wind speed data from NASA. from that great pie There was once an ancient The European Space Agency An Imperial-led team has rehabilitation and recovery for people in the sky lake on Mars that may have will launch a space mission discovered four galaxy clusters with blast injuries. Prince Harry said: They showed that the turbines will last about been home to simple life in 2034 to study the universe billions of light years from “This issue affects people on a global 25 years before they need to be upgraded, forms, according to evidence in a completely new way. Earth. Galaxy clusters are the scale and whilst work at the Centre is blowing away claims that ageing wind farms collected by NASA’s Curiosity Spacecraft situated between most massive objects in the strongly focused on military casualties, rover mission. Analysis by the Sun and the Earth will universe, containing hundreds its findings will no doubt also provide are a bad investment. Some opponents of wind mission researchers, including detect ripples in the fabric to thousands of galaxies significant humanitarian benefits power have argued that turbine technology Imperial’s Professor Sanjeev of space–time, known as bound together by gravity. across the world.” Read more about could need replacing en masse after 10 years. Gupta (Earth Science & gravitational waves, created The light from the most distant the CBIS in Imperial Magazine Engineering), suggests that by celestial objects with of the four clusters has taken Issue 37 (Spring 2012). The team found that the UK’s earliest turbines, there was a calm, freshwater very strong gravity. Imperial over 10 billion years to reach built in the 1990s, are still producing three lake on the Red Planet around researchers and colleagues us, providing a glimpse of + ONLINE EXTRA: View a video and more 3.6 billion years ago, with the elsewhere have been working the universe when it was photographs from Prince Harry’s visit at quarters of their original output after 19 years bit.ly/imperial-cbis right kinds of conditions for for 20 years to get such a a sprightly three billion of operation, nearly twice the amount microbial life. mission off the ground. years old. previously claimed. PHOTOGRAPHY: (IPARK GEUN-HYE) LAYTON THOMPSON; (PRINCE HARRY) THOMAS ANGUS THOMAS HARRY) (PRINCE THOMPSON; LAYTON GEUN-HYE) (IPARK PHOTOGRAPHY: ESA ) (PLANCK ZIB; FOR KOPPITZ M. / PHYSICS GRAVITATIONAL FOR MPI FOR REZZOLLA L. REISSWIG, C. WAVES) (GRAVITATIONAL SCIENCE/AAAS; (MARS) PHOTOGRAPHY:

10 | IMPERIAL | SUMMER 2014 SUMMER 2014 | IMPERIAL | 11 ROBOT BUTLERS! SCI-FI ROBOTS THAT HAVE At your service NOT BEEN SO HELPFUL A step Imperial and Dyson are Ash from Alien It’s a bird…It’s a plane… teaming up to develop Intestellar cleaning skills, but can get It’s a closer better vision and computer messy at dinner time. processing power for robots, 3D-printing A new gene therapy for as part of a new £5 million Parkinson’s disease has lab at the College. Roy from flying robot achieved promising results Blade Runner in its first human tests. The technology will enable Close attention to details on cleaning robots to take visual up loose ends. information and process it in real time, to map and then Bender from navigate the world, which Futurama HOW BIRD SPIT could lead to a range of Loves cooking— INSPIRED THIS he’s your own Iron chef. BRILLIANT IDEA handy robots for the home.

COPYCATS The researchers get their inspiration from Solar panels nature and mimic Fifteen patients have received some of the the treatment, called ProSavin, abilities of birds, reptiles, mammals which uses a modified virus rock and fish to develop their unmanned to deliver three genes into the aerial vehicles and robots. striatum, a part of the brain Listening to music is not just good for that controls movement. the soul, it can actually make solar panels A FLYING The genes are intended to produce more power. FACTORY boost the production of Scientists have shown that solar cells The team were dopamine, a chemical that convert sunlight into electricity much more inspired by becomes deficient in people efficiently if high pitched pop and rock music swiftlets, which with Parkinson’s. is played to them, because of how it makes We were amused mainly live in the The trial participants the cells vibrate. Classical music, which is to find pop and rock Asia–Pacific region. Some species underwent a single operation typically lower pitched, still produced more music rather than he world’s first flying 3D printer spits out foam to build simple structures and carry of swiftlet are like flying factories, to inject the virus into the brain. power output, but not as much. classical increased out repairs from the air, using off-the-shelf parts. Developed by Dr Mirko Kovac building nests made entirely from Their scores on movement tests This discovery makes it possible to power their efficiency.” (Aeronautics) and colleagues, the robot has four blades and its underbelly contains their own saliva. improved on average by 30 per a wider range of devices with solar energy —Professor James Durrant two canisters of chemicals that create polyurethane foam when mixed, as well as a cent, and they also reported than at present, as scientists can improve printing module. The team that designed the robot hope it could ultimately be used SWARM-BOTS having a better quality of life. the efficiency of solar cells using ambient, Tfor repairs and construction in hostile environments. For example, it could patch up damaged The researchers The first patients to have the or background, noise present in many offshore wind farms in remote, hard-to-reach locations or perhaps seal up leaks in nuclear predict that their surgery have now been followed environments. power plants. Additionally, the texture of the polymer exuded from the 3D printer allows it to flying robots up for four years, and the They found that by if solar cells are covered create grippers that stick onto objects, making them transportable. This means that the flying could potentially effect has been sustained. with zinc oxide, blasting beats similar to the robot could be used to pick up and remove bombs, or dispose of hazardous materials like work together in The treatment has been safe, noise of an office printer is all that is needed radioactive waste from crippled reactors – without exposing humans to danger. swarms, just like insects do, which with no serious adverse effects. to significantly improve the performance would make them more efficient at “I’m very pleased that it of a solar cell. + ONLINE EXTRA: Watch a video from New Scientist of Mirko Kovac, Aerial Robotics Lab Director, explain how the building and repairing machinery. next generation of drones is being influenced by insects and birds: bit.ly/flying3dprinter has appeared to work in the clinic,” said Professor Nicholas Mazarakis (Medicine), who

developed ProSavin with the CURIOUSLY DISCO WAS NOT biopharmaceutical company TESTED AS PART OF Oxford BioMedica. “It needs THIS STUDY... BURNING QUESTION to be done in more people; we Elsewhere on campus, a group of Imperial undergraduates and researchers has turned have to find the most effective to 3D printing to help people get their heads around tricky theoretical concepts in physics. dose, to further increase efficacy, In just eight hours, using a commercially available 3D printer, they created an object based and prove beyond doubt that on a mathematical model that describes how forest fires can be started and how they spread this is not a placebo effect.” over time. The team believes the approach could be used to produce works of art based on science, or transform the way that ideas and concepts are presented and discussed + ONLINE EXTRA: Watch a video of a participant in the trial describing how within the scientific community. her condition improved after receiving the therapy bit.ly/parkinsons-trial PHOTOGRAPHY: (DRONE) THOMAS ANGUS; (SWIFLET) LIP KEY YAP; (3D FIRE) THE PHOTOGRAPHIC UNIT/DAVE GUTTRIDGE UNIT/DAVE PHOTOGRAPHIC THE FIRE) (3D YAP; KEY LIP (SWIFLET) ANGUS; THOMAS (DRONE) PHOTOGRAPHY: SAVAGE AARON (LEGO) PHOTOGRAPHY: DETWILER; TODD (ROBOTS) ILLUSTRATION:

Glass act

Brazil is a leader in biofuels, particularly for its sugarcane-based ethanol programme. ➜ Hidden away on the seventh floor of the Department of Chemistry, looking out over the Queen’s Tower, is Stephen Ramsey’s glassblowing with a love for literature. Discussing books bioenergy policy making, I also missed workshop. The view out of the Fuel for thought and news at home was an important part the science vibe that comes from being window is obscured by abstract of my childhood. based at a university. In the first instance sculptures: solid cones of finely I grew up with a passion for science, I tried to compensate for this by taking ground glass; a chain made by as well as a keen interest in debating undergraduate evening classes in physics forming links of molten glass; international and local issues. I have as a hobby, but eventually realised I and a hollow glass horse, frozen Brazil has been hitting recent international ended up combining these approaches needed to resume my academic journey, mid-gallop — blown by Ramsey headlines more for sport than science. by working at the interface between and made the decision to move Imperial during his apprenticeship. Imperial magazine straightens out the science and policy. Influencing policy is for a PhD. Yet, Ramsey isn’t an artist, though balance by catching up with globe-trotting the best way to provide more democratic Imperial’s support for interesting he has worked with many. He is a bioenergy research associate Alexandre access to energy sources, income, and connections inspired me to set up the scientific glassblower making and Strapasson. environmental services. College’s Brazil Forum in 2011, to bring mending the bevy of glassware Brazil is a leader in biofuels, together colleagues across Imperial to required to keep the department ➜ IN 2010 I MOVED TO LONDON FROM particularly for its sugarcane-based work on issues related to Brazil. The running, and repairing the more BRAZIL to carry out research at Imperial ethanol programme. I first got interested Forum was born out of a wish to create complicated pieces of apparatus, into bioenergy and the behaviour of in bioenergy because it represents so opportunities to generate new and such as Schlenk lines, which complex systems. My wife Manoela is much more than an energy resource: it is interesting collaborations, rather than any are essential to air-free reaction also studying in London, and even our a significant driver of rural development particular sense of patriotism. chemistry. As chemist Dr Andrew ginger cat Mimo came with us across the in developing countries, and a key route The list of partnerships with links Ashley observes: “Glass blowing is Atlantic. I am based at the College’s Centre for reducing carbon emissions worldwide. to Imperial and Brazil is growing. In absolutely essential and improves the for Environmental Policy, and affiliated to While working in Brazil I became especially addition to my own area of bioenergy, scientific output from an institution.” the Energy Futures Lab, and the Grantham interested in collaborations between South collaborations include work in aeronautics, Ramsey exemplifies the importance Institute for Climate Change. The cross- America and parts of Africa and Asia, theoretical physics and public health. of craft in science, helping to create disciplinary culture at Imperial helps rather than the more common partnerships The signing of a Memorandum of new pieces of glassware that push things connect in surprising ways, which that cross the North-South divide. Understanding with the São Paulo scientific research forwards — making appeals to my approach to work. I like the idea of living as a nomad, Research Foundation (FAPESP) in 2013 special prototypes in collaboration I was born during the military but please do not ask our cat about that, resulted in significant matched seed with scientists. According to dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964 because he hates travelling! I retain very funding for up to five new collaborative Stephen Hodge, a Chemistry PhD to 1985, in the city of Curitiba in southern strong connections with the country where research projects. who has worked with Ramsey, these Brazil. My parents are descendants of I was born, but I need to work in different Through the support of BG Group, the allow scientists to explore new Italian immigrants, who left everything cultures to develop a proper international College recently launched the Sustainable avenues and do more intricate things. behind in search of hope in unknown perspective. As we all know, issues Gas Institute, with a particular focus on The chemists have the ideas, but rural lands. My mother has always been like land use, energy and food security partners in Brazil, to further research into new designs would remain just a dynamic person, and recently finished transcend country borders. gas innovation, energy efficiency, and dreams without Ramsey. her secondary education more than After training as an agricultural carbon capture and storage. 40 years after she left primary school, engineer in Brazil, I worked and undertook When I left Southern Brazil with a By KATHERINE POWELL, VICTORIA which is a great example of courage and additional studies in France and Japan. knapsack on my back in search of new DRUCE and JOSH HOWGEGO who are determination for me. Before moving to London I worked for the opportunities and interesting thinkers science journalists who finished their Master’s in My father was the only child in his Brazilian Government on the bioenergy all those years ago, I could never have Science Communication at Imperial in 2013. family with access to higher education, agenda for the Ministry of Agriculture, predicted where I would end up. London as his original ambition was to become a and on climate change for the Ministry is a great melting pot for bioenergy Catholic priest. Thankfully he must have of the Environment. research, and continues to provide great given up this idea at some point, because Although I enjoyed being involved opportunities for exploring environmental here I am. But his early training left him directly in climate change negotiations and strategies and sustainable energy futures. PHOTOGRAPHY: THE PHOTOGRAPHIC UNIT/DAVE GUTTRIDGE UNIT/DAVE PHOTOGRAPHIC THE PHOTOGRAPHY: CLARK/INSTITUTE ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY:

to address the other outside influences and circumstances such as living conditions and medication compliance. You can’t IMPERIAL: When did you become interested in design and just assume patients will always take their THE CUTTING EDGE how did you get to where you are now? medicine, which I think as students you ROUBI L’ROUBI: I’ve always had an appreciation for form, take for granted. As bespoke tailor to the glitterati, Roubi L’Roubi colour and design in general. But I was certainly inspired by my We were also fortunate in being able to (Mechanical Engineering 1992) draws on lessons from personal tutor at Imperial, Dr Paul Ewing – who ran an industrial perform cardiac ultrasound on a simulated Imperial to stay ahead of the curve design course with the Royal College of Art. He was quite a sharp patient during one of our lab practicals. dresser himself; always in a bow tie. From Imperial I went straight We had to learn how best to orientate the on to manage a lighting company that sold 20th century design probe to get different views of the heart classics, from Le Corbusier to Georg Jensen, then onto managing in order to see the valves opening and Joseph Ettedgui’s couture houses in South Kensington and Sloane the chambers contracting. To be able to Street – where I caught the fashion bug. Then there was a point visualise the heart as more than a static 2D at which I thought: ‘OK, I really appreciate design, so why not image in our textbooks is so helpful. become a designer?’ I went into partnership with designer Tomasz I was also struck by one of the Starzewski on Sloane Street and there I learnt my trade on the simulated surgery sessions we sat in on at cutting table – on the job, so to speak. Tan Tock Seng Hospital. It was intended IMPERIAL: Queen Victoria, Winston Churchill and Clark Gable are to show what happens in the aftermath of among the luminaries to have worn Huntsman over the years. a stabbing or puncture wound and how Where are you going with the brand now? to deal with the associated haemorrhage L’ROUBI: We’re taking product development to another level. and shock in the patient. It was interest- When I arrived, it was completely manual and the tailors would ing to see how the doctors and nurses cut patterns for each individual client. Now, we’re using computer work together in that emergency scenario, aided design – the only company doing this on Savile Row. Still, constantly asking questions of one another. you can’t replace the human touch: we first make the patterns by That will be us, sooner than we think. hand then model them computationally to ensure they will work as a three-dimensional piece. It’s actually more creative because TRENDSETTERS the traditions set limitations and parameters on the final design. Being the first cohort of students in I’m also working on a system to automate the client scheduling a brand new medical school has its process – at any one time we might have 500 suits in progress. advantages and disadvantages. There’s no It’s actually a direct application of my final year project at Imperial mentorship from our elder peers or junior on production control management. doctors who have been through the school. IMPERIAL: What’s your relationship with your clients like? But we don’t feel like orphans – there’s L’ROUBI: I always compare it to being a private doctor – sometimes plenty of support! I just get a little too much personal information! In certain cases Plus we get to decide the new people are extremely confident but you realise when you start traditions of LKCMedicine and see the dressing them that it’s just a façade. You do develop friendships culture of the school grow. We set up the and contacts for life, and that’s lovely. Eastern promise LKCMedicine Society, which helped IMPERIAL: Any high profile clients you can talk about? with the decoration and furnishings of L’ROUBI: Not current clients, no. But I did dress Margaret Thatcher Being among the first students at a new medical school the student lounges at the Mandalay and when she was going to the Reagan memorial – the last time in Singapore is an exciting journey into the unknown, Yunnan Campuses, where we often eat she had a suit made. My sister pointed out that apart from her says Jia Ying Tanoto Lim. lunch together. husband, no one had seen Thatcher like I had. Through the Society we’ve also done IMPERIAL: Any projects aside from running the business? some community activities such as singing L’ROUBI: I recently designed the wardrobe for a film on the life People often ask me why I decided to offered things other medical schools didn’t, Chinese New Year songs to patients at of Nina Simone. I spent a long time researching and I had to become a doctor; if there was a pivotal like early clinical exposure and simulated Tan Tock Seng Hospital. We’re currently study five decades, going from the freedom movement in the US experience or defining moment that surgery. Plus, LKCMedicine was set up exploring overseas volunteering opportu- up to the 1980s. It was incredible to see how clothes were worn convinced me this was the path I wanted by Nanyang Technology University and nities with St Andrew’s Cathedral to help to communicate different things – political views, civil rights, or to take. Imperial College London, in part to address with their monthly missions to Batam music. Every decade had its way of dressing that reflected the But for me there was no real epiphany the medical needs of Singapore’s growing (Indonesia), providing primary healthcare challenges or the dynamics of the society at that time. — just a growing feeling that this was what elderly population, so that fits nicely with to the villagers. IMPERIAL: What are the style hallmarks of this era? I wanted to do, as I gathered experience my own philosophy. We’ve also decided to create a house L’ROUBI: It’s quite neutral and austere, perhaps reflecting the volunteering and learned more about credits system, where the five houses challenging times we’re in. If you look at the world leaders, the anatomy and biology at college. I particu- AT THE DEEP END compete in friendly games such captain’s most popular suit today is the same navy blue single breasted suit larly enjoyed working at a nearby nursing We only started at the School in August ball (a popular game in Asia similar to – what I call a ‘Prime Minister suit’. It’s almost that people don’t home for the elderly. I really enjoyed talking 2013 but already, nine months in, we’ve spent basketball), soccer and we even have a want to distinguish themselves; they want to be neutral, sober, to the residents and listening to their time at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital — the planned cookery competition coming up. less flamboyant. stories. Many of them were really happy, busiest accident and emergency department Occasionally we’ll invite the staff to OFFCUTS IMPERIAL: What’s the hardest part of your job? content in the wisdom of their later years, in the country. It was the sole treatment play or join in with us, which is fun and L’ROUBI: Managing clients’ expectations. Fabrics naturally hang and with so much still to contribute. But of centre for the SARS epidemic that struck interesting to see them out of the class- OCCUPATION THE JOURNEY SHOP DECORATION and move – they are materials. When you move, it moves and course some of them were in poor physical the country in 2003, so there’s an awful lot room. I think they enjoy it too. It’s all quite Co-Owner and Learned the trade Two red deer stag creases and crumples; it’s a garment and that’s how it behaves. health and I didn’t know how to deal with we can learn just by observing and following. new for them as well and we’re all on this Creative Director with legendary heads, “Derek and I always say ‘it’s not a building, it’s not a structure, it’s fluid’, their medical needs properly. We shadowed doctors in the general journey together. of Huntsman designers Joseph Clive” left behind in but communicating that can be a challenge. I think because of my experience there, medicine department, learning how tuber- (est. 1849, Royal Ettedgui and 1921 by a customer + ONLINE EXTRA: Peek inside the Huntsman studios and see some of Roubi’s work at I definitely I favoured a more hands-on culosis spreads. You begin to realise that Based on an interview with JIA YING TANOTO Warrant 1865) Tomasz Starzewski “on his way to lunch” bit.ly/imperial-cutting-edge approach, so LKCMedicine seemed like the there’s much more to medicine than just the LIM, who is studying for an MBBS at Lee Kong natural choice when it came to applying. It biological disease and symptoms, you have Chian School of Medicine. PHOTOGRAPHY: LAYTON THOMPSON LAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY: FLECK DAVID ILLUSTRATION:

16 | IMPERIAL | SUMMER 2014 SUMMER 2014 | IMPERIAL | 17 WHO DIES OF THE FLU?

Flu: everyone’s had it, and had it again. The virus rarely means more than a temporary inconvenience – except sometimes, when it kills. Why? Researchers at Imperial have led an unprecedented bid to find out.

WORDS BY DEBORA MACKENZIE • ART BY CRAIG ALAN

18 | IMPERIAL | SUMMER 2014 SUMMER 2014 | IMPERIAL | 19 samples from people hospitalised with the for outbreaks like this,” says Peter. biggest study ever made. It showed what genes were turned on and new flu, to see what made them unlucky. As a result, the UK has invented a off by different patients during the infection, and how the virus’s The plan was to recruit several hundred new concept in research management: genes changed over time – and it uncovered some real surprises. hospitalised patients. To get that many hibernation. Eight research projects Jake was Clinical Research Fellow for the study. Mostly, he before the pandemic wave or waves ended, totalling more than £3 million and designed recalls, that meant racing across London between hospitals and they would have to work at several hospitals. to track and understand a pandemic as laboratories with a special secure container for patient samples on E’VE ALL BEEN THERE. You get that achy feeling, bit of a Medical staff would record what other it is happening are now being designed, his bicycle – the fastest way to get them through the London traffic. chill, a cough. Not to panic, it’s probably just the flu. It will be conditions they had that affect flu, their approved, and organised. They range from “The hard bit was cycling in the snow.” For eight weeks he got four over in a few days. symptoms, treatments, and final outcomes. assessing the effectiveness of treatments and TWO hours’ sleep a night. But sometimes it isn’t. The yearly winter flu epidemic And they would take samples: blood, the virus’s spread, to managing overstretched PERFECTLY “We had to refine procedures as we went along,” says Jake, kills 200,000–500,000 people worldwide. Most are very nose and lung fluids, urine and faeces, both hospitals and communicating with the for instance asking nurses to record patient weight and height elderly. But every now and then a new strain of flu virus early and late in the disease and, with luck, public. They will now wait – hibernate – HEALTHY more routinely so the effect of obesity on severity could be tracked. appears, to which many younger people have no immunity. after recovery. The samples would undergo until the next pandemic strikes. PEOPLE CATCH “One legacy of MOSAIC is that we will be better prepared to do This is a flu pandemic – and one circled the world in 2009. a host of analyses for viruses and bacteria, Back in 2009, MOSAIC had other outbreak research the next time.” It is thought to have killed 200,000 people worldwide that year. It initially hit immune reactions, gene sequences from problems. Nine hospitals, in London and THE SAME FLU In fact Jake and Peter are now part of a global research the UK in two waves, in June and October, killing 474 people. In England alone patient and virus – even patients’ messenger Liverpool, were involved, and each one VIRUS. ONE consortium, called ISARIC, and a European network called it is estimated to have put 7,879 people in hospital, 1,700 of them in intensive RNA – to see what genes were turned on or needed different paperwork. Navigating PREPARE, working to develop standard protocols for doing this care. The same virus hit Britain again during the winter flu season of 2010–2011, off as they fought the infection. such obstacles is an everyday job for Mary DIES WHILE kind of investigation anywhere. “As long as we all get the same killing 602. In England 8,797 ended up in hospital, 2,200 in intensive care. Studies like this, combining data from Cross, a research manager at Imperial. Even THE OTHER standard, core clinical data and get the samples in the freezer, we can At the peak of that outbreak, one in five UK intensive care beds was symptoms and from genes in individual so, in its dash to capture the pandemic analyse them later, pool data, and really dissect a disease,” says Jake. occupied by flu patients fighting for their lives. In the three waves that hit people, are surprisingly rare: clinicians and before it was over, MOSAIC encountered DOESN’T EVEN For MOSAIC, that analysis has now yielded a clutch of research Britain between 2009 and 2011, eight in ten of those who died were under 65; virologists often inhabit different worlds. obstacles no one had realised were there. GET SICK. publications to be published later in 2014. One exciting result 107 were under 15. It is just such a divide that the Centre for The procedures required before the has already come out. Researchers at the Sanger Institute near “I’ve never seen anything like it,” says Dr Jake Dunning, a researcher and Respiratory Infections was meant to bridge. MOSAIC recruiting team could start asking HOW ARE THEY Cambridge discovered that a gene called IFITM3 codes for a protein clinician working at the St Mary’s campus, who graduated in Medicine from But first, they had to get their funding. patients to take part were different at each DIFFERENT?” that helps mice fight off the flu virus. The MOSAIC team looked Imperial in 2001. “There were so many people in their 30s and 40s in intensive The proposal led by Peter was called hospital. Some required staff to be tested at their severely ill patients – and sure enough, they were nearly care.” Conditions including asthma, or being obese or pregnant, can make Mechanisms of Severe Acute Influenza for the antibiotic-resistant bacteria MRSA 20 times more likely than the British public generally to carry a flu worse – but frighteningly, says Jake, around a third of the severe cases of Consortium, MOSAIC, and it was the most before they could work there collecting mutation of IFITM3 that didn’t fight flu so well. pandemic flu had no obvious reason to be so sick. ambitious project proposed at the funder’s samples; some didn’t. A ‘research passport’ But the final answer to the question of why some people And yet at the same time, research also partly done at Imperial has found meeting that day. “Initially there was some meant to allow researchers at any hospital become severely ill with flu and some don’t even have a cough that three-quarters of the people who caught that same virus never knew it: scepticism,” he says. In the end MOSAIC access to any other was not, it turned out, must involve more than that one gene. “It will turn out to be a they didn’t even get symptoms. So, two perfectly healthy people can catch exactly was granted £2.7 million by the Wellcome recognised by all hospitals. Approvals that combination of unfortunate events,” says Peter. “The particular virus, the same flu virus, and one dies while the other doesn’t even get sick. How are Trust. “At first we had only a restricted were supposed to take 48 hours took weeks. the patient’s genes and immune response, maybe the bacteria that they different? It’s a question that matters for people caring for themselves and budget for 12 months, I guess because they There has been some improvement are also present.” their families, and it also matters to governments planning for pandemics. thought we might not be able to do it.” since MOSAIC, says Mary. Research That’s hard to untangle even from exhaustive data on sick people, In April 2009, Professor Peter Openshaw, head of Imperial’s Centre for He understands the trepidation. The approvals by hospitals are now more says Jake. But, he says, MOSAIC is being analysed with a clear focus Respiratory Infection – which had begun operating just that year – realised there beast they were studying wasn’t waiting standardised, and in theory work during a on how it might improve the way patients are treated. was a once in a lifetime chance to answer that question. Reports of a nasty new around: the first wave of the pandemic was severe pandemic will be excused from some For example, it might give us a way to find people who are most flu were coming out of Mexico. Everything pointed to it becoming the first flu over in July. A study this big normally takes of the requirements. at risk and prioritise them for pandemic vaccines or antiviral drugs. pandemic since 1968. a year to organise. The grant proposal went In 2009, she says, “we were working It may show us how to counter the unhelpful immune responses that It was frightening – no one knew how bad it might be. “Remember how to the Wellcome Trust in late April. It got an around the clock”. Besides the administrative can do much of the damage in flu, or how to shore up some people’s uncertain we all were,” says Peter. “There were early reports of very severe cases. unprecedented fast-track through scientific nightmares, there was the simple, physical faulty defences, perhaps via the IFITM3 protein. We might learn We didn’t know if this was The Big One.” A flu pandemic can be quite mild, review and ethical approvals, and the grant job of putting the right sample tubes, swabs, how to boost immune reactions that limit the severity of disease even or it can be like the one in 1918 that killed 1 to 2 per cent of those infected – was awarded in a record six months. gloves and other equipment in bags for if we can’t prevent infection. We might learn which bacteria in our or maybe even worse. Normally that would be when managers nurses to use with the next day’s patients. lungs are most likely to attack us the minute our defences are lowered But it was also an opportunity to learn how to defend ourselves, by turning started hiring staff, but MOSAIC had Although a senior administrator, Mary put by a flu virus, and devise ways to stop them. the big guns of modern medical research on a flu pandemic for the first time. already been getting people and permissions in late nights helping clinical staff fill the “MOSAIC allowed us to put the whole picture together – In particular, says Peter, it can be easier to pick apart what makes some people in place for months. The first patient was bags. “It was all hands on deck.” the patient’s genes, the pathogen, the other pathogens that co-infect sicker than others during a pandemic rather than in normal flu seasons. The latter recruited in December. But studying a pandemic is, by with it – and that’s never been done before,” says Jake. involve several flu viruses, to which people have differing previous exposures and And then the second wave of the definition, entering the unknown. “Usually But perhaps as important, it showed us how to do medical immunity, which affects whether and how badly they fall ill. But in a pandemic, pandemic ended. It seemed like all the rush you know how frequent a disease is, so you science in a new way, as Peter puts it, “in the teeth of a pandemic”. many have no immunity to the new virus at all. had been for nothing. A few patients were know how many hospitals over how much Besides teaching us about flu, MOSAIC revealed much about our “We had a chance to see what happened with one infection operating in recruited and studied. But then the virus time you need to work in, to recruit enough systems for regulating research, and how those must evolve to let relatively virgin territory,” says Peter. With variations in viruses and immunity struck again the following winter, and the patients,” says Mary. No one knew that for us grapple with the next pandemic. The doctors, researchers and reduced, the inbuilt differences between people that determine who gets severely funders let the project continue. In the end, the 2009 pandemic. administrators who made it happen all hope those lessons will be ill might stand out. two-thirds of MOSAIC’s subjects came In the end, MOSAIC recruited 255 learned in time.  “Peter rang round different labs asking what studies we could do if this thing from that ‘third wave’. If the UK had not patients with suspected flu, of whom kicked off,” says Jake. Meanwhile the big UK research funding agencies – the had one – and many countries didn’t – only 172 actually had flu and not some Medical Research Council, the Department of Health, and the Wellcome Trust MOSAIC would have started too late to other cause of flu symptoms. In terms of DEBORA MACKENZIE is a science journalist who writes regularly for New Scientist – called a meeting to discuss what research might be needed to face a pandemic. learn much. The lesson for future outbreaks? linking immune signalling chemicals called and other publications. She specialises in writing about infectious disease, arms control, Peter proposed a collaborative effort to record medical histories and analyse “The process was fast, but not fast enough cytokines to severity, says Peter, it is the food production and complexity.

FOUR STOREYS HIGH

➜ SENSOR AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Some of the world’s most advanced equipment for monitoring and controlling chemical processes is being trialled, including 250 sensors for monitoring conditions in the plant. Some sensors are wireless while others are powered by excess energy harvested from the plant. There are also four surveillance cameras, enabling students to monitor any aspect of the facility in real-time.

➜ PLANT POWER The Carbon Capture Pilot Plant is situated in the core of the building that is home to the Department of Chemical Engineering. The pilot plant demonstrates how a power station could capture carbon dioxide emissions, separating 1.2 tonnes of CO2 per day from other gases in a continuous process that sees them separated and remixed again and again. The principles behind running this plant can also be applied to TALL other industrial facilities, giving students valuable hands-on experience before they enter ORDER the workforce. IMPERIAL’S £2 MILLION CARBON CAPTURE PILOT ➜ REMOTE CONTROL Students can also dial-in to the PLANT IS THE MOST SOPHISTICATED OF ITS KIND plant control system using their IN AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION WORLDWIDE. iPads to monitor and operate the plant remotely. The idea is for undergraduates to learn THE REALLY COOL THING about this four-storey how engineers in the future will high pilot plant of the future is that it provides a unique be able work offsite and still hands-on education experience for the College’s communicate with staff to undergraduate chemical engineers, who can actually solve problems. run it themselves in a controlled and safe environment. The plant uses the latest communication, computing and sensing technology provided by the + ONLINE EXTRA: Take a behind the scenes tour with TV presenter Robert power and automation technology company, ABB. Llewellyn as he chats with Dr Daryl Williams, Imperial academics expect to train more than Project Manager of the Pilot Plant, about the 8,000 undergraduates during the plant’s predicted meaning of carbon capture and why it is an important weapon against climate change. 25-year lifespan. bitly.com/imperial-pilot-plant

PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVE GUTTRIDGE, THE PHOTOGRAPHIC UNIT SUMMER 2014 | IMPERIAL | 23 ➾ PROFILE INTERVIEW CATALYST FOR CHANGE: THE CHEMIST BEHIND FAIR ACCESS

As admission for disadvantaged students to university continues to dominate debate in higher education, Imperial magazine catches up with alumnus Professor Les Ebdon, who became Director of Fair Access to Higher Education in February 2012.

WORDS BY IAN MUNDELL ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID DESPAU

24 | IMPERIAL | SUMMER 2014 SUMMER 2014 | IMPERIAL | 25 of a poor relation, but actually that suited me. I work of which he had limited experience up to particularly good shape at the time. But This is one of two sanctions Ebdon best when there is something to prove.” that point. I thought it was somewhere I could put can apply to institutions, the other being to The choice also played to his strengths in practical But in 1972 Uganda’s leader, something back.” recommend a fine if commitments are not s soon as Les Ebdon chemistry and a certain feeling about the future. “I have Idi Amin, expelled the country’s Asian Under his management, the honoured. Speaking to MPs he referred to was proposed as a a strong strategic sense and I realised that analytical community. “That radically changed the university’s turnover rose from £38 it as “the nuclear option”, a phrase seized candidate to lead the chemistry was going to come up very quickly. And so university, because many of the people million to £134 million. Research income upon by his opponents in the press. Now it has proved. I never regretted the decision.” who would have come on the Masters trebled and student numbers rose from he is more cautious. “Perhaps I should Office for Fair Access The questions he is now asked about the difference programme were Asian,” Ebdon recalls. under 10,000 to over 25,000. It also say there is only a monkey wrench, there (OFFA) in 2011, between his background and that of his contemporaries “It changed the nature of the country, and changed name, becoming the University are no small spanners,” he jokes. “But the journalists, MPs and other people at Imperial did occupy his mind when he first arrived on of course brought the British and Ugandan of Bedfordshire in 2006 when it took biggest tool we have is persuasion involved in education policy the campus. The student body in the 1960s seemed very governments into direct conflict.” over the Bedford campus of De Montfort and negotiation.” started to ask about his own different from the present situation where nearly 65% With family concerns weighing on top University. “I think we are still regarded So far OFFA has not had to use experience of going to university. of first-degree undergraduates come from state schools. of the political uncertainties of remaining as a case study of how to rebrand a the monkey wrench. “It comes very close OFFA’s mission is to ensure that “It was a much bigger jump than I thought in Uganda, Ebdon started to look for a university,” Ebdon says. every year, there’s no question about that,” it would be,” he says. “I went there expecting other chance to return to England. The offer He announced his retirement in he says. “The longer I go without refusing English universities and colleges people to be similar to me, only to discover that nearly of a post as senior lecturer in analytical 2011, at which point he was approached one, the more people might say I’ve given charging higher tuition fees also all of them had been either to fee-paying schools chemistry at Sheffield City Polytechnic to become director of OFFA. Once again, in and am no longer standing by the work to attract students from or direct grant schools, which existed in those days. was a godsend. As well as teaching, he this was a role in which Ebdon felt he could principles I set out when I took the job. disadvantaged backgrounds. And nearly all of them had done a third year sixth and immediately took steps to get his research give something back to higher education. And that’s certainly not true.” So, what kind of student had were much better equipped in mathematics than I was. career going again. “That’s an Imperial “I knew what access and wider participation Instead, the higher education Ebdon been, back in the 1960s? I’d only done pure mathematics, and therefore I had legacy,” he observes. “I’ve always had this was all about, and I was passionate about it sector is very cooperative when it comes to learn applied mathematics quite quickly.” drive to engage personally in research and because of my own personal experience.” to widening access. “We have a generation His background did have its compensations, though. an expectation that others would too.” Before ministers confirmed his of university vice-chancellors, many of “They were nearly all boys who had been educated in His background also helped open the appointment, he had to endure a minor them like me first-generation students He grew up on a corporation estate, attended single-sex schools,” he says, before pausing to measure way to new research collaborations. “Local media storm when a House of Commons from non-traditional backgrounds, and Hemel Hempstead Grammar School and was the his words. “Not all of them were well-equipped with industrialists knew some of the work that committee declined to endorse his can- they get it,” he says. “The other group first of his family even to think of going to university. social skills.” had been going on at Imperial and talked to didacy. While an uncomfortable initiation, who get it are those who have had The attitude among his peers was that it was “not for the This initial feeling of difference was soon pushed me about the possibility of applying it, and this experience has not cast a shadow. experience in the United States, where likes of us”. Yet he aimed high and applied to Imperial. aside by the excitement of living in London in the 1960s that’s when I switched from being a pure social mobility is taken for granted.” This experience fits the role perfectly, although and the distractions of university life. He edited Felix, analytical chemist – if you can ever be such While Ebdon cannot comment on the Ebdon has now told the story so many times that it has Imperial’s student newspaper, and chaired societies: a thing – to being a more applied one.” performance of individual institutions, he worn smooth. Speaking a year and a half in to his mandate, “I got involved in things.” But in his present role, He worked on coal and steel analyses, I THINK THAT’S THE ROLE appreciates the position of his old college. in the spartan office he uses when in London rather than it does come back to him. and the newer area of environmental OF A FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITY “Imperial faces a real challenge, not only at OFFA’s Bristol headquarters, he goes through it again “I learned just how nervous and disoriented you can chemistry. “In Sheffield there were LIKE IMPERIAL. IT’S NOT JUST because it is highly selective but because with good grace, but not much enthusiasm. He becomes be when you go up to university, and how important it is some very interesting pollution scenarios TO RECRUIT TO IMPERIAL, it is highly selective in STEM subjects more animated when the conversation turns to chemistry, for institutions to be welcoming and friendly, particularly that we began to look at,” he recalls. BUT TO RAISE THE NUMBER OF [Science, Technology, Engineering and the reason he wanted to go to university in the first place. to non-traditional students,” he says. “That would have “That moved me into the environmental PEOPLE GOING INTO SCIENCE, Mathematics],” he says. “We also know “I think I chose chemistry because I liked explosions made a lot of difference to me and to people from similar field and prepared me for the next step, ENGINEERING AND MEDICINE. that medicine is one of the most difficult and colour changes,” he recalls. “In chemistry you can backgrounds. I remember one guy left at the end of the which was going down to Plymouth, areas in which to broaden access.” see what’s happening, in physics you can’t.” first week. It was too much of a culture shock for him.” where there was no industry but there Yet he also sees London as fertile Crucially, his school did more than just put on Towards the end of his undergraduate studies, was plenty of environment.” ground. “At one time schools in London a show with science. “I had an excellent grounding in Ebdon was still thinking of an industrial career. Then one At Plymouth Polytechnic he became a were seen to be a bit of a disaster area, practical chemistry before I went to Imperial,” he says. company he was talking to mentioned that it also funded professor and later took on administrative and now they are producing the highest “I don’t know if all grammar schools were like that, research studentships, and he started to think of staying responsibilities, ultimately becoming “The difficulty for my opponents rate of students from disadvantaged but it was a marvellous opportunity to have that in academia a little longer. After completing his BSc, in Deputy Vice-Chancellor when is that I’m doing the job with none of groups going on to university.” quality of chemical training.” 1968, he remained at Imperial for a PhD on analytical it was reborn as a university in 1992. the disasters that they said would befall This is why he is pleased to see He chose Imperial for practical and academic reasons. atomic spectroscopy, which he completed in 1971. He stopped teaching, but was careful the nation,” he says. “And we are being Imperial reaching out. “Maybe not “I grew up far enough outside London that I couldn’t be By now he was committed to a research career, to continue his research work. successful. Not only are the numbers of everybody who catches the excitement expected to live at home, but not so far out that I couldn’t but he faced formidable obstacles if he was to do “It kept me grounded, and also applications from disadvantaged students of STEM at an Imperial outreach event get home for the weekend. That seemed to be important. this as an academic. “Chemistry departments were meant that I didn’t have to tell people at record levels, the numbers actually being is going to go to Imperial, but hopefully And Imperial had an outstanding reputation.” trying to downsize in a world where you couldn’t about the expectation to do research,” admitted to the most selective universities they are going to study STEM somewhere,” He already had a strong idea of where a degree make redundancies, so there were just no academic he says. “If the Deputy Vice-Chancellor are improving substantially.” he concludes. “I think that’s the role of a would take him. “I thought I would go into industry as opportunities in the United Kingdom.” was publishing dozens of papers a year Any university or college in England flagship university like Imperial. It’s not a chemist,” he says. “That was my expectation throughout So he looked overseas and found a place as a and pulling in a few million pounds of that wants to charge tuition fees above just to recruit to Imperial, but to raise my undergraduate period.” When the time came to lecturer in chemistry at Makerere University in Uganda. external grants, why were they sitting a certain level has to submit an access the number of people going into science, specialise, he chose analytical chemistry. “I discovered As well as career considerations, he was also motivated by around saying they couldn’t do anything?” agreement to OFFA, setting out its plans engineering and medicine.”  atomic spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasmas, altruism. “I got involved in Third World and development After a further decade of academic for attracting disadvantaged students. and that was really exciting to me.” issues when I was a student, and this seemed to be a work, Ebdon decided that it was time Typically this involves offering bursaries IAN MUNDELL is a journalist specialising in It is not, he agrees, the most glamorous area marvellous opportunity to make a contribution.” for a decisive move into university and conducting outreach work with higher education and research, who divides his time of chemistry. “At Imperial at that time you had Nobel Initially the move seemed to pay off. He was able management, becoming Vice-Chancellor schools. If OFFA thinks these plans are between London and Brussels. A lapsed biochemist, Prize winners in organic chemistry in Sir Derek Barton to recruit research students and lay the groundwork for at the University of Luton. “People were not ambitious enough, it can refuse to he now spends his time studying the metabolic in 1969, and in inorganic chemistry in Sir Geoffrey a Masters programme in analytical chemistry. He also very surprised I took the job at Luton,” endorse the agreement and so prevent the pathways of the body politic. Like Les Ebdon, he was Wilkinson in 1973. Analytical chemistry was a bit discovered that he liked teaching, a side of academic life he recalls, “because it wasn’t in institution charging higher fees. the first person in his family to go to university.

• • • A BRIEF LOOK AT OUR HERITAGE bot·tle match: noun \bä-t l • mach\ A formidable display of unapologetic violence played on a muddy pitch. GOT THE BOTTLE? “The game proved to be very hard indeed… For over a century, the unwavering focus Two CSM players had to be taken off “Just got back from the of the Royal School of Mines has been on “RSM are magic… concussed and one with a broken jaw. a black, battered, metal bottle… #bottlematch and there were CSM are tragic.” Doug McIntosh had to be led off with ten 6 streakers who ended up minutes to go with a twisted ankle.” THE ONLY TIRADE OF VERBAL ABUSE — mud wrestling in the middle The annual gathering of two packs of miners all OF THE MANY FLORID TAUNTS— SUITABLE FOR REPRINT. AS REPORTED IN FELIX, of the pitch at half time!!” began in London one blustery December day 27 FEBRUARY 1981 over a 15-a-side oval ball game. Since 1902, members TWEETED 25 FEBRUARY 2012 of the Royal School of Mines have been meeting their rivals from Cornwall, the Camborne School of Mines, “The hardest almost every year to valiantly face-off at rugby— an English invention that historically has been the non-dirty game that chosen game of Home Nations miners. I have ever played.”

While the very first game finished 1979 RSM PLAYER in an “honourable draw”, the competition—now the second oldest rugby varsity match in the world—grew in prominence each year with both teams vying for the respect and glory of winning. Held alternatively in London and in Falmouth, the game includes waggish subplots and shenanigans as part of the mayhem. This was no exception in 1926 when a group of RSM students ‘acquired’ a 3-foot tall tin bottle from the top of a Bass-Charrington lorry. From that day forward, it has been known as “Due to the long-standing history of “The Bottle Match” with the proud winning team retaining not only the title, but possession of the now the competition and the large number of rather battered and beloved bottle for another year. students and alumni that have

Traditionally held during the month of been part of the Bottle Match, February, the mud-splattered fields are not you don’t feel like you are winning it for the only place the teams challenge each other. yourself or even your team but “It is incredibly important to point out every single failing As time passed, additional sports were added to showcase the diversity of the colleges, and for RSM and its associates from that any CSM player has. Do this in a loud voice and now includes football, mens and ladies hockey, the past 150 years or so.” be incredibly blunt about it. They need to know. squash, golf, netball and basketball. Despite this, Megaphones are a great way of getting your point over.” the winner of the bottle hinges entirely on the outcome of the rugby match, with 2014 seeing RSM SPORTS OFFICER SAMANTHA JONES the bottle retained by our very own miners. (MSCI EARTH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2010) TIPS AS NOTED BY NAT ELLIOTT-GREEN (MSCI EARTH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2013) AND ALEX KARVELAS (MSCI EARTH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2012, MSC 2013)

Age before beauty / Getting blotto / Since the 1950s, players on the Celebrate keeping the bottle where it belongs / Top RSM winning final scores / The beastly results / + ONLINE EXTRA STATS & Royal School of Mines winning side were presented with personal tankards Stop by the Union Bar for a pint and to view the 1998 26–0 Total matches RSM victories CSM victories Draws See a selection of images from past inglorious Established : from Union Corporation/Gencor. This tradition Bottle’s place of honor among the Union’s 1980 24–0 1851 118 46 37 7 Bottle Matches and share your own vivid tales of FACTS Camborne School of Mines continues with the tankards provided by Michael West impressive historic tankard collection. 2012 22–0 the match at: bit.ly/bottle-match and the Mining Journal. 1938 20–8 Note: There are 28 mysterious missing years from the tally… Established : 1888

s the robots returned to their labs at the end of the first Imperial Festival in 2012, the College turnedA its mind to finding ways of engaging the public on a more regular basis. Recognising that no festival is complete without its own fringe, we launched a series of themed monthly research events. These transformed the College’s Main Entrance — the only publicly visible exhibition space on Exhibition Road — into a destination for visitors looking for evening entertainment with a difference. Fringe events also provide staff and students with a platform to pilot ways of connecting public visitors to their research. [  ] YOUR NUMBER’S UP: Over 300 people turned up to the Fringe about big data to find out about what Imperial is doing to address some of the challenges created by the ever-increasing amount of information being generated, such as who owns it, and how should it be stored and used. This Fringe was organised in the run-up to the launch of Imperial’s Data Science Institute. The programme included a tour of the College’s [  ] ARTS EXPERIMENT: computing facilities, and a collaboration with a dance ArtsFest Fringe creates Fringe company to explore how cancer develops as a result of partnerships between errors in our DNA data. Demonstrations about ecology, student societies and finance and astronomy, and a citizen science project researchers, like this to capture real-time data from visitors featured in the mash-up between the interactive exhibits. Music Technology Society, Benefits electrical engineers and their interactive musical tabletop.

[ ] FESTIVE FRINGES: December Fringe events are designed to connect visitors to seasonal research including work related to food, drink, liquids and comets. Displays [  ] OUT AND ABOUT: Imperial’s include an ice-cream-generating public engagement tricycle thermodynamics display, provides an unusual, mobile an entire Christmas dinner platform to connect people with recreated in cake, the messy research. Here, the Mayor of delights of non-Newtonian Kensington and Chelsea finds liquids, and the opportunity to out about solar sails as the trike knit an artery and chat with a takes to the streets to pedal cardiovascular scientist as part [  ] CUTTING CLOSE TO THE BONE: and peddle science to South of the Blood Lines project. We teamed historical samples from the Kensington visitors, as part of a Pathology Museum at Charing Cross Hospital local Celebration of Science. with keyhole surgery demonstrations to help visitors learn more about their bones. The programme included opportunities to sample a range of chocolate bars to illustrate symptoms of brittle bone disease.

[  ] WHAT MAKES ME ME? An evening on the science of identity proved [  ] MAKE A DATE WITH DISCOVERY: Imperial Fringe events typically attract crowds a fitting way to get to know some of our new neighbours in White City. of 300–500 people over the course of a themed evening to take part in debate, interactive Local businesses, residents and school students were among visitors to experiments and tours of research facilities. Activities are designed to encourage one-on-one the Fringe as it went on tour for the first time to Imperial West. conversations with researchers as well as crowd participation. PHOTOGRAPHY: (MAYOR OF LONDON) ROB MACGLADRIE; (REMAINDER OF PHOTOGRAPHY) THOMAS ANGUS THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY) OF (REMAINDER MACGLADRIE; ROB LONDON) OF (MAYOR PHOTOGRAPHY:

good reception

DELHI

GLOBAL GATHERINGS The network of From Manhattan to Melbourne, Bangalore to Berlin, thousands of alumni plugged into Imperial’s global people is so important – network at scores of special events. in fact it was the friendly SAN environment that drew

FRANCISCO me to Imperial…the support of friends was crucial, and some of

my closest friends now are Imperial alumni. My department was so cool. KUALA Every year lecturers let loose in LUMPUR It is great to have that the Chem Eng Show, with men common thread and dressing as women and even It’s official: Sir Keith is the “huggiest” President & Rector experience.” dancing ‘Gangnam style’. In one in Imperial history as demonstrated by his enthusiastic —Natasha D’Silva (MSc Centre squeeze with 94-year-old Dr Hiralal Patel NEW LOS for Environmental Policy 2010) of the final exams students were MUMBAI YORK KOLKATA allowed to come dressed up– (Mechanical Engineering 1941, PhD Aeronautics 1945) ANGELES I went as Pippi Longstocking, with gravity defying hair.” —Grace Chan (MEng Chemical Engineering 2012) HONOURING GENEROSITY IMPERIAL WEST TAKES OFF DROP IN AND RELAX Researchers, business and government Staff and students from the leaders joined Imperial staff for the launch College thanked the largest of the vision for Imperial West, the College’s Mr Koh Boon Historic new 25 acre research and innovation impact ever gathering of alumni and campus in White City, west London. Global Hwee (Mechanical supporters at the annual academics, industrialists and entrepreneurs Engineering, 1972), will co-locate with Imperial people to create Donor Thank You Event. value from ideas on an unprecedented scale. was on hand in July to formally open the new The event marked a significant fundraising Alumni Visitor Center on the milestone as 2012–13 saw the highest number of individuals donating to Imperial Mayor of London South Kensington Campus. compared to any previous year. More than Boris Johnson channels The Centre offers Imperial’s 4,500 individuals donated to Imperial, I was a student here his inner Harry Potter equating to a 25% increase on 2011–12. and I had a wonderful by trying an invisibility 170,000 alumni across the Sir Keith said: “Those who have benefitted time. When I came cloak Imperial physicists world a welcoming base in from your generosity say thank you.” my education was all are developing using free, and I think that if metamaterials. London where they can enjoy I were coming now I free wi-fi, complimentary just wouldn’t be able refreshments, a lounge area, RACING GREEN REUNITED to stand the thought of debt. I thought it would newspapers and magazines, Engineering alumni, students and staff from SOUND ADVICE a left-luggage service, and a the College’s Racing Green project gathered be quite nice to give a to reminisce about motor-racing and vehicle- helping hand to some Young alumni from Mathematics bookable meeting room. building escapades, while catching up on current students.” and Life Sciences met with current students in October to talk about their Racing Green developments. The project has —Judith Farr (Physics 1962) sparked lifelong passions and swayed career careers so far and their experiences with paths, taking some as far as Formula 1. their current and recent employers.

Crack Open the Pimm’s High Spirits In Bottlematch – March Madness Imperial It was a pleasure…I felt I had ‘paid it forward’ Imperial cruises home to the world’s 2nd oldest varsity Medics trounced College RIVETING in a practical way – something I would recommend victory with the Prince rugby match – the mighty Royal 37–11 to win back the RIVALRIES Albert Challenge Cup School of Mines retained the JPR Williams Cup in front and would do again.” Bottle after a tense draw with of a raucous crowd at —Dr Erika Cule (Life Sciences 2008, MSc 2009, at the Henley Rowing PhD School of Public Health 2013) Regatta in July 2013. the Camborne School of Mines. Twickenham Stoop.

THE TECHTONICS, Imperial’s premier a cappella group, are no strangers to improvised performances — whether busking in Paediatrician Kenneth Hugh-Jones (St Mary’s PITCHPERFECT Portobello Road market, orchestrating ‘flash mob’ marriage proposals Medical School, 1946) pioneered the development or jamming at parties. But they’ve never sung anywhere quite like the of bone marrow transplants for children, saving anechoic chamber in the Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology — a noise hundreds of young lives. free environment used for testing sensors and devices. “Now that was a really interesting experience,” says Dr Eugene Chang (PhD Bioengineering 2014) Kenneth Hugh-Jones, who died in May 2013 who co-founded the group in 2008. “We were doing some harmonies, but it aged 89, led innovations in bone marrow was impossible to hear the person in front of you, because if the sound wave transplants and was paediatrician to Anthony isn’t moving in your direction it just gets stopped dead at those grooved surfaces.” Nolan, whose name was given to the world’s first A cappella in its most basic form involves singing without instrumental accom- bone marrow register. paniment – although many groups use their voices to emulate instruments and Ken, or HJ as he was best known, began his percussion. The Techtonics — whose name is a three-way play on technology, plate medical studies at St Mary’s Medical School in 1941. tectonics and the tonic musical key — have garnered a reputation on the circuit for He was remembered as an exuberant student, once doing adventurous, experimental arrangements. “Imperial has a very wide range of people who permanent injury to his back by jumping off a thirty foot like a diverse range of sounds,” says Eugene. “That’s helped to forge our unique identity sand dune during a post exam holiday. Embarking on his and also draw in new members who are dynamic and interested in trying new things.” career in Poole, Dorset, his subsequent appointments With their debut album Groundbreaker behind them, the group is now taking its sound to included time with the Royal Army Medical Corps the spiritual home of college a cappella with a tour of the US East Coast, this summer. in Palestine and Tripoli before he joined Westminster Children’s Hospital in 1966. + ONLINE EXTRA: See how the Techtonics made one couple’s day in this video: bit.ly/techtonics In 1970 he oversaw the first successful bone Listen to the album at: www.thetechtonics.co.uk/music/albums/groundbreaker/ marrow transplant for immunodeficiency disease in the UK. Transplant techniques were soon extended to the treatment of childhood leukaemia, aplastic anaemia and the inherited blood condition thalassaemia major. Following a decade of discoveries by Ken and his colleagues to advance paediatric bone marrow Dr Kenneth Hugh-Jones (St Mary’s Medical School, 1946) 1923–2013 transplantation, by the 1980s patients with inborn errors of metabolism and other genetic conditions were also benefiting. today supports an active research programme and manages a register containing The success of bone marrow transplantation details of more than 500,000 potential donors, allowing more patients access relies on finding a close match between the tissue type to treatments developed by Ken’s team. of the patient and a donor. In 1974 the mother of one For Ken’s own children growing up, he was the dynamo who taught them of Ken’s patients, Anthony Nolan, identified the pressing outdoor pursuits, in his element organising sailing races with 20 or more Mirror need for a register to match unrelated donors with dinghies on their annual family sojourns in France. Ken’s first wife Denise, also patients requiring transplants, and created the a doctor, died in 1986, and in 1988 he married artist Ruth Heppel. Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Register. Retiring in 1995, Ken became a trustee of the Cogent Trust, a charity Sadly for Anthony no donor could be found and supporting research into bone marrow transplantation. Towards the end of his he died aged 8 in 1979 from the rare blood condition, life he took on the role of warden at his local village church, continuing to direct Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. The Trust bearing his name his considerable energy towards helping others.

In the late 1950s John helped the pioneering Bluebird race car team to design Model career the British Bluebird K7 and CN7 – water and land speed record breakers respectively. In 1946 sixteen-year-old John Stollery Later, he developed the ‘Gun Tunnel’, a (BEng Aeronautics 1951, MSc Aeronautics hyper-sonic wind tunnel that advanced 1952), keen builder of model aeroplanes, understanding of high energy flows, attended an interview for a job with invaluable information during the Cold Aeromodeller Magazine. Describing the War race to produce the fastest aircraft and intricacies of the Wakefield class model facilitate manned space flight. which he’d brought along, John made Spending his latter career at Cranfield such an impression that the editor urged University from 1973, John also served him to go back to school and apply for as Chief of the Ministry of Defence a university place to study Aeronautics. Technology Board. In recent years he again He took the advice and went on to made time to construct and fly model graduate from Imperial with an MSc in aircraft and, ever the experimenter, pursued Professor John Stollery (Aeronautical Aeronautics in 1952 and became Lecturer a new interest in pottery. John died on Engineering 1952) 1930–2013 in Aerodynamics at the College in 1956. 28 June 2013 aged 83. ILLUSTRATIONS: WELLING KIM ILLUSTRATIONS: PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVE GUTTRIDGE/THE PHOTOGRAPHIC UNIT PHOTOGRAPHIC GUTTRIDGE/THE DAVE PHOTOGRAPHY:

Dr Edgar Bendor Dr Michael H.F. Johnson (St Mary’s Dr Michael Roburn (St Mary’s Mr Raymond L. Daniels Mr John Ryding Dr William J. Sherratt (MSc History Miss Maire C. Greene (MSc Civil and In memoriam (PhD Aeronautics 1955) Hospital Medical School 1950) Hospital Medical School 1957) (Chemical Engineering and (Electrical Engineering 1960)* of Science and Technology 1973) Environmental Engineering 2008) Chemical Technology 1961) Mr Nigel K. Benson Mr Bryan L. Jones (Geology 1950) Mrs Susanna Searle (née Mittler) Mr Trevor Scarratt (Metallurgy 1960) Mr Raymond G. Shufflebotham Mr Mo-Bashir G. Idriss (Aeronautics 1953)* (Zoology and Applied Entomology Mr Roger Darwin (Chemistry 1968) (Chemical Engineering and (Agricultural Science 2001) Prof Yoshiro Katto 1950)* Dr Graham Seddon Chemical Technology 1977) It is with regret that we announce the death of the following alumni of Imperial College Mr Abdul K. Bhatti (DIC Mechanical Engineering 1958) Mr Philip L. Edwards (Physics 1966) (Electrical Engineering 1966, Dr Caro C. Minasian (Mathematics 1959)* Mr George A. Sellars PhD Computing and Control 1971) Mr Maung T. Sin (DIC Civil (MDRes National Heart and Lung London and the constituent medical schools and Wye College. Alumni are listed according Mr Michael J. Lansley-Neale OBE (Mechanical Engineering 1951) Prof Dr Goksenin Eseller Engineering 1979) Institute 2008)† Mr Graham H. Booth (DIC Mechanical Engineering 1955)* (Geology 1967, PhD 1986)* Mr Gordon Sharp to their year of graduation. When an alumnus has obtained more than one degree from (Electrical Engineering, 1953)* Mr Raymond L. Smith (DIC Geology 1965) Mr Brian D. Steel Dr Brown J. Okoko (MPhil National the College they are listed according to the graduation year of their first degree. Dr David M. Leakey (Electrical (Civil Engineering 1956) Dr Ian L. Foster (Westminster (Botany and Plant Technology 1979, Heart and Lung Institute 2006) Mrs Gillian (Sally) B. Boston Engineering 1953, PhD 1958) Medical School 1962) Mr Peter G. Towlson MSc Computing 1981) (née Browne) (Wye College 1952) Dr John B. Spargo (St Mary’s (MSc Physics 1960)† Dr William K. Townend OBE Dr Peter Leftley (Westminster Dr Gordon M. Fraser Where indicated by an *, obituaries are available online at Hospital Medical School 1950)* Mrs Philippa J. Thompson (PhD Civil and Environmental www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/ Mr Alan S. Bragg (Mining 1950) Hospital Medical School 1958) (Physics 1964, PhD 1967)* Dr John Watson (St Mary’s Hospital (née Cole) (Botany and Plant Engineering 2005) obituaries. A dagger (†) indicates that the alumnus was also a member of staff. Mr David J. Spencer Medical School 1966) Technology 1978) Mr Maurice J. Brockman Dr Peter A. Lemin (Chemical Engineering 1958)* Dr David J. Galley (Zoology (Electrical Engineering 1951) (Chemistry 1953, PhD 1956) and Applied Entomology 1960, Dr Jill Welbourne (née Gardner) Miss Jennifer F. Tolhurst Mr Leslie Spong (Physics 1955) PhD 1965) (St Mary’s Hospital Medical (Wye College 1977) Dr John D. Campling (St Mary’s Mr Keith W. Lewis School 1963)* 2010s Hospital Medical School 1953)* (DIC Civil Engineering 1955)* Mr Keith M Stables Mr Douglas J Green Mr Nicholas W. Towers (Chemistry 1955) (DIC Mathematics 1963) Mr Malcolm J. M. Welsh Mr Edward B. Dolton Dr Douglas S. Parken (St Mary’s (Aeronautics 1975) Dr Isa Abdur-Rahman Mr David G. Carpenter Dr Yuan Lu Li (Mechanical Engineering 1961) 1930s (Civil Engineering 1948) Hospital Medical School 1948) (Medicine 2011) (Civil Engineering 1953)* (Electrical Engineering 1958)* Mr William B. Statham Dr Peter E. Grieve (Physics 1961, Dr Jennifer Tyrrell (Westminster (Chemical Engineering 1956) PhD 1966) Dr Gordon R. Winter (St Mary’s Dr John C. Adams (St Mary’s Prof Donald T. Elmore Mr John P. Partridge (St Mary’s Medical School 1977)* Mr Seth L. Eichenthal Dr John A. Chapman (Physics 1950) Mr Peter J. Ling (Metallurgy 1957) Hospital Medical School 1958) Hospital Medical School 1937) (Chemistry 1944)* Hospital Medical School 1943)* (MSc Civil and Environmental Dr Anthony. E. Stevens Mr David H.T. Hammond Mr John R. Warner Dr David R. Chase (Charing Cross Eur Ing Ernest Low Engineering 2013) Mr Norman C. Brittain Dr Paul F. Eminson (Charing Cross Prof Kendrick A. Porter (St Mary’s (Charing Cross Hospital Medical (Civil Engineering 1961, Mr William Woollett (Electrical Engineering 1979) Hospital Medical School 1953) (DIC Civil Engineering 1954) School 1952) DIC Geology 1962) (Metallurgy 1966, (Mechanical Engineering Hospital Medical School 1948) Hospital Medical School 1948) Dr Amrit Misra (Medicine 2010) MSc Mechanical Engineering 1967) Dr Rosamund M. Wiggins and Motive Power 1935) Mr John D.A. Coppin MBE Mr James E. Mansfield Prof John L. Stollery Mr Jim Hannon (Physics 1969) Dr Gordon M.H. Evans Mr John T. Rundell (Chemistry 1945) (Wye College 1950)* (Wye College 1951) (née Gripp) (Charing Cross Hospital Mr Geoffrey J. Davies (Charing Cross Hospital Medical (Aeronautics 1951, MSc 1952) Dr John D. Wriggles (Mechanical Medical School 1978)* Dr Raoul H. Satchell (Charing Cross Mr Terence G. Haslett Engineering 1963, PhD 1966) (Chemistry 1939) School 1946) Prof Brian J. Cory Prof Tony Maxworthy Dr Ian C. Sutherland (St Mary’s (Civil Engineering 1960)* Hospital Medical School 1947) (Electrical Engineering 1952)† (Mechanical Engineering 1954)* Students Mr Ronald T. Gerrard (Civil Mr Thomas G. Fellows (Mechanical Hospital Medical School 1957) Dr Peter M. Zollman Mr Peter Selwood (Geology 1949) Mr William J. Haynes (PhD Electrical Engineering 1960) Engineering and Surveying 1937)* Engineering 1947, DIC 1948)* Dr Alan H. Cox (St Mary’s Hospital Dr Donald C. MacDonald Mr Donald P. Taylor (Geology 1962)* Mr Adam Billing (Physics) Prof Roy T. Severn (Mathematics Medical School 1950) (Electrical Engineering 1955)† (Electrical Engineering 1950) 1980s Mr Roy P. Glover (Electrical Prof Dennis C. Gilles (Mathematics Mr Srivikram Bollina and Mechanics 1949, Mr David R. Holmes (Physics 1967)* Engineering 1933, DIC 1934) and Mechanics 1945, DIC 1947)† Mr David S. Cox (Metallurgy 1956) Mr Colin T. McIntosh (Mining 1959) Mr Bernard Adler (Chemical Engineering) PhD Mathematics 1951) Dr Jan C. Taylor (Zoology and Applied Entomology 1959) Mr David E. Hutchinson (Electrical Engineering 1989)* Dr Robert W. Howe (Biology 1938)* Dr Stanley Goldwater Prof Robert G.Coyle (Mining 1959) Dr John K.M. McKay (St Mary’s 1970s Mr Mark Seller (Chemistry) Mr Jack B. Shaw (DIC Mechanical Engineering 1964) (Westminster Medical School 1946) Hospital Medical School 1955) Dr James L. Thirkettle (Charing Cross Mr Kevin Ash Wing Commander Gordon (Civil Engineering 1947, DIC 1950)* Mr Raymond A. Cray Mr David R. Barford Hospital Medical School 1955) Mr Michael A. Jones (Mechanical Engineering 1984) E. Hughes (Mechanical Engineering Mr Kenneth J. Gough (Mechanical Engineering 1953) Mr Roy C. Molland (Metallurgy 1954) (Mathematics 1970) Mr Harold J.H. Sketch (Electrical Engineering 1961) and Motive Power 1939) (Chemistry 1942) Dr Alan Thorogood Mr Anthony J. Briers (Physics 1982) (Electrical Engineering 1943) Mr Robin F. Crouch (Physics 1959, Prof John L. Monteith Prof Frank R.S. Boumphrey (Westminster Medical School 1951) Dr Jeremy N. Kayll Staff Mr David G. Jones Mr James Haase (Civil Engineering MSc Mechanical Engineering 1962) (Metallurgy 1952, PhD 1954)* (St Mary’s Hospital Medical Mr Alan E. Burton Mr Raymond J. Slaughter (Westminster Medical School 1962) (Electrical Engineering 1938) and Surveying 1945, DIC 1946)* School 1971) (Computing and Control 1980) (Physics 1947) Mr Bernard J. Davey Dr David W Moran (Chemical Mr Alan J. Thurgood Mr Robert W. Airey (Physics) (Physics 1957, DIC 1958)* Dr John A.C. Kentfield Mr Bernard W. Perrott Dr Alan O. Hagger (Charing Cross (Aeronautics 1957)* Engineering 1956, PhD 1959) Mr Andrew L. Bowler (Geology 1971) Dr David T. Dalzell Mr John L. Slow (PhD Mechanical Engineering 1961) Prof Struther Arnott (Wye College 1939) Hospital Medical School 1949) Mr Cyril Timmins (PhD Mechanical Engineering 1981) (Surgery & Cancer) (Electrical Engineering 1943)* Mr Maurice Davidov Dr Delia F. Morris (née Coney) Mr Nelson J. Broughton (Chemical Engineering 1957) Mr Julian R.W. Kronfield Mr Robert G Popple Mr George W. Hall (Mining 1943) (Mechanical Engineering 1958) (St Mary’s Hospital Medical School (Chemistry 1971) Mr Brian D. Jeffery (Physics 1982)* Mr Anthony J. Smallman (Aeronautics 1962) Dr Brigitte Askonas (Chemistry 1936) 1956) Mr David Walder (National Heart & Lung Institute) Dr Phineas D. Hanstead (Civil Engineering and Surveying Dr David W. Davies (Westminster Dr Graham D. Busfield (St Mary’s Dr Panayiotis Karditsas (Mechanical Engineering 1956)* Dr Gabriel Laszlo (St Mary’s Mr James G. Reid (Mechanical (Electrical Engineering 1946)* 1946, DIC Civil Engineering 1947) Hospital Medical School 1957)* Mr Ian C. Munro Hospital Medical School 1960) Hospital Medical School 1976) (Mechanical Engineering 1980) Prof Emer J.G. Ball (Materials) Engineering and Motive Power (DIC Chemical Engineering and Mr William G. Wallis Dr Brian J.S. Harley (St Mary’s Mr Allen Smith Mr Roger A. Davison Mr Dermot S.M. Cassidy Mr Kenn J. Lamb Mr Keith Alan Bassett 1938, DIC Aeronautics 1939) Applied Chemistry 1950) (Chemical Engineering 1955) Prof Ronald A. Lawes Hospital Medical School 1947)* (Mechanical Engineering 1949) (Chemistry 1955) (Electrical Engineering 1961)† (Wye 1976, 1997) (Electrical Engineering 1981) (Security Services) Mr Eaton (Robby) H. Robinson Mr David R. Nancarrow Mr David B. Dean Mr Peter K.N. Ward (Mechanical Engineering and Mr Colin D. Harris (Civil Engineering Dr Redmond J. Smith (St Mary’s (Civil Engineering 1954) Dr Guan S. Lee (St Mary’s Hospital Mr William J. Collins Mrs Gwen J. Luker (née Griffiths) Emer Prof Ian Butterworth CBE (Electrical Engineering 1952)* (Electrical Engineering 1953)* Motive Power 1938) and Surveying 1945) Hospital Medical School 1946) Medical School 1969) (Electrical Engineering 1975) (Mathematics 1980)* (Physics) Mr David G. Neal Dr Christopher J. Drouet (St Mary’s Mr David K. Warren Mr Alexander D.R. Watson Mr Dennis E. Hawkins Mr Jan F. Smulders (Mechanical (Aeronautics 1958) Dr Otto E. Malý Mr Owen M. Ephraim Mr Harvey McLeod Mr Stuart I. Irving (Chemistry) Hospital Medical School 1955) (Electrical Engineering 1951) (Civil Engineering and Surveying (Chemistry 1941) Engineering 1949, MSc 1950) (Mathematics 1969, PhD 1971)* MSc Mechanical Engineering 1973) (MSc Civil Engineering 1980) Dr Joachim Steinke (Chemistry) Mr Rex E. Nelson Mr Peter J. Whiddon 1933) Miss Irene Herzfeld Mr Michael H. Still Mr John C Duerden (Botany 1950) Mrs Vivien M. Fair (née Heys) Mr Jonathan Millar (Mineral (Electrical Engineering 1952) (Geology 1957)* Dr Jon M. Matthews Mr Gerald M.B. Wills (DIC Electrical Engineering 1948) (Mechanical Engineering (PhD Metallurgy 1967) (Physics 1974) Resources Engineering 1983) Mr John Ellington Mr Cheong Kiong Ng (Electrical Engineering 1937)* and Motive Power 1945)* Prof A.A. Wilkinson (St Mary’s Mr Barton F. Higgs (Civil (Civil Engineering 1953) (Electrical Engineering 1955) Mr Geoffrey E. Millard Colonel John F.H. Fitzgerald Mr Sudarsan Paul Engineering and Surveying 1940) Dr Alec F. Trendall (Geology 1949) Hospital Medical School 1956) Mr Geoffrey K. Eyers (Mathematics, 1963) (Civil Engineering 1977) (MSc Wye College 1988) CORRECTION Mr Derek G.W. Norris (Mining 1950) Dr Arthur L.J. Williams Mr George R. Hoffman (Civil Mr James Tresidder (Geology 1945) (Civil Engineering 1956) Mr David S. Fox Mr Charles Richardson (Westminster Medical School 1959) Mr John C. Moore Engineering and Surveying 1940) Mr John G. Noyes (Physics 1951) (Chemical Engineering and (MSc Civil Engineering 1982) 1940s Prof James F. Ward Mr Douglas J. Flower (Electrical Engineering 1962) Dr Robert P. Williams (St Mary’s Chemical Technology 1976) Imperial was incorrectly Dr Thomas D.S. Holliday (PhD Electrical Engineering 1948) (Mathematics 1952) Mr J. Owen (Physics 1951) Dr Vir B Singh Hospital Medical School 1957) Dr Michael R. Moore informed that Mr Ivan Mr Derek (Darby) A. Allen (Charing Cross and Westminster Mr Dominique A.R. Gazal (PhD Chemical Engineering and Mr Robert de Wardt Mr John M. Flower Dr Fred M. Owens (St Mary’s (Metallurgy 1962, PhD 1966)* (Mechanical Engineering Medical School 1942) (MSc Civil Engineering 1977) Chemical Technology 1985) Hiscox (MSc Earth Resources and Motive Power 1945)* (Electrical Engineering 1945)* (Civil Engineering 1955) Hospital Medical School 1952) Mr John C. Murphy (Chemistry 1961) Engineering 1995) was Dr Burton E.C. Hopwood (St Mary’s Mr Graham L. Hopkins Mr Ronald E. Webb Mr John M. Gilroy Mrs Brenda M. Pain (née Walker) Mr James A. Anderson Hospital Medical School 1943) Dr John Myers (St Mary’s Hospital (MSc Geology 1976) deceased and he was listed (Physics 1946) (Mechanical Engineering (Civil Engineering 1951) (Mathematics 1956)* 1960s Medical School 1968) in the In Memoriam pages Dr Kenneth Hugh-Jones (St Mary’s and Motive Power 1945) Dr Brian J. Gliddon Mr Derek Page Mr Christopher G. Ide 1990s of issue 38. Mr Hiscox is alive Dr John O. Bockris Hospital Medical School 1946)* Mr Andrew Abbie Prof Akio Nakase (Physics 1972)* Mr Peter W.R. Windridge (Chemical Engineering 1956, (Civil Engineering 1953) (Mechanical Engineering 1967) (PhD Chemistry 1945)* (DIC Civil Engineering 1962) Mr Mark H. Barrett and well, and we sincerely Dr Robert F. Joanes (Charing Cross (Mechanical Engineering 1949) PhD Chemical Engineering and Dr Robert W.G. Kerrich Mr Michael J. Parks (Mathematics 1998) apologise for the distress Dr Martin S. Brett (St Mary’s Hospital Medical School 1949) Chemical Technology 1959) Mr Brian D. Adcock (Physics 1961, Mr Anthony Newcombe (PhD Geology 1974) Mr Michael A. Wright (Mathematics 1952) MPhil Aeronautics 1966) Hospital Medical School 1945)* (Physics 1966) Dr William J. Gillan caused by this error. Mr David H. John (Chemistry 1940) (Electrical Engineering 1944)* Dr David I. Gray Mr Joseph (Max) T.M. Lee Man Yan Dr Alan Francis W.M. Pooler (MBA Management School 1995) Dr David St Bunbury (Botany and Plant Technology 1957) Dr Patrick I. Amenechi Dr Michael A. Nwachuku (MSc Physics 1975) Mr Michael L. Jones Mr John E.M. Yorke (St Mary’s Hospital Medical (MSc Chemistry 1962) (Physics 1948, PhD 1952) (PhD Electrical Engineering 1961) Dr Chao-Dong Huang (Mechanical Engineering 1948) (Chemistry 1946) Mr Edward C. Green School 1953) Mr Stephen G. Long (PhD Management School 1991) Mr Michael F. Butler (St Mary’s (Metallurgy 1952) Dr Roderick N. Bale (St Mary’s Dr Edward (Roger) R. Place (Civil Engineering 1978) In Memoriam features those Dr Thomas P. Linehan (St Mary’s Mr David R. Powell Hospital Medical School 1961) Hospital Medical School 1945) (Chemical Engineering and Mr Richard J.N. Pollitt individuals whose deaths we were Hospital Medical School 1949) Prof Emer Malcolm G. Haines (Wye College 1951) Chemical Technology 1961, Mr Bill Lovell notified about during 2013. Dr Peter H. Calder OBE Dr Ian C. Balfour (Charing Cross (MBA Management School 1997) (Physics 1957, PhD 1960)† PhD 1964)* (Electrical Engineering 1975)* Dr Gerald (Joe) J.H. McCall Mr David W.R. Price Hospital Medical School 1963) (Mechanical Engineering 1950s Mr Gilbert E. Satterthwaite (Geology 1949, PhD 1951)* Prof Thomas J. Hammons (Chemical Engineering and Mr Jonathan R. Matherson and Motive Power 1945, PhD Mr Paul D. Potter (Mining 1961, (MSc History of Science, Prof Nicholas Ambraseys (Electrical Engineering 1957, Applied Chemistry 1951)* Mr David A. Barnes (Wye College 1971) Mechanical Engineering 1950) Mr Alexander B. McFarlane DIC Civil Engineering 1965) Technology and Medicine 1995)† (PhD Civil Engineering 1958) PhD 1961)* (Chemistry 1960) (Electrical Engineering 1944, Mr Anant R. Raichur Mr Julio E. Moya Barrios ➼ To enquire about Mr David J. Carter (Geology 1947) Prof Emer Gordon Pritchard (Botany Dr Alexander P. Stoker MSc 1955) Mr Robert M. Andrew Dr John S. Harding (DIC Civil Engineering 1954) Dr Peter K. Barnes (Charing Cross (MSc Civil Engineering 1971) and Plant Technology 1960)* (School of Medicine 1998) leaving a legacy Mr John (Travers) T. Cosgrove (Electrical Engineering 1959) (Chemistry 1950, PhD 1953) Hospital Medical School 1968) (Civil Engineering and Surveying Mr Denis J Mockford (Geology 1945) Mr Chudamani Ratnam Dr Jonathan R. Pyne (Charing Cross Mr J. A. Nursaw (Wye College 1970) to Imperial in your Dr Bernard H. Baines Prof Peter T. Haskell (Botany 1951) (MSc Geology 1952)* Mr Terrence Belford 1940)* Mr David Morrell (Chemistry 1948) Hospital Medical School 1965) (Mechanical Engineering 1954, (Chemistry 1961) Mr Wayne D. Page (Mineral will, please contact Prof John C. Craig Dr James Howell (St Mary’s Hospital Mr David B. Rees (Electrical Mr Robert P. Richardson Resources Engineering 1977) Mr Alfred L. Nasim (Mining 1948) PhD 1958) Mr Arnold Cameron-Smith Rosalind Griffin on (Chemistry 1942, PhD 1944) Medical School 1957)* Engineering 1957, MSc 1959) (Chemistry 1969) 2000s (Civil Engineering 1961, DIC 1962) Mr Shyama P. Roy (Metallurgy Dr Peter J. Ovenden Dr Carys M. Bannister +44 (0)20 7594 6159 Mr John G. Cuninghame Dr Hugh Inceman (St Mary’s Dr Evan T. Richard (St Mary’s Dr Morris G. Rogers and Materials Science 1975)* Miss Carolyn L. Anderson (Imperial (Chemistry 1948, MSc DIC 1953) (Charing Cross Hospital Medical Dr David E. Clark (Chemistry 1949)* Hospital Medical School 1955) Hospital Medical School 1957) (PhD Chemistry 1961)* College Business School 2008) or email giving@ School 1958) (DIC Electrical Engineering 1963) Lt Cdr Roy A. Savill Dr Philip E.S. Palmer (Westminster Mr John (Desmond) D. Dewhurst Mr George E. Jackson Dr John Richter (Electrical Mr Robert P.D. Round (MSc Computing and Control 1976)* Dr Lionel H. Fortune (PhD Civil and imperial.ac.uk Hospital Medical School 1944)* Mr Allan F.C. Barnes Prof John R. Crookall (Mining 1940)* (DIC Electrical Engineering 1957) Engineering 1959, PhD 1961) (DIC Civil Engineering 1962) Environmental Engineering 2000) (Metallurgy 1950) (DIC Mechanical Engineering 1962)*

about our personal lives than our careers. As we took steps down memory lane, A great idea, we reflected on our this will literally small course cohort create a College of ten as an eclectic ‘open door’ to mix of folk. We were alumni.” also the only course —Chris Mountier at the time with more (BSc Chemistry 1984) female students than males. Despite being STEPPING DOWN a bit of a hotchpotch MEMORY LANE of a team, we moved Denise Powell about as a swarm; (BSc Metallurgy and going between lectures, Materials Science 1973) having coffee breaks A HOME ON CAMPUS and most importantly, Dr Paulina Chan (PhD Electrical Engineering 1977) Over the course always being there to of one summer help each other out. The first time I visited the Alumni Saturday afternoon, While our studies were Visitor Centre was last November when seven members of intellectually very hard, I had numerous meetings scheduled at my Materials and I never remember feeling ➜ALUMNI Imperial. I sat down on the comfy sofa Metallurgy 1973 cohort adrift because there were and immediately found myself across had free rein of the always people to lean on. the table from another alumnus who Alumni Visitor Centre The Alumni Visitor DISPATCHES was also an international student many for our 40-year reunion. Centre was a delight A fantastic space — I really years ago. Our instant bond was our We spent the afternoon to use for our reunion enjoyed my visit and particularly connection with Imperial. There are no drinking coffee, because it’s a space on enjoyed the free refreshments strangers in the Alumni Visitor Centre — taking photographs, campus where alumni and impressive facilities. I would when conversation starts with anyone and talking, talking, are made to feel special. recommend this to my network.” there, we usually discover we have talking… It was It’s comfy, airy, and —Katherine Lamont (MBA 2009) something in common. absolutely perfect. it has just the right Nestled within the bustle of Imperial’s Another great experience was The last time we touchdown facilities. South Kensington Campus, a space has been meeting fellow students from Hong met as a group was It’s a great place to Kong. While sipping frothy cappuccino seven years prior so go if you want a rest, specially created for all alumni to enjoy. and English tea, we planned events there was an awful or to catch up on emails. Recent visitors share their experiences. for our mentoring programme which lot to catch up on. I’ll definitely be back; is developing valuable professional Interestingly, we had it’s the place to go when and personal networks among alumni far more stories to tell you’re in London! mentors and student mentees from Hong Kong. Thanks to the free wifi we could instantly post our photos COME BY FOR A VISIT on Facebook as a show-and-tell for those in Hong Kong! IMPRESSING THE INVESTORS The Alumni Visitor Centre provides During my latest visit to London Dr Florent Dauchy (MBA 2012) an exclusive space for visiting Imperial the Alumni Visitor Centre was my alumni and their guests to relax, meet home-office-in-town, my conference I’m in the process of setting up a new high-end food company so at the friends and colleagues and catch and reception room. The friendly moment I’m learning an awful lot about speciality mushrooms. We’ve up with the latest developments and welcoming members of staff are secured some of the initial funding for the business so now we’re building at the College. The Centre can also constant fixtures and it provides a a mushroom farm. It’s sort of like a ‘Blade Runner’ lab. It will be a room be privately booked by alumni. precious social club for Imperial alumni where we can control the humidity, and the temperature – basically, where It is located in the main entrance and their guests. It’s great to have we can fix the seasons. It’s like science fiction but there are no chemicals of the South Kensington Campus a home on campus. because they’d ruin the taste. on Exhibition Road. Imperial is the platform for my I’ve been using the Alumni Visitor Centre to host all sorts of meetings academic education but also my for the business, and as a space to have some quiet time to work out the For enquiries or to make a booking: personal growth. The influence of finer points. Every time my boss comes into town we plan at least two days Email: [email protected] my professors and contemporaries, here to brainstorm. She was super impressed by the centre and that’s Phone: +44 (0)20 7594 1925 the associations with international saying something; she’s an economist who has been on some of Obama’s Web: www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni networks of alumni and friends, and advisory boards. the spirit of innovative culture have all If you’re a start-up you’re mostly on your own so it’s great to be able equipped me to be a transdisciplinary to use the facilities here. In my office at home there’s no conference room professional and a global citizen and there are no people around. Being based at Imperial helps at face of the world. value too – it’s about who I am and where I’ve come from. I like working at Imperial because it’s a geeky place – especially for me,

PHOTOGRAPHY: (AVC) ANDY SPAIN, BGS ARCHITECTS; (IPAD) DAVE GUTTRIDGE, THE PHOTOGRAPHIC UNIT; (SILHOUETTES) JODY KINGZETT JODY (SILHOUETTES) UNIT; PHOTOGRAPHIC THE GUTTRIDGE, DAVE (IPAD) ARCHITECTS; BGS SPAIN, ANDY (AVC) PHOTOGRAPHY: since my background is as a scientist.

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