Issue 293 ▸ 22 march 2016 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community Stepping up Three Imperial women rising to the challenge of their potential → centre pages

CAREER BOOST BAT MOBILE GET INVOLVED A look at Nature inspires Calling for Imperial’s miniature volunteers career robot fliers at Imperial Coaching PAGE 6 Festival 2016 Academy PAGE 11 PAGE 10 2 3 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 >> newsupdate

Education Secretary launches Professor Simone Buitendijk appointed Too many avoidable errors women’s leadership report Vice Provost for education Leading university educator EDITOR’S CORNER in patient care Nicky Morgan, Education Secretary and Minister for Women and and clinician Professor Simone Equalities, launched a report on women’s leadership in UK universities Buitendijk is to become Imperial at Imperial this month. College ’s new Vice Making Avoidable harm to patients is Provost (Education) from still too high in healthcare in the WomenCount: Leaders in Higher Education 2016, authored and presented 1 August 2016. the most UK and across the globe and safety by Norma Jarboe OBE, considers women’s representation in senior therefore must be a top healthcare leadership positions across the university sector and tracks progress Professor Buitendijk will join the priority for providers and made since the 2013 report on the same topic. College from in Few would question policy makers alike – according It concludes that the higher education sector is making steady the to lead Imperial’s that Imperial is a unique to the Imperial authors of two progress towards gender balance, and highlights an encouraging rise vision for education and student workplace with a plethora new reports. of women’s representation on governing bodies and an increase of experience. of different opportunities gender balanced boards. Professor Buitendijk is for students and staff Both reports, produced by Speaking at the event, currently Vice-Rector Magnificus at all levels. But the NIHR Imperial Patient Safety Nicky Morgan MP noted that at Leiden with responsibility for scale and complexity Translational Research Centre there was a clear business case education and student affairs. of the place can be (PSTRC), provide evidence on for improved gender parity in Over her five year tenure she has places excellence at the heart overwhelming at times the current state of patient safety be done to prevent them. Although called the National Reporting leadership positions: “Bringing led university-wide strategies to of everything we do, and in and it can be easy to and how it could be improved we currently face many changes and Learning System (NRLS). women into roles where glass enhance students’ educational Professor Buitendijk we have hunker down and retreat the future. They urge healthcare – such as increasingly complex The second report, Patient ceilings previously existed gives experience, promote innovation an inspirational leader who can to your corner of the providers to embrace a more patient cases and limited resources Safety 2030, suggests a ‘toolbox’ us the opportunity to harness in teaching and grow support take our educational offer and College. Every now and open and transparent culture to – we must focus on creating safer for patient safety. This would our entire pool of talent, rather for students. She has served on quality of student experience to again though it’s good to encourage continuous learning environments for patients. This include: using digital technology than just a portion of it. League of European Research the next level.” remind yourself of what’s and harm reduction. should involve a systems-based to improve safety; providing “Unlocking that potential Universities (LERU) steering Professor Buitendijk said: out there. This issue we Professor Ara Darzi, Director approach, and coordinating action robust training and education, gives Britain and our institutions groups for teaching and learning “Imperial is among the top take a look at just a few of the NIHR Imperial PSTRC and across all levels of the political and and strengthening leadership the best chance to succeed.” and for gender equality. universities in the world, drawing opportunities, including senior author of the reports, health systems.” at the political, organisational, However the report notes An internationally respected an extremely motivated, talented Imperial’s own coaching said: “For too long the mind-set The first report focuses on the clinical and community levels. that the two most senior roles in expert in maternal and child and international group of academy, which presents has been that patient harms are current system used by NHS staff university governance – the Chair health, Professor Buitendijk is students. I am very excited about —KATE WIGHTON, COMMUNICATIONS AND the chance to boost your inevitable, and that nothing can to report patient safety incidents, PUBLIC AFFAIRS of the Governing body and the Professor of Women’s and Family working to support them to fulfil career – both as a coach Vice-Chancellor – are much further from parity, with women holding Health at the Leiden University their dreams and their potential”. or coachee (page 8 ). We only roughly a fifth of these roles. Medical Centre, having held the Professor Buitendijk succeeds take a look at volunteering The report also profiles women recently appointed to senior leadership Netherlands’ first professorial Professor Debra Humphris at Imperial’s events roles in the Higher Education sector, including Imperial’s President chair for primary care in as Vice Provost (Education). programme which affords Sustainable mobility in focus Professor Alice Gast, Professor Jenny Higham – Principal of St George’s . Professor Humphris became Vice- a special vantage point at Business challenge week University London and former Vice Dean for Institutional Affairs at Imperial, Welcoming Professor Chancellor of the University of of Imperial’s research and Professor Debra Humphris – Vice-Chancellor at the University of Buitendijk, Provost Professor Brighton in December 2015. (page 11). And we hear A car sharing service for women and a concept for more Brighton and Imperial’s former Vice Provost (Education). James Stirling said: “Our ­—JOHN-PAUL JONES, COMMUNICATIONS AND about fundraising for eco-friendly air travel were the winning ideas in this College Strategy for 2015-20 PUBLIC AFFAIRS —DEBORAH EVANSON, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS one of Imperial’s worthy year’s Imperial Innovation Challenge. health development charities (page 11). Students from the Full-Time MBA programme were Alongside evening classes challenged to come up with a business proposal for Clean through Triple crown Baber booster for staff at the Centre a product or service around the theme of “Smart and Plans to build a ‘cleantech A team of MBA students from A new app to guide and remind for Languages Culture Sustainable Mobility” and present their ideas to a panel The winning team behind WforW cluster’ for west London were Imperial College Business School pregnant women about vaccines and Communication, of visiting experts, following a week of guest talks, unveiled at Imperial’s White have won the Financial Times has been launched. The Maternal City Campus this month. A FTMBA Quiz for the third year in Immunations (MatImms) app informs it’s an enviable choice. demonstrations and workshops across Imperial. in brief report, launched by the London a row. The Quiz, hosted at the and guides pregnant women about Of course, you can’t The annual challenge is designed to test the business Dr Charles Donovan, Principal Teaching Fellow Sustainable Development Financial Times’ London office, infections that could be harmful to do everything – but I’d skills that the students have developed during their MBA, and lecturer on the Full-Time MBA said: “The Commission (LSDC), proposes and compered by FT Management them and their baby, such as flu and certainly advise making and encourage them to come up with innovative solutions purpose of this year’s challenge was to look at how a new business district for low- Editor Andrew Hill, saw competing whooping cough, and which could the most of it, however to pressing societal challenges. technology can produce solutions for businesses in carbon industries and ensure the business schools from across be prevented by getting vaccinated city can lead the way in tackling Europe testing their business in pregnancy. Researchers and long you’re at Imperial for. One such solution was WforW (Women for Women) the sustainable mobility space. Through exposure to the causes and effects of climate knowledge. Imperial’s team clinicians from Imperial College – a proposed app that provides advice to women on how guest speakers and the wealth of innovation taking ANDREW CZYZEWSKI, EDITOR change. The concept is supported was made up of Full-Time MBA London and Imperial College to make a safer, more sustainable commute to work. In place across the College, students were inspired to by whose students Jimena Gonzalez Healthcare NHS Trust teamed up Reporter is published every some countries, travelling by public transport can be come up with disruptive ideas in a very short space new White City Campus would Mardjetko, Charaf El Mansouri and to develop the app after becoming three weeks during term time particularly intimidating or even dangerous for women. of time. The best proposals looked at how a change be part of the cluster and house Sylvain Poncet, Weekend Executive concerned about the low uptake of businesses in the early stages of MBA students Simon Broomfield certain vaccines amongst pregnant in print and online. Contact In India, for example, a study found that 95 per cent of in business model can unlock the potential of a Andrew Czyzewski: their development in its Centre and George Gowers, and Executive women. Download the app here: [email protected] women said their mobility was restricted because of fear technology with high commercial potential.” for Cleantech Innovation (CCI). MBA student Faisal Dajani. bit.ly/MatImms of male harassment in public places. —LAURA SINGLETON, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS 4 5 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 >> newsupdate

Imperial hosts JOIN OUR MAILING LIST student exchange for regular news alerts: media mentions www.imperial.ac.uk/media/jointsignup from LKCMedicine

A student delegation from Lee Kong Chian new. Bump into someone you know in a big city School of visited Imperial this How progress will affect us once and you are likely to be amazed by the month as part of the partnership between FINANCIAL TIMES ▸ 07.02.2016 coincidence, forgetting the 99 times you didn’t the two institutions. bump into them, says LHC physicist Professor Swift changes in technology are transforming Ulrik Egede (Physics). Our human minds are The ten students, all second year the way we live. The FT asked four distinguished primed to see causes for effects even where undergraduates at LKCMedicine, visited the thinkers to predict what aspects of this new there might be none. “But at the same time you College as part of an exchange programme industrial revolution will affect us most. have to be excited because otherwise you can’t designed to enhance links between Professor Saeema Ahmed-Kristensen, deputy get anywhere in science.” the two medical schools. As part of the head of the Dyson School of Design Engineering exchange a similar delegation of Imperial’s at Imperial, says 3D printing will enter the own students will visit LKCMedicine in mainstream within the next five to 10 years. Lord Winston warns of Brexit ‘disaster’ Singapore later this year. Let them in But as technology such as 3D printers becomes The visit offered an immersive Staff trained in Operational Excellence gather at a special event cheaper and more sophisticated, it also provides BBC WALES ▸ 02.03.2016 experience to allow the students to explore THE ECONOMIST ▸ 26.02.2016 people with the power to do harm. “When we what it is like to be a medical student in are educating designers the ethics are very One of Britain’s best known scientists said it London. Over the week the group took In a letter to the Economist Imperial’s important,” says Professor Ahmed-Kristensen. could be a ‘disaster’ for university research part in a range of academic and social New network for Operational President Professor Alice Gast says Britain if Britain left the , BBC Wales activities, including lectures and seminars should be rolling out the red carpet for the Bigger than the Higgs reports. Professor Lord Robert Winston, at Imperial’s School of Medicine and a tour best and brightest foreign students. “What Professor of Science and Society at Imperial, Excellence practitioners NEW SCIENTIST ▸ 02.03.2016 of historical medical sights in London, as do Ernst Chain, Andre Geim and Venkatraman said: “It’s very clear if we came out of Europe, Ramakrishnan have in common, apart from their well as a chance to visit some of London’s Imperial’s Community of Practice has It looks like the Large Hadron Collider at CERN where we get much more out than we put in in Nobel prizes? They were all welcomed to Britain best known attractions. been established to bring together staff may have found a surprise massive particle science, we will lose massively.” The Labour life from abroad: a world without their pioneering Martin Lupton, Associate Dean and who have received training as part of the that gives a glimpse into a better – and entirely peer was speaking at the BioWales conference work at British universities on penicillin, Head of the Undergraduate School of Operational Excellence (OE) Programme, unexpected – theory of reality, New Scientist in Cardiff. But the Scientists For Britain group graphene and ribosomes would be a much Medicine at Imperial, said: “It has become and provide support and ongoing reports. The hopes spring from two ‘bumps’ is arguing that Britain would be no worse off by poorer one. Foreign students drive innovation increasing clear to the medical school that development opportunities. that have appeared independently, in the same leaving the EU. The group, which claims and entrepreneurship in Britain. If we turned collaboration with other organisations is a place, in the latest data from the LHC. First, to have 150 members, said there our backs on international students, Britain’s win win. The Community offers an online space though, they have the tough task of balancing were 13 countries outside economy and society would lose out.” “It has been a joyful experience to to OE-trained staff, providing tools and the facts with the lure of finding something the EU which successfully watch the relationship between our London resources, as well as a message board apply for European funding. students and their Singaporean comrades to share experiences and best practice. flourish. For us in the undergraduate school Staff will also be offered the opportunity awards of medicine this is collaboration at its to attend further specialist training and and very best.” events to continue developing their skills. honours for his academic excellence; his innovators. The competition ENGINEERING Aletheia Chia, one of the ten that made Marc Gray, Operational Excellence Training and volunteer work and fundraising currently attracts around 500 Top of the Scotts the trip, commented on the experience: Programme Director (inset), introduced ongoing development are activities; and entrepreneurial entrants, of whom approximately “London is such a culturally vibrant city the Community of Practice: “Training and skills including his development 35 per cent are selected to An Imperial pioneer in and very different to Singapore. It’s been ongoing development are a key part of a key part of embedding of a web app that could make present their work in Parliament. bioengineering has been made great to be immersed in a whole different embedding OE within the College, along OE within the College.” delay predictions for the London In the poster competition, a Fellow of The Royal Society culture this week. Seeing the NHS, which with building relationships and working Underground by analysing tube first year PhD student Dana Al of Edinburgh (RSE). Professor is very different to the system we have more collaboratively across teams – our Virgin Atlantic, then shared her experiences arrival and departure data. (Look Sulaiman (Bioengineering), Richard Kitney is one of 56 in Singapore, has been particularly new Community of Practice will help to and insights on achieving results, gleaned out for an interview with Bryan came away with a bronze in the ‘distinguished individuals’ interesting. I’ve learnt so much to take make this happen”. from her work helping to establish the soon). Engineering catergory, while elected to become Fellows of the back to LKCMedicine.” The Community was launched at an airline within three months. Research Associate Dr Beth RSE this year. New Fellows come event on 1 March, at which staff involved Angus Brown is Head of User Services in COLLEGE Holder (Medicine) also won from sectors that range from ­—JON NARCROSS, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS in Operational Excellence were thanked Library Services, and has been involved in ENGINEERING All set bronze in the Biological and the arts, business, science and Watch a video of the visit here: bit.ly/LKC-vid for their contributions. a number of OE projects. Most recently, he Joined up thinking Biomedical Sciences category. technology and academia, and Professor James Stirling, Imperial’s worked on a Rapid Improvement Exercise Twenty three early-career their varied expertise is expected Provost, spoke about the OE Programme which looked at the Library’s subscriptions Joint Maths and Computing researchers from Imperial to support the advancement of and the progress made so far: “Since the portfolio. Angus said: “Through the Undergraduate student Bryan presented their work at the SET for learning and useful knowledge launch of OE, we’ve come a long way in a Community of Practice, I hope to learn more Liu has been named as winner Britain event on 7 March. SET for in Scottish public life. Professor remarkably short time. Everyone has a role about different parts of the College, as well of the Outstanding Information Britain, held at in the Houses of Kitney was the founding head of to play in delivering excellence, and the as find out about techniques colleagues Technology Student Prize 2016, Parliament, encourages, supports the Department of Bioengineering principles of OE put the people involved are using elsewhere and seeing if I can use by the Worshipful Company and promotes early career and he currently co-leads the at the heart of the process.” them to help streamline processes within of Information Technologists researchers, who the Government Centre for Synthetic Biology and Guest speaker Julie Robinson, the Library.” (WCIT). Bryan was recognised sees as the UK’s future Innovation at the College. previously Customer Services Director at —ELIZABETH NIXON, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS 6 7 >> scienceroundup www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 >> scienceroundup

Bat wings inspire unique design Why we need iron Iron is needed to make haemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that transports oxygen around the body. If we have too little iron we become anaemic, of miniature robot aircraft which triggers tiredness and lethargy. Iron is also needed in many other ways to help the body function properly. Scientists have developed prototype bat wings that could be used in the next Behind the science with Dr Rafael Palacios generation of unmanned micro air vehicles (MAVs). When we need more Talk us through the process from Many people’s diets do not contain enough to MAVs are increasingly being used in a wide variety of civilian applications bio-inspiration to concept meet daily needs, particularly if someone has lost iron due to bleeding, a surgical operation, or blood such as surveying remote and dangerous areas. However, one of the current There is a very extensive donation. Pregnant women also need extra iron, drawbacks with this technology is that designers have to choose between literature on biological fliers as the mineral is crucial for the baby’s growth and fixed-wings, which enable long range flight, or rotary-wings, which enable and as an engineer I am used to development. Prescription doses of iron usually high manoeuvrability. deconstructing complex problems provide 65mg of iron or more in each tablet. About 1 in 3 people who take these tablets find they cause Now a team of researchers from Imperial and the University of Southampton into their constitutive elements. In diarrhoea, constipation or tummy pains. have developed bat-inspired wings that are made from a polymer membrane this case, we decoupled propulsion, and artificial muscles, which means they can be flexible in their configuration. which bats achieve via flapping, Take care with tea The team say the advantage of this is that it may enable MAVs to be both from the ability to execute fast Some food and drink can interfere with iron absorption. In the UK, one of the biggest culprits manoeuvrable and also able to fly over longer distances, making running them manoeuvres, which is done by is tea – so people with low iron levels should and their production more economical. stiffening of the membranes on their wings. Then we avoid drinking tea The wings incorporate polymers that are activated when an electric current sought an engineering solution, working with electrically- with meals, or within runs through them. This makes the wings stiffen and relax in response, which responsive elastomers. an hour after eating. helps them to contort to the environment they are flying through. This technology The double edged uses no mechanical parts, making the wings easier for engineers to maintain. You’re known as a passionate teacher (having won best Dr Rafael Palacios (Aeronautics) said: “The prototype wing we’ve supervisor in the 2013 SACA Awards) – do you try and developed could enable a MAV to constantly adapt to its environment in get students involved building fliers? real-time. This ability to reconfigure would also allow multiple missions Of course, and in fact a vast majority of the research in sword of iron to be carried out using the same MAV, instead of us having to develop my group is done by PhD students, but we do have also a totally new craft every time it needs to do a new type of task.” undergraduate students working on their final-year projects on related problems. A big challenge in our line of research is Human cells bathed in an iron solution show micromolar (a similar concentration to that —COLIN SMITH, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS IRON FACTS to find problems that are tractable within the short time that DNA damage within 10 minutes – according seen in the blood after taking an iron tablet). undergraduates can spend on it, but we have always found to results of an experiment designed to mimic Through looking at genes used within something interesting. the effect of iron tablets. cells, and then examining the cells in more Recommended daily Iron intake The prototype detail, they found that wing we’ve developed You’ve worked in industry for Airbus – how does it The findings suggest that within ten minutes, cells compare with academia? researchers and clinicians need Cells seem treated with the iron solution could enable a mg Industrial research is of course more short-term, but at to look carefully at the amount more sensitive had activated DNA repair 14.8 micro air vehicle to the same time you know you are working on projects that of iron given in standard systems. These were still to iron than constantly adapt to do have a direct impact – indeed you even know the treatments. activated six hours later. people that may be using any technologies you develop. Iron is essential for the body we previously Senior author Dr Claire 8.7mg its environment Academic research gives you some more freedom to function and low levels cause thought.” Shovlin (National Heart and in real-time.” and definitely the ability to develop anaemia which leads to tiredness Lung Institute) said: “We Iron dose per 100g a long-term vision. and lethargy (see box). already knew that iron could In the study, the team used human be damaging to cells in very high doses. The team modelled air flowing Steak Spinach over a bat-inspired wings Do you think we’ll ever see humans endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, However, in this study we found that when we equipped with intelligent polymer and added a placebo or an iron solution of 10 applied the kinds of levels of iron you would 3mg 2.7mg wings – perhaps like the squirrel suits find in the blood stream after taking an iron skydivers use? tablet, this also seemed to be able to trigger Selected iron tablets I would like to see that, but as of now the sweet spot cell damage – at least in the laboratory. In is for very small scale vehicles. Electroactive polymers other words, cells seem more sensitive to iron take relatively small pressure loads, than we previously thought.” 65mg so they would not sustain the She stressed that prescribed iron stresses required to fly large supplements are essential for many patients payloads (i.e. a person). and does not advise doctors to change their approach to prescribing iron supplements. “However, this research suggests we may need to think more carefully about how much iron we give to people, and try and tailor the 6,000,000 dose to the patient.” prescriptions for iron tablets in England and Wales per year —KATE WIGHTON, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS 8 9 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 >> featurefocus

Don’t let anyone stop you. Take any opposition or prejudice Stepping on the chin.”

2// Beth Hoblyn Apprentice Maintenance Engineer, Imperial marked International Women’s Day with a Estates Division week-long celebration of the contributions women “As part of my apprenticeship I’m doing operations and maintenance engineering for the College’s estates. have made to life at the College. I like knowing that I’m making a difference to people; the engineers keep the building running and without us there’d be no hot water, heating, lights and no electricity to The second Women@Imperial Week ran from Monday 7 to Friday 11 March, with a number of make the experiments and research happen. That makes me 1// Sumaya Rahman feel good about my job. events held across the College. The week was preceded on Wednesday 2 March by the Launch of MEng in Biomedical Engineering Engineering, and engineering maintenance in particular, is a the WomenCount 2016 report, which looks at senior leadership positions across the university very difficult industry for women to break into because traditionally it’s sector and tracks progress made (page 3), as well as a School of Public Health Athena “My course is in a field which is focused on the a male domain. Stereotypically we are seen as weaker and in fact I still SWAN Lecture by Dr Fiona Godlee, Editor in Chief of the British Medical Journal. advancement of healthcare by bringing technology seem to get offered physical help a lot. But I think women can be stronger into clinical settings. All the devices you see in a in certain situations. In engineering you’ve got to be calm because things can Monday 7 saw the formal launch of Women@Imperial with a special reception and hospital are made by bioengineers – the diagnostics go wrong. You’ve got to do things slowly, and you’ve got to think things through public exhibition of photographs and archive material highlighting contributions center, MRI scanner, devices used in surgery, methodically. I think sometimes men can have a tendency to rush things. from female researchers, pioneering women from Imperial’s history, and female prosthetics. It’s a vast field. In my first year alone I come from a family of very strong women. Basically it’s a matriarchy. entrepreneurs at the College. I took modules in mathematics, medical science, I think that’s where I get my confidence from. That’s how I know I can do exactly electromagnetics, vibration and waves. One of my the same tasks as the men on the apprenticeship scheme do. I’ve always been Imperial’s President Professor Alice Gast addressed the reception, saying: main interests is in understanding the mechanics of told that I can do anything, and getting this apprenticeship has shown me that “Every day we have reasons to celebrate women at Imperial.” She added: the various actions of the human body. The project I actually can. To girls who want to do something a bit different I would say, “ We are committed to improving gender equality at Imperial, and I look I’m currently working on is looking at adipogenesis ‘Don’t let anyone stop you. Take any opposition or prejudice on the chin.’ forward to making progress over the coming days and months.” – the process by which precursor cells mature and specialize into fat cells. We’re applying compressive During the reception Professor Dot Griffiths, Provost’s Envoy for forces to these precursor cells and we’re trying Gender Equality, talked about the progress that she has seen over to see how that affects their maturation. The her time at the College, adding: “Tonight is a fabulous occasion experiment has implications for our view of obesity 3// Dr Nathalie MacDermott and how exercise and the movements of the body – it makes me so proud to be at Imperial and work with all you Clinical Research Fellow, Department of Medicine can impact the maturation of fat cells. (St Mary’s Campus) wonderful women. It’s just such a privilege.” Originally, I’m from Bangladesh, and although A Gender Summit was held on Tuesday where Provost my family have always been very supportive, “My research at Imperial looks at genetic susceptibility to the Ebola virus Professor James Stirling presented a summary of the I think there was still some insecurity before I infection – so finding out whether there is something in each person’s came to Imperial and a tendency to take a feedback received through recent staff questionnaires genetic makeup that makes them more or less susceptible to back seat, compared with male peers. But infection with Ebola virus. I also work with an aid organization called and focus groups which looked at what the College during my project work in the second year Samaritan’s Purse, doing disaster relief for them as a clinician. does well to support women, and what it could I was working with a mixed group and When the Ebola epidemic broke out in West Africa, do better. the girls were particularly vocal in one Samaritan’s Purse were already working in Liberia, and debate. I was really inspired by their To mark International Women’s Day they decided to respond. At the beginning of July 2014 I confidence and how they were received a phone call to ask if I would be available to and Women@Imperial Week, for this putting forth their argument. travel to Liberia to work in a treatment facility in the issue of Reporter we’ve shared three That in turn gave me a lot of capital Monrovia. I flew out on the 14th of July 2014, stories from women at the College confidence, and from then originally for two weeks. I then went back to Liberia I was working onwards I’ve put my in different roles and their various for six months from October 2014 to March 2015 to with a mixed group views forward and lead the clinical response for Samaritan’s Purse. experiences shared my own ideas Now I’m due to go to Sierra Leone to carry and the girls were more often.” out field work collecting samples from control particularly vocal in groups who didn’t contract Ebola to see if that’s due to some protective genetic effect. I think I one debate. I was always assumed I would be working with Ebola in a research capacity – but I never really thought I’d really inspired by be at the forefront of the biggest Ebola epidemic their confidence.” the world has ever seen! You shouldn’t be limited by what other people think or by other people’s preconceived ideas of what you should do. If it interests you and if it’s what you’re passionate about then you should go for it. —JESSE ALTER AND SARAH Clockwise from top: Beth Hoblyn, MARCUS, COMMUNICATIONS Dr Nathalie MacDermott, Sumaya Rahman AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

10 11 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 insidestory

Researcher to tackle Imperial Coaching Academy for life-saving initiative Anyone who uses public transport in London will have no doubt been hooked in inside Imperial researcher Dr Mike French will run the 2016 to help Mutual benefit by ads promoting career coaching services, products and books. It plays on a desire the College treat thousands of children with parasite-borne illnesses. most of us have to be as effective as possible at our jobs and make the most of Coaching is done in the strictest confidence, opportunities that may come our way. but one coach-coachee pair agreed to talk about story Mike will tackle the gruelling 26.2 mile route in April their respective experiences. this year in the hope of raising more than £26,000 for What Imperial staff may not be aware of is the College’s Schistosomiasis Control initiative (SCI) that the College has been running its own Mike said: “Running the Marathon felt like a coaching academy since 2009. COACHEE mini profile wonderful way to highlight the work that the SCI is The primary stated aims of the Geneviève Timmins doing to tackle this and encourage people to support programme are: to help coachees develop Web and Communications Officer, us. My fundraising target is £26,200 – £1,000 for greater self-awareness; address their own Department of Medicine each mile of the race, which will provide more than challenges; identify their goals and potential 70,000 treatments.” I contacted the Coaching Academy Steve barriers; and develop appropriate skills and It’s not the first because I needed support with identifying a strategies empowering them to take action. time Mike has taken part in the Marathon. pathway for career progression. At the time, I was Rochford Yet, it goes much deeper than this, as Judy He took up the challenge for the first time working on a personal project alongside my official Barnett (pictured left), Talent Development Steve Rochford is Site Manager in 2003. He said: “At the time, I swore I’d role, which I wanted to formally incorporate into Concerted effort Manager in the HR Division, explains. in the ICT Division, where he never do it again. But as time passed, it my job. The most important thing that I gained Schistosomiasis infections “The key thing about coaching is that it has worked for eight years. started to feel like a good idea again”. are caused by parasites from Kelly’s coaching was learning to prioritise helps someone to think problems through He is also an active volunteer, It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Mike. which enter the body through this project. I was supported in defining what I for themselves – it’s a completely non- lending a hand at Imperial’s He’s currently recovering from Typhus, a contaminated water in areas of wanted as a result of completing it, and how it poor sanitation. Left untreated, A lot of coaches directive approach. Coaches are trained diverse events programme – serious illness he contracted in would help me in the broader context of my career. the infections can lead to the to really listen and ask powerful questions namely the annual Imperial which causes flu-like symptoms, confusion development of life-threatening say that being a coach As a consequence, I was motivated to discuss in order to help their coachee carefully Festival and the Fringe series. and severe muscle pain. conditions such as bladder my professional development with my manager, has made them better consider their options and come to their “It threw a bit of a spanner in the cancer, and liver damage. The and now work officially in a split role as a Section SCI assists ministries of health managers of their own conclusions and decisions.” Tell me about your role firstly clear my diary. I also found out works. I’m following a 16 weeks training Manager and Web and Communications Officer. in affected countries to help own staff.” There are now around 40 coaches I lead a ‘customer service’ about the chance to volunteer plan to prepare for the race, but for the them design and implement at Imperial, who are carefully matched team, essentially providing and thought why not? first three weeks I couldn’t do any running large-scale control programmes with coachee before the pair agree on a desktop computing support at all. I’ve still got a bit of dizziness and – distributing drugs donated COACH by the pharmaceutical industry timetable of four coaching sessions lasting around an hour each, spread over a across the Faculty of What were you involved disorientation which presents challenges to affected areas to reduce number of weeks. Kelly Swaby Engineering. The fun thing in doing? during training. I’m fine as long as I don’t infection rates. To date, the All coaches attend a six day training programme which equips them with a Student Hub Manager, about the job is, when you go I spend most of the time look left or right while I’m running. That’s SCI has facilitated delivery of coaching toolkit and a framework for appropriate, ethical behaviour. They are also to fix someone’s computer, handing out fliers and talking ok on a treadmill, but less so when I over 140 million treatments Campus Services to children and at-risk adults. offered continuing professional development (CPD) training twice a year. you can have a chat with to people on Exhibition Road. have to dodge donkeys and cattle on the My initial reason for applying for Mike’s focus is on rolling out In October 2015, a new cohort of prospective coaches began training for an them – often simply asking I remember meeting a few Ethiopian roads.” control programmes in Yemen the Coaching Academy was based on my own accredited qualification – the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) ‘so what do you do?’ That way children who really wanted and Ethiopia, where he is based. experience of being a coachee. I recognised what —DEBORAH EVANSON, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Level 5 – and are due to complete that in April. A ‘fast track’ version of the you really get under the hood to become scientists, and so a powerful tool it can be in bringing about positive qualification is also being undertaken by existing coaches. of the organization and start they were just brimming with change in a person’s perception of their own “I’m trying to raise the level of attainment of the coaches within Imperial,” to feel more involved in the excitement about the prospect ability. Providing a platform that enables them to says Judy, who notes that demand from staff to become coaches is very high. amazing work that goes on of actually meeting some real- find their own solutions to a problem/issue can be Partly this is due to a desire to give something back to the community. here. The other week I was life scientists at the Festival. MIKE HAS ALMOST REACHED very empowering for that individual. Personally, But there is also great benefit to the coaches themselves, Judy argues. helping an academic who had That really hit home why the I have really enjoyed supporting my coachees “A lot of coaches say that being a coach has made them better managers of been interviewed for a David event is so great. HIS £26,200 TARGET! through their journeys and seeing them succeed their own staff. They’ve integrated the same approach to listening and this non- Attenborough documentary. He in their goals. Also, through my own experience as directive way of dealing with their own staff. That’s a powerful benefit.” was asking me how to get this What would you say to those Please help him cross the finish line: a coach and manager I have come to realise how Indeed, Judy is keen for coaching approaches to be integrated into management DVD into a short clip to share in thinking about volunteering effective the approach can be when used within bit.ly/Imperial-Mike and leadership roles across the College, starting with a new initiative called a PowerPoint presentation. We for the Festival? a management setting. It affords team members ‘Leader as Coach’. Departmental Operations Managers and Heads of Services in the got talking about these insects It’s easy, especially when ownership and accountability, with the knowledge Faculty of Engineering have recently participated in a pilot to incorporate coaching they’d been filming. I’m not you’ve been here many years, that they are fully supported by their manager. into their roles. Similar programmes will be offered to senior sure you’d get that sort of thing just to exist in your own bubble academic and professional services staff in the in the corporate ICT world! and get on with your job. But other Faculties. I think it’s really beneficial to “More and more universities are thinking Did those sort of get involved in something like about internal coaching provision, but we were interactions provide the the Festival to find out what ahead of the curve in the way we introduced it impetus for getting involved goes on at College and see your and how it has developed ­– so now it’s about in events? place in the bigger picture. £1 = 3 treatments how to maintain that momentum.” Partly. I had been busy for the For volunteering opportunities at first few Imperial Festivals, so If you are interested in accessing coaching services visit: Imperial Festival 2016, contact Simone bit.ly/imperial-coaching last year I was determined to Dagnino: [email protected] 12 13 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 insidestory

Alumni launch a wearable digital ski coach Name up

A team of Imperial alumni have The idea started back in 2012 created a device that helps skiers to when, during his PhD at Imperial, keen in lights track and monitor their performance. skier Jamie began to develop an app to track skiing performance just using For her new book Aurora, Imperial plasma The team called Motion Metrics is the motion sensor on a smart phone. physicist and fusion researcher Dr Melanie made up of Jamie Grant (Business A beta version was tested by more Windridge explores the science and stories School), Pruthvikar Reddy (Mechanical than 3,000 students on the Oxford and of the Northern Lights. Engineering) and Bo Xuan Hon Cambridge ski club winter tours in the (Aerospace Engineering), and Samit 2013/14 ski season. The bright dancing lights of the aurora are Patel. They are currently based in the After receiving feedback on the app caused by collisions between electrically Imperial Incubator. the newly formed Motion Metrics team charged particles – or plasma – from the Sun Using a smart boot insert and a decided to develop a pressure sensor that enter the Earth’s atmosphere. The lights are clip on tracking device, Carv measures to provide information on pressure seen most strongly above the magnetic poles of motion and pressure distribution and that the ski community wanted. the northern and southern hemispheres where relays feedback through to earphones “We were quite hesitant at first the earth’s magnetic field is weaker allowing in real-time. but after the feedback we decided some solar particles to enter the earth’s The device connects wirelessly to to go for it.” Jamie said, “The sensor atmosphere and collide with gas particles. want to understand the aurora and plasmas in if that’s still there now that we’ve studied the a smartphone, providing information we’ve got now is really accurate and “The idea came about slowly,” Melanie general. At Imperial we’re trying to understand phenomenon a lot more and have a scientific and analysis ranging from simple, uses 48 sensors on each foot to map says. “I always see these projects as a sort of plasmas and control them to make a new clean understanding of it. I think it is.” actionable feedback for casual skiers the pressure and movement seed growing – it starts with just a glimmer of energy source for the future.” Melanie gained her PhD at Imperial and is to detailed metrics and analysis for of the wearer.” interest. As a plasma physicist, I began to think But science was far from being the only an Academic Visitor in the Department of The Carv device inserts help skiers improve and track performance advanced and professional users. that I should really see the aurora as it’s thing on the agenda for Melanie’s research Physics, as well as a consultant for the nuclear —JON NARCROSS, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS a plasma phenomenon.” and writing. fusion start-up Tokamak Energy. Melanie visited Sweden, Norway, Iceland, “It was always my intention to look at the —HAYLEY DUNNING, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Product Development , Scotland and Svalbard in her quest folklore and the stories – the ‘other side’ of the for stories, science, and the lights themselves. lights. Wherever you go around the arctic there’s Aurora: In Search of the Northern Lights is available now, In 2014 the team took part in Imperial Innovation’s Venture Catalyst “There are many reasons why we might common theme of spirits so I wanted to see published by Harper Collins: bit.ly/Melanie-Lights Challenge (VCC) before joining the HAX hardware accelerator in Shenzen, . $100,000 “The VCC was great for us and we ended up meeting one of our investors there. They’ve got some great coaches and mentors which is a amount raised by Carv on Kickstarter big help,” added Jamie (from a goal of $50K) With the support of their mentors, the team worked with a number of partners to develop and manufacture their current prototypes – splitting their development time between London, China and testing What is a Hackspace and why do we need one? their designs with professional skiers on the slopes. It has over 1,000 members, hundreds a physical space at the White City 3,000 Box for life student skiers helped test the device of projects and unlimited possibilities, Campus where people can work Among the projects to have but what is the Hackspace? on their projects and industry events benefited from the Hackspace can be run. is BabyLifeBox, an initiative developed by Design Established in September 2014, the “It offers the prospect of also Engineering student Malav Imperial College Advanced Hackspace linking with the community at White Sanghavi. has grown in popularity around the City,” Nicks says. “It’s interesting He has created a low-cost Student blogger Harry: My week College community. because it provides a closer baby incubator to reduce infant mortality, after he By facilitating and providing engagement between Imperial and learned that there are over Currently, we are working public somewhere. I looked access to workshops across Imperial’s members from anywhere at Imperial those from that area, rather than just 300,000 deaths in the first through 3D-modelling up the rules for busking at campuses it enables students and to come and prototype their concepts, predominantly the South Kensington week of life, 99 per cent of a gearbox for a cement South Kensington tube station staff to produce prototypes alongside either for research, personal projects community.” which are in developing countries without the pump. This is probably a while back, but I think you need the development of ideas and or entrepreneurial ideas.” “There’s also the resources to help save one of my favourite bits to audition in front of a panel of products to tackle some of society’s Dr Nick Jones (Mathematics) is one potential to bring in the these children. Sanghavi’s about my course, because judges and go through a whole most pressing issues. of the founders and academic leads of recent alumni who are cardboard-based solution fundamentally mechanical engineering process. The next best thing would A recent exhibit provided a chance the Hackspace. He said: “The reason developing ideas to just find received a £500 project grant from the Hackspace is about applying physics and maths to probably be having a go at the open-mic to see some of the projects that have why we call it the Advanced Hackspace a space where they can to develop the idea solve problems, and this epitomizes night at the local pub. In the meantime, developed with the assistance of is because we have such resources bring that forward from concept into what we do in design and manufacture. I will settle for people overhearing me in the Hackspace, either in providing for idea development at Imperial that for about a year,” an award-winning prototype. Well, that and a lot of sketching. the Woodward Music Rooms while I play modest start-up capital or networking we can take the general hackspace says Larissa. “It will the star wars cantina band theme. opportunities between people from concept and take it further.” mean they can still I practised a little bit of accordion in different research areas. New workshops continue to be feel as part of the the evening, which is slowly improving Hackspace Manager Larissa added to the Hackspace and the Imperial family.” Kunstel-Tabet explains: “The membership is growing steadily. besides my lack of musical capability! I More from Harry and our other student bloggers: —MIKE JONES, think the dream would be to perform in www.imperial.ac.uk/studentblogs Hackspace here at the College allows The group is also aiming to provide ADVANCEMENT 14 15 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 22 March 2016 • issue 293 insidestory

Mr Cai Heath, Public Health Dr Alberto Pascual Garcia, Life Mr Tom Miller, Communications and You’ve overseen numerous that content out there as it’s been Welcome Dr Luke Heaton, Bioengineering Sciences Farewell Public Affairs (20 years) successes including sector- so core as a platform to building Mr Sebastian Henkel, Mechanical Dr Elaine Pegg, Life Sciences Mrs Michaela Miller, Medicine wide HE awards, fundraising Imperial’s brand. Engineering Ms Ridhika Poojara, Medicine Dr Michael Mueller, Medicine Signing-off new starters moving on (6 years) targets, the launch of Imperial Ms Lili Herendi, Surgery & Cancer Mr Graeme Poole, ESE Miss Amanda Herington, College Dr Mark Pope, School of Ms Jo Murphy, Faculty of Medicine Festival and countless The nature of your role means Mr Alex Ainscough, Medicine Dr Roberto Agrusta, ESE Tom Miller, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Headquarters Professional Development Centre international visits and working closely with Imperial’s Mrs Gabriela Almquist, Estates Dr Hena Ahmad, Medicine Miss Yeni Hernandez Guarin, Mrs Baldeesh Rai, Medicine Dr Kausik Nandi, Mechanical graduations − what are you leaders. What have you learned Division Dr Virginia Alonso Gutierrez, Civil Engineering is leaving Imperial after more than 20 years at the College – Catering Services Dr Sumesh Raman Kureppadathu, Dr Reza Anbari Attar, Mechanical and Environmental Engineering most proud of? about different approaches to Miss Lisa Hoang, Medicine Chemistry Ms Sally Nhin, Faculty of Medicine Engineering Mr Paladd Asavarut, Medicine Centre 10 spent leading the Division. All of those things because they leadership? Ms Nicola Holt, Finance Miss Priya Raniga, Surgery & Mr Sajjad Bakrani Balani, are all clearly collective team I’ve been very lucky to see a really Cancer Mr Alex Ayad, Enterprise (10 years) Mr Norman Nicholls, Chemical Mathematics Dr Lesley Hoyles, Surgery & Cancer Engineering Mrs Simranjit Rayat, Residential Dr Arta Babaee, EEE You studied Biology at Imperial it was a period of massive change. efforts involving people right good range of very talented people Miss Kirsty Balachandran, Surgery Miss Lizzie Huckle, Registry Services Dr Hakan Bagci, Clinical Science Mrs Chinyere Onukagha, ICU and were an avid member of the Libraries of images loaned out across the College, but particularly − not just the Rectors/ Presidents, & Cancer Mr Bradley Hunt, ICT (12 years) Mr Mark Reader, Estates Division Mr Diego Barcena Menendez, Life Boat Club. Tell us about those as transparencies, faxed press because they have been very but other members of the cast too − Miss Bethany Barker, Medicine Mr Ian Hunt, Mechanical Dr Yasmin Pasha, Surgery & Cancer Dr Cristina Requena Torres, Clinical Sciences Mr Spencer Barnes, Bioengineering Engineering early undergraduate days. releases and ‘bromide’ logos much led by our own homegrown Deputy Rectors, College Secretaries, Science Mr Michael Barclay, Chemistry Miss Nisha Patel, Surgery & Cancer Dr Nicolas Barral, ESE Dr Javaid Iqbal, Life Sciences It was one of those fateful things couriered around London were still talent in the division. As a team CFOs, Deans, Council members. Dr Olena Riabinina, Clinical Science Dr Iain Barrett, Medicine Mrs Joanne Pinto, Surgery & Cancer Ms Louise Beach, Student Mr Vainqueur Iswa, EEE really; I was interviewed, then the norm. It was hard work growing in Communications and Public I think above everything, good Dr Jesus Rodriguez Manzano, EEE Dr Parvin Begum, Clinical Science Dr Marie Rached, Clinical Science on. in. moving moving Recruitment & Outreach Miss Mishell Jachero Bustos, Ms Sherezade Ruano Santana, Dr Claire Raphael, NHLI mentored by, the late Dr John and developing a team through Affairs I’m proud of the sheer leaders in universities quickly tell Dr Andreas Brohl, Chemical Catering Services Dr Mark Bolstridge, Medicine NHLI Miss Faye Rodgers, Life Sciences Galley − an Imperial alumnus, that and bringing people along on quality and focus of all our work you where they are in situations, Engineering Mr Robert Johnson, Life Sciences Miss Ellen Busink, Public Health Mr Simantak Saha, Catering Miss Brenda Rosales, Surgery & Dr Rossa Brugha, NHLI Ms Christina Kelesidou, Catering Dr Romain Caze, Bioengineering academic in the Department of that journey; some will embrace around discovery and innovation and also where you stand and Services Cancer Dr Mai Bui, Centre for Services Dr Max Chen, Medicine Biology and long-term supporter of it, others will resist. At Imperial a at the College and really getting what they want to achieve. Mr Shokir Sattorov, Catering Environmental Policy Miss Kathryn Rose, Finance the Boat Club. As a student rower, crucial thing in communications Miss Sarah Kelly, Life Sciences Services Miss Yvonne Y.F. Cheng, Business Dr Lesly Calderon Dominguez, School (9 years) Dr Erika Rosivatz, Chemistry Mr Daniel Kendall, NHLI Dr Sabrina Schlesinger, Public it’s almost like a second degree staffing has simply been to Clinical Science Ms Merja Rossi, Surgery & Cancer Mrs Michelle Kiely, Medicine Health Dr Ya-Yun Chu, Medicine in terms of what you put in − the specialise with staff in specific Ms Simona Cantarella, Surgery & Dr Manuela Russo, Materials Ms Laura Kington, Physics Mr Mihails Sedicenkovs, Estates Dr Agostino Cilibrizzi, Chemistry hours on the water and in the gym. ‘beats’ – with Faculty press Cancer Dr Eleanor Sandhu, Clinical Science Mr Mark Knibbs, Catering Services Division Dr Julia Davies, Chemistry Legendary coach Bill Mason made officers. Imperial was absolutely Mr Neil Charlott, Public Health Mr Peter Savage, Physics (11 years) Ms Ioly Kotta-Loizou, Life Sciences Ms Fanny Smeds, Centre for Dr Leonardo De Oliveira Martins, you do things you didn’t think you in the vanguard of this in the UK. Dr Jalel Chergui, Chemical Environmental Policy Materials Miss Fiona Sender, Registry Engineering Mr Yaseen Ladak, Surgery & Cancer Mr Gavin Sooranna, Surgery & Mrs Silva Dios Oubina, Life Miss Philippa Shallard, Faculty of were capable of; he brought the Miss Emily Langley, Centre for Dr Anastasia Chernyatina, Life Cancer Sciences (8 years) Medicine Centre (7 years) potential out in people. Sciences Environmental Policy Helping colleagues in the Dr Irina Spulber, Computing Mrs Victoria Edwards, Medicine Miss Sylvia Sheppard, Estates Information Tent at the Mrs Suzanne Christopher, HR Miss Hedieh Latifoltojar, Catering Dr Dimitrios Stampoulis, Life Division Imperial Festival 2015 Services Dr Amir Eftekhar, EEE (5 years) Moving on to your Mr Lewis Cotter, ICU Sciences Dr Ailsa Sita-Lumsden, Surgery & Mr Charilaos Latinopoulos, Civil Mrs Marina Fedorova, Chemistry work life, how has the Dr Tiago Cravo Oliveira, Business Mr David Stockings, ICU Cancer and Environmental Engineering Dr Helen Findon, Bioengineering School Dr Patrick Smadbeck, Life Sciences communications profession Miss Rebecca Lawton, Surgery & Mr Matyas Szigeti, Public Health (10 years) Mr Walter Craw, HR changed in your time here? Cancer Miss Jennifer Taing, Public Health Mr Nick Fine, Medicine Dr Mark Stillwell, Computing Ms Mary Crowley, Advancement Technology is essential to the Dr Anne Laybourne, Public Health Dr Shivani Tanna, Public Health Dr Benoit Fond, Mechanical Ms Caroline Teh, Business School Dr Bill Crum, Surgery & Cancer future of communications and Mr Frank Lehmann, Life Sciences Mr Gareth Tear, Physics Engineering Dr Mattia Terenghi, Chemistry Dr Nevena Cvetesic, Clinical journalism. They are absolutely, Mr Qinghua Lei, ESE Dr Burak Temelkuran, Computing Ms Kate Freeman, College Miss Anuja Thapa, Faculty of Science Headquarters Medicine Centre Dr Jing Li, Design Engineering Miss Bethan Thibaut, Surgery & Mr Leigh Davenport, ICT inextricably interwoven. I came Miss Amber Hall, Business School Mr Alexis Thompson, ICT Dr Shuai Li, ESE Cancer Mr Nicholas Dawe, in right at the end of an era; Mr Kevin Thomas, ICT Dr Xingsi Han, Aeronautics Dr Mathieu Vanderstraete, Communications and Public Affairs Mr Leo Lightburn, EEE Miss Rebecca Heath, Medicine Life Sciences Mr Gary Lloyd, Estates Division Mr Andrew Turner, Estates Division Dr Thushan De Silva, Medicine Dr Benoit Vanniere, Physics Dr Antonin Vacheret, Physics Dr James Heaton, Surgery & Cancer Mr Pantazis Deligiannis, EEE Mr Andrew Machen, EEE Dr Chris Wilson, Life Sciences Miss Maria Varelas, Catering Dr Kimberley Hockley, Public Health Dr Indranil Dutta, Physics Mr Fernando Madrazo Aguirre, Civil (Silwood Park) and Environmental Engineering Services Dr Deqing Huang, Aeronautics Dr Claire Edmondson, NHLI Dr Sue Wilson, Medicine Ms Roni Maimon Mor, Miss Szabina Varga, Catering Dr Sarah Jarvis, Bioengineering Mrs Virginia Fairclough, Life Mr Michael Wilson, College Bioengineering Services obituaries Sciences Dr Wilfried Jonkers, Life Sciences Headquarters Mr Alexis Verdu Parres, Catering Dr Andrzej Malinowski, Clinical Dr Angelo Karunaratne Munasinghe Ms Kelsey Flott, Surgery & Cancer Services Dr Freddie Witherden, Aeronautics Science Arachchige, Bioengineering Ms Ornella Forte, Chemical Mr Sorin-Cristian Vladescu, Mr Douglas Wylie, Chemistry Mr Shamik Mandora, Enterprise Dr Ayesha Khan, Medicine Engineering Mechanical Engineering MAX LAB time Senior Research Investigator until a few in a new way was published in Cell Reports in Dr Nina Mansoor, Public Health Dr Ying Yang, Physics (5 years) Mr Daniel Fowler, Sport and Leisure Dr Chuan Wang, Medicine Mr Matthias Knop, Materials Professor Max Lab, Senior weeks before his passing. He was renowned January this year. Another of Max’s trainees Mr Maicol Marsilio, Catering Dr Catherine Francis, NHLI Dr Ferry Kwakkel, Mathematics Research Investigator in the world over for discovering mechano-electric Professor Peter Kohl, Chair in Cardiac Biophysics Services Dr Tom Weber, Life Sciences Dr Jianliang Gao, Surgery & Cancer Dr Camille Lassale, Public Health Retirement the National Heart and Lung coupling in the heart, a phenomenon where the and Systems Biology at NHLI, is currently setting Dr Timothy Mcmanus Jr, ESE Miss Leigh Whitlie, Faculty of Mr Kleber Giazzon, Catering Medicine Centre Dr Adam Laycock, ESE Mr William Midwinter, NHLI Dr Matthew Hodes, Medicine Institute died on 28 January mechanical stress and load on the heart feeds up the new Research Centre for Cardiovascular Services Ms Eleanor Wilde, NHLI Dr Karen Logan, Medicine Mrs Ausra Mieliauskaite Rodrigues, (25 years) 2016, aged 77 years. Former back into controlling its electrical impulses. His Medicine at the University of Freiburg. Mr Brendan Gliddon, Sport and Catering Services Mr Jack Woodrow, Estates Division Mr Bastian Manz, Civil and research elucidated both its physiological role in Max used his semi-retirement to contribute Leisure Environmental Engineering colleague Professor Sian Harding (NHLI), Miss Laura Mikulskyte, Catering Miss Claudia Wyer, Life Sciences Dr Mary Go, Bioengineering pays tribute. co-ordinating cardiac contraction as well as how to the diverse events programme at Imperial. Services Dr Guang Zeng, Materials Dr Luis Martinez Montblanch, Dr Barbara Gordon, Aeronautics Chemistry it could contribute to pathological disturbances Many will have observed his penetrating Mr Simon Moulds, Civil and Ms Nikola Zidkova, Catering Mr David Gordon, Catering Services Mr Bruno Matarese, Chemistry It is with great sadness that we learned of the of rhythm when disregulated. questioning at seminars, and some may also Environmental Engineering Services Miss Jodie Grant, Sport and Leisure Mr Samuel Nadler, Finance Miss Toma Mikulskyte, Catering death of Professor Lab. Over the course of his Max supported many young scientists have visited the exhibition of his sculptures at Services Dr Firat Guder, Bioengineering Ms Ronke Olomola, Public Health career Max worked at both Imperial and the who are now themselves eminent. Among South Kensington. He will be very much missed This data is supplied by HR Dr Gonzalo Guillen Gosalbez, Mrs Adedunmola Onafeko, Catering MRC Clinical Sciences Centre − beginning as them are Professors Yuri Korchev (Medicine) here and across the world. Chemical Engineering Services and covers staff joining the a Lecturer in the Department of Physiology at and Julia Gorelik (NHLI) who, under Max’s Dr Yingying Guo, Mechanical Miss Ayse Ozyukselen, Faculty of College during the period There will be Memorial Symposium for Professor Lab at the Engineering Medicine Centre Please send your images and/or comments about new starters, 12 February – 14 March 2016. Charing Cross Hospital Medical School in 1969 guidance, developed their novel Scanning Ion Hammersmith Campus on Thursday 26 May. For details Dr Yukihiro Harada, Physics leavers and retirees to the Editor at [email protected] This data was correct at the then becoming Professor in 1994. Conductance Microscope. It was fitting that contact [email protected] Mr Noel Papantonis, ICT The Editor reserves the right to edit or amend these as necessary. time of going to press. He remained active in his role as part- Max’s final paper employing this technology Mr Andrew Hardy, HR FOR COMPLETE DETAILS: events highlights www.imperial.ac.uk/whats-on April 2016

22 MARCH, 18.00 IMPERIAL FESTIVAL Energy Futures Lab annual lecture Energy Futures Lab is delighted to evidenced by the recent deal at the climate Be a part of be hosting Nick Winser Chairman of change summit in Paris. But can the UK honour Energy Systems Catapult to discuss this commitment? In his lecture, Nick Winser global energy policy challenges, will review the UK’s energy policy and discuss the festival! innovation and the role the Catapault the recent shift in focus towards energy The fifth Imperial Festival will take place can play. The global politics of energy innovation to meet the 2050 climate and on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 May 2016. and the environment are high on energy targets. Staff are encouraged to volunteer for the the agenda for all economies, Festival, which includes opportunities to assist with the Alumni Weekend and Reach Out Lab activities, with a variety of front-of-house and behind-the-scenes 11 APRIL, 18.00 roles available.

Transforming growth: Climate policy today for a To express your interest in volunteering sustainable tomorrow contact Simone Dagnino, Festival UN chief climate diplomat Christiana climate change negotiations at COP21 in Assistant: [email protected] Figueres delivers the Grantham 2015. She has been Executive Secretary of Institute Annual Lecture 2016. the United Nations Framework Convention Christiana Figueres is the UN’s chief on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for six years, a diplomat on climate change, and role she will hold until July this year. Whilst oversaw the delivery of the Paris this lecture is now sold out, the whole event Agreement following the global will be live streamed via the College YouTube.

22 MARCH, 12.00 Fluctuation phenomena in optics MIT’s Professor Steven G. Johnson delivers a lunchtime colloquium at this joint Maths and Physics event

05 APRIL, 18.00 Integrated energy systems and their role in integrating variable renewable energy 25 APRIL, 12.30 Professor Mark O’Malley, Director of the UCD Energy Institute will discuss the use, Research showcase on bacterial and role, of Integrated energy systems infections & the molecular engineering of antimicrobial surfaces

07 APRIL, 09.45 Hear Imperial research perspectives on the Modelling from Structures to Systems challenges posed by the transfer of bacteria EMBL’s Peer Bork and EBI’s Janet Thornton and their associated infections provide the key notes in this full day symposium on modelling 26 APRIL, 19.00 USB Nightmare! Microchip medicine Losing your data could be a horror story. Avoid storing Regius Professor of Engineering Chris information on USB drives and external hard drives as they Toumazou (Institute of Biomedical Engineering) can be lost, stolen or infected by viruses. delivers this Friends of Imperial College talk What to do: • Use College’s recommended file storage to save information (H: drive, group space, OneDrive for Business) • If you must use a USB device, encrypt it and make sure it’s not your only copy • Never plug in USB devices from unknown sourcesBe Secure

12 APRIL It’s everyone’s responsibility to be secure. For storage options Young Researcher’s Forum III and encryption advice visit www.imperial.ac.uk/be-secure An opportunity for young researchers involved in construction materials to present their work Be Secure and exchange ideas

Stay in the loop → Visit www.imperial.ac.uk/events for more details about these events and others. To sign up for regular updates about Imperial events please email: [email protected]

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